Ruins
Frisk entered a courtyard with a dead tree in the center, and there was a stone home just beyond it. Given Chara made no mention of Toriel's home being in that city he saw prior, the fallen teen had to assume this was the place. As he looked around, Gaster was contemplative.
"He's very unlike the Frisk I remember from the prior timeline. He doesn't seem to want anything which is curious." Gaster thought. "Even with no memory of other timelines, I'm aware there must be more. Even with no memories from any other timeline, this doesn't feel right."
Gaster still had a desire to watch over Frisk and Chara for good reasons, but he had to note just how peculiar this was. At first, he simply assumed the gray eyes were something different about this Frisk. Now, he wasn't sure.
"Oh dear, that took longer than I thought it would." Toriel stepped out of her house and pulled out her phone to call Frisk before spotting him. "How did you get here, my child?"
Even with time to let everything settle in, as it has, Frisk still didn't like how 'my child' sounded.
Toriel immediately came up to him. "Are you hurt?"
"No, I'm fine." Frisk responded simply.
"Regardless, I should not have left you alone for as long as I have." Toriel declared. "It was irresponsible to try and surprise you like this." Frisk looked at her. "Err…Well, I suppose I cannot hide it now. Come small one."
Toriel's Home
Frisk followed Toriel in and noted it was cozy; especially in comparison to the mansion he 'lived' in prior. From the entryway, one could head downstairs, left into a living area, and right to a hall with many doors. There was a good smell in the air.
"Do you smell that?" Toriel smiled. "Surprise! It is a butterscotch cinnamon pie to celebrate your arrival. I want you to have a nice time living here, so I will hold off on snail pie for tonight."
"Living here…" Frisk thought.
What did he really have at this point besides this? The prior place he lived turned his thoughts to ending himself, and he acted on them. Finding the way home certainly wasn't on the table. At the same time, staying in another person's home wasn't an appealing thought.
"No matter how nice Toriel seems, she could certainly be that nice, my parents portrayed that they were good people often enough." Frisk thought. "I don't know…maybe I'll just get over it since she doesn't seem to be putting up a front like them."
"Here, I have another surprise for you." Toriel led Frisk to the right before stopping in front of the first door on the left. "This is a room of your own." She gently ran her hand through his hair. "I hope you like it."
"Um, that's…nice." Frisk stated. "I could use a rest, but I think I need to wash up first."
"Ah, of course." Toriel removed her hand. "The bathroom is at the end of the hall. Take as much time as you need cleaning up before resting. If you need me, call; otherwise, I shall leave a change of clothes in your room. You may put your clothes near your room door for me to wash. Now, I must check on the pie."
Once Toriel was gone, Frisk made his way to the bathroom only to pause as he turned to Chara. "You're not going to come into the bathroom with me, are you?"
Embarrassment was just another emotion Frisk was devoid of. In truth, he was genuinely curious how this worked. Chara could leave him, at least over short distances for a time, so he didn't think the guy would need to follow him in. He could also be wrong.
"While I can't go far from you, staying out here is within the realm of whatever happened to make the situation this." Chara stated. "By all means Moron, head in while I sit out here."
Frisk sighed as he entered the bathroom alone. It was blue with a toilet, sink, rather nice bathtub with a shower, and towels. He first went to the tub and got the shower started before approaching the mirror. Despite how tall Toriel was, there was a sink and mirror for someone around his size.
"With how she talked, other Humans have dropped down, so this made sense." Frisk then stared at himself in the mirror. "I do need a shower but my eyes…" Unlike when he last checked, they were gray like his soul had been. "Does that mean my soul was a red one?"
Frisk didn't remember any lessons from school on this, but it would make sense. If he was a soul of determination, losing that would surely reflect physically. After all, someone's soul often lent itself to hair and/or eye color.
"Do I want my soul to go back to normal?" Frisk then removed his jacket revealing various scars, along his arms, from knives. "If I'd tried cutting myself, I would have ended it before ever heading up Mt. Ebott. Even though I want to live now, I'm not about to thank my parents."
His sister was the only one who protected him from this. He understood that the second they'd forced her out of the house and family. Once she was gone, this became one of his various punishments. Anyone who even remotely cared, never got past questioning his parents.
He'd shown them to so many people against his parents' wishes. Eventually, it became a moot point when all that remained were people who would willingly turn a blind eye. Eventually, he just accepted his parents' wishes to cover them.
The scars on his arms were only a quarter of the damage as taking off his shirt revealed more on his back and torso. Back when he was determined, he never let this truly get to him as most people would have. Now without emotions, he felt nothing upon seeing them.
He obviously knew this wasn't right, but that didn't change a thing. Looking back on it, his loss of determination wasn't instantaneous. Perhaps the last time he'd checked, his eyes were merely playing tricks on him, and they'd been graying all this time.
Frisk sighed. "I should take a shower."
Frisk removed his pants before stepping into the shower and letting the hot water run over him. After a while, he began the process of cleaning himself.
Later…
Frisk eventually stepped out of the shower dressed in black pants and with a clean, red sweater over his right arm. His dirty clothes were wrapped in the towel he'd used to dry himself which was held in his left hand. The fallen teen then stepped on out into the hallway.
"Finally, I thought you'd…" Chara suddenly froze upon noticing the scars.
"I see by your reaction that you weren't treated to this before coming here." Frisk understood there potentially being no physical abuse didn't mean Chara's reason weren't as valid. "This contributed to why I climbed Mt. Ebott."
He simply walked down the hallway to his room with Chara following. Despite his shock over this, the transparent teen understood Frisk wouldn't feel anything about it at this time. While it's true his own physical abuse never got to this level, he understood where Frisk was currently.
The fallen teen entered his room with Chara, before setting the towel by the door. The room was red with various games, books, a desk, wardrobe, shoes of all sizes, and a bed. Frisk didn't really want to look at anything, so he plopped down on the bed.
"Soft." Frisk noted. "So, where do we begin with everything the both of us want to know?"
Despite being in his own room, Frisk decided to keep things to the mental space between them considering Toriel could pop up at any moment. As for what they had to share…Chara wanted to truly understand Frisk and Frisk wanted to understand Chara.
At this point, all the pair really understood about each other was that they'd had similar intentions in climbing Mt. Ebott. Frisk also wanted to know the truth behind those items he picked up and information on the Underground.
"Perhaps we should start with what brought us to the mountain." Chara offered.
"Sounds about as good a place as any to start from." Frisk stated.
"After all this time, I don't recall my biological parents." Chara sighed forlornly. "I don't remember what type of people they were. All my earliest memories are of the orphanage. I was the youngest at ten years old, and my frame back then made me the weakest.
No one really wanted me there since the place wasn't making much money. I became another mouth to feed, and everyone let their frustrations out on me. The other kids would beat me up, insult me, and take my food. I often went hungry.
The adults only really stepped in to make sure I didn't starve to death. Anything short of that was fair game, so I'd end up becoming an expert at fitting into smaller spaces. Places where no one could reach me. Even if I needed to come out eventually, at least I was safe for a time.
I remember trying to go to anyone and everyone outside of the orphanage, but they weren't much help. They were content to let me suffer rather than fixing the issues. By being alone, I grew to despise humanity. Still do, but you're an exception.
I didn't think another Human would ever have the same eyes I once held, but you proved that wrong. Even if I tried, I couldn't despise you. Anyways, I suffered through constant torment for four years before becoming sick of it.
Roughly one hundred years ago, I felt as you did earlier today. I wanted to end it, but first I climbed Mt. Ebott to have one last look at nature. I found the hole and decided I wouldn't give anyone the satisfaction of discovering my body."
Frisk mulled over Chara's story for a long time. Ultimately, he felt the first emotion he's had, I'll be it weakly, in quite some time. The fallen teen's eyes reflected this change by ever so slightly turning a grayish red. It was extremely hard to notice but still a change, nonetheless.
"I'm sorry you went through that Chara." Frisk stated genuinely. "To be seen as a nuisance by a community of people that should want to take care of you is awful. If it's any consolation, I don't recall any of the orphanages out there in the city being like that today."
"I suppose it means no one would have endure what I did…" Chara noted. "What about you?"
Considering Chara willingly shared her story, Frisk saw no reason not to do the same.
"For as long as I can remember, there was no misinterpretation to be had, my sister and I were absolute disappointments to our parents." Frisk informed. "They worked to 'correct' us. We were shoved into extracurricular activities we never chose nor expressed interest in.
Both of us were given tutors meant to help us purposefully jump grades through constant study. We were expected to be the best and carry ourselves properly. To fail in anything was to besmirch the Almos family name.
Excelling was expected and never celebrated. Anything less was punished. As you heard earlier, sweets were never given to either of us. Fortunately, my older sister was better. Like I said, she snuck various vanilla and chocolate treats, but it went beyond that.
As you can likely imagine, anime and video games were seen as a waste; however, I loved them. She helped me smuggle them in and keep them hidden. She was also always there to protect me from bullies or our parents until that one day.
Our parents had found my entire stash and burned it before dragging me in to be lectured. They were angrier with me than ever before. My father almost managed to punch me. It was the first time either would go physical, and it clearly wouldn't be the last.
My sister arrived and intervened by grabbing his fist, stopping it mere inches from my face. From there, things were heated. They argued for hours before my parents decided they were done. They had the servants throw her out and left her with a legal emancipation form.
She was seventeen that day. The last thing I ever heard from her was a promise that she would be back to get me one day. That gave me hope even as my parents poured their efforts into me completely. Physical abuse became as commonplace as anything else.
I went to people, and unlike you, they were willing to help. Unfortunately, my parents had enough money and sway to get their way. Eventually, I was left surrounded by people all too willing to turn a blind eye. After these last five years, I lost hope in my sister returning.
Without that, I had nothing left except my new stash, but that was mere escapism. I'd heard legends that those who climb Mt. Ebott never return, so I took the chance. Regardless, one way or another, I would end it. I fell back into the hole, and now we're here."
"I'm sorry you had to go through what you did as well." Chara voiced sincerely.
"Yeah well, clearly people back in your time were more awful." Frisk stated. "Makes sense why you'd hate humanity, but I can't. Despite the bad I've seen, those people who genuinely wanted to help were real."
"Perhaps." Chara didn't seem to believe that. "Now that you understand my hatred of Humanity, it should make what I tell you next easier to understand."
"I'm listening." Frisk stated.
Flashback: Underground, Roughly 100 Years Ago…
Even though Chara has been conscious for roughly one hundred years now, he still looked 15 and back then he was merely a year younger than the day of his death. Chara had hit the ground, but he wasn't dead, much like Frisk just without the flowers to cushion the fall.
"My head hurts, so I can't be dead." Chara thought as he groaned.
A concerned male voice called out to him as he approached. "Oh! You've fallen, haven't you?"
"Whoever's there, end me." Chara pleaded.
He was helped up by a bipedal goat Monster that was roughly his age. "Why would you want someone to…to do that to you?"
This Monster couldn't even say anything like what Chara wanted. The first fallen Human now looked at him with lifeless, gray eyes. History taught them Monsters were locked up somewhere, so seeing one wouldn't be a shock normally.
With the lack feeling, it was nothing to Chara. "I don't want to continue anymore."
"I-I…I don't know what is wrong with you, but my parents are pretty smart." The goat Monster pressed on with Chara having no energy to fight him. "I'll take you to them, and they can help you with whatever is making you say this."
Toriel, looking like she does in present day, arrived with a more muscular, male goat Monster in a kingly attire. "Asriel, there you are."
Then, they both noticed Chara which was quite a shock since he was the first Human to come down here since the barrier was erected.
"He won't do it." Chara muttered as he dropped his head which mow painfully throbbed. "Please, end my life. I don't want…"
He suddenly passed out.
The Ruins Home(In the present it is Toriel's): Later…
Chara awoke in bed and noted his head hurt less. Upon running his hand up there, he could feel bandages. Before he could sit up, the adult, male goat Monster entered with a cup of tea. He noticed Chara was now awake which brought a smile to his face.
"Ah, you're awake." He set the tea on the bedside table. "I am glad we did not lose you."
Chara looked away and sighed. "If I was close to dying, you should have let me pass."
"Human, what makes you say such things?" The Monster asked concerned.
Chara refused to elaborate. The entire point of dying was to never have to think about his past again. The Monster took in the silence and managed to gaze into the Human's eyes. Whatever happened to bring him to this point, it wasn't pretty.
"Young one." The Monster brought Chara in for a hug which is something he couldn't remember receiving in his life. "You do not have to elaborate on your pain, but I can't sit by while it currently drives your life. Even if I know not your pain, I will help you bear it."
Just as with Frisk in the present day, Chara's eyes became an extremely dull, grayish red. The desire to end himself faded, and while it was not much, a few tears fell. Chara hugged this Monster back who she would later learn is Asgore, King of the Monsters.
Toriel's Home: Present…
"Despite not telling them about my past…Despite being Human…I was welcomed into their family. I was Asriel's brother, a Dreemurr, and a prince of the Mosnters. Just with them alone, I'd been shown more care among Mosnters than the entire Human race."
"Chara…" Frisk sighed. "Well, we're really two sides of the same coin, but I kind of already knew that even if I didn't know your story until now."
"We are, and yet my story continues." Chara took a deep breath. "The first Human who fell and became part of the royal family eventually recovered their determination through the kindness of Monsters. As thanks, he made a promise to their best friend.
They would save Monster kind together. To do this, one friend had to die, and he found the way through a field of buttercups. Thus, it all started, but the king and queen knew nothing of their promise. The Human died but lived again through their best friend.
They would become a god that would punish Humanity for what they did. It wasn't fair that the Mosnters were sealed while the horrors of Humanity went unchecked. The Human didn't account for what they should have. Their friend was no murderer.
Due to his lack of foresight, the Human got them killed. He would go on to exist alone as you see him now, able to watch as all that he knew crumbled. His best friend would become a soulless flower that remembers who he had been but simply stopped caring.
To the King and Queen, he might as well not be as they do not know him. Speaking of the king and queen, they split. To preserve the hope that was lost, the king redeclared war which the queen could not stomach. She left for the Ruins with the Human.
Upon reaching them, she sealed herself off and buried the body nearby. There, seven humans would come down for various reasons, but he could never follow the six directly after him. Upon seeing those items, unmistakably belonging to prior Humans, he knew the truth."
"So, that's what your fixation on the ribbon and toy knife were." Frisk noted.
"The pain they bear immense, but it'll be easier with the two of them helping one another." Gaster noted hopefully as he heard their internal conversations. "It makes me wish Sans would find someone to rely on. If not Papyrus, then someone else who could help him."
Frisk didn't quite know what to make of that. He currently had a low surge of various emotions washing over him, and all this information was a lot to take in. He hadn't even registered Chara's whole story even if he had heard it. Ultimately, Frisk was now very tired.
"I think I need to sleep on everything." Frisk stated.
"I see…" Chara returned.
Frisk looked at his rather recent companion. "Chara?" He looked at him. "It's a lot to take in, but I know you're not a bad person. You just made mistakes."
Chara gave a small smile at that. "Thank you…Frisk."
"No problem." Frisk thought.
He then slipped under the covers and laid down. He was hoping his mind could process everything he just learned, and that he'd have a clear idea what he wanted to do. With what emotions there were, he realized he wanted to decide for himself what he wanted for a change.
All his life, he'd let his parents dictate everything…even him ending his own life. Even if it was a decision he made, it was driven by them. Now, it was time he decided what he wanted. He could stay here or have a goal beyond wherever the exit to the Ruins is.
"I do wish I could do more for both of them." Gaster thought as he looked at the two children so beaten down by life.
Much was happening this time, yet Gaster could not leave The Void beyond as he exist now. While it was unlikely, perhaps he should make another attempt at extracting that prototype Human soul he created long ago. They hadn't borne fruit for his research.
Especially in comparison to what he's managed to gleam just from looking at the real one. Considering his prototypes merely had the power to run an elevator, it was unlikely their meager determination could help him truly leave the Void.
"That's not even accounting for the fact that I haven't gotten it into the Void before." Gaster thought.
Gaster could interact with the world to an extremely limited degree, but it was impossible to let anyone know he was still around. If he attempted to leave anything hinting to himself, it would be erased.
"Still, I perhaps it will work this time." Gaster thought.
With his mind set, Gaster took off for the lab. Fortunately, given his current state, even the Amalgams Alphys created could not interact with him.
True Lab
Gaster moved throughout the True Lab only pausing briefly to see its rather run-down state. He wished no part of his former lab had gone to ruin, but considering what Alphys kept down here, it was a wonder the place wasn't worse.
The Amalgams were by no means terrible creatures, kind of scary on appearance alone, but their states left much to be desired around lab equipment. Still, they were not what Gaster was here for. The former royal scientist approached the red prototype soul powering the elevator.
"Concentrate…" Gaster thought as he closed his eyes. "I want that prototype soul to vanish with me. Erase it from existence."
He concentrated for minutes on end until his eyes suddenly snapped open. There, in his hand, was an equally transparent prototype soul. Where it had been contained, there was nothing. This was only about half the equation, and he wasn't even certain the other half would pan out.
"Still, I actually managed to get the soul this time." Gaster thought.
He now fully retreated into said Void to see just what could be done with this. While it was a long shot, this at least presented something Gaster hadn't had in such a long time. Hope that he can undo the grievous mistake of ever falling in the Void to begin with.
Dust: Ruins
Gaster had reappeared exactly where Frisk landed in the Underground and swiftly made his way into the first room with Flowey. Given this version of Flowey has dealt with many, many resets, the fact that Gaster appeared surprised him for a moment.
"Howdy!" Flowey greeted as he recovered slightly. "I'm Flowey the Flower." His faux smile morphed into a smirk. "You don't belong here, do you? Who are you, old man?"
"I had assumed you'd be one of the few who remember me, Prince Asriel." Gaster was suddenly right behind him with a red scythe right up to his stem. "I do suppose you were dusted shortly before I fell."
Flowey looked back in utter shock before Gaster did the deed cutting him down. Despite being such a vile creature, Flowey wasn't powerful alone. Given Gaster was more than aware who this was, he had nothing to stand on.
"Pity I cannot afford to let you become Omega Flowey, but I'll be needing those souls rather than simply letting them vanish." Gaster thought.
He dispelled his scythe and took great care in getting no dust on his attire. By acting as quickly as he had, he'd ended Flowey well before Toriel should show up. If Flowey were any indication, no one here would truly recognize him. Perhaps it was by the way he came back.
"Well, no matter." Gaster thought. "They may not know me, but I know all of them well. Even if I'm not Human, I can sway the queen to understand this was nothing more than the unfortunate loss of a dear friend to earn her sympathy and an invite back to her home."
If all went to plan, he could continue down the intended path most universes followed. Well, at least as far as it could go with three key individuals gone. He now heard the approaching queen and prepared to greet her.
Just in case it was not crystal clear by this point, there are two seperate timelines. Frisk, Chara, and prime Gaster are in the primary timeline of this story while Dust Gaster got free in the Dustale version of this AU. As for how Frisk is recovering fast, again this is not meant to be a realistic depiction of sensitive topics. In Undertale. determination is a powerful thing, and Frisk is one of the most determined people within in just passed one what we see.
23debal01: I know I've already pm'd you about this, but I'll make it clear here for everyone else who might read this. It's not about my capability to update a story, I pretty much know where they are all going. The problem is that it stems from motivation. I want to update every story, but I need the motivation to do so.
