MTT Resort, Dark Alleyway
Frisk went to Bratty and Catty for some styling before her stage performance. She slipped into their shady alleyway shop and studio. Their shop sign was a mess of pink and purple graffiti, and all of the labels were handwritten in gel pen.
"Hey! Check it out!"
"Yeah! Check it out!"
They introduced each other, as they always did:
"I'm Bratty and this is my best friend Catty!"
"I'm Catty and this is my best friend Bratty!"
Flirt? Why not?
"Hey ladies!" Frisk sang out, giving them a cheeky wink.
Bratty smiled toothily and Catty's eyes opened wide.
"So, like, what's up?" they chorused together.
"I'm going on stage with Mettaton today. Could you help style me? Please..?"
"Oh My GOD, are you serious? I have, like, the perfect outfit for you!" squealed Bratty.
"And I am SOOOO doing your makeup" purred Catty.
Frisk looked herself up and down in a full length cracked mirror. Bratty had chosen an MTT-Brand t-shirt, black with a pink design, artfully ripped and held together with safety pins. It had belonged to Bratty before she grew out of it, but still, the shirt was too big on Frisk – one sleeve had slipped off her shoulder.
"It's, like, too big for her", said Catty.
"So, I mean like, we have to customize it!" said Bratty, tying a knot in the side.
Catty brushed Frisk's hair into a twist on top of her head, and set it in place with copious amounts of hairspray.
"Do you, like, LIKE the glitter?" she asked.
Frisk was still captivated by her new appearance. The makeup made her look older. Her eyes were long and dark. Her cheeks sparkled. They'd even put lip gloss on her lips.
I look almost like a young teen, Frisk thought. I look… sexy!
She practiced a few poses in front of the mirror.
She turned to Bratty and Catty. "I love it!" she said. Then she thanked them and paid them both double.
"Like, see you later!" called Bratty.
"Wait! I'll pay you 1000G if you get Mettaton to autograph my butt!" yowled Catty.
Tickets were sold out to Mettaton's afternoon show. Frisk strutted confidently onto the stage. She surveyed the audience. Not an empty seat in sight.
She puffed out her thin little chest, so that everyone could see her MTT-Brand shirt. The crowd loved the brand. They cheered and whistled.
But where was Mettaton?
Frisk heard a clattering sound from high above the stage. She peered up into the darkness. A shutter was opening above her. She jumped back just in time: Mettaton descended with a crash that made the whole stage shake.
"THERE YOU ARE, DARLING! IT'S TIME TO HAVE OUR LITTLE SHOWDOWN"
He addressed the crowd.
"BEAUTIES! I BRING YOU: REAL DRAMA! REAL ACTION! REAL BLOODSHED!"
"Mettaton! There's someone behind you waiting for an autograph!" called Frisk.
Mettaton turned to look for his adoring fan – and Frisk darted in to press the switch on his back. Both of them froze.
"DID YOU JUST FLIP MY SWITCH?"
The crowd was silent with suspense. Every single monster seemed to be holding their breath. The smoke machine went off, filling the stage with white mist.
Mettaton had transformed into his humanoid form. His silhouette was unmistakeable: tall and willowy. His movements were delicate and effeminate. Frisk enviously looked up at Mettaton's endless legs and slender waist.
"OOOH YES…!"
The smoke cleared and Mettaton emerged. He had a beautiful smile on his androgynous face. He'd taken extra effort with his appearance, slicking his hair back with an iridescent hair gel and dusting himself with MTT-Brand Bishie Shimmer Powder. Through the transparent panel at his waist, his SOUL pulsed brightly.
"That's right, Mettaton, I'm your number one rival!" Frisk did a heel turn and stuck out her tongue.
"THERE'S NO-ONE AS BEAUTIFUL AS ME! NOW STAND STILL WHILE I MURDER YOU!"
"Kill! Kill!" chanted the crowd.
Mettaton was twirling and leaping on his absurdly long legs. Without breaking his dance routine, he kicked out at Frisk. She took the hit, rolling over and over across the stage. The crowd were cheering Mettaton.
Despite being injured, Frisk got up and posed defiantly. The crowd loved that even more. She rolled under Mettaton's next kick and pushed one of his high-heeled boots, which made him totter and fall over. Somehow, that excited the crowd even more.
"Bloodshed! Action!" the crowd were screaming. "Kill the human!"
While Mettaton was recovering his composure and fixing his hair, Frisk pulled out a beautifully wrapped Glamburger and ate it. Then she equipped the tutu over the top of her shorts. The roar from the crowd was deafening.
"DARLING, YOU LOOK FABULOUS! LET'S DANCE…!"
One of the lights started firing lazer beams at Frisk. She ran away as gracefully as she could.
"You can't get me! I'm the star!" she boasted.
"OOH I'M JUST WARMING UP!" said Mettaton. "LIGHTS! CAMERA! BOMBS!"
Frisk ran again. She managed to avoid all of the bombs. Mettaton wasn't so lucky: he was caught in the blast and both of his arms dislocated and fell off. He stared in disbelief.
"A…ARMS? WH.. WHO NEEDS ARMS WITH LEGS LIKE THESE? I'M STILL GOING TO WIN!"
Frisk posed and blew kisses to the crowd until Mettaton regained his confidence.
"THE SHOW.. MUST.. GO.. ON!" Mettaton's voice was a bit flat. He must be running out of battery power.
Mettaton was a lot less lethal without his arms. Frisk started dancing again. She looked up at the screen overhead, displaying the show's ratings. The ratings had gone up, up off the scale..
Soon after that, Mettaton started to wobble.
No! Not yet! Mettaton needs a fabulous finale!
In desperation, Frisk equipped the stick and threw it to Mettaton. He caught it daintily in his teeth and raised his eyebrow. Inexplicably, a red rose sprouted from the end. The crowd swooned and whistled. It was just then that Mettaton's legs gave out and he fell backwards.
Frisk knelt beside him slowly. He did look pitiful, surrounded by his disconnected limbs. He winced as Frisk's hand went to his SOUL container on his belt. He looked afraid.
Frisk smiled and pointed to the screen displaying the show's ratings.
"OOH, LOOK AT THESE RATINGS!"
Mettaton's SOUL blazed brightly. His eyes went wide.
THIS IS THE MOST VIEWERS I'VE EVER HAD! WE'VE REACHED THE VIEWER CALL-IN MILESTONE! ONCE LUCKY VIEWER WILL HAVE THE CHANCE TO TALK TO ME... BEFORE I LEAVE THE UNDERGROUND FOREVER!"
One of Mettaton's aides brought over a microphone. The crowd fell silent and they could all hear a dialling tone..
"LET'S SEE WHO CALLS IN FIRST.."
Click.
"HI! YOU'RE ON TV! WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY ON THIS, OUR LAST SHOW?"
Napstablook's nervous voice came from the show's speakers. "... oh... hi... mettaton... I really liked watching your show... my life is pretty boring, but... seeing you on the screen... brought excitement to my life... vicariously I can't tell, but... I guess this is the last episode...? I'll miss you... mettaton... ... oh... I didn't mean to talk so long... oh..."
"NO, WAIT! WAIT, BLOOKY-"
Click. Napstablook had hung up.
Frisk could see Mettaton's anguished expression. Napstablook had been one of Mettaton's oldest and dearest friends, who knew him long before he became a star. There must have been a lot he wanted to say.
Still, the show must go on. Mettaton swallowed his pain and put on a brave smile.
"I'LL TAKE ANOTHER CALLER!"
More and more monsters called in and told Mettaton how they felt:
"Mettaton, your show made us so happy!"
"Mettaton, I don't know what I'll watch without you."
"Mettaton, there's a Mettaton-shaped hole in my Mettaton-shaped heart."
Mettaton shed an oily tear. "AH... I... I SEE... ... EVERYONE... THANK YOU SO MUCH. ... DARLING. PERHAPS... IT MIGHT BE BETTER IF I STAY HERE A WHILE. HUMANS ALREADY HAVE STARS AND IDOLS, BUT MONSTERS... THEY ONLY HAVE ME…"
Frisk lifted Mettaton's head into her lap.
"You did get to perform for one human. I'm proud to say I'm your number one human fan! Oh, your power-"
Mettaton's low battery icon was flashing, and the last bar of battery disappeared.
"I'LL BE ALRIGHT. KNOCK 'EM DEAD, DARLING. AND EVERYONE... THANK YOU. YOU'VE BEEN A GREAT AUDIENCE!"
Mettaton's batteries died and his power faded, but his smile stayed frozen on his face.
NIGHT
Frisk was back in her hotel room. She looked at herself in the mirror.
I look.. amazing.. Like a real star. The makeup, the glitter, the nice clothes.. I look so pretty. It's a shame to wash it all off. Then I'll be boring old me again.
Chara materialized on the end of the bed. He smiled and blushed. "You look nice." He held out a hand. Frisk took it. She was empowered, feeling Chara's admiration and knowing she was beautiful.
Some music was playing, faintly audible, outside the hotel. Frisk went to the balcony and looked out on the MTT resort, lit up for the evening. An opera stage had been set up, and Mettaton was performing a song. He'd changed back into his original rectangular shape. He was also wearing a dress.
Frisk opened the balcony door. Mettaton was crooning a ballad, which she recognized as 'Oh! One True Love!'
She pulled Chara into a slow dance. Her arms went around his neck, his went around her waist. Nose to nose, they gazed into each other's eyes and swayed together in time to the music.
Their lips brushed together, and they were kissing again. Chara undid Frisk's hairstyle and ran his fingers through her hair.
All too soon, the music stopped. The song had ended. They both turned towards the window in time to see Mettaton rocketing upwards, still wearing his frilly dress. It was so absurd that Chara burst out laughing and Frisk nearly fell over.
They sat down on the end of the bed. Frisk wiped a smear of lip gloss from Chara's mouth.
"Chara, can I ask you something?"
"Sure, Frisk. Anything."
"What will you do when we get to the surface?"
"Even when we get to the surface, we'll be together forever, won't we? We could go to school and be in the same class. When we're older, we could own a shop or run a restaurant together!"
Frisk had to admit, that sounded wonderful, though slightly unrealistic.
"What about the monsters? Who will look after them when they try and go to meet the humans?"
"We'll help them.. We can show people that monsters and humans can get along."
A very uncomfortable feeling twisted its way around Frisk. She thought back to Chara's words during their first game of Truth or Dare. How do I know you're telling the truth, she'd asked him. You'll feel it, Chara had replied.
I'm being deceived, she knew. He's not being entirely truthful. He looks totally innocent, but I can tell something's not right!
Frisk excused herself to have a shower. She changed out of her dance clothes and into her own.
She looked at her reflection in the steamed-up mirror. Back to her old self.
Then, she went for a walk and found a save point in the hotel lobby.
Time to find out what Chara is thinking..
SAVE
Frisk returned to her room and found Chara lounging on the enormous bed.
She described how she wanted to be adopted by Toriel, and have someone to take care of her. She asked Chara about his dreams for the future, and listened carefully as he explained how he had always wanted to become a great cook. His mother had been talented at making pastries and pies and he wanted to do her proud. His ultimate ambition was to open a shop or restaurant so that many people could enjoy his cooking, and he wanted Frisk to join him.
Chara looked so passionate and sincere, but the uncomfortable feeling of deceit grew stronger. She wanted to believe him, but she knew it was dangerous to underestimate him. Frisk thought carefully: she could tell Chara was lying, but she couldn't tell what he was thinking.
I need to know, she decided. Chara, what are your motives?
But first, I need to know whose power is stronger. Both of them had the ability to SAVE and RESET. Whose SAVE would take precedence?
Very quickly, she thought of a plan.
"Chara, when was the last time you took a shower?"
"What? I don't need a shower."
"Yes you do. Let's get back to what we were doing last night. But first you need a shower."
Chara didn't need any further encouragement. He walked straight into the bathroom and turned on the shower.
He didn't even lock the door. Perfect.
Frisk snuck in. Behind the shower curtain, Chara sounded like he was scrubbing himself down. She picked up all of Chara's clothes, all of the towels, and anything remotely wearable, then ran all the way to the balcony, and pushed open the sliding door.
Chara turned off the shower. "What are you up to? What is making you so excited?"
A short pause. And then, "Where are my clothes..?"
He leaned out from the bathroom door, careful not to expose himself.
Frisk, standing by the balcony, gave him a slow and nervous smile. In her arms, she held the bundle of clothing. She counted to five, and threw the bundle off the edge of the balcony.
"What have you done?!" he shouted, "Bring them back!"
Frisk smiled a creepy smile. "Come on Chara, let me see you!"
"No! Go and get my clothes!" Chara slammed the bathroom door and locked it.
This is it, thought Frisk. If he can RELOAD, he'll do it. Then, I'll flirt with him and he'll forgive me. I'll know the extent of his abilities. Even if he can RELOAD and I lose all of my memories, this was all just a harmless prank by a love-struck little girl.
She waited at the bathroom door for an hour, wheedling to be let in. Chara stayed inside in a deep sulk. The door remained locked.
RELOAD
Frisk stepped into the room. There was Chara, lounging on the bed, exactly as she'd found him.
"I've had my shower. It's your turn", she said.
Chara took his shower. He didn't even lock the door.
To Frisk, that was proof that her SAVE superseded Chara's, and he had no memory of the experience.
While Chara was in the shower, Frisk took some time to think. I was going about this the wrong way, she realized. Chara is planning something and I won't discover what it is unless I ACT in the right way. I'll try acting evil.
Chara emerged, towelling his hair dry.
"Is that really all you want in life? To go to school and stuff?"
"Y-yes", said Chara, smiling sweetly. His cheeks were flushed and he really did look angelic.
"You already know what I love more than anything else, don't you Chara?" Frisk whispered seductively. She could feel Chara holding his breath. She could feel his feeling of anticipation.
He looked hopeful and confused all at the same time. A whole mixture of strange emotions were rising and blending, but she couldn't decipher them. She could tell that Chara was powerfully interested in what she had to say.
"I love fighting and I love winning. I want to be the strongest, the most powerful being in the Underground!"
Chara's eyes lit up. He stared at Frisk with his mouth open. Finally, he whispered, "This is what I've wanted my whole life."
"I knew you'd feel the same way. With you by my side, what couldn't we accomplish?"
Chara reached out and took Frisk's hands in his. Then, he was kissing her fingers.
Excitedly, Chara unveiled his elaborate plan to lure all of the monsters to the surface, break the barrier, and kill them. Frisk listened with growing disappointment.
Time to see how deep this goes.
"Chara", she said, stopping him mid-sentence, "I need to know how you feel about me."
Chara froze. Frisk continued. "I liked your other plan better. The one where we'd go to school and live together."
Frisk could feel an eruption of confusion, disbelief and betrayal.
Chara smiled again and this time, there was nothing sweet about it. "I see.. You set out to trap me.. Your feelings for me.. were they ever real? Or was it all just a trick?" His face twisted and his teeth clenched.
"No! Please! I want us to be together.. In a peaceful world!"
Truth. Absolute truth. It was truly what Frisk's heart wished for, and Chara could feel it resonating in his SOUL.
Chara stopped, eyes wide and mouth slightly open. Frisk took Chara's hand in both of hers and pleaded with him. "Yesterday.. you said you wanted to go up to the surface with me. That we should be together forever. Let's do that, Chara. But let these people live, let them be happy."
Chara's internal struggle seemed to be causing him great pain.
"So tell me, Chara, if you had to choose between me and violence, what would you choose?"
"Frisk", he said, "Let me make this very clear. I don't have to choose. Allow me to explain, so we both understand each other."
Chara put one hand to his chest. When he pulled it away, there was a dark shadow hovering in his palm.
Is that.. Chara's heart? It's black. No, not black. Empty. Dark.
A point of light appeared in the middle. Bright and red and warm. Slowly, it grew, until Frisk recognized it as her SOUL. It fitted neatly into the empty shape, with only a little space around the edges.
She stared, transfixed. There were fracture scars in Chara's heart, like a pane of glass dropped on the ground.
Of course.. he's dead, she realized. His SOUL has split and shattered. So he used my SOUL to mend his own.
"Your SOUL is mine. I need you, Frisk. You make me complete. You fill the emptiness inside me. You are the only person in this whole world that I don't hate.. and I want this world to have only you in it."
Frisk shook her head. "No, Chara. I RESET to put this world right."
"No..? You must have misunderstood. You only have free will because I permit it. You can't leave me – I have your SOUL. Look. Here it is in my hand."
Chara's dark SOUL constricted, the sharp edges digging in to Frisk's bright red one. Terrible pain shot through her, and her body wouldn't do what she wanted. Chara was convulsing too – he was in just as much pain as she was.
We're shackled together, Frisk realized, but my SOUL is stronger. He doesn't have full control. He feels what I feel, and now we're both in agony.
Chara started to laugh and cry at the same time. Ink-black tears flowed from the corners of his eyes. His face started to distort. There was a high-pitched ringing in Frisk's ears and she felt as if all of her strength was draining out of her. She felt disorientated, as if she were back in the empty, destroyed world. Now Chara was coming towards her with his empty eyes and his empty heart..
With the last of her failing strength, Frisk dashed past Chara and ran.
RELOAD
Back at her save point. Frisk was still shaking with terror. It took a few minutes for her to calm down enough to think clearly. Her mind felt like a frightened bird trapped in a greenhouse. She was crouched on the floor, her hands were tightly wrapped around her knees, and she was rocking herself, trying to comfort herself.
Soon, Chara will come to look for me. I have to think. I have to come up with a plan. Above all, he cannot find out what I have done. He must not know that I know..
She forced herself to go back to her room, as if nothing happened.
"Frisk! Are you ok?"
"I'm fine! I just felt a bit dizzy", she replied.
She shut herself in the bathroom and took a few more moments to compose herself, then unlocked the door and stepped out. Chara was waiting anxiously on the other side. He was back to his old self. She could almost forget that awful apparition she'd just seen.
"You must be tired out after all that dancing" said Chara. He put his arms over his head and did a pirouette.
Frisk flopped facedown onto the bed. She felt weary after her efforts to uncover Chara's motives. Chara himself had plenty of energy to spare. At first, he seemed disappointed that Frisk didn't want to dance any more. Then he joined her on the bed.
"I'll make you feel better", said Chara. He brushed her hair back and started to massage her neck and shoulders. Frisk sighed softly. It really did feel good. Chara worked his way down her back, his hands both firm and gentle.
Afterwards, they held each other, wrapped snug in the blankets, sharing a single pillow, as they usually did.
"Frisk, what are you thinking? Your mind is full, I can feel it."
Here we are. Again.
"I have a plan, Chara. A plan to become all-powerful. To reach the Absolute."
Frisk heard Chara breathe in sharply. Nobody spoke for what felt like several minutes.
"I knew it. I knew it from the time we fought Undyne! You were born to fight – and win!"
"That's right. With you beside me, what couldn't we accomplish?"
Chara started to describe how they'd kill the monsters together.
Frisk took a deep breath. Acting evil. Here goes:
"Now, Chara, you're not seeing the bigger picture. You just want to kill just for fun? I want more. I want power. Last time we went on a killing spree, Alphys evacuated most of the monsters. We can't have that. We have to be patient. First we get the monsters to the surface. Then…"
"Then..?"
"Aha. You'll have to wait!" whispered Frisk. She imitated Chara's creepy smile and the way he spoke. "But it will be SOOOO tragic, when they realize there's no escape. They'll fight us with all they've got! We'll surely witness the most heroic and selfless acts of bravery!" She mimed wiping a tear from her eye.
"You said that before! You said that you saw the best in every monster when they were united against us."
Frisk nodded. "Exactly."
Chara put his arms around her again. "You're the first person, the only person, who truly understood me."
"Of course! We share one SOUL." Frisk hugged Chara tightly.
"I just remembered – there's something I want to give to you", said Chara. He reached into his pocket and brought out a heart-shaped pendant. "It's the most precious thing I ever had."
Frisk stretched out her neck and allowed Chara to fasten it.
"I already have a piece of you. Now you have a piece of me as well. We'll be together forever, I promise", said Chara.
Frisk felt exhausted. I'll figure this all out in the morning, she told herself. Chara agreed to be patient and wait until we reach the surface. I've bought some time.
"Chara.. What's your perfect happy ending? What would you want to happen, if you could choose?"
"I… I'm in love with you, Frisk. Only you. I want to destroy everyone else in this world.. because I want my world to have only you in it."
Absolute truth. It resonated deep in Frisk's SOUL. It was intoxicating, to feel from Chara that he loved her every bit as much as she loved him.