Thanks go to Andyfire123, Wingah, Doctah Sawbones, 10burgers, Jack54311, Spencer the Gamer, Guest, Zack Frost, Poetic, Acoolnamme, Fixer140.85, Genowar, Sonic245, Linki, WhoWritesThisCrap, Chara Moonstone, pokemon122000, and NBoss01.
I think you guys are gonna like this chapter. ;)
Disclaimer: I do not own Undertale. (Or any of the other non-DoubleTale AU characters that are currently running around in the story.)
"Our priorities just changed."
Ah shit.
"... Lexi, I want you to think about this." I spoke quietly, taking a step closer to her. I lowered my head some, my eyes never leaving hers. I bore the weight of her gaze, heavy as it was.
"He fucked up my home and hurt my friends." The Predator glared up at me from under the shadow of her eyebrows. Her right eye was covered by shade, and all that was visible of her left was the smoldering red DETERMINATION that stabbed clear through the dark. It reminded me of some rabid animal, some carnivore stalking in the dark. With a predatory chill her voice slithered out from between her grinding teeth. "There's nothin' to think about."
"Look, Lex, I'm pretty outta the loop on what G's been up to, but judging from the literal army he brought to your doorstep?" I pursed my lips, shrugging and slowly gesturing out to the devastated dining hall we stood in. "I'm takin' a wild stab at it and saying we're a little outgunned."
"But we've got something he doesn't." The corner of Predator's mouth curled upwards just a little, and I grimaced. I knew her crooked smile better than anyone, and I knew it didn't go away until she went through with whatever lunatic plot she had in mind. Mules weren't half as stubborn as Lexi, and that's a fact.
I knew were she was going, and I rolled my eyes with exasperation. As my shoulders sunk, I spoke only to be cut off. "Don't say it-"
"We've got you!" She concluded as her lips curled further, and I groaned a little dramatically when she grabbed me by the shoulders.
"Eugh, I knew it was comin'..." I mumbled, clenching my eyes shut and tilting my head back. She got my attention though, shaking me until my eyes went wide and I looked back down to her.
"C'mon, Angel! Don't play dumb!" Predator squeezed my shoulders, leaning in some and making me lean back. "You n' me both know you're far from the same scrawny dork you were before we got here!"
"Yeah but I'm not enough to handle-"
"Together, Angel!" Lexi knew what I was gonna say, and I figured that made sense. She knew me just as well as I knew her, after all.
"... You're the only person I can trust..."
... Or, almost as well.
"All of us! You, me, and my entire crew!" Predator threw one hand back, gesturing out to the pirate ship that surrounded the two of us. "We pull up and turn it up to eleven, sneak attack style! His whole stupid compound will be up in smoke before he knows what happened!"
"What you're talking about is a suicide mission, Lex!" I growled with a deathly seriousness, leaning in some and putting a hand over the hand she kept on my shoulder.
"I do suicide mission's all the time, and not one of 'em have killed me yet!" Predator defended with the utmost confidence, her hard headed nature making me groan.
"Hacker's got a point, boss." A southern drawl caught both mine and Lexi's attention, and we both looked to Clover, who was making his way back across the cafeteria towards the two of us.
"'Sides, even if we did wanna rain hellfire down on Gatherer's congregation," The cowboy crossed his arms, and judging by the frown on his face, I guessed he definitely did want to do that. "Last I checked we don't got the code we need."
"Ahem."
Once more a new voice entered the conversation, and my green eyes narrowed when I spotted the little grey-scale Frisk that stood to the right of the three of us. CORE Frisk, if memory served. The little monochromatic void walker that had lead Chara and I down the path to fight Character. I hadn't seen them since they had brought us back to our home timeline after that battle, and it'd been even longer since I had said a word to them.
They stood there, hands folded behind their back. Those empty peepers stared right up at the three of us, but I couldn't help but notice they never collided directly with my own eyes. C!Frisk's expression was stoic, not expressive in any one way. Once they were certain they had our attention, they spoke.
"I think I can help."
Chapter 42: Mr. Blue Sky
"Hey, don't go trying to foreshadow."
"Frisk?" Predator furrowed her brows with some confusion, taking a step towards the void child. "What are you doing here?"
"Like I said, Predator." C Frisk remained composed, even with all eyes on them. Back straight, their expression never shifted as they stared up at Lexi. "I'm here to give you all a hand with The Gatherer."
"A hand?" I repeated with a hint of distrust in my voice. I crossed my arms over my chest, watching the monochromatic kid from the lower right corner of my eyes.
"Ain't you the one who's always goin' on about how y'ain't a military dispatcher?" Clover didn't sound too assured, either, tilting his head some while he watched C Frisk.
They sure acted like one when they were sending me n' Chara off to deal with Hacker and Demon. I couldn't help but think, my suspicious frown cracking just a little further down my face.
"Ya can't be here to give us backup." Clover concluded, shoving his hands into his pockets. He never looked away from C Frisk, waiting impatiently for an answer.
"What's goin' on, Frisk?" Predator, who seemed to be the most trusting out of the three of us, knelt down to be at eye level with the grey ghosty. "Whaddaya got for me?"
"You're right Clover, I have no intention of giving you all any backup." A smile crept up their face then, and their empty eyes drifted from the cowboy to The Predator. "Nor do I think you will need it. I'm quite familiar with your work."
Predator grinned a little at that, but it seemed fake to me. I wouldn't lie; something about CORE Frisk rubbed me the wrong way. There was an edge to them, a certain aura that reminded me too much of my own. Something about them was dishonest, or maybe secretive. It was hard to place, but there was something off about them.
"I'm here to provide you with the gateway code for Gatherer's timeline." C Frisk said that sentence like it answered every question we had. What was worse was that Clover and Predator reacted like it had in fact answered their previous question.
"Wait, you know how to get to Gatherer's timeline?" Predator questioned quickly, her eyes going semi-wide. It was clear Frisk's words had more than got her attention. "Well why didn'tcha just say so?!"
"I'm everywhere, Predator. Of course I have the code." A small smile played at C Frisk's lips as they saw Predator's face light up. "And I'm happy to hand it off to you."
"Now hold yer horses." Clover put a hand out in front of Lexi, taking a step towards C Frisk and watching them curiously. "Y'ain't usually one for insightin' violence, Frisk."
"Yeah, that's true..." Predator nodded contemplatively, her eyes darting over to Clover before moving back to Frisk. Looking at the void walker again, she squinted suspiciously. "And you haven't exactly seemed to be the biggest fan of the way we do things in the past, either. Why's it different now?"
"I may not always agree with your loose cannon style, but your group gets results, and they remain on the right side of the tracks. And I respect that." CORE Frisk remained composed, nodding their head once. "And while I prefer to evade battles, These are violent times. And The Gatherer is a monger of fear that grows more powerful with each passing day."
"... So you want us to get ride of him?" A little smirk tugged up Predator's lips once more as they caught on to C Frisk's intentions. "You're usin' us to tie up loose ends."
"The Gatherer is an enemy we have in common, Predator." C Frisk blinked those big black eyes a single time. "I'm not using you, I'm working with you towards a common goal."
"... Hmm." Lexi shut her eyes for a sec, and she took a deep breath. Then, after a moment of thought, she stood, and her crooked grin ripped right up her face. Standing tall, she put both hands on her hips. "Alright, you got a deal! You tell us how to get there, and we'll kick Xander's teeth in!"
"Alright, wait." I finally interjected, raising one hand and catching everyone's attention. "I'm uh... A little outta the loop here."
"Wassup, Angel?" Lexi furrowed her brows and crossed her arms over her chest, tilting her head to the side some.
"What is a 'code', and why do we need it?" I felt pretty dumb asking that question, but I didn't have a clue what the three of them had been talking about.
"Oh wow, you really have been living the sheltered life." Predator laughed a little, bringing one hand to her mouth.
"I was." I responded dryly, an exasperated frown curling my lips downward. Lexi didn't seem to notice the tone of my response though, because she kept grinning.
"Well, basically, the multiverse kinda works like the internet. Different timelines are like different websites." Lexi explained patiently. "Just like you need a URL to get to a website, you need a code to get to a timeline."
"These codes are extracted by the more skilled members of the multiverse and traded around on the multiverse black market for people like me or Gatherer." Lexi kept explaining, and I nodded along, showing I understood. "But, there are a handful'a people who can get around without those codes. Gasters, CORE Frisk here, and Error Sans - before you aced him - for example, have the ability to jump wherever they want."
"It's because of our infusement with the code, or in Error's case ability to manipulate in to our will." C Frisk continued Lexi's explanation, and my eyes glossed over to them. "It's not unheard of for a Hacker to gain these abilities as well, but it is beyond rare."
"Okay, what about Chara?" I cocked a brow at the two, crossing my arms over my chest. "Back in the day they used to jump through portals all over the Underground. They even left our timeline and went out into the void to help me deal with Error."
"Well yeah, that's their own timeline. It's pretty darn easy to learn your own timeline's code and jump around through it. Especially in a smaller, controlled space like the underground." Lexi put one hand on her hip, raising the other. "Once you're already in a website, you have access to most of what it has to offer. You get me?"
"Hmm..." I grabbed my chin, furrowing my brows in thought. I nodded once or twice, "Yeah. I guess that makes sense."
"The code for Gatherer's timeline is very well spread. It has to be, so he can bring in those who want to join him." C Frisk held their hands behind their back while they spoke. "But, in the same way that websites can be protected by pass codes and firewalls, Gatherer's timeline is protected by several check points. That's how he controls who gets in and who gets out.
"Huh. Well that explains a lot." I kept my grip on my chin, thinking for another moment or two. But then, suddenly, I jumped, looking back over to Predator with panic in my eyes. "Wait, does that mean you got the code for my timeline off the black market? Is the doorway to my home just floating around out there?!"
"Oh yeah." Predator nodded calmly, her tone not the least bit comforting. "I'm honestly surprised you haven't faced more problems. That code was really easy to get my hands on."
"It's because of the way you crushed Error Sans, and the wings you gained when you faced off with Chara six months ago." C Frisk, too, was dishearteningly calm. "There are few hunters across the void who see any gain from picking a fight with you of all people."
"I guess I did make a pretty good first impression by laying the smack down on Error..." I thought aloud, eyes glossing downward while I nodded quietly to myself. I figured since Chara and I had used my body to become Character, - not to mention that we did so while hidden under a barrier of keys - no one had really noticed that we were fused. They probably thought that power was all my own.
"You can say that again." Predator nodded once, the corner of her mouth being tugged up some. It was as though I had impressed her. "After that, all the big names out in the Multiverse started keepin' an eye on you."
My eyes narrowed some at that, my thoughts once more being drawn back to what Character had told me as I lay dying. Everyone had their eye on me. I was a much bigger deal than I had originally thought, and if I was really such a hot topic out here, then...
*That quiet life of yours just keeps getting further and further away.
"... CORE Frisk." I lifted my head, looking to the monochromatic child with a deep frown and a DETERMINED gleam in my eye. "Is there any way to get the kind of protection Gatherer's timeline has on my own timeline?"
"Yes." They answered with ease, never blinking under my stare. "It's far from impossible."
"... Then I'll help you all get rid of Gatherer." My eyes narrowed, jaw clenching some as my expression grew suddenly fierce. "But as payment, I want my home protected."
"..." C Frisk stared up at me for several long seconds, like they were thinking. But then they smiled, giving their answer. "Deal."
"Good." I nodded to them, before turning my head back to Predator. "Just a few more questions. How are people watching me?"
"Well, out in the void anybody can watch. That's why everybody saw your fight with Error. As for timelines... Well, it's similar to the idea of codes that transport between timelines." Lexi gave more exposition without a fight, resting both hands on her hips now. "But these codes are cheaper, and don't last forever. They pretty much just give people a ticket to watch what you've got goin' on for a few hours."
"And how do these codes get around?" I furrowed my brows with some confusion, tilting my head a little to the right.
"There's one big provider who floods the market with 'em." Predator shrugged her shoulders calmly. "Not sure who they are or why they do it. Not to mention how they do it."
"Mm." I hummed thoughtfully, turning my furrowed brows to C Frisk for an answer. The monochromatic child shrugged though, as if to tell me they had none. That made me furrow my brows with displeasure, and while I can't say I wholeheartedly believed those words, I didn't press any further. "And can I get a firewall for unwanted viewers on my timeline, too?"
"Sure can." They nodded with their simple answer.
"Put it on the bill." Was all I said, waving one finger in a quick circle. Then, I turned back to Lexi.
"Now that that's outta the way, I gotta ask about a few more things." My eyes narrowed as I spoke, a deathly serious tone creeping into my voice. "First off,"
"What exactly has everybody been up too since I last saw 'em?"
"And after today's assault, The Predator will certainly think twice about hindering our goals again!" Xander, once more dressed in his red on black suit and tie, spoke clearly and proudly into a microphone attached to his podium, and through a series of speakers his voice reverberated through the massive crowd.
Monsters and humans, lightners and darkners alike all gathered below his stage. Their diverse colors and faces swirled into a beautifully supportive crowd that had been cheering and clapping every chance they got throughout all thirty minutes of his speech. But, as The Gatherer rose his hands high above his head, they quieted their roars of admiration.
"Thank you all for trusting in me." He spoke as he lowered his hands, that winning smile curling his lips into an expression that appeared genuinely appreciative and humble. "With each and everyone one of you standing behind me, we will build a safe and pure multiverse for everyone to enjoy!"
As applause once more broke out, Xander straightened his arms at his sides, bowing his head before those he had united under his flag. Then, he straightened his back, and stepped back away from his soap box.
"If I may now have your attention." In his place Eden stepped up, dressed in an elegant purple dress. It flowed down to her ankles, where it matched the violet flats that she wore. Face remaining stoic, she began calmly explaining to the crowd to exit the courtyard in a calm and orderly manner. "... Our brave Froggit guards will escort you all through the governing district and back into the shopping and living districts. If you would please follow..."
Xander stepped down the wooden steps on the back of the stage that had been set up in the massive courtyard of the governing district, And Cliff followed close behind, hands folded behind his straightened back.
The civilization he was building was split into three separate layers. On the very outer layer was the military and worker district, where his soldiers trained and prepared while maintaining a protective watch over the city. This was also where construction workers and contractors remained, working diligently on projects and plans for further expansion of The Gatherer's ever growing empire. Next were the living and shopping districts, where the civilians lived peacefully, protected and held close to their leader, who had purposely put their district between his and the military's. This instilled a trust in the people, showed that their leader trusted them with his future as they did theirs with him. He also always invited them inside, past his gates and into his home to give his speeches and flex his silver tongue, further demonstrating that though his home was gated, they were not being kept out.
Of course what they didn't understand was that in the final and smallest district - the governing district - was inhabited by his closest and most powerful allies. The district was essentially a gated community, consisting of three massive mansions that formed a half circle around the neatly kept courtyard, which was decorated with flower beds, well trimmed bushes, and one large fountain as its center piece.
On the left was the science and research center. It was where his doctors and scientists ran their tests and gathered information on the possibilities of certain plans Xander had for the future. It was where Error Sans' body was being kept alive and his mind reconditioned, and where The Hacker remained healing after his gratuitous battle fused with Demon against The Ascended Heir, Chara.
On the right was the strategy hall, where The Gatherer would meet with his trusted officials and advisers to plan his next moves. It was the smallest of the three buildings, requiring nothing but storage for written and downloaded documents along with a few separate rooms of varying sizes for discussions and debates.
And at the center, reaching high into the sky, was the largest building of the three. The housing center. It was built with hierarchy in mind. On the first floors were the less important. Scientists, researchers, advisers. On the next floors were his personal guards and consultants. People like Cliff and Eden. And finally, in the towering suite that peaked the structure was The Gatherer's home. It boasted a fantastic spire, where Gatherer could watch out over the whole world around him from his office window.
"A fantastic speech today, Xander." Cliff commented as he caught up with Gatherer, still keeping up his posture as the two now walked side by side.
"Thank you, Clifford." Xander flashed him a smile, one so pretty that Cliff couldn't help but return it. Seeing that, The Gatherer turned his head skyward. It was an overcast afternoon, keeping things unfortunately grey and a little gloomy here in paradise. Still, his smile remained. "A nice day today, isn't it?"
"Hm?" Cliff followed Gatherer's eyes to the clouds, where his brows furrowed some. "I don't know. Isn't it a little too cloudy?"
"I like cloudy days every now and again." Xander explained with a soft, nostalgic expression. "Reminds me of home."
"Aww." Clifford's lips curled up his face further at that, finding Gatherer's nostalgia quite sweet. "You know, you've never told me much about where you came from, Xander."
"Hmm..." Gatherer hummed thoughtfully, before looking back down and to the metal gate of the housing center that they were approaching. Demon leaned against the fence, arms crossed with a frown plastered on their face. Xander huffed with some amusement just before the two got within earshot of them, "Another time, Clifford."
"Gatherer." Demon greeted with a sour tone, eyes following Xander as he stepped up to the center of the gate. Dutifully Clifford stepped up to a keypad beside the bars, swiftly punching in the code.
"Demon." Xander greeted with much more cheer, his lips coiling into a slight smirk. "You should be smiling, you contributed to a great cause today."
"Whatever." They answered with an icy squint. This made Cliff take an aggressive step towards them, but Gatherer rose his hand calmly, and he stopped in his tracks with the utmost obedience. Demon didn't acknowledge this, instead getting to their point. "Predator had Cter with her."
"Yes, I saw." Gatherer responded, hands folded behind his back as the metal of the gates finished sliding open for his entry. "I believe you and The Hacker have a sort of history with the Angel who defeated Error Sans, correct?"
"Him and his stupid Chara." Demon growled, that frown cracking deeper into the stone of their expression. Gatherer and Clifford walked past the gates, and they walked after them, the metal bars closing behind the three.
"Thought so." Gatherer nodded once, glancing over to Demon as they caught up with him. He always walked at a brisk pace, a rare showing of his usually concealed eagerness to get ahead. "Have you come to bestow some important information upon me? How kind of you!"
"Mhm." Demon groaned, squinting irritably at The Gatherer from his compliment. "Look, I don't like you or believe in your cult, but I am currently under your roof. And I can't get outta here until Hacker recovers. So I'd like for things to stay safe here."
"You don't believe in my timeline's defenses?" Gatherer cocked a brow at Demon as Clifford walked ahead, getting to one of two large wooden doors leading into the building and holding it open for the two of them.
"I haven't seen your timeline's defenses." Demon answered calmly, iced over red eyes watching The Gatherer carefully. "What I have seen is the kind of power Cter The Angel possesses."
"I'm familiar with his capabilities. It was why we left The Predator's ship prematurely." The Gatherer's eyes drifted ahead, his expression showing nothing to read. "His appearance made potential loss weigh more than potential gain. He can be dealt with on a later date."
"... When Hacker and me were Character, we saw something." Demon too stared ahead, their ruby eyes narrowing painfully. "Something that put our combined power to shame. Something that came out of Cter."
"... Hm?" Gatherer paused there, in front of the elevators leading upwards to the other floors. Cliff stopped with him, and the both of them watched Demon curiously and apprehensively. "And what would that have been?"
"We punched a hole in him. Almost split him in half vertically." Demon turned their head to look at Gatherer, their jaw clenching. It made them tense, the image that was appearing in their mind. "And he got up. He got stronger. Stronger than us. Stronger than anything we've ever seen."
"..." The Gatherer's lips bent downward some, a rare frown on a face that usually deals in shiny silver smiles. "... And why haven't I heard of this yet?"
"It was only for a minute. We sprung a trap and caught him off guard." Demon lowered their head some, shadows slipping along their expression. "But if we hadn't... He would have kept getting stronger."
"He was changing, Gatherer. But I don't know what he was changing into." Their hands clenched into fists at their sides, face a bitter scowl. "All I know is if he was pushed to do it once, it can happen again."
"..." Xander shut his eyes for a moment, inhaling deeply through his nose. He exhaled quietly, and then he opened those violet spheres once more. "Thank you, Demon. I will take this information very seriously and take careful precautions to keep you and The Hacker, as well as the rest of my people safe."
"Whatever. Just don't try to send me to my death against that lunatic." Demon spat coldly, stepping back away from the conversation and turning to walk away. "I'm going to check on Hacker."
The two stood in silence for a few long seconds, waiting for Demon to disappear beyond the front door. Then, Cliff glanced over to Gatherer, concern in his eyes. "Do you believe what they said?"
"They have no reason to lie." Gatherer stated simply, turning around and pressing the button to call the elevator.
"... I don't mean to question your judgement sir, but I don't trust them." Cliff confessed as the elevator doors opened before the two of them. "They clearly aren't dedicated to our cause. They're just here to survive!"
"Even a rat can be trained, Clifford." Xander sighed with exasperation, taking a step into the elevator. Cliff followed after him, and the doors shut behind the two of them. "Give it time. Those two are a very valuable asset, they just need a bit of conditioning."
"Anyway, I'm exhausted." Xander confessed as the elevator began to ascend, his hands falling from behind his back and his shoulders sinking some. "I think that's enough work for one day."
"Hm." Cliff smiled a little at that, letting his own uptight posture dissolve as things got more casual. "You make a good point."
"I always do..." Xander yawned, leaning his head against Cliff's shoulder and shutting his eyes. The elevator came to a stop a few seconds later, and the doors slid open to reveal the top floor.
"Uhh... This is your stop, isn't it, Xander?" Cliff snerked some, glancing over to Gatherer, who hadn't opened his eyes yet.
"Mnn... Tired." Was Xander's simple response. "Carry me."
Cliff laughed at that, but didn't hesitate to scoop his boyfriend up in his arms with ease. His cheeks tinged a light pink shade, he shook his head. He teased lightheartedly, "You're such a baby."
"Saving the multiverse takes a lot out of a man, Clifford." Xander answered with ease, resting his head against Cliff's chest as he was carried towards his room door. "So much so that I'm afraid I'll need you to look after me for the rest of the night."
"Oh, so that's your big plan." Clifford smirked with genuine amusement, nodding his head. He reached the door, leaning in to take the knob in his hand and turn it, pulling the doorway open. "You know if you wanted to spend time with me you could have just asked."
"This is no simple 'hang out' session, Clifford." Gatherer peaked an eye open to look up at the man carrying him. "If you don't lay on the couch and watch Netflix with me, I could die."
That made Cliff laugh harder as he pushed the door shut behind the two with his boot, stepping into Gatherer's home.
"Well, if it's a matter of life and death, then I won't let you down, sir."
After we'd made our decision to raid Xander's base, Lexi gave me the low down on everything I had missed. From her time gathering pirates like her full name was Monkey D. Lexi to The Anarchist's circus performance with Jevil. She filled in as many blanks as she could, told me about Gatherer's time gaining power and a cultish fanbase that would follow him into the maw of Death itself. It was a lot to process, but I knew it would be from the get go. I tried my best to just pay attention and not get particularly introspective, because I knew I had a big problem with doing that.
After that, C Frisk got everyone together and gave us what was essentially a power point presentation on ways to execute our attack, along with all the codes and data we needed to get into Xander's timeline. They even provided a few shaky photos of The Gatherer's base of operations and explained its lay out.
Apparently, his civilians were between him and his military. His own base was at the center of his city, not unlike our gang's mansion back in the old days. With C Frisk's information, Predator's pirates devised a plan. I was in the discussion as well, but hardly said a word. I just gave my input on what I could do, what parts I could play.
We decided that we had to strike as quickly as possible to throw Xander off. He had expected to damage Predator's gang after all, to slow them down. He would never anticipate a counter strike tonight, so that's when we decided to make our move.
For now, we were getting as prepared as we could. Muffet's spiders had worked for hours to web scrap metal over the holes punched in Predator's ship. Ralsei and that green eyed girl - Melanie, I think her name was - healed everyone up as best they could with their magics. Everyone seemed to recover very well, no one had been too seriously injured. The one who got the worst of things was Susie, who currently had the shoulder Gatherer's snake had bit wrapped in white medical tape. Still, she claimed - loudly - that she was fine, and to be fair, she certainly moved around like she wasn't in any pain.
Currently, I was sitting on a semi-burnt couch, staring down at my hands as I leaned forward. I twiddled my thumbs, emerald spheres narrowing thoughtfully at my bony fingers. I didn't think I was ready for this. I'd never been in a fight like this one, after all. I'd only ever taken on one opponent at a time, and in this invasion of Gatherer's compound, there was a chance I'd have to take on an entire army if and when shit went sideways.
Not to mention that I hardly knew my comrades, and they hardly knew me. I also didn't know my enemy, or really have any current beef with him. Sure, Gatherer's a bad dude supposedly doing bad stuff, but... It's not like that's my business, right? I had flexed my muscles, summoned my Beat Blasters when I showed up earlier, and that managed to scare Xander off. But honestly I had no idea if I would have even been able to pull the trigger if he had called my bluff. That was... So many monsters. So many people. I didn't know them, how could I hurt them?
"You really are too KIND."
... Yeah, these days, I am. Hacker was right about me. I'm a coward, preferring to hide and lie and cheat. I scurry away from the tough decisions, try to stay safe in my neat bubble of a timeline where my only problem is a growing crush on my worst enemy turned good friend. Which was a mess that I was far from ready to think about.
I lifted my head, glanced over to Lexi across the room. She was talking to that Sans, her back to me. I didn't know how to feel about her. I didn't know what to think of what she had offered me last night. I was afraid. I was afraid and uncertain and I wished I could crawl under a rock and hide from all this. Honestly, how had I ever expected to be able to face Anarchy again if I could hardly even face Lexi, who actually LIKES me?
That was another thing. This wouldn't even be over if we destroyed Gatherer - another thing I was far from certain about doing. We still had to go try and save Anthony after this. And how on earth were we gonna pull THAT off?! I can't do that! I can't do this! I can't do anything! I have to escape, I have to get out-!
"You still love her, don'tcha?"
"H-huh?! What?!" I jumped, twisting my torso around to face Melanie, who now leaned back over the couch from behind. She rested her chin in her hands, and her brown hair - now down from the bun it had been in earlier - fell around her face, reaching just a little past her shoulders.
"You've been staring at Lexi for like two whole minutes now." Melanie grinned knowingly, her lightly freckled cheeks being pushed up and forming little dimples. "You've still got it bad, don'tcha?"
"Wha- N-no! I mean, maybe-? W-what kinda question is that?!" I snapped accidentally, jumpy eyes watching Melanie through widened sockets. I retracted about as much as I could, essentially forming a ball of flesh and anxiety at the end of the couch. "M-me and her are just friends these days!"
"Aw, c'mon, you don't need to be so twitchy!" Melanie unceremoniously flipped over the couch's back, landing on the cushions on her own back and quickly slinking up to straighten her posture. All the while, her giddy smile never left her face. "She spent the night at your place last night, didn't she? Whatever could it meeeaaaannnn~?"
"S-stop that!" I demanded, my face starting to go pale as she stoked the cold blue fire of my anxieties. "I don't wanna talk about this!"
"Okay, okayyyy." Melanie rolled her eyes like a scolded child. She got comfortable in the couch then, and her smile returned playfully as she looked back over to me. "Geez. Lexi said you were awkward with emotional stuff, but I didn't think you'd be this bad."
"... You don't know the half of it..." I mumbled as I sunk into my jacket, eyes narrowing down at my feet. My expression grew numb as I grew quiet, trying my best to hide myself away from the world that surrounded me. Quietly, I found myself wishing I had brought Chara along. They had a way of getting me out of these anxious funks, even if it was only for a short while.
Things were silent for a few moments, Melanie silently humming to herself and bouncing around a little. I figured she probably had a lot of trouble sitting still. Finally, her voice perked up again. "Hey, your soul's red like Kris's, right?"
"Huh? Oh, uh... Yeah." I glanced over to Melanie from the corner of my eye, seeing that she had turned her head to look at me with a curious expression.
"Then how come your eyes are green like mine?" She furrowed her brows and puffed out her cheek, tilting her head to the side. "Lexi's like that, too. Her eyes are PATIENT but her soul is DETERMINED. Did you used to be a KINDNESS soul like me?"
"Weak people die when they fight strong people."
"... I think so. I dunno." I glanced away from Melanie, frown topping off my bitter expression.
"Huh." Melanie smiled a little, looking ahead. She kicked her feet off the edge of the couch, continuing to bounce around like a kid who ate too much sugar. "I guess that gives us somethin' in common, huh? I think that's pretty cool, actually!"
"... Sometimes I wish my eyes were red..." I muttered, my eyes once again dropping to the floor. My thoughts drifted back, images flashing before my eyes. Anthony's ruby eyes, gleaming with childlike wonder back on the playground. Anarchy's murderous stare, stabbing a hole in me from over his shoulder. "... Red like his."
"Aww..." Melanie frowned a little from my words, even though I was saying them to myself more so than I was to her. But then, as quickly as it had disappeared, her lips curled right back up in her happy go lucky smile. "I dunno Angel, I think green is a great color on you!"
"H-huh?" I lifted my head, semi-wide eyes darting to Melanie. Her smile grew a little wider when she saw how surprised I was, a short giggle escaping her throat.
"Wow, you must not get complimented too often!" She lifted a hand over her mouth to contain her laughter and hide her grin. "I just think the green eyes look good on you, is all! I don't think red ones would suit you at all!"
"..." I was quiet for a few seconds, turning my head and staring forward with my exhausted, sunken in eyes. I thought for a minute or two, before finally I spoke up. "... Melanie, can I ask you something?"
"Shoot." She responded cheerily, looking right back over to me attentively.
"You, work as a bounty hunter, right?" I didn't turn my head, looking to her out of the corner of my eye. When she nodded, I continued. "So... You've killed someone, haven't you?"
Melanie quieted down some with that, stopped her fidgeting. She paused and nodded silently to herself, looking ahead like she was thinking, too. "... Yeah, unfortunately. I have."
"... How do you do it?" I forced my question out, eyes narrowing painfully as I did so. "My, main trait is DETERMINATION, but even I struggle with... Y'know..."
"... Angel, there are some people that KINDNESS isn't going to reach." Melanie shut her eyes, inhaling deeply. Then, she breathed out slowly, and spoke again. "Sometimes people are too nasty. They're too wrapped up in their hate. They believe too much in their evil."
"Sometimes..." She shut her eyes, hands slowly clenching into fists against the apron that covered down to her knees. "Sometimes you have to pull the trigger."
"I don't give a damn. You killed my Granny."
"... Yeah. I thought I understood that." I squinted bitterly, letting my eyes dart to the side opposite to her. "But, recently, I... I screwed up. I spared the wrong person, and... People got hurt. Somebody died."
"It was all my fault and, now... I dunno." I shut my emerald orbs on the world, hands slowly clenching into fists on my knees. "I feel like I don't know who I'm supposed to spare and who has to die anymore..."
Things were quiet again, and I started to get worried that I'd said too much. I mean, I hardly knew this girl. And yet I had just dumped a phat sack'a my baggage on her that I haven't really shared with anyone else. Wasn't sure why. Maybe it was because of her green eyes. Maybe, because we had that in common, I thought she would understand. I thought she would get it better than anyone without green eyes ever would.
But, just as I gave up hope and opened my mouth to apologize, I felt a had place itself gently upon my back. I looked up with a little surprise, and found that Melanie had scooted closer. She put her arm around me comfortingly, and smiled with understanding as she ran her hand across the back of my shirt in a soothing manner.
"... Thanks, Melanie." The green in my eyes shun a little, and my lips curled into a small smile that was not unlike her own.
"Hey, us greenies gotta stick together!" Melanie gave a big ol' grin, lifting one hand and giving a proud and confident thumbs up. That made my smile rise a little further up my face, and from my place sunken into the couch, I timidly lifted my own hand, returning her thumbs up.
"... Yeah. Us greenies."
Xander sighed quietly, a slight smile gracing his lips. He laid there, the only light in his living room coming from the TV screen before the two of them. Him and Clifford laid on the couch, Gatherer's head resting on Cliff's chest while Cliff kept an arm around him.
Gatherer liked it, being here like this. He'd never felt what it was like to be so close to someone. To lay his head on their chest, hear their heartbeat in his ear. When he was younger, his parents...
"Xander, I want you to promise me something."
Xander clenched his eyes shut, and hugged Cliff just a little tighter. He wasn't going to think about that now. Didn't need to. He was here, on top of the world. All of his work paying off, everything he'd been clawing tooth and nail towards since he was a boy had expanded much further than he had ever thought it would. Now he had the infinite at his finger tips. But, more importantly, he had the man he loved in his arms. And that meant a lot to him. More than he thought it would.
It was a funny thing. Xander had always wanted everything. To rule, to control. To have legions and armies bow to him. And yet, when he put his ear to Cliff's heart, when he heard the beat of his brave soul, he found his desires shrunken. A simple life with this simple man. That reality would be fine by him.
When this all started, Gatherer hadn't meant his words. His people meant nothing to him, they were all means to an end. That's how Xander had lived his life for a very long time. Humans had not been humans. People not people. Life was an elaborate game. Something like chess or Poker. Maybe more like Monopoly or Yu-Gi-Oh these days. The people around him were pieces or cards, all to be moved or played in just the right way.
But... Cliff believed in him. He believed in Xander and his cause. He believed all of The Gatherer's lies so wholeheartedly that Xander wanted to make them true. This had started as a plan for multiverse domination under the guise of a multiverse peace project. But... When Xander saw the fire in Cliff's eyes. When he heard his heartbeat. Suddenly, Xander wanted to make Cliff's dreams come true.
Maybe this didn't have to be a shameless grab for all the power in the universe.
Maybe... Maybe Xander really could see value in making the world a better place. With Cliff by his side, anything seemed possible.
BOOM.
Gatherer and Clifford jumped with a start to the sudden blast of sound, orange and purple eyes snapping open wide. Then, in the next instant, searing white light blasted in through the windows, spotlights firing in from the sky above.
The two flinched and winced from the massive shift in lighting, and Cliff quickly put an arm over Gatherer, shoving the two of them to the ground to protect from whatever assault may be on its way. They remained there, huddled behind the couch while their eyes adjusted.
"AY, XANDER!"
The Gatherer's violet eyes snapped open wide as a familiar voice blasted down from a megaphone, raining down over the world he had constructed like filthy garbage acid rain.
"I DON'T THINK YOU HEARD ME EARLIER, SO I'M GONNA SAY IT AGAIN, LOUDLY!"
Growling with fury, fire ignited in Xander's eyes. He shoved himself up from under Clifford's arm, stomping right over towards the large bay window that the spotlights were pouring into from outside. He now wore only his dress pants and a button up white shirt that was unbuttoned to half way down his chest, looking significantly more disheveled than he had ever been seen before. Still, as he stomped fearlessly into the light, he unbuttoned the cuffs of his button up, rolling his sleeves up to his elbows and revealing the scaly necks and heads of his snake tattoos.
When he reached the window and looked up, his eye twitched and his teeth began to grind with nothing but wrath. There, floating in the sky above, was the filthy pirate ship he thought he had put out of commission. Its hanger was open, and at its forefront stood several figures.
At the very center The Predator grinned her wily sneer, aquamarine orbs opened wide while she bared her fangs. Over her left eye red flames burned brightly, and over her head she held her scythe, like a barbarian shaking his spear. In her spare hand she held the megaphone she was using to declare war.
To her left stood The Angel himself. His face covered in the shadows of the hanger, Cter's only defining feature was the one piercing, flaming red left eye that peered down judgmentally from the heavens above. Behind him, brilliant onyx wings spread wide, preparing to send him launching off into the sky.
And to The Predator's right was her cowboy, top half of his face shaded under that tacky hat. Both of his elbows were bent, and his hands pointed the barrels of his two revolvers straight up. He flashed his guns like he was ready to open fire, and his own fangs were bared in a grin that said he was gonna love every second of doing it.
Then, Predator pointed her scythe straight up, and Gatherer growled as he watched massive spikes of ice manifest throughout the sky above. Their eyes connected then, purple and cyan. And as Lexi lifted that megaphone back to her lips, the DETERMINED flame over her eye only burned more violently.
"YOU N' ME NEED TO HAVE A TALK!"
"What in the-?" Bells on her head jingling, Mad Mew Mew turned her pink doll face up from the small flower garden that surrounded the fountain that she had been watering towards the sky. She scowled with utter disgust when she spotted that pirate ship, fury entering her plastic eyes. "Hey. Hey! HEY!"
On a bench across the courtyard, Eden's eyes darted upwards and out of the book they'd been reading. Her glasses beginning to slip down her mortified face, her analytical purple eyes darted between each of the massive spikes pointing towards The Gatherer's home suite at the top of the housing center.
In a rare show of emotion Eden exploded up out of her seat, throwing her book aside. Horror!Flowey's massive eye watched it plummet to the ground from the space on the bench next to Eden, before darting back up to the sky. As enormous pillars of frozen water blasted holes in The Gatherer's home, Eden screamed, tears forming in her eyes. "SIR GATHERER!"
"What the hell?!" Mad Mew Mew shouted in shock, before taking her eyes off the sky and beginning her sprint towards the front gates of the mansion that was being assaulted. But as she ran, bells jingling, a whistling entered her cat ears, and she spotted a shadow rapidly shrinking over the gateway. Swiftly she stopped moving her legs, skidding to a pause about ten feet from the massive metal crate that smashed down from above, crushing the gate and blocking her path.
At the top of the crate, Kris Susie and Ralsei stood up slowly from a crouched position. Kris drew their blade, throwing it out to their side and letting a schinng! resound as it was pulled from its sheath. Susie pulled her ax off her back and slammed it into the top of the crate, grinning viciously. Ralsei did a quick twirl, gold stars sparking from his green cloak.
"You. You! YOU!" Mad Mew Mew snarled furiously, holding her hand out to the side and letting a pink wand appear in her grasp from her inventory. "WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?! You trash don't have any right to set foot here! ON THE GATHERER'S FRONT LAWN!"
"You worthless void rats..." Eden spoke through grinding teeth, a single stream of tears running down her cheek from under her glasses, the glare of which covered her eyes. From behind her, Horror!Flowey was rapidly growing once more. The beast flailed and twitched, it's massive eye once more splitting vertically and revealing rows of teeth. Wind gusted up under Eden, lifting her hair as her hands clenched into tight fists. "Flowey! Make them suffer for what they've done!"
Flowey's wicked, distorted cackle echoed across the land. The beast grew rapidly, looming over Eden's head and snapping its jaws viciously. Its shrill voice screeched as vines shattered up from the pavement beneath it. "DRINK YOU! I'M GONNA DRINK YOU!"
"..." Expression remaining stoic, Kris took a step forward, their footsteps echoing inside the metal crate they stood on. They knelt at the end of it, hair shadowed eyes never leaving the enemies ahead as their fingers wrapped around a handle atop the crate. Metal quaked and roared as they pulled back the handle, the front of the metal container being pulled open like the door of a garage.
"... Drink this."
Once the crate was open and the darkness inside was revealed, heavy footsteps echoed from within. The steps were accompanied by metal screeches, like claws were dragging along the floor of the container. Then suddenly, one large, clawed skeletal hand reached out around the side of the chrome. Its grip folded the steel, crushed it inward as the beast within pulled itself free from its cage.
Blue flames flickered in the darkness, before one large bony snout pushed out of the black. It huffed, sending sapphire embers flicking out a few inches from its nostrils. Next came a draconic skull, adorned with two flaming blue orbs in its sockets, which stared furiously at the prey before the beast. In another few moments, the jagged bones of a draconic, bipedal skeleton monster had stepped from the darkness. Skewered on its back spikes was a blue hoodie, still semi-wrapped around the beast that had outgrown it.
GasterBlaster!Sans stomped one claw down in challenge, his ravenous eyes landing on Flowey, who slithered forward to meet him. The two large creatures squared off in the courtyard, and GB!Sans unhinged his jaw before turning his head skyward. With a thunderous scream, a beam of blue light exploded past his fangs, firing high into the sky as a warning shot. Flowey just opened his disgusting maw though, and his wicked cackle echoed just as loudly as GB!Sans' screech.
The two carnivores planted their feet and vines. They were both fearless. They were both mad with anger.
And they were both hungry.
"Sun is shinin' in the sky~! There ain't a cloud in sight~!"
There was a beautifully happy smile on his face as he skipped down the sidewalk, turning his features up towards the bright blue sky. The lyrics he was singing were correct, the sky was without a cloud and the sun was sending soothing warm rays down onto his pale skin.
"It stopped rainin', everybody's in the play~! And don'tcha know?"
He bounced his head back and forth as he walked, his long white hair pulled back into a neat and tidy bun on the back of his head. As he danced along down the street as if no one was watching, he spotted three young monster children - a bunny boy, a vulkin, and a Temmie - just finishing up drawing a hopscotch board on the concrete path with their chalk.
"It's a beautiful new day!" Just as the kids cleared out of the way, he hopped right through the hopscotch game, placing his feet perfectly in every drawn square and hopping in a care free manner down from the box labeled 1 to the box labeled 10. As he reached the end, the children clapped their approval behind him, and he spun around, winking one beautiful ruby eye at the three of them. "Hey-ay-ay!"
He spun around and continued on his very merry way, holding his hands in a pyramid above his head and jumping from his tippy toes like some kind of ballet dancer. When he landed, he swiftly pulled back his legs, performing a pirouette surprisingly well. Once he was finished with this motion, he turned swiftly into a driveway.
He eagerly raised his hands above his head before cartwheeling up the paved driveway, right past a rusty purple van. He hopped on up the steps to the front door, where he paused. Taking a moment, he let his arms straighten at his sides and lowered his head, shutting his crimson eyes. Then, he shivered, exhaling slowly while he shook his head back and forth. It was as though he was trying to get rid of the jitters.
He took one more deep breath, clenched his scarred up hands into fists and nodded once to himself. Then, a DETERMINED glint in his eye, he lifted his head, showing a face devoid of all emotion. He brought up his fingers, shoving them in the corners of his mouth and pushing his face into a smile. After that he pulled up his eyebrows to put a pleasant spin on his eyes.
He folded one hand behind his back and reached up with his other, bringing his knuckles to the wood of the door.
Knock knock knock...
"Coming!"
As heavy footsteps approached the door from the other side, he straightened his posture and put both hands behind his back, smiling like a polite and civil young man.
"Howdy!" Asgore greeted with a polite smile after he pulled the door open, stepping into the door frame. He looked a little surprised to see this young man there before him, but remained welcoming and friendly nonetheless. "I don't believe I've seen you around before! How may I help you?"
"Hello, sir." Anthony The Anarchist's loving smile crept further up his well-washed face as his voice slithered up from his throat, respectful and humble and kind. He was all cleaned up, hair pulled back neatly and clothes looking brand new. And as he tilted his head to the side like the goodest boy he could be, his shadow squirmed eagerly behind him. It writhed on the concrete, excited and eager for what was to come. "I just hate to be a bother, but..."
The beautiful scarlet eyes of The Anarchist settled on Asgore, and all the horrors that they had seen lurked just below the surface.
"Is Angel home?"
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