Work Text:
Truth.
Such a simple thing, in theory.
The opposite of a lie, something real and right and fact.
But- who decided the truth?
The Universe? It’s players? The liar, the lied-to?
Who indeed.
Truth.
Whoever controls it, controls everything. Truth is what the world runs on, and when you shift it? Rearrange the pieces just so, cutting and molding them into an entirely new image?
Jamato already controls the Universe and (most) all of its players.
He’s already above them all, far more than they could ever be.
And it all came back to what decided, controlled the truth and what was contained in that.
The answer differed everywhere.
Not every server had a god, after all.
But on Unstable?
As long as Janmato exists on this server…
Everything else is Null and Void.
And those are two things Jamato is very familiar with.
(so assured aren’t you, confident in your own absolute power. blind to your own flaws, to what you’ve become.)
Spoke deserved this, deserved to lose power and finally be caught. He deserved to lose everything. He was the liar, he was the reason for everything.
He was everything.
(and you’re the reason for him)
Jamato controlled the truth, and by extension, Spoke.
Everything.
(control? what have you become, what do you really control?)
It would all be worth it, in the end.
Null was necessary, and Jamato needed control to finally be able to stamp out Spoke.
(you are what you claim him to be)
The words echoed in his head.
Worth it.
It had to be.
(do you even know what truth truly is?)
Control. Control the truth, Control Spoke, Save the server.
Save. The. Server.
(of course you don’t. or you do, you’re just such a good liar that you’ve convinced even yourself.) Your truth is a lie.
No. Jamato— Jamato had to do this.
Had. To.
You’re worse than Spoke. Just as bad as Ash. And yet, you are still nothing (compared to them).
No. Jamato was everything. He was saving the server—
…
That voice was wrong.
Always had been.
Keep telling yourself that, Jamato.
I am you, of course. Doesn’t that mean you’re still a liar?
Spoke’s voice echoed in his head, grating and mocking.
No. No.
“Mapicc is gone, because of me! No one trusts you, because of me! Don’t you understand, I am the truth, the Absolute!” He snarled, clutching his head.
I’m still you.
And he isn’t here.
No one is.
All you are is insane, all you are is a bitter liar who can’t look yourself in a mirror.
Look at what you’ve become.
Ash’s voice. Jamato’s was low and trembling when the words ripped from his throat.
“I’m better than you ever were! I’m right, I’m real, and I’m doing what needs be done. You’re nothing anymore, I’m everything! Better!” He could almost hear Ash’s laughter in the air, even when spinning around only met him with empty air.
Are you?
Wasn’t Spoke everything? And if Spoke is everything… doesn’t that leave you nothing?
And take a look at Null.
Look familiar?
Oh Jamato, you talk so much about control. Power. Righteousness. And you don’t realize—we are one and the same now. You and Spoke are one and the same. We are all different facets of the same coin. The real Ash is just the only one who ever acknowledged it.
And you think you’re right?
Doing this for everyone?
It’s the “right thing”?
Why don’t you control all the other… problems?
Wemmbu. FlameFrags. Even ParrotX2. Arachnid. LettuceK. Why did you never step in, why do you never step in, unless… it’s Spoke?
.
.
.
Jamato hesitated for a moment.
Weak as always Jamato.
“You know nothing about me.”
This time, it was his own voice.
I am you.
No.
No.
No.
Keep on denying it, Jamato.
We all know who the real liar is here.
Spoke. The liar is Spoke. Always has been.?
And they’ll figure it out soon enough too.
It’s for the better. They’ll see that. All of them will.
… liar liar, pants on fire!
He stared at his reflection in the mirror. Hollow eyes, armour just like his-
Before he could fully process it, his fist was through it, shattering him into a thousand little pieces ashes gathering on the ground flying all around him because he was never enough and he could never fully ignore the truth and-
The voices are wrong.
Wrong.
they have to be.
Do you really, truly believe that Jamato?
I am you, after all.
.
.
.
(it’s always been me)
You may control the ‘truth’...
But even Ash fell eventually.