AN: Holy cow! This chapter is super long, like seriously, it's the longest chapter I've ever written and I probably should have split it up into two. There just weren't any good places where it wouldn't have messed with the flow, though. Anyways, I hope you enjoy this monster chapter that showcases the end of the climax! It's hard to believe that the only thing left in this story in the epilogue. I never planned for this story to become so long, it just sort of happened, and now that it's almost over I have no idea how to feel about it. It's been such a huge part of my life for two years now. I'll stop rambling in just a moment and let you get on to reading but first I want to thank each and every one of you who have stuck with this story to the end. It has been a pleasure writing for you and hearing what you have to say. I'm really looking forward to seeing what you all think of this so please let me know by leaving a review ;)
Disclaimer: Toby Fox owns Undertale which means that I do not. (Yay, I'll only have to say this one more time! What, it's hard coming up with new ways to say the same old thing :P)
The young skeleton couldn't believe what she'd just heard! As she pulled back to meet her father's eyes a shocked exclamation escaped her mouth, making the older monster flinch slightly at the unexpected noise.
"What the heck? Why would you even think that?" Frisk asked, nearly trembling in denial as she clutched him tighter. "You know my life on the surface was far from good. Those people may have given me life originally but they were not my family. That honor belongs solely to the monsters I met here but to you especially. Sans, you took me in and raised me as your own. You taught me more than any other person in my entire life. You're not just a friend to me! You've been so much more since the moment you decided to adopt me. You changed my life that day, gave me a second chance, and I would never leave you just because I got my memories back."
She smiled fondly as Sans pulled her into his embrace once more, not saying a word as tears fell softly onto her shoulder. The hug continued for all of a few seconds before a shrill scream rose in the chamber, drawing their attention to the fallen human child as she lashed out with her full power, sending everyone flying backwards as she finally broke free of the magical vortex.
"No! This can't be happening!" She shrieked, pointing her knife at Sans as he slowly climbed to his feet from where he'd fallen after being slammed against the wall. "How did you break free? It took years to develop that ability, it should have been impervious to any attempt you could have made at breaking it!"
"You should know by now, ya little ankle biter, love conquers all." The skeleton replied, taking stock of the others while keeping a wary eye on the human.
Asriel was still locked in the cage so he'd simply been thrown back against the bars. He would probably have a lump on his head but that was it. The king and queen had gotten off pretty lightly as well. Since they were both so large the backlash of the vortex had barely managed to move them two feet. Undyne and Mettaton had both managed to grab hold of Asriel's cage with one hand while holding their partners with the other so that meant that they, along with Alphys and Papyrus, were completely unharmed. Gaster had used his magic to teleport out of the gales way so that left only Frisk unaccounted for. Sans glanced around, figuring she'd be nearby since she'd been with him when they were struck. He sucked in a worried breath as he noticed her brown hair breach the surface of the nearby pool.
"You again..." Chara moaned, noticing Frisk at the same time as Sans and immediately aiming her weapon at the teen. "Why do you keep ruining my plans?"
Sans fought a wave of dizziness as he battled his aching limbs in an attempt to reach Frisk's side. She was completely defenseless in the water, having failed to notice Chara's intentions, and Sans felt himself flash back to a year ago when he'd placed himself between his daughter and the fallen child. Back then he had made it in time but, as he felt himself stumble, it was clear he would be too late. He had no strength left to teleport, all he could do was watch in agony as the knife sailed towards its target.
He waited, frozen in place as Frisk seemed to sense the attack, yet there was no time to dodge. Suddenly, a bright, blue light erupted around where the girl was treading water, forming an impenetrable shield that deflected the knife easily. Sans' soul eased as he caught sight of a familiar echo flower pendant. Even after everything that was said that day in the Judgment Hall she'd never taken it off. Knowing that made warmth spread through his body for it proved to him beyond a doubt that she hadn't meant those hurtful words. He had known that, of course, but sometimes doubt still lingered after such an event. Seeing that she still wore his gift, even after all this time, put any such fears to rest. They were family and family they would stay. Renewed energy coursing through his bones, Sans pushed the dizziness away and rushed forward to help his child out of the water, making sure she wasn't injured before turning once more to face their enemy... a look of unadulterated fury marring his face.
"Get out of here, guys." He growled, summoning an array of bones that formed a wall, effectively separating his friends from where he and Chara stood facing off. "I'll take it from here."
Stunned silence filled the chamber for all of two seconds before each member of his mismatched family cried out in protest.
"Son, you are still weakened from your ordeal." Gaster tried to reason. "It will be far more efficient if we work together."
"YES, BROTHER!" Papyrus exclaimed in agreement with their father, concern nearly radiating from him in waves. "PLEASE, JUST LET US HELP YOU!"
The collected monsters watched Sans shake his head sadly, not even turning to meet their worried gazes as he summoned more bones, these pointed directly at the fallen child who, in turn, readied her knife.
"There's no way you can do this alone, ya punk!" Undyne called at the same moment as Mettaton implored, "Darling, we know you're strong but we just got you back."
Alphys spoke up then, adding on to what the robotic monster had said. " He's r...right, we don't want to lo...lose you again."
A short silence followed before another member of the company stepped forward to try and convince the stubborn monster.
"Sans, as your king I order you to lower this barricade and let us help," Asgore commanded, voice hardened in the hopes that their friend would listen, but the skeleton gave no sign that he'd heard.
"Fine! Do whatever you want!" Undyne shouted in frustration when it was clear he was refusing to follow the king's order. She summoned a spear as she rushed forward. "We'll just have to break through!"
The comedian continued to ignore them, knowing they wouldn't be able to breach his defensive wall. Even in his weakened condition, he was the best magic user in the Underground, not even the king was strong enough to stop him. The pun-lover heard the fish woman's attacks bounce harmlessly off the blockade though he didn't turn to look. Instead, he stood there, patiently waiting for Chara to make the first move. He didn't have to wait long, for, at that very moment, the human raced forward, knife swinging in a wide arch towards his chest. She was just as quick as she'd been the last time they'd fought but Sans had never truly let down his guard, making sure to train in secret just in case she somehow made her return.
"Sister, please don't hurt Sans!" Asriel cried from his cage, unable to stand seeing how corrupted his sibling had become. "He's helped me so much, I'm sure he could help you too if you just give him a chance."
The young girl slowly turned to face the prince, menacing, red eyes full of hatred as she peered at him through the wall of bones.
"I'm not as weak as you are, Asriel. I don't need anyone's help. I never did!" She bit out, sounding like a rabid animal. "You never meant anything to me! I just used you to try and destroy the humans. We were never friends and we were never family."
Tears rolled down the goat monster's furry face and Sans watched from the corner of his eye as Frisk reached through the bars before summoning her magic. The two disappeared momentarily only to reappear with the older teen wrapped in his daughter's arms as the girl offered what little comfort she could. The king and queen looked just as stricken and Pap wasn't faring much better. How could this be the same child that had inspired his brother to be such a kind and loving person? Sans just didn't know. He had nothing to base his opinions of the girl on other than his interactions with her during the timelines. Unlike his bro, he'd never met either of the royal children before their deaths.
"DAD, LOOK OUT!" Frisk screamed from across the room and he spun around, just having time to dodge as a blade sailed inches from his face, impacting the stone wall behind him.
No, he couldn't focus on what Chara had been like before... that would only succeed in getting him killed. He had to remain focused so that he could protect those he cared for. He would not fail! Not this time! Not when there would be no resets to right his mistakes. This was it, the final battle, and he would lay it all on the line.
"Sans, I know you feel you have to protect us but who is going to protect you?" Toriel called out, causing him to tilt his head towards her in acknowledgment. "We are a family and families protect one another."
"I'm sorry, Tori, but I have to do this." He said quietly, speaking up for the first time since he'd thrown up the barrier.
"No, you don't! We are not leaving you to face this... this demon on your own!" his adoptive mother argued, standing her ground even as the skeleton sent a passing glare her way while dodging Chara's swing. "Years ago, I told you that if the time ever came I would fight to defend this family. Well, it seems that day has come. While I still refuse to believe that this creature truly is my daughter I will not abandon you, not even if you ask me to do so, and I know the others feel the same. My child, you do not have to face this hardship by yourself, you are no longer alone... we are all here for you."
Tears sprang to his eyes but Sans refused to let them fall. All he wanted was to keep his family safe, couldn't they see that? If anything were to happen to any of them he would never be able to forgive himself. Just then, without any warning, a bright flash lit the room and the next thing he knew Frisk and Asriel had taken up defensive stances on either side of him.
"What do you kids think you're doing? Get back to the others!" He exclaimed, distracted for the moment by their impromptu appearance.
"Helping you!" The duo proclaimed, Frisk deflecting a knife that had been making a beeline for her father's skull while Asriel sent a wall of flames at their enemy, even as the tears built in his eyes.
"Gah! Why must you brats keep meddling?" The evil human screamed, stabbing her knife into the ground and sending several shock-waves hurtling at the two younger monsters.
Sans' left eye blazed blue as he summoned his gravity magic, swiftly lifting the youngsters out of harms way before turning back to face his foe, sockets narrowed dangerously.
"Chara!" He roared, stepping forward as a smirk appeared on the former princess's mouth when she heard the barely contained rage in his voice. "Your fight is with me, leave my family out of this!"
By this point, Gaster had taken the clue from Frisk and had transported the rest of their group over. The younger skeleton let his wall drop, there was no point keeping it up now that the others had found a way to bypass it. Toriel, Asgore, and Gaster had immediately rushed over to the children, making sure they were alright as the others spread out... taking up arms to join the fight. Once positive that the two were fine, the remaining adults called forth their magic and the group moved as one, slowly advancing on Chara.
"While it's true that you're the main reason my plans always failed I'm not above using your worthless friends against you." She sneered, unconcerned by the approaching monsters as she threw her weapon into the air, her knife seeming to multiply until it formed a fleet of blades spreading out in every direction. " What are you going to choose, Sansy? You can't save them all."
Hundreds of knives filled the chamber, completely encircling the monsters. Each of his family had at least fifty of the deadly weapons aimed at them, ready to take flight at a moments notice as Sans stared at the brat with defiant eyes.
"Watch me." The hoodie-clad skeleton growled, eye glowing even more brilliantly than before as he gathered all of his power.
The knives moved as a single unit, his friends preparing for the approaching onslaught with grim resolve when Sans raised his hand, catching each and every blade in his gravity magic. Sweat quickly built on his brow, he wouldn't be able to last for long at this rate.
"Take them out while you can, I don't know how long I can hold them." He grunted, concentrating fully on the task of keeping the deadly attack from advancing.
Undyne moved first, slicing her way through until she was standing back to back with Papyrus. His bro had summoned a multitude of humeri, using them to knock the knives safely to the ground. Alphys and Mettaton combined their electrical attacks, effectively disintegrating the weapons until nothing but dust remained in their stead. Toriel and Asgore did much the same, using fire in place of an electrical charge. Gaster chose to use his own gravity magic, taking his share of knives from Sans' hold and breaking them him half with the force of his power.
The younger male watched this all unfold, panting with exhaustion as his strength began to wane. Even so, he had to keep it up, there were still more to deal with. Taking a fortifying breath, he kept a close eye on the two youngest as they did their best to get rid of their share. After what felt like hours though he knew it had been only a few minutes, the last of the knives were destroyed and Sans fell to his knees, breathing heavily as he released his magic. He hadn't realized that his time with Chara had weakened him to such a degree. Pain filled his soul seconds later and he turned his head to stare in front of him, finding Chara's taunting eyes mere inches from his face.
"Did you really think it would be that easy?" She asked, pulling her hand away as a bloody knife followed.
Sans glanced down, sockets widening as he saw the achingly familiar wound stretched across his ribs. Collapsing, the air left his chest in a pained huff as he heard his daughter's voice rise above the rest.
"DAD!" Frisk screamed at the same time the others called out Sans' name. Rushing forward, she managed to catch him in her arms as he fell. "NO! No, no, no... this can't be happening!"
He coughed, blood leaking from the corner of his mouth as he weakly reached up to cup her cheek.
"Shh,... it's okay... kiddo." He shushed, fighting against the darkness trying to take him as he attempted to comfort his little girl. "I'm not going... anywhere. I just need... to take a little... break, that's all. Don't worry... about me... I'll be fine."
With that, his eyes slid closed and Frisk howled in pain, holding the slightly shorter skeleton close to her chest as the rest of her family rushed over. Gaster reached out, attempting to pry his son from the young girl's hold only to receive a feral snarl as DETERMINATION filled her soul and helped maintain her grip. Frisk didn't even notice as her uncle wrapped his long arms around her smaller frame, tears streaming from his eyes as he held her close. No, her attention had been drawn to a sight she hadn't seen in sixteen years, a set of buttons randomly floating in the air. The one on the left held the word 'CONTINUE' while the one on the right... the one on the right said 'RESET'. Tears fell like rain as her grip tightened momentarily on her father's limp form. What was the point in going on if she lost the person she cared for most? Ignoring the startled gasps of her friends, Frisk reached out her hand only to have it grabbed at the last second by a furry paw. She whipped around, furious, tear-filled eyes glaring at the one who had dared to stop her. Asriel stared back resolutely, not letting go even as she struggled against him. Chara merely watched in amusement, content to let the scene play out as she reveled in the pain she'd caused.
"Let me go, As!" The sixteen-year-old screamed, fruitlessly fighting against her best friends hold even though she knew that he was physically stronger than her. "I don't want to stay here... not without him! Why can't you understand that!"
"I do, Frisk, really, I do." He sighed, the others remaining silent though Gaster was still trying to get her to release her grip. She finally gave in, allowing her father's prone form to be taken from her as she flung her newly freed fist forward, connecting with the goat teen's jaw in a fierce blow.
"If you understand then why won't you let me do this?" She shouted, righteous indignation coursing through her soul as she glowered at the other teen who was now sporting a split lip.
"Because it's not what Sans would want!" As shouted back, losing his temper slightly at Frisk's selfishness even though he knew she was just overwhelmed by her grief. "Think, Frisk! Sans fought for so long to set the Underground free of the loops and you would willingly send him back to that hell? He was getting better! It took fifteen years but Sans was finally getting over his trauma! What do you think would happen if you sent him back? Even if we managed to break free of the loops again, what then? I doubt that he would ever fully recover... not a second time. If you do this we'll lose the Sans that we all know and love. He'll be gone, maybe not in body, but in spirit. Do you really want that?"
Frisk sniffled, eyes downcast as she refused to look at any of the gathered monsters.
"No..." She whispered, imagining the look on her father's face when he realized that the world had reset. "No, I don't want that but... I can't lose him, Asriel... I just can't."
She broke off, a sob tearing from her throat as she curled her knees up to her chest. The former human pulled her purple hood over her head, not wanting the others to see her face as she bit her lower jaw in an attempt to muffle her cries.
"Frisk, your father is alive." Her Pompa spoke, drawing hopeful gasps from the other monsters as she turned her head up to meet his sympathetic gaze.
"What?" The teen asked in a broken voice, barely daring to believe her ears. She hadn't been able to bring herself to look since her grandpa had taken Sans' body from her arms, afraid that is she did, all she would find was a pile of his dust.
"It's true." The Royal Scientist assured, eyes holding nothing but utmost honesty. "He's extremely weak, that attack took nearly all of his HP, but he's still alive."
Instinctively, her gaze sought out Sans, needing to see for herself that the older skeleton hadn't succumbed to death's call. Her sockets widened as she saw him laying several feet away. He was still unconscious, sprawled on his back as Gaster focused on healing the wound. The rest of her family had been so preoccupied with the stunt she'd tried to pull that they hadn't even noticed what the scientist was doing up till this point. But now, now they felt relief fill their souls only to be dimmed moments later when Gaster spoke once more.
"Sans is currently sitting at .25 of an HP. By all means, he shouldn't have survived that attack." The tall monster declared solemnly, as he shifted his son's hoodie up to better see the injury before addressing the gathered monsters as a whole. "You should know that if he gets so much as another nick he will die. I need time to heal him. This cannot be rushed... he's in much too delicate a state for that."
No one made a sound for several minutes as the group processed what they'd just been told. Then, as if to remind them that she was still there, Chara spoke up from where she'd taken a seat to watch the recent events play out.
"Hmm, so the comedian's still kicking." She mocked, flipping a knife around in one hand. "You know, I could remedy that for you."
The blade slipped easily from her grasp, sailing towards where Sans lay prone on the ground, only to be knocked off course by Undyne's spear.
"If you want a fight, we'll give it to ya!" She called but a small hand reached out to snag hold of her armor just as she was about to race forward.
"No, Undyne, you can't fight here," Frisk exclaimed, having come to her senses upon being told that her father was alive. "We can't risk an attack getting through. Let me and Asriel deal with this, we know what we're doing."
Not waiting for a reply, Frisk yanked her treasured pendant from where it rested against her collarbone, kneeling down to secure it around her father's neck instead.
"Keep him safe." She whispered, inaudible to any but herself as she leaned over to softly kiss the top of his skull.
She then rose to her feet, taking a step forward as she locked eyes with her best friend. He followed her lead, not saying a word as they moved steadily towards the fallen child. Toriel let out a worried yelp, reaching out a paw to try and stop them, only to be held back by her husband's hand on her shoulder. She met his eyes, seeing her own fear reflected within their dark depths. They were all afraid, yes, but they would listen to what the children said. They would stay back and defend their fallen friend from anything that came their way... it was up to Frisk and Asriel to deal with the rest.
"CHARA!" The two young monsters called together, pulling the human's attention to them as she smiled threateningly.
"Oh, so you think you can stop me then... do you?" She said, a teasing lilt to her voice. "What makes you think that?"
Frisk hesitated, a distant memory surfacing in her mind of a nightmare she'd once had. Back when she was just a small child, she'd woken up, screaming for her father as tears fell from her eyes. At the time she couldn't remember what the dream had been about, only that a pair of red eyes had watched her from the shadows. Now, it all came rushing back in a tidal wave that threatened to pull her under if not for Asriel's hand taking hold of her own.
"Are you okay?" He asked, worry clear in his voice as he stared at her with kind eyes.
She nodded, taking a deep breath to soothe her frazzled nerves. Remembering dream Sans' final wish for her, she let the anger and hatred drain from her soul, leaving behind the compassion that had guided her throughout her life.
"Chara?" She asked, voice soft as she slowly moved towards the smaller girl. "What is it that caused you to be like this?"
"What are you talking about?" The fallen child hissed, taking an involuntary step back as her enemy advanced. "I've always been this way."
The goat boy sucked in a shocked breath, the hand that wasn't clasped around Frisk's flying up to cover his mouth.
"That's not true, sis." He said after a moment, sadness clouding his eyes. "You use to be so kind. You cared for everyone. Even if people were mean to you, you never said a bad word about them!"
"No... you're making that up!" The girl yelled, sending several knives flying towards them.
The pair easily deflected them, keeping their pace steady as they advanced.
"I had a dream when I was just a little girl," Frisk revealed, using her magic to shield them from another attack. "In it, you said such awful things and ended up killing Sans... but there was another voice. It sounded like a whisper on the wind and was so soft I could barely make it out. I think it was you... the real you... reaching out to me for help."
Chara growled, acting like a cornered animal as her back pressed up against the wall. Her gaze searching madly for any means of escape. They locked on the group of monsters huddled further inside the cavern and the two teenagers watched as a sick grin twisted her features.
"If you so much as think of taking one more step or telling another of your lies I'll send out an attack that is sure to finish off that bonehead along with the rest of your friends!" She screeched hysterically, voice rising in pitch as she watched the pair with wary eyes.
They paused, uncertain, before Asriel released the younger monster's hand and raced forward... his arms encircling the short human before she even knew what was happening. The prince pulled his sister to his chest, squeezing her small body to him as if his life depended on it and judging by Chara's vicious snarl, it just might have. He stayed there, simply hugging the other being for a short while as Frisk watched, a sad smile on her face. She knew how much As missed his sibling. Then, out of the corner of her eye, she saw the girl manage to reach her knife and cried out in warning.
"Asriel, be careful!" She called, worried for her friend's life... but the blow never came.
Instead, she watched as the fallen human faltered, the weapon falling harmlessly to the floor below as she caught sight of the locket around Asriel's neck. The matching one that Chara wore slipping free of her sweater due to her struggles.
"Best friends... that's what we are, right Chara?" The seventeen-year-old spoke, not releasing the hold he had on his sister yet leaning back enough so he could meet her eyes. "We promised that we'd always be best friends. Do you remember that day?"
"It doesn't matter." The child murmured, sending a glare towards Frisk. "You've moved on... you have a new best friend. I don't matter to you at all."
"That's not true!" Frisk announced, determination radiating from her soul. "Asriel has always thought of you as his best friend. Yea, we're close, but we're not siblings... not really. Sometimes he may seem like a brother to me but we'll never have the same kind of bond the two of you did."
The brown-haired skeleton smiled warmly, moving forward a bit as Asriel loosened his hold.
"Can't we all just put this behind us?" She asked, reaching out to the younger girl. "We can be friends and you can go back to your family. I know they've all missed you so much. It'll be just like it was before you died."
She was cut off as a knife sailed past her head, she turned around just in time to watch Mettaton block it from hitting Sans. Why? Why had Chara done that? She thought they were getting through to her. Turning back, she watched her friend step away from the human child with a hurt expression. It was clear that he'd thought the same.
"Things can never go back!" The demonic child growled lowly, the room turning red as she once again slammed her knife into the floor, sending out an array of shock-waves.
All of a sudden, Chara seemed to be consumed by the shadows, her entire body growing dark and vaporous as her soul materialized before her. Frisk gasped, eye sockets widening in concern. The heart was pitch black with little red cracks covering its surface and it seemed to barely be holding together as it quivered in place. When the small human opened her eyes there was no white visible at all, the red of her irises expanding to cover the entire surface. The worst part though was that the only thing reflecting in their crimson depths was hatred.
With a savage scream, knives materialized in the air, surrounding the gathered monsters as they had when her father had held them at bay. Frisk couldn't help but risk a glance back at where Sans still lay, completely motionless, though Gaster seemed to have finished working on him for the time being. She couldn't tell if he was still unconscious or merely too exhausted to move. Then, there was no time to think as they were bombarded with the human's attack. Each monster doing their best to avoid being hit while also protecting each other. Frisk and Asriel rushed forward, bones and fire flying as they met the other being head-on, their souls heavy with the knowledge that they had failed to resolve the confrontation peacefully.
"As!" Frisk called, gaining her friend's attention before she gestured for him to flank their target so that they could come at her from different sides.
The older teen nodded, swiftly breaking off in a new direction as the skeleton continued forward. They circled, never staying still long enough for the human's attacks to land but Chara seemed able to deflect each of their moves with no trouble, simply using the shadows to absorb whatever they threw at her.
"Huh, you really should stop making this so easy for me." The demonic child spoke for the first time since the darkness had consumed her.
Without warning each attack that the shadows had consumed were fired back at them, speed nearly doubled. Frisk dodged to the best of her abilities but after several minutes of the non-stop assault, she began to tire. When another wave of needle-tipped bones surged towards her, the teenager raised her hand, the femurs glowing a mixture of red and blue as she wrestled back control of her attack. Asriel and the others gaped at her, this being the first time anyone other than her father had seen her determination magic. The red faded from her right eye, changing back to its normal blue as she let her powers return to normal.
"Come on guys, stay focused!" She urged, knowing that they couldn't afford to be distracted while fighting.
She should have taken her own advice for just then, a knife snuck past her defenses. She had only enough time to close her eyes and brace for impact before it was upon her. Pain branched out from where it had hit her arm, sending her crashing to her knees as a scream tore from her throat. She clutched at the injured appendage, feeling blood leak from the gash, but she had no time to examine it any further as more blades were flying her way. She jumped out of the line of fire, backing up until her heel bumped into something on the ground. A low groan sounded and, as she glanced down, the girl noticed that she's accidentally kicked a slipper-clad foot.
"Dad," She breathed, fearfully realizing that the others had all been pushed away from their original positions where they had been guarding the injured skeleton.
He groaned again, opening his eyes slightly as she took a hurried moment to check on his HP. It was back up to five, still low but better than it had been during the loops. Even so, she'd defend him until her final breath if it meant keeping him safe from any more harm. How many times had he sacrificed himself to rescue her? Whether by ending her life during the genocide runs or taking her in as his own, Sans had saved her more times than she could count. It was time to return the favor.
"Don't worry, daddy." She said, chuckling fondly as she wondered why she'd ever stopped calling him that. Probably because once she'd gotten older she'd begun worrying what others thought of her. Now, though, it seemed like such a ridiculous thing to dwell on when life could be cut short at a moment's notice. "It's my turn to save you."
With that said, she widened her stance. Standing over the downed monster with fierce determination flaring to life in her eyes... her wounded arm all but forgotten in the heat of battle. As she deflected one attack after another, Frisk kept an eye out, making sure the others weren't in danger. They seemed to be faring just fine since the brunt of Chara's rage was directed towards her and Sans.
"Frisk?" She heard the ketchup-loving monster ask tiredly, confusion clear in his voice, but she wasn't able to turn towards him as she had to maintain the femur shield she'd produced.
"I'm here, it's going to be okay." She said instead, still straddling his legs so as to make sure no wayward attacks hit him. "Just stay down, it's too dangerous for you to move at the moment."
"What's happening?" He demanded in a slightly stronger voice and she risked a look back to see him staring around in concern at the battle raging around them. "Never mind, I can see what's happening. Do you have a plan?"
"Well, me and As were trying to talk to Chara, I think her soul is tainted by the hatred she felt when she died, but she wouldn't listen. The shadows wrapped around her and we caught sight of her soul. It's pure black with red cracks. Dad... it's horrible." She whimpered, quickly blocking as the fallen child continued her deadly onslaught. "Now she's launching an all-out assault and we haven't had a chance to do anything other than dodge or defend."
Sans began to nod but stopped as it caused his head to spin. It was then that he noticed blood seeping through the left sleeve of his daughter's hoodie as she turned back to block more of the weapons that had flown their way. His sockets went dark as he realized that his baby girl had been injured and he hadn't been able to protect her.
"Frisk... your arm..." He choked out, guilt settling in his soul like an anvil when he noticed the echo flower pendant resting against his ribs.
The former human clenched her jaw, hating the pain she'd heard in her father's voice when he'd spoken. It wasn't his fault! He shouldn't blame himself for her getting injured! She was the one who hadn't been paying close enough attention. She knew though, that no matter what she said, Sans still wouldn't accept that. It's been going on for as long as she's known him. Not only after she'd become his daughter but even back when she'd been a human wandering around the Underground. Whenever he couldn't protect her or one of the others he would blame himself, the shame weighing on him more and more until it nearly consumed him. Thankfully, he had her and Papyrus (not to mention the rest of their friends) to help him out of that slump whenever it became too much for him to bear alone.
"I'm fine, dad. It's just a scratch." She replied, smiling widely back at him in the hopes that it would relieve some of his misguided guilt. "Really, I'm okay, you don't have to worry about me. You needed the protection more than I did."
Sans seemed like he was about to argue before she heard him breathe a shuddering sigh. Frisk had hoped that what she'd said would be enough to convince him but, moments later, she felt his legs bump against her own as Sans attempted to force himself to his feet. At that moment, a knife slipped past her defenses and she cried out in alarm as it sped at Sans. Thankfully, a blue light appeared to shield the downed skeleton, allowing the weapon to fall harmlessly to the floor of the cavern. With the immediate risk taken care of, the younger monster felt her concern mix with frustration and the fear she'd experienced just moments prior.
"Hey, I told you to stay down!" She hollered, using a sharpened femur to deflect several more blades that were heading towards her father's shaking form. "You're still too weak. PLEASE, DAD, JUST LISTEN TO ME FOR ONCE!"
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the older skeleton freeze, aware that the others were keeping an eye on them as well even as they fought their own battles. They stayed like that for a short while, Sans half up with Frisk defending them both before the comedian sank back onto the ground.
"Alright, but if you get in trouble I am going to help." He negotiated, not willing to take 'no' for an answer.
"Fine, just be careful." She conceded, noticing Papyrus steadily making his way towards them through the throng. "You're HP is seriously low right now and I'm not willing to test how long that pendant's protection will last."
Within a few short minutes, the elder skelebro had arrived and taken up his previous position at his brother's side, ready to guard the weakened monster from whatever may come their way. Frisk looked to him with a nod, an unspoken conversation passing between the two before returning her attention to her father.
"Dad, I'm going to go find Asriel. I think I have an idea as to how we can stop this." She explained, turning to kneel by his side with the knowledge that her uncle wouldn't let any attacks reach them. "Papyrus is going to stay here with you. Are you going to be alright?"
"I'll be fine, you just worry about yourself," Sans said, a worried frown forming on his face as he asked. "Are you sure about this, Frisk?"
Taking a moment to think, the young monster shook her head, uncertainty causing her voice to tremble when she spoke.
"No, but we have to try." She declared, knowing full well that if she didn't she would regret it forever.
"Alright," He agreed, leaning forward to wrap his arms around his beloved daughter in a quick hug. "Be careful, Frisky, I love you."
"I love you too, daddy." She said before pulling back, his eyes following her throughout the chamber as she raced off.
Frisk found her friend easily (seeing as he stood taller than most of the others) and swiftly explained her idea. She'd thought of it when she had been explaining the situation to her father. He'd asked if she had a plan and at the time she hadn't. It was when she was busy deflecting knives that it had struck her. She'd been able to see the RESET button so that meant, hypothetically, that she should be able to see the SAVE one as well. The prince smiled, agreeing that it was worth a shot, and together they made their way forward until they were once again standing in front of the fallen child. This had to work, it just had too, there was no other way.
"Chara!" The female monster called, gaining the human's attention. "I know how you feel, I..."
She was cut off as a knife flew towards her, slicing across her right cheekbone and drawing a thin line of blood. The brown-haired girl heard a disturbance behind her and swiftly turned to see her father being restrained by Papyrus' steady hand, anger clearly seen in the younger skelebro's darkened sockets as he attempted to rise. She made a vague gesture, hoping to show the other's that she was okay while As glanced worriedly between her and Chara, a fireball held at the ready. Before he had the chance to use it, however, his younger friend shook her head, silently telling him to stand down.
"You forget, Frisk, I've seen what's in your heart. I don't need you trying to sympathize with me over our shared backgrounds." The demonic child sneered, halting her barrage on the others to focus all her concentration on the pair before her. "So what if neither of us had a good life on the surface. So what if we both climbed Mt. Ebott for the exact same reason. So what if we both found families that loved us. That doesn't erase the HATE I feel for humankind!"
"Come on, sis..." Asriel pleaded, green eyes sparkling with tears as he reached towards his sibling with one hand, the other taking hold of his friend's phalanges, thankful for the offered support of the skeletal teen. "This isn't you! I know you better than anyone and you would never have done such awful things. I know you were afraid to return to the surface. You didn't want to go back and I don't blame you, but it was your plan! We can't blame others for what happened to us. Come on, Chara, you were happy living with us, weren't you? Why can't you see how much we all loved you!"
The young skeleton watched as their enemy's glare faltered, the shadows seeming to lighten the slightest bit as a blinding flash lit the room. The next thing she knew, the SAVE button had appeared, floating mere inches in front of her and As. She tightened her grip on the boy's paw, directing his attention to the button before them and, moving as one, they pressed it.
Nothing seemed to happen but that didn't deter them. Frisk remembered her fight to free Asriel from his own ordeal and how many times it had taken before he'd come around. They were prepared to wait it out, dodging the erratic attacks Chara was flinging at them.
"If you loved me so much, WHY DID YOU LET ME DIE!" The small girl screamed, hurt reverberating in her voice as it echoed throughout the chamber. "We were supposed to free everyone and then find a way to return me to my body... but you couldn't do it! You couldn't take the souls we needed and we both died because of it!
Tears leaked from the boy's eyes and Frisk knew that he was remembering back to that day. She'd done the same on many occasions, thinking of how she'd killed her friends while under the demon child's control. It didn't matter that the actions hadn't been her own, she felt as if they were. That is why she was able to understand Sans' guilt and why she is now able to empathize with Asriel. They share a common pain, a sense of failure for what couldn't be stopped. Strengthening her grip, she sent a reassuring glance his way before addressing their foe.
"Stop it!" She called, swiftly ducking out of the way as the girl turned her fury towards her. "Can't you see how much he's blamed himself for what happened to you? How much your parents have blamed themselves? Toriel and Asgore split up over what happened because neither of them truly knew how to deal with the grief of losing, not one, but both of their children. Now they're finally back together and Asriel is with them. They're a family again."
"Yea, that's great for them, but what about me? They left me behind! I'm not needed anymore..." The red-eyed child trailed off, a startled expression appearing on her face as she felt tears slip down her cheeks.
"We didn't leave you!" Her brother denied, reaching forward once more to press the SAVE button a second time, Frisk following his lead. "You died, there was nothing we could do to bring you back. Yes, we moved on... but we'll never forget. You've been with us this whole time, kept alive in our memories. Please, sister, can't you just let go of your hate?"
"No... no, I can't!" She shrieked, attacking with her full ferocity. "If I do I won't have anything left. HATE is all that defines me!"
"You're wrong, Chara," Frisk spoke calmly, pressing the button once again. "There's so much more than that. When you were alive you inspired many monsters with your kindness and compassion."
There was a moment's silence before the shadowy child tilted her head to the side, an intrigued look on her face as her relentless assault slowed slightly.
"What are you talking about?" She demanded, eyes narrowed to slits as she watched the pair with mistrust.
"My uncle, Papyrus, told me this story a few days after you..." The former human trailed off, swallowing the lump that had formed in her throat before continuing. "After you took Sans away. He said that he met you and Asriel when he was very young. That you were kind to him even though he was smaller than you and a commoner. He told me that even though you were royalty you never made him feel unworthy to play with you, even going out of your way to encourage him. You left that legacy behind when you died. Pappy went on to be just as compassionate as you once were, passing your kindness on to any monsters he met along the way, and I'm sure the others you inspired were the same. You are more than just hate, you are an embodiment of hope! It's just that you forgot that for a little while."
She glanced to the side as her friend sniffled, seeing gratitude engraved in every aspect of his face. Even though he'd already heard this story from Pap, himself, it had struck a cord to finally have his sibling by his side during the tale. Frisk smiled reassuringly before turning back to the front. There was no need to dodge anymore, the attacks falling short as if Chara no longer had the will to sustain them. The young human's face was soaked with tears as she gazed past them, back to where the elder skelebro was helping his sibling to his feet now that the danger appeared to have faded. It seemed as if the child were seeing him for the first time, a look of awe crossing her face before being consumed by regret, her gaze having fallen to Sans as he stumbled in his brother's arms. The smaller skeleton's mouth was set in a pained grimace and his breaths were coming in short pants. It was clear to everyone there that the only thing keeping him on his feet was his brother's supportive presence and the arm wrapped around his waist.
"It doesn't matter." The late princess responded at last, the darkness almost entirely gone as she forced her gaze away from the injured comedian. "I can never be forgiven for what I've done. Not to you, not to the Underground, and most definitely not to Sans. I don't deserve it after the hell I put you all through."
The button clicked again as the goat and skeleton monsters pressed it one final time, the shadows that had engulfed the fallen human receding entirely, her once darkened soul returning to it's original red, though the cracks persisted.
"Can't you see?" Asriel asked before rushing forward to wrap his arms around his sister, finally able to hug her fully for the first time since they'd lost their lives in their botched attempt to free monsterkind. "You've already been forgiven. All that stuff you did... it wasn't you! Just like how you possessed Frisk, the hatred you felt when you died possessed you, twisting your soul into something spiteful and malevolent until you were nothing more than a vengeful spirit wanting others to experience the same pain and hopelessness you'd been forced to endure."
Frisk stepped forward then, aware that the others have been listening and she was certain that there wasn't a dry eye in the room.
"That's over though." She picked up, wrapping her arms around the royal siblings. "Chara, you aren't alone anymore. We're here, we'll help you through this. You've got your body back now... you can all be a happy family again."
When she said that she gestured back to where Toriel and Asgore we waiting a few feet away, having moved closer now that the battle was over. The human looked at her adoptive parents with wide, teary eyes before breaking free of the hold the teenagers had on her and rushing into their arms. Muffled apologizes escaped her mouth, along with harsh sobs, as she buried her face in their soft fur. She stayed there, wrapped in her parent's embrace for several minutes before making her way back to Frisk and Asriel, the rest of the monster's slowly gathering around them.
"If it's okay, I'd like to say something before I run out of time." The red-eyed girl spoke, voice solemn as the collected beings listened in confusion.
"What do you mean?" As asked, not understanding what his sister was trying to say. "You're back, we have plenty of time."
"No, Azzy, we don't" She answered, regret filling her features. "I used up most of the energy I stored fighting you. This body won't last much longer."
"But why?" The goat prince cried as he fell to his knees, not willing to believe he'd gotten his sister back only to lose her again. "You don't have to go! They can make you a new body just like they did for me."
"That won't work," Gaster spoke up, voice sad as he placed a hand on the boy's quivering shoulder. "With you, we had a sample of your DNA. Chara's original body has been gone for far too long a time. I'm sorry, Asriel, but it's not possible to recreate the procedure we used with you."
"Then... then what about what happened to Frisk? We could..." He was cut off as Chara wrapped her arms around him, pulling her brother's head down until his face was nestled in her hair.
"Azzy, don't, it's my time to go." She said, eyes pleading with him to understand even as tears fell down her face. "Please... this is what I want."
A choked sound escaped Asriel's mouth as he clung to his sister, their parent's shedding similar tears as they watched their children with sad eyes.
"Okay..." The seventeen-year-old whispered after a while, face still hidden from view. "If this is what you want, I won't try and stop you."
"Thank you, brother." The young human replied, turning to face the others once more when Asriel had finally released his hold. "Before I go, I just wanted to say that I'm sorry."
She hesitated for a second before moving to stand before Sans. The skeleton flinched upon meeting her eyes, causing a deep sorrow to fill the girl's soul, and she could feel Frisk staring at her from the position she'd taken at her father's side. There was a clear warning in her eyes, though the teen knew that both her dad and Chara needed this closure if they were ever going to move on. Slowly, the princess reached forward and took the comedian's left hand in both of hers, carefully pulling until it sat just in front of where her soul would be if it was materialized.
"Sans... I can never apologize enough for what I've put you through." She began, keeping a tight grip on him for fear that he'd pull away. "I know that what I've done to you, not only during the timelines but this last year as well, is unforgivable. With that said, I wanted to at least try and make up for some of the damage I've done..."
Within a split second, both of their souls appeared, floating right beside their joined hands which had begun to softly glow. Sans' face paled as he struggled against the girl's hold, fear quickly overtaking the rational part of his brain. In his weakened condition, he was unable to dislodge the human's hands and, upon realizing this, the skeleton let out a frightened whine. Frisk moved immediately, planning on knocking the brat to the ground before she could do any more harm, but stopped in her tracks, eyes widening as the glow became a blinding light before absorbing into her father's soul. She let out a shocked gasp as she noticed what was actually happening. Glancing around, the teenage girl saw the others reacting in similar ways to her as they stopped their mad dash to reach the skeleton. Sans stood there, eyes closed and breaths coming in short pants as he waited for a blow that would never come. The younger monster carefully moved forward, gently wrapping her arms around his torso with the hope of offering as much comfort as possible.
"Hey, dad, it's okay... you're fine." She whispered in his ear, voice full of awe as she nodded her thanks to the fallen child. "Chara wasn't trying to hurt you. Just open your eyes, see for yourself... you'll understand what I mean."
The comedian did as his daughter suggested, his trust in her allowing him to relax as the fear crept from his mind, the feeling of his child's arms acting as an anchor. The first thing he noticed was the relieved faces of his family and friends. Everyone seemed completely at ease, smiles gracing their features with no sign of the tension they'd possessed during the fight. The next thing he saw made his sockets widen in amazed disbelief. Really, how could he have missed that? What had occurred should have been obvious and it probably would have been if he hadn't let his panic get the better of him. Now though, he could feel the pain and fatigue fade away as he took in his stats. His HP had risen back up to the max it had been sitting before this fiasco started last year and his injuries had fully healed. Even the hand that had been broken months earlier had returned to normal, no longer feeling as stiff as it had since he'd smashed it.
"What... but how?" He asked, unable to comprehend that what he was seeing was real and not just some cruel joke the universe had decided to play on him.
Chara giggled lightly, a soft, sweet sound... so very different from the manic laughter they were used to hearing from her. "It worked... I'm so glad." She spoke, her voice sounding as if it were coming from far away.
Each of the monsters gasped upon seeing the state the child was now in. Her body was completely see-through, seeming to fade further with every second that passed.
"What do you mean? What worked?" Sans asked, shakily wrapping an arm around Frisk's shoulders as he met the child's eyes, concern for his onetime enemy visible on his face.
"I transferred the last of my remaining energy into you. I won't need it anymore and I'd rather it go to good use by helping to fix one of my mistakes... if even just a little bit. You'll probably be weak for a couple of days but after that everything should return to normal." She explained, a sad smile on her face as the skeleton nodded in acknowledgment.
"Frisk, I can't thank you enough for giving me this chance. I can rest easy knowing that you'll be here to look after my family." The girl spoke once more before turning to face her brother, fading even further as he stepped forward and pulled her into his arms. "I'll miss you Azzy. Promise me that you'll be good. Don't let what happened to me change how you see the world. You were always the better of us."
"I promise." The young goat sobbed, voice barely louder than a whisper as the transparent human nodded gratefully.
"I love you all." She said after a moment, looking at her brother and parents before taking one last look around at the gathered monsters, tears streaming down everyone's faces. "I'll be waiting patiently for the time to come when we will meet again. In the meantime, I hope you all live happy lives without the pain of those cursed loops... that is my only wish for you... to be happy and free. Take care of each other and never lose hope. Goodbye... my friends."
With that, the fallen child dissolved in a shower of golden light, her peaceful expression ingrained in the memories of all those gathered there that day.
AN: Wow, that was a lot to take in. Why don't you all give it a few seconds to absorb and then leave me a nice review about what you think, huh?