Alright, so this will be the last update until the Sunday after next Sunday. I'm taking a little break to get my thoughts together for what's next and to get back on the weekly schedule.

Also, I would like to address something. I know I have a habit of getting annoying about reviewing, and I know I do have plenty of people who review every chapter. And I really appreciate those people because their reviews make me really happy and keep me motivated to continue this story. But, I also know that every chapter gets a couple hundred views, and this this story has over a hundred favorites and follows. That means that there are a whole lot of consistent readers who aren't reviewing. And I understand that it isn't always easy to formulate your thoughts into a review, but it also isn't easy to make a 15,000 word chapter in four days. And while I do adore long detailed reviews, you do not have to leave one of those. Just tell me what you think. Even if it's just a few words. Hell, 10burgers literally just reviewed with the letter F last chapter. I know that you might not want to or might not feel confident in your review and think that it's dumb, but I promise I appreciate every word of every review. I write this story because it makes me happy to see others experiencing my ideas, but I don't see you guys experiencing anything if you don't tell me something.

I apologize if I sound greedy or unappreciative of the reviews I do get, it's just that it bothers me not knowing what a lot of you are thinking. So, if you could please take the time to leave your thoughts, positive or negative, I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you for your time, and please enjoy the chapter.

Thanks go to fergusans18, Wingah, WhoWritesThisCrap, Allegenda-domsitzers-chan, BadDRUMMERboy15, Loyal Fan, 10burgers, Jack54311, Skele, Andyfire123, and NBoss01.

Disclaimer: I do not own Undertale.

"You totally missed me, didn'tcha?"

The clouds were dissipating now, pouring rains slowing to a gentle drizzle as sunlight once more sent those gorgeous colors spreading over the fading clouds. The sun was disappearing, however, stars beginning to shine with the full moon in the gradually darkening sky.

"... Hm." Chara scoffed with some amusement, and they reached up with their thumb, wiping the stream of black running down their chin away. "Like you wouldn't believe."

"Knew ya would." I began walking with purpose across what remained of our battlefield, keeping my eyes locked on them. I stopped, however, when I reached Frisk, and I smiled over at them.

"Cter, this... T-this is amazing..." A smile was clear on their exhausted face, and they stepped closer, shaking their head with disbelief. "I mean, the wings and, the pillar of light and the, ripped off shirt, and you're honestly a lot more fit than I imagined you to be and... How did you..?"

"Well..." I nodded slowly, eyes drifting down while I confirmed my thoughts. "I came to terms with some stuff about myself and, I came to the conclusion that it's not my style to just throw in the towel and die."

"And then a bell rang," I smirked back up to Frisk, shrugging with one arm. "And an Angel got his wings."

"..." My eyes darted to the side with a sudden thought, before darting back to Frisk. "My real name is Angel, by the way. I realize now you were unconscious when I revealed that. Sorry about that by the way."

"What's important now is that I'm here, you're alive, and if we work together there's no way Chara can win!" Frisk smirked confidently, but their eyes narrowed when they watched hesitation overcome my expression.

"... Yeah, about that." Hesitation disappeared, and I looked to Frisk with honesty in my eyes. "I think you should sit this one out. Fighting isn't your thing Frisk. And this whole blood soaked brandishing a knife look you got goin' on... It doesn't suit you."

"Cter, I know I said I would be a pacifist from now on, but this is Chara." Frisk held their hands out in front of themself as they pleaded. "You know what they've-"

"Frisk, you didn't just say you would be a pacifist from now on." I crossed my arms, raising my eyebrows at them. "You promised me you would lay down your weapon and never gain LOVE again. Those are the grounds on which I spared your life, remember?"

"I-!" Frisk was quick to hesitate, their raised finger clenching back into a fist. "... Yeah, I remember..."

"Then go take a breather Frisk." I smiled, reaching out and putting a hand on their shoulder. "I promise I'm not gonna die. I've got a better idea this time around."

"... I know what you're planning, Cter." Frisk narrowed their eyes, a frown appearing on their face. "It won't work. Chara is irredeemable."

"..." I looked back towards Chara, taking my hand from Frisk's shoulder. "How'd they react when I died?"

"..." Frisk sighed, clenching their eyes shut as they caught on to what point I was making. "They, sobbed. Hysterically."

A smirk pulled up the corners of my mouth, and red once more burst to life in a flame over my left eye.

"That's all I needed to know."

Chapter 21: Take Flight

"You're so good at being sincere."

"So you've returned from death only to challenge me again?" Chara tilted their head to the side as I approached, wings folded on my back and hands in my pockets. "You really are an idiot."

"Cut the shit, Chara." I narrowed my eyes, frown pulling down the corners of my mouth. "We both know you don't want me dead and I don't want to fight you."

"It doesn't matter what we want!" Chara snarled, throwing their arm out to their side. "Don't you get it? This is how it has to be!"

"No it isn't." I spoke sternly, eyes narrowing as the flames of my left crackled and swayed.

"I understand now, Cter. You are weakness. You are the one thing holding me back, and I am the one thing holding you back." Chara's eyes narrowed, knuckles whitening around the handle of their knife. "If one of us is going to get stronger, the other has to die!"

"I don't care about getting stronger!" I stomped one foot forward, hands clenching into fists at my sides. "You're my friend and I'm not gonna kill you!"

"It's either you or me, Cter!" Chara bent at the knees, tensing as they prepared to strike. "Whether we like it or not one of us is going to die!"

I squinted my emerald and ruby eyes at them, expression hardening some. "It doesn't have to be like this."

"Yes! It! Does!" With that Chara launched off the ground, firing across the plateau at me and leading with that knife.

Just as they reached me, their knife was forced to a stop, and they growled with exertion as I held their wrist in a vice grip, slowly pulling their knife away from my face and glaring down into their eyes.

"Could you..! Give that back..?!" Chara spoke through gritting teeth as they pulled on their arm, my grip unyielding. "I need it to murder you..!"

"Why don't you wake up?" I demanded to know, red soul appearing on my chest. "You're hurting people. What have they ever done to you?"

Chara snarled furiously, slamming their fist into my cheek. They smirked at first upon seeing their punch land, but their smirk instantly shifted to a frown when they realized I was unphased, head tilted to the side and burning left eye locking back on to them.

"I can't let you take your unhappiness out on other people any more." I threw their arm out to the side, making them stumble back.

"What are you talking about?!" Chara demanded to know furiously, regaining their footing. "I fight to get more powerful! The weak die and the strong survive, that is the rule of this life!"

"Fine Chara, we'll play by your rules!" I clenched my fists to my sides as my wings suddenly unfolded, a blast of wind firing out around me and slamming into Chara, their eyes widening as they were knocked off balance and sent skidding on their heels back across the mud. "LETS GO!"

My wings flapped, sending me racing forward at Chara while I cocked back one fist. They threw up their arms in an X at the last second, being thrown off their feet and wincing from the force of my punch's collision. They launched back through the air, but spun back, landing on their feet and one hand and sliding slowly to a stop.

So he doesn't just look different... Chara narrowed their eyes, slowly standing back to their full height. He's stronger, more resilient.

But it doesn't matter. Chara decided, clenching their jaw and letting red flames ignite around their right eye. Because I've gotten stronger too.

I threw my arms out to the sides, the earth trembling behind me before a barrage of ink spikes fired up, spiraling to points and racing down at Chara, who launched forward towards me.

They slashed rapidly as ink fired down at them, sending black droplets spraying across the earth while they approached, jumping into the air and stabbing down at me, only for a wing to bat their arm aside, the second firing up and smacking them across the face, throwing their head to the side and making their eyes go wide.

I reached up, grabbing Chara by the ankle and yanking them down, throwing them into the earth at my feet hard enough to make them bounce. They reached back, placing their hands on the ground and flipping back away just as pens fired from the earth under them, landing on their feet and immediately jumping at me again.

They spun in air, those ballet shoes appearing on their feet only for my wings to flap, sending me launching up over them and their kick. Chara lifted their wide eyes to the sky, where I spun down, ax kicking at their skull.

Chara lifted both arms over their head, the ground shattering under them as they blocked my kick, our flaming eyes locking furiously just before they pushed my leg back, throwing me back up through the air and making me back flip, landing on my feet.

Chara darted forward, cocking back one fist. I pulled back my own, and our knuckles connected with earth shattering force, sending a red shock wave exploding out from around us and vibrations blasting up from our finger tips to our shoulders.

Chara growled, throwing one kick at the side of my head, only for one of my wings to take on a more liquidy appearance, wrapping around their ankle before I spun, whipping them across the plateau and towards a wall of stone.

"Stupid wings..!" Chara cried angrily as they spun in air so that their back was facing the wall, watching me fly after them, rapidly closing the distance.

I rammed my knee into their chin, smashing them head first into the rock wall and sending dust blasting out around us. We launched from the top of the smoke, and I was holding Chara by the collar of the shirt, dragging them up the wall of stone and sending pebbles and cracks flinging out around them.

Chara's head was hung low, but their mouth was apparent, and in a clear pained scowl. Just as we approached the peak they grabbed my wrist, pushing off the wall behind them and spinning us around so that my back was facing the sharp point of the peak and they were over me.

They planted their feet in my chest and kicked down, my eyes widening in agony as my shoulder was skewered on the point. Chara had launched up off of me from the force of their kick but was quickly plummeting back down towards me, knife raised high over their head.

I snarled, wincing and throwing back my none-skewered arm, summoning an eraser behind me and throwing it up towards Chara, who threw their arms up in an X just as it bashed into them, sending them sailing back down towards the ground below, when a second eraser fired up, smashing into their back and sending the wind blasting up from their lungs, their eyes snapping open wide as they were launched high into the sky.

Just as they felt they were reaching terminal velocity, a third eraser launched from above, smashing into them with bone breaking force and firing them like a bolt of lightning down into the plateau. They crashed with a shock wave of force, dust exploding up into the air and completely shrouding the crater that their body had made in the earth.

I grunted, yanking myself from the spike on which I was impaled, panting lightly and staring down into the smoke while I held one hand over my gaping shoulder wound. Red began misting from the wound, slowly sealing my flesh while I climbed to my feet. I stared down into the moonlit dust from the top of the mountain with narrowed eyes, before hopping down into it.

My wings flapped gently, softening my landing and blowing dust away from myself while I glanced around in search of my adversary.

After a moment or two, panting resounded, and I looked ahead to find Chara limping from the dust, holding their shoulder and glaring right at me. Blood ran down from their hairline and the sleeve of their limp arm, and crimson smoldered weakly from their wounds, struggling to treat them.

"You're tired, Chara." I stated calmly, watching them with an expression that was hard to read. "You've been through four fights today, and each one has been more grueling than the last."

"Shut up..." Chara demanded, jaw clenching even as blood trickled down their chin.

"You know you can't keep this up." My eyes narrowed curiously, and I tilted my head to the side. "I've given you another option, so why are you being so stubborn?"

Chara growled, that red flame reigniting over their right eye as they lunged forward, pulling back their knife. "All you ever do is talk!"

I tilted my head to the side, letting their knife sail over my shoulder. I ducked then, one sloppy slash going over my skull.

"Either die or kill me, Cter!" Chara snarled as I ducked and dodged around slashes and stabs. "That's the option I gave you!"

"So either let me stab you," Chara stumbled with one heavy handed slash, panting and glaring up at me. "Or grow a pair and kill me!"

My jaw clenched, red flaring in my left eye as I caught their next stab by the wrist, their eyes widening with surprise before I swiftly stepped behind them, pulling their arm to their back and putting them in a chicken wing, making them wince with pain.

"What, is that it..?!" Chara snarled, before I wrapped my free around around their chest, restraining both arms and holding them tight to me.

"Nope." I stated plainly, before my wings rose high into the sky, and their eyes widened at the shadow of them preparing to flap.

"Oh shi-"

In an instant we were flying high into the sky, firing up from the earth and reaching up towards the stars before I suddenly nose dived, my wings folding back and sending us in a downward spiral towards the ground below.

Chara struggled with whatever strength they had left, but I only released them moments before the ground, my wings unfolding and catching me in the wind, sending them launching down into the earth at lightning speed.

They crashed with another shock wave and an explosion of smoke, and I flew high into the sky, keeping steady there with the gentle waves of my wings.

Chara laid there at the center of the dust, flat on their face. Their body twitched weakly, struggling to complete any of the rapid fire orders from Chara's brain that demanded it climb back to it's feet.

Slowly, they reached out, fingers wrapping weakly around the handle of their knife. Their body screamed with agony, but they didn't care, continuing to push and push until they managed to lift themself up off of their face.

"I'm... Not gonna die..." Chara spoke through blood stained and gritting teeth, red dripping from their hundreds of scraps and cuts and splattering to the ground beneath them. "Whatever it... Takes..."

Crimson DETERMINATION began to flicker to life around them, and their fist clenched in the dirt as they got to their hands and knees, glaring up at me, high above them.

"Only... Way..." They got to their knees, more and more energy returning to them with the light of their DETERMINATION. "Have to..."

Chara's knife trembled in their grasp with hesitation, but they grabbed themself by the wrist and forced their hand to steady while they dragged themself to their feet.

"... You don't want to kill me."

"But I have to!" They shouted at the memory, hair shadowing their eyes.

"It doesn't have to be like this."

"Yes it does!" They shook their head, before snarling up towards where I floated in the sky, bending at the knees like they were preparing to jump.

Just as Chara went to push off the ground, however, ink fired up from the ground around them, wrapping around both of their forearms and yanking them back down onto their knees.

"What in the..?!" Chara snarled and pulled against the blackness that restrained them, before their eyes widened at a familiar charging sound.

They lifted their head, watching with shock as circle upon circle of Beat Blasters appeared around them, forming a massive glowing dome with a singular hole at the top, through which a single shadow was cast down upon them in the moonlight.

The sky had cleared, now glimmering with stars and illuminating the earth with a full moon. And as Chara looked up through the single hole in the roof of the Beat Dome and upon the beautiful sky, the one they hadn't truly laid eyes on since their childhood, they felt all of their anxiety, all of their indecision and all of their internal struggle slip away.

... He's going to kill me.

I floated in the sky, wings spread wide at my sides and the moon shining bright behind me as I extended one hand to the dome I built around them.

I could see Chara there, and I knew they could see me. That made me hesitate. Filled my head with invasive thoughts.

"I am happy here! People believe in me here, trust me here! I'm not just gonna throw all that away just for you!"

"... I'm sorry Chara."

"I'm not gonna help you... Hurt innocent people..."

I clenched my eyes shut, turned my head to the side to avoid their gaze. I hadn't lied before. I wouldn't trade everything for them. If that meant I would have to kill them, then...

I hated this. Hated it like no situation and no person before. Hated that they were so... Goddamn stubborn!

"I wanted you to join me you moron!"

That's... Probably how they'd felt. What a disgusting guilt this was.

But... They weren't worth it. Not everything that I'd worked so hard for. That's what I kept repeating, even though it just wouldn't get through.

I grit my teeth, and I clenched my fist.

The night was instantly illuminated in a massive flash of white. It blasted across the mountain top, whited out the stars and the moon and turned every color to that roaring, searing ivory.

In the flashing dome of bright light, there was only one shadow. It writhed and flailed and screamed with agony, and looking upon it disgusted me in a way I was all too familiar with.

In the violent flashing of my own devastating power, I felt undeserving of my wings. So I descended, stood in the mud like a mortal man and let my ink wings recede back into my shoulder blades and disappear. The red fire had flickered out of my left eye, which had returned to it's KIND green as I stared regretfully into the screaming dome of raw destruction. My soul returned back inside of my chest, where it ached from the agony this decision caused it.

My hand trembled, and I slowly lifted it to the flashing lights, hesitating.

I have to do this.

I can't stop now.

I have to kill Chara.

I have to.

I have to!

I HAVE TO!

I threw my hand out to the side, and the light of the Beat Dome began to fade, the scream of it's many blasters growing more and more quiet as the night's natural lights returned.

... I can't.

The blasters disappeared from the sky, one by one. Left in their wake was dust and smoke, earth scorched and glassed. Dust and ash polluted the air where the dome had been, and the air reeked of death and destruction.

But, slowly, a shadow formed in the dust. It shambled through the devastation, reaching the edge of the smoke and escaping it's tomb on sheer will alone.

I watched with pained eyes as Chara forced every step closer, arms hanging limp and right leg dragging behind. Blood ran in a stream down their face from their hairline, similar streams running from their nose and mouth.

They stared at me, unblinking as they forced their dying body every step closer, gripping that knife with all of their might. It wasn't much.

I didn't step back. Put up no guard. And when their dragging feet caught, and they dropped forward, I fell to my knees, catching them against me and letting them rest there, their arms limp at their sides and their head on my shoulder.

Chara grunted and whimpered with agony as they slowly lifted their knife, pointing it's blade back towards my spine.

"... I'm sorry Chara. I can't do it." I finally spoke, and their trembling hand paused. "I can't kill you. Don't have it in me."

"So if you really want me dead, then... Fine." I closed my eyes, keeping my arms around them even as they pointed their blade at my back. "I won't come back this time. If this is what you want then... I can't stop you from taking it. Because I can't kill you."

"..." Chara was silent, narrowed and tired eyes staring their trembling blade. They hesitated for only a moment, before their eyes shut, and they let out a sigh.

Clang!

My eyes opened, widening with some surprise as their arms dropped limp at their sides.

"... Fine. You win, Angel." Chara finally spoke, not moving after dropping their weapon behind me. "I can't kill you, either..."

"... Oh." I smiled a little, eyes glossing over to look at the side of their head. "Well that's a relief."

We both let go of one another, falling back onto our hands and looking to one another with tired eyes. We were each stained with blood and mud, clothes in tatters and still damp from the earlier pouring rain.

We sat in silence for a moment or two, before I started to snicker, leaning my head down and closing my eyes.

"What..?" Chara asked, managing to arch one tired brow.

"We look like shit." I managed to say through my exhausted giggling, reaching up and putting a hand over my face.

"... Heh..." Chara's lips slowly curved up, and they tilted their head back, starting to laugh as well. "You're right."

"We are some homely mother fuckers right now." I stated, and we both started to laugh harder. Another few moments passed, and we both fell onto our backs, limbs sprawled out at our sides. We stared up at the sky, giggling with exhaustion for another few moments, before our snickering began to die down.

"..." After another few moments, Chara sighed, closing their eyes. "I don't know how to be, Cter."

My brows furrowed slightly, and though neither of us lifted our heads, I listened closely.

"It doesn't get better and it doesn't get easier." Chara opened their pained eyes, looking to the sky once more. "My lives and deaths have been a series of poor choices and failures."

"I don't..." Chara's eyes glossed hesitantly to the side. "I don't know what to do if I don't die here."

Then, in almost a whisper...

"... I don't know how to keep going if I can't keep going like this..."

"..." I laid there in silence for another moment, thinking over their words before I spoke. "Trust me Chara, I get it."

"Huh..?" They furrowed their brows with some confusion.

"I've made some real shitty choices, and they've... Well, they've haunted me for feels like eternity now." I blinked painfully up at the moon. "There's a lot of people I've hurt that I'm never gonna get the chance to apologize to."

"I know how it feels to get so used to being a bad person that you don't think you can be anything else." I winced as I pushed myself back up on my hands.

"But, it all starts with just one good decision." I got a knee under myself, slowly climbing back to my feet. "One little step in the right direction."

"... And what decisions do I have left to make..?" Chara didn't lift their head, but their eyes did land on me. "What step can I take with all the bridges I've burned..?"

"... Well." I shrugged casually, reaching out to them with one hand and putting the other in my pocket. "You can start by taking my hand."

"W-what..?" They looked utterly baffled, pushing themself up on their elbows.

"Lets forget this fighting thing and go home, Chara." I smiled lightly, tilting my head to the side. "I think we're both tired of going on like this."

*Cter is sparing you.

". . ." Chara was in a stunned silence, mouth hanging open and eyes locked on my outstretched hand.

"... Cter, I... I don't know what to say..." Chara shook their head, eyes not leaving my hand. "This is... A lot to offer someone like me."

"Well, you could say yes." I suggested with a patient smile.

"You would... Really do this for me..?" Chara reached up, looking to their own hand.

"Duh." I grinned in a friendly way. "What're friends for?"

"... Friends..." Chara spoke hesitantly, reaching up for my hand. "That... Doesn't sound too terrible..."

"That's the spirit!" I took their hand, pulling them up to their feet, where they stumbled. I knelt down, letting them fall onto my back and lifting them up on it.

"... Thanks..." They spoke tiredly, resting their chin on my shoulder.

"No problem." I snerked, beginning to walk back across the plateau towards the barrier. "Figured you might have the spaghetti legs."

"..." Chara grimaced, looking towards the approaching barrier. "I'm... Gonna have to talk to a lot of people, aren't I?"

"..." I looked up, nodding my head thoughtfully. "Yeah, eventually. You do have a lot of explaining to do."

"But, for now, it's been a long day. You don't have to talk to anybody yet if you don't want to."

"..." Chara looked to the ground, eyes narrowing thoughtfully. "I think... There is one person I'd like to see."

"Oh yeah?" My eyebrows rose with some surprise, and I looked over at them.

"It's... Going to be a bit of a walk." Chara glanced to the side. "I hope that's alright."

"No worries Char-bear." I shook my head as we neared the barrier. "I'll take care of it."

"Here he comes!" Monster Kid exclaimed excitedly as he watched us approach.

Everyone else took one or two skeptical steps back as I reached the barrier with Chara in tow. I sent a whip of ink launching out to retrieve my sweatshirt from the ground, pulling it over to me, where I let it disappear into my inventory.

I reached up, placed one hand on the barrier, and sent cracks blasting through it. It shattered like glass, it's shards disappearing in mid air.

"Uh... Howdy?" I grinned sheepishly at everyone, before letting out an 'Oof!' as Monster Kid jumped into my arms.

"YOIwassoworriedaboutyouandthenyoudiedandIwasreallysadbutthenyoucamebackanditwasSOFREAKINGCOOLandthenyouhadwingsandyoudidallthiscoolstuffandmadethebigdomeand-"

"Kid!" I cut him off, putting my hands on his shoulders and giving him a second to breathe. "Oxygen!"

After a few moments of MK gasping for breath, he muscled out of my grip to hug me again, tears forming in his eyes. "I'm so glad you're okay!"

"Heh..." I smiled gratefully as I returned MK's hug, closing my eyes. "I'm glad to be okay."

"Cter I don't wanna interrupt but everyone is looking at me and it's giving me anxiety." Chara spoke from the corner of their mouth, and I laughed, letting go of Monster Kid.

"Hey kid, you got something on your shoulder." Sans arched a brow bone, reaching up and dusting off his own shoulder. "Do this."

"Very funny." I smiled some at Sans joke. "I promise I'll explain later."

"I won't say I'm not a lil' skeptical." Sans' pupils darted to the side. "But I trust your judgement."

I nodded my thanks, before continuing forward through the room. Chara and I got a confused look from just about everyone, but no one seemed to willing to stop us after everything they'd watched us go through.

"Eugh..." Gaster slowly sat up just as I walked by him. "What did I-"

Gaster suddenly yelped in an embarrassingly high pitch as he spotted Chara on my back, jolting with surprise.

"About time, sleepy bones." I smirked with some amusement. "And a lot. You missed a lot."

"I can see that..." Gaster nodded slowly. "Would you care to explain?"

"I'll tell ya later." I waved a hand dismissively. "Somebody else can fill ya in on what happened, right now I gotta take care of something."

I walked then to the exit of the room, where I turned around to face everyone.

"Okay, I know a lot of weird stuff is going on, but if you'll all just give me a little bit we can all sit down and talk about how much just happened." I raised my hands defensively, knowing already how many questions would fly my way. "We just have to go do something, and then we'll be back."

There was a pause, and just as Frisk - who watched with crossed arms and narrowed eyes - opened their mouth to speak, Toriel stepped forward.

"Wait."

The both of us looked to Toriel as she calmly walked towards us, Chara shrinking slightly on my back.

"You both look exhausted." Toriel smiled gently, surprising the both of us while she reached out with one glowing green hand. "Please, allow me to heal your injuries."

That KIND green light washed over the both of us, and I felt my pain and fatigue slowly fade away. I guessed that Chara felt the same way, as they climbed from my back and down onto the ground, still opting to stand behind me.

Toriel held her hands together over her lap and smiled sweetly, closing her eyes and tilting her head to the side. "Be safe you two. I will be waiting patiently to hear from you both again, so feel free to take as long as you need."

"Thanks, Goat Mom." I nodded gratefully, and Chara hesitantly did the same before the two of us turned around and walked away from the others and out of their sight.

Frisk just watched silently. Contemplatively.

"So you're sure you're ready for this?" I arched a brow over at Chara, hands in the pockets of my sweatshirt, which I'd put back on and zipped up to cover my upper body. "I won't blame you if you need a minute."

Chara nodded, the sound of leaves crunching under our shoes echoing along the mossy purplish brick around us.

"If I don't do it now I won't ever have the chance." Chara explained, looking ahead to the open doorway ahead, which moonlight shun through.

"Right..." I glanced to the side, frowning slightly with realization. "I s'pos he won't be around much longer..."

I paused at the door way, turning back to Chara and nodding towards it.

They nodded their thanks, before skeptically walking into the room, wincing from the harsh blue light before adjusting.

Chara's eyes cast down to the one who sat at the center of the room. His back was to them, and he leaned back on his hands, staring up through the hole in the ceiling, from which the moon was clearly visible.

"Uhm... Hey."

Asriel's eyes widened some, and he looked over his shoulder at Chara. A small smile pulled up his lips. "... Hey."

"You don't, seem too surprised to see me." Chara awkwardly glanced to the side, rubbing their shoulder.

Asriel didn't say anything, instead opting to gesture to the ground before him. What was previously a beautiful patch of flowers growing over what had once been Chara's grave was now uprooted, dirt over thrown and making a mess of the flowers, as if something had violently tore it's way out from the tomb.

"... Oh." Chara reached up, nervously scratching the back of their neck. "Right. Kinda... Forgot about that."

"Also I could hear you and Cter fighting." Asriel laughed lightly, pointing up to the giant hole that loomed above.

Chara smiled lightly, clearly reassured by Asriel's friendliness. They somewhat awkwardly stepped forward, before taking a seat on the ground next to him.

"So what brings you back here?" Asriel glanced over at them. "Not that I'm not happy to see you, I just... Figured you would have something better to do."

"..." Chara frowned lightly, looking down at their former grave. "I think I really messed up, Asriel."

"Heh. Join the club." Asriel said casually, looking up to the sky.

"I mean, I got us killed, I helped Frisk with a million killing sprees, I tried to make Cter evil..." Chara reached up, placing a hand on the side of their face and resting their head on it. "All because I'm unhappy."

"... Huh. That's funny." Asriel said thoughtfully, furrowing his brows.

"Gee, thanks Azzy." Chara narrowed their eyes over at him, and he laughed, waving a hand dismissively.

"No, no! Not that!" Asriel explained, making Chara arch a brow with confusion. "I just mean it's weird!"

"What's weird?" Chara asked, lifting their head.

"I just, always kinda thought it was me who got us killed." This time Asriel was the one scratching the back of his head. "I was the one who didn't fight back when... Well, you were there, you remember..."

"Yeah, but, it was my dumb plan that put us in that situation in the first place." Chara looked to the side, neither of the two seeming strong enough to look at one another. "I tried to use you to take out my hatred on humanity. And, that was wrong. I see that now."

"... Honestly I, think I've know that for awhile." Chara's eyes narrowed painfully. "Just... Been in denial."

"Well I can understand that." Asriel shrugged. "I tried to justify some pretty messed up stuff as a flower with some pretty dumb excuses."

"Heh..." Chara smiled sadly over at Asriel. "I guess we're both screw ups, huh?"

"You've got that right." Asriel laughed just a little, managing to smile back at them.

Things were silent for another few moments, before Asriel looked ahead, slowly pulling his knees up to his chest and hugging them there.

"... Chara, I... I've been trying to put on a brave face, but..." Asriel's eyes narrowed painfully at the ground. "... I really don't wanna go back to being a flower..."

"..." Chara was silent, the shadow of their hair falling over their eyes.

"... Then don't."

"Not, entirely sure that's how it works." Asriel smiled a little over at Chara, before his eyes widened, a red light reflecting in them.

Chara outstretched one hand, their crimson soul floating in their grasp.

"... Chara, you don't mean..." Asriel stared into that soul, utterly baffled.

"It was my stupid soul that got you into this mess. Got everyone into this mess." Chara didn't look away, a DETERMINED gleam in their eye. "It's only right that I give my life to fix it."

"... Besides." Chara's eyes narrowed then, glossing over to the side. "You're... A lot more trustworthy than I am. People will actually want you around..."

My brows furrowed with concern, and I stepped into the room from the doorway I'd been leaning in, opening my mouth to speak, when I was cut off.

"Wait."

All three of us looked back to the hallway leading into the room, which Frisk walked down.

"Frisk?" We all spoke with equal confusion and in unison.

"Chara, you don't have to give Asriel your soul." Frisk said, and Chara tilted their head to the side with growing confusion.

"Well, I know I don't have to, but how else is Asriel going to live?" Chara asked, narrowing their eyes suspiciously.

"Well..." Frisk lifted both hands, and in their grasp appeared a red, white outlined soul. They then pulled their hands away from one another, and their soul shifted, shimmering and splitting into two. A crimson human soul and an ivory monster soul. "I've got a spare."

"Whoa, Frisk, are you sure you wanna do that?" I asked skeptically. "That's a lot of power you're givin' up."

"... You said it yourself, Cter." Frisk's eyes narrowed down at the two souls in their grasp. "I'm not a fighter. I don't need power."

"Why are you doing this for us..?" Chara asked, them and Asriel climbing to their feet and turning to face Frisk. "I thought you hated me."

"Hate's a nasty thing, Chara." Frisk looked up from their souls to them. "It almost made me go back on my morals and my promise. Hate is not who I am, and I'm not going to let it restrain me from doing the right thing."

"I will admit that I don't like you, Chara. And it's going to take a lot of time for me to trust you again." Frisk spoke honestly, stepping forward and outstretching that monster soul. "But Cter does trust you. And I can see that you want to change. So that's enough for me to give you this chance."

"..." Chara slowly brought their own soul back to their chest, letting it disappear back into them. "... Thank you..."

"Well, whaddaya say Asriel?" I smiled over to Asriel, who was smiling as well. "You tired of being a flower?"

Asriel stepped forward, reaching out towards the soul that Frisk offered. He certainly looked relieved and thankful.

"Like you wouldn't believe."

"Those three have been gone for quite some time..." Asgore pondered aloud, looking to the ground and stroking his beard.

"I do hope they're alright." Toriel held her hands together at her chest.

"Don't you worry!" Undyne gave a big smile and a thumbs up. "Cter and Frisk are super tough! There's no way they could get hurt!"

"Well, yes, but..." Toriel looked to the doorway. "... Those two aren't the only ones I am worried about..."

"... Does anyone wanna talk about how Cter is literally a living legend?" Alphys eventually spoke up, lifting her head to look over the room. "B-because I don't think we've touched on that enough."

"I, for one, always knew those two were very great!" Papyrus proclaimed proudly, placing a hand over his chest as his scarf waved in the wind.

"Didn'tcha try to capture him n' Frisk?" Sans grinned up at Papyrus, who did not leave his heroic stance.

"Doesn't ring any bells!" Papyrus spoke, making Sans grin a little wider.

"Whatever you say, bro."

"Well I was certainly caught off guard." Mettaton spoke honestly. "I can't believe the both of them were holding back that much when I fought them."

"Yeah!" Undyne exclaimed, stomping her foot. "I'm pissed! I want a rematch where they actually try!"

Gaster laughed lightly at that. "I'm not sure how well that will go over."

"Don't listen to him Undyne!" Monster Kid exclaimed excitedly. "You're just as tough as Cter!"

"Haha, yeah!" Undyne grinned wide, picking up MK and letting him sit on her arm as she flexed.

Footsteps echoed then, and everyone's heads turned to the entrance of the room, where all four of us walked in at the same time.

Toriel and Asgore's eyes both went wide, filling with tears. They rushed forward without hesitation, not even giving us the chance to speak before their large, fuzzy arms had wrapped around all four of us, pulling us into one big group hug.

We were in that hug for a pleasant while, but eventually they let go, and... We all talked. For a long time. We explained our motivations, gave apologies, discussed where to go from here. Turns out Sans had already told everyone everything that had happened in the past timeline, so that made things easier.

Toriel offered for all of us to live together in one big happy home, but unfortunately Asriel and Chara felt they had to decline. They explained that while they would both love to be around everyone, neither of them were really ready for it. They both still had a few things to overcome before they could integrate back into a normal life. Asgore and Toriel were saddened by this, but were ultimately understanding.

So while the rest of us went to live on the surface, Chara and Asriel decided to stay in the Ruins and watch over what few Monsters decided to remain in the Underground with them. They were both told they were welcome to visit us any time, and they told each of us the same.

Overall, things were looking pretty great for everybody. The fight was over and everyone got their happy ending. Chara was spared, Asriel was given a soul, Gaster was whole and back in the timeline. I honestly couldn't have imagined things going over this well.

"So, Cter, you've really been through it today, haha." Monster Kid looked over at me. We stood at the ledge of Mount Ebbot's peak, looking out over the wide open world around us. "What are your plans now?"

"Right now?" I asked, turning around and beginning to step backwards towards the ledge behind me. MK nodded to confirm my question.

"Well..." I held my chin with thought as I continued to walk backwards. "I think I'll do a lil' bit of exploring."

MK's eyes widened as I suddenly dropped back over the ledge behind me, and he rushed forward towards it. "CTER!"

Suddenly a gust of wind blew him back on his butt, and he watched in awe as I launched back up past the ledge, wings now spread from my back and carrying me high into the sky.

"Haha! Yeah!" Monster Kid exclaimed excitedly, watching me soar through the air on my wings of ink.

I spiraled up higher and higher, grinning at just how weightless and free I felt to finally have my one wish granted. In that moment, I was a little kid again. There were no worries, no guilt, no regrets.

I was where I belonged.

"WOOOOHOOOO!"

"Hmm... Very, very interesting indeed." Badster leaned over that reality tear with intrigue glimmering in his mad eyes.

"What a pleasant ending for our Angel." He stood back to his full height, straightening his long back.

As he did so, the two glowing red eyes that tore through the vantablack void and directly into whatever poor soul dared peer into them became apparent behind him.

Badster grinned wide, the pupils disappearing from his eyes as he looked over his shoulder at the one who sat behind him, running his ivory fingertips gently over his disgusting crowbar.

"Wouldn't you agree, Anarchy?"

"... Hmph." Anarchy scoffed, lifting those crimson eyes from his inheritance to the good doctor as his lips slowly curved up into a little smile. "Let him have it for now, doc."

"Hm?" Gaster raised his eyebrows with surprise, but his smile did not fade. "And here I thought after your resurrection you would have been absolutely dying to visit The Hacker."

"... Everything's gotta be juuuuust right..." Anarchy muttered thoughtfully, looking down to his crowbar and rubbing his thumb against one crusty red stain. "I want our reunion to be very special."

"Uee hee hee! If you really believe you are the heir to Chaos's Crown, you will have to hunt me down, down!"

Anarchy went silent then, frowning with aggravation at a recent memory.

"... Besides." His fingers slowly wrapped around that cruel steel, his lips gradually curving upwards into one sickening smile. "I wanna look real spiffy when I go knockin' on Angel's door."

"Could use some jewelry." Anarchy nodded, his lips parting to reveal his sharp teeth. "Somethin' pretty. Like a necklace, or a bracelet, or even..."

The Anarchist lifted his head, looking to Badster with wide, bloodshot eyes. A flame ignited, bursting violently to life from his left iris. He grinned from ear to ear.

"A Crown."

Next time: Just what the hell happened in Delta Rune?!

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