Moments earlier...

Chara examined the tree in their path. Almost all the leaves had fallen, and covered the ground. The whole thing almost seemed to be withering, or dead. Traces of light descending from above, likely being the only means for it to grow in earnest.

She reflected on their path their. It hadn't gone, particularly well. And in many ways, she was left regretting some of how things had resolved. Yet, she didn't want to go back. Some part of her, compelled to keep going, to persevere on the path she'd made for herself. For better or worst.

Moving beyond this point, the duo had finally arrived at the home in the ruins. Stopping at the staircase, facing the door at the top. She noticed the flower looking anxious.

"Okay-" Flowey sighed. "well, we're here." He glanced it over. "It's probably best if I head out now."

"You wanna leave?" She asked. "W-well uh, that's okay...I guess."

He noticed her dejected look. "It's not...it's not because I'm upset, or don't want to or anything. I just-" He thought. "I don't know that Toriel would be happy to see me." He said. "I don't think she likes me?"

"Hmm...well, I'm sure she wouldn't mind, now?" Chara suggested, adding. "She never minded me having friends over before...or at least Asriels friends."

"W-well, I uh-" Flowey hesitated, considering something. "well, I guess, maybe I could come in for a moment?" He asked. "Just to make sure she's here, and stuff."

Instinctually, she pat the flower, prompting him to huff. He was loath to endorse the head-pat, though given the turmoil of their trip, he elected to let it go. Flowey pondering the state of Toriel upon entry, and the odds of his own survival in the event she turned hostile.

Lacking his own internalized thoughts, Chara merely proceeded up the stairs, with the flower on her arm. She could smell the scene ot something within, which grew more notable when the door was pushed open. Venturing into the home, she found the interior was a bit of a disaster, and looked like it hadn't been cleaned for quite a while.

Her focus fell immediately on a strange staircase directly in front of the door. She stepped over, and peered down. It descended to...somewhere. She didn't recall having a basement, although given how spotty her memory had been that wasn't surprising.

To the right was a hallway that went for some distance, left quite dark. To the left was a better lit room, in which crackling fire could be heard. Moving into it, she smiled some, finding immediate familiarity. A bit of warmth returning, comforting her.

There was a table pushed up against the back left corner. With a chair pushed in, and two more left on the side. There was further, a fourth, nearest to the entrance that seemed to have fallen over. Instinctively she put the chair back up, noticing it was dusty.

It didn't appear to the be the dust from the traps, her mind flickering with images of the ghost and the froggit fading into that kind. No, this was a more tame sort of dust. It seemed nobody had bothered to pick up the chair in some time. Leaving her to briefly wonder where everyone was.

In contrast to the abandoned state of the wooden chair, there was a large brown chair beside the fireplace, that looked far more worn down and incredibly used. A blanket was left resting on the ground, which seemed like it was meant to be folded on top. She went over and began doing precisely that.

"Chara, what are you doing?" Flowey asked.

"It's...supposed to be on the back." She told him, finishing, climbing up and placing it on the back of the chair. "Better."

Sniffing the air, she adopted an expression of curiosity. It was hard to tell between the smell of the fireplace, and the faint cinnamon in the air, but there was something else. It smelled like liquor, the girl sniffing the side of the chair, determining the scent was there as well.

She recalled how her parents had requested she and Asriel stay away from drinking. Especially Toriel, who called it a 'sad blight.' Had she...changed her mind?

"Somehow, it's not surprising that she has lots of books." Flowey observed.

"Hmm?" She glanced to where he pointed.

There was a small bookshelf in the opposite corner to the table and chairs. Stepping over to it, she ran her fingers across the various tomes. Pausing at one, she pulled it out. A dark book with fancy decoration, dubbed "Underfell."

Skimming it, she vaguely recalled a story known as Undertale. It was read to her and Asriel once. A story about a monster venturing into a magical world. Maybe it was a sequel? Retelling? She didn't know, and skimming it hadn't helped her determine which, so she placed it back.

"Underfell?" Flowey asked.

"Have you read it?" Chara asked him.

"Eh, not really. It's a little...meh, for my tastes." He said, noticing her raise a brow. "What?" He huffed. "I have very refined tastes in books."

"Sure you do." She replied. "I bet you have a limited-edition copy of Fluffy Bunny, don't you?"

"S-shut up." He replied.

Their attention was drawn to the kitchen, as a sound like irritated muttering could be heard.

"What fucking idiot-" someone said, before stopping.

Toriel had come around the corner, wearing a very relaxed outfit, compared to what Chara was used to seeing her in. The sight of her, inspiring an impulse, as Chara moved closer.

"O-oh...hi." Chara greeted. "I'm glad you're okay!" She got no immediate response. "Uhm...are...are you okay?"

"Chara..." Toriel spoke the word with a confused tone.

The girl watched as her eyes moved, examining Flowey. Briefly seemed to be a bit more tense, and frustrated when observing him. Before falling back on her.

"Yes?" Chara half-asked, not certain what was happening.

Toriel seemed to adjust herself, getting closer. "Yes. Yes. I'm...well. Just, frustrated, my child." She passed her by, and ventured to the chair. "Recently I've encountered trouble baking things. Determining if they're...cooked or...not."

"Oh, what are you making?" Chara asked, stepping over, as Toriel sat down.

She leaned on the side of the chair, her bandaged arms placed on the arm of the chair itself. Toriel appeared to observe her, taking a moment to reach out, and softly pull at a piece of the cloth. Before composing herself with a smile that was oddly sad looking.

"Something as sweet as you." Toriel remarked, briefly messing with Charas hair. "Beyond that, it's a surprise." She hummed. "Now, I'm more curious...did you both walk all the way here?" She tapped Chara on the nose. "Didn't I ask you wait, my child?"

This earned a giggle as a response. The girl seeming far more content in the moment. Flowey meanwhile, noticed that the moment her eyes closed for that laugh, the boss monster shot him the nastiest look

It was something inherently unhinged and hostile. Accusatory in it's own way, sending a shiver through his being. However, it was also gone the moment that Chara opened her eyes again. Replaced with a soft, deceptive little smile.

"I-I know." Chara sighed. "Flowey said we should wait, that you'd come back. But I was worried about you, and sort of ran off to find you." The girl admitted, adding. "S-sorry."

Hearing this visibly bothered Toriel. The woman placing a hand on her wards face. Brushing her thumb across her cheek, contemplating something.

"Well, that's very sweet of you, Chara. I've was...worried about-" Toriel began to examine her. "You would have...met the other monsters." She muttered quietly, observing the new cuts and tears in her outfit. "You've been injured."

The word injured spoken with a bit more weight. Bearing a sense of hostility absent from her strangely soft voice. Even with the injuries healed, they had still existed. And she had noticed them.

"Yeah." Chara replied, noticing the woman glare at Flowey. "I almost fell into a bunch of spikes, but Flowey pulled me out before that happened." She noted, getting a look of surprise from Toriel. "He helped me a lot today. Oh, and some nice spiders gave us donuts."

"Are they back then?" The woman sounded annoyed, before noticing the curious look Chara gave her. "W-well, that was very kind of them."

"Not to be mean. But..they're still creepy." Chara admitted. "Is that...rude?"

"Heh. Perhaps. But, I think so too, my child." Toriel smirked.

"Flowey doesn't think they're all that scary, but, I do." Chara noted. "They're creepy, and crawly, and j-just-" She pouted. "eerie."

"Well Flowey is a lot like a spider-" Toriel remarked. "Small, easily squishable...flammable." He gulped. "Tell you what...the oven will be going for awhile-" She noted. "Why don't...you tell me all about how you got here?"

"Okay." The girl then seemed to take note of something. "Oh, uhm, I'll be right back."

"Very well?" The woman watched as Chara sprinted back into the hall, hearing a sound like a vase being messed with. "You alright?"

"Y-yeah, just, just a sec." Chara said back.

Flowey remarked. "Wait, seriously?"

"It'll be easier than just being on my arm." The girl said back.

"What about the dead flower in there indicates that's a good idea?" Flowey asked.

"Don't be a baby, it's fine." She assured.

"Bet they told that poor sucker the same thing." He replied in irritation.

Toriel watched as one of the dead flowers she had around the house was chucked out the still open front door. Minus the vase. She had an idea of what was about to happen, and found it amusing in some respects.

After a moment, Chara wandered back into the living room, carrying the vase from the hallway. Complete with a sunflower in it, looking like he was experiencing a mixture of dread, and embarrassment.

"Goodness, what a lovely flower. Really compliments the vase." Toriel remarked.

"I thought so too." Chara replied, with a far more innocent smile.

"Always nice to have a captive audience." The monster suggested, adding. "You can place it on the table, for now, if you'd like."

Flowey gave her a look, while Chara set the vase on the table. Patting him on the head again, prompting a groan. With that she turned, and hurried back to Toriel. Taking a moment to climb up onto the chair with her.

"You wanted to know about how we got here right?" The child inquired.

"W-well, yes." Toriel replied, shifting some. "You know I will have to get up, Chara."

"Hmm, yeah. But it's comfy here." The girl replied, laying back. "It's goat to be the best seat in the house."

"Is that right?" Her guardian asked, unable to not smile. The memories playing in the back of her mind again. "Now...please start from the beginning."


The story was relayed in its entirety, displaying every moment of intensity, and horror. The dangers, the excitement, the grim revelations and contemplations. A no-holds-bar example of honest journalism.

Well, except for all the parts Chara made a conscious choice to omit, or tamper with. Shew anted to ensure nobody got mad at each other and was very worried about saying too much after all. She also removed the part about not being able to die. Blending the times before her last death, and this present life together into something semi-cohesive.

Beginning with the trouble with the Froggit. Which she noted they spared, only for it to come back and bully them later. She explained that they fought it, and that eventually it stopped fighting them.

She noted how Flowey helped her escape the spike room, and various other areas. Briefly noting that she had fallen into one of the pits, and he helped get her back on her feet using candy. Which she admitted to taking, apologizing for propmtly. Only getting a reassuring smile in exchange for telling the truth.

Then she got to the topic of the ghost, admitting to fighting it. As it wouldn't let them pass. Suggesting that, they were able to beat it though. And it too, left. Flowey knew what she meant, of course, and given the glance from Toriel, she did as well.

The Flower checking for her response, which was far calmer and tamer than he'd anticipated. He wondered if she...believed what was happening. Or, maybe she had just gone off the deep end, and lost her ability to care? He didn't know anymore.

When the general bit of story came to an end, Chara had cuddled up with her. Looking utterly exhausted after the near constant stream of running around, fighting, and getting injured. True, the magical food fixed her physical wounds, but it didn't seem to do much for her overall ability to remain awake.

"Sounds like quite the adventure." Toriel said, adding. "I'm...so sorry I left you alone. I shouldn't...have done that."

"It's okay." Chara replied, adding. "You were busy and had stuff to do." The woman frowned. "Hey...what's Underfell?"

"Underfell?" Toriel asked. "The book over there?" The girl nodded. "An old story, you don't remember it?"

"No...I thought, you had one called Undertale?" Chara asked back.

"No, my child. But uh, something tells me you shouldn't be reading that one." Toriel noted.

"Why not?" She inquired.

"It's quite a grim story, my dear." Her guardian replied. "Lots of...theming in it...that, well...I suppose it does have a happy ending." She admitted, considering. "All the same, perhaps...I have something more appropriate?"

Toriel shifted like she was going to rise from her seat. Chara briefly hopping down. Quickly grasping the dark tome.

"I can handle it," Chara assured her, holding up the book. "Right Flowey?"

The Flower shifted, regaining attention on himself for the first time in a while. His immediate discomfort was evident. Further, he really knew very little about this book, or what it was even about.

"Uhm." He hummed. "Maybe?"

For once, the smile worn by the fallen caretaker wasn't accompanied by a death glare in his direction. Instead, it was amusement. As though he had made some error, but not one worth harming him. He wondered what the story was about to get that look? He remembered so little about it.

"Very well, however, if you ever become concerned or afraid...just let me know, and we'll stop reading it." Toriel offered, taking the offered book.

"Deal." Her ward said, hopping back up, and snuggling up with her.

Sighing some, Toriel rolled her eyes at the display. At the smell of the baking pie. The crackling of the fire. The feeling of warmth about her little hearth in this moment.

She allowed her eyes to close, drinking it in. It hurt, but she'd stick with the dream a little longer. Just...a little bit longer.

Opening the first page, she read. "Our story begins...with a child, a very special child." She glanced at Chara. "One who had seen the sky, and descended from on high." She turned the first page, containing an image of an angelic being. "And their name was-"