Tweddledum and Tweedledee are making their way back to Varona. Having just finished a Syndicate mission, they are leisurely walking beside a slow-running stream. They stop for a second to take in the beautiful sight of nature until Dum breaks the serene silence.

"So, how are things going between you and Mystique?" Dee has now been on a few dates with the Assassin in question and his partner seems to be curious.

"It's actually going quite well. We had dinner at Ali's the other evening. It was perfect. On the way out, I'm sure I saw you and Talia hitting it off." Dee has been waiting for the right time to tell his friend that he had noticed them before.

"What? It was... I was... She's Talia, you know? Everyone knows her. She wouldn't be interested in a goof like me. That beauty is reserved for someone better than me." Not intending to stir up such feelings in his friend, Dee can't help but be saddened at Dum's self-deprecating words.

"Don't be ridiculous. You're a great guy, when you're not purposely trying to annoy me," he says causing them both to laugh.

"Thanks, bro. For the sake of the Core, I can't get her out my head. Her eyes are like icicles that pierce my soul everytime she looks at me. Her hair the sky, ever surrounding me in its feathersome embrace."

"Since when did you start reciting poetry? That was deep shit!" Dee's quite shocked at his partner's honesty. Normally he keeps his own feelings well hidden.

"She captivates my heart. Damn it, Dee! Since you brought her up, I can't stop thinking about her." He shakes his fist in his friend's direction.

"If we were all human, people would think she was Light's sister." Dee's words run through Dum's brain.

"Why would you say that? Now..."

"Well, we're all related in a way." Dum looks at his partner and shakes his head.

"You've just made it weird..." The rest of the journey home is carried out in silence. Dee plans an evening with Mystique while Dum imagines Light, standing behind Talia with his hand on her shoulder. His eyes threaten anyone that dares harm his beloved sister. No man, or monster, safe from his wrath.

'Damn it, Dee!'

Dungeon Stories Volume 2

I hadn't even realised what I had done until after Anya had gotten her class. When I did I felt incredibly foolish. What I had done for her, I could also do for my partner. I had been trying to combine skills from every element to make a soulless body for Me. Truth be told, I don't even know what would happen if I tried that.

Without even realising it, I had stopped the Magus' body that I summoned for Anya from coming with a soul. If I knew it was that easy, then I would have done it for Me a long time ago.

We head back to the clinic and I leave Anya in Tilly's capable hands, her surgery already filling up with regular people. I teleport to the core room to see what I can do for Me. I haven't mentioned it to him yet. I thought just chucking him into a body would be funny. I'm also hoping that after the encounter with Anya's soul, mine and Me's will be easier to differentiate between. Otherwise I could end up ripping myself out of my own body instead. A terrible thought, indeed.

The sight that greets me as I appear in my core room, however, is more than enough to snap me out of my thoughts. "Colin! Who's that?" I point at the Mimic, that's half his size and standing next to him. Colin looks at his smaller counterpart before he faces me again and shrugs.

I'm that happy at the sight of another Mimic, Colin's bláze attitude doesn't even faze me. Mimics cost 20,000DP each! Not that they do much for their extortionate price, except drool and skitter around. Looking around the room, the silver chest that I gave to Colin is gone and the new Mimic is sporting silver rims. It doesn't take a genius to work out what's happened.

Somehow, Colin has turned the other chest into a drool-dropping Mimic all by himself. It could have something to do with that time he ate the pieces of my Core, but I'm not exactly an expert on Mimics. It seems plausible though. After placing nine-more silver chests, to keep an eye on what Colin does with them, I summon a soulless, male Assassin onto the floor next to them. Not like I usually would though. This time is special.

I push as many points as I can into the body's creation, trying to make him as strong as possible. The end result is a magnificent specimen of a man. He's toned in places that I didn't even know possessed muscle. I can only tell this because an armour-like fabric that I've never seen before is moulded to his body.

Before my partner can get a say in my next move, I begin to pull his system-created soul out from my own. A bright ball of light is pulled out from inside me as green tendrils cling to the precious entity. Briefly hearing a scream, I'm unsure whether it was myself or Me, I push on as fast as possible and force the now separated being in my hand into the Assassin on the floor.

A few seconds pass as I gasp for breath. My ghostly body doesn't need oxygen, but my mind feels as though it's just undergone a great trauma and the motion feels necessary.

The Assassin's eyes spring open. I see that they're the same colour as my Core, as he sits up and looks around. He doesn't appear to be too pleased, but it's hard to tell as his facial expressions keep on changing. It would seem he's having a hard time adjusting to having a face.

"Me? How you feeling buddy?" He glares at me through his new-found view of the world.

What did you do to me!?

Use your mouth. You're going to have to get used to it.

"W-what did you... D-do to me?" He eventually gets out. Although his pitch is off and the sentence is slightly staggered, it wasn't bad for a first attempt.

"I told you I was going to make you a body, didn't I? This one is strong too just so you know. Probably even stronger than Light and the others. I'm not sure how much DP I put in you, but it was a lot. I wanted you to be tough, Me."

"I don't... know what to say?" He's still in shock, I get it. Seeing as how he has a fully-functioning body, I know what will help him adjust to real life. Clenching his fists a few times he gets used to his arms before he attempts to stand up. Me's legs shake and buckle and it takes him a few attempts just to get used to standing up. I watch him practice and offer tips while keeping an eye on my King Mimic. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Colin devour one of the silver chests whole. The small box completely disappears inside the larger box's void before it is spat back out.

Less than a minute later, there are three Mimics in my Core room with me and Me. By the time it takes my partner to adjust to moving around in his new body, Colin has acquired another nine subordinates.

What the fuck!?

"Mouth. Remember?"

"How did they all become Mimics?" he asks. He's getting better with his body too because he actually looks shocked.

"Colin ate them. Then spat them out. Afterwards they became Mimics. Easy."

"That is not what I would call this situation." Me sighs. "Yeah, yeah. I'm well aware of what you would call it. The only thing I can see right now though is 200,000DP's worth of free Mimics."

I summon ten freshly-unlocked Gold Chests and then ten more Diamond Chests. My heart beats in anticipation. Colin is a Mimic making machine! Who would've thought that would happen?

I teleport myself and Me to the kitchen inside Ali's restaurant. The Gourmet, attentive as ever, notices immediately and comes over to us.

"I honestly didn't think you would be able to separate me from your own soul, Abi." Me stares in my eyes and states.

"To be honest, Me. Neither did I. That was all just brazen confidence before..." I smile back as his face turns red with anger. "Hey, Ali. Can I get some treats for Me?"

"Then why did you do it?" He shouts as Ali tries to get a good look at his face. She fails due to Me being taller than her so she pulls him down by his cheeks. "Me? Is that you?" She asks.

They could pass themselves off as brother and sister to anyone who doesnt know them. Their hair and eyes are almost identical.

"Yes. Apparently, I am a person now." Me grumbles sourly removing himself from her grip.

"Don't be like that. You're going to love it soon. I guarantee it."

"Master. I will create something special for this occasion." Ali begins to grab pans and utensils.

"Make a lot then, Ali. We may as well make a celebration out of it tonight. A lot of good things have happened recently and now I'm not under as much pressure. It would be good to relax and enjoy everyone's company."

"That sounds wonderful, Master. I'll begin right away. Girls!" Ali assembles her sous chefs and they all get started on their prep.

"Where do you intend to hold this Banquet? Your family grows more and more every day and surely not all of them can attend. Some will still have work to do in Varona or did you forget?" Me asks as Ali pulls a creamy-treat out of a magical storage unit and hands it to him.

"That's a good point. The buildings don't have enough space for such a gathering. Luckily for us, there's enough space right outside." Me doesn't hear my words as his mouth is full of sugary delight.

"O... My... Gud." He mumbles as we make our way outside. After searching through the features I unlocked from absorbing the three dungeons, I find a bench and begin placing them down in rows. They eventually get better in design as I continue to unlock better versions for every ten I place. Once I'm comfortable with the amount, I replace older models and store them away.

Teleporting to Talia's, I left Me with Ali. He was adamant about testing more flavours and The Gourmet didn't seem to mind. If anything she welcomed the new tester.

Informing Talia of the banquet, I ask if she needs anything from me but she declines. I'm happy that I no longer have to stock her wares, but I also feel slightly sad. Visiting the other establishments inside and out, no one needs me to refill their shelves either.

My family appears to be operating smoothly without me. Gone are the days where they needed me to replenish their goods on a daily basis. Everyone now uses our own forces to complete quests and they get what they need that way.

It's amazing and also sad. Amazing that they have managed to become self-sufficient, especially with me guiding them. Sad because I lose a little bit of my connection with them.

I would agree.

Hey, buddy. How you feeling?

Slightly sick, Ali seems to think. She says I have eaten too much.

Yeah? I'm sure you will be able to handle your impulses in the future now you know what can come of them.

Why have the smells turned from delicious to nauseating?

That's just how it goes, Me. Don't worry you'll get there. For now just rest up and digest your food. I'm going to go spend my points before tonight's deposit.