Warning. Viewer Discretion is advised. The following content may be graphic in nature. - TW in effect for - Self Harm, Bullying, Manipulation, Helplessness
"My dear child. So defiant. I thought you'd understand by now. This is my creation. And its fate, is mine to decide." The Man laughed. "Perhaps you need a reminder."
Once, many years ago,
The prince of the underground, child to its strongest monsters, was waiting impatiently in the snow. It had been almost ten minutes since he arrived. Though, in his dull boredom, the perception of this passage ached, feeling more like hours.
Asriel had occupied it, by setting about the task of creating the perfect snowball. He had been working on it for months now. A perfect means to retaliate against his adopted sibling, for having to wait for so very long. It had become a passion project of his. An ultimate weapon, for their silly little games. And he felt he had finally achieved his goal.
On this day, he was wearing an outfit not akin to his traditional attire. Usually it was marked with blacks, and reds. Hues of purple, perhaps. The colors common for the royal family, in this 'timeline.'
But today, he had been swayed, encouraged to abandon this. Instead, he wore distinctly more color than before. An outfit that wasn't new, but one he had never bothered to wear before.
It was comprised of a big green sweater, with yellow stripes on it. Accompanied brown pants, that had a couple extra pockets on them. Alongside these things, he had also adopted a big black bandana. Tied around his neck, with assistance before his departure from the house.
His adoptive sibling, Chara was the one to encourage this change in attire. Recently, she had suggested that everyone might try to wear more color than usual. Suggesting it would make them feel 'happier' somehow. He elected to humor it.
When Chara first arrived, she had a much ruder sense of humor. Consisting of childish, or mean pranks. Jokes at the expense of others, or annoying stream of puns. Attempts to scare him using her drawings, or jump scares. Though infrequent now, she still did these things. Only they had grown significantly tamer and less frequent than they had been before. And almost always when it was just the two of them, or three if Temmie was around.
In fact, there were times he was expecting some punchline, an ambush, or a prank, only to realize there were none. She actually hadn't made a single joke at his expense in around two months. Hadn't pranked him in one. And had only drawn nice things for the last couple weeks.
Naturally, with this lull in her behavior, some part of him couldn't help but exploit it. It had given him an opportunity to return some of what he gotten before, and worst in many cases. Sometimes repeating pranks she had pulled on him, with new twists.
And it felt good for quite awhile. Seeing her get mad, embarrassed, amused, or annoyed. And to his utter surprise, she just kept falling for them. No matter how many times a day he pranked her, or how many mean punchlines he set up at her expense, she just kept walking into them. He was certain she had been more clever than this, but she never seemed to see it coming, all the same.
All of this behavior led to something though. Not his most severe, mean, or even damaging prank. But the most significant one, certainly. As it had brought his pranks to a halt, completely.
A bit ago, he had set up what he viewed as just another prank. He'd even gotten the idea from some of his friends. Who wanted to help make it happen.
He had invited her to hang out, and play the adventure game they played with Temmie in the ruins. It was something she really liked to do, that they simply hadn't done in some time. He was surprised to find she even kept her original equipment for it, having discarded his own awhile ago. When she was finally ready, and wandered outside, the trap was sprung.
A single action seeing him pull a rope. Dropping a bucket of water on her head. He, and his friends laughed. It was such a silly sight after all, how could it not be amusing?
But, something happened this time that he hadn't expected. There was no response, save for her staring at him. It was an odd, unblinking look. And then, she started to cry.
He very much hadn't been expecting that response. Nor did he anticipate what happened next. As it got rapidly, significantly worst.
Forcing a pause to his laughter, as he felt concern rise. He had never seen her cry so hard. She wouldn't speak, she wouldn't respond. She just crumbled to her knees and sobbed. It didn't stop when he tried to calm her down, the boy having to send his friends away when they elected to taunt her instead of trying to help.
And it went on, for almost an hour without end. No matter what he said. No matter what he did. It wouldn't stop.
Until she muttered. "I wanna go home."
They did. However, she barely talked for three days. No puns, no jokes, no drawings. She didn't tell their parents, and instead just suggested she felt sick, and slept for hours at a time. The whole experience made him feel awful, realizing perhaps he had gone too far this time.
It had been a week since then, and everything was more or less back to normal. No more pranks between them, just to be safe. Instead, they found an outlet for mischief in the form of snowball fights. And thankfully her attitude towards those seemed to remain more in line with her old self.
Often going overboard to volley him with snowballs. Shouting loud declarations of surprise. Or just making huge snowballs to throw in his general direction to surprise him. Leading to his instrument of righteous vengeance. The perfect snowball.
However, his opponents for the day hadn't arrived. Being that it was meant to be both Chara and Temmie. The latter he understood, given that she was always late. But it didn't usually take Chara this long to show up. If anything, she had a nasty tendency of showing up early, to try and ambush him with some sneak attack from behind a snowman or something.
He knew where she was coming from though. Given they had both been in the house, before he ran on ahead to get an advantage. Glancing on the route that led back home. He wondered if maybe she'd gotten stuck in the snow again. There were patches where it was quite deep after all. And she had a natural tendency to stumble into them.
"Can't believe I have to go help you." Asriel huffed, while starting off in that direction. Moving at a faster walking speed than he normally did.
No sooner had he begun down the path, than he heard footsteps behind him. Sighing, as he initially believed it to be Chara. Had she honestly waited for him to turn his back all this time? How had she gotten around him? He couldn't help but be very annoyed with her for managing such a feat.
"hOi!" A voice said, as a small cat-dog monster came sliding beside him. "U-uh Oh!"
And then went sliding past, running face first into a large patch of snow. Which consumed her. Prompting him to smirk, and then start laughing.
"Temmie?" He asked. "You're late."
Temmie shook her head, and poke up out of the snow. A tuft of it on her nose, prompting a sneeze. Before turning to face him.
"Hi!" She greeted again. "The Tem Shop was super busy." The monster explained. "Sorry."
Asriel just shrugged. "Well, you're not the only one who's late, so, it's fine."
"Huh?" Temmie glanced around, and asked. "Where's...Chara?"
"I dunno. Probably hiding somewhere to try to scare me again. Or she fell into the deep snow." He reasoned. "So."
The cat-dog hopped out of the snow, and shook herself. She was wearing a beanie, and a puffy looking jacket. Examining the area, including standing on her back legs to examine over the snow. To see if she could see a certain human waiting to ambush them with snowballs. But, there wasn't.
"Das weird." Temmie remarked, before noticing he was walking away already. "H-hEy!" She bounded over to catch up. "Don't just leave me there."
"You seemed busy." Asriel said, rather smugly.
Temmie pouted, and said. "So...don't leave friends behind, ya know. It's mean."
"I don't think I ever said we were friends." He shrugged. "But sure, fair enough."
"Pfft." Temmie stuck her tongue out at him. "Na, is friends." Making him snicker.
With his new company in tow, the pair continued along the road in search of Chara. She had to be somewhere after all. There really weren't 'that many' places along the road she could have gone.
They headed down the winding paths, of Snowland. Keeping an eye out for the human as they went. However, even after checking her usual hiding places, she wasn't present. They walked far enough, that they came to the fork in the road. The one that went left, out into the field with the tree, or straight ahead and towards the house.
Asriel pondered. "She's...probably out by the tree. She likes to draw there."
"Probably." Temmie replied. "Is she...drawing again?"
"Uhm..yeah." He didn't know, actually.
Sometimes Chara would get caught up in drawing. Completely losing track of time, when she did so. Often presenting these things as 'gifts' to those she encountered, to try and brighten their days. It was fairly effective, even if a lot of monsters just humored it, rather than appreciated it.
Treading out into the field, a figure was walking away from the area. Much to their surprise. There was a man there, wearing a black lab coat, with a pair of glasses adjusted on his face. A skeletal figure that Asriel was familiar with.
"Doctor Gaster?" Asriel greeted.
The Doctor turned his focus to the boy, and smiled. "Ahh, Asriel. Wonderful to see you. How are you today?"
Asriel found it odd to see the man there. He didn't usually leave his laboratory, to the boys knowledge. Often greeting them by the door, when Chara was brought to talk to him. Apparently he was the royal scientist, but he'd also been offering 'therapy' to the human. Though, the boy didn't properly understand what that meant.
"I'm okay." Asriel scanned him over. "We're uhm...looking for Chara."
Temmie chimed in. "Have you seen her?"
The Doctor smiled. It was an odd smile. Not the usual one he wore. It was...oddly threatening.
The man spoke. "I have. We were just having a...check up on her progress, actually. She should be over by the tree." He motioned. "Forgive me, I have things I must prepare, and attend to." He gave a formal bow. "But I hope you all have a...wonderful day."
"You too." Asriel replied, watching as the man left.
He had always found the man...unnerving. Even if he was a well respected figure, and the royal scientist. Something about the odd skeleton always seemed off to him. He didn't know what, exactly, just something.
The duo gradually got back to walking. Heading over and nearer to the tree. With Asriel sneaking a few glances back. It felt like the Doctor was still watching him, still present, even though he'd left. It sent shivers down the boys spine.
Temmie spoke up. "Chara!" She began bounding forward. "hOi!"
The girl was...barely visible on the other side of the tree, as they approached. Temmie coming around one side, while Asriel walked around the other. When he did though, he heard the girl let out a gasp of surprise. Quickly pulling her sleeve down over her arm. Shoving something into her jacket pocket.
She was wearing her usual clothes. As well as the jacket their parents had given her. Sitting up against the tree, Chara glanced between the two. For a moment she didn't seem thrilled to see them. She looked scared, panicked, but quickly adopted a smile, and tried to hide that.
"H-hey." She greeted. "Hey Temmie, hi Azzy."
Temmie hadn't noticed what he had. And bounded over to her. Hopping up onto her lap, making the girl laugh a warm little laugh.
Asriel found that she had all her usual coloring supplies. Which confused him some. Given they were meant to be hanging out. Why had she bothered to bring them, and why here?
There were mostly colored pencils and the sort. A ruler, a bunch of paper, the basic things she always had. But, he turned his focus to a piece of paper that seemed wet. There was a sort of crimson color to it. At first he imagined it was pain, however, it had a smell. Like copper.
He knelt down, and examined it, noticing her watching him. He picked up the picture. It seemed to be of her, with the eyes were scratched out.
"Chara?" He examined her, with a look of concern, as his finger touched the warm red liquid. He knew what this substance was.
Her eyes looked guilty, and afraid for a moment. "I...uhm, it's...it's not my best picture." She laughed nervously. "Kinda...drew it. Heh...ya know, like...blew it?"
Temmie felt something wet hit the top of her head. The girl was crying. And her false smile fell into a miserable one.
"That...I-" Asriel swallowed hard, and said. "Temmie uhm...I think we need to go home okay?"
Temmie glanced between them. "Is...Chara...are you okay?"
Chara sniffled, and nodded, before shaking her head. Another sound like dripping coming from the jacket. A red drop slipping from the sleeve, and then another.
"We'll...uhm, hang out later okay?" Asriel requested, as Temmie hopped off the girls lap.
Temmie stepped back, and looked very concerned. "Okay. Are...alright?"
The confused little monster watching, as Asriel moved over, helping the girl to her feet. Starting to walk with her, in the direction of their home. Leaving the drawing supplies behind, alongside the various pictures. All of which seemed to be versions of herself, with the eyes punched through, or scratched out.
Little drops of red falling from her sleeve as they went. Melting the snow it made contact with.
The aftermath of this incident sparked a few conversations.
Their parents, naturally, were filled with concern and fury. As well as general confusion at what they saw, and what they were told. First attending to the human, and her injuries, before moving to confront the doctor. After Asriel had told them about the man being there.
However, it didn't seem to matter.
When contacted, the doctor arrived at their house quickly enough. Seeming surprised at the accusations hurled against him, for somehow playing a role in whatever had happened. Calmly speaking to them, suggesting that he was in fact there. However, he insisted it was incidental, running into her.
And that when he did, he elected to do a brief check in, specifically for this reason. He claimed that some of their conversations revealed 'self-destructive behavior' in the poor girl, and that he had such a grand concern over it. He did apologize, stating that he merely regretted not having stuck around longer, as he would have stopped things from going awry, as they had. But he assured he had left before such things happened.
Despite the boys protests, his parents wound up listening. He didn't understand why. It was almost like they were in a daze when they talked to the man. Unable to be reasoned with. Simply accepting what he said, despite the evidence. They even took a moment to assure Asriel that Gaster wouldn't inspire the girl to harm herself. That he wasn't an evil man, after all.
The prince however, didn't buy it for a moment. And had stormed outside to fume. Unable to comprehend why they simply trusted his words so readily.
Asriel waited outside, as that conversation came to an end. The door opening, as the man stepped out. Bidding a farewell to those within.
The man saying. "I'll make sure to keep you better informed. You have my word. Goodnight Mr. And Mrs. Dreemurr."
He turned, noticing the boy. Raising an eye-socket, at the sight of the prince. Humming at the sight.
"You may have fooled them...but...but you haven't fooled me." Asriel declared. "I know you did something. I-I know you said something."
The Doctor merely smiled, closing the door behind him. "Projecting blame is unhealthy. Given that it's likely the actions taken were due to your own cruel behavior."
He stepped down the porch steps while speaking those words, causing the boy to flinch.
"No...you did something. I know you did." Asriel replied, glaring daggers at him.
"Always so suspicious, dear boy." The man asked. "Is it so hard to believe I want what's best?"
Asriel glared, asking. "For monsters, or for Chara?" The doctor didn't respond. "What did you say to her?"
"It's quite late. You should get some sleep." The Doctor said, passing by him. "It's helps the mind, and body recover." He glanced back briefly. "Especially after such a traumatic experience."
The feeling of being ignored. Of watching the Doctor simply get away with this, it infuriated him. He turned and felt his anger rising.
"I...I'll...I'll stop you." Asriel told him. "I...I won't let you hurt her."
"How?" Gaster inquired, but the boy didn't have an answer.
A silence lingered between them. The skeletal figure turned briefly, to face him. Waiting for an answer. Waiting for that moment of defiance. But the boy didn't know. He didn't know how to stop him. How to fight back.
Gaster spoke again. "Humans live much shorter lives than monsters you know. So it's best you enjoy your days, with your 'sister.' Before they end." He smiled an eerie smile. "Goodnight, little monarch."
With that, he turned around and started to leave. Asriels heart pounding, feeling utterly helpless. He quickly packed a snowball, the perfect one. Throwing it in the direction of the doctor with all the force he could muster.
But it didn't even reach him.
