[POV 3rd Person]
[Scene: ???]
[Track Change: Undertale 'Once Upon a Time']
Anthony started the story, "Long ago, two races ruled over Earth: Humans and Monsters. One day, war broke out between the two races. After a long battle the Humans were victorious. They sealed the Monsters underground with a Magic spell. Many years later, legends say that those who climb Mt. Ebott never return. One day, a Human child fell into the underground, no one knows if they were exploring or had run from home, but they fell none the less. Despite falling from an incredible height, the child survived. A young Monster who was nearby heard the child fall, after introducing themselves, they helped the Human child to their home. The young Monster's family adopted the Human child; the two children became best friends. However, one day, the Human child fell ill with a mysterious illness, the child had learned that Monsters were sealed underground by a barrier that could only be broken by the SOULs of 7 Humans. The Human child knew they were going to succumb to their illness, but they desperately wanted their new family and the rest of monster kind to see the surface once more. So, they entrusted their SOUL to their best friend, while 7 Human SOULs were required to break the barrier, a Monster with a Human SOUL could pass through the barrier. The Human child's plan? Collect 6 more Human SOULs, return, and break the barrier. The Monster child could not fulfill that request and thought it better to return the Human child's body to the surface. However, disaster struck, the Humans on the surface seeing the Monster child holding the body of their best friend was thought to have killed the Human child. Both ended up perishing that day."
Anthony looked down to see Asriel still sobbing onto his chest, harder than before. He could hear Asriel murmuring apologies, a name was said, Chara. Anthony realized he had said too much, but at the same time he felt now was better than later.
Anthony whispered an apology in Asriel's ear, his crying slowing.
[Track Change: Undertale 'Quiet Water']
[POV: Asriel]
Asriel eventually stopped crying, but there were still tears in his eyes, ready to fall. He finally spoke,
"That story is indeed familiar Anthony, after all, it's Chara and I's story. Chara was the first Human to fall into the underground, I was the one to bring them home, they were my best friend. Although your story is a bit different to how it really happened, it's very close. Chara had immense hatred for other Humans and put my family and I along with all Monster-kind first in their heart. Whenever we thought about asking why, the question was dodged or was ignored, so we stopped asking. At some point, Chara thought Monsters should be allowed back on the surface more than Humans, and made a plan that when they died, we would go to the surface, gather enough SOULs to break the barrier and free Monster-kind. I thought it was a great idea, I just never expected them to start the plan immediately, Monsters live a long time, I wanted more time with my best friend. But Chara was Determined to see their plan through, however there was a problem, their own DETERMINATION, it kept them from dying, from starting their plan. Ironic, isn't it, to be so Determined to die, yet that DETERMINATION prevented them from doing what they were Determined to do."
Anthony thought for a moment then asked,
"How did they solve such a paradox?"
"Simple really, they gave up, they reasoned to themselves, 'If I can't achieve my goals, if I can't free Monster-kind, what else is left?' completely forgetting the family and friends around them. They shut themselves off from others, they became depressed, their DETERMINATION decayed, then eventually they poisoned themselves, but even though they were achieving their goal, they didn't feel Determined, they felt APATHY, the 8th SOUL trait. When a Monster feels APATHY their HOPE wanes, they lose their Magic, and they are likely to 'fall down' into comas, and never awake, for a Human, their original SOUL trait disappears, they can recover, but it's difficult and requires the Human to be stimulated into acting in their SOULs interest, being Kind, Honest, Brave to rejuvenate their SOUL.
If in this state for too long Humans develop mental instability, the SOUL deteriorates, and eventually they become unable to recover. When Chara passed their SOUL only had a bit of Red left, the rest? Gray, Empty, the barrier might not have cared but I did, when a Monster absorbs a SOUL, they take on not only the traits of the absorbed SOUL, but the feelings at the time of death. Many times, the feelings at the time of death and the changes the SOUL undergoes before disappearing, when it becomes possible to absorb, are strong enough to drive Monsters mad. However, Chara was likely an exception, when I absorbed their SOUL, I felt very little, what I did feel most wasn't the remaining DETERMINATION, but Chara's remaining sorrows, their regrets. They regretted starting the plan so early, to cause our family such pain, but their remaining DETERMINATION was just enough to remind me of what came next.
Your story was correct that I wanted to leave Chara's body on the surface, what it didn't mention was that a Monster's form changes after absorbing a Human SOUL. I transformed into an older looking version of myself, taller, more intimidating, that did not help the situation when we arrived, holding Chara's body. After repeated attacks I barely returned to the underground, no other Human SOULs, just Chara's body. Then I felt it, the last of Chara's DETERMINATION faded, the APATHY struck our SOULs together, combined with my earlier injuries, the fading HOPE finished the job, we fell down, and we both turned to dust, spread over Chara's cold body and the flower garden."
Anthony hugged Asriel tighter than before and said, "While we each have a pain to call our own, that doesn't mean they have to stay our own. By sharing our pains we can be connected, we can move on together, we can grow again."
"Indeed, you both understand this fact well. Few can move beyond their pain, but together they can grow, and accomplish many things. You two remind me of my sons." A deep voice reaches the companions from the darkness.