Nemo's head felt like it was spinning as he tried to comprehend the information he'd just received. Despite Frisk's reset, he was stuck like this. His injuries had all healed, and he had his scarf again, but he still had his artificial eye that he created with magic, as well as the scar left behind from when Chara removed the real one. But worst of all, his L.O.V.E was still twenty five. Frisk tried to comfort him, but it wasn't helping. Neither was Chara's taunting for that matter. "I can't believe that after everything you did to save the world, this is the thanks it gives you, it's hilarious honestly." Laughed Chara.
Nemo grit his teeth as his temper started to flare up. He stomped over to Chara and glared down at them. Chara's eyes widened as they stared up at him. As he stared them down, a shadow fell over his face, darkening most of his face, save for his eyes, which Chara could feel boring straight into them. "If you don't shut up right now, we're gonna find out if it's possible to kill a ghost." He growled.
That shut Chara up, as they wholeheartedly believed that he'd follow through on his threats. Frisk then stepped between them. "Please, no more fighting. That's what caused all of this to happen in the first place." They said. The other humans scoffed and looked away. Frisk looked at both of them before sighing and turning their attention to Chara. "Chara, please tell me, why did you want to kill everyone?"
Chara's head whipped around as they shouted at them. "I told you why!" Their eyes turned black as bllack sludge oozed out of them. "I believed in the monsters and they proved that they're no better than humanity! That's why both species need to be erased from existence!"
Nemo stood to the side and watched with his arms crossed. He wasn't sure what Frisk was doing, but he knew that he'd be ready to step in and obliterate Chara should they so much as look like they're gonna do anything shady. "Maybe you're right." Said Frisk softly. "But I don't want to believe that, not yet. So, how about we make a promise?"
Chara's eyes turned to normal as they stared at them. "What kind of promise?" They asked suspiciously.
"The same one we made to As-… to Flowey." Said Frisk. "We won't kill anyone this time, and we'll achieve a 'happy end'. If we do that, would you be willing to give humans and monsters another chance?" Chara still seemed uncertain. "And if our way fails… I won't try to stop you."
"Frisk, I don't-." Said Nemo.
"Deal." Interrupted Chara.
Frisk smiled as they stuck their hand out to Chara, who stared at it for a moment before accepting it for a handshake. Frisk then pulled Chara in for a hug. As soon as Frisk embraced them, Chara immediately started trying to force them off. Nemo stared at the two of them and sighed. He brought his hand up and rubbed his fake eye as his thoughts began to wander. He then brought his other hand up to his scarf. It stayed there for a moment as he focused his attention back on the kids, as Chara continued to struggle against Frisk. He sighed and walked over to them. Frisk was surprised as Nemo put his scarf on their head, they pulled it off and looked at it. "Nemo?" They asked in confusion.
"Here, you can wear it." He said without looking at them. "Now c'mon, we've got a flower to talk to." He then started making his way to where Flowey would be. Frisk looked at the scarf one more time before hastily putting it on while running after him.
They went through the entranceway, and stopped when they saw a certain smiling flower. "Really, Chara?" He asked before making one of his scary faces. "Well, do what you will, I'll be waiting for you!"
"Sorry weed for brains, but Chara's taking a backseat this time around." Said Nemo. Flowey's face turned to normal as the duo had a little stare down before Flowey disappeared into the ground.
As soon as he did, Toriel appeared. "Hello… are you all right?" She asked.
Nemo stared at her for a moment before inhaling deeply and exhaling. He then forced a smile onto his face. "We're just fine." He said.
"You must be so lost and confused… ah, do not be afraid, my children. I am Toriel, caretaker of the RUINS." Explained Toriel. "I pass through here everyday to see if anyone has fallen down. You two are the first humans to come here in a long time. I will do my best to protect you during your time here. Come! I shall guide you through the catacombs."
"Thanks…" Said Nemo unenthusiastically as he and Frisk walked after Toriel while Chara just sort of hovered around Frisk. The four of them entered the next room. Toriel went up the stairs while the humans stopped in front of the glowing star. Frisk reached out and touched it.
"The shadow of the ruins looms above, filling you with determination." Said Chara.
"What… are you doing?" Asked Nemo drily.
"Narrating, it gets boring not being able to do anything." Said Chara.
"Whatever." Said Nemo as he rolled his eyes. "I suppose there are worse things you could be doing." The humans then walked up the stairs after Toriel.
They went to the next room, and stopped as Toriel started explaining. It was the exact same as in the first timeline, and Nemo swore he could feel his brain cells dying from having to listen to the exact same explanation. "You look like you're having fun." Joked Chara. "Maybe you should kill her? Then you wouldn't have to listen."
"Isn't that your mother!?" Nemo whispered.
Chara paused for a moment. "That's not my mother… not anymore." They said flatly.
Nemo was about to ask them to elaborate when Toriel's voice caught his attention. "Child?" She asked as she and Frisk stood next to the open doorway.
"Oh, sorry Toriel." Said Nemo as he jogged after her.
Nemo was lost in thought, only half listening to Toriel's explanation of this room, but that was fine since he already knew what to do. He and Frisk walked up to the levers and pulled them, causing the spikes blocking the pathway to retract. "Splendid!" Said Toriel. "I am so proud of you, little ones."
"This is getting annoying." Thought Nemo.
"Let us move to the next room." Said Toriel. The four of them then continued to the next room. "As a human living in the UNDERGROUND, monsters may attack you. You will need to be prepared for this situation. However, worry not! The process is simple. When you encounter a monster, you will enter a FIGHT. While you are in a FIGHT, strike up a friendly conversation. Stall for time, I will come to resolve the conflict. Practice talking to the dummy." She then walked to the doorway leading to the next room and waited for them to engage with the dummy.
The humans approached the dummy, causing their souls to manifest. Before Nemo could do anything, something suddenly appeared in front of him. Four somethings actually. "What the…?" He said in confusion.
"What's wrong?" Asked Frisk, who also had the same things in front of them: large black buttons with the words "Fight", "Act", "Items", and "Mercy" printed on them. They reached out and pressed the Act button.
"DUMMY: ATK: 0 DEF: 0 A cotton heart and a button eye. You are the apple of my eye." Said Chara.
They both then looked at Nemo expectantly. Nemo hesitantly reached out and touched the Act button as well. "Hi?" He said weakly to the Dummy.
"You talk to the Dummy…" Said Chara. "It doesn't seem much for conversation."
"Stop narrating, it's distracting." Said Nemo flatly.
"No." Said Chara. "Toriel seems happy with you. YOU WON! You earned 0 EXP and 0 gold."
Nemo's eye twitched in annoyance. "Ah, very good! You are both very good." Said Toriel. She then went through the doorway, with the humans following close behind. Frisk listened to Toriel's explanation of this room's 'puzzle' while Nemo turned to Chara for answers.
"What was with those buttons?" He asked.
"What do you mean?" Asked Chara without looking at him.
"What do you mean 'what do you mean'?" Muttered Nemo. "I never saw anything like that in the last two timelines, what are they?"
Chara looked at him for a moment before looking ahead. "It's hard to explain, but I guess that's just how you choose to do things, I guess? Those buttons cover the range of things you can do, Fight is for attacking, Act is for checking or talking or other non violent actions, Items is for your inventory, and Mercy is for sparing and fleeing." They explained.
Nemo felt like he was hearing the tutorial for a video game. "Right…" He said flatly. He followed Frisk, who followed Toriel into the next room. As they entered the twisty part of the path, the duo's souls manifested.
"Froggit attacks you!" Said Chara as a Froggit appeared before them.
"Uh…" Said Nemo as he looked at the four buttons that appeared. After a moment, he settled on Act, and checked the creature.
"Froggit: ATK: 4 DEF: 5 Life is difficult for this enemy." Said Chara.
"What does that even mean?" Asked Nemo as he looked up at Chara. Then Toriel walked over and glared down at the Froggit, who looked away before wandering off, ending the fight. Nemo pinched the bridge of his nose as the Froggit walked away. "This is gonna be harder than I thought." He muttered as the three of them resumed following Toriel. They passed a sign on the wall when something caught Nemo's eye. He slowly walked backwards and looked at the sign.
"Is something wrong?" Asked Frisk.
"I… it's nothing." Said Nemo as he shook his head and followed them after Toriel, who was standing in front of the spiked bridge path.
"This is the puzzle, but…" Said Toriel. "Here, take my hand for a moment." Frisk took Toriel's hand, and Nemo took Frisk's as the goat monster led them safely through the dangerous path. "Puzzles seem a little dangerous for now." Explained Toriel as she hurried to the next room. The humans followed her.
"So what else is there to know?" Asked Nemo as Toriel explained the whole 'crossing the room alone' challenge.
"What do you mean?" Asked Chara.
"I dunno, like, what kind of 'Items' would I use?" Asked Nemo.
"Healing items like food mostly." Replied Chara. "It's also where you keep your armor and weapons."
"Wait, food is a healing item?" Asked Nemo.
"Yeah, it's made of magic, so it has magic effects, like regenerating your HP." Explained Chara.
"Ugh, and I thought the underground was weird before." Muttered Nemo. He then noticed that Toriel was walking away, while Frisk began to cross the room. Nemo sighed and followed them. They jogged across the room, stopping just before the pillar Toriel was hiding behind. He quickly looked behind the pillar to see her just standing there, pretending to not notice him. Nemo sighed, not having the patience to deal with someone like her. He walked back around to where Frisk was, and took two steps forward before Toriel suddenly came out from behind the pillar.
"Greetings, my children. Do not worry, I did not leave you." She said. "I was merely behind this pillar the whole time. Thank you for trusting me."
"No, really?" Asked Nemo sarcastically. He tuned out her short speech about independence and whatnot until she gave them the Cell phone, which Nemo promptly put in his pocket. Nemo considered pulling his phone out, and doing so involved a black screen type thing to appear before him. It was divided into two sections, the first section had his name, LV, HP, and his G printed out. Nemo grimaced at the sight of his LV. His eyes trailed down to the second section. In gray letters, the word 'ITEM' was printed, and in white letters, were the words 'STAT' and 'CELL'. "This is crazy." Groaned Nemo as he ran a hand through his messy white hair.
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