Chapter Text
Chapter 1: The Lake
It was almost the end of the festival, the streets that were once bustling with people were now empty. The stalls that were making and selling food all day were left unattended. and the rides, no matter how puny they might have been, were now un-operational. All the townsfolk were at the Holiday's mansion to see this year's Festival's King and Queen. At the other side of the town, a beautiful sunset cascades onto a grand lake. The lake, glimmering with the orange rays of the sun, one would think that there would be no such tragedies that can take place here.
*"Hey guys! I'm back with ice cream! Jeez that skeleton guy really needs to get a new ice cream cart, It took forever. Kris, Noelle, are ya finally finished with what you two were meeting for?" Susie wandered back to the shore, holding three ice cream cones, one for each of her beloved friends. But as she approached the she only saw an empty beach, with none of her friends in-sight.
*"...Guys where are you? Seriously if this is a prank then this isn't funny. Are you behind the trees or something?" She instinctually looked behind the golden-leafed trees, but could not find where they were.
*"This isn't funny guys... If you don't come out right now I'm going to eat all of these ice cream cones!-. . . No. . . NO!" As Susie rotated her body to look for her friends, she spotted two lumps hovering near the surface in the middle of the lake. She stared at the two objects at the middle of the lake and connected the dots, immediately sprung into action, dropping the ice creams in the process.
Susie swam and swam, getting closer to the two figures which she could now clearly tell was the bodies of Kris and Noelle, after confirming that they were indeed them she swam even faster with fear, panic, and terror. Eventually...
*"KRIS! NOELLE!!!" Susie grabbed the still and unmoving bodies of Noelle and Kris, one in each arm and started swimming back to the shore.
The swim back to land was no easy task, the weight of two people dragging one down after already being exhausted from getting to them was already taking a toll on her, but she persevered and carried the cold bodies of her friends back to the ground.
*"Hah... Hah... K-kris, N-noelle... A-are you two okay?! Why are you two both at the middle of the lake!?" She asked the two of them as she waited for a reply, but her heart sunk after not receiving a reply within a few seconds.
*". . . . no. . . . No. . . . Please No. . . . NONONONONONONO!!! PLEASE RESPOND YOU GUYS!!! I'M BEING SERIOUS!!!" She checked the breathing of both their bodies, but no air was being respirated. She checked their pulses, but couldn't feel one, only coldness. She checked for their heartbeats, but could only hear silence.
Susie didn't know what else to do and just knelt on the ground. Her hair covering her eyes as she wept tears of pure despair. Kris, who was the first light that showed her to a brighter future, was now snuffed and only darkness remains. Noelle, who was the first monster to ever give her a chance and to like her back, was now frozen in permanent emptiness.
*". . .wh-. . . what do I even do. . . ?" Her voice cracking, barely even having the will to speak as she muttered in near silence to the both of them. Before she could even think of her next answer, Noelle's body started to tear apart, as bits and pieces of her started turning into gray dust.
*"N-NOELLE!!!" Susie bent down on all fours near Noelle, whose body was rapidly deteriorating. She could only watch as her friend, her potential lover, the person who gave her the best day she could ask for was slowly turning into nothing but dust. The last thing she saw before everything stopped was a white glowing upside-down heart that floated upward, it then cracked and turn into pieces, mixing in with the dust.
*"NONONONONONONONONONO!!!!" Susie in a state of panic and anguish, gathered up as much dust she could possibly can before the wind blew it away, she used her violet jacket as a container as she continued to gather every speck of dust she could find.
After gathering up every bit of Noelle's dust she could gather, she bundled the pile together as well as Noelle's clothes and bundled it all together in jacket. Her expression throughout the entire process was in a state of shellshock, full of grief, tears. sadness, and denial.
The poor girl, with a jacket bundled with Noelle's dust on one hand and Kris's cold and wet human corpse in her other arm made her way back to town. The silence from the empty streets seemed to have amplified. In the distance, the crowd behind the Holiday's gates didn't even know what happened near the lake.
Susie thought over and over what to do, her eyes hidden in hair yet was still flowing with never-ending tears ran through the town. Should she tell someone? The Dreemurrs? the Holidays? She couldn't possibly so. The thought of breaking the news to both the families, especially to the Holidays made her hesitant, not having the bravery to do just yet. Should she go to the hospital? How can they even fix what has already passed and extinguished?
Then, she remembered something, she remembered about the existence of the Dark Worlds. How could had she forgotten? She remembered how Gerson was able to exist as a Darkner even though he was a deceased Lightner. With no other options she ran as fast as she can possibly can. Towards the school where her 'Home' lies.
She burst open the doors and dashed through the hallways before eventually making her way to the supply closet doors. She hesitantly grabbed one door and opened it. The darkness within started spilling out as spherical clouds of pure dark drifted upwards. Her right foot stepped forward into the closet room as more and more darkness pooled in the ceiling.
*"Kris. . . Noelle. . . You're both still here. . right? Don't leave me behind. . . please. . ." With that she completely entered into the closet room. Descending into the Dark World with both dust and corpse. This decision ended up costing her everything.
Chapter 2: Castle Town
Castle Town. The Dark World graced by the Grand Fountain. Although barren and only containing a few Darkners, they still celebrated the Festival for the entire day. But activity died out as the day was coming to an end. Lancer who dug holes the entire Festival Day was cozily sleeping. Queen who played basketball all day, alone, was peacefully charging her batteries in her room. And Ralsei, who helped kept things in control all day was sweeping up the town center with the help of a singular Swatchling. The town was swept in the calm silence. Until....
*"..where are they... ...WHERE ARE THEY?!" Susie's voice erupted from the Light World entrance and exit. Her panicked voice alerted Ralsei who walked over to her.
*"Oh Susie... How was the festival with Kris and Noelle? Who are you looking for?" Ralsei walked over from the center of town to the start of the cross-paths. He was a bit quiet at first, composed himself and asked, he tilted his head as he observed Susie. He noticed that Susie's eye were covered by her bangs. And that her Jacket, which she normally wears was missing, only leaving an under-shirt.
*"...Kris and Noelle... ...They came in with me. Ralsei. Have. You. Seen. THEM?!" Susie's look was now an even more of a despair as she grabbed Ralsei's shoulder with a strong grip. Her eyes now uncovered by her bangs, which Ralsei could now see, was bloodshot and puffy had a deep sense of panic as she awaited for an answer.
*"N-No I haven't seen them. You're the only one who passed through the Light World Exit so far... D-Did... Did something happen to them?. . ." The prince's voice, which at first carried confusion, now had traces of understanding and solemn sadness. He lowered his head to the ground, not wanting to face Susie anymore.
*"They... T-they-. . . . C-Come on! let's go look for them!" Susie grabbed Ralsei's hand and was about to search from Castle head-to-toe before a voice cut them off. Susie, who instantly recognised that voice turned to the right, where the Grand Door was located.
*"Look for who?"
There stood Noelle and Kris, their Dark World forms were almost unmistakable from what they usually are, except less saturated in color. They stood there, side by side,, standing in the path as their hands were clasped together. Kris, silently stood there as their head was already lowered when Susie and Ralsei turned around. And Noelle, who was now wearing Susie's purple jacket, looked at Susie with a soft expression as she averted her eyes to the floor .
*". . . N-NOELLE! KRIS! YOU'RE HERE!!!" Susie let go of Ralsei's hand as she immediately ran to the both of them and engulfed them with a hug. Noelle on her right arm and Kris's on her left's.
*"I T-THOUGHT. . . . I thought I lost both of you. . . Please. . . please please please don't leave by my side again. . ." Her words carried fountains of tears as she knelt to the ground. Her voice which always conveyed her usual bravado was now filled desperation as she pleaded to her friends in front of her.
*". . .Kris. . . Y-you. . . . They. . . couldn't. . . have. . ." The prince silently muttered under his breath as Ralsei knelt to the ground, already realising what the condition the two of them were in. He knelt there, for what felt like ages as Susie continued hugging the two figures
*"Susie. . . We're in the Dark World, aren't we?" Noelle's voice cracked the silence. Her words laced with somberness and knowingness of the grasp of their current situation.
*"Noelle!. . . that's. . ." Susie immediately jerked back upon Noelle's awareness.
*" Susie. Just answer the question."
*". . .N-noelle. . ."
*"Just answer. The. Question."
*". . .Yeah, we're in a Dark World. . . At the school. . . The supply closet to be exact. . ."
The entire group just stood there for one seemingly endless moment. Kris was as stoic as ever, like nothing has changed. Susie, who was previously hugging the two let go of her embrace and backed off. Ralsei was still kneeling on the ground, his hands holding up his body from the cold stone of the ground. Still unable to comprehend what all three of his companions had done. And last, was the girl. At last, was the girl. Noelle brought her hands to her chest as she lowered her head, her eyes being covered up by her unkempt hair and shadows. Susie's jacket that was covering Noelle's white cloak crinkled as she adjusted her posture.
*". . .I was right."
*"The dreams actually happened."
*"Kris really had changed."
*"'I', changed."
*"I simply... needed to be carried away."
*"Noelle..? What... are you talking about..?" Susie asked Noelle, but the girl didn't respond, she only raised her head, which a manic expression had replaced her calm somber look. Which startling Susie and made her back off a bit. Noelle then glanced a bit to the right where Kris was standing. still holding her hand. Then...
*" Ha. . . hahaha. . . HAHAHAHAHA! Can't you see?! Kris?! It was because of YOU that made this possible! You helped me achieve things I've never done before... If it's you then, I really can do anything... But..." Noelle looked around, specifically around Castle town. The barren silent town left a lot to be desired. Yet this sight seemed to have reminded Noelle about something.
*"...Why... Why aren't we at the other side of the lake? By your words, we are in the School's supply closet. Right, Susie...?" Noelle stepped a single time forward. Her expression changed again. Kris followed behind, their hands still connected. Their grip is as solid as it could possibly be.
*"!... What were you guys doing in the lake anyways?! Why were you in the middle of the lake?! Why were you guys going to the other side of the lake!? Why did you guys.... LEAVE ME BEHIND!? KRIS! WHAT WERE YOU TWO DOING? YOU CAN TELL ME RIGHT!? RIGHT KRIS!?!?" The dragon, who was holding off her emotions from the events earlier finally erupted. All the repressed feelings she was storing in a space deep within finally surfaced. Susie, who finally got an inkling that they accident may not 'just' be an accident."
[*Yet they could not give out a response]
Chapter 3: Discord
The cross-paths of Castle Town was a chaotic sight. Susie, in between Ralsei, and Kris and Noelle was awaiting an answer from her partner, who didn't seem like they were intending to give one. Noelle turned away from Susie, also not wanting to face her and give an answer. The three of them stood there, unable to speak anything else as the tension was so thick it could be cut with a knife.
*". . .W-Why don't we go inside the Castle for some tea?" Ralsei finally stood and spoke up, gathering the attention of everyone as they all eased up from tension that has temporarily faded.
*"..Alright" Susie finally dropping the current topic at hand, putting her hands in her pockets as she walks towards the castle.
*"Okay." Noelle replied plainly as she slowly followed behind the purple-scaled, not too far, but not too close. somewhere in between.
*"..." Kris just followed right beside Noelle, still with the iron-grip that both parties seem to never let go off.
They got situated in the Castle, as both deer and human resided in Kris's room for the meantime as both seemed inseparable and there weren't a space for Noelle yet. They were served tea in the meantime. While Ralsei brought Susie to his room, As both entered Susie sat down on Ralsei's bed as Ralsei leaned forward to a nearby wall, his right arm providing a cushion between his forehead and the cold stone.
*"Ralsei. . . I-" Susie started talking before Ralsei cut her off.
"Susie. . . It's already too late. . . They are Darkners, aren't they?" The prince asked with a voice that encompassed deep sadness and regret.
*"!-... You already knew, huh?... Ralsei, they-"
*"Why did you bring them here. . ." Ralsei asked his head now applying more pressure into his arm and wall. Susie, who gripped Ralsei's bed sheets in reaction just sat in silence before replying.
*"I didn't know what exactly to do! They j-just. . They just. . . The lake. . . A-and.." Susie grabbed her head with her hands. Trying to make any sense of what happened.
*"...I f-feared this might have happened... I k-knew, y-yet-"
Susie who was sitting on the bed froze up as Ralsei continued to talk.
*"But now... Kris... Noelle.. the Prophecy... it's all lost now. . ." Ralsei collapsed on his knees as the weight of the situation.
*"Wait. You KNEW this might happen?! And you didn't tell me earlier?. . . WHY DIDN"T YOU TELL ME THAT THIS COULD HAPPEN?! WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME THAT THIS COULD EVEN BE A SLIGHT POSSIBILITY?!?!" Susie yelled as she stood up and walked closer to Ralsei
*"I w-wasn't sure if it was going to happen Susie. I-I wasn't sure if 'they' would- " Before he can even continue Susie picked him up by his scarf as the prince was now dangling in the air.
*"Ralsei. Buddy. I know we already had this conversation but-" Susie pinned Ralsei to the stone wall as she continued to speak.
*"S-Susie-
*"If you know something. Something so awful like this. Something that so easily preventable... Something that I-... that WE can't recover from. Then-" Susie pinned Ralsei further to the wall, she dropped the scarf and instead had a grip on his neck. Almost in a border-line chokehold
*"WHY. DIDN'T. YOU. JUST. . . . JUST TELL ME?!?!" Tears erupted once more from as she punched the wall next to him and screamed at Ralsei. Who at this point had lost all his will as he averted his gaze from Susie's.
The two of them existed in their position briefly, not moving nor talking. Only deep breaths, blood emerging from her wound, debri dropping to the floor, and tears flowing down to the ground. After a while Susie dropped Ralsei to the ground as he landed with a thud. His cloak stained and dirtied by debri, tears, and bits of blood.
*". . .I'm going to check on them." That is all she said before leaving Ralsei in his room. He just silently stayed there, slumped over next to a wall as he didn't want to face Susie nor his other companions.
Susie walked slowly through the hallway and down the stairs. Approaching closer to the hallway of rooms. Lancer's, Hers', and eventually Kris's. She loomed over the cyan door's doorknob, hesitating if she should open the door at this very instant. She took a breath before turning the doorknob clockwise.
*". . .Hey guys. . . How's it going?" Susie asked the duo who was sitting on the bed together. Noelle's posture was straight and proper whilst Kris was still hunched over, their eyes still refusing to make contact with anyone.
*". . .The tea was fine, Susie. But it's a little cold."
*"Oh, should I get another batch? I'll be right ba-" Susie was about to leave the room and dash for fresh tea before Noelle stopped her.
*"That isn't necessary." Noelle replied with with a calm yet cold tone.
*"A-alright then. . Do you guys want anything?"
*"Susie. . ." Noelle stood up from the bed. Her face veiled in shadow as she took a singular step towards Susie. Still not letting go off Kris's hand. *". . .I want to get stronger."
*". .W-what? What are you talking about Noelle? Are you okay?"
*"Oh dear Susie. I'm fine. More than fine actually. Ecstatic, even. Because of the simple fact that this is all REAL. That it DID snowed. That it DID happen. That I DID get stronger. And it's all- thanks- to- Kris... Because of them, I got stronger- Noelle got stronger. . ." The girl cloaked in purple and white garments laughed with one hand on her forehead as she turned her back from Susie.
*"Kris?! Kris?? Kris what did she mean by that? What... What did you do to Noelle?! I know something is up between you two... Back in the Cyberworld.. she was acting weird in Queen's mansion, even if she tried to hide it. After church, at Noelle's house, you two talked to each other alone..." Susie paused for a moment, trying to collect her thoughts before she continued "And today- at the lake, after we hung out the entire day, Noelle insisted that she talk to you Kris... she told me to get you from your house to meet with her... Why is it that you two always talk to each other alone. What is it that you guys are keeping something from me!? Tell me, Kris, what's going on, PLEASE!!
Kris sat there on the bed. Then, just then. They stood up and mechanically took one step forward. Now being by Noelle's side, they rose their head before speaking in a cold, mechanical, voice.
[❤️ *You told Susie It's too late.]
Chapter 4: Ice Palace
Susie stood there in a state of perplexion as a sense of un-ease flooded the room. The once normal room started to feel cold, suffocating, like the depths of a deep ocean. The brightness of the room seemed to slightly diminish as the colors of the surroundings shifted. Susie, even with the oppressive atmosphere stood firm and resolute.
*". . .T-too late? Too late for what?!? Kris just tell me for crying out loud! Why won't anyone tell me ANYTHING?!" Susie yelled to her beloved companion yet her pleas fell on deaf ears.
*"That voice. . . Kris. . . You're finally back. You're back. . . Back to your old self!" Noelle revelled in joy as Kris, who was silent the entire time they entered Castle Town, started to speak once more. *"Kris, could you please. . . Make my dreams come true. . .? Make me. . . Stronger? If it's you then. . . I really can do anything. . ." Noelle looked solemnly to the figure on her right, not exactly at them but at their general direction.
[❤️ *Proceed]
Noelle then took a small step forward. Dragging Kris as she advances closer to the door.
[❤️ *Proceed]
They continued advancing to the room's exit. For reason's unknown to Susie.
[❤️ *Proceed]
Just as Noelle was about to reach the doorknob. Susie stepped in and got in the way of them and the door.
*"Where do you guys think you're going...? You guys aren't leaving until I know what's happening. . . I'm tired of everyone not telling me anything. So- BETTER FESS UP NOW!" She fully blocked the door
*"Susie. . . Get out of the way. . . Please. . . I don't want to hurt you." Noelle quietly asked Susie
*"I'm not going to move. Noelle, please... You can tell me right... Right? Please stop this, you don't need to this... Whatever you're doing..." Susie's voice decreased near the end of her sentence, still maintaining her guard over the door in her pursuit of the truth.
[❤️ *Proceed]
*". . . Susie. . . I'm sorry. . . . Please forgive me. . ." That was the last words Susie heard before the world faded into black. A cold mist drifted through the air making Susie fall unconscious peacefully. Then, the two entities left the room, leaving Susie alone on the floor.
.
..
...
....
.....
*"....!" Susie woke up after an unknown amount of time, regaining her awareness as she rises from the floor. Trying to remember what happened before she feel asleep, after a second she recalled what had happened
*". . .NOELLE! KRIS!" Susie ran out of the floor. But as she ran, she didn't notice the creeping cold that emanated from the floor above.
Castle Town, the once quaint, humble town with a low population was now covered with a endless blanket of snow. Everywhere you looked it was just piles of white cold powder. And if you observed more carefully, you'd see s t a t u e s m a d e o f i c e that was littered throughout the town.
In the town center, a Prince was trying his best to stop the perpetrators that caused this. Even if it meant marching to his very doom. Even if he was the last one to stand against them.
*"Kris... stop this now... PLEASE! This isn't you... Snap out of it!" Ralsei begged the blue knight who just standing there, defending themselves with their shield. Ralsei healed himself while casting flame magic to defend himself from the White Cloak's ice magic.
[❤️ *IceShock]
Noelle launched another spell at Ralsei, he moved his magic right in front of him to defend from deadly ice magic. He then casted another spell of fire and casted it back to Noelle and Kris.
They effortlessly dodged the attack, grazing the fire with ease. After that Kris stopped ordering Noelle to cast spells and just defended. Both sides seemed to be at a stand still. Ralsei who was ragged from the battle, slowly realised what this meant, and accepted at what will happen in a few moments.
*". . .Kris. . . I want you to know that. . . That I had fun during our adventures. . . I hoped that you did too!" Ralsei discarded his battle stance and stood straight. His words filled with genuine happiness as he closed his eyes and smiled *"I'm so. . . so sorry. . . That you had to endure for long. . . I hope that. . . It will all be over soon."
[❤️ *SnowGrave]
As 'Kris' said those words, coldly and monotonously, they pointed towards Ralsei. Noelle slowly started rising up slowly into the air, eyes glowing white as it started snowing again.
*"RALSEI!!! KRIS!!! NOELLE!!!" Susie's voice can be heard coming from the castle's path, as she ran closer to the town center she saw Noelle in the middle of air, Kris in the same side as her. And both were facing against Ralsei. Ralsei noticed Susie's voice approaching him from afar and turned towards her.
*"Susie! . . I'm sorry. . . I guess this is it for me. . . Don't worry about the prophecy. . . I'm sure it'd be fine. . . Susie, I know it's selfish for me to ask after all I've done. . .But. . . can you promise me and you take good care of them. . ? Thank you so much for having adventures with me. . . It's been fun!" That was the last words Ralsei spoke before a pillar of coldness appeared in where he was standing. The flurry of snow was so strong that it pushed back on Susie, who was still trying to get to where they are. And the snow storm was so fierce that it was hard to make out what happened.
*"RALSEIIIIIIIIII!!!!!" Susie shouted at the top of her lungs as the snow storm surged at it's strongest.
The snow, that seemed to be endlessly falling from the sky slowly ceased, and in the center of the town square laid a new structure. An ice block, which its coldness can be felt from even afar. It was hard to see within it, but Susie knew. Knew deep down that deep within that ice contained The Prince of Dark.
She was utterly speechless as she walked closer to the block of ice. Her eyes looked empty, like it lost all the light she had left within her and died flickering away. On her way to the town center she saw the other darkners turned into nothing but statues of bitter coldness. She had hoped that Ralsei could help turn them back to normal while looking for him, Kris and Noelle. But all hope disappeared as she witnessed the sight ahead.
*". . . H-how could you. . . H-how. . . W-why. . . WHY?!?. . . JUST WHY? WHAT DID I DO TO DESERVE THIS?!? WHAT DID I DO MAKE THEM DESERVE THIS?! JUST WHAT IS IT!?! KRIS-... No. . . You aren't Kris. Kris wouldn't do this. Kris wouldn't change Noelle like this. They wouldn't hurt our friends like this. You're just something pretending to be Kris. . . And you know what? I'm glad." Susie could only laugh while holding a hand over her eyes
"Honestly. That just means I wouldn't feel bad. . ." Susie trailed off her sentence. She then pulled out her axe and came charging at Kris across the snowy town cente- nay, the battlefield. *"SLICING YOUR HEAD IN HALF!!!"
Kris immediately pulled out their shield and defended it, dodging her other incoming attacks too. They also ordered Noelle to defend. Even if Susie wasn't attacking her.
*"JUST DIE ALREADY! WHY DID YOU TAKE EVERYONE AWAY FROM ME!?!?" Rage filled the Dragon as she continued launching an onslaught of attacks towards Kris. Yet every time she swinged Kris just dodged it, almost connecting a hit every time but could never connect.
As the battle went and the opposing party just remained in the defensive. Just a flurry of axe swings that always seemed to miss Kris as they continued dodging. Eventually Kris commanded Noelle, who was standing in the sides.
[❤️ *SnowGrave]
Noelle, who usually obeyed Kris's words or commands seemed to hesitate. Not wanting to cast the spell on Susie. Kris then tried again.
[❤️ *SnowGrave]
Yet as they tried to command Noelle once more, she just refused even more.
[❤️ *SnowGrave]
[*Yet no help came]
*". . .I'm sorry Kris. . . I'm sorry. . . But I can't use it on Susie. . . I can't use it against her. . . I just can't. . ." Noelle knelt to the ground. Her gaze towards the snow as she refused to harm the person she loved. Even after the atrocities she committed. Even after putting Berdly in a coma. Even after drowning with Kris at the lake. She refused.
[*Noelle left the party]
*". . Heh. You hear the fake Kris? Noelle isn't going to help you anymore. It's just me and you! . . It's time I finish this. . !" Susie then gathered her magic into her axe, even more that she normally does. Past her limits, and concentrating it on one single attack. *"THIS IS FOR KRIS, FOR NOELLE, FOR RALSEI, FOR EVERYONE THAT YOU HURT!!!" Susie screamed then swung her axe and unleashed her spell
[*Susie learned a new spell]
[*Susie casted SoulBuster]
The wave of lethal magic flew through the air. It's color was black with white at it's edges. As it flew closer and closer to Kris they could only watch it getting closer.
And then suddenly, Noelle leaped in front of Kris. Trying to guard them from the [SoulBuster], yet it was futile as the wave of magic effortlessly pierced through both Noelle's and Kris's chest. They fell to the ground onto the snow as it just dawned on Susie on what just happened. Realisation spread to her face as she ran towards her.
*"N-NOELLEEEEEEE!!!"
Chapter 5: Escape
Susie ran as fast as she could and knelt down right beside Noelle. Her chest, now had a hole that cut into her diagonally, and was pouring out dust in every second. Her cloak, and by proxy Susie's jacket was also in tatters. She laid there in the snow while Susie was trying her best to fix things.
*"N-Noelle!! Are you alright?! What am I saying you definitely aren't! Wait I'm going to heal you! Stay still!" She started forming a healing spell on her hands, a surge of green light started emanating from Susie's hands. She was about to unleash it on her but Noelle grabbed Susie's hand and stopped Susie from healing her.
*". . . Fahaha. . . Susie, it's okay. I don't need any of that. . . I know. . . I already knew that I was dead. You don't need to waste energy on me. . ." Noelle laughed somberly, she was still pouring out a lot of dust that fell on the snow.
*"W-what are you saying?! You're here with me right now! Please, just let me heal you u-" Yet Noelle cut her off. Placing her a hand on her face as she continued lying in the snow.
*"You don't have to pretend anymore Susie. . . Please. . . It hurts me seeing you like this too. . ." She calmly looked at Susie's eyes, which were streaming down tears, landing on Noelle's face.
*". . .Why did you jump in front of 'them'. . . ? 'They' took everyone away. . . Kris, You, Ralsei. . . Everyone. . ." Susie asked Noelle who was still slowly leaking dust from her Darkner body
*"I just. . . Wanted to try help them one last time. . . Kris did so much for me. . . I just wanted to repay them one last time" Noelle asked as she glanced towards the lifeless corpse a few feet away. Unsure if they were talking about the Kris she knew back in her childhood, or of the 'Kris' of today.
*"Then. . . Why did you freeze Castle Town. . . Why did you freeze Lancer. . . Queen. . . Ralsei?!" Her voice cracked and wavered as she asked. Noelle could only avert her gaze and stay in silence before she could respond again.
*"I'm sorry Susie. . . I just. . . Wanted to feel what it was like being strong again. . . To listen to Kris's voice. . . To listen and achieve things I wasn't capable off. . . Just for one last time. . . But now, I realise that I can't do everything they ask me of. . . Since you're still unfrozen. . . Fahaha. . ." She laughed before coughing up, as more parts of her body started to turn into dust.
*"Noelle. . . ." Susie weakly whined as she tightened her grip on her deteriorating body
*"Susie. . . Can I ask for a favour. . ? Can you put me and Kris on the other side of the lake. . ? That was my original goal. . . To see what was on the other side. . . before we failed. . . Can I trust you. . ?" Noelle had peace in her eyes as she laid her eyes with Susie once again. Who stopped crying for the moment.
*". . .Alright, You got it. I promise. . ."
*"Thank you Susie. . . Thank you for today. . . I enjoyed every moment we had in the festival. . . Thank you being such a wonderful friend even after all I've done. . . Please live a long happy life. . . And. . . I love you, Susie." Noelle genuinely smiled for the last time as she gave out her last request and message to the person she loved the most. After a long moment of intense staring between the two. a stare of love, sadness, regret, and acceptance, Noelle's body then turned back into inanimate dust that was on Susie's damaged jacket.
*". . . Idiot. . . I already knew that. . ." That was Susie's last words before she unleashed a torrent of never-ending tears. She could only embrace her jacket that contained Noelle's dust all alone in the Dark World. The darkners were all frozen solid and Kris's body remained still in the distance. In this moment. Susie was alone. More alone than she could ever be. In that snowy wasteland, all Susie could do was weep for all the people that vanished from her life.
After Susie finished letting all her emotions out. She picked up the jacket and gathered Noelle's dust and clothes and placed it back into her jacket and wrapped it up back neatly, even if it was damaged. She also picked up Kris's body and made her way back to the Light World exit. She looked back on the snow-covered lifeless town. She took a long breath before saying her farewell
*"... See you later guys. . . Thanks for everything. . . Ralsei, make me a cake when I return will ya?. . ." After saying the words, she stepped forward the spotlight and ascended back into the Light world.
With Noelle's dust one hand and Kris's body in the other arm. She exited the school. It was very early in the morning so no one was awake. She walked across town, not even caring at the possibility of getting caught with the dead remains of her friends. Eventually, She made it to the lake without being seen, the sunrise in the distance cascading onto the lake. It was a breathtaking sight. Then, with one step, she entered the lake.
[🎵When the light is running low🎵]
[🎵And the shadows start to grow🎵]
*"Noelle... I'm sorry, but I don't want to live a long life. . . I can't anymore. . ." Susie continued advancing through the water as it reached her ankles.
[🎵And the places that you know🎵]
[🎵Seem like fantasy🎵]
*". . .You guys aren't going to leave me behind again. . . Right?" The water was now knee deep, yet she continued.
[🎵There's a light inside your soul🎵]
[🎵That's still shining in the cold🎵]
*"The water's cold. . ." The water was now at hip-level, Susie's jacket and Noelle's dust started to get soaked in water. Yet she progressed
[🎵With the truth🎵]
*". . .Heh. . . The sunrise is beautiful. . . If only they were able to see this. . ." The water was now at chest level. Kris's body and clothes started to get wet as well. And Noelle's dust was now completely submerged. Yet, she carried on.
[🎵The promise in our hearts🎵]
*"I'm so sorry. . . Ms. Toriel. . . Kris's Dad. . . Noelle's parents. . ." The water was now at chin level, almost all of Kris has been submerged as she carried them from her shoulders. Yet, she pressed on...
[🎵Don't forget🎵]
*("Guys. . . I'll be arriving soon. . . Save a spot for me will you. . ?") The water has now fully submerged Susie, yet even if her body protested, even if her lungs was desperate for air, she trudged on.
[🎵I'm with you in the dark🎵]
*(". . . Goodbye. . . Home Town. . .") Susie was now deep underwater. Her breath which she cannot hold anymore got released into the water. Her lungs started to be filled with water. Yet even if she's constantly getting choked by the water. Even if the pressure of the lake started to affect her. Even if the light dimmed down. Even if everything was fading into white nothingness, she proceeded.
*"Susie!" Are you coming over or what? We have a Dark Fountain we have to seal!" A light voice called out to her.
*"Yeah come on Susie. We're going to go on a brand new adventure, What are you standing there for? Fahaha!" Another voice called out to her. This time it was more feminine and eager for Susie to join.
[*A voice ushered Susie to not make them wait any longer]
*"... Yeah. I'm coming guys. Wait for me!"
The End. . . . ?