Apprenticeship [An SMG4 Fanfic]

Chapter 25: A Waking Nightmare

SMG4 ran behind SMG3, doing his best to keep up. His eyes darted around the castle as they ran for the exit. Everything was crumbling around them. The walls covered in flesh, teeth, and eyes.

They jumped through the window, grabbing a hold of the ledge. SMG4 tried to catch his breath and pull himself up, only to find he didn't quite have the strength to do so. His arms felt like jello. But he had to get out of there. Everyone else was on the ledge, shouting at him, but he couldn't make out the words.

He saw SMG3 slipping off the ledge, trying to hold on.

He slipped.

4 caught him by the leg.

SMG4 could feel his heart beating out of his tightening chest, breathing quickened. He tightened his grip around 3's foot.

"Don't worry man! I've got you!" 4 shouted. "I won't let you go!"

He noticed the USB on his foot, slowly sliding off.

No, he thought. No, I'm not choosing that damned thing over 3.

He tried to pull 3 up, but purple tendrils began to surround him, he could feel himself letting go.

"No!" 4 shouted as his hand released 3's leg. He watched him fall into the pit.

"SMG3!"

He let go of the ledge, letting go of all logic as he reached for 3.

They both hit the ground.

SMG4 slowly got up. How was he alive right now? How was he ok? Did that mean SMG3 was ok too?

4 looked around the pit. Where was SMG3? Didn't they fall together?

He ran through the cavern, making his way towards Peach's castle, which was now in ruins at the end of the ever elongating hallway. He ran inside. He rushed into the ballroom, stopping in his tracks as he saw what was in there.

In the middle of the room lay a blood covered SMG3.

"3...?" 4 said quietly, stepping towards him. He felt the tears trickling down his face as he rushed towards him.

He collapsed on the ground, looking at 3's emotionless face as he scooped him into his arms.

"No... no please... I'm sorry," he sobbed.

He heard a familiar voice behind him.

"It's gotta be perfect."

4 didn't dare to turn around and face this creature he had turned into thanks to that keyboard.

"He got in our way."

"Shut up."

He shut his eyes tightly, holding 3 closer as he heard the words "it's gotta be perfect" over and over and over again. They swam around his head, beginning in a low whisper before getting louder and louder the longer he tried to ignore them.

"No!" He sobbed. "It doesn't have to be perfect! Shut up! Just shut up!"

4 buried in face in 3's lifeless body. He did this. It's his fault. It's all his fault.

"3..." he said quietly, slowly lifting his head to look at his partner's face. His body felt like ice in his arms, but he didn't dare let go as holding 3 began to feel like he was getting frostbite. "I'm so sorry..." He wiped away his tears.

"SMG4?"

4's head shot up as he looked behind him, seeing SMG3 standing there with a worried look on his face.

4 stared at him before running towards the purple meme guardian and engulfing him in a hug. "3!" He shouted, holding 3 so tight he thought he might break his back. "I..."