Chapter 1

First Timeline: Mistakes Are Made

Chara woke with a start as she bolted to sit up. The moment she did, a groan escaped her lips and the twelve year old fell back from the sore-like pain. Why did she do that again? Wait...Frisk. With a grunt, the girl practically forced herself to sit up, biting the inside of her cheek against the pain. Breath, Chara, breath. It took a moment to subside, and only then could she open her eyes and glance around for her sister.

Luckily, her sister wasn't hurt in the slightest. All Chara had to do was glance to the right to find Frisk laying at her side. A quick glance over revealed that there was no blood or marks to say Frisk wasn't even scratched. A sigh left Chara's lungs, and then the girl moved to shake her sister gently. What had happened? Chara couldn't think of what could have knocked the-oh. That was right, they had fallen into Mt. Ebott. A mountain with the rumor of having a curse. Wait, how far had they fallen?!

Chara's gaze darted up, and the sight took her breath away. Even when she couldn't properly judge distances, she knew that was a llloooonnnggg way down to fall and survive. Much less without an injury... That made it all the more important to check Frisk. Focus, Chara, focus. First would be to check Frisk over, second, figure out what where they were, third...well...

A groan changed her train of thought towards her nine year old sister.

"Frisk?" The girl jumped as her voice cracked. Chara cleared her throat and continued. "Can you hear me, sis?" Keep calm, Chara, Frisk wouldn't answer immediately. The kid was just waking up. After such a fall, Chara wouldn't be surprised if it took a moment either, considering how sore she herself had been when she had woken up. But still with no answer, Chara's panic grew.

Until Frisk slowly gave her a thumbs up, at last. Chara deflated in relief at the reassuring action. Frisk would be fine, they would both be fine.

"I'll be back, then, Frisk. I'm staying in the area, but I want to check around. Take as long as you need to recover." Chara's voice couldn't cover a degree of the worry the girl now felt. Now happened upon the second thing on her mental checklist. An attempt to calm herself. Check the area and see if anything threatened them. With a shaky sigh, the twelve year old pushed herself off the ground and actually took a good look around.

Chara noted they had landed on a bed of flowers. The yellow flowers they were on now seemed unnaturally bright in this dark room. Coincidentally, It frightened her to be in such a pitch black room. The dark had always just felt so...final, to her. She had always had a night light, even if she was embarrassed to have one at her age. Though, being afraid to move wasn't going to help her solve their dilemma...

Maybe this was all a dream? A really vivid dream, but a dream none the less? Chara lifted and pinched her arm and yelped. This...wasn't a dream then.

"C-Chara?" A small, quiet voice called out, one that sounded like it rarely sees use. Chara's head whipped back towards Frisk, worry in her gaze.

"I-I'm here Frisk, d-don't worry!" Chara was quick to reply, kneeling back by her sister's side as Frisk sat up.

"Hey, w-why don't you get up and we can f-find somewhere better for you to lie down." The girl quickly asked, failing in her attempt to hide her scared stutter. Chara helped Frisk sit up, then stood up herself. She gripped her sisters hand and pulled Frisk up. They didn't stop holding hands.

The two took off into the darkness, Chara taking the lead and clutching her sister's hand protectively. Frisk tapped Chara's wrist to get her attention before gesturing to her sister about asking where they were.

"I'm...I'm not s-sure, but It can't be w-worse than the school at night. Right?" Chara took a deep breath, determined not to show her fear to her already frightened sister. She needed to be the older sister. When Frisk didn't gesture her thoughts, Chara let it drop and continued going forward.

They walked through a dark doorway, from what she could see, and suddenly everything brightened. Chara winced and Frisk turned away to let her eyes adjust. It took a moment, but Chara's eyes adjusted and she slowly opened her eyes to glance around. A bright but comforting purple decorated the walls, ceiling, and floor, and two sets of grand staircases sat in front and wound around to the higher floor above. Red leaves decorated the floor between the bottom step of both staircases.

Biting the inside of her cheek, Chara's eyes darted around. The girl reminded herself that at least they could see. Suddenly, Frisk darted forward and dragged Chara with her. The nine year old giggled as she plunged into the leaves. They crinkled warmly to the child's ears. Chara attempted to recover as she lay there in the leaves. The fuzzy, warm sensation Chara had seemed to impede that recover.

Then Frisk suddenly filled her vision with an expression of worry. Her hands reached out and shaked Chara. The girl tensed and pushed Frisk away on instinct, leaving the nine year old to gasp in surprise as she landed on her butt. Chara realized what she had done and quickly sat up. Her brown (almost red) eyes were extremely apologetic.

"Frisk, I am so sorry!" The girl's voice didn't stutter, and she was quick to stand and offer a hand to help her sister up. Frisk watched in fascination before taking the offer and jumping up with her usual grin. Chara raised an eyebrow questioningly, and Frisk answered with a hug. As if saying she knew it was an accident and that Frisk forgave her.

It surprised Chara, but she smiled and hugged the kid back. When Frisk acted like she should, a kid her age, it adored Chara. Frisk's childish innocence was easily one of her favorite things.

"Thanks Frisk, it's good to know you still forgive me. Now come on, let's go see if we can find anyone. This place looks like someone lives here." With her sister's innocence filling her with determination, Chara took the lead in going up the steps. Frisk, who had let go of her sister, followed behind with complete confidence in her sibling.

A pair of voices from beyond the doorway made both girls freeze in their tracks. Chara held an arm out and closed her arms, hoping it would help her discern any possible clues from the voices.

"We can't...To-...lea..."

"Just lo...okay?" The voices were near, and Chara couldn't decide whether to seem friendly or they hide for the moment. Immediately, her course of action became clear. With lightning in her step, she turned and grabbed Frisk's hand, yanked the girl down the stairs, and gestured for her to lay hidden in the leaves.

Frisk stared at Chara in confusion, unknowingly frustrating the older sibling as the voices became too close for her liking.

"Frisk, please," Chara whisper screamed in her frustration. "Hide in the leaves, please." Realization dawned upon the younger girl, but ended up confusing the child even further. They went looking for help, but now hiding? Chara's attempts to emphasize her point died as a voice from above floated down to them.

"Wait, are those humans?" A deeper, obviously male voice to Chara's ears, asked. Her head snapped up and her hand snapped out in front of Frisk protectively. She had expected humans, the girl couldn't have expected this. Eyes wide with fear and her breath taken away, all she could do was watch as the two monsters examined them and started to come down cautiously.

They both looked like goats on two legs, that was Chara's immediate observation, which was a lot in her shocked state. One was humongous, it's horns were huge, it's body was huge, it's mustache was huge. And it intimidated Chara, who would have told you monsters don't exist. The other one was more lithe, seemed more contained, and while not near as intimidating, still made Chara anxious. What clued Chara in that they were harmless was the couples' gentle and warm expressions that formed after the goats seemed to realize something. This and the whimper of her sister snapped Chara out of it, and the girl's face set into am expression of determination as she moved to stand defensively in front of the younger girl. The two goats shared a look before the smaller one stepped forward, but not extremely close, and kneeled so she was around their height.

"Do not be afraid, little ones." Her voice was comforting and gentle, her face kind, and despite her fear; Chara was already feeling herself relax in the female monster's presence. "My name is Toriel, and my husband Asgore is behind me. What are your names?"

Chara was split on what she wanted to do. In the moment of indecision, though, a smaller voice spoke up from behind her.

"Frisk a-and Chara..." Frisk pipped up, moving so she was behind Chara's arm, but closer to the goat woman.

"F-Frisk, what are y-you doing?!" Chara muttered in anger, eyes fearfully darting between the goat woman and Frisk. Frisk didn't say anything, knowing the situation wasn't a deadly one. This sentiment was confirmed when a soft chuckle sounded from both Asgore and Toriel. Then Asgore came and kneeled next to Toriel.

"Are you two alright? How did you both come in?" Asgore's voice rumbled soothingly, Chara rather liked it.

"Well, we...fell, from a h-hole. We're f-fine..." Chara reluctantly answered, biting her lip and glancing away from the monsters. She didn't notice Frisk move from behind her and go up to Toriel and Asgore.

The kid examined them for a moment before grinning and waving. Chara took notice and flipped out as she darted over to try and drag Frisk back. Despite being desperate, Frisk stood her ground, trying to prove to Chara that they weren't going to get hurt. Eventually Chara wore herself out, and Frisk giggled at the antics of her sister.

"My, you two are endearing to watch." Toriel giggled as well, and Asgore was smiling warmly. Her expression changed to worry after a moment, though. "You two must be exhausted. Why don't you come with us?"

"Are you going to h-hurt us?" Chara asked in rapid response, eyeing Toriel with distrust. The monster became quickly disgusted with the idea and shook her head.

"I promise you, child, no harm will come to you and your friend." Chara pondered the offer for a moment, glancing back towards Frisk. Her sister did need shelter, and she was rather fond of Asgore and Toriel so far. Denying Frisk of her safety was too much for even conflicted Chara to do. Besides, Chara respected Frisk's judgement, and Frisk really trusted them, so why not?

"S-sure, sounds n-nice."