Chara POV

Uhhhh! Waiting is sooo boring! True, it had only been two days, but come on! I'm getting a little tired of stealing bits of food to keep Amane's body fueled. I forgot how much food humans need, especially Amane. Man, this girl can pack it away!

I scanned the wrappers littering the floor. My old hideout was still intact, even if it had acquired some wear and tear. In a corner of the city, a large portion of the area has been deemed off-limits. It was where humans and monsters had mingled when the city, a small village back then, was first founded. Even after all these years, it was rarely populated. True, people would try to set up shop and build structures on this land; however, they always fell to crap. Buildings would collapse, pipes would burst, wires would fry, injuries occured, and even a few deaths. Of course, these all had logical explanations, but the residents started to believe the land was cursed by the spirits trapped monsters. Even the local teenagers would wet themselves if they spent more than a minute in here.

Currently, I was living in my warehouse. It was one of the few buildings established before a section of the roof 'mysteriously' collapsed and killed a man. (The construction manager used cheap material and hasty labor. He stuck with the superstition to avoid charges. It didn't work.) I had started hiding out in here when I still lived on the Surface. It was closest place I had to call home.

The warehouse had three levels: the ground floor, a series of crosswalks and converging platforms, and a mezzanine running along the wall near the ceiling. I was sitting on that mezzanine with my feet dangling between the railing.

A box filled with the Fallen Children's items sat by my side (I was so mad when I realized I had only grabbed one of the gloves!). I was still wearing Amane's tutu and ballet shoes. I had washed them, but I couldn't bear to keep them off for too long. I may still be myself, but I was inside Amane's body and merged with her SOUL. I can't erase the habits and emotions carved so deep into Amane's being. Now, I just have to allow some of her lingering traces to influence some of my actions. Nothing major, but it was still uncomfortable at times. When I hear a song on the street, sometimes Amane's body would get this urge to start dancing.

I sighed. This really sucks. I have control over Amane, but it's not enough. I can't do anything with just one child. It would be near impossible to snag Frisk, and Grizelda has already fought me off once, so I'm waiting for one of the other children to come back. I just hate how long this is taking!

I unwrapped a chocolate bar and took a large candy melted in my mouth, making me purr. I sighed again. It wasn't the same. I picked up a blueberry muffin and shoved it in my mouth. Amane's body relaxed has warmth seeped into her bones. I wrinkled my nose. Amane was very fond of chocolate, but she adored blueberries. God, I never thought about how much I would miss my taste buds!

I finished my snack and tossed the wrappers to the floor below. Just the thought of liking blueberries more made my stomach flop. Then it flopped again. I started shivering, a cold sweat breaking out on my forehead. I gripped the railing as my feet knocked against each other. It's happening! I could feel it: those blessed strings pulled taut as the SOUL pulled its way out of oblivion. I smiled against my body's condition. Who will it be? I can't wait! I can't wait! I can't wait!


Frisk POV

I hate myself. I'm a coward, an idiot, just plain pathetic! I let them just walk out the door! How could I be so useless?

Two days had passed without any sign of Chara. Toriel had been so rattled that she spent the night in Muffet's bakery, the rest of us trying to comfort her. She was inconsolable even today. It was my fault that happened. Chara tricked her, walked right into our house, and attacked Toriel. I had vomited when I heard what happened.

Another fault of mine was Chara taking the items. Those were the items I had promised to protect for the fallen children. Now almost all of them were gone. I tried to hold on to the little satisfaction I had for the remaining items: the apron, the glasses, the notebook, one of the gloves, and Grizzy's items.

Oh, Grizzy. I can't look at her anymore. The look on her face when I told her Annie's items were gone made me want to break down. Speaking of her, she was standing with Alphys at the monitor. We were in her lab once again, as we had been for days. Everyone was so busy, and Toriel was in no state to take care of us, so Alphys adjusted her schedule so that we would be able to stay with her.

After I learned what happened, I wanted to hug Flowey. I would have bet anything that he would side with Chara, but he fought them and saved the apron. I couldn't find him. He had vanished shortly after it happened. I don't know where he is right now.

Alphys was performing every test imaginable to the results she got from Amane. Alphys was trying to figure out what was controlling her. Grizzy and I had come to a mutual stand of staying silent about Chara. It was so ridiculous that no one would believe us, and if they did, Toriel would never heal. Plus, no one needs to know about when Chara had control over me. That was my burden.

Alphys and Grizzy had started talking when a ding caught our attention. The elevator opened, a wave of fear running through me. The monster standing in the doorway was the king of monsters himself: Asgore. My head snapped towards Grizzy, afraid of how she would react. She only watched as Asgore crossed the room to the two of them. When he saw her, Asgore stiffened. He reached out a hand, solid as wood.

Grizzy misinterpreted this as a greeting. She took his hand and said, "Hi, I'm Grizzy! Nice to meet you."

I was dumbfounded. I expected her to be angry, but she was smiling at him. What was happening?

Asgore just stared as the girl moved his hand. He found himself and replied, "H-hello, Grizzy. My name is Agore." He winced as he waited for her to explode.

She didn't. "Asgore… I like that name!"

Asgore was shocked. Heat rushed to my ears. Alphys dropped her clipboard. It can't be… She has to… doesn't she?

Asgore cleared his throat. "Thank you. I'm actually the king of monsters!"

Grizzy's eyes widened, her smile widening tenfold. "The king!?" She squealed. "That's awesome! I'm honored to meet you, your majesty." She curtsied as she giggled. "What are you doing here?"

Grizzy stared at the king in wonder. Asgore looked at Alphys, she looked at me, then the three of us looked at each other. She… she doesn't know. She doesn't know that Asgore was the one that killed the children, including Annie. My stomach squirmed at the thought of who she would react if she found out.

"Well… I, uh…" Asgore stumbled to explain. "I was seeing how the progress was going on Alphys's end. How is it?" He hastily turn the conversation towards the scientist.

"I-I-I" She stuttered. "I haven't found anything yet, b-but I'm still working on it."

The situation was so strange that it made my stomach uneasily. I was so worried that I started sweating. Grizzy looked at me as my teeth started chattering.

"Frisk, are you okay?"

I tried to reply, but I was shaking so hard that I couldn't form the words. Spots were dancing in my vision.

"Frisk," Grizzy said concerned. "You need to lie down."

It was impossible to move my feet. I could only see splotches of the others as they surrounded me. This isn't right. What's happening? A wave of pain it me. I screamed as something in my chest broke, throwing me into darkness.


Not again. Why am I here again? I'm not sleeping! Why am I back in this abyss!?

The darkness had weight this time; it was pressing on my until the air was squeezed from my lungs. It was alive, clawing its way towards me until I could its heart beating. The beating grew stronger, vibrating through my bones. It twisted and grew until a lone figure towered over me. Its red eyes phased so quickly that it made me dizzy. Its claws and teeth still dripped with blood. Chara's beast was back.

Before I could blink, it lunged. It grabbed me and flung me across the abyss. I landed hard on my left arm, feeling the bone shatter. I could barely cry out when its tail slammed into me. I slide across the darkness as my ribs flared with pain. I came to a halt, the tail twining around my leg. The circulation stopped under its force. It pulled back, dragging me through empty space, then smacked me on the ground.

I could only gasp when I hit the ground again. And again. And again. My skull cracked, my hip broke, my captured leg twisted until it bent in the opposite direction. How powerless could I be? I can't even muster the strength to fight back. Not against this beast, not against Chara. I was so weak that I couldn't stop their rampage. I still can't. No matter how much damn Determination I have, I still can't change anything. I'm pathetic.

Do you really believe that?

What is that? Did I rattle my brain so hard that I'm hearing voice inside my own dream?

Now I'm just offended. I'm not some delusion.

Should I apologize. I couldn't mutter a single word while being tossed around like a ragdoll.

Have you not figured out that I'm speaking through your head? You're not so bright. I could practically hear the voice smiling. Now are you going to fight back or not?

I can't. I don't have the power to fight this thing.

Seriously? Did that thing scramble your brain? The voice sighed. Fine. Let me help.

Help? How?

I was answered immediately. The beast roared. I was held in the air, upside down, and looked down at the beast. Cracks were running along the tail, golden light spilling out. The beast dropped me as its tail crumpled to dust. All that remained of the limb was a steaming stump. The beast turned towards me, a growl deep in its throat.

Now, I'll give you two options: One,

The beast crouched.

You can run…

The Mercy button flickered to life to my right.

...Or...

The beast tensed, ready to pounce.

...You can fight back!

The Fight button appeared on my left. The beast lunged, its bloody claws outstretched.

It's your choice. Make it a good one!

A familiar sensation flowed from my heart into my veins. The pain in my bones dimmed from feeling like hot pokers were lodged in my body to merely stinging. My muscles sung with newfound levels of energy. My choice was clear.

The beast was coming down on me as a slammed my hand on the Fight button. The button flashed, compacting into a ball of light. It molded itself into a handle, a jet of sparks solidifying into a blade. The light faded, leaving behind a dagger, the one found in my last stretch of the Underground. I'll put this beast down with its owner's weapon.

Its claw was a inch from me when I jumped, unrivaled power pounding in my legs. I shot upwards, swinging my knife as I went. The beast howled as one of its talons was severed from its hand, disintegrating before it hit the ground. It swung its other hand at me.

I grabbed onto its wrist and stabbed the blade where its veins would be. It roared again, shaking its arm to throw me off. It brought its hand back and flung it upwards. My grip failed, leaving my knife in the beast as I failed over my foe. I righted myself, legs below me, as I fell. As I slipped past the claw again, I grabbed my knife. The force of my fall allowed my blade to cut cleanly through its arm. My weapon came free as I reached the elbow. I landed on my feet as more light spilled from the crippling wound. The beast's left arm was now limp at its side, completely useless.

The beast threw itself at me with a shriek, its mouth stretched wide with teeth ready to skewer me. I hopped onto its bottom lip and leapt onto its face. I plunged the the knife into the beast's damned eye, the red spilling out in a torrent.

I was not anticipating its next move. The beast slammed its head on the ground, crushing me. It lifted off me and stomped me with its left foot before I could move. I jabbed and slashed, but the beast wouldn't flinch despite how much pain it must be in.

It raised its right arm, now covered with the red pouring out of its wounded eye. With the two remaining talons, it swung its claw at my chest. For a moment, its arm flickered. Without the third talon, the image was incomplete. It looked so familiar, but I still couldn't place it. That thought was driven out of my mind as what remained of its claw tore into my chest.

I didn't scream. Instead, I channeled all of my pain, all of my anger, into my Determination. The knife glowed pure crimson. With all of my strength, I stabbed my knife into the beast's claw. It howled as streaks of red ran up its arm and across its shoulder. I withdrew the knife, the arm shattering as I did. The beast cried pitifully. It backed away from me, melting back into the darkness.

I stayed on the ground as the beast unravelled itself. At its core, its heart, was a SOUL. The light drove the remnants away. It drifted towards me, almost lazily. I reached out and cupped it in my hands.

Now that's how it's done! The voice, I realized, was coming from the SOUL. My vision was blurred. The abyss drove all color from my vision, making the SOUL indistinguishable. Thank you so so much! I can finally move freely!

"How did… you…" I was painful to speak, my newfound energy gone.

Don't speak. Just think. I can hear you loud and clear.

How did you wind up in that thing?

It captured us. We were powerless, you know, due to not having bodies and what not. But when you showed up, I could feel something and I just let it out. Long story short, I blew up its tail.

I can't thank you enough for helping me. I wouldn't have stand a chance against that beast.

Oh, please! You didn't need my help. You just seem too thick headed to realize that you could fight it.

Now I'm starting to hate you.

No need to be mean about it. All we did was help out a little.

We… Why are you saying we?

Because there was two of us that got captured by that thing.

Oh no. Where is the other one?

The beast still has them. And I can't reach out to them. I'm sorry.

Chara got one of the children. They have another child in their clutches.

We're coming back soon. We'll be in the Underground. I'll try and help you down there, but I don't know what I'll be able to do. Hurry!

The SOUL unleashed a blinding flash, and I was cast out of the dream. Grizzy, Alphys, and Asgore were standing over me, concern clear in there expressions. Before they could say a thing, I grabbed Asgore and relayed the message.


We stood at the entrance, ready to find the children. Undyne and her task force were spread out around us. Asgore stood by my side, his trident in his left hand. I closed left hand into a fist, the Tough Glove flexing around my fingers.

Undyne voice boomed around us. "Don't waver now! This is a rescue and an assault mission. We are to retrieve one child and fight another. Don't let their appearance fool you; they are extremely dangerous! On my word, head out and split into your groups! Leave no stone unturned! Do you hear me!"

"Yes, ma'am!" Her task force replied respectfully.

I felt a hand on my shoulder. Asgore looked at me with a mixture of emotions. "Frisk, are you ready."

I looked down the tunnel leading into the Underground. Down there is the child Chara has possessed, and another that needs my help. I don't know what child Chara has, or what powers they have. In fact, I don't know who the other one is, either. I sent a silent prayer that the one who escaped being captured was Annie, if only to help Grizzy. I took a deep breath, held it, and exhaled.

"I'm ready."