I'm not sure if I've mentioned this before but I'm an unnatural blonde and yesterday (instead of editing this, regrettably) I was dying my hair like... Electric pink. It says on the tube 'magenta' but that's total bull.

I look very cute, in case any of you were wondering.

Which is hilarious considering this chapter's ending...

But anyway! ! !

Have any of you played Undertale because it is really good. Better than I expected, considering the first exposure I had to it was people wanting to bone a literal skeleton.

Real talk tho I'm so tempted to start a one shot with Sans. He had me with the shitty puns.

I hope you guys like this chapter! ! And expect the next one very soon. I've already got most of it typed out. I sorta wrote that first. I don't like the Old Iron King. Its boss fight is just too boring for me. I mean it looks so badass and then... It just falls flat, you know?

Oh, and thank you to everyone who left me get well wishes! That was the sweetest thing, I've got a fricken cavity over here. Y'all are the best and I hope you have a great day!

You find Lucatiel near the Idol bonfire, simply lounging. She's got a strange expression on her face, longing almost. She must've heard you ascending the ladders in order to reach this point, but remains leaning against the far wall.

You immediately assume she's remembering her family and decide not to press. "You know, this isn't the room we agreed on." You say carefully, moving to lay your head on her shoulder.

Laughing halfheartedly, she wraps her arms around your waist. "You took too long... I see you got some 'sweet loot'?"

You don't think you'll ever get used to Lucatiel using slang. You press closer to her with a laugh. "You digging my domino mask?"

"It is... Interesting." She responds diplomatically.

"Apparently it's a part of the Black Witch set, you know, Zullie's stuff. She's got like three different hats apparently. The lady had style." You say.

"As do you, apparently." Lucatiel hums, running her fingers over the lace mask. You grin. "Does this have any benefit besides the aesthetic then?"

"It strengthens magic." You purposely skip the 'at the cost of a little health' bit, knowing she'll disapprove.

"Useful for a pyromancer." She nods, and you bite down on you lip.

"Yes. I think, at least. I would have to ask Rosebeth if pyromancy falls under the magic category. I think it does." You don't remember all the technical bullshit. You did take some notes on certain bosses though, what they're weak too and the like. The only one that really stood out was the note for Lud and Zallen, which is just curse words and cat faces.

You're not sure you want to know why your past self has such animosity for a pair of cats, but you'll figure it out soon enough. Speaking of which, "We should kill the king."

"I don't know, I've grown rather fond of them." Lucatiel answers flippantly, pushing your mask up. You suppose it works just as well as a headband. And it gets your bangs out of eyes, which is a plus. You mentally remind yourself you have to look for a way to cut your hair when you get back to Majula.

It takes you a second to understand her because of that, and you narrow your eyes. "Just fond? I'm offended." You feign hurt, placing your hand on your chest and pointedly leaning as far away as her arms allow.

"Perhaps that is the wrong word." She laughs, her smile making your heart do a flip.

It's just not fair what an effect she's got on you.

You hesitate just a tiny bit before you press you lips to hers, taking the lead for the first time. You can feel her smile before she responds and pulls you back to her body. Unfortunately its not as intimate as you'd like, what with her thick, unyielding armor in between the two of you. But her lips are soft and there's something undeniably Lucatiel about this situation that leaves you breathless.

And you love everything about Lucatiel, you realize as she pulls away, her face flushed and pleased. You grin in return.

"Is that your attempt to sway my opinion?" She questions.

"It was more of a 'I really wanna kiss you' attempt." You say dizzily.

Lucatiel makes a pleased humming noise, "Then you succeeded, dear monarch." Her fingers brush your cheek as she says this, and you simply stare at her with unabashed affection.

"We... Should probably not get distracted again." You take care to speak clearly. It's surprisingly hard with her in such close proximity, and she knows it. You just really want to kiss her. It's horrible.

And by that you mean it's amazing, but hey. Same thing, really.

"Hmmm..." She giggles, moving to kiss your cheek. "You're the leader."

"Yes." You grin. "But I'm very easily distracted by your attractiveness."

She blushes bright pink. "I'll keep you in line."

"I'll hold you to that." You laugh. "Now come on." You've gotta start moving again or you'll fall into the trap that is your lovely knight.

"God, I hate the Old Iron King." You growl, lowering your weapon.

"That wasn't as much as a challenge as I thought it would be." Lucatiel notes, narrowing her eyes at her blade.

"That's the problem. It's such a boring fight. Honestly the real boss should be that lava." You point to the pool in the middle of the battlefield with a shudder. At least it's over now.

You know the next will be harder, both because Freya has helpers and because you're... Sorta terrified of the rappel down to her nest. Now that is something you remember with horrifying clarity. You can only imagine how much worse its going to be now.

You're pretty stoked to finally meet Vangarl though. So far the NPC's have... Been...

"Oh gosh." You gasp, biting down on the inside of your cheek.

Lucatiel glances at you curiously, "What?"

"We forgot the ladder dude, Luca. I totally spaced, god dammit!" You yank your notebook out of your inventory in a flash, looking over the list of people you're supposed to meet for Gilligan. "He's in Earthern Peak." You snap the book closed and it disappears back into your inventory.

"The ladder dude is in Earthen Peak." Lucatiel repeats bemusedly.

You stare at her, raising an eyebrow. "Yes?"

"I do not understand." She answers simply.

"Oh. Yeah, that makes sense actually, sorry. There's this guy that'll help us get down to the last of the Four. The Rotten. It's really hard to get to without ladders, I mean, it's doable but... I don't really like fall deaths." You explain, moving to the small building the King was guarding.

Lucatiel follows dutifully, asking, "And you know all this... how?"

You sigh as your throw open the chest and grab the bone dust. It's even harder to open than most iron chests though, prompting you to get down on your knees to shove it open. "Remember when I said I'd explain how I knew about Artorias back in Majula?"

"I tire of the same answer." She huffs irritably. You don't have to look up to know she's frowning.

You don't blame her really. You would be angered too, if it were the other way around. Your partner (...datemate?) making weirdly accurate predictions and giving only cryptic answers would frustrate anyone.

You just... You're not certain if she'll believe you or not, and you really like what you've got going right now. You don't want to mess up your whole relationship because she thinks you're A) delusional, B) lying through your teeth for no apparent reason, or C) being purposely malicious. Any one of which could result in a breakup.

None of the above, please.

You fall silent, looking down at the now empty chest and white knuckling the lip. What am I supposed to say? "By the way, I come from a world where this entire story is just a game and that's how I know all this!"

Fuck. Me.

You need more time to think this out.

"Fine," She sighs your name, moving on ahead without you.

You know without a doubt you seriously fucked up, but you don't really know how to fix it. You slowly get to your feet and make your way to the bonfire room. For a second you think she's returned to Majula without you, but the bonfire isn't lit. You light it before anything else, knowing its part of your responsibility. Then you look in the other DLC room, wondering if maybe she homeward bone'd out.

She's just looking at the snake sculpture thing, thankfully.

"Lucatiel." You say, not allowing yourself to chicken out this time. "I don't... I want to tell you but I don't know if you'll believe me and I don't wanna mess this up because I really do like you and I'm not sure how to word it in order for you to understand properly, and I'm sorry."

Yeah, just like that. Just throw out an entire monologue with no periods. Nice, some snarky voice in your head hisses. You tell that part of yourself to shut the fuck up.

Lucatiel pauses, not even looking in your direction. Oh god, did I fuck up.

"Apology accepted. I will give you until we are reunited in Majula to gather your thoughts then." She finally says, her voice filled with icy civility. "I expect an answer that doesn't involve more time delays."

"Oh... Okay. I can do that. I'm gonna... Use that, first." I point at the statue. "It's supposed to transport people to a different land, if you have the 'key' of course."

You didn't really plan on doing the DLC's so soon, but looking won't hurt anything, right? And it'll give you a bit more time, which is definitely a plus at this point.

"I will see you back in Majula then, future monarch." She bids you farewell, brushing past you. You've never been less pleased to hear the words 'future monarch'.

You bit down harshly on your lip and try your best not to take it as an attack.

This is bad.

PS, this is definitely not the end. Rest assured I wouldn't stand for such a thing.

And FYI, literally every couple fights. It's impossible for two people to agree on everything, and communication is such a tricky thing when you really care for someone. Trust me on this. It'll be fine.