The ruined fortress collapsed in a blaze of pixelated light behind them, the sky above Nexara clearing for the first time in months. The neon storm clouds faded to reveal a soft blue dawn, and the city — once frozen in terror — slowly flickered back to life.

  Captain CutiePie and Dorkitty stumbled into the main plaza, coughing and laughing as they leaned on each other.

  Nova’s voice crackled in through the comms, breathless with excitement. “You maniacs did it! The Byte Beasts are gone — you two just saved the world! And… I think the snack dispensers are working again.”

  CutiePie swayed on his feet, eyes gleaming. “Did she say snacks?”

  Dorkitty elbowed him gently, but her smile was warm. “Priorities, huh?”

  This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  As if on cue, the city’s public snack drones zoomed overhead, dropping care packages — cookies, pies, peanut butter jars — across the plaza. Children cheered. Gamers poured into the streets, tossing confetti made of old game codes. Someone even set off a glitch-firework that briefly turned the sky into a giant dancing cat.

  CutiePie slumped onto a bench, exhausted but grinning. Dorkitty sat beside him, tucking her legs up and adjusting her headphones.

  He looked over at her, suddenly quiet. “Hey… thanks for not giving up back there.”

  Dorkitty smirked, resting her head on his shoulder. “Please. I knew you’d pull some ridiculous stunt. You always do.”

  He reached into the nearest care package and triumphantly held up a slice of pie. “To world-saving teamwork.”

  Dorkitty plucked it from his hands before he could take a bite. “To world-saving teamwork,” she agreed, smiling as she took the first taste.

  CutiePie let out an exaggerated gasp of betrayal — then burst out laughing.

  As the sun rose over Nexara, they sat together surrounded by crumbs and confetti, the city safe, the game won — and for the first time in a long time, the world felt a little sweeter.