The sweet scent of sugary pastry and spices wafted up in my face due to the strong wind, the moistness at least preventing my eyes from watering in the cold. I looked down at the handwritten note that had been lovingly written and pressed into my palm with the express purpose of handing to the recipient of her kindness.

'Dearest Glados,

I would like to thank you for your mercy and love that you have shown to my child whilst under your care.

They are safely at home now,

however they feel too poorly to visit you, which is why I have sent

darling Chell with a Cinnamon and Butterscotch pie for you to enjoy.

Lots of Love,

Toriel

XXX'

I smiled, then grimaced as the climb of the mountain took a turn for the worst. Indeed, I had taken the long route round to the Underground, but it was an interesting journey up and a pleasant break from everyone. It seemed that all the monsters wished to invite all the humans to talk. Fortunately, the majority were friendly, but some obviously felt sour about the so called 'invasion situation'. And I realised humans were insanely talkative, but I was not yet ready to share my own voice. I felt glad for my bakery-spurred mission.

Eventually, I reached the void. Despite bending over and peering down I could not see the bottom, where I was promised there would be a patch of golden flowers to break my fall. Although I had my Long-Fall Boots on, my apprehension was building, so I adjusted my grip on the pie so that it was firm, and my thumbs were pressing down on the pastry to prevent it from flying away. I kicked a few pebbles down as I shuffled closer to the edge, then blindly leapt.

The brief journey downward was a pleasant one at least, but as I landed a girly shriek rang out. Initially I thought it was my own scream that I involuntarily released, but as I took a few steps back I saw a crushed and twitching flower.

"Ugh, first Her, now you. Things can never be wonderful..."

Ignoring his woeful and bitter complaints, I headed into the Ruins.

Meanwhile...

"You're in a female body now, I'll take a note of that for when testing begins. You get ready to leave the Enrichment Centre, whilst I return the 'Determination' and the various other items from Alphys. By myself. I doubt robbing her has helped her severe anxiety. You monster."

Chara pulled a face as feeling came back over her, thousands of pins and needles shivering over her new body. A sensation that lasted longer than she had hoped. The jumpsuit she was wearing she also realised was damp with stale sweat, and so all of her skin was uncomfortably tacky. With her eyes closed, Chara tried to feel around the room for a sink, tap or anything that she could use to wash herself and get a drink from. Eventually, she resorted to pulling apart her eyelids and scraping the years worth of sleep out, the task aided by the blinding lights, as the tears washed out the rest.

Chara staggered back, flicking her squinted gaze about her. Her new form was gripped with a dull ache, and so stumbling to the orange portal she pressed her hand firmly on the glass.

Her physique wasn't everything she had desired. Short in stature, skinny and grey, hair mousier than ever. Being a girl wasn't an issue, after all gender doesn't matter if one intends to murder everyone. There wouldn't be anyone left to judge anyway. She retreated from the portal, grinning from ear to ear.

"Go on... The test chambers are just beyond the portal." GLaDOS gently encouraged.

The revitalised muscles pulled into a frown, and she glowered at the camera before her.

"This is no time for resistance, I gave you this body, and it is honestly the least you could do is solve a couple of hundred tests. It's been so long." She stated rather than whined.

"I did...this. You...can't boss...me around!" Chara choked out after a brief coughing fit. Her tongue felt like lead, and as though her organs were going to cave into themselves, and so she made a note not to speak until she'd had a drink of some sort.

"NEUROTOXIN ONLINE"

"Well, technically, I did this for you. I got the most fresh human out of cryogenic storage. You have a body. Which I can take away with great ease, so I'd suggest you go through the portal to the test chambers. And just think: At the end, maybe I'll let you have a slice of delicious cake."

"NEUROTOXIN ON STAND BY"

She stepped through the portal, and into the first test chamber, scowling at the large red button before her. She wondered what the 'testing' would be like: testing her fighting skills, testing her determination, testing her wits? Fear washed over her as she watched the cube fall out of it's storage.

Oh God, puzzles. It's identical to being trapped with a psychotic Papyrus.
Chara was rooted in disbelief, cursing herself for not fully exploring this new world properly.

There was seven minutes of long silence before the feed came back on.

"Oh wait, pie. You can have a slice of pie. But only if you do successfully, and currently you are not doing successfully. Moron."