Chapter 21: Showtime!
"Fight?" Copi echoed in confusion. "Italic, don't joke. I thought you're trying to STOP me fighting!"
"I'm being perfectly serious, Copi." He responded. "I will fight you, you will fight me, and hopefully you will learn something from it. Now then, let us begin!"
Suddenly, a spotlight fell on him from nowhere. "Ladies and gentlemen! Monsters and...other monsters! Today, I present to you, a spectacular show! The magnificent Magical Italic Battle! And our contestant today, is none other then the one, the only, Copi!" A spotlight also fell on Copi, blinding him for a moment.
'Where are those coming from?' Copi couldn't help but think. 'But seriously...he's treating this like a show, not a fight! Does he really want to do this?'
"I know it is polite to let the guest go first, but if it is okay, I will be taking the first move!" Italic decided. "For my first attack...the Spectacular Smoke Slap! 3...2...1!"
Suddenly, Italic disappeared in a puff of smoke, and reappeared in an identical smoke puff in front of the flat monster so fast it caused them to flinch in shock. They didn't have time to react as the monster slapped them across the face with their large hand using surprising force, sending them flying across the ground and crashing painfully onto their back.
"Ta-da!" Italic bowed, as an applause came out of nowhere.
Copi staggered to their feet, still in a daze, clutching their stinging cheek. "Ouch...that, really hurt!"
"I told you, Copi. This is a battle. I'm not holding anything back." Italic reminded him. "So, now it's your turn. What will you do?"
Copi grit their teeth. "Fine! You want a fight!? I'll fight you!"
With a battle cry, Copi jumped towards him and retracted their arm, before launching a powerful punch, that Italic easily stepped away from to avoid.
"That was quite a reckless move." Italic chided him.
Angered, Copi spun around and threw a left hook which Italic jumped away to avoid, doing a stylish backflip in the process, earning another round of clapping from nowhere.
"Thank you, thank you, I think you've used up your turn, Copi. Which means it is time for act two!" Italic commented. "For my next trick, I shall perform a good old fashioned hat trick!" He then popped his hat off of his head and reached a hand inside of it...which in a way was sticking his hand in his own head.
'I'll attack him whilst he's distracted!' Copi thought as they charged forward, both fists at the ready.
But just as they came close, Italic pulled a giant black hammer out of his hat with silly faces on each side of the head, which he then promptly swung into Copi's face, which would have flattened it if it wasn't already flat, before launching them back across the ground so hard they fell into the water with a splash. Dizzy from the impact and losing sense of direction in the water, Copi shot out one of their hands and luckily managed to grab the ledge, pulling themselves out of the water spluttering.
"Behold! The Hammer Hat Trick!" Italic played to the nonexistent crowd. "It appears our contestant is a bit wet thanks to that. Well, nothing like water to wash away sins."
"Aaaaaaahhhhhh!" An angered Copi folded both their hands into daggers and charged at Italic, swinging wildly with an intent to kill, as the magician once again easily stepped around the slashes and stabs.
"My, my, Copi! What a scary face you're making! You shouldn't be looking so mad in a show like this!" As Copi swung their right dagger down, Italic caught it inbetween his fingers, making Copi freeze to stare in shock. "You should be performing with a smile on your face, like this!" His hat did indeed smile, before he smashed Copi forcefully into the ground, leaving a small crater as their body crumpled up from the damage.
Copi staggered to their feet as an applause once again came out of nowhere. 'Nothing I do is working...just what is he trying to teach me like this? Don't attack so recklessly?'
"Now it is time for the third act!" Italic narrated, as he suddenly pulled a deck of cards out of his sleeve, shuffling them. The backs of the cards appeared to have smiling faces on them. "What is a magic show without a card trick, after all? But, dear audience, if you think this is a simple card guess then you are oh so wrong! Behold, as I perform the Card Dance Switch Trick!"
Italic tossed the cards into the air, and they stayed suspended in the air, as if frozen in time, before they all turned towards Copi and fired towards them. Startled, Copi was sliced in the arms and legs by the sharp cards before they managed to jump away. The cards then circled in the air, as if they were sentient, before diving towards Copi again, who curled up into a cylinder to roll away as the cards gave chase.
Copi swerved around as the cards threw themselves into the ground around them. Thinking quickly, the monster did a U-turn and sped towards Italic.
"Oh? Coming this way? Let us see what you plan, then!" Italic said as he wielded his hammer.
As Copi came close, Italic swung, but the monster instantly uncurled themselves and jumpeds over the magician, causing the cards that had been chasing them to fly towards him instaed. Instinctively Italic held out their hands, causing the cards to burst into puffs of smoke which white doves emerged from, causing another clapping session as the two combatants faced each other.
"Not bad, Copi! That was a very good trick!" Italic praised. "But now it's time for the follow-up surprise! 3...2...1!"
Italic clicked his fingers, and suddenly the white doves disappeared in puffs of smoke, and cartoon bombs with silly faces on them began falling down. Copi jumped back as they fell to the ground and exploded, shielding themselves from the debris with their arms, when Italic swung his hammer and hit a bomb like a golf ball, causing it to fly forward and hit Copi full-on, engulfing them in an explosion as their charred body fluttered to the ground.
"And that could very well be considered act four of our show." Italic nodded as he tipped his hat. "Let's check on our contestant, shall we folks? How are you doing, Copi?...Copi?" When there was no response, Italic hurried over to them with a worried expression on his hat. "Oh no! I didn't did I? I thought they could take that!"
"I..." He stopped as he heard a mumble, and slowly, Copi pushed themselves up into a standing position, to reveal..
That they had a big grin on their face. "Our show isn't done yet!"
Italic look surprised for a moment, before he regained his cheerful face. "That's the spirit! Now, it's time for us to enter our final act! Here we go, Copi!" Italic held their hammer back, as Copi bunched their arms up, the two clashed in a big burst of strength, before Copi's arms suddenly shot forward using their built-up energy, causing the other side of the hammer to hit Italic in the face, making him comically cry out as little stars spun around his head.
'I think I'm beginning to understand, Italic.' Copi thought as he recovered and threw some cards at him. 'Everything that I've done up until now...' Copi ran forward with both hands as daggers, as Italic snapped his fingers and caused the cards to turn into bombs. 'Everybody I've fought up until now...' Copi jumped and rolled themself up into a thin strip, allowing them to pass by the bombs before uncurling them self and clashing with Italic again.
'Toriel fought because she was trying to save us...' Copi and Italic continued to clash again and again, neither of them giving an inch as the waterfall cam crashing down, as if it was enjoying the show. 'Papyrus fought because he wanted to be a member of the Royal Guard...' Italic's hat suddenly popped open, as a burst of red light fired from it up into the sky. 'Undyne fought for everybody's future...'
The red light burst into multicoloured fireworks that began falling down. Copi quickly jumped back and forth, swerving around the fireworks as Italic did the same, colours flashing all around them in a beautiful array of light.
'I finally understand!' Copi jumped back, so that the two of them were facing each other.
"I'm surprised you survived my Firework Falling Trick, Copi." Italic clapped. "But now, it is time for my true finale attack! Prepare yourself for my Super Awesome Amazing Italic Final Attack Trick!"
"Bring it on, Italic!" Copi grinned. "I'll give it everything I've got!"
Italic began sucking air into his hat, as Copi began twisting their hands together in front of them, before twisting their body around further and further.
"HERE WE GO!" "HERE WE GO!"
Italic fired a giant fiery rainbow beam of flames and stars from his 'mouth' as Copi unleashed their energy, turning them into a giant drill that tore across the ground and drilled straight into the beam. The two forces pushed against each other with full force, causing stars and colours to flash across all of the area, reflecting off the water as the dark Waterfall of the Genocide timeline was lit up in beautiful streams of energy.
"This is...MY final trick!" Suddenly, Copi's spinning body tore through the beam, causing the colours to envelop them as they turned into a sparkling drill that tore flew forward and smashed straight into Italic.
"Woooooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh!" Italic cried out as they were sent flying into the wall behind him, smashing into it with incredible force that caused the entire wall to crack and shatter before falling away as rubble.
Copi stood their panting from the force of the attack, their arms hung limply at their side as the colours faded away, darkening the area once again. It was then that they had realised what they had done. "Italic!"
They quickly ran over to where the monster had crashed, as he pulled himself up out of the wreckage, his suit looking very scruffy and his hat/face bent badly.
"Wow...Kopi..." He panted. "You really are strong..."
"I-I'm sorry, Italic!" Kopi apologised. "I didn't mean to hit you so hard!"
"No, no need to apologise...it was totally called for after everything I did to you." Italic nodded. "So...do you understand what I mean, now...?"
"Yes, Italic." Kopi responded, placing a hand to their chest.
"Everybody I've fought with a good heart...they had an ulterior motive for fighting me. To protect us, or join something, or save someone...they never really wanted to fight, they just wanted to achieve that goal...and you, Italic...you just wanted to put on a show. A fantastic show...to teach me that."
Italic smiled softly. "I'm glad...you really are incredible...such a quick learner. Everybody has their motives to pick a fight, Kopi. You just have to learn to see that, sometimes, it's not just to hurt you. Sometimes...there is goodness behind their actions. That is how we truly define good and evil in this world."
"I understand. I truly understand now, Italic." Kopi told him. "Thank you."
"You are most welcome...Kopi." Italic told him. "Never forget this lesson...now, though...I believe...I need to go and get some rest...please forgive me."
"O-Of course!" Kopi smiled weakly, feeling very guilty.
"Don't worry...like I said...I will keep an eye on you..." Italic promised as a puff of smoke appeared around him.
But when the smoke cleared, Italic was still there. "Oh...oh dear..." He fell forward.
"Italic!" Kopi quickly caught them. "Are you okay!? What's wrong, Italic!?"
"Ah...Copi...it appears I've overestimated myself a bit..." Italic admitted. "I'm very hurt..."
"Italic...wh-what are you saying!?" Kopi asked fearfully.
"I'm...weak, Kopi...I feel like I'm slipping away..." Italic mumbled.
"Italic...are...are you dying, Italic!?" Kopi cried., clutching at him tighter. "Did...Did I kill you!?"
"No, no!" Italic clutched them firmly. "Don't think that...don't think that for a second, Kopi...It's my own fault...but, I don't regret it..."
"Italic..." Kopi sobbed, tears falling from their eyes. "Don't...y-you can't die, Italic! You're...you're my first friend! You're the first person I ever met!"
"Yes...but I'm not your only friend now, Kopi..." Italic breathed. "You have many friends now, remember?...People who truly care about you...who love you..."
"I-Italic..." Kopi whimpered, clutching him as tightly as possible. "Don't go...please don't go...!"
"Kopi...I'm happy to have met you..." Italic whispered. "...Know this, Kopi...know this, from me...and everybody else who has met you..."
Italic took a deep breath, and spoke his dying breath.
"You are a good person, Kopi...never forget that..."
Italic's body began to deteriorate, dissolve, as the magician turned to dust, until Kopi was holding nothing and simply clawing at the air, as the dust floated up into the sky.
"No...NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Kopi stretched their arms upward, wildly grabbing at the dust as if it would change anything. "Come back! Come back, Italic!"
Kopi's head hung as heavy tears splattered against the ground. "Italic...ITALIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIC!" Kopi screamed a cry of pure sorrow towards the heavens.
Italic was gone.
Kopi didn't know how long they stayed there, mourning his lost friend. But by the time they found the strength to move, the ground had become completely wet from their tears.
They walked past the waterfall. Through the grass. Over the bridge. Through the cave. To the entrance of Hotland.
A light enveloped them, and they were standing in the same spot.
"Kopi?" A familiar voice spoke next to them. They looked to their side to see Frisk staring at them in shock. "Why are you-?"
"Frisk!" Kopi hugged the human tightly. "I...I lost someone...I lost someone very important to me...!"
Frisk said nothing, but instead returned the hug as their friend cried on their shoulder.
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whAteVer! gO cRY yoUr crOCodiLe tEarS soMewHeRe eLSe!