And thus, the tattered partty of heroes found themselves confronted with a wicked specter of the past. A foe they'd beaten, and spared, come back now with hatred in its eyes. Now bearing an ally of its own, a gargantuan foe in its own right.

Yet the knight had lost her trusty sword. Her sunny dispositioned compatriot weakened, battered in an effort to help her. Truly, this was the darkest hour.

A time of trials, trivializations...tribunali...she didn't know the word, but it meant bad things if she was correct. And like any brave warrior, faced with such insurmountable odds, her soul shone bright before them in this final hour. At least, this was how Chara briefly envisioned the situation they were in, before snapping from it, and doing something sensible.

Chara used Run Away.

Flowey gasped. "B-bail!"

"Nope, nope nope!" Chara remarked in equal alarm.

The following collection of movements were a loose scramble and an attempted mad dash. Her steps bringing her over the cracked ground tiles that made up this section. The realization bringing with it a brief fear of inevitably, in the future falling through it. Though, the first steps were fine.

The Froggit, in response to this rather earnestly elected course of action, turned towards her, croaking again. The strange mold monster roared in equal measure. The pair springing after them, in a fashion not unlike a slinky, and a frog. Which she would normally find amusing, were it not for the Frog leaping up, latching on to the ceiling, and darting down after her.

Noticing her soul flashing before her, she dove forward. Narrowly avoiding the impact of the frog, Flowey promptly extended his vines to catch the ground, pushing the pair forward and beyond their enemies reach. As Chara got to her feet, she took note of the turn leading out, starting towards it immediately.

A series of butterfly like wisps were produced by the Froggit, soaring out in the direction she was going. A sidestep, and a stagger seeing the ground break. Flowey letting out a sound of alarm, extending his vine to catch them. Pulling her back up, the girl scrambling to pull herself back up as well. Finding her footing in a spot that was stable, despite her shaking leg.

Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed the slime monster had latched onto the wall. It fired a speck which moved forward, and then exploded into several more, aimed towards her. The girl nearly stumbling, being caught by Flowey.

"H-hey, don't-" He began.

A piece struck one of Floweys vines, breaking it. The sudden loss causing her to tumble back, hitting the wall, and leaning back enough to avoid a couple of the magic hits. Exploding little bits of rubble where they impacted.

Taking note of the seemingly straight path towards the door, she leaned forward, and started back towards it. More bullets being fired at the pair.

"Flowey, do the thing." She requested.

"What thing?" He asked, as she leapt forwards, hitting a point on the ground which crumbled. "C-chara!"

Driven out of instinct, his vines extended out as they began to fall, in an attempt to stop their rapid decent down, into the dark. Latching onto a point, the vine was immediately snapped by something above attacking it. The Flower taking note of the Froggits butterfly.

He growled. "Stupid frog!"

Several moments before the pair crashed, Chara closed her eyes. She attempted to anticipate how much this was going to hurt. Her thoughts interrupted when she hit the ground, slamming against a bed of leaves, which kicked up around her.

Orange and red leaves cast into the air. Their colors visible in the dying light above, gradually fading as the floor repaired itself. Eventually leaving only the cracks to provide a dim illumination to the area.


The familiar feeling of falling, of slipping away and into nothing, beckoned. However, this sensation was calmer. The damaged soul shining, purple and dark, pulling somewhere. Grasping at something that had been forgotten.

There was a sound like crunching snow, as someone tread through it. Wandering around the back of a house, in some calm town. Past a shed there, a giggle escaping them.

"Hey Partner," A voice spoke, gaining her attention. "Tada...whataya think?"

The desire had been to be left alone. The newcomer presented being blurry, at least as much as everything else was. Like pieces of the memory had been lost or fractured.

This newcomer wore a blue hoodie with a fur-lined hood. It looked soft and comfortable and was worn over a purple sort of striped shirt. The wearer bearing arms outstretched, spinning around briefly, clearly pleased.

"Why do you do this?" Chara asked in confusion. "You don't need my approval." She stated. "And...how did you...even get that?"

"Tactical guilt trip, and convincing him I got cold." The wearer got nearer. "Also, I know I don't, but I want it." The blurry being stopped before her. "You're being so serious...c'mon...you can admit it's cool. Just...a little bit?"

Chara felt a mixture of disappointment and amusement at the being before her. Rolling her eyes, she refused to indulge this behavior all the same. They didn't have time to play around, not when things were being...stranger than usual.

"Let's just...keep going." She suggested. "Alright?"


When her eyes reopened, they were greeted with another wave of a pain wracking her body. It felt like she couldn't move, everything aching, screaming. Her body mostly submerged in the leaves, and the dark.

Somehow, it felt familiar. She could barely make out a sound, like a crinkling wrapper. Flowey coming into view saying...something. Her ears rang, and she couldn't quite make it out. But she felt the piece of candy get pushed into her mouth.

The taste was like licorice. The candy beginning to melt away, with the partial chew she managed to muster. A feeling filled her, a sudden breath rushing into her lungs, followed by a groan of pain. The girl turning, coughing a few times, resulting in blood splashing across the leaves. Alongside a strange ink-like substance as well.

Chara was pulled into a seated position and placed against a wall. Finding the flower humming nervously in front of her. His expression being one of notable concern.

"Are you okay, or, can you at least here me now?" Flowey asked, getting a nod in response. "Thank the angel...we uh, we have...really not done great at this."

"No..." She huffed, while grasping the loose cloth around one arm.

"Do'ya remember when I suggested you eat the candy?" Flowey inquired. "Yeah...maybe we should have used that to heal your feet, instead of uh...trying to conserve it."

The girl didn't respond right away, instead beginning to wrap the burns again. They seemed to receive some healing from the candy piece. Enough to be slightly less painful. Although, it just sort of spread around, not really relieving any pain entirely.

Chara replied. "Maybe. It'd sure beat being one-foot in the grave." She smiled some. "Heh."

"Idiot." He replied, smiling some, while helping finish her arm wrapping.

"So...what do we do now?" She asked.

"Go back up and fight them?" He suggested.

"Can we win?" She asked, getting back up.

"Probably not." He hummed. "Maybe if we're careful."

Chara sighed, looking around the room. "Regardless, we're here...now. May as well look around."

"Just be careful." Flowey requested. "Your last attempt went pretty badly."

"Pfft...whatever petals." Chara grumbled back at him, despite knowing he was right.

She was a bit surprised to find that the room beneath the walkway was rather expansive. It was a also designed in an oddly peculiar fashion, at least, what she could see in the dark, as her eyes began attempting to readjust. It had a lot of what she presumed were the same red and orange leaves she'd fallen into everywhere.

It was a little hard to tell, given the walls and floors were also a bit off-red, and there was no real light. Yet, they appeared to be gathered in lines, which, when observed, seemed to resemble something. Designed to some goal she couldn't quite determine from her present perspective.

Her focus fell on a sign of some kind, standing out in the darkness. Wagering it would provide some answer to this strangeness, she began towards it. Limping along, she noticed Flowey giving her a nervous look.

"What're...ya doing?" He asked.

She paused. "Walking?"

"That's not what I mean and you know it." He said.

She checked the area around the sign for some indication there might be a trap there. Having worked out what she felt was probably a solid indicator. As every trap she'd encountered had some degree of dust around it. Meaning, if the sign did, it was a trap. If it didn't, it was...probably fine.

Thankfully, when looking over the sign there wasn't any dust. Feeling confident in this idea, she stepped forward. Hearing the flower wince, as they stopped in front of it.

"Wow...so little faith." She noted.

"To be fair, you've not had the best luck so far." Flowey noted.

"S-shut up...idiot." Chara huffed, while turning to the sign. "You've been screwin up too."

Hearing her tone, he elected to quiet down after that. The pair reading over the sign. It read 'Please don't step on the leaves.'

Her attention turning to the long lines, and piles of leaves, and then to the ceiling above them. Or, rather, the floor that they had fallen through, above them. She contemplated it, and then, began to follow along through the space cleared of leaves.

Every now and then, she glanced back up. Squinting at the dim light, piercing through. She had a hunch.

Coming to the end of the trail, there was something of a clearing. With a slot along the wall that seemed to be some sort of path leading up. One that someone would most likely have to crawl through.

Before she could inquire to confirm this suspicion, the duo heard a section of ground crumble above them. Breaking, as the oh-so-familiar Froggit came falling down from above. Landing in such a fashion, as to kick up many leaves, facing them.

Chara clenched her fist. "Ughh. I..." Her eyes blackened. "hate this guy."

"Ignore it, and let's hurry out." Flowey suggested, nudging her. "Seriously let's go."

She gave the monster, presently looking a bit confused, one last glare. Willing herself to turn, she hurried to the slot, and began to crawl back up. As much as it stung to admit, they weren't quite in the shape to dive into a fight at the present.

Crawling out of the slot, she stumbled out, and landed on her arms. Growling at the pain, while gritting her teeth. Getting back to her feet she brushed at her dirtied clothes. Looking up and around, she noted the presence of the slime creature, standing...or, well, whatever it was doing exactly, before the pathway that led out.

"Oh come on, really?" Chara exclaimed in exasperation.

"You've just gotta dodge those hits." Flowey commented.

"Yeah, I know. I'll try." She replied, annoyed.

Stepping closer the world flashed red and black. Her mind projecting an image of their options once more. Her eyes glancing over their names, and health. Recalling Flowey having gotten hit earlier.

|Chara - 6/20| - |Flowey - 7/12|

|Fight| |Act| |Item| |Mercy|

A part of her wished to try fighting, but given her lack of weapon it certainly wasn't viable. Instead, she focused on the other options available. She didn't have any items left, so she ignored that as well. Leaving her with the ability to ACT, or show MERCY. Something it most certainly wasn't going to offer them.

Choosing to Act, she noticed a slight shine to it. A redness to the Moldsmal, projected by her mind. It was remarkably similar to what was present when she decided to spare the Froggit the first time. She felt anger well up in her chest. It couldn't be that simple, could it?

|Mercy|

Chara decided to Spare her foe.

Flowey chose to Act

|Check| - |F-Action| - |Intimidate|

Flowey used F-Action.

Flowey attempted to do a similar wiggle to the kind the Moldsmal was doing. The monster responding in kind. What a meaningful conversation. Chara meanwhile huffed, and simply gestured to the side. Showing she wasn't going to attack.

The Fight ended. They got no xp, and 1 g, which it seemed to drop for them to pick up.

The strange monster slinkied to the side. Going back to where it was originally, promptly nestling itself in the corner, nice and cozy. With this accomplished, it seemed to care very little about actually attacking them.

"T-that's all we had to do?" Chara asked in surprise.

"Hmm, oh yeah, sometimes they're tired or just not interested." He said. "It's...much easier when that's the case. You can just Spare them, and they'll not attack you. At least until they wake up more."

She drew in a sharp breath. "Whatever...let's just go."

Following and testing the idea she had from below, Chara found the process of traversal to be significantly easier. With only one or two near-slips in the process. The girl glancing back once before continuing on, just to make sure the Froggit wasn't lurking somewhere.

The next room was reasonably lit up, much like the one before it. This room seeming to be a simpler puzzle of some kind. It had three rocks, and a small bridge bearing spikes blocking the way. The intent of the puzzle, given the grooves in the ground, and the pressure plates, was fairly obvious.

They moved the first two without issue. But the third proved to be...alive, and stubborn.

Chara requested. "Uhm...excuse me. ?" It grunted. "I'm...I really want to get home...can you please move, just for a little bit?"

"Shove off." The rock replied. "I dunno what you are, but I ain't seen it before. So why don't'cha go back'ta where'ya came from."

Her nice attempt having failed, Flowey tried his luck. His request was less polite, and promptly resulted in the two arguing. Their back and forth getting more and more heated as things went. Falling into full on yelling, prompting the girl to cover her ears for a moment.

She had learned several new swears she didn't know from it at least, so that was neat.

"Would you both please stop!?" She shouted, getting them both to do so, as she knelt down. " ...please. Everything hurts, so much." She said, shaking. "Mom said she was coming back, and hasn't, and I'm worried, and I just-" She recomposed herself. "please. I'm sorry to ask, but I need your help."

The Rock let out a long sigh. "Right...you're uh...just some weird kid. Shoulda guessed, striped shirt." It muttered. "Fine, just this once. But uh, don't cause trouble, okay?"

She hugged the rock. "Thank you."

"Y-yeah sure, whatever." The rock huffed, moving to the plate. "Least you're nicer than that stupid ass flower."

Flowey adopted a very scary face. "I'll grind you to rubble you-"

She covered his mouth. "You have a great day sir."

The pair continuing on, as the flower did his best to continue arguing, even muffled. When the duo finally crossed the bridge, safe and sound on the other side, he managed to slip from her grasp. Growling in the direction of the rock.

"And don't you forget it!" Flowey yelled back angrily.

Chara took note of his anger, and said. "Chill out Flower Power, no need to rock the cradle, when we just got past it."

"The nerve of that guy!" He growled. "Can't be-" He paused. "really?"

"I know. It was a boulder decision to be so punny." She joked, with a half-smile.

The Flower just shook his head, as they proceeded to the next area. It proved to be a small hall, with a table in the central area. Giving it a glance, Chara was a bit confused to see there was cheese on it.

She didn't really care though. The space seemed safe. And this inspired her to lean against the wall, slowly sliding down, until she was properly plopped on the ground. Her feet felt terribly sore, though she wasn't leaving bloody foot-steps anymore, so she considered that an improvement.

Wiggling her toes beneath the vines, she noted how destroyed her shoes were. Wondering if Toriel would be upset. Then again, they hadn't run across her while on their path. So whatever she was doing, it had to be pretty time consuming. The girl fidgeting with a strand of cloth while contemplating that.

"Don't suppose you can see that save point?" Flowey asked, gesturing to the air.

"Sorry, no." She muttered, looking around for one of hers. But it wasn't present. "Mine's not here either."

"It's fine, we're almost there." He noted.

"Awesome." She muttered, feeling tired.

Flowey looked her over, and asked. "Do uh...do you need a minute?"

"I dunno...maybe." Chara asked. "Sorry about being...angry, I just-"

"I get it. You're...freaked out, in pain, and dealing with a lot of stress." Flowey remarked, adding. "I'd be confused if you weren't being a brat."

"You're being a brat too." She noted.

"As if." He smirked. "I'm being responsible."

"Ah...so...captain brat." She added, letting out a tired breath.

"That doesn't make sense." He scoffed.

"You're right...sorry captain petals." She replied, a smile on her face.

Flowey groaned properly. "Hate that nickname."

"Love that nickname." She said.

The two settled in for a moment, anticipating a brief period of respite on their adventure so far. It had been so chaotic, and draining, that the moment of peace felt almost alien. But none-the-less welcome.

However, unfortunately, it wasn't meant to last. A familiar voice echoed from the room they came from. The Rocks, talking to someone else. The pair exchanged looks, as she rose, and wandered over to the door.

There, they laid witness to Froggits. Three of them, with a very familiar one in the center. Presently pushing at the rock, trying to get him to move. Though he was stubbornly refusing at this moment.

"You've gotta be kidding me?" She asked in disbelief.

Floweys eyes darkened. "We should have killed that thing."

The suggestion seemed to draw a glance from Chara. She pondered for a moment if that would have been a better way to handle the foe. Admitting hesitantly to herself that it would have spared them quite a bit of trouble. But she tried to shake off the idea.

"Maybe...well, we're here now. So-" She muttered, turning to the only door left ahead of them. "let's just keep going, before it can catch up."

"Yeah...yeah. Fair, fine, yeah." Flowey sighed.

With their much-needed break ended before it could begin, the pair continued forward. The girl briefly glancing at the cheese on the table, and then to a mouse hole across from it. A small mouse could be seen peeking out of it, looking as dinged up as she was.

Imagining that it might one day get the cheese, strangely, filled her with PERSERVERANCE.