Before the Cultivation of a Flower

As Imogen got up she punched Clarence in the face by accident.

"Oops, sorry Clarence." Apologized Imogen

"It's okay, it really-." Tried to state Clarence while he was looking at Imogen.

"But it's your fault for being so close to me, so live the consequences of your own actions." Laughed Imogen

"That was unneeded, what the hell Imogen!" Raged Clarence. "You're the kind of person that no one likes to be around because of your snotty nature." Frowned Clarence.

"It was only a joke, you need to lighten up and stop swearing." Complained Imogen unhappily.

"Well if you want me to stop swearing then you have to stop being so fucking snotty all the time!" Argued Clarence trying to come to an agreement.

"You purposely swore there, that's not nice; that's not nice at all." Growled Imogen. "But if you insist, then I'll accept your agreement fellow human." Crooned Imogen, emphasizing human.

"But you're not a human, I don't even know what you are." Reminded Clarence. "And while this topic is up, why don't you tell me what you are." Suggested Clarence.

"That's none of your business, perhaps I'll tell you when I get to know you better." Refuted Imogen. "Right now we're just barely acquaintances, I don't trust you very much and I'll kill you at the first sign of trouble." Admitted Imogen

"Umm... really." "What the hell is wrong with you, that's not just something people say or do; have some common courtesy!" Yelled Clarence. "I saved your life, why would I kill you; that'd be pointless!" Screamed Clarence.

"I was being honest, over the years I've grown some serious trust issues; you probably saved me for personal gain." Speculated Imogen.

"Apparently so and how could I benefit from saving you, what looked to be a mutilated girl." Refuted Clarence. "I could've left you there to get sold off to Pyen Tyra and right about now I'm wishing that I did!" Roared Clarence.

"Do you want to fight, I- I already told you that I have no problem with killing you!" Threatened Imogen hesitantly.

"You'll kill me, huh." "If anything it'll be me killing you, I'll be saving kind people the heart ache you'll bring them!" Rumbled Clarence.

"You're pushing it Clarence, go any further and there'll be no coming back." Remarked Imogen. "I don't actually want to kill you, but I will if you make me!" Cried Imogen.

"If I go any further there'll be no turning back, is that what you said?" Contemplated Clarence. "I've already gone to far, I'm sorry; this fight is inevitable." Whispered Clarence.

~~~

"Bella!" "Go get Josh and grab the popcorn while you're at it, my fate twisting worked!" Hollered Alice.

"Get your own damn popcorn, Alice and tell Josh what you want him to know yourself, I've gotten tired of this mortal." Sneered Bella. "I'm sure Josh has gotten bored of her too, just forget about her; she's bound to die before she makes a big impact on the world anyways." Added Bella.

"Fine, I'll tell him myself and I'll also tell him that you're being a bitch." Scoffed Alice.

"Josh!" "The motal's about to be pitted against her only friend, do you want to make bets on who'll win?" Questioned Alice.

"Why didn't you tell me earlier, I love seeing her suffer, it never gets old." Smiled Josh. "It's the light at the end of a dark tunnel for me, it really brightens my day." Grinned Josh, barely holding in his excitement. "Bring out the Hazel Crunches, I want to enjoy every second of this." Laughed Josh, excitement burning in his eyes.

~~~

"What do you mean Clarence, we can still go back; please don't do this." Pleaded Imogen.

"Get ready, because I'll kill you regardless; whether you have a blade in your hand or not." Responded Clarence grimly as he raised his sword.

"I'm begging you Clarence, don't do this, my heart won't be able to take it." Begged Imogen to no avail.

Clarence in all his glory, was standing at around six foot; his torn clothes not matching his features. He had brown hair and brown eyes full of life to match, his stature was impressive as he stared down with Imogen. With his defined facial bones and a frown plastered onto his face that didn't fit at all, he performed a jump attack on Imogen.

Imogen blocked it weakly and without spirit as if she didn't want to fight him. Clarence initiated a powerful, but quick move set that Imogen wasn't able to follow. Imogen got cut all over, they were light cuts; but in great numbers. Imogen tried to attack, but her body wouldn't move. It was like she was a stone wall, all she could do was block whenever Clarence attacked.

"Clarence!" "Please stop, I don't want to kill you!" Wailed Imogen, but there was no answer.

Imogen blocked strike after strike, but all the cuts were wearing down on her; she wouldn't be able to keep this up much longer. Each strike brought a pang of regret to Clarence, each plea he ignored made him feel like he had lost a piece of himself; each strike got slightly weaker then the next.

Imogen felt like keeling over and dying, but somehow she suppressed that urge and kept on living even on the brink of death. When Imogen thought that she was for sure done for and Clarence got into form for a clean decapitation, the unexpected happened. Clarence dropped his sword and Imogen cut his head o- just kidding.

Right before Clarence's sword removed Imogen's head, it stopped. This surprised both of them. Clarence found that he couldn't move his sword any further, he could only move it back. And that's exactly what he did, he moved his sword back to his side and dropped it to the floor. Strangely, it didn't make any noise and bounced silently against the ground.

Clarence fell into a kneel and prayed, he prayed to every god he knew for forgiveness; he hadn't known what had come over him. He wasn't thinking (strait) before and now he has found that his mind is a lot clearer than it used to be. After he had reached the last god and prayed to her, he got up and apologized to one last creature before he fell over exhausted.

"I'm sorry Imogen, I really am, I know it's not much and that you'll never forgive me for what I've done; but please accept my apology." Requested Clarence.

"I accept your apology and I... I forgive you fully Clarence, I don't know why; but I feel like it's the right thing to do." Smiled Imogen virtuously. "I'm sure that we'll make great friends, just don't try to kill me again; okay Clarence." Beamed Imogen.

"Thank you... I'll apologize more in the morning, for now; I'll sleep." Laughed Clarence, but it came out as a cough.

"Goodnight Clarence, sleep well." Wished Imogen.

"This feels nice, I've never felt like this before; is this the feeling of friendship?" Wondered Imogen. "Well whatever it is, I hope that it'll last." Mumbled Imogen as tears rolled down her face, tears that she never knew she wanted to let out. It stayed like this until Imogen managed to fall asleep once again, even though it was still the morning.

~~~

"NO!" "What kind of fucking ending is that!" Shrieked Josh. "Alice!" "You've failed me, I even ate the last of the Hazel Crunches for this and it turned out BAD!" Thundered Josh. "I'll make sure that you never enjoy existing again Alice, you'll regret your ENTIRE LIFE!" Bellowed Josh. "I don't care about the penalties, I just want you dead!" Boomed Josh as he conjured a sword out of mana.

"I'm sorry Josh, I'll make it up to you somehow; don't kill me!" Cried Alice, but it was too late and Josh cut her in half diagonally; destroying millions of years of work and goals. As Alice's body turned into mana, her soul cracked into pieces; never to return to the soul cycle again.

While Josh was distracted, Bella silently dashed behind him, ripped out his soul and crushed it, instantly evaporating Josh's body.

"You finally gave me the requirements to kill you Josh, how stupid of you." Snorted Bella. "No punishments shall come to me, in fact I might even get rewarded." Scoffed Bella as she watched the last bit of Alice's body turn into mana.

"And you Alice, were just annoying; but you helped in the end." Approved Bella.

"Your life now has meaning, you finally did something useful; or your life did have meaning."

"You have done a great service to society of gods and as such you've been recognized as a third tier god; but sadly you'll have to stay here for the time being." Announced a voice.

"What?" "Why?" Questioned Bella.

"We are short on gods, the mortals are no longer reaching godhood and we implore you to choose a champion; we need more gods!" Chimed the voice and then it was gone.

"No..." "Now I have no one to talk to, what have I done!" Screamed Bella with a rage so potent even the clouds felt bad.