Prologue

Chapter inspired/written to Dark on Me by Starset. Listening is unnecessary but if you like go for it.

Cross-posted to AO3, check my profile for link if you prefer their reading experience!

"You're wrong!"

The voice rings out across the fire pit area. The voice's owner stands over an older man her anger clear in her clenched fists. The man, dapper despite his current appearance(he looked as if he'd been in a scuffle at some point though it also looked like he might have been rolling in dirt), smirked at her.

"Your desires won't change the facts, Firestarter. When the throne claims someone it destroys who they are. By the time its done nothing remains but a dim echo of what they once were. You can't save him, it's too late. The man you knew is gone by now."

"I refuse to give up!"

The older women with a book on her lap spoke up. "Denying the truth will not help us, especially in this place. Let it be Willow. We must prepare in case a change in ruler causes this hellscape to shift as well." The others nodded.

The woman called Willow stomped off to stare into the darkness, pulling out a small lighter as she did. She flicked the lighter on and stared into its tiny flame. Willow thought of Wilson, trapped now on the Nightmare Throne, doomed to become the new puppet master of the Shadows. The others had no idea. They don't know how guilt had eaten at Wilson everyday for agreeing to help Maxwell. She remembered when they had sat around one night listening to how some of the other survivors had ended up in the Constant. There seemed to be a theme of Maxwell luring them in one by one in different ways. The scientist had wandered off after a bit. As it was a full moon night, no one noticed or seemed to care. Except for one woman with pale grey eyes.

Wilson was staring out at the nearby woods when she wandered up.

"Are you ok?"

"I'm fine Miss Willow just...thinking." She snorted.

"Thinking is all you ever do. What's on your mind? Besides the fact that forest would be far lovelier on fire?" She peeked at his face but for once he didn't smile or sigh, or even react at all. Most of the time her love of fire amused and intrigued him greatly. She settled down and waited silently. Her lighter came out and she studied the small flame, flicking it on and off. It took a few minutes before a sudden outburst broke from the scientist.

"It's all my fault! Everything! If I had never listened to Maxwell none of us would be in this mess!"

She nearly dropped the lighter is surprise. "Wow, I didn't know your ego was that big Mr. Gentleman scientist."

"You don't understand," Wilson insisted. "I built it. I built the portal that allowed him into the real world!"

She frowned. "What are you going on about?"

Wilson explained how he had been desperate for success in his scientific endeavors when Maxwell had made his offer through an old radio. He told her how he had built the machine Maxwell had wanted in return. He yanked off his gloves, for the first time in the almost full year they had known each other, and shoved his hand at her. "I was blinded enough to put my own blood into it!"

Willow reached out and gently ran her thumb over the scar on his palm. "So you're human, congratulations." she said dryly.

"What? No! Don't you see if I hadn't built it he would never have gained the power to escape."

The firestarter rolled her eyes. "He would have found another way I bet. You're not the sole reasons for this mess Wilson. He's slime, Maxwell wanted us all for playthings. All of us came because we wanted to." Wilson frowned at the scar on his palm seemingly unconvinced. Willow sighed. 'I swear for a genius he's an idiot sometimes.' And he was brilliant, if she'd learned anything in the time she and Wilson had been here she'd learned he was the genius he boasted he was.

She considered for a moment then held her lighter out, flame lit. A butterfly stirred and headed towards it. Wilson stiffened next to her.

"Humans." she said. "We're innately curious. It's such a part of us I don't think we would be human without curiosity." The butterfly fluttered too close and instantly died on the flame. She neatly caught the wings. "You know…" She was speaking softly now. "I was supposed to be seeing a show the day I came here. I was bored so I slipped out and found this weird magic show partially set up in the auditorium next door." There was slight shifting next to her and she knew she had him interested now. Like the butterfly and flame, he couldn't resist. "There was this weird black mirror on stage. Normally I wouldn't have gone that close to it...but it smelled like smoke. I thought I could hear the sound of flames, so I followed it. And was sucked in." She turned to stare straight into wide dark brown eyes. "We're ALL curious Wilson. You didn't commit some horrible sin because you wanted to know, because you were curious. She flicked the lighter off. "We would have all gotten here one way or the other. Don't let him get into your head like that."

A hint of a smile crossed his face. "Or you'll put one of those floral garlands on my head?"

She smirked "No I'll force feed you mushrooms." Wilson cringed, he didn't mind mushrooms in a dish but by themselves they were disgusting as far as he was concerned.

He stood and offered her his arm. "May I escort you back to you beloved fire my lady?"

She smiled and accepted, commenting as she did, "You just want to save the forest from me."

"I apologize if I don't want ALL the trees burned down. You'll have to stick to the pre-planted groves." They had wandered back bickering over the value of wood versus charcoal for building bigger fires.

Willow broke out of her reminiscing to realize she had wandered off. It was still dusk, but night was coming quickly. She found herself face to face with the same portal that had taken Wilson off a week ago before anyone was up. Blasted guilt complex. She was certain the only reason for Wilson's decision was another attack of conscious in the middle of the night.

Too bad it wasn't winter. They doubled up in the tents during winter for warmth. She tending to double up with Wilson(originally because the man struggled to let his social standards relax enough to make him any good at the concept of sleeping together as vital for survival and warmth. And she could match him for stubbornness which meant they slept in the same tent whether he liked it or not.) They tended to sleep back to front due to space. Though she suspected he would die before admitting it and she had no intention of doing so, Wilson was a cuddler. He was hopelessly clingy when asleep, so between that and the beard was rather warm and toasty even on the coldest nights. It also made it rather obvious if one of them left in the middle of the night. If she'd been aware he was going to pull this kind of nonsense she would have been able to stop him.

Willow heard a branch crack behind her and turned to see a small girl with blond pigtails push her way through a pair of berry bushes. "Wendy?" Wendy looked at the portal then back at Willow.

"I had come to tell you night was approaching, but I see it would be wiser to ask you to please convey my greetings to our lost friend."

Willow blinked. "What?" Wendy nodded at her and headed back to the fire pit. Willow stared after her for a moment, trying to understand what she meant. She regarded the portal again before a fire seemed to light inside her. The firestarter pocketed her lighter, took a deep breath, and walked in head held high.

The world was dark, but it seemed almost alive, as if it twisted around her trying to tear her apart. Images and sounds seemed to swirl through it.

A boy freshly graduated from prep school. Only thirteen but eager to head off to University and learn more than ever. A woman was smiling at him. Her hair was a lighter brown than his and her eyes were blue, but something in her face suggested they were related. A gathering of friends and family was around them. A man walked up to them both. This time there was no doubting the relationship, this man had to be his father, they looked exactly alike. The woman suddenly gripped the boy's shoulder. The man smiled, almost sneered as he spoke.

"Well sir you're out of school now so I see no point in keeping this charade going. I'll be leaving now, I'm sure you can find me if you ever want to. I will pursue my life as I please from this point on." He turned and headed out. The boy called after him as the woman held him back. A lady with a questionable taste in dress and quantity of make-up joined him by the door. They vanished into the dark along with the scene.

A young man, a few years older now. He was walking down a hallway when someone tripped him. His books were scattered and mocking laughter rang out. Mixing chemicals at a table while someone snuck up behind him and poured something in his pocket that made him pass out. He seemed to be trying to perfect something, writing frantically in a journal next to him. Someone threw a vial at him then laughed as he tried to catch it. He was glaring at some measurement before checking his equipment. He seemed horrified as he inspected a bottle.

"Who filled the benzene with water?!"

He was in a large room with other students milling around. Someone ran past him, shoving a bag into his hands as they went. An angry professor appeared, glaring at him and the bag. The vision faded away to a loud accusation.

A man, mustachioed, grey haired, dignified stood before him. Wilson was sitting in a parlor and seemed uncomfortable. The man smiled smoothly as he spoke.

"Think of the possibilities Mr. Higgsbury! The research we do could revolutionize medicine or change labour conditions. The applications are endless."

"I understand your point Professor Euwell, I'm just not comfortable with your methods."

The older man laughed. "Oh come now sir, you did not acquire your degree without learning that scientific research requires some...stretching of what is and is not acceptable. No omelette without those eggs breaking hmm? Also," and the man's eyes suddenly sparked with something unpleasant, "such research gains fame, renown, and the ever necessary cash to make a living. Don't you want your name heard in the best of circles?"

"I have enough social renown thank you. As for the scientific community, I prefer to be known for things I would not be ashamed to recall or recount late in life."

"Ah well." The professor handed Wilson his card. "If you change your mind about living in obscurity unknown and unsung, do let me know Mr. Higgsbury. I was young and naive once. I'm sure you'll come to understand in time." The man turned and left. The image seemed to follow him out the doorway into darkness.

A woman was sitting in the same parlor sitting on a low sofa. She had soft brown curls and lovely brown eyes. She was slim and tall with attractive curves. Indeed, she looked every inch the perfect beauty. She was pouting as she spoke to Wilson.

"Oh Wilson, how could you? It was such a lovely position too."

"Flosse I told you what they want me to do is wrong!" He was pacing agitatedly back and forth. "Accepting would go against everything I decided I would and would not do back in university."

"But dearest," she cooed in a sickening sweet voice, "shouldn't you reconsider now? Things have changed. We will have our position to think of when we are married. You can't just fiddle with all those nasty smelling concoctions all day. People will think you're a layabout!"

"I don't fiddle I do research, I've told you. I am-"

"Yes yes a gentleman scientist, but really Wilson that's not an excuse to be so shiftless. Think of what the neighbors will say." She sighed, standing. "I'm sorry, but I simply don't feel as if I can support your decision in this. I consider our engagement at an end." She patted the stunned scientist on the shoulder. "Perhaps it's for the best, you need someone less...socially adept for such a position. I fear I would be a waste as your wife and a burden on your 'research'. I'm sure you can understand dearest. Fear not, I won't make a fuss." She gave a little wave as she went out the door, leaving Wilson staring after her, his heartbreak clear on his face. The darkness shifted.

Something changed, something was now reaching out, pulling at Willow. The images she had seen burned in her mind, but now they seemed to be flowing way and it felt as if the flow was engulfing her, tugging at parts of her she couldn't identify. The visions changed, seemed to move faster than ever.

A young girl was standing in a hallway with several other children, excitement filling the group at the prospective hope they were being offered. A man grey haired, dignified, sporting a neat mustache stood before them smiling benevolently and speaking warmly.

"If you agree to participate in this little experiment, I assure you not only will you be more desirable to prospective parents, but I will personally use my influence to bring your existence to the attention of many childless couples I come into contact with. You see Children I work in rather, illustrious circles and many of them sadly can't have children of their own or prefer to avoid the difficulty of such a thing. When our experiment concludes there will be a line out the door and round the block of prospective parents eager to adopt every one of you!"

The children cheered and the little girl felt hope grow within her. It sounded so nice, and all they had to do was agree to work hard for a project that make them more acceptable to the only people who could afford to adopt orphans. She eagerly agreed to do anything for a family of her own as the image and sounds of cheering children faded.

The next vision seemed faster than before, overwhelming almost in speed. Fire was everywhere. The girl was shoved into the flames over and over. It burned, it hurt, the pain was everywhere. The girl fought but was thrown in at times by those bigger and stronger. The needles hurt, the stuff they administered made her ice cold and blazing hot. Sometimes she was sick everywhere. And then one day she stood in front of the flames, just like every other day. She no longer fought, she simply held out her hands and waited for the agony to flare up and burns to be large enough to confirm she had failed again. But the fire didn't burn, didn't hurt. It warmed her like a fuzzy blanket, it embraced her as if it was the best friend she'd ever had. She slowly moved to stand in the flames and the closed her eyes as joy filled her and darkness rose to meet her.

She was fleeing something horrible, she didn't know what but it frightened her. She was caught out of bed and thrown in the dark storage closet. Terror gripped her, the girl could hear whatever it was coming for her. She frantically ravaged the shelves in the dark. Her hands found something, it clicked on. Startled by the sudden blinding light, she dropped it. A lighter she noted as it fell into a pile of old rags. Oily rags. The fire rose and surrounded her. She could feel it, could sense the others fleeing in terror, could sense the room with all the notes, all the records of those little experiments that were supposed to give them hope. She felt them burn to ashes and smiled in triumph…

The lighter! It was still in her hands and she wasn't ten years old anymore. This was NOT the orphanage she grew up in, this was the Throne Room. And this had to be what the shadows did to their victims to destroy them. Willow flicked the little lighter and it lit a small area.

"Miss Willow?" A voice was calling her name and Wilson stepped into the tiny circle of safety. He stared at her wide eyed. "What are you doing here?

"I'm here for you, you insufferable idiot!" The firestarter snapped at him. "Come on, we should get out of here while we can." She held out her hand but he pulled back standing as far from her as the lighter would allow.

"I can't, this is what I deserved, you should get out of here before they start affecting you again."

"Not this rubbish again! Wilson if everything I've seen is real then you deserve to be free. You're a good person. You don't want to hurt people. You turned down jobs that would have made you rich and famous, you've had people who should support you turn their back on you. And you're still here, trying to sacrifice yourself in some stupid move to rectify a mistake that anyone could have made!" The scientist shifted uneasily, his expression unconvinced and still guilty. Willow sighed.

"Look, I've spent years in places no one should ever have to live. You...know that. You know I was stuck in a sanitarium before I came here. I know more about so called 'science' and those who misuse it than anyone. And I promise, having known you now for what, a year and a half or however long we've been in this mad place: You're. Not. Them.

He smiled weakly. "I'm glad the differences are so clear to you. But still," his resolve was clearly building again. "If I become king I may be able to find a way out of this horrid place."

"You don't know that." She shot back. "And besides, one of us is not better or worse. We're all important and you know if we lose one pair of hands it's just as bad as hounds or Deerclops or whatever this stinking place throws at us. We're all valuable here."

She held out her hand to him again. We'll find our way out of this place Wilson, I swear. But we'll find it together." Wilson slowly reached out and took the offered hand. He managed a weak smile.

"How is it that you are always saving me?"

"Because you might be smarter, but I'm more clever than you'll ever be bookworm." He gave a weak laugh and hand in hand they fled the throne room. The portal seemed to be closing, but they dived through it and into oblivion once more.

Ho boy has it been a LONG time since I posted anything on the internet. Or wrote it down for that matter! That's what happens when you fall in love with a pairing and go, "Hey, I wonder if I'm the only one who feels this way?" only to discover you've fallen for a rarepair and yes, there is a fandom, but sadly, it's small and needs all the help it can get!

So here I am posting my first DS story which is going to end up a drama and romance. This story will focus mostly on Wilson and Willow. It will be fast burn to the confession, but I swear there will be way more after that. I wanted to do a story where they were already a couple(or quick to get past, "Do you know how I feel about you?")and then had to deal with adventures as they tried to find their way forward together.

The premise for this was HEAVILY inspired by Begin Again found here on FFnet. I wanted to do a post game story as well, just not in the modern period(those of you who can do that, more power to ya) Give this story some love please, it deserves it!

his is set in the Edwardian Period or Progressive Period as it was called in America which is about from 1900-1910, give or take a little(usually ends with WWI or end of WWI in America since we weren't really in that one) This story actually takes place in 1905, so expect some historical gender roles or prudish beliefs because that's what would happen. WHY this time? Because 9/10s of this story was written with bits of lore I had picked up here and there without reading the wiki as much as I could of/should of. Thus I wrote the Throne different from the way it's supposed to work in game(I think)because I'd only heard a little and played several 1 stage Adventure modes where I died a lot. Forgive my old head canons that prevail throughout this. I knew the game was sometime after the Victorian Era but assumed Early 1900s because Willow's shirt looks like some of the blouses from that time period. And Wilson is chilling around his own house in his backstory video in a DRESS SHIRT AND VEST. This is definitely an earlier time period. Then I read the wiki and headdesked loudly at 1926. Doh.

TAGGING: This story will mostly not involve a bunch of dirty stuff but sex will come up as a point eventually, along with physical intimacy. This story was designed to be more mellow though, so I promise no explicit sex scenes for the most part. I WILL tag at the start of a chapter if squicky stuff comes up. I have a good friend who's asexual and I don't want to chase off anyone who's uncomfortable with sex or sex repulsed. Expect some heavy making out late in the story and some other stuff. I'll leave cuts so you guys can skip. This is first and foremost a romance story, and sex isn't needed. But I'm not going to pretend people just didn't have sex before marriage in the old days. That's rubbish. More on that later. Mostly know the rating may rise at some point.

FINAL THOUGHTS:Comments are welcome, feel free to discuss/ask about head canons at anytime or history or just why did you do X? I should mention I've played almost 200 hours in DS with Wilson or Willow mostly. Second most loved character is Wendy then WX-78. I don't have the expansions yet, or DST. So if I leave stuff out from those, sorry. This story mostly takes place post game so it shouldn't matter too much.