Chapter Text
Footsteps echoed throughout the pyramid as Stepper sprinted through it. He didn't know where he was going but he knew he was heading in the right direction; He could feel it. An echoing laughter ran throughout the walls, sending a chill down the angel's spine; He was close. Pressing an ear against the wall, he could just about make out the shrill sound of Bill's voice.
"Oh ho this will be fun. Let's all play a little game."
The screams that came after let Stepper know he had no time to lose. Coating his upper fist in a blinding light, he punched through the wall, the bricks crumbling into pieces. Stepper had to take a step back when entering the room; What he saw made anger crawl all over his skin.
There was Bill, hovering menacingly over the golden statues that were his friends and family. Each one of them, immobilized and placed upon a pedestal like they were nothing more than a prop, a prize. Searing flames began to coat Stepper's fists.
"CIPHER!"
Bill's form froze for a moment before he began chuckling, turning around to face the angel.
"Well well, I guess you're stronger than you look. But it's too late buddy," Bill commented, gesturing to the area around him. Stepper let out a growl, spreading his wings.
"I assume you're still trying to take me to big frilly. I hate to disappoint you but I-"
Stepper didn't give the demon a chance to finish his sentence as he sprang into the air in a flash, barrelling into Bill. The force of the collision pushed both of them out of the pyramid. Taking him into the air, Stepper placed all his hands upon Bill, letting the fire spread to the dream demon. Bill tried to struggle but Stepper kept a tight grip on the triangle. He wasn't going to get away. Not this time.
Bill let out a weak laugh, his eye scattering about in a frenzy, "Stepper please. Let's talk about this. You know I was only playing, like we used to."
"Shut it Cipher. You have nowhere to run," Stepper spat.
"This won't be the end of me you hear, I'll find a way back," Bill threatened, attempting to once again break free of the angel's hold.
"And I will find a way to stop you. There's no getting out of this," Stepper replied, gripping the triangle tighter, causing Bill to let out a scream of pain. The flames almost enveloped Bill's entire body, the dream demon shifting and squirming about in the angel's hands.
"Please Stepper. You wouldn't do this to your best friend Billy, would you?" the triangle asked, tears materializing in his eye.
"The Billy I knew died the day the rest of his dimension burned. You are nothing but a monster, a monster that needs to be put to rest," Stepper screamed.
And with that, the angel let his flames fully envelop the dream demon. Bill screamed and flailed about but there was little he could do as his body burned brightly before crumbling into dust and ashes. The sound of his shrill screams led way to the sound of silence. A silence Stepper hadn't heard in eons.
For a moment all the angel could do was hover in place, staring down at the ash in his hands, the ash that used to be someone he cared so deeply for. Leaning down towards the ash, Stepper let out some final words for his fallen friend.
"Goodbye Billy."
Taking a deep breath, Stepper blew away the ash, letting the wind catch it and scatter it to ends unknown. At last, it was done. The moment didn't feel real. But it was truly complete.
Stepper didn't get to think much on the matter as the wind around him quickly began to pick up, swirling around in a furious rage. Creatures and debris and trees were beginning to fly through the air. Stepper had to carefully manoeuvre around them to avoid being hit. Even as he felt his body start to slow, he managed to avoid every obstacle that headed his way.
Briefly looking over his shoulder, Stepper saw that all the flying objects were being sucked into the rift in the sky. The rift that Bill had created. Everything was returning to normal.
Turning back around, Stepper barely had time to react before a tree collided with him, knocking him out of the sky like a stone. Spiralling towards the ground, the angel crashed against it with an echoing thud.
Wearily opening his eyes, Stepper could just about make out that everything around him had returned to normal. Good. All he needed to do now was find the others. He tried to move but ended up screaming out in pain. Any movement caused extreme pain, causing Stepper to shakily check what was the problem. A tree branch was the problem. A tree branch that had skewered Stepper right through his chest. With his energy quickly depleting, all Stepper could do was flop onto the ground and pant out the air that was quickly escaping his body. Maybe this was it for him; After all, he’d completed his quest.
Lion was the first to find him. Through his blurry vision, Stepper could see the pink blur of the feline nudging his side. He opened his mouth to reply but all that escaped was a whine. He didn't know how long it had been before the others had arrived but he could feel it when they did.. Stepper was hoisted to his feet by who he assumed was Stan and Garnet. He also felt something grip his legs in what felt like a hug; most likely Mabel and Connie. He wished he could talk to them, to say anything to help comfort them but all he could focus on was the pain.
A flash of light was visible in the corner of Stepper's eye, causing him to weakly lift his head to find the source. The figure was blurred but deep in his soul he knew who it was. Jhesel had come to bring him back. His time in the mortal realm was over. He wasn't needed there anymore.
Darkness obscured his vision for a moment but when it cleared, he found himself leaning heavily against Jhesel. Lifting his head, he stared over at the crowd that had gathered to see him go. While he couldn't see them clearly, he knew they were sad that he had to leave. He'd be forever grateful for his friends and family, the people that had given him such happiness during his stay in the mortal realm. The energy to speak didn't appear but the angel managed to mouth the words 'thank you' before he and Jhesel turned around.
Light flashed before his eyes and the world shifted around him. Stepper collapsed onto his back and gasped. The pain that was there before had disappeared and the branch that was in his chest had crumpled into nothing but stardust, as if it had never existed. The angel gasped for air, despite not needing it; Reflex from the mortal realm he supposed. Jhesel hovered over him, concern plastered all over her face.
"Are you alright?" she questioned. Stepper softly nodded before sitting up and shaking himself off.
"I'm fine, just needed a moment to adjust. Being mortal took a lot out of me," he joked. Jhesel's concern didn't leave her eyes but a small smile appeared on her face.
"Take some time to rest, you deserve it," Jhesel spoke softly, kneeling down to give him a side hug, "Welcome back."
Jhesel stood and disappeared in a flash of light, leaving the angel all alone. Stepper materialized a cloud beneath him, raising him into the air.
Letting himself fall back onto the cloud, he stared up into the starry abyss above. It was done. He'd completed his quest. He'd sacrificed everything to complete it but it was done. He had returned to his rightful realm. Everything was back where they belonged, he was back where he belonged. He should feel happy.
So why did he feel empty inside?