Chapter 7

by SunlitStruggles

Summary:

a beginning to an ending, which in turn goes on to become a new beginning for everyone.

---this work is the finale to a series, and will make no sense without full context of The Strange Route AU's overarching story-line. Readers are advised to read the tags and proceed mindfully.

Chapter 1

Notes:

this chapter features artwork by @waddei over on Tumblr :)

 Kris woke up in their bed. Their nice, warm bed.

 

 Kris woke up to the sound of birdsong outside their window, and sat upright with a jolt.

 

 They balled their fists and gripped the soft, warm comforter. Their heart thumped steadily within their chest. In the gold-tinged silence of the early morning, all they could hear was the birds and the wind in the trees, and the soft whistle of their own breath as they sucked in a lungful that came out in a shuttery sigh.

 

 What…the hell…just happened…

 

 Kris knew very damn well what the hell had just happened. Snow and red static and insanity. But for the moment, in the aftershock, they couldn’t bring themself to be afraid. Their room was still and soft and warm. The weight of their comforter was steady. Real. So too was the silkiness of the bed sheets, and the taste of cinnamon that welcomed them to the new day with every breath.

 

 They looked down, and saw that they were wearing their green-yellow hoodie. They looked back up and glanced around their bedroom.

 

 “...wah…?”

 

 Their room was…different. Asriel’s side remained exactly as it had been last they’d seen it, with the addition of a few suitcases that had been haphazardly shoved beneath it. Their side of the room, however, was…new.

 

 The little star Susie had given them remained where it was. A dozen new, green-blue stars had joined it on the room’s warm, yellow-brown walls. Looking up at them then drew Kris’ attention onto their previously barren shelves. Their eyes widened as they beheld a handful of golden trophies. Cups, goblets, and a polished star now stood proudly above their bed, echoing Asriel’s display of awards on the opposite side of the bedroom. Among them stood one trophy that made their chest twist upon seeing it.

 

 “...T…Ten…na…?”

 

 The tiny figurine was a shrunken miniature of the host’s statues that they’d seen littered around TV World. It beamed and pointed triumphantly towards the ceiling. Kris’ heart dropped, and their gaze fell to the floor. To the rug.

 

 Where the Deltarune once filled their bedroom floor, instead, they found themself staring down at a large rug that bore the embroidered image of a lone heart. A large, pink heart… 

 

 Kris blinked.

 

 “...what…the fu-”

 

 “GOOOOOOOD MORNING, starshine!!”

 

 Kris froze.

 

 “Ah,” Tenna’s voice said softly, now much quieter, “sorry, sorry! My bad. I’m just, heh, so glad that you’re up! How ya feeling, Kris? How’s my sweetest star doing?”

 

 Their eyes flicked between the rug, the wall, and the door. They looked around while Tenna chuckled fondly.

 

 “How is it? I did some redecorating! Do you like it?”

 

 They shrugged. Their eyes narrowed when they looked back up at the Tenna-shaped trophy. They furrowed their brow and glanced at the door again. Tenna made an awkward  crackly buzz as he said, “hehehe, well. I will admit that I may or may not have taken some…personal and artistic liberties, here or there. But…do you like it? Is it alright?”

 

 Kris thought for a moment, then nodded.

 

 The staticky buzz of Tenna’s voice swelled with delight. “Oh, wonderful! Oh, I’m so glad to hear it, honey. So, so glad…”

 

 Kris pushed themself out from beneath the covers. Their shoes were next to the nightstand. The ambient sensation of Tenna’s static accompanied them as they slid them on and stood over the new rug. They looked down at it, and this time they cast a confused glance towards the Tenna statue.

 

 “Hm? What’s up, buttercup?”

 

 They pointed at the rug. At the pink heart.

 

 “Oh,” said Tenna brightly, “that’s just something I whipped up. Bit of a, ah, last minute addition. It’s just…I thought it would suit the room’s new vibe!” The word wobbled directly above their head. Kris looked at the rainbow bubble letters, and then stared at the door when they popped, one by one.

 

 “Toriel is downstairs with Az. But take your time, Kris. I know you’ve probably got questions, so please, just take your time. I’m right here if you need me.”

 

 Understatement of the fucking century, Uncle Tenna.

 

 Why did that thought make their heart hurt so much? What were they even doing right now? How did they get here? They were at Noelle’s house in the Dark World. Then Tenna showed up. Then Tenna started to trap everyone, and then their brother and mother showed up, and then Tenna used the final tape, and then…and then…

 

 …

 

 …where was everybody? What did Tenna do?

 

 What did I let him do?

 

 Kris shuffled out into the hallway. They almost went straight downstairs. First, though, they brought themself to the hallway mirror. They could do that. The soul was gone. Their feet were their own to drag and shuffle as they wished. The soul was gone. They walked to the mirror and looked at…

 

 “...it’s you!”

 

 Tenna laughed softly when Kris stared at their reflection with wide, wondering eyes. The faintest ghost of a grin formed on their lips. Tenna chuckled again. “Hehe…there’s my little star.”

 

 Kris pulled themself back from the mirror when their cheeks started to tingle. They heard a few voices downstairs. He said Toriel and Asriel were down there, right? But what about Susie? What about Noelle, Ralsei and Berdly? Queen and King? Loyal?

 

 …Carol…

 

 They reached the bottom step and entered the kitchen. Soft yellow light poured in through the windows. Everything was as neat and cozy and gold-tinged as it had been the last time they’d seen their home. Everything was just as it was supposed to be. The table was set for breakfast. The smell of salted bacon and hot coffee mingled with those of toasted bread and peppered eggs. Then they glanced at the countertop and spotted something new: a pair of white bottles and a few syringes that were tied together by a blue and pink ribbon, respectively.

 

 “Kris! Oh, my child-”

 

 Kris blinked. Toriel came running from the living room where she’d just been talking with Asriel near the couch. They were at once scooped off the floor and into their mother’s strong, soft, safe arms, which squeezed them good and tight as the human went limp and wormed their face into the crook between her shoulder and neck.

 

 Toriel sighed shakily, “oh, Kris…oh, you…you are alright, yes? You are okay?”

 

 A paw cupped their cheek. Toriel leaned to look them over while they nodded slowly. They saw that she was wearing a faded t-shirt and a pair of shorts instead of the blouse she’d had on this…morning? Yesterday morning?

 

 What day was it, anyhow…?

 

 “Kris! Oh, thank goodness you’re alright…!”

 

 Asriel walked over to stand next to Toriel. Kris’ attention was fully on Ralsei, though, who ran over towards them and looked at them with kind, worried eyes- how the FUCK was Ralsei in their living room?!

 

 “How…?” They peeked over Toriel’s shoulder and rasped quietly.

 

 “Tenna says that uhm…somethings have…changed?” Ralsei shrugged. She wrung her paws together, and glanced over at the countertop. 

 

 “Ah. Yes. Change…” Toriel did, too. She set them down, and gently took Kris by the shoulders as she kneeled and smiled softly. “Kris? I…I have something that I need to tell you. I am…not so certain that I can continue living as your mother…”

 

 Kris tilted their head.

 

 “I…believe I would be better fit to be…a father, instead,” Toriel closed he…his? His eyes, yeah. And took a deep breath.

 

 Kris glanced up at Asriel. He looked back, and pointed at Ralsei. “Look, I’m still not quite sure how she fits into everything. You do know what this means, though, right?” His voice suddenly took on a grave, dreary tone. “...double the dad jokes, Kris. Double the dad jokes.”

 

 Their face paled.

 

 Oh, we are FUCKED.

 

 “Oh,” they said to Toriel, their father, “awesome. Congrats on bein’ guy.”

 

 Everyone in the room went still when the sound of applause filled the otherwise quiet kitchen. Kris felt the hairs on their neck stand on end. Tenna’s voice came from both above and below as he cheered happily.

 

 “CONGRATS to you both! Hahaha! Oh, and I know you’ve probably seen ‘em already, but I’ve laid out some stuff to help both of ya out…if you want it, anyway! Just make sure to read those instructions.” The audience laughed, and faded away. The sound of birdsong through the windows took its place.

 

 Toriel and Asriel exchanged a look. Toriel stood up, and Kris drifted over next to Ralsei. They lightly bumped their head against one of the princess’ horns, and she giggled. They heard their father and brother whisper to one another as they both went over to the counter. They couldn’t make out the words…they weren’t sure if they should be scared or happy…well. They were happy, but not about what all had just happened…with the static…and the snow…and…well…the everything.

 

 Then they looked into the living room, and their heart paused.

 

 “Wah…?”

 

 Ralsei watched them go when they brushed past her and shuffled into the living room. She stood at the threshold while Kris booked it for the TV stand. They looked at her, and she merely shrugged, while they looked back at the stand and gawked at what sat upon it.

 

 It was Tenna. Their childhood television. Old and dented, scuffed and well-loved. Their hand trembled as they reached out to graze the faded stickers with their fingertips. They brushed at one that resembled a faded pink heart. Something tender shivered behind their ribs.

 

 The rug…what is happening? What did he…?

 

 Kris threw their head back to stare at the ceiling. When they did, their hair prickled, and Tenna’s voice rolled in from somewhere above, below, and all around, all at the same time.

 

 “Ah! That,” he said flatly, “that’s just…hm…how do I put this? This is kind of like…a cicada shell!”

 

 From the kitchen came Asriel’s worried tone. “Dude, where ARE you? Like do you have cameras and stuff in here, or…?” Kris saw him walk over to the table with his arms crossed. He looked around and peered at the arranged plates and eyed the corners of the room shrewdly.

 

 “No, Asriel. Goodness, this ain’t a reality show. We ain’t on Big Sister or nothing.”

 

 The laugh track chortled with Tenna pleasantly.

 

 “Then…how is it that you can see us and speak with us this way?” Toriel asked. He walked over with one of the white bottles cupped in his paw.

 

 “I can tune in to check on you all,” Tenna explained calmly. Kris had their hand on the TV. Tenna’s voice buzzed in their ears as the warmth from the cathode’s casing seeped into their palm. “I’m not watching all the time. I just…can sense if anyone needs anything. But, Kris, as I was saying: you know how a cicada sheds its shell and leaves it behind?”

 

 They nodded once.

 

 “I remember how you used to collect them when you were little. You’d go out and come back in with a whole bucket of the things.” Tenna sighed fondly at the memory. Kris’ fingers twitched, and he laughed once. “Hah! You’d line them up and…ah…this is the same thing, Kris. It’s a shell. I don’t…I don’t need it anymore! But it still works just fine, so I figured it would be nice to just…have it around. It ties the room together, don’t you think?”

 

 The living room was awash with golden light. Behind the TV hung a framed, embroidered image of a lone pink heart.

 

 It was Ralsei who nodded at this. “I…I think that it fits rather nicely…uhm…” She looked over her shoulder when they both heard the bathroom door open. Toriel whispered something to Asriel, who bobbed his head, and turned to look at them, while Toriel vanished into the bathroom with a soft click.

 

 “...the Light World is…very…intense,” Ralsei’s voice trembled slightly. She gazed down at her paws where she clutched them near her chest. “Toriel mentioned that uhm…we might go out later, and look at some clothes? Uhm…Kris? Do you think that breakfast might be a good idea?”

 

 “I’m gonna eat,” said Asriel. He sat down and glanced at the clock. “Uh…there’s…school today? But uhm…yeah…Kris, come eat breakfast. Please?” He waved them over, and they shuffled to join him and Ralsei at the table.

 

 Kris was just about to take their first bite of toast when the door swung open with a harsh bang.

 

 Asriel’s head jerked up. “What the-”

 

 “KRIS, WHAT THE HELL?!”

 

 They heard their brother say something, but they were kind of too busy with being yanked out of their chair by a very frantic Susie to register it. Susie gripped them by the shoulders and shook them while their arms dangled and flopped about.

 

 “KRIS! KRIS! KRIS, WHAT. THE FUCK. HAPPENED?!”

 

 She paused when they shrugged. “What the fuck you MEAN you don’t- KRIS, C’MON MAN!” She resumed shaking them violently.

 

 “Uhm. Susie?”

 

 “Not now, Ralsei. Kris, I woke up at home and…it’s like…empty? Like it’s different, and-”

 

 She looked at Ralsei. Her eyes threatened to pop out of her skull. Her mouth flapped open and shut a dozen or so times, before she began to whip her head around when Tenna buzzed in from wherever he was seeing all of this.

 

 “Susie, sweetheart! Now, I’m sure you’ve got some questions. I said it might be nice to check in on Kris, but I didn’t think you’d go and run all the way across town. Oh, your legs must be so sore, honeyb-”

 

 “TENNA!”

 

 He squeaked, “mhm yup that’s me hello.”

 

 Susie’s eyes glowed black and fierce. “Where…are…you? WHAT did you do? WHAT about the fountain?!”

 

 “I took care of it,” Tenna said, “closed it up. Everything’s fine. You kids don’t need to think about that sort of thing, anymore.”

 

 “W-what about Noelle’s mom? W…” She gawked and looked back at Kris. Her grip on them tightened. “Kris…what about the Knight? O-or Undyne down in the shelter? We…we gotta-!”

 

 Tenna buzzed again, this time with a playful lith to his voice. “OH, Officer Undyne is doin’ just dandy, Susie dear. She woke up a few hours ago. I had a chat with her, checked in, and she is feeling just fine. A bit confused, bit rattled, but well, I think that goes for everybody.”

 

 He then hummed. “And as for the Knight…well…” A chuckle prickled at Kris’ cheek. Tenna crooned deeply, “...that’s sort of a surprise. You’ll see! You will see…”

 

 “The fuck. Does that mean?” Susie drew a deep, deep breath. When she opened her mouth to let loose a fresh barrage of questions, Kris saw an embered orange glow gathering in the back of her throat.

 

 A tentative white paw went up. “Hey uhm?”

 

 Susie snapped her head to stare at Asriel. He held out his paws in a show of mock-surrender. He then glanced and gestured at the table. “...might be nice to get some food in ya. Did you run all the way over here, Susie?”

 

 She looked at them before slowly setting Kris down. “Uh…yeah?” She said, her voice crackling slightly. “Uhm…is…do you guys…?”

 

 “Susie,” Tenna’s voice fretted, “oh, honey…get some water, yeah? Oh, you ran so fast…”

 

 “Where-?”

 

 Kris handed her a cup of water. They picked up a tall glass of chocolate milk that was next to their plate (when did that get there?) and took a sip.

 

 “H…how…?” Susie looked at her glass with wide, wide eyes. Kris squeezed their own between their palms. It was warmed to perfection. It tasted like a cozy movie night with everyone they loved. “...Kris…dude…how are you NOT freaking out right now?”

 

 I am.

 

 I am freaking out.

 

 I have no idea what’s going on.

 

 I have no idea how this happened.

 

 I have no idea what he’s doing or what he did or how we all got here.

 

 I have no idea what happened to the soul. Or the Knight. Or with Carol.

 

 I have no idea what’s going on, so I’m just as confused and lost as you. I’m glad you’re okay. I’m glad everyone is okay. I’m scared, too.

 

 Their throat tightened. They took another sip of chocolatey, heavenly sweetness. They shrugged, and felt their chest twitch when Susie huffed, and plopped into the chair next to them. They sat back down. Ralsei passed Susie a piece of toast that she snatched and stuffed into her toothy maw.

 

 The bathroom door opened after a few minutes. Toriel and Asriel shared a quick nod, before Toriel went upstairs to, “change into something more suitable for school.”

 

 “We’re going to school?”

 

 Toriel stood at the foot of the stairs with his hand tight on the railing. “Susie…I…I have much that I would like to say to you. Now may not be the best time, but later, after today’s classes, Ralsei and myself had plans to go into town to do some shopping. Would you…care to accompany us?”

 

 “I…”

 

 Susie glanced upwards.

 

 “...sure,” she said quietly. A thin smile stretched on her snout. Toriel nodded and proceeded up the stairs. When Susie turned back to her plate, she jabbed a piece of bacon on her fork, and snapped it up with her teeth.

 

 They would eat breakfast. They would go to school. They would all go along and act like everything was normal. It was a normal, average school day. Then they’d do some shopping around town and come home, and then it would be time for dinner.

 

 The soul was gone. Everything was fine now, right?

 

 This is what they wanted, right…?

 

 Toriel came to join them at the table. He was now dressed in a plain white button-up and a pair of jeans with a simple black belt. He muttered something about misplacing a cardigan, but shook his head, sat down, and joined them in finishing up breakfast.

 

 The dishes were left in the sink to be dealt with later. Toriel had Asriel go out to check on the car. Kris could hear the static hum-buzz of Tenna’s voice through the walls once their brother was outside, but they couldn’t make out the words. They did hear Asriel shoo him off followed by a soft apology, though. They kind of had to giggle a bit…

 

 Then, they had an idea.

 

 They followed Toriel outside along with Ralsei and Susie. Once they were through the door, they hung back. Susie and Ralsei looked at them, confused, while their father went over to the car with the keys ready.

 

 “Tenna,” they said aloud, “can you come here?”

 

 His voice popped next to their ear, “Kris! What’s up? Do you need anything?”

 

 “I need to be able to see you,” they said slowly.

 

 Susie’s brow arched. Ralsei looked down. Asriel and Toriel both froze and looked over at Kris with matching expressions of bewildered confusion. Kris held a hand up to them all, and dropped it away when Tenna’s voice suddenly shifted direction. They heard him mumble as they looked over to where the side of the house turned at the corner, just in time to see the man himself walk out from around who fucking knows where.

 

 Tenna looked like…himself.

 

 His suit jacket was gone. He had on the white dress shirt with the red collar and his glossy black pants, along with the yellow tie that he tugged at as he hurried over towards them. He stood at about the same size as Asgore, though walked with his head ducked low as he leaned forward and smiled at Kris so, SO happily.

 

 Just a few moments ago, he’d been a thing of many arms and teeth and horns. Now, he was just…Tenna…and somehow, that made it worse. But Kris kept a blank stare and looked at the cathode calmly.

 

 “Okay okay so that works,” Tenna said, still mumbling and clutching the side of his screen. “Wonderful! Kris,” he clapped his hands together and beamed. A static pop rang when his palms came together. “Darling. What’s up? What can I do ya for, starshine?”

 

 “Can you walk to school with me?”

 

 They didn’t need to turn around to imagine what their brother and father’s faces looked like. The yelp of “WHAT” from Asriel, followed by Toriel’s hurried footsteps was enough.

 

 “Oh,” said Tenna, “I…well…”

 

 “Kris,” Toriel was next to them. They didn’t turn around when a paw came and squeezed their shoulder. “My child? I was…under the impression we’d all drive together. If you would rather walk, that is fine, but…”

 

 I can talk to him, they wanted to say. So, so badly. But they had to be smart. I’ll talk to him. I’ll ask what happened. I’ll ask what he did.

 

 Because even near the end, he was still Tenna. And he would talk to them. This much, they knew. They looked up at their father with eyes that begged for him to understand this.

 

 In their mind’s eye, a red spotlight throbbed. Something white and many-winged split in half to reveal meaty innards that did not belong to either world, Dark or Light.

 

 Toriel’s glasses threatened to fall off his curled, worried snout. He nudged them back into place while his chest swelled and his brow furrowed. Tenna stood silently with his hands behind his back. Toriel looked at his mouthless screen, and then at Kris.

 

 “Do you have your phone on you, Kris?” They nodded and pulled it out. Toriel took his out while nodding slowly. “Alright…and…Mister Tenna,” his voice hitched, “do you have any means of contacting me? Do you have a phone number, or…?”

 

 Tenna’s mouth blinked into view. He smiled and pointed at his antennas. “Ah-hah, no need! Just give me a ring and I’ll get in touch with ya just fine. I’m already in your contacts.”

 

 “You went through m-” Toriel’s eyes squeezed shut. Tenna’s mouth became a tense, anxious line as he flinched and began to mutter out a quick apology. Toriel held up a hand, and his mouth vanished again. “It is fine. We are running behind as it is. Simply call me when you are near the school, and I will come out to get Kris to their class. And Kris? You will call if you need anything, yes?”

 

 “Mhm!”

 

 “Very well…”

 

 Susie already had heaps of questions that she heaved on Toriel on the way to the car. She and Ralsei followed the Boss Monster, while Asriel took his place in the passenger’s seat. Kris waved at their brother. He waved back. His frown only deepened when Tenna raised a gloved hand to wave them all off as they pulled out the drive, and rolled onto the road.

 

 Wind rustled through the leaves. A bright autumn sky hung overhead. The trees were amber and orange and red-gold all around. A bird sang somewhere, then fluttered off.

 

 It was another beautiful day in Home Town. Kris tugged at their hoodie’s drawstrings while Tenna drummed his fingers together and watched the car turn out of view.

 

 “...I’m glad I fixed it up alright,” he said quietly.

 

 They hummed and tilted their head.

 

 Tenna’s screen gained a rosy blush. “Heh! I’m no mechanic, but I think I did pretty good! With the car. With…well…” He looked around at the leaves and grass and sunshine. The blush faded, but his smile remained as he angled his screen to gaze off into that vast, bright blue yonder. “...it’s a nice day. Nice day for a walk to school! Good idea, hon.”

 

 His antennas twitched suddenly.

 

 “Oh! I nearly forgot. I have something for you.”

 

 Kris wanted to think that by having Tenna focus on them, they gave everyone else some time to talk without him being…around. They couldn’t be sure. Their thoughts looped back to the snow, to the red spotlight, to the garbled static when he spoke to Ser, and the heavy crunch when the blade came down on Tenna’s arm when the soul made them use that ring. Did Tenna…not want to talk about that stuff? What about Carol? What about the plan and deal with the Knight…?

 

 Roulxs was there, too…and the Mikes…are they okay…?

 

 They dropped it all when Tenna reached into his pocket and produced something that ripped the air out of their throat. Was that…? It couldn’t be.

 

 “Ta-daaa! Look at what I found.”

 

 He slid it onto their head. It fit just like it did the last time that they wore it. It always fit them perfectly. They could wear it all day and hardly even notice it was there. That’s how they didn’t realize it was gone until they were home and watching the television. They ran the whole way back through the streets and trees and crawled inside through their bedroom window, and they didn’t even realize that it was gone (lost-) until they were on the floor in front of the TV and went to feel for it on their head.

 

 They now felt at the tiny, stubby horns with their fingertips. Their fingers trembled while the air caught in their lungs.

 

 Tenna gently cupped their face between his hands. He kneeled down and smiled, smiled, smiled. He smiled like it was all fine. Like this was something beautiful and wonderful. Like he’d finally gotten everything he’d ever wanted, and he was basking in the glow of something sweet, sacred, and tender.

 

 “There you are…there’s my little Kris…how are you feeling, starshine?”

 

 They should’ve been scared. And they were.

 

 But for the moment…just for this moment…they smiled. Tenna’s screen glowed gold-pink.

 

 He stood up and ruffled their hair fondly. “Ohhh, Kris. I’m just THRILLED that I’m here! You’re here. We’re all here, a-a-and it’s just…ohh…it’s just wonderful! It’s such a lovely, wonderful day.” He put a hand to his ‘cheek’ as he fawned, lost in the moment.

 

 Kris really couldn’t help but smile. The twitch of his nose followed by a pop when a blow bloomed from it didn’t help. They rubbed at their arm while Tenna gently brushed at their hair, which was left frizzy from the touch.

 

 They had questions. They were freaking the fuck out…but also…they were going to enjoy a nice day and walk to school…with their weird TV uncle.

 

 And they’d talk to him.

 

 And they would talk.

 

 

—

 

 On the other side of Home Town, a young bluebird walked alongside a yellow lizard. Alphys rustled around in her purse and muttered to herself, while Berdly gripped the straps of his backpack and kept his eyes on the sidewalk ahead.

 

 They had both awoken in a calm, warmly lit apartment. Berdly had woken up in his own bedroom. He sat up and saw Loyal curled at the foot of his bed. It had reverted to its original, petite form, somehow, and popped up the second he was awake to bounce and nuzzle into his chest. He had held the plushie Darkner under his arm as he stepped out into the hall, confused by the shift in wallpaper, only to lock eyes with his teacher when she emerged from her own bedroom directly across from his.

 

 Then, while they both stared at each other in mutual confusion, there was a staticky buzz, followed by a familiar voice that addressed them both brightly.

 

 “Good morning! Tenna speaking. Berdly, hon? Did you sleep alright? And Ms. Alphys, was it? Lovely to meet you!”

 

 He told them that everything was alright. He specifically assured Berdly that Kris and everybody else was safe and sound, and to relax, and then he suggested that they have breakfast. It was a school day. So, they both nodded along, and had some toaster-baked waffles and eggs. They then got dressed for the day.

 

 Neither of them said much. Alphys gently showed him around her apartment. Where the bathroom was, the trashcans, and so on. Berdly couldn’t ignore the inherent awkwardness that came with having his entire bedroom, clutter and all, transported and affixed to his teacher’s abode…it seemed that Alphys was in a similar boat in this regard.

 

 “I-I wasn’t, uhm, expecting…company…sorry about the mess.”

 

 “It is quite alright! I-I would love to uhm, help…? Should you require assistance in uhm…tidying anything?”

 

 She laughed nervously. “Oh! Later. We uh…gotta get going!”

 

 It was a beautiful day in Home Town. The sky was bright, the air was crisp. Berdly padded alongside Alphys, with Loyal in tow. The small creature stuck close to his legs while it glanced around with wide, shiny eyes. Berdly had to ponder how confusing this must be for them. A creature born of darkness was a stranger in the world of light.

 

 Loyal was not alone, so it seemed.

 

 On the walk to school, Berdly spotted several familiar faces around town. Faces that he’d seen in the gloomlight of the Dark World’s shadows now squinted into the early morning light. He saw Sweet Cap’n Cakes, the musical trio they’d duetted during their rock concert at Tenna’s studio, a cluster of Rudinns, the three-headed Clover, a group of Shadowguys, alongside a myriad of other Castle Town denizens.

 

 New houses had appeared to accommodate these new residents. All across Home Town, bits and snips of Castle Town had been slotted in between the sleepy suburban homes and quiet corner stores.
They passed the convenience store. Sweet Cap’n Cakes’ music shop had been seamlessly integrated beside it. Even at this early hour, all manner of all kinds of all sorts of music blared through its windows.

 

 “Uh…do you…know…these uhm…people?” Alphys noticed Berdly staring.

 

 Berdly creaked in reply, “ahhhhh, erm. I am! Familiar. With a few of these individuals…in a sense…” He was unsure if there was a sense of secrecy around the Dark World at this point. Susie had mentioned that it was agreed they’d keep it among themselves during their quest through the Blooming Wastes…did such a rule apply anymore?

 

 He watched as a pair of Werewire’s clamored up a streetlamp, and shrugged meekly.

 

 “Oh,” said Alphys, “okay…that’s…that’s fine…!” The bullets of sweat that petered down her scaly brow said otherwise, but yes. It was fine.

 

 They were about halfway to school when a car horn rang out sharply.

 

 They both paused, looked out into the road, and saw a long black limousine as it rolled up beside them and slid to a halt. Berdly’s crest flared with recognition. He pushed his glasses back up his beak as the driver’s window rolled down.

 

 “Oh Yeah It Is Him. Berdly Buddy Hey,” Queen was in the front passenger seat. She sat up and leaned to greet him, while Swatch sat with both hands firmly on the wheel. “And Oh Hey Alphys. I Know You.”

 

 The yellow lizard glanced to the side. “Uhm…! You…do…?”

 

 “You Know Me As Serial Number Q5U4EX7YY2E9N,” Queen said. She leaned further so she could reach her hand out through the window. Alphys eyed her gloved claw nervously, before she slowly reached out and tentatively accepted the laptop’s handshake.

 

 “N-nice to meet you?”

 

 “Charmed Yes. You May Call Me ‘Queen’ For Short.”

 

 “Oh…okay?”

 

 “Anyway Berdly Hey,” Queen’s visor whipped to face him, “Are You: Okay?”

 

 He nodded, “yes, I am quite alright. I am…rather confused by all of this.” He nodded again and gestured to the surrounding homes and shops and streetlamps, which had been replaced by Castle Town’s lampposts. “But I am unharmed! Are you and Noelle doing quite alright? Have you any word from our fellow adventurers?"

 

 “Me LOL Yeah I Am Fine? Noelle Is Chill She Is Here In The Backseat. Lancer Is Here, Too.”

 

 The little window between the driver and passenger seats slid open. A pointy head poked through. “Oh-ho! Jester Dad keeps prattling on about getting me a backpack. Doesn’t he know bad guys don’t do school?”

 

 Through the open slit came a hush, raspy voice. It was too quiet to make out the words. Berdly heard Noelle’s voice clearly, though. “...and then I swore at Mom…I swore at her a lot, honestly…hey, stop laughing!”

 

 Lancer vanished back through the window. Hoarse, thick laughter was quickly muffled when the window slid shut.

 

 “Kingy Is Back At The Mansion He Is Grumpy And Did Not Wanna Come (Buzzkill Lol)(But Also I ‘Get’ It).” Queen said dryly.

 

 Berdly squinted to peer in through the backseat’s darkly tinted window. He saw the outline of Noelle’s head and her clover-esque antlers. She was sitting with a hunch to her shoulders next to another, taller figure that stood upright. She was leaning against them while they had an arm around her shoulders. He saw the outline of a snout…and a pair of antlers that twisted into crooked curls, much unlike Noelle’s clover-esque stubs.

 

 Then, as he stared, a pair of eyes stared back out at him. Sharp, dark eyes. Like shards of midnight crystal. He blinked, and turned his gaze back onto Queen.

 

 “We All Woke Up At Noelle’s House,” Queen explained, “And It Is Like?? Cool?? Like All My Cyber Stuff Is Kind Of There And Well That Is: Neato. But Also Tenna Uhm…”

 

 Her smile twitched. For just a moment, Berdly felt a hint of static wash over him.

 

 “Yeah,” she said slowly, “So Anyway. Do You Two Want A Ride To School?”

 

 “O-oh! Are you, uhm, sure…?”

 

 Queen tilted his visor towards Alphys, “Yeah Girl We Got Room LMAO.”

 

 Alphys looked to Berdly. He shrugged, and stepped towards the limo’s side door. She shuffled to follow after him, clearly resigned to follow the child, who somehow knew more about all of this nonsense than she could ever possibly hope to understand.

 

 As they climbed inside, he heard Queen mutter to Swatch. “...And Then I Can Like Talk To Him Actually Like Really-”

 

 “I merely suggested that it may be unwise to confront the Lord directly, M’Lady.”

 

 “Okay Well What Else Can I Do? Just Go Along With…This??”

 

 “I defer to and respect your judgement, madam. You asked for my thoughts, and I provided my opinions on the matter. I am…sorry…that something like this is beyond my means of assistance…”

 

 She shook her head. “No No It Is Fine. Let Us Just…Go. I Will Think And: Figure Something Out.”

 

 This made Berdly’s chest loosen slightly. The limo was warm and dark. The autumnal chill of the bright street was replaced by something familiar. Something safe.

 

 It was a rather quiet ride to school.

 

—

 

 “Tenna?”

 

 “Yes, Kris?”

 

 They were a mere few steps into the walk to school when Kris went ahead and decided to ask the big question on their mind. They had a bunch of other smaller questions in mind, but this was the big one that all those smaller questions sort of orbited around. 

 

 “What did you do to the town?”

 

 Tenna laughed brightly as he walked along beside them. “Hehe! Well, I’ll spare you the boring details, but I…fixed stuff! Fixed stuff up a little bit. Nothing too crazy. I just sort of did what I did with Toriel’s car to…well…”

 

 He held out his hands and nodded at the surrounding trees.

 

 “...everything! And not too shabbily, if I do say so myself.” He leaned with a hand near his mouth as he muttered in Kris’ ear. A laugh track accompanied his playful chuckle, but quickly faded out when he straightened and clasped his hands near his chest.

 

 “Is that how you’re able to be here? In the Light World?”

 

 Tenna preened at the question.

 

 “More or less,” he explained to them, “it’s kind of more like…I just tweaked some stuff so there really isn’t too much of a difference between a ‘Light’ and ‘Dark’ world anymore. It’s all just: the world! Your world, starshine.”

 

 Kris watched his smile widen, and felt their stomach drop. Their fingers curled where their hands were shoved in their hoodie’s front pocket.

 

 “An’ is everybody from Castle Town or wherever…doing alright?” They glanced across the street to squint when they saw a couple Jigsawries waddle into the diner.

 

 “Oh yes! Yes, Kris, everyone is just fine. I did a few things here or there, and now everyone has a place. Now it’s a hometown for everybody, haha!”

 

 Kris cleared their throat. It was really, really hard to get the words out, but they had to while they had the chance. That last tape did something to Tenna that was clearly a lot MORE than what the first two did. Sure, he looked like himself and was certainly acting a lot more like his usual self now…but Kris kept thinking back to the tattered mass that had battled Ser, and to the glare of a crimson spotlight as it bore down on that poor, poor dog…

 

 …not to mention the…well…the deer in the room…

 

 …or rather the deer that was most notably seemingly not in any room.

 

 “Is my uhm,” do I call him Daddy and Toriel Papa now, or-? “Is Asgore doin’ alright? And Uncle Rudy? Is he okay?”

 

 A hand came down on their shoulder. Kris twitched when Tenna’s touch felt…different. That staticky fuzziness that usually seeped through their clothes was absent. There was still weight and warmth, but the lack of static had them uneasy.

 

 Tenna gave their shoulder a light squeeze as he told them reassuringly, “they’re both doin’ just fine, Kris. Your dad is at his shop, and Rudy woke up just a while ago back at Noelle’s place. I checked in on them both while y’all were having breakfast!”

 

 His antennas curled into a vague heart-shape as he added softly, “I actually set your old man up with a few things. Got Rudy situated with a wheelchair, too! Nothing fancy, but if he wants to try something else, I’ll work something out! Your dad has a bedframe, now!”

 

 Well goddamn. That’s crazy. Good for him.

 

 They laughed. They kind of had to. It was all just so ridiculous and dumb. They just had to laugh.

 

 Tenna’s screen brightened. Kris saw the rosy pink tinge his face and felt the icy dread in their stomach and chest retreat for a moment. Tenna then hummed, and tapped lightly at his screen. “Mmm how do I…? If it helps, Kris…think of it like a TV show! Just, ya know, one that’s not really being broadcast anywhere. A private showing for you, your family, and everybody else here in Home Town, with YOU as the star!”

 

 The word ‘STAR’ was joined by several flashy, marquee arrows. Arrows, bright and golden, zig-zagged and curly, that all pointed down directly towards them.

 

 Kris’ cheeks prickled uncomfortably. They shrunk into their hoodie. Tenna noticed and swiftly backtracked. He swatted a hand, and the word was scattered to the leaves.

 

 “I-I MEAN IN A SENSE not really you’re not the- you don’t have to be- no one is- ohhh, Kris…”

 

 Tenna made a pitiful whimpery sound.

 

 Just an hour or so ago, he was firing off a gun and facing off against their father. The spotlights. The red, crimson glow. The clawed hand, reaching out from the dark.

 

 They just couldn’t connect it to the Tenna that stood in front of them. This Tenna (my Tenna, my TV) wasn’t a hulking beast of many arms, horns, and harsh spitting mandibles. He was…small. Small enough that you’d mistake him for a mechanical monster, maybe, if you didn’t know about the Dark World, or if you ignored the way the wind went dead-still around him.

 

 Are you okay? Are you still…you…? 

 

 He sure acted like the Tenna they knew. His antennas wilted and drooped off the sides of his head. He squeezed his hands together, frowned, and spoke in a soft, gentle tone to reassure them that it was fine. “You don’t gotta be on TV or anything, Krissy. No cameras. No audience. No paparazzi. Nothing like that, okay?”

 

 Tenna ducked his head again to whisper in their ear. He had his volume down to a one, and cupped a hand near his mouth as he told them hushedly, “it’s gone. That thing is gone for good. I made sure of it.”

 

 A breeze washed through the stirred the fallen leaves that littered the road. The golden-yellow flecks swirled and danced as they were tossed too and fro. Kris glanced down and saw where one such leaf was sitting on the sidewalk up ahead.

 

 The soul was gone. They were free.

 

 They were…happy? They were…excited, sure? They were free! They sped up a bit to pinch the leaf off the ground, and tossed it into the wind to watch it sail on the breeze and join the others in dancing through the crisp autumn air.

 

 Tenna hummed behind them warmly.

 

 “Are the Mikes okay?” They asked suddenly.

 

 He cocked his head. His mouth blinked out of view. “Hm pardon?”

 

 “The Mikes. And Roulxs? You…had him in your pocket…” They watched his screen fizz to static for a few moments. They were going to be late for school at this point, but who cared? Tenna knew about the whole thing with there being multiple Mikes, apparently. They remembered that much from the chaos and the gunshots and the yelling and the static and the…the everything.

 

 “Oh! Yes, they’re fine. They’re over at my studio,” Tenna hitched a thumb in the rough direction of the police station. “It’s somewhere thatta-way. I can check on ‘em, if you’d like.”

 

 Kris nodded. They took a chance to just…breathe. Each word creaked and scratched the inside of their throat. They had to ask about it. About her. They had to, they had to, they HAD to.

 

 Tenna’s screen hummed with white noise for a few seconds. His antennas twitched from side to side, until his face popped back, and he beamed as he told them brightly, “that Roulxs Kaard fella is hangin’ out in the Green Room! Pluey is with him on one of the couches. Jer, well, he’s asleep on the other one. Plu’s tryna set up the racing game while Battat, heh, he’s got his little board out. Jongler is helping him set it up…they’re all doin’ just fine, Kris.”

 

 They had to ask.

 

 “And what about Aunt Carol?”

 

 They stopped where they were when Tenna’s screen turned black. 

 

 They slid their hands out from their pocket to let them dangle at their sides. 

 

 Tenna shuttered slightly. When he spoke, Kris felt the static prickle at the nape of their neck. His voice came from behind them. Tenna stood a few steps in front of them, but his words, laced in a dark, staticky buzz, came from behind.

 

 Eyes on the screen.

 

 “She’s fine. You shouldn’t worry about her, Kris.”

 

 Kris took a breath, and stepped towards him.

 

 “Where is she?” They asked.

 

 “She’s in time-out,” Tenna answered, “she’s fine. She and I are just gonna…talk…for a while. You really shouldn’t worry about it, hon. You’ve done enough of that. This is the sort of thing a kid like you doesn’t need to think about. She’s a grown-up. Let us grown-ups work this out, okay?”

 

 They stepped closer. Tenna bowed his head and held his hands behind his back. They walked until they were right in front of him and stared up into the black mirror of his unlit screen.

 

 “Tenna,” they said firmly, “I don’t…want you…to hurt her…”

 

 “I won’t. I’m not.”

 

 “Y-you can’t…” Their voice cracked. They pressed their fingers at their throat and frowned. They tried again, but all they could manage with a thin, airy whistle.

 

 Noticing this, Tenna’s voice softened further. “You don’t gotta force yourself, hon. It’s okay. I’m not gonna hurt her. I’m just…talking with her for a while. You really shouldn’t force yourself, Kris. It’s okay. I understand.”

 

 His face was back. His mouth moved, but it didn’t match the words he was saying. It was like a badly dubbed movie…everything was delayed. He talked, but his mouth was a few beats behind each word.

 

 “Change isn’t easy,” he said, “it never is. Everyone is gonna need some time to settle and adjust. Take it at your own pace, Kris. I will be here with you every step of the way. I’m here to help.”

 

 Kris sighed a shaky, harsh sigh. Frustrated, they turned, and stormed on ahead. Oh, he UNDERSTOOD, alright! GREAT! Today was just SWELL! Just HUNKY-DOODY and all that jazz.

 

 They scratched at the back of their neck as they soldered on. Their heart hammered against their ribs. Hot, hard, steady. With each step forward, they swore, it was like the concrete of the sidewalk rose and fell in tandem to the rhythm that throbbed inside of their chest.

 

 Tenna followed not too far behind. 

 

 It was a beautiful day in Home Town.

 

 It was a rather quiet walk to school.

 

—

 

 “And you really think that we can trust the guy who, what…rewrote reality or some shit?”

 

 “Language, Asriel. And…I said that I believe Tenna means well…that is what I said.”

 

 Eyes on the road. Eyes on the road.

 

 From the backseat came Susie with another question. She had lots of them. In this, she and Toriel were in the same boat. “L-like he cut that angel in half. A-and then he…? Cut off his freakin’ arm, like-? What?!”

 

 “I believe it when he says that he wants to help Kris,” Toriel said for oh who is keeping track at this point? “I think that Tenna is…well-meaning.”

 

 “I mean…I do, too,” Asriel admitted with a shrug. He sat slumped in the passenger’s seat with his arms crossed. “But! He’s…yeah.”

 

 Susie nodded, “he’s being a JERK, Toriel. H-he was kind of like this when we…okay…uhm…Toriel? We kind of maybe uhm-”

 

 “I know about the Dark World, Susie.”

 

 Secrets did no good for anyone at this point. It was about time that they all ripped off that bandaid and got to talking. They all needed to talk. Tenna’s words echoed in his mind…the words spoken when he came to him…about something happening…to Kris, specifically…

 

 There was clearly MUCH that they needed to talk about. The fact of the Dark World and its wonders and horrors was among the first of many.

 

 He watched the girl’s face cycle through several shades of shock in the rearview mirror. “...oh…”

 

 Next to her, Ralsei sat with her paws in her lap, and gazed out the window. “...everyone from Castle Town is here…in the Light World.”

 

 “How did he do that? How did he do all of…this?”

 

 Toriel sighed heavily. “Asriel. My dear boy. If I knew, believe me, I would tell you. I think that for the time being, it is best that we all go along through the schoolday, until myself and some other adults in town can have a moment alone with Mister Tenna to speak with him on the matter.”

 

 “Is that…safe, though?”

 

 He twitched at the sight of his eldest’s worried, fearful stare. Toriel’s leg tightened around a tender spot that ebbed on his thigh. It was rather funny how that worked. All those years of wondering with the shame and the fear and the yearning, all coming together in the form of a little prick from a needle. He expected that he’d feel differently, yet here he was, in the car, the same car, driving down the same street as he always did on his way to school.

 

 It was another beautiful day in Home Town, after all…

 

 The plan was that after school, he would take the children into town to do some shopping. He would use this as a chance to touch bases with their neighbors. Check in. Make sure everyone was well. He would ask for help in confronting Tenna, and together, they could all sit the TV man down for a conversation regarding the state of their town.

 

 That was the plan, at least.

 

 After how things had gone back at Carol’s house, Toriel had to admit there was some doubt in the back of his mind that such an endeavor would go smoothly. But…he was the adult, here. He had to try. He had to do SOMETHING, didn’t he? 

 

 The ebb in his thigh thrummed softly.

 

 These things took time, didn’t they?

 

 If Tenna was to be believed, they had plenty of that.

 

 Asriel laughed as he watched a watery spirit drift down the sidewalk. A troop of tiny red cups with large, googly eyes hurried after her. “...my baby sibling’s imaginary friend has become the local mercurial TV god…”

 

 “Indeed he has,” Toriel mused.

 

 Susie grumbled. “He was gettin’ better with this kind of thing…what happened?”

 

 “I do not know,” Toriel said with a sigh, “but I have hope that we can sort this all out. It may just take a bit of time.”

 

 “He isn’t…dangerous,” Ralsei said, mostly to herself, “he seemed…scared…back at the fountain. A-and he didn’t…well…he didn’t want to FIGHT…”

 

 “This is true,” Toriel nodded.

 

 “What was that heart he had?”

 

 All eyes went to Asriel. He was slumped with his shoulder pressed against the window. He cupped a paw against his cheek and waved his other hand about aimlessly. “Like…that red heart that he had in one of those bubbles he kept stickin’ us in…what was up with that?”

 

 Toriel saw Ralsei’s face twitch. Through all the chaos and the snow, he’d written that particular detail off. His focus was wholly on Kris. What was that heart? A soul…? Or…

 

 It was all just…so much. His mind went to that video tape. To Carol, especially…where was she?

 

 It’s happening again.

 

 His brow furrowed. The radio crackled out a warm, comfortable tune. It made Toriel think of something you’d hear in a waiting room.

 

 Eyes on the road, eyes on the road.

Notes:

Once again, artwork credit foes to @waddei: https://www.tumblr.com/sunlitmcgee/802658076774809600?source=share

Chapter 2

Notes:

due to our goal of getting the final part(s) of this story done by Christmas day, you all get a double upload :)

 And where were you?

 Down the street. A pale yellow sky, dull orange near the horizon. Heavy clouds, gray and dull. You saw your breath as you neared the gas station on the corner. The bell jingled. The person at the counter nodded your way as you brushed past, and ducked into the nearest aisle.

 You didn’t know what you needed.

 To get some air. To get away.

 A war drum banged inside your skull. Dizzy and trembling, you stood at the glass door and felt the fluorescents overhead drill into the corners of your wide, reddish eyes. Water, right? Or some soda? Something to make the jitter settle so your hands would quit twitching and you could calm down.

 You needed to calm down.

 You were going to make a scene.

 You didn’t want to make a scene. You wanted to go home. This was a bad idea.

 “Do you need help with anything?”

 The person at the counter looked up from whatever they were doing. You shook your head. Did you shake it too much? Is that why they were looking at you like that?

 “No,” you said. You said it weirdly, and that’s why they were looking at you like that. “No, thank you. I’m fine.” 

 You were making a scene.

 You needed to go home.

 “Are you sure? You’re shaking really bad. Do you need to sit down for a sec?”

 Oh god oh god, I’m in trouble. I’m sorry.

 “I’m sorry,” you blurted. You opened the fridge and pulled out a bottle of overpriced water. You hurried and picked some sodas, and then rushed for the counter. You were a frantic, trembling mess. You looked weird. “I’m fine.”

 “It’s okay,” they said. They smiled. Friendly, kind. What did they want to do to you? “You ain’t in trouble. Have you been a bit stressed out lately? Had any issues sleeping?”

 You had fallen asleep the other night, with the game still on. The synth-bells followed you into your dreams. You dreamed of a long, lightless hallway filled with windows. Or were they mirrors? Tall, twisted sheets of glass flanked you on either side. In each of them you saw shapes of shadows and shadows in the dark that followed, stared, smiled, and whispered.

 Then you reached the end, and there was an old TV on the floor. You heard it hiss when you got close. Scared. Angry. Hurt. You kneeled down and opened the back panel. Inside it was reds on blacks on wets on flesh on static blood and intestines all lined with sharp, scuttling legs. You reached in, and it glombed on you. It grabbed and wormed up to your elbow.

 Then, you pulled out a screaming mass of horror. And then everything melted. And you heard your mother’s voice as she scolded you, and then you woke up crying out for your grandma.

 “Uhm…yeah,” you said. Dry, creaky. Your voice was off-beat, even though your heart was beginning to settle. “Been up a lot. Got into a game. Haven’t slept a whole lot ‘cause it’s really good.”

 “Oh? What game is it?”

 You told them.

 “Hey, I love that one! Who’s your favorite character?”

 You told them.

 “Awe, yeah, he’s funny. Sweet silly TV man…do you want your change?”

 You put it all in the little donation tin. They were still smiling as you fumbled shoving the bills into the slot. “I’m off in a few minutes…would you uhm…like to go on a little stroll, and talk about it some more? The game, I mean?”

 They let you wait inside. The soda was sticky. It tasted like an orange popsicle you shared with a friend on the playground in 2nd grade. You couldn’t remember that friend’s name or face, but you remembered how you used to make up stories together. You suddenly really wanted to be able to call them so maybe you could ask how that last story would’ve ended, if you hadn’t moved away.

 You both went back out into the chill.

 It wasn’t as cold as it was on the way here.

 They walked alongside you and listened as you talked. You talked too much. But they were kind, and they smiled, and they nodded, and they listened.

 “Is it a mod?”

 “No. Just the game.”

 “Hm…and you found it by following them? But they wake up on the chair after that chapter, or something…I wonder if your version of the game is different from everyone else's?"

 “You think I’m makin’ it up.”

 “No,” they said firmly, “I don’t. I believe you.”

 “You do?”

 “Why wouldn’t I? It’d be a strange thing to lie about.”

 Because no one ever believes these sorts of things.

 You were so scared. It was just so scary. It was a game, but you were scared of it. What if you turned it off and it all went away? What if you were imagining it? Was it real? Were you making it up? Were you lying again?

 You didn’t want to be a liar. But what if your mind was the liar, and here you were: passing along a tall tale to a complete, utter stranger?

 “Do you really believe me?”

 “I do. It sounds like it’s got you really freaked out, though.”

 “I think I wasn’t supposed to find it,” you said, “I think it’s something bad. Not bad like the…you know.”

 “Yeah, it’s not, like. Intended.”

 “But I found it, and now I gotta complete it. Because if I don’t, I might never ever be able to find it again. And…and I wanna see how it ends. I wanna let them all be happy.”

 Their face softened suddenly. “You’re a very sweet person,” they told you.

 “How do you mean?”

 “You just seem like a really kind soul, hon. I’m sorry. That sounds kinda of creepy when I say it out loud.”

 “I’m kinda creepy,” you said flatly.

 “Nah,” they shook their head, “not at all, hon.”

 Somehow, you ended up back at your house. You had just been walking, but you guessed you were actually walking them to your house. You looked at the door and then at them.

 “Is this your place?”

 “Uhm…yeah…”

 “Oh! Cute.”

 “I’m gonna go inside and play some more. It was nice to meet you. Thank you for listening to me.”

 “Yeah, of course!” They then reached into their pocket, and pulled out a piece of paper. You watched them write on it. They offered it out to you. “Here’s my number! How about after you’re done playing tonight, you give me a call? I’d love to hear about how it’s going. A-and well…I’d love to hang out and chat some more, maybe?”

 Their smile was so kind. The sunset lit up their hair. They had freckles on their nose and cheeks…you thought about the constellations in the sky, and how it was all so big, so vast. So wonderful.

 “Oh,” you said softly, “okay! Yeah. Okay…”

 Then they started to walk away. But you looked up from the paper to stop them. 

 “Wait!”

 They stopped!

 They looked at you. Worried? Were they worried about you?

 “Who, uh…who is your favorite character?”

 They looked up, and hummed for a bit.

 “Uhmm…hm! I like Queen! And Susie! Susie’s pretty cool.” They smiled again, and you smiled, too.

 “Yeah,” you said, “she’s really cool. Okay. Bye-bye. Thank you for being my friend today.”

 “How about I be your friend for a lot of days?”

 It started to snow. How could snow look so warm?

 “Okay. Yeah. I would like that. Thank you.”

 “Be safe. Have fun. Call me!”

 “Okay. Bye-bye.”

 You went back inside. You added their number to your phone, and you tucked the paper with it next to your bed. Then, you sat back down, and jiggled the mouse to wake up the computer. The game was still there…

 You read each chapter’s title aloud.

 “Chapter 1: The Beginning.”

 “Chapter 2: A Cyber’s World.”

 “Chapter 3: Late Night.” 

 The smile, upon completion, had become a slitted visor.

 “Chapter 4: Prophecy.”

 “Chapter 5: Festival.”

 A flower.

 “Chapter 6: Citadel.”

 A snowflake.

 And at last…at last…

 “...Chapter 7: Tragedy…”

 The icon almost tickled you: a heart. Just a plain heart. A heart to mark a chapter named ‘Tragedy’ felt downright…well…tragic…

 …

 …

 …it was waiting for you.

Notes:

This is the only time this story will stray entirely beyond the bounds of the game and the room wherein it is being played.

Is it necessary? Does it ruin any illusions? Does it break immersion?

When both layers are are on the same level of fiction from the perspective of the one reading this story, is it even a matter of immersion after a point? When a character in a film addresses the audience, you still on some level tend to see them as a Person, even with the awareness that they're a Character. During the curtain call sequence of the Starkid production "The Guy Who Didn't Like Musicals", when Emma Perkins becomes aware of the audience and begins to beg and beseech them for help as she's dragged off-stage, you know it's not real. And yet it is also very, Very real, and the grief and fear you feel for her is a tangible, material thing.

When Noelle Holiday and Kris Dreemurr are on that couch in Chapter 4's Weird Route, you know it's not real. But it is. And that moment of horror and pain is, for the instant you, if the Player, deem it to be so, a real sincere moment of material violation against two children who are utterly helpless against your form of 'play' within their world.

There's a power in words. Stories can be spells. You can conjure up such terrible things and experience them as being as real as the sunlight on your face, or the sting of chill during a winter snowfall.

When Mr. Ant Tenna is cleaved red by blade at the end of Chapter 3, you know it's not real. But it is. And it's sad and gruesome and unfair. In order to save Mr. Ant Tenna, you, as the Player, engaging with the world of the game of Deltarune, have to make the active choice to heed Ralsei's words at the start of Chapter 1 about being kind in an attempt to change the story's outcome. You have to be kind. You have to care. You have to remember to get Tenna to take him to Castle Town. You, as the person experiencing the world in the form of a story, have to willingly surrender yourself to Caring about this world and its characters in a way that gives you no material benefit as the Player. you don't get any cool weapons, or abilities, or stat boosts. the only reward for this kindness and this vulnerability on your end is an emotional one.

We think Toby Fox's works are ones that simply request that you be Vulnerable when you experience them.

We think a lot of people are afraid of being vulnerable. Of admitting they feel when experiencing fiction. Maybe it's pride, maybe it's shame...a lot of people still insist it was Chara who made them do the genocide route...and so many people have never touched their true pacifist saves, insisting that to do so would be harming the bits of code and dialogue contained within by denying them their happy ending. For a lot of people, the idea that Deltarune may convey the idea that "you're a bad person for playing this" is something...uncomfortable. And why is that? If it's just a game, why should it be so upsetting to be challenged and confronted by it? We think a lot of people are scared of admitting how Vulnerable these games make them feel. We think it reflects a deeper uneasy in our culture of how we approach art that upsets us or challenges us in some way.

stories, for as fake and fictional as they are, can make you Feel things.

if that ain't a form of magic, what else is?

We wanted to give them a friend. Someone that they can talk to once this is over.

Think of this chapter as Jeremy Bearimy, for those who get the reference. This chapter takes place on that dot over the 'i'.

see y'all next saturday <3 let's all make it to Christmas together, okay?

Series this work belongs to:

• Part 7 of The Strange Route