Wounds Heal, Scars Fade

Chapter 20: Confrontation

Deci narrows his gaze at the opponent in front of him, holding up Lunar, Solar, and TK.

"Release them." The opponent releases a chilling laugh, tightening their grip around the three.

"I don't think I will." Deci growls.

Damn this helpless form's magic. If I had my strings, I could fight them.

"It's me you want, coward." The chilling laugh comes again, with a sensation of mockery.

"Correct. But I need to make sure you'll behave this time, Decimate. Or should I call you Error."

Decimate fiddles with a bracelet on his wrist, feeling Phantasm and Delusion hovering just behind him.

"Decimate. Will you save Lunar?" Deci turns his gaze to Phantasm, the cyan eyelight shimmering with uncharacteristic worry. "Decimate?" Decimate reaches up to his skull, running his fingers along the missing tear tracks. He flicks his gaze back to Fate residing in Ink's body. Determination wells up from within, Decimate steeling resolve inside of him.

"Fate. How about we make a nice clean wager?" Fate within Ink tilts their head.

"What kind of wager?" Deci wants to sigh in relief, but he remembers how Fate works.

"A 1-v-1 fight between me and Ink. If I win, You go back to your multiverse and never bother TimeVerse or its inhabitants again." Deci sighs. "And if you win, I'll go back to your multiverse, I'll play the destroyer perfectly."

"WHAT?!" The chorus of shocked yells rings out from Lunar and TK. Solar blinks, and seems to begin tearing up slightly. Phantasm and Delusion just look at Decimate like he's insane.

"Deci, you can't-We'll be fine! Please! Don't do this!" Lunar pleads, purple tears streaming down his cheeks. Deci sends a soft smile at Lunar as tears slowly stream down his cheekbones.

"Thank you. For believing in me, and caring about me. But I have to do this." Deci slowly calms his breathing, dropping the smile and wiping the tears away as he turns his gaze to Fate. "Fate won't leave any of you alone until I do this. At least I have a chance of winning."

Fate hums softly in thought, smiling slowly and nodding, leaving Ink's body with only a red string wrapped around his throat.

I'll take your wager, Error. If Ink wins, we'll wipe everyone's memories of this whole awful event and you'll play destroyer for me as you should have from the start. If you win, a highly unlikely outcome but I'm nothing if not fair, I swear on my honor as a Deity that I'll leave this multiverse and its inhabitants alone.

~

Time looks over all the Deities, narrowing his gaze.

"Where is Fate?"

Destiny shrugs, releasing a small smirk.

"Why do you want to know?"

Time narrows his gaze more, gasping as he feels a familiar fear wash over him.

"Decimate!"

~

The rainbow tears stream rapidly down Ink's cheeks.

"Error, I...I can't control myself." Decimate nods slowly, focusing his magic.

"I know."

"How do you intend to win?" Decimate gives a hesitant smile, shrugging.