This is where things get real. I know we've been doing a lot of Chara's POV, but it's for plot reasons. Hopefully we can get chapters up on a more regular basis at some point. Please, leave reviews! They're like the life force of authors. We love the stuff. Enjoy!
This was it.
I was going to do this. I was going to free them.
In an ideal world, I'd be able to do this alone, without endangering anyone else. But this wasn't an ideal world, and I couldn't cross the barrier alone. As much as I would have liked to, it wasn't possible. Crossing the barrier required a monster who'd absorbed a human SOUL, or vice versa.
There was only one way to get a SOUL out of someone…
Kill them.
But I could never do that. I'd already taken enough life. Besides, I didn't want anyone down here dead.
So I was going to do the next best thing.
I was going to need Asriel's help for it.
This wasn't going to be easy. He was going to hate this.
But I was going to do whatever it took.
Asriel was taking a video of Toriel making pie when I went up to him. "Hey, Azzy, once that's done, can we talk?" I asked him.
"Yeah, totally. Meet me in the spot?"
I nodded. "Alright."
I went to our favorite spot in the Ruins-the place where Frisk and I had fallen down. He showed up a few minutes later.
"Hey, Chara, can I get a video really quick, please?"
I sighed. "Eh, why not?"
Asriel smiled and turned on his camera. "Howdy, Chara! Smile for the camera!"
I smiled in front of the camera, and tried to look at the lens. That was when I realized…
"Ha, this time I got you! I left the lens cap on…but I did it on purpose! So now you're smiling for no reason!"
Asriel laughed, and so did I.
But I'd brought him out here for a reason. I needed to be serious.
"Hey, Azzy…I'm guessing you remember the butterscotch pie incident?"
"What? Oh yeah, of course I remember. You mean when we tried to make butterscotch pie for dad, right? When the recipe asked for cups of butter…but we misunderstood, and we put in buttercups instead."
"Alphys flipped when she saw him."
"Yeah, those flowers got him really sick. I felt so bad, and we made Mom really upset. I guess I should have laughed it off, like you did…"
I fell silent.
"Um, anyway, where are you going with this?"
"Azzy, I need you to turn off the camera."
"Huh? Turn off the camera? Okay."
He pressed the button to turn off the camera.
"To cross the barrier, you need two SOULs. One human, and one monster. At the moment, there are two humans down here. One of them is kind, sweet, and she deserves to live to the end of her days. The other one has unnatural eyes and her name is Chara."
"Chara, you're not suggesting…you can't be saying…that we...that you….."
I didn't say anything. I couldn't.
"Chara, no. I-I won't let you. Everyone would be devastated. Think of Mom and Dad! And-and what about Frisk?"
"But Azzy, don't you get it? That's exactly why I have to do this-so no one else has to! Don't you trust me?"
"Yes, of course I trust you, Chara! But…."
"Then you'll help me. You have to stay quiet about this. You can't tell Mom, or Frisk, or anyone! Do you understand?"
"Yeah, Chara, I understand…"
"Good. Because we've got to start immediately. Go home and get out a cot or something like that. Make sure it's not noticeable; I think Toriel will appreciate it, though. I'm gonna get the rest."
"Hey…Chara?"
"Yeah? What is it, Azzy?"
"Why?"
"Why what?"
"Why do you think of yourself this way?"
"Because it's true."
"Wh-no, it's not! You're not a bad person!"
"Yes, I am. There's a lot you don't know about me, Asriel."
All of a sudden, I turned to Azzy…and I started a fight.
*Asriel asks why you are doing this.*
*FIGHT* *ACT* *ITEM* *MERCY*
*You tell Asriel to check your stats.*
*Asriel checks your stats.*
*Asriel is shocked at your LV.*
*FIGHT* *ACT* *ITEM* *MERCY*
*Asriel spares you.*
"Chara, your LV…it's…."
"Azzy, do you know why we first came to the Underground?"
"No, you never…wait…no….did you…...k-kill someone?"
"I had no choice…." I looked down.
"Chara… listen to me. You-you're not a bad person. I know you like the back of my hand, and I know you wouldn't hurt someone without a reason. Self-defense doesn't make you bad."
"Thanks, Azzy. But…we have to do this. There's no other way."
"Isn't there, though? Can't we just wait for another human to fall?"
"Theoretically, yeah, but even if we do and they fall within an acceptable time frame, the chances are high that either that we'll have to wait until they die or their soul will crack before we can get to it. This is the best way. Besides, humans are absolutely vile. They manipulate and kill people for their own sakes. I can't have one fall down; they could hurt you."
"Chara…."
"Come on. I have to go find flowers."
And with that, left. Azzy sat and waited, fiddling with his camera.
I had everything we needed.
I had 10 buttercups. It would get the job done.
Asriel was there, waiting for me.
"It's time, Azzy." I said.
"Chara, wait." Azzy said to me.
"Asriel, if you think you're going to change my mind, you ca-"
Asriel pulled me closer, and he kissed me.
I didn't pull away.
"Azzy…if you think this will make me stop…"
"No, I know I can't stop you. Even if I refuse, you'll just do it anyway. I just…I wanted to do that before…"
"I know."
I stared down at the flowers in my already-blistering hand before forcing them into my mouth.