#lumencia

[aimasup]

could-

could you-

could-

could-

....make that valiant!au a webtoon?

.....please?

ooh now there's an idea

It will never be finished, but one can always dream...

[olivergarlic]

so these are very sketchy but.. brain rot time with the Valiant/Heroic AU its not much but i saw a doodle sheet on here by aimasup and had to doodle some ghgh

[vmod]

I bring ye all slimes

[divinitybeings]

“Now we’re married”

[deci-doodles]

I have no clue whether this is Clemencia or Lumencia so let’s call her No-Clumencia :,)

Valiant AU belongs to @themcnobody

[starryredpandawrites]

Hey guys! Guess who finally updated? Twice! 

I rearranged the order of chapters but here is the current version:

1. Bloody White Hat

2. SNOW DAY!!!

3. A Hero’s Woe.

4. Aviophobia

5. Shadowstepping 

6. Quick announcement (not a fanfic chapter)

7.  L'Hôtel

8. Drink this

Just so ya know, that quick announcement chapter is saying that I’ve changed the names of all the characters (except White Hat) in the newest chapters.

Thanks for reading and stay tuned for more!

Thanks to @themcnobody​ @theinsanefruitloop-chan​ @nivilliain​ for making the Valiant AU which is where I got the new names from. Check out the post about it here: http://themcnobody.tumblr.com/post/169118339539/themcnobody-me-theinsanefruitloop-chan

[nivilliain]

Smile Like You Mean It (Chapter 12)

Name: Smile Like You Mean It Fandom: Villainous/Villanos AU: Smile!/Valiant Beta Reader: @rachrar Rating: E to Teen Warnings: Brainwashing; Torture; Summary: After Zug goes missing, White Hat and Lumencia try to find him. However, they end up in a strange dimension with darkness under its smiling surface.

Banner artwork edited from a piece I commisioned @theinsanefruitloop-chan to do

[First]    [Previous]    [Next]

Zug had made his own makeshift lab with help from the Resistance. They were regularly going out to get what he needed. They didn’t want to risk him getting discovered.

Or that's what they kept telling him.

He knew the truth, however. After finding out that not only had Lumencia been corrected, but White Hat too? He just wanted to go after Smug himself.

It had been an advert that had alerted him to White Hat’s conversion. He was selling something and Zug could recognise his Hat anywhere, even after such a drastic change. Yellow didn’t suit HIS White Hat.

While waiting for the machines to analyse the virus, he had been slowly going through all the files from Smug’s computer. Some of which were encrypted and took a while to open. A lot of them were just CCTV footage from the park. Some of the encrypted videos had been of White Hat and Lumencia’s visit. Smug had been watching them this whole time. It was pretty obvious that Smug had been manipulating both of them the moment they entered this dimension.

Document after document. Hours if not days of footage. Reports. So many of them useless. All of it Zug had to go through because it was the small details that were the key to winning.

“COFFEE!” Zug demanded, barely lifting his head from the desk. “Antlers! Coffee! Now!”

“Sir, my name is not ‘Antlers’, its-”

“Don’t care!” Zug said. “Won't remember it. COFFEE ANTLERS!”

The animalistic boy with fangs and antlers sighed, pouring him coffee. He was one of the rare non-human heroes who hadn’t been corrected. Apparently the day when all the heroes were invited to the park he had been too sick to go.

They had gone because Yellow Hat had been a respected member of the hero community in his dimension. Anyone who could have prevented this from happening fell before they even realised what was going on.

If Smug hadn’t hurt those Zug had loved, then Zug might have had high respects for him.

Zug sipped the freshly brewed coffee. The Resistance had developed a filtering system to help get the food clean of the ‘sunshine serum’ made from the virus. Zug had taken it into consideration while working on a cure. However, it was too crude to copy directly as it could cause permanent damage to biological matter.

“H-how is it going?” Antlers asked.

“Well, Smug- despite being an evil genius- is boring as fuck at times.” Zug mumbled, checking through the next set of decrypted files. “And the virus is being stubborn.”

“I-it’s clever...” Antlers shivered, remembering things he wished he didn’t.

“It’s amazing.” Zug commented. “Therefore a pain. It was definitely manufactured.”

“W-wait, so someone made it?” Antler asked, hugging the empty tray to his chest.

“Yeah.” Zug finally looked up from his computer and desk. He frowned at Antlers. “What the fuck are you wearing?” “Like it? I found it-”

Zug’s eyes widened. He grabbed it off of Antler’s head. “This... this is White Hat’s hat...” He scrutinised every inch of it, checking for any sign of infection. “It.. it’s not infected..”

“Hey! I found it.” Antlers pouted, trying to grab it back.

Zug easily pushed him off. “You idiot! This could be key to curing the virus!”

“W-wait, it’s not just a hat?” Antlers said, stopping in his tracks.

“No.” Zug held it up. “It’s White Hat’s hat.” He looked at Antlers. “This stays between us two, got it?” “I m-mean I should really tell CL-”

“GOT. IT.” Zug said firmly. “Or do you wanna be known as ‘Antlerless’.”

Antlers yelped and ran.

Zug rested back in his chair, looking at the hat. Definitely White Hat’s. It even smelt like him despite what it had been through. Mostly because it wasn't just a normal hat but a part of White. Which begged the question- why wasn't this infected?

“Ah, you are awake.”

Zug nearly dropped the hat. A playlist of Smug’s encrypted videos were playing. So far most of them had been without sound and this was the first one that had recorded a conversation clearly. He turned from the hat to the screen. Smug was talking to Lumencia.

Smug and Lumencia-

He scrambled to sit up properly and pay full attention to the video, ignoring the hat for the moment. He watched as Smug and Lumencia talked back and forth. He fumbled, grabbing a notepad and pen.

He jotted down all points of interest Smug spoke of. The fact that “The Minister��� was definitely not Smug, but rather someone beginning with ‘Ye’. Next was the fact that.. That Smug seemed to get some sort of physic message from The Minister. Was the virus was able to physically communicate between infected?

That ment there was a host. An original.

If it was connected to all the other infected, then maybe curing the source could at least lower the resistance of the other infected, if not cure them all at once.

“Euphoria was just like you. Somehow, she was resistant to it. Your hoodie, the food you had, the music- all of which have somehow not affected you. Which means, and I’m sorry to have to say this but, I am going to have to do to you what I did to her.”

“I’VE GOT YOU!” Zug laughed, unbelieving that it was just handed to him. “I’ve got you, you Smug bastard!” He said, grabbing the Lumencia samples he had saved from the capsule. With this and the uninfected hat he knew what to do.

----

Zug had synthesised one possible cure. It was just enough to cure one person. Testing a drop onto a tiny sample of virus had proved promising. He knew who he would be using this on.

However, getting Lumencia was now the hard part. Her and Euphoria were practically joined at the hip so they’d have to kidnap both. In the end, their best plan was their original plan. That was to have Zug dress as Smug again and lure the two to him.

The first time Zug had worn the costume, he didn’t mind so much although he was grumpy. Now, he down right hated it. He kept feeling his blood boil every time he caught his reflection in the sewer water.

Once he was given the signal, he climbed up and walked out the alleyway- as if he didn’t just climb out the sewer. “Euphoria! Hysteria!” He snapped upon seeing them.

They both stopped, trembling. Clinging onto each other, they turned to ‘Smug’. Honestly Zug wasn't one for hugs but he just wanted to hold them close and protect them from the monster he was dressed as. Instead he took a deep breath. “What are you doing?”

“G-getting.. C-cotton candy?” Euphoria asked, pressing herself more against Hysteria in fear.

Hysteria seemed to be beginning to panic. “W-we’re not d-doing anything w-wrong-!!”

Zug peered at them, “I’ll be the judge of that.” He said, indicating with his index finger for them to come closer.

The girls looked about ready to run away, but ‘Smug’ had them paralyzed. After a few minutes, he just grabbed their linked hands in one of his own roughly and began dragging them. “Hurry up!” He growled.

“Please.. Please... please don’t.. W-we’re being good!” Hysteria said, drool and tears running down her face in panic.

“Quiet.” Zug snapped, unable to look back at the woman he considered like family.

The moment they reached the manhole, resistance members grabbed them and chloroformed them. Zug grabbed Hysteria’s- Lumencia’s hand. “Shhh.. it’s okay... it’s okay...”

There was a  look of realisation- of recognition in her eyes as she gave into the chemical.

[overworkedscientist]

i finally figured out all my people tags so here’s a tag dump whoops

[starryredpanda]

This is so adorable

not-canon-to-AU ship: Lizardhat (Valiant) aka White Hat x Lumencia

one more draft post

[nivilliain]

Smile Like You Mean It (Chapter 10)

Name: Smile Like You Mean It Fandom: Villainous/Villanos AU: Smile!/Valiant Beta Reader: @rachrar Rating: E to Teen Warnings: Brainwashing; Torture; Summary: After Zug goes missing, White Hat and Lumencia try to find him. However, they end up in a strange dimension with darkness under its smiling surface.

Banner artwork edited from a piece I commisioned @theinsanefruitloop-chan to do

[First]    [Previous]    [Next]

“MOTHER FUCKER!”

Zug kicked a nearby garbage can. Yet again he had ended up in another dimension that wasn't his. At least this time he could instantly tell this wasn't his world. He checked his pocket sized dimensional transporter.

“Don’t go red... Don’t you fucking dare go red..”

The ‘Eldritch Juice’ bar turned to red.

Zug screamed in fury, nearly throwing the device- not for the first time. Instead he settled for kicking the garbage can again. Without the device he really was stuck- or at least at the mercy of whatever Hat was in this dimension. He sorta was already since he needed samples from an Eldritch in order to make the device work.

At least with the device he could leave as long as he had enough samples.

Zug huffed and sat down, slipping the device back into his pocket. He snaked his hand under his bag and rubbed his face. This meant another rigmarole of doing whatever this world’s Hat wanted. If he had to share another lab with another ‘ug’ scientist he was gonna scream. Or scream more.

That's when he felt someone grab him and pull him down. The smell hit him as he was slammed up against a sewer wall, the knife against his throat glinting in the sunlight before the manhole cover was pushed back into place.

“You... you you... oh....hoo ho.” The man with the knife spat. “I’m going to enjoy this, you bastard.”

“Do I fucking know you?” Zug asked, not the first time he had been held at knife point.

The military looking man scowled. “No, but you’re gonna suffer for what you’d done.. Doctor Smug.” “Ah, see, I can’t help you with your revenge kick.” Zug said. “I’m not this ‘Doctor Smug’, cause I’m Dr Zug. And I’m not even from this dimension.”

Suddenly flashing a light at Zug’s eyes, the man growled and dropped him. “Shit...” He helped him up. “You’re not infected. Sorry man.”

“Infected?” Zug asked. He had learned very early on in his dimensional travels that he needed to get as much info as possible early on.

“Right, yeah, you don't know.” The man said. “This world is infected by a parasitic virus intent on turning every living thing into a happy zombie.”

Zug pulled a face of disgust strong enough to affect the surface of his bag. “Gross..” He rubbed his shoulder. “So like, you’re the resistance right?” “Right. I’m Cooper.” He grunted. “I’ll take you to CL.”

“Codenames, how cute.” Zug mumbled, following him. The device just HAD to turn red in such a problematic universe.

Zug tried not to breathe in the air too much as he was led to a clearer area. The moment everyone saw him, they grabbed weapons and flashlights. His eyes were bombarded.

“Chill” Cooper said. “He’s not Smug.”

A woman walked over. “Yet another one from an alternative dimension?”

“Seems so Wellis.”

“Whoa- whoa-!” Zug said, shielding his eyes. “Another? Who’s been here before me?”

Wellis looked to Zug. “A woman at least.. She was captured.”

“What did this woman look like?” Zug said, his heart leaping into his throat. Had they gone looking for him?

“Hmm.. I didn’t catch her name but she had candy coloured hair..” Wellis said, trying to remember details.

“Did she have a hoodie with a horn?” Zug asked, stepping closer to this woman.

Wellis took a step back, hand on her knife in its harness. “Not when I saw her. She was wearing a yellow Smile hoodie when I met her.”

“Smile hoodie?” Zug asked, thinking it was an odd detail he should probably question.

“The ‘happy zombies’ are named Smile Citizens.” Cooper explained. “Organization running everything is called “The Ministry of Joy”, run by ‘The Minister’-”

“Which we suspect is just Smug.” Wellis added.

Zug scoffed. “Wow, this Smug bastard has been busy.”

“You have no idea.”

Everyone looked towards one of the tunnels. Out stepped a tall man in a trench coat. Judging by the way he held himself, this was ‘CL’. The man walked over to him and leaned down to look at Zug closer. “Yes... you might pull it off.”

“Whoa, I ain't pulling anything ‘off’,” Zug stepped back. “I gonna fucking ollie out of here the moment I can.”

“How will you do that?” CL asked him, eyeing him.

Zug crossed his arms. “Not telling you.”

CL stood straight. “I’m judging its the device in your pocket.” He said “And the reason your still here is you need something special to power it.” He turned his back to Zug. “You know... if even the smallest amount of the Smile Virus gets into your world or any other world it will quickly take over. It could be a single drop.”

“I’ll be careful.” Zug growled.

“Oh? But you already have some on you.” CL pointed to Zug’s shoe without even looking at him.

Zug lifted his foot, scowling. Where he had kicked the garbage can there was a small mark of black. He groaned. This was a nightmare.

“If you help us get rid of the virus you’ll be able to leave without any risks.” CL said. “We’ll even help you get the fuel. Deal?”

“Like I have a fucking choice..”

---

Smug had reached a new level of happy he didn’t even think was possible. As he walked into the kitchen to find his Smile Hat making breakfast he felt a sense of relaxation and familiarity wash over him.

It hadn’t taken Smug long to think of a new, better name for White Hat now he had been corrected. Not with a smile like that.

“Good Morning Smug!” Smile Hat said cheerfully. He placed the plate down for Smug. “I made you a special breakfast!”

It was eggs and bacon that had been put into the shape of a happy face. Smug smiled under his bag before thanking him and eating. He watched Smile Hat busy himself about the kitchen. Smile’s curly tendril hair was on full display. Smug had yet to find Smile’s hat.

Smile Hat placed food in front of L.O.L, Hysteria and Euphoria. “Remember, a balanced breakfast makes for a healthy day.”

The two girls began to eat. Hysteria had finally normalized with her correction and was nearly identical to Euphoria. They practically were twins. It was good because they kept each other busy.

“The Minister wants to see you today.” Smile Hat said out of nowhere, a single black tear rolling down his cheek from his black eye.

Smug reached over and wiped it away. “I promise I’ll be right over.”

The rest of the morning went by fairly quickly, but Smug could feel Minister’s emotions building. They all could. They were all connected.

So Smug found himself running up the last couple of steps to the platform that oversaw the coaster and the Minister. “Sir! I’m here!”

The Minister’s eyes- one yellow and one black- rolled up to see Smug. He then shifted up further in one swift movement, eye level with the tiny scientist. The coaster groaned and creaked with him- it was a part of him. It moved.

“Where is my portal?” He boomed, voice deep and loud.

“S-sir.. I ran the tests and the Smile Virus.. I-it removed his ability to travel dimensions too!”

A great rumbling could be heard in The Minister’s chest before he gave a loud roar of anger. When Yellow Hat had been infected his ability to travel through the void had been stripped away. It now seemed to be a side effect of the parasitic virus, almost like it was designed that way.

“THEN INVENT SOMETHING!”

Smug trembled a little, from both how loud he was but also the fear. “S-sir, even if I could we’d need some sort of f-fuel and that could only c-come from an Eldritch w-who isn't infected.” He stuttered. “A-and we can’t risk making a cure-”

The Minster leaned closer to the platform. “We might have to... we need to spread. We NEED to spread our happiness to everyone.”

“M-maybe we could just... s... stay...”

The narrowing of The Minister's eyes caused the scientist to bow his head. “F-forgive me sir. I will see if I can... can figure something out. If I can’t, then we can make a cure and use him.”

“Good.”

[nivilliain]

Smile Like You Mean It (Chapter 8)

Name: Smile Like You Mean It Fandom: Villainous/Villanos AU: Smile!/Valiant Beta Reader: @rachrar Rating: E to Teen Warnings: Brainwashing; Torture; Summary: After Zug goes missing, White Hat and Lumencia try to find him. However, they end up in a strange dimension with darkness under its smiling surface.

Banner artwork edited from a piece I commisioned @theinsanefruitloop-chan to do

[First]    [Previous]    [Next] 

Yellow Hat loved his job. He ran a business that worked on products to make people happy. He had his scientist- Dr Smug- to help him with creating all new products. Even though Smug kept suggesting the instant-roller-coaster every chance he got, Smug was very, very good at his job.

Euphoria and L.O.L worked just as hard to make people happy. They often would go to places that would need a little sunshine. Or maybe help Yellow Hat with all the mail he got from adoring fans or those he had helped. Or had yet to help.

“Good Morning everyone!” Yellow Hat said cheerfully as he worked on breakfast- something he always did for them. He didn’t have to sleep often so he did what he could for his human companions to wake them up with a little pep.

“Remember, a balanced breakfast makes for a healthy day.” Yellow Hat said, placing a specially planned plate down for each one of them. He made sure to put only a small container of honey for Euphoria, as she had a habit of overindulging. “Today is mail day! My favourite day!”

Dr. Smug snorted a little. “Every day is your favourite day.” “True! Because every day I get to do what I love with the people I love!” Yellow Hat grinned, showing off his pearly whites.  “We have a whole mountain of mail to go through, so eat up!”

“Can’t believe we’re doing September’s mail already.” Euphoria said around mouthfuls of pancake. “I mean, this year’s going by so fast!”

“Euphoria, please swallow before you talk.” Yellow Hat lightly scolded, missing Smug rolling his eyes.

The girl with the kitten hoodie and wild hair swallowed loudly. “Maybe we should like... do mail twice a month.”

“I swear it takes us a month to get through all the requests.” Smug commented dryly. “Maybe we should up our rates.”

“I don’t know..” Yellow Hat said. He didn’t like putting his services behind a paywall but without money, they couldn't possibly function. It was sadly how the world worked. If Yellow Hat ever got the chance, he would do away with money. That way, the whole world could be on one giant holiday all the time.

The rest of the morning passed by in pleasant conversation. They soon were facing piles of papers. Not to mention the emails Smug would be answering. It was a lot to handle, even for an Eldritch.

Letter after letter. Package after package. A huge pile of out-mail. Nearly done. Yellow Hat wiped his forehead, letting out a sigh of relief as he placed the next letter onto the out-box pile. “Is that everything?”

“Wait, I see something...” Smug commented, grabbing a package that had fallen behind a table. “... don’t know how long this has been here.” He turned it over in his hands. “Doesn't have a name or address on it, just a hat symbol.”

Yellow Hat got up, hurrying over. He took it carefully from Smug and held it up to see. “Hmm...” He, of course, recognised the symbol. Maybe.. Maybe one of them was asking for his help. “Very well.” He tucked it under his arm.

Smug looked at him with curiosity. “Aren't you going to open it?” “I believe it would be best if I open this alone.” Yellow Hat commented, heading towards the door. “I will see you for dinner.” He then vanished through the door, leaving both Smug and Euphoria confused.

---

It was a box.

Yellow Hat looked at it in puzzlement, mostly because it was a puzzle box. One only an Eldritch could solve. So Yellow Hat had been. There was no note attached and he didn’t even know which Hat had sent it. All he knew was it had to contain sensitive material inside if so many precautions had taken place.

After an hour of shifting intricate pieces and unlocking spells, he heard a satisfying click. “Ah-ha!” He opened the box with a sense of achievement. At first it looked like nothing was inside the box, just blackness.

Then the blackness moved.

Yellow Hat didn’t have enough time to react before the black oil-like substance jumped at him. It went straight for his mouth. Yellow tried to pry it off, but it was already soaking into his form, attempting to become one.

He cried out, feeling his insides burn. Slipping onto the floor, he began to thrash. Knocking over papers and desk ornaments and even furniture. His body shifted and morphed in an attempt to separate himself from whatever this thing was, but it was binding to him faster than he could even think.

Yellow Hat wasn't sure when the pain stopped, but he pushed himself up. He was sweating badly, shaking. Looking at the state of the room he let out a groan. His head was splitting. He managed to sit down on his desk just in time for his two human employees to burst into the room.

“Yellow, are you alright?!” Euphoria panicked, rushing up to him.

Smug took in the state of the room with a little “Whoa..”

“M’fine..” Yellow Hat mumbled as Euphoria cupped his cheeks. “Just.. tired..”

“Something happened! What happened?!” She said desperately, having never seen her beloved like this.

Yellow Hat’s brain felt fuzzy. As he tried to tell her about the thing in the box, he found his concentration slipping. His vision fading in and out of focus.

“Let me see him.” Smug said, taking her place. “Euphoria, get L.O.L. We’ll need him to carry Yellow Hat to bed.” Euphoria nodded, doing as she was told. She looked back at Yellow before rushing off. Once she was gone, Smug began examining Yellow Hat. His vision glanced down at the box on Yellow’s desk, and he frowned.

“Got him!” Euphoria ran back in, the large bear thundering after her. The bear grabbed Yellow Hat and rushed off before anyone could stop him. Euphoria quickly following after.

Smug grabbed the box from Yellow Hat’s desk and pocketed it.

[nivilliain]

Smile Like You Mean It (Chapter 3)

Name: Smile Like You Mean It Fandom: Villainous/Villanos AU: Smile!/Valiant Beta Reader: @rachrar Rating: E to Teen Warnings: Brainwashing; Torture; Summary: After Zug goes missing, White Hat and Lumencia try to find him. However, they end up in a strange dimension with darkness under its smiling surface.

Banner artwork edited from a piece I commisioned @theinsanefruitloop-chan to do

[First]    [Previous]    [Next]

“I don't think yellow suits me,”  Lumencia said, looking at herself in the mirror. The hoodie she had been given as a replacement was bright yellow. Hers was being dry-cleaned.

“Better than black.” White Hat offered with a smile. “Black doesn't suit you at all.”

Lumencia sat on the bed. White Hat was reading through all sorts of pamphlets and other documentation. This world seemed to be obsessed with the colours yellow, white, and black.

White Hat looked at her over the plastic leaflet. “You know.. We’re stuck here for at least two days while I recharge. Maybe we should just enjoy ourselves. After all, we’re in a theme park.”

“I don't like it,” Lumencia said. “It’s creepy.”

White Hat sighed and lowered what he was reading. “You’ve never been to another dimension before. Differences like this happen all the time. This is just a world where everyone is a little... energetic.”

“More like crazy.”

“Lumencia!” White scolded.

“What! This dimension’s me was in a straight jacket!” Lumencia said, waving her hand to try and push her point.

“True...” White Hat said. “But you shouldn’t be so judgemental of others.” He added, picking up the leaflet again.

Lumencia looked at White Hat for a moment and then sighed. She wiggled up the bed to lay beside him. “Do you really think Zug could be here somewhere?”

“I... I feel like he is.” White Hat said, eyes fixated on the pamphlet. “After all, and was only thinking about him when I opened the portal. It should have taken me straight to him.”

“Maybe... he’s not here right now but he will be? Like.. he’ll come to this dimension next?” Lumencia suggested as she snuggled up to him.

“Yes.. or...” He looked at her. “Maybe he’s already here.”

---

The rest of the night went by and in the morning the two found themselves being treated to a five-star breakfast buffet with the rest of the humans in this hotel. It wasn't just robots that seemed to be working, some humans did too. However, no matter what the humans were doing they seemed unnaturally happy.

It was hard to focus on it when White Hat seemed to be eating his own weight in croissants. Lumencia had seen him eat before but never like this. It was... kind of funny.

White Hat looked up from his massive plate when he heard Lumencia giggle. He finished his mouthful before speaking. “Whoops, I didn’t realise I was being such a pig.”

“I-it’s fine,” Lumencia said through little giggle fits she was trying to suppress. “It’s just... You’re covered in crumbs!”

White Hat looked down, embarrassed. The crumbs seemed to sink into him like his body was made of quicksand for split second. He didn’t have to eat through his mouth, it was just polite to.

A small, fake cough alerted both of them to Smug standing by their table. He tilted his head. “My apologies for interrupting you but I wished to catch you before you finished breakfast.”

“Oh, hello Smug.” White Hat smiled at him, placing down his cup. “Thank you for such a breakfast. What is it that you wished to speak with us about?”

“I wanted to give you a tour of my beautiful theme park,” Smug said, they could tell by the tone of his voice that under his bag he was beaming with pride.

It was also easy to hear as all the humans at the buffet had gone silent to listen.

“Your theme park?” Lumencia jumped in. “Not your Hat’s?” She smiled when she saw him hesitate, standing and getting in his face. “Where is your Hat?”

“LUMENCIA!” White Hat stood, banging his hands down on the table to make her jump. “How DARE you be so rude to our gracious host!”

“But I-” She said, looking small suddenly. White never lost his temper like that.

“If you cannot behave yourself then you’ll spend the day in your room!” White Hat pointed up, towards where their room was. “And think about what you’ve said!”

The woman hesitated as she glanced between Smug and White. White eyebrows twitched up, silently insisting she follow his instructions. Hanging her head in shame, Lumencia headed back towards her room.

“My apologies for my employee.” White Hat huffed, sitting back down. “I don’t know what’s wrong with her... She's been acting strange ever since we got here.”

Smug sat down on the now free chair, his legs crossing as he sat at an angle. He waved his hand, urging the other buffet patrons to go about their business, which they did without question. “Do not worry, I am not shocked. After all, she is Euphoria’s counterpart and Euphoria is unstable. It wouldn't surprise me if she had some stability issues and dimensional hopping has brought it to the surface.”

“I.. suppose..” White Hat said, seriously considering this. “Although.. I have to say that I am now curious about your Hat-”

“I’m afraid that is something I cannot discuss in such a public place,” Smug said, shifting. “And.. it is a difficult subject.”

“Oh.. oh I’m sorry.” White Hat said, placing his hand upon Smug’s in comfort. White was able to see a momentary silent thank you in Smug’s eyes before the scientist pulled back his hand and stood.

“Shall we?”

[nivilliain]

Smile Like You Mean It (Chapter 5)

Name: Smile Like You Mean It Fandom: Villainous/Villanos AU: Smile!/Valiant Beta Reader: @rachrar Rating: E to Teen Warnings: Brainwashing; Torture; Summary: After Zug goes missing, White Hat and Lumencia try to find him. However, they end up in a strange dimension with darkness under its smiling surface.

Banner artwork edited from a piece I commisioned @theinsanefruitloop-chan to do

[First]    [Previous]  [Next]

Dinner went well for White Hat. It was nice to have a civil meal with someone. No fighting, no bad manners. Lumencia was nice but she didn’t know advance table manners. Zug would take every moment to tease or upset White Hat- which included eating like a slob. However, Smug was different.

Even with the bag, Smug was able to eat in a refined way. Small bites, the right cutlery, no elbows on the table. Heaven.

“I hope everything was to your liking,” Smug said once they had both finished.

“Yes, thank you.” White Hat gave him a smile. “It was nice.”

A robotic waiter rolled forwards and picked up the used plates. It placed down two cups of coffee. White Hat sipped the brew slowly. He found the more he ate, the more he wanted to eat, almost as if it was addictive. Like a drug.

“White? Something not to your liking?”

Smug’s voice brought White Hat out of his trail of thought. He smiled and placed his cup down. “I think I’m finally full.”

Smug tilted his head a little. “Are you sure? If you want more it’s not a problem.”

“No, no.” White Hat gave Smug a reassuringly polite smile. “Umm.. do you mind talking about what happened in more detail?”

“I... suppose not..” Smug placed down his cup, pushing the straw a little. “I did promise we would. So, what do you wish to know?”

“Do you remember what caused you to end up here? Any details at all could be helpful.” White Hat said, hoping deep down that he had found his Zug.

Smug looked White Hat in his eyes for a fleeting second before rubbing his chin. He closed his eyes in concentration. “Hmmm... I remember an explosion. I believe one of my inventions caused said explosion.”

“Anything before that? You must have had a Hat, right?” White Hat said, trying not to sound desperate.

“I remember him being a very kind and noble Eldritch,” Smug said. “Happy and always willing to  smile and help people.”

White Hat couldn't stop himself from grinning. That had to be him Smug was describing. Smug had be Zug! White Hat took Smug’s hands. “I think you’re him! You HAVE to be! You just... got a little mixed up with the dimensional transportation. After all, you loved trains and roller coasters are pretty much trains! You’ve got to be my Zuggy!”

Smug smiled, White could tell by his eyes even though the bag covered it. Smug squeezed White Hat’s hands back. “Maybe I am really your Zug.”

A sweet moment passed between them before Smug stood. He had checked the time. “I’m afraid my day isn't over yet. I have a few more duties to take care of. However, you should get some rest.”

“Are you sure you require no help?” White Hat asked, standing too. “I could-”

“No, no,” Smug said. “You are my guest. I insist you go back to your hotel to relax.”

---

“White, he CAN’T be Zug!” Lumencia exclaimed, kneeling on the bed as White Hat settled down to sleep. “He’s nothing like our Zuggy!”

“He could have just been messed up by his invention.” White Hat said, pulling the blanket more around him. “He remembers me! He described me perfectly.”

“Did you not think that maybe his Hat was similar to you? Or that he’s trying to manipulate you?” Lumencia asked, desperately trying to get her boss to listen.

Stubbornly, White Hat turned off the light and pulled the blanket over himself completely. “He’s Zug, I’ll prove it.”

Lumencia sighed deeply and stepped away from the bed. White Hat was so desperate to find Zug and Smug was taking full advantage of that. She would have to find some irrefutable evidence that Smug was a manipulative bastard like Lumencia knew he was.

Lumencia left the room and went to the first window in the hotel hallway. She cranked that window open and quickly dropped out. Descending down the side of the hotel was easy for her and she was soon on the ground.

She wasn't sure for how long she walked. It was fairly dark between the street lamps and rides. No one was around, at least that's what she thought for the first hour. She kept seeing something out of the corner of her eye. A flash of black. The same flash of black she had been seeing since she came to this world.

Making sure it was following her, she headed down towards a dead end. She climbed the wall and waited. The figure in black fell into the trap and walked down the alleyway.

It was a woman in military-style clothing, with a number of pouches and gear... But the detail that caught Lumencia’s attention most was the headgear she had. It was a headset like someone in a helicopter would wear.

Lumencia jumped down, cornering her. The woman span round and held out a knife in one hand and a flashlight in the other. She shone it into Lumencia’s eyes, causing her to blink.

After a minute, the woman turned the light off and lowered the knife. She then offered Lumencia a headset. Lumencia took it and placed it on with caution. Instant relief filled her, the music being completely cut off. She had learned to tune out the park’s stupid music, but not hearing it anymore made a huge difference.

“You’re not infected.” The woman said, her voice coming through the headset.

“Huh? What do you mean? And who are you?” Lumencia asked.

“We don't have much time before they come looking for you.” She said. “You can call me Wellis.”

“Alright, Wellis... what’s going on here?” Lumencia asked.

Wellis shifted from one foot to the other. “Its a mixture of things but it's going towards the same goal. Full control of every living thing in this world. It's in the music, the clothing, the food-”

“White..” Lumencia whispered, realisation for White Hat’s erratic behaviour hitting her.

Wellis continued “It started with a-”

Flood lights came on, shining deep inside the alleyway. Sirens began to blare. Lumencia pulled off her headset, ears bombarded by sound.

“RUN!” Lumencia screamed to Wellis.

Wellis tried to, but the alleyway was already being blocked off by clawing, leaking, horrific forms of the previously happy Hat-bots. Lumencia rushed over to Wellis, grabbing her. She jumped onto the wall and swung the military woman across all of the robots. Wellis landed in a roll and seemingly vanished.

Before Lumencia could get further up the building, extending robotic arms grabbed her. They dragged her down, biting into her skin with cold metal and an oil-like substance. They piled on her, their jaws snapping and limbs tangling in an effort to suppress. Soon, the blackness filled Lumencia’s vision and she was out.

[nivilliain]

Smile Like You Mean It (Chapter 7)

Name: Smile Like You Mean It Fandom: Villainous/Villanos AU: Smile!/Valiant Beta Reader: @rachrar Rating: E to Teen Warnings: Brainwashing; Torture; Summary: After Zug goes missing, White Hat and Lumencia try to find him. However, they end up in a strange dimension with darkness under its smiling surface.

Banner artwork edited from a piece I commisioned @theinsanefruitloop-chan to do

[First]    [Previous]    [Next]

Day in and day out White Hat stayed close to the thing that used to be his Lumencia. There was almost no improvement for the first week. Once they introduce Euphoria to her, she seemed to improve a little.

White Hat couldn't bring himself to call her by her name, to the point that Smug had nicknamed her “Hysteria” due to her outbursts. White Hat adopted the same name for her after a few days of hearing Smug use it.

He was still sitting outside her room, listening to her. She had just finished a screaming fit and would now sleep for a while. Peace and quiet.

With her like this there was no way White Hat could go home. Taking her away from Smug wouldn't be wise since he was the only one who seemed able to treat her... and White could never abandon her.

“White Hat?”

White Hat rolled his eyes up to look at Smug, feeling emotionally exhausted. “Yes?”

“I.. I might be Hysteria’s doctor but I’m worried about you just as much as her.” Smug sat on the chair beside White Hat. “After all, this isn't healthy for you ether.”

“M’fine..” “No, no you are not.” Smug took ahold of White Hat’s hands. “Do you really think this is what Hy... no, what Lumencia would have wanted?” White Hat swallowed past the painful, emotional lump that had formed in his throat from hearing her name. “N-no..”

“You're in one if the happiest dimensions and I refuse to see someone I care about wallow in depression. You're in a theme park!”

“I promised I would stay by her side....” White Hat mumbled

“The how about this-” Smug stood, pulling White Hat to his feet. “I’ll make sure L.O.L is with her and we’ll do just one ride. The moment it’s over with we’ll come straight back here. Okay?”

White Hat gave a non commital shrug. “I.. dont really feel like... being seen...” “Don’t worry, it's the middle of the night and the Smile Citizens are asleep.” Smug tilted his head to try and catch White Hat’s eye. “Do it, for me?”

White Hat gave in and nodded. He barely had time to grab his coat before Smug was dragging him through the hospital to the outside. He hadn’t seen the outside in a long time and the blast of fresh hair made him feel a little better instantly.

Smug urged White Hat into the little vehicle and set off towards the center of the park. True to his word, White didn’t see a single human and even the robots seemed not to be looking at him. He was able to rest back in the vehicle and let his guard down without being judged. Back in his own dimension there was so much pressure to be good that if he ever dropped his smile he knew the humans would pounce on him.

White Hat couldn't blame them, he was a Eldritch after all. It also didn’t help that his brother was the worst villain in the multiverse. He left out a soft breath, watching the window fog up then clear. It was raining a little.

They stopped outside The Smiler. Smug stepped out of the vehicle and opened a yellow umbrella. He then opened White Hat’s door and let him out, holding the umbrella above his head. “This will cheer you up. I promise.”

White Hat nodded and just followed Smug inside. They quickly walked through the que section, White Hat having to shield his eyes from some of the strobing lights and patterns- they were hypnotic and moving past them so quickly was making him feel queasy.

“M-maybe I shouldn’t-”

“But you promised!” Smug shout over the loud, carnival like music. It was different to the music outside. It was more... penetrating.

“O-oh-” White Hat was confused, he didn’t remember promising. Before he could think on it further, he was being urged into the front middle seat of the roller coaster cart.

Smug excitedly jumped into the seat beside him. “Careful of those bars!” He said as a large bar went across White Hat’s lap. Arm secures came down too, with little handles on them for him to hold. He took deep breaths, holding them tightly as they set off.

No turning back now.

“You are now starting your correctional process.”

White Hat’s head snapped to look at Smug when he heard the overhead voice say that. Smug looked at him in return, beaming under his bag. A feeling of dread filled White Hat and he tested his restraints as they began to ascend up the incline. They were stuck fast, and no matter how much strength he used, they wouldn't move. “There’s no point in struggling.” Smug giggled. “Everything is engraved with ancient  runes. You won't be able to break free of their magic until the ride is over! So relax and enjoy!”

“H-how did you even know about those!” “The Minister told me.” Smug said. “The Minister is so excited you’re here!”

“W-who-”

They had reached the top. There was a moment, a heartbeat of stillness before the cart moved forwards. White Hat’s hat flew off into the darkness as they thunded forwards. He caught a glimpse of it before it vanished.

White looked forwards just as lights began to flash, forming hypnotic patterns. The music began to fill with laughter. Twists and turnes in the track made White feel like his stomach was being left behind. He knew he was screaming, but everything was so overwhelming that he didn’t hear himself.

Moonlight and rain hit him as they rolled outside, the track calming down a little. He struggled in his seat, feeling weaker than before. His body felt strange.

“Halfway corrected.”

Smug laughed insanely, thrashing in his seat. This doctor was just as insane as his patients and White was terrified. The coaster hadn’t stopped moving. It slowly rolled out of a twist and onto another track to bring them up a new incline heading back inside.

“W-why are you doing this Smug, I thought we were friends!” White tried to reason desperately

“We are friends!” Smug said to him, going unnaturally still suddenly. “We’ll be even better friends after you meet him!”

White’s gaze followed Smug’s as they reached the peak. At first, White didn’t know what he was looking at. But when it moved, he instantly realised what this massive form of black and yellow was in front of him. It was another hat.

About 200ft tall, they were eye level with him. The giant hat’s eyes opened, then slowly looked at White. As the cart began to move around this thing- this... ‘Minister’... it’s mouth broke into a smile, dark black drool dripping down his massive chin into a pool below.

The track went around and around and around The Minister. It’s head tried to follow them as they went around, it was obviously excited to see White. Its body was skewered with mental, coming in and out of its deformed form- the coaster itself originating inside of his chest and stomach, like it had burst out of him. Many of the beams protubed out of the giant monster’s back like spider legs.

It’s grin widened as they began to drop down. “Smile~!” It said in a booming voice just as the track dropped into the pool of black drool.

[nivilliain]

Smile Like You Mean It (Chapter 4)

Name: Smile Like You Mean It Fandom: Villainous/Villanos AU: Smile!/Valiant Beta Reader: @rachrar Rating: E to Teen Warnings: Brainwashing; Torture; Summary: After Zug goes missing, White Hat and Lumencia try to find him. However, they end up in a strange dimension with darkness under its smiling surface.

Banner artwork edited from a piece I commisioned @theinsanefruitloop-chan to do

[First]    [Previous]   [Next]

 took Lumencia about an hour to realise she didn’t HAVE to listen to White. She was fuming, sitting on the bed and making random rants and angry sounds. However, a room service bot came in and started to clean.

She smacked her forehead, realising her stupidity and stood up. After all, she had ‘thought about what she had said’ so White couldn't really get annoyed at her for leaving.

Lumencia was walking out of the hotel when it hit her. She had no idea where to go or what to do. She knew she wanted to find out what Smug was up to, but she had no idea where he was or where she was really. A map was first priority.

Having followed the signs she got to an information desk and picked a map. When she saw the map she was glad she did prioritise it. Saying this place was huge was an understatement. The island that Hatville sat on in her dimension was huge. This dimension’s island seemed even bigger somehow. And all of it was a theme park.

There at least seemed to be mass transportation such as skyrails from one section of the park to the other.

“Ugh! Why is this place so big!” Lumencia said- turning the map this way and that- in order to try and pinpoint where she was.

“I can help, Sister!”

“Oh no-” Was all Lumencia managed before she was glomped by a loud blur of yellow and black. She squirmed, trying to get out from under Euphoria.

“I can take you annyywheeerree!” Euphoria said, hugging and squeezing Lumencia tightly as if she was a beloved teddy bear. “I know the WHOLE park!”

Lumencia slipped out of Euphoria’s arms, panting a little. Okay, sure she was a nightmare, but Euphoria did live here- and she would know what was going on surely? Maybe Lumencia could get some information out of her.

“Well.. why don't you give me a tour? I’d love to see things that the public doesn't either.” Lumencia said.

Euphoria was brimming with excitement. “Yes! YES!” She pulled Lumencia up. “Let's see everything! EVERYTHING!”

As Lumencia was yanked away by her hand, she once again saw someone out of the corner of her eye watching them.

----

White Hat couldn’t stop eating. Not that Smug seemed to mind. He kept insisting White try every piece of food he saw. It’s almost like Smug knew that Eldritches had a soft spot for candy. White Hat opened his mouth unnaturally wide and stuffed the whole yellow cotton candy flower into his mouth at once.

“Mmhmm!” White Hat said happily as the spun sugar dissolved. “So good. What’s next?”

“There’s still a couple of hundred restaurants and thousands of food stalls,” Smug said, looking at his pom-pilot. “It takes most Smile Citizens years to try them all but you might be able to do it in one day!”

Hearing that made White Hat blush, sinking his head a little. “I’m... I’m sorry... I’m being a pig.”

Smug gave a small chuckle. “You’re on holiday. You should be able to enjoy yourself without embarrassment.” He said, passing White Hat another cotton candy flower.

White Hat sat down on a nearby bench and began chewing this one slower. He took in the sights around him. Everywhere he looked was different but somehow blended into one. He could see how someone would easily get lost. It would probably take weeks, if not months, to try all the rides, even with all the lines being short.

He watched the skyrail go past for a moment before his vision rested on one ride. It caught his interest because this was the first ride he had seen with such a long queue. He stood, trying to get a better look at it. “What’s that ride?”

“That? Oh!” Smug came closer to him, looking where White Hat was indercating. “That's The Smiler. It was the first ride I built and still remains to be the most popular.”

“It’s... it’s massive!” White Hat said, his eyes following the track to try and mentally map it out. “I mean.. Is that all connected?”

“Yes, it is,” Smug said. “It goes inside that building too.”

White frowned to where Smug pointed, and then looked up. The tallest structure for miles was this roller coaster.

The Smiler

“Are we in the centre of the park?” White Hat said, checking the map he had.

Smug nodded. “Yes, this is the centre. This is where it all came from.”

White Hat frowned a little. “Then.. shouldn't this be where your mansion is?”

Smug moved his eyes away from The Smiler to look at White Hat. “It was... once..”

White Hat hesitated for a moment before resting his hand on Smug’s shoulder. He offered a smile. “You can tell me. I will not judge.”

Smug’s eyes filled with gratefulness before looking away. “It’s.. hard to remember...” He mumbled. “In all honesty, I don't really know what happened.”

Smug leaned over the rail of the elevated platform they were on- no one else around to hear him. The sun was beginning to set. A soft, warm breeze passed them as silence filled the moment as if Smug was trying to remember something deeply forgotten.

“If you can’t-”

Smug shook his head. “Something happened. An experiment went wrong. I remember... a flash of light and I woke up.. There.” He pointed roughly to outside of where The Smiler was.

A spark of hope exploded in White Hat’s chest. He grabbed Smug’s hands, turning him to the Eldritch. “Maybe you are my scientist then!”

“I... I-”

White Hat’s head snapped up, hearing a familiar voice. His eyes narrowed when he spotted Lumencia. He let go of Smug’s hands and marched down the stairs, not noticing Smug trying to take his hand again.

White Hat marched over to Lumencia. “What are you doing out? I thought I told you to stay in the hotel!”

Lumencia looked at him, opening her mouth to argue back when Euphoria cut her off. “I didn’t want her being all alone! This is a happy place and my sister should be happy too!”

White Hat’s anger faltered upon hearing that, his shoulders slumping. “I’ve been worried about you... You’ve been acting weird-”

“I could say the same thing about you!” Lumencia then gave him a sympathetic look, reaching up and stroking his cheeks. “I’m sorry okay? I just.. Maybe it's the stress of dimensional travel or something about the music here but I just feel like an elastic band wound up too tight. I wanna just... snap. And that's not fair to you or anyone else.”

White Hat nuzzled her hand as he cupped it. “I’m sorry too..”

Lumencia was about to open her mouth when she felt Euphoria grip the back of her hoodie in fear. She glanced at her, and then up at where she was looking. The dimensional clone was staring at Smug. Lumencia peered up at him and for a split second, she saw anger in his eyes.

Kindness was there in a blink, so convincing that Lumencia doubted for a moment that she saw anything else in his eyes. Smug pushed himself up from leaning over the rail and walked down the steps to them. “Ah, its good to see you again Lumencia. I trust that Euphoria treated you well.”

Lumencia nodded, keeping herself between him and Euphoria. “She was really great.”

“Good.” Smug looked past Lumencia for a split second. Euphoria’s grip got tighter on the back of Lumencia’s hoodie. No one else could see but Lum could feel it.

Smug turned to White Hat. “There’s another restaurant I’d love to take you to. After all, even as an Eldritch, you can’t just eat candy alone.”

White Hat’s stomach rumbled and he chuckled in embarrassment. “It seems my stomach agrees with you.” He looked at the other two. “How about we all eat together?”

The urgent tug on her hoodie stopped Lumencia from agreeing. She shook her head and gave a convincing yawn. “I’m sorry, but I’m so tired! And I already ate.”

“In that case, I’m sure Euphoria can take you back to your hotel,” Smug said. “And me and Ye- I mean, White Hat and I can go eat.”

“I’m sorry, what did you just say?” Lumencia said, eyes narrowing as she looked straight into those swirly goggles.

“White Hat and I can go eat?.” Smug said, “If there are no further questions-” He grabbed White Hat’s hand and guided him away. White Hat seemed a little surprised but just waved to Lumencia before disappearing off into the crowd.

“...Y... Yellow Hat...”

“Huh?” Lumencia looked at Euphoria. “What.. do you mean?”

“Y-yellow Hat was our Hat..” She whispered, only loud enough to Lumencia to barely hear. “T-that’s what he u-used to be-”

A growl behind them made Euphoria jump and step away from Lumencia. L.O.L stood there, mask over his mouth. He was looking at Euphoria with a deadly expression. The crazy woman wrung her hands.

“Easy there L.O.L.” Lumencia gave the yellow bear pets, just like she did when 6.2.4 got angry. “We were just talking girly things.”

The bear didn’t seem 100% convinced but it was hard to argue with such good pets. Lumencia kept rubbing the bear's belly, and looked to Euphoria just in time to see her mouth the words-

‘Help me’

It was then the speakers began to spark into life with something other than the music. “Curfew is in effect. Curfew is in effect.” Instantly humans began to move. L.O.L urged Lumencia and Euphoria forwards towards where the hotels were.

[nivilliain]

Smile Like You Mean It (Chapter 6)

Name: Smile Like You Mean It Fandom: Villainous/Villanos AU: Smile!/Valiant Beta Reader: @rachrar Rating: E to Teen Warnings: Brainwashing; Torture; Summary: After Zug goes missing, White Hat and Lumencia try to find him. However, they end up in a strange dimension with darkness under its smiling surface.

Banner artwork edited from a piece I commisioned @theinsanefruitloop-chan to do

[First]    [Previous]    [Next]

When Lumencia gasped awake, she could immediately tell she was tied down. She tried to move and struggle, but leather straps wrapped across her chest, waist, legs, arms and even neck. Her head was firmly gripped in a vice-like device. She could see tinted glass in front of her, as if she was in some sort of capsule.

“Ah, you are awake.”

Lumencia shivered at that voice but she knew exactly who it was. “Smug... let me go.”

“No.” Smug simply said, coming into view. He shifted his coat tails in order to sit on his office chair, legs cross over the other.

Lumencia growled, “Let me go or I’ll-”

Smug rolled forwards suddenly, coming close to the capsule. “You know.. I had hoped that you could be slowly converted. That Euphoria would have an effect on you. Instead, you had an effect on her. She began remembering... and I couldn't have that.”

“I knew it, you’re not Zug at all!” Lumencia said, her small sense of triumph short lived.

Smug stood and leaned over the capsule. “Of course I’m not!” He then leaned back, composing himself. He tucked one of his arms behind the small of his back. “But.. your Hat doesn't know that. He is so naive. He’s exactly what we’ve been waiting for.”

“We?” Lumencia said, eyes narrowing. “You mean you and Ye-”

“DO NOT SPEAK HIS NAME!” Smug snapped, slamming his fist down close to her, making her flinch. He took a couple of breaths before speaking through gritted teeth. “The MINISTER is far beyond your pathetic comprehension.”

“The Minister huh? Sounds like a try-hard.” Lumencia teased, if there was one thing she was good at it was winding up Zug. And this Zug-imposter would get the same treatment. If she made him angry then he might make a mistake and she could flee. Flee this place and save White Hat from being used for whatever nefarious plan Smug had.

It began to work, Smug began to get mad. Then, he went dead silent for a moment, calm. Just when Lumencia thought Smug had somehow blacked out or something, the scientist began to laugh.

“You are a clever one in your own way. The Minister knows what you are doing though. I won't be so easily tricked.” Smug wagged his finger in front of her face. “Euphoria was just like you. Somehow, she was resistant to it. Your hoodie, the food you had, the music- all of which have somehow not affected you. Which means, and I’m sorry to have to say this but, I am going to have to do to you what I did to her.”

“W-what did you do?” Lumencia asked, fear dropping inside her stomach like ice.

“It’s not nice,” Smug said, pulling up a tray of needles. Some yellow, some black. A vat of those same liquids beside him. The black vat was having liquid drip into it from some unknown location above, where as the yellow was created by some distilling process from the black. “It causes a lot of damage to the psyche, but needs must.” He took one of the black needles. “You forced my hand Lumencia. I wanted to convert you slowly but you are being so, so difficult.”

Lumencia struggled like she had never done before. However, a needle and drip were already in her arm, which meant that Smug didn’t have to open the capsule. He just slid the syringe into the drip and injected slowly.

Screaming. It was burning. It was inside her and burning cold. It hurt so much she couldn't even hear her own screams. Waves of sounds and strange music over the screams she made as lights began to flash in her face. Thrashing within her confines was an involuntary response and a painful one.

Lumencia could feel herself falling away as her mind began to spiral into another’s. It clawed at her brain, claiming pieces for itself. As it took her over Lumencia’s last own thoughts were of the Eldritch she loved.

Then of nothing.

---

White Hat woke when he heard a rapid knocking at his door. It was rare for him to sleep and he was surprised he slept so deeply. He sprung out of bed and rushed to the door, opening it. On the other side was Smug, looking panicked even through the bag.

“White, White are you okay?” Smug asked, panting.

“Y-yes, I am!” White Hat said in surprise, not expecting such a question. “Why, did something happen?”

“We had terrorists attack last night,” Smug panted, coming into the room. Once White Hat shut the door, Smug continued. “A-and... And Lumencia had decided to go for a walk. She didn’t know that the reason for the curfew on the Smile Citizens is because there are people who can’t accept the happiness we offer.”

“Is she okay?!” White Hat said desperately, grasping Smug’s shoulder’s and shaking him a little. “I-if she got hurt I’d never f-forgive myself!”

Smug took White Hat’s hands off his shoulders and into his own. “I’m... I’m sorry. They attacked her but... but I did the best I could with the medicine I had. I believe the dimensional differences caused an adverse reaction in her, almost like an allergic reaction. She.. she has changed. I’m so, so sorry White-”

“You have to take me to her this instant!” White Hat demanded, changing from pyjamas to his suit in the blink of an eye. “She’ll need me by her side!”

“Yes, of course,” Smug said. He led White Hat out of the room, out of the hotel and into a small but fast vehicle. It was too early for the Smile Citizens to be out, which meant it didn’t take long for them to get to the park’s medical centre.

It was a building like no other in the park. Almost like a gothic mental asylum on the outside. Although, when White Hat ran in he could see it was more modern and sleek on the inside. Clean and practically empty of humans.

“W-where is she?!” White Hat yelled to the room at large.

Smug rushed past him. “This way!” He yelled back to him.

White Hat easily caught up. Going through a number of corridors to a dulux patient room. He flew through the door, and stopped, seeing her. He covered his mouth, shaking. His wide eyes took in her appearance. Her once cotton candy coloured hair had turned black and white and straight. It draped around her head like a halo.

Taking tentative steps forwards, White felt tears well in his eyes. “Oh.. oh Lumencia..” He knelt by her bed, reaching over to stroke her cheeks softly. She was covered in bandages, nasty discolouration all over her skin, like she had struggled against bounds.

Part of White Hat couldn't accept that this was really his Lumencia. That she had somehow changed so much. However, somewhere deep inside White Hat, something whispered for him to accept this. That this was his beloved and she would need him to accept whatever changes had become of her.

“I truly am sorry White Hat...” Smug rested his hand on White’s shoulder. “I did what I could. I.. I blame myself though. I should have explained to her why we had the curfew-”

White sniffed, wiping his cheeks. “N-no, you did what you could. You  s-saved her life.”

“We.. we don't know how she will take the trauma of being attacked... and if the medication has had some sort of effect on her mind as well as her body.”

White Hat pulled away from Smug to softly press his forehead against Lumencia’s. He crooned softly, rumbling in his chest with the sorrow he felt. “Smug.. c-could you give us a moment?”

“Of course.” Smug bowed his head and shut the doors, walking away.

White Hat waited until the only sounds he could hear were from the machines beeping to keep Lumencia alive. He gave a sob, pulling her closer to him. “I s-shouldn't have been s-so angry at you. M-maybe I should have listened to you. A-all you wanted w-was for me to be safe-”

“Humans are so easy to hurt and that's what scares me more than anything...” That had been the thoughts he had had when he first refused to take her. Now was his punishment for not being the protector he promised he would be.

“Mm.... mmm...”

White Hat pulled back, looking at her. Her eyes were opened and they had changed too. Her once deep pink eyes were now yellow and black. The black one completely black with a white slit. The yellow one a yellow and black spiral. Just like everyone else in this world. How could medication-

Lumencia suddenly gripped at White Hat’s lapels, making a number of desperate but meaningless sounds. “MM amn aaahnn mmm!”

“Easy Lumencia.” White Hat soothed, stroking her cheek in and effort to get her to calm. “I’m right here. I’m right here for you.”

She hiccuped a and sobbed, giving out a cry. White Hat watched horrified as those cries turned into scream of laughter. She began thrashing on the bed, causing White Hat to restrain her in panic. She could hurt herself.

“BLACK!”

“Black?” White Hat asked, holding her down. “Lumencia? Wh-”

“BLACK BLACK BLACK-!”

It was then that the door burst open. Smug was standing there, and behind him was the giant yellow bear. L.O.L thundered forwards and picked Lumencia up and cuddled her. It took her awhile to calm down, but in the bear's arms, she did. Going quiet with the occasional nonsensical words to herself.

White Hat just stood there, unsure of what to do or even feel. Smug patted his shoulder. “I’m sorry White... She’s become like Euphoria... If a bit more hysterical.”

“T-that’s... That’s not my Lumencia a-anymore..” White Hat sobbed, covering his mouth and sliding down the wall into a sitting position, overwhelmed by everything.

Smug just watched him, his smile hidden.