Between Realities

Déjà-Vu

(M) M POV:

"Sooooo... Nice weather we're having?" Gänger's voice cut into the awkward silence.

Thankfully, I didn't have to answer because at that moment Elite appeared. Not by lightning, though. He just popped into existence from out of nowhere. He was holding a mushroom and an allium. For some reason, this gave me the image of Elite picking flowers, which struck me as funny. Imagine that, a monster smelling roses and tending a beautiful garden.

"What's with the allium?" I asked him with curiosity, surprised by how calm I felt speaking.

Elite shrugged in response. "Beats me. Something about 'making a good impression', whatever that's supposed to mean."

Gänger looked back and forth between us. She looked ready to spit out a retort, but before she could, fireworks suddenly boomed, colors showering above the trees. Elite drew out his sword and suddenly stepped close to me in a protective manner. I was suddenly reminded of that moment when Elite had protected me from Twisted. A shiver ran down my spine at just the thought of him.

"What's going on?!" Gänger struggled to make her voice heard over the colorful explosions nearby.

In the blink of an eye, I saw Elite swing his sword at something and make contact. A silver blur was cut into two as what looked like a drone whirred into pitiful silence as its pieces landed on either side of Elite and I.

"So this is what she meant by me being needed..." I heard Elite mumble to himself.

Before I could ask what he meant, six figures in dark cloaks rushed at us from all directions. Elite, unsure of how to defend all sides, instead stepped even closer to me. Something told me that beneath his blindfold, his eyes were darting every which way to make sure I was protected. But why me? What about Gänger? Does he know who these people are? Are they...?! I gulped nervously, and this time I was the one to step closer.

One of the cloaked figures held up a hand and the group surrounding us stopped in their tracks. The same figure, possibly the leader, called out to us.

"I see our destruction wasn't enough for you, dark being. Now you have the audacity to hold the successor captive, as well as manipulating him into thinking you will protect him!" the figure spoke angrily, obviously at Elite.

...Are they talking about me?

Elite winced at the figure's words, but held his ground. "'The successor'?... Do you mean M?" Elite remained silent for a few moments before he seemed to realize something. "More Red Steves survived."

Gänger spoke up before I had a chance to put my shock into words. "Hold up- you're telling me that these guys"—she gestured to the cloaked group surrounding us with both of her arms—"are Red Steves? Man, no wonder they hate you."

Elite seemed to shrink a little at her words. "They have every right to hate me..." he agreed with her sadly. "I hurt them and their people. Nothing can excuse what I did. Despite what I've done in the past, however, I haven't done what you're claiming currently! M is not a captive by any means, and I'm not Twisted. I would never manipulate him."

I flinched at his name, my heart racing momentarily. I subconsciously stepped closer to Elite, once again reminded by the time he had protected me. I have to speak up...! If these truly are my people, then they'll listen to me.

"Please, back down. All of you." I looked at each figure, then ended on Elite, who hesitantly obliged.

The figures all looked from me to their leader, clearly unsure of who to listen to. Eventually, they each took a few steps back after their leader did so.