Chapter Twenty:
God Loses an Arm
"We should have asked if they'd seen Ball N' Chain Mama."
"He'd of only lied to us child-"
"Why?! Why would he lie?! What the hell for?!"
"Peace Heart, you are correct. We cannot make assumptions so blatantly Symbol, especially when the judged demonstrates that they hold manners in high regard," said Let Us Pray.
Symbol said nothing.
She and her daughter had been arguing since they settled down for the night in the laundry room and they had continued all the way into the afternoon, much to everyone's annoyance.
The Body was already sore from having to sleep on top of the washing machines and the fact that the clothes they had used as blankets probably belonged to someone now dead, didn't help matters.
Everyone was in a foul mood.
Blasphemy grumbled. "I don't see why we couldn't have just used one of the rooms upstairs. If there ARE any Fonts up there, we outnumber them-"
"One of us would of had to carry Goodbye Cruel World and need I remind you that she was unconscious? Her virus is all we have against the Fonts upstairs, we'd be torn apart if we continued without her awake," said Symbol.
"How can you be so certain when you allowed Papyrus and Comic Sans to go up ahead...?" Blasphemy was the voice of God. Loud and argumentative, he was in charge of giving sermons written by Symbol and knew every rule written by heart. He could spot a liar or a heretic from a mile away, though he often fought with the other members of the Body.
"I am not responsible for those two skeletons though I'm curious, what makes you think they'd listen to a thing I had to say Blasphemy?"
"Isn't Papyrus Black Widow's friend?"
"We're more like cold acquaintances..."
"Still, Comic Sans seemed to take a shine to ya'," said Sinner Script smiling.
"I can't imagine who wouldn't!" exclaimed Black Widow fixing her hair. "I am incredibly charming you know..."
"Old news Dollface, it's too bad the sharper is so protective of the little fella, you two would make a nice pair!"
Black Widow laughed at Sinner Script's joke while everyone else glared at him. She was glad he was a part of the Body, everyone else was so stiff and formal and bossy. Sinner Script was the only member aside from her that had no problem making jokes regardless of the situation they were in. He even dressed like a detective straight out of an old film, making fun of his own font in the process. She was the only person who knew he didn't always dress that way.
Whoever wrote those FontSearch entries was a flaming racist. Not every Sinner Script enjoys dressing a certain way. Fonts are people and different people have different tastes in fashion.
"Are you alright sheba?"
"I'm fine...just thinking about the FontSearch entries."
Sinner Script nodded and lit a cigar. He knew how she felt about the entries and about the CF in general.
Truth be told, he didn't trust them either.
There may have been laws that protected Fonts, but it was always protection from humans. They made those protective laws as bridges that allowed skeletons such as himself to cross over the barriers the little skinbags placed in front of them in the first place.
Buncha' grifters playing us for chumps.
Did those humans really expect him and the other Fonts to thank them? Thank them for putting a leash on his species and giving it slack? They shouldn't of been leashed PERIOD. He admitted that the feral Fonts needed to be treated as wild animals because that was how they acted, but the intelligent should be treated as intelligent. He felt sorry for all the Physical Fonts that had to hurt others...they wanted to keep their personalities but they couldn't without breaking some stupid law. It was sad to think that those Fonts were once human beings who not only didn't have to worry about things like that, but were also treated with more respect.
He knew that feeling VERY well. He'd spent most of his career helping people, solving crimes, catching criminals, and he'd even died doing it...but as soon as he turned Font none of that seemed to matter. All his accomplishments, all the favors he did for others, all the trust he had built up, no longer amounted to anything. He was no longer a famous detective, but instead a "filthy Horror." His friends who swore to stick by him gradually stopped talking to him, his own family...
There were times when Sinner Script wished for the old days, when Horrors were treated like they were at the top of the food chain...which they were, he was a human back then, but things were simpler and felt right. Everyone had their role in the circle of life and it didn't feel like he didn't deserve the things he had. Even though he was a Font, he still sometimes forgot and the guilt would hit him hard. He'd look around people's homes at all the things made from Ectoplasmatic Fonts and shake his head.
He found himself sometimes envying snakes and spiders when he saw them, humans never bothered THOSE creatures or made them work to eat, they just avoided them. He and the rest of his people had to eat magical food or human substitutes while the snakes and spiders got to eat and do whatever they wanted.
Equality my ass. Their coppers have plenty of johnson brothers in the big house, but they choose to give em' the electric cure rather than hand em' over. The world's getting too crowded for houses, but they don't wanna do anything about it.
If they were sent to hell they'd put on some cheaters and say everything was dandy!
"Where should we look for Ball N' Chain? Or should we find Papyrus and Comic Sans first? We know they went upstairs-"
"Yeah, last night. It's the middle of the afternoon Blasphemy. They're probably long gone," said Forbidden sighing in frustration. This was going to be a long day for him. A long day of babysitting a bunch of Fonts who couldn't get along with one another.
I don't get along with Black Widow and Goodbye Cruel World, Symbol doesn't get along with Black Widow, Blasphemy, or Let Us Pray...and the only one who likes Sinner Script is Black Widow-
"I say we dust out in groups and search the joint. We can meet on the third floor after an hour and spill the rumble."
"Sounds like a plan, we'd definitely cover more ground that way." Black Widow tapped her chin thoughtfully.
"Wasn't I JUST reprimanded for wanting to look around without World?"
"If there were any wrong gees in this dump we'd all be in wooden kimonos by now. We've slept most of the daylight away already. Just shut your trap, wear some iron, and you'll be jake," said Sinner Script blowing smoke.
"You really think it'll be that simple?"
"Duck soup bo, duck soup."
"Very well. Forbidden please form the groups if you would," said Symbol looking to her follower.
Forbidden sighed and set the groups up. Sinner Script would search with Black Widow so as to avoid getting "socked in the kisser" and Let Us Pray would be teamed up with Goodbye Cruel World as she had the gentleness needed to calm the Virus Font. That left he, Blasphemy, and Symbol to search...wherever.
"Alright, tread lightly everyone less evil hear you."
"Be careful Mama."
"Heed your own advice my dear child. Remember, the holy ones smile upon you and all of you as well. Keep your faith and you'll keep your life, the deities reward bravery and initiative." Symbol and her group walked out of the laundry room and headed across the hallway, into the cafeteria.
"A-are we going upstairs ma'am?"
"Yes child, Sinner Script was right about there not being Fonts on this floor. We must scout ahead and clear a path for the devout."
Goodbye Cruel World nodded. "I'll do my best..."
"Of course you will, I expect no less from you. You're such a kind young girl..."
"So we headin' for the petting pantry? The hot sketch said he burnt it down, so I doubt anyone's gonna plant themselves in there," Sinner Script smiled, remembering Sans. The little guy was a few cards shy of a full deck, but he had a laid-back air to him that made the detective grin. It was nice seeing someone stand up to them for once and protect the name of the ones they cared about.
"You're right, we should go upstairs with Pray and World and check things out with them for awhile. I imagine the second floor is all rooms..."
"Alright then girlies, let's blow this dive!" said Sinner Script raising his cigar in the air.
"We're all gonna die, aren't we?"
"Don't be such a flat tire, ya' got me lookin' out for ya'!"
"Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't you abandon Ball N' Chain-"
"That's old news Dollface, you skirts don't got nothing to worry about. I got my roscoe and the soul of an adventurer, what more does a sheik need?"
"Humble pie?"
"Well ain't you a laugh and a half?"
"Hmm hmm hm hm!" Black Widow giggled into her hand and followed Sinner Script out of the laundry room and up the stairs...or she would have had the way not been blocked by a very large angry looking dog.
"Shaving a little close there, ol' boy!"
"Grrrrrr..."
"W-where's its skin?! WHERE IS IT?!"
"Don't cast a kitten World, or you'll set the mutt off. Get out the bean shooters I gave you and point em' at the hound there."
"L-like this?"
"Yep, you got it! If the mutt jumps the track, fill em' with daylight and cheese it up the stairs. Remember, no matter what it looks like it's still just a-"
"GRRROOAAAARR!" The large dog roared at the skeletons and charged them like a bull with a rocket pack.
BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG!
All three of them unloaded their guns into the snarling beast, only to have them ignored as if they were pebbles being thrown by infants.
"Never mind, that ain't no dog."
"Ohmygod, ohmygod, ohmygod!"
"Use your font World!"
"How's a dog gonna kill itself?!"
"It could bash its head into the walls or something!"
Goodbye Cruel World focused her virus onto the dog, but it was ignored, the animal being far too consumed by its hunger.
"AAAHHH!"
"PRAY!"
Let Us Pray screamed as the dog bit into her leg and knocked her to the ground. The old woman shot bone after bone at the beast, but it did nothing to stop it.
"GRRROOOAAAAARRR!" The hungry dog roared and dragged Let Us Pray by the leg up the stairs.
"AFTER HER!" yelled Black Widow bolting up the steps. She could hear her friend's pleading from all the way down, loud and desperate.
"HELP ME! I BEG OF YOU!"
"GRRRAAAAOOOORRR!"
By the time everyone got up the stairs, they had lost sight of the old woman. They could still hear her screams, but they had no clue as to what room she was in.
"PRAY! PRAY, ANSWER US! WHERE ARE YOU?!"
They all ran down the hall to find one room completely destroyed, its door laying in pieces within the hallway. Let Us Pray was inside breathing heavily, her white robe covered in crimson.
"Oh no..."
"Where's the hellhound? Did he scram?"
That thing was as big as a werewolf!
"I..I managed to pick it up and throw it out the window there..." Let Us Pray pointed towards the window of the room with a shaky hand.
"Why ain't there bars on that thing?" asked Sinner Script scratching under his hat.
"WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT?!" yelled Widow incredulously. If Pray had waited a little longer they could have gotten to her before she got so badly injured, but instead she picked the dog up and gave it a chance to kick or knock her over and crush her old fragile ribs. She had no idea exactly what had happened in the span of those thirty seconds, but Let Us Pray was a mess.
"You should of saved your strength to fight it off!"
"I would have lost regardless, we ALL would have. I needed to get it out of the building...if I did not, it would have attacked you next child. It may seem silly..and maybe even a bit arrogant and rude, but I like to consider myself as your second mother. I didn't want anything to happen to my children..."
Black Widow shook her head. It should of been her. If it had bitten her, it might have even died from the poison in her ectoplasm...
"Please, my children...come closer. I have a request to make of you..."
"Her HP is gone..." said World sadly. The others looked at her stats and found she was right.
Let Us Pray was slowly turning to dust.
"No...no! No, you can't leave! We need you! The whole world needs you! Don't you want to help us save the world?! You said you'd help us!" Black Widow rushed to Pray's side and held her hand, tears falling from her dead eyes. When she was younger, Let Us Pray would often look after her whenever she and her mother had a fight. She would often comfort her and she couldn't remember a time when she had ever taken her mama's side. Let Us Pray wasn't like most adults, she didn't follow her mama blindly or try and stay out of things like everyone else, she cared for Black Widow regardless of what species she was and didn't bend to peer pressure. She could always count on Let Us Pray to make her feel better and so could everyone else.
It was mean to wish, but sometimes she WANTED her to be her mother. She wanted someone in her life that would take her seriously and speak honestly when the truth wasn't harmful. She wanted to be able to go somewhere without her mother making a scene...just once.
"I don't wanna lose you! *Sob* PLEASE!"
"My child, everyone has a time to go and my time is now."
"No...this isn't fair!"
Not her...
"It may not be fair, but it is the rule the holy ones have set for us. I've lived a long life and I cherish every second of it that I spent with all of you..."
"Pray..."
"I need you to do something for me child...will you listen?"
Black Widow nodded.
She would do anything for her closest friend.
She owed it to her to do everything she could. She would make whatever request was made her life's mission if she had to!
"Everyone is..so concerned with us Fonts...I fear we have forgotten all about the monsters and THEIR plight."
Oh that's right! The monsters got trapped under Mt. Ebott didn't they?
"These poor souls...they live in captivity and the population there must be stifling. They don't...have the luxuries we have. Their technology is so limited, they can't even connect to our internet child. That's how much they suffer."
She's right. We've been so caught up with saving the world, we forgot about the other people suffering within it. Everyone is either focused on the well-being of Fonts or humans...no one has even given the monsters a second thought.
"What can we do?"
"There...was once a time in human history where technology hit a boom. From nineteen thirty-three to nineteen forty-five, many medical and technological discoveries were made by a certain group of humans in a place called Germany."
"O-okay..."
That's so far away...will the group even help us? Is the group even still together or have they long since disbanded? What if they don't speak English?
Black Widow shook her head internally. It didn't matter. With the help of the rest of the Body, she could do it. It wouldn't be hard to find a translator and...
Papyrus can make people do what he wants with a single lie. All he has to do is say "you want to help the monsters" and they'll do it. Papyrus SAID he wanted to help the world...I think.
Did he say help the world, or just free Horror?
I can't remember...
"I'm not asking you to find this group, my child..I only wish for you to copy their techniques. The group is gone, but their history remains."
"Oh good, it would have been tough getting to Germany, not that I wouldn't of tried of course."
Pray smiled. "I know you'd of tried. You always work hard to do what you feel is right and to help others less fortunate. You've no idea how proud I am of you. If your mother's font weren't Symbol, I imagine she'd be the same way."
"You really think so?"
"I know so. There are some Fonts who are enslaved by their very nature as if born with a disability. Your mother is one of those Fonts. Do not turn from her my child, no matter what she says or does, she loves you and she NEEDS you..."
Black Widow nodded. Let Us Pray was right about this too. It made her wonder about the feral Fonts out there and what they might be feeling on the inside as their font controlled their actions like a puppet master. She would have to find a way to help them after the monsters.
"Tell me more about this group, I want to do everything I can."
She's turning to dust so quickly...
"This group gave humans a lot of what they have today although most will never admit it. Because that group put their own feelings and morals aside many people have cheated death when they would have otherwise perished. Their experiments we're cruel but they were beneficial to mankind-"
"Is this old bird talking about the holocaust? It sounds like she's talking about the holocaust."
"The monsters are a kind but weak species...they need a technological boom or the humans will one day wipe them out. I believe you Widow, have what it takes to make this a reality."
"..."
"I've known you since you were a little girl. Your heart is pure and your mind is sharp. You've the will and kindness to put your own feelings aside and help these poor souls, I know you do! You are a natural born leader with all the important qualities your mother lacks due to her font."
Let Us Pray grabbed Black Widow's dress with both hands.
"Please Widow! Start another holocaust! Do what I could not and save these innocent defenseless creatures! It doesn't matter who you victimize, make something up that sounds convincing and people will follow you! I know you can do it my child, I..believe...in..you..."
FLOOSH!
"..."
"Dollface?"
"..."