{ Rubble and ruin around you are intertwined with red vines. Their pattern might seem random at first, but they all lead to one point. }
{ ...Why does it smell of cork? }

S] Wait where's Jerome?

N] HE FOLLOWED THE FLYING INFANT.

S] Are you serious? He- He was right next to me a moment ago!

music by @dbanzao

18 - Red Trails

S] Jerome, the hell are you doing??

J] Nothing much, just hanging out with the kid!

S] He literally attacked us MOMENTS ago, are you serious?!

J] Oh come on, look at him! 
A] (Sup!)
J] He's a kid and you're a grown ass man! 

S] What about his huge arms??

N] THOSE APPEAR TO BE EARS.

J] Look! Even Neo gets it!

S] Well he doesn't KNOW any better!

J] It's a robot, what doesn't he know?

S] THAT IS NOT MY POINT!!!
S] Those "ears" are TOTALLY dangerous in the hands of a child! 
S] Especially a child like him.

J] You know I have an idea. 
J] How about we test how DANGEROUS those things are!

S] Jerome, NO-

{ ROUND ONE }
{  ̶B̶A̶T̶T̶L̶E̶  ARM WRESTLE! }

music by @ziyproject

19 - Unnecessary Struggle

S] Alright, we've spent enough time fooling around.
S] No more games. We have to get going.

J] Aw, you're no fun, Snozzy Sniffer!
J] One more game, one more!

S] Listen, it was fun.
S] But I have important papers to- 

{ Jerome casts a grenade inches out of reach! It barely grazes Simon! }

S] HEY! THE HELL!?

J] One-on-one friendly scuffle.
J] And I promise we will get back to our business in no time!

S] I'm not fighting you, Jerome.
S] End of the conversation. Now get out of the way.

{ Jerome blocks the way! }
J] Nah-uh!

{ Jerome blocks the way, again! }
J] Nah!
J] C'mon, Simon!
J] Or are you scared you're not gonna win without that big bucket o' bolts?

S] ...
S] You asked for this, rövhatt.

J] Yeah, remember, just a friendly sparring match!..

{ BATTLE! }
{ You're fed up with his smug teethy grin. }

music by @ziyproject

20 - 口火 and AVTRYCKARE

J] So this is how you really are, huh?
J] I kept my hopes up...
J] Hopes that you're just misunderstood, pushed in the corner.
J] But being alone really is your own choice. 

S] Jerome, I--

J] No need, Simon.
J] I'll leave. Just like you wanted.
{ Jerome turns his back to Simon and steps to the east. }
{ Jerome abandons your crew! }
{ Ashry follows. }

S] Well, alright! Go!
S] I don't need such a big heavy burden anyway.
S] You heard me?! A BURDEN!

{ Simon sighs, drifting his eyes to the ground. Neo's rusted metallic hand enters his view. }
{ Without moving his gaze, Simon asks, }
S] Are you gonna be on my ass for this too?

N] I SEE NO NEED IN SUCH ACTION.

S] Well,
S] let's move and just deal with that door you talked about.

music by @mazbackattack

21 - Third

Reuploaded because "Weird Birds" occurs several times in the game.
\\\

S] ...
S] Hey, uh...
S] Neo?

N] YES, HUMAN?

S] Why didn't you say anything?

N] ELABORATE.

S] Why didn't you say something to...
S] Stop me?

N] AS I HAVE PREVIOUSLY STATED [[I SEE NO NEED IN SUCH ACTION]].

S] But why?
S] Do you... not care for anybody else?

N] WHILE MY PROGRAMMING STATES THAT ALL LIFEFORMS ARE EQUAL.
N] IT EXPLICITLY SAYS [[The Human, carrier of the soul holds the most of value.]]
N] AND TO GAIN YOUR TRUST, I CHOSE SILENCE AND STAYED BY YOUR SIDE.

S] Neo,
S] What I did there...
S] ...was wrong.
S] And I want you to know that.
S] So next time that happens...
S] I don't want you to stay there and take it.
S] I want you to let me know that I'm in the wrong.
S] Because if you let me do that...
S] I might hurt those who consider you a friend.

N] [a friend]?

S] Sure.
S] I know Ashry and Jerome think of you as a friend.
S] I know I do.
S] So could you do that for me? As friend?

N] ...
N] [Sure.]

track by @mazbackattack

12 (21.5) - Effervescence

[Lightners]
] Long time ago, us darkfolk were in an alliance with the Lightners.
] This place was a safe haven for them. Food, beverage, whatever they wanted was here...
] And then one day, I guess we ran out of use. No longer needed. 
] But some think they found a new purpose for our world... Garbage storage! Gyahaha!
] ...Yet, of course, not all share the common, bleaker outlook. 
] The Principal of Academy is adamant on Lightner's return, plannin' to restore our realm's original purpose...
] ...My thoughts?
] I jus' think we should pick our purpose on our own! Gyahaha!

[This world]
] There was nothin' special about the place. No rulers, no leaders. But sooner or later someone had to fill that role.
] And it ended up being an old lady, the owner of the Academy.
] 'Course, not without help from the outside. A mysterious guest visited her, promising to "turn back time" to the good ol' days.
] And then, it's like somethin' CLICKED inside her. 
] Haven't seen such case of lunacy since... 
] Ehh... 
] I don't remember it! Gyahah!
] Come back later, will you? I'm sure I'll have remembered by then. 

music by @dbanzao

14 - Sage

{ Meanwhile... }

] Welcome to your new home, lightner! Have fun!

J] HEY! NO! LET ME OUT!!

] Oh come on, it's not that bad! It has everything you need!

{ Jerome looks back to view the contents of the room. }
{ There is a little bed, a bookshelf with books for children and crude drawings plastered all over the room. }
J] HEY! I'm not a child-
J] Hey, where did you go?
J] Mister?...
J] Well I guess I'm stuck here for awhile...
J] Gotta get comfy!

{ Jerome jumps on the bed half his height in length, wiggling around to get comfortable. }
{ He takes one of the drawings off the wall, examining the... artwork. }

J] Huh...

music by https://atomicthesite.carrd.co/
art by Ashry

22 - Cradle

J] Well I guess they won't mind one less measly door in here!...

{ Jerome hears faint sobbing down the hall. }

J] Wait... Ashry?
J] Buddy, are you there?! I'm coming!

{ He sprints down the hall, following the sound... }

J] Hey, buddy-buddy, everything alright?

A] M-my mom...
A] I-I brought you here... I did as she asked!
A] I thought she would be proud...
A] But m-my room...

J] Uh... What about it??

A] ...It's not mine anymore!
A] She t-told me that it's reserved for someone else...

J] You're not talking about THAT room, right?...

A] W-What?...

J] Well you know! Plastered with-

A] W-WHAT?!
A] But--
A] THAT'S MY ROOM!
{ Ashry bursts into tears, covering his face with his ears as he rolls on the floor. }
A] MINE! MINE!! MINE!!!

J] Hey, it's alright, it's alright! you can take it back! I don't need it!...

{ Suddenly his demeanor changes. He wipes off his tears and rises above. }

A] It's all YOUR FAULT.
A] IF YOU LIGHTNERS JUST DIDN'T EXIST...
A] EVERYTHING WOULD BE FINE.
A] I HATE YOU. 
A] I HATE YOU I HATE YOU I HATE YOU.

J] HEY-HEY-HEY, YA SURE WE CAN'T TALK ABOUT IT OR SOMETHING, BUDDY?!

music by @dbanzao

23 - Burn in Despair

{ BATTLE! }
{ An unloved child stretches his claws towards you. }

track by @dbanzao

24 - Mama's Boy

N] WE ARE ENTERING ENEMY TERRITORY, SIMON. 
N] I MUST SCAN FOR POTENTIAL THREATS AND THE PLAN OF THE BUILDING. IT WILL TAKE A MOMENT.

S] Uh yea, sure thing!
S] ...
S] Could you check for, you know, Jerome and the kid?

N] JEROME IS RIGHT BEHIND YOU.

S] Oh, Jerome! Haha!...
S] ...Listen.
S] I was wrong.
S] And I want to apologize.
S] I was just so consumed with going back to work...
S] I guess I just didn't think of anything around me.
S] I'm sorry for my words and actions.

J] No-no, I understand. 
J] You're a busy man, afterall. You have a job to do.
J] ...Honestly I dont know why I was so pushy about this magical adventure thing.

S] You were trying to help me, get me out of my bubble.
S] I appreciate the effort.
S] And... I think payed off.

J] So... Colleagues, friends, pals, buddies?

S] All of the above, pardner!
S] Pow, pow, pow!

{ Simon mimicks guns with his fingers and makes gun noises. }

J] Aha, That's more like it, Wild West!

S] Say... where is Ashry?

J] Well, we had a talk and I think he has a plan to do about his mom?
J] He said he's gonna wait for us on the upper floor.

S] Alright, then we should get going.
S] Let's move out.

{ Simon became the leader of a crew for real. }

\\\

{ The house of knowledge stands unloved and uncared for, covered in the blanket of dust... }

music by @mazbackattack

25 - The Place She Calls "Home"

A take on a Deltarune AU "Deltarune: The Other Puppet" created by Rejona and Sinholder.
///
A WORLD, WHERE YOUR GIFT FOR EVERYONE

IS A SECOND SHOT.
\\\
Original AU by @notrealnevereal and https://the-other-puppet.tumblr.com/

Rejona https://soundcloud.com/rejona
Sinholder https://soundcloud.com/sinholderangles
Maz https://soundcloud.com/mazbackattack
Farlandu https://soundcloud.com/dbanzao
Ziy https://soundcloud.com/ziyproject

New tracks tagged #The Other Puppet: Backdoor