Those who might be considered heroic scheming. Well, they aren't alone in that regard. But their competition is perhaps, a touch more...nefarious.
Among the creatures of the dark, there was really only one worth its salt. More than mindless, twisted, or sadistic. Only one of them, had a greater goal. And would do anything, to achieve it.
That creature, dropped down from a ledge, alongside running water. In a place known to be consistently dark, yet beautiful. Vibrant illuminated flowers nearby, glowing in their own bioluminescent way. Matched by the occasional tree, and grass, in this land of waterfalls.
The red eyed creature began to wander this space. Stepping across the cliffside path. Striding alongside the broken guard rail that marked the side of it. Briefly glancing beyond, to the endless, darkness, below.
After a moment the cat-dog creature stopped by a flower, with a torn petal. Hearing it speak, the words stored within. Seeking confirmation of something.
"C'mon silly, they're waiting for us." The flower echoed, sounding like the voice of Chara.
Temmie may be an emotionless husk, but there was a a certain smile that spread across its face. A certain satisfaction from being correct about things. The thrill of it all going to plan, or something like it, so easily.
The creature stepped along with quiet steps. Best to leave no trace, and leave the echoing flowers, uncorrupted, as the hunt continued. Racing along, until it came across another. Pressing against the flower.
A different voice. "I-I dunno...I should probably get home."
Wandering along, it thought for a moment, before treading from the abandoned pathway. Heading off the road, and down a less used path, to a space with more water flowing in from above. Leading to a short field of sorts.
There was a saying in the underground. That it was always 'raining somewhere else.' Well, this was the place.
The field, and is overgrown glowing garden, was perpetually covered in rain. Running down the sides of the rooms, along carved pathways, to carry it off elsewhere. With evidence the location was once a place people visited. With broken benches, and the faint signs of a play place for children having been in the middle of construction.
All abandoned, when the rain came. Abandoned, when the shadows grew eyes. Abandoned, when dust mixed in with the dirt there. Temmie wandering through it, brushing past echo flowers. Filled with phantom giggles, and laughter. Filled with faint glimpses of singing. Making the whole place feel haunted, as the soft rain fell from above.
Temmie stopped by one of them, resting near a tree. Different than the rest. This one had a petal plucked from it.
"But my sisters are waiting. It's just a little bit further." The voice like Charas spoke.
The grass brushed against the creatures skin. Red eyes alight, looking around for the next hint. It had been so long since it ventured to this local, that it sometimes forgot the where of it all.
However, it was known when it was seen. There, along the wall of this place, was a massive crack. A tear, different from all the rest. With enough space that someone could squeeze inside.
Temmie pushed through this little hallway. This confined crack, finding another flower at the end of it. Before the only remaining way forward, went left. There was dust here, across this flower. It spoke as it neared.
"I...I wanna go b-" There was a sound like laughter from it. "w-wait, s-stop that hurts, s-stop!" The sound of a panicked cry, and dragging. Tearing.
Heading, through the wet, jagged rocks, the creature went left. Some sharp ones scratching at it, despite the fact it was quite small and nimble. Moving through this, would be quite painful for any entity. But, considering what the creature was looking for, it only seemed appropriate.
Coming to the end, there was a clearing. A hidden place, a hidden room. A lone location the rain didn't reach. The final destination for the scheming creature. It was like the parody of a childs room. Or, rather, a room for multiple children.
The most notable standouts in the room, were themed as such. There were four beds, made of various materials, cobbled together with dedicated, albeit crude craftsmanship. With blankets ranging in size from the ones that a person may wrap around an infant, to the ones used in the beds of teenagers. And everything in-between.
There were boxes of toys, placed at the end of each. Though, only one was actually filled with toys. One was filled with random things and trinkets, another which was closed, but if pushed would shuffle and sound like sand, and sharp metal. The last of the four, was a box filled with colored pencils, chalk, and other things of that nature.
The walls covered in scratchy, horrifying drawings. Depicting a group of four grey children in them. Performing...questionably ruthless actions.
Sometimes ripping beings in half. Sometimes drowning them, or 'playing' games with knives, and weapons. One depicting pushing someone into a box. Filled with 'sand' and metal. Always...always...smiling.
Noticeably, there was something new however, to the creatures knowledge. These things, were stuffed animals. Made, seemingly, out of whatever spare fabric could be found.
One was beside the door, bumped into by Temmie indecently. A teddy bear, that shifted, sounding like sand...in a way. As it fell, a noise came from within. As a set of five eyes turned to face the creature.
"Temmie?" A voice that was similar to the owned by Chara asked.
Temmie appreciated being correct about that fact. It was so much easier to tell in person. And confirmed some thoughts the abomination was having. However, it's displeasure grew at the fifth pair of eyes.
"Oh, great...you made another one." Temmie groaned some.
There was a sound , as the little horrors moved fast from the darker corners of the room. Giggling, and excited. Rushing, with the sound of feet slapping against the wet ground.
The cat-dog creature reeling in surprise, being snatched up, and hugged by one. Another gasping, trying to dug at it. The group of five 'children' all trying to get their turn to hug the creature.
However, the hugs were...suffocating, literally. Squeezing hard enough to crack bones, if the creature had them. Temmie growling some, growing rapidly annoyed.
With a shift, the creature bit hard into the arm of the child holding it. Drawing up an inky black blood, as the 'girl' yelped, and let go. The children quickly stepping back, as the creature landed, recomposing itself.
The room itself was only faintly illuminated. Being dark, nearly absolutely. Were it not for the mushrooms growing in the corners.
They weren't bright by any measure, but they provided enough visibility to make out some aspects of this spaces unique denizens. To begin, they appeared to be children. Each one appearing, in a way, to be the same being, all bearing roughly similar features to one another.
Their age however, was distinct, and different. With some slightly older, and others slightly younger. With longer, or shorter hair, depending on how tall they were. The two factors indicating, the age, as the tallest, and oldest, had the longest hair.
Their clothing was made of tattered rags, and patchwork cloth. All obtained from children's clothing, stitched into something 'cohesive' to them. Almost always bearing little hearts on them, in some fashion or another.
Their skin, appeared to be grey tinted, with dark hair, and eyes. A generally monochrome color scheme, as it were. The smallest, youngest, wearing an outfit that was more complete than the rest. With a newer set of dark eyes, still bearing some color, gradually losing their luster.
With their rapt attention, Temmie composed itself. It was going to need these little horrors for its plan. And that meant being 'nice' enough to get them to cooperate.
Not that they even knew, or understood nice. They were just as soulless, just as abominable as the scheming creature. But their delusions, were exploitable. Their unique version of being nice, usable, to the smirking smaller terror.
The tallest one dripped black blood onto the ground from where 'she' had been bitten. Holding the bitten spot on its arm, while pouting some, looking 'hurt.' Temmie rolled its eyes, trying to muster the 'friendly' tone they so craved. To humor them, at least for a moment.
"SoWwY." Temmie said, in its cutesy voice, noticing them perk up. "ThAHt ReL HurTZ tho."
"I-it did?" One asked, before another spoke. "S-sorry." The youngest smiled. "We're just excited." One reached over, and hugged the new girl. "We have a new sister. Isn't she great?"
Temmie didn't care. In fact, seeing the fifth only irritated it. Giving the creature a distinctive desire to tear off its arm and eat its eyes. But...it remembered sage words. Time and a place. And this, was neither.
"That's...nice. So. Girls-" The creature managed that smile. "did you hear the news?"
"News?" The tallest asked, as the smallest tilted her head. "What news?" Another chimed in next. "Is it something fun?" The last smiled evily. "Does it scream?"
"Listen close little ones." Temmie began, seeing their excitement. "Have I got some 'fun' news for you~"
And so it shared the good news with them. Informing them, of information these little horrors would have never known otherwise. Getting their complete attention with only a few words. Making them smile, disturbed smiles with the next.
As I said. When it comes to scheming. Our heroes, really don't hold a candle. But who knows.
Maybe it'll all turn out okay, right?