Mistral
The Lab - November 22, 2012 - ????
Resistance meetings since the death of Ray Pines had gotten most decidedly pointless, Mistral decided at the third meeting she'd attended since starting her quest for JUSTICE. All it was was a bunch of (mostly) adults arguing in circles while a few sane, reasonable attendees tried to actually get anything done. Today's source of argument was whether minors (like Mistral and the twins, Frisk, or Blooky) should even be allowed at these Resistance meetings. On one side of the spectrum there was Toriel, who firmly believed that the children should be spared the hardship, and on the other side there was Great-Uncle Ford who knew that they could handle it. It was really not helping with the whole defeating Bill thing.
"I understand that the children are perfectly capable, Stanford," Toriel seemed to be trying very hard to stay calm. "But I do not think it is their responsibility to end the apocalypse. Have they not been through enough?"
"Of course not!" Ford snapped. "It could always be worse!"
"woah, ok, i think we all need to chill." Sans interjected, hands up. "maybe we can talk about this some other time, tori. like when they're not all in the room with us."
"Oh! Oh, my..." Toriel sat down in her chair, a slight blush coming to her cheeks from embarrassment. "I suppose my emotions were getting the better of me."
"don't sweat it. happens to the best of us." Sans winked over at Frisk, who smiled back at him slightly.
"Now, if we could get back to business," Ford said impatiently. "We need a new strategy. Something that will win this war."
Something that would win... they needed to get to Mettaton. Mistral knew she could get through to him if she just had another chance. And without Lightning Bolt, Bill would be much easier to get at. But how to make them see that?
"We gotta deal with the Lightning Bolt issue." Mistral looked up in surprise when the words came not from her, but from Wendy. The older teen had a determined look on her face. It almost mirrored Mistral's own feelings. "He keeps killing people, and that demon is just hiding behind him! Like, what's scarier than some emotionless robot?"
"He's not that scary," Undyne muttered. "Kinda pathetic if you've known him his whole life, actually."
"Miss Corduroy is right." Asgore said with a somber tone. "The Prince of Chaos is... rather formidable."
"I think we're all thinking the same thing." Grunkle Stan's eyes were narrowed. "I don't like saying this, he was a fine kid, but we have to kill him."
Mistral's eyes widened. K-Kill him...? N-No! She didn't want that!
There was a shocked outcry throughout the room, reactions ranging from horrified to thoughtful. Mistral looked around at everyone. She had a sinking feeling.
"We can't do that, Stanley!" Ford glared at his brother. "He's a victim! Besides, it would make us no better than Cipher."
"Victim?" Stan snorted. "Seems like a willing participant to me."
"You never understood what it's like." Ford clenched his fists. "What he can do."
"I understood well enough. He's been in my head too."
"Even so..."
"Stan has a good point." Wendy spoke up. "It doesn't seem like there's any other way. He's just going to keep spreading chaos unless we stop him."
"H-He doesn't know himself!" Alphys cried. "He's my b-best friend, and I know something's wrong. He's b-been... brainwashed!"
"Alphys, he's... dangerous." Undyne put a hand on her girlfriend's arm. "I don't like it any better than you do, but..."
"We can't kill Lightning Bolt!" Frisk burst out. "What about Mistral? What about Napstablook? The rest of his family! Everyone who loves him!"
"WHAT ABOUT ALL HIS FANS?" Papyrus's voice sounded strangely small. "HE'S GIVEN US ALL SO MUCH HOPE. HE CAN'T JUST..."
"There is no choice." Asgore looked as tragic as Mistral had ever seen him. He directed his next words to Napstablook. "I am sorry, young one. I know you are his closest family here."
"it's.... alright...." Blooky looked down, tears falling from their eyes. "i've already...... said goodbye to him before."
"Isn't there always a choice?" Frisk looked up at Asgore. "We can always choose to SPARE, can't we?"
"Not this time."
"You're just the same as always, Asgore." Toriel shook her head, angry. "But... I must admit I don't see another solution."
"I can't take this anymore!" Mistral suddenly burst out. "Do you all hear yourselves? What Lightning Bolt needs is JUSTICE! Does this feel like JUSTICE?"
"Mistral-" Ford started.
"No! Don't stop me! I know I'm right!" Mistral crossed her arms. "Mettaton Blook took my father from me. I'm still willing to forgive. Not forget, but forgive. What does that say about all of you?"
"She's right." Mabel spoke up. "If he can be redeemed..."
"But what if he can't be?" Dipper asked quietly. "We need to get him out of the way somehow."
"Dipper..." Mabel's eyes widened.
"Does anyone have another solution?" Ford asked, voice heavy.
The room was silent. Mistral stared at everyone, the JUSTICE in her SOUL extra indignant about how stupid everyone was being.
"I don't believe this." She hissed out. "You're all so full of... shit."
"M-Mistral!" Alphys gave Mistral a shocked look. "I know! I know. But if there's n-nothing we can do..."
"How can you all... abandon him?" Mistral stared back at Alphys. "How can you abandon your best friend?"
Alphys looked down in shame. Mistral scoffed.
"Right. I see how it is." Mistral stood up. "I'm done with these meetings. They're completely and utterly useless to me."
"Mistral, wait!" Frisk grabbed Mistral's arm. "We can still-"
"No, we can't." Mistral shook them off. "There's nothing to be done, apparently."
"Let her go," she heard Dipper say softly as she stormed out of the room. "She just needs some time to cool down."
Some time to cool down??? That was most definitely NOT what Mistral needed. What she needed was to be able to reach Mettaton. And fast. Before the so-called Resistance could end his life.
She walked quickly through the halls, her feet already knowing where she was headed before even her mind did. She was almost surprised when she realized where she'd gone, but Mistral supposed it made sense. Mettaton's room... as good a place as any.
Mistral locked the door behind her when she entered the room. She was more familiar with it than ever now. She'd had a few more talks with Rose since the first one, and the place they used was always this room. It helped.
She settled back on the bed and shut her eyes. She had JUSTICE and HOPE on her side, surely she could get through this mental block...? She devoted all her strength into making that stubborn robot hear her.
Mettaton... Mettaton. Lightning Bolt! C'mon, just answer me... Mettablook? Does that- no??? Why can't you hear me?? What's wrong with you?? Ughhhhh, Lightning Bolt! It's me! Mistral! Please, please tell me you can hear me!
HE CAN'T. BUT I CAN.
Mistral jumped. That was Bill! And he sounded... annoyed. She felt her shoulders tense up, but then she took a deep breath. She could do this.
Let me talk to Mettaton.
YOU MEAN LIGHTNING BOLT! His laugh echoed throughout her brain. She groaned. OH, LIGHTNING STAR. I'M NOT STOPPING YOU FROM TALKING TO YOU! HE'S DOING THAT ALL ON HIS OWN!
Give him back! Mistral wanted to punch Bill in the face. Unfortunately, he was only in her mind. I know you're controlling him.
GIVE IT UP, GIRL. Bill's voice in her mind hurt to... not listen to. It was so much worse than that. HE'S NOT YOUR FRIEND ANYMORE. HE'S A DEMON. A PRINCE OF CHAOS. HE'S MINE, FOREVER.
Don't get too comfortable. Mistral lashed out with her mind, trying to make him feel the same mental pain. I will get him back.
Bill was stunned silent for a moment. Then he laughed again. I DON'T DOUBT IT, KID! YOU'RE REALLY SOMETHING SPECIAL! MAYBE YOU WOULD'VE MADE THE BETTER DEMON!
Not interested.
NO... BUT PERHAPS YOU WOULD BE INTERESTED IN A LITTLE FRIENDLY COMPETETION?
You're not friendly. Why would I do that? You killed my father!
NAH, KID, YOUR FRIEND DID. BUT LISTEN. I WANT TO SEE WHERE THIS GOES. SO I CAN YOU A FEW HINTS FROM TIME TO TIME... AND YOU CAN TRADE A LITTLE RESISTANCE INFORMATION BACK... AND SO ON AND SO FORTH UNTIL ONE OF US WINS.
Wins... what?
WELL, IF YOU CAN GET LIGHTNING BOLT BACK TO THE PERSON YOU THINK HE IS IN ONE MONTH... THEN I'LL BACK OFF! LEAVE YOUR LITTLE RESISTANCE GROUP BE.
And if I fail? Mistral didn't trust this. Didn't trust Bill. But a chance to save Mettaton... That was worth something.
THEN YOU'LL HAVE TO WORK FOR ME PERMANENTLY.
Mistral hesitated. Become a (hopefully temporary) spy... in exchange for the closest thing she'd ever had to an older brother? Either way, she'd be close to him again... Mistral knew it wasn't a good idea, but...
Fine. Make it a deal.
THIS IS TOO EASY! The laughter echoed throughout her mind. For an instant, in her mind's eye, she was shaking Bill Cipher's flaming hand, and then his presence left her mind entirely.
What had she just done? She really prayed she wouldn't come to regret that deal.
"Mistral? It's me." A gentle knock came at the door, accompanied by a familiar voice. "Sorry to... interrupt, but can I come in?"
Mistral projected an acknowledging feeling at Rose and got up to open the door. She didn't really want to talk to Rose, but it wasn't like she could pretend she wasn't in there.
"I heard about what happened." Rose entered the room as soon as the door was open. Mistral closed it again. "Sorry, that really sucks."
"About what...?"
"The Resistance meeting?" Rose cocked her head at Mistral. "Y'know, they decided to murder Glittertits? Like I said, really sucks."
"Oh. That." Mistral bit her lip. "Yeahhhhhhh."
"Sorry again." Rose hugged Mistral, holding her tight. "I'm not abandoning you. Don't worry about that. I'll support you in your crusade."
"Thanks, Rose." Mistral was at a loss for words. Didn't Rose see what she'd done...? If she had, she wasn't acknowledging it. That was... nice of her. "We'll get him back. Your father, too. We'll fix everything.
"Your hope really is infectious." Rose murmured. "I believe it."
Mistral smiled. She wasn't alone. JUSTICE would win out in the end.