AN: Hope I didn't worry any of you, this chapter was about half the length it is now cause I felt like it needed a little more oomph. Thanks for reading.
-=Chara=-
Chara woke up to the sounds of hushed voices drifting around them. They kept their eyes shut, not wanting to alert the monsters to their wakefulness. The conversations were laced with concern and worry.
"...what could have happened to them?" A soft, feminine voice asked.
There was a brief moment of silence before a gruff voice responded in a whisper. "Whatever it was, it couldn't have been good...Chilldrake mentioned that the kid was attacked by Asgore and Undyne..."
Chara's heart raced as they heard the words. It seemed their plan was working, but they couldn't let their guard down yet. They waited patiently, listening intently to the rest of the conversation.
The female voice gasped, her disbelief apparent. "You can't be serious! But everyone was on such good terms with each other when they went to the Ruins."
The gruff voice responded, a hint of uncertainty in her tone. "I have a hard time believing it too. But we do know something happened there. The entire entrance was destroyed and we haven't heard anything from the other side."
"Is everyone else still trying to clear the rubble out?"
"A few of them are, this whole thing has kinda set them on edge…" The gruff voice scoffed. "As if Fluffybuns could ever hurt a soul."
Chara gradually opened their eyes, blinking a few times to adjust to the light. They let out a soft groan and moved their body slightly, making it seem like they were just coming to. The conversation around them stopped abruptly as the monsters turned to look at them. Chara made a show of sitting up and rubbing their head.
"Oh my!" A gentle voice called, and a lupine monster bounded over. Chara recognized them as the strange decoy from the inn, but the other was unfamiliar to them. "Am I glad to see you awake, how are you feeling?"
"N-not good…" Chara managed to choke out, trying to mask the immense pain they were feeling. The injuries all over their body were throbbing and stinging, making it difficult to even move. Perhaps they had gone a little overboard in trying to put on the act. However, it was nothing compared to Toriel's attack. "Where…am I?"
"Ah, you're at my inn! When the Snowdrakes found you, we thought for sure you were a goner. Those wounds were something nasty."
"Hope you don't mind me asking," The gruffer voice said. She was another lupine monster and Chara couldn't help but notice some slight similarities between her and the Innkeeper. "But we really need to find out what happened in the Ruins."
"Right…" Chara tried to lift themselves up onto a sitting position but was failing to find the strength to do so.
The Innkeeper, Aurora, shot her sister with a disapproving look. "Really now, Glacia? Can't you give them a chance to at least wake up first?"
Glacia, the other monster, responded with a deep frown as she crossed her arms. Her impatience was palpable. "No, not really Aurora. This is really big for us, especially since we were on the brink of freedom. How are we supposed to go out now if our king is on some alleged rampage?" Her voice was laced with frustration and anxiety.
Aurora's face contorted in frustration, her mouth opening to protest, but the pleading look on Chara's face seemed to make her reconsider. With a defeated sigh, Aurora turned to her sister, Glacia, who was looking at Chara with a skeptical gaze, arms folded tightly across her chest. Aurora's eyes flicked back to Chara, silently urging them to provide a more convincing explanation.
Chara spoke, their voice shaking slightly with emotion. "I saw it with my own eyes. Asgore and Undyne, they attacked me. They said it was because I knew too much, that I had to be silenced. They didn't even give me a chance to explain myself." Chara paused for a moment, as if reliving the memory. "I managed to get away, but just barely. They're out there, still looking for me. I don't know what they're going to do next, but I know that they're not going to stop until they've silenced anyone who opposes them."
Glacia looked unconvinced, still folding her arms skeptically. "And why should we believe you? What reason would the King and Undyne have to attack you? You're just a child."
Chara's eyes narrowed, a hint of anger creeping into their voice. "Because I know the truth. I know about their plans for the monsters. I know about the experiments they've been conducting in secret. And I know that they'll stop at nothing to achieve their goals, even if it means hurting innocent monsters."
Chara's words seemed to strike a chord with Glacia, who looked visibly shaken. She glanced at her sister, who seemed equally unsure of what to do.
Finally, Aurora spoke up. "We can't just ignore this, Glacia. We have to at least investigate. If what Chara is saying is true, then we need to act quickly to protect ourselves and our people."
Glacia hesitated. "What do you mean experiments? Like, Chilldrakes mom? I mean they kinda gave us the run down. I won't argue that it's messed up but we can move past that for the moment. Why would they want to hurt you now over something like that?"
"It's not just about the experiments," they began, their voice tense with frustration. "Think about it, why did they really want human souls in the first place? It wasn't just to break the barrier. They wanted to use our soul for something else, something sinister. And now that they don't have it, they're desperate. Desperate enough to attack innocent people and monsters to get it back."
Chara paused, hoping their words had sunk in. "As for why they're coming after me specifically," they continued, "I think it's because they know I have knowledge of their true intentions. They're afraid that I might expose them and ruin everything they've worked for. So, they're trying to silence me, permanently."
There was a weighty silence as Aurora seemed thoroughly convinced and was staring Glacia down.
Glacia listened to Chara's explanation, considering their words carefully. After a moment, she spoke up. "I see your point, but I'm still not entirely convinced. It just seems like a big leap to go from conducting experiments to suddenly attacking someone. And if Asgore and Undyne really did do this, why haven't we heard anything about it from the other monsters? Why hasn't anyone else come forward with similar stories?"
Chara took a deep breath, gathering their thoughts. "I understand that it may not make sense, but I think there's more going on than we know. Perhaps Asgore and Undyne have their own motives that we're not aware of. Maybe they see me as a threat to their plans for the Underground's future. Whatever it is, I know what I saw and experienced. And I can only hope that you'll trust me and help me in this situation."
Glacia sighed. "Alright, for the time being we only have your word, but I get the feeling you're telling the truth, to a degree. We'll just have to see for ourselves whether any of this is true or not once we get that rubble cleared from the Ruins entrance."
"I know how unbelievable it sounds, I'm just thankful you're hearing me out, because I still can't believe it myself…" Chara said as their thoughts raced. If they were getting close to reopening the Ruins then there were going to be big problems with the narrative they had just presented. "How close are they to clearing it out?"
Aurora thought for a moment. "I would have to say it might take another couple of hours at the most."
"Unless of course, Asgore and Undyne are able to bust out of there themselves." Glacia added.
No matter what, I need to be there for that. Chara hesitated and made a show of struggling to get out of bed.
"Where are you going in that condition?" Aurora said, trying to stop them.
"I-I have to help," Chara said and managed to jump down off the bed. The pain in their arms flared dramatically and they felt lightheaded. "Or, at least be there when they finally clear it."
"You're not going anywhere like that." Aurora chided.
Glacia shook her head. "Yeah, get back in bed or your wounds are going to open back up."
"No!" Chara shouted a little too desperately, "No…those are my…friends in there and I can't just sit by while they're trapped in there. Even if they did attack me…they are still my…friends." Chara hesitated to refer to that group of monsters as friends, but it was necessary to convince the two lupine monsters in the room. They hoped their wounds would be enough of an excuse for any oddities in their speech.
Both Aurora and Glacia looked at each other in worry. Glacia shrugged, "Alright, alright, we won't keep you away, not like we didn't warn you. I'll take you."
Aurora nodded, "Right, I'll stay in Snowdin and try to warn a few of the people staying here of what happened."
"Just try not to exaggerate it too much, okay? The last thing we need right now is mass panic."
Chara walked out of the room, following behind Glacia. Suddenly, they stopped and turned to Aurora, bowing their head respectfully. "Thank you for taking care of me," Chara said, expressing their gratitude. They then turned around and continued after Glacia.
Just have to endure this a little more…I hope…
-=Frisk=-
Throughout the rest of the day, Sans meticulously recounted everything that had happened in his timeline, going into intricate detail about all that the other human had done. Frisk sat there, listening in horror as they heard about the senseless slaughter that had occurred throughout the entire underground. The weight of it all settled heavily upon their chest, leaving them feeling both disgusted and empty.
"The fact another human could even do all that…I-I don't know what to say." Frisk clenched their fists. "Sorry wouldn't even begin to describe how terrible I feel for everyone."
"it ain't your fault, pal, just how the dice rolled for us i guess." Sans shrugged, "we just got dealt a bad hand."
"But still…!" Frisk felt so helpless. The memories of their own timeline, where they had been able to help everyone without the need for pain or suffering, weighed heavily on their mind. Their own version was like a dream world in comparison to this timeline. Now, seeing how different this timeline had turned out, Frisk's stomach twisted into knots. And now...
"but now they're in your timeline, at least, that's what i'm assuming anyways."
Frisk's mind was in turmoil, their thoughts whirling and colliding with one another. They couldn't shake off the feeling of helplessness that had settled in their chest like a lead weight. The mere thought of their friends, who were now potentially in danger, made their stomach churn with anxiety.
Frisk remained silent, lost in their thoughts. They couldn't even fathom the possibility of their friends being attacked without warning. The idea of being unable to help them filled them with an overwhelming sense of dread.
But what could they do? Frisk was trapped in this alternate timeline, unable to return to their own world. The mysterious force that had brought them here seemed to have no intention of releasing them. They were stuck, helpless to do anything except worry and hope for the best.
"I just don't know what to do, I'm so lost." Frisk muttered.
Sans patted them on the shoulder, "c'mon, sitting around here isn't gonna help anything. i always found walking around helped clear my skull."
"Yeah…alright," Frisk said, getting up and following Sans out of the house.
As Frisk stepped out of the house, the emptiness of the town greeted them like an old friend. It was eerily quiet, the only sounds being the crunch of snow under their feet and the distant howling of the wind. They shivered and looked around, taking in the deserted streets, the darkened houses, and the snow-covered trees. It was as if the town itself had gone into hibernation, waiting for something to stir it from its slumber. Frisk couldn't help but wonder if their own beloved Snowdin would soon meet the same fate.
"hey, snap out of it," Sans said, his voice laced with concern. He cast a worried glance at Frisk and they continued walking through the quiet, empty town.
"finding out my brother was still alive was a huge relief, but then realizing that his murderer is now closer to him and beyond my reach just...," Sans trailed off for a moment, lost in thought. "it's better to focus on finding a path forward rather than wasting time worrying about something we can't control yet."
"Yeah, I know you're right, but it's hard to get that out of the back of my mind, you know?" Frisk shook their head, "Okay, so what's the game plan?"
"well, there aren't so many of us anymore, but there are a few i can think of that should be able to help."
"Wait, do you mean…?"
Sans looked ahead to Waterfall. "yeah, asgore."
-=Chara=-
As Chara hobbled through the snowy forest, the crisp air stung their lungs with every breath. The once lush trees were now barren, their branches weighed down by the blankets of snow. The snow was so deep in some areas that it came up to Chara's knees, making it difficult for them to move quickly. Chara's breaths turned into visible puffs of white mist as they trudged along, their body aching from the wounds they sustained in the attack. Despite the pain, they forced themselves to keep up the act, not wanting to risk anyone suspecting that something was amiss.
Never realized how inconvenient pretending was until now… They pondered.
As they made their way through the wintry forest, Chara couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. The silence between them was only interrupted by the crunch of snow beneath their feet and the occasional rustling of leaves from the icy wind. Chara couldn't see much through the trees, but the dim light peeking through the thick branches illuminated the snow-covered ground.
Glacia's stoic demeanor only added to the eerie atmosphere. Her eyes were fixed on the path ahead, her face almost expressionless as she trudged through the snow. It was as if she had seen it all before and was unimpressed by the dangers that lurked in the forest.
Despite the cold and the fear gnawing at their stomach, Chara couldn't help but admire Glacia's composure. It was clear that she was not one to be easily swayed by emotions or persuasion. As they continued on their journey, Chara hoped that her steadfastness would be enough to convince the other monsters of their story.
She will be troublesome…
As they passed by groups of monsters, Chara couldn't help but notice the fear and concern etched on their faces. Some huddled together, while others frantically packed their belongings and headed towards Snowdin. It was clear that the news of Asgore and Undyne's supposed attack had spread like wildfire.
Despite Glacia's stoic demeanor, Chara could sense her wariness. She kept her eyes peeled and her ears alert for any signs of danger, always ready to protect herself and Chara if needed. It was a stark contrast to the gullible and naive monsters Chara had encountered earlier.
As they neared the Ruins, Chara's heart pounded in their chest. This was it, the moment of truth. They had to convince whoever was guarding the entrance that Asgore and Undyne were the culprits behind their injuries. But as doubts continued to swirl in their mind, Chara couldn't help but wonder if this plan was doomed to fail.
Most of the monsters referred to Asgore by a strange nickname Chara had never heard before. Chara cursed their bad luck, of all the nicknames a king could have…did it really have to be Fluffybuns?!
As Chara and Glacia approached the site of the Ruins doorway, the sound of clanging metal and cracking stone filled their ears. The snowy forest around them had been torn apart, with debris and rubble scattered everywhere. Chara was stunned by the sight of the excavation work. They had expected to see some progress, but not to this extent. Several members of the Royal Guard were working tirelessly to clear the entrance.
Greater Dog's massive figure was hurling boulders with impressive force, causing the ground to shake with each impact. The other monsters had to be careful to avoid being hit as they scrambled around trying to assist in the effort. Chilldrake was barking orders, but his directions seemed to be falling on deaf ears. Dogamy and Dogaressa were attempting to use their axes to break apart some of the larger boulders, but their attention kept getting drawn to each other, and they would pause to gaze longingly into each other's eyes.
In the midst of all the chaos was Jerry, the oddball monster who always seemed to be in his own little world. Chara couldn't help but roll their eyes at his antics, but they quickly refocused on the task at hand. They had to remain vigilant and come up with a convincing plan to get through to Asgore and Undyne.
Still, despite the obvious setbacks that were occurring, the rescue operation seemed to be going smoothly. The top of the entryway had just been uncovered and it wouldn't be long now before the rubble was completely cleared.
Glacia left Chara gawking at the amount of teamwork going on in the area to go talk to Chilldrake.
"Any word from Asgore and the others?" Glacia asked, concern lacing her voice.
Chilldrake slumped over, seemingly exhausted. "No, we thought we heard a few cries for help, but it turned out to be Doggo being pet by Jerry. I swear that guy purposely tries to get on my nerves." He then noticed Chara standing beside Glacia. "Oh, hey, I thought you'd be too weak to make the trek back here. Are you feeling any better?"
"Y-yeah, a bit better actually," Chara replied before turning their gaze towards the Ruins. "I felt like I needed to be here, at least to get some answers for myself."
Chilldrake stared at them in awe. "That... is so COOL!"
Glacia sighed, pinching the middle of her nose in frustration.
Chara watched the entrance as the rubble was cleared away bit by bit. Then they felt something. It was slight but it was definitely coming from beneath the ground.
That's odd… Chara thought.
Chara's heart rate began to rise as the strange sensation grew stronger. They took a few tentative steps forward, trying to pinpoint the source of the feeling. The ground beneath their feet vibrated with an intensity that made Chara's teeth chatter. Was this an earthquake? No, it felt different somehow.
"Uh, does anyone else feel that?" Chilldrake asked.
Glacia looked around. "Yeah, what on earth is that…?"
Then Chara realized that it wasn't just something beneath the ground coming towards them. The ground itself was trembling, and as they focused their attention, they noticed the tremor had a steady rhythm to it, almost like…footsteps.
Oh…no…
"Everyone, get away from there!" Chara shouted. All of the Royal Guard ducked and flung themselves away at Chara's voice. Except Jerry, of course.
The ground shook beneath Chara's feet as a deafening roar emanated from the entrance of the Ruins. A fierce wind swept through the area, sending leaves and debris flying in all directions. The rubble blocking the entrance shook violently before it was suddenly blasted apart by an immense force. Chunks of rock and dirt were sent flying through the air, crashing into the trees and scattering across the ground.
And then, amidst the chaos and destruction, there he was: Asgore. Towering over everyone in his massive form, his eyes blazed with fury and his hands clenched with raw power.
His voice dripped with anger. "You…will pay for what you've done."