Okay, something that you have to realize. even when i have no problem of writing an au-divergance fic with older!charisk, there'll be NO romance in this story. not only do i suck at it i do not think frisk and chara will ever be ready for a romantic relationship, especially after everything they had through. also, frisk is so innocence in this regard i'm not going to ruin the last thing they can act like a child with.

so no romantic charisk, sorry guys.

THANK YOU EVERYONE WHO HAD READ, REVIEWED, FAVORITED, AND FOLLOWED MY STORY! I LOVE YOU ALL!

ENJOY ^^

warning: fluff, memories, robbery, murder, abandoment-issues

thanks a bunch for everything, you guys.

Why You Climb a Mountain

*So what were you dreaming about during that week? You were bothered by something and I don't think it was that freak.

It was a few days after the dream-dive and Frisk was walking home from school, having being cleared out by Toriel and Alphys to go back. At first, one member of the family was to accompany them but the child managed to convince their family to let them walk to school and back by themselves.

Chara always seemed to forget that Frisk managed to progress through the Underground not only because of their ability of LOAD but also with the help of their ability to get through to people using only words. It was as if Frisk knew exactly what to say to get the wanted reaction.

Too bad that some people were too thick-headed to listen, Chara thought glumly as they remembered their many deaths and the terrorist attacks alongside the politicians.

Yeah, adults sure like to believe they were right about everything…

Chara? They turned to look at their partner, who had stopped walking by a park. Chara realized they must have been so far lost into their thoughts to listen to what the kid was saying to them.

*Yeah?

Do you want to swing by the swings? Frisk smiled, the heavy bags under their eyes and the creases around their mouth giving the impression of a much older face other than a nine year old. The ghost nodded, not bothering to ask about informing Toriel.

Frisk needed a break and they sure as hell weren't going to stop them. The last two weeks had been hectic as hell and borderline apocalyptic.

You're exaggerating, Frisk sighed at their mental image, making their way to the swing and sitting on it, legs easily touching the ground. Huh… I'm taller than I remember…

Chara smirked. *You're taller than the comedian now.

Frisk grinned weakly back, remembering how the skeleton once looked them over and pronounced himself the shortest and so the one allowed to laze around. Papyrus was furious and took to stalking his brother to force him to work, but as anything with the skeleton goes, it was a useless attempt.

The two sniggered over the memory, eyes sparkling for the first time in days.

So… Frisk said after a long comfortable silence. Red pupils looked up in confusion and the kid smiled softly. You asked me about my pre-underground life.

*Oh… Chara blinked and looked away, *You don't have to if you don't want to…

Small fists clenched around the swing's chains. It's… probably best if I do… maybe it's time for us to spill everything. To start anew. Maybe… maybe I'll be able to become well enough to drive that demon away…

*Frisk… Chara stood in front of the child, crouching so they would be at the same eye-level and cupped Frisk's still chubby cheeks. That had made them smile warmly, *You don't have to.

I want to. Frisk returned the gesture, nuzzling into the palms. I don't want to hide things from you anymore. I never wanted to remember it but then I had that dream about Asriel night after night and I had realized that… I wasn't over it. And I can't let it be another weakness to exploit. I'm tired of being afraid. I'm tired of being helpless. I just want to have a happy life without worrying about what will happen the next hour.

*Frisk… Brown slanted eyes opened, hard with determination and the ghost sighed, giving the kid the victory this time and opting to sit on the other swing, knowing fully well that they can't move it nor truly sit on it, but they wanted to give Frisk the illusion of a real conversation and so waited for the tale to begin.

The swing creaked as Frisk swung their legs a bit, head hung low and long hair curtaining the face. Chara looked up to the reddening skies, relishing at the peaceful scene.

I can remember when I was with my birth family. Chara jolted at the sudden thought and turned to look at the child, who wasn't looking at them, but to the skies, a longing in their eyes.

I was… happy. I can still recall the dinners my daddy made and the cakes mommy would sneak to me when he wasn't looking. They were that young couple that laughed at everything and seemed to be happy no matter what happened.

I loved them and they loved me. Everything was perfect.

But then… our house got robbed.

Chara stiffened, knowing where this was going. Hatred begun to bubble inside of them as they inspected Frisk's glistening eyes. Damn greedy humans…

I don't really remember what had happened. Every time I try to recall what had happened I seem to be blocked by something. But I know that they had protected me from the robbers.

*Were you rich? That's why you got targeted?

Frisk shook their head. We had enough to get by and to treat ourselves to a cake once a week. So there wasn't really anything to steal. But I learned later that someone falsely tipped those robbers that our family was hiding something.

Of course. Chara felt their rage rise and shook their head, focusing on the kid. *Why do that? From what I heard, your parents were perfect. Frisk stiffened and their lower lip trembled as they fought back tears.

No one knew. Some of the neighbors said that it was a jealous ex-boyfriend or something.

Chara growled softly. Trust humans to ruin every single good thing in this world. They sighed and reached through their link to warm Frisk's SOUL. The kid looked at them in surprise before smiling gratefully and swinging a bit.

I guess you can imagine what happened next. The robbers shot daddy and my mommy had apparently ran to the street, pushing me into a bush just as she got shot herself.

The screams were so loud the next block should have heard, but no one came...

Chara flinched.

*Come on, Frisk! There should be someone close by. You're not going to survive long, we need help!

"It's... okay... no one would come... it's not like I can die for certain anyways..." A broken laugh broke out of cracked lips and knees buckled, sending Frisk toppling forward. They landed on their face, falling limp and barely registering the boiling ground burning their exposed flesh nor the stench of burned skin filling their nostrils.

Chara crouched before them, chest heaving in panic despite the ghost not needing to breathe. *I don't care! I saw some monsters ahead of us. Call for help! PLEASE!

Silence...

*Frisk?

Frisk didn't answer, the world swirling into the void after a moment.

LOAD

...

...

*So that's why you rarely called for help in the Underground even when it would have helped us… Frisk nodded, face filled with shame. Chara huffed. *Not your fault, wimpy.

Thanks.

After an awkward moment, Frisk coughed. Anyways, I was only found the next morning by the police as they investigated the whole situation. I was found by one of the dogs… Here a smile blossomed on the kid's face and Chara sniggered, so that's the origin of Frisk's love for dogs.

Well, good thing Chara loved dogs too.

*So that's where the urge to pet every fluffy dog came from? Frisk turned bright red but beamed back, kicking up their legs childishly.

Well, that dog was really fluffy, and so soft. The police officer had to yank me away from the puppy… Frisk pouted, then sobered. After that, I went to foster care.

*No relatives?

…

*Frisk?

They didn't want me… Frisk bit their lip. Chara's fists clenched tighter.

*But why? Other than being spineless and a crybaby, you are tolerable enough as a child.

Thanks Chara. Frisk said sarcastically. I wish everyone had the same opinion as you.

Chara shrugged. *So why?

I don't know. They never said. Though the children at the orphanage said that it was because I wasn't really my parents' child.

Chara groaned. *Really?

Frisk shrugged. Well, I never thought too much of it since I look like a copy of my daddy and I have my mommy's eyes and hair so I knew that I was theirs for sure. Besides, I didn't care at the time. I just wanted my mommy and daddy back.

...I was being difficult at the orphanage. I was mean to the children who tried to befriend me, I snapped at the faculty and I cried at every possible moment.

No one wanted to adopt me and I understood them. I didn't want to get adopted as well. I wanted my parents and no one else.

I was alone and I was fine with it.

*Were you? Frisk flinched and tightened their hold on the chains. Chara rolled their eyes, expecting this reaction. *You're allowed to be selfish, you know. And you had just lost your parents, you were bound to be prissy about it.

Mom always wonders where I got my vocabulary from… Frisk chuckled weakly, earning a smirk from their partner.

*Anytime, wimpy. So you ran away from the orphanage when you fell? Frisk shook their head.

They wanted to make me feel like a normal kid, so I was drafted between fosters homes around for a year until I stayed in the orphanage permanently. Most of the families were really nice, but I was feeling like I was betraying my parents so I refused to stay for more than a month at the time. Then I sometimes got stuck with those that only agreed for the extra money.

The ghost bit on a curse and took a deep breath. *Did they do anything to you?

Frisk didn't answer.

*Frisk?

I deserved it. Chara's chest turned to ice and they stood up, startling Frisk. Chara?

The ghost grabbed Frisk's face and squeezed the cheeks, forcing the kid's lips to pucker like a duck. Brown eyes blinked, looking at them in confusion.

Chara? Can you let me go? I don't like being a duck in public… Chara's look turned to a glare and Frisk quieted down, eyes still confused.

*Frisk. You don't deserve being hurt in any way. Do you understand? Their voice was heavy with anger but was still gentle enough to let their partner that they weren't angry at them. Frisk gawked at them, tears building in their eyes.

*Do you understand? Chara repeated themselves, glaring at Frisk. The child nodded after a moment and the ghost smiled, pleased. *Good. Next time I hear you saying you deserve it, I would punch you in the face.

Frisk eyed them dubiously. No, you won't.

*I will!

Will not!

*Will do!

Will not!

*Will not.

Will do! Chara burst out laughing and Frisk soon followed, realizing that they had been beat. Okay, okay, please stop. Chara smirked and ruffled the long hair, twirling it between their fingers, noticing how it was already reaching Frisk's back.

*Ever thought of cutting it? It's getting quite long…

Well, I like it long. Frisk smiled sheepishly. Chara blinked and shrugged, petting the head one last time.

*Do you… want to continue? The child tensed but sighed and nodded.

But… can you play with my hair while I continue? I prefer having you close… they nodded and stood behind the kid, brushing their fingers through the brown strands. Frisk took a deep breath and leaned into their fingers.

The orphanage was clueless on how to help me and the funds it was getting from the government were depleting quickly. So one day, one of the kids vanished.

Chara's fingers stilled for a moment before continuing.

We all thought he finally got adopted. But when the news of his body being lifted off of the river bank, we knew something was going on.

*It wasn't an accident.

We thought that it was, naïve kids were. But than a second orphan disappeared, a troublesome girl who kept salting the food too much. By then we had realized, they were getting rid of those not destined to be adopted.

I knew I was next since I was one of the most problematic children as well. I was scared, tried to actually be nice and did everything I could to make certain that they won't kill me or worse.

But a month later I fell asleep in my bed and woke up on a bench in a completely different city.

The ghost stiffened. Frisk looked up and smiled. It's okay, I got to meet you guys, so I'm not angry.

Chara wasn't convinced but remained silent. *They abandoned you in this city?

At the bench at the entrance, yes. They left me a plastic bag with water bottle and several coins for last meal, I guess. I knew that they didn't except me to survive and so I decided to just venture into the city, hoping that the street people would be hospitable. I was kind of going on instinct at this point since everything was just a blur.

But I can remember where everything cleared up. I was just passing by this park actually when I heard some children playing and decided to hide, hoping to find an opportunity to talk to them since I wanted to find out what was this place.

They played truth and dare and one of the children was dared to climb Mt. Ebott. The child was so distrust, panicking because no one returns from the mountain. That it was filled with monsters.

I was curious and interrupted them, asking them about the rumor.

They giggled sadly. They actually screamed like babies and huddled behind the dared kid. He looked at me and explained the legend that those who climb Mt. Ebott will disappear.

And I, who didn't have anything left, wanted to see if it was true.

*So you climbed out of curiosity? Frisk nodded.

Pretty childish, no? I didn't even know there was a hole until I stepped into it.

…

And that's my story. Frisk finished lamely after a moment of silence, twirling their fingers. Pretty boring, huh? Nothing like a prince carrying me to a field of golden flowers.

*And getting killed over it, don't forget, Chara pointed out helpfully and got a pout as a reply. They chuckled and finished the braid, bending to envelope Frisk in a warm embrace, earning a squeak in return. *I'm sorry you had to deal with those terrible humans.

You make it sound like I was fighting a war against them or that I was tortured by them, Frisk rolled their eyes, Most of the people I met were really nice or just sad. The mean families were rare and lasted for a very short while.

*And your orphanage?

Couldn't support us. It's hard to keep being nice when you don't have anything. I know that first hand.

*You're too nice for your own good. Frisk giggled and flicked their companion's nose. Chara grimaced and swatted Frisk's hand, standing back and spreading their arms cheekily. *Ready to go home?

Frisk nodded, still smiling as they jumped from the swing and ran to the exit of the park, stopping and swirling around, eyes challenging. First home gets to ask for one thing from the loser?

Chara grinned evilly and cracked their knuckles. *Bring it on, partner.

They set off, Frisk laughing all the way and Chara trailing behind, knowing they are much faster but letting the kid win.

It was nice, they smiled blissfully.

Frisk's laugh echoed in their ears and they hurried along, promising themselves that they would find a way to protect Frisk from that freak. That they would find a way to give Frisk the happy ending they deserved.

*I won't let anyone destroy what you have been working so hard to achieve.

They were filled with Determination.

mommy - biological mother. mom- toriel

And this marks the end of the sixteenth installment. if you have any criticism or anything to add, i would be happy to hear them.

please read and review so i could do better or be happy that people enjoy my writings ^^

p.s. for those who didn't understand.

'Something written' - Frisk's written words.

Something in italics - is frisk talking to chara in their head.

*something in italics - is chara talking.

something in bold - flashback