[Halloween event; open] I'll see you on the dark side of the moon

[justletmewin]

Asriel loved the island.

Maybe not everything about it. The changing layout of the castle will always be a pain in the neck, but it's something he's grown used to. The Graveyard terrified him, but all he had to do is stay away. Everything else about the island is amazing: the gardens. The ballroom. The towers with their giant comfy beds and lovely paintings and beautiful clothes. The variety of colorful birds at the aviary. Even the Edge had an odd sense of beauty about it. Almost... calming. Many of the people were kind and willing to look out for each other, with the not-so-nice residents--the Floweys of the island--few and far between. The literal Flowey on the island didn't seem so bad anymore. Frisk is here--more than one, actually! So is Chara. Even his mother... if Dad ever arrived here and made up with her, it'd be perfect.

He didn't know why he didn't change back into a flower. But he accepted maybe the blind Frisk was right. If an entire month went by without transforming, shouldn't he take it as a sign he got a second chance? Asriel didn't need to hide or be afraid anymore. He can be a kid again. With that revelation, he started gaining the courage to talk to people outside of Chara and Frisk. Learning to make friends. It's almost as if... he'd been reborn here.

Then he figured it out. Every time Asriel touched his chest, he felt nothing. The goat monster recalled the warmth of his own soul, which he still doesn't have to this day. Yet he felt love and compassion. He's still himself.

The castle's magic is literally keeping him alive.

But people come and go from the island, don't they? Some of them never return. It's safe to assume they went back to their own worlds. What'll be there for Asriel if he goes home? (No. This island is my home now. Forever.) He'd be sentenced to a life Underground all alone as Flowey. All his friends... gone. He'd be left with nothing but his memories. But what if he can't keep those either? What if his entire life at the castle is erased? Asriel would've never changed for the better. Never addressed his demons. Never comforted and helped those who needed him. Always be that same helpless child. Always isolating himself from everybody for their own good. Always afraid.

He's sick of it.

He won't let it happen. He won't let everything he loved be taken from him again. He won't give up his love and compassion. He won't be imprisoned back in this hell. Fate won't dare snatch this life away from him. Fate won't dare snatch anything from him.

Asriel Dreemurr: God of Hyperdeath stood in the fog at the Edge, a fanged grin marking his expression. All he had to do is control time on the island... that way, he'll be in charge of who leaves and who stays. Nobody he cares about will vanish. Neither will he. Unfortunately, his magic is too weak to take over the island in his current state... He'll need to get his powers back first.

Nothing a few souls can't fix.

Comments

[justletmewin]

Well, what do you know... it's the other Death. Alas, there can only be room for one. Asriel thinks back on everything Ryoji confessed to him, and the gears are spinning in his head. As the future god of the island, he'll be all powerful... he'll be strong enough to banish Nyx forever. But he'll ensure Ryoji keeps his human body so he'll live the normal life he deserves. Surely it wouldn't break reality much to exorcise the darkness out of someone and leave only the light. Especially for someone who's learned to become so kind and good...

"You and I are kindred spirits, aren't we? We're afraid of turning back into who we used to be."

[notsogrimreaper]

The other Death, indeed. Ryoji was sort of of the opinion that he was actually Death incarnate, and Asriel had just… imagined himself into taking that place, but perhaps he didn’t understand the story entirely. All he knows is that Asriel was dangerous to himself and others when he’s like this. So what is he doing in that form? Speaking so normally? Ryoji frowns softly at the question, looks away.

“I… I suppose you could say that. I would never want this castle to have to suffer under Nyx’s hand again.” Never mind that she wasn’t present; he was still in the Avatar form.

[justletmewin]

"Right. I don't want Flowey to come back, and you don't want Nyx to return. So I have a plan."

Whether or not Ryoji likes this plan is irrelevant. Of course, if he agreed to let Asriel take his soul, it would make his job much easier. But nobody in their right mind wanted to live without a soul; not even Chara loathed themself enough for that. If he's the reincarnation of Nyx, this will be a difficult fight.

"I'm doing everything I can to take over this island. Once I'm in control of the timelines, I'll get to decide who leaves and who stays. Nyx will be permanently banished, and you'll be free to have a normal life here until you pass of old age. It's the way it should be and I'll make it so."

[notsogrimreaper]

“You have a plan? What did you find out?”

At first, he’s excited. The idea of finally ensuring at least one world was safe from Nyx’s destruction is nearly impossible, but the glimmer of hope it provides is enough. He wants to remain in this human form. Even if he’s just a piece of Nyx, even if he doesn’t deserve to be anything more…

But then Asriel explains, and he’s left with suspicion.

“How are you going to take over the island? There’s no one physical to take the throne from… and I can’t die either way. If my physical body is destroyed, I’ll return to Nyx.”

Oh yeah, we can still finish this thread though the event's over. No need to worry. :)

[justletmewin]

Good news: Asriel is not interested in mass murder. Bad news: he still needs their souls. Surely Ryoji had one in spite of Nyx? Especially since he learned compassion...

"Perhaps the island isn't ruled by a physical force. That's why in order to challenge it, I need my powers back so I can change into my final form. But in order to do that... Believe me, it's as unpleasant to me as it's been for everyone else. But I must do it. In order to save everyone..."

He narrows his brows.

"I'll assure you I have NO interest in being Nyx's next vessel in order for this to happen. Nyx will be excluded from my plan entirely."

Excellent! Thank you ;;

[notsogrimreaper]

Ryoji is quite glad he doesn’t want to kill anyone, but… he knows that what someone wants isn’t always what they need to do. He has no idea what Asriel is after, but it sounds dangerous.

“Unpleasant? Asriel, listen to me. Whatever you’re doing to get your powers back isn’t worth it. You always have a choice. And Nyx will still be out there… just back in my world. Destroying that one and then moving on to the next.”

He shakes his head.

“Sacrifices need to be made in order to have peace. I know that as well as you do. But… I don’t know what kind of peace you’re fighting for that would make you like this.”

[justletmewin]

"Choice? What do you mean, I have a choice?" He growls. "It doesn't matter what choice I make if the island is just going to take me away! One day, I can just disappear and the island will never let me come back. I might not even remember my time here. Any chance I'd have to live a life after Flowey would be erased. Unless through some miracle I get a soul--and I'm not counting on it--I'm dangerous to everyone and must stay Underground. I'm making my own choice while I still can!"

"Sacrifices mean nothing as long as you're unable to change fate. That's why I have to act now! I either turn into a nightmare as bad as Nyx or I become the guardian god of this island and protect everyone. There's no in-between!"

[notsogrimreaper]

“I… I understand how you feel, I promise I do.” Ryoji can feel his heart get tight just listening to Asriel. For some poor child to have to go through something similar to what he had is so unfair. He had a normal life. He should have had a normal life all along. He wasn’t created from the beginning as Ryoji was.

“I know how hard it is to think about going away from this place. But there’s a way to figure out how to be sure that doesn’t happen without hurting others. We have time, I promise we do.”

He clenches his fists. “Please, Asriel. Listen to me. Protecting everyone means you don’t hurt anyone, and I know that you think you have to. If you don’t stop… I’m going to have to fight you.”

[justletmewin]

"How do you know this? How do you know there's answers and people won't be snatched away as soon as they come close to finding them? I can't take that risk."

"I wish I didn't have to hurt anyone. But if it's the only way... and if it means saving everyone... I'll do it. A moment of pain will be better than an eternity of suffering." Flames begin forming in his palms. "I have no intention of you stretching this out longer than it needs to be."

[notsogrimreaper]

“I know. I know that’s a risk… I know I only have hope that we don’t need to hurt anyone. But it’s what I have to hold on to, no matter the odds. I’m not going to let you expose these people to even a moment of pain… I won’t.”

He sighs softly, hanging his head as the ground around him begins to glow blue. A flash of light, and where he once was is now a skeletal creature with a gaping jaw and a long, threatening sword. It hovers in the air, coffins chained to its back, before Ryoji’s voice comes from it.

“Are you going to make me fight you?”

[justletmewin]

There's no reasoning with Asriel anymore. The God of Hyperdeath remains unaffected by Ryoji's transformation, glaring and bearing his fangs.

"This is what it's come down to, hasn't it?"

The flames billowed to their full height, and with a wave of black smoke, he swoops them toward his opponent.

[notsogrimreaper]

This is indeed what it’s come to. Ryoji doesn’t react to the show of anger, nor to the fire. He dodges around it quickly, the monster he has become leaping up to slash at the creature with his sword.

He tries his best to stay in control, but doing so means he isn’t going to try to speak. He doesn’t want to lose control of Thanatos’ rage… or end up transforming into something worse.