There was a feeling like falling. Slipping away, and into nothing. Then, a flicker of something. The shattered pieces of the soul shining, pulling somewhere. Grasping at something that had been...forgotten?

When she opened her eyes, the world seemed to flicker, skipping like an old vhs. It settled after a moment, and her eyes came to rest on a girl wearing a purple striped shirt, with blood splashed on it. Her pants bearing a tear across the knee, with a bandaged injury below.

She was sitting on a rock beside a waterfall. Resting in a place of brilliant blue colors, luminescent flowers echoing the hopes and dreams of a people. And the occasional tree.

Her counterpart wasn't entirely unlike her, in fact they were similar in some ways. They had a similar fashion sense, for example. Well, minus the colors at least.

Charas own shirt was black with a red stripe, versus the purple and black of the other girl. Further, said other girl had glasses, which were perpetually cloudy. She learned however, this was because the prescription was slightly off, which, when combined with the newfound scratches made their effectiveness dubious. Oh, and the other had much curlier hair, not that Chara felt envious...all that often.

Chara drifted around the side of a tree, watching as her would-be reflection was talking to another child. A monster girl, who had just finished talking with the human. This monster was wearing a 'totally inconspicuous hoodie.'

She had a big stick that was acting as a makeshift spear. She had red flowing hair, blue skin, and bright eyes. Notably, the hoodie was worn over what was very obviously squires armor.

A thumbs up came from the monster who quickly turned and started off. Waving to the other human child, who waved in response. Chara waiting until the monster was gone, before heading over.

"I don't understand why you must always entertain her dialogue. Doesn't it bore you?" Chara asked, getting a frown, and a glance. "You alright?"

"Yeah." The other child replied, sighing some. "And I know it takes awhile. But she seems so excited about meeting...well you know...I don't wanna be rude, is all."

Beside her on the rock was a notebook. It had a mechanical pencil at the side of it. With a page open, discussing the fight they'd just gotten out of. Or, rather, was going to stumble into shortly.

Though, it was less a fight, and more her being mangled by a strong turtle man with a hammer. Noted as 'Gerson.' He'd been a pain since they left the snow. A scribble on the side suggested that he may know Undyne, with a question mark beside it?

"It gives us less time to focus, and that hammer...really hurt." The ghostly girl commented. "In fact..Tera...why not try your magic on him the next time he comes around?"

Tera checked one of the lenses on her glases, and glanced away at that suggestion, her nervousness about it radiating. This emotion was felt by Chara, their shared bond demanding it. The ghost girl raised a brow, gaining a defeated huff from her counterpart.

"I don't think it would hurt him." Tera reasoned. "And...I feel bad, about...having it." She admitted. "I didn't mean for that to happen."

Chara looked a bit frustrated at the refusal. Her counterpart finished cleaning the glasses, before placing them back on. It had been a little while since Tera managed to make any real progress. And that was mostly because she lost her temper and killed someone.

It had left Tera a mess for some time afterwards. And while Chara felt bad too, it was...much less in contrast. Mostly given how annoying and cruel that monster had been. It reminded her of how most humans acted, and the thought sickened her.

"You're just worried Undyne will be upset with you." Chara guessed, deciding to lighten the mood. "But, that's just cuz you have a crush on her."

Tera turned beat red rapidly. "I-I am not!"

"Oh dude, you totally do!" The red eyed child remarked with a stupid grin. "I mean, I was just joking around, but you like her don't you?"

"N-no...you're an idiot." The purple eyed one attempted to retort, having been called out for her crush.

"You two are gonna hold hands, and learn how to fight from the king." Chara began, snickering some, as Tera let out a sound of embarrassment. "Become super strong warriors, and watch tons of anime, like nerds!"

"Y-you like anime too!" Tera huffed, adding. "A-and you'd be stuck with us." She grinned. "S-so...you'd just have to watch whatever I wanted. Hmmph."

Chara blinked at this thought, noting that she hadn't really considered it before. So far, nobody she'd been with had really succeeded in their goal. In fact...most...

Her mind was briefly assaulted with the images of their twisted remains. Most had failed, trying to leave. However, this one...unlike them, Tera didn't want to leave.

Chara wished so badly that Toriel had been present to meet her, instead of being wherever she was. Regardless, maybe...it would go differently. All they had to do was convince the monsters to leave her alone. And getting to her dad was, in her mind, probably the best way to do that...hopefully.

Realizing she was still being looked at, Chara snapped from her thoughts.

"I guess I'd be in a fishy situation, huh?" Chara joked, with a little chuckle. "Wouldn't that be pun?"

"Awful...the worst." Tera snickered, laying back across the rock. "Hurts worst than the hammer."

"Yeah. I just had to hammer it in. Nail it down, ya know?" The red eyed child joked more, causing Tera to cover her face, looking embarrassed. "Should I... retool my humor?"

"Ughhhhhhh, you're the worst." Tera groaned, despite wearing a steady smile.

"I do my best." The phantom child sighed, letting her counterpart have a moment to rest.

Tera laid there, staring up at the ceiling. There was a feeling, shared by this human. A sort of...need to persevere. To see things through, no matter what. It was...similar, to how she often felt, albeit, not quite the same either.

"Hey, Chara-" Tera glanced over.

"Yeah?" Chara asked.

"Do you...really think I should use the magic?" Tera inquired. "Even though...I had to...kill someone to get it?"

The phantom feigned sitting beside Tera. In truth, it wasn't really a question she was equipped to answer. To debate, or to even advise on in any capacity. Afterall, it wasn't really moral, was it?

It was a bit like...grave robbing. Using stolen magic. But, she reminded herself that her desire to be a helpful mentor, thus far, had always backfired. She kept trying for peace, to find the moral path forward. Yet, everyone else seemed to be abandoning it.

Her gut said to leave it be, to not push Tera to embrace it. But...her gut had been wrong before. And it had cost others...everything. So...

"If you had a choice...no. But...I dunno...it feels more and more like, in this world...it's becoming different somehow." She sighed, thinking. "Like...it's kill or be killed."

"Do you think Undyne would ever kill me?" Tera asked. "I...I know it's silly...but-"

A shared memory of Tera getting murdered by a rather friendly guide played in both their minds. It felt like, no matter who they ran across. They were always willing to cross that line, always willing to betray her trust. Well, almost everyone.

A few people were resistant and had treated Tera well. One or two had tried to shield her, or shelter her from harm. But it was definitely the minority of them. It seemed only natural to be worried at this point.

"Na. She's a friend, so I doubt it." Chara replied. "I imagine she'd probably help you fight, or just protect you if you asked her too."

That thought seemed to cause Tera some distress. The shared imagination as it were, was not a pleasant thing in this moment. The purple eyed girl couldn't help but envision her friend dying in the same ghastly ways she had.

The idea intermingling with the things Chara had already seen, had already witnessed. Tera beginning to shiver at the suggestion, her ghostly guide regretting suggesting it at all. After a moment, Tera motioned. Manifesting the menu that Chara liked to project for her.

|Tera|

|LV 3|

|HP 16/24 |

|ATK 2 |

|DEF 0 |

|G 56|

|Items | |Stats| |Magic| |Journal|

Tera hit Magic. There was, as of yet, only one spell on the list. A single thing that read, |Dancing Water|

Sitting upright she tapped the spell. Her eyes shined some, energy coursing from her purple soul, briefly illuminated as it was cast. A swirling bit of magical energy forming above her palm. Like dancing water. Sloshing, and flowing around.

"I don't want her to get hurt." Tera admitted quietly. "I've never really had friends before you two...and.."

Tera trailed off, the water drawing shape briefly glowing. It began to resemble a spear of light. Something she felt Undyne would really enjoy, despite how it was learned.

Chara spoke. "Then, perhaps...we should practice a bit with this...spell." She suggested, gaining a glance. "As a just in case, okay?" She extended a hand. "What do you say partner...just to keep you both safe?"

Tera solidified the water in her palm, and made manifest a spear of light. The dim luminous blue reflected in her eyes, before she let it go. Letting it land, and pierce the soil. Seeing it in action, her hand was extended, and 'took' Charas.

"Even if we can't really shake hands." Tera noted, snickering. "Okay...partner. I trust you."

The memory faded.

|Continue|

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