Soft Reset

[buttercup_eater]

As everything fades away when they die, coming back to life is like seeing everything fading into existence again.

The first thing they're aware of is light, and that they can see, rather than seeing anything in specific.

The second thing they're aware of is sensation, the weight of their limbs pressing into a smooth, stone surface.

Where are they, exactly?

Chara tries to focus, blinking a few times in the hopes of clearing their vision. An empty stone hallway, rather like the one they last died in, with high windows flooding the area with sunlight.

They take a deep breath and try and push themselves into an upright position, only to be hit with a wave of sudden dizziness and have to flop back onto the floor. Okay, that's not good. What happened?

They can remember their SOUL shattering, and laughing so hard their sides were aching. Sans. Bruises. Blood. Theirs? No, not at first. Chasing the other child down unfamiliar hallways. Messy. No EXP increase, no LV.

No partner.

Chara waits a moment, just in case any input is forthcoming, but even after several minutes they remain alone. Once again, they're going to have to do everything themselves.

They manage to sit up with only a minimal amount of dizziness, then lurch to their feet. Minus the dizziness, it's rather like the last time they died and woke up again.

The knife is nearby, again, and they pick it up, again. Their locket is also still hanging from their neck, and they can still feel it faintly beating. But there's also a strange weight in their pocket, and when they slip a hand inside to check- oh. Right. An... alternative version of their locket, they guess.

Gripping the locket tightly, they set out to find their purpose once again.

[As with Frisk's post, this is set three days after their death.]

Comments

[lostinmyway]

But Grune steps forward until she stands between Mettaton and the child.

"What are you going to do?" she asks quietly.

She wants to give them another chance. Maybe they were scared when they came here first, and that's why they killed Frisk. Maybe they're sorry.

If they're going to try to hurt her friends, though, she can't let that happen.

[buttercup_eater]

And this is familiar too- yes, Chara certainly remembers Mettaton NEO. And, as they'd alluded, how quickly he'd gone down. They don't stop smiling. Even with Mettaton's companions, they don't think this should be a problem. They steel themselves for dodging any incoming bullets, and adjust their grip on their knife.

Before they can leap into battle, however, the blue haired woman blocks their way.

"It looks like your companion's already decided, doesn't it?" they say. Chara takes a quick step to the side, trying to move around the blue haired woman as much as possible in the hallway. They get a glimpse of a little white haired kid edging out from behind Mettaton... and give them a wink, before tilting their head to meet the robot's eyes. They throw open their arms before speaking, leaving their body exposed.

"Come on, then! Don't you want to show these two what you're REALLY capable of?"

[mediadarling]

"What I want," Mettaton says, his voice ringing through the hallway, "is to protect my friends and my family. I won't let you hurt anyone here--not this time!"

But before he can shower the child with bullets, Grune steps between them again and spreads her arms wide. He tries to step around her, but she moves again.

"Sweetheart, what do you think you're doing?" he demands. "You know what they've done!"

[lostinmyway]

"Yes," Grune says. She stands tall and unmoving. "I know."

She slides a brief glance over her shoulder. "Please take Sophie somewhere safe, Mettaton."

[lostlegacy]

...That's the kid. That's the one who killed Frisk.

Sophie's hands clench; her fingernails begin to glow with brilliant light.

"No!" she tells Gee Girl. "I'm going to help you fight!"

[buttercup_eater]

How appropriate, Chara thinks. The underground's biggest star is here to play the role of a hero! "Did you improvise that line yourself or did you get a scriptwriter to come up with it beforehand?"

They're so ready for a FIGHT- but then the blue haired woman's standing in their way again. Chara blinks, and for a moment their smile slips, uncertain of what exactly she's planning.

But then the little girl (Sophie, the woman calls her) is rushing forward and Chara quickly pastes the smile back on, bending forward to talk to them, like a grown up cooing over a baby in a stroller. "Let me take a guess- you're a friend of that other kid and you want revenge?" they ask cheerfully. "Your devotion is admirable. Why don't I slit your throat, just like I slit theirs? You can have matching scars. It'll be just like a best friends necklace!"

[lostlegacy]

Sophie doesn't need Gee Girl to catch her: the kid's words stop her dead. She sees the horrible line over Frisk's throat that moves when they talk, sees the grave and the lump wrapped in the sheet--

What begins as a yell ends as a scream.

"Demon Fist!"

A wave of blue and white light, no higher than Grune's knee, shoots along the floor, aimed directly at Chara. Sophie doesn't wait to see if it hits, but rushes forward. She's--she's not going to let them get away with saying that!

[mediadarling]

Mettaton's arms snap out. His hand grabs Sophie's collar; his cannon wraps around her middle.

"Let go!" Sophie screams as she thrashes against him, but he holds firm.

To Grune, he says urgently, "Beautiful, it's time to retreat. I'll take care of them later. Talking isn't going to work here, so don't even try. Come on!"

3/5

[lostinmyway]

She shakes her head. "I'll be all right. I promise."

"But darling--"

"I promise." Mettaton is a friend. It's wrong to break promises to friends.

[mediadarling]

...There's hard strength in Grune. He'd never seen it before, but--he can almost believe she will be all right, even against this child.

Almost, but not quite.

Over Sophie's screams and pounding against him, he informs the child, "Stay tuned. I'll be back. And if I find you've so much as scratched Grune while I'm gone, you're going to regret it to the depths of your soul."

5/5 Hope this didn't go on too long. orz If so, I can leave room!

[lostinmyway]

As Mettaton's running footsteps fade behind her, Grune at last lowers her arms to her sides.

"That was a very mean thing to say to Sophie," she says quietly.

Is fine~

[buttercup_eater]

Whoa, okay, Chara wasn't expecting the human-looking kid to produce magic, and the surprise actually shows in their expression for a split-second, before their lips and brows set into determined lines and they concentrate on hopping back, then leaping over the shot of magic.

It's enough to keep them distracted while the dramatic interplay between the trio goes on, although Chara does catch Mettaton's parting line after they land, kneeling on the floor, while the magic speeds off behind them. (Whether to dissipate harmlessly or break down a wall, Chara neither knows nor cares.)

You're going to regret it to the depths of your soul... Honestly, what does he think he's going to do? Kill them? Chara huffs... then looks up to stare at the blue-haired woman. Grune, Mettaton had called her.

"...Yes," Chara admits. "It was. I'm a mean person. Since you apparently already know what I've done, I'm not sure what else you expected."

They get to their feet, holding the knife defensively in front of them. "So. What do you want? Did you send them away so you could kill me yourself, or did you want to ask some questions?"

I got excited. :D;;

[lostinmyway]

She doesn't flinch back from their knife, or even blink.

"Why did you kill Frisk?" she asks.

I enjoyed reading it~!

[buttercup_eater]

Okay, so they're playing 20 Questions again. Chara supposes they don't have anything to lose by answering honestly, except for possibly having to deal with some sort of "surprise" or other.

"...Is Frisk their name?" they say, cocking their head to the side. "Hm. They never brought it up before."

Chara shrugs. "As for why I killed them? Various reasons. I believed it might force a RESET or, failing that, I would gain EXP from it. Unfortunately, neither outcome occurred. As it turns out, Frisk isn't worth anything. Probably because they're a human."

That's good! ^^;

[lostinmyway]

She listens, but when the child reaches the end of their explanation, she goes still. Her gaze becomes heavier.

"That's not true. Frisk is worth so, so much," she says. "We all love them with all our hearts."

[buttercup_eater]

That's... sentimental.

"Then that's your concern," Chara says, flatly. "But in that case, you should be happy to know they're no longer of interest to me. I won't gain any EXP from killing them and it appears Frisk isn't any better at staying dead than I am, so unless they decide to get in my way, I've decided that killing them again would be pointless."

They glance away from Grune, down the hall where Sophie and Mettaton retreated. "Since I've answered your question, I've got one for you. Where did that kid learn how to use magic?"

[lostinmyway]

It's good to know that Frisk is safe now. She'll need to tell everyone so they don't worry anymore.

"Sophie is an iron eren," she replies.

[buttercup_eater]

"Hm." An iron eren? Chara absently taps their chin with the tip of their knife, then announces: "That means nothing to me."

They shrug. They can figure out the kid's deal later, if it ever matters. "Now, I hope I have satisfied your curiosity?"

[lostinmyway]

"Are you going to hurt anyone else?"

The question is spoken steadily, without fear or hesitation. This is something she needs to know above all.

[buttercup_eater]

Chara tilts their head to the side and purses their lips, in an exaggerated "considering" pose.

"Probably," they conclude, after a moment.

[lostinmyway]

Unlike Chara, her response comes immediately: "I won't let you do that."

[buttercup_eater]

"Won't you?" they say, with a smile. "Many have tried to stop me from hurting others. But not a single person has succeeded. What makes you think you could do anything?"

[lostinmyway]

She only looks at them. She doesn't reply.

[buttercup_eater]

Chara's smile doesn't disappear, but after a few moments of Grune's silence it grows a little smaller.

"...Well then," they say. "I'll look forward to seeing you try."

They step to the side, moving as if they're going to go around Grune.

[lostinmyway]

And Grune takes a step back...but then blue and white lights appear beneath her feet in a circle, and she lifts her hand into the air.