Given An Unwanted Second Chance

Chapter 44

More headcanons up ahead!

~~~~~

Gradient closed the portal behind me, grabbing my hand.  "Are you okay?"

I looked up at the nonexistent ceiling.  "Kinda...just worried."

We both looked ahead as a form materialized.  Cryo appeared, once more looking like my human form.  "Welcome back."

Gradient took a deep breath.  "Okay.  How can we help?"

Cryo came closer, speaking softly.  "You realized a power you have moments before Eclipse's passing, correct? "

Gradient flinched slightly but nodded.  "Papa's ability to pull up screens to mess with coding.  Yeah, I just...found out."

"A fortuitous time to discover your capabilities.  That power will aid is the stabilization of the multiverse."

Gradient's grip on my hand tightened as he spoke.  "I only just discovered this power.  It will take me a long time to even hope to master it, much less do something on the level of complete multiversal stabilization."

Cryo gave a tight smile.  "That is why I will help you expedite the process."

They were giving off faint feelings of anxiety as they said this.

I studied Cryo for a moment.  "...expediting the process will result in side effects, won't it?  That's what happened when Error expedited the process of Dust regaining his memories."

Cryo closed their eyes.  "It most likely will result in irreversible side effects.  And unlike the skeleton who has taken on the name Dust, you cannot die to undo the side effects."

Gradient took a deep breath.  "Do you know what kind of side effects we're talking about?  I don't care what side effects I receive as long as it doesn't involve dying in the end.  I just want to know what I have to prepare for."

Cryo looked away.  "I...am unsure of what the side effects will be.  They could range from minuscule and irrelevant to completely life-changing.  This is not something I have ever done before.  Remember, the last entity within this place was Error 404, and I did not help him with anything.  He abused the Mainframe's power, so no aid was given."

"Is Gradient the only one who can help stabilize the multiverse?  Isn't there some way I could help? "

Cryo looked at me.  "Gradient is the only one who can stabilize the multiverse.  However, he will need your support considering the rest of the multiverse will be corrupting around you during the process."

I felt my protective instincts activate as I scowled faintly.  "Not to discount Gradient in any capacity, but he's a CHILD."

"Eclipse, i-it's okay..."

Cryo sighed softly.  "I deeply apologize, Eclipse.  We have, at best, a few years before the destabilization reaches an irreversible point."

"...and at worst? "

"A year."

"A year."  Gradient breathed.

A year.

At worst, we had a single year before the multiverse reached a critical state.

"How do we fix this?"  Gradient asked after a tense moment.

"You are aware that other multiverses exist, yes? "

"We both came from a different one, so yeah."