Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

From an outsider's perspective, Sarah didn't seem too bad. Sure, she might have been a little offputting in her appearance and mannerisms, but Bonnie was sure that, just like her, she as just a trapped soul wanting to be free.

And she was right!

...For the wrong reasons.

"Don't you ever feel angry?" The spirit whispered into her ear. 

"Of course I don't." The young lady replied bluntly. "What happened to me was nobody's fault."

"What about him?" 

"What about him?" Bonnie hissed. "He wasn't a human like you. He was just some freaky monster made of code. He's not out for revenge or anything. He's just doing this because it's fun to him."

For once, the purple hedgehog's wide grin faltered. "I suppose that makes sense."

"And moreso, why are you doing the same thing? Your friends didn't-"

"THEY DIDN'T HELP AT ALL."

Bonnie was silenced by her outburst.

"They saw me, laying there on the ground, bleeding, and they didn't help. They just dumped me in a lake and moved on with their lives."

She continued, not turning around.

"I've been suffering in here for thirty years, and it's all because they were too weak to help their friend."

There was a brief pause.

"But now? They're in here too. I won't have to be alone anymore. I can make them feel what I felt that night."

Silently, Sarah twisted her head, almost completely around, to look at her.

"Doesn't that sound swell?"

Chapter Text

Giles was starting to get scared.

He'd been wandering this misty, blocky wasteland for what felt like hours, and still hadn't found anything, not an exit, a mob, or any resources aside from dirt, sand, and water for miles and miles.

But he knew not to give up. 

"I suppose her courage is starting to rub off on me..." He mumbled to himself. "Maybe there's a pig or something around here somewhe-"

He stopped as he spotted a blurry shape in the fog.

"...You've gotta be kidding me." 

Unsheathing the small wooden sword he'd previously crafted, the man readied himself. 

Once again, the shape weaved in and out of view, getting closer with each step(?).

Giles could swear the man was teleporting, as he couldn't hear footsteps anywhere.

Now starting to sweat, he turned around-

-And a pair of blank white eyes looked back at him.

He yelped, stumbling backwards.

"Woah-! Okay, what do you want...?" He began, trying to make conversation with the... person(???) in front of him.

The man didn't respond, and simply stared at him, motionless.

"...You okay, dude? Can you talk, or...?"

Again, no response. 

"Alright, uh..." He pointed a finger towards a nearby hill. "I think I'm just gonna go over there. Wanna join me?"

The figure stood there for a moment, before giving a slow nod.

"Okay, good."

Before long, the duo had settled down in a half-built house they'd constructed together, and started a small fire in the furnace.

"So, do you have a name? Just asking."

The man stared, and then began to place blocks outside of their house.

"Uh, what'cha doing?"

Yet again, Giles received no answer.

In a few moments, the entity had spelled out a word, using the leftover planks.

"HEROBRINE"

It was an odd name, for sure, but Giles had definitely heard stranger.

He wasn't quite sure if the man was a "hero", though. Creepy and quiet? Sure. But heroic? He'd have to wait and see. And where exactly did the 'Brine' part come from?

Giles simply shrugged. He'd probably just ask him later.

Chapter Text

Philip was really starting to lose his patience. He was just trying to find some cool monsters to catch, and he was instead stuck with this thing.

The Gardevoir, "Charon", was constantly trying to stop him from whatever he was doing and follow him to some place? Where and what that place was, the 'Mon didn't clarify. All he wanted was to just go with him.

But Philip wasn't that dumb. 

This Gardevoir was definitely not a normal one. Rather than a bright, healthy green, he was a sickly purple color, had empty black eyes oozing... something out of them, and was overall just a weirdo.

But no matter how much he begged, it just wouldn't go away.

So, he just ignored it.

That definitely wasn't what Charon wanted, but he didn't care. He just wanted the damn thing to leave.

Frankly, the Gardevoir didn't take this news lightly. It began to get more agressive with him, desperately hoping he'd give in to whatever it wanted him to do.

Eventually, he ended up leaving the world with Bonnie and Giles out of annoyance. 

But Charon kept waiting for him, because no matter how long he was gone for, he'd eventually return, and maybe he'd finally answer the siren's call.

Chapter Text

Finding out he wasn't the only soul-stealing entity out there was definitely one of he best things that had ever happened to Downbeat.

For once, he had entities who shared his interests, ones he could collaborate with for games and challenges, and MX certainly enjoyed working alongside him. He remembered the time they spent together, coming up with ideas and ways to have fun with their respective victims/playmates. 

It made him feel happy and fulfilled for once. Like he truly belonged in this game.

So, one day, he came up with a brilliant idea, with the help of his new pal: He would have Bonnie and Giles go meet up with MX, as well as all his friends, for a series of epic, fun-filled rap battles that were surely challenging enough for the two of them. He'd heard Bonnie bemoaning before about how easy and predictable the game had become, so why not give her something a little tougher to chew on?

He just couldn't wait to see what she'd think of it.