It seemed everything was on a collision course, at this point.
The game coming to a head, in the first rounds. The cards had all been played, and every angle the participants were aware of, had been examined. All that was left now, was to see the result. The house was raising the last card. Ready to place it down, and reveal...who won.
Somewhere in the Hotland Ruins, a human was led by an angel who sought her own 'conclusion' no matter the costs. Somewhere, a demon had slipped from the watchful eyes of a monster to follow a strange calling. Somewhere a creature in the dark moved once more, preparing for this final bout with a contingency plan, in case it went wrong.
The rest of the world unaware was unaware of the dangerous game unfolding. But the fate of the Underground had already been decided, whether the other players knew it or not. A confident smile developing, as the final card was drawn. The outcome to be revealed...
The first of these beings, wandered down the hallway that led to the outpost. The location Undyne was said to be. If the things she'd overheard were accurate. Her eyes focusing on the door at the end of the hall, acting as the only barrier to it.
She'd expected there to be guards or something. But there was just dust in the air. It seemed to have been there for at least a little while. The girl regretting in many ways her impromptu nap. Placing the guilt, and blame, upon herself.
Chara had been plagued by dreams she didn't understand, and couldn't remember. All that was retained, was a feeling of failure and hopeless, crushing guilt. Alongside words that didn't stop ringing in her head.
Her violent shaking, upon waking had been concerning enough to inspire Muffet to visit a neighbor for medicine. Beyond the basic healing items that she had available. Bottles of tea, not entirely intended to be used in a combat scenario. More for something to drink, as they walked.
The girl had stolen them, and her them placed in her pants pockets. Having slipped out of the house, when the monster wasn't there. There was...a compulsion, a scratching in her head that was deafening. And it led her there, to that place, at that moment.
A long dark hall, covered in withered flowers. With bright torches illuminating it in an oddly golden glow. The whole of it feeling familiar to some aspect of her. Yet beyond what she could remember.
Her steps pausing. As she came to wait, deciding in that moment, to not run any further. She put her hood up, contemplating. It felt like her story had shifted, due to a hostile force. The bat on her back, her purple-eyes closing. Whatever its plans were...she wasn't going to let its ambitions come to pass. She would risk everything, to stop it.
She just had to Persevere.
The creature skulking in the various heat-vents, and pipes that ran through the place watched. Aware of where the child had stopped moving, and where its old opposition was approaching from. The plan was defunct, and had failed. The creature expressing annoyance that the girl had stopped for so long.
Noting how easily it would have been, if she'd just kept going. But it was irrelevant now. Especially with two humans in the ruins. Both seemingly destined to fall prey to the non-humans intentions.
For Temmie, this was infuriating. But, thankfully, there was a contingency plan. The spider would be along, eventually. But that wasn't going to be enough. They needed something...someone, a bit heavier hitting. And the creature had just the individual in mind. All it would take is a whisper, and it buying enough time.
Temmie could almost cackle with maniacal glee. But that would just be wasting time it didn't have. It had to get back, and sooner than not, if this was going to work. And it would work.
The creature was Determined, to make it work.
Crossing the vents had been a less than pleasant experience. Especially when a monster had elected to get in their way. A slash seeing the strange gift covered deer reduced to dust.
Aliza was bruised, and hurt at this point. Her 'caretaker' making a point to 'help' mostly by healing her. But constantly threatening, or ruining her attempts at finding a peaceful solution to the encounter. Forcing her to make the swing.
It filled the girl with an intense loathing. A desire to rebel, to act in defiance. And yet, she couldn't seem to muster the will too. Being showered with empty praise afterward. Dragged forward, as a couple monsters who had been watching fled. At this point, Aliza was LV3.
Her strange dreams, those things she couldn't remember haunted her mind. As she thought about this human they were heading to find. Chara. It had seemed foreign before. But for some reason, now, the name felt...like it belonged to a friend.
One she couldn't help but be fearful, for. Whatever the strange lady had planned, it couldn't be positive. And they were definitely heading directly for the other human child. In those moments, passing by the threshold, something began to burn in her heart. If this Non-Human tried to do anything, to Chara...
A spark of bravery grew in her soul.
"There's someone else in the hall." Whisper warned, the girl opening her eyes at the indication.
Chara was, herself, about halfway down the hall. Blocking the way forward. Not that she had any belief her foe was interested in that, at the moment. Her hands rising from her pockets, examining the beings approaching. Visible in the light of the hall.
Her purple eyes falling on the second form. One she didn't know, but one that grimly confirmed the suspicion that had plagued her dream. Another human child, and one who seemed...familiar. The Non-Human bearing the eeriest of smiles, staring at the girl standing in the way.
Withdrawing the bat, she let the end of it hit the floor. Creating a loud echo, in the otherwise silent place. The source of the steps stopped.
The two children briefly looking over the other. It seemed the familiarity wasn't a one way sensation. Even if they didn't understand it, it was like they were looking at a friend, in a situation that was distressing, and dangerous for them.
"You've been busy." Chara noted, her voice carrying in the hall. "Dusty hands, captive audience."
The Non-Human smiled. "Ah yes, Aliza. Isn't she sweet Chara?" She laughed darkly. "Why don't you be a good girl, and come here. I-"
"Why have you been stalking me?" Chara asked bluntly, and defiantly. "Plaguing me, throughout these ruins?" She tilted her head. "What...do you want from me?"
In truth, the girl felt she knew the answer. However, she was waiting for something. Her attention briefly diverting to one of the broken pipes, pouring heat into the hall. Where she saw the creature she had been buying time for staring out. Smiling, giving a little wave.
"That's quite a strong word." The Non-Human replied. "I'm just trying to keep you safe."
Aliza registered what was being said. Her concerns rising. However, she found the grip of the Non-Human too strong to break out of.
"Safe?" Chara scoffed.
"It's hard for you understand, I know." The Non-Human noted. "But I've honestly had your best intentions in mind, this whole time." She explained. "There are...a lot of things you don't understand. Dangers you can't comprehend." She commented. "I know you like to think you're invincible. But this isn't something you can do alone."
The girl closed her eyes, and let out a breath. What an arrogantly articulated assessment. Frisk...you haven't learned anything.
Charas eyes opened, a little bit redder. "Don't project your insecurity onto me." She growled. "You lied to me the moment we met." She stated. "You pawned false-hope and friendship, while doing everything you could to try and shackle me." The girl felt irate. "You wrecked up Muffets shop. You tried to trick me into dangerous things. You got monsters to attack me. To try and kill me." She said, adding. "You're just like the announcer. You made me a killer, just like you."
The Non-Human smiled softly. "Did I?"
"Even if I couldn't do it alone, I wouldn't be so delusional as to mistake you for anything beyond a deranged, murderous creature." The girls eyes lost the red. "I don't want, or need your help."
"That was quite the speech. But, your hands aren't exactly clean, Chara. Even before that." The Non-Human noted softly. "Dusty as they are, for the things that left dust."
The child began to feel angrier. Being called out for the things she already thought of herself was bad, but she often felt she deserved it. Yet, when faced with this...thing. It repulsed her.
"You don't know me." Chara told her.
"Oh, but I do. However, I'll forgive your rude behavior." The Non-Human chuckled. "Friends do that for each other. But you need to listen to me. I can show you, I want to help." The woman released Alizas hand, and offered it to the purple eyed girl. "Just do as I say, for a moment. And you'll see. I just care for your wellbeing. I just want to help you."
Aliza, freed of the grasp, stepped to the side. Her mind racing with thoughts. The axe gripped tightly in her hands.
"No." Chara replied plainly. "If you really 'care' about me. Then, how about you let me choose something for myself, and leave me alone."
The aftermath of this, was a sickening silence. Something absolute, and unnerving. Breaths held, the tension rising every moment that passed. The participants anxious about what the deranged woman would do next. As if on cue, Aliza noticed the woman's hand move, to grasp the dagger on her belt.
As it was being drawn, a sudden swing saw it knocked from her hand. Catching the woman by surprise, she watched as it was knocked away. Bouncing across the floor, and over to the wall, by one of the broken pipes. Not a moment after, an elongated arm burst from one of the pipes, snatching it. Temmie laughing, while retreating within, pleased with herself.
Aliza couldn't believe for a moment that she made the swing she had. Her soul shining with bravery. The woman seeming equally surprised, and notably enraged. Glancing, and promptly snatching the toy axe from her. The girl let out a sound of surprise.
Chara rushed forward. Aliza, having lost the weapon, felt the urge to run. Moving to do precisely that, only for the weapon to slash out. It was a blur of motion, almost immediate.
It cleaved through the air, hitting with far more force than one might imagine a 'toy axe' to hit with. Slashing across her back, causing her to let out a cry of pain. Before falling forward, to be caught by her counterpart..
The force of the hit had a result, aside from the splash of blood. The magical fabric weaving over the deep lacerations cut. Alizas soul shined, shook, and then cracked. The sight of this filling Chara with a despair that lasted only a moment, hitting something deep in her psyche that made her body buckle. But it didn't completely shatter, and that realization, inspired hatred and resolve.
"It'll be okay." Chara promised. "Just...don't give up. Okay...please don't give up."
The little plea coming with a hug, before noticing the Non-Human getting closer. With this, Aliza was placed down. Having been dragged a little bit away from their opponent. The grim creature wearing that expression of twisted amusement. The soul of Perseverance turning her focus back to the enemy at hand.
The Non-Human let out a mad laugh. Looking the pair over, as realization was setting in. She couldn't succeed the way she wanted to. She couldn't get her twisted happy ending. Chara was never going to go with her willingly. And so...
The world flashed black, and purple. As a purple soul shined before its host. The air thick, heated, and tense.
The bat was raised, with a defiant growl. It all felt so familiar, in some grim sense, to Chara. And, even if she didn't understand the newfound conviction in her chest. It swelled, into a need to protect the other girl, if that was even possible.
T-Frisk, the 'Non-Human' had come to purge the world.