After Amy had pulled up to the house, another car was right behind hers.

They were curious about everyone outside but soon got their answer when part of the house blew up with Anti and some Iplier ego clashing it out.

"Nope" Felix shook his head, "Not about that . . . nu-uh. I'll come back later" he turned around before anyone noticed he was even there and drove off.

"See ya later bros"

Dark slammed his fist into the ice, not surprised it wouldn't crack even a little. One, he was still hurt and two, the ice seemed to be extremely thick. There was just the hole in the middle of the lake that was free.

He stared into the still water, looking at his reflection again.

It was just him.

Why did expect anything different?

'Maybe. . I was just hoping . . . . I can't do this on my own. They'll all die and it'll be all my fault'

If he could sink on his knees any further, he would.

'Actor's gonna destroy them . . .'

Dark didn't want to imagine what it'd be like.

'Maybe I should just give up?'

'Maybe I should just let him win'

'He's stronger than I'll ever be'

'It'll just end in an even bigger mess if I'm there. He'll just taunt me with their blood on his hands. . .'

It was so quiet. Why did he expect anything different? Did he really think anyone would answer him?

Dark sighed heavily, slowly opening his eyes.

'. . . wait . . . .' squinting in the water, he swore maybe he saw something.

'What is that?'

A picture of sorts . . . moving.

'Anti?'

There he was standing before Actor bleeding and juiced up ready to fight.

Why? Why was Anti really fighting Actor? What did he have to gain from it?

Was this even real?

But he could see the others, too.

Yeah, it was real.

The terrified looks on their faces. Their hopes withering.

Not even they thought Anti had much of a chance.

Would Anti kill them too though after he finished Actor?

Not that he'd be able to.

But there was something in Anti's eyes Dark could see that maybe others couldn't.

Determination.

Something happened. Dark wasn't too sure what. What was with the way he was talking to Dark earlier, too? Did he really mean all of it?

Dark knew he did. And more.

Why was he second guessing himself?

But that was just how Dark was. He always second guessed himself. Always was the reserved and introverted one.

In the back of his mind, Dark knew that Anti was giving it his all.

Just like HE should be. . . . . .

Anti charged at at Actor but the man disappeared from his view. The glitch stopped himself but wherever Anti went to go, Actor managed to dodge him again and again.

"̸S̶T̶O̴P̸ ̵F̸O̷O̵K̸I̷N̵G̸ ̸M̴O̵V̷I̷N̷G̴,̸ ̶A̶S̷S̴H̸O̵L̸E̴!̷"̴

"Get off me!"

Everyone looked to see Actor holding Yandere with Anti's knife at their throat, "YOU CAN'T STOP ME, GLITCH-BITCH! NOBODY CAN! YOU CAN'T STOP THIS FROM HAPPENING! LET THE HERO WIN!"

"̵Y̴O̸U̴'̸R̵E̷ ̸N̴O̶T̷ ̵A̷ ̵H̴E̴R̷O̶!̴"̸ ̷ Anti screamed back at him, "A hero protects others! A hero is there for the people he loves and sacrifices himself to help them! YOU ARE N̸O̶T̸H̶I̸N̶G̶! A FAKE! FULL OF SHIT!"

Yandere stomped on Actor's foot, making him let them go, "DARK is our hero! You're the bad guy!" they took out a small kunai knife in threat, "And I won't let you hurt senpai"

"Sen-what?" Actor snarled but stepped back in confusion.

Magnum swung one of his giant legs towards him but he dodged in time, skating past the pirate and away from the other egos.

Google's eyes went red, "Target acquired. Termination immediate"

"At least it's not me" Bing joked and flicked his sunglasses on, "Let's kick ass dude"

Yancy took out his shiv, "Youse in for a world of pain, ya crock"

Actor snarled, "Idiots, the lot of you . . . Ignorant fools! I'll end you all and rebuild my own empire ON YOUR FUCKING ASHES!"

"The Host suspected this day would end in bloodshed but he was more than willing to accommodate the Actor's wishes with his very own. He never thought the one he loved the most would attack him"

"What?"

Suddenly there was a snarling and barking and Actor had little time to react as Dark Chica lunged at him with bared teeth. She clamped down on his arm.

"AGH! Get off of me! Chica stop it! You dumb beast! OFF!"

He hit her on the head to try and make her stop but it only made her clamp down harder, drawing blood.

Anti was shocked, too, to say the least but mostly concerned for the dog's safety. He had grown to actually like her in his stay with them all.

"Dark Chica! ̴S̴t̵o̸p̶!̷ Come here!" he called her but she couldn't stop. She was just as angry as the rest of them but what was worse was that she remembered who he had been before.

To see him become this hurt her more than all of them but she was beyond that now. Her master was no more and she was going to protect her pack no matter what.

"GET OFF, MUTT!" Actor violently thrashed her off of him and let the black aura lash out at her.

Everyone stilled as Dark Chica was thrown aside and yipped as she hit the ground, unable to get back up. She was shuddering at what just happened, fearful and hurt.

Dark witnessed his beloved dog getting hurt.

It hurt him like a heart attack.

The panic and pain he felt  . . . .. .

The rage.

But not for Actor.

For some reason, Dark was mostly angry at himself.

He let this happen.

HOW COULD HE NOT STOP IT!?

BUT WHAT COULD HE DO TO STOP IT?!

'WHAT DO I DO?!'

"SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME!" Dark screamed to the skies, "TELL ME! TELL ME! WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO!? LET ME OUT! LET ME GO! LET ME HELP!"

But then again there was a small voice in the back of his head.

'Do you REALLY want to help? Is that how you really feel? You're too injured. You can't fight. You're weak. You're no match against him. What if he's right and you really are the villain? Once you snap again, you become what he wants you to'

Dark pulled at his hair and groaned, "YOU'RE WRONG!" He yelled at himself, "THAT'S NOT IT! DAMMIT! STOP! WHY AM I HERE!? WHAT BROUGHT ME HERE!? WHY?!"

Wasn't it obvious?

He was so much like Damien.

Even Wilford can barely pick out the differences at times.

Then having learned what Damien had done to manipulate his sister. He was just trying to protect her, right? He still loved his friend and brother-in-law right? But just as Mark had said, Actor had gone off the deep end. He wasn't good enough for Celine anymore. Was that really all there was to it?

DID ANY OF IT REALLY MATTER ANYMORE!?

That was it.

Dark looked into the water again.

He couldn't believe what he saw.

Once Dark Chica had been attacked, they all attacked Actor in turn.

All the Ipliers. Everyone. Even the Septics.

Even the weakest links like Eric, King, Bim and the Jims.

Everyone attacked Actor without a thought. Anger in their eyes. Pain.

With the rush of them all, Actor could barely stand it, dodging and alternating in attacking but he was too taken aback to properly hit or kick anyone.

Yancy went to shiv him. Illinois shot his whip at him. Henrik and Dr. Iplier tried injecting him with tranquilizers. Magnum tried crushing him. The Jims used their equipment as weapons.

Even King threw acorns at him and Eric kicked at him with his prosthetic legs. Of course Yandere preferred going to stab him. Even Wilford and Chase were in front of Actor, shooting him wherever they could.

But for some reason that all wasn't enough. It was like Actor was using the void's power as a shield of some sort, unable to handle them all himself at once.

But no one expected Anti and Jackie to come side by side, crackling heavy with lightning.

"̵E̵V̵E̸R̶Y̴B̷O̶D̵Y̷ ̶F̸O̶O̷K̸I̸N̷G̸ ̸M̸O̶V̸E̸!̷" Anti shouted.

They all had just a split second to run out of the way as Anti and Jackie both hit Actor at the same time with a massive blast.

It was enough to send Actor flying back but Marvin was in range then to throw a spell at him, too!

Something was wrong though . . . .

Actor finally looked up at everyone in the eyes. A big smirk on his face.

"Nice try . . . NOT GOOD ENOUGH!" Actor shoved off Marvin's spell, flinging it back at him.

Marvin fell back unable to get up. No one could stop Actor in that moment as he lashed his energy out on them all, throwing them all back. Google and Bing were at least able to protect Sean, Mark and Amy before falling, too.

That was it.

That was their last chance.

They gave it their all.

"GIVE UP!" Actor screamed at them, "I'M THE HERO! I DESERVE THIS! THIS IS MY WORLD NOW! I WILL TAKE OVER, NAME AND ALL AND YOU'LL ALL LET ME!"

The man laughed at himself, "Idiots, all of you. Why do you fight? It's so reckless. And here I was considering not killing all of you. Just a few"

Anti stood up, "AND THAT'S HEROIC TO YOU!? Y-you're nothing but a sham. A goddamn hypocrite"

"A-anti . . .wait" Jackie tried to pick himself back up but found he couldn't, falling back down. How was Anti still even standing at all?

"Watch what you say, glitch-bitch" Actor smirked, "I have no use for you anymore. I can make you death agony or painless. Your choice"

Anti ignored him, "And I should know. I'm a hypocrite myself . .. . " lightning crackled off of him. He wasn't done just yet.

Dark's heart raced.

That was it.

It DIDN'T matter. . . .

None of it did.

The past was nothing.

It was nothing.

All that mattered now was the future and what to make of it.

'How could I be so blind?'

All of this started because Dark had constant nightmares and worries about his past and what it could have meant.

'None of it matters . . . . Anti was right. I can't just lay down now. . . .not while everyone gave it all they had, too'

"̵̍͜R̶͔̄̈͒̕͘ṟ̷̡̘̟̳̓̀̄̀̔r̸̮̫̻̪̈́̈́̂r̵͖̰̩̣͑̎͂r̸̮̙̝̆͋́r̸̤͑̋́̆̃ͅa̷̭͆͒͠͠ȁ̷̠͆̍a̸͔͖̎̉̇̉a̴̱̻͉̜̓a̴̦̬̾̏̾̕ḁ̸͕͍̖͕͆a̵̢̛͒̄̿a̶̙̞̪̳͛a̴̼͕̩̒͂ả̵̳̗̺͊̓ą̸̞͖̲͕̋̋͊̾a̸͓̮̒a̴̬̖̫͚͝a̸̟̔͊͂͘͘h̵̭̤̺͆̈͝h̷͚̺̲̯̞̓ĥ̸̦͛̍Ḧ̵̦͙́̍́͘Ḫ̸̳̊̇!̸͈͍͙̾͑̎̀͝ͅ!̶̢̺̣͚͋̍ͅ!̸̦̮͍͂̄̒͘͝!̷͖̞̣͓́̈́̓͒"̸͖̹̍

Anti practically roared as lightning came from the sky, crashing down on him.

Jackie was one of the only ones who knew . . just how dangerous that was.

"ANTI, STOP! WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?"

Anti ignored him, taking in more of the raw power.

'All that I can take. All of it. Enough just to stop him. To take him out!' he glanced towards the Septic egos, 'I was gonna use this on you lot . . .Mostly Jackie and Marvin . . . how ironic'

"Bro, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! STOP IT!" Chase yelled at him, "YOU'RE KILLING YOURSELF!"

Anti ignored the damage his body was taking already. Ignored the pain. The bleeding. They couldn't tell him what to do. Not with this. Especially not this.

Sean was in utter shock. He didn't know what to do or say but Anti looked him in the eyes.

'Be glad I changed my mind, assholes'

"ANTI! NO!" Jackie forced himself up on his feet, "YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW IF IT'LL WORK! YOUR BODY CAN'T HANDLE THAT MUCH! YOU'RE-"

"̶̻͌S̴̺̖̏̓Ȟ̷̦̊Ü̴̢T̸͇͎͐͌ ̴̨̱̒̚U̶̩͊P̶͇͆͝ͅ ̴̣̔À̸͖͛Ĺ̵̢̺̉R̷̦̈́Ȩ̵̈́A̵͈͆͌D̵̨̩̒͝Y̵̘̐͗ Anti screamed back at him, making him shut up.

Actor laughed from afar, not taking this power as a threat at all, "What are you gonna do?! Zap me!? Oh, I'm so scared! As if a little lightning can do anything to a GOD!"

Anti sighed, "Just let me do this . . . . . Just once. . . .let me . . . . ."

They locked eyes and Jackie understood. He didn't need to say more.

Chase watched in horror as Jackie just nodded and placed his hand on Anti's back, "Let me help you then."

Anti swore he could feel even more. Hell, he felt like he actually COULD take Actor with this much power! He felt like a god himself . . . It was almost too much. Tearing away at him. He could feel his skin burning. His organs starting to fail. This raw energy wasn't meant for a human even if it was an ego.

'Just this once' Anti thought back to Dark and remembered his words.

'In the end, I didn't push them away' the thought made him smile just a little.

And then he let the power loose.

Dark watched unable to move as there was a bright flash of white, lightning crashing into Actor like a damn nuke.

'I have to help him. I have to help THEM. Everyone . . . .'

Dark could feel his pulse rising. His power deep inside rumbling.

It was time.

He had it now.

This was it.

With a bellow in the silence, Dark's sudden energy waved through the air, shattering the thick ice underneath him, blowing all the snow away.

It was time to accept the man he truly was. Without anyone else telling him who he was supposed to be.

For you ARE what you make of YOURSELF. . . . .

And Dark wanted to be . . . . .

When the smoke cleared, everyone dreaded what they saw.

Actor had shielded himself with the void's power last minute. Anti's raw strength hadn't done anything to him.

Meanwhile . . ..  Anti shuddered . .. shaking . . . his eyes dull and muscles too weak now. There was blood coming out of his mouth and nose and profusely from his throat.

The glitch fell but before he could hit the ground, Jackie caught him, putting down in a more gentle manner.

Chase hovered over him as well and Marvin, Henrik and Jameson came closer.

"Idiot. . . ." Chase chastised him, "What did you do?"

Sean forced himself out of the initial shock and ran towards them, skidding to a halt to see Anti  . . . so frail looking . . . so weak.

"Looks like . . . . it d-didn't matter" Anti breathed out, "S-sorry . . ."

Little flecks of pixels were flaking off of him. This was it.

"Anti . . . . why?"

The glitch chuckled, making more pixels of himself float off of him,  "J-just for once . . . .  I w-wanted . . ."

He chuckled at their sad expressions. Was this what he wanted? No . . . .

"I w-wanted to know w-what it felt like . .. . . .  to be apart . . .. of a family" he glanced towards the Ipliers, "L-like them . . . weird. . . I know . .  . B-but Dark . . . . b-blame him. . . asshole"

Anti knew this was it. Otherwise he wouldn't say anything.

And suddenly as if saying his name had summoned him, Dark was there.

But something was different about him.

He was stronger.

He had done it. Snapped.

But also . . . . had he actually managed to control that power deep inside of him?

Anti snorted, "A-asshole . . . it's about t-time"

"FINALLY!" Actor grinned and laughed, "IT'S TIME! THE FIGHT OF THE CENTURY! ACTOR MARK AND DARKIPLIER! MY PERFECT VILLAIN HAS COME TO MEET HIS DEMISE AGAINST THE GREAT HERO!"

Dark ignored him for now, watching Anti, "Yeah . . . . it's about time, my friend"

Anti teared up, "D-don't you do that . . . . not now"

Chase took his attention away from Dark and took off his hat, "Hey man . . . . about what you said. . . don't worry about it"

He put his cap on Anti's head, situating it just right, "You ARE our family."

Sean took Anti's hand in his unable to stop crying now, "I'm so proud of you" His angriest ego had finally come home. . . only to die.

Anti couldn't stop himself. He knew what was about to happen.

He cried in front of them all, "I'm s-sorry"

Jackie grit his teeth but pet his shoulder softly.

Everyone knew there was nothing that could be done. Otherwise Marvin and the doctors would be trying.

"You're not just family, Anti . . . whatever Actor has to say . . . YOU'RE the hero in this. Got it?"

Anti's life was fading but looked up to Dark one last time, "P-promise me . . . . . promise you'll f-finish this. Take him d-down"

Dark blinked sadly but turned to face Actor head on who was still laughing at all of it. Clearly he thought it was all a joke. Dark was about to change that.

"I swear it, Anti. This ends NOW"

Anti smirked  . . . taking one last breathe.

His heart finally fading.

He was gone.

And just like that, Dark surged towards Actor with all he had.