Warning: Violence(?), mentions of temper, anger, etc.
Terberis - Equinox Papyrus
Personality: He is the tranquil center. He keeps to himself. He is strongly tied to Light and Shadows, acting as a balance and judge between the two. He keeps Morte and Lucien balanced and keeps an eye on them. He is quite close to Morte and Lucien. He is forward, and strong, but compassionate, just like his peers. He is exceedingly protective of his loved ones, and he will not back down when it comes to defending them. He aims for the throat and is quite frigid to strangers. He can be really tough, yet he is mainly a kind gentleman0.
Appearance: He has three scars on his eye. He has two diagonal scars and one straight one. He has fangs and soft grey eyes. He has free reign over darkness and light.
Mors - Equinox Sans
Personality: He's a tough yet slightly active skeleton. He is quite flirtatious, and if you push the wrong buttons, he will most likely cross with you. He's quite calm and peaceful. He gets along nicely with his brother and their parents. He takes care of his brother whenever possible. He truly adores his brother. He is concerned about the weight of being at the center crushing his brother, so he looks after him. He was impressed by his brother's magic and how easily it came to him, even if he never said it out. His power is firmly embedded. He is quite patient. Unless pushed, he has a very excellent temper.
Appearance: He has about one scar on his face. He's got a large diagonal scar on his right eye. He has fangs and soft grey eyes.
The Second Time I Died (Tenebrous AU: Hepatica x Morte?)
Warning: Implied rebellion, implied war, death, blood, anger, getting impaled, seer, future sight, etc.
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"My memory was always good, as my mother would remark. I would remember small, subtle details. I remembered where she kept something when she needed it a month later. My father despised it.
I was capable of mentioning things she didn't recall, and the second time I died was the most raw and memorable of them all.
My parents were greeting the royal family as a routine formality when my second vision occurred. I was staring at Morte from above. I was holding a knife, and he was looking at me with those hypnotic eyes. We were both wearing armor, my hair was cut short, and I was clutching a sword. He seems reluctant, almost scared.
I was afraid too. I was shaking, and my mouth moved on its own.
"Why? Why did you do this?" I had spoken to him. His gaze never wavered from mine. I wasn't even sure what he did. I had no background, but when he opened his mouth, his speech was jumbled, and I couldn't understand a single word. As always, a vague seer problem with specific future event names.
That's when a shadow, one of his abilities, pierced my body. I slid to the side as blood trickled down my lips and across his face, causing me severe agony. It was extremely cold, terrifying, and silent. I felt my soul die, and I was brought back to reality. I probably appeared stunned since Prince Morte asked if I was okay, and I merely waived it off.
His eyes, unlike when I first saw one of my deaths, appeared more fatigued, yet I shook my head. I was gazing too deep into it. I simply had to avoid him, and I won't have to worry about dying, right?" You exhaled deeply. Once again, you were intrigued and wanted to learn more about this mysterious writer, but it was so ambiguous that you couldn't quite understand what she was talking about. Whatever the case, you continue reading.
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Part 1: The First Time I Died (Tenebrous AU: Hepatica x Morte?)
*You smugly smile at the skeleton.
*He looks positively bemused by your antics.
*...What a scoundrel you are.
"Yeah, yeah, you can be smug all you want, human. So you want to know about my stubborn little brother, Morte?"
*You nod eagerly.
*You scoot closer as you look up at the skeleton.
"Mm... Well, ain't much to say about that, kid."
*You huff as he scratches the back of his neck in thought.
*You begin to talk about how he and his brothers have powers over shadows and Morte was sort of evil.
*How very polite of you to say about his brother.
"I'm serious, kiddo. My bro and I don't talk much anymore. Morte is too busy with whatever the fuck he does and I'm trying to help my Nite run a kingdom."
*You protest saying there has to be something to talk about from his childhood.
*He stares at you before he takes a long swig from his alcohol and he puts it down.
*Yay, you drove him to alcoholism....?
"So, what is there to talk about? My childhood was fine, I suppose. I mean. Lots of expectations and stress for tiny kids like me and my older brother…"
*You notice he pauses as he thinks.
"Well, things were really different when Morte was born."
*You ask him to elaborate.
*You notice he sighs as he thinks about it.
"I'm not sure if a kid like you should hear that."
*You loudly argue, "I'm not a kid!"
*Even though, you definitely are a kid.
*He snorts and cracks a smile.
*But his smile instantly fades.
"Fine, kiddo. You win."
*You watch the skeleton closely as some shadows wrap around his wrist.
"My family comes from a long line of successful and powerful shadow sorcerers." We could manipulate the shadows and the darkness at will. It was sort of our thing. My father believed that Nite would take over one day since he was more powerful with his shadow magic than mine… But then Morte was born."
*You tilt your head at the skeleton.
"Nite was powerful, don't get me wrong… But Morte? Morte was born a natural at it. He had the most powerful magic in our family, although being the youngest."
*What a twist!
*....Just kidding, you knew that.
*You tell Draven "I already know that."
"Yeah, everybody knows that. Morte is a beast—literally."
*The Skeleton shrugs...
*You notice he's trying to distract you from the task at hand.
*You ask him to go on.
*He runs his hand down his face...
*He sighs.
"Clearly, he would be the one to take over the kingdom, right? A talented and powerful sorcerer like that? My father… He should've been so proud, right?"
*The skeleton sighs deeply again.
*You notice his eyes flicker a bit as he thinks back.
"No, he wasn't. He despised--no, he was afraid of Morte and his abilities. I had never seen my father look at someone with such intensity… I don't know, contempt? Terror? All I know is that everyone in the kingdom looked at him that way."
*He can't seem to find the right words to say...
*You understand though.
*I mean, how would you describe your father viscerally fearing and hating your little brother?
"So, rather than simply accepting my brother and allowing him to become the next heir, my father and the people chose to completely disregard him. He'd start preparing Nite to take over the throne, with me as his advisor, and he never showed Morte any affection."
*You grip your chest.
*How alone Morte must've felt...
*It makes you tear up.
"And Morte? Morte was many things, but he was not foolish. He could sense that our father despised and scared him. So Nite and I attempted to show him the love his father never showed, but it turned into a hole that began to engulf him. And a kid like that? So gifted, so fucking powerful. It was only a matter of time before Morte put my father in checkmate."
*Draven scratched his skull as he leaned back.
"Morte gained allies and, well, he became resentful. His birthright was taken away from him… I guess that's what made him who he is now… So he took it back. He recovered the power that had been stolen from him. And the kingdom and our father suffered the price for their negligence…"
*Draven sighs and closes his eyes.
"I just wish I'd done more to stop him from doing all of that… I think you could say not assisting him was my greatest regret… But, you see how he is now? He doesn't need his brother anymore."
*You stare at him as he smiles weakly.
*You can see his regrets soak through that plastered smile.
*A brother's regrets...
*You feel there is more to the story.
*However, when you open your mouth-
"That's enough for today, kiddo. Let's get you to bed. Your uncle Draven can only handle so much storytelling."
*You protest, but he begins to rush you to bed.
*Well, we'll get more answers later, you fiend.
*Time for bed.
Warning: Implied violence, fighting(?), fire, implied villainy, etc.
Mostly focused on the Outcode Papyri I have.
"But when does a comet become a meteor?" Terberis sighs softly to himself as he pulls his hand back and turns away from a broken mirror.
"When does a candle become a blaze?" Soleil holds his face before losing his temper and flames burn around him and he shouts at someone.
"When does a man become a monster?" Morte moves his hand and looks over as shadows swirl around him and ruin stands in his wake.
"When does a ripple become a tidal wave?" Lucien holds his hands out as light pools into it like water and he slowly turns back as the light begins to engulf.
"When does the reason become the blame?" Comet covers his face with his hands as he opens his wings that burn and he remembers the Apple Tree and growls.
"When does a man become a monster?" Umbra sucks in a breath as he turns towards the group as they turn against him. His negativity beginning to pool around him.
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Song: Just a Man from Epic the Musical
The First Time I Died (Tenebrous AU: Hepatica x Morte?)
Warning: Death, crimes, public execution, beheading, cold familial relationships, Seer seeing one of her future deaths, implied feeling like she died for a second, etc.
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"I'd seen death before, but the first time I saw myself was when I glanced at the youngest Prince Morte. I was surprised, and before I could focus, I was flung to the ground and made to stare up at him. His eyes were a fiery grey that gleamed in the light of the sun. I felt bile fill my throat and was afraid, yet I couldn't take my eyes off of him. I was like a moth to a flame, looking into his eyes unable to look away.
"Don't hurt her!" I heard my mother's raspy voice, full of terror and despair, calling. I couldn't hear my father's voice because the crowd's enthusiasm drowned out her appeals. As the prince kept his gaze fixed on me, I heard a list of sins I had committed recited aloud. His eyes were stunning. I knew I didn't commit them, I couldn't have, not like the ones in there. That's what I believed as I couldn't even present my argument to the group.
"Kill her." I saw Morte tense as his father finally spoke. Morte looked at him, almost in anger and with a slight plead in his expression. He took a deep breath as his father repeated himself. He turned his eyes back to me. Despite the cold look, he had such an afraid look in his eyes, his eyes betrayed his every moves as shadows began to shift around them.
"Hepatica, the Seer. I declare you…" Morte began speaking as the shadows turned into a large sharp scythe as I stiffened. I was referred to as "the Seer" rather than my name. I knew I'd be erased from history. My mother's pleas got louder but were increasingly drowned out. "Guilty."
I didn't have time to answer as he immediately raised his weapon to prepare a strike… yet I couldn't take his gaze away from my thoughts: I was about to die. I should have been terrified, yet his eyes burned like the flames of an unstoppable fire. That's when the blade sliced off my head, and I watched his eyes turn quickly remorseful, but I was quickly jolted out of my reverie as I grasped my neck. I felt chilled as I was relieved that my neck was still intact.
My palms shook as I gazed up at the skeleton on stage. His eyes were as gorgeous as in the vision, but they were far more hopeful than I remembered. The level of tiredness and ice in his eyes in my view would not have occurred overnight… So I could only presume he'd kill me in the far future.
Well, I didn't intend to get involved with him... So I didn't think I had a reason to be afraid...
If only I had known what would happened after the first time I died." Your fingers brushed against the pages as the book came to a close. You started to wonder more about the Seer who wrote this. Because you hadn't met her yet, you hoped she was leading a happy and rewarding life. She had avoided her probable death flags, but you'd have to keep reading to find out.
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Part 2: The Second Time I Died (Tenebrous AU: Hepatica x Morte?)
Warnings: Fighting, Dust! Sans, Killer! Sans, Nightmare! Sans, many of things, blood, etc.
Spiro was tossed by Ink with little time to respond. To keep himself from falling further, he stuck his knife into the earth. He could hear the ground reacting this his knife. As Rune approached to assault Tusche, he smirked a bit. Rune was not someone to mess with. Tusche created an ink wall to block Rune's strike, but Morte sprang from the shadows and flung Tusche. Acrylic snatched his brother's scarf as he riveted his gaze on the group. Spiro could hear Bliss and Dusk squabbling as well as Bliss's drabble about how they needed to make amends.
"Get up." Dagger huffed as Spiro smiled and nodded. Acrylic rapidly prepared his paints. Dagger, as usual, appeared to have not slept. As a little swirl of power formed around Dagger, he prepared his next attack. Acrylic glared at him as some sort of magic encircled him. However, there was a sense of magic surrounding them. There were exclamation points beneath them.
"MOVE!" Rune yelled as he dove for Dagger's collar, and Morte followed as Comet yanked Acrylic back. Lightning strikes the floor, causing it to fracture under the pressure. With a glare, Rune stood up. But everyone seemed to be frozen in confusion. Spiro brandished a knife at the opposite party.
"What was that?!" As the opposition group flared a little at the threat, Spiro urged.
"That had absolutely nothing to do with us!" Acrylic protested and Lenovo yanked on his strings. Acrylic assailed him, putting an end to his brief respite. As he charged the other skeleton, one of his paints produced a big blue bone as he charged the opposite skeleton. The battle had resumed. Spiro and Dagger were attempting to tag team Comet. Comet kept up as he fought back. The struggle raged on, becoming bloodier and more vicious by the minute. However, as the AU began to break and blasters were poised to collide…
They halted as they watched someone they'd never seen before redirecting the attack away from them into the air. After the light faded, there was a woman bursting with magic and wearing a mask that resembled a skull staring back at them. Lenovo tensed as he saw her morph into a skeleton with a face that looked just like the mask-like visage. She turned to face the group.
"It appears that my first deterrent had no effect." Her silky, almost icy voice made the audience quiver. Her purple eyes darted around the room, looking at the skeletons.
"Who exactly are you?" As the skeleton's gaze returned to him, Dusk demanded. As he stared at her, her purple eyes blazed.
"The one who is stopping this... exhausting and needless war." The woman responded as she looked around and under her gaze, many felt nervous. "But if you need a name, my name is Senna." Senna coolly stated.
"Needless? They will not listen!" Tusche objected and opened his mouth again as Senna extended a hand to him. Her appearance transforms into that of a human woman wearing a mask similar to her skull and sporting long white hair. Her form would be easy to call… unstable.
"You didn't even try," Senna retorted, making the guardian tighten and back off a little. "I've been following this… mess for a long time."
"How come we have never seen you before?" Acrylic stared at her, perplexed. Senna groaned slightly as she adjusted her gloves. A piece of paper appears as she snaps.
"Enough with the foolish questions." Senna took a peek around the room. "You all have to talk about it and sign this," Senna said almost like a command. The others gazed at her, puzzled, as she held it. "It's a treaty… A truce agreement. Whatever you want to name it." Senna's steely eyes locked with the rest of the gang. There was immediate backlash… until.
"I think it's a good idea," Umbra spoke up, drawing everyone's attention to him. "I mean, there has to be a balance between destroying and creating." Umbra gave a nod. Comet, Lucien, and Morte all nodded in accord. They eventually persuaded the remainder of the group to sign the document. When the woman vanished, they couldn't recall her name… However, they were forced to clean up.
Warnings: Mentioned fighting, bloodied knuckles, threats of death, spikes, shadows, short, etc.
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"Does it hurt?" Hesper softly asked as she looked at Morte's hand. He looked away as Hesper tenderly looks at his damaged knuckles.
"No." Morte coldly responded as Hesper sighed. Hepatica hummed as she took his hand and began to bandage it.
"You really must be more careful, Morte." Hepatica chuckled as she bandaged his hand. Morte looks away as he thinks. "Why did you even start fighting them?"
"They insulted you guys." Morte shyly responds. Hepatica chuckles as Hesper sighs.
"You need to stop fucking up your knuckles for us." Hesper huffed as she watched Hepatica wrap up his knuckles.
"What else am I supposed to do? They just don't get to get away with insulting you." Morte responds while looking away. Hepatica chuckles as she gently puts her palm on his bandaged knuckles.
"I appreciate you looking out for us, your highness, but you need to worry more about yourself." Hepatica smiles and Hesper nods.
"Yeah! We can't have you dying." Hesper huffed as she looked at Morte. "Life would be boring without your annoying ass." Hesper chuckled and Hepatica lightly smacked his arm. Morte rolls his eyes.
Ah, yes... The time when he was happy... But reality soon sets in.
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Morte pants as he looks at the dummy he was beating. Rune huffed as he walked over.
"You nearly destroyed it." Rune kind of scolded and Morte rolls his eyes.
"Whatever." Morte growls in response. He begins to walk away.
"Morte-" Rune begins but Morte glares as shadows form around him making spikes as it aims at his throat. "Really?" Rune growls and Morte glares in response. He begins to walk away as he walks out to the gardens. He looks at his hands, his injured knuckles, and the garden. He grips his chest.
"Does it hurt?" He recalls Hesper and Hepatica's voices as he looks at his knuckles. He leans against the tree, he sighs.
"Yes..." Morte whispers as he sits in the garden, recalling the good memories before everything fell apart.
