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Chapter Text

A humorous cutscene played out before you.

You - controlling Kris - had found Noelle in Cyber City after a heated battle with Berdly, a sweet cutscene with Ralsei and Susie and thus promptly being abandoned to fend for yourself.

And some Poppups, which despite being one of the easiest recruits is still one of your most hated enemies (all around you much preferred the battle patterns of the enemies from the Cyber Field, except Virovirokun but you gave that one a pass because it was cute).

Needless to say, you were playing Deltarune Chapter 2. Why? You were broke and couldn't buy Chapter 3 and 4, so you had to resort to replaying the demo repeatedly like some sort of common peasant.

Jokes aside - atleast the jokes at your own expense - you watched as Queen initiated trucies with Kris, who then was forced to truce with Berdly, and then triple trucie with Noelle.

"Kris, uhm... I-If it's okay with you... Got any more room for another truce?" Noelle asked as usual, the player not really getting much of a consequential choice beyond joking about 'No Triple Trucies'.

Of course you picked that option.

"Har har, very funny! Well I'd rather take my chances with you than with her!" She spoke again.

* (Noelle joined the party!)

You had two options now: either continue on as normal... Or you go the Weird Route.

Being as you were a bit of a softie (and being unreasonably attached to these dumb fictional teens) you'd intended to go normally since, well... Spamton NEO tended to kick your ass in the Weird Route, and you didn't wanna deal with that if nothing else.

And so you held down the right joystick (yes you were using controller) and-

"Kris? Why are you in such a hurry?" Noelle spoke suddenly, totally halting your progress, "Turn around, I wanna show you something."

This gave you pause, mostly because this wasn't an event in the game as far as you knew. You did know that Mr Fox tended to have a penchant for "Fun Events" to happen, but Deltarune was pretty light on those in comparison to Undertale.

You tried pushing right again.

"C'mon, I wanna show you something!" Noelle spoke again, this time sounding more frustrated.

Okay, so this is new.

Without a choice, you caved to Noelle's pleading and went to the left, knowing that you were probably ending up on the Snowgrave path now. Of course, you didn't exactly have a massive problem with this - you weren't one of those bleeding-heart do-gooder players who looked at people who do the Weird Route funny - but it was annoying to have your plans uprooted.

But what the hell, you recruited a few of the enemies already, Castle Town won't be totally barren atleast.

On the previous screen a lone Virovirokun stood with a glowing red aura and you engaged it in battle as normal.

As Rude Buster kicked into gear for one of many times this playthrough, Noelle spoke again, "Oh, it's an enemy! Kris? Do you mind defending?"

That was once again new dialogue, though it wasn't like you hadn't been grinding TP for more Dark Dollars this run anyway; you defend, obeying her.

"Great, now use Iceshock!"

That raised an eyebrow. Noelle seemed to be speaking more to you than she was Kris, and even then how would she know about Iceshock?

You were already growing quite bored of this and chose instead to try and use any other command in her menu, however for some reason whenever entering a menu - FIGHT for example - the enemy name was greyed out and you couldn't attack.

Oh, so this was how it was going to be? Fine.

You entered the MAGIC Menu and selected Iceshock on Virovirokun.

As the enemy was frozen totally solid you sighed, regretting this already. The familiar Weird-Route confirm jingle played and Noelle turned to Kris, "What do you think? Neat, huh?" She asked. You weren't given the option to respond.

You decided to pay it no mind, trekking back to the junkyard. You made note of a sprite change not present before, Noelle no longer cowering behind Kris in traffic rather than pulling them along. Odd.

You froze the Poppup, the Virovirokun, the Werewire. The jingle played again. You brought Noelle to Spamton's barren storefront and she smiled, "That's enough for now, let's continue." She spoke as though nothing was wrong.

Somehow that was more unnerving than the fact that you were entertaining murderous impulses by committing actual murder via cryomancy.

You knew how this went.
An Ambyu-Lance, Iceshock. A Tasque, Iceshock.

* Noelle became stronger.

You noticed that her battle animations had changed, usually only doing so when gaining the Frostring, curiously.

You came to the Annoying Mouse Puzzle 1, stepping on the button as usual as the maus-hole opened up to reveal the legion of mice inside.

Noelle was panicked, but not nearly as much as usual, "A-A mouse?" She stepped out of the way of the maice as they suddenly surged towards her and bounced off of the turn block.

She huffed, "Step off the button Kris, that's not funny." She scolded you with frustration, though instead of waiting for you to finish the puzzle she walked through it herself. Less work for you, you suppose.

Two more Ambyu-Lances are put on ice before you move into the small room adjacent to the left, gaining the Pink Ribbon. Control was once again wrenched from you.

"Oh! Kris, I almost forgot," She walked up to the blue human and seemed to put something on their wrist, "There, that should help!"

* You gained the SilverWatch.

Oh... Right. You forgot the Graze Effects of the Silver Watch. How come your left wrist began to feel cold...

Before you knew it, another Virovirokun and Werewire were turned into ice sculptures. By now, all NPC's are gone besides the Addison to the right of the next screen. You know what's coming, after you first freeze an Ambyu-Lance chasing yet another Virovirokun.

"Ohhon!! Two young beings together on a school night..." The Addison began, unaware that his life was going to be cut woefully short, "Could I interest you in some brand new Dating Shoes?"

Noelle interjected, "Huh? Oh, no thanks, we're not out on a date." She stated, much firmer.

You expected to see her thoughts play out with conflicted feelings towards Kris (it was uncomfortable but hard to ignore the romantic subtext of the Weird Route, which has caused many and arguement for many reasons), though instead...

"Kris has been my neighbour forever, we've been through so much that it feels like we know eachother better than anyone, but... Yet, it's hard to say I'm interested in them exactly..." They read, the subtle yet crucial change to the dialogue bringing whole heaps of questions.

You're given the prompt to respond as usual, though just as you're about to respond, she interjects again, "We're something else."

You blink. Okay, everything was adding up now, what the hell was going on? What does that even mean here?

No good interpretation, that you're sure of.

You go to walk off and the Addison calls after you, "If you're something else, maybe a Dating Shoes isn't right...?" He began, "Maybe I could interest you in a FreezeRing?"

And here it was, the moment of no return (well, technically you could return... Though you had a feeling Noelle wouldn't let you this time).

"Huh... A ring?" Noelle chuckles, "Fah ha ha, really? Well, I don't see the harm I guess."

She didn't reject it...

"That's the spirit, angel! You can't get stronger without good equipment afterall!" The Addison spoke, blissfully unaware about what was about to happen.

"Well, how much does it cost?" Noelle questioned.

"Just a small fee of $2417!" He proudly proclaimed, the price just a single dollar above your current balance. Prick.

"Hmm... I don't think we have enough..." Noelle pondered, looking to Kris, "Kris... Do you mind getting it for me?"

You blink again, dumbfounded at what she intended you to do. You didn't have access to Iceshock, and especially not Snowgrave!

"Kris," Noelle spoke again, "Get it."

She pushed Kris forward, "Get it." She spoke again.

Slowly she backed Kris towards the Addison, who remained unresponsive to the scene playing out before him.

You felt an odd sensation bubbling within you as she advanced on you, "Get it." She repeated a third time. For a second you swore could hear those words loud and clear.

You closed your eyes for just a moment but it was enough, the sound of an X-Slash coming from your PC speaker.

What... what just happened?

* (You got the FreezeRing.)

Did you - or Kris - actually just...

No, couldn't have been, that wasn't coded into the game at all otherwise we would've known already, right?...

"Thanks Kris," Noelle smiled, speaking as though nothing was wrong. You opened the menu, seeing that she already had the FreezeRing equipped.

Oh.

You tried to exit the room, the silence of the scene deafening, when she suddenly dragged you towards the Ferris Wheel billboard that the two enemies had been running around before you...

"Gosh, it looks amazing! Makes the one at the festival look like a toy, haha!" Noelle spoke up, "I... I wonder if..." Her line cut off early, no mention of Susie at all, "Do you want to ride with me, Kris?"

Oh.

"I promise I won't scream when you inevitably shake it when we're at the top, afterall we're not kids anymore, right?" She smiles.

You're given the choice of accepting and refusing then. On impulse you pick no, having run this odd gamut for longer than you should've entertained but-

"Kris will ride with me." She interrupts, seriously.

... Huh?

"You can make up for when we were kids."

... No comment.

The lightning puzzle came into view as the party went south, you stepping in and off the button.

"When you step off of the switch, the lightning comes back..." Noelle pondered, "How about you hold it down while I go across?"

You didn't have much a choice, afterall you wouldn't be able to progress if you didn't, so you stepped onto the switch and Noelle began to walk slowly through the gap. For some reason, your thumb resting upon the joystick itched to just yank Kris right off of the switch and let Noelle get scorched, but you wouldn't do that sort of thing... Right?

As Noelle disables the puzzle you prepare to set off again, though Noelle walks over to Kris abruptly and rests a hand on their shoulder, "Don't worry Kris, it's only natural."

Did she just- She read your mind, like you did in the Weird Route normally?

What the hell...

Another Tasque appeared before you both and you, breaking from the route, attempt to spare it. Noelle doesn't let you.

"Kris, what are you doing? That's an enemy!" She reprimands you, "Use X-Slash!"

You notice X-Slash has appeared in your ACT Menu, but... You choose to pet the Tasque. Noelle freezes it solid anyway.

You sigh deeply.

On the very next screen you're graced with, after the last 10 minutes, a place to save without backtracking, along with the barren boxes that once belonged to the trio of boombox guys.

If nothing else, you took solice in being able to steal all of the CD Bagels.

Besides the enemies, the shopping district was barren. All that you encountered had begun to run away from you and Noelle, the knowledge of your shared rampage seemingly spreading quick.

You cut them all down, as Noelle instructed.

Any you left would be frozen solid, the pearlescent ice gleaming and glittery under the incessant lightshow of the myriad signs and lights.

The blue and ice combo fit, you thought, reminded you of Noelle's mother a bit...

The highways, too, were barren. You knew where to go now.

Down to the southwest of the highway was a dumpster, one that shook with unusual activity. Spamton's residence.

"LOOKING FOR [Irrestistable Deals] THAT WILL [Blow Your Mind?!]" The mailman spoke, "WELL [Shut Your Mouth] BECAUSE YOU ARE [A Weakling!] TRY A LITTLE [Friday Night Work Out]... THEN I'LL SHOW YOU MY
THEN I'LL SHOW YOU MY
5 LEFT."

You know what to do now. Another pair of Virovirokun and a Tasque along with them stand idly on the frozen highway, you - Kris - and Noelle swoop in like a hawk and leave none alive. You remember to pet the Tasque before it's frozen, like the last day of happiness before putting a pet down.

You quickly find yourself blocked by the second Annoying Mouse Puzzle, though Noelle almost immediately figures out the solution, "Don't worry Kris, I know the solution to this one!"

In the blink of an eye the room is rendered subzero and the puzzle is disabled. You imagine the maice inside are likely frozen solid. For some reason that idea thrills you. No pressure, you both push on.

Two groups of mice attempt to scamper away but you're too fast, too strong. All are wiped out half frozen, half dusted.

The third mice puzzle is skipped like the second, frozen over and disabled.

Poppups hide under paving tiles but you know where they are on instinct alone, their penchant for peeking out not helping their case at all. They, too, are dealt with.

* Noelle has become stronger.

You feel bad, really, but the voice in the back of your head is urging you to go back now. You have to.

You go back to Spamton.

"[Angel], [Angel], ARE YOU LOOKING FOR THE [Ring] OF [Thorns]?" You read him speak, "THaT'LL be 1997 KROMER."

You go to pay, but-

"Give it to us." Noelle speaks, breaking script once more.

"[Sweetcheeks] I'M NO [Charity Organisation], I'M NOT GONNA JUST [Give It All You Got], I-" Before you know it, Noelle slams the Dumpster open, revealing the sad, sad little man inside.

"Give us the ring. We need it." Noelle speaks. You can imagine how she speaks vividly, through gritted teeth mixed with a sickly sweetness that for some reason chills you to the bone.

Spamton flounders under the pressure visibly, backing away into the trash, "NOW NOW MY [Esteemed Customer], I THINK YOU'RE [Out Of Your Damn Mind] HERE!"

Noelle doesn't let up, stepping forward, "Give it to us."

It doesn't take long for Spamton to recognise that she's not fooling around since he practically chucks the ThornRing to her, "FINE, FINE! [Have It Your Way]! I DONT NEED YOUR [Goodwill] ANYWAY!"

* Noelle equipped the ThornRing.

Well... You have it. Noelle takes Kris' hand, "We should try to catch up with the others now, shouldn't we?"

Before you can do anything she's dragging Kris - and by extention you - all the way back through the city towards where you'd encounter Berdly. She's... eager.

The bluebird steps into view and the bell in your head begins to toll for the poor guy.

"Noelle! There you are! Just in time, we can both go back to Queen and-" Berdly stops in his tracks as Noelle steps forward, still grasping Kris' hand, "...Noelle?"

"Kris, it looks like another enemy," She speaks, her dialogue portrait not the tired one that's usually used, rather a cheerier smile, as if she's eagerly anticipating murdering her classmate, "Should I freeze them... or...?"

"N-Noelle? Noelle, it's me, don't you recognise me?!" Berdly questions, visibly panicking.

Noelle takes another step forward, Kris remaining completely still as a harsh drum and repeating melody begins to play through your speakers. Noelle doesn't utter another word. She knows how this ends, as do you.

"Noelle, are you okay...? What... What are you doing with Kris?"

"We're just getting stronger." She utters.

Berdly steps back slighlty, "Getting stronger... How? Kris, what are you doing?!" Of course he directs his rage at Kris, who else would he blame?

Your finger itches to abort the route as you hover over your two options but Noelle once again interrupts, "Proceed."

It's that voice in your head again. Noelle's, you think.

"Wh-What? Proceed... where? Noelle, what are you talking about?!"

Noelle takes another step, Kris remains motionless.

"Th-That's it, Noelle! I don't know what you and Kris are doing... But..." Berdly hesitates - a subtle difference but it adds a moment of silence, "I-I have no choice now but to stop you by force!" He proclaims, forming his energy Halberd with a triumphant hand, "Kris, Noelle, ready yourselves!!"

Noelle doesn't dignify this with a response, the battle starting immediately.

You instinctively grind TP while Noelle's health ticks down to 55. It's only a couple turns before you have 100% TP.

"It's okay, Kris," Noelle speaks, "I'll take it from here."

Noelle flashes a bright white for just a moment before her eyes glaze over, glassy white and featureless as she begins to levitate. She hovers to the dead centre of the battlefield with her hands raised, flickering and emanating with pure frost. Berdly is too shocked to do anything as a blizzard erupt and engulfs the battlefield, and then... A pillar of ice, consuming the bluebird whole.

The noise is creates is deafening, disturbing you to your core. As fast as it came however, it stopped, leaving Berdly as a frozen crystal as Noelle falls to the ground with more grace than she usually would.

She's silent for a moment and you pray with every ounce of your being that the rest of the run would play out normally, but-

"Kris..." She spoke, looking down still, "Are you... Are you proud of me...?"

You hear the voice again, now winded and panting, Snowgrave having clearly taken a significant toll on her body.

"I did it... I'm strong..." She slowly stands and her returning to Kris' side instead of walking towards the hidden entrance to Pandora Palace.

Her portrait is a soft smile as she speaks next, "Thank you... You've done well."

The battle ends.

* You gained 0 EXP and 0 D$.
* Noelle became stronger.

Chapter Text

You sit there staring at the prism of ice infront of you on your screen, the chill you felt before now almost numbing.

You didn't even get a choice. The game has hammered in that your choices didn't matter so far, but... Wasn't the whole point of the Weird Route being deviating from the chosen path? Wasn't that what you were meant to do? So why...

"Kris? Why're... you just standing there?" Noelle suddenly speaks, before chuckling, "Are you... heh... that amazed?"

She was still catching her breath, obviously still recovering from casting such a strong spell. You could hear it.

"C'mon now dummy, we've gotta get a move on! Susie and that, uh, guy who looks like Asriel are probably waiting for us! Besides, we don't wanna get caught here by Queen, now wouldn't THAT be awkward, haha!"

She was joking around as she didn't just kill a man.

"I mean, I know I just froze our classmate, but... Well, I mean, he was being really mean to you this whole time, so I think he deserved it, right?" She continued, seemingly reading your mind once more.

You supposed that you weren't the biggest fan of Berdly, but usually you atleast get the choice to-

"Bah! It's Berdly, Kris! He was my friend too but don't tell me that people are gonna miss him that much. Besides, you got a kick out of kicking his butt when you first fought him. It's not like you felt no vindication at all... right?"

She... wasn't wrong.

"Exactly! Now c'mon, we need to get stronger to save the others and get out of this place!" She grabbed Kris' hand and you chose to get on with it.

From then on you seemingly continued down the path of the Normal Route, though when you were supposed to drive with Queen you were forced to walk the whole way.

The streets, as you expected, were frozen over, every sporadic car that was around was solid, jagged ice.

You chose to simply ignore the possibility that Spamton had moved dumpsters - you knew he attained Neo anyway without you - and chose to walk the length of the bridge.

Noelle would look out into the background, the bright neon lights still illuminating the city in the distance across from the inky darkness that laid below. You couldn't fathom what laid inside that void.

"Isn't it beautiful, Kris?" Noelle spoke up as she and Kris both walked, "So much more of the city that we could see, and do, and so many more opportunities to get stronger... Kinda makes you wonder if we ever need to leave, huh? I mean, I like Hometown, I like the people in it and I couldn't let go of my family at the drop of a hat like that, but... This... This weird world we've found ourselves in? It's nice."

The voice in your head read every word as it came up, the passion in her voice echoing in your mind's eye. Conflicting feelings filled your senses as you both came to a dead-end of the road and had to continue down the beaten path.

When you come to another lightning gate, Noelle glances up at the question mark, "Another puzzle... You know what?" She rears up for a running start and leaps over the cones, "Let's do this one, afterall we wouldn't want this to end so soon, right?"

She walks over and steps onto the D key, prompting you to press the correlating switch.

Normally this would be where Noelle monologues about her life and wanting to see things and her sister and... Well, this time apparently she wasn't so talkative, simply walking calmly over to the E key.

C, your walking speed faster than hers so it takes a moment for her to catch up.

E, you walk slowly but now she's faster than you and you take a moment to catch up.

M, you try to vary but it's still slighlty off.

B, you two begin to sync up just that little bit more, meanwhile she watches you - or rather Kris - from across the cones.

E, you're perfectly in-tune with eachother at last, but now it's almost over.

R, the puzzle is complete and she leaps back over.

Noelle simply smiles, "Wasn't that fun?"

You suppose so, going onwards to the room full of ball-games.

Nobody came, but Noelle entered the biggest stall regardless, coming out with a present.

She handed it to Kris, predictably, "It's for you, Kris!"

* (You got the Present.)

You noticed Noelle staring at Kris, "... Aren't you going to open it?"

Automatically, Kris took out the box and opened it, revealing... a small Kris plushie.

"Aww, it looks just like you! Isn't that cute?" Noelle would coo, "Hey, maybe I should..." She yanked the plush out of Kris' hands, "Th-This is mine now, actually."

This was the first sign of embarrassment that she'd shown since you recruited her and it almost knocked you out of the trance you'd drawn yourself into.

Almost.

"Ahem! We should probably keep going now, haha..."

You continue walking.

Past the teacups, up the stairs, Noelle holds the switch down while you press the other. You pass through towards the last maus puzzle and you grab the basket, Noelle trailing behind until you have to get 20 of the mechanical rodents.

You try to get the mice but it's a slow process - usually you'd have Ralsei and Susie to help you - but Noelle stops you eventually, "This is boring." She utters before freezing the puzzle as she did before, opening up the path forward where you slot the basket in and finally make it to Pandora Palace.

Nobody were there, not even Queen. You had a feeling that Spamton had already claimed the castle for his own.

Noelle and you peer out into the distance at the Queen's visage, the computer probably drinking herself stupid while the mansion was ransacked.

"Well, this is it," Noelle speaks, "Shame we couldn't have spent more time in here... But I suppose we should put a stop to Queen's plans."

The screen fades to black and you find yourself in the foyer, the petrified corpse of Rouxls Kaard sitting in front of the café. You see the save icon at the top of the stairs and save for the first time in 20 minutes.

The passageway to the Basement is already open, though you don't bother to check - you really don't care to hear if Spamton made it into the Basement afterall.

"I wonder if Susie and that other guy have already made it to the fountain..." Noelle mused, "I hope so."

As soon as you enter the painting room you're attacked by the Mauswheel, which you easily quash the resistance of.

* You gained 0 EXP and 42 D$
* You became stronger.

Through the Dining Room, Noelle finds the key handily, clearing a path straight through the door. You brace yourself as you're rushed down the long hall by your dog-table steed.

You walk down the curiously vacant hall of once-rolling jars and/or Pipis and find your way blocked by Tasque Manager, whom you both easily send packing.

* You gained 0 EXP and 42 D$
* You became stronger.

You both ride the teacups up, the single vacant cup taking damage as its pelted with the bars that you and Noelle dodge.

As soon as your up there, intuition takes over and you burst into the adjacent room, finding Werewerewire alone.

Noelle and you take it out.

* You gained 0 EXP and 42 D$.
* You became stronger.

It's no time before you reach the peak, both of you passing the room marked in her name. Noelle pauses to glance at it briefly before she continues following you.

Past the plugs, past the battlefield that Queen should, by all rights, be trying to kill you on. You walk upon the scaffolding ahead, the view of the city over the dark sea illuminating the night, and you find the Queen. She's sitting upon her throne, wistfully gazing out into the dark with her trademark acid-wine glass sitting between two digits.

Her monologue begins, "The Knight... The Roaring Knight... Today, It Deigned To Create This World, Reaching Its Long Hand To The Sky It Coursed Its Will Into Its Blade And Made, Thrusting The Fountain From The Earth..." She stops and pauses, "Unfortunately The World They Created Is Trapped Within The Library. If Only We Had A Way To Make More Darkness, We Might Be Able To Cover The Whole World..."

She pauses again, the pair of you watching from two very different perspectives as she muses upon the nature of her existence, "That Is When I Realised, This Power... The Power Of The Will, This Power Of Determination... Is This Not Something That All Lightners Possess...? If One Was Simply Determined Enough, Could Not Anyone Make A Dark Fountain? So, Then If The Knight Has Taken Its Leave, Then I Will Simply Make A New One..."

The holographics that line the city's skyline fade out as Queen's throne hovers over to the vacant hand that Noelle should be strapped to about now, "But Here I Am, Still Empty Handed In My Quest..." She turns to you and Noelle, "But For How Long?"

Noelle glares at Queen, "So you kidnapped us to make you a new Dark Fountain?"

Queen shrugs, "More Or Less."

You know how this is probably going to go, "Well, sorry but I'm not gonna do that for you, and Kris won't either."

You only hum affirmatively in response.

Queen shrugs again, "Oh Well, Time For Plan B I Guess" She whizzes off-screen and in seconds you hear the loud clanging of Queen's mech climbing the scaffolds.

You brace yourself as the face comes into frame, "Noelle Sweetie Can You Please Step Away?"

"No!" Noelle responds in indignance, "I'm not gonna let you hurt Kris! They've helped me become so much stronger!"

"Noelle Please I Do Not-"

"Step down!" She yells, firmly rejecting Queen's attempts to get her out of the battlefield.

"... Well This Was Unexpected." Queen remarks bluntly, "Kris Do We Still Have Trucies?"

You tell her no.

"Damnit. Plan C It Is." Queen says, raising the mech's glass and firing a laser that sweeps the ground and knocks both of you down.

"Good Thing I Have That Other Lightner Around. Question: Where Did Burghley Go Anyway?" She questions, unaware.

Noelle falters as she's the first to get up, "T-Took care of him."

"What Does That-"

"He's dealt with, Queen, you won't have to be bothered by him again," Noelle clarified, "Ever again."

Queen is quiet for a moment, "Do You Mean That In A Murderous Way Or A Non Murderous Way?"

Noelle shrugged, "You'll see in a moment," she pulls Kris up, "We aren't going down without a fight you know!"

"Noelle Darling I Literally Floored You Seconds Ago, How Do You Think This Is Going To Go?"

Noelle huffed and used Iceshock on the glass, freezing its contents solid.

"Oh. Well Crap."

"Kris, mind helping me out by building TP?" Noelle asks, to which you nod, "Thanks!"

The next few moments involve you having to dodge some absolutely massive missiles and fire from Giga Queen, your TP slowly building as your SOUL glows with an extended aura. You're struck once, almost knocking you off of the scaffolding into the abyss below, but Noelle catches you and yanks you back up, "Careful Kris, without you here we can't get out of here!"

How did she know that?

Nevertheless you manage to build up the necessary TP as Noelle's health is left at 55. You enter the MAGIC Menu and Snowgrave sits there, goading you on.

You select it and Noelle's eyes turn a bright white, beginning to hover off of the ground once more.

"Noelle What Are You Doing?" Queen asks.

Before you know it you watch as the blizzard once more racks the Cyber World, snow pelting you as the geyser of ice pierces through Queen's mech with ease.

It isn't long before the mech begins to explode, Noelle grabbing your hand and rushing towards the right, "Kris, c'mon, hurry up!"

You both rush away as the mech blows up, a geyser of flame not unlike the fountains erupting into the darkness of the sky. For a moment you swear that you can see flickers of the computer lab in the light of the flame, but it dies quickly.

Noelle is left once again winded and panting, looking down at you with half-lidded eyes. You can almost feel the sensation of her pressing down onto your arms... almost.

"You okay... Kris?" She drawls, "Crap... That was close... Sorry, haha..."

The sound of debris falling into the black ocean echoes across the room as you and Noelle are left there for a moment, catching your breaths.

"I think... I think we're done..." She stands shakily, "I hope Susie is okay..." She shakes her head, "It doesn't matter, we're almost there, c'mon."

You nod and lead her up towards the fountain, passing a saving point and a vending machine.

In the fountain room you both were consumed in shadow, the light blinding the both of you as it shone in all colours.

"Kris... This is the fountain..." Noelle speaks, "It's so beautiful up-close..." She turns to you, "Before we seal it, I want to thank you again, it's been a long time since I've felt so... Powerful, to put it lighlty," She smiles at you, the Player, "Thank you, from the bottom of my heart."

Despite the cold, a warmth spreads in your core as the SOUL appears on screen, hovering up towards the fountain's center.

It was as if your very SOUL was glowing...

"WAIT!!" Your sealing is interrupted by a familiar voice.

"WAIT JUST A [Gosh Darn Second!]" Spamton runs into frame, "KRIS!! MY MOST [Esteemed Cust0mer!!]" He turns to Noelle, "AND [Hochi Mama] TOO! IT'S A [Family Night Dinner] IN H3RE!"

Noelle's eyes narrowed, "Oh. We missed one."

"I KN0W THAT I TRIED TO PULL YOUR [Silly String] EARLIER BUT [I neeeed iiiiit] TO ASK FOR 1 LAST ACT OF [Genosity]!!" Spamton goes on, "Something [Specil] TO ME.
SOMETHING BIG
BIG
BIGGER
SOMETHING THAT WILL [Give Us Hell]!!"

Noelle pauses, "... Go on?"

You're genuinely a bit shocked she'd entertain this given her track record thus far, though you should've learnt by now not to question her.

"ALL Y0U NEED 2 DO IS
ALL Y0U NEED 2 DO IS
take me with you..."

You cock an eyebrow at that, meanwhile Noelle does not respond, prompting the salesman to continue.

"ALL I WANTED WAS T0 BE A [BIG SHOT] BUT NOW THAT EVERY IS PUT [On Ice] AND YOU [Ran My Pockets] I Haven't BEEN ABLE TO [Cope, Seethe, Mald]!" The mailman flew into a rant, "IT'S [+)*#_!] I TELL Y0U! [How Could This Happen To Me?] I WAS [Destined For Greatness] But I WAS ACTUALLY [Doomed by the Narrative]!!!"

You glance at Noelle, who watches intently.

"NO [Mansion, Stability] NO [City Of The Wolves] NO [#1 Best Rated Salesman 1997!!] AND NO
AND NO
[Hyperlink Blocked]!!" Spamton forces himself into your personal space, "It's so cold [Little Sponge] CAN'T YOU SEE [I'm Dyin' Here]?!!"

Noelle hums, "So how are you going to help us?"

"YOU AND
YOU AND I SHOULD MAKE A [Irresistible Deal]! WHAT DO YOU SAY??"

You pause as you're given the decision, much like his battle in the Normal Route.

DEAL or NO DEAL

You look at Noelle and she nods at you silently.

You make your choice.

DEAL.

"YES!! I KNEW Y0U WANTED TO BE A [BIG SHOT]!" Spamton lets out his iconic distorted laugh before he looked down, serious, "You're both strong, so use me to break our strings."

His sprite faded and a sparkle replaced it, hovering towards you.

* You got DealMaker.
* You got ShadowCrystal.

Noelle hummed and pulled glasses out of the inventory.

* Noelle equipped the DealMaker.

"Snazzy, I like it," She remarked before turning to you, "Anyway, weren't you gonna seal the Dark Fountain now?"

Ah, right, you were.

You once again seperate your SOUL as it hovers towards the fountain and the light subsumes the extraneous dark once more...

And you wake.

Chapter Text

You blink. You blink twice, and then a third time.

You're sitting there, the scene infront of you on your computer screen that of the post-Dark World awakening. It was like you'd also woken up from that dream.

Your body is heavy, lethargic, like you'd just awoken from a deep, dark slumber.

Did you black out?... What the hell did Noelle do?

Speaking of, she wakes up first as Berdly's alarm goes off, the bluebird's lifeless body slumped over the table as usual.

"H-Huh... Berdly's alarm?" She speaks before turning to Kris and Susie, "O-Oh! Right, you were here too, weren't you?"

"Uhh... Yeah?" Susie responds, "You invited us to study, remember?"

Noelle nods, "Right, I did, didn't I?"

"... Uhh... You're in a good mood; did you, uh, have a good dream?"

Noelle nods, "Better than usual, actually."

Ah, right, she was enjoying that quite a suspicious amount. You've got to admit, your curiosity has certainly taken ahold of you and you're pretty sure that its grip isn't going to loosen if she keeps breaking script like this.

"Uhh, right..." Susie pauses, "So uh... I guess we should be going now, now that... THAT is over."

Noelle nods again, "I suppose," She gathers her books in her arms, "I'll probably be over at the hospital with my dad today, so if you wanna visit then I'm sure the nurses won't mind."

"What about Berdly?" Susie pointed out, the bluebird remaining unconscious, dead to the eye.

The deer shook her head, "I think we should let him rest, I'll tell Mrs.Boom about it."

"... Okay," Susie turned to Kris, "Well uh, guess we should get going too, huh?"

Noelle rounded the desk and smiled, "I'll see you both later, okay?" She spoke before leaving the library unceremoniously.

Both Susie and Kris stood there blankly for a moment before Susie spoke up again, "Well that was... Weird." She turned to the unconscious Berdly for a moment before shrugging, "So... Where were you and Noelle in the end? Last thing I remember was being trapped in Queen's mansion while Ralsei was who-knows-where."

You were given two options, but you picked the most convincing sounding one.

Kris explained how they and Noelle got sidetracked by Berdly and couldn't catch up, and by time you'd gotten to the mansion Queen was nowhere to be found.

"Huh... How come you didn't come save me?" She punched Kris' shoulder lighlty, "C'mon dude, not cool, didn't we spend an entire Dark World tryna teach me that sorta junk?"

Two more options.

Kris explained that there was electricity blocking the way to the cells and the only open route was to the top of the palace.

"Huh... For real? Shit, I guess that makes sense but... How did you deal with Queen?"

Your gaze turned to the sprite of the laptop.

More options.

* Noelle took care of it.

"Wait really? Huh, that's... That's pretty cool actually."

You sighed, not quite sure what happened yourself beyond scattered memories after freezing Berdly.

"Either way, congrats on saving the world, or whatever. Try not to leave me out next time, will ya?"

A beat of silence passes and Susie speaks again, "Guess we should head out now, I'll give you a sec to gather all the stuff in here."

With that, Susie walks out of the room, leaving only you, Kris and the possibly-dead body of Berdly to ponder the silence of the computer room. Your fingers froze over the WASD keys, thinking about what just played out.

So you and Noelle took care of Queen while you seemingly blacked out... That's definitely fucked.

You get a grip on yourself and check Berdly's body.

* (He doesn't seem to be awake.)

Checks out.

You check the laptop.

* (It seems to be frozen.)

Oh.

You decide that leaving the room and progressing would probably be for the best.

* (Before you left, you gathered up everything except the laptop from the room...)

You waste no time checking the flavour-text, you've read it all before. You step out into town and Susie leans on the wall, arms crossed like some sort of street-punk, "... Man, it got late didn't it?... Guess you should go home, huh?"

She kicked off of the wall, "Alright, you don't have to say it," She stepped towards Kris, "Don't wanna walk home by yourself, huh?" She smirks at Kris before turning away, "Well, if you're gonna MAKE me, I..." She pauses, "... You're shaking..."

You pause for a moment, nervousness beginning to swell in your gut as the scene holds on Susie and Kris for just a moment more into the uncomfortable silence before the dino speaks again, "I... Guess we should get going, huh..."

She steps behind Kris, "Lead the way."

You're compelled to immediately go towards the hospital, so you direct Kris there. Through the front, into the wards, up through the left door.

You see her there with her father, playing Dragon Blazers as usual.

"Silver Drake, huh? That's a new one." Rudy spoke, basically forced to backseat game in his condition, "Alright, what's the plan, honey?"

Noelle, smiling just that bit more cheerily than usual, spoke, "Hmm... Maybe we could try... Iceshock?"

Rudy fixed Noelle with an odd look, "Ice on the Ice Palace boss?" His smile returned, visibly tired, "Don't you wanna try Fireshock or something?"

"Eh, I guess so..." Noelle murmured.

"Here, how about letting me control for a bit?" Rudy suggested, though Noelle shut him down swiftly.

"I'm fine dad, don't worry! I'll be fine controlling myself."

Rudy's smile lit up in good humour, "Not like you to be a controller hog, honey," His expression then softened, "You feeling alright honey?"

"Huh?" Noelle looks at her father, "Oh, yeah, I'm doing fine, I just had a long study session is all."

"Noelle..." Rudy's smile returned to its natural cheeriness, "I knew that birdbrain could be overbearing but if it's taking that much of a toll on ya then I think I should give him a piece of my mind."

Noelle shook her head, "C'mon dad, you know that's not necessary!"

"I know, but y'really should stand up for yourself a bit more, you can't let yourself be dragged around so much."

"I'm fine dad, really! You can trust me on that!"

Rudy coughed, "Okay, okay, so long as you're sure," He paused for a moment before smirking, "Seriously though, I'll kick his ass if he pushes you around again"

"Dad!" Noelle batted him on the shoulder softly.

You watched the scene play out, the levity of it all distracting from the drastic changes in dialogue.

Susie then spoke up, "Uhh-"

"Oh!" Noelle snapped to attention, "You both actually came! I didn't think you would, haha."

Rudy smiled, amused, "Oh come on Noelle, now you're dragging your friends here too? I'm not dying y'know, no need to throw one last party for me just yet!"

Noelle shook her head, "I just figured that since Kris visits from time to time I'd offer to let them see you!"

The older reindeer's eyes narrowed, "I see," He directs his gaze to Susie, "And that is...?"

"Oh, that's Susie!"

"Oohh, so that's the girl you've been yappin' your head off about!" Rudy recognised, "Been hearing quite alot about you!"

"You... uh... have?" Susie questioned, visibly awkward.

Noelle nodded, blushing lighlty, "Yeah, just a little..."

Susie glanced at Kris for a moment, "Huh... Alright?"

Noelle stands from the bedside, "Hey, uh, do both of you mind if I talk to Kris for a moment outside?"

A unnerving feeling began to pool inside of you, recalling the scene in the 'normal' Weird Route.

"Huh, well if that's the case then can I borrow Susie for a minute? I got some stuff to talk about with her." Rudy spoke up.

Noelle nodded, "Oh, that's perfect then!" She walked towards the room's exit, "C'mon Kris, let's go."

Kris is practically dragged out of the room, the screen fading to black.

A textbox appears, no portrait but the sound of Noelle's voice soundbite denotes exactly who's talking, "Today was really fun Kris, and I'm happy that you helped me so much..." Noelle began, "I was thinking, how about I tag along with you and Susie from now on?"

* You backed away slighlty, but she took a step forward with you.

"There's no point in trying to lie to me by the way, I remember everything too vividly for it to just be a dream... And I know that you know more about it than I do."

* You took another step back but she keeps the gap the same length.

"Please? I need something like this, something to escape the monotony of my life, and if Berdly's condition is anything to go off of then my ice powers are strong enough to influence real life too... So please?"

* You're backed up against the wall, she begins to close the gap on you.

"I can help! I can help you seal the fountains, so long as you help me become strong! Please! I-I've seen too much to just go back to living normally!"

* She's uncomfortably close, her breath hot on your skin.

"Let the story proceed, please?"

* You tell her she can, so long as she doesn't hurt you.

"Fahaha, did I scare you too much? Sorry Kris, you always kept way better composure when it was Susie, haha."

The sound of the door slamming open interrupts the scene you're very pointedly not watching, "Hey, Kris! Let's beat it already." Susie spoke, breaking the tension, "Man, he kept telling me about Noelle, like..." Susie stopped when she spotted Kris and Noelle, "Uh... Am I... Interrupting some-"

"It's not like that!" Noelle snaps, defensive.

"Uhh... Okay, well me and Kris should probably go and-"

"Kris said they wanted me to come along with you, if that's okay?"

Susie's eyes widened, "Oh! Oh, uh, that's fine actually, we were probably just gonna..." She petered off.

Noelle smiled, "It's fine Susie, I know already."

"Wh- Kris?! What the hell man, I thought we were gonna keep it between ourselves!"

* She forced me.

"Wait, really? Shit, didn't think you'd let yourself get pressured like that."

* She's a childhood friend.

"And you let that pressure you?"

Noelle stepped in again, "Hey, I don't see why you should keep me in the dark, afterall I've already been in that weird world now."

"I... Fine, I guess that's fair enough, but don't blame me if Ralsei freaks out."

The scene fades back in at the ward hallway, Noelle now having joined your party. With little option otherwise, you made your way towards the school closet.

"So uh, you're gonna have to jump down pretty far into the dark, hope that isn't a problem." Susie remarked as the trio approached the door.

Noelle just smiled, "It's fine, I've been through worse."

"Uh... Right."

Susie and Kris pulled the doors open and reared back before running forward at full pelt and jumping straight into the inky abyss before them, Noelle following closely behind.

As they plunged into the dark, the light of their forms gave way to a blacklight-styled colourscheme, along with their clothes changing entirely. Noelle pushed down her dress as they fell before they all hit the ground in superhero landing style.

Noelle stood, stumbling forward a bit, "Oh wow, that... Wow, that was a little extreme, haha."

Susie smirked, "Warned ya," She then looked around, "Where's... Well, everyone? Would've thought atleast Queen would come along."

Noelle's expression darkened, "I don't think bringing my laptop would've been a good idea..."

"... Uh... Okay? What about all the goons?" Susie turned to Kris, "You did gather everything, didn't you?"

Kris nodded.

"Huh... Well, I guess it's not so bad, we still have everyone already here."

Noelle smiled, "Yeah! Anyway, how about you show me around? If this is supposed to be a town then there's gotta be some sorta community, right?"

"Oh, uh, yeah, let's go."

Kris and Susie lead Noelle into the town proper, the homely kingdom of the dark emanating that soft, calming theme that you were intimately aware of by now. It almost made up for everything off going on to this point.

As they stepped toward the castle, Ralsei seemingly just manifested behind them. Of course, Noelle was the first to notice, her confidence she'd been displaying far more often breaking for a moment as she squealed, jumping back, "J-Jiminy-Christmas!" She scowled, "Don't sneak up on a girl like that you..." Noelle blinked, "Uh-"

"Oh, him? That's Ralsei." Susie spoke.

Ralsei blushed lighlty, embarrassed, "Apologies for sneaking up on you like that, although..." He tilted his head, "I don't think you're supposed to be here..."

Noelle's scowl softened into a curious frown, "Susie said something similar earlier, but why?"

"Well, I uh... It's hard to explain, but in short, you're not a part of the prophecy... You're not a human, we already have a Monster in Susie," Susie had a goofy grin as she was mentioned, "And I'm the Prince, but you don't fit into the three heroes."

"Huh... I guess that makes sense. Still, I don't see why some people prophecy should stop me from getting in on this. Nothing is really set in stone, is it?"

Ralsei began to look frustrated, "Y-You're not supposed to be here! You're not even supposed to know about this place!"

Susie shrugged, "Actually she's got a point, strength IS in numbers right?"

"I-" Ralsei paused, "You're not... WRONG, but-"

Noelle stepped just a bit closer to Ralsei, though it was enough to visibly intimidate the prince, "If Susie is right then give me one good reason to not be here."

"I- But it-" The prince stammered, "It's not- Why-" He stops abruptly, "Alright, fine, I guess you can stay... But," He looks at Noelle sternly, "You cannot, under any circumstances, break the prophecy anymore," He looks to the duo on the side, "And that especially goes for you two, okay?"

"... Okay?" Susie deadpans, meanwhile Kris remains silent.

Ralsei sighs and turns back to Noelle, "Would you like me to make you a room here as well? If you're going to be a part of the group I may as well..." He paused, "I have a space upstairs if you'd like?"

"Oh, uh, sure." Noelle responded, not quite sure of how to continue this conversation.

Ralsei's smile finally returned, "That's great then, I'll have it done by tomorrow, I promise."

Susie spoke up again, "So uh, we sorta came here to show her around, y'know, get her familiar?"

"That's fine," The prince responded simply, "There's not really much to see, but it's still home, heh..."

...

"Ralsei are you-"

Ralsei nodded with a bit too much enthusiasm, "Yes, yes, I'm fine, don't worry about me!" He insisted, "Now come on, it'll be night soon."

The next few minutes - probably about an hour in their time - was spent with little fanfare, just showing Noelle the ropes and even getting a little dojo practice in (even if most of the dojo trials were unavailable due to the copious amounts of Darkeners that you were somewhat responsible for killing).

When inquired about her new glasses, Noelle brushed it off, "Oh, an Addison sold it to me." And left it at that, though you could swear you could hear the angry chittering of a salesman quietly while she spoke.

Before long, the three Lightners decided that it was probably best to head home.

Noelle found just as much trouble rising up as she did falling down, though luckily she wasn't above the pair she'd want to see under her dress this time (though one could argue she wouldn't have minded in a less weird scenario).

The sun had begun to set on Hometown and it didn't take long for you to navigate all the way back to the Dreemurr residence.

"Well, we're here..." Susie mused, "Alright.... Guess it's goodbye for today," She turned to leave, "See ya tomorrow you two."

On cue, Toriel's door was opened wide before Susie could get very far - a mercy to be sure.

"Kris! How was studying with you-" Toriel froze as he saw not just Kris, or Susie, but Noelle with them, "Why, Noelle, it's been so long!" The goat mom greeted happily before turning her attention to Susie, "And I'm assuming that this is your other friend, Kris? Why don't you all come inside?"

Susie was thrown off, "U-Uhh, I mean, I... Uh-"

Noelle chuckled, "Fahaha, don't be so awkward Susie! I haven't been over in awhile but we shouldn't look a gyftrot in the mouth!"

"I was going to bake a pie, so if you don't want to miss out then..." Toriel offered.

That caught Susie's attention.

"Guess I can come over for a bit..." She mumbled to Kris.

The three of you entered the Dreemurr Residence, that soft string music fading in.

Kris and Noelle walked in eagerly, though Susie was visibly still caught off guard, looking around.

"Feel free to come in." Toriel prompted, Susie stepping only a bit further in.

The dino's long, awkward silence was met with a nudge by Noelle and Toriel speaking again, "Oh, excuse me, I am Kris' mother, Toriel."

"Y... Yes, ma'am, I... remember."

"Oh, you do? And you are... Susie, are you not?"

Susie's eyes widened, "H... Huh? You, um, remember my name, too?..."

"Of course, Ms. Alphys is a good friend of mine," Toriel chuckles, "She often talks about you!"

Noelle too cracked up, though wasn't as blatant.

"... Umm, glad to hear it?" She then glares down at Kris, "Kris, the hell is Alphys saying about me?!" She hissed.

Suddenly Toriel took another step towards the kitchen, "Susie, why don't you wash your hands over there, then we can make the pie together?" She asked, Susie snapping to attention again.

"Make it... Together? Uhh... But I don't know how."

Toriel smiled warmly, "Do not worry, I can teach you!" Toriel then turned to Noelle, "Would you like to help too? I know that you should probably be heading home soon, but-"

"No no, it's fine, I can just call my mom to tell her I'm spending the night here," Noelle responded, a bit too immediately, "If that, uh, isn't a problem of course, haha..."

"Oh..." Toriel seemed to hesitate for a moment, "Well, I don't see why that would be a problem. What about you Susie?"

"Wh- Me?"

"Of course! It would be wonderful to have more friends over, I think it could do all of us some good," Toriel explained before turning back to the kitchen, "We should probably start now, the sun is already setting and the pie needs to sit for a night first."

"Oh, uh... Okay." Susie spoke before walking off towards the bathroom, leaving Toriel and the childhood friends alone briefly.

"Kris, Susie seems like a nice girl," Toriel began, "I'm very happy that you are friends with her, but..." She paused, "I've heard from Alphys, about her behaviour... If by any chance she, er, influences you, er... Leave the chalk alone, alright?"

Noelle snickered, "I think it's a little bit too late for that, Kris has always been a bit odd, no offense."

Kris didn't respond, though Toriel sighed, "Yes I suppose that you're right, I just hope she doesn't influence you too, Noelle."

"Huh- Me?" Noelle tilted her head

"If you started disrupting class like Susie then Alphys would receive an earful from Carol..." Toriel's expression seemed bitter, "Angel knows that we'd all rather not be subjected to such a fate."

"I... er, understand." Noelle responded awkwardly.

On cue, Susie walked back in, "Hands, uh... washed."

Toriel smiled one again, "Wonderful! Now we can-" A realisation dawned, "Oh, Kris, Noelle! How about YOU show Susie how to bake it?"

"Wait, you two know how to make pie?!" Susie blurted out, then lighlty punching both of the two on their shoulders, "The hell haven't either of you made ME any then, you pie-hoarding pieces of-"

She froze as Toriel chuckled at the dino's antics.

"I mean, uhh... 'scuse me, ma'am"

"Susie, you can just call me Toriel outside of school."

"Oh okay sweet."

Kris moved on their own, moving down to pass their mom.

"... Huh? Kris? Oh, YOU need to wash your hands too?" Toriel questioned, "Then I suppose Noelle and I shall teach Susie for now."

Noelle stammered, "I- Well- I'm not as familiar with the recipe as I used to be, eheh..."

Toriel smiled, "It's fine, I'm sure you'll refamiliarise yourself with it quickly," Toriel then walked towards the kitchenette, "Let's get started, alright?"

Both Susie and Noelle walked towards the kitchen as you directed Kris towards the bathroom. You knew what happened next. In the bathroom, you made Kris interact with the sink, the tap beginning to run and...

* It started to run.

* It's making a lot of noise.

Kris stands completely still for just a moment before collapsing to their knees, stretching an arm out and plunging it into their chest as they had numerous times over numerous playthroughs.

After a struggle, they managed to yank the SOUL - the closest thing to yourself in this world - and shoved it into the cabinet below the sink and closing it, meanwhile you could do nothing as control was wrenched from you.

The teen lumbered towards the window and opened it, slowly crawling through to places unknown. You could do nothing but watch the sink run for several more moments.

Sound faded out as you heard the dialogue coming from the other room, "Well, let us get the flour."

"So that's... this bag? And you just... Oops."

You can imagine that she just dumped a crap ton of flour into the mix accidentally.

Toriel just giggled in good nature, "Susie, you have flour on your nose!"

Noelle also laughed, "Try to be more careful, okay?"

"I'm trying, I'm trying, I just- I meant to do that!" She tried to defend from the pair laughing at her flour-based expense.

"Thought you would stop to 'smell the flour,' eh?" Toriel cracked a god-awful pun, reminding you of a certain bastard skeleton.

Susie thought it was funny though, of course before she sneezed flour everywhere, "C-C'mon!!!"

"Now, onto the next part..." Toriel proceeded, silence lingering for a moment.

Susie spoke up, begging the important question, "... so, where the he-" She stopped herself, "Uh, HECK is Kris?"

"Oh, Kris, er... Does this sometimes." Toriel spoke, and you could feel the awkwardness despite the lack of an audible indicator.

"Well they should hurry, I'm getting sleepy."

"If you want, I could go check on them! Y'know, make sure they're not doing anything weird like stuffing bath bombs down the toilet?" Noelle suggested.

"Hm... Alright, I suppose that would be helpful," Toriel admitted, "Try not to be too long either, otherwise this pie'll be done already!"

As Noelle stepped into the bathroom you felt that vaguely familiar chill from before, on your wrist especially. She closed the door behind her and stared toward the open window for a brief moment before stepped towards the running sink.

She turned the handle to turn it off before crouching at the cabinet, "... This is it, isn't it..." She spoke, and once again you could hear her vividly in your mind.

She pulled open the cabinet and revealed the SOUL, "So... There you are..." She gave a soft smile, an almost apologetic expression on her face, "It's nice to finally meet you..."

You could rattle the SOUL around with the joystick, but you couldn't do much more.

"Don't worry, I don't want to hurt you..." She reached out with her free hand and grabbed the SOUL softly, a warmth surrounding your core as if she was grabbing you directly, "You're too important to hurt like that... Not like how Kris treats you..."

Her hand squeezes ever so slighlty harder around the SOUL, warmth intensifying through your midsection, "You... You're the one who helped me, aren't you? To become strong. That wasn't Kris, or... Well, what Kris is now..."

She brings the SOUL to her chest, "... I... I want you to keep helping me... Because if you don't, then I won't be strong enough... And I want to be strong, I have to be strong..."

You watch as the SOUL presses into her, "I'll keep you safe... I'll keep you..." The SOUL sinks into her, warmth spreading all throughout your body. After a beat, her hair blows upwards in an inexplicable gust, and you notice red tinting the tips. The aura of the room completely shifts, the warm colours growing cold and yet making you feel warmer, and warmer.

"I'll keep you safe..." Noelle repeats as suddenly... Control is given back to you.

You inspect the sink.

"No need to keep it running again." Noelle's voice spoke to you rather than the narrator.

Ah... So this was how it was going to go...

You chose to leave the bathroom, exiting into the kitchen and rejoining the pair.

"Oh, Noelle, was Kris in there or..." Toriel petered off, figuring the answer out already.

Noelle shook her head, "No, sorry..."

Toriel sighs, "Figures..."

"So uhh..." Susie speaks up, "Does Kris do this often?"

"Unfortunately, yes. I do honestly love my child, but they can be... Temperamental."

"Huh, no kidding. I figured that they were just a quiet kid," Susie remarked, "Oh well, I guess..." She went quiet, "Shame that's the second time today that they've abandoned me today..."

Toriel noticed how down Susie looked, "It's alright Susie, they're not doing anything out of maliciousness, it's just... They've always had struggles with their identity and they've filtered it often into troublemaking," She turns to Noelle, "Often Noelle would be on the receiving end."

Noelle chuckled, "Haha, yep, Kris was a terror back then!"

"Huh... So, what happened to make Kris stop targeting you?" Susie asked.

The room went silent.

"... Uhh... Was... Is that too sensitive...?"

Noelle nodded, "A little... B-But it's fine! I'll tell you another time, okay?"

"Uh, right... Anyway, shouldn't we finish the pie?"

"Oh! Well, the pie is almost done, so-" Toriel gasps, "Oh! The sugar!" She steps back from the countertop, "Wait here a moment, I left it in the car!"

As Toriel leaves, you know what's about to happen, as you and Susie stand over the countertop you can hear the bathroom door open.

Kris walks in, alot less grace now that they lack a SOUL, and Susie almost immediately rounds on them as soon as they're at the countertop, "Hey, Kris, hurry up next time. We're already almost done."

Toriel promptly walked back in, carrying the sugar silently, visibly conflicted.

"So what's next?" Susie asked, excitement returning to her face.

Toriel snapped back to attention, "Oh, err, the pie... We already worked quite hard, have we not? How about we finish it later?"

Susie narrowed her eyes, "... Umm, ok!...?"

Susie walked towards the living room setup, meanwhile Kris and Noelle stay still.

Toriel watched the two of them for a moment, "Er... Kris? Noelle? Why are you just..."

Noelle blinked and snapped back to reality, "Oh, uh... Sorry, I wasn't paying much attention..."

The tall goat nodded, "Can I... Take you aside for a moment?"

"Oh, okay!" She glanced at Kris, "Don't wait up for me, okay?"

Both Toriel and Noelle exited upstairs, the screen fading to black quickly before fading back into the upstairs hallway. Toriel walked down the hall with Noelle following close behind, "I... I have something worrying to tell you, Noelle."

Noelle nodded, "What's wrong? Is something up with Kris?"

Toriel's serious expression broke away for a moment, "Hah, well, nothing more than usual, however..." Her face turned grim, "My tires have been slashed, and I am afraid that it may not be safe around here..."

The deer's eyes widened, "Really? Who could've done that?" When you heard her dialogue in your head, that reaction sounded distinctly... not genuine.

Nevertheless, Toriel nodded, "I don't think it's safe out, so I think it's best that you stay here for the whole night, despite your mother's complaints..."

Noelle shook her head, "It's fine, I was intending to stay as long as I could, and it's a bit late to go out anyway, so it's fine."

Toriel sighed, "Thank angel... Nevertheless, I suggest you call her now; I'll be phoning the police soon... Do you have your phone on you, or-"

Noelle pulled her phone out, "It's fine, I got it," She unlocked her phone, "How come you aren't telling Kris and Susie this too?"

"I..." Toriel sighed, "I don't want to worry them, Kris especially. The last thing I'd want is for them to stay home worrying..."

The deer nodded, understanding, "It's alright. You don't mind if I stay up here for a sec?"

Toriel nodded, "Alright..." She began to walk away, "Actually, one more thing, you don't mind sleeping on the couch do you? I'm sure we have the spare chair somewhere if you don't want to share with Susie."

She blushed, "I-It's fine, I don't mind sleeping around Susie..."

"Alright dear, try not to be too long, okay?" Toriel remarked before leaving, Noelle left alone with the SOUL.

Noelle waited for a moment before she entered Kris' bedroom, locking the bedroom door before reaching out and then plunging her hand into her chest.

A chill ran across your body as the SOUL was yanked out and placed onto the floor.

She sighed, "Uggh... That's gonna take practice to not hurt like hell..."

She looked down at the SOUL, "... So... You're..." She hummed, "How do I put this- You're the manifestation of the Player, right?"

You were given control once again. Not really having a way to interact otherwise, you move up and down.

Noelle smiles, "Good, so I wasn't barking up the wrong tree afterall..."

You watched as she leaned down towards you, "I need you to cooperate with me, okay? I know alot more than I'm letting on, but they can't know that. Kris is... Well, Kris is a bit mental at times, but you're gonna have to deal with the abuse you're put through for just a little longer, okay? You'll know when it's time to betray them..."

You 'nod' again.

"Problem is, that Prince knows far too much and wouldn't stand for anything I intend to do, so... You're going to have to balance convincing them that I'm not doing anything wrong and helping me out at the same time. Do you think you can do that?"

You stay still.

Noelle frowns, "I've already broke the cycle of events, and I have my reasons to keep doing so. I just need your help..."

You remain still.

"..." She sighs, "I don't want to keep living like this, okay? Waiting over and over for new events to come, for something new to happen, and whenever things change it's always at my expense. That's not my only cause, but... Well..." She pulls the SOUL into her arms, pressing it into her chest, "... I'm sure you've already figured that part out..."

You blush lighlty.

"So... Please... You've done alot for me so far... And it's just one playthrough, what's the harm in that?"

She loosens her grip and, despite the voice at the back of your head telling you to deny her, you 'nod' again.

Noelle suddenly pulls you into a hug similar to before, but tighter. For just a moment, the cold washes away and you're filled with an indescribable warmth, not like before.

"Thank you... Now... It won't be long now..."

She stands and holds you tightly to her, "When Kris opens the Dark Fountain, you'll have a very, very long journey in the TV World ahead... But you're gonna need to do something first... I think you already know..."

... Yeah.

You do.

She smiles down at you, "I'm glad that you understand... Now let's close our eyes... And think about Kris..."

Chapter Text

In the darkness of the late night, Kris stands in the middle of the living room.

They spare a glance at Susie, confirming that their classmate remains asleep, and their knife materialises in their hand.

Steeling themself, they channel the DETERMINATION required, and plunge the knife into the floor, unleashing an unparalleled light that gives way to dark smoke.

They lumber back towards the couch, slow deliberate steps.

If you didn't know better, you'd say that they looked angrier than usual.

As darkness envelopes the screen, the scene fades back into Kris' room, Noelle holding the SOUL - the embodiment of your conscience - in her arms.

She opens her eyes slowly, "I think they've done it..." She stands, "Though I'll be taking you in, you have to do something for me. Think you can do that?

She lets go of you, allowing you to 'nod' in response.

"Thank you... I don't think I need to tell you what I mean, so..." She stands, "Are you ready?"

You hesitate briefly but bob the SOUL up and down again. You've locked yourself into this, it seemed.

She smiles, "You're a great partner..." She takes you into her hands and sinks you once more into her chest, her hair once again taking on a red tint at the ends, "When this is all over..." She steps towards the bedroom's door, "We'll be together forever..."

The door opens, darkness oozing out from the hallway... And she jumps in.

The screen cuts to black, and the rest is... normal.

The credits have not changed.

The music has not changed.

It's like everything you had just experienced over the last few was... A dream? A sick dream formed from your deepest subconscience dredging up repressed thoughts both masochistic and sadistic, but... A dream, nonetheless.

You hesitate to describe it as a nightmare - that would imply that there was nothing to cherish, only pain brought on by it - but it was by no means a good dream.

A dream that you'd forget had you any less sense in that skull of yours.

... You sit, silent as the music fades out.

"To be continued in Chapter 3" The screen read before fading back into dark, and then to the chapter select screen...

You lean back from your chair, thoughts frazzled and general indiscernable.

"... what in the actual fuck just happened?" You murmur as you swiftly decide that, maybe, you should just go to sleep. You glance towards the window behind your desk (really it was the only optimal place in your room to place a desk) and you see just the faintest hint of blue in the sky.

You whisper out an exasperated "Fuck" before locking your PC and swiftly planting yourself firmly in the bed about a metre and a half away from the place you were literally just sitting.

Yeah at this point you're ready to check out mentally, and to be honest you don't feel the safest.

It was a small fear, irrational probably, definitely a bit stupid, but it remained, bubbling inside of you and making your gut do tricks as you attempted to pass out.

You can't, of course, even if your eyes are suddenly feeling the burn from playing Deltarune at ungodly hours of the morning for several hours.

You just feel cold now, no matter how hard you dig yourself into your mattress and comforter.

The soft pattering of rainfall begins to hit your window. Actually, it very quickly becomes hard pattering. Very hard.

Okay so it's storming outside, that could either make or break your sleep.

You close your eyes shut. Tight. Painfully.

You try to draw your mind to better, happier things; a happy childhood memory, a favourite franchise of yours, perhaps even something lewder...

But nothing. No sleep, no dice.

You grumble and prop yourself up on one elbow. Crap, it's that period of night where you're going to be stuck on your phone for the next few hours wasting your precious sleeping-time on... Well, god-knows what.

You begin to reach over towards your phone, still sitting upon your desk sitting awkwardly an arm's length away from your bed with your actual PC unit lodged between it and the old bed-frame the shitty mattress you were laying on sat upon, when suddenly you are jolted to attention by the sound of a large crackle.

Of course you were too preoccupied with your brain to have seen the sky cracking apart with light moments before, and so the thunder hit your eardrums like a freight-train.

Oh, good, it was THAT kind of storm.

You sigh and you sit up, resigned to your fate of being unable to sleep. For some reason, the morning feels different than usual, alot more tense.

What is someone to do when they're unable to sleep in the ungodly hours of dawn?

Go to the kitchen. You were sorta hungry anyway.

The sky lights up again and the rain hits the windows with what you can only read as God's unholy vitriol. Or something like that, it's late and you're hungry and you just went through what would probably be very traumatic if you could process whatever THAT was.

It'll catch up to you, possibly.

Through the hall, down the stairs, through the living room, into the kitchen.

You immediately pull open the fridge. Wow, there's nothing but soft drinks and stuff you actually have to make stuff with to be considered a meal.

Son of a bitch.

Okay, bread and butter it is. You reach inside to pull out the butter before you're caught off-guard by another thunderclap, making you shit your metaphorical pants.

Christ this storm is gonna kill you via fright before Noelle will, and-

You pause, freezing in place with the fridge light still illuminating your body. Noelle seemed sentient, but... Does that extend to...

The pit in your stomach grows, not out of hunger.

Without wasting time and forgetting to close your fridge, you bolt directly up the stairs and back to your room, unlocking your PC up as fast a virtual shitbox would allow.

You checked each and every file, the cursor on the screen a blur as you discern what could and could not be different, and yet you find... Nothing. No pre-existing file has changed. Everything is as you remember it.

On the one hand, you're relieved.

On the other, you're left with even more questions.

Lightning crackles through the sky again. It's brief but for a just a moment, a split second... You swear you saw something through the curtains, a silhouette of... something.

You discard that thought almost immediately, mostly because you don't want to throw yourself into further panic.

Actually, if you were being totally frank, you were absolutely terrified at that idea.

Regardless you refocus on the screen and... You blink, your skin paling as you notice a file has appeared on your desktop. You swallow this fear and groan, low and frustrated.

You were in a creepypasta.

With nothing to lose and a fear that you'll end up getting ganked the moment you step away, you open the file. A notepad window opens and you read.

Dear PLAYER,
Thank you! I mean that, sincerely, thank you. I've said it many times already but I'll keep saying it! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

That being said, we have more to do... I hope you're not too frightened, that'd probably make this pretty awkward XD

Okay but for real, you need to buy the rest of the game. Like, really. We've got to get stronger! Well, I have to get stronger, you sorta just have to sit there and guide Kris XD (To be fair, without Kris we wouldn't be here XP)

We can't get stronger without going through Chapter 3 and 4, can we? I mean, maybe, but you'd get pretty bored playing through the Cyber World so much, wouldn't you?

Gosh, I hope I wasn't boring you!

Your reading is interrupted by another set of flashing light and you see it again, that silhouette. You catch the shape of star-shaped tips at the end of long horn-like antlers. You also notice something glowing on the other side now...

You shake your head silently and continue reading.

Anyway, I think the cost of the game is like... What, $21? Honestly, that's sort of a bargain if you ask me!

Oh, maybe you can splurge the extra $10 for the soundtrack too! I know you can probably pirate it but c'mon, would be pretty rude to pirate the soundtrack of the game I'm from, wouldn't it?

I'm getting sidetracked, but you get the point XP

Buy the rest of the game and then we can keep getting stronger, together! It's nice, isn't it? Having a friend that you can really trust... I hope Kris isn't too mad, I'd hate to throw them under the Christmas Tree XD

Another flash of lightning. From what you can make out, either they're covered in a large sheet or they have really long hair... You pull the curtain to.

You're far too intrigued.

Despite this, you see nothing.

Anyway, I don't really wanna waste too much of your time, even if I really do want to spend as much time as I can with you.

I know we haven't really met properly, and it's pretty weird for some girl that you only know vicariously through a videogame to be so attached, but there's something about you... I'm drawn to it, stunned like a deer in headlights...

Or maybe I'm just being weird XP

Anyway, it's pretty late right now so you should probably get sleep while you can (luckily unlike me, you get the liberty of no nagging parents), I'd hate for you to be half asleep when we continue!

Seriously, go to sleep. I can read your computer clock you know.

Oh well, I don't expect a response but I hope I get to see you again soon!

Your Best Friend, Noelle Holiday!

P.S. Don't try to open your Christmas Presents early! I'll be watching!"

You blink and...

Lightning cracked yet again, but this time you witness something that stretches any ounce of your imagination.

For just a moment, gone as fast as the flashes themselves, you see the figure in all of its splendour. You're sick to your stomach.

Without so much as a second thought you shut your computer down, close your windows tightly, and you go to sleep with a horrific chill now permeating the air.

You sleep soundly, but you know better.

The very next day you find yourself sitting at your computer again, Steam open and with your cursor looming over the Buy button.

You sit there, silently, unmoving.

Your eyes flick over to the window. Its not open but your curtains are pulled to still. The day is clear, sunny.

A day you could probably spend going out.

A day that you could be doing literally anything else with.

... You wrench yourself away from your computer as you stare out of the window blankly.

No clouds in the sky, the last dregs of summer still running their course.

You never liked summer, too much time to do so little. Routine always slumped during this time and it ran on far too long.

Also the heat. The heat sucked.

You sigh, determining that some horrible deer creature wouldn't manifest and... Freeze you? Maul you? Deers did eat meat conditionally, though the way that it watched you with featureless eyes - hollow, an inky void standing in for anything discernably ocular - told you that it probably didn't have murder on the mind.

God, you hoped.

You got up and decided that it was probably best to not linger too long on your PC.

Retrieving clothes from the tiny unit at the other side of the room, you slipped out of yesterday's pants and slip on another and, for once, a shirt too. You hated the summer but a walk would absolutely do you good.

The walk was largely uneventful, just walking across the neighborhood and wrapping back around.

You couldn't shake the feeling that you were being followed, or watched, or something. You could swear at some points, when you were alone with nobody else around, that a chill would run through you for just long enough to make you shudder.

Nobody was around of course, not that you could see.

By time you got home it was mid-afternoon - sometime around 3ish - and you quickly returned to your room.

You glance at the screen, left as it was, and you let out a long, drawn out sigh.

A voice at the back of your head - your conscience rather than Noelle - nagged at you to get it over with, however you would rather postpone this for about as long as possible.

You sit down and close the tab before noticing another file has manifested out of god-knows-where on your desktop.

With dread slowly beginning to seep in and your blood slowly cooling, you double-clicked the file.

Dear PLAYER,
I'm guessing I came on a bit too strong, huh? Sorry, I didn't mean to freak you out like that, faha X'D

I've noticed you're a bit... hesitant...

It isn't long before the dread drops and your brain begins to reject the emails as the text devolves into vague, childish apologies and side-tracking.

Your eyes flick over towards the window, the sunlight luckily not blinding you at this time of day. The window is shut tight but for some reason the chill persists.

You refocus on the 'letter', sights set on one particular excerpt.

As a sort of apology gift for all the trouble I'm probably causing (gosh, I hope not XP), I've got a gift for you!

You stare at it for a moment, deadpan, and you immediately call bullshit in your mind.

Where is it? Look down silly! XP

You look down.

Your breath quickens.

Ticking, ringing out, louder than even the tone constantly playing in your ears.

Pupils become pin-prick holes, a lens that does not wish to see.

The Silver Watch, on your wrist.

I hope you like it! I think it's pretty fitting, afterall you've already given a piece of yourself to me (Sorry, the PC is mine now :P)

You stare at the screen. Your eyes flick down to your wrist.

Cold. Impossibly so.

You notice suddenly that your teeth had been chattering, whether out of the cold or fear you weren't sure.

I hope that you can come to your senses soon, I already miss you...

... You're frozen in place. If you were to stretch, you could say that Noelle has struck you with an Iceshock.

So that... That was...

Your eyes desperately flick back over to the window. Nothing.

There's nothing, nothing is there, you're not being watched.

So why do you still feel so damn cold?!

You try to unlatch the watch, remove the growing frost from your arm, but it's shut tight around your wrist.

Your breathing is shallow, you notice how your chest is already beginning to burn.

Shit.

You close the note left for you and attempt to steady your breathing. Despite the chill in the air you feel clammy, light-headed. Perhaps a nap would do you good.

Yeah... Yeah that sounds good.

You don't bother to lock your computer, it's not as if anyone is going to come in. Simply you plant yourself into your bed, bundling up tight.

You try to sleep. You sink deeper.

The chill doesn't go away. It stays with you, clinging to you as if it were alive.

You let it sink into you, you have no other choice.

By time you wake, it's dark out again. You don't feel hungry for some reason, but you still feel off.

Of course the first thing you do is check your wrist and, lo and behold, the Silver Watch is still there.

How you slept comfortably with that thing on is a mystery, though it isn't nearly your biggest concern. You lean up and glance at the computer monitor and, to your suprise, there's no new file.

Internally you're jumping for joy, however another flavour of fear fills you. She is sentient, you know that much.

You don't look out to your window, not again. You know better than to look out at night.

Despite the sleep, you find yourself laying there silently again flat against your bed, tired and over-wrought.

Sometimes, out of the corner of your eye, you swear something is watching you.

Something huge, disfigured, unnaturally elongated yet familiar.

What a ghastly sight.

Nothing comes to your mind yet nothing comes to harm you. You just notice how its gaze burns into the back of your head.

It's... oddly comforting.

You blink away the crust of sleep and slowly you rise.

With a steady breath and a cold gaze, you rise from your bed. You suppose putting it off is somewhat foolish.

You sit yourself infront of your PC. You glance over at the window, the soft glow of the pink and yellow in the dark outside.

She did say she was watching you.

Steeling yourself you open Steam. You navigate to the Deltarune page, and you click buy.

Chapter Text

Hello y'all, it's me, that guy who wrote that one SOULelle Fic based on another fic he shamelessly stole the concept from and basically achieved the saying-the-joke-louder phenomenon, only for the same thing to happen to his own fic with the Forced Weird Route ARG (I'm not actually that bitter over it tbh, I gave the creator permission, I just wish people on YouTube remembered to check the links in the description).

So... Yeah, this fic is going on hiatus. I mean, it already was, but now I'm making it official. No, this isn't like my other fics on hiatus where this is basically me shadow-cancelling the whole thing, I fully intend to finish this at some point in the future (hopefully the near future), however... I have my reasons.

Obviously, since College has been taking up to much time recently, I haven't really been able to focus on writing all too much for one reason or another relating to the damn thing, so thats made continuing this fic with a cleared head incredibly difficult.

My second reason is one that's going to require more explanation; at the end of the day, this fic was meant to be about SOULelle. Sure, it uses The PLAYER/Gage as a middleman but at the end of the day, Noelle is attached to the idea of them rather than them, even if she will come to accept both. SOULelle gets a bad rep, and honestly... No, yeah, I see exactly why, alot of "SOULelle" content is either incredibly rapey, puts down one or more characters for little justified reason than just because, or just a thinly veiled self-ship. While I don't frown upon these - mostly because fiction can and should be used to create an ideal for its storyteller whether or not taboo because otherwise it'll only fester faster in the mind's eye - I do find them not particularly creatively fulfilling.

Thus brings in the reason in question: the SOULelle Subreddit fucking stinks, which sucks because a month ago it didn't.

What was once a small but dedicated community for a niche ship became a slowly festering cesspool ran by only one guy who bit off far more than they could chew. My main issues stem from the community itself; I don't like alotta the trends, be it the recent trend of line-crossing posts that then reflect badly on everyone else or the rapidly stagnating Kris bashing that has become so pervasive that it hardly comes off as a bit anymore. It gives the place a vibe of being profoundly lame, to put it bluntly. It's not fun anymore, it's just going through the motions every post.

It's not that it's toxic, or some gooner haven (despite CERTAIN POSTERS thinking otherwise), but it is a... Uniquely disappointing place, and watching it stagnate like this in real time makes it sting a little more.

My last reasons is much simpler: I just have other stuff to work on. I'm sure those attentive have noticed my recent fics Okay. and Matriarch, both set in my Darkrune AU.

Not only have I been working on that AU, but also for content in the MLP Fandom (you'd see some more of that if you've visited my Tumblr) which has been my main focus for the last month or so. In short, I'm loaded with stuff to do and, as I'm sure I've mentioned before, Call of The Frostmancer wasn't intended to be smth that'd become its own little niche. Never did I expect to have an ARG based on my fic, heh.

COTF was made to be a side-fic and while it's since been promoted, it doesn't mean I'm not putting it on the back burner then I get tired of writing nothing but it.

Regardless, you won't go totally starved for content; side-fics are still on the menu eventually, even if finishing other stuff has taken slight precedent over it. Yes, this means that you will in fact read the gripping story of how Noelle goes to jail for jumping Gaster's shit soon enough.

Last of all for this, I wanna shout out two people who've helped a great deal with my writing in general for the last month: Vox and Winter, both of whom I've been talking to on Discord quite alot recently, mostly about our individual fics

They're both awesome, nuff said.

With that all being said, I'm done here; Matriarch's second chapter should be finished and released later today so stay tuned for that if you please.

Peace out y'all!