Turns out at the interesting sentry post there's a dog that can't see anything that's standing still. It's hilarious, although at one point I was laughing so hard that it threw a dagger at me. That wasn't so hilarious. Chara dragged me away before I could incinerate it, which was sad.

Now we're in Snowdin. Chara seems more relaxed here, and strangely, I feel the same way. Could it be the welcoming atmosphere of the town? Or could it be the prospect of seeing the skeletons of kids? Probably the skeletons.

A little bear monster wearing a orange sweater waddles up to me. "Hello mister! Welcome to Snowdin!" After all this time, now the monsters aren't afraid of me? Arrgh. It had to be just as I was about to see some tiny skeletons.

I look over at Chara, who appears to be stifling a grin. They seem to be sensing my emotions more and more, but maybe that's just because they're getting to know me better. I try to signal them for help, but they only smile, and wave at me, clearly ignoring the panic in my eyes. What am I supposed to do with the child? Kill it?

I look back down at the child, who meets my gaze with welcoming eyes. Chara probably wouldn't appreciate it if I killed them. I sigh. ~What is it you want, child?~ I ask.

They smile excitedly, then bounce up and down. "I want to show you our Christmas tree!" They attempt to grab ahold of me to drag me over to the tree, but their hands only go through me. They stop, then look up at me. "Are you a ghost?"

There's ghosts here too? I smile down at the child. I really need to meet one. ~My form is hard to capture.~ I tell them. ~Just lead the way, I will follow you.~

They smile and scamper off. I stay put. Well that got rid of them. I never liked Christmas anyways, it was always my favorite thing to ruin.

"Ahem." Chara says. I look over at them. They look at me impatiently, tapping their foot.

~What?~ I ask, annoyed. They look pointedly off in the direction the little kid scampered. I groan. ~Are you serious?~ I ask them.

They nod. "It's more history." They smile at me, tilting their head. "And you know we can't go on until you learn some history."

This child. They are so frustrating. All we need to do is save the monsters, but first I have to learn things. I'm as old as time itself, they really don't think I've learned enough? I grumble to myself some more, but then trudge in the direction the monster child went.

Soon I come across a group of monsters, who are all standing around a Christmas tree. They turn as I approach, and their smiles freeze, clearly sensing the evil surrounding me. "There you are!" I hear the kid call out, just before he bursts out from behind the group of adult monsters, smiling happily. "Come over here!"

I glance sideways at Chara, who of course can't be seen by anyone else. Why can't I have that talent? They smirk at me and nod towards the tree. I roll my eyes at them then start to go towards the group of monsters, expecting them to scurry away and let me pass, but they don't. Instead, they group closer together, and one of them grabs the monster kid's arm to prevent them from running towards me.

I stop. This is unusual. To stand before me unafraid as I advance, even though they sense the evil within me. I take another step, testing to see what they'll do, and the monster holding the kid's arm pulls the kid behind them. I look over at Chara again, who is watching all this with an amused fascination. What am I supposed to do? How is this history? Seeing as they give no response to my pleading looks, I sigh and look back over at the group of monsters, who straighten up as soon as my gaze lands on them. They're not afraid. This is crazy. I take another step, and they don't move. They all stare at me, clearly unafraid. I take one more step, and an armless lizard monster steps forward.

"What do you want?" She asks, looking suspiciously at me. I bet if she had arms she would be crossing them.

I smile. ~I only wish to see what the child has to show me.~

She shivers as my voice reaches her, feeling the effects of how I speak. But she stays determined, and her gaze meets mine. "Why?"

Why indeed. I glance over at the child again, but they pay me no attention, instead looking off in the distance with strange fascination. Burying my frustration, I return my attention to the armless monster. ~Because the child wanted it.~ I tell her simply. ~I have no intention of doing anything else.~ Unless the child wants me to kill one of them. Though I doubt that would happen. Pity.

The monster adjusts her stance, blocking the way to the tree even more. "There's something evil about you. I can't let you pass."

I shrug, trying not to laugh at how obvious she is. ~Very well then. It is not me you are disappointing.~ It's the child. And Chara. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Chara is now looking at the monster with interest and... anger? Are they angry? And they're not angry at me? How important is this history?

Chara floats closer to the monster, now directly in front of her. They raise the knife high into the air. Alarmed, I step forward quickly, forgetting that the monsters can't see Chara. ~What are you doing!?~ I ask them. I thought they didn't want to kill the monsters! Not that I'm against killing them... I just need the child to not do something they will regret. If they regret something... then I will never be able to go sleep. I will be stuck here forever, chained to this beautifully mad child. They will never feel the peace of a job well done, and they will never be able to express the correct payment.

The monster steps back, afraid of my advance, but it's not far enough. Chara lets the knife fall, slashing through the monster. Then Chara disappears. I stop, staring in shock as I see the monster is completely unharmed. The knife went directly through her, doing nothing. There's no scratch marks or anything. The only trace that there was ever any intention of harm done to the monster is a very light scattering of dust covering the ground in front of her. Wait.. dust? Where did the dust come from? Could it have been dried blood falling off the knife? I lean forward, inspecting it. I've never seen anything like it.

The monster follows my gaze, gasping when they see the dust, stepping backward again. I look up when I hear her gasp. She stares at the dust for a few seconds, then looks up at me, cringing when my gaze meets hers. It's the complete opposite of how she was acting before. What did Chara do to her?

"Let him pass." She says shakily, taking a step off to the side. The other monsters look at her, confused and worried, but then they do as she says, shuffling off to the sides.

I look around for Chara, but I don't see them. It's strange how they just disappeared like that. Shrugging, I make my way to the Christmas tree. The monster kid squirms free of the monster who's holding them and runs over me, despite the words of protest coming from the group. He smiles up at me. "This is our Christmas tree. We decorate it for a local monster and give them presents!" He leans closer, now whispering. "Though sometimes he doesn't want the presents so we end up getting them."

~Why does the monster get presents?~ I ask, now curious. This monster must have done something pretty spectacular to be given presents all the time.

"Because they helped us move into Snowdin!" He says happily. "Even though they live in the woods!"

~Move into Snowdin?~ I question. I look around at the buildings. It looks like they've been here forever.

The kid rolls his eyes. "From the RUINS, of course!"

~Why doesn't the monster want the presents?~ I ask, returning back to the presents.

The kid shrugs. "Dunno." They perk up. "But they really like the decorations!"

~Hmm.~ I say, getting an idea. ~Why don't you give some of the decorations to the monster? Then they'll always be happy they helped you. And that way...~ I look sideways at the adult monsters before whispering to the child. ~You'll get all the presents to yourself.~

I lean back. The child gazes up at me, amazement sparkling in his eyes from the idea. "That's a great idea! We could put it on their antlers!" He starts to grab ornaments from the tree, much to the adult monsters' dismay.

~Wait.~ I tell the child, putting my hand on the ornament they're grabbing. ~Don't do it now. You should wait a while, that way the monster doesn't get angry about the loss of presents so soon.~ I smile, visualizing the monster's distress when they realize all their ornaments and decorations have been attached to a monster that lives far in the woods. What a splendid idea to put into a kid's head.

I pat the kid's head, then straighten up, looking at the adult monsters. ~I will be leaving now.~ I tell them, then walk around the tree.

I go forward until I reach a path going off in another direction, and since Chara's not here to tell me what to do, I take it. I turn at the first right and stop beside yet another river. This place has too many rivers. Along with history. I sigh. Where is that child? Surely I've learned all I need to now.

"Well that took forever." A familiar voice says. I smile and turn around, facing Chara. They have their arms crossed, looking at me with annoyance. "And you got lost again too. It figures." They sigh. "I can't leave you alone for one minute."

~That was interesting, what you did back there.~ I tell them. It doesn't seem like they regret anything.

They snort. "Is that how you compliment someone, by telling them they're 'interesting'?" They look away, casting their red gaze elsewhere. "Anyways, you're welcome. That was taking way too long."

~Did I learn what I needed?~ I ask, starting to feel annoyed again. If they even think about saying no...

"Yes." They roll their eyes, probably sensing my annoyance. "C'mon, let's go. We still need to see the skeletons." They turn around.

I smile and catch up to them, excited to see the skeletons. This is going to be great. Skeletons to see, ghosts to find, and (maybe) things to destroy. I follow them back down the road.