METANOIA

Chapter four: Raise the stakes

{Warning: This chapter contains mentions of abuse, depictions of violence and blood.}

In and out.

In and out.

Chara continued their labored breaths, shutting their eyes for a moment of peace. So far they had recklessly ventured further into the caverns without so much as a preparation. Temmie sat at their feet, ears twitching and on the lookout for Asgore; in case he was close. Then he glanced up at Chara with a small smile.

“You’re a pretty resilient kid, you know that?” He piped up softly, his line of sight grazing the save star. Chara opened their eyed and looked at them questioningly. He cleared his proverbial throat, tilting his head to the side. “A…a lot of them seemed to have given up midway.” He explained. “The previous humans who fell down here, that is. A few of them just…disappeared within the caverns.” Chara gave Temmie a long look that screamed he wasn’t helping them relax. He laughed sheepishly in reply.

“But you have me.” He pointed out. “And while I can’t fight and I’m not that strong compared to most monsters here I…I just want you to know that you have a friend to look to, okay? I’ll protect you the best I can.”

Something in Chara’s stomach panged with happiness but they pushed it away immediately, a voice screaming in their head. Nothing, you’re worth nothing. They appreciated Temmie’s efforts but quite frankly, their emotions spiked up and pounded into their ears so hard they felt overwhelmed. They knew they should be happy; they saw pictures in their old books about it, making true friends, friends who genuinely cared about you, being a gift and such.

They weren’t worth it though, they wanted to say. They felt like a traitor and a frown took over their face, a traitor trying to look like those shiny children with parents who genuinely cared about them. There was flare in their gut a sort of anger that they couldn’t rationalize

No voice came out of their mouth and Temmie’s ears flattened against his head. “D-did I say something wrong?” he asked, insecurity and indecisiveness settled heavily in his tone. Chara snapped out of their trance and shook their head frantically. Of course not. There was nothing wrong with Temmie; they were just to sun in deep with their own confusion they didn’t know what to do.

They pulled Temmie closer instinctively and hunched over his form as they sat on the stone floor for a few moments. Ever since they fell into the Underground, they didn’t have much time to think about their predicament from being hounded by a supposedly deranged monster to the certain death that seemed to loom ahead. Every single room in the ruins smelt musty and reeked of hopelessness. They wanted to get out of here as soon as possible.

They nodded down at Temmie, signaling that they were ready to set off again. The doll looked a little apprehensive but thought the better of it. They could sense that he didn’t want them to force themselves anymore, especially with that having broken down so many times now; those instances when that white noise and static filled their ears and their insides felt like they were being squeezed. But the fear of possibly dying was more terrifying and they rose, dusting down the oversized turtleneck and gathering up their companion by the paw and settling him in their arms.

They passed the tube of rat poison and eyed it for a second, then approached it, picking it off the floor. They stared long and hard at it and a wave of dizziness and disgust shook their body, having them throw it across the room and quickly picking up their pace to leave it. At least the mouse was smart enough to avoid the poisoned cheese, they decided with sudden vindication, practically grappling on to Temmie as an anchor of sorts to stop the dark thoughts from entering their mind.

“OH!” Temmie yelped with dismay. “The doorway collapsed!” Chara started with alarm, eyes widening at the sight of the rubble. The plush doll whimpered with anxiety, his ears twitching at odd intervals and the Determination Chara felt hit rock bottom once again. They backed away with shaky legs for a moment, desperately looking for a way out. “Let’s…let’s go back to the last room.” Their companion proposed with shaky breaths.

Chara backpedalled and looked around the room again. The rat poison was where they had discarded it and so was the cheese. They couldn’t see anything that could possibly help them through the rubble. Scuffling at the rocks would be too risky lest it collapses on them, killing them. They were too weak to, anyway. They let Temmie down, who quickly began to scout the room. They had a reason to panic now, with Asgore god knows how close behind them.

A soft whisper bought their attention and their bones tensed when they caught sight of the fluttery monster from before, the one who was unfortunate enough to be scorched by Asgore. It was still charred and they were standing behind a wall, eyeing them with dark, tear filled eyes. Chara wanted to scream and waited for it to lunge forward and begin a fight.

It didn’t.

“D-do you w-want to g-get p-past?” It piped up timidly and this time, Temmie was alerted of its presence and he quickly scuttled to Chara’s side, fur sticking out to look as threatening as possible. The monster squeaked and backed away, though its presence didn’t leave the room entirely. “I-I just w-want t-to help!” it wailed, now bursting into tears, thin hands wiping away the salty drops as it sniffled. Chara glanced at Temmie, feeling guilty and maybe a little critical of their companion’s actions and he rolled his black eyes.

“I have a hard time believing that.” He spat out with frustration, taking a step forward and arching his back upwards. “You ratted me out to Asgore and had my ear ripped out! Why on the Angel’s sake would I actually believe you?!” Chara’s eyes widened and they snapped their head at the monster who shamefully looked at its feel, trembling slightly. Asgore ripped out Temmie’s ear? It actually made sense why he was so terrified of him then, they realized.

“I had no choice!” the little monster burst out in a new, fresh set of tears. Temmie grumbled, looking thoroughly disgusted and untrusting. “You know how Asgore is! He threatened to rip my wings out and season his tea with my dust; I had to talk if I didn’t want to burn.” It flew out of their line of sight and Chara felt the sickness claw at them again. They didn’t want to rust the monster and seeing their companion’s current state because of it only fuelled that felling. A tiny part of them, however, still felt bad for it and they looked at Temmie who now held an expression of mild sympathy.

“Maybe…maybe we should try going along with it.” He proposed though his tone screamed with unhappiness at the arrangement. Chara swallowed the lump in their throat and nodded, collecting the doll in their arms once more. “But if we catch wind that any funny business is afoot, I want you to run, okay?” They nodded, nervously pressing their lips together and taking a step forward. The monster was still there, hugging the wall of the corridor. Chara half hoped they weren’t returning to the room where the sadistic rock resided.

“Y-you came!” the monster breathed, empty eyes widening. It slowly moved away from the wall. “I-I mean, y-you want me to h-help…” Chara tentatively nodded, hugging Temmie closer. The monster hummed and anxiously twiddled its small, spindly fingers and gave its wings a weak little flutter. “Ah, then…uh…follow me…” It declared in its low voice and quickly padded down the hallway. Chara was reluctant to follow, but did so anyway.

Initially, they were so lost in thought and anger, they didn’t notice the corridor’s appearance. Like the rest of the Haven, it was colored a dull grey and blue, stone tiles decorating the floor and cracked bricks holding up together to make walls. They were lined with columns though, while not as large as the one they hid behind from Asgore, they were still stately and carved elaborately. “I swear, if this is all a trap…” Temmie mumbled threateningly under his breath, narrowing his button eyes at the monster.

It finally stopped a few feet away from the archway that led to the room they had just exited and strained its body to look upwards. The burns that were inflicted on it made it wince in pain and Chara followed its line of sight. Beside one column that was half fused to the wall was a loose brick with scuff marks and slashes around it. It was well hidden by Vines and Chara looked at the monster with a small frown. It quickly stuck its hands inside the thicket, then its head.

“A-asgore n-never really bothered with c-checking the damage i-in t-the h-haven.” It squeaked timidly. “S-so t-there a-are a l-lot of c-cave i-ins in the w-wall that o-open up n-new passages a-as well.” A few rocks fell at its feet. “I-I’m only a little m-more t-than h-half y-your size. You s-should b-be able t-to fit i-inside.” It stepped away to reveal a hole, just big enough for Chara’s tiny frame to slip through. The darkness alarmed hem and they stepped back.

They refused to step inside. They didn’t want to feel that horrible feeling where the walls seemed to close in. hands and face growing cold, they let out a whimper, back hitting the bricked parapet behind them. They struggled to find their breath as their vision blurred once more. Temmie looked up at their widened eyes and patted their cheek, abruptly bringing them down to earth, the effect making their head reel.

“I know this is a hard choice.” Temmie pleaded. “But Asgore could arrive any moment and there is no way I’m letting another one die on my watch!” Chara started, looking at him, lips twitching. They were close to yelling out, telling him that they didn’t want to but seeing the desperate glint that was reflected in his gaze tore down their resolve. They swallowed the lump in their throat, struggling to catch their breath. The moth like monster clasped its thin hands together, waiting patiently at the side. Its brow was knitted with mild concern as Chara walked forward with shaky knees.

They suddenly felt light headed when their hands gripped the edges and it didn’t help that the monster was following behind. They were exposed in this position and when they clambered through the hole, falling to the other side while suppressing their screams, the moth monster followed after, the curtain of vines and branches, falling away and obscuring the light from the lanterns. It was pitch black inside and other than the tiny scuffles from the monster’s feet, there was no way they could navigate. “C-come on!” it squeaked out. Chara swallowed once more and followed it.

“A reminder, if I find out you’ve been leading us to another trap, I won’t hesitate to hurt you, Whimfer.” Temmie warned once more and the monster—Whimfer whimpered. Chara flinched and held him closer while their Soul hummed with indignation. The doll sighed. “Of course I won’t.” he whispered, tone assuring. “I’m too much of a wuss and a weakling. Now, Chara, just concentrate on my voice, okay?” They nodded weakly, the straight path twisting and turning. A few times, their shoulders brushed against moist rock and they flinched at any new feelings and textures. It wasn’t until the cavern suddenly inclined to a slope when the first few torches lit the way.

“I’m s-sorry if it w-was too d-dark f-for your l-liking e-earlier.” The Whimfer stuttered. “B-but i-it was a n-necessary p-precaution s-so t-that t-the bigger m-monsters d-don’t find t-the hole.” Chara suddenly felt tired, their initial panic having sapped a large amount of strength from them. They fell silent, noting, once their head cleared, that the inclined curved around into a spiral to form a roughly cut pathway down to the bottom. They didn’t like the idea of going back to the start just to get past a few rocks.

“Where are we going?” Temmie demanded, sensing their discomfort. The Whimfer flinched and muttered a few ‘sorrys’ under its breath.

“The r-roots.” Was the reply and the doll’s sudden alertness was enough to have Chara pause and glare at the monster in front of them suspiciously. “I-it’s not d-dangerous!” it mumbled. “It’s the o-only p-place that’s s-safe enough f-for u-us; e-especially since t-the entrance c-can’t b-be accessed f-from the o-other side by A-A-Asgore.” Temmie relaxed and Chara kept going, though their steps were wearier, ready for any onslaught or ambush. The incline finally straightened out and another hole, this time better illuminated, lit up at the other end. They slid through, suddenly feeling fresher air hit them.

It still held the mustiness of the passages in the Haven but this place was airier and more open. Chara jolted when they realized it was the cityscape they had glimpsed between the wooden boards at the entrance of the Haven. Half collapsed buildings were littered across the street but few monsters were present, they having only counted three so far. They followed the Whimfer through, feeling stares on their back and whispers.

“It’s okay.” Temmie assured, then looked at the monster guiding them. “I thought the door was sealed. Are there more holes that lead down here?” he addressed. The Whimfer shook their head timidly, hands clasping together.

“N-no, there a-are only t-two so f-far. Most o-of t-the h-holes w-were dug b-by the S-seez and t-the Moldsmols.  Some M-migsops helped a-as well. W-we don’t h-have time t-to make a-any m-more.” It replied, voice shaking. Chara decided it was already a rather anxious creature but couldn’t help but feel nervous and edgy. They didn’t trust it; they couldn’t trust anyone down here and their fingers twitched, ready to fight back if they were attacked. A whisper sounded in their ear again and their relaxed their fist. Violence wasn’t something they wanted.

After turning around a few roads, the Whimfer politely too its leave and scuttled off into an alley. Chara continued on, at one point, they had approached a new area with a slightly elevated surface. Three steps led up to it and they scrambled up, spotting an open space that was cluttered with mattresses that were either moldy or filled with cobwebs. They carefully stepped around them, avoiding the ones that were occupied by sleeping monsters that were wounded.

They stared at one longingly, half wishing they could lie down but shook that feeling away, passing through another doorway then stopped and gaped with pure awe at the sight of the base of the tree whose trunk they had glimpsed and mistook for a pillar above. The grey tiles were crumbling around it and the roots twisted and even curled upwards to form large arcs, big enough for them to slip over. It was surrounded by a moat of running water and Chara guessed that some pipes from above transported it in here to nourish the tree.

“I never thought I’d see this place again.” Temmie murmured, staring at it with nostalgia. “Chara…you know, this place provided the closest form of fresh air down here in the Underground. It’s so old, having sprouted centuries ago that it’s very structure and foundation strengthened into something powerful. It…i-it makes you feel so small and humble and…” he trailed off. Chara realized that the large dark mass that they must have seen must have been the roots of the tree. They let the doll down and he let out a happy yip, scuttling across.

Very little sunlight filtered through and they clambered over a root that was partly submerged and stretched across the moat, acting as a natural bridge. They paused and took in the wildness and the airiness of the room, spotting two or three monsters clustered around the tree. At the base, where two smaller roots curved in, Chara spotted a SAVE star and the Soul lurched. They quickly stepped over, falling a few times into the damp earth and grass, soiling their bloodstained turtleneck. Temmie seemed to have noticed and followed after them.

The four pointed star was bright and even then, the monsters didn’t seem to have noticed it. They held their hands out and felt the glow warm their fingers and rejuvenate their body.

*Frisk  LV 1

*The tree holds its purpose and stands strong, supplying its beauty, air and excessive leaf piles throughout out the broken Haven. You are filled with DETERMINATION.

*File Saved.

“Hey! Look over here!” Temmie called out and they turned to face him. The doll motioned to a stick, big enough for them to hold with a few sprigs and leaves still growing out of the end. Chara approached it and picked it up out of curiosity, casting a questioning glance at him. “You can use it to defend yourself. I know it’s not much but it should do until we find some proper armor and form of defense, don’t you think?”

Chara didn’t really want a weapon, but they told themselves that it may be necessary. It wasn’t too heavy, even in their malnourished state and fit well in their hand. They nodded and Temmie’s face lit up. “Great. Now we actually stand a chance here!” He chirped. “I’ll walk ahead if you want since you can’t hold me AND your stick. Besides, I think you’ve held me long enough and I don’t think it’s fair that you have to do so all the time.” He shuffled forward, torn ear twitching. “Come on! I know where the exit is.”

Chara nodded and shuffled after him, almost reluctant to leave the sight behind. They slid over another root-bridge, following temmie as he darted forward and through an archway held by two carved pillars at each side. The new room was small, lit up by two torches that rested across each other at the beginning of a staircase that stretched up a long way up. They suppressed a groan and began to plod up, back hunched. After a few moments, they paused, feeling their strength deteriorate. Temmie sighed and supplied another flake which they gratefully took.

Once they reached the end, they sat before the door, catching their breath. “Tired? We’re safer here so you can take a nap if you want. I’ll wake you if there’s trouble.” Chara wanted to protest but the serious look in their companion’s face stopped them. “You’ve been travelling for a day and a half, you know. The SAVE stars can sustain you for a while but it still isn’t healthy. Sleep.” They balked when they were notified of the amount of time they took travelling and stretched across the stone floor.

“I wish I could get you a mattress but I can’t trust those monsters. Maybe I can sneak a pillow in?” the offer was tempting but they shook their head. They didn’t want temmie to leave. The doll sighed and snuggled up next to them and the wound their hands around him, shutting their eyes and letting sleep take over. It hit them like a ton of bricks and they welcomed it.

*

Chara couldn’t determine where they were; a room of sorts that was decorated with drawings and pictures. It was dark and they noticed that two beds were positioned across each other, the occupant of one, a saurian monster, fast asleep. A child, Chara guessed judging by their smaller, lithe stature who was probably in their late teens shifted in their bed. Their silhouette rose and they took a step back in alarm when they sat up, back hunched.

Their eyes were focused on their hands before they slowly slid off bed and opened the drawer of the side table, carefully slipping out a flashlight and a large book from the drawer. They shut it, then went back to bed, throwing the sheets over themselves as the torch flickered on and they peered at the illuminated pages of the now open book. Chara could see them better now, they were pretty, with brown skin, half lidded brown eyes that shone with Determination and deep brown hair that was cropped short into a boy-cut, bangs flopping over their brow.

“Buttercups…” they muttered, half lidded gaze sharp. “Extremely poisonous…may result in death.” their mouth pressed together in a grim line. “I…almost…” Their voice broke and she succumbed into a fit of silent sobs. Alarmed, Chara stood there awkwardly watching them with no clue as to what to do. The scene faded out, the room and the teen evaporating into smoke.

And then they woke.

*

“Wake up!” Temmie whispered and Chara shifted groggily, a groan escaping their lips. The plush doll sighed and stood back as they pushed themselves up. “I heard pass by on the other end a few minutes ago, probably to take his second set of rounds. This means we have some time to escape. Let’s go.” They nodded sleepily, rubbing any fatigue out of their eyes and getting to their feet. They collected their stick and with some help from Temmie, managed to open the door.

They slipped out, taking care to shut it behind them; they didn’t want the monsters to suffer just because of their carelessness. Glancing around the grey walls and tiles, they spotted the entrance to the room that housed the poisoned cheese, the rubble having been blasted away and now scattered and singed around them. They must have been too deep asleep to have heard it and frowned with slight worry, looking at Temmie. The sheer destruction caused by Asgore was huge and they wanted to stay clear of his way as much as possible.

Navigating around the rubble, they walked straight ahead and found themselves in a more open clearing where another set of stairs rose to form some sort of verandah. They climbed up, walking over the parapet and glanced down at the rubble below. There were a few broken pillars scattered here and there and a few more boarded up windows. Chara continued on their way. Their thoughts had moved on to the dream they had; one whose details they couldn’t remember as well.

They were certain there was someone in it and the more they though and tried to reach into the inner recesses of their mind the more they couldn’t remember. Swinging their stick with frustration, they grumbled and stepped through another archway, too lost in their own angry thoughts to notice.

“Chara watch where you’re going-” Temmie called out They didn’t really pay attention to where they were going and accidentally stepped on what seemed to be fabric. In a moment of disorientation, they let out a surprised squeak and fell forward, the cloth bunching up tearing at the seams, Crashes followed after and they winced when they felt something prick their bare knees. Groaning, they started when they heard Temmie’s muffled yelling from beneath them.

Chara started, legs now entangled in ribbon and silk, rhinestones and beads sticking to the parts of their skin that weren’t as wasted. Grunting, they pushed themselves off Temmie who for a moment looked disgruntled, then let out a hiss, the faux fur standing up on an end and his ebony eyes roving the room. Their vision was too blurry and disoriented and they couldn’t bring themselves to register anything due to the confusion that rattled their skull.

“INTERLOPERS!” A heavily accented voice screeched and the child squeaked with shock, jade eyes flickering upwards to the source. Temmie’s hiss peaked up to a snarl and he quickly positioned himself in front of them, acting like a shield of sorts. They could finally differentiate between the blurs of color and pick out one among them; a creature they chalked down as a monster that floated a little ways above them, frame blocking the way to the next room.

“I’ll have you fucking arrested for the bloody gall you have tearing through like a blithering elephant and tearing apart MY property and disrupting MY peace and quiet in MY territory!” The monster, a ghost Chara realized with surprise, screeched with a heavily accented voice. It resembled the cartoon ghosts they used to doodle with an elongated semicircular body that seemed to change colors. It was initially a shade that seemed to be a mix between deep red and pink that quickly darkened to maroon then black as he spoke.

Chara dipped their head down, feeling their throat tighten and constrict from the nauseating lurch in their stomach and they reached for their stick. Ears buzzing, they swung it and the branch fazed through the ghost. The apparition sent them a deadpan stare which morphed into a withering look. “Think you’re tough are we? Looking for a fight now? Ghost bodies are incorporeal; you can’t hurt me.” He asked mockingly. Temmie squeaked wit slight fear though he still held his ground. The ghost laughed with mockery.

“How cute! A fight I’ll give you then!” He called out and Chara faltered, mind racing. They didn’t want to fight and they almost yelled and begged to be pardoned when the room flickered to black. Their breath caught in their throat when they spotted the black form of the ghost monster as he voice whispered in their ears. They grimaced internally, depreciating themselves for not being good. Wasn’t this why their mother beat them till their bones cracked and their knuckles bled?

*Mettablook awaits for vengeance.

*Mettablook ATK18  DF18. A ghost who’ll scissor his way to fame though he has some anger management problems.

They found it harder to breath. Of course, that’s what would happen. Images flashed in their mind, being grabbed by their hair with angry screaming that hurt their ears in the background. Feeling rough leather streak across their bare back, feeling their skin tear and blood spurt and drip on the walls and floor as they yelled. Their head hurting from being driven into the wall, their back hurting from that belt, their arms giving way as they collapsed into a pile of sobs, the pain being too much to bear.

“Chara!” Temmie screamed and they snapped out of it, body shaking. They gathered their thoughts together in a frenzy, panicking even more when a few would slip away before falling to their knees, wailing. The ghost simply watched, sneering though something else seemed to flicker in his maroon eyes. “Listen to me; we’ll get by this, okay? Come on, you’ll be alright!” Their breathing quickened and in their weaker state, chose the MERCY option and tried to flee.

*But you can’t.

The first attack hit them in the stomach, a scissor with the blades facing forward. Chara screamed, falling back as red plasma collected out of their turtleneck and on the floor and their hands. Their blood was now pounding in their ears and they crawled to the side, just as another pair of scissors flew through the air and wedged itself on the floor beside them. Temmie whimpers had grown louder through the ordeal, ears twitching.

*HP 14/20

Chara slowly got to their feet and through the pain that was being numbed by the sudden rush of adrenaline that had their ears buzzing, chose to ACT and weighed their options as the voice whispered ideas in their mind. They blinked a few times to get a clearer grasp on what to do. The voice was helpful but they needed to steady their thoughts to act the right way.

*Praise   *Heckle   *Flirt

Chara took a deep breath in and glanced up at Mettablook who was watching them with vindication and impatience. They scanned them again, then chose cheer, sending him a patient smile. They hoped he would be appeased by some form of politeness though an uglier side in their head stated that they’d deserve death. After all, weren’t they wasting their time and effort here trying to survive? It would be easier if they died.

*You smiled at Mettablook. He seems even angrier.

Indeed the words were true as the jagged mouth of the apparition curled into a snarl. His maroon eyes squinted dangerously and he suddenly faded out of existence before he suddenly appeared beside Chara who screamed as he fazed through them sending searing jolts of pain through their fragile being. More HP was knocked off and Temmie acted quickly, sending a flake at Chara, restoring a few HP points. The ghost snarled. “Stay out of this, low life!” He snapped, maroon needles appearing and whizzing through the air above Chara and the doll.

The bullets fell like deadly rain, slicing a few times but Chara was quicker on their feet, small body squeezing through open gaps to avoid some of the attacks. Temmie had ducked behind a pillar, his own share of bullets deflecting and colliding with the needles. Mettablook flew back, sneering once more and Chara had the screaming urge to grab their stick and fight back, even though no actual harm could be one. The chiding feeling returned again and they lowered their fists, taking in a deep breath.

*You asked Mettablook what was wrong. His rage knows no bounds.

They smiled once more, emerald eyes silently pleading the ghost to spare them. He paused, narrowing his own hues at them. “Don’t think you can sugar coat who you really are, human. When I take your Soul to the queen, my dreams of fame will come true and I can finally see him…” he stopped himself, gritting his jagged mouth and shivered. Chara tensed as the next like of attacks came in, orbs of water…tears they realized, that sparkled with glitter and rhinestones. They dropped down and they avoided this spiel, the patterns being fairly easier.

Attack after attack, Chara either avoided, hit or healed by Temmie while they played the dangerous game of life and death. They still chose to smile patiently and the ghost would always seem to show his open dislike and frustration with a barrage of attacks, ranging from scissors, tears or needles that would rain down and knock out their HP and staggering levels. Their movements grew wearier and Chara’s wounds grew in number until, down to five points with Temmie panting in their arms, sent Mettablook one more smile.

The ghost screamed with frustration, tears rising up and Chara flinched, ready to move. The attacks surrounded them, though they didn’t strike. The child’s movements were inhibited though and they looked up at Mettablook with heavy breaths, waiting for him to finish the job. He stared down at them, mouth quivering before he floated down, fazing away and appearing in front of them abruptly. Chara willed themselves not to flinch.

“Why are you acting like this?!” he demanded. “Stop it! You’re making it harder for me to kill you. Stop it! Don’t you see, all I want is to see him again and you…YOU insist on acting so…so…” His exasperated rant came to a stop and the attacks disappeared. Chara fell back, looking him dead in the eye as he let out a frustrated scream. ‘STOP IT! STOP LOOKING AT ME!” They squeaked when something whizzed past with a deadly glint and landed next to them with a hum, slicing off a little hair in the process.

Chara looked up, noticing a sharp knife having been driven into the ground millimeters away from their head. Their breathing quickened as the black color from Mettablook’s body faded to hot pink again and a defeated look glistened in his eyes. “Oh poppet, I can’t fight you.” he whispered while Temmie gaped with visible shock. “But really, your kindness isn’t something you should wear on your sleeve. You’ll die down here.” He floated back, the world flickering back to color again.

*YOU WON! You received 0 EXP and 50 GOLD.

Mettablook whipped back his fringe and peered down at Chara. “I’m not happy with what you’ve done to my creations, but…I say, by the bloody angel what are you WEARING?!” They flinched looking down at their grimy clothes, then up at the ghost again. He seemed to be tutting to himself. “You need a new ensemble poppet. I’ve never worked with a human before but…” he muttered to himself then proceeded to let out a flurry of words along the lines of ‘black, ‘stripes and ‘classy’, then blinked. “Ah yes, you must want to go on your way.”

He floated to the side, allowing Chara passage to the next room. The child looked at the ghost with a thankful smile, then quickly crossed the room, entering the next one. They stopped when they heard Mettablook call out to them. “And be careful, poppet. I’m afraid smiling at Asgore won’t help pacify him. Fighting is the only option when it comes down to that.” They paused, brow knitting together before they moved on after Temmie escaped their hold and led them through more passages.

“See, another monster isn’t hot on you being a pacifist. Trust me, I’m not saying you have to kill all the monsters you meet, Chara; just a few so that you can increase your LV a little and stand a chance out there.” Temmie stated, his voice quivering. He tilted his head so that he could look back at them as they walked.

“And with an opponent as merciless as Asgore, what are you going to do?”