He used to flutter around happily, completely unaware of what was happening around him.

His creator never really paid him much attention anymore but he just assumed he was too busy to. Maybe he just needed some time to himself?

Sam always looked for the best in every situation. He never really knew what sadness or depression meant. He knew his creator felt these things but he didn't understand enough to help. He wanted to.

But he was just a eyeball. He couldn't talk or hug. Couldn't even nuzzle without it being somewhat creepy or gross. But Sean created him. He loved him. Right?

That's what he thought.

More often than not, Sam found himself alone and the more time Sean spent by himself, making his videos and traveling by himself to see his friends, pushing the little eyeball away. . . . . Sam felt . . .. alone.

He no longer felt happy. If he had a heart, he was sure it would break.

Did Sean forget about him? Did he care anymore for him? Did he ever care?

And one day, Sam found himself waking to darkness.

A deep and dark void where he could still hear and see his creator  . . .not thinking of him.

He was still his brand and signature. . . . but Sean clearly didn't see HIM anymore. Just branding. He was nothing to him now.

It tore Sam apart but there was nothing he could do. Nothing he could say. He was lost now. Gone.

He only felt a little regretful happiness that Sean was still empty inside as well. He knew it was wrong but he couldn't help that.

And then one day, something happened.

An ego was born.

And Sean was. . . . .. happy.

He called him Marvin the Magnificent. A magician with a good heart and skills to match. Although on tape, the man was a fool, the real ego was something so much more.

Powerful. Strong and full of a bright attitude. He could do anything. He also had a body and could talk and do things with Sean. Could hug him and tell him everything would be alright. Something Sam could have never been able to do.

Sam felt jealousy for the very first time.

As time passed, Jackieboyman came next. And then Henrik, Chase and Jameson. The hero, doctor, goof and classy entertainer. Sean had made so many interesting characters with their own bodies and personalities. Their own dreams and goals.

Sam just felt so . . . . useless. Obsolete. Sean didn't even TRY to remember him. He just left him in the dirt.

But then one day he felt something else. Another creation in Sean's head. The more Sam investigated, he realized he had a friend. Another one of Sean's characters he had thrown away and deserted.

Antisepticeye was his name.

He wasn't fully alive and he hung strung-up in the darkness of Sean's mind like a doll in a toy store but Sam could see in his thoughts.

He was all alone and depressed just like him. He wished he could talk to him. But then again, Sam couldn't talk anyways. Instead, he stayed around his aura, hoping he could sense it and be less sad. He just wanted a friend.

Then one day Marvin started dabbling in things he shouldn't have.

He always loved to collect books and knowledge of magic but lately he's gone into the black market of such things.

Apparently, he found out about Sam through Sean's old videos and the more he looked into him and Sean's old things, the more he realized what he was.

At first, Sam was excited that someone found him. That someone wanted to know about him.

Marvin's intentions were pure. He just wanted to bring him back without relying on Sean's memory of him.

Reanimation. The dark art of bringing something back to life.

But there are always consequences with Dark Magic.

At first it worked. He drew out the pentagram, performed the ritual and recited the spell with no problems.

Sam returned to the physical world and he was happy. In his excitement, he even nuzzled the magician in thanks. Marvin's laughter filled the room. His smile wide and excited.

Then something happened.

Sam saw Marvin's face. Remembered his jealousy of him. He was the first one after Sean discarded of him.

The first seed of true hate bloomed within Sam and suddenly he started to change.

Marvin's expression fell as Sam screeched and flung himself around in pain. He tried everything he could to help him but the dark magic was doing its work. He was becoming corrupted.

He started growing a body of his own.

When the screaming and flailing stopped, Marvin shook in fear at what he had just done. He tried to give him some clothes and blankly, Sam put them on. There was nothing inside his mind he was thinking at first. He was just . . .  feeling.

"Are you okay?"

Something snapped within Sam.

He was no longer the same.

"Grraaaahh!" he quickly turned on Marvin and stabbed him in the shoulder with his sharp nails.

"Aaauuuhh!" Marvin gripped Sam's arm tight and could feel something happening.

The creature grinned darkly and roughly pulled out his claws from his shoulder, smiling down at him.

Yes, he most certainly had changed.

But Marvin couldn't see that this was the same creature. No, it had to be something else. He messed up the spell. This wasn't Sam! He wouldn't believe it! He was so happy and pure, just a a few moments ago!

But Sam's green eyes glowed dangerously, "Stupid magician" he chuckled, "You've brought me back. . . Given me new life. And now . . . you'll all suffer . . . just like I had to"

"Who the fuck are you!?" he couldn't believe this was Sean's first creation. That cute little eyeball that sparked love and hope within the community. This wasn't him!

Marvin tried firing a spell at him but Sam just shot towards him and gripped his throat, "You'll all die like dogs! Filthy mutts!" he could feel his rage building and building. He couldn't even recognize himself anymore.

Marvin could feel something happening. He started to feel tired. Like his energy was being taken from him. He tried to fight back but before he could try anything, he felt a sharp pain in his chest.

A bright glow departed from him, crawling its way to Sam and inside of HIM.

Sam dropped Marvin to the ground and laughed wildly, "Ahahahaha! You see what you've done!? You'll all die at me feet! Disappear like nothing just like I had to! I- ugh!"

He suddenly held his chest, a pained expression on his face. The glow of Marvin's magic already trying to break out, "Damn it all . . . . may not be meant for me . . .but I'll . . . .rghh . . I'll make it mine. You can live for now. . . . but I'll be back . . . remember this day little magician. The day you failed everyone!"

Sam was about to teleport when Marvin yelled at him, "Wait! Wh-who are you? Tell me!"

The man had an evil glint in his eyes, staring him down like a piece of meat, "Not that it matters to tell someone as insignificant as you . . . but my name. . . . is Sam. You really did bring me back, magician. A shame you didn't realize WHAT you brought back. The revenge you've let me begin!"

And just like that, he disappeared into the night.

But Sam couldn't just stop there. He couldn't attack anyone the way he was just yet. No, he needed help. He needed something to contain Marvin's magic and if he could do that, then none of them could get in his way.

'And I know just the perfect candidate'

This new dark, contaminated version of Sam had terrible things planned for them all.

But he still remembered Anti. He remembered the lost ego was just as rejected as himself. Perhaps he could keep him at his side even after the others were disposed of.

They stared in shock at the reveal.

None of them could have predicted this. How was it possible!?

Sean stared dumbfounded at Sam, "B-but . . ." he rolled his head, "S-sam . . . . sam, you have to give me a break, here! You look nothing like I remember!"

"I was your FIRST creation!" Sam shuddered, "That should have been clue enough, you imbecile!"

Sean sniffled, cracking as he finally remembered his little eyeball friend, "I . . . . Sam, I. . .I'm so sorry-"

"I don't want your apologies! You forgot me! You left me to fade away in the back of your mind, just like you intended to do with Anti! I was NOTHING to you! Clearly!"

Sean closed his eyes and looked away, hugging himself, "I'm sorry. I remember now, Sam. I remember you. But you're so different now"

Sam shook his head, "I'm not different. You just chose not to see the real me! This corruption has just amplified all that I am! You chose not to care about me. You only cared about yourself. You wanted more than me so you left me behind, created 'better' things and chose your own happiness over those you've hurt"

Sean went quiet. There was really nothing he could say to that.

"I'm glad Marvin's dark magic corrupted me. I could see clearer than ever before with it! Everything more I could accomplish. The true happiness I could make for myself! Without ANY of you!"

Sam went to lunge at Sean for the kill but Marvin teleported in front of him, shielding him from the attack.

The magician snarled at him, "You were right, I did fail everyone by bringing you to life again . . . but I'll be damned if I let my mistake hurt them!"

He shoved Sam away with his shield

Sam grinned, "Oh little magician . . . . I know you meant well . . . . but, boy, do I hate you SO much!" he attacked Marvin and the others could just watch as they fought.

Surprisingly, they were neck and neck where power was concerned. But Marvin wasn't doing so much better that he'd win. He had grown rusty and had never fought with magic before.

He tried shooting a simple paralyzing spell at Sam but the puppeteer dodged it too easily.

Jackie tried to join in the fight but Sam was quick to disable him, sending him flying towards a wall nearby.

"Guh! Fuck. . ." Jackie broke himself out of the debris and thought to himself with dread, 'Really wish Anti was here right now.'

They all were convinced Anti was still out there hiding. There was no way he'd betray them and go right back to this monster!

Marvin threw a wave of air at Sam like a tornado but he was losing energy quick, like this, while Sam knew more how to save it and use smaller attacks. He was making Marvin do too much, expending all his energy.

"What the hell do you think killing us will accomplish?!" Chase yelled at Sam. He didn't want to join in the fight with his gun just yet until he absolutely needed to, "Once you have us dead and you're all by yourself trying to keep a channel afloat. You'll only be all alone and that's not a good life, Sam!"

But the Puppeteer just smirked at him, still watching Marvin's range, "Cute that you think that. But I won't be alone. I still have someone special with me~. Can you guess who?"

"A-anti?" Henrik guessed, "But you are lying! Anti would never go back to you! You've hurt him too much! Made him suffer!"

"And you all abandoned him in his time of need. Aw, so sad! He's such a lost puppy. So vulnerable to manipulation, isn't he?" he laughed.

'What did you do to Anti!?' Jameson signed furiously.

The Septiceye ego grinned devilishly, "Oh, you don't know? Such a pity"

He suddenly attacked Marvin as he let his guard down and shot him across the room. The magician groaned weakly as blood showed through his shirt. He had made a hole in his shoulder. Just like that day.

Now he had to use whatever magic he had left to help try and stop the bleeding.

He was screwed.

Sam smiled, "Ah, old times. You see. . .  Anti came to ME. To MY home. My dear little brother. . . . . has joined me once again. He's just not here because . . . . well he's a bit overwhelmed at the moment. Emotional as always, you newer egos are"

"You're lying" Jackie growled at him, "Anti would never do that! He'd never-"

"He's not your brother!" Chase shouted above Jackie, "You do not deserve to call him that! You're a monster that keeps him caged like an animal and does nothing but hurt him! You're just a monster!"

"If I'm the monster, then what does that make Sean!?"

The creator, still blinded with his tears and frozen in disbelief looked back into Sam's eyes, "I didn't make you like this"

"But you TURNED me into this." he grinned, "And you'll die seeing me like this. Your very own creation . . . angry and torn apart because of YOU."

He went to kill Sean again but a shot rang out.

'BANG' 'BANG'

Bullets went through Sam's neck and shoulder but he didn't go down. He glared daggers towards Chase who had his gun pointed at him.

"Missed again, hm?" Sam taunted, "Either you're not as good a shot as you thought or you actually don't want to kill me"

Sam healed himself but in doing so, he became depleted of the power. He kept that to himself, taunting Chase with messing with his emotions.

"Believe me, I do. But I know Sean still sees good in you. There's always good in somebody. Just like we learned with Anti and Dark."

Sam's eyes twitched, "You all think you're so much better than me. You don't even know- . . " anger boiled inside of him again, "You don't even KNOW me. Thinking you do"

Just before he could unintentionally call out Dark's energy, something happened.

A noise echoed in the room like white noise and the lights flickered as if there was a storm coming.

They all turned to see the glitch himself.

Eyes dull and sad.

Face blank.

Knees still bleeding from the destruction he caused earlier.

He didn't look like himself.

"Ah! Anti! I was hoping you'd show up" Sam smiled at him, "Decided to come after all to help me?"

Everyone stared in horror as Anti returned the smile if only a little. His eyes flashed dangerously and sparks crackled off of him. His voice was just as frightening in that moment.

"̷Y̸e̵s̵,̶ ̸b̵r̵o̷t̵h̸e̶r̸"̵

Note: I know that the order of creation with the egos is wrong but try and look past that. It's for the story :)