Undertale
The Human Influence
Rotation 2: Day 3
The Chara Conundrum

The clock rolls back into the deadest part of the night, eclipsing into morning when all people should be asleep, but instead a military siren blares out. Frisk and Asriel look to the streets to see people organizing something, but they are not sure what.

"Hey." A random person says from behind them. Frisk and Asriel turn around to see an inconspicuous adult woman talking to them.

"You… you're Asriel, aren't you? The king's son."
"Y-Yes?"
"… You're not safe here."
"Huh?" Asriel bleets.
"Look. Something big is about to go down… I don't know why it was so easy to get everyone riled up so fast, but monsters are in extreme danger right now. First Asgore, then Mettaton… Monsters are being exterminated left and right. You, Frisk… I believe in the cause you guys fought for. Get Asriel to safety. Wait for this to blow over…" The woman says before disappearing into a nearby crowd as the sirens get louder and more consistent.

"Is this because of Clover?" Asriel asks. Frisk furrows his brow.
"Everything is still happening…"
"Huh?"
"Everything is still happening the way it did last time. We have to stop Clover, now."
"What was his next target?"
"During these riots, Undyne and Alphys were found dead a day later. We have to find them."
"Where are they?"
"I have no idea. Without a need for a royal guard or head scientist, they vanished from the mainstream to live alone somewhere. I only heard they were dead through Chara…" Frisk recollects.

"Then where's Chara?"
"That story is a bit more complicated…"

*5 years earlier, right before the barrier opens…*

"Are you sure, Chara?" Frisk asks. The barrier is about to fall and the monsters have all mobilized behind the it, awaiting that promised time. Chara however has dragged Frisk into the shadows with a strange look on her face.

"Yeah… I can't do it again." Chara lets out, never making eye contact with Frisk. She speaks up again.
"As stupid as it is to admit… I can't help but admit that I've fallen in love with you, Frisk… and I cannot follow you. Not like this."
"… Chara…"
"Hah, look… I was never supposed to exist this long anyway-"
"Don't talk like that. Asriel said the same crap to me, and he deserves to be happy too."
"… Hah, you're right. Maybe I'm just being selfish…"
"Then?"
"… I don't know, Frisk. I don't have any parents. Never did."
"What about Toriel and Asgore?"
"They have all of their memories, Frisk… they know what happened long ago with you, me… the genocides."
"…" Frisk sighs and nods.
"I can't face them anymore. The guilt is overwhelming… I feel… I feel that I have to atone."
"How?"
"I don't know. Even if it takes me a hundred years… I need to find that answer out for myself." Chara says, planting a kiss on Frisk's cheek.

"Goodbye, Frisk… you're too good for this world." She says with a strange smile before fading into the shadows. Frisk rubs his cheek and frowns.

"Goodbye…" Frisk says to himself. Alphys walks up from behind him.

*Later, near the Barrier's fallen visage.*

"Hey, Chara. What's up?"
"Oh, nothing Alphys. You uh… excited to go to the surface?"
"Well, I was nervous at first… but Undyne was talking about us just… leaving, you know? Leaving the city and everything."

"Oh? Where will you go?"
"I think it's best if you don't know. No offense, but we don't want to be found."
"Is something wrong?"
"Well… to be honest, in the years after we regained our memories from the Worldsoul, I went and built Mettaton again. I know, we don't need a human extermination robot anymore… but he really liked that body, you know? He's gonna be living on the surface again since he got his memories back, and I just… I still feel guilt from all the things that were done in the past, you know?"

"Trust me, I know." Chara confirms. Alphys smiles nervously.
"So… Undyne and me were just gonna find some random cabin in the woods, or cave in the mountain and just lay low, you know? Live on the surface… but out of the way."

"I understand. … Annoying question… would you mind if I joined you?"
"Huh? Don't you want to live on the surface?"
"No." She says simply. Alphys can see a complex emotion across Chara's face and shrugs.
"I'm sure it's no trouble, if you'll have us."
"Thanks. I won't stay forever… just until I figure my stuff out, you know?"
"Mmhm." Alphys says before waddling over to Undyne who is standing at the lip of the cavern as Frisk slowly walks back up.

"What was that all about?"
"Ah, Frisk. I've decided to follow Undyne and Alphys for a bit. You know… clear my head… live in the wilderness for a while, away from everything."

"I understand. I'll miss you."
"I know… I'm sorry. Goodbye for real this time." She says with a genuine smile, waving.

Frisk waves back, but doesn't smile.

"Wow… I had… no idea." Asriel lets out. Frisk nods, but looks around.

"I think that woman was right, we need to get out of here. That crowd looks rowdy. Let's go." Frisk insists.

Frisk and Asriel spend the next few hours escaping the city on foot, being extra sure to let no one see their faces. Before long they end up on the outside, but through their trip, gunshots and screaming rang out one by one. It took every ounce of Determination they had to resist the urge to help them… but they know deep down that it would be too late, and being put into unneeded danger is unwise.

"So… Undyne and Alphys are going to die, and the only person who knows how to find them is also missing…"
"It's not a fantastic situation, no." Frisk confirms.
"Is there no way we can find Chara?"
"I wouldn't even know where to begin."
"Then we have no choice… who died after them?" Asriel sadly asks. Frisk sighs and nods.

"Toriel."
"… Mom…"
"It was on the fifth day. I left to look for Chara and while I was out of the house, it was destroyed. Toriel was nowhere to be found."

"Was it Clover?"
"I don't know. Maybe."
"Did you ever find Chara?"
"Chara eventually found me on the sixth day. By then, everyone was dead… Everyone except you."
"…" Asriel diverts his eyes and collapses on the grass. They look up to see the morning sun starting to rise. Asriel notices a small cave and points at it. Without so much as a word, they both seek refuge in it. Their fatigue is catching up to them. They haven't been to sleep in two days, and with the city in anarchy, they cannot return home.

"I hope we can stop Clover in time before this gets worse…" Asriel lets out.
"I know. Me too." Frisk says as they both lay down in the cave. It's stiff, but it'll do.

Frisk falls asleep, but Asriel tries several times to call Toriel on his new phone. She never picks up. He falls asleep with a pit in his stomach.

Clover stands at the Temple of Determination. Something's been troubling him, his aim is off and his hands are trembling. He looks at his guns within his hands.

"Guys? Am I doing the right thing? I… the people in the city, something's… wrong…" He says, appearing to talk to himself, but before long the human souls that were left at the temple begin to swirl and rise.

"Your actions… are justified…"
"Your every attack… borne of provocation…"
"Though the third aspect of justice… may need to be employed…"

"Third aspect? … Vengeance… Retribution… Atonement." He says to himself, looking at his guns.
"You are saying that I should suggest atonement to claim Justice for the fallen?"

"Asgore… was a troubled soul…"
"He did what he knew was wrong… so that his people would not suffer…"
"In his final hours… he felt peace knowing that you were the one to kill him…"
"But there is always another way…"

"But the humans who supported me in town the other day… the ones who took Baseball Bats to Mettaton… were they not driven by aspects other than Justice?"

"Many were simply angry…"
"Seeking outlets to their prejudice…"

"Prejudice…" Clover spits on the ground.
"I've spent enough time with them to know that what I've been doing is Justice, not prejudice."

"Perhaps… though your soul is clean from the burden of guilt…"
"Your followers… they pursue your ideals for the wrong reasons…"
"Your path leads to retribution… their paths lead to destruction…"

"…" Clover goes silent at the sentiments of the human souls.

"There is a way to absolve you of your burden… and claim Justice…"
"Across the mountain range… away from Ebott…"
"Two monsters live… one guilty… and one emboldened with Justice…"

"Justice? A monster?" Clover gasps.

"It is true… Undyne the Spear of Justice…"
"She seeks companionship from one with a heavy heart…"
"A scientist that was responsible for the death of not only humans, but monsters…"
"Sins of a time forgotten… her soul shudders… seeking absolution."

"And you suggest that I go to them? Not as a conduit of Retribution, but as Atonement?"

"It would help them…"
"And you…"

"What would this solve? I think I've already inadvertently started a war. I punished the guilty, and now others make a mockery of my Justice… the streets burn and racism courses through the world… I fear that my actions with those monsters will mean little in the long run."

"There is another…"
"Who can help you…" The souls let out. Clover raises an eyebrow.

"Who?"
"Chara, the First."
"…!" Clover looks shocked to hear that name. It's been over a decade since he's gotten his memory back from the fallen timeline, and not a single reference to Chara has been made… until now.

"Where will I find them?"

"Continue on your path… all will be made clear…"

"Very well. Thank you, friends." Clover says, tipping his cowboy hat before taking his leave, his heart feeling a bit lighter.

A long distance away, a young woman stands amidst the ruins of an old town. Plants and vines grow over the old structural scaffolding as it's apparent no one has lived here in a very long time. Yellow buttercup flowers grow in mass here. The young woman walks among the meadows and clearing in between the broken buildings and has been for a long time. It brings her a strange sense of peace.

As she wanders the ruins of this area, she sees someone in the distance she at first has a very hard time understanding being here.

"Hello?" She lets out simply.
"Hello." The boy responds. The woman looks him up and down, confirming her suspicions.

"You… you're one of the fallen humans. I'm sorry, but I don't know your name."
"Clover, and you're Chara, yes?"
"Yeah, I guess I shouldn't be surprised."
"What is this place?" Clover asks, looking around. Chara looks over and frowns a small bit.

"This… was my old home. When I came back to the surface I thought I would avoid it for the rest of my life, but curiosity got the better of me… though it turned out it was for naught, the village has been gone for a long time." Chara says, the buttercup pollen blowing in the breeze.

"I see. Do you have any contact with the civilized world?" Clover asks.
"Haven't checked up in a while, I will admit." Chara admits with a smile.
"That's… good. I've come to ask for your help."
"Sure. You helped Frisk revive this world, I'll do whatever I can."

Author's Note: I'm rehosting the Unseen Influence Trilogy on account of my patron vanishing. This story will be deleted if he ever returns. Until then, enjoy yourself.