Chapter Two: Bonetrousle
Chara and Sans walked to another clearing, Sans suddenly not behind Chara anymore. Chara sighed, figuring that he wasn't going to be of much help. She walked by another sentry stand that looked different than Sans' stand. As she did so, she saw a scruffy dog monster that stood up.
"That smell…" He said. "It's moving. But, it smells like chocolate girl… but, it also smells like human. Must make sure moving thing never moves again."
Chara sighed as she felt her SOUL emerge for the battle. Doggo, the monster in question began to attack her with his light blue SOUL swords. Chara dodged, feeling one graze her arm. She gave a quick yelp of pain.
"Oh, right." She said, hissing a little. "His attacks only work if you move… time to pull an old trick on an old dog."
She snuck closer to Doggo, tackling the dog and petting him. Doggo barked and wiggled happily as the red eyed human smirked. She got up as he rolled around.
"It seems like invisible, unmoving chocolate girl pet me." Doggo said, standing as she walked away. "That can't be… man, I need some dog treats."
Chara glanced at the half-smoked pack of dog treats on the ground near the stand. She sighed, contemplating whether or not to take some for later. Of course, it was a bad habit, but she and Undyne had done far worse for their health, often dragging Asriel into it as well.
"Heya, kid?" Sans asked, leaning on a tree nearby. "Wanna know about blue attacks?"
"Little late, Sans," Chara said.
"Oh," Sans chuckled. "Well, my brother uses 'em, so be mindful."
"You make it sound like I'm going to get in a fight with him," Chara said.
Sans only shrugged, walking with her.
Chara and Sans walked into a clearing where Papyrus was waiting. Chara looked back, not seeing Sans there. She looked at Papyrus, seeing Sans next to him.
"How did…" Chara said aloud.
"I know a shortcut," Sans shrugged.
"This is one weird skeleton." Chara said to herself. "Though, he is quite intriguing…"
"HUMAN!" Papyrus exclaimed. "YOU MUST NOW SOLVE MY PUZZLE OF THE ELECTRIC ORB! I, THE GREAT PAPYRUS, HAVE CRAFTED SUCH AN INGENIOUS PUZZLE SO AS TO THWART YOU!"
"What do I do?" Chara asked, sticking her hands in her pockets.
"IT'S SIMPLE!" Papyrus said with a slightly wider grin than before. "YOU MUST WALK THROUGH THE PATH WHILE THIS ORB IN MY HAND WILL SHOCK YOU IF YOU STEP WRONG!"
"Uh, okay," Chara took a step, Papyrus giving a little yell as he was shocked.
"Uh, I think the human has to hold the orb," Sans shrugged.
"AH, I SEE!" Papyrus said, walking straight through the path, leaving his footprints. Chara didn't have the heart to tell him he'd ruined his own puzzle as she took the orb. She walked through his path, which seemed to make him happy.
"WOWEE, HUMAN!" He exclaimed. "THAT WAS IMPRESSIVE! YOU MUST COME FROM A LINE OF PUZZLE SOLVERS!"
"More like I was raised in the house of one," Chara chuckled, shrugging herself. Any trace of fear and unease she'd had before was now gone, replaced by her own enjoyment of the things that made the Underground so much better than the Surface.
"WELL, THE NEXT ONE SHALL STUMP YOU GOOD! NYEH HEH HEH" Papyrus said, holding a finger up as he ran off to tend to it.
"Well, he seems excited," Sans chuckled. "Hey, thanks, kid."
"Don't call me kid," Chara said, walking by. "Now, let's go get going on the rest of his puzzles."
"On it," Sans leaned against a tree, closing his eyes.
"I'm starting to think your brother may be right about you," Chara said, continuing to walk through.
She passed a plate of frozen spaghetti and a microwave, noticing that a note was written in the sauce. It said "Nyeh Heh Heh from the Great Papyrus, Human!".
"I thought he'd write in all caps," Chara mused, shrugging as she continued to walk. She eventually reached a stand that looked different than Sans.
"Wait… I know this stand." Chara sighed. "Not those two again. They already threatened to pulverize me and Azzy if we ever stole 'nose nuzzling champs' from them like mom and dad did… of course, *smirk* I wouldn't mind nuzzling Azzy's nose some more… But, I cant."
Chara sighed sadly, knowing she'd never get the chance.
As she walked by, two large dogs blocked her path.
"Can I go through?" Chara asked.
"You smell like a human," The male said. "That smell makes us want to eliminate you!"
"A human and a monster almost stole nose nuzzling championship from us once!" The female said. "We won't let it happen this time!"
"You guys really need to let that grudge go," Chara dodged, her SOUL barely missing an ax. "I mean, we were kids."
"Kids or no," The male, Dogamy swung his ax at Chara, who dodged, slipping on the snow and falling in the muddy snow. "One almost took it."
"This is a little extreme for losing a contest that mom and dad won every year anyway." Chara said.
"Wait, Dogamy," Dogaressa, the female, said. "This one now smells like a puppy."
"Oh no!" Dogamy shouted upon re-smelling Chara. Chara just pet the two, chuckling.
"You're fine," She said. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go see my dad."
She walked over to a puzzle involving Xs and Os. She stepped on both Xs and turned them.
"EXCELLENT, HUMAN!" Papyrus exclaimed. "I COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT BETTER MYSELF! EXCEPT I COULD SINCE I'M THE GREAT PAPYRUS!"
"Well, I'm sure there can't be any harder ones," Chara mused, continuing to walk a ways behind the nearly giddy skeleton.
The sixteen year old groaned as she found (and had to solve) two more. Coming upon the two in a small clearing, she noticed a piece of paper in the middle. Picking it up, she noticed it was a word search.
"Is… this the puzzle?" She asked. "I saw harder ones in Azzy's coloring books."
"SANS!" Papyrus exclaimed. "WHAT IS THAT?! IT SEEMS THE HUMAN FOUND IT TOO EASY!"
"Guess I should have used today's crossword," Sans chuckled.
"CROSSWORD?!" Papyrus exclaimed. "JUNIOR JUMBLE IS THE HARDEST!"
"Actually, this is neither," Chara said. "It's a word search. But, yeah, Jumble's harder. Now, how about we move on? I'm kinda cold and muddy and I know there's an inn in Snowdin."
"No worries," Sans said. "I know a shortcut."
"How is—" Chara felt herself be yanked over with Sans and suddenly in Snowdin. Immediately, nausea overcame her, causing her to drop to her knees and vomit into the snow next to the sign. Her face turned pale, then green to match her sweater.
"What the *hurl* hell did you do?" She asked, trying to glare at him betwixt her vomiting.
"Took a shortcut," Sans chuckled. "That way, we beat Papyrus here. Also, thanks for agreein' with him. It made him so happy."
"Why would anyone want to upset him?" Chara rubbed her mouth.
"Dunno," Sans said, his pupils disappearing. "But if they did, they'd have a bad time."
"Uh huh," Chara said. "Well, I'm going to go sleep and eat some chocolate… a lot of chocolate. I'll see you two later."
"See ya, kid," Sans chuckled, giving a wave as he leaned against the sign and fell asleep.
Chara walked into the Shop next to the Inn, the owner seeing her.
"Hey," She said. "You look like shit. You okay there?"
"Been better," Chara held back the vomit that threatened to come back up. "You got anything chocolatey?"
"A human who likes chocolate, huh?" The owner said, her rabbit's ears twitching. "You sure you need something like that when you're in that state."
"I already ate all my mom gave to me," Chara said." I need something else to pick me up. I thrive on it."
"Yeesh," The store owner chuckled. "You sound like Asgore's brat. Course, she's been dead twenty years. I was a young rabbit when she first fell, so I don't remember that time much. But, I remember the sad day it was when both his brats died."
"It was…" Chara said with a pause.
"You don't look old enough to have even been born then," The shop owner said.
"Long story," Chara said. "But, back to the question: got any chocolate?"
"These Cinnamon Bunnies have a chocolate variety," The shop owner said, giving Chara several. "Just promise not to thrown 'em back up onto my floor."
Chara paid with the G she had in her pocket (apparently, she'd had some on her when she'd died), walking out of the store with a wave. She walked into the inn next door, paying for a room.
"Sleep well," The innkeeper said. "You look like you could use it."
"Thanks *hurk*," Chara said, feeling the nausea return. "I sure do."
She went upstairs, collapsing on the bed after she'd taken off her wet clothes and boots. She took a glance at the mirror in the room, noticing that the face in the mirror wasn't hers.
"Boo!" the face in the mirror, who distorted into the freak harassing her earlier, said, startling Chara, who fell off the bed. She reached for the wastebasket, vomiting into it.
"Looks like someone got more than they bargained for." The freak laughed. "Still not regretting wrenching control from me?"
"You know, you're a lot easier to ignore now," Chara mumbled into the trash can.
"Well, I suppose I've been going easy on you," The freak giggled. "Either that or you're just too confident with your control. I should fix that."
"Good luck," Chara said, her face returning to its normal shade.
"I'll get your SOUL one day," The human giggled. "Consider it payback."
"Payback?" Chara glanced up at the shadowy and distorted mass that looked like a human. "What are you talking about? Payback for me taking my SOUL back?"
"You know what I mean," The shape emerged from the mirror, getting right in Chara's. "I'm your greatest sin, Chara."
"I've committed no sins," Chara said. "None that warrant you anyway."
"Haven't you?" The shape tilted her head, shifting to resemble a human Chara knew well, clothing and all. "You know what you did, Chara. You know WHY I'M HERE!"
"You're not Frisk!" Chara shouted, nausea forgotten as she fought to get to a standing position. "Frisk isn't like you! You're just a freak who stole my SOUL!"
"Funny how the tables turned," The shape smirked, shifting to a sitting position. "You took Frisk's SOUL and now I've taken yours."
"I didn't take Frisk's SOUL!" Chara shouted, her eyes becoming misty. "Shut up!"
"Isn't being the reason someone dies the same as killing them yourself?" The shape looked at Chara. "Just like Frisk, just like As—"
"SHUT UP!" Chara shouted in anger, her body igniting in flames as hot, burning tears dropped from her eyes onto the ground, steaming as they hit. The wind that was created from the sudden ignition of flames blew everything down in the room or burned it.
Chara clenched her eyes shut, trying to will the shape away.
A knock on the door happened a few minutes later.
"Is everything alright in there?" The innkeeper asked, using her key to open the door. She saw Chara curled into a ball, sobbing into her knees and the rom looking like fire magic had ripped through it. She walked over to the sixteen year old, lifting her onto the bed with the aid of her magic.
"Alright then," She shut the door, locking it. "How about you tell me your troubles?"
Chara looked at her, her eyes puffy with tears. The innkeeper smiled softly, holding her.
"You look like you're carryin' some baggage," She said. "You wanna talk?"
"You'll probably think of me as a monster," Chara said, looking down. "And not like the good kind."
"Human or no, you're still someone who needs a shoulder sometimes." The innkeeper said. "I got several children. I'm used to bein' that. Same with the destruction. Don't worry about it."
"It's… it's probably a much less pleasant story than your kids have," Chara said.
"Well, I suppose that may be true," The innkeeper said. "But, you can't have had anything that would make you inconsolable. I mean, apparently, Asgore's human child had a disgusting past and yet she found comfort and happiness with the Dreemurr family before she died. I think you could do the same. Of course, there's still the whole 'killing you for your SOUL' thing, but I do think you can find solace."
"Thanks," Chara said, giving a weak chuckle. "I guess you're right. But, I don't think you want to know my past."
"And, I won't force you," The innkeeper said. "But, it's my motherly instinct to want you to be okay."
"Thank you…" Chara said. "I think I'd like to sleep now. I'm tired still."
"Alright," The innkeeper said. "I'll leave you to it."
She got up, patting Chara once on the head and leaving, shutting the door behind her. Chara got under the covers, falling into a restless and fitful sleep.
She tossed and turned, the room heating up. Sweat poured off of her as she suffered in her nightmares. She saw humans, weapons and sticks as they neared her. She saw the older human, the one she would call 'the exception' to the hatred of humanity stand in between them and her, unafraid of their threats and of the 'red eyed demon child'. Images of her never left Chara's mind, never left her. She… she could honestly say she loved her, even at the young age she was. She had ten years on Chara, but Chara considered her closer than any sibling she could have. She saw her smiling, flirtatious face, felt her arms around her, drying her tears. Then it shifted to a broken, dying variant. The last living moments she saw of her. She could still see her mouth the words she had never truly taken to heart. "Don't hate", she said. She watched as she saw them throw her body in a hole. She felt a crushing lonliness that only one other person could break.
Images of the distorted human that dared to take a form like Frisk's plagued her mind as she slaughtered the whole of the Underground. The only two beings who even stood a chance were Sans and Undyne, but even they fell to this onslaught. Lastly, the most painful death of all was the person she'd remembered most, standing there and looking at her, only to be slaughtered.
"ASRIEL!" She jolted up, her eye burning with fire magic as it exploded out from her body, tears following suit.
The innkeeper burst into the room, sitting down next to her and wrapping her arms around her soothingly.
"It's alright," She said. "It's okay. It was just a nightmare."
"I… Asriel… dead…" Chara said in a panicked shout, struggling against the innkeeper. The innkeeper wouldn't have been able to hold the insanely strong Chara were she not in such a blind panic. Fire magic was burning the air, making it suffocating in the room.
"It's alright," the innkeeper said. "I don't know how you know the prince considering he and the princess have been dead for years, but he can't hurt you."
"You don't understand," Chara said once she'd calmed down to sobs. "I'm the reason he's dead in the first place."
"Wait… princess Chara?" The innkeeper asked. "How are you alive? I thought you looked familiar, but you're supposed to be dead."
"I don't know," Chara said. "I woke up in the Ruins… please don't tell my dad. I just… I want to see him on my terms."
"My lips are sealed, my lady," The innkeeper said. "But, I think you should get some more sleep. The nightmares are gone and they won't come back."
Chara nodded, falling back asleep.
The next morning, she woke up, hungry for chocolate. She reached over to her bag, beginning to eat the food she loved so much.
After she'd eaten all of the Cinnamon Bunnies she had bought, she walked downstairs, looking at her phone. The innkeeper waved at her.
"Bye, human," She said. "I hope you find peace. And, be careful out there."
"Thank you," Chara said, looking back. "I'll be sure to."
She walked through Snowdin, heading straight for the end. She noticed a missed call from Toriel. She picked it up, calling her.
"Hey, mom," Chara said. "How are you?"
"Hello, my child." Toriel said. "I am doing well. How are you?"
"Apparently, I can't handle teleportation magic well," Chara shuddered. "Met a comedian skeleton you'd probably get along with."
"I see," Toriel laughed. "I've met one myself. But, where are you?"
"Snowdin," Chara said. "I'm almost to Waterfall. I'm gonna make a detour to Undyne's before I head to dad's."
"Alright, my sweet." Toriel said. "Be safe. And, make sure you don't water-fall down in your journeys."
"Goodbye, mom," Chara laughed, hanging up.
At the end, in the fog, she could just barely make out Papyrus.
"HUMAN!" Papyrus said, Chara watched as the fog cleared some to reveal the tall skeleton. "I HAVE WAITED AND NOW I SHALL CAPTURE YOU! YOU'LL BE SENT TO THE CAPITAL WHERE… I DON'T KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN! BUT, UNDYNE WILL THINK I'M GREAT AND LET ME INTO THE ROYAL GUARD!"
Chara sighed, walking forward.
"Do we have to fight?" Chara asked. "I'd rather just walk there myself."
"SORRY, HUMAN! Papyrus said. "I CANNOT ALLOW THAT!"
"I thought not," Chara sighed as her SOUL emerged from her locket. "Well, let's get this over with."
Papyrus began to let loose a volley of light blue magic. Chara tilted her head, surprised at the attack. Suddenly, she felt her body grow heavy as her SOUL changed to a dark blue color.
"The hell?" Chara managed to get out before her face hit the snow. She pushed herself to a standing position, shaking a lot.
"IT'S YOUR TURN, HUMAN!" Papyrus exclaimed.
"Seems this is a game to him," Chara chuckled. "Now… how do I fight him? I don't want to hurt him… What would Frisk do?"
Immediately, an image of Frisk giving a seductive smirk and blowing a kiss pooed into her head.
"Bad idea, bad idea!" Chara shook her head to remove the quite provocative image, blushing furiously. "Okay, new plan…"
"You, uh, have a nice battle body." Chara said.
"WHY THANK YOU, HUMAN!" Papyrus exclaimed. "WAIT, THAT COMPLIMENT… YOU'RE FLIRTING WITH ME, AREN'T YOU?!"
"What?!" Chara exclaimed, the image of Frisk popping back into her mind.
"DO NOT WORRY, HUMAN!" Papyrus exclaimed. "AFTER I CAPTURE YOU, WE CAN GO ON A DATE!"
"Nice plan there," The shape snickered from next to Chara's ear. "I couldn't have come up with a better one myself. Oh, wait, I did."
"Stop pretending to be Frisk," Chara growled. "You're NOT Frisk."
"Don't keep lying to yourself," the shape tilted her head. "You know the truth to this."
"Frisk died ten years before I did," Chara said. "You're not Frisk."
"You stayed dead for twenty years before I came along," The shape said, smirking slyly. "You don't think that's odd?"
"I'll deal with you, later," Chara said, growling once again. The shape snickered, disappearing. Chara sighed. That thing was quite a roller coaster of Chara's motions. One minute, she was angry, the next she was tormented. Each time, though, Chara seemed to find out some odd things about the circumstances of her revival. The shapeless human seemed to be hiding things from her…
"HUMAN, I'M GOING TO GO STRAIGHT TO MY SPECIAL ATTACK!" Papyrus shouted. He summoned a powerful looking bone, but all of a sudden, a dog ran over and grabbed it, running into Snowdin.
"STUPID DOG!" Papyrus exclaimed in anger. "THAT WAS MY SPECIAL ATTACK!"
"How about… we just go on that date?" Chara asked, deciding the best way to do this was to not fight at all. She figured he could take a few blows, but she really didn't want to fight him.
"HUMAN!" Papyrus said, pointing at Chara. "THAT IS AN INTERESTING IDEA!"
"Oh, good," Chara sighed in relief. She looked back to see Sans.
"I see you over there!" She called. "You're not doing a very good job of hiding."
"That's cuz I'm on break," Sans chuckled.
"SANS!" Papyrus exclaimed. "YOU LAZY BONES! HOW CAN YOU TAKE SO MANY BREAKS!? YOU ARE ON GUARD WHILE I GO ON A DATE!"
"Eh, sure bro," Sans shrugged, falling asleep.
"I COULDN'T BEAR TO HIT SOMEONE WHO HAS A CRUSH ON I, THE GREAT PAPYRUS!" Papyrus said, posing dramatically.
"Uh, thanks?" Chara said, sighing once again.
"WELL, WE MUST GO TO A PLACE I SPEND ALMOST ALL MY TIME IN!" Papyrus said, pulling Chara along.
"Hey, wha—" Chara exclaimed before she was dragged along. She noticed her SOUL turned red again, retreating back into the locket.
Suddenly, they were at Papyrus' house. Papyrus led her in, standing in the living room.
"HOW DO YOU LIKE MY HOUSE, HUMAN?!" Papyrus exclaimed.
Chara looked around, noticing a pet rock on the table. She chuckled softly as she remembered how she had convinced Asriel that she could make a pet rock float, only to lose it in Waterfall's river. There was also a sock on the floor with an amusing trail of notes next to it.
"WOULD YOU LIKE TO START THE DATE?!" Papyrus exclaimed. "BUT, FIRST LET ME LOOK UP A DATING BOOK! THIS ONE WAS GIVEN TO ME BY UNDYNE. AND BY THAT, I MEAN I BORROWED IT WITHOUT ASKING SINCE SHE CLEARLY DOESN'T NEED HELP TO GET A DATE!"
"Undyne dating?" Chara asked herself. "I sense potential teasing material."
"FIRST STEP!" Papyrus read. "YOU MUST UNDRESS AND—"
"Uh, I'll take that." Chara yanked the book from his hands, beginning to thumb through it. Her jaw dropped and her face turned red at some of the pictures and text in the book.
"Let's just… sit and talk." Chara said. "I am pretty sure that's a better way to date. We could have a meal and wear casual clothes."
"WOWEE HUMAN!" Papyrus exclaimed. "THAT IS A WONDERFUL IDEA! I JUST SO HAPPEN TO ALWAYS WEAR MY SPECIAL CLOTHING UNDER MY BATTLE BODY! I SHALL CHANGE IMMEDIATELY!"
He ran into his closet, bursting out in a tank top that said 'cool dude' with basketballs on his shoulders. The basketballs had sunglasses on them. He also wore gym shorts, but had left his gloves on. He wore a baseball cap as well.
"Uh, impressive." Chara said.
"OH NO A GENUINE COMPLIMENT!" Papyrus exclaimed. "YOUR DATING POWER IS INCREDIBLE."
"Uh, thanks?" Chara raised an eyebrow.
"WORRY NOT!" Papyrus exclaimed. "I SHALL OVERTAKE THIS DATE WITH MY OWN SPECIAL SOMETHING TO YOU!"
"Please tell me that isn't a euphemism." Chara said.
"SOMEWHERE ON ME IS A SPECIAL SURPRISE!" Papyrus said.
"Is it under your hat?" Chara asked.
"YOU… HAVE GUESSED IT!" Papyrus exclaimed, taking off his hat to reveal a plate of spaghetti. "HAVE SOME SPAGHETTI, HUMAN!"
"Uh, thanks." Chara took a bite, immediately beginning to regret it.
"I think I've had enough," She said. "It's just… too good."
Papyrus couldn't have grinned wider if he tried.
"HUMAN…" He said after a minute. "I'M SORRY, BUT I CAN'T KEEP LYING TO YOU."
"Huh?" Chara asked.
"I DON'T REALLY LOVE YOU LIKE THAT." Papyrus said. "I WAS JUST TRYING TO MAKE YOU FEEL BETTER AND HOPED I'D COME INTO MY FEELINGS NATURALLY."
"Oh thank god," Chara said. "I mean, uh, it's okay. I'll just go. We can still be friends."
She pat Papyrus on the head, heading out. As she left Snowdin, she saw Sans at another sentry stand.
"Hey, kiddo." He said. "Betcha didn't know I had two jobs."
"I'm surprised you have one," Chara leaned on the snow covered stand with a slight smirk.
"Ooh, scathing," Sans chuckled. "But, two jobs means twice as many legally required breaks."
"Do you even do the work of your first job?" Chara asked.
"Hey, not like I can get in trouble for taking a break," Sans shrugged. "Say, you wanna go to Grillby's?"
"I'm down for that," Chara said. "Best chocolate shakes in the Underground."
"That's the spirit," Sans said, walking out from the stand. "I know a shortcut."
"I don't think that's such a good I—" Chara couldn't even get the words out before she was in Grillby's. Immediately, she dropped to her knees, losing her lunch on the floor. The monsters in attendance all blanched at the odor and sight.
After Chara had finished emptying her stomach, she stood up in a wobbly fashion and wiped her mouth.
"Sorry about that, Grillby," She said apologetically to the man behind the bar, a fire elemental. "Teleportation magic never was good with me."
Grillby spoke in his native tongue.
"He says it's fi—" A monster near the bar said.
"I know what he said," Chara interrupted her as she grabbed a rag and cleaned up her mess. She made her way to the bench, noticing the dog guards and another, much larger one Chara knew as Greater Dog. The larger one walked over to Chara, panting.
"Well, looks like someone missed me while I was gone," She laughed, patting his head.
Grillby spoke to her in firespeak, crossing his arms.
"Hey, I know as much as you do on the matter." Chara shrugged. "Last thing I remember before I woke up was I was pushing daisies."
Grillby shrugged, speaking to her again before pouring a large chocolate milkshake.
"You know me so well," Chara grinned wide, sipping the drink as Greater Dog stayed slumped on her lap, tongue hanging out.
"Man, you sure get around, kid," Sans sat next to her. "What's your deal?"
"I told you," Chara said. "I lived here."
"I suppose that's your answer," Sans shrugged. "So, I got a question for ya."
"Shoot," Chara said, sipping her drink. Immediately, everyone else in the room froze besides her and Sans.
"You ever heard of a talking flower?" Sans asked.
"The echo flowers or that weird talking flower that attacked me when I woke up back in the Ruins?" Chara asked.
"Yeah, the Ech—wait, you know what I'm talking about?" Sans asked.
"Yeah," Chara said. "What do you know about it?"
"Papyrus tells me how a flower gives him words of advice and encouragement sometimes," Sans said. "I was thinkin' that maybe it was an Echo Flower… but you clearly don't take me as that naïve, do ya?"
"You clearly hide more than you let on," Chara said.
"Same to you, kid," A small blue glow came from Sans' left eye for a split second. "But, I guess everyone's entitled to their secrets."
"Watch this one," The shape of the distorted human slithered up to Chara and whispered into her ear. "He's dangerous."
"Go away," Chara growled to the shape.
"Got some voices in your head, kid?" Sans stared at Chara with his pupils gone. Chara shrugged, going back to her milkshake.
"I'll keep an eye out," Chara said. "Clearly the Underground's been better."
"That's another question," Sans said. "You surely know what it takes to exit the Underground. Yet, you're back. How?"
"I never left…" Chara said. "Well… I did once, but it was different."
"Care to go into it?" Sans asked.
"Not really," Chara said. "It wasn't exactly a high point in my life."
"Explain how you have magic then," Sans said. "I can tell you have some."
"Ten straight years of only magic food," Chara said. "Only explanation I have."
"I suppose it'll have to do," Sans said. "For now I guess."
"So, what's it been like in the past twenty years?" Chara asked. "Other than the six SOULs now in the care of my da—the king."
"A little darker," Sans shrugged. "But, I'm sure you know about that."
"Stop being cryptic," Chara said in a low growl. "I want to know what you're getting at."
"Too many things about you that don't sit right with me," Sans shrugged. "I guess we'll have to work it out."
"Yes," Chara said. "I'm no enemy of the monsters, despite being human."
"I guess," Sans said. "Well, I guess you haven't killed any monsters, so your statement's kinda true. Doesn't explain your LV."
"How can you see my LV?" Chara eyed him. "Only my parents and brother could see that."
"I just got a knack for it," Sans shrugged. "Care to explain?"
"I got it on the Surface," Chara said. "Comes with the territory."
"You're kinda odd," Sans chuckled. "But, hey, I like you, kid."
"Don't call me kid," Chara said. "Now, I'm gonna head through Waterfall."
"Be careful, kid," Sans chuckled as everyone began to move again. "Sure you don't want to take a shortcut?"
"I'll pass," Chara said as she got up and walked out. Grillby waved at her and she waved back.
"How do you know her?" Sans asked the fire elemental.
Grillby spoke to him in firespeak.
"Eh, fine, I'll learn it from her," Sans waved it off. "Kinda interesting, that one."
Grillby nodded as Sans left.
Chara continued her journey, heading to the entrance of Waterfall. As she did, she saw the white areas of Snowdin became more purplish and the air warmed up. It wasn't toasty, but it was certainly warmer.
She continued to walk through, walking by a door. She certainly didn't remember that before. She stopped at it, knocking at the door. She opened it, peeking inside. Inside was a single being made of blackness and had a white skull with cracks.
"Doctor Gaster?" Chara walked in, standing in front of the shape.
"You… remember me, princess Chara?" The shape looked down at her, leaning in.
"Of course," Chara said. "But… how do you remember me?"
"I could never forget a human such as yourself," The figure, Gaster, said, a distorted chuckle emerging from him. "You were such a tortured and poor SOUL, it was a wonder any good could exist in you at all. You were also the first human in millennia to show any potential in the ways of magic."
"It's the food," Chara said.
"Food alone can't bring about strong magic like yours," Gaster said, his skull changing shape slightly. "You are descended from a powerful mage, the mage of the Red SOUL. But, it was only when you began ingesting solely monster food did you unlock your long buried power."
"I see," Chara said. "What happened to you, though?"
"I fell into my own creation," Gaster said, chuckling again. "I just needed to get to the CORE of the problem."
"That lazyass is definitely your relative," Chara sighed.
"Ah, you've met Sans," Gaster chuckled louder. "He is a chip off the old skull."
"Joy," Chara said with much sarcasm.
"But, back to you," Gaster said. "I can sense you have a visitor."
"A freak that has taken my SOUL," Chara said. "I got it back… but I don't remember any of it. I keep having nightmares about it though."
"So you do," Gaster nodded. "I suppose you know what this demon is."
"It claims to be Frisk," Chara growled.
"Ah, the one human you cared for," Gaster clasped his hands together. "Well, I suppose you'll have to confront this demon, whoever she may be."
"I have been," Chara said. "She keeps coming back."
"That is not true confrontation," Gaster said. "You are hiding from your problems like a coward. You must face it head on instead of pussing out."
If anyone other than Undyne, Doctor Gaster, her parents, or Asriel had said that, Chara would have clocked them. However, the Doctor was one of the few beings who truly understood how Chara thought and worked; was able to get to the core of her persona and help her truly understand herself.
"I guess you're right," Chara said, sighing. "I'll try."
"That's the spirit," Doctor Gaster gave his knowing smirk. "Now, come give old Uncle Gaster a hug. He's been quite 'bonely'."
"Despite that atrocious pun, I'll still hug you." Chara sighed, hugging the black shape. The skeleton's arms encircled her, the Doctor hugging her back.
"Can you leave here?" Chara asked.
"Unfortunately, no," Doctor Gaster said. "I'm actually surprised you could see the door here. But, I am capable of bringing you here, but perhaps only this once. I could feel you needed a little push is all."
"Oh," Chara said sadly. "Well, I'll always remember you."
"I know, child," Doctor Gaster said. "Now, go before it becomes dark. You wouldn't want to get lost in Waterfall again."
"I told you I wasn't lost," Chara whined a bit.
"Well, go on then," Doctor Gaster said. "Have your fun. But, I can tell in the near future you will have to confront almost all of your problems."
"I… I guess you're right," Chara said. "Well, I suppose I have to go. It was nice seeing you again, Doctor."
"You two, little one." Doctor Gaster smiled, waving as Chara closed the door, continuing into Waterfall. She noticed a little reptilian monster following her.
"Hey, you're goin' to see Undyne, aren't ya?" They asked. "Me too! But uh, don't tell my parents."
"You can follow me," Chara said. "But, if it gets dicey, you better run."
"Got it," The monster kid nodded with a grin. The two journeyed deeper into Waterfall.
Next chapter, we'll see the fated meeting between Chara and Undyne. How will this go? We'll see.
Also, I know it seems odd, but I'm also doing neutral as well as pacifist. I had too many character moments and ideas for the neutral run moments to pass up.
Also, if you guys want me to continue after the Pacifist ending, let me know because there are some ideas I could work with for the story.