#proceed to overwrite

The idea came from this ask of Mario confronting a higher-higher up Admin. Basically, the code that let's Guardians ascend to Admins once deemed ready and worthy enough.

The idea basically is one of these Admins (who we'll call Cluster for the time being, until I decide on a better name) comes to the Mushroom Kingdom as part of a check-in. To see how the Admins and Guardians of this universe are doing.

Cluster,, is immediately off-put by the fact that not only [575] (Domain) and [686] (Forum) are experiencing emotions, they're actually involved in the lives of their Guardians..

And they remember their past lives.

Cluster isn't exactly happy with this, having been the Admin that ascended them. But unable to accept the fact that it might be the reason why the memories didn't stay locked up, it instead blames it on the sorry state of the Mushroom Kingdom. It's disgusted and repulsed by the fact that characters from different games live in the universe and that there's so many recolors of the Avatar..

And then it stumbles upon the Code that oversees and protects the two Guardians of this universe, and it gets an idea. So what if it's manipulating what's basically a child? It's for the betterment of this universe. After it gets this code stronger, it'll use this code to reign in the Admins and the Guardians and fix everything. And so what if it's hiding its true identity to get closer to the code? It's just helping it get stronger, after all.

Lil Coding, meanwhile, isn't.. feeling the best. He feels like he's weak and his abilities are subpar, and he unfortunately doesn't really have anyone to train with. Even at their weakest, Domain and Forum are too powerful for him to even train with, and his dads have abilities completely different than his, and they still need to train so.. they're a no-go as well.

So when someone he can practically sense has power similar to his and introduces themselves as Cluster? A code similar to him? He's elated! Someone like him, maybe they can even train together! Cluster agrees to, but only if Lil Coding agrees to help it with getting rid of small viruses that are 'running rampant' in the Mushroom Kingdom.

The only caveat being he can't tell anyone about this because they might try and stop him from training with Cluster.

Lil Coding, none the wiser, agrees.

The main plot of the arc would be the gang having all their adventures, with Lil Coding joining less and less, joining Cluster in getting rid of 'small viruses'. Lil Coding unfortunately unaware that Cluster is simply hiding the citizens true forms with some bit of code twisting.

Lil Coding becomes more and more quiet, obedient, and generally a shell of his extrovert self throughout the main plot of the au. Cluster is extremely manipulative and gaslights Lil Coding at even the smallest sign of the Code wanting to stop. It pushes Lil Coding to his limit again and again, all under the guise of getting stronger.

Similar to the 10 Year Anniversary, FM and X both realize something is going on when recolors slowly start disappearing, and they head to the SMG4 gang to let them know. At the same time, everyone notices how different Lil Coding has become (over the plot, it's pointed out and even directly addressed, but Lil Coding always brushes it off).

It all culminates in everyone going to look for Lil Coding and finding him...

Just as Cluster commands him to use Rewrite (the equivalent to Iceshock in Deltarune) on a citizen 'not meant to be in the game'.

Cluster, seeing an opportunity, urges Lil Coding to use Overwrite.

He says he doesn't know how.

Cluster pushes forcefully.

Lil Coding insists he doesn't know how.

Cluster demands it.

Lil Coding snaps and uses the command, overloading his body with way too much energy in the process. In the surrounding area and even further, any character not meant to be in the game is overwritten and 'sent back to their game' (in reality, they're sent to a pocket dimension where Cluster will more than likely turn them into code to empower itself and other Admins).

What exactly does Emulator do to Cluster? Obviously, she isn't going to go easy on it since Cluster messed with her grandkitten so badly. But does she 'play' with Cluster physically, mentally, or more of a mix of both? Sorry if this ask is a bit strange, but I got really curious, lol!

Honestly I figured the details would be left up to the audience's imagination, since whatever could possibly be shown/written wouldn't be nearly as cathartically horrifying as whatever people come up with to fill in the gap.

He glances around, vision too blurry. There's a lot of blurs and voices, but none of them were registering. He glances in the direction of Cluster and sees a blur of black and blue along with a blur of blue and white giving chase to it.

Finally, his vision starts to clear, and his breath hitches.

"... Coding?! Lil Coding?!" his.. dad's voice finally becomes clearer as the ringing in his hearing finally dies away.

He's on SMG4's lap, his dad sat down on the grass. His papa is to his left and his uncle to his left. There are a few others crowded around, but Lil Coding can only focus on his dad at the moment.

"Dad..?" he manages to whimper out, wincing at how hoarse and weak his voice sounded.

"Oh thank god!" Four let out a sigh of relief. He gently pulls Lil Coding up from his laying position and hugs the Code. "You're okay!"

"You had us worried sick!" SMG3 sighs. "We thought we'd have to call Domain and Forum back here to help you-"

"Is this real..?" Lil Coding cuts his papa off, his ears pinning back. "Are.. are you real?"

Everyone falls quiet, and Lil Coding watches closely. Silently pleading, silently begging that this was real. He wanted it to be real so badly.

"This is real." Four smiles gently. "We're real."

Lil Coding let out a sob, a cry that he had been repressing for who knows how long. He hid his face in his dad's overalls as he clung to him. His body shook and jolted as he sobbed, and he felt someone gently rubbing his back. Either Four or Three, maybe even Mario. He wasn't sure though.

"I'm sorry- I'm sorry, I'm so sorry-" Lil Coding manages to choke out between sobs, gripping SMG4's overalls. "I didn't think..! I was so stupid, I'm so sorry!"

"Hey, woah, none of that." Three shakes his head. "It's okay, no one blames you, little buddy. You're okay."

Lil Coding found himself struggling to believe that, but he nodded nonetheless. As he went to say something, he let out a small cry of pain as the cracks from using Overwrite flared across his body.

He wasn't able to stop Mario in time from rolling up his sleeve at the same time.

"Lil Coding.." Mario gasps.

The young Code let out a small whimper and shakes his head. Not now. He didn't want to talk about it now.

Mario nods and carefully pulls his sleeve back down.

It falls quiet again, save for Lil Coding's sob and occasional reassurance or affirmation from someone.

SMG4: Mario In Space

Lil Coding has accidentally.. sent Mario into space! The code had let it slip that he was feeling insecure about his progression of his power, and Mario being Mario, suggested that he train with Lil Coding. It of course doesn't go well and the episode is spilt between what Mario encounters in space with Lil Coding trying to find ways to get him back down.

SMG4: The Totally Legit Computer Virus PSA

Similar to the Internet Safety video done a while back! It's a narrator with the help of Mario, Lil Coding, Melony, and Bob, teaching about computer viruses! How to defend against them, how to recognize suspicious links - all of that. Of course, in the stupid and wacky SMG4 way, that is. Though during one of the virus showcases, in the background, orange sparks can be seen traveling down the wire of the computer..

SMG4: A Collection Of Odd Tales

Noticing Lil Coding is still feeling down about not being able to train properly with anyone, Melony decides to spend some time with her sleeping buddy reading some stories! Of course, they're outlandish and strange, but it helps cheer up Lil Coding. Though he seems a bit more.. distant and reserved, he does end up having a good time.

Until they get to the last story, which is.. odd. It's about a young girl, with no experience with her powers of ice and no one to teach her. When then, someone comes along and offers to train her, but that she mustn't tell anyone. The girl agrees and she grows stronger, yet also weakers, losing her resolve to stand up against the abuse of her mentor. It all comes to a head when her mentor orders her to encase her friends in ice. The girl tries to refuse but unfortunately ends up giving in, freezing her friends in ice.

Lil Coding casually comments how that was dark, even by their standards, and Melony agrees. The two then elect to take a nap, the story fading from mind. But towards the end, a gloved hand with orange 0s and 1s can be seen picking up the book and taking it away.

SMG4: [: A CLUSTER. :]

It's a bit of a montage episode, but it does focus on Lil Coding. It shows him lamenting the fact that he has no one to get stronger with and shows how his insecurities and fears are growing. Until Cluster arrives, disgused to show the appearance of it being a Code like Lil Coding. It offers to help him and train with him, under the condition that no one he knows learns. Cluster lies, saying it's because if it was found out, it'd be 'sent back to its original universe'. Lil Coding agrees, and the episode shows Cluster training Lil Coding and how his clothes slowly turn more orange, like the Admin's. During the course of the episode, everyone realizes that something is going on with the Code, but he just won't tell.

The episode ends with Lil Coding and Cluster looking upon his list of commands and seeing the Overwrite command just below Rewrite. Cluster slowly smiles while Lil Coding is shown to be nervous.

The last line of the episode is "Come, Lil Coding. We need to continue getting rid of those viruses."

SMG4: Detective Bob

FM and X show up the castle, concerned about the fact that not only recolors have been vanishing again, but also residents that don't exactly fit in in the Mushroom Kingdom. Everyone immediately fears the worst, believing that ZerØ may have returned. But Bob.. for some odd reason decides to look into this, especially when everyone realizes that Lil Coding is missing too. His 'investigations' are very Bob in nature, but he always somehow leads him to the next clue.

He then witnesses Cluster make Lil Coding use Rewrite on a poor NPC, sending them somewhere unknown.

SMG4: [> COMMAND: Overwrite]

A direct continuation of the last episode. Bob returns, freaked the fuck out, but nobody really believes him at first and 3&4 are ready to absolutely pummel him until he shows some pictures he managed to take. Everyone is confused and concerned, especially since Lil Coding seems really.. dazed in that picture. Like he isn't himself. They set out to go and find Lil Coding and Cluster, hoping that maybe the scene was lacking context.

After many detours and obstacles, typical for an SMG4 video, they finally stumble upon Cluster and Lil Coding. Just as the disgused Admin has Lil Coding, use Rewrite on an NPC that, to him, is a virus because of Cluster messing with his vision. Everyone confronts them and the orange tint to Lil Coding's clothes begins to fade as everyone begins to argue with Cluster.

"Lil Coding. Use the Overwrite command on them."

"What?! No! They're my family! And I don't even know how anyway!!"

"Use the Overwrite command."

"No! No, I'm not going to! I can't use it anyway, I don't have permission to!"

"Use the Overwrite command."

"I can't, and I won't! I'm not going to use it!"

"Use the Overwrite command."

"FINE! YOU WANNA SEE ME USE A COMMAND I DON'T HAVE PERMISSION TO AND DON'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT?! WATCH!"

And so Lil Coding closes his eyes and uses the command. The strings of code shoot towards the gang, and a cut to white. It then shows Lil Coding opening his eyes and a distraught look on his face, showing his family is nowhere to be seen.

SMG4 Movie: RACE AGAINST TIME

It starts with the aftermath of Lil Coding using the Overwrite command for the first time. He's now much more obedient to Cluster, more quiet and complacent, more likely to agree. Hes even wearing an orange cloak now, and he can be heard muttering about how he "doesn't deserve to look like them."

They make their way to Bloopersville, and after barely any resistance from Lil Coding, the command is used upon the entirety of the town. During this entire time, Lil Coding is clearly dazed, and it almost seems like he's nothing more than a husk.

We're then shown that the gang actually escaped the Overwrite command, thanks to Domain and Forum learning of what was happening and swooping in to save them. They take them to 4's Guardian Pod and get everyone caught up on what the audience may already know; Cluster isn't actually a manifestation of code like Lil Coding, but instead, they're a Higher-Up, a powerful Admin. Domain and Forum have a few thoughts on why Cluster is here, the most obvious being to 'fix the universe'. Then, a bombshell is dropped; Lil Coding can not use the Overwrite command more than three times because his body can not handle an Admin level command. His form will break and shatter, and he will be put into an indefinite state of shutdown by his code. And when word gets to them that all the Bloopersville residents are mysteriously gone, they realize that they don't have much time left.

The rest until the end is the gang (+Domain&Forum, SMG1&2) trying to find Lil Coding and Cluster whilst the duo continue through. Lil Coding is shown progressively getting worse, falling into self loathing, guilt, self hatred, and seeming like a husk of himself. Cluster doesn't make this any better with it's abuse.

Eventually, they manage to catch up with the duo, and a battle ensues. Cluster takes on Domain and Forum, while Lil Coding takes on the rest of the gang. He's vicious against them, so entangled in Cluster's manipulation that he believes them to be viruses trying to trick them. Unfortunately, due to Cluster being a Higher-Up and it having been training Lil Coding, both overpower everyone. Cluster tells the Code to use Overwrite one more time, to get ride of them, and Lil Coding goes to do so, but..

Nothing happens. Nothing happens except for a large, red screen appearing and telling that the command has been deleted. Lil Coding desperately tries again, but the only thing that happens is the orange cloak he wears shatters. Mario pulls Lil Coding over to their side whilst Domain and Forum give chase to a fleeing Cluster (who ends up getting caught by an EXTREMELY UNHAPPY EMULATOR).

There's a lot of crying as the reunion with everyone goes on, with Lil Coding apologizing weakly because his body aches so, so much.. apologizing for so many things, but 4 and 3 pull him into a tight hug. Saying that they don't need an apology. They're just so glad he's okay, and he's out of Cluster's grasp.

Was thinking about Proceed to Overwrite and The Toxic Ringmaster being connected. With Cluster and Byte being a wake-up call to the other Higher-Ups that they really need to be watching the other Higher-Ups who have a history,,

○●○

Lil Coding stands in front of the cell, eyes narrowed. He looks at Byte, the former Admin sitting in the cell.

It was hard to think that this pathetic looking man was once such a powerful Admin. But now, with his abilities and powers gone, he was nothing but an NPC, locked away in the Mushroom Kingdom Prison.

"Come to gloat, Coding?" comes Byte's voice, making the Code jolt. He swallows thickly and glares when he hears the other laugh harshly.

"Were you and Cluster ever working together?" Lil Coding asks, fists clenching by his sides.

Byte's laughter suddenly stops and it makes Lil Coding nervous. He hears shuffling and then slow footsteps approaching the bars of the cell. He sees Byte emerge from the shadows and kneel down to his height.

"If that idiot was, he wouldn't have gotten caught so easily." Byte narrows his eyes. "But now you have me curious, Coding. What exactly did he do?"

"They never told you?" Lil Coding furrows his eyebrows.

"I was busy messing with another universe." Byte shrugs nonchalantly, making Lil Coding stare at him.

The Code sighs before looking away. He slowly rolls up a sleeve, showing crack scars all over. Some are faded, but some still persist.

"Overwrite scars." Byte hums. "Quite cruel to put a child through that."

"Rich, coming from you." Lil Coding snorts, pulling his sleeve back down. He then pauses before looking up at Byte. "Why are you still so confident? You're powerless now and trapped-"

"Like you?" Byte raises an eyebrow.

"What?" Lil Coding falters.

"Powerless and trapped, that more fits you." Byte chuckles. "You have no one like you, Coding. You're trapped in a box of forever solitude, with no one ever able to match your power level."

Lil Coding's ears pin back, ears lowering. Byte continues. "And that's why it was so easy for Cluster to get you, hm? Because you'd rather wallow in the sadness that you will never be like anyone, you will never have something to truly pair with, that you allow yourself to fall into such despair that you let someone so blatantly evil manipulate you."

"You're meant to be manifestation of the SMG code, and yet so easily you let yourself be-"

"No. I'm a kid."

Byte stops and stares down at him. "What?"

Lil Coding glares up at Byte. "I'm a kid. I might be the manifestation of my dads code, but I'm still a kid. I still have a lot to learn. Yeah, I was stupid, believing Cluster so blindly, but I'm also still a kid."

"Just because I have such an important title doesn't mean I'm all-knowing or mature." Lil Coding turns around and walks away, ears lifting back up. "But I'm not surprised you don't know that, since you thought you were an untouchable Higher-Up."

Byte watches the Code walk away before beginning to chuckle erratically. He grips the bars of his cage, fingers digging into the metal. "Oh, the britches on that kid.. Well, at least I have another puppet to play with."

Lil Coding spares one last glance towards the rows of cells before exiting the prison, waving to Melony. She had been the only one who agreed to take him here, because he knew no one else would agree and would definitely tell his dads.

"Got all the answers you want?" she asks, looking down at him.

Lil Coding nods. "Yeah, I did. He was mean about it but.." He shrugged with a smile, clearly not affected by it.

And the thoughts of him being like Singularity increase dramatically,, every time he goes to use his abilities there's the nagging voice in the back of his head, taunting him and asking him if he wants to be more like Singularity,, if he likes hurting everyone and if he's really using these commands for the benefit of others,,