PATCHWORK SOUL - NEW MEDIUM

by TakaiWolf

DIRECT SEQUEL TO "PATCHWORK SOUL" — A few months later. A family of monsters and their little human kid try to start life anew beyond the confines of a giant mountain. Maybe they find something. Maybe they lose something. Time flows ever onwards, but sometimes it goes sideways, and it's heavier than they thought.

91. Doomy gloomy gateway friend

Doomy gloomy gateway friend Chapter 91

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The Soul of the World's grand inner chamber greeted the incoming group with a soft, calm swell of magic the moment they stepped through the portal. The silvery leaves of its black trees rustled as if caught in a swirl of wind and the grass rippled gently along with them.

.

Undyne, on the other hand, was a tempest, storming directly for the cabin that sat stoically in the field and kicking the door open before vanishing within. Marama let out a little sigh and beckoned Gaster to her, out of the way as the kids came through at the rear of the group.

"The rules are thus," she said to him. "You answer to the Oracle while you are here. Do not attempt to venture out on your own unless he permits it. Do not engage in battles. Do not attempt to subvert the security charms. Do not attempt to persuade anyone to release you. Do not attempt to block any portals. You may sleep and eat as you wish. You may refuse to participate in any activity that may cause you physical harm. You may wander within the cavern unless the Oracle forbids it. Are we clear?"

"We are very clear," Gaster said. His eyes skimmed across the field and the mysterious forest to the spot where the cavern dipped to hold the Soul, and then, finally, to the cabin. "I… have no intention of causing any more trouble."

"Good," the Archon said. "Though, you'll forgive me for not simply taking your word for it."

"Of course," he said.

.

"Here," Alphys said, offering him a small, rounded crystal. "Just in case."

The skeleton plucked the stone from her with a quizzical furrow in his brow. "…Thank you."

"Oh! S-Sorry, you're confused!" she said. "It's a little communication charm." She took the stone back just to flip it in his fingers and point out some little dots on the bottom. "See these? If you t-tap the spots in, um, a-ascending order, it'll call to me, and I'll come here." She smiled. "I-In case you have any questions, or if something in a-any of the charms starts to sting or anything like that. N-Not that I think that they will! But you can never be t-too careful, right?"

"I see." Gaster pocketed the crystal. "Thank you, Archwizard."

"Oh! Y-You're welcome! W-Would you like a little tour of the chamber while Undyne, um… inspects the living quarters?"

"I would."

Alphys smiled. She beckoned him to follow her and they set out towards the glow of the Soul.

.

"At least someone's havin' a good time," Sans joked as he leaned towards the kids.

"She has been… excited about the prospect of learning from the Interloper," Marama said. "Almost unnervingly so." She turned her eyes on Sans. "You will be careful, won't you, Oracle?"

He winked. "When am I not?"

The ceratopsian's mouth pulled into a thin line. She looked at the kids. "Be cautious. I am… still not fully comfortable, so if anything at all goes wrong, I would like for all of you to remove yourselves from the situation and call for help as soon as possible."

"Thank you, but we're not helpless," Chara said.

"I know, Soulbonder. However, you have all been through quite a lot."

"Don't worry at all, Archon, we've got this covered," Papyrus said with a wink and a thumbs-up. "This interloping skeleton man isn't going to cause any trouble with us! Beeeecause! We're going to be extremely hospitable, right?!"

"Speak for yourself," Asriel teased.

"Like, at least a little hos… hos-pit-ible, though, right?" Frisk asked.

Chara scoffed. "More like I'll send him to the hospital if—"

"Chara, noooo!" the kid squeaked as Asriel hid a snort of laughter behind his hand.

"No excuses for a tragic backstory, huh?" Sans said with a wink.

Chara frowned, her cheeks flushing. "I'm not putting up with any hint he might hurt Frisk. That's all."

"Please try not to engage in combat," Marama said.

.

"My siblings; my friends, the goal is still to get to some kind of understanding or real communication, right?" Papyrus stuck a finger up in the air. "So! I suggest we not be openly hostile or malicious. I think he'd be crazy to try to attack anyone at this point, right?"

"Yeeeeah, I don't think he will," Asriel said, and he gave Chara a nudge. "Especially with one of us around. But… mostly I just think he feels totally hopeless."

"Right?!" Frisk said. "That's what I was thinking, too!"

"Then that is absolutely an extra reason to be kind, right?!" Papyrus insisted, eyes brightening as Frisk gave a quick nod. "We can't have him collapsing into a depressive heap before he gets to go home, now, can we?"

"Welp. With you on the job, don't think we gotta be too concerned 'bout that," Sans said.

"Thank you!" The boy grinned proudly. He turned sharply and stood on his toes to look off after Gaster and Alphys, who were just at the edge of the slope that lead down towards the light of the Soul.

At the same moment, Undyne emerged from the cabin, caught the skeleton's eye, and stuck both thumbs up. Papyrus replied in kind and then bounded towards her.

.

The Archon smiled and folded her hands into her sleeves. "Well. It seems as if things are all in order, then." She bowed her head. "Good luck, little ones. Oracle. I will be back at the castle, should you have need of me."

Sans saluted and Frisk mimicked him, while Chara gave a tired wave to see her off towards the portal back along the tree line. The freckled girl let out a soft sigh and looked back for Papyrus.

"I… don't know what to do with myself," she confessed.

"Same," Asriel said.

"Just chill," Sans suggested.

"We should do more work," Chara said, shooting Sans a look.

He rubbed the back of his skull. "Already?"

"Soon, at least."

.

"Should we just stick with you?" Asriel wondered. "I'm not sure if Frisk should be too near that guy yet."

"Yeah, that'd probably be pretty uncomfortable for him," Frisk said. "He didn't even want me to touch him to do healing stuff, so I don't think he's gonna want me very close."

"Okay, one, that's stupid as hell," Asriel said. "And two, I meant 'cause even if he's not gonna actually hurt you, I wouldn't put it past him to say some mean garbage."

"D'you think it'd be worse or better if I could look like a monster again?" she wondered.

"With his soul-stealing rhetoric?" Chara said. "Worse. He already thinks you did something evil to get those parts of you."

"Oh, heck. You think he might think I'm making fun of him or something?" Frisk asked, eyes wide.

"Mocking. And, it's possible. He seems a bit… twisted about it."

Frisk pouted, but she nodded. "Right. Right, he thought I… somehow hurt Sans, or something. But I thought maybe the human thing was throwing him off, too."

"Maybe less that, more the time god thing," Asriel said.

"Gotta agree with the fuzzball," Sans said, though he gave a little shrug. "No clue if y'can push him past that, but I figure he's got some… real pathological curiosity about 'im. He'll probably talk. Eventually. Even if he's bristly about it."

"Kay," Frisk said.

.

Asriel let out a nervous sigh. "M… Maybe I… can get it started? He, um, kinda seems to… like me. A bit."

"You? Even though you bit him the most out of anyone?" Chara said.

"I-I had to!"

The girl frowned thoughtfully. "Then again, if he really is… Gaster. Our Gaster. From some bizarre alternate dimension or whatever it is, then I can't imagine him not forgiving you for almost anything."

"Whatever ends up being real or whatever, I guess what he believes is more important," he said.

.

Behind them, a golden portal swelled and Marama stepped out. The whirl of magic didn't vanish, however. After lingering a little too long, it shifted to streak through with violet, and Toriel emerged into the cavern with an apologetic smile on her face.

"Hello, children," she said.

"Ey, Tori, welcome to the party," Sans said.

"My apologies for the delay. Entirely my fault, I lost track of time speaking with one of the northern soldiers and a few of the regional Mayors."

"Don't worry about it," Chara assured her. "Though, you did miss Undyne absolutely wrecking that skeleton."

"Oh dear." The huge monster let out a little sigh and reached out to pat Chara gently on the head, cracking a soft smile. "To be honest, I do not mind missing that. Was anyone injured?"

"Just him," Sans said. "Kiddo took care of it, though."

"Hm! I see." She shot Frisk a reassuring smile. "Perhaps that will soften his soul towards you a tad."

"I dunno 'bout that," Frisk said bashfully. "He wasn't super happy about it."

"He'll get over it," Sans said.

.

Across the field, Gaster had frozen, eyes locked on Toriel. He looked as if he had spied some phantom; a nightmare looming before his eyes. He took one rattling step towards her before going still once again, trying to cast his focus to a still-chatting Alphys. He wasn't entirely successful.

.

"He is looking at me quite strangely, isn't he?" Toriel said quietly.

"He probably doesn't want you near Frisk," Chara said.

"Oh? Is that so?" An uncharacteristically wide, sideways smile spread on her face. "Then perhaps I should stand a little closer," she said as she took a wide step towards the kid.

"He's just worried," Frisk said quickly, and she lowered her voice. "…If we're right about him, back home, he really sees, um, Toriel like family."

"Hmmm." Toriel's face softened. She knelt down and patted Frisk on the head. "Then, perhaps if he sees that I do not fear you, he may feel a little more comfortable."

Frisk's cheeks flushed a little. "I dunno 'bout that, but—"

"You never know. And besides that, I said you may treat me as if I am an aunt, did I not? So, you can trust me to watch over you, whenever you need."

.

Gaster let out a noise so sharp and sudden it was noticeable even when he tried to conceal it behind his hand, a swift cough, and an apology. Frisk sighed and Chara put a gentle hand on her mother's arm.

"It might be better if you don't stay for the whole time, mom," she said in a hushed voice. "I don't know that the guy can function right if you're around."

"Goodness, that is a little much, is it not?" Toriel frowned lightly and reached out to stroke her daughter's head. "But, as long as Sans is staying, I will come and go as you like, dear."

"Thank you," Chara said.

"Yeah, I ain't plannin' on goin' anywhere," Sans said. "You can chill."

"First, though," Toriel said. "Shall I try to speak with him?" She tapped her chin. "However, I am not exactly sure what I would say, or if that would be… productive. I am still fairly cross with him, now that I think on it."

Frisk gulped. She couldn't help but remember the dressing down her mother had given Asgore when she'd interrupted their battle before the barrier had been broken back home. "Um! I-I'm not sure you need to, then!"

"Oh? I was going to say the opposite," Chara joked.

.

Undyne shouting for Toriel and Alphys across the cavern cut their wonderings short, and as the large monster excused herself, Papyrus slipped away from the Queen and towards Gaster. He peeked back at the others and pointed at the old skeleton, bouncing on his toes. Sans gave a weak shrug and Chara mouthed at Papyrus to ask him what he was doing. The skeleton pointed at the cabin, his eyes brightening. The kids looked between each other— Frisk shrugged, too.

"Think it's fine," Asriel said quietly.

Chara gave Papyrus a nod and the young skeleton sprang into action.

"Greetings, Interloper!" Papyrus said loudly.

.

Gaster turned around quickly, brows shooting up. "…Hello?"

"Hello! I am the great Papyrus, we've met just briefly on opposite sides of a few battles!" Papyrus grinned. "But! As long as everything is settling down and you won't be attempting assassinations anymore, we're all willing to take a big breather. And! Since you're stuck here! We prepared the house for you!" He gestured back to the cabin as if it were a grand mansion. "I can show you around, if you'd like!"

"Ah…" The old skeleton smiled awkwardly. "I'm sure I can manage on—"

"Don't be silly, I am here to offer you excellent hospitality!" Papyrus insisted, beckoning to him. "Come on, you'll like it here, I'm sure!"

.

The old skeleton hesitated just long enough to make Papyrus wait, but the moment he took a step, the boy lit right up and rushed for the door.

"Hey, Papy, be careful, alright?!" Undyne shouted after him.

"No need, but thank you!" he replied with a grin.

.

Asriel looked at his siblings and, at a nod from Chara, rubbed the back of his head, then traipsed after the two skeletons with a resigned look on his face. Gaster seemed a little surprised to see him. The boy tried his best not to keep eye contact.

.

The inside of the cabin was very different from the last time Asriel had been there. No longer a simple tea room, it had been refitted into a snug but fully livable place, complete with a low bed, a reading area with a loaded shelf and a patchy couch, and a proper cooking space.

.

"Alrighty!" Papyrus announced, spreading his arms out proudly. "This is all yours, for now!"

Gaster looked around curiously, his brows raised. "…This?"

"Eeeeexactly!" The boy whipped around to look the old skeleton. "What do you think, do you like it? Do you need anything else?"

"I… Uh." Gaster floundered for a moment. "It's… very nice, thank you."

"Now, don't be alarmed if you find Sans crashing on the couch every once in a while. I'll pop in, too. But! Mostly we'll be just outside."

"Outside?" Gaster's brow furrowed. "…Ah, you'll be coming and going."

"Well, that, and we'll set up some spots for a nice camp out! Which you are free to join in on as long as you aren't rude or trying to blast or stab anyone. Pretty reasonable, if I do say so myself!"

This only served to make the old skeleton look more confused. "I— the prisoner— am to stay in this place, while you all stay… outside?"

"Just take it, will ya?" Asriel said.

"Yes please, we spent all of this morning setting it up!" Papyrus said as he strolled into the small cooking area. "Now, let me show you— There's cupboards full of prepared snacks here, and some ingredients, if you like, and also I put in a few little puzzles here and there on some of the drawers to make you feel more at home!" He winked. "I know there isn't a skeleton alive that doesn't love a good puzzle. And!" He pulled one of the cupboards open to reveal boxes packed full of tea. "A bunch of hand-picked very nice teas from the castle and also our house!"

"…We?" Gaster mused. "The… time god, as well?"

"Man, she didn't poison the tea," Asriel said with a roll of his eyes.

"The tea is the exact opposite of poisoned, it's very healthy, in fact!" Papyrus said, wide-eyed.

Gaster let out a small, hoarse chuckle. "I'll take your word for it."

"And you should! Here, let me make us some! Ooh, you should try Queen Undyne's, it's really something!"

.

As Papyrus hurried to get a kettle going, Asriel crossed his arms and heaved out a sigh.

"You can't just be like this the whole time," he said.

"Like what?" Gaster asked.

"You know. Suspicious and weird," Asriel said. "Come on, you can't tell me that letter she sent doesn't prove she's acting in good faith."

"Hm. Yet it was in your handwriting."

"Wh…?! How'd you know—?! Also who cares?!" Asriel spluttered.

"Did she put you up to it?" Gaster asked. "If so, I—"

"It's just 'cause she can't spell that good, that's all. A-And she didn't draw the pictures, that was me, I wanted her to be way ruder since, you know, you tried to kill her! She didn't want to."

"That's true, Frisk hardly has a rude bone in her body," Papyrus said.

"All she wanted was for you to know what we do, okay?! You can't really think she's forcing me to do anything?!" Asriel insisted. "You saw us— She gave me her soul! That's what was going on right before you shot her. You have to remember that, you were staring right at us!"

"I—"

"If you really believe I'm the Prince. Your nephew. Would it kill you to trust me at least a little?!"

.

Gaster grimaced. He opened his mouth, but then seemed to think better of it and crossed his arms tight against his chest. "I… don't think you're lying. If that helps."

"But you think she is." Asriel's brow furrowed and he snarled. "Man, you're frustrating."

"I'm sorry for that," Gaster said. "It's… not lost on me that you're not attempting to… set me on fire any longer, though. I do appreciate it."

"Whatever," the boy grumbled, turning away and snorting out a little puff of flame.

.

"Aaaaasriel, could you just come here for a quick second please," Papyrus said, his blue magic helping to pull the goat boy closer to him. He threw his arm around his shoulders and huddled up, leaning in close to his friend's floppy ear and lowering his voice to a whisper. "What are you doing?"

"What d'you mean?" Asriel asked.

"We all need to just relax, okay? For the best possible outcomes," he said.

"I'm relaxed! Since when am I not relaxed?"

Papyrus raised one brow. Asriel's ears drooped and he pouted.

"I-It's just hard, okay? He shot me, and what he did to Frisk; what he still says, I can't just forget—"

"I know. Me too." For the first time in a while, the skeleton's face fell. He let out a little sigh, then plastered the old familiar grin across his face. "It's… not perfect, but I really think that the best way to get Frisk what she wants is to at least try to make peace. Right?"

Asriel stared at him for a few long seconds, a sudden pang of guilt striking his soul. He nodded. Giving Papyrus a firm pat on the back, he straightened up. Gaster had busied himself studying his fingertips in the meanwhile.

.

"Sheesh, how long does a tour take, huh?" Sans asked as he strolled in, sporting a wide, teasing grin. "It's one room."

"Nyeh! I'm making tea!" Papyrus said. "Aaaand Asriel is… Well…"

"It's fine. I understand," Gaster said.

As Asriel huffed, Sans chuckled. He flopped heavily onto the couch and folded his arms behind his head.

"So, when we gettin' this started?"

"Getting what started?" Gaster asked.

"Y'know. You. The kid. Parley."

"Ah." The old skeleton frowned and clenched his jaw. He walked stiffly to the bed and sat down. "I—"

"You could give him a little bit more time than that, brother," Papyrus teased. "He just got here."

"Hey, don't blame me, he's the one who said he had questions," Sans said.

"Oh?!" Papyrus whipped around, eyes gleaming. "Really?! That's great! I know Frisk will be happy to—!"

"I don't… Not yet," Gaster said quietly.

"Huh?! Are you scared? Is that why?" Papyrus asked.

"It would be… crazy, to not be afraid, I think."

"Kinda crazy to be, though, I already told ya what the deal is," Sans said.

.

Asriel gave a little snort. He shook his head and made for the door. "Okay, you guys have a good time with the tea, I'm gonna—"

"If you could wait one minute," Gaster said quickly. "If that's alright."

The goat boy held in another snort of flame and he turned back to meet the old skeleton's eyes, steadying himself as best he could. "What?"

"About Chara," he said. "How is she…? I mean, I suppose, how are both of you…?"

"Alive?"

Gaster's shoulders slumped— the ache of his soul chilling the air as colour gleamed in his eyes. He nodded stiffly.

.

Asriel's fur bristled as he felt the eyes of the three skeletons settling upon him. He took a deep breath. "That's… not a quick answer. But, uh…" He weighed his options as he wondered if what he wanted to say would help or hinder his sisters. Clearing his throat and suppressing any snark, he said, "I'll… see if I can convince Chara to talk. It's her story, too. She's not very happy with you, though, so who knows? But, I guess the shortest thing I can say is, it's because of Frisk."

"The time god?" Gaster's brow furrowed. "I…? But why? Is that why you—?"

"No, that's not why we're here," the boy sighed.

"…She ripped you both from time?" the skeleton asked in a hushed voice.

"What?! No! I wish, maybe then we wouldn'ta…" Asriel swallowed his words. "Never mind."

.

The goat boy rushed from the cabin before Gaster could ask anything else. Toriel, Alphys, and Undyne were still conversing far afield, close to the edge of the tree line. Chara and Frisk were sitting together at the dip that lead down to the glowing Soul. He rushed to join his sisters, plopping down beside Chara and holding his head in his hand.

"You okay?" Frisk asked.

"You're vibrating," Chara said.

"It's tough, dude. It's really tough," he muttered.

"Why, did he say something to you?" she asked.

"He wanted to know about you. Or. Us, I guess."

"Well, that's just too bad, isn't it?" Chara said. "I'm not explaining a thing. I'm not even conversing until Frisk gets exactly what she wants."

"Y-You don't gotta go that far," Frisk said.

"Oh, yes I do." The freckled girl folded her arms tight. "He may be stubborn, but I'm still made of determination. If he wants me to talk, he will first." She raised a brow at Asriel. "Unless you already gave us up."

"All I said is that we're here thanks to Frisk." Asriel huffed out a sigh and put his cheek in his hand. "But knowing him, he's gonna somehow twist that into tiny evil time god pulled the poor Prince and Princess out of time and space for nefarious purposes, or some crap."

"Oh. Wonderful." She looked at Frisk. "Any thoughts?"

.

Frisk leaned back on her hands, her brow lightly bent. "He's been through a lot."

"It's no excuse," Chara said.

"He said he tried to talk others down before us, but he never even gave you a chance. That's garbage of him," Asriel said.

Frisk shrugged. "We'll figure it out."

"Hopefully before we go 'cause I don't wanna wait around for this guy to stop being a jerk if home's still wrecked," Asriel said. His ears perked up a little. "Wait, he went to our place, right? Was that 'cause of Uncle G, or…?"

"Dunno."

.

The kids sat in a huddle, quiet but aching with questions and frustration. Frisk strained to think of what she could do to at least put the old skeleton at ease, but she kept coming up blank.

"Is there, like… anything I could do to seem less freaky to him?" she wondered.

"Kinda doubt it," Asriel said.

"Buhhh…" The kid flopped onto her back and stared up at the ceiling. "I just wanna figure it oooouutt."

"Don't bother, Frisk. We'll just use our leverage," Chara said. "If he really wants to know about Azzy and I, he has to give you something."

"Feels kinda bad, though."

"I don't think we have much choice."

.

The faint creak of hinges drew their attention— it was Papyrus, coming out with a tray of mugs. He headed to the older monsters first, then went to the slope to join the others, offering the steaming tea.

"My friends and sister, I come with hot drinks!"

Frisk sat up, rubbing the back of her head, and gratefully took one. "Paps, how do I deal with this?"

"Sip carefully and puff some air on it if it's too hot!"

"With Gaster, Papy," Chara said with an amused smile.

"Ah. Well, this new skeleton is extremely stubborn and set in his ways," Papyrus said. "But! I think I did catch him taking a sip of the tea from the corner of my eye, sooooo he at least didn't go very far with the worrying-about-food-poisoning thing!"

"What, even that?!" Frisk squeaked. "Should I not have touched anything?!"

"He's just being an old brat," Chara assured her.

"Don't worry too much," Papyrus said. He sat down beside her and rubbed her head. "Any little bit is progress! Don't forget, he even let you touch him for a second! I think that's two points within a pretty short amount of time, which is pretty good!"

"I-I guess so." Frisk leaned into the skeleton and took a calming sip of tea. "Yeah. You're right."

Papyrus smiled. "I know I am."

.

"Man, this almost feels like dealing with me again," Asriel grumbled. "Y'know, as a flower."

"What, you really gave her this hard of a time?" Chara teased.

"It was almost impossible not to!" Asriel said. "I was so paranoid. But at least I had the excuse of not having a soul, I guess."

"Maybe that's good, though," Frisk said. "I mean, you almost… couldn't trust me all the way, right? Because of that?"

Asriel nodded.

"But Gaster has a soul." Her eyes brightened a little. "So maybe… Maybe, I…! If I just…! I dunno, but I gotta do something!" She frowned thoughtfully. "It's… It's like Sans, before he… Before he knew I was the one he saw in the dreams and stuff. He was really messed up, too. But he still actually liked me." Her confidence wavered a little. "But, um, it… wouldda been a lot harder if Papyrus hadn't been there. Sans started off doing his, um, y'know, lowest p… potential harm loop thing before Paps gave me a place to stay. "

"What, really?" Papyrus asked. "Maybe you just need a Papyrus here, then! But… I guess a metaphorical Papyrus, because I'm not sure he really knows who I am."

"I'll do it," Chara said.

"I already tried," Asriel said. "He wouldn't listen."

"True, but he's remembering you before everything went wrong," Chara said. "Kind. Friendly. Sweet. Naïve." She locked eyes with him. "Exactly the opposite of how you are now."

"Chaaaaraaaa!" he whined as Frisk hid an abrupt snort behind her hand.

Chara's facade cracked and she smiled fondly. "I'm kidding. But, it's that naïveté— you were easily led, that's absolutely true. And that's how he recalls you. But, as for me…"

"You were the smart one," he said. "You wouldn't be manipulated."

"Exactly."

.

Chara tipped back her entire tea and then got to her feet.

"What, you're just going like that?" Asriel asked.

"Well, seems like I hold all the cards. I'm not just going to sit around here if—"

The cabin door opened again and she whipped around in time to see Sans saunter out. Her back went a bit stiff.

"Everything okay?" she asked.

"Oh yeah, sure. Still wanna do the thing?"

"Hm. Work first. Fine," she said. "You ready?"

"If I have to be." He winked. "Think I can handle a bit more."

"Pace yourselves," Papyrus said. "You had to sleep almost twelve hours last time."

"What's another twelve, huh?"

"Way too much, Sans!"

.

The freckled girl moved to join her brother and offered her hand, pausing only when she caught sight of Gaster sheepishly peeking out from the cabin. She suppressed a glare and simply set her soul aglow for Sans to take. He hesitated.

"Pigeon, forget 'bout me for a sec," he said. "How 'bout you? I know it ain't exactly easy. Y'sure you're up for it after yesterday?"

Chara nodded. Her eyes slid over to Gaster for just an instant. "Of course. We have a lot of time we have to make up for. I'll do whatever I can to help Frisk."

.

Sans took her hand and, in a rush of magic, the two became the large, three-eyed skeleton. He stretched out his spine and tail, ignoring Gaster gawking a little ways away, and then strolled over to the light of the Soul. He turned and levelled a claw at Papyrus.

"You're in charge while we're out," he said.

Papyrus saluted. "Got it!"

The huge skeleton's sharkish smile widened. He turned to the light, a hum resonating from the dual souls in his chest cavity, and he locked all four hands onto the light. Every bone, even the tail, went stiff as a statue.

.

"What are they doing?" Gaster had moved to the edge of the slope, eyes wide, almost as if in a trance.

"That's their work," Papyrus said. "They're peeking into the space in the void between worlds. It's very important!"

"How on earth…? Is it safe? "

"Very safe! But very tiring," the younger skeleton said.

"I mean for Chara, how can she—?"

"Oh, the soulbonding, you mean! Of course! It's safer for her than it is for him, technically. They'll be doing it for you, too, when they look for your home."

The old skeleton turned sharply to face him and almost recoiled at what he saw. Asriel frowned and Frisk shifted as if to stand, but Papyrus simply hugged her a little closer and smiled innocently.

"It does take a bit of time, though," he continued. "You're second in line, after my friends, here. Don't worry!"

"I… see." Gaster stared for a moment longer before turning on his heel, back towards the cabin.

.

"W-Wait! Gaster, um…" Frisk got to her feet and the old skeleton stalled stiff, as if he'd been frozen solid. "Is it safe?"

"…What?" he asked, tempered incredulity pushed just to the end of the word.

"Your home," Frisk said. "Is it safe to send you back there?"

"It…" He took a breath and headed for the cabin. "…Will never be safe."

"Waaaaait, wait wait wait." The kid hurried after him. "How do I make it safe?"

"You cannot."

"You don't know that," Frisk insisted. "I don't want them to send you somewhere where you can't—"

"Stop."

"But, like… From the letter, did that stuff mean anything to you? Does that help? Did you think of anything to—?

"I. Said. Stop."

"I can't!" Frisk blurted shrilly. "Look, I saw something when you blasted me, and I—"

Gaster shot her a cold, dark-eyed glance over his shoulder. "The only thing that saves my world is for creatures like you to cease to exist."

.

Frisk stalled in her tracks as the skeleton vanished inside the cabin, all but slamming the door behind him. The kid's shoulders slumped.

"That couldda gone better," she grumbled. She cupped her hands around her mouth and shouted, "LOOK, I'M SORRY, I KNOW IT SUCKS AND YOU HATE ME BUT I DON'T WANT MORE BAD THINGS TO HAPPEN TO YOU OUT THERE!"

No reply. She wasn't surprised, but she let out a small, dejected sigh nonetheless.

.

When Frisk turned to head back, she was surprised to see Asriel was just a few feet behind her, looking like he was ready to rip a head from a neck with just his teeth. Papyrus was still where he'd been seated, both hands pressed over his mouth, his eyes wide and worried.

"I'm sorry, I mightta gone a bit too far," Frisk said.

"No you didn't, he did," Asriel spat. He bent down to hold her shoulders. "He's wrong, he's—"

"I know." She rubbed her head. "Ugh, I shouldn'ta pushed."

"Yeaaaah, I… dunno if that was ever gonna work there," Asriel muttered.

"Sorry." Frisk drooped.

"Frisk?" Papyrus snuck up and sat down on his knees with her, taking her hand. "…Don't listen to him, okay? What a horrible thing to say to someone."

"Wh…? Oh, um, I'm fine, don't worry," the kid assured him.

.

Some strange growling drew their attention— Undyne, at the other end of the chamber. She was enraged, eye glowing, cyan flared in her scales and hair. The only thing that prevented her from dropping a typhoon on the cabin was that Toriel and Alphys were both holding her back. Asriel raised his hand at them.

"We're fine!" he called.

"WHAT A RUDE PIECE OF SHIT!" Undyne bellowed.

"He's traumatized or something, Undyne!" Frisk shouted back.

"I DON'T CARE, THAT'S ASS-KICKIN' BEHAVIOUR!"

"Please don't!"

"NGGAAAAAH!"

.

Toriel trapped the blue monster in a bear hug, bending her snout inwards to whisper gently. Alphys looked between them quickly, rubbing her hands together with nerves. She glanced back at the kids with an apologetic smile.

.

Frisk huffed. She jogged across the cavern to join them, stopping just short of Toriel. She peered up at the huge monsters with big eyes. "Hey, Undyne?"

The growling ceased and Toriel slowly released the grouchy Queen. Her one yellow eye shone down at Frisk questioningly. The kid raised both hands and, ears drooping, brow bent in a quizzical frown, Undyne knelt and let Frisk grab onto her and squeeze her fingers.

"Thank you. Ever since we battled, you really stuck up for me," Frisk said. "Even when there were all those rules and stuff that made it kinda tough. I appreciate you a lot."

"I, uh… Eh. Couldda done better," Undyne grumbled.

Frisk tilted her head. She reached up, standing on her toes, and gave the huge monster a hug around her neck. Undyne froze up for a moment, but she bent and carefully squished the kid in return.

"I know the guy's being a jerk, but go easy on him, okay?" Frisk asked quietly. "I dunno if he's gonna let me heal him again so quick."

"Pfff." Undyne chuckled hoarsely. "Alright, alright. Got it, y'little dweeb." She ruffled Frisk's hair. "Just don't be too nice for your own good and get stabbed or some crap, okay?"

"I'll be fine," Frisk assured her.

.

"U-Undyne?" Alphys said quietly, taking the fish monster by the shoulder. "Why don't we take, um, a little walk or something? Cool our scales a little."

Undyne scrunched up her face. She dragged her claws through her bright red hair and smiled bashfully. "Yeah. Think I need that." She straightened up. "You kids be good, yeah? Tori, what 'bout you, you wanna come?"

"I will stay, for now," she said. "Until Sans and Chara separate again. Then, well… We will see how things go."

xXxXx

When the huge, four-armed skeleton unlatched himself from the Soul of the World, his senses, restored to the light of reality, absorbed soft notes of magic, tingling warm through his frigid bones. Glimmers of sparkling red and golden-orange, shifting with rainbows, bobbed in the air along with the gentle whistle of a vessel flute and the melodic voice of of a lyra. Despite a tired rattle through his bones, the skeleton turned and trudged up the slope to find the others. Though Asriel was pacing around off in the distance, Toriel sat close to Frisk and Papyrus as they played, a few books laying open around them.

.

"Welcome back!" Papyrus called.

"Heyowdy." The skeleton paused and smooshed his face with a palm, snorting out a tired laugh. "That was a mess."

"Hello, my dears," Toriel said. "I hope you have not strained yourself too much."

He chuckled tiredly and winked his left eye. "Just enough. How long were we in there?"

"An hour and three minutes!" Papyrus said. "A little long for two days in a row, isn't it?"

"Meh. We miss anythin'?"

"Yeah, watch this!" Frisk called. She carefully whistled the melody for the shield spell she'd learned, but then continued on into a wintery sort of song.

After a few bars, the plates of the shield frosted over, then burst into sparkly snowdust. The kid grinned proudly.

"Cool, right?!"

"Heh. Very." His grin widened. "Practice a little more and you might come up with something you can actually use."

Frisk stuck out her tongue. "I still don't wanna blow things up, Chara!"

He shrugged all four arms. "I'm just saying."

.

The huge skeleton trembled a little. He scoffed quietly, then sat down beside them. As soon as he settled, his bones began to shimmer and glow. Overwhelmed with light, Sans and Chara split apart on the grass. As Sans flopped heavily onto his back, Chara groaned and grabbed onto Frisk, draping herself across the kid's shoulders as the glow of red slowly faded from her body. Papyrus patted her on the back.

"You're doing really well, sister," he said.

"Ehh…" she muttered.

"No luck, huh?" Frisk asked.

"No. Sorry." She smooshed her cheek against Frisk's head and pointed off to where Asriel was prowling. "What's with him? Still giving mom space?"

"I told him he need not bother," Toriel said. "But he is very agitated aside from that, the poor boy."

As if on cue, some strong, magic burst puffed out from the trees, scattering leaves into the air.

"Oh dear, that was a large one," she said quietly, brows bent with worry. "He has been doing something strange over there for a while now."

"AAAASRIEEEEL, ARE YOU SURE YOU'RE OOOOOKAY?!" Papyrus called.

"Yeeeeeeah," Asriel answered from way off in the distance. "Just ignoooore me, I'm fiiiiine!"

.

Papyrus sighed. "Our guest was pretty… Welllll…" He put his instrument aside and tented his fingers. "How to say this…? Mean. He was very mean. Extremely mean."

"I tried to push him a little too soon," Frisk said apologetically. "He still just kinda wants me to not exist, sooo…"

.

Chara frowned heavily, grimacing as a flare of red gleamed in her irises. Toriel reached out to stroke the girl's head.

"Calm, my child," she said. "Are you certain I should not attempt to speak with him?"

"Y'can try," Sans said. "Though I have a feelin' it won't go much better than my talk with 'im did in regards to the whole Frisk situation."

"Love bein' a situation," Frisk joked tiredly.

Sans chuckled. "Sorry, bub."

"Hm." Toriel frowned. "Well. Let us see." She got to her feet. "I will return shortly."

"Good luck," Chara said with a weak wave.

.

Toriel vanished inside the cabin for a while, leaving the the others to their own devices— most of which was still laying around in the grass. When she returned, she did not look pleased.

"What a stubborn man," she muttered.

"Warned ya," Sans said.

"What happened?" Chara asked.

"Firstly, he would hardly meet my eyes," Toriel said. "Secondly, all he wished to do was insist I stay away from little Frisk. That she was not what she seemed and extremely dangerous, or some other such nonsense."

"Sounds 'bout right," the skeleton said.

"Too spooky for your own good," Chara said.

"Guess soooo," Frisk sighed.

.

Toriel rolled her eyes. She turned back to the cabin and her brow furrowed deeply— the door was a little ajar. She spun and carefully plucked Frisk up off the ground under her arms. Cutting another quick glance to the side, she gently booped the end of her snout against the kid's forehead.

"Please do not be discouraged, dear," Toriel said. "One can only deny the reality that looks them in the face for so long, can they not?"

"I, um… I dunno," Frisk said. "But I hope he at least tells someone something I can use to help him."

Toriel nodded. She gently put the kid back on the grass, where Chara pulled her into her arms. Frisk squeaked a little and the freckled girl squeezed her tight.

.

"Don't be sad," Chara said.

"Um, Chara, I'm okay—"

"Shhh. Shh." The girl gave her a gentle smooch on the top of her head. "He's just a big bully, it's all going to be fine." Her eyes darted up and she clutched Frisk until she caught the door pulling closed. She drew back, smiling approvingly, and she clapped the kid heartily on both shoulders.

"…Wait, so are you alright?" Papyrus asked, leaning in with a worried look on his face.

"Y-Yeah?" Frisk was clearly puzzled, but she smiled sheepishly, looking to Chara. "Thanks for the hug but I'm okay, I promise."

"I know," the girl said with a grin. "You trust me?"

"Yeah, duh, why?"

"Then, don't worry. I'll get you exactly what you need."

.

Sans snickered quietly. He sat up and rubbed the back of his head. "Pigeon, go easy on the guy," he joked.

"Never," Chara said. "Mom?"

"Yes, my child?" Toriel replied.

"Would you mind getting something for me from town? It slipped my mind this morning."

"Of course," the silvery monster said. "In fact, it might be wise for me to give you some space, so that poor boy does not wear a groove in the forest's edge. What do you need?"

"Coffee. A nice one. And dried ginger. Oh, and something sweet. Condensed milk, if you can find it."

"Ooh. The big guns," Sans said.

Toriel's brow quirked, but she nodded. "It will not be a problem. Shall I see you all back here for dinner?"

"Perfect." Chara stood and gave her mother a hug. "Thank you."

.

Toriel departed, but Asriel still didn't return, instead lurking between the black-trunked trees at the far end of the cavern like a snow-coloured cryptid. His magic bursts, however, had finally ceased. As Chara excused herself to mutter quietly with Sans, and Papyrus got up to check in on their guest, Frisk slipped off after her brother.

.

In the bordering woods, she came across strange, twisted outgrowths of branches that she hadn't seen elsewhere, and patches of grass that sprouted up higher than she was tall. Clawmarks raked long lines across some of the trunks, silvery magic shimmering at the edge of the cuts. She ran her hands along them, shifting them back in time as she wandered, peeking into shadows and through the long grass. She felt as if she were exploring a jungle.

.

"Az?" Frisk asked.

The kid heard only an oomf and crunchy rustling as a reply. Some silvery leaves drifted down from high above, glittering though there was little light for them to catch.

"Az?" Frisk asked again.

"O-Over here!" Asriel stumbled out of a dark bush that had been lost in the shadows, quickly brushing its charcoal leaves out of his fur. "Hoooowdy."

"Whatcha doin'?" she asked.

"Oh. Um." His cheeks flushed a little. "Er… Okay, so, first I was just trying to calm down, but then I started thinking." He paused, but when she simply stared at him with wide, curious eyes, he rubbed the back of his head bashfully. "I was wondering if…? Well, first I just kinda wanted to see if I could make some, um, bushes or something. To hide in, like, to listen in on Gaster if he came out, or… I dunno, something simple like that. But, um… You know that weird plant thing I made when I flipped out that one time? Like, you had to come get me out of a bush or whatever?"

"Yeah," she said.

"So, I guess I… went a little too far and I did one of those instead? And then I thought, maybe that's way better? And then I got to thinking, like, maybe I could just make a room for us to sleep in instead of setting up tents or whatever?"

"Oh yeah? Did it work?"

"Kiiiinda?" Asriel grinned sheepishly. "Um, come look, if you want?"

"Duh, of course I want!" she assured him.

.

Eyes brightening, Asriel beckoned her towards the bush. She gladly took his hand and he shoved one arm into the leafy wall he'd come from and stepped through, pulling her with him.

.

Through twigs and foliage, they emerged out on the other side into an implausibly large room made of leaves and grass that was almost fluffy to the touch. The place was dark and carried a hint of blue, a false rendition of night, lit only by soft, white motes of magic that drifted around like fat fireflies.

.

"Aaaah, duuuude, it's cooool!" Frisk cooed. She turned to her brother, but was given pause by the state of him.

The arm Asriel had used to push through the wall was encased in plates of bark, pale and streaked like the trunk of a birch. He rubbed it with a look of mild discomfort on his face, but then turned to her with a smile.

"You think so? I didn't really do much yet, but at least it worked!"

"Is your arm okay?" she asked.

"Hm? Oh." He raised it up, the wooden sections masking his hand in a sharp-clawed gauntlet. "Yeah. It did this the first time I came in here, too, I… I think I'm still just overdoing it, but I dunno how to stop, so…" He shook his head. "It's fine, it's just kinda weird, it goes away."

"Okay." Frisk's eyes got big. "Ooh. Maybe you could learn to do plant golem?"

"Plant golem?" Asriel scratched his chin. "…Ooh. Maybe. But, um, take a look at this first!"

.

He darted away and ducked down, lifting a book out of the grass.

"Wait, you can keep stuff in here on its own?" Frisk asked.

"Seems like it," Asriel said. "I figure it's kinda like when you build a house outta only magic, right? And the inside can be bigger than the outside, to a point. Anyway." He bent down and showed her the book, his tail wagging. "See, I'm, uh… Not sure what I can do, I think I mostly gotta just work with what's around on the outside, but on the inside I can… Oh. Sorry, here." He waved a hand to call an orb of light to them to illuminate the page.

.

It was an alchemy book, illustrations between long sections of notes showing off a type of gold fruit encased in a light, papery shell, rounded on one end and tapering to a point at the other.

"So, um, if you look at the leaves, right? Over here?" Asriel sent the orb over to illuminate the wall, casting pale light across the leaves layered together like scales. "Maple, right? See the points? But the ones outside, they're kinda like, heart shaped a little?"

"Okay," Frisk said with a nod.

"Also there's none of this stuff…" He held up his unusual arm. "…out there either."

"So it doesn't work like normal world in here," she said.

"I guess not?"

"When you did it the first time, like, when you couldn't control it," Frisk said, "it looked a lot like the place I fell into the mountain. So, that's definitely not normal, right?"

"Right. Right! So, um. That means I can do some weird stuff that doesn't make sense in here, probably." His ears perked. "I was thinking, like, we could set up some big leaf hammocks or something! And these golden things, they could be like lanterns and stuff, and…!" Asriel clammed up and looked at his sister, his cheeks flushing. "This is… way too nerdy, huh?"

"What? No way," Frisk said, eyes gleaming. She grinned. "I think it's super cool!"

"Y-Yeah?" The boy smiled. "Thanks. It's, um…" He rubbed the back of his head and let out a little sigh. "It still makes me kinda nervous, but— I mean, after the tree stuff and everything, this is… easier?"

.

Frisk tilted her head. She offered him a hug and he took it gratefully. The nervous buzz in his soul was a lot clearer up close, despite his attempts to conceal it. She snuggled against him and grinned.

"You're cool," she assured him. "Okay, I know this'll sound weird, but I'm super proud of you."

"Wh…?! Um." He slumped a little. "Th-Thanks, Frisk."

"You should try it," she said.

"Huh?"

"The little lanterns," she said with a grin. "Or! Do big lanterns! Try whatever you want."

.

Asriel's eyes brightened. He grabbed his book again and stepped back. After a last skim of the images, he tossed it to the side and raised his wood-coated arm. He closed his eyes and magic ruffled his fur as if in a wind. Red sparks glimmered from his body and he let out a long, slow breath. Blooms, shining with a faint, golden glow, sprouted around his feet and motes of energy swirled as if he were in the centre of a whirlwind.

.

Amber lights began to prickle along the walls. Frisk beamed, clenching her hands together and bouncing on her toes, eyes gleaming as the magic pulsed like flame. Papery shells crept over them to soften the glow and vines crept out from behind them, stringing them up like fairy-lights.

"Az, it's—!"

Asriel opened his eyes and the magic burst. A few of the pods grew to the size of soccer balls and clunked to the ground, leaving the rest dangling haphazardly. Frisk squeaked and put her hands to her face.

"Aaah, sorry!"

Asriel laughed. "It's fine."

.

With a wave of his hand, the boy called one of the oversized lanterns to him and peeled back the covering to reveal the golden berry inside. He took a chomp of it and then stuck out his tongue.

"Is it bad?" Frisk asked.

"It's hardly anything, I have no idea what it's supposed to be like," he said, tossing it over his shoulder. "That's… not too bad, though, right?"

"I think it's really cool!" Frisk said.

Asriel couldn't help a grin. "Thanks! Um." His face softened a bit. "Hey. Um. About… before. What Gaster said—"

"It's fine," Frisk said quickly. "It's not like it's the first time someone told me I shouldn't exist."

Asriel frowned. "Oh great."

Frisk smiled and gave a little shrug. "S'fine." She turned back to look over her shoulder and grinned. "Forget that, it's lame. We gotta show the other guys. D'you think they can come in here?"

"Uh. I dunno," he said.

"Experiments!" she said brightly.

.

They left the mysterious plant realm the same way they'd entered. The cast of bark around Asriel's arm crumbled to dust as soon as it hit the air. Frisk ran around the small bush, cooing with awe.

"Can we bring it over there?" she asked.

"I, uh… I dunno, maybe?" Asriel put a hand on either side of the shrub and pulled it upwards. "If I can uproot it—?"

The plant popped out of the ground so suddenly that the boy nearly fell over. He yelped and steadied himself. Frisk was still grinning.

"Aaah, it's so cool!" she said. "…Could you make it bigger?"

"Bigger? Uh. Maybe? But—?"

"Ooh! What about smaller?" She gasped and her eyes gleamed with stars. "Oh man, you could make like little hedgey travel houses if you wanted!"

"I dunno how long it lasts if I'm not using it," he said. "I don't really know anything. But, uh…" He carefully squished the plants in his hands and his magic swelled, awkwardly shrinking the bush to about half its size. Frisk cheered.

.

"Ooh! Does it still…?" She stuck her arm into it up to the shoulder and found no end to it. "Ooh, yep!" She gasped. "Ohmigod, I'm gonna surprise them, hang on!"

"Wait, I dunno if—!"

It was too late. She'd taken a dive straight into a shrub too small to hide her and vanished.

"…if you can get out on your own." Asriel snorted out a laugh and rubbed his eyes. "Yo, can you even hear me in there?"

"Yeah!" Frisk called back from somewhere that sounded quite far away. "You forgot the book!"

"Grab it, will ya?"

"Kaaay!"

.

Shaking his head, Asriel carried the shrub out of the woods. He caught sight of Chara and the skeletons still hanging around just past the slope of the Soul.

"Took your time in there, didn't you?" Chara said. "…What's that? Where's Frisk?"

Asriel pretended that he didn't hear the giggling from inside the shrub. He shrugged and put it down in the grass and after a second, Frisk bounded out.

"Heeeere!"

"Nyeh! Hi, Frisk!" Papyrus said.

"Why were you in a shrub?" Chara asked.

"Um. Shouldn't you be asking hoooow I was in the shrub?" Frisk said, gesturing to the plant.

Chara stared at her blankly. "What do you mean how?"

"Like… I dunno, how?" Frisk insisted.

"…Frisk, I'm not sure what you're getting at."

"It's a really small shrub!"

"Not small enough that you couldn't effectively hide in it, clearly."

Frisk balked. "I-I'm not that small!"

"…Kinda are," Asriel said.

"Aw come on!"

"Bud, think you're gonna have to, uh, quit beatin' 'round the bush," Sans said, struggling desperately to keep from laughing through his words.

Papyrus smacked a hand against his own brow. Chara cracked and snickered a little.

"Look, it's…!" Frisk sighed. "Ugh. Watch." The kid jumped at the shrub and cannonballed in, vanishing completely.

Sans burst out laughing. "Guess she ain't stickin' around!"

.

"…Oh!" Papyrus sat up on his knees. "It's like Asriel's weird messy plant that he got stuck in!"

"It basically is that," Asriel said. "Minus the, uh, stuck part."

"Is that what you two were doing back there?" Chara asked, eyes bright with curiosity.

"I can't beleaf it," Sans said.

"Sans, I am deliberately choosing to ignore your extremely overripe jokes," Papyrus said as he leaned forward. He touched the plant carefully, only for Frisk's hand to shoot out and grab his. "Nyeeeeeh!" He yanked back in surprise, pulling Frisk back out as well.

As the two of them flopped onto the ground, Sans wheezed laughing.

"I-I just thought we could use it instead of a tent!" Asriel blurted. "If we can all go in, I guess."

"No offence, Azzy, but I'm not diving into a shrub that may just end in… shrub," Chara said.

"Then c'mere, then," he said. He grabbed her by the hand, drew the bush up to a slightly less daunting size, and then pulled her through.

.

They both vanished, but Chara's startled exclamation could be heard even from outside as the selection and the other kid righted themselves. After a moment, the half-bitten, giant fruit came flinging out, only to dissolve into embers in midair. Chara clambered out after it, rubbing her head and looking around.

"…Where'd it go?"

"Didn't stick," Sans said.

"Hm. I see. Azzy?"

"Yeah?" he called.

"How long does this last?"

"Uhhhh… As long as I'm in it, at least?" He shoved himself back out onto the grass and sighed. "Whew. Might be g-gettin' to be a little much out here, though."

"Take a break," she said. "Go in there and nap or something." She fished in her pocket and pulled out a hexagonal crystal about as big as her palm, not unlike the ones she'd been using with Frisk. "And take this."

"Uh? Thanks?"

"It'll absorb some of your ambient magic," she said. "You can use it to keep things stable later, so you won't have to expend any energy. Just keep it in your pocket."

"Oh! Okay. Thanks." He looked at the skeletons. "Um. D'you guys wanna see if…?"

"You guys go," Sans said. "I should keep an eye out for the ol' doomer."

"We can swap out," Papyrus assured him.

.

The younger skeleton gladly followed Asriel into the plant realm, but Chara stayed still. She turned to Sans and gave him a tight hug. He patted her on the head.

"Tired, huh?"

"Mhm." She sighed. "I wish there was some way just to know even… an estimate. A… vague guess, even! Of how many hours."

"Not possible, pidge," he said.

"I know." She drew back, rubbing her fingers through her bangs. "Okay. One more thing?"

"Got a scheme?" he asked.

Chara rolled her eyes, but a sly smile crossed her lips anyhow. "Scheme is probably overplaying it. But. Yeah. Let me swap in tonight, too. Alone. And no spying."

"Sure," he said with a shrug. "Fill me in after?"

"Of course."

He ruffled her hair gently. "Welp. Whatever you're goin' for. Hope it works."

"Meee too," she said.

xXxXx

Papyrus was completely enamoured with the mysterious plant realm. He and Asriel scoured the alchemy books for the shapes of plants and interesting flora to build up into the walls, but for tonight, hammocks of vines, oversized leaves, and bedding from the house was more than enough. Meanwhile, Chara returned to painting and Frisk bounced between watching her with rapt attention and tittering away on her ocarina.

.

Toriel returned to the cavern around dinner time with meals from the castle's kitchen and Mistral's scones and honey for dessert. She had located everything Chara had asked for as well, much to the girl's relief.

.

The night was long and Chara's thoughts were preoccupied. She waited through songs and stories, half-there and half elsewhere, trying to focus thoughts into places she hated to tread without letting it show on her face. Her agitated energy did not go overlooked, but there was a thousand plausible excuses for it. She went with the most logical— and true— one when pressed: the work with the Soul was difficult, and she wanted results despite the dread that came with them.

.

She allowed her mother to snuggle her up, though the large monster fell asleep long before Chara even feigned it. She waited until she was sure Asriel and Frisk had dozed off before even risking opening her eyes.

.

She was met instantly with Papyrus staring her in the face so close that she had to stop herself from yelping.

"What're you doing?" she asked at a shrill whisper.

He beckoned to her and she carefully slipped from Toriel's arms to join him a few feet away. "I have the same question for you." His eyes lit up and he stared right through her. "Come on, sister, I know something's wrong."

Chara locked eyes with him. She crossed her arms and frowned. He didn't falter for a moment. After a long silence, her shoulders dropped.

"…Promise you won't follow," she said.

"Nnnnnope, no way, not until I know what I'm not following you to."

Chara couldn't help a hoarse chuckle. "You're so stubborn."

"Runs in the family," he said with a grin. "Come on."

She huffed. It took her a moment to get the words off her tongue. "…I'm going to talk to Gaster," she said. "But I need… his total focus. So I don't want any following or listening at the door, not even to check if I'm alright. Not even if I'm in there for hours. Alright?"

"…I—"

"Promise? Please?" She took his hand. "I'll be alright, Papy."

"Why all the secrecy?" he asked.

"Exactly what I said. Even if you go up there and feel my energy going… absolutely crazy. Don't interrupt. Okay?"

.

Papyrus's brow furrowed. "I don't know how comfortable I am with that."

"That's why I was trying to be sneaky, you doofus," she teased gently.

"Hmph!" Papyrus grimaced. "Okay. Fair. But if it's been two days or—"

"Papy."

"If it's been two whole days," he said, "I'm coming in to get you."

"It's not going to take that long," she said.

"Then you should have no problem saying, yes, Papyrus, you can come get me if it's been two days!"

Chara wilted and chuckled. "…Yes, Papyrus, you can come get me if it's been two days."

"Thank you!"

She swiftly shushed him. "Don't wake mom up."

.

The skeleton snickered quietly. He gave her a hug and she grabbed him tight, squeezing him a lot harder than she meant to. His soul glowed warm and bright against her and, when he pulled back, he cupped her face and gently bumped his brow to hers.

"Good luck," he said.

"Mhm."

.

Chara took a deep breath. She gathered up the things Toriel had found for her and left the coziness of Asriel's place.

.

Stepping back into the chamber, she was just in time to see Sans strolling out of the cabin. He stuck up a hand to greet her and she nodded at him. He gave her an approving thump on the shoulder as he passed. She hurried to the door and gave it three solid knocks before stepping in herself.

.

Gaster was standing near the bed when she entered. His eyes widened and his jaw fell for an instant.

"Cha—?"

"Greetings, Gaster," she said.

"…G… Greetings, hm?" he repeated, a tired smile straining his face. He cautiously took a seat on the bed. "I assume you're… still furious with me."

"Let's not… go into that right now," Chara said. She headed for the small cooking area and pulled an old, metal coffee percolator from one of the lower cabinets and dragged it up onto the counter to carefully fill it with water. "I brought you something."

"A stór, I'm so sorry about what happened at the castle," he said. "I never meant for you to get hurt."

"Hm. Thank you. I didn't," she said stiffly. She took a slow, deep breath to try to get her shoulders to relax. She set aside the pouch of freshly ground coffee Toriel had gathered and placed the percolator on the small stovetop to boil. "We have a lot to discuss, don't we?"

.

She turned back to the skeleton. He looked gaunt, somehow. Exhausted. His eye sockets were particularly grey. Chara felt a pang in her heart and tried to shove it back down instantly. She turned back to the cabinets and began to pull out some mugs.

"I heard you had questions," she said.

"I… I do," he said. He gripped to the frame of the bed tightly. "What happened? How are you…? The time god, what did she—?!"

"One at a time," Chara said.

"Did the time god pull you from the timeline? From the world?" he asked, trying to calm his voice.

"No," she said. "She didn't."

"…Then how are you alive, a stór? How is…? How is your brother alive?"

Chara pursed her lips. "We'll get there. It's… complicated. But, I would like you to know, that this… time god. Frisk. It's thanks to her that either of us can still exist."

Gaster made a small, strange noise, as if he'd pulled a splinter from his hand. Chara turned back to him and leaned her back against the counter.

"I know what you've seen has to be horrific," she said. "What happened, exactly? …Back home?"

.

Gaster gulped. He rubbed his hand over his face. "Everything fell apart."

"How?"

"The CORE, it—"

"I know," Chara said, forcing a gentleness into her tone. "After that."

"Time entities. Unkillable. They would… arrive on a certain day and…" He sighed. "Just do whatever they wanted. Turn back time. Undo their losses. Trap us." He leaned forward, brow bent with worry. "Chara, I know you're…? You seem to be… close to this creature, but I—"

"I am close to her," Chara said. "I consider her my family. I would never have had a chance without her."

.

Gaster winced. He faltered, his eyes searching the ground aimlessly as his bones rattled faintly. "Chara, your… parents, the kingdom, everything," he said. "It's all stuck in a timeless grey loop. It's fallen apart. Thanks to those—"

"Yes. Those. Not her," she said softly.

"They are able to treat entire universes like playthings," Gaster said. "Her world is dying because of what she's done. I've seen it myself."

Chara's brow furrowed softly. "I'm not going to speak for her. That's not why I came." She turned to check the water and, satisfied with its bubbling, added the ground coffee to the chamber above and closed it up to brew. "I know I look a little different than I did. So does Asriel. How are you so sure you're right about us?"

"Chara," he said gently. "I've known you since you were four. Your brother, since he was born. I've been to places where I've seen different versions of both of you, and the underlying feeling is always unique. Even with your… borrowed soul. Somehow. It's still… Chara. The paleness of your brother's eyes and stripes on his face don't change that he's my nephew, and likewise, whatever has happened to you doesn't change that you are my niece. Though, I know that sounds hard to believe." He gritted his teeth. "I'm… sorry. I tried… I didn't want you to know."

"Oh really? Why's that?"

"It was difficult enough for me to realize who you were. How could I place that upon children?" he said. "And I… To be honest, a stór, I know you still aren't fully convinced. How could you be?"

.

Chara frowned to herself. On the contrary, every word out of his mouth seemed to make Frisk's hypothesis more likely. A Gaster, from a version of their home, who had somehow missed his chance to create the world's anchor.

.

"…Did you battle them?" she asked quietly.

"Who?"

"The other time entities."

"If my sons failed to drive them off, then, I did. Or, I tried," he said. "Why?"

.

Chara nodded. A Gaster, who stood at the end of the world, to confront a demon.

.

She felt nauseous.

.

"So, Sans still did it, too," she said quietly.

"…He did. When he could. As the world… dissolved. It became less predictable. Sometimes, he could do nothing at all."

Chara sighed. She drummed her fingers on the counter and was silent for a while. She could tell when the coffee was finished by the smell, and quickly took it off the heat. Carefully, she poured the dark liquid into a tall mug. With a large spoon, she dropped in three thick, sweet globs of condensed milk from a jar and then sprinkled in some powdered ginger and stirred it up. She wished she'd had the forethought to make herself a nice, dark cocoa, too.

.

Putting the spoon aside, she walked to Gaster and offered him the mug. He took it cautiously, looking between her and the steaming coffee with confusion.

"Thank you. Did the Archwizard say—?"

"No, actually. I was listening. When she was interrogating you," Chara said. "When you asked for ginger in your coffee, that was what made me consider that you might be my Uncle. I remember that smell from your old apartment."

Gaster gawked. His eyes welled up and he brushed them quickly. "Y-You believe m—?"

"I believe that there was a time where our paths crossed. Where… everything lined up."

.

Chara had to take a deep breath. She sat on the couch and, though her heart pounded, she beckoned to him. "If you want to understand what happened to… To me. To your world. Come here."

The skeleton looked confused. He took a quick sip of the drink and carefully set it aside before joining her on the sofa.

"You can still do that memory ability, right?" she said. "It's not battle magic, so I doubt it'll disrupt the charms."

"I… I can, but, Chara—?"

"I want to show you," she said. "The truth." She set her soul aglow and stared at him resolutely, despite the chill running down her spine. "You'll understand."

Gaster was still puzzled, but he nodded. His fingers rested lightly over the red light of her soul and the others touched against her temple. He bumped his brow to hers and Chara began.

.

Just a touch of the false illness. Just the smallest of hints of the nausea, the burning in her throat and fingers, the dizziness, the pain. Darkness. Then, the overwhelming light of the bright sun. Asriel's warmth and the surge of power flowing through every note of their being.

.

She released that before the arrows hit and sprinted ahead to the deep dark, the cold, and the confusion. The aimless drifting, the whispers of shadowy voices, the absolute daze of every second of her limited existence, until—

.

The CORE.

.

The heat that came back. The thoughts that mulled about in her head. The little tugs here and there of power. Wouldn't it be nice to have? Wouldn't it be nice if those that put her here could do nothing at all ever again?

.

Then, the others. The travellers. The thieves. The goofballs. The troublemakers. The killers. Her claws sinking deeper into those that did harm, her whispers more deranged the more they agreed; the call of revenge like a siren in her ears— until victory was claimed, and red souls were dragged to the void and burned to nothing. Then, it began again, the same mistakes, over and over and over and—

.

In the depths of the mountain, the air was a little calmer and the sunlight that glittered through sparkled a little warmer. Something new fell into the underground and pulsed its energy, drawing Chara straight to it. A new soul to stick to, one with a surprising sturdiness. Warmth. Determination.

.

Frisk.

.

Gaster jerked back, wide-eyed, tears streaking down his white face. He drew in a sharp breath and Chara stared back at him. She quickly wiped her eyes.

"So, you see now," she said, her breath hitching in her throat. She coughed quickly to clear it. "It was me who did everything, it was all my fault, so you can take it out on m—"

The skeleton grabbed her and crushed her into his arms, his soul burning against her. Even so, Chara froze. She was half surprised that he wasn't trying to strangle her.

"I remember… when you got sick," Gaster said. "I… could do nothing."

"I didn't get sick," she said sharply. "I poisoned myself, didn't you see?"

"I'm so sorry. Chara, I'm… sorry. It should have never… You should have never… felt like you had to… Oh, sweetheart." He gripped her tight and rested his brow against her head. "We couldn't… God. I'm sorry."

"Y-You're sorry?!" she spluttered. "You?! You—! You idiot." She pushed him back, grabbing his shoulders tight and frowning at him through watery eyes. "This was all my fault! You saw it! You felt it!"

He shook his head and ran his hand over her hair gently. "I…" He cleared his throat. "I think I… understand."

"Understand what?!"

.

The skeleton went quiet, teeth gritted, staring off at nothing. He let out a small sigh and got to his feet. "Thank you, Chara," he said. "That… was a lot for you to recall, hm? You should go get some rest."

"…Huh?" was all Chara could manage.

"God know's I'm going to need some," Gaster continued quietly. He rubbed the back of his skull. "Thank you again for the coffee, that was very thoughtful." He tilted his head towards the door. "I… will see you tomorrow, hopefully? And, I will… speak to your friend."

"You… will?"

He nodded. "Go on. Good night, kiddo."

.

Chara stood up stiffly. She gulped to wet her dry throat and hurried out into the chamber of the Soul.

.

Despite what he'd said, Papyrus was waiting there, just a few paces beyond the door. Chara barely managed an incredulous sound before her brother grabbed her.

"Yes, I lied, sorry, but also I'm not sorry," he said, hugging her tight.

Chara couldn't even bring herself to protest. She clung to him like her life depended on it and closed her eyes, resting her brow against his shoulder. Her knees went weak and he simply lifted her up and held her.

"Do you need anything?" Papyrus asked.

"I…" Chara heaved out a sigh that rattled her whole body. "…I just wanna go to bed."