the sky over gardenview is dim and heavy, the pink clouds barely glowing above the ruined candy paths. flyte’s machine clicks and whirs behind him, the scent of copper and melted chocolate lingering in the air. flutter walks a few steps behind, her tiny feet almost silent, her eyes blank as usual. she hasn’t spoken. not once. not ever.

then— hic. flyte stops. looks back. flyte: “uh… flutter? that you?” she just stares.

they keep walking. squeak. flyte narrows his eyes. flyte: “okay, seriously, are you okay?”

before she can even twitch— CRASH! shrimpo bursts from the shadows, cackling, lunging at the machine with grabby hands. shrimpo: “gimme gimme! shiny little thingy!”

flyte panics, throwing himself between shrimpo and the machine. flyte: “back off, shrimp freak!”

but then— a soft, broken voice from behind him. flutter: “…leave… h-him… alone… meanie…”

flyte freezes. turns. flutter is standing, tears at the corners of her eyes in fear.

flyte: “wha— you talked?! flutter, you actually talked!”

he drops to his knees in front of her, gently grabbing her wings gently like she might float away. flyte: “you… you were really that worried about me?” he pulls her into a hug, wings fluttering with emotion. flyte: “that was amazing, flutter… i’m so proud of you.”

for once, she doesn’t flinch. she just leans into him, silent—but not empty anymore.