Determination (Charisk) [OUTDATED]

102 - A FAVOR

(CHARA POV)[F]

     She wasn't ready to tell me what happened. She didn't need to. All I knew was that she came running from the other side of the castle and ran into my arms, silently crying. I didn't lie about the SAVE file being messed with, and judging by how her encounter with Dad in the last timeline went, I'll bet you 60g that it had something to do with Flowey.

But that's not important right now. What's important now is that she feels safe.

     "What happened with Dad? Did you win?" Frisk scratched the back of her head.

     "I did earn my right to live through trial-by-combat, yes. But then... Well, I'm back here now." I tried not to think about what could've possibly happened.  All she showed was that she was happy to see me, but her emotions.... Whatever happened was too horrifying to concentrate on for more than a few seconds.

"O-Okay... so what do we do now?"

"We're going to see Dr. Alphys."

     "W-We are?" I didn't hate the idea, but my trust was still damaged from the amount of lying she had done during our stay in Hotland.

     "Listen... I know that Alphys hasn't been the best friend, but that's because she hasn't had many good examples."

"Bratty and Catty?"

"...."

"I see your point."

"Besides... I have a feeling. Like... this is the right thing to do." Frisk's sense of resolve washed over me. It was so strong, I could feel it just by looking in her eyes.

"Yeah. Yeah, we'll go see Alphys."

"Alright. Am I going to be shot at again if we leave?"

"I won't let that happen."

"Alrighty then." Frisk held my hand in hers, the back of her gold-skinned hand glowed slightly with a familiar mark. It was the same as the ones that pardoned death row criminals had. Dad's magical signature in the shape of the Delta Rune. It was a rare sight, to be sure. There were barely any criminals at all in the Underground, even fewer which had done anything to warrant a death sentence, and fewer still— if any —which would have been pardoned of their crimes. Even though this was a good thing, it still irked me in a way that Frisk was still branded as a criminal, albeit one that can't be touched. "Let's go see Alphys." Frisk finished.

     The walk back through the castle was quiet. Although, I felt incredibly smug every time a guard went to question us, but froze in place when they saw Frisk's mark. Hah, try and stop us now, universe. After we were let out of the castle, Frisk turned back around.

     "It's beautiful." The way her eyes lit up after seeing her prison from an outside perspective, when it finally sank in that she was free.... It's a look that I never want to forget.

     "Yeah," I admit, I wasn't looking at the castle. I was looking at her bright red eyes, open wider than I'd ever seen before. The way she stared in awe, and the castle lights reflected in her eyes, well... "You are." She turned to me.

     "When did you get so lovey-dovey?" I held her hand slightly firmer.

     "I'm just... appreciating what I have. I don't want to lose you again. I love you, Frisk."

     "Aww, you're so sweet. I love you, too."

"...Alright, enough standing around. We've got stuff to do—"

     "And only a week to do it." Frisk finished my thought before I could. And with that, we were off.

     The walk through New Home was peaceful. We weren't interrupted much, and if we were, it was by very nice people who were on our side. Frisk got many compliments and I got a lot of weird looks. Technically, my relationship with Frisk was considered interracial, and many of the old-timers disagreed with it... because racism, I guess. Luckily, I was able to avoid any conflict because I am the prince, and they know better than to go toe-to-toe with someone who could beat their king in single combat. That's right, I thought, Ive more than earned my right to love Frisk. And there's nothing you can do about it. I was certain that she couldn't hear my thoughts exactly, but Frisk walked a little closer after I thought that.