//------------------------------//
// Interlude 2: Photon Readings Negative 
// Story: Lost Dreamer 
// by Arceaion 
//------------------------------//

A figure sat in a quiet room watching the screen, the room was dark and the figure was a simple dark silhouette. "I see your having trouble PLAYER." A man said causing the figure to turn. 

"I wasn't expecting a visit from you Merchant." The figure said as he rose from his chair. "As for my trouble, well, nothing I can't handle. The playing piece simply needs to learn it's place."

The Merchant growled. "I've let you play this sick game for quite a while PLAYER." The Merchant growled as he approached the figure. "There are rules we must follow and you have broken them far too often." He said.

The PLAYER laughed. "Oh spare me your words Merchant, the only rules we make are our own." He said with a smile. 

The Merchant growled and grabbed the PLAYER by the collar of his shirt and pulled him forward punching him as hard as he could. "Then let me refresh your memory PLAYER. Rule 1. You can only send the person to a version of Equestria that they have the possibility of happiness. Rule 2. Once sent to a version of Equestria the Displacer is forbidden to interact or control the Displaced unless they are given permission from the displaced themselves. Rule 3. They have to willingly accept the offer, this can be done by tricking them or  by making an offering but no matter what they must agree. 

As the Merchant said each rule he slammed his fist into the PLAYERS face and as he was done he let the PLAYER drop to the floor. "This is my toy Merchant, go back and play with your own." He hissed as he rose and glared at the Man. "It is mine and neither you nor any other Void Dweller will stop me from doing as I see fit." He screamed as he glared into the face of the merchant. "If I want to kill her then I will, If I want to commit mass genocide and destroy every creature and Timeline then I will."

The Merchant glared at the PLAYER with what could only be described as a look of contempt. "I can't undo what you've done but I can still intervene if needed." He said as he turned away from the PLAYER. "This was your single warning PLAYER, continue to break the rules and I will show you what I'm truly capable of." He said as he walked away and vanished in a mass of tendrils.

The PLAYER growled. "This world is mine, I control it I rule it and nothing will stand in my way." He growled before walking back to the computer and sitting down. "And once I control the Timeline again I'll so you, I'll show all of you pathetic Displacers. I will become God!"





Within the pits of Tartarus sat a cage with Centaur inside. Tirek sat and hummed happily as he watched the comings and goings of prisoners. Despite his actions Chara had actually come to his aid and convinced the princesses that he was willing to change, as a result he had been permitted the right to be contained in the upper levels of Tartarus and if he behaved for a few centuries he could be granted freedom. Suddenly screams were heard and Tirek turned to see a white figure with a smile slaughtering the guards. Tirek mailed and quickly grabbed a scroll that Chara had given him. Quickly he wrote a message and with a burst of his remaining magic it vanished, turning to smoke that shot away. "Forgive me Chara." he said as the PLAYER approached the cage and stood before him.

"We had an agreement Tirek." The PLAYER said. 

"I did what you wanted, Chara tricked me." Tirek said. "Had I know what you were after though I'd of refused, I'm lucky Chara actually talked the princesses into giving me a lighter sentence."

Player forced their hand through the bars of the cage and grabbed Tirek by the throat before pulling him closer. "Perhaps if you still followed the ideals you were taught you'd have won but I see now your to kind hearted now to be of use, I'll have to rectify that." The PLAYER said with a sadistic smile. 

Tirek gasped as the PLAYER squeezed his throat however rather than beg he spit in the players face. "Do your worst PLAYER, I will not break."

The PLAYER growled and wiped the spit off his face. "There are worse things that torture." He said as an orb of energy collected in his hand. "Do you know what this is?" He asked before laughing. "This is the the power of the Soul Trait Agitation, when the time comes for you to be free you shall destroy, your shall kill and your shall feast on those pathetic Ponies no matter what." He said as he slammed the orb into Tireks chest causing him to scream in pain.

As this happened four figures leaped out of a tear in space. "PLAYER!!!" Chara screamed as the true knife morphed into a scythe and she swung at the PLAYER who blocked the blade with his arm. 

Quickly he leaped back and smiled. "To late again Chara, you really are bad at saving those who stand with you." He said with a laugh as he disappeared. 

Charas eyes widened and she ran over to Tirek who lay limp. "Tirek, we came as fast as we could." She said as he approached him. 

As she approached Asriel and the princesses going her, Tirek lay before them grunting in pain and as he opened his eyes they changed from their yellow coloration to a grayish blue. "Chara, I'm sorry." He said in pain. "He did something, created something called the Trait Agitation and shoved it in me. It hurts!" He screamed and closed his eyes in pain as his body began to shrivel up and the colors of his fur dulled. 

After a moment a moment his eyes snapped open and he lunged at the group clawing at the air as his mouth watered. "Come here Chara, let me feed, let me hunt." He said his voice twisting as he began to laugh. "Give me your Soul!" He screamed as the group scrambled back. Tirek began to laugh and bash his head against he cage like a rabid animal.

"Chara what's happening?" Celestia asked in fear as Chara growled in anger. 

"The PLAYER has inverted his Soul." Chara replied and Asriel paled. 

"You mean he's now bearer to a corrupted trait?" He asked his voice shacking in fear. 

Chara nodded. "G♋︎⬧︎⧫︎♏︎❒︎ had a theory that the corrupted traits of souls weren't just randomly chosen but rather that each souls corrupted form was actually it inverted on itself. Determination would grow to Indecision,Kindness would fall to Cruelty, Bravery would cower before Fear, Justice would warp into Corruption, Integrity would give way to Arrogance, Patience would thin to Agitation, Perseverance would dwindle Apathy." Chara explained before turning back to Tirek. "Looks like he might of been right with his theory."

"What can we do for him?" Luna asked as she watched Tirek bit at he bars of the cage and scream and anger. 

Asriel and Char looked down sadly. "Aside form killing him, nothing." Asriel said sadly. 

Chara sighed. "I'm going back, I won't let the player hurt Frisk anymore." She said as she walked away from the group before dispersing in a blue flash. 

Celestia and Luna watched Tirek for a moment before turning to Ariel. "Can he be saved?" Celestia asked. 

Asriel shrugged. "Corrupted Souls are extremely rare and extremely dangerous, that's why Codes Phi and Upsilon were created." He said as he turned to Tirek. "Chara and Gaster didn't have enough of a sample to discover anything about them." He said and turned away from the cage. "Come on, there's nothing we can do for him now so we might as well return to the Everfree."

The two princesses gave the occupant in the cage a final look before fallowing Asriel, Luna's horn glowed ant the two teleported out of Tartarus.