Author's Note: The hiatus begins! :D Everything in Underfantasy and AtDGO will stay where they are until I'm ready to start posting the revised Ufan. Not gonna lie, it could be months from now. I want a nice, beefy buffer so I can still give you guys weekly updates. :3

Speaking of the future, once I AM ready post and end the hiatus, do I take both of the old stories down and post a new work? Or do I just take down AtDGO and alter Ufan's title to "Underfantasy-Revised"? I don't really want to kick off any more subscribers than necessary... Do I even NEED to put "revised" in the title? I'm not really sure which one is the "right" way to go. Oh, well. I'll figure it out. Maybe. *shrug*

To whoever reads this; thank you. It doesn't matter whether you've stuck with me since the beginning, or if you've skipped every other chapter just to read this one. Thank you for reading this at all. :3

Chapter 25: Megalo Strike Back

Things were not going according to plan.

Chara did not expect to be intercepted. They'd been careful to stay in the shadows, out of sight of the night patrols. They reached the road back to the Underground and thought it would be clear sailing all the way to Prison. They were well on their way to dispatching Frisk's uncle… at least, until Sans got in the way.

They didn't want to hurt him. They didn't want to hurt any monster, so they were mostly bluffing when they said they would kill him if he forced their hand. But Sans called their bluff, and they had no choice but to follow through. The heart Chara was borrowing began to pound as they prepared themselves to Fight.

The rush a confrontation always gave them grabbed the corners of Frisk's mouth and pulled them upward. Chara didn't really know why it happened, but it did. There was something about feeling threatened, of pitting their will against someone else's that always made them smile. That particular tendency always unsettled humans, but Chara was glad they never froze or cowered in fear when presented with a challenge.

The Fight began. After weeks of hearing how lazy and unmotivated Sans was, and despite knowing the High Judge had to be a competent fighter at the very least, Chara was almost blindsided by the cold ferocity they could feel in his attacks (Frisk's ability to feel such things also being borrowed). He was implacable, his certitude in what he considered "just" making it clear he was not going to be swayed. No matter how much he regretted hurting Frisk's body he was going to keep them in the Hall of Judgement for as long as necessary.

As the Fight dragged on Chara contemplated taking all the damage Sans was dealing and letting Frisk's body die. They were determined enough to return… but they hadn't seen any stars on the way here. They tried to bring it back the same way Frisk had but they couldn't manage it. They couldn't "save," either, so there was no telling what would happen if they died. Would time reset back to Frisk's last recorded memory? Or, since Chara's determination was dominating the soul at the moment, would they end up all the way back to just before they died of buttercup poisoning? Or would they not return at all, with the star stolen from them by Frisk's uncle?

It was tempting to die, just to see what would happen and satisfy their curiosity, but Chara was on a mission and could not afford to be distracted. They could not say they were heartbroken over that fact.

They felt so… alive! They had not been exaggerating when speaking with Frisk; they truly felt like they'd awakened in a stranger's home, with all the disorientation that entailed. But after letting their magic soar however much they wanted, after Frisk's limbs lost that foreign feeling, Chara felt like they'd been reborn. They were FINALLY free of that coward's shadow! They were free to be themselves, again, not someone else or something they weren't! And, as they kept dodging Sans' attacks, that self was proving to be VERY good at staying alive. The few foodstuffs Frisk still had in her hip pack helped, although they ran out, eventually.

Despite how low their HP was when Mr. Dreemurr, Undyne and Alphys arrived they could feel that Sans was holding back. Despite all the damage he was doing in order to "spank" them, he truly had no intention of killing them. They would be stuck unless something… drastic happened.

They did not want to die, but it seemed like it was going to be the only way to get out of the Fight. Fortunately, the perfect way to die was standing right in front of them, with the perfect provocation- with BOTH provocations joining her. Their plan almost worked, until Undyne's ire was diverted to Mrs. Dreemurr…

It had been… disconcerting to learn that, no matter how much love, hope and compassion they possessed, monsters could still turn on each other when angered. It was almost… human of them. Papyrus' behavior, however, was closer to what they expected from monsters. It was a relief, in a way, though the feeling did not last long. Not when faced with another opportunity to die.

They hadn't expected Sans to somehow break through the invisible wall surrounding them, keeping them trapped in the Fight. Seeing him raise that magic sword, his left iris bright with his intent, triggered one last burst of defiance. Their ingrained determination was the only reason they kept reaching for the "fight" button, despite wanting to die. But when Sans was turned blue something happened in the soul they were borrowing from Frisk, staying their hand and rendering them immobile.

Heat bloomed in their chest. It felt just like when they both Fought her uncle, the magic and determination of two people soaring to almost unbearable heights. They lost sight in their right eye, and couldn't feel their right hand… and when little red pencils flew into the Fight button Chara knew why.

Frisk had somehow broken free from her confinement and was attempting to end the Fight with Mercy! They tried to reach for "Fight," since she didn't succeed in demolishing it, but they found they couldn't move their hand forward. No matter how determined they were they couldn't touch the option. Their own words flowed through their mind.

"Determination can be shared. The more determined you become the more you share with me. As you grow stronger so do I."

The two of them were still connected. By honing their own determination they shared it with Frisk, making her stronger! The hand she controlled inched closer to Mercy and Chara was left with only one way end the Fight on their terms. They had to do whatever was necessary to accomplish their goals.

Even if it meant taking their own life and starting over.

But not even that was working! Frisk's soul resisted, their shared HP trickling down as the Fight ended and they collapsed. The intent Chara was pouring into tearing the soul apart should have killed them instantly, but Frisk would not lay down and die! That imbecile, that HUMAN thought she was more determined than them!

UNACCEPTABLE. They were the one in control, and they were going to STAY that way! They would whip up the deepest, darkest shadows of Frisk's own mind and flay her with them, adding their own hatred if that was what it took to stay in the waking world.

But even that could not stop her, and their sight went black around the edges. Frisk was coming back, even gaining the strength to talk, no matter how difficult it was. Chara could feel how all the monsters were calling to Frisk from their souls, rooting for her. Frisk grew ever stronger, then was somehow able to shield all the monsters touching her soul from the shadow that almost swallowed them. She loved them all so much, despite how the shadows were hurting her for it.

Chara felt it when Sans wished for Frisk to return. The others followed his lead…

They'd had enough. They released the soul from their grasp and turned their attention inward, leaving the body to sleep without any one to guide it. Perhaps it was because they didn't really "belong" in Frisk's body, at all, but it was ridiculously easy to return to the plane of consciousness they'd left Frisk in. They found themselves standing before a calm, stone-faced princess that was no longer surrounded by knives. Chara felt the corner of their mouth twitch, tightening their smile into a grimace.

"What do you think you are doing?" they asked, though it came out as more of a statement.

Unfazed, Frisk calmly said, "I remembered something a friend told me. She said I don't have to stay in the hole inside myself, any more. I'm going home to be with my friends and family." The choice to continue appeared beside her, but before she could touch it Chara sent red knives flying, breaking the floating panel.

"You think YOU are the one in control?" they sneered. "Do not make me laugh. Your determination is NOTHING compared to mine. I still have a mission to accomplish. You are IN MY WAY."

"You sound stressed," said Frisk. The non sequitur made Chara blink before she said, "Please forgive my lack of manners. Allow me to pour you some tea."

Frisk walked up to a table that had formed in their blind spot. It looked like a little girl's idea of a princess' tea time, with a white lace tablecloth beneath the delicate porcelain dishes. There were even tiny sandwiches and various sweets to nibble upon as the tea was served (golden flower, unless Chara's nose was mistaken.) The princess stood next to the table, her back turned to them, pouring tea as though her life was not at stake.

They felt like they were being mocked. It was like she thought they were not strong enough to be considered a threat, or significant enough to fear. Chara felt themselves flush with anger before they threw a conjured knife at the back of her head, to no avail. It was intercepted by a shield of red pencils erupting from the floor, much like what she'd done to protect Papyrus that fateful day. It'd been conjured even faster than before, and Frisk had done it without turning her head…

"Now, now. There's no need for that," Frisk chided calmly. "Come have a seat. That way we can talk this out like civilized people."

The princess set the cup of tea at one end of the table with nary a clink or clatter before taking a seat on the opposite side. She sat primly, pouring herself a cup before reaching for a plate and selecting a few of the finger foods. But instead of eating she looked toward Chara with politely raised eyebrows, waiting for them to sit.

The child in the green sweater hid their confusion behind a smile. What game was Frisk playing? She clearly figured out how this plane was affected by the mind, and everything that appeared was a manifestation of her imagination. Was the tea poisoned? The food? Would the chair morph into something to restrain them? As a consciousness without a body Chara didn't think they could die, so long as they remained determined. But they could still be incapacitated and trapped here, as they'd attempted to do to Frisk. If she was half as strong as she seemed to have become, it was possible…

And she WAS strong. They were not foolish enough to underestimate her, again. They just thought she was a coward who did not exercise that strength in a meaningful manner. She was letting all that potential go to waste…

Instead of taking a seat Chara summoned the biggest knife they could manage, forming it in the air above the table. They brought it down, cutting the table in half and sending everything atop it flying. Frisk didn't even flinch as her little tea party was sent to the unseen floor, everything falling with an ear-shattering din as tea stained the void. Her expression went from "politely attentive" to the inscrutable flatness of her usual squint. Chara took that to mean they had her attention, at last.

They let their smile widen. "Let us CUT to the chase. I have a POINT to make." They summoned a knife to their left hand to point it at her, mocking her enjoyment of wordplay. Frisk remained silent as they continued. "You wish to leave this place. I will not permit it. Not unless you promise to end your uncle's life."

"I'm not going to make that kind of promise," Frisk said evenly.

Chara shrugged with one shoulder. "I was not expecting you to. Very well. You have forced my hand. You would have been an excellent partner. Such a pity you turned out to be so soft. GOODBYE."

They lunged at Frisk, raising their knife high, intending to stab her in the juncture where her shoulder met her neck. Though she was a manifestation of her determination like themselves, killing the consciousness named "Frisk" would probably make them the sole occupant of her body. Even if they were wrong and killing her consciousness killed her body too, it would still be one less human to hurt the monsters. Chara could see no downside, other than losing the opportunity of sending as many humans as possible into oblivion with Frisk. And possibly staying in the void if they could not return to the body.

The thought of staying in the dark did not bother them. Permitting cowards to toy with monsterkind's fate DID.

However, Frisk was not about to die quietly. Even as they charged she was reaching behind herself, grasping the back of the chair to bring it to her front as she stood, holding it up with the legs pointed at them to keep them at bay as she took a few steps backward. Chara stopped in their tracks, but let themselves smile mockingly. That feeble attempt to protect herself would not stop MAGIC!

Knives rose from the floor behind Frisk, ready to fly and pierce her back, but Frisk blocked them, again. Chara kept smiling, but felt their face twitch at the apparent ease Frisk was suddenly displaying with her magic. Even for someone of her obvious intelligence, surely it would take longer for her to master her magic than the hour or so she spent in here? Even constructs of determination needed time to wrap their heads around new concepts…

Chara's contemplation was cut short when Frisk set the chair on the floor and summoned something to her hands. It was red, and they thought she was summoning Mr. Dreemurr's trident, but that wasn't it.

It was a red pencil… about the size of one of Undyne's spears. It amounted to a staff with a pointed end. Frisk's eyes were open, her expression calm and focused, but they couldn't see any intent in those eyes. They couldn't feel it in the air, either. She said nothing as she stared at them…

They weren't about to show their consternation show. Chara scoffed as they said, "About time you showed some backbone." Frisk began to smirk, so they added, "That was not a pun."

"I know it wasn't," said Frisk. The humor that twinkled in her eyes betrayed her real thoughts, but it faded as quickly as it appeared. She looked almost sad as she said, "We don't really need to do this. I don't want to fight you. I know Asriel said you weren't the best person… but I don't think you're the worst, either. I know people that deserve that title far more than you, and you haven't reached their level. Not quite yet. Can't we talk this out before you do?"

Chara's grip on their knife tightened. "Save your pity. Do not pretend to know me. You know nothing about me."

"You're right. But it's rather difficult to know someone when they won't talk to you, wouldn't you say?"

"ENOUGH. I made my decision. I will not allow your cowardice to harm the monsters. I WILL kill your uncle. Then I will exterminate the humans in New Ebott Town. All of them. That is the only way to keep the monsters safe."

"You can't kill almost fifty thousand people!"

"Humans are not people. They are VERMIN and you know it! I will annihilate every single one on the face of this planet if I must!"

"Including yourself?"

There was an emotion in the quiet question, a soft one that almost made Chara flinch but they stopped themselves just in time. Even as they said, "Do not insult me. I am not human," something twisted inside them. The desire to reach out to someone, to cry for help and be understood… a pitiful, USELESS feeling they thought long dead and buried. They crushed it beneath a mental heel and ground it into the figurative dirt.

Such weakness could not be permitted. They were stronger than that, and besides… human compassion was WORTHLESS. It never helped them in the past and Chara was not going to let themselves fall into that trap, again.

Never again.

They began to walk around Frisk in a circle, pointing the knife at her. Frisk was in the stance Undyne had shown her, moving herself in such a way so she always faced them. The girl was certainly quick on the uptake, they would give her that much. They doubted her body had developed the reflexes only years of training would have given her, but they were not facing Frisk's body. The girl before them represented her agile mind, every lesson she ever had and every observation she ever made. Perhaps that was why her casting was so much faster than before…

Since she seemed disinclined to make the next move Chara took it upon themselves. They changed their grip on the conjured blade and threw it, sending it spinning at Frisk's forehead. Even as she swatted it from the air they were summoning more blades, making them fall like rain upon her. Frisk's pencil staff was a blur as she twirled it, knocking away and shattering all of them before they had a chance to touch her. Unperturbed, Chara concentrated upon her feet, willing knives to drive themselves upward into her legs. Unfortunately a red glow telegraphed their appearance, letting Frisk jump out of their way just before they formed.

Frisk still made no move to attack. Whatever she could not block she dodged, and vice versa. Even when an attack connected it would only graze her, not damaging her enough to end her. Chara became the one to stand in place as Frisk dodged for her continued existence, running around them as they conjured attack after attack.

Chara's patience began to wear thin. They focused their attacks in order to drive Frisk closer to them. They summoned one more knife to their hand as she faced them at last. She tried to jab at them, tried to keep them at bay, but she wasn't the only one who knew how to dodge.

They made it past the point of her ridiculously large pencil. They grabbed it to keep it still as they brought their knife down upon it, shattering the construct and leaving Frisk defenseless. They grabbed a handful of her sweater and pulled her closer, intending to drive the knife into her belly and end their farce of a confrontation once and for all…

Something in Frisk's eyes finally changed. A light from within made those odd orange eyes blaze. She knocked their knife away from its goal by pushing Chara's wrist with her right arm, as though she'd suddenly become a martial artist. As she did her left hand grabbed them by the sweater as she took a step forward, using their own momentum against them as her knee was driven into their belly.

They were nothing but a construct of their determination… but the blow still knocked the wind out of them. And there was still no intent to harm!

Frisk pushed them away and hopped backward, light on her feet as she gave Chara time to catch their breath. Once they did she put up her dukes and hopped on the balls of her feet, the way boxers did… Before Chara could puzzle out what was going on Frisk charged, rushing in with a flurry of punches that had them on the defensive. They could swear an orange aura had settled itself upon her fists, glove-like as something else orange wrapped itself around her arm…

Chara backpedaled, stopping her advance with more rising knives. They blinked, trying to see if the orange aura was still clinging to Frisk, but they saw nothing of that color. She was squinting again, hiding her eyes. They thought they saw a pale blue light shining in her hair, draping itself like a ribbon on her head. She stood there, arms at her sides, looking for all the world like she was going to do nothing at all, but Chara could tell she was waiting. She was trying to keep her body relaxed but there was suddenly a tension in the aura surrounding her. It was coiled like a snake, ready to strike if they dared to get any closer.

Why was this so familiar? Chara kept their distance and attacked again, only for it to be knocked away by a pale blue, stubby, toy-like knife that flashed to life in Frisk's hand before it, too, dissipated. Red knives rained upon her again and Frisk started dancing, of all things, dodging gracefully as she practically defied gravity.

She moved like a ballerina, which struck Chara as odd. They'd briefly seen her taking lessons in some older (and immensely boring) memories, but those lessons had been when she was small. They didn't find any lessons in her later memories, as though she was taken out of the classes at some point. They focused on her feet, which were enveloped in an azure-colored aura…

Suspicion narrowed their eyes. They remembered the last time she danced like that. It'd been when she was facing Flowey, after she called out to all six human souls. She was relying upon her mimicry, now? Why of all the disgusting…!

They shook their head at her and sneered. "Your strength is not enough to defeat me. So you resort to using someone else's. How PATHETIC."

"You're the one that said I had the power of 'memory mimicry'," Frisk said reasonably, tilting her head. "What good are these memories if I don't use them? Of course, I know memories will only get me so far. I believe that's where artistic interpretation comes into play." Before Chara could puzzle out what she meant the azure aura faded. She pointed to the air above them, slashing her finger down. They were surrounded by small, purple pencils…

Frisk twirled her finger and the pencils spiraled with the motion, drawing circles on the ground around Chara before rising, drawing upon the air. They tried to cut away the strings but there were simply too many. Every line that was cut, every purple pencil broken was replaced by two more. The strings constricted about them, trapping Chara's arms against their sides and binding their legs as three parallel lines were drawn on the floor. They remained on their feet, just barely maintaining their balance as they waited for Frisk's next move. They could do little else without hurting themselves on their own knives.

Frisk tilted her head, again. "Do you really think you're not human?" she asked, picking up a conversation long since ended. "What are you, if not that?"

They kept their mouth shut. Not only did they not feel like conversing with a human, they did not know what to call themselves. Magicians were still considered humans. Witches were not, but Chara did not want to call themselves such a thing. They were not a monster, no matter how much they wished they could be. They most definitely were not an angel, so that only left…

They shook their head and shouted, "It does it not matter! All that matters is killing you!"

"And you want to kill humans in order to protect the monsters. Yes, I remember." Frisk was so calm she sounded almost bored. Before Chara had time to feel offended she was saying, "So the end justifies the means? Forgive me if I'm mistaken, but that's an awfully human viewpoint to have. One even Father embraced, before he ended the Underground's war."

"You dare to lump me in with the rest of you SCUM?" Chara launched more knives at Frisk, but she blasted them away with yellow bullets shot from her right index finger. She sent red pencils down the lines, forcing them to hop from side to side to dodge (a simple matter, since they were pitifully slow). They somehow stayed on their feet as they said, "You DARE to lump Mr. Dreemurr in with your lot!? He is the king. He had the determination to do what was necessary. He was going to free his people. Even if that meant killing you. He DID kill you! TWICE!"

"I know he did, but there's an important distinction to make between the two of you." She summoned a green frying pan to her hand to help block another attack. She opened her eyes once more, boring into theirs as she said, "He's never reveled in taking people's lives. He regrets killing people in the old war and the six humans that came before me. As he drove that trident into my heart I saw nothing but sorrow in his eyes. I felt it behind his intent to kill.

"You, on the other hand, seem to relish the thought of humanity's destruction. The guilt or innocence of a given individual doesn't matter to you. In your eyes, being born human is enough to justify their destruction. That's not right, Chara. I grew up around liars and narcissists but even I know better than to think every single human being is that way. There are good ones, too, no matter how few and far between they may be. I want to protect them from you, and anyone else that wants to hurt them, even if we never meet."

"Your sentimentality is going to get you killed," Chara half-murmured. "That kind of soft-hearted nonsense is exactly what those liars and narcissists of yours take advantage of. You can never become strong if you let others tear you down from within."

"You don't have to let people completely inside to be nice to them." Chara blinked at her, staring as though she'd grown a second head. That was not something a bleeding heart like her would say. Frisk raised an eyebrow at them as she said, "There's a world of difference between giving someone the benefit of the doubt and trusting them completely. In my opinion, at least."

She shrugged. "Sans said I had to learn about politics, but he didn't realize I'd grown up around politicians. The sleazy sort that talked out of both sides of their mouth. I'm well aware of the dangers trusting others can bring."

She paused her speech, clasping her hands before her as though in prayer. Before Chara could demand she explain what she was doing a familiar glow enveloped her. Instead of a soul floating before her chest she had a star that blazed in many colors. She extended that star to them… and chose to SAVE them. Chara felt the power surge through them, kind and gentle. A memory flooded their mind, unbidden…

"Forgive me, my son," his mother said tearfully. The arms wrapped around him were soft and warm as she said, "I am sorry to have given you this cursed gift. I did not think my great-great grandmother's blood still flowed so strong.

"No one can know you possess this power. It is dangerous. No matter how scared you are, you must never use it. For your own sake, you must keep it inside. Promise me…"

Chara gasped as he- as THEY pulled themselves out of their own mind, determined to kick Frisk out. They ground down the old feeling of loss as they attacked, trying to make themselves feel strong, again. Before they could get it back Frisk SAVED them, again…

People were chanting. The smell of woodsmoke was choking him. A woman was screaming and he could smell her hair burning from where he hid…

He had to leave. He HAD to, before the bastards killed him, too! They already took away everything he cared about. He had no reason to stay…

"STOP WHAT YOU ARE DOING THIS INSTANT!" Chara threw their magic at Frisk blindly but she dodged them expertly. She used the star again…

Under the cover of night, he fled. To where he knew not, but dying in the woods had to be better than being burned at the stake. At least that way Nature would be allowed to take its course, rather than his death being a matter of humans enforcing their will upon him. But where to go…?

His mother always said Mount Ebott was a mysterious place. Those who journeyed to its summit never returned. That sounded as good a place as any to die…

Chara's voice rose in a wordless scream as they threw every scrap of magic they could summon at Frisk. She was getting too deep and they could not force her out. She was learning too much. She could not know. She'd never understand! They did not WANT her to understand! The star shone once more…

"Mom, Dad, this is Chara. They fell into the Ruins from high, high up!"

"Gracious, you are injured! I will heal you, my child."

"You are fortunate to survive such a fall… Welcome, little one, to our kingdom. Consider this your new home. Ho, ho ho!"

The monsters did not care that he was using an alias. They gave him a safe place to live, despite knowing nothing about his life. They never asked, either, giving him time to open up to them on his own. They even taught them that they didn't have to think of themselves as a "he," any longer. Chara had never felt so free… except in one respect.

They continued to hide their magic, not wanting to upset their new caretakers. Magicians had sealed the monsters away, after all. They did not want to see the same fear and disgust they'd seen from humans reflected in the monsters' eyes.

But they learned of the kingdom's growing despair. An entire generation had been born and grown up in the Underground, never knowing the sun. Another generation would soon know the same. One day only the oldest of monsters, those like Duke Asterisk and Mr. Gerson, who maintained their extended youth by refusing to breed, would remember what the surface was like.

Perhaps there was a way Chara could help? And, if they could eliminate humanity at the same time, it would be more than worthwhile… But how to go about it? They were NOT going to kill a Boss Monster to take their soul. That meant Chara had to be the one to die and give their soul to a monster. But they would need a partner…

Mr. Dreemurr became ill, because of an accident. Chara hid how bad they felt about it behind their smile, using the moment to teach Asriel how to control his feelings to become strong, as they had. They later realized something.

They already had a partner. He just needed a little polishing. It would take a little bit of time, but any sacrifice was worth monsterkind's freedom, in their eyes.

One day, the two of them would go down in monster history…

"And you did, but not the way you intended."

Chara still stood on their feet, still bound by purple magic. Their smile had fallen long ago, or what FELT like long ago. They struggled to control the tremors that threatened to bring them to their knees. Their eyes burned but they refused to let the tears fall. They glared at Frisk, hoping she could see how much they hated her for making them remember. For making them feel so helpless, again.

"Now you know how I felt, when you forced me to remember," she said softly. "Not very fun, is it?"

"What do you want from me?" Chara was proud of the way their voice came out so evenly when their throat felt like they'd been screaming for hours.

"I want to talk," said Frisk. "I think we have a lot in common, despite our differences. The thing we both want to accomplish more than anything is to keep the monsters safe. We don't have to fight over how we do so. Fighting over differences is such a human thing to do, wouldn't you say?" Chara didn't answer, so she continued. "If we're going to share a body and soul, I think we should come to some sort of an understanding. But before that, we should probably get to know one another a little better. The proper way, without diving into memories we don't want to show other people."

Frisk sat on the ground, crossing her legs before smiling at them. "Why don't you start? I'm all ears."