Thanks to coincidencless for editing.
So, Cade has turned out to be more than what he seemed, Alpin has joined his side, Chara is still in legal trouble, Sans is still being Sans, seems like the perfect time for some wholesome Charisk fluff, right?
Oh, who am I kidding? Neither Chara nor Frisk are going to let this be wholesome…
Chara opened the door of her car and stepped outside into the late morning light. She looked up at the familiar mountain looming above her, a sense of nostalgia already filling her. She had once used it to escape from her problems, and she was about to do it again. Mount Ebott, former home of the monsters.
Good thing it wasn't a prison anymore.
Chara walked through the massive parking lot towards the base of the mountain. She stopped by a large gate, labeled with a single word written in big metal letters.
UnderLand
She stood by the fence and waited. There was a dense crowd flowing through the gate, full of several humans dressed as monsters as well as actual monsters. Frogitts, Toriels, Mettatons, Sanses… there were a lot of Sanses. A lot of Sanses. It seemed like whoever wasn't wearing a mask of Sans was at least wearing a shirt with his face on it. That skeleton was by far humanity's favorite monster. Chara could hardly imagine how jealous Mettaton must have been.
Chara looked through them, scanning for both the person she wanted to see and the person she didn't. Was it possible that Cade had tracked her? It would have been risky to attack her in a place with so many witnesses, but she couldn't let her guard down, especially when her enemy could turn invisible. They could have been standing right next to her for all she knew. Her Sense Enemy skill would only alert her when they moved in for the kill, not while they stalked her. She had to be ready.
Still, perhaps it would have been best for them to attack here. Now that she had been suspended from the university, the only place for her to go was home, and if Cade attacked while Toriel or Asriel was around… Chara couldn't risk putting them in the crossfire. She had to keep them safe.
She had to keep everyone safe. She and Frisk had warned all of their friends to be on guard in case of a hostage attempt, like when Monty had kidnapped Papyrus. Chara had even convinced General Ackerman, who was still grateful for her 'assistance' in cleaning up Elizabeth's terrorist conspiracy, to assign some guards to watch over them. Ackerman couldn't spare much, however, so Chara had told her to prioritize their friends rather than themselves. Funnily enough, Nate was back to his old job of surveilling Toriel's house, but not Frisk specifically. Out here, no one was guarding them. They were on their own.
Good, Chara thought. If Cade wants to attack here, let him come. I'll put an end to this threat and reclaim the lives which Cade has so rudely disrupted.
There was just one problem. Most of Chara's loved ones may have been clear, but if the battle happened now…
"Chara!"
… Frisk would have no choice but to fight.
Chara watched him as he approached. He looked as stunning as always, an adorable eighteen-year-old boy dressed in a simple blue shirt and gray pants. He smiled brightly at her. Chara smiled back and stretched out her arms, and they held each other tightly. At last, they were reunited. "I missed you," Chara whispered.
"I missed you, too," Frisk replied.
For some time, Chara kept hugging him. She wanted to say something, but what? What did a girl say to her boyfriend while someone was trying to murder her? She stared awkwardly into his garnet eyes. "Umm, how are you, my love?"
He chuckled. "Fine, all things considered."
"It pleases me to hear that," Chara said. She placed her hand on his chest, feeling his heartbeat. "It is wonderful to see you again, Frisk."
"Same here," Frisk said warmly. "I just wish things weren't so… you know."
"Indeed," Chara said. "Our enemies have burdened us with a bothersome inconvenience, but allow them not the satisfaction of impeding our happiness today. We shall fight when the time comes, but until that fateful moment, let us enjoy ourselves."
Frisk grinned. "I love it when you talk all fancy."
She giggled. "You find my eloquent diction attractive?"
"Very," Frisk said. "Your formal speech is so hot, just like your sexy mother."
Chara smiled and rolled her eyes. "Oh, Frisk." She tenderly held his hand. "Shall we be off?"
Frisk nodded. "Let's go."
Their hands clasped firmly together, they blended into the crowd and walked through the gate. They traveled up the mountain on a paved stone pathway before walking through the familiar cave that granted access to the Underground. Not far inside was another gate, with several long lines full of humans and monsters. Chara and Frisk filed into one of the lines and waited. It was going to take a while.
Chara smiled at Frisk. "There's going to be a lot of this today."
"Mhm, yeah," Frisk said, "but how can I complain when the main attraction is right next to me?"
Chara smirked. "You want to ride me, Frisk?"
"I do," Frisk said. "Though, I'm afraid someone's trying to decommission you. Gotta take care of that first."
"You better," Chara said. "If you let me die a virgin, I'll haunt you."
"You already haunted me," Frisk said.
"Then I'll do it again," Chara said. "Demons die twice, you know."
Frisk's hand tightened around hers. "Not if I can help it."
Chara felt her pulse elevate. Frisk was too damn cute! She felt like a Temmie spurred on by a gallon of coffee. It was a simple line, but hearing Frisk say it was -
"Mommy, look!" some child called out. "It's them! It's Frisk and Chara! They're here!"
Oh, crap.
Chara jumped as she turned to face the little shi… enthusiastic young boy. He was about eight years old, pointing at them and grinning wide. Given their reputations, it had probably been impossible for the two of them to avoid being recognized, but Chara had wished to draw as little attention as possible. Even under normal circumstances, she didn't want to spend their whole day being harassed by adoring fans and haters alike. What could they do?
Thankfully, the boy's mother pulled him back and gave them an apologetic smile. "Sorry, he's a little excited. Those are some great costumes, though. Very convincing. Could use some stripes, but I guess they're not kids anymore."
Costumes…?
Chara scanned the crowd, and she realized that, beneath the legions of Sanses, there were several people dressed like them. Blue-magenta striped shirts, green-yellow striped shirts, wigs based on their hair… could they really...?
Frisk smiled wide and spoke with a voice much deeper than natural. "Oh, thank you. Your compliments fill me with determination."
"Oh, y-yes," Chara stammered. "I am Chara, the demon that… fights for monsterkind."
"No, they're real!" the kid insisted. "It's the real Frisk and Chara!"
The child's mother laughed. "Oh, yes. It's them. We're so lucky to meet them."
At least the mother doesn't think it's us, Chara thought.
The kid excitedly hopped up and down and stared starry-eyed at her. "You're the coolest, Chara! I love it when you stab up the bad guys!"
She laughed nervously. "Oh, uh… I do my best."
Frisk smiled. "She is the coolest, but remember, we only fight when we have to."
The child turned to him. "How did you come back after Elizabeth cut your throat open?"
Chara gasped. Oh, no…
Frisk's dark red eyes widened. His breaths grew rough as his hand moved up to clutch his neck. Chara knew this wasn't good.
The mother pursed her lips. "Uh, are you alright?"
"Are you having an anxiety attack?" the insensitive brat asked.
Frisk's breaths grew even more panicked. Chara wished she could comfort him, but they couldn't draw attention to themselves. She looked at the mother and laughed it off. "Oh, my apologies. He's just really into the role." She pat Frisk on the back. "Come now… Chris. That's enough. No need to scare them."
Frisk stammered, his face as pale as Snowdin. "I-I…"
"It's okay," Chara whispered. "It's okay…"
"Chara…"
"I'm here, Frisk."
After a deep breath, Frisk looked at the mother and child and managed a smile. "S-sorry, I'll stop now."
The mother stared at them dubiously. "Well, that was… quite the performance. You should consider a career in acting."
"Ah, yes!" Chara said. "He is a brilliant actor indeed, thank you!"
"Y-yeah," Frisk said. "Sorry if I worried you; I'm perfectly fine."
"Sorry, Frisk," the little boy apologized. "I didn't mean to trigger you."
Chara forced a laugh and gave the friendliest smile that she could. "Oh, it's quite alright. Do not concern yourself with it." I swear, you little shit. If you give us away, I will end you.
"Yeah, it's okay," Frisk said. "Just try to be more considerate in the future." He kneeled to the kid's level. "Be good, alright?"
The kid smiled. "That's Toriel's line."
"And I stole it like a true friend," Frisk said. "I hope you have fun today."
"You too!" the child exclaimed.
As the line slowly progressed, Chara smiled genuinely. Perhaps she had been too harsh on the kid. She should have been happy to see someone appreciate her so much. It was always good to see that not everyone was terrified of her. Over time, she hoped more people would realize that she no longer meant humanity any harm, even if they couldn't forgive her for it.
But how was Frisk doing? Chara examined him closely. He looked normal enough, but Chara couldn't tell just by looking. She stood close to him and whispered quietly. "Are you alright?"
Frisk nodded. "Yeah, I'm alright."
"Are you sure?" she pressed.
He sighed. "I know I shouldn't whine over it. As World Master, I've died too many times to count; I don't know why that one gets to me so much. I guess… that's the only one that actually took something from me. Every other death was just a simple reset to fix, but becoming a demon is a one-time thing. Like, if it happens again, that's it. I'm gone. No coming back."
Chara cringed. She knew exactly how Frisk felt. She had been devastated beyond words when she'd thought that Frisk was dead. She had been so relieved when he came back, but she knew that it wouldn't happen again. If a demon died a second time, that was it. No more resurrections, and if they had died once, how could they expect not to die again?
"But it's different now," Frisk said. "I'm stronger now. I'm not the helpless child I was back then. I won't die so easily this time."
Chara frowned. It pained her to hear him say that, but she knew it wasn't a matter of pride. Frisk couldn't have cared less about all the people who called him weak. He was just terrified - rightfully so - that something horrible would happen to either himself or Chara, and he wanted to do everything he could to protect both of them. Chara couldn't fault him for it. She held his shoulder. "You were never helpless, Frisk."
"But I still died," he said.
"… but you're here now," Chara whispered.
Frisk nodded. "Yes… let's keep it that way." He smirked. "I, Chris, will protect you to the end."
She chuckled. "A pretty name, no?"
"I like it," Frisk said. "A bit plain, though."
"True," Chara said. "With unique names such as ours, I suppose 'Chris' is rather boring."
"Maybe we could spell it differently," Frisk suggested. "Maybe with a 'K.'"
"A 'K?'" Chara asked. So, 'Kris?' She supposed that did make it more interesting, and… she laughed. "That almost makes it an anagram of your real name."
"But it's missing the 'F,'" Frisk said.
"Then what do you want?" Chara asked. "Krisf? Krifs? Friks?"
"Kris is fine," Frisk said.
"Very well," Chara said. "Your official alias is now 'Kris,' spelled with a 'K.'"
Frisk cracked a mischievous smile. "Or we could name our child 'Kris.'"
Chara jumped back in shock. Their child…? She blushed profusely. "O-oh, you think so?"
"Yeah," Frisk said. "I think it would be a great name for them."
She gave an embarrassed laugh. "Perhaps, but it's a bit soon to decide, no?"
"Maybe," Frisk said, "but there's no reason why we can't start putting some ideas on the table."
"Well, I do like it," Chare said. "Still, there's no need to look so far ahead into the future. Let's just focus on each other for now."
He kept giving her that mischievous smile. "Chara, are you already nervous about having kids?"
She looked away in embarrassment. Was it that obvious? "Well, a little bit, I suppose."
Frisk laughed. "It's alright. It's not like I want to start a family right now. We're just eighteen-year-old college freshmen, after all. You don't have to worry about it yet; there's no rush."
She smiled. "Thank you, Frisk. Honestly, it does scare me, but if it's with you, I'm sure I can manage."
"Of course," Frisk said. "When the time comes, I'm sure you'll be a great mother, but for now, let's just have fun."
Chara put her arm around's Frisk's waist. "Absolutely," she said. She looked down the line that they were slowly moving through. "Eventually."
After a few more minutes, they finally reached the ticket booth, which was operated by a light blue slime monster. The slime, only about one foot tall, was in a high chair. Their 'face' simply consisted of two dark lines representing their eyes. As Chara and Frisk approached, a nub extended from the slime's side and waved as they cheerfully greeted them with a childlike, androgynous voice. "Welcome to UnderLand! How can I…?" Their eyes morphed into two slimy eyeballs popping out in shock. "Oh my God! It's you!"
Chara's shoulders tensed. "Oh, uh, they're just costumes," she said. "We're not really…"
"Are you kidding me?" the slime asked. "I work this ticket line all day. Do you really think I can't tell the difference between a costume and the real deal?"
"Well, you're right," Frisk said, "but please keep it quiet. We don't want -"
"Yeah, yeah," the slime said. "I completely understand! If people find out you're here, you won't have any room to breathe. Don't worry! I can keep a secret!"
Chara was filled with relief. "You have my thanks," she said.
"No problem!" the slime chirped. Their body squished like a pancake before ejecting something from the top, two plastic cards. They handed them to Chara and Frisk. "Here are your VIP passes!"
"Uh, how much are they?" Frisk asked.
The slime scoffed. "We don't want your money! You're the heroes! Mettaton explicitly stated that you're welcome here anytime, no charge!"
"Are you sure?" Frisk asked. "We can -"
Chara smiled and took the passes. "We appreciate your generosity, thank you."
"But we can pay," Frisk insisted. "I don't mind -"
Chara tugged Frisk's arm and pulled him through the booth. She knew that Mettaton had a business to run, but who was she to refuse a free pass? After all, the park wouldn't have existed without Frisk; he deserved to be rewarded. "Come on, Frisk," she said. "Let's go."
"A-alright," Frisk said.
As they left, the slime waved goodbye. "Enjoy your return to the Underground!"
"We shall," Chara replied. "Keep up the good work."
Chara and Frisk proceeded down the cavern. She smiled. "That was nice of Mettaton, was it not?"
"It was," Frisk said, "but I feel kind of bad just -"
Chara laughed. "Oh, Frisk. Monsterkind owes you a debt that they can never repay. This is the least they can do."
"Heh, I guess you're right," Frisk said.
"Of course I am," Chara said. "The park can handle a couple of free guests, don't worry."
"I mean, it's the principle of the thing," Frisk said, "but fine." He smiled. "You know, it is about time you got some recognition for practically saving the world."
Chara wasn't so sure about that. Perhaps she had prevented a human-monster war, but she had almost started one as well. Redemption for her sins was her reward; she didn't anything more than that. Still, she didn't wish to sour Frisk's spirits, so she simply smiled and nodded. "I suppose."
"You are a hero," Frisk said. "That's what we agreed on, remember? We're both heroes."
Chara gave him another nod and said nothing. They kept walking towards the park. Soon, she saw the majestic castle that had once been her home, and where the city of New Home had once been was now a massive theme park. A couple years after the Barrier fell, Mettaton had decided the abandoned Underground couldn't go to waste, so he had converted it into an amusement resort themed around the history of monsterkind and…
… the park was filled with the usual attractions. Intense roller coasters, bumper cars, a haunted house, a Ferris wheel, and all over the park, and as far as the eye could see, there were statues of Mettaton's body, hedges trimmed in the shape of Mettaton's face, murals of Mettaton's likeness, all in Original, EX, and NEO variants. It was exactly what anyone could expect from something owned by Mettaton.
Fortunately, it wasn't all Mettaton-themed. Only about half, the rest of the monsters got the other half. In the distance, Chara saw Vulkin Mountain, a roller coaster built around, obviously, a mountain shaped like a Vulkin. The bumper cars were themed around various races such as Frogitts, Snowdrakes, Temmies, all kinds! The haunted house, naturally, was inspired by the Blook clan. There was also a Gyftrot carousel, Tsunderplane shuttles, Whack-A-Jerrys, Sans's Zero Gravity Chamber… Chara squealed in excitement.
It was beautiful.
An entire theme park dedicated to the Underground's culture… it was glorious! Glorious! Her red eyes glowed madly with pride. "Look at this!" she cried. "Look at how the tables have turned! The humans thought they could trap us down here; little did those worms know they'd one day cheer for us! Riding our rides, eating Whimsalot cotton candy… AHAHAHAHAHA!"
Frisk smiled while fidgeting nervously. "Uh, Chara? I'm glad you're happy, but…"
She grabbed his wrist and pulled him along. "Come, Frisk! Let's start with the Vulkin!"
"O-okay," Frisk said, struggling to keep up as Chara sprinted for it. "But slow down! Hey! Chara! Chara!"
In that moment, Chara completely forgot about Cade and whatever he was planning. It was just her, Frisk, and humanity bowing before the greatness of monsterkind. She was going to have an amazing time underground, and nothing was going to stop her.
Nothing.
After several rides, an exhausted Frisk panted as he sat on a bench next to Chara. He sighed. She could be very childish sometimes. Not that he wasn't having a good time with her. He loved her enthusiasm for monsterkind, and he was always glad to see her happy… even if he had to chase her all over the park for it.
Mercifully, they had taken a break by a Nice Cream stand. Chara had gotten a cone of chocolate Nice Cream, while Frisk had gotten cinnamon. Chara undid the wrapper on hers and read the inside, smiling at him. "Is this as sweet as you?"
Ah, of course she got the pun. Frisk undid his own wrapper and read it. He wondered what kind of compliment it would have for his lovely…
Are those claws natural?
Frisk's heart skipped a beat. Uh, that was… problematic. If Chara wasn't a demon, it probably could've passed for a lighthearted joke, but… yeah, screw this. He didn't need a stupid ice cream cone to flirt with someone. He gave Chara a warm smile. "You're the sexiest demon I've ever seen."
She snickered. "You made that up."
"Mine's better," Frisk said.
"I'll be the judge of that!" Chara said. She reached for his wrapper and snatched it out of his hand.
Frisk gasped. "Umm…"
After reading the note, Chara laughed. "Frisk, were you worried that this would offend me?"
He averted his eyes. "Uh, sort of?"
"Well, yours is better," Chara said. "I am rather sexy, aren't I? Even without claws."
Frisk chuckled. "I guess it was silly of me to worry."
"No, I understand," Chara said. "People do need to realize that being a demon in this world doesn't mean having horns or tails or anything like that."
"Or being evil," Frisk muttered.
"But of course you understand," Chara said. "After all, you're a demon yourself, now."
He was, though he didn't feel much different. Being a demon had helped him realize his latent magic potential, but he was still him. He was still Frisk. He was still…
He gave Chara a quizzitive look. Every since he had become a demon, a certain question had been lingering in the back of his mind. "Hey, Chara, do you think we're still human?"
She blinked in surprise. "Huh? How do you mean, exactly?"
"I know the definition of a demon," Frisk said. "When a human with great determination loses their soul, there is a chance that they will be resurrected as a demon, a being that could destroy the universe by increasing their power with enough kills and EXP. There's no denying that we fit that description, but can we still be considered human, as well?"
For a moment, Chara stared silently as she pondered his question. "There are certainly those who would say that we've lost our humanity. Not only have we died, we've lost our original souls, and our bodies don't work quite the same way as a normal human. However, it is entirely possible to argue that we are still humans. In the end, it's really just a matter of how you want to classify it. Are we a magically-enhanced variant of 'human?' Or do our differences make us not 'human' at all? It's all dependent on how one wishes to categorize us."
"But how do you feel?" Frisk asked.
"Personally," Chara said, "I don't really care if I'm human or not. Why would I? You don't have to be human to be a good person."
Frisk frowned. "Really? It doesn't bother you? I mean, I know you were never a fan of humanity. Still, you're really fine with not being human?"
"Of course I am," Chara said. "Because it doesn't matter. Humans, Monsters, Demons. Aside from any biological differences or inherent existential threats, the distinction between all should be secondary to the fact that they are people."
Frisk understood what she meant. They had discussed it before, in fact. An old friend of Frisk's had brought it up a few years back as a potential solution to avert another Human-Monster War. The theory was that if humans and monsters stopped seeing each other as 'humans' and 'monsters,' they would have been less likely to fight. Frisk liked the idea, but even he - idealistic as he was - questioned its practicality. After all, Chara herself had just…
"Uh, Chara?" Frisk asked. "Didn't you just call the humans 'worms' bowing before the greatness of monsterkind?"
Chara's face contorted with an embarrassed smile and twitching eyes. "I-I… uh…"
"Kind of contradicts what you're saying, don't you think?" Frisk asked.
Chara's face flushed red. "W-well, it's hard! It can be difficult not to take pride in one's culture! And there is no shame in doing so! Especially when your culture is as glorious as the Kingdom of Monsters! All those monsters surviving despite the harsh conditions that humanity had imposed on them, how could I not be proud of that? It wasn't so much the monster species that I was loyal to as much as the community of people trapped in the Underground, and you are well-aware why I hated humanity."
"So your race doesn't matter, but your nationality does?" Frisk challenged.
Chara sighed. "I suppose I do still have some favoritism for monsters. I know I shouldn't, but I'm not perfect." She smirked. "I'm only demon, after all."
Frisk groaned. "Chara…"
"I doubt the distinction can ever be completely removed," Chara said. "Taxonomy is a thing. Like I said, it should be secondary. We're all people first. Everything else comes second."
"I guess I can agree with that," Frisk said. "Simply sharing the trait of sapience should always be enough common ground to get along."
"In an ideal world, it should," Chara said. "Regardless, I believe we've strayed from the main topic. Frisk, do you still consider yourself human?"
Without hesitation, Frisk nodded. "Yeah."
"Why?" Chara asked. "Do you have a problem with being a demon?"
"No," Frisk said. "I just… it's hard to explain. I just…" Huh, why did he care? "I… don't know," he said. "I guess since I was born a human, it's just weird to think of myself as not human."
"It reminds you of what you've lost," Chara said.
Frisk lowered his head. "Yeah… but now that I think about it, I guess you're right. It doesn't matter what you call me. Human or demon, I'm still me."
"Exactly," Chara said. "Either way, it's still you. You're still the same boy that I've fallen in love with." With a flirtatious smile, she placed her hand on his thigh. "However, there is something that's changed…"
Frisk blushed, simultaneously loving and dreading where this was going. "And what would that be?"
"You're even hotter now," Chara purred.
Frisk's heart pounded as badly as it had last week. Why was she doing this? How could she be so cruel? "Chara, don't tempt me."
She slid her hand farther up his leg. "Tempt you?" she asked. "Whatever gave you that idea? I'm merely complimenting your sexual attractiveness, nothing more."
Damn her; she was torturing him. Was this revenge for turning her down? Well, Frisk wasn't going to cave. He wanted her, but he wasn't an animal. He could hold out. He stared unblinking into her gorgeous ruby eyes. "Good," he said. "I know you'd never try to force me into a situation I might regret."
She pulled her hand away from his leg and moved it to his chest, caressing it. "Of course," she whispered seductively. "There is nothing sexier than respecting your partner's boundaries. I would never do anything to you without your consent, and if I ever do make you feel uncomfortable, I will stop as soon as you ask. That's how much I love you."
Oh, the intentional irony. Frisk knew what Chara was really saying. 'Just tell me to stop. I dare you.' Should I? he thought. As long as she doesn't go too far, there's no harm in…
Frisk felt something cold and sticky drip down his hand. What was…? His eyes widened. "Chara! Our ice cream!"
She gasped in horror as she saw her chocolate ice cream melting in her hand. "NO!" She took a large bite out of it and started eating it quickly. Frisk did the same, desperate to consume the treat before it melted away beyond recognition.
"We should have gotten the magical version," Frisk said.
"You're telling me," Chara said. "Ice cream and philosophical discourse do not go hand-in-hand."
"And flirting," Frisk said.
"That too."
A few minutes later, they finished their ice cream and tossed the wrappers into the nearest trash can. Frisk shivered and held his head, coming down with a case of brain freeze. He looked at Chara, who was also shivering. They both laughed. "I suppose I deserve this," Chara said.
"Yeah, you do," Frisk said.
She snickered. "That's a bit harsh coming from you."
"But I forgive you," Frisk said. "I've done more than my fair share of teasing, after all."
"Oh, of course," Chara said. "In that case, I regret nothing."
"Just remember," Frisk said, "no sex until we defeat Cade."
"Then we better defeat him soon," Chara said.
Frisk grinned. "You always know exactly what to say."
"We've been dating for over four years," Chara said. "That's more than enough time for me, especially considering how well you've treated me. To say that I'm ready for it would be an understatement." She winked. "But that will be our little secret."
"Sorry to keep you waiting," Frisk apologized.
"Don't be," Chara said. "You're worth it."
Frisk felt a warmth in his heart. What had her Nice Cream said? 'Is this as sweet as you?' All the ice cream in the world didn't hold a candle to her sweetness. As always, Frisk was so glad that they were together.
"Speaking of Cade," Chara said, "I've thought of a way we can make our little vacation productive."
Hmm? "What's that?" Frisk asked.
She grabbed his hand. "Follow me."
Whatever it was, Frisk went along with it. Chara led him down the park's streets until stopping at a gift shop, MTT Emporium. Frisk gave her a teasing smile. Since when did she ever like to splurge? "You want to go shopping?" he asked. "That's a first."
"I was thinking we should stock up on items to fight Cade," Chara said. "Especially something that will grant resistance to his ice powers."
"Ah, that makes sense," Frisk said. He followed her inside. The store was moderately busy, filled with typical gift shop items. Commemorative t-shirts, accessories, bottles, food… like the rest of the park, a great deal of the merchandise was themed after Mettaton and Sans. There was also a lot of blue and magenta striped shirts, as well as some green and yellow ones. Heh, it still felt surreal to be so famous.
Frisk looked at the register, which was operated by an… animatronic Mew Mew, that dating sim character that Alphys liked. It was a life-sized, anthropomorphic cat girl wearing a pink dress. Frisk tilted his head. What was that doing here?
The animatronic looked at them and waved its hand. "Welcome to…" Its hand balled up into a fist and slammed on the counter. "YOU!"
Frisk blinked. "I'm sorry? Have we met?"
The animatronic laughed. "Oh? You don't recognize me? That's all for -"
"Is that you, Furablook?" Chara asked.
"H-hey!" Furablook cried. "Don't say my true name so loudly! Call me 'Mew Mew!' Or 'Mew' for short!"
Frisk's eyes flashed with recognition. Oh, it was the Mad Dummy. Frisk had heard that they had found a new body, but he hadn't seen it yet. "Mew Mew, huh?" he asked. "Where did you get that?"
"Where did I get this body?" Furablook asked. "Wouldn't you like to know?! HAHAHA!"
Frisk shrugged. "Jeez, I was just asking a question. I'm not that curious."
"Oh, you poor thing!" Furablook taunted. "You just can't handle the suspense, can you? You just have to know! You just have to know how I got my ghostly form into this body!"
"No, I'm good," Frisk said.
"My curiosity is nonexistent," Chara said.
"Alright!" Furablook exclaimed. "Just so you can sleep at night, I'll tell you! I found this body in… a strange place. A… sciencey place."
"So you stole it from Alphys," Frisk said.
Furablook froze. "S-stole?! No! I'd never…!"
"Definitely stolen," Chara said.
"What a thief," Frisk said.
"They have no honor," Chara said.
"I feel sorry for Alphys," Frisk said.
"They really owe her an apology," Chara said.
Furablook clenched their - her? - robotic teeth. "I'm not a thief!" they - she? - exclaimed. "You can't blame me! Why does a scientist need a life-sized girl statue anyway?! I probably saved it from EXPERIMENTS! I'm a HERO, and I…!"
"Yeah, experiments," Frisk said.
"That's a word for it," Chara said.
"I guess they are a hero," Frisk said.
"They saved it from Alphys living out her fanfiction," Chara said.
"She does get lonely when Undyne isn't around," Frisk said.
"Oh, the dirty things she would have done to that doll," Chara said.
"If she hasn't already had her way with -"
"Enough!" Furablook cried. "Enough! Enough! ENOUGH! Why are you here, anyway? Just to make me suffer? Want to rub in your victory all those years ago?"
"We are in need of assistance," Chara said. "We anticipate that we may soon face a powerful ice mage in a life-or-death struggle. We require supplies for our battle preparation."
Furablook giggled madly. "Oh, will you look at that? The big, mighty heroes need MY help! Mine! Mine! MINE! AHAHAHAHA! Well, you've come to the right place! Ice magic, eh? I have just the thing for that!"
"Lead the way," Chara said.
Furablook walked out of the counter and led them through the store. Meanwhile, Frisk stared at Furablook's new body. It was going to take some getting used to. He hadn't expected them to adopt something so… anime. Frisk liked anime himself, but he had to admit that the Underground had been full of otakus. Alphys's nerdiness was highly contagious, apparently.
Furablook showed them to a shelf stocked with various foodstuffs. "This should have what you're -"
"Wait," Frisk said. "I'm sorry, but I've gotta ask. Are you a girl now?"
A sly grin cracked on Furablook's face. "Why? Would you have a problem if I was?"
"Of course not," Frisk said. "I just want to clear things up. You were genderless before, weren't you?"
"Correct, Frisk," Chara said. "As their incorporeal forms are sexless, ghosts are always born with no gender. However, they typically select a gender once they acquire a vessel. As the character Mew Mew is female, it would not be unreasonable for Furablook to identify as female in turn."
"Yep," Furablook said. "Mew Mew is a girl, so I do consider myself a girl in this body. I'm not particularly hung up on it, though. Fluffy boys, mean girls, it doesn't really matter. Can we move on?"
"Sorry for digressing," Frisk apologized.
Furablook grabbed a bag from the shelves and handed to them. It was red and had a picture of curry on it, covered in cartoonish flames. "This is Ultra Spicy Curry," Furablook said. "One bite of this, and your cold resistance will go through the roof! No ice mage will ever dare threaten you ever again!"
Frisk's chest tightened as a feeling of dread washed over him. Ultra Spicy Curry, huh? He wasn't a fan of spicy foods, but if that was what it took to defeat Cade, he'd do what he…
Chara's bright red eyes sparkled with glee. "Spicy Curry?!"
"ULTRA Spicy Curry!" Furablook proudly proclaimed. "To be precise, it grants eighty-percent cold resistance for one minute. It is magic food, of course, so it will fit nicely into your pocket and will never spoil. It also has various effects on HP based on the individual who eats it."
"Wait," Frisk said, "what do you mean by 'various effects?'"
"Well," Furablook said, "some people who eat the curry gain as much as twelve HP, while others have the… opposite effect."
"This thing can take down more than half my HP?!" Frisk yelled.
"Only if you really can't handle spice!" Furablook chirped.
"And you're selling this to the public?!" Frisk asked. "This is dangerous! Someone could die!"
"Oh, don't worry!" Furablook said. "The curry will never take you below one HP, even if you're already down to one HP! It may cause you unbearable agony, but it'll never kill you!"
"I'll take ten!" Chara shouted.
"But is it worth it?" Frisk asked. "What good is cold resistance if I'm out of HP to tank the hits anyway?"
"You could always pair it with another healing item," Furablook said. "That way, you'll get cold resistance and a full HP recovery! Best of both words…! You'll still feel like you're burning to death, though."
Frisk grunted. "I guess, but it seems a little inefficient. Eating monster food is fast, but not that fast."
Chara pat him on the shoulder. "Don't worry, Frisk. I'll protect you."
Frisk looked at her. It was a comfort knowing that she had his back. He knew he could count on her to cover him while the curry incinerated his mouth. He clasped his hands and bowed before his goddess. "Thank you, Chara-sama! I won't let you down!"
As Chara giggled, Furablook gawked at him like he was the most pathetic thing she had ever seen. "Do you not have any pride?" she asked.
"What?" Frisk asked. "I have no problem admitting that Chara is the better fighter. She's both more skilled and more powerful than I am, but that doesn't mean I don't have a few tricks up my sleeve."
"He's selling himself short," Chara said. "It's true that I'm more powerful; that's to be expected. I'm a LV 6 demon, while Frisk doesn't have a single Execution Point. However, he is no pushover. He has magic, determination, and a fancy new weapon at his disposal. I've said it before and I'll say it again; you would do wise not to underestimate him."
Furablook shrugged. "Whatever you say."
"Yep," Frisk said. He grabbed one of the curry bags. "Now, I suppose we should test these…"
"Yes!" Chara exclaimed. "Let us evaluate the curry's effectiveness before taking it into battle!"
Frisk glanced at Furablook. "Is that alright?" he asked. "We'll pay; I promise."
"Of course!" Furablook said. "I'm not a dummy anymore! I know you're both honest people who aren't out to screw over my cousins. Go ahead!"
With a deep gulp, Frisk opened the bag. A blast of hot steam assaulted his face. He grit his teeth. He… he could do this. For Chara, there was no pain that he wouldn't endure, no hardship that he wouldn't overcome. He was determined. He lifted the bag and let the curry fall into his mouth…
"… uh, how is it?" Chara asked.
19
Frisk howled at the top of his lungs. It burned! The magma of Hotland could not even approach the sheer intensity of this heat! Steam blasted out of his mouth like a train. He looked at Chara with teary eyes. He… he needed…
Chara stared back at him in horror. "Frisk! Don't move! I'll be right back!" She ran away.
P-please hurry, Frisk thought desperately. He collapsed with his back on the floor. Water! WATER!
"Damn," Furablook said. "I've never seen it hurt anyone this badly before."
After what felt like an eternity in the fiery pits of Hell, Chara returned with a plastic cup of water. "I'm here!" She lifted Frisk's head and held the cup over his mouth. He opened wide. Oh, God, he needed it. Chara poured the water into his mouth…
… but, as soon as it passed his lips, the water evaporated. Chara gasped. "Wh-what?" She pushed the cup deeper and poured more water. Every last drop evaporated immediately.
The cup evaporated, too.
Chara grimaced. "Frisk, I'm so sorry!"
"N-not your fault," Frisk croaked. "Even if I don't make it, don't blame your -"
Furablook shoved something into his burning mouth. It tasted like… a deli sandwich. His HP, which had fallen to one point, was fully restored. He panted heavily. His mouth still burned, but he felt his strength return. He got back to his feet and looked at Furablook. "What was that?"
Furablook held up another hoagie, shaped like a sword. "Legendary Hero," she said. "Restores forty HP and boosts Attack by four points. Like I said, just pair it with another item and you're fine!"
"Oh, one of those," Frisk said. "Wait, if the cup of water disappeared, then… you know what? I'm not even gonna question it."
Chara held his shoulder. "Are you alright, Frisk?"
He nodded. "Yeah, I'm okay. Still stings, though."
Chara's red eyes glowed for a moment. "Well, there is good news. As promised, you have a great deal of cold resistance."
But at what cost? Frisk thought. He took a deep breath. "If that's what it takes to survive, then I guess I'll just have to…"
Suddenly, Chara reached for another bag of curry and pried it open. "My turn!" She lifted the bag and plunged the curry into her mouth.
Frisk jumped in shock. "Chara! How can you just eat that after what it did to me?!"
20
As she chewed the curry, Chara squealed in delight. "Delicious!"
Frisk blinked. "Are you kidding me? That doesn't hurt you at all?"
"Nope!" Chara said. "On the contrary, it would have restored twenty HP were I not already at full capacity."
"Hmm, a new record," Furablook remarked. "I'll have to write this down."
Frisk gaped at Chara. He wasn't the sort of person to get jealous easily, but even he had his limits. Why had he gotten the extreme worst-case while Chara had gotten the extreme best-case? What the hell? He spread out his arms and screamed into the ceiling. "Why does she get all the luck?!"
"I do get all the luck," Chara said. "I have you."
Frisk raised his finger, wanting to argue, but no words would come out. Why did she have to be so cute? He smiled. "Ah, that's right. I am the lucky one here."
"We both are," Chara said.
Furablook groaned. "Hey! I thought this was a matter of life-and-death? How can you look at each other with such googly-eyes at a time like this?"
"That's exactly why," Chara said. "Two lovers safeguarding each other against deadly odds, it doesn't get more romantic than that."
Furablook had a point. It was a matter of life-and-death, and they needed to take it seriously. The thought of anything bad happening to Chara made Frisk sick. He had to protect her, and hopefully not die trying.
Although, Frisk had to admit, there may have been a small part of him that was kind of excited. As Chara had said, it was romantic, fighting back-to-back with the person he loved. Even if they died, it would have been for each other, rebelling against a cruel world that wouldn't give them the peace that they deserved. Whatever happened, they weren't going to lay down and let each other die.
Ah, what was Frisk thinking? They were going to be fine. That Cade guy wasn't shit, an empty threat that was destined to accomplish nothing. He was nothing more than an obstacle for the heroes to overcome. Frisk didn't know if Cade could be pacified, but either way, he wasn't going to let him hurt Chara. No matter what.
"Anyway," Chara said, "Frisk, what do you think? Can you handle the spice in battle?"
"I don't know," Frisk said. "Seems risky to put myself at one HP, even for a second, but the cold resistance could help… I'll take one."
"Alright," Chara said. "I'll take four, and the rest of my inventory will be filled with Legendary Heroes."
"I'll fill the rest of my inventory with the heroes, too," Frisk said.
"Okay!" Furablook said. "So Frisk will bring one curry and seven sandwiches, while Chara will bring four of each. Is that correct?"
"Yes," Chara said.
That sounded like a plan. Although, Cade's ice was hardly their greatest concern. They had a much worse problem to deal with. He pursed his lips and looked at Furablook. "Umm, I don't suppose you'd have anything to counter the effects of KARMA, would you?"
Furablook gaped in shock. "K-KARMA? Uh, no, definitely not."
Frisk sighed. "Well, didn't hurt to ask."
"Don't worry about it," Chara said. "We'll manage without such a counter."
"I'm sorry," Furablook apologized. "No one has ever found a way to neutralize KARMA. All you can do is wait for the magic to run its course and heal."
Frisk held his head as he grimly stared into space. It was unfortunate. KARMA was a formidable form of magic, but like Chara had said, they would just have to get the better of it.
"Alright," Chara said. "Frisk, is there anything else you think we could use?"
Anything else? Frisk couldn't think of anything. Chara had her Royal Dagger and Heart Locket. Frisk had his own weapon and armor. They were both getting a full load of recovery and support items. They had done all that they could to prepare. Frisk shook his head. "No, I think we've got everything."
Chara nodded. "Okay." She looked at Furablook. "We're ready."
They bagged up their items and walked with Furablook to the register. Frisk gladly handed his debit card over and paid his bill. Once it was Chara's turn, she walked up to the register and smiled sweetly at Furablook. "Say, we are friends, are we not? Can you not give us a 'someone is trying to murder us' discount?"
Furablook mirrored Chara's smile. "Do hospitals work for free?"
"Does this look like a hospital to you?" Chara asked.
"Does it look like a charity to you?" Furablook asked.
The two emanated a murderous aura as they glared intensely at each other. Frisk knew he had to do something. He stepped in between them and cleared his throat. "Uh, Chara, if you don't want to pay, I can do it for -"
She gasped. "No! This expense is my burden to bear! I'll take care of it, Frisk!" She grabbed her wallet and handed Furablook her debit card. Furablook grinned as she processed it.
"Thank you!" Furablook said. "Paying customers are always welcome!"
Chara kept smiling, but her boiling red face and trembling fists showed her true feelings. "I will remember that."
Frisk gave a nervous laugh and gentled tugged on Chara's arm. "Okay, I think we're done here. Let's go."
Chara growled in frustration as Frisk practically dragged her away. "I will remember that!" she cried. Frisk pried her out of the shop, back onto the streets of UnderLand. Once outside, Chara slumped her shoulders and sighed in defeat. "Fine."
Frisk smiled at her. "Oh, it'll be okay."
"Yeah, yeah," Chara said. She took a sandwich out of her bag and held it in her hands. After a few moments, the sandwich shrunk into a tiny white cube that fit in palm of her hand. It glowed softly with energy, and the sandwich was visible inside. Chara dropped the cube into her pocket.
Frisk followed her lead, taking out one of his sandwiches and willing it to shrink, and then he placed the energy cube into his pocket. Chara and Frisk repeated this process until all of their food was conveniently stored for easy transport and quick access in battle.
Magic was awesome.
Once they were finished, Chara gave Frisk an expectant look. "So, what should we do now?"
Frisk looked back at her. What to do next, huh? He reached out and stroked her cute auburn hair. "Let's go somewhere where we can relax."
Chara nodded. "Yes, that sounds lovely." She took his hand. "I know just the place."
Frisk followed her towards wherever they were going. It didn't really matter where. He just wanted to wind down with her, curled up in the warmth of her embrace. He hadn't been kidding when he said that she was the main attraction. Coming here wouldn't have been the same without her.
Although, as she headed deeper underground, Frisk couldn't help but wonder where she was going.
"Oh, I see," Frisk said.
Chara had taken him to a remote area in Waterfall, a cliffside under the artificial stars, overlooking the royal castle. Of course, it had been one of Chara's favorite places back when she had lived Underground. She and Frisk sat by the cliff and took in the view, admiring both the castle and the stars. It was just as pretty as Frisk remembered.
Chara looked up at the artificial stars, twinkling with blue light. "They were always beautiful," she said, "but they're even more beautiful when you're here by choice."
Frisk smiled and wrapped his arm around her. "Not as beautiful as -"
She playfully jabbed him in the stomach. "Spare me the clichés, please. I know; you don't have to say it."
"Ah, good," Frisk said. "I'm glad you are already well-aware of how beautiful Toriel is."
"Oh, would you stop trying to get with a two-thousand-year-old woman?" Chara asked. "It's bad enough that you're dating a one-hundred-year-old. Don't make it worse."
Frisk gazed upon her, admiring her gorgeous face, her bewitching ruby eyes. "Well," he said, "speaking of choices, I don't regret choosing you."
Chara's cheeks reddened. "That's better…" She returned her attention to the scenery, and they quietly sat for a while, simply enjoying the atmosphere and each other's presence. Frisk sighed contentedly. It was exactly what he had wanted. Some peace and quiet with his dear Chara, without a care in the world. It was nice.
"… Frisk," Chara said, "thank you."
Frisk shot her a confused look. "Huh? What for?"
"Everything," Chara said. "Thank you for being so kind to the monsters. Thank you for destroying the Barrier. Thank you for giving me another chance at life. Thank you for all the love you've given me, even though I don't deserve it." Tears began to glisten in her eyes. "Thank you for believing in me. Thank you for helping me save my brother. Thank…" She sniffled. "Th-thank you, Frisk."
Frisk gaped at her, overwhelmed by the sight of her pouring her heart out. What had brought this on? He felt tears rush to his own eyes. "Chara…"
She laughed. "And damn you, for making me cry like a little bitch."
Frisk heart pounded in his chest. He couldn't contain the emotions running through his soul, and words were not enough to express how he felt. He stood up, pulling Chara with him. He held her waist, locking them together, and he plunged his lips into hers. Chara whimpered in surprise, but she parted her lips, gliding her tongue into Frisk's mouth. His nerves electrified upon contact. She moved quickly, wrapping her arms around him in a tight grip as they kissed passionately. It was heated, rough even, and Frisk was loving every moment of it.
Chara gasped as he pulled back; the hungry look in her red eyes showed that she was eager for more. He moved down and kissed the side of Chara's neck. She winced sensually. "Ah, Frisk…"
He paused for breath, deep panting breaths. While he recovered, Chara kissed him on the cheek, and then she again locked lips with him. Frisk moaned softly. She was so…
Suddenly, Chara stopped. She gripped his shoulders and tackled him to the ground. "FRISK! GET DOWN!"
Wh-what? Frisk barely had time to register what was happening as his back landed hard in the dirt. Above him, a bright beam of light blasted before his eyes. Chara sprawled over his body, shielding him. Once the light disappeared, Chara frantically pulled him up. Frisk turned his head just in time to see five more beams racing towards them. He dashed to the side, narrowly avoiding one.
But another struck him.
Frisk screamed. He felt the energy seep into his very soul, rapidly sapping him of life. Was this… KARMA? Adrenaline spiked through his brain. He had to…
He felt something grab his arm, pulling him out of the beam. Frisk stumbled and held his chest, he felt sick, like he was going to vomit, but there was no time to lick his wounds. He looked up and saw five figures, and four more beams shot out, all aimed for Chara. She ran as fast as she could, but one of the beams hit her anyway. She cried out and nearly fell over, slamming her hands into the dirt.
FILE ERASED
Frisk's heart stopped. "Chara!" She grabbed her hand and helped her up. The beam had only grazed her for a split second. She got back up quickly and easily, but she had gotten hit. If those were the new KARMA weapons, then her SAVE file was gone.
This was it.
Before the next volley, Frisk got a better look at their assailants. The five of them were all covering their faces with Sans masks, but Frisk could still see their eyes. Orange, aqua, red, purple, blue…
Oh, look, it's the cover.