Chapter Three: The Spear Battles the Demon
Chara and the Monster Kid walked through Waterfall, Chara once again taking in all the scenery that befell her. The two of them walked past a cave with falling rocks that cascaded over a waterfall. Chara walked across the river, pulling Monster Kid along so he wouldn't get hit.
"Undyne's so cool, isn't she?" They grinned wide, hopping up and down.
"Yeah," Chara said. "She is."
As they walked through the tall grass that sometimes grew, Chara heard a conversation above them.
"UNDYNE!" Papyrus said. "I, THE GREAT PAPYRUS, HAVE CAPTURED THE HUMAN… OF COURSE, I HAD TO LET HER GO BECAUSE SHE WAS HEADING FOR THE CASTLE, BUT I ALSO DIDN'T WANT TO LEAD ON THAT I HAD NONEXISTENT ROMANTIC FEELINGS FOR HER."
Chara could easily hear the audible groan that came from Undyne, letting her know how she felt about the situation.
"Speaking of that," Undyne said. "Did you take my book?"
"YES!" Papyrus said with a nod. "I, THE GREAT PAPYRUS HAVE TAKEN THE BOOK. THE HUMAN SAID THAT I DID NOT NEED TO READ IT AND THEN TOOK IT. I BELIEVE THAT SHE SAID SHE WOULD RETURN IT TO YOU."
"Well, I'll just take it from her corpse." Undyne said.
"UNDYNE," Papyrus said. "DO WE HAVE TO DO THIS? I MEAN, THE HUMAN WASN'T CAUSING ANY TROUBLE AND—"
"They're all trouble," Undyne growled, slamming a magic spear into the ground. "Humans are a disgusting race that only takes from us. Not a single one of them has any good in them. They proved that when they killed Asriel and Chara as well as that friend of Chara's."
Chara immediately had flashes of Frisk and flashes of going to the surface with Asriel. Then, she saw her family's dust all around and gave a cry in pain as she dropped to her knees, clutching her head as she saw flashes of that thing that was in her head going on another killing spree.
She could barely hear the sound of Undyne's armor clanking as she came over, spear raised. Monster Kid looked up at her, grinning. Undyne stood over the grass, looking down, but it was too tall to reveal the kneeling Chara.
"THAT SOUNDED LIKE THE HUMAN." Papyrus said. "I HOPE THAT SHE IS OKAY. SHE TALKED ABOUT BEING FRIENDS WITH YOU AND MEETING YOU AGAIN."
"The only human friend of mine has been dead twenty years," Undyne glared down into the grass. "Come on. I'll go guard the entrance to Hotland. You go back to Snowdin."
"I SHALL DO PROUD, UNDYNE!" Papyrus saluted and walked off. Undyne sighed, looking down at the grass again. That voice… spoke to something in her. But, she chose to ignore that fact and walk forward.
After Chara had recovered from her headache, Monster Kid looked at her in excitement.
"Did you see that?!" They exclaimed. "She looked right at you!"
"Clearly she didn't see me," Chara said. "But, still. I need to keep moving. This headache will go away as I do."
They continued to walk, Monster Kid running ahead to somewhere else. Chara came upon the echo flowers. She remembered Sans' conversation with her about a talking flower and shrugged as she walked through the area. Stopping by one, she heard one she was surprised that was still around. It was almost like it was permanently burned into the flower's memory.
"I have a wish," The voice said, Chara sitting in front of the flower and listening.
"What is it?" The second voice said, a voice so clear to Chara, it might as well have been her own.
"Don't laugh," The flower said.
"I won't." The second voice said.
"My wish is that we could all live on the surface with humanity," The first said.
"That's funny," The second said. "I had that same wish."
Chara sighed as she got up and left the room. She and Asriel had that same conversation. At this point, however, she wasn't sure if she really wanted the monsters to head to the surface. The humans were truly too cruel to warrant their cohabitation.
She continued walking, seeing the scribblings of a supposed scholar about the nature of SOULS and a drawing of a creature that resembled Asriel's form when he'd absorbed her SOUL.
"Maybe they'll find the last SOUL someday," Chara wiped her eyes. "For you, Asriel."
Coming up to a piano in a cave, she sighed and sat down, beginning to play a song she and Asriel had come up with. It clearly had the clarity of notes composed by two ten year olds, but Chara didn't care. They had even called it "Hopes and Dreams" because they were going to play it once monsters were on the surface.
Suddenly, a cave opened next to her, causing the sixteen year old to wander in. She knew there were rumors of caves, but couldn't understand this one. Inside was a legendary orb she'd heard stories about. Of course, Undyne had said it was a magic human artifact.
However, some random dog just ran in and took it, looking at Chara. Chara narrowed her eyes as it disappeared, leaving her to sigh and walk out.
Coming across a statue, she could hear the music from it and realized it was their song ,the one she had just played. After about ten minutes, she kept walking.
Eventually, Monster Kid joined her, telling a story about her dad coming to school. Chara had neglected to mention her relation to Asgore, however, since she really didn't want Monster's praise. She continued, making it to the bridge that connected Waterfall to its only town. However, before she could do anything, however, Undyne stood there.
"Undyne," Chara said before a spear was thrown at her.
"How DARE you dress like that," Undyne said, stepping close to her with a glare that unsettled Chara. "I'll bet Lady T would cry her eyes out to see you like that… what did you do to Lady T?!"
"Mom's fine," Chara said, taking a step back. "She sent me on my way after she made sure I was fine. She even gave me some pie to give to dad."
"Stop acting like you're Chara," Undyne said. "She's dead."
"Where have I heard that conversation before?" Chara asked herself. She dodged a spear, Undyne growling as she threw another.
"Hold on, hold on, Undyne," Chara said. "I'd love to fight, but I really am Chara. I'd rather not fight with killing intent."
"You think I'll fall for that," Undyne said. "Alright, fine. What's Chara afraid of?"
"You mean besides losing everyone I care about to the disgusting race that is humanity?" Chara asked.
"Uh… yeah," Undyne said. "What's her fear down here?"
"Do I really have to say it?" Chara almost whined.
"I'm waiting," Undyne said. "I'll give you five seconds to prove you're my best friend or I'll take your SOUL to Asgore."
Chara mumbled as she looked down, a flush of embarrassment on her face.
"I can't hear you," Undyne stepped closer with hatred in her eyes.
"I said I'm afraid of Temmie, alright?!" Chara shouted, her flush darkening as she hid her head in her hands as the whole of Waterfall probably heard her stupid childhood fear.
Undyne stopped, clenching her lips together tightly. Eventually, she couldn't contain the laughter as she stabbed the spear into the ground and doubled over.
"It's not funny!" Chara shouted.
"Wait, I got another question," Undyne said, looking up once she'd regained her composure. "What's Chara's favorite type of chocolate?"
"Favorite?" Chara asked.
"I thought it was you," Undyne threw a spear at her. Chara dodged, but could tell it wasn't thrown with killing intent. "But, you gotta admit, you've been dead twenty years after that crazyass stunt you pulled. Of course I wouldn't believe it was you at first."
"Neither did mom," Chara said. "So… uh, what do we do now?"
"Wanna fight?" Undyne asked.
"Hell yeah," Chara said, getting into her favorite position. "I wanna see what twenty years gave ya."
Undyne ran forward, Chara also running forward. They threw cross punches at each other, their fists hitting. There was a reverberating clang as they were thrown backwards from the strength they'd put into it. They shook the affected hands, looking down at them.
"Seems your armor makes up for less durability." Chara said. "Of course, you were always tough enough to fight with a human. Speaking of which… what is dad planning with the human SOULs?"
"To destroy humanity," Undyne said.
"He… he can't," Chara said, standing. "While I'd love it, it would make him no better than them. I… I don't want him to do that… I… I lost people to hatred… I can't lose him too."
"We'll work through this." Undyne said, stepping closer to Chara. "It's just… well, Alphys hasn't come through with a solution yet."
"What was the solution to begin with?" Chara asked. "There's a way to better this, I know, but this was your dad's idea."
"It's… It's all my fault." Chara looked down, trembling as she tried to fight the tears that threatened to spill.
"Your dad made this decision on his own," Undyne put a hand on her. "You didn't influence him."
"I know… but…" Chara said. "Wait, how did you know I did that? Ate the buttercups, I mean?"
"You told me your plan," Undyne said. "I kept it secret and you guys went to work on it."
"Oh yeah…" Chara said. "I'm sorry I burdened you with that."
"It's all good," Undyne ruffled her hair. "You had good intentions."
"So… wanna still fight?" Chara asked.
"Sure." Undyne grinned. "I'll even go easy on ya,"
"Bring it on," Chara grinned as the two stepped back. Chara's SOUL emerged from the locket, revealing her desire to fight. They leapt for each other, any formal training forgotten as they began to wrestle like children once again.
Chara tackled Undyne, Undyne hitting the ground with a clatter as she tried to get Chara off of her. Chara, however, had a better disposition due to her weight combined with Undyne's armor. Undyne kicked her off, however, throwing some spears at her with intent to hit her. She launched a small volley, Chara grabbing one and using it to block.
Chara managed to get near Undyne, landing a right cross on her face. Undyne's face began to swell, revealing the damage Chara had done. She let loose with a flurry of movement, Undyne trying to throw spears at her. She tried to dodge, but one hit her in the arm, piercing it. She countered with throwing Undyne's spear at her armored head.
Undyne dodged, kicking Chara back towards the edge of the bridge. Chara looked back quickly, seeing Undyne chuckle.
"Looks like it's time for me to step it up." She said. "You're stronger than I thought."
The ground began to glow blue as spears shot up from it, destroying the bridge under them. Chara's eyes widened as she heard the sound her father had always warned her about on the bridge: creaking and breaking.
"Oh crap!" Undyne said as she too realized how dangerous it could be. She stopped, walking forward.
"I'll come to you," Chara said, holding up a hand. However, before she could, the bridge snapped, breaking off. Chara felt herself falling into the blackness. Undyne ran towards her, trying to grab her, but she barely missed. The last things Chara heard before the blackness fully claimed her were Undyne's calling her name, but mostly she heard a sickening snap before she lost consciousness.
In the blackness, she could see something… it was a strange light. She moved towards it, the light pulling her in.
The light slowly began to fade into a familiar sight, one that always made her sick with disgust as it graced her deepest nightmares. As was per usual with her nightmares, she saw herself, curled in a ball, completely undressed as was per the cruelty of others, shivering both form cold and crying at the pain the humans had chosen this day.
Her own body began to ache from the various marks inflicted upon it, various scars that would never fade. Reminders of why humanity didn't deserve her love. The tears trembling down her face echoed her own as she saw this sight. At this point in her life, they weren't tears of pain or sadness, but tears of frustration as to why she ever thought this disgusting race was ever worth saving.
But, unlike the majority of her nightmares, which involved her reliving various horrendous acts the filth of humanity chose to inflict on the 'red eyed demon', this one took a different turn. She saw her body being picked up and held. To this day, Chara could still feel that warmth, even as close as Toriel's arms. She saw the crying, red eyed child look up to see who had picked her up. Chara knew that expression she had worn well; it was the expression of fear that someone else was going to continue what the others had been too bored to finish. However, this time was different. This time, it was a different face.
She saw a face she had known, yet could never reach. It was the face she truly cared for, despite everything. Those honey brown eyes and that messy mop of light brown hair that stared down at her. Chara would never, as long as she lived or didn't, forget that face.
"Hey, what's wrong?" The voice belonging to the face asked. It was a voice so angelic to Chara that she could get lost in it for hours and never even know it. She knew the voice so well, it was almost like she had been hearing it incessantly. She felt herself tear up as she watched the scene; if she had to choose the single greatest moment of her life, this would be it without question. Even counting every good moment with Asriel, Undyne, and her parents combined, this event stood out to her beyond any other.
The child Chara in the older human's arms just stared at her, surprised at her tone and actions. Chara knew that surprise well; this was, after all, the first and only human to show her any sort of kindness. It was at that moment that the small Chara in the human's arms began to cover her head, Chara's first reaction to any human nearing or touching her. The older human, despite a ten year gap between them, had become closer to Chara than any sibling she'd ever have.
"Hey, it's alright," The human said, holding the child close to her. The smaller Chara noticed her blood getting on the sweater the human wore and instinctively tried to get out of her arms to avoid upsetting her further.
"Please don't be mad," The child Chara whispered as she curled closer into a ball.
"Don't worry. It's just a sweater. It could use some color anyway." The older human giggled; giggles so positive and light that the child Chara looked up at her with her tear filled eyes.
"Y-You're not mad?" The child Chara croaked, her voice weary from crying her tears away.
"Of course not," The human giggled again. "Besides, you could use some clothes anyway. Blue might be your color."
Chara laughed as a tear escaped her eye. She knew blue really wasn't her color. But, that flirtatious smile and those eyes seemed to think otherwise. Continuing to watch the scene of the nightmare, she felt the pangs in her heart as she viewed the scene before her.
Without any change in her posture, the older human took her sweater off, managing to slip it onto Chara. Obviously, it was too big for the child Chara, being more like a sack than a sweater. Curled up in it, the child Chara didn't stretch it; such was her size and malnutrition.
The child Chara looked up at the older human, who looked at her with a smile, wearing a tank top under it. There were also tears in her eyes as she held the child close.
"Kids like you shouldn't have to cry themselves to sleep." She said as she sat down cross legged.
"I'm… a demon," The child Chara said, looking down with her red eyes.
"Well, I think you make a better angel," The older human said. "So, what's your name, angel?"
"Chara," The voice was a whisper, quiet and fearful.
"Well, that's a nice name, Chara," The older human said, a smile on her lips. "My name is Frisk…"
Suddenly, Chara found herself in another, darker blackness, standing in front of the specter that had been tormenting her since she woke up. She mustered up a glare, noticing the specter hadn't moved an inch and was staring at her with her black, soulless eyes.
"Where are we?" Chara demanded of her.
"Well, you're clearly in your head," The specter said. Chara noticed that there was no seductive or tormenting air to her voice, just a normal tone.
"What happened?" Chara asked. "Why are you here?!"
"You really don't get what I am, do you?" The specter said. "I figured as much."
"I know you're not Frisk," Chara growled, her eye beginning to glow with fire.
"And, why do you truly not believe that?" The specter asked. "Is it because you can't bring yourself to believe your precious Frisk had any darkness within her?"
"Because she couldn't," Chara said, stepping closer. "You're not her because Frisk wouldn't do this! Frisk wouldn't torment me like you do!"
"And, what makes you think I was the same after they killed me?!" The specter demanded, her black, soulless shape beginning to take form as that of a human girl Chara's age wearing a familiar set of clothing. "You weren't!"
"Frisk was dead before I fell!" Chara shouted. "And, how would you have latched onto my SOUL!?"
"Your HATRED pulled me in!" The specter shouted. "You're the one that made me this way! Our SOULs were similar and you forced me to come to yours! You made me this way, Chara! You made me into a creature of hatred!"
Chara froze, staring at the specter. The soulless eyes looked… tortured as the shadowy figure looked at Chara. The sixteen year old felt the specter puncture her chest and grab her SOUL. Immediately, she felt the emotions the specter felt. It wasn't just hatred, it was pain and anguish. But, one emotion stood out to her: love. A strange, twisted love for Chara that shook the sixteen year old to the core. She knew this love, had felt it before.
"Frisk…" Chara looked at the specter of the tortured human before dropping to her knees and sobbing. "I'm so sorry. I didn't want you to be this way. I wanted us to be together forever, like you promised. I would never want you to be like this."
"You made me like this!" The specter shouted with a voice of hate. "You got me killed and you—"
The specter dropped down, her visage changing to that of a human girl. Chara's heart sank as she realized this was Frisk's form. The scars still sat from where the humans had attacked her while she defended her. Tears of pure blackness streamed down Frisk's face as she grabbed her shoulder length hair, pulling on it and shrieking.
"I can't hate you!" She exclaimed in a voice full of rage and sorrow. "Despite everything, I can't hate you! You're… you're still my angel."
Chara held the sobbing form of Frisk, pulling her close.
"And you're still my salvation," Chara said, her own tears falling. "If you… if you truly are Frisk, I promise you I will find a way to restore you… even if it means giving my own SOUL."
"It hurts, Chara," Frisk said in a voice that broke Chara's heart; it was a voice she'd never expected someone she'd known to be as confident and headstrong as Frisk to make… it was a scared and trembling voice. "Hating hurts. I… I don't want to hate, but it's all I feel. Save me."
"I promise… I will," Chara said. "I won't let you hate anymore."
"I couldn't stop it," Frisk clutched Chara. "I was a drifting SOUL after my body was cast away. You fell and I couldn't do anything… But, when I bonded to your SOUL after she carried you to the RUINS, it latched onto me and wouldn't let me go. I fought it, but eventually… well, you know."
"Know what?" Chara asked.
"You… you really don't remember?" Frisk looked at her. "I… you know what? No. It's best you don't know. You already have nightmares enough."
"It was you that killed them all, wasn't it?" Chara asked. Frisk's silence was her answer.
"I'm not upset," Chara said after a minute. "If your only emotion is hatred, it has to go somewhere. I know how that feels, Frisk."
"I forced you to watch," Frisk said. "It… it was horrifying. I was trapped just as much as you, but the thing was it was my own body doing it. Please… let me die. Find a way to let me die."
"No," Chara said. "I won't let you die."
"This existence is killing me inside," Frisk said as she grit her teeth. "Please, Chara."
"I'll fix you," Chara said. "I promise. You're everything to me. I owe you everything, Frisk."
"Well, you do look hotter now," Frisk said with a smirk. Immediately Chara's complexion matched her eyes as she sputtered out a response.
"I'll fix you." Chara said. "Please try to hold on for me."
"I'll hold it in until you're ready to release me," Frisk said, letting out an honest giggle at Chara's reaction. "Just… don't be too long, Chara. Please. I can't fight this forever. It's only when you began to let go of your own hate that I'm ready to lose what you've got. You've not listened to anything I told you."
"They killed you," Chara said. "I couldn't let that go."
"I told you not to hate," Frisk said. "And because you did, now I'm forced to contain it."
"I… I'm sorry, Frisk." Chara said, holding the specter that was Frisk closer. "I… I want to help you. I… I will try to make this up to you."
"I'm sure I have a few ways," Frisk gave that signature wink she had, which nearly floored Chara despite the black hatred that covered Frisk's face.
However, Frisk's expression turned to one of horror as the blackness began to crawl over her once again, distorting her visage.
"Please save me," Frisk said in a quiet whisper as she became the specter of Chara's torment once again. Suddenly, she began to melt into the floor.
"No, Frisk, stay with me!" Chara tried to hold onto her, trying to hold her close. However, she was gone as a bright light claimed her.
She woke with a jolt, her head smashing into that of Sans.
"Frisk!" She shouted, looking around. Immediately, her head started hurting from the impact as well as something else. Tears had made their way down her face as she clutched her head in pain. She realized she was on Undyne's couch, judging by the feel of it.
"Man, kid, that ain't no way to greet a pal," Sans rubbed his head. "You're lucky I'm so heard headed."
"Chara!" Undyne shouted, kicking down her door. "You're awake!"
Chara was latched onto by Undyne, who had changed out of her armor into a black tank top and jeans.
"Hey," Chara mumbled. "Head hurts."
"Oh, uh, sorry," Undyne became gentler. "Sans helped me find you. I didn't wanna tell Papyrus because he'd freak out… a small fraction of how much Lady T would freak, but still."
"How long was I unconscious?" Chara asked.
"Three days, kiddo," Sans said.
"Don't call me kid," Chara said. "And did mom call?"
"Every day," Undyne said. "You owe us big for the excuses."
"I only got so many baa-d puns for your goat mom," Sans shrugged.
"Best not tell her we fought on the bridge then," Chara rubbed her head.
"No shit," Undyne chuckled. "She'd kill you and me both."
"Of course, seeing as how we found you…" Sans said, getting a glare from Undyne.
"How… did you find me?" Chara asked.
"We…" Undyne shuddered to think of it, something Chara was actually surprised to see from the fish woman. "We found you with your neck snapped and a puddle of blood."
"Puddle?" Sans questioned. "More like a river. Papyrus woulda mourned for days. Undyne almost lost her lunch. Saddest part was your eyes, kid."
"You seem oddly calm about seeing me in such a sorry state," Chara said.
"I've seen worse, kid," Sans said.
"I've felt worse," Chara said.
"That would explain the scars." Sans said. "You got some things to get off your chest? Especially about this Frisk person?"
"I… don't want to talk about it with you," Chara said.
"'S okay, kid," Sans shrugged, teleporting out through a 'shortcut'.
"So," Undyne sat on the arm of the couch. "What happened to you while you were out?"
"I was asleep for three days?" Chara asked in confirmation.
"Chara…" Undyne said, sighing. "You were dead for three days."
"Wh-What?" Chara asked, her head feeling like it was impaled with the gigantic sword she knew Undyne still had.
"Your body was dead and your SOUL was leaving it," Undyne said. "We managed to get it here and the blood stopped, but you were legally dead, according to Sans. It was only now your SOUL even responded to your body's presence. What happened?"
"I… I saw her, Undyne," Chara's eyes began to water as she remembered the memory. "She was right there and I could see her."
"Frisk?" Undyne asked, crossing her arms and leaning onto the back of the couch. A nod from Chara confirmed her answer. She sighed, shrugging. She knew what Frisk meant to Chara; Chara had told her exactly what she was to her. It pained Undyne to hear how she had lost her, but she also knew that she was the entire reason Chara had fallen in the first place.
"What did she say or do?" Undyne asked, looking at Chara with her good eye.
"I saw how we first met…" Chara said. "For the first time, it was an oddly positive dream."
"As positive as the events were," Undyne said. She knew what had happened to Chara on the surface; it was part of why she was able to help justify the humans she had killed. Chara had confided in her years ago as a sign of their friendship. The fact that Chara relived those nightmares was another reason why Undyne always felt sorry for her.
Of course, she and Asriel had always been there to lend a hand or a bed to help her. She knew they were always there to help. Hell, Undyne was practically living in the castle at that point and it was more often than not that Toriel found them all three crowded into Chara's bed, Chara sandwiched in between the other two.
Undyne's arms wrapped around the sixteen year old, holding her close.
"It's alright, shrimp," Undyne said. "You're safe now. You're among good company. If you want to share a bed like old times, I'm more than willing. Just, uh, don't tell Alphys."
"You have a crush on them?" Chara asked, looking up to see Undyne look away.
"It's a she and, uh, no." Undyne said. "Why do you ask?"
"Because why would it matter if you didn't?" Chara said, leaning onto Undyne's well-toned chest. "If you didn't, she shouldn't care if you share a bed with me. We're not dating. You and Azzy were my source of comfort."
"Yeah…" Undyne ran her slightly scaly fingers through Chara's hair, an old trick she knew to comfort her. "So, how about we start cooking something to celebrate your sudden return to the land of the living? Papyrus was supposed to be here, but Sans wanted him as far away from here as possible."
"Sure," Chara said. "Let's try not to burn the house down this time."
"Emphasis on try," Undyne chuckled as she held her best friend close.
"One thing bothers me," Chara said, tilting her head to look up at her. "Why not take my SOUL to dad? You'd be free."
"Your mom would murder me," Undyne grinned. "I'm reckless, not stupid."
"True…" Chara said. "Say, what happened to your eye?"
"You remember how Lady T always said not to run with sharp things?" Undyne asked, a sheepish grin on her face as Chara continued looking.
"I think I see where this is going," Chara said.
"You do," Undyne chuckled. "Well, yeah. Ran to hit a target and tripped."
"Ouch," Chara said.
"Yeah," Undyne said. "Lady T managed to fix it right up, but I never could see out of it. So, I just started wearing the patch to prevent irritation."
"I get that," Chara said.
"Spaghetti time," Undyne said. "Let's start cooking. But, first, I'll get us some drink options while you call your mom."
"Oh shit," Chara felt around for her phone while Undyne held it up.
"Oh, good," Chara said. "I'll just call her and put her on speaker so you can say hey too."
"If she asks, we were sleeping." Undyne said.
"Right," Chara said. She dialed the number she knew by heart, listening to the ringing as she pushed the speaker button.
"Chara?!" Toriel exclaimed. "My child, are you there?!"
"It's me, mom," Chara said with a nervous laugh. "Sorry I didn't call. I was busy."
"Undyne said that you were having human problems," Toriel said. "I hope that you packed some—"
"Mom!" Chara shouted. "What if there's someone else here?!"
"Oh, sorry, my child," Toriel said. "Is Undyne there?"
"She's right here," Chara said, smiling a little as she looked back at the monster whose arms she was held in. "Took a nap and she was there with me."
"Well, that's good." Toriel said. "I hope she is behaving herself with you."
"You act as if we're children, Lady T," Undyne chuckled.
"Undyne," Toriel said, causing Chara and Undyne to gulp at her tone. "I know you both very well."
"Well, uh, we're gonna make dinner and I'm gonna send this little punk on her merry way." Undyne chuckled. "I'll tell Sans you said hi."
"I should hope you do," Toriel said. "He is such a nice skeleton."
"Yeah, he's okay," Undyne chuckled. "Bye, Lady T."
"Bye, mom," Chara said.
"Goodbye, my children," Toriel said, the happiness in her tone evident as she hung up the phone from her conversation with her daughter and the monster who was practically her daughter.
"That was close," Chara sighed. "Human problems, Undyne? Really?"
"Only thing that wouldn't make her freak out," Undyne shrugged.
"True," Chara said. "The things being dead makes you forget… though, whatever, it's not a big deal. So, let's get cooking."
"After some drink," Undyne said. "I'm kinda thirsty."
"I'll get to the table," Chara said. "Unless you wanna stay here."
"Hey, I'm good wherever." Undyne said.
"Alright, what do we have?" Chara asked.
"Uh, I think I have some hot chocolate," Undyne said. "Aaaand, I already know what you want."
"Yep," Chara said as Undyne released her, getting up and going to the kitchen. She grabbed a container, turning it upside down.
"Empty," She said. "Tea good?"
"I'll pass," Chara held up a hand. "Not really big on ingesting flowers."
"Oh, right," Undyne said. "I'll keep that in mind. How about mint?"
"Sure," Chara said. Undyne poured the tea and got them both a cup. Handing it to Chara, the two drank their tea, Undyne telling Chara about what had gone on since she had died.
"That ribbon in your hair looks like one of the humans'," Undyne said. "Same with the gloves."
"That's what mom said," Chara said. "I got the gloves from a box."
"huh," Undyne said. "I was wondering where those went. Yeah, they came through and all died one way or another. But, I guess you knew that."
"Yeah," Chara nodded, sipping her tea. "So, when did Alphys come into her role?"
"Recently." Undyne said. "But, she's real cool. Showed me all these human history videos."
"You mean anime?" Chara asked. "I thought we went over that those aren't real."
"She was super convincing about it though." Undyne said.
"I lived on the surface for six years and I never saw any of that stuff," Chara said. "The closest thing was Frisk and her incessant flirting. But, that's not the same."
"Yeah, I guess you're right," Undyne said. "But, you would tell me if it was real, right?"
"Of course," Chara said. "So, how about some spaghetti? I hope it's mom's recipe."
"Why, you think I can't cook?" Undyne raised an eyebrow.
"I have tasted Papyrus' spaghetti," Chara said. "And, I know dad couldn't cook for shit."
"True," Undyne nodded. "So, I'll bet you're wondering why he's not in the Royal Guard yet."
"Are you kidding?" Chara rolled her eyes. "Two minutes with him taught me why. They'd kill the shit out of him because he'd try to hug all of them."
"Accurate," Undyne nodded. "I decided to teach him to cook instead since he'd be able to. I mean, he said you went on a date with him."
"Blame Frisk's teachings for that one," Chara blushed slightly.
"I do," Undyne chuckled. "We sure as hell didn't teach you how to flirt."
"She did," Chara said. "But… I think I know how to bring her back."
"I don't think you could do it that way," Undyne got out the ingredients.
"There has to be a way," Chara said.
"Alphys would know if anything." Undyne said. "You'd have to ask her."
"Yeah," Chara sighed. "I guess I would. Where is she?"
"Just inside Hotland," Undyne said. "You won't be able to miss the Lab."
"Oh, she's in Doctor Gaster's old lab?" Chara asked.
"Yep," Undyne said. "She even made it her own."
"I wonder if she ever found Doctor Gaster's old sublab," Chara said.
"Who knows," Undyne shrugged. "If she did, she knows exactly what to do with it. Creepy shit he had down there."
"Yeah," Chara chuckled. "Remember when we tricked Azzy into staying down there for an hour."
"And then he got us dragged into it," Undyne said. "Yeah, I remember."
"Good times," Chara said. "I miss him…"
"Me too, kid," Undyne put an arm around her. "Say, you seen Mettaton?"
"Who?" Chara asked.
"A new star in the Underground," Undyne said. "He showed up around the same time Blooky's cousin disappeared."
"Happy disappeared?" Chara asked. "What for?"
"No one knows," Undyne said. "All of a sudden, he's just gone. Alphys dismissed the idea and tried to change the subject each time, but whatever."
"Well, it's obvious she didn't kill him." Chara said. "He'd have to become corporeal for that."
"Yeah," Undyne sighed. "Doesn't make it any weirder."
"Right," Chara said. "so, what's this Mettaton like?"
"He's… well, he's a dick." Undyne said.
"Huh," Chara said. "What do you mean? Literally or figuratively?"
"Oh, figuratively." Undyne said. "He thinks himself the complete god of fashion. He thinks all sweaters are trash and he'll be super open about what he thinks is fashionable or unfashionable."
"He says one word about my sweater, I'll tear him a new one." Chara said as her eye glowed slightly. Her sweater was one Toriel had made. She had modelled it off of both Frisk's sweater she remembered and Asriel's. Unlike Frisk's, Chara had decided to go with green and yellow. It hurt too much to wear blue and pink like Frisk did, despite how much Toriel tried to console her. Even so, she still kept a blue and pink one in her closet back in New Home because she figured one day she'd be able to.
"Alright," Undyne snapped her out of her thoughts. "Time to make spaghetti."
"Vegetable smashing time," Chara said, smashing a tomato. "Mom's not here to stop us this time!"
"That's the idea, shrimp!" Undyne slammed the noodles into the pan as she and Chara began to stir with the ferocity of wild wolves. In an almost anime fashion, they gave sinister grins to their pot with eyes aglow with their magicks.
The pot, however, did not last through their destructive campaign, becoming quite dented in the process.
"Now it's time for the heat!" Undyne laughed like a near crazy person as she began to relive all the fun times she and Chara had had cooking… more like destroying.
"The hotter the better," Chara grinned, feeling the same rush of adrenaline as her headache faded. She kept turning the knob as the oven kept getting hotter and hotter under the power Undyne's stove put out. Eventually, the fire began to rage out of control.
"Uh, I think we should st—" Undyne said before the oven exploded, setting the house on fire.
"Oh shit, run!" Undyne picked Chara up and ran out, diving through the door.
"Not again!" Chara exclaimed as the made it onto the ground. Undyne landed on top of Chara, covering her.
"Looks like we got carried away again," Undyne grinned and shrugged. Both girls began to laugh as they flopped over onto the ground.
"Yep," Chara said. "By the way, you look great. Not in a flirty way, but you look hotter now."
"Was that a shitty pun?" Undyne asked.
"Do I look like someone who gives those?" Chara asked.
"Good answer," Undyne laughed.
"So, where are you gonna stay?" Chara asked.
"With Papyrus," Undyne said. "I'm sure he won't say no."
"I think the same." Chara said.
"So, what about you?" Undyne asked.
"I'm heading to dad's house," Chara said. "I'll maybe stop at the Lab, but I should be able to get it in the next couple of days."
"Alright, shrimp," Undyne pat her shoulder with a grin as they still lay on the ground. "You be safe now. Cuz your older sister figure's got your back."
"How are you older?" Chara asked. "I was born first."
"You've been dead," Undyne gave a smug grin. "That makes me older,"
"Fine, fine," Chara said. "I guess I'll get goin'."
"Sure you don't want to stop by Temmie Village?" Undyne smirked.
"Ha ha," Chara said.
"Hey, I hear they have some great stuff," Undyne said. "The one went to college."
"I'll hard pass," Chara said.
"Well, have fun," Undyne said as they both stood up. They hugged each other, Undyne beginning to noogie her.
"Good to have you back, Chara," She said.
"Thanks, Undyne," Chara said. "It's good to be back."
They parted ways, Chara heading through the town to the end, waving to Napstablook as she made it through. Onward to the rest of Waterfall, she happened to walk by a Temmie. Chara froze in place, hoping she would walk on.
However, the Temmie noticed her, moving over to her with a strange speed.
"Hyoomans!" She exclaimed, squealing in excitement as Chara's eyes were wide with fear as she looked into her eyes. "Tem luvs hyoomans."
"Uh, I think I have to go," Chara said. The Temmie wrapped her arms around Chara, holding her fast.
"But, Tem luvs hyoomans." She almost whined. "Wants to pets hyoomans."
"Some other time," Chara said. "I, uh, need to go."
"Tem want!" Temmie said.
"How about… I come back later?" Chara sighed.
"Promise?" Temmie asked.
"Yes, I promise," Chara sighed.
"Okay, hyoomans!" Temmie smiled wide. "Tem lets hyoomans go see king!"
"How did you…" Chara asked.
"Temmie know hyoomans princess well!" Temmie said. "Hyoomans princess is Temmie's hero!"
"R-Really?" Chara asked. Temmie nodded ecstatically. Chara sighed, knowing she may regret this.
"Do you want to get some Temmie Flakes?" Chara asked. A glomping from the Temmie was her answer. Chara sighed as she escorted the Temmie back to Temmie Village.
About two hours later, a nearly traumatized Chara made it into Hotland, walking in front of the Lab. She decided not to recount what had happened in Temmie Village, particularly because she knew what her mom or Undyne would say.
The doors to the lab suddenly opened to reveal a reptilian monster that reached Chara's breasts.
"O-Oh!" She exclaimed. "I-I was expecting you! I-I'm Doctor Alphys! Come on in!"
Chara felt herself yanked along by the doctor, the doors of the Lab closing behind her.
And, next chapter we shall see how Chara makes it through Hotland. We shall learn more about her and Frisk as we go as well.
I know I cut the battle short, but in the long run, it makes sense... Plus, I wanted that bridge scene. I had thought of it and I wanted that nod to the game, but in my own twist. Sure, the scene with Asriel would work, but this one worked as well since Chara's been mostly mourning Asriel on this journey.