Determination
Cold, dark, empty. You scream out, to anyone, everyone, but nobody comes. You are alone in the empty, voided black. You wiggle and stretch, and try to reach out, but you can’t seem to move anywhere. To anything. You cry some more, hoping for something to change.
Suddenly, something moves in the shadows. Three pale white dots, which bring you some semblance of hope that someone was coming. However, as those pale dots near you, it fills you with dread; unending terror. You scream, trying to back up but it’s useless. You are stuck in place, the emptiness having nothing for you to move on or in. The being moves closer, revealing a body made of oozing tar, a broiling abyss. The pale white dots grew larger, becoming strange bony hands and a misshapen skeletal head. Its dark eyes focus on you with deadly intent, a curved smile cracking across its skull, meeting with a large fracture underneath its eye.
Unholy. Deadly. Its malicious intent flows towards you, as it reaches out with its bony fingers. It grabs at your soul, squeezing, twisting and crushing. You scream, blood and tears seeming to flow out of you.
All you see is that crackling grin, that misshapen head floating on a body that can’t sustain itself. It gestures to you.
The words it motions in hands ring clear in your head.
I t ’ s t i m e t o s t a r t.
You bolt out of bed, breathing heavily. Sweat and tears mingling as they drip off your cheeks. Breathe in. Breathe out. You hadn’t had nightmares in a while. Truth told, you hadn’t had dreams either; but that was because you partly refused to sleep. The only thing you ever dreamed, if you did, were nightmares. Thankfully, most of your sleep was blissful, empty sleep (probably due to the fact you worked yourself until exhaustion so dreams couldn’t sneak up on you). You never recalled anything, even if you had dreamed.
You scratch your head as the faint imagine of that weird skeleton monster floats in your brain before disappearing. Perhaps he was spurred on by seeing those other skeleton monsters yesterday. You think to yourself, rubbing your eyes to get the sleep out. This monster has always plagued me since childhood. For some reason, you try to focus on where you remember seeing the strange monster. Possible ideas of a child's book or movie float in your head as nothing else seems to come to mind. Maybe that’s what Chara saw the two skeletons as. They probably remember that movie or book more so than I do. After all, it has been years since I picked up any reading material.
Your hands clasp onto the portion of the bed Chara had been. You grasp empty sheets. Your heart stutters.Chara? For some reason the wicked, empty eyes of the strange skeleton skull flash at you again. A chill of dread crawls down your spine, you get up and out, rushing through the house to find Chara.
You see them playing happily with Asriel, two bowls of soggy, forgotten cereal on the small coffee table by the couch. Chara is the first to look up and notice you.
“Ah, you are awake!” They say, and Asriel chippers a similar announcement, “All your tossing and turning was waking me up. So I went downstairs.” They tilt their head at the odd expression in your eyes, but do not comment on it, and continue to play with Asriel. It takes a good few minutes for your heart to settle, and you sit down on the couch to stare at the two of them.
“Oh, elder child! You are finally awake!” Toriel proclaims, as she walks into the living room, brushing her paws together. She gives a bright smile, “Good morning! You slept all throughout yesterday and the night as well, I was beginning to worry. But the young one explained you had not slept for the past few days. I am glad we could provide you with a proper bed to sleep. Are you perhaps hungry? I can prepare you breakfast.” You hesitate briefly, but nod in thanks. You gesture to the cereal when Toriel asks you what you would like. She disappears back into the kitchen, humming happily.
Is the mayor here too? You gesture to Chara, who shakes their head.
“The big one left earlier. He has stuff to do, I think.”
“Are you talking about my daddy? Yeah! He has important mayor stuff to do!” Asriel offers excitedly, as he listens in to half of the conversation. However, he scrunches his nose as he looks up at you, curious “Can you not talk? I wanna talk to you, but I can’t do the hand thingies.” He flails his hands around in an imitation of the gestures in the language of hands, “It’s not fair daddy can understand you and I can’t.” He pouts, giving you a sour expression.
Chara stares at Asriel, their brows furrowing. You hesitate, opening your mouth a small bit. Talking was never something you wanted to do, and gesturing had always been safer, easier. Some humans had a decent understand of what you were asking anyway, and Chara had always been around to help translate if need be. Some even claimed they knew “ASL”- but upon discovering this ASL, it had slightly different movements and actions to what you knew. Both your language and ASL could be understood by one another, but it was tricky to get everything right.
Luckily Toriel comes swooping back into the living room, scolding her child for such a prying question, “Asriel, it is not polite to ask such a question. If Frisk ever wishes to tell us why they do not speak, they will do so on their own- not because someone forced them to answer because they thought it unfair.” Asriel looks down, blushing slightly.
“Sorry mama.”
“It’s not me who you should apologize to.” Toriel announces smartly, placing the cereal bowl in front of you.
“... sorry Frisk.” You smile, before waving your hand. You motion for Asriel to come over to you, and he does so grudgingly. You ruffle the top of his head lightly, trying to instill the fact that it was okay. He slowly begins to smile back at you.
“All is forgiven. Eat the cereal, dear child. I wish to take you and Chara on a nice tour of our town. Meet some of the monsters, let them get to know you.” You munch on the cereal, nodding. You can't help the giddy feeling at the prospect of meeting other people- err monsters. In the human side, the tactic of staying as far away from anyone had been a good thing. Here, however, you found yourself more amiable to the thought of socializing. It’s rather strange, how relaxed and happy you felt in such short notice here. It was as if something in your soul was settled, peaceful, content.
Chara, themselves, also seemed contented. The first sign of that, was of course, how they weren’t sticking to you. Any times in any of the shelters, whenever Chara had woken up before you, they always waited in the room along with you until you woke up to move anywhere. Constantly, they were always around, near, or holding something of your person. This was perhaps the first time Chara had went out of the bedroom without you, and didn’t seem in the need to touch your hand or hold your pant leg. It gave you an incredible rush of relief and happiness. Perhaps your intuition had been right. Ebott was going to be the place for you both. It fills you with an emotion you hadn’t felt in a long time. Determination.
Gulping down the rest of your cereal, you stand up, ready to leave. Chara too, bounds over. Asriel follows behind.
“Mama, can I join too? I want to help Chara and Frisk meet all of my friends!”
Toriel looks down, her brows crinkling. However a mischievous look twinkles in her eyes, “Oh Asri, my dear, I thought you wanted to help your father today? I thought you said you were bored of taking walks with your mother? That you hated being with me so much?” Toriel pulls off a hurt face.
A horrified expression overcomes Asriel's face, as he blushes, “No- no! I’m- I don’t hate walking with you mama… I just…”
At this, Toriel faked a sniffle, “I know. It’s so much more exciting with the new guests. That’s why you want to walk with me, isn’t it? Because it's not your boring old mother you get to walk with, but two exciting humans as well.”
“Ma-mama! I- I-” Asriel cries slightly, tears welling in his eyes. Toriel hugs her small child, giving soft little chuckles.
“Oh my dear, do not cry so. Mama was being a tad too cruel and was teasing you. Of course you may join me on my walk with the humans, you know how much I love it when we walk together.” Toriel rubs her nose against Asriel's face, and he begins to giggle. Chara blanches at the sappy mother-son scene that unfolds in the next few seconds, but you can’t help but smile over it. Everything was only confirming the fact that you had made the right choice in coming here. That taking that train was the perfect, most logical thing you had done. It almost felt as if, through all these years, the two of you had slowly been making your way to Ebott. As if it had been woven into your very soul.
“Are we leaving soon?” Chara asks haughtily, before they take your hand, “Me and my favourite, awesome elder sibling want to go see stuff.” They level a mutinous gaze towards Asriel, before tugging you out the door, “I’m sure I’ll loooove going on walks with them too. Why, they’ve carried me in their arms loads of times too! That's basically like walking with them!” You hear Toriel’s amused chuckle behind you, as Chara storms off. You didn’t know what had gotten them so riled, and in the back of your mind you worried it would cause an episode, but Chara’s puffed cheeks only ruddied more when Asriel came flying by. He took their hand in excited glee, and shouted he wanted to show them his friends. Even more amazingly is that Chara lets go of yours in favour of being towed behind Asriel.
Toriel quickly catches up to you, as you lag slightly behind the excited children.
“My my, it seems they have become fast friends.” Toriel announces fondly. You nod at her, sighing happily. Toriel looks at you, giving a further smile, “Hopefully, you too, find some friends.” You say nothing, but keep the wistful agreement to yourself, and just watch Chara and Asriel run off together.
You hadn’t noted before, too scared to truly look around as you had been a couple of days ago- but the town was rather vast. Interesting buildings of varying degrees sprung up on either side of you, creating a sort of block like pattern to this section of town- which Toriel quickly supplied was the residential area. The mayor’s house had been at the furthest, northern reaches of the town- with the large mountain and lake the further backend. Over the tips of the quaint houses, you can spy a large building farther off into the southwest, however it was too far away to denote any sort of features of it. A blinking beacon of orange/red light seemed to pulse beside it as well.
Toriel introduces you to many different monsters milling about in the residential area, who all seem to respond to you warily. Some are more amiable than most, though. Asriel does the same to the younger monsters in the town, with Chara begrudgingly saying hello when prompted. The children seem more welcome than the adults.
“After we pass the next house, we’ll be entering the shopping district of the town, which is where I found you.” Toriel announces pleasantly.
“Mama, can we go get spider donuts- ooph!” Both Asriel and Chara nearly get bowled over backwards as a blur of white and blue motion hits them.
“Heya, punks, ya better watch where ya step next time! That was almost dangerous!”
“AH, TINY HUMAN AND LITTLE MAYOR CHILD! GREETINGS AND SALUTATIONS!”
You and Toriel run over to help your respective charges up. You frown in concern as Chara’s face stares at the tall, lanky skeleton. However, they don’t react as they had last time. Instead they narrow their eyes at the skeleton, and announce, “You aren’t the same one.” It seems more like a confirmation for themselves than to the skeleton before them.
At this the skeleton blinks- you believe you remember his name as Papyrus- before he replies, “ACTUALLY I AM THE SAME SKELETON YOU SAW BEFORE, TINY HUMAN. I KNOW IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE TO ABLE TO MEET TWICE SOMEONE AS GREAT AS I IN SUCH A SHORT TIME, BUT IT IS TRUE! NYEH HEH HEH.” The fish lady- Undyne- rolls her eyes and smirks.
Chara turns to you, raising a questioning eyebrow before snorting, “Definitely not the same one.” You hear them mumble.
“Are you two on your morning patrol run?” Toriel asks pleasantly, once Papyrus stopped laughing to himself.
“Do you think we can join you guys?” Asriel asks at the near same time.
“Ah, yes ma’am, we are doing our regular patrol.” Undyne states.
“THAT WOULD BE A GREAT IDEA, LITTLE MAYOR CHILD-”
“- come on Papyrus, you know my name is Asriel-!”
“-DON’T YOU AGREE, UNDYNE?”
At this Undyne snorts. Loudly. And then laughs. Loudly, “Oh paps, this is official business! We just can’t let everybody all willy-nilly join a royal guardsman- ahem, I mean policepatrol- now can we? And you’re still in training, don’t forget that! I don’t want to babysit any others today as well! Gwahaha!”
“IT IS ROYAL GUARDSMEN, UNDYNE. I DON’T KNOW WHY YOU AND EVERYONE ELSE ALWAYS TRIES TO CHANGE THE NAME.”
Undyne sighs, “Papyrus, I’ve told you a thousand times already. It’s policemen now. You’re the only one tryin’ ta change it back.”
Papyrus sputters, before retorting indignantly, “BUT YOU HAVE TO AGREE THAT ROYAL GUARDSMEN SOUNDS COOLER THAN POLICEMEN. IN FACT, I’M SURE IF YOU ASKED EVERYONE IN TOWN WHICH WAS THE BETTER NAME-”
“NGAHH! Pap-y-rus! It doesn’t matter what sounds cooler, that's just what its called now!” With a disgruntled snort, Undyne turns to look at Toriel, “Sorry, Miss Mayor, we’ll be continuing our patrol now.” With a stern look in your direction, Undyne takes off, Papyrus quickly following behind in her heels.
“BUT UNDYNE- WAIT! WHAT ABOUT INVITING THEM ON OUR PATROL? UNDYNE!”
Everyone watches as the two run down the length of the other buildings and turn up to the left and disappear from sight. You then turn and tap Chara, gesturing a quick message for them to relay to Toriel.
Chara raises a questioning eyebrow at you, “Why do you want to know? That’s kind of pointless.” You give them an unamused look, and they roll their eyes, “Fine. Frisk wants to know why the name changed.”
You all pick up pace as Toriel ushers you forward into the slew of shops and stores, “Well,” She sighs, “The change was rather recent, as you can tell. Asgore thought it best to perhaps adapt a human way of thinking, and thus we renamed our positions after a human mindset. Which is why King changed to Mayor, Royal Guard changed to Policeman and so forth. It's not a big change, but somehow hard to keep a handle on. I suppose we have lived too long with our names of things to really change them.” Toriel gives a little laugh.
“I think our names are cooler. Papyrus was right.” Asriel argues.
“... Why would you want to change names to h u m a n names?” Chara asks, clearly disgusted by the idea.
Toriel gets a sad, distant look in her eyes, “In the hopes that maybe we could all establish peace.” She responds quietly, “Even in our small town, we have seen too much… violence.” The walk turns awkwardly silent.
“hey kiddos, tori.” The voice that springs up suddenly seems to come out of nowhere and it startles you. Turning around, you find yourself staring at a wooden stall, wedged between two other buildings. The other, smaller, skeleton leans on it, a smirky-smile in place. You squint at it and him, positively sure it hadn't been there earlier when you glanced in that direction. Chara also seems startled by the sudden intrusion, and their lips forming a tight line as they regard the skeleton.
“Ah! Sans! You startled me!” Toriel gasps, and Asriel shrieks a bit before managing to gasp out a hello.
The white pupils of the skeleton- Sans'- eyes sweep over the small crowd, before they settle firmly in yours- and Chara's- direction.
“sorry, didn't mean to raise the fur on your hide.” Toriel snorts slightly, and suddenly the look on Asriel's face is of dawning horror. You look down at Chara, who looks up at you with a sour expression.
Toriel gleefully responds back, “Oh, it is fine. But tibia honest, it was a tad humerus. Although I have to sternum-lywarn you not to do that again.”
“Moooom. Saaaans.” Asriel moans in a defeated tone.
“Goat ahead, kid, I’m all ears. Some-tail you need? Are we getting underneath your skin?”
You let out a small chuckle, to which Chara gives you a scornful glance for, “You find this funny?” Chara whispers, disgusted, as the two continue swapping rather lame puns to one another. Asriel's groaning of despair gets louder as they switch to knock-knock jokes. You shrug your shoulders, grinning at the silliness of the situation.
Do you not? It’s all very silly. Silly things are nice. Silly things were a luxury, especially when you hadn't ever experienced them in years. It was refreshing. Chara grunts, not commenting. After a particular devastating pun by Toriel, leaving Asriel in slight tears of frustration, you note the corners of their mouth twitch. You hum to yourself.
“Mooooom can we go please?? All my favourite donuts will be sold out by the time we get there! And, and I thought we were showing Chara and Frisk around! Just seeing Sans’ stall is not showing them around!”
Toriel wipes her eyes, tears of mirth glistening, “Oh, my dear, you are right. We cannot keep dawdling. As much fun as it is, Sans, I am afraid we have to keep lumbar-ing forward.” Another few chuckles, and Ariel glares at them both. However, Sans then gives a little nod, calming himself down. His pupils turn to focus on Asriel, who continues to glare at him. A hot dog seems to materialize in his bony hand, and he offers it outwards.
“you don't want any of my ‘dogs there Asriel? Free of charge fur ribbin' ya.” Asriel sticks out his tongue at Sans.
“Nope! I’m lame-pun intolerant.” He announces, smirking. Sans rolls his eyes. Toriel shakes her head, smiling, “Come on mama, lets goo now!”
Everyone waves their goodbyes to Sans as you make your way around the next building and head off towards a familiar shop. However you get startled again when you notice the skeleton- and his stall- just out of the corner of your eye. Toriel and Asriel seem unaffected, or they hadn't noticed. Chara also comments on it.
“How did he get there so fast?”
Before you can motion out your reply, Asriel quickly ushers you into the spider-themed donut shop you had rested at a couple of days ago. The bell jingles a weird tune as the door swings open.
A few of the monsters you remember seeing before mill about in the shop, sitting at webbed tables and chairs. A large, glass counter is settled at the back of the cafe. You notice black spots wiggling on its surface, and gasp as you realize they were tiny spiders. Some more spiders dangle down from the ceiling, holding different pastries as they present them in front of patrons at the tables.
Asriel runs up to the counter, hopping excitedly, “There's still some here!” He announces with glee.
A large, human-like purple spider materializes out of the open archway behind the counter. Her dark hair is drawn up in two pony-tails, pink ribbons holding them up. She wears a type of full-bodied blouse; a mix of dark red and light pink. A large bow adorns the front of it. She waves about six different hands, four of them containing two tea pots and two cups. Her six eyes blink and focus on all of you as she giggles.
“Ah, miss mayor and her child!” She chatters with her two front fangs, one of her free hands rising to her mouth daintily, “My favourite customers! Oh~~ the two humans as well! What a pleasant surprise!”
“Give us three of those donuts please.” Asriel demands, pointing to a wonderfully decorated webbed pastry donut. Chara walks up to it, their face looking dubious.
The spider lady chitters, “Ahuehuehue~~ Of course of course~! Is mother going to have anything?” She asks as she settles the tea pots and cups on the table, efficiently grabbing a piece of waxy paper before obtaining the donuts requested. The spider lady then holds out the donuts to the three of you. Asriel takes his gleefully, you and Chara following suit.
“No, thanks, Miss Muffet.” Toriel responds pleasantly, as she digs through the purse she had brought with her. Gleaming golden coins are placed on the counter, which Muffet snatches up gleefully.
“Thank you for your purchase! All money goes to real spiders!” She chatters, watching you all carefully.
You bite into the strange, webby pastry with wariness. The doughy texture explodes in your mouth, a hint of sweet mixed in. You can't help a small moan of pleasure as the pastry melts on your tongue. You puff out your cheeks and squish your eyes together. Besides the pie you had, this was one of the most delicious treats you had ever tasted. You savour each bite of the treat and manage a small chuckle as Chara all but wolfs theirs down. Asriel does the same.
Once it was gone, you gesture with your hands ecstatically to the Spider Baker, trying to convey how delicious it was to her. The spider lady tilts their head at you, each eye blinking before she giggles, “Ahuehuehue~ I’m glad you enjoyed my treats, dearies~” She titters, and the tiny spiders around her dance and chatter their limbs, “I would love to see you around again,” A mischievous look overcomes her features, as the gaze in her eyes turns predatory, “I can't wait to see your souls turned purple~” One of her hands reaches out towards your cheek.
At this Toriel makes a gruff noise, slamming her purse down on the counter to make a jingling thud, “Enough of that now. No harm shall come to them. They are under my protection.”
“Oh but Madam Mayor, I was simply teasing~! I would love for these nice humans to meet my pet~ I’m sure they’ll get along nicely, huehuehue~”
Toriel levels the lady a firm glare, but Muffet simply giggles some more. You are all ushered out of the store, with Toriel huffing indignantly.
“Mama, I’m sure she was only kidding! Miss Muffet never hurts anybody who buys her pastries.”
Toriel hums, “Yes, I suppose. Shall we continue on? Shall we go to the school or the hotel?”
“The hotel, the hotel! I heard they put a fountain in front of it yesterday!”
“Alright dear.” You all head further upwards, towards the large gleaming building that was getting easier to distinguish. It was almost gold in colour, glitzed and glistening in the sun.
As you pass the last of the shops, the hotel was the only thing you could see, dominating every aspect of your vision. You remember this had been the hotel you had stumbled towards before remembering you had no money. Not that it would have mattered, money seemed to be different here.
The hotel was… well it was glamorous. The new fountain Asriel mentioned was, indeed, in the courtyard before the hotel, a large square like thing spouting water from its hands. Huge, glittering letters spelling out MTT HOTEL AND DINING shine near the top, another version of that square being posing at the very top. You can see there was another building at the back, but couldn't make any distinctions. The large orange/red beacon you saw is a large radio tower at the very back.
“This is… excessive.” Chara mutters. You can't help but want to agree. It was all very… glamorous and over-the-top. It was unlike anything you had ever seen before. You were surprised you hadn't noted that before, but perhaps as tired as you had been and the dark of night blinded you.
Toriel and Asriel lead the way inside. Toriel starts to explain that this hotel was owned and run by a being named Mettaton.
“He's a robot. Alphys made him.” Asriel provides, as they stand at the large entry way. Two counters are situated on opposites sides, in between a doorway. Two other doorways are on opposite walls, with the left wall a sign saying “Dining Entertainment”. The counter in front on the left has a strange lady, only with a hand for a face, while the other has a jittery, gloomy looking cat like being.
Toriel walks up to the hand monster, “Is Mettaton around?” She asks. The hand, decorated in gleaming red nailpolish, points to a poster on the side. It says “Mettaton’s Schedule”
“Oh. Right, thank you.” Toriel demurs, as she examines the schedule, “Ah, he is in the station right now. Shall we all proceed?”
“Ohh! He’s doing a show! Maybe we can go on it!!” Asriel exclaims, rushing off to the door in center. You all file behind, going straight and then left through a corridor with hotel rooms on each side. Some have do not disturb tags on them. You pass by an elevator.
Exiting the long hallway through a glass door, you find yourself near the building behind the hotel, the large radio beacon off to the side. You see another glitzy sign MTT STATION.
Just outside the large glass doors leading into the station stand two monsters, bickering and giggling to one another. Both look a little disheveled, and slightly tattered in appearance. The monsters are a cat and alligator. They quickly notice all of you walking towards the station.
“Catty, like, look! Look! It's the humans Mettaton mentioned, like, yesterday!”
“He, like, mentioned them yesterday!”
“Do you think, like, if we bring them in, he’ll come down and, like, talk to us?”
“We should take them with us inside the station, I’m sure he'd, like, speak with us!”
The two strange monsters walk towards you, eyes gleaming.
“Oh my god, Catty this is so exciting!”
“Oh my GOD Bratty! This is exciting!”
“We can finally speak to Mettaton!” They claim in unison, and stop in front of you and Chara. Toriel steps a little closer to you.
“To what may I give the pleasure, young girls?”
“Oh!” “Oh!”
“Like, Miss Mayor we didn't-” “We didn't, like, see you there.” The two proclaim, their voices melding, stepping and dancing around the other
Toriel smiles, “Well, Catty and Bratty, I would like you to meet Frisk and Chara. They are the new humans, which Mettaton did mention yesterday morning on the news.”
“Hello! I am Bratty.” The alligator announces, “And this is my best friend Catty.”
“Heya, I’m Catty! My best friend here is Bratty!” The cat says at the same time. They both giggle.
“Do you wish to join us as we go see Mettaton?” Toriel asks.
They both gasp in unison.
“That would be, like-” “TOTALLY amazing and stuff!”
“Well then, let's all go!” Asriel says, valiantly leading the way forth. You enter the station, and find yourselves in a waiting room area. Soft couches line the walls, as a similar reception desk is on the upper left side. A similar hand monster to the one in the hotel, only wearing yellow suit and nail polish, motions to you.
“Ah, yes, I’d like to introduce Mettaton to the humans.” Toriel says as the lady questions them for why they had come.
You nearly scream as a being bursts through the large door leading to further into the studio.
“Ah yes, darlings Mettaton has arrived~ I saw you enter! Pleased to be finally meeting you!” The similar square like being that had been sculpted on the fountain and at the top of the hotel greets you charmingly, dramatically posing with it’s arm up in the air. His facial screen blinks with different colours, with a distinguishable M pattern created of red pixels, “We absolutely must discuss you on my latest show, Chatting with Mettaton! Come now, human darlings, it will be airing soon!” Grabbing both you and Chara’s hand, he whisks the both of you to further in the studio. You hear the footsteps of Toriel and Asriel trying to keep up.
He ushers you into a room, labelled Studio 3. A strange monster holds a large camera in his claws. The room itself has a large stage, the backdrop like an office building window, looking out over a large, glowing city. A plush chair and a couch are settled before it. Mettaton pushes the two of you into the couch, before settling into the chair opposite you.
“Whats going on?” Chara demands of you, and you can't help a bewildered stare back in their direction. You had no idea.
The door to the studio bursts open as Mettaton calls out a count. Asriel and Toriel rush in, with Toriel heaving an obvious sigh of relief. She settles to stand beside the cameraman, as Asriel pitches his way to sit in between you and Chara; just as Mettaton calls out, “On Air Darlings!” Lights flip on and off, as the cameraman focuses his lens and attention on you four.
“Hello, darlings of Ebott! And welcome to Chatting with Mettaton!” Mettaton purrs charmingly in his static-y, robotic voice, “As promised, I have here with me today, 3 important individuals! The two mysterious, allusive young humans and the endearing, cute young son of the mayor!”
Asriel waves an energetic hand, “Howdy everyone! I'm on TV!”
Mettaton chuckles, “What an adorable little cutie!” However he leans forward, voice growing intense, “But, we aren't here today to marvel at cuteness, oh no my darlings! We are here to chat with the humans! Who are they? Where did they come from? What are they doing here? Please, dear viewers, if you have any questions, do not hesitate to call in. Now, lets begin.”
Mettaton turns to the three of you, the M that was on his facial screen transitioning to a question mark, “Humans! How did the two of you come to be here?”
You begin to answer the question, but freeze as Mettaton asks you to voice it out loud.
“We don't want our blind viewers unable to know what is happening!” He chides you.
“Frisk doesn't talk though, robot. They can't answer your questions any other way.” Chara responds, as you fluster slightly. Asriel repeats in the affirmative as Mettaton seems to look to him for confirmation.
“Oh? How dreadful! Can you not speak at all?”
At that you shrug, gesturing to Chara.
“They don't really like talking out loud. I can talk for them, though, robot.”
“Hmm.” Mettaton hums, his tone a little tight, “Alright, little human. So, how did you get here?”
“By train.”
“Why did you come here?”
“To get away.”
At this Mettaton perks up, “Oh? Get away? Away from what? Who? Are you two fugitives? Criminals?”
“Humans. And no. We’re just orphans.”
At this, Mettaton clapses his hands against the side of his body in mock horror, “Oh no! You poor little darlings, no mother, no father to comfort you?”
“No.”
“Oh, so very tragic for two young little things like yourself!” Mettaton takes that moment to pose dramatically to the audience.
Suddenly a large ring happens, disrupting Mettaton in his poise, “Ah!" He proclaims, as another strange monster pushes a large table, with an even larger phone on it, onto the stage. A large red button blinks at the top of the phone, "A phone question! Let's hear what this darling has to ask!” Mettaton presses the large blinking button. Click.
“Heya!" A familiar voice crackles over the phone line, "I-I just wanted ta ask the punks- er, humans, if they are planning on hurting anyone." The voice grows deadly with fury, "Coz if they are even so much as thinking about it-!” The threat cuts off meaningfully. Another click, the button stops blinking.
You shake your head vehemently, as Chara supplies a curt no. More questions seem to ring in after that, and some are addressed to Asriel. One of them was his assessment of if the humans were dangerous. He gave a glowing answer of praise, and even went as far as to admit he hoped they'd stay with him at his house. Toriel also called to chime in her thoughts. Eventually, though, the questions lead to a full recounting of how you and Chara had arrived at Ebott- with many interjections and points given by Asriel. It seems as if you had been questioned for hours. You were getting tired, motioning all your answers to Chara. Chara, as well, was beginning to look irritated and sour, especially as repeat questions came in from monsters who just turned on the program.
“I don't have a question, but rather a request. Can we hear the Frisk human speak?”
Suddenly a swarm of requests along the same line comes flooding in. Can the Frisk human say hello? Can they speak to us? Why are they not talking? What's wrong with them?
Now bogged down by requests you'd rather not complete, and Mettaton also seeming to egg them on, you shrink down in the couch. You open your mouth as if to talk, but only find yourself closing it again, not a sound to be heard. Your lips form a tight line. It's not like I can't... you think to yourself, feeling a tad guilty.
"Come on darling~! I'm sure you have a pretty voice, why not let the whole world hear it?" Your jaw locks further. But I just don't want to. Your eyes bound over to Toriel, whos face was beginning to scrunch up in worry. It settles on a firm look, a brief nod, and she quickly starts making her way past the cameras and wires to you three.
“I told you Frisk doesn't want to speak! So stop asking!” Chara bites out harshly, standing up on the couch, looking more than a bit annoyed. Asriel stands up on the couch as well, looking nervous.
"Mama said not to force people to talk when they don't want to." He supplies anxiously. Suddenly Toriel scoots into view. You get up off the couch, and help the two children down.
“Hello, everyone, it is I, Toriel. I am afraid that is all for this questioning. Please refrain from demanding the dear child from doing something they do not wish to do.” She gives a small bow to Mettaton, who bows back, in his own robotic way.
“Well, the mayors wife has spoken!” Mettaton announces, as you, Chara and Asriel walk off the stage, “I am afraid that is all the time for Chatting with Mettaton anyway. I shall see you later tonight! Adieu, my darlings~”
“Shall we go back and have some lunch, my children?” Toriel asks as she leads you out of the station. You note the two best friends were nowhere to be found.
“Yes, mama, I’m rather hungry.” Asriel complains. However, he gives a glinting, challenging look to Chara, “Bet you I can get there faster than you can!”
Chara slides a look over at Asriel in their irritated, sour state, “In your dreams, goat boy.” Chara grumbles, however the thought of a challenge seems to lighten them up.
The two immediately start to run off, as Toriel calls out worriedly, “Now don't get Chara lost, Asriel! Stay together!” However the two disappear into the throng of stores and shops just beyond Mettaton’s Hotel.
“I am sorry, dear child, for those probing requests. Feel free to talk when you are ready.” You smile and nod, sighing, “It is also perfectly okay if you never speak.” Toriel adds. You give her a grateful smile.
Unwittingly, you gesturea few sentences to Toriel. I’m sure I will speak eventually. All of you are so kind.
You grimace as you remember Toriel did not know- however the smile and chuckle lead you to looking at her curiously.
“I am glad you think that way, young one.” She smiles again at your surprise, “I had Asgore begin reminding me of the language while you slept yesterday. It is easy to recall, I can't imagine how I had ever forgotten.”
Oh thats great! You announce happily to Toriel, and she smiles in agreement. Walking through the residential area, quite a few of the monsters greet you- much more amiable than before. In fact many smile, wave and giggle at you. You and Toriel find yourselves stopped by quite a few monsters, as they give their own take on your predicament and grant you well wishes on staying here. Toriel pleasantly translates your part of the conversation. Glares are given to those who continue to try and pry for your voice.
After a few more tiring minutes, both of you finally pass the last house and see Asriel and Chara animatedly talking to a bunch of young monsters outside of the mayor's home.
“So, you're like, the voice of Frisk?” A yellow, armless monster questions excitedly, “That’s pretty cool!”
Chara stands in the middle of the crowd, looking rather smug, “Yes, I am. I know exactly what Frisks says, all the time. That is really cool.”
“Ah, hello children. It is pleasant to see all of you outside class.” Toriel remarks. The children scatter around her, returning the greeting, and tug excitedly at your pants.
“Gesture something!” They all beg of you. You motion out a hello, and they turn eagerly to Chara.
“Frisk says Hello.” Chara announces. The children all turn back to you, chirping out hello!s.
“We are going to have lunch,” Toriel interjects between the children's chatter, “Perhaps you all would wish to join us?”
They all squeal and agree, being ushered inside by an ecstatic Asriel, “Let's all play games together!” He cries out. Chara follows behind Asriel, as the children all bicker about who should be the humans partner in any games, “Of course I should partner with Chara! They live with me!” Asriel retorts.
The children all cascade into the living room, their noisy chatter following them. You follow Toriel into the opposite room, the kitchen, and sit at the dining table.
Toriel immediately fires up the stove with magic, humming as she begins to prepare a full meal. Closing your eyes, you simply listen to the peaceful sounds surrounding you. The chatter of excited, little voices and the clanging sounds of pots and pans. Is this what a home is? You question to yourself. It feels like what a home should be. Minutes of bliss pass in perfect harmony.
“Chara? Chara where are you going?” Asriel’s voice breaks you out of the moment, and you look down to find Chara heading towards you. However, what stirs you out of your seat is the look on their face. You know that look, all too well.
Chara’s whole body shakes as they grasp heavily at your pant legs, fingers squeezing tightly. The eyes that seem to float between an abyssal darkness and eternal sorrow look up at you, frightened and afraid, “I don’t-” They manage to quake out, fingernails digging through your clothes and into your skin. You stand up immediately, wanting quickly to find a place away. Gently tugging Chara along, you assure Toriel and the children with little smiles and nods. Chara is merely feeling a bit ill, you gesture to Toriel, indicating you were taking them upstairs. You somehow manage to make the lie sound convincing.
“W e a r e a l l a n i l l n e s s.” Chara hisses into the back of your legs, fingers clenching and unclenching. You burst into the room you two had, forcing Chara to sit on the bed with you, “A l l I c a n s e e i s s u f f e r i n g.” Chara’s eyes turn to look at you, the empty-minded grin taunting you. The other hand grabs at your arm, twisting painfully, “W h y d o n ‘ t y o u s u f f e r w i t h m e?” A few tears seem to trickle down their cheeks, mindlessly leaving the hollowed eyes, “I feel so d i s g u s t i n g.” Chara seems to confess, the clenching fingers turning in on themselves, digging into their own skin, “All those monsters… so kind...” A haggard gasp, a choking sigh, “Yet w h y do I want to h a r m?” They close in on themselves.
Your hands stroke and soothe, leaning against the shaking figure. You hum a soft melody, some song of long ago that each of you knew. It sways and dances in the room, colliding with the hissing, growling tones of Chara’s inner demons.
“Chara?” Asriel’s voice cuts through you, and you look up in horror. Asriel opens the door a crack, his eyes peaking in with concern. He steps in lightly, and Chara’s head whips up from its tilted position. Something red flashes in the dark hollows of their eyes, “Are you okay?”
Chara seems to lighten their hold on you, and you rip one arm out to shoo Asriel away. He doesn’t seem to understand the motion, or ignores it, and tries to come in further. Chara slips off the bed, their head lolling, the eerie grin widening.
“Chara? Whats wrong with you?” Asriel backs up, his eyes looking scared and confused.
“Humans are so s i n f u l. Humans are so h a t e d.” Chara burbles out, and you notice the black tar dripping from their mouth. You hadn’t seen that in m o n t h s. Your gestures to Asriel get harsher, demanding. You stand up in alarm as Chara takes a wobbling step forward, looking as if in between a mental war “I am a h u m a n.” Chara takes another step forward, their body tensing. The tar starts to flow a bit freer. You know what had won the fight. Another desperate gesture to Asriel, but he wasn’t looking at you. Sounds of warning scramble in your throat.
“Won’t you grow to hate me too?” Another step, Their legs began to bunch together, preparing to strike.
“Asriel. OUT.” Somehow the words tremble on the air, the scratchy voice that was never used slaughtering the syllables of spoken language. Asriel’s confused, terrified face closes as he slams the door on his way. Chara lunges forward, slamming against the doorframe with a sickening, crunching thud.
You instantly swarm Chara’s body, pressing them deeply into you. They choke on the black ooze pooling out of their mouth, and they turn in your arms, tears of black down their face. Mouth wide on a silent scream, they flail at you.
“How come your soul fixes itself?” Chara hisses, the black tar splattering on your face. You feel the horrible tug you hadn’t had in a long while, and suddenly you’re swathed in dim, red light, “Fix mine too~” Their hands clench against your soul painfully, as they cry black tar onto it. The tar sizzles, settling into the smaller gaps still present in your soul, “I want to be happy here. I feel like I can be happy here.” Their own soul pulses inside of their chest, the jagged cracks pulsating as black tar oozes out of them, “But with such hatred. Such malice… I don’t know if it can pass. Can I steal some of your kindness?” They trace the outline of your soul, irritating the cracks trying to mend themselves. Droplets of red splatter against the black.
Tears of pain well in your eyes. You let out a haggard gasp. Chara please, your soul seems to beg, bringing out a voiceless plea.
Chara grasps your soul tighter, “D o n ‘ t c a l l m e t h a t n a m e.” They shake, tar flinging about you, “Chara is s i n f u l. Frisk is s i n f u l. But we can erase this sin. Everything can always be erased. Guilt can cease to torture us. Never again can we feel pain.”
Chara, we CAN be happy here. You just need to try. We can both do it, together. We don’t have to be just humans here. We CAN be Chara and Frisk, nothing else.
“You can’t change what we a r e!” Chara shrieks. Familiar ruby eyes flash a glimmer in the depths of blackness, “Don’t pretend to be something you’re not! We’ll only destroy things here. Do you know how close… I could have h u r t them. Such innocent toys can be incredible weapons!” Another sob rips out, true tears mingling with the black ooze.
You hug Chara closer, burying your head into their chest. Awkwardly their arms still encircle your soul painfully, but you still hold them. But you DIDN’T. You came to me, Chara. We can be better humans. You need to be determined. All you have to do is t r y.
“Stop doing this to me.” They sob bitterly. Their hands slowly let go of your soul, as they proceed to clutch at your real body, “Don’t you know? We are humans!”
Have mercy on yourself Chara. We can always be forgiven. The voice of your soul fades on those last notes as it disappears back into your chest. Chara’s chest heaves as their own soul returns to its spot.
“I don’t want to be forgiven!” Chara cries out, burying their face into your neck, “I’m so awful, all the time, Frisk. It hurts. Everything hurts. I hate it.” You rub their back soothingly, comfortingly, “I hate everything.” You begin to hum again
“Stop humming, you’re awful at it.” You hum a little louder. Chara stops talking for a few minutes, breathing heavily to regain a semblance of emotional balance.
“...Frisk?” You cease your humming, “Will we be able to stay here? I really do want to try… but I don’t know- what if I- what if they- we are h u m a n s.” Their voice cracks on that last sob, tone desolate and bitter. Your own fingers clench around the small, shaking frame.
I will make it work. You think to yourself, face settling into a firm look, With everything I can, and will do, I will make this work. We WILL be happy here.
I am determined.