The sky is a dark blue, yet the area is lit up like its day. There's miles and miles with this... orange dirt, rocks, simple, dried up, dead trees and...something... It roars at me. I instantly scramble to my legs and flee, where to I dont know. A purple beast, triple the size as myself with a wide mouth and yellow eyes on the sides of its head is now after me. Despite its round form it's fast, I can feel its heavy steps shake the ground as it chases after me. Another loud roar and im positive its right in my heels, yet all I can think about is if Rick is safe? Where is he? Why was I sent here?

As I feel it almost nibble on my heels I throw myself to the side, right behind a rock large enough to hide behind. The beast pass by at an alarming speed but as it notice im gone it slows down and turns around. All I can do is scream as the monster run towards me, that's when a portal is opened in the sky. Rick and the other Rick falls through. Rick notice me and my distress almost instantly and shoots a portal so the monster falls through and disappears. Im safe. For now.

They land heavy in the dirt and roll around, fighting. I stand up, ready to help my soulmate when the stranger manage to shoot at me. I fall down, again, before im fully through I hear Rick call after me and grunt. This time I land in a three of some sort, the branches scratch my skin raw and I instinctively cling to it to not fall further down. There's grass below me, at least I think its grass? Its pink, thick and flow with the cool breeze. I look down at my hands, the tree is dark and the odd leaves maroon. I look back up, why is it so quiet? Its like im in a bubble?

I can feel the wind yet I cannot hear it.

Is this atmosphere safe to breathe in?

I slowly and carefully hoist myself down to the ground, the grass is moist like from dew and it reaches me to my waist, making my clothes wet. I curiously touch it with my fingers as I look around more in search for other threats, my heart is still beating in my chest from the last chase. What does the other Rick want? Thinking back on what he said, that Rick wasnt supposed to have a soulmate, that he wanted me... Did the universe make a mistake? My Rick isnt from this universe so when he came here did something change? Did the universe mistake him for the other? But why would he come back now? The stranger abandoned his family and has been gone for so many years? Its not like you can just... change soulmates?

Right?

I belong to Rick, I've finally accepted that.

I sigh and look around some more, I spot a forest in the distance, round, soft mountains at the horizon, rocks and bushes in different colors, the silence still overwhelming and odd.

"Hello?" I call out, my voice sound so loud it almost makes me want to cover my ears. There's no response. Why did he send me here? To keep me away from Rick? Before I can think any more I find myself falling again.

"Y/N!" I hear Rick call but I cant locate from where. Im falling from the sky, the wind makes my eyes tear up. Is this how I die? I spot cars and traffic below me, rapidly coming closer. Tall buildings surround me, their glass covered facades blinding as they reflect in the sun. Right before I smash into the concrete road another green portal opens up like a sinkhole, my body comes to an abrupt stop before I fall again, this time landing in a place I know.

Rick's garage.

I rub my head that unfortunately had to take some of the fall. Panting I roll over on my back and try to get up but my head spinns too much so I still and try to breathe. Inhale, exhale. This all turned very chaotic. It only takes just a couple of seconds before Rick stumbles out from a portal, he looks rough and as he spots me I hold my arms out, greedy for his comfort like a child, tears burn in my eyes. He rush forward, making sure im alright and help me up to a standing before the other Rick yet again interrupt our moment. His portal gun should be over heating by now? If it can even do that?

"Behind me" Rick commands and I move, taking cover behind his back, pressing my body against his naked torso and savoring in the heat from his skin. He throws me a worried look over his shoulder which makes me realize that im shaking, a lot. I guess it takes its toll on you when you think you're going to die, multiple times...

"You're really persistent" The other Rick chuckles "For two people who arent even meant to be together"

"Are you saying I should've been bonded with you?" I question, peaking from behind Rick's back.

"Naturally, we have soulmates in this universe, he doesnt" He nod towards Rick who is silent, probably contemplating over what his next move should be. They are equally strong and skilled which makes this harder, can you even beat yourself?

"You cannot change who you're bonded with" I continue, but with uncertainty, I've never heard of such a thing happening but Rick always says-

"I can do anything, im the smartest man in the universe" He sure is a Rick...

"If you kill me, she'll be miserable" My Rick finally speaks.

"Not for long"

"And what if I dont want to be bonded with you?" I argue.

"Oh come on" He laughs, mocking me "Like you wanted to be bonded with this alcoholic grandpa from the start?" He's not wrong but things have changed. I've gotten to know Rick, I know his past, I know his suffering.

"None of that matters, I want to stay with him" Rick's shoulders fall down a bit after hearing my words. Was he worried I might go with the stranger? Why would I? We have gotten too far to stop now, we have been through so much...

"Your loss" The stranger grins and raise his portal gun. Rick raise his pistol to shoot but the stranger is faster. We both fall through a portal. I hear Rick grunt as he lands but I cannot comprehend what's happening, im still falling? Rick reach forward to catch me, his long fingers tight around my wrist and his other hand around a branch sticking out from the cliff. The pistol fall from his hand but I catch in my free one, at the same time I look down.

Death.

I am most definitely dead if I fall. We're both hanging off a cliff, the bottom filled with dead threes and spiky rocks, wanting to swallow us whole. Ricks lower torso and legs are on the ground, his upper body handing down with me and the only thing saving him from falling with me is the grip he has on the branch. Im dangling in his grip with one hand and im not strong enough to pull myself up, I cant even reach the ledge.

"Your portal gun" I gasp, thinking it will save us.

"He destroyed it" He sound strained, his position uncomfortable and his long limbs working overtime to keep us from a certain end. Rick looks down and widen his eyes before looking at me.

"I will not let you go" He promise but I frown as I realize the situation we're in.

"He will shoot you if you dont shoot first" I nod towards his gun in my hand.

"Are you stupid? I dont have three hands!" I think. There is no other way is it? If he doesnt shoot the stranger first he will die, and I might as well go out with him because I dont want to live without him, I dont want to live with the pain of loosing him...

If he takes the gun to shoot he needs to drop me first because if he let go with his other hand he will fall, we will both fall, but if he doesnt shoot the stranger we'll both die either way, in one way or another...

"You must let me go Rick" My voice is shaking.

"I cant fucking do that?!" For the first time he look panicked and he desperately meet my eyes with striking fear, I can hear the gears turn in his head for a solution that wont mean the end of one of us.

"Just fucking give up already!" The stranger grunts behind Rick.

"If she dies then what the fuck is the point?!" Rick calls back, the stranger is aiming at my soulmate.

"Pull her up and your death will be swift, I promise" Rick looks back down at me, pleading but we have no better ideas. If I fall Rick will survive, I might die but what's the point of living if I wont live with him?

"If you die, I die" I blink my tears away but my cheeks get wetter from Rick's own. He's crying. My chest is hurting, it feels like my heart is breaking. Im afraid of dying but im more scared of loosing him. "There is no other way, you can fix me right? If I fall and get injured?"

"And what if you die!? I cant fix death?!" He shouts back at me.

"You can fix me, I know you can, but if you die..."

"...I wont be able to save you..." I nod. He knows what he must do.

"I... fuck... why are you forcing me to do this?!"

"Its okay"

"I will fix you, I will save you" He tries to persuade himself but he doesnt believe it. I trust him, if he cant save me then... at least he's alive, at least one of us are. He can do much greater things that I will ever be capable of. He's the smartest man in the universe.

"I wish I could kiss you" He continues.

"I love you"

"I love you too baby"

I feel the hesitation when my hand slip away from his, I feel the pain and terror in my gut as he watch me fall. I gasp from the feeling. Everything seem to go into slow motion... I see how Rick pull himself up and shoots. I hear the lasers cut through the air but I cant see if they hit.

I close my eyes before I hit the ground.

Everything goes black.