Crystal Splezter, The 3rd Chapter

Stage 3: Bargaining

Plot: What would you do to fix your biggest mistake? And how far would you be willing go to do it?

Inkopalis was colder than normal, but maybe that was more just for Meggy than for everyone. She hadn't felt anything close to good in recent weeks.

Maybe this visit would change that? It was unlikely but...anything was worth a try by this rate.

Meggy stepped up the front porch of her parent's home late at night, the indoor lights illuminating her face. She hadn't seen them since the funeral and she felt the urge to see them. Losing a grandchild was second only in pain to losing a child.

It seemed ironic. 4 years ago, she stood in this very spot, reuniting with her mom and dad after thinking they abandoned her. But they took her back with open arms, they encouraged her to win Splatfest, Axol was standing a few feet away and she promised them to introduce them to Crystal the following day.

But that was all changed. Splatfest was over, Axol was dead and Crystal...

Choking back tears, sick of doing nothing but cry for days on end, she reached out a shaking hand and knocked.

A moment of waiting that felt like an eternity and then...the door opened. It was her dad.

Norman: Megs? What are...you doing here this time of night?

She looked up, voice strained and eyes watery.

Meggy: I...Can I come in?

Norman: Uh-of course, come in. It's just me in here, your mother is out with-

Norman didn't get a chance to finish as Meggy threw her arms around him, holding him in a tight hug. He winced as he felt tears hitting his shoulder but he couldn't care less when his daughter needed him more.

Meggy: D-Daddy...I...She...

Norman felt like Meggy was a child all over again, when she would wake up from a nightmare and need comfort or if she hurt herself falling downstairs. However, her pain was worse than any wound or nightmare. This couldn't be fixed with a plaster or a lullaby.

He put his arms around her and gave her a gentle hug as she whimpered into his shoulder, never letting go...

Norman: Shhh...I'm here pumpkin...Daddy's here...

...

After a while, they migrated to the couch. No words were said for a long time as Norman held Meggy close in a hug, her head resting on his arm as she cried softly for the best part of an hour.

And based off what he'd heard from her friends asking in concern, she wouldn't let up anytime soon.

Helen stroked her hair to soothe her, the only way he really knew how. Charlotte was always better than him at emotions. When they learned something had raped his little girl and got her pregnant, her first priority was wanting Meggy to feel safe. All he did was get angry and want to rip the guys head off.

If he'd just bit his tongue that night...maybe he could've stopped her from running away. He wasn't there then, but he was now.

Meggy: Dad...

He was snapped by to reality by her quiet pleading voice, the first time she'd spoken in a while.

Norman: Y-yeah Pumpkin?

Meggy: I...I keep...the same nightmare...

Norman: Another one? What was it about this time?"

Meggy sniffled before speaking up, choking a bit.

Meggy: I keep seeing...her little face. She's fading away in my arms and...I can't do anything. And she asks me that same horrible question...if I was proud of her?

He'd heard this story a dozen times but it hurt just as much every single one.

Meggy: H-how could she not know? Did I not...say it enough? Was I not there enough? Did she think I was lying just for her sake? They were her last words...Am I...Was I a bad mother?

That was the final straw, he wouldn't stand for this anymore. Pulling away from the hug, he made Meggy look him in the eyes.

Norman: What? Meggy, that...that's impossible, okay? You were and still are an amazing mother whether she's here or not!

Meggy: But Dad-

Norman: No buts! Listen here Meggy Splezter, from the second she was born, you were there for her to nurture and care for her every single day and you watched her grow up into an amazing and sweet little girl. Just because of what happened to her, doesn't mean you were a horrible parent in any way.

Meggy sniffled, looking up with bloodshot and baggy eyes.

Meggy: I...I should've told her...

Norman: Told her what?

Meggy: How proud...that I was...that I still am...that she was a better and more amazing person than I ever could've been.

Meggy wrapped her arms around herself.

Meggy: I would do anything to have her back. Sell my home, sell my soul...just to be able to hold her one last time and tell her how sorry and proud I am. To hold her and never let her go. To comfort her and lull her to sleep like all of this was just one big nightmare...

Meggy leaned forward and pulled her knees up, curling into a ball and rocking.

Meggy: I just...I can't live with this pain anymore! I miss my little girl! Everyday, I keep waiting for her to walk back through the door, to give her the biggest of all hugs and tuck her into bed, where she's safe with me! She should've gotten the chance to live her life!

Norman: Meggy-

Meggy: NO! Don't say it wasn't my fault because it was! I hate myself every day because I couldn't do more! That blast that killed her, I saw who that Puzzles guy was aiming for! It was for me! She...she took that shot to save me...it should've been me...

Meggy curled up and began to cry, hiccups the only sound left she can make alongside repeating the words "it should've been me" like some kind of desperate mantra as if she were trying to rewind time.

Norman knew she was being honest. And in the same scenario, if he had to choose, he would've gladly gave up his own life to save Meggy or Crystal or any member of his family for that matter.

For now, all he could do was hold his crying little girl and give her a small part of the comfort she desperately needed.

But nothing short of a miracle could bring back his true daughter's spirit ever again...

Meggy had finally hit rock bottom.