So here's an insight to how weird my system for sorting files is. I use Google Docs for most of my writing needs, because I can access them anywhere. But sorting my docs in Drive is a bit of a pain, because they have to be in SOME kind of order- most recently opened, alphabetical, etc.

But I hate that and want to be able to go back without them changing places. So I name every document in a folder numbers. That's fine and all, except the computer inexplicably decides that a file named "Chapter 20" Should go between "2" and "3". So now I just name them A1-A9, B1-B9, etc. What is wrong with me?

Anyway, back to the ACTUALLY interesting things.

Thanks to the Guest who reviewed. :3

Every little bit helps, so if anyone reading has something to say, feel free to comment.

Chapter Two

The Ruins were in fact, mostly a straight line. It wasn't exactly easy to get lost in this place. As she explored, Frisk nearly stepped on a strange ghost, who resembled a bedsheet. She hopped back quickly.

"Oh!" She yelped, Chara snickering in her head. "I'm s-so sorry."

"...Oh…" The ghost murmured, his voice low and melancholy. He sounded shy and afraid, but kind. "It's okay.. I'm a ghost... so it wouldn't hurt… I guess… But it's still nice of you… To apologize and to not step on me... I guess..." I usually come to the ruins because there's nobody around… but today I met someone nice… Oh… I'll get out of your guys' way…"

"Wait, you guys?" Frisk squeaked, but they were already gone.

Wha- He could see me? Well… I guess he is a ghost… Hey. If we see him again, ask him. I wanna know more! Nobody's ever seen or heard me before. And if we're both ghosts maybe he can tell us why you can hear me and nobody else.

Well, if you say so… Frisk thought, awkwardly scratching the back of her head. This place was really baffling to her.

Maybe you just had a head that was empty enough for me to live in.

Hey!


Put it on put it on put it on put it on put it on put it on! Chara chanted gleefully to Frisk as the small human examined a cute little ribbon.

I'm going to, stop yelling!

Chara whined petulantly, but silenced herself as Frisk finally wove the ribbon in her hair.

That'll make things easier. Chara asserted, seeming pleased Monsters won't attack as hard if you make yourself look cute.

Cute huh?

...Well, your presence doesn't revolt me and disgust me at the very least. Chara sounded a bit icy. Most humans are, frankly repulsive.

I don't think so. Frisk thought. Some are bad, but most aren't. I think everyone deserves a chance to be good.

Chara didn't respond. She was done talking. Frisk shivered. The silence was not a pleasant one. There was a kind of bitterness to it that made the little human scramble silently to change the subject, but her mind was blank

...Idiot. Chara spoke up suddenly. You're too nice. You're gonna get yourself hurt one day. You already got hurt by that flower thing because you gave him a "chance". You honestly should be dead by now…

Now it was Frisk's turn to go quiet. She had no idea what to say to that. She couldn't really think of a time where she was referred to as "too nice" by anyone. It was a rather foreign concept to the little human. After all, being nice was simply the right thing to do, so how could she be "too nice"? Was it a sort of "too much of a good thing" scenario?

Chara snorted, sensing Frisk's utter bewilderment. Wow, you can't even fathom that can you? You had better make some friends who can actually protect you, because if not your whole "nice" thing is gonna get you killed.

We'll see about that. Frisk thought. She felt more determined than ever to prove Chara that she could get along fine by being nice.

She had to admit, having more friends sounded nice though…

...are we friends? Frisk inquired, not totally sure.

Eh. We'll see. Chara sounded dismissive. Frisk sighed, using the branch she had been carrying as a walking stick. All this walking was beginning to wear on her mind, her head lowering a bit. She could go for a nap… Oh. Watch out for that- Frisk neatly tripped on a rock and fell on her face. ...That rock.

Gee, you actually lost an HP for that… You really are a fragile human. Good thing Monsters don't fight physically.

An… "H P"? Frisk, once again felt rather baffled, as she examined the various switches in the room around her, clicking them in the order that the signs instructed.

It's not important. I'm basically saying that hurt you. Chara sounded airy, as if she didn't really care. It's only one. You still have nineteen more before you die.

Does dying… hurt?

Chara went silent, and Frisk could sense a powerful wave of discomfort. She flinched a bit, realizing she had spoke without thinking. Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to-

Don't. Just… Don't. Chara had an aggressive hint to her voice. Don't feel bad or apologize, you just... It's okay, I promise. Just keep going, okay? Frisk lowered her head a bit, guilt once again creeping in. She kept going, eyes on her feet until she bumped into something tall and soft.

Toriel gasped, surprised. "Oh my goodness! My child, how did you get here? Oh dear, it seems you scraped your knee!" She glared, in full mother mode as she knelt to examine the scrape. It wasn't serious, but she placed her paws on it to heal it anyway. "Did someone do this to you?!"

"N-no!" Frisk stuttered, surprised. "I just tripped, that's all… I'm s-sorry I didn't wait…"

"Well… I suppose it is not important." Toriel relaxed, taking Frisk's hand in hers. "After all, you've proven you can traverse the Ruins fine…" The monster woman carefully examined the tiny human's hand, before leading her inside the large house. "Home" was written above the entrance

...This place has changed… Chara mumbled softly, distantly. How strange. I think… I think that I've been gone for a very long time…

Frisk was dreaming. The bed was soft and warm, and it provided comfort and had her asleep in minutes. In her dream, she was standing, surrounded by golden flowers that both seemed calming, yet inexplicably unsettling. There was a soft breeze, and a sky filled with stars and a crescent moon. Someone was sitting in the field ahead. Frisk approached them cautiously, before the figure turned. They had soft, rosy cheeks, and light reddish-brown hair. Their eyes were a startling shade of deep red. The stranger smiled at Frisk, opening their mouth to speak.

"Greetings. I am Chara."

"What?!" Frisk blurted, confused and bewildered. Chara cackled. Her voice was… odd. It had a lilting quality to it that made her sound almost like she was making light of everything.

"I guess I'm in your dreams too." Chara sang, grinning. "I can mess with you even more. Kinda."

"But… I thought d-dreams just kinda happened." Frisk mumbled. She only had the most tenuous grasp of what was going on.

"Well, I'm hardly an expert on dreams and the brain myself, but here's what I think is going on, kinda." Chara grinned, suddenly floating up in the air. To her consternation, Frisk began to float as well. "Dreams are kinda like messages from your subconscious. They can have meaning, or they can just be a ton of images from your day that you missed; subliminal messages, so to speak."

"Uh…" Frisk sort of understood. It was a bit out-there for the young girl. She wasn't even really a teenager yet.

"So what happens if your conscious mind realizes it's dreaming? You lucid dream!" Chara clapped excitedly. "You could do anything! And since I'm somehow part of your mind, I can too!" The space around them warped to a strange black room, filled with glowing blue flowers and white, shining gems all around. "Sort of like imagination, only more "real"."

Frisk squeaked as she was placed on the floor, and fell a bit. "So you're doing th-this?"

"Yep!" Chara grinned, drifting to sit next to her. "You can too, thanks to me being here. I'd be willing to wager that you didn't even realize you were dreaming until I said "hi"."

"Oh." Frisk went quiet for a while, relaxing now that she understood. (But not really.) "So is this what you l-look like?"

Chara's smile wavered and shrank. "Well, it's the last I remember. I don't think I'd look that hot now. Probably just bones and rags… I'd say it's more like… our minds are sort of… merged? I'm just projecting what I remember myself to look like… Kinda. Maybe. I'm guessing."

"Well, guesses are all we have to work with." Frisk giggled, "And they sound like pretty good guesses… What do you think happened? To make us like this?"

Chara's smile was totally gone now, her face deadly serious. "This place is strange, Frisk. You'll be able to… do things over, if you get them wrong. If you're Determined enough, you could reset everything, at least to the point you where fall down." Something about the word "reset" sent a chill down Frisk's spine. "I think… You woke me up? When you fell? And what was left of my Soul and Determination might have just… clung to you." Chara quivered. "...I think you might have… changed me, too. I'm not normally so.. Amicable. It's only been a few hours, and we're already becoming friends." Chara paused, seeing alarm in Frisk's face. "But don't worry! I'm still just me, Chara. I still seem to be... Mostly here." She giggled, a bit nervously.

Frisk hugged her knees. "...That's good." She admitted. "I wouldn't want to make you change. I mean, if a person changes that much, are they still the same person?"

Chara snorted. "...Well, I haven't changed that much, dummy." She said, almost affectionately. "We'll see what happens, okay? I'm sure both of us will be fine! Monsters are really nice. Even if they "attack" you, they're not doing it on purpose, mostly… But for now, I'm gonna let you get some rest. I'm kinda sleepy too…" She paused, crinkling her nose. "...How does a ghost sleep? Guess I'll have to find out."

Frisk just smiled a tiny bit. "Well uh… Goodnight Chara. Thanks for… helping. And being so nice. It'd be a lot scary if I was alone." It was hard to tell because her cheeks were so rosy, but it seemed like the other blushed faintly. Chara huffed and glanced away.

"I'm just helping because I want to know what's going on down here! Things seem a lot… different somehow. We'll sort it out. G'night!" She sounded hasty, and soon, everything melted to darkness.


When Frisk awoke, she found a butterscotch-cinnamon pie slice on a plate on the floor, still fresh and warm. The pleasant, mouthwatering aroma was like a siren song, whispering "Eat me, eat me!" Frisk was more than happy to oblige.

As she ate, she stumbled into the hall, looking around and finding herself gazing into a mirror. A smallish, slightly tan-skinned black-haired child with a dirty bandage on her cheek, a cute red ribbon in her hair and a stick on her shoulder.

With a gentle, almost playful warmth that Frisk never would have expected, Chara chimed in softly.

It's you!


OH SNAP TITLE DROP

YOU ALL KNEW I WOULD DO IT

This particular incarnation of Frisk has a very mild occasional stutter. It gets much worse if she's flustered or afraid.

Thanks to all y'all who watched and favorited, and heck, even just to those of you who read through it. I adore you all and hope you enjoy reading!

Goodnight everybody!