Fragile Soul (Tactical Article x Land of the Lustrous)

Chapter 9: Dead Scarecrows

Third Person POV

Dia slowly emerges from the water holding a mutilated Arctic as his coat was torn up due to the blast and shrapnel as the blood fell to the floor. Dia quickly rushed and placed him onto the floor as he tried to think about what to do in this situation. Dia quickly removed Arctic's coat exposing the tuxedo Red Beryl put him long ago as it was full of the shrapnel. He tried his best to pluck out as much of the frag shards as possible from his torso and arms and was thankfully able to remove them all. But Arctic's breathing was scarce and heavy as Dia became even more worried about the situation. Soon though a small snail emerged from the water and slowly approached the two as Bortz, Jade, and Euclase.

Bortz: So it's just some sort of snail then. It even shriveled up in the water. This all would have been so obvious, but, thanks to those imbeciles, we wasted our time and energy here.

Diamond: B-But, thanks to Phos, we pinpointed its weak spot... and Arctic helped take it down. I'm sure a little credit-

Bortz: Who Deserves Credit?! When Phos gets back, there's going to be a beat-down. And same for Arctic when he reawakens... Jade! Euclase! Time to pick up the scraps of that piece of garbage.

Bortz slowly walked into the water as Jade and Euclase followed behind. They tried and looked as they came across the empty and hollow shell that laid in the bottom of the pool, sadly no matter how many times they looked, they still couldn't seem to find phos. Dia remained with Arctic as he continued to try and help the poor Merc from death. Eventually while Dia wrapped Arctic's coat around his torso to cover the wounds, Bortz emerged from the waters.

Bortz: Nothing. Not a trace down there.

Diamond: I can't believe it...

Bortz: Is there no end to the trouble that scrapheap brings?

The small snail creature emerges out of the water along with Jade and Euclase

Jade: Arctic was able to crack the shell, so I figured we'd see something of Phos, but...

Dia looked disappointed as he just held a small bowl in which the small snail creature leaps into and starts making playful noises. But Dia was too sad right now.

Diamond: Where did you disappear to, Phos?

Jade: I don't suppose Phos is in that thing either?

There was a long silence as Arctic still lays unconscious nearby.

Diamond: Phos... Where are you now?

While Dia was reminiscing, the little snail creature was flipping and jumping around in the bowl making excited noises while doing so. The snail continued its jumping and flipping right in Dia's face, startling him if anything.

Diamond: Phos? Phos?

Dia looked at the slug as if the unthinkable came to mind, while the gems were trying to know more about this slug, their attention quickly wore off once they heard Arctic groan in pain as he slowly picked himself up, and with a limp he stood up. Dia gently put down the bowl and rushed to Arctic before hugging him.

Diamond: You're Ok! Right?

Arctic: ... yeah, I'll be fine...

The Merc says a little weakly but he pushes through the pain to somewhat be seen as fine. Dia then slowly let go before helping him stand along with Jade who helped support him.

Diamond: Arctic?

Arctic: ... yeah?

Diamond: I think... Phos...

Arctic: ...think Phos what?

Dia then slowly reached for the bowl containing the little jumpy pink snail creature.

Diamond: I think Phos became this snail.

Arctic was astonished and questioning everything as he quickly started hacking up blood from how confused he was as Jade held him up. He leaned toward this small creature before pointing at it.

Arctic: PHOS?! THAT?! SERIOUSLY!

Dia: I just know it's Phos... I know...

Arctic: ...

The Merc didn't even know what to say as he fell silent and stared into the floor.

Diamond: We must get you two to Rutile... He'll know what to do...

From then all the gems quickly rushed to Rutile except Arctic and Jade as Jade fell back to help Arctic while Arctic while scuffling as fast as possible trying not to be slow, if anything it looked comical. Once everyone reached Rutile, Arctic could hear Dia yelling at him from a distance trying to gain his attention.

Diamond: Emergency! We Have An Emergency!

Rutile, who was trying to rest slowly, stood before turning to the rushing gems.

Rutile: All right, all right. Someone was causing a ruckus and fell into the pond, yes? I can only assume it was Phos.

Dia ran in before slowly coming to a stop and placing the bowl with the snail on a table.

Diamond: You'll be okay. I'm sure Rutile can figure something out. Isn't that great, Phos?

The diamond gem looked insane talking to the slug and referring to it as Phos. Rutile really didn't know what to say.

Rutile: You diamonds, neither you nor your jokes are ever dull.

Diamond: I'm serious!

Arctic and Jade finally made it into the room as Rutile looked at Arctic who still looked as bloody as ever.

Jade: Phos was swallowed up by a giant snail the Lunarians dragged in, but this is all that's left. There's nothing else but the shell. Also Arctic was imploded on the shell and was left in this condition before Dia dragged him out of the pond, he barely woke up not too long ago and can barely walk.

Rutile turned to look at Arctic as he tried to stand up and shoot two thumbs up at Rutile but ended up falling over. Jade quickly picked up Arctic before leaning him against the wall.

Rutile: I must say, that's really a terrible jo-

Jade: I Am Reporting The Situation!

Rutile: Well, then, shall we rip them open

Arctic quickly staggered back, he doesn't not like that idea.

Diamond: Wait A Minute!

Dia quickly grabs the bowl with the "Phos" snail and puts it behind himself, hiding it from rutile.

Rutile: It's hard to say what will happen with this silly little thing, or the human... but if that thing is truly Phos, it should be fine.

Diamond: B-But... animals and humans can't be put back together again, can they?

The little snail quivers in fear on Dia's shoulder while Arctic tries to back away.

Rutile: Animals rot away when they break...

Jade: In order to adapt to their environment, older ones pass in favor of their replacements. That's what Master told me.

Arctic: Hahaha, Older Age, Get A Load of This Guy.

Bortz: What Inferior beings. So that's what he's turned into?

Euclase: How inconvenient.

Rutile: We certainly want to fix this before Master awakens. Well, as long as he isn't taken to the moon. We've done our part here.

Bortz: Dia, return once your arm is mended. I'll get repaired later.

Bortz then leaves as Euclase approaches Dia before giving him his glove containing his hand.

Euclase: Phos dropped this right before getting sucked in. Maybe in hopes that your arm could be saved.

Jade: We're also responsible for telling Phos to investigate that shell in the first place. But, seeing as we don't know what to do, let the doctor handle it for now.

Jade and Euclase take their turn and leave as well, leaving Dia all by himself... Arctic is also in the room but he's a quiet kid right now. Eventually Rutile manages to fix Dia before Dia then leaves "Phos" in the room.

Diamond: Ok, bye then...

Rutile: I'll take good care of it.

Diamond: Thank you.

The mad doctor then gained an evil grin before pulling out some scissors and a scalpel, before slowly approaching the slug. Dia quickly grabbed the bowl and ran off. leaving only Arctic and Rutile in the room.

Rutile: Well then, that's disappointing... As for you Arctic... Sensei has taught me how to... fix you.

He says while continuing to hold the scalpel and scissors.

Rutile: And with this thin string and needle Red Beryl gave me, I'll put you back together with ease once I see what's inside of you.

Arctic's heart dropped as he watched the crazed doctor slowly approach with the tools at hand. The Merc ran toward the exit trying to escape but was grabbed by Rutile.

Arctic: DIA! DON'T LEAVE ME HERE! DIA! DIA! HELP ME!

Rutile then grabbed a piece of a broken arm before bashing Arctic in the head knocking him out. Arctic rag dolled across the floor as Rutile dragged him onto a table and proceeded with the surgery to remove and fix his damaged body.

Thirty Minutes Later

Arctic's POV

That Quack of a doctor of course had to knock me, as if I haven't fallen unconscious so many times huh. I slowly woke up as my front ached in pain but it was tolerable. For now I lifted myself off the table I was on as I began to shamble to my feet. Remind me to run on sight of that Doctor if I ever see him again.

Rutile: ARCTIC! I'M NOT DONE WITH YOU YET!

I heard the voice of the doctor yelling in the distance as I jumped to my feet and leaped out the side of the school fleeing for my life from the doctor.

Arctic: NEVER AGAIN!
_______________________________
Author here, so sorry for the huge break, I was dealing with a lot of school and lack of sleep, and here I am posting in the middle of the night for me, chapters 10 and 11 and done as I just need to fix some grammar errors and as a bonus for taking so long, there will be a 11.5 chapters. Thank you so I much for reading.