Chara sat on the floor before the crystal platform, waiting. The gems piled on it and disappeared in a beam of light, and Chara couldn't figure out how to get it to activate so she was left waiting. Waiting, and reflecting on how she screwed up everything yet again.

Behind her she heard a bang as the front-door was violently thrown open, and she glanced over her shoulder to see a teenage girl with long hair panting. "Where's." She took another breath, eyes roaming over the house. "Steven?"

Chara gestured towards the platform. "They took him on there, and disappeared."

Her shoulders sagged, panting a little less. "Of course they'd… do that. How bad was it?"

"I don't know. No obviously broken limbs, but seemed concussed. They mentioned his belly gem being cracked, does that mean anything?"

"Oh." Was what she managed, stopping in her tracks with a look of shock settling over her face before muttering. "That's not good."

Chara just sigh and turned back to the platform. Of course it's worse than just a concussion and possibly broken ribs, why did she try to fool herself otherwise.

She seemed to collect herself and continued walking to her, stopping and sitting beside them, or rather more like flopping down on her back beside them. "You're Steven's new friend right? Frisk right?"

So Steven told her about them. How much did he say? Mentally poking over that a bit, she pushed it aside because there wasn't much way to tell, nor did it really matter. She deliberated for a moment whether to let her think that she was Frisk, but quickly made up her mind, deciding that she should get all the blame for her mistakes. "Chara." She mumbled.

She turned her head towards them, one eyebrow raised. "Thought he said Frisk, what'd he actually say then?" She shook her head and held out her hand for them to shake. "Connie."

Chara ignored it. "I'm Chara. You know it's Frisk when I'm not screwing everything up." She also ignored Frisk trying to comfort them.

She frowned and let her arm drop with a sigh, looking up at the ceiling. "Sucks to be meeting like this. Do you want to know what I think a cracked gem means?"

She grunted an affirmative. She really didn't feel like talking much right now. Guess this was how Frisk feels most of the time.

"When Gems get hurt they Poof back into their little gems, the core of their being if you will. So when the gems, the whole thing that holds them together cracks, well I think that might be actual death instead of Poofing." She said with a groan, hands covering her face.

That's just great. She killed him. Guess they are going to have to go back to their last Save. She really hopes Steven doesn't remember this time, he might change his mind on helping them, considering they got him killed.

"Are you okay?"

"What does that matter?" Really, why do people keep asking that, it's Steven that is hurt.

"Because he was worried about you when we ran back up the mountain and all I saw was him getting flung off the edge. He's the type to throw himself in harm's way to help his friends and family and I'm pretty sure he got hurt to help you, so I'm asking how are you doing."

She sighed. "Nothing beyond some possibly sprained knees."

Connie sat up, one arm draped over a propped up leg. "At least you didn't get hurt that much. How much do you know about Steven's past adventures?"

"Nothing." And ain't that a change, someone knowing more about her than her them.

Connie took a deep breath before reciting like as if it was from a book. "Well the Gems are aliens, the ones you've met actually are the nicer ones. Thousands of them were here long ago before humans started recording history, many of them going crazy over time. Steven's fought dozens of them, his life on the line every time and he did it with a smile knowing that he was keeping them from hurting anybody. He's helped a Water Gem that turned the entire ocean into a pillar to try and get back home, that had only tried to drown and kill us, a Gem that single-handedly beat off all the Crystal Gems. They're the ones you know by the way. More Gems with better technology came and abducted him, dragging him into space to try and kill him, but he blew up their ship and made it crash back down into Earth. Then he made a friend out of one of the two who tried killing him, one who's helping to save the planet. Steven's been through a lot of things I never would have imagined before I met him."

"Sounds like he has had quite the adventure." What was really impressive is that he got all that done in one try. He really is quite impressive, he shouldn't waste his time worrying about them.

She shook her head with the slightest of smiles. "You don't sound surprised. But that's not the reason I listed it all. I'm saying he's been so close to dying so many times and he's always come out okay, the worst I've ever seen him hurt with was a black eye." She looked at the portal in front of them and said almost directing to them. "He'll pull through like he always does, no need for anybody to worry."

"Just because he hasn't died yet, doesn't mean he won't. People can be surprisingly fragile when hit from the wrong angle."

She cast a sideways glance towards them with a frown. "You're pessimistic aren't you?"

"Considering everyone who cares about me ends up suffering for it, I guess I might be." Chara said as sarcastically as she could, getting kinda miffed at Connie.

Connie remained silent for a moment before shrugging and looking back at the portal. "When he gets back I'll sic him on you and you'll be just as optimistic as him."

"If Papyrus couldn't do it, I doubt Steven could. Every time I killed him, his dying words were how he believed in me and how I could be a good person. What a load of crap, everyone around me suffers, and there's nothing I can do about it!" Chara finished by pounding the ground beside her, panting from her mini-rant.

Connie stared at them eyes wide, mouth agape in shock. She only managed to breathe out, "What do you mean?"

Chara couldn't keep sitting, and stood up and started pacing. "I've killed them. Killed them all. Mom, Dad, Undyne, Papyrus, Sans, all of them. Dozens of times. They were so intent on having me killed, so why shouldn't I have responded in kind?" Her voice started to become shrill, and she felt hot streaks run down her face. "I'm just a demon after all, bringing suffering is all that I'm good for. Most of them deserved it at least, for all they did to Frisk. They aren't evil like me, but despite Frisk's pleas they killed them hundreds of times. So I struck back, turned them to dust."

She then rounded on Connie, glaring at her with all her might. "See what I mean? Everyone around me suffers. When I try to protect Frisk, I kill everyone. When I try to free all of monsterkind, I get my brother turned into soulless flower, my father declare war on humanity, and my mother exiling herself. And now, when I try save all of monsterkind from the Gems, Steven, someone who just met me, get's his gem cracked!"

Connie stood up, fists hanging loosely at her sides, looking down on them. She didn't say anything for a few seconds, a pitying look on her face. "...I see why Steven decided to be your friend."

"Why!? Why would he try to help me when he knows he will get hurt for it?!" Chara demanded. She just could not understand, if people just stayed away they would not get hurt, so why do they keep insisting on loving her?

Connie sadly smiled. "Because that's how he is, the friend that's there no matter what. The only time he ever stopped trying to be my friend was because he thought that he'd hurt me." Her fists uncurled back into limp hands at her sides, one going up to their shoulder to rest on it. "So he's not going to stop being there for you anytime soon."

Chara had no idea what to say, but felt like she had to sit down. So she did, letting her legs collapse beneath her right there. She distantly noted Connie sitting down beside her. After a moment, she managed to say "No-one ever tried to help us in the Underground. The most they ever did, was just let us pass them by unobstructed."

"To be honest, Steven's pretty unique compared to most people I know."

Another silent moment passed, before Chara asked "Please don't tell anyone I killed everyone. Frisk loves all the monsters despite all they did to them, and they can't live with them happily if the Monsters knew."

"It's all in another timeline right? If Steven trusts you I can do the same." She said with a forced smile, waving it off. "Who's Frisk though, thought you said your name was Chara?"

"Frisk is the kid this body belongs to. The kindest idiot I ever met, forgave all the monsters for what they did, and keeps trying to convince me I'm not a demon. They can't really handle pain or fighting, so I tend to be in charge of that. I took over when Ruby attacked, and they have been letting me have control since then. I really should give control back, they are much better at making people like them." Chara said dejectedly.

She looked at them eyes narrowing slightly. "Are you like a fusion or something?"

"I don't know. After they fell down the hole, I woke up inside their head. I should be dead, so I have no idea why I'm here."

"Ah… What's it like for you two?"

"We share the body, both feeling the same things. Though it's possible to distance ourselves from the senses when we aren't in control, which is good for Frisk, they can't handle pain like me."

"Sounds a little like me and Steven." She said propping her chin on her hands.

"How so?" Chara asked confused. She's fairly certain they don't share a body.

"Fusing is when a Gem… well fuses with another person. It kinda combines the two minds together but doesn't at the same time. Sounds like what you and Frisk are dealing with." She explained.

"Our minds aren't fused though. We just share the body, we can talk mentally and feel each other's feelings, but that's it."

She shrugged. "It's hard to describe. Do you have any idea where they took him too?"

Chara shrugged "No idea. You know more about them than me."

"I don't have a clue either then." She sighed. "I wonder if he can't heal himself with his spit or something."

"What?"

"Oh uh I used to wear glasses." She said, pointing at her eyes. "He fixed my eyesight by accident when I got some of his backwash. I was just wondering if he couldn't do it to himself."

"If he can, I guess that would explain how he has survived all those adventures. I can only heal myself with Monster Food, which I have to take time to eat. Didn't seem to work on him though, the Butts Pie always healed me up all the way but it didn't even fix his concussion."

"Well he's part Gem so maybe that's why it helps you and not him… worse comes to worst my Mom is a doctor and she could patch him back up. Probably."

"If she can't, I can just reset. I'd rather not though, would have to explain things to him again. Assuming he doesn't remember I got him killed."

She turned her head towards them, frowning. "He said you can only do that when you die."

"Yeah? So what?"

Connie looked back to the platform. "He can forgive you for getting him killed, probably won't even blame you for a second. Something he won't forgive you for is killing yourself."

"Well tough nuts, his life is worth more than mine, especially when I always come back."

"He still wouldn't forgive you, regardless if you can keep coming back. But I doubt we'd know if you did. I'm just letting you know anyways."

"He remembered last time somehow, after I broke that crystal heart and apparently reality too. And if that makes him hate me, at least he won't get hurt."

Once more she looked back at them. "He wouldn't hate you, he doesn't hate anybody. He'd be disappointed and what do you mean he remembers?"

Chara sighed. Seriously, if people just stayed away they wouldn't suffer. "He said some stupid stuff that for a moment tricked me and filled me with DETERMINATION, causing a save-point in the bubble room. I freaked out, cause that meant it I couldn't undo my fighting Garnet, so I thought I had to solve the Gem Threat before they ruined everything again. Ended off in a stand-off atop the Crystal Heart, and when Pearl attacked me I struck the heart. Then space seemed to break, and next thing I knew I was dead. When I reseted, it turned out that Steven somehow remembered the whole thing." And saw some of our memories, what the heck was with that?

"Oh. Okay."

Suddenly, a ringing noise filled the air, surprising them both. Chara quickly realized it was their phone, and drew it out. It was Mom. She let Frisk take over and they answered it. As soon as they hit accept Toriel's voice came through. "Are you alright my child? You disappeared so suddenly, and no-one knows where you are."

"Something important, need to handle it." Frisk replied softly. "Haven't changed mind. See you later."

"Oh, alright dearie." She said sadly. "Just make sure to call if you need anything, we are all willing to help you however you need."

"Alright. Love you, Mom."

"Love you too."

And with that, they hung up, and stared at their phone for a few moments, unsure if they will really return like they promised, or if they will end up giving up their life to Ruby. Because their opinion on that hasn't changed, their family's happiness is worth more than their own.

"Your mom?"

"Yeah." Chara said, taking control again since Frisk doesn't like talking much. "The second kindest Monster I know, took me in back when I was alive, and tried to do the same for Frisk when they fell."

Connie nodded, not looking at them. "So where are you and your family from? I think I'd know if a bunch of Monsters lived nearby."

"The Underground, an expansive underground cave system that they have been trapped in since they were magically sealed there thousands of years ago."

"Family still down there?"

"Not since about…" She paused to check the time on her phone. "7 hours ago when The Barrier was broken. Last thing I knew, was that they were waiting for some of the local authorities to arrive so they could figure something out so the immigration of Monsters won't terribly upset the economy or something like that. But then the Gems came, and I had to deal with them."

"Wonder why it's not on the news then… good they got out. Do they know anything about the Gems?"

"I don't think they do. I never heard of them before, and I stopped them before they met the Monster's this time."

Before Connie could reply the pad in front of them glowed the same bright blue light it had when the Gems had disappeared, dissipating to reveal said Gems again. With Steven clutched tightly in a crying Pearl's arms, her face nothing but a frown and dried up tears, going down to soak Steven's hair. Amethyst on the side had her fists clenched, teeth grinding with her own dried tears, already stomping down from the platform. Ruby was a cross between the two, still crying but looking furious.

Connie bolted upright, more emotional in her voice now that she was up close to Steven.. "Is Steven okay!?"

Pearl looked at them as if just realizing they were there. Ruby was the one who spoke though, tears flowing freely from her eyes, one hand going up to wipe them away. "Rose's Fountain didn't fucking work, his gem's still cracked. It's supposed to heal everything and it didn't heal fucking Steven!" She punctuated with a stomp.

Amethyst brushed past the two of them without a word, sparing only a brief glare at them but otherwise saying nothing. Pearl stayed still on the platform, still clutching Steven to her chest, tucking his head into her shoulder. Ruby dropped to the ground, hands angrily tugging at her hair while crying. "What are we supposed to do!? Rose's Fountain didn't do anything to help him and that's the only thing that can heal Gems!"

Connie walked closer to the portal and towards Steven, stopping only a foot away from them, tears beginning to gather now that she could see Steven for herself. "We take him to the hospital, where my Mom works. He's half-human so maybe some medicine will help him."

Pearl snapped her head towards Connie, the corner of her mouth twitching, then looked back down at Steven still cradled in her arms. "T-t-that could work right? Right?" She asked Ruby with a faltering smile, who didn't raise her gaze from the floor she was staring down at, with her fists clenched as hard as she can. Pearl didn't seem to notice but looked back up to Connie, tears still falling from her eyes.. "S-she can help Steven r-right?"

Connie nodded and pulled out her phone, dialing a series of buttons. "Does Greg know?" Pearl shook her head and Connie turned to them. "Do you know who Greg is?"

"No." Chara said, shaking her head. She really needed to learn more about Steven, it feels really weird to not know something about someone.

"Well Greg is Steve-" She paused bringing the phone closer to her ear. "Mom, Steven needs an ambulance… No I'm fine… he has at least a concussion…. I'm going to go find Mr. Universe right now… I will." With that Connie hung up on the phone and turned back to them. "Greg is Steven's dad, big guy, balding-head, sunburns all over him. We need to go find him and tell him Steven's hurt okay?" She said, hand having pointed at each part of herself in turn.

Chara nodded, ready to do whatever was needed. Connie wheeled around and ran back out at full-speed with them right behind to go find Greg.

(AN: Sorry if this one don't seem as well as the others, going through some family troubles. Be sure to leave a review and etc.)