Underspankings-Mercy Or Violence

Chapter 7-The Reason For The Reset

Rodrigo was shivering on his bed. Frisk looked worried at her little brother...

"Hey, hey, why so worried now, Little Miss Perfect Behavior? Maybe Partner is only feeling wind coming from the door. We are almost at the end of the ruins, and on the other side, there is Snowdin, the coldest area of the Underground." Chara noted to her.

"I dunno, Chara, this doesn't feel like he's cold. Maybe he's having a bad premonition or something..." Frisk mumbled.

"What, you think he's an oracle now?" huffed Chara, raising an eyebrown!

If her eyes weren't always closed, Frisk would roll them at that. Who knows, maybe she did roll them while they were closed, even!

"Chara, I'm serious. He had a nightmare the other day, and as you pointed out to me, it turned out to be a memory from a previous timeline, right? Maybe...well, maybe he thinks something is coming. Something he won't like...." Frisk mumbled.

Chara rubbed her chin, "But what would it be? If I recall, Partner was asleep and I was in control through most of Snowdin. Well, he did meet the tall skeleton, but I didn't exactly want him to hesitate and get himself killed, so I-" Chara began....

....And before Frisk could question her at this, Chara snapped her finger, "The comedian! Of course! Even if he tried to forget, THIS he won't forget, believe me!"

Frisk gasped! "The comedian....you mean Sa-"

"Big sis...?"

Frisk gasped again as she turned and saw Rodrigo rubbing one eye, as he looked at her...

"Little bro, is there something wrong?" Frisk gently asked, as she hugged Rodrigo.

"I...I dunno...but I have a bad feelin' I can't describe..." Rodrigo mumbled, "Maybe Flowey's makin' a trap nearby?"

"Don't worry about this, partner. You might just be nervous since we're leaving the Ruins." Chara said, with her arms crossed.

"Maybe..." mumbled Rodrigo, still looking a bit nervous!

"Oh, little brother, don't worry. Big sis will always be here to keep you safe, no matter what happens, okay?" Frisk gently said, hugging Rodrigo.

"K-kay, big sis...thanks a lot...." Rodrigo said, lightly sniffling as he hugged her back!

"Hey, hey, hey, what happened to our talk just yesterday? Ya know, about you stopping being so overprotective and letting Partner face danger every now and then?" Chara asked Frisk in exasperation!

"I am not being overprotective! I'm just making my little brother feel a bit better is all." Frisk replied, patting the boy's back!

Chara rolled her eyes, "Yeah, yeah...and I'M the one who never changes..."

Frisk ignored Chara, too focusing on making Rodrigo calm down, but as soon as he did, she smiled, "Well, let's eat breakfast, and then we can move on, you two! We could use something more healthy, but until we get more supplies, instant noodles will have to do."

Then, she asked Rodrigo, knowing he has to learn to be a bit more independent, "So, lil bro, do you wanna learn how to cook instant noodles?"

"Sounds fun, big sis! Please teach me!" Rodrigo said, finnaly smiling!

"Good boy!" praised Frisk, smiling and patting his head! "Now please get the Instant Noodles off..."

As the boy did so, Frisk began teaching him!

"Okay, first you get the water here on this pot, then put it on the heater until it boils. Take care not to burn your hand!" Frisk adviced!

Rodrigo nodded, as he followed Frisk's instruction.

"Then, you carefully place the instant noodles here, and wait about 4 minutes for it to be ready..." Frisk said.

"But big sis, Chara said I didn't have to do all this." Rodrigo told Frisk, confused, eating some dry noodles.

Frisk tilted her head, then gasped as as she saw Rodrigo eating dry noodles!

"No, no, no! It's not healthy to eat dry!" Frisk fretted, before looking at Chara sternly! "Oh, what are you doing, Chara?! I'm trying to teach Rodrigo to cook in the right and more healthy way, and you go and tell him to do THIS?!" she lectured.

"...It tastes better dry." Chara said, shrugging!

"Oh, for the love of...oh, it's ready!" Frisk said, "Please get your spoon and try it, little bro."

"It...doesn't taste very good, sis." Rodrigo protested as he tasted it.

Frisk nodded in agreement, as she and Chara shared the taste of what Rodrigo ate, and adviced, "When that happens, we add some flavor package into it. Try it again."

"....Better. Not great, but better." Rodrigo said!

Frisk sweatdropped as she felt the taste as Rodrigo ate, "....Yeah, you're actually right. We really NEED to get more supplies..."

"See?" Chara smirked, "It DOES taste better dry."

"But it's still not healthy! Ugh, I just can't win with you, can I?!" Frisk asked Chara in annoyance.

"Nope! Not while you are such a goody-goody!" laughed Chara, making Frisk pout!

"Big sis, calm down! You're still a great big sis on my book!" Rodrigo said, hugging Frisk so she'll feel better like she does for him!

Frisk smiled and returned the hug, "Oh...thanks, lil bro. You're a great lil bro to me, too!"

"If you say so....can we just get moving now?" Chara asked the siblings, breaking the heartwarming moment.

Frisk sighed, "Okay, Chara, okay. Let's go, Rodrigo."

Rodrigo nodded, and extended his hand so that Frisk will hold it as she often did!

Frisk was about to take it, but noticed Chara rolling her eyes!

Then, she sighed, "Actually, little bro...I'm gonna give you a test, how about it?" she asked.

Rodrigo blinked in surprise. "A test, big sis?" he asked.

"Yes, I'm gonna test your independence. I won't hold your hand from here until our next location, unless I need to. Can you show big sis you won't run ahead of us and will pay attention to not trip or get hurt?" Frisk gently asked Rodrigo, as she smiled.

Rodrigo nodded, with an excited smirk! "You bet, big sis! I'm gonna make you proud, you just watch me!" he declared.

"Well now...I can feel Partner's Determination rising!" Chara blinked. "I hate to admit it, Little Miss Perfect Behavior, but you DID pull it off!"

"I just trust my little bro! You're a good boy, aren't ya?" Frisk asked, tickling her brother's tummy with a giggle!

Rodrigo giggled! "I am, I am! Frisk, I'm ticklish!" he said, squirming cutely!

"I know." teased Frisk as she tickled, "That's why I'm making my little brother laugh!"

She wanted Rodrigo to forget his bad omen from earlier, and it seemed to be working. Plus, she also is helping Rodrigo trust more on his own Determination by teaching him to be more independent!

"...Hmph, so far, it seems you're doin' okay, but let's see if you can keep this up when we DO get in danger." Chara told Frisk!

"Yes, I will, cause my little brother won't be reckless and will make me proud." Frisk noted, Rodrigo nodding!

And so, the trio finnaly left the ruins.

Once they did, Rodrigo shivered again. He wasn't sure why. Is it the snow? Or-

"....human. don't you know how to greet a new pal? turn around, and shake my hand...."

Frisk winced, hoping THAT didn't happen again...

The shaking Rodrigo turned around, and shook the stranger's hand....

PROOOOOOO!!!

"hahahaha! the old whoopee cushion in the hand trick! it's always funny!" the tiny skeleton laughed!

But Rodrigo didn't laugh. "......"

"huh...that would be your cue to laugh, kiddo. or to, ya know...emote at all?" the skeleton asked, confused.

But Rodrigo's eyes were wide, and he was shaking a bit, as he let go of the skeleton's hand!

"huh? that look in your face...is one of someone who has been...traumatized?" the skeleton asked.

Then, he sighed, theorizing what happened, "i'm sorry, kiddo. maybe i went a bit too hard on ya-" he began, but soon had to dodge a punch, as Rodrigo yelled, "STAY AWAY FROM ME!!!!"

Frisk gasped! "Little brother! Please, calm down!" she whined, remembering the other timeline!

She went to hold Rodrigo's arms to calm him down, while Chara watched, "Man...memories of other Timelines CAN be troublesome..."

A PREVIOUS TIMELINE

Rodrigo was tired. All this fighting. All this destroying. For what?

His partner says it's either him or them, and they'll attack again and again no matter how many times he Resets. No Mercy is given or expected in the Underground. Kill or be Killed, much like Flowey said.

And yet, the skeleton seemed as tired of this as he was, even though he was so far wanting to crush the little boy, just like all the others. Just like anyone in this place except for Chara, Rodrigo's trusted Partner, and Toriel...

....come to think about it, Rodrigo never learned what happened to Toriel, only that she doesn't return his calls anymore. Could Chara be right about her forgetting about them both? The thought only made the young boy more depressed than he already was, so he tried to focus on the fight at hand, as he adjusted the heart locket Chara told him about.

"wow. when ya stepped foward, didn't think you had all this in ya, kiddo." the skeleton said, then winked as he joked, "you, huh...you really like swinging that thing around, huh?"

"If ya think I do, then you never knew me as much as you think you did." Rodrigo said, panting. "All I wanna is to go back home, but you of all people stay in the way! I don't like all this!"

"Partner, we're not having another Toriel incident, are we?" Chara asked, "Ya DO know what we gotta do here, don't you?"

"Yeah, I know, Chara..." Rodrigo sighed, as his partner nodded in approval.

The skeleton looked curious at the boy. He looked different from the boy that fought his brother!

His face was the same, yes. Voice was there too. But the Rodrigo who fought Papyrus had deep red eyes, and a sadic expression, one that was enjoying it. He laughed, made cruel jokes. But this had happened after he closed his eyes and changed...Sans could even feel the LOVE in the cold aura around him...

The boy in front of him now had the LOVE he gathered from all monsters he dusted, but was completly different. Looking into his brown, not red eyes, Sans saw sadness. He wasn't lying, it was the expression of someone who didn't want to do this. Could it be there are two kids in the same body?

Possession...meh, Sans saw wierder on his time. Sides, he IS a skeleton! But what he isn't...is an exorcist. If the kid was possesed, then the poor boy was not at fault here...but Sans unfortunately had no way of ridding him from this ghost, and unless the ghost, be it a boy or a girl is stopped, all timelines will be destroyed.

(welp. it is what it is. sorry, kiddo, i promise i'll never forget you....the good you, i mean. i already failed the old lady, and sadly, failing you...well, it's only one more in a list of many past failures on my part. but at least...this will free you from your suffering.) Sans sadly thought, then purposely dropped his guard, still keeping his outward smile!

Chara and Rodrigo blinked and stopped as Sans did this.

"Careful, Partner. He must be up to something." Chara warned.

"W...why did you stop?" Rodrigo cautiously asked Sans.

"well...sigh. listen, kiddo. you're tired of fighting, and to be honest, i am, too. you aren't as bad as i assumed you are, ya know? i can see in your eyes. this sad and regretful kid, well...certanly can't be the maniac i thought i knew and loathed. you might be right, i didn't know you as much as i thought i did." Sans said.

"Y...yeah! I really never wanted it to come to this!" Rodrigo agreed, a glimmer of hope in his eyes from Sans's words!

"P...Partner, wait! You can't pay attention to him! He's really only lying to you!" Chara warned!

She knows Sans is a killer like her. She knows he won't just forgive and forget! But to her dismay, Rodrigo seemed to grasp at this hope, and again, his Determination is stopping her from interfering!

"N-no, let him speak! Maybe...maybe now, we...." Rodrigo hopeful said!

Sans looked at Rodrigo. Like Toriel before him, he heard Rodrigo talking to someone he couldn't see.

Possession it is, then. Ugh...of all the times to be right, Sans HATED the fact that he was right in the money about that one!

But as Rodrigo's will to fight seemed to lower, Sans gave a soft, weary sigh, showing to the boy that the same was true for him.

"....kiddo." Sans called his attention, making Rodrigo look at him again.

"somewhere in there, i can feel it. there's a glimmer of a good person inside you. someone who wanted to do the right thing...but was just too scared by the monsters constantly trying to kill you. you had to defend yourself...you didn't wanna do this, you just wanted to leave. you'd flee if you had a choice, but then you might be pursued, or so you figured...right?" Sans asked.

Rodrigo teared up, "Y...yes, that's right! I just want to go home! I never asked for any of this! If it wasn't for Chara....I would probably be gone for good! When I think how many times partner just told me to rest a bit, and she'd keep us safe....I..."

"Partner, don't listen to the enemy!" Chara scolded!

"kiddo, in different circunstances, i could probably have called you...a friend?" Sans asked.

Rodrigo's eyes widened in shock at that!

"c'mon, buddy. please, if you're listening...let's just forget about all of this, okay? just lay down your weapon, and...well, my job will be a lot easier." Sans offered.

Much for Chara's dismay, Sans's words got to her partner, much like Toriel's did before. The boy didn't want to fight. The boy COULDN'T fight.

Rodrigo's eyes filled with tears, as the knife fell to the ground with a loud sound. "I...I don't want this to continue...to fight anymore...please...please, please, let's stop...I can't do it anymore...please, Chara, let's give Sans a chance, I can't do it, I can't, I can't...!" the poor boy bawled, sadly.

"You can't, but I can! Tag out, Rodrigo!" Chara said, but grunted as yet again his Determination prevented her from taking over the body! "Partner!" Chara scolded.

Rodrigo only cried, and Sans smiled gently. "you're sparing me? finnaly....buddy, pal. i know how hard it must have been to make this choice, after all you went through. i just want you to know...i won't let it go to waste."

Then, he gently opened his arms for a hug, "c'mere, pal..."

Rodrigo still cried loudly as he hugged Sans. The bawling boy couldn't see, however, that Sans's smiled was replaced by a sad look.

(i'm sorry, kiddo. if i could, i would free you from that ghost...but this is the only way for me to free you. cruel to be kind, and all that. just please....don't listen to it again after we're done. just rest. be free.....) Sans thought...

.....and, with a gasp, Rodrigo felt incredible pain, as Sans pierced him with his bones, making Chara slap her forehead!

"GEEEET DUUUUUUNNNNKED ONNNNNN!!!" Sans yelled, directing this to Chara, even without seeing her or knowing she was still there.

"Get....really?!" Chara growled in annoyance at the teasing, "Oh, it's ON now!!"

Rodrigo still couldn't believe what happened. "S...Sans...?" he asked, looking up. His tearful eyes showed the feeling of betrayal on them.

Sans sighed sadly, as the smile faded. "sorry, kiddo. i didn't wanna do it, but it was the only thing i could do to help you. don't worry, i'm here." he said, not breaking the hug, as he gently said, "if we're really friends...you won't come back."

And Rodrigo's world glowed white....

"WHAT WERE YOU DOING?!!!!!!"

"WOAH!!!" Rodrigo yelled, as he was greeted in Judgement Hall by that yell from Chara! "P-Partner, don't jumpscare me..."

"Why didn't you listen to me?! We are PARTNERS! We are a team! He was the enemy! It was obvious he was tricking you!" Chara scolded.

"Aww, c'mon, I am...I am so sad...I didn't wanna fight anymore, and..." Rodrigo said, tearing up again.

Chara sighed. On the start of the journey, she'd tease him for being a crybaby like she used to do with her brother. But after all this time being partners, she understood Rodrigo could be even more sensible than Asriel.

She wondered if Little Miss Perfect Behavior would be able to calm him better if they ever met...no, nononono, scratch that! Rodrigo's feelings are already getting in the way in battle without that girl showing up and making him soft!

So, Chara just made a chair appear, and turned him over her lap. "...Let's just get this over with, Partner." she said, baring his bottom.

"W-what?! But Chara, c'mon, I'm already sad enough with Sans betraying me...." Rodrigo protested.

"That's because you listened to an enemy instead of to your own partner!" Chara scolded, landing the first SPANK!

"OWWW! But Partner, he didn't seem like he was lying..."

Chara sighed as she kept spanking. "Well, this is the point of TRICKING, Partner. If you KNEW he was lying, then he wouldn't be that good on his job!" she noted!

Rodrigo yelped as Chara kept spanking. That must be among the hardest Chara ever gave him!

But as she lectured him, Rodrigo was seeing her point loud and clear....

"Owww....owwie...I-I was at a vulnerable point, though..." he whined.

Chara sighed, "Yeah, partner, you were. I get that. But...didn't we talk about this before? If you can't fight, I take over. You blocked me out, and there's another Reset. And quite an unpleasant one, at that!" she pointed out, alternating cheeks.

As he sobbed, something changed in Rodrigo. Sans apologised and said he didn't want to do it.....but in the end, he was just like all the others. No, he was worse than the others. He betrayed him!

Of course, if Rodrigo knew this was one of Chara's favorites methods when he was asleep and she was in full control of his body, maybe he'd understand Sans more....

"I told you the skeleton was lying! Dropping your guard and accepting an enemy's mercy offer, really?! You won't sit down for a week, my naughty partner!

"Waaaahh, I'm sorry, he really seemed sincere! I'll be careful from now on...." Rodrigo bawled.

Said bawls only increased as Chara spanked all over the butt....

and as it moved to the sitspots, Chara demanded, "Good, and what'll happen if you're not more careful?!"

"WAAAAAAHHHH!!! I'll...sob! I'll be....owww! Spankeeeeeeed!!!" Rodrigo bawled.

"Good! Now let's Reset, an no messing around..." Chara began, but then looked at the poor boy, crying over his lap. All this pressure, and a spanking...

"....Hey, calm down." sighed Chara, helping him up in a hug, and giving a spiritual chocolate. "Maybe we can rest a bit before reseting..."

Rodrigo was happy with Chara's conforting....


RESET

"friendship...it's really great, right? let's quit fighting." Sans smirked, opening his arms for a hug.

"S...SANS...." Rodrigo growled, clenching his fists.

"woah, you look REALLY pissed off....heheheh...did i getcha? well, if you came back anyway...i guess that means we never really WERE friends, huh? heh. don't tell that to the other sans-es, ok?" chuckled the skeleton!