Given An Unwanted Second Chance

Chapter 35

Y'all already knew this was a reader insert based on the desc of the book lmao

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"Y/N?"  Dust asked, looking confused.

I could feel my soul throb painfully from confused emotions.  And just general pain, still.

"Gradient, what are you talking about?"

"I...I don't remember much.  But..."  Gradient turned to Error.  "She's Y/N.  I was Ethan.  I...I don't know how to explain it.  But I can FEEL it in my soul."

"M-My name was...Y/N...?"  I whispered.  "How...how did this happen?"

"At this point, I...I don't think it even matters.  You found me.  You...while it wasn't the greatest idea to try to reunite with me in death, it seems fate itself led you back to me."

"But...the timeline doesn't...match up?"

Dust hummed.  "Time isn't really linear in the multiverse as it is.  If both of you came from a different multiverse, time would pass very differently."

I frowned a little.  "Time is very confusing...maybe I was in the darkness of death longer than I thought, maybe not.  But...why would...why would Ethan be reborn while I just took on Nightmare's soul and role?"

"Differences in death?  How did Ethan die?"  Dust asked.

I winced, putting a hand to my chest as my soul pulsed weakly with grief.  "C-Cancer.  He'd passed away two weeks before I was...kicked out of my 'home.'"

"I can't say I understand how Ethan became Gradient.  Maybe some higher deity planned it this way?"

Gradient looked at me with hope in his eyes and emotions.  "I...I'm sorry, I know this is probably a lot.  Y-You just woke up from Fresh's chaos.  But...while I can't remember everything, or much at all, I can feel that...I had a life before this.  Your human form, just...the intonations of the way you say my...his?...name...the love and care you have, it just...matches."

Error looked at Gradient with thoughtfulness.  "While the very idea that you are a reincarnation is...strange, it'd also make sense.  Honestly, with how much the squid and I have fought, It'd explain why you weren't created sooner.  We've had huge fights that ended with our magics colliding much like it did when you were created, but nothing happened before."

"Maybe that's why Code wanted both of us before."  I said quietly.  "Maybe we resonate with the same kind of energy that's foreign to this multiverse."

I looked down at my hands, letting out a small laugh.  "This is a very strange afterlife to have followed you to."

Gradient seemed to hesitate for a moment before reaching out, taking my hands.  "It's just a different life...Eclipse?  Y/N?  What do I call you now?"

"I think Eclipse will be just fine for now.  Y/N...it sounds so foreign to me...yet equally as familiar.  Should we continue calling you Gradient?"

Gradient smiled weakly.  "I guess that's just the name I'm used to now.  Besides, it fits me better in this form, anyway."

"I'm not one for sappy reunions, but...I'm glad you guys are together like you always should've been."  Error said hesitantly and somewhat awkwardly.

I chuckled a little.  "Thanks, Error."

"Does this mean you'll stop trying to separate us?"  Gradient asked, looking to his parent.

"I'll stop, yeah, but I know Ink and Dream will do their damnedest to separate you two.  And me from you, too, for that matter."

"We also...can't forget that...the whole of the...multiverse is...in a panic because...of what happened."  Horror said, sounding uneasy.