Anti crumpled to the floor, softly glitching as the others held him.

"You okay, man?" Chase had a hand on his chest to help him.

They all stared at the spot where Author had disappeared and Anti muttered half-ass to himself, "The fuck just happened?"

"I killed Author"

The Septics would never admit they flinched as the blind-folded Iplier appeared from a mirror behind them. They all watched as Dark and Damien came out as well behind him.

They all seemed to stare at each other for a bit though until Marvin finally said what they all were thinking, "Come again? What??? Who?"

Dark sighed heavily, done with the day, just wanting to go home already, "Let's discuss this elsewhere." he glanced over to Damien and nodded to him lightly, "Will I be able to see you again?"

Damien shrugged, "Honestly, I don't know. Celine always like to keep me away from trouble. . . . and you have it all over you" he chuckled, "We'll see what happens, I guess."

Anti was helped up by Henrik and he froze, "W-wait! What about my legs and-"

"Don't worry about it" Host acknowledged his fear, "Let's just go . . . it's time"

Not knowing what the hell was happening, the Septics could just agree, following Dark and Host out of the mirror to go to the Iplier house, leaving Damien behind.

"Anti!" Damien called for him and the Septic turned, "Don't worry . . . .everything will be alright. Maybe I'll see you around sometime, kid"

In an instant, they were all back in Dark's and in that instant, Anti felt his legs go numb again. Once more, he was paralyzed.

'Well it was great while it lasted.'

Luckily, Henrik had a hold of him and Jackie was helping, too.

Dark pulled out a chair for him, "Here. Put him in this. This might take a while for Host to explain. I know I sure do have a lot of questions"

"Sean should be here" Chase sighed, ignoring Anti's glare, "Anti, I know you don't think so but you KNOW he cares about you."

"Probably more than any of us" Marvin snorted, "I understand why, though . . .sort of"

Anti growled, "You don't know what he did! He fucking-"

"It wasn't his fault" Host explained, "The Host suggested that Marvin went to retrieve the Septic ego creator"

Trusting Host after all of this, the magician nodded and left only to return with both Sean AND Evelien.

Evelien immediately went to hug Anti, "Are you okay?! What happened? Is anyone hurt?"

Sean looked a little shaken up, "A-anti . . . . I'm so . . . I'm so sorry"

"Explain yourself." Anti seethed at him. He was tired of all the bullshit, he was done. He was just . . . DONE.

Before Sean could say another word, Host dropped in, "The Host would like to explain if he could. At least the first part. The Author was Mark's first ego, an extravagant ego who became far too overpowered. He narrated the lives of others and just couldn't stop, going far beyond other people's limits tearing them apart. But there was a side to the Author that hated what he had become, so he split into two and the Host, myself, was created. The Host, me, was supposed to keep him in check and he helped Mark create the other egos. That is, until he went too far and tried to narrate Mark himself and I had told him to stop but he didn't listen. In trying to end him back then, he gauged out my eyes . . . thinking he had put me in the dark. I couldn't do anything to stop him as he went on to the Septic egos"

Dark blinked slowly as Host paused for effect, "I didn't know you and Author had been one being before. Neither had Celine, perhaps. That's what she must have meant when she said the enemy lived under my roof. She must have thought the enemy was you, confusing you for Author"

"The Host agrees that it most definitely is a confusing subject. Now, Sean can continue where Host left off"

Sean gulped, ". . .Fuck. . . uh well, you see"

Anti's mind felt numb but after hearing all of that, he decided he'd give Sean a chance. After all, he had taken care of him most of his life. This was the least he could do for him.

Sean sighed heavily, " . . . . Author came to me one day. It's been a while now. Not even the Ipliers would be able to tell. So long he's been manipulating you all into his stories. . . . . I didn't have a choice. He said he'd just kill you all if I didn't comply. If I told Mark to try and get his help, Author said he'd . . . destroy you all. . . I thought it was for the best to let him have his way. Because I'd rather you all live in his fantasy world than watch you all die" he was on the brink of tears and wiped at his face.

Evelien hugged him and rubbed his back, "It's okay, sweety. Keep going"

"NONE of the memories he gave you . . . are right. Not these. . .. not the ones before. Any of them. I'm sorry I can't fix it. It's all my fault you all have suffered because I'd rather you be puppetted than killed."

"It's fine"

Everyone stared over at Anti, shocked beyond belief.

Chase did a double-take, "Wait, what?! Are you fucking serious?! It's fine!? IT'S FINE?! No it's not! It's not! Everything I've ever known has been a fucking lie! You son of a-"

"CHASE!" Jackie whopped him over the head, making the father stumble slightly but it wasn't hard enough to make him fall over, "We're ALL pissed off at him, okay, but-"

"NO BUTS!" Chase turned and shoved Jackie, "YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE! To have this memory of a child you've 'evidently' never had! TWO CHILDREN! I REMEMBER FATHERING THEM! I REMEMBER HOLDING THEM IN MY ARMS BEING SO FUCKING PROUD THAT I HAD DONE SOMETHING RIGHT FOR ONCE! . . . .. ONLY TO FIND OUT THEY WERE NEVER EVEN REAL!"

Henrik couldn't stop his own tears from falling. He knew what Chase was going through right now.

Chase's breathe shuddered as he wiped his face, "I had to find out TWICE. . . . that they were never real. . . . . I had hope earlier . . . when Septiceye was around that they were. . . real. . . but now. . . I don't know what to believe anymore"

Henrik gently pat his brother's shoulder, "It's okay . . . . . I understand"

"I know . . . I know you do"

Marvin, Jameson, Jackie and Anti had NO idea how to feel. But they weren't empathetic. Evelien and even Darkiplier seemed sorry, too.

Host stared at Sean, "I'm going to tell them"

Sean took a deep breathe but nodded, "Good"

"What?" Chase held onto Henrik, unable to NOT do so at the moment.

"The Host would like to give the news to the two of you that your respective families ARE indeed real"

A moment of silence crossed on by.

And another. . . . .

.

.

And another.

.

.

.

"What?"

Sean sighed, "I was gonna tell you here in a few minutes . . . Author . . . took them away for the sake of his own sick stories. But he didn't kill them"

"Wait, what? Then . . ."

Henrik felt his heart race, "Olivia? Noah?"

"Sammy, Kallie and . .. . and Stacey?"

"The Host nodded in affirmation. The Author WAS going to kill them. . . but I took the chance to take them for myself in safe keeping. I can give them back-"

"DO IT!" Henrik shouted at him, losing his cool, "Zhen vhat are you vaiting for!? Give zhem back!"

"The Host cannot do that at this second but that's not to say he can't soon. The Host will have to rest before he can correct all of Author's . . . . errors. For now, they are safe. First thing's first, the Host will have to give all the Septic egos back their original memories. Only then can he then give them back their loved ones"

"WAIT A SECOND!" Marvin stopped him and they all stared in confusion.

Marvin stared at him with extreme seriousness, "Will I at least remember Basil?"

"The Host wished he could do as Jackie did to Chase moments ago but he just calmed himself and explained that whatever memories they have now will be preserved. They will all remember all that they do in this moment. It's just that they will remember the TRUTH as well and it will be seen as their primary thoughts in their heads."

"Oh . .. okay then" Marvin nodded.

Jameson scratched at his head, 'What about Septiceye, then? Was he really just a figment of Author's imagination?'

"No, the Host explained, Septiceye was indeed a version of Anti that Author had created but it wasn't for a story. It was just for this time to pull you all apart from one another. He wished to create as much drama as possible."

"Wh. . . What about my legs?" Anti asked him, "If you are so fucking powerful to change everything again and give them back their kids . . .. then can you give me my legs back?"

Everything came rushing back to them, remembering what Henrik had done to him.

But now they all knew, it wasn't Henrik all along. It was Author that had controlled him. It only made sense. Right?

"The Host chuckled. Of course that is the case, Dr. Schneep. You were just wondering if it was actually Author that had taken control over you when you did what you did. Yes, of course. It was not you"

"Cool, whatever" Anti rolled his eyes, "That doesn't answer MY fucking question . .. fucking Helen Keller"

"I can still hear, Anti. Unless you'd rather choose that I didn't hear your question then I'd be more than happy to ignore it"

Anti growled, "Whatever. Answer me"

"The Host apologizes. . .but he cannot perform miracles in healing. The Host is afraid that you'll really have to wait out until you heal on your own. Luckily I can reveal some spoilers. You will heal within four months and be back up and walking as long as you keep up with therapy."

Anti sighed and suddenly everyone felt a heavy weight being lifted off of them.

The Host chuckled, "Now if you all don't mind . . . you can go back home now. I'll start rewriting your story tonight, putting up the original for you all in the morning."

"Thank you, Host" Sean smiled solemnly, "I really appreciate your help"

"The Host smiled and said it was alright . . . .. it was his duty to make things right. After all. . . he had messed up from the start. The Host bid the Septics a good evening. In the morning, they'll be set free"

A few moments later of soft chatter, Marvin finally teleported them all home having regained his stamina from being in the void.

Dark just glared at Host and crossed his arms, "When you're done . . .. we are going to have a LONG chat, Host"

Host just smiled, "Are we, really? The Host didn't think so. He could just make it unlikely"

"Yeah and I could just tell Mark"

.

.

.

"Touché"

When the Septics got back home, Henrik helped Anti back in his wheelchair.

Sean wouldn't stop doting on Anti even though he was still upset with him.

Chase made a call for delivery and Marvin happily cuddled Basil in his arms, passing her back and forth to Anti to pet.

Jackie turned on the TV and promptly passed out. It had been a long and confusing day, no one blamed him.

And Evelien helped Jameson set up plates for everyone that was going to eat something. They wanted to be nice and full before drifting off to sleep. Who knew what they'd think in the morning. They all just wanted to enjoy everything right now as it was.

When the food came, Jackie woke back up and ate with everyone and Marvin set Basil down on the floor as they dug in to their respective dishes.

Anti watched everything go by as if it were already all disappearing.

He was terrified of what tomorrow would bring.

What would he remember? What would they ALL remember? Was he really the bad guy after all like they all thought? Sean hadn't said anything and that worried Anti.

He couldn't ask Evelien because Sean preferred to keep her out of ego business as much as he could.

Suddenly Anti just wasn't hungry and sighed, "I wanna go to my room. I'm not hungry anymore. Marv, will you teleport me up there?"

Marvin was about to do so without complaint when Sean piped up, "Don't waste your energy, Marv. I'll take him up"

"I don't want you to"

"Anti, please" Sean looked him in the eye, "Let me help you up the stairs. I need to talk to you, anyway, man"

He couldn't really see that he had a choice, so Anti let Sean wheel him up the stairs gradually until they go to his room.

"Alright. Thanks or whatever. You can go now. See you in the-"

"Anti"

He fell silent. They both did.

With a deep breathe, Sean helped Anti open his door, "I need to say this. I know you're worried"

"I'm not worried" he wheeled himself in the room, "You can go now"

"I'm not going anywhere" Sean shut the door behind them and they stared each other down, never more serious than RIGHT NOW.

Sean then smiled softly and chuckled, "Your neck is bleeding . . . I know you're anxious right now"

Anti lifted his hand to touch his throat only to find he was right. His neck was slightly wet and he groaned, "I'll take care of it"

"I'll help" Sean went to Anti's room to fetch the gauze and tape. When he came back in, he helped Anti up on his bed and started cleaning and covering it up. As he did so, Anti stared at him, confused.

"You said that if this place didn't work out . . . that I could leave to LA. . . right?"

Sean wrapped the gauze around his neck slowly, "Yeah . . .. why? I thought you liked everyone now"

Anti shrugged, "What will they think of me tomorrow? Hm?" he looked Sean stone in the eyes, "You're the only one besides Host that knows. So tell me. I always loved spoilers"

Sean snorted, "Always full of humor . . .. you don't have to worry, Anti. I'm certain everything will work out"

"That doesn't sound promising"

"Trust me"

"You don't get to say that to me"

"Yes I do and I'm telling you to trust me, Anti. I love you, man. I care about you as if you were my little brother. . . .Evelien has pretty much adopted you as her son, actually." he chuckled, "You are precious to me and after everything we've been through . . . you can trust that I'll never let anyone or anything EVER hurt you again. . . I'm sorry I couldn't help you against Author. I-"

"Fine. . .. " Anti stopped him, "Whatever, it's fine. Don't get all mushy about it."

Sean smiled, knowing Anti was slowly on his way to forgiving him, "I won't." he ruffled Anti's hair affectionately, "You want me to stay in here for the night? Until you wake up in the morning?"

Anti shook his head, "Don't you have to head back home with Evelien?"

"I'm sure she can handle herself for one night, Anti. Whaddya say?"

Anti still wanted to see tough and yet . . . he didn't want to be alone in this. He was too scared.

". . . . . . . Can you sleep on the couch downstairs? So I'll know you'll . . ."

Sean knew what he was trying to say, "So you'll know I'll be here for you? Of course, man. . . . ."

Sean suddenly hugged Anti to him and the glitch couldn't help but melt into it. Sean held him like true family and he was so worried he wouldn't know what that was like in the morning.

"I'll always be here for you, Anti"

The story's not over yet! Tune in for the next chapter coming out soon! :D