Toriel approached them both and placed her hand on Chara's head. "Chara my child. You have grown so much since I last saw you."

"How did you know it was me mom?" Chara asked with a small smile.

"Motherly instinct, though I will admit I didn't recognize you at first." Toriel said as she ruffled Chara's hair. "Now as much as I would love to catch up with you, there is a more pressing issue." Toriel looked over at Frisk. "If you truly wish to leave the RUINS, then I will not stop you." Turning back to Chara she said, "I have a difficult request to ask of you my child, please guide and watch over Frisk and lead her to the Underground's exit."

"But mom we just reunited after all these years." Chara said placing her hand onto Toriel's.

"I know my love, but it will be for only a little while. Frisk does not know the Underground like you do. You have a kind heart and a gentle soul Chara, everyone will know that she means no harm if you are with her."

After a brief moment of hesitation, Chara spoke. "Okay mom, I'll keep her safe for you, I promise."

"Thank you Chara, and do not worry, we will be together again soon." Toriel gave both girls a warm hug. "Goodbye, my children."

The three of them took one final look at each other before Chara and Frisk pushed open the doors leading to the rest of the Underground and disappeared into the long dark hallway.

As they walked down the hall, Frisk turned to Chara with a grin. "Chara, I'm so happy for you. Toriel knew who you were and we didn't end up having to fight her."

Chara snickered. "It went just as I had planned, didn't it?"

"W-what do you mean?" Frisk faltered, slowing slightly.

"I knew she suspected who I was by the way she reacted to my name, and again when she saw my SOUL. But what really tipped me off was the chocolate she gave us. Whether she gave it to us automatically or to test me, who can say? But it was then that I knew that she knew who I was, so I used that to my advantage."

Frisk suddenly came to a halt as what Chara was saying began to sink in.

"You get it now don't you?" Chara asked as she too stopped a few feet away from Frisk before turning towards her. "I just acted all innocent, called her 'mom', and she just ate it up." Chara smiled coldly. "And it worked, she couldn't bring herself to harm me, her precious child back from the dead."

"H-how... how could you Chara? How could you be so cruel and toy with her emotions like that?" Tears began to roll down Frisk's cheeks.

Chara laughed dryly. "Frisk when will you learn? You know why. Now let's go, the monsters aren't going to free themselves."

Chara continued down the hall, Frisk followed after wiping the tears from her cheeks. When the girls finally made it into the area with the patch of dirt they saw that Flowey was nowhere to be seen.

"Well that makes things easier doesn't it Frisk." Chara said as she made her way through the stone archway, Frisk said nothing as she followed. The snow beneath their feet crunched as they stepped into the frozen Snowdin Forest. The door to the RUINS swung shut behind them as they started following the path forward. After passing the large branch, they heard a loud snap, but neither of them turned around, as they both knew who it was. When they finally reached the short bridge they heard footsteps crunching snow behind them getting closer. When the footsteps stopped both girls waited for Sans to tell them to turn around.

Suddenly Frisk's SOUL shot out of her chest, turned blue and was pulled back behind them, pulling Frisk with it. Chara spun around and saw that Frisk and her SOUL were floating next to Sans who's left eye was cyan, his right hand held out, holding Frisk in the air.

"sorry human, normally i don't like doing anything, but i'd say this is an exception." Sans said as he lowered Frisk to the ground.

"Sans why did you do that?" Frisk asked as her SOUL floated back into her chest.

"i'm not sure how you know my name, but i did it to get you away from that demon." Sans replied as he positioned himself between Frisk and Chara. "i know this might sound weird but i sorta made a promise to someone to keep you safe. so, to do that i'm gonna give this demon that kidnapped you a bad time."

Chara smiled as she raised her knife at Sans. "Sure thing you smiling trashbag, I'd love to kill you a second time."

"Chara no! Don't hurt him!" Frisk cried.

"hey don't worry kiddo. this won't take long." Sans said as he summoned three of his blasters.

"Sans it's okay, won't hurt me or anyone else." Frisk said, desperate to defuse the situation.

"No, but I can certainly hurt him." Chara began to close the gap between herself and Sans, her SOUL floating out of her chest, as Sans' blasters began to charge.

"NO!" Frisk cried as she threw herself between the two. Chara gasped as she came to a skidding halt, eyes wide. For the second time since they had met, Frisk had opened her eyes. Frisk's eyes were red, just like her own but, unlike Chara's darker crimson eyes, Frisk's were a sparkling red. Looking into them was like looking into a pair of rubies.

"You too?" Chara asked simply.

Frisk nodded. "Please Chara, for me, please don't hurt him."

Chara looked into Frisk's eyes for a few moments before sighing. "Alright fine, as long as he backs off."

"Thank you Chara." Frisk said as she closed her eyes again.

*Your LOVE has decreased.

Chara stared at the dialogue box that had appeared in front of her. Closing the box she quickly opened her stats and saw that her LOVE had indeed gone down to 19. She could not believe her eyes, as her heart began to race though she wasn't sure why. Looking up she saw Sans and Frisk staring at her.

Sans was the first to speak. "that's impossible, kid in blue how did you do that?"

Frisk turned to look at Sans. "My name is Frisk, and I didn't do anything. Just please believe me when I say that Chara means no harm. I promise she won't hurt anyone." Frisk turned back towards Chara. "You promise too, don't you Chara?"

Chara rolled her eyes. "Yeah sure, I promise."

"well, i've already done more work today then i usually do." Sans shrugged. "saves me the trouble of doing anymore work today."

"Thank you Sans." Frisk said with a smile.

"so anyway, frisk was it? my brother, papyrus... he's a human-hunting FANATIC. hey, actually, i think that's him over there. i have an idea. both of you go through this gate thingy. yeah, go right through. my bro made the bars too wide to stop anyone."

The three of them quickly made their way through the gate, stopping in front of Sans' sentry station and the conveniently-shaped lamp which, strangely, was bigger than before.

"quick, behind that conveniently-shaped lamp." sans said.

"Come on Chara." Frisk said pulling Chara with her behind the lamp.

"Frisk why are we hiding?" Chara asked as she did her best to squeeze behind the lamp with Frisk.

"Don't worry about it, just don't say anything."

Chara rolled her eyes but stayed silent.

Soon Papyrus walked into the area, but luckily didn't seem to notice Chara and Frisk. The girls were able to listen in on the skelebros' conversation.

"sup, bro?" Sans said, his smile somehow widening.

"YOU KNOW WHAT 'SUP,' BROTHER! Papyrus exclaimed. "IT'S BEEN EIGHT DAYS AND YOU STILL HAVEN'T... RECALIBRATED. YOUR. PUZZLES! YOU JUST HANG AROUND OUTSIDE YOUR STATION! WHAT ARE YOU EVEN DOING?!"

"staring at this lamp. it's really cool. do you wanna look?"

"NO! I DON'T HAVE TIME FOR THAT! WHAT IF A HUMAN COMES THROUGH HERE!? I WANT TO BE READY! I WILL BE THE ONE! I MUST BE THE ONE! I WILL CAPTURE A HUMAN! THEN, I, THE GREAT PAPYRUS, WILL GET ALL THE THINGS I UTTERLY DESERVE! RESPECT... RECOGNITION... I WILL FINALLY BE ABLE TO JOIN THE ROYAL GUARD! PEOPLE WILL ASK, TO, BE MY, 'FRIEND?' I WILL BATHE IN A SHOWER OF KISSES EVERY MORNING."

"hmm... maybe this lamp will help you."

"SANS! YOU ARE NOT HELPING! YOU LAZYBONES! ALL YOU DO IS SIT AND BOONDOGGLE! YOU GET LAZIER AND LAZIER EVERYDAY!"

"hey, take it easy. i've gotten a ton of work done today. a skele-ton."

Frisk suppressed a giggle while Chara rolled her eyes.

"SANS!" Papyrus said disappointedly.

"come on. you're smiling."

"I AM AND I HATE IT!" Papyrus sighed. "WHY DOES SOMEONE AS GREAT AS ME, HAVE TO DO SO MUCH JUST TO GET SOME RECOGNITION..."

"wow, sounds like you're really working yourself... down to the bone."

Frisk clasped her hand over her mouth to keep more giggles from escaping, while Chara's simply shook her head.

"UGH!" Papyrus groaned. "I WILL ATTEND TO MY PUZZLES... AS FOR YOUR WORK, PUT A LITTLE MORE... 'BACKBONE' INTO IT! NYEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHE!" Papyrus laughed as he left for his puzzles before coming back briefly for one final: "HEH!"

"ok, you two can come out now."

Chara and Frisk got out from behind the lamp and were about to follow Papyrus deeper into the Snowdin forest when Sans stopped them.

"actually, hey... hate to bother ya frisk, but can you do me a favor? i was thinking... my brother's been kind of down lately. he's never seen a human before, and seeing you might just make his day. don't worry, he's not dangerous. even if he tires to be. thanks a million. i'll be up ahead."

Chara watched Sans head back towards the RUINS' door, but when she blinked he disappeared. The girls made their way over to the save point and placed their hands on it.

*Chara's LOVE has somehow gone down. This fills you with Determination.*