Chapter Text
"I just wanted...to make a good TV show!!!"
The somber cry of a broken man, a lost boy, and the monster that had trapped SMG3 and his friends in his hellish TV shows since 2023. His defeated, collapsed form now making this once powerful figure look pitiful. Yet, everyone's faces were twisted into unsympathetic scowls. Everyone's...but SMG3's.
He recognized this monster, this lust for fame and power rooted in loneliness and self-loathing. The need for control and prominence reminded him of his old, ruthless self. His old self, and the horrible villain he once was. As SMG4 braced himself to smash Mr. Puzzles' fragile TV head to smithereens, SMG3 put a hand on his forearm.
"Wait," he says simply, walking closer to the crumpled Mr. Puzzles. SMG4 looks at SMG3 in confusion, but relents, albeit hesitantly. SMG3 kneels down, meeting Mr. Puzzles' defeated gaze. Mr. Puzzles' winces, bracing for the worst. After realizing SMG3 wasn't going to harm him, he scoffs, glaring at him,
"What? Gonna GLOAT? Go ahead. I know when I'm beat," he snips with an angry scowl, SMG3 sighs, giving him a sad smile.
"No, actually," he starts, sighing softly, "I just wanted to ask...is this what you really want?"
Mr. Puzzles cackles incredulously, staring at him in disbelief.
"Didn't you hear me? I had an entire song about it and everything! I want 5 stars! Fame! Global adoration! But you and your meddling friends just COULDN'T stick to the program, could you?!" He spits, sneering at him. SMG3 gazes at him silently, before huffing softly and shaking his head.
"This isn't how you get that, Puzzles. Adoration? You think manipulation and televised torture will get you that? People like someone who's genuine," he says softly, causing Mr. Puzzles' sneer to melt into a look of bafflement.
"...what?"
"You need PEOPLE, Puzzles," SMG3 continues, "Not stars."
"B-But..." Mr. Puzzles blubbers in confusion, "How will people KNOW me? Why would they LIKE me outside of my programs? My shows are all I HAVE!" He exclaims, a glimmer of fear in his eyes.
"Well..." SMG3 says softly, giving him a small, warm smile, "You don't need your shows to have people to help you. Come on, let me help you out. I've been through the same pain you have, Puzzles. Needing power to feel justified? Control to feel wanted? I get it. Let me help you, please."
"HELP HIM?!" SMG4 suddenly interrupts, glaring at Mr. Puzzles, then SMG3, "After everything he's done to us?! Are you out of your mind?!"
"Yeah!" Meggy pipes up, the other crew members murmuring in agreement. SMG3 sighs, looking at SMG4.
"But you helped ME, even after I tried to kill you. I wasn't any different than he is. He wants fame because he needs validation, same way I did," he says, his gaze hardening, "And if I could change, he can too."
"But you're not a psychopathic MIND CONTROLLER!" SMG4 retorts, crossing his arms, "We need to deal with him before he causes more trouble."
"4, come on, let him have a chance! I was there with you, thinking he's a horrible person. But what if he can change? I can see he isn't just a maniac, we can help him. We can't just kill him!"
"You were just fine getting rid of Zero! And that cost us Axol!"
"That's different!"
"HOW?!"
"Because there was no reasoning with him!"
"And there's NO reasoning with this guy, either," SMG4 finishes, glowering at Mr. Puzzles. SMG3 looks back at him as well with a pitying look. Mr. Puzzles gazes at them both warily, although there's a calculating gleam in his eyes as he processes SMG3's statement.
"Puzzles, can you promise to try?" SMG3 says, causing Mr. Puzzles to tilt his head in confusion.
"Try..?"
"Try to change. I know you might not think you can...but I can see a better person inside you than you let show. Give up all this. You don't need fame and fortune to be happy. I'll give you a place to stay, a job to get you back on your feet after all this. Just...please, try. This can't work if you don't," he says, looking at Mr. Puzzles hopefully. Mr. Puzzles looks between SMG3 and SMG4, obviously still tense and ready to whack him at any sign of trouble. He silently ponders his options for a few moments, before grumbling begrudgingly,
"Hmph, fine. But don't blame me if this fails. I'll...try, I guess," he says, slowly getting up, much to everyone's shock. Meggy stares at SMG3, now with Mr. Puzzles standing reluctantly by his side, and throws her hands up in exasperation.
"Are you SERIOUS?!" She exclaims, gesturing to Mr. Puzzles, who takes a wary step back, "You can't just let him GO!"
The rest of the crew shouts their agreements, looking just as upset as Meggy. SMG4 nods silently, obviously not privy to the situation, but also not wanting to go against SMG3. SMG3 looks at them all with an upset yet understanding look, speaking pleadingly,
"Can't we just give him a chance? A few months, then we can decide what to do!" He asks, and Meggy huffs angrily.
"YOU can do whatever you want! Wanna get killed? Backstabbed? Fine! But I'LL have no part of it!" She exclaims, turning and storming off, obviously unable to contain her anger any longer. One by one, the others follow after her, leaving SMG3, Mr. Puzzles, and SMG4. SMG4 stands there for a few silent moments, before looking at SMG3 worriedly.
"SMG3..." He says, before sighing, realizing SMG3 won't give up his idea, "Just...call me if you need help, ok? And if this gets out of hand, you HAVE to tell us. We can let you be, but I don't trust him at ALL. You'd better tell someone if he tries anything, alright?"
SMG3 nods, smiling gratefully, "Ok, yeah, thanks 4. I know what I'm talking about though!"
SMG4 shakes his head, sighing and walking off along with the others, "I hope so."