Shadow Slave Fanfic: Peaceful Dreams...well...kinda. [New]

Rick let out a weary sigh, his hand finding its way behind his head in a gesture of resignation.

"I intend to keep this little secret of mine locked away for as long as I can."

Jet let out a laugh, a mischievous grin dancing on her lips.

"You do realize that she's bound to ask why you vanish every night, especially when that fateful evening arrives where you're meant to stay with her. If you catch my drift."

A crimson hue crept across Rick's cheeks as he scratched the back of his head, flustered.

"I... I hadn't even considered that."

Jet chuckled, her amusement evident.

"Sure, whatever helps you sleep at night."

Rick sighed again, the weight of his thoughts heavy on his shoulders.

"I just can't bear the thought of anyone witnessing me in that form. It makes my skin crawl, knowing that most who see it only feel terror."

Jet gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder.

"It can't be that dreadful. And remember, it's what's inside that truly counts. So muster up some courage and spill the beans."

Rick buried his face in his hands, his voice trembling with anxiety.

"But what if she despises me for it? I can't let this form ruin my life once more."

Jet laughed heartily, her tone light.

"Come on, you're being a bit overdramatic, don't you think? You've got this under wraps, and just because you morph into a demon every night doesn't change how she feels about you two."

Rick lowered his hands and managed a smile.

"Thanks, oh wise Soulreaper Jet. Your honesty means a lot."

Jet chuckled, waving her hand dismissively.

"Just call me Jet. We're friends, after all."

Rick raised an eyebrow, a hint of confusion in his gaze.

"We are?"

Jet laughed, her joy infectious.

"Of course! You might have been a tad rough earlier, but it was quite the spectacle. Plus, I admire your loyalty; you didn't buckle under Effie's proposal."

Rick felt warmth spread across his cheeks.

"You left me no choice! And I'm not easily swayed to reveal that side of me."

Jet chuckled again.

"We're going to see more of you in the future anyway, since you're Rain's boyfriend. So, try to relax a bit when you're around us."

Rick laughed awkwardly, scratching his head.

"Well, I guess it's a bit premature to label me that, but it's definitely what I aspire to be for her someday."

Jet beamed at him.

"You're doing splendidly so far! Not that I'm an expert on relationships, but she seems quite taken with you."

"Thanks! So... will you keep my secret until I tell Rain?"

Jet extended her hand, which Rick grasped with a grateful smile.

"Absolutely! But I can't guarantee the others won't sniff around once Kai or Sunny get involved. Hiding won't be easy."

Rick chuckled, a hint of determination in his voice.

"Then I better spill the beans soon. I hope you're right, and she won't turn her back on me."

Jet released his hand, her expression reassuring.

"I'm certain she won't. That girl was smitten the moment you bumped into her."

Rick exhaled a breath of relief, his gaze drifting toward Bastion.

"Hey Jet?"

"What's up?"

Rick pointed toward Bastion, a playful grin on his face.

"If you beat me in a race to Bastion, I'll show you my demonic form first."

Jet raised an eyebrow, a smirk forming.

"You do know I'm a saint, right?"

"I'm fully aware. But I've never been beaten by someone without a teleportation ability. I've never raced a saint before, so let's see who reaches the city gate first."

Jet shifted her stance, a competitive glint in her eyes.

"Ready when you are."

Rick summoned a jade green coin, tossing it high into the air.

"We'll start when the coin hits the ground."

"Fine."

He stood there, anticipation buzzing in the air. Jet glanced at him, muttering under her breath.

"This is going to be interesting."

Rick chuckled.

"No, it won't."

The coin struck the ground, and Jet propelled herself forward with all her might, disappearing into the forest in the blink of an eye.

Rick laughed, picking up the coin and dismissing it with a flick of his wrist before vanishing in a blur.

**Thirty minutes later in Bastion**

Jet finally arrived, only to find Rick lounging against the city gate, arms crossed with a smug expression.

'Why did I even bother?'

Moments later, she caught up, panting slightly, and leaned against the gate.

"Tell me... how long have you been standing here?"

Rick chuckled.

"About 25 minutes. I honestly thought you'd been ambushed by a harrowing nightmare creature."

Jet shot him an annoyed look.

"You just wanted to stroke your ego, didn't you?"

Rick laughed, shaking his head.

"Nope! I just didn't expect a renowned saint like you to be a turtle."

Jet playfully punched him on the shoulder.

"I think most people would lose to you in a race, even those with teleportation abilities."

Rick patted her shoulder, a grateful smile on his face.

"Thanks, but I have to dash now. Gotta prepare for my date later."

Jet sighed, raising her hand for a high five. Rick obliged, then headed home.

Once Jet caught her breath, she made her way back to the Ivory Tower.

**A few hours later**

Rick stood outside Sunny's café, clad in a dark blue hoodie and white shorts. He waited patiently until the door swung open, revealing Rain in her lovely white summer dress. She hugged Sunny before making her way to Rick, wrapping him in a warm embrace. They both waved at Sunny, who returned their gesture with a smile.

As they strolled toward the ferry, their conversation flowed effortlessly. Just as they stepped aboard, Rick felt a playful poke at his side. He chuckled.

"Hey, what was that for?"

Rain flashed him a bright smile.

"You looked lost in thought, so I wanted to know where we're headed."

Rick pointed toward the Main Castle.

"They're hosting a concert over there, and I thought it'd be fun to take you."

Surprised yet delighted, Rain beamed.

"Sounds great! Want to grab some food first?"

Rick paused for a moment, then replied.

"Sure! What are you in the mood for?"

Rain giggled.

"I'm not sure what they serve in Bastion, but pizza sounds amazing."

Rick nodded, and they disembarked the ferry. A few minutes later, they found themselves in a cozy Italian restaurant, eagerly awaiting their meal.

"Hmm, I haven't had pizza this good in years!" Rain exclaimed after her first bite.

"Honestly, I've never had pizza before, but I must say, it's delightful."

"Never had pizza? It's like the most popular food ever!"

Rick chuckled, shaking his head.

"Where I'm from, we only had monster meat, wild fruits, and veggies."

Rain contemplated for a moment before asking.

"When did you first enter the Dream Realm?"

The question caught Rick off guard, but he masked his discomfort.

"Right after I returned from my first nightmare, close to the Winter Solstice."

"Oh, so you didn't have much time after becoming a sleeper."

Rick nodded, a smile breaking through.

"Exactly! But I was more prepared than most, so I returned after a few months."

They continued their conversation, and after finishing their meal, Rick insisted on paying before they headed to the concert.

As they stood in line, side by side, a man suddenly approached, grabbing Rain by the shoulder.

"Hey, beautiful! Want to join us? We've got VIP tickets and free drinks."

Rain shot him an angry glare.

"No, I don't. Now leave us alone."

The man, clearly irritated, pressed on.

"Why so hostile? Is this guy your boyfriend? He doesn't look like much. I could treat you way better."

Rain took Rick's hand, her voice firm.

"Yes, he is. Now, scram! My mind is made up."

The man's grip on her shoulder tightened, causing her to wince.

"Ouch! Let go of me!"

Rick felt the urge to intervene but didn't want to create a scene. Instead, he locked eyes with the man, who suddenly paled and stumbled back, falling over in a panic. He quickly regained his footing and bolted, mumbling to himself.

"What a monster. I need to get out of here!"

Rick chuckled, turning to Rain with concern.

"Are you okay?"

Rain smiled, her relief evident.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Thanks for that—whatever you did worked like a charm."

Rick gently rubbed her shoulder.

"Glad to hear it. I hope they don't come back."

Rain chuckled softly.

"With how that guy reacted, there's no way he'll dare approach us again."

"You're right. I might have overdone it a bit."

Curious, Rain asked.

"What exactly did you do?"

Rick laughed nervously.

"Just a little trick I picked up over the years."

Rain nodded, smiling as she leaned against him, wrapping an arm around his waist. He blushed but reciprocated the gesture.

Half an hour later, they stood in the crowd before the stage. Rain tried to peek at the performers but couldn't see a thing. Rick noticed her struggle.

"You can sit on my shoulders if you want."

Rain hesitated, her cheeks flushing, but then she smiled and nodded.

"That would be nice, thank you."

With a swift motion, Rick lifted her by the waist and settled her onto his shoulders. She adjusted herself, startled when he placed his hands on her knees.

"Oh, I'm sorry! I thought you'd want me to hold you steady up there."

Rain blushed, stammering slightly.

"It's... it's fine. You can keep your hands there."

With a gentle touch, she cupped his cheeks, her voice a soft whisper, "Are you okay down there?"

Rick's heart raced at the sensation of Rain's delicate hands on his face. Thankfully, she was blissfully unaware of the storm brewing below.

"Y...yeah, I'm fine," he stammered, his mind racing as Rain began to unconsciously stroke his cheeks with her thumbs.

'Oh no, pure thoughts! I'm in deep trouble here. I hope she doesn't need to get down anytime soon. I need to rein this in before it spirals out of control. Curse you, primal instincts!'

Fortunately, she remained perched on his shoulder, and after a few moments, he managed to regain his composure. The concert unfolded without a hitch, the hours filled with laughter and joy, but as twilight approached, Rick cast a glance at the sky, muttering to himself, "This can't go on. Jet's right; I need to tell her. But how?"

Rain caught his murmuring but couldn't quite decipher his words. Just then, her attention was drawn to the stage, where a vibrant poster unveiled the evening's grand finale: Fireworks after sunset.

With a playful tap on his cheek, she pulled him from his thoughts. "What's on your mind?"

He met her gaze, a smile dancing on his lips. "What is it?"

"You were lost in thought again, weren't you? I wanted to see if you'd like to watch the fireworks later."

A wave of nerves washed over him. He could only suppress the transformation for an hour, max, after sunset. But would that be enough to enjoy the spectacle with Rain? Uncertain yet undeterred, he focused solely on her happiness and nodded, knowing the risks.

"I would love to."

Her cheeks flushed at his nervous yet charming smile. After a moment, she added, "Could you... let me down, please?"

He nodded, wrapping his arms around her waist and gently lowering her to the ground.

With a radiant smile, she said, "Thanks for the lift! I had a fantastic view."

Rick chuckled, enveloping her in a warm hug. "No problem at all. I'd do anything to see you happy."

Her blush deepened as she replied, "Th...thanks! I'd do anything to make you happy too. Let's head to my brother's café again; we can catch the fireworks from there."

He nodded, and hand in hand, they strolled toward the exit. As they made their way to the lake, an unexpected voice called out, "Hi, guys! Looks like you're having a blast!"

It was Effie, her son perched on her shoulders.

Rain beamed at Effie with a knowing smile. "Yes! We just came from the concert and are off to Sunny's Café for the fireworks."

Rick bowed slightly, offering a smile. "Good evening, Saint Athena... and, um, your son?"

Effie burst into laughter. "Yes, that's my son! Say hi to Rain and Rick, little dumpling!"

Little Ling grinned widely. "HIIII Rin and Rik!"

Effie chuckled again. "Close enough! We're headed to the Ivory Tower for the fireworks; the view there is unbeatable. Care to join us?"

Rain's eyes sparkled with excitement as she looked up at Rick, whose expression turned troubled.

'I could transform right in front of Rain, but with Saint Athena and who knows who else around?'

But seeing the joy in Rain's eyes, he sighed and relented. "Ehhh, that sounds wonderful. Th...thank you for the invitation, Saint Athena."

Effie laughed heartily, stepping closer to Rick. She placed a hand on his shoulder, grinning widely. "Call me Effie, please. You're Rain's boyfriend now, so we're practically family."

Both Rain and Rick blushed fiercely, exchanging a silent glance. Moments later, Rick smiled and replied, "Thank you, I will, Effie."

"Then let's go! The fireworks will start any minute now," she said, leading the way as they nodded in agreement.

Upon reaching the peak of the island, Rick was awestruck by the sprawling emerald grass, the crystalline lake, and the towering, elegant white structure before him. His jaw dropped in wonder.

"Wow, it's... absolutely breathtaking."

Rain chuckled, noticing his expression. "Right? I felt the same way when I first came here."

With a smile, he took her hand, guiding her toward a gathering of people around tables laden with food and drinks, all prepared by Sunny and Neph.

As they approached the group of firekeepers, Sunny greeted them while grilling burger patties. "Hi, guys! Hope you've had a great day!"

Neph, standing beside Sunny, flashed Rain a smile before walking over to hug her. Turning to Rick, she said, "And you must be Rick, right?"

Rick bowed slightly. "Yes, thank you for having me here in your beautiful citadel, Lady Changing Star."

Neph chuckled, waving off the formality. "No need for titles! I've heard wonderful things about you. Just call me Neph."

Rick felt a blush creeping up his cheeks. "Is that really okay? You're a princess of Valor; I wouldn't want to disrespect your status."

Her laughter rang out, light and joyful. "It's perfectly fine! Everyone here is just fine with you calling them by their names."

Looking around, Rick saw smiles and nods of agreement. He bowed deeply, gratitude spilling from him. "Thank you, everyone. I truly appreciate your kindness."

Rain hugged him tightly, looking up with a playful glint in her eyes. "Hope you don't mind that I planned this with Effie."

Rick's surprise was palpable. "Y...you did what? H...how? You just asked me if I wanted to watch the fireworks with you. How could you have known I'd say yes?"

Rain laughed heartily, lingering for a moment before answering. "I just had a feeling you would."

"How could I refuse when the most beautiful woman in the world asks me to watch fireworks?" he replied, making her blush deeply as she buried her face in his hoodie.

Cassie, standing beside Jet, Kai, and Effie, turned to them, a thoughtful expression on her face. "Is it just me, or does anyone else feel like we've met him before?"

Jet tensed, taking a sip of her drink to mask her reaction.

Effie looked at Cassie, puzzled. "What do you mean?"

Cassie sighed, lost in her thoughts. "I don't know; it's just a feeling. His whole demeanor feels familiar."

Effie shrugged, turning to Jet, who had calmed down. "What do you think, Jet?"

Panic flickered in Jet's eyes again. "M...me? Oh, it's nothing! I don't know what Cassie's talking about."

Kai shot Effie a glance, shaking his head slightly.

Effie caught the exchange, a grin spreading across her face. "Nah, something's up. Kai just confirmed it."

Jet coughed awkwardly. "Well, I guess now that he's here, it's going to come out anyway."

Confusion rippled through the group, except for Cassie, who remained deep in thought.

Finally, the fireworks erupted in a dazzling display, the moon casting a shimmering glow over Bastion.

But Rick was battling his inner demons, not just because Rain was still nestled against him, caressing his arm, but also because he felt the transformation clawing at him.

He knew he had only minutes before the change would begin to manifest. As he looked down at Rain, he noticed his skin shifting, turning a ghastly gray. His nails and teeth elongated, and panic surged within him.

Leaning down, he spoke with a voice that was now a dark rumble. "I'm so sorry, Rain, but I have to go."

He withdrew his arm and started toward the edge of the island, but a hand gripped him—Rain's, confusion etched across her face.

"Why? I thought we were going to watch the fireworks and talk with everyone afterward."

His heart ached at her sad expression. "I can't explain right now. I... I really need to go. I promise I'll visit you tomorrow morning to explain everything."

His voice deepened, hints of red flickering in his eyes as his nails sharpened. A tear slipped down his cheek as he pulled away from her grasp, causing her to gasp when one of his nails grazed her pinky, drawing blood.

In that moment, Rick's mind spiraled into chaos. He stumbled back, the scent of her blood overwhelming him, and crumpled to the ground, fighting against the transformation that had already begun.

Rain rushed toward him, but Jet was there, holding her back.

With worry etched on her face, Rain asked, "What's happening to him? Will he be okay? Please, help him, Jet."

Jet's voice trembled with sorrow. "I... I'm sorry you found out this way. He wanted to tell you, but now it's too late."

Rain's gaze locked onto him for a fleeting moment, panic swirling in her eyes, before darting to Rick, who seemed to be slipping further from himself with each heartbeat.

In an instant, his form began to swell, skin morphing into a shadowy grey as heavy breaths escaped him. He writhed on the ground, clutching his head in a desperate bid to quell the agony of his transformation, a battle he was losing.

The struggle was futile; acceptance washed over him like a cold tide, and in mere seconds, the metamorphosis unfolded. His body expanded further, fabric tearing apart as his features twisted into a grotesque blend of demonic dragon and man—sharp fangs glistened in a maw that housed a forked tongue, while his once-brown eyes ignited into a fierce blood-red. From the back of his skull sprouted two elongated tails, each tipped with menacing stingers.

But the tails didn't stop there; six emerged in total, each stretching an impressive eight meters, each a lethal extension of his new form. Armor-like plates, reminiscent of bone, formed across his skin, and the world around him fell into a heavy silence, punctuated only by Rick's labored breathing and low growls. He knelt, forehead pressed against the vibrant emerald grass, one hand bracing his weight while the other scratched at the back of his head in a frantic attempt to soothe the chaos within.

After a moment, clarity flickered back to life within him, and he exhaled a long, deep groan that seemed to echo the darkness of his new reality.

When he finally lifted his head, the sight before him sent tremors through his being. Eyes wide with shock, the onlookers stared, some fire keepers already summoning their armors and weapons. But it was Rain's gaze that held him captive—her expression a mix of awe and disbelief.

In a panic, Rick raised his arms and tails defensively, his voice a deep rumble tinged with fear. "Please don't look. I... I'm sorry for this. I'll just go."

If the situation weren't so dire, it might have been comical—a man transformed into a demonic figure, acting like a child caught in mischief.

Yet Rain stepped forward, then sprinted to him, her hand reaching out to touch his arm, causing him to flinch. Recognition dawned, and he scrambled backward, his voice a frantic whisper. "No, please, don't touch me, Rain. I might hurt you again."

She advanced, extending her hand, her voice a soothing balm amidst the chaos. "What do you mean? This little scratch? Look, it's already healed. You would never hurt me; I know you wouldn't."

Rick's gaze fell to her pinky, where he had left a small cut. Tears welled in his eyes as he spoke, "Y... you're right. It's healed. But that doesn't change the fact that it happened. I can't risk being near you in this form. It's too dangerous."

But Rain closed the distance, leaping into his arms. He tensed, but with her so close, he dared not move, holding still as tension coiled through him. After a heartbeat, he murmured, "Rain, please let go. It's too risky."

She looked up, meeting his reptilian gaze with unwavering calm. "What are you talking about? I thought you had incredible eyes. Can't you see I'm fine?"

With a heavy sigh, he replied, "Yes, I see you're fine, but I fear I could still hurt you with this... monstrous body."

She chuckled softly, "What monster? I see only the man I love."

His eyes widened, and slowly, he softened, arms wrapping around her with utmost care. A tear slipped down his cheek, then another, until he was weeping, trembling as he held her close. "Thank you, Rain. Thank you for not rejecting me. I love you so... so much."

They remained entwined, a moment stretching into eternity, until Rain whispered with a playful chuckle, "You know everyone is watching us, right?"

Rick's heart raced, a blush threatening to rise—if only his body could betray such warmth. He lifted his gaze to the crowd, still stunned by his transformation, but most wore smiles, some glistening with tears. Nephis leaned toward Sunny, remarking, "She's such a smooth talker, just like her brother."

Sunny chuckled in agreement, "Must be the genes from our mother; she had a poetic soul."

Rick, still grappling with the unexpected warmth of their gazes, felt a smile tugging at his lips—a crooked semblance of joy. He sighed, gently releasing Rain, who stumbled slightly, only to be caught by one of his tails, which lifted her back to solid ground.

Standing tall, he towered over them all, a giant among friends. Rain smiled up at him, "Let's go, the others are waiting."

With a long sigh, he nodded. "Alright."