Rehabilitation: A Skephalo Fanfic

Chapter One: Morning Tea

   Skeppy yawned as he watched the cool night turn into a warm morning from his kitchen window. He had woken up that morning early, he had planned to meet with with Puffy for some breakfast and a chat. Quietly he trudged his way from his kitchen to his bathroom to freshen up and change into his regular day clothes.
After scrubbing away in the tub with a rubber ducky he got out and dried off. Skeppy sighed at the sight of his sleepy eyes, he had to stop staying up so late. Softly Skeppy hummed to himself while getting dressed and ready for his outing with Puffy, she had become his best friend since the collapse of the egg. It was odd in a way how he just woke up inside Puffy's home and in a daze, he was thirsty and he could barely remember a thing. He could remember the tears in Puffy's eyes as she pulled him into a hug, she looked relieved and frantic. As years went on and more was explained to him or hinted at, Skeppy could truly understand why she had that look on her face.

   It was a simple walk to Puffy's house, a path well traveled by Skeppy. For the first year or so he had lived with her. She was all he had, or that's what he knew. As years past he remembered the closest person to him, the one most corrupted by the bloodvines. Bad. Everyone told him that Bad had fled after the downfall of the egg and hadn't been seen since. Something deep down in Skeppy didn't want to believe that but as much as he wanted to deny it, no one in the server ever spotted the demon thereafter.
Skeppy's eyes had wandered down to the dewy grass that was sticking to his shoes, it was little moments like this that made Skeppy feel grounded in the present instead of the memory maze in his mind. As he kept his pace to Puffy's he kept thinking to himself about something that Ponk had said. In the moment it didn't come off as anything but now it struck a nerve.

   They had both been sitting under a birch tree after a long day of running errands on the server. Ponk had to search for a new horse since he lost his in a creeper accident and Skeppy had tagged along since he had nothing better to do. While they sat Ponk had offered Skeppy an apple to eat as they rested. As the two munched away at the red fruit Skeppy began to complain about being bored with Puffy away and home alone. Ponk gave Skeppy and amused look, that's when he said it.

   "I guess since Bad was run in you've been bored huh?"

   At first Skeppy just thought maybe Ponk meant to say "runoff" instead of "run in" but the more he thought about other times Bad's retreat was talked about the more he noticed little slip ups in the retellings. When he came to at Puffy's she told Skeppy that Bad had fled after the egg was destroyed and had left carnage in his wake. Sam had sat him down on the first anniversary after the fall of the egg and told Skeppy that Bad fled after being injured and scared off. Even more confusing was Tommy's memory of it, how Bad ravaged the egg for power and suddenly disappeared from the battle field. Now as he was at Puffy's doorstep he couldn't truly connect each story to the other but took it as everyone had a different story of the same chaotic day.

   As Skeppy stepped inside the warm house, he could hear the sound of a kettle whistling in the kitchen and the scent of a baking pie wafted to his nose. Puffy welcomed him in happily and pulled him into her dining nook. Pots of ferns and ivy were hanging over the table or settled by the nook's window as she walked to her kitchen to retrieve the kettle and some mugs. While Skeppy waited he mulled over the idea of asking Puffy for an explanation to the inconsistency in Bad's escape. Soon he could hear the familiar click of Puffy's hooves on the dark wooden floor, in her grasp was a tray with two mugs on it and the hot kettle. The steamy air from the kettle hit Skeppy's face as Puffy poured him a mug full, she was being so careful not to spill any of the hot drink while she poured her own mug. Soon she took her seat across from him and made a content sigh, no matter the day or the circumstances Puffy always enjoyed Skeppy's company.

   The two sat in a comfortable chatter, both were sharing plans for the following days with each other. Puffy had wanted to find a new beehive for her small flower garden as Skeppy explained he'd be at home doing spring cleaning and redecorating. Skeppy took small sips from his mug while Puffy went on about the fox that had the gall to raid her chicken coop and make off with her eggs. The oven made a soft ding marking the creation of a fresh hot pie, Puffy excused herself and went to pull the pie out before it burnt. Skeppy looked down into his mug that was warming his hands, he had grown very fond to the teas Puffy would serve but felt a bit cold, a sort of chill that no cup of warmth could melt. His mind was still focused on the loss of Bad. Puffy stepped back into the nook, she had sat her sweet berry pie onto a rack to cool and serve later. She caught the sad glance Skeppy made to his mug and asked him in a gentle manner about what was the matter.

   "What's the matter Skeppy?" She asked warmly. The way Skeppy looked at her, it was a similar expression to the one he made after waking up in her home.

   "Ponk said something to me.." He took a sip from his mug "...and it just has been bothering me a little" he continued. Puffy tilted her head as she poured more tea for him, it was the least she can do for her friend.

   "Take your time" she said softly while relaxing into her chair. Skeppy held his breath while remembering what Ponk had said under the tree.

   "He said Bad had been run in but you guys said he ran off" He gripped the mug tighter "and when I think about what Sam and Tommy said about Bad leaving it just doesn't fit together..." he made a shaky breath while looking up to Puffy. She knew all too well this day would come but not by Ponk's word of mouth, she thought Tommy would be the one to slip up and spill it out. Puffy frowned as she knew she had to tell him while Skeppy stared back into his mug.

"I think it's time I tell you more about that day.." She said while shifting in her seat, she couldn't keep the lie up anymore.