The crowd was enthusiastic about the event that had played out. And the numbers of spectators had grown. The girl barely registered this, however. Too focused on the dust, on the taste of it, how bad it felt.
She failed to notice the gate open. But felt herself get picked up. Ears ringing, having drowned out some word or another. Her senses rushing back, as she found herself hugging someone. Eyes closing to drink in the warmth.
"It's alright, kid. You'll be okay." Undyne remarked, keeping her in a hug. "It'll be alright."
"Sorry."Chara apologized quietly. "I...left the seat."
"Heh...I uh, I noticed." The crimson haired woman commented. "C'mon. Let's...get you out of...this place."
The girl didn't respond immediately, but didn't resist either. She felt...completely exhausted, the moment the hug ended. The last moments of the fight playing on a loop, in her head. She felt a grim sense of satisfaction the moment the hit landed, guilt when the moment passed, and self-hatred that she didn't feel worst.
"What's wrong with me?" The girl muttered quietly.
The question garnered a sound of hesitation from the woman carrying her. She was placed down, in this case at a spot nearer to one of the concession stands, but away from most everyone else. Undyne looking bothered, and gave her a genuine look of concern. Glancing at the girls now bloodied clothes, and nearly-unblinking eyes.
"It's...it's not your fault, kid." The woman assured, while crouching down. "I saw you try to use that pacify spell, thing, of yours." The girl glanced up. "You tried to do the right thing. You were just stuck in a bad situation."
"I...I...what if, I could done...maybe if I'd tried something else?" The girl replied.
"Hey...don't do that to yourself, okay?" The woman smiled some.
"I feel...bad, really, really bad." The girl admitted.
"It's not good that you feel bad, but, it's good that you're not happy about it." The woman commented. "That's...not the kind of thing anyone should enjoy doing."
The child registered the blood on the womans robes. "I-I got blood on your clothes."
The woman glanced, and sighed. "It's fine, honestly" She assured softly. "I've been needing to wash em anyways. Though...we may wanna get something new for you."
"I-it's okay." The girl replied. "I don't...mind."
"Yeah, well, I do." The woman huffed. "You're not gonna have to walk around in something covered in your own blood. That's...that'd be cruel, and unusual." She stated sternly. "Besides, magical clothing, at least, will mend itself." She noted, sighing. "So...c'mon, punk. We're leaving this joint. We'll get you something somewhere else."
"D-didn't...the uh, concessions people...don't they have stuff?" The girl asked.
"We're not going there. I'm not gonna make you have to interact with the 'concessions people' right now." Her voice full of anger, and concern. "Their stuff is cheap unreliable garbage that breaks down anyways. You deserve better than that."
The girl wasn't expecting the newfound animosity from Undyne. It made her feel a lot more comfortable around the woman, in a weird way. Mainly as it wasn't directed at her.
She did feel upset that it had to be there at all. Blaming herself for ruining the good mood from earlier. Hating herself for making something that was supposed to be fun, such a bother.
The duo headed towards the exit. Drawing attention from some of the other monsters, and the announcer. The latter of whom wandered over to catch up.
The announcer spoke. "W-woah there, where are you two headed?"
"We're leaving." Undyne noted. "Going to some place that doesn't smell like obnoxious idiots, and fake cheese."
"Oh, c'mon now. The human agreed to do the whole five fights." The dog-lady noted, with a little smirk. "Last I checked, that was only three."
Chara found Undyne stepping in-between her, and the Announcer. "I brought the kid here to watch some fights. Something that you knew damn well." Her voice a hiss. "To have fun. Not to be tricked into rigged up death matches."
"You really wanna disappoint everyone...boss?" The announcer asked, in an aggressive tone.
"Don't you get that tone with me. This. Is not for your amusement." Undyne stated. "I don't give a damn what you all want. And besides-" She shrugged. "the champions not even here. So the fight's moot, isn't it?"
"So that's what you were doing." The Announcer snickered. "Oh well, we can find other fighters. I'm sure the crowd would-"
Patience was a virtue few beings could maintain. Wrath, something viewed as a sin, however, was easier to come by. And usually far more deserved.
Undyne let out a vicious growl. Drawing the spear from her back with a flash, placing the tip to the announcers throat. The same motion seeing various spears of light manifested in the air around her. The crowd, which had been getting animated, growing very, very quiet all of a sudden.
"If you want a fight. Then you can all fight me." Undyne offered. "In fact, you and I can start first. C'mon, you were so tough a second ago."
The other monsters appeared hesitant. The crowd silent, overwhelmingly. The girl watching, hiding behind the woman.
"No?" Undyne glanced around. "All bark, no bite?" She smiled. "You all seemed to desperate a minute ago. What, did you lose your spines?" She asked, as the announcer stepped back. "Or were you all only so high and mighty, cuz you thought you'd be killing a kid didn't want to hurt anyone!?" She shouted that part. "You're all fucking...cowards." She hissed the last part out, while sheathing her spear. "Let's go, kid."
"Okay." Chara replied, taking the womans hand, as she was guided from the room.
The girl glanced back to see the monsters silently watching them as they went. A snap of the caretakers fingers, prompting the various spears of light to fade. The announcers knees giving out, as the dog-lady fell to them.
It seemed her present guardians actions had been suitably intimidating, or shameful. She imagined, in some fashion a bit of both. Not that it changed what they had been seeking, her own disappointment in them, only inspiring more faith in the caretaker.
She had after all, placed faith in Undyne earlier. Believing for reasons unknown that she must be the strongest monster there. And hoping when she requested, that the woman would protect her if things became dangerous.
She had meant these, largely in jest, or as little assurances. Namely is something like the Temmies showed up. It hadn't properly crossed her mind, at least in any serious fashion, that the threat might be monsters. But then, they seemed to have come to pass, and she couldn't be more grateful that the woman had honored that faith.
Chara wondered what title she'd give to Undyne. She did often do such things. It was something her brother had teased her about. Giving names to inanimate objects, bonding with strangers quickly. Calling her crazy, which...maybe she was.
Thinkin on the woman holding her hand, the girl concluded that she acted much in the fashion Chara had acted in regards to Asriel. Namely, stepping in to protect him from bullies. Being a bit crude in the process, but full of care all the same.
She had never had an older sibling before, but this was similar right? Someone bigger and tougher coming in to help her. She didn't 'need it' but it was nice to have. She squeezed the hand a little tighter, and felt a little warmer. She wouldn't vocalize this thought though.
They progressed back to the main hall space. The one that had three directions to go. Or, four, if one included the area she had woken up and fought the creature at.
The woman glancing at the middle path. To the market, if the girls memory served her right. And, it seemed, they were headed into it.
"Hey, kid...when we go inside, I'm going to stick by the door, okay?" The woman said. "It's not that big a space though. So, I'll be able to keep an eye on stuff."
"Oh, okay...is it some kind of market?" The girl asked.
"It's more like a little shop. But, I think it might have been before. Walls had to be made to push some of the heat out." The woman noted. "You'd have to ask the owner what it looked like before. Though, I'm sure she'd love to tell you all about it."
The door to the shop opened. The space inside was quite warm. Though, not as warm as the path that led there.
The interior of the shop wasn't altogether impressive. It was a big square space, with a door going into what was likely the back-section of it. And a room that seemed like it was for changing clothes and trying things on.
Despite its size, or, perhaps because of it, it was quite mellow, and smelled a lot like chocolate. A scent that definitely appealed to the girl. Especially compared to the scent of dust, and blood. She tried to shake that smell...that taste.
Undyne for her part, seemed a little confused. "Uhhh, hey there..." She glanced to the woman behind the counter. "Is...Muffet not here?"
The woman behind the counter appeared to be human. Or, almost human. It was a woman with ghostly pale skin. With eyes that were like little abyssal orbs, with only the crimson red iris's to grant them color. She had dark hair, and a fairly neutral smiling expression.
The non-human replied. "Oh, hello there!" She laughed nervously. "Actually, no. She said she was headed towards the outpost when she came by last."
"So...she hired you?" Undyne asked.
"Hired is a strong word." The non-human noted. "I actually only came in to buy something this morning. But she left to go to the arena, and I got stuck inside. And then when she finally came back, she asked me to do that." She sighed. "I've never been any good at saying no to a pretty face. So, I sort of agreed."
"That sounds pretty damn rough." Undyne snickered. "You ain't stealing anything are you?"
"Only your heart, if you'll let me?" The not-shopkeeper responded.
"And our G, right?" The caretaker asked.
"G...oh uhm, oh, shoot you guys want to buy things. Uh, hang on, I have a list." The non-human dug around below the counter. "I try to be a good assistant, take notes, that kind of thing." She produced a hastily made list. "Okay. So she said uh...well most things are out of stock." The non-human woman laughed nervously. "A man came through and bought most everything. B-but, she did mention having uh...specialty items in the back for sale."
The girl had taken the time during this chat to look around the store. It was...barren. The shelves largely empty. Save for little signs of what was meant to go there. She would have loved to know what they were meant to say. But as with most signs, these ones were scratched out. It prompted a feeling of stress in her.
"Well, that's good and bad." The caretaker sighed some. "But it's fine. If you don't mind getting...whatever's left, we'll wait here."
The non-human gave a nod. "As you command, you ruby-haired beauty. I'll go get them." She said, heading towards a back door. "Be right back."
The stranger left via the back door of the shop. Chara couldn't help but feel a peculiar, and uneasy familiarity towards said individual. Pondering if she knew the non-human somehow? Her attention moving to Undyne, who had let out a yawn.
"Do...people usually flirt with you?" The girl asked.
"Eh...I don't know if I'd call it flirting." The woman replied, smirking. "A lot of the time it's...a bit more crude."
"What does that mean?" The girl asked.
"Means people can be stupid. Don't worry about it kid." The woman requested.
The girl considered something else. "Undyne...I'm...sorry, that uhm...I made everyone mad."
"Huh?" The woman frowned. "Kid you didn't do anything wrong. They did, and that's not on you." She sighed. "Honestly, I guess...I should have expected something. So, its on me too. I'm sorry for bringing you there."
"It was nice to hang out with you, at least." The girl suggested.
"I almost got you killed...in...a terrible way." The woman commented. "And you had to kill someone, because of my failings." She noted, as the girl glanced away. "I'm sorry, that should never have happened."
The child wasn't entirely sure how to respond to that. "I...I forgive you." She said, looking back. "I shouldn't have pushed to go there. I..."
The non-human came from the back, heading over and setting things on the counter. Cutting off their conversation. She let out a long breath, holding up a finger, before heading into the back again. Bringing out a few more things. Including...a bat, a hammer, and some weird set of dark bangles?
The non-human commented. "Sorry about the delay. It's not a lot of stuff, but hopefully it's what you're looking for?"
Undyne motioned. "Why don't you go take a look. I'm...I'm gonna hang out here. So..."
"Okay." Chara replied, frowning, wandering over to the counter. "Greetings."
The non-human let out a little breath. "Golly, tense crowd today. You uh...you okay, friend?"
"I'm...I'll be alright." The girl assured. "So do I uh-"
"Right the things. Okay, I'll just lay them out across the counter." The non-human commented. "Let those pretty purple eyes of yours give em a look over. And pick some stuff out, sound good?"
"Thanks?" The girl replied.
There were three sections of things covering the counter now. They were divided based on their function it seemed. With little signs, thankfully not defaced, being quickly set up, which niche they occupied.
A section relating to outfits, was placed in the center. The technical reason they came. And thus, the first one the girl looked over.
The first outfit appeared very familiar to her. Namely, as it had an incredibly strong resemblance to her original outfit. The one she'd had when she fell into the underground. A green shirt, with a yellow stripe. With brown long shorts that went with it.
A faint shine appearing below it, prompting her to |Check|
It appeared the outfit had a special effect. It allowed the wearer to use items, while attacking. Which was admittedly useful.
This left her wondering about the next. The second outfit was comprised of a white shirt, and long brown pants. She imagined it would go well with a big green hoodie.
A check revealing its special effect. It permitted the wearer to use actions, while attacking. Also fairly useful, but in different ways.
The third outfit filled her with a peculiar feeling of familiarity, and odd grief. It was made up of a light grey tinted shirt, with a purple stripe. It also had grey pants, to accompany it.
A check revealed the effect. It permitted the wearer to use actions, while also defending. An inversion of the one before it.
Left with an outfit to pick, she debated her options. They were all useful in some respects. However, she wasn't the most keen on enhancing her violent capabilities.
She settled on one of the familiar sets of clothes. Declining, the outfit resembling what she wore when she fell. It brought back too many terrible memories. The other, however, she couldn't remember any. Perhaps she'd known someone who wore it?
Regardless, she picked the |Local Outfit|
"I'm a big fan of the green one, honestly. But I think that'd look nice too." The non-human commented.
While that was technically all she was meant to get, the other two categories seemed useful. Especially given the events of the day. One being armor, the next being weapons. Noting that she no longer had a stick, she started with weapons.
The first weapon was a baseball bat. A little too large for her, unless she used both hands. It had a strange marking on it. An Orange X, that wrapped around one side. A brand perhaps? It felt...Off, somehow.
She checked it. It had 0 ATK. However, it dealt +1 ATK, per each enemy killed by the user. The item displaying two, for her.
She considered the threats of the Temmies, and some of the other monsters. It sounded useful. But she wasn't sure about a weapon that desired such things.
The second weapon appeared to be a big hammer, made of paper. Namely, origami in nature. She tapped it, it was strangely sturdy feeling. Almost like a normal maul, but much lighter.
She checked it. It had +2 ATK. Further, when its attacks were timed correctly, it was able to hit twice.
The concept sounded useful, and potentially fun. At least, if the fight was allowed to be fun. She considered it, and looked to the last of the three.
The third weapon, or weapons, were a pair of Strange Metal Bangles. They were jet black. And seemed very cold to the touch. She noticed she had touched them without thinking about it, odd.
She checked it. The Strange Bangles gave 0 ATK. They halved the cost of all |Magic| spells however. They also ?
The last part confused her. It didn't display any information. Like even the check wasn't sure, or was denied the knowledge. Oddly though she felt compelled, to take them. Letting out a chilly breath, that seemed to make the non-human smile more, though she didn't notice that.
Chara halted when she heard Her own whisper, in her mind. "These things are really creepy. Eerie, and impure."
Her focus fell on the bat. Had it just talked to her? No, that must have been her instincts. Right?
Chara felt her curiosity grow. She picked up the |X-Bat|
"Ahh the bat. Oh...I didn't realize I'd grabbed...'that one'..." The non-human twitched. "You sure about it, you seem more like a mage to me."
Her own whisper returned. "She's being weird. Let's hurry up and get out of here."
These whispers, notably, didn't seem to be noticed by anyone else. Only her, it seemed. So it was the bat. Or, maybe it was just projecting her own thoughts. She was literally thinking the exact same thing after all.
Despite the non-humans commentary, she opted not to let the bat go. Especially if it was something she wasn't meant to have. She definitely wasn't going to turn it back over now. She was too curious as to why.
With that secured, she moved on to armor. The last of the categories, and another thing she likely needed some of. She didn't hear any of her thoughts objecting. Then again, she knew it was smart, even if the non-human was being...eerie.
The first piece of armor that drew her attention was a Strange Collar. It was a black metal thing. Seemed very sturdy. She almost reached to feel it.
"That...feels creepy." Her own whisper suggested, snapping her from it. "It's like...the same material isn't it?"
Chara elected to check. It gave +5 DEF. It also have a ?
Once more, it seemed, she was left to agreed with...herself. Or the bat maybe. She wasn't sure which one, but her whisper had made a great point none-the-less.
With that in mind, she elected not to touch the strange collar. It...probably wasn't a good idea anyways. So she looked to the next thing. Noticing the brief, disappointed look from the non-human.
The next piece of armor was a Purple, and Black Poncho. It seemed to have originally just been purple. But had black ink stipes running across it. With a zig-zaggy hood. It felt...familiar. And like the outfit she'd picked, filled her with familiarity.
She checked. It gave +2 DEF. It also made the wearer feel greater tension, when defending. She wagered she knew what that meant.
The third, also felt familiar. It was a Red Scarf. It felt damp, despite being dry. It was long, like it belonged to an adult. Moreover, she imagined it was a knights scarf, and felt the urge to cry, but didn't know why.
A check. It gave +2 DEF. It made acting more effective. Another thing she guessed she understood well.
She wanted to take it, but couldn't get near it without being overwhelmed. So she took the poncho. She definitely wasn't taking the collar.
"Oh, the poncho. I like the poncho, as a starting outfit." The non-human noted. "The ink feels, dramatic. Magical. Ya know?"
"Yeah, I guess." Chara replied to her this time. She got the |Stained Poncho| "How much are these?"
"That's gonna be 50 for the whole lot." The non-human noted. "It's a pretty good deal."
"I uhm...I think I have 30." The girl noted.
"Awh, shucks. Well, I mean, I could mark it down another 20 if you wanted to exchange the bat for another one." The non-human offered. "It's not really meant to be here. And is a...more expensive brand."
The last words seemed to snap Undyne out of whatever thoughts she was having. Noticing all the things, and the bat held by the child. Raising a slight brow, and walking over.
"Oh, hi." Chara spoke up. "I have 30."
"30?" Undyne asked.
"G. I-It's uhm...50 for it all though." The girl explained.
"I...uh, we were only really meant to come for the oufit." The woman commented. "I'm a bit short on change." She dug into her pocket. "Actually...I have like 23 G."
The non-human seemed annoyed behind her smile. "Well that's great I think." She motioned. "There's a changing room in the back." She added. "Granted, we do have a less expensive bat in the back. That one wasn't, well I didn't mean to bring it up here."
"So it's one of the good things, huh?" The caretaker smiled. "Eh, Muffet'll be fine with it. Question is, do you really want all this stuff kid?"
The girl kept her grip on the bat at this point. "I...I think if it's...gonna be dangerous. I probably should." She admitted. "B-but you don't have to help, I can uhm, put-"
"No, no, you're not putting anything back, ya little punk." Undyne remarked, giving her a tussle of her hair. "You...well, you're probably right. A little extra to keep you safe isn't...a bad idea for now." She hummed. "So, put your G on the counter." The girl complied. "And then mine."
The non-human began to count it, sliding it into the register. "Well, wonderful. Simply wonderful. I think Muffet will be really happy."
"Okay, kid, go change. I'll stick around here." The caretaker suggested. "I'm gonna ask about the rest of this stuff."
"I'm always available to answer any questions." The non-human replied. "Well, until Muffet comes back, and I get to go home."
Chara took the distraction and started away. Watching them talk, as she got near the dressing room. The posture of her caretaker was, a forced casual thing. The kind one had when they were put-off by something, or someone.
Her own whisper said. "Bis Sis clearly doesn't trust her either."
Chara muttered back. "That's cuz that lady is...weird." Opening the door. "I feel like...she's watching me...even though they're talking."
The girl entered the changing room. Taking a moment to lock the door behind her. Placing the bat against the wall. It wasn't that large of a space, but it would work.
"That is super unnerving, right?" Her own whisper asked. "Like...mega creepy."
"Hey...are you the bat...or have I lost it?" She asked quietly.
"I dunno." Her own whisper replied. "A bit of both?"
"That's weird." She noted.
"Sorry." Her own whisper apologized.
"Whatever, let's just...get dressed and leave." She sighed.
The two, or, one individual were in agreement with herself...themselves? Chara was mostly-certain the bat was responsible for this odd situation. Granted, she wasn't certain if it was actually the bat speaking, or just some magical thing the bat was doing, that made her speak to herself. She wagered she'd figure it out eventually.
For now, it had helped keep her from making what was likely a couple of bad decision. And that...that was probably a good thing. So she'd hang onto it.
Besides, if the strange lady didn't want her to have it. She definitely wanted to keep it.