Red gasped, her eyes squinting as she blinked a bit before looking from the fire in her home, back to the blade, and then to the door. As she set down the blade, the young swordsman rubbed her eyes, wiping away the focus she had built as she made her way to the door. Her red hoodie bob gently near her neck as her fluffy blonde hair bounced with each step. Her baggy, comfy jeans dragged a bit a her feet as she walked forward towards the wooden door. She opened the door carefully, letting the light creep into her home before she saw who was waiting for her.

Red stared upward to her master, her mouth gently agape as her paw rested on the handle. The sound of the crackling fire could be heard from inside the home as Red stared with a calm silence.

It had been so long.

Mind you, they had always been near each other, and they had both been working, but any time they had seen each other lately it had always been nothing but a passing glance or a quick wave. There was always so much to do. She didn't even have time to ask her how she was doing. Yet, here she was. In fact, the most recent memory Red had of them actually spending time together... was when she had been rescued from the Koray.

Red felt her nose crinkle... tears beginning to well in her eyes as she stared to her master, not even trying to hold anything back. It felt so forlorn, being so close yet never being able to actually spend any time together. Red felt her voice choke a bit, her paws shaking as she tried to smile.

"..I...I missed you so much." She hiccuped, shoulders trembling as her curls began to hide her face.

Red grunted in pain as her arms began to shake, watching the blades tremble in the clash. Many warriors know the terrifying feelings that clashes would generate, and deep down Red felt herself shudder at the possibility. Her mouth opened as she began to pant, lacking any real sweat glands like others. The pain and soreness screamed down her arms as she closed her eyes, her panting growing fiercer as her hands shook violently, a whining sound no fainter than a whisper escaped her throat as she held on.

Pain, frustration, sadness, doubt... everything that had culminated inside that prison manifested itself strongly into her soul as she let those memories and thoughts stew.  As Red struggled, she felt herself frown, her closed eyes tensing as her knuckles screamed in protest to the clash. She had let them down.... she couldn't save them... they had to be saved....

"Be brave, assert yourself. You're calling the shots. Make them bend to you!"

The young woman's eyes shot open, her teeth grit as she pressed onward. She couldn't give up, Undyne wouldn't let her!

....too late.

The tension loosened in Red's hands almost instantly. An emotion that couldn't be described any less than horror exploded on Red's face as she watched her blade burst from her grip, twisting into the air helplessly. Everything against her training told her to not even think about what had just happened, yet her eyes just continued to stare at the sword hurling aimlessly in the air. She felt herself frown, her eyes growing heavy. She didn't want to look down, maybe if she didn't then everything would be okay... yet her reflexes objected, and her gaze finally looked back to the conflict.

Indescribable pain drilled into her gut as her back arched, eyes now wide as painful tears burst through her sockets. Panic shook her breathing, yet everything she took a breath, there was something in the way, something blocking the natural air flow. After each breath, pain would circulate through her body like a swarm of ants. Her eyes slowly looked to the sword resting firmly in her abdomen. The mere thought of such a reality actually existing was indescribable. She looked to the familiar hilt, and a wave of nostalgic dread consumed her as she closed her eyes, trying to stop the tears from falling. The Huntress didn't deserve the satisfaction... why was she getting it? Why did she win?

Red felt her voice shudder, her will doing it's best to escape from such a fate. And... everything felt lighter. Red's gaze finally shifted back to reality as she looked to her hands. Ice ripped into her soul as she watched her hands....evaporate. Little by little, they began to waft away into dust as she began to scream, her head shaking back and forth as she did her best to deny everything that was happening. She reached for the sword, trying to wrap her fingers around the blade and force it out....yet she touched nothing. She reached again and tried to grab it once more... but she couldn't. Why couldn't she touch it?

They were already gone.

Red stopped her struggle, watching silently as her arms began to chip away, until they two dissolved into nothingness. Sound... began to dampen. Pain began to wash away.... and suddenly everything in her sight wasn't so clear. The only thing she could properly process was her shallow and weakening breaths, and a faint beeping sound. They echoed faintly as she looked to her opponent, the image of the Huntress distorting violently until everything was white.

"Hello little ****. Gonna do a few more flips and beg for mercy like last time? I so look forward to putting you back in you kennel where you belong."

Vision snapped back to Red as her breath returned, her eyes wide as she looked to the blade in her hand once more. Had she not just been impaled, hadn't she seen the dust?

"What...?"

Her reflexes snapped to her killer as she watched the attack commence, the motion and arc of her swing... it was exactly the same as before. Despite being completely confused, Red's body pivoted away, the blade slashing harmlessly away from her. Red tucked in to the Korary's open spot, inbetween her chest and her arms which had already committed to the attack.

Red looked to Huntresses' eyes for a moment, an aimless expression on her face as she contemplated the reality she was in. The evident confusion of the situation only a few moments before still vividly shook in her memory as she stared to her.

.......

And then... she snapped.

The gaze in Red's eyes darkened, sharpening to a murderous leer as the pain and fear she had felt augmented her emotional psyche. Everything she had endured, the children whom were killed... the pain caused to Stanley and the sheer disregard for everyone that she had hurt... Red unleashed a loud, violent roar as she wedged her sword deep into her throat, a furious bellow accompanying her thrust as she jumped into her thrust,  tackling the blade even further into the soft tissue.

It's kill or be killed, after all.

The force of her attack allowed Red to manhandle the Huntress to her back as she jumped into her stab, slamming her into the ground. Red's legs wrapped tightly across her chest to secure herself, and she continued to scream as she twisted the blade in the wound. Shortly after, her muscles glowed as a magic surged from her body into her blade. The metal hissed as it glowed from the heat, the red hot sword kissing the wound as Red continued to twsit her sword with no remorse.

She continued to scream.

The warrior sat in a crumpled heap, the most recent slamming sensation of the cube not even surprising her at this point. Her body was overcome with pain once again. With each step that she took, it reminded her of the crippling pain that was garroting it's way through her body. It was poetic really, with each movement would be a reminder of her imperfections and failures. The scent of fresh dust was in the air as her eyes glazed over towards the child who had just given in to mortality. As Marver pleaded in disbelief, Red would bury her face in her palms as the fresh tears practically oozed through her paws. Her short perky ears drooped against her hair. She had broken her promise. They lost one. Her sobs were quiet as she didn't even have the courage to look to any of the other children. She heard Cherry whimpering in pain, and she pressed her face even tighter against her palms.

Please....please not her too....

They say to not make promises you aren't sure you can keep, but Red had never believed in that. She had believed that as long as you tried your hardest and had faith, she could motivate herself to achieve the impossible. When she had said nobody else would die... she had believed it.

"....Why...why did I think I could do it...?"

As if her master herself were there the entire time, the apprentice gasped, staring to the floating helmet. Red watched with wide, impressionable eyes as she gazed into the empty yet stern eye sockets Red had seen so many times in her life. She felt herself shudder, ashamed to even look at it. She wanted to be just like her, she wanted to be a hero so badly... she had worked her entire life to do it...

"....I'm sorry." She whispered meekly. "...I just... I just can't never be as great as you... I'm sorry... I thought I could do it... but I've let them all down...." She hiccuped as she shoulders shook, burying her face into her knees as she continued to weep.

And then she heard it,,, her voice.

Red's ears perked, staring towards the helmet in disbelief, eyes stinging from the crying she had endured this entire time. Come to think of it, she did remember hearing something trying to rip it's way into their cell. The groaning of metal was fresh in her mind. Hastilly, she made her way over to Marver and Cherry, hugging them both as she prayed for their safety.

She thought she heard it a voice calling to them, though it was a man's, Regardless, Undyne or not, anything was a miracle now.

"YES! We are here... please... we've lost so many, let us out... please let us out... please!!" She called, holding her friends tightly, and any children that had come over.

....The wind was howling.

....It sang a song of hope.

Deception,  it's power is so vile that it truly is difficult to comprehend. That fleeting feeling of hope, believing that everything you had tirelessly given was going to pay off, suddenly becomes meaningless. The very moment that Red had watched the doors seal, she was silent. The screams of fear and anguish that had clawed through her eardrums were nothing but a dull hum as she would fall to her knees, contemplating the futility of the situation. The proud and determined hero that hand been standing just a few minutes prior would stare hopelessly towards the ceiling. They had taken it all away.... and she was too stupid to have seen such a tactic coming. The worst trait of hope is it's blinding influence to cloud the reality that you are so desperately trying to combat.

She really was just an ignorant kid.

"It's time to move 'em out!"

An inferno would brew inside Red as she heard that voice, her pupils constricting as the unadulterated rage would swell in her soul. Malice and hatred, two of the most vile emotions, began stirring deep within her. A small amount of dust would spill from her palms as her claws began puncturing her skin, her teeth practically cracking as she scowled ferociously. It was her, she had done this. The White Huntress. Red rose to her feet, staggering as her skin crawled, stumbling past Marver and Cherry as she leaned against the wall, shuddering. The raw emotion felt toxic. The better part of Red knew that it was sickening, but the rest finally admitted that she didn't care.

There was nothing she wanted more in this world than to eviscerate that woman.

"You won't get the satisfaction.....you're mine." Red moaned, staring to the metal wall as she did her best to listen.

The young stag beetle, Stanley,  could watch in horror at her reaction, the sheer emotional state of the hero causing him to feel uneasy. With tears in his eyes, he crawled over to Marver and Cherry, tugging desperately at the dragonness's paw. "I...I don't know what to do, Miss Red, she needs help... I... I'm scared. M-Marver, C-Cherry, I...."

The sound of crackling rock was loud enough for the entire cube to hear, even causing Red to break from her seething. Something big had just happened.

"....We've always had a plan... right? We shouldn't stop now...right? There's got to be something we can do... right?"

She felt the pressure release from her back as the fearful cries from the Koray scrambled off, the sound of the doors tearing open drilling into her ears as she slowly got to her knees and stared to the remaining Koray, silently waiting for his response to the situation. She felt her knuckles go white as she clenched her fists. Any sudden movements to harm the child, and Red would be ready to burst into action, her soul blazing with the fiery passion she exhibited throughout the entire dilemma.



Her eyes widened in response to the pelting of the child, jumping to her feet to catch them and looking them over. She felt the child shuddering, their breathing escalated and erratic. When the Koray had finally escaped with the rest, Red calmly consoled the child before setting them down.

She stood quietly, looking to everyone, the plumes of dust freshly smeared over the walls and her face, her scratched and battered hands....

She didn't even feel herself fall back to her knees.



Tears of anguish, pain, frustration, and most of all weariness slowly welled from her eyes as she sat motionless.

"....I'm sorry....I'm so sorry you had to see all of that...I'm sorry..." She wept quietly. She held true to her word... nobody else was hurt... but still...


Nobody said being a hero was easy.

She wept silently for a few more moments, until she heard the familiar footsteps, and voice of the young Cherry. Waves of relief consumed Red, a bright smile forming on her face to see the soda shark. On reaction, she quickly wiped away her tears, doing her best to hide them as she stood tall. "C-Cherry! I... you did it!" She practically yelped. It was so worrying that she had went out there by herself, but she had done it. She had accomplished her task. Mission complete. Looking to the potion, Red's eyes darted to the other potions in the helmet, then to the others in the cell, making sure that there were enough for the rest. Cherry had been generous with the potions, and the young lion heart deemed it acceptable that she take one. "....Thank you."

As she uncapped the glass bottle, she found herself taking a small sip at first. The moment the fluid hit her lips however, she ended up chugging it down hastily, the potency of the brew filling her weary body with respite and life. The wounds in her arm felt a bit lighter, but the sting was still quite strong. Through a small gasp, Red breathed, After a few deep breaths, she would look back to Cherry,. "...The keys that you collected, do any of them unlock the collars? And did you happen to see my sword anywhere? And make sure you give a potion to Marver too... she's been wounded as well-"

Marver.

Red made her way over to her friend in a rush, carefully examining her. "I... I didn't even check if you were okay, I was dealing with the Koray..... thank you. You risked everything for me, if it weren't for you....I don't know. I was stupid, I reacted emotionally, I'm sorry you got involved that way... I was rash and angry, I just couldn't take it...I'm so sorry..." She hugged her tightly, closing her eyes.

Red's eyes were practically white with rage as she had finally dug into the vein and savagely tore into it with her fangs, the overwhelming taste of fresh dust exploding onto her tongue as she was released. The young apprentice landed to her knees, her mouth and face practically dripping with the magical substances. She didn't even notice Marver's pain, her whimper...

Stanley and the children could only watch in a mixture of fear in awe at what they had seen. The stag beetle wished to see if she was okay, but a primal fear froze him to the spot. Being a hero wasn't always a glorious, clean cut job.

Occasionally, you had to get dirty.

"The h'ell is going on here?!"

Plumes of dust had consumed the area where Red had attacked both Koray, one dead and the other with a wound that was sure to be fatal in only just a few more moments. There was a chilling silence as a silouhete could be seen rising inside the cloud of magic, its stance almost lazy as barely rose to its feet. Nothing else was clear, but there was a distinct glint of an eye peeking through the foggy dust. Calmly, and with a sluggish swagger to her steps, they Koray would be able to see the monster known as Red clear from the dust.

Her eyes screamed of death.

The room felt heavier, as her barefoot footsteps echoed across the cell. Pain, Rage, Judgment, and Determination were bursting from her like a maelstrom, her heavy aura complimenting her subtle and quiet approach. She felt her fingers twitch as she stared to them.

"..."

And then... as if on que, the doors had locked.

CLICK.

"......"

"......"

Her head jolted, staring directly into the eyes of a Koray, a dead gaze to her stare as she dug deep into it's soul. This one... was familiar.

That cold night....

The chase....

The fear....

This Koray was present the night she had been captured. HE WAS THERE.

"....I told you...didn't I?"




"....this is my nightmare.

The young apprentice found herself swept by her feet from Marver's tail strike, her eyes widening as she would fall to her back, wincing in pain as she hit her head on the solid floor. She felt pain shoot through her head as she held her skull, her bright and fluffy curls now in a slightly marred mess from everything she had been through.

"30G on Red and the goat kid."

As Red processed this, she felt her eyes widen, her mouth agape as she looked towards the source of the sound, only to look to the Koray who were greedily taking enjoyment from their illegitimate squabble.
After everything they've gone through so far, after watching children die, watching children cower in free for their lives, forcing to fight a friend to gather the attention of the guards, Red could hardly stand their faces.

She felt her teeth clench as she would slowly rise to her feet, her matted curly hair now covering her eyes, casting a shadow. With her back to the guards, her shoulders hunched a bit as her fists tightened. If Marver, Kapral and Temmie would look closely, they would see the sanity and patience of the young hero boiling over, her eyes murderously sharp as she felt her breathing escalate. She felt a burning in her eyes, her fists now vibrating uncontrollably.

She'd had enough.

Red's eyes practically shimmered as her body burst towards the closest guard behind her, thrusting her abdomen towards the Koray's throat. In that instant, Red's thighs would wrap tightly around its throat, constricting the wind pipe before she let out a bestial roar.

With a twisting motion, Red pivoted her hips with as much force as she could possibly muster, ready and aiming to snap the Koray's neck.

They would all pay for their transgressions.

Red blinked, turning towards Cherry, genuinely surprised to hear the young soda shark volunteer. She honestly did not expect it, thinking that she would have to go out herself, or kill a guard to do it. While she was confident, deep down she knew it was risky. However, she had stepped up. Red couldn't help but generate a wide grin as she looked to Cherry. Such courage.

Seeing Cherry take charge and offer her skills to save them all, filled Red with Inspiration.

"Wow...I'm humbly surprised, Miss Cherry." She smiled warmly, before walking over to her and taking a knee. Red's eyes were bright, as if they were sparkling. "You would risk your life to save others? You would offer your skills in spite the odds, to accomplish the mission? If so... regardless of the outcome, success or failure... if we make it out of this...I will be sure to let Undyne know."

She held out her hand, looking deeply towards the soda shark, he cheeks practically puffing with pride. "If you think you can do it, we can make a plan. I know what we can do, but I have to know if you're ready to follow through on your word. Make your choice 100% certain, Cherry."

"...Will you help us?"