|Continue|

Cold air filled her lungs, accompanying with it a feeling of loss. Hand grasping at the empty air for a moment. Reaching out to the memory of someone.

A voice whispered from some shattered memory. "You know what you need to do, don't you partner?"

It left her feeling bitter, numb, and above everything, cold. The light fostered snuffed out again, her expression wavering between pain and regret. Settling on something more neutral, an odd sort of smile, as she rubbed at one of her eyes, brushing away some inky dark that slipped from it.

"Hmm, what are we pausing for?" Flowey asked, before inquiring. "Chara?"

Chara recalled his presence. "Oh...snow. It...got in my eye." She didn't want to tell him, she didn't want to remember that empty feeling. "I need to do...something."

She started to walk away, not informing him of what he was being requested to do. Further, leaving him sitting in the backpack on the ground. The flower letting out a confused sound.

"H-hey, where are you going?" He asked. "Are you really...just gonna..."

She had glanced back, and he took note of something quickly. The purple had consumed her eyes entirely at this point, the red seemingly snuffled. He swore that they were different a moment ago, prompting a realization.

"Sorry, forgot you weren't with me." She muttered, wandering back over to pick up the pack.

"It's uh, alright." Flowey glanced around. "Hey, uh, there's a save point over there. Mind if I-" She continued walking. "Chara...I should probably save."

The girls steps stopped, with a crunch. Her hood had been left down, permitting the snow and cold to fall upon her. When she looked over her shoulder at him, he found an odd expression on her face.

It was concerning, and far less pleasant than it had been only moments before. In fact, he imagined she might celebrate at the sight of snow. Only for that to wither, as whatever had transpired, transpired.

She seemed to debate the request, but took a few steps towards where he pointed. Taking the opportunity he reached out, quietly hitting it, saving his progress. The load command was still in pieces, and unavailable to him.

"Did you save?" She asked.

"Yeah." He replied.

"Do me a favor, and actually watch behind us this time." Her tone full of hostility. "If that's too hard for you, I'll leave you under a tree."

Flowey winced some. "U-uhm, it's not...a problem."

"Fantastic." She muttered, continuing on the path.

As per her request, he kept his gaze watching behind her. Occasionally turning some to check and see what was happening. He desperately didn't enjoy her shift in tone. Wondering what he had done to inspire this odd sort of wrath.

For her part, Chara kept her neutral expression. Her hair left covering her eyes. Providing no commentary for him, no explanation. Her purple eyes focused on the path ahead, staring with an expression of intent.

As they traveled, they came across a large branch in the road. Flowey half-expected her to try and pick it up. Yet, she just ignored it, and kept moving.

"Not gonna take the stick?" He asked, hesitantly. "Could uh...well it seems tough."

"Yeah, I guess." She muttered, not stopping or turning around.

He felt a bit dejected, turning back to focus on the branch. The duo getting several feet away. As he blinked, there was a loud snapping noise. His eyes opening to reveal that the branch had been snapped in half by something.

"Did you see who did that?" She asked, having paused briefly.

"I-I dunno, I wasn't looking." He admitted. "W-well, I was blinking, but uh-"

"Why is it that none of you can ever just do what I say?" She demanded in quiet rage. "Forget it. I expected failure from you."

"S-sorry, uhm...I really was-" He began.

"I don't care." She replied, walking again.

Flowey felt both, incredibly unnerved by what was going on, and alarmingly concerned. He wished she wasn't just walking, that she might pick up the pace. Or that she might tell him what was wrong. Wishing he didn't feel so oddly scared, that he could ask what was wrong.

There was something about her tone, about the inflexion. It was odd. It felt almost like an entirely different person, and he definitely didn't like that. It all made him feel guilty, and horrible. Especially given his belief that they may have died...and it was somehow his fault, again.

Their path came to a halt when faced with some strange sort of gate. Placed precariously over a large pit that went down far enough that the bottom was imperceptable Flowey glancing back, taking it it when he noticed she was no longer moving. Instead, she seemed to be quietly listening, waiting for something.

The sound of footsteps dragged his attention back. Turning, he found a form stepping towards them, wandering in the shadows the tree cast. The figure shifted their posture when being observed by Flowey.

The flower was able to make out who the figure was, almost immediately. He felt a highly intense mixture of unease and dread envelop him. Facing the skeleton, presently wearing a dark hooded jacket, and red sweater combination. The skeletons perpetual smile becoming more aking to a smirk, ever so nefarious, and sly.

"hey there human." The interloper greeted. "hmm, don't you know how to greet a new pal?" she prepared for an attack. "c'mon, don't leave me hanging. turn around, and shake my hand."

She analyzed her actions this time. Having Flowey aware of, and able to witness their attacker delayed their untimely demise. That thought bringing her some comfort.

Turning, she came to face the monster in the shadows, offering a hand to her. She knew the type immediately, by the boney nature of the hand. As well as the smile, ever so slightly visible in the shade.

Left with nothing else to do, she clasped her hand together with his. Following this, there was a distinct noise that followed. It was long, whiny, and very, very much like a fart. She merely raised an eyebrow, realizing she had grabbed a whoopee cushion.

When the sound finished, the skeleton before her chuckled. "heheh...the old whoopee cushion in the hand trick." He grinned some. "it's ALWAYS funny."

Her purple eyes stared through the overhanging strands of hair at him. Some part of her found this little prank amusing. Yet there was something, a sensation, that she had gone to far. That she had to...

|Proceed|

The skeleton stared for a moment, and then glanced to the side. "that's, uh. your cue to laugh." He winked somehow. "or, to, emote at all...?" When she didn't respond he leaned some. "what about you boss, you broken too?" Flowey peaked over at him. "hey bud, how's it growing?" The flower seemed unnerved. "feels like it's been forever since I've seen ya."

"Y-yeah, heh, I guess it has." Flowey laughed nervously. "Er, well, it hasn't been 'all that long has it?"

"your friend has a look that says 'don't touch me, achillea' petals." The skeleton noted, causing Flowey to huff, and a slight change to Charas smile. "hang on, let me aster my question again."

Flowey looked around. "W-what are you doing...Sans?"

The skeleton cleared his throat...somehow. "human-" he smiled more, and offered his hand again. "don't you know how to greet a new pal?"

Chara attempted to resist her impulse, to defy her curiosity. To do what she needed to do. To oblige the pounding whispers in her mind.

It took a moment, but she cautiously took his hand. This time feeling a mild shock racing through her body. Gasping, she noticed he had a joy buzzer in his hand now. The skeleton grinning much wider than before.

"heheh. the old joy buzzer in the hand trick." He pushed his hand back into his dark jacket. "now, that's SHOCKINGLY funny. ain't it?"

Flowey blinked. "W-what...why do you have both of those?"

"yeah I know it's a little silly to cary around both. someone might think I'm up to something." Sans snickered. "course, I tend to be guilty as charged, in that regard."

"Ughhhhhhhh." Flowey groaned, hearing Chara let out a brief chuckle.

"hey hey, there's some emotion." Sans refocused on her. "hey there kid."He greeted. "so, you're a human, aren't ya?" Her smiled became neutral again. "that's hilarious."

"Sans-" Flowey began, anxiously.

"as everyone's favorite lilacable flower keeps sayin, my name's sans. sans the skeleton." Sans introduced himself. "i'm actually meant to be on watch for humans right now."

Chara spoke. "why?"

"ah geez, asking the hard questions. eh, who knows really. just the job. dunno why." He lied, blatantly.

"Your job?" Flowey asked in surprise. "Wait...are you-"

"that's right bud. applied to the royal guard." The skeleton commented. "guess they had a skele-ton of work needin done. cuz they actually hired me."

Flowey went paler than his usual colors. "What?"

"but, i don't really care about catching anyone." Sans suggested.

Chara raised a brow. "You don't?"

He shrugged. "sounds like way too much work." She appeared doubtful. "now, my brother Papyrus, on the other hand...he's invested in it. fanatically." He explained. "but hey, it's kinda his job to be."

Flowey gave him a dubious look. "Isn't it your job too?"

"probably." Sans replied.

"Y-you said it was!" The flower declared indignantly.

"neat." Sans said, with little care or concern, noticing a slight smile from Chara. "anywho, i know he's a ways up ahead." He motioned. "ya might wanna keep a look out for him. when-"

There was a sudden motion, like a blur of movement. Something slashing through the air towards Sans, who narrowly stepped back, vanishing from sight. The teleportation, and action leaving Flowey to let out a sound of fear.

"C-chara, what are you doing!?" Flowey demanded.

Sans commented. "hey now buddy...don't you know its rude to attack people for no reason?" He chuckled darkly. "might give someone the wrong idea."

She straightened up, and turned her focus to the skeleton, who had appeared nearby. She felt red, and pain, and a pounding static in her head. These sensations melted together into hate. The feeling drawing, ink from her eyes, the dark expanding through them. As it pooled, and began to stream down.

She leveled the sharpened knife, her smile growing. The entire world flashing red and black. Seeming to catch everyone aside from her, off guard.

"This conversation is pointless. You're going to kill us, again." She said knowingly, the skeleton shifting. "But, of course, you didn't know you already had." She snickered. "Yet...somehow, you don't look surprised to hear that?"

Flowey commented. "H-he did what?"

"well, the other sans's will be pissed about that one." Sans admitted, adding. "oh well."

Chara decided to fight.

Flowey was forced to fight.

Flowey felt the purple energy seize him. Compelling him to act, even without him desiring to do so. A series of bullets appearing. Firing out at the skeleton. Sans waiting until they got close to simply teleport away from them. Glancing to the side as he appeared, noticing her slashing out at him.

He vanished again, avoiding the hit.

"sorry, whatever you are. but you're out of your depth." He snapped his fingers, as a row of strange skulls, radiating red energy appeared. "better luck next time."

Chara moved to prepare for this action, only to find her soul flash blue once more. Slamming her to the ground. Left surprised, and unable to respond in time, a massive beam collided with her.

It tore apart nearly all her health. Seeming to disintegrate Flowey with ease before he could respond. Another beam slammed into her, before she pushed to the side. Leaving the skeleton to raise an eye socket, her health struggling to fall below 1 hp, even as her soul fractured. A dark substance attempting to hold it together.

She lunged out and slashed at him once more. Only to be sent skidding back. Being hit by another series of shots, coming from every direction. Overpowering whatever she was doing, leaving her vaporized, soul shattering in the process.