Good afternoon, readers? Are you ready for another roller coaster ride? This chapter is going on a bit of a dip, and it's going to get quite dark. If you have prepared yourselves, then read onward! Thank you again to everyone for your support thus far!
The Child chuckled lowly as Sans and Alice stood side by side. "So, you were able to prolong the inevitable for your vertically challenged friend, Alice." She said. "How typically selfish of you."
"How in the bloody hell do you know about me?" Alice asked.
"Quite simple, actually. Years ago... when my soul was used in an experiment by a certain... royal scientist... he realized too late that by absorbing even a fraction of my soul, that I was slowly gaining control over his thoughts, his mentality, his actions. Before he could hurt the ones he loved..." The child said mockingly. "... he sacrificed his own life by casting himself into the core. He thought that by doing this, he would destroy any chance of me doing harm to monsters... but he was wrong. Even in his shattered, barely tangible state, I can still see everything he does, know everything he does, all I have to do is concentrate. It is... difficult. Being that this particular soul fragment is merely essence now, broken beyond repair, I must be decisive of when I should tap into Gaster's being. When I sensed a great concentration of power from him, I knew it was significant. It was then I sensed him calling to you, Alice. I learned all I could about you, studied your strengths and weaknesses, your triumphs and downfalls. Gaster saw hope in you, and so, I awaited your arrival in order to undo you."
"Who are you really?" Alice asked, still not liking that this child seemed to know so much about her.
"I have many names." She responded. "The first name is Chara. Right now, though, I am the dark force awakened within Frisk. It is not her soul itself that is dark, but the soul it was derived from. Frisk's soul was the small fragment of mine that had not been corrupted by sin. She was born from it after Gaster came to find it in the hopes of reversing my wickedness." She chuckled. "But he wasted his time. I control all fragments of my soul, and its essence, when required. It was only a matter of time before Frisk would succumb to me completely. She is merely a toy to me. Sometimes I would let her have her happy ending... only to take over and make her reset the timeline."
"You really are a sick freak, aren't you?" Sans spat.
"It's all I know. All I know is to fight for what I want." Chara replied.
"Oh, let me guess, power? I suppose that's not what every villainous individual craves." Alice crossed her arms.
"You're right about that, Alice... but unlike all the others, power is not my ultimate goal. It is simply the first thing I am striving for. See, many do not realize that it is simply a tool; this is why most simply strive for more of it. It is not power that quenches the thirst of ambition. It is what is done with that power that can ultimately bring one to absolution." Chara replied.
"And what do you plan on doing with all your power? Use it for revenge? Another cliché motive to commit evil." Alice stated.
"Yes... and no. What I plan to do will satisfy vengeance against those souls from my village in the days of old. They will see everything they tried to work for used against them. All the suffering they made me endure, all the pain will have been for nothing in regards to them. But that is merely a side effect of what I plan." Chara said. "I wish to recreate not just this world, but the whole universe, how I see fit."
A sigh was drawn from Alice's lips, closing her eyes deeply for a moment as Chara's crimson eyes bore into theirs; a telltale sign of her possession over Frisk. Alice reopened them, her expression surprisingly having softened.
"Chara... listen to me. I know the pain of having everything good and right stripped from you. The burns on my body could not amount to a fraction of the burn I felt in my heart... to watch everything, everyone you loved being burned alive right before your eyes... to know the betrayal of those behind it, the very reason for over a decade of pure suffering and torture... revenge is a bitter taste best to be rid of, and in the correct fashion. I have seen your past, Chara." Alice said.
"I know you have, Alice. He showed you... the time when my soul was still completely intact. But even then, my intentions stood firm." Chara said.
"I don't know the extent of your initial suffering... but I do know you found solace and sanctuary here... a family, an escape. Peace from the world you called reality. You and I have much in common, Chara. This place to you was like Wonderland is to me. Do not bring destruction and death upon those who cared for you, offered you aid. It is those responsible for your pain that deserve the harsh hand of justice." Alice replied.
Sans glanced over at Alice for a moment; he has a small fraction of hope that somehow, someway, Alice's words would get to Chara, to draw her out of her murderous rampage and open the door to clarity. If not for their own sakes, then for the sakes of all of the monsters, his friends...
... his brother.
Chara chuckled lightly. "Can't you see, Alice? I no longer care who has to die in order for me to recreate the universe. Death of the old ways is inevitable. I want to create a world without sin and perverse desires. Anyone who gets in the way of that, physically or emotionally, will perish by my hand."
"Maybe you can start by going to hell, you dirty brother killer." Sans growled.
"Ah, yes... you remember what transpired in the other timelines." Chara replied.
"You're damn right I do, you little demon spawn. You know, I know you've heard my spiel a million and one times... but if you think I'm going to allow you to decide whether we live or not, you've got another thing coming. You've got nerve to think after what you've done that you would be the one to create a world without sin. You've got so much guilt there is no measurable amount of time that you could have to pay for it. But you know what? You've got one weakness, Chara." Sans said.
"Oh?" Chara asked, giggling in a disturbingly amused fashion. "And what's that?"
"You may not feel anything. You may not have anything to lose and all to gain... but the position you're in, you've got nothing to fall on because you've burned all your bridges."
"Have I?" Chara asked, her eyes darting behind her, burning into Flowey's behind her. "Do it."
"Shouldn't I absorb all the souls first before we-"
"Are you questioning me? I want them to watch their last chance at salvation die. DO IT!" Chara shrieked.
"Y- Yeah... yeah, we're going to end this all together, Chara... just you and me!" Flowey said, though there was a lack of enthusiasm, not helping his statement to be all that convincing. Just then, vines sprouted from the ground, wrapping around Frisk's body as she was lifted into the air. Flowey grew taller as well, the two of them feeding off of each other's spiritual energy. Their friends struggled, trying to break out of Flowey's hold but it was to no avail as they could do nothing but hope that Alice and Sans could hold their own. As they prepared themselves, Alice glanced over as two large, uniquely shaped skull heads appeared on either side of him. Not hesitating to wait for the opposition to attack, Sans' hands glowed blue to match the aura of his left eye, the large skulls on either side of him blasting energy at Flowey and Chara. Flowey's larger form ducked into the ground, leaving Frisk's body to snake along the ground, looking up at them upside down as she speedily moved towards them. Both Alice and Sans dodged her attack when she shot up, swinging her knife at them in retaliation.
"Sans! We must try to separate them!" Alice shouted.
"Easier said than done, but I'll see what I can do." Sans replied, waving his hand as he conjured up a powerful bone attack. As he did, Chara grabbed one of the vines enveloping her, tugging on it a bit. Flowey drew Papyrus forward, and the child smirked.
"Go on, Sans... aren't you going to fight?" She cackled.
Sans gritted his teeth, hesitating. While he was distracted, vines shot up out of the ground as Flowey attacked Alice, using her vorpal blade to slice at them and dodged them when they got too close.
"Frisk... come on kid, I know you wouldn't do this... you and Papyrus are best friends, remember? We're best friends. You've got to remember that!" Sans exclaimed.
"Frisk is not here anymore." Chara snapped, swinging her knife at Sans for him to dodge it.
"That's all you know how to do, isn't it? Just take lives from other people, to take their happiness and turn it into misery." Sans said.
"One only grows stronger through suffering, either by their own or through that of others." Chara spoke. As Sans waved his hand, his bones forming a barrier around Papyrus, he conjured another few gaster blasters to attack. "Flowey, guard me." Chara said as she smiled wickedly. When the blasters attacked, Flowey's head descended in front of Chara, his mouth opening wide as he virtually absorbed the attack. Sans' eye sockets widened as the girl chuckled, his eyes darting as he heard all his captive friends expressing pain. "See? You were not expecting this outcome... were you? We are two separate beings, but together we are powerful. Everything you deal unto us shall deplete their life. So... if you wish for us to be defeated, all of your loved ones must perish first.
Alice was about to attack when Sans stopped her. "You can't."
"Sans, we can't just let them cast us into oblivion-"
"I'm not going to be responsible for letting my brother die!" Sans gritted his teeth. "Not again."
Alice swore under her breath as Chara's eyes burned into hers. Alice narrowed her own. "She is the key... and she knows it. She is going to make sure everyone suffers before she does. If I can get to her... everyone else will be safe." She glanced at Sans. "How well can you manage on your own?"
Sans raised a brow bone. "What are you planning?"
"Chara is like a parasite in Frisk's body. She must be exhumed or all shall perish. It's time Frisk came out of dormancy." Alice said. She burst forward, hobby horse in hand. Flowey's head came down to shield Chara again, Alice rearing back before using it to collide right into Flowey's face. Alice knew she only had seconds to work with as he was reared back, exposing Chara as Alice descended to grasp her shoulders.
"You are a fool." Chara said to her, chuckling lowly as her hands grasped Alice's arms, vines snaking around them. "The closer you are to your enemy, the closer you are to death."
"I should say the same for you!" Alice shouted, both of their forms beginning to shake the space around them as they fought for dominance. As Alice clenched her teeth, she whimpered as she decided to take another path. When Sans saw a burst of light, followed by Alice falling unconscious, he sighed lightly.
"Damn... not making this very easy for me, are you, kiddo?" He said, bracing himself for what Chara and Flowey had in store for him.
Alice opened her eyes, groaning as she stood to her feet. After collecting herself, she noticed she was in a black void, nothing visible for what seemed like endless, blank space. She separated her feet from the invisible platform she had been standing on, floating for what seemed like an age. Just then, she heard a distant sound. She followed it, determining it was someone crying. She came across its source then, understanding the atmosphere the moment she saw her. She descended, hovering a few feet as she spoke one word.
"Frisk."
The child gasped, getting up to look at Alice. Her eyes were squinty, staring up at her as she wiped her face.
"How did you get here?" Frisk asked.
"It wasn't easy... but that doesn't matter now. You and your friends are in grave danger." Alice replied.
"I know... I know they are... the other girl... she told me she was going to hurt everyone. I don't want that! I want to help them be happy!" Frisk exclaimed.
"There is only one way to do that, Frisk. You must regain control of your body. You must extinguish Chara." Alice said.
"I... I can't! I tried, but... it's too hard! Her determination is stronger than mine... no matter how hard I fight her... if I try to beg, if I try to offer her mercy... nothing works." Frisk frowned.
Alice bent down. "I was once in your position. It was her and I in the void of her malignant palace... everything I loved hung in the balance... and right now, that is the case with you. All of your friends are depending on you."
"But... what can I do to beat Chara? How can I do it when she has more power than me?" Frisk asked.
"Draw strength from your loved ones. All your friends... let them motivate you to succeed. If not... you will be trapped in here, alone... forever. This was not a fate I chose to accept, and I will not accept this fate for you either." Alice replied.
Frisk nodded, playing with the hem of her sweater. "Okay. I'll try my best. I have to stay determined for everyone, no matter what she says." Alice gave her a nod, getting up to attempt to get back to the conscious world. As she was about to do so, Frisk spoke. "If you get back... can you tell everyone that I'm sorry?"
Alice glanced back at her. "I have a feeling that they already know." She replied, nodding once before she burst into butterflies. Frisk gasped in awe as she watched the cluster of them disappear from sight, a smile forming in her expression.
Seeing such a beautiful array bringing the promise of freedom... it filled her with determination.
When Alice opened her eyes, it took but a moment to regain herself before she felt the handle of her vorpal blade in her hand, slashing the vines coiled around her. She heard Flowey hiss as she fell to the ground, looking up to see Sans starting to take in deep breaths, having evaded many attacks and beginning to frustrate Chara. She got to her feet, speedily going around as she sliced up one vine after another, releasing everyone from their hold while they were both distracted by Sans. The moment she severed the last vine, Alice whipped her head around.
"Sans, now!" Alice shouted.
At this, he waved his hand, his eye glowing brightly as Chara felt a huge weight bring her down. Flowey gasped, and in the next moment, he was blinded by the light coming from the gaster blasters, reducing him to his typical size and depleting much of his energy. Chara lay about a foot from him, struggling to sit up as Alice approached them.
"That was a pretty good move, kiddo." Sans said to Alice from behind her.
"Indeed... but now, I've got a nasty little weed to deal with." Alice said, crouching down to look at Flowey as he looked at her warily. "Do you think that allying with Chara is what's best?" When he said nothing, Alice pursed her lips. "You've been quite rotten, haven't you? Do you truly believe in the ideologies you have expressed to me here, or are you truly afraid?"
"Don't try to be nice to me... it won't help anything!" Flowey snapped.
"Are you sure about that?" Alice asked.
"Look, what do you want?! You won already, I don't want to hear your little pity speech!" Flowey exclaimed.
"You are afraid, Flowey. You are drawn to bitterness and hatred because you cannot feel kindness and compassion." Alice continued.
"You think you're so smart, huh? Well, you'll feel real smart when we rear our ugly head and kill you and all your stupid friends!" Flowey shouted.
"'We?' No, there will be no 'we.' Chara is a heartless queen... and as soon as she no longer has a need for you, she will cast you aside, like all the others." Alice said.
"Shut up!" Flowey growled. "You think you're going to teach me some lesson from all this?!"
"In this state, no... because she has influence over you, even now, because she still needs you. But I will make sure you finally find a moment of clarity... Asriel." Alice said.
Everyone except for Sans gasped, Toriel and Asgore's hearts breaking. "No... it cannot be..." Toriel breathed.
Just then, Alice stood as monsters flooded in, all of them offering support and concern for their friends. Everyone stood with Alice and Sans as she now turned her attention to Chara. "You've lost." Alice said, addressing her. "Withdraw from Frisk and grant her freedom, and I will consider sparing you. Your spite against us won't be tolerated from now on."
As everyone looked on, hoping they would get a hopeful response, Sans cursed under his breath when the child began to chuckle lowly. Even more disturbing was as she stood, her chuckling escalated into chaotic laughter, her crimson eyes burning as she opened her mouth wide. "Do you think... I can't... destroy you? You all equate to nothing, because to me, you are nothing. My understanding of my own perception is so strong that nothing can change it." Chara spoke, pointing at Alice. "Your necklace is the sign of the omega. The end of all things. You believe that you are the omega here, don't you? That you ending me will save this world. No, Alice... it will be your end that seals this world's fate. After this, there will be nothing. No trace, no memory, nothing to grieve and no one to grieve for it. It will be the end of this recurring dream, to wake up into the next to conquer. I will be the one to look out upon the void and reap my just reward. I am the omega, Alice, and I am also the alpha." Chara looked over at Flowey, who stiffened when her eyes burned into his. "... harvest them."
Flowey looked from her to the others, chuckling nervously. "Chara... you know... maybe we can get our revenge some other way... we can go to the surface and show them what humanity is really like... I'm tired of all of this, Chara... let's just free all these idiots and leave them to their own horrible endings... they're not even worth our time, right?" As Chara's expression continued to become more sinister, Flowey gulped. "They can still have everything they worked for be turned against them, along with the human souls from the first age..."
"Oh?" Chara finally spoke. "And what then?"
"Then... ? Well... I was thinking of some ways we could use the power we have... but then I realized... what does it matter? Remember when we first made this plan? To make those who hurt you suffer for their actions. But Chara... not having you as a friend... they already have, huh? That's all I... really care about now. Just you and me on the surface... no one telling us what to do, how to live... take control of our own destiny. Seeing you here... I've changed my mind. Just being with you... doesn't seem so bad." Flowey said.
"Hm... I wonder... why are you telling me all this? Why are you changing how I have chosen to carry out our actions?" Chara asked.
"Because no one understands me better than you do... you don't treat me with pity... but like a partner." Flowey replied. "See, creatures like us wouldn't hesitate to kill anyone who got in our way... so that's..." Everyone had been watching the conversation progress; Toriel and Asgore were horrified by the words being spoken, shocked into silence. Flowey hesitated, his expression falling as pure dread worked it's way into his features. He seemed to have realized something, slowly looking up at Chara's ominous appearance. "So that's why..." He began to tremble then, a sudden, unwelcoming emotion coming over him. "... what is this feeling...? Why am I... shaking?"
"You tremble because you have learned something. Any other time, you would not hesitate to challenge your opposition because I was your indirect protection. I have always been that, Asriel... just as I tried to be that day we went to the surface together." Her pupils shrunk then. "But you resisted... just as you are right now. It resulted in both of our downfalls."
"H- Hey, Chara... no hard feelings about back then... right? Look... maybe this isn't a good idea... you should go back, and... leave this place the way it is... I'm not... saying this to resist you... I just... I don't want to lose you again... h- hey, stop making that creepy face...! This isn't funny!" Flowey cried.
"Fine... then allow me to express how serious I am to you." Chara said, bending down to barely press the tip of her knife against Flowey's face. "You are not the one in control here. You called to me, and I came. Now, you will either bend to my will... or this partnership is over. Now... harvest them."
"How dare you treat my son this way-!" Toriel finally snapped, striding briskly towards Chara. As the child readied herself, Flowey shut his eyes tightly, a vine sprouting out of the ground to wrap around her leg. As Chara lunged in for the kill, Asgore blocked the way with his trident, shoving her back. For a moment, he looked back at her, and they exchanged the smallest of smiles.
That was until Flowey absorbed Toriel's soul.
"No, Toriel!" Asgore cried before he too was pinned by Flowey, his soul being absorbed. All the other monsters began to chatter in a panic, moving in to defend each other. However, one by one, they were stopped by the vines and held captive, their souls adding to Flowey's power.
"I'm sorry... but the feeling of having a soul again... I don't want this feeling to stop!" Flowey exclaimed.
Sans looked to Papyrus, who was about to join Undyne in the fight. "Papyrus!" He stopped him. "Bro, just get out of here, go home and stay hidden."
"But I have to help my friends, Sans!" Papyrus cried.
"No, Alphys! LET HER GO- Ah!" Undyne hissed as she felt vines wrapping around her waist, struggling to break free from them. Alice jumped in, slicing the vine and freeing Undyne, trying to put a stop to this. As she did, she whirled around when she sensed a threat behind her. Chara smirked darkly as chaos ensued around them.
"Did you honestly think that you could inspire Frisk to usurp me? It is time to accept your fate."
Alice cried out when she felt herself being flung across the throne room, colliding into the wall as she fell. In the meantime, Sans charged forward, clenching his jaw as he tried to fight off the vines and convince his brother to leave. As Alice barely maintained consciousness, her hearing was muffled as she heard Sans crying out his brother's name, barely able to see the flash of his gaster blasters before he too was swept up by Flowey. She glanced down, beginning to see her own blood dripping onto the white fabric of her dress. She began to feel something boiling up inside as Flowey grew to a tremendous size, his being extending out into opposable limbs and thicker vines. Chara glanced over as Alice struggled to get to her feet before looking up at Flowey.
"Now you will harvest my soul." Chara said to him.
Flowey furrowed his brows, chuckling nervously. "Okay... we're gonna... we're gonna get it right this time, Chara..."
Alice regained her balance just as Flowey absorbed Frisk and Chara's soul, her face contorting into a scowl. As Frisk's body fell limp, she approached Flowey as he began to transform again. Multicolored wings sprouted from the back, the flower head changing. It resembled what Alice remembered to be Asriel somewhat, framed by the tubes resembling those of Alphys' machine framing his face. When he opened his eyes, Alice was met with blood crimson orbs.
"You think that forcing everyone into submission is going to earn you victory?!" Alice shouted.
"As others have said, you have an impressive degree of insight, Alice." Chara and Flowey's voice spoke in unison. "Though we have joint control over this form, it is I who will ultimately lead our direction. However, Asriel has submitted to me because it is true what he said... we have a deep understanding of our own suffering."
"Suffering that he would have never had if you hadn't caused it!" Alice spat.
"You are not one to criticize. Do you not remember all the innocent youth you allowed to be corrupted by sin? Do you not remember how you stood there, your sharp tongue reduced to silence, because you refused to accept the truth? For too long you have spent your life living in a dream. We are the dream to end all dreams, for my will to finally be brought to reality." Chara said.
Alice still felt something boiling inside, threatening to overflow. Tears of blood began to run down her cheeks, dripping on her dress and arms. The drops expanded as she chuckled lowly, her hair beginning to levitate. "Sans is a very smart creature as well... unsuspecting of him at first... but he was right. I do have much blood on my hands... and in a short time from now..." She glanced up as her face and dress began to turn completely white. "... yours will be an addition."
Well, I'm sure many of you are scratching your heads; I decided to combine two of the bosses seen in the game; Omega Flowey and Asriel, and make a hybrid concept for this story. I hope you all enjoyed, and please keep an eye out for the next chapter where we will see who proves victor!