Determination (Charisk) [OUTDATED]

48 - BATTLE IN THE CENTER OF THE SOUL

(CHARA POV)

I was back in that endless white void, like I saw in my coma visions. The picnic table was visible, off in the distance. It was empty. The golden flower path cut off abruptly and it seems that cracks formed in the air filled with a pulsating red energy. A smooth, deep, hypnotic voice cut through the silence.

     "So, Fallen. We finally meet." The figure was a slender man, with copper and red hair, fox ears, a kitsune mask, and a black kimono. His canine teeth were stained with blood.
     "Diitii Fox. No te acerques a mí y a mi familia." He laughed like a hyena.
     "Family? Please. Your family abandoned you and led you to die." I clenched my fists. The red cracks through the air expanded and grew brighter. "Besides, talking to you like this is so much more interesting. I mean, you shouldn't even exist!"
     "I get that a lot."
     "I mean, wow. I'm still trying to figure out how there are multiple people with SOULs of DETERMINATION! That shouldn't be possible... unless Toubi changed the JiEmEl..."
     "What are you even talking about?"
     "Long story short, there should only be 1 Red SOUL in existence at any one time, and you and Archer broke that rule, Fallen."
     "Her name is Frisk."
     "Her family name is Archer."
     "You keep calling everyone these... cryptic names, but there is no reason or rhyme to your madness."
     "You may be right, just the ramblings of a madman. But you know it's more than that."
     "..." The red cracks grew brighter.
     "Come on, Fallen. Give in. You've said yourself that you were only put on this earth to gain power. I can help you reach that fate."
"...No."
"What?"
"I said..." A surge of Deep Blue energy enveloped me, and I teleported right in front of Diitii. "No." All of the energy released into one punch that sent Diitii Fox flying." Suddenly, out of nowhere, Alphys's voice called out from every direction.
"I-Integrity levels are soaring! His S-SOUL hasn't rejected it!"
"Wha— Alphys?! What's happening? Can you hear me? Estoy intentando pelear—" I got kicked in the back.
"Pay attention, Fallen." I skidded across the ground. In an instant, I was standing again. I wiped the blood from my mouth and charged back at Diitii. "That's more like it." He put his Kitsune mask back on. A red samurai sword materialized in his hands.
     "I'll make you pay for tormenting them."
     "Please do, I like you more when you're angry." The red cracks in the air grew more. The void started to darken to a deep grey. I'll admit, Diitii was a fast opponent. He moved swiftly and efficiently. I didn't have a weapon so I had to dodge multiple attacks from the blade... although something seems very familiar about that sword.
I dodged for what feels like an eternity.
"*Hff* *hff* You... You just don't stop, do you?"
"You know you can't win. Give up Fallen."
I need a weapon. I called out for something. Anything.
"Are you kidding?" Out of nowhere. Purple wire erupted from my fingertips and wrapped around Diitii Fox's sword. "Giving up isn't an option." I yanked the wires back. In my hand, the sword morphed into the last thing I had gotten from Asriel before I died. The Dust-Forged Riel Knife. Alphys's voice came from every direction again.
"Perseverance levels are i-increasing!"
"You little sneak."
"What? It isn't fair that you get all the fancy tricks." I had to put on a facade. I didn't have the time to freak out about all the mysterious powers I'm getting. My favorite thing about the Riel Knife is the distinct sound it makes when you swing it. I got to hear that sound. A lot. Unfortunately, Diitii also could make new weapons. "Wow. A kitsune mask, and weapons from ancient Japan? You are quite the otaku, Diitii."
"They got it from me." I had to sidestep very fast to avoid getting sliced into a deli sandwich.
     "Oh? Did I strike a nerve, o cosmic deity? A being like you shouldn't take offense to little things such as words. But if they do anger you, I'll make sure to keep talking." That made him even more mad.
     "GRR... SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP!"
     "You know, I probably got my Red eyes from you, but I must say, I pull them off way better. You just look like you have some sort of disease."
     "STOP STOP STOP STOP STOP!!! JUST DIE ALREADY SO I CAN RESUME CONTROL DAMMIT!!" His attacks are getting faster. The void around us darkened slightly. My fists feel cold. I walked up to Diitii. He was confused as to what I was doing but didn't actually attack me for a short period of time.
     Step by step, the air around us got colder and colder. My breath looked like smoke in the wind. Diitii had no breath. There was even frost forming on the blade of my knife.
     "You seem very frantic. My advice?" I kicked Diitii in the chest. "Have a little patience." Diitii was knocked back by the sudden burst of magic.
     "BASTARD CHILD! ILL KILL YOU!!"
     "Woah, dont lose your cool there Diitii." Fun fact: Diitii does not like puns. He tried to attack me several times, but his attacks are sloppy and easy to dodge. "Getting frantic? I think you need to chill, dude."
"AAAAAAAA!!!"
"Uh-oh."
"SUFFER, MORTAL." Out of nowhere, rainbow Lightning struck me. I fell to the ground, limp. "... Well that was easier than I thought." I felt so many feelings in my SOUL.
"It's not over y-yet."
"You have got to be kidding me." I teleported into an upright position. A surge of magical energy rejuvenated my body.
"Now. Where were we? Oh right. You will face judgment for your actions. Maybe not for previous lifetimes. But for this one? You will pay." Yellow electricity arced on the ground.
"Even if you beat me, I'll come back. I'll kill you all. I'll kill everyone you love."
"And I'll stop you again and again. I'll do whatever it takes to protect my people. To protect everyone."
     "And how would you do that?" I pointed my knife at him.
     "Like this." A flurry of yellow bursts of energy shot from my blare at Diitii. They caused smoke to emerge as they hit his body. When the smoke cleared, Diitii was still standing. Barely.
     "Well... That was fun. You almost had me there. With the plot armor and what not."
     "What do you—" Before I could blink, Diitii Fox was right in front of me.
     "You cannot win." His sword went through my body like butter.
     "HRK—" blood dripped from my mouth.
     "You can't really die here, but you can suffer." He pulled the sword out of me harshly, causing even more damage. "I'll admit, I'm a bit of a sadist. And you? Well you're just an easy target." He kicked me in my chest cracking several ribs. It felt like vials of acid were smashed over my organs. This went on for several hours... It felt like longer. I almost accepted my fate until...

Is that Frisk crying?
"Oh god, Chara. Please. Please don't leave me. Don't leave me before I can apologize. I- *sob* I need to apologize to your face. So Chara... Please. Please stay determined." Diitii stopped for the first time in a long while.
"Oh? You're trying to resist now?"
"F-Frisk..."
"HA! She doesn't want you. She dumped you, remember?"
"Actually... That- That was when you were in control... She dumped you." I managed to stand up. My broken bones screamed at me, but I couldn't give up now.
"Grr. LET ME HAVE CONTROL DAMMIT!"
"With what you plan to do with it? No thanks."
"IVE MUTILATED YOU OVER AND OVER AGAIN, WHY DO YOU STILL FIGHT?"
"Well, D-Diitii, you should know very well why." The red rifts in the sky grew brighter and wider as the sky darkened to almost black. "I'm very, very determined to end this." My SOUL started to hurt. Like it was too full. I think I know why. My SOUL isn't built to handle so many TRAITs like my old SOUL could. I need to release before I die. "Hey Diitii, I have a joke for you. What do you put in a bucket to make it lighter?"
"What are you even talking—"
"A flashlight." A large flash of multicolored light shone from my SOUL.
"AUGH, MY EYES!" 5 different colors of magic swirled around me.
"Diitii, you've caused quite a bit of trouble, I think it's time for a time out." The magic wrapped around Diitii and held him to the ground. Blue, Purple, Cyan, Yellow, and Orange ropes held Diitii in place. I brandished my knife as I walked to where he was.
"Do it... Just kill me already."
     "...No."
     "No!?" I shook my head.
     "No, I'm not going to kill you."
     "WHY!? I've hurt everyone you've cared about. I've caused so much pain and suffering. You- You hate me, why aren't you trying to kill me?"
     "I don't hate you." A wave of calm washed over me.
     "W-What?"
     "There are many things I feel about you, hate is not one of them. Hate... hate is a parasite. Like you. It latches on to you and sucks you dry of anything else. Hate is a virus. Hating you isn't going to fix anything. It only makes things worse."
     "..."
     "And your hatred? For your brother, for this world? That caused the suffering of everyone. Hatred only ever hurts." A soft green glow enveloped my body, healing my wounds.
     ". . ."
     "Plus, hating you, means hating myself. It means hating Frisk. Because believe it or not, we're not different people, you and I? You gave up being different from humans when you reincarnated as one. Blaming everything on you is stupid. It's like blaming greed on human nature, rather than their actions. Us? This void? It's all just a representation of my SOUL. Our SOUL. And like it or not we both have a reason to stay here. The most I'm ever going to do to you is keep you here, and keep you confined."
     "... Then you really are an IDIOT."
     "I get that a lot.. See you later, Diitii."
     ". . ."

     I sat up and gasped for air.
     "Chara!" Frisk hugged me tightly.
     "H-Hey."
     "Chara I was so worried! I d-didnt know if *sob* if you were going to make it and- and- *sob*"
     "I know."
     "And the things I said—"
     "Frisk." She looked up at me. "It's okay." She pulled me into a kiss.

It's going to be okay now.

Snail Fact #40
Snails do not appreciate memes. Especially your memes.