The Secret Below Hometown

by Reginald_Ritmo_Guy

Summary:

Five fountains have been sealed. One very angry Roaring Knight has been confronted. Coming off of the heels of this turmoil, Kris Dreemurr spots the last person they ever saw with December Holiday retreat into the Hometown Bunker. In this speculative take on a possible Deltarune Chapter 6, Kris and Noelle will delve into the Bunker, seeking answers about Dess, the Roaring Knight, the grey feline, and more.

Notes:

I just want to preface this work with a few things.

Firstly, the Grey Feline in this story is supposed to be Gaster Follower #2. The fact that he's missing a hand is based on the fact that his sprite in Undertale only has one hand. Since Mysterman and Gaster Follower #2 play the same jingle when they vanish in Undertale, I thought it would be cool if that meant they were issekaied into Deltarune.

Secondly, I have made the assumption that Kris and Noelle will become closer friends in later chapters for ease of writing.

The door was closed. The red door that was set into that hill in the woods outside town had been closed for as long as Kris could remember. However, that was going to need to change. Kris looked to their left. Thankfully, they wouldn't need to make this step alone. Their friend, yes, someone they could now truly call their friend, Noelle was with them.

 

“So, this is where you saw that man run away to?”

 

Kris nodded. There was no mistaking it. After they had taken care of the previous Dark Fountain, that grey feline monster had run down a path that they knew led to this dead end. The only conclusion is that he was now hiding inside. It was time for some answers.

 

"Kris, before we go in here, I just want to say that no matter what happens in there, I'm glad that we can be friends now. I mean, sure, we were friends when we were little, but that was because our dads were friends."

 

Kris shrugged. They just weren't one to talk often. 

 

“Well, let’s open the door.”

 

Kris grasped the handle of the left door firmly. They looked over to Noelle, who had a similar grip on the right handle. They gave her a silent nod before they both wrenched the doors open. Surprisingly, the doors gave with minimal effort, nearly knocking Noelle off-balance.

 

The opening of the bunker was dimly illuminated. Kris took Noelle's hand in their own, and began to enter. The first thing one would notice in the Bunker was a set of stairs. No more than twenty steps total, but enough that Kris needed to help Noelle descend them. By the time they were at the bottom of the stairs, Noelle needed to open her backpack to withdraw a flashlight. They began exploring the dimly lit metallic halls.

 

“So, Kris, you said earlier that you recognized the monster that fled down here?”

 

Kris scratched at their hair briefly before answering.

 

“He was the last person I saw Dess with. He only ever talked to her. I never learned his name.”

 

“Wait, do you think he might…”

 

“If anyone knows where Dess is,” Kris continued, “it would be him.”

 

Noelle scanned over the interior of the bunker with her flashlight. It was becoming evident that something was off about this place. For one, the Bunker was far more expansive than either of its two explorers would have predicted. The halls and various rooms showed a strange diversity in contents. Some rooms seemed to be filled with metal scrap, others with strange instruments, and several more that seemed to be filled with common furniture. It was in one of the furnished rooms that something caught Noelle's eye.

 

“Hey, look at this,” Noelle said, lightly tugging the sleeve of Kris’ jacket. She gestured to a table, which sported what appeared to be a tape player, already loaded with an audio cassette. “What do you think is on there?”

 

Kris walked over to the table and leaned over to inspect the player.

 

“Only one way to find out.”

 

Kris lightly tapped the play button of the cassette player, which caused the recording to begin. A voice could soon be heard, old and sputtering.

 

“H-hello? Is this thing on? Oh… yes, it is. Well then, uh… hello future me! It seems that I have woken up, not where I was. The last thing I remember was doing some sort of experiment with, was it a knife? Something to do with a knife. My memory seems to have gone. I can't recall my own name, to be perfectly frank. What I do have is a piece of writing, an ‘entry’ it was labeled as. I have decided to label my audio logs with the same nomenclature, for the sake of consistency. The writing I found was labeled the seventeen in a series, and seems to reference some experiment involving absolute darkness. Thankfully, I have found what I need to focus on that. I was able to quickly find shelter in this bunker, and it appears that there are some rudimentary implements here already. Furthermore, I have decided to avoid contacting the nearby townspeople, at least until I can be certain I understand where I am and how I ended up here.”

 

The tape came to a stop. Kris and Noelle gazed at each other in confusion.

 

“Who do you think made this?” Noelle asked. “He didn’t sound like the grey guy that we are after.”

 

Kris scratched their head.

 

“We should keep the player with us. There might be more cassettes,” Kris commentated.

 

With that, the two of them resumed their exploration. In the adjoining room, furnished much like the prior one, there seemed to be several tapes strewn over the table. Kris crossed over to them and began counting.

 

"Noelle, there's three of them."

 

Noelle nodded, and set the cassette player down on the table. Kris loaded the first one into the player and began to play it.

 

"On a routine trip to scavenge the nearby town under nightfall, I found someone. Someone like me. I could be so certain, because when I found him, he was talking to himself about the King. One of the first things I realized, when I first awoke, was that I was no longer within the Kingdom of Monsters. This new face, they seemed to recognize me. Apparently, I am named 'Doctor W. D. Gaster'. Quite the strange name, I think. I invited him to return to my shelter and live with me for as long as he needed. Perhaps some company might be good."

 

Kris stopped the player and ejected the tape. Noelle cleared her throat.

 

“Well, that answers who was recording these tapes, even if I have way more questions now.”

 

Kris shook their head.

 

“Kingdom of Monsters? Another world? Do you think they’re darkners?” Kris enquired.

 

“Maybe,” Noelle responded, “let’s put the next one in.”

 

As Kris loaded the next tape into the machine, they stopped for a moment and glanced at Noelle.

 

“These tapes, they’re all at the start.”

 

“What do you mean by that?” Noelle asked.

 

“When you finish recording a tape, it usually stays at the end. You have to rewind it to listen again. These tapes have all been rewound.”

 

Noelle held a hand over her mouth, giggling slightly.

 

"Kris, the Gaster guy probably did that so he could listen to his recordings later!"

 

Kris facepalmed, embarrassed. They finished loading the tape into the machine and began playing the recording.

 

“I had a burst of recollection today. My friend’s name is Xander Thaumiel. He seemed elated to have recovered this information. In return, he has taught me about myself. This final experiment that I conducted at some point in the past, its purpose was to find new worlds, so that my kin would be able to bypass the barrier entirely.”

 

“Doctor, what are you working on?”

 

Kris paused the recording.

 

"That's the grey guy's voice."

 

Noelle nodded in understanding.

 

“I suppose that means his name is Xander, then.”

 

Noelle reached over, resuming the tape.

 

“Oh. Xander. I was recording an audio log. Something to remember the occasion with.”

 

“You have salvaged recording technology?”

 

"Yes, I have. Technological components are abundant in this bunker."

 

“Doctor, could I ask something of you?”

 

“Certainly.”

 

“Could you perhaps fashion a new hand for me?”

 

“I could certainly try. ”

 

The recording came to a close. Kris sat pensively for a moment before snapping their fingers softly.

 

“Now I’m sure it’s him. I remember him having a metal hand.”

 

“Neat. Let’s put the third tape in.”

 

The tape was changed with little fanfare, and the new tape was played.

 

"Excellent news! A book of exceeding interest was recovered from the town's library. A book of Human and Monster history has been brought back to the bunker. I have learned much about the nature of this world. This world was spared from a human-monster war entirely."

 

Again, the tape was paused, this time by Noelle.

 

“Wait… a war between humans and monsters? Kris, I don’t think these people are darkners anymore.”

 

Kris put the crook of their thumb to their chin, thinking this over. If not from the Dark World, where could they have come from?

 

Noelle resumed the tape.

 

“Doctor, the book's author.”

 

"Yes! Thank you, Xander. This book appears to be written by the Gerson Boom of this timeline. It seems the old hero has greatly assisted me, even in another timeline."

 

Noelle paused the tape once more.

 

“Wait, Gerson Boom? As in the teacher who used to live here? Did they get a copy of The History of Humans and Monsters ?”

 

“Probably.”

 

The tape resumed.

 

"Furthermore, this book has also alerted me to new information. There is a legend of a mysterious Dark World, one which runs below this world. If one had enough willpower, legend states that they could puncture a portal into this Dark World. Furthermore, I have discovered that if several of these punctures were to remain open for enough time, the world itself would be engulfed in Darkness. In other words, it is the key to continuing my past self's work."

 

The tape came to a stop. Kris cleared their throat.

 

“That’s the prophecy I was telling you about earlier. I mean, that sounded like it, at least. And they seem to be right on all of this.”

 

Noelle gave Kris a coy smile. Ejecting the tape and taking her friend by the hand.

 

“You did open a Dark Fountain, didn’t you?”

 

The next room over was much less homely than the previous two. It was absent of chairs, with the walls being lined with counters decorated with several pieces of equipment. Laid out on one counter were another three tapes. The duo wandered over to them, and Noelle loaded the first one in.

 

“Noelle, doesn’t this seem suspicious?”

 

Noelle paused for a moment. Perhaps it was strange that these tapes were being left around like this, almost as if someone wanted them to be found. Then again, if the owner of the tapes wanted someone to listen to them, she was more than willing to listen. 

 

“Kris, I think we’ll be fine. I can’t back out now. I’ve done too much of that.”

 

The tape began to play.

 

"T-the doctor has become inconsolable and has asked me to record in his stead. He had attempted to use a piece of sharpened scrap to recreate what he had read about, without success. I am unsure why this has occurred, though I have proposed to Dr. Gaster that perhaps the ability to open this puncture is something exclusive to this world's inhabitants.

 

In other news, my mechanical hand has been completed. Again, I am amazed at the speed of the Doctor's work, especially compared to his successor in the Kingdom of Monsters."

 

Noelle ejected the tape thoughtlessly, turning to Kris.

 

“That’s weird, isn’t it?”

 

“What?”

 

“Well, why couldn’t he open the fountain? It’s almost like he’s from some other world where dark fountains don’t exist or something.”

 

“Heh. Maybe.”

 

Noelle played the next tape.

 

“Xander, that thing you said, repeat it.”

 

“Your successor in the Kingdom found a chemical called Determination?”

 

“Precisely! Monsters in this timeline must have a greater supply of this chemical than we do! That's the secret!

 

Noelle paused the tape.

 

“I… I was right? That was a total guess!”

 

“Lucky guess, then.”

 

She resumed the tape.

 

On a more professional note, I have done some further reading into this Darkness event. It is both inhospitable to residents of this world and the Dark World below. Perhaps I read too deeply into historical legends, but to continue my work, it would seem that I need to create a successor who is both a resident of this world and has a body that is similar to the residents of the Dark World. According to a mythological source this world's version of Mr. Boom has compiled, the residents of the Dark World are manifest in this world as objects. Now I must wonder how to synergize these elements."

 

The tape stopped.

 

Noelle looked uncomfortably at the table, hesitating to load the next tape. Something about that idea, of someone creating a new life for just one narrow purpose, rubbed her the wrong way.

 

"Noelle, what's wrong?"

 

Noelle snapped back into focus, quickly loading in the next tape.

 

“N-nothing! I just spaced out there.”

 

The next tape began.

 

“A burst of inspiration came to me while repairing Xander’s mechanical hand. I have determined the conditions of the synthesis. I will combine the Soul of an indigenous inhabitant of this world with a mechanical body, using their dust as a solvent of magical energy. This being will have the endurance of a being of this world, but their nonorganic body will allow them to thrive with the Darkness event. The next logical stage is straightforward. The mechanical body must be made, and the donor of the Soul must be selected.”

 

As the tape came to an end, Noelle clutched herself around her middle with both arms, shaking slightly.

 

“Noelle, wha-”

 

“It’s sick, Kris.”

 

“What?”

 

“The thing they’re describing, it’s making me sick. How… how could anyone do that? Take an innocent monster, and then contort them into some kind of pawn ?”

 

Kris thought for a moment, trying to think of a way to help their friend. Their mind could conjure nothing. She was right. It was a profane idea.

 

“Noelle, let’s go.”

 

The next room was much like the previous one, except perhaps even less hospitable. The counters were strewn with mechanical parts and scrap metal. Three more tapes were left in easy view. The pattern was becoming undeniable.

 

“Kris, who do you think is leaving the tapes like this?”

 

“Maybe it’s Xander? I guess he wanted to explain himself.”

 

Kris nonchalantly loaded the next tape.

 

“Knight has awoken today. They seem to have inherited both the memories and personality of the Soul donor. Much of the day has been invested in accommodating Knight to their body. It seems that Knight shows a preference to being referred to with their Soul donor’s original name.”

 

Noelle nearly fainted as she fell prone onto the floor, crying and gagging. Kris hastily paused the tape before awkwardly lowering themself to the floor, desperate to console their friend.

 

“Oh my angel… oh my ANGEL! They… those fiends did that to an innocent monster… I’m gonna be sick…”

 

Kris slowly lifted Noelle off of the floor, placing a hand on each of her shoulders, facing her.

 

“Noelle, it’s okay. I’m right here.”

 

Noelle composed herself, before slowly returning to her feet.

 

“Noelle, we don’t have to listen to any more of these if you don’t want to.”

 

“Kris, I want to. I need answers more than anything. Do you think this Knight machine is the same thing as the Roaring Knight?”

 

Kris winced at the suggestion. They could recall that figure vividly. Its mechanical head, the cold eyes, and the metal antlers, all posed on top of that snaking neck that led into the folds of a dark purple cloak, all stung into their memory. The suggestion that perhaps this adversary had been made so cruelly was not a welcome one, but it wasn't easy to deny either.

 

“M-maybe. Let’s put the tape back on.”

 

“W… what have we done?”

 

“Xander, are you alright?”

 

“What have I done? That girl… she, she had a FAMILY. What… how could…”

 

“Xander! Get a hold of yourself. What we did was for the betterment of science. We have not killed the donor, see? The Soul is still intact! And that family, I do not suspect they would miss that child, seeing as they were so unloving to her.”

 

Noelle tapped the pause button on the tape player, slowly turning to Kris.

 

“Kris… do you think…”

 

“Think what?”

 

“Do you think the monster they did this to was… my sister?”

 

Kris shook their head.

 

“There are plenty of girls out there with rough home lives. Besides, you loved Dess, your dad did too. That wouldn't be her.”

 

The tape was resumed.

 

“Doctor? Xander? What are you doing?”

 

“That’s our Roaring Knight,” Kris interjected as the tape continued.

 

“OH… Knight… sorry. Xander and I were just discussing… baseball! Yes, your favorite, isn't it?”

 

“Oh! I like baseball. Hey, maybe we could try and install a TV in here so we could watch some.”

 

“Doctor, they have a point. I think it would make this place feel more like a home.”

 

“Agreed.”

 

The tape spun down.

 

Noelle ejected the tape, and looked at Kris uncomfortably.

 

“Kris, are you sure? Baseball was always Dess’ favorite…”

 

Kris took a deep breath and shone a reassuring smile.

 

“Plenty of girls do. Noelle, no one would do something so awful to someone like Dess. I mean, there has to be a better explanation.”

 

“Y-yeah. Put in the next one.”

 

Kris set the next tape, and activated the player.

 

"Does… does this thing even work anymore? Oh. Here we are. Knight, Xander, and I have been living together as a family for quite some time now. Knight has been something like a child to me. Nurturing their curiosity has been a most wonderful experience, and turning this bunker into a proper home has been most pleasant. However, enough time has passed. We must proceed with what the Knight was built to do. Tomorrow night, we shall venture into the town, and create a portal into the Dark World."

 

Noelle breathed a sigh of relief as she ejected the tape. She gave an anxious smile as she turned away from the counter, and began walking to the next room.

 

“H-hey, at least the kid they did this to got to have a family…”

 

Kris dug their hands into their pockets casually.

 

“If these are the people the Roaring Knight grew up with, I’m not surprised with their behavior. I mean, raised by their own killers? That would turn anyone into a creep.”

 

The next room they visited seemed to be a sort of informal office. The walls were lined with bookshelves and several desks covered in papers written in some sort of incomprehensible script. Two tapes again were suspiciously left in plain view.

 

"At this point, I'm starting to think maybe Xander left these out to defend himself," Noelle commented.

 

“Defend?”

 

“I mean, he sounded like he really regretted turning that monster into the Knight. Maybe he thought we would be mad at him, and he wanted to explain himself.”

 

Noelle loaded the next tape into the player.

 

“Most excellent results! The portal appeared, just as the prophecy foretold! The closet of the town’s school unfurled Into what I can only assume was the Dark World itself! The area was entirely devoid of population, but it was certainly magnificent in architecture. Perhaps a royal capital once resided here. We will repeat the procedure tomorrow.”

 

Kris stopped the tape, and ejected it.

 

“That’s castle town.”

 

“What?” Noelle asked.

 

“Oh, uh, it’s the name of that place Susie and I showed you, where Ralsei is from.”

 

“What? That place isn’t empty! So many people were there!”

 

“We moved them into the town from the other Dark Worlds.”

 

Noelle rolled her eyes, mildly annoyed.

 

“Yeah right.”

 

The tape was swapped for the next, and the new one was played.

 

“Even more Incredible results! Knight opened a second portal within the classroom adjacent to the closet. We discovered an entire kingdom! It appears that the residents of the Dark World address themselves as ‘Darkners’, and have developed a rich culture that is surprisingly different from the world above it.

 

While we were there, Knight suggested taking measures to ensure the integrity of the portal. That is, another resident of the upper world may attempt to close the portal. I congratulated Knight on their genius and gave them full reign. Knight selected one of the native Kings of the region and aided him in a coup against his rivals. Now, the Kingdom has become stalwart."

 

Kris paused the tape.

 

“This one, it must be new.”

 

“What, the tape?”

 

“Yeah. Susie and I went to the Dark World from this tape last Thursday.”

 

Noelle looked away momentarily, gathering her thoughts, before giving Kris a disapproving glare.

 

“So you lied to me.”

 

“W-what?”

 

“You said that the reason you and Susie were away for so long was because you got lost.”

 

"I… uh… Hey! How would I have explained it to you, anyway?"

 

Noelle bowed her head to consider this point, before delivering a shrug.

 

“Fair point,” she concluded, resuming the tape.

 

“D-doctor… don't get mad, but I may have made a teensy tiny mistake.”

 

“Oh, Xander. I can assure you, it was likely not an issue.”

 

“I may have gotten into a conversation with one of the Darkners.”

 

“So?”

 

“I may have told him too much about the upper world. He began to behave erratically.”

 

"Xander, I am sure that that is a non-issue."

 

Kris ejected the tape, their eyes wide.

 

“I know the Darkner he talked to.”

 

“Wait, what? Really?”

 

“Yeah, the darkner was locked up for acting crazy because someone told him something about the world.”

 

Noelle ruffled Kris’ hair playfully.

 

“Do you always keep secrets like this?”

 

“No comment,” Kris said, smirking.

 

There were no more rooms to travel to in this direction. However, retracing their steps, Kris was able to spot a nearby room that they had yet to visit.

 

This last room was perhaps the strangest of all. It was furnished with a desk, several chairs of various types, and a small television, but strangely no bed. The walls seemed to be decorated with hand-drawn patterns that Kris could not help but find familiar. Delta Runes and Eyes were drawn on every wall. The desk was surprisingly neat, and even included a small rack of what appeared to be three more tapes.

 

“Kris, do you think that someone was living in this room?”

 

“If there was,” Kris commented nervously, “I don’t want to run into them.”

 

Noelle took the first tape out of the rack and set it to play.

 

“Hello. This is Knight. The doctor has asked me to begin recording these messages, to prepare me for my eventual goal. 

 

Firstly, disaster struck. Having returned to the school last night, one of the fountains I had crafted was destroyed. Strangely, the other was spared. I suspect that some monsters had stumbled into the Dark World, and had sealed the fountain for reasons unknown.

 

To accommodate for the destroyed fountain, I have formed a new fountain. The computer lab of the Library sufficed. I was certain to record myself as I made the fountain, such that I would not need to waste time acquainting myself with the Dark World's leader.

 

Kris paused the tape, grimacing.

 

“Thursday night.”

 

“What? Kris, what do you mean?”

 

“This tape must have been made Thursday night. They’re describing the first Dark World you went to. The Knight’s been living here , and they probably still are.”

 

Noelle swallowed nervously before resuming the tape.

 

On my way back to the Bunker, I encountered some other prowlers in the night. The home they chose to rob… I could not bear to allow them. I did my best to deter them, and I remained at a distance until I saw fit that they were arrested.

 

End communication.”

 

Noelle ejected the tape, now sweating slightly.

 

"That's my house Kris… there was an attempted break-in on Thursday night… Why… why would the Knight be protecting my house?"

 

She looked at Kris fearfully.

 

“You don’t think that the girl they used to make the Knight was-”

 

“Noelle, your house is also the Mayor’s house. The Knight probably just wanted the Mayor to not be investigating anything. That girl couldn’t be Dess.”

 

“Okay… If you’re sure.”

 

Noelle changed the tape and played it.

 

"I am being mocked. In the night, I again visited my fountains. My newest creation was again destroyed. 

 

As I sought out the place to form a new fountain, I could detect something. Another fountain was made, not by myself, but by another. I did not the time to investigate. I made haste to the Church, and formed my new fountain there. Whoever my impostor is, perhaps I could thank them for their help."

 

End communication.”

 

Once the tape stopped, Kris changed it out.

 

“This tape was made on Friday night.”

 

“Kris, you don’t need to remind me. I think I can follow along from here.”

 

The last tape was inserted and then played.

 

“Again. My work was destroyed once more. My Roaring, so close, denied. They must be following me, some sort of opponent to my crusade. Fool, they must be. I will wait inside my next fountain. I will confront them myself.

 

End communication.”

 

Kris put the last tape away, defeated.

 

“That’s it?” They asked no one in particular. “That doesn’t solve anything.”

 

“Cheer up Kris,” Noelle said reassuringly, “We still can find Xander.”

 

The two of them, with the tape player in tow, exited the room they were in and began retracing their steps. Seemingly, Xander was nowhere to be found. Perhaps he had already left, Noelle nervously thought to herself. Maybe the point of leaving the tapes around was just to distract them long enough to run away with what was probably her last chance to find her sister.

 

The two of them had stepped into a hallway when Noelle spotted it. Or rather, spotted him . The grey feline that they had been pursuing with such diligence was just a few feet away, nonchalantly strolling down the hall.

 

“HEY! Xander, the jig is up!” Noelle exclaimed, striking a dramatic pose in hopes of perhaps startling the feline into surrender.

 

Instead of the intended result, Xander instead turned around calmly.

 

“You’ve heard the doctor’s tapes then. Good. That means I can surrender.”

 

“You’ll never get aw- HUH?”

 

Noelle nearly did a double take. That was it? It couldn’t have been that easy.

 

Xander walked down the hall to them, withdrawing what appeared to be three more tapes, before handing them to Kris, and seating himself cross-legged on the floor.

 

“These tapes, I left them out so you could hear them last. If they don’t answer your questions, or convince you that I am willing to rebel against the Doctor, I will answer whatever you ask.”

 

Kris nervously turned to Noelle, hoping for some sort of signal. A slight nod from the reindeer was all they needed to load the first tape into the machine.

 

“Xander, give the report on selecting a Soul donor.”

 

“Doctor, I have determined three highly viable candidates. There are two boss monster families within this city, and among them are three boss monster children, all of which show great promise in having a durable Soul.”

 

“Excellent. What are our choices like?”

 

“Firstly, there is a young boy. Asriel Dreemurr.”

 

“Wait… does that mean…”

 

“Yes doctor, he appears to be this world's version of the Prince.”

 

“Oh dear… I… I don't believe I will be able to operate on him. The sentimental connection is too great.”

 

“The remaining two candidates are sisters, named Noelle and December. I feel the older one would be far easier to obtain.”

 

“Why might that be?”

 

“The younger child is a high achiever. She is involved in many groups. I fear if we were to take her, that too many groups would be interested in recovering her.”

 

“Very well. Xander, begin planning the process of bringing the older sibling to the bunker. As for myself, the mechanical body is coming along well.”

 

Noelle was nearly on the verge of tears as the tape spun to a close, and was swiftly ejected by Kris.

 

“N…no… Not Dess… Oh… no no no no NO!” Noelle cried, bursting into heavy sobs.

 

“I did this,” Xander said calmly, “to protect you. You heard the doctor. I could only save one of you. I… I hope you can forgive me.” He gestured to Kris. “Play the next one.”

 

The next tape began.

 

“The mechanical body is complete. I am, to put it lightly, incredibly proud of myself. Its limbs and torso were created to be durable and pliable, with each metal component set delicately. The head has been formed in the likeness of an old friend of mine from the kingdom. Gyftrot, if only I could show my work to you! Perhaps the aspect of the design I am most proud of is the abdomen. A suitable containing cell has been integrated within. Xander aided me in this step. He told me that my successor in the Kingdom used it for a similar experiment. On another note, I have decided to name my creation. It shall be called Knight.”

 

“Doctor, I’m home.”

 

“Oh, Xander! It's a pleasure to see you! How was your meeting with our subject?”

 

"I have detailed the procedure to Dess. She was, well, surprisingly receptive to it. Apparently, she has been having some issues in her family life."

 

“Well, that is of great benefit to us, as opposed to Dess, I would think.”

 

“She agreed to the entire procedure, on one condition.”

 

“That being?”

 

“That we independently hold guard over her sister.”

 

“That can be arranged.”

 

The tape spun to a close.

 

Noelle had lowered herself to the floor, her sobs growing quieter.

 

"I… I don’t understand… If Dess knew what was going to happen… why… why would she ever want to have that done to her?“

 

Xander gestured to Kris again.

 

“The last one, Noelle, will explain everything.”

 

The final tape began to play.

 

“This is a most special occasion indeed! Today is the day of the experiment! December, would you like to offer your words?”

 

“S-sure. Whoever is listening to this, I want you to know that I consented to all of this. I know this will sound crazy, that I’m giving up my original body, and my family, but I had my reasons. My mom… she isn't a good person. I don't think she loves me anymore. It's clear to me that my family will be happier without me being there.”

 

“Oh… that is… oh Angel…”

 

“Xander? Are you alright?”

 

“I am sorry, Doctor. I was just so moved…”

 

“It is alright. Now, Dess, are you ready to take the first step into your new life.”

 

“You're sure you’ll keep Noelle safe?”

 

“I promise.”

 

“Go ahead. Let's do some science, I guess.”

 

Noelle was inconsolable. Kris needed to lower themself to the floor, pushing the tape player aside to try their best to comfort their wailing friend.

 

"Oh, angel… ANGEL NO!!! My mom… how could…"

 

Her words blended together with each sob.

 

“I… I could have talked to her… If I had just… ohhh …”

 

“Noelle. You were twelve ! It's not a twelve-year-old's job to… Noelle, please…" Kris pleaded, letting Noelle collapse onto their shoulders.

 

Xander hung his head.

 

"I'm sorry. If I had stood up to the Doctor, if I had spoken against his maddened pursuit of finishing the work done by a version of himself that likely will never exist again, perhaps I could have-"

 

Xander suddenly came to a full stop, rising to his feet and straightening his posture. Kris looked on in bewilderment, slowly pulling Noelle to her feet in confusion, before the realization hit them.

 

Noelle could feel it. The dim warmth of several white lights shone onto her back.

 

“Xander. You did not inform me that we would have guests.”

 

That voice, it was all too familiar. The same voice that she had heard berate Kris hours ago as a traitor to the art of Dark Fountains as its owner swung their weapon into the ground with horrible force was heard. It was the same horrible, mechanical voice that had rang out on the tapes that they had been listening to together all this time. The same voice that sounded ever so faintly familiar.

 

Noelle turned around slowly, her jaws parting in awe and fear of the presence that was now so near. Its head glared down at her, its metal surface smooth, interrupted only by a pair of glowing eyes, a mouth that ran perpendicular to its brow, and a set of metal mock antlers protruding from the top. Just a few feet away it stood, its cloak spread apart revealing the mechanical body below. Its body was adorned with several pieces of plating affixed to a body that mostly consisted of wires. At the center of its abdomen was what appeared to be some sort of built-in glass container, where the shape of a Monster Soul glistened unmistakably. Noelle cleared her throat, devoting all of her energy to choosing her next few words.

 

“Dess… Please… You don’t have to do this. You can come home. Dad wants to see yo-”

 

“Dess?” the Knight asked, its mechanical voice taking on a nearly sarcastic tone, “I haven’t heard that name in months. It is the name of a weak little girl.”

 

“Dess please, you weren’t ever weak. You… you were hurt. You called for help, and nobody came. Please, we can help you, Kris and I-”

 

“I don’t want to return. Do you know your mother’s favorite holiday? It’s Christmas. She loved Christmas. Probably still does. Noelle, you’re smart. What does the word ‘Christmas’ make you think about?”

 

Noelle shivered, answering emotionlessly.

 

“Gifts.”

 

“Correct!” the Knight answered, their eyes constricting into what was likely a smile. “You see, I gave your mother a gift by doing this. Maybe not one she deserved, but still. Do you know what that gift was? It was what she always wanted. A perfect family .”

 

“Dess… what are you-”

 

"Her family was so close to perfect. She had the job of her dreams, she had a husband who loved her to pieces and helped around the house, she had a beautiful little daughter who was smart, and kind, and athletic. There was just one problem…"

 

“Dess, stop this .”

 

“She had a child who she didn’t love. A child who would never be perfect . One with ugly black hair, who wore too much eyeshadow, who played a sport that was too boyish . A child who was disobedient, rude, and insufferable.”

 

“Dess, no. You… you weren’t any of those-”

 

“December Holiday was always the black sheep of the family, wasn’t she?” the Knight interrupted, its head cocking at an unnatural angle to the side. “And I can tell that Hometown's perfect Mayor is finally happy now that that disgrace is gone.”

 

“ She isn’t !” Noelle blurted out, her fists clenched. The knight nearly flinched from the display.

 

“Mom cries herself to sleep every night. She wants you to come home more than anything in the world. She… she loves you, Dess.”

 

Noelle held out her hand.

 

“Please… we can walk out of here together. We can make everything right.”

 

The Knight looked down at Noelle’s hand. It looked there for a while, perhaps a full minute, before looking to the ground. In one swift motion, it grabbed a sharp piece of scrap metal from a nearby table and plunged the sharp edge into the ground. A murky darkness began to bubble up from the site of the impact.

 

“I don’t have time for any more well-intentioned lies, Noelle. The Roaring awaits.”

 

The room was swallowed in Darkness.

Notes:

So, there you have it. I don't plan on writing a Chapter 7 take for this, since I'm not really that good at fight scenes, but maybe I might make an afterstory for this?

Also, I wanted to write this because the idea of Dess going missing intentionally was an Idea I really wanted to explore.