A nine-year-old Louis sat beside his closest and best friend (Y/n). Being a year younger than him, the eight-year-old girl kicked her legs back and forth as she listened to him read a fairytale story. Once he finished the story, he looked over at her and asked, "What would you want to be in a fairytale, (Y/n)?"

"Hmm..." The girl hummed, falling into deep thought. She tapped her finger against her lip as she recalled all the characters in the story. After a few seconds of thinking, a smile blossomed on her face once she came to a conclusion. "I'd wanna be a dragon!"

"What?" Louis' crimson eyes widen in shock. He closed the book and placed it in his lap. "Why would you want to be a dragon?"

"They can fly, breathe fire, and have these really pretty scales! My scales would be (f/c)!" She giggled.

Louis still couldn't believe her response. "I'm surprised you wouldn't choose to be a princess."

(Y/n) tilted her head with a puzzled expression. "Why's that?"

"A dragon doesn't get everything it wants. On the other hand, a princess would have servants, a castle, and knights to protect her. Wouldn't you rather have everything you wanted and not worry about anything?"

The (h/c)-haired girl scoffed. "No way! As long as I have you, I have everything I need and want. And besides, a princess can't breathe fire!"

Louis' cheeks turned a faint shade of red. He redirected his gaze and tried to hide his face. He cleared his throat in an attempt to keep his voice from quivering, but it was futile. "Wh-Where would you want to live if you were a dragon?"

(Y/n)'s eyes sparkled as she answered. "By the ocean!" She glanced away from Louis and stared out across the city. "Now that I think about it, I wanna be a water dragon! That way, I would never have to leave the ocean! You'd come with me, right?"

"Humans can't breathe underwater, (Y/n)," Louis replied.

"I know that!" She huffed, puffing out her cheeks. "What I was trying to say is you could become a merman! Or you could be a dragon like me! How about it?"

Louis chuckled, smiling gently. "A dragon or a merman, huh? I wouldn't mind either as long as I'm with you, (Y/n)."

She smiled back at him. "We'll always be together, won't we, Louis?"

He nodded. "We will. I promise, (Y/n)."

••••••••••

Louis opened his eyes and found himself on the sofa. He'd fallen asleep and hadn't realized how long he'd been out. There was a part of him that wanted to fall back asleep and delve back into his delightful dream, but he knew they had an important mission in locating the other successors. Pushing himself off the couch, he rendezvoused with Syra, Yakumo, and Mia at the entrance of the church.

Yakumo glances at the crimson-eyed boy. "Look who's finally awake. You must've been having a nice dream because you were smiling and mumbling (Y/n)'s name."

Louis reaches up, clasping his hand around the ring that hung from his neck. "It was more of a memory than a dream."

Mia glances between the two boys. "Who's (Y/n)?"

The redhead grinned, patting his friend on the back. "Louis' girlfriend and childhood friend."

Louis sighed. "She's not my girlfriend."

"You might've not been able to confess your feelings before the Great Collapse, but I know she's more than a friend by the way you talk about her."

Knowing it was fruitless to argue with Yakumo, he changed the subject. "Right now, we need to be focused on locating the next successor."

"We were able to locate an unexplored cave near the outskirts of the city," Syra stated. "Let's start there."

Yakumo gestured to the door. "Lead the way."

The group left the church and headed to the cave Syra mentioned. There, they encountered a few Lost that caused little to no problems. After defeating them, they proceeded deeper into the cave and were astonished by what was located on the other side. There was a large lake and on the island located in the center was the crypt of one of the successors. The rock-like spikes protruded from the ground, curving at the ends to create a dome-like shape.

"I never knew there was a lake here," Mia commented, staring at the crystal clear water.

"That's because there wasn't," Yakumo said.

"We already know the extent of a successor's power. It's possible they created the lake," Louis stated. "Let's proceed with caution. The ground along the cliffside seems to be unstable."

Yakumo peered over the ledge of the cliff. "That'd be one hell of a fall."

"Let's go," Syra said, taking the lead.

The group followed the pathway across the cliffside and down the outer rim of the lake. They circled around and fought through the many Lost wandering the area in search of a way to the crypt. As they trekked across the various winding pathways around the lake, they noticed the closer they got to the crypt, a menacing fog grew thicker and thicker. Eventually, it was difficult for them to see a few inches ahead of them.

"What's with this fog?" Mia asked.

"Not sure, but keep on your toes," Yakumo warned. "Who knows where the Lost are hiding in this fog."

Syra remained at the front of the group. She carefully navigated the fog and fought against the Lost that tried to ambush them. She exceeded extra caution when she was forced to look down to avoid falling off the path and taking a dip in the lake.

By the time they reached the crypt, the fog was gone. Louis and Yakumo exchange confused glances, wondering why the fog had lifted. They didn't question it and headed to the entrance of the crypt. There, they met another attendant. She begged Syra to restore the vestiges she located during their trek through the region. The sunset-haired girl didn't argue and did as the attendant pleaded. Once she was ready to enter the crypt and face the successor, her friends followed close behind.

Inside the crypt, Louis noted the edges were missing and provided access to the deep, dark water surrounding the island. The ground, unlike the surrounding area, appeared to be made out of glass. It was clear, and they could only see a few meters below the surface of the water. He warned the others and realized just how careful they would have to be during their fight against the successor.

Mia, having reached the center of the crypt, looked around in confusion. "Where's the successor?"

Before anyone could answer, a large creature surged from the depths and emerged from the water.

It placed its webbed appendages on the edge and hauled its body out of the water. Its snake-like body wrapped around the crypt, blocking the group's only escape. The creature's bright golden eyes focused on them, watching their every move. It dug its claws into the glass before releasing a deafening roar.

"Heh," Yakumo smirked. "I always welcome a challenge."

"Watch your footing," Louis reminded his friends as he prepared for battle. "Slipping into the water would be a death sentence."

"Let's do this," Syra said. She gripped her halberd tightly before sprinting into action.

As the revenants fought against the Successor of the Spine, Louis couldn't help but remember his dream. He remembered how (Y/n) wanted to be a dragon in a fairytale instead of a princess. Taking in the creature's appearance, he realized it resembled a water serpent which was exactly what she wanted to be in a fairytale. While blocking one of the creature's attacks, he mumbled, "It can't be..."

Syra overheard him and asked, "What's wrong, Louis?"

He shook his head, returning to the battle at-hand. "It's nothing."

Suddenly, the beast dove back into the lake and created an underwater vortex. It shook the island and cracks began forming in the glass.

Seeing this, Yakumo clicked his tongue in annoyance. "Damn... We better stop this thing quick or the entire island will crumble."

The creature emerged from the lake and reentered the crypt. It lashed out at the group in an attempt to kill them, but its attack was abruptly stopped when Yakumo and Syra plunged their weapons into its legs. It cried out in pain before using its elongated body to knock them off their feet. Mia and Louis charged forward and dealt a few blows before being forced back by the creature's ear-piercing roar.

Syra and Yakumo recovered from their tumble and reclaimed their weapons. In unison, they focused their attacks on the webbed appendages and were able to knock the serpent down for a few seconds.

Once it recovered, Louis dashes forward and plunges his blade into its chest. His attack was the final blow. With a defeated roar, the serpent's body collapsed to the ground before vanishing and revealing the relic within. Without hesitating, Syra quelled the relic and everyone soon found themselves traversing the memories of the successor.

To Louis' horror, the first memory that plays is the same one he experienced in his dream. Him and (Y/n) were sitting side by side and reading their favorite fairytale together. After finishing the book, they shared the same conversation he heard in his dream. Slowly, the memory fizzled and they moved on to the next one.

The second memory consisted of (Y/n) waking up as a revenant. She and Louis both perished at the hands of the queen, but she was the first to awaken as a revenant. She stayed by Louis' side, eagerly awaiting for him to resurrect. However, she was approached by Jack after learning she had the potential to become a successor. Fearing Louis would never awaken, she became the Successor of the Spine and created her own crypt where she could spend all of eternity.

The third memory showed the group what sorrow (Y/n) suffered from being alone for so long inside the crypt. She hugged her knees close to her chest, burying her face into them as she cried. She called out Louis' name, but all she could hear was her own voice echoing in the emptiness of the crypt.

Louis placed a hand over his chest, clutching the front of his shirt tightly as he listened to (Y/n)'s sorrowful wails. His jaw tightened as he gritted his teeth. He couldn't bear to listen to her desperate, sorrowful cries of his name any longer and wanted the memory to end. However, his heart shattered into a million pieces when they entered the fourth and final memory.

In the final memory, (Y/n) lied down on her side. Her breathing was labored and her body shook as it was consumed by an immeasurable pain. Tears cascaded down her cheeks as her hoarse voice begged Louis for forgiveness. She continued to apologize to him until her body was consumed in an unbearable pain. The last thing everyone heard was her painful cry before she lost control.

Syra, Mia, and Yakumo glance at Louis and noticed his level-headed expression was gone. A frustrated and melancholic frown found its way onto his face. He hung his head, mentally blaming himself for (Y/n)'s loneliness and pain. Fighting against his raging emotions, he pushed forward and headed to the grand doors in order to leave the memories behind.

However, Louis froze in his tracks when the scenery around him warped and he found himself in the park where he and (Y/n) would visit ever day. On a nearby bench, he spotted the (h/c)-haired girl with an all-too-familiar book in her lap.

Louis' eyes widen at seeing her. "(Y/n)...?"

Said girl lifted her head and looked in his direction with a smile. Placing the book on the bench, she stood up and walked over to him. There was no hesitation in her stride as she approached. Stopping in front of him, her smile widens. "I'm so glad you're finally awake, Louis."

Louis' hand twitched in eagerness. He desperately wanted to touch her, but was afraid to. He managed to smile back, but it wasn't as bright as hers. "Sorry I took so long, (Y/n)."

She shook her head. "Don't apologize. I'm just glad you're okay."

Louis replayed the memories he just witnessed, causing his smile to vanish. "(Y/n), I... If only I had woken up sooner..."

"Even if you had, I still would've become a successor. But just remember this, Louis: Don't blame yourself. I became a successor of my own volition. I did it so I could protect you and many others."

Without thinking, Louis closed the distance between them and wrapped his arms around her. He held her flush against his body, combing one of his hands through her (h/c) locks. "You truly aren't a princess in a fairytale."

(Y/n) giggled at his comment. "You sound a little disappointed. Why?"

Pulling away slightly, Louis untangled his hand from her hair and placed it on her cheek. Stroking his fingers against her skin, he gazed lovingly into her (e/c) eyes. "I wanted to become your knight."

Her smile was replaced with a baffled expression. She blinked in shock, wondering if she really did sense affection in his gaze and words. She truly thought she was hallucinating when she saw the love in his eyes, but decided to squash the thought as she asked, "Louis, do you...?" Realizing what she was about to ask, she held her tongue. "Never mind."

It wasn't difficult for Louis to read (Y/n). She was an open book to him and he knew exactly what she wanted to ask. He caresses her cheek with his knuckles while his eyes focused on her lips. He felt the urge to kiss her, but fought against the feeling. "I do love you, (Y/n)," he confessed. "I'm sorry it took so long for me to say it."

A gentle, warm smile manifested on her face. "Better late than never, right?" She giggled. Reluctantly, she pulled away from Louis and clasped her hands together, beginning to feel the telltale sign of her body slowly turning to stone. "I'm glad I was able to see you one last time, Louis. Thank you for everything."

Louis' mouth opened and closed, but no sound came out. He clenched his fists tightly as he helplessly watched (Y/n)'s body turn to stone. He admired her smile one last time before her entire body became petrified. His jaw quivered in anger and sorrow, reaching out and placing his hand on her shoulder. He muttered an apology under his breath before turning to face the others.

Syra approaches Louis with a reassuring smile. "This isn't the end, Louis."

The crimson-eyed boy watched the sunset-haired girl saunter over to (Y/n). He wondered what she was doing, gasping in shock when she placed her hand on the statue's chest and a bright light engulfed them. Everyone was forced to close their eyes due to the harsh brightness.

Once the light vanished, Louis opened his eyes and looked around. They were back in the crypt with the creature they'd fought a short while ago. Everyone except Louis remained on high alert as the serpent eyed them closely. The messy-haired boy approached the dragon and stared into its piercing yellow eyes. A smile made its way on to his face. "It seems you really are a dragon, (Y/n)."

The creature lowered its head as a familiar voice emitted from its sealed mouth. "It's not as fun as I thought it would've been."

Louis chuckled lightly. "Now would you want to be a princess?"

"No way! If I was one, I wouldn't be able to breathe underwater." She looked away from Louis and toward the others. "Who're your friends, Louis?"

Removing his hand from her snout, he gestured to his companions and introduced them one by one. Each one stepped forward when Louis called their name and greeted (Y/n).

After a brief conversation, the group knew they had to leave. Louis didn't want to leave (Y/n) behind, but he had no other choice. It was safer for her to remain in the crypt until they found a way to free her from her role as a successor.

Before departing, Louis turned to her and said, "I promise we'll find a way to free you, (Y/n)."

"I know you'll find a way. You always keep your promises, Louis."

He smiled at her one last time before leaving the crypt with his friends.

After months passed, all seemed quiet in the Gaol. Judo was defeated alongside Silva and the successors were no longer needed. Slowly but surely, all the successors reverted back to their normal selves and found themselves interwoven back into society.

Louis grabbed his blood veil and sword, readying to depart from the church. He glanced at Karen and Aurora just as Yakumo sauntered over. Smirking, the redhead crossed his arms. "Someone's desperate to see (Y/n). You know it's only been a few days, right?"

"I'm aware," Louis replied. "But she should've been here by now. I'm going back to the lake."

"By yourself?"

"I'll be fine, Yakumo."

"I know you can handle yourself out there, but just make sure to bring her back once you find her. There's so much I wanna ask her. After all, I've gotta get some dirt on you," he chortled.

A huff of laughter escaped Louis. He glanced at the redhead before leaving the church. He trudged through the streets of the ruined city toward the location of the cave that would lead him to the lake.

As Louis navigated through the damp cave, he stopped when he spotted a figure standing at the end. He saw they were pacing back and forth and mumbling incoherently to themselves. Walking towards the person, Louis was able to recognize them when his eyes adjusted to the brightness of the sun when he emerged from the cave. "(Y/n)?" He called out gently.

The young girl ceased pacing and turned to face him. Her (e/c) eyes widen in shock before returning to normal a few seconds later. "L-Louis, what're you doing here?" She knew it was an idiotic question, but it had unconsciously slipped from her lips.

"I'm here for you," he answered. "When you didn't return, I became concerned."

(Y/n)'s cheeks turned bright red. She tugged at the hem of her shirt, casting her gaze to the ground. "I-I've been trying to leave, but then I realized I have no idea where to go. After being a successor for so long, my memory of the city's layout is kinda obscure."

Louis smiled kindly at her. Slowly, he reached out and grabbed her hand. Holding it gently, he pulled her closer. "It's a good thing I arrived when I did."

She lifted her head and stared into his one visible crimson eye. "I'll say... You've impeccable timing, Louis."

"Now then," he said, entwining his fingers with hers. "Let's go."

(Y/n) nodded with a smile. She allowed Louis to guide her through the cave and the city until they arrived back at the church. There, they were approached by Karen. The older Amamiya was overjoyed to see her brother reunited with the (h/c)-haired girl after being apart for so long.

After their brief conversation with Karen, Louis and (Y/n) encountered Murasame. She bombarded them with tons of questions and had to be taken away by Yakumo so the two could be left alone.

Louis showed (Y/n) around the church. His tour eventually led them outside to where the hot spring is located. She was in awe at the sight and couldn't believe there was such a luxury in the Gaol. She squatted down and dipped her hand in the warm water. "Guess I know where I'll be spending most of my time," she giggled.

"You're not sick of water?" Louis questioned.