A/N: There are only few things that are certain in this world: Birth, Death, Change, and my updating this fic, even if it takes me years (◉▽◉)

"Queen?"

"No."

"The Bee Gees."

"No."

"John Lennon? Elton John? ABBA!"

"Frisk? Oh!"

The five small rocks floating high up in the air like a circle of birds wobbled as curses rushed out of Chara's mouth. Chara's hand instinctively shot up, before they squeaked and swung it back down to dig their wooden cane into the ground, keeping them from tripping over.

The rocks wobbled further, dancing up and down as though they were riding an invisible tidal wave. Pushing aside their instinct to pour more mana into their spell, Chara closed their eyes for a moment, opened them again and focused. With a bright flash of bright red from their eyes, the rocks tightened into a single clump, then hung in the air, as still as the moon on a cloudless night. Then, they slowly pulled out, maintaining a circular formation until it returned to the steady, halo-like formation from before.

Chara let out a sigh of relief, then turned to fix Frisk with a firey glare.

"Darling," they said softly. "I'm glad you're listening to mother and making sure that I don't over do my training, but I was hoping you would let me do the basics at the least."

Frisk had the decency to look sheepish, shrinking their head between their shoulders like a turtle. "I was distracting you, wasn't I?"

"Yes, a little."

"Sorry," Frisk poked out the tip of their tongue between their smiling lips. "It's just, I can't believe that I didn't know you liked music. Human music, I mean."

With a sigh, Chara commanded the rocks down back to the ground and turned to Frisk, stomping their cane. "Is finding out that I like something made by humans that interesting?"

"Everything is interesting to me when it comes to you!" Frisk said, not a single embarrassment in their words or their beaming smile.

Chara refused to acknowledge the rising heat in their cheeks and scoffed instead. "Well, if you could contain yourself for a bit? I know it's only a yes or no question to find out what musicians we both know, but it does take some concentration on my part."

"Sorry," Frisk said, and they seemed to shrink an inch as their entire body, along with their perky mood.

Chara rolled their eyes. They had been prepared to harrumph once Frisk apologised and return to their training, but Frisk's earlier comment and their current kicked-puppy look made them impossible to ignore.

They hobbled over to Frisk and placed a gentle kiss on the top of their head. It made Frisk shrink even further, though now their face was being dyed in red as well. Chara stifled a laugh, and spoke in a gentle tone. "It's fine. You were bored, yes? I get that. Asriel used to get bored as well. As much as that boy loved the idea of becoming this all powerful warrior king, he still found training to be such a chore."

Frisk looked up with a smile, their cheeks still flushed red. "Thanks. I'm still sorry though," they said. "Maybe I should go inside?"

"And have mother reprimand me for making you leave me without supervision? You're not gonna do that."

Frisk furrowed their brow in thought. "Maybe I can watch you through the window," they said, pointing up at Papyrus' room window behind them.

"You'd have to be sitting on top of the desk to look out. For an hour, no less," Chara said, recalling the odd corner position of the window from within the room. "Perhaps it was not a good idea to do this when you don't have school. Why don't we go back inside? We can help Papyrus look for that damned missing board game piece he'd been going on about."

Papyrus had been turning the house upside down for the past two days, trying to look for a small piece of metal board game piece that had gone missing. Everyone informed him that it wasn't a big deal and that they could play without it, but Papyrus was adamant that the single piece was somehow integral to their entire gaming experience, even for playing other board games.

"No, no, you just started!" Frisk said. "Maybe I can do something else. No more talking, I promise!"

"It's Saturday. I don't want you to be stuck out here being bored."

"I-I'm not that bored."

Chara smiled, another pang of warmth filling them. It was obvious that Frisk was lying, but they also knew why. Like always, Frisk just wanted to be near their partner, no matter what. Boredom was undesirable, but not being near Chara when they can was unthinkable.

Chara wondered what to do, wondered what they used to do when Asriel was around. He had been clingy as well, they recalled. Not to the degree that Frisk was, but the young prince, as shy as a flower, never had a playmate his age until Chara came along. He loved to play, he hated school, and got immensely bored at the even mention of politics. The only reason Chara got to train as much as they did without having to coddle him was because Asriel had his own training to focus on.

"Well…" Chara began, chewing on the idea like a fine steak. "How about you join me then?"

Frisk looked up. "Join you with what?"

"My training." Chara shrugged. "It'll keep you on your feet; you'll learn how to defend yourself; and it'll be a good investment of time for our future travels too. I think it's an idea worth considering."

Frisk's tense shoulders sagged faster than a marionette with its strings cut off, right along with their gaze.

Chara winced at their obvious mistake. "You... Disagree?"

Frisk's nod was almost imperceptible, but it cut through Chara's initial excitement like a honed blade. As brief as the idea had been, they quite liked the thought of having Frisk as a battle partner. They could teach them so much.

"May I ask why?" they asked.

"I… don't wanna hurt people."

It was an obvious answer, one Chara should have expected. "Well, combat training doesn't have to involve hurting people. It can be just about defending yourself. Most martial arts are taught for self-defence."

"But defending yourself means stopping others from hurting you by force. I-I don't wanna do that."

"I… understand, and I think you are very sweet for it. But life is not so simple sometimes. No life is without its conflict, and when it comes, you should be prepared."

"I can already dodge real good, can't I?"

"Really 'well'. And yes, you can. You are quite quick for someone so small, but that didn't stop us from experiencing what we went through now, did it?" Frisk visibly winced, and Chara winced too. "I'm just trying to be careful. I don't want to see you end up hurt."

"We won't get hurt. We're safe here."

Chara bit their lips. "I… am not sure of that," they said, and their chest prickled as Frisk jolted as though they'd been pinched. "I wish to ask you a question, darling. It's a question that's been on my mind as of late, and if I am to guess, it's the same question that's been on your mind as well."

Chara waited for Frisk to acknowledge them, but their ongoing silence had them continue on their own.

"What will we do in the future? When my legs are better, and my magic is in more control? What are our plans? Where do we go from here?"

Frisk's face blanched, far too suddenly for it to be the result of the freezing cold. They shuffled their feet in place, their hands clenched into fists by their side. "Well…" They licked their lips. "We'll continue on our journey and break the barrier so that all the monsters can be free."

"And how are we supposed to do that?" Chara said quickly, though not unkindly. "You no longer have your powers. We are too far in and too far divulged from the original 'plan' for you to know what will happen should we leave this place. We have wanted posters of ourselves all over the Kingdom. Thank god the artist drew us more like a pair of potatoes than actual humans, but it's still only a matter of time. And time is no longer on our side."

Frisk shuffled further, their fingers now wiggling as though they had something to do right now, even though they had no idea what.

Chara sighed. "I know you don't want to talk about this, but the future is not something we can run away from forever."

It used to be for me, Frisk thought, and Chara let out a short laugh.

"I suppose it was." Chara hobbled forward and brushed their hand on Frisk's arm. "It's scary, I know, but running away won't ever solve any issues. It just delays the inevitable while at the same time, takes away from your ability to grow. We need to face this, now or later, and I say the earlier we do this, the better it will be for us."

Frisk's head whipped up, and through their connection, Chara felt the pit in Frisk's stomach grow, the creeping dread and fear wrapping its boney fingers around their heart. Chara pressed their hand firmer and sent as much reassurance to ease Frisk's quickly declining composure.

"Perhaps… If you are unwilling to improve your combat ability, perhaps we can train your powers."

The fears came to an abrupt halt. "W..what do you mean? I don't have them anymore. That's the whole reason we're in this situation!"

"That's not strictly true though, is it? You can still see the existence of your SAVE and interact with it. It's just your ability to use it that's not working, and if your power isn't working the way it was, perhaps you can find a new way to use it; Improve on it somehow."

"How do I improve on going back in time?"

"I'm not sure to be honest, but this can't really be it, right? You told me that your power comes from your… what was it? DETERMINATION? You said you have your powers because you have the highest amount of DETERMINATION in Underground, but then what do other people get? What of those with almost as much DETERMINATION as you? If your DETERMINATION is a thousand, let's say, what do people with five hundred DETERMINATION get? Seven hundred? Nine hundred and ninety nine? They lost the race so they get nothing?"

Frisk's expression went from teary to contemplative. "N.. No. I don't think that's it. You have high DETERMINATION too. That's why you remember things when we go back."

"Really? I always thought that was because we were connected."

"Yes, that's part of it, but that's not the only reason. Remember Flowey? He could remember things too. He's been the one with the power of DETERMINATION before I came around."

"Oh. Of course, how could I forget him? But this proves my point. People with high DETERMINATION is not completely without their powers. I don't know what SANS did to it, but it is clear that your DETERMINATION is still granting you some sort of ability. Perhaps there is a different way to use it."

Frisk dropped their gaze. "I… I don't know. I don't even know where to begin."

"Perhaps you should try something else than trying to LOAD your SAVE."

"What should I do then?"

Chara was silent for a moment. "Perhaps you should try creating a new SAVE."

Frisk's head whipped up. "What?"

"It's not a completely crazy idea. You said the 'error message' told you to delete your SAVE and try again. Have you done this yet? Perhaps you still have your powers, but this one SAVE is the problem."

"Or maybe my LOAD is the problem and saving over my file will just make things worse."

"How will it make things worse?"

Frisk's gaze dropped, just for a second, but long enough for Chara to see what they were implying.

"Frisk," they sighed. "My arm… It's gone. There's no fixing that."

"That's not true. I can fix it. I could."

"Have you been holding onto that SAVE just because of me?"

Frisk's silence was enough an answer.

Chara took a step away from Frisk with a huff. "Well, perhaps I don't want you to fix it," they said.

Frisk's jaw dropped. "H..How can you say that? It's your arm!"

"Yes, it is my arm. Therefore, I can decide whether I want it back or not regardless of what you may think of it. I mean, what do you suppose will happen to mother and Papyrus if we were to go back? Papyrus wouldn't even know me!"

"That can be fixed. I've made friends with Papyrus hundreds of times."

"Oh, don't do that. Don't go on again with your I've done it an infinite times nonsense. You realise you cannot project your own achievements onto others? Do you really think I will be able to have the relationship I have with Papyrus now if it weren't for everything that's occurred?"

"Just because it'll be a little different, doesn't mean it'll be any less important."

"Yes, but it will be different nonetheless. This relationship -as it is now- will be forever lost. I don't want that."

"But you'll have your arm back. You'll be walking again, and it's not like you'll be enemies with Papyrus. We can all still be good friends -best friends. It's just a small sacrifice."

"It is not a small sacrifice," Chara said, their eyes wide. "It's an enormous loss. Irreplaceable. How could you even suggest otherwise?"

"I-I'm just trying to help."

"A help I do not want! Look at you. You're frightened of the future because you don't have your powers, but you won't even try and see if that's even really the case!"

"B-because of you!"

"Then stop thinking about me! I want you to do it! If it's really for me, then delete your SAVE!"

"No!"

"Why not?!"

"NO!" Frisk yelled, making Chara jump. "You're number one! You're everything!"

Frisk's voice echoed into the woods, and for a minute, the air was quiet.

Chara's finger tips were numb, their head light as their heart pounded in their ears. Adrenaline. It was a sensation they were familiar with, savoured as a sign of a good training session, but right now, they weren't enjoying it at all. They certainly didn't enjoy the sight of Frisk barely containing their sobs by biting down on their lower lips, their fists trembling as they clenched it hard by their side.

What the hell? Chara thought. How the hell did we get here? We were just trying to find something to do together.

"I don't want to talk about this anymore," Frisk said quietly, almost to themselves as if to harden their own resolve.

Chara knew they should talk things out, shouldn't let this issue fester, because it was stupid. Frisk and they still cared for one another, was fighting because they cared for one another. But Chara was so exhausted all of the sudden, they couldn't even nod in response.

They turned and limped towards the house, and Frisk followed behind without a word.

Chapter 19

LOAD. DELETE. LOAD. DELETE.

LOAD.

DELETE.

Frisk sighed as they stared at the two white texts that hovered in front of their eyes, moving their SOUL piece over the options again and again without settling on either.

They were lying on the couch alone. Chara had said that they would give them some time and space to think and had left Frisk there while they went back up to their room. Papyrus was in his own new room -the cavern behind the kitchen sink-, and Ms Toriel was in the garage as well, having a bit of 'Me time'. The house, that was always so small for the four of them (five if they counted Sans), was now suddenly so quiet, so empty.

Frisk turned their SOUL to the LOAD option once more and selected it.

Confirmed.

Loading file…

ERROR! Couldn't load SA-

Frisk buried their face into the cushion and let out a long groan. Their power was still broken, their one ability to ensure their survival, as useful as a remote with a flat battery.

It's been well over a week since it's been like this, and Frisk was still trying to LOAD their SAVE at least three times a day, all with the same result. It was horrifying the first few days, disappointing the next few. It was only yesterday that Frisk had grown enough numbness to the failure message that they could simply shrug and walk away. But now, the numbness was gone once more, replaced by hair pulling frustration.

"Well, perhaps I don't want you to fix it."

Frisk grabbed the couch blanket next to them and threw it over their face.

They hated arguing with Chara, but they could not believe what Chara had said. They were there when Chara cried, when they struggled -still struggled- with the loss of their arm. They could barely walk; it crushed them to know that they weren't as strong as they once were, and they probably never will be. This was forever. It was a horrible accident, a mistake, and Chara wanted to live with that?

"It is my arm. Therefore, I can decide whether I want it back or not regardless of what you may think of it."

Frisk threw the blanket up and wrapped it over themselves in the most violent motion they could muster.

No, they thought. I'm not gonna accept that. Just because Chara wants to give up, doesn't mean I have to as well.

But even as they thought this, even though they didn't like what Chara had to say, they had to agree with one thing: Something needed to change soon.

Chara was hurt and couldn't protect themselves like they did before. And while Frisk wasn't completely helpless in a fight, they could do little more than dodge, something that will be so much more difficult if they were worried about what would happen to Chara as well. Not only that, half of Chara's attention will be on them all the time, and as warm as that fact made Frisk, it also meant that it would make Chara likely to get hurt.

As if they weren't already, Frisk thought bitterly.

Indeed, if they were to ever move on from the safety of this little haven of theirs and continue on their journey, they needed a better method than just walk through the kingdom without a worry. They still weren't going to learn how to hurt other monsters, but Frisk needed something other than just running away.

I need a solution. I need- "HUP!" "-Eek!"

Frisk squealed as the couch cushion beneath them was suddenly pulled from under them, causing them to roll up in their blanket and fall onto the padding-less couch bottom.

"NYEH?" A blue glow wrapped around Frisk and they were suddenly lifted up into the air. "WHY, HELLO, LITTLE HUMAN! WHAT ARE YOU DOING UNDER THE CUSHION LOOKING LIKE A BAD SUSHI? THERE'S A LOT OF DUST UNDER THERE. YOUR THROAT WILL GET ALL SCRATCHY!"

Frisk wiggled against the binding of the blanket until their head popped out, making them look like a new born baby. They frowned at Papyrus, their mouth half way open to sharply tell him to put them down. However, their words were halted as another thought barged into their mind.

"Papyrus!" they near shouted, eyes widening right along with their smile.

"YES?!" Papyrus shouted back.

"Can I learn magic like Chara?"

"NOPE!"

"Oh." Frisk's blanket wrapped body sagged like wet noodle before perking right back up. "Wait, why not?"

"BECAUSE OF THE FUNDAMENTALS OF MAGIC, OF COURSE!" Papyrus said, then puffed out his chest before he continued, "FUNDAMENTALS OF MAGIC, TWO: MAGIC CAN NEITHER BE CREATED OR DESTROYED - ONLY BE TRANSFORMED."

Frisk frowned. "What does that mean?"

"WELL, IT MEANS ALL THAT YUMMY SPAGHETTI YOU'VE BEEN EATING WOULD HAVE KICK-STARTED YOUR MAGIC IF YOU HAD ANY. SINCE YOU HAVEN'T CAST ANY SPELLS BY ACCIDENT, THERE'S NO EXPLANATION OTHER THAN THAT ALL THE MAGIC FROM YOUR FOOD JUST EVAPORATED OUT OF YOU. LIKE STEAM!" Papyrus waved his hand over Frisk's head as though he could touch the hypothetical steam.

"H-how do you know? I could have like, a gazillion magic inside me right now."

"NYEH HEH HEH! NO, SIR! IF YOU'VE BEEN KEEPING ALL THAT MAGIC WITHIN YOU, YOU WOULD HAVE BLOWN UP BY NOW! NYEH HEH HEH HE-, uhh, wait, you haven't been feeling like a balloon, have you? Because if you have, you need to go see a doctor. Like… right now."

"No. I don't feel like a balloon," they said, though they did feel like a flat balloon, discarded and forgotten in the corner.

Papyrus wiped his forehead with the back of his gloved hand. "PHEW! THAT'S A RELIEF. WELL, WAS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT MAGIC? I MAY NOT KNOW EVERYTHING, BUT I DO KNOW A LOT STILL."

"No. Thanks for the help," Frisk said, sounding about as excited as they would about going to sleep on a Sunday.

If what Papyrus was saying was true, then they truly had no potential for magic, because through all of their time in Underground, never have there been a time where they experienced any special powers other than their DETERMINATION (which, they might add, they didn't even have anymore). They really weren't going to be any help to Chara in their journey, and that fact hurt more than the fact that they were in an argument with Chara ever could.

"IS EVERYTHING ALRIGHT, LITTLE HUMAN?"

"Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine."

"YOU DON'T SOUND FINE."

"Well, I am," Frisk said with a sharp glare, then groaned as they realised what they were doing. "Sorry. I'm just… I was hoping that if I could learn magic, I would be more helpful to Chara."

"NYEH HEH HEH! THAT'S AN ODD THING TO SAY. YOU'RE PLENTY HELPFUL TO HER HIGHNESS ALREADY!"

"Yeah, but not when it comes to a fight." Frisk kicked at the ground. "All I know how to do properly is dodge."

"WELL, EVERYONE HAS SOMETHING THEY'RE GOOD AT, AND SOMETHING THEY'RE BAD AT."

"Yeah. I know. I'm useless."

"Hey," Papyrus scooted closer to them and placed a hand on their arm. "That's not true. No one thinks you're useless."

"Chara does," Frisk said as tears began to rise again. "They said I can't win a fight by dodging. But that's all I know how to do. I'm useless in a fight."

"That's not you being useless. They're worried. We all want you safe."

Frisk didn't nod, even though they knew that Papyrus was correct. They knew it in their head, but their heart still hurt. "If I had magic-" They sniffled. "-If I knew something like a healing spell like the doctor, or floaty magic like you, they wouldn't have to worry."

"I'm pretty sure they still would. Because they care for you."

Frisk hung their head. Indeed, even if they did have some sort of magic, they themselves wouldn't use it to harm others, and that narrowed their ability to protect themselves drastically. They knew it, and Chara have probably thought about it as well. The only way for them to truly be safe was if they had their power back. And they probably had a better chance at finding Papyrus' missing board game piece in the house than doing that.

"HEY!" Papyrus suddenly exclaimed, his ghostly pupils twinkling inside their sockets. "I KNOW A WAY YOU CAN USE MAGIC!"

Frisk's head immediately whipped up. "Y.. You do?"

"YEAH! YOU SHOULD GET THE METTATTON BRAND GLOW STICK!"

"Huh?"

"THE METTATTON BRAND GLOW STICK!" Papyrus repeated. "IT'S A STICK! THAT GLOWS!"

"… What does that have to do with magic?"

"IT'S POWERED BY MAGIC! THEN YOU CAN EXPERIENCE WHAT IT'S LIKE TO HAVE THE MAGICAL ABILITY TO MAKE A STICK GLOW! PERFECT, RIGHT?!"

Frisk sagged again. "Yeah. I guess. Thanks for the help, Papyrus. Can you put me back down now?"

"SURE THING!" Papyrus gently placed Frisk back lying on the couch bottom. "OH, BEFORE I FORGET: YOU HAVEN'T FOUND THAT BOARDGAME PIECE I LOST UNDER THERE, HAVE YOU?"

Frisk twisted their neck up, left, right, then shook their head. "No. I do see a piece of Gold though. Do you want that?"

"NO, YOU CAN KEEP THAT. WELP, YOU REMEMBER TO CALL ME IF YOU FIND IT, YOU HEAR? I'M GONNA GO LOOK FOR IT NOW IN THE KITCHEN."

Frisk nodded with the best smile they could afford.

"GREAT!" Papyrus said, then placed the couch cushion back in its place, with Frisk still lying on the couch bottom.

Frisk squeaked, but Papyrus had already walked off. Now, sandwiched between the couch bottom and the cushion, Frisk couldn't even find the motivation to wiggle out.

So there was no magic for them. Back to square one, they thought. Or maybe I should say, no hope.

They curled up into a ball and repeated the last thought over and over. But then, somewhere deep in their mind, a flash of an image, a memory, kicked at their depressed mood and gave them a mental slap.

Wait a minute, they thought as their mind cleared.

They replayed Papyrus' words in their head, peeling back their initial understanding and finding something new underneath.

"THE METTATTON BRAND GLOW STICK! IT'S A STICK! THAT GLOWS!"

They blinked.

I got it.

They wiggled back into the corner of the couch, ensured that their mental barrier was up firm. They needed time to think.

They had a plan to map out.

Toriel knew that something had happened between the two children from the moment they returned from Chara's morning training.

When she first saw the two children quietly walk back into the house instead of the usual excited chatter, she had feared that the two had been found by local townsfolk and was trying to sneak back inside. Though the backyard was a closed off area surrounded by uninhabited woods, there was still a small chance that someone might become curious if Chara's training made too much noise. But the children acted more stiff than frightened, and when Chara gave a half-hearted nod as a goodbye to Frisk instead of a kiss to a forehead (a new habit which she found both cute and a cause for deeper thought on the two's relationship), Toriel knew that the two had had an argument of sort.

"A copper for your thought?" she asked Chara in the middle of their mid-morning tea.

She had meant to keep out of the issue. If there was a type of mothering she detested above all others, it was the 'nosey mother' type, stifling her children with care rather than allowing them room to learn their mistakes and grow on their own. But she also recognised that this was the children's first fight, and for a pair who had grown so close so quickly, how this situation ends was going to become the foundation of how they will resolve all of the future conflicts to come.

Even if she didn't want to interfere, she still had the obligation to guide the children to a correct path. And sometimes, all one needed to resolve an issue was an ear to listen to their problems.

Chara sat still on their bed, their gaze shifting from the red pool of their cinnamon tea on the bed-top table to towards her. "I've no thoughts to give," they said plainly, their lips set into the same fake smile she taught them as part of the royal etiquette.

"Really now? You have had such intense expression for the past ten minutes. One would think you were contemplating the meaning of life."

"Perhaps I was."

"The little one has been quite despondent as well," Toriel continued smoothly. "They have taken their spot on the couch all morning. I actually thought they had turned into a mushroom for a moment when I saw them."

"It's because you gave them too much homework to do over a weekend. You should consider lowering their work load."

"Something tells me that that is not what this is."

Chara's smile twitched, and they a long sip of their tea as if to douse something within them. But soon the moment passed and they let out a loud, frustrated sigh. "Look, it wasn't even a fight."

"But it was a conflict nonetheless."

Chara turned their head, their frown sad. "It's my fault, really. I never should have suggested for them to join me in combat training."

Toriel's brows rose half an inch. That was not what she had been expecting. She had thought Chara would admit to some silly argument over what movie they were going to watch, or perhaps about how Frisk always took the doctor's side when it came to Chara's health. Bringing an innocent, peace-loving child like Frisk to a way of battle had not been on her mind.

"Yes, I know how it sounds," Chara said, as if reading her mind. "But I thought it would be a good thing. The child already has good instinct and quite the talent in dodging. I thought if they could learn a few tricks from someone who actually knew something about fighting, their skill would be greatly improved."

"But that does not explain why you believe they need to improve in the first place."

"It's not that they need to improve. They were bored and I was- Ugh, look at me. I've gotten us into this for something I don't even think is needed." Chara sighed with exasperation. "I just wanted them safe."

"They are safe. With us."

"Are they?" Chara challenged, not in anger, but in genuine question. "Do you not see us, mother? Do you not know whose bed I sit upon right now? Whose room we stand in? We are not supposed to be here. Part of our Kingdom this may be, but our home this is not. We're fugitives, Frisk and I, and it has come to my attention that I no longer have the means of protecting Frisk myself."

"You have me. You have Papyrus."

"You, who are living in hiding with the rest of us? Papyrus, who is under house arrest? Do you truly think we haven't noticed how he and you discuss matters in private? About how more and more grim you two appear after each conversation? And yes, perhaps you are able to protect us both, perhaps you will be able to for a long while, but not forever."

Not forever. Toriel thought and her grip on her tea cup tightened without meaning to.

Of course, she was very much aware of their situation: staying in this house, sleeping on Papyrus' bed and taking his room while the skeleton himself slept in the dark cavern behind his kitchen sink. It was a horrible selfish thing they were doing to him, no matter how much he reassured them to the contrary. But on the other hand, where will they go from here? Will they leave again? Will she allow herself to put the children in danger, again?

It was a mother's long dream and fear that her children will need to leave the nest, but for Toriel, it was more than that. She still remembered Chara breathing their last in their bed in the castle all those years ago; she remembered a taller Asriel turning into dust on the throne room's floor. She then remembered the others. The six children who fell to her arms by chance. She remembered every one of them. She remembered waving them good bye as they left for the castle. And she remembered that none of them ever went far.

Children left their home. It was inevitable. It was the truth. All mothers went through it. But not like her.

Eight children. All dead.

Now, one of them have finally returned, finally gave her a second chance, and she's expected to let them go out? Put themselves in danger?

Logically, she knew that she must, but knowing and accepting were two different things. It didn't matter that she could leave with them. The road to the kingdom was a dangerous one until they reached the castle, and she will not be able to protect Chara and fight off the Royal Guards at the same time. The thought of it turned her stomach. And knowing that she was wrong to think this way made her want to scream.

"We cannot stay in this house forever," Chara continued, unaware how much their words were affecting her. "We live in an illusion with a knife above our head. The future is unknown and…"

"It makes you afraid," Toriel finished for them, her words just above a whisper through her suddenly tight throat. Chara gave a resigned nod.

"I wish for Frisk to learn what they can now so that should the worst come to pass, I have at least a sense of mind knowing that the child has skills to defend themselves. No matter how little that skill may be."

Toriel nearly fainted at the mention of 'the worst' that may come to pass, but she steel herself. Chara was having the same concern for Frisk as she did for them. They needed her guidance, not have her break like some old lady who hopped off a bus wrong.

"And so, you have suggested Frisk to pick up arms, and they have refused," she said, retreading her knowledge, after swallowing her dry throat.

"Very much so," Chara said with a bitter scoff. "And I hadn't suggested it so blatantly. I had merely suggested that they learn to defend themselves. But they hate the idea of harming others. They refused to do it no matter how much I asked. They believe they can talk everything out with everyone."

"A wise and commendable opinion."

"One that will end up with them hurt," Chara growled. "No matter how wise or commendable it is, words cannot stop a blade."

"Indeed," Toriel concurred. Despite her misgivings about using violence as a solution, she was well aware that some situations inevitably ended up in a physical altercation, and to attempt to stop all fights was a foolish endeavour. "Does Frisk understand this as well?"

"They do, I'm sure, but they are in denial. I'm not entirely sure if that's even the right word. Denial would mean that they believed in the contrary. They do acknowledge the facts, but they are refusing to face it."

"Because they are scared."

"Of the future that will inevitably come. They must prepare for it now, or they will be beaten down by what is to come. They cannot dodge the issue forever." Chara scoffed. "It's strange that I should say that actually. One of the thing that I wish the child to hone the most is their ability to dodge. They are really adept at running and dodging as I found out in the past, but I doubt they will do so if it means leaving me behind."

"They are very fond of you," Toriel said.

"Oh, you have no idea. They are obsessed!" Chara said with a delighted laughter. "Sometimes I wonder what they even do when I'm not around. What did they used to do before they met me?"

Toriel hummed thoughtfully. "I must say, you are quite fond of the child as well."

Chara's eyes widened in shock, their jaw dropping as though they wanted to protest, though no sound came out. Toriel noted the reaction with interest. "I-I… suppose I am. But I am fond of all children, you know that," they said with obvious reluctance.

Toriel did know, which was why she had not hesitated to let the two share the bed when Frisk first arrived and after. But perhaps she should reconsider the decision: Chara was a teenager now, and Frisk would approach the same soon enough. As innocent as the two's relationship was currently and perhaps even in the near future, it would be healthy to teach the two independence from one another, especially given Frisk's apparent obsession with Chara.

Letting things go. That what this was all about: Letting things go.

"So, you believe Frisk has potential?"

"Yes I do," Chara said without hesitation. "They are adept at dodging already, as I have said. They have the eyes for it, and their feet are astonishingly quick if they get in the mood. They just need some guidance on how to use their strength quickly and efficiently."

"But dodging is not the only thing you wish to teach them. Otherwise, you two would not have gotten into an argument."

Chara turned their head, chewing on their lower lip. "We… spoke about my arm, and we had a disagreement."

Toriel quirked a brow. "Did you now?"

"It was purely hypothetical!" Chara said quickly, as though they were trying to cover for something. Embarrassment, perhaps? "It was supposed to be a thought experiment. A little game!"

"What was?"

Chara dropped their gaze. "It was me who started it," they admitted. "I asked Frisk what they would do if they could go back in time. I thought it was an interesting idea. I thought they might say something fun and silly, like see dinosaurs, or meet Mozart. Frisk, they go for any of that. Their first answer was, they wanted to avert our first encounter with Snowdrake and his friends. They wanted to restore my arm."

"This is an understandable desire… But I get the sense that you did not agree."

Chara nodded.

"May I ask why?"

Chara's gaze fell to the bed, at the sheets where they ran their open palm over as if to straighten out the fabrics.

Toriel watched, then finally understood. "Papyrus," she said.

"Not just him," Chara whispered. "Snowdrake, Gyftrot, you. We both have made friends through this circumstance, a kind of friendship that never would be if not for what we have faced. I do not want to lose that. I couldn't."

Toriel nodded with a smile. Snowdrake, the young boy who had been responsible for the initial attack on her children, who have also came to the house a few times to check up on Chara. And Gyftrot, the deer monster whom she'd only heard about, but every time she found a gift box left by the front door, containing two slices of chocolate log, she knew that it was him, leaving a gift to wish Chara well.

"I understand," she said, and Chara looked up in surprise.

"Y.. You do?"

"Of course. I have lived for many years, my sweet. Countless times, I have seen a moment's fortune lead to tragedy, and a moment's tragedy lead to fortune, one that lasts for eternity, even. While I feel your loss as my own, and the prospect of undoing it is enticing, I still understand your position as well."

Chara's surprise turned into one of relief, before quickly collapsing once more. "It doesn't matter though. Frisk still doesn't understand."

"Because they are a child," Toriel said. "And… I believe that they feel guilty for what has happened."

"What?" Chara said, frowning. "Why would they feel guilty?"

Toriel chuckled. "Because it was they who got kidnapped. Do you not see? They got kidnapped and you tried to save them. And in doing so, you got into a fight that caused your injuries."

"But they weren't at fault! It was those boys, it was the dogs, Sans. Frisk is the last person at fault. I would never-!"

Toriel placed her hand on Chara's leg. "Of course, you would not, and of course, Frisk is not at fault. But self-awareness is concept difficult to grasp, even at my age. The mind does weigh the amount of responsibility across all involved. It only weighs the responsibility of yourself, and without an outsider's perspective, even the smallest responsibility may feel like the entire sky weighing on your shoulder."

Chara stared at her like someone who had just walked in on murder. "I… I have to make this right. How do I make things right?"

Toriel smiled. "That, I fear, is something for you to figure out."

Chara turned their gaze back onto their tea, their brows furrowed as it was prior to the conversation. They appeared lost now, but Toriel was not bothered. Chara was a smart child, and one that truly cared to resolve this situation the best they could. She had given them the necessary push in the right direction. It was up to Chara now to decide what they would do next.

And without a doubt, no matter what happened, she knew that her daughter was going to make the right choice.

Chara knew that this was not the right choice, not by a long shot. But they also knew that this was what was for the best.

Three am. Chara had intended to wake up earlier, but their ability to half sleep had dwindled since they've lived under lavish condition of a princess for so long. Getting to where they needed to go was a bit of a task, even with the help of their new spells. They couldn't walk there physically. They had their cane which caused a little bang every time they walked and even if they somehow muffled it, the wooden floor of the house creaked when applied with a weight of an ant, alerting exactly where anyone was going. And Chara couldn't use their portals since they couldn't create one to anywhere they couldn't physically see. This meant the only time which they could act on their wishes, was in the middle of the night.

Frisk had chosen to sleep with their mother after a very awkward movie session where neither of them spoke. It had frustrated Chara because they had watched a movie called Kung Fu Panda, showing them an Asian society which Chara honestly had little to almost no experience with. They had had so many question, but Frisk hardly seemed to concentrate on the movie at all, instead fidgeting next to Chara as though they were sitting next to a hair trigger explosive. Chara was slightly offended -and frankly hurt- by the fact that Frisk seemed to expect them to be angry at them for some reason, but that was neither here nor there.

In the end, it proved to be a boon that Frisk chose to sleep away from them, because that just made it easier for them to sneak out and get information that they hoped would ultimately help them both.

Once past the hallway, they twisted open the door to Sans' room, and stepped in.

"well, this is unusual."

"CHRIST!" Chara clamped their hand over their mouth, knocking their front teeth with the knob of their cane. There was a click and the reading lamp flickered on, revealing Sans in the same worn pyjama he's been wearing all week, lounging on the bed with a book in hand, a reading glass resting on his fat cheekbone.

"before you ask, no, i wasn't reading a book in the dark. i just posed like this because i think it looks cool."

"How the hell did you know I was coming?" Not even they didn't knew they were coming at this time. They were an hour later than scheduled.

Sans, however, just shrugged. "eh. just a hunch. anyway, what's this? you're alone. you're way too early. skipping out on the beauty sleep?"

"I don't do beauty sleeps, Mr Sans. Such foolish notions are better kept for the vain," Chara growled.

"coming from you, i somehow think i'm right to assume you do beauty sleeps."

Chara's brow twitched but the tick was suppressed down in an instant. The situation had not started like how they wanted it, but that didn't mean that it had to continue the same way. "I have come because I wanted to ask you something regarding Frisk. If you could answer, I will consider giving you a reward."

"ooh, a reward. what you gonna give me? my freedom?"

"No, of course not. But anything materialistic you wish for, be it food, entertainment, or accommodation, I will be willing to give."

Sans hummed, neither approving or disapproving. Just observant. "okay. so? hit me. what do you want to ask?"

Chara frowned. "You mean you agree? Just like that?"

"well, it's not like i got anything better to do. plus, i'm curious as to what you are curious about. what do you wish to ask me that you can't find out from papyrus or the little brat?"

Chara ignored the quip against Frisk and cleared their throat. "I want you to tell me what did you do to Frisk's DETERMINATION, and how it can be recovered."

Sans whistled. "now, that's a question. haven't you tried asking the kid first? this feels like the same question i answered before."

"Indeed, Frisk has told me what they know and what you've told them. But they're… not very worldly, I fear. I wanted to hear your side of the tale myself."

"ah. think you can pick up on something that the kid couldn't?"

"Perhaps."

"heh, don't let the kid hear. it'll break their heart to know that you think they're a dumb little shit."

"I do not-!" Chara clenched their jaw shut and glared at Sans. "I ask that you don't insult Frisk so blatantly in front of me."

"ooh, still want to appear the perfect girlfriend, huh? i guess you need to. i mean, look at you going behind the kid's back like this. what's going on here, huh? trouble in paradise? did you two have a fight? aw man, is this your first time?"

"Please, shut up."

"bullseye."

Chara let out an exasperated sigh. "Why are you always so difficult?"

"just milking as much fun as i can, given the situation. i haven't had a chance to prank anyone for ages, being held against my will by two criminals and all."

Chara's glare turned icy. "Call us a criminal again."

"whoa, okay, alright." Sans said with a chuckle, holding his hands up in surrender. "sheesh. you can't even take a little joke. you're a real pooper, you know that?"

"If by that you mean I have no patience for idiocy, then yes, I suppose I am a 'pooper'."

"heh. you called yourself a pooper." Sans chuckled. Chara glared. He raised his hands again. "fine. whatever. it's not like it matters now anyway."

With a loud sigh, the skeleton's entire form sagged. Relaxed or despondent, Chara didn't care, as long as it got them answers. They returned to their initial spot and waited for him to continue.

Sans let out another sigh. "in my lab, there's a machine called a 'DETERMINATION Extractor', DT Extractor for short. i used it on the kid so that it stops them from doing things with their DETERMINATION, that whole, rewind time thing."

"So you do know about their power," Chara said. "How have you come to discover this fact? I do not think the child would have told you."

"they didn't. it was just a hunch i had."

"A hunch," Chara deadpanned.

"yep. And i was right. the little brat tried to go back in time, so the DT Extractor did its thing, stopped the time travel and-"

"-And it extracted the DETERMINATION."

"yep."

"Can it be returned?"

"not the way you're thinking of. you ever milked a cow and put the milk back in its udder?"

Chara scowled. "Wonderful imagery."

"it's accurate. you put that DETERMINATION back into that kid, it's not gonna be the same. it might fuck the kid up."

Chara's eyes narrowed in interest. "Meaning?"

Sans shrugged. "the stuff might kill the kid if you're lucky. if not, well, the kid will be thrown into a quantum state, which would essentially be dying. kind of."

"Kind of?" Chara raised a brow.

"what? you want me to explain quantum physics to a thirteen year old?"

"I'm not stupid, if that's what you're saying."

"i'm not. But a kid who hadn't seen a single animated film since only recently? i bet you don't even know the three laws of physics."

Chara bit down on their desire to fire back with an insult. They didn't know the three laws of physics, and such a brash response would only confirm this fact. "How have you come to know all of this?" they asked instead. "Have you truly experimented with DETERMINATION in the past as the child says?"

"not on a human. though, i came really close to," Sans grinned to which Chara sneered. "but yeah, i've got some experience. it's how i got my hunches."

"Your hunches." Chara scowled. "One should think that hunches are inherit capabilities of all sapient creatures."

"no. not my hunches," Sans said with a humourless grin. "my hunches are correct, one way or the other."

Chara would have brushed him off; wanted to brush him off, but he had been waiting for them at the right time despite their plan to visit him being completely random. Plus, his voice had changed as he said those words, not in a way that said he was gaming them for his amusement, but in a way a soldier would speak of a bitter old enemy that killed his comrades.

Chara wanted to hear more.

"Care to explain?" they asked.

Sans laid back on the bed, his eyes on the ceiling, the corner of his bony grin dipping slightly. "it's my curse, kiddo," he sighed. "got into an accident back in the days. heavy DETERMINATION poisoning. nasty shit. got me and all of my co-workers at the same time."

"You mean there are others with knowledge of DETERMINATION?" Chara asked. As cooperative as Sans was being now, it wouldn't be wise to trust him in the future as well. Perhaps, then, one of these co-worker of his might be willing to help, especially someone from the Royal house.

But Sans shook his head. "nope. i mean, there were. but they're gone now. all disappeared."

It was not an answer Chara expected. One doesn't 'disappear' from Underground. There's nowhere to disappear to. "What do you mean by that? Where have they gone?"

"hell if i know. DETERMINATION is one weird ass stuff. we tried to use it as medicine once. DETERMINATION keeps human souls intact even after death. it's their will to live in a quantifiable form." Sans paused. "it didn't work like we thought it would. it was like… imagine trying to glue two pieces of broken stick back together, but you use too much glue. the glue leaks out, crawls over the stick and catches other things. other sticks, leaves, dirt, shits that's not supposed to be there in the first place. what you end up with is a lot more than what you intended. the original stick would be barely recognisable." He took in a fortifying breath, as if the mere recollection pained him. "we used too much glue on the patients, and the things they became afterwards… abominations…"

Chara frowned. "But they didn't disappear."

Sans grinned. "nope. because we weren't sick. i told you, it's weird. our guess was that DETERMINATION manifested what you desired most. those patients wanted to live, so DETERMINATION focused on keeping their bodies together. but we were scientists. we wanted to find out the unknown."

"And so when you say they are gone…?"

Sans' grin turned cold. "they disappeared. poof. and no-one remembers them either. they wanted to know the unknown, so now they became the unknown."

"That's horrible," Chara said honestly. Though they did not know the scientists personally, they were still employees of the Kingdom, proud citizens who were working to better the people. Such brilliant minds that understood all of this DETERMINATION stuff, all gone. It was a terrible loss.

"i guess." Sans shrugged. "i like to think that they all found out what they wanted. there were a lot of us. somebody had to have succeeded, right?"

Chara was silent for a moment. "Why have you not disappeared?"

Sans laughed. "hoo, man. if i had a copper for every time i asked that question. truth is, i dunno either. my guess is it's because i didn't care to find out the unknown like the others. even back then, i was the lazy one."

"Typical," Chara scoffed.

"yep. anyway, back to the point of your question. i didn't disappear, but to some extent, i can… see the unknown. feel it, almost. i sort of see things that… aren't anymore."

"And what does that mean?"

"hunches," Sans said simply. "feelings i get from time to time. i meet some couple and get weirded out because i was sure that they were dating someone else. i walk by a vacant lot and stop because i know there's supposed to be a shop there, owned by a family with kids that nobody's heard of in reality because… well, i guess because those kids never existed in this world. which sucks because i get a feeling that i really liked those kids, and i don't even know their name or what they looked like. i'll never find out either. they might as well be dead. it's like that everywhere i go. everywhere is a ghost town. there's too many people i remember that don't exist. too many good memories that will never be. it kinda makes it difficult to go to new places, meeting new people and all that. it's just depressing."

Chara took a moment to take all of the info in. "Is that why you have antagonised me and the child so? Because you have a hunch about us?"

"something like that."

"Would you care to tell me? It doesn't matter now, right? And if I knew your issue with us, perhaps we can prove to you that your hunches are wrong."

"meh, i guess it seems like it doesn't matter now, but i like to keep some cards to myself if you don't mind. got a hunch that i might need it later." Sans winked.

"You know that I will not harm you should you simply apologise. The child do not wish you harm either."

"i know. but i'm not the kind of guy who says sorry without meaning it, or without it being part of a joke. plus, according to my hunches… well, let's just say i don't think it's a very good idea for me to trust you right now, ms saviour."

Chara frowned. "What?"

Sans grinned. "precisely."

Chara scowled. "Well, is there anything else you can tell me?"

"nope. sorry. as i said to the kid, i have no idea how to fix a broken SAVE. you guys are on your own."

Though reluctant, Chara nodded. "I see. Thank you very much for your info, Mr Sans. And I must say, I'm sorry for your loss."

Sans scoffed. "if you're sorry, you should let me go and run some experiment on that kid of yours. i might actually figure some of this shit out and save my friends if i did."

"You know that will never happen."

"yeah, that's what i figured," Sans said and laid back again. "i guess you got what you wanted then. i'm surprised you even thought to ask in the first place. it was very likely that i didn't tell you anything at all."

Chara shrugged. "You know what they say: It doesn't hurt to try."

Sans didn't laugh, frown, or smile. He stared at the ceiling above, and just… sighed. "take it from me, kid," he said. "sometimes... it really does."

He closed his eyes and he spoke no more, and Chara knew that their conversation was over.

"Think about what you wish in return for this information. I will be sure to hear and provide it the next time we speak. Good day."

With a polite nod, Chara turned and walked out of the room, their mind now in more turmoil than before. They pressed their back onto the closed door and let out a long, silent sigh.

No lead from the only lead they had. First investigation and they had already hit a dead end. They needed time to think on what to do.

They were about to head for their room again, when a short gasp caught their attention.

They looked past the railing and down at the floor below where a little figure was now standing by the bottom of the stairs.

Chara cooled their expression. "Frisk."

The two children sat down, facing one another on the bed. Chara had their back straight, their expression cool, while Frisk had both hands clenched into a fist on their lap, their eyes set in a glare. There was a silent battle waging between the two, a battle of will which neither were willing to back down from.

Frisk gulped, even while their eyes remained set. Despite their angry exterior, rather than demanding to know what Chara was doing in Sans' room, all they wanted to ask their partner was if they were okay.

"What were you doing in Sans' room?" they asked, their voice low and firm.

"What are you doing up at this hour?" Chara asked back, and their voice was quiet, reserved, but not hostile. If anything, Chara sounded sad, sorrowful. Frisk shifted in their seat and ironed out their resolve.

"I was going to see Sans."

"Why?"

"I asked you first."

Chara paused. "I was… talking to him."

"Talking?" That sounded about as likely as a lightning strike on a sunny day.

"I really was," Chara said, hearing their scepticism. "I wished for him to tell me what he did to you. What made you lose your powers."

It was then that struck Frisk why Chara would push themselves to do such a thing, even in hiding. "I told you that I spoke to him already about my powers," they mumbled, their head dropped.

"Yes. But I know that your disposition is to be… very soft when dealing with people. I believed I would be able to extract more information from him."

Frisk gasped. "D-did you hurt him?"

"No. I had no need. The man was so bored he gave up the information without much incentive."

Frisk's eyes widened. "Really? Then did you find anything out?"

"No," Chara said again. "At least, not in regards to how to fix your power."

"Oh."

"Quite." Chara's hand gripped at a clump of bed sheets. "I'm sorry."

Frisk shook their head. "It's okay."

"No, that's not-" Chara sighed. "I'm sorry about that too, but I'm sorry that I went behind your back and did this in the first place. I just wanted to help you. I wanted to see you smile."

Frisk bit their lips. They had expected that to be the case, yet they had also expected something worse too. They didn't know what it was that that said about them. They felt silly for have asking Chara whether they had hurt Sans at all.

"Why do we keep doing this?" Frisk said with little more than a little frustration.

"Do what, darling?" Chara asked.

"This," Frisk nodded at the air between them as though there was a tangible rope there, which sometimes felt that there was. "This thing we do. I care about you, Chara. I always want to keep you happy."

"And I, you." There was little hesitation in Chara's words.

"Then this is…. This whole thing, I mean. It's just-" Frisk laughed. "It's so silly."

Chara was quiet for a moment. "It is strange, is it not?"

"Yeah." Frisk shrugged. "We're getting better though. I thought we were gonna shout at each other."

"Aren't we?"

"You want to?"

Chara frowned, then began to laugh as well.

"See?" Frisk said, beaming. "It's silly, right?"

Chara nodded. "I suppose it is." They giggled into their hand, then met eyes with Frisk, their gaze much more gentle and inviting. "I'm sorry, darling. I shouldn't have shouted at you this morning, and I shouldn't have pushed you to do something you weren't comfortable with either."

"Yeah, well, I'm sorry for shouting too. I know you only wanted what's best for me."

"Darling," Chara said, their smile falling away. "I don't know if this is sudden but, you know that what happened is not your fault, yes? It's not your fault that I lost my arm."

Frisk's lips parted, but couldn't speak for the next few seconds. "Why-" they licked their dry lips. "Why do you mention that?"

"Because it's true. And… I just had the thought that you might be blaming yourself and that's why you're being so adamant, and I got scared that-"

"Hey, hey." Frisk leaned over and placed their hand on Chara's. "Thank you."

Chara looked down at their connected hands then back up to Frisk with a sad frown. Am I… correct? Do you really blame yourself?"

Frisk had to think, and in the end, they shrugged. "I don't know. I think I do. We wouldn't ever been in this situation if I was more prepared."

"You couldn't have prepared for an ambush like that. That's what ambush is."

"I know." Frisk smiled. "That wasn't the only reason I wanted to go back. I really do want you to have your arm back. But… Thank you for saying it. I think I needed to hear that, especially from you."

Chara smiled back. They pushed themselves forward, Frisk doing the same, and the two of them fell into a hug in the middle. "I'll say it again as much as you need," Chara said.

"Thanks." Frisk laughed, then let out a relieved sigh. It felt as though they had taken off their backpack for the first time after a whole day's worth of running with them. Everything seemed as though they were going to be alright.

"Now, will you tell me why you were going to see Sans?"

Ooor maybe not, Frisk thought as they pulled back."Um, I was just… going to ask him something."

"Oh?" Chara raised a brow.

Frisk sighed and relayed their conversation with Papyrus, putting an emphasis on the mention of the glow stick.

"And? It's a glow stick," Chara said afterwards.

"Yeah, but it's powered by magic. Then I was thinking, isn't there something else that's powered by magic that will help us? Then I thought, wait, didn't Sans have something like that in your fight? We pulled all of that gadget thingy out of his jacket. Maybe I can use one!"

"That's… an interesting idea. But I'm more inclined to think that one of them will blow up in your face if you use it wrong."

"I'll pick out a safe one."

"And how would you find a 'safe' one?"

"I'll ask!"

Chara frowned. "Ah."

"Yeah." Frisk dropped their gaze sheepishly.. "Do you think it was a bad idea?"

"No, actually," Chara said, much to their pleasant surprise. "Why don't we go ask him now? He's awake, and though he didn't seem to be in an answering mood when I left him, it wouldn't hurt to ask, as you say."

"Really?" Frisk nearly hopped in place.

"Yes. Come. Faster we do this the sooner we will be able to go to sleep."

Frisk had no problem with that.

The two walked over to Sans' room once more and stopped before the door. Frisk squirmed slightly while Chara took a deep breath. "Okay, are you ready?"

Frisk nodded, then grabbed lightly at the end of Chara's shirt, not so tight that they would hinder Chara, but enough to let them know that they were there for them.

Chara's eyes flared up, and the doorknob twisted on its own until the door was pushed wide open.

Then, the two froze, eyes turning to saucers at the sight before them.

Sans, who had been chained to his bed for the past week, and who had been lying down on his back not ten minutes earlier, was now standing in the middle of the room, his one arm up in the air as he had only just finished putting on his normal outdoor clothes, complete with his blue winter jacket.

He froze as well, his grin upside down for once while his white pupils stayed fixed upon the two humans.

Everyone was stunned.

Then, the room exploded into action.

Chara launched forward, as did Frisk. Sans shot his arm out to his bed and swung. A worn blanket leapt at Frisk and Chara summoned their magic to fling the fabric away, allowing Frisk to dash forward unharmed.

Then, Sans swung again, and suddenly the entire wooden desk in the corner shot across the room and slammed into Frisk, causing the child to scream in pain and be thrown to the side.

"Frisk!" Chara yelled and ran to help.

And it was at this moment that Sans hopped into the air, and then vanished with a wink of magic, leaving the two children the only remaining occupants in the room.

Both Chara and Frisk stared at the empty space left behind by the skeleton, their heavy breathing the only sound echoing in the room.

Chara stood up and stumbled to the spot where Sans had been last, turned left and right, then whipped back towards Frisk with fiery eyes.

"Get mother. Now."

Chara watched as the two adults investigate the premise, going from the empty bed, the broken cuffs and over every dirty corner there was in this garbage dump of a room. After a minute or so, their mother stood up abruptly while examining the bed. She raised her hand with a huff, and there, caught between her thumb and forefinger, was a small metal flag with its pole bent out of shape.

"HEY! THAT'S MY BOARD GAME PIECE!" Papyrus exclaimed.

"He used it to pick his cuff," Toriel said.

Papyrus gasped. "HE STOLE A PIECE OF MY GAME AND USED IT AS HIS TOOL? FOR NON-GAMING MATTERS?! THAT IS DIABOLICAL!"

"How the hell did he even get his hands on it?" Chara said.

"He must have snatched it during one of Papyrus' visits."

Chara turned to the skeleton. "You played board games with him?"

"Nyeh heh heh, um, yes? I-I mean, he's my brother, and we play board games every week. I didn't want to break the tradition and…"

Chara wanted to be mad, but couldn't bring themselves to even a simmer of anger at the nervous skeleton. If it had been Asriel in prison, they knew they would have done the same thing.

"Wh-where did he go?" Frisk squeaked out, almost to themselves, but with the tension hanging in the air, the small voice rang like a loud clap.

There was no immediate answer, despite it being the same question on everyone's mind.

They had already checked his lab, which they had found ransacked, a state that it was not in when they first entered it weeks prior. He had been there, taken what he needed and left. To where, they had no idea, and if Frisk -who had known Sans through countless timelines- and Papyrus -his own brother- did not know, then it was all up to speculation.

He's not home. Chara thought. He's not in his lab. He's a schemer, so there's a likely chance he might strike at us in a sneak attack. But given that we have his brother with us, he won't resort to doing anything violent. So first, he must separate us from Papyrus. If he can isolate us, he will be free to do whatever he wishes. But how will he…

Chara blinked.

They raised their head, and met eyes with their mother who had turned her head to them at the same time. One look into her blood-red eyes and Chara knew: she had come to the same conclusion.

"Papyrus," she began. "Come with me, please. Chara?"

"Yes," Chara said and turned to Frisk. "Let's go. We're packing. Now."

Frisk stared in bewilderment, but Chara gave no time for an explanation and hobbled out of the room.

It was a simple conclusion, the most obvious conclusion and the most likely. If a prisoner escapes an enemy territory, their first action is to seek their ally. Their next action is to explain their situation, and what comes after is, naturally, retaliation.

The distance from the house to the castle was a few days worth of travel on foot, especially in the middle of the night where most of the transports weren't operating.

But Sans could teleport.

He could teleport others along.

They had to leave the house immediately.

Two pairs of clothes, Chara thought as they stepped out to the hallways and continued towards their room. Money. Food. No, stop. Not enough time. Just grab anything and-

A thud from downstairs slammed Chara out of their thought.

It wasn't a single thud, but a series of thuds all happening at once, as though a shelf of books have fallen off and all of the books hit the ground together.

All eyes turned towards the sound.

Everyone froze.

The once empty first floor, was now packed with a group of armoured soldiers.

Two Whimsalots, along with four armoured knights Chara instantly recognised as the Royal Elites. Each of them had one hand placed on top of the other's shoulder, creating a long chain that ended with one helmet-less knight -one that had a distinctively fish-like feature- and finally, one, very short skeleton, who stood out among the hulking figures like chicken among a flock of ducks.

Sans grinned up at them, and waved.

"yo. 'sup, little humans?"

Everything happened at once.

Chara wrapped their arm behind Frisk's back. The two charged for their room.

"Seize them!" the fish-knight roared.

"get the boy first! the smaller one!" Sans shouted, and instantly, Chara and Frisk were lifted into the air by a blue glow.

The Whimsalots flew up towards them, their spears pointed ahead.

A stick of bone flew from their side and knocked them both in the head, causing a loud, metallic crack and sending them tumbling through the air.

"Papyrus?! The hell are you doing?!" the fish-knight said.

"GO! I'LL HOLD THEM BACK!" Papyrus said, and a veil of blue magic pressed down on all of the soldiers at once.

Chara could not even yell back as their mother grabbed them and Frisk from the air and dashed inside their room, slamming the door shut behind her.

"Mother!" Chara yelled. "Papyrus, he's-!"

"Buying you time. I know," Toriel said, and Chara's jaw dropped.

"Buying me time? What about you?"

"yeah, what about you?"

The group turned. Sans, sitting on top of Papyrus' bed, watched them with a wide grin.

"Sans," Chara growled as they took a step forward, but the moment they did, their mother stepped in front of them while a pair of small hands grabbed them by their sleave.

It was then that Chara turned and saw that Frisk was in tears, their lips parted, trembling.

Chara's rage vanished in an instant, and they wrapped their arm around Frisk as they re-evaluated the situation.

Downstairs was blocked. Papyrus was captured without a doubt. They couldn't even step out to the hall without facing the other guards. Frisk was without their power, and Chara was not ready for a fight, not against Sans and especially not against the Elites. Their mother was their only hope, but even she, with all her age and experience, could not hope to win against such numbers alone.

They were a lost cause.

They could not win.

The window, Frisk's whispered, their voice trembling even in their mind.

Chara looked at them, then at the window.

"Mother," they began.

"I know," Toriel said back. "Go."

"But-"

"Go." Toriel half turned her head. "Run. That is all that matters."

"uuh, you know i'm still here, right?"

Frisk screamed, and Chara could figure out why, the world around them took on a blue hue and they were pressed down by an enormous force as though a boulder had been dropped on them.

"Stop!" Toriel yelled, but the moment she stepped forth, she too was engulfed by Sans' magic.

"sorry, old lady. you guys aren't getting out of this one." Sans floated up from the bed and floated towards Chara and Frisk. He was keeping his feet off the ground so that he could teleport at a moment's notice.

He came right up to the two, Chara in particular, and leant down with a wide grin.

"you got me good before, but you really should have followed through."

"I won't make the same mistake," Chara growled back.

"you won't get the cha-"

Sans vanished, and Chara was suddenly faced with their mother's furious face, her hand outstretched to where Sans had just been. She spun around and swung her fist at the air behind her. Sans vanished once more and reappeared by her side.

"man, for a kindly old lady-" Sans teleported above Toriel as she swung again. "-you're a bit of a brute, huh?"

Toriel answered by shooting her palm upwards and shooting a stream of white flames.

Click!

A metal cuff clasped around Toriel's wrist, and her fire vanished as though someone had turned off a stove. Toriel looked at the cuff in horror.

"yeah," Sans said as he appeared right before her. "look familiar, huh? it's not pleasant, you know? living without magic. it's like living without your arms. i'm sure your kid knows all about i-"

Toriel punched Sans on the side of his head.

Her fist collided with the air, an inch away from his skull where his 'Miracle Barrier' activated to protect him. Then her fist smashed through the barrier and bashed him in the head anyway.

Sans' words were cut with a loud choke as their whole body was flung to the side. He hit the bed, rolled over on top, then slammed into the wall on the opposite side where he fell to the ground with a choked, "oof!"

"Go! Now!" Toriel shouted.

"Mother-!"

"Why are you still here?!"

Chara bit their lips, turned around to look out the window, and summoned an exit portal at the world outside while creating the entrance beneath their feet.

As they sank into the darkness below with Frisk, they turned around again, just in time to meet their mother's eyes, just in time to see them soften and her lips spread into a gentle smile.

"Mother," they whispered.

"Everything will be-"

Then Chara's world turned dark, and they heard their mother's voice no more.

Frisk clamped down on their shout of "Owie!" as they landed on a bed of ice cold snow. They opened their eyes which they closed when they fell through Chara's portal. They were in the woods, surrounded by the dark of the night with only the faint glow of the magic moonlight hung in the 'sky' above.

Frisk remembered themselves high up in the air when they first came out of the portal. Chara must have created a second portal to cover their drop, putting them closer to the ground. They turned to their partner, not knowing what they will do, what they even could do, but then, they gasped.

Chara was down on their knees, head hung and clinging tightly onto their cane as they took constant, deep breathes in silence. They had boasted before that they could create three portals in a row, but to transport them both at the same time, twice in a row must have drained them far more than they had expected.

"Chara, are you-"

Quiet!

Frisk pressed their lips tight, their shoulder rising as their arms pressed tightly by their side.

A rustle to their side made them tense further.

Get down! Chara said, and Frisk ducked down next to them in an instant.

"yooo."

Frisk froze. Sans. It was Sans' voice calling out to them in the dark. How had he followed them out so fast?

"come out, kiddos. ah, shit, god damn… your mum hits like a gorilla, you know that? i ain't dealing with that shit. screw that. no sir."

A pause.

"come on. come out!" -Frisk jumped slightly as Sans' voice came from the completely opposite direction- "if you're thinking of staying out until we leave then forget it. the guards are arresting your mum as we speak. they'll be waiting for you in the house all night. you won't be going back there."

Stay calm, Chara said, whispering even in their mind. He's trying to scare us. Don't let him get to you.

"i'm serious." Sans voice came from another place. "there's nowhere you can go. i know all your friends, and i'm sending a soldier to every one of their homes. your mum's being sent away, and my brother ain't here to help you no more. you're caught. so, come out. because if you stay here in the freezing cold all night…"

A pause.

"you'll die."

Frisk nearly screamed.

Sans had appeared right in front of them, his blue glow shining up the forest like a ghost. The only reason Frisk could contain themselves was thanks to Chara's hand over their mouth, and the fact that Sans had had his back turned to them.

Snow crunched as Sans took slow, steady steps forward, his head turning left and right, and Frisk pressed themselves against the tree trunk, hoping against hope that they could phase through it to the other side. He was so close, all he had to do was turn around and he'll see them without fail.

He caught us, was the dreadful thought that came to Frisk's mind. Their chest felt tighter by the second, their mind spinning as the world faded away around them. They tried to keep their breathing quiet, but their heartbeat was already so loud, they were already being heard, they were sure. After all that had happened, this was how it was going to end. They were caught. They were caught.

Sans turned around.

"Sans!"

Then he stopped half way and turned his head away before he could even get them in his peripherals.

For an moment, Frisk believed their heart had stopped. Even their brain had shut down. No more fears. No more thoughts. Nothing.

A second passed. Two seconds.

"Saaans!" the voice from afar repeated. "Come here, now! Papyrus is making a fuss. We'll have to hurt him if he struggles any more!"

"shit," Sans said, and promptly teleported away.

Frisk didn't move, didn't breath, or even think. They remained as still as possible, pushed their back against the tree as flat as possible.

Then, a cold breeze swept past them and made them remember that they were still in their night gown, as thin as a cotton sheet. They shivered, drew their arms around their body, and then blinked as Chara's hand finally lifted away from their mouth.

They looked up at Chara, and Chara stared right back.

And within seconds, Frisk fell into their arm, and finally broke down.

Shaking in silent sobs, they cried, relieved yet unwilling to make any sort of noise still. Chara held them, cooed and reassured them that they were safe, that everything was alright. But all of this, they did it all in their mind. Not once had they spoken or breathed out loud. Not once did their eyes stop darting between the trees for signs of movement.

Frisk continued to cry through it all, unable to believe even once that they were safe. But more than the possible dangers, what had Frisk continue to cry, was their loss. Because they had been so happy, so satisfied with their life in Papyrus' house. Yet in mere half an hour, everything they thought they had achieved was gone, and they were powerless to get them back.

They tried to load their SAVE, but it only let them know that had they failed, yet again.

A/N: Hey everyone! Long time no see! I hope everyone's doing well in this trying time.

As always, thank you so much for reading, and I'm very sorry that I write so slowly. It drives me nuts that I can't put what's in my head onto paper even after all this time, because I have so many ideas I want to share. But in those moments, it's you guys that pushes me forward. Even after all the hiatus, I get review/comment for this every now and then, and I tear up, because I'm just so grateful. You guys are the MVP in my writing process, seriously ;_;

Oh, a special shout-out to MaximizeCharisma who left me an extremely long review: you've made me smile for a whole week afterwards, mate. And I still come back to it to find guidance/joy in your analysis over the story.

The world seems to literally be on fire right now, and while I am but a speck of dust within it, I do hope that my story serves as a bit of an escape, even for a little.

... Even though I just finished my chapter with a cliffhanger.

MUHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Next up: The new adventure begins

A/N 2: Oh! Also, I'm gonna challenge myself to finish the next chapter in 2 weeks, like I used to regularly do when I started this fic. I usually have that goal in mind internally, but obviously I never reach it. So this time, I'm saying this publicly as a way to push & improve myself. I will do my best!

Until then, stay safe everyone! :D