A few weeks later . . . . .  .

Dark was laying on the couch in the living room. With the Septic egos and Sean gone, the house of Raspy Hill had gotten quiet so it was a bit more peaceful and nice to lounge about wherever he wanted. Although he had been doing this quite a lot recently. Many of his brothers would probably say he was depressed since Anti left. He knew it was all fun teasing though, joking about them.

He was sort of sad, though about something. He tried returning to the void the night after the fight but unfortunately, his cane wasn't there anymore. Dark didn't understand why but then again, he didn't really understand too much about the void. Perhaps since it was an 'outside' object, the void dispelled it? He didn't know but the pieces were gone and that was that.

Mark and Wil had tried taking him out to get a new one but none of them were good enough. The cane Celine had gotten for Damien had been special. The cane was like a special link that connected Dark to Celine and with it now gone, he just felt so empty inside.

The other egos had tried cheering him up various ways taking him to the beach, having Chica, Henry and Spencer over, buying him more of his cookies and sweets that Septic had stolen. Mark had even bought him a new all black suit which he adored but it still didn't lift his spirit ALL the way. The suit would have looked so good with his cane.

He just missed something to fool around with, too. He didn't just carry it around for aesthetic purposes. He loved to just twirl it in his fingers, tap it and it was great for intimidating others.

Dark sighed deeply. The other egos were at Mark's having a pool party but Dark used the excuse that he was feeling a bit ill and a bit weak still from the fight. Of course no one bought that but let it be, giving him some time.

He picked himself up off the couch stretching and was about to just go to his room to mess around when he heard a slight tapping noise.

Dark looked around for the source but couldn't find it after it stopped.

"Dark" a faint whisper could be heard but it wasn't out loud. It was like it was just in his head.

'Damn' Dark thought to himself, 'Am I actually going crazy this time?'

He heard the whisper again, "Over hear."

Cautiously, he followed the voice to the foyer mirror, 'The void. . . . No way. A-actor?'

He swallowed thickly, 'If it really is him trying to lure me again should I call Anti or the others?'

Dark shook his head, 'No what are you saying? If it really is him, I have nothing to worry about! Even if he did survive again, he no longer has the red aura. He's weak.'

He just stood still looking at his reflection in the mirror, thinking and trying to make up his mind, 'I should be fine.'

He finally made a decision and went through the mirror into the void. When he opened his eyes, however, he wasn't greeted by the normal pitch black void he was used to.

It was the cabin.

"Hello?" he called out, "Anyone here? Actor, I swear if it's you again, I'm gonna-" he stopped when he saw a note on the bed. Slowly, he picked it up and read it to himself.

Dark, 

I'm sorry I can't greet you like the last time you were in this cabin but this will have to do. I saw everything that happened through my mind's eye. The whole fight with Actor with him capturing you and trying to kill you. You did good, Dark and I'm so proud of you, little brother. Thank you for not giving up. If Actor had won he could have used my soul to its end. Even though I'm already dead, you saved my soul. Our red aura. I'm sorry I'm not there with you right now to tell you this in person but since Actor had taken so much from me, I can't appear as an entity of any sort so this will have to do. I wanted so bad to hug you. To not let you go. I miss you so much. And I know you miss me too. Hopefully my present to you will be enough. Hold onto me through this. I love you so much, little brother.

~Celine

PS. Please try and not let it get broken this time, you dork.

When Dark finished reading, he was in tears but was left with confusion. What present? What was she talking about? Then once he looked at the bed once more, he saw it.

Gingerly, he reached for it and touched it softly almost as if it's break under his hand if he wasn't careful. He took the handle and tapped it to the ground in front of him. It was as good as new!

He left the cabin and the void back home with a smile plastered on his face, note still in his hand. 

Deciding to go to Mark's with the others to enjoy the day, he teleported there. Everyone stopped their movements to see the new figure and smiled although sort of confused.

"Hey Dark!" Wilford called out joyously, "You got your cane back!"

Dark grinned and Mark made his way over to him, "I don't understand. Wasn't it broken? And you said it disappeared the last time you were in the void."

"It was. . .it did" Dark smiled, "It was Celine. She fixed it" a few tears dragged down his face and Mark hugged him.

"I'm happy for you, Dark. I'm glad you got to talk to her again. You must be happy to have your old cane back"

Dark nodded, gripping it in his hand firmly, "I am. . . . Thank you"

For the rest of the day, he joined in the fun, always keeping his cane within reach and never letting it out of his sight.

-88888888888888888888888888888888-

Meanwhile with the Septic egos, Anti was just as depressed as Dark had been if not more. With the loss of Septic, it had hit him hard, unexpectedly.

Of course he hadn't forgotten what Septic had done to them. All the hurt and pain he had put them all through so many times. But those last few days seeing Septic for who and what he truly was had sparked him. They had all seen Septic relax and enjoy himself. He wasn't all bad. Perhaps he wasn't just a killer as he made himself and everyone else believe. He had a soft side.

At least, that's how Anti saw it. He knew Septic was practically all of the seven sins combined, he wasn't stupid, but he had also seen a soft side to the 'monster'. He had felt like he was finally understanding him better about WHY he did the things that he did but then he was just ripped away from his life so suddenly. And it was Septic's own doing! His sacrifice.

Anti was eating dinner with his brothers and Sean but he just wasn't feeling too hungry. Henrik caught him twirling around a pea with his fork.

"Anti. Vhat is the matter?" Henrik addressed him, "You have seemed so down lately."

Anti shrugged but Chase knew, "You really miss Septic?"

He shrugged again, "I guess. . . I feel like. . . we were just getting to know the real him and then he just . . .got himself killed."

"He got himself killed to help save you and everyone else" Chase consoled him.

Sean disagreed, "No. He got himself killed to save Anti. That's it. He may have 'liked' us well enough in the last couple days before the fight but . . . he had a connection with Anti"

"I swear sometimes I can still feel his presence just so faintly" Anti uttered, "But then it goes away and it just feels like it's just my imagination. Just the other day, I swore I felt him there if just so faintly. Then the feeling was gone in a split second."

Marvin swallowed the food in his mouth, "What if he really is still there in your head?"

Jackie groaned, "God I hope not"

Anti was curious though all of a sudden, "Wait, what? You really think so?"

"It could be possible, couldn't it?" Chase wondered out loud, "I mean, you didn't feel his presence really for a while before, right? While you were on those pills? Maybe he's just too weak like before to really be felt?"

"Could be" Marvin agreed and Jameson nodded as well.

The family was quiet until Jackie sighed, "Please tell me you're not thinking about what I think you're thinking about doing?"

Anti bit his lip, "Maybe. . .Could we maybe . . .try and separate him from me again? Like Marvin did last time?"

"Dammit!" Jackie stood, "Anti, no" he pleaded, "Think about it! What's the first thing Septic's most likely to do once he's free!? He'll kill us! It's not a good idea. His main goal and the reason he joined Actor to begin with was to kill us all. That's all his goal has ever been since the beginning."

Sean hummed, "We'll think about it"

"What's there to think about?!" Jackie was clearly upset by this.

"He saved my life, Jackie" Anti whined, "He saved my life a few times, actually. And he never hurt anyone when he was free before. Of course I know he was trying to just act like me and trying to sell it but still! He could have still hurt any one of you indirectly but he didn't! He just pouted a lot and ate sweets and drank."

Chase chuckled at the memory but got serious, "Anti you have to really think about this. You ARE a little biased after all. He saved you, yes but . . he also hurt you a lot. Just because you two worked together in defeating Actor doesn't mean he'd play nice again."

"I know" Anti sighed.

Jameson held up a sign, 'I say go for it! Besides, if he does try anything again, you can just beat him again! You'll be stronger than him, after all'

"Jameson does have a point" Henrik acknowledged, "But still, I don't know if I would vant him under the same roof as us"

Chase hummed and pat Anti's back, "We'll think about it, Anti. In the meantime, stop playing with your food and eat it. It's gonna get cold, dude"

The glitch whined in response.

________________________________

"Are you sure you want to do it?"

"Not you, too, Dark!"

"Anti, I'm just saying. . . . He was the enemy"

"He saved us"

"He saved you"

"You're just worried he'd try and get in your pants!" he joked, remembering Septic's words during the fight.

Dark snorted on the other end of the mirror, "Hardly. More worried he'd try and bed you, the weirdo. Or kill you out of spite and annoyance. You can get pretty annoying after all"

"Hey!" Anti rolled his eyes, "Seriously though."

"What does your heart tell you, Anti?" Dark asked him in a more serious tone.

Anti sighed, digging his face into his pillow and screaming into it before popping back up, "I don't know. . . He was a part of me, Dark. I know he did us all wrong in the beginning but he changed. I felt it. I want . . .to give him another chance. I know him better than anyone else. I know what I'm talking about."

"Sounds like you've made up your mind already" Dark hummed, "Whatever you choose. . . I'm just a mirror-call away." he winked.

Anti rolled his eyes, "Lame joke"

Dark stuck out his tongue, "Whatever. Just don't get yourself killed, brat. Talk to you later?"

"Yeah. See ya"

After he closed the mirror, Anti bit his lip before nodding his head in his own affirmation. He really had made up his mind. 

Briskly, he went to the living room where the others were watching TV and messing around. Once they saw him, however, they saw the look in his eyes. Pure determination.

Chase sighed, "Are you sure?"

Anti nodded and came the rest of the way in, "It'll be okay. I know what I'm doing."

"You don't even know if it will work." Jackie said, "What if it really is just your imagination and Septic is just gone for good?" he was sort of hopeful, actually. He didn't want to deal with that nutcase. Jackie still had a grudge over him since he beat him to a pulp disguised as Anti.

"Then you'll have your wish" Anti said bluntly, "But I need to know, either way. Guys just please. . . .trust me"

Sean stood up and came over to him, looking him in the eyes for any doubt but he saw none. Sean placed a hand on Anti's shoulder, "I trust you, Anti"

_______________________

They were in Marvin's room and the magician flipped through pages flippantly, almost stalling.

"Once again, I have to tell you, Anti, it might not even work so don't get your hopes up."

"I know"

"He might not even actually be there in you anymore."

"Yeah I get that"

"And if it does work, he might try and kill us immediately"

Anti nodded, "I'm ready"

Marvin closed his eyes and sighed, "Alright. But Anti. . . . I can't sense him." he tried again.

"So you don't have anything to lose, right?"

The others were torn between chuckling and swatting Anti upside the head.

"You guys didn't see and feel what I did. Please, Marvin. Do it. Trust me. I need to be sure."

Marvin came forward, shutting the book and his eyes glowed, "Last chance?"

Anti shook his head and the others braced themselves.

Marvin shrugged, "Eh, worth a shot." he placed a hand over Anti's forehead and searched into his mind. It took a while, and Anti was beginning to think that it really was all just in his head. A few minutes passed.

'Come on Septic, you have to still be there. You're a part of me. I know you're there if even a faintly!'

Anti closed his eyes, determined, 'You're too strong to just disappear like that. Please I know you're there somewhere! Just a flicker. Just show a sign.  . . .'

Anti didn't even realize at this time that he was drawing out his own energy, a green glow around him and a few sparks fluttering around. He was really trying to bring him back.

He thought back to the fight. Septic's last words to him. . . 

'You're not so weak after all. . . . .I know you can win this.'

No matter if Septic was evil, it didn't matter to Anti. He was still his brother. His kin. He knew he had changed. He would have never said that to him if he didn't mean it. Septic never would have lied about something like that. Anti had FELT what Septic had felt in that moment. Fear, pride and . . . . . affection. If just a little.

A small tear crawled down Anti's face as he drew more of his energy out. The others watched in fascination and Marvin just kept chanting, ignoring the green aura winding around them like fire.

"I got something!" he suddenly shouted out.

'I knew it . . ..  Please don't let me regret this' Anti pleaded in his mind.

Then suddenly everything stopped. Marvin stopped chanting. Anti's green glow faded. Everyone was silent.

Anti opened his eyes to see Marvin in front of him but he was staring at something behind Anti, looking a bit worried.

Slowly, Anti turned around and everything moved in slow motion, it seemed.

There he stood as if he never disappeared.

Septic stood there in between them all. His eyes were closed and he seemed a lot weaker than ever before but he stood strong with a new body all his own.

Slowly, he opened his eyes, blinking and took his first breathe. His eyes met Anti's immediately and he was silent. He didn't hold any malice in his eyes or features but really there wasn't ANY emotion there.

"You . . .you won" he finally said in a statement.

Anti nodded, "We did." he grinned widely. He wanted to bad to hug him, seeing the lost look in his eyes but thought it best not to. He didn't want him to suddenly freak and try to kill him.

"You . . . brought me back." his narrowed his eyes with distrust, "Why?"

Sean spoke, "It was Anti's decision." Septic slowly turned to see the others and Sean continued, "But we trusted him and agreed on it together."

"Why? I tried to kill you all. Multiple times. I t̴o̷r̴t̴u̵r̸e̴d̷ and hurt almost all of you"

Anti came closer cautiously, "I forgive you. I wanted to . . . I wanted to give you another chance"

Septic turned to Anti again and furrowed his brow. He was so confused, not that he was complaining, "I told you it didn't mean anything"

Anti smirked, "We both know that was a fat lie, Septic. You can't lie to me" he gently held Septic's shoulders, making him flinch a little at the soft contact, "Please." they both knew what he was pleading for. Septic just stared into his eyes, searching for any hatred but saw none. That just confused him even more.

The others came around into view and Sean placed his hands on his hips, "Anti had a point that you could have hurt any of us at any moment back at Raspy Hill. But you didn't. You wanted the attention. You wanted the affection. And that's okay, Septic. I did you wrong."

Septic was surprised by this but listened as he went on, "You were my ego just as everyone else here is. I should have known you existed but I just ignored it. I let myself believe that it was all Anti. That there was just something wrong with him the way he'd act so differently. And I never apologized to you. I'm sorry, Septic. Can . . . .can we start over?"

"Please?" Anti held Septic's arms looking at him with puppy dog eyes which he definitely wasn't used to.

Septic didn't know what to think. They forgave him? They were apologizing to him?

He glared suddenly and looked away, making them all a bit nervous but he was merely thinking.

"What if. . . what if I snap?" Septic asked them, "I'm fucked up, you know. Not exactly the sanest. I could change my mind kill you all in an instant"

Anti smirked, "Believe me, I know. But that's okay. We're here for you. We're a family. It's what family does. We can help you. You just have to give US a chance."

"Are you sure?"

"No" Jackie stated but Chase smacked him upside the head.

"What he means, dude, is that we're willing to try if you are" Chase got braver and came closer to him, "Just think about it. All the hot chocolate and vodka you want in moderation. Poptarts. Pizza. Games. You name it!"

Septic smirked, "You had me at hot chocolate"

Anti grinned and suddenly hugged him, making Septic stiffen and suddenly push him away roughly, ignoring Anti's hurt look, "Uh-uh! No hugs. Not a hugger. Don't even fucking try it, bitch or I'll gut you!"

"There's the Septic I know. Was beginning to think you've gone completely soft!" Anti chuckled and teased, earning him a glare and hiss. Although everyone else just seemed frightened by the sudden outburst.

The day went slow and everyone was on edge, including Anti but Septic seemed tame for a while. They did whatever Septic wanted within reason, trying to make him see that they wanted to give him a chance. Although they were tense, they tried.

Things weren't too bad, however, as Septic was pretty weak still. Jackie was kind of certain he was just biding his time to get stronger before killing them. It could be days, weeks or months and then he might strike again.

Then came the question of where he'd sleep and Anti offered to let him share his room for a while. Although Septic made crude and lecherous comments about it, Anti was certain he wouldn't do anything to him. He was just naturally an asshole. 

That and he loved to worry and freak out the others as if it was his new favorite hobby.

They got into his room and for the first time since he was 'resurrected' Septic and Anti were alone.

Septic stared at Anti and they just looked at each other for a few moments before Septic finally caved and rushed at him. At first, Anti thought he'd snapped but was pleasantly surprised to feel Septic's arms wrapped around him, his head over his shoulder. 

He was hugging him! Anti hugged him back tightly, making the other grunt a little at the unusual force of the smaller.

They stayed like that for a while until Septic whispered to him, "If you tell anyone about this I will not hesitate to rip out your guts with a spoon and eat them in front of you until the light leaves your eyes"

Anti was disturbed by this but snapped back, "What? That you actually have a heart? It's okay, Septic. . . . . I got you. You don't have to be afraid anymore. You're not alone anymore. Never again, brother"

Anti couldn't see it but in that moment it didn't matter.

He couldn't see Septic's single tear drip down his face but it was okay. They had finally reconciled with one another and everything was going to be okay.

"Thank you" Septic muttered to him so softly, Anti could barely even hear him, "̶M̸y̵ ̴b̷r̵o̸t̷h̸e̵r̶"̷

After all that had happened. After all the pain and suffering. All the guilt and fear and tears. The hate and disgust that shaped their story. There was finally a happy ending between them. 

It was finally a happy story for all of them.

Across the ocean back in Raspy Hill, Dark held his cane to his chest, sleeping contently for the first time in a while. Yes. Even though not everyone could be present or brought back to the land of the living. . . .  it was okay. It was still a happy story in the end. 

Host smiled to himself as he closed his book, finally finished writing it, "And a good story it was. Thus the end of a saga came." he pulled out another book that was empty, "Starting a new."

And that's it, guys! I hope you all enjoyed the story. Thank you all so much for reading! It means A LOT to me. I never expected to get so many views, votes or comments, especially for my first story and just thank you guys so much for all the support. :) 

This might not be the true end, however. Thinking about doing a small sequel but it would just be oneshots with no plot or end to reach. Just little chapters with Septic learning to live with the egos and some chaps with Dark. What do you guys think? Let me know.

Also! I'm working on notes for a new story that will just be about Anti except this will be a completely different story with no relation to this one. Plus- it'll be canon Anti. What do you guys think? Will anyone be interested?