Chapter Twenty 6

Upon contact, to other Frisk she seemed to disappear, while Frisk saw the world around her vanish in a long trail of gold and light as she shielded her eyes from the intensity. She felt herself flying and then slowing to a halt as she felt her feet touch down on something soft and numerous.

Frisk opened her eyes to see grass under her feet and then she looked up to see the chapel before her, but without all the overgrowth and broken pieces of wear and tear. Her eyes widened in amazement as she examined it with a tilt of her head. The soft breeze that passed through the grass was comforting, just like the medium key voice that spoke from behind her, which made Frisk freeze up when she realized she wasn't alone,

"Oh! Well hello, little one. I wasn't expecting anyone else to be here besides… Uh, the chapel isn't open today, unless you just preferred to see the outside… are... you alone, little one?."

Frisk gulped as she felt nervous, but breathed out softly as she turned around and was stunned by the sight before her:

A tall lady stood a few feet away from her in a long golden dress that reached over her feet in a petal form and gold long sleeves, with a white sash around her midsection with various little gems of different colors in horizonal bands on it, and a white wrapping around her neck that was actually a hood but was not on her head at the moment. Her straight hair was white and shined as snow that just reached her waist in length, as the bangs were longer on one side then the other while the strands of hair on the sides of the bangs were wavy and stood in front while the rest of the hair was on her back. She had a lone fang poking out from her mouth and a small horn on one side of her head that blended well with her hair, and her hands had white claws that were more rounded at the tips.

Frisk noticed how her eyes were golden and looked very similar to the shining star savepoints she saw on her journey underground, and mostly like the one she reached out for a moment ago since the white of her eye was slightly blue. Her gaze was fixed on this lovely lady who stood before her in awe and wonder of the radiance and gentleness she was giving off, along with the luminosity of her eyes as a beacon of light for those who are weary and in need of help or rest.

Frisk was about to speak to her when her eyes fixed on the lady's hand that rested a diamond ring in the shape of a star as the familiarity was confirmed by her memory, and she felt a wave of dread and despair upon this realization. Her eyes began to fill with tears as the lady noticed and took a few steps towards her with concern, while Frisk clutched her hand near her chest in pain.

"Dear child, are you alright? You seem to be in some form of pain. Are you injured, or perhaps ill? Do you need help? I happen to be a doctor. I can help you," She offered.

'This lady… with such kindness and light… becomes… Corruption… but why does she become Corruption…?!' Frisk thought as she tried to calm herself even as these thoughts bombarded her mind.

Frisk cleared her throat with a swallow, and then mustered the strength to speak,

"Ms… I… I don't know how to explain this to you. I don't think you will believe me at all… it's very hard to explain about myself… and about you I think."

"Huh? You and myself? What do you mean, little one? Who are you?" The lady asked.

"Oh, I'm sorry. My name is Frisk. What… is your name?"

"Oh yes, my apologies. My name is Clair. Clair Voyant. Quite a name huh? It might not be so reflective of me," The lady, Clair Voyant, replied with a soft smile.

'Curtain… said almost the same thing when I met her,' Frisk thought.

"Um… it's nice to meet you, Ms. Clair," Frisk offered her hand to shake.

"Likewise, Frisk," Clair took her hand with her own to shake.

Upon contact, they felt a spark in their hands, as Clair's eyes glowed yellow. Frisk felt a shot of nerves up her spine when she felt Clair's hand tighten and then release her hand slowly as the glow in her eyes calmed down.

"You… are not a normal child... Frisk, you say I may not believe what you have to say… please explain to me what it is and what troubles you," Clair asked as she knelt down to her to listen keenly to her story.

Frisk took a slow breath, and then said, "Okay, I'll tell you what I know so far of me and you of the future…"

Frisk began to relay her story from the moment she first woke up underground, to meeting every one of her friends, to ending up above ground, and then to suddenly appearing in another world. She told her about all her friends, especially of Curtain, and of her enemies, especially Corruption. Although she hadn't yet revealed who she believed to be Corruption, Frisk wanted to see if Clair could make the connection.

Clair listened intently to the child, her brows furrowing sometimes, and a nod here and there. She quickly pieced together the story the child was telling as if seeing it play out in her mind like a game, except it was more like a movie. Clair only asked a few questions and was mostly quiet, but her firm intensity and determined demeanor put Frisk's mind at ease, since she not only listened but more so believed in what she was saying. Although it was a possibility that Clair was only entertaining the thought, her eyes did not show it at all.

Near the end of the explanation, as Frisk was giving her the last bits of information regarding the identity of Corruption, Clair interlaced her fingers as she closed her eyes, writing the information in her mind and connecting each point and fact into a mental diagram.

"… So, that is what we know so far, and that is why I am here. I'm trying to find out who she was and to form a connection to maybe understand her…? And if we can stop her," Frisk said, and then took a breath from the pretty long explanation.

"… I see," Clair almost whispered as she continued considering her words.

"D-Do you think you may… know who she is, Ms. Clair?" Frisk asked, preferring to hear her answer.

"… Who do you believe it is, little Frisk?" Clair asked as she unlaced her fingers though her eyes were still closed.

"I'd rather you tell me who she could be. I don't want to… hurt anyone," Frisk answered.

"… That is unrealistic. For pain for one may vary to another, so not hurting someone on the basis of opinion, fact, or information is unavoidable and even then, pain isn't always bad depending on the situation. You may need to endure pain when treating a wound, or to acknowledge death when losing someone. The balance of this is key to living and to becoming a better person in general and in certain cases…" Clair said as the child stared at her.

She opened her eyes, as her more powerful gaze locked on the child, almost making her wish she were somewhere else.

"Frisk… do not be afraid to tell me what I have already deemed to be most likely in this case… Who do you believe is Corruption?" Clair asked, her gaze unfaltered.

Frisk breathed in slowly, as she straightened her back more, and with the determination radiating from Clair that resonated with her own, she gave her answer,

"I believe Corruption... is you."

A portent breeze passed though their gazes were locked on one another. Clair then blinked as she began standing up, while Frisk watched her. She turned from her and walked just a few steps, and then said,

"Follow me."

Frisk followed her command as they walked inside the chapel, surprising her to see that it was fixed up and more pleasant on the inside. They reached the area in front of the altar, and Clair stopped walking as did Frisk. Clair then said,

"Prove yourself…"

Instinct and nostalgia shot up her spine, as Frisk took a defensive stance.

"Prove to me that you are strong enough to go forward…" Clair Voyant said, as Frisk's soul appeared and the environment darkened.

Clair turned around with a more serious expression as she allowed Frisk to go first. Frisk started by accessing the situation and checking her, though surprised by what she saw:

HP: ?

Attack: 20

Defense: ?

Determination stands before you. Your trial begins.

"T-Trial? Determination? What does that mean?" Frisk asked.

"… I am a judge," Clair answered, as Sans popped in Frisk's mind.

Clair sent out an attack of white flames that Frisk easily dodged as she seemed to be contemplating, though watching Frisk carefully. After that Frisk asked,

"A judge… why do you feel you need to judge me? Is it by my actions? Or truthfulness? And do you usually do that here? In this place?"

"There are multiple basis when examining a person thoroughly, and you are correct. And yes, this place is where I usually do so," Clair replied as she sent an attack of needles she shot from her hands.

Frisk dodged most of them, as one hit her but the damage it caused was only 0.5. She noticed that Clair examined the hit thoroughly, and took note that the needles were golden.

"And we found this place in that world… You're connected to her somehow," Frisk said.

"… You were sure she and I were the same person. Why question yourself now?" Clair asked as she sent white fire and needles, another needle hitting Frisk.

"Because... I don't want it to be you… But it has to be… I need to know what happened. What caused it… maybe there's something I can do, something to help or something!" Frisk replied.

"… I see. Then I am Corruption to you… so what shall you do?" Clair asked softly.

"I… I…" Frisk fumbled over her words.

"Shall you attempt to kill me?" Clair asked.

"N-No!" Frisk replied.

"Then punishment is in order."

"No no! I…"

"Certainly justice must be served, shouldn't it?"

"But…"

"For those who have been killed. Justice should be given, should it not?"

"B-But…"

"What about the humans? The Aecans? Curtain's parents? Theodan? Everyone Corruption hurt… Everyone I hurt… where is their justice? Fulfillment? For all their sacrifices… if you came this far, carrying that responsibility… then shouldn't you act on it? Is your determination really going to falter now?!" Clair asked in a stern yet soft tone.

"That's not it… I don't want to do that to them but at the same time…" Frisk was shaking with her fists clenched.

"… It was better when you saw Corruption as a demon then to realize she used to be a person, huh? That she used to be a kind person at one point… but to judge means… that you can't let your emotions intercept your decision. The decision must be just and true… or it is corrupt," Clair said, her hair covering over her eyes as she lowered her head.

"… In the future, as Corruption, you've done terrible things because that's what you became… but the you right in front of me… didn't do those things. You of here, right now, is not evil… I can't take justice on someone who hasn't done anything, even if I know the future… but if you still exist… if this place still exist in Corruption's memory… then maybe you're still there too," Frisk said, as Clair missed with her next attack, and Frisk continued,

"And if you are, then how can I get justice?! Corruption is the corrupted one! And you still exist because of the chapel! And even though you share the same world, you two are still separate... Maybe… if I can save the remnant of you in Corruption and just defeat her then maybe everyone can be saved… And all those who died can be at peace that Corruption was destroyed! And you can be too..."

"… Why do I matter in this case? You have just met me and want to save me? Am I really not evil to you? Why do you look at me… as if I'm not the very demon who has haunted you? Isn't a part of me still in her that you noticed the similarity? That… I'm still there… Doesn't that make me bad too? Shouldn't I still be destroyed? The guilty party would still be jailed even if they never meant to hurt anyone…" Clair reasoned with a hint of melancholy.

"Because I spared Asriel and he was no different! He was hurt! He was alone! He was in torture and soulless! And even if that can't excuse the actions he chose to act upon, it's not like we can't understand how he would feel and why! If I can forgive him… If I can spare him as he spared all of the monsters and human souls even at the cost of his return to being soulless, then why wouldn't I do the same for you?! You're not just some evil fiend… and even if you were, I believe… that any person can change. That anyone can be a good person, if they just tried… and if they were given the chance to do so… Don't you believe that?" Frisk asked.

"…" Clair threw another needle at Frisk, which she didn't try to dodge, as it took no hp from her.

"…" Frisk waited for her answer, as everything went silent.

The air was still as the hall grew a little darker, except the two of them. Even the darkness seemed to be awaiting a response, as Frisk patiently waited for her reply. Frisk let out a small gasp when she noticed a shining droplet fall from Clair Voyant's cheek to the ground.

"… I'm sorry… I… knew that Corruption and me were the same from the moment I touched your hand. My name is relevant of my ability… I can see the future, sometimes in glimpses and sometimes more. Your story lined up to what I saw, so I cannot deny it's truth. I wanted to test your conviction, and you've proven that to be true as well. Although as a judge there is an obligation for justice and truth… mercy is also an option to take into consideration… and the mercy you have proven even to someone who hurt you… is stronger then anything revenge could ever hope to achieve. I shall follow suit as well… and… I will show you… what had happened to Corruption… to me," Clair said, as the room returned to normal lighting and Frisk's soul retreated back to her body.

Frisk approached Clair as she extended her hand to her, and Frisk took it. Then, her eyes glowed in gold as did Frisk's eyes, and she was able to see what Clair was showing her:

A younger Clair Voyant lived from village to village, being the first of her kind, and forming friendships of humans and monsters. As she grew up, she took her friends under her wing and taught them magic and all sorts of powers, and some happened to be the humans who became mages. She also met a young man, who couldn't be determined as human or monster, whom she fell in love with.

As the years passed, tension grew between humans and monsters and they had consulted her and asked for her judgment on what to do, as she contemplated her answer to them. A band of monsters and a band of humans formed separately and decided to alter her judgement in their favor by injuring her fiance and making the other take the blame. They attacked him outside the chapel while he was alone waiting for Clair, but instead of just injuring him, the attacks crossed and mortally wounded him. In fear, the two groups ran off, as Clair had received a vision suddenly of her love and ran over to find him in the wounded state she saw. He muttered his last words to her and passed in her arms, as her wails of sorrow spread so far that even the two groups who ran could hear it chasing after them.

She buried her love, as the ones who committed the crime were sent to prison, but they were released due to an error in the court, which caused fights among those who wanted justice for her fiance, and the tension to grow worse. Still burdened by the humans and monsters regardless, Clair did not want to give them an answer so as not to be compromised by her pain, and so she locked herself in her home to grieve. Her mother gave her the best comfort she could, but upon losing her husband and seeing her child in such a state from losing her love, her mother's heart could not last. Upon waking up from being wrapped in her mother's warm embrace the night before, Clair was covered in dust.

Clair returned to the chapel with a hollowness in her heart, as she stood before the alter and summoned her soul of white and yellow. She stared at it with sorrow and pain drenching her cheeks, and holding her soul gently she wept as images of every death and tensions of war filled her vision.

"Why… Why Why Why… How can I judge what is right, yet the pain in my heart is unyielding… how can I live… what could I have done to prevent this… how can I move on from such… injustice… can time really help me…? Why can't I stop feeling this way… this pain… this anger… this rage… this unbearable agony! WHY CAN'T IT STOP?! JUST STOP! LEAVE ME ALONE!" Clair Voyant hollered as she slammed her fist down… on her own soul.

A gasp left her lips as her soul cracked and split into seven pieces before her eyes.

"No… no… noooOOO!" Clair Voyant hollered in agony as her soul refused to die but refused to live.

She screamed as a darkness formed around her dimming soul, holding each piece that refused to part but refused to go back together. Her screams echoed louder as her tanned skin turned cold, her snow white hair melted into darkness, her fangs spread to all her teeth, and her white clothes became infected by shadow as it spread all over until only bits of light remained just on her waist in shattered pieces. She fell forward on her soul as it formed back into her. After a few moments, she sat up and her eyes were grey and empty.

"Where… Who… What…?" She said, and upon looking up at her surroundings, her eyes widened as all of the memories flooded back to her at once.

Her teeth grit, her brows furrowed, her fists tightened, and her breathing grew more rageful until the last memory poured into her mind, which made her roar as the chapel trembled, and her eyes burst into a crimson red as shining red flames shot from her mouth.

"… No matter how long… No matter how far… No matter what… someday, whether today or tomorrow… they will ALL pay…" She spat, and then stood up and left the chapel.

Frisk's eyes returned to normal as did Clair's, and they parted hands.

"…" Frisk stared downward.

"… So what do you think about this? For it is justice that formed into vengeance when not fulfilled… a terrible bitterness without end until all is desolate… and even then it grows horribly darker… what do you say to this?" Clair asked.

"… I will still save you, even from yourself," Frisk replied, looking up at her with a yellow star-like glow emitting from deep within her eyes.

A smile formed on Clair's lips, as she petted her head gently.

"Alright. I'll leave it up to you and those with you, Frisk. And to Curtain, please give her my utmost apology most of all…"

"I will, and I'd like to know something… You are very strong, I can tell… can Curtain be as strong as you?" Frisk asked.

"Of course. Though I'm sure there are certain techniques you and Curtain could accomplish too… I can see that you are going to be forced back to where you came from soon… so thank you. Thank you for coming all this way. I'm sorry for everything, and the terrible trouble I've caused," Clair said as she knelt down.

"… I understand and I do forgive you, Clair… I promise, I'll do everything I can to stop Corruption," Frisk said as she approached her.

"Thank you… it was nice meeting you… goodbye," Clair said as she hung her head low with a lone glowing tear rolling down her cheek.

Frisk walked close to her as she gave her a hug, while Clair smiled and accepted it.

The area around them began to glow intensely as it seemed to warp and disappear while Frisk was still hugging her. It grew very dark, as she felt the darkness cover over them, but it slowly faded into the whirling of wind until it finally stopped. Frisk slowly opened her eyes to see that she was back in the old chapel, but surprised to see that she was hugging Curtain, who tilted her head at her with a smile. Apparently Curtain had stayed close to other Frisk, waiting for Frisk to return, and when she did Frisk happened to fall on her and hugged her. Other Frisk released the star that she held as it faded away, and Frisk gave a smile back to Curtain as she parted from the hug.

"Good morning, Frisk."

"Good morning, Curtain. I… have a lot to explain, and an apology to give you from her."

"H-Huh? Then… let's sit down," Curtain said, as Frisk nodded.

I'm posting quicker to not lose inspiration and time