Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The alleyway was cold. A chill in the air sent goosebumps along Berdly’s form, his bright blue feathers puffing up as a result. He could hear the beat of his SOUL echoing in his ears, his breathing coming in slow, concentrated breaths. He could not remember being so focused before in his life. All his focus? Locked on the imposing figure that at one point he may have called his friend. Kris.

Kris, who stared him down through their navy blue bangs, with a single red eye visible through the locks of hair. Their expression was unreadable, but the look in their eye sent a shudder through Berdly. That wasn’t like the Kris he knew. This was far beyond one of their usual pranks. Something was wrong. And Noelle...

Berdly’s eyes flicked briefly towards the deer monster, clad in snow white robes, her eyes wide. There was a steady trickle of blood dripping from her ring finger, where he could see a ring of thorns wrapped tightly around it. The way she had spoken before... “It looks like another enemy. Should I freeze them?”  

She had sounded so airy and far away, as if in a trance. Then, there was the way she’d screamed for him to run when he’d challenged Kris, who had only said one word: “Proceed.”

Something was wrong. Noelle was being hurt, and Kris seemed to be behind it. So Berdly resolved himself, and chose to FIGHT. No matter what was in their past, he would not allow this to continue. He may not be that smart, he may not be the strongest monster, but he was Determined. Determined enough to stand his ground, and put forth all he could to save his closest friend.

The halbird gleamed in his hands as it transformed into a spear with a swing of his arms, pointing it towards Kris and sending another flurry of bullets their way. To his frustration, their SOUL was barely grazed as they weaved through the pattern of glowing spearheads, and the shards they left behind. Gritting his teeth, he readjusted his stance, his focus barely broken as Kris spoke for the first time in the battle.

One word.

“Snowgrave.”

He missed Noelle’s response, already beginning to calculate his next attack. Maybe if he used his wind magic, he would be able to catch Kris off-guard. Then when they were down, he could reach out to Noelle, and...

“Snowgrave.”

“I’m telling you, stop! I... I don’t know what you’re talking about!”

Noelle’s rise in volume snapped Berdly out of his focus, though he remained in battle stance as his eyes flicked toward Noelle. Her hands clasped together, and she was glaring at Kris. That was good. Maybe she would stand up for herself, and help put a stop to whatever Kris was doing! Come on, Noelle... tell them! Tell them they can’t order you around like that!

“Snowgrave.” Kris’ voice still rang hollow, but there was an undertone of... something that unsettled Berdly deeply. He suppressed a shiver, his gaze turning to Noelle again, watching her response.

She was silent for a moment, closing her eyes, then she glared towards Kris once more. Berdly felt his heart sink as she sounded her reply: “Fine. You want to see what happens so bad? Watch what happens when I cast a spell I don’t know!”

Kris gave the order one more time.

“Snowgrave.”

Noelle’s arms raised towards the dark, green-gridded sky, closing her eyes as a brief sparkle of magic flared from her hands. Then nothing. All was still. Berdly held his breath, hoping against hope that it had failed. That she couldn’t cast whatever this spell was. Those hopes were soon dashed as the first snowflake fell, and Noelle opened her eyes.

They were pure white.

Berdly’s stomach plummeted as he watched a flurry begin to form around them, falling from the sky as Noelle rose upwards, magic twinkling around her outstretched hands. His eyes were locked on her, wide with mounting horror as the snow grew thicker. He could barely see her now through the onslaught, and then, from beneath him, he felt himself be overtaken by a chill that felt like knives stabbing through every part of his body. His vision went white, then blue.

He couldn’t even scream. The moment he opened his mouth, his lungs were filled with a cold so deep it felt like his very being was breaking apart from within. He couldn’t move. He couldn’t breathe. He couldn’t see or hear anything. All he could feel was the frost permeating his body, freezing right down to his SOUL, which began to crack. Oh, Angel, was this how it ended? He was too young to die, especially like this!

His SOUL quivered, the cracks spreading deeper. Deeper. No, no, no, he refused to die like this, he couldn’t! Noelle needed him! She was in danger! And Kris... someone had to warn the others about Kris! He felt his SOUL pulse as his Determination grew, overpowering the ice cracking it to its core. For a moment, it all stopped. Then blue faded into black as he lost consciousness.

...

...

...

His phone alarm rang.

He could hear voices, distantly muffled. Unable to make out just what they were saying, he was at least able to recognize who was behind them. The soft tones of Noelle, wavering more than usual. The rough, husky voice behind Susie. The eerie silence that he could only assume was Kris.

Come on, Berdly, open your eyes! Let Noelle know you’re okay! It was just a nightmare, that’s all!

But despite his internal urging, he couldn’t move. His eyes remained closed, his breathing coming in faint wisps. The chair beside him scooted back, and he felt a slight breeze as Noelle swept up their books. She said something to him, but he couldn’t respond. Her hooves clacked against the floor, growing more distant. No, wait! Noelle, come back! He wanted to cry, but he couldn’t.

So cold. He felt so cold.

The conversation carried on without him. Noelle’s hoofsteps sounded once more, the door opening and closing behind her. He could hear Susie’s voice raise with some sort of excitement not long after, before she, too, left the room. Then it was just silence.

But he knew they were there. Kris. It was as if he could feel their gaze, staring right into him. Then, confirming their remaining presence, their footsteps rounded the table, stopping behind him. A cold feeling shot through him as they hooked their arm around his torso, lifting him up from the chair. It wasn’t hard for them to lift him, after all, his body light as a bird monster should be. What are they doing?!

They dragged him along the computer lab, before he felt himself unceremoniously deposited in a smaller space, and Kris rummaged around for a while before closing one door, then another. Berdly felt another chill hit him, and a faint crackling sound reached his ears. It sounded almost like... frost forming.

Unconsciousness began to claim him once more, his SOUL shuddering with an unnatural cold. This isn’t right... Kris has pranked me in my sleep before but this feels... wrong. That dream, with Noelle, and Kris... It felt too real. Come on, Berdly. You don’t have time to fall asleep again. GET. UP.

His SOUL burned for a moment with Determination, staving off the ice still creeping into his core, and finally...

His eyes snapped open, and he was met with the darkness of the computer lab closet. He gulped in as much air as he could, suddenly realizing how hard it had been to breathe until just now. Then, giving his wingtips an experimental twitch, he reached into his pocket, and pulled out his phone. That’s odd... why do my hands feel so numb? He wondered, pressing the power button, causing blue light to flood the closet.

It was then that Berdly realized; he could see his own breath, coming out in little clouds. As if it were a chilly winter day, but that didn’t make sense. According to the weather feed on his phone, it was a balmy 68 degrees outside. A reasonable autumn temperature. And his SOUL... his SOUL still felt so cold.

Slowly, Berdly pushed himself up to his feet, pocketing the phone. After a moment of staggering, bumping into the shelves of the enclosed space, he found some sort of equilibrium. He experimentally pushed against the closet door and tested the knob, surprised to find it unlocked. If Kris had been trying to trap him, or hide his body, why would they...?

With a growing frown on his face, Berdly furrowed his brows, and opened the closet door, squinting from the light as he stepped out into the computer lab itself. Sure enough, Noelle had taken his books along with her own, leaving the tabletop bare. Actually, most of the computer lab was more bare than usual. Come to think of it, even the shelves in the closet had been mostly emptied.

What in the world was Kris up to...?

Berdly made his way over to the table he’d been sitting at, relieved to note that his backpack was still there. At least he didn’t have to worry about reclaiming that from Kris or Noelle.

Noelle.

Berdly’s eyes widened as his memory jolted. Remembering the blood trickling from her hand, the tremor in her voice, the dazed, distant look in her eyes before she’d snapped out of whatever trance she’d been in. He had to check on her, make sure she was safe!

Without any further hesitation, he slung his backpack over his shoulder, and threw open the door to the computer lab, surging forward into the world beyond. Into the autumn breeze of Hometown, he ran, ignoring the way his legs ached. He could worry about himself later. Right now, Noelle was his priority.

Hold on, Noelle. I’m coming!

As he bolted toward the hospital, he was too focused on his goal to notice his reflection in the window, his usually blue feathers tipped with white frost, and the tips of his wings and talons darkening with frostbite.

Chapter Text

Berdly hadn’t realized just how forcefully he’d pushed through the door until he saw that Rudy visibly startled in the hospital bed and shot him a dirty look. “Jeez, kid, are you trying to extend my hospital stay? Almost gave me a heart attack with how you came tromping in here!”

There was a moment where his voice got caught in his throat, too worked up to worry about putting up his usual persona. Berdly ducked his head sheepishly, and grimaced in response. “M-my apologies, Mr. Holiday. It was not my intention to cause alarm. I was merely looking for Noelle...”

Rudy’s gaze narrowed, an ear flicked irritably as he looked over the bird. Berdly gulped, but took in a deep breath and straightened his posture, trying his best to ignore the way his vision briefly swam. But he must have let it show, as Rudy responded, “She left just a few minutes ago, right after Kris and Susie stopped by. Why, you doin’ alright there, Nerdly? You look pale as a festive ghost.”

Berdly swiftly shook his head, immediately regretting it as it worsened his dizziness. “I-I am just splendiferous, Mr. Holiday. You needn’t concern yourself with my well-being! I am the veritable picture of health!”

Part of him admonished, you really should tell the doctors here about your symptoms. They may be able to help. But another part of him immediately dismissed the idea; I could get Noelle in trouble, if they ask about what happened. It’s not safe to even attempt to implicate Kris or Noelle. It is better if I keep it hidden.

The reindeer was starting to get suspicious, though, and Berdly felt his stomach drop as Rudy spoke up again, “Y’sure there, kid, cause you look like you got stuck in the frozen aisle at the grocery store.”

“Th-that’s because...” Berdly faltered for a moment, struggling to come up with an excuse. Then, like a bolt of lightning, he came up with an answer. “I was! Kris had the audacity to lock me in there as a prank earlier, and I am seeking out Noelle for assistance in my post-humiliation recovery!” A half-truth. Something innocent enough for teenagers to get up to, that (hopefully) would not get back to Kris’ mother before he could ensure that they would not be able to retaliate against him or Noelle.

“Really? Sounds like a bundle of fun! I wish I could have seen it happen!” Rudy laughed, teasingly, but it sent a shiver down Berdly’s spine. No, sir. You don’t. He forced a smile, however, playing along.

“Indeed. It was, as they say, a real ‘hoot’.” He grimaced at his own pun, or maybe at the growing ache in his limbs, he wasn’t quite sure which. “But I’m afraid I must take my leave now, Mr. Holiday! I bid you a good afternoon, as I resume my search for Noelle!”

Berdly turned to leave, his wing pushing against the door as Rudy called out, “Oh, before you go!”

Sucking in a breath, Berdly paused, refusing to look back. “Yes, Mr. Holiday?”

“Keep an eye out for Noelle, alright? She was acting a little off today. I know we don’t get along much, you and I, but Noelle trusts you as her friend. If you can find out what’s eatin’ her up...”

Berdly stood still in silence for a moment, the air felt so much colder all of a sudden. Or was that just his imagination? It felt like he was frozen in place, unable to move or speak, until finally, he found his voice. “I understand your concerns, Mr. Holiday. I am worried about her too. Don’t worry... I’m going to help her.” He was quieter than he’d intended to be, but it was still loud enough to be heard.

Before Rudy could respond, Berdly pushed his way past the door of the hospital room, and swiftly made his way back down the hall and through the lobby. His chest felt tight, his breathing shallow as he quickened his pace outside, talons scraping against the sidewalk. Noelle. He had to find Noelle now. If her behavior had changed enough that Rudy had noticed, that was setting off alarm bells in Berdly’s mind.

Rushing past the trees, towards the diner, Berdly’s mind focused solely on finding Noelle. Then a flash of blonde hair caught his eye as he spotted her, walking past the new grocery store on the other side of the street. Without thinking, he called out to her: “Noelle--!”

Immediately, she whipped around to face him, and his SOUL felt colder, colder than ever. Her eyes were wide with shock, her mouth opened slightly in a squeaking gasp, as if she had just seen a ghost. He supposed, in a way, she had. After all, if that dream had truly been some form of reality, she had, under the orders of Kris, killed him. He hadn’t responded to his alarm, nor to her prompts to awaken him.

If she had come to the same conclusions he had about that Cyber World... no wonder she looked like she was about to--

Faint.

The world suddenly went dark, and by the time Berdly regained sight, he was staring skywards, Noelle’s concerned visage taking up most of his view. “--erdly...! Can you hear me?” she called out, urgency boosting her usually soft tone.

“Ah-- I can hear you loud and clear, Noelle.” Berdly winced, as he shifted in an attempt to sit upright. His head was pounding, and his limbs felt like they had turned to jelly. Noelle set her hand on his shoulder, her other hand pressed against the small of his back as she guided him upwards.

She regarded him with concern, though there was a haunted look in her eyes that told Berdly all he needed to know. For a moment, he swore he saw himself reflected in her eyes, only... He was trapped in a crystal of ice. Before he could process this, Noelle spoke up again, “Berdly, are you alright? You fainted...”

Berdly wanted to be honest with her. To tell her how cold he felt, to ask for her help in taking it away, it was her magic after all... But one look at her face, the damp trails still barely visible on her cheeks, the fearful tremor of her hand as she pulled it back, and he knew... she’d been through enough today. He didn’t need to bother her with this just yet. Not when things were still so raw.

So he put on a smile, bringing up his false sense of bravado, and adjusted his glasses as he declared, “Worry not, my dear Noelle! I simply suffered a bout of vertigo after standing up too fast! I am quite alright!”

“Are you sure? You’re... you feel so cold...” Noelle murmured, her ears lowering slightly.

Berdly’s smile faltered, just for a moment. Of course. She was the smart one, after all. Of course she’d be so perceptive to notice the drop in his temperature. Not to mention the frost that caked his feathers.

But Noelle didn’t need this right now. She deserved to be able to go home in good spirits, cuddle up with a warm blanket, hot chocolate, and a good book, and forget about what had happened. So Berdly took in a breath, carefully took Noelle’s hand between his own, and locked his eyes on hers.

“Noelle. I need you to trust me when I say that I will be alright. I’m simply a little bit under the weather, and I’m sure to recover in due time. Please do not trouble yourself fretting over my well-being when you ought to focus on treating yourself kindly instead. Don’t worry about the project tonight, don’t worry about me... I just want you to take care of yourself first, Noelle.”

For a moment, he had stunned her into silence, but it did not last long. She attempted to protest again, “But Berdly--”

“ Noelle.”

Both monsters fell silent, Berdly kicking himself mentally for how stern he’d sounded. His eyes cast downwards, his thumb lightly brushing over Noelle’s knuckles as he examined her hand. Her ring finger... there was a bandaid there, that hadn’t been before they’d gone to the library. So, then, that meant... the thorned ring... His brows creased with concern, an odd feeling constricting his chest.

“Noelle... do you trust me?” He asked, breaking the silence.

Noelle looked at him, almost taken aback. A confused expression crossed her face, wrinkling the bridge of her nose. “Of course I trust you, Berdly! We’re friends, aren’t we?”

Berdly relinquished her hand, making eye contact with her once more. “Then please listen to me. I will be alright. ” He says, emphasizing each word deliberately. “Don’t you dare worry your head over my health, alright? I want you to march yourself into that diner, treat yourself to a hot chocolate to go, and go home to a nest of blankets and your favorite book. You’ve had a rough day... you deserve to worry about Noelle for once. Understand?”

“I... I...” Noelle stared at him in a stunned silence, her gaze flicking over him as if wondering who are you and what have you done to Berdly? He couldn’t say he blamed her... he hadn’t exactly been acting like a decent friend these days. But circumstances were dire, and he just had to hope she’d take his advice to heart.

“Alright, Berdly...” She replied, carefully, raising an eyebrow. “What do you get out of it?”

Berdly couldn’t help the chuckle that escaped his throat, and he smirked, a brief flicker of his usual self shining through. “Why, I want a picture of the hot chocolate mustache you end up with, of course!”

That got a laugh out of Noelle, as she shot a playful glare his way. “You jerk! You probably plan to threaten to send it to Susie, too, don’t you?”

“I can neither confirm nor deny--”

He squawked as she lightly shoved his shoulder, knocking him back down to the ground, before he broke into a laugh as well. For a moment, all was well in the world, and his SOUL felt warm. He’d gotten Noelle to smile and laugh, and that was a victory he could accept.

As he opened his eyes again, he noticed Noelle’s outstretched hand in front of his face. She was offering a hand up, which he gladly took. Digging his talons into the ground to maintain his balance, he let Noelle pull him up to his feet, and they made eye contact. Noelle took a step back, adjusting the strap of her bookbag, and spoke up, “Are you sure you’re gonna be okay, Berdly?”

Of course she would still be worried. Berdly sighed softly and smiled, resting his hands on his hips. “Positively absolutely, Noelle! You know me... it’ll take more than a little cold to take me down.” He puffed up his chest with a sense of bravado, a facade of a confident smirk on his beak.

Thankfully, it was enough. Noelle managed a soft smile in return, and she nodded. “Alright, Berdly... Just take care of yourself too, okay? Don’t go studying too hard!”

“Perish the thought of it, Noelle!” He chuckled, shaking his head, before he started ushering her along towards the diner. “Now run along, and enjoy the rest of your evening! I will see you at school tomorrow, that is a promise!”

With no further protests, Noelle complied, and Berdly smiled and waved until she was in the diner and out of sight. His smile dropped instantly, the brief cheer in his eyes replaced with a cold fury. Noelle had looked so frightened... not just when she’d turned to face him, but before, in the Cyber World. A deeper fear than the way she jumped at mice, and clung to him on scary movie nights. Even worse than whenever Kris would pull pranks on her just to watch her scream.

Kris... Berdly’s feathered hands curled into fists. This was their fault. He was certain of this. He could not fathom any other reason for Noelle to have been so terrified, to the point where she would cast a spell like ‘Snowgrave’ on him... They were friends, weren’t they? She would never do that to him of her own free will... would she?

Shaking any doubts from his mind, Berdly forced himself to keep walking. Striding further into the town with purpose. He had to find Susie. She was the only one that hadn’t been involved when he was frozen. He reasoned, that meant she had not been influenced by Kris the way Noelle had. No, neither of them had ever gotten along. She was the class brute, and he was the insufferable know-it-all. But she was the only other person that had been in the Cyber World, and therefore, was the only one he could even begin to trust.

Noelle had been through enough, he didn’t want her to be involved any more than she had to. And Kris... Berdly shuddered at the memory of the glare in their eyes. They had given the order. Proceed. Snowgrave. They were not to be trusted, not by any means. He just had to hope that Susie would believe him.

He found her soon enough, walking down the path from the lake with Kris. The pair seemed lost in thought, and Berdly took the chance to make his approach as dramatic as possible. He stepped in front of them, clearing his throat, unable to stop the smirk that appeared when he noticed Kris flinch .

I suppose you thought you were rid of me, didn’t you, Kris? He thought triumphantly.

Susie glowered at him, her hands shoved into her pockets. “What do you want, birdbrain?” She grumbled.

Berdly locked his gaze on her, and he pointed upwards for emphasis as he declared, “I require your presence, Susan! I must speak with you about an urgent matter!” With a brief glance at Kris, his smirk faded, and his expression grew more serious. “... Alone. ”

His heart sank as Susie merely raised an eyebrow, glancing briefly at Kris as well before folding her arms. “Whatever you got to say, you can say it here. Also, my name’s not Susan. ”

Backpedaling, Berdly raised his hands in a placating manner. “F-forgive me, but this is a matter of utmost importance, and Kris must not be privy to it! ...Lest we spoil the surprise.” He added the last part in a stage whisper, hoping it would obfuscate his intentions enough to throw off Kris’ suspicion.

Susie narrowed her eyes, her brows knit together as she cast another glance at Kris. To their credit, the human was remaining remarkably calm. Berdly wondered if it truly would be that easy to apprehend them after all... He was surprised even more when Kris murmured, “Go ahead. I’ll wait here.”

“You sure, Kris? I could just beat him up and shove him in a trash can.”

They just shrugged. “Up to you, Susie.”

A tense silence followed, and Berdly worried for a moment that he was forgotten about, before Susie leveled her gaze at him once more, sending a nervous shudder through him. She rolled her neck, audibly cracking, before shoving her hands in her pockets once more. “Alright, nerd, let’s get this over with quick.”

“Ah-- um... yes, of course! Right this way, Susa-- Susie.” He corrected himself with little fanfare, leading the way back down the path to the lake. It only took a single glance over his shoulder to confirm that Susie was indeed following him, and Kris stayed behind, leaning against the wall of Asgore’s flower shop.

Berdly let out a slow breath, relieved to note that the benches by the lake were unoccupied. Good. His legs were starting to hurt again. He took a seat without any hesitation, gesturing to the bench across the table. “Have a seat, please.”

Susie instead sat on the table itself instead, crossed one leg over the other and leaned towards him on one arm. “Start talking, birdbrain.”

Ah. She wanted him to cut to the chase. Berdly clasped his wings together, intertwining his feathered fingers, and nodded, locking his gaze on hers. “Tell me, Susie. Where were you in the Cyber World, after defeating my coaster?”

Chapter Text

By the time he finished his explanation of the events that had transpired, he was well aware that Susie was looking at him as if he’d sprouted a second head. She’d tried at least twice during his explanation to brush the Cyber World off as just a dream, but Berdly would not let himself be shut down so easily. With a growing frown on his beak, he kept his gaze locked on her, watching her reaction carefully. Susie awkwardly cleared her throat, leaning forward.

“So you’re telling me that... behind everyone’s back, Kris went around the city with Noelle, freezing everything in their path, and then made Noelle freeze you?” She asked, incredulously.

Berdly narrowed his eyes, and pushed his glasses up against the base of his beak. “That is precisely what I’m telling you, Susie, and if you still don’t believe me, just look at me. Even Mr. Holiday noticed the frost on my feathers! If what happened in the Cyber World was just some dream or delusion on my part, how could it still be affecting me here in the real world like this?”

Susie’s gaze cast downwards and away, avoiding Berdly’s intense stare, and she frowned. She drummed her claws against the metal table, before mumbling out, “...I dunno. But it's just... It doesn't make sense.”

That gave him pause for a moment, and his feathers ruffled with mild frustration, causing flakes of ice to fall from his form. “How so, Susie? It’s simple logic. You die in the game, you die in real life, except... I didn’t truly die.” But I should have, whispered a voice in the back of his mind. Not a voice of self-deprecation, but of something else. Angel knows I should have, but I didn’t. I... survived. But how...?

“I get that , but why would Kris even do that in the first place? Yesterday they were all buddy-buddy with Ralsei and being all insistent on Sparing things. Why would they just... suddenly turn heel like that and make Noelle... do those things?” Susie growled, before adding, quieter, “And why didn’t Noelle tell me...?”

Berdly’s stony expression lessened slightly, his brows relaxing, and his frown softening. He sighed, reaching out and resting a wing against Susie’s arm. She suppressed a shiver, and he pulled back slightly. Was he really that cold? “Susie. I can’t presume to know what exactly Kris did to make her go along with it, nor their reasoning behind it. It certainly isn’t like the Kris I know either.”

She looked at him out of the corner of her eye, a dull, crestfallen expression on her face, and he felt a pang of sympathy. That was definitely a new feeling. He continued, carefully, “But I can only surmise that... Kris leveraged some sort of intimidation against Noelle. A threat of harm, perhaps, in order to keep her in line. ...To keep her quiet.”

A guttural growl rumbled in Susie’s chest, and Berdly flinched, leaning away from her. His eyes were wide, a tremor ran through him when she slid off the tabletop, and she loomed over him, her bangs slipping down to cover her eyes. His SOUL thudded in his chest as she suddenly reached out and hooked her fingers into his jacket, hoisting him up by the fabric. “So you’re tellin’ me that my friend Kris hurt or threatened Noelle, and forced her on a murder spree after spending an entire day telling me not to go around roughing people up?! Why should I believe you?!”

Berdly gasped, his legs dangled limply while he grasped at Susie’s arm, trying to leverage himself upwards to lessen the strain on both his clothing and his neck. “B-because I’m telling you the truth , Susie! I have no reason to lie to you about this! Think-- why would I even tell you about this if I wasn’t serious?! If it were up to me, I wouldn’t set foot near you period, precisely because of things like this!” He squawked, gesturing at her tight-fisted grip.

A tense silence followed, as both parties stared each other down. Susie with seething anger and disbelief, Berdly with smug determination and a hint of frustration and fear behind it. Then, Susie let go, dropping him to the ground with a heavy thud . He practically crumpled in on himself, legs immediately buckling beneath him. Pushing himself up to his knees, he noticed with a growing unease that his wings were shaking, unsteady. Berdly turned his gaze upwards at Susie, breathing heavily as he watched her turn away, curling her hands into fists.

“Fine. If you really are telling the truth, then I’m sure you won’t object to me asking Kris for their side of the story.”

“No, don’t--!” Berdly cried out urgently, reaching toward her as she took one step away as if to leave. “Please, Susie-- It’s not safe to... to confront Kris right now. We don’t know what they might do to Noelle. Please, understand, the risk of them retaliating against Noelle or I--”

“Shut the fuck up.”

Berdly’s beak closed with a faint click , brows knitting together. Susie remained turned away, the only hint to her expression being her fists, which tightened momentarily before going lax. “So, say I do believe you. What the hell do you expect me to do if we’re not supposed to confront Kris?”

Slowly, Berdly began to rise up, gripping onto the table bench for support as he got to his feet. He was trembling, he noted, and it wasn’t from fear. His SOUL... it felt so cold, yet again. It was getting harder to ignore. “What I expect you to do, Susie... is keep an eye on Kris. And to help me make sure they are not left alone with Noelle again.”

“Okay. And what’s your plan, oh brave and glorious hero?” Susie muttered, her voice utterly dripping with sarcasm and contempt.

“I need to do my own investigations, such as trying to find someone from that Cyber World that knows about the magic Noelle used on me. For all intents and purposes, I should be dead right now. And should Kris turn on us here in the real world, I am in no state to be of any use in combat.”

“So I’m on babysitting duty while you do all the busywork?”

Berdly faltered, averting his gaze, even though he knew Susie couldn’t see his reaction. “Wh-when you put it like that...”

“Fine. I’m in.” Susie huffed.

His beak dropped open, and he stared at Susie with wide eyes. “You... you are? Why, th-thank you, Su--”

She rounded on him, pointing a clawed finger in his face, which caused him to shrink back and stumble. “But don’t think this makes us friends , chicken boy. I’m only doing this for Noelle. If I find out you’re pulling the wool over my eyes... you’re dead meat. Got it?”

“U-understood perfectly.” Berdly stammered.

“Good.” Susie turned towards the forested path back to town, the fallen leaves crunching under her feet as she started walking. Then she paused, throwing a glare over her shoulder at Berdly, this one holding considerably less malice than before. “And, uh, if you’re looking for the Dark World... try the supply closet at school. We brought everyone from the Cyber World there... well... everyone that could come...”

She frowned deeply and glanced downwards, as if something was just starting to make sense to her. Then, before Berdly could muster up anything more than a ‘thanks’, she was gone, heading back to town to meet up where she’d left Kris. Leaving Berdly alone by the lakeside, acutely aware of the chill creeping through his core.

The closet at school... His expression twisted in thought, resting a wing against his chin as Kris and Susie’s sudden absence from the day before suddenly made much more sense. Though he supposed now was not the time for such retrospect, as he gathered his bearings and made haste towards the school.

He supposed for once he was thankful that he was so utterly forgettable, as it meant no one would notice or question the frost creeping through his feathers, nor the way he’d begun to shiver, even as he wrapped his wings around himself. Nor would they question just why he was heading to the school at such an odd hour, with the sun beginning to set on the horizon, painting the town a golden hue.

He also considered himself lucky that the school was unlocked, not that they seemed to worry about such a thing in such a small, peaceful town. Even ruffians like the Wet-Nosed Bandits considered the school off-limits for their targets. The hallways were eerily silent as Berdly made his way towards the supply closet, his talons clicking against the linoleum beneath. There seemed to be an odd energy emanating from the closet, even before he could even think to open it. Something powerful and ancient, primal in its very nature. It resonated with his very SOUL, beckoning him closer.

Berdly rested his wing against the doorknob, curling his feathered fingers around it before hesitating. Was he truly ready for whatever he might face on the other side? What if Susie was on Kris’ side, and this was some elaborate trap to eliminate him? He frowned deeply, shaking those doubts from his head. No. I need answers. And they’re right behind this door. It’s now or never, Berdly.

He took in a deep breath, and pulled the door open, his stomach dropping as he saw that there was nothing but a boundless void behind it. A void that almost seemed to be pulling him in. If he went in there, was there any guarantee he’d find a way out? Against all his better judgement, he steeled his determination, and took a leap of faith, jumping into the void.

And he fell. Deeper, deeper, darker yet darker. His SOUL pounded in his chest, magic flooding his body in a way he slowly realized was all too familiar. He’d felt this magic before, when he’d first awoken in the Cyber World. His body shimmered with magic, spreading upwards from his feet, and his clothes began to change. Shorts, hooded jacket, and high-neck shirt became a black bodysuit beneath silver armor, an orange cape unfurling from around his neck, and his glasses dissipated, replaced with a single orange scouter lens over his left eye. The frost remained, however, twinkling from an unseen light in the darkness as he came to a landing on solid ground.

Berdly slowly lifted his head, and his eyes widened with surprise as he saw a little town in the near distance, overseen by a castle, and a fountain of darkness spewing into the sky. This was it. Susie was right.

He had found himself in the Dark World.

Shuddering from the cold now spreading across his entire being, he pushed himself up to his feet, and grimaced as he wobbled for just a moment before regaining his footing. Casting his gaze forward, he took in a breath, then exhaled it slowly, and began to make his way towards the Castle Town.

Chapter Text

For a town manifested in the darkness of the storage closet, Berdly wasn’t quite sure what he expected. It was smaller than he anticipated, and yet, its mere existence seemed larger than life. Though, the most egregious aspect he noted was just how empty it appeared to be. There couldn’t be more than a handful of residents, from what he could see. It was a far cry from the bustling Cyber World he’d found himself in earlier that day.

The calm silence that fell over the town was almost eerie-- no, it was eerie, knowing what he’d seen. Berdly’s gaze trailed over the few buildings that made up the main plaza, wincing lightly at the garish colors of what appeared to be some sort of dance fight club. Aside from that, the other shops were relatively subdued, but certainly not nondescript: A small shop that appeared to be made of fabric scraps and sewing materials, a cafe shaped like a coffee-cup, and a bakery that could only be described as corn chip shaped, with a chef hat and a mustache to boot!

None of it seemed to hold quite what he was searching for, however, so he decided to press on, towards the castle. He had barely set foot in the courtyard when a soft yet tender voice reached his ears. “Oh! Berdly! What a pleasant surprise!” That voice... it was vaguely familiar, and yet...

Berdly’s gaze turned towards the source, raising an eyebrow at the unfamiliar figure that stood before him: A small goat monster with red horns, glasses, a green-and-black tunic, pale white fur, and a green scarf that, upon closer examination, appeared to be woven from digital cables. He almost resembled Asriel, and yet there was something a little off about him. Namely, Berdly could not remember for the life of him who he was supposed to be.

“Do I know you?”

“O-oh, you don’t remember me? My name is Ralsei! I was with Susie and Kris in the Cyber World! We... bumped you off the roller coaster together?” The goat’s-- Ralsei’s --voice lilted with uncertainty, and he tilted his head with a bashful smile.

Berdly’s eyes narrowed and he frowned, delving through the memories of the day to try to recall if he’d even noticed him before. Suppressing a shudder as he pressed past the memories following the coaster crash, he did remember there being three opponents. Though, Ralsei had not been a very memorable one, with most of Berdly’s focus having been on Kris and Susie at that moment. “Ah, r-right! You were there when I showed off my formidable combat prowess!”

“Er, from what I recall, you actually, um, lost that battle.”

Berdly felt his lower eyelid twitch, and a slightly frustrated growl slipped out as he was reminded of his bruised ego. Certainly the least of his worries today, but it still irked him all the same. He quickly shook his head, frost falling from his feathers, and he quickly declared, “Look, it doesn’t matter who won or lost in that battle! Even though I most certainly would have won had you not cheated by derailing my coaster.”

Ralsei, however, had already lost interest in the topic, his gaze dropping to the now-melting icy flakes on the ground. His mouth fell open into a silent ‘oh’, his eyes traveling upwards over Berdly’s form. Berdly grimaced as he realized that even with the armor covering more of his body, his feet and wings were still visibly frostbitten, his feathers still caked with a thin-layer of ever-regenerating ice. And it only seemed to be getting worse. It was not going to be so easy to hide from others.

“Berdly, you... Are you alright? What happened to you?”

The Darkner stepped forward, and Berdly stepped back, his brows knitted together with uncertainty. He didn’t know Ralsei well, that much was obvious. Matter of fact, he had only seen him in the direct vicinity of Kris up until this point. Therefore, he deduced, he could not be certain that this Ralsei was trustworthy, even with the seemingly genuine concern he showed. Not yet.

He cleared his throat, held up his wings and waved them in a placating gesture. “It is nothing you need concern yourself with, goat boy! I will be quite alright!” His lie fell through, however, as a deep shiver wracked his form and he nearly doubled over. “Just... a little cold...”

Before he could protest, Ralsei closed the distance between them and wrapped his arms around him in a hug, a green glow briefly washing over them. For just a moment, Berdly’s SOUL felt a rush of warmth... and then, the ice began its creeping return, the frost on his body unchanging. Ralsei’s worry only seemed to grow, his hold on Berdly loosening enough to pull back and meet his eyes.

“Berdly, this... this isn’t nothing. Whatever happened to you, I... I can’t heal it. It seems like you came into contact with a very powerful spell... something far beyond anything I’ve seen before!”

Cold dread clutched at Berdly’s chest, tightening, holding back his words. His facade cracked, genuine fear visible in his eyes, along with a dull acceptance. Of course it wouldn’t be that easy, he thought, I was supposed to die from that spell! A dry chuckle slipped from his throat, and he took another step back, and closed his eyes to try to recompose himself.

“That is precisely why I am here, simple Ralsei.” he finally says, with a heavy sigh. “I am attempting to investigate this... spell that’s affecting me. If there is anyone in this Dark World that I could speak with that knows more about magic than you do, I suggest you point me their way. Time is of the essence!”

Another half-truth, keeping his investigation of Kris’ behavior separate. It was not yet time to disclose that particular information. Berdly tried his best to rebuild his facade of bravado, even puffing out his chest in a more ‘heroic’ stance as he awaited Ralsei’s reply.

Ralsei’s concerned expression remained, and he started to idly twist his scarf in his hands. “Um, well... the only person I know of that could possibly know more than myself is Seam, the shopkeeper in town. They seem... to know a lot of things, actually.”

That was all Berdly needed. A lead. Somewhere to go. “Then I shall go speak with this ‘Seam’ posthaste!” He declared, turning on his heel and making his way back towards the town, already having an idea of where he could find them.

“Um, w-wait! Don’t you need me to show you the way?” Ralsei called after him, giving Berdly a brief pause.

“I believe I will be able to find my way just fine on my own, thank you very much.” He responds, a defensive edge to his tone that he realized too late seemed a bit harsh.

Ralsei didn’t seem to flinch, however, offering a faltering smile instead. “O-oh, a-alright, then... w-well, you know where to find me, if you need me! I’ll just be in the castle, helping Queen settle in!”

Queen.

Berdly’s eyes widened for a moment, the name hitting him with a wave of realizations. Not only had she somehow been spared from Kris and Noelle’s frozen massacre, she was now here in this world, separate from the Cyber World they’d met in. And if she was here, that meant... certainly, there should be other survivors, right?

Survivors meant potential witnesses, and potential witnesses meant more evidence towards convicting Kris of their involvement, and proving his case to Susie. Suddenly, meeting Seam took a seat on the backburner, as seeking out these Cyber World refugees became his top priority.

“I see, well, thank you Ralsei, this conversation has been enlightening, I must go now, farewell!” Berdly shot out rapidfire, already breaking into a sprint before Ralsei could muster a response.

His first destination was the cafe, the warmth within sending a faint shiver of relief through him. It was a momentary respite from the constant cold throbbing in his very SOUL, and he would take whatever small comforts he could get. Taking a look at the bird-like figure behind the counter, he noticed despite their formal posture, there was a hint of melancholy in the way their head slightly bowed, the faintest of creases in their brows. Their eyes were hidden behind their angular, two-toned glasses, but if Berdly had to guess, they might be damp with unshed tears.

Clearing his throat, he approached the counter, and straightened himself up to his full height. Hoping to project an air of determination and heroics. Something to lighten the heavy atmosphere that lingered around the bird. “Excuse me, good barista, might I trouble you for a moment?”

The barista gasped faintly, barely audible, before turning their gaze to Berdly. “Ah, forgive me, young master, I did not see you there. I must have gotten lost in thought...” They trailed off for a moment, before giving their head a single shake. “No matter. How may I serve you today?”

“I would like to ask if you might happen to know the whereabouts of the former denizens of the fair Cyber City. As one of Queen’s noble and loyal peons, I am curious to know where they may have gone.” Berdly explained, keeping up that sense of bravado.

However, the melancholy only intensified at the mention of the former Dark World, the barista bowing their head. “I am afraid there are not many of us here, young master. Aside from our Lady Grace Queen and myself, there are only a handful of others, like the Addisons and those rebels... As for where they are, I believe they have taken up residence towards the southeast corner of town.”

Berdly’s eyes widened as the other mentioned being one of said cyber citizens, and he gulped down an odd rush of emotion before cautiously stepping forward. His tone softened, a subtle difference but noticeable enough, as he replied, “So you were one of them? Please, if you could-- Tell me all you can about what happened earlier today. Regarding... the cold.”

Two simple words that carried so much weight. The bird’s expression grew visibly distraught, if only for a moment. A heavy sigh left their chest, before they reluctantly met Berdly’s gaze. “The other Swatchlings and I were in the Color Cafe when it happened. Two of them came from the city, and informed me of two Lightners that were apparently marching around and freezing the citizens. However, as we started to prepare the cafe for an influx of refugees from the city, we were, unfortunately, trapped within as a rather troublesome Darkner turned to stone right in the doorway. As... interesting as that man was, I dare not say he deserved such a fate.”

“Even more unfortunately, the Swatchlings did not accompany me to this world when ours was sealed, so I cannot call forth the ones that witnessed the Lightners responsible for the cold. I deeply apologize, young master, that I cannot provide you with more information.”

Berdly felt a dull ache in his chest, sympathy, as he gave the barista a solemn nod in return. “No need for apologies, sir. What you’ve given me is helpful enough. You have my deepest sympathies for your losses... And do not worry. I intend to bring those responsible to justice!”

The passion in his voice was palpable enough to bring a faint smile to the barista’s face as they chuckled, a soft sound that felt almost like home. “I wish you good luck on that matter, young master. Perhaps I might offer you something for your travels? I recommend a hot chocolate with azure whipped cream and peppermint garnish.”

Oh. Oh, that sounded delicious. Berdly’s stomach growled audibly, as if it had already made the decision for him. He supposed he would agree, reasoning the hot drink just might stave off the chill within him, even if only for a short while. “I would like that, actually. Much appreciated, Mx...?”

“Swatch.” The bird introduced themself as prompted, already turning to busy themself with making the beverage. “My name is Swatch.”

“Thank you, Swatch. Truly.”

...

...

.

...

It was only a short while later that Berdly found himself on the path towards the southeast of town, the travel cup of hot chocolate clutched between his feathered hands. The heat radiated into his wings, the numb feeling in his fingers fading to a dull tingle. With every sip, heat moved down to his core, scalded his tongue and burned his throat, but he persisted. If only to desperately cling to the warmth it gave him, that only seemed to fade faster with every passing second.

His shivering desperation did not go unnoticed, however, as an approaching neon blue glow caught his eye. Berdly turned his gaze upwards to regard the figure that approached him, noticing with a mix of elation and dread that it was one of those Addisons he’d seen peddling their wares on the streets of Cyber City. He was not in the mood for a sales pitch, though upon further inspection, the lack of a smile on the Addison’s face indicated that they weren’t either.

The Addison’s solemn gaze drifted over him, seemingly searching for something , before they met his eyes. A tense silence hung in the air, both Lightner and Darkner staring at each other, before at last, the Addison spoke.

“That frost... you encountered them, didn’t you? The Lightners.”

Berdly’s interest was piqued. “Yes, as a matter of fact, I did.” He chose to hold back his questions, keeping his eyes locked on the Addison.

“Then you know, don’t you? What they did to the city. To... to my brother.” A pause hung between them, a sharp, cold feeling edged up through Berdly’s chest, and the Addison’s gaze drifted downwards to something held delicately in their hands. “ Both my brothers.”

That sharp feeling hurt, Berdly’s next words like knives in his throat, tasting like copper and regret. “I-- I’m so sorry for your loss. R-rest assured I will not allow this to go on unhindered. I know all too well what they’re capable of, and I’m trying... I’m going to put a stop to it.”

The blue glow of the Addison flickered, just for a moment, their expression twisted into one of grief, before they stabilized. A faint glimmer of hope shone in their eyes, and they held something out to Berdly, just waiting for him to accept it. “Then, please... take these. Maybe... Maybe he can still HELP you.”

Despite the uncertainty sinking in his chest, after all the Addisons rarely had anything more than diversional trinkets, Berdly found himself shifting his hot chocolate into one hand, and reached out with the other to take the offered object. Bringing it in for closer inspection, Berdly finally identified the object in his hand; a pair of tinted sunglasses with mismatched lenses. One pink, with a crack that ran across its surface, and one yellow, undamaged. The frames seemed slightly bent, as if they had previously been crushed but then straightened out with care. Yet, despite their innocuous appearance, they felt... alive. As if something, someone, channeled their power into it.

[ * Berdly obtained DEALMAKER. ]

Finally, he turned his gaze up towards the Addison once more, a heavy breath shaken from his form. “Thank you. I will take good care of them.” Berdly promised, and that seemed to be all the Addison needed. They nodded once and turned away, striding towards a mannequin they had set up in the small yard, which wore what appeared to be a replica of Ralsei’s clothing. Albeit with a pink scarf instead of green, along with a hat.

By the time they’d turned to face the public again, they’d plastered a smile across their face much more like the Addisons he’d seen before. And yet... even then, they held an aching sadness behind it.

Berdly sighed softly, and reluctantly finished off his hot chocolate with a final gulp, shuddering as the dregs of rich chocolate syrup lingered on his tongue, and the last of the heat dissipated within him. The empty cup vanished in a sparkle of pixelated magic, which left his hands free to properly unfold the shades.

What else was he meant to do now except put them on? Despite his trepidation, the shades themselves seemed to convey that they wanted to be worn. Put them on, put them on, put them on-- echoed in his mind, and without thinking, he moved the shades up to his face, dismissing the lens of his scouter, and...

...

Well. He felt a little bit sturdier, somehow. And a little bit luckier , financially. Though that crack in the lens was certainly going to get annoying until he got used to it. The different tints they gave the world proved slightly disorienting as well. And he could do without the whispering--

Wait.

Whispering?! Berdly tensed up, his expression crinkling with confusion and disbelief as he heard a voice whisper-yelling in the back of his mind.

HOLY [Cungadero], IF IT ISN’T THE [Frozen Chicken]!

Chapter Text

There was a voice in his head.

There was a voice in his head!

Berdly’s eyes widened as he stumbled back, and shook his head to try to clear out whatever interference had jumbled up. Maybe he was just hearing things because he was tired and overthinking things. Maybe that was it.

I KNOW YOU CAN HEAR ME, [Featherbedding]! [Buy One, Get One], WHAT A SURPRISE! I THOUGHT YOU’D TAKEN AN [All-Expenses Paid Vacation] TO THE [Frozen Food Section]!

He pressed his wings harshly against the sides of his head, trying to block out the voice. The unfamiliar voice that sounded oddly like a used car salesman, intercut with audio clips that seemed badly edited in. The voice that somehow knew of his supposed fate in the Cyber World.

“What?! Who-- who are you?! How did you get in my head?! And how do you know about... the cold?” Berdly snapped, his mind reeling with confusion and alarm, but stalled by intrigue. Did this have something to do with the shades he was wearing?

WHAAAT?! YOU DON’T KNOW ME? SPAMTON G. SPAMTON? YOU’RE WEARING MY [One Of A Kind] DEALMAKERS!

That answered almost nothing. Berdly narrowed his eyes, unsure of if this “Spamton” could see his expressions, but decided to show his annoyance nonetheless. “Dealmakers... is that what these shades are called?” He asked, deducing that indeed that must be the source of the voice. After all, it hadn’t begun speaking until after he’d put the damned things on.

THAT’S [Congratulations! You Won!]!

“Great, fantastic. Should have known these came with a gimmick.” He muttered under his breath, rolling his eyes. “You still haven’t answered my other questions, you know.”

WHAT IS THIS, A [Live Television Interview]? CAN’T A GUY JUST [Die] IN PEACE AROUND HERE?

“...Wait... You’re... dead?” Berdly asks, brows furrowed in confusion. Things were making less and less sense by the minute, and he was certain he was starting to get some weird looks from the few citizens in this part of town.

DID I SAY THAT?

“You certainly implied it.” Berdly hissed, turned on his heel and began to march back towards the main plaza, a single destination in mind. His initial one, before he’d learned of the survivors of Cyber City. Seam’s shop. That Ralsei had said Seam knew more about magic than he did, maybe they had some sort of explanation for this.

Because the alternative was that he was losing his mind, and he did not even want to consider that.

WELL, YOU’RE NOT WRONG! I WENT THE SAME WAY YOU DID, [Blue Bird]! THAT [Hochi Mama] PUT ME ON ICE! SHE’S ONE [Cold] CUSTOMER!

“Don’t you dare speak about Noelle that way!” He growled, his feathers ruffled irritably. Already he wanted to tear the shades from his face and crush them under his foot. But he wouldn’t. He couldn’t. “You don’t even know her!”

DON’T I? AHAEAEHEHAEHEAHAEAHEAEHEAHA!

The laughter was sickening. Even more so was what followed moments later.

I’VE SEEN WHO SHE TRULY IS. SHE’S [Strong], THAT [Angel]. SHE WAS ABLE TO [Freeze Dry] ME, AFTER ALL!

“Shut UP!” Berdly shouted, his throat raw. Hot tears stung in his eyes, blurring his vision, and as he blinked them away, they froze on his cheeks. “Noelle couldn’t have-- wouldn’t have done any of that on her own! She wouldn’t hurt a fly if it sat right on her food! It... it was Kris that... Kris was giving the orders. Noelle didn’t have any choice!”

ARE YOU SURE ABOUT THAT?

Berdly didn’t answer. He’d had enough of this voice. He didn’t want to acknowledge the doubts creeping at the edges of his mind, like the frost still creeping into the cracks in his SOUL. Because that’s all they were-- baseless doubts. ...Right?

He clenched his fists, keeping his gaze down as he quickened his pace. He chose to ignore the tears slowly trickling from the corners of his eyes, as if acknowledging them would make them more real. Staring angrily through the tinted lenses before his eyes, as if he could melt them through sheer force of will if he glared hard enough, he finally made his way to the patchwork shop in town.

The darkness of Seam’s shop felt warmer than the rest of the Dark World, broken only by dim lamplight at the corner of the counter. Sitting behind the counter, Berdly could only assume was Seam themself, a grizzled old plush cat with a button eye, faded purple fur and patches and stitches all over. Berdly cleared his throat and stood up straight, folding his wings behind his back as he introduced himself.

“Ah, hello there. You are Seam, I presume? My name is Berdly, and it’s a pleasure to meet you. I was directed here by someone named Ralsei, I believe you know him?”

ARE YOU CONDUCTING A [Funeral] CEREMONY? WHAT’S WITH ALL THE [Formality]?

The corners of Berdly’s beak twitched downwards for a moment, but he pointedly continued ignoring Spamton’s voice in favor of what Seam had to say. “Ralsei, that’s the little prince... I can’t imagine what he would have sent you to me for, unless you’d like some tea?”

“No, thank you, I only just had some hot chocolate.” Berdly declined, though with some reluctance. He longed for some extra warmth, any sort of reprieve from the cold winding its way deeper and deeper. “He actually said you may be able to help me regarding my current... situation.”

“Oh? And what might that be?” Their ears wiggled with curiosity, peering at Berdly with a gaze that almost seemed to see right through him.

“Well, er...” Berdly waved a wing over himself, shaking some of the frost from his feathers. “Do you see this ice? In... the Cyber World, I... I was the unfortunate victim of an unknown spell that froze me solid. I somehow managed to survive and wake up in the real world, but... as you can see, the effects have stuck with me.”

“I’m cold, covered with frost, and it only seems to be getting worse. It feels almost as if... my very SOUL was cracked by that spell.”

OH, IS THAT HOW YOU’RE GONNA TELL THE [Audience] WHAT HAPPENED? NOT EVEN CALLING IT BY ITS NAME?

He was really getting sick of that voice.

Seam let out a low hum, thoughtful, as they seemingly contemplated Berdly’s story. “An unknown spell, hm? Are you sure you don’t recall the name?”

He hated it even more when it was proven right.

Berdly gritted his teeth, and dearly hoped that the name of the spell would not be enough to implicate Noelle. “Snowgrave. It was called Snowgrave.”

“Snowgrave...” Seam repeated, with a mixture of reverence and fear that Berdly wasn’t sure how to feel about. “That is indeed a very powerful spell. Old magic, as it were. Indeed, it is a miracle you lived to tell the tale! But your luck won’t last forever, I’m afraid. Snowgrave is a fatal spell that claims all its victims eventually, no matter how strong their Determination may be.”

No. Berdly’s stomach dropped, he felt numb, a cold terror gripping him from within. “ No!” He repeated out loud, slamming the palms of his hands against the counter, leaning forward. Desperation laced his tone, as he pleaded, “There has to be some way to stop it, though, right? There’s always some counter-spell, or miracle cure you have to trek halfway across the world to find, this can’t just be it for me!”

GIVE IT UP, [Blue Bird]. NO ONE’S GOING TO [Hear] YOU WHEN [Hell Freezes Over].

Shut up!

Seam’s expression remained fairly calm, though their brow furrowed slightly as they regarded Berdly’s desperate gaze. “I would caution against false hope, young Lightner, though it seems your Determination already altered your fate. My previous statement remains true, however, your Determination alone will not be enough to save you. Though, perhaps, if your SOUL was strengthened by another... there may be a small chance.”

“But even that would only buy you time. Only the spellcaster themself would be able to truly spare you from the effects... But I doubt you’d be able to find them. That Fountain was sealed, after all, and no ice-magic wielders came from their world.” They concluded, a mirthless smile spreading across their face.

Berdly felt a tremor running through his form. At least there is a way... but I can’t let Noelle get involved in this again until I’m certain Kris can’t do her any more harm! I’ll have to deal with Kris first before I even think about asking Noelle to cure me. That, or find a way to sneak Noelle into this Dark World without Kris knowing... Either way, it could prove to be difficult. She barely knew what Snowgrave was, who’s to say she’d even know how to cure it?

“How long do I have?” He asked, voice wavering. Seam’s smile dropped once more.

“From your current state, I would say... three days unaided, perhaps a week if you gained the power of another SOUL... Hardly any time at all, in the grand scheme of things.”

Three days on his own. A heavy feeling settled in Berdly’s chest, dread and despair hooking their claws into him. He didn’t want to die. He had a project to do, Noelle would miss him, and his family--

He shook his head, urging in a desperate whisper, “Then how can I buy myself more time? You mention gaining the power of another SOUL, what does that mean?”

“It is possible in this realm for Lightners to absorb the power of other SOULs, either those of other Lightners, or of Darkners like myself. The simplest manner of this involves the objects that house our SOULs and give us form in this land. Like those glasses you have...” Seam notes, their gaze moving to the double-tinted shades still perched on Berdly’s face. “It appears they house the SOUL of a Darkner... that salesman, I believe.”

Oh, is that why I’ve suddenly got a mental passenger? Berdly frowned, his brows creasing, opening his beak to ask a question before Seam started to speak again. “Oh, but it seems that is only half of his SOUL... What a pity. If you had both objects containing his SOUL, you would be able to secure those extra days on the timer.”

“But if I can find it... you’re saying that would be enough to get me at least a week to fix this?”

“Oh, indeed... Though I wouldn’t get my hopes up. After all, what are the odds that both objects would be here, in this town?” Seam tilted their head, as if pondering the chances, their ears giving another twitch. Berdly let out a shuddering exhale and took a step back, he felt almost numb from the rush of mixed emotions churning within.

He stepped back further, and muttered, “I see. Well, thank you, then... This information has proved... enlightening. I... I need to go now.”

Seam’s response sounded muffled and distant, as Berdly turned and walked out of the shop. It felt like he was moving without thinking, like he was on autopilot, or just... a puppet on strings. It was getting harder to breathe. He’d barely realized that the voice had been silent since he’d told it to shut up.

HE HEY NOW DON’T QUIT ON ME NOW, KID. DIDJA HEAR WHAT THE [Housecat] SAID? YOU COULD GET MY [Soul] IN ONE PIECE AGAIN!

A tug at his mind, a push, and his body stumbled towards the castle. He only made it two steps before he fell to his knees, gasping for breath. It was getting so dark. So dark, darker, yet darker. His armor felt too tight, his limbs frozen, locked in place, and all he could do was stare at the ground. The slate blue ground, the stone and gravel path, as cold as it was, felt hot against his frostbitten wings.

The voice got louder.

COME BACK TO EARTH, [Space Cadet]! REMEMBER TO [Take Slow, Deep Breaths] OR ELSE YOU’LL [[Die]].

Oh, so now it cared how he felt? Funny. Yet, Berdly squeezed his eyes shut, inhaling sharply, the air slashing his lungs, and he choked out an exhale. He fought past the constricting pain, tried to find a rhythm. In, out. In, out. In, out. Focus. Breathe. You can’t afford to slip up. One mistake, and Kris will-- the whole town will know-- You’re no prodigy, you’re no hero, you’re a fraud--

KID KID KID KID KID ENOUGH OF THAT [Crapola]! SNAP OUT OF IT AND SMELL THE [Sweet Deals]!

“Easy for you to say!” Berdly cried, glaring upwards at the darkness, as if the voice could see the cold fire in his eyes. “You’re not the one slowly freezing to death!”

I ALREADY HAVE, REMEMBER? LISTEN KID. YOU HEARD WHAT THE [Cat] SAID. IF YOU GET MY SOUL BACK TOGETHER YOU’VE GOT YOURSELF [Extra Time On The Clock]! YOU USE THAT TIME TO GET YOUR [Side Chick] TO [Defrost For 1 Hour On Medium], AND THEN YOU CAN LET ME GO AND I CAN BE A [New Man] AGAIN! EVERY BUDDY WINS!!!

“And where am I supposed to find the other half of your SOUL?! It could have been lost with the Cyber World, and if it is here, how am I supposed to find it?!”

He just wanted to pull his feathers out and scream, scream into the uncaring void.

BUDDY, IT’S [[MY]] SOUL, I CAN FEEL ITS [Power] AND ALSO I KNOW WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE???

Like hell he trusted this voice. But it was his only lead, his only chance to buy more time. Berdly clenched his jaw, breathing through his teeth, “Then what. Does it. Look like.” His wings curled into fists, his feathered fingertips digging into the path in the process.

IT’S LIKE GREEN [Spaghetti] WIRES, [Strings To Hold Me Down]! I CAN FEEL IT. IT’S [Close].

Green spaghetti wires. Berdly took a deep breath, forcing himself to focus as he wracked through his memories so far of the Dark World. Had he seen something like that already? The Addison hadn’t had anything, nor had Seam nor Swatch, from what he could tell. And Ralsei...

Bingo. Like a flash of lightning, he recalled the odd scarf around the goat’s neck, that looked like it had been woven from cables. Was that it? It had to be, right? “I think I’ve seen it.” He whispered, leveling his gaze towards the castle.

THAT’S GREAT [Breaking News]! WHADDYA SAY WE GO GET IT NOW, [Smart Shot]?

“We can’t.”

WH. WHY NOT.

Oh, the voice sounded unamused. Berdly furrowed his brows, keeping his voice in a low murmur, “Because someone is already wearing it. I doubt he’d just hand it over if I asked.”

THEN YOU GIVE HIM SOMETHING FOR IT. [Kr0mer], [Goods And Services], [Sweet Deals That Will Knock Your $#^% Off]!

“What--”

The voice interrupted him, it sounded almost smug as it declared,

JUST DO AS I SAY, [Smart Shot], AND YOUR OLD PAL SPAMTON WILL SHOW YOU WHY I’M CALLED THE [Dealmaker]!!!

This was going to be a long, and arduous evening.

Chapter Text

Berdly sighed as he walked back towards the southeast of town, directed by Spamton’s overconfident advice. Rather, his orders. Recalling the earlier conversation, he couldn’t help but roll his eyes. It made sense to trade a scarf for a scarf, but the real question was if the replacement scarf would even be good enough. Their options were rather slim, the only available scarf that Berdly knew of being the one on the Addison’s mannequin.

The dusty, battered, worm-eaten scarf.

And despite the Addison’s earlier generosity, Berdly doubted it would hold when it came to an actual sale. That’s where Spamton said he’d come in.

SO WHEN THEY [Buy Now For The Low Low Price Of], YOU POINT OUT THAT THE SCARF IS [Damaged Goods] AND DEMAND A [50% Off Flash Sale]! AND IF THAT DOESN’T WORK, YOU PULL THE [Family Discount] CARD!

“You do realize I’m not related to them, right?” Berdly said flatly, glancing aside with an unamused look.

BUT I AM!

Berdly rolled his eyes. “Ah, yes, a brilliant idea. Claim to the grieving Addison that I can hear their deceased brother’s voice and he says I should get a discount at their store. I’m certain that won’t be taken the wrong way at all.”

EXACTLY! ALL ACCORDING TO [Holiday Planning]!

“I was being sarcastic.”

OH.

“Look. I’ll see how much they want for just the scarf, see if I have any money on me, and if it’s too much, I’ll try the damaged goods haggle, and if that doesn’t work, we’ll need a new plan.” Berdly conceded, shivering and wrapping his arms around himself. “One that doesn’t involve pulling emotional manipulation regarding the recently deceased.”

YOU ARE [100% Guaranteed] [No FUN Allowed].

Berdly sighed and chose not to respond, continuing onwards to the small yard. Sure enough, the blue Addison was still there beside the mannequin, their fake salesman smile plastered on their face. For a moment, Berdly could have sworn their glow seemed dimmer than before, but it brightened up the moment they noticed him.

“Ah, good evening! Would you care for a bite from this mannequin? Only $4.99!”

A bite? Berdly paused for a moment in confusion, before he shook his head and cleared his throat. “N-no, thank you. Actually, I would like to purchase the scarf from the mannequin. How much would that be?”

The Addison faltered for a moment, seemingly startled by him going off-script, but they quickly caught themself and replied, “Why, that would be $50 for just the scarf!”

He made a show of rummaging through his inventory, extracting a small bundle of Dark Dollars from a hidden pocket in his waist-sash. It proved to be a rather paltry amount, a total of thirty dollars and a piece of lint. Berdly grimaced lightly after counting the amount, and gave the scarf a glance to find something to complain about. “Er, considering it looks like something’s taken a few bites out of the scarf, could I get a reduction to $25? It would only be fair, considering the product is damaged.”

Another falter, this time accompanied by their glow flickering briefly. (HA. NOT SO [Get Off Your High Horse] NOW ARE YOU?) “Ah... oh, it appears you’re correct! There are... bites missing from the scarf.”

Berdly felt his stomach twist guiltily, but he pressed forward. “Yes, indeed. So about the price...” He glanced down at the money in his hand, and held it towards the Addison. Seeing their brows crease lightly, and their gaze briefly flick towards the shades he wore-- were they regretting their decision to give them to him? --he quickly added, “This is all I have, but I really need that scarf.”

That certainly wasn’t a lie, he looked cold enough with the ice flaking off his feathers with every movement, the tips of his talons and beak darkened by frostbite. The Addison took in a slow, deep breath, then exhaled, before taking the money from his hand. They shivered briefly from the chill emanating off him, and after pocketing the money, they unraveled the scarf from around the mannequin and held it out. “Here you are. One partially-eaten scarf, at a bargain price!”

The scarf was surprisingly soft for its condition, Berdly noted as he accepted it into his hands. He was almost tempted to put it on himself. Almost. As soft as it may be, he needed a different scarf to guarantee his survival. He locked eyes with the Addison, and let out a slow exhale. “Thank you. You have no idea how much this is going to help me...” He trailed off, as he realized he didn’t even know their name.

It must have shown on his face, because the Addison put up a softer smile, and answered the unspoken question. “Banner. My name is Banner.”

Berdly managed his own smile in return, and puffed out his chest with bravado as he introduced himself properly in turn, “Berdly Wing, at your service! Rest assured, fair Banner, that this is all part of my plan to stop the Lightners. I will not let you down!”

He could practically hear Spamton rolling his eyes. Did he even have eyes? He was just a pair of glasses right now, after all. Banner, on the other hand, smiled bittersweetly, and tilted their head. “I did not think you would, Berdly. I have full faith in you.”

LIAR LIAR [Pantalones Del Fuego]!!!

“I appreciate your confidence in my abilities!” Berdly replied, keeping up his confident facade. “However, I must take my leave now. Time is of the essence! Thank you once again for the scarf!”

“Of course. Good luck out there, Berdly.” Banner bid him farewell with a wave, their ever-present smile remaining on their face. Berdly nodded and spun on his heel, before quickly retreating from the yard to begin making his way towards the castle.

As soon as he was out of Banner’s earshot, Berdly frowned and muttered, “What exactly is your problem, Spamton? That Banner Addison seems like a decent person to me!”

YOU DON’T [5 Fun Facts About] THEM LIKE I DO. THEY DON’T CARE ABOUT YOU. IT’S ALL ABOUT [Money, Money, Money] WITH THEM.

“Mmhmm, and if that is the case, why did they give you to me for free? And accept the discount on the scarf?”

HA! THEY [Abandoned You For The Slime] ONCE, OF COURSE THEY’D DO IT AGAIN! SHE WAS JUST [Pity Party] YOU. DON’T GET YOUR [[Hopes And Dreams]] UP.

Berdly could feel the bitter anger practically radiating through the glasses, echoing in Spamton’s tone. Clearly, there was something to unpack there. Yet, he wasn’t sure if this was the time. “Look, even if you don’t like Banner, you cannot deny they were helpful in this instance. Besides, you didn’t see the way they looked earlier. When they gave you to me. They’re hurting, Spamton. They’re hurting a lot.”

Spamton just distantly grumbled in the back of his head, and Berdly sighed. They could address whatever family feud was going on later. Right now, the focus had to be his survival. So he marched onwards, towards the castle, until he set his gaze on the fuzzy prince. Ralsei was easy enough to spot, a beacon of fluffy white fur against the dark blues and void darkness of the Castle Town. Berdly raised his wing and called out to flag him down.

“Ah, Prince Ralsei! Just the lifeform I wanted to see!”

Ralsei let out a surprised gasp and turned to face Berdly, before putting on a smile and clapping his hands together. “It’s good to see you again, Berdly! Did you talk to Seam already?”

“As a matter of fact, I have!” Berdly answered, fixing his gaze on him. “That actually brings me to why I’ve approached you. I have discovered a way to prolong my lifespan in order to find a cure for the frigid curse on my SOUL. But I need your help. Rather, I need something from you.”

THAT’S IT, KID, THAT’S THE [[Strings]] RIGHT THERE! [Billy Goat Fluff] IS WEARING THEM!

With a blink and a tilt of his head, Ralsei regarded Berdly curiously. “Oh? What is it you need? I want to help however I can!”

Spamton had already confirmed the target, so now Berdly just needed to offer the bait. He chuckled lowly, and pointed right at Ralsei. “What I need... is that scarf you’re wearing! And naturally, what you would need is a replacement, which I so happen to have... right here!”

He whipped the pink scarf from his inventory and held it out to Ralsei in the most dramatic pose he could muster. His wind magic blew the scarf dramatically for a few seconds, but he could only keep it up for so long before he grew tired.

Ralsei’s eyes widened a little and he stared at Berdly almost dumbfounded for a moment, before he smiled, raising an eyebrow. “This scarf...? Is that all you need?” He asked.

Berdly faltered. “Y-yes?”

“You didn’t need to get me anything in return for it, Berdly! If it’s to help you find the cure, of course I’d give it to you! Though I do... appreciate your thoughtfulness in getting me a replacement scarf.”

Ralsei unwrapped the green cable scarf from around his neck, and held it out to Berdly as he accepted the worm-eaten scarf. Noticing the state of it, he couldn’t help but giggle. “Is this from the training dummy?”

Berdly held the green scarf stiffly in his hands, staring at Ralsei with wide eyes. “Er... I... that is to say... I can neither confirm nor deny its origin!”

Ralsei covered his mouth with a furred paw and stifled another giggle. “It’s okay, Berdly. I can fix it up easily! But first... is there anything else I can do to help?”

Berdly’s lower eyelid twitched, and his smile grew strained. “If anything comes to mind, I will be sure to let you know! For the time being, you’ve been more than helpful!”

“Well, alright, then, Berdly... Please do take care.”

Berdly simply nodded in return, not trusting himself to speak any further. He turned around and strode away, until he tucked himself into an alcove away from prying eyes. He stomped his foot and let out a frustrated whine, “I didn’t even need to buy the stupid scarf in the first place! Why didn’t I just ASK him for the scarf?! We wasted precious time and resources on that endeavor!”

WE WELL YOU CAN’T ALWAYS [Win Big] EM ALL! SOMETIMES YOU END UP [In The Hole]!

“Let me guess, you know from experience?” Berdly deadpanned, narrowing his eyes.

YOU BETCHA!!! DID I MENTION I WAS THE [Number One Rated Salesman1997]?

“No. No, you haven’t.”

WELL I WAS! I WAS A REAL [[Big Shot]] BACK IN THE DAY!

“Mmhmm, I’m sure you were.” Berdly hummed dismissively as he began to examine the scarf in his hands. Sure enough, it was made of wires and cables, woven together so tightly they took on the appearance of a regular scarf if viewed from a distance. Despite what it was made of, it felt deceivingly soft, as well. Perhaps that was magic. And much like the Dealmakers before, it felt powerful. It felt alive.

WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR, [Sweet Deals In The Frozen Aisle]?! PUT IT ON ALREADY, YOU’RE [[Killing]] ME!

Berdly snapped out of his trance at the sound of Spamton’s screaming whisper, almost surprised by the urgency in his tone. Right. They were on a tight schedule. He took in a deep breath, and swiftly wrapped the scarf around his neck, and as soon as it was nice and snug...

[ * Berdly equipped PuppetScarf. ]

His SOUL, his frigid, cracked SOUL, was suddenly enveloped by another. Warmth, electric warmth, surged through his entire being, crackling around him as a magical wind began to blow. Pink and yellow, sharply angled, Spamton’s SOUL encased his own, filling in the cracks and holding it together. Electricity and light ran over his body, from head to toe, as his clothes began to transform. 

The angled headset became rounded, a headset microphone sticking out from one side. The orange cape melded into the Puppet Scarf, extending the length of it. His armor was replaced by a white turtleneck and a padded black suit, his pauldrons becoming pointed shoulder pads that wouldn’t look out of place in the 1980s. While his arm bracers and waist sash remained untouched, black pants became white, and his leg bracers vanished entirely.

Then it was over. The crackling electricity dissipated, and the wind died down, and Berdly was left wobbling on his feet, feeling unsteady, and yet... so much more powerful. He wasn’t as cold as before. Taking in a deep breath, Berdly straightened up, and called out, “Spamton? Are you still there?”

[[Affirmative]], [Chicken Little]! HOW ARE YOU HOLDING UP?

With a shaky laugh, Berdly looked over his new outfit with equal levels of amazement and apprehension. “I... I feel like a million bucks!”

DON’T GET TOO [[I’m So Excited]]! REMEMBER WHAT THE [What’s New Pussycat] SAID, THIS ONLY GETS YOU A [[Working For The Weekend]] BEFORE [Hell Freezes Over].

“I’m well aware of our time constraints, Spamton. Can’t I at least be happy I don’t feel like I’m about to keel over and die any second?”

FAIR ENOUGH, CARRY ON.

Berdly breathed out a sigh and leaned back against the wall, then his brows creased. “What time is it, anyway?”

HOW SHOULD I KNOW, I’M NOT A [MM/DD/YYYY]!

Shit. Berdly grimaced, and pushed away from the wall, running towards the end of town, where he remembered first landing. “I need to get home. Dad will be worried sick if I’m home late!”

WAIT WHAT

Ignoring Spamton’s dumbfounded confusion, Berdly pressed onward, until he came to the spotlight at the end of town. He took a deep breath, hoping that this would take him back to the real world, and leapt into the light. His stomach lurched in a weightless feeling as he rose upwards, and sure enough, he was met with the even dimmer evening glow of the school hallways.

Berdly noted with some satisfaction that the Dealmakers and the Puppet Scarf seemed to remain as they were, while the rest of his clothes were back to normal. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his cellphone, wincing sharply as he checked the time. Oh, it was well past dinnertime. He needed to get home now.

Suppressing a shiver, he forged onwards, running out of the school and down the streets to make his way home. Hoping that his absence had not yet caused too much alarm.

Chapter Text

He had barely left the school when his phone buzzed with a sudden influx of missed notifications. Berdly pulled it out once more, and grimaced as he noticed the five missed calls from his father, and even more concerned texts. He shook his head and shoved it back in his pocket-- it would only waste more time to stop and respond. He just had to keep running home.

He noticed Spamton had been eerily silent ever since they’d left the Dark World. At first, he began to suspect he was simply unable to speak outside of it, but when he was forced to slow his pace, his legs beginning to ache again, he was proven wrong.

SO THIS IS [H e a v e n]...

Contrasting the usual distant yelling, this time Spamton’s voice had been far quieter. Almost reverent. Berdly’s stride slowed, and he glanced around the northern streets of Hometown. The leaves on the trees were still orange and yellow, in the final throes of their colorful change before falling to the ground below. The sky had become a purple and orange gradient, the faintest twinkles of starlight beginning to appear as the sun set over the horizon. Even the moon had emerged, its waning shape a pale glow in the sky. Streaks of clouds crossed the vast canvas above, dark blues lined with a shade of rose that felt so distantly warm.

He slowed to a stop on a corner of the sidewalk, staring up at the twilit sky, and murmured, “Have you never... seen the real world before?”

NO. NOT LIKE THIS. I’VE ONLY EVER SEEN A SLIVER, THROUGH [Repair Your Broken Windows].

Berdly let out a slow exhale, and watched how his breath clouded before his eyes before the condensation dissipated in the air. “Well... I suppose you should enjoy the view while it lasts. I can’t stay out here forever. No matter how much I want to delay the inevitable.”

I THOUGHT YOU SAID YOU WANTED TO [There’s No Place Like Home], WHY CHANGE YOUR [Tune]?

“I-I do want to go home, but... I don’t know how I’m going to even begin to explain this to my dad.” Berdly held out a frostbitten wing, and grimaced as he tried to shake away the layer of frost that had returned. Ice, as it turned out, was sticky when dry, and the air of Hometown was less humid than that of Castle Town.

“He worries about me enough as it is, despite my various attempts to dispel his concerns. Seems to believe I’m not getting enough sleep, which is preposterous, to say the least. I’m always in bed by the specified time!” What he neglected to say out loud was that he was merely following the letter of the law, but not the spirit. He spent many hours thereafter with homework on his lap, working under the dimmest setting of his bedside lamp. Not that Spamton needed to know that.

BUT YOU’RE NOT ACTUALLY [Having Trouble Sleeping?], ARE YOU?

Damn it. Berdly huffed and resumed his march home, wrapping his wings around himself. “That’s not important right now! The problem is, he already worries so much about me, that if I don’t have a good excuse to explain my current condition, he’s going to freak out! And that will seriously damage our productivity in terms of our quest for the counter-spell. Not only that, but... I would not want to trouble him. He has enough to worry about.”

WHAT IF HE DOESN’T [FREE Vision Test Click Here!] YOU COME [Home Sweet Home]?

Berdly blinked and raised an eyebrow, then shook his head. “Impossible. Our home security system is airtight, and the windows are always locked from the outside. I would not be able to sneak in unnoticed. Unless...” He frowned. “I opened the front door quietly enough so that by the time they’ve realized I’m home, I would already be secure in my room and able to conceal my condition!”

THAT’S THE [Holiday Spirit]!

“Very well, then! Onwards, homeward!” Berdly pointed ahead, and continued his march along the streets, until he came to a two-floor blue house with a white porch. Connected on the left was a garage, with a black compact SUV parked in front of it. Berdly paused for a moment as he began his careful ascent of the front steps, to try to shake the frost from his feathers as much as possible. It proved more difficult with how it stuck to him, but he managed to get the biggest chunks tossed aside before he reached for the doorknob.

Slowly, he turned it in his hand until he heard it click. So far, so good. Perhaps he would be able to sneak in unnoticed, after all. Pushing the door inward, Berdly held his breath as he began to slowly step around it, his gaze dropping down to his talons to make sure they landed on the rug instead of the hard flooring beneath. Then, quietly as possible, he turned around to close the door behind himself, holding his breath until he heard it click shut.

However, his hopes that his arrival had gone unnoticed were dashed the moment he turned around, nearly colliding with his father-- Atticus’ --broad-chested figure. Berdly gulped as his gaze trailed guiltily upwards, his head lowering into his shoulders as he met his father’s stern, sea-green gaze.

The slate blue kingfisher’s stern gaze was locked down on him, his beak curved into a frown, his arms folded across his chest. “Berdly,” his gravelled baritone sounded, strained with a mixture of concern and sharp authority, “ where have you been? You should have been home two hours ago, you weren’t answering your phone and...”

He cut himself off, and Berdly watched as his eyes darted over his form, his brows knitted together and creasing upwards in a growing concern. “What happened to you? You look like you’re freezing!” Atticus murmured, and before Berdly had a chance to react, he leaned down, setting a hand on his shoulder, and pressed his other wing against his forehead to check his temperature. Atticus’ wing felt almost fever-hot against Berdly’s frigid form.

The temperature difference must have been just as stark from his father’s point of view, because mere seconds later, he pulled his wing away, his eyes wide in alarm, and his beak slightly open. Berdly opened his mouth to speak, but barely managed more than a nervous stammer. Footsteps sounded from the stairwell, and his brother, Reddly, began to peer around the doorframe, his brows creased in confusion and worry.

“Father, what’s going on...?”

A hand still firmly braced against Berdly’s shoulder, Atticus whirled towards the penguin and commanded, urgency sharp in his tone, “Reddly, get me a heated blanket!”

The penguin’s eyes widened and his emerald gaze landed on Berdly for but a second before he nodded and rushed away. Berdly felt a nervous shiver run through him, he’d never heard his father sound so panicked before. “Dad--” he started to croak out, “I-I’m alright, really, just a little cold is all.”

Atticus looked down at him, with the briefest echo of fear in his eyes, so brief that Berdly wondered if he’d really seen it. “Berdly, this is more than just a little cold! You’re covered in snow, you’ve sustained frostbite, you’re freezing cold ...!” He cut himself off, and closed his eyes, taking in slow, deep breaths. When he spoke again, it was in a low, wavering murmur, as he asked once more, “How did this happen to you, son?”

Berdly swallowed the growing lump in his throat. This was exactly the conversation he’d wanted to avoid. He averted his gaze, focusing on a knot in the hardwood floor of the foyer. “It’s... i-it’s no-nothing you need to concern yourself with. Th-there wa-was... simply a-a mishap during my after school e-errands.”

His legs hurt. He wanted to collapse right then and there, but he couldn’t. Not in front of his father. Atticus stared at him with disbelief, his grip on his shoulder tightening slightly. “A mishap? Berdly, please... I can’t help you if you don’t tell me what’s going on. Is someone at school...” He trailed off, and the fearful implication was enough for Berdly to quickly shake his head.

“No, no, nothing like that! There’s- nobody’s hurting me!” A lie. A bold-faced lie.

“They better not be.” Reddly had returned, an electric blanket in his arms, a dark look in his eyes. “Bluebird, how in the world did you end up like this? ...Never mind. Come along, we need to get you warmed up first and foremost. Father, would you please make some hot chocolate for him? Let me take care of him for now.”

“Reddly--”

“ Father. Now.” Reddly’s tone had an unfamiliar edge to it, a warning of some sort, that left a shiver running down Berdly’s spine. Deciding it would be best not to argue with his brother, he started to make his way upstairs, the click of his father’s talons against the kitchen vinyl indicated that he, too, had chosen not to argue. Reddly truly was a formidable force when he wanted his way.

Berdly’s room was not far from the stairwell, which his aching legs were thankful for. He was unsteady on his feet by the time he’d finished the ascent, and Reddly had wrapped an arm around his shoulders to steady him. Right now, he didn’t have the heart to pull away, no matter how much he wanted to stand on his own, and pretend everything was fine. He pushed open the door to his room, and eagerly stumbled towards his bed, collapsing on the welcoming softness of his comforter.

“Get comfortable, bluebird,” Reddly murmured, “You won’t be leaving that bed until your temperature’s gone up.”

That got Berdly’s attention. His eyes widened and he quickly rolled over onto his back just in time for Reddly to cover him with the electric blanket. “But I can’t afford to be absent from school, Redd!” he protested, as the downy-feathered penguin tucked the blanket around him securely. “There’s a big project due by the end of the week, and I will need every chance I can get to meet up with my partner!”

Reddly cocked an eyebrow as he reached for the dial on the blanket’s cable, turning it up to the second setting. “Berdly, it can take up to twenty-four hours to recover from hypothermia. I believe your teacher will understand you missing a day of school, and you and partner will be accomodated accordingly.”

Berdly grimaced, and shook his head. “I cannot afford to miss even a single day!” He declared determinedly, even as a shiver wracked his form and he found himself huddling into the blanket as it slowly began to heat up.

“Look at yourself, bluebird! Your beak’s frostbitten and you’re shaking like a leaf. You’re not going anywhere until your temperature stabilizes.”

“But--”

“No buts!” Reddly snapped, before his expression fell and he sighed heavily. He sat down on the edge of the bed, and reached out, carefully picking a shard of ice from Berdly’s crest and discarding it. “I don’t know how you ended up like this, Berdly, but this is serious. If we cannot get your temp up, we may have to bring you to the hospital. I don’t want you over-exerting yourself and putting a strain on your recovery.”

Berdly deflated, his crestfallen expression resembling a pout more than anything else. Right now, he wouldn’t be able to argue with his older brother. He’d just have to figure out a way to bargain for a trip to the school tomorrow, or sneak out to attend. He’d cross that bridge when he got there.

“Alright, Redd... I understand.”

“You don’t... but that’s alright...” Reddly murmured with a light shake of his head and a faint smile. “We’ll take care of you.”

There came a knock on the bedroom door, and Reddly quickly acknowledged it before Atticus stepped in, carefully holding a steaming mug in his wings. It looked like a child’s play teacup compared to his massive hands, but Berdly knew it was just the right size for him. Reddly helped him sit up against the pillows and passed the mug into his eager hands, the heat radiating into his palms. Frigid numbness became a painful tingling sensation, but Berdly ignored it in favor of pouring a mouthful of hot chocolate down his throat, not caring how it burned his mouth along the way.

When he lowered the mug, he almost missed the way Atticus’ eyes had seemed to glaze over for just a moment, before he smiled at him. “How is it, son?”

“It’s- it’s good! Just the way I like it!” Berdly smiled right back, hoping to dispel his father’s concerns.

“I’m glad to hear it. I hope it helps warm you up, at least a little...”

Berdly tightened his grip on the mug, and nodded quickly. “It’s already helping out a lot, dad. Thank you. I mean it.”

Atticus breathed out a faint sigh of relief, his smile becoming a little less strained and uncertain. “Of course, son... I want to look out for you, after all.” He glanced away, his gaze starting to become unfocused. “I still don’t understand how this could have happened to you, but... if there’s anything else I can do to help you, Berdly, please... let me know.”

Guilt twisted painfully in Berdly’s gut, and he forced himself to smile. “I will, dad. Don’t worry.” Liar. He lied right to his face.

Yet Atticus seemed just distracted enough to fall for it. “That’s all I ask.”

Berdly nodded quickly and took another desperate sip of the warm drink, wanting to absorb as much of the warmth into his core as he could while it was still piping hot. Reddly cleared his throat, as he stood up from the bed and locked his gaze on Atticus. “Father. If I may speak to you for a moment downstairs...”

Atticus jolted slightly, as if startled out of another daze, before he nodded in response. “Yes. Yes, of course, Redd. Will you be alright alone for a little while, Berdly?”

Berdly, secretly thankful for their departure, flashed a peace sign towards his father mid-gulp. That seemed to satisfy the kingfisher for the moment, and he nodded towards Reddly, and the pair of taller birds left the room, closing the door behind them. Which left Berdly alone with his hot chocolate, and his thoughts. He took in one more gulp of the drink, before he leaned forwards, tugging the cable of the blanket closer until the dial was in his hand. He quickly turned it up to the highest setting, and then let it drop, hoping that Reddly wouldn’t notice later.

He began to settle back down, to resume his hot chocolate, when he was reminded that his thoughts were not so lonely anymore.

SO... THAT’S YOUR [Fun For The Whole Family], HUH?

Berdly winced and nearly inhaled the drink, coughing for a moment as he recovered from the startling reminder. “D-damn it, Spamton-- Don’t scare me like that.”

SORRY, KID.

Berdly shot the glasses a dirty glare, before he let out a sigh when he finally caught his breath. “Yeah... that’s my dad, and my older brother. Atticus and Reddly Wing.”

MUST BE NICE, HAVING [Pipis] WHO [Show How Much You Care] ABOUT YOU.

There was the reminder of the pool of guilt roiling in his gut. Berdly grit his teeth and glanced away, and murmured, “Right now, I almost wish they didn’t. It’d make it easier to lie to them.”

WHY ARE YOU [Like A Used Car Salesman] TO THEM, ANYWAY?

“Because I don’t want them to get involved in this! It’s... it’s difficult enough, knowing that Noelle is at risk as long as Kris is at large, but I have to get her involved to find the cure for Snowgrave. They don’t... they don’t need to be a part of this. If it goes wrong... If we can’t... if I can’t... I don’t want them to see me fall.”

AND WHO ARE YOU TO [[Call The Shots]] FOR THEM? YOU THINK YOU’RE A REAL [Big Shot] ON YOUR OWN?

Berdly chugged down the last of the hot chocolate, setting the empty mug on his bedside table and huddling down under the electric blanket. The glasses pressed uncomfortably against his face, but he did his best to ignore the feeling. He didn’t want to take the risk of severing whatever connection Spamton had to his SOUL by removing the glasses.

“You sure ask a lot of questions about my family for someone who hates his.”

I DON’T H4TE            ! I JUST DON’T WANT [[Doomed To Repeat History]]!

“What?”

...FORGET IT, KID. FORGET I SA1D 4NY THING;.

Berdly frowned, his brows creased in frustration and confusion, but Spamton didn’t seem inclined to say anything further. He sighed, and huddled further beneath the blanket, trying to absorb whatever warmth he could from it.

He was teetering on the edge of consciousness by the time he heard the knock on the door, followed a few moments later by the sound of it opening, and the soft thumping footsteps of Reddly. The footsteps stopped by the bed, then he felt a soft pressure against his shoulder. “Are you awake, bluebird?” Reddly murmured.

He let out a low groan of acknowledgement, half-muffled by the pillow and blanket. Reddly sighed softly, and more of his footsteps sounded, his voice moving from one side of the room to the other. “Father wants me to stay with you for the night, to monitor your condition. Frankly, I agree with him, your sudden acute hypothermia is worrying. Would you like me to stay on one of the beanbag chairs, or would you like to huddle for warmth?”

As much as he wanted to push his family away, in his exhausted state, he let his heart make this decision. Berdly murmured, “Huddle...”

“Alright, bluebird... we can huddle.”

Berdly felt the bed dip slightly under Reddly’s weight as he settled down beside him, wrapping an arm around him and pulling him closer. Berdly welcomed this, shivering and nuzzling into the new source of warmth. Of security. And slowly, finally... he allowed himself to drift to sleep.

...

...

...

The back alleys were dark. Darker than usual. The majority of the neon lights had burnt out, caked with a thick layer of ice, and what few remained flickered rapidly, struggling in the cold. Berdly ran, ran through the mists, and his SOUL pounded heavily in his chest. Pounded to a steady rhythm, to an unseen drumbeat. His chest felt tight, and that feeling only intensified with every frozen statue he found of a Cyber Citizen. The pavement beneath was cold, slick with patches of ice, which caused him to slip and stumble as he pressed onward.

The mansion. He had to get to the mansion. He had to warn Queen. Maybe if he could reach her, and tell her what was happening, then maybe she could stop--

“Noelle!”

Berdly’s voice caught in his throat as he set his gaze on the reindeer that knelt at the end of the alleyway, her platinum blonde hair concealing her face. Ice spread outwards from beneath her hooves and hands, but she did not shiver. Around her finger, he saw it-- that wretched, thorn-covered ring that stabbed into her and made her bleed.

He shook his head. He had to focus. “Noelle, we... we need to get out of here! Come with me, and... and we can return to Queen! She can put an end to this horrible nightmare!”

She did not respond. Berdly felt a tremor run through him. “N... Noelle...?”

“I can... still... hear... their voice...” She whispered, her voice airy and distant. Still she did not look up.

“What...?” Berdly took a step back. “K-Kris...? But they’re not...”

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw red. He froze. Slowly, he began to turn, his SOUL jumping in his chest when he saw it. A large, red eye stared at him from the wall. Then another opened up above it. Then another. And another. And another. Another. Another. Dozens of eyes opening in the darkness all around, that stared into him with blood red irises, judging him. They watched his every move. They saw his every thought. And they were whispering. Snowgrave. Snowgrave. Snowgrave. Snowgrave. Snowgrave. Snowgrave. Berdly took another step back, bile rising in his throat. He wanted to throw up.

Noelle began to stand, slowly, as if she was being pulled by strings. Her arms swayed limply into place at her sides, and her head continued to droop, her hair still hiding her face. She lurched forward, a single step, a single hoofbeat that echoed against the darkness. Berdly began to tremble, his eyes widened with fear. Desperation pressed against his ribs, threatening to burst. He began to beg.

“Noelle... Plea-please, don’t... don’t do this! I... I know I’ve been a horrible friend, a-and I’m... I’m sorry! But you don’t have to... this is just a... a cruel prank to get back at me, isn’t it? Right? You don’t... you don’t want to kill me! We’re still friends, aren’t we? So please! Please, don’t do this, Noelle, I’m sorry! I’m sorry! So please, just stop! Stop this, Noelle!”

“Proceed.”

The low, neutral tone was just as familiar as it was chilling. Berdly’s blood ran cold, and he whirled around. Kris stood at the other end of the alleyway, blocking his escape. Behind them was the largest of the red eyes, staring through them, right into his SOUL. Their head was bowed, and navy blue bangs concealed their eyes. Berdly felt a stab of fear shoot up through him.

“Kris...?”

They slowly lifted their head, and opened their eyes. Their blood red eyes, that stared right through him and at Noelle. Like he was nothing to them. Nothing but an obstacle to be cleared. A goalpost to their objective. Like he wasn’t even alive to them to begin with. Just a forgettable little bluebird.

“Proceed.”

Berdly whirled around when he heard the woosh of fabric, and a cold breeze began to wind through the alleyway. Noelle had raised her arms skywards, to the void above, and her eyes...

They were pure white.

A flurry began to form, the chill sank deeper into him, the onslaught, the blizzard, he couldn’t see, he felt himself overtaken by a frigid blast of magic, everything went white, then blue--

“NO!!!!”

The scream tore from his throat as he sat bolt upright, his eyes wide. He stared through the darkness, his breathing coming in rapid, shallow gasps. It was so dark, so dark, and it felt so cold. His SOUL pounded rapidly in his chest, so hard he feared it was trying to beat through his ribs. His chest felt so tight, everything felt so cold, so cold, so dark, dark, dark and cold and dark

Something-- some one wrapped their arms around him and he let out a yelp, before he found himself tucked against soft, downy feathers, and a familiar warmth enveloped him, holding him close, holding him tight.

The dulcet tones of his brother pushed through the deafening darkness to reach him, murmuring, “Easy-- easy, Berdly. It’s alright. You’re safe, you’re here. It was just a bad dream, I’ve got you. I’ve got you...”

Berdly shivered, his whole body wracked with tremors as he buried his face against Reddly’s downy feathers, trying to focus on the soft texture, and the smell of tuna, salt water, paper and piano wax that grounded him and brought him back to reality. He was home. He was in his room. He was in his brother’s arms, warm and secure. If it weren’t for the chill still permeating his SOUL, and the distant presence of the salesman in the back of his mind, he might have been able to convince himself it truly was all just a bad dream.

“The nightmare is over, Berdly. I’m not going to let anything hurt you.”

No. No, that’s not fair. You can’t just say that, Redd, you can’t just say that to me. I can’t let you... I can’t...

Berdly felt the dam inside him break. Hot tears burned at his eyes and spilled down his frozen cheeks as he began to wail, a high-pitched sound of anguish that echoed through the room. He clung desperately to Reddly as he cried, sobs tore from his throat and left his chest aching. He distantly heard the rapid, heavy footsteps of his father entering the room, but he couldn’t bring himself to acknowledge him. He felt Reddly’s hand pressed against his back, rubbing slow circles into him, trying to ease the tension from his form.

He felt his father’s massive wings envelop the both of them, and he held them close. Berdly only cried harder, and he held tighter to his brother. They loved him. They cared about him, and they wanted to help him. They wanted to be there for him. And that hurt him more than he knew they realized. Did they know how difficult they were making this for him? How could they know? He couldn’t tell them. He wouldn’t tell them.

But maybe... just for tonight... He could allow himself this moment of weakness. So he cried. He cried until he couldn’t anymore, and all that was left were dry sobs. And finally, he fell asleep once more, in his family’s arms.

Chapter Text

WAKE UP!!!

It was so cold. Yet... he could feel warmth. A heavy warmth that weighed down on him, and kept him pressed securely into something soft beneath. Berdly shuddered and curled up smaller beneath the heated blanket, feeling the warmth radiating into him, but it didn’t make it into his core. He felt so heavy, so tired. He didn’t want to get up.

WAKE UP, BLUEBIRD!!!

He could hear someone distantly yelling. Berdly grumbled and started to bury his head beneath the pillows, then winced as he felt his glasses pressed uncomfortably against his face. So much for trying to drown out the noise.

COME ON, [Early Bird], IT’S TIME TO [Wake Up And Smell The Ashes]!

Oh. Right. Not that it would have worked anyway, with the source of the voice being inside his own head. Spamton was outright obnoxious when he wanted to be. Berdly shivered and groaned, and carefully began to push himself upright, noticing with some dismay that it was already daylight outside. “Alright, I’m up, I’m up. What time is it, anyway?”

Not that he expected Spamton to know. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone, grimacing as he noted its low battery state. He must have forgotten to plug it in. He barely remembered what happened after he got home and got sent to bed. He swiped up the lock screen, and he felt his heart leap into his throat when he saw the time. “Shit!”

He was an hour late for school.

Berdly practically threw the heated blanket off himself, and leapt out of bed, muttering rapidfire curses under his breath. He swiftly grabbed his backpack off the floor and slung it over his shoulder, then he stopped just short of grabbing his bedroom doorknob as a memory of the night before slammed into him. He was expected to be resting today, which meant that if he wanted to make it to school...

ARE YOU PLANNING WHAT I [What’s The Bright Idea?] YOU’RE PLANNING?

“Shh.” Berdly shushed him, despite knowing no one else could hear him. “Yes. Regrettably, I will have to engage in subterfuge in order to attend school. It should be a simple matter; all I must do is tuck some pillows beneath the blanket in a vague semblance of my shape, and they will assume I remain asnooze in my bed!”

I’M SURE THAT’LL WORK [Like Clockwork].

“I know it is not a perfect solution! But it will at least buy me time to return to the Dark World and continue my investigation.”

Spamton made a vague noise of assent, and Berdly decided that was good enough for him to commence his plan. He gathered up his spare pillows and shoved them beneath the blankets. It took a couple of attempts before he got them to the point where he believed they resembled his own form enough to fool a passing glance from his family. With any luck, they would assume him fast asleep and leave him be.

Berdly took in a deep breath, and finally, he slowly began to open his door. Peering out into the hallway, he let out a soft exhale as he found it empty. He tread carefully across the carpeted floor, making certain to close the door behind him, and made his way to the stairwell. He began his descent, taking each step slowly, bracing his hand against the railing, and then... creeeeak. One of the steps groaned beneath his foot, and he froze. Shit.

He waited, holding his breath, to see if anyone had heard. Ten seconds passed. Then thirty, and nobody came. Berdly sighed in relief and resumed his descent. As he neared the bottom of the stairwell, he started to hear muffled voices, coming from the kitchen. His brother and his father, engaged in hushed conversation, with solemn tones. He frowned, and concentrated, trying to make out what they were saying.

“...don’t have enough evidence to make any solid accusations yet, but I have a feeling that whatever happened to him was no accident.”

“What do you mean, Reddly?”

“Last night. When he woke up screaming. He was... muttering something before he woke up.”

“...What...? What was he saying?”

“He was... begging... pleading for mercy... pleading for someone to stop. And... he said a name... two, actually.”

Berdly felt his heart leap into his throat. No. No, don’t say it, don’t tell me I...

“Whose were they...?” Atticus asked, his tone wavering with trepidation.

Reddly’s voice resounded like the executioner’s bell, with all the grim weight it carried. “Noelle and Kris.”

No...! Damn it, I... I didn’t want them to know... Berdly grimaced, his talons digging into the carpet as his whole body tensed up. This was the last thing he wanted, for his family to get involved... Yet, it seemed that was inevitable. He just hoped they would not direct their ire on Noelle.

A LITTLE [Running Late] FOR THAT NOW, [Snowbird]. BESIDES, WE’VE GOT [Hottest Places To Be In 20XX]!

Berdly shook his head. Spamton was right. He had no more time to waste. He slipped towards the front door, leaving his family deep in their conversation, and managed to slip out unnoticed. He didn’t give them a chance to register the fact the front door had just opened and closed. He started to run, run to school, not looking back.

By the time he burst into the classroom, the door slamming against the wall, he was completely winded, gasping for breath and clutching his knees. Alphys yelped and jumped about a foot in the air, her tail sticking straight out in alarm, before she turned towards him. “O-oh! Berdly! W-we, er, I... um... didn’t think you were coming today!”

His chest hurt, his legs felt like they were about to give out at any moment, but he managed to straighten upright, still panting heavily. He brought a wing to his chest in a triumphant gesture and stuck his beak up, putting up that expected bravado. “Fret not, Ms. Alphys! I wouldn’t dare miss your class for the world! I certainly hope I haven’t missed too much in my absence thus far!”

“E-er... No, no! We, um, we were just... starting today’s worksheet! Please, um, take your seat and I’ll pass one out to you.”

Berdly nodded and flashed a smile in her direction as he strode to his seat, hoping he didn’t look as dizzy as he felt. Everyone was staring at him, with varying expressions ranging from dumbfounded to concerned to... Temmie. Susie glowered at him, her lips pursed pensively, and he wasn’t sure what her expression was supposed to mean. His scan of the room then flitted to Kris, who stared at him, and he suppressed a shudder when he glimpsed their red eyes through their bangs. He quickly averted his gaze, trying to ignore the way his heart skipped a beat. As he sank into his seat, and let his backpack drop to the floor beside his desk, he finally let his gaze drift towards Noelle.

Noelle’s eyes were wide, her brows creased in worry, and she looked... guilty. Berdly felt his heart ache and he offered a faint smile her way, to try to reassure her. “Good morning, dear Noelle. Forgive my tardiness, I unexpectedly slept in this morning. But fret not! All is well!”

That appeared to do nothing to quell Noelle’s concerns, as she bit her lip and glanced downwards. “That’s not like you to oversleep... Are you sure you’re feeling well, Berdly? You look awful.”

Berdly opened his mouth to reply when Alphys set the worksheet on his desk, drawing his attention. Right, there was work to be done. He reached into his bag for his pencil, and cast one more smile Noelle’s way, trying to ignore how numb his fingertips felt. How easily the pencil slipped in his grip. It felt so cold in here, so cold... “I assure you, Noelle, I am fresh as a daisy! I’ll catch up with you during lunch break, alright? For now, I must focus on my studies!”

“...Alright, Berdly... just... ask me if you need any help, alright?”

He stiffened, and he didn’t need to look to know Kris was staring right into him. How many other eyes were on him, judging, listening, for anything to use against him? His smile grew strained and he coughed out, “I- I should be telling you that, Noelle! Besides... With my brilliance, this worksheet will be a breeze for me!”

He swiftly busied himself with said worksheet, and he had been rereading the first question for about the tenth time by the time he realized that Noelle was likely not referring to their schoolwork. Guilt twisted in his stomach and he let his eyes drift from the paper to where Noelle sat beside him.

She, too, had gotten to work, though she still looked troubled. Her ears were lowered, and she was biting her lip. Berdly recognized the telltale sheen of moisture in her eyes and he felt his guts twist uncomfortably. I’m sorry, dear Noelle... but it is not yet safe to discuss things. Please forgive my misunderstanding.

...

...

...

Berdly found it increasingly difficult to focus on his schoolwork as the minutes ticked by. Perhaps it was the chill that brought him to shiver, that left his hands unsteady and his writing nigh illegible. Perhaps it was the way his body ached, the frigid pain that radiated throughout his form and made it difficult to concentrate. Or perhaps it was his wandering thoughts, the nightmare that replayed in his mind, the guilt and worry regarding Noelle, and the fear tingling in the back of his mind, knowing Kris sat right behind him, possibly scrutinizing his every move.

By the time lunch break came, Berdly looked down to find his worksheet shamefully incomplete, the blank segments mocking him with their snow-white backdrop. He bit back a frustrated growl, and furiously tapped his pencil against his temple, before freezing up as frost shards fell to the desk with a tinkle. His eyes widened and he quickly swept them off the desk, hoping no one noticed.

Thankfully, it seemed no one had, with most of the class already having shuffled off to the cafeteria, which left just him, and... Noelle. Noelle, who was waiting patiently for him, her head tilted to the side. “Earth to Berdly! There you are!”

A relieved smile spread across her face when she noticed she had his attention. Berdly’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment and he laughed a little, rubbing the back of his neck. “Ah! Forgive me, Noelle, my thoughts have been quite occupied today! I must have zoned out. Is it lunch time already?”

“Yep! I wanted to wait for you, in case you wanted company walking to the cafeteria...” Noelle trailed off, letting concern slip into her expression once more. Berdly followed her gaze down to his frostbitten feet and he grimaced.

“I... appreciate your concern, Noelle. Thank you. I think I will be quite alright.” He murmured, bracing himself against the desk as he began his unsteady rise to his feet. Noelle held out her hand, ready to jump into action if he needed help. Thankfully, Berdly was able to stand without too much difficulty. Though it was a surreal feeling, being barely able to feel the floor beneath him through the throbbing numbness in his legs.

The walk to the cafeteria was silent, but tense, with Berdly’s gaze briefly darting towards the supply closet along the way. By the time he sat down beside Noelle at their usual table, he felt exhausted. He wanted to just bury his face in his wings and take a nap, but he couldn’t. Not now. No matter how much he loathed to, he needed to get Noelle up to speed, and tell her the truth.

Noelle set her lunchbox on the table and popped it open, procuring her fruit cup and spoon before she faltered, brows creasing once more. “Berdly? Where’s your lunch?”

“Ah--” Right. Atticus usually packed his lunch for him, but given he wasn’t even supposed to be here today... “Dad was busy this morning, and because I overslept I didn’t have time to prepare my own lunch.” It wasn’t exactly a lie.

Noelle frowned for a moment before she grabbed her sandwich, and held one half out to him. “Then you should have some of my lunch, Berdly! You really shouldn’t be skipping meals, especially if you’re not feeling well.”

Berdly opened his beak to protest, but his resolve quickly faltered seeing the worry in her eyes. He let out a sigh and smiled faintly, accepting the offered food. “Thank you, Noelle... You’re... always helping me.” His gaze dropped and he ate in silence for a few minutes.

ISN’T THERE [Something Special] YOU NEED TO [Ask Jeeves] THE [Angel]?

Tension shot through him like an arrow, and he glanced around the room. Kris and Susie were seemingly occupied in their own conversation, thankfully on the opposite side of the room. Berdly let out a sigh and cleared his throat, locking his gaze on Noelle. Spamton was right. He may never have a better chance to inform her of his discoveries. And he needed her help if he was to survive.

“Noelle... do you recall... yesterday?” He began carefully, gauging her reactions. Noelle stiffened slightly, but she did not yet respond, instead regarding Berdly with a questioning look. Taking this as his cue to continue, he pressed further, “Specifically, that... dream you had. That we had.”

If fur could go pale, he was certain Noelle would be white as a sheet. Her eyes widened and her hands began to tremble, sliding to lightly clutch at her ring finger. The one with the bandaid on it. Berdly already regretted this decision.

“Noelle...?”

“It wasn’t a dream, was it?” Her voice was little more than a whisper, already threatening to break.

Berdly’s heart sank, and he shook his head. “I’m afraid it wasn’t, Noelle. It was... all real. Including what happened to me. Rest assured, I do not blame you, Noelle! I know you would never have hurt me like that were it not for Kris...” 

Noelle’s ears drooped and her grip tightened, her expression twisted with guilt. “I didn’t... I didn’t mean to... I didn’t know what it would do. I-I’m sorry, Berdly.”

“It is alright, Noelle... I’m not upset with you. Kris is the one to blame.” Berdly reassured once more, gently wrapping a wing around her shoulders. She shivered, but did not respond. He took in a shaky breath, and hesitantly continued, “I did not want to worry you, but... In my quest for answers, I discovered that in order to truly recover from the spell you cast, I... I will need your help.”

Noelle sniffled, her gaze downcast, before she closed her eyes. She took a deep breath, then opened her eyes again, turning to face him. Her eyes shimmered with tears and determination. “What do you need me to do?”

Berdly was taken aback by the sudden change in demeanor, but he cleared his throat, and explained, “There is a possibility that you will be able to cast the counter-spell to Snowgrave. I don’t know what the counter-spell is, but only you can learn it. So we will have to return to the Dark World-- that’s what that place was called --and begin our research there! However... I do not believe the existing Dark World is safe for that endeavor. It is far too likely that Kris will return there.”

Noelle’s brows creased and she nodded, frowning. “Then what are we going to do?”

“That is my goal today! I will return to the Dark World alone, and seek out a way to create a new one, in a location that Kris would not think to look for us. Or rather, by the time they realize it exists, we will already be secure. After all, there must be a way to create a new Dark World... the one in the library didn’t exist until yesterday, and it had to have been made somehow. ”

He cut himself off as he realized he had begun to ramble, and cleared his throat, glancing away sheepishly, his feathers puffed up with slight embarrassment. “But yes, I will then create a new Dark World, and before I do I will text you and inform you of its location. And from there, we can begin our efforts to learn and cast the counter-spell.”

Noelle nodded, her expression solemn and determined. “Alright, Berdly... Just be careful, okay? I don’t want you getting hurt again.”

“But of course, dearest Noelle! I will be more than careful! I will be the epitome of circumspect!”

His bravado managed to get a smile out of her, and she sighed. “I trust you, Berdly. Though, that’s all the more reason to eat as much as you can, you’ll need to keep your strength up!”

Reminded of the sandwich in his hand, Berdly chuckled, and began to relax. “Ah, you are correct, Noelle. I will need the energy in the coming days. As will you!”

The two friends shared a soft laugh and leaned against each other as they resumed their lunch in comfortable silence. Berdly was given about half of everything Noelle had brought, from sandwich to cookies, and by the time the bell rang to signify the end of lunch break, he felt less dizzy than he had been.

YOU DID SKIP [The Most Important Meal Of The Day], NO WONDER YOU FELT LIKE [%#$#].

Very insightful, thank you, Spamton. Berdly rolled his eyes as he got up, walking alongside Noelle to return to class. However, as they began to round the corner towards Alphys’ classroom, he stopped short, his eyes widening at the sight before him.

In the hallway outside the classroom stood his father’s imposing figure, though he leaned down to engage in frantic conversation with Alphys, who looked more nervous than usual. Atticus’ expression was panicked, his eyes wide and brows creased, and his feathers were visibly ruffled.

UH OH, KID. LOOKS LIKE THE [Jig Is Up]!

“Is that your dad?” Noelle asked, raising an eyebrow and casting a glance at Berdly.

Berdly grimaced and sucked in a breath through his teeth. “Alas, it does appear to be. Noelle, if he asks, I was never here. I cannot have him getting involved in this situation. I... I have to go. Now.”

He didn’t give her the chance to argue. He turned around and swiftly ran the opposite direction, towards the supply closet, and just hoped he’d been quick enough to escape his father’s notice. Berdly pushed through the doors without a second thought, letting himself fall into the darkness, as the magic enveloped him.

When he landed in Castle Town, in the same padded black suit as he’d left in, he pushed himself to his feet and marched forwards, with a single focus on his mind. Now or never, he had to find out how to create a Dark World.

Chapter Text

As it turned out, getting information on how to create a Dark World was easier said than done. Berdly had asked the small handful of citizens around Castle Town if they knew anything, and yet so far, no one had any information of use to him. The familiar small handful of Cyber Citizens that did survive had no idea, and the other citizens were either similarly clueless or blatantly avoided the inquiry.

Berdly was starting to grow frustrated, running low on people to even ask. Ralsei was out of the question entirely-- even as helpful and sympathetic as the fluffy prince had been the previous day, the fact still remained that he was an ally of Kris. He had no guarantee that he would not tell Kris of his excursions into the Dark World, nor that Ralsei would believe him if he tried to explain his experience with Kris. The risk was too great.

Banner and Swatch were similarly off the table, yet for different reasons. He’d troubled them enough thus far, had he not? Expecting ever more aid from them, especially after the losses they’d suffered, it would be cruel of him. They needed time to grieve, and he ought to respect that, even with the chill reminding him of the urgency. No, they would be his last resort if all else failed, he decided, ignoring Spamton as he scoffed about Banner’s ‘unreliability’. Whatever grudge the salesman had against his fellows, he would not let it get in the way of his survival.

He was not even certain where Queen was, nor was he certain he was willing to cross paths with her again. Spamton seemed vehemently opposed to it, a pang of fear and bitter anger radiating from the Darkner’s SOUL at the mere thought of the monarch. Even without Spamton’s influence, Berdly could not help but feel bitter himself. Not only had she spurned his attempts to gain her favor, brushing off all his endeavors to stand out and impress in favor of focusing her attention on Noelle... he had to wonder, after that fateful encounter in the alleyway, had she even noticed he had gone missing? Did she even bother to search for him? Did she even care if he had gotten hurt?

I [Doubt Your Senses], KID. SHE DIDN’T [Like A Good Neighbor] WHAT HAPPENED TO [It’s All About Me!].

Berdly frowned lightly and shivered, tugging on the cable scarf and adjusting it. When had it gotten so tight? “What do you mean?”

IT’S A [140 Minute Long Documentary], WITH [High Rollers] AND [Come Crashing Down]. MAYBE I’LL [Tell Me More, Tell Me More] LATER.

There was that avoidance again. Spamton sure didn’t seem like he wanted to discuss his past much, and Berdly found it rather frustrating. How were they ever expected to work together on this if he could not even learn about his new ally? He let out a huff and shook his head, continuing to pace in a circle. He could wonder about Spamton’s backstory later, right now they had more pressing matters.

In his investigations, he had questioned Seam once more, but they had proved to be just as cryptic as the last time, and no more encouraging. Speaking of his quest as ‘folly’, and mentioning a mysterious knight perhaps holding the answers, which caused Spamton to short out in his mind palace. Berdly had a feeling he would get nowhere if he questioned the salesman about that either. Yet there was another lead they had given him, in tandem with the knight. The Spades King.

Seam had certainly implied that he may hold what they need to know, and that he would be found locked away in the castle dungeon. But that in and of itself looped back around to the first issue of Ralsei. How was he to sneak past the prince and make his way into the castle and down to the dungeon?

Berdly’s talons scraped against the ground as his pacing came to a halt and he brought a frostbitten wing up to his beak, nibbling at the ice-tipped feathers. “We find ourselves in quite the conundrum, my incorporeal companion. Our best lead lay so close, and yet so far. What do you suggest we do in this situation? I don’t suppose you’d happen to have any experience sneaking into castles?”

CASTLES? NO. MANSIONS, ON THE OTHER [Hamburger Helper], I HAVE A GREAT [[Hot Deals]] OF EXPERIENCE WITH! [[Color Splash]] AND I HAD A REAL GAME OF [Cat And Mouse] GOING.

Berdly paused for a moment, raising an eyebrow inquisitively. So Spamton had experience breaking and entering? Odd, but in this situation, it would be useful. “Well, a castle is just a vintage mansion, so it should fall under the same basic principle! We should begin to formulate a plan, then!”

HOLD ON, [[WE]]? [Bird Brain], HOW MUCH HELP DO YOU THINK YOU’LL BE COMING UP WITH A [Foolproof Plan]?

He let out an indignant scoff, puffing out his feathers. “A castle is a common setting for dungeon crawlers and JRPGs, which I must say I particularly excel at navigating! You are speaking to a top-tier gamer, after all!”

OH, ALRIGHT THEN, [Wise Guy]. WHY DON’T YOU [Coming Up Roses] WITH THE PLAN, THEN, SINCE YOU [In The Know] SO MUCH!

“Tch! Fine, then, I will!” Berdly huffed out and folded his wings, brows knitting together. “My plan will surely be flawless, anyhow!”

I’M [Do You Have Insurance] IT WILL.

Spamton’s tone dripped with sarcasm, which was not lost upon the bluebird, who just rolled his eyes and resumed pacing. Coming up with a plan would take time, after all, and he needed to make sure it was perfect. There was no room for error under their deadline. Not to mention the ever-looming threat that was--

“Kris! Susie! It’s so good to see you again!”

Ralsei’s voice jolted Berdly out of his thoughts, and he quickly scrambled further into the alcove beside the cafe, pressing his back against the wall. He desperately hoped that they hadn’t seen him, though considering Ralsei hadn’t said his name, maybe he was still in the clear. Taking a deep breath to try to calm his racing heart, Berdly dared to peer around the corner and assess the situation. He could barely see Ralsei’s back from here, which meant that Kris and Susie must be farther past him. They wouldn’t see him if he were to slip into the cafe, would they?

The panic gripping at his chest urged him to take that chance regardless. Being inside, where it was warm, it would be better than being out in the open, exposed and vulnerable. Berdly grimaced and gave in, darting for the cafe door in one swift motion and all but slamming the door behind himself. While he had no way of knowing if his escape had been unnoticed from the outside , his sudden entrance certainly caught the attention of the patrons within. Darkners glanced up from their drinks, some tensing up in alarm, but seeing the frigid bluebird, they quickly resumed minding their own business.

Berdly breathed out a sigh, and trudged towards the counter where Swatch stood waiting with a look of bewildered concern on their face. “Is... are you quite alright, young master?” They inquired, their gaze scrutinizing him over the rims of their angled glasses.

SO THEY MADE IT OUT ALIVE? I THOUGHT [Fair Feathered Friends] WERE ALL TRAPPED INSIDE THE [Host Club].

“Ah- I do apologize for the disturbance, Mx. Swatch. There is... simply someone outside that I am trying to avoid.” Berdly explained with a grimace, his head sinking into his shoulders. He wasn’t sure just how Spamton knew that the Swatchlings were lost, trapped in the mansion cafe... but it didn’t sit well with him. And he certainly wasn’t going to acknowledge that in front of Swatch.

Swatch’s brows creased and their gaze flitted towards the door. “I see. You may take shelter here as long as you need, young master. May I offer you something to drink in the meanwhile? Something to warm your frigid feathers?”

Berdly felt his SOUL ache, the ever-present cold eating away at him from within. It always felt worse when someone pointed it out. He had already begun to become accustomed to tuning it out, save for the shivers that would occasionally wrack his form. But now that Swatch had called it to attention... “A hot chocolate surely wouldn’t go amiss.” He conceded with a shudder.

He leaned against the counter as Swatch nodded and began to prepare the hot chocolate, though he could not help but begin to notice how the barista’s gaze kept turning back to him. Or more specifically, his glasses. Berdly adjusted the frames and averted his gaze, clearing his throat awkwardly. Did they... know you, Spamton?

For a moment, the salesman was silent. Berdly almost expected another deflection, if not to be completely ignored. But then...

[Affirmative]. WE KNEW EACH OTHER WELL, A LONG [Days Gone By] AGO. THEY’RE GO0D... THEY;RE REAL GOOD. BUT THEY’VE GOT A PETTY STREAK A [Thousand Miles] WIDE. [[Paintbrush]] AND I DIDN’T REALLY [Why Can’t We Be Friends] L4ST TIME I SAW THEM. 

...NOT LIKE IT MATTERS ANYMORE.

“O-oh...” Berdly murmured, faltering beneath Swatch’s next glance. The tension in the air grew thicker.

Swatch turned back toward the counter, with the ready-made drink in hand, and opened their mouth to speak.

Then all hell broke loose.

The door opened with its signature bell chime. Berdly’s eyes widened and he vaulted over the counter as if he’d been struck by lightning, and Swatch took a step back in alarm, nearly dropping the cup. They managed to set it down and set eyes towards the door, and froze up as they recognized... “Ah... Prince Ralsei, and the Lightners. How may I help you all? Do forgive my lack of composure, I was just about to take my break.”

Berdly shuddered, pressing his back firmly against the counter as he tried to make himself as small as possible. He hoped none of them would think to check behind the counter, praying to the Angel he’d been fast enough to avoid being seen. Hoping desperately that Swatch would not give him away. They had been kind enough to him thus far, but what if push came to shove?

“Oh, no, no! My apologies, Swatch!” Ralsei piped up, sounding genuinely apologetic, if not still cheerful. “I’m sure Kris was just checking in on how things were going, right, Kris?”

Dead silence. Berdly suppressed another shiver and grit his teeth, risking a glance upwards. Nobody seemed to be looking over the counter, at least. All he could see was Swatch towering over him as they faced the other Lightners. They folded their hands on the counter, their expression neutral, as they replied, “You may rest assured that all is well here, as business is fairly slow. I suppose it’s just as well, as I am the only one working here.”

The passive-aggression in their words was masked with a casual tone, but it was still blatant enough that it left Berdly gaping in awe. The sheer audacity, right in front of Kris...! You weren’t kidding about their petty streak, Spamton. I would certainly hate to get on their bad side.

I KNOW, AREN’T THEY [Great Deals]?

Susie’s husky voice sounded as she muttered, just under her breath, “You say that like it’s our fault somehow.”

Swatch pretended not to hear, the way their eyes narrowed only seen by Berdly. “Workload matters aside, is there anything I can get for you?”

“Nah, I’m good. I got free cake for life from Ralsei anyway.” Susie huffed, and Berdly could practically hear the shrug that came with her words. Kris was silent as ever, though Berdly guessed their answer was a ‘no’. Yet, the silence went on far longer than he was comfortable with. What were they doing, he wondered? With how quiet they were, he began to fear they may be searching for him, waiting tensely for them to peer over the counter at any moment. Before it abruptly ended.

Footsteps clacked across the floor, getting further away, and Ralsei spoke up, “Have a good day, Swatch! It was good to see you!”

“It was a pleasure to see you as well, Prince Ralsei. Fare well out there.” Swatch responded, keeping their expression level until the footsteps fully retreated, and the door closed. Letting out a sharp exhale, their obsidian-toned feathers ruffled. “They are gone, young master. You may get up now.”

Berdly let out a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding, pinpricks of light dancing before his eyes as he practically deflated. Gone, for now. He was safe, for a short while. Yet now, with Kris and Susie present in the Dark World, his mission grew more perilous than he’d originally fathomed. Had the last few hours of school really passed by that quickly? He had thought he would have had more time before their arrival.

Alas, he did not have the ability to reverse time, nor slow it, so now he had to figure out how to traverse the Dark World without crossing paths with the other two Lightners. He wasn’t sure if it was the anxiety or the cold that left his legs feeling so shaky, but he found himself struggling to get up.

His plight had not gone unnoticed by Swatch, who offered a hand down to him. Berdly gratefully grasped on, finally managing to wobble to his feet with their aid, and they even took a moment to ensure he was steady before they retracted their hands. “Will you be alright, young master?” They inquired, their brows creased once more in concern. “You’re freezing cold.”

“I will be well in due time, Mx. Swatch. Though your concern is appreciated. All I require is a hot beverage to tide me over so that I may carry on with my mission. Though... ah...” The bluebird’s gaze dropped to the floor as a realization slammed into him. “I don’t have any way to repay you at this moment. I spent it all yesterday acquiring... something important.”

Swatch shook their head, picking up the cup they had prepared and they pressed it into his hands. “Do not worry about it. You certainly need it far more than I.” They reassured him, then their gaze flitted briefly to the main entrance of the cafe. “Allow me to escort you out the back, so that you may have an easier time avoiding those scoundrels.”

Berdly could not help the surprised look on his face, though he quickly shook himself out of it. “Ah, why, thank you, Mx. Swatch! I swear I will find a way to repay you one day. You’ve been more than a great help to my mission, truly.”

The chance to be able to dodge Kris for just a while longer... it would matter. Those precious seconds would matter. He clutched the hot chocolate tightly between his hands as he followed Swatch through the kitchen and out the back door of the cafe, wishing them well once more before taking his leave. As soon as he heard the door close behind him, and he was met with the ominous silence of the near-ghost town, he shuddered, and downed the hot chocolate in a single, desperate gulp.

Chapter Text

As Berdly made his way towards the castle, he begrudgingly supposed that Kris’ unexpected arrival was a blessing as well as a curse. Their presence was a great risk to him, yes, and he loathed to cross their path in this world, knowing what they were capable of. Yet on the other hand, they seemed far more interested in pointlessly roaming every square inch of the town before even looking towards the castle. It worked out for him, at least.

It kept Ralsei away from the castle, which would certainly make it easier to sneak in. Berdly’s talons clicked against the floor with every step, echoing in the courtyard before the castle. There were only two Darkners to see him enter-- a miserable looking pink ball, and a... was it a jack or a coat rack? He couldn’t quite figure it out, but it did have a hat mounted on top.

He flashed a polite smile their way, and raised his wing in a subtle wave before he quickly rushed through the front doors, just barely managing to stop himself before he tumbled into a bubbling cauldron smack in the middle of the foyer. With a startled squawk, Berdly righted himself and took a step back, staring at the cauldron.

“What in the... who just leaves a boiling cauldron in the middle of everything like that?! And why is it so big? One would think that ‘Ralsei’ fellow was planning to cook me!”

Berdly’s eyes widened and he gasped, looking over his shoulder. “Or is he planning to cook me? Is that his master plan? He is an ally of Kris, after all... perhaps his kindness is all a ruse, and he was going to trick me into thinking this was a hot tub that could thaw my frozen state!”

ARE YOU EVEN [Check Your Hearing For Free] YOURSELF RIGHT NOW?

Spamton’s voice broke through his anxious speculation, and he squawked once more, icy feathers ruffling. “Ah! Spamton! Do not startle me like that!”

He shook his head and quickly scurried around the cauldron, continuing to eye it with suspicion. “Can you truly blame me for speculating? What normal person just has a giant cauldron sitting about?!”

BEATS ME. BUT THIS ISN’T A [Saturday Morning Cartoons], NOBODY’S GOING TO [[Baste And Broil]] YOU ALIVE. THROW YOU IN [Burning Acid], MAYBE. BUT YOU’RE NOT [Chicken Noodle Soup].

Alarming acid comment aside, Berdly had to admit that Spamton was right. How childish and silly of him to succumb to such nonsensical, baseless ideas. He let out a huff, shivering from the chill before averting his gaze from the cauldron.

“Tch. Whatever. Let us simply move past this pointless diversion and make our way to the dungeon to find this ‘Spades King’.”

Fortunately, locating the dungeon was a simple matter. Not only was the path conveniently labeled, it was only logical to assume that the dungeon would be downstairs rather than up. Though, as he reached the bottom of the stairs, Berdly found himself face to face with perhaps the most absurd Darkner he’d seen thus far.

A red checker piece on legs, with a ridiculously cutesy face. It was absurd, it was adorable, and it was staring at him with barely concealed violence in its eyes. Berdly flashed a nervous smile and held up his wings, as he attempted to sidle past it. “I am not here to cause any trouble, noble guard of the dungeon. If you would just allow me to pass, I simply wish to ask some questions and then I will be on my way!”

It did not move aside from its continuous squatting, continuing to stare at him unblinking. Yet somehow, it felt threatening. Like it would allow him to pass for now. But it could change its mind at any moment.

Berdly suppressed a shudder, continuing to slide along past it, his back against the wall. “I’m... going to take that as ‘permission granted’, alright? Thank you!”

With no response from the ominous checker piece, Berdly took another step back and finally turned away, allowing himself to grimace. I don’t know what was going on in its head, but that thing... It scares me.

THAT THING WAS FULL OF [[Prizes, And Value, And Quite A Lot Of Hatred]]!

You said it, Spamton... Berdly pushed his glasses into place as he approached the cell at the end of the room, shaking the last of the dread from his body and scattering flakes of ice across the floor.

Somehow, he wasn’t sure what he was expecting from a jail cell in a fantasy world, but what he saw within broke all his expectations. Instead of a cot, shackles, and moss, he saw a giant hamster wheel, a wall-mounted water bottle, and some sort of lump near the wall. Was it blankets? He couldn’t tell.

Even more surprising was the massive figure within. He didn’t know what to expect of the Spades King, certainly something ominous and powerful, yet even just sitting down, back facing the bars, the man was as tall as him. He shuddered to imagine how he would tower over him if he stood up. Thankful for the barrier between them, Berdly took in a deep breath and cleared his throat.

“Excuse me, sir.” The man behind the bars did not stir. “Are you, perhaps, the Spades King?”

He gulped as the man finally turned his head, glared at him over his shoulder and growled out in a deep voice, “Who’s asking?”

His talons scratched against the hard floor, and he lifted his head, straightening his posture, and declared with all the bravado he could muster, “I am Berdly Wing, wielder of the Holy Halbird! And I have a few questions for you, Spades King.”

The King turned his head and shifted to look at him fully, before baring his sharp teeth in a booming laugh. “Of all the Lightners I’ve seen in my time, you are the sorriest looking one. What would a pathetic whelp like you want from me?”

Berdly felt his feathers ruffle with indignation, and he grit his teeth, glaring right back at the King. Fists clenched, he fought back a shiver-- fear? cold? --and answered firmly, “I need to know how to create a Dark World.”

Everything went silent.

The mocking grin faded, then became a snarl, as a growl rumbled deep within the King’s chest. “Don’t you dare mock me, Lightner! Is it not enough to keep me imprisoned here, now you humiliate me?”

“What?! I’m being serious! I need to create a Dark World, as soon as possible!”

“For what purpose would it serve you?”

Berdly grimaced, narrowing his eyes. “Why should I tell you that? What difference does it make?”

“It makes every difference, you foolish whelp!”

He shivered heavily, ice sprinkling away from his body. His legs felt weak. How much was he willing to give away? This man was certainly in the dungeons for a reason, surely he couldn’t fully trust him! Yet... he was his only option. “B-because my life depends on it, okay?!”

The King glared at him in silence for a long moment.

And then he began to laugh again, more subdued this time.

“What do I care of the life of a Lightner? Your ilk did not care that they left us for dead. Why, I would much rather see you all fall.” He smirked cruelly through the bars, sending a chill down Berdly’s spine.

“Wh-what? B-but--”

“We have nothing more to discuss, doomed one. Run along and perish like the pathetic worm you are.”

The King turned away once more, his back against the bars of his cell.

Berdly felt tears prick in his eyes, his cheeks feeling white-hot with anger, contrasting the freezing cold that permeated his very SOUL. He began to tremble, raising a clenched fist as if to lash out--

HE HEY HEY, KID, STOP!

He stilled, breathing shakily. What is it, Spamton?!

I THINK I FIGURED OUT THIS GUY’S [Selling Point]. LET ME TAKE IT FROM HERE.

How? He can’t hear you, you know. Not like he’d even listen at all! Berdly’s brows knitted together, his frown tightening.

YOU JUST [Walk The Walk] WHEN I [Talk The Talk], AND PAY ATTENTION. WE’LL GET HIM TO CRACK. I KNOW HIS ANGLE.

Berdly lowered his hand and folded his arms tightly, glaring at the floor. Alright. What do you want me to say?

HE’S GOT [Beef Or Chicken] WITH THE L1GHT>NeRs, RIGHT? PLAY THAT TO YOUR [Triple Advantage]!

He blinked with quiet surprise, raising an eyebrow. Come to think of it... It just might work. He shifted his stance and lifted his head once more, clearing his throat. “Look... King. Perhaps we got off on the wrong foot.”

There was no response. Berdly frowned but he took a breath and continued, “You and I, we have more in common than you realize.”

THAT’S IT, [Reel Him In]...

The King scoffed, but Berdly did not let it falter him. He pressed his hands together, steepling his fingers. “As a matter of fact, I am certain we have substantial common ground. The Lightners you so loathe... would one of them happen to be a human?”

That got his attention. The King’s head turned slightly towards him, and Berdly couldn’t help but smirk.

YOU GOT HIM [On The Hook], KID! NOW YOU GOTTA [Make That Sale]! THE ENEMY OF YOUR ENEMY, AND ALL THAT [[Sallamy]].

“Heh... You see, your majesty, I, too, would like to see that human fall. I know you do as well. Would I be correct to assume they are why you’ve found yourself imprisoned here?”

The King growled, giving him all the answer he needed.

“I can exact revenge upon them, your majesty.” Berdly leaned closer to the bars, determination gleaming in his eyes. “But to do that, I need to lure them into a trap. I need a new Dark World, that they are unfamiliar with.”

The King looked over his shoulder at him, glaring beneath the shadow of his hood. With a sneer, he reached through the bars and grabbed him by the front of his jacket, and he tensed up.

“Let me make this very clear to you, Lightner. I do not trust you, nor any of your kind.” He growled lowly. “In the end, I will strike you down just like all the others.”

Berdly shuddered, his SOUL pounding rapidly in his chest. Yet he fought to keep his composure, staring right into the King’s face. He could not falter. Not here, not now. The tension in the air was thick, clinging to him like static, but he kept his determination.

The King hummed briefly, before relinquishing his grip. “Yet as our short-term goals align... I suppose just this once, I will tell you what you need to know. Do not think this makes us allies!”

“Understood.” Berdly nodded. The King leaned close to the bars and lowered his voice to a murmur, so that no one could overhear but Berdly himself.

“Much like the Knight, you will need a blade.” He felt Spamton fizzle in his mind, but he kept his focus on the King. “Use your Determination, and with your will, cut open the earth beneath you, and a magnificent Fountain of Darkness will come pouring forth, and paint the sky black.”

That was all? It seemed so... simple, and yet... Berdly supposed things were not always what they seemed. “Blade. Determination. Fountain. Got it.” He nodded once more and took a step back. “Thank you for your cooperation, your majesty.”

With a grumble, the King turned away once more. “Do not thank me until you’ve splintered that Lightner’s SOUL. Now begone.”

Berdly gulped, and nodded, quickly beginning to scurry away with a ruffle of his feathers. He certainly didn’t want to spend any longer in this cold, miserable dungeon. He knew what he needed to do, now. He just needed to find the right location, and contact Noelle, and then they could finally begin to deal with the icy curse that plagued him. It sounded easy enough, right? Surely they would be able to achieve that goal before Kris tracked them down, right?

Darting past the red checker piece, he sprinted up the stairs two at a time, flapping his wings to give himself a bit of a boost, and burst out the front doors of the castle. He had no time to waste! He just needed to make a beeline for the end of town, it was a straight shot, it was--

His blood ran cold, and his eyes widened. Kris, Susie and Ralsei stood in the path, and they were heading right towards the castle! Berdly sucked in a sharp breath and made a few panicked sounds through his teeth, before he dived for the nearest hiding place-- a shrubbery. The branches scratched through his feathers, and the leaves rustled too much for comfort, but it would have to do.

Berdly huddled in silence for a minute, before he dared to peer over the top of the hedge. Sure enough, in the courtyard stood the trio, Ralsei standing nearest to the book podium, Susie behind Kris, who stood in an empty spotlight, staring at seemingly nothing. They lifted their hand, touching something unseen, and... wait a moment.

Were those strings always there?

Wrapped around Kris’ wrist, Berdly could make out a thin line of red string that trailed upwards, upwards into the boundless void above. And it wasn’t the only one. How many strings were there, stark crimson red, wrapped around Kris’ limbs and neck? There were so many of them, he could not begin to count. And where did they lead? What was above them, in the darkness? Where did they come from? What were they?

The more Berdly stared at the strings, the tighter his chest felt. It was getting hard to breathe. Was he breathing? Static buzzed in the back of his mind, his gaze locked on Kris, yet growing unfocused. He was starting to see double, yet the strings remained constant. Red burned into his vision as white noise filled his ears and it pulls the strings and makes them ring

It pulls the strings

It pulls the strings

It pulls the strings and

They were gone.

Berdly blinked and took in a desperate, gasping breath, reeling back against the wall. His gaze darted frantically around the courtyard, confirming what he hoped. Kris and the others were gone, having moved on elsewhere. He had been lucky enough to escape their notice once more. But... “What in Heaven’s name was that?! Spamton?!”

Nothing. Just static buzzing and threatening to consume him once more. Berdly grit his teeth and leapt to his feet. “Spamton! Snap out of it! I need answers!”

Still no response. The bluebird let out a frustrated growl and shook his head, pacing a small circle. “Strings... what do they mean? Why does Kris have those strings?”

It pulls the strings and makes them ring.

That phrase... what did it mean? Where did it come from? What was ‘it’ ? He could only guess it had something to do with his mental companion. Berdly whined anxiously, Spamton’s lingering silence was not reassuring in the slightest. It seemed answers were not coming any time soon.

Forcing himself back to the task at hand, he started down the main path, to make his way back to the light world once more. He’d just passed the cafe when Spamton’s voice finally broke through the static.

THAT [[Little Sponge]] IS STILL HELD BY THE [Silly Strings].

Berdly paused for a moment, then kept walking, brows knitted together. “What do you mean, Spamton? What are those strings?”

THEY’RE LIKE ME, KID. [[Desperate]]. THE STRINGS ARE

THE STRINGS ARE

[[Entity_Unknown]]

“Entity... what?” Berdly looked up, frowning with confusion. “Are you... saying that Kris is being controlled?”

No response. Yet, Spamton’s presence seemed to try to indicate he was correct. Berdly’s frown tightened and he picked up the pace. “If that is the case, things are more urgent than ever. It would certainly explain their strange behavior recently. Well... stranger than usual , I should say.”

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO [[Just Do It]] ABOUT IT?

Berdly huffed. “The sooner I am in better condition, the sooner I can properly investigate this... entity unknown. I must determine whether there is any basis to this assumption, if I am to take action, after all! Perhaps Noelle may even have some information we could use... We must make haste!”

With a growing sense of urgency, Berdly darted towards the spotlight at the end of town, leaping into the light without any further hesitation. Upwards he rose, his clothing reverting to his everyday wear, and he found himself standing in the empty hallway of the school.

The golden light of the afternoon streamed in through the windows, the silence of the halls indicating that class was indeed over. Most everyone had likely gone home, or to whatever activities they frequented in the afternoon. For Berdly, that meant Noelle was likely visiting her father in the hospital.

He took out his phone, preparing to compose a message to try to summon her, before he grimaced, realizing he only had a paltry 5% battery charge remaining on the device. He gulped and turned it off, in hopes of conserving what little power it had. He would simply have to contact her in person, and from there they could choose a location to open a Dark World.

Berdly shivered and took in a deep breath, reluctantly making his way outside into the chill autumn air. The hospital wasn’t too far of a walk. Surely, even with how his legs felt weak from the day’s strain, he could make it just that bit farther. Talons clicked against the pavement as he began to make his way down the street, past the trees, past the library. He paused for a moment at the corner of the sidewalk, glancing both ways to ensure he would not be hit by oncoming traffic, when he spotted his father approaching from the south.

Atticus’ eyes widened upon spotting the little bluebird, and he started to run towards him. “Berdly! Oh, thank the Angel I found you, I’ve been worried sick!”

The bluebird grimaced and cringed, lowering his head sheepishly. This is just what I was trying to avoid. “Dad, I-- I can explain...”

Atticus reached him, and almost instantly fell to his knees, pulling Berdly into an embrace. He felt warm, his feathers soft to the touch, and Berdly wanted so deeply just to melt into it and stay there as long as possible. But he knew he couldn’t. He had work to do. His wings remained at his sides, refusing to return the hug.

“Where were you, son? I looked everywhere for you, I even spoke to Ms. Alphys and Noelle, and they said you’d been at school, but you’d disappeared after lunch, and no one knew where you could have gone!”

Berdly fell silent, closing his beak with a soft click , and averted his gaze. Atticus relinquished him from the hug, one wing remaining on his shoulder, the other gently tilting his head up to make eye contact as he looked him over. Worry filled the kingfisher’s eyes, his brows knitted tightly together. “Berdly, you’re even colder than last night. What were you thinking , sneaking out in your condition?!”

“Dad, I--”

Atticus shook his head. “N-no, no, you can’t have been thinking straight. Hypothermia can affect cognitive function, after all. We need to get you to the hospital, now. ”

Berdly’s eyes widened, and before he could protest, the massive kingfisher scooped him up into his arms and started to carry him to the hospital. “H-hey! Dad, wait--! Th-this isn’t that serious!”

“Berdly, you’re colder than a corpse! Something is very wrong here, and I’m not going to take any more chances. You’re getting looked at by a doctor, that’s final. ”

This was not how he’d expected to get to the hospital, nor was it the most ideal. How would he be able to reach Noelle under the watchful eye of his father? Suddenly, his options had become very few and far between.

He let out a low groan and slumped against his father’s chest, all the weakness and exhaustion he’d fought off all day finally catching up to him with the lost momentum. Darkness creeped into his vision, and, just for a moment, he allowed himself to succumb to exhaustion.