CharaFell - Restart Chapter 67: -The First Fights-, an undertale fanfic

The arena seemed bigger when she was actually standing in it.

The imposing jagged edges, the makeshift nature of it all. The sense of looking up at the rest of the world, or at least the rest of the room. It was a little overwhelming in some sense. Admittedly, she wasn't sure could win this. Worrying it'd just make her look like a total idiot if she failed.

The gate behind her closed. A metal grate, over the usual one. Reinforcing it it seemed. She noticed the monsters in the stands begin to glance up, or take interest. A few calling people on their phones. Clearly curious about what was about to happen.

She drew the stick from her belt, it was...hardly a proper weapon. But it'd have to work. Besides, if it was just a matter of getting her enemies to surrender, that would be easy enough. Or she imagined it would be, if nothing else.

The announcer suddenly boomed. Echoing through speakers that were on the side of the arena. They certainly weren't as loud earlier though.

"Ladies, Gentlemen, and that technicolor rainbow in-between, we have a special surprise for you today!" The voice carried through the clearing. "We have a challenger, seeking to take on the roughest, and the toughest the Hotland Ruins has to offer." The woman declared. "Already crazy enough, I know. But wait, there's more-" The dog-lady stepped. "our challenge is none other than a Human, fresh from the Surface. Seeking to take on the champion herself~"

Chara noticed Undyne by the doorway, tensing up at that statement. Turning, locking eyes with the child, before sprinting down to the arena. The girl looked around, wandering near the wall.

"Hey, open this damn gate. This...she's not meant to be in there." Undynes muffled voice said.

"Oh c'mon, whether leaving via the 'exit' or doing so here, what does it matter?" The Announcer replied. "So, no can do, Undyne. What's wrong, do you have so little faith in your brat?"

The implication, as far as the child could tell, was that the announcer believed she'd die there. Overhearing their conversation cutoff, as music began to play. She listened, and felt a bit confused. It was fight music. Wandering back some, she turned to face the other gate that would lead inside.

The other gate opening, a tension rising in her chest. Her stick raised, held out in her most gallant of poses. Her first challenger strutted in, bearing a confidence reserved for angels and demons alike. An aura of power, and raw intimidation which could buckle the- it was a dog. Not even a bipedal dog.

It was a fluffy white dog. Holding a knife, in its mouth. Like it was a sword, which given its size, it kinda was. As it wasn't exactly a big dog. She felt...confused, at this.

The announcer spoke up. "Our first fighter, hailing all the way from the Snowlands, the one, the only-" The music swelled randomly. "Wuf!"

Chara stared at the dog, with a blank expression. Some in the crowd were clapping, one or two cheering. Most seemed...either as confused as she was, or generally unimpressed. She wasn't even sure how to approach this. It was just a fluffy looking puppy.

"Uh...am I supposed to...hey there, pup, uh, woof?" She half-asked. "Bork maybe?" The dog tilted its head. "Nothing, anything...work with me here."

The world suddenly flashed black, and purple. It seemed a violent dog wanted to fight her. She wasn't sure how comfortable she was with this idea though.

|Chara 22/22 HP - 1/100 TP|

|Fight| - |Actions| - |Items| - |Mercy|

|ACT|

|Check| - |Pet| - |Shoo| - |Beckon|

Chara opted to beckon?

"Uhm...c'mere pup. Come on." The girl beckoned. "Maybe?"

The dogs expression suddenly intensified, somehow. It let out a little bark, muffled by the weapon in its mouth. Its eyes flashing with power, as it surged out. Slashing at her, much to her genuine surprise. The first slash cutting across her arm, the second slashing across her stomach. The girl reeling back, avoiding the next set of hits.

The announcer boomed. "Is that mana, no, that's blood!" The dog-lady laughed. "Trust me folks, you'll be seeing plenty of it."

The pain seeped in, as some of her blood seeped out. Only barely mitigated by her own instincts pulling her back. Clearly not quick enough. An angry twitch following the attack. As she huffed some.

They weren't quick attacks, largely. And she criticized herself for getting hit. But she hadn't anticipated it. Something she also lamented with irritation.

"That's my fault." She muttered. "Guess I shouldn't underestimate you huh?"

The dog growled some. The girl glancing at the blood on her hand, from the cut across her chest. Dark rushing into the edges of her eyes.

"You wanna be taken seriously?" She sighed. "So do I."

|Chara 16/22 HP - 12/100 TP|

Chara decided to attack.

Saying this, she lurched forward, in an unnatural motion. Swinging from the side, catching the nearby dog, off guard. The stick crashing against its head, knocking it to the side of the arena. Flipping, and landing with a slide.

The announcer boomed. "Wow was that a hit, ooh, right the face!"

In response to her attack, the dog produced a series of bullets at its side, like tiny swords. Woofing, as it rushed back, slashing out at her with its own. The child weaving to avoid the hits. Leaning back to avoid some of the bullets. None of them moving fast enough to get near her now. The dog seeming surprised by this.

Each graze raised the tension, and with a step back from the last attack she motioned. Giving a little wave, and a snicker. Even with the pain of the slices rushing through her.

Chara used |Phantom Hand|

The phantom thing appeared at her side. Glitching into reality from the dark. Pressing out, shining in the center with a yellow glow.

"Is that a spell?" The Announcer asked, sounding surprised.

The dog once more attempted to rush her. Creating the bullet-blades to accompany it. However they were quickly blasted apart a yellow beam, blasting out from the hand.

The dog leaping to the side to avoid it, continuing to rush at her. The girl finding her back to the wall, as the dog slashed out. Hopping to the side, rolling, and rushing to put a little distance between the two. Leaving trails of blood as she went.

Chara decided to attack.

Phantom Hand was compelled to attack.

The phantom hand pushed to a space behind her, as she was turning back towards the dog. Letting out a wave of yellow energy at the pursuing foe. The dog rushing through it, as she did the same. A hard swing cracking against the creature, sending it reeling back in response. The beam fading out, the dog rag-dolling for a moment. Leaving an off smile on her face.

"Jeez. Glad so many of you had odds against the human. I'ma make a mint." The Announcer noted.

The dog staggered up, and attempted to create more bullets. Though, her hand didn't move to strike them this time. Side-stepping the attacks, she made a note that if she compelled the phantom hand to act, it didn't offer her any additional protection. Not exactly the best thing, but she'd manage. Especially considering...

Chara cast |Sway|

|SWAY| projected beneath her hand. A button, prompted, and then pressed. Shining in purple light. Her soul alight, as her eyes began to do the same. The dark burning from her, as a similar light appeared beneath her foe, flowing up like a purple smoke. Forcing its way into her enemies lungs.

The color began returning to the world. She had won. Chara gained 0 XP. Gained 5G - Chara grew more powerful.

She promised to use the spell, well, promised herself. To try it when she next got a chance. To try and be peaceful when possible. And it seemed, the pacify spell worked.

Though, a feeling hit her veins that she hadn't been expecting. Even as the visible part of the spell faded, her eyes remaining shining with light, making everything seem like it was in a glow. It was like being calm, like finding a moment of peace for the first time in years. It made everything feel so much more than it was. She could feel her tail, and her ears, and...the girl snapped from the thoughts.

Her eyes growing to darken to their usual tint, her head shaking. She didn't know what the hell had just happened. Checking, she most certainly didn't have a tail. She also didn't have ears like...her focus fell on the dog before her. Had she...were those its thoughts?

It whimpered a little, and barked, with a little tail wag in her direction. The girl stepped over. The dog seemed to be peaceful now. Evidently the spell...calmed things down. This was good, in her opinion. She plopped down beside it anyways, still bleeding, feeling hurt from doing so. The dog sniffed her, and then licked her cheek.

"H-hey." She laughed a little. "You...feeling okay?"

It barked.

"Cool." She replied.

The announcer was saying something, but she didn't really care. Instead, she gave the dog a few pats, noticing the gate opening. She found that hers hadn't, though, she hadn't expected it to. The dog examining her for a moment, before whining.

"The cuts?" She asked, as it seemed distressed. "I'll...be okay. I think you're meant to be out there though."

The dog huffed some, picking up the dagger and wandering off, with a slight limp out of the arena. She took a moment to watch it. While gradually getting to her feet, with a bit of a groan.

The Announcer spoke enthusiastically. "Well that was a shocker of a show. But, oh no, did you know as humans lose blood, they begin to die?" The woman snickered, as a decent portion of the crowd responded in return. "Guess our little fighter better hope things end as quick with our next fighter-" Someone neared the gate. "03!"

The crowd didn't seem to care. A few cheered, but really not that many. The entering warrior seemed to be...a cat monster, in light armor, wearing an armored mask. Easily double the girls size, in general. Carrying a clean looking sword, despite the rust. Chara couldn't help but feel like the term fair fight wasn't readily understood by her enemies.

"So you're a human?" The cat lady inquired. "You don't seem so tough."

"I hear that a lot." The human girl replied.

"Was what she said true?" The warrior asked. "About the blood?"

"Maybe a bit." The girl admitted.

"That sounds like torture. I'll do my best to make this quick." The woman replied. "So don't move."

The human wasn't really feeling the compassion. It was there. It was just...well, negatively interpreted perhaps. Fatally, even.

The world flashed black, and purple. The figure before her wearing an 04, on her armor. It seemed 04 came to fight on her own.

|Chara - 15/22 HP - 30/100TP|

|FIGHT| - |ACTIONS| - |ITEMS| - |MERCY|

The Announcer suddenly yelled out. "Oh, and I totally forgot last time." The woman laughed. "As all these fights count as part of one big championship fight." A robotic hand plummeted down, and crushed the projection of the Mercy button. "There will be no Mercy in these encounters. Have fun~"

Seeing it shatter left the girl completely perplexed, infuriated, distressed, and above all that...with no idea how to respond.

"W-what, how!?" Chara felt bewildered, noting the menu, the thing she projected with her mind had been...broken. "C-can you see this?"

"Of course human." The other fighter replied. "It's the trait of a novice fighter to project them, at least so clearly. Apologies this wasn't made clear to you."

This was valuable information that she wished she had known sooner. Huffing some, while willing it to fade. She would just...have to try and rely on her senses. Especially if...her ability to spare normally had been so violently removed from her. It was even hard to imagine the Mercy command in her head.

"Do you ever tire of exposition?" The announcer groaned, as some of the crowd booed the warrior. "Just get on with it. People aren't here for 'honor' they're here for spectacle!"

Chara noted she did not like the announcer.

Chara tried to cast |Phantom Hand| but didn't have enough TP

She hummed, and decided to |Defend| instead.

A purple light shined from her soul. Growing out, to envelop her being in a soft glow. - Gained 16 TP

"Is that more magic from the human?" The Announcer asked. "Wonder what it does?"

The enemy monster motioned, and began to slash the air. Creating spinning lines of energy. Rushing at the girl, in the limited space. Thankfully, they weren't altogether fast. Permitting her to move from one side to the other, to avoid them. Her soul shining several times in the process.

The prompts played in her mind. Opening to something useful. Something she was hopeful wasn't going to be expected. She briefly saw Undyne watching the fight, with a cloaked figure at her side.

Chara cast |Phantom Hand|

The space beside her distorted, as the phantom hand appeared. Flashing that yellow ring around the hole in the center of it.

Her enemy made a series of slashes. The girl not having to move, as the various blasts of energy consumed the bullets. It gave her a moment to catch her breath, if nothing else.

|Chara - 13/22 HP|

Her brief check told her, that her condition wasn't improving. She didn't have the time to try and be patient about this. Especially without healing items. The announcer said something as well, but she didn't listen. The girl doing her best to mentally numb the pain. She just had to focus.

Chara decided to attack.

Letting out a breath, she rushed towards the confused fighter. And lept into a hard swing. Bringing the stick down with a crashing noise against her opponent. Causing the monster to skid a little bit. It did a fair amount of damage.

The monster in response created a series of X shaped bullets. Bringing them crashing in from the side, while slashing out to create the waves. The girl stepping back, as they neared. The hand moving in front of her, blasting back, as she began working on dodging, while the hand was occupied.

The hand rotating to her side to blast one of the X's, before spinning back to erase the next attempted hit. The attack ending with her opponent rubbing her eyes. The big yellow beam was, admittedly, a little bright.

The girl wasn't sure how long the hand was meant to last, but she was incredibly thankful to have it. Though, she did notice a crack forming in it. Seemed it was breaking down. Not the best thing, to be certain. But hopefully manageable.

Chara decided to attack.

Seizing the moment, she brought the stick around like a bat. Cracking against the head of the opponent. 03s mask cracking in response, as the monster staggered back. Letting out a sound of pain, the broken parts of the mask revealing a scarred visage.

"You fight like a demon." The cat-lady remarked. "Most don't hit that hard unless they really hate someone."

"I don't have time to play nice. I'm sorry." The girl apologized.

"Then I won't either." The monster replied, bearing a reckless expression.

The monster rose with a speed and unnatural fury to her actions. Making wide, powerful swings of the sword. Moving as fast as the monster could, shile trying to close the distance.

The hand working overtime to block the slashes coming towards her. While she worked to avoid the edges of the blade, that kept getting closer. A stumble, and a fast swing in the reverse direction catching the girl off guard. Leading to the hand pushing in the way.

It was struck into, and torn through. Absorbing the nearly fatal hit, as Chara managed to get back. Blood dripping down, a bit of difficulty focusing, taking her.

The need to finish this inspired the girl to make another attack. Moving on after that attack ended. To slam the stick against the chest of her foe. The monster staggering back, HP reaching a dangerous level.

The monster responded by summoning the X's. Which began to fire side to side. Forcing the girl to began moving back, and forth to avoid them. The insect-lady then moving forward, slashing her big swings. Prompting Chara to move side to side, while keeping some distance. Nearly getting caught several times.

In the moment that followed, she was left with a few choices. A few potential actions. Her enemy didn't seem keen on backing down. Despite having done so very poorly. But, her enemy had shown honor, albeit, cruel honor. And she hadn't forgotten that.

The color began returning to the world. She had won. Chara gained 0 XP. Gained 5G - Chara grew more powerful.

Her enemies armor appeared to bear a faint purple shine for a moment. The feeling, the rush if it returned. Was this the power that humans held? Even dying, overcoming their foes with magic, or mettle? It felt best to give in to...the girl snapped from the thoughts. Glancing around, as her eyes dimmed again.

The opposing warrior sighing. Looking up at her. With a wide eye and only half a mask remaining.

The Announcer chimed in. "The pacification spell makes a return." She laughed some. "A victory for mercy, and a loss for the crowd." Boos could be heard from the growing audience. "Well, seems the human has more surprises than I thought. Way to cheat the system."

03 spoke. "You...spared me."

"I didn't want to kill you. Even if you clearly wanted to kill me." Chara noted.

"I don't understand." The warrior looked to the side. "I...feel so guilty?"

The girl stepped over, and offered her hand. The warrior taking it without hesitation. Being helped up some, using the sword to help rise. The girl then stumbling some, as the cat-monster helped keep her steady.

"Sorry." The girl apologized, feeling terrible light headed at this point.

"Here." The monster handed her something. "It will heal you some."

It appeared to be a piece of monster candy. She felt bad taking it, and struggled to accept it. But resigned to the need, and ate it. Restoring 5HP, and healing over the cuts. It still left her a little wobbly, though.

"Thank you." Chara replied. "You should go get yourself healed up."

"Of course. I'll...go immediately." The cat-lady replied.

Chara watched the warrior start off. "Expected more resistance...heh."

The gate opened for her opponent to leave. She found that response peculiar. She expected some pushback to the idea, or something else to be said. She wagered she was being listened to out of self-preservation, and maybe respect. That thought made her feel a little brighter anyways.

Marking her second opponent, she felt relieved, and anxious. One more, and she'd finally get a pause from fighting. Not that they were all that intense, fight wise. But she wagered it would be nice to heal fully.

The announcer spoke up again. "Our third fighter, a face that everyone knows, or has probably forgotten. A 'legend' of the underground, the one, the only-" An odd monster walked in. "Elder Puzzler."

The monster that wandered in was a one armed, green poncho wearing monster. With a big horn on the right side of his head, and a bushy pale beard on his face. The gate closing as he entered.

"You've been a whole force in these fights, haven't you kid?" He asked.

She sighed, and readied her 'weapon.'

"Don't tell me it's only taken you two fights to forget manners." He chuckled.

"Eh?" She registered what he said finally. "Are we...not fighting?"

"Hmm, well, we do have to fight, but-" He commented. "I guess everyone else has forgotten what a striped shirt means these days."

She blinked, and glanced at her shirt, damaged after her last fight. "Striped...shirt?"

"Tell you what. Let's start the fight." He suggested. "But I'm gonna make you an offer. So, try and 'Act' right, kid."

She was confused, and wondered if this was some kind of trap. The world flickering back to black, and purple colors. She was fighting the Elder Puzzler.

There was a momentary debate, regarding whether or not to attack her enemy. But then, she felt like she shouldn't. At least, not yet.

|Chara - 14/22 HP - 10/100 TP|

|Actions|

|Act|

She manifested the prompts briefly. Just to get her thoughts in order. It was...easier to do it that way.

Chara decided to talk for a moment.

"I didn't attack." She noted. "So..."

"Hey, hey, you know how to Act." Elder Puzzler chuckled. "I see you're curious about the puzzle thing. Why not try that next uh...'turn' if you will."

The announcer boomed. "Welcome to Tutorial Time, am I right folks?"

The crowd didn't seem pleased.

Chara asked about a Puzzle.

"So, Elder Puzzler. Like, someone who does puzzles?" She asked. "I uh, I used to do puzzles with my Mom. And uh, judging by your name-"

"So you want a puzzle, do you?" He grinned some. "Well, then I have the ultimate puzzle. The triumphant, the unstoppable-" His magic shined, overtaking the arena. "are you ready human, can you overcome this impossible challenge!?"

A giant cube had manifested before her. Well, giant was relative. It was, however, about her size. She blinked, looking at it, her shining soul tilting to the side as her head did. It was a box puzzle.

The girl looked around for anything that might indicate it was meant to move somewhere. But, there wasn't anything like that. No, it was just a box. The Elder Puzzler smirking, looking incredibly confident. She took a step back, and looked over the box.

There wasn't anything on the sides. Even when she stepped around it to check. Her focus briefly going to the top of the box. She moved forward like she was going to push the sides, but watched the puzzler squint. Incorrect answer, it seemed. Thinking on this, she glanced at her stick.

The announcer commented. "Hello, you two know you're meant to be fighting in there right?"

Chara decided to try something with the puzzle.

She pushed the stick into the dirt, pushing it below the big cube. Wedging it in, she began to pull back. Getting it to raise some. The Puzzler watching with curiosity, as she lifted it a little. Getting it to tip some, and fall over. Moving, slightly to the side, as a consequences

"That's the stuff kid. Way to think outside the box, and use your items to solve puzzles." The Elder Puzzler seemed pleased. "To many kids these days use fancy lasers, and mechanisms. Bunch of timed nonsense." He sighed. "Good to see the next generation has some hope."

Chara talked to him.

"Was that the right answer?" She asked.

"It's not a matter of right or wrong, it's a matter of using your gnoggin to solve problems you didn't think ya could." He explained. "Sometimes, especially down here, you're gonna get confronted with stuff that's difficult. That'll force ya to reconsider your actions. Sometimes you'll have to Fight. Sometimes you'll be able to show Mercy. Sometimes it just comes down to choosing the right ACTions." He noted. "But, I'm rambling. Guess it's time for our fight huh?" He laughed. "Well, you get first hit. And just know, regardless of what happens. It'll be alright."

The words were reassuring. Yet, beneath them was something concerning to her. The girl looking over the Elder Monster with curiousity.

Chara used Check.

"Using Check. That's wise. Aughta do that more often." He winked, with a smirk.

Chara tried to talk.

"Y-you'll die if I attack you." She noted.

"Eh. Well, probably." He chuckled. "Usually I throw in the towel, after the puzzle. But the game's rigged to get you hurt." He explained. "And I may have done a lot of bad things. But I ain't gonna hurt ya kid." He said. "And don't feel bad for hurtin me, okay?"

Distress filled her. She...didn't want to attack him. She checked her spells.

Chara tried to cast |Sway| - But...the enemy wasn't injured.

Chara tried to talk.

"T-then just surrender, o-or...that's...a mercy option, isn't it?" The realization sunk in.

"A little bit." He replied. "It's fine. Just do me a favor, after. Don't get killed, okay?"

Her hand shook. Her hate beginning to boil. What kind of messed up joke was this? She didn't know what to do. She couldn't think of an action, she couldn't think of anything else to say.

A whisper entered her mind. "You know what to do partner. Just take a breath...think of it like, 'a game' okay?"

The girl let out a heavy breath. Lowering her head some. Her purple soul shining, with shadows seeping in. Thinking to herself...leave if to a human, to have to do the dirty work.

Chara decided to attack.

The swing was quick, and it was filled with power. Leaving a purple trace behind as it did so. Marking where she'd hit. The blow crashing down, the stick snapping against the ground.

The damage projecting, manifesting in purple and black numbers above them. An endless series of nines, that manifested, and vanished. No last words, just a little smile, and then the monster fell into dust.

"Close off the pain." The whisper breathed. "You aren't done yet."

The girl felt...cold. A bitter frost in her veins. A deadness to her eyes. They closed, the child working to crush down the weight, to bury the feeling. Opening them, and sighing tiredly. Some energy rising from the dust, flowing into her soul, before it faded.

"2 remaining." She muttered quietly, a purple light shining beside her.

The color began returning to the world. She had won. Chara gained 10 XP. Gained 10G