Snowed Inn Hotel
It was nearly midday when Frisk woke. She had gone to bed very late. She was starting to enjoy her time with Chara, talking and cuddling. It would be a waste, to spend all that time sleeping.
I like him, she realized. I really like him. We talk and talk until the early hours of the morning, then fall asleep holding each other. For the last few nights, I've slept soundly. Even if it is wrecking my sleep pattern.
By the time she made it to the skeleton brothers' cabin, even Sans was awake.
When Papyrus saw Frisk, he swept her into a tight hug, crying "I WAS SO WORRIED WHEN YOU ESCAPED!"
Frisk put her arms around Papyrus. "I knew you wouldn't let the Royal Guard take me. I knew you wouldn't turn me in.."
Papyrus let Frisk ride on his shoulders as he went around the cabin, doing his chores.
Sans came out of his room. "hey bro, don'tcha have some training? undyne will never let you join the royal guard if you're late…"
Papyrus looked reluctant, but he lowered Frisk carefully from his shoulders and set her on the saggy couch.
"don't worry.. i'll look after the human.. "
Papyrus grabbed his gear and hurried off to his battle training.
Frisk turned to Sans. "I'd better get going. I.. I love Papyrus. He's an amazing person. But you're right. He might get in trouble if I stay around. Please tell him.. Please tell him I had a great time hanging out with him. That the Royal Guard want to capture me and take my SOUL, so I can't stay here. Please tell him I got away safely.. and that I'm really grateful."
"no problem, kid.. i'm glad you understand. you got any problems, you gimme a call, y'hear?"
There was a steep climb from the Snowdin plateau to the Waterfall trail. As she descended, she could feel the climate becoming warmer.
Of course, Snowdin, being near the crater peak of Mount Ebott, got its fair share of natural light, cold weather, and snowfall. Waterfall was closer to sea level and the snowmelt from the peak ran gracefully in rivers and streams. The Core was even further into the Earth's crust. No natural light reached down that far, but the thermal energy was sufficient to power several thermoelectric generators that supplied electricity to all of the Core's denizens.
Frisk skipped over a stream of meltwater and started down the Waterfall trail. Tall cliffs and jagged rocks had to be navigated. On the way, she encountered the excitable little Monster Kid. He was climbing down, just as she was, but having difficulty due to his small arms.
"Yo! You're a kid too, right? I can tell 'cause you're wearing a striped shirt. Ha.. ha.. I'm stuck."
"Here, take my hands. I'll help you down", said Frisk.
Monster Kid thanked her. They rested together for a few minutes.
"Yo! Are you sneaking out to see her? Are you sneaking out to see Undyne?"
"Yeah! She's the coolest!"
"I wanna be just like her when I grow up!"
"Me too. She's so strong and beautiful!"
"Hey don't tell my parents I'm here. Ha ha."
"Deal. Don't tell anyone I'm here either!"
Frisk would have liked to stay with Monster Kid. She found him adorable. But she also wanted to fight Undyne, and Monster Kid would get in the way. She didn't know how Chara and Monster Kid would interact, and she didn't want to find out. She gave Monster Kid her cellphone number and went on ahead.
Further down the Waterfall trail, less natural light filtered through. Bioluminescent fungi and reflective stones had been placed carefully to light the paths. Frisk crossed a wooden bridge over a fast-flowing river and stopped to admire its beauty. Glowing blue algae clung to the rocks below the surface, so that the water itself seemed to glow a bright blue. Reflective stones were embedded in the rock walls, and at a distance, they looked almost like stars.
Lush vegetation grew around the edges of the pools and streams, all of it gorgeously lit by the bioluminescence. Frisk remembered to collect the ballet tutu hidden in a waterfall cave. She squinted up at the sky, through the open crater of Mount Ebott.
The sky was darkening, and Frisk knew there was still far to go. She stopped for a rest by the great stone statue with drops of water falling onto its head. She didn't want to leave – these waterfalls were so beautiful, and this might be her last chance to appreciate the view.
She went past the snail farm and bought two pots of snail stew from Napstablook.
Then she stepped into the series of caverns that would lead her to the Core. Glowing crystals were embedded high in the ceiling, and they looked like clusters of stars. The bioluminescent algae were growing on the cave walls too, pink and blue nebulae among the stars.
NIGHT
Inside the starry cave, she gazed up at the thousands of spots of light. She felt a gentle pressure on her back and shoulders. Chara had appeared, and was standing behind her. He put his arms around her, and Frisk's chest flooded with warmth.
"I bought you some dinner", said Frisk.
Thanks", said Chara, taking his pot of stew excitedly. And then, after a moment, "Wait, where's my spoon?"
"Sorry, I only got one. We'll have to share."
Frisk chivalrously spread the tutu on the damp ground for them both to sit on. They sat side by side, leaning on each other and taking turns with the spoon.
They finally finished their soup pots.
"Frisk, can I ask you something?"
"Sure"
"Why did you want to reset? You were unhappy about the way things turned out last time. What did you want to change? Was there something you wanted but never got to do?"
"I love this world. They call themselves monsters, but they're the nicest people I ever met. Humans aren't always so kind."
Chara nodded. That was something he could agree with. Monsters were capable of fighting and killing, but they were never motivated by cruelty that was characteristic of humans. Yes. Humans instinctively pick on those who are weak and those who are different.
He rested his head on Frisk's shoulder and listened patiently while she spoke.
"The first time I came here, I befriended everybody. I was kind, and everyone was kind to me. I learned more and more about them. I was able to help them solve their problems. Eventually we made it up to the surface"
"You did?! And then.. what did you do?"
"I reset. I couldn't bear the thought of saying goodbye to all of my friends. I wanted us to be together forever. So I went back to the beginning and met all of my friends again. For them, it was the first time. Only I retained my memories. You know, one of the sweetest moments in a friendship is becoming friends with someone you didn't think you'd get along with?"
"Really?" said Chara, making his most innocent face. He lifted his head from Frisk's shoulder, until their noses were almost touching.
"That's right", said Frisk, putting her arms around Chara.
Chara was wriggling around, trying to get comfy. He snuggled into her lap, relaxing in her arms, gazing into her eyes. "Well? Keep going. What happened next?"
"I started discovering that many people here had dark pasts, or tragic backstories. I went to extreme lengths to help them, to get them what they needed to live happily. I had to know everything about everyone, and I used it to help them in their darkest hours. Do you know the Royal Scientist, Alphys?"
"That blundering idiot in a lab coat?"
"That's the one, but there's actually a lot to her. Do you know, she conducted some rather dark experiments on monsters who were near death, and they came back to life? But when she told their families they recovered, her test subjects fused together. Now she won't open any of her mail or answer any phone calls. We're going to help her."
"Wow. I don't know how anyone could get out of that."
"You'll see. Also, do you know Mettaton?"
"Who doesn't?" shrugged Chara.
"Mettaton used to be a ghost, related to Napstablook. He always wanted to be a star. Dr Alphys made him a robot body so he could perform on stage and be on TV."
They started walking.
"Explain one thing to me: up to this point, using you power to SAVE and RESET, you helped all the monsters and made them happy. Where does the Genocide come in? What made you do it?"
"There's something else I discovered. I love to FIGHT. After a few runs and resets, I started to get the hang of it. Then I started to enjoy it. Each time I reset, all my EXP and LV started from zero, but there was something that didn't fade. I remembered each monster's attacks. My skills and reflexes increased. The stronger my opponents were, the better I got. The better I got, the more challenge I wanted."
There was something liberating about telling all this to Chara. He was probably the only person who couldn't judge her for her sins.
"Now, I'd RESET more times than I could count, and it had never failed to work before. I thought: what if.."
"If?"
"What happens if I fight each monster at its full strength? I had to know. I had to push myself to my limits."
Frisk stopped. There was a peculiar sensation – something rising and swelling in her chest, alternating between ice cold and burning hot. Chara was staring at her, eyes wide and red, with a smile that stretched from ear to ear.
He's really liking this, Frisk thought. Any talk about fighting gets him excited, and right now, he looks absolutely deranged.
"Tell me", he whispered.
"Most of the monsters aren't hard to defeat, and most don't actually want to do any harm. They're pretty weak against anyone with killing intent. Toriel's fire magic looks a lot scarier than it really is, and if she saw I was injured, she would aim to frighten me, but not to hit. Papyrus is the same. He'd never actually hurt anybody."
"Did Papyrus run away?"
"No. He knew I was killing monsters and confronted me. Offered me guidance, said he'd set me on the straight and narrow. He told me he still believed in my goodness, even after I cut his head off. Right before he crumbled to dust." Frisk narrowed her eyes at the memory.
"Which of the monsters put up a fight?"
"Undyne. She killed me a lot. Once she realised I was a threat, she no longer fought with honor. She just wanted me dead. I had to kill her several times over, too. Her determination levels were so high that her body re-formed each time I wounded her. Her attacks are fiercer. Faster. She's stronger in every way when she knows I'm hunting down everyone she loves. She even threw herself in front of that little Monster Kid to save him from me. I lost count of the number of times I fought her. But each time, I learned how better to counter each of her attacks. There's a finite number of variations, and there's always a way through. I got what I wanted: the fight of my life. But when I killed her, I wanted more."
"That's where Sans comes in, right?"
"Yep. He's nearly impossible to defeat. Every single one of his attacks is deadly, and really hard to dodge. He understands the SAVE and RESET mechanics of this world and knows how to fight dirty. I met my match."
"Now that you've done it, do you regret it?" asked Chara softly.
"Of course I regret it. This world is horrible when everyone's gone."
"If you could RELOAD your file before your Genocide run, would you do it?"
"I can't, can I? Not much point wishing for it."
"Would you, if you could?"
Frisk was silent. She didn't know. She stopped and sat down on a rock. In the distance, they could see Asgore's castle. Lights were shining in every window.
Chara sat at her feet, gripping her hand tightly. Frisk could feel his unhappiness, wave after wave of it. But she was tongue-tied.
"Answer me", he demanded. "Do you wish you'd never met me?"
Frisk didn't want to make him angry or upset, not now, when he owned her SOUL. Finally she found her voice.
"I'm glad I met you. I just wish the circumstances were better."
Chara seemed to calm down.
"I've done horrible things to people I love. Of course I regret my Genocide run. But then, I've gained so much insight into the people of this world. I've seen what they're capable of, when they want to save each other. As a pacifist, I would never have seen Undyne's true heroism. Do you know, Alphys has cameras set up all over the underground, and she watched Undyne fight me and get killed? That camera works both ways. I saw her crying against the keyboard of her computer."
Frisk's voice cracked a little. She had to stop for a moment.
"After that, Alphys gained enough courage to evacuate lots of people. And Sans.. each timeline where he won his fight with me, he'd be condemned to live in an empty world where all his family and friends were dead. He still gave it his all, to save the monsters in other timelines. There was no way to save his own."
Chara looked up at Frisk, with his large red eyes, listening quietly. She continued.
"I can't say whether or not I wish it had never happened. But this timeline right now will tell. So I've got to make it count. I'll be kind to everyone I meet and do my best for them."
Chara laid his head on her knee and gazed up into her eyes. "You'll be kind to me? You'll do your best for me?"
"Of course I will. And I like being with you." Frisk leaned forward to put her arm around Chara and rub his back.
"The other monsters.. in the past, you solved their problems. This time, you'll make their wishes come true… and mine as well?"
"Your wishes?"
"I wish: to find my place. Someplace I am loved. Someone I can love."
He looked so innocent, like a cherub. Frisk put her arms around him. If that's all he wants, this might turn out all right! I could love this Chara, who only wants to be loved and won't hurt anybody.
Frisk nodded.
"Let's walk", said Frisk, offering her hand. Chara took it in his, blushing a little as their fingers laced together.
Hand in hand, they navigated the cave, and then a series of wooden bridges. Frisk noticed the light change, and her skin started prickling. Undyne must be near.
Frisk turned to Chara. "Are you ready for our fight with Undyne? You wanna watch?"
"Of course I do!"
"Okay. Then let me have my SOUL back for a bit. I need it to fight."
"Close your eyes then.." said Chara.
Frisk felt Chara's warmth seep slowly into her chest. Then she felt his consciousness behind her eyes, and she was sure that if she could see her reflection, they would be glowing red. One of her hands opened and flexed of its own accord. It was a strange feeling, but she didn't mind it.
Frisk crossed the cliff.
It's just beyond here, she told herself.
She stepped onto the wooden walkway and her shadow stretched long behind her.
"I heard Undyne was here, looking for a HUMAN!" she shouted into the night.
In reply came a volley of spears, each glowing pale blue in the dark. Frisk dashed forward knowing that if she kept moving, nothing could hit her. She stopped when she reached Undyne's arena.
She could feel Chara's anticipation building.
Undyne is my favorite monster to fight. It might be the last time I fight her. Let's make this a good one. The best way to make the fight more challenging is to threaten and taunt her.
A single spear whistled down and landed two paces in front of her with a loud THUNK. Undyne was standing tall, high up on an outcrop of rock above the mouth of the tunnel that led to the Hotlands. Her mane of red hair was streaming in the wind. Her silhouette was magnificent, clad in dark armor and backlit by the starry cave.
Frisk took a moment to enjoy the sight. Then she stepped forward and yanked out the spear. "You missed!" she called to the armored figure.
"I did not miss! I gave you a spear to defend yourself with. Or do you plan on fighting me with that little stick?" snarled Undyne.
Frisk chucked the spear to one side and brandished her stick like a fencing foil. "What are you doing all the way up there? You look like you're the one who doesn't want to fight me!"
Undyne's eyes looked ready to pop out of her head, and her mouth twisted, showing her pointy teeth. With an unintelligible howl of rage, she leaped at Frisk. Spears materialized and shot at Frisk from every angle, but Frisk dodged them all expertly. Compared to Undyne the Undying, the heroine fighting to save her friends, it was really quite easy.
Frisk smiled her creepy smile. She could feel Chara's elation pounding through her chest. "Have you even fought a real human before?" she taunted Undyne.
Undyne seemed dismayed that target evaded her attacks so easily. "Stop running around!" she cried, and Frisk felt the familiar feeling of being rooted to the spot. Her SOUL turned green. "Come and get me!" she replied, pointing her stick at Undyne. The spears shot towards her, but she used her stick to knock aside the points. Spears clattered uselessly in the dirt. Frisk tapped Undyne on the nose with her stick. It seemed to infuriate Undyne.
Frisk flashed her creepiest smile. "I fought Papyrus and made him cry!"
Undyne looked shocked. "No! You didn't -!" She bared her teeth. "I'll never forgive you!"
Undyne was really angry now. Her attacks became far more wild and fierce, but Frisk dodged them all, calm and controlled. Undyne began to hyperventilate.
Finally, Undyne collapsed from exhaustion. She'd overheated from fighting in her heavy armor. Frisk gently loosened Undyne's collar and fanned her with the skirt of the tutu. She scooped up some water from a nearby stream in Undyne's helmet and set it beside the fallen heroine. Then she walked uncontested from the arena and into the Hotlands.
"That was incredible", whispered Chara from inside her heart. Frisk could feel his admiration radiating from his SOUL to hers, and she basked in it.
Love, MongrelDog
Writer's note:
The story is complete. I'll be uploading a few chapters each day, after editing. I also did a word count, and it turns out I don't have the 50,000 words required for NaNoWriMo. I failed.. but still, I'll upload my work. I'll finish what I started