"What do you mean DARK called!?"

Anti was currently getting his bandages taken off by Schneep after Marvin had given them all healing potions. They thought it best to rest, first, after all, being so tired after their battle.

Marvin shrugged and repeated, "Dark called. He used Mark's phone to warn us about Septic. What I'm curious about, however, is how did he even know about that thing in the first place?"

Anti knew though, "It really was him"

"What are you talking about?" Jackie raised his brow at him, "When did you see Dark?"

"In the mirror world. Or void. Whatever it was. When I was trying to get Marvin's attention after Septic beat up Jackie. A little hand-mirror had slipped out of Marvin's book shelf so I looked through it. I saw Dark in it but I wasn't for sure at the time if I really HAD seen him or not. If it was just my imagination playing tricks on me. Then I woke back up in the room Septic kept me in."

"What was so special about that hand-mirror that you could see him an ocean away?" Chase asked and they all looked over at Marvin.

Marvin coughed, "Well you see. . . . the hand-mirror Anti spoke of is sort of . . .enchanted. I made it so I could keep in contact with the Ipliers in Raspy Hill"

Sean scoffed, "Mainly Host?"

". . . .Yes. But we're friends! He's like me in a way! Why does it matter?"

"He had been watching then" Anti came to the conclusion, "Dark. . . he tried to help"

Sean saw the hope in Anti's eyes and smiled, "I'll call Mark later and see if we can't figure this whole thing out together. Marvin, you said they had just dealt with an enemy of their own?"

The magician nodded, "Host told me afterwards that Dark had defeated Actor. He had trapped Dark in the void and had planned to kill all the egos, Mark and his friends. Even their dogs"

"Not Chica!" Anti shrieked, "Are they all okay?!"

"Stop squirming, Anti!" Schneep chastised him.

Marvin chuckled, "Yeah, they're all alright. Shaken up but it could have been worse. Dark killed Actor before he could do any real damage."

They all sighed in relief and Anti hummed, "So that's why I saw Dark in there. He was trapped in the void at the same time I saw him in the mirror."

"Correct"

"But wait" Jackie jut in, "Dark killed another ego? But how is that even possible? I thought only the creator could do that?"

Sean shrugged, "I guess Dark's a special case. Mark did tell me once that Dark was created from the void out of Damien's body. Perhaps he's just an exception. Good thing, too. Sounds like they would have been in deep trouble otherwise"

They were silent for a while before Jameson showed a card, "I miss the Ipliers. We should have a Christmas with them this year!"

"That's not a bad idea at all, Jameson." Sean hummed, "We'll talk to Mark about that as well."

Anti was nervous about that but stayed quiet.

"So is it really over?" Jackie asked, "Anti . . Is Septic really gone for good?"

Henrik finished unwrapped his scarred neck from the bloody gauze and Anti bit his lip feeling his scar out of habit, "I. . . I think so. I couldn't feel his presence once I  . . .you know. Everything just feels. . . so much better. Like a weight being thrown off of me"

Chase smiled and pat his back silently.

Anti then thought of something he hadn't before, "Hey Marvin?"

"Yeah?"

"Remember that night I had that nightmare and you guys all thought it was just a silly dream because I forgot to take a pill?"

". . . . yeah?"

"We were trying to exorcise the thing out of me then. But since he buried himself in my head disguising himself, you couldn't sense him. Why didn't you try that exorcising him last night? Wouldn't that have been easier?"

Marvin shook his head, "He was too strong to attempt it when we were fighting. That and I sort of DID exorcise him out of you when I separated the you both."

"What was the salt for then, that night?" Sean furrowed his brow, confused.

The magician rolled his eyes, "For your protection! Obviously, though, we didn't have the time for that last night, now did we?"

"Would've helped" Jackie grumbled but was shoved off the couch by Marvin out of spite.

"Hey!"

"Enough you guys" Sean's authoritative tone stopped them from scuffling, "It's over and that's all that matters. I'll talk to Mark about us coming down for Christmas sometime soon. Since he has more egos, we'll have to go there, I'm sure."

"Speaking of Christmas" Schneep slipped in, "My ex-vife iz letting me have ze kids this time and I vas wondering if your kids vill be here as vell, Chase?"

Chase's mood suddenly plummeted and he just looked depressed. 

Anti stared at him with worry, "Chase?"

He realized he was making Anti anxious and shook himself out of it, "Ah. . .No. Stacy's not letting me have them this year, I'm afraid"

"What?" Sean crossed his arms, "She can't do that! You two had a deal in court that you'd get every other holiday with them as well as two days out of every month. I, for one, think it should be way more than that, but I won't pry into that hole."

Chase shrugged, "It's fine. I'll get to see them after Christmas and I can give them their presents then"

"It's not fine" Marvin argued, "Stacy's a bitch"

"Enough!" Chase growled, "She may have a sour attitude most of the time but she's still the mother of my children and has been raising them well. I may not like that I can't see the little dudes as much as I want but she does take good care of them. It'll be fine. Just stay out of it."

Everyone went quiet again but agreed to disagree. Anti, on the other hand was fuming on the inside. Chase was a wonderful father and deserved so much! He had changed a LOT in the past few months and deserved to have time with his kids. He was still their father just as much as Stacey was their mother.

There was some tension in the air but Jameson was determined to lift it. He drew up another card, "What IS the date today?"

Sean took out his phone to view his calendar, "It's December first. Why?"

Jameson twitched his mustache happily and scribbled on another board, "We can officially start decorating for Christmas!"

His plan worked and the mood was lifted. Even Chase smiled a little at everyone's excitement, "If you dudes want to start decorating today, we can but there's gonna be order with this, got it? Not gonna have fucking tinsel and glitter everywhere like last year"

This is where Anti went still and frowned, feeling out of place. Much like Halloween, he hadn't been able to spend the holidays with his brothers or Sean because of the incident. No one had trusted or wanted him around so they would go to Sean's for Christmas and leave him behind. 

To this day, the only Christmas present he had ever received was one from Dark which was a black turtleneck.

Anti was shoved out of his musings literally by Jackie who smiled at him, "Hey, I know what you're thinking, Anti. Don't worry. This will be the best Christmas ever and we're gonna make up for the all the ones we excluded you from! Right guys!?"

They all nodded and grinned and Anti teared up at the sweet gesture, "You guys" he hugged Jackie suddenly. The hero was shocked at first, this having been the first time Anti had hugged him but he leaned into it and hugged him back gently.

"Aw, you guys are so cute" Sean cooed at them, making them blush in embarrassment, "But come on already! Let's go get those decorations!"

____________________________________________________

After Marvin had told them of their own ordeal, Dark was still worried but less so. As long as everyone was alright. As long as Anti was okay and he had defeated the demon.

Everything was okay then.

Mark was surprised by Dark's sudden worry for Anti but after a little explaining on his part, Mark just grew a small smirk.

"Thought you had your doubts, Dark?"

Dark growled, "Don't even. I feel bad enough already. I don't need to be told I'm a horrible friend"

"You're not a horrible, friend, Dark" Mark groaned.

"Y-you saved us from Actor, Dark" Eric reminded him.

Wilford slapped Dark's back, making him grunt, "Yeah so stop beating yerself up about everything, Darky-boy! Ya can't be there for EVERYBODY"

Dark was silent but nodded, "I suppose. Abe", he addressed the squirming detective, "It's good to see you, however. . . . I'm a little confused. I thought you hated Wil."

Abe shrugged, "He's not so bad I guess. But don't think this means anything! I wanted a good case to solve and I did!" he mumbled more so to himself, "Just because we got captured in the midst doesn't mean anything either."

Wil grinned, "Ah Detective! Always the emotionally-dysfunctional one!" he laughed.

Abe let it go and just groaned quietly, "Anyways. If you'll excuse me, I'm getting the hell out of here. I can only handle so much weird"

"Yer welcome to visit any time, old friend!" Wilford called for him as he bolted out.

There was still something that dug at Mark, though, "Dark. . . before you killed Actor. You mentioned Celine. You saw her?"

Dark nodded, "Yes. She called to me in the void. Apparently my presence had awoken her"

"She's not 'awake' awake is she?" Wil bit his lip under his mustouche anxiously, making Dark chuckle.

"No. She could only stay up for a little while. You're still safe from her, Wil"

"Oh good!"

He continued, "She's the one who told me how to get out. Cryptically, of course, but all the same. She explained to me. . . . what I truly was."

"What do you mean?" Amy asked, yearning to know.

"It's what I said to Actor. I AM the void. After Actor had thought he won in making me, turning me into his villain, Celine managed to place a fragment of Damien's soul inside of me. Using his more calm aura to blend with Celine's wrath, I was able to pry out of the void, breaking out from the foyer mirror."

"You were in the Foyer mirror!?" Bim shouted, "I thought I felt something odd"

"Yeah, that's because I was yelling at you. I was trying to shout through the mirror to tell you not to let Mark in. But you couldn't hear me. No one could. Except Host, that is" he raised a brow over at the narrating man.

Everyone looked over to Host who was getting treated by Dr. Iplier for the injury Actor gave him. The Host gave a shaky smile, almost as if he wasn't expecting Dark to out him like that.

"The Host sensed Dark's slight anger towards him, annoyed with the ordeal he had to go through. However, Host reminded him that if Dark hadn't gone through what he did, he would never have realized the true power he held. He would have never realized Anti's predicament, either."

Dark had half a mind to go over and beat him but let it go, choosing, instead to tell on him, "Mark, did you know that Host knew the entire time of Actor's plan since yesterday?"

"HE WHAT!?"

"The Host calmly explained to Mark that there was no other way"

"No other way, my ass! Dark, give me that cane! I'm gonna beat him!"

"Host would like to ask Mark to reconsider"

"Come here!"

"The Host ran in fear of his creator's anger but knew inside it was all worth it" he bolted before Mark could catch him.

The others laughed at the scene never having seen Host so flustered before.

'Serves him right. Him and his great stories' Dark rolled his eyes. 

He looked around at all of his brothers and his friends and smiled. There was so much he wanted to say but he was so tired. 

Between breaking out of the void and killing Actor, he was exhausted, 'I wish I could trade with Celine, if only sometimes'

He glanced over at Yandere who was laughing and jeering with the others. He had never seen them so happy unless they were plotting something over their senpai. 

Which reminded him.

"Yandere?"

The ego turned to Dark who had an almost fatherly tone when saying their name. It suddenly freaked them out a bit, "Y-yeah?"

"I found out who your senpai is."

Yandere paled but Dark just chuckled, his deep baritone voice suddenly soothing them that they weren't in so much trouble, "I'll help you woo them if you promise not to stalk and spy on them anymore."

"What!? Really!?"

Dark may not have liked Jackie but he deserved at least one less extreme fan. One that didn't try and kill their 'competition'.

-8888888888888888888888888-

A few days later, Mark had come back over to spend the day with his egos, helping them set up Christmas decorations. He noticed, however, there was one less ego around than there should be.

Wandering up to Dark's room, he knocked on the door. Receiving a small mumble to come in, Mark gingerly cracked open the door to see Dark laying on his back on his bed staring up at the ceiling.

Mark knew what was bothering him. He knew guilt on Dark's face like it was his own. He walked over and sat on Dark's bed with him, knowing what had to be said.

"Is it Anti?"

Dark refused to look at him so Mark continued.

"You didn't know. None of us knew."

"I should have known"

"Maybe" Mark huffed and Dark glared at him but allowed him to continued, "But you can't change the past. You can only move forward. You know Sean called me back?"

Dark narrowed his eyes, confused, "And?"

"He asked if him and his egos could come over for a Christmas this year."

Dark's eyes widened as Mark's smirk broadened, "I said yes. The last time they were here was a few years ago so I imagine the others will be happy. Sean and I set the date for a few days after Christmas and they'll be here for about a month."

"A month!?" Dark suddenly stood off the bed and started to pace anxiously, 'Shit! Plus I have to think of what to get him, too! Will he even forgive me at all!? A whole fucking month!? Will it be awkward? Fucking hell'

"Dark, calm down. You'll rustle up the void" he joked, "It'll give you and Anti some time to bond again like you used to. Isn't that great? Isn't that what you want?"

Dark swallowed and sighed, running a hand through his hair, "What if he doesn't forgive me?"

The YouTuber rolled his eyes, "Don't worry about it. What you SHOULD be worrying about is Christmas HERE. What you thinking? Secret Santa or go full hog?"

The darker snorted, "We all nearly died the other day. I say we all show each other how appreciative we are of one another. Full Hog"

"Agreed."

"Yes!" They jumped when they saw Wilford pop out of nowhere from behind Dark's desk, "I'll tell the others!" he ran out of the room before they could even blink.

"Uh" Mark rubbed the back of his head, "So the others have been decorating downstairs and we could really use some more help"

Dark groaned, "Count me out"

"Daaaaark" Mark whined.

____________________________________________________

It was a few days later in the Septic Ego house that the place was fully decorated. There were knick-knacks scattered everywhere, wreaths on almost every door, garland strung along the halls, Christmas lights scattered about the inside AND the outside of the house and they even had a giant Christmas tree in their living room. The only things missing were the presents and the star on top of the tree but that would surely come later.

Marvin had even enchanted the walls in the house to be a vibrant red to match the green garlands, making the house look even more so like Santa and his elves puked everywhere.

Anti was helping Sean in the kitchen to make molasses cookies. Only those two liked them, which was a little odd, so they decided to work together on it.

"Have you heard back from Mark yet?"

Anti was anxious about going to spend Christmas with the Ipliers. He still really hadn't heard anything from Dark, which disappointed him but he figured he was just busy.

"Yeah, actually!" Sean grinned, placing the cookie dough on the pans, "He said we could come down the 27th and since we're there, I thought we'd stick around for about a month to catch up. How's that sound?"

Anti bounced a little on his heels, "Cool!" he bit his lip though, "Did he say anything about Dark?"

"He's doing fine." Sean put the cookies in the oven to start baking, "Why?"

Anti refused to look him in the eye when he turned, "Nothing it's just . . . I thought that maybe he'd. . . I don't know"

Sean got the idea and nodded, "I feel ya. But don't worry too much about it, alright? Maybe he's just as nervous as you? You two used to be the best of friends and since all this shite has just happened, it's got to be confusing and strange for him, right? He's probably beating himself up as we speak"

"Or he still hates me" Anti grumbled.

Sean whopped him upside the head, "Ow! What was that for!?"

"For being an idiot" Sean chuckled, "If Dark's smart, he'll be crawling to you on hands and knees begging for forgiveness when we see them again. Don't worry about it, Anti."

Anti rubbed his head but smiled, "Alright, alright. When will the cookies be done!?"

"Not for at least fifteen minutes! Have some patience!"

"Never!"

-888888888888888888888-

Chase was still bummed about not being able to spend Christmas with his kids and with the news that they'll be taking off for Raspy Hill a few days after, he came to realize he wouldn't see them for over a good month until almost February. 

Anti, however, had other plans.