Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

YOU wake up in the Light World. Lots of toys, cards, and blocks are strewn throughout the unused classroom, with you standing in the center of it all, Kris by your side. The ceiling lights are on, yet flickery, and pieces of dust and lint can be seen floating through the air, spreading like wildfire with our presence.

We stood in silence for a while.

S: Nice, we… sealed the fountain.

K: … Yeah.

S: Hey Kris, can I… ask you something? I’m really sorry, I’m just. Trying to wrap my head around this whole… thing.

You spit out the word like it left a sour taste in your mouth.

S: When we met, was that you… or them?

K: …

S: … it’s fine, you really don’t have to answer that, I know it’s personal, but I just—

K: I don’t know.

The silence is that of a locked door, one with no key. Kris sits down, curled up with their head in their arms. Their shoulders shake.

K: I really don’t know anymore.

You feel bad for them. They got their life taken from them, pulled away like they were a toy or doll to be played with or ripped apart. They got their friends taken away from them. They got their family taken away from them, and now? Now they get their freedom taken away too? No. No, you won’t let that happen. Through rain or shine or storm or… whatever, you won’t let anyone take any more from them. They deserve it, after all. Not many people would stand up to a bully like you, let alone persevere in a time like this. You like them; they’re a great friend. You need them… and they need you.

You sit down with them, and support them in their time of need.

S: Come on, Kris... let's head home.

You've been here, in this void, since they sealed the Dark World. YOU were nothing. You felt the darkness sap your energy, grabbing you like a clenched fist... until, suddenly, you were prompted with a choice. It wasn't one that could be heard, but, rather felt. One of emotion, and of the will to live. Almost instinctively, you reached out, and...

The entrance of Castle Town was bustling with movement as you got up from the earthy floor in a daze. No one had noticed you at the marshy entrance yet, save for that one Rudinn. The ornate doors of the castle lay at the other end of the town, waiting for your arrival. Your head was swimming, but despite your lightheadedness, you got up and stumbled over to the town.

When was the last time you slept? Drank? Ate? Anything now would be good. You dashed across the main path, mind hazy and unthinking. All of this travel between worlds and universes was disorienting at best, and deadly at worst.

Then the static came.

For once, it felt nice. Like white noise, or wind and rain on the window. A sense of calm, relief, and fullness washed over you. You didn’t need anything else. You just needed this. But then, as the static subsided, your famished body reacted again, yet with less vigor. You could now start to think, at least enough to know that you passed a shop on the way here.

As you headed to the shop, you took a moment and quickly noticed Malius’ and Lancer’s concern. It was not unwarranted to see this reaction, as you are, in fact, an unknown grey figure stumbling about Castle Town.

L: Can I help you?

M: Yeah, you definitely don’t look so good. Need anything?

Y: Yeah, actually, do you have a, uh, what’s it called…

You snap your fingers quickly, trying to think of the name of the item.

Y: Ah! A LancerCookie?

L: Yyyep! Here, you look like you need it, grayboy!

Huh, grayboy. That’s a fun one, haha.

* You take a bite of the LancerCookie.

* You recovered .5 HP and 30 MP. (.5/70HP)

It tasted like… nothing, just like a void. It did not quench your hunger, either, hardly so, but it helped your health, so it’s good enough to suffice for now.

You head over to Ralsei’s castle, making sure to thank Lancer and Malius for helping you overcome your inanition, if even by a little bit. Lancer jumps up and waves, saying something you can’t hear, Malius smiles and signals you off happily, and you go on your way to get to Ralsei, the only source of order you know of (other than Tasque Manager). As you walk upstairs and pass by the full rooms of Susie, Kris, Lancer, and Queen, you notice a gap in the boards covering the upstairs stairwell.

I mean, he’s not in Castle Town’s town, nor castle so far, and I doubt he’d be in the dungeon, so…

You slip through the breach.

Sometimes, YOU wonder when Kris and Susie would get back.

But that’d be a selfish thought; they have their own lives that don’t involve you in them. And, with a town that practically runs itself, there’s not all that much to do other than stay in seclusion. After all, it’s not like many people are going to get to you here. The prophecy will have to wait for a while, and like it or not, so will you. But sometimes, when you let your mind wonder, you fondly think about them. They seem to always have direction or be upbeat, and it’s… inspiring. After all, why shouldn’t they? They are the Heroes of Legend, foretold in the Prophecy, and you are just a simple Darkner to follow their commands.

But… with these new changes, you’re just stuck. Unsure of whom to follow or what to do. The cage and soul are separate, and it’s unknown how or why. Fortunately, the Prophecy is caring enough to not have any issues with this, but still…

The door abruptly creaks open; someone is here.

R: Hello? Um… Who is it?

Y: Hey, Rals. Just me.

R: Oh, okay! Well, um… make yourself comfortable!

Your room is completely empty. It is coated in nothing but shadow, except for a window that you graced yourself with. You’re fine with this. It’s better this way.

Y: Sorry for having interrupted your… time here. I just wanted to ask a few questions if you don’t mind. We could do an exchange, you know. A question for a question.

Their grey hands comb back their brown hair in nervousness.

R: N-no, you’re fine, ask away!

Y: Okay, so… that moment. You know, right before Kris, well, stabbed me. What was that screeching? Was it him?

You seem startled at the mention of the one above, especially so casually, but you continue.

R: Well… yes. It was the Creator, but… only because there are limits on what we should say. Normally that context isn’t needed, as Kris or Susie wouldn’t know, but…

Y: Okay, that makes more sense. Aaaannd I guess that makes it your question then.

R: Oh! Well… how did you get here? As far as I’m aware, you just… appeared? Woke up here?

Y: …Yes. I woke up as the possessor of Kris not too long ago; it was right before they entered this Dark World actually. From there, when inside the Dark World, I just like… popped out and filled in the gaps with my vessel. It didn’t seem like Kris wanted me there, and they seemed plenty fine without me, so…

R: … Okay.

The sheer level of perplexity on your face is likely very, very visible.

Y: Well, I guess that makes it my turn again. Hmmm, let me think.

They pause for a minute, and you notice something about them. Despite their circumstances of being literally displaced across universes, they seem relatively upbeat, with a child’s simple contentment. You don’t always understand how they could be this way, especially in such a complex time, but… it fills you with a sense of mollification.

Y: Okay, well, how do you feel about the Prophecy and the way it’ll play out after… this?

They seem good-hearted, like they’re trying to help you let it out. You take a deep, unsteady breath.

R: In full honesty… I don’t know. I mean, it “never changes”, but the prophecy gets far too vague for it to note everything down. It will adapt just fine, it’s just us that I’m worried about. Kris might not fully be okay with you being here. Susie might not understand, and she’s now faced with the choice of following you or Kris… That’s just the one thing I don’t know of; I’m sorry.

Y: That’s alright. Mind if I stick around for a while?

R: No, not at all.

Hours pass as YOU lie on the ground. Theoretically, yeah, you could be spending your time outside and stuff, but you don’t feel like leaving right now. Besides, the Dojo is closed and the shops all cost money to get anything. Queen is probably still in her room drinking acid, Seam is in the shop, and Susie and Kris are somewhere in the Light World, so there aren’t really any other places to go.

But fine, you’ll tear yourself away from your ever-important tasks of staring at the ceiling as Ralsei dozes off, finally getting a break from his ever-stressful life. You walk away and venture off through the town, a total of five (borrowed) dollars in your pocket.

As you pass by others, you try to make light conversation with nearby Rudinns.

Y: What’s life been like for you?

Ru: Well, I am doing good, especially after being free of King. I am disappointed that they did not give me a severance package. I think that I’ll have some more friends if any other fountains appear. When do you think the next fountain will be?

Y: I don’t know, I just got here—

Ru: I know that I just got out of a sealed fountain, but I really could do with more friends. Maybe we should make more fountains? I don’t know. If I met any new friends, I would just walk up to them and say…

Now, you enjoy conversation just as much as the next guy. However. There is a fine line between talking and talking, and this Rudinn isn’t even facing you or talking to you anymore. In fact, they’ve somehow dragged in some poor fellow into this, acting out almost like a pitiful little play with them. It’s clear that it was unwarranted, and it’s a little hard to watch.

You decide to lightly say goodbye as you leave.

Ru: Well, goodbye!

They then continue droning on, now to another Rudinn and a Hathy about their future friends, still trying to rope them into their conversation.

Now that that crazy train has come to a halt, you decide that you might do better with something a little more peaceful. Like taking a walk! You know that people back home used to talk walks all the time for peace of mind and inspiration, so why shouldn’t you?

You walk all the way to the heavenly light at the entrance, the only bridge from the Light and Dark Worlds (besides from sealing a world). You walk around the light for a while, noticing how the particles in the air reflect the light, glimmering and shining like coins stuck in stasis. It’s a beautiful sight, and you let your fingers slip through the light. Your clammy, grey hands slip through the air like butter, with a feeling of butterflies you can’t quite place, and before Ralsei can stop you, just before he could say a word, your mesmerized form steps out into the light and—

Your mind gets whisked away, back to a memory of simpler times.

* You got the MEMORY_SHARD.