Once A Pacifist

Really bad news? Oh, Frisk. She was constantly in bad news. The illusions weren’t giving up on her either, though she wished they would since it seemed Frisk was now in danger. Dammit that was a kid she needed to be protecting!

“You think you can protect them?? You couldn’t protect anyone, let alone Laphicet! He’s right! You let him fight when you wouldn’t! He’s a child Magilou! Just like you’re letting this child fight for you now!”

It was different. She cared about Frisk! And hell, she cared about Laphicet too, but she hadn’t been at that point back then! Frisk was beginning to feel like family to her–just like her real teammates did.

“And just what the hell makes you think you’d ever understand familial love? I gave up everything for my sister. What have you done for them aside from put them in danger?”

She tried to listen to what Frisk was saying–what? Running away again? Well, it was worth a shot. After all, since Frisk’s fear had apparently manifested itself and–was that a flower? No. She didn’t have time to question it. But she had an idea, and was hoping that’s what Frisk intended on doing. If Melchior and the flower were going to fight each other, then Magilou would gladly let them have at it.

“C’mon, Frisk, let’s go!”

She turned her attention away from Melchior for a moment, instead running back towards Frisk. She grabbed their hand, heading towards Dio’s house–

Annnnnd of course it couldn’t be that easy. Rokurou’s illusion got in her way this time.

“Magilou, do you really think I’d let you get away that easily? A Rangetsu never gives up a fight!”

“Yeah, not today Rokurou~” 

Maybe it wasn’t her best plan of attack, but she settled for punching him much like Eizen had once in an attempt to break one of Melchior’s illusions. It actually seemed to work, as Rokurou’s illusion flickered for a moment, before disappearing entirely. He’d probably be back, but Magilou would take the opportunity. As she ducked into an alleyway for a moment with Frisk to catch her breath, she turned to them, a sinking feeling developing somewhere in her chest.

“Hey uh…I hate to ask this but…was that thing we ran away from a flower? Because…like…I get we were hoping they’d fight each other but…”

That old fool loved flowers more than anything. More than he ever loved any living human.

“He…Melchior…loves…flowers. If that flower can be convinced to team up with a Praetor, I think we’re a little fu–” She hesitated, despite Dio being Frisk’s adoptive dad. But did language really matter when faced with a life or death situation? “We’re…fucked.”

Letting Flowey cause destruction had always worked before. When he was too loud, he garnered Toriel’s attention and she took care of him for Frisk. Later, absorbing too many souls caused them to backfire on him. In truth, Frisk had never really defeated Flowey. He had always defeated himself.

Vine ripped past them, cutting their side. It was Flowey’s nature. He could kill them easily without any real effort, but he always made it harder for himself out of fun. Because killing them a thousand times wasn’t enough. They had to struggle and flounder, hurt and cry. Like they would actually break. Frisk always came back. They didn’t really have a choice at this point.

* Immortality is really a pain, isn’t it? I would know, I was the one with control of the world before you stole my throne.

* Awww, don’t worry. I kill you as many times at it takes. What’s another few hundred times. It will take at some point. And then you won’t have to worry about anything else. I’m a good friend, right?

They wanted to listen to Magilou. Hell, they wanted to listen to her illusions. To now more about her meant they could help her. But not right now, not like this. They didn’t want to face Flowey. Instead they gripped Magilou’s hand hard and ran with her. Escaping might be the only option. Or, maybe not. It seemed this wasn’t going to really help at all. No matter what, they weren’t going to be able to escape Flowey. He always found them, always followed.

They didn’t feel too tired in the alley, mostly because they had let Magilou and her long legs mostly drag them here. The child was silent for a moment, red eyes open and clouded.

“Flowey... Flowey the Flower. He’s terrible at names, just like his father. He’s an old friend, in a way, but mostly an enemy. I’m sorry. I didn’t... I shouldn’t have brought him here. He always finds me though. Even though he knows it’s pointless. He’s not capable of defeating me and I’m not capable of losing to him. It’s not in the script. It doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt.”

They were rambling. They didn’t mean to, but Flowey was here. He’d been int eh city before, as a non-threatening sunfower. They hadn’t been scared them. They were only scared when he came like this, with six souls and a thirst for more. And, unfortunately, the situation only got worse.

“Oh. Oh...” Would he team up? Well, given what Muffet had told them after their fight... Yeah, he would. “We are definitely fucked.”

They placed a hand on their head and tried not to make a sound. They wanted to scream or cry. If only the man didn’t love flowers. But, because he did, they were not way Frisk’s plan would work. They were going to die here, afraid and hurt. Or, she’d die and they’d come back and die again and again until the world took pity on them. But was that preferable to dying forever. Maybe. They guess they’d have to see.

“I can go back and distract them. Flowey can hurt me, but he can’t kill me. You could run and escape to Dio’s house. I think I can hold them up...”

It felt nice to hold Frisk again, if Dio was being honest - it wasn’t like him to show this much affection, but the kid was one of the few exceptions to that. He would gladly pat the child’s head or hug them as often as he could; Frisk had a weird control over him in that manner.

He scoffed, ruffling their hair once more and replying, “No, I still don’t have one. Don’t think I need one.” With a wink, his smirk deepened and he stood up, gesturing for Frisk to come inside his home.

“Something - someone - was definitely missing here, that’s for sure,” he admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. 

They squeaked when their hair was ruffled. It was still odd. They didn’t like when people touched their head, but made an exception for Dio. They knew he wasn’t going to hurt them. 

“No need for a swear jar? Darn, are you trying to deny me access to such a profitable revenue source? I could have been so rich...” Their tone was light as they joked. They did mean it, sort of. Frisk was a business person at heart, oddly enough.

He liked pulp in his orange juice, but he was alone in that. Even his dad didn’t like it, and joked it was something he got from Rose. He just thought pulp quenched your thirst better, that’s all.

“Good thing I have healing spit, or I’d be getting tons of cavities right now.” He laughed. Really, he was always having too much sugar. No one could resist sharing candy with him.

“Hot lemonade!?” He peered into the paper cup like a telescope. “That sounds gross! No offense…” 

It was probably a good thing that he didn’t share his fondness for pulp with the young ambassador. Frisk would have to make a comment about it. There was no choice in the matter.

“Hey, now, don’t shoot down my business venture so quickly. You haven’t even tried it yet.”

*Why, you… Chara’s smile twiched for a second, but giving it up for Frisk’s words would probably mean their own loss.  This kid, he certainly had the nerve…! *I do have my doubts on that, if you’d let me. You would have done that noetheless, wouldn’t you? That was just how humans were. That was also how they were, too. It was their fate since they had found out they had DETERMINATION, and the power to SAVE. *Oh no, do not misunderstand. It was late for you since you were born a human. What I mean is, you’re still not like me. *But you will, eventually. *That’s just how things are.

They giggled to themself. They weren’t sure quite what it was that they did to upset the other so badly. Chara was someone they could never fully understand. It was probably because they didn’t act an act menu for them. 

“Maybe I would have, maybe I wouldn’t have. Maybe I would be living happily with Toriel, growing up and choosing never to turn back time again. It’s just as likely. Unfortunately, since things were not left up to chance, we can never know for sure which case would become reality.”

It was unlikely, but they like to hope. If they’d never become entranced in their own abilities, could they have gone forward? Or was it their own fault, halting time forever out of their selfish desires.

[ I’M CRYING ]

Maybe they should had asked for help, but that would have spoiled the surprise.

They donned their top hat and took to the streets. Should they have asked for adult supervision? Yes. Did they? Nope. They just took a pillow case and went to the neighbours.

“Trick or treat!”

*… Oh. So you think I would have a special treatment for Asriel. Chara touched their chin with a finger, pondering for a second. *Mmmh, that is not it, either. That child is not able to commit such actions without a little… push, you know. He is just like his father. Or a big push, actually. Chara knew very well to have played a major role in that.  Oh, was Frisk taking a dig at them? Chara couldn’t help but smirk. *Isn’t that right? He just kept calling me that even after losing his SOUL. What a fool… but, it has been long since I could call myself one of your race, Frisk. Not that I am capable of being friends now, that is. Their grin just kept growing bigger. Chara pondered again their words. The uman soul they were carrying – was it not this Frisk’s?If it was as the scientists said, it was highly possible.

*I see. You’re still retaining your humanity. For now, at least.

“I needed a push too. Not from you, of course, but from them. I’m not someone who does something without a little motivation.”

No, they probably would have done it anyway, without any player interference. It was their nature to want to see every path. Was it fear or curiosity that kept them from moving past the one year point? No matter what, they always came back.

“It’s a real shame. Well, regardless of your opinion, I consider myself capable of having friends. I’ll just have to be his best friend in your place. There, problem fixed.”

They were really quite a brat, weren’t they? They did end up raising a brow at the child (demon)’s suggestion, however. They allowed themself to remain positive despite that.

      They try to swing at you. You retreat, crouching slowly with your hands up, chest aching. 

      Your voice is as gentle as you can manage, but it still trembles. “You need help. I’m going to take you to a healer.”

It’s like trying to start a car and all you get is the engine growling at you. They tried to call on their powers to whisk them back in time, to safety. Of course it didn’t work, though. They couldn’t concentrate enough for it to work.

“N-no! I ca-ca-ca still fi... Fi... Fix this!”

Magilou sees the frying pan go flying past her. Her brain makes an awful pun for a moment haha, flying pan before she snaps back into focus. She hears Frisk’s words, saying her heart is her strongest quality. But it isn’t. Her heart is fragile, and easily shattered. 

How many times do you intend to destroy and rebuild your own heart, Magilou? 

She’d done it over a hundred times before. What was one more? What was another hundred times? She had something…someone she wanted to protect. Multiple, in fact. She just had to concentrate on using her attacks wisely, and ignore his illusions.

“Magilou, why are you fighting? Lord Melchior and Lord Artorius only want what’s best.” 

Magilou grits her teeth, focusing her efforts on Melchior rather than Eleanor who wasn’t real. She had to interrupt his spell casting, or else they’d be in a lot more trouble than they already were. 

“Frisk, there’s no way in hell I’m leaving a kid alone on the battlefield.” 

She yells the encouragement to her companion in the hopes of drowning out Eleanor’s voice. 

“But you’re leaving me alone right now, Magilou. You wouldn’t even fight when we first met. How can you promise to protect them if you let me fight when you wouldn’t until you had Bienfu?”

Nice try, old man. She knows Laphicet isn’t real. And even without Bienfu, it isn’t like she hasn’t fought without him before. She risks using a Dryad on Melchior, throwing the cube of water perhaps more aggressively than is necessary. But of course it’s necessary, she knows what she’s up against. 

Magilou thinks it’s enough to break Melchior’s concentration again, but of course that’s her mistake, as she realizes he’d finished casting before she’d gotten the chance to reach him. But where was he aiming–it wasn’t at her–it was at–NO.

“Frisk watch out!”

She stupidly throws herself in the way of the arte, collapsing on the ground. But she can’t be beaten that easily. She’s been through this before…she just has to get up. She has to keep fighting. She can’t lose her determination yet. 

Getting up is a struggle, but she makes it. She’s torn between Melchior and the illusions. They’re only going to hinder her concentration, but if she’s not focused on him he’ll have time to cast.

“Hey kiddo! Mind doing me a favor and getting rid of some of those really annoying illusions? Eleanor can definitely go first, I don’t need an Abbey lecture.”

This was bad. They were out numbered and even with their trusty frying pan, dubbed the dying pan, they were pretty much useless in a fight. This was what happened when you played the goodie good. If they played the game like a human, if they played like him. 

But they hadn’t, they’d played like the person they wanted to be, so they were restricted to the abilities they had when they played by the rules. The child closed their eyes briefly, but only briefly.

“Miss Magilou! Stop. Don’t take blows for me. You can die, I can’t!”

Not right now, at least. Three chances, that what they had for today. Three chances to pull back the clock. They reach out and help drag her to her feet. It’s a bit pathetic, given their size and lack of strength (for now), but their expression was filled with their concern.

“Fine, fine, I’ll take care of them. Please, focus on not getting hurt, okay?!”

They bolted off toward- Laphciet? Might have been a good idea to explain who Elanor was, or what a Abbey lecture was. Given that Frisk here her lecturing Magilou, they were taking a gamble on this. Their frying pan was gone for now, but they could still fight without it. One kick, and-

[SAVE LOADED]

They tripped over their own feet, only a few feet back. It was jarring. This... Wasn’t where they SAVEd. Someone had reloaded a save, a save overwriting their own. It was a could feeling to have that ripped out from under them.

* You really ARE an idiot, aren’t you?

That voice sent chills down their spine. They’d repressed it, until now, but in thinking like him, they’d called for him. The grinning flower, their best friend and worst enemy.

* You’re really slipping. I told you before, my little monarch, if you let your guard down for even a second, I’d rip your soul out and become the god of this world.

* But, I still need it, that soul of yours. If you’re nice and hand it over without a fight, I won’t take that woman’s worn out one too.

* Hee hee hee! Or I can take both by force!

The flower smiled, and that was all it took to trigger an encounter. Locked into place by the force of the flower’s magic, the child knew there would be no fleeing for them.

“Magilou, you really need to leave now! This guy is really, really bad news.”

*Awww, how can you say that about your Best Friend.

Frisk hissed under their breath. “Asriel, you’re not-”

* Not Asriel, he’s dead, remember. You’re the one who killed him, you’re the reason he’s dead. I meant me, your Best Friend! Flowey! Flowey the Flower!

For some reason, Frisk’s words seemed to upset the child, and the smiling flowers face nearly split open in a cruel grin. The ground split open as thorny vines split it open. Probably the only good thing about this was he had no concern for the surrounding, and lashed out at anyone, human or illusion in his way.

Flowey is not a team player. Good thing Frisk was. An idea dawned on them then, but their attention was immediately drawn to Magilou. They really hoped she’d listen this time, because this situation was hopeless.

She could only process half of their words. It was getting hard to concentrate, especially when she could see them, her birth parents, standing behind him. Holding their arms out to her, benevolent expressions upon their faces. The sort of expression they had never shown to her. Not when they were alive–

She had to remember! They were dead, they weren’t coming back, and she…it would be so easy to just live in a world where they loved her. To give up and stop fighting. But Frisk was here, and she wasn’t about to give up in front of them. 

“I’m not giving in to you. I threw you into a volcano once, and I’ll do it again. There’s…things I like about this city, and I’ll be damned if I let some ghost from my past take it all away.” 

Things she liked about the city? More like people. Her club aside, there were people in the city she had grown fond of. Frisk, Akane, Dio…and even Velvet who was here. 

“So you’re doing this all for them? I told you a thousand times before, Magillanica, your heart is only a weakness.”

Melchior might not be fast, but he was certainly dangerous. But that wasn’t going to stop Magilou from attacking head-on. She only had her guardian doll and three uses of Dryad. 

“I TOLD YOU, I’M NOT MAGILLANICA!”

Perhaps this was a bad decision, but he was forced to give up his concentration on the illusion of her parents to avoid her attack. Clapping his hands together, he summoned an orb. Dammit, he really wasn’t messing around.

“Frisk, be careful! If he hits you with that–” Illusions. Your greatest fears. Your deepest desires. If it came down to it, she’d throw herself in the way. 

Around her appeared a greater illusion, one of her hometown, before it was destroyed. Of her birth parents. Her companions. No. She had to ignore this and focus on the fight.

The realm of combat was not something the child was unused too. Here, in this street, there were few restrictions. Left, right, up, down. It was possible to dodge in all directions. Of course, 3-D battles had never been their forte, but i their mind, it translated to 2-D.

“You’re not very smart are you, old man?” 

Frisk, who was normally so polite practically sneered as they spoke. Dodging the orb was easy enough for the child. It was nothing like the bullet hell they were used to. However, that didn’t stop them from getting a little disturbed by the change in settings.

What was this? Was this the man’s ability. Their vision was not their only sense, and they could keep up through touch or hearing alone, but this was something belong a visual illusion. The air felt crowded with all these people. Their bodies had all kinds of smells, and the ground felt different from the cement they had previously been on.

“It’s alright, Miss Magilou, I know what I’m doing. Don’t worry about me. I’m serious in that you should run. I can take care of myself.”

This man would follow her, no doubt. It was becoming clear that he cared only about hurting the witch. If he wanted her dead, he could have killed her before they noticed him. It was the pain that was important.

“A person’s heart is their strongest quality. With a strong heart, a strong SOUL, they can break the very laws of the world. Why don’t I show you?”

They reached into their pockets, and with the ability of logic defiance inherent in video game inventories, pulled free a frying pan. They sure hoped their dad didn’t mind them stealing dishes. They hadn’t even thought about it when they stashed it. Had them been planning to kill again.

*I see. You assumed I was talking about quantity, didn’t you? But that’s not quite it. Chara made a theatrical gesture with their hand, and closing an eye before continuing. *Humans do not possess what it takes to be friends, you know. Such is their despicable nature.

A delighted laugh escaped the demon’s lips. They considered them their friend! Their partner was a wonderful one indeed.  *My, my, is that so? You consider me your friend? *Well, I must have expected that from someone who could befriend monsters so easily just to stab them all in the back later such as yourself. In that sense, you are no different from me. *After all, we can’t say you’re still completely human, can we?

“Quantity, quality, it’s the same here. I’m not exceptionally cruel. But, I understand, it’s hard for you to see him with anything but rose tinted glasses. I am much the same. It’s a shame though. If humans don’t have the ability to be friends, Asriel must have been so disappointed. I’m not the only human here.”

They giggled, even though they had no real reason to. They should not be treating Chara like this, knowing it was an unwinnable argument. The other child was too much like them, brimming with the bright red power that could make and break worlds. They argued anyway, because it was amusing.

“I think human is exactly what I am, a vile, friend killing human. I think we can say I represent the species well. But then again, I’ve done good things too. If you’re trying to say something else, though, I don’t really get it. Monsters are the ones with good in them and humans the bad. Isn’t that right?”

What…was this kid doing? Facing down Melchior? Didn’t they have any idea who he was? …Dammit, probably not. 

“Frisk, I appreciate your sentiment, but listen to me. Melchior is one of the Praetors of the Abbey–was? I don’t know! He was dead, and now he’s–he’s here. He uses illusions–you won’t–you can’t tell them apart from reality!”

She could, but that was only because she had been trained to. But even she fell prey to them sometimes. 

Even now, she could see them. Her birth parents. Dammit dammit dammit, Frisk would be able to see them. They were standing just behind Melchior. He knew that was her weakness, what she wanted…

“No! I’m not falling for that again! I–” Have people who loved her? Where? No. She couldn’t falter. Melchior was still strong, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t break through his illusions. Maybe by attacking them…

But most importantly, she needed to protect Frisk. They couldn’t use artes, and she wasn’t about to let them get their heart shattered. Turning with her signature flourish, she pulled out her guardian doll. 

“Frisk, he’s not going to be intimidated. This guy…listen, the shit he’s done, it’s…I shouldn’t tell you. Even without a tethered Malak he’s going to be one hell of a fight.” 

It was like wearing a shirt too small for you. It fit the day before, but some how it had shrunk in the wash. Now everyone seeing it thought it fit, but you know this was wrong. That was how Frisk felt when people tried to protect them. Why try? Couldn’t see tell they were already dead.

“Dead, alive, it doesn’t make a difference. The world slurries together in an illusion of stability. The dead can live and the living can discover they were never there at all. Everything can twist and turn and reverse.”

They spoke from experience, but it was hard to believe the words of the child. Still, their eyes were harsh and their mind was steeled towards the man in front of them. How can you break heart that’s held together by glue and determination? Shattering would be nothing new.

Their heart wavered for just a moment in confusion. Why was Magilou so upset all of sudden? Was she trying to h u r t  h e r ? Intolerable. Completely intolerable. Their determination flared as they readied themself for battle. Their soul, dirty and worn, glowed in their chest.

“I guess that’s how it goes. I was hoping I could avoid a fight. That’s fine. I’ll stack the odds in my favor.”

It was nice to have someone by their side, at least. They wished she’d ran. There was no will stronger than the will to protect. However, they could get behind attacking too. They hadn’t followed the path of a killer this time, so their blade was dull. Oh well, dodging was more their style anyway. With one, such a fight was a pain, but with two...