Forsaken Souls AU: Pushed Too Far
"Compassion is the lost gem of the forsaken..."
This isn't a new AU, it's actually an old one made a little after Chapter 4.
Similar to Fate of the Followers, I wanted to remake and expand on this a little as well, since it's fun.
To summarize, Forsaken Souls(or "Forsaken") is an AU where the primary difference is that the Prototype cracks the secret in achieving what Elliot Ludwig had accomplished, making immortal toys that are perfect, just like how Poppy and the Prototype were made.
However, there's a catch: the Prototype figured it out because of a deviation from canon. The Prototype prioritized the secret of immortality above all else, on par with his priorization of Poppy. His fear of the loneliness of infinity drove the Prototype to be much more focused and willing to abandon what sliver of humanity was left.
The orphans, instead of being granted a "Better Place", were used for parts to create "Perfect Dolls" (aka the new immortal experiments the Prototype had created). The Prototype, in his self-proclaimed virtue, granted the "gift" to two key toys, Mommy Long Legs and Catnap.
In doing so, the Prototype puts Catnap and Mommy Long Legs to the brink of insanity, now forced to live for eternity along with the Prototype and Poppy.
Basically, the Prototype cracked the secret of immortality, and this proved to himself that he really is like a God, furthering his God complex to the point that he seeks for toys that deserve to be granted the "gift" and this difference also makes the Prototype view everyone else as simply unworthy of a "Better Place"; hence, the orphans are truly dead if not already turned toys and died later. This breaking point drives the Prototype even lower, pushing even the few who genuinely cared about him to break away(Catnap).
It's still going through some tweaks and thoughts, but it's roughly the idea.
Now, for this version of Catnap, he's often referred to as the "1188"(self-proclaimed), and unlike many of the other versions of Theodore I have, in this version, the Prototype takes it too far even for him. After going through the suffering of waking up in a new body after experimentation for the second time, losing more of what little of himself isn't already lost, and finding out that the body he's in is stitched up from old pieces of the human orphans, orphans he cared about, Catnap snaps, being pushed too far.
But, let's say the Prototype didn't take his shouts lightly, badly hurting 1188's face, viewing Catnap as simply ungrateful for the gift.
This was the straw that broke the camel's back, and 1188 began to deeply hate the Prototype; their relationship is now more of a "90% hate and 10% grieving love" sort of way.
But, he wasn't alone, along with him came Marie Paine, "1222", who was also granted the gift not from loyalty, but rather usefulness, since Mommy Long Legs was afraid of the Prototype to always follow his orders, and now, she's back in a smaller body where she'll continue to follow his orders.
For those granted the "gift", it actually has some physical requirements. In particular, the spine and a lot of the former body need to be mostly intact to be placed in the new body, which is why those like Yarnaby, who is completely ash by now, can't come back.
Anyway, here is the old artwork and information(subject to change)
Now, here are some dialogue segments that I imagine in the AU:
"No... No... NO.... you don't get to....walk away like that! You don't get to tell me that and just expect me to handle it! You SAID that they'll be safe! You SAID that you'll give them a Better Place! You promised!"
"Theodore...you are acting out of--"
"NO! I served you with utmost loyalty! I gave you everything! I gave away my entire being because I thought there was going to be some good coming out of it, whether it's slim or not, just....SOMETHING!"
"It did. You have been granted my gift. The gift to stay with me forever. Isn't this wonderful? Now, you get to stay here in Heaven--"
"NOT THROUGH THE LIMBS AND BLOOD OF THOSE ORPHANS! Do I have Taylor's arms? Do I have Lilach's skin!? What else did you do that you didn't tell me?! What was the point of anything I've done?!"
"What you've done for me is what led you to be granted my gift, Theo--"
"Don't. Call. Me. That. I'm not...I'm no longer....I'm not even Catnap or Theodore, I'm just...a Labcat...a doll so you don't feel lonely anymore. Was it ever about me or any of the experiments? It's just about you and your fears; you can do anything to me, can't you?"
"You won't disobey me."
"...."
"Nevertheless, you are acting OUT OF LINE, Theodore..."
"Did you ever care about me....Do you even care about that doll you're so obsessed with--"
The Prototype's hand drives 1188 to the wall.
"Don't. You. Dare."
The Prototype snapped, slashing 1188's face and crushing his head and face. He stares at his hands, hesitating for a moment, but still holding him up.
"You are acting like a child, Theodore. Perhaps I may have broken you, but it's okay, you need to be fixed, just like dear Poppy. You are going to enjoy infinity, now that you are accompanying Poppy and me. You should be happy, Theodore. Aren't you happy?"
"Heh...ha....hahahaha....You know...I don't need a large group of friends like the Smiling Critters; I never did. I just needed one. One special person I can rely on....was that...so much to ask for? Was having your shoulder just....a nuisance for you?"
"First it was...the heretic...then now...it's you? Life truly is unfair....did whatever God there is forsake me....?"
"No. I am here. I am your savior. Nothing had changed, I had just improved, reached even higher..."
"This isn't the friend I remember....he took care of me....helped me....saved me....what changed? Why did you change?"
"...."
The Prototype begins to carry 1188 in his arms.
"I'll take you to meet your new sister....You'll know her."
"Once you learn, you'll see I'm right at the end..."
"Ah, the cheater had returned. I'm surprised they had managed to get so far, let alone start teaming up with the mean, evil Doctor, now isn't that right, C~a~t~n~a~p?"
"..."
"Not feeling talkative. That's okay. Marie is going to have some more fun anyway. Snooze you lose, 1188~"
In this version of Chapter 6, The Doctor, Giblet, and the Butcher encounter the duo. At first, they are hostile, but with some conversation, there's a compromise that allows 1188 and 1222 to join the group in defeating the Prototype with what memory that Catnap and Mommy Legs have.
However, with this ragtag team, literally no one can trust each other(they are all backstabbing each other the moment they get the chance).
Fun Fact: 1188 and 1222 are meant to be ragdolls. It's their signature toy, which looks vaguely like their human selves. However, with poppy gel running in their system, Poppy flowers come sprouting from their injuries, which have healed. 1188 pulled the poppy flowers out of his face while the Prototype bandaged it up(1188 begrudgingly agreed). The Butcher, coming back from Poppy Gel, also has this effect.
