There was no time to stop. They ran across the bridge in the next room, but when they were almost across MK shouted after them. Despite the fact he wasn't supposed to be there, he had to ask, "Yo... you're human, right? Haha..." Frisk nodded, feeling no need to lie to him. "I knew it! ...well, I know it now, I mean..."

Undyne had told him to stay away, and he figured that made them enemies or something. Frisk braced themself, but Chara said, "I don't... I don't think you have to worry about this kid. We have to keep going, Frisk."

"Yo, say something mean so I can hate you? Please?" Frisk shook their head, half because they did want him to hate them and half because they needed to hurry along. They couldn't even risk a fight here where Undyne could catch up. "Yo, what? So I have to do it? Here goes nothing... Yo, I... I hate your guts." He paused, before saying, "Man, I... I'm such a turd. I'm... I'm gonna go home now."

He backed away, turning to run off, and Frisk was about to do the same when – "Wait, he... he's gonna fall!" Chara had watched him go, and immediately after he shouted, "Yo, w-w-wait! Help! I tripped!" Frisk turned to go back and help him, but-

Undyne appeared.

Frisk froze.

"I... I know what I said before, but you can't just leave him there!" Frisk wanted to say that she would help him, she was the knight here, but the look on Chara's face... they hurried over to pull him up, and before he even got his bearings he had suddenly moved to stand between them and Undyne. He was shaking like a leaf, and Frisk had to reach out and keep him steady as he spoke.

"Y... y... yo... dude... If... If y-you wanna hurt my friend..." He slowly seemed to calm down, voice sounding more determined as he said, "You're gonna have to get through me, first."

And, to both of the humans' surprise... she backed off. She turned around. And she left.

"She's gone..." MK also seemed surprised, but he quickly turned to Frisk to say, "Yo, you really saved my skin. Guess being enemies was just a nice thought, haha. We'll just have to be friends instead." Frisk stared a few moments, confused at what had just happened, but... nodded quickly. MK seemed a bit too fanboyish for their tastes before, but... he was really a good friend. "...man, I should REALLY go home... I bet my parents are worried sick about me!" That said, he turned and more calmly started walking away, turning back for a moment to call back, "Later, dude!" Frisk waved as he left. Running off again, of course.

"...I hope he'll be okay," Chara sighed, "this is no place for a kid to run around without arms. If you hadn't been there..." They wiped the tears that had previously been in their eyes, saying, "...let's just hurry before she decides to come back. We're almost to Hotland, now."

The two of them walked ahead, coming upon the entrance to Hotland. "It's right through here, now. After Hotland, we'll be at the castle." The two of them started to walk through, but then... Chara looked up. They both heard again, "Seven."

Both of them froze where they were.

"Seven human souls, and King Asgore will become a god." Was she just going to repeat what she'd said before? She slowly turned on top of the small mountain, but then said, "Six."

Chara knew where this was going. And they didn't like it at all.

"That's how many we have collected thus far. Understand? Through your seventh and final soul, this world will be transformed. First, however, as is customary for those who make it this far... I shall tell you the tragic tale of our people."

Chara had beaten Frisk to that one, at least. "It all started, long ago..."

"Maybe you can walk by her while she's monologuing-" Chara started to suggest, but then all of a sudden that went out the window. Her tone changed dramatically all of a sudden as she said, "No, you know what? SCREW IT! WHY SHOULD I TELL YOU THAT STORY WHEN YOU'RE ABOUT TO DIE? NGHHHHHHH"

And then the helmet came off.

"...oh," Chara said, confusing Frisk. "She's a fish. So was her house." Which confused Frisk even more. Was that really all they had to say?!

"YOU!" Undyne shouted accusingly. "You're standing in the way of everybody's hopes and dreams! Alphys's history books made me think humans were cool... with their giant robots and flowery swordswomen."

This, on the other hand, confused Chara. They looked to Frisk, also shouting accusingly, "YOU HAVE THOSE?" Frisk desperately shook their head, but Undyne continued.

"BUT YOU? You're just a coward! Hiding behind that kid so you could run away from me again! And let's not forget your wimpy goody-two-shoes-schtick! Oooh! I'm making such a difference by hugging random strangers!" She looked absolutely disgusted. "You know what would be more valuable to everyone? IF YOU WERE DEAD! That's right, human! Your continued existence is a crime! Your life is all that stands between us and our freedom! Right now, I can feel everyone's hearts pounding together! Everyone's been waiting their whole lives for this moment!"

It was the truth. Even if Chara didn't want to accept it, it was the truth. All they and monsters had wanted was freedom. To live once more on a welcoming surface that was theirs. If Frisk was dead...

"But we're not nervous at all." Chara stared up at her, eyes widening at her words. "When everyone puts their hearts together, they can't lose! Now, human! Let's end this, right here, right now. I'll show you how determined monsters can be!"

Was it... better to let Frisk...

No, they... they had to get out of here together. They had to free the monsters together.

"Step forward when you're ready! Fuhuhuhu!"

The wind is howling.

They stepped forward.

"That's it, then...! No more running away! HERE I COME!" She lunged down at them with her sphere, and they jumped out of the way. With a swing of the weapon, their heart... turned green? A green shield formed on their arm as she shouted, "En guarde!"

"She's... giving you a chance, at least?" Chara said, as Undyne said, "As long as you're green, you can't escape! Unless you learn to face danger head-on... you won't last a SECOND against ME!"

Frisk desperately tried to move but found it was impossible to step away. They could turn, but it was as if they were trapped in an invisible box... "Frisk, watch out! Use the shield to block her attacks!" Frisk watched as spears came from all around, lifting the shield to easily block them. She gave her a look of confusion that said "that's it?" The bullets got a bit faster after that.

Despite her threatening demeanor, Frisk went the normal route and use MERCY. She spoke of the monsters' dream for a happy ending that was now in reach, her attacks getting more complicated as she went along, and then-

Their soul turned red.

"Look out!" Chara warned, suddenly getting between Frisk and a spear they hadn't noticed from the left. They managed to slow it with ice magic long enough for Frisk to back out of the way, before it continued flying in the direction they'd been in. "Run, you're free for the moment! Take this opportunity!" They nodded, both kids immediately taking off.

Undyne seemed thrown off by this as they passed by her, and pursued them until she caught up. Turning their soul green again she declared, "You won't get away from me this time!"

As the attacks kept coming she insisted, "I'm doing you a favor!"

Shut up.

"No human has ever made it past Asgore!"

Shut up!

"Honestly, killing you now is an act of mercy...!"

"Stop talking about my dad!" Chara screamed suddenly, startling Frisk as their soul turned red and they avoided another attack from the side. As if their anger at her took form, a spear of ice suddenly appeared, flying right back at her.

-27

Chara's eyes widened as they realized what they'd done, putting their hand over their mouth. She was barely hurt by their attack, but... they just... "I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean to..." Frisk stared at them, looking worried, but Chara read their expression as... fear, maybe? "Le... let's leave. Let's keep going. I'm... I'm sorry, I..."

But they waited too long, Frisk's soul turning green again. Undyne continued speaking of somebody named Alphys and about humans and... neither child cared. Though Chara was not frozen in place as Frisk was, they couldn't bring themself to move. Frisk couldn't focus on them, having to dodge more and more complicated attacks, getting hit multiple times and having to eat some Nice Cream to heal themself, barely making it through one of her attacks. At the first chance, having no time to stop and help Chara, they ran.

When Undyne caught them again, she didn't even bother turning their soul green again. They kept running, even as Papyrus called to say after their date they should... hang out with Undyne. They hung up on him after he declared they'd be great friends, having no time for his shenanigans, continuing to flee.

They only had 2 health points left. They weren't sure if Chara was following. They passed by a sleeping Sans, who bought them some time, but then when they crossed the bridge leading into Hotland...

"Armor... so hot... But I can't... give up..." They heard her fall, and turned to see she'd collapsed. Right... a fish... wouldn't like this sort of heat. They could... they could get away now... Chara was gone again. They hadn't followed. Frisk could only hope they'd catch up, but...

There was a water cooler nearby...

...they sighed.

And went to splash it on her face. They couldn't just leave her there. If Chara had caught up, they would've said the same thing. She stood up pretty quickly, staring down at them for a moment once she'd recovered. She looked around as if somebody else could've been the one who tossed water on her. And then...

She walked away.

...victory.

They turned and ran away into Hotland without delay.