Wind blasted the field, a dash and the gleam of a knife. Meeting against another, sliding across the blade, drawing near. The target merely laughing, swaying out of the way of the strike.

The game was coming to an end, it seemed. Though it lasted long, with many odd twists, turns, and plenty of jokes...the grim conclusion was nigh. In a way they hadn't seen coming.

The 'Evil Scientist' played by Papyrus had, as the protagonists were making steady progress, introduced a new variable into the game. A new piece, as powerful as they were, if not more so in some ways. One that worked against their chosen abilities, in many ways.

"I don't understand, why can't we beat her?" Chara asked in frustration. "We're doing everything right."

"Well, she's just got our two bext traits combined." Flowey remarked in irritation. "And that makes her damn near unkillable." He added. "I told you that. Any ideas trash-bag?"

Sans chuckled, adjusting his seat. "well, the opponents tougher, faster, and better at everything we do, than we are." He contemplated. "honestly, maybe we just give up."

"S-shut up!" Flowey growled. "I will not surrender. I'm...I'm Determined to win!"

Sans examined the two kids, both looking over their items, possessions, and characters to try and find a way to survive this onslaught. Their foe, however, was chilling. A hair-raising individual, if there had ever been one.

A creature the likes of which they'd not prepared to fight, the kind that none could. A beast so gruesome, so twisted and horrific that it felt like it was from a far different game entirely. The Marionette.

Ironically, it had begun life as one of the friendly npcs they'd met. And acted like a weaker amalgamation of Flowey, and Charas character powers. However, clearly it hadn't stayed that way.

The effects of this unanticipated character being that they had the ability to lull their enemies and get their guard down. Playing a role, before the strings pulled it to action. Further, they could pacify a foe, forcing them to switch sides or leave a battle.

Or, more nefariously, to strike them down when they were most vulnerable. A twisted thing, that he had to applaud his brother for using. It was such a good play. Even if it mighta ruined the game, and the fun of the whole thing.

They had been playing peaceful enough. A few deaths here and there, but nothing too major. However, two of them lacked good pacify abilities.

Sans had been playing a 'Good Doctor' to square off against the Evil Scientist. But a lot of his abilities were related to avoiding fights, rather than getting into them. With only one strong combat ability to rely on if things went sideways.

Flowey elected to play a mercenary prince, who didn't play by the rules. Focusing a lot of his power into mobility moves, and cheap attacks. With a strong ability that let his character delay death. However, he had put very little into social skills, leaving him a bumbling mess if the fight wasn't...well, gonna be a fight.

Chara was the only one who had any hope for their party. She'd elected to play a 'Revenant Witch' who acquired their powers from special totems. With a unique power to come back from death, if given the time to do so without interferance. She had a few pacify abilities, though they usually required some buffs to make them work. Or the enemy to have low health.

Their team composition wasn't entirely organized. Which hadn't been a problem, until now. Said problem, manifesting in the form of an enemy that functioned quite a ways different than the ones they'd come to face up to that point. The Marionette being heavily focused around 'social' and 'fatal' moves.

A foe who was powerful in a fight and had great pacify abilities. Convincing a foe to let down their guard, or surrender to the hopless situation. All of which could be managed, save for their passive heal.

This meant most of party's pacify abilities were well and truly moot. They couldn't lower the hp enough, or for long enough, for any of said abilities to function. And fighting with their limited power may have been possible, but things had gone...awry. It made the fight a nightmare to deal with. And had left things quickly spiraling out of control.

Chara remarked. "We should have brought our allies to this fight."

Sans noted. "they'd just have been charmed too."

Flowey groaned. "Why didn't we open, just, full force?"

"we did, didn't we?" Sans asked. "last check, the enemy healed."

"W-well, we could have all used our best attacks-" Flowey suggested in annoyance. "instead of holding back, Sans."

"eh." Sans shrugged. "wanted to preserve my mp."

The two continued to bicker, while Chara focused. She was struggling to figure out what to do next. Looking over her ability cards, and her spell list. Her team had effectively resigned on her, though that wasn't entirely their fault. Nor was it hard to see why.

Sans character was originally charmed to the enemy team, and had been actively fighting her character. Only to get put into a death state when he finally broke free. Leaving them a person down from that.

Floweys character had been exhausted, and ventured off at one point. However, he never came back, and wasn't in the fight. Leaving her with no good way to defeat their foe. The fight was dragging on, and try as she might, her enemy just wouldn't stop.

Victory relied completely on if she could pull a hat trick, and it was looking like that wasn't gonna happen. At least, having walked the path she did. Chara wondered briefly, glancing at two cards in her hand.

Flowey huffed some. "Papyrus, you made this enemy too hard."

Papyrus replied. "I merely drew a card, and this was deigned to be your final foe. You're just upset because you're not in the fight."

"W-well, it was stupid, we aren't even halfway through the game!" He huffed. "How's I supposed ta know he'd be there?"

Chara glared. "Because I told you."

"Yeah, but like, in character, there was no way I'd know that." Flowey complained. "Sure, we knew, but that's meta knowledge. I can't use that. It's unfair."

Chara envisioned the situation playing out, on the board. Her figurine standing alone there. They'd been making progress. They were set to win. They just had a little way to go.

The metal gleamed with the glint of red, having torn and cut its intended target. The mage gripping the side of their hat, battered, exhausted, but persevering. Taking a step back after the strike.

The wind was howling, rain pouring across their battlefield, coming from somewhere else. Their skin was pale as death, hair black as night. Wearing a cloak that was assailed by the wind, as they were.

The Mage could see their opponant. MP nearing max. The big attack would be coming soon, meaning...the end was nearing. If they couldn't dodge it.

They always came back, but fighting alone made the process impossible now. The Mage knew, once they went down, once they let their guard down. It was over. They glanced at the dust in the corner, wondering where their warrior companion had gone. Having vanished somewhere, in their hour of need, to get a donut no less. But that was meta knowledge, they didn't know that. The doctor betraying them in the final hour, when he could have easily dodged...but that was also meta knowledge.

The Marionette stood opposite them, bleeding across the ground. The once smiling face left hollow now. Before hooks tugged at the skin, and pulled the face to unnaturally present one. The skin of their arms pulled back by something unseen.

This wasn't how the Mage wanted this to go. This wasn't how this was supposed to end. But what were they meant to do? What could they do?

Left alone, they blurred forward attacking their foe, the puppet countering at every angle. The Revannt and the Marionette, dashing about the battlefield, in a brutal dance of dodges and parries. Sometimes literally dancing, due to pacify abilities being attempted, and failing.

The Marionette might whisper. "C'mon...we're the only ones left. You know I'd never hurt you." Pulling the Mage close to add. "It can be just like old times. Don't you want that?"

A shove pushing the mage back, a pillar of fire erupting. Creating distance between them. A snap seeing a dozen knives firing back, the puppet stepping and weaving, with a delighted grin.

Even if they hit one another, it was moot. The marrionets passive heal, or the revenants own healing spells rendering it impossible to destroy one another. A knife slashing at the mages throat, leaving a streak of red.

A motion snapping magic through, mending the injury. A growl, and a vicious stab to the leg, punching their own knife through the knee of their former friend. Yet the strings were pulled, and the wound patched itself.

Sections of wall buckled from the fight, erupting with each of the mages powerful attacks. Small interruptions to the duel, rare as they were coming from collapsing debris. From the little moments where the puppeteer taunted, or emulated. The mage narrowly avoiding these things with lucky rolls, or high dodge stats. Only to be forced back on the defensive once more.

"Snap out of it!" The Mage demanded, having tackled their opponent. "I can't...do you even want to?"

The Marionette smiled independantly. "Don't you wanna see what happens?"

A slash disconnecting them again. Had it all been for nothing? They had so few spells, such weak items.

If they had only gathered a little more, maybe they could have won. If they had let go of this childish notion that everything would be okay. If they'd given in to the hunger...they would have been strong enough.

The Marionette used a pacify ability, sliding near, pulling the Revenant into a final dance. Their resolve buckling, as the tango proceeded. Their passive 'See Through' activating.

The intent of their former friend was visible to them. The moment they gave in, the moment they stopped fighting. The Mage knew there wouldn't be a moment of hesitation. If they paused for a second, they would die.

They would endure...just a little bit longer. Moving into a dip, a spell gathered in their hand.. The howling wind sweeping them during a lift. Their hat flying away in the breeze, leaving them to star down at the once familiar face. Their off hand surging with light. If they couldn't win by being kind...if they couldn't get a happy ending...then nobody would.

They refused to accept defeat. The dance shifting, as their own pacify was used. A push to the chest for distance, catching the hand of their enemy. Pulling them in, with a dazzling sway. A swing severing some of the binds, the light immolating their arm, singing the flesh in painful fashion. The pacify failed...

Even if it was just a compulsion to finish the game at the enemy's side. She refused to accept it. Not now, not this time. Not after everything they had done to get here.

The Marionette realized what was to come, a moments hesitation visible, trying to compel the Mage to give up. The spell built, crackling with power. It was now, or never.

If they did this, the game would be over. At least, as it was. Did they really want that? Could they live with consequences?

They called out to the dark. They called out to the friends they made along the way. Anyone, to help them. But...nobody came. And then-

Chara played the card she'd been dealt at the beginning of the game. Something she didn't want to use. But she had no other choice, if victory was to be obtained.

"Restart." She remarked.

The group glanced her way. Papyrus briefly snagging the card. Looking it over.

"Requires the user be at low HP, high pacify. Requires 5 MP to activate." He checked her character, who had managed to gather back their mana. "This card can be used to restart the game." he gave her a look. "It took an awful lot of work to get to this turn human, and you're just going to restart it?"

Chara replied. "If I can't win, you can't win." She smiled deviously. "Unless you wanna play again?"

"You just wanted to play around round, didn't you?" He guessed.

"Maybe a little." She suggested.

"Sadly-" Papyrus sighed. "I believe in this case; I'll have to declare you the victor."

Sans glanced at his brother. "what's wrong boss?" He smirked. "did ya get board?"

"No Sans...honestly this was a nice distraction from a variety of things." Papyrus let out a sigh. "But we've been here too long, don't you think?"

Chara cleared her throat. "I uh...know I sort of joked before, but-" She laughed nervously, and asked. "would you...wanna play again?"

"I'll admit human. Rendering everything moot, does take the wind out of my sails. But I left you in a difficult position. So, I understand your act of defiant indignation." He admitted, with a brief villainous cackle, before adding. "However, to your question, I think it would be enjoyable. Were it not for your impending capture. At which point, I'm afraid, that will be impossible."

"Oh...well, it was fun playing with you." She told him.

"Of course, it was fun. I am the Great Papyrus, am I not?" He let out a nyeh heh heh, and then, seemed to hesitate. "But...it was fun playing with you too."

Flowey spoke. "Playing with everyone?"

"You barely 'played' the game." Papyrus remarked. "So, it was fun playing with you human."

"Rude." Flowey remarked.

Chara snickered and replied. "W-well, what are friends for?"

"Hmm." The tall skeleton pondered, remarking. "Sans, we must go and recalibrate the puzzles. We shall see you two, up ahead."

Chara noticed that Papyrus was leaving. Glancing at the board, noticing it didn't seem to be being taken with him. Sans didn't seem concerned about it either, not that her present mortal foe seemed all that concerned with anything but bloated lies. It left her to wonder, was it theirs now?

Was that how this worked? Well...people did throw money at her when they lost a fight. She couldn't recall it being a custom, but...maybe it was?

Chara picked up one of the pieces. "Hey, wait-" She hurried over to him. "Here."

She placed a figuring in his hand. He examined the piece of his villainous persona from the game. He's specifically chosen to be the Mad Doctor. One of a few little options available to him, but clearly the most intriguing character. It was delightfully diabolical, after all. With a variety of attacks, and summonable dangers. Also, it just looked cool. An important factor.

Papyrus replied. "Human... I do believe the game should be put up." He added. "And that it belongs to Sans's...so he'll have to bring it ba-"

Sans replied. "na."

"What do you mean na?" Papyrus asked. "Didn't you bring this game here?"

"it's a gift for the kid, for findin a way to beat the game." Sans suggested, somehow winking. "and that, I think, is a gift from your fan, for the fun you both had."

The taller skeleton examined the piece once more, and then looked down to Chara. She was beaming up at him. His near perpetual scowl, briefly relenting into a smile, as he placed it in his armor.

"Very well. Far be it from me to deny a gift from one of my many adoring fans." He laughed some, sighing. "It's uhm, always good to have a memento of a worthy foe." He pat Chara on the head. "Until our next, dangerous encounter human."

Chara looked happy. "Bye!" She waved as he headed off. "Later Papyrus."

He gave a wave back, while continuing on. Appearing to be deep in thought as he went. His brother briefly lingering, letting out a yawn, before giving a salute and vanishing.

The flower and the girl were left with the game. Flowey briefly looking over his figurine. Chara noticed, and picked up her own, examining it in the snowfall.

"Wanna take em with us?" Chara asked, before considering. "Oh, maybe we should take the game too?"

Flowey glanced. "Do we really need to take a board game with us?"

"Sure." She replied, beginning to pack it up. "How else are we gonna play again next time?"

Flowey examined her, as she packed things up. "Sorry about uh...getting mad, in the game."

Chara replied. "I think..maybe we messed up our team comp a little." She snickered. "Not that it was bad, just..we could have communicated better."

"Well...that's why we prepare for the next one right?" He offered. "And find a way to min-max it to hell."

His demonic expression and following villainous cackle as he held onto his figurine were understandably nefarious. However, his presence as a sunflower, wearing a multicolored scarf; sitting in the back of a vase that was slotted in a backpack. Sort of diminished the perception of this threatening behavior. But she let him have the moment.

Chara put everything, save their figurines, up. Briefly examining the revanent mage figure in her hand. The hat, the hooded robes. She wondered if she could convince Toriel to get her an outfit like that. She pocketed it, and got the Flowey slotted in the bag properly, with the box newly present within. She was impressed by the space it provided.

Flowey placed his figurine in what was meant to be a water-bottle slot. The duo marching on to catch up with the skeletons. Both understanding that danger was probably around the corner. But the game, and the experience they'd all shared...

A purple light shined, as they passed. It inspired them to persevere.