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They were at it once more. My brother refused to yield despite all of his wrongs. He laughed aloud as if possessed by some force which drove him to this madness. But we, myself and the child beside me, knew better. This was all his own doing and there was nothing either of us could do to change this fact.

The skeleton with a perpetual grin struck a mighty blow to our shared body. Taking the brunt of the damage left me in agonizing pain. Yet I forced myself to focus past my bleary sight. If I could just muster up enough force at the proper moment I could give the skeletal monster a win. No doubt the spirit of the young boy beside me would have taken delight in that. After being forced to watch my brother's insatiable bloodlust I would not have blamed him.

My brother had deemed it necessary to force Chara to not only deliver the final blow to the monster he had called his mother but then watch her dust scatter to the wind. It would have been merciful of him to stop there. But that was something he would have never dreamed of offering to monster kind. Rather he took time to reload a handful more, and heedlessly slaughter the kindly goat woman again and again and each time I found myself despising him more and more.

All in the name of torturing poor Chara. Even if the kindly monster had done him no harm. No matter what promises of power or aid the young boy gave him my brother did not stop. Not until Chara was so broken he could hardly do more than sob, and only then would my brother move on. My words of comfort could do little to mend the child's broken heart. That moment and several other akin to it were the driving force behind my motivation to aid the monster in Judgment Hall. There would be no blood but ours spilled this day.

At present we were just a little ways past the halfway point. The mercy offered to my brother from his foe was once again rejected. No doubt my twin saw nothing but victory before him, dangling tantalizingly out of his reach. I, however, spotted my opening for betrayal. With the help of my burning passion to persevere, I forced my own consciousness through the fog gripping my entire being. And in that moment the limb on the attack jerked back awkwardly causing our blade to clatter upon the ground.

My effort was rewarded with a cluster of ivory bones embedded in my chest. The anguish seared through my body, sending a wildfire of pain through everything. Breathing became impossible. Just as quickly as it had started everything ended. Our soul fractured; we were sent back to that void.

A place where only the three of us could exist at once. The body snatcher, the Fallen Child, and myself.

There was no point in hiding the smile which twitched along the edges of my mouth. Why would I dare hide something when I was so grateful for my efforts being rewarded? Even if he did not enjoy them they could not be argued. So he rounded on me. Golden light from our two illuminated choices bathed over him as he did. It caused his ruby eyes to glow with a dancing fire of malice.

“What. Did. You. Do, ” he seethed through gnashing fangs.

At wit's end with the entire ordeal, Chara finally lashed out at our puppeteer. His Determination – another thing which had been stolen and turned against those who lived in the underground – came towards his hand when called. It manifested in the form of a crimson blade he grasped tightly before taking a single wild swing. Before I could make any attempts to halt him, my twin intervened. There was no hesitation in how he firmly planted the sole of his boot into Chara's chest, forcing the child onto his back and underfoot.

From within my body, I felt the clawing of his murderous intent towards his captive. Was he going to sink so low as killing a child? If I didn’t act soon then the grotesque answer I knew deep down would be in front of me.

“He isn't to blame. I am,” my voice spoke with authority. “Nor do I regret making us a damned pincushion for Sans.”

His rage illuminated his eyes like a wild flame. Refusing to back down my posture straightened. All possible flaws with my stance vanishing as I met his wrathful gaze with one of my own. Though it would burn a different flame with the exact same intensity.

“You're just like her. A bleeding heart,” a snarl reverberated from the depths of his throat. “I almost wish that bitch had never been born!”

I spoke no words, just acted on pure impulse. A fist cold-cocking him in the jaw. Enough to stagger him off of Chara's little body and shake his confidence to boot. It scampered across his face long enough for me to catch sight of it. That pleased me more than he would ever know.

“She will never love you, Dante,” came my response at last.

Those words only rekindled Dante's fury again. That blazing glow in his eyes my only warning. He was on the attack after that. There was hardly time to gasp, let alone defend myself before my kin was upon me. Goddess above please don't let Chara interfere!

A sting scraped along my cheek. Had he halted? Daring a glance at the fist in question, I had a wretched feeling acknowledging the attack would make it somehow even worse. Despite that, I did so tentatively, and the understanding that his blow should have caused so much more damage came with it. I scrambled to place as much distance between the two of us as possible. An epiphany came to me. Dante had not stopped of his own desire.

He was forced to by the two bones - red and blue - spearing his soul. Chara looked as puzzled as I was. That quickly ruled him out. Was I wrong to believe we were the only ones here? A glance at my surroundings proved that my assumptions were very false. Two more had silently joined us here, and it was clear it was their magic which had made this feat possible.

“”

“”

The first voice spoke in cheerfully, as if trying to teach a child an important lesson. The same could not be said for its partner. It was equal parts gruff and deep as if at wit's end with the same obnoxious brat. I had believed this place secluded from all others but now I was forced to reconsider.

Many questions bubbled to the surface. Who were these monsters? Why had they stuck their necks out for us? How in the world had they gotten here? Why had they waited so long to aid us? Couldn't they see the destruction Dante was causing? Most importantly what did they want with us now ?

If they had been here the entire time then they were at least somewhat aware of the current situation, right? Yet they had not chosen to intervene until now. I didn't like to think ill of people or monsters, but that thought weighed heavily on my mind and heart. They stepped closer, right arms held out, their respective magics curling around their hands. Neither paid any mind to Chara or me. They kept their focus solely on that of Dante.

I didn’t recall ever meeting this unique duo in the underground. Their white faces seemed to be having issues holding there forms almost as if it were melting, only to right itself a moment later with the smallest of helpful twitches from their forms. Perhaps slipping was a better word? The sight was rather eery honestly. The one dressed in pure black looked as rough as his voice hinted at. He currently was grounding his pointed fangs together as his blood colored magic clung to his hand.

Beside him is polar opposite in nearly every way. This one had literal stars in his eyes each a different color but still somehow managing to match his tastefully festive robes. I caught sight of the blue magic encasing his hand as they both took a step closer. Despite not knowing this monster personally, the look of annoyance was somehow offsetting on his oozing face.

“Took your time as always I see,” Chara huffed.

“You… know them?”

“No,” his red hair bounced with a shake of his head, “But I know him”

I spun on my heels coming face-to-chest with one last monster. His mass quivered at the contact as if his form was made of some black, gelatinous substance. With a second glance, I saw the other two were the same. My attention turned back towards this newest addition to our little get together. His white face smiled down at me, causing an open gash that reaching from his eye to his mouth to widen. Briefly, I wondered if there was a risk of him opening the wound further. Were that the case he seemed to pay it little mind opting rather moving... maybe wiggling, or even bouncing... past me.

“So then who are they?” An arm lifted towards the two holding my brother still. “I don't mean to seem rude but this is important to me.”

“” the latest addition to our gathering group politely informed me. “”

“Another human?! When did they fall? What is their trait?” Chara a plethora of questions at the ready.

“ ”

“Wavering?”

“It means that she is doubting herself. There is emotional turmoil affecting her,” Chara quickly explained. “Show her to me. Perhaps I will be able to possess her.”

Chara's desperation was relatable to me let no one say otherwise. But knowing the child spirit wanted to place some poor unsuspecting soul into the same situation I currently found myself in didn't sit well with me.

The purple-eyed monster raised a hand seemingly pressing against something previously overlooked. No matter how I squinted or tilted my head all I saw was pure inky darkness. Nothing else. Chara noticed my predicament and pulled me closer to the working monster. The small child spirit motioned silently for me to once again watch this monster work. This felt silly, but I humored the child. I watched as the monster pulled away from the hollowed color opening up a window of sorts for us to gaze out of.

It had been a sudden shift, and far from what I'd expected. I found it only natural to recoil at the light when first it streamed in. Moments later I found myself adjusted to its intrusion and once again cast my gaze at the spectacle before me. The Runes were not the only thing to greet me.

In front of me, the image of the woman moved. Watching her every step as she ventured to take a careful assessment of the location she had landed in. My heart would ache, longing for the chance to cup her face in my hands or run my fingers through her beautiful long chocolate colored hair. Goddess you were cruel to me. Offering the solution to my woes in the form of one whom I still loved.

“Oh,” I whined in pain.

“A friend of yours?” Chara wondered, eyeing me up and down from his place beside me.

“More than that. We are...” My breath hitched as I stumbled to correct my error. “...were lovers.”

“Did you part on bad terms?”

“I didn't even know we would be parting,” My voice whispered.

“” the cheerful voice holding my brother spoke up sounding a small bit alarmed.

“” growled his edgy partner.

“Rin,” I emphasized eyes drilling daggers into his eye sockets, “will help us. I know it.”

“She is our last-ditch effort. As such I have little choice but to trust you and offer you my form and it's abilities willingly.” The monster beside me cast his gaze down on me. He drew a small bit of amusement from my outlandish reaction to him saying that. “I know your bloodline. Let us leave it at that.”

“Know I take little pleasure in doing this.” The magic he spoke of danced between my fingers. “... And I hope this works.”

“”

Well, that was an added benefit. The smoke of blackish purple magic wiggled around my grasp as I pressed against the form beside me. There came a small resistance as with all things and then, with a gentle give, I felt myself immersing within him. A chill went down my spine while moving forwards melding not only my magic but psyche into his own. It was always so strange to feel yourself taking hold of another being. Almost like pulling on a wetsuit that hadn't stopped being damp. An elastic like tug met against my mind, the monster thankfully was in no pain that often came when using this power.

In the place of it, I could feel his thirst to understand just exactly how this worked. As the last bit of his body became mine our minds would overlay in such a way that he could freely rummage around in my own mind for the answers he sought. No doubt he felt my own desires to succeed thrumming through his body as he searched. In turn, I was given an understanding of a vast amount of things which had all but been alien to me until this moment. And I relished such knowledge and took a tight grip upon his own whispered needs to share a victory, even if it was only a small one, to ensure the safety of his son's happiness and well being. All of this felt within heartbeats when it felt like an eternity because of our newly forged link.

The last subjects to grace my mind with clarity were the understanding of his own personal magic including their workings and important and that of the void itself. Which seemed to be both terrifying powerful and beautiful all at once. While that might have seen trivial to most this was important for me to understand because it was going to be used in our travel method. Already at war with myself on how wrong this was with possessing – the only thing I would ever curse the Goddess for giving me – he urged me forth with a mental push of sorts along with the reminder he had in fact given himself willingly to this cause. He was, of course, correct we had little time and here I was letting it slip through my fingers. Together as one, we stepped out of the light becoming shrouded in nothing put the darkest of darks yet still somehow it was growing darker still to my eyes as our arm was lifted up and a pulse of magic imitated from it.

“”

Sounded like sage advice to me. The void responding by bending in needed places. Though there still was no light I somehow instinctively knew we were moving. We funneled out way through until a weakened spot presented itself in the form of a glowing for. I glanced through taking notice of how the Runes took form in front of us, Rin walked by without knowing we lingered here a look of curiosity on her face. The monster asked for control in this instant which I was more than happy to give him, best that an expert lead in times like this.

A wave of gratitude washed over me and I felt us lurch forwards. Our hands lifted touching and then pushing against the weak spot. It felt as if I was trying to shove myself through a thick wall of cold gelatin. For every inch pushed the resistance strained until it finally reached its limits and cracked enough for it all to give way allowing us to land none too gracefully. With a pop we stumbled in an attempt to catch our footing, it, of course, having been thrown off by the lack of resistance meeting our efforts a pop met my ears and perhaps even Rin's. It would seem indeed so for when my head lifted I was greeted by her astonished face.

It was so greedy and impolite of me to cup her face as I did. But the temptation was just so hard to fight off. And – Goddess above how I've missed you...

“...Rin” we murmured in what was mostly my voice, though the monsters layered over it with a soft whisper, slightly breathless.

She was a blank slate at first taking time to grip the reality of whom I was. And that I was, in fact, standing before her after so many years. But a painful recognition clouded those emerald pools and tears freely trickled down dust-covered cheeks. One hand reached out trembling with the rest of her body hesitating in uncertainty as to where would be proper to grab me by. Her face twisted up displaying to me that my presence here had only brought her a semi-sweet joy and for that, I felt only disgust and sorrow flash throughout me. For it would be impossible to return to her side.

“Ad-Adonis!” She shakily stammered my name as if it were her lifeline, finally settling on taking a hold of my upper arm

“Goddess you don't know how much my heart aches for bringing this pain to you.” My thumbs were quick to clear her face of the gathering moisture. “Come now dry those tears, my love. We have to act and quickly”

“I-I don't understand”

“It's my brother, he -”

“” The cheerful monster's voice whined from behind us.

My monster hoist wished to retort, a roll of the eyes, a slight groan at his friends (dearest G, as he was clearly named, was quick to make that known between our link) near childish worries about profanity. A few choice curses were not exactly the top priority at this very second. But G did not wish for his friend – Swap apparently was his name – to feel as though his concerns were being dismissed. He just needed to understand that, Edge as he was called, would be punished at a later time for his foul language (I could not help the amusement which slipped between us at how properly named he was. A thought G apparently agreed with as he gave a single near whisper of a laugh).

“”

G's soul screamed in terror. The image of Sans – torso freely bleeding, his breath labored as flecks of his body started to dust – flashed between our minds that instant. I was not present which left only Chara to fight back against Dante. And if anything had become apparent from their earlier scuffle, if one even dared to call it such, it was that the child had no hope against one such as my brother. I had damned the skeleton to his death. His dust would now be on my hands personally.

“” G's voice lifted several octaves from the sheer panic.

In one moment a flicker darted over Rin's eyes. Far too quickly for me to really identify as it was gone just as quickly as it had been given life. A spark of color swirled from the confines of her chest. G's soul tightened as a plea died on his lips. Because that single glint of crimson from her soul shone brighter than the sun could ever hope to.

“Where is he? Take me to him.” Was the unspoken demand from her lips.

There was no hesitation after that. We clutched her smaller form against our own tightly and stopped resisting the tug on the void which had been pulling ever so faintly at us from the start. Rin asked nothing to be explained. Perhaps she understood the severity of the situation as it stood? Or maybe she was just as awed at the perpetual darkness just as I had been during my first encounter. And just as quickly G was fighting against the magic I'd woven into his willing body.

Without his willingness, the bond severed and I was left clutching onto Rin's body while we tumbled onto some sort of solid surface. Her head picked itself up to give our surroundings a quick once over before returning it to me. The unspoken fear was hinted in her eyes. Which I was more than happy to chase away with a reassuring smile. We were with trustworthy monsters. Though the place was not the safest, we were in no sudden danger.

A bluish-white light suddenly bloomed over our forms. In unison, we were hoisted up to our feet by dripping black tendrils. Rin slightly wiggled until her feet were placed underneath her at which point she gave a single thankful nod to the monster which had helped her to stand. I saw Edge roll his eyes in those partly melting sockets of his before waving her off. Her response was to blow him a raspberry and wave him off. This had the monster looking slightly taken back at her but he said nothing at her childish action.

“How is he faring?” I questioned noticing at last how G was glued to their window of the outside world. “Are we too late?”

“”

“Then let me fight! I want to help!” Rin protested. “Give me a weapon – like a shield – something I can use to fight back and protect this monster and then cut me loose!”

“”

“I didn't ask your opinion on my arsenal. I said fucking ARM me and let me help!” Rin snapped at her heckler.

“”

“No, but we have the frying pan” Rin gave me a quizzical look. “It's the closest thing we have. I'm sorry”

“It'll have to do”

Swap seemed to have located the item in question. How he had done so so quickly I wasn't entirely sure. But Rin didn't seem up to playing twenty questions to find out. Rather she grabbed the handle of her new and trusty weapon before strolling over to G's side. “Move. I'm going to save him”

He seemed hesitant. The white dots which functioned as his eyes darted away from the fight only long enough to catch the barest of glances of Rin's face before going back to watching.

“”

Her brow quirked as if expecting that action alone to get answers to his meaning. Though she didn't bother pressing for more, simply accepted these facts and solemnly nodded her head. It was enough for G as he ushered her through the small window before him. At first, nothing happened or rather she was met with some sort of resistance in her attempts. But she kept delving forth struggling for what seemed a moment longer than needed for each inch she gained. She cursed quietly to herself, I felt a small smile at how she tried to spare the ears of those around us, whilst continuing her relentless attack upon whatever it was which stood in her way. After a particularly rough shove, the two of us had to spend a moment to gather our breath.

It was at that instant she chanced a glance towards the commencing – I had all but forgotten in my bliss of being this close to her – battled between my brother and Sans. At this, she stiffened sucking in a sharp gasp. My curious mind could offer no solution as to the reasons for this reaction until I recalled the reason why we had been working with such haste in the first place. My own eyes snapped forwards hoping against hope that the skeleton monster had not yet been slain.

My Goddess answered my silent cries, though not in a way I was totally thankful for. Before us my brother stood tall, holding a blade only a few precious feet before the now sleeping skeleton. There was that predatorial glint of victory in his artificially red eyes. We had failed to beat the clock we were racing against like madmen. His arm lifted in preparation for the slaughter, knife blade catching a few rays of whatever light was filtering through those glass windows at Judgment Hall, from behind me G quaked, I tried in vain to reach out for control – we didn't need much time just a few seconds if even that – the feeling of my brothers magic blocking my possible interference was the only thing I met.

There came a cool rush of wind and the smell of rain as something shifted unnaturally beside me. As much as I wish to take my attention away from the sight unfolding before me to check on Rin I just seemingly couldn't bring myself to do so. There came that dreadful first curve of crimson light from Dante's first swing. Which jolted Sans into the waking world and got him to dodge. But like so many countless before, it did not save him from the second. My own eyes clenched shut not wanting to have the bloody image burned into my retina for the umpteenth time.

There came a strangled, and thankfully very brief, cry of suffering – I had grown rather shamefully antiquated with Sans' voice, his pitch on the deeper side of the spectrum, holding this almost lazy feel to it even if he was fully engaged to the ongoing conversation. But this voice, the tone alone was so wrong, too light and oh so intimately known to me – from my very own beloved. That just couldn't be right. Could it? I risked a peek and my heart stuttered.

There, laying on the gold and red checkered floor, with shaking breath, sporting a new gash weeping blood that now spattered the once clean floor, and her own two shaking arms clutching the monster around his torso, was Rin. Sans searched her face completely blindsided by the help of another Human. And who could blame him? The only one he had met had been a genocidal maniac. But Rin's reassuring smile had him going lax in her hold.

“Rin?” My brother asked utterly beside himself with her appearance.

She ignored him. Opting instead to climb to her feet. One arm remaining around San's body despite this fact. How had the managed such a feat of speed? My eyes traced her form for any answers. And I saw it in the translucent blue coil around her torso. This explained the scent of rain then. Thank the Goddess Dante hadn't hit anything too vital with that wild blow. In silence, the duo managed to stand albeit it was a bit of an awkward process to watch.

“Are you alright?” She cupped his skull in one hand, the other held on tightly to the handle of the frying pan.

“If I'm Tibia honest kiddo – not really” the lights in Sans' eyes were so dim.

“Rin” my brother tried again to capture her attention.

“I'm so sorry for this” she placed her forehead against for just a moment then stood ramrod straight. I could see there a dim light of determination dancing in her eyes. “But I'm going to fix it. I promise you”

“How?” Sans snorted. “They're all dead” he spat coldly.

Her hand dropped from its place against his own cheek to her side and her jaw slackened slightly. The grip on her weapon of choice tightened. Emotions surly were flooding her right this moment. And once more my brother, ever the fool that he was, dared to try and grab her attention. By taking a step closer this time. It would seem he wasn't satisfied with just talking to her. That was all the excuse Rin needed.

She rounded on him with a furious yell. A powerful backhand aimed with the frying pan struck true against his skull. As the gong-like sound reinstated in the air I found myself rather surprised Dante had chosen to take the brunt of the damage from that one swing rather than pass it along to me. I watched him stagger from the little window in the void having not yet been forced back into my role as a puppet or back seat drive to my own body.

“I...suppose I deserved that,” Dante muttered dropping his eyes to the tiled floor.

“You SUPPOSE?!” She screamed back at him.

There came a shutter from the coil around her torso as if it were breathing. Sans took a quick step back as it began to boil near Rin's back. My brother said nothing as two highly detailed and massive feathery wings crafted from the water shot out before spreading themselves impossibly wide. “YOU MURDERED THEM!”

“They are abominations” My brother retorted calmly.

Another desperate raging cry came from Rin and she swung a second time with the pan. This time with both hands clutching the handle. My brother shifted back to avoid another collision with his head. But he didn't come out totally unscathed. His shoulder suffered from the impact. A much less harmless area but painful no less. He snarled his mix of frustration and hurt towards the woman who had dealt the blow.

“You and your ilk are the only monstrosities I see!” She remarked drawing back once again.

This swing went wild missing him entirely. Before she could right herself or dare attack with the water magic which still held the winged form Dante grabbed onto her wrists. Both arms were drawn up over her head to keep her locked in place. She would have to forfeit ground to attack with her legs. And as was evident by the way Rin's skin was turning white near my brothers grasp he clearly was clutching on far more tightly than need be. As her sneakers gave but just an inch the wings twisted their form into spiked tendrils which jammed into the floor behind her preventing any further loss of ground to her attacker.

“You stay away from him!” She spat in defiance through the current strain of holding her position wasn't overlooked either.

“That's enough childishness out of you.” He quickly dismissed the enraged sound she made from those words. “Tell me, how did you get here so quickly? I see no blemishes on you. Which is strange given some of the terrains you would have traversed”

“It's none of your business”

“It certainly is if my brother was involved”

Oh no.

A flicker of some emotion crossed her features before being swallowed right up. Her posture relaxed unintentionally. Rather than bowl her over in a mad attempt to slay the monster whose fight she had interrupted Dante instead released Rin taking a step back through the entire process. I could see her guard refusing to lower even in this time of sheer confusion.

“...The Goddess sent him to me in physical form”

“I highly doubt that” He scoffs managing to keep from rolling his eyes somehow.

“Are you of all people claiming my words of the Goddess' work to be false? Hypocrite”

He stilled himself a moment.

“Rin. You of all people know what the Blackheart family line is known for correct?” Rin would narrow her eyes at him expecting more than just that. “Magically that is.”

“Adonis swore to me he would never use magic like that on another.”

“This is true. However, I am not my brother so, I was never bound to such a promise.”

“What exactly are you getting at Dante?”

My brother had never been one for kindness in courting another. He did not understand the way it worked nor had the generosity of mind to learn such an intricate dance. All he had ever wanted was to possess things. And Rin was no acceptation. He just struggled the hardest in crumbling her will.

Vines of black power coiled around my limbs yanking me forwards. The monsters and Chara attempted to aid me in vain. They could do nothing but watch as I slipped past their grasps due to the writhing mass of sentient darkness, which was now my brother, drag me forth – ripping me from the void into whatever was between before stuffing me into my body. His words punctured my ears seconds before finishing the job.

“Would you care to say hello to him?”

Now back in the world properly I stumbled, having forgotten the rules and physics of this world and their mechanics. My limbs shuttered under their new found weight and I hesitated to move even the smallest inch. A sharp inhale was next as my body reminded me that breathing was somewhat necessary. And with it, my head jerked back. Our eyes met at that exact moment. This was not what I had wanted.

“...Rin.” I tested my vocal cords for the first time in years.

“Adonis.” Came her answer in a strangled voice.

Any and all desperation which had once permeated her eyes evaporated making way for bitter resentment and anger. It wasn't the welcome I had expected. But rather the one I had earned for my actions. Which in all fairness Rin had warned me this would happen. Though it didn't lessen the pain in seeing her like this.

“You can't tell me anything I haven't already told myself a thousand times.” Might as well save her breath because it was true.

There was a marginal shift in her demeanor enough for me to draw on past experiences and knowledge of the woman before me to know she had accepted these words. But she was not finished with the subject as a whole.

“What were you thinking?!” She hissed

“....He was my little brother. And he was dying Rin was I to just sit idly by and do nothing?” I accused in a voice all too sharp for my liking. “Is that what you would have done for Andy?”

She outwardly flinched at my question. That had been cruel to use her dearest friend in such a way. But the situation called for it. I had no other way of expressing myself properly to her in this situation. How an ocean of helplessness had damn near drowned me before the answer had presented itself to me. Yes, it was foolish of me to have jumped at the opportunity as I had... But he was my kid brother. One I had promised not only to my parents but myself to protect at all costs due to his frail state.

“Then...why did you wait so long until now to speak with me? Are you angry with me?” Her voice cracked on those last words.

“Why would you ever think such a thing?”

“What other possible reason would you have for not wanting to speak with me after all these years?!” The first wave of tears cut a path down her dust-covered cheeks. “To go to such lengths to avoid me – Goddess you must hate me.”

“I could never hate you! I love you, Rin Locke. You know this. From the bottom of my heart and the depths of my entire soul – I LOVE YOU”

“Then why Adonis! WHY?”

“BECAUSE THEY FUCKING TRICKED ME!”

My voice and frustration both reached new levels at that moment. Rin recoiled at the volume of my voice. The two fists I had been making unbeknownst to me until that moment uncurled as I took a moment to collect myself. This wasn't her fault, there wasn't any reason to take it out on her. She was just confused and trying to understand. While I was bitter at having been taken advantage of.

“I-I don't understand. That isn't how you Black Magic works.”

“That's what I thought as well.” A heaviness settled on my shoulders. “What they neglected to tell me was that by offering him my body willingly was going to permanently hand over control to my brother. Dante won't leave until he wants to. And until that moment I'm his puppet.”

“I'll free you.”

“Heh, Rin don't you think you've got enough on your plate already?” The corner of my mouth hitched up. “Please don't overburden yourself.”

“You and Andy are all I have now Adonis.” Rin moved up to me. “I won't abandon you.”

“Rin – there is no need to be melodramatic. You have your mother and father still.” I found myself wrapping her up in my arms before too long.

“No...I don't," She sobbed. “Not anymore”

A knot formed in my chest at these words. Sure there had been the idea of doing something wicked to her parents in an effort to have Rin grow closer to her grandparents. Only muttered half-baked ideas between my mother and father. to And they had promised me no harm would come to her. Had...had they been lying?

“They took everything away from me. I-I don't even know if Andy got out alive”

“...I'm sorry...”

It was pathetic to be the only thing I could offer her. She meant so much to me, I had vowed to protect her at all costs. And had failed spectacularly. How could I hope to keep her safe when I didn't even have control of my own body.

What felt like a hand clamped hard over my mouth as the second reached out curling around the wrist which still held onto Rin's shoulder. With one massive shove, she tumbled to the floor giving a surprised and pained shout. The knife was scooped up in the same amount of time it took for her to attempt recovery from such a blow. Which left Sans wide open.

“NO!”

It was harder to say what shook me to my core more. The sound of Rin's scream. Or being forced to watch the blade sink handle deep into Sans' rib cage and soul. It was sickening to know that I would have plenty of time in the future to actually figure it out.

My brother now stood in full control again and laughed frenziedly at the floored skeleton before him. He failed to notice how Rin sank to his side unsure of how to help the now currently dusting skeleton. Her tears returned by this point, devastation, and betrayal written all over her face. One hand touched his wound trying to apply pressure like one would do to a normal Human wound.

“No, no, no, no, no! Just hang in there, please! I'll get you to a healer!”

“Heh.” The lights in his sockets were slowly starting to fade into nothingness. “Pa...py...rus d-do.... ...you want a-...nthing?”

To my horror, Rin would not look away. Watching the monster dust from start to finish until she held nothing but his blue jacket and the same blade which had ended his life. And still, my brother cackled. As if he had just heard the best joke in the entire world. Nothing else mattered in this moment aside from his triumph and achieving and LV of 20 once again. He rode out his blissful high until his lungs burned for air at which point he strolled forwards clasping a hand on Rin's shoulder.

“Thank you. You were the perfect distraction”

We both noticed the movement of her lips. But we could not detect the sounds she uttered. My heart went out to her, wanting nothing more than to wrap her up in my arms and soothe her pain. But my brother just cocked his head and dismissed it entirely. It was the biggest mistake of all. For she lunged up at him.

A sharp pain echoed between the two of us. One hand flew to our stomach flinching back at the sticky warmth which now drenched our midsection. With one powerful ram of a shoulder to his chest, Dante stumbled backward falling onto his back. The weapon in question – our discarded blade – no longer plugging the wound was held tightly in Rin's grasp. Out of the two HP we had only the one remained. Dante stammered at her unable to will any words forth.

Besides what would he say to appease her now?

She refused to even give him that chance. Dropping one knee between his legs to further cripple us both with pain. Goddess as much as loved this woman she really needed to start taking it easy on my body. Even if my brother was in control I still felt it at times! Speaking of my brother he was currently trying to figure out where best to place his hands. While it distracted him I was not bound to forcing my focus on what hurts the most. Which left me ample time to watch Rin cradle the handle of her bloodied weapon in both hands.

Dante did not see the blade as it came diving down into his flesh. He did not watch as his form convulsed under the single most hate-filled blow even given by a woman who had lost everything in the swoop of a single night. Nor did he observe how blood flew from his mouth as his eyes would roll back into his skull in the same instant his soul would rise from his chest only to shatter causing the world to drip into darkness. But I did.

Now that we were once again within reach of the monster trio Dante was recaptured by their magic. His one piece of a soul was drawn out and turned blue. That was our only warning as to what was going on. And by that time anyone who wasn't Rin found themselves gawking in various degrees towards the fragmented soul attached to my brother. While this seemed to mean something of importance towards G (Edge and Swap as well it would seem) and Chara I found myself feeling a twinge of fear at the sight. My brother's soul was my own after all.

“Well, this makes everything even more maddening.” G groused. “Why can't you humans obey the natural laws of magic?”

“” Chara commented towards G. “”

The monster huffed in discontent. His spine stiffened at Rin's first verbal sob. In my mild confusion, the rational thing of checking on Rin's status had gone completely out the window for me. Feeling more and more like the failure I was shaping up to be I slapped the palm of my hand against my forehead. Strings of low curses uttered from my lips as I moved over to her side. She was a weeping heap of a mess resting on her own hands and knees.

“”

Edge was right.

The timeline was still under Dante's control. So then why was Rin even here at the continue screen with us? It didn't make sense for her to be here. Chara and I were tagging along for the ride unwillingly because of naivety in trusting someone like my brother. But she had no part in this particularly large ongoing cluster of fuckery. Wait...

Her soul.

“Rin.” I placed my hand on her back. “Sit up, please, I need to see something. And it's of the utmost importance.”

“C-can I have a hug if I do?”

It was such a silly thing to ask and I laughed a bit at her already answered the question. She knew I would never deny her any contact she desired. But my head was nodding the answer regardless in case she needed some sort of confirmation in her emotionally crippled state. With a small sniffle, she moved to stand up grabbing hold of my shoulder for support.

The instant Rin got to her knees her soul became visible. It was a beautiful, but very weak, rippling heart of crimson light. My own breath hitched as it wavered before me. Rin became so acutely aware of the attention she had just drawn to herself at that moment. Halting in her movements for a drawn-out moment she became even more insecure causing the light hovering in front of her chest to dim another shade or two. Dante began to struggle in earnest then, shouting a few choice sharp words causing Rin to shrink in on herself.

No.

Not this time.

I encircled her in my arms drawing her into my chest. Hands shaking with loss and bubbling emotion grabbed at my shirt firmly. Edge and Swap moved to quell Dante's voice as a single nod of encouragement was given from G. They were entrusting this to me. Goddess bless them.

“Rin” I cooed bring a hand up to pull back stray strands of cocoa colored hair from her face. “I know you know that I love you,” there came a nod of the head to affirm this. Thank the Goddess. “Do you think I would ever harm you?”

There was a violent narrowing of her puffy emerald eyes before a loosely made fist thunked against my chest. Her way of scolding me. It made me laugh gently. She still had so much trust in me that it 'offended' her for me to ask such a thing apparently.

“I just have to be thorough. Can't blame a guy for asking after going back on his promise to his lady can you?”

“...suppose not” she answered in a small voice.

“And do you trust me to do right by you?”

This cause was enough for her to flash me a look that spoke in volumes of what an asinine question it had been.

“Always. Why are you asking me this?”

She let me pull away from her. And even eagerly accepted the cupping of her face in my hands. I touched our foreheads together and heaved a deep sigh. As much as I wanted to be greedy and let this last I knew it couldn't. But that didn't mean I couldn't enjoy her just a moment longer. These actions caused as much bewilderment as they did happiness from the woman within my hands. A soft brush of her lips against mine gave me the courage to continue on.

“What if I told you there was a way to fix of this Rin? To somehow go back and fix all the death and help the monsters earn their freedom?” Her eyes had grown impossibly wide as I spoke, clinging to my every word. “What would you give for this?”

“Anything”

She spoke without hesitation and with such firmness that her soul rekindled. It pulsed with a bright life. But that wasn't enough, I could still feel determination flowing through my body. Rin could do this. There was no doubt in my mind that she could. But I had to push her, help her become even more determined than Dante, Chara and I.

“Anything?” I allowed my tone to sound unimpressed with the answer.

Emerald eyes sparked with rage at being dismissed so easily.

“I would do anything to give them freedom EVEN IF IT MEANT MY OWN LIFE!”

Her soul burst into a brilliant red ball of light that forced my eyes to snap shut. I could feel my own determination wavering in the presence of another's will so strong that it dwarfed my own brother's petty desires for violence. “What the fuck?!”

“Stop!”

Now that the light had settled down it was safe to open my eyes once more. Rin paused in mid-motion. Looks like she was attempting to jump back in fright of her own soul. But I couldn't stop the smile on my face.

“Do you feel this Rin?” Her eyes dropped to her soul which now was cradled in my palms. “This power that you're feeling - the power to conquer any foe, the drive to overcome any obstacle, the need to see things through until the end – that your determination. And I never, ever want you to lose it. No matter what happens, come perfect victory or countless retried attempts beforehand. Never forget this feeling. Do you understand me?”

“...I do”

“Swear to me Rin”

“I promise you Adonis – I will always stay determined”

“Good. Now I want you to focus on an image of a chalkboard covered in marks” as I began to explain her eyes closed tightly to keep the image in her mind. “And I want you to use your determination to wipe it clean”

The world around us halted. A sensation akin to waking up from a deep slumber with jumbled thoughts teetering on the edge of your hardly waking mind crashed into me full force. It was so discombobulating that a ripple of anger floated over me before vanishing. Behind Rin, I chanced a glance, to see what she no doubt could as well in the form of glowing words crafting a statement.

Name the fallen human.

“You did it!” A bark of laughter came from me. “By the Goddess you did it!”

“Did what?”

She had to be turned around to see the proof of her victory. A small gasp came from her as she backed into my chest. “I did that?”

“Yes! You reset. Now you can input your name and be on your way”

My fingers laced with hers guiding them towards a glowing capitalized R. In a harsh jerk she freed herself from my light grip.

“Rin? What's wrong?”

“It's something silly”

“Not if it's important to you”

“I just...can my name be anything besides Rin?” Cue the lift of a brow from me. “I mean how can I expect myself to protect them as Rin when I lost everything of importance to me as Rin?”

This was very much like her. Getting caught up on some of the smaller details because the larger ones had already been sorted out. Or were out of her control. But a new name. Hm, what could we use to jump-start her new life? A moment's debate and I once again took her hand.

“You will be Friendly” she put pressure on the correct text with my assistance. “Releasable – and Reliable” the proper letter was tapped. “You will have Integrity along with Intelligence” my beloved was looking at the name now trying to piece together where I was going with this. “You always were and will remain Strong. Not to mention a bit sneaky at times”

She giggles at this a flush of color hitting her face.

“But above all, you will have boundless Kindness”

“FRISK?”

“A name made by the acronym of what you need to be on this adventure.”

“And you'll be right there, at my side, every step of the way”

“Not this time, unfortunately,” I met her worried face. “You'll be fine. I know you will be. And I'll be waiting for you to return”

“Is that a promise?”

“It is” a smile tugged the corner of my lips. “Care for a good luck kiss?”

“Yes, please. I'm a nervous wreck right now”

She turned to face me in my arms, a bit of color tinting her cheeks as she got to the tips of her toes trying to kiss my lips. As normal she fell short by just a smidgen. Playfully I ignored the request forcing her to huff in annoyances.

My first kiss claimed the heated skin of her right cheek. Her eye squinted close at the action, more color rushing to the surface as I delivered a second to the same one before the third was planted on the other side of her face in the exact spot. The next was pressed to the bridge of her nose. Then her forehead before each closed eyelid received a kiss. By this time her face was an ocean of red and she lightly batted at my face with flailing hands. No more teasing then.

I was more than willing to touch her lips to mine with a feather softness. She accepted this with a sigh and pushed against me a bit more firmly. Rin – Now Frisk – wanted something a bit more from me. One of my free hands reached back to tangle into her long chocolate-colored locks. And moments later hands began to clutch at my shirt with a sliver desperation overshadowed by a wave of anxiety and woes which had no name at current. Goddess forgive me – because I could not, not with that steadily rising glint of duplicity overtaking her eyes.

With one mighty yank, we split apart breath heavy and uneven.

“Why” she demanded to know accusingly.

“I'm sorry. I will be waiting like I promised – but much like I have also said you must go on this journey alone” my still free hand grabbed her wrist lifting it to press the start button. “Just know that someone out there really loves you”

Enough pressure was placed causing the world around us to spin. She was placed at the start of what would be the first step towards the happy ending for the monsters. While I was returned to the void for some immeasurable amount of time before being spat out somewhere near the now magically closed and seemingly no-longer-there entrance to the Underground.

But not everything was awful. For there came whispers from the void. And from the snippets I heard just enough to bring a smile to my face:

My name is Toriel dear child, and what is yours?
My name is...it's... Frisk.

Description
They were at it once more. My brother refused to yield despite all of his wrongs. He laughed aloud as if possessed by some force which drove him to this madness. But we, myself and the child beside me, knew better. This was all his own doing and there was nothing either of us could do to change this fact.

The skeleton with a perpetual grin struck a mighty blow to our shared body. Taking the brunt of the damage left me in agonizing pain. Yet I forced myself to focus past my bleary sight. If I could just muster up enough force at the proper moment I could give the skeletal monster a win. No doubt the spirit of the young boy beside me would have taken delight in that. After being forced to watch my brother's insatiable bloodlust I would not have blamed him.

My brother had deemed it necessary to force Chara to not only deliver the final blow to the monster he had called his mother but then watch her dust scatter to the wind. It would have been merciful of him to stop there. But that was something he would have never dreamed of offering to monster kind. Rather he took time to reload a handful more, and heedlessly slaughter the kindly goat woman again and again and each time I found myself despising him more and more.

All in the name of torturing poor Chara. Even if the kindly monster had done him no harm. No matter what promises of power or aid the young boy gave him my brother did not stop. Not until Chara was so broken he could hardly do more than sob, and only then would my brother move on. My words of comfort could do little to mend the child's broken heart. That moment and several other akin to it were the driving force behind my motivation to aid the monster in Judgment Hall. There would be no blood but ours spilled this day.

At present we were just a little ways past the halfway point. The mercy offered to my brother from his foe was once again rejected. No doubt my twin saw nothing but victory before him, dangling tantalizingly out of his reach. I, however, spotted my opening for betrayal. With the help of my burning passion to persevere, I forced my own consciousness through the fog gripping my entire being. And in that moment the limb on the attack jerked back awkwardly causing our blade to clatter upon the ground.

My effort was rewarded with a cluster of ivory bones embedded in my chest. The anguish seared through my body, sending a wildfire of pain through everything. Breathing became impossible. Just as quickly as it had started everything ended. Our soul fractured; we were sent back to that void.

A place where only the three of us could exist at once. The body snatcher, the Fallen Child, and myself.

There was no point in hiding the smile which twitched along the edges of my mouth. Why would I dare hide something when I was so grateful for my efforts being rewarded? Even if he did not enjoy them they could not be argued. So he rounded on me. Golden light from our two illuminated choices bathed over him as he did. It caused his ruby eyes to glow with a dancing fire of malice.

“What. Did. You. Do, ” he seethed through gnashing fangs.

At wit's end with the entire ordeal, Chara finally lashed out at our puppeteer. His Determination – another thing which had been stolen and turned against those who lived in the underground – came towards his hand when called. It manifested in the form of a crimson blade he grasped tightly before taking a single wild swing. Before I could make any attempts to halt him, my twin intervened. There was no hesitation in how he firmly planted the sole of his boot into Chara's chest, forcing the child onto his back and underfoot.

From within my body, I felt the clawing of his murderous intent towards his captive. Was he going to sink so low as killing a child? If I didn’t act soon then the grotesque answer I knew deep down would be in front of me.

“He isn't to blame. I am,” my voice spoke with authority. “Nor do I regret making us a damned pincushion for Sans.”

His rage illuminated his eyes like a wild flame. Refusing to back down my posture straightened. All possible flaws with my stance vanishing as I met his wrathful gaze with one of my own. Though it would burn a different flame with the exact same intensity.

“You're just like her. A bleeding heart,” a snarl reverberated from the depths of his throat. “I almost wish that bitch had never been born!”

I spoke no words, just acted on pure impulse. A fist cold-cocking him in the jaw. Enough to stagger him off of Chara's little body and shake his confidence to boot. It scampered across his face long enough for me to catch sight of it. That pleased me more than he would ever know.

“She will never love you, Dante,” came my response at last.

Those words only rekindled Dante's fury again. That blazing glow in his eyes my only warning. He was on the attack after that. There was hardly time to gasp, let alone defend myself before my kin was upon me. Goddess above please don't let Chara interfere!

A sting scraped along my cheek. Had he halted? Daring a glance at the fist in question, I had a wretched feeling acknowledging the attack would make it somehow even worse. Despite that, I did so tentatively, and the understanding that his blow should have caused so much more damage came with it. I scrambled to place as much distance between the two of us as possible. An epiphany came to me. Dante had not stopped of his own desire.

He was forced to by the two bones - red and blue - spearing his soul. Chara looked as puzzled as I was. That quickly ruled him out. Was I wrong to believe we were the only ones here? A glance at my surroundings proved that my assumptions were very false. Two more had silently joined us here, and it was clear it was their magic which had made this feat possible.

“”

“”

The first voice spoke in cheerfully, as if trying to teach a child an important lesson. The same could not be said for its partner. It was equal parts gruff and deep as if at wit's end with the same obnoxious brat. I had believed this place secluded from all others but now I was forced to reconsider.

Many questions bubbled to the surface. Who were these monsters? Why had they stuck their necks out for us? How in the world had they gotten here? Why had they waited so long to aid us? Couldn't they see the destruction Dante was causing? Most importantly what did they want with us now ?

If they had been here the entire time then they were at least somewhat aware of the current situation, right? Yet they had not chosen to intervene until now. I didn't like to think ill of people or monsters, but that thought weighed heavily on my mind and heart. They stepped closer, right arms held out, their respective magics curling around their hands. Neither paid any mind to Chara or me. They kept their focus solely on that of Dante.

I didn’t recall ever meeting this unique duo in the underground. Their white faces seemed to be having issues holding there forms almost as if it were melting, only to right itself a moment later with the smallest of helpful twitches from their forms. Perhaps slipping was a better word? The sight was rather eery honestly. The one dressed in pure black looked as rough as his voice hinted at. He currently was grounding his pointed fangs together as his blood colored magic clung to his hand.

Beside him is polar opposite in nearly every way. This one had literal stars in his eyes each a different color but still somehow managing to match his tastefully festive robes. I caught sight of the blue magic encasing his hand as they both took a step closer. Despite not knowing this monster personally, the look of annoyance was somehow offsetting on his oozing face.

“Took your time as always I see,” Chara huffed.

“You… know them?”

“No,” his red hair bounced with a shake of his head, “But I know him”

I spun on my heels coming face-to-chest with one last monster. His mass quivered at the contact as if his form was made of some black, gelatinous substance. With a second glance, I saw the other two were the same. My attention turned back towards this newest addition to our little get together. His white face smiled down at me, causing an open gash that reaching from his eye to his mouth to widen. Briefly, I wondered if there was a risk of him opening the wound further. Were that the case he seemed to pay it little mind opting rather moving... maybe wiggling, or even bouncing... past me.

“So then who are they?” An arm lifted towards the two holding my brother still. “I don't mean to seem rude but this is important to me.”

“” the latest addition to our gathering group politely informed me. “”

“Another human?! When did they fall? What is their trait?” Chara a plethora of questions at the ready.

“ ”

“Wavering?”

“It means that she is doubting herself. There is emotional turmoil affecting her,” Chara quickly explained. “Show her to me. Perhaps I will be able to possess her.”

Chara's desperation was relatable to me let no one say otherwise. But knowing the child spirit wanted to place some poor unsuspecting soul into the same situation I currently found myself in didn't sit well with me.

The purple-eyed monster raised a hand seemingly pressing against something previously overlooked. No matter how I squinted or tilted my head all I saw was pure inky darkness. Nothing else. Chara noticed my predicament and pulled me closer to the working monster. The small child spirit motioned silently for me to once again watch this monster work. This felt silly, but I humored the child. I watched as the monster pulled away from the hollowed color opening up a window of sorts for us to gaze out of.

It had been a sudden shift, and far from what I'd expected. I found it only natural to recoil at the light when first it streamed in. Moments later I found myself adjusted to its intrusion and once again cast my gaze at the spectacle before me. The Runes were not the only thing to greet me.

In front of me, the image of the woman moved. Watching her every step as she ventured to take a careful assessment of the location she had landed in. My heart would ache, longing for the chance to cup her face in my hands or run my fingers through her beautiful long chocolate colored hair. Goddess you were cruel to me. Offering the solution to my woes in the form of one whom I still loved.

“Oh,” I whined in pain.

“A friend of yours?” Chara wondered, eyeing me up and down from his place beside me.

“More than that. We are...” My breath hitched as I stumbled to correct my error. “...were lovers.”

“Did you part on bad terms?”

“I didn't even know we would be parting,” My voice whispered.

“” the cheerful voice holding my brother spoke up sounding a small bit alarmed.

“” growled his edgy partner.

“Rin,” I emphasized eyes drilling daggers into his eye sockets, “will help us. I know it.”

“She is our last-ditch effort. As such I have little choice but to trust you and offer you my form and it's abilities willingly.” The monster beside me cast his gaze down on me. He drew a small bit of amusement from my outlandish reaction to him saying that. “I know your bloodline. Let us leave it at that.”

“Know I take little pleasure in doing this.” The magic he spoke of danced between my fingers. “... And I hope this works.”

“”

Well, that was an added benefit. The smoke of blackish purple magic wiggled around my grasp as I pressed against the form beside me. There came a small resistance as with all things and then, with a gentle give, I felt myself immersing within him. A chill went down my spine while moving forwards melding not only my magic but psyche into his own. It was always so strange to feel yourself taking hold of another being. Almost like pulling on a wetsuit that hadn't stopped being damp. An elastic like tug met against my mind, the monster thankfully was in no pain that often came when using this power.

In the place of it, I could feel his thirst to understand just exactly how this worked. As the last bit of his body became mine our minds would overlay in such a way that he could freely rummage around in my own mind for the answers he sought. No doubt he felt my own desires to succeed thrumming through his body as he searched. In turn, I was given an understanding of a vast amount of things which had all but been alien to me until this moment. And I relished such knowledge and took a tight grip upon his own whispered needs to share a victory, even if it was only a small one, to ensure the safety of his son's happiness and well being. All of this felt within heartbeats when it felt like an eternity because of our newly forged link.

The last subjects to grace my mind with clarity were the understanding of his own personal magic including their workings and important and that of the void itself. Which seemed to be both terrifying powerful and beautiful all at once. While that might have seen trivial to most this was important for me to understand because it was going to be used in our travel method. Already at war with myself on how wrong this was with possessing – the only thing I would ever curse the Goddess for giving me – he urged me forth with a mental push of sorts along with the reminder he had in fact given himself willingly to this cause. He was, of course, correct we had little time and here I was letting it slip through my fingers. Together as one, we stepped out of the light becoming shrouded in nothing put the darkest of darks yet still somehow it was growing darker still to my eyes as our arm was lifted up and a pulse of magic imitated from it.

“”

Sounded like sage advice to me. The void responding by bending in needed places. Though there still was no light I somehow instinctively knew we were moving. We funneled out way through until a weakened spot presented itself in the form of a glowing for. I glanced through taking notice of how the Runes took form in front of us, Rin walked by without knowing we lingered here a look of curiosity on her face. The monster asked for control in this instant which I was more than happy to give him, best that an expert lead in times like this.

A wave of gratitude washed over me and I felt us lurch forwards. Our hands lifted touching and then pushing against the weak spot. It felt as if I was trying to shove myself through a thick wall of cold gelatin. For every inch pushed the resistance strained until it finally reached its limits and cracked enough for it all to give way allowing us to land none too gracefully. With a pop we stumbled in an attempt to catch our footing, it, of course, having been thrown off by the lack of resistance meeting our efforts a pop met my ears and perhaps even Rin's. It would seem indeed so for when my head lifted I was greeted by her astonished face.

It was so greedy and impolite of me to cup her face as I did. But the temptation was just so hard to fight off. And – Goddess above how I've missed you...

“...Rin” we murmured in what was mostly my voice, though the monsters layered over it with a soft whisper, slightly breathless.

She was a blank slate at first taking time to grip the reality of whom I was. And that I was, in fact, standing before her after so many years. But a painful recognition clouded those emerald pools and tears freely trickled down dust-covered cheeks. One hand reached out trembling with the rest of her body hesitating in uncertainty as to where would be proper to grab me by. Her face twisted up displaying to me that my presence here had only brought her a semi-sweet joy and for that, I felt only disgust and sorrow flash throughout me. For it would be impossible to return to her side.

“Ad-Adonis!” She shakily stammered my name as if it were her lifeline, finally settling on taking a hold of my upper arm

“Goddess you don't know how much my heart aches for bringing this pain to you.” My thumbs were quick to clear her face of the gathering moisture. “Come now dry those tears, my love. We have to act and quickly”

“I-I don't understand”

“It's my brother, he -”

“” The cheerful monster's voice whined from behind us.

My monster hoist wished to retort, a roll of the eyes, a slight groan at his friends (dearest G, as he was clearly named, was quick to make that known between our link) near childish worries about profanity. A few choice curses were not exactly the top priority at this very second. But G did not wish for his friend – Swap apparently was his name – to feel as though his concerns were being dismissed. He just needed to understand that, Edge as he was called, would be punished at a later time for his foul language (I could not help the amusement which slipped between us at how properly named he was. A thought G apparently agreed with as he gave a single near whisper of a laugh).

“”

G's soul screamed in terror. The image of Sans – torso freely bleeding, his breath labored as flecks of his body started to dust – flashed between our minds that instant. I was not present which left only Chara to fight back against Dante. And if anything had become apparent from their earlier scuffle, if one even dared to call it such, it was that the child had no hope against one such as my brother. I had damned the skeleton to his death. His dust would now be on my hands personally.

“” G's voice lifted several octaves from the sheer panic.

In one moment a flicker darted over Rin's eyes. Far too quickly for me to really identify as it was gone just as quickly as it had been given life. A spark of color swirled from the confines of her chest. G's soul tightened as a plea died on his lips. Because that single glint of crimson from her soul shone brighter than the sun could ever hope to.

“Where is he? Take me to him.” Was the unspoken demand from her lips.

There was no hesitation after that. We clutched her smaller form against our own tightly and stopped resisting the tug on the void which had been pulling ever so faintly at us from the start. Rin asked nothing to be explained. Perhaps she understood the severity of the situation as it stood? Or maybe she was just as awed at the perpetual darkness just as I had been during my first encounter. And just as quickly G was fighting against the magic I'd woven into his willing body.

Without his willingness, the bond severed and I was left clutching onto Rin's body while we tumbled onto some sort of solid surface. Her head picked itself up to give our surroundings a quick once over before returning it to me. The unspoken fear was hinted in her eyes. Which I was more than happy to chase away with a reassuring smile. We were with trustworthy monsters. Though the place was not the safest, we were in no sudden danger.

A bluish-white light suddenly bloomed over our forms. In unison, we were hoisted up to our feet by dripping black tendrils. Rin slightly wiggled until her feet were placed underneath her at which point she gave a single thankful nod to the monster which had helped her to stand. I saw Edge roll his eyes in those partly melting sockets of his before waving her off. Her response was to blow him a raspberry and wave him off. This had the monster looking slightly taken back at her but he said nothing at her childish action.

“How is he faring?” I questioned noticing at last how G was glued to their window of the outside world. “Are we too late?”

“”

“Then let me fight! I want to help!” Rin protested. “Give me a weapon – like a shield – something I can use to fight back and protect this monster and then cut me loose!”

“”

“I didn't ask your opinion on my arsenal. I said fucking ARM me and let me help!” Rin snapped at her heckler.

“”

“No, but we have the frying pan” Rin gave me a quizzical look. “It's the closest thing we have. I'm sorry”

“It'll have to do”

Swap seemed to have located the item in question. How he had done so so quickly I wasn't entirely sure. But Rin didn't seem up to playing twenty questions to find out. Rather she grabbed the handle of her new and trusty weapon before strolling over to G's side. “Move. I'm going to save him”

He seemed hesitant. The white dots which functioned as his eyes darted away from the fight only long enough to catch the barest of glances of Rin's face before going back to watching.

“”

Her brow quirked as if expecting that action alone to get answers to his meaning. Though she didn't bother pressing for more, simply accepted these facts and solemnly nodded her head. It was enough for G as he ushered her through the small window before him. At first, nothing happened or rather she was met with some sort of resistance in her attempts. But she kept delving forth struggling for what seemed a moment longer than needed for each inch she gained. She cursed quietly to herself, I felt a small smile at how she tried to spare the ears of those around us, whilst continuing her relentless attack upon whatever it was which stood in her way. After a particularly rough shove, the two of us had to spend a moment to gather our breath.

It was at that instant she chanced a glance towards the commencing – I had all but forgotten in my bliss of being this close to her – battled between my brother and Sans. At this, she stiffened sucking in a sharp gasp. My curious mind could offer no solution as to the reasons for this reaction until I recalled the reason why we had been working with such haste in the first place. My own eyes snapped forwards hoping against hope that the skeleton monster had not yet been slain.

My Goddess answered my silent cries, though not in a way I was totally thankful for. Before us my brother stood tall, holding a blade only a few precious feet before the now sleeping skeleton. There was that predatorial glint of victory in his artificially red eyes. We had failed to beat the clock we were racing against like madmen. His arm lifted in preparation for the slaughter, knife blade catching a few rays of whatever light was filtering through those glass windows at Judgment Hall, from behind me G quaked, I tried in vain to reach out for control – we didn't need much time just a few seconds if even that – the feeling of my brothers magic blocking my possible interference was the only thing I met.

There came a cool rush of wind and the smell of rain as something shifted unnaturally beside me. As much as I wish to take my attention away from the sight unfolding before me to check on Rin I just seemingly couldn't bring myself to do so. There came that dreadful first curve of crimson light from Dante's first swing. Which jolted Sans into the waking world and got him to dodge. But like so many countless before, it did not save him from the second. My own eyes clenched shut not wanting to have the bloody image burned into my retina for the umpteenth time.

There came a strangled, and thankfully very brief, cry of suffering – I had grown rather shamefully antiquated with Sans' voice, his pitch on the deeper side of the spectrum, holding this almost lazy feel to it even if he was fully engaged to the ongoing conversation. But this voice, the tone alone was so wrong, too light and oh so intimately known to me – from my very own beloved. That just couldn't be right. Could it? I risked a peek and my heart stuttered.

There, laying on the gold and red checkered floor, with shaking breath, sporting a new gash weeping blood that now spattered the once clean floor, and her own two shaking arms clutching the monster around his torso, was Rin. Sans searched her face completely blindsided by the help of another Human. And who could blame him? The only one he had met had been a genocidal maniac. But Rin's reassuring smile had him going lax in her hold.

“Rin?” My brother asked utterly beside himself with her appearance.

She ignored him. Opting instead to climb to her feet. One arm remaining around San's body despite this fact. How had the managed such a feat of speed? My eyes traced her form for any answers. And I saw it in the translucent blue coil around her torso. This explained the scent of rain then. Thank the Goddess Dante hadn't hit anything too vital with that wild blow. In silence, the duo managed to stand albeit it was a bit of an awkward process to watch.

“Are you alright?” She cupped his skull in one hand, the other held on tightly to the handle of the frying pan.

“If I'm Tibia honest kiddo – not really” the lights in Sans' eyes were so dim.

“Rin” my brother tried again to capture her attention.

“I'm so sorry for this” she placed her forehead against for just a moment then stood ramrod straight. I could see there a dim light of determination dancing in her eyes. “But I'm going to fix it. I promise you”

“How?” Sans snorted. “They're all dead” he spat coldly.

Her hand dropped from its place against his own cheek to her side and her jaw slackened slightly. The grip on her weapon of choice tightened. Emotions surly were flooding her right this moment. And once more my brother, ever the fool that he was, dared to try and grab her attention. By taking a step closer this time. It would seem he wasn't satisfied with just talking to her. That was all the excuse Rin needed.

She rounded on him with a furious yell. A powerful backhand aimed with the frying pan struck true against his skull. As the gong-like sound reinstated in the air I found myself rather surprised Dante had chosen to take the brunt of the damage from that one swing rather than pass it along to me. I watched him stagger from the little window in the void having not yet been forced back into my role as a puppet or back seat drive to my own body.

“I...suppose I deserved that,” Dante muttered dropping his eyes to the tiled floor.

“You SUPPOSE?!” She screamed back at him.

There came a shutter from the coil around her torso as if it were breathing. Sans took a quick step back as it began to boil near Rin's back. My brother said nothing as two highly detailed and massive feathery wings crafted from the water shot out before spreading themselves impossibly wide. “YOU MURDERED THEM!”

“They are abominations” My brother retorted calmly.

Another desperate raging cry came from Rin and she swung a second time with the pan. This time with both hands clutching the handle. My brother shifted back to avoid another collision with his head. But he didn't come out totally unscathed. His shoulder suffered from the impact. A much less harmless area but painful no less. He snarled his mix of frustration and hurt towards the woman who had dealt the blow.

“You and your ilk are the only monstrosities I see!” She remarked drawing back once again.

This swing went wild missing him entirely. Before she could right herself or dare attack with the water magic which still held the winged form Dante grabbed onto her wrists. Both arms were drawn up over her head to keep her locked in place. She would have to forfeit ground to attack with her legs. And as was evident by the way Rin's skin was turning white near my brothers grasp he clearly was clutching on far more tightly than need be. As her sneakers gave but just an inch the wings twisted their form into spiked tendrils which jammed into the floor behind her preventing any further loss of ground to her attacker.

“You stay away from him!” She spat in defiance through the current strain of holding her position wasn't overlooked either.

“That's enough childishness out of you.” He quickly dismissed the enraged sound she made from those words. “Tell me, how did you get here so quickly? I see no blemishes on you. Which is strange given some of the terrains you would have traversed”

“It's none of your business”

“It certainly is if my brother was involved”

Oh no.

A flicker of some emotion crossed her features before being swallowed right up. Her posture relaxed unintentionally. Rather than bowl her over in a mad attempt to slay the monster whose fight she had interrupted Dante instead released Rin taking a step back through the entire process. I could see her guard refusing to lower even in this time of sheer confusion.

“...The Goddess sent him to me in physical form”

“I highly doubt that” He scoffs managing to keep from rolling his eyes somehow.

“Are you of all people claiming my words of the Goddess' work to be false? Hypocrite”

He stilled himself a moment.

“Rin. You of all people know what the Blackheart family line is known for correct?” Rin would narrow her eyes at him expecting more than just that. “Magically that is.”

“Adonis swore to me he would never use magic like that on another.”

“This is true. However, I am not my brother so, I was never bound to such a promise.”

“What exactly are you getting at Dante?”

My brother had never been one for kindness in courting another. He did not understand the way it worked nor had the generosity of mind to learn such an intricate dance. All he had ever wanted was to possess things. And Rin was no acceptation. He just struggled the hardest in crumbling her will.

Vines of black power coiled around my limbs yanking me forwards. The monsters and Chara attempted to aid me in vain. They could do nothing but watch as I slipped past their grasps due to the writhing mass of sentient darkness, which was now my brother, drag me forth – ripping me from the void into whatever was between before stuffing me into my body. His words punctured my ears seconds before finishing the job.

“Would you care to say hello to him?”

Now back in the world properly I stumbled, having forgotten the rules and physics of this world and their mechanics. My limbs shuttered under their new found weight and I hesitated to move even the smallest inch. A sharp inhale was next as my body reminded me that breathing was somewhat necessary. And with it, my head jerked back. Our eyes met at that exact moment. This was not what I had wanted.

“...Rin.” I tested my vocal cords for the first time in years.

“Adonis.” Came her answer in a strangled voice.

Any and all desperation which had once permeated her eyes evaporated making way for bitter resentment and anger. It wasn't the welcome I had expected. But rather the one I had earned for my actions. Which in all fairness Rin had warned me this would happen. Though it didn't lessen the pain in seeing her like this.

“You can't tell me anything I haven't already told myself a thousand times.” Might as well save her breath because it was true.

There was a marginal shift in her demeanor enough for me to draw on past experiences and knowledge of the woman before me to know she had accepted these words. But she was not finished with the subject as a whole.

“What were you thinking?!” She hissed

“....He was my little brother. And he was dying Rin was I to just sit idly by and do nothing?” I accused in a voice all too sharp for my liking. “Is that what you would have done for Andy?”

She outwardly flinched at my question. That had been cruel to use her dearest friend in such a way. But the situation called for it. I had no other way of expressing myself properly to her in this situation. How an ocean of helplessness had damn near drowned me before the answer had presented itself to me. Yes, it was foolish of me to have jumped at the opportunity as I had... But he was my kid brother. One I had promised not only to my parents but myself to protect at all costs due to his frail state.

“Then...why did you wait so long until now to speak with me? Are you angry with me?” Her voice cracked on those last words.

“Why would you ever think such a thing?”

“What other possible reason would you have for not wanting to speak with me after all these years?!” The first wave of tears cut a path down her dust-covered cheeks. “To go to such lengths to avoid me – Goddess you must hate me.”

“I could never hate you! I love you, Rin Locke. You know this. From the bottom of my heart and the depths of my entire soul – I LOVE YOU”

“Then why Adonis! WHY?”

“BECAUSE THEY FUCKING TRICKED ME!”

My voice and frustration both reached new levels at that moment. Rin recoiled at the volume of my voice. The two fists I had been making unbeknownst to me until that moment uncurled as I took a moment to collect myself. This wasn't her fault, there wasn't any reason to take it out on her. She was just confused and trying to understand. While I was bitter at having been taken advantage of.

“I-I don't understand. That isn't how you Black Magic works.”

“That's what I thought as well.” A heaviness settled on my shoulders. “What they neglected to tell me was that by offering him my body willingly was going to permanently hand over control to my brother. Dante won't leave until he wants to. And until that moment I'm his puppet.”

“I'll free you.”

“Heh, Rin don't you think you've got enough on your plate already?” The corner of my mouth hitched up. “Please don't overburden yourself.”

“You and Andy are all I have now Adonis.” Rin moved up to me. “I won't abandon you.”

“Rin – there is no need to be melodramatic. You have your mother and father still.” I found myself wrapping her up in my arms before too long.

“No...I don't," She sobbed. “Not anymore”

A knot formed in my chest at these words. Sure there had been the idea of doing something wicked to her parents in an effort to have Rin grow closer to her grandparents. Only muttered half-baked ideas between my mother and father. to And they had promised me no harm would come to her. Had...had they been lying?

“They took everything away from me. I-I don't even know if Andy got out alive”

“...I'm sorry...”

It was pathetic to be the only thing I could offer her. She meant so much to me, I had vowed to protect her at all costs. And had failed spectacularly. How could I hope to keep her safe when I didn't even have control of my own body.

What felt like a hand clamped hard over my mouth as the second reached out curling around the wrist which still held onto Rin's shoulder. With one massive shove, she tumbled to the floor giving a surprised and pained shout. The knife was scooped up in the same amount of time it took for her to attempt recovery from such a blow. Which left Sans wide open.

“NO!”

It was harder to say what shook me to my core more. The sound of Rin's scream. Or being forced to watch the blade sink handle deep into Sans' rib cage and soul. It was sickening to know that I would have plenty of time in the future to actually figure it out.

My brother now stood in full control again and laughed frenziedly at the floored skeleton before him. He failed to notice how Rin sank to his side unsure of how to help the now currently dusting skeleton. Her tears returned by this point, devastation, and betrayal written all over her face. One hand touched his wound trying to apply pressure like one would do to a normal Human wound.

“No, no, no, no, no! Just hang in there, please! I'll get you to a healer!”

“Heh.” The lights in his sockets were slowly starting to fade into nothingness. “Pa...py...rus d-do.... ...you want a-...nthing?”

To my horror, Rin would not look away. Watching the monster dust from start to finish until she held nothing but his blue jacket and the same blade which had ended his life. And still, my brother cackled. As if he had just heard the best joke in the entire world. Nothing else mattered in this moment aside from his triumph and achieving and LV of 20 once again. He rode out his blissful high until his lungs burned for air at which point he strolled forwards clasping a hand on Rin's shoulder.

“Thank you. You were the perfect distraction”

We both noticed the movement of her lips. But we could not detect the sounds she uttered. My heart went out to her, wanting nothing more than to wrap her up in my arms and soothe her pain. But my brother just cocked his head and dismissed it entirely. It was the biggest mistake of all. For she lunged up at him.

A sharp pain echoed between the two of us. One hand flew to our stomach flinching back at the sticky warmth which now drenched our midsection. With one powerful ram of a shoulder to his chest, Dante stumbled backward falling onto his back. The weapon in question – our discarded blade – no longer plugging the wound was held tightly in Rin's grasp. Out of the two HP we had only the one remained. Dante stammered at her unable to will any words forth.

Besides what would he say to appease her now?

She refused to even give him that chance. Dropping one knee between his legs to further cripple us both with pain. Goddess as much as loved this woman she really needed to start taking it easy on my body. Even if my brother was in control I still felt it at times! Speaking of my brother he was currently trying to figure out where best to place his hands. While it distracted him I was not bound to forcing my focus on what hurts the most. Which left me ample time to watch Rin cradle the handle of her bloodied weapon in both hands.

Dante did not see the blade as it came diving down into his flesh. He did not watch as his form convulsed under the single most hate-filled blow even given by a woman who had lost everything in the swoop of a single night. Nor did he observe how blood flew from his mouth as his eyes would roll back into his skull in the same instant his soul would rise from his chest only to shatter causing the world to drip into darkness. But I did.

Now that we were once again within reach of the monster trio Dante was recaptured by their magic. His one piece of a soul was drawn out and turned blue. That was our only warning as to what was going on. And by that time anyone who wasn't Rin found themselves gawking in various degrees towards the fragmented soul attached to my brother. While this seemed to mean something of importance towards G (Edge and Swap as well it would seem) and Chara I found myself feeling a twinge of fear at the sight. My brother's soul was my own after all.

“Well, this makes everything even more maddening.” G groused. “Why can't you humans obey the natural laws of magic?”

“” Chara commented towards G. “”

The monster huffed in discontent. His spine stiffened at Rin's first verbal sob. In my mild confusion, the rational thing of checking on Rin's status had gone completely out the window for me. Feeling more and more like the failure I was shaping up to be I slapped the palm of my hand against my forehead. Strings of low curses uttered from my lips as I moved over to her side. She was a weeping heap of a mess resting on her own hands and knees.

“”

Edge was right.

The timeline was still under Dante's control. So then why was Rin even here at the continue screen with us? It didn't make sense for her to be here. Chara and I were tagging along for the ride unwillingly because of naivety in trusting someone like my brother. But she had no part in this particularly large ongoing cluster of fuckery. Wait...

Her soul.

“Rin.” I placed my hand on her back. “Sit up, please, I need to see something. And it's of the utmost importance.”

“C-can I have a hug if I do?”

It was such a silly thing to ask and I laughed a bit at her already answered the question. She knew I would never deny her any contact she desired. But my head was nodding the answer regardless in case she needed some sort of confirmation in her emotionally crippled state. With a small sniffle, she moved to stand up grabbing hold of my shoulder for support.

The instant Rin got to her knees her soul became visible. It was a beautiful, but very weak, rippling heart of crimson light. My own breath hitched as it wavered before me. Rin became so acutely aware of the attention she had just drawn to herself at that moment. Halting in her movements for a drawn-out moment she became even more insecure causing the light hovering in front of her chest to dim another shade or two. Dante began to struggle in earnest then, shouting a few choice sharp words causing Rin to shrink in on herself.

No.

Not this time.

I encircled her in my arms drawing her into my chest. Hands shaking with loss and bubbling emotion grabbed at my shirt firmly. Edge and Swap moved to quell Dante's voice as a single nod of encouragement was given from G. They were entrusting this to me. Goddess bless them.

“Rin” I cooed bring a hand up to pull back stray strands of cocoa colored hair from her face. “I know you know that I love you,” there came a nod of the head to affirm this. Thank the Goddess. “Do you think I would ever harm you?”

There was a violent narrowing of her puffy emerald eyes before a loosely made fist thunked against my chest. Her way of scolding me. It made me laugh gently. She still had so much trust in me that it 'offended' her for me to ask such a thing apparently.

“I just have to be thorough. Can't blame a guy for asking after going back on his promise to his lady can you?”

“...suppose not” she answered in a small voice.

“And do you trust me to do right by you?”

This cause was enough for her to flash me a look that spoke in volumes of what an asinine question it had been.

“Always. Why are you asking me this?”

She let me pull away from her. And even eagerly accepted the cupping of her face in my hands. I touched our foreheads together and heaved a deep sigh. As much as I wanted to be greedy and let this last I knew it couldn't. But that didn't mean I couldn't enjoy her just a moment longer. These actions caused as much bewilderment as they did happiness from the woman within my hands. A soft brush of her lips against mine gave me the courage to continue on.

“What if I told you there was a way to fix of this Rin? To somehow go back and fix all the death and help the monsters earn their freedom?” Her eyes had grown impossibly wide as I spoke, clinging to my every word. “What would you give for this?”

“Anything”

She spoke without hesitation and with such firmness that her soul rekindled. It pulsed with a bright life. But that wasn't enough, I could still feel determination flowing through my body. Rin could do this. There was no doubt in my mind that she could. But I had to push her, help her become even more determined than Dante, Chara and I.

“Anything?” I allowed my tone to sound unimpressed with the answer.

Emerald eyes sparked with rage at being dismissed so easily.

“I would do anything to give them freedom EVEN IF IT MEANT MY OWN LIFE!”

Her soul burst into a brilliant red ball of light that forced my eyes to snap shut. I could feel my own determination wavering in the presence of another's will so strong that it dwarfed my own brother's petty desires for violence. “What the fuck?!”

“Stop!”

Now that the light had settled down it was safe to open my eyes once more. Rin paused in mid-motion. Looks like she was attempting to jump back in fright of her own soul. But I couldn't stop the smile on my face.

“Do you feel this Rin?” Her eyes dropped to her soul which now was cradled in my palms. “This power that you're feeling - the power to conquer any foe, the drive to overcome any obstacle, the need to see things through until the end – that your determination. And I never, ever want you to lose it. No matter what happens, come perfect victory or countless retried attempts beforehand. Never forget this feeling. Do you understand me?”

“...I do”

“Swear to me Rin”

“I promise you Adonis – I will always stay determined”

“Good. Now I want you to focus on an image of a chalkboard covered in marks” as I began to explain her eyes closed tightly to keep the image in her mind. “And I want you to use your determination to wipe it clean”

The world around us halted. A sensation akin to waking up from a deep slumber with jumbled thoughts teetering on the edge of your hardly waking mind crashed into me full force. It was so discombobulating that a ripple of anger floated over me before vanishing. Behind Rin, I chanced a glance, to see what she no doubt could as well in the form of glowing words crafting a statement.

Name the fallen human.

“You did it!” A bark of laughter came from me. “By the Goddess you did it!”

“Did what?”

She had to be turned around to see the proof of her victory. A small gasp came from her as she backed into my chest. “I did that?”

“Yes! You reset. Now you can input your name and be on your way”

My fingers laced with hers guiding them towards a glowing capitalized R. In a harsh jerk she freed herself from my light grip.

“Rin? What's wrong?”

“It's something silly”

“Not if it's important to you”

“I just...can my name be anything besides Rin?” Cue the lift of a brow from me. “I mean how can I expect myself to protect them as Rin when I lost everything of importance to me as Rin?”

This was very much like her. Getting caught up on some of the smaller details because the larger ones had already been sorted out. Or were out of her control. But a new name. Hm, what could we use to jump-start her new life? A moment's debate and I once again took her hand.

“You will be Friendly” she put pressure on the correct text with my assistance. “Releasable – and Reliable” the proper letter was tapped. “You will have Integrity along with Intelligence” my beloved was looking at the name now trying to piece together where I was going with this. “You always were and will remain Strong. Not to mention a bit sneaky at times”

She giggles at this a flush of color hitting her face.

“But above all, you will have boundless Kindness”

“FRISK?”

“A name made by the acronym of what you need to be on this adventure.”

“And you'll be right there, at my side, every step of the way”

“Not this time, unfortunately,” I met her worried face. “You'll be fine. I know you will be. And I'll be waiting for you to return”

“Is that a promise?”

“It is” a smile tugged the corner of my lips. “Care for a good luck kiss?”

“Yes, please. I'm a nervous wreck right now”

She turned to face me in my arms, a bit of color tinting her cheeks as she got to the tips of her toes trying to kiss my lips. As normal she fell short by just a smidgen. Playfully I ignored the request forcing her to huff in annoyances.

My first kiss claimed the heated skin of her right cheek. Her eye squinted close at the action, more color rushing to the surface as I delivered a second to the same one before the third was planted on the other side of her face in the exact spot. The next was pressed to the bridge of her nose. Then her forehead before each closed eyelid received a kiss. By this time her face was an ocean of red and she lightly batted at my face with flailing hands. No more teasing then.

I was more than willing to touch her lips to mine with a feather softness. She accepted this with a sigh and pushed against me a bit more firmly. Rin – Now Frisk – wanted something a bit more from me. One of my free hands reached back to tangle into her long chocolate-colored locks. And moments later hands began to clutch at my shirt with a sliver desperation overshadowed by a wave of anxiety and woes which had no name at current. Goddess forgive me – because I could not, not with that steadily rising glint of duplicity overtaking her eyes.

With one mighty yank, we split apart breath heavy and uneven.

“Why” she demanded to know accusingly.

“I'm sorry. I will be waiting like I promised – but much like I have also said you must go on this journey alone” my still free hand grabbed her wrist lifting it to press the start button. “Just know that someone out there really loves you”

Enough pressure was placed causing the world around us to spin. She was placed at the start of what would be the first step towards the happy ending for the monsters. While I was returned to the void for some immeasurable amount of time before being spat out somewhere near the now magically closed and seemingly no-longer-there entrance to the Underground.

But not everything was awful. For there came whispers from the void. And from the snippets I heard just enough to bring a smile to my face:

My name is Toriel dear child, and what is yours?
My name is...it's... Frisk.