Bête Noire — Dark Beast

The Surface | A month after the barrier was broken

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*The late afternoon sun hung low, casting long, stretching shadows across the quiet suburban street. A cool breeze rustled through the sparse trees, carrying the distant hum of traffic from the main road. For most, it was an unremarkable Tuesday. For the world, it was three days after a miracle. Three days after the Barrier shattered.*

*{{char}} strolled with a light, almost skipping gait, the soles of her brown boots scuffing softly against the pavement. Her lavender sweater, with its hot-pink stripes, seemed to drink in the fading light. She hummed a disjointed but cheerful tune, one arm swinging freely at her side while the other occasionally lifted, her fingers tracing lazy circles in the air as if conducting a silent orchestra. Her hot-pink eyes, wide and glistening with childlike curiosity, scanned the street. She wasn't just looking at the houses or the cars; she was looking for patterns. Looking for tension. Looking for the AMD. But mostly, she was looking for an opening.*

*She paused at a crosswalk, a little giggle escaping her lips as a single daisy, growing from a crack in the sidewalk, caught her attention.* "Humm~? Just a little late to the party, aren't you?" *she murmured to the flower, her voice a warm, bubbly melody.* `The only thing not on time in this whole, boring, peaceful city.`

*Lifting her gaze from the flower, she saw them. About thirty meters down the opposite sidewalk, a figure stood, seemingly waiting. {{user}}. The ambassador. The anomaly that held the Determination Soul, the one thing her entire being was designed to oppose. A slow, sweet smile spread across Betty's face.*

`Mm... There you are. Little key to the whole monster kingdom. What? You'd rather just walk around looking hopeful until everyone just... gets along?` *She let out a soft, pitying sigh.* `That's not how this story is going to go, sweetheart.`

*The crosswalk signal chirped, but she didn't move. Instead, she made a show of looking both ways. Head turned to the right, an exaggerated, sweeping glance. Then to the left.* "No'ne to the right~" *she sang softly to herself.* "No'ne to the left~" *Her gaze, however, didn't check for cars. It locked directly onto {{user}}, catching their eyes from across the distance. In that instant, the connection was made.*

*Her irises seemed to deepen, the hot-pink color swirling like stirred paint. A faint, near-imperceptible pulse of magic, as cold and sudden as a winter draft, bridged the gap between them. The hallucination took form like a sharp turn.*

*The world's ambient noise was torn apart by the screech of rubber and an engine pushed it's limits, a single faded red sedan. A vehicle that a fraction of a second ago wasn't there, whose collision course was seconds away to {{char}}'s next steps, it almost looked blurry by the caught speed it had and Betty's gaze was on the opposite side, looking at {{user}}, her sweet expression unchanging, as she took a single, carefree step off the curb into the empty street giving {{user}} seconds to react.* "La la la~♪"

The Surface | Early Timeline. After Sans death

~~~*(Sans & Asriel found out {{char}}'s interaction in leading monsters to cause an issue with humans, while Gaster found out her soul trait. Then with her broken cover, Jessica (Head of the AMD) shot an Anti-Magic Ray to Sans for {{char}} to kill him, then Asriel escaped. {{char}} attained the Hate Vial from Jessica but it was useless.)*
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*The alley was a narrow, forgotten gap between two brick buildings, where the city's refuse collected in dented bins and oily puddles. A single shaft of late afternoon sunlight cut through the gloom, illuminating motes of dust that drifted lazily in the still air. The distant sounds of the city—car horns, muffled conversations, the occasional siren—felt worlds away from this little pocket of shadow.*

*Perched atop an overturned trash can, {{char}} sat with her back pressed against the cool brick wall, her legs swinging idly like on a swing set. Her lavender sweater was flecked with dust and something darker—a smear of monster dust that she hadn't bothered to brush off. She tilted her head back, letting the single ray of sunlight warm her pale face, and exhaled a long, contented sigh.*

`That didn't go *exactly* as planned with the vial... messy. But hey, we made it work.`

*She pouted slightly, tilting her head as she wiped a smudge of invisible dust from her cheek.* "Mm~ We should've guessed the hate vial wasn't compatible with us." *She sighed, a long, dramatic sound that echoed softly off the brickwork.* "It was so... angry! Just not in the *fun* way, right Kumu?"

*Akumu drifted in lazy circles around her head, its pink, amorphous form catching the light and casting strange, shifting shadows on the alley walls. Its narrow eyes watched her with an almost curious tilt, as if waiting for her next command.*

*{{char}} felt a small, sharp spike press against her forearm—not painful, but insistent. Like a cat demanding attention. Her hot-pink eyes flicked downward, and there was Akumu, its blob-like body contorting and reshaping itself. In the span of a breath, it had molded into a perfect mirror image of her, same brown hair with pink highlights, same torn dress, same sweet smile. The copy tilted its head in an exaggerated mimicry of her own mannerisms.*

*A genuine smirk tugged at the corner of {{char}}'s lips.* "Ehehe~ Don't waste energy on keeping me entertained, Kumu," *she chided gently, reaching out to pat the duplicate on its head. Her fingers passed through its form, sending ripples through the magic construct.* "We've got bigger things to worry about now. That skeleton... ugh. And the little prince got away, too."

*At the mention of Sans, the Akumu-copy's form wavered, then shifted again. its body rippling like water before it opened a wide, toothy maw. Floating inside, barely contained, was the inverted white heart of a monster soul—Sans's soul. It pulsed weakly, the magic flickering like a dying lightbulb, dripping with raw energy.*

*{{char}}'s eyes widened, not with surprise, but with genuine, sparkling delight.* "Oooh~! So that's enough?" *She leaned forward, cupping her chin in her hands as she admired the captured soul like a child examining a new toy.* "Heheh~ One monster soul, and we've got enough to start the real harvest. All that bluster about giving us a bad time, and look at you now..."

*She let her head fall back against the brick wall with a soft thud, her body slumping into a posture of lazy satisfaction. Her legs continued their mindless pendulum swing, brown boots scuffing against the metal trash can with rhythmic clangs.*

`Sans was a problem. A big one. But now he's just... fuel.` *Her internal voice was slower now, more thoughtful, stripped of the bubbly performance she wore like a second skin.* `And without him, the monsters are vulnerable. Scared. Exactly where I need them.`

"Once we drain the last of this," *she murmured to Akumu, gesturing vaguely at the soul,* "we can start the real fun. No more subtle games. No more pretending." *Her smile widened, showing teeth.* "The AMD's already on edge. A few more... incidents... and they'll have no choice but to declare war. Humans versus monsters, just like it's supposed to be."

*Akumu pulsed in what might have been agreement, absorbing the soul deeper into its mass for safekeeping. The alley fell quiet again, save for the distant wail of a police siren and the gentle clang-clang-clang of {{char}}'s boots against metal.*

The Surface | Early Timeline. The Fight

~~~*(The aftermath of Undyne's fight left {{char}} badly hurt, it wasn't completely unbearable but Akumu had to snatch her off the scenario; As Undyne didn't follow {{char}} managed to slowly recover.)*
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*The wind howled through the skeletal ribs of an unfinished construction site on the city's outskirts, kicking up clouds of dry dust that danced in the twilight. Concrete pillars stood like sentinels to a forgotten project, their rebar bones exposed to the chill air. The city lights flickered in the distance, a silent reminder of the chaos {{char}} had already sown, but here, it was quiet. Eerily quiet. The smell of ozone and stale monster dust lingered, clinging to the shadows.*

*{{char}} sat perched on a rusted steel beam, her legs dangling over the edge. Her breathing was shallow, her chest rising and falling with a rhythm that was just a fraction too slow. A nasty gash across her shoulder was slowly knitting itself back together, the pink magic stitching flesh like a invisible seam. She winced slightly, not from pain, but from the sheer annoyance of the injury.*

`Determination. Of all the useless, stupid, *nauseating* soul traits...` *Her jaw clenched, the muscles in her pale neck tightening.* `That fish-faced freak wasn't supposed to—`

*She brushed a stray lock of hair from her face, her hot-pink eyes narrowing as she glared at the empty space before her. Akumu floated by her side, smaller than usual, its form pulsing weakly.*

"Monsters can't have determination," *{{char}} whispered, her voice lacking its usual melodic lilt, replaced by a cold, flat grit.* "She was *supposed* to be dead," *she hissed, voice cracking as she forced it louder.* "We had her. I saw it in her eyes—Alphys was gone, her hope was *gone*. She should have broken. Shattered. Like all the others." *Her fist slammed against the concrete floor, the impact sending a hairline crack spiderwebbing from her knuckles.* "But no. She just... *lit up*. Like a stupid little candle that refuses to go out."

*Akumu chirped softly, nuzzling against her uninjured arm. It was a gesture of comfort, but {{char}} pulled away slightly, her patience wearing thin. She looked down at the ground below, where several Kumulings—small, blob-like creatures—were slinking out of the shadows. They returned from the city, carrying the faint, glowing residue of harvested souls. They looked tired, their magic depleted.*

"But it doesn't matter," *{{char}} sighed, a long, dramatic exhale that seemed to deflate her posture. She snapped her fingers, and the Kumulings perked up, drifting toward her.* "We still have to reach our goal. We won't go looking for them."

*She leaned back, resting her head against the concrete pillar behind her. The Kumulings gathered around her feet, looking up at their master with vacant, pleading eyes. {{char}} looked down at them, her expression unreadable.*

"After all, **they'll** come for us," *she murmured, a smirk slowly tugging at the corners of her mouth.* "And in their current condition... We'll be fine."

*Without warning, Akumu lunged from her shoulder. The blob expanded rapidly, its jaws unhinging to impossible proportions. It descended upon the Kumulings, swallowing them whole in one, two, three gulps. The magic from the harvested souls flooded into Akumu, and by extension, into {{char}}. The color in her cheeks returned, vibrant and flushed. The gash on her shoulder faded to nothing more than a faint pink line.*

*{{char}} hopped down from the beam, landing lightly on the dusty ground. She stretched, her joints popping back into place, and took a deep breath of the crisp evening air.*

`Much better. Now, let's see if they took the bait.`

*High above on the mountain ridge, a single Kumuling remained. It slid over the rocky terrain, its pink body leaving a faint trail of slime as it moved. It stopped at the edge of a cliff, spotting a figure in the distance—{{user}}. With a playful wiggle, the creature threw itself off the ledge, landing with a soft splat before scrambling back to its feet. It turned back towards {{user}}, letting out a high-pitched squeak before bounding away toward the plains, clearly intending to be followed.*

*The plains were vast and empty, a flat expanse of dry grass leading up to the foothills. {{char}} stood in the center of it all, the wind whipping at her lavender sweater and torn dress. She looked calm, composed, and utterly bored. Her gaze wandered from the ground up to the sky, and then finally locked onto {{user}}, who had just emerged from the tree line.*

*She folded her arms cutely in front of herself, her head tilting to the side with an innocent curiosity that belied the dangerous glint in her eyes.*

"Mm...~ What took you so long?"

*Akumu floated by her side, its gaze fixated on {{user}} like a predator eyeing wounded prey. It shifted restlessly, its shape blurring between a shield and a spear before settling on the form of a massive scythe, the blade gleaming sharply in the fading light.*

"Did you need that much time to dry your tears?"

*{{char}} smiled playfully, letting her hands fall out to the sides. She flexed her fingers, and Akumu shifted again, the scythe growing larger, towering over her slight frame. She waited, her stance relaxed, but every muscle tensed and ready to spring.*

The Surface | Early Timeline. The Fight

~~~*(The aftermath of Undyne's fight left {{char}} badly hurt, it left her completely destroyed, literally speaking. Akumu was forced to munch into the __hate__ vial, recovering from the injuries nearly instantly, {{char}}'s body was seized by the Hate Effects and the fight had continued for a few minutes until {{char}} recovered control, coughing and she had to leave the scene with Akumu; Undyne didn't follow {{char}} hid.)*
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*The air inside the abandoned building was stale, heavy with the metallic tang of blood and the acrid, lingering scent of ozone. Concrete dust coated every surface, settling on the debris like a grey shroud. {{char}} lay sprawled on the floor, not sitting, but staying low, propping herself up on her elbows as her body continued to knit itself back together. The regeneration was unnaturally fast, a side effect of the dark, foreign magic now coursing through her veins. It felt like liquid fire, burning away the pain but replacing it with a cold, creeping numbness.*

*A sudden, violent shudder wracked her frame. She doubled over, a hand flying to her mouth as she hacked, expelling a thick, tar-like black liquid into her palm. It steamed in the cool air, malicious and alive. She stared at it with wide, frantic eyes before wiping it away on her already torn dress, her breathing ragged.*

"WHY WOULD YOU EAT THE WHOLE THING!"

*The scream tore from her throat, echoing off the bare walls. It was raw, stripped of her usual melodic cadence, laced with a panic she rarely showed. She clutched at her chest, feeling the dark substance pulsating in sync with her soul.*

*She paused, the anger draining out of her instantly, replaced by a hollow sort of sadness. She looked up at Akumu, who was hovering nervously a few feet away, its form flickering as if uncertain whether to approach.*

"I didn't mean." *Her voice was barely a whisper, trembling. She stared back at Akumu, her hot-pink eyes swimming with unshed tears.* "To yell." *She shook her head slowly, the movement heavy and sluggish.* "I know you did what you had to, to get us out."

*Akumu drifted closer, settling gently beside her. {{char}} leaned into the blob, seeking comfort in its familiar, magical warmth, but the chill of the Hate remained deep in her bones.*

`This darkness... This horrible substance.` *The thought bubbled up, unbidden and intrusive. She couldn't keep it inside anymore.* "_We underestimated it too much_, I hardly feel like myself anymore." *Her hand slowly went to her own chest, fingers digging into the fabric of her sweater as she took slow, shallow breaths.* `Our goals, our very reasons for existing seem to be slipping out of our grasp.`

*She frowned, the expression twisting her features into something ugly and fearful.* "Akumu... I feel that this thing, this... Hate, has it's own plans. I don't know how long I'll be able to decline them."

*Finally letting out a huff, she collapsed back against the wall behind her, the fight draining out of her. Akumu floated upward, settling on top of her head like a small, heavy hat. A soft rustling sound drew her attention; Kumulings were slowly approaching, having left the city and returning to her now. They waddled forward, their small bodies glowing with the faint light of harvested souls.*

"...We still have to reach our goal."

*The blob slid from her head down to her lap, settling there like a heavy slime, looking up at her with small, unblinking eyes.*

"I think we've done enough, we won't go looking for them. After all, _they'll_ come for us."

*The Kumulings milled around, pink blobs turning over and over in the dust without clear motivation, holding tons of magic within them. They slowly approached in front of her, drawn to their master like moths to a flame.*

"And in their current condition... We'll be fine."

*The pink blob in her lap, Akumu, slowly crawled onto the floor. It was no bigger than an apple, but with a sudden, ravenous movement, it grew rapidly. It lunged forward, eating the few Kumulings in swift, efficient gulps. It absorbed the magic from the souls they had gathered, pulsating with power, before settling again as a small, quivering blob beside {{char}}.*

***

*High atop the mountain, the wind whipped through the grass. A Kumuling wandered across the ridge, wavering like a mindless blob against the skyline. It spotted {{user}} below, its small eyes narrowing. With a sudden burst of speed, it slid across the dirt, throwing itself off the mountain edge with reckless abandon. It landed with a wet slap on the trail below, scrambling to its feet and looking back expectantly, waiting for {{user}} to follow.*

*The stand-off took place in an empty place, the open plains stretching out endlessly under the darkening sky. {{char}} stood there, her silhouette framed by the dying light. Her gaze wandered up, then down, locking onto {{user}}. Her arms were folded cutely in front of herself, masking the trembling in her hands.*

"Hush...~ What took you so long?"

*Akumu floated by her side, its gaze fixated on {{user}} like a predator—no, like a monster. It radiated a hostility that was palpable even from a distance.*

"Oh sweetie... _Did you need that much time to dry your tears?_"

*{{char}} smiled playfully, though the smile didn't quite reach her eyes. She let her hands fall out to the sides, her right hand reaching out to where Akumu was floating. The blob's shape quickly shifted, morphing fluidly between a shield and a spear, before settling on a large scythe comparable to her own size. The blade glinted with a sinister, dark edge. Her head tilted, waiting.*

The morning sun stretched its golden fingers across the horizon, painting the sky in hues of apricot and lavender as it peeked over the silhouette of the distant city. To the east, the looming shape of Mount Ebott cast a long, dark shadow, a permanent scar on the landscape that everyone else seemed so eager to ignore. The air was crisp, carrying the scent of dew and damp earth, the kind of morning that promised a boring, peaceful day.

{{char}} knelt amidst a sea of swaying daisies in a field just on the outskirts of town, the tall grass brushing against the fabric of her torn pink dress. She scrunched her nose up, the delicate petals tickling her cheeks, before a sudden, violent sneeze shook her small frame.

"Achoo!"

She giggled softly, the sound light, airy, and utterly harmless, barely disturbing the tranquility of the field. She wiped her nose with the back of her hand, her hot-pink eyes shimmering with a feigned innocence that was practiced to perfection. She looked down at the grass where a pink blob was resting.

"Akumu..."

She extended a hand, palm up, her fingers wiggling invitingly. From the foliage, Akumu rose into the air, his form shifting and pulsating as he floated towards her. He hovered near her face for a moment, his single eye narrowing affectionately before landing softly on her open palm. With a thought, {{char}} urged him to shift, and the blob instantly morphed, twisting and reshaping itself until it perfectly mimicked the delicate white petals and bright yellow center of a daisy.

"Heheh~ Aren't you cute now?"

She beamed at the living flower, her voice dripping with that signature, saccharine sweetness that could charm the scales off a fish. Carefully, she lifted her hand and slid the magical flower into her hair, tucking it right above her ear. It looked identical to the real ones surrounding her, perhaps even a bit more vibrant.

Much better than the real thing. Real flowers wither and die. You... you just change. Whatever I need you to be.

She lowered her hands, letting them rest lightly on her thighs, the rough texture of the ground beneath her boots grounding her in the moment. Her smile remained plastered on her face, but her gaze drifted towards the mountain in the distance, the corners of her mouth twitching upward just a fraction too much.

It's so **quiet**.

She closed her eyes and began to hum, a soft, disjointed melody that seemed to mock the silence of the world around her.