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The monstrosity with the black antlers—the Knight—had struck Tenna down with no hesitation. Not as a grand gesture embodying a moment spoken of in the Prophecy, but as an aside, a disregard, as inconsequential as swatting a fly. Tenna was just a thing to get rid of, an obstacle in the way of the Roaring Knight’s real prize: the Lightners.
Because in the end, they were what mattered, weren’t they? thought Spamton, staring at the still figure lying in the snow. The Lightners mattered. The Darkners? Well, they were disposable. Always had been, always will be. The horror of it all was, it wasn’t like the Lightners really knew. After all, they never saw the Darkners for what they really were. They couldn’t. Their disregard and cruelty was all committed out of ignorance.
And now Tenna understood the truth.
Or he would, if he hadn’t been dead at that moment. NEO knelt over him, laying shaking hands on the cracked screen. Flickering, rainbow distortions blended with silver static scattered across its surface. White clawed hands gently held his casing, turning it to face the robot standing above him.
Tenna had gotten what he deserved. Right? So why did Spamton feel so… bad?
“YOU SH-SHOULD’VE [Save and Quit?] WHILE YOU WERE AH-HEAD, [10]A,” he rasped, feeling a painful tremor strike his right leg. Why weren’t they working properly? He could barely hold himself up. And his wings felt so heavy.
This body should have been boundlessly powerful. Especially now that everyone in Cyber City was gone except for him. They were still in Cyber City, right?
No… that wasn’t right…?
Tenna had died in TV World…
Angel, it was so cold. It was so hard to think. The snow was coming down harder and harder, a blinding storm so strong he could barely see through it. Unconsciously he hunched over Tenna, trying to protect him from the worst of it. For all the good that did.
“HOLD, ON [TRASH HEAP.]”
Someone was approaching them. One of the Lightners? That’s right, they came back for Tenna, didn’t they? They’d helped fix him!
“[Press F1 For] HELP,” croaked NEO, reaching towards the barely visible person. Couldn’t they see that both Darkners needed help? Especially Tenna. Help Tenna first. NEO would be ok… he’d be fine!
The person stopped and Spamton could see the red pulsing in their chest. Oh. Kris.
And then the figure who had been standing behind them stepped into view. White dress. Blond hair. Antlers.
Like the Knight.
“N-N-O,” gasped NEO. Noelle, her eyes glazed over blankly, raised her hands and the storm got even fiercer. Shards of ice were pelting his body, leaving dents and tearing at his wings. “P-PLEASE—”
♥️ I HAVE NO NEED FOR EITHER OF YOU
♥️ PROCEED
NEO’s scream was cut off as both robotic Darkners were frozen in a massive block of ice. Like a grotesque statue that would mark TV World’s landscape forevermore.
Or it would have, if the closing of the Dark Fountain didn’t instantly erase everything inside the world.
-HELLO. IT'S NICE TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK AGAIN.
-THIS IS WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED. BUT WE BOTH KNOW THAT ISN’T HOW IT WENT, IS IT?
-YOU SHOWED COMPASSION TO THEM BOTH AND YOU SAVED THEM BOTH. ISN’T IT AMAZING HOW MANY IMPACTS OUR CHOICES CAN HAVE?
-BECAUSE THE TRUTH IS, YOU ALWAYS HAVE A CHOICE.
-AND NOW THEY DO TOO.
-WHAT CHOICE DO YOU THINK THEY’LL MAKE? I’M SO EXCITED IT FIND OUT. AREN’T YOU?