The ruins had a way of feeling cold. Not literally exactly though it was hard to tell considering that Sans had no skin, but they had a way of feeling empty. The outward structure seemed to be falling apart Brick was stained, the spires had huge chips in them, and even the door itself was covered by the dust of time. Sans wondered at times if the inside looked as poor as the outside. Considering that the lady that lived within its confines seemed nice, he hated to think poorly of the woman.

Still above all things, he had a mission to do, and this time, his friend's lives might be at stake. He took a deep breath, and knocked on the door.

"Toriel?" San's called

"Hello, who's there?" a soft feminine voiced softly asked from behind the large door. Sans cleared his throat.

"Knock knock!" Sans shouted

"Who's there?" Toriel asked

"Madame."

"Madame who?"

"Madame foot's caught in the door!"

Toriel giggled. Now it was her turn.

"Knock knock!"

"Who's there?"

"Little old lady?"

"Little old lady who?"

"Wow! I didn't know you could yodel!"

Sans couldn't help but laugh. The two continued to go back and forth for what seemed like a half an hour or so. For a moment, Sans actually begun forgetting about what he originally came to do. At least that was until Toriel broke things up.

"Alright, one more each, first me then you ok?"

Sans gasped realizing what he almost forgot. "Yeah sure."

"Knock Knock"

"Who's there?"

"Eskimo Christian Italian."

"Eskimo Christian Italian who?"

"Eskimo Christian Italian no lies"

Sans laughed but then let out a heavy sigh. That was about to be put to the test.

"Alright Tor. This one is a bit hard to swallow. Are you ready?"

"Hit me with your best shot." Toriel said with a haughty teasing laugh.

"Knock Knock"

"Who's there?"

"…Chara" Sans said after a brief pause.

The whole place fell silent and nothing but the sound of water dripping off stalactites could be heard. At least for a bit.

"C-Chara who?"

"I don't know…Maybe you could enlighten me?"

There was nothing for at least five minutes. It after a while Sans let out a sigh and began to turn around.

"Well see you round Toriel."

As he turned around and took a step forward, the ruins of the door slowly opened. He then saw what appeared to be a figure peeking at the door.

"Where did you hear that name?"

"Um…the kid told me." Sans said

She opened the door the rest of the way. Sans was shocked upon seeing what she looked like, mainly because she looked like a certain other king that he knew.

"Wow. Are you like Asgore's twin sister or something?"

"Um, would you like to come in? I have a pie in the oven."

"Uh, sure thanks."

Sans found himself amazed by the condition of the place. There was a chair in the corner next to a fireplace. Books seemed to be put neatly on the shelf, even going as far as to label them in alphabetical order. The fire felt warm and toasty and over all, the place just felt like home.

"Nice place you got here Toriel."

"Thank you, um would you like something to drink? I can put some hot chocolate on the stove."

"Oh yes please."

He then looked over at a chair.

"Does this thing recline?"

"mmm hmm."

"Do you mind? I mean I don't want to you know..."

"Oh please go ahead. I mean you are a guest."

Sans plopped on the Chair reclining it all the way back while Undyne came in with the cups of hot chocolate and a butterscotch pie. She proceeded to sit down adjacent to Sans and Drink.

"So…What all do you know about Chara?" Toriel asked.

"Nada noodle. The only thing I know is you got a little bit of a weed problem, and one of those weeds…likes to call the kid Chara." That wasn't the only thing that Sans new about Chara, but he wasn't sure that Toriel would understand the whole genocide reset thing.

"The kid, you mean Frisk?"

"Yep…Look I don't know exactly who this person is, but based on that look in your eyes, something tells me that you do. I really need your help on this Tor, because something tells me, the kid's life might depend on it."

Toriel let out a sigh. "I mean…What do you want to know?"

"Everything, but maybe start from the beginning."

Toriel nodded. "Chara was our daughter."

"Our?"

"Me and Asgore. We were married at that time…well I guess we technically still are, but we were together. We were…a family. It was a long time ago. After the War ended, the humans trapped monsters in a barrier. A few weeks after the barrier was sealed, a human child fell through. Ironically, she was the general's daughter."

Chara got up, wiping the tears from her face. She didn't know where she was, beyond the fact that she was in a cave. Looking up it appeared as though the sun came from one direction and that was up. There was no way her small hands could properly grasp against the rocks, and any attempt to do so would result in further injury. So she did the only thing she could do.

"Mother, Father? Help me please!"Chara called out.

Asgore had sent our sonAsriel to pick Water Sausages within the ruins of the cave, but instead of finding Water Sausages.

"Hello, who's there?" A voice responded.

"He found her."

Chara took a step back and drew her knife as she noticed a shadow creep closer and closer to her. Her breath became shadow and uneasy.

"It's ok." The voice said. "I'm not going to hurt you. My name is Asriel."

As the shadow stepped into the light, Chara was shocked to see that it was a goat headed. Child with curved silver horns and bright ice blue eyes.

"You look hurt. Do you need help?"

Chara began wildly swinging her knife. "No, stay away!'

Asriel was fell backwards quivering as he looked at the girl who had a knife to his throat.

"I don't want to hurt you. I-I just want to help.

The sound of loud food steps could be heard as a deep voice called out.

"Asriel?!

A large Shadow crept from out of the corner, and once he came into the light she was horrified at what she saw. It was another goat type figure with the same white fur and blue eyes, but he had a long golden beard and his horns curved like that of a bull. A certain image came to her mind, and it wasn't exactly holy. The youg child let out a loud scream before attempting to limp into the shadows. She grabbed a golden cross that hanged from her neck and held it in front of her face.

"Baphomet, Devil-god of witchcraft, get thou away from me! In the name of the Holy God above go back to the pits of Hell from which thou spawned!"

"Wow," Sans said in a bit of shock. "She actually thought you and Asgore were demons?"

"Sans, she was a young and innocent child taught to fear monsters for as long as she could remember. Not everyone was raised with the kind of knowledge of nature and science that you have."

"Yeah I guess you're right, sorry."

Toriel smiled and continued on with the story.

Asgore took a step forward, when he saw the insignia that was on Chara's cloak a tear fell from his eye.

"You poor thing."

She shouted again.

"Baphomet, Devil-god of witchcraft, get thou away from me! In the name of the Holy God above go back to the pits of Hell from which thou spawned! Still nothing happened

She shouted for a third time. "Baphomet, Devil-god of witchcraft, get thou away from me! In the name of the Holy God above go back to the pits of Hell from which thou spawned!" But nothing changed

I finally stepped into all of this after hearing all the commotion. I didn't know what was going on. For all I knew, Asriel was in trouble and Asgore was having a hard time getting him out/

"Asgore What's going on?"

And the moment I saw the child, I fell in love with her. She had the most beautiful auburn eyes and…

"Auburn, Isn't that a kind of red color?"

"Well I suppose it's a kind of brownish red but yes. Why do you ask?"

"It-it's nothing carry on."

I tried to approach the child but it seemed like the closer I got the more scared she became. Eventual she curled herself into a ball and started reciting something.

Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom God's love commits me here, ever this day be at my side, to light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen.

"Was it like a prayer or something?

"I believe so. Sometimes during the war we would hear the human solders mumble something. Sometimes they were incantations for spells, and other times it seemed like they were just words of comfort or encouragement.

"And I'm guessing with the kid it was the former and not the latter."

"Well Fireballs and lighting bolts didn't fall from the ceiling so I can only assume so."

I slowly approached the young child as she rocked back and forth. When she saw me, she raised her knife, but I grabbed her hand and slowly lowered it. When she started crying I gave her a warm confortiong smile. I asked her what her name was, and she said

"Chara, my name is Chara."

"It's nice to meet you Chara." I told her. "My name is Toriel and this is my Husband Asgore and my son Asriel."

Chara looked over at the two of them as they waved at her.

"You're not demons?" She asked.

I couldn't help but giggle.

"No my child we are not demons."

She began to tear up a bit.

"I'm lost I don't know where I am. I fell above the top of Mount Ebott. I need to find my father I…"

It was at this point that my heart truly broke for her. I felt a tear stream from my eye. She must have noticed.

"What's wrong?"

"Child, you fell through the barrier and….well…it only goes one way and…:

Chara gasped. "You mean…I'm stuck here….Forever?"

I wept as I hugged the child I told her how sorry I was that this had to happen to her. But she fought against me.

"No, you're lying! I have to get out of here my father is out their looking for me. He has to be. He has to be!"

She immediately started running into the opposite direction, accidently activating a puzzle trap in the process.

A ring of fire engulfed the ruins leaving us trapped between barriers. The only way to deactivate the trap was to take a leap of faith and run through it. Chara did so but she lost her cross in the process. Asgore went to retrieve it once the trap was deactivated, but the thing had melted beyond recognition. Chara collapsed on her knees and sobbed and we all huddled around and wept with her that day. I think it was at that moment, she realized she really did lose everything.

Sans found himself tearing up, but he quickly hid it. "Then what happened?"

We decided to adopt her and make her our own, Asriel was so happy to have a sister that he could laugh play and share secrets with. But we had to keep her hidden from everyone. If word got out that not only did we have a human, but the daughter of one of the human's leaders, then they would kill her or worse, trial her for crimes against monsterkind.

The only other monsters that knew about her was Ariel Captain of the Royal Guard and Gaster our royal we told them, they promised they would protect her.

Now Sans couldn't stop the tears. "Mom….Dad…"

Toriel stopped. "Sans I…"

"No It's ok. Trust me I understand. What happened next?"

It was a couple of days later. It turned out it was Chara's 11th birthday. Asgore did something special for her. He tapped her on the shoulder and gave her this little black box.

"I…couldn't reshape your heirloom back into the cross it was before, but I tried to reforge into something you might like. If you hate it, I understand."

Chara opened the box and tears came from her eyes as she gazed upon what was inside. Asgore had managed to reshape the lump of gold into a heart shape locket. He even made her a golden chain to go with it.

"Do you like it?" Asgore asked

Chara wept and gave all of us a hug, and I think it was at that moment she felt like she belonged we even took a picture to put in the locket. Of course you know how time means nothing beyond the barrier. Days could have turned into week's month's years, eventually Chara lost count and there was no way to physically tell how long it had been. So we just lived. Chara would spend all her time either practicing swords with Ariel, or drawing pictures with Asriel, was it repetitive, maybe, but we were happy and we thought it would stay that way.

"But…It didn't did it?" Sans asked.

Toriel Sighed and nodded.

We decided that we would risk it and take Asriel and Chara to the movies but when we went into Chara's room, she was gone. We called for her and Asriel Several times, but they wouldn't respond. It was them that Ariel and Gaster ran in.

"Your Highness! Your Highness!"

"What is it?"

"Someone broke into my lab last night. They took the notes that I had made on how to unseal the barrier."

"Gather the royal guards have half of them search for the thief the other half…"

"We know who did it."

"What?"

Gaster took out a letter from his sleeve. "My lord…" it was all he could muster out.

Asgore began to unfold the paper. Tears started to flow down his face as he put his mouth to his hand and gave a loud gasp. He read the paper out loud, and at that moment I had wished death had taken me right then.

To all my family, Mother, Father, Dr. Gaster, Captain Ariel, and above all Asreil my wonderful, wonderful brother.

If you are reading this, it means that you will never see me again, but hopefully it means that our plan has worked. Asriel and I came across Dr. Gaster's notes last night. We know that in order to open the Barrier from the inside, Seven human souls need to come in contact with it. It means that six other people have to fall here and possibly say goodbye to their friends and loved ones forever, or at worst be sacrificed so their souls can be used as a key. But maybe there is another way. One can cross the Barrier if they have both a monster soul, and a human soul, but one has to absorb the other. If we could cross the barrier maybe we could convince the Priest on the surface world to unseal the barrier and free you guys. But in order for that to happen it means that one of us would have to die.

Asriel offered his soul, but I couldn't allow that. First of all, a monster's body crumbles to dust when it dies. If I were to return to the surface with only powder, then the only thing that would happen is that people would disregard me as a madwoman, but if I were to give my soul, then Asriel would have a body of proof, and in the end, he is your firstborn, your trueborn, and your heir. I don't have anything left in the surface world. My parents have given me up for dead if they are even still alive, and while I know that you are happy here with me, I know now this isn't your true home. Your home is with us on the surface and you have every much a right to this earth as we do.

My father, taught me that there is no greater sacrifice a man can make then to lay down his life for their friends, and that the Son of God sacrificed himself so that all could have a better life. Please. Let this be my sacrifice to you. Asriel doesn't want this. When this is over he may even hate me. when he comes back down to the underground to free you guys please comfort him. I know he may never understand, but I know this is for the best of everyone.

With this, I must say goodbye, I love you all so much. My only regret is that I never got to know you guys sooner.

With great love for all,

Chara Dreemurr

For what felt like forever all of us were silent, but eventually my emotions got ahold of me, but I could find myself only able to say one word amidst my sobbing.

"no…No!"

Without so much as saying a word, we all bolted toward the Barrier, maybe we hoped to stop them, maybe we were foolish, but by the time we got there, we were too late.

Asgore saw Asriel and chara Lying in patch of yellow flowers in a pool of his own blood. In hindsight as large as his robes were I was surprised he could run as fast as he did, but it didn't stop him from keep him from carrying Asriel in his arms.

"Asriel …son…speak to me please."

Asriel started to cough up blood before opening his eyes.

"Dad…" He Whispered "I'm sorry."

Asriel pointed to Chara's body. Apparently she had committed suicide by swallowing the buttercup flowers, Asreil had hoped to be able to bury her on the surface, but when he got there, the humans attacked him out of fear. I'll admit I still don't understand. Chara and Asreil both had the power to destroy their attackers, but they chose not to. But anyway, the humans cased them both into the mountain. Chara's body had been fractured in several places, and Asriel had been lying there for lord only knows how long. He died minutes later after finishing his tale. Sometimes I wish that I and Asgore had swords on us, so that we could have died right there with them. Asgore buried Asriel in the buttercup meadow, and I buried Chara in the castle Crypt.

Toriel began to weep as she finished the story.

"We tried to keep it together. We tried going on business as usual finding ways to open the barrier, but when Asriel and Chara died, I think a part of us died with them. We were never the same. Asgore never wanted to see another human suffer the same fate that Chara did. Then of course not too long after that, Ariel Disappeared. And gaster disappeared a few years after that Eventually Asgore and I couldn't take it anymore and we separated."

"Which bring us to where we are today. A new guard captain, a new Royal scientist, and six human souls later."

Toriel nodded but then proceeded to get up and get some things from the drawer, when she got them out, she handed them to Sans. It was a heart shaped locket and a yellow piece of paper obviously warn by time. "Here Asgore was going to cast these into the waterfall, but I snuck into the castle and stole them."

"Wow, Toriel,"

Sans opened up the locket and inside was a picture of Asgore, Toriel, and what appeared to be Asriel and Chara. What was such shock for Sans was Chara's uncanny resemblance to Frisk.

"Aw man, dead ringer."

"Would you give these to Frisk? Explain to her why this is why I worry so much."

"It will be an honor…your Highness." Sans said with a smile.

Toriel smiled and shook her head. "Sans, please don't call me that."

Sans nodded. All of a sudden

Ring Ring.

Sans picked up the phone. The ID read Swordfish

"Excuse me. "Undyne?"

"Sans, oh thank goodness" The voice sounded like Undyne but it was shaky and more timid.

Undyne! You're not going to believe this but…"

"Sans, you need to get over here now!" This time she sounded more urgent

"What's wrong?! Is the kid alright?!"

"I don't know. She woke up in the middle of the night and started screaming. Now she's convulsing and her tears are all black and now she won't stop. I mean…I know I never say this, but I don't know what to do."

Normally Sans would have laughed about this. But in the case of the kid, he understood all too well how she felt. He simply spoke in a soft calming voice. "It's ok Swordfish, what do I need to do?"

. "Just use one of those shortcuts you have and get here like now."

The phone clicked hanging up.

"Alright. Well Toriel it's been fun , thanks for the info, but I got to go to Undyne's like now.

"Is everything alright? Is the child alright?"

Sans wasn't exactly sure what to tell her. So he winged it.

"Don't know probably just having a nightmare."

"How will you get there?"

"Don't worry I know a shortcut."

Crack

In an instant, Sans found himself in Undyne's house. Said Lady in question was grinning from ear to ear

Can't believe I'm saying this, but man am I happy to see you."

"Where is the kid?" Sans asked.

Undyne pointed to her room. Sans darted in to see Papyrus hovering over the bed. Frisk can be heard screaming.

"Sans," Papyrus said as he titled his head with a face full of shock. "You'll want to take a look at this."

Papyrus moved out of the way, Sans stood shocked as he looked at the condition of the human. He let out a gasp.

"Oh my…"

The girl that was in the bed at current looked a lot like Frisk in many aspects, in fact facial wise they were exactly the same, but there were several alarming differences. This girl had a lighter skin tone, her hair was of a reder shade, biggest thing of all was the fact that her eye color had changed from her icy blue color to a deep auburn color. Sans and Undyne looked at each other with horrified looks as that image was all too familiar to the both of them.

"Swordfish. Doesn't that look an awful lot like the girl you saw in those brief images?"

"Uh huh."

The young warrior began to draw her spear almost on instinct, but then something happened.

"Asgore, Toriel Asriel!" the girl shouted as she covered her ears . "Asriel! Help me Please."

Sans held back Undyne

"What do you want me to do?" She asked

"Just make sure there are no knives within grabbing distance."

He then slowly approached the bed. The girl in the bed was still trembling.

"Hey kid, kid." Sans whispered.

She looked up focusing upon the skeleton and when her eyes focused on Sans, she screamed before vainly trying to shrink away.

"Please don't hurt me! I'm sorry I couldn't control myself. I didn't want to hurt them."

Sans guard lowered as he touched her sleeves. "It's ok kid. I'm not going to hurt you. You're not going to have a bad time. You hear me? You're not going to have a bad time."

Her breath slowed and claimed, but Papyrus was left confused.

"Hurt them, bad time, Sans what are you talking about?"

The girl's eyes shifted to papyrus.

"You, Your alive. I thought I killed you…no wait I spared you…no I, I can't remember. All of the flashes, I can't tell them apart."

"What's your name kid?" Sans asked.

"Chara, Chara Dreemurr…No Wait…It's Frisk Undercut…I don't know. I don't know!"

She then looked over at Undyne. "Where's Asriel?"

Undyne didn't know how to react. "I'm sorry I don't understand. Who's Asriel?"

"Asriel! He's a little goat about this big he looks like a young Asgore….Wait…You…you died…I saw you melt. no wait I ran away from you. You passed out and I gave you water…Why can't I remember anything?"

"Kid look hard and think back. What are the last things you remember?"

"I…I remember swallowing the buttercups. I remember trying to comfort Asriel and tell him that everything was alright. I was supposed to die. That was the plan. I would die and he would use my soul to open the barrier. I blacked out and darkness took me."

"Anything else?" Sans asked.

"No…wait." Chara then looked up a everyone. "We were all sitting at a table eating pizza. We played Castles and Caverns. Sans you put me in a battle that resembled our fights in the judgment hall."

Sans nodded. "anything else?"

Chara grabbed her head wincing in pain. "Fights, Genocide it's all flashes. I can't tell what's what."

Sans sighed. Undyne looked at him with suspicious eyes. "Sans what in Asgore's name is going on here? Who is this girl?"

"I don't know what's going on. As far as who this girl is, it'd take too long to explain."

He then looked at Chara. "Hey kid? you think you can travel?"

Chara nodded. "I…I think so."

"Then get some clothes on kid. We're going to Grilby's"