Sam grinned at them wickedly, "Yes, you'll pay for what you've done to us"

Henrik couldn't believe what he was seeing, "A-anti! Vhat are you doing!? Ve thought you ran off to protect us. To protect yourself!"

Anti slowly looked over at the doctor, "You thought wrong. I belong with Sam. I just. . . don't fit in with you all"

Jackie growled, "Dammit, Anti, stop it! Come to your senses! We're sorry for what we did! We shouldn't have tossed you aside like that but we didn't know what you were going through! You don't want to go back with HIM!"

"Just goes to show then that none of you really knew me after all"

Sam couldn't wipe that smirk off his face if he wanted to, seeing them all so heartbroken, "Come to me, Anti. We can destroy them all together. I need you, little one" he cooed.

Anti went to take a step but Chase then shouted at him, "Anti, don't you dare take another fooking step! You can't think that that monster actually fucking cares about you! We love you, Anti! Don't fucking do this to us!"

"You're our brother" Marvin joined in, practically shaking. If Anti really joined Sam, then it'd all be over.

'Please, Anti' Jameson signed sorrowfully.

Anti's eyes flared, "I don't need you. I'm stronger without you" he walked over to Sam.

"Anti" Sean even pleaded. He didn't want to erase either of them. He just couldn't. Deep inside, he knew it was his own fault they were both like this, "I'm so sorry. . . . Please" he started to cry, "Please forgive me"

But Anti simply ignored him, continuing towards Sam until he was just a foot away. So close, he could feel his breathe on him, "That a boy. Good boy, Anti. Such a good little pu-" he managed to stop himself and just smiled.

He took Anti's shoulders and started to take Marvin's energy from him, taking his time and reveling in the other's grief and anguish, his canine's showing in a gleaming sneer.

Anti just stared at him, knowing what had to be done. He snorted and his nose wrinkled is distaste, "I hate you so much"

Sam suddenly twitched a little and glared at him, "Be careful, Anti. I can still kill you"

"That's not very brotherly of you." Anti commented with a mischievous smirk, "Actually, I don't think of you as a brother at all and I'm pretty sure you feel that way, too. You're still just using me and you'll do everything you can to kill and destroy. You're more of a virus than I am, really"

Anti cut the flow with an evil glint of his own, "And I don't need you."

"What are you doing?" Sam's eyes glowed in rage, "Give me that power. Antisepticeye, do as I say!"

"I don't think I want to"

Sam went to let go of him and attack but Anti kept his hands on his shoulders so he couldn't, "You see. . .. I don't need you. I've learned a lot without you around. What life really has to offer. What family truly is and you're not it."

"You fucking little-" Anti stopped him, clutching his hands so hard, he almost broken them.

"I'm not your puppet any more. I'm not your slave. I'm not yours" Anti growled deeply.

Jackie grinned, "Anti?"

The others suddenly realized what was happening, too, and relief washed over them.

"You would be nothing without me, you little bastard! I brought you to life!" Sam shouted at him.

"And I learned to walk on my own without you. Actually, I've learned a LOT without you. Want to see a trick?" Anti grinned this time and took Sam's shoulder's instead.

Sam could feel that energy that he just took from Anti being taken away again!

"Wh-what are you doing!? Stop it!" he tried to get out of Anti's grasp but he was holding his own.

"I'm not afraid of you anymore, Sam!" Anti took back all of Marvin's energy into himself, "You did this to yourself"

Anti suddenly teleported to Marvin and put his hand on his chest, "Fix the mess you made and get rid of this son of a bitch!"

Everyone squinted as a bright light erupted out of Anti and into Marvin, his magic being placed back into him fully. His whole body glowed and his eyes shone. He burned like fire and looked the part, wisps of light floating off of him.

Anti fell to the floor, exhausted and Henrik rushed to him to get him out of the way. Having transferred so much energy took a lot out of him just like he had tried to a couple weeks ago.

Sam looked both terrified and pissed off, "N-no. No, this isn't how it ends." he shook in his rage, "I won't go back! I won't! FUCK ALL OF YOU!! I'LL KILL YOU ALL RIGHT NOW!!!"

A black aura surrounded him but he barely registered it.

Everyone watched as Dark's energy was being forcibly pulled out. Since Marvin's magic was no longer within him, his body automatically went to the next power source available.

He growled like a wild animal and laughed, "So this is the power of the void!? I thought I felt that Iplier's power somewhere! This'll be enough"

Anti could barely see as Sam powered up with all that energy. He was planning on using it all at once to obliterate them all.

Only Marvin didn't look impressed. In fact, he didn't look bothered at all in the slightest.

He tossed his wand to the side and pressed his hands together, building up his own power.

Sean shook in excitement, the only one knowing just how powerful Marvin really was.

Sam let go of his energy but it was nothing compared to Marvin's. The magician shot his arms on either side of him, letting his power engulf him and blast out from his whole body. Dark's power was nothing against it, barely hitting it at all.

Sam let out a breathe, pure fear coursing through him. He couldn't even scream.

The bright light covered over him completely, taking in his surroundings as well.

Everyone shielded their eyes away from the light in fear they'd go blind.

.

.

.

.

Marvin's power gently faded away back inside of him and everyone looked around to see a giant hole in the wall going outside.

"Holy fuck" Chase was the first to speak.

"You're not kidding." Jackie grunted, "Damn, Marv. Remind me to never piss you off again"

The magician only slightly smirked as he waved his hand and fixed the hole in the wall, making it appear good as new, "Oh hell yeah" he giggled to himself, "I've missed this feeling. I'm whole again. . . ."

Henrik helped Anti up on his feet and they were all silent for a moment until Marvin finally smiled and hugged the glitch.

"Thank you"

Anti gripped Marvin's shoulder and buried his face in his neck, "It's over. . . It's finally fooking over" he actually cried in Marvin's arms.

Chase came over and pat Anti's back, "Good acting, kid"

They all chuckled a little and Marvin pet Anti's hair, "Had us going for a few there, I have to admit"

"You assholes deserved it" Anti chuckled, still hugging Marvin. When he broke away, Henrik hugged him to him as well and immediately everyone was just hugging everyone.

Until Anti got annoyed and shook them off like a cat, "Alright, that's enough. I can only take so much at a time"

"Yeah, yeah!" Marvin shoved him, "You're such a pussy!"

"Not as much a one as you!"

Marvin was about to make another jab at Anti when Jameson waved at them all to get their attention.

"What's wrong, JJ?" Jackie asked but they all looked to where he was pointing.

"THE FUCK IS THAT!?" Anti screeched, "Ew, gross! Is that what's left of the bastard!?"

The thing on the floor suddenly moved, though and they all nearly freaked out.

Until Marvin and Sean suddenly realized what had happened.

Marvin rushed over to it before the others could get to it, "It's Sam!"

The small creature slowly unfurled itself, looking terrified and confused, shivering. Marvin hushed it softly, "I guess I. . . . I um . . Well, Anti, you did tell me to fix things."

"Don't blame this shit on me, you fucker! I meant kill him!" Anti shouted, snarling.

Septiceye Sam flinched in Marvin's hands squeaked like a mouse, not understanding what was happening.

"Hey don't yell" Marvin glared at him, "It seems that Sam doesn't even realize what happened. He's not the same as before"

Sean came closer to look at him cautiously, "S-sam?"

The eyeball looked scared still but looked up hopefully at his creator. It had been so long since he had seen him. The last thing little Septiceye Sam remembered was being in the darkness in Sean's head. Left forgotten. The eye teared up at the memory.

Marvin smiled down at the creature, having read its tiny mind, "He doesn't remember anything he's done. He's scared. He thinks you still hate him, Sean"

"He should!" Anti shouted, "I say kill the fucking thing before it attacks! Do it! Squish it!"

Sean ignored him and made a cup with his hands, "Sam . . . come here, buddy. I won't hurt you. I remember you again"

Sam shivered but cautiously squirmed its way into Sean's hands, nuzzling his fingers.

"He's missed you" Marvin told him.

Sean shuddered himself and found himself crying, "I'm so sorry Sam. It's all my fault all this happened . . . I don't know how I ever forgot you. I was so fooking selfish but I just felt so . . . . lost at the time. I'll never forget about you again, I swear it!" he held Sam to his face and let the creature nuzzle him. He had clearly missed him, too.

Everyone else was still a little shocked with this development but Anti wasn't having any of it. He shoved out of Henrik's grip and tackled Sean, ripping Sam out of his grasp.

"Anti, stop it! Let him go! He doesn't remember! He's not puppeteer!"

But Anti held the green eye in his hand, ready to squish it. Sam didn't look too afraid but instead, confused. Anti was prepared to end its life then and there but something stopped him.

This feeling. . . . . .

He remembered this feeling somewhere.

Sam nuzzled Anti's relaxing hand and the glitch's eyes twitched, "It was you, wasn't it? When I was lost in the dark . . . . Not even really 'born'. Right?"

Sam chirped and suddenly floated in the air, spinning around Anti's body, nuzzling his shoulders and chest affectionately.

Anti still wanted to at least zap it but couldn't find it in him to do so at the moment.

Marvin chuckled, "He says he's missed you too, even if it was a one-sided meeting. Please don't hurt him, Anti. He's not puppeteer. The corruption dealt on him is gone. . . . he's a friend"

Sam floated to Marvin and Sean to nuzzled them again finally the others started relaxing, too.

"Fine" Anti grumbled, "But don't ever use magic on him again. If you do, I'll kill YOU, Marv"

"Point taken" the magician chuckled, keeping Sam in his hand.

"And keep him away from me for now. Can't promise I won't want to exact some revenge for myself, still"

"Got it" Marvin gulped, keeping his new little friend close.

"And they're keeping the fucking thing! Can you believe it!?"

A few days later, Anti went to visit Dark again in the cabin, telling him of everything that happened so he would know everything turned out okay.

"Well at least things are taken care of" Dark commented, putting fire in the fireplace, "Are you not happy?"

Anti as flopped over Dark's bed, taking it over while the Iplier was up at the moment, "I don't know. Still want to squish the fucker"

"I don't blame you. You said that it's not puppeteer though? Not the same 'person' so to speak?"

Anti nodded, "He feels the same and yet. . . not at all. It's weird. I don't like him"

"How about we change the subject? What are you going to do now?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well . . . now that Puppeteer is gone and no longer a threat to you and the others and you remember everything. . . . what are you going to do?"

Anti shrugged, "I don't know. Didn't think it mattered."

Dark sat next to him, "Of course it does. You going to stay with the others?"

He hadn't thought about that, "I don't know. I still have that apartment. Maybe I need some time to myself for a bit away from all the chaos that is the Septics"

Dark chuckled, "And the state of the apartment?"

"It's not that bad! I could get Marvin to fix it up for me. He's been flaunting his magic everywhere lately like a fooking peacock."

"Hmph" Dark smirked, "Well I hope you're not dejected to visits every now and then. I'll want to make sure you are doing okay every once in a while"

"You mean hang out?" Anti sat up, a knowing look on his face, "Like a date? Just no kissing on the first one, man. I have standards"

Dark groaned at his joke, "I think I preferred it when you were innocent-minded"

Anti snorted and swat Dark's back, "You love me"

Dark rolled his eyes, "Get out before I throw you in the fire."

Anti giggled but stood, "Oh fine. You're no fun anyways, old man." before he took off, he smiled at him, "See ya, man. Get better soon. I want a rematch eventually"

Dark smiled back only a little, "Yeah right. . . see ya"

When Anti returned to the Septic house, the first thing he heard was, "Duck!"

Anti instinctively ducked down as a spell went past him, shattering a nearby vase.

"Fuck! Watch where you're throwing those fucking spells, you asshole!"

"Watch where you teleport!" Marvin shot back at him, "I was target practicing for a new video Chase wanted to do with me"

Anti rolled his eyes, "And where is HE? Shouldn't he be here, too?"

"Take a guess" Jackie snorted, walking into the room with them, "Him and Stacey are off doing you know what while the kids are at school"

"Ugh" Anti shuddered, "He doesn't need another kid. He better use protection"

"That's what I said!" Jackie laughed, "Man, it's funny how you're not so innocent anymore. I can't get over it!"

"Will everyone shut up about that! I lost my memory! Of course I wouldn't know what sex was at the time!"

"But you remembered everything about other basic needs" Henrik tilted his glasses at him from the living room chair, "Which means zhat you had to have done some things before the incident, yes?" he asked suggestively.

"I don't think that's how that works" Anti glared at him.

Marvin didn't like where that question was going, "Please don't tell me you and Puppeteer-"

"UGH!" Anti nearly vomited, "FUCK OFF! Guuh!" He gagged, behaving like he would, "You're fooking gross"

"Then who?~" Jackie wiggled his brow at him.

Henrik snorted, "Probably the same person he vas just visiting"

"I'm so moving out" Anti grunted, "Never coming near you fuckers ever again. I hate you all"

"You love us!" Jackie grabbed him, his arm locked around his neck, and ruffled his hair, making him glitch.

Suddenly , a crash sounded in the kitchen, followed by a shout, "Sam, get back here! You shouldn't play with that! You can't do anything with it, anyways!"

Everyone expected Sam with a knife but as the little eyeball floated out like a bat out of hell, they saw a cookie in his tail.

Marvin chuckled, "What are you doing with that, Sam?"

Sam chirped and floated around Anti happily.

"AW!" Jackie gushed, "He's offering you a cookie!"

Anti snarled at him, though, "Leave me alone or you'll be on the bottom of my shoe"

The Septic eye deflated a little, his pupil dilating to conveying his broken 'heart'.

Jameson put a hand on his hip and signed, 'You should be nicer to him. He's trying to be your friend'

Anti huffed, though and walked off to go up to his room. No way he was going to forgive Sam so soon. Even if it wasn't the same being anymore. Sam watched him go sadly but Sean came in and was there to comfort him.

Sean was only staying for another few days before going off back home again. He wanted to spend as much time with them all as possible, including Sam and that aggravated Anti to death.

Trotting up to his room, Anti shut himself in and plopped on his bed. He stared at the green lava lamp on his bedside table just chilling and doing its own thing. It calmed him to watch it. Made him remember that day with everyone. He wished they could all go out and have a day like that again. Now that everything was better, maybe he should ask about it?

Just because he was his old self again didn't mean he didn't want to go out and have fun and be pampered every now and then.

Thinking about those fonder memories, he fell asleep, watching the lava lamp.

He had a nightmare, though. He dreamt of puppeteer. Dreamed that he had returned.

That Sam was evil and would kill them all.

Maybe he could change back and was just biding his time to kill them all in their sleep!

In his dream, Puppeteer gripped his throat, laughing in his face.

"You think they cared about you!? They didn't want to listen! You should have killed me when you had the chance, glitch-bitch! You're so worthless! Stupid! Nothing but a damn mutt. I'll guess I'll have to put you down" he hissed.

Anti was sure he'd die in this dream, looking into Puppeteer's evil green eyes and his Cheshire cat grin. It was all too frightening and real. He felt as if he'd die in his sleep!

Then all of a sudden, there was just darkness.

Anti looked around in confusion but could still feel Puppeteer's hands on his throat. His swallowed, feeling his scar.

This place felt so familiar.

Like he was back in Sean's head. He was about to panic when he felt something else familiar.

Something soothing and calm, almost lulling him. Something holding him close. Protecting him, maybe?

It felt nice.

Blinking open his eyes, Anti still felt that. His breathing was deep and he could almost immediately fall back asleep. He just felt so peaceful.

Then he felt something on his stomach and he looked down to see Sam, himself laying there.

Anti wanted to be angry. He wanted to kill him right there.

He wanted to cry and sob. Whack it off of him and hide.

He lifted his hand over the sleeping eyeball that was curled onto him like a cat. He was about to squish it like he would a spider or mosquito.

He wanted to hear it scream and feel its blood running down his hand.

Sam nuzzled his stomach and purred.

The fucking thing PURRED.

Anti sighed and laid his hand over him, petting the thing's tail as it slept.

Its tail unconsciously wrapped around Anti's finger.

'You really aren't puppeteer, are you?' he thought to himself, 'He's really gone'

Tears fell down Anti's face but they weren't from sadness or fear.

For the first time, he finally felt true freedom, puppeteer's shadow no longer weighing on his mind.

He was free. . . .. and so was Sam.

Some time later

Sean sighed as he stood at the door getting ready to leave.

"Are you sure you don't want to come back with me, little buddy?"

Sam twirled around Sean happily but floated his way back to Anti and Marvin.

"I think he'd rather stay here" Marvin gave Anti a knowing look but the glitch ignored him, "We'll look after him, Sean, don't worry."

"I'm moving out, too, anyway" Anti huffed, "Can't handle you fuckers all the time"

The others snorted in soft laughter but Sean called Sam to him and gave him a sort of hug, "If you ever need me, you know where to find me. I'll always be there for you Sam, you can trust me"

Sam chirped happily and nuzzled him but floated back to rest of Anti's shoulder.

The glitch just rolled his eyes, "What? I'm tired of constantly swatting him away. Fuck off"

"He loves you"Marvin cooed and scratched Sam's tail lightly making the damn thing purr.

"Whatever."

"If YOU guys need me again, too, just let me know" Sean told the rest of them, "We can do another mall visit sometime. Bet you'd like that, huh, Anti?"

The glitch blushed but nodded just a little, "That'd be nice, I guess. Could get another lava lamp. Put this little freak in it"

Jackie swat him upside the head, "Be nice"

He stuck his tongue out at him.

"All of you behave" Sean chuckled, "I'll miss you guys. Stay in touch, alright? Maybe I'll come back down next week"

Chase crossed his arms, "You fooking better, dude! Let's do another video together!"

As Sean left and they said their good-byes, Henrik stopped Anti from taking off up the stairs, "Did you really mean vhat you said?"

"What? I need my space, Hen!"

"You are a hermit!"

"So are you! You lock yourself up in your office most the time!"

"Zhat is different!"

"Kids, kids" Jackie pushed them apart, "If Anti wants to leave us and make us sad and cry then that's his decision!"

Anti glared at him and Chase suddenly hugged him, "Don't leave me, bro! I love you!"

'Group hug!' Jameson signed and launched himself at them. The others laughed and joined in.

Anti knew he wasn't going to get out of it so he let them get it all out of their system with Sam stuck in the middle trying to squeeze his way out but Anti clutched onto him in a threatening manner.

"If I have to endure this, then so do you, you little fucker"

But Sam was all too willing to join in as soon as he was free.

A few weeks later Anti was moving himself back in to his old apartment. Thankfully the property manager hadn't been able to rent it to anyone else yet.

His brothers helped him move in, placing furniture and kitchen supplies. He even got a TV and an actual bed unlike the shifty mattress he had before when living here.

They asked why he wanted to go back to that same apartment but really he didn't know why himself.

He placed his green lava lamp on his new bedside table along with his newest blue one and smiled at it.

Anti stretched as he went over to his window and sat half-assed on the sill looking out on the view. He always did have such a great view.

Dark and Wilford would be coming over later with food, games and some movies to celebrate him having a place of his own. The three had gotten pretty close as friends recently.

Apparently Chase was getting back together with Stacey and Anti was ready for a little down-time for a bit after the bit party the brothers threw. Anti knew that Chase would be wanting the Septic uncles to babysit here and there and he just didn't know if he was ready for that yet.

A whining hum sounded next to him and he looked down on Sam, "The fuck do you want? You wanted to come with me. Told you it wouldn't be exciting."

Yes, he had grown attached to the eyeball. He finally let it go that he wasn't puppeteer. It took a lot of convincing himself but he knew better. He could feel it.

Sam really was his friend.

Anti knew that it had to be hell being corrupted like that. He was probably in darkness again all alone. Or perhaps it was just a quick dream or nightmare to him, he didn't know. He couldn't talk to the damn thing.

But he could feel his emotions now, at least.

Feel that Sam had guilt weighing on him as well for something he didn't really do. Something he didn't remember but felt so sorry for. He felt connected to Sam in that regard.

Here, Sam had been chained just like he was.

Anti pet Sam unconsciously as he waited for Dark and Wil to arrive.

They were both free now.

There it is. I hope you guys are all happy with the outcome! I'm so proud of it and just like every story I do, I want to thank everyone for showing so much support and love for this one! 💚💚💚 Thank you all SO much for all the views, votes and ESPECIALLY the comments! I love them all!

Also, do you guys remember that song from Toy Story 2? I had that song stuck in my head the whole time I was writing this chap with Sam. The song is: 'When Somebody Loved Me'

But don't worry, I'm already working on another story. I do not rest! More info coming soon! I'll have a 'chapter' after this one with the cover and description for the new book.