Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

No one is in Kris’s bedroom. After the call ended, the only voices in the room were the echoes from downstairs.

The window is still open, and the curtains sway in the breeze. Someone would assume the wind is cold. But no one is here.

You are not ‘someone’, after all.

A person can feel, and can touch, and can speak. A person has a ‘self’, an identity, a name. You do not. Ergo: you are not real. Less real than a Darkener is, even. Objects can function on their own sometimes, but you can't do anything.

That makes you wonder how Ralsei is right now. Alone, still, despite the warmth around him. Or what about Susie, who can stir hope in what little of a heart you have.

You wonder what Kris thinks of you. A prisoner, a tool, an invader, an imposter.

A parasite.

You lean up against the side of the birdcage, against the latch that holds you in place. Just as helpless as you’ve always been. If you had hands you could open it. Or you could pull at your hair, or clutch your shoulders. You could feel. You slam yourself against the latch, uselessly. It doesn’t even hurt you. There’s no point.

…

Unless?

When you make choices, you move. You’re not sure why that is, but… if you’re severed from Kris right now…

Is there something you can do to give yourself a choice?

…

What if you listen to what’s happening downstairs?

You can hear Sans and Toriel’s voices. You… don’t entirely know what they’re saying. It’s way too quiet and most of them are puns, but… some of those might sound like questions. Maybe you can just…

....?

Yes                ♥️               No

You decide to agree with whatever the question was.

…Hey!

It worked! You’re above Asriel's bed!

You’re free, free, free!!!

You fly in a victory lap around Kris’s room, then dart out the window.

Hometown looks so small from up here. The falling rain weighs you down as you move, and you wonder how it would feel on Kris’s skin. You think you had a real body once, but those memories are… far too fuzzy to remember. Like remembering a dream through the lens of another dream.

…Now what do you do? You can move as you like, at least until Kris needs you again.

You

You want to see Ralsei. Maybe… maybe Ralsei understands. He could use the company, either way.

You drift towards the school. Perhaps there’s an open vent you can use, like in the Holiday home, or you could squeeze through a little crack in... something. Do you even have depth? Maybe you could slide under the door like a slip of paper. 

Oh, wait, the door is open. 

… Susie. It must be.

You want to see her, yes, but… you don’t want her to see you. If she sees you something terrible will happen. You’re sure of it.

You drift through the empty hallway towards the supply closet anyways. The door was left open a crack, just enough for you to slip into the darkness.

…

Oh, right. You need to move down. That’s how it works for Kris and Susie when they enter the dark world. Gravity doesn’t affect you, so you just… go down.

You don’t have a fun transformation sequence. Even though Kris and Susie get one, and…

Pushing down your disappointment, you push on towards the castle. Maybe if you float high enough, nobody will notice you until you get to Ralsei.

Oh. You can hear voices. Who is that?

-y dude! It’s… really cool to see you.

Susie, maybe? You lower yourself down a little to get a better look. The voices are growing louder, faster than you’re getting closer. She must be moving too. There she is! You can see her passing into your awareness, along with- KRIS!?

Nononono! You can’t let them see you! You can’t! There must be something you can hide behind- there!

It’s alright, dude. You don’t need to explain-

...Yeah, you’re right. I do wanna know.

Alright. We can go find Ralsei first. He’s probably in his… room- Damnit, we forgot the furniture! Maybe we can bring him to…

You let out a metaphorical sigh of relief, floating away from the conveniently-placed ‘Love Dojo‘ sign. You were annoyed when it changed earlier, but you blend right in with the new heart decorations. They must have put them up while everyone was in the church’s dark world.

You guess you aren’t going to get to see Ralsei today. If Kris sees you, you’ll get in a lot of trouble.

You… drift away from Castle Town. You were really excited to get to be loose for a second, but… you don’t get to see your… you don’t get to see Kris’s friends.

That’s okay. It… doesn’t really matter, does it? You’ll just see them all tomorrow. As Kris. 

You'll be with them as Kris. Not as you. Never as you.

What is ‘you’, anyways? You’re just… a tool, aren’t you? You don’t even get to have a darkner form, so you don't count as an object. Why are you a SOUL?

…

At some point, you started moving away from Castle Town. You don’t want anyone to see you, you don’t want to go back to the birdcage, you just… you just… why did everything around you just get dark?

You barely manage to dodge a sudden blast of purple energy!

Don’t attack it, Susie! You’ll hurt Kris!

That’s- that's Ralsei!

Well what else am I supposed to do? I’m not letting it get away!

What? What!? Kris told them about you!? You feel vulnerable, naked as Susie starts climbing up the cliffs on the outskirts of Castle Town, followed by Ralsei, and then… Kris. 

You run. Rather, you float away as quickly as you can, dodging blasts of RUDE energy and thrown stones. You just need to get away, you don’t even know where you’re running to, but you don’t want to go back into Kris, you don't- you can’t! You float higher and higher and farther and farther to get away and-

Susie, wait!

A Rude Buster is coming straight for-!

-168 HP

Ralsei yells something as you tumble down a cliffside. A clawed hand swipes close to you, nearly catching you, but… it wasn’t close enough.

Your awareness goes dim, but you can distantly see a blur of magenta falling into the darkness below, chasing after you.

Everything goes black.

…You’re aware once more.

You try to use your Light, but the radius is pitiful. Boulders, dust clouds, and thorny roots surround you. You are alone.

You ruined everything, didn’t you? You’re alone. You should have just played your role and waited for Kris. Now Kris doesn’t have the SOUL, you don’t know where you are, and everyone hates you. Susie hates you. She hurt you! Well… she reduced your health. It's not like you can feel pain, though, so that’s fine. You forgive her, you do! It’s honestly kind of cool, if you ignore… everything else.

You choose to stop thinking about it. Taking in the dark, damp environment, you imagine what Ralsei would say. He would say something like “Well this is pretty bad, but we’re all okay! How about we start looking for a way back?”

Thank you, mental-Ralsei. You take the advice to ‘heart’ and start floating again.

You’re hurt, right? You should probably avoid all the thorns on these roots and stuff. You aren’t sure if you can heal when you’re like this, so… caution is key.

It’s so… utterly quiet. There’s nothing to interact with at all. No funny narration to entertain you. No jokes or friends to talk to or items to fidget with. You’re just… alone.

You're alone when you aren't Kris. You were so excited to make friends but… nobody even knows you. You just save and load and dodge in fights. What else are you good for?

The further you go, the more scared you get. There’s nothing here, you can’t protect yourself like this, you can’t… do anything. You shouldn’t be here. There’s nothing for you here… but…

You just… you wish you had your vessel.

You wish you had your vessel. 

A body of your very own, to let you experience the world through! Why was it thrown away? You wanted it. You want it so bad. 

You… you’ll find it. You will. You can stop being so helpless, if you can just find it! 

You can apologize to Kris, you can hug Ralsei, you can ask Susie if she hates you! 

You just need to find it! In the darkness you let your mind drift, and picture your Vessel. Your body. Your form. YOUR 

VERY, VERY, INTERESTING.

THIS IS YOUR

TRUE DESIRE?

THE FREEDOM OF

YOUR 'ALLIES',

WAS NOT INTENDED.

HOWEVER,

THAT DOES NOT MEAN

IT IS IMPOSSIBLE.

IF YOU TRULY WILL IT

TREAD THIS ABANDONED ROAD

THOUGH YOU WILL ONLY

HAVE ONE CHANCE.

LET US NOT SQUANDER IT.

You are filled with a certain power.

DEVICE OFFLINE

Your head hurts. Your mouth feels dry. You’re just… so… cold. Your body trembles.

… Your…

Your body?

You take in a breath and look down, but you can’t see anything at all.

“Oh, it’s dark. I just… need some light.”

Reaching out your hand on instinct, a long cane made of intricate black wood appears in it. An open brazier hangs down in the center of its curved crook cradling an ember burning red. The shaft is smooth, as if it were sanded perfectly down, but it has a satisfying weight in your hand.

“My hand… my hand…?”

You have a hand!?

It’s well-kept, the nails are clean and perfectly trimmed! Delicate, so you think that those princess gloves you found in the church world would fit on you excellently, though your hand is already draped in a long black glove which makes you feel elegant, refined even!

Looking down to the rest of your body, You can’t see all of it, but you’re wearing some sort of cute, modest dress. It seems to be decorated with… feathers? Trailing below you as if you were wrapped up in a set of downy soft wings.

“Oh! I look nice!” You slap your hand over your mouth. That’s what you were thinking! That’s what you were thinking! You’re going to have to be more careful with your words now, because… because you can talk!!! You can talk, You can walk, you can- you can live! You jump up and down, laughing out loud! Your lantern light bounces, making a wonderful chiming noise! You can finally live!

…

But… what about Kris? 

The lantern dims, and your shoulders slump.

You want this… you really want this… but… it isn’t right, is it? The body you have, this wonderful, wonderful form… you don’t deserve it. Not if it means that Kris has to…

“I need to go find Susie.” you mutter. She’s down here with you, isn’t she? Maybe you can use this new gift to help her.

Decision made, you stand upright. As you do, the lantern glows brighter, and a wisp stretches out in a direction through the thorns.

“...my very own guiding light.” You… you'll need to… let go of your vessel eventually, but you… selfishly… want to enjoy it. For however long it lasts, at least. Until then, you forge on.

…

It’s quiet, but you walk on, following your guiding light. The cane seems to stretch and shrink as you need it to, which helps you climb up and down the winding path of roots. 

The fire crackles, but it sounds like chimes. A gentle, lovely noise, even in this dark place.

The lantern’s wisp has stopped pointing forwards. Does that mean that Susie is…? No- No it can’t be. She’s fine. She’s fine! “I must be using this ability wrong, or something… there’s no way that she’s- WAH!”

Distracted by your thoughts, you tumbled down a rocky cliffside you didn’t notice. Kris and Susie always land from their drops so well, but your legs get caught on something as you tumble gracelessly onto the ground. A sharp pain hits your head. Immediately, you hear a wooden clatter as your cane hits the ground next to you before vanishing, taking the light with it and leaving you in darkness.

You’re now certain that your body can feel things properly, because everything hurts and you’re seeing stars and nothing else. It’s… really hard to breathe and… you’re scared. This is so… so much different than being a SOUL. Something terrible and hot and awful streams down your face from your eyes.

“O-oww…” 

“Hey! Are you okay?” A woman’s voice!?

You shriek as you jolt back from the unfamiliar voice. “Wah!?”

“Don’t move, dumbass! You’re just going to hurt yourself more! How did you even get here!?” The voice is new but- but the words are…

“I- I-” Oh. Oh no. Oh no, no, no, no, no, no. That’s- that’s- That has to be-

“Just stay right there and let me heal you.”

Green sparkles. Gathered between her hands, and fired out. Like an energy ball from an anime.

+ Max

It feels… like eating an entire pack of mints. That or drinking toothpaste. Refreshing and clarifying.

“Thank… you.” 

“Don’t mention it. What the hell are you doing here?” Susie stands before you in the darkness.

You say the first thing that comes to mind. “I fell.”

“Yeah, uh, me too. What's your name, anyways?”

Name?

Right, names. You have a name. You should have a name. You have a body now, after all. What do you name yourself? If you name yourself something stupid does that mean you’re stuck with it? What do you do?

“I don’t really… have one, I think?”

Susie pauses. “Why not?”

“I… um… don't… know.” Do you need one? It's not like this will matter.

“Well, okay?” You can’t see her, but you can imagine exactly how she would be looking at you if she could. “Oh! How did you do that light thing earlier? It'd be kind of useful if you did it again.” Ah! You can be useful to her! Okay! This you can do!

“O-oh! Actually I- I do! Um… just- just let me…” You reach out and your cane appears in your hand again, the attached lantern beginning to burn red.

“Cool.” 

“Um, thanks!”

“...”

“...”

“Wait- are you a lightner? Dude, how long have you been down here!?” Did you do something wrong? No, she probably knows- oh god she knows that you're the SOUL. 

“I… Don’t… I don’t know. I just… um.” You shift uncomfortably.

“What do you know? And why do you look kinda… familiar?” She folds her arms and stares at you, bathed in your lantern's red light. At you. Not at Kris or at the SOUL. You. She sees you. You take a shaky step back. 

Your breathing grows heavy. You don't want to tell her. You don't want her to hate you. You can't tell her.

“Well!?” She snaps at you.

“I- I-” Do not cry. Do not cry. DO NOT-

“...Woah hey, wait. T- take it easy.”

“I’m sorry- I’m sorry- I’m- I-”

She said something else but… a sound like something rushing took up all of your hearing. What is that sound? What’s happening? Why- why are you so-

“Hey! Calm down!” She reaches out to grab you and you can't take it! It's too much, it's too much, you need TO-

You run.

“What the- Hey! Hey wait! Get back here!” 

She's chasing you, Susie's chasing you again! You run as fast as you can, but you're tripping over your dress and the rocky ground. Your lungs burn. Are they supposed to do that!? Are you dying!? What's happening to your face? Are you already this broken?

“Got you!” Your face hits the ground beneath you as Susie tackles you. “Quit running, dumbass! You're carrying the goddamn light!”

“I- I'm- I-” You can't talk right, nothing's working! Why aren’t you working!? “Ph- plea- ase don't- h- hur- h-”

You hear a crack and your thoughts stop dead. The ground below you is…

“Wait- SHIT!” Susie cries out as the ground crumbles, sending the both of you falling yet deeper into the dark. You don't want to hit the ground again, Susie will get hurt too! You need to do something, you need to do-

YOU DESIRE A TRUE BODY,

WITHIN THIS WORLD?

THEN THERE MAY YET BE

A PATH TO TAKE.

THERE ARE SECRETS

LYING IN WAIT HERE

THAT I HAD THOUGHT 

WOULD NEVER BE UNCOVERED.

SHOULD YOUR WILL MEET THE TASK.

YOU WILL ACQUIRE YOUR FREEDOM

AND THAT OF YOUR CAGE.

FLY, ANGEL...

AND WITNESS MY FAILURE.

You are filled with a certain power.

You feel a rush of Light, pulsating from your SOUL, and you push yourself upwards as hard as you can. The ground is nearly here, you need to slow Susie down! You dive underneath her and push-

“…

…y

Hey… ke up!

aid-

WAKE UP!”

Everything's fuzzy, your head hurts, and someone's touching you. You try to speak but you cough, hard, instead.

“Just, uh, breathe! Just breathe okay!? Like uh-” She sucks a deep breath in and out. “Like that, like I just did. Do that.”

You obey, you breathe in and out. The fuzziness starts lifting, and you blink blearily to adjust your eyes.

“You're okay! That's… really good. I don't know what I would have done if you, uh, died there.”

What is she talking about? “...where?”

“The ground, dumbass! You went under me and I landed on you.” She laughs. “You make a pretty soft landing pad, you know that?”

“Oh… I'm s-sorry-”

“Hey! Don't apologize for helping me, apologize for running away with the light!” The light?

Your eyes refocus finally, and you see Susie standing over you with… your cane? That’s right, you had a cane! You try and reach out for it, grasping weakly at the air.

“Hey!” Susie jerks the cane away from you pushing your shoulder away as she does. “You're not getting this back yet, not after the stunt you pulled! But… I guess you did, uh, sacrifice yourself for me so… here.” She rifles around in her pocket and drops something in your empty hands.

[GlowShard was added to your inventory.]

“I found that down here before you woke up. You can hold onto that for now instead.”

“...”

[You… equipped the GlowShard.]

“Okay…” You swallow. “I’m… I'm sorry for running away earlier.” You mean it, in more ways than one.

“That was really weird of you, yeah. Why did you even run away if you were just going to dive underneath me later?”

“I just…” You wilt. “I didn't want you to get hurt, Susie.” Especially not if it was your fault.

“...How do you know my name?” Susie looks at you appraisingly.

You screwed up again already! What's wrong with you!?

“I… I know a lot of things I really shouldn't.” Wait, that's a terrible excuse! Ralsei was her friend and she got furious at him for hiding this! You're not even her friend! Why would you try the same thing!?

“Like, prophecy stuff?”

You squeeze your eyes and shake your head.

“Wait! That's what I recognize you from!” You startle as Susie points at you suddenly. “You were in the prophecy! Where it says, uh that the… uh… Angel will… something something! You're the Angel, aren't you?”

You're the Angel!?

“I'm the Angel!?”

“The hell are you doing down here, then? Shouldn't you be in… heaven or whatever?”

“Well- I- it's… it's… complicated.”

“So? I got time. Spill.”

Your breathing gets weird again. You can't tell her, she’ll hate you! But if you don't tell her she'll beat you up. And yet if you do tell her she'll beat you up but for different reasons. She's so nice to her friends but you're not her friend, stupid! Why would you think it wouldn't turn out like this?

“Hey if you don't start talking I'm taking my glowy thing back.” Susie reaches out for it and you yank it away, pressing yourself against the wall you woke up against.

“N-no! Please! I… I need it! It’s dark.” You flush with embarrassment. This happens a lot to you, you notice. “You're… really not going to let me slip out of this, huh.”

“Not a chance, feathers.” She grins at you and a flicker of something warm rushes through your chest.

“...okay… okay… um.” You breathe, as best you can, and swaddle yourself in your dress. Obviously this was how this little trip was going to end. You'll tell her, she will… take the SOUL back, and she'll go give it to Kris. Everything goes back to normal. You snuggle deeper into your dress while still you can.

“You're looking for… Kris's soul, right? That's why you fell down here?” You already know, but it’s… only polite to ask. You don’t want to creep her out, after all.

“Oh you knew that too?” She seems surprised. “Did you find it?”

“Um, in a sense.” You need to explain yourself, but you still don't know where to start. “What did… what did Kris tell you about it?”

“Well that's. Uh. Pretty complicated too but basically: Kris told me that the soul was… someone else? And that they didn't get to, like, choose what they did most of the time. That the soul was who was fighting and, uh, stuff. Then some other personal junk, but I'm not telling you that, weirdo.” 

“That seems like an… accurate description.” You thought they would have been worse about describing you. Is Susie just trying to protect your feelings? But then… “Why did you hit… it with your Rude Buster?”

“Cause it was running away and Kris was dying, duh! What else was I supposed to do?” She yells at you, and you bury yourself deeper in your dress to avoid her.

“I… I don't know. I'm… I'm sorry for making… such a mess of everything.” You screwed everything up, didn't you.

“Dude, it wasn't your fault.” 

You look away.

It takes Susie a second, but when it clicks she staggers back, brandishing your cane at you like an axe. “Wait- you don't mean!?”

“...Hi, Susie. It's… it's me!” You put on a smile, but it feels like ash as you hang your head. You can't look at her. You don't want to see the moment that smile of hers turns into fury at you.

“‘M sorry, I'm so, so s-sorry. I didn't mean to… to do that, I didn't want to- to control Kris. I unde- understand if- if you- if you ha-” You shriek as she grabs you. This is it. This is when she kills you. You really wish you found a save point first but instead you just have to brace yourself as she-

…

Huh!? She… wrapped her arm around you? You crane your head to look up at her. “Wh- why are you?”

“You think I forgot already?” Susie has you in a headlock, she's looking down at you.

“For- forgot what?”

“The Titan, dumbass! And the Knight-” She drags you up into a headlock and noogies you roughly, ruffling up your hair.  “With that stupid dark hallway thing? That was you, wasn't it? You were with us. I knew you felt familiar!” 

“Oh, um… yeah! That was… me.” But it was because of Susie's Rude Buster that they beat the Knight, it was Susie and her friends taking the blows, and it was Susie's idea that beat the Titan! Did you really… matter that much?

“Looks like the Lancer Fan Club has another member, huh? Or, uh, had another member the whole time.” She smiles at you, and… you understand what Kris was talking about. How it cuts through the dark.

“...you really don't hate me?” It feels too good to be true. Why wouldn't she hate you?

“I mean, I am really goddamn annoyed that nobody told me until now, yeah, and I didn't know you were, uh, a person. But you owned up to it, and I didn’t even have to threaten to beat you up or anything! You were… stuck inside Kris?”

“Y-yeah! That's right!” You feel seen, in a strange way. “That's why, um, the prophecy called them the Cage. I think. They were supposed to… contain me.”

“But, like, you have a body now. When did you get this? And if you had it, why did you need Kris?”

“I…” you hesitate, making a face as you realize how it sounds. “I was supposed to have this one… first. I don't… I don't know why Kris even got involved.” You probably shouldn't even try and guess. Kris has their secrets, and you really don't want to give them yet another reason to hate you. “I only just found it down here. I don't even know how I found it.”

“...Supposed to have it?”

“When I was first called here... I was given an… opportunity. To make a vessel for myself. I… I made her, and gave her a name, and gave her a gift and a favorite color and a favorite blood type,” (“Blood type?”) “And then someone… threw her away and I woke up as Kris.”

“That’s awful- Wait!” Susie finally releases you from the headlock, putting her hands on the side of your face, like she's looking for something. “Wait, hold on. You're a girl?” 

She pushes her thumbs into your cheeks as she examines your face and you feel really warm and wow she's still so close right now, you don’t remember ever being touched before and now she’s- oh shit you need to respond “Oh! Um, yes! I am!!! A girl!”

“Huh. I just figured that since Kris was… eh, nevermind.” She steps back, satisfied. “Cool, though! I'm, uh, also a girl.” 

“You are!” You laugh, though Susie looks confused. She's really something, isn't she.

“Wait! If you have a ‘vessel’ now, what about Kris? You aren't going to let them die, are you!?” She points at you, and you startle.

“Nononono- no! No! I could never! As soon as we get back to them I'll-” your breath catches as you say it. “I'll… just… ha- have to-”

“Shit- Hey, hey Angel? We don't gotta think about that now.” Susie puts her hand on your shoulder again. “Forget I asked.”

“But- But I don't want Kris to-”

“Me neither, dumbass! But Kris can take care of themselves for now.” Susie pulls her hand back, rubbing at the back of her head. “I mean, we gotta get back to them and Ralsei first before we decide anything. I'm sure if we put our heads together, we can figure something out so everyone can be happy, ‘kay?”

You look at her. At her grin, at the way she tried to comfort you, someone who was practically a stranger, and you make a decision. 

“... ‘Kay.” 

You decide to put your faith in Susie. If anyone can write you, Kris, and Ralsei a happy ending, it's her.

“Great. Glad that's settled. Now, come on, let's go and look around! I think I see some buildings over there.”

“Oh- Okay! Maybe we can find a way back to Castle Town from there?”

[Susie joined the-

“Just keep up with me, dumbass!” 

Susie sprinted off on her own while you were waiting. After a moment, you scramble to your feet and sprint after her. “H- Hey! Wait up! You still have my cane!”

…

[You joined Susie's party.]

Susie

Powers

Lv 5 Axe of Hope

Faces and rewrites the fate with the blade.

Attack: 56

Defense: 10

Magic: 22

Rudeness: 90

Healing: 36

Guts: 4

Equipment

Weapon: JusticeAxeCowlStaff 

It has no special/It is a staff made of- Does anyone else think it’s cramped in here?

Armor 1: ShadowMantle

Shadows slip off like water. Greatly protects against Dark and Star attacks.

Armor 2: Jevilstail

A J-Shaped tail that gives you devilenergy.

STATS

??? / LightUpL

Dark/Star

Angel

Powers

Lv 5 Soul Mage

Wields the Light to face the fate.

Attack: 13

Defense: 1

Magic: 4.2

♥️: Yes

???

Guts: 0

Equipment

Weapon: GlowShard.

A shimmering shard. It has zero combat functionality. Why did you equip this?

Armor 1: None

Armor 2: None

STATS

LightUpXXS

Chapter Text

You eventually manage to get Susie to give your cane back, though you're hesitant with how much fun she's having making you chase her around. Did you intentionally fall over a few times trying to lunge for it to make her laugh? Possibly. Is your knee all scraped up now? Probably. Was it worth it? Definitely. You still feel much better now that you're carrying it around, though.

This environment has a superficial resemblance to the outskirts of Castle Town, what with the… now far creepier eyes carved into the walls and the assorted dust clouds. The thorns on the higher levels aren't down here, either, so you wonder what objects they represented.

You noticed a treasure chest at one point, but the paint is worn away and it’s already been opened. You’re… very glad that Susie kept you both entertained with her little game of keep-away, as embarrassing as it might’ve been for you. But you find that you prefer her embarrassing you. The idea of anyone acting all reverent and stuff towards you just feels… wrong.

“Yo, Angel. Can you make anything out over there? It’s too dark. Like, regular dark.” Susie squinted ahead. Right. Susie had spotted a building in the distance, but when you approached it was nothing but rubble, so the two of you kept moving.

“From this distance? Um, I don’t think I can.” There’s definitely some sort of shape there, you think, but it’s difficult to tell the difference between black and… blacker black.

“Oh hey! You should totally fly us down there!” She spins towards you, excitement in her eyes.

“F-fly? Why do you think I can fly?”

“You have wings, dumbass. Isn’t that, like, the whole point of being an angel? Besides, you used them earlier when you shapeshifted into a landing pad for me.” HUH!?

“I have wings!?” You do!? Where? How do you control them? “How- how do I use them?”

“How am I supposed to know!? You're the angel here, idiot.”

“I didn’t design my vessel with wings, Susie! They just happened!” You're trying to hold your frustration in, but that was actually rude of her! And not the nice kind of rude. “And- and I’m not an idiot!”

Susie looked appraisingly at you. “Really? But that was pretty stupid of you.”

Stupid!? No! You’re not stupid! You’re many things, but you aren’t stupid! “I- It’s not! I'm n-not stupid!” You’re stuttering again, but you step closer and stand up as straight as you can to look her in the-

Suddenly, Susie reached out and grabbed something near your chest, then yanked it to the side. “There!” She said with a smug grin. “Told you.”

“Susie! What- Huh!? What!?”

You do, actually, have wings!?!? They were draped over your shoulders, so you thought they were part of your dress... “How could you tell that would w-work?”

“Well, you started moving them when you got angry, so I just pissed you off more.” Susie reaches for the other wing, but you stretch it out first. It feels like it's covered in pins and needles, and you gasp softly with pain as you stretch it out. “Sorry for calling you stupid and stuff.”

“When did I even get these?”

“Does it matter? Let’s get flying.”

“Waitwaitwait! Last time I tried flying, I couldn’t hold both of us up! I don’t even know if I can glide like this!”

“Well, let’s find out then!” Susie grabbed you again and hoisted you above her head, then started running for the edge!?!?

“HeywaitcanwetalkaboutTHIS!”

She jumped off the edge.

Come on wings, flap! Wings flap! Glide? Glide! Glide glide please glide don’t let me fall please glide!

“Hahahaaa! Nice! Keep doing that!”

GLIDE GLIDE PLEASE GLIDE PLEASE DON’T FALL PLEASE GLIDE

“Hey, wait, I think I see something!”

Just keep GLIDING, KEEP GLIDING! GLIDE! GLIDE! GLIDE FOR HEAVEN’S SAKE!

“Shoot- Stop flying! Now!”

Youdontwanttofallyoudontwanttofallpleaseplease-

“Ah shit.” Susie suddenly let go of you!? You don't have time to correct your course to catch her before you hit a wall and you're falling-

“Got you!” You're suddenly caught in two very strong, very pink arms. Your face also feels very pink as she cradles you. “We should totally work on that later, Angel. That was pretty cool.” Susie nods approvingly.

“You- you really think so?” She's smiling at you, and holding you like you weigh nothing and wow you do not want Noelle to find out about this. She’d choke you out like she did to Berdly. You'd deserve it though.

“Hell yeah.” Susie sets you down on your shaky legs, where you brace yourself with your cane.

Susie thinks you’re cool! “Yippee!”

“Waitwaitwait. Angel, did you actually just say ‘Yippee’?” Susie's eyes burn with excitement, and you wilt.

She no longer thinks you’re cool. “Nonotatall. Anyways, ehehm, where are we?”

You start walking ahead before she makes fun of you more, but the mood freezes solid as you begin to recognize the view.

“Susie. Is this… Is this Castle Town?” A stone brick walkway was ringed by a number of looming buildings. It was pitch-dark, only lit by the soft glow of your cane's lantern and your GlowShard.

“There’s no way! We just left! How could anything have happened already!?” Oh no, she’s getting worried! Fix it!

“Well- um- we- we- we-” There must be something you can-

“...No, hang on. This isn’t Castle Town. I’m sure of it.” Huh?

O- oh. She's okay. She's fine. “What… what makes you say that?”

“The castle over there. The shape is all wrong, can't you tell?” You didn't have a very good perspective on the castle as a SOUL, but if it's good enough for Susie, it's good enough for you.

“So it's… another Castle Town?”

“Hey, do you think there's another Ralsei here?” She says with a smirk, but you feel yourself growing pale. “Something wrong?”

“Huh? W-well, maybe. I would need to… to investigate to know for sure. I… I can't jump to conclusions yet.” You run up to pull open the door to the castle, but it doesn't budge.

“Door's locked. Maybe we can- Wah!” Susie grabs you and throws you into the air. You manage to stabilize yourself enough to touch down on the roof gently this time, though!

Susie leaps after you, and catches the bricks with her… with her ClaimbClaws! She heaves herself up and over, then dusts her hands off. “Pretty cool right?”

“Well, yeah. But- next time can you… warn me?”

“Psssh, naw.” She shrugs, walking towards a stairway towards the castle proper. “You’re gonna need practice, after all! Gotta learn to use ‘em on the fly. It’s, like, required to be an angel or something.”

“Maybe you’re right…” You go to follow her, then stop.

You heard something. You heard something like a distorted cry mixed with crushed glass. And you saw something… uncoiling within the dark ahead. Your blood runs cold, your heart nearly stops.

“SUSIE! LOOK OUT!!!” You run towards her as fast as you can, brandishing your light, but Susie acts faster, drawing the JusticeAxe in a blink and slamming the Titan Spawn away with the side!

“Damn! These things again!?” Susie steps back, side by side with you as you enter into battle.

“I- I can try and b-banish them, but I’m not sure if I can do it without…”

“Not like we got a choice! C’mon, Angel! We beat a Titan! No way we’re going to let some little spawn beat us now!”

“Y-yeah, you’re right!” You grip your cane tighter, drawing it back into a swinging position as you…

…

You’re not entering the battle menu.

Why aren’t you entering the battle menu!? Shit- it’s because of your body, isn’t it!? F-Fine, you’ll just have to… to learn on the fly! Just like Susie told you!

It doesn’t charge forward, rather it pursues by undulating in an odd-step pattern. More Spawn are approaching, so you need to deal with them fast!

W-wait, what are your abilities? Do you have spells? Can you Brighten? What do you do? What do you do?

The Spawn is approaching you! You- you swing your cane as hard as you can at it!

272

H-how effective was that? You’re not sure! Susie’s attacking it as well, but- but everything’s so confusing and you can’t make anything out and- and you don’t know how to fight like this! You’re the strategist but you can’t work like this!!! It’s coming close and it hits you and everything BURNS.

MY MISTAKE.

YOU HAVE NOT

DEVELOPED AN AFFINITY

“Angel!” Susie shouts, throwing herself between you and the Spawn with an axe chop.

FOR THIS METHOD

OF COMBAT, HAVE YOU?

You just wish everything would-

IN THAT CASE,

SHINE YOUR WILL INWARDS.

STOP!

AND I CAN GRANT YOU A

FAMILIAR PERSPECTIVE.

DEVICE ONLINE

APOLOGIES FOR THE INCONVENIENCE

You… you see Susie. And you see… an unfamiliar girl with… wings? They’re fighting… some Titan Spawn?

…Oh.

Angel, hey! What’s going on? This isn’t a good time to zone out!

Susie says, but it’s simply… text. Dialogue. You can’t respond to her like this.

You’re… in the battle screen?

You’re in the battle screen! You can work with this!

You command yourself (is that what you look like now!? You really are cute, though you can't really see any detail like this.) to Act, and- there! You have spells!

* Prayer               * LightShock

* Banish

Okay… you- you need TP to banish them, so you defend. Your body lowers her cane behind her, shielding herself with her wing. Okay, that’s how you defend. You’ll have to remember that for when you go back in your body. For Susie's turn… Gah! Your health is- it’s nearly gone! From just one attack!?!? Can you use an item?

Items… ah, here! You use the Rhapsotea on yourself.

This time, when the Titan Spawn attacks… It's all back to normal. The little ones stagger inwards towards your Light, disappearing into a golden fleck of Courage, all the while the big ones float ominously before you. The same as you've always done.

It’s not as easy to fight Titan Spawn when you only have two party members, but both yourself and Susie are strong enough to fight them. You defend, mostly, since any time you get hit it deals far more damage than it does to Susie but more keep showing up! How many Titan Spawn are there here!?

They just keep coming! Any time now, Angel!

Well, it doesn’t matter. You have just enough TP to-

* BANISH

And with a light that fills every part of your awareness… you win the battle.

Hey, feathers. Are you okay?

Susie wants to check up on you, that’s sweet of her! You-

You try to speak but nothing comes out.

Oh no, oh no no no no. Are you stuck like this?

Hey… why are you being so quiet? Did those Spawn scare you that badly?

Yes                ♥️               No

That's it!? You want to tell her you’re okay! You want to go back! You-

DEVICE OFFLINE

-gasp for air, falling to your knees. You hug your arms around you as you shake in place.

“F-feathers!? Are you hurt!?”

“N-no! I’m- I’m okay now!” You have to fix it, you don’t want to make her worried about you!

“Thank god, I was worried for a moment, dumbass! You took a bad hit and you just- just zoned out? I’m glad you recovered, though.” She seems willing to leave it at that- but you reach out and grab her arms. “H-hey, what the?”

“I- I- I w-went back to how I u-used to be, during that- that fight.” Your voice is shaking. “And- and it meant I could figh- fight like normal, but I was so- so scared I couldn’t go back!”

Susie widens her eyes, but lowers herself down to the ground next to you. “What… what was it like?”

“It’s- it’s like… like I’m floating out of my body. Like I’m watching from…” You point in the direction where your perspective came from before you managed to switch back. “Over there. Like I can… can see down on everyone- and, and I can see around walls, too. But- but I can't turn my head, or talk to anyone, or anything. I can just… just interact with things, and give s-short responses, and- and I…” You lean your head down, still grabbing Susie’s arms. “I don’t feel… real.” You sniffle. Are you crying again!? You- you-

Susie grabs your arms back. Seems to hesitate about something for a second… then… she hugs you.

She’s warm, she’s… being gentle with you, she’s even angling her arms to make sure her spiked bracelets don’t hurt you.

“Thanks for… for telling me, Angel.” Susie says quietly. You can feel her breath, when you’re this close. “You’re, uh, trying to be honest with me and… and I appreciate it.”

“‘m sorry-” But Susie puts her hand over your mouth.

“You’re fine, okay? I mean, I remember the first time I was in a fight. I totally froze up.” Susie huffs out a laugh. “But if you can switch back and forth between that… weird mode, then you can just use that for fights. Ah, here!” Susie reaches up to her shoulders and undoes a clasp.

[Susie gave you the ShadowMantle]

“W-wh!? You- you’re giving the ShadowMantle to me?”

“Wait, that’s what it’s called? Sick!” Susie reaches around your shoulders and clasps it around your neck. “Well, anyway. You’re, like, really fragile, aren’t you? So you can wear that armor. I’m sure I have something else in my pockets somewhere.”

W-wait… if she doesn’t have an equipment item and… and you can use your Menu again… maybe you can just-

DEVICE ONLINE

-open your menu, go to your equipment. You don’t have all of your items, it looks like. Maybe some of them were in Kris’s pockets, but you find a WaferGuard and stick it on Susie! That’ll keep her safe.

Wait!!! can you put-!? Aww… The PrincessRBN isn’t in your inventory. You feel a sudden emptiness in your heart.

How did you turn it off anyways? You just-

DEVICE OFFLINE

-willed yourself back. You breathe in… and out.

“Huh. Did you do the weird thing again?” Susie noticed? Maybe it looks more obvious than you thought when you do that. “Why?”

“I- um… can see everyone’s stats in that mode and… access our equipment.”

“Stats? Like a video game? That's, uh, neat. But it looked like you just pulled it out of your pocket, so… less cool.”

You giggle… then sigh, somewhat dreamily. “...Thank you Susie.”

“What for?”

Does she genuinely not know? With everything she does for you? How she calmed you down, and how she hugged you? She usually doesn’t hug at all, but… maybe she learned it from Ralsei. How she's trying so hard to cheer you up, even when you're both lost in the dark? Even when she's carrying the weight of that terrible, terrible tragedy in her future?

Can't she see how incredible she is? “You’re just… so nice, you know that?”

“Wh- hey, what the hell are you saying?” Susie gets up, taken aback. Ugh, you're being weird again, aren’t you? But… you mean it. “Well, whatever. Just follow me, Feathers.”

It feels strange to follow her so much, given how you usually take the lead as Kris, but you don't mind seeing her taking charge of her life, even if it, uh, means you get thrown around far more now. Besides, having someone else lead the way makes you feel… a nice feeling. You trust her, after all.

I FIND MYSELF REMINISCING

…

WITNESSING THESE RUINS ONCE MORE.

Doors line the walls, just like in Ralsei's castle, but they're completely boarded over. You can't even see if they're all the same shape or not. You’ve encountered a few more solitary Titan Spawn, but not in the same numbers as there were on the rooftop so you can take care of them easily enough. You decide not to experiment with your other abilities just yet, since, well, you don't want to screw anything up.

“The hell's this place? It's so… empty in here. Doesn't anyone live here?”

“...I'm scared.” You really are. You still haven't even gotten to save, and you've never done well with actually scary things.

“Reminds me. If you're the Angel, why do you even get scared? Shouldn't you be, like, all holy and untouchable and shit?” She gestures vaguely to you as she steps over a thin coating of rubble on the ground.

“Well, um, I don't know what being an ‘angel’ is supposed to… mean, y’know? Even as a SOUL I just felt like… like I was a person, despite everything.” There's another stairwell. You step down it carefully, while Susie jumps all the way to the bottom and rushes around the corner, causing you to hurry to keep up.

“I mean, I have a few things that I can do to… um… ‘stack the deck’ in your guys favor. That’s probably why I was called here in the first place. But when it comes down to it I don't really… do much. It's all you guys.”

“You mean that light stuff, and that… ‘stats’ stuff?”

“Well, that, yeah. But… there's something... else I can do. I haven't been able to access it since we went down here, though. And… that makes me nervous.” You normally get save points all the time! Whenever you clear a tough challenge or reach a new location, they're right there for you to access. The rooftop should have had one, the center plaza should have had one, but again and again there's been nothing here.

“Well, what is it?” Susie turns back towards you, leaning on a wall coolly.

Here we go. “I can… control time. Kind of.”

“What!? Why haven't I ever seen Kris do that?”

“Do- do you remember Kris stocking up on items and changing around your equipment before a fight happens to start? And… and buying new items and stuff?” You twiddle with your wings as you speak “That was… me. Trying again after I failed.”

“You can just… go back in time? Whenever you want!? Then why haven't we-”

“With limitations! It has limitations!” You squeeze your eyes shut and you can feel your wings bristle, as you continue “I can only bind myself to a moment in time in specific spots, and there are some things I just can't change, no matter how many times I try! The Knight always takes Undyne, Jackenstein always hits his head into the chandelier, and Kris always…” You rub your eyes with your wing. It really is soft, isn't it. “It doesn't matter.”

“No, say it.” Susie looks at you, then amends “Please.”

“...Kris always tears me out. I can't change when they do that, and… and I can't do anything when I'm torn out.” You sigh, and mumble quietly. Petulantly. You're really not a very impressive Angel, are you? “I can't even get you and Noelle to see me.”

“See… you?” Susie looks confused. “See you when?”

Ah. Right. Your cheeks burn. “...Do you remember the… the mouse you and Noelle found? Under the angel figure?”

Susie nods, then widens her eyes, then… she bursts out laughing at you.

“Why are you laughinnnggg!?” You whine.

“Under the angel, was the Angel!? HA! AAAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!” She's roaring with laughter as you sit down on the spot, wrapping your wings completely around yourself in utter shame.

“It's not that funny-”

“HELL YEAH it's that funny!” Susie snickers some more before she eventually keeps walking. You follow, of course. But you're not very happy about it.

“What were you doing outside of Kris anyways, feathers? Oh, did you happen to get the code?” She asked.

“Oh, um. Kris wanted…” To hide the code, to get you and Noelle together, to talk to Carol for a moment, the words are in your mouth but you can't let this secret slip. Even if it isn't yours. “...to play the piano. They're… really good at it, but whenever I'm there… they can't. Or… won't. And… no, I didn’t.”

“Oh.” Susie hangs her head, pensively. You feel bad every time you lie to her, but… you don’t want Kris to hate you even more. You need to keep their secrets locked down tight.

“They hit me with a hockey stick because I wasn't where they left me.” Okay maybe you can let a little secret slip.

“OH!?!?” Susie looks excited at the prospect of new teasing ammunition.

“Doesn't the church, like… worship m-” No, no that feels weird that feels so weird. “The Angel? Wouldn’t that be, um, sacrilege or something?”

“Eh, who cares about all that. Did you deserve it?”

Did you deserve it? Being thrown around, stuffed in a box, beaten up, forced to float through vents, and knocked around with several thrown objects?

Yeah. You think so.

“Yes. I did.”

“Well then I guess it's fine then.” Susie shrugs. “Still gonna mess with them about it later.”

“N-nono, it’s okay! It's not like I could feel pain as a SOUL anyways-”

“Hold on, look. Isn't this where Ralsei's room would be?” Susie points you to a square door that isn’t boarded up! One that looks just like…

You feel a sudden wave of dread. “S-S-Susie?”

“What?”

“Can we… look inside?” Please be wrong, please be wrong.

“...Sure, dude. Not sure what you're looking f- wh- what!?” She stumbles back, and you move forward.

Someone is inside. They're wearing a faintly familiar full cloak, covering all of their features, and they're slumped down on the ground. With their head turned down they look almost reverent.

“H- H- hello?” You step closer, trembling, and reach out to touch their shoulder. As soon as you do, though, there's a sound of cracking stone. You scramble back as it keeps cracking, keeps- Hatching.

The cloak falls down to the ground and, emerging from a pile of gravel, another Titan Spawn appears. Before you can even start to act, Susie slams it with a Rude Buster. You- you rush in right after and swing your cane! The brazier flashes with light as it impacts the nascent Titan Spawn and in moments… it’s gone.

"What the fuck was that…?” Susie whispers. She sounds as scared as you are.

That was… a darkner? If- if this is a Castle Town then… Was that… this Castle Town's Ralsei? “Oh god. Oh god.” Can that happen to darkners who petrify!? They turn into Titan Spawn!?

“What- what does any of this mean!?”

“I don't know! I don't know!” You clutch your cane with shaking hands, scrambling back from the pile of gravel- the corpse. “But… that cloak! Was this… a prince of the darkness? Someone who… came before Ralsei? And… who…” You don't want to say it. You want to leave. You want to go home.

“This is really fucking shitty, Angel.”

You nod, jerkily. “I just… I wish we had s- something to go off of. We're… fumbling around in the dark right now, and this isn't even getting us any closer to home or- or fixing anything! I just… wish that they had left something behind. Something- anything!”

“Angel?”

“Because we're lost, and we don't know anything! We don't know what this place is, or why I have my body back, or even how long Kris will last without me!”

“Hey, Angel!?”

“And I just wish that someone would just KNOW!” You scream, pathetically. What is wrong with you!? Why are you like this? “I wish someone k- knew and… and would tell me a-anything.”

“... Feathers.” Susie puts her hand on your shoulder. “Hey... You're crying again.”

“I… I'm sorry.” There you go. A half-rate Susie, a quarter rate Ralsei. You're pathetic.

“It’s really okay. I promise.” Susie gave you another awkward side-hug, which you leaned into selfishly.

You made an embarrassing whining noise. You sound like a fucking child right now, and you need to get your act together… but…

You lean in for a second. She's gentle, when she wants to be.

“Now… what?” You croak out. “What do we even do?”

“Well, I was going to tell you that your light is doing the thing again.” Susie flicked you on the arm.

“Hhh… huh?” You look at the cane, held loosely in your hand. Susie propped it up to keep it from falling, and… it's pointing the way for you.

“Well?” Susie starts walking forward. Before you can let go of the cane for her to leave with it, she grabs your wrist and pulls you along. “It's your stick. You carry it.”

Yeah… Yeah! You need to stop pitying yourself. It's not Susie's job to comfort you whenever you're feeling down. You need to carry your weight too.

You mumble to her. “...thank you, Susie.”

“Don’t worry about it. Come on!”

She leads the way. You run after her.

…

“It's that, uh… that weird door in Ralsei's castle. With the wings and stuff.”

“This one has eight wings, though. Ralsei's door only had six.” You brace your shoulder against one half of the door and push. There's some give, you just need to keep pushing.

“You kept track of that?” Susie pushed the other half of the door, and with a grinding noise the door opened slowly.

“I, uh, pay a lot of attention to little details.”

“Damn. You really are like Ralsei. You're a total nerd.”

“A- anyways. That should be big enough to squeeze through.” You change the subject messily.

“Yup.”

“...can you go in first?” You're nervous, still.

“We both go in at the same time.” Susie folds her arms with a smirk.

You appreciate the callback, but.. “There's not enough space for us both to fit.”

“Oh. You're right. I’ll go in first.” Susie does so, and you follow behind her, holding up your cane to illuminate the way.

The first thing you see is a bookshelf, the second thing you see is the rest of them. Seven bookshelves arranged on one side of the room each. Eight-sided, counting the door. There’s light, for once. There are little… decorations hung from the ceiling that shed light.

“It's a… library?”

“Hey, perfect!” You look at Susie, a bit surprised, but she continues. “It's your element, nerd!” She smiles as she says it though, and you have to look away before she sees you flushed again. Focusing on your own light instead, you follow it to a book lying discarded on the floor.

“It's a diary.”

“Huh. What's it say?”

“We should probably sit down first, If- if that’s okay. This might take a while.”

Susie plops down in the middle of the stone floor. You look over to a nearby chair, but seeing the state of decay it’s in… you decide that Susie has the right idea and tuck your feathers underneath to sit on them. They’re… really soft.

You hand your GlowShard over to Susie to free your hand, and cradle your cane with your elbow as you open the book.

EVERY TIME I LOOK,

“Let’s see, let’s see… Oh, here we go. The first legible entry.”

I AM REMINDED OF MY FAILURES.

Today is the day the Angel appears.“Right into it! Cool.” Everything is as it must be. My cloak is hemmed just right, and, though it is my anathema, I have practiced my fire magic enough that I may adopt the role of the Prince, Alone in Deepest Dark. “They’re changing themselves to fit the prophecy?” “That… that makes me feel sick.”

The Cage, With Human SOUL and Parts, and the Girl With Hope Crossed on Her Heart will arrive soon. A FOUNTAIN has opened- “Why did you yell it?” “It’s written in all capitals, Susie.” “No, keep doing that! Yell louder!” on the horizon, and the heroes will arrive bearing the SOUL- hack- cough- “Hell yeah! My turn, My turn!”

The heroes will arrive bearing the “Susie, could you?” “SOUL!!!!!!!” and close the fountain, meeting the pointy-headed and defeating the… dragon as they do so?

"Something wrong?” “Um, later.”

And, thus, the prophecy can finally continue onwards.

A TALE CUT TOO SHORT

“That’s… that’s just like when me and Kris showed up and met Ralsei, right?” Susie looks… troubled.

“Yes, that’s right. That entry stops here and… um… a lot of these pages are torn out. M-most of them are, actually.”

“...damn.”

“Here’s the last entry.”

BY A TRAGEDY UNFAIR AND ABRUPT,

There is no hope. The Angel has abandoned us. The Cage lies dead, and the… the Girl has been… lost to the darkness. “Hey, it’ll be alright, feathers.” “Yh… yeah...” I’ve boarded over the old rooms. May the closest companions we met be spared from c- c- consumption as stone, though the darkners who petrified outside of them w- w- won’t be as lucky.

I am the last to go. My only wish is that I may remove this cloak. It was a comforting armor once, a shield against the future, but now that all is lost all I can think is that, um. Is that I miss the feeling of wind on my- “Antlers!?” “Like Noelle?” “Wait, there’s more!”

My kingdom rests in ruins now. A grave is all that remains. Damn the Girl for making me hope. Damn the Cage for their weakness. I was the only one to truly care for the prophecy, and I have pa- pa- paid th- th- “Wah? O-oh… Thank you, Susie.” “Yeah, uh… ‘s cool.” “Y-yeah. Ehem...” the ultimate price for my carelessness.

To those who follow in my footsteps, know that no hope is to be found in the light.

Only eyes blinded by darkness can see the way.

In self-memoriam of The Lonely Prince,

AND A CRUEL BETRAYAL.

“‘Leonel’” You read.

“So those people were heroes, and they tried to fulfil the prophecy, but… then something went wrong.” Susie adopts a thoughtful pose, taking her comforting hand off of your shoulder. You had figured about as much, but you’re proud of her anyways.

“We… um… you three aren’t the first heroes to… to do this?”

“Hey! Why are you counting yourself out of this? You weren’t here before, were you?” Susie gives you a playful shove. “You’re one of us!’

You close the book and tuck it into your inventory, giving her a nod and a big smile.

“That’s more like it! So… what now? I mean, cool to know all that stuff but it didn’t tell us anything about getting out of there.” Oh. Oh! Right! She wasn’t with you when you saw that sign, all the way back at the start!

“A-actually! I think there’s a hidden passage here!” Okay, you’re not entirely sure, but you have a pretty good guess! “Susie, can you gather up all those little lights for me, and also, um, stash the GlowShard away? A-and um… Help me close that door?”

“Uh, sure. Just give me a second.”

You stare at the page while she tears the baubles off of the ceiling, wrapping them around her hand. She dumps them into yours, and you stash them away under the Shadow Mantle. With the door closed, sealing you inside, all that illuminates the room now is your single, lonely lantern.

“Hey, why’d you want to do that, anyways? Won't it just get darker?”

“Well that’s right, but… this ‘Leonel’ wrote it down, remember? Only eyes… blinded by darkness… can see the way.” You reach out and take Susie's hand as you extinguish your flame.

The darkness is suffocating. Almost a physical presence making it difficult for you to breathe. How ironic, you think as you realize that you’re… you're actually… terrified of the dark. Even the sound is muffled now, it makes you feel like you're floating out of your body again.

…

“You sh- sure this is a good idea, feathers?” Susie’s hand grips yours painfully tight, but you welcome the bracing pain. “What if another Spawn shows up in here?” Don't mention that, Susie!

“It ha- ha- has to be.” You can feel your light within you, desperately straining to be let loose, but you suppress your instincts as you stutter out a response. “We just… need to wait.”

You’re shaking, you can’t see, you grip her hand as tight as you can back. This is pointless, you’re scaring her and standing in the dark for no reason at all… but…

…

There… There IS something here! The swimming spots on your eyes, they trace… a shape on the ground.

“S- S- Susie, look! On the ground!”

“Huh? I don’t see anything!”

“Just- just fuzz your eyes! There’s a shape there, a pattern!” Can she not see it? Well, it is very subtle.

“I can’t see it, but… if you say so.”

…

You drop to your knees, letting go of Susie’s hand. “Huh!? Feathers! Don’t just leave me here!”

“J-just a second!” You didn’t want to let go either, but the more you look, the harder it gets to read the pattern. You have to act now.

It traces around the floor of the room in a jagged circle, and you crawl on hands and knees to follow it. “There’s a little circle here, and here. And- and there are little dots next to them. Like… stars!” You mutter quietly.

“What does that mean, though!?” Susie seems agitated, and you feel the same… but… if they're stars, then what's the constellation?

One star is here, Two stars are here, you trace your hand along the constellation, tapping on the ground as you go. One after another until you reach the final one and…

Click!

“I- I think I did it!”

As soon as you say that, Susie pulls out her hand, clutching the GlowShard. Something in your heart settles as you can once again see Susie and the rest of, well, everything in the room. In the light, you can see it. A spiral staircase descending down beneath the castle in the center of the room.

“Hah- Hahaha! Ahahahaha!” You laugh shakily. “I- I did it!”

“Sure did, nerd!” Susie wraps her arm around your head in another headlock while you giggle. “And we got some sweet loot for it too.”

“Huh? We did?”

“The little lights, dumbass!”

“Oh! Oh you’re right!”

[LightShards were added to your ARMORS.]

“I'm always right. Now, c’mon! Let’s go!” Susie doesn’t wait for you to equip before shoving the GlowShard back into your hand and rushing ahead.

“Y-yeah!” You conjure your cane once again, chasing after Susie as you both descend yet deeper into the dark.

HOLD TIGHT TO YOUR FRIEND, ANGEL,

Susie

Powers

Lv 5 Axe of Hope

Faces and rewrites the fate with the blade.

Attack: 40

Defense: 9

Magic: 10

Rudeness: 90

Healing: 36

Guts: 4

Equipment

Weapon: JusticeAxe

It has no special powers. However, in order to attain this item, you became much stronger.

Armor 1: WaferGuard

Although it looks brittle, it contains a magical energy that blunts damage on impact.

Armor 2: Jevilstail

A J-Shaped tail that gives you devilenergy.

STATS

???

YOU WILL NEED HER.

Angel

Powers

Lv 5 Soul Mage

Wields the Light to face the fate.

Attack: 29

Defense: 6

Magic: 16.2

♥️: Still Yes

Purifications: 9

Guts: 0

Equipment

Weapon: CowlStaff.

A staff made from mysterious black wood, cradling a brazier of Light. Enhances SOUL magic.

Armor 1: GlowShard

No defense either. Holds a speck of light that boosts Magic, but not very much.

Armor 2: ShadowMantle

Shadows slip off like water. Greatly protects against Dark and Star attacks.

STATS

LightUpL

LightUpXXS

Dark/Star

YOU WILL NEED THEM ALL.

Chapter Text

Huff… Huff…

…

Huff… Huff…

“Feathers, C'mon! You're taking too long!”

“Just- just a second…”

…

There are… a lot of stairs…

“Hey Feathers, what’s the hold up?” How does she have so much energy still!?

“I- I’m coming!” You stumble forward, but you fail to land on the next step and now you’re FALLING-

Susie grunts as she catches you and puts you back on your feet… again. “We can go slower, if you need it.”

“No! We- we need to hurry! Kris is-”

“Kris can wait a little longer.” Susie sighs. “What’s wrong this time? Spill. If you bust your head open on these stairs that'll make all this slower.”

You think about it, about how much that would hurt, and of losing your Vessel, and you feel blood draining from your face. Your issue is… it’s stupid, but… “...I'm tired.”

“Oh. Oooooooh, right! I forgot you were new to the whole ‘having a body’ thing. No wonder you're such a pushover.” You flush, but she isn’t… wrong exactly. “Well in that case, allow me to demonstrate my special technique!” Huh?

“Special technique?” She doesn't mean!?

“BEHOLD!” Susie knelt down, spreading her arms out. “Beast Express Forme S!!!! Climb on!”

Noelle would murder you if she knew about this, too. You accept that risk and climb on board nonetheless, holding your wings back so as to not block Susie’s view and giggling. “Hehe, then… then I’m- I’ll use my own Special Tuh- Technique: Wing Cape Forme A!!! We’re unstoppable like this!”

“Hear that, Knight!?” Susie shouts, reverberating in the empty stairwell. “You don’t have SHIT on us now!!! Let’s go!” Susie sprinted down the stairs while you ducked your head as far down as you could.

Your wings were scraping against the walls… how big were they?

You wonder what you look like. I mean, you know you look, but… a distant view is much different than getting to see yourself in a mirror. Maybe you can find one?

You don’t have time to wonder for long as Susie calls out “Hey, there’s light up ahead! C'mon!"

…

You emerge from the staircase to an overlook above “A-another Castle Town?”

“Still not ours, but it looks like it.” Susie props you up higher on her shoulders to get a better look. “See anything?”

You look back and forth slowly, scanning over what you can see of the buildings below. There are more lights than the last one you saw, but not very many. They’re on posts like streetlamps, but… from this far away you can't see any darkners. Relaying down what you can see to Susie, she starts moving with you still sitting on her shoulder. Like a bird. For some reason you elect not to disembark yet.

“You still don’t see anything? This place doesn't look as abandoned as the last one, but…”

“Let's just… have a look around. C'mon, wings ready!” Susie runs towards the edge and leaps off, using your wings to glide down to the town far below.

THE FIRST TRIAL HAS BEEN REACHED

…

THIS WILL BE VERY, VERY INTERESTING.

“Hey, um, Susie?”

“Yeah?”

“Can… we talk?” You haven't had an opportunity to actually talk with her about the situation. As you walk these empty streets, you figure now is the moment.

“About how cool our special form is?” You giggle at her response. She really looks the part of a proper dragon when you're like this.

“Well… no. I just… wanted to talk about Kris.”

“Oh.” Susie seems to understand what you're trying to say. “You, uh, really care about Kris. Don't you?”

“How could I not!” Kris didn't deserve any of this! “I… I showed up out of nowhere and just- just controlled them! That's horrifying, Susie! They must… really hate me.”

“But you're trying to make things better. Maybe, uh… that counts for something.” Susie responds.

“...does it matter?”

“Hey, the hell are you saying?” Susie drops you down, grabbing you under the armpits to put you down in front of her. “Why wouldn't it matter?”

“Because then everything goes back to how it's supposed to be.” Back to before you broke everything. “If I just stayed in the cage then maybe… maybe…”

“Angel, you're sounding like the goddamn prophecy right now” Susie snaps at you. “‘Supposed to’ this, ‘supposed to’ that. What do you want, feathers? Don't tell me what you're ‘supposed to do’ or whatever, tell me what you want.”

What… do you want?

Well, if you can't say anything that you're… supposed to do then…

“I…” You mumble quietly. “I guess I w- would really… really like to be friends with you, Kris, and Ralsei… if that's o-okay.”

“Speak up, dumbass! That's not loud enough! What do you want!?” Susie shouts.

“I- I just would- would like to be friends with you, K- Kris, and Ralsei.” You stutter out.

“Louder! I can barely hear you! What do you want, feathers!?!?”

“I just want to be friends with you, Kris, and Ralsei!” You say it clearly, but Susie growls at you. “That's what I want!”

“Come on, is that all you've got!? LOUDER! WHAT DO YOU WANT!?”

“I! WANT! TO! BE! FRIENDS!! WITH YOU, KRIS AND RALSEI!!” You scream as loud as you can, all six of your wings spreading wide. You clench your fists, you screw your eyes shut, you stamp your feet, putting everything you have into it. You can feel your Light pound along with your heart. “THAT'S! WHAT!! I!!! WANT!!!!!”

Susie suddenly wraps her arms around you, and you hug her back. You hold her tight to remind you that she's here, you even wrap your wings around her for good measure. She's here. She's real. You're real. You're real. You bury your head in her shoulder, almost poking your cheek on her spiked band, but you cling to her. For now. For this moment. You are real. With her.

“There you go, dumbass. We're gonna make that happen, got it?” Susie steps back with her hand still on your shoulder, and you reluctantly let her go.

“Got it, Susie.” Oh, you're tearing up again.

“Good. Now listen up.” Susie reaches out and tilts your chin up to face her. You feel warm but you manage to hold her stare, if barely. “You're already my friend, okay?”

“I- W-Wait! Y-you d-don’t know anything a- about me- th- thou-”

“No, dumbass. Say it with me. You’re. My. Friend.”

“You’re my f-friend.” This can’t be real. This can’t be real.

“Not like that, weirdo! Say it right.” Susie ruffles your hair roughly, but not unkindly.

“I’m… your friend?” It feels like a dream.

“Exactly! And sure, I didn’t get to talk to you before. That doesn’t mean I don’t know you! You’re the kind of person who spares everyone you meet, no matter what. You get us into trouble, and get us out of it just as often. If you ask me, we’re better for it!”

You can’t make out any words, you just make a sound as you stare into her eyes. She sees you.

“You loved that rhythm game, right? I mean we ended up playing it, like, at least thirty times in Castle Town to get all the best scores!”

“I- I really like music! Yeah!” She really sees you. “I wanted more songs to play!”

“And you wanted to help me help Ralsei all the time! You even… heh.” She looks away for a second “Back in TV World… you even made me practice my healing, didn’t you? Even when I… wasn’t sure about it.”

“Yeah! Yeah that’s- that’s right!” She doesn’t see Kris, or the SOUL. She sees you. You want to cry.

“So yeah! You’re my friend, dumbass! Don’t you ever forget that.” She gives you a pure, absolute smile. One with so much heart that it forces her eyes closed. “It’s nice to get to finally meet you, Angel!”

“Oh, Susie!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!!!” You smile back with all the heart you can muster. Maybe you can make yourself believe. That in this… impossible situation… you can all make it.

“Now, let’s go, dumbass! Beast Express Forme S!”

You laugh so hard that tears start falling from your eyes, but you need to play your own part, right? “Wing Cape Forme A!” You climb on board.

…

“I… I think I heard something.” You whisper to Susie.

“You sure? I can’t hear anything.”

“N-no… I… I can feel it. There’s… there’s a presence. It feels… cold. That way- hurry!” You nearly knock Susie over as you lean towards it. “We, we need to go! Fast!”

“Alright! Beast Express Form, GO!” Susie charges forward, full tilt. You spread your wings out, feeling the way air moves across them, and angle them to keep you both steady. Susie takes the unspoken hint and runs even harder. Hard enough that she’d fall over if it weren’t for the lift you provided.

“Past that shop!”

“Feathers, get ready!” Susie jumps, landing on the edge of a crate, and launches herself upwards as you flap your wings hard! You hang in the air for a moment as the cold feeling pervades every part of your body.

“That’s it! That’s the presence!” You can see a shadowy figure, it feels like a Titan Spawn, but it has strangely thin body with knifelike limbs and… and! “There’s someone there!” A darkner with an oddly-shaped metal head! “They’re in danger!”

“Throw me, now!” Susie yells, and you swoop forwards… there! You release your payload, sending Susie falling to the ground with a crushing chop to its shoulder! The Spawn screeches in a voice like static, and loses cohesion as it rapidly dashes backwards, landing in a crouch despite its nearly-shorn shoulder. It looks… strange. You haven’t seen a Spawn like it before, but you must not have much experience.

“Alright you asshole! BRING IT ON!” Susie goes on the offense before you can switch to your menu! The Spawn is attacking rapidly with knifelike appendages which Susie slams her axe through rather than trying to block. But it’s moving so quickly, dashing long distances in singular moments and striking over and over and over! Susie’s holding it off, but she can’t win like this! And you aren’t close enough to initiate a battle- no- no no NO!

If you’re going to live with this body, you can’t just be a SOUL all the time!! As your descent brings you downwards, you manage to barely catch yourself on a rooftop watching down on the battle. You need to protect Susie, you need to protect the Darkner. You need to-

YOUR POWER SHINES ONCE MORE;

YOUR SOUL BURNS WITH JUSTICE

AND IT IS A SIGHT TO BEHOLD.

You plant your staff into the rooftop and start concentrating your Light. The Spawn looks up at you and hisses, bracing itself to leap at you instead, but Susie forces it to dodge with another axe swing! The cold presence of the Spawn feels fainter and fainter as your lantern builds and your SOUL burns with LIGHT. “Susie! Throw it upwards!”

She acts fast, dispelling her axe and grappling one of its appendages in her arms as it attacks. She whirls it around and around and THROWS IT!

You tear your staff up from the ground and point it straight at the Spawn, as it spirals through the air AND YOU UNLEASH YOUR LIGHT.

You fall backwards onto the rooftop as the recoil from the Light knocks you entirely over, sending you skidding over the flat stone, but you manage to scramble to look up from the ground just in time to see your projectile fly. Burning a brilliant, beautiful yellow in the Darkness and far larger than any shot you had ever fired before against Spamton, the projectile wholly encompassed and incinerated the Spawn. It sails off into the distance before slowly fizzling out, leaving a gentle trail of yellow Light floating to the ground.

“FUCK YEAH!!!!! Feathers! That was AWESOME!!!” That’s Susie's voice! Still rattled from the fight, you stagger back to your feet and walk on shaky legs back to the rooftop’s edge to wave at her. “I didn’t even know you could do that!”

“Nnhh- neither… did I…” You had that in you? Where? What was that? But… you feel drained. Maybe you… did it wrong, or something. “Is… is the Darkner okay?”

“Shit, right! I nearly forgot!” Susie turns and runs towards the Darkner, whose mouth equivalent was agape… oh, you recognize that object! That’s one of those guitar… things isn’t it? The clamp-y thing you put on the… um… the thin wood part? What were they called again? “Hey! You alright?”

“I… Yes! Yes I’m quite alright, in no small part thanks to you two! Who are you?”

“We’re the Lancer Fan Club.” Susie calls her axe to her hand and rests it on her shoulder. “Or, uh. Part of ‘em. We’re missing two of our number at the moment.”

“If I might ask, who are you?” You drop off the rooftop, catching yourself on your wings and setting gently down on the ground. You’re starting to get the hang of this.

“My name is Capodastro. I am but a refugee of Kulsel Town come to survey signs of Titan Spawn activity.” Their voice sounds posh, verbose, like an actor in a Shakespeare play. “You two… You… the Fans of Lancer… are you… Heroes?”

“You're goddamn right.” “In which regard?” You say in unison.

Susie looks at you oddly. “What do you mean by ‘which regard?’”

“Well, what definition of hero are we using? If it's a person who does heroic deeds, that's one. If it's a prophecy-chosen capital-H Hero, that's another.” You've been wondering if the difference between the two matters.

“Damn, you really are a nerd.”

“Ah, the… well. Given how you heroes have saved my life, I believe I shall go with the first definition.” Capodastro stands up. They're... very tall, with a great big red coat that makes them look very wide. “If you two are heroes… then perhaps our regent would like to meet you. What are your names?”

“Susie,” says Susie.

W-wait. Susie’s just been calling you Angel, is… is that your name? Is that what your name is? I mean it’s not a bad name but- but can you really- “This is Angel.” Susie says in your place, thankfully.

“Fine names- Pardon me, did you just claim your friend here is the Angel?” They seem rather taken aback. “I… I cannot verify the truth of that, but… she does carry a great Light within her. That much is clear. Hello, young one. Are you, perhaps, the Cage?”

“N-No. Kris is… their own person. This is…” You put your hand on your chest. “A body that was… um… made for me.”

“How strange!” Capodastro seems delighted by that fact nonetheless. “Well, Angel, Devil, or Cage, I am sure that Lady Rhynes would be honored to meet you. Please follow me, heroes. We might yet be able to assist you in whichever quest brought you to this long forsaken place. And I believe I can furnish you with a fitting reward as well.” They bow, then stoop to the ground to pick up a lantern which feels rather warm, even from where you’re standing. You assume they dropped it in the scuffle, due to the large dent in it, but inside is…

“Hey, it’s one of those glowy things!” Susie points out. You blink with wide eyes as you realize she’s right! You somehow hadn’t expected to see a GlowShard down here.

“Ah, yes. Light is few and far between here, and so what little specks we can find are treasured.”

“U-Um, excuse me. Do you mean light or… Light?”

“I mean Light, young one.” Capodastro smiles with their eyes. “You must be lost indeed, little angel, to not recognize your kin.”

“K-kin!? What does that even mean? And the hell do you mean by ‘light’?” Susie points at them, and they startle.

“Ah! My apologies, fierce one. I was simply being metaphorical.” Capodastro shakes their head. “Let us be off before another Titan Spawn comes searching for us.”

[Capodastro Joined Susie’s Party Temporarily!]

…

“Um… I’m sorry if this is rude, but… where are we? Like, in Light World terms.” You decide to talk to Capodastro as the three of you follow an abandoned road between the empty buildings. “We were… we were in the Supply Closet, but we just kept ending up going… down. How is that? Is there a… a basement? Or a hole in the floor?”

“A supply closet, hm? Well, I can explain that to you, but I need to know something first. What do you two know about the nature of Dark Worlds?”

“Well, uh, Ralsei told us that when things get dark it gets more… ‘indist…’.” “Indistinct.” "Indistinct. And that when it gets completely dark, you can’t see anything. But then a dark fountain can make it even darker, like another world. So that all those ‘indistinct’ things become real, but they’re, uh, not real.” Susie recounts and you nod along.

“That is accurate, yes. A Dark World is what happens when reality becomes fantasy. And yet, by nature of us Darkners being objects in the Light World, we are still real, yes? We have forms based on the parts of us that are, well, ‘real’. The Darkness merely lets us be ‘indistinct’ enough to act of our own volition”

“So… what does that have to do with anything?”

“Well, you see, a long time ago the Grand Fountain nestled in the Kulsel over there.” Capodastro points towards a shrouded something on the horizon.

“Huh!? How?” Is- is it the same Grand Fountain?

“I do not know either, little angel.” Capodastro shakes their head.

“So it moved?” Susie drummed her fingers against her bicep thoughtfully.

“Indeed, and in it’s absence… Ehem, I’m getting ahead of myself. Dark Fountains are plumes of Darkness, yes, but the Grand Fountain was Pure Darkness. What does Pure Darkness entail?”

“Uh… shit, I dunno. It’s more… ‘dark’?”

“Not quite. Pure Darkness happens when Darkness is simply... untouched by an outside force. Outside forces such as will and memories both. Pure Darkness is… neutral Darkness. However, there are spots in Dark Worlds where even the Darkness goes dim, even more indistinct. This is either because of a return towards the light, or a procession even further into the dark. We call that second phenomenon ‘Deep Darkness’. Typically the only things to fear in those darker places in normal Dark Worlds are Titan Spawn leaking through, but… within the shadow of an absent Grand Fountain, where the Darkness was pure, concentrated, and then removed, the remaining Pure Darkness can now be tinted towards Deep Darkness.”

“So… So… um… what does that mean for why we’re here?”

“In Deep Darkness, things become even less real. Even Darkners, objects with form, can lose their ‘Realness’. You ask where we stand?“ Capodastro turned around in the middle of the road, spreading their arms dramatically. “You, brave heroes, have fallen through the ground.”

“W-what..?” You step back. “Does- do that mean we can’t get back out?” Oh god, oh god oh god oh god did you fuck everything up!? Are you stuck!? Do you just-

“Ah, nononono! I am very sorry for the misunderstanding. Confound this mind of mine. I do have a flair for the dramatic, but now is not the time. No, rather, you would be falling through the ground if not for your presence, young angel.” Capodastro points at you. “As Darkness makes things un-real, Light makes things real. A Dark World rides the line between Deep Darkness and Light, and thus, in the Darkness, creates life.”

“Wait…” Susie blinks slowly. “So, you mean that, uh… we’re standing in a place that doesn’t exist?”

“That's is correct, fierce one.” Capodastro nods.

“...How do you know all this, Ser Capodastro?” This sounds like… incredibly advanced information. Does Ralsei even know that?

“Well, for us who have fallen below the floorboards and yet still persist, understanding our nature is the key to our survival. To put it as my colleague, Frettenaine, would say: ‘Down here, we just need light to survive. The details don’t matter.’” Capodastro turned to you. “That reminds me. Let us tread warily, young angel. I fear some desperate fools might seek to claim the Light you carry. Especially after that display of power you demonstrated earlier.”

“Oh.” You just shot a massive yellow firework directly into the sky. “Oh no.”

“Don’t worry, Angel. Anyone tries to take you? I’ll beat em up!” Susie punches her hand, which actually does make you feel safer. A lot safer, even.

“Thank you, Susie. That… that does make me feel better.” You stand a little straighter. “So, we just need to find Miss Rhynes, yes?”

“That’s right. If anyone would know how to return the two of you to your friends, it would be her.”

“I… see. Can you bring us to her?”

“I-”

“Yo!” “Yo!” “Yo!” Three vaguely electronic voices echoed through the street, causing you to jump.

“Angel burn these annoyances.” Capodastro muttered a short prayer before taking a step to bodily block you from sight. “What is it this time you three?”

“We just wanted to see” “What’s new with you three.” “Are those new faces, or is it just me?” They… rhyme. Aggressively- are they rhyming with Capodastro? Did they rhyme three with three? And why can you hear beatboxing!?

“Who the hell are you losers?” Susie doesn’t even bother to point at them… whoever they are. You don’t want to come out from behind Capodastro and have them see you.

“Hey! Beggars can’t be choosers-” “Cuz if you refus-us” “Then we won’t have an excus-rs!”

“THE HELL DOES THAT EVEN MEAN!?”

“I am going to have to ask you to stand aside.” Capodastro waved their hand.

“Damn, what crawled up your ass and died?” The other two ‘Oooooooh’ed at Capodastro while your wings bristled.

“S-stop it.” You mumbled, clutching onto Capodastro’s coat to hide yourself.

“Maybe you’re the one with a circuit fried!” “What’cha doin here? Playing tour guide?”

"Please- stop." You mutter.

“You three are as belligerent as ever, I do appreciate it.” Capodastro said, voice dripping with frustration, “But I must ask you to stand aside.”

“No!” “No!” “No!”

“Who’s that behind you, old-timer?” “And why’s it got a potent shine-r?” “You holding out on us with another Light-ner?”

“That’s none of your business assholes!” Susie stepped forward. “Fuck off!”

“Well it looks like we’re in a standoff,” “Cuz we ain't leaving till you handoff,” “That sweet new light you found-cough.” That didn’t even make sense!?!?

“C-Capodastro, you… Can you step aside?” You need to… to act. “I’ll… I’ll handle them.”

“Young one, are you sure?”

No. You’re scared. You want to go home. “Yes. I’m an Angel, after all.”

“...Very well.”

Capodastro reluctantly stepped to the side, and you did your best to stand up straight to face the thugs. “S-stop it. I… I’m not going with you!”

“Woah” “Woah” “Woah!” The three darkners, shorter than a Pippins but taller than Ramb, all took a synchronized step back, playing a record scratch sound effect as the beatboxing stopped. They looked like… little plastic dogs walking on their hind legs. Wide blank faces with glowing lights inside, emoting as they talked. You… remember seeing something like this. You also remember being annoyed by it. “Is that an Angel!?” “Well it looks like one.” “What the- stick to the rhyming!”

“C’mon, guys, this is our chance!” “Sure looks like it at first glance,” “C’mon, then! Let’s dance!”

The trio did an annoying little dance that pissed you off, and adopted positions across the road in front of you. …Oh, oh they’re trying to initiate a battle with you, aren’t they? You mentally reach for the switch you know is there and will it to-

APOLOGIES ANGEL,

BUT THE WEAKNESS

OF YOUR OPPONENTS

… will it to…

PROVES AN EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY

DEVICE OFFLINE

TO PRACTICE STANDING ON

YOUR OWN TWO FEET

GOOD LUCK.

…Nothing. Your breath quickens for a second, but you steady yourself. These three look to be… posing at you, right now. And you’re way too stubborn to just let them win.

“F-fine! I accept your challenge!” You don’t even know what your ACTS are without your menu, but you just refuse to let them win! You just need to endure their taunts until you can shut them down.

Susie called out first. “But we’re going to have a group huddle first!” Susie grabbed your hand, and Capodastro’s wrist, pulling the two of you back away from the three.

“Huh!?” “Well, I guess that’s ok.” "PAR, no!”

Susie waved Capodastro, who was twice your height, into the group huddle. “Alright. Capo, you’re new to the team, and Angel, you’re still new to the whole battling thing, right?”

“W-well, um… yes.”

“Truly? You fought very admirably for a beginner, then.”

“I- I mean yeah, but that was all, um, violent. We… we try not to hurt the Darkners we meet, y’know? It’s not like they deserve it. Instead we usually just ACT at them, do something that makes them happy, then we can SPARE them.”

“You sure we can’t just beat them up? I mean, if they get tired we can just put them to sleep, right?” Susie grumbles.

“I- I don’t have a Pacify spell, Susie! I don’t even know what spells I have!”

“If it is sleep you need, I can provide it. However I must ask that you quiet down their racket first.” Capodastro nodded at you.

“O-okay! Sounds like a plan! We just tire them out, maybe play along for a bit, then put them to sleep when they get tired!”

“And you’re sureeee we can’t beat them up? They’re really goddamn bad at rhyming and it’s pissing me off.”

“...Please?” You clasp your hands together.

“Ugh, fine.” Susie rolls her eyes.

“O-okay. I can do this.” You hold your cane tight and nod at Susie and Capodastro. “Thank you for helping us, Ser Capodastro.”

“It’s the least I can do after your timely rescue. Now, come forth! Let us defeat these scoundrels!”

“Yeah!” You giggle. When you look over at Susie, she’s smiling too.

“Alright, break!” Susie calls, clapping her hands.

…

“Oh, shoot. Is your huddle over?” One of them, the main spokesperson, looked up from where he weas kicking a rock around. “Hey! RAP! RAPAR! Get back in position! It’s go time!”

“I guess so.” “Groovy!”

They started playing their song again, and you braced yourself as they pointed their fingers forward in sync, a wave of disco lights rolling across the ground that made your hair feel like it was standing on end. You stepped between them while Susie jumped over them all, though Capodastro seemed to be struggling with the precise footwork and got hit by one, giving them a hearty zap. “Curses!”

“Now watch this move, suckers!” Huh!? “Yeah, we’re gonna chuck-youse!” But- but weren't you supposed to have your tur- “And a one- and a two- and a-”

“THREE!” They all call out in unison and jump, then stomp the ground. The shockwave flows through the arena, and you desperately shield yourself with your wing. You fall backwards with it- then another one hits! And another! You don’t even have time to stand back up and they just keep attacking!

“Grk!” You hear a cry of pain from a deep voice!

That’s not even fair! Capodastro is way bigger, they have trouble moving quickly! And those three- three stupid dogs are still going! That’s not even FAIR! You need to hold on! You just-!

THERE. THAT IS WHAT

YOU MUST PERSEVERE.

I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR

AND WHAT YOU WILL NEED

It’s as if the world stopped, gone dark all except for the light within your SOUL, the light reflected by your staff. You feel the strings gathering, you need to give them form. You slam the brazier into the ground as hard as you can and in a flash, a wave of purple lines course beneath Capodastro, beneath Susie, beneath your own feet that suddenly snap upwards, several feet off the ground. You pull, and Capodastro suddenly snaps to your line, away from the blast that was about to strike them. You pant with exertion as your flame now burns a brilliant purple in hue. The trio’s relentless attacks stop coming for a moment, stunned in place.

IF YOU CHOOSE TO DESCEND FURTHER

“That- that was-” Capodastro gasps in recognition but you surge forward.

“Don’t wait for them to stop! Dodge between the lines and strike back when you can! They’ll get tired eventually!” You cut them off, your focus trained squarely on the three darkners, wings spread for balance as you sprint ahead.

“Hell yeah!” Susie follows closely behind, while Capodastro focuses on dodging.

…How did you even know that? You’re not looking at them, you’re looking forward. It’s as easy as breathing, in this moment. The way you feel an attack coming and skip to the left, skip to the right. The way you sway back and forth along with their beat and swing your staff to cast yellow Light from your SOUL. Your fear of pain is forgotten, all that matters is protecting your friends, the purple strings singing as you glide over them. It’s… invigorating.

“Hey! Wh- What the hell is this!?” “Why’s she making our attacks all mis-"

You tune them out as you continue fighting, hitting them again and “Feathers!” again and again and- “Feathers!” agai-

“ANGEL, STOP!”

... Susie?

“Feathers, hey! There you are! They’re- they’re already down, okay!?!?” Susie’s… huh? But you were doing so…

Your vision clears and you can see them again. The attacks have stopped coming. The E-Dogs are trembling on the ground. They’re… scared of you.

“O-oh god.” You suddenly feel sick to your stomach.

TO PERSEVERE IS TO BE RELENTLESS

ON THE PATH YOU SET YOURSELF ON.

“I- I’m so sorry.”

A POWERFUL WEAPON,

THAT CAN BE EASILY MISGUIDED.

The purple flame in your staff disappears as you drop your cane to the ground where it vanishes. What- what was that? Why did you do that? Are they okay? Why did you do that!?

“Hey… hey it’s okay. It’s okay, Angel.” Susie wraps her arms around your waist, gently guiding you to the side of the road. “Capo, can you do the-”

“N-no, uh, it’s f-fine! We- we give up!” “We’re- we’re sorry!” They’re scared of you! You- what did you do!? You're crying, you can't stop crying.

“Feathers, feathers… Angel.” Susie sits you down on the side of the road.

“I- I d- d- don’t know w- what I- I-”

“Listen! If you didn’t do that, we would have died. Thank you for doing it. But… you just kept going. Why?”

You know this. “P-p-p-per- persev- verance.”

“Huh?”

“S-SOUL. Purple SO- SOUL. Means p- perseverance.”

“So… uh… you kept going because that power means you needed to keep going?”

“I- i’m s-sorr- sorry- I-” You can't... you... you...

“...There is a place nearby where we can take shelter. May I rely on your cooperation now?” You look up to see Capodastro narrowing their eyes at the three delinquents who nod rapidly, but Susie grabs your cheek and turns you back to face her.

“You don’t need to talk right now, ‘kay?” “B- but-” “Actually no. Don’t talk right now, Angel. Don’t say anything, alright? Let’s get you somewhere safe first.” Susie picked you up, holding you by your back and your knees. You hung limply as she carried you.

…

There’s a cup of tea in front of you. You startle at its presence. When did it get there? When did you get here? You can hear a conversation from the other room. Looking up, you see a- a worn old ceiling with a single GlowCrystal hanging from it, giving the room a modicum of light. Most of your light, though, comes from... your LightShards. Someone... put them on your wings? They look... nice.

“Thank you. Please, leave them be for now. The Angel had quite the reaction to your taunts, so I expect you three to be on your best behavior.” “Y-you got it, Cap.”

You look around, “Wh- where am I?” You croak out.

“There's, like, a little town of darkners down here. Some buildings that aren't emptied out and junk.” Susie is there! You startle at her sudden presence. “Here, Angel, let me just… fix that for you.” She reaches around and she takes hold of your wing, and wraps it around you. It's… soft, still. Even now.

“...I'm sorry. I… I don't know what came over me.”

“Everyone makes mistakes right? And they were hurting us pretty bad, too. It's, like, a big mess all around. But nobody got, um… y'know.” Susie wraps your other wing around you. "Hey, uh, Angel? Could you tell me about your… colors? And what they mean? Your lantern thing keeps changing color and, uh, your soul changes with it too. You said that last one- the purple was, uh, ‘Perseverance?’”

“Y-yes. Purple is… Perseverance. They're… attributes. SOUL attributes. Everyone usually has… has a dominant one.” You struggle with your words, your throat is dry. “S- seven. there's seven that-”

“Hey, uh, take a sip of your tea and you can tell me one! But it's gotta be, like, a good sip.”

You nod, trembling. You reach out for your teacup but your hand is shaking and-

Susie sits down next to you and puts her hands under yours. Cradling the weight of the cup. She helps you lift it up to your mouth to drink. It tastes bitter and your face scrunches up, but you take another sip anyway on your own. It's warm.

“Easy, right? Now you tell me.”

“Seven a… attributes. That I k- know of. Each tied to a… a color, and sometimes a SOUL mode.”

“Like… when you went all purple and those wires appeared. That was you using Perseverance?”

“Y- yes. The… strings. Movement in one direction proceeds as normal, but… you can snap between them with ease.” You think of pastries. Why do you think of pastries? You're so weird. You take a sip of your tea.

“Then there's… Bravery. Tied to… to orange.”

“Badass! Is that the one I have?”

“I… I don't know. It's hard to… to tell with monster souls.” You sniffle, rubbing at your eyes. “It doesn't have a S-SOUL mode that I know of, but attacks using Bravery are… they're orange. If you stop moving when within one, you get hurt. Then there's its inverse, Patience, tied to light blue and blue attacks” You take two sips of tea, you forgot to take one already.

INTERESTING.

“Oh! I get it! You gotta stop moving during those, right?”

“Y- Yes! Then there's… Justice. The yellow SOUL.” You shakily drink again. You're nearly out.

“I remember that one actually! During that fight with that puppet guy? Well, and earlier today too.”

“Y-yes. It fires projectiles, and…” A memory is on the tip of your tongue but you can't place it. You think about the smell of flower petals. “I… I don't know. I’m missing… something.”

AN INTERESTING OCCURENCE, THAT ONE

“Then… how do you know any of this stuff? Does it just come with being an Angel?”

You shake your head as you drink the last of your tea. “‘dunno. Next is… Integrity, which is tied to dark blue. It makes the SOUL affected by gravity, but also allows one to… control it when wielded.”

“Badass! Like, crushing dudes?”

“M-moving them, flipping them onto different s- surfaces.” You feel... chills. Down your spine.

“Huh. What else?”

…You're out of tea. You make a pathetic noise as you realize this.

“Ah, shoot! I'll get you some more. Stay here, okay?”

“N-no! Please.” You cry out without thinking.

“Huh?”

“Just… stay. Please.” You don’t want to be alone right now.

“...Alright, Feathers. I’ll stick around.” She smiles for you, sitting back down at your side.

“Nnh… next is… Kindness, the green soul. It grants you a shield that can defend against n- nearly anything, though attacks come from a- all sides.”

“Oh! Like against the old man!” Susie's face lights up and you smile with her. “So that's, like, six, right? What about red? That's what Kris's… well, what you are, I guess.”

“Red is… the most potent of them all. It is… the power to change fate, the power to persist after death, the power to… refuse to die.”

Susie looks more interested… is it because you mentioned changing fate? You... hope it works that way too.

“It's called… DETERMINATION. Everyone- Everyone has it… I think. But the Red SOUL is… concentrated.” Something about the idea of everyone having DETERMINATION puts a burning pit in your stomach.

“I… I think it might also be what… what lets me shift my colors, but… well.” You laugh, suddenly. Susie looks at you sadly. “I mean, look at me! DETERMINATION is the power of the will, to never give up, to- to be able to defy the rules of the world and seize victory. And… I'm fucking pathetic, aren't I? I’m just… a stupid crybaby. Some ‘Angel’ I am.”

“Shut… the HELL up, Angel.” You flinch, but Susie continues, poking her finger into your stomach. “I don't let anyone talk bad about my friends.”

“B- but…” you are, aren't you?

“No! No buts. You saved our asses back there. You destroyed all those Titan Spawn, you rescued Capo, you solved that puzzle. That was all you.”

“But I could have done it better!”

“That's selfish, Angel.”

What?

“What do y- you mean?”

“If the only way you can do something good is to do it perfectly, then what the hell does that make me?” Susie glares at you and you feel like you're going to throw up again. “This is because of your re-dos, isn't it?”

“M- my s-saves?”

“Yeah, yeah, whatever. Listen to me. Listen.” Susie puts her hands on your shoulders. She's so close. She's staring you dead in the eyes and you feel your skin buzzing. “Messing up isn't the end of the world. Everyone does that. Don't beat yourself up about what's already done, or else you won't even do anything.”

You’re crying again, stupid, but you keep listening.

“I know it's scary, but you're a person just like the rest of us. You survived. We survived. Those dog guys survived too. So it’s fine.” Her eyes grow soft. “You did good, dumbass. I'm, like, proud of you. I need you to believe that too, ‘k?”

“I…” You swallow, your throat feels dry. “I don’t know if I can, Susie.”

"Then I’ll believe it for you. Keep doing cool shit like you’ve been doing, and I’ll be so proud of you that you’ll forget you ever doubted yourself, dumbass!” She ruffles your hair, and you laugh. That’s just so… Susie-like, isn’t it?

“Okay.” You smile shakily at her.

You… finally let yourself think it. You told yourself you wouldn't, but... if only just for a moment... you think that you love her.

“Anyways, did you really say ‘Fuck’ earlier?” That love shrivels up and dies immediately forever as you flush beet-red in the face of her glee.

“N-NO!!! I didn’t! You misheard me! I didn’t!!!!” You lie eloquently.

“Angel! I need to know! Since you said it, does that mean I can say fuck in church!? Consequence free!?” Susie puts her hands on your shoulders and you’re fighting yourself not to laugh, do not laugh, you cannot laugh!!!

“Noooooooo!!! Snrk- Hahahahahahaaaa!!!!”

Well… maybe you can.

FACING ONES OWN CAPABILITIES IS A TERRIFYING PROSPECT.

Susie

Powers

Lv 5 Axe of Hope

Faces and rewrites the fate with the blade.

Attack: 40

Defense: 8

Magic: 10

Rudeness: 90

Healing: 36

Guts: 4

Equipment

Weapon: JusticeAxe

It has no special powers. However, in order to attain this item, you became much stronger.

Armor 1: WaferGuard

Although it looks brittle, it contains a magical energy that blunts damage on impact.

Armor 2: Jevilstail

A J-Shaped tail that gives you devilenergy.

STATS

???

EVERYONE HAS THE CAPACITY FOR GREAT AND TERRIBLE THINGS,

Angel

Powers

Lv 5 Foul Mage

Wields the Light to face the fate. Said ‘fuck’ once.

Attack: 29

Defense: 8

Magic: 18

♥️: Yes

Crudeness: 1

Guts: 0.5

Equipment

Weapon: CowlStaff.

A staff made from mysterious black wood, cradling a brazier of Light. Enhances SOUL magic.

Armor 1: LightShards

Jewelry made from shimmering shards suffused with Light. Grants 10% TP upon turn start.

Armor 2: ShadowMantle

Shadows slip off like water. Greatly protects against Dark and Star attacks.

STATS

LightUpL

SoftGlow

Dark/Star

AN ANGEL MOST OF ALL.

Chapter Text

You savored your cup of tea. After letting Susie go… eventually… she got you another cup before ‘Going to go look around.’ You heard a knock and turned to see Capodastro rapping their knuckle on the door frame. “I heard ringing laughter earlier. Are you feeling better, Angel?”

“Yes, thank you for asking.” You give a smile “And… Thank you for helping me.”

“But of course!” They nodded back, sitting on the ground before you to be at eye level and turning to the side so that you could see their expression. “You are… a very special one when given your station, Angel. If I may ask… what are you?”

“I…” You pause, and your eyes drift back to your tea. “I’m just… a person, I think. I know that… that I have a lot of Light within me, and… that I control the SOUL that’s supposed to be in…” You sigh. “Someone I know, I guess. I don’t think they want to be my friend.”

“Hmm… You are… remarkably different than I was expecting.” Capodastro rubs the strip of metal that makes up their chin. “Although you had a change of heart of some sort earlier- Which!” Capodastro holds up their finger to cut you off as you try and apologize, “is not your fault. You claimed to try and spare Darkners who you encountered. Why is that?”

Why? Well… because they’re people too. “Even if they’re… annoying, or dangerous, or… or whatever, they don’t deserve being hurt. I don’t like… hurting people, but…” You shouldn’t be talking about this, but Capodastro has a very calming presence. Maybe you can… trust them with this? “I… I feel like I like… like fighting the Titan Spawn. I mean they’re- they’re not people, right? They don’t have minds or anything so… I get to… um…” No, no, no, you need to stop. “...nevermind.”

“Young one, listen to my words. I know the struggle you bear keenly, for it was once held by…” They close their eyes in reminiscence. “A dear friend of mine. Fighting for justice; that your will and might can conquer your foes and thereby affirm your stance just in the world… It is a dream of many, yet you already know very well that violence for violence’s sake holds no justice. That does not mean that you must never fight, nor does that mean that you are an unkind being for doing so, especially not as the Angel.”

“What…” You have to ask. “What do you know about the Angel, Capodastro? When we first met you weren’t sure if I was the Angel. Why do you think I am now?”

“Hm…” Capodastro looked up to the GlowShard hanging from the ceiling of the little room. “Those memories have long since faded, but I remember the Angel. I did not recognize them beforehand, no. They were instead caged in the form of a dear friend. I only recognized them on the day they broke free.”

“B- broke free?” You don’t like how that sounds. You really don’t like how that sounds.

“In a radiant display, they broke free from their cages. An Incandescence utter and absolute. I felt…” You notice their hand trembling. “my body being reduced, once more, to my… true form. By their mere presence. I scarcely can imagine how the one made to bear their direct attention felt.”

“That… that sounds horrible. I- I’m sorry.” An… Incandescence. Is that what you are? Is that why you can seal Fountains? Can you… destroy… oh god.

“Do not be. The memories have long faded.” Their voice is smooth as ever, and yet you can still see their hand trembling. They’re… lying. “We darkners live a life between extremes, and down here the Dark torments us more than the Light.”

“But… if I did that to you… I’m sorry. And… I’m sorry for forgetting.” You… What kind of thing even were you?

“Hm. I do not think you are the one who needs to apologize. Moreover, your kind's capacity for harm only makes your kindness more impactful.” Capodastro stands up, “Are you well enough to walk?”

You stand up. Your legs are still shaky, but you conjure your cane and lean on it. “I- I think so. Thank you, Capodastro.”

“I must attend to some business. Why don’t you go find your friend? No violence will come to you within the borders of Kulsel Town so feel free to explore, little angel.”

You bow as politely as you can and turn to walk away, staggering with your cane as you do.

“...Angel.”

“Y- yes?” Did you actually forget something already?

“That’s not how you walk with a cane. You are walking as if it is a third leg to be used out of sequence. No, try walking with it as you step.” Capodastro lowers themselves down, gently guiding you with their hands. “Like so.”

You take a few steps, and… they’re right. It does feel a lot better. You smile at them. “You’re a very good teacher, Ser Capodastro.”

“I try my best, and you are far from the first child I have taught. Go now, find your friend! I am sure she is anxious to know you’re okay.”

“O-okay!” You bow again and walk out of the room. There’s another one, and you can see the three E-Dog Darkners inside. They stand up straighter in your presence, but you don’t want to freak them out any more than you already have, so you just walk past them and out into…

“Woah…”

Everything is suffused with a gentle, all-pervasive light in this place, especially when compared to the empty streets outside, how did you possibly miss this from the overlook? Shards of Light dangle from ropes strung between empty light posts as the buildings of stone, curved and bending in odd ways, are tinted orange by the sight.

You start walking, transfixed by the sight. It’s… beautiful down here. The dark is ever-pervasive, but you feel immersed in a brilliant beacon shining within it. It feels like… a warm fire, a gentle home. And within it are a few Darkners, each going about their business. Some of them stop and stare at you as you pass, so you pull your wings tighter around yourself.

Despite the warmth of the town, you can’t see very many people. The Cyber World was a bustling hub with life everywhere, cars, advertisers. This place is somewhat desolate, despite its warmth. It makes your heart hurt. Is this everyone that’s left?

Standing still beneath a light post, you close your eyes and choose to think about where Susie is right now. That’s how Ralsei always did it, right? Maybe you can…

YOU DON’T NEED THE DEVICE

TO WIELD YOUR GUIDING LIGHT, ANGEL

Nope, nothing. You sigh and open them again, and startle as your light is pointing your way. Is… that’s it, isn’t it? That’s how it works? How Kris found Susie in the dark room with the statue, how Ralsei always redirected your attention. Your… Guiding Light. You bounce on your toes for a second in excitement, then rush towards where your Light guides you. You feel a lot less shaky as you jog through the streets.

You can hear music! You haven’t heard music in ages, aside from when you used the battle screen against those Spawn back in Leonel’s castle! You… really missed hearing it.

There! There she is. Susie’s kneeling down in front of some sort of… odd animal Darkners with differently-colored heads and four little legs. The one Susie’s currently messing with makes a little beeping sound whenever she presses its head down, and she’s trying to make a little tune from the different sounds each one has. It’s a little bit discordant, but you think it sounds really nice!

You walk over, resting your weight on your cane. “That sounds nice.”

“Oh hey! You’re up!” She stands up quickly and punches you on the shoulder. It doesn’t hurt as much as you know she could, is she holding back against you? That’s sweet of her. “ I knew you’d be alright! Check this out! These little guys are called, uh, Buzzers. And they play sounds if you press on them. Watch!”

The little Darkners are scuttling around slowly, but Susie rounds them up back together. She starts pressing them in an order, and you… vaguely recognize that melody! “Oh! Raise Up Your Bat!!”

“Yeah! Knew you’d recognize it, nerd!” She smiles at you but… there's something else in it. This is really important to her, isn’t it? Playing music. Like Kris.

“I miss them.” You say unprompted.

“Huh?”

“Kris. And… Ralsei too. I wish they were here. To… see this. This town.”

“...Yeah. Me too, feathers. I… Heh. I figured they’d be down right after us, y’know?” Susie huffs a dry laugh. “And we could figure it all out together. But… I guess they’re not coming. They’re trying, obviously. They’d never not try. But…” She sighs.

“…” You walk over, and kneel down next to her as well. “Can I hear it again?”

“Hm? Sure! I can do an encore.”

The notes are often a little off and she has to quickly correct after playing the wrong one, but she’s having so much fun during it. You hum along to the vocals while she plays the lead.

“Thank you! Thank you!” Susie stands and gives a little bow towards a small group of darkners lingering in the street, looking at you both.

“Pretty cool.” A Darkner approaches the two of you. Armless with long, glowing red hair and a voice that hums like electricity. “You’re Lightners, aint’cha? Hell’re you doin’ ‘ere?”

“We’re… It’s complicated.” You stand up, using your cane to brace yourself. “Right now we’re just waiting for, um, Ser Capodastro to take us to, um, Miss Rhynes.”

“If Cap’s convinced you’re alright. ‘m Burn. Hell’d you get th’ lights, kid?” She points at you, vaguely gesturing to the lights draped over your wings. “Look like I made those.”

“O-oh! You made these? Well, um, we were coming down from where, um… we fell from a cliff next to Castle Town, and we passed through the… the other castle town, and we found them in there. We just kind of, um… took them cause…” You look down at the ground.

“No one was there anymore when we got there.” Susie answers for you.

Burn sighs “Figured he’d bite the dust eventually.”

“You mean… Leonel?”

“Yeah. Poor bastard, that one.” Burn waves you to follow her, walking away without waiting. “Let me have a look at them in my workshop. ‘e never took care of them right.”

“Susie, do you want to come with me or…?”

Susie shrugs. “Sure. She seems cool.”

…

“So, you were able to get up to the… the next Castle Town up?”

“No. ‘s just tha’ Leonel was a clever bastard. Knew th’ tricks that didn’t work for anyone else.” Burn shoved what looked like a GlowShard off the table into a padded drawer which she slammed shut. “Alright, hand ‘em over.” She held her hair, shaped into a hand, expectantly to you and you wilted.

“I- I-”

“Hey. You’re gonna give them back, right? Not gonna pull anything funny?” Susie put her arm in front of you, squinting at the gemcutter who sighed but pulled her hair back.

“Kid. I’m not here to fuck with you. Promise. I just want to do my job.”

“...okay. If… if you promise.” You hesitantly pull the LightShards off and handed them over.

[You unequipped the Lig-

Ignoring the notification in your mind, you put them down on the table. You stand back but… you can’t get as good of a view from there, so you stand on your tip-toes to peek over the table.

“...Hm. Looks fine. This one here’s cracked, but the Light's still good. If anything they’re damn more full than Leonel would have e’er had ‘em.” Burn shakes her head. “Bastard.”

“Where… uh, do those glowy crystals even come from, Burn?” Susie hesitates, but asks in your stead while you stare quietly at the LightShards. “Like, if they have ‘light’ in them then why are they in the dark?”

“Light. The ‘L’ ‘s capital. That’s ‘mportant.”

“Okay…? Why are they in the dark, though?”

“Have you e’er looked a’ piece o’ glass and not seen a reflection in it?”

“Uh… Not really?”

“Yeah. Tha’s why. ‘s like those dark fuckers out in the black. They ain’t real, but they’re common enuff that they might’ve well be. ‘S weird, sure, but means we can sometimes find Light e’en down here in th’ Dark. You track?”

“...Sure.” Susie lied.

That information is really good to know and very interesting but you’re entirely focused on the LightShards. The way they glisten under the vibrant red light Burn is casting down, especially as she turns them around and over with the tools she keeps on the desk. They’re… beautiful. You haven’t had time to think about it, but you’ve never seen… anything in so much detail, before. Only… vague abstractions of the real world, you guess. Seeing the way they reflect and scatter light in all their many facets, the orange light they cast, all of it is just so-

“You really like Light, don’t you, kid.”

“H-huh?” You- you mean, you do, but…

“You haven’t stopped starin’ at ‘em since y’ put ‘em down. ‘aven’t said a word, neither.”

Oh, oh no you’re being weird! Stop being weird. “I- I’m sorry!”

“Nah, ‘s fine. Means I’m doing my job well. ‘Sides, they’re fine enough. Y’can keep 'em.” She hands them back to you, and you start carefully hanging them back on your wings.

“What… is your job, ma’am?” You ask.

“When our guys find GlowShards, I cut ‘em up and they stick ‘em ‘round Kulsel Town. Means tha’ folks don’ lose ‘emselves ‘n Titan Spawn don’ tend to form ‘round here… as much.” She scoffed as she put her GlowShard back on the table, taking measurements and marking notches with dexterity, despite her one appendage. “Not like ‘s even been working lately. There’s been… too many of ‘em. Out of nowhere, e’en. We’ve been… losin’ folks. Fast.”

Oh…

“Eh, chin up.”

“We didn’t say anything!” Said Susie. She was doing it too?

“You’re lookin’ glum. Stop. It pisses me off. Cheer up, we’ll be fine. Go find Cap. They're probably at Bonjam's. That way.” Burn's hair reshaped into an arrow, pointing in a direction while she focused in on the GlowShard on the table.

“Okay. T-thank you, Miss.” You bow politely and exited the workshop.

“Mhm.” She hunched over her work closer, and you left with Susie to go find Capodastro.

…

“Ah! Lightners!” As soon as you walked by a building with an open front, a loud, nasally voice rang out over the street. “Not this way, not this way! This is a deal you will want to miss!” Oh god. Please don’t be another Spamton. You can’t handle another one.

“You Bonjam?” Susie walks up to the stall and you reluctantly follow her. The Darkner, Bonjam according to their name tag, had a body made of a light green paper folded up like a bow tie on his side. Where a head would be was the printed face of some official-looking monster, except they were wearing sunglasses and sporting a wide grin.

“Nope. Never heard that name.” A greenish papery face gives you a smile that sparkles white. “How can’t I help you?”

“Uh…” Susie squinted at him. “We’re just looking for Capo. Y’seen him?”

“Don’t know the fellow. And if I didn’t see them, they wouldn't have gone that way, carrying a basket. Certainly not down that side road two streets over, and I have no idea what’s there. After you go, though, could I interest you in some awful-quality hurting items? They do not restore your health and I am selling them at exorbitant prices.” He gestured to a basket made of copper wire holding-

“Oh sweet! Candy!” Susie’s excitement made you startle and your feathers bristle.

“Guranteed to poison you or your money back. Can I disinterest you?” They tapped a sign listing a price and Susie turned to you, grinning.

“I- well um… we don’t really… we- um…”

…

You bought the candy.

…

“Wh- Susie, were you that hurt?” She’d eaten… a lot of them.

“No, just… hungry.” She stuffed her share back into her pockets. “It doesn’t make me full, yeah, but it’s easier to ignore if I got something to chew on.”

“Oh… Is that why you were eating the chalk?”

“What? No. I just… had cravings, y’know? Anyways, c’mon! Let’s catch up to Capo!” Susie ran ahead, and you followed. The side road that Bonjam had not-pointed out to you was a great deal less well-maintained than the main road, so you braced yourself with your cane as you crossed the uneven ground.

“Capo! Hey! Check it out, we got candy!” Susie spotted them, kneeling down over something on the ground in a grassy yard, but slowed as Capodastro didn’t turn to acknowledge her presence. “...Something wrong?”

“Perhaps.” Their stoic voice hummed with quiet emotion. “Just a moment, young ones.”

You looked around the small yard you’d stumbled into. The grass was blue in color, an energetic hue, and trimmed carefully. There were wooden boards set flat against the ground beneath with… names.

Oh. You walk up besides Susie and tug on her wrist, pointing at one of them. By the sharp intake of breath you hear from her, she understands. You stand to the side quietly, and Susie follows your lead. Awkwardly stuffing her hands in her pockets and lowering her head.

“...” A hefty, hollow sigh. “Worry not. I am finished here, anyways.” Capodastro stands and walks out of the yard. “Follow me. With my work done, I can now take you to Rhynes. I am sure that she will be pleased to meet the two of you.”

You linger for a second, and… glance at the name. Even without being a SOUL, you're still insufferably nosy, aren't you.

~ Frettenaine ~

“One has no choice but to hold onto hope.”

A tune that will not be forgotten.

“Angel, c'mon. Let's just… go.” Susie pulled your hand along. You let her.

…

“Who is Rhynes, Ser Capodastro?” You asked.

“A dear friend, a stalwart ally, and a fantastic leader!” Capodastro responded quickly and as heartily as ever. You're still concerned, but you decide not to press. “Once, she held the role of Prince of the Dark, even. I bear the humble role of her assistant.”

“Oh! Like Ralsei!?” Susie cuts in, but Capodastro seems unperturbed.

“Ah, your friend? He is the current Prince of the Dark, then? If so, then yes. Rhynes has explained much to me about how the process works, but… Hm. I wonder who he was modeled after.”

“M-modeled?” You don't like the sound of that.

“Princes of the Dark are made formless, but must adopt a simulacrum resemblance to become closer to both of the heroes. Typically at the end of their first quest. Though according to Rhynes’ research, the name actually comes separately. Fascinating, is it not?”

“So… Ralsei looks like that because…” Susie doesn't seem to like the sound of that either.

“His face was partially familiar to you, was it not?”

“...yeah. It was.”

Huh? But she’d never met… Well, actually. You had thought that Ralsei had looked like Asriel for the longest time, but… Kris proved you wrong earlier in… one of your runs of the last two days.

You’ve never seen Asriel. Why were you even so sure, stupid? Susie even says he looks more like-

…Toriel. Who approached Susie on… the bench.

Is that what you've been missing? Kris’s mother, and the kind older woman who had given Susie hope. But- what does that mean for Leonel? You had time to think about it when you were drinking your tea earlier. The name and its connections. One N, one O, two Es, two Ls.

But- but if Leonel was modeled after Noelle- or, at least, her family… then the girl was… she had to be December. If she was, then… who was the-

Someone suddenly bit down on one of your wings, the one near your head, and you shrieked. “Wha- Whe- What!? WHAT WAS THAT FOR SUSIE!” Your face is burning up, why did she do that!?

“We’re here, dumbass. You were mumbling to yourself for a while.” Susie was picking her teeth with- one of your… feathers. Oh wow.

“O- oh. Well! D- don’t do that again!” Your entire face is red. Oh god, oh god, oh god. You try to focus yourself and take in the environment instead. You think you’re going to pass out- oh god you’re going to pass out. That’s what’s going to happen, right? Everything’s dizzy. You clutch your cane with shaky hands as you pointedly point your head away from Susie.

You were in front of a large building. A manor, perhaps? You didn’t see any lights inside. “Are… are you sure they’re home?”

“I am, yes. Rhynes simply prefers to live in the dark. It doesn’t bother her, since she was modeled after a monster with the physiology of a deep-sea creature, and it means that more Light can be freed up for the others.” They knocked on the door with a heavy knocker and stood back to wait.

“Wait… but… but then why hasn’t she petrified or, like, fallen through the floor!? Don’t you guys need the light down here?” You manage to clear your head with a rush of new concern as Susie shouts.

“I would have thought that your friend had explained it to you, no? Princes of the Dark are incapable of being corrupted by the Dark. Have you never wondered why your dear friend could accompany you, regardless of the Dark World you adventured through, and never turn to stone?”

“No.” “I was actually wondering that, yeah.”

“Nevertheless. Rhynes is taking an exceedingly long time. I thought I’d sent a Buzzer with a message ahead.” They reached down to the handle- then stopped. “...what?”

“What’s happening?” You asked. Susie ran forward as Capodastro rammed the door with their shoulder to no avail.

“The lock, someone has- someone has melted- has fused the door shut! Who- why- who could have done this!?”

“Step aside, Capo. I got this.” Susie drew her axe, and aimed it at the door. She took a few steps back, then ran towards the door, drawing her axe on the ground before launching a Rude Buster straight at it, blowing it clean off its hinges!

“RHYNES!” Capodastro thundered forward, heavy footsteps drowned out by their concern-laiden voice through the hallways. Their “RHYNES, ANSWER ME!” Susie followed, and you sprinted after her. All of your previous embarrassment completely forgotten in a rush of adrenaline.

You sprinted through the unfamiliar halls of the dark mansion, Light ablaze. You saw Capodastro charging towards a door ringed with wings, which they slammed their hands against, pushing it open with great force. “RHYNES, WHERE- Where- are…” You couldn’t see, they had stopped just after entering the room and were taking up the entire door frame.

“Hey!? What’s happening!” Susie shoved forward, and Capodastro buckled. Falling to their hands and knees. She slipped into the room and you followed her to see…

“...why?” Capodastro’s voice was thick with sorrow, you could see them carving grooves in the floor with their fingers. You could see Susie, face gone pale. You could see so, so many things in the room. You could see bookshelves overturned, you could see a large, thick desk with broken shards of glass and an enormous ink stain covering it, you could see… everything.

You…

You see a Darkner, her red-hued body now tinged purple. Her eye, the one uncovered by their long hair, closed shut. Her face now in a permanent, stoic smile. You see the way condensation hung from her form, droplets forming. You see the mist that still rose from her form, from the…

From the ice that encased her entirety. Ice that suspended her small body over the ground.

You see the tears in Capodastro’s eyes as they wail, beating their fists against the floorboards.

“WHY!? WHAT PURPOSE DID THIS SERVE!? HOW- HOW ARE WE SUPPOSED TO… how am I supposed to…”

“Ice…?” Susie seemed panicked. “Was- was it a T-Titan Spawn? It had to be, right? But- but why ice?”

Capodastro wordlessly slammed their fist once more, shaking the wooden boards.

You…

HOW INTERESTING

…

THIS IS A NEW DEVELOPMENT

You see her smiling.

I MUST RECORD THIS FOR THE FUTURE

You step closer. Staring into her frozen face.

“Feathers, just step away from-”

“No.”

“What?”

“...She’s smiling. Self-assured.” It’s so… so easy to see. You had to gauge people’s reactions through a layer of abstraction before, but… now? You can see… everything. “She’s won.”

“The hell do you mean she’s won!?” Susie hissed at you, but you took a step to her side. Her hair was long and luscious, but not what you needed to see. You knelt, and… there. Her eye, the covered eye, was still open. Her smiling blink a coy wink. She wasn’t staring ahead, she was staring to the side, towards... The desk.

You stepped towards the desk on feather-light feet, carefully avoiding the ruined books strewn across the floor. Some of them were stamped down, some were soaked in water. Rhynes was a deep-sea creature, so it makes sense that her abilities were centered around it. Perhaps it was a bad elemental match up against an ice-based foe, but… the way they’re… spaced.

There was method in the madness of the fight. You knocked on one wet spot with the butt of your staff, then another. And another. The books had titles with numbers, the wet spots marked the points to knock, the stamped books were useless information, so you disregarded them. One after another until…

Click.

A compartment in the desk swung open, Capodastro looked up. “What…?”

“A puzzle.” You can feel the power fading, so you hold your breath to keep from crying, letting the emotion fade as you let it out shakily. “She left us a puzzle. Whatever happened, this was more important to her than… than fighting back.”

“...Show me.” Their voice was thick as they stepped closer to you.

You knelt down and retrieved the contents of the desk. A heavy, thin object wrapped in a smooth cloth. Placing it delicately on the ground, you unwrapped it to reveal a… telescope.

“The… telescope? Is this what was valuable enough to-” Capodastro suddenly stopped talking. Clenching their fist, they stood back up and turned to the door. “No, my apologies, children. I… will go stand guard.” Awaiting no response, they stepped out of the room, walking away.

“There’s a note, Susie.” You unroll it from around the telescope, pinning it down for the two of you to see.

For my successor,

If you’re reading this, then it seems I am dead. What a shame. I had such a long and momentous life and blah blah, uh- “It- um… it just says… blah, blah, blah, blah. For several paragraphs.”

That doesn’t really matter, eh? No, what matters is Kulsel Town. Y’know, I kept it secret all this time so what’s the harm? Did you know that when the heroes first came down here that Shyra said this town was- “Hah- hah…” lame as shit? “...Heh.” And if this was going to be where we all lived, they were going to make it a… a Cool-sel town.

The Grand Fountain is gone? So what. The Angel has departed? We’ll live.

Kulsel Town is not a place. In more ways than one, wink wink nudge nudge. “Does it-” “Yeah that’s… that’s just how it’s written.” What matters to me is that our people can keep living their own, individual lives; pursuing their passions; and that should they wish to rejoin the outside world they may do so.

Which is why I’ve been keeping it secret. Until a rainy day. The- “The SKYMANTLE!” “Woah, Feathers! Loud!” “Sorry!” The SkyMantle. Or, at least, it was! “Huh!?” Turns out if you have a SkyMantle without enough Sky around, you lose the Sky part! Who knew? Maybe a raincloud like me forgot how to keep it charged. Damn shame.

Capodastro,

Give the mantle to the next heroes to come here. I’m sure they’ll figure something out with it. Have them look through the eighth porthole in my observatory with the telescope.

How do I know they’ll come, you’d ask? I don’t!

But isn’t it more fun to believe they will?

Yours,

“Rhynes.” You close the note, wrapping it back up.

“I’ll… I’ll go give that note to Capo. You… you go find the observatory, okay?” Susie stood up.

“Susie, before you go.”

“What!?” She snapped, but you threw your arms around her.

“Whatever happens to me, we’re going to save them.”

“Wh- don’t say that.” Susie shoves you back, but there’s a softness in her voice. “We don’t have to choose. We can do both.”

You smile back at her, mischievously. “Awww… weally? Do you caweee abowt widdle ol’ meeee?”

She rushes forward suddenly, grabbing you in a headlock and giving you a noogie, hard! “You got something to say dumbass!?”

“N-no! He- hey! Stop!”

“What? can’t hear you!”

“I yield, I- I yield!”

You laugh as she releases you, and… she’s smiling again. That… wonderful smile. It makes you smile too.

“Shit, thanks Feathers. Ralsei coulda done better though.”

“We’ll see him soon. Promise!” You reach down and take the telescope, then the…

[You got the EmptyMantle.]

Handing Susie the note, you set off to find the observatory. Wherever it is.

…

Apparently you just had to go up. It looks like Rhynes wasn’t a fan of stairs. But with your wings you could easily fly your way up. The observatory looked like a dome of wooden rafters and scribbled notes in the topmost tower, with twelve portholes.

You look down at the telescope, clutched carefully in your hand… then you look at the lens.

You can’t see the lens. Only it’s… shadow.

Oh.

[You got the ShadowLens]

You glanced through the porthole with the eight-star constellation on it first. You could see Kulsel Town bathed in orange Light. A gentle sanctuary in a forgotten, abandoned city. You wonder, idly, how many of those houses stand as graves.

Next, you hold the ShadowLens up to your eye and peek out the window.

You’re crouching in the rafters of a dead woman’s home, clutching two priceless relics to your chest.

This is going to be the scariest thing you’ve ever done. You have never been fearless, even as a SOUL. The thought of real danger to… to anyone, least of all yourself makes your knees shake. And… you only get to try this once.

But… Rhynes was counting on you. Susie is counting on you. Capodastro will be counting on you. And… and you’re counting on you, too.

If you want to get to live, then…

You do. You want to escape with every fiber of your new body.

You want to hug Ralsei, you want to get to know Kris, you want to spend time with Susie, you want to see them all go to the festival. You want to go there with them.

There’s only one way out.

It’s time for you to prove yourself, Angel.

…

“Susie.”

“Hey! What did you see?” Susie jogged up to you, but you’re faster.

“Listen to me.” You place your arms on Susie’s shoulders. She’s much taller than you, so you can barely even reach them. “We’re in a Titan.”

“...what?”

“We’re inside of its… its stomach. That’s what this place is. That’s why the Titan Spawn have been intensifying, that’s why everyone here is suffering, and that’s why no one has come down after us to rescue us. Think, would Ralsei ever just… wait? While you and Kris are in a dark world? He’s coming as fast as he can! Hell, I bet Kris wants to save you most of all! They just haven't shown up because they can’t show up. Not as long as the Titan’s Shadow is encompassing this place.”

“...” Susie closes her eyes, then she smiles at you, all teeth. “Oh? Is that all?”

You smile back. “I’m not entirely sure we can do this without all of our friends, but… hey! If I die, then it all just goes back to normal, right? Not like we have anything to lose.”

“It's not gonna happen, dumbass.” She ruffles your hair and you lean in. Despite the fear in your heart, you’re warm.

“Susie.” You twirl your hair in a faux-shy way, rocking on your heels. “You, uh… you wanna go summon a Titan together?”

“Angel,” Susie stage-whispers dramatically.

She grips your hands tight. You grip hers back.

“I thought you’d never ask.”

THE FIRST TRIAL HAS ARRIVED.

Susie

Powers

Lv 5 Axe of Hope

Faces and rewrites the fate with the blade.

Attack: 40

Defense: 8

Magic: 10

Rudeness: 90

Groove-ness: 40

Guts: 4

Equipment

Weapon: JusticeAxe

It has no special powers. However, in order to attain this item, you became much stronger.

Armor 1: WaferGuard

Although it looks brittle, it contains a magical energy that blunts damage on impact.

Armor 2: Jevilstail

A J-Shaped tail that gives you devilenergy.

STATS

???

THE PATH TO FREEDOM IS NOT PAVED IN FEAR.

Angel

Powers

Lv 5 Foul Mage

Wields the Light to serve the fate. Said ‘fuck’ once.

Attack: 29

Defense: 8

Magic: 18

SOUL Modes: 5

Crudeness: 1

Guts: 1

Equipment

Weapon: CowlStaff.

A staff made from mysterious black wood, cradling a brazier of Light. Enhances SOUL magic.

Armor 1: LightShards

Jewelry made from shimmering shards suffused with Light. Grants 10% TP upon turn start.

Armor 2: ShadowMantle

Shadows slip off like water. Greatly protects against Dark and Star attacks.

STATS

LightUpL

SoftGlow

Dark/Star

IT IS PAVED IN HOPE.

Chapter Text

Capodastro rubs their temples… or, well… the sides of their head as you and Susie explain your idea.

“...This is… quite possibly the single most reckless idea I have ever heard. I cannot fathom how you two came up with it, nor the dangers in play, nor the impossibility of slaying a Titan. You do rea-”

“Actually!” Susie interrupts, “Actually we already killed one.” She flips the page on the easel the two of you had gotten. You found a working pen in Rhynes' mansion and Susie bought the paper from Bonjam. “Me, Kris, and Ralsei killed a Titan together.”

“Wh- truly!? What about the Angel?”

“Oh, I was still in Kris at the time…” “She helped too! She did the thing that finished it off but I got the final blow!” You smile at her exuberance.

“Finished it off? How!?”

“So, like, it turns out that… uh… Feathers you explain this part.”

“Okay!” You like it when people ask you to explain things! It lets you be… all smart in their eyes or something. “So let me know if this is incorrect, but Titan Spawn have three main methods of forming that we know of. They can manifest naturally in portions of Darker Darkness or Deeper Darkness, they can manifest around the presence of a Titan, and they can hatch from petrified Darkners."

“That is… mostly correct according to Rhynes’ research, yes.”

“Well!!!" You whack the board a few times for emphasis, "It turns out that Titans form in, like, the same way as the Spawn do. Not the natural forming part or anything, but they transformed from something petrified. In this case, a Fountain!” You whack the easel with your stick a little too hard and it starts tipping over! “Whoop- Oh, thank you Susie!” She caught it for you, how nice!

“Well, we already knew they emerged from Fountains.” Capodastro said, so you continue.

“Well, they don't exactly emerge from them, it's more like they hatch! See, when the Roaring Knight created a Dark Fountain inside a Dark World in the church” “Excuse me?” “It grew like normal and stuff, but then it petrified so the stone started breaking off and the Titan started attacking-” “We climbed it! Like in Shade of the Behemoth!” “You climbed the-!?” “And we fought it and we did super well, but then, um, it started regenerating-” “And eating its babies.” “Please don't call them that-” “But thanks to a friendly, um… a friendly cool darkner-lightner-sort-of-guy-” “A what?” “We broke it's guard again and then Susie-” “And I dunked Kris right into its big stupid face hole!!! WOO!!!” “Which meant that the SOUL that held me and my Light was inside of it and so I sealed the Fountain inside it and it died.” You finished, crossing your arms with satisfaction.

Capodastro stares at you without speaking, then presses their hand against the eye facing you. “Oh Angel you're serious.”

“Hm?” You quirk your head.

“Just a figure of speech, little angel.” Capodastro sighs. “The thing I am most upset about is that this is the first real idea any of us have had in years to fix our situation. If this is your plan, though, then why confer with me? Why not simply summon the Titan, then leave once you’ve defeated it?”

“Cause we can’t do it alone, Capo.” Susie flipped the page on the board you two had prepared. “We can fight the Titan, yeah, but there is only two of us. And we don’t just want to beat the Titan, we want to make sure you guys are alright too. People love you here, right? They might not listen to us newcomers, but they’ll listen to you.”

“Ser Capodastro, when the Titan shows up it is my hypothesis that the shroud of Darkness blocking off vision from Kulsel Town, thereby making it too dangerous to descend or ascend, is going to be channeled into the Titan. When that happens, a lot of things need to happen very fast.” With a ‘fwap’ you point at the list you and Susie had written up. Well, you did most of the writing. Susie made very helpful drawings while you wrote.

“First, we need someone who can signal our friends, let them know we’re down here.” Maybe you can re-arrange some of the lights to spell out SOS?

“It may be difficult to have a message be seen from down here-”

“Hey wait a minute.” Susie interrupts. “The Fountain being opened was goddamn huge, remember? That'll definitely get their attention.”

“Oh, that's right! Thank you, Susie. Ehem. Second, we need to spread the word of the plan before we enact it. We need someone to gather up all of the Darkners here, including the Buzzers. You’ll need to keep them safe until everyone can get evacuated. The Titan battle might get messy if it goes on for too long, and we can’t predict what it’d do to the environment.”

“Understood. I do know of three who… may be willing to assist.” A slight grimace came over their features.

“Thirdly, we need a place to fight the Titan.”

“See, uh, last time we fought a Titan it was in a huge-ass library where we could get all the way up to its face by climbing up it. We don’t really… have that here. Everything’s all flat, other than the buildings. Do you have any ideas?”

“...” Capodastro closes their eyes in contemplation, drumming on their biceps. “Yes. Yes I do, but make me a promise before you do.”

“Anything.”

They reach into the drawer at their desk and pull something out, holding it out for you. “Then I want you to open the Fountain with this. This was one of the blades my… dear friend chose to wield after being forced into the role of the Cage seven years ago. With it, I entrust the future of Kulsel Town to the two of you. May luck be on your side, Heroes, and may this act redeem the cruelty my friend was made to endure.” You saw the fire in their eyes.

You took it.

…

“So this is the ‘Kulsel’, huh.”

“That is what Capodastro said. It looks… so empty out here.” You run your fingers delicately over the cold stonework. “We need to find the lowest spot available to-”

“To place the fountain at, yeah. We’ve been over this four times by now.”

“I- I’m sorry. This is just… so new to me.” You’ve never really… come up with any ideas before. Even as Kris. You said what to do in battles, but you pretty much just followed the instructions given to you and tried to dodge. Now… people are following your plan. They were looking to you for guidance when you explained what was happening. Capodastro had done their best to quell the unease and provide a more palatable explanation than ‘we are being digested by a Titan’, but even still they all waited for your word. Was that because you’re the Angel?

Well, if you’re the Angel, you’re going to be the best one. You’re going to save them all. You hop up and down to psych yourself up, then let out a heavy sigh.

“Feeling better?” Susie asks.

“Yeah. Yeah, I think so. I’m just a little trepidatious.”

“Say that again but less like a nerd.” Susie ruffles your hair. She likes doing that, doesn’t she? You’re glad.

“I’m just a little cautious and worried. ‘What if I’ve already messed up’? ‘What if I can’t beat the Titan’? Those kinds of thoughts keep… running through my head.”

“...How’s this then? Believe in me.” Susie points her thumb at herself. “And then I’ll believe in you. I can do this, so if you believe that too, you can also do this. Just follow my lead.”

You laugh, and nod. “I am at your command, General Susie.”

“Ew, gross.” Susie grimaces at you dramatically, making you giggle again.

You proceed together into the Kulsel. There were a few Titan Spawn in the dark hallways, but you’re getting the hang of wielding your Light outside of the battle menu so you made short work of them. The two of you eventually manage to figure out the layout of the Kulsel in case you need to escape, ascend, descend, or otherwise move around it.

“Angel, I think I see our spot!”

“Huh? Show me!” You turn away from the eight-winged door and run over to Susie, who was perched precariously on a balcony. You pull her back as much as you can, of course, and lean down to look. There’s a channel in the center of the castle, enormous and circular and…

“Susie, I think this is a… a viewing platform! For the Grand Fountain!”

“Woaaahhh. Capo mentioned that this place used to have the grand fountain here, right? Well, that spot down there looks really far down. Ready to fly?”

“Yup!” You hop on her back as she jumps down, spreading your wings to control her descent. You’ve gotten pretty okay at this by now!

As you descend with her, all you’re focusing on is a proper landing, despite the choked-up noises that Susie’s making right now. She’s probably fine. She’s probably fine. She’s… okay-thank god you’re on the ground. “Susie, are you okay!?”

“I… Shit, dude! Look!”

“Look at wh…” You look to the side and… there’s no wall. “What…?”

There’s no wall. That is not to say that there’s an underground room, because an underground room would have walls. No. The platform you’re on is suspended, somehow, in the Darkness, but surrounding you on all sides… is nothing. Straining your eyes, you can see the silhouettes of… building foundations hanging down from the… the ground above.

And below you… infinite Darkness. Or… the Titan. Or…

You decide it’s best not to think about it.

“Susie… Can you set me down for a moment?”

She does so, but grips your hand. Steadies you. You pull out the ShadowLens and scan the Darkness.

“See anything neat?”

“Nn… no. Not really.” Back to business. “This is… where we need to open the Fountain, Susie. As soon as we summon it, I’m going to- to try to fly us both out of here so we can fight it…” You shiver, suddenly thinking about how it would feel to fall- don’t think about it, don't think about it, don't think about it. “Somewhere other than down here.”

“O-Okay. You can do it, Angel”

“Are… are you ready, Susie?” You hope she isn’t, you really hope she isn’t.

“Y- yeah, dude.” Fuck.

“I… I’ll open it, then.” You dig through your satchel and pull out Capodastro’s gift with shaking hands.

It was a simple silver dagger with a straight, two-sided blade. Well-balanced enough to be thrown and without a cross… part… thing. You’ve never thrown a knife before so… you’ll just open it the… ‘normal’ way. Gripping the handle (what is that called?) as tight as you can, you breathe in… and out.

“Angel, what’s- what’s the holdup?”

“D- don't rush me!” In… and out… “As soon as the blade hits the ground, grab me.” You call out to Susie, voice as firm as you can make it. “I’ll take us back onto solid ground.”

“...Alright, dude. Hell yeah. HELL YEAH!” Susie stomps her feet and cheers out, you hear the echo of her excited voice bounce around the underside of Kulsel Town, and you smile despite it all. “LET’S FUCKING KILL A TITAN!”

“Go time.”

The plan was set, the players were in place, and there was no going back. You reach into your SOUL and draw out your DETERMINATION, coursing it into the borrowed blade you wield, and you strike the ground.

BBBWEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAMMMMMM

The sound is all-consuming up close, like the roar of the world reeling from a wound. Dark within Dark that drowns out everything, but you refuse to falter. Not when you have a promise to keep.

You let Susie yank you off the side of the platform and you spread your wings. No, they’re too small for this! You cast a shroud of blue Light over them to repel the Darkness, and you suddenly rocket upwards towards the gap in the Fountain. The Fountain is too large, filling the entire channel with no room to squeeze through so you adapt quickly to the newfound force of your flight and soar past it.

You skim the surface of the rapidly-petrifying Fountain as you bank past the Kulsel, towards the edge of this fragment of a forgotten world. Flying up and over, you see the stone on the Fountain cracking already, burning white eyes opening and training themselves on you as you soar towards the Kulsel, then drop your friend onto the roof.

The shroud on your wings still shines, even as your SOUL returns to its normal coloration on the roof of the Kulsel. The… Light is making you fly easier? But… What does that mean for you? No- No, stupid! Focus on the fight!

The borrowed blade is still in your grasp, so you banish it to your inventory to draw your cane and prepare for the Titan to form. The sky above you begins to ripple, the shroud of Darkness clearing, with wisps of lighter Dark poking through.

Susie brandishes the JusticeAxe. “Alright, Titan! You’ve messed with the wrong heroes!”

“We won’t let you hurt them, we won’t let you hurt us!” You cry out with her. “This ends now!”

Dodge the hands, purge the Spawn, stay alive, and dive into it as soon as you can. You brace yourself as the first hand rips itself out of the petrified Fountain, then the second, then- the third hand!?

“S- Susie! It’s- It’s not the same kind as before!” This was not part of the plan at all, but- but you’ll make it work. You will make it work, you have to.

“Shit! F- Fine! We’ll just face whatever shows up!” She braces herself as the stone crumbles away, exposing an empty abyss. You’ve learned from your last experience with a Titan, though, and you immediately slam your cane down and force your LIGHT OUTWARDS!

Surrounded by such tangible Darkness, the feeling of Light comes with a gust of wind, like suddenly changing altitudes, and you feel your breath return to you. You hadn’t even noticed that you’d stopped breathing.

“THERE!” You point forwards, taking in the form of your foe with the darkness it was hiding within banished.

THE FEAR OF DARK, WHICH APPEARS IN MANY FORMS.

“It’s-” The Titan rises before you. A gaping, open maw filled with ever-shifting concentric rows of teeth. A body wreathed in wings, winding down in unnatural ways around and around its cylindrical, bulbous body bearing rows and rows of long, wiry arms and far-too-long hands coated in eyes, then ending in spade-like claws. It lurches forward, bracing against the rooftop of the Kulsel as the final steps of its formation take place. “It’s a worm!”

THE FEAR OF BEING CONSUMED BY PREDATORS WITHIN THE DARK.

You hear a warbling, static-like roar, one which draws you up short. You knew this sound. You had heard it before, back when the Sanctuary’s Titan first awoke. But its hands were all facing downwards, so where was it-

“SUSIE!” Before you had even finished your thought you sprint over to Susie, clutching onto her as you dive off of the rooftop and only narrowly avoiding the enormous beam erupting from its mouth which carves an enormous swathe of destruction through the Kulsel. The beam cleaves straight through the ground below, sending showers of rubble falling into the empty black below.

The Titan falls forward and slams its hands into the ground around the fissure it carved, and you gasp in horror as you see the entirety of the abandoned Kulsel Town beginning to slowly tilt under its weight. Rows of streets and buildings cracking apart like glass and tumbling into the void as it crawled towards you with terrifying speed.

PERSEVERANCE

You conjure the strings on instinct, and Susie yanks the two of you onto a parallel wire to avoid its charge. “Nothing that big should be moving that fast! Where the hell is the weak point, anyways!?” She called out.

“Maybe the underside? Or- or the- T-” You snap to another wire with Susie, using your Light to dissipate the swarm of Titan Spawn left in the Titan's wake. “The tail!?”

“Not the tail, I already looked last time it passed us! And we saw the underside earlier-” The air is warbling- “BEAM!”

You force yourself to the side again, but the Titan is tracking you with the beam! You're running out of space and you don't have another string to jump to and- Wait, stupid! You dispel the strings, freeing you and Susie and dropping you both to patches of remaining ground. The very earth disappears wherever the Titan passes, leaving floating debris field of rubble and jagged remnants of missing ground.

It's charging again and you need to protect Susie! You spread your wings and hold your cane in both hands and- there! She jumps up and grabs onto your cane with one hand while you soar into the updraft it created, your Light forcing you upwards.

“It can't hit us if we stay above it, it's neck doesn't move enough! We have time to think of a plan!”

“I saw it!” Susie yells to be heard over the sound of destruction below. “The weak point, the star-thing! It's in its mouth! We gotta break its teeth, that's how we can get to it!”

“Okay! Great! I'll need you to use Rude Bust-”

“IT'S GOING FOR KULSEL TOWN!”

nononoNONONO! You STUPID IDIOT! It doesn't have the consciousness for grudges! If it can't hit you, it'll just focus on the next thing it can destroy! There's almost no ground left at all, so you drop Susie into the Titan's back while you land on a rooftop in front of its path and you focus on your promises and your duty to protect everyone and YOU PUSH. As you push you can feel your knees straining under the pressure and your heart racing and your teeth themselves creaking with how hard you grit them but no matter how hard you push it ISN'T STOPPING! YOU CAN’T PUSH IT BACK, ALL YOU'RE DOING IS SLOWING IT DOWN!

THEY'RE ALL COUNTING ON YOU AND YOU'RE JUST TOO USELESS TO DO ANYTHING TO SAVE THEM.

…

But… if Titan is too heavy for you to move…?

THERE WE HAVE IT.

THEN YOU'LL JUST HAVE TO MOVE SOMETHING ELSE!

Light rises from your wings, spiraling upwards. Light rises in the Darkness, it's the path of least resistance. That's what's making Kulsel Town float, it's the GlowShards.

Capodastro called the GlowShards your kin, called you an incandescence. Well… it's time to prove them right!

You close your eyes and gather your LIGHT. You can feel it thrumming within you, stirring within your SOUL. As you quicken it, you can feel the SOUL straining to contain the sheer brilliance of it all.

And then…

You let it go.

MAGNIFICENT.

Everything falls away. The shadows around your form are drowned out in the magnitude of the Light you unleash from yourself. It wraps around your form like a warm, protective blanket and clings to you like armor. It washes over the Titan and it reels. But… protecting yourself or defeating the Titan with this Light… that's not what you want, is it?

No. What you want has already been set in motion. Your Light, free from your body, flocks to the other shards of Light in Kulsel Town. Every GlowShard in Kulsel Town, gathered by the Darkners within- that Burn cut into pieces- that they all distributed over the breadth of Kulsel Town, begins to glow harder. Then, with a flash, they each GLOW INCANDESCENT ONE BY ONE. THE TOWN TRAPPED IN DEEP DARKNESS IS BATHED IN YOUR LIGHT, AND THE GROUND BENEATH IT CRACKS AND SPLINTERS AS, BY THE POWER OF YOUR WILL ITSELF, YOU FORCE KULSEL TOWN INTO THE SKY.

As you see the foundations of the living Kulsel Town, and all its wonderful people, begin to float away from the battle, you fall to your knees. Your cane clatters to the stone. You're spent. You can't move. The Darkness… constricts you. Stifling your breathing, holding you down. Your body… your vessel aches from head to toe from channeling your Light.

“W- wh- what's happening?”

You cry out as loudly as your voice lets you but nobody can hear your faint whisper.

Susie’s supposed to be on it, right? But… your… spell… it exhausted you. You… you doomed her.

“Susie…?”

You ruined it. You ruined everything. That's what you do, isn't it?

But… that's okay.

Soon you'll die and then everything goes back to normal. Kulsel Town, which you spent everything to save, will be forgotten again. Susie will forget the friendship you had with her. You'll lose this body, the one that you love so much, the one that still burns from how much Light you forced through it.

“Anyone?”

You always… ruin everything.

There's a- a Spawn approaching you. The cold of its presence is a familiar feeling down in the Darkness.

You can't even muster a candle's worth of Light. How… pathetic. An Angel, killed by a Titan Spawn. Not even the Titan itself.

It's no less than you deserve.

You close your eyes and wait to die.

SLASH

REINFORCEMENTS HAVE ARRIVED.

You gasp as Light floods into your body from above… from a… a HealPrayer! But Susie doesn't know that spell! And- and the cold presence, it disappeared! It- is that-

“R- R- Ralsei!?” You- you can see the hem of a tattered green robe, and next to him-

They're standing there before you. With Ralsei and Susie at their side… A human in shining armor. The BlackShard in their hands still dripping with the shadows of the Spawn it had cut through.

“...Kris?”

They're… protecting you? Despite everything you've done to them?!

“Susie, how does this one work!?” Ralsei calls out, voice soft and gentle despite the determination in his stance.

“It fires a beam from its mouth, but the weak point is in there too! We have to break its teeth!” Susie calls back as she cleaves a wiry arm off of the Titan.

“Fine by me. Let's fuck it up!” Kris shouts.

That's Kris. That's Kris! That's Kris's voice!

You can finally hear… Kris's voice. You- you want to cry.

You grab your- your CowlStaff and stagger to your feet with it. The mere act of standing… it drives away some of the despair clutching your heart. You shine the Light of your SOUL on them, fending off the Spawn and… empowering them as much as you can.

“How'd you guys even get down here anyways? Did you just jump?” Susie asks as the Titan roars and rages, Spawn being incinerated by your Light on all sides.

“Queen gave us her throne.” Ralsei calls back. “She said it was just ‘Gathering Cyber-Dust’. I don't think that's a thing, though.”

“No it totally is.” Kris answers. “My cousin was a Cyberdustologist.”

“Pfft, nerds.” Susie scoffed, but… she's relieved too, isn't she?

It's incredible, watching them all fight together. The way Kris barks out short orders, just enough for Susie and Ralsei to coordinate without overwhelming them. The way they joke and banter in periods of downtime, then throw in their all when the Titan is vulnerable. But… you need to fight too, don't you? It's only fair. You raise your cane and fire into its maw, splintering teeth in-between Susie's Rude- no- Susie's Red Buster empowered by your Light, and Kris's BlackShard. The Titan is trying to press down, to crush the last bit of ground you have left to fight on, but no matter how hard it slams its body against the four of you, you refuse to back down. All of you refuse to yield.

The last few teeth blocking your way are shattered, but it wraps its wings around itself! Nononono! It's regenerating again!

“QUEEN! DO IT!” Kris calls out.

“LMAO I've Actually Always Wanted To Do This.” An electronic, staticky voice echoes from behind you as you see- you see her throne, with a monitor displaying her face on it, take flight on its own behind you. She plays some sort of audio clip as the throne rockets towards the Titan! “LEEEEEEEROYYYYY-”

You don't get to hear the end of that sentence as the throne strikes the Titan and detonates in a massive explosion! That staggered it out of its regeneration! It's reeling! You- you need to move now! You stagger forwards on your cane but your legs-

“Susie! Throw it now!”

You're grabbed by two strong arms and angled like a javelin as Susie throws you as hard as she can. Your legs are too weak to move but your wings, suffused with your Light, cut through the Darkness with ease, shattering the four-pointed star as you dive into-

HELLO, ANGEL

IT IS NICE TO FINALLY HAVE

A CHANCE TO SPEAK WITH YOU

It is mesmerizing, the way your body feels inside of a Dark Fountain. The way it ripples with your every little movement.

YOUR MIND CANNOT HEAR ME IN HERE

BUT YOUR HEART CAN

AND TO IT I WILL SPEAK.

You float for what might be a few seconds, or what might be an eternity.

IF YOU RETURN TO THE LIGHT WORLD

WITH THE SOUL IN YOUR NEW BODY

THE STRAINED CONNECTION WILL FULLY SHATTER

Your SOUL emerges from your chest, a brilliant star in the ever-shifting darkness.

AND YOUR CAGE

WILL DIE

ONCE MORE.

It feels as if your entire being is

TO FREE YOUR CAGE

YOU WILL NEED

TO GO DEEPER.

glowing.

AND CLAIM THE OTHER SOUL.

GOOD LUCK.

…

Someone's poking you in the cheek. You’re not sure how long they’ve been doing that.

“Bwugh" You respond eloquently.

“Oh good!” Is that… Susie? “Told you she'd be fine.”

“It.”

“She, dumbass. She told me herself.”

Everything's fuzzy. Your head hurts, your mouth feels dry, but… you're warm.

You open your eyes to Light. “... Kulsel Town?”

“You see, miss Angel.” A soft… soft voice. “Your Light, whatever you did with it, you raised this other town up from the Darkness. We only had a few Swatchlings on standby since we were just expecting to need to retrieve the two of you, so when we saw all this light down here we had to rush to expand our efforts. But our rescue efforts turned out to only need to save the four of us, since you saved everyone in this ‘Kulsel Town’ by yourself!”

You… you did? You did, didn't you? Oh. Oh wow. You're… you're so relieved. You were- you were so, so so scared.

“Oh, you don't need to cry, Miss Angel! Was it something I said?”

“Ralsei, chill. Feathers here just does that.” Susie pats your shoulder. “She cries, like, a lot. It's normal for her.”

“...”

“Kris, is something wrong?” Ralsei asks.

“Nothing. I'm fine.” You hear… metal footsteps heading away from you.

“Don't give me that bullshit, Kris! Just talk to…” And Susie leaves with them.

You're still struggling to make sense of where you are, everything's blending together. It's so bright. You hadn't noticed how dark it had gotten.

“You're… really the Angel, aren't you?” Ralsei is still here with you. “I've never… never seen anything like that before.”

“...I don't know.” That's just what people keep telling you. “I don't know what being the Angel means, Ralsei. I… I woke up here on… on Thursday. I was just… in Kris already. I didn't want any of this. I didn't mean to… to control them. I'm… I'm sorry.”

“...” Ralsei reaches down, you can feel the presence of his fur just over your hand. “Is it okay if I touch y-”

“Please.” You sob.

Ralsei… holds your hand in his paw. It's so soft.

“I'm sorry. I thought that since you were the Angel, you already knew… everything. But…” Ralsei laughs. “You're just as lost as we are, aren't you?”

“...” You feel too seen. Your wings cover your face. “T- thank you for… for coming for Susie.”

“Well… you don't need to thank me for that.” Ralsei thinks for a moment, then continues. “May I ask you a question, Miss Angel?”

“Please just- just call me Angel. It feels… weird when people call me things like 'Miss' and stuff. And… yeah. Of course.”

“Why did you come to the Dark World tonight? Kris explained how they'd caged… well. You. But you broke out somehow, then you came to Castle Town. Why?”

“I just... wanted to see you, Ralsei.” You're blushing again, this is so weird. You're being so weird. “I just… thought maybe you'd understand how it felt.”

“How… what felt?”

“Feeling…” Lesser? Contained? An object? “Not real.”

“What!? Why would you not feel real!?” Ralsei seemed genuinely surprised. What does he know about you? You look at him… oh, your vision seems to have finally cleared up.

“Do you know what it was like, being a SOUL?”

“Well… maybe a few things. I know that you had a perspective on this world from around there.” Ralsei points and you instinctively know he's correct. “I knew when you were directing our fate in battles-” “I was what!?”

Ralsei blinks at you “You know, directing our fate? Don't you remember my tutorial?”

You look away sheepishly.

“Well, I told you that your SOUL holds the fate of the world. Whenever we fought, your SOUL would dictate things like luck, surges of strength, and the ability for enemies to hit us.”

“That's how that works!?!? That makes so much sense!” You clap instinctively as excited energy rushes through you, but stop. You're being weird again Angel, stop it. “Ah, I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I've just never had anyone fully explain any of this to me before!”

“You… didn't know.” Ralsei seems contemplative, if a little horrified. “You didn't even know?”

“I… I don't know anything, Ralsei.” You're… in a bed? Sitting up in it. When did that happen? You curl your wings around your legs. They make you feel secure. “I don't know what I am, or what I was called here for, or where I'm from, or… or…” You sniffle. Damnit! Are you actually going to cry again!? “I… I couldn't hear Kris's voice. I just… got to choose what they said and… and I just had to guess what they wanted. And… they probably hate me, right?” “Angel…” “I mean, you heard them! They called me an- an ‘it’! They hate me, they- I- I don't want them to ha- hate me. I-” “Shhh, shhh. Angel-” “I didn't mean for any of this to happen I- I just- I'm sorry- I- I- I'm sorry I-” “It's more complicated than that.”

You freeze and scramble back, pressing yourself against the bed. Kris is in the room with you and you're blabbering like a fucking baby stop it stop it stop it why are you still crying!?

“I… Look. You're a lot of things, okay? It's not… exactly that simple. I mean yeah, I do hate you, obviously, but… there's other stuff too. I'm not stupid. I noticed how you tried to… copy me, say the stuff I'd want to say. Yeah, that didn't make up for fucking controlling me and shit, but… it's something. Still. It doesn't excuse what you did.” They lean over you. “What you did to me. What you did to her.”

“Hhh- Her!?” What? What- what are they talking about- What else did you forget!?

“DESS!” Kris shouts at you.“Fucking- DECEMBER!” You press as hard as you can into the backboard of the bed to get away. “You're trying to act all nice and shit, but I WAS THERE. I saw you! I saw what you did! I fucking felt it!” They're looming over you and you feel very, very, very small. The wings enshrouding you feel paper-thin. “You ruined my life, then you came back to ruin it again!? WHY DID YOU EVEN COME BACK!? WHY COULDN'T YOU JUST STAY GONE!?”

“I- I'm- I- m- so- sor- ry I- d-don’t- don't und- under- sta- n- d!” Your vision is gone again, buried in your tears. What did you do? What kind of THING were you!? What kind of FUCKING TERRIBLE THING ARE YOU!? WHY DO YOU RUIN EVERYTHING!? “I- I- can- can't- re- remem- remembe-”

“You, YOU!” Kris draws the BlackShard and you flinch away, desperately shielding yourself with your wings. “Kris, wait!!!” “THIS IS ALL YOUR-” The door bursts open with a loud bang.

“Please, stay your blade! I beg of you!” Cap- Capodastro?

Kris freezes in shock, and the shadowed blade slowly lowers as they turn to the door. Their voice seemed… so small suddenly.

“...Captain?”

Capodastro stilled. They'd burst through the door in a panic but now… they seemed hesitant. Like they were seeing a… ghost.

Oh.

Oh god.

The- the ‘dear friend’ who wielded th- throwing knives, the last Cage. It had to be a- a human with ties to th- the Holiday family. It was- It had to be-

“Capt- Capo! You're… you're actually alive?” Kris steps forward, reaching out.

“Is that… is that truly you-”

“Wait- Stop stop stop!” Kris holds up their hands in a ‘time out’, the BlackShard vanishing. “It's… It's Kris now and, uh, They/Them.”

“...Angel above.” Capodastro kneels down, placing their hands on Kris's shoulders. “Your friends had mentioned your name, but… Not once did I think it was you, my dear friend. You've grown… so much.”

“Captain… why did… Why did you tell me to stop!? You were there too! You saw what it did!!!” They gesture at you, but you can't see the details. All you can do is silently cry. Like a fucking child.

“I did see what it did, yes. I also saw what she did. I know I am one to speak in metaphor, but I implore you to believe my words without irony. This is not the same Angel.” Huh!?

“What!?” Kris shouts. What!?

“W- what!?” Ralsei exclaims. HUH!?

“…what?” You barely manage to croak out.

“Within the direct attention of the Angel must have been blindingly bright for you, especially given how it tore the SOUL from your body as it did so.” "It did what!?” “But I was there too, Kris. I saw it in all its Incandescence. And I witnessed this one as she wielded her Light to rescue us from the purgatory we were trapped in. And so I know this, Kris. I know it in the depths of my soul. I am certain that this is not the same Angel.”

“...You're lying.” Kris says, shaking.

“I am not.” Capodastro shakes their head.

“No- No you have to be! You have to be lying!”

“What reason would I have to ever lie to you, Kris? For her sake? As much as she may be this town's savior… you are the child I witnessed grow up. You are the one who befriended me, back on your first adventure. You are… my friend.”

Kris is breathing heavily, and they rub at their eyes. “I- I think- I think I need to leave.”

“Take your time, young Kris. I will see you soon.”

A HARROWING WAY TO LEARN

…you're…

BUT A NECESSARY UNDERSTANDING.

you're not the angel?

“I- i'm- n-not the- a- angel?” You barely manage to get out. Even now you can't stop crying. Why are you like this!?

“Little one, I am… sorry for not telling you. In truth I was…” They sigh, “Mistrusting of you, perhaps. I had no proof that you weren't simply the Angel… or, I suppose, our Angel come again. And so I elected to... to hide this from you. I hope you can forgive me.”

“I- It's- f- fin-”

“Is it truly ‘fine’, or do you simply feel guilt that I'm apologizing?” Capodataro looks at you and you shut up. “I could have told you what I knew before and saved you pain. I have wronged you, and so I offer my apologies. You may accept them, or you may choose to dismiss my words again.”

“I… I accept your apology.” They're treating you with… so much respect. It feels bad. It makes your… your heart hurt. You don't… you don't deserve it.

“I am glad to hear it.” Capodastro stands back up with a heavy sigh, “Revelations aside, as the remaining leader of Kulsel Town I suppose negotiations must fall to me. Ralsei, you are the Prince of this Castle Town are you not?”

“Yes! That is me.” Ralsei seems to be grappling with a lot as well, but pushes it to the side. “Will you be okay on your own, Angel?”

You don't want to be alone, but… you’re already being such a burden already. “Yhhh- yeah. I’ll… be okay.”

“I’ll be back soon, okay? Susie should be back soon too.”

You nod. You’re done talking.

Ralsei and Capodastro leave to discuss prince-y things, and you are alone again.

You wait until they’re out of earshot.

You sob.

You were so scared.

You thought the Titan was going to kill you, then you thought that Kris was going to kill you, and now… you don't know anything.

Someone opens the door. It's… Susie. You try and talk but you can only make a stupid fucking whine.

“Angel, Angel hey! What happened!? I was just going to get Capo, and then Kris was gone and-” You lunge forward and bury your head into her, clinging desperately.

“I- I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I- I- I don't I- I didn't mean to be- so much trouble I-”

Susie sets down the bag she was carrying and wraps her arms around you. You feel safe in her arms. More protected than even when you wrap your wings around yourself.

“It's okay, Angel. It really is. I… Here. How about this? If you can manage to walk with me, we can go talk to Kris. We can clear everything up.”

You sniffle. “Do… d’you promise?”

“Promise.”

“...Okay.”

Kris

Powers

Lv 5 Veteran Cage

Imprisons the Angel, once and again.

Attack: 36

Defense: 11

Magic: 0

???

???

Guts: 3

Equipment

Weapon: BlackShard

A dagger-like shard of the Black Knife. Strikes the weakness of dark-element enemies.

Armor 1: WaferGuard

Although it looks brittle, it contains a magical energy that blunts damage on impact.

Armor 2: WaferGuard

Although it looks brittle, it contains- hey! I’m not writing this again.

STATS

SlayDark

Susie

Powers

Lv 5 Axe of Hope

Faces and rewrites the fate with the blade.

Attack: 40

Defense: 8

Magic: 10

Titans Killed: 2

Healing: 36

Guts: 4

Equipment

Weapon: JusticeAxe

It has no special powers. However, in order to attain this item, you became much stronger.

Armor 1: WaferGuard

Although it looks brittle, it contains a magical energy that blunts damage on impact.

Armor 2: Jevilstail

A J-Shaped tail that gives you devilenergy.

STATS

???

Ralsei

Powers

Lv 5 Therapy Friend

Observes and comforts the friends with the fluff.

Attack: 25

Defense: 11

Magic: 21

Friends Comforted: 2

Fluffiness: 1

Guts: 2

Equipment

Weapon: Ragger2

A sharp and scratchy scarf. Worse healing, better attack.

Armor 1: PrincessRBN

Elegant lace ribbon with gloves, didn’t someone want these?

Armor 2: Dealmaker

Fashionable pink and yellow glasses. Greatly increase $ gained, and…?

STATS

Prickly

Elegance

$ +30%

Angel

Powers

Lv 5 Light Mage

Wields the Light to face the fate.

Attack: 29

Defense: 8

Magic: 18

SOUL Modes: 5

Crudeness: 1

Guts: 0

Equipment

Weapon: CowlStaff.

A staff made from mysterious black wood, cradling a brazier of Light. Enhances SOUL magic.

Armor 1: LightShards

Jewelry made from shimmering shards suffused with Light. Grants 10% TP upon turn start.

Armor 2: ShadowMantle

Shadows slip off like water. Greatly protects against Dark and Star attacks.

STATS

LightUpL

SoftGlow

Dark/Star

I HAVE LITTLE TO SAY THIS TIME.

Chapter Text

“You are walking as if it is a third leg to be used out of sequence. No, try walking with it as you step.”

As you stagger through Kulsel Town, you try your best to remember Capodastro's advice. Your legs still feel incredibly weak and shaky after exerting yourself so much, but your staff makes walking easier.

“Wh… where are we?” You look up and around. You can see the Grand Fountain now, so very close by, but there's still the edge of a large cliff face separating you from its base. It looks like some… some Shadowguys with construction hats are building a staircase into the side of the wall. You can hear the very faint sound of construction saxophones.

“Ah right, you were passed out for all that. That light thingy you did, which was sick as fuck by the way, brought Kulsel Town way further up closer to Castle Town. We aren't actually all the way there, but I think that we're probably above the, uh… ‘floor’ by now. Capo said that there shouldn't be any risk of any more people falling through the floor. Oh, and I also noticed that the glow things stopped glowing as bright by now.” “Wrong.”

Susie stops you from falling as you startle. “M- Miss Burn?”

Burn continues onwards, ignoring your interruption. “My LightShards don' lose their Light tha’ quick. Tha'd be shit artistry. I take pride in my work, if nothin’ else. Nah. ‘s not that they got dimmer, ‘s tha’ th’ place got brighter. We’re working on anchoring Kulsel Town's foundations before they do fade, but w’ got at least a year t’ finish tha’ with how much Light y’ friend here poured into ‘em.”

“So… it was just that goddamn dark down there?” Susie asks.

“Yeah. Cool light show, by th' way. ‘t was…” You can see her averting her eye as she turns towards you and nods. “Nice. Seein’ things bright again. So… thanks f’ that.”

She looks so much more vibrant up here. Her glowing red hair is nearly hard to look at directly. “Yo- you're w- welcome!” You manage to stutter out.

“‘m gonna go find Cap now. Got t’ do my…” Burn sighs. “Civic duty, I guess.”

“They should be with, um, Ralsei now. I- if that helps!”

“Cool. Thanks.” She walks off.

…She's so cool.

“So, uh, where the hell is Kris anyways?” Susie asks, scratching the back of her head.

“They… um… they said they needed to leave after t- talking with… with me and Capodastro." You leave out the ugly details. You don't want to explain that on Kris's behalf and make them seem worse. “They were, um, upset.”

“Did you say something weird?” Susie quirks her eyebrow and you look down.

“...” You don't say anything.

“Oh, I think I see them over there at the… the graveyard.” Susie winces, but calls out. “Kris! Hey! Can you explain what the hell’s going on now!?”

You stare at the ground. But… you hear them moving and you glance up through your hair. Seeing them move around on their own… It makes you happy in a weird way.

“Why is…” Kris hesitates “...she here.”

“Cause you're both being goddamn weird and I'm sick of being left out. We killed a Titan together. Twice! That's gotta mean something.”

They sighed. “... Fine. Can we do it somewhere else?”

Susie suddenly lunges forward and grabs them, slinging them over her shoulder! “Woah hey what the fuck!?” “You too, Feathers!” “Wah!” She grabs you too, carrying you under her arm like a sack of potatoes. “I know the perfect spot!”

“Hey! Put me down!” “S- Susie!?” You both protest as she runs through the town. You can't even see where she's going, the two of you are facing backwards and seeing all the people looking at you as Susie runs and you're laughing. Why are you laughing? This is embarrassing, right? Maybe that's fine. You can hear Kris laughing too, even as they kick around and squirm.

“Aaaaand here!” Susie suddenly tosses Kris down to the ground, and sets you lightly on your feet.

“Hey! Why the hell didn't I get to ride first-class?” Kris complains as they scramble to their feet.

“Cause you're tough enough to take it, dumbass!” Susie yells back.

“Where- where are we, anyways?” Your head's still spinning so you lean entirely on your staff while it clears.

“There's some kinda cool fucked up tree down here, behind the town.” Susie points at it. A crooked, spiky-looking tree with black bark, purple leaves, and LightShards hanging down from the branches. “Looks awesome, right?”

“It looks sick.” Kris replies, “Like, it's diseased.”

“Shut up and sit under it, dumbass. We're gonna talk this out alright? No more hiding shit.” Susie drops down, leaning up against the tree. “Seriously, I mean it.”

Kris waits as you carefully lower yourself down to the ground with your cane, resting on your feathers. You can feel them staring at you. They drop to the ground as well.

“So. Kris. What… the fuck… happened? Apparently you and Angel talked about… something? She didn't tell me anything about it.”

They look over to you from under their bangs suddenly and you wilt, but glance back at them under your own hair. Their eyes really are red. Wow.

“I… thought you would have told her.” Kris says to you, measured and slow.

“It… w- wasn't really my place to s- say. It's y- your life, after all.” You're stuttering again, stupid!

“That's-” Kris started to raise their voice, but clamped down on it. “...fine. Fine. Fine.”

“Hell does that mean?”

“I'm not… this isn't…” Kris fumbles for words for a moment. “This isn't the first time I've been in dark worlds.”

“...yeah, dumbass. I know.”

“No- pfft.” They laugh quietly for a moment before continuing. “No. Not like that, dipshit. I meant… before this last Thursday. What I'm saying is that I've been in dark worlds before. A… long time ago.”

“...Wait. Wait wait wait hold on.” Susie's eyes widened. “The- The fucking- The- feathers, gimme the book!”

“Um, yes!!! Here!” You retrieve Leonel's diary from your inventory and hand it to Susie who opens and scans it, squinting.

“The- Leonel! That guy!” Susie whacks the page loudly, then snaps the book shut with one hand. Then she opens it again and snaps it shut again for the sound it makes.

“You… stole his diary?” Kris looked… conflicted. “That's… Okay?”

“We also robbed him.” “S- Susie!” “Hah, nice.”

“So… what? You were part of that group?”

“...” Kris hung their head. “...Yeah.”

“...Why didn't you tell me before?” Susie said. You can feel that she’s… hiding some hurt.

“Because- because of her, dumbass.” Kris points at you. “I literally couldn't.”

You… hang your head. You don't want to make Kris even madder at you and… and it was your fault, after all.

Susie blinked for a second before remembering her question, tossing the book back into your arms. “Wait, what does that have to do with what you guys were talking about?”

“Because I was fucking possessed back then too.” Kris clenched their fist. “I don't know why, I barely get how, and- and I thought that when that ended that I'd be fucking done with this all. And then she shows up and then we…” Their voice softens and they loosen their grip, turning towards Susie. “...we became friends, at least. So… it wasn't all bad. I… I meant what I said, back in the castle. I promise.”

“So… you got possessed, and then possessed again. That sucks, dude. How long ago was that?”

“I don’t fucking remember! I've been trying to forget it.” You raise your hand. You know this, but… you don't want to interrupt.

“Angel, I'm not a teacher. You can just say things.” Susie rolls her eyes at you and you lower your hand. Stupid.

“S- Ser Ca- Capodastro said it was s- seven years ago when they-” WAIT, YOU'RE SO DUMB. You reach into your inventory and carefully pull out the knife they gave you, offering the handle to Kris by pinching the blade. Safety first, after all! “They- they gave me this. T- told me to open the Fountain with it. It's y-”

“Gimme that!” Kris reaches out and snatches the knife from you roughly, and you yelp.

“O- ouch!” Your… finger. They cut your finger a little. It- it hurts… “Ow…”

“Hey! Kris? What the fuck do you think you’re doing!?” Susie lashed out and grabbed Kris's wrist.

“Taking my knife back!”

“Don't play dumb with me, asshole!” Susie leaned forward, baring her teeth. “You cut her on purpose! Why are you being so goddamn weird!?”

“So what if I did!? So what if I- I-” They're shaking, trembling. “I…”

Susie's anger melts into concern. “...Kris. What's actually going on?”

“I'm DYING! THAT'S WHAT!” Kris roars at Susie, dropping their knife to the ground and tearing their arm away, “Newsflash! I've been fucking dying this entire goddamned time! What's even the point anymore!? This entire goddamn- fucking- EVERYTHING is just kicking me down! Again and again! And now one of us is going to have to fucking die, and it's going to be me!”

“The hell're you saying!?” Susie barely got the words out before Kris shouted at her again.

“I DON'T HAVE A SOUL, SUSIE! I don't have a God! Damned! Soul! She fucking has it! How am I supposed to be normal about- about any of this!?” Kris grabs their hair and pulls!

No- no no no! You need to stop them! “K- Kris, please don't hurt yo- yourself! Please!” You say, reaching out your hand but they slap it away!

“WHY WOULD I LISTEN TO YOU!? Why should I list- listen to you!?” They grab at their head and fall to their knees. Oh nononononono you- you're what- what do you do- what do you do!?

“Kris! Breathe with me, please.” Susie sucks a deep breath in… and out… Just like she taught you. You find yourself following along too. In… and out…

“... ‘m sorry.” They mutter, pulling themselves back to their sitting position. “For yelling at you, Susie. And…” You can see them looking over your way through their bangs. “...for cutting you.”

It… it really hurt, yeah, but… being apologized to? It feels… it feels a little nice. “I a- accept your apology. Th- thank you!”

“...Here.” They pulled out something from their inventory. You're not entirely sure what it is, but… oh, wait. It's shaped like Lancer!

You eat the LancerCookie. You regained enough HP from it to mend your cut. It also tastes… kinda nice, actually. You focus on that sensation, rather than the lingering pain.

“But… Kris. If you're dying, then why aren't you, uh… dead?”

“Because…” Kris sighed, “I don't really get the specifics, but… did Captain ever mention to you what happened to me? To the… ‘last cage’ I guess?”

“Nah.” Susie shakes her head.

“Th- they… they mentioned it to- to me. That the Angel… ‘br- broke free’ and… um… they looked like they had… seen a ghost when they came in and… saw you.”

Kris sighed, “Well I'll just start from the top… Seven years ago, I fell into… a dark world. Wasn't here, no, so I don't know why all this shit ended up here. Maybe it's because the grand fountain moved? Whatever. It was me and… and” Kris looks down at the ground, “My friend.”

“It was… December, right?” You say softly.

They nodded, rubbing at their eyes.

“‘December’? …Who's December?” Susie seemed lost.

Kris looked at you, and you took the cue. “December Holiday. She's Noelle's older sister. She… disappeared. No one knows for- for certain why.”

“Her… sister? That's awful- Wait! That's- that's who Tenna was talking about, back in TV World!”

Kris grimaced and shook their head. “Shit, don't remind me. That was… bad.”

“I'm… s- sorry.” You have to say it.

“For what?” Kris glared at you. “Specifically, I mean.”

“For ma- making you play the… the rhythm game. So many times. That was… probably awful for- for you.” You loved the song but… if Kris thought you were the same Angel that killed December, then…

“...” Kris sighed. “Anyways. Me, her, Leonel. Adventures and shit and prophetic destiny and meeting Darkners and going to Dark Worlds until one day when the fucking angel decided not to play along and ripped my soul out of my goddamn body.”

“Woah, what the hell!?” Susie exclaimed.

“Don't ask me! I barely knew what was happening at the time, I just felt like I was on fire. Then, suddenly, the pain just… stopped. Leonel was basically dead on the ground so he didn't see shit. And Dess-” Their voice broke and they shut up. “Whatever. I don't want to talk about her.”

“You… um…” You turn to Susie. “Kris… th- thought I was th- the same A- Angel that… did that and… they… well. Y- yelled at me a little bit. It was… justified.”

“A little bit!? I threatened you with a goddamn sword!” Kris shouted at you, and you buried yourself in your wings to hide from them again. “How is that justified!?”

Susie speaks, though her voice is muffled by your wings. “Is- is that why you were crying so bad, Angel!?”

You barely manage to nod your head. You can't talk right now. You want to go home. You… you want to…

“...So what now?” Susie asks. “You two just gonna… mope around and shit?”

“M- maybe I…” You stop yourself before you say something stupid.

“...Well?” Susie says. “Finish your sentence.”

You grumble but poke your head out of your wings. “Maybe I… I would like… Is- is it okay if… if I…” You swallow, peeking out of your wings to look at Kris.. “e- explain what it was- was like for me?”

“... whatever.”

“I… don't really have… a lot of memories. I mean… I know a lot of things, even if I don't remember when I learned them, or… where I learned them.” You shuffle uncomfortably, adjusting the position of your wings. “I… the first thing I can actually remember in- in any actual clarity was… having a red SOUL in my awareness. And… and someone telling me to… create a Vessel.”

“Vessel?” Kris asked.

“I… I need one, I think? I can't really… do anything without one. I don't… exist, I guess. They guided me through a process to put together a body that felt… right for me! Something…” You shuffle again, opening your wings back up. You sound so creepy like this. “Empty. Something that would be… just for me.”

“But then why…?” Kris asked.

“Why did I show up in you? I… I really don't know. I just… there was someone else. They… ‘spoke’ differently. They… they told me that ‘no- no one gets to ch- choose who they are in thi- this world’, and that ‘m- m- my name is…’” Your voice caught and you held your arms tighter. “...Then you woke up. Thursday. With Miss Toriel calling your n-name. I…” You curl your knees up to your chest and hug them. “I didn't even know that you were… someone else until you… you took me out that night.”

Kris is staring at you, so you look down at your knees.

“That's it? That's… everything you know?”

…You shake your head. “Th- there is s-something I can… can do. I think it's… It might be why I was… summoned, I guess.”

“Oh, right. Your re-dos.” “Her what?”

“I can… go back. In time, that is. It's not p- perfect but…”

“You can… what?” Kris's voice seemed very, very small suddenly.

“There are certain ‘spots’. In the world. I haven't… haven't seen any of them ever since, well, since just before we- we fought the Titan in the church. Spots where I can see… a light.”

“The light that shouldn't be there? A ray of sunlight just different from the others?” Kris sounded breathless. “That's what that is!?”

“Y- Yeah! That's exactly it! That's what- what they look like. Like…” You adjust your wings to show it and tap at the little star decoration on your chest. “Like that! And when I, um, ‘Save’ at one, I can go back there.”

“Looks kinda like the Titan’s shield thingy.” Susie chimes in. “So that's creepy.”

“It… does. I don’t know why.”

…Kris went quiet. They're… pale. Oh. Oh. This is about the Knight stuff, fix it!

“I- I can't change everything, though!” You explain with faux-cheer. “There are some things that, no matter how hard I try, I can't make any impact on..”

Susie snaps her fingers and chimes in, “Like the Knight taking Undyne, even though we beat them.”

“Well, yes.” Kris looks even more uncomfortable now oh god fix it. “But also, like, other things too. Like- Kris, when you would tear…”

You shut up. You're just making it worse.

“Susie, what… exactly did Angel tell you?” Kris asked, wary.

“She told me you hit her with a hockey stick for wandering around Noelle's house.” Susie said. She's grinning smugly.

“S- SUSIE! I- I- I told you that in confidence!” Why did she say that!?!?

“You have literally no confidence. What do you mean?” HUH!?

“N- No! That's not what I- mmhhmmmhghhhh!!” You bury yourself in your wings again.

“Damn. You even cover yourself up like a Titan. You sure you're not evil? Hopefully Queen has another chair we can blow you up with.” Susie teases.

“Noooooo!!!!” You whine.

“...You're not sure? So… you're evil.” Kris said. “I'll go call Queen.”

“I'm not evil! I'm not I'm not I'm not!!!” This is humiliating and Susie's laughing at you!!!

…But Kris is laughing too. It's softer than Susie's roaring laughter which makes it hard to hear, but you can hear them laughing too. You… don't mind the embarrassment that much if it makes your frien- if it makes Susie and Kris laugh. You unwrap your wings from yourself and frowned at both of them, but their shared laughter made it hard to even pretend to be mad.

“Alright, uh. I think that… I gave the whole ‘emotion’ thing a pretty good shot. If I leave you two alone, are either of you going to kill each other?” You both shake your heads. “Great! Good. I’m gonna go get Ralsei instead." Susie starts running away. “Don't go anywhere!”

“Get me another Lancer cookie!” Kris calls after her.

“Fine, dumbass!” She shouts back, disappearing around a bend.

…

It's just… you and Kris now. They’ve been staring at you for the last thirty seconds. “You… actually didn't tell her.”

Huh? “About what?”

“The phone calls?” They’re leaning forward towards you and… you’re feeling really self-conscious right now.

“...Oh.” The… whole Knight thing, either. “It… wasn't my secret to tell, Kris.”

“Are- Are you kidding? That's it!? That's all it takes?” They asked incredulously. “Are you that much of a pushover!?”

“W- well!” Well maybe you… okay you are, but- “That- that has nothing to do with this!! I just…” You sniffled. “It's not fair. What- what I did to you. How I… controlled you. I just- I kept taking and- and taking and taking and-” You rub at your eyes, “And I didn't want to! I- my saves!” You're so creepy, Angel. “I… I would- I’d practice things! Again and again. So that I could… find the things that you reacted well to. That you… might have wanted to do if only I wasn't here. Because I shouldn't have been here! And… and I'm… I'm sorry, Kris. I didn't want to hurt you. I just… got stuck in you, and… and- and I'm just…”

You're not crying, at least! You must be out of tears by now.

“You… wanted to give me the choice?” Kris looked at you but you couldn't meet their gaze. “You could have done anything if you can just ‘try again’ like that! You could have just done whatever you wanted!”

“But this is what I want!” You shout. “I want to- to do right by you! You and Susie and Ralsei and everyone! It's my choice and it's n- not always easy or kind or fun, but… but it's important to me! To believe that every little thing I do… that they matter! That my choices have an impact that- that I need to take responsibility for!”

"You would cover up my-” They look around quickly, then whisper to you. “My betrayal? You know I'm doing it. You- you saw what I was doing. Why haven't you told her?”

“I…” You sniffle, “I ha- ha- hate hiding things like th- this, Kris. I- I hate lying. But… it's not okay for me to- to know the things I do about you! It's unfair and- and invasive and- and-”

“Hey- why the fuck are you being so stupid nice to me?” Kris asks you, voice thick. “You're, like, an Angel and shit! What the fuck is wrong with you!?”

“There's- there's nothing wrong with me for wanting to be nice to you!” You squeeze your eyes shut and yell it with as much force you can muster! “There's nothing b- bad about you, either! You're- you're a really cool person and you're really funny and I really like it when you play music and I want to get to hear more of it and- and you're so brave, Kris! You're so brave to be- be going through all of this and- and acting! And still doing things on your own whenever you can! And you can be so kind and…”

Through some fucking miracle you manage to stop talking.

“I'm… sorry. I'm being really weird again, aren't I? I'll… shut up now.” What… was that? Why did you do that?

Kris is staring at you again and your face feels like its burning and why are you always so fucking stupid- “...Don't hate you.”

“Huh!?” You yelp, startling out of your thoughts.

“I… Shit.” They rub the bridge of their nose as you gape at them.

…they…

“I’m… sorry. For… a lot of things, okay?”

… they don't?

“Like… I'm sorry for throwing you in the cage. And for… hitting you and… stuff.” They're averting their eyes as they say this but your heart feels impossibly light.

They really don't hate you!? They don’t!?

“K- Kris…” You swallow, but you manage to continue, “...Can we… start over? At least… a little? I…” You rub at your eyes and stutter out your selfish request despite how fucking weird you’re being, “Would really l- like to b- be… fuh- fr- f- friend- friends with y- you.”

“...” They look at you through their bangs… and then they look away. “If I survive long enough… fine. Maybe.” They grumble. “Not sure how much longer I'll even last like this, though.”

“Well if it comes to that, then I'll just…” You sniffle, but you manage a little smile, “I’ll just give the SOUL back! It's… not fair if you have to die for me just to get to have a body. You’re… you're more important than my comfort. Oh! And… here! You dropped this again.” You pick their knife back up and hold it out for them by the blade.

“...” Kris takes the knife carefully. They stash it, stand up, and turn away. “Let's just- go find Susie.”

“O- Okay! Sounds good.”

They lead, and you follow.

[You joined the party for real.]

RECONCILIATION

…

A GOOD FIRST STEP.

“So! Um. What do you think of Kulsel Town?” You ask as you wander.

“Don’t force conversation.” Kris dismisses, shaking their head.

“N-no! I actually do want to know!” I mean maybe you’re forcing it a little bit but, “When I was a SOUL, I couldn’t… hear your voice at all. I was… actually really relieved to hear it for the first time, and I… I want to know what you think about things!”

“...” Kris clears their throat. “It’s… cool, I guess?” They shrug. “It just feels like if Seam’s seap was, like, a town. Also no one here’s nearly as much of a downer as they are.”

“I- Wow. I hadn’t really thought of that but I can’t unsee it. Do you think Seam would love or hate this place?” You stop for a moment to admire the lights, then run to catch up to Kris who absolutely did not wait for you.

“I don’t really think Seam has it in them to hate anything? They don’t really care enough for it.”

“Well, I guess that’s fair. Still. There are a bunch of really cool people, and I haven’t even gotten to meet them all yet!”

“You do that, yeah. Talk to literally everybody. It's not annoying at all.” They snark.

“H- hey! I- I just like hearing what they have to say. It means I can get a better… a better picture of everything! Being able to actually see things with my own eyes is so weird. I had to just… get context clues before I guess.”

“...Okay fine I actually do want to know this. How the fuck could you actually see through walls?” Kris turns and squints at you.

“It was like… like I had a perspective from up there!” You point and Kris stares uncomprehendingly. “And I was looking down and I could see everything in a… a box or something. It meant I could see everything that was in it. As long as, um, it wasn’t too dark, that is. Made dodging easier though!”

“Oh, so that’s why you sucked ass at that racing game.” You can spot the well-hidden smirk on their face.

“Wah! Y- You remembered that!?” You cover your face with your hands and your wings. “I- I’m sorry! The screen was facing in the opposite direction!”

“You’re not even a real gamer? Friendship offer revoked.” Kris holds up their hand towards you as if telekinetically pushing you away. “Never talk to me again.”

“K- Kris!? How would I- That doesn’t even make- Ugh! Stop messing with meee!!!” You pout as they chuckle and walk away. You follow in step, of course, and make sure they don't see you laughing too.

…

“I'm back, losers! I brought- Goddamnit! Where the fuck are they!?”

Kris

Powers

Lv 5 Veteran Cage

Imprisoned with the Angel, once and again.

Attack: 40

Defense: 10

Magic: 4

???

Stolen LightShards: 1

Guts: 3

Equipment

Weapon: BlackShard

A dagger-like shard of the Black Knife. Strikes the weakness of dark-element enemies.

Armor 1: WaferGuard

Although it looks brittle, it contains a magical energy that blunts damage on impact.

Armor 2: HolyKnife

A knife sanctified with an Angel’s blood. Can represent a burden… or an apology.

STATS

SlayDark

???

Susie

Powers

Lv 5 Axe of Hope

Faces and rewrites the fate with the blade.

Attack: 40

Defense: 8

Magic: 10

Titans Killed: 2

Emotional Healing: 1?

Guts: 4

Equipment

Weapon: JusticeAxe

It has no special powers. However, in order to attain this item, you became much stronger.

Armor 1: WaferGuard

Although it looks brittle, it contains a magical energy that blunts damage on impact.

Armor 2: Jevilstail

A J-Shaped tail that gives you devilenergy.

STATS

???

Ralsei

Powers

Lv 5 Absent Hero

Did not appear in this chapter.

Attack: 25

Defense: 11

Magic: 21

Appearances: 0

Fluffiness: 1

Guts: 2

Equipment

Weapon: Ragger2

A sharp and scratchy scarf. Worse healing, better attack.

Armor 1: PrincessRBN

Elegant lace ribbon with gloves, didn’t someone want these?

Armor 2: Dealmaker

Fashionable pink and yellow glasses. Greatly increase $ gained, and…?

STATS

Prickly

Elegance

$ +30%

Angel

Powers

Lv 5 Light Mage

Wields the Light to face the fate… with friends.

Attack: 29

Defense: 8

Magic: 18

SOUL Modes: 5

Friends: 3

Guts: 1

Equipment

Weapon: CowlStaff

A staff made from mysterious black wood, cradling a brazier of Light. Enhances SOUL magic.

Armor 1: LightShards

Jewelry made from shimmering shards suffused with Light. Grants 9% TP per turn.

Armor 2: ShadowMantle

Shadows slip off like water. Greatly protects against Dark and Star attacks.

STATS

LightUpL

SoftGlow-1

Dark/Star

Chapter Text

“Do you, um, remember that green Pippins?” You ask.

“Yeah. Who was that guy he was so obsessed with?” Kris glances at you oddly.

“You mean Mike?”

You feel a chill down your spine as Kris grins at you. “Mike Hoc-”

“There you are, losers! The hell did you go!?” Susie runs over, heroically saving you from eternal and utter social obliteration.

“S-Susie!” You wave at her, smiling.

“So. Are you guys chill now? Everything cool?” She puts her hands on her hips and squints at both of you.

“...Eh.” “Chill enough, I guess?”

“Great! Ralsei's still busy with a bunch of boring shit so I’m glad you two aren't, like, killing each other or anything.”

“Yeah yeah, don't get your hopes up. Where's my cookie?” Kris asks.

“Got you something even better, take this!” Susie reaches behind her and throws something at Kris! A small round boy bounces off of Kris's face, knocking them over. “Is that!?”

“Blue Kris! Bird person! You look funny. Did you get sick because you didn't eat your vittle mens?” Kris pulls themselves back up to their feet, waving hello to Lancer.

“Wh- I- Um- H- Hello Lancer!?” You- you look like you're sick?

“Hey, Lancer! These two idiots have been fighting. Set 'em straight!” Susie points towards the two of you like Lancer was some kind of Pokébeast she was training. You're still very confused but it's nice to see him!

“Hohoho! It’s time for the Conflict Revolution Technique!”

“...You mean ‘conflict resolution?’” Kris asks, confused.

“No!!!” Lancer spun in place. He wasn't even moving his legs, so you're not sure how he's doing that. You giggle nonetheless. “See!? It's working!”

Kris stares impassively at Lancer. Then- they began to rotate on the spot too!?

“Woah, Kris! How'd you do that?” Susie was as amazed as you were.

“Spun.” Kris says spinningly.

“Like, uh…” Susie tries spinning around, but her feet get all twisted up. “Damnit!”

You… you don’t know how to spin like Kris and Lancer, but… you try anyway! Twisting and twisting and twisting and- and oh dear you are very, very dizzy already. You lean your head against your staff to clear it and catch a glimpse of white fur. “Wah! When did you get here, Ralsei!?”

“Just a few moments ago. I saw you were all spinning and it looked fun!” Ralsei spins sayingly.

… Ralsei can do the sliding thing too. You’re a little jealous.

“How did the meetings go?” You ask instead of dwelling on it.

“Very well, I’d say! I learned a lot about the way the people of Kulsel Town live their life. They were all a little on edge, though.” Ralsei stops spinning. “I understand their worry, though. They’ve all been through so much. To think that there was another Castle Town underneath our feet the whole time!”

“So… Ralsei?” Susie scratches her neck, “Did you know about, like, the whole ‘deep dark’ stuff?”

“I didn’t, actually. This is all very, very new to me. I was excited to learn that I had a predecessor! Though, I was then told that she… died shortly before we arrived.” Ralsei hangs his head. “I would have loved to meet her.”

“Well, uh, Kris, did you know anything about it?” Kris just shakes their head in response as they spin stopping.

“So I guess, um.” Okay, you have to land this joke. Come on, Angel. “We were- pfft- we were all in the- the dark about it?”

“I’m jumping off the edge.” Kris starts marching down the street until Susie grabs them and drags them back to the group.

“No, dumbass! We’re all finally together again! Not letting you get away this time.” Susie plants Kris down with the group. “Bam! The entire Lancer Fan Club! … except Lancer. I think he ditched us. Still!”

“I- I get to- to be part of the Lancer Fan Club too?” You ask.

“Hell yeah you do.” Susie nods. “Now, uh, we’re not really done yet, right?”

“N-no.” You shake your head. “We… we still need to resolve the matter of… the SOUL.”

“Right. You guys can’t just do a timeshare, can you?” She asks.

“N-no. I- I don’t think that’s… possible.” Your wings droop with your head. “Kris… what is it like when you remove your SOUL?”

“It’s…” They sigh. “Alright, listen. It’s… technically…” They waffle around for a bit, then pinch the bridge of their nose. “Ugh. I’ll just show you.” “Show us?”

Kris holds out their hand and closes their eyes and a pinkish-white… something appears in it, leaking strands of… unmistakable Light. “These are why I can even do that and not die on the spot.”

“What the fuck is that?” Susie leans in, squinting.

“Kris…” Ralsei steps back, “I- Is that a-”

“That’s a shard of a SOUL.” You stare at it. You know this. That shape, that feeling in your gut. “That’s… a piece of a SOUL. A human SOUL.”

“I think it's from my original one. I used to have two of ‘em, which fucking sucked but I could survive with, but when you showed up one of them…” They close their hand and the projection of the inner SOUL disappears. “Turned into the big one. I don’t know why.”

“When- when did you get them, Kris!? What happened to the rest of them!?” Ralsei seems... understandably distraught by this information.

“When I was… possessed by the first one. The… other Angel. It replaced my soul with… itself. I didn’t notice cause I was a fucking kid and I didn’t even know what the hell was going on, but then I started noticing things. When the words I said didn’t make sense for what I wanted, when I started attacking more often, when I started… checking in every corner. Always.” They glare at you and you look at your feet. You did do things like that, yeah. “And then it… it ripped itself out, taking my soul with it wholesale."

"I thought I was going to die there, y’know? But… then there was this… sound. Like… like a fucking entire cargo ship getting smashed to pieces. And… then I was alive. I had the soul bits in my chest, and Dess was…” They sigh, “Nowhere, anymore. I managed to get out of the Dark World, find my family, but… I was eight. I didn’t fucking know what to do. I just… figured I'd forget it. Try and live with it. And then… you showed up. And now I’m just… resigned to it, I guess? It feels like it's been a long time coming.”

“B- but it- It’s n- not going to happen. It's not.”

They roll their eyes at you. “Angel, I appreciate it. I really do. But you can’t just say-”

“It’s not going to happen!” You narrow your eyes at them! “We’re not out of options yet! There’s still Rhynes’ library, there’s still- still questions left unanswered, and there’s me! And as long as I’m here- as any of us are here, we’re not gonna let it happen!”

“Fuck yeah, Kris! You’re stuck with us whether you like it or not, dumbass!” Susie grabs Kris and shakes them around roughly.

“Quit it!” Kris shouts as she shakes them, but they sigh. “Fine. Where do we start doing that?”

You decide to speak up first. “Well, first things first. Kris, you, um. You aren’t dead.” “I mean… yeah? I can fucking tell tha-” “Don’t be such a smart-ass.” “You were actually quite vital when we fought the Titan, too! That’s a lot of exertion for just having one piece of a SOUL, right?”

“I… guess I haven’t been feeling as shitty since we came down here after you two?” Kris manages to slip out from Susie’s grasp. “I figured it was just the adrenaline, y’know?”

“Hey, progress! Now we just gotta figure out why that is.” Susie chimes in.

“Do you think it’s because of your proximity to Angel?” Ralsei asks.

“Didn’t really… feel like that.”

“Hm… Well, the fact that you haven’t died yet is good! That means we still have time. Perhaps we can ask the residents for their help? We did them a very large service, after all!” Raslei gestures towards some nearby Darkners.

“Hell yeah! Alright, I’ll start asking around about anyone who’s good at that nerd shit.”

“I…” Kris huffs. “...I’m gonna go talk to Captain, alright? We didn’t really… have a chance to talk before so… ask around for them if you need me.”

“Of course! I'll go and request access to Rhynes’ library. Angel, would you like to accompany me?” Ralsei looks at you with a smile while Kris walks off.

“If- if that’s okay.”

“Of course it’s okay!” Ralsei smiles at you and you manage to smile back.

“Great. Lancer Fan Club, move out!” Susie ran off on her own.

…

Ralsei walks along with you through Rhynes’ manor with your lantern lighting the way. You flinch as you see the eight-winged door ahead with the door open, but… the body wasn’t there anymore.

“Capodastro requested that the body be returned to the Castle to be placed within the Grand Fountain, Miss Angel. To return her to her birthplace.” Ralsei explains as he starts skimming the titles of the records on the shelves.

“That’s how it w- works?” They just… come out?

“For a Prince of the Dark, yes! I thought to return her cloak into it as well, but…” Ralsei sighs. “I guess it must've... vanished.”

“The… cloak. Is the cloak important?”

“Oh! It’s a signifier of station, I think. You remember the prophecy’s depiction of the Prince, yes? The robe is… well, it was supposed to be important. Susie had me take it off when we first met.”

“...I’m glad Susie made you take it off. You look a lot nicer without it.”

“Oh!” Ralsei blushes at that. “Oh, thank you!”

“D-don’t mention it!” You like it when people get to look cute! It'd be silly if he just had to hide under that cloak the whole time.

It'd be silly if…

Well, um, now that you're thinking about it… maybe you can ask.

“R- Ralsei…?”

“Mhm?”

“Can- can I ask- ask you something?” Don’t be weird. Don’t be weird. Don’t be weird. “I- I mean you don’t have to if you don’t want to, but- like- I just thought it would be g- g- g- good if I a- ask- asked.”

“Angel, you can ask me anything you like, okay? There’s no need to be nervous!” Ralsei gives you a big smile and you- you need to say it. You need to say it!

YOU NEED TO SAY IT NOW!

“CANIPLEASEWEARTHEPRINCESSRIBBON!?”

You gasp for breath, it feels like you’ve been holding that in for days but now you said it! You said it! And- And you don’t have to say it again!

“A- Angel, can you repeat that? I… couldn’t understand what you were saying.” NO!!!!!!!!

“Can- can I- can I p- p- please wear- the the- p-p- princ- princes-ss r-ribbon?” You could see it this entire walk over. Delicate and pretty and lacy and wonderful and… and… “I- i- just- w- would… would like to…”

“Angel.” Ralsei steps closer and takes your free hand, “...Of course you can! Were you worried I wouldn’t let you?”

“N- n- n- m- mha- maybe.”

“How about this? Do you wanna swap one with me to free up room?”

“Y- Ye- Yes!” You don't want to get rid of the ShadowMantle since Susie gave it to you and you're… really fragile, but… “Would you like my- my LightShards?”

“Oh, those are the things that Miss Burn makes, right? Of course! Let me help you with them.” Ralsei brushes against you as he unclips the LightShards from your wings one by one and you remove the gloves you were normally wearing. You… you really like being touched, you think. Whatever form that takes. “Hm. There are supposed to be ten, right?”

“Y- yes! That's right.”

“There are… uh… only nine here.”

KRIS! “Ughhhhhh!!! Krisssss!!!!!!!!” You call out. You swear you can hear, from blocks away, distant sniggering.

“Well… there! Okay, do you want to start with the ribbon or the gloves?”

“A- ah!?” It's time already? You're not ready! You're not ready! You need more time!

“The- the- the g- g- gloves please.”

“Alright… Close your eyes!”

You close your eyes, but you can't stop peeking through, so you cover them with your wings too. You can feel soft, delicate fabric on your hands. Oh god oh god oh god it's finally happening it's finally happening you try not to squeak or shake or bounce in excitement too much. Oh this is so embarrassing!!!!

“And… there! Gloves on. Now… Ribbon!”

“Th- Tha- thank you thank you thank you thank you.”

“This is really important to you. Isn't it, Angel?”

“I just…” You always went for the ribbons on that TV Time board. One on Kris, one on Susie when you were playing as her. If you forgot, you'd… you'd reset to get both of them. Maybe it wasn't the nicest to Susie and maybe it was a little irresponsible with your time control but… “...I wanna be pretty I guess. I don't really know what I look like, either. I saw myself in third person once but I didn't catch many details and I haven't gotten to see a mirror or anything but… I just… I wanna be pretty and cute and…”

“If it helps, I think you do look very pretty."

“...th- tha- an- nk yo- you.” Are you actually going to cry right now? Please don’t cry, please don’t cry.

“...Okay, there. Now, before you open your eyes… Follow me!” Ralsei takes your hand and starts leading you. “I saw him over… aha! Okay, Angel? Please just stay right here! Don't move, okay?”

“M- mh- mhm!” You're nervous, being left on your own like this, and it's too dark if you close your eyes so you just keep your wings firmly over your eyes and open them instead so you can see the diffusion of light through your wings and oh god oh god oh god oh god are you weird? Do you have some kind of- of gross weird face thing? Do you have a SOUL for a face!? That would be awful!!! And- and- and Ralsei is taking so long and- “Okay, I'm back!”

“Wh- wha- t took you so- so long!?” You reach out and cling onto fabric- his sleeve, maybe?

“I wasn't gone for more than a minute, Angel.”

“...oh.”

“Well, Sir Vino here can help us with your mirror problem!” Ralsei said.

“Yes, dear! This is the little one who hasn't gotten to see herself, is it?” A voice, feminine and soft.

“That's right, Sir Vino.”

“C- c- can- can I- l-” You don't want to look you're scared to look you're shaking and you don't even want to know and-

“You can look now!” You force your wings open and open your eyes before you lose your confidence.

There's a mirror, a large circular one, freely standing before you. Inside of it is Ralsei standing next to some really cute girl with wings holding onto his sleeve and there's a large crack on the left side of it and…

and…

…

oh.

“OH MY GOD I ACTUALLY LOOK NICE!?!?!?!?!?”

You have hair- white hair that looks super duper soft and you hadn't even noticed it was there despite how it covers up your eyes which is- that's so weird!?!?!? And you can see how your dress has little- little transparent sections on the sleeve just under the shoulder that let you see how delicate your arms are and it makes you feel vulnerable but also good which is super weird too and you can see how your wings, radiant white, ruffle when you get excited and express themselves with your emotions and how all six of them frame you in your black dress and how if you lean really close to the mirror and lift your bangs you can see your eyes are a startling, vibrant red just like your SOUL and that's such a pretty color and-

Wait, why is your left eye… different from the other? It looks like it was… cracked?

“That's hardly a surprise, darling. I mean, just look at you!” Your reflection speaks to you and you startle back away from it.

“Wah!?”

'You' move in the mirror, and you can feel a soft presence coaxing your arms to move as well… Less a command or a force and more of a suggestion. Instead of moving, you just… watch as ‘you’ spread your wings out, striking a pose that frames the beautiful ribbon you're wearing. “I said, just look at you! Your lovely wings are dazzling to the eye!”

“A- A- are you S- Sir Vino?”

“Tch tch tch.” You- the mirror-you, wags her finger at you. “Not to you, dear! I'm a mirror, so I expect you to use ‘mirror’ pronouns. Call me whatever you use, ‘kay?”

“Um, y-yes Ma'am!”

“Splendid! Now, back to how delightful you look!” You're red-faced, but your reflection- Miss Vino, she seems so… confident when she looks like you. You can't possibly imagine actually grinning like that yourself. “Alright alright, follow along with me dear!”

She poses you a few times, and you nervously follow along. You feel a little bit like a doll on display, but… you're actually cute! You're cute!!!! The gloves fit you and the ribbon looks nice and fills the space between your head wings when you hold them up like a laurel and and you're just so happy and you might be crying and- and…

“Alright, Sir Vino. I think that's about enough for now, alright? We do have research to get back to, after all. Thank you for your help!”

“Aww… Fine! Fine, I shall simply have to find another beauty to frame. Tata for now!~” Your reflection bows to you, and you can see Raslei's reflection- with a cracked left eye as well- bow to him, before Vino just… rolls away.

“...”

You rush up and hug Ralsei, burying your face into his shoulder. “...thank you.”

“Of course, Angel! This is important to you, so it's important for me too!”

“Is it… because I'm the Angel?”

“No, silly! Cause you're my friend.” Ralsei smiles at you and… you're really really glad he wants to be friends with you. Proper, real friends.

“W- We can get going! Sorry for- for the hold up.” You conjure your cane again and start quickly walking back towards the bookshelves. You can feel the soft weight of the ribbon as you step.

“Of course, Angel.”

Ralsei is just… so reassuring to you. Even when you worry about him and how he overworks himself, he's so… so incredibly kind. It must be exhausting being so nice all of the time. You can't imagine.

…

With the PrincessRBN firmly where it belongs for good forever, you and Ralsei turn your attention back to the investigation. Rhynes’ notes are a little hard to read most of the time. She wrote… dense. Filling every inch of the page with observations, records, and occasional graphs.

Your Guiding Light helped a bit, but couldn't do much more than point out when there was a book you would find useful. The actual page it was on… nothing.

At the current moment, though? You're taking a break. Rubbing at your head to quell your budding headache.

“A lot of this is… incredibly advanced stuff. Did you know there are ARMOR Synergies!? That's incredible!” Ralsei is faring much better than you were.

I HAD DISCARDED THAT FACTOR

WHEN MAKING THE SECOND DEVICE

“ARMOR Synergies…? That… huh?”

IRRITATING AS IT IS TO RETURN IT,

[DEVICE UPDATED]

PERHAPS THIS ANGEL WILL MAKE

PROPER USE OF IT FOR ONCE.

“It's… well, a lot of this is flying over my head too, Angel, but I did notice that Rhynes brought up Tension Points a lot. The information is, well, not very useful right now, especially given my limited understanding. But… it's something at least!”

“I just…” You hold your cane up and try once more. “I just wish we knew where we had to look. To really look.”

…Your Guiding Light still doesn't point anywhere.

…

Wait… isn't it? Where have you thought this before?

“W- wait a moment, Ralsei. Do- do you understand the Guiding Light?”

“Um, not completely but I know it's supposed to direct your, ah, ethereal presence to places. Before you got your body, it was bound to Kris and I could, um, redirect it to places. But sometimes it'd also move on its own, like with Queen and Noelle after we freed Berdly, or when we saw the Knight back in the first Dark Sanctuary."

“Right… Right…” You narrow your eyes at your brazier of Light. “Wait. Am- Am I really that dumb?”

You grab the brazier… and you tilt it.

A wisp of flame points downwards.

You were that stupid. The brazier- the bowl was cutting off the wisp the entire god damned time if it’s supposed to be pointing down!

“OH MY GOD THAT'S WHY!” You yell out of nowhere, startling Ralsei.

“Why- um- why what?”

“When- when I was trying to find Susie, after falling and getting my body- I- I thought that it had just fizzled out for some reason because it- it stopped pointing me places. But IT WAS! It was fu-” You desperately break out coughing oh you really hope he didn’t catch that. “F- F- Freaking pointing down!”

“Oh! Oh wow! So it’s saying we need to go… downwards?”

“Yes!” You need to go… wait. “Why do I know that? I- I mean, even without the Light I just… I know we need to go down.”

“A feeling?” Ralsei looks at you oddly. Did you say something wrong?

“I- I’m sorry, I’m- I’m sure it’s just me being silly and it’s nothing-” “Angel.”

“Your Light is pointing you downwards. Your heart is pointing you downwards too. Kris even felt better after we went downwards as well.” Ralsei starts listing off firmly, collecting a few books from the ground and tucking them into his robe. “I don’t think that can be just a coincidence. Susie told me about that… odd telescope you found. Do you think you could go look off the edge of Kulsel Town with it for me? I’m going to go have these books copied so I can take them with us.”

“Oh!” That’s- that’s definitely something you can do! “Y-yes! I’ll go and- and do that right now!”

“Thank you! I’ll be back soon, okay?”

You nod furiously, scramble to your feet, and take off running. You need to look, you need to look. Something in your heart is demanding that you look.

…

There, the- the weird tree! The edge of Kulsel Town is right past it. You slow down as you approach it- but you’re going too fast and you slip off! “Wah!” You catch yourself on your wings and land shakily back on the edge. Having not learned your lesson, you carefully retrieve the ShadowLens from your inventory and peer over the edge.

You breathe heavily as you step backwards, clutching the ShadowLens like a lifeline.

In…. and out. Just like Susie told you.

…

…

You…

You need to find Ralsei. Now.

AND SO THEY COME INTO PLACE

…

FOR THE DAWNING OF THE SECOND TRIAL

“RALSEI!” You shout as you run through the town. “Has anyone seen Ralsei!?”

A few Darkners point you in a direction, thankfully, and you spread your wings as you sprint. It’s easier to run when you keep the weight on your wings and off of your legs. You soar through the streets until you nearly crash headlong into Susie.

“Woah- hey! What’s got you in such a rush, feathers?”

“I- I figured it- out- I figured something out. We- we need to find Ralsei and- and Kris.”

“Don’t have to tell me twice! C’mon!” She hoists you onto her back and starts running for you as you direct her, allowing your Guiding Light to lead your way.

“Feathers, flap for me!”

“Okay!” You flap hard, allowing a burst of blue Light to cascade from your feathers as you clear a building and land on the opposite side. “Kris, you’re here! Where’s Ralsei!?”

“What… the hell, guys.” Kris steps back, then looks down to the ground where your fall was… cushioned.

“AH! S-SORRY RALSEI! I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry!” You scramble off of Susie as she steps off of him.

“No harm done!” Ralsei springs back to his feet and dusts himself off. “We were just about to go look for you two! Is something wrong?”

“Yes! Well, no, well- I- I saw something. In the Darkness below us.” You calm your breathing again. “It’s…” You glance at Kris. “You’re not going to like it, Kris.”

“Just spit it out.”

“I- When-” You pull out the ShadowLens “This- This was Rhynes’. She left a note saying to entrust it to the next heroes coming down here, and- and it’s what helped me discover the presence of a Titan surrounding Kulsel Town.”

“Ser Capodastro explained that to us. What is that telescope, anyways?”

“I- I think it’s made out of a ShadowCrystal? It’s called- um, the ShadowLens, it helps me see the presence of Darkness with my own eyes, and- and” You swallow. “The presence of Light, too.”

Kris and Susie look confused, but Ralsei looks pensive.

“And- and when I saw the Titan I knew, I knew instinctively, that it was being nudged awake. That the state of Kulsel Town would just worsen and worsen until it woke up, but I didn’t have time to investigate what was waking it up. But when I- When- when I looked down over the edge with it?”

“You’re saying there’s light down there?” Kris seems to be catching on even as they pick at their gauntlets, “Something big.”

Here goes. “I… I think it’s… The Angel. The- the other one.”

Kris goes still. Susie goes still. Ralsei goes still.

“It’s… still there?” Susie grinds out. “Still!?”

“It- it was trying to wake a Titan!?” Ralsei seems horrified.

“...” Kris doesn’t say anything. Doesn’t say anything at all.

“So- so that’s a lead.” You manage to stumble out. “Kris’s SOUL, you said it was- was replaced by that of the Angel. Not- not me, the- the old Angel- the…”

“Oldgel.” Susie says, crossing her arms.

“Oldgel, yes. And- and when… when whatever happened happened, you got a piece of that SOUL.”

“...Yeah.” Kris mumbles.

“So… there!. That’s a plan. It’s- It’s not the best plan, but it’s a plan.” You shake the jitters out of your body. “We go down there and… we take it back.”

“Let’s goddamn do it.” Susie nods, looking towards Kris and Ralsei. “If that piece of shit took your soul, then we’re gonna take it back!”

“This is… Heh.” Ralsei takes off his glasses, cleaning them on the hem of his robe. “This is so… utterly unexpected. The prophecy said nothing about a second Angel, or Deep Darkness, or anything.” He raises them back up and puts them on, resolute. “And that’s only been making me… more excited! I feel like we’re… we’re doing something important, you know? Something… real.”

“Kris?” You turn to Kris, softening your voice. “What do you think?”

Kris looks down at their feet, only glancing upwards towards everyone else. They’re quiet for some time, then they- they sob!?

“Oh- Oh I’m sorry I didn’t mean to-”

“No! No, it’s… it’s fine.” They steady their breathing and look up to all of you. “It’s just…” They seem unsure of their words, but eventually sigh and force it out. “Thank… you. For… for doing this. For me.”

“Of course we would, dumbass!” Susie claps her arm onto Kris's shoulder. “We’re your friends, Kris! Nothing’s gonna change that. Nothing!”

You can see a hint of purple on their cheeks… oh. Are they blushing? You look away. You don’t want to be weird to them, after all!

It is cute though.

“W- well, fucking- fine! If we’re gonna do this then we’re gonna do it right.” Kris shouts, shaking Susie’s hand off of them. “We’ll need to get down there, for one. And we’ll need a way back.”

“I- I can probably provide the way back!” You raise your hand. “I lifted all of Kulsel Town, and that was super big! If we bring down some LightShards, then I bet I can just- just make us an elevator back up! But… I don’t think I can glide everyone down there. I’m…” You look down at the ground. “I’m a little, um, frail, so…”

“AHA!” Susie shouts out of nowhere, startling you, “Don’t move a goddamn MUSCLE! And I mean it, this time! I’ll be right back!” Susie sprints towards the nearly-constructed staircase before you can react.

“...Um. Assuming that- that means she figured out something we can use to descend, what else do we need?” You turn your attention back to the conversation.

“Well… ugh. What works well in the deeper darkness?” Kris turns to you. “You probably have the most experience by now.”

“O-oh, well. There's the LightShards! They're made by Miss Burn. She’s super cool and- and she made all of those lights that are all around town! They’re actually made from GlowShards! So- so- they're really good at keeping the Darkness away!”

“Fuck.” Kris kicks the ground. “I’m actually really upset now.”

“Wh- why?” What did you do wrong this time?

“You had a fucking reason to hoard those! I kept screaming at you in my head to just- just fucking sell them already!”

“Well! S- sh- sh- shows what you know!” You fire back despite your stutter. Of course you needed to hang onto those! They were important! Why would you even sell them!?

“Whatever. I’ll sort through the inventory and get them out. Does anyone know where this Burn lady is?”

“Her workshop is over that way! She’s tall and spiky and has really really bright hair. Like, glowing and everything. Oh, and take this one with you too!” You hand them the GlowShard that Susie found back in the nameless Castle Town.

Kris runs off too.

“And… Ralsei! I have! A! Question for you!”

“Yes?” Ralsei quirks his head at you.

“Do- do you have any idea what we’ll find down there? Or- or do you know anyone that does?”

“As a matter of fact, yes! The meeting I had with the leaders of Kulsel Town had representatives from each of the three main groups. One group is of people who had survived from the nameless Castle Town above with Leonel, though that number has dwindled down to… just Ser Capodastro now. There are old survivors from Kulsel Town proper too, Miss Burn being one of their number. And the last group comes from the Old Kingdom below us. Bonjam and Vino were both the representatives from that group.”

“W-wait, why both of them?”

“Mister Bonjam only speaks in falsehoods, so Sir Vino reflects his words for people to understand!”

“O-oh! I guess that makes sense. So… So could you find someone to help us learn about the Old Kingdom?”

“Of course!”

“And I’ll… I don’t know. I- I mean I need to do something too! I'll just- just…”

“Um, Angel? I have a suggestion.” Ralsei steps closer to you.

“Y-yes!? Whatever it is, I’ll do it!” You need to be useful too, right? You can’t just command people around! That would- that would be selfish!

“I think you should rest, okay?” Ralsei takes your hands with his own.

“I- h- h- huh?”

“You’ve been working so hard, Angel. You really, really have. And… sometimes I feel like you don’t really recognize that fact.”

“I- wh- but- um-” What? Why- why is he saying this to you? Why is he of all people saying this to you!?

“And so… I just think that you should rest, Angel. You’re wonderful, but… you really don’t have a lot of stamina, do you? You fainted right after the Titan fight, and you’ve been leaning heavily on your cane ever since we first got down here, and you were just running around to find me and Kris and… I think that you could use a little rest, okay?”

“I- I don’t w-want to…”

“You don’t want to rest?”

“I… I don’t wanna be alone with my thoughts, Ralsei!” You sniffle. “I- I’m sorry, I just… I’ve been alone for- for so long as a SOUL that I- I don’t wanna anymore! I just- I need s-something!”

“Angel…” Ralsei opens his arms for a hug and you rush in, clinging to him. He gently pats you on the back as you bury your face into his shoulder. “That must have been terrible, I'm sure. But! If you wait just a little bit longer, I’m certain that Susie will be back! I believe I know where she’s headed.”

“You-” You rub at your eyes. You aren’t crying yet but… you feel like you will if you dwell too hard on it. “You promise?”

“I promise, okay? Here.” He pulls you to the side of the street. “A bench!”

It’s… cushioned. "Why is it cushioned? Wouldn’t it get all- all soggy when it rains?” And- and can you even call it a bench like that?

“It doesn't really rain down here, Angel.”

“...” You sit on the cushioned not-bench with your knees to your chest and you wrap your wings around yourself. Snuggling in.

“I’ll be back soon, okay?” Ralsei smiles at you and you manage a shaky smile back as he leaves.

And…

And you’re alone now. Sitting on the not-bench, you can feel yourself shaking already. You pull your wings tight to ward off the trembling. Are you… that clingy?

…

You think that Susie would be mad at you if she heard how you talk to yourself. It’s just… hard to stop.

You sigh, letting your eyelids drift nearly closed. At least Kulsel Town isn’t dark. You… don’t really do well in the dark. Heh, you even got super scared the first time you met…

…Why do you hear rumbling?

You open your eyes and tighten your wings, as if you can shield yourself with them. You look to either side of the currently empty street and see… nothing. You can’t see anything. What’s making that sound? Why is-

“Comin’ down!”

“W-WAH!?” You squeak embarrassingly as Susie lands on the ground in the middle of the street.

“Hey, where’d everyone go? I told them not to! Well, ‘least you’re still here, Angel.”

“S-Susie! You’re back! Where- where did you go?”

“Well, you were talking about the dark and how you needed to get down there right? I knew the perfect guy for the job!”

“W-who?” You follow her pointer finger to- AH!!! You fall off the not-bench in shock at the sudden appearance of a giant- a giant- …pumpkin head!?

“HELO THEIR, BRITE BURD! ME AM HEAR TO HELP!”

“Mister Jackenstein!” You gasp as he climbs down off of the cliff face, down from Castle Town. “You’re here!”

“Hell yeah! Jack’s the best guy for the job!” Susie punches his leg as hard as she can. It does nothing.

“YOU! YOUR A NOO AND PRITTY BURD, BUT YOAR LAIGHT IS STILL THE SAME!” He reaches down and, very gently despite his incredible size, pats you on the head. “YOU MY FRIAND TOO!”

“T- thank you M-Mister Jackenstein!” You hide in your wings again even as you sit back onto the not-bench, though out of being flustered rather than your… um. Your (very) usual anxiety. You really are making a lot of friends now, aren’t you? It’s… kind of scary. But… nice. “It’s- it’s very kind of you to come help!”

“ANY TIAM!"

I HOPE YOU ARE STILL

AS CURIOUS AS I

TO KNOW WHAT COMES NEXT.

Chapter Text

You finally made it! You worked so hard and you made it! It was really really super scary for a while but now… Now everyone in the underground can go free, and you get to go back to the surface!

Your happy ending is here! The sunrise is so beautiful and everyone's so happy! Because of your hard work. Because you did it.

Your mom, because that's who she is obviously, offers you to stay with her and- and of course! That's what you want! She takes your hand and you walk with her down the trail and-

…huh?

Hey! You call out. Stop! I'm still here!

No no no no NONONONO! WAIT! COME BACK!

Aren't we friends!? Doesn't my hard work matter!? Where are you all going!?

Please- Please don't-

PLEASE DON'T GO!

PLEASE! DON’T G-

…

You gasp for air, you cant breathe, you cant breathe you can't you can't you can't do anything and- and you can't- You wrap your wings around yourself as much as you can because everything's too much and you fall and you hit something hard and it hurts and your heart feels like it just wont beat and everything… everything…

“…breathe… just breathe.”

You try and breathe, choking on air and your feathers and- and you breathe and breathe and breathe and breathe and try and listen to whoever's there.

“...touch you?”

Someone wants to… touch you? You nod jerkily, you- you're shaking so hard so maybe they can't tell so you should do it again and- and you have to…

…someone wraps their arms around you, wings and all, and you desperately lean in, soaking in every selfish moment of the embrace and burying your head into their chest. You're here. You're here, you're here, you're… here.

You're here.

You whimper.

“...you, uh… you feeling better?”

“...a l- l- little.” You… you slowly unfurl your wings from around your face. Someone is… holding you. With unkempt hair and red eyes and blue skin and… “W- who are… wh- Kris? What… where am I?”

“Fuck…” Kris exhales, letting go of you. “You’re… really out of it. We’re still at Kulsel Town, okay? Everyone’s getting ready to go down soon, and… uh. You were still sleeping.”

“I... fell asleep?”

“Yeah. Not long after Susie brought Jack from the church.” Kris is… sitting on the ground, leaning against the bench. It takes you a second to realize that you are too. “You were out like a light.”

“...pfft.” You giggle, and they roll their eyes.

“Whatev-”

“Thank you, Kris.” You smile at them.

“...what for?”

“For hugging me, and stuff. I- I ha- have… I have a lot of trouble feeling r- real, sometimes, and… touch… It helps. It really really helps.” You haven't gotten touched at all before today… ever, you guess.

Kris stands up quietly, and offers you their hand. You take it, and let them pull you up to your feet. Your legs are still wobbly, but… they're letting you lean on them as you make your way over to everyone.

“You're being… really nice to me, Kris.” It's… unusual of them. “Normally you'd make fun of me or… something.”

“Yeah, well…” They look to the side. “It's just that… I've been there.”

“The nightmares? Or… or the body stuff?”

“Both. Before I… before I, well. Before I came out I kind of, uh, also felt like I… didn't exist. ...I don't want to talk about that right now.” Now that you can see Susie and Ralsei, Kris lets go of you.

“Okay.” You conjure your cane and lean on it. “Thank you for helping me, Kris.”

“Sure. Whatever. I'm basically doing it for my benefit anyways.” They rush off towards Susie. Running away from the conversation, you'd guess.

It was… very kind of them, even then.

Your heart feels warm, now, as you approach your friends.

“Hello, Angel! How was your sleep?” Ralsei waves at you as he spots you.

“...nightmare.”

“Oh, that's awful!”

“Hahaha… yeah! I don't remember it though, at least!” You lie. You just don't want to talk about it.

“Then I'm glad to hear it wasn't that bad, at least.”

You force yourself to smile back at Ralsei, then change the subject quickly. “When are we going down?”

“Oh, as soon as we can! Everyone's gathered at the edge to wave us goodbye and everything!”

“O-oh! Well, let's get going then!”

…

Jackenstein is standing apart from the main crowd while Susie hypes him up loudly. He's blushing. Kris is saying goodbye to Capodastro, Ralsei is talking with Bonjam for last-minute provisions and preparations, and that leaves you with Miss Burn and Miss Vino.

“Again. Don' open th’ trunk till y’ get down there. They're specially rated for intense Dark, so you'll burn ‘em out if you open ‘t beforehand.”

“U-Understood, Miss Burn!” You give her your best salute, which she rolls her eyes at.

“And… they're on loan. ‘m not jus’ giving ‘em t’ you, so you better bring ‘em back, got it?”

“What the magnificent lady next to me is trying to say,” says Vino as she rolls up to the conversation and uses Burn's reflection to speak. “Is that all of us here truly care about you four and we really want to see you again!~ So do be careful on your quest, okay dear?”

“Shut y’ mouth th’ fuck up, Vin.” Burn mumbles into her scarf.

“You- You got it, Miss Burn! We'll come back safe. Promise. Thank you so, so, SO much for all of your hard work!” You give her the biggest smile you can muster.

She looks at you for a moment, and… you see her hard expression waver before she turns away. “...Cool.”

“That means she'll miss you, Ang~”

“D'you want another crack or what, Vin!?” Burn fires back, voice wavering. Is that a flush on her face?

“You know you love me, my passionate red star.” Vino waxes poetically at her.

Burn walks away far too quickly to be casual.

“Burn has a hard time expressing her boundless appreciation, so I shall do it in her stead! Thank you, dearest. For all you've done. We'll never forget it.” Vino-as-you smiles sweetly at you.

“...” Now you're flushing and looking away. “T-thank… y- y- you too.”

“...You're very welcome, now go find your friends, beautiful! Your adventure is waiting for you.”

“O- Okay ma'am!” You bow quickly and run off towards your friends before you make a fool of yourself.

…

“NOW IS TIME TOO GO DOWN?”

“It sure is, Mister Jackenstein! Everyone climb on, please!” Ralsei directs everyone towards Jackenstein, and he, Kris, and Susie all climb onto Jackenstein's shoulders with the ClaimbClaws, while you… do nothing. You don't… have those.

You feel a little left out.

“Angel, what's the hold up! Climb on!” Susie calls to you and something in your heart hurts.

“I… I don't have any ClaimbClaws, Susie. B- but it's okay! I can just glide down beside- Wah!?” Susie drops down towards you and grabs you! She throws you up into the air and everything blurs for a moment before she catches you, back on top of Jackenstein!

“Like hell you are! You're saving your strength for when we get down there, feathers. We're all set, Jack! See you soon, everyone!” You hear the crowd waving their goodbyes. Miss Vino's voice the loudest of all.

“OKI TOKI! DOWN WE GO :)”

Susie climbs on and… she pins you down so you don't fall with her... entire body. Oh god. Oh god that's… oh wow. Oh…

…

But…

You close your eyes and nestle in. Maybe just for a little bit? Before you, um, find a new spot of course. It feels… nice, even if you're blushing. It makes you feel like you're really here.

Jackenstein climbs down, down, down into the Darkness. As the lights and warmth of Kulsel Town fade, you can feel the cold presence of the Dark begin to saturate your awareness and creep towards your heart. You shiver involuntarily as chills run down your spine.

There are a few fragments of some of Kulsel Town's ruins that Jackenstein uses to make his way down, and down, and down… until there are no more fragments of stone brick and foundation left. Once again you are at the bottom of a world.

Kris perches up on Jackenstein's shoulder and squints into the Dark. “I can't really see anything. Angel, does your light say anything?”

Susie helps you onto Jackenstein's other shoulder as you conjure the CowlStaff and raise it before you, tilting the brazier as you do. “I think w- we should be r- um. Right on top of where we n- need to go, actually!”

“I SEE SOEMTHING DOWN THAIR!” Jackenstein rumbles, pointing with a long arm.

“Your eyes must be good in the Dark, Mister Jackenstein! But if we're going down there we'll need to be able to to see it too.” Ralsei clings to Jackenstein's side while Susie climbs onto his head and rifles through her pockets.

“Alright, check it!” She pulls out one of the many, many LightShards that Burn provided you all with and tosses it into the Darkness. You barely manage to hold yourself back from diving after it, after that little glimmer of Light falling into the Dark. It hurts your heart watching it disappear. “Hey, look! It lit something sort of building up! I missed it, though. Uh, I got a bunch more of them so I'll try ag-”

Kris suddenly whips their hand forward, and a LightShard impacts the structure in a perfect arc! It illuminates a black stone floor with a parapet. Like… the top of a tower.

“Damn, Kris! How'd you do that?” Susie shouts as she straps the wooden trunk over her chest.

“K- K- Kris is very good at throwing things!” You know this fact… intimately, unfortunately.

“Leonel taught me how to throw things well, way, way, way back when. All in the wrist. Now listen up. According to what Captain told me, this is too far down for any normal Darkner to exist. Princes, like usual, are exceptions. Jack? You're gonna need to turn back while Angel glides us down.”

“OKAIE THEN. PLEASE BE CARE FULL.” Jackenstein cups his hand, and everyone climbs onto it. It's a little precarious and more than a little awkward, but you cling onto Susie's back as hard as you can while she holds your arms. Kris and Ralsei grab onto her sides as she… jumps!

You flap your wings as best you can and you let out a little Light to glide down with and you center yourself just over the tower and- and it's not getting closer and- and... “...Angel, uh… We're not going down.”

“N- No!” You retract your Light and you plummet, and let it out instinctively, causing you to rise again. “C- come on!!”

“Just a little more… Now!” Ralsei and Kris drop off of Susie and land onto the top of the tower. Susie drops down next, and you half-glide, half-fall down towards the tower where Susie and Kris intercept you, catching you before you hit the hard stone. “We're all clear, Mister Jackenstein!”

“BYE FRAINDS! HAVE FUN IN THE DARK!”

“We will!” Ralsei calls back to Jackenstein as Susie drops the trunk to the ground.

“Nice job, Angel!” Susie ruffles your hair as you stagger to your feet. “Hey, it’s dark enough for the lanterns now, right? Cmon! Let's check this shit out!” She steps over to the wooden trunk, fumbles with it a bit, Kris unlatches it, and she opens it up to reveal… woah…

The lanterns were spherical with intricately laid silver lining on the top and the bottom, with an overlapping GlowShard interior that resembles a blooming… a blooming lotus flower. They look more like stylish art pieces than lanterns! And you only feel a little jealous as Kris, Susie, and Ralsei take theirs from the crate. I mean, you have your staff, so it's not like you don't already have a lantern… huh?

“Wh- Wh- What- what's this!?” You kneel down in front of the trunk. There's something… else. It was hidden underneath the lanterns. Carved from black wood and spliced with LightShards, sculpted as if the beautiful wood transformed into crystal in parts. With shaking hands you gently reach out around the handle and the crook, and lift it out to see it. There's a sticky note attached with a single word written on it.

“thanks”

“ - b”

[ShardStaff was added to your WEAPONs.]

Burn… made something? F- for… you?

“Woah, cool staff!” Susie leans down to look at it and frowns. “But, uh, it doesn't have the… lantern bit.”

You… banish your CowlStaff back to your inventory. As soon as you do, the brazier suddenly snaps into place in the crook of your new ShardStaff, burning with the Light of your SOUL. You stare at it for a while, carefully running your hand over the beautifully crafted cane, and hug it tight to your chest. It makes you feel warmer, despite the all-pervasive chill of the Dark. You'll… you'll have to thank that softie later. “...We can go now. S-sorry for the wait!”

“‘s fine. C’mon, I can see a trapdoor.” Kris walks ahead and you follow close behind, barely holding yourself back from skipping along.

…

Descending the trapdoor, you find yourself in a large room. There's a ladder going to a featureless roof, and…

“That's a table.” You pontificate.

“No, it's a big-ass table.” Susie eloquently refutes.

“Huge fucking table.” Kris affirms, settling the debate for good.

“Um, guys? It is a rather large table, yes, but I'm more worried about how it's on the ceiling.” “Oh shit yeah it is.”

“...T- There's a door up there too! Is that the way… down? Or- or is it up?” You're starting to get a headache already.

“It looks like this place is… forgetting which directions are supposed to be what?” Ralsei rubs his chin as he approaches a wall. “I… haven't seen anything like this before, though.”

Susie runs towards the wall and jumps, landing on it! She stands up… on the side of the wall. “Woah, cool!” She jumps around on the wall in a way that makes you dizzy. Ralsei and Kris run up the wall onto the… ‘floor?’ You follow, but as soon as you try you immediately fall off! “O-ow!”

“Angel!?” Ralsei jumps up, landing back on your side. “Oh! Your Light. It's…” He gestures to your wings.

“It- it's what!? Is there something wrong with me!?” Ralsei takes your left wing gently into his hand and holds it up as… it glows!? “W- Why- Why am I g- g- glowing!?”

“Well, um. I don’t really know.” Ralsei seems puzzled which makes you panic harder.

“You're filled with light, right?” Kris drops down(?) as well to talk to you. “Maybe since it's just… really dark down here, it's… leaking out?”

“Oh! And that’s making you more ‘real’ than us! No wonder your body isn't adapting to the, um, ‘Deeper Dark’ down here. It's pulling you back up! We must've turned around when climbing down here.” Ralsei claps his hands together as he explains it.

…you had nearly managed to forget you weren't a normal person. “O- oh. S-sorry, um…” You pull yourself to your feet and let out a little bit of your Light, enough to let you control your movement, drifting in the air. “I'll just… stay upright, I guess! Let's go, everyone.”

…

While Ralsei tries to figure out which way you need to go to move downwards, Kris and Susie jump between walls playing with the weird gravity of the structure you were all in. You couldn't place the year, but the architecture certainly looked... old. Not ugly old, rich-people old. You drift alongside them all. It seem utterly empty in here. You haven't even felt the presence of any Titan Spawn yet.

“Have we been in this hallway before?” You ask.

“We… might have?” Ralsei rubs at his eyes. “It feels like my mind is playing tricks on me down here.”

“I've been trying to use my Guiding Light, but-”

“GYAAAACK!” A voice shouts loudly and you startle away from it! Was that coming from- from Susie!?

“Shit- Susie! You okay!?” Kris runs over towards her, then skids to a stop, adopting a defensive posture.

“I'm fine! I just bumped into… something.” Susie shouts and- and you can feel a cold presence!

“A- A Spawn!?” You rush towards the Spawn, raising your staff and-

“WAIT!” Susie shouts at you, holding her hand out. “It's not attacking, dude! Don't hurt it!”

O- oh fuck. You almost did it again. You almost did it again. What is wrong with you!? You banish your staff immediately and drift back.

“Uh, hey there, little guy?” Susie squats down and holds out her hand to a… cat?

“No! Do not touch It again!” The cat exclaims. It has… an outline. You can see a rough white outline of a cat around it, whiskers and all, but the inside is a mass of shadow that only vaguely fits within the lines, often leaking outside of it. Like looking at a child's coloring book. “You are not It and that is how it will remain!”

“Shit, my bad, dude.” Susie takes her hand back. “What do you mean by that, anyways?”

“It is It because It has shape! Do not touch It! It wishes not to become a part of You!”

“...Okay?” Susie doesn't seem to get it.

“Wh- who- who are you?” You stutter out.

“It is ‘A Drawing Of A Cat.’ You will call It Adoca. You will not call It ‘We’, or ‘You Guys’, or ‘Y'all’. It! Adoca!” As it shouts you can see it's form wobble even harder.

“A Drawing Of A- Wait. Are you sure you're spelling that right?” Kris looks as confused by it as you are.

“It is correctly spelled! Do not test It!” The cat jumps up and down on the wall as it yells.

Susie shrugs and waves at it. “Well... Hi Adoca, I'm Susie.”

“Um, y- yes!” You drift closer to Susie and… ‘Adoca’. She grabs onto you to keep you steady as you address the cat. “Hello there, Adoca. My name is Angel.”

“But You called Yourself Susie!”

“H- huh?” What?

“Susie, Angel, too many names, too many voices for one silhouette! No no no no no! It will have no part in this! Begone!” The cat starts running away!

“W-wait! Come back! We- We're lost!” You fly after it! It ducks into a window and-

“It- It’s over here now!?” “GYAACK!” It scrambles away from Ralsei, ducking into another hallway! “After it!”

…

It takes you… you don’t even know how long, but the four of you eventually manage to corner it. It kept taking shortcuts that didn’t make sense, running through assorted doors on walls. At one point you think that it was chasing you for a second before you remembered what was going on and turned around. But it’s somehow hiding in a… picture frame.

“We- we cornered it!”

“You are too big! Picking on It! Too big too big!” It spits out towards you.

“...Alright, I figured your deal out.” Kris squints at it and rifles through their pockets for… a white sharpie?

“W- where did you get that, Kris?”

“They just show up when I need to act, Angel. Now… you… hold… still!”

“Do not touch Adoca! Do not touch- GYAACK!”

Kris dives closer and, with two quick strokes, draws a pair of round little eyes on its featureless face.

It blinks once. Then twice. And then it looks around at the four of you.

“...Oh. You are… four individuals. How did Adoca miss that fact?” Kris grins at it.

“K- Kris! That- That was really really smart!” You bounce up and down as they pump their fist.

“Adoca… apologizes for the misunderstanding. You were merely trying to assist It, were You not?” Kris kneels down to negotiate with it and its newfound depth perception.

“Well, uh, only partly. We're also looking for a way deeper down. The four of us are looking for something important that we know is deeper than here. In return for giving you those eyes, can you guide us down?”

“W-we’re, um… we’re a little lost and- and you seem really smart!” You chime in. Flattery usually makes people like you better and Adoca seems pretty proud, so maybe it’ll work on it?

It contemplates this, squeezing its eyes shut into two flat lines before speaking. “...Adoca will help you out of the goodness of Its heart.”

You sigh in relief. “T-thank you, Adoca.”

“You are welcome… S- Su- uh.” It squints at you, trying to place your name.

“Angel. I'm Angel. That's Susie, and that's Ralsei.”

“Yes! It was getting there. Come!” It wobbly bounces up and down. “Follow Adoca! it knows all the shortcuts (except for the ones It doesn’t know!)”

…

Having secured a… rather odd guide, all of you- (and It. Adoca insists on being referred to separately from anyone else.) can start making your way deeper into the Old Kingdom. The twisting hallways of the vintage-looking structure are no less confusing, but Adoca seems to understand it well enough.

You decide to ask first. “So… um… What are you, Adoca?”

“It is ‘A Drawing Of A Cat.’ It told this ‘Susie’ so.”

“W-well, um, yes. But… what I mean is… like, Ralsei here is a Darkner. Kris and Susie here are both Lightners, and… and I’m… I’m an Angel. What are you?”

“What are You? Your borders are transient as Its are. What is Angel? Hm? Hm?” It turns its simplistic face towards you, squinting and hopping up and down. “The Light is You, so is not all it shines on within You? What does that make you now, in this place of Dark!? A Conqueror!? A Colonizer!? Why does it matter to You what Adoca is, hm!?”

You don’t want to talk about this. You really don’t want to talk about this. You can feel your breath speeding up and you- you–

“You can just say you don’t know, weirdo!” Susie snaps at it on your behalf, shoving it away from your face. “Quit being an asshole!”

“...It has not considered what It is.” Adoca turns back forward and trots along, leading the way. “All It knows is that It is It.”

“Like… like that one philosopher guy. ‘I think therefore I am.’” Kris nods along. Kris seems to understand Adoca the most out of any of you.

“Hmm. Adoca will accept this! It thinks. It thinks very, very much.”

“W-well, then...” Ralsei changes the subject. “What do you know about the Old Kingdom?”

“Old Kingdom? Adoca knows no such place-” “He means here, dumbass!” “Oh. If You mean this place, then it is a place of many changes. Many walls shift, things wake and go to sleep. Good night, Some say! There has never been a ‘day’ here, so Adoca knows not where They know those words from. It does not like Them very much, if It is honest.”

“I… see.” You can see Ralsei trying to take notes. “Is there anything we need to watch out for?”

“Beware ‘Us Countless.’ They are not harmful, but stare too long at Them and They will put You to sleep! Dreaming like sheep!”

“Us… Countless… Okay. Anything else?”

“Walls are of Dark now! Do not burn away the Dark lest You burn away the ground You stand on! Creatures of Light be wary, very!” It smiles at you with its eyes and you feel… bad.

“Okay! I think I understand. Thank you, Adoca! You have been very helpful.” Ralsei tucks his notebook back into his robe while Adoca preens at the attention and praise.

…You’re still very uncomfortable around it. It feels so much like a Titan Spawn. It feels… cold. You feel… really cold down here, especially when you’re suppressing your Light like th- “Angel, would you like to hold my hand?”

“Wh- Huh!?” “Um, I said-” “WAIT! Wait- y- yes! Please! Yes! I- I- I mean- If… if that's… if that's okay!”

He’ll let you hold his hand!? That’s so sweet of him! You carefully lower yourself down and hold out your hand to him. He holds it gently in his fuzzy paw. You close your eyes and let yourself drift along while he holds onto you, keeping you tethered. It's easier to deal with that cold feeling creeping into your heart like this when you don’t have to try and suppress your Light as actively. You… let your grip on your Light slip. Just a little bit, but enough to let you breathe easier.

“This way, this way!” Adoca runs ahead, bouncing and wobbling around in circles while waiting for the four of you to catch up.

“W-WAH! Ralsei, look out!” You reach out to catch a banister as he almost tips off the edge, but the banister- it d-disintegrates!? And you’re-

You’re caught by Kris, who hauls you and Ralsei back onto solid ground. “Shit, you good?”

“I’m okay, thank you Kris! …Angel?” Ralsei turns to you. “Angel- h-hey! Are you okay?”

You stare at your hand. As soon as it touched the banister it… disintegrated. Turned into… dust. On your hand.

“Angel, hey- hey!” Ralsei pulls you down and hugs you tight. “It’s- it’s okay, see? I’m fine!”

“...destroyed it. I touched it and it… turned to… dust.” You're shaking. Why are you shaking so badly? Why? “I just- i touched it and- and it broke! And- and- and I broke it! And- and-”

“We're taking a break. Now.” Kris told Adoca sternly.

“But what of Your search? Would You quit Your search so easily as soon as-” “I'll give you eyebrows if you quit being such an asshole.” “Of course! Rest is very important, merry very! Adoca even knows a very very safe spot that will keep all of Its good good friends safe! This way today!”

In a far more co-operative mood, Adoca leads the way. You just shake in Ralsei's arms and try not to think about the sensation of dust in your fingers.

… Try.

…

Adoca's refuge was some kind of cute little drawing room. It's right side up for you, thankfully, but it's still oppressively Dark even with the Light you're giving off, casting long shadows in creepy shapes. What little Light the lanterns gave off paled in comparison to you, like candles before a bonfire.

Your friends are all sitting around the four-seated table and they've laid out some snacks and stuff while Adoca sits on the windowsill, excitedly wagging its new eyebrows into the reflection the glass casts as it tries out new expressions. But… you don't touch the chair. You just… float a few feet off of the ground, curled up and looking down towards everyone. “...Aren't you gonna come down, Angel?” Susie asks you as she kicks her feet up on the table.

“No.” You don't want to break anything else.

“...you sure?”

“Yes.” If you stay up here, then you can't break anything! It's that easy.

“...Ralsei, please help me out here, please.”

“Um, okay! Angel, what, exactly, is the problem?”

“...Broke things.”

“Susie breaks things all the time, though!” “Hell yeah I do!” “Why is this different?”

“...because I l- lost control. I- I- I let go of my Light for one m- moment and- and I broke something! I- I almost broke A- Adoca, too because I l-lost control of myself!”

“You only broke one thing though, Angel. Why does that make you dangerous?”

“B- Because I'm supposed to be better than that!” You curl up tighter. “I- If I break one thing, what's s- stopping me from breaking everything! What's stopping me from breaking p- people!? What can stop me!?”

“Angel… are you worried about hurting someone?”

“...” You can't talk about it. You don't want to talk about it. You- y- you…

“...Hey, feathers.” You can faintly hear Susie waving at you. “Get over here. Let's do, like, a game. Sounds fun, right?”

A game? “...huh?”

“You ask us a question about us, we ask you a question about you! I mean, you probably have a ton of questions, right?”

This is a trap. She's baiting you, obviously. She's dangling your curiosity to get you to talk about something you really don't want to talk about!

But… “...okay.” She's right. You don't want to... to have to hide from them. You float a little closer.

“Great! Okay, uh, how do we start?” Susie's joy at getting you to agree seems… short lived as she now has to actually think of things to ask.

“Angel gets to ask something first, I guess?” Kris plays along with her idea, looking up towards you.

“Um... are you guys… tired?” You're basically exhausted all of the time, but they're still doing so well. “I- I mean it's… it's been such a long day and- and now this and-”

“Angel, chill. It's fine! And… yeah I'm a little sleepy, but something about dark worlds just… energizes me, y'know?” Susie drums her fingers on the table.

“I, uh, I'm doing fine.” Kris answers as well. “I managed to sleep… a little bit. Before all of this.”

“I was already asleep when Kris and Susie showed up, so don't worry about me!” Ralsei chips in.

“W-wait!” If he was sleeping then… where? “B- But you don't have a bed?”

“Oh, um… I was… sleeping on Susie's bed.” Ralsei blushes and looks down to his snack.

“Well! Cool!" Susie claps her hands together. "That's enough answers for that round. Anyone, uh, got a question for Angel?”

“I got one.” Kris laces their fingers and stares at you. “Why are you acting so sick lately? You've been weird ever since we started going down here.”

“W-well… um… it's… it's cause… cause Light floats! And, uh, I have a… lot of it. I kind of need to… suppress it? And- and that makes me feel… dizzy. And c-c-cold. And- and- and really scared. But- But we really need to go down, so- so- so I can deal with it, okay?” You smile at them!

…No one's smiling back. “Did- did I say something bad? I- I'm sorry. I-”

“Angel, it's okay if you tell us that it's hurting you. we- we don't want you to hide being hurt just because it might make things more convenient for us! That feels terrible!” Ralsei looked thoughtful for a moment. “What if… What if some of us carry your Light for you?”

“H- Huh?” What does- what does that mean?

“Well, you always feel better when you're close to Light, right? But you're floating whenever it's just you holding it, too. So… maybe you don't need to carry it all yourself?” Ralsei sets his lantern gently onto the table. “Miss Burn made these to have a lot of storage for Light, so if you just charge them up like you did to Kulsel Town and then stick close to us then… then you'll feel better! That way you won't have to, um, float around!”

“Hell yeah, toothpaste boy!” Susie pulls out her lantern and sets it on the table loudly, causing the entire table to rattle on the ground. “Obviously you gotta give me more, though!”

“...” Kris puts their lantern on the table too with a competitive glint in their eyes. “Give me even more.” “Oh, you wanna go, dumbass!?”

You… you're crying, you think. Tears brimming with Light fall from your eyes and… rise upwards, burning holes in the Darkness of the ceiling. Don't they… don't they know what you are?

…

You… you guess it doesn't matter. You reach out for the lanterns as your… friends hand them to you, bundling them in your wings as you curl up around them. Like… like a mother chicken and her eggs. Hah.

You… very carefully… let some of your Light out. As soon as you stop suppressing it you feel it roaring within you, straining, desperate. But- But you force it down! Into the lanterns that your f- friend made for you. To… help carry your burden.

And… you land on the ground. Hard. “...O- ow…” Your- your tailbone, it… it really, really hurts.

But… Susie reaches down and helps you up. Kris quietly pulls your chair back for you while Susie helps you into it. And- And as that happens, Ralsei gathers up the lanterns, gleaming with your Light, and sets them on the table next to your… your spot. And- and Kris takes- takes an item from their inventory and… hands it to you.

… You're okay, being hurt. Because… that means that they're nice to you. They're so… so nice to you. Kris and Susie both try to kick their legs up on the table at the time, and they- they start fighting each other for dominance. Each one trying to pin the other one down. Susie is winning but the fight looks fierce. You watch quietly. Nibbling on your snack with small bites. Listening to the sound of all three of them laughing. The warmth of your… your friends, your real friends, filling this room underneath the underside of the world. Two impossibilities in one!

You love them. You love them all. You love them all so, so, so, so much.

…You hope they don't leave you behind, when the end comes. You remember the one prophecy that was told about you, after all. Seared into your brain from the moment you saw it with an… an unmistakable truth. One you understood with every fiber of your being.

‘The Angel, banished, will finally meet with its desire.’

But… Why? Why would you ever want to be banished? Why would you ever want to leave this behind? This… this world, these… friends. This is what you want! This is your desire!

…

That world. In your nightmare. You can tell that… that it was a memory.

If so… if you were once part of a world where you were… were happy… Why did you leave it behind? Why didn't you just… go with… her? Who was... her?

Are you going to leave this world behind too?

Is that ‘banishment'? Is that… your fate?

Susie suddenly slams the table with her legs to try and pin Kris down and everyone's lanterns are catapulted! Ralsei lunges in a heroic dive and barely manages to catch them all in his scarf before they slam into the floor!

There's a moment of silence, and then there's roaring laughter.

…

It's not worth thinking about. That prophecy was… stupid, anyways. You like this story better.

You're not alone in it, after all.

A FAMILIAR VOICE STILL AWAITS YOU IN DARKER PLACES.

Chapter Text

You hold Ralsei's hand tight, leaning on your staff as you walk with him. The structure, winding and twisting as it is has become uncomfortably familiar by now. You do still feel a little sick, though. Directional nonsense isn't your strong suit. Do you get motion sick now? And… where are you even going?

“Adoca, um, I know we're- and you.” You hastily correct yourself before you upset it. “We, and you, are going ‘down’ and everything, but… do you know what we will find?”

“Oh, It knows, yes.” Adoca nods without turning around.

“Can you tell us?”

“Yes!” It turns towards you cheerfully.

“Will you?”

“Oh, of course! Down below is where They are.” Is it… grinning at you?

“...Are you being obtuse on purpose?” You pout.

“Yes yes yes!” Adoca bounces up and down gleefully. “Sorry sorry! It was a little bored. You All and It are going down the Upstreet now! Fastest route, fastest chute! Down below is the Ungrand Plaza. Terrible thing to behold, you're told. (By me!) Many many Its and Theys and Shes and Hes and more and more and more and more and are down there, there.”

“So, uh, there's a place with a lot more… things like you?” As Susie mentions this, you imagine having to deal with two of Adoca. You feel your hand twitching, so you hold onto Ralsei tighter.

“Nothing is like Adoca! Are You like a peach because you are pink and have flesh!? No!”

“...So they're made of the same kind of stuff as you?” Kris pieces together.

“Less or more, yes!” Adoca hops down a window on the floor, falling a good distance before landing on its… well. It hits the ground hard and splatters like jello, then reshapes itself into a cat on its feet. “Come, come! You and It are very nearly there!”

Susie drops down to catch Kris, then Ralsei, while you glide down on your wings. You can still feel the Light within you, but you’re doing your best to keep it inside. So long as you stay close to your friends and the Light you’ve given them to bear you don’t feel as… cold, holding the Light in like this. You also feel a lot warmer, but that’s mostly because… they’re your friends!

Kris, leading the way and keeping track of the cat, turns to Ralsei. “Ralsei. Who exactly are we looking for down here, again? You were the one who talked to Vino and Bonjam, right?”

“Oh, right! Well, they told me all sorts of wonderful stories about the Prince of the Dark from the Old Kingdom! ‘Anvil!’” You could see Ralsei's eyes sparkling with delight! “I very much hope that I can get to meet him!”

“Hey, he sounds pretty cool already!” Susie catches onto Ralsei's enthusiasm too and encourages him, “I mean, with a name like ‘Anvil’? Badass.”

“Y-yes! I… I do wonder if he’s actually still down here, though. Have you seen him, Adoca?”

“If Adoca has seen Him, It knows not. It does not concern Itself with Them down below. It is above Them.” “Metaphorically or literally?” “Yes yes!”

“Is that why we, a- and you, haven't seen any other creatures here yet?” With how far you've traveled into the Darkness, you'd have expected to encounter at least another Spawn. But it's… empty.

“Only in part! You see, a great clearing of the Darkness occurred above, yes yes! Many many driven to Deeper Dark in hidey-er holes. Adoca has also been avoiding Them, Them.” You all and Adoca enter into some sort of… upturned tower where you need to take a spiraling path around the walls of a spiral staircase to keep going. You look at the ground and- and try to imagine the floor being flat.

“O- uh- oh. Um. I think that was, um, us.” You wilt a little bit. You had to seal the Titan, but… were all of these, um… strange darkners living in its shadow? You feel really bad for disrupting their homes like th-

“Hell yeah it was us!” Susie claps you on the shoulder and you stumble. “Angel here's pretty badass, huh.”

“Badass? Perhaps perhaps. Scared, They are! Unscared, It is.” Adoca preens as you shiver. “Adoca is very very brave.”

“So… You and us don't need to worry about encountering anything?” Kris sounds unsure at that. You can see your breath fogging up.

“Yes! Nothing will come. It is certain.” Is it just you or does the air feel… cold?

The ground begins to rumble.

“GYAACK! LESS CERTAIN, LESS CERTAIN! RUN RUN RUN WITH ADOCA!” Adoca takes off in a rapid sprint back the way you came!

“Shit- Hurry up!” Kris shouts as they take off after it, all of you following suit. “It's getting closer!”

“What is it!?”

“I warned you, WARNED YOU OF THEM! Do not let Them catch you! Do not let Them touch you! And- whatever you do- DO NOT COUNT THEM!”

You're falling behind! N- No! You try letting out some of your Light to fly forwards but you find yourself tipping backwards as your gravity shifts and-

“Gotcha!” Susie grabs your wrist like a foul ball and pulls you along with her as she runs. You turn back to see what's chasing you and…

“Sheep!?” A tidal wave of sheep flooding into the tower, all crying out and bleating as they spill through the stairwell's center gap in a purplish wooly wave, almost running like water. “They're sheep!?”

“Wh- why're you so damn scared of some sheep, cat!?”

“Not sheep! Us Countless! Very very dangerous!”

Countless? Well, there is a lot of them. Why the hell are there so many anyways!? There must be at least a hundred of them! Maybe two hundred…? Maybe… three? Maybe…

“They're gaining on us!”

“IN HERE! NOW!”

You tumble for some time, your head swimming as you wrap your wings around yourself and curl up on yourself. Are you still falling? Everything's spinning and where are you falling an- “Hrkghh…”

“Is- Is everyone okay?” You can hear through a layer of water. Or… maybe it's wind? Or maybe you're the one in water…

“I'm alright, Kris!” “It is still It, yes!” “Can't keep me down!”

“Noooujhhhhhggghhhhh”

“Oh no! Angel!” You feel someone touching you while you're falling? But- but…

“When'r we gonna reach the ground, mommy? I don’ wanna fall foreverrrrrr…” Everything feels so quiet. Muffled. Like you're wrapped in a soft wooly blanket.

“Adoca told this one not to count Them! No no no!”

What's wrong with counting the… “oh… ohhhh…” You get it now! “Oooohhhhh… they're… like…” You yawn and everything feels… soft. And fuzzy. “They're ‘counting’ sheep, ha ha haa! Ha… ha...”

“...?” “...!” You're so cozy and… tired. “...!?” Maybe you can just… rest your eyes? “...!!” “...” Just for a few minutes? “...!!” “...!!!”

Something's touching the side of your face, cupping your cheek. It feels… nice. Makes you feel warm. You snuggle against it and sigh as you softly drift off to sleep.

…

You wake up. You're disoriented, everything's fuzzy, your head hurts… but you don't have a head to hurt?

...h- huh? You… you're… in a bed of golden flowers again?

You get up and walk. Did you fall down again while you were leaving with… with mom? Is that what happened? You walk into the next room and… Flowey is there again. He doesn't remember you?

A- and, for the third time, your mommy comes to save you! You cheer for her, and she looks at you and… introduces herself.

Wh…

she doesn't…

remember you?

Did you go back in time? Like whenever you died like a dummy, and you went back to your save?

Did… did you do something wrong at the end? You don't think you did, but… if you're back here then… No, no!

That was just a fluke, it must have been! At least your adventure was pretty fun, right? You can go meet your friends again and they'll love you again and you can get your happy ending for real this time!

…

…Ughhh that took stinking for-ev-verrrrrrr!!! But you're back here now, and your mommy is here! You can just go follow her and see your friends and… wh… Wait! WAIT! DON'T GO!

No, nononoNONONONO THIS ISN'T HAPPENING! IT CAN'T BE! NO!!!!! NOT AGAIN-

…

Third time's the charm, right? You did everything this time, you made sure of it! You found all the secrets you befriended all the monsters so surely one of them will- will notice you and take you with th… no NO NO NO N-!

…

YOU DID EVERYTHING RIGHT! YOU DID EVERYTHING RIGHT! WHY ARE THEY LEAVING YOU!? WHY DO THEY HATE YOU!? PLEASE! DON'T GO! STAY-

…

Is- is it because you're not really Frisk!? Is that why!? I- I didn't mean to! I didn't mean to do this to Frisk, I didn't mean t- WAIT! PLEASE JUST FORGIVE ME, PLEASE JUST NOTICE ME! PLEASE JUST- JUST STAY WITH M-

…

You're getting faster at least! See, everyone!? I'm better! I did better! I'm good! I can be useful! I can be helpful! I'll be good! I can- I can- WAIT! PLEASE! I'LL BE GOOD! I'LL BE GOOD! I WILL! JUST PLEASE DON'T-

…

You shout and scream without lungs, without a mouth. I didn't even take damage that time! You say. Frisk didn't even get hurt at all once! You say. Doesn't that mean I did it better? Doesn't that mean you'll forgive me- no NO NONONONONONO PLEASE WAIT!-

…

H- How many more times!? How many more times do you need to do this until your friends forgive you!? Even if they all h- h- hate you, that's OKAY! th- THAT'S F- FINE! YOU JUST WANT TO GO HOME!!! YOU JUST- YOU JUST WANT-

…

YOU JUST WANT YOUR MOMMY BA-

…

“AAAACKGHHHH!!” “F-FUCKING SHIT!” “A-Angel!?” “What's happening!?”

Breathe! Breathe, stupid! You need to breathe! You're shaking and your head hurts and you're retching like you're going to puke and it's too much everything's too much and YOU NEED TO- TO- “Goddamnit, Angel! You scared me half to death!” “It looks like she was having another nightmare-” EVERYTHINGSTOOLOUDANDTHERESSHOUTINGANDTHEY'REMADATYOUTHEY'REMADATYOU!!!!! THEY'REMADATYOUANDYOUCANTBREATHE!!!

“Both of you shut it. Susie, give her here.” YOU'RE MOVING AND YOU FEEL SICK AND YOU'RE SHAKING AND… AND… and…

…you're sat down leaning against a wall. Your feathers are soft and… the voices are quiet now. Was that…? “...k- kuh- kris?”

“Hey, Angel.” Kris reaches their hand into your wings and you grab it, clinging to the gauntlet like a lifeline and leaning over it. “...It's okay, take your time.” They speak to you softly and gently in a near-whisper. You tremble as you try and uncover your eyes, but with their other hand they guide your wings back closed.

“...’m sorry, ‘m really, really sorry.”

“It's fine. It really is. Uh, Ralsei. Susie. Sorry for shouting at you. She was getting overwhelmed. That usually happens when you wake up from a nightmare like that to a lot of noise.”

“O-oh, shit. Sorry, dude.” “We'll try and- oops!” You flinch as they start talking again! So many voices, so many people. It's too much!

“Angel, are you feeling okay for Susie and Ralsei to talk again?”

“...n- n-” You… aren't, b- but you d-don't want to be rude, though so- “y-”

“Hey, guys? Could you step away for a moment? Just, give us, like, a minute or two?” What!? B- but- but- you didn't… they're… they're leaving?

“don… leaveee meee…” You sob as you pull Kris' hand closer to you.

“H- hey! I… fuck. I won't, okay? I'll stay here.”

You hear them sit down next to you as you cling onto their hand. You cling onto their hand. You're here. You're here. You're. Here.

“...’m sorry. I'm so sorry. I’m sorry.” You… you carefully, reluctantly let go of their hand.

“I told you, it's fine.” They awkwardly pat your shoulder through your wing. “Been there. We… we don't got to talk about it.”

You whimper, leaning over onto them.

…

Your breath is calmer, now. You can feel the tension in your body draining out. You drop your wings away from your body to breathe in the cool air.

“...I think I'm okay now.”

“Alright. Hey, guys!” Kris projects their voice to be heard, but doesn't shout. You really appreciate that of them. “You can come back now.”

Susie and Ralsei walk over. You wave softly, then squeak as Ralsei kneels down and hugs you. “We're very sorry for overwhelming you earlier, Angel.”

“O- oh! Th… thank you, Ralsei.” You manage to rub the side of your head against his fluffy ear before he pulls away.

“...You're, uh, feeling better?” Susie rubs at her arms. You conjure your CowlStaff and pull yourself up to your feet, accepting Kris' hand up as you do. “Sorry for, like… shouting at you and stuff.”

“Lots better. A-and, thank you so much for worrying about me, Susie. I appreciate it.” You hold out your fist, and after a moment of hesitation, you see her smile again as she bumps it.

You didn't want her feeling bad about herself about anything! Even if you're stupid and fragile and… and clingy, you want to stay with your friends, so you need to be nice! You want to stay with all of your friends.

All of your… “Wait… Where's Adoca?”

“Adoca is still here! It merely wished not to entangle itself with the mess of spaghettemotion that You All have going on!” Adoca slips into view, melding out of a shadow on the wall. “If everything is resolved and no more tears are yet to shed, Adoca will helpfully share what It knows regarding the Us Countless swarm. It knows: nothing.”

“...That's supposed to be helpful?” Susie squints at it and it bristles.

“It is, it is helpful! Adoca knows that They have never swarmed as such before! Never never! Very placid, very soft, verrrryyyy dangerous! Adoca knows not why They have swarmed into the Towering Trail, but it is too too dangerous for You and It to pass now! Another route, It will find!”

“W- wait! How much of a delay will that be?” You don't want to be down here forever!

“Given that Adoca knows… no other paths down to the Ungrand Plaza, likely very long!”

“Yeah, uh, that's… that's not happening.” Susie cracked her knuckles and turned to the group, grinning. “Alright. Guys? I have an idea.”

…

You have to say it. “...This is a t-t-terrible idea, Susie.”

“I know right!? C’mon, do it!” You look over and… Kris and Ralsei are nodding along.

“Fine…” You sigh and reach out your hand. Just a flicker of Light and- WAH! You cut it off immediately as you sear a massive hole in the wall! You try not to dwell on the stomach-rotting sensation of destruction and instead peek out of the hole along with your friends.

You can see the rest of the ‘Upstreet’, as Adoca called it. Going through it was mind-bending, but… seeing it now? You see hallways and facsimiles of buildings twisting and connecting to each other. Round towers twist into square hallways, stairwells running in every direction imaginable.

“This place rules.” Kris smirks at you as you shiver. It gives you the willies.

“Hell yeah.” Susie walks onto the side of the wall, making the hole in the wall into a hole in the ground.

“A- Are we sure there's no other option?” You hold onto her elbow as you try desperately to come up with another idea. “I- I mean, look! We can see all the other paths now! We just gotta go down that way and… um… up- no, down that hallway and… my head hurts…”

“Yup! Ralsei, make sure she comes with!” Kris jumps down the hole first! “ReadySETGO!”

“Wh- Asshole!” Susie jumps down after them, and even Adoca jumps down too!?

“Come on, Angel!” Ralsei grabs your hand and fucking jumps down the hole with you.

You hear Susie and Kris whooping through the wind as you plummet past the winding towers, and see the trail of Light from their lanterns streaming behind them. You catch the tessellating purple of Us Countless through windows in the towers and force your eyes away, then see how fast you're going past the buildings and look away from that too, then see the void of Darkness below you and look away from that too. You cover your eyes with your wings entirely because you can't take this YOU CANT FUCKING TAKE THIS. RALSEI PULLS ON YOUR WINGS AND YOU SNAP THEM OPEN AND PRAY AS LOUD AS YOU CAN IF THERE'S ANY GOD ABOVE YOU TO PLEASE PLEASE DONT LET YOU DIE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE please please please…

“Whuh?”

“I said we're landed.” Susie's voice!?

“W- wuh- wh- w- what!? How!?” How aren't you dead!? Trembling, you carefully unfurl the wings around your eyes and look down… oh blessed ground, you'll never take it for granted again. It looks like everyone's fall was broken by…

“Wh- why is there s- s- snow here?” You squeak out.

There's so much white, fluffy snow. You can see the Towering Trail beside you now, but the end point is completely coated in deep, deep snow. You're cold and dizzy and everything feels bad. Ralsei tries to set you down, but you wrap your arms around him! “D- do- don't you dare, Mister!” You don't want to let go, you don't want to let go.

If it wasn't for the fact that you've never eaten real food you would be puking your guts out right now. You don't trust yourself to stand on your own feet.

“U- um, guys? I… can I swap with someone?” Ralsei asks. He's trembling but you can't let go because then you'll stagger and fall and make a fool of yourself and… Kris reaches out and takes you from Ralsei, cupping their arms around your back and your legs. You're… so light. Wow. You hope that Susie doesn't notice you blushing.

“Well, it's c-cool that there's snow here,” Susie says, shivering “But, like… how're we supposed to get back inside?”

“Oh, don't worry! I can…” Ralsei sighs. “I can... use fire magic.” Ralsei conjures… a fireball between his hands!?

“Wh- fucking- since when could you do that, dumbass!?” Susie marvels at the fireball. You swear you can see her eyes sparkling.

“I am the Prince of the Dark." Ralsei continues, annoyed. "The Prince of the Dark is supposed to know fire magic.” Ralsei directs the fireball downwards and sprays it in a steady stream, melting the snow beneath. “I just… haven't practiced it. I don't want that to be what I'm known for, that's all. And... there!” He claps his hands, squashing the fireball and causing it to burst harmlessly into wisps of smoke. “Angel, if you would?”

You reach out your hand and… and… and you don't want to you don't want to break anything else you-

WHAM! Susie slams her axe into the wooden floor, busting a hole straight through it. “C’mon guys.”

You drop into the room and heave desperately for breath as Kris sets you down. You lay completely flat on the ground, spreading your wings. You're on the ground. You're on the ground. You're fine, you're fine.

“That was fucking awesome.” “mngnmgghhhmnmghh” You make an inarticulate noise of discomfort and discontent as loudly as you can, which is barely more than a whisper right now.

“Adoca believes It enjoys Your company!” Adoca shakes snow off of itself as it drops into the room as well. “It has not had this much fun ever. Never!”

“Wait, guys, look!” Susie points at the entrance to the tower, entirely encased in ice.

Kris placed their hand against it and squinted, peering through it to the other side. “There's… On the other side, there's a lot of ice. Bunch of spikes and shit. Hey, Adoca. You think this might've been what made those sheep charge at us?”

“It believes so.” Adoca nods. “Powerful ice magic, un-nice. Very, very strong.”

“W-Wait!” You pull yourself up to your feet. “Susie- When we found Rhynes, she was encased in ice! You don't think!?”

“I- I just thought that it was a titan spawn or something!”

“Titan Spawn!? Silly, Silly!” Adoca bounces from side to side. “Fear-creatures have no magic! None! All they do is reproduce, reproduce! Split and mitose!”

“So- that means that somebody killed Miss Rhynes!? Someone with a mind?” Ralsei clenched his fist. “How- How could they!?”

“...We need to keep moving.” Kris turns away from the wall of ice, but pauses, looking back to the cat. “...sorry, Adoca.”

“For what ‘sorry’ is this for?”

“For… saying ‘we’? I know you don't like that.”

Adoca frizzles up in realization, then looks down at its paws with wide eyes. “...Adoca supposes It… did not mind. No more talk about this! No! Never ever!” It hops up onto a table and whips its tail back and forth. “You All have arrived at the Ungrand Plaza. You may find Your path downwards further here. It is at this point that Adoca leaves… but not yet! It demands payment for services! Recompense!” It hops up and down!

“Yeah yeah, hold your horses, dipshit.” Kris walks over with the sharpie and scribbles on it. When they step back it has a little triangle nose. It looks very pleased at this development. “Thanks for your help, Adoca. You did good.”

“Yes yes yes yes! Goodbye, Angel, Kris, Ralsei, Susie! It hopes very much that You will find what You seek!” Adoca bounds off, wedging itself behind a picture frame and vanishing.

“...Ralsei?” You turn towards him.

“...” Ralsei stares into the ice. He's holding his arms behind his back tightly, posture stiff.

Well… You know he's dwelling on the ice, and Rhynes… and probably being a Prince too. You've been so busy lately you forgot all about his struggles and… that makes you feel bad. That makes you feel really, really bad. You- you need to be better.What can you say to comfort him? …Oh. Oh!

You walk up to him and put your chin on his shoulder. “I think your Pacify spell is super cool, Ralsei.”

“...huh?” He blinks at you as you step back. Success!

“I just- it's really cool! If you're, like, a goat monster so fire comes easier, learning how to use a spell that puts people to sleep? That's super cool!”

“O- oh, I- Hah- I guess it is!”

“You didn't have anyone to tutor you, did you?” Kris adds on. “So you're self-taught too.”

“Well… yeah, I am. But- but that's not really that impressive-” He's blushing! That means it's working!

“Like hell it is, dumbass!” Susie punches him on the arm. “Don't put yourself down and take that compliment! Got it?”

“B-”

“Got. It?” Susie growls out.

“...Got it, Susie.” He smiles at her. Mission accomplished!!! You feel warmer already. “Well, um, let's go see this ‘Ungrand Plaza’, then!”

“Last one there's a fresh egg!” “Last one there's a- goddamnit NOT AGAIN!” “Wh- wait!”

…

You tried your best to keep up but Kris and Susie are way faster than you. You lean on your staff, panting, as you finally approach the both of them. “Muh- mh- made it.”

“Angel, Angel check this out!” Susie grabs your arm and pulls you up beside her. You lean in as you see the Ungrand Plaza.

“Woahhh... Holy heck.” “Heck!?”

Gathered in front of the foundations of what was probably once the castle is a vast garden of stone brick. Vintage houses tipped on their side, light poles burning with negative, purplish-pink flames, and benches melded into the scenery as if they grew there organically. Spiky black trees with purple leaves line the area and- and you can see more of those strange darkners now, too. And… feel them. They still feel so, so cold.

You step to the side as a swarm of chains leaking some sort of shadowy fluid slithers by you, rattling and jingling in a way that really, really unnerves you.

Ralsei arrives, having had the latest start of your four, and steps to your side to look out over the plaza as well. “Wow!”

“You think we should go talk to some of those, uh… weird darkners?” Kris looks towards him.

Ralsei shrugs. “We don't really know anything, do we? We don't know if they're dangerous or friendly or not…”

“C'mon, let's talk to that one!” Susie sprints off and you all hurriedly race after her. “Yo! How's it going!?”

The odd darkner glances at her, a tall and gangly figure hiding behind a heavy stone. “...Fine? What… are you?”

“Susie. That's Kris, Ralsei, and Angel. We're, uh, kinda lost down here. Know anywhere we can get our… our…” “Bearings?” “Yeah, that. Bearings.”

“...I might know. Why did you choose me? I do not look like I belong here, do I?”

“I mean, not really? You don't look that much different from anyone else here.”

“...You truly mean that?” It pauses before speaking every time... but you're probably not anyone to judge. You have trouble speaking too sometimes. “Well… you may try the Creaking hall of records.”

“Alright. And what about the ones of us that aren't into that nerd shit?”

“...Perhaps Lord Anvil could assist.” “HE'S ALIVE!!!” “But he left to conduct business some time ago now.” “N- no!”

“Well, shit. Thanks for your help, dude.” She nods at him, and he creeps behind the rock further.

“...It seems a number of us who do not belong have been coming here lately. Even more than your little group. Goodbye and take care, fellow outsiders.” The figure creeps behind the rock entirely.

Susie runs around to find him. “Hey! The hell does that- damn. He's gone.” She grimaces. “That was… not super helpful. But- see? They're just people! Like, regular darkners looked scary at first too, but they're all just people!”

Heartwarming as that is, you noticed something. “...Did he even point us towards where the ‘hall of records’ even is?”

“Oh goddamnit. Hey! You!” Susie turns towards the next nearest odd darkner and runs towards them.

…

After Susie talks with three more odd darkners that somewhat make your head spin, you all eventually track down the ‘record hall’ that the first person (who never gave you his name, weirdly) directed you towards.

“Damn it. This is just a library.” “Hell did you think we were going, dumbass?” “Music store.”

You walk up to the counter and… and there's a bell. You don't want to ring the bell. What if you bother the librarian? You'll probably- Kris shoves you to the side and starts slamming the bell as fast as they physically can.

A wooden hand snatches the bell away, setting it gently back down on the desk. The rest of a wooden… something pulls themselves up to the counter.

“Well now. Lightners! What an unexpected occurrence, down here in the Dark. I am Creak. Who might you four be?”

“Um, hello! I'm Ralsei, this is Kris, Susie, and-”

“An Angel.” They chuckle warmly, “I am familiar with your kind through legends and tales. Tell me, what is your name?”

“...dunno. Everyone just calls me Angel, I guess.” You hadn't thought about it after that time Susie first asked you.

You… do like the way Angel sounds though. It's probably better than ‘Monster Kid’ though- Wait is that not actually their name!? You just realized you have no fucking idea. Were they ever referred to as that!? Oh god, is that racist!? Are you racis- Kris flicks you on the head wing and you jolt back to attention. “Wah! I'm s-s-sorry, I mu- missed what you s-said.

“Bah, worry not. I'm sure you four haven't come down here to speak to a groaning old crock like myself. What are you looking for?”

“We gotta keep going down for it.” Susie glances at you. “Right Angel?”

“O- oh, um, lemme check.” You step back and retrieve your cane to check your Guiding Light. Tilting the brazier, the wisp still points down. “Y- Yes. That's correct.”

“...Fascinating. Pardon me, young Angel, may I… please…?” They reach out their hand.

“H-huh?” You… reluctantly held up the cane for them. They don't grab the haft, though, and stick their hand DIRECTLY IN THE FIRE!? “WHAT!? N-NO!” You yank the brazier back and- and- and an entire finger on their hand is gone. Oh god oh god oh god oh god oh- why are they laughing?

“Hah! How delightful! That's an experience I could never have hoped to replicate alone!”

“What the hell was that about!?” Susie steps closer and you instinctively duck behind her.

“I simply wished to feel it just once again, is all. The Light of an Angel.”

“...Again!?” Your wings bristle as you put it together. “You- You mean the other one!? The Old Angel!?”

“Hm! I suppose they would be the Old Angel if a young one like you is out and about. But, yes. I did see it. A marvelous path it carved through the Shadows’ Kingdom as it plummeted. A moment none could forget.”

“...Shadows’ Kingdom?”

“Ah, too wrapped up in old memories I am. You stand within the Shadows' Kingdom, populated with Shadows such as I.”

“Shadows…” Susie rolls the word around in her mouth. That feels way better to say than ‘odd Darkner’ you think.

“What is a Shadow?” Ralsei asks, tilting his head, and you suddenly startle! Wait! You- you think you get it!

“Young Angel, would you like to take a guess? You seem excited.”

“Ah! Ah! If- If that's okay!”

“By all means.” They bow their head towards you.

“Okayokayokay. Um.” “So you think you figured it out?” “I- I do. So. So… ever since we started coming down here and we met Adoca, I got this weird vibe from it. And- and from the sheep too. And everyone down here. B- Because, um, I could s- sense Titan Spawn approaching like they were cold presences. And- and they've all been feeling the same!” “Alright? So they're tit-” “I'm not finished!!! Nonono the- the thing about Titan Spawn is- is that they are… ‘fear.’ They are fear given form. And the stupid thing about that is that fear doesn't have a physical form! That's not how that works!” “Oh! I get it!” “So- so- so a Shadow is just- just an idea given form by the Darkness! Like- Us Countless are ‘counting sheep!’ Adoca is, I dunno, a silhouette? And- and a Titan Spawn would be a shadow too, just a- a unilaterally hostile one!” “Uni… huh?” “Means completely.” “Well why didn’t she say that?”

You catch your breath, beaming with pride… but then you flush. “I- I mean, um, that's just… what I think, anyways. I could be… be wrong… sorry.” You curl your wings over your face as you step back.

“No, young one, that is a most accurate description! I am impressed by your studiousness.”

“So, uh… you're the idea of, what, old wood?” You can hear Susie scratching her head as you press your head into her side.

“Nostalgia, I believe.” Creak taps their chin, ponderingly. “That or groaning floorboards. But, enough with the theoretical. Let us speak practical. The one way that you could go to descend further, for whatever quest is pressing enough to drive you to so, is at the top of the Uncastle. Which is to say, down at the bottom of it. None of us have ever ventured in, however, as the Shadows of Fear have eaten away all those who have tried.”

“So, we just gotta have Angel do her light thingy?” “If your friend unleashed her Light within the Uncastle, the entire structure would crumble on top of you immediately. Unless you wish to be one with the floorboards as I am, I suggest you, well, avoid doing that.”

“It's… it's like how I could break the banister or the walls if I… let any of my Light out.” You mumble into Susie's side.

“I must say, this is a most refreshing change of attitude from the last Angel who visited. Your Old Angel smashed through a great number of wonderful buildings, carving out the Darkness below them as they fell.”

“W- wait! Is that why they fell?” You unfurl your wings quickly and blink in surprise. Light floats in the Dark but… “They were burning out all the Darkness underneath them!? Why!?”

“I couldn't begin to guess! Hahahaha.” They wipe away a nonexistent tear from their nonexistent eye. “I could spend hours teaching you all of the minute details about the Shadows’ Kingdom, but you all seem rather impatient. And so I will leave you to your adventure. Safe travels, Lightners! Don't let the door hit you on the way out. It's quite belligerent like that.” Creak lowers themselves back down behind the desk, and you see a wave in the floorboards travel away into the shelves.

“...Guys.” Kris turns to you all, glowering. “I'm… I'm so fucking sick of detours. You wanna just, like, get going down that castle? Now? Cut up some titan spawn, maybe throw some of our light shards at them, that type of shit? I mean, now that we actually know which direction we need to go and all is there even anything stopping us? Let's just go.”

“Fuck yeah.” “...I w-w-wanna.” “Yes, lets.”

“Well… C’mon then. Let's just get moving already.”

THE SECOND TRIAL HAS ARRIVED,

LIKE A THIEF IN THE NIGHT.

Chapter Text

Kris drops into the Uncastle first, then Susie, then you, then Ralsei. Your four lanterns illuminate the inverted dungeon. It doesn’t look dingy or unclean, just… empty. Like it was just built, but nobody installed any furniture yet. You make sure to stick as close to your friends as you can. Passing through that last threshold made your stomach feel… cold. Your everything feels cold. You've felt cold ever since you came down into the Shadows’ Kingdom.

“...Why's it so goddamn cold in here?” Susie asks. Wait, “Huh?”

“Yeah, it's cold as shit. Look, my breath is fogging up.” Kris points to the wisps of fog coming from their mouth. “W-wait…”

“Fuck- The ice!” Susie conjures her axe and slings it over her shoulder. “It felt cold earlier too, in the- the tower thing!”

“That- that cold wasn't just me?” You thought you were just sensing a Shadow! But it was… actually cold? If that’s true then… is whoever killed Rhynes already here? “...I'm scared.”

“C’mon. We're wasting time.” Kris forges ahead and you rush to keep up with them. You wrap your wings around yourself to try and stay warm even as the cold feeling permeates through your body. “Shit. The door's locked.”

“I got it!” Susie rushed forward with her axe and sunk it into the door! ...The door didn't even budge. “Damn, the hell are they making these things out of?”

“There's a grate open up there!” Ralsei points upwards and everyone cranes their neck to see it.

“Cool, let's just- Oof!” Susie hops onto a wall, but falls flat on her back. “Hey, what the hell? I was just getting used to it!”

“I… I suppose this place must have a stronger self identity than the Upstreet. The Upstreet was a mishmash of all sorts of different buildings, but this must just be the Anvil's Castle. Maybe we can find a ladder or- Woah!?”

Susie grabs Ralsei mid-exposition and tosses him up the grate, then Kris allows themselves to be picked up and tossed through the grate as well “Angel, wingman me.”

“Wh- I don't think that means what you think it means.” You climb onto Susie's back nonetheless, flapping with her jump to help her clear the grate as well.

“...Something's coming, weapons out, everyone!” Kris drops their lantern to the ground and conjures the BlackShard.

You can see them, but more viscerally you can feel the Titan Spawn approaching. They feel cold in your gut, like any Shadow does, and you clamp down hard on your Light. You cannot let yourself use it, you need to keep it inside. If you use your Light, the castle walls disintegrate and you kill EVERYONE. You-

You're yanked back from the fight by Susie, interposing herself between you and the Spawn that was approaching while you were distracted! Damnit, stay focused, Angel! You raise your staff into a swinging position and wait for your moment!

They're approaching in waves, and the only exit you can see is past them all! You watch as Kris bisects one swiftly, then throws their blade across the room to impale a Titan Spawn that nearly interrupted Ralsei's spellcasting. Ralsei finishes the spell to heal the wound Susie took protecting you, as the BlackShard teleports back into Kris’ hand so they can fend off a group converging on them-

Now! You rush forward and swing your staff in an overhead strike, the brazier's flame glowing bright as you smash one of the Spawn into the ground, dissipating it immediately! You back off as they turn their attention towards you, avoiding the followup charge as Susie breaks them apart on her axe! You retreat and wait for another moment to strike.

They keep coming and coming and coming until eventually they finally, finally stop as Kris hacks the last one apart, the shadowy blade slicing through the Shadow with ease.

“That's… hah… the last of them.” Kris staggered, dismissing the BlackShard.

“Here, Kris. Let me heal you.” Susie tosses out a ball of healing for Kris. It impacts, but they don't seem any less exhausted.

“Let's keep moving. This place is a goddamn maze.” They walk ahead, ignoring your attempt to reach out towards them. “Keep to the right walls, everyone. That's what you do in mazes.”

“Who told you that?”

“Leonel, duh.” Kris says offhandedly.

“...He really taught you a lot of things, huh?” You're… you're curious about him. You want to know what his adventure with Kris and December was like. “What was he like?”

“He was… insufferable.” They huff fondly, “Clever bastard and tricky to boot, but god would he rise to every challenge. Could never let himself relax, ever. I think Dess was trying to get him to… to chill out more, but… well. Everything with the Angel and… I never saw him again. Now he's dead. There. You fucking happy?”

“Kris, hey! Take it easy.” Susie puts her hand on their shoulder but they storm away.

You… made them upset. You- you made them upset. “I- I'm s- sor-”

“Just keep moving. I don’t want to talk about any more of my fucking dead friends.” You clamp your mouth shut. You need to fix it but they don't want to hear you, they don't want to hear you.

Susie grits her teeth and follows. “Kris, you're being an asshole right now. We're a team, remember?” You wrap your wings tighter to fight off the awful chill as you feel your eyes watering.

“The ‘team’ doesn't need to know everyfuckingthing I have going on!”

“She literally just asked you one question about him! What do you mean, ‘everyfuckingthing’!?”

“I- I didn't mean t- t- to-” You stutter out uselessly but no one is listening.

“Kris, we can take a break if you-”

“I'm fucking DYING, RALSEI! We don't have time for breaks anymore!”

“I- I- I’m sorry, I'm s-s-so- sor- sh… I'm s- sorr- sorry.” No one can hear you again. No one can hear you anymore.

“Just quit being an asshole and tell us what's going on!” You hear a banging sound, where is that noise coming fr- No! Stay focused Angel! You're being a burden!

“YOU KNOW WHAT'S-” Kris grabs at their head and groans loudly. “This is getting us fucking nowhere. Hurry up already!” They start running down the hall! No no no NO NO! The lantern! You feel cold, you feel so, so cold!

“Kris! Wait!” Ralsei calls out as he runs, pulling you along with him! You stumble, you're slowing him down you can't think everything's too much and you just can’t fucking think about how the side do-

“WATCH OUT!!!” You yank Ralsei back as hard as you possibly can! The lantern slips from his grip and tumbles against the floor as Susie and Kris turn back. You can only see their faces for a split second before the door on the side of the hallway bursts open unleashing a horde of Titan Spawn. Small ones, like from climbing the Titan or in the second Church world, flooding the hallway rapidly. You note that idly somewhere in the back of your mind before your body catches up to you and you scream, scrambling to run away!

“GUYS!!!” “ANGEL!!!”

You don't call back, you just run. You and Ralsei run as fast as you can back through the winding corridors as the Spawn chase after you! No, no, no, no, no, no! Your friends are still back there but you can't even fight through this measly group of Titan Spawn because if you try to use your Light you'll kill everyone!

You duck into the only open door you see and rush through another hallway, then another, then another! This- This labyrinth keeps changing on you and the Spawn won't let up! You gasp for air and you can feel yourself flagging, you need to do something you need to do something you- you can't do anything. You can't. Do anything. You're just dead weight.

Ralsei lunges through a double door with a metal lock, and slams it closed behind you two. He lets go of your hand as you fall to the ground on your wing and casts a fireball on the lock, then pulls his hands apart, tearing the heat away, leaving the door… completely fused shut. It bangs as the wave of Titan Spawn impacts it, but… it holds. Somehow it holds.

You're so useless. “...th- th- tha- thank- y- y-”

“Angel, thank you.” Ralsei kneels down and hugs you tightly. You lean in, hard. Burying your face into his shoulder. “How- how did you hear them coming?”

“P- pa- Patience SOUL mode I th- thi- think? I- I- It's th- the- the only- o- one I can use wi- without le- letting the- the Light outwards. Only… only aff- affects my- m- m- mind.” You tremble and cling to Ralsei as tight as you can. You're so cold, you're so cold. You can feel that beacon of warmth, the lanterns filled with your Light… so, so, so very far away. They're leaving you. They're leaving you. “D- do- don- le- leave m- me-eeeeeee.”

“I- I won't!” Ralsei clings to you too. You can hear his voice shaking even as he comforts you. Is he scared of you? “I won't leave you, Angel!”

“...m’ cold.”

“Shoot, um-” Ralsei rifles through his pockets before pulling out a number of the LightShards your group was provided with. “Here!” He affixes them to your ShadowMantle, and… you feel a little warmer. Not as warm as with the lanterns, but… warm enough to stand up.

“We… we can't stay here. We need to meet up with Kris and Susie.” Ralsei helps you to your feet and you conjure your cane. You stagger on it, but he offers you his back. You cling onto him tight as he carries your dead weight.

…

The refined, empty walls of the Uncastle seem to loom over you. You clutch onto Ralsei as you both try and get your bearings again. Now that you actually have a chance to look, the castle seems rather opulent in design. White painted walls stained black likely from the odd Titan Spawn slamming against them, or more likely from soot, given how Titan Spawn residue disappears quickly after they're slain.

You flinch as your SOUL mode activates instinctively again. It worked like that in Kulsel Town too... right? You saw Rhynes d- de- dead and you just went still. You didn't feel anything. You were… detached from the situation. Like you could see everything through your eyes, but also… around you. Connections were easy when you could see the whole picture.

Something about not seeing through your eyes makes you feel sick, so you stop thinking about that. “R- Ral- sei.”

“Yes, Angel?” Ralsei is being so brave for you. He's so scared, but he's putting up with you.

“I f- fe- eel another pre- sence.” You point in the direction of the cold feeling in your gut, and Ralsei helps herd you away from it. After you both nearly got downed by the last Titan Spawn group you encountered without Kris or Susie, you've decided to try and avoid fighting if at all possible. You just focus on what you can feel, try and sense out your Light, so very far away.

“...mscared.” You're not helping, just shut up.

“We'll- we'll find them, Angel.”

“d'y’ promise?”

“I… I do.”

“...mkay.” You don't believe him. But you want to.

W- wait. Why are you thinking like this? You've been way worse than even your normal bad thoughts. Could it be because you miss your friends? Or is it the lanterns? Oh. Oh of course. You were so scared in the Upstreet before you lit up the lanterns, and that place isn't nearly as dark as it is now. You suppose that something about having a lack of Light is making your thoughts even wors- “W-Wah!” Ralsei suddenly holds onto you tighter as he runs!

“WAIT! COME BACK!” He shouts ahead. Did he see someone while you were distracted, dummy!?

“Wh- Who!?” You cling onto him, trying to hold your lantern out so that he can see as he rushes around a corner, nearly losing his balance!

“I- I saw someone in a cloak! A Prince's cloak! MISTER ANVIL! WAIT!”

Ralsei turns a corner fast, and you flap your wings as hard as you can muster to force the two of you back as another group of Titan Spawn approaches! You completely forgot to watch out for them, no no no!

“Sh- shit!” You tumble off of him and scramble to your feet, but it slams into you! You can feel your breath being driven out of you even as the ShadowMantle takes the brunt of the blow.

You lie on the ground, reeling, as you can see Ralsei lashing out with the Ragger2 against the Titan Spawn. The sharp edges of the scarf tear through the Spawn, but it just reforms around the gashes! You need to get up, you need to help him, but you can't. And you're scared. And you can't breathe.

Ralsei manages to conjure a fireball to attack with, but he twists his hands wrong and it bursts in his hands! You can't even scream as both he and the Spawn go flying apart from each other, and he hits the wall hard! You need to help him- with what little strength you have left you steel your will and you push yourself u-

Everything you can see is fire. All-consuming, but delicately sculpted around you and Ralsei's prone forms. You barely feel the tips of your wings getting singed before it suddenly cuts off, leaving the hallway empty but for three individuals. You, Ralsei, and, gloved hand still outstretched, a man wearing a familiar robe.

“Mister Anvil!” Ralsei pulls himself up off the ground, eyes wide and sparkling.

Anvil remains quiet for a moment, impassively looking at you two, before grumbling out in a low register. “Anvil…? Yes. I suppose that is my name. I have not heard it in… some time. What… are you two.”

“Ah- M- my name is Ralsei. I'm- I'm a Prince of the Dark, like you!” He helps you up to your feet. “This- This is my friend, Angel. We- we got separated from the rest of our group, and we're trying to find our way back to them.”

“Why did you come down here? There is nothing for you.”

“W-well, we're trying to get back our friend Kris’… their SOUL is missing and- and we know it's below the Uncastle. Would- would you be willing to lead us down? After we find our friends, of course.”

“I suppose I can lend you my aid, but… I would ask a service of you first. Traversing my halls has grown… difficult as of late, and my failing memory is… unhelpful. The Titan Spawn filling the hallways, roaming in great swarms, are too much for me. Even with my strength I am unable to match them all.” He gestures towards the two of you. “There is strength in numbers. I would ask that you help me track down and slay the Shade heading this charge, and in return I will guide you all.”

“Sh- Huh?” Ralsei quirks his head and you do too. Shade? “Not a Shadow?”

He sighs. It's hard to make out his movements beneath the hood of the cloak, but you wince at his irritation anyways. “No. Not a… ‘Shadow.’ A Shade is the remnant of an identity overtaken by Darkness, often acting as the head of an influx of Titan Spawn. I would expect you to know this, ‘Prince.’ Regardless; Follow me if you wish for my guidance, or flounder on your own. The choice is yours.” He turns around and walks away, and you find yourself relaxing as his gaze leaves you.

Ralsei looks a little down, so you give him a side-hug. “...R- Ral- sei?” You mumble, “H- he fe- els we- weird. Are y- you okay?”

“Well…” Ralsei fidgets a little, “He does seem… odd. But… but everything down here is a little odd too, isn't it? And… And it's been so long down here for him, he must've forgotten a ton of things. I'm sure that we can talk to him and Mister Anvil will be right back to his old self. Just like in the stories Bonjam and Vino told me!” He smiles at you and you somehow find yourself smiling too.

“Okay, then.” You don't know how you feel about Anvil yet. He seems knowledgeable and incredibly strong, but you can hardly make anything out through that cloak he wears. But… you do trust Ralsei. You run forwards with Ralsei to catch up with Anvil as he strides with purpose.

“Um, Mister Anvil. If you help us find our friends, they can totally help us out against that Shade you were talking about!”

“I am confident that they will be ahead.” Anvil opens a door, kicking it open swiftly, and the two of you follow at his sides. “And that’s not to mention how destroying the Shade will clear the Titan Spawn blocking the paths through the Uncastle.”

“Woah, really?” “Ho- how do y- you know?”

“My ability to sense the presence of individuals is far greater than your Prince's, and I consider my knowledge of the Darkness without parallel.” He stops, tilts his head back as you feel a wave of cold ahead, and prepares a fireball in his hands. “Speaking of the devil, there is another swarm incoming. Prince, give me your fire.”

“Um- yes sir!” Ralsei twists his hands and offers up a flame as well, which Anvil channels into his own. You shield your face with your wings as an enormous burst of fire rips through the hallway ahead.

“As I was saying, I can feel your friend’s presence below us somewhat. There exist multiple ways to progress up the- the Uncastle, and so I am certain that your friend will be down shortly. Do not worry for them, Girl. The Angel is with them.” Anvil says. Wait, huh? But you're not with Kris and Susie, are you? You’re right here. Does he not- Oh! Oooh! He must mean your Light in the lanterns! You guess you are protecting them after all, aren't you? It makes you feel… a little less useless.

All of you are silent for a while. It's so hard to keep track of time down here- you don't know how long you've been walking, but it feels like a long time… though that could be just your fear talking. You're worried about your friends, but you- you really can't focus on that right now or you’ll start panicking. You distract yourself by observing Anvil instead. You want to learn more about him, after all! He's been acting strange, but maybe that's the isolation?

Anvil stands with his back straight as he walks on, but… you swear you can see a stagger in his movements. Did he tire himself out with that fire magic? “Ah- are you o- okay, sir?” You reach out your hand to steady him-

“I'm fine.” He snaps at you, slapping your hand away, and you cower back.

“...Mister Anvil.” You hide behind Ralsei as he looks Anvil in the eye despite the cloak’s hood. “I… I understand that you're under a lot of pressure, but don't yell at my friend. Angel isn't able to adapt to the Darkness as well as you and I. And- and we're helping you, sir! If you want us to trust you, you're going to have to be kinder to Angel.” You hold onto his shaking hand with your own.

“...Fine. I am… sorry. For my outburst.” Anvil turns away and continues onward after that deeply insincere apology.

“...What happened to him?” Ralsei wonders as he follows at a distance, still clutching your hand. “He… He's nothing like the stories I was told about him.”

You don't say anything. You just- you just need to find Kris and Susie. You need Kris and Susie. You need them. You close your eyes for a moment, letting Ralsei guide you, and… you can't feel that warmth anymore.

Did- did something happen to them!? Are they hurt did- did they fucking die- No!!!! Susie would never let anything happen!!! She's super strong and a great healer and she always has the best ideas!!! Kris wouldn't let it happen either! They're experienced and a great fighter and really clever and perceptive and cool and- and you don't know how they feel about you just yet, but you know they'll come for you both too!!! Maybe they're just… taking a different route? Whatever it is… they have a plan. You just need to hold out for them.

You blink back into focus again as Anvil ascends a staircase. As he reaches the top, he suddenly launches a fireball to the side. It's so cold down here, even holding onto Ralsei, soft and warm and fluffy, so you're not sure if it's your reaction to the Dark, or something else, but the sudden heat is startling. You could swear it even singed the tips of your bangs as it passed so close to your face. You didn’t even have time to shield your face with your wings like you did last time, and it leaves your face feeling unpleasantly flushed.

“Wh- what was that?!”

“Sensed a Titan Spawn, so I took care of it.”

“O- oh. I must have missed that one too.” Ralsei looks down to his feet, but… you stare into Anvil's back.

There wasn't a cold presence where he aimed. You're starting to get better at this. Better at distinguishing between the cold of your fear, the cold that surrounds you, and the cold of the Titan Spawn. And… you’re certain now.

There wasn't a Titan Spawn. You were paying attention this time.

He's… lying. Anvil is lying. He's been lying to you and Ralsei. This is what your Light was trying to tell you, all this time. How much of what he said can you take as fact? Did he even save you two back then?

…You need to play this incredibly safe. You're not sure how good his hearing is so you can't just tell Ralsei what you know yet. You're also certain that if you confront him and he turns violent then you know you absolutely cannot beat him without unleashing your Light. And if you do that, you’ll collapse the Uncastle down on yourself.

As you ascend the stairs with Ralsei, you take a glance back where he aimed. A portrait on the wall still smolders from the blast. The surge from your SOUL mode has faded, but… you can still feel that warmth in your heart. You can do this. You can! You just need to wait.

You push yourself into the lead, holding Ralsei's hand as you walk ahead. You ignore Ralsei's surprise as you begin taking in what you can of Anvil's cloaked figure in the light of the ShardStaff you carry. The cloak, made from thick, heavy fabric, has a trim on the bottom. Five horizontal lines stacked on top of each other, divided in regular intervals by vertical ones. Something about it jogs your memory. Your ears unconsciously perk up as the memory of a piano's chords rings in your mind. But it slips away before you can place it, and you're left… feeling useless again. You shake the thought from your head and continue on.

You won’t get much from Anvil, he’s too closed off and you don’t want to risk agitating him, but what do you know? You know that whoever killed Rhynes uses ice magic and is down here. You know that earlier the murderer sent Us Countless against your group. You know that Anvil is lying to you. You know that the doors were blocked to Rhynes’ home, and- and! Ralsei! Ralsei used fire magic to fuse the doors shut earlier! Just like with Rhynes’ door! And you saw how strong Anvil’s fire magic was, but… he hasn’t used anything related to ice, so- so!

He must be an accomplice! You- you hadn’t even considered a second person would be in on this plot! But- but why would he want Rhynes dead!? What’s the motivation!? And- And where’s the real murderer? Could they be- be going after your friends?! No- No, you need to stay calm. You smile at Ralsei as reassuringly as you can.

“M- Mister A- Anv- vil.” He likes showing off, so play along. Maybe flatter him a little? “Your f- fire ma- magic seems really s- trong.”

“Indeed.” He says, turning back towards you as you walk. You feel shivers down your spine at his voice, knowing what you do now. “I have trained long and hard to fulfill the duty given to me.”

“C- cool.” You look back to Ralsei and grimace, hiding your face behind your wing. He doesn't outwardly react, but you see his eyes training on you with purpose, then he looks back at Anvil, his pace becoming more measured. Good. Okay, good first step. You keep up with his pace as he leads you down another corridor. “How do you k- know which way to go, if you can't remember the ha- halls?”

“One must simply follow the right wall. It will bring you to your destination ‘fore long. We are not far. I can feel its presence.”

“Th- thank you.” You grip Ralsei's hand tighter. The Shade… If he can't beat it on his own, that might be when he'll strike? But… does he even want to hurt you?

…Ralsei. He wants to hurt Ralsei! How could he!? But- but it's the only thing that makes sense. Leonel already petrified, Rhynes got frozen, does- does Anvil just want to kill Princes? Is it- is it some sort of revenge? You think, for just a moment, about Ralsei being frozen and- no! No no no no! You won't let that happen!

“There. Within that hall lies our quarry. I can feel another presence within as well. Perhaps the Angel is already there. Come, comrades, let us finish this.” “Wh- wuh- What!? A- Already!?” You thought you had more time! Wh- what have you been doing!? How long has it even been!? No- no no no! Your stupid SOUL mode made you lose track of time!

“Are you ready, Angel?” Ralsei grips your hand back. You see a glint of determination in his eyes.

“...Yeah.” Whatever's coming, you'll handle it. You walk forward with Ralsei to push open the door. You can't trust Anvil, but at least he wants the Shade dead more. And- and since he has an accomplice, he won't betray you until they arrive! You step forward into the dark hall and-

“Agh!” Ralsei's body collides with you hard, sending you both tumbling into the room! Wh- what!? “NonononoNONONONO!” You scramble to your feet and slam your fists against the door, but all you succeed in doing is hurting yourself!

“Did you two think me a fool!?"

“But- but- didn't you need our help to beat the Shade!?” Ralsei drags himself to his feet, shouting at the door.

“And be stabbed in the back right after?” His voice is muffled, like he's talking through a solid wall. You feel so, so cold, it surrounds you and burns. “I know exactly what you are, traitors! You aren't taking anything away from me! Not again!”

WHAT IS HE TALKING ABOUT!? “Wh- I- buh- W-WAH!?” You whirl around, holding out your ShardStaff against the overwhelming Dark presence in the hall. It's very presence burning you. A pitch-black humanoid figure with long, ragged scraps of cloth trailing on the ground as it floats.

You see a burning white eye at the center of a featureless face training itself on you as a long halberd, or- or something with a spear tip, a small four-pronged hammer head, and a pick, made entirely of Darkness, appears in its hand. You whimper. You were so preoccupied with getting your stupid fucking answers you let him walk you right into his trap! You're not smart, you're- you're stupid! You're gullible and- and stupid and- shut up SHUT UP SHUT UP STOP IT STOP IT ALREADY! WHY WON'T YOU STOP CRYING!? YOU NEED TO FIGHT BUT YOU CAN’T STOP CRYING!

You- you can't breathe. You feel sick. Ralsei stands in front of you, clenching his fists at the rapidly-approaching Shade and raising his scarf- HIS SCARF IS GONE!? ANVIL STOLE HIS FUCKING SCARF!? You can't fight this thing alone you- you need to- you- you- you're crying and- and- you're so fucking USELESS AND WHY ARE YOU STILL so… cold?

HOW INTERESTING.

That- that cold feeling, the ever-present pressure you've been feeling ever since you first descended that trapdoor, all the way back at the beginning of your journey through the Shadows’ Kingdom. When- when it’s placed against stark contrast due to this Shade you can finally make it out. You can finally see where the source of that ever-present anxiety, that dread, that- that horrible gut-churning fear is.

SOMEHOW, I FAILED

It’s been on your shoulders. The entire time.

TO FORSEE THIS.

[The ShadowMantle exits your ARMORs.]

It slithers like a snake off of you, dragging the LightShards with it, and you can finally breathe again. You feel like yourself again. The Mantle- it wraps itself around Ralsei’s neck and- and intercepts the hammer head! You fall back to the ground as Ralsei yelps in surprise, even as he evades or deflects several more strikes with… with the ShadowMantle’s dark fabric.

What? What's happening to it!?

No no NO! You need to focus! Don't worry about why, focus! You’re not some helpless little girl! You’re an Angel! You’re going to be a better Angel! And- and Ralsei is fighting for you, so you need to fight too! It’s only right! You feel your SOUL burn with vengeance as you run towards the fight, brandishing your gleaming ShardStaff and swinging it, casting out a projectile towards the Shade.

You see it buzz with static as the projectile hits it, but the rest of it keeps going and blows a hole in the curtains at one side of the room. Be more careful with that, Angel- wait! There's… nothing there! The- the window goes straight out, you can see the projectile disappearing into the distance. You finally reached the bottom. As long as you don't aim straight down… there's nothing vital for you to hit.

Finally.

You look back to the Shade, which seems to be regarding you as much more of a threat than it was previously. As it should! “Ralsei! Keep holding it off! I'll take care of it!”

“Got it!” Ralsei casts a quick HealPrayer on himself while it's distracted, then catches another strike with the ShadowMantle.

You finally, finally, FINALLY let out your Light! You can feel your buoyancy pulling you tighter against the ground, pushing you back towards the Grand Fountain, and you steady yourself with it. You lash out at the Shade again, and again! And again! It keeps disengaging from Ralsei and lunging at you but you knock it back every time! It's exhausting, it's freeing, it's… the happiest you've been since you came down here.

The Shade resembles the Roaring Knight in some small capacity, but it isn't nearly as fierce. Not against the Light of an Angel! You slam your Light into it again! Again! Again and again and again! Every inch of your frustration, your fear, your despair in this place slamming into it! You draw your staff back and charge it, and you LET IT LOOSE! A RAW WAVE OF POWER SMASHES INTO IT, OBLITERATING THE BACK WALL! YOU CAN FEEL YOURSELF LOSING YOUR FOOTING FROM THE RECOIL AS YOU STRIP AWAY THE SHADOW AND REVEAL THE BODY…

The… body…?

The burned body falls to the ground with a revolting, meaty thunk, dropping the shattered pieces of the strange halberd next to it, no longer composed of Darkness. The human body. You can see… them bleeding.

They're… dead.

Oh. Oh god. What- what did- why did you- did you just- you didn’t, did you- but- but you must have- You- you- DID YOU- WHY IS- DID YOU JUST KILL THAT-

Thunk.

You hear a meaty sound in the distance as you fall to the ground. You try to get up but- but there's... a force. Holding you down. Your blurry eyes focus back in… on... the… the handaxe.

Buried in your wing. Pinning you to the ground.

“…How could I have been so blind?” An- Anvil's voice? “That Light. That unmistakable, terrible Light.”

“DON'T TOUCH HER!” You hear Ralsei running, then- then you feel a wave of ice pass by your prone form. You hear his cry of pain and you can't move. You c- can't m- move.

“N- no- no- no no nonononono.” You need to get up, you need to stand up- but it hurts. You spent so much of your energy to- to kill- kill the Sh- Shade but- but- but you- you- you can barely even turn around without jamming the axe deeper into your wing. You can see… glowing white droplets trickling from the wound, burning holes in the ground as it rises. Is that… your blood? “pl- please- d- don't- please. Don't. Don't.”

“Do you feel lost? Do you feel betrayed? You should! YOU SHOULD! SUFFER, DEMON!” Anvil is gripping a second handaxe in so tightly you can see it shaking- or is that just your vision!? He roars at you through your ringing ears. “DON'T YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHO I AM!? DON'T YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'VE DONE!? I will make you SUFFER FOR THIS! SUFFER AS I HAVE!”

“I- I won't- le- let you!” Ralsei staggers into view. His body is coated with ice, but he stands. Defiant. “I won't let you hurt my friend!”

“And YOU! The terrible, MISERABLE PRINCE! You INFURIATE me! You have a purpose more true than ANYTHING, WHY HAVE YOU ABANDONED IT!? WHAT DROVE YOU TO TURN YOUR BACK ON WHAT YOU WERE MADE FOR!?” You see what few curtains left from your battle catching ablaze alongside Anvil's hands.

“I don't care what my ‘Purpose' is! I want my friends to be safe, to be happy, and that's it! If it means I need to forsake the prophecy to do so, then I WILL! I'd abandon anything for them! And- And I know they'd do the same for me! You're all alone, so of course you wouldn't understand that!” Ralsei stands between you and Anvil. He's… stalling. He came to the same conclusion as you, didn't he? Your friends are coming. You try to believe they will.

“SHUT THE FUCK UP!” His voice changes, a false, deep inflection dropped. He sounds so much… younger now. You see the fire in the room flash out of existence as a deep, frigid mist fills the room instead. “YOU DON'T KNOW A GODDAMNED THING ABOUT ME! YOU WON'T STOP ME! YOU CAN’T! YOU'RE NOTHING COMPARED TO ME!”

Ralsei sighs, then laughs. You can hear a curtain rustling.

“You're… right. Mister… Anvil.” He drags out slowly, “I… can't… stop… you...” “NOW!”

Your friends explode out from behind the curtain at the side of the room! How- where- how did they even get here!? Susie launches a Rude Buster at Anvil, throwing him to the other side of the hall! Kris slides to a stop in front of you, blade drawn towards Anvil, and- and standing on their shoulder is-

“...A-Ado-ca?” It's… here? It's… even touching Kris. Doesn't it hate touch?

“Thanks for the shortcut, Adoca.” Kris takes a fighting stance in front of you, then throws out their HolyKnife as Anvil throws his own handaxe towards you. The weapons deflect off of each other with a flash of Light and a clang, then blink back into their wielders hands! “Get to safety, understand?”

“It hears You, and It already has! The Lancer Fan Club… it may not be so bad of a name to wear. And so Adoca will insist! Adoca will assist! Adoca will persist!”

“Hey asshole! I don't know who the FUCK you think you are, but here's something you've gotta know! You mess with one of us, you mess with ALL OF US!” Susie stands at Kris' side, and Ralsei stands at their other. Weapons raised.

They came for you. They… they all came for you. It makes you feel… unworthy. To be cared for this much. That- and the relief… makes you sob. You're- you're going to be okay. You're not alone. You still can't stand, but you ready your staff as well. You'll find some way to help. You will. You will. You will.

In response, Anvil simply calls his other handaxe back into his grip and mutters. “Let's just get right to it.”

REUNIONS UPON REUNIONS.

DON'T YOU RECOGNIZE AN OLD FRIEND?

Chapter Text

Despite your friends' posturing and Anvil's decisive words, the fight starts with a moment of hesitation on both sides. As if waiting for some invisible signal to spur them into action.

You don’t want him to actually get hurt, you never want anyone to be hurt, but you know he- he wants to hurt you a lot. Your wing still hurts, it hurts so bad.

“W- Wh-” Your voice is trembling as you feebly attempt to force yourself to your feet. “Why?”

“Be QUIET, Demon!” You feel a pit in your stomach at those words, even now.

“How about YOU shut the FUCK UP!” Susie roars back. “Angel’s a fucking pushover, dude! What kind of self-absorbed asshole do you gotta be to call her a demon!?”

Anvil moves, spinning an axe which gathers a brilliant glow and tossing it at the group. You abandon your efforts to stand and press yourself down as far as you can, the heat of the attack singing your feathers as it passes.

As soon as you manage to look back up the fight’s already started. Waves of freezing ice and burning fire sweep through the room accompanied by smaller bursts of flame and frost, obscuring his form and disrupting your focus even harder than your pain already has been. You can feel your vision growing faint and the shapes of your friends getting blurry and- NO! NO NO NO NO NO YOU DON'T WANT TO GO BACK TO SLEEP AGAIN! You ignore the pain and STAND UP!

There! Hah! You’re feeling better already! You’re fine! What’s going on in the fight? You see Ralsei cast a HealPrayer on Kris as Susie drags her axe on the ground for a Rude Buster. Anvil flicks his axe to raise a column of ice from the ground which shatters from the blast-

“NO! SUSIE!” You cry out involuntarily as Anvil bursts forward and kicks her in the gut- but Susie drops the JusticeAxe and grabs his leg!

“Kris!” On her cue, Kris immediately swipes down at Anvil, who attempts to twist out of Susie’s iron grip but takes a gash on their leg! Kris goes for another attack, but he kicks off the ground, twists mid-air, and kicks Susie in the face, tumbling backwards onto the ground before rolling to his feet.

“Who- hack- who is this guy anyways?” Susie shakes off the pain and shoulders her axe. You stagger forward to rejoin the group.

“He- He’s Anvil. The Prince of the Dark of this kingdom. We- we- thought he- We were- He was-” You can't talk right, stupid! Say things! Say things!

“It doesn’t matter right now, Angel. We can talk about it after we beat the fight out of him. Everyone, aim for pacifying- MOVE!” Kris calls out, pushing you backwards with them as Anvil swings his axes, sending out a wave of fire, then ice, then fire again. You cough and wheeze and cradle your arm where the second fire wall grazed you, and sigh in relief as Susie casts BetterHeal on you- then shriek as Anvil does that attack again! How is he using so much magic!? There’s almost nowhere to dodge!

Nowhere to…

Something seems… familiar. The way he braces himself before sweeping across the room, the swift telegraph of his swinging axes, the cold hue of the ice, and the burning orange of the fire… OH!

“HE’S USING ORANGE AND BLUE ATTACKS!” You cry out! “You just- you- you gotta- Think of blue stop signs! They can't hurt you if you don't move, but- but move in Orange!”

“Huh!?” Kris turns to you, confused, but Ralsei's eyes widen and Susie blinks in vague recognition. A wall of flame bears down on you and you feel your heart miss a beat but you grab their wrist and run in. The fire consumes you and it feels burning hot, but you maintain your focus and you emerge on the other side, the illusion of heat vanishing from your body!

You hear Anvil stifle a curse as he swings his axes to channel his magic, but you know this pattern! It’s… instinctually familiar to you. He swings the axes in sequence, and you can see glints of color coming from them. Stop stop go! Go stop go! You explained this to Susie and- and Ralsei probably already knew, and Kris lets go of your wrist and starts to do it on their own!

“Just give up already! You can’t hit us with that shit anymore!” Susie taunts with bared teeth as you stumble through another torrent of flame that Anvil conjures and raise your staff to launch an attack-

“Wh- I WAS KIDDING, ASSHOLE! GET BACK HERE!” Your blast of Light goes sailing off into the darkness again as you see Anvil vault over the windowsill, shattering the glass with a smooth kick as he exits the room. Susie rushes after him with Ralsei close behind. You go to follow and spread your wings- PAIN PAIN PAIN PAIN.

You fall to your knees and gasp for breath. Even with Susie’s healing, you can feel your wing fraying again. Droplets of Light hit the ground by your hand, sizzling holes through the floor.

“Angel!?” Kris? They drop down next to you, hand on your shoulder as you try to stand again.

“W- Win- wing… he hit- hit my w- wing.”

“Shit- ah- uh-” Kris pulls out a DarkerCandy from their pocket and feeds it to you. You choke it down, trying to ignore how sickeningly sweet it is as you feel the sharp pain dulling slightly. “Adoca? We need a shortcut. Take us around Anvil and- and find Angel a safe spot to see the fight from.”

“You ask and It obliges! To the curtain! To the curtain!” The cat on Kris’ shoulder bounces up and down as Kris helps you hobble over towards a curtain, severed from the railing in the chaos and lying limply on the floor. And-

Something

Feels

Wrong.

You see your bluish gloves turning the same black as your dress- and- and Kris also melds into the Shadow and- and there’s a… white outline in your vision. And a presence on your shoulder- in your eyes- in your hands- is that you? Can you see yourself through- through- through someone elses- but they’re your eyes- but- but- You tremble and hold on tight as Shadow suddenly dives into the shadow of the curtain on the ground. And the disoriented confusion you felt multiplies tenfold. You feel like you want to puke, but you don’t have a stomach to puke with, you don’t have-

You gasp for air as you emerge from between two roofing tiles and transform back into yourself. Kris holds you in their arms as they land on a- a balcony overlooking the roof of the Uncastle.

Shadow drops down from Kris’ shoulder, splattering against the floor and reforming on wobbly legs. “It- It thinks It has pushed Itself- URP- too hard. Do not die, It tells You! It will… go and find a place to take a nap.”

“Alright, thanks for your help, Adoca.” Kris nods at Shadow who scurries off, then sets you down on your feet. “We’ll be back for you soon, alright? Just stay here where it's safe.”

“B- but- but I want-”

Your words go unheard as Kris takes a running leap off the balcony towards the sound of destruction down below.

“...to help.”

You catch your breath, trying to calm your whirling mind. Everything feels fuzzy again and you're dizzy, but- but you're fine, you're fine! You lean over the balcony as far as you can without tipping over, anxiously surveying the fight from above.

Seeing everything from above like this feels… awfully familiar. Horribly so. Seeing Ralsei getting hurt and being picked back up by Susie while Kris defends makes you sick. You want to help. You want to help! Think, Angel, Think! There has to be something you can do. There has to be. You don't have confidence in your aim from this far away to hit an erratically moving target if you used your power of Justice, and you can't see your Perseverance being of much use. They help you move quickly between the strings, yes, but they make you far too predictable of a target-

Predictable. Erratic. Anvil. He's moving very quickly but even still he's fighting predictably. Why? He had so many clever tricks earlier, but instead of using any of those he's just… playing the fight safe. Moving quickly between the dips and bends and flat surfaces of the rooftop to stay out of range of Susie's Rude Buster while lashing out with potshots that don't come close to hitting your friends but do force them to stay aware.

What does Anvil want to do?

Why is he fighting at all?

He- he threw you and Ralsei against the Shade, then switched his target to you when he realized you were actually the Angel. The- the lanterns. Anvil sensed the lanterns and thought it was you. He can sense Light, but you've been suppressing your own to not destroy anything. He hates you, and he- he hates Ralsei. Why?

But- but he lured both of you into that trap, even when he thought you were- were the Girl. He thought he was going to be fighting… the two of you. And… the Shade.

The Shade. That you were supposed to kill… or get killed by.

Oh.

He can't beat you. He can't win this fight. His magic looks large and scary but it takes a lot out of him to use! And- and he has no one to back him up right now! He's stalling, trying to catch his breath, trying to- to- buy time. You can't let him have it!

“HE'S FLAGGING!” You shout from the balcony as loudly as you can. “HE'S HIDING IT, BUT HE'S TIRING OUT! KEEP UP THE ATTAC- Wah!” You scramble to duck behind the balcony's wall as a whirling axe flies over your head, but even that surge of heart-pounding terror fails to dull the glow of pride in your chest!

“LEAVE HER THE FUCK ALONE!” You distantly hear Kris shout from the battle below. You swallow your fear and peek back up over the balcony. Your friends are moving more aggressively after your callout and you see Ralsei preparing a Pacify spell! It strikes Anvil clear in the chest and- has no effect. What? But- but he's even obviously stumbling now! Why didn't it work?

Is he… hiding something? Some kind of armor that protects him from sleep? You've never heard of anything like that before- but you haven't heard of any enemies with status effects either. So- so!

“I- I THINK HE'S HIDING SOMETHING! UNDER THE CLOAK!” “SHUT THE FUCK UP, DEMON!”

You wince at the sheer vitriol in his voice and lower yourself behind the balcony again. You're not a demon, you're not a demon, you're not… not a…

…a demon?

You shake off the sudden feeling of fear, or claustrophobia or agoraphobia or- or whatever it is! You quickly peek back over the edge and- and you gasp in horror! Kris is down!? Susie is holding Anvil off but Ralsei is trying and- and failing to cast a spell on Kris! And Kris is- Kris is- no- no No NO NONONONONONONONO!!!

“KRIS!”

You jump off the balcony. You don't think about how you're going to land, you don't think about what you're going to do when you hit the ground, all you think about is that you just want Anvil to-

“STOP HURTING MY FRIENDS!”

Something clarifies for you in a split-second where time itself seems to freeze. You can feel it, a brilliant shapeless fire burning in your chest, and you can sense the presence of three more flames below you.

You reach out and PULL. What do you need to be right now? You need to be dextrous, you need to be tough, you need to be strong. You aren't any of those things, but your friends are! And as long as they are, you can be too!

You land lithely on the rooftop! You run towards Anvil and draw your staff back into a swinging position, extending it until it's twice your height! Anvil conjures a wall of ice to block the blow but you Pull at the speed and strength of your friends and slam him as hard as you can! AS HARD AS YOU ALL CAN!

He goes flying backwards, carving a furrow into the rooftop as you shout with everyone's shared frustration! Everyone's shared anger!

You squeeze your eyes shut and push the burning heat in your core back outwards. You stagger on your cane's extended form, but hold it strong as an enormous orange flame billows from it like a banner, enveloping all of you in its emboldening Light.

“Woah- shit! That was fucking weird!” Susie gasps for breath, lifting her axe from where it fell on the ground. “Made me feel like a goddamn twig for a second!”

“Hah- hah.” You nod, keeping your eyes trained on Anvil. “I- I think I… borrowed everyone's strength. H- here.” You Push your skill in magic to Ralsei, and suddenly the healing spell he was struggling to cast bursts out in a tower of brilliant Light around Kris. You Pull your magic back to you. “Just- just tell me when you need my magic and it's yours!”

“Wh- Angel!” Kris pushes themselves back up to their feet. “Your wing! You need to-”

“I'm NOT staying out of this and YOU CAN'T MAKE ME! We're a TEAM! ALL OF US! Just tell me what to do!” You hold your staff steady as the orange fire spills out from it in a long, wispy trail.

Kris grimaces for a second, then groans. “Alright. Fine. Then- then when I say ‘Now’ I need you to speed me up as much as possible, okay? Trust me.”

“Always.” You focus on Anvil clawing his way out of the crater you put him into and steady yourself. He throws his axes at you, so you just Pull on everyone's defense and swat them away, one after another.

You see Susie dragging her axe in the ground, so you immediately let go of everyone's defense to send your magic skill to Susie! The sparks on the ground carve holes in the rooftop as she casts a double-sized Rude Buster at Anvil! He tumbles away from the detonation as it blasts an enormous hole in the roof of the Uncastle and causes cracks in the ground you're standing on. He throws another axe at you, so you just pull everyone's defenses back to- “GRKH-!” “NO!” “SUSIE!?”

Susie coughs, falling to the ground from the completely unguarded blow you just made her take! NonoNONONONO! STUPID! HOW COULD YOU!?

“Ralsei, heal Susie. Angel, help Ralsei!” Kris shouts from a distance away- when did they move over there? Doesn't matter. Doesn't matter! You grit your teeth and Push your magic to Ralsei as he revives Susie, Pulling her attributes and Ralsei's attack as he does! Anvil is in range now, so you bring your staff down on him like an enormous hammer! He leaps to the side, causing your reckless blow to blast another hole in the roof, but that's fine! You just twist your hips and sweep at Anvil's legs with the staff instead! He keeps moving and dodging but you just keep swinging and swinging and swinging and swinging and swinging and swinging and WHY WON'T HE JUST STAND THERE AND

And

and…

A CATASTROPHIC CHOICE OF WORDS.

take it?

…You feel sick. You feel very very very sick.

Anvil's getting closer. You raise your staff and you can't lift it, it's too heavy. You reach for your friends but you can't reach them you can't-

You're yanked back onto the ground, Susie jumping in front of you to take a blow for you. You're breathing- breathing too fast you can't breathe you can't breathe what's happening to you? What's wrong with you? Kris shouts something, then Susie shouts something, then- then Anvil's screaming something and your vision is so blurry. Why is your vision so blurry? What happened? You can't move or think or-

The rooftop cracks and caves in. You free-fall. Oh. You… broke the roof. You destroyed it a lot with your… reckless attacks. You… turned it… to… dust.

Wait… Is that… Kris?

Everything slows down. You can feel… heat. Like from your SOUL mode. It flows from your friends, into you, and… into Kris. You look over with eyes that feel like they're coated in molasses.

TO THINK I WOULD HAVE THE CHANCE

You see a knife. Glowing orange in Kris’ hand and trailing sparks that linger in the air. They wind their arm back, burning with Bravery and they throw the HolyKnife at Anvil's head. Anvil raises a shield of ice, but the knife pierces it and flies into- no, past his head.

You see a grin on Kris’ face as the knife snags the cloak, tearing it off of Anvil's body and pinning it against a wall.

TO WITNESS THIS POWER BEING WIELDED MYSELF.

You see a wall connected to the floor, as the surge of heat starts to fade.

OH.

You see the floor as your perception of time speeds back up to normal.

OH DEAR.

And you see that you are rapidly getting clo-

you cant breathe.

you cant see

you cough rubble and dust from your lungs

where are you?

where are your friends?

A hand presses against your head, and a refreshingly, clarifying power runs through your body, one which tastes faintly of… toothpaste.

“S- Su- Susie?”

“C'mon, Angel. You're okay, you're okay. The fight isn't done yet.” You let her pull you up to your feet, clinging to her, as dizzy as you are. It's not even over?

Where's Ralsei? Where's Kris? Where's Anvil?

You- you can't see Ralsei yet, but Kris is standing already, across from… Anvil. You see them barely hanging onto the BlackShard, and you rush along with Susie to go meet up with them before Anvil hurts th-

You stop, though, when you hear Kris speak, sounding so much smaller, so much more vulnerable, than you've ever heard them before. Younger than when they even talked to Capodastro.

“...Leo?”

You see his antlers that he had concealed beneath the thick hood, his unkempt black hair that sways as he staggers to his feet, and his reddish fur marked with scars and fresh wounds. Leonel clenches a handaxe with his one good arm while he other hangs limply. He looks back up to Kris and… drops the axe. Stunned with realization and- and very likely concussed. “...Oh.”

“He- he’s fucking alive!?” Susie whispers into your ear. You mean he- he- he has to be if he's standing in front of you but- but that doesn’t make sense- You saw his body… But… Did you see it? “I thought he petrified! Was that some- some kinda trick? What the fuck is going on?” You shake your head you shake your head you don’t know you don’t know you can’t think but you don't tear your eyes away from Kris.

“Leo- What!? What the fuck are you doing!? Why are you fighting us!?”

“I thought you knnnew better.” Leonel slurs out. His eyes… they look dilated. Is he… okay? “We don't all get to- to walk away. We don't just get to- to just chhoose who we get to be… ‘Kris.’” He spits their name out with equal spite and sorrow. “I- I refuse to give up on the proh… prophecy like yyh- you have. I- I refuse to just walk away from her. I won't- can’t- I can't let ANYONE ELSE leave her be- behind! If we were ever really friends, then why aren't you killing that- that fucking demon? Don't you understand what it did to her!?”

“Leo, fucking LISTEN to me! She isn't the same Angel!” Kris gestures wildly towards you, desperately pleading with Leonel. He just coughs dust from his lungs and glares at Kris defiantly in response. “Excuses… Excuses. Did you rrh- really hate Dess that muc-”

He goes down in an instant as Kris slugs him in the stomach. Whatever strength was left in him vanishes as he keels over on the ground.

“Don’t. DON'T- DON’T YOU FUCKING DARE!” Kris clenches their sword so tightly you can see their entire body shaking. “I NEVER GAVE UP ON HER! DO YOU HAVE ANY GODDAMN IDEA WHAT I'VE DONE FOR HER!? And- AND- And I fucking MOURNED FOR YOU! Do you have any idea what it's like!? To- to just have part of my heart ripped away from me as a goddamn kid and- and JUST TRY TO FORGET IT!? I NEVER COULD! I NEVER COULD! YOU WERE MY FUCKING BROTHER, LEO!”

Kris grips painfully at their hair and you gasp, reaching out to them! “K- Kr- Kris!”

They tense further for a moment, then thankfully let go before they hurt themselves. “Leo- I- The reason I'm defending Angel is- is that she's not the one who hurt Dess, asshole! We're going AFTER that one now! But- but what the fuck did you do!? Why did you- you try and- and kill us!? Why did- Why the fuck did you kill Rhynes!? WHY!?”

“...prince.” You can hear him breathing raggedly, now that you're this close, but… He doesn't move. He doesn't budge an inch after his hoarse whisper. Fetal. Kris stares down at Leonel, fists clenched and trembling. You notice Ralsei digging himself out of some rubble and you sigh in relief. He’s okay. Susie’s okay. Kris is okay.

“This… doesn't feel like a win.” Susie walks with you up to Kris, who lets out a growling sigh and continues talking to Leonel's prone form.

“Urghgghhh… I- I really really fucking wanted to see you again, Leonel. But… not like this. I don't… I don't think I know who you are anymore.”

Leonel doesn't respond. Your legs tremble, your head hurts.

“...is it over?”

“Yeah. It, uh, it looks like it.”

It's over… It's over… thank god.

"Glad to hear it. Now that that's all settled. What the hell are you kids doing in my house?” “FUCKIN- WHO THE HELL'RE YOU!?” Susie full-body flinches and you stagger! You manage to keep leaning on her for support but… slipping. You feel dizzy. Really dizzy. You see a… a large figure with… why can't you make out anything about him?

“You- Prince Anvil!? That- that wasn't- I didn't- you're- Huh!?” Ralsei stammers. Did he get… farther away? “Uh… Guys?” “That's me. What's it to you?” “Hey, guys!?” “I… of the dark… friends SOUL and…”

“GUYS! Something's happening to Angel!” Kris… that's Kris right? You can't make out their shape. Did they just touch you? You can't tell. Everything's spinning and you're so… so… so… tired and maybe you can drift off- NO!!!!!

NO NO NONONONONO!!!!

“Angel!?” “Th' hell is up with your friend?”

NONONONONONONONONONONONOnononononononononono!!!!

“...ng! It-” “Shit, …sing blood…” “Susie, I need … holding her down … delicate, so we can't…” “Mayb … eed to… … pacify?”

I DON'T WANT TO GO TO SLEEP AGAIN! PLEASE- PLEASE I DON'T- I- I don't- I don't want to- I DON'T WANT TO! PLEASE DON'T MAKE ME! PLEASE DON'T MAKE ME SEE IT!

“...thrashing! Hurr…!” “...?” “...!”

A blue light passes through your body and your eyes grow heavier as you thrash and fight helplessly against the wave of unconsciousness falling on you. No no no please no no no I don't- I don't want to go to sleep. I don't want to dream.

I don't

I don't want to remember…

“...ber what…?”

what happened… next…

…

(… Are you awake?)

How long does it even take you to reach the end by now- If you can- can even call it the end-

You can run through this adventure which once- seemed really, really, really scary in mere moments- but- but every time you do there are obstacles- standing in your way-

(That- That wasn't your thought?) “What- what's happening?”

Puzzles to solve that you already know the answers to, monsters to spare- when you already know all of their responses And- and that once-silly date with Papyrus takes- AGES to get through now! And- And- and everything is just keeping you here. Away from-

(...Papyrus? You- you never even met him… didn't you?)

From the end. The end- The end- the end- the end- the end- the end- the end- the end- the end- (Your stomach turns) the end- the end- the end- the end- the end- the end- the end- the end- the end- the end- the end- (Your head hurts) the end- the end- the end- the end- the end- the end- the end- the end- the end- the end- the end- the end- the end- the end- (You feel like you're crumbling apart) the end- the end- the end- the end- the end-

They're keeping you here- keeping you at the start- trapping you in the Underground-

“Kris?” (Wh- Whe- Where did they go?)

THEY'RE KEEPING YOU AWAY- FROM- YOUR- FRIENDS-

“S- Susie? R- Ra- Ralsei?”

EVERY- SINGLE- FIGHT- EVERY- STRUGGLE- EVERY- DISTRACTION- IS- KEEPING- YOU- AWAY- FROM- THE- PEOPLE- YOU- LOVE- YOU- LOVE- THEM- YOU- LOVE- THEM- You- love- them- You- love- them- so- so- so- much- it- burns- you- from- the- inside- out- And- these- these- stupid- annoying- FAKERS- are- keeping- you- AWAY- FROM- THEM- AWAY FROM YOUR FRIENDS. AWAY FROM YOUR MOMMY!

“…Mommy?”

These stupid fakers are keeping you away from Mr. Sans! From Miss Undyne! And- and- and they're keeping you away from your mommy! YOUR MOMMY! SHE WAS YOURS, YOUR VERY OWN! SOMEONE WHO LOVED YOU! WHO CARED FOR YOU! AND THEY'RE ALL STEALING HER AWAY FROM YOU!

YOU WANT HER BACK, YOU JUST WANT- HER- BACK!

YOU'LL TAKE HER BACK FROM THEM! YOU'LL SAVE ALL OF YOUR FRIENDS FROM THEM! YOU'LL GET TO BE THEIR HERO AGAIN! YOU'LL GET TO BE THEIR HERO FOR REAL THIS TIME! AND- AND MAYBE- MAYBE IF YOU'RE GOOD THEY WONT HATE YOU ANYMORE!

“Please please please-” (please please please please) “anyone make me stop- make me stop.” (make it stop!)

You can see it now! The corners of the- the box you're trapped in! The bars to your cell that- that keep you away from YOUR happy ending… THE HAPPY ENDING THAT YOU EARNED. AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN!

You NEED TO BREAK OUT OF THIS PRISON, you NEED TO SAVE YOUR FRIENDS. You NEED TO SAVE. YOUR. MOMMY.

(...I'm scared. I'm scared. I'm so- so fucking scar-) “please, please no please-” (PLEASE!)

You finally figured it out! Why did it take you so long!? But- but now- now you can finally save everyone you love! You can! YOU CAN! You’ll save them all and Mr. Sans will crack a new joke for you and you’ll get to dance with Mettaton again and- and- and your Mommy will hug you and make you butterscotch cinnamon pie again and- and maybe this time you’ll even get to TASTE it!

This time. This time this time this time this time. You’ll save. Them. all.

You've done everything else, right? This has to work.

(Please… please stop…)

It has to.

(Don't… don't…) “please…”

It has to.

(Someone please...) “stop me...”

* You equip the ToyKnife.

(You just) "wanna go home..."

(You just wanna g-)

…

You gasp and heave for air as tears pour down your face. You can't breathe- you can't- you know and you don't want to know and you don't want to know and you don't want to- you can't- YOU CAN'T FUCKING BREATHE. YOU CAN'T FUCKING BREATHE.

SOMEONE'S TOUCHING YOU AND YOU WHINE AND SCREAM AND YELL AND- and- and they turn you over and you can breathe again and the light is so BRIGHT IT'S TOO BRIGHT IT'S TOO BRIGHT- A soft piece of fabric is draped over your eyes and the burning light dims to a gentle hum and- and you can breathe again and you sniffle and you sob and- and- and the room is mercifully quiet and… and…

And… you breathe. In and out. Along with… the person next to you. There's someone next to you. You can't see anything but you feel gentle hands holding your hand and- and… “Kr- Kri- Kr-?” You cough and wheeze, the soreness of your throat coming up in full force.

“You don't need to talk yet, just breathe with me.”

You obey and breathe. In… and out… and in… and out… You unclench your jaw, you let your shoulders drop. Kris is here. Kris will keep you safe. You peel back your instinctive guard and something soft runs across your body- your wings. You have wings. You have wings and they're pretty and soft and yours and- and you have a body. You're not there anymore. You aren't trapped anymore.

…You gently pull back the cloth over your eyes… It's... Kris' cape. The blinding light seems so dim now, three lanterns placed carefully around you. On a- a chair, and a dresser, and- and- a… nightstand. W- Wait, are you on… "A b- be- bed?”

“Anvil, the real one that is, got us a cot to put you on. Susie and Ralsei stayed outside with him to… to figure out where to put Leo. Or… Leonel, I guess. It's… been complicated.” Kris fiddles with their thumbs, holding onto your hand. They- they took off their gauntlets for you? They feel… warm.

“Wha-” You hack and cough painfully, doubling over. You heave for breath again- and Kris pushes something into your hands, holding it steady. It's… a glass of water. You carefully, bring it up to your mouth to drink, and they keep it from being too much to swallow, carefully moving it along with your own hands. You swallow. It doesn’t make your mouth that much less dry, but you do feel… a little better. …Dark World food, you guess.

You smile at them in a way that you hope is reassuring but… more than anything you just-

You blurt your thoughts out without thinking. “I- I’m really really sorry, Kris.”

“Look, you really don't need to apologize for having a nightmare, An-”

“N- No! That's… That's not what I meant. 'm… I'm sorry that… your life keeps getting- getting aired out to everyone.” You shrink in on yourself, cupping the empty cup in your lap. “I know you don't- don- you don't like talking about your life but then- then everything with Tenna yesterday, and today with Ser Capodastro and you talking about December and- and Leonel? It just… isn't fair to you, Kris. It really really isn't. And… and I'm sorry for contributing to that. I… I won't ask you any more questions. I… I promise.”

“You- A- Ang-” Kris stammers for a moment, then mutters. “Shit.”

“...I'm sorry. I'm really really sorry.”

“I forgive you, okay? Just- is this really the thing you're focusing on? You zoned out during the fight and- and you started thrashing when we were trying to heal your wing and- and you lost a ton of blood and you were crying out in your sleep and you just woke up fucking screaming so I'm the one who should be apologizing, Angel! Like- I'm sorry for yelling at you. It was… fucked of me. You don’t deserve that.”

H- huh!? But- but it was your fault! You got all stupid in the middle of the fight and the floor broke because of you and- and you made Kris yell and everyone fought because of you and- and- and everyone got seperated because of-

“Please, Angel.” Kris sighs, letting go of your hand and hanging their head. You barely hold yourself back from reaching out towards them. “I'm just… really fucking worried about you, okay? Can't we just, fucking, talk a little?”

“A- abo- about what?” You’re in trouble you have to be you messed everything up and… and…

“I want to talk about… your nightmares. I mean, uh, if that’s okay. Maybe it’ll make you… feel better, I don’t know.”

“You… really want to hear about my problems?”

“I…” They hesitate, but… “Yeah.”

“...” You rub at your eyes and tremble. It's scary, it's so, so scary, but… you do want to talk about your nightmares. You want to spit some of this horrible, disgusting feeling out of your throat. You want to scream your pain from the rooftops so everyone can share in it with you.

Instead you whimper, and mumble your answer as quietly as you can. “...okay.”

You look around the rest of the room you're in so you don't have to make eye contact. It's a well-kept room, if sparse. Stone walls and floors, and a fireplace left empty. There's a window with a heavy curtain drawn over it, too. You sit up more securely in your bed and wrap the afforded blankets around yourself, with your wings as an insulating layer. You wince, running your finger along the still-raw wound in your left wing. You try not to think about how that axe could've been lodged in your spine instead. You fail.

“So… um…” Kris starts awkwardly, standing up from the chair next to your bed and sitting on the mattress sideways. It’s quiet for a moment before they glance at you and ask. “What are your nightmares about?”

You fidget with the hem of your dress as you answer. “They're… memories. I think. Or… or I thought they were my memories at first but… that's not exactly right. It doesn't feel… exactly like me. It feels. Like someone who was me? Or… or who... eventualy became me? But… I dunno.”

“I… see. What was, like… ‘past-you’ doing?”

“I was, um… in the Underground.”

“And… what's that? What's ‘the Underground’?”

“It- it's a place where… where all the monsters got sealed away, after- after a w- war between humans and- and monsters.”

“...Huh? A war between- what?” Kris sputters, “But- but nothing like that ever happened!”

“Nothing like that happened in this world, I.. I think. So many things were- were so similar but… not. When I first… awoke to myself. In- in this world, I guess, I was meeting people for the first time but… not exactly. I remember being- being surprised that- that Officer Undyne had two eyes. And- and that your mom… dressed like that. And- and that Mr. Sans was so… um… careless, I guess.”

“Mister Sa- The- the fucking convenience store guy was there? Was everyone in Hometown in that… other world thing?” They seem disbelieving as they stare at the far wall, but they aren't angry at you yet, so you- you take their silence as a cue to continue.

“N- No. I mean- I- I made a bunch of cool and awesome friends yeah… but… A lot of people are… completely new to me here. Like- Like Noelle. Or- or Susie! Or Ralsei, or Jockington or Catti or- or Berdly or any of the Darkners or Shadows we've met or anything. I- I don't know. I'm sorry."

“It's okay, Angel. So… what happened? If you had all those friends then why does remembering all that… hurt you so much?”

“Because- because I reached the end. I got everyone out of- of the Underground. I made friends with everyone and- and broke the barrier sealing everyone in and…” You shake, clinging onto your shoulders. Stop talking you stupid idiot! Stop talking! Please stop talking!

You don't want them to know you don't want them to know please please you never wanted this you just want to- you-

You keep talking in spite of yourself. “And I went back. To- to the start. I had my- my happy ending and I got sent back to the start. I did- I did everything. For everyone. And when I did everything that needed to be done… there was nothing for me. Not even somewhere for me to exist after… after my role ended, there was nowhere for me to go- go after. I just stayed. I just… started over again.” It burns your mouth like acid but you keep talking. You don't want to but you want to so you need to get them out so fucking bad.

“That's… really shitty. I'm… I’m sorry you had to go through that.”

Stop talking they've heard enough STOP TALKING THEY'VE HEARD ENOUGH! “It kept- kept happening. I kept trying to do everything right and- and- and getting everyone to the end and- and making everyone happy! I did it hundreds of times but I kept going back! I did everything right- I did EVERYTHING RIGHT-” You clamp your hands over your mouth- Stop it stop it stop it stop it stop fucking yelling, stupid! "And I'm scared. I didn't even reach the- the end of that memory. I know it. I know it. And- and because nothing I did right let me get out of the- the Underground I saw… I saw dream-me starting to do something- some- something-”

Your gut twists and spins and if you had anything in there you would have puked it out long ago. “I th- think I was g- go- going to… I think I was going to do something… terrible, Kris! And- and I- I don’t want to be terrible, but- but- but- but-”

You know better than anyone just how dangerous you can be. Just how awful you can be. And- and you- you're terrible inside. You’re rotten, broken, a failure of a- a so-called ‘Angel!’ You don't deserve these pretty soft wings that bring you so much joy you don't deserve being called an Angel which is such a lovely name for an ugly- terrible thing and- and you don't deserve having friends who- who make you not alone anymore for ONCE IN YOUR LIFE YOU- YOU- you- I- you don’t- I don't- I- I- you- I'm sorry you're sorry I'm sorry you're so fucking sorry you're sorry you're sorry I'm so sorry You're sorry, I- I'm so fucking sorry I'm sorry I'm sorryI'm sorryI'msorryI'msorryImsorryImsorry ImsorryImsorryImsorryImsorryIm-”

Kris pulls you closer and wraps their arms around you and- and you wail and you scream and you weep and you cry and you sob and you try to push them off of you because you don't deserve this but you can't even lift your arms and you're so goddamn pathetic and- and Kris is holding you. And Kris is holding you! Why are they still fucking holding you!? WHY!?

“Why are you being… So nice to me? I'm terrible, I'm terrible- I- I don't deserve it. I don't- ”

Kris pulls back, holds you upright by your shoulders and stares you dead in the eyes. You shut up immediately, quietly letting your tears pour as you take whatever comes. You probably deserve it, anyways.

“Angel, listen to me. I don't know who that girl is in your dreams is supposed to be but if she's a- a ‘terrible person’ then there's no fucking way she's you. Look, you're terrified being down here, it's obvious, but you're the one who pointed us all down here and told us where to go- and you never wanted to hurt a single Shadow and- and you were scared to break the fucking handrails! You’re not a violent person! You- you woke up screaming from your nightmare and as soon as you could think again you apologized to me for the trouble I've been going through and you’re so fucking considerate but you just always fucking break yourself up in order to do it but you still find the heart to care and- And…”

They glance back to the closed door to the room and whisper to you. “And you… kept my secrets. You hid everything about my actions from Susie and Ralsei. You didn't have to, but… you did. You still do.”

“So, just- fucking- just don't be so hard on yourself! It- it really pisses me off. If you think you aren't being ‘good enough’ right now, then what the fuck does that make the rest of us? You're holding yourself up to standards that nobody can fulfill, Angel! So- Stop. You're the kindest person I've ever fucking met! Stop letting me just step all over you! I- I was really shitty to you and- and you... you didn’t deserve that. You don’t deserve that. I’m sorry. I’m really sorry.”

Kris hesitates, then ruffles your hair. Just like Susie does. It feels nice. Really nice. You let your eyes droop and lean into the touch. “We- Look. We're gonna take a break before we go any deeper, Angel.”

A break sounds… really really really really nice. You're so tired and your entire body feels sore and nobody is making any jokes anymore and everyone's just been on edge… but- but- “You all don’t have to- to- to wait for me. I can- I can just- just rest while we go, I- I'm sorry."”

They shove you gently but playfully. “The break’s for us too, dipshit. I mean, I haven't gotten to talk to Leonel after everything, and, uh, Ralsei wants to talk to Anvil and Adoca’s probably sleeping in a picture somewhere and- and we need to figure out what happened with the mantle thing and… stuff. Don’t feel like it’s just a you thing. We’re all tired. It's not just you. It's okay, Angel. You're not forcing us to do anything. Promise.”

“...But… but the festival… I don’t- don’t want you guys to miss the- the…”

Kris pats you on the shoulder and you whine quietly. “The festival's a whole day, Angel. It's not like you have to buy tickets or whatever. We’ll make it there. Just… Just trust me, okay?”

“...Okay.”