ZZZ: Dawn of The Black Sun

Qingyi's eyes snapped open and she found herself floating deep within a black endless void. There was absolutely nothing, as far as eyes can see. Is she dead? Is she still in the hollow? Can she even die in the first place?

"Master, I have to warn you that she is conscious,"

A voice appeared above her. It clicked to her then, she's in some form of a limbo and comatose state. Though she couldn't recognize the voice that just spoke. It wasn't Belle nor Koleda. Where is she? Did they get attacked on their way here?

"Will she remember everything?"

That was Belle's voice, Qingyi felt relieved. This means everyone has made it back safely, she hoped Belle can work on giving Teddy a new body and return him back to Seele. Though, she does wonder, why hasn't Belle bring her back to Public Security? They have everything to fix her up anew.

"Yes, if that's what you desire master. I can also fabricate her memory if you wish,"

Qingyi felt a sinking horror in her chest. No, no way, she don't want to forget about all that... about Koleda. About Teddy...

"No need for that, I think it was a success. Just make sure she doesn't remember this conversation,"

Part of Qingyi was relieved, but another part of her still wary. Why does Belle don't want her to remember this? Who is that voice anyway?

"Understood, is this the part where you taunt and show off your evil schemes like a mustache twirling plot twist villain while the hero can do nothing about it?"

"Yes, exactly, this is that part,"

What? Qingyi felt icy cold sensation crawling up her body. What does she mean by that? Plot twist villain? Belle? What?

"Oh you must be confused right now, don't worry Qingyi, I'm not going to hurt you or Koleda, I actually like you guys ya know?" Belle's voice sound so sweet, so warm. But at the same time, there's just something wrong with it, this wrongness Qingyi couldn't place.

"Mkay, so here's the thing..." Belle began. "I was kinda the one behind Cocolia's operation? She works for me you know,"

No, no, this can't be right... A hallucination? A nightmare?

"You don't have to know the details, but basically, Cocolia is one of my main supplier for all my illegal etheric materials need. Bangboo Salvaging and Etheric Mine, I need lots of those for my operations you see?" Belle continue, her tone never once losing its cheerfulness. "But the well's running dry and I was going to relocate her somewhere to the Outer Ring... In the meantime, I asked Cocolia to do that little prank, have Koleda play hero a little bit, and have you involved."

Why? Why are you doing this Belle!? Koleda trusted you!!! Qingyi wants to scream our desperately. But nothing came out, her own mind has been cut off from her body.

"I'm guessing you're asking why I'm doing this... Well, here's the thing... Just the underground is not enough, you know?" Belle continued. "I want to get my hands on the real deal, the TOPS, the untouchable... I want someone in New Eridu Public Security to be my eyes and ears... Not just some Bangboo lying in the street..."

No, no, this can't be... It can't be right? Belle isn't... there's no way...

But now, as the realization came to her, it became so obvious. How Belle seemed to know everything about the Hollow, how to operate the machinery, how to find Teddy. It wasn't carrot data, she's been there before, she's the one who made that place.

Belle is the Black Sun...

"I think you have a pretty good guess about who I am," Belle said as if confirming what she said. "Yes, I am the Black Sun, Phaethon is the Black Sun.." a sound of clatter came from all around her. "Anyway, here's what you do. I'm gonna put a tiny little backdoor on your system connected to... somewhere. So no need for reporting or weird sleeper agent sort of thing. Just do what you always do Qingyi, you won't remember any of this anyway."

Wait, no! Qingyi tried to scream out.

"Don't worry, you'd still remember everything about Koleda, me, we'd still be best buds! Isn't that the most important thing???"

She'll remember Koleda...

Koleda, she has to protect Koleda...

Even if she forget about the Black Sun...

Please, don't forget, don't forget...

She must protect, she must save Koleda!!!

[LINE BREAK]

"TEDDY!!!"

"Nhenhaaaaaa!!!"

Seele rushed over to hug the shiny new Bangboo in front of her. Though, despite being brand new, it was still the same Teddy. With all the memories and love for his precious friends and family.

Koleda stood in the sidelines with Kiana and Mei. The white haired girl has her arms folded back, fighting back the tears. While Mei is already wiping her face with a tissue. "It was all thanks to you Koleda..." the black haired girl said. "I'm so glad they could be together again,"

"Why are you crying Mei!?" Kiana said despite having glossy eyes herself. "This is supposed to be a celebration!" she stood up and quickly head for the shelf. "Come on! Let's watch something tonight, school will be closed for tomorrow,"

"Really?"

"Obviously!" Kiana yelled. "Belle and Koleda already beat up the mean principal!"

Right, they did do that, Koleda thought to herself. She wondered if Cocolia gonna sue them for that, it's actually assault legally speaking. Do Belle even have the ability to beat...

It was then that Koleda remembered something, Grace's words to her, just a week before that disaster

This is way, way too idealistic. The process of buying a franchise requires at least 25 phones calls, 2 stacks of document, and an actual lawyer involved. It's the fact that it's legal transaction that makes it suspicious...

Phaethon... Belle is the Phaethon.

How can she forget about that? Her sister knows about all this, she's as powerful as Cocolia! Of course! That's why she's willing to beat her up and take on this job. It's because Belle knows what she's doing.

"Earth to Koleda!"

Koleda blinked and turned to Kiana, waving around a tape in her hand. "What?"

"Oh, finally, you just stood there smiling to yourself like a weirdo," Kiana showed Koleda a tape with a bunch of Bangboos on the cover. "I was asking if you'd like to watch Tre Carls, it's Seele and Teddy's favorite movie,"

"Sure..." Koleda smiled and sat down with everyone. "Let's watch,"

Seele sat next to Koleda with Teddy on her lap. The girl snuggled up to her smiling gently. "You're the best... Koleda..." she said. "When I grow up, I want to be like you..."

Warmth spread on to Koleda's cheeks. She held back a smile and looked down. "Hey now, I'm not that old you know?"

"Ehehe..." Seele hugged Teddy tightly. "I know... But if I were to become an adult, I want to be one like you or Miss Belle. You guys are the best..." she nuzzled her face on the Bangboo's head. "Isn't that right Teddy?"

"Nhen ha!"

"Ehehe! I think so too~"

Koleda rolled her eyes and gazed at the screen. It's a shame that Qingyi couldn't attend this little celebration. The girl has to compile report, fabricate document, and everything else with Belle.

Speaking of... "Where's Bronya?" she asked.

"Hm?" Kiana plopped a rice crispy in her mouth and handed the bowl to Mei. "Belle said she need Bronya for something,"

"What is it?"

Kiana shrugged. "I dunno, whatever it is, it's boring,"

The door creaked open, revealing Bronya and Belle. "In the Idiotka Language, Important is Synonymous with Boring," Bronya spoke as she stepped into the room. She sat next to Seele and tilted her head. "You look shinier, Teddy,"

"Nhenha!"

"No," Bronya shook her head, before turning to Koleda. "Thank you for beating up my mom, Koleda," she looked at Teddy. "And for rescuing Teddy too,"

Kiana gasped, a huge grin on her face. "Oh! Bronya, you didn't!!!"

Mei however just winced a little. "Bronya, don't just say that..."

"I said what needs to be said, someone need to take down my mom by a peg," Bronya replied calmly. "It was nice to see her being nervous and afraid for once," she folded her arms. "I don't know what your sister did, but mom is afraid of Miss Belle now,"

Koleda raised her eyes. That's certainly news for her. It appears that Belle's way more terrifying than she realized. She wondered if they had a chat after that whole thing. Some form of truce to make sure she doesn't try to do anything funny again.

Well, whatever it is, she trust that Belle can handle it.

Her big sis can do anything after all.

[LINE BREAK]

It was nighttime. Kiana, Mei, Bronya, and Seele are sleeping together in the Staff Room, all wrapped up in blankets and soft bangboo. It's been a long day for everyone. Emotionally, mentally, physically, everyone was exhausted.

Despite this, Koleda couldn't bring herself to sleep. She tried to snuggle up with Seele, but no matter what she did, the day just won't fade away. Between Cocolia, Teddy, and all the revelation, sleeping is the last thing she wanted now.

The young CEO stepped out of the video store, revealing the quite night life of the Sixth Street. She head to her left and climbed a staircase to the top of the video store. The cold air waft around her small form, sending a light shiver down her spine.

"Can't sleep?"

Koleda turned around and saw her sister, walking up towards her. She turned back to the sight before her, an expanse of night life in the Sixth Street. She leaned on to the railing and slowly nodded, not wanting to show Belle her expression.

"Yeah, how are you sis?" Koleda asked.

"Bit tired... and honestly a bit scared," stood beside her. "I... Cocolia is uhh... she was working for someone real dangerous..."

"The Black Sun, isn't it?"

Belle winced and bit her lip. "Don't say their name so casually, Koleda..." she sighed a little. "Look..." she averted her gaze. "I know you want to pry further, but... It doesn't end well, when it comes to them..." 

Koleda closed her eye and pressed her forehead on the cold railing. She hates it, she hates feeling so weak. She wants to live in a world where the good always prevail, where hardwork is always rewarded, but... This isn't the world she lives in. This is the world where monsters like the Black Sun has New Eridu under their palm, where they can commit atrocities and get away with it.

"Anby told me you had a brother," 

Belle froze and slowly nodded, not saying a word.

"How did you lost him?"

Belle sighed a little. "Same you lost your sister," she muttered. "He pried to much, or rather, challenged the Black Sun..." she looked up. "We... were their apprentice, you see? They told us everything we know about being a Proxy. Phaethon was supposed to be the one to carry their legacy..."

Koleda looked down. "I'm guessing you don't see eye to eye..."

"No... Black Sun's ambition was... inhumane, they want power and I..." Belle wiped some tears off her face. "I was the one who challenged them. Wise never wanted to challenge them, I did, and..." she closed her eyes. "They hurt Wise to hurt me, Koleda,"

"So... if I challenge them..." Koleda began. "They would hurt you?"

"Me, Kiana, Mei, Bronya, Seele..." Belle began. "Cocolia works for the Black Sun, remember? It would be trivial for them to make them suffer on your behalf, Koleda... That's why I was so scared. Had I known Cocolia worked for the Black Sun... I..."

A sudden chill ran down Koleda's spine. The full scope of this monster finally take root in her head. "That's fucked up..." It became clear then why Grace kept the secret close, why Belle is truly afraid of this monster. To hurt children just for something so petty...

"I..." Koleda took a deep breath and pushed herself from the railing. "Fuck... I..." she exhaled. "I honestly thought that monsters like this only exist in movies. They made Ethereals look human for fuck sake..."

"Language,"

"Not the time sis..." Koleda closed her eyes. "Is it bad that I don't really care as long as you're here?" she shuddered a little. "Playing hero is scary... I'll... stick to playing president for now,"

Belle smiled softly and gently pat her head. "That's right, let's stop playing hero, okay? I'm also thinking of focusing on Video Store for now, ehehe..."