Chapter Text
Kris limped into his blue bedroom, locking the door behind him. Ralsei and Noelle were drinking tea at Swatch’s newly-built Castle Town Color Café, chatting happily together when he had excused himself. Both friends seemed visibly concerned, especially after what had happened yesterday. Susie protested, but Ralsei convinced her that Kris could handle himself. He assured Kris that they'd still be there waiting for him to return after he handled whatever he had to do.
He staggered to the nightstand which not only had Ralsei’s manual he had given him, but the newly-acquired Dealmaker. After defeating Spamton NEO and completely snapping all of his wires, he just… fell. Like a lifeless puppet. Tangled and confined, his last words were delivered to Kris in a broken and glitched voice, pleading for him to break his own strings. Somehow, Spamton knew what it was like for Kris… and that Kris wasn't in control.
He hadn't been for a while now. Constantly, someone else has been steering him in different directions, making decisions for him, dictating his life. It was about time that he gained control again.
He had fleeting moments of authority when he would get rid of it, but it could only last for so long. Sooner or later, he would have to submit to its control again.
This would happen frequently at home. He hadn't tried it in the Dark World yet. He was so afraid of making decisions.
But maybe Ralsei was right; maybe his choices did matter.
Maybe he should cut his strings.
Almost reluctantly, Kris removed his chestplate armor and gouged his hand into his chest. A scream of agony erupted from his mouth, even though he tried his best to stay as quiet as possible. Ripping out the SOUL, he stared at it with contempt, hate radiating from his gaze.
The SOUL moved frantically around trying to escape Kris’ hand, but his grip was too strong. He opened up the top drawer of his nightstand and shoved the SOUL inside, quickly trapping it.
Kris’ head hung low, the ends of his long hair almost reaching the bed. The pressure in his chest subsided, like it always had done after he freed himself from it.
Something was off, though. The SOUL had always tried to free itself in the past, but this time, it was making a much bigger commotion than normal. The nightstand beside him shook rapidly, rumbling loudly until, finally, the top drawer flew open and the nightstand fell forward.
Kris yelped as he tumbled backward, his feet escaping from beneath him. The blue nightstand and everything that was sitting atop it was now tipped over on the floor, a faint red glow now radiating from the drawer. He stared in fearful anticipation for the SOUL to escape and shoot back into his chest.
Instead, he heard a voice.
“W-what's going on?” The voice was muffled and quiet. It sounded like it was coming from you.
Kris drew his sword upon hearing someone else. His arms weakly shook, barely holding the weapon up in front of him. He choked out a response. “Who's there?”
“Kris?”
Finally, the SOUL’s red light became stronger, creating some sort of glowing illusion. You were now facing Kris in a physical form. Your appearance varied from what you normally looked like, supposedly because you were now in the Dark World—your outfit definitely favored that notion.
Kris, however, was completely frozen, terrified at the figure that materialized in front of him.
“Who are you? And how do you know my name?”
You took a step forward, desperately wanting to console him, but this only made him hold his sword out further, flinching backwards.
Words escaped your mouth, anything that could possibly convince him that he was safe—your name, the fact that you didn't know how you got here—“Please, I don't mean to scare you—”
“I said, who ARE you?”
“Let me explain, Kris, please!”
“Have you been the person who's been controlling me?” Kris’ voice was swelling with anger. “What's your deal—?"
The red glow that lit Kris’ room was immediately overcome by yellow and pink flashes of light. It was coming from the Dealmaker.
“DID SOMEONE [RING]?”
It was a voice too familiar. The man you had seen just yesterday had formed from the two-toned glasses, appearing in front of you and Kris.
You could always tell that Kris was uneasy around Spamton, and this time was no exception. He had backed further away from you and the puppet. Spamton, however, wasn't looking at Kris. He was looking at you.
“DO MY [Eyes] DECEIVE ME?” He slowly inched closer. “KRIS! I KNEW YOU HAD THE [Light], BUT YOU DIDN’T [Shareholder] WITH ME THAT YOU WERE [Business Partners] WITH AN [Angel]!”
Kris’ expression turned into one of confusion and frustration. “I'm not. This thing has been the one who's been controlling me.”
“Kris, if you'll just let me explain, please,” you plead to him. “I never wanted to do any of this.”
“Then why won't you stop?”
“Because I’m stuck like this! Just like you!” At this point, your voice had raised to a shout. “I never meant to hurt you! I just wanted to be a part of this world!”
“What do you mean, ‘this world?’”
The room went silent aside from the glitches and buzzes that Spamton periodically emitted. He was listening intently.
How were you going to say this? Finally, you spoke.
“I just wanted to be a part of… the game.”
Kris stared bewilderingly at the floor. “You're joking, right? This is a joke? Do I look like—”
Spamton quickly interrupted. “I HAD A [Gut] FEELING IT WAS YOUR [[HeartShapedObject]]!” He leaned towards you intently. “NOW, LET’S MAKE A [Deal]. TELL ME…
“WHAT’S IT LIKE IN H E A V E N ?”