Archimimetale: Hope's POV

Quickly darting out of the bedroom, I try to run for the door, getting surprised by a blue spear in front of the door. I can hear the foot tapping already. It's insane how well she can hear sometimes or react. Before she can say anything, I pipe up quickly, "Just let me go out! I'm tired of being cooped up. I wanna go play in the snow or see Grillby again. It was fun helping him clean the restaurant. I'm bored here. Please!"

"I have to keep you safe until your Dad comes back. The King may have accepted you and told everyone you're a friend to us. That doesn't mean it doesn't make some unhappy. Not to mention that Greater Dog isn't awake yet. You either take him with you, or I go. Which one?" Undyne steps up to me with her armor on and helmet in hand.

Resigning my defeat, I nod, "Fine... Can you go with me somewhere first?"

Undyne gives me a skeptical look and then looks back to her room, "Where? And why don't you want to wake him up?"

"I had nightmares last night. He stayed up to help me go back to sleep. I don't want to wake him up yet. Please, come with me. Then I swear I'll stay at Grillby's until the end of your shift or until Greater Dog comes to get me. Fair?" I try to bargain with her, hoping she'll understand when we get there.

Her spear vanishes in the doorway and shoulders fall slightly, "Fine. Where are we going? Better be quick, I have to go to the castle today."

I nod simultaneously grinning, "The door to the ruins. I think I know how to get Mom to leave and come out. But I had to find something in Dad's house first." I hold a small black book up, "This is Dad's Diary. I know it's rude to have it, but I found an entry that will get her out of the ruins. Maybe if she leaves, I can finally talk to her."

Undyne caves with a small nod, "Let's go. I have three hours until the meeting at the Castle. And I mean it this time. Stay at Grillby's after this is done. I don't wanna be calling your phone a hundred times again."

"Promise!" I say, saluting her, "Let's go!" I pull her hand, feeling her trail along with my plan. She's been supportive to this point. I didn't think she'd say no. I only hope I can reach Mom.

UpturnTale Turn's Point of View

I know I don't usually cook, but after some help from Chara's family I think I get the jist of it. The pot of water is on the stove for the noodles, a second pot making sauce and cheese levitating inside a purple aura against a grater over a bowl. The hope is that I can get her to eat if I tell her I made it. At least that is what Sans and Gaster said might work to get her to eat. Albeit, I'm making this on three hours of sleep after she woke me up last night. Nevertheless, dinner will hopefully help her get back to normal.

My phone going off, adding a new level to this whole endeavor. I set the phone on the counter on speaker so I can keep cooking, "Hello? Can I call you back? I'm in the middle of something."

"I wish that were possible. I'm sorry, Turn. I'm teleporting to your house within the next two hours once my work in here is done. Between the other Gaster and myself, we figured out how to trace the invader. We also figured out that his impact was far from only affecting us. We need to talk. Sans will be there soon. The other Gaster will stay with the machine doing trials," Dad spits off quickly, not giving me time to respond until after.

Quickly stirring the sauce and noodles with each hand, I sigh, "I shouldn't tell him yet, should I?... About the ring... You know but Sans doesn't."

Dad heaves a very heavy sigh, "Probably not. With everything going on, it's best that we keep that between the three of us. Besides, Sans will want to check on Chara when he's there. We're all worried about the toll her determination has taken from all this."

"I'm worried about her too... I'll see you soon, Dad," I say and hearing a return 'Goodbye' before the click. I shake my head and look at the ring on my left hand. I will finish this meal for her to start. The noodles finish just in time to drain into the strainer in the sink, and the sauce is emptied into a bowl. I leave the bowl of cheese by the bowl of sauce, levitating the grater onto the paper towel behind the bowls. I turn around to walk out of the kitchen and through the living to the hallway. The door to our bedroom is shut as usual. I listen at the door and hear nothing.

Knocking slightly, I hear a small chorus of growls until she quiets them down. I call out, "Chara, come on. I made you dinner. And we'll have guests soon. You should come out to eat. Please... For me."

A small thud and light footsteps up to the door tell me I win. She opens the door, her hair brushed and in her white sweatshirt and pants. I did notice my slippers on her feet as I laugh a little, "New footwear? Or is it because their mine?"

She leans into me, giving me a half hug, "Both. They're comfy too. I'm glad to know why you disappeared though. Never pegged you for a cook."

"New things to try. Figured you might like some homemade spaghetti with homemade sauce and freshly shredded cheese. Only the best for you," I kiss her forehead and return her half hug, "Come on. Pups too. We're all eating. Besides, Sans and my Dad will be here soon."

Now she gives me a concerned look, trailing along with me since I have an arm around her shoulder, "What do you mean? Did something else happen? Should we-"

I stop her before the storm starts, "Easy. They said they have a plan. Sans is just coming to check on you. He is your family. We just all worry."

The head shake signs disapproval on her end, "I'm not some kid, Turn. I'm able to fend for myself. I don't need you or the others to worry. I'm fine."

"No, you're really not 'fine' Chara. I've tried to get you to eat for two days now. This is the first time I can reach you. I love you, but you have to let me in. Tell me what you're feeling. I'm not linked to you like the dogs are. You have to tell me these things," I move to stand in front of her, finally frustrated and worried all in one breath.

A weak anger builds up in her eyes that falls short into tears. She rests her head on my shoulder, her voice shaking, "I failed. Rose is gone. Asriel won't even talk to me about it except to tell me that I failed him and Rose. She's gone and I'm here. I'm still standing whereas she fell terrified to a psychopath we still can't find. The dogs are scared and so am I. Whatever he was and wherever he went, I can't fight that without worrying about losing you or losing anyone else."

I pull her into a full hug, feeling her tears falling on my shoulder, "You won't lose us. I know because if we all work together this can work. And hey... I'm scared too. I'm scared you'll shut the door and lock me out while you take a shot like that again. We're a team. Hurt or not, we help each other." I put her at arm's length with a hand under her chin to get her to look at me, "That and you'll never lose me. I'll do anything in this world to be with you. Till death naturally do us part."

She takes ahold of my hand, her engagement ring of silver glittering on her hand. That know-it-all smile of hers is small but there, "Alright... We'll be scared together and fight together. And I love you too." With a kiss between us for a moment, Chara regains some part of her I thought might have been gone; her confidence. It's building slowly and this talk seems to have helped bring a lot of it back. Her voice levels out with a mischievous smile now, "Just promise me you didn't make a recipe from Undyne or Papyrus."

"Haha! I can promise that. I may have cheated and taken it from your family. So at least it's not my brother or it would probably be poisonous," I laugh a bit, watching her give a chuckle at my remark.

When we turn around to walk towards the living room again, Sans is standing in the doorway watching us. No, not us. The rings. He starts to speak, but his gaze looks up to us instead with a tired look, "Hey kiddos. That was a cute display. I'd say I have words, but I'm too damn tired to care. Chara, can we talk outside a second? It's about something sensitive."

Her stubborn streak is starting to return as she shakes her head no, "No. Whatever you can tell me, you can tell him. I get that you have reservations about certain topics, but I chose Turn. You can talk about it in front of both of us."

I didn't get in the middle of this one. She's adamant on this point and I, for one, won't stop her. When her mind is set, you don't change it. You just roll with it or let it go. That or you sleep on the couch in my case which is extremely uncomfortable.

Sans looks up with a similar stubborn look, but he yields quickly, "Fine. It's about this... Whole thing between you two. I won't stop you from doing whatever you feel is your right. That is a decision I don't have. I will say that I can't advise you letting her go with you on this hunting trip your Dad is going to propose. She should be here, safe. That thing wants determination and she's glowing with it. That's a word of caution from me."

"Sans, you seriously can't expect me to leave her behind. She's learned to use her abilities and even how to help amplify mine. She's stronger than you give her credit for. Besides, the safest place for her is with me. I have two whole undergrounds worth of dust to contend with anyone who wants to take her from me," I say defiantly following her lead. He won't tell me that I'm not allowed to keep Chara close to me. She's my fiancé. It's her choice to be with me and to go where she pleases.

He shakes his head, getting ready to leave. Chara moves forward to grab his arm, "Why all of the sudden? You never had a problem with this until now. What's changed?"

His eyes show something close to exhaustion and concern, "Because Turn's ability to see Dust may be our only lead. Chara, I don't want you near this. You're family, kiddo. You could get hurt or worse yet; we still don't know what that lunatic meant by determination deteriorating someone."

"I'll be fine. I always am beside him. I'd rather be out there helping, then sitting in here doing nothing. So please, Sans, don't take this from me. And... get some sleep please. The whole rattled look doesn't suit you well," she says to him, finally cracking a small smile from him when she gives him the joke.

Sans shrugs with a small chuckle, "Worth a shot. I can't sleep yet. Been on scouting duty for three days. Gaster will explain when he gets here." Sans almost falls towards Chara who struggles to catch him.

I levitate him to the chair in the living room to take the burden off of her, "I got him." We both move to the living room where we find him fast asleep on the chair I set him in.

A familiar deep voice speaks up from the doorway, "It seems he's already here. Well, shall we start? He could use the rest for now."

Chara and I spin on our heels to see my Dad standing there. Dad had scuffs and bloody tears on his white turtleneck and black pants. There was even a bloody scuff on his skull above his left eye including cracked glasses.

I speak up quickly, "Dad, what happened to you? You said you were working in the lab. How did that happen?"

Dad moves to sit on the couch and take his glasses off. He sets his head in his hands and sighs, "Humans did this to me. Our invader killed a child on the surface. When I investigated from afar with Sans watching my back, I was... ambushed to say it in a lighter tone. They could only see a hooded figure and not my monster appearance, but they blame some hooded cult for this. He took a child with a soul of determination. We were his second target. Well, Rose and Chara were."

"Let me get the healing items from our room. It can help you," Chara says quickly rushing off to our room.

When she's gone, I ask him honestly, "Why does he want determination?"

Dad shrugs his shoulders with a small ache and a cringe to boot, "Turn, I won't lie. The research I've been doing into determination before the attack didn't turn up good results. She'll either get sick or worse things can happen. It destroys a monster's soul. Humans can use it but well... Genocide timelines like Sans' timeline are... Well let's just say the result."

Chara comes back with healing items she kept from Toriel. Dad takes a few, the cuts and scuffs healing. She moves to stand beside me until I pull a stool over. I set her on the stool with a bit of purple levitation fields and look at Dad, "Alright, so talk. How can my ability help us find this guy?"

"Not find him but find his source. We can only hope whatever timeline he came from can guide us to his goal. Maybe the home can speak volumes of the intent," Dad says with a cautious look to Sans and then us, "Did he tell you to leave her here?"

Chara nods, taking my hand, "Yep. And I'm not staying. I'm going with him. Turn's ability to see Dust can't track to another timeline. Not without a boost in power."

Dad chuckles, lifting his head from his hands, "I assumed that you would say that. Well, you're right. Turn's ability is uniquely gifted for this, but he needs you to get there. The only trace I could find was to the void. That means this individual has some ability to travel to connected voids between timelines or rather use voids to reach other timelines. That means I can't figure out what you're walking into."

I think it over, "Well between us and the pups, I think we'll manage. Besides, that dust belongs to some monster. If I find them, I can find out anything they knew. Let alone that maybe Chara and I can find a monster down there who might wanna talk. Find the source and the reason he needs this much power. We can find out where he's going."

"You said someone on the surface was taken... Sorry, I heard you down the hallway. Was it a kid with a red soul?" Chara asks before Dad can say anything.

Part of me doesn't want to answer that. Instead Dad steps in for me, "Yes. An 8 year old. The good news is they blame a made-up cult. No one suspects Mt. Ebbott. The better news is that I have a description. White trench coat, black lining, black pants and shoes. White hood with black liner. Whoever it is, they can travel across timelines and universes. Not only that, they can use extremely powerful magic and stay hidden during a fight."

Chara looks to the ground and shakes her head, "I don't get it… This guy dusts somebody and then leaves to find determination. There's no reason to it. Not unless that soul had something to do with it. The green hue I saw was a human soul. He seemed upset about it too. Maybe we should see if he has family back in that world and dig deeper before you take in any dust we don't know." Her gaze lifts up to me worried.

Squeezing her hand, I wink to her, "Yes, m'lady. I will only trace it. Besides, I have more dust than I care to deal with right now. Besides, I'm afraid I'd be on the couch again if I did." The comment makes her laugh a bit.

"You two really are doing well. I'm glad. I was worried for a long time. That said, Chara I need you to keep an eye on your soul. We don't know what effect determination will have on you. I told Turn this, but…" Dad starts.

Chara steps in for herself, solemn, "I've felt it. Unstable. It's why I stayed here. I'm worried about this, but I won't let him go alone." She smiles but something bothers me in that smile. It's like she's covering something.

Dad nods and looks aside, "That said, I have research to prove that a monster's soul can recover if they are given another soul or more to balance out the infection. Mainly seven. I dislike the idea, but the determination I have isn't tainted. The other souls ensure it. When we went to the surface, I found half a village of people gone… Their souls still there. It's possible to take the collected souls and use them as a balancer…"

I get ready to go off about taking souls from the surface until Chara stops me by squeezing my hand in return. She nods, "Alright. I'm in. I've functioned with multiple souls powering me before. This time I have Turn. This ring is proof." Her eyes meet mine as if to reassure me, "Turn, I know you hate this idea, but we know our threat. I need to know more before I can make a judgement call on this monster, but I can't do that if I'm constantly taking negative effects from determination. I also don't want to get us there and collapse."

Looking to Dad, I just ask one question in a flat tone, "These souls… If she doesn't get them, can this trip to another timeline still work?"

"Not without someone who knows the condition and can treat it. We can't even guarantee this timeline is going to receive you kindly… Turn, she has months before the infection creates side effects," Dad says with a more serious look to me, continuing, "I wouldn't say this unless I knew I had another way. The only other way is to hope I can separate her and the determination, but that's risky too. More so than giving her the other six. But it is your choice together."

I squeeze her hand and clear my throat, "Chara… Come here." She follows me into the kitchen just before a dust wall covers the entrance with the light maintaining visibility. I put my hands on her shoulder and look her in the eye, "Chara, tell me you can handle it this time with a straight face and I'll trust it. I need to know before I agree to this."

She thinks it over and takes my hands into hers, "I can. I'm different than I was before. Besides, it's this or the next… reaction might be more severe. Your Dad has been fine this whole time. Gaster too. That means it's possible. We can do this or we can hope that my soul survives separation."

"You almost lost control if it weren't me. Whether you like it or not, I may have a solution. The pups have as much determination as you. What if we push the connection to-" I start to explain.

Her anger flares as she lets go of my hands, "No! I won't let them take this for me. It is my burden to bear. Not theirs. I will leave them a monster soul if I can get these souls and they won't be connected. Rose saved them from being Endogamy, an amalgamate. I will honor that. With all seven souls, I can help you find this place and maybe help someone else."

Shaking my head, I just grip my fists at my side and let them go, "How am I supposed to think right now? I want you with me, but I also want you safe. Determination isn't safe, but I'm afraid if you get this power again that you might lose control. I'm not afraid because I don't believe in your ability to control. I'm afraid because I don't want to lose the one thing holding me together."

I hear her sigh, taking my hand in hers. She clears her throat, making me look to her now. Determination… Her soul is glowing but only the red. When she pulls my hand over her soul, I understand. The monster soul is cold meanwhile the red glow is blazing cracks into the monster soul slowly. Her voice is slow, but I think I finally understand her fear right now, "Turn, I'm already affected. These souls may just save me from whats already happening. Healing items don't work."

Moving my hand out of hers, I pull her into a hug. I know I'm shaking, but I don't care. My voice comes out conflicted but resolved, "Fine. Sever the link with the dogs when you get these souls. Let them be their own monsters and promise me you'll keep me updated on how you're feeling while we're over there."

She wraps her arms around me, giving a small relieved sigh, "Promise. I think I can do that. Just promise me you won't do that nervous thing where you pace at night before we leave. You need sleep too."

Feeling targeted, I chuckled and let go of the hug. I kiss her forehead and laugh, "No promises there. You know I'm a nervous pacer. But I'll try."

We resolve to leave when the dust wall falls. I look to my Dad who is watching expectantly, "Give her a day or so to train with me after she gets the souls. Then we'll leave. Fair?"

"And please keep the pups here with you. They'll be safer here," she says, watching the dogs come whining to her legs. She kneels and pets them, speaking only to them now, "I need you to look after Sans after I restore your souls. He's always overworking when he's worried. You're my agents to make sure he gets rest and stays protected."

They bark in unison with their tails wagging. Dad just nods and stands, "I can guarantee that. Chara, you should come back to the lab with me. Turn, please make sure Sans sleeps. I'll supervise this and bring her and the pups right home. You're stronger than he is. Don't let him leave without resting."

Chara squeezes my hand and kisses my cheek, "Like he said, I'll be right back when it's done. Besides, he's right. Sans is as stubborn as I am. But you deal with stubborn me all the time. I think it'll be okay."

"Promise. Be safe, please. All of you," I say to them, watching Dad teleport her and the pups with him. For now, I just sit on the couch with a sigh, "Well, this will be… Interesting when he wakes up."

Undertale: Forward, Back, Neutral, Reverse; Frisk's Point of View

The chill of the snow seeping into my new lab coat would be freezing me if it weren't for my soul warming me up. I decided a few hours ago after Gaster fell asleep to sneak off to talk to someone about an important matter. Sans…

He hasn't left home since Chara's… passing. I had to run from the hidden lab under Alphys' Lab in Hotlands to Snowdin. Even with speed, I swear the cold is out to get me. Slowing my pace to a walk near his house, I look up at the door with a bit of shock.

There's a paper taped to the door that reads;

Dear visitors,

I don't want you here. I need time to figure things out and work on a personal matter. Kindly bug off somewhere else until this note is gone.

Sans

I shake my head, raising my hand anyhow. With a quick knock, I wait until I hear someone speak on the other side, "It's called reading Monster Kid. I need to be left be."

"Sans, its not him. I need to talk," I say out loud with a sigh, "I need to talk to you."

He laughs with a cold edge to it, "Does Dad know you're here?"

Giving a slightly frustrated foot tap, I pull the two bottles of ketchup out of my pocket, "I have two bottles of ketchup if you'll talk to me. Inside preferably. I'm freezing out here."

"Just two?" he says, making me give an exasperated sigh. He chuckles mildly and opens a lock, "I'm messing with you, fireball. Get in here. I didn't even think you could get cold."

Once the door opens, I get in with a shiver slowly leaving me. The bottles of ketchup leave my hands quickly, Sans passing me to the couch with one of them open. I look aside and sigh, "He doesn't know I'm here. He's fast asleep. I expect he knows I would come though…" Finally getting up the courage, I sigh, "Sans, I need your help."

He shrugs and sits on the couch, finishing off a bottle that he sets on the side coffee table with red tinted blue magic, "Dad said I'm coming in for scans tomorrow. Unless you have some other reason for bribing me to talk."

Letting out a huff, I look at him frustrated, "No!... Yes. I mean… I really do need your help. He'll rest for now, but I know once he's up… Sans I'm worried about how he'll treat this guy. He's another Sans… Just much older and I need to know that you'll help me keep him calmer about all this."

The bitter laugh that comes from him is disheartening, "Frisk, it's taking everything I have not to kill the guy. Chara is gone. My friend. She didn't just give her soul up. She took the hit I couldn't. Even told me to take her soul and now I'm on edge about this other guy. Why would I stop my Dad? He has every right to do what he believes."

"Seriously?! Sans, I'm trying to reach you here. She was my sister and the pain is killing me too. That doesn't mean we have to become like our enemies. We're better than them. Gaster is better than this. I can't see you both sink to levels that you can't return from," I rattle out hoping his rational side hears me.

He stands up, levitating the other bottle to the same table as before. Sans stands in front of me, his normal blue tainted by a red hint, "Frisk, whoever this guy is can't be treated like some saint. He's a killer. Undyne told me two kids were taken. Wanna know the soul color? I bet you can guess."

The fire lights up around me, barely simmering around me like an outline, "Stop it! That monster has to have a reason to hunt determination. Wherever he came from, good or bad; we don't know. Until we have concrete data to work on, I don't want anything rash being done."

"You sound just like him before he vanished. Tell you what, I'll go to the lab and you talk to this monster. Maybe you'll get what you need to see our side," Sans grabs his sweatshirt off the couch and leaves with a loud door slam.

Cringing not only at the door slam but also the words, I move outside to lock the door. Leaving into the snow again, I'm no longer cold. I'm burning bright with a slightly melted path to my step until I move past Waterfall and into Hotlands. Maneuvering over the plates until I find the elevators, I just feel conflicted. Chara is gone; which makes me want to light him up. Yet the rational side is telling me to stop and think. No one hunts other for nothing. Why? I have to know. I have to prove to myself that rational thought is key.

The elevator dings and allows me to blaze out with a rush towards the lab. I move into the elevator down, Alphys just barely catching the door to get in. She gives me a worried look and sighs, "You're going to talk to him, aren't you?... Sans said you might."

"I have to, Alphys. Why so much determination? Why any of this and why is this guy so hell bound to get what he wants? Motive. That's what I need. And to prove that maybe there's more to this…" I say out loud, hoping maybe Alphys understands me.

She smiles to me and holds onto a clipboard, "I was going to check on him since his vitals say he woke up five minutes ago. I guess you could talk to him while I'm there. I'm no push over anymore so you'll have me if something does happen."

With a sigh of relief, I hug Alphys, "Thank you, Alphys! You're the first rational person I think that gets this. I owe you big time. After this mess is gone, any favor is yours."

Hugging me back briefly, she nods with a chuckle, "You could do me a favor and convince Undyne that a vacation isn't like ditching your duties and that she deserves it. I can't get her to agree to somewhere to go or even to get her to go…"

With a small laugh, I nod, "Can do. I might know somewhere you'll both love. When this is over, I'll personally talk to her."

"That's the only payment I need," she says just before the elevator opens.

The containment unit is working fine. His souls' power is neutralized while inside. I made this with Gaster for myself should my determination have a bad day. It's a large box cell with a bed and a monitor that has vitals read outs that link to the phones of anyone with the wireless. Alphys opens her phone to activate the comms system for the cell.

Right now, the bed inside is destroyed. The figure we captured lays out of breath on the floor with some mumbling coming through the vitals read out, "Wait for me… I'm coming…"

Nothing else much came through. Seeing Alphys hesitate, I step near the box. He startles to his feet defensively, but I speak first, "Hi. I'm Frisk. Nice to meet you formally."

"Like I care. Let me out of here. I have somewhere I need to be. You don't get it. It's important!" he says, growing more frustrated. This time, determination isn't doing this. It's his own frustration.

Alphys checks vitals behind a clip board, trying not to get involved. I speak up again, level toned, "I can't let you out until you explain why two kids are missing from the surface with red souls. Or maybe even why you need this much determination. By my count, you would have had 4 of them. That's more than any monster should handle… Why are you doing this?"

He glares and turns his back, "Right. Again, like I care. I need to leave. She needs me." When he stops speaking with his back to me, something about his stance seems vulnerable.

Looking at him, I notice he's almost as tall as Gaster, but still younger and far from Gaster's thin frame. I take my chances and step in, "Why does she need you? Is she sick?... I can help you know. I am a scientist. This building is full of them."

"I know your types. You're just like him. Deceitful and backstabbing. I don't need scientists and neither does she. Good try," he says shaking his head.

I think back and chuckle, causing him to turn to me, "Something funny, kid?"

Laughing a bit harder, I lean forward to feel my gut turning. The quick look back makes me realize I was right earlier. He's doing this for a reason. His fist slamming into the side of the container makes me finish my fit.

"What's funny, brat?" he raises his voice.

I just shake my head, "I knew it."

He stalls for a second and looks confused, "Knew what, Einstein?"

I look at him directly in the eyes, the green glint hiding behind the red, "I told them you were doing this for a good reason. And you didn't refute my comment about her being sick. What's wrong with her?"

"Determination is wrong with her. You're older. You can control it. She's a kid. No hope of that. I can reverse things with this soul. I can reverse her damage. I just don't have enough power yet. I know it," he says with a fist at his side, making me worry he'll hurt himself.

Alphys moves to the elevator and hits the lock button. I smile to her, watching her wave me on. I sit on the ground with my legs crossed, "I can't help you if you don't talk. The others are like me, helpful. And I know my sister would want me to help another kid before they suffer my fate."

He sits in front of me inside the box, giving me a skeptical look, "Yeah right. You're fine. Not fooling me."

"And you didn't kill two kids and one adult over a similar urge. It's called blood lust. I know it because I've felt it. Curiosity and a knife. But I learned later how much I messed things up after I blacked out for a long time. I was 12 when it happened. I woke up around my early 20s. Then I came back to fix it. That said, I still remember every kill and fall. I know the pain. But I have someone who helps me maintain my calm and even use it. Sure, I fight urges every now and then, but its called control," I say all this, looking at my hands, "To this day, I still see their blood. Their faces. Its haunting. I can't see someone else go through this… Chara wouldn't want to either. It's not our way."

There's a pause for a minute or so. Only breaths filling the air. He takes his trench coat off and puts it behind his back between the wall. The white tee shirt hiding blood stains, "What now, braniac? Still calm? That's your friend's blood."

He's testing me, but I'm fine. I know she'd want me to help him. I pull a small folded up music sheet from my pocket with Happy Anniversary written at the top with a whole song on the lined sheet. I set it down, pristine and even laminated, "Yeah. I'm mad at myself more for letting her be like that. You? A bit, but I'll keep that under wraps… What's her name? How old is she? How long has she been affected? I need this information to help you."

The skepticism fades from his gaze and blank staring replaces it. He doesn't speak for a moment as if dazed. The next, he hesitates to volunteer these words, "Her name is… Her name is Hope. It happened four days ago. She's a teenager. How does any of this help her?"

Thinking on it, I smile triumphantly, "It means she has more control at her age. But it also means emotional instability at her age is possible. If I can help her and you, will you let me? I mastered this. She can too. It's not a death sentence if you don't let it be. But you have to let me speak to them first and be honest with me. What should I call you, by the way? I don't think Sans would go over well here."

"Call me…" he thinks it over and laughs, "Call me Arch. Its short for something else. And will you really stand up for me so I can help her?"

I nod, standing with a grin, "Yep. Just promise me that whatever process or rule I have to make to appease them, you'll follow."

A heavy sigh comes from him along with a stifled yawn, "Fine… Do what you have to. But let's not leave my kid without her Dad for more than a week or so, kay? I won't be away from her for that long."

"Deal," I say to him, watching him relax a bit. Part of me believes that he shows a small smile in his yawn.

"Move!" I feel Alphys push me onto my face. The only thing I know from that point is that the room implodes.

Covering my head, I try to keep calm to maintain my aura. I can't let this light show start now. Once the noise ceases and the rubble is surrounding me or even covering me a little, I sit up to see what happened.

Sans stood there with a red glow surrounding him. Chara's soul is causing this. He can't handle the determination within his own soul just like I predicted before. His voice is cold, distorted even, "Alphys, you shouldn't have done that. This isn't time for a noble heart. You too, Frisk. Get out of the way. I don't wanna kill my Dad's girlfriend, but you shouldn't defend a murderer."

My mind is telling me to run, but the rest of me is crying out to do something. I do the only thing I can do. I sigh, "Then I'll have to kill him. Happy?"

"Doubt it. Go for it," he holds Alphys by the collar as collateral, I can tell.

Turning to Arch, I let my aura flare up with a hand on the outer walling. It splinters the glass and explodes past me, grazing me with a cut or two. Arch watches me warily with cold expression.

I wink to Arch, making him pause. I know this part will hurt. Closing my eyes, I speak up quietly, "Arch, I have a plan. Just don't try to hurt anyone or run. We have eyes on us to prove your innocence in this."

A voice comes over the speaker, Gaster's alert tone clear as day, "Sans, I'm sorry. This will hurt. Frisk, just hold on."

The room goes from a dim soft white light to a red flashing light. Panels come from the wall with empty tubes attached to a glowing core in the center of the back panel that flips outward. It pulls the magic from the room, but it only pulls one type. Determination. I cough, sinking to my knees with the loss of strength quickly taking over. Arch moves towards me, making me hold a weak hand up to stop him. I'm losing health. I know that much, but slowly. I turn my gaze to Sans who struggles to stand. He takes three steps and holds a hand out, blaster summoning in shambles. I throw aside all hope hinging on this move, "Chara, don't let him do it. I know you're there!"

The blaster sparks to life, aiming at Arch and I both. Of course, I'm standing in the way. The light filters towards me with a faint memory reminding me of my first time fighting Sans. Part of me wonders how I keep ending up at the end of blaster after all these years.

Archimimetale: Hope's POV

The door to the ruins is shut tight just like it was before. I look back at Undyne who is leaning against a tree with her helmet still in hand. She waves me forward, giving me encouragement. OR rushing me. I don't know. I move to the door and knock on it loudly. When no one makes a sound, I look at the book in my other hand. Speaking up carefully, I read the passage from Dad's Diary out loud:

A New Day… I think. The woman I tell jokes to in the ruins opened the door. Well her kid did. Her human kid. She asked me to come in and have tea and pie with them. It felt nice not falling into his plan for once. Just making my own plan. It felt like home again. Before Pap and I got involved in this… Mess with that liquid. I haven't taken it in weeks. Just keep squirreling away the dose where he can't find it. Maybe this can be home now.

After finishing the entry, I call to her again, "Mom… I know you're mad, but I need your help. Dad does too. Something happened. I need your help to help Dad. Please. It's cold and I'm scared of losing both my parents. Mom!"

Silence… Long, begrudging silence is all I get.

Turning away, I shut the book. I put it in my bag with the anniversary song inside with it; lyrics and all. I call out one last time, "I'll leave then… I'll be with Grillby or Undyne. I left the diary in my bag with the anniversary song and left it at your door. Please come home soon Mom."

Walking back to Undyne, I just shake my head, "Can you just drop me off at your house? I kinda wanna be home with Greater Dog right now."

"Yeah. I get it. Come on," she leads me towards her house with a small pat on my shoulder. We walk through Snowdin, all the gawks and stares making me embarrassed while my eyes are glistening with tears. Undyne puts her helmet on my head and chuckles, "There. Almost a perfect fit. You could be my apprentice someday. You could make a wicked weapon summoner like the rest of us with that sword of yours."

Letting out a small chuckle, I look up to her, "Really?! That sounds so cool… But I'm just a musician. I'm no good with it. I just swung it that once. I wasn't even aiming to hurt anyone."

Stopping just inside the Waterfall district, she sets me in front of her, "Do me a favor. Stand with your feet apart; right foot forward, left backward."

I do as she says confused, but I let her go on.

"Now," she summons a small spear and sets it in my hand, "Do a test swing forward. Just like you did with your sword."

Part of me wants to say no, but I oblige. Swinging forward, the spear starts to blend red and blue colors. The swing brings the wind with it, making Undyne grin. I look up at her still confused, "Did I do it right?"

The spear disappears, the armored gauntlet taking my hand, "I'm taking you to Asgore. I think I might have a way to toughen you up. But I want to see if Asgore is okay with it. Maybe if you can use that sword, you might be able to do more than help your Dad. You could protect yourself and others."

"You would do that for me?" I ask, watching her nod as she leads me on. I stop her to hug her tight, "Thank you! I promise I'll work hard every day. No slacking off."

She laughs, patting my back, "Yeah, don't think on it too much. But you better work hard like you say. I don't train wimps. Ask Sans. I trained him. He's tough. But he'll never show it."

We walk for awhile together and feelings of relief wash over me. Finally! I can do something to help Dad and make it easier on the others. I can defend myself. No more running away. This will be awesome!