Evolving Threads (Multi-crossover)

Falling into place

[a]= expressions/actions mid-sentence
'a'= thoughts

None of the artwork/videos shown belong to me.

-------------------------------------------

Ryuko opened her eyes to find that she was surrounded by darkness, the only light being a golden bridge that extended into further darkness and had almost no end in sight. It was intimidating, scary almost. She hesitated to take her first step until she saw Tatsumi walk forward, his hands in his pockets as he marched right past her without a hint of the hesitation she felt. She stole herself and takes a step forward only for a small crack to form in the bridge, as well as a heavy weight on her back.

Next, Ren walks forward passed her clad in his Phantom gear much more cautious but still with not as much difficulty as Ryuko still struggled, each step she took more cracks formed in the bridge and the heavier the weight got until she finally fell through and into the abyss below. Before waking up, breathing heavily and sweating a bit.

Senketsu: Another nightmare?

Ryuko: Yeah, I'm fine though. It just felt weirdly real...

Senketsu: Don't they all. I'm starting to believe they're more than just dreams.

Ryuko shook herself off and got up. She found herself in a cell in a mysterious looking room, the door opened for her already.

Ryuko: Where are we?

Senketsu: It looks like the place Ren led us into.

Ryuko nods before sitting on the edge of her bed deep in thought before gritting her teeth and hitting the wall behind her.

Ryuko: God dammit! I'm so pissed off right now... I can't believe I let her get to me again! 

Senketsu: It was quite a shock. I don't think there was anyway you could've expected or prevented that.

Ryuko: Yeah, I know... She was right too, if I hadn't cut her in the first place Nui wouldn't be here in the first place. [She sits in thought for a moment thinking about all that's happened] I was such a dumbass and now my friends are paying for it... Again.

Senketsu: So... Is that what your shadow meant, when it was talking about how you were scared of being labeled as a monster?

Ryuko: It's... It's not that, I know that people care for me, it's kind of impossible to deny it with Tatsumi AND Mako around. I'm just scared of losing what I have... Back in Honnouji things were a lot simpler crazy as things were. Everyone had crazy strong suits or were just naturally skilled so whenever I fought with someone, it was like I didn't have to watch out for anything because at worse I'd destroy their uniform and get stronger, I had full reign to be as reckless as I wanted because I knew everyone else could keep up... But now, I'm not so sure. My power is so, destructive and the people around me are always at risk of getting seriously hurt if I mess up even a little bit.

Senketsu: The Phantom thieves are not frail children that need protecting. They're fighters just like you and Tatsumi.

Ryuko: No they're not. Most of them are just regular people who were dragged into a situation where they have to save the world again and I can tell you how that feels. You start lashing out, getting pissed off at every little inconvenience, of course some of it can be contributed to the blight but it doesn't change the fact that it's how they feel. And to say that they aren't already beaten down would be a lie. Ryuji's still injured wherever he is right now, everyone here is exhausted as all hell and distraught at what happened to Mako and Mona, and Ren... I don't even want to think about what he's going through right now.