Napstablook had taken Gaster to a place called FlamesMan's. The hotdogs there were pretty good, but Sans had told him he could make one a thousand times better. Gaster take his word for it. Napstablook had asked about talking flowers, and mentioned the golden ones around Shadowfall, though none of them could talk. The ghost asked Gaster to keep an eye out for who was playing a trick on his cousin.

Water flowed by in the moonlight. Shadowfall lay in front of two skeletons, one alive and one dead. Sans was asleep once again, the link between his soul and Gaster's dragging him along. They walked into a patch of tall grass that shimmered in the moonlight, stopping suddenly when they heard their friend Mettaton approach someone on the ledge above.

"Hello boss! I'm here with my daily report!" He greeted, the figure above, clad in intimidating red armor and a cape, turned to face the robot. "About the skeleton I called you about earlier…." He began. The armored person said something unheard to Mettaton. "Did I fight them? Well, of course I did darling, I fought fabulously!" the stranger again speaks, but not loud enough to be heard by Gaster. "Did I capture them…? W-well….. no." Mettaton responds. He is soon a flurry of words when his (somewhat shorter) boss gives him a stink eye. "I tried! I tried really hard, boss! You have to believe me! But, in the end it was all for not…" he cried dramatically. The warrior takes a step toward Mettaton, words going unheard again. "You're going to take care of it yourself? But, boss! You don't have to destroy them! Look, I have something to say…" Mettaton pleaded. The leader of the Royal Guard, apparently said something else, making Mettaton cower back a bit. "I… understand, darling…I'll help in any way I can…" he stated before fleeing.

Gaster waited a moment before taking a step forward. The grass rustled, and the leader of the Royal Guard faced the skeleton's direction. The red armored stranger drew a knife that expanded into a bright red, very dangerous blade. They took aim at the grass. Slowly, it was eyed up and down, before the stranger sheathed their blade and retreated. A glowing red spark where they were once standing. Once they were gone, Gaster let out a sigh he didn't know he was holding. "i don't like the look of that knife." Sans pointed out. Gaster nodded, it was best to leave.

They exited the tall grass, and a kid running too fast knocked into their back. "Oh no, I am So Sorry I did that, I'm such a klutz. I guess that's why they call me So Sorry, heh," they stated. So Sorry looked to Gaster and smiled. "So, are you out to see them, too?" he asked. Gaster looked puzzled. "Oh, you know! Chara! The greatest Royal Guard in the history of Undyne's army!" So Sorry declared. "Even though Empress Undyne has a sore spot with humans, Chara is the leader of the Royal Guard anyway! It just goes to show how cool they are! I want to be like them one day!" rambled So Sorry. Gaster nodded along, and So Sorry sped ahead.

Waterfall had puzzles, too. Mettaton had called earlier, asking if Gaster was wearing a dusty tu-tu. The skeleton said no, and Mettaton rambled into what a fashion faux-paw it would have been. Coincidentally, you ran into a tu-tu a while later. There was a note by it in blue pen. "For anyone who needs some integrity. If you pass the village, say hi!" Sans began to chant "wear it, wear it, wear it!" and Gaster rolled his eye sockets and put the tu-tu on. Sans chuckled. Gaster really began to regret it when Mettaton gave a callback on the tu-tu subject. "I had called about that tu-tu for a friend. And, that friend, well, darling, their opinion on you is slightly…. Murderous, but wait! I, the Fabulous Mettaton, would never betray my new friend! So, in response to your answer, I told my friend that you were wearing a dusty tu-tu. Crisis averted!" Mettaton explained. Gaster facepalmed while Sans laughed.

Eventually they came to a bridge. Only a few steps on, and the leader of the Royal Guard, Chara, started chasing them down. It became apparent this human had some very good magic training, considering they were a human firing magic red knives four at a time at blinding speeds. Gaster ran, swerved and dodged knives on the wonky bridge (seriously, who designed this thing?) into more patches of tall, moonlight grass. Chara pursued Gaster in and slowed down before entering. They're armor weighed footsteps clanged as the grass shook, Gaster standing still as he could muster. Chara got closer. "wow, they're the same size as you, kind short for a Royal Guard leader, huh?" Sans commented. Gaster gave him a look. "what? i thought we already established that you're the only one that can see or hear me," Sans huffed in response. Chara swung their hand forward and latched onto something in the grass. They stood on a rock in the grass to peek their head over and dragged what they were holding, So Sorry, up with them. The annoyance in their eyes did not go unnoticed. They lowered So Sorry back to the ground and mumbled under their breath.

"Did you see that?!" So Sorry gasped. "Chara just…. TOUCHED ME! I am never washing this jacket again!" they exclaimed. Gaster rolled his eye sockets. "Wow, if you had been a little more to the right, who knows what would have happened!" So Sorry cheered, before running ahead, chasing Chara-related dreams. "yeah, heh, who knows…" Sans told Gaster.

…

Gaster put the blue umbrella in the statue's hands. Inside the statue, a music box began to play. The melody was pretty cheery, and Gaster bounced his skull to the beat a bit. Though Sans looked a little downcast. Looks like the poor skelly had been though a lot at this spot. Or it was the music. Gaster didn't know. Gaster stuck around a bit before remembering the xylophone puzzle a little was away. It was probably the melody that picked up after the musicbox played for a little bit. Gaster returned to the xylophone puzzle and played the cheery melody on it.

Inside sat the "Legendary Artifact" the puzzle had spoken about. Gaster reached out to take it. "Hey bud. you're carrying too many tems," Sans pointed out. Low and behold, a Temmie was in Gaster's inventory. He puts the Temmie on the ground. It vibrates rapidly and runs to the artifact, absorbing it and fazing through the wall. Both skeletons stare dumbfounded at the place the Temmie exited. They leave the place be.

…

Gaster reached the Human Village a while later. Its entrance was well hidden in that room with the glowing mushrooms. There were about six humans standing around. "Hi, I'm Baxter," One with tough orange gloves said. "Welcome to the Human Village!" he greeted. "Hi, I'm Patrica." The one with a ribbon in their hair stated. "Don't forget my other friends!" Gaster greeted the one next to her. "Hi! I'm Iila! Is that my old tu-tu…?" she asked. Finally, he hello'd the (somewhat intimidating) human on the end. "Hello. I'm Jameson" the gun wielding human greeted. Gaster moved on. There was a little boy with a frying pan watching an egg. "Kyle watch egg," he third-person'd. Gaster moved on again. There was, finally, some teenage scholar in the wall, staring at Gaster. She didn't talk, so Gaster mentally dubbed her "the reclusive nerd". Sans dubbed her "Perseverance" for some reason. Gaster looked around the village a bit more. There was some deep history here. The statue base even had the names of everyone in the village carved into it. Apparently Chara lived here, but they had scratched a line over the name, probably to indicate they moved.

Gaster followed the signs to the center of the village. Apparently there was a Frisk Shop inside. Gaster had seen their name on the statue, so why not? It was a quaint little shop, filled with leftover items that some humans had grown out of or left behind. Chara's name wasn't the only one scratched out, after all. Frisk, who was manning the shop from the cardboard box, waved when Gaster entered. "Hi, welcome to the Frisk Shop!" they signed. Sign language! Now that was something Gaster could get around. Gaster made a giddy smile and signed "Hello" back to them. Frisk grinned. The two struck up some friendly conversation. Frisk was especially nice and Gaster was polite as possible.

"So, how long have you guys been here?" he asked. "Well, there was some tension between Humans and Monsters after their sealing in darkness. Though, one day, Chara ran away from the human side of things to the monster side, and the kind and funny Toriel took them in. When more humans stated arriving, Toriel and her family helped found the Human Village. It's the closest monster relation to date. Well, save for Chara being the first Human royal guard for the Empress." They explained. Gaster nodded. "So, why did Chara leave?" he questioned. "Well, even after the founding of Human Village, Chara was still very uncomfortable around humans. I hear a human is the reason they have to wear that eyepatch of theirs, and plenty of other things. They're pretty aggressive to those against monsters as well." Frisk answered. They conversed a while longer, before Gaster forked over some gold for a cowboy hat, so he could stop wearing the tu-tu. Frisk thanked them and waved goodbye as Gaster left.

…

The bridge chase did not end well. Gaster had been cornered when three magic blades pierced the bridge they were on. They had been knocked out. He heard a voice, a voice he didn't recognize. "HEY, ARE YOU OKAY. BROTHER? THAT FALL WAS PRETTY BAD. DO YOU RECOGNIZE ME? COME ON BROTHER, LISTEN. MY NAME IS…." Gaster had awoken from his dream. He was on a bed of echo flowers. What was that about? Sans was already up, floating solemnly with his back turned to Gaster. Was that voice important to him? Had he seen the dream?

…

The fight with "Flowey" was simple. They just knocked its magic back at it. Toriel had come to rescue them from being in a fight forever, and invited them to her house. Well, invited Gaster. Sans was still under the radar being dead and all. The house was small and smelled of snails. Toriel told Gaster that she runs a snail farm and she used to do so with her husband. Though her husband was left in an accident and hasn't left Asriel's home since. Asriel was her son. Gaster felt sad for Toriel. Conversations of the human village were brought up and Toriel had mentioned how she passed by there every day since its founding. Chara had left one day to go make their own home. Toriel mentioned Chara being both a next door neighbor and an adopted child. "They looked so happy when Undyne let them be a part of the royal guard and practically beamed when she was appointed to leader," she reminisced.

…

Gaster saved So Sorry from falling off the bridge. So Sorry gave Chara a determined glare. "If you want to hurt my friend, you'll have to get through me, first!" He yelled. Chara was taken aback for a moment. You could just barely hear them groan before they retreated into the shadows once more. So Sorry beamed at you. "Thank you so much! I don't know what I would have done without you back there. I don't even care if you're a skeleton, you're nice!" So Sorry declared before running off.

They approached the cliff face carefully. Chara could be anywhere. "I knew you'd come here, skeleton." They spat. Gaster looked up. Under the moonlight, surrounded by stars, was Chara, standing atop the cliff with their cape flowing in the breeze. "Seven. Seven sets of skeleton magic and Empress Undyne will become all powerful. Six. That is the skeleton magic we have acquired thus far…." They recited. Chara turned to face Gaster. "Do you understand, skeleton? With your seventh and final set of magic, we will be able to return to the light." Chara huffed. "You stand in the way of everyone's hopes and dreams, and I will not allow you to walk further. You're continued existence is a crime, skeleton. And I will strike you down where you stand. But first, let me tell you the tragic tale of our realm…" the human monologues. "Actually, you know what," they stiffen a bit before standing straighter. "SCREW IT! Why should I tell you that story, when you're about to die!" Chara declared swiftly. They removed their helmet and tossed it aside.

Chara would look kind of cute if it wasn't for the steely glare in their one good eye. Like Frisk had said, Chara wore an eyepatch due to some human-inflicted injury. Their good eye glowed bright red from the magic they had been taught. All in all, a very powerful human. They had rambled on through Gaster's assessment. "Oh! I'm making such a difference by hugging random strangers! You know what would really help everyone? If you were DEAD!" Chara declared. Sans and Gaster gave each other a look. Sans shrugged. Chara went on a bit longer before drawing their knife and made it form a long blade, before jumping down. "HERE I COME!" they shouted.

Chara's cape fluttered in the wind. "As long as you're green, you can't escape!" they declared, swiping their blade and turning Gaster's soul green. "Unless you learn to face danger head on, you won't last a second against me!" Chara pointed out, sending a barrage of knife-shaped magic at Gaster. He turns his shield to stop them and checks Chara. "Chara Dreemurr ATK 99 DEF 99. The Determined Hero Who Never Gives Up. beware of hard-hitting physical attacks" Sans tells you. Physical attacks, a monster's worst enemy when it came to fighting humans. A monster's magical make-up don't last very long against them, due to the weak souls harbored in a weak body. This was definitely going to be tough.

"Not bad. Now, how about this!" Chara shouted, throwing more magic knives into the fray. Gaster blocked them as best he could. He blocked knife after knife as Chara slashed their knife across, returning their soul to normal, before adding a downward, physical slash that Gaster barely dodged. "now's your chance, run!" Sans told you. Gaster fled the battle, Chara in hot pursuit. Chara caught up to them, but Gaster kept running, even past the sign that read "WELCOME TO STARLAND" as much as he could before Mettaton called.

"Hello, darling~! I was just wondering if you, I and Chara should hang out. When you're done what you're doing, let's meet at their house!" Mettaton invited. Surprisingly enough, Chara had waited for Gaster's call to end before pursuing you further. He continued to run into Starland, Chara hot on his heels. Blooky was at his post, too enamored in some tune he composed to watch, and Chara looked furious at the fact.

Starland's stars were a lot closer than anywhere else so though it was still dark, it was pretty darn hot. Chara continued her pursuit further, but it was slowed significantly. "Armor….too….hot…. but I… can't…give up!" they wheezed. They collapsed on the ground. Gaster found a water cooler and brought a glass over to them. He gave Chara their fill of water as the red-armored warrior stood up. Their cape fluttered a moment as they stared in disbelief. Then, they walked away.

Gaster decided to take up Mettaton's invitation to hang out, despite Sans' (very weak) protests. So they walked back though Shadowfall, to Chara's house, which was shaped like a fiery phoenix, though the house wasn't actually on fire. Mettaton gave a large smile when Gaster arrived. "You actually agreed to hang out! Okay, darling, stand behind me!" Mettaton cheered. Gaster followed suit as the robot knocked on the door. "Hello, Chara!" He greeted. "Hi, Mettaton! Ready for your ultra-private, one on one training?" the human declared. They were no longer wearing their armor. Just a green and yellow sweater, brown pants and a set of red boots, as well as that red cape of theirs. Somebody's obsessed with the being a hero thing. "You bet I am, darling! And I brought a friend!" Mettaton declared, standing aside. Chara gave a smile. "Hi, I don't think we…." Their expression drops immediately. The tension increases suddenly and everyone around feels it. "told'ja it was a bad idea," Sans points out. Gaster gives a glare in the skeleghost's direction.

"Why don't….you two…..come in?" Chara offers a bit stressfully. Gaster and Mettaton head inside. Chara's house is full of warrior stuff and pastry baking books. "So, are we ready to begin?" they asked. Mettaton dramatically puts a hand to his forehead. "Horrors! I have just realized I need to recharge my batteries! Please remember me as you have fun in my stead," he declares dramatically before leaping out the window. The tension grows. "So… why are you here? To rub your victory in my face? To humiliate me even further…? IS THAT IT?!" Chara shouts. Gaster quickly shakes his head no. "Wait… you think we're going to be friends…." They huff and Gaster smiles expectantly. "Let's do it! Let's all frolic in the flower fields of friendship!...NOT!" Chara declares. "Why would I ever be friends with you?! If you weren't my house guest, I'd strike you down where you stood. You're the enemy of our hopes and dreams. I WILL NEVER BE YOUR FRIEND!" Chara shouts. "Now, get out of my house…"

"What a terrible shame," Mettaton appears again. "I thought Chara could be friends with you. I guess not. They just aren't up to the challenge and I have overestimated them…" He says slyly before retreating. "Challenge, what?! Mettaton, wait!" Chara yells after him. "He thinks I can't be friends with you. Hahahah, what a laugh! I can befriend a scrawny wimp like you any day. I'll show him!" Chara declares.

….

"Don't pet the eggs, crack 'em!" Chara yelled. Gaster were busy receiving baking lessons from Chara in Mettaton's stead. Chara banged their fist on the table and cracked all the eggs in one fell swoop. They scraped up the eggs, shells included, into a bowl. "Hey, partner, pour all of that flour in!" Chara told Gaster. "That's way to slow! Pour it in, Partner!" Chara screamed, and Gaster sped up. "Now let's stir things up, mix that batter with all of your passion!" the human commanded. Gaster stirred the (very thick) batter with all his might. "Just let me stir then," Chara groaned, taking out their knife and swirling it around the bowl rapidly. They then threw it in the oven. "Now, turn up the heat! Let the oven's fire symbolize your hopes and dreams!" Chara declared. "Hotter, stupid!" Chara commanded. "You're doing it wrong! Here!" Chara blasted the heat in the oven to 10000000 0F and laughed maniacally as the house caught fire.

"See, skeleton? That's how you bake a cake! …oh, the house is on fire… no wonder Mettaton sucks at baking. So, what's next? Friendship bracelets, scrapbooking?" Chara looks at you expectantly, before their expression drops. "Who am I kidding, I screwed this up royaly. Looks like we really can't be friends. And if we can't be friends…. Then I can destroy you without regret!" Chara declared, drawing their knife.

"I've been defeated, my house in shambles. This is the only way to regain my lost pride. So come at me, skeleton, and don't hold anything back!" Chara declares. Gaster is looking at his options. "chara's lettin' you make the first move," Sans tells the skeleton. Gaster then closes his eyes and gives Chara a fake hit. It does one damage. Chara, again, stares in disbelief, dropping their knife to the ground. "Is that really the best you've got?" they close their eyes. "Sorry, just…reminiscing… I guess…. Look, you may be a scrawny wimp. But you're a scrawny wimp with a big heart, despite you being a skeleton, so… why don't we just get out of this burning house?" Chara decides and Gaster follows.

"Looks like I'll be staying with Mettaton and Napstablook for a while. If you need anything, give Metta a ring, okay?" Chara tells you before leaving. Gaster nods. "alright bud, back to starland." Sans decides, and Gaster begins his trek back.

((A/N: Longest Chapter I've ever written...))