It's close to Halloween and you've made a huge ouchie a few days beforehand.

You had to take Frisk to the city to pick out a costume, meaning you had to take almost all of your Monster friends. All of them. To the city that no Monster had gone to yet and it was extremely stressful.

Was this how teachers felt when they took kids on a field trip?

Literally, the moment all of you stepped through the automatic doors, everyone scattered. Except Sans, who just walked to the closest chair and flopped himself down. It wasn't too hard to find each Monster. A rather large crowd had surrounded each of them as they excitedly searched the stores. What was a struggle was squeezing through just to get to one of your friends.

There were times where a person angrily shoved you back, singled you out for cutting in line, and sadly shouted in your face.

It was a relief that no one really recognized you from T.V. though it was a tad hurtful that your personal input didn't affect anyone like you had hoped.

The first Monster you found was Undyne, who had the biggest crowd. People were asking her questions about Monsters and what were the plans for the future. She ignored most questions, too busy picking people out in the crown to hop onto the bench she was lifting with ease. When she noticed you trying to get through the crowd, she simply waltzed forward, lifted you up with one hand, and tossed you ontop the pile of people above her.

"U-Undyne! We have to go find everyone else!"

It took a while, but with the coaxing from yourself and a mall cop, the bench was placed back where she had ripped it from the floor, using a spear to drive the bolts back through the legs and the tile. The crowd boo'ed in disappointment and finally dispersed. You apologised to the mall cop and he stomped away, mumbling about 'it's going to be one of THOSE days.'

Alphys was easy. She had found the perfect corner of the mall where the books store and game store was located. And she was actually calmly stuttering with some others about their hobbies and favored shows. You enjoyed the moment, watching on like a proud parent. However, Undyne bristled in jealousy. Which was cute, watching her fines flare out straight. What wasn't cute was how she dunked Alphys in a garbage bin (so no one else could see her cute girlfriend) and walk away with it in her arms. Alphys seemed to be too flustered to not care. But as they passed, you can hear her chanting in the depths of the bin on the situation being like their confessions.

Strange.

Dear sweet Papyrus had somehow wrangled up a protest on the lack of italian cuisine. Though it seemed he was no longer a part of it, as he was on the side lines posing for pictures for anyone who asked. With how much flailing he was doing with his arms, you assumed he was re-telling his story of heroic deeds.

You convinced the three to stay in the food courts while you looked for Frisk. Eventually you would have to drag Sans there too.

Frisk had stayed with the main objective, bless this dear soul.

Though searching for a costume was much much harder. The other present soul, Chara, didn't exactly share all the same tastes as Frisk, or was just being a brat. The two would pop in and out of existence, disagreeing with the others tastes causing you and Flowey to groan in annoyance. You had finally stepped in to help, snatching down a Zorro outfit and they both agreed. Buying the costume (before they can change their mind), and dragged them to the food court.

Lucky for you, Sans had taken himself there, the crowds were dispersed, and it seemed everyone had bought themselves food.

Frisk showed off their outfit and received approval from everyone. They put on the hat and mask, waggling their brows in a suggestive manner. Who the hell taught this kid to flirt? A nudging caught your attention, but when you looked, nothing was there. Odd. You watched as Undyne swung around Frisk's thin plastic sword. Nudge nudge. Looking around again, nothing.

Papyrus was listing off things he and Sans could be for Halloween with Frisk while Alphys made a meek suggestion that they go as themselves due to the fact they ARE skeletons and it would be easy for them. Frisk's swift fingers disagreed, claiming that's cheating and Sans should be a hotdog, Papyrus should be a superhero with a cape. Undyne pointed out that Papyrus couldn't be something he already was, and you swore you saw stars appear in his sockets.

Your jump back in surprise when Frisk's plastic sword hits your drink, causing some of the liquid to splash on you. They pointed to Undyne, who pointed back, and you waved it off. Quickly sopping up the mess with paper towels and excusing yourself to dry your shirt in the bathroom.

Upon arrival, you notice the paper towel dispensers were empty and you sighed in defeat. Walking over to the heated dryer and pulling the bottom of you damp shirt from your stomach to hold it under the machine, you press the button and slowly move the wet spot around under the pressurised air.

The air stops and you press the button again. Nothing happens. You press it again.

And again.

And again.

Nothing.

You continously slam the button with your palm. Really? Is this really happening to you at this moment? You pat down your shirt and assess the damage in the mirror. It doesn't look too wet, you should be good. Still, a cold moist spot wasn't going to be very fun. You started to head out, glancing at each mirror as you passed, making sure nothing was out of the ordinary.

Though the last mirror had a pleasant surprise. There in the reflection, Chara sat on the counter grinning at the surprised expression on your face. Inhaling slowly. Calm your breathing.

"What the fuck Chara? You scared the shit out of me."

"Well, you are in the best place for that."

If you could, you'd punch them.

"What do you need?"

"I just want to cash in my favor."

You quirked a brow. That's it?

"So soon?"

"Yes."

"Alright kiddo. Lay it on me."

"I want to borrow your body. On Halloween."

"That's it? You just want to trick or treat or something?"

Chara pushes them self off the counter and walk up to the air dryer. "Something like that." You frowned for a moment, it'd make sense for Chara to want a body to trick or treat in. And how long had they been dead? How many years did they actually have a chance to go out before dying? "You do realize that I'm an adult and you wont receive that much candy." They scoffed, "It's not about the candy. It's about spending a holiday with my br- with Flowey. And Frisk."

Okay. Your sold. This poor dead child.

You agree and they grin, swat the air dryer, and wink.

Without touching it, the air dryer starts and you look back at Chara. "So like.. How?"

"You just have to accept my SOUL into your body. Easy Peasy."

"How am I supposed to do that?"

They stop the air dryer with a groan and motion a finger to your chest. "You pop that sucker right out and I'll pop myself right in and make some room." Okay that did sound easy enough. "And you'll leave once your done?" Chara throws a hand to their chest in mock offence. "Of course. We are making a deal, your SOUL can easily kick me out."

You contemplate it a little more and finally let your SOUL appear outside of your body, this causes the grin on Charas face to grow almost to a malicious state before they faded more and zipped right into your chest.

And wow.

It stung. A lot.

It felt like the worst heartburn combined with an itchy needling feeling. Your knees throbbed from dropping all of your weight onto the tiled floor. You wheezed and clutched your shirt, you can feel it.

You can feel Chara move around, "making space" for your SOUL to fit back in. Fire ran through your nerves every inch they spread about. Your lungs are hurting. Why are they hurting?

And it stops.

Red tendrils snake out to wrap around your SOUL and yank it back in, and you gulp down as much oxygen you can take.

"You were suppose to relax. But it's done anyway."

Grasping onto the counter, you pull yourself up and notice the beads of sweat that collected onto your brow and your flustered expression, straighten yourself up and rise the sweat off.

"Th- thanks for the warning. It was very h-elpful."

It's a challenge to collect and calm yourself, but after a few minutes your looking as normal as you can despite the tender bruise on your sternum. You've wasted enough time in the bathroom and fix your clothes before speed walking the hell out of there.

The table everyone was gathered at is in sight, but your feet stop. You try to push yourself further, but nothings happening. "Wha-?"

"Where's Flowey?"

"What do you mean he's at the table? Now let me go!"

"Look closer you idiot!"

You squint and search and yea, you don't see him. He's not there… But you did bring him.

SHIT.

You finally have control over your own two feet and run back to the costume store, He has to be there. Running up and down the aisles proved useless when an employee stops you and tells you a kid walked out with the angry flower. You literally shove him out of the way, throw an apology over your shoulder, and dash to the left side of the store, checking as many stores you can and listening for his loud cursing.

All the while, you have Chara chanting how stupid and idiotic you are and moving you different directions than you wanted.

Eventually you hear it. That high pitched hiss/screech that he makes when someone gets too close to him.

You pick up the pace and arrive at a gaming store.

Flowey is set on the counter, a group of people badgering him with pictures and tiny quick pokes and giggles. He's surrounded by Plants vs. Zombies merchandise and you catch your breath before hopping onto the counter (fuck the rules, your tired of people pushing you), grab Flowey, and jump down. Automatically he started yelling and screaming at you for leaving him behind, and the group of people are yelling at you for taking something that wasn't yours and you couldn't stop the anger from bubbling up.

You snapped.

You don't hear the words that fall out of your mouth, but you do see the expressions everyone makes. A security guard comes up and your hand has pulled something out of your wallet, his face changes from annoyance, to surprise, then understanding. His hands make motions to you, the counter, the object in your hand, and the crowd. They still look angry, some pouting, some glaring, the one you assume to had found Flowey is being held back by a man, he looks the angriest. Flowey had been silently watching every single motion your face has made, and you wonder what expressions you are making as well. The feeling of something being placed into your pocket and your walking away.

You feel calmer.

"Chara?"

Your mouth is moving once again, and whatever you say causes Flowey to smile the most happiest innocent smile you'd ever seen.