The Grand Battle [Game Over!]

Originally posted on MSPA by Aryogaton.

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“Where shall we start? We have already made our introductions before, but perhaps this situation merits another. Welcome to the boy's mind. I trust that you have already seen much of it. What do you think of the alterations I have made, hm?”

Aeon walked towards the throne. “I see that you have truly made yourself at home.” He pulled on the chains that were holding Nathan in place, and they instantly dissolved into blood on contact with the silvery metal.
“Of course I have. Think of it like being in a hotel--I am simply a customer.”

Before Aeon could remove the last chain, Nathan snapped awake and looked directly at him. The boy stood up, the chain breaking on its own accord. Aeon stepped backwards.

“What are you doing here?” Nathan said sternly, his face wearing a look of suppressed frustration. “I thought I told you I didn't need your help.”

Aeon paused--he knew that it would be difficult to free Nathan from the get-go. “Don't you want to be free from the demon's control? Even if you are able to win this game with the demon's help, what will you do when your family and friends find out you made a pact with a demon?”

“Do you really think I have a choice?”

“If you don't, then that's the reason I'm here.”

“That's not what I meant. Say you manage to get rid of the demon. Then what? I saw you plant the bomb on that girl a few rounds ago. As soon as I become powerless, then I'm next, huh?” he stepped forwards, giving Aeon a light push, “There's no way you'd betray Amethyst or the vacuum cleaner,” Nathan paused and his face relaxed slightly, “Unless… Of course. A man of such unpredictability surely has room in his mind for a bit of backstabbing.”

Nathan had nearly pushed Aeon off the stairs. Realizing this, he pushed Nathan head, and he stumbled backwards, clutching his face. As Nathan regained his composure, a nearly indescribable expression fell across his face. It was a strange amalgamation of realization, shock, and fear that disappeared into a look of rage in a fraction of a second. Nathan sat on the throne with a frustrated sigh and simply looked at Aeon as if little had happened.

Aeon thought for a moment. His armor seemed to have a strongly negative effect on this realm, including Nathan. Clearly he would not listen to Aeon under these conditions, but the look he had seemed to indicate something. Aeon walked forwards and grabbed Nathan's head with both hands, his palms covering the boy's ears. Nathan simply looked angrier.

“Do you remember Emily? Do you remember how protective she was of you? She gave her last energies so that I could find a way to free you from the demon. That's what her last will was, and what this armor is made of. Do you remember when you first began to lose control? She defended you with her life, and that wasn't enough. I came here to ensure that her efforts were not wasted on a miserable boy controlled by a demon.” Aeon let go and stepped back.

“And you think, because you have that fancy piece of shit, that you can make a difference?”

Aeon sighed--Nathan was clearly not listening. He had to try a different approach. He looked at the demon, who did not move or say anything at all in the past few minutes.

The throne room disappeared and was replaced by grass. The ceiling gave way to a cloudless night sky, and the full moon shed no light on the plain. Before them, a vacuum cleaner broke a hole in the wall of a silhouetted house and began cleaning up the rubble.

If I cannot convince him, maybe someone else can.