Anti was getting the hang of running through the snow now. He tried not to glitch anymore just in case he went see-through again. He really didn't have much time left. 

'Of course Wilford was wrong! I should have known! But it doesn't matter now. There's no turning back'

The trees were started to get a bit scarcer and finally, he approached a small cliff above the frozen lake. Finally.

The blizzard was still at large and even worse now. In the center of the lake and the eye of the storm was Dark being held captive for the void to use. Anti couldn't see him anymore through the snow but he knew he was there.

"̴D̴A̴R̵K̷?̷!" he called out but that was futile. He had to get closer to him.

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Dark was trapped in his own head. Looping memories danced around like taunting demons.

It was when 'another' Anti appeared into the fray that he was starting to think something different was happening. Anti's voice echoed out. He could see him within the memories he wasn't even there for.

'What's happening?' he thought, 'He shouldn't be here. Don't tell me-'

Anti stared at Dark as the memory of him stared at the mirror in tears.

'He's in the void? He's really here? But why? What's the point? What does he get out of it?'

Memories skipped around like wildfire and when he saw the present Anti at his memory of the party, his guilt rose. He didn't deserve Anti's help. He didn't deserve anyone's help. He deserved to suffer. 

The loop started over with hand-picked memories and Dark watched in a daze as Anti ran through the insanity of it all.

Then Damien suddenly appeared, talking to Anti in that same cryptic way he had before. He was so much like Celine and he never realized it. Always so vague.

They teleported into his office. It was a random memory of him sitting at his desk. He was looking down in the drawer at the picture he kept hidden.

Anti walked around to see what he was looking at. 

Dark didn't understand the look Anti had in his eyes. 

"He kept it" he said.

'Of course I kept it. . . .  we were. . . I thought we were. . . But I couldn't allow myself to feel. What I thought would happen. . . .I hurt you'

"He'd look in that drawer more often than he'd admit." Damien said, "Even if the void hated it, it couldn't dissuade him from not hating you. He could never really hate you, Anti. No matter what he ever said to you, you were his friend. Not even the void could come between that"

"̶H̶m̵p̶h̸"̸ Anti huffed a little with a smirk, "Gonna hang this over his head so ̶f̸o̵o̴k̸i̵n̵g̴ hard when we get out of here, the s̴m̵u̸g̴ ̵b̷a̴s̵t̸a̷r̷d̸"

Dark chuckled at that, knowing Anti would do just that but his emotions hung over him still like a dark cloud.

'Why would Anti care? Doesn't make sense to me. I'm useless to him. Was never even a good friend.'

"So what's your answer, Anti?"

"̵B̷y̴ ̷J̸a̸y̷s̶u̵s̷!̸"̵ ̸Anti cursed, "Fine. Fine. Y-"

Suddenly everything was cut off.

He was in darkness once more. 

The feeling of his energy leaving him was prominent as if his soul was being sucked out of him. But that couldn't be right, could it? What soul? Surely he didn't have one . . . .  that's why he was merely an amalgamation of two other people. Or whatever was left of them.

'I gave you choices' the void whispered to him. The voice was so soft it was almost nonexistent.

It was all around him like a smoke, 'I gave you options. You could have joined me. But you made your choice.'

Dark's eyes were wide open in the darkness, the voice directly in his ear, 'Now they'll all die'

He shuddered and bowed his head in defeat.

'Everyone. . . . .. I'm so sorry'

-888888888888888888888888888888888-

"You sure this is it?" 

Henrik sat sweating in front of the makeshift portal. It didn't look as if it could do anything but he smirked at it, "Tis all we need. Marvin! Let Anti know we're ready! See where he is!"

Jackie stood up from his position of watching Dark's body. In the excitement, he let his guard down.

Sean smiled and shook Mark's shoulder, "We might just be able to do this! Start it up!"

Google and Bing helped Henrik start up the machine. The others watched in fascination as it started up and particles danced around inside until it filled up in a void.

"What we waiting for!?" Yancy shouted, "What was the rest of that plan of youses?!"

"Didn't you say we didn't have much time left?!" Yandere shouted.

"Wizard!" Wilford pointed, "We're ready, boy!"

Marvin closed his eyes to try and contact Anti.

It happened so quickly. 

All their efforts. All their planning and hopes.

Gone.

Suddenly something was shot at the portal and it blew up into pieces, leaving it a mangled hunk of metal.

Everyone turned to see Dark's body standing, his arm stretched out with a smirk on his face.

"It's all over"

The void in control grinned and went to come closer but Jackie stood in between him and the others.

"No, it's not. Marvin let Anti know. We've got to go with a plan B."

"What plan B!?" Bim screeched, "This was barely a plan in itself!"

Mark swallowed, "If I have to I'll-"

"No you won't" Wilford suddenly gripped Mark's shirt roughly, glaring at him through his spectacles, "You won't even think of it. That isn't even a plan in the slightest, boy"

"Not that this isn't heartwarming or sweet but it's also disgusting" the creature snarled, "You've all lost. Best to just accept that now while you can.  I have Damien trapped. Dark is my puppet and your precious Anti will be next. Then all of you will die and the void will cover the Earth. I will rule as a god with all of you pathetic humans as my pawns!"

Dark Celine lunged at Jackie only for the hero to dodge and slam his fist into Dark's stomach.

"Over my dead body"

It giggled softly,  "That's MY plan" a dark aura lashed out at Jackie, catching him at his hip as a scratch.

Marvin closed his eyes again, 'Come on Anti! You have to let me contact you now. . . .we're out of time.'

Henrik floundered to try and fix the portal but Google and Bing knew it was a loss. Dr. Iplier watched as Jackie and 'Dark' locked fists.

"We're going to die"

-88888888888888888888888888888888-

Anti jumped down onto the frozen lake, barely hearing it crack underneath him. He fought the winds and snow clouding his vision.

He had a mission and he was going to stick to it.

He had to save his friend.

"Dark! Please! If you're there, please ̷f̴o̵o̶k̷i̷n̷g̵ snap out of it!" his steps became heavier with the strong winds and Anti was barely moving but kept on it.

He wouldn't admit defeat. Not to anyone.

Anti fell onto the ice, trying to keep from flying away. He was almost to him.

He was so close!

He settled for crawling, ignoring how his hands would sometimes slip under the ice. He ignored it because that was all he could do.

"DARK!"

Anti grit his teeth, bound and determined. He was crawling now on his elbows and knees. He could feel the cold again and it was sharper than ever. The blistering winds and sharp snows felt like ice shredding his skin.

He took a few more 'steps' until suddenly there was a shoe in front of him.

Looking up, Anti saw the face of his friend but it wasn't really him. He smiled almost impressed.

"I'm surprised you've made it this far, Antisepticeye. You really are a stubborn fool, aren't you?"

"No more than you, asshole. So you've woken up"

"You'd be correct. Your friends are trying to contact you but . . . . they'll soon find that impossible with me awake. I'll admit you did have the upper hand for a while. . . .. but you were a bit too slow."

Anti fought with himself to stand. He used his knees to prop himself up until he was at his full height, staring the void down, sparking dangerously.

The void seemed unbothered, "You keep that up, you'll fade just like Damien."

"Does it look like I give a fuck, you p̸i̵e̴c̷e̶ ̵o̶f̷ ̵s̷h̴i̷t̵e̶?̴ I aint going down without a fight"

"Seems you and your hero friend have that in common. What was his name? Jackie? Don't worry, you'll die together"

Anti snarled and lashed a flash of lightning at it, causing it to flinch and dodge just barely, ruffling its hair. 

"Stop fooking talking and fight me, ̶b̸i̶t̵c̶h̴"̷

It lunged at him to attack. In the physical realm, Jackie fought it as well, landing good hits but it didn't seem to effect it much. The others stayed back to let the two at it. Jackie, however, was losing patience, "Marvin! What's the hold up!"

"I don't know!" he clutched his head in panic, "I can't reach him!"

"Oh I wonder why" the void smirked, kicking Jackie in the shin, catching him off his game a bit. Jackie stumbled only to be caught by Jameson who pushed him back in the fray.

"He says you got this, bro!" Chase said for him, "Play dirty! Go for the balls, man!"

Jackie grunted and went into a stance, "You're keeping us from contacting Anti. Why? What did you do!?"

"Let's just say you two are in the same boat right now. You might as well be digging your grave. It's over!"

"Like hell it is!" Jackie ran to him and just as the void was about to punch him, Jackie dodged and used his full strength to slam him into a nearby wall, breaking through it and into the next room. Jackie then had the upper hand and started  beating him.

Anti shouted as another string of lightening flung at the void. He couldn't tell if it was in vain or not, though. The void lashed his own power to block his, "You think you're doing a great sacrifice!? You're kidding yourself!"

Anti ignored the comments and kept attacking him but he was running out of energy and the man in Dark's skin got closer and closer.

Finally Anti faltered and the creature gripped his wrists. They both breathed heavily, the blizzard around them still whirling.

"Admit it. You've lost" he licked his lips and his eyes went red, "I have won. You're already starting to fade, Anti. Almost gone"

Anti gasped out breathes but wouldn't look him in the eye, bowing his head.

The void thought it had won. He thought Anti was admitting defeat.

He wasn't expecting Anti to lift his head up with a smile, "No. . . .  I've got you right where I want you" he flipped their hands so he was gripping the void's, "F̸u̸c̶k̸ ̶o̴f̸f̸"̶

The void seemed shocked and confused and Anti relished it as he belted out a yell, letting his power loose. He had never used this much energy before and a part of him knew the outcome wouldn't be good. 

The bright flash of green light filled the sky up into the clouds, diminishing the storm.

It was so strong that even Damien could see it from the window in his cabin.

Anti's power was so strong, he no longer felt the void's physical presence near him. Slowly, the light died down and the blizzard was over, leaving a clear view of Dark's real self in the middle of the lake, still hanging limply for the void to use.

Anti ran towards him, "Dark! Wake up, you idiot!̸ ̴W̶a̵k̴e̷ ̸u̶p̴!̸"̴ each step he ran felt like it would be his last.

In the physical realm, the void was about to attack Jackie again only for him to still suddenly. He missed his chance and fell forwards as if he had a stroke or something. He breathed heavily for a moment but shot back up before Jackie could stop him again. 

Marvin gave up on contacting Anti a little bit ago and tried helping in the fight but his spells were almost useless against him, being flung back by the red aura as if it had a mind of its own.

"You think you've won!?" he laughed at them all, "It's already over! Why do you think you can't reach your brother?!"

"Shut up!" Jackie went to attack him again but before he could, a loud noise rattled the room and Dark's body stumbled in surprise. 

Everyone looked to see Wilford holding Chase's gun in his hands, "It aint over til I say it is and boy, Wilford don't take no shit from nobody" 

Dark Celine practically hissed at him, "Always the brash fool. So stupid over his own predicament"

Wilford cocked the gun once more, "Try me, pal. I may be insane but my friends are everything. You've walked into the hornet's nest"

-888888888888888888888888888-

Dark was in complete solitude. Absolute darkness. The feeling of peril overwhelmed him and he knew it would all be over any moment. Breathing hurt. Did he even have his own body anymore? Of course he didn't! Celine took it! Or Dark Celine. . . the void, whatever! 

But it was as it should be.

It was foolish to think even for a moment anyone would come to save him.

It much have been a stupid fleeting hope of his to even think for a moment that Anti would risk his life to save him. After all Dark's done to make his life miserable. Manipulating, using him, pushing him away, ambushing him and rejecting his friendship. Constant slaps to the face. 

'Why?' he thought in the absolute silence, 'Why would I ever think? No one would ever. . .  I've messed up everything. It's all my fault. '

"̶D̷a̵r̶k̶!̸"̶

'The void will forever torment me like a purgatory' he thought again to himself, 'Leaving in a hell of my own creation that I deserve'

"Wake up!"

'It's just my own fears again. . .  isn't it? Pulling me back in to those memories'

Anti was on his knees in front of Dark holding onto his shoulders. He shook him and shouted, trying desperately to wake him from whatever nightmare he was in.

"Wake up, damn you! I didn't come this far just for you to wallow in your own self-pity!"

'What is he talking about? This memory feels off. Isn't it a memory though? It's his voice'

"I didn't risk my life and come all this way just for you to not accept my help, d̶a̷m̴n̵ ̵i̸t̶!̵ Damien said you could hear me"

'Damien?' Dark thought, 'So maybe it was real, after all?'

"Come on, Dark. Did you not hear me before? Do you really have to hear it again? You really are a s̴t̶u̸b̶b̸o̷r̴n̷ ̵s̶o̸n̷ ̸o̵f̷ ̷a̸ ̷b̴i̷t̴c̷h̵, aren't you?"

'What is he on about? If he really is here then he needs to save himself. He shouldn't waste time on me.'

"I care about you, Dark. You're my friend. You were always my friend and I never stopped believing that"

'You're wrong' Dark tried pushing away but there was nowhere else to go, 'I've hurt you in so many ways, you fool. You idiot!'

"And I know deep inside you feel the same. F̸o̸r̸ ̷f̵o̷o̷k̷s̶ ̷s̸a̸k̸e̷, Dark, I was in your goddamn memories. Now you have to w̵a̷k̵e̷ ̷u̵p̸,̷ ̶D̷a̷r̸k̷!̵" he shook him again.

'Why do you care so fucking much!?' he shouted in his head, 'It's not like I ever outwardly said anything good about you! Why!?'

"Come on, y̸o̵u̵ ̷d̴o̸l̸t̸!̷ ̴F̶o̴o̵k̷i̸n̵g̸ ̸w̸a̸k̷e̶ ̷u̴p̵!̵ ̵W̵a̷k̸e̷ ̸u̸p̴,̸ ̵D̷a̸r̷k̶!̵ Listen to me! Lives are on the line and it's not just ours! If you don't wake up he'll kill them all! If you won't do it for me then do it for them! Y̴o̵u̷r̸ ̸f̸a̸m̵i̵l̷y̸!̴ ̷W̴i̸l̵f̷o̴r̵d̸!̸"̷

'But when have I ever said I cared about them?' Now he truly was being stubborn. He just couldn't accept it. He couldn't accept help.

"Please" Anti sniffled and leaned his head against his shoulder, "Please Dark. We need you. Everyone needs you, man. Only you can beat this thing and I know you can. You've been through a lot, Dark. I know. So have I. That's why I risked everything to save your ass, you idiot and if you don't snap out if it then it would all have been for nothing!"

Dark's eyes flashed subtly and his body twitched. Anti felt the movement and pulled away, "Dark?"

'Damn it all if he just has to be right'

He put up a hell of a struggle and Anti watched as finally, Dark snapped out of the mental chains and he blinked open his eyes.

They stared at one another, both on their knees in the middle of the frozen lake.

Neither really knew what to do or say. They just stared at one another, still probably in shock.

Dark finally caught his breathe and breathed in deeply, "Why? Why did you come for me?" he shook his head as Anti's body still flickered in and out of reality, "Now you'll be stuck here too"

"Because you're my friend"

It was simply stated but it was enough. Dark relaxed his muscles and let go a breathe, "Well you're also an idiot" he chuckled.

Anti cracked a small smile as well and was about to retort. 

"Your both idiots. And your both dead" they both looked across from them to see Celine's figure standing afar. It wasn't her but it sure felt like it especially with that glare.

"I told you this wasn't over. I'm far from done with you"