Core Issues: Season Five
By Nicolle

Episode 15: Loose Ends

(Bones is our narrator!)

Charles Larkin, a tall, slim cat monster of gray fur and green markings stepped off of the Planar Pearl. The end of winter sun glinted off the gold rings piercing his left ear and the gold edging of his long, green coat, and he paused for a moment to turn his face up toward the light, eyes closing tight. He gave a satisfied hum.

"Ah! The sun." His eyes opened and he smiled sadly. "I don't deserve it."

He turned and promptly followed Straight Man Sans into the building. When we'd landed on the horror timeline that'd managed to give us its fair share of trouble, I'd expected a refusal. Charas have a reputation. But, as Fell Chara had predicted, Larkin had been eager to help. He'd immediately asked about Shooting Star. He'd heard a voice months ago telling him to be ready. That he was needed.

And I found it more than just a little disturbing that the Prime Chara was investing so much into this. They've never been this active before… or ever.

Or maybe that's just my memory of it. Blue makes it sound like this isn't the first time at the rodeo, for any of us. We just don't remember it. I never get feelings of deja vu, but on the occasional mission with Fell Chara, I see it. He won't react with the information at hand. He reacts on something he distantly remembers.

After coming back from Prime, Fell Chara sat down with Sans Ossein, Mrs. Ossein, Red, my Sunflower, and I to confirm our suspicions. Star was an original variation and something about her gave her a very special leg up in dealing with Charas. C had gone as well, but he hadn't mentioned anything about the 'visit.' My wife hasn't said what she saw through their connection either.

The only person who didn't look the worse for wear afterward was Stephen.

Just inside the facility's glass doors, we found the kids all gathered together around Chara Lyall. The white haired boy was creating fairy lights in the hall and the kids ran around, attempting to catch them, only to have them pop and a fine golden dust rain down on them.

Princess giggled brightly only to gasp when she saw us. "Mr. Larkin!" She rushed over and the cat knelt for the oncoming hug.

"Hello, Little One! Look at you! You've grown so tall! I must say you look much better than when I found you all those years ago. And you've found your voice!" Despite not looking like he could, he lifted her easily. "Now where is your ghostly sibling?"

Dead Sass floated around him. "Here I am!" She hugged him around the neck from and he rubbed his face against hers.

Straight Man lifted a boney finger, pointing between the girls and Larkin. "*you know them?"

"You found them in my house, Sans. How do you think they got there? I originally found them in Antowarah and took them to my home for safety. I'd gone out for groceries and on my way back I saw you and a few other off worlders leaving with them."

"*antowarah?" Sans shook his head. "*wait. why did you just trust me with them?"

Larkin set Princess down, patting her head once her feet were on the floor. "Antowarah is one of the old empire cities hidden beyond the dark forest. But I trust you because you are the only human in the Underground who doesn't deserve to be there."

"*alphys was telling me about that. if none of us remember the surface, how would you know that?"

"Because you were already dead when you got there. Whatever Dr. Gaster did to land him in hell, killed you, and he was clinging to your body when Tori and I found him. Your resurrection consumed him."

Sans gave Larkin a sour frown. "*didn't seem much to him after i was walkin' around."

Larking frowned and it looked strange on his face, like he wasn't used to making the expression. He set Princess down on her feet. "That's because we lost Tori. He'd hoped, on your resurrection, that he could give you back the life he stole from you, starting with Toriel. She was quite keen on you despite your being a corpse. And before you make comments about necrophilia, she was genuinely enamored with your apparent good looks and Dr. Gaster's descriptions of what you were like when you were alive.

"But I digress. The day the good doctor resurrected you was also the day Tori went missing. The dolls got her in Old Home and I've not been able to tell which of them is her."

Princess grabbed Larkin's hand. "If you knew, would that do something?"

Larkin gave her a smile. "With the doll kind, there is a good chance that you can remind them of who they were. It won't return them to their human state, but it would elevate them to the same status that I hold: a monster with full control over themselves."

Princess jerked on his arm sharply, pulling him down the hall. "What if it's Miss Damali?"

Larkin followed after her. "And who is Miss Damali?"

"She's one of the haunted dolls and she's really sweet on Sans!"

We rushed after them down the hall to the suite Sans called his home when he was on timeline. The door was open and Miss Damali sat on the couch, reading a book while drinking a cup of tea.

Larkin froze when he saw her, jaw hanging open. "Tori…" He rushed over to kneel in front of her. "Toriel! It's me! Chara!"

Damali frowned softly, blinking at him.

One of his legs shook as he looked up, eyes darting back and forth in the way you did when you were searching your memory. "Oh goodness. I need memories. Strong ones."

"Uh… We lost a bet with Queen Friva and we had to do the macarena in front of the whole court. Her Majesty laughed so hard she snorted her wine!"

Damali blinked.

"Remember when we traveled to Cernem, the crystal city, with Asriel, Blooky, and Loren? Az went to pick one of the crystal flowers and the rest grew teeth and bit him in the butt!"

Her mouth twitched, the ghost of a smile.

Larkin took a deep breath, eyes still looking around and then settled on Sans. "The first time you saw Sans, you very gently pet his hair and talked about how it wasn't fair that he had to die for someone else's mistakes."

Damali turned her head to the door, her tightly curled brown hair sliding over her shoulders, to look at Sans.

"You spent days with Dr. Gaster, helping him strip the flesh from Sans bones in the hopes that turning him into a monster would bring him back to life. But when it came time for the skull, you couldn't. Instead, you held Sans' soul in your hands and sat crying in the hall."

Damali reached out, touching Larkin's face. "Chara?"

He hugged her swiftly. "Tori!"

Her jointed doll hands roamed his face. "You look so different."

"Last I saw you, you had actual skin. And a lot of adult acne."

Damali shoved him and got a toothy grin for her trouble. "Damnable jerk!" She sighed softly, eyes closing for a moment. When she opened them, she caught sight of Sans and blushed heavily. "Oh! Sans! Uh…"

Straight Man sat down next to her, taking one of her hands in his. "Hi."

Damali's smile was embarrassed to say the least. "Hello." She shook her head, brown curls swinging. "But how? How did you find me?"

Larkin gestured to Princess. "Dear little Frisk took me right to you. I suppose you just never stopped being sweet on Sans and, fool that I was, I never thought to look for you in Snowdin."

Larkin stood, the end of his long tail flicking back and forth. "I'll fill you in on the many things you've missed later. You'll start remembering more and more as time goes on and any chips and cracks you have should heal up. At least, they have with the other dolls." He leaned over and pressed his nose against her head. "I'll see you soon. Besides, you have some explaining to do. Being sweet on a corpse, of all things!"

"Charles!"

Damali moved to shove him and he nimbly leapt out of her reach. He gave her a wave and a cheeky smile from the door.

"You're such a jerk!"

He stood up straight. "Well, yes. That's not something that changed while you were gone."

Princess grabbed his coat, pulling on it. "Hey! Don't be mean!"

He gave her a little bow, hand over his heart. "As you request, Little One."

I motioned for him to follow me. "Come on. Star's going to want to see you."

Larkin's ears perked up straight and he followed after me eagerly.

My phone buzzed and I paused in the hall to check it, raising a brow bone. "Dr. Bluevale?" I answered. "Hello?"

"Yes, yes. I'm calling. Please calm down." Dr. Bluevale huffed. "Hello, Bones. Sans wants to talk to you and says it's urgent."

"Put him on."

There was a sound of bones clicking against plastic and the Sans under Dr. Bluevale's care spoke, "Bones?"

"I'm here, Bud. What's up?"

"Dragoon! Wait… um… okay. Listen, I think… I think he's a version of me… or maybe I'm a version of him… or maybe I was supposed to be but… NOT IMPORTANT. Listen. There's a Sans in a big box. Like really big and he's the same as Dragoon. They're two different versions of the same Sans and…"

The manic tone died and Sans came through. "His world is gone too. He murdered his Frisk and he thought he could replace her with Dragoon's Frisk. He refuses to believe that he can't. He just thinks he needs to figure out how to make it happen."

I gripped the phone tightly. "That's why he's holed up in the prison. Why he shut down void travel. He's trying to keep her away from Dragoon while he figures it out." A thought occurred. "Why didn't you call Star?"

"She's pretty busy right now, isn't she?" He let out a shuddering breath. "Can't do this for long. Take a vessel to contain a human soul with you. I think you might need it..." He groaned and the sound of the phone hitting the floor crackled along the receiver.

"Sans!" There was the sound of a scramble and then Dr. Bluevale let out a relieved sigh. "He's all right. Just asleep." I heard the phone being picked up. "Did any of that make sense to you?"

"Yeah. It helps a lot actually. Tell him I said thank you when he wakes back up."

I could almost see the sad smile on Dr. Bluevale's face. "I will, though I'm not sure he'll remember. He tends to forget the more lucid moments." She hung up.

I shoved my phone in my pocket and turned to Larkin. "Wait here for a moment, I need to hit up the Boss Man for a second."

Larkin nodded and waited patiently at the bottom of the stairs, tail swishing. I walked up the stairs to knock on my brother in law's door.

"Come in."

I opened it, sticking my skull inside. The goat king was relaxing on his couch sipping a cup of tea as he leisurely leafed through the papers strewn on the coffee table in front of him.

"Do you have an extra vessel for a human soul?"

Asriel put down his teacup. "Not the question I expected."

"Remember the Sans Dr. Bluevale is caring for? The one we think is related to Dragoon? Turns out he is and the one we'll be going after is from the same variation."

"That's concerning."

"Yeah. Anyway, he said I should take a vessel with me. And rather than question that logic, I'll just go with being prepared."

Asriel looked at me for a moment and then shrugged. Setting down his teacup, he stood and went over to the bookcase on which the persistent souls of the long dead floated around in their vessels. Moving a book aside, he handed me an empty one.

"It's the only empty one I have." He frowned sourly. "It was the one my father was going to put Frisk in after he killed her."

I put a hand on his shoulder. "And we all know who won that fight."

Asriel smiled. "She did beat him over the head with his own armor."

I pointed at him. "Exactly."

I closed the door behind me. Back down the stairs, Larkin continued to wait, eyes on the sun outside. He followed me down the hall to conference room six and, despite the many people inside, his eyes zeroed in on Star as soon as I opened the door.

He gave her a bow. "Charles Larkin, at your service."

Star sat up with a bright smile. "Thank you for coming! I'm told you can turn into ink."

He nodded. "It's not the only trick up my sleeve, but Sans told me that you needed to get into a place so tightly sealed even rainwater can't seep in. Would rain be able to enter if it were sentient?"

01 nodded. "Yes."

Star frowned. "We aren't pulling you from anything important are we?"

"Nothing that cannot wait and I'm rather relieved to be gone right now." His face took on this strange, introspective look. "An obelisk appeared in the middle of Old Home's square and it's attracting a lot of cats. Including me."

Luna snorted.

Star rolled her eyes at the vampire hunter. "This is the plan."

She stood and leaned on the table a bit toward the hologram of the building in the middle, using her finger to point. "The solid cube here is a prison structure. Where the bridge connects with the wall here is a door that is flush with the rest of the building. Water is unable to penetrate it because of a weather stripping inside the edges. But it's not perfectly sealed. Air can get through."

She turned to Larkin. "We need you to slip through here and into the control room to open the door for the teams."

I raised a boney hand, frowning a little at the lack of the void in my hands. "I just got off the phone with the Sans living at Site Sigma."

Star's eyebrows went up. "The one with the weird connection to Dragoon?"

"That one and he confirmed my suspicion that he was one of Dragoon's variation."

01 raised an eyebrow. "And?"

I pointed at the glow in the prison. "And so is that one."

Red's shoulder's dropped. "*well, fuck."

Star groaned. "Then there's no way that he won't know we're opening the front door." She dropped into her seat, deflated.

Larkin raised a hand. "Perhaps I can be of assistance there as well. I can transport people with me."

Luna shifted a little in his seat. "And what would anyone in that state be in for?"

"I've been told that it's like sitting in a dark room for a minute or so, no matter how long you were actually in there."

Star sat up again. "How many people can you take with you?"

"Four."

Star stood, smile back in place. "Excellent! Team One and Bones will go." She looked to me. "What else did Sans tell you?"

I pointed to the glow. "His world is gone too. He murdered his Frisk and Frisk chose not to come back. It destroyed his world. He kidnapped Dragoon's Frisk in the hopes that he can remake his own world with her."

My Sunflower rubbed her forehead with one hand, trying to rub away a growing headache. "That doesn't work. It never works." She shook her head. "Then that's why he shut down void travel. He's trying to keep her away from Dragoon while he figures it out."

I nodded. "That's what I said. So how did Dragoon's world go down if his Frisk is still out there?"

"She destroyed it. The real question is 'why?'" Star nodded to herself. "Team One, can you handle the change in details?"

Fell Chara gave Star a sardonic smile. "It'll be less creepy than my most recent adventure, so yeah."

"Good. Bones, you'll go in with them and handle the security system. While the Sans in the prison is busy with Team One, open the door for the rest of us."

"You got it."

"Everyone gear up. We head out in twenty." Star stood, giving Larkin a smile. "Thank you very much for your assistance in this. After you get the team in, please exit the building and return to the ship."

Larkin nodded. "I am happy to be of assistance."

"*why?"

Larkin blinked at Red, genuinely confused. "She asked."

Twenty minutes later had us onboard the Planar Pearl, each team going over their part of the plan and memorizing the prison's interior layout. The Pearl came on timeline a bit away from the prison, and moved forward low to the ground to mask it from the prison's outer sensors. Once we were on the ground, Larkin fell into a puddle of black ink. The ink rose up around Team One and myself. It didn't feel wet or sticky. It was more like a thick fog surrounding you. And then it was silent. Everything was black and quiet, but not uncomfortably so.

And then we were suddenly standing in the prison's control room. The room was painted a soothing green, the screens upon screens of security feeds set in white. While the team searched the feeds for Sans, I sat down at the computer controlling the system. The entire system was on standby with only the external security running.

I tapped my core for C. "C, shut down any internal alarms while I get the front door open."

"You got it."

Surfer Sans pointed at one camera. "He's roaming the halls in the north cell block."

Sans, Luna, and Fell Chara left the room, heading for their target. It didn't take me long to get the front door open.

"How we doing, C?"

"Good. I have complete control of the security system. Team Two is coming inside now and Team Three is ready at the door in case Dragoon shows up. You can meet with them in the hallway below."

I stood and noticed that Larkin was gone. Must have already headed back.

Avoiding a short cut, I slipped out of the room and quietly went down a near set of stairs to join Star and Brass on the floor below. Following the route we'd memorized, we worked our way to the computer room and the converted offices beyond. Blank, white wall after blank, white wall seemed to lead on forever and when I turned around, I found us not far from the stairs I'd originally come down.

I motioned for them to stop. "Hold up. We're caught in a loop. It's an old style of magic meant to make an area unpassable. We need a way around."

Brass motioned for us to follow him. We went back to the stairs and went down, going underneath the target area to come up on the other side. Only to run into the same problem.

Brass pulled me close to whisper. "There isn't another way around short of cutting a hole in a wall. Can you undo the spell?"

I shook my skull. "I can't. But I'm betting Crow can."

Star stepped back into stance and Crow appeared next to her, a hulking brute of a ninja.

I jerked a thumb down the hall. "Can you take that out?"

The ninja's bulk melted away until your standard Dr. Gaster, glowing an interesting purple, stood there, one boney hand clasping his mandible. After a few moments, he nodded. "I can remove it, but whoever cast it will know that I have once it is gone."

Star frowned. "I don't have any word yet from Team One. Let's hope they're keeping Sans distracted enough that he can't react right away."

Crow nodded and turned to the spell. Disconnected from the void, I couldn't see its make up, but I knew what they looked like when lensed: a spiral galaxy with a softly pulsing center. Very pretty, and very effective. The air around Crow took on a purple hue as he worked on dismantling the spell, pulling it's pieces apart. When it broke, the hallway reset, and the doors that had previously looked far away, now appeared close.

Star carefully checked the first door before opening it to a large office converted into a playroom. Frisk Joul sat on the floor in a pair of blue jeans and plain blue shirt with a child Frisk in brown pants and a purple and blue striped shirt, a science textbook between them; in the middle of a lesson. A baby just on the edge of becoming a toddler napped in a basket next to his mother. Both froze when they saw us, only to gasp when they saw Star.

Star gave them both a smile. "Ready to go home?"

The child jumped to her feet. "Yes!"

Frisk Joul quickly gathered the baby up, working him into a sling wrapped around her chest as she stood. Once he was secure, she held her hand to the child Frisk and both rushed to us.

Frisk Joul opened her mouth to say something when a Sans with a glowing yellow eye lurched into the room from a door hidden behind a bookshelf. His clothing hung off of him in strips, a black ichor dripping from the cuts and coating his bones in places.

"*WHY CAN'T I SHORT CUT?!" His mandible fell open at the sight of us. "*NO! NO! NO!" He rushed forward, grabbing the child Frisk.

Fell Chara's voice carried over the air from the hidden door, singing low. "Oh where, oh where did the little Sans go? Oh where, oh where can he be? With his magic cut short and his noose cut long, oh where, oh where can he be?"

Sans shuddered and turned to the door, his grip on the child loose. I rushed in, scooping the girl out of Sans' arms as Fell Chara, flew into the room, eyes black. Sans turned, running for the door into the hall, only to be clothes-lined by Luna. Sans hit the floor as a pool of ink bubbled up under him. He fell into it only to be dropped out of a mass of ink on the ceiling of the playroom right in front of Fell Chara. Luna rushed into the playroom as Larkin reformed out of the ink, landing nimbly among the toys.

Our Surfer Sans appeared next to Star. "Did you know your partner would lose it on that guy?"

Star grinned sheepishly. "Maybe?"

Brass crossed his arms over his chest. "He shut down void travel and in doing so, nearly killed Star. As far as I'm concerned, he's getting off easy."

Frisk Joul ran out of the room, clutching her son to her chest. "Follow me!"

We raced after her to the computer room. Multiple, large, black servers filled the room and Frisk Joul flipped up a small panel on the first one, revealing a red button.

I gave her an appreciative smile. "Kill switch?"

She nodded. "All I was waiting for was a rescue." She slammed the button with her fist and the computers went black. A moment later, every single one of them rebooted, running a script down the screen. And as the lines of code flew by, I felt it: the void opening back up to me.

Star gasped, hand coming up to brace herself against the wall. She breathed in deeply, eyes turning an inky black. She shuddered, a deeply satisfied smile curling her lips.

The child Frisk jumped from my arms, rushing over to her. "Are you okay?"

Star nodded, standing up straight. "Better than okay." She reached behind her neck, unclasping the golden, heart shaped locket and clasping it around Brass' throat. She touched it gently only to lean back against the wall, breathing deeply, like she was trying to suck in as much of the void as she could in one go.

There was a crash in the playroom and I ran back to see Sans teetering. He let out an anguished groan. "You Idiots! Now he can get here!"

Out of nowhere, Dragoon appeared, only half of his mandible left on his skull. With one quick swipe of his sword, he knocked Sans backward into a wall. He slid to the floor, skull waving back and forth, dizzy.

"I could always get here. Your little folding trick didn't work. The only thing that kept me out was this damnable prison. Now, where is she? Where is my Frisk?"

Sans slowly flipped Dragoon the bird. "*Fuck you."

Dragoon looked down his nose hole at the Sans on the floor. "Fine." He disappeared.

Frisk Joul screamed and I turned back, short cutting to the computer room. Dragoon had grabbed Star, who swayed on her feet a little, a knife to her neck.

Luna and Brass both stood there, mouths hanging open. "Really?"

The pinprick whites of Dragoon's eyes were on his Frisk. "Come with me, girl. And I'll let this one go."

Star exhaled, "Remember what I said, Dragoon? I said I want you to be just as scared of me as you are of Church." She disappeared only to reappear behind him, grab hold of his coat, and fling him hard into the near wall.

"I am so very, very tired of you." Star slammed him into the wall again.

Dragoon pushed off the wall hard, knocking Star back toward a computer bank. Brass stepped in, catching her before she hit one the room's servers.

Dragoon gave her a wry smile. "You want me to be scared of you? Show me what you've got without your connection to the void." He fell into stance, eye sockets filled with challenge.

"Why the hell would I do that? What exactly do I have to prove to do something so monumentally stupid? Or have you already forgotten that I've beaten you senseless without it?" Star laughed, loud and hollow. "The only reason you'd make such a challenge is because you know that right now, you don't stand a chance!"

The half smile made by only half a mandible fell. Luna swung at Dragoon, and the skeleton ducked his arm, snagging the child Frisk. They disappeared.

Star pulled out her phone, hitting the speed dial. "Fase! Shut down teleports on this timeline! I want Dragoon trapped here!"

Fase's voice of cheery doom filled the hall from the speakers in the building. "Dimensional manipulation is back online. All teleportation has been locked except for team members."

"Where is Dragoon?"

"He has moved Frisk outside the building to the clearing opposite the bridge. Team Three has him surrounded."

Star nodded. "Chara! Put Sans in containment!" she shouted and disappeared.

Our surfing Sans offered Frisk Joul his arm. "Shall we leave?"

"My children-"

"We're on it," I assured her. I put my hands on Brass's and Luna's shoulders, short cutting us out to the field.

The child Frisk was held in a bubble of magic. She pounded against the sides, trying to get out. Prince Chara, Stephen, and Frisk Boneweaver engaged Dragoon while Tarsus worked on popping the bubble. The three on Dragoon worked in tandem, Prince Chara disarming Dragoon anytime he tried to summon a weapon, Stephen blocking any strikes he might make, while Frisk Boneweaver wailed on him. Luna and Brass rushed in, overbearing Dragoon.

Unable to get away, Dragoon whistled loudly. His skeletal horse appeared and charged the group. Everyone dodged iron shod hooves While Dragoon reached up, pulling himself onto his horse. Prince Chara rolled to his feet first and jumped after Dragoon, snagging his coat and pulling him back to the ground. Dragoon rolled to his feet, coming up next to Tarsus, cold clocking him.

The horse rounded, coming back to trample again, only to fall into an inky black pit. The ink rose, Larkin reforming from it.

Dragoon threw down a ring of magic, effectively making a barrier between us, him, and the bubble. Red waved us back, ready to counter whatever stunt Dragoon looked to pull.

Dragoon leaned against the bubble, looking like he was having trouble. "While we were separated, I had plenty of time to think over the mistakes of the past and I realized where the problem in our world lie."

He waved a boney hand and the child screamed, clutching at her chest.

"It's that damnable brother of yours. He was the problem. Removing him is best for all of us. But don't worry. I've already identified potential new siblings for you. Ones who would be much wiser."

The child's scream turned into the howl of an older boy, her eyes turning red. A burst of magic rent the bubble holding her in half and blowing the barrier around them away.

The voice of an older boy fell from the girl's lips. "You trash! How dare you?!"

Dragoon was suddenly in front of the child, lifting her into the air. "All too easy."

Red moved first, a bone strike in a deep red coming up from the ground and spearing Dragoon through in multiple places. Prince Chara slid under the girl, catching her as she fell from Dragoon's hand.

"Red?" Star called.

"*i got him, shooting star. The kiddo needs help."

The child mewled in Prince Chara's arms, gasping for air like she was trying to breath around something else.

Or someone else.

I knelt next to her, pulling out the vessel.

Star's jaw dropped. "Why do you have-?"

"The Sans at Site Sigma told me to bring it. And now I know why." I touched the girl's head. "You aren't actually bonded with your brother. You're harboring his soul, making yourself a vessel to keep him alive. But now it's too much."

I opened the vessel. "It's all right. We can hold him in here and he'll be safe."

"I don't want to lose my brother!"

An older boy's voice fell from her lips. "It's okay, Frisk. Just let me out."

"Chara!"

"It's okay. Let me out."

The girl let out a soft breath and with it, a red soul lifted from her chest and floated into the vessel. I capped it. The girl quickly grabbed the vessel from my hands, hugging it to her chest.

Frisk Boneweaver knelt next to Tarsus, waking him and checking him for injuries. Red busied himself putting Dragoon in containment. Stuck through with so many bones and unable to teleport he was done and seemed to know it. Fell Chara appeared with another containment unit, the other Sans inside. A third containment unit, this one much bigger than the other two, with 01 standing next to it.

He opened it and jerked a thumb at the opening. "This one is for the horse."

Larkin nodded and stepped inside the unit. He fell into a puddle of ink and the horse rose out of it. The ink rushed out of the container, reforming back into a cat monster outside and 01 shut the unit.

Red raised a brow bone at Fell Chara and jerked a thumb at the unit with Sans in it. "*he's not dead?"

Fell Chara shrugged. "I figured some other Charas would want to take a few shots at him and who am I to stand in the way of that?"

Star rolled her eyes. "You're both horrible." She reached down, picking up the child Frisk. "Come on. We know someone who might be able to give your brother a second chance."

Red, Tarsus, Fell Chara, and 01 stayed behind to finish containment while the rest of us walked back to the Pearl. Frisk Joul waited near the gangplank, shifting back and forth nervously. She let out a sigh of relief when she spotted the child only to gasp at the sight of the soul in the vessel. She rushed over, falling to her knees to hug her daughter tightly, hand resting on the vessel, eyes squeezed shut against tears.

"You aren't without solace and we aren't without options." Star helped her stand and looked over her shoulder at me. "Could you get Snow?"

I nodded. Taking a moment to look into my own personal connection to the void, I stepped into the darkness, giving the whole of it a real look for the first time in months. I closed my eye sockets, enjoying the sudden silence, and let a long memorized equation take me home. I landed outside of Epsilon just as Snow and Mage Frisk came out of the building, bundled up for a walk. Snow's bodyguard, Jarod Spencer, and King Chara walked behind them, White nowhere to be seen. Which meant he was probably drinking a cup of liquid cheese in my kitchen.

"Just the person I wanted to see."

Snow stopped short, looking at Mage Frisk for a moment, before her mouth made a little 'o.' "You mean me? What can I do for you, Bones?"

"We have a soul that could use a body."

She nodded. "All right."

Spencer leaned over her shoulder a little. "You were out of it for a week after you put me together."

Mage Frisk's delicate hand came to rest on Snow's shoulder. "How about I lend you some of my strength? Then maybe it won't leave you so bereft of energy."

Snow gave her a knowing smile. "You just want to learn how to do it."

Mage Frisk chuckled softly. "Well, there is that."

The women giggled softly, heads coming together.

King Chara raised an eyebrow at them. "Fill us in."

I nodded, holding out my arms. "Dragoon's Frisk was harboring her brother's soul. They weren't bonded. He's separated from her and hanging tight in a vessel."

Each placed a hand on either arm and I stepped us into the void. When we landed in the field the Pearl floated over, Snow leaned into Spencer, taking a few deep breaths.

She gave him an annoyed look. "You aren't sick in the least."

Spencer shrugged. "Frisk wasn't the first time he jumped, right? Maybe he gets that iron stomach from me."

Snow rolled her eyes. "Where is the soul?"

Star waved. "Here."

Frisk Joul and the child Frisk both blinked at Mage Frisk, that thing between Frisks kicking in when she smiled. Snow knelt on the grassy field, holding her hands out for the vessel. The child reluctantly let go of the vessel, being as gentle as possible in the passing. Snow uncapped it, reaching inside to lift the soul out. It seemed to pulse in her hand.

She nodded. "Yes. I am a Chara too." A ring of gold lit up the ground around her. "We are even a bit more similar than that."

Mage Frisk stepped into the magic, sitting next to Snow. "Can you do it?"

Snow took Mage Frisk's hand in hers, and a great mass of gold rings came up around them. "Yes."

A complicated set of golden, glowing rings spun around both of them, creating a barrier around them. Snow's voice sank low into a hypnotic chant. Symbols inside the rings began to glow and pulse, providing energy and components. The energy twisted and moved around the soul, encasing it in a white and gold cocoon that grew larger and larger. The cocoon cracked and disappeared, revealing a teenaged boy with light brown hair and pale skin. Mage Frisk waved a hand, clothing him in brown pants and a green and yellow striped sweater before he came to rest in their arms.

The magic faded away and Mage Frisk leaned into Snow. "We're pretty good at this." She yawned, one hand delicately covering her mouth. "But I see why'd you be out of it for a while after a spell like this. I could really use a nap."

King Chara helped his wife find her feet. "You are always ready for a nap."

Snow smiled up at her. "Really? You don't come off like that at all."

Mage Frisk waved it off. "The truth is, I'm terrible about it."

The boy groaned and tried to sit up, only to have his sister spear him back down with a hug.

"Chara!"

He hugged her tightly, tears in his eyes. "Frisk!"

Frisk Joul knelt next to both of them only to have them both scramble up to hug her.

"Careful of Benjamin!" she called.

The teen Chara leaned back a little to kiss the baby's head and holding his little hand. The baby reached up, smacking him on the nose. Chara wiggled his nose under his little brother's touch.

Star sat next to Snow and hugged her. "Thank you."

Snow leaned into her. "Certainly. But we should get back before White realizes I'm gone."

Spencer rubbed the inside of his arm. "I've got tired but still warm and happy on the brand, so he probably hasn't noticed that you aren't there yet." He offered her a hand and pulled her up. Snow teetered a little, looking tired, but kept her feet.

Frisk Joul looked over her children. "I'm past ready to go home." She sighed. "How am I going to explain this to your father?"

01 came up behind Star, sliding an arm around her waist. "He's expecting two more children. He's waiting for you at Site Epsilon."

The child Frisk grasped her mother's and brother's hands and they followed Brass up the gangplank into the Pearl.

E.C. appeared in front of 01. "Okay! Everyone hanging on Agent Helvetica's timeline is back home and-"

Star slammed into E.C., knocking him to the ground. "You're all right!"

"Star! Careful! I could end up glitching out your clothes!"

She hugged him tightly. "Don't care!"

E.C. sighed, and hugged her back, one hand resting on her head. "Didn't anyone tell you that I was okay?"

Fell Chara and 01 gave each other the same wry smile. "We might have forgotten to mention it."

E.C.'s red eyes narrowed at them over Star's head. "I hate you both."

"You can all simmer down," Star huffed.

"Yes, Frisk."

She smiled, satisfied, and snuggled against E.C.'s chest with a happy sigh.

"I really hate it when she does that," Fell Chara muttered.

E.C. flipped him the bird behind Star's back. Fell Chara smirked and reached down, lifting Star off of E.C. with a quick jerk. She let out an eep and fell backwards into her partner.

Star gave all three of them dirty looks. "All three of you are in such deep trouble…" She pointed to the ship. "Home. Now."

They marched toward the gangplank, and Fell Chara's arm sliding around Star's shoulders, pulling her along. "I'd ask what you see in him, but it's probably the same thing you see in me."

A few minutes later, the Planar Pearl lifted off, taking us home.

We arrived to find Blue waiting for us, pink slippers wet in the snow, along with Steam and Sans Boneweaver.

"*chara luna, prince chara, frisk boneweaver, brass, frisk, and stephen. front and center."

The six lined up in front of Blue with Steam and Sans Boneweaver looking like they were about to enjoy a good lecturing.

"*congratulations. you are all full agents."

Brass punched the air. "Yes!"

Steam's mandible dropped.

Sans Boneweaver grabbed Blue by the front of his hoodie. "*we did not agree to this!"

Blue shrugged, smile wide. "*well i did, so... technically, so did you."

"*that is my one and only daughter and the future father of my grandchildren!"

Frisk Boneweaver marched up to her father. "And full grown adults."

Steam gestured to the twins. "*they are children!"

Steam Frisk put his hands on his hips. "Excuse you! I happen to be gainfully employed and married, thank you very much!"

Stephen raised an eyebrow. "And I'm sure Anne would be happy to attest to his adulthood."

Luna chuckled. "That's a bit lewd."

Steam Frisk shrugged. "It is a measure of adulthood on my timeline."

Brass put an arm around Prince Chara's shoulders. "You're coming to visit. I'll introduce you to Elizabeth. She makes the best hot chocolate."

"The chocolate is enticing, but to be honest, I want to see more of that." Prince Chara pointed to the flying ships. "Your world has to be amazing." He turned to Luna. "Looks like we'll be able to come by and see the baby."

Luna nodded. "Speaking of which," he checked his phone, "she's probably awake right now. I should go check on my girls."

Sans Boneweaver groaned, shoulders dropping. "*well... hell."

I patted his shoulder. "I told you it wasn't worth fighting when my wife first proposed the idea to you."

Star helped Frisk Joul down the gangplank, the child Frisk and her older brother hopping down afterward. "This way, please."

I gave Boneweaver a salute and moved to hold the door open for Frisk Joul and her children. They stepped inside the welcomed warmth with a shiver.

"Hey, C? Where's Chara Joul?"

C popped up on Star's shoulder. "He's coming down the stairs now."

Frisk Joul perked up. She lifted baby Benjamin from the sling, handing him to the teen Chara, who cuddled the boy close. She turned just in time to be wrapped in her husband's arms.

"Oh thank God, you're safe!" Chara Joul leaned back a little, gently touching her face before leaning in to kiss her.

Star and I politely looked away while the kids giggled.

The teen Asriel pushed his dad out of the way. "Save it for later!" He hugged his mother fiercely, tears falling down his face.

Chara Joul shook his head and turned to the children, who suddenly looked nervous. The teen Chara held Benjamin out to him. He took the baby in his arms, kissing his head gently before handing him to Frisk. And then hugged both children at melted into him.

Star pulled me away, leaving the Jouls to their reunion. "So… What do I do now? I mean, do I report to Church?"

I put an arm around her shoulder. "You get to file paperwork."

She shrugged. "Yay. Fun times." She looked back at the Jouls. "I guess there are a lot of people to get home too."

I shrugged. "That depends on them, doesn't it?"

Star nodded as we got to the stairs and began to climb. "Charlotte is fine to leave, but she'll stay as long as Frisk Tamana is here, which is helpful. The Brothers Tarsus will likely leave soon and so will the Lyalls. The Luna family will be here for a little while. Asriel wants them to stay until he's sure that baby Isabella doesn't need anything."

Sophia, Brandon, Princess, Little Lion, and Chara Lyall all sat on the floor outside the apartment, taking turns rocking a large egg with green spots. The door to my apartment was open and our surfer swap Papyrus stood over them.

He smiled when he saw us. "What's up the egg?"

Star sighed dramatically. "Oh come on! I swear! Every time I leave Umbra and Tesla alone..." She shook her head. "Well, at least I have a trainer to take it."

Papyrus snorted. "Where's my brother?"

"Here!" Sans called from the stairs. "A little red hologram told me that you were here." A dangerous gleam caught his eyes. "So how is it that you joined Seraph but I'm the one who ends up doing the work?"

Papyrus held up both hands. "Hey, not my fault that dimensional travel was shut down. You just happened to be here."

"Move over, Papyrus. I'd like to see my fiance." A small and lovely woman with warm brown skin, and flowers braided into her dark, brown hair gently pushed Papyrus aside. She put her arms around Sans' stomach, resting her head on his chest. "Hey, Kahuna."

He gave Lahaniala a hug. "Hey, Landlord."

Papyrus snorted.

Star looked at Papyrus. "'Kahuna' I know, but 'Landlord?'"

"It's slang for a Great White Shark."

Princess looked up. "Wait. Does that mean you're the princess who's being forced to marry Sans? But that's awful!"

Lahaniala drew back and gave Princess a soft smile. "Oh Little One, I have known my whole life that my husband would be chosen for me. And I'm making out well on it. Sans is intelligent, loyal, strong, and handsome." She patted Sans on the chest with one hand. "You should feel bad for him. He has to marry a woman who's put three rounds in his chest."

Sans rested his hand over hers. "About that. Can we change the regular courtship ritual to just dropping each other in the soup when we're surfing?"

She nodded. "Only because you ask."

Sans put his arm around her waist, but he looked at Star. "I saw you talking with the grommets on the ship. Did they tell you what happened to their timeline?"

Star nodded. She looked down at the kids about to order them away and shook her head. She looked back to Sans. "Chara and Frisk were pitched into the Underground for their use of magic and found a war among monsters with Toriel heading one faction and Asgore the other. Despite being children, both were recruited to Toriel's side because of their magical skill. During a mission, Chara met Papyrus and convinced him to defect to Toriel's faction. Dragoon made him pay for that in the most painful way he could devise. Chara was the only thing Frisk had that was close to normal and if she couldn't have her brother, Dragoon wouldn't get to have anything."

Sophia stood up, brushing herself off. "So what happens to them now?"

"The 'baby bones' phenomenon is already working on them. They'll go home with the Jouls." She blinked. "Hey wait. We have six new agents today. Why isn't there a party?"

Sophia took Star's hand and pulled her down the hall. "Mom's getting it set up. Come on. I'll help you round everyone up."