Determination (Charisk) [OUTDATED]

108 - TAINTED MEMORIES

TW - Traumatic Backstory, main character death.

(CHARA POV)[M]

     The memories were flooding in. Frisk tried to get my attention, but I couldn't hear her over the ringing which grew in my ears. The tanks of living magic bubbled. I was looking, but I wasn't seeing. I was somewhere else.

We were back in Waterfall. I had been possessing Frisk for... hours, maybe. Too long. We had already lost ourselves. There we stood in front of Undyne on the bridge, just having struck the final blow.

     For only a moment, there was a look of defeat on her face. And just as quick it was gone, replaced only by willpower.

     ' ' D-Damn it... so even that power.. it wasn't enough? ' '  Undyne started to laugh. Beads of sweat dotted her forehead. She was straining herself to stay standing.  ' ' If you think I'm going to give up hope, you're wrong. 'Cause I've... got my friends behind me.  ' '  The beads of sweat became white as  Undyne's head started to deform.  ' ' Alphys told me that she would watch me fight you. and if anything went wrong, she would... evacuate everyone. By now she's called Asgore and told him to absorb the 6 human SOULs. ' ' Undyne's entire body began to melt.  ' ' And with that power, ' ' Undyne was barely holding herself together. She was dying. Even still, she had the biggest smile I've ever seen her have.

      ' ' This world will live on... ' '  Too Determined for her own good, Undyne completely melted into the same white liquid that everything here was made of. We didn't bat an eye.

     "Chara." Frisk said in a low tone.

     "the numbers—they..." I was hyperventilating. I had dropped to the ground and curled up into a ball.

     "You're safe." I didn't open my eyes. I didn't want to take the chance. I was still seeing what we had done. "I know that you're safe. This moment will pass. These feelings are only temporary. Focus on me. Can you see my shirt?"

     "y...yes."

     "What color is my shirt?"

     "blue and... and purple."

    "That's right. Can you look at me?" I had calmed down enough to see my girlfriend, who was lying down on the floor with me.

"i don't... i don't know what just happened."

"You had a panic attack." I stood up. I was still dizzy, but otherwise I was physically fine.

"It was like I was back there all over again. The feeling of... growing stronger—" I turned away quickly, not wanting to even think about it anymore. Frisk went to put her hand on my shoulder, but pulled it back halfway through the gesture.

     "Chara... That's not who we are— That's not what we are anymore. And I know it was my influence which corrupted you like that, but... we're safe. And we'll be okay."

     "..."

     "You're the only reason I'm not a world-ending threat. You're my light in all these caves, you're my anchor and my hope. You've told everyone that it was me but really it's you, Chara. You are the future of humans and monsters. And it's a future I want spend with you."

      "thank you." I hugged her. The sensation of touch felt new all over again. I couldn't muster any more words than a simple thanks, but we decided to move on. Lemon Bread pointed us to the next Capacitor Cell. We—Frisk, really—said our goodbyes and moved on to one of the adjacent rooms. As Frisk turned to walk the other way, Lemon Bread put something into my hands. The green power key. I nodded my thanks and followed my girlfriend into the next room.