Eggmun's Incredible Interstellar A-Muse-Ment Park!

He did manage to teleport back without too much trouble, but he was now shaken and had to figure out his next possible move.

The other two parts of his "throuple" weren't faring as well. King pulled the shadow mantle in front of him, and it absorbed the spades launched back at him. But its weakened state in here...

King tried to move to dodge the trident, but one of its prongs grazed him. The mantle couldn't do much about it, though it at least remained untorn.

The same couldn't be said about King. He let out an angered yet pained yell, from both of his mouths. The trident itself wasn't even the worst part, the strange ice felt like it had burned him with its cold.

Metal Face had been launched back quite far from Vex, coming close to crashing to the ground, but at least he'd managed to charge and fire the cannon. He was so pissed off that he was able to completely focus on that. It was only after he fired that he started realizing anything felt wrong.

But...

He couldn't stop stressing about things. How much danger would everyone be in once things were set in motion? How much-

Dictatorer was suddenly right at the entrance of Kinger's fort, holding something behind his back.

"Stop. Stressing. About. This. NONSENSE! Think about it this way..." He leaned in closer, but stayed just barely out of the fort.

"No matter what, everyone here will be fine. But, you know who isn't fine currently?" With his free hand, he pointed downwards. "And it's not just her. Quite a few of your friends aren't fine, are they? And your memory's attempted to shatter itself in the light over this. Your ENDLESS guilt...they weren't all your fault."

He then chuckled darkly. "Well...in a way, this entire circus is your fault. So overall, even if you didn't directly cause most of that..."

He didn't finish his statement, it was clear from Kinger's expression that he got what Dictatorer was implying.

"But you know what? You can make up for all of it. You wouldn't need to feel guilt anymore for any reason. Everything...would be fine again. Better than before, I daresay."

Dictatorer glanced back a bit to whatever he was hiding behind his back, then shook his head.

"...I wouldn't want to ruin any plans. When the time is right...I'm going to be right there."

His grip tightened on the weapon he was hiding.

"We're going to go with all of this, not like you let any of us- including yourself- have any real choice in the matter. But I think it's a good thing. This opportunity you've given us...whatever happens...it's going to be goddamn beautiful."

As horrifying as all of this was to listen to- this unhinged chess piece inches away from Kinger, holding something that was probably some kind of weapon, ranting about all of this...the "goddamn" felt extra unsettling.

Caine's censor would usually cover that, right?

"...what...are you?"

"What nights are the rest of us then?" R tapped his chin.

"Don't encoura-"

"She's night 5 cuz she's scary and I think the bite of 87 was on night 5. You're probably night 1 cuz you're chill. And uhhh, loud guy's gotta be night 4 cuz he's loud like night 4 can be because everyone's usually schmoovin' by then, so I guess that means 2 and 3 are D and the uhhh that one." They point at the silent Knight.

D gives a thumbs up. Although she felt like it'd be badass if she was night five or six, K just got here. They can be night six. And then she's not going to argue with C. K's right, C is pretty scary.

Silent Knight also gives a thumbs up. They don't know what any of this really means, they're just happy to be here.

C was just holding her face in her hands at this point.

"WHAT DO YOU SUPPOSE WOULD HAPPEN IF WE RELEASED ALL OF THEM ONTO ONE TIMELINE? OR PERHAPS YOU DON'T HAVE ALL THE KNIGHTS YOU WANT YET? EVENTUALLY THEY WILL ALL BE KNIGHTS, WON'T THEY? EVERY LIGHTNER IN TOWN..."

Gaster sighed, shaking his head.

"NO, NOT EVERY LIGHTNER."

FRIEND laughed. "BUT MOST OF THEM? WHO'S NEXT? WHO WILL BE? WHO WILL BE KNIGHT NO FIVE HUNDRED AND THREE?"

They split off into smaller versions of themselves.

"Undyne?" "Toriel?" "Asgore?" "Susie?" "Noelle?" "Berdly?" "Alphys?" "Alvin?" "Napstablook?" "Sans?"

An uproarious chorus of laughter, and then they all fuse back into one.

"NO, I ALREADY KNOW WHAT SANS' ROLE IS. WITH YOUR NAMING CONVENTION ANYWAY, YOU WANT THE WHOLE ALPHABET, DON'T YOU? SUSIE ALREADY WOULD TAKE S! ALPHYS WOULD TAKE A, ALVIN COULD TAKE B- BUT THEN WHERE DOES THAT LEAVE BERDLY? WHAT ABOU-"

"THIS ISN'T ABOUT HAVING AN ALPHABET OR TIMELINE'S WORTH OF KNIGHTS. THE ONES I HAVE WERE CHOSEN FOR A REASON. IF THIS IS ABOUT K, YOU ALREADY KNOW WHY I'VE ALLOWED THEM TO BE CONSIDERED A KNIGHT."

"OF COURSE I KNOW! AND THE OTHERS ARE CANDIDATES FOR A SIMILAR REASON, AREN'T THEY? FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES? BECAUSE IT'D BE FUNNY?"

"THAT'S NOT PARTICULARLY THE REASON, NO."

"ALRIGHT, WELL HOW ABOUT THIS: ASIDE FROM BERDLY, ALL THOSE I'VE MENTIONED DO HAVE SOME POWER OVER THE TOWN! JUST LIKE THE ONES WE ALREADY HAVE!"

Gaster just shook his head again. "WE DON'T PARTICULARLY NEED MORE KNIGHTS. THERE ARE ONLY TWO LEFT I CAN SEE BECOMING KNIGHTS."

"COME ON THOUGH! WOULD IT NOT BE FUN TO HAVE THE PREACHER OF JUSTICE AT LEAST? AND ASGORE'S CAPABLE OF A LOT! AND THERE'S THE SPEAR OF JUSTICE, THERE'S-"

"FRIEND. WHATEVER HAPPENS, HAPPENS. I WON'T NECESSARILY REJECT ANYONE THAT MAKES IT IN HERE, IT'S JUST THAT THERE'S NOT A LOT I'M SEEING THAT COULD OR WOULD GET IN HERE."

"WE CAN JUST DRAG THEM INTO HERE!"

"...QUITE A FEW HAVE ALREADY FOUND THEMSELVES DRAGGED IN HERE. WILL YOU LEAVE ME ALONE IF I TELL YOU I WILL THINK ABOUT YOUR...SUGGESTIONS?"

A chorus of laughter again, as if from a ton of cats, despite the cat still being one large being.

"OHHH, AS LONG AS YOU THINK ABOUT THEM!"

This made Metal Face hesitate with his plan. He covered his chest area with his claws. He...already was a little hesitant. He couldn't tell which way he'd be safer, and which way he'd be more useful. These may just be one and the same, even, it's just...which way?

ACT

Rouxls pressed this and tapped his chin as he looked at the options before him.

It looked like they were about to leave life itself for a moment though- and honestly, even after being saved, they were at risk of losing their lives.

And yet, they were far more likely to lose their lives if they stayed not doing anything.

Metal Face especially had been affected by the old man's glare. That specific look was...familiar, and not in a good way at all. And yet, that old man saved his life just now.

Even if his words really angered him. It's not like he wanted to be here in the first place! He wasn't cowering!

But...he was starting to come up with a bit of a plan. He could easily channel all of his anger for this entire situation right to the thing apparently trapping them here. The sooner they're taken care of, the sooner he can just leave.

King was now just glaring at Rouxls. This whole thing was his fault. Why didn't he just tell him what was going on? He was a coward. That thing seemed to even know Rouxls.

The Duke was busy trying to figure out how not to panic right now. It was nice that his friend recognized him through whatever that thing was, that he kind of tried to warn the group even if it was now too late- at least now they knew they had to do something. He didn't blame Maxim for any of this, he just...

He looked at King, then down. "I wasn't- this was Notte an Assassinatione Attempteth, Kinge..." He was then quiet for a bit, then he suddenly laughed.

"Geh heh heh HAAAAAH! I do haveth a bit of a better idea-eth of what we're Doinge now! So! I haveth an Idea,"

King was just about to start yelling at Rouxls, but heard the giant mechon beside him.

Gaster had taken one of the Knights aside. The others were busy with their own lives anyways- well, aside from two of them.

"NYEH HEH HEH, I NEVER SAID I WAS GOING TO JUMP INTO THEIR PLANS, DID I? ARE YOU GOING TO PRETEND YOU WEREN'T ALSO ENCOURAGING THEM?"

Gaster shook his head. "OF COURSE NOT. I'M JUST REMINDING YOU TO REFRAIN FROM JUMPING IN ON THEIR ACTUAL PLAN."

"AND WHY ARE YOU TELLING ME SPECIFICALLY? THE OTHERS ARE ALSO AWARE OF THAT KNIGHT!"

"YOU FEEL THE MOST LIKELY TO TRY SOMETHING, THINKING IT'S BRAVE OR FUNNY OR...'EPIC.'"

P was about to argue, but then...

IF YOU GO INTO A DARK FOUNTAIN, YOU WILL FIND DREAMS. AND TO CLOSE THE FOUNTAIN...WOULD THAT NOT BE CRUSHING DREAMS? THESE ARE NOT PARTICULARLY MALICIOUS. THEY ARE NECESSARY.

Dictatorer was so mad right now. Well, he always was. So was he. And he never knew what was going on. But that didn't matter.

That Shadow Crystal should've been his. Kinger didn't know what to do with it, ever. Hell, actually, even knowing what he was supposed to do, it felt like he wasn't doing it in his entirety. He could do far better.

He was always so hesitant to do ANYTHING. It was so pathetic- did he want to protect his friends or not? He knew he had to do all of this now, so DO IT ALREADY!

Whatever. At least now he knew the next steps Kinger would have to do- and he'd make him go through with it if he had to.

Even after learning about the "roaring," he didn't really care.

Kinger did, but what a god damn shame that was. He'd have no choice.

What was the alternative? Allowing everyone here to be destroyed just because he was a coward?!

It sort of wouldn't entirely matter either way.

Not to him.

But that didn't mean he wasn't about to make Kinger do this anyways.

That is, unless he just wasn't capable of it, but surely, by this point he'd HAVE TO BE, right?! Otherwise, why would any of this have been Kinger's responsibility?

Kinger, meanwhile, absolutely didn't want to be a part of the end of the world. But if he didn't do this, would it come back to hurt his friends...?

Between all that, and Dictatorer...or, part of Dictatorer, Kinger didn't have much of a choice, did he? Not unless...no. He couldn't go to his actual room and just lock the door. Jax probably had that key, and if he didn't, Caine could come in whenever. And even if he didn't,

FRIEND could come in no matter what.

King ignored Rouxls for a bit, looking around at the others who showed up and the ones who had already been there. Including the giant enemy boomer. And...yeah, he knew nobody aside from Rouxls. Well, he was at least aware of one of them, but...he didn't know anybody here that he liked.

The only interesting seeming guy here, aside from the gigantic guy they apparently were here to deal with, was probably the giant robot thing next to them.

"SIRE! LISTENE! Okaye. So. Mine idea. Firste," Rouxls held up one finger, "we maketh another portalle. Secondeth," he held up another finger, "we leaveth."

King crossed his arms, looking at Rouxls. "As good of an idea as that is," he wasn't even being sarcastic, if they could leave, he wouldn't even be opposed to it- he didn't really want to be here in the first place. "I don't know how possible it is. You're the one who did it last time, so if you can make another portal so we can leave, go for it. If not, and you just sent us to our deaths,

I'm going to kill you before they do."

"Y-yes, sire...!" He really should've just teleported away when King let go of him before. We art so fuckethed.

Metal Face finally looked when Vex talked, and then he finally noticed everything else going on. Oh, he was going to just go back and kill Zanza right now actually. Chimizo would hate him no matter what, so Zanza just all around lied about changing anything. The only thing that might change is that he'd probably die right here unless he could leave.

It wasn't being a coward, it was called not being completely and utterly stupid.

"Hey." A deep voice grumbled at the mechon's feet.

Metal Face looked down and saw King, tilting his head silently. Not everyone here knew yet that he could talk, so why should he bother?

"Maybe we would be slightly less likely to die if you help. It's not like you're afraid, are you? You couldn't possibly be, as far as the Lightners care, objects such as ourselves can't feel anything." Now, he was being sarcastic.

Metal Face wasn't sure what a Lightner was, but...before he could be mad that this guy called him an object, he realized he'd also called himself an object. He looked like some kind of living creature to him?

Before he could say anything, Rouxls suddenly appeared in front of him with a flash of light.

"Geh heh heh good idea, mine kinge! We'll be a TEMPORARYE throuple! Because I haveth a reale one to get back to!"

*KING AND GIANT ROBOT GUY HAVE JOINED THE THROUPLE

*KING AND GIANT ROBOT GUY HAVE LEFT THE THROUPLE

"Don't call us that."

"Fineth, whatevere! But I shall do what thine Blue Child doeseth! Prepareth to taketh orderes from me! Because that's mine attack! Telling thou what ACTs to performeth!"

Metal Face put one of his clawed hands in front of his face. Mumkhar already had such a headache, and they hadn't even started doing anything. In a way, all this just kind of made him want to leave even more.

"OH righteth!"

*ROUXLS, KING, AND GIANT ROBOT GUY HAVE STARTED A PARTY

*GIANT SCARY GUY GIANT SCARES INTO BATTLE!

"Tell me we aren't doing this." Metal Face's voice was surprisingly quiet for once as he grumbled in annoyance.

"Welle! I meane! I'll trye to get at least mine kinge and I outeth, but I...do not know where thou cameth from! I thinketh, if we can even leaveth in the firste place, you would needeth to createth the portal thineself!"

That would be a DM from... oh, it's that cringe guy. Vlad. If there's anyone in the circus that doesn't have him blocked by now, at least-

[Here is your reminder... I am still interested in taking that strange cursed rock off your hands! You know where to find me. Perhaps I can make it worth your while, my friends! Many human items for trade. Name your price and contact my personal line!]

...The attached email address is corrupted beyond recognition.

Nobody in the circus really had Vlad blocked- either because they just weren't aware of him just yet, or because they just found him fun to laugh at. He tended to just say and do the stupidest stuff ever, how could they not laugh at it?

Caine was tempted to pull up a projector screen and show everyone else this DM he got so they could all laugh at the guy together, then he noticed that everyone in the circus had already been added to this DM group.

Pomni and Ragatha hadn't really talked in the chat at all, yet they still got this message as well.

He heard laughter next to him, then realized what had happened.

"Oh, Bubble! You're exactly right! You were thinking what I was thinking!" It wasn't exactly what he was thinking, but very close- that either way, the whole circus should see and laugh at the clown.

The...whole circus...

Some of the names of the people in the DM group looked really corrupted. He could make out some letters, and the ones he did...oh.

S...W...Q...R...K...there were others where he couldn't at all make out any of the letters.

Well! Bubble was still right, if they were even able to see this, they did deserve some kind of entertainment! They probably didn't know the full context to this, but they'd probably appreciate the whole circus laughing!

[Hey, your email seems to be corrupted? Or, at least, I can't see it. I'm not really sure what you're talking about though? But I think maybe you should make sure nothing's wrong with your email, either you've been hacked or you're trying to hack it looks like.]

Oh, Ragatha!

[Even if I could give it to you, I wouldn't. It's very...particular with things. It'd just be putting you in danger if you got it, so...no.]

Kinger, protective as always!

[Yeahhh, that's...not a good idea. I don't really know who you are, but trust me, you don't want it and you can't have it.]

...what did Pomni go through?

[I could give ya some kind of rock if you want! Totally the same one you're talking about too, I'm sure!]

There was absolutely zero way Jax actually meant that. If somehow they ever were able to get into contact, he'd probably just give the guy a pebble or something equally worthless. Or he'd throw a brick into his window. Probably the brick actually.

[If I could give it to you, I would. This entire thing is a pain in the %&#.]

Yeah, Zooble didn't...fully understand just how bad things were. But that was fine! It's not like they could give it to the guy!

[OVER MY BROKEN MASK! AND HINT: THIS ONE DOESN'T BREAK! UNLIKE YOU, I'M SURE!]

Gangle was so okay lately! She was fine!

[Wot rock are we meanin' 'ere? I wouldn't mind stealin' something for ya. That's wot I do.]

Gummigoo really didn't know anything going on at all, but...Caine hadn't entirely wanted either of his new humans involved. And yet...

[I guess I'm just not seeing what the big deal is with the weird rock...? DID YOU EVEN LOOK AT IT?]

...that third part didn't say anything, strange. But Dictatorer was probably fine!

[HAHAHAHAHA WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU'RE GETTING BULLIED IN THE DMS JUST LOOK AWAY FROM THE SCREEN JUST CLOSE YOUR EYES!]

But there was Bubble at least! Now Caine guessed he might as well put his own one dollar in,

He couldn't just leave his throuple behind! And he was too gorgeous and powerful anyways, just like blondie (not his name.) He would never get inside (ignore the fact that he could if he really wanted to.)

First though, he had to go back to the card kingdom. Just a quick little timeline jump, no big deal. King at his absolute peak, with John Mantle on his back! Not that the mantle would probably be able to help much in there by the sound of things, but...

"SIIIIRE! I have foundeth a waye for us to get backeth at the Lightners!"

King was silently staring out into the dark, not gracing Rouxls with a response.

"I MEANETH IT! Mine King! If you wille just go...through hereth..." He managed to open a portal to the right place, though he wouldn't be able to go through still.

King could sense this huge shift without looking. He turned to face Rouxls and his weird portal. That was...not something he'd seen Rouxls do before.

"...I'll tell you what." King approached Rouxls and the portal, looking down at the duke with a twisted grin. "I'll go through your portal." The mouth on his stomach stuck its spear-tongue out- something was on it. He grabbed it, and grabbed Rouxls with his other hand.

"I can tell there is a reason you want me to go instead of just doing it yourself. So. You first." He was going to hit Rouxls with the rules card the spear had held, but the weird screech Rouxls made startled him enough to let go of him.

"...what the hell was that?"

"I- meane- I- whateth aboute your boye? The kingdom may notice thou's absence if we bothe go! And thenne! The boye will be in dangereth! Thou wouldn't wantst that, wouldst thou?" There was already a Rouxls here, he'd take care of Lancer, but he didn't have to tell King this.

King thought this over for a while. But then... "Lancer's not the one the people fear and hate. He can take over in my place while we're gone, and they'll take care of him. This had better not take too long however, duke. You know he will miss us."

Before Rouxls could try convincing King in any other way, King slapped him with the card and dragged him through the portal.

"...god damn it Rouxls. Where the FUCK are we?!"

--------

Metal Face was still just...tired. He'd been tired. He felt like he wouldn't be able to get anything to change. No matter what now, he was the villain. The coward. The violent evil bastard who wasn't really helping anybody. He certainly couldn't take Zanza down.

Speaking of, a bright light flashed right in front of the mechon's face- not that it mattered, the light was extremely bright for a very large radius. When it faded...damn it. That bastard, and he seemed so SMUG!

Metal Face started trying to slash at Zanza, but the god was easily dodging his movements, then he suddenly grabbed one of his giant clawed hands, holding it completely still and smirking right at the mechon's face. Looking right through the robot.

"You want to be some kind of hero, don't you? Someone people don't despise?"

He was able to conjure up a portal, though he couldn't go. He gestured to it, letting go of Metal Face's giant hand. "Why don't you go in? There is something different you can do there, at least. So you can stop moping all of the time. It gets old, you know."

Metal Face scoffed at this, looking at Zanza, then the portal, then back again. "How- how STUPID do you think I am?! You think I'm going to trust YOU?! That portal is just going to bring me to my DEATH, isn't it?!"

Zanza shrugged. "In a way, yes." Death was there. "But overall? No." The funny thing was, as much as he could see, even in there, he still couldn't see the full picture. He couldn't particularly look into the future over there, because he wasn't supposed to be there in any capacity. He was just lying to Metal Face for the fun of it.

"I- WHAT IS THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN?!"

"It means, Mumkhar, there are people you can save. You can be a hero if you go in and help. Change people's perception of you, perhaps." Probably not. "Unless you truly are a coward? Are you going to let more people die just because you were afraid? Again?"

Zanza laughed, shaking his head. "Maybe you're right. Nothing can change, including yourself. A lying, cowardly, idiotic scoundrel who will never accomplish anything beyond being an evil brute that everybody hates. You have the chance to change. To be a hero. You won't even die. What is stopping you?"

"I. Don't. TRUST YOU!" Metal Face tried to claw at Zanza again, but the god grabbed his hand again.

"Alright. Go, or I will make you go." He'd be able to see into things far better if this idiot just went. He wouldn't be able to impact them, but truthfully, he didn't care. He just wanted to watch, to be able to see more. And he didn't care how much Metal Face dug his gigantic metal heels in.

Metal Face was completely still. Oh. He really had no choice right now, did he? Why the hell did it have to be him?! "Why not send your little assistant in instead?!"

"He cannot go. You can." Zanza was starting to get bored with this. "You already know there's no choice. Well, there is one: are you going to be a coward- will I have to make you go- or will you bravely go in yourself?"

Metal Face really hated this. Why couldn't Zanza himself just go?! Something a god was too afraid to do?!

"I'm not afraid. If I could go, I would." Zanza started laughing. "Trust me, I would. But this specific issue requires lesser beings."

Great. With an annoyed huff, Metal Face moved his hand, and Zanza did let go. "I swear if I come back from this, I don't know HOW I'll do it, but I WILL KILL YOU!" He went into the portal finally, and he refused to look at anyone or anything there.

It created shapes again for the others to see, gesturing to themself before doing so to show what these shapes were supposed to mean.

This group of Knights, one, two, three, four, five...six...seven?

"Oh, they DIDN'T..." One stood angrily, glaring over at the SOULs.

*You're unsure what she means.

*YOU'RE sure what she means. YOU'RE tempted to act like YOU'VE done it, but...YOU haven't.

The silent Knight shakes their head.

"THESE KNIGHTS ARE NOT WHO YOU THINK THEY ARE." One translates, though the Knight's meaning was probably obvious.

"OH, YES. THEM." Gaster is very casual about this whole thing, even laughing a little. "NOT OF THIS TIMELINE, BUT STILL. OF NO ISSUE TO US AS LONG AS WE DON'T GET IN THEIR WAY, WHICH WE WON'T. IN FACT, I DARESAY..." Glowing pupils appeared in the mad scientist's eyes. "IF THEY CALL FOR IT. ASSIST THEM."

He knew that they weren't very likely to call for assistance anyways. As he had said before, just one Knight was enough for things as it was.

The one who stood still seemed cautious. "...so. Those two haven't been dragged into this?"

"NOPE! NOT YET ANYWAY!" The shouting Knight laughed, a quite NYEH HEH HEH laugh before the other Knight glared at him.

"One is already our problem. I don't know how it will impact things if they get fully enveloped in darkness like the rest of us."

"OH, BUT THAT PROBLEM ALSO IS THE SOLUTION. IF THEY EVER GET DRAGGED INTO KNIGHTHOOD, IT WON'T IMPACT THINGS TOO BADLY. I HAVE PLENTY OF SOLUTIONS IN MY HANDS AT ANY GIVEN TIME. DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT."

The silent Knight tapped its chin, then its visor turned into an obvious grin, like it was going to start laughing. Next to the seven shapes they conjured...

There were now three extra ones.

"Oh, you'd better HOPE not."

"Well, hey...look at it this way: at least everyone would be in on the family business!" He laughed until he coughed.

The other Knight crossed her arms, then suddenly threw one of her hands forward. The three extra shapes dissolved. While her voice was more distorted than the others, this time her words could still at least somewhat be understood. "Leave...them...out..."

"IT IS A LITTLE BIT LATE FOR THAT, DON'T YOU THINK? IF THEY COME TO OUR SIDE, THEY WOULD BE SAFER." He readded the three shapes for the Knight,

Only for one to be destroyed by her again. "NOT...THAT...ONE..."

"That one won't happen."

*YOU tell Gaster YOU hated that.

*You tell Gaster good job!

The Knight looks like they're yawning. They didn't seem to care much for what Gaster called them either.

The Knight rolls her eye. Something very distorted comes out of their mouth.

The Knight stares intensely at her. What she says is distorted as well but easier to understand. "Language."

The Knight laughs...then he starts coughing. Two Knights look him over, one protectively grabbing one of his arms as she looks him over, but he waves his other hand dismissively, shaking his head.

"YOU ARE INVINCIBLE." The last Knight speaks clearly. "DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME CHECKING ON HIM. HE IS FINE."

"NOW, NOW." Gaster leaned forward, looking around at the group before him. "FAMILY CAN BE LIKE THAT. YOU KNOW THAT ALREADY."

*YOU think there are too many Knights. YOU say that YOU could do everything they're trying to do YOURSELF. YOU claim YOU think they will drag each other and YOU down.

*You think it's not enough Knights! Why is one of the family members not here? In a way, two of them aren't here- why is that?

"She's stressed enough." The Knight answered. His voice was distorted, but not as badly as hers. "She's too young to have to worry about this..."

"YOU WANT TO KEEP HER SAFE? SHE WOULD BE SAFER WITH US."

"Not if she encounters those other kids. The 'heroes.' Although," the Knight glares at the weird SOUL in the room, "she's not necessarily safe with them, either..."

*YOU smugly ask what's wrong.

*You assure her she'll be okay.

"She'd better be." The Knight ignores the weird SOUL.

The silent Knight isn't even paying attention anymore, inspecting their hand. They seem to be getting impatient.

The Knight with the extremely distorted voice speaks again, clearly just as impatient.

"OH, I KNOW. BUT THERE'S NO RUSH. WITH JUST ONE OF YOU, THE PROPHECY ALREADY WILL COME TRUE. WE DON'T NEED TO GET AHEAD OF OURSELVES."

"SHOULD WE BE TAKING CHANCES WITH THIS?!"

"Of course I'm laughing! Who told you I don't hate him? He hates me, I may as well return the feeling! Is this not amusing? Terrible things are going to happen to all of them!"

"H-how is that amusing...? If we could just..."

"Help them? It's actually safer for all of them if we don't go. Someone would get assistance from me, but you wouldn't like who I would assist."

Two of them are not really your problem.

They aren't you.

One is you.

ONE IS YOU.

There's another.

But that one doesn't seem to always be there.

When it is, it's obvious.

Or...maybe it isn't?

Maybe it's always there and just good at hiding when it wants to.

With how it acts though...why would it want to?

HE. WHY WOULD HE WANT TO. WOULDN'T YOU LIKE TO KNOW, IDIOT?!

Would things not be far easier if everyone just communicated?

WHY WOULD WE DO THAT. I WANT NO PART OF YOU.

I'M USING YOU, YOU ABSOLUTE MORON!

This still seems like a waste of time? If you told me what you're even up to, maybe I could help.

YOU COULDN'T EVEN BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND.

YOU WOULDN'T HELP. YOU'RE WEAK.

If only that Caine guy could tell him at least part of what's going on. Sure, he gets that now there's seemingly two other minds merged with his, but...why? They weren't there before.

Kinger watched as the other chess piece kept shifting around and twitching, glaring angrily at nothing in particular, then looking confused.

He wasn't sure why Caine couldn't just tell him what was going on, but...at least he could try to help.

"Hey, Dictatorer...?"

It was hard to tell for a second which part it was, as Dictatorer tensed up and got this sort of blank, yet frustrated, look. Then he immediately glared at Kinger.

"WHAT DO YOU WANT NOW?! JUST GOING TO KEEP RUBBING IT IN MY FACE THAT YOU REFUSE TO LET ME TAKE CARE OF THINGS ALREADY?!"

"No..." This specific part was so hard to talk to, no matter what, he'd get mad. "...I was wondering if you'd want to join me in my pillow fort for a bit? It's nice and quiet, and cozy...you seem really stressed..."

"WHY WOULD I WANT TO BE SO CLOSE TO YOU IN THAT SAD LITTLE FORT?!"

"I think...maybe you're getting overstimulated. It has been loud, and there's been a lot going on, and...I'd give you space, I wouldn't be up against you- I could even stand outside of it if you want, I just...don't want to leave you all alone to deal with things..."

Dictatorer came closer, seeming enraged as ever, and then looking away once he was next to Kinger.

"...I would appreciate that. Thank you..." He laughed a little. "I truly don't know how you can put up with this- I can hardly put up with it..."

Kinger led him over to the pillow fort, shaking his head. "I know it's not your fault. And you being hardly able to put up with it...it's probably best if you're not left alone to deal with it all. Feeling alone here is...possibly one of the worst things that can happen..."

He gestured to allow Dictatorer to go in, but Dictatorer suddenly laughed a clearly forced, angered laugh.

"YOU JUST WANT TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS TO ME IN THE DARK. YOU WANT TO SEE WHAT CAINE THOUGHT WAS THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT HAPPENS TO YOU."

He got even angrier, twitching. "YOU'RE WASTING TIME ON THIS. YOU SHOULD BE CONTINUING TO WORK ON THINGS. GETTING STRONGER. YOU DON'T HAVE TIME FOR THIS."

Kinger really didn't want to push them. "Well...if you don't feel comfortable, you don't have to go in at all. I...don't know if Caine would've programmed any kind of reaction to the darkness for you, though. Even if he did, I wouldn't keep you in the darkness- this isn't about me trying to figure that out. I just want you to feel like you aren't alone..."

Dictatorer started laughing like a madman. "YOU'RE SO WEAK! IF YOU WERE TAKING ANYTHING SERIOUSLY, YOU'D FORCE US INTO THE DARK! YOU HAVE TO DO THINGS YOU DON'T FEEL FULLY COMFORTABLE WITH!"

"...I kind of don't, actually." Kinger shrugged. "At least, not right now. If any part of you doesn't want something, I'm not going to make you do it."

"YOU'RE CALLING ME WEAK NOW, AREN'T YOU?!"

Kinger jumped, quickly shaking his head. "That's- absolutely not at all what I-"

"FINE THEN. JUST WATCH, IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS SO BADLY!" Although Kinger tried to reach for him and say something to reassure him, Dictatorer moved too fast. He got into the fortress, silently staring forward at the pillowy wall in front of him.

At first, he seemed fine. Maybe Caine really hadn't programmed any weird reactions into the NPC after all! "...so, you're alright, then...?"

Dictatorer didn't answer at all. Kinger wasn't sure if he should be concerned, or if that just meant he wanted to be left alone. "H-hey, uh-"

Dictatorer suddenly curled up into himself on the floor, shaking and whispering to himself. He was rocking himself back and forth as much as he could, too.

Kinger quickly got down to try figuring out what was wrong, but hesitated to touch him, instead putting his hand down next to the other. "Hey...you're not alone..."

Dictatorer grabbed one of the pillows and shoved it over his own face, breathing heavily into it. Then, he suddenly stopped breathing. Instead of glowing...he seemed to be emitting darkness. And the further darkness freaked him out and made him start hyperventilating- but at least that darkness went away.

It didn't seem to really matter that it was gone at this point, though.

He was still whispering to himself, his eyes starting to dart around. Finally, he spotted Kinger, and...

SLAPPED his hand, glaring at him yet seeming afraid. "Get BACK! I'm not afraid of you! I'll KILL YOU!"

Kinger pulled his hand back, seeming even more concerned than before. "Okay, let's...maybe get out of there...? I thought it'd help, but..."

He backed away, gesturing for Dictatorer to follow. But he didn't. "I'm not STUPID! I'm NOT following you ANYWHERE!"

"It's light out here. Come back out into the light..."

Dictatorer hesitated, shaking as he slowly uncurled himself and put one hand down to start crawling. His balance was very thrown off, especially since he kept shaking, and he seemed like he'd fall at any second.

After hesitating a bit longer, he practically pounced at Kinger, coming back out into the light. He'd knocked Kinger over by doing this, and got on top of him like he was going to start attacking him. He was still shaking, he was still practically hyperventilating.

His pupils had shrunk and were shaking as well, but after a bit of being out in the light...he stopped. He seemed pretty calm again pretty quickly- well, not calm, but back to normal.

Dictatorer slowly stood again, brushing himself off, seeming both smug and annoyed at the same time as his eye twitched. "THERE. HAPPY?!"

"...no. I just- I want to help you..." Kinger started to get up, but then Dictatorer leaned down to yell at him, causing Kinger to shrink back.

"YOU CAN'T EVEN HELP YOURSELF OR ANYONE ELSE. YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING TO HELP ME?!" He laughed a crazed laugh. "YOU'RE-"

"Nice." He leaned back, looking away. "And I'm so sorry I'm putting you through this when you're already stressed..." He put his hand out so he could help Kinger up.