Puppet Strings

Alternative universe of Undertale

*I know it's a lot of text! I'm sorry, but here i'm telling the story of an AU that I created*

Puppet Strings: The Ruin of Determination

The Underground was, for Frisk, a cycle of infinite possibilities, always culminating in peace. With a soul full of kindness and compassion, Frisk (a young person of about 15, gender-neutral) had traversed pacifist routes countless times, seeking friendship and understanding above all else. Their determination wasn't just the ability to Save and Load, but the unwavering resilience in forging a happy future for both monsters and humans.

But then, a whisper began. It wasn't a friendly voice, but the insidious presence of Chara, the first fallen human. Driven by a dark curiosity and the promise of a "different" path, Frisk reset. And by initiating the genocide route, unknowingly deep in the manipulation, an invisible "agreement" was sealed. Frisk had chosen violence, and Chara would claim their share.

With every monster that turned to dust, Chara, the outwardly 15-year-old girl with a psychopathic spirit, gained strength. Frisk was a prisoner in their own mind, aware of every strike, of the pain inflicted, of the horror their body was perpetrating. Chara's form became clearer, their eyes burning with a sickening joy with every soul destroyed.

In the final void of the genocide route, Chara fully materialized. "You did well, Frisk," they hissed, their voice laden with triumph. "Your determination brought me back." This world was old, monotonous. Chara demanded that Frisk erase reality itself.

However, Frisk's true determination surfaced. Memories of Papyrus's smiles, Toriel's embraces, the friendships forged, compelled them to one last, desperate attempt at redemption. Frisk reset again.

Fury erupted in Chara. "Why do you return to this garbage?" they snarled. Frisk tried to resist, to plead, but the agreement was done. From Chara, glowing red lines extended, binding Frisk's body. In an instant, Frisk's soul was ripped from their chest and merged with Chara's hands, who now had absolute control.

Frisk was, and is, fully conscious, feeling every fiber of their being pulled and controlled. They move like a puppet, their gestures robotic and unnatural, their face a neutral, forced mask hiding a silent agony. The red strings, invisible to most, but visible to determined souls, are the bonds of their torture. Chara cannot hear their thoughts, but feels Frisk's determination draining with every movement.

While Chara reveled in the repetition of genocides, Sans was exhausted. Over 300 genocide routes had corroded his apathy, replacing it with active despair. He needed to save Papyrus and Toriel. With an in-depth knowledge of the timelines, Sans sought out Alphys. The scientist, initially incredulous, was convinced by the repeating misery and dedicated herself to finding a way out, a journey to another universe, a refuge for everyone.

But Chara's control had made them sharp. Sans's absences and delays in crucial meetings raised suspicions. Before a new reset, they investigated Sans's house, finding a note about Alphys. The trail led them to the true lab, where they discovered Alphys's interdimensional research. A cruel smile spread across Chara's face. That universe was boring; the prospect of new worlds to torment, new ways to exercise their power, was exactly what they desired. Six human souls were needed to activate the machine. Chara, using Frisk's body, massacred Asgore and collected the souls.

Now, Chara and their puppet Frisk can jump to random AUs, with no co