A/N: Wow, this story exploded overnight! more than 700 views and only 4 chapters in. Thank you so much to all of you who have shown your support for this, I really appreciate it.

The elevator's slow speed and lack of annoying music gave you a chance to think about your situation. You searched your mind for your SAVE file, hoping to find a backup somewhere. You couldn't find anything. Was this because you reset too far, or did Chara have something to do with it? The only person you could ask at that moment was humming lightly to himself, substituting the silence. The quiet tune sounded familiar somehow. The elevator doors slowly opened, revealing a narrow walkway.

Monsters bustled in the streets below you, lanterns lighting up every nook and cranny. The architecture of the buildings themselves looked very similar to human designs. Seemed like they learned some things before the war. You followed your goat friend, and were met with the familiar sight of a quaint, little house. Buttercups, tulips, roses, they all grew in the garden, light shining down from a hole in the underground above. Asgore was better suited to be a gardener than a king. "Mom and Dad are in the throne room." Asriel told you. Upon hearing their names, you smiled. You'd finally get to see them as a family.

"Down here." Asriel pointed towards the stairs. You followed him down, each step creaking quietly. Something felt wrong.

You stayed behind Asriel, winding through the corridors and passing another view of New Home. The city seemed peaceful, if not restless. They must have been getting sick of being trapped underground. Upon reaching the final elevator, you saw the entrance to the final corridor. You felt yourself fill with dread. Would it be like last time? You both stepped inside, the floor tiles were as clean as ever.

The overworld's morning light shined in, leaving the room glowing in a faint golden hue. But you felt darkness. Something other than a shiver crawled up your back.

Suddenly, something appeared from one of the column's shadows.

"heya."

"Huh? How did you get here before us, Sans?" Asriel questioned.

"took a shortcut. prince, you should go see your mom and dad. me and our friend here have something to talk about." He spoke in an emotionless voice. Something about that tone scared you senseless.

Asriel didn't quite catch on. "Okay! See you in a moment, Frisk." And with those last words, you were left alone with somebody who could have killed you where you stood.

Instead of slaughtering you, he asked a question. "how many times, kid?"

You told him you didn't understand, but he cut you off.

"nah, dont try to deny it. We know all about it." His eyes rolled back once more, leaving empty black sockets. "You see, Gaster and I have been working on a little something. It tracks timeline anomalies. After seeing you, I checked it to see if my suspicions were right. I hoped they weren't, kid. I really did. But they were."

You told him that if you didn't reset, everything would have ended.

"That's where you're wrong, buddy. That timeline would have ended. None of the others would have been affected. Now, not only have you screwed up ours, but you brought something with you."

Your blood ran cold. Was Chara still inside you? If they were, you didn't feel them writhing.

"The energy signature we found wasn't consistent with the one that's been destroying the others. So there's that." Sans shrugged, almost as if he sensed your thoughts.

You were confused. What else could have come with you? Chara destroyed everything else. "That one seems to just appear at a random point, in every timeline. Even the ones that eventually disappear. But it appeared alongside you."

He shoved his hands in his hoodie. "I don't know what you're planning for us, but if you hurt anyone..."

His left eyesocket flickered blue for a second. "You're gonna have a bad time."

"anyways, when you get some free time, stop by our lab. you've already been there haven't you?"

Upon seeing your shocked expression, he winked at you. "chin up, kid. at least you didn't get dunked on. this time." And with that, he vanished, leaving you alone in the chilling hall.

Involuntarily swallowing the lump in your throat, you carried onwards to meet with Asriel. Following the final corridor, you found the large archway into the throne room. Inside you saw Asriel, speaking to his mother. But where was Asgore?

Upon seeing you, Asriel pointed to you. You strolled through the flowers towards them. "See, mom? They're human!" He exclaimed.

Toriel approached you. "Hello there, my child. Did you get lost?" She asked, concerned.

You told her that you fell down from Mt. Ebott.

"Oh my… Do your parents know that you fell down here?"

You shook your head, somberly. You didn't want to think about them. They didn't care about you. They never did.

Toriel paused for a moment, in deep thought. "You seem so familiar… We'd be happy to take you in while you live down here. Would you like that?"

Before you could answer, you were interrupted by a warcry from the room behind the throne.

"NGAAAAAAH! WHY CAN'T I BEAT YOU?"

"Patience, Undyne. Anger clouds your judgement in combat. Read into my attacks, and strike when the moment is right. Don't just throw everything you have at me and expect me to keel over."

You turned back to Toriel, and told her that you'd love to stay with them. As a family.

"Yeah! We can be siblings!" Asriel shouted happily, as he hugged you gently. You returned it eagerly, wrapping your arms around him. He was so fluffy, it made your heart ache. After a brief moment, you both pulled away. It seemed as though you took Chara's place.

"See? I knew you could do it!"

Asgore and Undyne reentered the throne room, both of them looked sweaty. "Hello, my son. Is this the human?" Asgore spoke in his bass filled voice, you were still surprised how it didn't surpass your hearing range.

Asriel nodded. "Yeah, mom said we're siblings now!"

Asgore raised an eyebrow, and turned to face you. His beard looked extra manly. "Is that so? Well then… Would you like a cup of tea?" He offered.

You never got to take him up on that offer before.

Getting the chance to drink golden flower tea, it filled you with…

Wait.

Where was your determination?