Chapter 25: Rush
Chara blushed slightly from embarrassment as Toriel carried her through the ruins. "Toriel… I-" Chara was cut off when Toriel began speaking.
"Chara, how did all this really happen?" Asked Toriel as most of the group passed her while they crossed the spike bridge.
"It… It was my fault." Admitted Chara. "I used buttercups to poison myself so that Asriel could take my soul and leave the underground. I had planned to make him kill six more humans so that he could break the barrier, but it didn't go as I expected."
"Chara, why? Why would you have done something like that?" Asked Toriel.
"I wanted to repay monsters for all their kindness." Replied Chara. "Well… there is more to it than that, I hated being human, I wanted revenge on the people from my village, and… I didn't want to be separated from Asriel."
Toriel was now at the back of the group as they approached the room with the collapsing floor puzzle. "Oh Chara, I-I'm sorry." Said Toriel as she began to tear up. "I knew you were under a lot of stress, and I knew you were prone to self-harm. I should have kept a closer eye on you." Sobbed Toriel.
"No, Toriel it was my decision. I'm the one who caused all of this. I'm sorry." Apologized Chara as she hugged Toriel. Toriel, Chara, and Frisk were the only ones left who needed to cross the collapsing floor; Frisk tried to go across first, but as soon as she set foot on it, the floor began to collapse. Frisk quickly jumped and made it to the other side, but Toriel was left with no way across.
"Frisk my child, are you ok!?" Called Toriel.
"Yeah, but how are you and Chara going to get across?" Asked Frisk.
"Chara, whatever happens next, remember, I forgive you. You were only doing what you thought was right." Whispered Toriel to Chara. "Sans! Use your telekinesis to take Chara across, I'll be behind you as soon as I can!" Called Toriel.
Sans then used his telekinesis to lift Chara across the gap, then he placed her in Asgore's arms. While Toriel when to find her own way across the gap, the rest of the group continued on their way through the ruins. "Asgore… I want to apologize." Said Chara. "If I hadn't gotten myself and Asriel killed, you wouldn't have ended up killing six innocent children. I'm sorry, I'm sorry for everything I've done to you." Apologized Chara sadly.
"Chara, what you did was terrible." Said Asgore. "But I was the one who chose to use the souls of the fallen humans to break the barrier. Their deaths were no one's fault but my own. And if I hadn't been putting so much pressure on you to be the one to bring peace between monsters and humans, maybe none of this would have happened." Proposed Asgore.
"Asgore, you can't blame yourself for all this. I was going to try the plan whether you pressured me to make peace or not." Said Chara.
The group continued mostly in silence until the exited the ruins. As the group stepped out into Snowdin forest, Muffet once again began shivering uncontrollably. "N-Not again." Shivered Muffet.
"Papyrus." Called Asgore. "I need you to carry Chara for a while. I'm going to use my fire magic to help Miss Muffet through the cold."
When Asgore finished his explanation, Papyrus gladly took Chara into his arms. "WORRY NOT HUMAN, FOR I, THE GREAT PAPYRUS, AM HERE TO KEEP YOU SAFE." Cheered Papyrus. Sans however, kept a very intense gaze on Chara to make sure she didn't try anything.
I wasn't worried before, but I am now. Thought Chara. "You know, I could just walk." Said Chara, before she coughed again, and more blood ran down from her lips. Nearby, Asgore held a ball of fire in his hand, while Muffet got as close to it as she could without being burned in an effort to keep warm.
"NONSENSE, YOU NEED TO CONSERVE YOUR STRENGTH." Replied Papyrus.
"Don't worry, the River-person dropped me off not far from here, he should still be waiting for me." Said Asriel. The group nodded in understanding and set off through the woods. After passing Sans's old sentry station, the group took a left and arrived at the river, only to find that the River-person was nowhere to be found. "Seriously!?" Yelled Asriel.
"Don't sweat it kid, we're making ferry impressive time." Joked Sans.
"REALLY SANS? A BOAT PUN?" Asked Papyrus sarcastically.
"Sorry, I've a-mast-d a lot of them." Joked Sans. After another annoyed groan from Papyrus the group continued through Snowdin forest.
"CHARA, SANS, WHILE WE HAVE THE TIME. IS THERE ANYTHING YOU TWO NEED TO SAY TO EACH OTHER?" Asked Papyrus.
"Nope." Was all Sans said in reply.
I was expecting another pun… I guess he's just done talking to me. Thought Chara.
When the group eventually made it to Snowdin town, they found that the River-person was not at his usual stop there either. So, they continued into Waterfall on foot. "UNDYNE, I THINK IT WOUL BE BEST IF YOU TOOK CHARA FROM HERE." Said Papyrus.
"Alright, but why?" Asked Undyne as she took Chara from Papyrus.
"YOU KNOW WATERFALL BETTER THAN ANYONE, I'M SURE YOU KNOW THE FASTEST PATH THROUGH." Explained Papyrus.
"Alright, but you punks had better be able to keep up." Said Undyne before she took off through Waterfall with the rest of the group running behind her. Alphys was struggling to keep up to Mettaton picked her up while he ran to follow Undyne.
Chara gasped in shock as Undyne ran through the falling rocks puzzle without ever slowing down or getting hit. She's going to get us both killed. Thought Chara as Undyne avoided the last rock and kept running.
"Fuhuhu, What's the matter punk? Afraid?" Laughed Undyne, seemingly reading Chara's mind. As Undyne continued through Waterfall, she created a gap between herself and the rest of the group, then she said, "Uh, listen… I saw that look you had earlier. You know, you don't have to fight to prove you exist."
"What would you know about it?" Asked Chara sarcastically.
"More than you'd think." Admitted Undyne. "A long time ago, when my father died, I felt the same way."
"Is that why you tried to fight Asgore?" Asked Chara.
"Yeah, I thought that by fighting him I could make sure people knew I existed." Said Undyne. "But I'm glad it didn't go like I thought it would. If I could've beaten Asgore back then, there's no telling what would have happened to me."
"My daddy hated me." Said Chara.
"Yeah, I heard…" Replied Undyne. "…Uh, I'm not great at stuff like this. Would it help to talk about it?" Asked Undyne unsurely.
"…Maybe." Replied Chara. "Everyone in my town hated me, I didn't know why, but they did. My father only let me leave the house for school, but whenever I went there the other students would start fights with me. If I won, I was punished by the teachers, and if I lost, I was just beaten. Everyone hated me, so I hated them back. When my daddy found out I cut myself, he started beating me, and then he said I did it to myself." Tears began to run down Chara's cheeks as she continued. "Then one day, the people of the town chased me away from the school and into my house. My daddy locked both of us inside, he tied my leg to my bed post. For the next few days all he did was beat me and tell me he hated me, I didn't get to eat or sleep, but when he finally fell asleep… I don't know how I did it the first time, but I made a knife with the power from my soul. I cut myself free." Explained Chara, I-I probably shouldn't tell her about what happened at the church. Thought Chara. "When I realized no one in town would help me, I went to Mt. Ebott. That's how all of this began." Finished Chara.
Though Undyne would never admit it, she had tears running down her face as Chara told her story. She wanted nothing more at the moment then to teach Chara's father a lesson, but she knew she couldn't kill a dead man, so she tried her best to comfort Chara. "You've been through a lot." Said Undyne. "I'm… I'm so sorry."
"Don't be, there was nothing you could've done." Said Chara as she pressed closer against Undyne and continued to cry. Undyne saw they were approaching a gap in the path, which meant they were near her house, and close to Hotland. Undyne quickly jumped over the gap, earning a shocked look from the small yellow bird who normally helped people across.
"Chara, I promise, when we make it through this, I'll personally make sure nothing like that ever happens to you again!" Vowed Undyne, she then looked down and saw that Chara was starting to drift asleep. "No! No! No! You have to stay determined! I know you can do it!" Yelled Undyne as she ran past Napstablook's house, while he laid on his lawn.
"I'm doing it Undyne!" Yelled Napstablook, the depressed ghost DJ, as he slowly sat up.
"I wasn't talking to you Napstablook!" Called Undyne.
"Oh good, pressures off." Said Napstablook as he laid back down on his lawn.
"I'll be fine." Said Chara to Undyne. "It took the flowers weeks to kill me last time."
"Last time they hadn't already killed you." Replied Undyne. Undyne then slowed to a stop as she arrived at the sentry station in front of the lava bridge that acted as the border of Waterfall and Hotland. A minute later, the rest of the group arrived. "Well, it took ya long enough." Said Undyne. "I can barely get passed this bridge on my own, let alone while carrying another person."
Mettaton then sat down Alphys and took Chara from Undyne, before carrying her across the lava bridge. The rest of the group followed right after him. "Mettaton… I'm sorry for trying to kill you." Said Chara.
"I imagine you would be." Replied Mettaton as the group arrived outside the Hotland laboratory. "But as long as everyone else has forgiven you, I don't see any reason keep antagonizing you." Chara yawned as Alphys opened the elevator to the true lab, and when everyone was loaded in, Chara fell asleep as the elevator began to descend.
Chara woke up with a gasp, lying on one of the beds formerly used by the monsters who were turned into amalgamates. There was a heart rate monitor hooked to her arm, and Undyne was sitting nearby. "Heya punk, it's about time you woke up." Said Undyne.
"How long was I out?" Asked Chara.
"Eh, a few hours." Replied Undyne. "Alphys got the flowers out of you, now she's upstairs telling everyone else you're ok."
"…Why isn't Asriel here?" Asked Chara.
"Oh… Well, we've all been taking shifts watching you." Said Undyne.
Azzy would want to be here whether or not it was his turn… So, why wouldn't they let- Oh, right. I guess making him a coconspirator in my suicide plan made him lose everyone's trust. Realized Chara. It's my fault.
"But hey, I'm sure he'll come down here to see you soon." Cheered Undyne.
"Yeah." Replied Chara, though she didn't believe it.
Frisk, Asriel, Toriel, Asgore, Mettaton, Muffet, Papyrus, and Sans all waited in the upper part of Alphys's lab for Alphys to come back with news about Chara. Sans paced nervously, wondering if it was a good idea to leave Chara with only one guard, but soon Alphys emerged from the elevator. "How is she?" Asked Asriel quickly.
"T-the good news is that I was able to neutralize the toxins from the flowers. So, Chara will be ok." Said Alphys, making the group sigh in relief. "The bad news is, w-well the toxins have already had a serious effect on Chara's body from the first time she was poisoned. I-its nothing too bad, but from now on she's going to need to watch what she eats. Otherwise, she could end up in a lot of pain." Finished Alphys. Soon after, the elevator reopened and this time Undyne stepped out.
"Undyne! You were supposed to be watching Chara!" Yelled Sans.
"Yeah, but I figured you would all want to know she just woke up." Replied Undyne.
"She's awake!?" Asked Frisk excitedly.
"Can we go see her?" Asked Asriel.
"W-well, alright. But remember, she still needs more rest. S-so don't bother her too much." Said Alphys. First Frisk and Asriel got onto the elevator, then Sans followed, and eventually the entire group was crammed onto the elevator once more and they all rode it down to the true lab.
After walking into the room where Chara was supposed to be resting, the group instead found any empty bed. "I don't believe it, where'd she go?" Asked Sans.
"Oh, this isn't good. Chara needs more time to rest. If she pushes herself too hard right now it could kill her." Said Alphys worriedly.
"Calm down, we need to find her. Alphys, Sans, and Asgore, you go search the left side of the lab. Papyrus, Asriel, and Mettaton, go search the generator room. Frisk and Muffet, go search the rooms to the north of here. Undyne, you and I will go search the rooms to the right." Said Toriel.
The group quickly split up and began searching their assigned areas. Most of them found nothing, but when Frisk went to search the room with the DT extractor, she found Chara waiting for her.
"Greetings, partner." Greeted Chara as she stood next to the control panel for the DT extractor.
"Chara! Get away from there! That thing is dangerous!" Yelled Frisk in concern.
"I know." Replied Chara. "The DT extractor, the same machine that wiped W.D. Gaster out of existence."
"Chara, you aren't even supposed to be out of bed. Why did you come here?" Asked Frisk.
"My entire life, I've caused nothing but pain to those around me. I got Asriel stuck as a flower for years, I've killed every monster in the underground at least a hundred times, and now you're all going out of your way to help me?" Asked Chara. "I'm done causing you and your friends so much pain. So, I'm going to use the DT extractor to erase all traces of my existence. All the bad things I've done, forgotten in an instant." Explained Chara. "The only reason I waited for you to come here, was so I could ask you, to take care of Azzy for me. You're the kind of friend he deserves, not me."
"Chara, don't do this." Begged Frisk.
"Goodbye Frisk." Said Chara as she prepared to turn on the DT extractor.
"Wait, just please… listen to what I have to say." Begged Frisk.
Credit: Song: "Hero and Villain duet" By: Galactic Tide
"What are you doing, dear? Aren't you tired?" Sang Frisk.
"What are you doing here? I don't think that you were invited." Sang Chara in response. "Here you go again, pretending like you love me. When just beneath the surface, you're convinced that you're above me."
"Dig deep, into the past, I've never been one for doing things half-assed. If I'm here to save you, I'll be here forever. Just take my hand, I'll be your knight in shining armor." Sang Frisk as she held out her hand to Chara.
"…You think, you're a hero?" Mocked Chara. "And they'll tell you, you are… so strong and fearsome, and you've come so far." Sang Chara.
"You think you're a villain… But I know you're not." Sang Frisk. "Under all that angst and anger."
"Is a dying broken heart." Interrupted Chara.
"Is a beating human heart." Continued Frisk.
"Hey, what about the lonely little girl?" Sang Chara.
"I'm sorry!" Cried Frisk.
"What about her monsters, who prevailed?" Sang Chara.
"I'm sorry!" Cried Frisk.
"You never came to save my world." Sang Chara. "What about me?"
"What about us?" Sang Frisk. "I recognize that you're upset, I know they did you wrong."
"Oh, you know nothing of me." Sang Chara.
"But trust me, please believe me, this won't stop the hurt for long." Sang Frisk as she gestured to the DT extractor. "We don't need to end like this, look me in the eyes…" Sang Frisk.
"Here comes the hero complex." Sang Chara sarcastically.
"You call yourself the villain, but we know it's a disguise." Sang Frisk.
"I know I'm the villain, but you're the one who lies." Sang Chara. "So, your back at it again? Twisting and manipulating every word I've said?"
"Come on, you know that's not true. I'm just trying to help you!" Sang Frisk. "Let me help you!"
"You are not my hero!" Cried Chara. "You don't know how it felt… What else could you do with the cards that I've been dealt?"
"You are not the villain… You once held my hand." Sang Frisk as she recalled meeting Chara the day she fell into the underground.
"Stand up. Get out. Sometimes things don't go as planned." Sang Chara.
"Chara, please… We all care about you. Don't do this." Pleaded Frisk
"Do you honestly think anyone cares about me?" Asked Chara as she held her hand over the activation button for the DT extractor. "No one but you would try and stop me. If so much as one person comes in here when they hear I'm in trouble, I won't use the DT extractor." Said Chara, knowing no one would come to help her.
"Yes, they would! I'll prove it." Declared Frisk, before she drew in a deep breath. "EVERYONE, CHARA'S IN THE EXTRACTOR ROOM! SHE NEEDS HELP!" Screamed Frisk. Both the girls stood and waited for help to arrive.
But nobody-
"Chara!" Cried everyone as the group came rushing into the extractor room.
"I don't believe it." Said Chara to herself.
"Chara, get away from that thing! It's dangerous!" Called Sans.
T-The comedian is trying to help me? Wondered Chara, before she was grabbed by one of Muffet's webs and pulled into the group and carried away from the DT extractor. Chara was put back down onto the same bed she had climbed out of earlier and Alphys reexamined her to make sure she hadn't injured herself.
"Chara, are you ok?" Asked Asriel.
"Why?" Asked Chara to the group. "After everything I've been putting you through, why do you keep helping me? Why do you all still care about me?" Asked Chara.
"Because we all love you, Chara." Said Asriel, while the rest of the group agreed.
"No matter how much you push us away, we will always be there for you." Said Frisk
"I…I-I… Thank you." Was all Chara managed to say before she began sobbing, but this time, she only cried tears of joy. "I love you all too."