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Chapter Text

Slime nodded towards Quackity, who was sitting across the table from him, "so the chips are like the green paper?"

They were sat on the top floor of the Needle and Quackity was trying to explain poker.

"No not exactly," Quackity said. "They just represent it. So we don't have to get a bunch of money on the table, we can just get chips that represent how much."

"Oh! I get it now!" Slime didn't really, but he liked the look on Quackity's face when he said that he did. Besides be did understand it... kinda... Ok maybe he didn't, but he was getting there!

Fundy burst into the room, reasonably out of breath, seeing all the stairs he had to run up. "Quackity! It's Sam!"

Fundy flashed the screen of his communicator and Quackity jumped from his seat. He muttered something like 'Useless, useless."

"Fundy get Purpled and take Slime somewhere safe." Quackity hastily typed out a message on his communicator's keyboard. "Stay with Slime and then send Purpled back. I'll need his help."

Fundy scoffed, "and not mine? What does Purpled have over me?"

Quackity's hands curled into fists. "Well he wouldn't be complaining for one! Just shut up and do what I say!" He muttered a string of curses under his breath. "Listen here Fundy," the fox stood at attention, "Slime's safety is your upmost priority. If anything happens to him you'll be the one paying for it."

Fundy must have been satisfied by that answer because he ran off to find Purpled.

The mention of his name made Slime remember that he was part of the conversation too. After so much time spent watching he wasn't used to being an active participant. Quackity told him that just staring at people was creepy so he was working on that.

"What's going on Quackity from Las Nevadas?" he asked.

Quackity put a hand on his shoulder, "everything's gonna be fine guy, I just need you to stick with Fundy."

"I'm good at sticking!" Slime exclaimed, showing his fingers that were webbed with slime.

Quackity chuckled. "Thanks Slime."

Fundy returned, even more understandably exhausted as this was his second time up the winding stairs of the Space Needle, with Purpled behind him. Slime looked over to Quackity, who's serious expression had returned.

The next few minutes were a bit of a blur. Everyone, well everyone besides Slime, had equipped their netherite, enchanted sets shining beneath the desert sun. Quackity had ran off to the entrance of Las Nevadas. Slime wanted to follow him but Fundy and Purpled took him in the other direction. They ended up entering a cellar of sorts that held stacks of chests for storage. Slime liked this room. It was nice and dark and damp. Perfect for someone like him.

Purpled hesitated in the doorway and glanced behind them. "You know Fundy," he said, "I can stay with Slime."

The fox's ears perked up, "really?"

"Yeah! I mean you seem eager to prove yourself. Quackity keeps giving you all the lame jobs but if you ask me you're way strong."

"You really mean it?" Fundy's eyes sparkled.

"Uh huh.  Now don't keep Quackity waiting."

Fundy nodded and practically skipped out of the cellar. Purpled waited until his footsteps faded into the distance and then closed the cellar door.

"I didn't think it'd be that easy." Slime felt a shudder go through him as the alien laughed.

"Purpled from outer space what are you talking-"

Slime found Purpled's blade at his throat. "Shut up and I'll make this easy for you. If I have to listen to your yapping one more time I'll lose it." When Slime stayed silent he sighed and pulled his sword back to his side and then pointed it at the slime creature. "I'm gonna make an example out of you," he said. "I'm gonna make Quackity regret his actions. I'm gonna teach him a lesson."

"But Quackity already knows lots of things!"

"Shut up!" Purpled cried. "He ruined my home! My UFO was the last thing I had left of my people! And he blew it up!" The alien laughed manically. "So I'm going to take something from him that he can't replace."

"But can't you replace your UFO?" Slime asked with his usual innocence.

"SHUT UP!" Purpled screamed. He gave Slime a paralyzing look and then lunged.

***

Techno didn't wait for Quackity to make the first move. He threw all manner of splash potions at his feet until the particles coming off of his figure could have made a rainbow. Phil quickly moved to his side, ready to have his back.

Bizly loathed anyone who had to face the pair. Even in his short time with them he knew that they worked together like a well oiled machine, and a very effective machine at that.

"Get out of here!" Phil shouted across the soon to be battlefield. "Now!"

Bizly gave Condi a nod and the two pulled out the potions Phil had gifted them. The potions even tasted sweet. Of course Phil would make them with sugar. Bizly looked over to Condi, or at least at the particles that were left in his wake. He fumbled in the air for a minute but eventually he found his brother's hand.

It'd been a while since Bizly had the effects of swiftness running through his veins, but soon his stride evened out.

Las Nevadas seemed like an oasis in the desert. It had tall buildings and even a fountain in it's main square, not to mention the polished streets. It looked like a place made to attract people to it, and if Bizly didn't know the lunatic who was running it then he'd say it was doing its job.

"Over here Biz," Condi said.

Bizly chuckled, "uh, I can't see where you're pointing ya know."

Bizly felt Condi's hand shift in his. "Oh... forgot about that. Here let me lead you."

Condi tugged on their shared grip and Bizly followed. Soon enough he could see where Condi was leading him. It was a standard oak door embedded in the side of a sand dune.

"What's that?" he asked.

"Who knows," Bizly guessed that Condi was shrugging, "but it seems like a good place to hang out until things blow over."

Bizly cringed at the loud creak the oak door made, but Condi was already dragging him down the cobble stairs.

"Condi I think I hear people maybe we should-"

"It'll be fine. We're invisible. We just need to stay quiet."

Bizly was worried, but if anything at least he would keep Condi safe, and he did have a point as the potions were still in effect.

Their steps hastened at the sound of something being smashed. He'd never tell Condi, but he almost fell down the stairs a few times.

They entered into a wide room with a short ceiling and stacks and stacks of chests. A few of the shelves were smashed though with jagged slash marks in the wood.

"Stop moving around so much!" Another smash.

"Someone's fighting here Condi," Bizly whispered, "let's just leave."

"I know it's just... there's something here."

Now that Condi mentioned it, there was something here that stood out.

"Purpled from outer space maybe I can help you if you stop swinging that at me!"

And gods if Bizly didn't freeze at that. If that voice didn't stop his thoughts in their tracks.

"Condi that's-"

"Yeah."

And Condi ran.

***

Slime was running out of options. With each chest Purpled smashed that was one less hiding place. There was actually one point at the beginning when Purpled stabbed his blade through him but it had just gone straight through his slime. Despite that it still burned with the fire aspect enchantment until Purpled pulled it out. Since then he'd resorted to slashes rather than stabs, saying that he was going to cut Slime down.

Honestly Slime thought this was it. He'd seen humans die, over and over again. Some went peacefully, some went in sorrow and some left with a fury. Legacy, Quackity had told him. It's what you leave behind after you're gone. Slime pondered the mark he'd left on this world. Despite all his time here he could only really think of a few mossy corner in caves that he used to call home. He wished he could at least apologize to Quackity for not helping him with his legacy like he'd promised.

Purpled held his sword high, "finally! Got you!"

Slime braced himself for the unnerving feeling of splitting apart but it never came. He looked up to find Purpled struggling to pull his sword from another man's grip.

"Who's there!" the alien yelled.

An iron shovel materialized and hit Purpled over the head, knocking him out cold on the dirt that made up the cellar floor.

And Slime looked up to meet his rescuers in the eye.

***

"Who are you?"

The words cut through Bizly's heart like a crossbow bolt. This is a joke right? It's a rather cruel one, but Charlie's always been a jokester.

"Bit uncalled for Charlie," Condi said for him, laughing a bit. "It's... it's really good to see you man."

Bizly looked down at his still very much invisible hands. "Wait how can you see us anyway?"

"I just... can?" Charlie said after a moments pause. "Am I not supposed to?"

"Oh of course you can," Bizly said. "You can't hide anything from Charlie with effects," he explained.

"You keep saying that name," Charlie said.

Both Bizly and Condi turned to face him.

"What name?" Condi asked.

"Charlie."

"Well that's your name Charlie," Bizly said.

"No it's not," was all Charlie said.

Bizly waited for some sort of punch line or even a 'I got you so good, just look at your faces'. He would take anything at this point, but Charlie just started at them as if there was nothing wrong with what he just said.

"What do you mean?" Condi asked hesitantly.

"I'm not Charlie," Charlie explained, "I'm Slime. Well I'm meat just like you, but Quackity from Las Nevadas calls me Slime."

Bizly knew that if he could see Condi he'd be giving him a look. Speaking of which though, the effects were starting to wear off and Bizly could see himself, albeit rather transparent.

Bizly's heart paused, "Charlie this is a joke right?"

"Quackity didn't finish teaching me about jokes, but no I don't think it is..."

Learn about jokes? The man might as well have invented them.

"Charlie," Condi started and gods above Bizly wanted to tell him to stop, to let him live in this moment of hopeful innocence for just a moment longer, "do you know who we are?"

The words left Condi's mouth and it was as if time slowed. Bizly's lungs stopped breathing and his eyes were plastered open, both in anticipation. Bizly prayed to every god he knew the name of, even Condi, that Charlie's response wouldn't be what he thought it was going to be.

"Nope!" Such a cheerful voice for such a crushing line.

And with that Bizly's hope shattered. Charlie had forgotten. More importantly, Charlie had forgotten them. After everything they'd been through and all his and Condi's searching this was his reward? Fate had a twisted sense of humor. He felt Condi squeeze his shoulder but everything except his thoughts seemed so far away.

"Biz! Your form is getting unstable!"

He looked down at himself, his hands flickering in front of him like a mirage. He risked burning away his mortal form at this rate, which would be rather inconvenient if he didn't have his mortal form to travel in.

"Let's go Condi," he said softly but firmly.

"What we're just leaving!?" Condi shouted.

"No, no of course not! We're taking Charlie with us," Bizly said reassuringly. "We'll just..." Oh gods what were they going to do? "We'll just have to make him remember."

It was a dumb idea. Even Bizly knew it wasn't just going to work like that, but believing that it would was all be had right now. Condi, bless him, just nodded and started to pull at strands of code.

A swirling pink and blue vortex opened in front of them, courtesy of Condi.

"Woah what's that?" Charlie exclaimed.

"It's the hole we made in the whitelist," Bizly explained. "Don't worry Charlie, we're going to get your memories back."

Charlie stiffened. "But... I'm not Charlie, I'm Slime. I- I'm Quackity's best friend I can't just leave him." He clutched his head, "you- you have the wrong person."

It may have been a while, but if there was one thing Bizly would never forget, it was the face of his brothers. This was definitely Charlie. Sure he was in his slimy mortal form, but there was no doubt in his mind that this was his brother.

Charlie fell to his knees. "Please," he muttered weakly, "please just leave me alone. You make everything hurt so bad."

Bizly took a step back, admittedly a little hurt, "what do you mean Charlie?"

No response. The slime was in an unconscious heap on the ground like whatever alien it was they'd smacked over the head earlier. Speaking of the alien though, they probably had to get going. Bizly picked up Charlie, slinging the man over his shoulder, too focused on his actions to notice the slimy mess all over his hands.

Condi took the first step through the portal, his form looking like strands of code as it flew through the opening of the tunnel. Bizly made sure Charlie wouldn't fall off his shoulders and entered the vortex after Condi.

***

Techno couldn't think straight. Not that he needed to, he knew he could take Quackity in his sleep. His vision was rimmed in red and his hands were stuck clenched around the hilt of his Axe of Peace. Chat was enjoying this, that much was for sure.

"You've been the top dog for too long Technoblade!" Quackity screeched in his ever annoying voice.

Techno scoffed, "I think it's easy to tell I'm a pig, not a dog," he said between strikes.

"Why do you always have to undermine everything I do?" Quackity demanded. "Las Nevadas wasn't doing anything to the Syndicate!"

"The Syndicate? What's that?" Techno said with a grin.

"Yeah I know about your little book club Technoblade!" Quackity said triumphantly.

"Sorry," Techno shrugged his shoulders in mock apology, "but I don't know what you're talking about Quackity."

"Oh just shut up already."

Techno for once obliged, dashing forward and embedding his axe in Quackity's shield. The wood splintered as the blade of the weapon cut through the outer wooden layer and dented the inside iron one. Quackity grunted in effort and pulled his shield away. Phil followed up soon after with Hiasobi Benihime's sharpened tip sliding into Quackity's unprotected armpit. Quackity cried out and jumped back.

Phil gave Techno a nod.

The song and dance was easy. His footsteps fell in line with Phil's, parrying and slashing in turn. They'd done it a thousand times, each step lead by instinct, brotherhood, and the guiding hands of their patron gods. Technoblade's voices cried for blood, and Phil's crows brought the omens of death.

Quackity cursed under his breath. "Foolish get over here already!"

"Coming Quackity!"

"Where's Purpled? He should be here already," Quackity hissed.

"I'm here Quackity!" Fundy cried, coming around the corner of one of the buildings.

"What?! Where's Slime!? And Purpled for that matter?"

"Don't worry sir!" Fundy said happily. "Purpled is watching him.

Techno watched as Quackity's muscles stiffened and he froze. He took advantage of the moment and rushed towards Quackity, the Axe of Peace held high and Phil right behind him, but Foolish jumped in between them, bringing up his shield to take the blow.

"Go help Slime, Quackity!" the demigod shouted. "Me and Fundy can hold them off!"

Quackity looked back at Phil and Techno but then ran off in the other direction.

Chat's cries grew louder as Quackity's form grew smaller and smaller. Fine then. If Quackity wanted to run then Techno would just have to deal with his goons first.

***

Once Condi saw Bizly enter the tunnel he started directing it. Bizly didn't need to tell Condi where they were going. It's not like they had anywhere else that could be called a home.

The Origin.

Condi would be lying if he said he wasn't anxious about returning. The world wasn't what it used to be, and even then held bad memories. At the same time though, Condi reasoned, it held the best years of his life. They wouldn't have to stay there forever after all. They just needed to get Charlie's memory back and then they could find somewhere to settle down on some obscure server far out from The Origin.

"Condi look!" Bizly cried.

Condi shifted his floating form to look back at Bizly. His eyes widened when he saw green energy arcing out of the man slung over his shoulder. It'd be so long since Condi had seen, or even just felt Charlie's power. It was thick in the air, bringing the scent of poppies and golden fields of wheat and Condi paused to admire it. Suddenly the loose magic gained a purpose and sunk into the walls of the tunnel, making it shake.

"What's he doing Condi!?" Bizly shouted over the loud tremors.

Condi used the code to pull up several menus in front of him. "It's altering our course!" he shouted back.

"What? To where?"

"I don't know. I'm trying to fix it, but Charlie's magic is pretty strong."

"Well you'd better hurry up before-"

The tunnel pulled away to reveal a blue sky. Clearly Charlie's magic had won this battle. Just one issue, they were several chunks off the ground. Didn't exactly bring up the best memories.

"Condi!" Bizly cried over the air hurtling around them.

"I'll be fine! Just make sure Charlie lands safely!"

They ended up in a birch forest, knocking against a few branches as they tumbled to the ground. Not the best landing he'd ever had, seeing how they were all lying in a bruised heap on the ground, but at least they'd made it safely.

"Oh my god. Charlie is that you?"

Condi pushed himself up to his knees. On the other side of the clearing stood a woman, no, a nymph, if Condi's eyes were to be believed.

She had copper gold hair that just barely graced her shoulders and reflected the sun in just the right way to show the entire spectrum of colors in fall. Deep rich purple in the shadows and bright pale yellow where the sun was the brightest. She wore a knitted scarf and a cozy looking sweater that was adorned with small mushrooms and various vegetation both growing off of her limbs and making homes in the threads of her clothing. Her eyes were like a stormy sea, a dark blue gray covered by round lenses of bronze framed glasses.

"Are you guys ok?" she asked, offering a hand to Condi, because Bizly was no where near getting up with Charlie on top of him.

Condi took her her hand and pulled himself to his feet, brushing the dirt of his pants. "Uh, yeah?" The nymph had already moved over to Bizly, helping him get up. "We had a bit of a crash landing, but I think we're fine."

The nymph paused for a moment, as if pondering her next words. "Are you two by chance Condi and Bizly?"

Bizly raised an eyebrow. "Yeah that's us," he said slowly. "How'd you know?"

"Oh Charlie told me all about you two!" She gestured to the man in question who was all but gracefully face planting in the forest dirt. "It's good to meet you!"

"You know Charlie?" Condi asked.

"Yep! Though I'll admit I didn't know if I'd see him again..." she said longingly. "Speaking of which, is... he ok?"

Bizly chuckled, "I think he just did a bit of passing out earlier."

"Is that so..." she said worriedly. "Here follow me. You guys can crash at my place and we can talk more there."

She started down a dirt path through the trees and Bizly picked up Charlie again, starting to follow her.

"Wait!" Condi said. "What's your name?"

"Oh where are my manners?" the nymph said. "I'm Grace!"