ㄒ卄乇 尺ㄖ丂乇 ᗪ乇爪ㄖ刀- "the zalgoid hybrid" pasta and art by

꧁꧂

- - - third p. o. v. - - -

"We've been hiding and watching for months now. I'm tired of waiting..."

"If you're so tired of waiting, get lost. You aren't obligated to join us, you know."

"I didn't ask to join either but if I go back, I'll seen as an accessory to crime...I'd rather take my chances with you all."

A group of 'strange' people were gathered in a circle in a huge room. Silence befell them after the last one spoke, but after a while another talked again in a surprisingly soothing voice, despite the harsh words that were to follow.

"None of you should even begin to complain. Although I don't know what's up with some of you odd choices...we are being offered everything we desire just for this simple task. Think about that before you whine about having to wait."

A small laugh occurred, and then another spoke up, "Don't be upset. I sense that the first move will be made very soon. Ritz."

"Sooner than you think..."

All heads turned to see a strange tall man walking into the room. Red gleaming eyes fall upon the group, looking upon them with dark mischief. A strange mouthed cat with six legs proudly trots in behind the man with its creepy red eyes matching his.

"I understand this may seem like an odd group so far, but each of you hold the most important value of our goals here—deception. If you haven't noticed, our victim is rather stupid from what I can tell..."

No one responded to that, so the man chuckled and continued, "anyways, your patience has all paid off. We are nearing the time where the rift between worlds will be open and we can launch our final, winning attack. But first, we are obviously going to need "You-Know-Who" so that they don't get in our way. That's why today..."

The man's eyes fall upon the cloaked one who questioned the choices of members that formed this group. "Azumi," He called to them with a dark grin. "You know what to do, my trustworthy servant."

"Sure. But just make sure you keep your end of the deal," The cloaked one scoffed crossing her arms. "If we're on the same page, you'll get your little human toy."

—

- - - (Y/N)'s p. o. v - - -

Let's cut straight to the point: I got sick.

I was laying in bed attempting to rest myself when suddenly I feel constant pellets raining down upon my face until it was a whim avalanche of something unleashed upon me.

I barely had the energy to lift my head and see what was going on, so I weakly pull out some of the items that had fell onto my face and blink upwards, seeing I was surrounded by candies. I look and see Laughing Jack standing over me with a now empty bag.

"Laughing Jack. My buddy. My pal. What are you doing?" I questioned, my voice sounding wracked with sickness.

The clown smiled widely at me and scratched his head. "Offering you the best medicine to yer unfortunate fever! Candy makes everyone feel better, does it not? Don't you feel better now?"

I glare at him in silence for a long time and wonder if beings like LJ could get sick so I could start coughing on him. But that would just be unnecessarily mean and I guess he's only trying to help...

"Your hearts in a good place but that's not gonna help me get over a cold, LJack," I respond to him, grabbing a handful from around my head and throwing it aside. "Awe, I'm sorry mate. I thought I'd help. Aye wait...I know! Soup helps sick mortals get better, no!? I'll go make you Candy Soup!!"

Before I could fully protest, LJ dashes out of my room faster than he may have even came. "Candy Soup. Candy soup???? Someone please help me..." I groaned at the fact that I was too weak to even get myself out of bed.

I turn and try reaching the remote that was laid next to me so I could probably watch some TV until I could get myself to fall back asleep again. But as I begin clicking the power button, nothing happens and instead the TV flickers and I soon see the familiar blonde tufts of hair that always wanders through my screen.

"BEN, go away!" I groan, "I'm actually not feeling well, please..."

"I know!" The entity responded, fully phasing through my screen and landing on my desk. He hopped over and walked over to my bedside with a smirk, his hands held behind his back.

I glare at him, "What do you want BEN?"

"I wanna give you something to keep you entertained while you're stuck here in bed! I felt bad so...here!"

BEN suddenly pulls Chuckly from behind his back and tosses him on the bed with me.

Before I could say a thing, Chucky gets up and scowls at me, "I only agreed to do this cause elf on the shelf owes me BIG time later! Now rules are you keep your hands off my head and my butt and I swear if you try to hug me I'll—"

"I didn't ask for that thing?" I scoffed, grabbing Chucky by his arm and pelting him back at the TV. Forgot he couldn't go through so he smacked the screen with a loud pang and fell on the floor.

"AGHH! That's IT you little SHIT! Comere so I can GUT your stupid ass!"

Chucky jumped back on my bed and started running at me looking like a demonic two year old with anger issues. BEN quickly grabbed him and he stared flailing around, "LET ME AT EM. LET ME AT EM BITCH!"

"(Y/N) why would you do that!? You know how he is?? Last time I'm ever bringing you a get well gift, tsk..." BEN growled at me before carrying the tantrum doll back to the TV and hopping inside with him.

I sigh in relief when they are gone and cuddle myself into my covers, wanting nothing more than to get some peaceful rest now.

Before I could fully close my eyes, I see something black and pale entering the room through my bedroom door and I sigh heavily. Opening my eyes again, I see Slender gliding in with his hands behind his back.

"Yes sir" I mumbled miserably. "It's unfortunate to see you like this, my proxy. And as unfortunate as that is, I cant allow the others to go slacking off because you, a huge asset to the team, is missing. Therefore, I've come with some news."

"What's the news...?"

Slender looked from aside and held out his hand to the door. Unexpectedly, in walks in a tall woman with long unnaturally vibrant red hair and pale skin, almost like Slender's. Her left eye is a deep red and she wore a simple black, skin-fitted jumpsuit with a golden waist belt and white gloves, and black boots. She had long, big black horns on opposite sides of her head and the right half of her face was blackened with her right eye being completely white. She looked at me for a long time before smiling slightly.

"This is Rose. An old friend of mine. She will be taking over as a temporary proxy while you are here recovering," Slender explained.

What...what!??

I tried smiling as if I accepted it—I mean, it was just a little help till I was better, right? But was it really necessary? I'm sure I'd feel better in about a day! Why a temporary proxy? I know it wasn't what I was blowing it up to be but my brain was screaming "REPLACEMENT" in my head.

"Um. Hi. Roach..." I barely uttered out.

"Rose," She corrected me calmly.

I opened my mouth to say more but I didn't really know how to go on. I then think of my proxy family. "Slender, the other proxies know about this, right? They're okay with it?"

"They'd better be. They will have to be as they will all be working together. Hoodie is very respectful and accepts Rose's help. Toby and Kate were eager to have her, and Rogue tried to benchpress her so that means she accepts her. Vix keeps handing her strange things, so probably a good sign. As for Masky, he's a hard head. It will take some time. I'm hoping you, (Cp/N) as my most important asset will accept her as well? No, she isn't a replacement..."

I look between Rose and Slender, then back to Rose again. I wasn't going to like it that much, but it really wasn't that big of a deal. She was only helping out till I got better. I finally sighed, nodding my head, "I accept, Slenders. Thanks for your help, Rose."

"I'll do my best in your place, (Cp/N). You won't be disappointed," Rose responded, bowing her head. I glare at her a bit more, then smirk, "actually Rose, I'll only accept you taking my place under one condition.."

Slender and Rose both tilted their heads at me and Rose blinked, "What is it...?"

"You've gotta call Slender 'General Spaghetti' at all costs."

There was a long silence in the room before Slender spoke up in a growl, "No, you will not call me—"

Rose held up her hand at Slender, "Sorry General Spaghetti, but I'm the Walker for (Y/N)'s sake, not you. What the real Walker says, gos." She turned to me with a smirk, and I nodded my head, "Well done!"

Slender folded his arms and turned gliding out of my room, mumbling "Why couldn't I get proxy that wouldn't make a mockery out of my every move. ?"

Rose scoffed at him and gives me a wink before trailing after SlenderMan and closing my door.

I slowly lay back in my bed, thinking about this whole deal with having a temporary proxy. I keep trying to remind myself it wasn't a big deal and I would most likely be back on the field tomorrow or the day after. I wonder if Rose already knew her way as a proxy? Was she once a proxy herself or is she new or something? She seemed sincere enough that she'd try to fill my roll for the time being, so I trusted her.

I uh...hope the others won't like her better than me though and seek actual replacement....

I shake my head of these thoughts and rest my head against the pillow, deciding I should focus on getting some more rest instead of worrying.

As soon as I get comfy enough to fall asleep, my bedroom door bursts open and Laughing Jack runs in screaming "CANDY SOUP! CANDY SOUP!!" and he starts running to me with the abomination in hand.

__

I'm being suddenly shaken awake and my eyes warily open.

I look up, seeing Rose standing over me with a straight face as she's shaking the living daylights out me me. "Rose??? WhAt iS iT??" I screech as she shook me.

"Get up, Walker. Proxies don't have time to be sick. You're really okay with Slender randomly bringing in someone you don't even know to practically replace you? Come on now."

"What...but I thought you—"

"Listen you damn shrimp. Do you want to prove yourself to SlenderMan? Or not? Because I could easily outperform you to the point General Spaghetti actually decides to replace you."

I blink at her and open my mouth to say something again but she quickly lets go of me and point to the floor. "Get out of bed."

Her voice is edged with demanding force so I find myself quickly and warily wobbling out my bed. Rose straightens my shoulders and I glare up at her tall form as she stares daggers at me. "Pull yourself together, change into your proxy outfit, and meet me in the basement with the other proxies in five minutes. If you're not there by then, say goodbye to your title."

She then lets go of me and stalks out of the room without another word.

I stare after where she left in a daze. She's...tough. And I thought she seemed nice and sweet-ish when Slenders first brought her to meet me.

I don't know if she had just made an empty threat or not, but it was enough to make me want to comply, so I drag myself weakly to my closet and start grabbing out my clothes and gear.

I go to grab by Zweihander from the closet when my hand lands on something unusually soft instead of my weapon and I frown in confusion because I can't see and my closets dark.

"Hey Walker."

I immediately pull my hand back in surprise and watch as freaking Vix rises out of my closet, slowly stepping out and standing before me. "Uh...what're you doing in my closet? In my room..." I ask her, narrowing my eyes.

"Hiding from that psycho that's replacing you today. I'll just pretend I'm sick, like you, and hope Slender replaces me too. We'll be sick together," Vix actually responded to me.

"I'm not pretending to be sick...I'm actually sick..."

"Oh. Could you cough on me or some shit so I can catch whatever you have. So I could sit out for the day..."

"Vix. Rose is literally making me get up despite being sick just so I can come do proxy work with you guys," I mumble, after letting out a gross cough.

Vix stares off in silence for a while before scratching her head. "Oh. That sucks. You have fun with that." She then turns and walks back into my closet, disappearing from my view inside.

I shake my head and start feeling around till I grab Zweihander, then I hurry out of my room to the best of my ability.

—

When I reach the basement, the other proxies were all already there—with Rose. But to my surprise, they were pretty much all exhausted on the ground or sitting off at the side—Kate and Rogue being the only ones still looking they were actually in tact.

Rose's gaze turns to me and she walks up to me, her arms crossed. "It's been more than 5 minutes, Walker. Don't you care about your job? What's your excuse?"

I was about to respond but Rose held her hand up at me, "Proxies shouldn't have any damn excuses. Be here when you're told, got it?"

"Uh...yes...ma'am...?"

I see Masky look up warily and he sighs, "Look Rose, The Walker isn't feeling well today, it's specifically why Slender brought you to replace them in the first place—"

Rose spun around at Masky, and he immediately shut his mouth. "Do I look like I have time to replace and run around playing proxies for one of Slender's little cult rats? No. I'll help you out alright, but in that sense I'm helping (Y/N) learn to know their priorities and commit to their title, even thought they're sick."

Rose then turned back to me and sighed. "Listen kid, I'm not trying to make things harder for you, but the fact that Slender called me out of my business just so I could babysit these other children and run your role is a bit ridiculous. I'm gonna help Slender see that you're reliable, even under the worse circumstances so he doesn't have to do this kind of thing."

She then leaned closer and smirked, "Because honey, he asks me and I'd play your part so well he most definitely will replace you~."

"No one could replace (Cp/N)!" Kate suddenly spoke up, "(Cp/N) is—!"

"Kate. You really think I want to replace (Y/N)? I hardly even like doing things for Slender, what makes you think I want to be one of his mindless pets? I'm trying to help here. Please don't bark at me when you don't even understand the full story."

Kate looked like she still wanted to speak but she instead just shrugged her shoulders and looked off. I look at Rose kind of nervously and tighten my grip on Zweihander. I appreciate that...she's trying to help...? But I'm really not feeling in the mood.

Then again, she gives off the vibes that she'll smack the shit out of me if I talk back at her.

"Alright proxies, let's get started with a little training so we can get (Y/n) moving around," Rose said, walking to the center of the room. "Wait...where the fuck is Vix?"

"She...just doesn't want to be here," I respond, not really knowing what to say. Rose huffs and placed her hands on her hips. "I'll deal with her. I want you all to start by doing laps around the basement for the next fifteen minutes. You're not to stop for any reason."

Toby rolled his head back and groaned, "But wh-why do weeee have to d-do what (Y/NNNNN)'s supposed to be doing???"

"Because you're all a team and you all work together—you should all have (Y/N)'s back. Also, because I said so Ticci-Tobitch, so get your lady ass up and start running!"

Toby cheesed and immediately pulled himself up from off the ground, staring to jog around the area. Hoodie followed right after and Masky groaned unnecessarily loud before trotting after Hoodie. Rogue seemed excited to be running so she sped past the first three as if it was supposed to be a race. Kate was the last to lug after everyone else, and Rose tapped her on the back of her head as she ran by, "Attagirl, Katey."

Rose then turned to me and said nothing as she crossed her arms. "You...want me to start running too, don't you..."

"Do you have to ask? Get to it, sunshine."

I groan and start slowly running, feeling my body being sluggish and unhelpful. I felt like I could fall at any moment but with Rose watching, I didn't want to let down. Does Slender know that she's acting like she's ruler of the proxies??? Probably not because she played as really sweet and all before.

I feel someone thwack me in the back of my head and turn warily to see Toby smirking at me. "F-Faster Walker, faster!" He chuckled at me. Just to spite Toby, I make myself fall over on the ground as if he'd thwacked me too hard.

"(Y/N) NOOOOOO!!!" Toby screeched, skidding to a stop and dropping by my side. "I'm so s-sorry I was just playing around..."

I lift up my head and scoff at him as he looks truly worried and upset that he 'made me' fall. I then quickly pick myself up, surprising him and kick him in the butt so he fell over on the floor. "Play a stupid game Tobias, win a stupid prize," I scoff at him as I run from his face down body on the floor.

"Stop playing around, Walker. Would you do this crap on a mission?" Masky sneered at me. "Masky??? He's the one who started it??" I respond.

"Less arguing more running!" Rose yelled at us. "You all keep it up, while I go find that lazy ass Vix! Kate, you're a good snitch, tell me if anyone slacks off while I'm gone."

Kate just kept running in silence—I don't think she was too happy with Rose, to be honest.

Rose eventually turns and leaves the basement. As soon as I hear the door close, I stop running and drop to the ground, feeling my body shaking. I start coughing and then wrap my arms around my knees, starting to rock. "I wanna sleeeeeeeeeep..." I whine loudly. Masky, Hoodie and Rogue keep running around me and Toby eventually gets up and joins them, tossing me a weird stare. Kate stops running surprisingly and comes up to where I was rocking.

"I get Rose's intentions are good...ish? But this isn't right—you look like you can barely even stand for yourself," Kate murmured, looking at me concerned. "They had enough energy to kick my ass though!" Toby called out, running past us.

"Shut up, toejam. Anyways (Y/N), I understand you're not feeling well today and that's okay. Rose isn't going to replace you—once you're better you'll be up and running besides all of us."

I look at Kate thankful for her words but I don't think Rose is going to take me trying to get out of this. I also know she said she wanted to help but I feel like she really just doesn't want to do what Slender says and be a proxy for a day. Somehow, I could understand that.

The door to the basement slams open again and I'm on my feet faster than my brain could keep up. I see Rose storming down the stairs, dragging Vix down along with her by the ear. Vix just seems to let Rose drag her without doing anything about it.

"Get in there and run with the rest of them. Go," Rose ordered, Vix letting go of her ear at the bottom and pointing at the rest of us running around.