Tyrantale
Chapter 3.
The AU continues with more introductions and more much needed explanations.
Here we go.
Far, far into the Underground, beyond the core that gave the land electricity, sat the enormous castle currently occupied by the brutal King Chara. At the moment, the young despot, mutated by the soul power, was sitting on the throne, impatiently tapping his beastly fingers on the armrests.
"Ugh," the diabolical child groaned, "where's my sandwich already?"
"Here it is." he heard.
A spider woman, dressed in a purple and white dress that went down to her ankles, with a white handkerchief fastened to her head to keep her black hair back and black, flat shoes. On one of her six hands, she balanced a plate with what the young king had requsted.
"Just the way you asked for it." she stated.
"'Bout time," Chara scoffed, "I woulda thought with six arms you'd have no trouble getting things done quickly."
"So sorry," the spider woman replied dryly, "but, I had to make sure it was to your exact liking, I know how much you hate when we make mistakes around here."
"Well, at least you're not stupid," the young tyrant said, "okay, put the plate down and get out."
The spider servant placed the plate in front of the oppressive child, turned, and quickly left the room.
"So," a catlike being asked, "was 'his highness' pleased with his plate?"
"Well," the spider being answered, "he didn't yell at or spit on me, nor did he fling the plate across the room this time."
"Neh, you're a good woman, Muffet," the cat creature replied coolly, "being able to bring that kid whatever he wants with a straight face. We could all learn from you"
"Not that any of us have a choice in the matter." Muffet sighed.
"So uh...did you get anything?" the cat being inquired quietly, "Ya know, from the kitchen?"
"Sorry, Burgerpants," the spider woman said, "but, Chara has this place locked down so tightly, we hardly have the chance to slip bread crusts into our pockets."
"Oh, I see," Burgerpants responded, "well, maybe next time."
Muffet continued walking through the castle, glancing at the various occupants as she passed them, so many of them were miserable and malnourished, so hungry and dehydrated that some resulted to licking the floor or chewing on anything they could to satisfy themselves. Many of them stayed in the castle under the promise of provisions, though, they hardly got what they needed. Although, as she walked, she tried not to make eye contact with any of the brainwashed guards that lined the corridors.
Finally, Muffet reached her room, it was small and cold, her bed was nothing more than a filthy mattress, a wadded sheet for a pillow, and a thin, tattered blanket that was less then sufficient. She wrapped the bed and its accessories with her own web in an attempt to make it more suitable for herself.
With a deep sigh, the spider woman dropped onto the dingy mattress and looked up at her web covered ceiling; she watched as a bunch of small spiders descended from their own webs to greet her. She sat up and held out her six hands, allowing a little spider to land in each of them.
"Hello little friends." she said softly.
She listened to the small arachnids talk, they spoke in whispers, complaining of their situation.
"I know you hate it here and I know you're hungry, everyone is hungry," Muffet voiced, "but, what can we do? Chara is the one with the power and the 'provider' of what little food we're allowed, defiance is not an option."
She held the little spiders close before releasing from her hands.
Just then, Muffet heard a knock at her window and quickly went to investigate, at first glance, she did not see anything or anyone.
"Hey girl." she heard.
Looking down, just beneath the window she found Sans, standing on top of one of his "Gaster Blasters", looking up at her.
"Oh, Sans." the spider woman uttered gladly.
The short skeleton rose himself up to meet her face-to-face.
"We were all switched around in the renovations," Muffet voiced, "how did you manage to find my room so easily?"
"A friend on the inside told me," Sans affirmed, "gave me the entire castle layout."
"You never run out of plans, do you?" the spider woman replied.
The short skeleton shrugged proudly.
"Look, Sans, before you ask," Muffet informed him, "I wasn't able to snatch any extra food, whatever we're given now, Chara forces us to eat it in front of him and guards watch us like hawks while we're working."
"Yeah, Alphys told me that things have gotten dicey," Sans replied, leaning against the windowsill, "no matter, I just really wanted to see you."
Muffet smiled in response.
"Well," she giggled, "I'm always happy to see you, it's about the only thing I have to look forward to nowadays."
"Ah, I promise, one day I'm getting you, everyone, out of here," Sans avowed, "maybe even soon."
Muffet laughed awkwardly.
"Ever the resolute aren't you?" she voiced, "You say that every time you visit."
"Well, I mean it every time," Sans replied, "even now more than ever."
"Oh?" the spider woman inquired, "Did something happen?"
"Maybe." the short skeleton said nonchalantly.
"Ahuhuhu, I get it," Muffet responded mirthfully, "top secret 'Resister' business, can't be mention here."
"Pretty much." Sans stated.
The spider woman placed two of her hands on the skeleton's.
"Well, whatever you have planned," she implored, "please be careful, I'd hate for something to happen to you, especially when I can't get to you."
"Come on now, this is me we're talking about, babe," Sans expressed, "trust me, there's no way I'll let that little, tyrannical bastard get to me."
"I trust you." Muffet sighed.
Just then, the loud screeching of a speaker was heard.
"OH SPIDER SERVING WENCH," Chara called over a loudspeaker, "I'M DONE WITH MY PLATE AND REQUEST THAT IT BE REMOVED FROM MY SIGHT."
The spider woman groaned in annoyance.
"I have to go, 'his highness' has summoned me." Muffet sighed.
"Hang in there," Sans said, "I'll see you later."
"Don't keep me waiting too long." the spider woman said playfully, placing two of her hands on both sides of the skeleton's face.
The two shared a loving kiss before Sans teleported away, after which, Muffet sighed, staring longingly out the window.
"HELLO?" Chara called out over the speaker again, "SPIDER WENCH, DO NOT IGNORE ME!"
The spider woman lout a frustrated growl before finally leaving her room.
Meanwhile, high up in the castle's newest tower, a lizard woman, forced to serve as Chara's royal scientist, was slaving away in her lab. Continuing the process of reluctantly using her "Inculcating Device" to brainwash Monsters that were forced to join Chara's royal guard, the Monster she was putting under now being a male dog with white fur and a cowlick. Doing the job disgusted her, but, like everyone else, she had no choice but to keep working, though, that did not stop her from lending help to her friends on the outside.
As she dug the tears from her eyes for the fifth time that day, she suddenly felt a tap on her shoulder, making her flinch. She turned around and found Sans standing behind her.
"Hey, Alphys." the short skeleton said.
"Oh, you came;" the lizard woman responded, surprised, "you should really be careful about randomly teleporting in here, you never know when any of the guards, or Chara, will be here."
"I know that," Sans replied, "that's why I teleported to the window and came in through there when I found that the coast was clear."
"Good man." Alphys said.
Sans looked at the machine that she had been using.
"Chara still got you indoctrinating new guards?" he inquired.
"I hate it," Alphys lamented, "he makes me do it every day and I just can't stand it, I feel like a savage for going along with it."
"Don't worry, if our plan comes together favorably, nobody will have to work for Chara anymore." Sans voiced.
"That would be great." the lizard scientist sighed.
Sans looked around, making sure they were still alone.
"Speaking of the plan," he asked quietly, "have you made any progress with...that thing?"
Alphys looked on curiously, then realized what he was talking about.
"Oh, that," she replied, "a little bit, but, it hasn't been easy working on it alone."
The lizard woman led the short skeleton off to a back corner and opened a secret compartment in the wall, inside of which was device that looked to be about the size of a flame thrower, though it visibly had some parts missing from it.
"If I had to guesstimate," Alphys said, "I'd say it's about sixty percent complete, though, I'd probably make more progress if I had some help."
"I know," Sans replied, "I'm sorry I haven't been able to help, if we could get you, along with everyone else, out of here, then we could probably get it done together."
"Yeah, that's easier said than done." the lizard scientist responded dismally.
The two stared intently as the unfinished device for several seconds.
"Hey, so, while you're here," Alphys offered, "would you...like to see...your dad?"
Her question surprised the short skeleton.
"Oh, yeah," Sans voiced, "I should, I didn't get to last time."
Alphys quickly opened up a trapdoor in the center of the floor and the two quickly descended the dimly-lit stairway, which led to a damp, dirty room with stone brick walls and a cement floor. Alphys immediately lifted a lever on the way, which completely lit up the room; the two then turned their attention to a huddled figure in a frayed lab coat, so grimy one could barely notice the original white color, leaning against the wall at the back of the room.
"Um, Gaster, Sir," Alphys spoke softly as she and Sans approached the creature, "Sans is here to see you."
The being looked at them, turning his distorted body around as best he could, revealing his contorted face; the Monster was another skeleton, a far older one, whose entire body was horribly disfigured. Even so, the creature managed to form a smile on his warped face as the small skeleton approached him.
"Hey, Dad." Sans said placidly.
The looming, gnarled skeleton man reached a crooked arm out and affectionately stroked the side his son's face, Sans contently leaning into his touch and grabbing the hand as he did. Gaster tried to speak, but, all he could do is make incoherent, vocal noises, though, depending on his tone and facial expressions, one could easily tell how he was feeling and right now he seemed complacent.
"I'm glad to see you, too," Sans sighed, "I'm sorry I haven't been down here in a while, things have been rather...rocky."
Gaster responded with curious garbles.
"But, I'm fine, everyone is for the most part," the short skeleton affirmed, "mostly just hungry."
The mangled skeleton man responded with a low growl.
"How are you doing?" Sans asked.
His father answered with a dismal moan.
"I know," Sans said, "we miss you, too."
Reaching out with his other maimed arm, Gaster pulled his son into a hug, Sans resting his head against his father's mangled rib cage, nuzzling close as the elder skeleton gently pet the back of his skull, mewling softly all the while.
"I hate seeing you like this," the short skeleton said quietly, "but, don't worry, we'll get you out, we're going to get everyone out, and we're not going to waste any time doing so."
Gaster huffed sharply in response.
"Yes, I know," Sans sighed, "I'll be careful, we never take any unnecessary risks."
Alphys was watching from the bottom of the stairwell, when suddenly, she heard voices up above.
"Oh no," she uttered, frantically, "someone's coming to the lab, Sans you better go."
With that, the short skeleton reluctantly pulled away from his father.
"All right," he said, "guess I have to go."
Gaster sighed softly in response.
"Yeah," Sans replied, "I love you, too."
"Wait, Sans," Alphys said, "before you go, take this."
She pulled a small bag out of her inner coat pocket.
"Take this," she affirmed, "it's not much of a stash, but, it's most I could manage."
Sans looked inside the bag and found a couple handfuls of small food items.
"Is this all you have?" he responded, "You don't have to-"
"You need it more than I do," Alphys insisted, "please, give some to Asriel and Toriel."
Sans nodded solemnly before finally teleporting away.
At that same time, Chara left the throne room and made his way down into the lowest portion of the castle, done up with metal and stone from the floor to the ceiling. It was made to hold his "favorite" prisoner, a male, white-furred, goat-person of great size, the very person he had ousted from the thrown, King Asgore.
The ruined, former king sat slumped against the wall, dressed in only a frazzled, tan, short-sleeved shirt and ragged black pants, his long, golden hair, with a beard to match, was matted and filthy; he was chained to the wall by his neck and hands, rendering him unable to use his magic. Of course, the dethroned king barely had the strength to move, let alone attack.
The tyrannical Human child approached the goat man with his hands behind his back, looking him up and down. Once he noticed that the Monster was breathing, he smirked.
"So, you're still alive," Chara said smugly, "good, that's good, that means my fun isn't over yet; I know I have plenty of toys as it is, but, let's be honest, you're my favorite, 'your highness'."
Asgore did not respond.
"Or should I call you 'your lowness'?" the Human boy voiced derisively, "Maybe you'd prefer 'Gorey'?"
The goat man glared at the ungodly Human boy.
"No? I though you woulda liked that, seeing as that's what your deplorable wife called you," Chara continued scornfully, "perhaps you'd rather me call you Dad again? You know, like you and her repeatedly insisted I do? Or maybe because it would remind you of your pathetic son?"
Asgore looked away in disgust.
"In any case," the child said, "I'm only down here because I just finished a sandwich, but, as you know, I don't like the crusts."
The former king cringed as the young brute flung a handful of squished bread crusts at his face, the scraps bouncing off of his snout and landing in the center of his lap.
"I'm not sure if you need it as much as anyone else," Chara voiced, "but, I prefer to keep you alive the most, because, like I said, you're my favorite toy."
Asgore looked down at crusts in front of him, as much as he hated giving into Chara's "antics", he could not resist his hunger, flinging himself to ground and desperately devouring the dirty food scraps. It was mortifying, but, it had been so long since he had eaten, he could not help himself.
Feeling pleased with himself, Chara walked over and knelt down beside the weakened goat man's head.
"So, Asgore," he asked casually, "do you like what I've done to the place?"
The fallen king groaned in response.
"I think it really suits me," Chara expressed, "it reflects me as I truly am, strong, striking, intimidating, and, most importantly, indestructible. A force to be reckoned with, a symbol of the highest power."
Asgore rolled his eyes as the little tyrant spoke.
"An inescapable fortress," Chara went on, "it's incredible, not since I obtained the crown has anyone managed to escape the palace, before or after the upgrade, many have tried and all have failed. Those who submitted are bound by their word, lest they be cast out into the streets and be left to their own devices, like those who refused to bow down to me, they're all out there right now, scavenging for even the smallest scraps like diseased sewer rats, turning to dust in the streets, wishing for what was and what will never be again. It's absolutely glorious."
He looked back at the goat man, his face devoid of any positive feelings, just pain and misery.
"Well, no one has the right to complain, everyone had a choice, they could either surrender and accept me as their new king, living under my care or they could deny me and fend for themselves. Your old buddy, Dr. Gaster, he had a choice, too, he could have simply stood down and let me take those souls without incident, but, instead, he chose to fight me and got grotesquely disfigured in the process, he's lucky I left him live, only because I couldn't afford to waste any time."
Asgore growled as Chara grabbed his horn and jostled his head back and forth.
"And you," the inhumane Human boy continued, "you had the most important choice of all, the choice that could have prevented this whole thing, you could have easily taken my soul and added it to your collection, but, you didn't, because you just couldn't bring yourself to kill a wittle child."
The former king jerked his head away in irritation.
"You get it, Asgore?" Chara continued intently, "You should have taken my soul when you had the chance, but, you didn't, the fact that none of you could see through me shocked me, not one Monster, with all the magic contained here, not one of you could see my true colors, that both disappointed and just straight up amused me. I guess children truly can get away with just about anything if they're not caught in the act. Thus, because nobody took advantage of the opportunity, I took the throne, you're my prisoner, the Monsters are at my mercy, and your wife and child and out there, most likely starving to death in the ruins, that is, if disease hasn't gotten to them first."
Asgore curled his fingers into fists as he stared hatefully at the twisted Human boy.
"But, what's done is," Chara sighed, "and there's no going back, we all made our decisions long ago."
He stood up.
"Well, I'll leave you to your ceaseless wallowing," Chara said, "right now, I'm gonna go see a rabbit broad about running me a bath.
With that, the young tyrant left the room, leaving the fallen king to sulk on the floor, immersed in his unrelenting feelings of shame and regret.
Back at the ruins, Toriel was sitting her decayed lounge chair with Asriel resting on her lap, the goat child seemed to be drowsy, though, every time it seemed that he was about to doze off, he would be struck by another harsh coughing fit that jolt back awake. Toriel sighed, there was nothing she could do for him, she simply held him close and rubbed his back, flinching as his little body seemed to shake with every cough.
At that same time, Frisk was sitting at the dining table with the rest of the gang, listening to them talk about their crisis.
"So, you all have someone you care about being held prisoner by Chara?" the Human boy inquired.
"Yep," Undyne said, "that's why we formed this group and do what we do, we're tired of just sitting by and watching everyone suffer under Chara's rule."
"Yeah," Doggo asserted, "we decided that we're not just gonna let that demonic brat push us around, especially not when it comes to those we care about most."
"We all have someone we're fighting for." Napstablook stated.
Frisk looked around at the determined Monsters.
"So...who are you all fighting for." he wondered.
"Alphys," Undyne replied, "she's...she's my favorite person in whole world...she is my world, and I hate thinking about what Chara is doing to her...to everyone...in that castle."
Frisk looked on sympathetically.
"When Chara rose to power, my husband, Dogamy, wanted to cooperate with him, fearing what he would do to us if we didn't," Dogaressa explained, "but...but, I didn't want to submit to him, no matter how scared we were, I couldn't bear the thought of deserting King Asgore. So, Chara made our decisions for us, I was forced to stay behind while my husband was carried off to the castle."
"The same thing happened with my buddies," Doggo voiced, "we were part of the royal guard, serving under King Asgore, but, when Chara came in and trashed the place, I was the only one who refused to bow to that pint-sized prick and, like everyone else, I had to watch as my comrades were hauled off."
The hooded dog furiously slammed one of his knives down on the table.
"Shh." Papyrus hissed, gesturing toward Toriel and Asriel, who were still relaxing by the fire place.
"Our cousin, Mettaton," Napstablook voiced, "just like Alphys, he wasn't given a choice, he was forced to go to the castle against his will."
"The thing," Maddy chimed in, "our cousin, he was just a regular ghost, like us, but, he had Alphys build him a robot body in her lab, which he used to become an entertainer. But, when Chara took over, once they were taken to the castle, Chara forced Alphys to turn Mettaton into a 'living security system', so, now he's forced to roam the castle halls, and wherever else Chara sends him, to keep the place in check."
A few tears fell from Napstablook's eyes as the dummy spoke.
"When Asgore was still King," Papyrus voiced, "Sans and I lived in the castle, our father, Dr. W. D. Gaster, was the king's royal scientist and best friend; our father was working on a way to collect the souls needed to break the barrier and...well...you know how we told you about Chara attacking the lab and taking the souls for himself?"
Frisk listened closely.
"Well, Dad didn't take it lying down," the tall skeleton continued, "though it wasn't a good idea, Dad tried to stop Chara, but, as expected, having gained immense power, Chara overpowered our father in no time flat. Dad survived the attack, but, he sustained catastrophic damage, his body was so horribly mangled his was rendered immobile and unable to speak, all he can manage is garbled noises."
The Human child shook his head in disbelief.
"After Chara gained control, Sans and I refused to submit to him" Papyrus sighed, "so, like the other 'Resisters' we were exiled and had to leave our father behind at the castle."
"That's so unfair," Frisk said, bewildered, "it's all so unfair."
"Yeah, whenever he can, Sans visits him at the castle," that tall skeleton replied, "I would love to visit him, too, but, I can't, Sans can only manage because he has the power to teleport."
Frisk looked up at him pityingly.
"And, when he's not visiting Dad," Papyrus continued, "Sans pays a visit to his "friend", Muffet, who is also forced to work in the castle against her will."
"His 'friend'?" the Human boy replied curiously.
"Yes, while things were still good, Muffet was well-known baker in the underground, one day, while she was running a bake sale to earn more money for the spiders, Sans went to her stand and donated to her cause, didn't buy anything, just...gave her some monry, then he did it again and again and continued to do it until he went broke. Even so, she encouraged him to keep visiting her, then they started hanging out casually, but, just as they began to get serious, Chara came barging in and changed everything. Not only did he force Muffet to shut her business down, he ordered her to serve under him in the castle and, hoping she could still provide for the spiders, she went without a fight. Sans, of course, was understandably pissed off, but, there was nothing he could do about it, now, all he can do is visit her whenever he can, just like with Dad."
"Well, hopefully he stays smart about it," Undyne said, "he's good as dust if he ever gets caught there."
Just then Sans appeared in the room.
"Oh, speak of the devil." the fish woman said.
"Sans!" Asriel uttered happily, making himself cough again.
"It's about time you got back," Papyrus groaned, "I was starting to wonder."
"Don't worry about it, nothing happened." Sans said.
"Whatcha goth there?" Undyne asked, referring to the back in Sans' hand.
"A gift from Alphys." the short skeleton stated.
As he reached into the bag, he approached Toriel and Asriel; the first thing he pulled out of the bag was a sealed sandwich product stuffed with peanut butter and jelly, which he gave to Asriel, who's face lit up as he accepted the treat.
"Thank you." the goat boy said blissfully.
The second thing Sans pulled out of the bag was tin of canned snails, which he handed to Toriel.
"For me?" the goat woman responded gratefully, "How nice, please, thank Alphys for me the next time you see her."
The short skeleton nodded, then went over to the table where everyone else was still sitting.
"Here's the rest of it." he said, dumping what contents remain in the bag onto the table.
What was left was a couple packs of instant noodles, a few granola bars, two chocolate bars, and a plastic container of peanuts.
The group could not help but stare longingly at the food items.
"Was this all she had?" Undyne wondered, "She didn't have to-"
"That's what I said," Sans sighed, "but, she insisted, feeling that we needed it more than she did, she especially wanted Tori and Asriel to have some."
"W-Well, in that case, give it all to them," the fish woman asserted, "I...I don't need any."
"Come on, you've gone without food just as long as everyone else has," Sans voiced, "I'm sure Alphys would want you to take something."
Despite her best efforts, Undyne could not keep from looking at the stash in front of her and reluctantly snatched a granola bar.
"Anyone else?" Sans inquired.
Everyone looked on uncertainly.
"Well...dogs can't eat chocolate...so..." Doggo responded.
The knife-wielding dog reached out and grabbed a plain granola bar, Dogaress grabbed the remaining bar.
"Sans...did you take anything from the bag?" Papyrus asked.
The short skeleton shook his head.
"Well, in that case," the tall skeleton replied, "I'll pass as well."
He then looked at Frisk.
"How about you, Frisk?" Papyrus inquired, "Would you like something from the stash?"
"What?" the Human boy responded, "No, I don't need anything, you guys have it, you need it way more than I do."
"So, if everyone's satisfied," Sans said, "I'll put what's left in the kitchen."
He gathered up the items that went unclaimed and took them to kitchen.
"You all better be grateful to Alphys," Undyne huffed, "she could've easily kept that all for herself, but, she let us have it. Keep that in mind when we get back to planning."
Everyone at the table nodded in response.
There we go, another chapter in, I originally only planned to have Sans visiting Muffet in this chapter, but, then I also decided that I wanted to introduce Gaster and I figured that since I would have Sans show up at the castle anyway, I squeezed that visit with him in as well. I could not figure out how to formally introduce Mettaton himself here, so, I just had him be mentioned by Maddy and Blooky. I also had everyone explain why they specifically were in the group, revealing who they were trying to spring from the castle, to explain why Dogaress was not with Dogamy.
Now, I just need to decide on what to include in the next chapter, there's so much that needs to happen.
Anyway, until next time.
