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“Please don’t be jealous.”
“OF????”
“Susie-“
“WHAT?”
“WHAT?”
“WHAT?”
“WHAT?”
“WHAT?”
Berdly tried to think in-between shakes. He never knew Noelle was this strong. More to the point, though, why did she- “WHAT?” -freak out all of a sudden? Was it because he mentioned his love for Susie? That must be it, but why- “WHAT?” -did she react like that? It couldn’t be… no, it had to be. She was worried for his safety! Noelle hadn’t realized- “WHAT?” -that Susie was a kind person at heart, she still thought Susie was the brutish bully she appeared to be on the surface! All he needed to do was explain, and all would be well. But just as he was about to speak, he saw something rise up behind Noelle that was far more pertinent…
“Noelle—behind—you!”
“WHAT? WHAT? W-what…?” Noelle seemed to calm down as her manic smile faded to concern, and when she turned her head-
“OHOHOHO!” There she was. The woman who promised Berdly a perfect world, who he was slavishly loyal to up until she revealed her true colors as a lying witch who merely wished to use him.
“QUEEN?!” Noelle screamed as she finally let go of Berdly’s shirt.
“Why Yes That Is My Name” she said, her robotic speech making any hint of sarcasm infuriatingly difficult to detect. “Now Children I Would Appreciate It If You Accompanied Me To The Fountain So We Can Create The World Of Our Dreams”
“I think not, you repulsive robotic regent!” Berdly shouted with bravado. “Kris may have failed to distract you, but we still have you outnumbered! Unlike before, you have no leverage, allies, or element of surprise! With my Holy Halbird and Noelle’s frigid fingers, we will surely prevail!”
“Y-yeah!” Noelle stood tall and the air grew cold. “I… I won’t let you throw Berdly in the acid river!”
“Wait, what was that about-“
“Oh I See You Wish To Take The Hard Way” Queen interrupted. “Luckily I Prepared For This Eventuality”
As she spoke, a blue wire descended from the… ceiling? Darkness? Wherever they come from, Berdly didn’t know. This looked different from the control wires she used on the plugboys though. It was smaller, and instead of three prongs at the end, there were a pair of slightly raised metal orbs, and below them, a hole. As the wire lowered towards Berdly, the hole looked almost… conical…
“So Fun Fact I Just Developed An Upgrade For My Control Wires”
“I Think you Will Find It Quite”
“Electrifying”
Berdly stepped back, trying his best to hide his fear as the wire wound closer. “You… you’re bluffing! You’re bluffing! You wouldn’t!”
“Oh I Assure You I Would”
“Now Why Dont You Make This Easier”
“And Hold Still”
The last thing Berdly remembered was Noelle’s scream as his vision went dark.
Stupid
Dumbass
Wrong
Forgettable
Nothing
You couldn’t save her
You couldn’t even save yourself
“Whats The Matter Burghley Stuck In Your Own Head-“
“STOP IT! GET AWAY!”
A swing of the wings, a whirling tornado
But nothing was there
“Berdly!”
Was that… Kris?
Couldn’t be
No one will help you
Why would they bother?
“Please, wake up! We need you!”
Fake. Clearly. He didn’t recognize the voice and no one would tell him that anyway.
Idiot
“Hey! Wake up, dumbass!”
Susie? Here?
Wait… where is here?
“C’mon, you’re better than a damn wire!”
Kris, again?
Berdly started to focus.
He felt his body again.
“We won’t let you control everyone with your wires!”
“Whoa When Did I Say That”
Wires… the wire! He felt it on his face! That did happen!
… where was he? Where was Noelle? What did Queen do to her?
“Um… you’re literally controlling Berdly right now.”
“Oh Yeah Thats For Him Only”
Him only… so she really didn’t give a damn about him. Just a puppet, a means to get to the REAL important players.
Well this puppet was done with its strings.
As if on cue, the wire shifted and loosened with a jerk and a pop, just barely audible amidst the sound of battle.
This was his chance.
“Not Bad You Foolish Children”
He reached up, ready to pull.
To finally help his friends, to be more than a burden for once in his life.