Morning rolls around and with some final preparation you all head to the barrier room. You give them all one last hug as you proceed through the barrier. Looking over your shoulder one last time see them waving to you. You run forward setting off to accomplish your new task at hand. You make it to the city, you find a gold exchange and acquire a thousand dollars for the amount. You pocket the money and head to the library.
You spend hours at the library before zooming to another and keep going until it's five in the evening. You knew you'd have to resume looking tomorrow, but while you we near a fast food joint decide to grab a bite before heading back. You order about twenty dollars of food and hand the cashier some money. You take a seat and scarf down your food since you missed lunch during your search.
Before returning home for the day you decided to purchase gifts for Azzy, Toriel, and Asgore. For Azzy you got him an older game console with a few games. For Toriel you got her a new frying pan and for Asgore you got him a new watering can and some assorted teas. You also picked up some basic cell phones for everyone figuring that Gaster could do something to make them work in the underground. You hope they liked the gifts, you never given anyone a gift before, unless you counted stealing things for your parents.
You shake your head at the thought, “God I need a hug. I'll have to get one from Azzy, mom, or dad once I get home.” You zip home and walk back through the barrier. You walked back to the house humming a little tune you heard in the stores you shopped in. You saw Azzy outside looking around for snails for Toriel to make snail pie and shuttered at the thought of this.
“Yo Azzy I'm back. I got you something I think your really going to like.” Asriel turned to face you and then came bounding up, “Ooo, what is it?” “Why don't we go inside the house so I can set these bags down first.” You both walk in and Toriel of course greets you with a hug, “Well there's that hug I needed.” you chuckle as Toriel has a puzzled look on her face. “Are you okay my child? Did something happen while you were out?”
You shake your head, “Nah, just passing thoughts of the past. Just noted I could use a hug once I got home. Thanks for the assist with the hug mom.” She giggles, “Anytime my child, but is it anything you need to talk about?” You shake your head again, “No, I'm fine. I did get you a gift while I was out though.” She sets you down as you hand her a new frying pan, “Its lovely my other one was getting harder to fix with magic and I wasn't sure what I was going to do once it give out.”
Azzy sat there looking anxious at the other bags eyes wide with suspense. You giggle, “Okay Azzy, I see you really want your gift now. If I make you wait any longer your eyes are going to pop out of your head.” You reach down and pull out the box with an image of the console on it. Asriel looks at it with a puzzled look on his face, “So what is it?”
You laugh as he's looking over the box, “Its a video game console, you can hook it up to the TV and play games on it. I'll help set it up and we both can play some of the games I brought back for it. It may take some time learning how to play the games so don't get frustrated if it seems hard at first.” Asriel nods, “So what's in the other bag?” You look down at it, “Oh, that's for dad. I got him a new watering can since his other one has seen better days and some assorted tea since the tea he has is a little old.”
You just remember the other items you picked up, “Oh, I almost forgot I picked up these up for us.” You pull out of the last bag four pay as you go phones, “I figure Gaster could rig them to work down here so we can keep in touch regardless of were we are.” Toriel looks at the cell phones, “Oh, we have some of these we pulled from the garbage dump, but these are brand new and look more advance.”
She pulls out her cell phone and shows it to you and you just chuckle, “Yeah, that's definitely kind of out of date smartphones are the new thing up on the surface. It has more features, but I think some may go to waste down here. Though I sure Gaster will figure something out. We'll do something with these later.” You put the gifts for Asgore plus the cell phones in your room and head back out to help setup the game console.
You both really get lost in the two player space game and of course Azzy had a hard time at first, but you helped explain what each item did. After a while he was so engross in it you couldn't help smiling as you keep glancing his way. Asriel sees you looking over, “What's up Bro?” You shake your head and shrug, “Nothing, it's just nice to be sitting here having fun and not having all the doom and gloom we normally have to deal with.”
Asriel nod, “Yeah, it nice to feel like a couple of kids every once and a while. Hey Bro, you think I'll ever get a chance to see the sky or stars?” You set down your controller, “I'd love to make that happen for you Azzy, but I don't think people are ready for monster yet. People have a hard enough time accepting each other, but I hope you can some day. I just can't promise you when that will happen though.”
Asriel looks a little disappointed, but nods, “I guess, but I hope its soon. Did you find anything out on the barrier?” You look down at you feet, “Nothing yet, but there's still a lot of places to look. I only got to a couple of libraries today, but nothing that seemed like, “Magic instruction for barriers.” as you made air quotes. “Give me some time I'm sure something will turn up and once it does I'll let you all know of course.
Night rolls around and you lay in bed looking at the ceiling, “Sorry Azzy I did find something, but it's to early to tell if I can do anything with it or not. I still haven't figured out the incantation to it, but something bothers me. The way it sounds the barrier seem like it's alive or is able to let things in despite otherwise being told not to. Though until I've got a better understanding of it I rather not scare anyone.”
You look over at your sleeping brother, “Ugh, I just can't sleep. I just keep thinking about all this old magic and how scientist were able to create this rune stone. It another hybrid in itself, science and magic, monster and human, and more questions then answers.” You get up and head out to the living room. Toriel is still up of course and you walk out in front of her. She notices you putting the book she's reading on the table nearby.
“What is wrong my child? Did you have a bad dream?” you shake your head and reply, “No, I guess I'm frustrated that I'm not making any headway with... well anything.” She reaches down and puts you on her lap, “Its only been one day and you shouldn't let it bother you so much. As you told Asriel, “You need more time.” You nod, but look despondent, “I know, but its not just the barrier. It's also about myself I guess. They discarded me down here, like I was a failure, and if that's true what is it they're truly looking to create?”
Toriel gives you a hug, “I don't know what they're looking to create, but your fine the way you are. I'm just sorry no one up there could have seen that and we are glad to have you as our child.” You smile weakly and return the hug, “Thanks mom, your right, and I shouldn't let it get to me. You mind if I just sit here for a while til I fall asleep?” She shakes her head as you just rest your head against her and close your eyes.
Time seems to flyby and your search for information about the barrier comes to a close. You also started digging up information about the lab that made the alteration to you and found what maybe a location. You made your way back home on a daily bases, but informed them that you haven't found much yet. You sat on top of a tall skyscraper looking down at the city. Feet dangling over the side as you watch the busy streets below.
Today was your thirtieth birthday, “Another year has gone by and yet it seems I've got bad news either way I look at it. Magic in its own right has a living essence or will of its own and even though the current barrier wasn't suppose to let anything in or out based on the casters instructions it may choose to do so otherwise. Then even the best barrier isn't going to be fool-proof.”
You sigh and stand up on the ledge, “I guess I'll head home, there's no point in continuing, and I want to spend time with my family on my birthday.”
You zip back home and walk up to the cavern entrance as a eerie sense of dread went down your back. You look back down below and feel as though something or someone is watching you. Then any presence you felt is gone, but the lingering feeling remains.
You get back home and walk in, “Mom, Dad, Azzy, I'm home. You hear two sets of foot falls head your way as Asriel and Toriel enter. “My child welcome back. Did you have much luck in finding anything?” Asriel gave you a hug in which you returned as you reply, “No, maybe it was all a wild goose chase. I get a lead only to hit a dead end. There may not be any leads nearby and since the world is a big place information about the barrier may have gotten oversea.”
“Well at any rate Bro, mom made you a cake for your birthday, and dad should...” Then a loud noise light an explosion is heard as the ground shakes and rumbles from below. The feeling that you felt returning in full force, “Azzy, mom, stay here. Something isn't right and that felt like it came from the barrier room.”
Before they both could protest against this you ran out the door only to stop as what looks to be a power armor is in front of you standing at fifteen feet tall.
Asriel comes running out of the house Toriel close behind now seeing this power armor in front of you all. You were filled with dread as everything seem to slow down. The power armor lifted its arm and aimed it at Toriel and Asriel. You dash forward and kick the arms upwards as it fires the shots are diverted away from them. Toriel launch her most powerful fire spell, but it didn't really do anything. You knew that Azzy magic had no effect on the robots when you both were attacked in the ruins about a year ago.
More people arrived coming up from the stairs. As you prepare for the additional people coming in you yell back at Toriel, “MOM GET AZZY AND YOURSELF BACK INTO THE HOUSE!!! GET TO THE BACK ROOM AND STAY DOWN!!!” She hesitated about leaving you, but you glare back with a serious look in your eye. She scooped up Asriel and runs back to the house. The power armor shoulder open exposing a missile launcher you run up and kick it over as the payload again fire upward to the ceiling.
Rocks fall from the explosion and you dodge out of the way. You had to get them out of here. Controlling how much strength you put in your spell you let loose multiple Lightning Arks onto each person. Leaving just the power armor and you. You jump up as it fires several rounds at you and using your pillar of fire to propel yourself out of the way at which the bullets strike the ceiling of the underground instead.
You land on top of it, then make your way to its back and find what looks to be a hatch of a sort. Using you claws to pry open the back you see someone inside looking on in horror. You punch him in the face holding back not to kill him. You pull him out of the power armor and proceed hoisting a couple of the soldiers at a time to take them down to the barrier. You do this until they're all down below. Though this led to a new problem and that was there is no barrier.“They must have removed it, but how did they know how to do that? This is really going to make this more complicated. Well I'm having a lousy birthday, but I can't leave this as is.”
You haul the soldiers outside and overlook the scene below. There were many more people below and they seem to be getting ready to mobilize and start heading your way. “Yep, it's definitely going to be one of those day.” You head back inside to get to work yourself. You use a claw in and around the entrance of the where the old barrier was. Drawing symbols into the surface and then you begin to chant the barrier spell.
The symbols begin to glow and you slowly hover off the ground your eyes closed as you concentrated. This wasn't easy for you to do and was taking a lot of effort to pull off. It took you about fifteen minutes and you look at you handy work. “Okay, so that should keep everyone safe. Though I changed what is needed to remove the barrier. Only I can enter and leave the barrier no human/monster hybrid. Also the only way this barrier is coming down now is if my soul is destroyed, but I can't leave those guys outside on our door step. I could, but someone need to teach them we don't take kindly to being attacked.”
You leave out the barrier and hasten your speed. You head down the mountain trail engaging soldier on the way only knocking them out. Your quick relaxes are good, but even you can't dodge every shot fired at you. You get grazed in you arms and legs. Some debris from power armors exploding from other power armor trying to shoot you in the process.
“Damn, they don't even seem to care about their own. I guess they really want me dead. Well can't have that everyone back at home would be sad if that happened. Not to mention I am the key for the barrier basically.” You grab one of the soldier guns as you flip off of it, over him, and when he turns around to face you smack him right in the face with it. You look at your wounds as your only halfway through the hundred or so soldiers and a couple power armors left.
“Well I guess I need to pick up the pace as much as I heal fast that probably doesn't mean I can't bleed out.” Your form shifts and you take up your feral form you used when Asriel got hurt. You were much more quicker and able to finish up the rest in about five minutes. You head back home reverting to normal and walk into the house. You hear crying from the back room and make a worried dash.
As you get back into the room you see Asriel on his bed Toriel tending to a wound on his shoulder a few tears in her eyes. You noticed one on his leg as well, “Mom what happened?” She looks back at you, “M-my child, w-we were keeping low a-as you t-told us to and A-Asriel was adjusting himself w-when something flew through the wall and s-struck h-him. I-I can't seem to r-remove the o-object in h-his shoulder. I-I was going to work on t-the one on his leg when y-you came in.”
Still from the shock of Asriel situation she takes notice your also covered in wound of varies type, “M-my child, not you too. We have to get...” you cut her off, “I'm fine mom, at least for now, but I need to find out why you can't remove the bullet from Azzy.” You grab headgear that had a magnify scoop piece with a light you made with Gaster.
You make your way over to Asriel and start looking into the wound. You see a bullet of an odd design, it seems to have little spike jetting out from it keeping it lodge in place, and also keeping the wound opened. Taking your thumb, index, and middle finger you adjust you claws to use like tools. You cut a spike and tweezers it in-between your claw and do this until they're all removed. You remove the bullet and then using just enough magic to stop the bleeding.
You move down to his leg and look it over, it look as though its the same type of bullet, but it hasn't deployed the spikes. With a steady hand you careful remove it. Once it was clear from Asriel the spikes deployed. You set it off to the side healing the wound a bit. You proceed to clean, sow, and bandage Asriel up the rest of the way. You go over to your bed and wave Toriel over.
She comes over still in shock of what's happening and how your staying calm like it was nothing. You reach up and grab her hand, “He'll be fine mom though I could use your help. I can't reach some of the bullets in my back and need your help with them.” She nods and you remove you shirt, “Oh my child, how are you not in pain when your hurt so bad?” She grabs some of the tools she tried using on Asriel and sits behind you.”
“Well I fought a lot of things in that lab that injured me a lot and I fought almost everyday for a year.” You begin dealing with the debris and bullets that you could reach as you continued. “I got hurt so much that I just built up a resistance to pain, but don't get me wrong this still hurts like a bitch.”
Toriel flinches at the last word, but decides to let it pass. She's pulls free most of the ones in you back, and asked you to turn to your side. You raise your arm up as she works at a few more, “Though these guys seem to be tied to my past. Seriously I can't seem to get away from it even when a barrier stands between me and them. They had a symbol of a cat eye on their uniforms and on the power armor. This same symbol was in the lab I was in.”
Toriel hands tense up and her face wide eye, “So were they after you?” You look at her and shake your head, “I not sure. They may have found out that I wasn't killed when they tried getting rid of me, but if that's the case why take down the barrier? If someone did recognize me while I was looking around for information over this last year on the surface then why not have dealt with me then. Something isn't adding up and I may know how to...” Toriel gently wrap her arms around, “Please my child, just let it be. Everyone is fine now and I don't want you putting yourself in harms way anymore.”
You look down, “Sorry mom, your right. I should just take care of Azzy and myself for now.” You finish removing the last of any objects from your body, but you felt off. “That's odd, my wounds haven't started...” You suddenly felt dizzy and lean against Toriel, “Mom, somethings wrong, I'm not healing like I normally do.” You begin thinking what is wrong, but you just don't know.
“Guess you may need to stitch me up the old fashion way...” It was getting harder to stay awake and you've lost a lot of blood. Toriel was frantic at what your telling her and lays you down. She then starts setting to work on your wounds as she talking. You hear Toriel say something, but your eyes start to shut as darkness takes you way.
Your not sure how much time has passed, but when you wake your still hurting. “So my wounds still haven't healed. I just don't understand I've never had this problem before.” The realization hits you, “That barrier spell, the healing spells, shifting into my feral form, and casting all that magic must have left nothing for my bodies healing.” You reach down and pull forth the rune stone and the runes aren't glowing. It lies in your hands lifeless and still.
“Is this what they meant by,“The core” that it is like a magic energy core. Did I just drain it completely? Will it recharge over time? I've never seen it like this.” Your getting worried and start to panic about it. You make your way out of bed and head out to the kitchen. Leaning against the wall and limping as you make your way there.
You see both Toriel and Asgore sitting at the table talking. They notice you come in, “My child you shouldn't be moving in your condition. I shall take...” You speak up holding out the rune stone, “Mom, dad, somethings wrong with my rune stone. I need to see Gaster, please. I think I pushed it to hard and that's why I'm not healing like I normally do.”
Asgore looks down at you and gently picks you, “My son are you sure that it's not suppose to do that? Plus Gaster ran a bunch of test and couldn't make heads or tails on any of it. How is he suppose to help?” You begin to think, “I'm thinking about the Core that turn geothermal energy into magic. He may be able to divert magical energy to the rune stone.”
They both look at each other, “My child you're not in any condition to make a trip like that. You should stay in bed and recover.” You shake your head and take Asgore's hand placing the rune stone in it, “I don't have to go you can take it to Gaster and I'll stay here and rest.” Toriel seemed okay with this and Asgore takes you back to your room. “I'll take it the Gaster for you and in the mean time you just take care of yourself.” Asgore bent down to kiss you forehead.
Updates on the rune stone came from Sans, “Hey kid, how you holding up?” There's a slight pause as he looks you over, “You've got to be kitten me. You really do look like you used up eight of your nine lives. Fur-real you looked licked.” You glare at Sans and then just chuckle. “Yeah maybe, but I'm not down and out yet. I guess I got their point and as they riddle me full of holes. I do have a shocking personality though as they found found out.”
Sans just chuckles then his face turns grim, “Listen kid, things aren't going well. We hooked up your rune stone up to the Core, but it was barely flickering.” Sans holds out the rune stone handing it back to you, “It also was disrupting the Core it was beginning to become unstable and we had to stop the transfer. I'm sorry I don't have better news.”
You continue to look at the rune stone, “Well I guess magic is off the table for a long time or altogether. Thanks for trying anyway Sans and tell Gaster thanks for me as well.” Sans just stood there and the whites of his eyes were gone as his expression turned grave, “Kid I have more bad news. We ran scans on the rune stone after the fact and what we found may be the cause why it's not charging.”
You sit up on your elbows and look at him worried, “What wrong Sans, it can't be that bad can it?” You wait until he finally continues, “The rune stone look to be in bad shape and the center has hairline fractures. Not just like one or two, but hundreds maybe more. We couldn't get an exact reading since the computer overloaded shortly afterwards.”
You look down at it still resting in you hand and look back to see Asriel stand right behind Sans, “Bro, your going to be okay right? It'll fix itself with time, right?” You sigh and sit up, “I'm sure it's fine Azzy, like I said, “Just won't be able to use magic for a while” So everyone can just...” Then you, Sans, and Asriel see a piece of it break off and you scream out in pain. This pain was like nothing that you felt before. Asriel rushes to your side now panicking, Sans is standing there shocked, and Toriel is at the door.
“My child, what is wrong? Are your wounds...” She gasps as she looks at the center of your chest. It looks as though it caved in and your writhing in pain. The rune stone falls out of you hand and Asriel picks it up and sees it split down the middle. You yowl so loud clutching at your chest. You felt as though you are being ripped apart. Toriel comes over and wraps her arms around, but you can't feel anything put pain and coldness.
Toriel looks back at Sans tears staining her eye, “Sans what is going on? Why is this happening?” Sans expression is bleak, but he is also just as confused. His eye dart back and forth like he's looking for answers he doesn't have. Asriel takes the two halves and try's to sticks them back together crying as he does so. The rune stone slowly crumbles away turning to dust slipping through his hands to the floor. A pained look on his face as this happens. He looks back at you as he sees your arms and legs are disintegrating.
Asriel turns to Sans grabbing at his blue jacket, “P-p-please S-Sans h-help h-him...please h-help B-Bro...” He slides down to his knees crying harder and slowly turns to see you deteriorating more. Asriel looks down at the rune stone and thinks to himself, “Please don't let Bro die, please save him. PLEASE...LET...HIM...LIVE!!!” He scream in his head at the end.
Asriel eye are shut hard and something happens as if his thoughts were heard. Dust from the rune stone begins to spin around and reform. It takes on the same shape, but only about one forth the size. Four runes glowing on it as it hovers in front of Asriel and then fly's into him. Now he begins to scream as he feels his magic is being drained from his body at an alarming rate.
Toriel is now watching both her children screaming in pain. She reaches out and pulls Asriel into her not knowing what else to do. She looks back at you to see that you're slowly reforming. She is unblinking wide eyed at what is happening and Sans is equally as stunned. You did notice the rune stone fly in to Asriel, “Why did it go to Azzy, why is Azzy suffering in my stead, and why is it doing this to him?”
You body over the short time has fully reformed and all your wounds have healed. You work your way out of Toriel's embrace and move next to Asriel. You pull him into you as you see he is passed out, but his wounds are also healed, “What the hell?!? How? This isn't possible is it? They said,“The rune stone is bonded to you” so how is it being shared?” You touch Asriel chest and can feel most of his magical energy is drained, but it is slowly recharging.
You pick him up and set him on the bed. As Toriel and Sans are looking on at what trying to make sense of what happened themselves. You grab them both and head to the kitchen. “Sorry I don't want to disturb Azzy. He seems like he's fine, but...” Sans looks at you, “Fine, Kid that was anything, but fine. What the fuck was all that?” Toriel glares at Sans and he flinches, “Sorry Tori, I'm just still recovering from what...”
She interjects, “I know, but that doesn't mean you can use that kind of language in front of my child. If anyone should be freaked out its me. I nearly lost one of my children and then find both of them screaming in pain. My child, what was happening in there?” You take a deep breath, “The best I got is somehow a fraction of the rune stone reformed and that it bonded to Azzy. Upon doing so we shared a link between us, but the downside was it was using Azzy magic to activate my ability.”
You pause a minute to give everyone a chance to speak, but they just keep looking at you, “So Azzy got the benefits of my regenerative healing and in turn I did as well. It seems though that this method is more so taxing for Azzy, but beyond that that is the best I can come up with. I may be able to find out more, but not until Azzy has a chance to recover. I don't want to take anymore magic from him since it seems to cause him pain.”
Sans is lost in thought and Toriel speaks up, “Can't you just take the rune stone back since it's yours to begin with?” You shake your head, “I tried when I touched his chest, it refused to come out, and the only thing I was allowed to do was check the amount of magic in Azzy's body. For now lets be glad we're both more or less fine. I know mom, your giving that look, “this isn't fine”, but considering everyone is alive we should be happy. We'll work on figuring out how to transfer back the rune stone later, but right now I think we just need to recover from what just happened.”
Sans nods, “You right kid, no since losing our heads over it. This shook me right down to the bone, but at any rate I've got a skeleton of work back at the laboratory. I'll tell Gaster what happened here and I'm sure he'd like to keep a socket on you two.” Toriel was snicker a bit and you just smiled, “Alright Sans I'm bone tired myself. I think I'll take a cat nap for a while.” You giggle along with Sans as he makes his way to the door and walks out.
You look at Toriel who is still snickering and you yawn, “Well I'm going to get some sleep if that's okay mom. Coming apart at the seams was draining and Azzy and I seem to be joined at the hip. Every time something happens were in it together, but this was not the kind of family bonding I wanted to do.” Toriel just come over and picks you up in a hug.
“You both really did have me scared and I don't know what I would have done if I lost either of you. Though during all the chaos how did they get in through the barrier?” Putting your head against Toriel chest, “Crud, I knew there was something I was forgetting, but being in the middle of pulling out bullets, debris, and dying can make one forget.” You ask to be set down and begin to explain the barrier situation to her.
After the explanation that you've been holding out information on the barrier Toriel glares at you and you shutter, “I'm sorry mom I just felt like I needed time to figure everything I gather out, but if I had know something like this was going to happen I would have said something sooner. Though the new barrier should keep anyone from entering...” Just then the door opens as Asgore walks in with a child in his arm passed out, “Tori dear, I found a child in the ruins.” Toriel looks at you as you face palm, “I think the barrier spell either has a flaw or a morbid sense of humor.”
A couple of months went by and the new child was named, “Chara” her and Azzy got along fine, but she really showed dislike for you. She would yank your tail, pull on your ears while you were asleep, snip you claws(luckily they grew back), put your food on the floor, and just teased you most of the time. Asriel kept telling her to stop messing with you, but she always got him to forgive her somehow.
There was something about her though, something that sent shivers down your spine, and you kept an eye on her while she was around Asriel. Toriel and Asgore were out for the day and you thought you heard crying down the hall. Asriel was in the middle of the floor crying as you enter the room.
You assumed it was Chara's handy work and made your way over to him. You knelt down and embraced Asriel in a hug, “Don't let it get to you Azzy, whatever she did, why don't we do something together.” Asriel head buried in your chest and both of you didn't hear or see the presence of Chara. She had her hand behind her back, a wide smile in her face, and eyes shining red as she raised up a knife.
She brought it down and it plunged it into your back. She continued to move the knife down the middle of you back as you and Azzy both screamed. Chara was caught off guard at what happened letting go of the knife, “Why is Asriel screaming in pain? I didn't stab him.” Her thoughts were cut short as you wheel about and grab her by the neck picking her up off the ground claws extended to full length.
You pull the knife from your back, “Why? Why are you doing this? Nobody is doing anything to hurt you.” Chara just grinned, “I just don't like sharing things I like with other people and I'll do what it takes to keep it that way.” Your eyes changed to your cat eyes and you saw a dark aura around her and her Soul. You pull her Soul out and she was kicking and clawing at you with her finger nails saying nasty things.
Something looked off about the Soul, the center was a lighter color, but was being engulfed by the darkness. Knowing this would drain more magic from Asriel, but you just had a feeling. Like a voice in your head hearing telling you what needed to do, but it was barely a whisper. You activate your flame, but the color of this flame was blue as you touch her Soul with it. Her body was surrounded by the blue flame like her Soul. She whispers something to you and the intensity of the flame grows brighter. Then in a blinding flash of blue light both Chara and her Soul were gone.
