Hello all! Thank you for the supportive reviews, , and such. It helped motivate me again. To be honest, I was running out of steam. Might still be running out, but I think I've got enough to continue at the moment.
If not, this has to come out sooner or later. hi
Disclaimer: I don't own Undertale.
Determination is such a fickle thing to monsters. It is the source of their power, but it is also a source of danger for monsterkind. While mankind has transformed the idea of having too much determination into being reckless, the monsters have been warned of the true meaning behind it. Those with extreme amounts of determination will have short amazing boosts of power allowing them to do nearly impossible feats. However, they will almost always melt down into an abomination devoid of any semblance of themselves. Some even accidentally fuse with others because the overly determined monsters melt on them.
The brief warning given to all child monsters echos in Muffet's head as she smiles at her friend. This strange sense of purpose, the energy coursing through her veins. Is this what those monsters of old felt before melting? If so, then she would have to admit that they must have felt all powerful before perishing. Although, she feels as if she's got the power in check. In a small moment of paranoia, she glances down at her arms to check. They don't seem to be melting into a pile of goop. Yet, how would one be able to tell until it truly happened? Best to just focus back on the task at hand.
"Well, as much as I would love to watch you two just stare at random things," Oh right, she has a customer right now "Or at each other longingly," Okay, what was that? "I'll just be going right now." She watches as Daniel starts to leave with a massive grin on his lips. As he passes Frisk, the older human pats them on the shoulder while giving them a thumbs up. Is he trying to encourage her friend to do something? Perhaps not, but the younger human's cheeks looks pretty red at the moment.
Not that hers are any better, she can practically feel her blood rushing towards her own head. Who says something like that, then just leaves!? There was not an ounce of tact in that interaction! Glancing over at Frisk, her eyes locks with theirs for a moment. The intensity of their stare forces her to look down towards the counter. To her embarrassment, her cheeks get even hotter when she breaks the stare. This is not going how she wanted it to. In fact, this is somehow turning out worse than she thought possible. Reality seems to love messing with her more than her own imagination does, and that already had a field day on her confidence.
Movement in the corner of her eyes catches her attention. Looking up from the fascinating view of the counter, the first thing that her mind focuses on is Frisk standing right across from her. They look rather cute with their cheeks dusted red like that. Actually, adorable would be closer to the correct description. They also look so handsome, beautiful, breathtaking, and- God, all of the blood in her being must be in her cheeks from how hot they feel. How has she not combusted into white hot flames yet? She's really starting to get off track now, time to bring her focus back on what needs to be done. Step one, casual conversation.
"I-I haven't seen you around here lately Frisk," Damn it, the monster's nervous stutter is back "Have you been busy?" Okay, one stutter incident isn't the end of the world. All she needs to do is calm down. This is her friend after all, nothing she hasn't handled before. Slowly, she feels her blush die down as she concentrates on calming thoughts. Alright, now just go through with the plan. Now feeling much more prepared, she focuses on Frisk. They're glancing down at their feet. That isn't a very good sign. Suppressing the frown that threatened to twist her lips downward, the spider monster tries to remember the last time she saw a sign of faltering from them.
Not surprisingly, she can't recall a single time "I've just been doing some work here and there," That sounds awfully vague coming from her normally straightforward friend "It took up more time than I thought it would." Now combine that with a weak smile and dim eyes. Oh Frisky, if you're going to try and hide something then you shouldn't do so with a master of deception. Now, how to make them admit what is troubling them without humiliating them. Once more she has to suppress the urge to non-humiliation thing is going to be a bit tougher considering how she normally does things, but they're worth the effort.
Simple way would be to subtly call them out on it "Really?" Wow, even their suspected nod is weaker than she thought it would be "What kept you so busy dearie?~" The playful tone may not have been the best choice. It's so sad to see the normally confident child go so pale. Also, she didn't know that their eyes could go that wide. Huh, that's a dazzling shade of emerald that their eyes have. Getting lost in those is quite the possibility. Better pretend to be checking the register to keep focus.
Listening carefully as she goes over to the register, the arachnid baker awaits their response "What kept me busy? Well, I was-" A few seconds pass as silence engulfs the bakery. This time she allows the frown to curl on her lips as confusion takes over her. That wasn't even a natural pause. They didn't trail off or make some noise to buy time. Their words just suddenly stopped. An unnatural chill goes through her as she feels something very wrong. Her body suddenly feels much weaker than a moment ago. It's become a herculean task just to stay standing where she is.
"Don't toy with them." The distorted voice explains the unnatural sensation she is experiencing very well "They only came back because they missed you, so stop making a game out this." A snarl almost comes from her throat, but she holds back. The idea that she'd make a game out of their problems may makes her sick, but the dark being doesn't know any better. Give it the benefit of the doubt for now. Besides, this could prove to be rather beneficial if she takes advantage of it now. She just needs to muster the strength to look up at the murderous entity. Of course, that takes much more energy than she would have liked to spend.
Still, Muffet does manage to look up to see Chara's image wrapped around Frisk "H-hello Chara," No shame in having the nervous stutter when talking to a known genocidal killer "J-Just the person I-I wanted t-to speak with." That snarl of disgust shouldn't be on her kind friend's expression. It's just as unnatural as the fragmented soul that is in control of their body. An intense wave of hatred nearly brings her to her knees. She can feel actual pain as her soul feels like it is going to shatter, but she holds on. Bringing her lower and middle hands down on the counter, she uses her arms to keep her standing in the presence of this monster.
"Who says I want to speak to you?" Alright, that's actually a pretty valid point there. There is no reason to try and force this thing into doing something it doesn't want to. However, this tormented soul resides in her closest friend. It affects them with its own emotions and wants. If it doesn't wish to even tolerate being near her, its influence could make Frisk feel the same way. So despite the ever growing pain that feels like her flesh is going to be ripped off her bones, the spider girl musters up every ounce of her will to keep herself looking into its crimson pupils. God, its stare alone feels like it'll crush her soul with killing intent.
"L-listen," The exertion that she's putting her body under is making her feel very light headed "I-I have a p-peace offering for y-you." This is worse than doing what Undyne does for her work outs. Only she would run twenty miles before finding multiple boulders to suplex into one giant pile of rubble as a warm-up. How is suplexing something even considered an exercise anyways? Isn't that just a wrestling move? Her mind and instinct roar in unison that Undyne's exercise habits aren't important at the moment. That's a bit of a first to have those two aspects of her agree so whole hearted on something.
Although, they're telling her that for different reasons "A peace offering?" Her mind wants her to just submit and go unconscious "What kind of peace offering do you think would help you?" Her instincts demand that she runs, fighting is simply not an option "What pathetic idea did you get that gave you hope for talking this out?" Oh, please don't get even closer. Stop leaning right in front of her face. Sweat rolls down her entire body as it is taking everything she has just to stay in this conversation. Her knees are already beginning to buckle as her body is giving out. The young girl knows that she doesn't have much time before her one opportunity goes away forever.
"I-I," Don't falter now, just spit out the words! "I-I made y-you," So close, so very close now "S-some c-chocolate c-cake." There is no more energy to keep this up. She collapses on her knees as the killing intent of the murderous being is pressuring her entire being. Never has she been so utterly frightened before. Never has she been so certain that she is going to die here and now. The sad thing is, whether they truly wanted to do it or not, it will technically be Frisk's hand ending her. Closing her eyes shut, Muffet waits for the inevitable to happen. At least with this amount of hatred, she won't feel the deathblow.
Any moment now she'll be finis- "Did you say Chocolate Cake?" That sounded like it came from directly next to her. Slowly opening her eyes, she looks over to the side of her to see the fragmented soul separate from Frisk's body. Its eyes are large in an child-like excitement that completely defies what they were doing to her moments ago. Whether she is numb from the experience she just weathered or from shock, she doesn't know. All she can do is merely nod slightly while watching the fragmented soul shyly look to the ground. What is going on? Is this some form of afterlife that is made to mess with her mind?
She watches the being twidle its thumbs for a few moments before glancing up again "May I," Somehow that shine in its eyes is almost as unnerving as it threatening her "Have some?" Well, at the very least the spider baker could say that the plan was a success. Again, she nods slowly then watches as a large smile grows on the murderous thing's lips that just screams joy. If this isn't mood whiplash, then she doesn't know what is. Regardless, making Chara wait probably isn't the best idea. Unfortunately, the pressure of immense killing intent has left her rather weakened for the moment.
Even with her entire being no longer feeling as dreadfully pressured, she finds that she can't push herself up from her crumpled position. Her arms just give out on her as the muscles strain just to move. A mixture of pain and annoyance comes from her lips in the form of an agonizing groan. The effort is just too much for her at the moment. Fortunately, she wouldn't have to think of a solution as she feels something pull her up from her upper right arm. Looking over in surprise, the sight of a very concerned Frisk engulfs her vision. She faintly feels them wrap her arm around their neck as they hold her body up.
Her mind reminds her that she should thank them for helping her, but at the moment her mouth is busy not trying to gape like an idiot. She was a bit enraptured in the wonderful sight of the human giving her their full attention. If she's not mistaken, the young baker could even see a hint of those attention grabbing emerald eyes. How has she never noticed them before? They're too eye catching not to be noticed! Even if her thoughts could have been functioning at the moment, her attention is, unfortunately, needed to see what is taking up a position on the left side of her body. She shouldn't have to look since there is only one other person here, but that would be a ridiculous notion.
Seriously, Chara helping them stand would be- "Not a word of this to the others." With widened eyes, she takes in the insane sight of a slightly blushing fragmented soul "I mean it!" That hiss didn't even seem threatening. It was more along the lines of cutely embarrassed. Some form of divine power must exist because miracles like this should not be possible. Certainly not two in a row either. With surprising care, she feels the two of them work in sync to take her into the kitchen where the peace offering lies. What little bit of tenseness that her body was able to muster disappears with the thought that the worst is now behind her. At least, she hopes that's true.
The day gifts her with another surprise as the support to her left body doesn't disappear at the sight of the cake on the wooden table in the center of the room. Will wonders never cease? A smile tugs on her lips at the amusing thought, but it became immediately apparent that there was an issue here. What may have been a purposeful design to prevent slowing down is now working against the arachnid monster. In order to keep herself from tripping over anything, she had kept her kitchen free of chairs, stools, or anything remotely like those things. She had her family to help her reach things on the higher shelves, why would she need anything like that?
As such, there is no place in the room to comfortably sit down on. Frowning, she looks around for anything that could work at the moment, but she already knows there is nothing. A sense of panic starts to grow as she glances at the dark being holding up half of her body. It looks rather annoyed by the delay to getting its treat. The chance of it growing fed-up of waiting with its want in sight is a high probability. Lord knows what the thing would do if its patience is whittled down to nothing. Chocolate cake is a ridiculous reason to die for, and that is not why she is going to be ended.
A whisper in her ear startles her. Barely managing to turn her head, the spider monster sees a single spider on her shoulder. Even in her drained state, she immediately is able to tell that it is Daryl. This little guy always was on the lookout for loose change from his hidden corner. He never failed to take up any scattered coins with practiced ease. Every cent helps after all! Though, what is he doing on her shoulder? She'd would be more at ease knowing that none of her family is in the line of fire should Chara lose it again. Yet, he whispers something in her ear again. Her eyes furrow as she thinks she heard him say 'the corner'.
What about the corner? Her eyes move slowly around the room to check on everything. Counter perfectly cleaned with a group of spiders on it, table has a single layer chocolate cake on it while more spiders are maneuvering a knife to cut it, a large mass of her family are weaving an extra thick web in the corner, and her pet is scurrying up to her with plates stacked on its head. So what did Daryl want her to see? It took a few more moments than it really should have before her exhausted mind fully registers what she saw. Snapping her eyes back to the web in the corner, a relieved smile grows on her lips.
She could always count on her family to help her in her time of need. Sure enough even more arachnids descend from the ceiling until there is only one clear path in the kitchen not covered by them. The two holding her up must have finally noticed the makeshift chair/bed that was in the corner since they started moving forward again. Amazingly, they both managed to step in perfect unison while keeping her body at the exact same height the entire time. Glancing over at the table as the three of them pass it, Muffet sees that there are three cake slices being prepared. The view passes by too quickly to see how her family would get the slices on the plates.
Resigned to having her curiosity peaked for the next two hours, she would have shrugged if she could move her shoulders any. Instead, she turns her gaze to the web that is before her. It isn't that big, barely bigger than herself really, but it looks extremely inviting. She stiffens up slightly when she feels an arm wrap around her waist from her right side. Her eyes trail over to Frisk as they slowly ducks under her upper arm, and as the arm slides off of them she can feel the heat rising in her cheeks. Really? She can't even get a break when she can barely move? Her body must really like to embarrass her, which in turn usually makes her blush even more.
It's just a vicious cycle of never ending self-imposed humiliation! Well, at least their arm feels nice around her waist. Almost instantly she screws her eyes shut as she mentally screams at herself. Needless to say, she remained very quiet as Frisk maneuvered her body around. Feeling Chara slowly removing its support from the other side of her body, she just lets both of them turn her around before lowering her onto the web. It may not be her own personal webbing composing the seat, but that doesn't matter to her. It was simply heavenly to feel like her body is mostly floating off the ground. A few cracks of her spine makes her wince as her back displays the intensity of pressure that she was subjected to.
Cracking open her lower right eye, the monster girl peeks out. Like expected, Chara had already made its way towards the chocolate treat offered to it. However, in a pleasant surprise, Frisk had stayed by her side as they crouch down on the balls of their feet. In all honesty, it doesn't look like it would be very comfortable for their legs. Mustering up what little strength she has left in her body, she scooches over slightly. The confusion on their face is clearly evident as they watch her. The urge to roll her eyes is almost too much to ignore. A wince is suppressed when a small surge of pain shoots from her wrist as she pats the web beside her.
Realization dawns on their face before a slight blush colors their expression. She smiles slightly as they get the message. After all, there wasn't any way to make that message more clear unless she shouted it out for them. Unlike before, the hesitation that they display is far from worrying. Rather, it is a bit endearing as well as plenty adorable. They could always refuse the offer should they choose to, she wouldn't hold it against them at all. However, the human continues to make her day better as they gently sit down at the edge of the web. Rolling her eyes playfully, Muffet lets them do what they want.
Everything is fine as long as they are comfortable. Soon enough, her darling pet comes over with two plates of chocolate cake on its head. How it managed to balance that on it head perfectly without smushing the slices flat is beyond her. Watching Frisk take their plate gratefully, her smile grows a bit more as she watches them take hers as well. Their kindness is very refreshing for her after days of worrying constantly about them. It lets her take a breath of relief as the human gently places her plate on her lap. Not wanting to make them worry now that everything is finally getting better, she forces herself to lean forward so she's sitting up.
Taking the fork on the plate in her middle right hand, she prepares to dig into the treat "Oh my god," Chara's tone of pure happiness makes her pause "This is so goddamn delicious!" It is hard to ignore the pride building up inside her at those words. It doesn't matter if she hates the being or not, praise is still praise. Nothing makes a baker happier than seeing their customers enjoying their wares. At the very least she can hear the fragmented soul's enjoyment, but where is it? Leaning forward a little more, the arachnid monster looks around for the dark being.
At first, she couldn't find it anywhere. The thing seemed to have just disappeared. However, the groans of contentment seem to counter that idea. In fact, if her hearing was correct, she would assume that it was somewhere in front of her. Focusing her four available eyes in front of her, she scans the ground for any sign of the murderous being. A scrap of green catches her attention as she locks onto it. Sure enough, on the floor is Chara. Muffet has to blink several times to make sure she is seeing this correctly, but once she is certain of it a large grin spreads from her lips.
The fragmented soul that had nearly crushed her under its immense hatred was now laying on its stomach as it slowly savored the cake offered to it. The once sharp eyes capable of piercing any mortal through with the crimson pupils have been rendered dull and soft. Its lips are no longer in a state of a thin line or smirk. Instead, a blissful smile has made its home on the thing's expression. Not even a hint of hatred permeates from Chara as it takes another bite out of the slice of cake it has. The sight alone is enough to convince the spider baker that there must be a heavenly being watching over her at the moment. How else would she had lived through that episode earlier before getting this?
So while her work isn't quite done yet, she uses her fork to take a piece of her own cake slice. She'll savor this moment of peace with her pained body and relieved mind. There will be time later for making sure the problem is set behind all three of them. Bringing up the small piece of cake up, Muffet gladly takes the bite into her mouth.
The chocolate is smooth and creamy with the cake itself being perfectly moist. Leaning back, she lets her own creation dazzle her taste buds for the moment. The rest could come later.
And done! This chapter came surprisingly easy. I mean really easy. I got this done the day after the last chapter before noon hit. I started at eight thirty. Huh, I wonder why?
Anyways, like I stated above, I want to thank everyone for their support! Your reviews were very kind and supporting. Without them, I don't know where I would be. Probably bored out of my mind.
Like always please review, favorite, and follow if you want to. I force no one to do something that they don't want to do. How could I? Special subliminal messages in the chapter? I'm not smart enough to manage that.
I do have to go now, so see you later! Bye!
~DeathOnWings1203~