Let’s try this again.
Taking your job as the Royal Ambassador EXTRA seriously, you kept a close watch on the ebbs and flow of the election through your phone.
Major shifts on the timeline should already be underway. Your job was to spot any changes to the proceedings, whether they be subtle or obvious.
You zoomed your focus onto Flowey. Your floral friend tried his best to keep the contents of the debate with Ralsei unchanged from before. However, the cracks in his facade started showing right away. He nervously glanced at the camera, stuttered a little, and all around just forced himself to carry on as usual, no matter how awkward it got. You imagined the text in his speech bubble shaking from the nerves.
Ah, if only you could tell him he wouldn’t have to worry about getting shot in the face anymore. The threat of the Tsunderjudge has passed.
By comparison, Ralsei was much calmer and more in control. Tsk. You kinda wished that he’d crack under pressure at least once. Adults are gonna be adults, you supposed.
As for Dad? You observed that he remained… notably silent. Catching wind of some kind of deja-vu, he glanced around, alert and ears twitching.
What about the internet comments? You switched to the forums and started reading the posts.
Politics Bear’s segment, no differences. None whatsoever.
The second-hand embarrassment responses, also 100% the same.
Everything remained unchanged until…
WDGaster, (@Gaster666)
What in nine hells-- I was banned?! Who DARED silence me?!?
Huh. It’s that guy again. The fake Doctor Gaster!
But… Wait... Wait a minute. Why is it different?
YKGonanza, (@YKGonanza)
Okay, so, hear me out. I don’t think you were ever banned. In fact, you’ve never even been here before. Just imagine, a fake account using a fake name for a fake message about a fake ban.
No. That’s not right. That ban DID happen. And they shouldn’t remember any of it… unless…
…That person… That was the real Doctor W.D. Gaster, SOMEHOW accessing MTT forums from The Void itself!
Monsieur Moustache, (@Monsieur_Moustache)
The Doctor Gaster I knew of was a distinguished gentleman – may his poor SOUL rest in peace – despite never having developed a moustache of his own. My point being, were he still alive, he wouldn’t be caught dead on the internet. It would be beneath his royal stature.
WDGaster, (@Gaster666)
Egads, do you think of me as a perpetual fossil, unable to adapt to evolving forms of communication technology? Who do you think built The Core in the first place?! The very thing powering your social network!
WDGaster, (@Gaster666)
Know that I have opinions to share. Should my reputation tank by being honest, then so be it! Provided I can get past this stupid text limit. Anything below 666 characters is completely unacceptable!
DAMMIT OLD MAN, PLEASE DON’T DERAIL THE TIMELINE OVER PETTY BULLSHIT!!!!
Candle Lily, (@yu878rhj34)
New user alert. Ps. Day1 accounts can’t post links without moderator review either.
WDGaster, (@Gaster666)
You have my heartfelt gratitude for the unsolicited and interruptive advice. Moving on.
WDGaster, (@Gaster666)
I, for one, am a staunch supporter of King Asgore. And, no, it’s not because he allowed my shadow government to exist to benefit yours truly.
WDGaster, (@Gaster666)
Rather, I speak from the angle of practicality. Are you folks so insane to have a complete change of government in the middle of a crisis?! Do you wish to become sitting rubber ducks?!?
WDGaster, (@Gaster666)
A whole lot of rabble just drove to our doorsteps and tore up the borders! Chanting for our exile! Our deaths! They won’t be satisfied until we vanish from existence!
WDGaster, (@Gaster666)
What more proof do you need? Those fleshbags have not outgrown their propensity for genocidal violence since the Sealing War. ‘Might makes right’, so their saying goes.
WDGaster, (@Gaster666)
Even a cursory observation into humanity’s history reveals a constant cycle of war and conquest against other humans. If they had so carelessly trampled over their own kind, do you really think they'd spare us? The Child of Mercy is the sole exception, not the rule!
WDGaster, (@Gaster666)
Nothing is sacred to those rioting louts. They steal. They pillage. They destroy. The same today, the same tomorrow. I did not leave this mortal realm just to watch MY kingdom burn!
Fi fi fo fum, (@999000999)
i’m scared, i don’t want to call jerry, but i think we should call jerry
jerry, (@moderatorjerry)
hey it’s me jerry
@Gaster666 was NEVER banned
but @Gaster666 insists @Gaster666 was banned
awkwarrrd!
well…. I’m THINKING! if @Gaster666 says he’s been banned, and @Gaster666 is now mysteriously unbanned, then @Gaster666 is ban evading ka-SIGH
guess I have to go and ban @Gaster666 now
Delicia Goldsberry - The Winter Rose, (@MadamGoldsbery {MTT PREMIUM})
Don’t.
Delicia Goldsberry - The Winter Rose, (@MadamGoldsbery {MTT PREMIUM})
I want to hear what this man has to say. His boldness intrigues me.
Delicia Goldsberry - The Winter Rose, (@MadamGoldsbery {MTT PREMIUM})
I’d give him a month of MTT premium so he may speak freely. However, since paid accounts do require identity verification, his apparent demise does complicate matters.
Delicia Goldsberry - The Winter Rose, (@MadamGoldsbery {MTT PREMIUM})
Still, despite the peculiarity of these circumstances, @Gaster666’s distinct yet uncanny demeanour -- befitting the former Royal Scientist -- provides ample support to his claims. To that end, I believe he should remain on this platform.
jerry, (@moderatorjerry)
ok, whatever, you do you
just keep it stripe-friendly
WDGaster, (@Gaster666)
Ah, the esteemed Winter Rose. It is my pleasure to finally make your acquaintance. Thank you for coming to my defence against this authoritarian regime.
I’ve been told you too are a staunch supporter of His Majesty. Is this correct?
Delicia Goldsberry - The Winter Rose, (@MadamGoldsbery {MTT PREMIUM})
Yes, it is. Truth be told, I had prepared a thorough assessment of this unnecessary election. However, your sudden emergence has forced me to postpone its posting.
WDGaster, (@Gaster666)
Please, do not let me withhold you from completing your writing. I’ll wait. I am of Patience after all.
Delicia Goldsberry - The Winter Rose, (@MadamGoldsbery {MTT PREMIUM})
Thank you for the thoughtful gesture. Please give me a moment.
Delicia posted. As far as you could tell, her words were the exact same as the previous timeline.
WDGaster, (@Gaster666)
Splendid! Utterly splendid! You have encapsulated my position perfectly.
King Asgore has the strength to lead the country into the new future, and the kindness to smooth relations with those pesky paranoid humans. The best of both worlds.
Delicia Goldsberry - The Winter Rose, (@MadamGoldsbery {MTT PREMIUM})
Indeed. My family has always worried that us monsters will grow too soft during times of peace. Therefore, there’s a mantra we’ve passed down across the ages as a stark reminder: ‘If strength without kindness is cruelty, then kindness without strength is nothing but weakness. One must have both for many to thrive’. In Ebott, King Asgore alone embodies this ideal. There is no other.
WDGaster, (@Gaster666)
No other, you say? What about Sir Grillbz Grillenn then? His name was on the candidacy, if only for the briefest of moments. From his time as Captain of the Royal Guard, I know for certain he has both qualities.
Delicia Goldsberry - The Winter Rose, (@MadamGoldsbery {MTT PREMIUM})
Grillbz Grillenn? The Bartender of Grillby’s?
We are done talking. I hereby politely rescind my prior expressions of respect.
Jerry, you may ban him now.
jerry, (@moderatorjerry)
huh? did @MadamGoldsbery just ditch @Gaster666? hahaha! wow! what a fail!
banned
THANK THE ALMIGHTY! Gaster can’t derail the election any more. You were just about to report him under false pretences to shut him up. The timeline was already creaking from his hot takes alone!
Croquette, (@Croquette_Lover_12)
But… But… Grillby makes the best croquettes in the biz. Plus, he looks so, so, so fricken cool!
PizzaPizzaro, (@pizzafest)
You know how it is. Pineapple pizza ain’t real pizza. Some people just can’t stand it.
Not Red Lady Bird, (@RedBirdGuy)
…I’m staying out of this. I don’t want any drama.
Oh noooooooooooooooooooooooo…
You slumped over your phone. The ripple effects were already happening. Someway, somehow, the monsters would be influenced by this debate and change their vote. If you recall correctly, people were way more positive about Grillby in the previous round.
Delicia Goldsberry - The Winter Rose, (@MadamGoldsbery {MTT PREMIUM})
My apologies for the awkward situation. I understand that some of you may have preferred Grillbz Grillenn as a neutral third party in this election. Perhaps you may even be his friend. To that I say: to support him is a prerogative for which you shall not be judged. Please carry on as usual.
Oh. Maybe the timeline will sort itself out. What you need now was for someone influential to completely ignore the earlier fallout.
Politics Bear, (@TheRealPoliticsBear)
There’s always the option to elect him as a Prime Minister, if he’s willing. 0/0
Ah, Politics Bear, here to save the day.
Politics Bear, (@TheRealPoliticsBear)
BTW, that reminds me about an important detail. If we are crowning a King through election, our nation will be classified as an ‘Elective Monarchy’. Should we ever develop into a ‘Constitutional Monarchy’, we would also require a ‘Prime Minister’ (Read: not ‘President’). I will be running for that post the moment the applications open up! 1/0
That’s it… Glorious unaltered text!
Politics Bear, (@TheRealPoliticsBear)
Also, who in their right mind pays 8 gold a month for MTT PREMIUM? 2/0
Yeah. Never change, good buddy. You go, bear. Thaaaaat’s politics!
Politics Bear, (@TheRealPoliticsBear)
What can I say? ThaaWHYISTHEREAWEIRDSLUGCRAWLINGUPMYKNEES?!?
Crap, here we go…
You switched back into the livestream feed.
The screams of the audience drew the camera’s attention. People started jumping out of their chairs, trying to swat away multitudes of eyeball slugs. It was panic and pandemonium in the blink of an eye.
The Handler had chosen to attack the election site at last, just like the grownups predicted in The Hub.
King Asgore immediately took charge. He stepped down from the podium and brandished his trident. Upon his command, white fireballs weaved between the crowds, blinding the sluggy amalgamates with their bright luminescence. Excessive light was a Seer’s biggest weakness, and Dad knew this.
You turned towards Mom to gauge her reaction. She was as distraught as expected.
Back on the screen, Dad addressed Flowey and Ralsei. Both princes nodded to him in reply. Knowing Dad, he must have said something like: ‘Sons, get the citizens to safety’.
Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Ralsei immediately reached for the microphone and announced: “Everyone, please take cover in the Town Hall! I repeat, please--”
He cut his words short to duck out of the way of an ambush. Kris’ crimson swords came flying out immediately. The blades tried to slash and pierce their foe, but the little buggers either oozed away or coiled around every strike.
Soon the slugs crawled up Ralsei’s legs. That was when you saw the imposter’s professional facade crack through and through. He shrieked in such a high-pitched tone, he could have broken glass.
Fumbling about, the once mighty God of Hyperlife struggled to pry the goo away. With the swarm this up-close and personal, Kris couldn’t cut anything without hurting their brother. Normally, Susie the purple dinosaur would have covered for them at this range… but that axe-wielding gruff auntie was stationed to guard the Lab. She wasn’t here to help!
You saw Flowey yoink Ralsei away with his vines. He bundled up the goat and dragged him into the Town Hall. Ah, Flowey is showing his true smarts! Protect Ralsei first, and have him make a defensive barrier in the buildings. Ironic, since that would be everything against his anti-Barrier proposal.
But, was the Town Hall itself free of slugs? Most likely not. But you were sure they’d manage.
You recalled how Sans, Mezil, and Aiden had discussed the circumstances over the map of Ebott Town. Once bitter enemies put their heads together to come up with a battle plan. Their discussions were too deep for you to fully understand, but you tried your best.
In the end, they came to this conclusion: finish the Seraph System first, help Rosemary next, then gather all the brains and brawn at The Core for the final showdown. However, should The Handler choose to attack the election site in the meantime, you’ll be teleported there instead. Your main job would be to prevent monsters from going berserk. Their magic hits extra hard in a high-tension, high-emotion state. Not to mention that the hostilities alone may cause accidental casualties.
Right on cue, Sans appeared in front of you. The news of the attack must have reached his ears. “I’m ready when you are.”
As expected, Mom grabbed your shoulder. “Frisk! Were you not supposed to stay close to my side?”
Don’t worry, you already had Tsunderjudge’s approval to leave. Hashed out in The Hub and all.
“This is too dangerous, even for you!”
…No. As skilled as they are, no other human knows how to handle the monsters of the Dreemurr Nation. Not Mezil. Not Roger. And definitely not Aiden of Aratet, as he himself would admit. This is a job made specifically for you: Frisk, the Ambassador of Monsterkind, The Golden Quiche.
Understanding the severity of the situation, Mom let go of your hand without any further protest. But, before you could leave, she gave you one big hug.
The Queen of Monsters said: “Come home safe, my child.”
You hugged her back. Thinking of returning to your mother’s warm fluffiness fills you with DETERMINATION.
C’mon Sans, it’s time to ACT.
The short skeleton teleported you to a discreet alleyway and left. He didn’t even stick around to give you a little word of encouragement. It felt so unusual to see him rushing about. That’s how you knew the town was seriously in deep trouble.
Where were you anyway? It had to be someplace close enough for you to run to the plaza. You could hear the chaos from here…
Heading out of the alley, you spotted a group of humans. Ah! It was Aiden, alongside three of his elite warriors. They must be here for your protection.
Out of nowhere, Aiden said: “Take this.”
You noticed his speech and actions were extra short. Without waiting for your answer, the warrior placed a hooked dagger in your hand: the symbolic weapon of the Aratet. You widened your eyes in shock.
Paying no attention to your bewildered reaction, he continued: “The enemy can be destroyed. Strike when their fire burns. Go. Do what you must. My men will guard the rear.”
There was a lot of science that Aiden skipped over, but you trust his word.
…Directions, please? Getting plunked in the middle of the town left you totally disorientated.
Aiden pointed to the path behind him. Onwards it is! You dashed forward with confidence.
Further down the path, you heard a sudden cry.
“HELP!”
A nearby monster is in trouble!
Oh boy. A distressed trio of Loox, Parsnik, and Moldsmal blocked the road to the Town Hall’s plaza, harassed by an eyeball slug. Unfortunately for you, the slug’s iris was white.
Battle, engaged!
FIGHT - ACT - MARK - MERCY
* Eyeball Slug is caught off guard.
You took out your phone for a quick scan.
* ACT
* Check
* E. Slug
ATK ???
DEF ???
HP ???
* Being an Amalgamate, the data is not very helpful. Is it because their Eye is inactive?
The moment the slug caught wind of your presence, it conjured a spray of magical bones. You weaved between the narrow gaps with your fleet footwork.
However, a stray bone bonked Loox directly on the head, causing them to cower from pain.
“Don’t pick on me!”
In turn, orbs of retaliatory magic bounced within the usual bounds. The acceleration was way faster than you remembered. They struck the bones, split in four, then hit Parsnik’s cobrafied carrot top by accident. A poor little snake was knocked out cold.
“Don’t Be Rude”
The angered Parsnik flung snakes around. Snakes! Snakes! It’s raining snakes! They filled up the floor and prevented you from dodging efficiently.
Ack! One of Loox’s bullets hit you dead on. It deducted a whopping 5 HP from a single hit! Strong emotions really ramped up the attack potency.
“Burble burb…” To your relief, Moldsmal skipped a turn from fear. They quivered close to the ground, trying to disappear from the world.
* Eyeball Slug is being a small slimy bully. How dare they make this a three way fight!
You needed some damage mitigation. Therefore:
* ACT
* Snack
Parsnik, you’d like some snacks please!
Hearing the call, the carrot monster responded with carrot-flavoured snacks of Kindness. “Eat Your Green Tasty Snakes”
“Those don’t look very tasty…” Loox added, perturbed by the prospect. Their bullet pattern became an absolute easy cake.
You took advantage of the opening to grab them heals. Chomp chomp. Delicious! They’re 1HP per piece.
Pleasantly surprised by your action, the plant monster said: “Frisk You Ate Your Greens.”
Yes, you did!
* Magic is building up inside the jelly. Are they going to explode?!
Around that time, the tiny Amalgamate’s mono eye lit up in bright yellow.
Let’s try this one more time.
* ACT
* Check
* E. Slug
ATK 1
DEF 1
HP 1
* Unimpressive stats hide Eyeball Slug’s sheer guile.
* The oozing mini Sans appears to be analysing you with Truesight.
* Oh no. You completely forgot about Moldsmal!
Moldsmal released their gelatinous tension with a loud sproing, startling Parsnik and Loox.
“Hissssss”
“Noooooooooo!”
Pellets circled all around you before collapsing toward the centre. The pattern reflected the jelly’s feeling of being crushed by the world around them. You slipped between the gaps with your smooth moves before it was too late.
* The Seer’s Eye continues to burn.
Now!
* FIGHT
* Eyeball Slug
The slippery eyeball dodged your strike. What a huge MISS, drats! But… It’s not the end for you yet. You repeatedly smashed your mental button to squeeze in a follow-up strike. If it worked against Sans, it should work with this slower goopier Sans wannabee!
Your efforts paid off: your knife plunged straight through the slug’s pupil.
‘99999999’
Critical hit, overkill! The creature exploded into a puff of dust. You didn’t gain a single LV from that battle, proving to you that The Handler didn’t truly ‘die’. The slugs were just extensions of a single mind. The real bad guy was still alive somewhere else…
As for your monster friends… they’re not open to Spare just yet.
* The defeat of Eyeball Slug left Loox, Parsnik, and Moldsmal visibly shaken.
From what you recall, two of them sustained some damage during the scuffle. The gelatinous one even exploded. That must have hurt! Perhaps you should tend to their injuries.
* MARK
* Green
* Heal
The warm glow of Kindness mended their wounds and soothed their pain. Loox was relieved to see you, Parsnik calmed down, and Moldsmal wriggled in gratitude.
All three monsters have lowered their guard. Therefore, with your Aura of Determination, you chose…
* MERCY
* Spare
Done!
“Frisk,” said Loox. “Thanks for saving us. That slimy eyesore was so scary. …He kept staring at me.”
No problem. Happy to help. You encouraged them to flee to safety. Meanwhile, you must reach the election site for official business.
“May the focus be with you!”
“Take Care You Can Do It”
“Blub blub.”
You waved goodbyes and parted ways, then continued onwards to the Town Hall.
The more you progressed, the more you spotted familiar landmarks. Regaining your bearings, a mental map of Ebott Town formed in your mind. The hospital must be just around the corner, on the main road towards the Town Hall. From there onwards, there should be no problems reaching the plaza.
Looking back, you noticed your Aratet bodyguards tailed right behind you. You’re glad they hadn’t had a need to come to your aid yet. So far, so good.
But then, this sticky, elastic material suddenly grabbed your body! Huh?!? W-what’s this?! Purple-charged webs??? Is this one of The Handler’s traps?!? You struggled to escape.
However, in the midst of your entanglement, you saw tiny spiders dancing on the strings. Are those… Muffet’s subordinates?
Your Aratet bodyguards noticed them too. Ready to spring to your rescue, the sharp shrill of unsheathing knives resonated in the air. Aiden himself led the charge with his weapon raised.
NO! STOP! THEY’RE YOUR FRIENDS!
And stop, he did: right before he sliced up a handful of itsy-bitsy spiders too. The frightened arachnid monsters scuttled to your side, far away from the razor-sharp edge.
W-what a relief. That could have gone so wrong if you were any slower. You asked the spiders for Muffet, or at least a means to contact her.
The spiders plucked the web to send vibrations back through the strings. Not long after, Muffet herself came crawling out from a nearby tree, riding her giant cupcake pet.
“Frisk!” She gasped. “What are you doing here?! It’s too dangerous!”
You’re bringing backup to the Town Hall. What’s with the webs?
“I’m assisting the fine policemen, ahuhu~~ The baddies can’t run away if they get stuck. And if any innocents get caught instead, my spiders will carry them to safety. We’ve already rescued a few.”
Oooh. You see. Talk about a colossal misunderstanding. You thought it was the bad guy’s trap.
Please let you through! You’re here to help Copman Roger!
“The Commissioner? He wants nobody near that particular slice of hell, deary. And I agree with him. It’s a warzone out there. As grownups, our duty is to protect you, Frisk. Even us spiders have standards.”
Could you at least talk to Roger about the situation? Also, it would be nice to get out of the webs before anyone else thinks you’re in danger.
“I could at least do that, ahuhu~” Muffet instructed a spider to scuttle over to Roger. Meanwhile, she untangled you from her webs.
You had thought to run past everyone the moment you’re free. It was a typical children’s tactic, and what you would’ve done were you alone. But, glancing back to Aiden, you understood that running ahead too soon would put all of their lives in jeopardy.
Before long, The Police Commissioner approached you from the direction of the plaza. He stared at you in an oddly serious manner.
“Tiny Keeper,” he said up close, “Thymer sent you here, didn’t he?”
Uh, yes?
“…Looks like shit’s gone belly up sooner than I thought. Well, take a look for yourself at what we’re tangling with over there. Hup!”
He lifted you up high, making you stand on his broad shoulders. You now had a good view of the complete and utter mayhem near Town Hall. Monsters were firing emotionally-charged magic bullets everywhere. Both the Magi and the police force tried their best to rescue the innocents from the aggressors. ‘Tried’, was the word. There were way too many flying orbs, elemental splashes, laser beams, and other hazards to go around.
“You’re the monster expert, right?” asked Roger. The lack of heavy slang was instantly noticeable. “Then give me your professional insight. Is it me, or do half of your citizens look straight-up loony? And I don’t mean that in a cute way!”
Analysing the mayhem in the plaza, Copman was right. Too many acted ‘out of character’, as Alphys would say. The Handler’s presence had terrorised them to the point of frenzy.
Yep. Your people have got their panic mode on, alright.
Having seen enough, you asked Roger to put you back on solid ground, and he complied. So, Copman, any advice from a pro?
“Can’t do much other than holding ‘em down, I’m afraid. Though I’d be chuffed if you could make ‘em stop firing their built-in fireworks. Gives our spider chums an easier time webbing them up.”
You were sure that if you approached them individually, you could ACT to eventually spare them. But… what about an entire plaza of monsters? Maybe if you grabbed everyone’s attention… and dodged the bullet fest at the same time…?
Yeah, that sounds like a plan. Let’s do that!
However, despite mustering all of your Determination, your legs shivered from fear, refusing to step forward at all. Cold sweat trickled down your forehead.
Aiden pointed out: “Chosen One. I acknowledge you’re a skilled knife dancer for your age. But, you won’t survive direct conflict with this many. You’ll tire, and you’ll die.”
“Know your limitations, kiddo,” added Roger. “It’s one thing to slip past everyone to get from point A to point B. It’s a whole other kettle of fish trying to take them head on. I think this situation calls for ‘working smart’ rather than ‘working hard’.”
In other words, you need a method of mass-Mercy. Sure, you can do that, somehow. Your Aura of Determination alone was a little too unfocused. And, here in the real world, your Mark can’t do what it was capable of doing in The Void. Not without casting an HVM…
Copman, recognising your troubles, said: “You can always ask us anything. Us grown-ups aren’t as useless as the internet makes us out to be.”
Actually… you did have a question for Roger. Though it’s not exactly relevant to the present situation. It’s about Mezil’s family line and the whole Winston Curse myth. It had been on your mind since Rosemary’s meltdown, but you were constantly too busy to bring it up.
“Actually, that might be more relevant than you’d think.”
W-wha?!
“Let me level with you. At first, I thought this whole Winston Curse hullabaloo was absolute balderdash too. But, hell’s bells, I did a full 180 after seeing your showdown with that goddamn God of Lightning in Thymer’s stomach! All ears, so far?”
Yes, you have his full attention, slang or no slang.
“Ok. So… according to The Grandmaster, way back when -- a whole bunch of centuries ago -- my ancestor, your ancestor, and Thymer’s ancestor were all acquainted. As key members of the Knights of Berendin, they were the greatest buddy trio in the land.”
“Eldin was the muscle. All brawn, no brain. Big heart, and that’s about it. Wanderstar? Magical powerhouse. Crazy fella. No regard for personal safety whatsoever. Also all brawn, no brain. Didn’t even know the concept of money.”
“And then there was Winston. All brains, no brawn. Only reason you and I are here today is because he kept those two idiots alive long enough to actually have kids. That man… was as normal as a normie can be. Big on theory, small on execution. No superpowers whatsoever.”
“Apparently the magic pope wanted me to hear this story to promote teamwork between myself, Thymer, and his two assistants: your parents. Eldin, Winston, Wanderstar. Body, Mind, and Spirit. Each supported each other by complimenting their strengths and covering their weaknesses.”
Cool story. Interesting stuff. Very touching. But… how is all that relevant again?
“Getting there! Getting there! Hold your horses, sheesh. Thing is, ever since those days, the Magi have kept our three lineages on record. Useful assets for the future, I was told.”
“I don’t know what the hell happened back then, but somehow the completely ordinary Winston line got filed under ‘exceptional aptitude for magic’. The same category as you Wanderstars. Bonkers, yeah? Sounds like that lad got cursed, alright.”
“Thymer may try to deny it, but I felt my detective senses tingling from the start. At the root of his power…” Roger stopped for a moment to sigh. “…It’s gotta be a dark and ancient magic. You saw how he wore that crown of thorns and made weapons out of his blood. All super sus edgy bullshit, if ya know what those symbols mean.”
Vaguely. You’ve seen the crown of thorns on religious statues before.
“Anyways, back to my main point. From what I’ve seen, Thymer’s always seemed to fear his own darkness. He strikes me as too afraid to use his magic to its fullest. Can’t even cast a proper Curse of Death. ‘High Volition Mark’? Bah! More like ‘Hogwash Volition Mark’!”
Roger’s colourful description caught you by surprise, making you burst into a snicker. You quickly wiped off your smirk, though. This is no time to jest.
“Still,” the cop continued, “There’s one thing he fears more. Much, much more. The light to oppose his darkness; you.”
You pointed at your own face and blinked twice.
“Yeah. You. I’ve seen what you can do, kid. You can make miracles happen, both in the best and in the worst ways. Moral of the story is: you gotta be one hundred percent aware of where you’re steering. Know your limitations, but also your strengths. Get it? Unlike Thymer, The Wanderstar ought to specialise in spreading hope and dreams, not death.”
You… kind of understand what Roger was trying to say. Turning to Aiden, you asked him for his opinion. Are all Reds immediately Chosen Ones? Or were there exceptions like the Winstons? What do their legends say?
Aiden scrunched his brows, concerned. “The line between an Asura and a Deva is thinner than a spider’s thread. Demons and gods. Many warning tales spoke of Deva falling from grace, becoming Asura themselves. I once considered The Vampire to be one of those.”
“But…” he continued, “You have no other option than to invoke your divinity here. As I’ve said, your mortal body cannot withstand this battlefield’s worth of direct attacks. I just pray that you remain a Deva until the very end.”
Thanks for the advice, Aiden, Roger. You have a solid idea on what to do now.
You kneeled down, closed your eyes, and plunged your knife into the ground. You focused your wishes on your knife. Today, this blade won’t kill anyone. It will instead be a tool to cut through the confusing chaos.
You’re Determined to bring peace!
* MARK
* Red
You opened your eyes to take a peek. Your efforts had spawned a huge, red star. Yet, something about your magic… felt… ‘off’.
The people in the plaza grew agitated, especially the humans. They clutched their heads and yelled in defiance.
“No! You won’t!”
“Go away! Go away!”
“It hurts!”
“Stop forcing that on me!”
What the heck?! That’s the complete opposite of what you wanted!
Abort, abort, abort!
I-it’s not aborting! Your own magic refused to obey your commands. The inner conflict between your desires and your morals fought a tug-of-war over your might.
Is… is that why the Tsunderjudge always says ‘I impose my will’? He’s the kind of guy who refuses to sugarcoat anything, similar to Aiden. In other words, he was brutally honest about forcing his will upon others. Here you thought he was being edgy for edginess sake.
On the other hand, you had convinced yourself that you were doing them a favour -- for the greater good.
How naïve. Your cinnamon butterscotch pie-flavoured words went so wrong, so quickly.
While you toiled, you heard Roger and Aiden issue their orders in great alarm. You looked back to see the commotion unfold.
Tall, humanoid silhouettes leapt from the rooftops and scuttled out from the alleyways. They gathered into a small army, marching down the main road in formation. Out in the open, the sun’s rays revealed their skeletal features for all to see.
Oh no. Those were The Handler’s combat forms.
Battlecries soon filled the air. Police, Magi, and Gungnir had joined forces against a common foe.
Gunshots fired. Lightning flashed. Knives clashed. Bones shattered. Ooze gooped. Still, the skeleton army approached unimpeded and showed no signs of slowing.
Your hairs stood on their ends. Out of instinct, you dodged to the left. A flying bone attack whizzed past your shoulder and lodged itself into the road.
What the heck. They’re already close enough to put you in their crosshairs???
While Aiden cut down the closests few, he ordered: “Haza, Bhur, Rhom, defend the Chosen One!”
Roger followed up with: “Hold your ground! Don’t let those buggers pass!”
All three of Aiden’s warriors encircled you. Your safety had superseded their leader’s. Should you die, everyone else dies with you.
You can‘t just stand around and cry. Think Frisk, think! What’s the answer to your current predicament???
Then, your brain cells zapped together, pulling out memories from the internet debate on Mettaton’s forum.
The Winter Rose had said:
‘If strength without kindness is cruelty, then kindness without strength is nothing but weakness.’
Strength without kindness… You had just tried to impose strength and nothing else.
That’s it! By itself, Red is the path of a DEMON. You need all seven colours to work together in unison, as equal partners.
With a new outlook, you turned toward the folks at the plaza once more.
Humans.
Monsters.
You know that they never wished to harm anyone…
You know that they just want to live in peace…
Everyone please…
…Remember THEIR Hopes and Dreams, and NOT your own!
* MARK
* Orange
* Yellow
* Blue
* Green
* Purple
* Cyan
* Red
All in one. A rainbow for the people.
The warmth of Peaceful Determination rose upwards, radiating against your skin. The giant Mark had changed from pure Red into a dazzling prismatic shine.
Magic stopped spawning. Instead, those affected sat on the ground in a daze: both humans and monsters alike. It appeared that they were lost in a dream. Huh, did you make them fall asleep with their eyes wide open?
The Handler had a different reaction. The slugs spazzed out, fluctuating between solid and liquid. Some cackled in manic joy. Others sobbed, tears spilling out of their singular eyeballs. The skeleton army that threatened to snuff you out had dissolved into a disorganised, emotional mess of slugs as well. Aiden and his crew wasted no time, exterminating them with extreme prejudice.
Through your Mark of Hopes and Dreams, intense emotions reverberated back to you. It was as though the slugs had become ‘alive’ again, no longer lifeless puppets controlled by a master.
You sensed how every Seer’s Eye you saw once belonged to someone else. Their memories, their emotions, imprisoned inside their Amalgamate bodies by The Handler… never to be fulfilled.
If you destroyed an eye in this state, would it give you LV, and therefore prove that they were a living person? Or had the point of no return already passed, making them mere echoes of their former selves?
You teared up from the tragic, horrific implications.
In the midst of their emotional and mental confusion, the slugs vacated the plaza, and crawled straight into Muffet’s webs. The spiders got straight to work in cocooning the criminals.
From the trees, Muffet hollered: “We’ll take it from here, Frisk! Ahuhuhuhuhuuuu~~~”
Thanks!
Meanwhile, your display of raw power caused the three Aratet defenders to bow down and start worshipping you. How super awkward! What you just did must truly have been a miracle of the gods in their eyes.
Even Aiden knelt before your presence, his head held low and his hands clasped together.
P-p-p-p-please stand up. You don’t want to make a scene more than you already did. Leave the whole godhood deal for later, ok?
“As you wish, Deva Wanderstar.”
The warriors returned to their feet on your request. Yet, they kept their reverence in spirit, acknowledging your newfound status.
Aiden asked, “What is your next course of action?”
You want to call the Tsunderjudge. The Handler’s response to your Mark of Hopes and Dreams was very, very weird. It’s as if a massive secret to a riddle had been overlooked.
“Then, do so.”
And do so, you did. You dialled Judge Thyme’s number, hoping to inform him of a possible breakthrough in the case.