Embrace The Past

"I will save you," Frisk promises.

Chara crosses her arms, her form shimmering, "I don't believe you."

He nods, "You'll see. Just help me remind Asriel who he is."

She smirks, "That alone won't work. I told you already."

"That's where you come in." he states.

She scoffs, "How could I help? He can't even see me."

"I have a plan." he replies.

"Care to elaborate?" her eyes narrow.

He shakes his head, smiling, "I'll let you know when the time comes. You won't have to wait long."

She dissolves into his shadow and he can feel her presence resting in his hollow heart. She takes residence where Frisk's soul should be. This bothers Frisk, but he pushes the thought away, I have better things to do than get riled up over what I did to myself. He trudges through the marsh of Waterfall in silence, shivering at the cold mud and water attaching themselves to his bare legs and into his shoes. He ignores his discomfort as he finds the bridge Undyne cut. He doesn't know of another way to continue other than jumping down, so he does just that.

He jumps into the darkness below and he yells as he feels his stomach rise figuratively into his chest. He lands on a bed of golden flowers and he groans, standing shakily. His body feels jarred from the jump and he fears taking a step will land him face first in the murky water around him. He stands in the flowers for a few minutes, trying to get his bearings again. he finally moves his feet and golden flowers are stuck to his shoes and ankles. The flowers wash away instantly upon stepping into the water.

The water splashes his chest as he basically jumps off the flower bed. The water, again, covers up to his knees. He trudges slowly through the water and makes his way out of the garbage filled waters. He walks until he gets back to the bridge he saved Monster Kid on and he sits down, breathing heavily. Leaning against the wall, he closes his eyes, trying to catch his breath. Despite his renewed determination, his body still feels drained as his journey continues. He groans softly, "I don't remember it being so tiring the first time.."

As he continues to sit there, his mind drifts to Toriel, and how she's doing with all this. He left her in the ruins, all by herself. He knows how sad and alone she is, and he still left her there. He looks down the bridge, "I'm almost to Hotland.. I can't possibly go back to the Ruins.. She'd never open the door again.. Would she..?"

He frowns, standing slowly, "Is it possible to bring her with me? Would that ruin the way things are supposed to be? I don't think so.."

He crosses his arms, "The Riverperson should be in Hotland. I can have them take me back to Snowdin."

He nods, smiling, "Maybe I can convince Toriel to come with me, confront Asgore with me."

"That's a dumb idea. Is she a part of restoring Asriel? Because I promise, that won't help you at all. Asriel's killed our parents a hundred times over without feeling a thing." Chara appears beside Frisk, glaring at him.

Frisk smiles lightly at her, "You said 'our' parents. That proves you still care."

"Stop with that crap. They used to be my parents, so what? I. Don't. Care!" She speaks through gritted teeth, darkness erupts around her before dying down again. She turns away from him, crossing her arms, "Just do things the way you did before and accept your defeat."

"Chara.." Frisk frowns, "If I can save Asriel.. And you.. Can I have my soul back..?"

It's a shot in the dark, he doesn't actually expect to ever get his soul back. But he still feels he has to ask. He wants to save everyone again, and to do that, he'll need to appeal to Asriel, and Asriel will need Frisk's soul to break the barrier. Chara looks back at Frisk, her eyes narrow, "Why even ask? You know I won't give it to you."

Frisk pushes his hair behind his ears, "I just.. Had to ask.."

"You don't seem to understand how much I hate you." she replies.

He sighs, and heads down the bridge, "Let's just keep going. if my plan works.. I'll see Toriel again.."

Chara follows him silently until Frisk stands and the entrance leading to the mountain containing Hotland within. Chara drops back into Frisk's shadow, taking back her residence where his soul should be. He swallows and walks over to the mountain within Mt. Ebott. Undyne stares down at him and she looks even more angry than before. She silently brings forth her spear and she jumps down, standing in front of him.

The spears appear around her again, and she hands one to Frisk, snarling, "I refuse to kill unarmed children. So, fight back."

Frisk takes the spear and smiles slowly, repeating the words he first said to her in the first time he encountered this situation, "'I won't fight you. I'm a pacifist, I don't believe in violence.'"

Undyne gasps softly, recollection forcing its way into her mind. She chuckles bitterly, remembering, again, what happened before, "'You think hugging random strangers says anything about you? Quit that goody two shoes act and fight.'"

Frisk smiles, happy that she remembers, hoping it's not just a fluke. Undyne throws spears at him and he laughs, blocking with his spear, "'I'm not acting!'"

She continues to throw her spears and he dashes past her as quickly as he can, running into Hotland. Undyne growls, "Hey, get back here!"

Frisk keeps running, passing the sign reading: "Welcome To Hotland!" His phone rings and he answers it, "Hello?"

"Hello, human!" Papyrus's voice rings out from the other end of the receiver, "Have you met Undyne yet? I bet you two would be best friends! Then we all can be best friends! Let's meet at her house later!"

Papyrus hangs up and Frisk looks back and gasps. Undyne catches him as he tries to run away. He blocks her attacks again and takes off running yet again. Undyne runs after him and Frisk yells for Sans as he passes Sans sleeping at another sentry station. Frisk stops running, standing by a water cooler and Undyne slows to a walk, breathing heavily.

Undyne collapses from the heat and Frisk grabs a glass of water and walks over to her. He leans over her and pour the water on her face, crouching down in front of her. After a few seconds she stands up, and so does Frisk. They stare at each other for a few moments and Frisk asks, smiling softly, "Are you okay, Undyne?"

She groans and walks away from him, muttering, "This isn't over."

Frisk sighs in relief, Finally, something's going right.