Until It's Safe to Go

Author Note: Would you look at that, I'm writing an Undertale story that doesn't revolve around the Six Lost Souls and Frisk! As a matter of fact, this story only involves one human, that being our first fallen Chara. This is just going to be a collection of various short stories, almost entirely one shots, that will come to me at random intervals. I'm more than open to suggestions, so be sure to review in the end!

Personal Reference: 195th Story, 4th Undertale story.

Chara/Asriel: The True Beginning

Trigger Warnings: Attempted suicide, allusion to self harm, mass attempt to murder a child

They wouldn't do it if they didn't build up their momentum as much as their confidence. It was because of this knowledge a ten year old was standing at the entrance to a cave, their skin crawling with anxiety and their eyes squeezed shut as they tried to convince themselves once last time. Legends said those who climbed Mt. Ebott never returned, and that was exactly what they were betting on. Just because they were prepared for what would surely come, that didn't remove their very human apprehension to end it all.

If they focused on happy memories, that would likely lessen their incentive to go through with this. Unfortunately, they didn't have many to clutch to. Their brother teaching them to walk. The few friends that eventually slipped through their fingers. Melted chocolate from the pastry shop. Their brother refusing to see anyone but them in his last moments.

"Attribe, what would you think of me now?" They muttered weakly as a singular tear glided down their cheek.

Their mother abandoning them to conceive more children to make up for her second born being a 'demon child.' Their father's rough hands and cold indifference. Attribe's being poisoned by 'accident'. The rope around their neck as they were dragged to the fire. Barriville's intense hatred for them just because their eyes were red.

They would see their brother soon.

...

The impact did not knock them unconscious, and it did not kill them. Instead it made the air leave their lungs, their stomach twisting in pain and a loud ringing in their head consuming all of their thoughts. It hurt. It hurt. It hurt.

"H-help," they mumbled into the flowerbed as darkness crept over their vision. "Help me..."

They attempted to call out for help a couple of more times, but nobody came. They couldn't muster the energy to shout any louder, so they buried their face in the vegetation and let the uncomfortable sleep overtake them.

Attribe, I tried.

...

"It sounds like it came from over here..."

They'd regained consciousness quite some time ago and had been helplessly yelling for help until their throat felt like it was going to turn to dust. A small goat was peeking out from behind a pillar now, his eyes wide as he looked around the area. They weren't sure he was talking to, but anything, even if it was just him, would do.

"Please..." They muttered, their energy too low to even keep their face lifted now.

"Oh! You've fallen down, haven't you..." The small creature commented, slowly approaching them now without any fear. "Are you okay?"

"Not really," they responded dejectedly. "I'm...I'm hurt. My head is killing me, and my back and stomach-"

A pair of furry paws suddenly touched the backs of their shoulders, and at once they felt better than they had since Attribe's life. "There, your HP being full should help. Here, get up..."

As they got to their feet, they came face to face with the youthful monster. He wasn't what they were expecting any monster to look so soft or friendly, but given where they came from, it was welcoming. The look of concern all across them reminded them so much of her brother, of the only person that ever cared if they live or died or didn't want them dead right away. He didn't seem to care in the least about the color of their eyes in the slightest.

"It's nice to meet you," they said slowly as they put a hand to their head, hardly understanding the compassion. "My...My name is Chara."

"Chara, huh? That's a nice name," he decided with a reassuring smile. "My name is Asriel. Asriel Dreemur! Howdy!"

"Howdy?" They repeated distantly; what strange lingo. "Uh...Hello to you to, I guess? Where am I? And...And why am I still...?"

"You're in the Underground, silly," he replied contently. "You fell down here, remember? From the Surface? I really hate to tell you this, but if you want to go back up, there isn't a way to-"

"No!" They interrupted more sharply than they intended, but of this they were certain. "I would never want to go back. If everyone down here is as nice as you, I'll never try to leave."

He broke into a wide grin then, a paw gently going to their lower back while the other held their hand. "Well, I'm really glad to hear that! Come on, I'll take you to my parents. They're the king and queen of the Underground; isn't that cool! I bet Mom will heal you even better than I did, and we can have some butterscotch-cinnamon pie..."

As the monster child chattered and began walking, something deep within Chara filled her with a sense of guilt. To think such a cheerful little child could have found them, bled out or bruised past recognition with their chest stationary...

"Chara?" Asriel asked carefully. "Is everything alright? I mean...I don't know how life was up there, but down here I promise you'll be taken care of. My parents are the nicest monsters you'll ever meet, and if you want, I can stay with you until you feel safe enough to go alone. How's that sound?"

Tears flooded in their eyes, their dark red eyes, as they held closer to their new best friend. "Attri- I mean, Asriel. Thank you. That sounds...Really nice. You mentioned pie?"

"Yeah, my mom makes it the best!" He quipped eagerly. "Come on, let's hurry before it cools off!"

As they began running through the mysterious world, Chara gripped his paw tightly and allowed themselves to giggle alongside him. This feeling of finally being free, not dead, rushed through their body and made them feel alive. They were filled with determination.

ORIGINAL FILE SAVED.