Disclaimer: I don't own Undertale or any of the characters within it.
Prologue:
Deep within the Underground, a golden flower slumbered. As he slept, the flower dreamed. Dreams of past timelines. Dreams of his friends. Dreams of that human. Dreams of his family.
Suddenly, footsteps echoed throughout the chamber, awakening the flower. He stirred, moaning. A familiar figure approached, cloaked in shadow.
"Frisk?" the flower called, confused. It had been so long since anyone had visited him. And he didn't expect to see that human ever again. Not after what happened.
The shadowy figure stepped forward, and the light of the cavern showed the true face of the flower's visitor. The flower shrank back with a gasp, shock plain on his petaled visage.
"Chara? But… You're dead!" The flower looked on in surprise as his best friend stepped closer.
A terrible, twisted laugh came out the child's mouth, making the flower shudder. "Oh, I'm dead, alright. Just not for much longer."
The flower looked his friend up and down, horror on his face. The child was translucent, almost ghostly in appearance. Her face was pale, the rosy blush on her cheeks gone. Her eyes were a dull red, shining down on the flower with distaste. Her hair, once beautiful and shiny, was a matted, tangled mess. Her clothes were torn, dirty, and bloody. And her locket, the one the flower had given her so long ago, was gone. He gulped. "What happened to you, Chara?"
Another hallow laugh. The flower shrank back. There was a dark power in that laugh, one that made his roots shiver. "Oh, it's simple, really. I died, then came back. I died again. And now… Now I'm coming back. I may be a shadow of my former self, but I plan to fix that. However." Chara paused. "I will need your help."
The flower gulped, thinking. His friend was changed, darker than before. He didn't like the changes time had wrought on his friend. But… She did say she was planning to fix that, right? And besides, this was his best friend he was talking to, right?
"What do I need to do?"
Chapter One:
Frisk sighed. Life on the surface wasn't easy. Her friends, monsters and humans alike, were with her, but… Something was missing. Someone was missing. She didn't know why, but… She felt like there was a hole in her very Soul.
Ever since finishing the True Pacifist run, she and her monster friends had been living up on the surface. Things seemed fine at first, even happy. But then, the dreams started.
Asriel was warning her about something, she could tell. However, his words were muffled, and Frisk had no idea what he was saying. To make things worse, Flowey was there, too. And he seemed nice, for once. He kept telling her how great it would be, to start all over again. To reset the world, and go through all of it again. Who knows? Maybe, if she reset, she would find a way to free Asriel from his eternal torment.
She was disturbed by these nightly visions. She wasn't sleeping anymore. Sans could tell something was up, and kept prodding her to tell him about it. But, why should she? She and… and Flowey were the only ones who understood, about time.
She started to experiment. Loading her saves after long stretches of time had passed. Just to see if she could do it. And she could, with no apparent strain on her Soul. Perhaps she could… reset? Just to try to save Asriel? She felt so guilty, after all… Trapping him in flower form, with no way out.
Frisk came to a decision. She had to reset the world. Just to see if she could save Asriel, just to see if she could keep him from eternal torment.
She was in her room, on the anniversary of landing in the Underground, when she did it. She closed her eyes, pulling on the magic, the pure Determination, within her. Her body started to glow, a golden, mystical aura. But, this wasn't the glow of her Soul. No, this was the magic coming to a head. As the magic reached its apex, she unleashed it upon time. Her Soul was sent a year back, to the time she fell down to the Underground.
But, something was off. As time resettled around her, Frisk felt something stir within her. A part of her Soul, the part that had been empty all this time, was suddenly filled with something. Another Soul, perhaps? However, when she looked within her, her Soul was whole, and there was no presence other than her own in there. She withdrew, internally shrugging. Perhaps this was what it was like, when you reset time.
She was back in the Ruins, back on the field of buttercups. She scrambled up, picking up a stick from the ground. Some internal part of her calculated the stick, swishing it in the air a few times. This will serve me well, for the time being.
She walked calmly into the next room, not surprised one whit when she saw Flowey. She drew closer, holding her stick to her side.
Flowey looked surprised for a moment, and recognition flashed across his face, before he composed himself. "Howdy! I'm Flowey! Flowey the Flower!"
No playing around, this time. When he threw a few seeds at Frisk, she dodged them, waiting to see his reaction. He let her off easily, thinking she had just missed them by mistake. He gave her another shot of seeds. She dodged. He fumed, and threw bullets at her wildly. She dodged, giggling at this new game she made. Just how mad can she make Flowey?
He encircled her with seeds. She waited impatiently for Toriel to rescue her. And the rest was the same. Or, was it?
It started with the dummy. She just wanted to try something new, she told herself. She was curious what would happen. So, she whacked the dummy with the stick. Hard. It fell over with a little thud, and Toriel reprimanded her, saying that dummies were to be talked to, not hit.
The next victim was a ghost. Frisk wanted to see what would happen if she hit Napstablook, instead of talking to him. She swung her stick at him, and it passed right through. He seemed hurt, though. That made her wonder. Could ghosts be killed, in this world? She hit him again. And again. Somehow, it made her feel better, hitting the ghost. However, he got away before she could finish him.
The next one to be the focus of her violence was a Froggit. She had traded her stick for a toy knife, and her bandage was off, replaced by a faded ribbon in her hair. And Froggit didn't seem to care. Moreover, it hurt, getting hit by flies.
So, she struck out with her knife, not believing she could kill with one hit. Froggit's dust settled on her, and she felt… stronger. She couldn't explain how or why, but she felt like she could withstand more hits, more bullets. She liked this feeling, and laughed with the euphoria it brought with it. She decided to try experimenting… Seeing if this feeling would happen every time she hurt another.
She killed five monsters before exiting the Ruins. Toriel never knew about any of them. Every kill made her stronger, made her more reckless. She felt older, more mature, when she bade farewell to Toriel at the end of her stay in the Ruins. She had killed, and it had made her stronger. She would definitely learn from this.
Flowey was in a cheerful mood when Frisk talked to him. He laughed at her naiveté, but was calculating, watchful. He had seen her change, seen her kill. He wasn't about to stand toe to toe with this girl. Not again.
Frisk asked if Flowey remembered her. He hesitated, but decided to tell the truth. Yes, he remembered her. He remembered all of her previous actions below ground. And he was happy that she took his advice to heart.
"What advice?" she asked.
"About resetting. Now, you can save me. Now, you may find a way. The future is not set in stone, Frisk. Remember that." He disappeared then, popping below her feet. Frisk contemplated his words for a full minute, before setting them aside, and continuing on her path.
Chapter Two:
Frisk walked through the snow, shielding her eyes from the white flakes. She hated how cold Snowdin got, especially in the early spring. Well, at least it wasn't winter when she fell down. But, then again, why would she climb a mountain in the winter?
She suddenly heard the branch snap. She gasped, shocking herself out of her thoughts. Then she realized that it was only Sans, following her. She sighed.
Footsteps behind her. Sans, why do you follow so closely? At last she reached the gate thing. She waited, hearing the footsteps near.
"Human." Sans's voice sent shivers down Frisk's spine. She turned, holding out her hand. He hesitated slightly before grabbing her hand. Then… Whoopee-cushion time.
Sans laughed. Frisk giggled, remembering the good times she and Sans had. She looked up into his eyes, shining whitely down at her. What a good friend he was. And, what a good, lazy, and funny brother he was to Papyrus.
"He he. The old whoopee-cushion-in-the-hand trick. Wait. Did you hear that one before? You turned around before I asked you…" Oops. Frisk turned her head, blushing. She shouldn't mess up like that. No need to allude to the fact that she could reset time. Not yet, anyway.
Sans shrugged. "Eh, doesn't matter. Hey, you're a human, right? Say, I'm actually on watch for humans right now. But… I don't actually care about capturing anyone." He turned his head, winking at Frisk. "Now, my brother, Papyrus… He's a human-hunting fanatic. Hey, I think that's him, over there." He pointed behind Frisk. She looked behind her to see the silhouette of Papyrus in the distance. She turned back to Sans, hoping her face looked terrified enough.
Apparently it was. "Hey, I have an idea. Go through this gate thingy. Yeah, go right through. My bro made the bars to wide to stop anyone." He led Frisk through the gate, and on to the other side. There was that conveniently-shaped lamp again. "Quick, behind that conveniently-shaped lamp."
Frisk ducked behind the lamp and silently waited as Sans and Papyrus went through their dialogue. Once Papyrus was gone, she emerged and strode to Sans, intent on thanking him. His knowing eyes followed her every movement as she neared. He frowned. "What? Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Thanks, er…" She didn't want to allude to the fact that she already knew his name.
"Sans. Sans the skeleton."
"Thanks, Sans. I'm Frisk. Say, do you think your brother, uh, Papyrus? Do you think he'd really capture me, if I tried to talk to him? He seemed… Nice." Trying to move the story along, perhaps skip some conversation lines.
"Well… Now that you mention it… You see, my bro's never seen a human before. It would make his day if he saw you, I bet. And, don't worry. He's not dangerous. Even if he tries to be." Sans shrugged. "Thanks a million. I'll be up ahead." He turned, and quickly strode the opposite way.
Frisk giggled, shaking her head. I really need to find out how he does that, she thought. Because that's just way too cool.
She turned and went on her way. Along the way, she met Snowdrake, whose jokes were starting to go sour. She cut him down, unthinking. Icecap also met Frisk, and became rather good friends with her.
She met Papyrus again soon. She tried her hardest not to laugh at the brothers as they spun around, quicker and quicker, until Papyrus got too dizzy. Frisk smiled at him as he tried to threaten her with capture. He seemed put off by that, and left. Frisk frowned, as she didn't mean to make him leave. She glanced at Sans, who seemed to be calculating her again.
"Didn't even bat an eye, huh? Well. I'm glad you seem to have taken a liking to my bro. Just don't get him in trouble, would you? He's… headstrong." Sans walked away with that unsettling statement hanging in the air.
Frisk watched him, feeling apprehensive. He was certainly different from last time. Why was that? Was Sans having a bad day? She resolved to cheer him up a bit before she moved on to Waterfall.
She moved through Papyrus's puzzles faster, after that. She tried to appease him, however she also tried to be honest. She left Gyftrot alone when she met him, and tried hard to memorize Papyrus's explanation on Mettaton's tile puzzle.
Strangely, the puzzle solution was the same as before. Huh. Frisk wondered about that. Shouldn't it be… um…. Random? She had the feeling that Mettaton might be messing with her.
Soon, she was forced to engage Papyrus in combat. Having seen this fight before, Frisk was better at it, dodging Papyrus's bones easily. She only got hit at the end, as she had forgotten about the not-so-regular attack that had taken the place of his special attack.
After the fight, she felt bad for Papyrus. She struck an almost Sans-like pose, and asked, "Hey, Papyrus? Do you want to be friends?" She noticed that he perked up immediately. She let him ramble on for a few minutes, which seemed mostly about being friends with her and hanging out later. She nodded when he asked her over for a "hang-out" later. After all, that's what friends are for, right? Being there and making everyone happy?
She skipped back to Sans and Papyrus's house. Papyrus was already waiting for her. She went on the hang-out with him, and it was mostly the same as it was the first time. She then decided to go on to Waterfall, and see what trouble Undyne was getting into. However, Fate would have Frisk walk a different path.
Chapter Three:
Frisk knew what to expect when she came out to Waterfall. As expected, Sans was waiting at his station, a small frown on his face. He glanced up as Frisk approached, and put on a wide grin, contrasting the hopelessness that Frisk had seen on his face a few moments before.
"Hey, kiddo. Yeah, I know what you're thinkin'. I work two jobs, yeah? But, I get twice as many governmentally required breaks, so it all works out. Say, I was about to take one of those breaks when you came along. Want to check out Grillby's?" His laid-back attitude slid right into place as he talked, and Frisk found herself smiling, without even meaning to.
"Yeah," she giggled. "I've heard some wacky things from the monsters around town. Is it true that a flaming monster runs the place?" She tried to keep curiosity in her voice.
Sans came around the counter. "Why don't we find out? Come on, I know a shortcut." He led Frisk the opposite way than what she might have expected, had she not talked to him before.
In a sudden blue flash, they were standing right inside of Grillby's. Frisk gasped, something within her resonating with whatever that blue flash was. She almost stumbled, but caught herself. She glanced over at Sans, who seemed equally shocked for a moment before hiding it under a blanket of lazy indifference. He shrugged.
"Fast shortcut, huh?" Frisk nodded silently, still not too sure on what was happening. That didn't happen last time….
Sans led Frisk over to the bar, where they sat. Frisk remembered the whoopee-cushion trick, and was careful not to trigger it when she sat down next to him. Looking over, she thought she saw something flash across his face, but wasn't sure.
"Hey, Grillby! Here's my friend… Say, what was your name again?" He turned to Frisk, who repeated her name. This was all new. What was going on? "Yeah, Frisk. Anyway, we'll have a double order of burg. That okay, kid?" Frisk nodded. That's what she ordered last time, anyhow.
Grillby left to go cook their burgers, and Sans turned to Frisk, a questioning look in his gaze. "So… My bro, Papyrus? What's your take on him?"
Frisk hesitated before answering. "He's… Nice. He's the kind of guy who I like to hang with, but would like to protect more than interact with, if you know what I mean." There, an honest answer for an honest skeleton.
Sans nodded. "He's pretty cool. You know, he really wants to join the Royal Guard. One time, he stood outside of Undyne's house. She's the Captain of the Royal Guard. She took one look at him, when he asked to be in the Royal Guard, and shut the door in his face. Then again, it was midnight, so I can't really blame her."
Frisk nodded. She remembered this part, although the rest of this meeting got a little hazy. "What did he do? Stick around her house until she relented?"
Sans nodded, calculating. "Yeah. She saw his dedication, and decided to recruit him. But… He's not exactly cut out for the job, if you know what I mean. He's lovable and all, but he wouldn't ever hurt anyone."
Just then, Grillby came back with the food. Frisk turned down Sans's offer of ketchup, and was surprised when he shrugged and drank it, instead. Her eyes widened, and her voice raised a couple octaves in shock as she finally learned something new and somewhat gross about Sans.
"You… drink that stuff?! That's… Gross! Not to mention unhealthy!" Sans winked at her, shrugging it off.
"Eh, this? Nah, this is my usual from Grillby's." He finished off the last dregs of ketchup, and slammed the bottle down with a satisfied thunk. "Anyway, on to the meat of this meeting."
Frisk looked at her burger as Sans leaned closer. "Say, do you know of the talking flower?" Frisk looked up, stating the obvious before realizing who she was talking to.
"What, Flowey? Of course I do!"
Sans blinked in confusion. "Uh… Who?" Frisk realized her mistake, and quickly looked back down at her burger. Sans leaned forward. "Do you know something… No, why would you? You're just a human…" He leaned back, looking conflicted and confused.
Frisk chuckled nervously, beginning to slide off her stool. "Um… Well, it was a good time, but I think I should…" She slid off the seat and started for the door. She remembered something. "Oh, and Sans?" She turned, and he was looking back at her with a weird expression on his face. "Can you put my burger on your tab? I'm flat broke."
Sans shrugged. "I would, but I don't have the guts to do it." He chuckled before nodding. "Sure kid. I'll be at my station if you need me."
Frisk walked out of Grillby's her mind turning around itself. I need to be more careful. If he finds out… She sighed.
On through Waterfall she went. She didn't hurt that many monsters, just the Mad Dummy, who she beat up with his own attacks, just like last time. Oh, and she killed Aaron, who was too egotistical to really notice.
She faced Undyne at the mountainous entrance to the Hotlands, like last time. She tried to fight back this time, but ended up fleeing for her life, just like last time. After dumping the whole contents of the water dispenser on Undyne's head, Frisk decided to Save. She reached out with her time magic, and anchored herself next to the empty water dispenser. Afterwards, she bade the Riverwoman to take her to Waterfall, so she could visit Undyne.
This time, however, Undyne refused to even let Frisk enter her house. "I don't harbor murderers," She growled to Papyrus, before shutting the door in their faces.
Papyrus turned to Frisk confusedly. "I don't know what she means, Human. I may be brutal when it comes to cooking, but I have never once killed a monster! Human, what is wrong?" Frisk looked at the ground, feeling unsettled. She had killed monsters. Their deaths had made her stronger.
She felt something within her shrug. So what? that part of her mind told her. It's her loss, not ours. After all, we're the ones getting stronger, not her. She had to agree with it, although some small part of her still felt bad about killing these monsters.
"Nothing, Papyrus. Just thinking that Undyne could have been a nice friend, if she would only let us in."
Papyrus gave Frisk an odd look. "I agree! This is unacceptable behavior! I'm going to stand out here until she agrees to let us in. You can wait with me, if you like!"
Frisk chuckled. "I'm afraid I'll have to pass. But call me if she changes her mind, alright?" She turned and strode away, her sights set on the Hotlands, and eventually the King's castle.
Chapter Four:
Frisk knew what to expect from Alphys as she entered the large lab in the middle of the Hotlands. She didn't even flinch when Mettaton showed up, and easily answered all the questions, not even really needing Alphys's help.
After that, she kept her phone on silent as she went through the Hotlands, relying on memory to help her get through the puzzles. She ended up killing Muffet, her spider friends, and Pyrope. The Double Davis got killed, too. She ignored Tsunderplane, and Vulkin got threatened by her as she passed.
Mettaton bored and frustrated Frisk the farther she went through his deadly games. She skipped the play entirely, not wanting to relive Mettaton's terrible performance all over again. By the time she came to his resort, she just wanted to defeat him and get it over with.
At Mettaton Resort, Frisk was surprised to see Sans waiting for her. She had forgotten the date they went on, and hadn't seen him since Waterfall. She expressed her surprise at seeing him here, so near the Core.
"Eh. I sometimes swing by to see what's hangin'. Say, you want to eat? I know a shortcut."
"Sure, I'm hungry. I haven't eaten since… I can't really remember, actually." She followed Sans into an alleyway… And into a restaurant.
Frisk felt weird all of a sudden. Her Soul seemed to quiver as her vision went a weird blue color, unlike anything she had experienced before. She stumbled, falling to her knees with a gasp.
Frisk glanced at Sans with surprise as she struggled to her feet, her mind feeling heavy and woozy. Sans looked aback for a moment, before worry coated his face. "Hey, kiddo. You alright?" He helped her to a table, where Frisk sat down heavily. She shook her head, partially clearing it. Huh, that didn't happen before…
She blinked, before clearing her throat. "I'm… I'm fine, Sans. But, uh… didn't you want to talk about something?"
Sans looked at her worriedly for a moment, before deciding she was okay. He cleared his throat, and started his speech. "So. Your journey's almost over, huh?" Frisk nodded. She only needed to get to the castle, and everything would work itself out, right?
"You must really wanna go home. Hey, I know the feeling." He looked down. "Though… Maybe sometimes it's better to take what's given to you. After all, down here you got food, drink, friends…" He looked up at Frisk. "Is what you have to do really worth it?"
Frisk looked at the ground, silent. Sans took a deep breath. "Ah, forget it. I'm rootin' for ya, kid." He looked at the ground, gathering his thoughts. He glanced back at Frisk, who sat, somber.
"Hey. Let me tell you a story. So, I'm a sentry in Snowdin Forest, right?" Frisk nodded, not really certain where things were going. Strangely, she couldn't remember this conversation, even though she knew that it had happened already. "I sit out there and watch for humans. It's kind of boring. Fortunately, deep in the forest, there's this huge locked door."
Frisk gasped. She remembered this, now. "Oh, I know the door you're talking about! The one that connects to the Ruins!"
Sans blinked. "You're familiar with a door?"
Frisk giggled. "Yeah. Hey, that door's perfect for knock-knock jokes, isn't it? I almost knocked a couple myself, but… I got interrupted before I could begin." Sorry, Flowey, but I'm pointing at you. "I bet, with your puns and all, you probably knocked a dent in the door with all the jokes you pulled on it."
Sans chuckled, nodding. "Yeah. Just about every day I would visit the door, knockin' them out. One day, though, I wasn't alone. I knocked on the door, and an old lady's voice asked who was there."
Frisk leaned back in her seat. "Wait. Are you saying that Toriel was hearing your knock-knock jokes?! I can barely believe it."
Sans squinted at Frisk. "Toriel? You mean… Well. I guess I shouldn't keep you from your destiny, kid." He started to get up. "Just remember… I will only keep my promise so long as I have someone to protect by doing so." With that weird statement, He walked through the wall, blinking out of the resort with a blue flash that dazed Frisk… again.
Frisk sat there, dazed and confused. What was going on? After a few moments, she got up, and started the journey through the Core.
After killing a couple Madjicks, and creeping by some sleeping Knight-Knights, Frisk got to the final showdown with Mettaton. She wasted no time, and made Mettaton turn around by telling him there was a mirror behind him. While the killer robot was distracted, Frisk flipped his switch, and prepared for a fight with the one and only Mettaton EX.
This fight was short and sweet. Knowing what she had to do, Frisk dodged Mettaton's attacks, while posing for the audience at the same time. Every attack she made with her new frying pan was dramatic and inflamed the passions of the audience. As soon as ratings hit over the threshold, Frisk stopped fighting, catching her breath as Mettaton ran out of batteries. After he was gone, Frisk continued on. She didn't really remember what came after the Mettaton fight.
Ah, well. There wasn't much time left until she would get to see Asgore again. Hopefully Flowey will see reason this time. She hoped so, because if he didn't… Frisk wasn't about to let him off the hook this time, not without a fight.
She entered an elevator. Frisk sighed, lost in thought as the elevator made its slow way upwards. What was she going to do? If she talked down Asgore, then Flowey would kill him and take the six souls, and she'd have to do all that fighting all over again. Unless… Perhaps she could warn Asgore this time?
The elevator opened to the grey New Home. Frisk sighed, knowing that she was going to have to go the long way around, to the throne room. The elevators weren't going to take her right there, after all.
At Asgore's house, Frisk stopped to look into the children's room. Strange, there was only one box this time. Perhaps because the locket had stayed with her this time? She opened the box. Inside was a worn dagger. She took it out, her hands shaking. She didn't want to keep it, but… Some small part of her looked it over.
Serviceable, I guess. A little worn, but still sharp. I'll take it, then. Might be useful. She looked inside the box again. She pulled out a sheath, which fit snugly over the dagger. It was attached to a belt, which Frisk clipped around her waist. As she did so, she felt… Weird, like some part of her was growing in a sinister way.
She stood up, shaken. She had just realized something. There was a dark side to her, a side that wasn't entirely in her control. She walked out of the room, and down the corridor. On the wall at the far end was a mirror. And as Frisk studied her reflection, she saw a similar figure materialize next to her in the mirror.
Frisk gasped, and turned, expecting the other girl to be to her side. When nothing was there, she breathed out nervously. She turned back to the mirror, her spine shivering as she saw the paler girl in the mirror, leaning against the wall. The girl gave her a comforting smile.
"It's alright. I'm not really real at the moment, but that's okay. I'll be real soon enough, maybe. My name's Chara, by the way. I'm part of you."
Frisk paled in shock. "Chara? You mean… The one that Asriel mistook me for? You… You're the first human that came down here?" Her voice was hoarse in disbelief.
The pale girl nodded. "Yeah. I was dead, and died hundreds of years ago. But you brought me back… Sort of. Don't worry, I'll stay out of your way. You're almost at the end. Just a talk with that comedian and you've reached Dad." Her voice had a faint echo, and was soft and predatory. Frisk couldn't help but be mesmerized by her voice.
Chara started to fade. "But, for now, I'll let you get on with your journey. Don't worry, I'm never far if you need me. After all, I'm part of you." She faded out completely, disappearing from the reflection. Frisk was left alone, pale and confused.
"Okay, that was freaky," she told herself. Her voice echoed through the empty halls of the house. She made her way to the stairs, which were already unlocked for some reason. Weird, that.
She stepped down the stairs, and continued on her way. It wasn't that far. The way was quiet, devoid of all life. Frisk felt a shiver run down her spine.
No-one's here to tell you the story of me and Asriel because you already know it, sister. Chara's voice echoed throughout Frisk's mind. She stopped short, looking around in surprise. Nobody was there except for her. So why was there the creepy voice in her head? And why did it sound so familiar?
Chara's laughter bounced through Frisk's mind. She shivered, as the childish giggles were unnerving. Silly Frisk! I'm inside your head, a part of your very Soul! Of course you can hear me. Don't worry, I'll be a good girl and shut up for now. I just wanted you to know me, before we got to the end.
Frisk shivered before moving on. Having another intelligent entity inside your mind, without your express permission, was freaky. Frisk resolved to get rid of this creepy girl as soon as she could.
She took a breath as she saw the door leading to the judgment hall. This is it, she told herself. Just a chat with Sans, and I'll be meeting the King. Again. Wow, this feels very weird. I've met him, and yet he hasn't met me. Yeah, I think I'm ready now. Time to get this over with. She took a deep breath, and stepped into the golden room of Judgment.
Chapter Five:
Frisk shivered as she walked into the room. It seemed slightly colder than last time. Also, Save Point. She reached out and Saved, so that, whatever happened, if she died, she could come back. Although she had the feeling that she wasn't going to die. Not here, at least. She was only going to talk with Sans, right?
She walked slowly through the long corridor, feeling incredibly nervous. What was Sans going to say? Was he going to give her that big, long speech again? Or was it going to be different? After all… Hadn't she killed people this time? She felt guilt as she thought of those she had killed, and their families.
Nonsense. Sure, their families will be upset, but they'll get over it. And, besides, you got stronger for their deaths, didn't you? Don't you remember that rush, that feeling of euphoria? That's what killing is all about. Killing makes you stronger, gives you a sense of purpose. So stop whining, and get on with it! Chara gave Frisk a miniature heart attack as she launched into her speech.
"…" Frisk couldn't help but reluctantly agree with Chara. After all, where she was from, killers got away with their crimes all the time. And life goes on, even after death takes away the lives of loved ones. Frisk knew a lot about that. She took a deep breath, determination in her forest green eyes.
She looked up to see Sans waiting for her. Frisk took a deep breath and stepped forward. Sans didn't move, staring through the window. "So. You've finally arrived. You're journey's almost at the end."
Frisk nodded. "Heya, Sans," she greeted. He took no notice. His face was grim.
"I guess I have to be honest with you, kid. After all, it's the least I can do." He turned to look at Frisk, his eyes dark with seriousness. "This is the Judgment Hall. In a few moments, your every action will be judged. If you pass the judgment, you can go through, and continue your journey to its end. However, if you don't pass, you will die."
Frisk gulped. "How… How do I pass?"
Sans grinned a hallow smile. "Your LV. If it's past a certain threshold, I will hold you responsible for your sins, and punishment will ensue. LV stands for LOVE. LOVE is an acronym, standing for Level of Violence. It's the capacity someone has for hurting others, and the amount of hurt they can take. You gain LOVE with EXP, or Execution Points. Basically, you gain LOVE with how many monsters you have killed."
Frisk lowered her head. She had a bad feeling about this. Chara scoffed at Sans. He has no idea what he's talking about. Frisk internally shushed Chara. She had a feeling that Sans knew more than he let on.
Sans hesitated, before taking a hand out of his blue hoodie. His left eye glowed blue, and Frisk felt a tugging in her chest as her Soul popped into existence, glowing a bright red. Sans seemed to be studying her Soul. After a moment, his eye stopped glowing, and everything returned to normal. Frisk let out a breath.
"Well. I honestly didn't expect this. An LV of seven. That means that you have killed people. Mostly out of self-defense, but partially on purpose. You probably didn't mean to kill your first victim. You probably just wanted them to stop hurting you. But you did kill them. And the feeling of strength… You liked it. You kept the kill count low, but you killed enough to get stronger." Sans's voice was low, almost like he was talking to himself.
He looked up, speaking louder. "You have passed, although I have to warn you. Whatever you do, it will stay with you the rest of your life. Don't do anything stupid, kid. You've been warned." With that, he stepped back, into the shadows, and a flash of blue announced his disappearance.
Chara was not impressed. Well, that comedian thinks he knows everything, huh? Well, he doesn't even know I exist, so there! Besides, he's just a lazy skeleton who's way too overprotective of his brother, right, Frisk? Frisk shook her head.
"Shut it, Chara," she muttered to herself. "I don't know what's gotten into him, but he's definitely acting… different, from last time." She hung her head. "He… knows. About… what I've done. Everything. I don't know how, but… I think he knows more than he lets on."
Chara scoffed. Pfft! It's not as if he can warp time itself, now can he? He's just trying to get under your skin. Now, come on. We have an appointment with Dad, and he won't like it if we're late.
Frisk started to walk. She came to the entrance of the throne room, and took a deep breath. She looked to the right, and saw a Save point. She clasped it like a drowning man would a life preserver. She then stepped into the room, hoping that things would still be the same as last time, at least for this.
It was, at least until the end. Frisk had beaten Asgore, and he had knelt. Frisk had decided to spare Asgore, knowing that if she did, Flowey would show up. Flowey had indeed shown up. Frisk decided to warn Asgore, this time, however. To try to keep him alive.
"Watch out!" Too late, Asgore turned to look behind him. The friendliness pellets, or bullets, really, hit him square in the chest. He disintegrated into dust, his glowing Soul trembling in front of her. Frisk watched in horror as, for the second time, Flowey destroyed Asgore's Soul.
Flowey stood, laughing. "He, he he! You truly are an idiot after all, aren't you? Making the same mistake twice. And, this time, the souls won't get loose! This time, they won't betray me! Humans, Monsters, everyone will bow before me, as I start my rein of supremacy!"
And then Flowey attacked, turning into Omega Flowey once again. Frisk dodged and feinted, weaved and ducked. She only got hit a couple of times. The souls were much more willing to help her this time, however. Perhaps because they knew her, and knew that she was good? The whole fight didn't last near as long.
In the end, Flowey was defeated. He stood, panting, waiting for Frisk's verdict. Frisk hesitated to spare him this time, however. Knowing how things went the last time, she trusted him to betray her trust if she let him go. Chara was all for killing him, scoffing at his pathetic attempt to kill them. If I was trying to kill us, with the arsenal he had available to him, my tactics would be much better than his. He is, by far, inferior to us. And, anyway, he is in pain. Better to put him out of his misery than for him to suffer, right?
"…" Frisk reluctantly agreed with Chara on this one. Her hand shook as she raised the knife. Flowey looked up in alarm, too late, as the dagger came down on his head. He was utterly destroyed, and their journey was finally over.
Frisk turned to the barrier. Without a Monster's Soul, she would never go through. And she knew from experience that only Boss Monsters' Souls linger after death. She sighed. Seems like she was stuck down here, forever. She decided to find a place to hide, while all the chaos boiled over.
For nine months, Frisk stayed on the move, not letting any monster see her. She was considered the murderer of the King, even if that was not how it happened. She became a fugitive, hunted by the Monsters. Chara helped her stay away, and when things got ugly, Chara would help her get out of the situation.
One day, Frisk's Time magic started acting up. She hadn't saved for weeks, and was alarmed by what was happening. And then, she felt the sensation that she had felt a year to the day ago: The sensation of Time resetting itself. She tried to stall her magic, but it was too late.
Chapter Six:
Fisk woke up on the bed of flowers that seemed more than familiar to her by now. She groaned and sat up, rubbing her head in confusion. She had not reset on purpose, this time. What had happened? She turned inwards. Chara seemed… Different, somehow. Stronger, perhaps? Chara noticed Frisk's interest.
It's none of your concern. Now, please, can we be going now? Frisk got up, a scowl on her face. She hesitated. What would Flowey say to her? After all, she had killed him.
Flowey was not in his usual spot, when Frisk came to the next room. She stood there, dumbfounded, for a moment. He had always been there. Maybe he was upset that she had killed him? Was he still dead, somehow? She felt guilt weighing down on her. She had killed. There was no doubt about it. She was not an innocent little girl anymore.
Chara scoffed. You killed some monsters. So what? They were going to kill you, if you had let them. It's a kill or be killed world out there, sister. You have to learn that, or you're never going to make it. Look at me; I tried befriending the monsters, and where did it get me? I'm dead, have been for centuries. My best friend is dead, and his parents are separated by a single argument. Innocence is death, ignorance is dishonor, and the only ones who get anywhere in life take action wherever they can.
"…" Frisk hesitated still. She shook her head, disbelieving. A voice broke her reverie, however, before she could argue with Chara. Footsteps echoed throughout the chamber as Toriel hurried into the room.
"Are you alright, child? Have you fallen down? Don't be frightened. I am Toriel, caretaker of the Ruins."
"… I'm Frisk." She let Toriel guide her through the Ruins yet again. It had been a long time since she had gone through there. A few months, maybe. Chara remembered this much more than Frisk, and helped her out in a few spots. However, Chara did also kill quite a few monsters before they got to Toriel's home.
Frisk stayed in Toriel's place for a week. That was the longest she stayed there thus far, but she still felt… Unsettled. Her magic had gotten out of her control when the reset had happened, and she was still shaken by that fact.
Chara was the one who had persuaded Frisk to leave Toriel. Don't you want to see your other friends, too? The dogs, the Gyftrot, that comedian… You won't ever get to see them, and make sure they're okay, until you gain enough Determination to step through those doors and into Snowdin.
"…" Frisk had to admit, she was pretty worried about her friends. Sans especially. He had acted so weirdly that last time… Frisk wanted to make sure that he was alright.
So, of course, Frisk and Chara went through the whole Toriel battle. Chara smirked as Toriel sadly walked back to her house afterwards, while Frisk stood facing the doors, steeling herself before going through them. Chara chuckled softly as Frisk hesitated.
What, you afraid of a door, now? Just go through it already. Besides, the hard part's already over. What's more to be afraid of? A little scorn from a flower? Or, better yet, no flower waiting for you at all? Is that what you're really afraid of? Pfft! That's ridiculous! It's just a flower!
Frisk walked through the doors hesitantly, not sure exactly of what was going to be on the other side. Sure enough, Flowey was nowhere to be seen. Frisk hesitated before going through the second pair of doors. She missed Flowey, although she hardly dared to admit it, even to herself.
What, you falling for that weed, now? You're too soft. Like I said before, it's kill or be killed. Move on, already. Besides, you're wasting daylight, or whatever they have down here. You don't want to be stuck in a snowstorm in the middle of the night, trust me.
"…" Frisk reluctantly agreed with Chara. There was nothing for her here, only dead memories of a probably dead flower. Head down in silence, Frisk stepped into Snowdin Forest.
Chara hummed a soft tune as Frisk made her way through the forest. Here and there, the snow falls, gently through the woods. Here and there we walk along, briskly through the forest. Hands shake in the cold, like when life takes a hold. Grab a cup of cocoa; keep the frost from head to toe. Here and there, the snow falls, gently through the woods. Here and there we walk along, briskly through the forest.
Frisk stopped suddenly, her thoughts focused on Chara. I didn't know you were such a good singer, Chara! Where'd you hear that song?
Chara blushed as she shrugged. I learnt it from Mom. Toriel, I mean. She would sing that as we walked through Snowdin. I picked it up, I guess. I forgot about it, actually. Until we came here, that is. But, anyway, that's enough fooling around. We're nearing the point where that comedian breaks that branch, aren't we?
True to Chara's inward words, they were coming up on the branch. Frisk carefully walked over it, making sure not to crack the branch in any way. She then pushed on, hearing the branch break only a minute later. She tried not to smile, and failed. Her face lit up like a Christmas tree as she realized that her friend was probably just fine.
Chara inwardly yawned. If you like him so much, why don't you kiss him and get it over with? I mean, he's the same height and everything…
Frisk was appalled. Her face flushed as she inwardly turned on Chara. It's not like that! Besides, who are you to talk? You've been dead for God knows how long, and you're only, what? Thirteen? I bet you haven't kissed many guys in your life, either! So, there!
Chara chuckled darkly. Her voice was a soft purr in Frisk's ears, predatory. Touchy, aren't we, sister? And, don't ever talk about me being dead again. I may be a shadow of who I once was, but that doesn't mean I'm powerless. Not by a long shot, sister.
Frisk's spine shivered as she continued her journey. She came to the "barrier" that Papyrus had erected and stopped, waiting for Sans to catch up. She heard snow crunching behind her. Chara started looking around. Suddenly, Chara stiffened. Here he comes, she warned. He does not look happy. Beware, I can sense that something is not right. Be careful, sister. And with that, Chara cut off communications with Frisk. Frisk pretended to be studying the fence-like structure, while concentrating on the footsteps behind her, which were louder and nearer.
The footsteps stopped. A bone-chilling voice broke the silence. "Human."
Frisk turned, offering her arm to Sans. He hesitantly took it, and the whoopee-cushion thing went off. She forced out a low chuckle, even though Frisk didn't really find it all that funny anymore. After all, she had seen this joke, what? Three times now? It felt like she had experienced it more than that. She inwardly shrugged, as it didn't really matter.
The whole Sans experience was the same as last time. Frisk ended up in Snowdin Town, having killed Icecap and Snowdrake from Snowdin, and Whimsum, Modsmal, and Vegitoid from the Ruins. She had again tried to kill Napstablook, as well as the dummy from one of the first rooms in the Ruins. She stopped by the store for some Cinnabunnies, which were being sold for a very low price of 8G per Cinnabunny. She bought four.
She then went on to the next area, which was where she would be fighting Papyrus.
Chara had persuaded Frisk to actually fight the skeleton this time. It's not like you have to kill him or anything. Just make him earn his so-called victory. You can do it; you've already gotten past him. Why not do it again, but with a little more fight in your soul?
Frisk had to admit, it did sound like a good idea at the time. Although she didn't particularly like hurting monsters, this would just be a game, and wouldn't hurt him that much. So, it was going to be alright.
Chapter Seven:
Papyrus went through his little speech before the fight. Frisk let him get it all out patiently, her hands warm inside of the new gloves she had found. She had a theory that the gloves were once another Human's, but were lost when their Soul was taken. She didn't know if that theory was true, and she didn't particularly care. If they worked, she would keep them. If they didn't, she would throw them.
Suddenly, she felt a tugging sensation within her Soul. The battle had begun. Chara slid into the forefront of Frisk's mind, controlling Frisk's body for a short time. Frisk and Chara had only recently discovered that Chara could do that, and Chara at least was eager to try her moves out on a real opponent. Frisk was less eager, nervous at the thought of putting up a fight against Papyrus of all monsters.
Chara hopped over the small bones that grew from the ground, gaining confidence with each successful dodge. She lashed out, punching Papyrus in the stomach. Or, well, she would have, if skeletons had stomachs.
Papyrus doubled up, surprise and hurt in his eyes. Bones grew up out of the ground, blocking Chara from getting to Papyrus. Blue bones flew from the side. Remembering what had happened the last time, Chara stood perfectly still, and the bones passed right through her. She smiled, as the "blue mode", as Papyrus dubbed it, did absolutely nothing to her. As she was a shadow of a true Soul, the blue mode could not affect her. And, although it could affect Frisk, it did not, as Chara was in control over Frisk, at least for a few minutes.
The bones blocking Papyrus shot downwards as Papyrus glanced at Chara, to see what had happened. Chara surprised him when she sprang at him, hurling her fists into his skull. His head whipped back, somehow staying on his shoulders despite there being no flesh or muscle to keep it attached. He stumbled backwards, a dent in his skull.
"…You are strong, Human. Stronger than I expected. However! I, the Great Papyrus, shall not be defeated so easily!" Papyrus retreated back behind his bones as several bones came from two directions at once, some being blue and others being white.
Chara jumped and writhed, somehow managing to dodge all of those bones. Frisk inwardly watched in awe as her body performed some amazing feats. I didn't know I could do that.
Chara smiled. I know more than you think, sister. After all, I have been watching this world far longer than I'd care to admit. I've learned a thing or two from some of the monsters. She chuckled as she walked calmly over to the bones Papyrus was hiding behind.
Once she neared the bones, she slowed. She hit them, her fists connecting with ferocious force. There was a terrible cracking sound, and suddenly Papyrus was revealed, the bones he had been hiding behind shattered by Chara. Like I said before, I may be a shadow of my former self, but I still have power. Don't mess with me.
Papyrus stiffened as Chara stood before him, panting slightly. Sweat beaded on his head as he laughed nervously. "Nyeh he he. It seems you have defeated me, Human. I admit, I did not think you were strong enough. It seems the Great Papyrus underestimated your strength."
Chara's eyes flashed. "Pathetic. I was looking for a real fight, yet you lasted only a few minutes. Normally I would grant you pity, but I am all out of pity at the moment, I'm afraid. See you in the next life, skeleton." With that, she punched him under the jaw. His head popped off his shoulders, and rolled onto the ground. His body fell to dust, and Frisk's voice shouted in Chara's head. However, she didn't care. She was in power.
The skeleton's head was not dust yet, however. Chara remedied that by giving a strong kick to the skull. It fell apart, and she rejoiced, feeling stronger than ever. She let out a laugh, a twisted smile on her childish face.
Frisk was upset. She used her Determination to kick Chara out of control. She slipped back into her body, falling to her knees. Her forest green eyes reddened as they filled with tears. Sobs shook Frisk's body as she grieved for her friend. "I'm sorry," she whispered to the fallen Papyrus. "I'm so sorry."
In her head, she was screaming at Chara. Why did you kill him? He just wanted to be friends! You said we didn't have to kill him! You said it would be fine!
Chara scoffed at Frisk's display. He was weak, that's why. I have told you time and time again. It is kill or be killed out there. Perhaps this will teach you. The weak are meant to be taken out by the strong. We have proven ourselves strong this day. Now dry your tears. He is gone. What's done is done, and there is no going back. It is time to move on.
Frisk sniffled. He was kind, passionate. Besides, he had Sans to help him. Oh, no! Sans! I've forgotten! He will be even more upset when he finds out. He'll kill me. Frisk stood reluctantly. I will never forget this, Chara. You've lost my trust, now.
Chara chuckled darkly. Throw your tantrums all you want. I'll still be here. You're stuck with me for a while yet. Now, better get going, before that comedian returns and lays us out on the floor. Besides, dusk will come soon, and I'd like to be in Waterfall proper before then.
Frisk started walking, her feet dragging through the snow. You are a true monster, you know that? Just because I'm doing as you ask doesn't mean that I condone what you just did. I just want to go away and never come back, now.
Chara huffed. You are truly stubborn, aren't you? Fine, be that way. See if I care. Oh, and you're almost to Waterfall, I see. If my memory serves me right, that comedian should be here….
Frisk looked up to see that Chara was indeed correct, and they were in Waterfall's entrance. She looked around, but San's station was empty. The echo flower's friend wasn't there, although Monster Kid was. She plodded over to the armless reptile. "…Hi."
The teen smiled as Frisk approached. "Yo! You sneaking out to see her, too? Cool! Just, uh, don't tell my parents. They'd kill me if they knew I was sneaking out to see Undyne beat up bad guys."
Frisk glanced over at Sans's empty station. "… You know where that guy ran off to?" she asked, pointing at the station. The kid looked over at the sentry station, not really paying attention.
"Uh… No? I don't even know the dude, personally. Oh, I know about him, but… I never talked to him. He was too quiet for me. His bro, on the other hand…"
Frisk held up her hand, cutting the kid off. "Thanks." She frowned, lost in thought as she bade the Monster Kid good day. Where could Sans have run off to? He always was at the station. Maybe he saw the fight? No, that's impossible, or else he would have stopped her from killing his brother.
Chara scoffed at Frisk, her inward self crossing her arms in exasperation. I did what I had to, to survive. Had I not killed him, he would have captured us or even killed us. It is survival of the fittest, even down here. That bonehead was not fit enough to survive, and so I ended his misery. Would you rather he suffered a slow, painful death, cursing you and everyone you love? No? Then quit whining, and move on already. Now, let's go.
Frisk moved on, her head lowered. She gritted her teeth as she moved throughout Waterfall. She only killed Aaron, Shyren, and Temmie this time. Chara smiled as she watched Frisk tearfully stab the cat-like creature with terrible grammar. She hustled Frisk along, occasionally whispering words of encouragement in order to move her along her path.
Then Frisk got to the fight with Undyne. Undyne was furious at Frisk, and upset that her friend, Papyrus, was dead. She blamed Frisk for it. Frisk's lip trembled as she stood before the fish lady. She felt so guilty, and so afraid.
Chara leaned over Frisk's Soul. Let me handle this one. This fish is really tough, much harder than that bonehead. Besides, you're not in your right mind right now. Let me take over for a bit. I promise you'll have your body back after the fight….
Frisk gulped, before narrowing her eyes in Determination. She had to survive, and to survive, she had to let Chara take over, just this once. She internally nodded, her arms shaking as she stepped forward, signaling to Undyne that she was ready to fight.
Chara took over, as Frisk's Soul stepped back, intent to watch. Undyne launched herself at Chara, her war cry tearing through the air.
Chara side-stepped at the last second and Undyne hit the floor with a loud crash. The fish recovered quickly, and aggressively threw magical spears at Chara's face.
Chara ducked and dodged, before grabbing at the last spear while it passed by. She clenched the weapon, deciding to use it mainly as a shield for Undyne's attacks, but also partially for her own attacks. After all, this was the first magical weapon Chara had gotten her hands on. She wanted to see what it could do.
Undyne growled. "Stop dancing and fight back!" Chara was more than happy to comply, silently slashing out with the fish's spear. Undyne's eyes widened, as she hadn't noticed her weapon in the child's hand. Her armor shattered as Chara struck Undyne in the stomach. Undyne doubled up, stumbling back with a gasp.
"You… Grr... I'll kill you for that, human!" she dove at Chara, a gleam of fury in her eye. Chara smiled at Undyne as she stepped back, forcing Undyne to fall short of her target.
However, Undyne was not to be defeated that easily. She flung her magic behind Chara without the human noticing. Spears jabbed from behind, and Chara let out a surprised yelp as one of them hit her, wounding her leg.
Chara narrowed her eyes at the fish warrior, seething rage in her expression. She lashed out, knocking aside more spears as she stumbled toward Undyne. Her leg was bleeding, but she paid it no heed as she threw herself into the fray with more energy than ever before.
Undyne's eye widened as Chara closed in, flailing Undyne's spear at her. "I got you, Human! No escaping me now!" She flung herself at the child, just as Chara raised her weapon upwards.
Undyne gasped as her spear thrust itself deep within her chest, burying itself within her. Her breath came in great sobs as she took in the damage. She had seen wounds like this before, in other monsters. She lowered her head, tears threatening to shed. She just knew she was going to die.
And yet, something deep within her stirred, even as her body started to split into millions of dust particles. Deep within Undyne's Soul, something wouldn't, no, couldn't give up. She refused to die, her Determination gaining strength as she held herself together.
She gritted her teeth. She may have been dealt a killing blow, but she wasn't about to let that stop her. She picked up a spear that had fallen next to her. She looked up. That darned human was standing over her, smirking at her victory. Undyne, fueled with desperate rage, launched herself back into the fray, her attacks sloppy and easy to dodge.
Chara's eyes widened as the fish came at her again, growling with wounded rage. Chara slipped to the side, avoiding the spear easily. She let out a shaky laugh. "You're stronger than last time, fish. I'll give you that. However, so am I, and I have more than a few tricks up my sleeve." With that, she lashed out with her stolen spear, stabbing into the fish.
Undyne refused to give up. She tried harder, even as she felt herself start to unravel. "I will not give up," she panted, as she summoned two spears to launch at Chara. The child twisted, ducking underneath the magical projectiles. "I will not."
Chara readied herself for the next attack, holding her spear in front of her. As the magical spears flew through the air towards her, she swung, batting the spears out of the air with her own. She noticed that the attacks seemed to be slowing. Good, she thought to herself. I can't keep control forever. The shorter the battle, the better.
Undyne continued her attack, tiring herself and her magic as she stretched herself to her limits. She started to gasp for air, her body wavering as she held on desperately for dear life, her attacks struggling to form. She decided to give one last effort, before her Determination ran out. Sweat beading on her dusty form, Undyne sent three spears floating slowly towards the human. The human knocked them out of the air like it was nothing, and swiped at Undyne.
Undyne smiled. She was out of Determination. Her body's dust began to melt together as she slowly died. "Alphys…" Undyne whispered her love's name as she faded away, becoming no more than a pile of dust.
Chara smiled to herself as she let Frisk take over. Another job done, more strength for both of us.
Frisk was in a terrible mood as she stepped back into her body. She cried out, tears pooling in her eyes. She hadn't known that Chara was going to kill Undyne, too! She burst into sobs, her muddy green eyes turning darker as she felt strength seep into her Soul. Undyne, the wonderful warrior who had taught her how to make spaghetti, the lovable fish lady who had done her duty, even to the end, was dead.
Frisk rounded on Chara within her mind. Why did you kill her?! You could've… could've fled! Or spared her when she was hurt enough! Or… Or anything else! You didn't need to kill her, she was strong! So don't give me that whole "the strong take down the weak" spiel! She was a sobbing wreck.
Chara sighed. I've told you, it's kill or be killed. And, yes, she was strong. Strong enough to handle a lethal blow and keep fighting. She wasn't going to spare me, and so I didn't spare her. She wouldn't have fled the battle, and neither would I. Dry your tears, as she would have killed us without a second thought, had our positions been reversed.
Frisk sniffled. But… She was only doing what Asgore had asked of her! I… I don't understand. Why… Why did you kill her? She felt emotionally drained all of a sudden. She just wanted to curl up, go to sleep, and hope that all of this was just a bad dream. However, she couldn't. She glanced at the dust of her one-time friend. "I'm sorry, Undyne," she whispered.
Frisk moved on, her tears drying on her face. It was past midnight, but she knew that she wouldn't get a good night's sleep for a while yet. She sighed. Ever onwards she pushed, Chara's words of encouragement helping her to put one foot in front of the other.
As she walked, Frisk thought about the first time she had fallen down into the Underground, before Chara became a part of her. She hadn't killed anyone, then. And yet, the second time, when Chara was helping her, some monsters died. And now, with Chara starting to gain control, even more monsters are dying. She didn't know what to think of it, but she had a bad feeling about Chara.
Chapter Eight
The Hotlands were dreadfully hot this time of year. During the winter and autumn months, it was almost bearable. During spring, most monsters left the Hotlands alone, however, because the lava pits rose up with the warmer weather, and became suffocating hot. One had to be careful during this time, as one small misstep, and you would end up in the lava.
Chara absolutely loathed the Hotlands. She was in a rather bad mood throughout Frisk's journey, and let Frisk handle the killer robot. She wasn't quite ready to stand toe to toe with the cruel foe of heatstroke, after all.
After that Undyne fiasco, Frisk was more than happy to let Chara stay quiet. She hummed through the Hotlands, not really bothered by the extreme heat. She had survived worse up on the Surface, after all.
Chara shook her mental head at Frisk. How can you stand the heat? I'm baking.
Frisk smiled, her eyes shining in the light of the lava. Because I've survived it before. And because it's a whole lot better than what could be happening at the moment. Here's a little tip: No matter how bad things get, always say to yourself, "It can be worse." Because chances are, it can get much, much worse.
Chara scoffed. Such optimism. One would think that would've melted away, after the experiences we have had. Are you truly that naïve, sister? Are you actually that stupid, to truly believe what you preach?
Frisk frowned. Don't call me stupid! And, besides, it's true. After all, I almost died trying to defeat Flowey, and yet I didn't. I saved the Underground once before, haven't I? So, yes, things can be a lot better, but they could also be a lot worse. Be glad that it's just heat, and not… more than that.
Chara hummed in thought, turning her attention back to the task at hand. Although she couldn't bear the heat, that didn't mean she was totally down for the count. Her job had become a task of staying vigilant. She was on the lookout, making sure that no-one approached Frisk by surprise, and keeping an eye out for anything amiss.
They came to Mettaton Resort early in the morning. Frisk paid for a day's lodging at the front desk, and went to her room. The bed was so soft and inviting, but she had work to do before she slept. Her Soul filled with Determination, she glanced at her reflection in the mirror, willing Chara to show herself.
Chara's image leaned against the wall, yawning. What do you want, sis? I'm tired. Her red eyes stared at Frisk, confusion and weariness in her gaze.
Frisk took a deep breath. "Why do you kill?" Her words, all four of them, were quiet. And yet, they were filled with trembling power.
Chara's eyes widened in surprise. I thought you knew that, already. After all, it's not like you can't read my mind.
Frisk rolled her greenish-brown eyes, her arms shaking with emotion. "I know the answer, I guess. I just… I want to hear it from you. Directly."
Chara sighed, looking away. Tell me something. When you first came to the Underground, you didn't kill anyone. I can tell, as it colors almost every thought you have about… Your so-called 'friends.' I can tell you were happy, about the ending you got, you know? So, why did you reset, the first time?
Frisk hesitated. "I… I was happy, yeah. At least, I think so. But… Something didn't feel… right. I don't know why, but I felt… Incomplete. You probably don't understand." She glanced down at the ground, studying her feet.
Chara laughed; a hollow, empty sound. Oh, boy, you have no idea how well I understand. I was trapped, without a body, without a Soul, for hundreds of years. I had to watch as that… That weed learned how to reset, save, and load. I silently followed his downfall into insanity. And I hated every moment of it. Her voice was bitter, the faint echo ringing with memories of a distant childhood.
Frisk swallowed. "I… I don't know where you came from, on the Surface, but… Weren't you happy? Down here? Wasn't it better than whatever you experienced up top?"
Chara stiffened. I'm done talking. Now go to bed. She faded from the reflection in the mirror, and Frisk was left alone, tired and confused. It wasn't until the next morning that she realized that Chara hadn't really given a direct answer to any of her questions.
Throughout the Hotlands, Frisk had only killed Muffet and Vulkin. But, as Frisk started her journey through the Core, things were different. She murdered every single Madjick she came across, and a few Knight-knights fell to her blade. She left the rest of the monsters alone, however, conserving her strength for the battle with Mettaton.
Chara was excited for this next challenge. She wanted to see if what she had learned from the Undyne fight would apply to this one. So when it came time for them to fight the killer robot, she was sadly surprised when Frisk refused to let Chara take over.
No. You'll… You'll kill him, if I let you. I see that, now. But… I'm not quite ready. Please, just this once, let me do this my way.
Chara scoffed, incredulous. You really think that you can beat him, on your own? He's a killer robot, trained to fight weaklings such as you!
Frisk smiled a broken smile. I've fought him before. His weakness is his vanity. If I can turn him around, and flip his switch, then I have a chance. A dance battle will ensue. Don't worry, though. I'll fight back. I'll just use less force than you would, and I'm not aiming to kill him. Quite the opposite, in fact. She thought back on the first time she had seen Mettaton EX. Ah, happy times.
This time, however, Frisk was determined to keep Chara from the fight as much as possible. She dodged and spun, posing theatrically. However, Chara was not to be underestimated.
She tried to take over Frisk's body by force. Frisk was totally unprepared for that, and wasn't able to prevent Chara from striking the metallic Mettaton EX. However, ratings increased astronomically the more damage Chara did. All too soon, the battle was won, ratings were higher than ever, Mettaton's batteries ran out, and Frisk took back control.
I can't believe you tried that! Frisk was furious with Chara, who didn't really care. I… You could've killed him! I told you I would take care of it, and you… I don't even have words right now.
Chara yawned, unimpressed. Yeah, yeah. Look, sis. We're in this together. Both of us want this journey to end. And, besides, I have no way of getting out of you, now. So just deal with it. The real world sucks, and life ain't fair. You gotta learn that someday, or else you'll die. Plain and simple, really.
Frisk stormed into the elevator, shaking her head. Just leave me alone, Chara. I just… I don't know what's happening anymore. I need some time to myself.
Chara let out a chuckle. I'm inside your head, scatterbrain. It's not like I can go anywhere, can I? But I'll shut up for now, if that's what you want.
Good. Frisk turned her attention to the last bit of her journey. She just had to have a chat with Sans, defeat Asgore, and fight Flowey. That was really all that was left to do, at this point. She had gone past the point of no return. All that she could do right now was move forward. She was filled with Determination.
She moved quickly through New Home. Most monsters kept out of Frisk's way, and those who didn't tried to talk to her. But she didn't listen. She was too preoccupied with thoughts of the future that she hardly noticed the monsters that crossed her path. Many a monster had to dive out of her way as Frisk stormed through, almost running over her one-time friends in her hurry.
And then she was in the golden Judgment Hall. Frisk swallowed, suddenly uneasy. She hadn't seen Sans since… Snowdin. She shivered despite herself, her brown eyes glittering in the light as she looked around for her skeletal friend.
Suddenly, a quiet, hoarse voice broke the silence. "Human," a familiar voice greeted. From the shadows Sans stepped forward, his eyes downcast. Frisk inhaled sharply. Around Sans's neck was a hauntingly familiar red scarf. Her eyes glittered with unshed tears.
"Sans? Is… Is that you? God, it's been a while, hasn't it?" Her voice was high-pitched with raw emotion. Sans didn't look up. His body looked broken, defeated. Chara snorted at the pathetic shell that stood before them.
"So. You finally made it. Normally, I'd give you a big speech, but… I'm not feeling up to it. So, instead, I have a question for you." His voice shook. "I've watched your journey. You act as though you know what's about to happen before it even happens. I know this is an odd thing to ask, but… If you have some sort of special power, isn't it your responsibility to do the right thing?" He glanced up, searching for something in Frisk's face.
Chara slid up to Frisk. He knows something. I don't know what, but he knows. Say no. After all, you're a kid. He shouldn't expect a kid to have all this responsibility or power, right?
Frisk hesitated. You sure? What if… What if he's talking about… His brother?
Chara sighed. He's playing you. He's probably bluffing. Time to call out his bluff. He's upset, yes, but that doesn't mean anything. He has to move on now, as should you. Say no.
This small debate spanned only a couple seconds. Frisk took a deep breath. "…No." Her voice shook as she made her decision.
Sans blinked, somehow unsurprised yet disappointed. "Heh. Well, that's your viewpoint. I won't judge you for it." He took a deep, steadying breath before speaking, his voice gaining a dark, predatory edge to it as his eyes went dark. "You dirty brother killer." And with that chilling statement still hanging in the air, he stepped back into the shadows and disappeared.
Frisk inhaled sharply in surprise. "…Well, I'm officially an evil murderer then," she muttered to herself. What the heck just happened?
Chara breathed in too. That little comedian thinks he can call me names, eh? He'll get what's coming to him. Eventually. She internally nudged Frisk. Come on, there's nothing left for us here. Let's move on.
With a heavy heart, Frisk reluctantly continued her journey.
Chapter Nine
Just before entering the Throne room, Frisk Saved via a Save Star. She had learned that she could Save two different ways. The first, and by far the easiest, was via the Save Stars that dotted the Underground. As far as Frisk knew, only she and Flowey could see the things. The second option was by harnessing her own powers, sort of like when she Reset, but differently. She used the second option sparingly, as it was way more difficult, and much more powerful.
Frisk stepped into the Throne Room, and saw the familiar and somewhat comforting figure of Asgore Dreemur. She took a step towards him, not realizing he hadn't seen her yet.
Asgore turned, the sound of footsteps alerting him to Frisk's presence. "Is someone there?" he called out. He stiffened when he caught sight of Frisk. "Oh, it's you." His face burned with regret as he realized what must come next. "I see. You… You must know what we must do, then, correct?"
Frisk nodded, silent. Her throat closed as she thought about her plan. She hoped it would work. She was starting to feel homesick, for perhaps the first time in a long while.
Asgore sighed. He turned, stepping away. "When you are ready… Step into the next room. I am… truly sorry, child." With that, he strode out of the room, presumably towards the Barrier.
Frisk took a deep breath, emotion clouding her mind for a moment. Was she really going to do this? After all, she had only had this plan for maybe a day, since she woke up in Mettaton Resort.
Chara nudged Frisk's Soul. You agreed to this plan, when you didn't have to. Now, you just have to follow through. Or are you a weak coward who won't even follow through on her sister's plan, let alone anyone else's?
Frisk sighed. She had long ago given up hope of trying to dissuade Chara from calling her "sister." Alright, fine. I'll do it. But… You better be right about this, or you're in big trouble! She started walking, following Asgore hesitantly. And I mean big trouble.
Asgore was waiting at the barrier. "You know what we must do, human." The Souls rose up from the ground. "It was nice to meet you. Goodbye." With a regretful and forlorn expression, Asgore conjured his great red Trident, and the battle began.
Chara took over almost immediately. Frisk only offered token resistance. Chara smiled at her father. "See you in the next life, Dad," she muttered. She dodged a wave of flames thrown at her, and started the battle.
She started by testing the waters, her knife flaring in the light of the Barrier. She swiped at Asgore, but her knife glanced off his armor, doing only a few points of damage at best.
Asgore gripped the Trident, and tried to spear Chara on the prongs. In a wild maneuver, Chara twisted, avoiding the Trident, and stabbed out with her knife in the same movement. Her knife found a weak spot in the armor, right above Asgore's knee. It plunged inside, and his knee gave way to the cold metal of Chara's dagger.
Asgore cried out in pain as he staggered, his leg bleeding. He sent complex patterns of fire dancing toward Chara as a counter-attack. Chara dropped to the ground and rolled, getting to her feet with only singed hair to show for Asgore's mighty attack.
Asgore glanced at his Trident. With a whoosh of flame, he coated the prongs in blue fire. He then hauled back and flung the weapon through the air like a spear.
Chara had a weird feeling about this attack, like she had seen it before. She stuck with her instincts, which had never guided her wrong, and held still. The air around her swirled with foreign magic as the Trident sailed right through her, without hurting her in the slightest. She silently cheered, a smile lighting her childish countenance.
The flames on the Trident flared bright orange, and it came zooming back towards Chara. Chara, trusting her gut, started walking forwards, towards the incoming projectile, never standing still for a second. Again, the Trident went right through the girl, not doing any damage. She let out a twisted chuckle.
The Trident landed back in the King's hand. His face set with a grim frown, he threw another wave of complex fires flying towards Chara. She ducked and twisted, avoiding the hot flames. She glanced at her dagger. I wonder just how much damage you can do… Well, let's see, shall we?
She launched herself at the goat monster, slashing with her knife. He fell back, a cut appearing on his jaw. He lashed out with his own Trident, and Chara danced back, bouncing slightly. She saw sweat beading on her father's forehead. He was starting to tire.
Now's my chance. She struck out, aiming for his head. He ducked, thinking she was going to try to decapitate him. At the last moment, she slammed the knife downward, slicing through the lowered head. Asgore's face lit up with surprise as his body turned to dust.
A twisted smile grew on Chara's face as Asgore's Soul flickered into sight. She reached out, trying to absorb the Boss Monster's Soul. However, a familiar ring of seed-like bullets stopped her hand. She growled in frustration as Flowey destroyed her prize.
Flowey laughed a twisted chuckle. "Don't look so surprised, Frisk. You knew I was going to take him, anyway. Although, I'm quite impressed by the fighting skills you've learned."
Chara let Frisk take over, disgust in her thoughts. You take care of this weed, before I rip it to shreds. Serves him right for taking my Soul. Frisk, on her part, was flabbergasted. She had thought Flowey dead.
"Flowey? But... I killed you, right? And, you weren't at the start, and didn't follow me..."
Flowey chuckled. "You're an idiot. You really thought I stayed dead, after a Reset? I didn't show myself on purpose, stupid! I was more vulnerable at the start then I ever am here! And, I didn't follow you because I already knew where you were going. I stayed here, in the garden, waiting for you to show up." Suddenly, several glowing Souls rose out of the ground. The six human Souls were once again in Flowey's grasp. "And now, it's time for you and I to have our little dance." With that, Flowey absorbed the six Souls, becoming Omega Flowey.
Chara took over with a growl. Let me take care of it, then. Don't worry, this weed won't last long. And she was right. The Souls, familiar with Frisk by now, betrayed Flowey gladly. The fight lasted only a few minutes, before the Souls came out and wrecked the golden flower's day. After being defeated, Flowey whimpered at Chara's approaching form.
"You defeated me. That should be enough, right? Frisk? You wouldn't hurt an innocent flower, right? Show some mercy?"
Chara growled at the weed in her way. "Why should I show mercy to a weed like you, when you wouldn't show me mercy, if our roles were reversed? And besides, you stole my prize." With that, she slashed out with her dagger, and the psychopathic flower was no more.
