*Emerges from the Batman rabbit hole, randomly types out a fic, proceeds to forget to crosspost it for months*

Warnings: Character death and Chapter 9 spoilers

Originally posted on tumblr on March 7, 2022


Stick to the Script and Other Stories

By Bilbo-sama

Plan B


Dear Heart has fallen. Time and age had finally found him.

(He is free now, whispers a weak voice)

Dear Heart has failed. She is still trapped.

(Good, the voice declared vindictively)

The Horned One growled in frustration and in an emotion she barely recognized as she watched the Kingsbond - a twisted, corrupted thing - dissolve as the soul it was tied to cautiously fades away.

(It's called grief)

They were so close. There was only a few more Kingsbonds needed to break the seal holding the Horned One in her prison. It had taken them, king and kingmaker, two thousand years to get to this point.

And…and it was all for nothing!

The Horned One was only following her instincts all those years ago. She had been called to provide judgement on the land and judgement was given.

It's not her fault no one gave her a specific target! Does no one know that splitting a Kingmaker is the last resort in war? Was that forgotten?

(I…the voice started, the vague wave of realization crested even against the Horned One, I just wanted…)

Oh. So it was Alisandra, the brains of the operation, who had forgotten in the first place. Hilarious.

And now they were trapped in their respective prisons. Alisandra deep in the void between worlds, between life and death; The Horned One much closer to Zayin's creation but unable to breach the realm Dear Heart had just departed from.

(There is no way out)

No. There are other ways! There has to be! The Horned One looked around frantically.

There!

It was weak and close to shattering but a Kingsbond glimmered feebly. It was barely tethered to the Horned One but it was enough for her to follow it to whoever held the other end.

(No, please, Alisandra begged as the Horned One got closer. Leave him be.)

The Horned One grinned before she reached out and pulled the linked soul closer to her.

Somewhere, Roland Crane screams.