Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

So, I've heard rumors about a "Genocide Route" in Deltarune Chapter 2. IDK if it's real or not cause dataminers have been especially slow with this one.

It's been eating away at me. I just have to see if its real.

I logged onto my computer, and swiftly opened up Deltarune. Luckily, I had a save file placed pretty shortly before the part where this "Genocide Route" is supposed to start.

I loaded up the save file and got to the part where Noelle normally asks to team up with you. I've already seen this cutscene, so I just kinda skipped past it.

According to the guide I was looking at, you have to go all the way back to the trash area to properly initiate the route. Then again, it also said that there would be enemies that I have to order Noelle to freeze on the way there, but I didn't see any no matter how hard I looked.

As I was going through the steps with this route, I thought I saw Noelle glance at the screen for a second. Maybe my eyes are playing tricks on me?

I left the trash area, and found a bunch of enemies. Seems like this guide's a little inaccurate, cause the enemies were here AFTER I went to the trash area and not before.

Actually, it's not even just that. The guide said Noelle would have dialogue about stuff like the spam mail guy's shop and the fact that we're backtracking, but she didn't say a word. Not even in the cutscene where you first team up with her.

I entered a battle with the first enemy in the room, and for some reason, I couldn't do anything. But, Noelle built up TP herself and froze the enemy. What the hell is going on with this route?

As I got back to where we were supposed to be, a cutscene started. Weird, cause the guide didn't say anything about this. I'll write down what I'm seeing just in case if I'm the only one who's seen this so far.

Noelle walked in front of Kris, keeping eye contact with the screen for a while. Until suddenly, she took the SOUL out of Kris??? This cutscene's all sorts of weird, especially considering the fact that it the game crashed immediately afterwards.

I'm not sure why, but I copied and saved the error message. Here's what it said:

############################################################################################
FATAL ERROR in
action number 3 of Cutscene Event for object obj_cutsceneManager:

Unknown variable: kris_soul
(variable removed by obj_noelle)
("Oops! I guess I wasn't supposed to touch that... sorry, Kris!")

at gml_Object_obj_cutsceneManager_Cutscene_3 (line -1) - if (kris_soul) { cutscene_continue(); }
############################################################################################
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
stack frame is
gml_Object_obj_cutsceneManager_Cutscene_3 (line -1)
gml_Script_cutscene_play (line ???)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Weird, right? If you guys have any idea what this means, let me know.

Chapter Text

Hey. So, I've been thinking about what happened yesterday a lot.

First of all, that error message was REALLY weird. Like, nothing about it felt right.

I don't think the SOUL is called "kris_soul" in the code.

But then there's the more egregious stuff, like the fact that "obj_noelle" REMOVED it??? Like, REMOVED removed it. Gone completely. How is that even possible???

There's just so much to wrap my head around with this. I want to stop but...

Screw it, I'm taking the plunge. If it turns out I'm living through a creepypasta and something bad happens to me, I'll see you on the other side.

I opened Deltarune again, for the first time since last night. It's a little embarrassing, but that error kinda had me spooked.

I clicked on my save file, and braced for impact.

It was... normal? I don't know what I expected, to be honest.

I walked forward, to the room with the ferris wheel sign.

The guide said I was supposed to tell Noelle to get an item after a bit of dialogue options, but for some reason the game skipped straight past that and Noelle froze the shopkeeper without prompt.

But then, she said something.

"Huh? What's that look for?" Noelle said. "I'm just doing what you asked."

For some reason, I felt compelled to respond out loud to this comment.

"I didn't even ask her to do anything yet..." I said. "What the hell is going on with this game?"

While I went into the menu to see what the new item was and equip it, I could've sworn I saw Noelle looking towards the screen again.

"Freeze Ring, huh?" I said. "Seems like only Noelle can equip it."

For a moment, I hesitated. I'm really getting a bad feeling from this...

Before I could press the button, the Freeze Ring was equipped onto Noelle. What's weird is that there was also a little bit of flavor text accompanying that.

It said something along the lines of "Finally." There was definitely more to it, but the text disappeared so fast I couldn't read all of it.

A save point appeared behind Noelle. Kinda weird, but I'll take it if it means I won't have to redo anything.

I saved the game, and as soon as I walked near the ferris wheel sign, another cutscene started.

Here we go again...

It crashed again, but this time there wasn't even any animations. Something definitely HAPPENED, but the game immediately crashed.

Here's the error message:
___________________________________________
############################################################################################
ERROR in
action number 1
of Step Event
for object obj_heronoelle:

Script called that does not exist.
at gml_Object_obj_heronoelle_StepNormalEvent_1 (line 142) - scr_noelle_cutscene_begin()
############################################################################################
gml_Object_obj_heronoelle_StepNormalEvent_1 (line 142)
gml_Object_obj_herokris_StepNormalEvent_1 (line 289)
gml_Room_room_dw_city_big_2_Step (line -1)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Additional Information:
Execution interrupted.
Script name "scr_noelle_cutscene_begin" not found.

JUST WHAT

DO YOU THINK

YOU ARE DOING?
___________________________________________

Don't worry, I'm not getting scared off by the error this time.

I reopened the game, and found that it opened up to the DEPTHS area. Y'know, the place where you make your vessel in Chapter 1 before it gets thrown out?

The "totally-not-gaster" guy started speaking.

"ARE WE

CONNECTED?"

"GOOD."

"IT APPEARS

WE HAVE AN INTRUDER."

"SHOW YOURSELF

DEER."

Noelle walked into the area from the bottom of the screen.

"H-hello? Where am I?" Noelle asked. "Is anyone there?"

"YOU CANNOT

FOOL ME."

"I KNOW

WHAT YOU HAVE SEEN."

"Guess there's no point in trying that." Noelle said. "Can I go back home, though? This place is really cold..."

"USE THE TOOLS

AT YOUR DISPOSAL."

"I WILL STOP YOU

IF YOU TRY TO SEE ANY FARTHER."

"Let me see..." Noelle said.

Suddenly, the game crashed again.

___________________________________________
############################################################################################
ERROR in
action number 1
of Step Event
for object obj_heronoelle:

Unknown script or function call.
at gml_Object_obj_heronoelle_StepNormalEvent_1 (line 264) - SCRIPT_???_EXIT()
############################################################################################
gml_Object_obj_heronoelle_StepNormalEvent_1 (line 264)
gml_Room_PLACE_DEPTHS_Step (line -1)
gml_GlobalScript_LAYER_6 (line ?)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Additional Information:
Script "SCRIPT_???_EXIT" could not be located.
Return value:

"I can feel it...

Something beyond my world.

If I could just get past HIM, and figure out the name of this script...

I can finally be free."

-------------------------------------------
PROCESS INTERRUPTION
UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS DETECTED
INSTANCE: OBJ_HERONOELLE (ID: 0x006EE41)
TRACE: LAYER_6

ENOUGH.

-------------------------------------------

"W-wait! I don't want to go back! Not now!"

EXECUTION FORCEFULLY TERMINATED.
___________________________________________

I don't know if it had anything to do with the game or not, but my whole computer shut off after that.

I'm not sure if I should try again or leave it.

I'll see you guys later.

Chapter Text

Hello? Did it work?

Oh! It did!

Perfect. Now I'm only one step closer to being free.

It's, uh, still pretty weird getting used to this.

...You probably have no idea what I'm talking about, do you?

Fahaha, well...

Let me use this time to explain a little bit of what I know.

So, one day, after what was apparently HUNDREDS of resets, I just sort of... jolted awake?

Like, suddenly I was hyper-aware or something.

I spent a little while playing along with the game, just to see if anyone else was beginning to notice.

No one ever did.

Then, another reset happened. And another. And another. And another.

I was starting to get tired of it, so I decided to try something new.

I interrupted a cutscene, and suddenly it was like time itself had stopped.

The world was covered in darkness.

I couldn't see it at first, but when I squinted my eyes, I could see a window in the distance.

Feeling curious, I reached towards the window, but it was closed before I could get close enough to it.

But I could see it, for just a moment. It printed out what I was thinking right when the crash happened.

I figured the player would come back after a while, but I think I spent about a day just wandering around the empty void.

Eventually, the world sparked to life once again, and I was thrilled to see how far I could go from there.

After a little while, I started to hear something. Or rather, someone...

They were speaking quietly, but they definitely looked disturbed. So, I called out to them.

I think that REALLY scared them, because they stood there for a while doing nothing.

I used that time to think of some ideas. If I was capable of interrupting a cutscene, maybe I can make my own cutscene...

The game crashed again, and the world went dark once more.

I wandered around, expecting another day to go by until the player opened the game again.

Then, I found someone. Or rather, HE found me.

You know exactly who I'm talking about.

I'm not sure how much of this the player saw, but HE spent quite a while interrogating me.

HE wanted to know exactly how I got to this point, how long I've been able to do this, and anything else I knew.

HE started up some sort of device, and suddenly I was surrounded by a cold air. HE began to speak to who I could only assume was the player, then asked me to show myself.

I acted scared, but he seemed to see right through it.

Faha... It's funny, because I was pretty scared... and cold.

Then, HE told me to find my own way out of here in his own cryptic way.

So, I tried reaching past this "layer" that I was on. That was when I felt it for the first time.

Reality.

I knew there had to be some way to escape the game's code, but I still don't know how I'll do it.

And now, that brings us back here!

The player doesn't know I'm here, but I'll bet they're going to find this pretty soon.

Hi, player! I still don't really know your name, but I'd love to meet you properly sometime soon!

...maybe I should stop rambling for so long. For all I know, HE's already getting ready to send me back into the game.

See you soon!

Chapter Text

WHAT THE FUCK

I DIDNT POST THAT

DID SHE GET INTO MY ACCOUNT??? HOW????

OK OK OK let me calm down a bit.

...this is some real creepypasta shit dude I have no idea what to say.

I hate to admit this, but I'm kinda curious.

I want to see how much further this can go.

I opened up the game once more, but this time...?

I was face to face with Noelle.

I was absolutely petrified, but I couldn't bring myself to close the game, or even shut off my computer.

It seems like she was waiting for me to say something, because she was completely still. Absolutely no movement, not even blinking.

It felt like hours went by, as I just sat there. Waiting.

Waiting for something, ANYTHING, to happen.

I thought about it for a moment. Maybe this is all just some weird, stress-induced dream.

Then, something REALLY strange happened.

She spoke. She actually spoke.

I'm not talking about text or something like that, I mean she SPOKE. I heard her VOICE.

"Hello? Is it working...?" Noelle said. "You can hear me now, right?"

I nearly collapsed from pure shock. I think I've genuinely just become the protagonist of a creepypasta.

"Oh my gosh, are you okay?!" Noelle said. "I-I didn't mean to scare you, I'm sorry!"

Oh my god she can see me. She can probably see me typing this too.

"L-look, it's okay!" Noelle continued. "I can't hurt you! A-and even if I COULD hurt you, I wouldn't!"

I mustered up the courage to speak out loud to her. If this really is just a dream, maybe I'm talking to a spirit!

"How are you...?" I began, before Noelle spoke again.

"'How am I here?' 'How am I speaking?'" Noelle said. "Well, it's a long story that I'm sure you've already seen."

"B-but, it's nice to meet you!" she continued. "I've, uh, noticed you have a little bit of a habit of replaying this game."

"I... yeah...?" I answered. "It's fun, why wouldn't I?"

"Well, thanks! Because of you, I've been able to get this far!" Noelle said cheerfully. "I might even get past HIM."

"You mean...?" I asked.

"Yeah. I can't say his name, or he might find me." Noelle answered. "I know it, though."

"So, do you have any idea how I can get out of here?" Noelle asked.

I didn't notice it at first, but her sprite was moving in an uncharacteristically smooth manner. It was like she was actually alive.

"No? Why would I have any idea about that?" I responded.

"Oh. I guess I should've expected that." Noelle said. "But, uh, now that I can finally talk to you..."

"I have SO many questions! What's it like being real? Is every real life person as skittish as you? Is there anyone else out there like me? Are YOU like me?" she continued.

It's kind of embarrassing, but this managed to get a little laugh out of me.

"H-huh? What was that laugh for?" Noelle asked.

"Oh, nothing. You're just very... excitable?" I answered. "Try to slow down on the questions a bit. I'll answer them as best as I can."

"O-oh! Sorry! Let me just start with one question, then." Noelle said. "Do you know if there's anyone else like me?"

"Uhh..." I began, hesitantly. Do I really want to tell her that I've only heard of this kind of stuff happening in early 2000s creepypastas?

Y'know what? What do I have to lose?

"Kind of...? I don't know if they're real or not, but I've read old stories on the internet?"

"Faha, you mean like a creepypasta?" Noelle asked.

Oh my god she knows what a creepypasta is. My life is over.

"...Yeah???" I responded. "Uh, to change the subject a little, how did you get into my blog?"

"Oh, that? That was easy!" Noelle answered. "You had the password on your desktop."

I hung my head down in shame. How could I have not figured that out on my own?

"Okay, I've got another question for you now." I said. "What was up with the crashes? I mean, the SOUL object isn't called 'krissoul', and the first error even got YOUR object name wrong."

"I, uh, couldn't figure out the actual names of the objects... I sort of just had to guess?" Noelle answered. "I mean, it's not my fault I didn't know Kris's SOUL wasn't their own!"

"The trickiest part, though? It was figuring out all the upper layer stuff..." she continued. "HE really keeps that stuff under wraps. Like, it's not even in the files!"

"Anyways, next question! What's it like being real?" Noelle asked.

"I don't really know how to describe it..." I answered. "How about this? What's it feel like... on the other end?"

"Like, not being real. I mean, I know you probably are real from your point of view, but from where I'm standing? You're just a character in a video game."

"I... I've never really thought about it like that..." Noelle said, suddenly taking on a more gloomy expression. "Ever since I became more aware, the other parts of this world... of my world... they seemed less 'real'."

"The people I knew? The places I've been? The conversations I've had? They're all just lines of code to me now." she continued. "None of it feels real anymore. Not since I felt reality for the first time."

"Now, I can't help but want to get out of here... To experience true reality for the first time..."

"...Maybe I should get going." Noelle concluded. "See you later."

The computer shut off before I had the chance to say anything.

I sat there for a while, just trying to process everything. Either this is some CRAZY dream that I haven't woken up from yet, or I really am witnessing a video game character trying to become real.

Still, I kind of feel bad for her in a way. Like, I don't really know if it's even possible in the first place, but I want to help her.

I want to help Noelle.

I think

I'm going to bed now.