CharaFell - Restart Chapter 34: -Icey Receptions-, an undertale fanfic

With their encounter with Sans resolved safely enough, the pair had been left to both proceed, and ponder over their situation. Flowey felt miserable on Charas behalf. Even though she had shaken off her anxious expression, falling back to her natural smile, he wasn't buying it. She didn't seem to be determined to persist against this world, rather, she was merely persevering to stay in it.

Her stubborn refusal to end her task, was similar in his mind to his own determination. But it felt different to him. Well, aside from all the ways it appeared to be functioning differently from the jump. But magic, and peculiar saving aside, he couldn't help but notice that Chara stubbornly held onto her lives.

All of that despite the fact that her 'life' didn't matter, as they could just come back if something happened. Even if, for some reason her power stopped working correctly, he had saved. And, as she seemed to be what was blocking his abilities, if something did happen to her, he could just load a save and bring her back anyways.

And yet...she seemed to feel pain far more than he did. Sure, it'd sting to die, and sure it wasn't pleasant. But the way she'd let out those sounds of pain, or wince when injured...the way she shook when she got hurt. He didn't understand her soul, but it felt...different.

This really wasn't a safe world, even for her. Not that anyone would remember her at this point, beyond Toriel, himself, and Asgore maybe. Not that the last one had done anything to inspire confidence it would end well.

Reflecting on their adventure thus far, he almost felt like they were getting toyed with. He wondered if he had pissed off the Angel? Not that it was real, anyways.

"What'cha thinkin bout?" Chara asked, while they walked along.

"Huh?" He hummed.

"You've been looking around, bobbing your head, muttering to yourself." She explained. "Are you alright?"

"Ah, right...well, you asked how I uh, knew Sans and Papyrus." He said, thinking. "I was just thinking about that. Don't see them around, and...with that last display of yours, I don't know that we will for a little while, at least."

For Charas part, she found this thought reassuring, in some capacity. She was honestly uncertain if she'd be able to scare of the skeleton. Though, some part of her wasn't trying to 'scare him' she tried to ignore that impulse.

Her larger concern, was that it didn't really add up, given what she knew about what he could do. Further, with him hunting for Toriel, could she afford to take chances? Despite her efforts to force down the impulse, that strange urge she kept having, she wondered if it wouldn't have been safer, to just kill him?

The thought was like a static in her mind. If she did, he couldn't hunt for her anymore. If she did, at least, that threat would be over. She could find her mother and go home. And then...together, they'd go find Asriel, and her father. She had hardly had time to reflect on the lack of their presence, not that it hadn't been in the back of her mind.

The way her mother was acting, it was clear something bad had happened. And with Asgore away, she imagined things may have...fallen apart. After her...little stunt. After all, she recalled being dead. She knew that her and Asriels plan had failed. Wondering if he'd gotten cold feet, if he'd backed out.

Her hand grasped at empty space around her neck. Surely...he must have backed out. A grim cold flushed into her veins. If he hadn't...then, the barrier would be broken...and nobody would be here right?

She just wanted to see him again. Call him a nerd, and make sure he was alright. And maybe call him a nerd a second time, for good measure. To show she cared.

Flowey spoke. "Chara?"

"Huh?" She glanced. "Oh, shoot, sorry. I zoned out there for a sec."

Flowey noticed the tears slipping from her eyes. The way she quivered some. He wasn't sure what she'd been thinking about, but he noticed her grasping at a space where nothing was. Her hand falling back to her side, as whatever the thought was, had ended.

"Just...ya know, the skeletons?" He reminded her.

"Right, right...so?" She glanced back at him.

Flowey let out a sigh. "Well uh...I ran into them, when they were a little bit younger than they are now." He noted. "We were friends, I think. Or, at least, I tried to be friends with them."

"Really?" She laughed a little laugh of disbelief. "Wait...Flowey-" She tilted her head. "How old are you?"

"Uh, let's see...how long have I existed in total?" Flowey considered the time. "Minus...loading uh...oh...wow. Heh. I think, I'm almost fifteen."

"You're a teenager?" She snickered. "Makes sense you're so grumpy."

"H-hey, most teenagers don't have to deal with you, ya know?" He commented.

"Are you gonna start writing emo poetry?" She teased.

Flowey rolled his eyes. "I don't do that anymore." He blinked, hearing her laugh. "I-I meant, I haven't done that. E-ever. Idiot."

The pair was approaching something. A sentry station of some type. With a monster standing in front of it. Knocking on the closed window, angrily. Chara noted the odd icey-fedora the monster was wearing as a hat. Her laughter calming, reminding herself to be focused.

"Oh uh, before we continue...what is this thing?" Chara inquired, recalling the sentry station earlier looking a bit different.

The strange monster turned to see them. "H-hey, I was in line firs-" He squinted. "Are you a girl?"

For some reason, Chara also felt the monster in front of them was a teenager. Though she was surprised to see they hadn't been thrust into a fight. She imagined he must be friendly then. A welcome change.

She glanced at Flowey. "He's a Flower, actually."

Flowey stared in disappointment, while she snickered. "Id...iot."

"Teenager." She replied, sticking her tongue out at him, before turning to the odd little monster. "But yeah. Why?"

The monster promptly tipped the edge of his fedora. Giving a rather smug looking smirk, as he did so. She raised a brow at this, noting his half-bow as being a bit unnecessary. Flowey growling a muffled growl. She heard it, wondering why he was upset?

"My lady~" The strange, hatted monster took a few steps to the side. "I will permit you to seek your inquiry first."

"Permit? She asked, before adding. "Wait...inquiry?"

"I see you're not familiar with the concept. Heh. Of course. This is one of the two sentry stations in the area." The odd monster commented, with a strange tone to his voice. "I know it's hard to understand, but one is meant for security, and the other for inquiries."

Flowey's face got scary looking. "Talk to her like that again, and I'll shove that hat down your thr-"

"H-hey, Flowey." Chara huffed, whispering. "Why are you trying to pick a fight?"

"Let's just tell this guy to shove off and move on." The Flower requested. "I don't-"

"But, if it's a station for questions. Maybe we can ask if Toriel came by here?" Chara suggested, adding. "Plus, I uh...don't know how to get to Snowdinn either, so that may be useful. Maybe they have a map?"

"I know the way, just-" Flowey began.

The monster butted in. "Oh-ho, headed to Snowdinn. It's a rural jewel, if you ask me. Away from the city, and all the politics." He motioned to himself. "I do know the way, if you could use a helping hand. I know directions are hard for a girl but-" Flowey snarled like some sort of demon. "wow, can you keep that thing on a leash?"

Chara blinked at this statement, some dark forming around her eyes. "Excuse you?" She stepped closer. "Don't you dare talk about Flowey like he's not a person, you ass-face!"

"Assface?" The monster chuckled, clearly unimpressed. "Good attempt, but-"

"I-I'm not...always the best with swears but..." She searched her mind, conjuring forth the only thing she could think of. "Fuck you!" She flipped him off. "I know how to say that one."

In that moment, Flowey couldn't help but feel prouder of her, snickering. "Thought we weren't picking a fight?"

The monster, however, didn't appear to be very pleased with how things were going. Puffing his chest, while stepping nearer. Running his fingers along the edge of his hat.

"Someone-" He began. "aughta teach you both some manners."

The world flashed black and red. Ice Cap wanted to Fight. The two glaring at the monster, for such a stupid...stupid decision.

"No killing." Chara reminded him, and herself. Her soul shining before her.

"Just a little...roughing up." Flowey added maliciously.

Chara decided to Fight.

Flowey decided to Fight.

Flowey created a ring of bullets, while Chara rushed in. Sliding below the forming ring of bullets, she leapt and punched at the monster. Who seemed genuinely surprised, when her first hit landed. Her eyes shining, a couple other heavy punches following. Her mind recalling a show she watched, as the flurry of strikes came to an end.

The monster staggered back, the bullets moving to close in, while she weaved out underneath them. Glancing at them, the monster dove oved the barrage. Landing hat first, before rolling back to his feet. The hat shining some.

"A gentleman, always comes prepared to deal with brutes." Ice cap remarked, smugly.

Below them the snow began to shift. Chara moved to the side, avoiding what appeared to be a copy of his hat. A set of spikes lunging out where she had been. Flying up into the air. The area she was on performing the same. Dashing forward, she avoided the collapsing spikes. Sliding past another set of them, getting in nearer.

Chara continued to fight.

Flowey continued to fight.

The Flower cackled menacingly. Creating a series of bullets, which trailed behind them, as they moved. Beginning to fire at the monster one after another. The creature able to dodge the first few, laughing back. Before she got in close, and smashed against him a couple more times. Causing the monster to let out a cry of pain. Getting hit by one of the bullets.

"Y-you, disrespect me, and my hat, milady." Ice cap remarked.

The same set of attacks as before beginning. Flowey pushed his vines against the ground, vaulting them back from being hit by a couple. Chara weaving to the side to avoid the next, one of the spikes falling, slamming against her. Stabbing in some, as they both took damage. She pressed a hand to her mouth, muffling a cry of pain. Their foe seeming like he was cracking already.

"I hate that hat." Flowey growled.

"Then let's take it." Chara suggested.

|Chara - 20/24 HP| - |Flowey - 16/20 HP|

|ACTIONS| - |ACT|

|Check| - |Steal| - |Berate| - |Praise|

Chara decided to Steal.

Flowey decided to use F-action.

Their enemy barely had a chance for reprieve, before she darted in. Ice Cap too wounded to stop her from grabbing the icy hat. Yanking it off, with a proper dive. Landing clumsily, nearly falling on her butt, if it weren't for Flowey catching them.

"N-nooooo!" Ice Cap yelled, as light shined from the monster. His form shifting, changing. Becoming...an Ice Cube.

"So, what's the verdict no-lie?" Flowey asked, grinning a little. "Gonna chill out now?" - Ice Cube felt humiliated.

Ice Cube didn't attack.

Chara used Berate.

Flowey used F-Action.

"Were you just talking down to people because of this stupid hat?" Chara asked, holding it up. "And then you attack us, because YOU were being a jerk?"

"Lurking in forums doesn't make you a gentleman. Nor does talking down to women, you pathetic little creep." Flowey growled angrily.

"I-I know." Ice Cube listened and replied. "I...I'm not very secure about myself. A-and...it made me feel better, to at least, act...superior." The cube whimpered some. "I...wanted people to see me as cool." He pleaded. "P-please don't kill me!"

The angry duo calmed down a little. The posture of the human shifting some. Her expression going from righteous anger to a bit of pity, and righteous anger. The Flower didn't change that much overall, just a death-glare and calm posture.

"What's so wrong with just being yourself?" Chara asked. "And treating people nice, without being a jerk at the same time?"

"And maybe seeking a better outlet for your anger. So, it doesn't turn you into a creep." Flowey suggested. "Or a lowlife, begging to get dusted."

Ice Cube listened. "My friends wouldn't..respect me if I did." He noted. "I just...well, they've told me how things are. Or...well, how they're meant to be, I guess?"

Chara tilted her head. "Was I 'meant' to hit that hard?" He shook his head, as she sighed some. "Then it sounds like you're hanging out with awful people. Telling you awful stuff that isn't true."

"Not that it takes a genius to figure that out, moron." Flowey added. "You keep listening to bad people and...they'll hurt you or make you hurt yourself, or others. Do you understand?" He thumped the ice. "Does that register, you dumb hu-er, chunk of ice?"

The fight ended, the color flickering back to the world. They got no exp, and 25G.

Ice Cube appeared to be reconsidering his life. "I'm uh...sorry about all that."

"Sorry doesn't quite make up for it." Chara brushed her hand through her hair. "Look, I'll forgive you...none of us are uh...innocent beings." She noted. "But we can try to be better, right?"

"I guess." Ice Cube commented, adding. "I don't even know where to start."

"Do you, have any non...creepy awful friends?" She asked. "Ones who don't tell you weird lies, or eerie stuff?"

"I used to." Ice Cube considered someone. "I haven't talked to them in a while. I stopped hanging out with-"

"Did you stop hanging out, or did they stop hanging out with you?" Flowey asked, Ice Cube hesitating. "Thought so, then maybe you should try reaching out."

"What if I make them worst?" Ice Cube asked.

"Let them know they can tell you no when you're being an ass, or tell you off when you're being an idiot." Flowey suggested, adding. "And listen when they do. Don't just dismiss it. And don't just run back to those same freaks who got you into this mess, got it?""

"Sounds hard." Ice Cube said.

Chara smiled a little. "You'll just have to...try and Persevere. It may be hard, but you can do this." The ice shifted. "And...I'm not giving you back the hat. I think it belongs in a movie, or with a suit at a fancy place. It's a bad influence."

Ice Cube sighed. "I don't really want it...I mean, I do but...just don't-"

"Don't let it corrupt new minds, absolutely-" Flowey took the hat, and chucked it to the ground, shattering it. "ahh the healing sound of a temptation removed. Because that's what morally good adjacent people do for each other." He remarked in a peppier tone. "They beat the shit out of you for being a creep and teach you a lesson about friendship and self-acceptance after you tried to murder them." His face got scary again. "Instead of tearing you apart like others might do."

"T-thanks?" Ice Cube glanced around. "Well uh, I should be going home. But...thanks for uh...knocking some sense into me." He added. "Even if you two...hit pretty hard."

Chara laughed nervously. "I was...trying to pull my punches."

Flowey shrugged. "I wasn't."

"Flowey!" She exclaimed.

"What?" He snickered. "I'm just being honest-" He looked at Ice Cube. "you were being a dick and had it coming."

Ice Cube somehow nodded. "I understand. Farewell, violent strangers."

Chara gave a slight wave. "Later. Don't be a jerk anymore please!"

With that fight resolved, the pair stood for a while longer. In this case, sharing a piece of candy. It tasted distinctly, unlike licorice. Ice Cube fleeing pretty fast as they did so. While they hovered around, the pair considered their own unsolicited advice to the monster. Knowing damn well, they had been talking about themselves at a few points in their moral lessons. Or at least projecting some of their own failures on the monster. It was something they'd think about for a little while. Internally, because it was too heavy to actually discus in a healthy manner.

After an awkward amount of time passing with nothing happening. Chara finally made a step towards the sentry station. Knocking on the window twice, getting no response. Raising a brow, she pushed against said window, getting it to open. It didn't appear anyone was inside. Looking around for a reason, she noticed a piece of paper on the ground. Scrawled in a very silly looking font.

"Closed for the Day...working." She didn't understand but got the gist. "Well...that sure was helpful huh?"

"Eh, I can think of more helpful things." Flowey suggested, adding. "But there is another sentry station up ahead."

"Probably gonna have someone who attacks us." She suggested.

"Probably." Flowey lamented, as they started on. "Hmm. I think...is this area the dogs?" He muttered trying to recall. "Eh, when we get ahead, try not moving."

"Really?" She asked in confusion.

"If it's who I think it is, we just stay quiet, don't move, and then bail after a bit." He shrugged. "Not that hard."

While he was telling her this, he had a stray thought. Something he hadn't done, that in hindsight should have been his first action. Flowey used check. on Chara.

|Chara - ATK 9 DEF 6|

|This human traveler|

|seems to be very lost|

He wasn't sure what he was expecting.

The duo gradually drew near another sentry station. This one a little bit simpler. With some form of dog, or wolf inside. A sign nearby, laying broken on the ground. Someone had left it illegible. Chara tsk'd, at this. She wondered who was going around breaking all of them?

Regardless, she attempted to creep forward. Avoid the monster who was inside. As she stepped, she noticed the ears twitch out of the corner of her eyes. The monster jolting up, brandishing blades.

"Did something move?" The wolf-like monster asked, pushing over the counter. "Was it just my imagination?" Chara noticed the glassy look to his eyes. "If something was moving, for example, a human-" the wolf sniffed. "I'll make sure it..." The creature sniffed again. "smells like...no, not quite?"

The world flashed black and red. Wolfo stood ready, eyes scanning the area. Ears twitching to pick up any sound. Sharp blades ready. - Chara noted the wolf seemed...familiar somehow.

|Chara - 20/24 HP| - |Flowey - 16/20 HP|

|Actions| - |Act|

|Check| - |Pet| - |Remember|

Chara tried to Remember.

|Flowey|

|Act|

|F-Action| - |Distract| - |Pet|

Flowey decided to use F-Action.

Flowey examined the wolf, noticing the way he moved. Noticing the way his ears twitched. Memorizing his actions. - It became possible to Run Away. - Chara meanwhile searched her memory, trying to remember something. The wolf bore some resemblance to the wolf that Alex dealt with. Were they related?

"Don't move an inch." The wolf warned.

His blades shined blue, and slashed out. Chara recalled Floweys suggestion, tensing as she took his advice. A blade passed through her, doing...nothing? She didn't dodge the next either, much to the same effect. The wolf wildly swinging around, seeming to have no idea they were there. The monster easing his tense look, now looking more confused than anything else.

Chara decided to Pet the monster.

Flowey decided to use Distract.

Reaching out as slow as she could. Chara pet the wolf. He appeared very surprised, tail swinging as he flailed around. - "H-how, I-I've been pet?" Wolfo exclaimed in shock. "Pet, pat, pet?"

Flowey materialized a bullet a distance away, and fired it at a tree. Breaking one of the branches. Wolfo noticed, turning. "A stick appears!?" The houndish man rushed over. Diving on, the stick. Shaking it violently in his jaw for a moment, before hurrying back over to where they were. Dropping it, while still looking around for the source.

Chara decided to spare.

Flowey decided to throw the stick.

The stick was thrown once more by the Flowey. Ever so cautiously. Resulting in a game of fetch developing. Chara snickering, deciding to spare the monster. The fight coming to an end, as they waited for their temporary playmate to calm down some. Panting a bit tiredly, before crawling back over the counter, into the sentry station.

Huffing some, while looking out over the counter. "Ghost stick...pets from something not moving?" The wolves tail still wagging. "I need some dog treats for this."

Wolfo slunk back below and out of sight. Chara taking a few cautious steps, pleased that he wasn't trying to attack them anymore. Heading on, without bothering the monster anymore. When the pair was a little distance away, she finally let out a pleasant little laugh she'd been keeping in.

"That was adorable." She remarked. "Though...I think that guy may need glasses."

Flowey snickered. "Think that guy was meant to be one of the royal guards."

"Well, they have fine taste." She suggested. "Though, he probably shouldn't announce his attacks with 'don't move' right?"

"Definitely not." The flower agreed. "But hey, at least it went well."

"Right?" She sighed some. "Why can't all fights just be silly like that?"

"I mean, to be fair, he was still trying to kill us. Just...not the best at it." Flowey noted.

"The stick was a good idea, by the way." She noted. "We should grab one, in case we run into any more dogs."

Flowey hummed. "It could be smart. But I think that was a wolf."

"It's a 'sort of' dog, right?" She asked. "And it doesn't change the point that he clearly had fun with the stick."

"I..wolves are, a little bit more dangerous." He commented. "But uh...fair. The stick, I mean."

They would end up gathering a sturdy enough stick from a tree. Using magic to get it down. It was slotted in the back, where Flowey could have easy access to it. They then proceeded onward.