Bloody Dawn - MCD AU [REWRITE PENDING]

Thirty - Am I Breaking Your Hearts Yet?

About the song: This song has no relevance whatsoever in or with the following chapter. It's here because you might need it to cheer you up after reading this. I sure as hell did.

*listens to song*
Only you, Mettaton.

As the group trudged along towards where they planned to set up the portal, Zane felt only longing.

Longing for the good times.

When Garroth wasn't the monster that he is now.

And of course, as they wearily trekked in silence, Zane couldn't help but justify his suspicions... while arguing against them at the same time.

It make sense for Laurance to be the mastermind behind the fall of the Aether. He's the most respected demon in the fortress. He has a motive, and the means to do it. It's so simple.

But it can't be Laurance! He's respected for a reason. He has no motive. Means, yes. Motive, no.

So then Garroth was acting on his own?! That's... not much like Garroth.

What if his inability to think for himself was an act?

He may be smart, but he's not that smart. I mean, he made all those mistakes in the Aether, which is why he was exposed!

Maybe... he wanted to be exposed?

But if that's so, then why? If he wanted to be exposed, then how is he still the monster you're making him out to be? You just contradicted yourself! Besides, why would Garroth... why would Garroth act that way?

...

Because he's broken. Deep down, in his subconscious mind, Garroth is-like you-a tortured, lost little boy who's been trying to find his purpose.

Doubt, like a cloud of food coloring in a beaker of water, slowly filled Zane, touching every corner of his mind, reaching into his most subconscious thoughts.

He stopped, and looked down at his trembling claws.

I wonder...

Garroth was actually pretty close to Laurance. If I was as close to him as Garroth was, would I...

Would I have helped infiltrate and conquer the Aether, too?

After a moment imagining what that would've looked like, Zane looked up and realized everyone else had stopped, and turned their heads towards him, staring at Zane with concerned expressions on their faces.

"What?" He asked, surprised by how nonchalant it sounded.

"You look like you've seen a ghost." Vylad said, still staring.

Zane, in horror, realized Vylad was right. He slowly raised his claws to his face, fear in his eyes. His wings began to shake lots.

"You okay?" Katelyn asked, sounding concerned.

"No." Zane managed to say, despite his bad mental state. He slowly fell into a sitting position, and curled up into a ball, his face hidden behind his wings, which curled around him, shivering. "No." He managed to say as his shoulders heaved. He was sobbing.

Aphmau immediately rushed over to him, but before she could reach Zane, a sinister voice rang out.

"Aw, is the wittle pwince sad?" Everyone's heads darted towards the source of the voice, and Zane slowly rose to his feet. A female succubus, holding a rapier, advanced towards them. Her voice suddenly became low and spiteful.