This was the hundredth time Aether jailers asked him to save the world. And it was going to be the hundredth time he was going to tell them to fuck off.
But then something changed.
In a black void that stretched forever, Aether sat on a golden throne. He was being circled by over fifty golden balls that held the mind of all Ark-9 fallen scientists. They have been talking to him for what felt like hours. He crossed one leg over the other and rested his cheek against his fist with a bored expression.
"-you have to listen to us!"
"You can't keep rejecting us! What is happening is bigger than all of us!"
He raised a brow. They were far more agitated than usual.
"Rethink-"
He yawned before giving them an irritated look. "Don't you guys get sick of this? Didn't the last ninety times I told you guys to fuck off make you realize. I have no interest in helping you piece of shits."
"Aether, please! You have to understand we had-"
"I understand it very well." His golden eyes narrowed in disgust. "You believe it was fine to drag my soul from my world, force me into this body." He gestured at his golden hair, white coat, and all black clothing. "And then believe I would come to love this world eventually from the memories you keep giving me."
"We had no choice!"
"It had to be someone outside of Celestia, only you can save-"
Aether calmly said with his golden eyes turning cold. "Shut up."
All of them trembled, feeling the pressure of his golden gaze.
"No matter what you guys say." Reinhard's hand rushed out and grabbed onto one of the golden orbs. "It will never change the fact, all of you only see me as a weapon and don't care about what I want."
The orb in his hand tremble before quickly saying. "W-We just want to save our world."
"And I owe you nothing." He replied with a bored tone as he let the orb go.
"No! You can't think like that anymore. There is no more time-"
"Why?"
All of them were panicking before one of them finally spoke, not willing to hold back any longer.
"Becuase soon this void will break!"
Aether paused before a smirk appeared. "How are you guys so sure?"
"..."
"Don't go silent now, especially after talking so much." He then held his hand together. "Be honest with me and I will be more willing to help."
The golden balls trembled and one of them spoke quietly. "... We saw cracks appearing from far away when you sent us away."
"No wonder you guys are so agitated~" He chuckled. "Well, Good. It means I won't have to stand another lecture from you guys."
One of the golden balls couldn't control themself and erupted in rage. "Why are you so damn stubborn! If you follow the plan, you will get rewarded with anything you want! Any wish! How can your previous world even compare to having any wish you want granted!"
"Yes! There is no logic or benefit in acting so, petty! If you just-"
"Shut up! You two aren't helping!" One of the golden balls shouted, making the other two pause.
Then the golden ball sighed and said softly. "You can hate us if you want Aether and insult us if you must. But if you don't follow the 'Miracle Plan', humanity will be trapped in the broken world. Is that what you want?"
"Now you guys care about what I want?" He laughed. "Fine, here is what I will do. I will meet your Witches and involve myself in the world."
The golden orbs perked up with some of them sighing in relief.
"But I won't suppress or chain them."
"Then what will you do?... There isn't any other-"
"I will give them a choice to join me." Reinhard smiled as he tilted his head. "And love them."
Everything seemed to have frozen. If the golden balls had faces, he was sure he would be seeing shock and disbelief on them.
"You… Can't be-"
"What?"
"Did you not hear me? It seems you guys are losing it, but I guess it's about time. I will repeat it again, I will give them a choice and love-"
"Are you insane!?"
"Those monsters don't feel love!"
"You will be killed by them!"
One of the orbs drifted closer to him before pleading to him. "Aether... The Witches aren't misunderstood or victims-"
"I really don't care. The fact they can piss you all of this much is more than enough to make me like them." He chuckled at orb freezing in shock. "If do try to kill me, then of course I will defeat them."
But then he blinked as his ears twitched.
He couldn't see it, but he could hear it, the void was really breaking. It was faint but the sounds were just like ice breaking. Which meant his ten years of prison was ending, and soon his time with these jailers of his.
It's time he wraps this up.
"But this has been dragging and I'm sick of talking with you all. You asked before why? Why do I keep refusing your plan?" Aether asked the panicking orbs. "It's not just out of spite. But because I refuse to live that life you guys outline. One of being alone, surrounded by tools that will be dropped in an instant. A pathetic existence that will betray everyone if it means restoring the world.'
"But…"
"I don't care. I will make a place where both Witches and people can coexist."
The golden balls couldn't control themself anymore as they began pleading and begging him. There wasn't a single one of them showing any pride, only desperation now.
And then cracks started to appear around them, spreading even under the golden throne.
"Please, Aether!"
"Follow the plan! You have to follow-"
"Too late." He smiled at them. "Now fuck off, you pests."
The darkness shattered into pieces around him.
…
When Aether opened his eyes, he was no longer in the void.
But realized he was laying down, bindings over his limbs, and a glass window above him. Then it came back to him, he was in a hibernation capsule. Peering through the glass, he saw cracked metal walls with flashing red emergency lights above and water dripping down.
Then the capsule began to hiss open.
And a terrible stench struck him, making his nose twitch. But he didn't mind as he began to laugh, finally he was free and saw something other than darkness.
With a grin he flexed his muscles.
A tearing noise echoed out as he broke free from his restraints. He glanced down to see the metal bindings that had blue marking on it and muttered. "Even the abnormal strength is the same…"
He pushed himself off the capsule before stretching his arms. He was in an underground vault, but he wonders if it remained the same. He took a step forward, feeling a burn through his body from unused muscles.
But soon he quickly adapted after another four steps forward. Then he froze as he felt the invisible pressure like something wrong and terrifying were close by.
"Well now," Aether muttered as a grin began to appear. "My luck has been on a roll today."
A Witch was close to him, in this vault or maybe the city above. It didn't matter as he took a step towards the metal bars in front. Without another word he blasted out with a fist and shattered the bars into pieces.
"Whether you join me or refuse, is yours to make." He passed by the bars before walking up the stairs. "I'm curious what you will choose."