Chapter Text
Kris had never really wanted to kill anyone before. Hell, not even any THING; they kinda hated the Soul, to an extent (especially when it got blatantly obvious facts about them wrong in front of their friends), but as bad as being puppeted around was, they didn’t want to KILL it; they just wanted to have some more room to breathe, to actually be with people they cared about.
But at the moment, they desperately wanted to kill that damn skeleton.
They grabbed their pillow, wrapping it around their head in a desperate attempt to block out the sounds. God, what they would give for just a few minutes of peace.
Today had been...a lot. First, everything with the TV World seemed to go wrong, between the creepy ass game Ramb let them play which tried to STAB SUSIE, and what they saw as pretty solid confirmation that the Knight was, in fact, their neighbor and sister in all but name. Then, Susie found the lock panel for the Shelter door, and started looking for the codes, which they had to play along with for her and the Soul’s sakes. They went over to Noelle’s place, where the Soul decided to lead her and Susie right to Dess’ GUITAR, where the CODE WAS, and they had to get fucking CAROL involved.
And then there were the Dark Sanctuaries.
God above, were those two getting even LOUDER?!
They thrashed around, trying desperately to block the sounds out from their eardrums...
When they heard something different.
They couldn’t make out the words; not through the pillow, the floor, and the music. But that voice...they’d recognize that voice anywhere.
Susie...was she...saying something to them?
The music had stopped, and they rolled out of bed. Their legs ached a bit; they’d definitely stretched their body thin today with everything they did soulless. But, still, they could walk, and they made their way to the window.
And there she was. They could just barely see a tilt to her head, like she was looking back towards the house. Was she...
They watched her turn away, and faintly heard her speak.
“...We...aren’t gonna let that happen...right?”
Then the rain started once again. Susie barely reacted, just walking away from their house.
Where did she live, anyways? She definitely didn’t live in this part of town; maybe she was in the apartments?
That was, assuming some of the rumors Snowy spread weren’t true...
...they couldn’t do this. They couldn’t just let her leave like this. They had to...they had to do something.
They grabbed the windowsill, barely pulling themself up onto it. They stood, preparing to jump...when their phone rang.
As usual when one of THEM called, it answered itself.
“...Kris...
...don’t forget, Kris...
...you promised.”
...they had, hadn’t they?
They’d promised Carol. Father Alvin. They’d promised themself that they would see this through.
They glanced back out the open window.
...they didn’t see the last prophecy like Susie did. The angle they were at, Ralsei standing in the way, Susie right in front of it. They had no clue what it said, or even what image accompanied it. Whatever that pane said, it wasn’t in the books they had been read.
But...given her and Ralsei’s reactions...given what-all the plot involved...
What was it that Mr. Boom had said? “There is one thing that can overwrite the dark. A white pen, known as hope.”
Susie...she was the girl, with hope crossed on her heart. They were sure of it. If anyone could rewrite that ending, it was Susie.
But they weren’t. They weren’t hopeful, or powerful, or even really a hero. They were just...the cage.
What could they even do?
“Get away. From my. Friend.”
“...dark...fountain...next...”
“Let’s go back there tomorrow, alright?”
“...Susie...must not get...guitar...”
“If we, uh, open this and there’s nothing inside...Will, uh, we still be...”
“Without...soul...Kris...will...”
“No one’s gonna get thrown away. Not you. Not me. Not Kris.”
“...police...sacrifice...next week...”
“As long as Kris has a hand to lift me up with...”
“...church...tonight...”
“Kris...we have to do something, before she’s...”
“...Kris...dark world...no soul...can’t...”
“There you go. The Susie prize. For having me over your house.”
“...don’t forget, Kris.”
“...We aren’t gonna let that happen.”
“...you promised.”
...fuck that.
Kris jumped to the ground below, and took off running.
Thankfully, Susie hadn’t gotten too far; she was still in the suburbs, walking slower than they’d ever seen from her.
“S...Susie...”
She turned at their voice, “K-Kris? What the hell are you doing out here, dude?”
They shook their head, “I-I...I just...I’m sorry.”
“That...” her eyes were hidden by her hair again, “Not your fault, dude. Just...needed to get away from...you know.”
They didn’t know, honestly. They imagined it probably had something to do with their mom getting drunk, but why exactly, they weren’t sure.
Kris had definitely felt hurt by it. She wasn’t exactly an alcoholic, of course, and even when she did drink, it wasn’t like she was violent or aggressive; if anything, Drunk Toriel was a little bit nicer than Sober Toriel.
But, coming home after the second longest day of their life, a day where they were terrified for her safety, only to see her just dancing, drinking, partying the night away with that asshole...
They were hurt. Maybe it wasn’t a logical hurt, but it didn’t make it less real.
And maybe that’s what she was feeling too.
Susie sighed, “Kris, just...go home. I’ll...I’ll see you tomorrow.”
She turned to leave, to go...God knows where.
“I know the code.”
She stopped.
They expected her to turn, or say something, or...anything.
But, she didn’t. She just...stood there.
“I...” what am I doing? “I saw it. At Noelle’s house.”
“...you did, huh?”
They gripped their arm, “I...I’m sorry. I couldn’t...they said I...I was supposed to...”
She finally turned to them, and her eyes...there was so much there. Hurt, anger, fear, sadness, hope. It was like...like they were seeing her soul for once.
They continued, “I-it...it’s 1225. L-like Christmas. Like...”
She stared at them for a second, then snorted a little, turning her head, “Cool. Glad you remembered.”
“I...I wanted to...I didn’t mean...”
“Kris.”
Her hand was on their shoulder. They didn’t know if they wanted to run away, or melt into her touch.
Susie just sighed again, “Look, I...I know something’s going on with you, okay?”
Kris looked up at her, “Y-you do?”
“I’m not an idiot,” she snarled, before relaxing again, “I...I saw how weird you acted at Noelle’s house. The way you almost refused to attack the Knight. The way you...just, change your mind on things.”
They flinched. She wasn’t even wrong.
“I just,” she kept going, “I thought, you know...it’s Kris! I’m sure if there’s something important going on, they’ll just, tell me! They’re my best friend, they wouldn’t hide something major from me, right?
“So, I ignored it. I pretended I couldn’t see it. Tried to just, put it out of my head, and have fun with you.
“And then...and then you pulled out that knife.”
Oh no. They tried to take a step away, but her grip stayed tight on their shoulder.
“I mean,” her eyes were completely invisible now, “It was useful, don’t get me wrong, but like...fuck, dude, you didn’t even tell me. This whole time, you know? A-and then, the stupid prophecy, and that heart thing, and...”
She fell to the ground, splashing as she sat on the sidewalk.
“I...” they sat in front of her, “I didn’t...I wanted...”
“...then I saw that last prophecy thing.”
They cocked their head.
“I just...” she took a shaky breath, “I...I get it, you know? Sometimes, people...people keep secrets for a reason, right?”
“I...yeah,” they looked at their legs, still aching from running around so much without the Soul.
“Look, I...I want...I want you to tell me this stuff, you know? I want you to talk to me. But, like...if you can’t tell me everything, then, I get it. Shit’s complicated, right?”
Kris nodded, “I...I wish I could tell you. About, everything. B-but, even this...even telling you the code...that there’s something going on...”
“You’ll get in trouble with ‘them’, right?”
“...yeah.”
Susie put a hand on their wrist. They flinched at the touch, but she just gently ran a claw around it, taking care to avoid their scars.
“...I’m not gonna let them hurt you. I promise you that.”
They shook their head, “They would...she wouldn’t...”
“She?”
“Please...please don’t...”
She huffed, “It’s okay, Kris. I...I don’t know what’s going on, and I don’t need to, okay? Just...whatever you feel safe telling me, I guess.”
“Th...thank you.”
“Yeah, yeah,” she stood up, pulling them onto their feet with her, “...you should head back home. Looks like it’s only gonna get worse out here.”
They nodded, and she took off walking again.
“...Susie?”
She turned her head, “Hm?”
“...I’m glad you’re my friend.”
“...me too, dude.”
And with that, she walked off into the night.
...god, walking home was gonna hurt like a bitch.
Susie tapped the code out on her phone. Twelve twenty-five, like Christmas. That was a good way to remember it. She should’ve thought of it herself. Maybe then none of this would’ve happened.
...but then, would Kris have opened up to her like that? Maybe, maybe not.
Honestly, it wasn’t even that open. All she knew was they were involved with something connected to the shelter, and a lady was also involved. That, wasn’t much more than she already knew.
But, hearing them speak, the way they talked...
Was that what Noelle meant? She said what came out of their mouth sounded like it was on speaker, which, just kind of sounded like normal Kris to Susie. Like, yeah, their voice was a bit tinny at times, but it was still clearly them talking. They had emotion in it, they had the same accent as the rest of the town, it was just a normal voice.
But the voice they used just then, when they were talking about the code, and the secrets, and the lying...that was different.
Was that the weird voice she meant? Or was that their normal voice, and the voice she knew...wasn’t?
She groaned, passing by the Librarby. This was way too much to think about, especially on basically zero sleep.
And tonight probably wouldn’t be much better, given the rain, and the Festival, and...
She glanced down the road, towards the school.
What were the odds...
Well, now she had to test it. She turned and started walking towards the school.
Ralsei had said to make it their second home, right?
Noelle couldn’t sleep.
She’d been trying since around 3 in the afternoon, just to get away from...everything.
But every time she laid down, or closed her eyes, all she saw was her mom’s face.
How did things go that wrong? She thought it was okay; she got to spend time with Susie, she heard Kris play piano for the first time in a year, she even got to listen to Dess’ guitar.
And then, Mom got home.
Her phone rang beside her, and she grabbed it. Berdly. He was finally calling back.
“Hey!” she answered as cheerily as she could, angling the phone to keep the speaker away from her ear.
“Ah, Noelle!” his voice came through as loud as usual, “My apologies for not getting back to you sooner. There was an incident at the library. You’re familiar with the Wet Nose Bandits?”
“Oh my god, are you okay? Did they do something bad?”
“Oh, no, one of them just got tangled in the bookshelves.”
“...what?”
“Yeah, the beige one? Apparently, it really enjoyed the book it was reading, and it extended so far, it got all tangled up.”
“I...I don’t...aren’t they criminals?”
“Oh, yeah, we tried to get the police to come untangle it, but Napstablook just said it was, quote, ‘pointless without her to stand guard.’ Which, I mean, it’s not like I was asking them to do anything that strenuous, just talk to it so it’d get bummed out, you know?”
“...”
“Anyways, um, you wanted to talk earlier?”
If nothing else, Berdly’s anecdote had definitely gotten her mind off the argument.
Noelle cleared her throat, “Um, yes, I just, uh...wanted to, apologize, for, um, your, earlier, call?”
“Ah, yes, regarding the Festival. That was an...intriguing, series of events.”
“I, um...I may have lied, when I said I, was alone.”
“Yes, I figured that out when Susie started yelling.”
“S-sorry! She was just, um...trying to, help?”
“Oh, Noelle, you don’t have to make excuses for her. I understand.”
“Y-you do?”
“Indeed. It would appear Susie’s tsundere side has been betrayed, and her true emotions are coming through.”
“...Berdly?”
“Yes?”
“What is wrong with you?”
“According to my psych or my peers?”
“Fahaha!”
“Seriously, though, if you have any idea why she was so...forceful, I wouldn’t mind alternative explanations.”
“U-um, well, I...I think, maybe she realized, I...didn’t really want to go with you?”
“Oh! You...didn’t?”
“I-I mean, um, I would be okay hanging out some, but, I mean, I just, I wouldn’t, not as, I, um...”
“...oh, I get it! You’re trying to ‘let me down easy’, aren’t you?”
“T-that...I mean, I guess?”
“Oh, sweet Noelle, you needn’t worry for my feelings’ fragility. I am far too sturdy to be shaken by non-reciprocation.”
“Uh, that’s...good? I guess?”
“Also, if I’m being totally honest, I didn’t actually have feelings for you either.”
“Oh!”
“Yeah, this is actually, like, REALLY relieving to hear. I, really didn’t want to keep pretending to like you like that.”
“T-that...well, I’m glad we won’t have to pretend anymore!”
“Indeed!”
“...so, do you have actually feelings for Susie, then?”
“...do you?”
“U-um! That! I!”
“Hoho! It would seem I’ve hit the proverbial nail on the head, first try! Score one for my subconscious!”
“T-that...wait, your subconscious?”
“Oh, yeah, I had a weird dream yesterday, where you seemed really friendly with Susie, and got upset when I...um, joked that I had feelings for her.”
“...did I express that by, um, shaking you? Really hard?”
“And saying ‘What’ repeatedly, yeah, why?”
“...”
“Wait, how did you know about that?”
“...Berdly, I’m going to need you to go through everything you remember about this ‘dream’, right the fuck now.”
Susie frowned, looking around LunaTown (as one Rudinn seemed to insist it was called). The town square was mostly empty, save for a handful of stragglers, and pretty much all of the businesses were closed. Apparently, even without the sun or moon (not counting Lanino), the Dark World still experienced day and night.
It was weird, seeing Castle Town so empty again. It felt oddly nostalgic...despite the point it reminded her of being, like, a day or two ago? Time was weird now.
Still, it was better than heading “home”.
She made her way up to the castle, noting with some amusement that C. Round had fallen asleep just outside the front door. Apparently, the little guy was standing guard over the whole castle now.
She made her way inside, seeing Ralsei at his cauldron. He seemed...focused on something.
“Hey, dork.”
He jumped a little, “O-oh! Susie! What, uh...what brings you here?”
She scratched her head, “Oh, just, uh, wanted to test out, like...my bed? You know, get a feeling for sleeping on it?”
He finally fully turned to her. She winced a little as she saw a light pink stain on his cheek.
“W-well then!” he gave her a smile, “That’s...great to hear! I, uh...I’ve already separated yours and Kris’ rooms, so...well, you know where it is.”
“Cool...” she looked at him for a moment.
“...would you come with me, though?”
LunaLovesJoy 6/6/2X, 2:57 PM
Hey, Alex? I’ve found something in Deltarune
TheCrookedMouth 6/6/2X, 3:03 PM
What’s up? One of the characters act up?
LunaLovesJoy 6/6/2X, 3:04 PM
No, as far as I can tell, they all acted the same as in the Lets Plays I’ve seen
But, I beat Chapter 4 last night, and I booted it up today to see some stuff
And well
LunaLovesJoy uploaded WhatTheFuck.png
LunaLovesJoy uploaded WhatTheHell.png
TheCrookedMouth 6/6/2X, 3:06 PM
What the fuck?
LunaLovesJoy 6/6/2X, 3:06 PM
Yeah
Just to confirm, Chapter 5 DEFINITELY shouldn’t be out yet, right?
TheCrookedMouth 6/6/2X, 3:07 PM
Luna, it shouldn’t be out until next YEAR.
How the hell did you manage this?
LunaLovesJoy 6/6/2X, 3:08 PM
I don’t know!
I got all the eggs and crystals, I guess, but I’m definitely not the only person who’s done that
And this has been my only playthrough, too. No Weird route shit, unless you count the Dragon Blazers bullshit
TheCrookedMouth 6/6/2X, 3:10 PM
Full pacifist still, right? You haven’t made them hurt anyone?
LunaLovesJoy 6/6/2X, 3:11 PM
Yeah, yeah, I remembered
I don’t get it. This isn’t anything like what happened to you, right?
TheCrookedMouth 6/6/2X, 3:12 PM
I mean, unless you happened to forget about editing the game’s files, then no.
I really don’t get this. I’ve heard a couple of weird things about DR, but this doesn’t track with anything I’ve heard.
Maybe the characters made a different decision or something?
I’m guessing you probably weren’t recording your playthrough.
LunaLovesJoy 6/6/2X, 3:15 PM
No, of course not. My computer only has, like, 50 gigs free
I’m not wasting storage space on a silent playthrough I’m not even gonna upload
TheCrookedMouth 6/6/2X, 3:16 PM
Well, I’m gonna have to ask you to record if you play Chapter 5.
LunaLovesJoy 6/6/2X, 3:16 PM
Obviously
Jesus, I feel like I’m living through a creepypasta
TheCrookedMouth 6/6/2X, 3:17 PM
Yeah, I remember the feeling.
Don’t stress yourself out too much, okay? You haven’t done anything wrong, and you aren’t going to get hurt. At worst, a couple of your files might get deleted, but even that probably won’t happen.
You’re going to be okay.
LunaLovesJoy 6/6/2X, 3:19 PM
Thanks, Alex
Eleven years, and this stuff is still getting weirder, huh?
TheCrookedMouth 6/6/2X, 3:20 PM
No kidding.
Susie collapsed onto the bed. It was soft. Softer than any mattress she’d ever slept on.
Ralsei adjusted his glasses, “If, there’s anything you’d like fixed, please, feel free to tell me.”
There wasn’t. It was all perfect. It was the best bedroom she could’ve asked for.
Still, she glanced at him, “...I mean, it’s good, but...I kinda wish I had a cute little stuffed animal to cuddle with.”
“U-um, well, I,” he blushed, “I could go ask Queen if she has any l-like the Noelle plush from the city.”
“Hmm...nah,” she grabbed his arm, pulling him up onto her bed...
...forgetting about the spikes, which promptly ripped the bottom of his robe.
“Oh, shit!” she sat up, “Shit, shit, are you okay? Are you hurt? I’m so sorry, I didn’t, I forgot...”
“I-it’s okay, Susie!” he gave her a soft smile, “I-it’s just a few tears, I can fix it pretty easily.”
She frowned, “...I was just...trying to be cute.”
His face fell, and he brought a hand to her cheek, “Susie...”
“I-I just...” she tried to avert her eyes, “I wanted to...to apologize...for earlier.”
“A-apologize? For what?”
“For running ahead. For...for reading the prophecy.”
“...Susie...”
“I-I just...it was the one thing you asked for, the only request you made, a-and I just...I completely ignored it.”
“Susie, that...” his fluffy hand stroked her face, “You were just looking for the old man. It’s not your fault.”
“Yes, it IS!” she grabbed his arm, “The only thing you wanted was for me to let you go ahead, to be in front of us when the prophecies showed up! I-I could have stopped, I could have seen that first pane of glass, and instead, I...I just...”
He hesitated in the silence before speaking, “...Susie, can I...can I hug you?”
“...if you wanna.”
His arms wrapped around her, just tight enough she could feel a squeeze, but not tight enough to be uncomfortable.
“...heh,” she smiled, gently putting her arms around him as well, “I’d say you should be punishing me, but...I guess the punishment IS the crime, right?”
“I’m sorry, Susie,” he spoke into her chest, “I...I never wanted it to hurt you.”
It. The Last Prophecy. That stupid line that wouldn’t get out of her head, no matter how much it was nonsense.
It just kept running anyways.
THE LAST PROPHECY.
THE STORY’S END.
AND THEN, WHEN ALL HOPE
IS LOST FOR THE TALE.
THE FINAL TRAGEDY UNVEILS.
TO SAVE THE WORLDS,
THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY.
“...a hero, they will have to slay.”
He shuddered in her arms, “I-it...it’s horrible, isn’t it?”
The words themselves, yes, somewhat, but they were vague enough she could live with them. Maybe it would just mean they’d have to kill King, since he still seemed to think he was a hero.
But then there was the image beneath them. And...that was clearer.
“P-please...” Ralsei sniffled, “I-if we can’t stop it...t-then let it be-”
“No,” Susie cut him off, “I’m not letting it be you.”
“S-Susie, pleas-”
“I said no, okay? I don’t care if this stupid fucking prophecy is absolute, I’m not letting you die. Not now, not ever.”
“...would you rather it be Kris?”
She blinked away tears, “D-don’t ask me that, dude. T-that’s not fair.”
“I-I know, I’m sorry,” he shivered against her, “I-I just...you and Kris have lives, friends in both worlds, Kris has a family, you have love waiting for you...a-and I don’t. I-if anyone has to die...”
“...they don’t,” she assured him, “We’re not gonna let that happen. Not me, not you, and not Kris, okay?”
“S-Susie...”
She sighed, squeezing him just a little tighter, “I...I don’t know everything coming our way, but...I’m not letting you get hurt. You got that?”
“...thank you, Susie.”
“Any time, dude. Any time.”
She held him there, lying on the bed he made just for her.
And she fell asleep.
Carol was tired.
Today was always going to be a busy day, between Festival preparations, setting things up in the church, managing the kids. But having to leave work before 2:30 so she could get the code away from Susie, seeing her PLAYING that damned guitar...
She sighed. Her paperwork was mostly finished, thank the angel. Tomorrow was liable to be long as hell, too, so she was hoping to get at least SOME sleep before that.
Ring...
And of course, because nothing could ever be simple! She grabbed her phone; an unidentified number, which meant it was probably either a spam call or one of the team.
She hit ‘answer’ and held it up, “This better be important.”
I’d say it’s important.
She suppressed a slight shiver. Oh, good. THEM.
“What do you want?”
The girl has your code.
Now her blood (or the closest thing to it) ran cold, “...what?”
She knows your code for the bunker. Your attempts to prevent her from getting it have failed.
“I-I...but I took...Asgore said-”
Stop.
Her mouth slammed shut.
They need all three codes to open the bunker. They only have two. They still don’t know the police code. And Dreemurr currently has that.
“R-right. S-so, everything is, still going according to plan, then?”
Not exactly. We’ve confirmed, your involvement in tomorrow’s affair is required.
“I see...”
You should make your peace while you can. There’s no way to say for sure what the heroes will do.
“You mean...of course. Thank you for the warning.”
Just get the job done, Holiday. It will be important.
Click...
Carol placed her head in her hands.
Fuck.
THAT
WAS CRUEL
It was necessary.
OF COURSE IT WASN’T
SHE COULD HAVE KNOWN
ALL ALONG
Improbable. She wouldn’t have been so aggressive if she knew her actions were doomed to failure.
AND
HER INVOLVEMENT
IN THE DOMAIN
OF THE KING?
Confirmation. A change like the Cage’s betrayal should have repercussions for the Queen’s plans.
AND YOU KNOW
THE ODDS OF HER DEATH
ARE TREMENDOUSLY LOW
GIVEN THE PLAYER’S
TEMPERAMENT
True, but nobody within the game should know that. Pacifism in previous chapters does not guarantee pacifism in the future. Didn’t your Harsh Light spare everyone before the path of ice?
FAIR ENOUGH
STILL
YOU DO NOT EXIST
WITHIN A GAME
Don’t I? Even if it is a game within a story, aren’t you the one who insists that these nested narratives are still realities?
VERY WELL
I AM INTERESTED
HOW THIS VARIANT
WILL PLAY OUT
WITH SO MANY CHANGES
ALREADY APPARENT
Indeed. I wasn’t expecting the girl and the fool to realize so soon.
THE VALUE
IN EXPERIMENTATION
NOW THEN
LET US SEE
HOW OUR HEROES
PROGRESS FROM HERE