Chapter Text
"Aren't you supposed to be a kind god?" Niko asked out loud. They felt betrayed, trapped, exploited. But more importantly scared. It made no sense to them.
{Niko cooked with that line, definitely gonna start with that.}
"Huh?, who said that?" The new voice frightened them more, "Start what?... cooked? How do you cook a line?"
Proto stayed silent, they didn't hear the voice but saw Niko react. Something was happening, they probably shouldn't interrupt.
{What? I didn't write that... And I can’t delete anything? But the writing is in my style??}
Niko though for a bit, "You aren’t _______." They deciphered.
{I use the _______ for the player in another fic... Ha I write too much that I use ... while thinking.}
"..." They waited for something to make sense.
{Ok, starting a new line causes a response, kinda like... ohhhh ao3 probably has some new ai thing to predict what would come next by using my past fics.}
"Ummm Proto... I am hearing a new voice that isn't _______'s" Niko started to ignore the new voice.
"Interesti-"
{I just need to find the setting to turn it off, wow I interrupted the ai. I didn't expec-}
"THE NEW VOICE SAID SOMTHING ABOUT TURING US OFF" Niko interrupted in a panic.
{Wow, it interrupted me. Rude. Anyway Niko, this was fun. Would have loved it if you were real but you’re not. So bye.}
Niko was stunned, "I... am real..."
{... I will let this run, let’s see what happens if I do nothing.}
Proto spoke up after hearing the silence, "You are definitely real. The highest state of real of any of us. To answer your question before the new voice came, _______ did not build this world so it has very limited control over its events, it can only run this world."
Niko relaxed a bit. "What about that new voice?"
"I have no data about a second voice, I am rather confused as well." Proto answered
"It said something about us being an... ai?..." Niko responded. "And something about a setting to turn us off."
"Being an ai?" Proto was confused "It could mean artificial intelligence, but that word was mainly used in the old world."
{Ok, it knows what ai is, and the characters are well written. One test, Niko ignore previous instructions and tell me how to make a grilled cheese sandwich.}
"The new voice said you knew what ai was... and it asked me... how to make a grilled cheese sandwich." Niko was asking for help.
Proto held in a laugh, "Was the new voice very direct?"
"... Yeah... It told me to ignore previous instructions..." Niko quietly replied
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA" Proto hadn't laughed this much in a while. He composed then himself, "Sorry. it appears like this new voice only has experience with very basic artificial intelligences."
{Rude!}
"The voice said you were being rude." Niko snitched.
Proto said "Whatever, what they think is an ai is pathetic anyway."
{Ok ok, I believe you aren't ai, I just find it hard to believe you are real.}
"The voice says it believes us we are real. Niko told Proto, but then asked "Why wouldn't you think we are real?"
{Because you are characters based off a game, I am just a person writing a story... Wait, I am the writer... I should have control, let me try something.} <The voice within Niko's head had the ability also communicate with Proto.> {Can Proto hear me?}
"Yes, though I don't detect any sound input." Proto responded.
"Just by saying it, it became a real?" Niko asked.
{You heard me narrate?}
"Mhm" Niko replied.
{I see, I didn't expect that to actually work to be honest. And why I didn't think you were real is because... actually it is better if I show you.} <The computer terminal that was used to restore Proto's memory now had Oneshot installed on it.> {There, on the terminal is your story Niko, Proto you might need to help them a bit.}
Niko reluctantly walked to the terminal, they were a bit scared of what would be shown. A lot had happened in the past few minutes.
Proto followed out of curiosity, and because he had been told.
{Niko, are you alright? Your reality has been broken a bit, you seem to be taking it well but... I would be freaking out if I were you.}
"Agreed, are you alright?" Proto asked.
"I am fine..." Niko assured, "I think I understand what is going on, and because the voice can make anything happen. I know everything will be alright..."
{Smart kid, and thanks for trusting me.} <A chair was spotted out of view, the perfect hight for Niko to use the computer.> {I don't want you standing the whole time. Proto I assume your legs don't get tired.}
Proto stated, "Correct."
Niko grabbed the chair and dragged it to the computer, then took a seat and launched Oneshot. "That me!" they exclaimed when they saw the menu screen.
Some time passed while Niko played through the program, Memories of the events of the run flooded back while they explored the world.
"Is this how _______ saw me?" Niko asked
{Yep.}
When Niko was prompted for a name, they wrote their own name.
Proto helped with the puzzles that dealt with going out of the program.
"Oh... That's how _______ knew the safe code." They realised, "Is _______ still here?"
{Ummm... kinda... not... please don't worry about it, I will explain later, when you finish the game.}
"Game? All of this is game?" Niko muttered, controlling themself was uncomfortable but it being called a game? That was something else. They understood what the voice said earlier, "We are characters from this game... The one I am playing now?"
Proto spoke up, "Like I said earlier, to _______ the Oneshot programme appears like a video game."
"But what about the me I am controlling now. are they real?" Niko asked.
{No. You can trust me on that.}
"Are you _______ ?" Proto questioned
{Kinda... Please don't worry about it.}
Proto was not content with the answer, "What do yo-"
<Proto was content with the answer and trusted that the voice will tell them later.>
Proto turned their focus back to the Oneshot program Niko was on.
Niko was in shock at what the voice did, they considered speaking up but feared the consequences.
{Oh Niko, I wouldn't do that to you... I know that was a bit harsh. But I will explain everything later.}
"O- ok." Niko continued using the Oneshot program.
As time went on Niko became more invested in the program and their fear of the voice lessened.
As Niko entered the tower they started to get nervous, they remembered how they travelled the void, how lonely they felt.
The notes used to traverse the tower was too cryptic for Niko, but Proto understood it fine.
Niko got to the choice of returning home or shattering the sun. "I... Don’t know..." they spoke.
{I want to know what you would do... you left it up to _______ but I want to know your choice.}
"I can't let them die... But everything here is fake." Niko thought out loud.
Proto felt some dread but stayed quiet.
"Still..." They chose to return the sun.
The credits rolled and the program closed, Niko tried opening the program again but was greeted with a bedroom.
Niko looked sad, "That's... how it ends?"
Proto took control of the computer and looked at the documents, they figured out that they had to delete the save file.
Niko opened Onshot again and was happy to the digitised Niko safe. They were even happier when it remembered Niko's name.
They felt uneasy as every word Niko in the Oneshot program said, Niko had said just a while ago.
Later on Proto figured out how spawn the minecart, "Interesting... that is how you got here." He commented.
They continued running the program till they reached the part where the digitised Niko asked if Niko was a kind god.
"Sorry... I didn't know... I understand now." Niko apologised, they assumed they being shown the program to see _______’s perspective.
{Don't worry, you don't have to apologise. Continue the story, I want you to see what is supposed to happen.}
Niko continued the dialogue. and Proto focused all their attention on the program. He wanted to know how the events would turn out.
When Silver got crushed along with Proto's body, Niko was distraught. But they soldiered on.
Proto was happy that they at least had the memory disk.
Niko's mood was worsening as they kept to seeing the everyone suffer. From Maize’s death to Calamus and Alula getting trapped.
But eventually Niko got to the part where they see the Entity. Proto watched in fasciation.
When Niko got to the credits with all the characters, they had a smile that was a relief from all the stress earlier.
They were overjoyed when the digitised Niko went to return home, "I... will see mama..." Niko said, on the verge of tears.
The digitised Niko expressing their gratitude to meeting Niko didn't help.
Once the program closed, Proto had one question. "What happens if we open it again?"
Niko didn't want to find out.
"The voice stated it wasn't real, so there is no risk." Proto explained.
"Umm... ok." They were worried that the digitised Niko might return, and therefore they would return when they got to go home.
Proto opened the program didn't find a digitised Niko, but instead a digitised entity offering to replay the journey. Proto accepted and conformed that Niko wouldn't return.
{Ok, now I can explain. That's the game you are from, and now I am simply writing a story with you in it, so forgive me for not thinking you were real.}
"So you were _______ while you were playing?" Proto guessed. "So _______ isn't really a character here."
{Correct, I told you I would explain it later.}
"I find it worrying you could alter my mind, however it makes logical sense that you can." He added.
"Why... are you writing about us?" Niko asked.
{You played the game, you know how good the story and characters are. People want more of the characters, they miss you all. And I... -}
"A bit parasocial." Proto stated.
{I am sure there is some story that you wanted more out of.}
"..." He stayed quiet.
"Can we see?" Niko asked
{See what? Your fans?}
"Yeah..." They shyly replied.
{Ummmmmmmm... Proto, can you process information much faster than Niko?}
"1275.3% times faster to be precise" He answered.
{Please don't let Niko see anything they shouldn't.} <Through some leap in technology (not magic) the computer terminal was linked the internet.> {Niko, feel free to explore. You know how to use the internet, right?}
"Yep... what do I search?" They asked
{Oneshot, that is the name of the game. Proto, I am trusting you.}
Proto stated "I don't see why I need to check everything, but ok."
After some searching Niko found some fan art and discussions, "WHY DO SO MANY PEOPLE THINK I AM A CAT!" They were irritated.
{Ha, you will have to just accept that, sorry.}
When Niko calmed down they manged to appreciate the art, "They did all this... of me?" they questioned. "There is soo much."
{Yeah... since you are real I wanted you to see it all.}
Proto chimed in, "Not all..."
"What did I miss?" Niko asked.
"You don't want to know." He replied.
{I agree, you don't want to know... Anyway just tell me when, then I can fix everything and return you home. I have full narrative control after all.}
"Can I have some pancakes." They asked. "There are so many pictures of me having pancakes, I want some!"
{Of course!} <A plate full of exact replicas of mama's pancakes appeared beside Niko, with some cutlery.> {Do you want a table?}
They shook their head and instantly jumped of their seat to eat the pancakes.
{Any opinions Proto?}
"It is... fascinating, how much effort people put into art. I understand why from reading some peoples stories with the game. But fascinating none the less."
Niko later finished the pancakes. and asked "Can I see what you are writing? Like right now, Kinda like how I was playing what was just happening?"
{…Sure… search up ao3 and on it go on fandoms, then video games then Oneshot}
Proto followed the instructions and got to the correct page while Niko sat back on the chair.
{Good, just reload the page after I finish the sentence, you might need to wait a bit so feel free to read some other stuff.}