#journalverse

Where only one animated shadow ever was, there were now two. Turning, the cloaked figure beheld someone he hadn’t truly seen in almost a hundred years, tension rising to his shoulders. It was a small child with brown hair and a yellow and green sweater. The one feature that would always stick out, however, were the red eyes so uncommon and unnatural for a human. It was the color of raw, true Determination.

The two stared at one another in silence. Gaster was stunned, trying to figure out what was going on. He had just witnessed Frisk and their friends being cornered by Flowey before his vision had been cut off. Searching for a way to restore it, there had been a noise much like that of his own teleportation. And now, after being in solitude for so long, there was someone else in the outskirts of reality with him. In the near two years he had been here, no one but Sans and Flowey had ever entered the Void. Flowey didn’t even see him, and it was by pure chance that Sans did. But the way this child looked at him, Gaster knew that he was seen. Someone saw him.

Finding his voice after a stretch of nothing, the once-skeleton said, “Hello, Chara. It’s been a long time.”

Smirking slightly, the child shook their head slightly. “Greetings, Dr. Gaster. It sure has been.”

Gaster didn’t know what to say. He had always felt unsure about the child ever since they had fallen into the underground. Something about them had been unsettling and he had never been able to place what. Perhaps it had been the way they carried themselves. It reminded him of the child from the war long, long ago. Coupled with that, there had been the many timelines he had witnessed Chara take possession of Frisk to do nothing but murder innocence. This timeline, his true timeline, however, produced no such results. Frisk had been an acolyte of peace, making friends with every monster they could. There had been no violence despite what other timelines revealed could happen. Even when those eyes had made themselves known, he saw no true threat. Despite the knowledge of the other timelines, the only vibe from this child he felt was a sense of awkwardness and exhaustion. A feeling the old scientist understood all too well.

“Not that I am… opposed to the company,” Gaster said hesitantly, turning fully to face the child, “but, if I may, what are you doing here?”

Chara’s smirk faltered for a second, and they sighed tiredly with a shrug. They looked back up into the monster's eyes and said, “same reason as you, I suppose. I don't actually exist anymore.”

Stiffening, Gaster let a moment of silence hang between them once again. He knew he didn't exist anymore, it was something that had been more than difficult to accept but he had -- or so he thought -- yet to hear it from anything but his own mind stung.

“I… see. Though, if that is the case, how is it that Sans and Flowey have been able to come here as well? I know for certain they exist.”

With a small shake of their head and another shrug, Chara took a few steps closer, watching the taller figure closely. “Maybe that's the reason, maybe not. Who knows, really. Reality is a confusing thing when you have magic and soul power involved.” Tilting their head, Chara raised a brow questioningly. “And yet, if we really don’t exist, why are we here and not actually just... dead. Gone. Instead here we are, still thinking and breathing. Still existing but not. Why do you think that is?”

Gaster frowned down at the child.

“Truly, I'm… not sure. In all the digging I've done through the timelines, I've only seen this as a pocket verse of nothing. Silent, endless nothing.” Then he furrowed his brows, raising his chin in slight weariness at their approach. Despite the fact that they no longer had a threatening aura, it was difficult to shake when he'd seen all the things Chara had done. “I get the feeling you know more than you're letting on. It's very hard to have more information than myself after all that I've seen here. So please, child, enlighten me.”

Smirking, Chara let out a soft, tired laugh. “Observant as always, Doctor. I'm here, we're here because we do actually exist. Magic and science, things you studied all your life, they did something, something I don't think even you will ever be able to explain or really understand. And here we are, discarded rejects of something gone wrong. In the place where nothing gathers and time is ignored. In a place that is rejected just like us.”

“Chara,” the skeleton said with a deeper frown, the ghost of his soul pounding in his chest.

“Hah, alright,” Chara giggled, grinning knowingly. “I chose to come here myself, actually. The reason is quite simple. You're wanted back.”

“Wanted… back?” Gaster said in confusion, brows raising. The distant echo of his soul pounded hard at the thought, his mind instantly going to his sons and the one he loved as a hand moved to his chest. There was a pang deep inside of him. “Chara, I'm... gone. From everything. I don't understand how I couldn't be. The only one who remembers me is Sans.” He let out a long, drawn out sigh and smiled sadly, hand sliding away from his chest. “I appreciate what you're trying to say, truly, but I've looked. I've searched and dug in every way I can. I've found no practical way of returning.”

Chara smirked, rolling their eyes. “You've always been so dramatic, Dr. Gaster.” Grinning, they waved a hand in front of their own chest and there appeared half of a red, dully glowing human soul. Gaster sucked in a breath, staring in shock. “I guess time didn't count on me throwing in the towel.” Their smile lessened, sighing. “Because after all, I'm just really. Really. Tired.”

“Chara! What, how-- how are you even still alive?” Blinking and furrowing his brows, the ex-royal scientist looked between the soul and the child quickly in disbelief.

“You like getting all the details, so I'll fill you in. I was half right when I said we existed,” Chara said, staring down tiredly at the half soul, “when I died, my soul was taken by Asriel and our souls merged. The plan was simple. Take six human souls and free all of the monsters.” Their expression fell. “But when he died, we both vanished, our souls cracking and splitting into just the essence of ourselves. His stayed in the Throne Room, and mine with my body that mom took to the ruins. Asriel slept in nothingness, here, until you and Alphys unwittingly tampered with him. And me? I'm human,” Chara made a face at the word, bitter and distasteful, “so my soul was stronger, more persistent. I slept here too but woke back up when Frisk fell. Their Determination,” the soul flared softly at the word, “drew me back to reality. They were injured badly from the fall, and the remaining essence of my soul took place in theirs to keep them alive.”

“That's… fascinating,” Gaster said, barely a whisper as he stared. He knew he hadn't been seeing things when those eyes had randomly appeared. Chara truly had been with the child's soul then. “I've never heard anything like that. The soul is such an amazing thing...”

Chara laughed softly. “Yeah, well… my essence, having someone else to latch on to, drew my consciousness back. But... I wasn't really myself.” Frowning, the child sighed, their posture dropping slightly. “I was only a ghost, a sliver of someone hiding within a real soul, an injured one at that. My last memories had been my anger, my... my hate for the humans that attacked Asriel and I. My hate for humanity. It was so strong that I took over Frisk and couldn't tell friend from foe. I… likely would have done terrible things if, if I hadn't seen mom right after I woke up.”

Frowning, Gaster folded his hands together and dropped to the child's eye level, looking them over in sympathy. Chara wouldn't meet his eye. Something about the way they spoke left Gaster with no thoughts of deception. They were speaking truthfully.

“You just wanted to free the ones you loved. You were just a lost child with incredible power.” Gaster sighed softly. “I understand. So it was Her Majesty that brought you to your sense?”

“Yes. Before I saw her, I had it in my mind that I... I… wanted to do terrible things,” Chara mumbled, shivering. “I wanted to kill everyone. That maybe doing that, I could avenge Asriel and I. I… I'm getting off track.” Huffing, the child managed to glance up into the older monster’s face. “But seeing mom, I was reminded of the kindness everyone showed me. The love. It made me falter, and Frisk woke back up. They took control and tried to help and befriend everyone, and I sat back and watched while helping keep them alive. The longer I stayed in Frisk’s soul, the stronger my essence grew before I finally had my own soul back. My body was long gone, so I had no choice but to remain as a shadow in Frisk’s. I wasn't in control, but… that was OK, because Frisk was doing exactly what I wanted to but couldn't. In a way, I was living how I’d wanted to through them. It was thanks to their actions, their resolve to save everyone that my soul was able to come back together and I was able to heal them. Just from the pure strength of their will and the love all their friends poured into them. It was incredible. And. It poured into me too.” Glancing down, Chara lifted their damaged soul slightly, a warm, fond smile on their face. “And because of that, I found myself again.”

“That truly is remarkable. You have your soul back,” Gaster mused, but then started to frown. “And yet it's fractured so badly. Did it not mend properly?”

“Oh, it did,” Chara said, starting to grin. “I just chose to use it for other purposes rather than returning myself.”

Gaster’s eyebrows rose. “But why? Don't you want to go back? You've been lost far longer than myself.”

“Well, I could have gone back,” Chara said with a shrug before meeting his eye, smiling softly. “Just... Like I said before, I'm really, really tired. My intent when falling down here long ago was…” They closed their eyes, voice softening. “...to rest. But then Asy found me, and I knew I could serve a purpose. That purpose was freeing the monsters. That's been done now, and I really just want to sleep. So, no, I don't want to go back. As much as I'll miss my family, I'm still just tired.”

“I understand, but… what happened to your soul, Chara? What did you do to it?” Gaster asked slowly, wearily. He’d never seen half of a soul keep someone alive before. By looking at them, however, he could see the slight transparency. They were nearly faded out just like he was. He wasn't truly sure just how alive Chara actually was.

“Oh, simple.” The child grinned. “I used the missing piece to bringing Asriel back.”

Freezing, Gaster stared in wide eyed shock. “You brought back someone who doesn't even have a soul?”

“Sure did,” Chara hummed, grin remaining. “And I plan to do it again one more time.”

“Me,” Gaster breathed questioningly, holding a hand to his chest as he stared. Chara nodded. “But, how? Why? Surely that can't be done, there must be something else you can…”

“Oh, please,” Chara sighed with a soft growl, glaring just as softly at him. “I brought back someone who lost their soul, skeleman.” Looking toward the side, the child nodded toward the black. “You want to know why you specifically? Open your portal.”

Gaster blinked, looking toward the area he often pulled up the timeline window to watch current events. No matter how hard he'd tried before, he hadn't been able to get it to reappear after it shrunk into itself. He'd thought his timeline may have been lost, desperately clinging to the hope he was wrong. However, if Asriel was no longer a threat…

“I… well, alright.” Frowning, the scientist raised a hand and waved it, watching in surprise as the light flared to life and grew, stretching, pulling the image of everyone gathering around Frisk by the newly destroyed barrier. He stared, swallowed by a wave of relief to have his vision back. He grinned tiredly, huffing as his sights landed specifically on his sons. “It's… back up now.”

“Mhmm,” Chara nodded. “Asriel isn't blocking the feed anymore, so you have your eyes in the skies again.”

“That's… great to know,” Gaster mused quietly. He watched in wonder as the newly brought back prince ran to embrace his parents close, the three of them crying tears of surprised disbelief and thankfulness. He watched the faces of all gathered there, the happiness and relief at seeing Frisk brought back safe, taking turns hugging them. Even his sons looked happy, and that itself brought a smile to his face.

“They all look pretty happy, don't they?”

Nodding, the scientist continued to watch, taking in everything he could. His people were free, were happy, and there was nothing else he could ask for. No more struggling to find a way to break the barrier, no more fake sunshine or fake stars. His people were free. His family was free.

“I think there's one thing that could make the picture happier though,” Chara hummed, their eyes on the people gathered.

“Chara, lest you forget,” Gaster murmured, “that Toriel and I aren't on pleasant terms. If I were there, she would be less than pleased about my presence.”

“Oh come off it,” the child said with a roll of their eyes, “mom isn't fond of being anywhere near dad but look, there she is hugging him and Asriel. If she can put aside that difference for at least a moment to hug her son, I think she can do that to see her friend reunited with his dad too. Now you're just making excuses.”

Flustering slightly at being called out, Gaster twisted his hands in front of him and sighed. Chara was watching him before their gaze turned back to the portal.

“Go somewhere else now, I'll give you more proof.” Blinking, the scientist paused then slowly nodded, willing the scene to change. And it did. The picture blurred and took on the look of swiftly moving before it regained focus and showed the interior of Grillby's diner in Snowdin. “Hah. Knew that'd be the next one.”

While the image settled on the bartender, the flame sighed. The establishment looked empty, everyone having likely filtered out at the news of the barrier breaking. Grillby paused in his work, looking over at the jukebox. With the glance, the scientist followed his gaze and frowned softly.

From the corner of their eye, Chara glanced over at the monster. “It's not broken, you know.”

“I know,” was Gaster quiet response, smiling sadly.

“I didn't mean the jukebox.”

Blinking, the scientist looked over at the child in confusion. “I'm sorry?”

Rocking on their heels once, Chara crossed their arms behind their back with a hum. They turned a pleased grin toward their company. “Don't worry, I can fix them both a little.”

With a pause, Gaster furrowed his brows toward the child in heightened confusion. What could they possibly… Movement caught his eye and the skeleton looked up in time to see Grillby lean against the back of the bar, slumping. His hand rest over his chest, and Gaster pressed closer to watch in concern. With a soft jolt of shock, he watched, brows raising as the fire monster pulled his soul forward carefully. The fire's eyes traveled over it, inspecting it, and it was then that Gaster’s gaze zeroed in on the crack. The crack that still made his own chest ache, that made him feel for his love who endured the pain. Sure his own soul had been cracked two hundred years ago, but he'd eventually dealt with the aches. It was always worse watching someone else go through it. Especially the one you loved.

“See, this is why I'm here,” Chara said, looking between the pair. Their arms uncrossed from behind them, moving to stand a little bit taller as one hand swept over their hair. Gaining a focused look, the child drew in a breath and held a hand out.

Raising their hand, the ex-royal scientist felt a pull in his chest as a cracked, glitched upside down gray heart appeared in Chara’s open palm, pulsing softly. Gaster yelped in surprise, his shape quivering and hands shooting to his chest, staring hard at the soul.

“You're both in pretty rough shape,” the child said casually, turning a smile to the monster, “but I did say I could fix them both.”

“How, how did you…” Gaster trailed off, seeing his soul for the first time in nearly two years. He had never gotten it to summon out of his body, and here it was in the hands of an enigma of a child. Oh, how terrible it looked. How fragile. It made his metaphorical stomach sick. The child simply laughed and shook their head, extending the soul out to the shadowy monster. Gaster gratefully, carefully took it and cupped it in his hands.

“Boy, Doc,” Chara snickered, “for someone with infinite knowledge, you seem to know so little about me and what I can do.”

Gaster managed a weak smile, bringing the soul close to his chest. “You have always been an anomaly to me, child, even here.”

Chara laughed and shrugged. “I’ve heard that a lot in my life, actually.” They grinned and Gaster managed to smile a little wider.

His smile faded slowly, however, eyes turning to the heavily cracked heart in his hands. “While I appreciate what you want to do, surely there is something else you could do with the last bit of yourself. I’ve lived a long time, and yes there are still things I’d like to see, to happen… but I’ve… I...” He frowned, unable to finish as he squeezed his eyes shut. A tremble rocked him as he pulled his soul closer, holding it tighter, breathing in slowly to fight any rising emotion. After a moment, he relaxed, sighed and leaned back as his eyes slowly drifted back open.

Huffing softly, Chara looked at him with a quirked brow and sympathy. “And that is why I want to bring you back. You have unfinished business back home. Besides, I owe them that much.”

Again it was movement that made the shadow look up. Tearing his gaze away from his soul, he looked toward the portal to see the bartender stumble. Grillby caught himself, sinking against the bar with a huff as his stare remained locked on his soul. His brows were furrowed, likely trying to figure out why his soul was aching so much. Eyes darting worriedly, Gaster watched him and clutched his own soul tighter. Grillby...

With his gaze turned away, beside him, Chara pressed their own half-soul to their chest. The child hummed quietly, using the same hand that had summoned Gaster’s soul to call forth a small ball of light. The light shifted, melded, turning into a very softly glowing outline of a monster heart. In the middle of that gentle outline rested a thin crack that stretched up the center.

“I'll help flames over there first,” Chara offered, tilting their head.

“Please do,” Gaster breathed, his face having fallen with sadness as he watched his love.

Smiling tiredly, the human’s red gaze turned to the outline. Their own soul lit up, a brilliant red as a white light circled the outline. On the other side of the portal, the bartender's soul lit up with the magic, causing Grillby to jolt his hands back in surprise, using them to support himself further against the bar in his shock. He and Gaster both stared wide eyed as the crack shortened, thinned, though not disappearing completely. Still, any reduced damage to the soul did wonders. The flame sunk slightly from the healing energy, sliding down the counter and sitting on the floor.

Chara glanced over to the portal with a small smirk, closing their hand. The outline vanished with a calming green spark while the real soul drifted back into Grillby’s open palms, the elemental frozen in wonder. With his eyes glued to the portal, Gaster continued to hold his own soul close, unable to look away. A huff of surprise broke his parted lips.

“It’s smaller, it’s actually…” His gaze tore away, landing on Chara in surprise, back to his flame, then back to the child again. “You really, that… was…”

The child simply smirked, the expression reaching their eyes as they tilted their head. “Yep. Told you.”

Another huff sounded, and after a seconds pause a grin spread over the skeletons face. Turning back to Grillby, he spoke softly, tone that of one mesmerized, “You healed him… you actually healed him.” Swallowing, Gaster shook his head softly with a gentle laugh. The amount of gratitude he felt was indescribable. His love would hurt that much less. “In, in all my studies of the soul, I've never seen humans able… to…”

“You've never seen a human like me before,” Chara snickered, “especially one with my kind of power.”

Glancing back at the child, Gaster looked at them for a moment before returning his attention to the portal. “And what kind of power is that, Chara?”

“The power to manipulate souls, differently than even your skeleton soul magic,” Chara said with a grin, shrugging. “You could called it the determination trait, but… guess that wouldn’t be completely right either.”

Looking back in surprise, Gaster beheld the child for a moment. The power to manipulate souls? Different than even his own ability? “As a human, that… shouldn’t be possible.”

Chara raised a brow. “Says the talking skeleton who's managed to stay alive in a pocket dimension for two years after being erased from almost everywhere unexplainably.” A flinch caught the monster off guard, looking back toward the portal with a soft frown. “Not to poke sore wounds, Doc, but you’ve also mostly only studied monster magic and inactive human souls. Humans… their magic is on a different playing field.”

“...Alright, you’ve. Proven your point.” Gaster sighed, his shape sinking a little. It was true that even with the souls of the children, it was more difficult to work with the soul alone when it didn’t have a host. Had the children been alive and willingly worked with him for study, he could have much more easily figured out the magic connected to humans and how it had evolved over the years of them being trapped. Monster’s magic was still stronger simply because it was linked directly to the soul and the core of their being, but... His mouth opened to speak but before he could, another shape entered the scene on the other side of the portal. His attention now rapt, the shadow watched silently as a red bird monster rounded around the bar to tend to the bartender.

“What’re you doing on the floor, Grillby?” They asked, kneeling beside their best friend of two hundred years with concern. Grillby looked up, extending his hands out toward the bird with parted lips and a look of confusion. Q’s own eyes widened and they paused, reaching out so very gently and tenderly to tap the top of the bartender’s soul with a feather. Being Q, they of course knew of the crack. The bird knew everything. And they certainly knew it hadn’t been that small before. “Oh…”

While the monster had been watching, Chara had joined the skeleton’s side with their eyes on the scene. They watched for a moment, studying the other two monsters before red eyes fell on the shadow at their side.

“I didn't heal him completely,” they said softly, “but it's enough that he won't be in so much pain anymore. I have enough magic and soul power to fix the rest of this too. To heal yours mostly.” A frown formed on Gaster’s face, his eyes turning down from the scene to stare at nothing. “Chara, I realize the human soul is so much stronger than ours but…” His eyes lifted, settling on the child, voice quiet, “you used half of it to bring Asriel back, and then healing Grillby... if you bring me back, you won't--”

“I know,” was all Chara said, giving him a simple, tired smile.

“We’ll figure it out in the morning,” a voice said from the portal, causing both figures to glance upward at the scene beyond. Q was tugging the flame gently to his feet, holding steady as he stumbled a little, still shaken. “It’s time to go home.”

With his eyes on his soul, Grillby managed to stand with the help and pressed it gently back into his chest. Nodding, the fire monster leaned gently against Q as a wing wrapped around his back, tugging him gently closer. Even as the bird once more said for them to go home and he nodded to agree again, Grillby’s gaze slid backwards. It settled on the jukebox, a hand moving to lay over his chest as he looked at it. The hand remained there even as the pair walked out and vanished from the diner, leaving the portal viewing an empty, quiet restaurant.

Sighing gently, Gaster moved a hand and waved, sending the portal back into blackness. He was quiet for a time, thinking over what he saw and what could possibly happen next. To gain the chance to possibly live again… but at what cost? If this was really, truly a possibility, he had to be absolutely sure this was what Chara wanted. He refused to take a life for his own, not in an instance like this.

“You’d… be willing to give the rest of your soul,” he said, voice still quiet and face marked with a soft frown once more, “the rest of who you are… just to bring me back? Why?”

“Yes.” The child tucked their hands in their pockets, eyes still turned to where the portal once was. They seemed thoughtful, but something about their face held a certainty. “My one wish when all of this started so long ago... was just to free the monsters. And now I've helped do that, but there's one missing piece to the puzzle. Not all of them are free.” Chara’s eyes turned up to look into the skeleton’s. “There's still one that's trapped, and my promise isn't complete if that stays.”

There truly seemed to be no way to talk the child down. Chara was so sure about what they wanted to do, and here the shadow of a scientist felt… unworthy. He had lived his life, he had done many great things where the child was still young. They could still live on and do so much more. Gaster’s eyes lowered to the half soul, his frown deepening. Yet… could they? With half of a soul, surely their life wouldn’t last nearly as long as it once could have. Chara had set their own path before even coming here. Now that their way was chosen and put into action, there was no going back. Not from that kind of soul damage.

Chara would eventually fade to nothing before even getting the chance at adulthood.

Perhaps… this was the best way to go about it. Gaster’s eyes fell closed with a heavy, long sigh. He held his soul closer, bowing his head with his voice barely now above a whisper.

“I so badly want to go back, but… Chara.” The scientist swallowed hard, nearly trembling. “If you do this…”

“I’m not dumb, Doctor. I know full well what will happen to me. And I’m pretty sure you’ve figured out what will happen to me too if I don’t do this.” The child gained a soft, knowing smile, quirking a brow. Sometimes he forgot how clever and perceptive they were. Their eyes shone with exhaustion and a hint of sadness as they looked at him, but Gaster could tell they were unwavering. He wouldn’t be convincing them otherwise. No matter how many ways he tried to go about it, Chara was entirely sure about their decision. As always, they were a child set in their ways. “I'll get to rest. That, right after freeing you all, is what I’ve wanted for a long, long time. Seeing all of you free I think is a pretty good thing to finally fall asleep to. Everyone's happy.” The child paused, grinning softly as they chuckled. “And who doesn't like happy endings?”

Laughing softly, Gaster shook his head with a small grin that managed to reach his eyes. Then his expression sobered slowly, turning his gaze back down to his soul and tracing every crack on the surface with his eyes. Then the shadow began to lose himself in thought as he stared, his expression slowly falling. He would never be able to convey how badly he wanted to go back, to retry everything he had let down. He sighed, pressing the soul to his chest and closing his eyes, slowly furrowing his brow and closing them tighter. Never had he dreamed that he would have this chance. He had hoped, oh how he had hoped… but to have it in front of him now? Out of nowhere? It seemed too good to be true. He was about to trust his entire existence to a child that had left him unsure in life and who knew so, so much in death. There was no true telling if bringing him back peacefully was Chara’s actual intent. They had easily summoned his soul when he himself had failed, and that was incredible power. But instead of taking it and crushing it, they had simply handed it back to him like it was nothing. If anything, their eyes and that action alone spoke volumes.

Chara was just an exhausted child wanting to rest.

And, truly, if Chara did want to kill him, perhaps that wouldn’t be terrible either, as morbid as it sounded. He didn’t want that, not at all, but what was there left here in the void? Was it really living to not exist, to not be seen, touched, heard, remembered? If he had found a way to break it, then whatever came of it was better than being able to do nothing at all and be immortal, living for eternity in crippling solitude. Unable to touch, to feel anything, to act. Either he would come back, or he would finally get the sleep that Chara desired. Either option was an out, despite one being unfavorable.

Taking in a slow breath, Gaster opened his eyes to see the child looking at him expectantly. Chara quirked a brow, smiling softly.

“So, what do you say, Doc?” They extended a hand, red eyes staring into purple. “You ready to go home?”

Gaster stared, a slow smile creeping up on his skull. Well, it was now or never. Your one and possibly only chance out of here, Wingding.

Holding the soul to his chest with one hand, he reached out the other hand and took Chara’s smaller one in his, giving a soft squeeze. “Yes. I… I’d. I’d like that… very, very much.”

Chara smiled brighter, nodding slowly, closing their eyes and tilting their head back slightly as the soul fragment began to glow in their other hand. Gaster’s own flared once in response, a tug gradually pulling at it akin to the feeling of when he first fell. This feeling, however... It was different. Unlike how it felt during his fall, being pulled apart and scattered, broken, cracked, this felt like he was being brought back together from a long existence of separation. Like a distant hand reaching for him, pulling him out of the depths of water slowly, the light of the surface above becoming ever clearer with each held breath. His soul pounded harder at the feeling, huffing with a grin. Maybe... Just maybe…

Their surroundings began to shift, the blackness fading out slowly to near blinding white. Chara blinked their eyes open quickly to look at him, smiling tiredly. In those eyes were gratitude, a deep caring nature that he had never seen before from the young prince. But most of all, there was peace.

“Thank you,” they whispered, voice beginning to echo and scatter, “for letting me finally rest.”

“Huh? What are you doing?”

“Wha… what did you do? What’s this feeling…? What’s happening to me?”

“No! NO! I don’t need ANYONE! STOP IT! Get away from me! Do you hear me? I’ll tear you apart!”

“...Chara… Do you know why I’m doing this…? Why I keep fighting to keep you around…? I’m doing this because you’re special, Chara. You’re the only one that understands me. You’re the only one who’s fun to play with anymore.”

“No… That’s not JUST it. I… I… I’m doing this because I care about you, Chara! I care about you more than anyone else!”

“I’m not ready for this to end. I’m not ready for you to leave. I’m not ready to say goodbye to someone like you again…”

“So please… STOP doing this… AND JUST LET ME WIN!” “STOP IT! STOP IT NOW!”

“...Chara…”

“I’m so alone, Chara… I’m so afraid, Chara…”

“Chara, I… I…”

“I’m so sorry.”

The End

Holding their side gently, Frisk let out a small, quiet huff of fatigue. They had been going strong for so long, and now… now they could rest. At least for just a moment. Regardless, they stood frowning sadly, looking at the shape before them. No longer was it the towering godlike creature that threatened to tear the timelines apart, but instead a small monster child barely any taller than themself. The child rubbed his sleeve over his face, sniffling and crying in despair and shame at what he’d done. Able to feel again, able to be himself. With a sniff, Asriel raised his head and smiled weakly up at the human, rubbing a palm over his eye.

“I always was a crybaby, wasn’t I, Chara?” There was a pause, before Asriel sighed and let his shoulders drop, eyes turning down. The child shook his head softly. “...I know. You’re not actually Chara, are you? Chara’s been gone for a long time.” Sniffing, Asriel pulled his hand down and looked up at the child curiously, voice turning meek for a moment. “Um… what… What is your name?”

Blinking, the human gave a small smile, saying very quietly, “Frisk.”

“Frisk?” Asriel paused, then gave another smile back. This one a little stronger. “That’s… a nice name.”

The two children laughed softly, quietly together for a moment. As the sound died down, Asriel breathed in deeply and glanced away. He looked uncertain for a moment, frowning, before his eyes flicked back up to the human again. There was a tiredness all his own, but in those eyes was also grief and guilt.

“Frisk… I haven’t felt like this for a long time. As a flower, I was soulless. I lacked the power to love other people,” the child admitted, rubbing his arm absently. With a huff, Asriel looked down for a moment, fighting before making himself look up again. “However, with everyone’s souls inside me… I not only have my own compassion back… But I can feel every other monsters’ as well. They all care about each other so much.”

Asriel slowly smiled widely, and for the first time, the human saw love in those eyes even as they glistened with tears. He let out a quiet huff of laughter, sniffling.

“And… they care about you too, Frisk. I wish I could tell you how everyone feels about you. Papyrus… Sans… Undyne… Alphys…” The monster child let out a small sigh, but his smile remained. There was sadness in his face now, but the compassion still reigned true. “...Toriel. Heh. Monsters are weird. Even though they barely know you… It feels like they all really love you.”

Letting out a small laugh, Asriel stood for a moment before his eyes slowly trailed downward. Frisk tilted their head a little, watching him closely. Though they had fought him extensively a few times before, still… it felt like right now they were seeing the real Asriel for the first time. The real lost prince of monsters. Before, when they fought, he had been Flowey.

But the boy who stood in front of them now, that was Asriel Dreemurr.

“Frisk… I,” Asriel started softly, voice wavering a touch, “I understand if you can’t forgive me. I understand if you hate me. I acted so strange and horrible. I hurt you. I hurt so many people. Friends, family, bystanders… There’s no excuse for what I’ve done.”

With a small shudder, the monster prince remained silent with his head bowed. He wouldn’t look at Frisk, and it was then that the child realized they had a choice. A choice perhaps Asriel was waiting on. To forgive, or to not. The human paused, furrowing their brow softly. While his head was down, Frisk raised a hand slowly to trace a finger over the locket, feeling the gentle warmth from the trinket. And then they smiled.

It wasn’t a choice at all.

“I forgive you.” Startling, Asriel blinked tears from his eyes and looked up, lips parted.

“Wh… what?”

“I said.” Frisk cleared their throat quietly, smiling. “I forgive you.”

Huffing in surprise, a grin began to twitch on Asriel’s face. His brows arched sadly, laughing again with a touch of sadness.

“...Frisk, come on. You’re…” A sniff and another laugh as he raised a sleeve to wipe an eye. Even so, he was still smiling. “You’re gonna make me cry again.” Sighing, Asriel lowered his hand and let it hover over his chest, that smile shrinking a little as he looked down at it. “Besides, even if you do forgive me… I can’t keep these souls inside of me. The least I can do is return them.”

Pausing, the child prince outstretched his other hand and stared at his palm.

“But first... “ His brows furrowed, looking up at Frisk with a small smirk. His face was that of determination. “There’s something I have to do. Right now, I can feel everyone’s hearts beating as one. They’re all burning with the same desire.” Huffing, Asriel flipped his outstretched hand around, turning his head to look over his shoulder at the barrier. “With everyone’s power… with everyone’s determination…”

Asriel turned back to grin at Frisk.

“It’s time for monsters… to finally go free.”

Taking a step back, the monster prince drew in a deep breath. Both hands went to his chest, concentrating, as a wind from nowhere picked up around the pair. He pulled his hands forward, magical energy sparking out of his palms as his arms raised to his sides. Asriel tilted his head back, the magic intensifying as the human souls spun around him, steadily getting faster. In their wake, the energy of every monster soul flared into life, spinning in a vortex of color around the prince as their magic was channeled.

Gasping softly as they watched, Frisk raised a hand to their own chest, their soul flashing to life beneath their hand as it’s power was called upon. It wasn’t painful, but it was a small pull, practically forgotten as the human took in the sight of the prince weaving his spellwork. It was truly a sight to behold.

There was a loud snap. Frisk looked up with wide eyes, mouth opening as large sparks of magic began to pop off the barrier. The sparks stretched, flaring like electrical currents zipping over the surface of the wall. Stepping back only once, Frisk watched as the magical energy wavered. Then there was another snap as a visible crack split the middle, the sound drumming and echoing through the cavern like an iceberg trembling. The crack deepened, cutting all the way down to the ground. Shuddering, the large magical wall began to tremble, the human souls glowing brightly. And then, with a final snap…

A blinding light struck the area like a lightning strike. Frisk raised their arms to cover their eyes, gritting their teeth softly as the deafening roar slowly quieted down. The child lowered their arms slowly after a moment, gasping silently as they gaped at the clear path ahead, twilight glistening clearly beyond the mouth of the cave deeper in.

The barrier was broken.

Frisk was left staring in wonder, holding their hands to their chest as the wind calmed and the monster prince lowered his arms. Huffing, Asriel glanced up with a smile and then over his shoulder at the surface beyond. His smile softened at the sunlight stretching into the cave, before Asriel turned the look to the human.

“Frisk… I have to go now,” he said quietly, sadness creeping up to touch his expression. Frisk paused, frowning and shaking their head in objection. They had saved everyone else, surely they could save Asriel too! The monster prince only smiled more sadly, a hand lifting to rub his chest and sighing as he looked down at his feet. “Without the power of everyone’s souls, I can’t keep maintaining this form. In a little while… I’ll turn back into a flower. I’ll stop being myself. I’ll stop being able to feel love again. So… Frisk.”

Frowning more, Frisk shook their head faster, taking a step toward the other child. They had done so much to help all the monsters, there had to be a way...

“It’s best if you just forget about me, ok? Just go be with the people who love you.”

A pang of grief struck the child, swallowing as their shoulders sunk with it. Was there really nothing they could do? Taking a breath, Frisk forced themself to straighten. They couldn't let go of the thought of helping this lost prince, trying to think of something, anything to help him. Their brows arched as they realized they had no idea how to even begin helping. Their hand unconsciously went to the locket, gripping it hard. Frisk could spare and have mercy all day long, but a soul… they didn't have the means to give one. The child wasn't even sure how to go about that route.

So instead, with a deep sigh, Frisk approached. Asriel looked up when they were a step away, confused, before the human wrapped their arms around him in a tight hug. The prince paused, taking the action in for a moment as it clicked. Then with a small shudder, Asriel bowed his head to the human's shoulder and clung to them, trembling in their arms as he fought against tears. Frisk leaned their head against the prince's, rubbing his back softly as he shook in their arms. They stood like that for a few minutes, just taking in the quiet. Hoping to give Asriel just one more moment of peace. “Ha… ha… I don’t want to let go..,” Asriel mumbled into their shoulder.

“You don’t have to, Asy.”

The children pulled their heads back, staring at one another in surprise.

“Frisk… that wasn't…”

Shaking their head, Frisk looked around to try and find the source of the voice. A small flash caught their attention, and the child turned their gaze down to their chest with parted lips of surprise. The locket was glowing bright red all on its own, and when Frisk made a move to touch it, the magical energy sparked and whisked away from it like a spilling fog. Both children gasped, watching the magic take shape beside them in the form of a shadowy figure.

Another human child.

Though not identical, they resembled Frisk closely in appearance. They wore the same thing Asriel did aside from their shirt bearing a single stripe instead of three, but their most striking feature were eyes of demanding red.

“Chara!” Asriel cried, a hand going to his mouth. He stared with wide, disbelieving eyes. “Chara, is it really you? How did… how are you…”

The child blinked, lifting their hands to flip them around a few times and stare at their palms and fingers. Brows raising, a slow grin made its way onto their face before they looked up, one hand going to touch their chest and hair.

“It sure is,” they chimed. Glancing over at Frisk, their expression changed to a small, grateful smirk. Despite their otherwise pleasant appearance, something about the child looked… tired. Weathered. “You can thank Frisk for that. Without them, this never would have been possible.”

Pausing, Frisk raised a hand to their chest and gave a meek, tired smile in return. Whether they had fully realized it or not at the time, Chara had been there from the beginning of their journey. A shadow in the back of their conscious, not necessarily a dark one, but something not originally of the child’s mind. And now the presense had a name.

Chara, the second lost prince.

Asriel simply looked between them both in surprise before he gained a shaky smile, eyes settling on his adopted sibling. “I thought you were gone, I thought you…”

Chara’s expression softened and they smiled, holding their arms out. “I’m right here.”

With a cried sound of relief, Asriel broke away from Frisk and wound their arms around the other child in a tight hug. Chara returned it in kind, their eyebrows arching as they closed their eyes and bowed their head to his shoulder. The reunited siblings clung to one another, having been apart for a hundred years in their own personal miseries. Just children wanting to go home for so long, just children wanting to help free their kind and make a difference.

“Now, n-now I really don’t want… to let go…” Asriel sputtered, pressing his muzzle into his sibling's hair. Frisk watched with a soft frown, winding their arm back around their side. The monster prince didn’t have much time left. The other souls had been released when Asriel broke the barrier, so he truly lived as himself only on borrowed time.

“I told you, fuzzbrain,” Chara mumbled into his shoulder, squeezing Asriel a little tighter, “you don't have to. Not ever again.”

Sniffing, Asriel lifted his head a little bit, looking toward his siblings with softly furrowed brows of confusion.

“Chara?” He asked almost nervously. “What do you mean?”

“Well, actually, maybe just one more time,” Chara chuckled softly. Moving their hand, the child brought Asriel’s head back to their shoulder. They looked up briefly, giving Frisk a thankful smile, before bowing their head again. Frisk blinked and tilted their head. What was…

A soft light began to settle around the hugging children. White glowed peacefully around Asriel, while around the human a red glow took place. Frisk’s brows rose as they watched, lips softly parting. That was magic.

“Chara? What's going on?” Asriel asked quickly, trying to pull away to look. The monster prince looked panicked for a second, unsure what was happening. But the child refused. Chara kept their grip firm, not allowing the monster out of their arms.

“Giving you the chance you never had,” the other prince told him, “but deserve more than anyone.”

The glow intensified, leaving Frisk staring in wonder. Was Chara… saving Asriel? They hadn't been able to themselves, but it looked like maybe, just maybe... Chara could. The thought brought another frown to Frisk’s face, eyes darting between them quickly. If Chara was saving their brother, what would happen to them?

“No, no, hey,” Asriel insisted, trying to break away. He was looking more worried by the second, frantic, tears returning to his eyes quickly. “Chara please, don't do this! You could live! Don't spend your soul on me, please! I don't, no, I don't deserve this! Please, Chara…”

Shaking their head, the glow simply intensified as Chara hugged them closer. Asriel was trying to get away, to insist he'd be fine, but the prince of determination wouldn't be swayed. Their decision was made, and they stood as sure as Mt. Ebott itself to see it through. Frisk swallowed hard, the struggle painful for them to watch.

“I knew you would not accept it willingly,” Chara mumbled into their shoulder with a soft tremble. They sighed, raising their head to frown shakily at their brother. Frisk paused at the amount of sheer fatigue on their face, and the child didn't think that was strictly from magic use. “So I had to make sure you would.”

“But your soul,” Asriel sobbed, “you can’t give up your soul for me… that's not fair to you!”

“Shhh,” they cooed, rubbing their brother's back. “I've done what I wanted to, Asy. I was the first human to fall, the first to give monsters hope. And now I've helped the last one free everyone. Just like we planned long ago.”

At those words, Chara looked up to connect their gaze with Frisk’s. The two humans stared at one another, Chara with a tired, knowing smile and the seventh human with sorrowful concern. They had saved everyone, including Asriel by the look of it. But the person they had unwittingly saved, it seemed they were slipping from Frisk’s grasp as well. And they had no idea how to stop it without ultimately losing one of them in the end.

“Don’t give me that look,” Chara chided, yet behind the words they were grinning. It was soft and worn out, but it was a grin. “You saved me too, Frisk. You saved me from an eternity of unrest. Of… heh. Well. I’ll never be able to thank you enough for what you've done. But… I figure for now, I’ll return the favor by saving someone you can’t.”

Swallowing hard again, Frisk gave a shaky smile. The expression dropped after a moment, however, and they shook their head. Taking a step forward and reaching out a hand, Frisk stared at them imploringly. Chara paused, furrowing their brow before softly laughing with a shake of their own head.

“No, Frisk. I already told you. You saved me. You’ve done enough.” A smile tugged at their tired face. “The only thing I ask of you now is to take care of them all. Take care of my family for me.”

Pressing their hand to their shirt harder, Frisk let out a shaky huff. Chara wasn't going to be swayed, and even if they tried anything, Frisk doubted they could stop this. By interrupting such delicate spell casting, they could hurt one of them, or worse. So instead, Frisk nodded. Take care of family. They would do that at least.

“Chara,” Asriel whimpered, clutching their shirt with trembling hands. He had stopped crying and struggling, having surrendered to a fate he couldn’t change. Aside from Frisk, Chara’s determination was unmatched. “Please… please let me go… You could live, please let me go.”

“No, Asy,” Chara whispered back, giving them a squeeze. The prince pressed their forehead to Asriel’s, moving their hands to cup his face. With a soft sigh from the human, the pairs gaze met. “Let me go.”

Between the siblings sparked a bright flash of light. Startled, Frisk raised their arms again to block the brightness, squinting between them to watch. Chara had let go of Asriel with one hand, and in that hand sat a red human soul much like Frisk’s. White sparks shot off of it, aiming for Asriel’s chest. With each spark that popped off and turned to magic, a little bit of the human’s soul chipped away. Frisk gasped as they watched, wanting to do anything to help. But in this situation, all they could do was simply behold the sight. The sparks flared and danced and after what felt like a lifetime of watching, the glow settled and revealed one half of a human soul. Frisk stared aghast at the half soul, slowly lowering their arms. A white light brightly glowed from Asriel’s chest, and with a shaky sniff, he lifted a hand to summon the light source forward.

In his hand rest an upside down white heart. A true, real monster soul.

“You get half of me, brother,” Chara said with a smile, eyes settling on the white soul. Huffing softly, those red eyes then turned upward to look into Asriel’s face. “With that half, you can live.”

Raising a hand, Asriel allowed himself to smile softly down at the soul as he wiped an eye with a sleeve. Despite the fight, despite not wanting to return if it meant hurting his sibling, he… existed. He was truly alive again. He could be Asriel Dreemurr again instead of Flowey. He had a soul again, he could feel love, joy, he could even appreciate the negative again.

Then he looked up.

“Not that I’m ungrateful, Chara, I'm really not. You've, you've given up so much for me, but…” Asriel lowered his hand from his face, hovering it over the partial red soul with a gentle frown. “What about you? Can you… live like that? What’s going to happen to you now?”

With a tired smile, the human pressed the soul close to their chest. Their eyes traveled over it for a moment, thoughtful. Smirking softly, Chara looked up with a chuckle.

“With half a soul? Who knows. I guess we’ll find out.” Then red eyes turned toward the group of monsters further away. The friends that Frisk has made along the way, the people that loved them, the people that had come to their aid. Ultimately, their family. Their... Chara blinked. Their brow rose, thoughts obviously spinning as something crossed their mind, before a slow grin tugged at their lips. Looking over at the two other children, the prince let their soul slip back into their chest as they took a step back. Something about them changed, their form taking on a transparency.

Furrowing his brows, Asriel stretched out a hand toward his sibling. “Chara?”

“Don't worry about me, Asriel, Frisk. Go take care of our family. I know what I want to do now.” Grinning, the prince met both of their eyes, reaching a hand up to hold the locket that had transferred to them after the prince took shape.

They stood tall. Determined.

“...dad... dad, wake up! can you hear me? are you alright?”

“FATHER PLEASE SAY SOMETHING, IT'S ALRIGHT! LET US KNOW YOU'RE OK!”

“heh, dad… come on… i know you're in there somewhere...”

...Boys…?

Groaning softly, the monster’s head rolled to the side, pressing his face into something soft. Something… He could… Gasping allowed, Gaster jerked and opened his eyes wide. Flinching, he was blinded by a light, raising an arm to try and block the brightness. Raising… an arm… The monster blinked. His eyes widened as he indeed stared at an arm, lips parting in shock while his eyes darted. There was no black mass, no disconnected hand trying to shield him. No, instead he stared blearily into the arm of a white lab coat.

And then it hit him.

He could feel. He felt the clothes against his bones, the different materials, how it stretched; the hard grating under his spine, how it ran in tiny diamond patterns that would eventually indent his coat with pressure and make his bones stiff; the material that supported his head, likely a pair of pants or shorts with the feeling of hard legs underneath. The rocketed pounding of his soul behind his ribs, a feeling he had only felt the ghost of for so long, to the point he was convinced that his soul had somehow been inevitably lost. He could… he could…

“woah, woah,” a voice said, “hey, dadster, easy. can you hear me?”

Gaster started slightly, knocking himself out of his focused stare. He squinted softly at the light still shining beyond his arm, lowering it slowly and following it with his eyes as if seeing it for the first time. He was about to look up when his brows furrowed softly, feeling something tangled between his fingers. What… Turning his hand and opening it, he found a heart locket and chain. It dangled off his hand, and the scientist stared in shock as he realized what it was, feeling a skip beneath his ribs. Chara… Swallowing hard, Gaster gained a small, shaky grin, moving to slip the necklace into his coat pocket. I’ll… give it to the children when I see them next. But for now… He finally looked up, and above him were two hovering skulls, both faces looking at him with opened mouths and wide eyes. Tears glistened in the corners of their sockets, the pair of brothers gasping softly when all three met eyes.

“SANS,” Papyrus exclaimed urgently, leaning closer, “SANS LOOK! HE’S AWAKE!”

“i… i-i see paps, heh,” his older brother stammered, his grin trembling a touch.

“Boys?” The elder skeleton croaked, coughing softly at the scratchy sound, raising a hand to his throat and grabbing it gently. His voice was absolutely raw and a dull pain had crept up after the cough. It felt like he hadn’t spoken in years. Perhaps that’s actually quite relevant...  “Sans? Papy…” Another cough, straining hard to speak, swallowing to try and quell the gravel. “P-papyrus…?”

Sans’ shoulders fell in relief, gaining a more tearful grin as he nodded. Crouched beside him, his younger brother raised his hands to his mouth as he gasped once more. For once, the talkative and long winded younger brother was left speechless.

“there you go, easy pops, we’ve got you,” Sans assured. “you sound bone tired, try not to talk.”

The elder skeleton barely registered where he lay or what was said, propped up in Sans’ lap for support. He didn’t dare look away from the sight of his boys, he couldn’t shake the thought that they were speaking to him, that they could see him. How he desperately hoped this wasn’t a dream, but then again… he never slept in the void. This couldn’t possibly be a dream. This was real. This had to be real.

“Boys, boys,” Gaster coughed, gaining his own shaky grin and completely ignoring his eldest sons’ advice. He reached up his hands, pressing one to each brother's cheek. As bone contacted bone, tears pressed at the back of his eyes and gathered forward fast. Each brother reached and put a hand over the one on their cheek, gaining a soft huff from the scientist. He could touch them. The shock set in, reality coming forward as all his senses sprung to life once more. He could feel, he could speak, he…

He existed.

Chara had pulled through after all.

“M-my boys!”

At his words, Papyrus and his brother brightened. The younger skeletons looked at each other quickly, something passing between them in that glance, before Papyrus moved into action. He went around to their father's other side and crouched, looping an arm around his shoulders.

“Do not worry, dad,” Papyrus assured, “Sans and I have you now and everything will be just perfect again!”

The brothers shifted Gaster up a little more, carefully until he was sitting more upright. Once he was stable and supported, both skeletons leaned forward and wrapped their arms around their father tightly to pull him into a shared embrace.

The elder scientist sat there for a moment, letting everything soak in. Everything just kept spinning in his mind, so unused to these sensations again, but truthfully… nothing really mattered. Not when his sons were here. Not when they were the first sight he saw out of a sea of blackness, out of what felt like a lifetime trapped in the dark realm of unfeeling.

None of that mattered when he had his little souls right there.

The tears in his eyes broke surface, his vision going watery as a wide, shaking smile pulled at his mouth. Sniffing, the scientist moved his arms and wound them around his sons just as tightly, tugging them both close with a choked sob. He clung to them as if they were his baby bones again, refusing to let them go. Lucky for him, they held on with just as much fervor, trembling softly in relief and happiness. All three of them were in tears, emotions running high with the shock and relief on all sides. Their skulls clicked and nuzzled against his own, and Gaster found himself breaking out into sobbing but joyful laughter, a warmth springing to life in his chest as his soul started to glow with love. He couldn't believe this was happening, absolutely overwhelmed but in the best possible way.

He had come home.

“How,” Gaster started, coughing, each word taking more and more effort speak. He honestly wasn't sure how long his voice would last, but again he didn't care at that specific moment. He would speak to his children. “How did. You find me?”

“I remembered you,” Papyrus said excitedly, but he could hear the soft emotion as he was given a gentle squeeze. “I remembered you and Sans brought us here!”

“i figured the last place i saw you would be a good place to start looking,” Sans added.

Pausing, the elder skeleton let their words soak in. So, he must have reappeared at the Core. That would explain the bright lights and the grating under his back, and a quick glance from his peripheral confirmed it. But most of all, he clung to his youngest son's words. Papyrus had suddenly remembered him. Did that mean that others would too? His pulse skipped. Did that mean Grillby remembered him? That time was truly fixed again? Chara, child, you are a wonder. I truly hope you get the peaceful rest you so longed for. Thank you. Thank you so much.

“Where did you go?” Papyrus asked, a slight shake to his usually strong voice. “Sans told me there was an accident, but… but you just disappeared!”

“aw paps…” Sans paused, giving his father a tighter squeeze, clinging to his lab coat a little harder. Of course Sans knew, but he wouldn't say. Not yet. “i know it's una-voidable, but we can get to the core of the problem later. we should let dad rest.”

“Rest, right, then first let us get out of here!” Pulling back a little, Papyrus moved to look his father in the face. “Are you ok to stand? Do you need help?”

Lowering his arms but still keeping them around his sons, Gaster glanced down at his legs. They had been something he didn't have in the void, and to be completely honest he wasn't sure if he had the strength. Leg strength or otherwise. I can't shake this weak spell in the back of my skull. It's almost making me dizzy. Huffing softly, the scientist looked back and gave a small smile.

“I do--” Once more he was interrupted by coughing, ducking his head as the feeling shook him harder this time. Hands pat his back before he calmed down, sighing deeply, roughly. Well, I guess my voice is officially gone for now… that's fine. We can figure it out. Voice isn't the only way I can speak. Sucking in a breath, Gaster softly cleared his throat and gave them a nod to show he was alright. His hands slid off their backs, moving in front of him to make hand motions and sign out, “I'm not sure. I could stand for a little help though and see from there.”

A spark of laughter lit in Sans’ eye while the quip went over his younger brother’s head in the moment. He let out a soft chuckle while Papyrus brightened a little and nodded, shifting how he held the older skeleton while Sans did the same.

“Worry you not, Father! The Great Papyrus can carry you if he needs to! I've gotten a lot stronger the past two years!”

Smiling gratefully, the scientist clicked his skull gently to his youngest son's and received a gentle laugh in return. With that, the brothers moved again, carefully and slowly rising up to bring the older skeleton to his feet. Gaster grit his teeth slowly as they went, feeling shakes start to creep up the higher they went before he was finally flat on his feet. Papyrus had slung the scientist's arm over his shoulder while his own was wrapped around Gaster. The boys watched him close as he stood, gently panting with that effort alone.

Ok… talking and walking. Out of the question for now. It's ok. Think of yourself as having just come out of a coma perhaps. There's going to be recovery time. It'll be alright. Get used to being back first.

His gaze flicked upward, causing the elder skeleton to pause and tense slightly. They were on the exact bridge he had fallen from two years again, he could see the welding where new grating had been attached close to their shoes. The bright magic churning below sent a nervous, near nauseating spike into his stomach, feeling the urge to draw back and get away as quick as possible. As he stared, he found he couldn't quite remember what the fall felt like, all he could gather was the edge of a headache and images too rough and scarred for him to pick up. That and a wave of such strong unease and dread that he dared not think about it much longer. The feeling sent a shiver up his spine.

Breathing in deep and sighing slowly, the scientist looked over to his youngest son, but he could tell by his face that he needn't say anything. There was no way either of them had missed his struggling, physical or mental. Papyrus had furrowed his brows softly in the gentlest worry. The expression smoothed out a second later with a kind, unwavering grin, letting no trace of possible negativity show.

“Alright, so we definitely aren't walking,” Papyrus decided, shifting a little as if he were going to move a different way. “I can carry--”

“hey paps, wait,” Sans interjected, giving his signature casual grin, this time with a softly raised brow thrown in. “no point in walking all the way back. i got shortcuts.”

“Right, of course, your weird space bending.” Turning to their father, Papyrus raised a brow at the older skeleton. “That would definitely get you home sooner. Shall we?”

Huffing softly in amusement, Gaster let a soft smirk rise as he nodded. It was nice to simply listen to his boys go back and forth again. While yes, he'd done so while in the void, now he was involved and that made it so much nicer. The young sentry grinned at his response then turned to regard his older brother.

“Okay brother, let's go!”

“heh, got it.”

A blue light collected around the smaller skeleton, stretching over the other two as he called upon his magic. Gaster watched quietly, still not used to seeing his son teleport even after two years of watching. For so long, he himself had been the sole bearer of that ability. Ever since the accident activated the DT in his eldest son, however, Sans had been able to use the ability as well.

There was a spark and the scientist closed his eyes, feeling himself shoved through reality for a split second until the magic faded once more. He wavered slightly, unused to the feeling on his physical body anymore and the fact he wasn't in control. That's… interesting. I wonder if that's what the others feel. Opening his eyes, Gaster beheld the dark house of the brothers’ back in Snowdin. The lights were off but white light filtered in through the snow flecked windows, casting a light on things closest to them. Sans had brought them to the living room, directly in front of the couch, very purposefully placing them there.

Underneath his arm, Gaster felt his son stumble. Turning his head quickly, the scientist raised his brows in alarm, looking at Sans quickly to make sure he was alright. He opened his mouth to ask but simply closed it a second later once he realize it was best not to actually speak, huffing softly. He tightened his arm around Sans instead, helping keep him steady.

Papyrus hadn't missed it either.

“Sans?” He asked. “Are you alright?”

“yeah,” Sans huffed with a nod, grinning tiredly up at them, “i think that fight and then wandering around for an hour drained me.” An hour? Is that how long it took me to come back? The smaller skeleton let out a chuckle, moving one hand to smooth over his skull. “that and i'm not used to a crowd in my shortcuts.”

“Well here, sit down then, both of you!”

The taller skeleton turned, easing his father off his shoulders and down onto the couch slowly. Meanwhile, Gaster hooked his arm tighter around his eldest son with a gentle furrow of his brow, saying with that look that he was to sit as well. You're exhausted, rest son. You've done so much. Both of you. Sans did follow his father after a second’s pause, sinking into the couch as both men sighed deeply in comfort at the feeling. Gaster leaned his head on the back of the couch, eyes falling closed. Ohhh I am… exhausted suddenly… years of no sleep is catching up with me and all I did was barely stand hah.

“heh, jeez bro, i’m wiped,” Sans mumbled beside him, gaining a quiet laugh from his father as he echoed his thoughts.

“Well, you two rest, I'll go grab a blanket,” Papyrus offered, leaving no room for argument as he turned and darted up the stairs.

Laughing gently, the elder scientist shook his head and relaxed deeper into the couch. A gentle and silent groan settled in his throat at the feeling, once more letting everything sink in. The fact he could feel again still caught Gaster off guard, his fingers gently gliding over the felt of the cushions as he let the sensation travel over his bones. A soft smile spread across his face. It felt worlds better than the bridge back at the Core. Just being away from the massive building felt better.

“so g,” Sans said quietly beside him, cracking an eye open. His father rolled his skull upward and looked down with tired curiosity. “what was that in your hand earlier? it was heart to tell, but it looked an awful lot like what the kid wore before stuff went down.”

Blinking, Gaster’s mind went back to the necklace in his pocket. Now that his son mentioned it, it had been the same one Frisk wore after going through New Home the first time. And he hadn't really realized until then, but the image of Chara had worn it too. Perhaps it became Chara’s body anchor when they were separated from Frisk… The more time that passed, the fuzzier the subject of his salvation got. He knew, however, that he'd been saved by the help of the lost prince.

“A memory I need to give to the children,” he ended up signing with a smile. “A token of what brought me back.”

A furrow of his brow told Gaster of his eldest son's confusion, the smaller skeleton tilting his head a little. His mind seemed to work for a moment before he ultimately shrugged and yawned deeply, shifting back to lean against his father's side.

“i’m not gonna be the one to question weirdness here,” Sans said with a quiet laugh. With as much as the younger scientist had seen and figured out, this was just one more oddity to the list to let slide as normality. After a moment, he sighed the rest of his laugh out, pausing as his eyes fell to the floor. His voice grew quieter as he whispered, “dad i'm… really uh. i’m really glad… that you're back.”

There was a moment of silence before a warm smile settled on Gaster’s face. Oh Sans. Raising a hand, he laid it atop his son's skull and rubbed it gently, tugging him just a little bit closer. Sans looked up at him, a small, shaky grin rising at the motion. A single note laugh escaped before he shifted and wrapped his arms tight around Gaster, squeezing him in his tired embrace and pressing his face into his shoulder. His father returned the motion, moving to hold him close and resting his head on top of Sans’.

One day I will make up for and apologize for what happened right before I fell, he mentally promised, giving Sans a briefly tighter squeeze. You boys deserve so much better than how you were treated. All of you boys. I love you so much.

Thumping down the stairs signaled Papyrus’ returned, the taller skeleton easily taking them by twos.

“Here we go,” the youngest sentry announced, a large blanket draped over his arms. “The perfect resting blanket. It'll cover everyone!” Then be paused, brows raising. “Oh, are we doing more group hugs?” When his father turned a grin toward him, Papyrus dumped the blanket on the arm of the couch and swept over, circling the two into a tight embrace to hold them close. Both of the other skeletons chuckled, the older scientist just sitting there and relishing the feeling of having his boys near.

I'm so… glad. I can feel this again. I'm so, so glad. I have my boys back, my sons, my family... Unwinding one arm, Gaster shifted to wrap it around his youngest and pulled him into his own embrace, sighing out shakily. I'll never abandon you two again. Ever. I swear on this second chance.

The hug ended after a moment longer, Papyrus stepping back to regather the blanket with a gentle grin. Sans looked a little less shaky but still exhausted, while the older skeleton just felt downright drained. Mm heavens I don't… want to just fall asleep. I still need to see Grillby but. The fatigue in his bones said otherwise. If he went to go find the bartender now, there was no telling if he'd even be coherent enough to hold a conversation after teleporting. Alright. A nap first, then I'll go. This'll give me a little more time with my sons.

“you gonna sit with us, bro?” Sans asked curiously, breaking him out of his current thoughts.

The younger skeletons gave a shrug, grin widening a touch. “Might as well, someone has to watch over you two! And no arguing, father, you are sleeping!” At the addition, Papyrus tossed part of the blanket over his shoulder and pointed at the skeleton in question. Gaster raised his brows a little, a gentle smirk rising and he nodded, feeling silent laughter in his chest. Yes yes, I'll rest, son. I'll rest. “Good. You two need sleep. And… to be quite honest, I'm a little tired from the fight too.”

With a soft chuckle, Gaster raised his hand and beckoned his youngest forward. Come on then, Papyrus. Come and sleep. You're allowed to rest too. Straightening up, Papyrus moved to drape the large blanket over the couch and his family. Only after that was done did he drop down on his father's other side, mimicking Sans and leaning against the scientist as he tugged the blanket over himself.

Closing his eyes, the scientist settled in between his boys, a gentle smile rising to his face. Never again had he thought he'd be able to do something like this, something as simple as resting between his children on a couch. But he was, he could feel them both leaned against him, the gentle shifting as they breathed, the feeling of Sans leaning more and more into his side as his eldest son fell into a quick, hard sleep, the soft touch of Papyrus doing the same as his skull leaned gently against his own.

I haven't… felt so at peace in so, so long. The thought brought gentle tears to his sockets again, emotion bubbling in his chest that he had to fight to contain. They were happy tears, but with a touch of grief for what may have never happened. He simply swallowed it back for now, raising his arm to wipe them away with a sleeve. Just sleep. You can worry about the deeper emotions later. Just rest with the boys, you so desperately need it.

Willing his mind to relax, Gaster found himself sinking more into the cushions, his head tilting slightly toward his eldest son's. The fatigued haze settled in quick, dragging him down as the gentle silence lulled him further. It was only interrupted by the sound of a muffled vibration and the feeling of Papyrus moving a moment later to likely look at his phone as he was roused from his own dozing. The scientist remained unconcerned, however, eyes staying closed as he sighed, the tendrils of consciousness slipping away.

This is… a much, much needed nap…

And with the thought, for the first time in two years, Gaster felt himself taken by exhaustion and was finally able to sleep in the comfort of his sons.

The only thing that stirred him was the sound of a chirping kettle in the other room and the feeling of something moving beside him.

Startling awake, Gaster sucked in a breath to look around, only to register where he was a moment later. He was tense for a minute, everything clicking in his mind, you're… back, this isn't the void, you're ok... He calmed with the realization, sinking with a sigh as he ran a groggy hand over his face, taking off his glasses gone crooked by sleep. Mmm wow… that felt like it lasted hardly any time at all… He drew in a deep breath, yawning it out and cracking an eye open after to see Sans stand up off the couch and wander toward the kitchen. With a glance, he confirmed Papyrus was already up and likely in charge of the noise in the kitchen. His youngest never slept for long the scientist mused as he fixed his glasses.

“Oh good, you're awake!” That was Papyrus himself, poking his head around the corner with a grin. “Is golden flower tea ok? Undyne gave me a box not too long ago and I figured you could use some!”

Smiling tiredly, Gaster nodded in confirmation Tea. That's right, I can eat and drink again too. The dryness of his throat was proof enough that he certainly needed to at least drink. He was likely still severely malnourished from his stent before the Core, but time would help fix that.

At the confirmation, Papyrus gave a one note laugh and darted back into the kitchen. Gaster let out a gentle snort, smirking and shaking his head. Everything's just. Settling back into place. With the thought, his eyes turned down to his legs, lowering a hand to move the blanket aside and look at them. I wonder... Bracing himself against the couch with his palms, the scientist bit his lip and tried to slowly ease himself into a stand. His legs shook, massively weakened, and after only achieving a few inches he groaned and gave up to drop back into the couch. Ohhh goodness. Alright then, that is definitely going to need to be worked on. I can't even stand without support…

With a frown, Gaster raised a hand to rub at his throat as he tried to think of how to overcome this. No mobility and no voice, he would be limited to needing assistance with almost everything. Hands would be useful so long as he was around people who understood or could translate, and he could easily grab things with blue magic if he were in the same room. This is still going to be tough… the magical deconstruction of my strength that the Core did is. Remarkable. I really hope with time I'll--

“hey g,” Sans piped up, causing his father to startle slightly and look up. His son had a cup of coffee and a tired grin, brow raised as he looked at the older skeleton. Gaster hadn't even heard him come back.

“you alright? not runnin’ a femur or anything are you?”

Snorting softly, Gaster shook and gave a small smile. He raised his hands, signing back, “Just getting used to things again is all.”

Sans nodded with a yawn, moving to settle back down beside him. He took a sip of his coffee, thoughtful, then turning a soft grin to his father. “let us know if you need anything, alright? we'll do all we can to lend you a hand.”

“Was that a pun? Is dad signing?” Papyrus rounded the corner with two cups, pausing in front of the pair with a gentle squint. His father silently laughed while Sans simply hid in his coffee mug. Making a face, Papyrus huffed and extended the tea out to the older scientist. “Your lack of answer is concerning. Considering the occasion, however, I suppose I'll allow puns. But only for now.”

“loud and clear, bro,” Sans snickered back.

Taking the cup in his hands, Gaster gazed down at the steaming liquid and brought it close to his skull, letting the warmth spill over his face. Smell… scent is a thing too. I've been doing it all along since I've been back but just… heh. Little things. And it's so warm too. Smiling gratefully, his eyes turned to Papyrus as he summoned magic hands, spelling out a quick “thank you, son.” His youngest grinned back and settled on his other side, drinking his own beverage, hot chocolate if Gaster didn't know any better.

“Oh! That reminds me!” Papyrus turned where he sat, looking at his father with an expression of urgent excitement. “Grillby messaged me earlier. You need to go see him when you finish!”

Gaster was mid-sip when there was a skip behind his ribs, forcing himself not to spit take his tea. He blinked in surprise, brows raising up and swallowing the contents hard. Grillby, oh god, yes I need to see him. I need to talk to him, to explain, I need… oh heavens I need to make sure he knows. His pulse picked up, thumping with nerves and excitement behind his ribs as he cradled his tea. His sons and his love had been the ones he'd been most desperate to see. Now that he'd established that he had returned to his boys, it was Grillby's turn to know he was back.

“He messaged about half an hour ago saying he was going to do inventory,” his son continued, “It's the perfect time to catch him! Right in the diner!”

“oh right,” Sans mumbled, setting his quickly emptied mug down and digging out his phone. “he called earlier but my phone was on silent. whoops.”

“Silent?” Papyrus gawked. “Since when do you silence that thing?”  

“it was right before we met up with frisk,” Sans answered with a meek shrug.

“Augh, doesn't matter. Finish your tea, father! Grillby is waiting for you!” The youngest skeleton marked his words with a pointing glove toward Gaster’s cup, and the older scientist huffed a small laugh. Nodding, he obeyed and took another long sip, enjoying the warmth as it combated the soreness and sudden nerves. Looking up at his son, he gently tapped a hand to Papyrus’ leg and summoned hands again.

“Did you tell him I was coming by?”

“No, I figured you going there yourself would be a much better surprise!” Papyrus grinned brightly at his plan, leaving his father to pause in thought. If Papyrus hasn't said anything, does Grillby even know I'm actually back? That I'm… alive?

“Did he ask for me?”

“Not specifically,” Papyrus shrugged, taking a long draw from his mug, “but I know him well enough to know he was asking about you just as much as he was about us!”

Gaster nodded slowly, his gaze slowly moving down to the floor as he took another sip. Everything in his bones called for him to go to Grillby, to reassure him he was ok and there and alive. His memories were fuzzy, but from what he could tell, time simply left a confusing gasp of disconnected information to excuse his absence. Now that memories were back, his love was surely thinking of him. He had to go make it right. Oh Grillby I miss you so much...

“gman’s been pretty bonely,” Sans said, leaning back into the couch, “i think it'd do you both some good to try and rekindle things, yeah?”

A groan sounded beside him, Papyrus standing up a second later to snatch his brother's empty cup and then turning to his father. “Sans is right, you should definitely go settle things with your person again. I know he'd be very happy to see you!”

Draining his own beverage after a moment, Gaster handed it over with a nod and a sigh. “Yes… I need to make things right again.”

Papyrus nodded in agreement, wandering off to the kitchen to discard the mugs. As he came back around, Sans looked thoughtful.

“knowing grillbz,” his eldest mused, “you don't even need to explain anything. he’ll just be happy you're back, y’know?”

“Yes, yes you're right…” Gaster gave a gentle, nervous sigh. A hand settled over his chest with a small frown. Be that as it may, he still felt responsible for explaining everything. He wanted Grillby to know that he hadn't meant to pull away from him the moment they became official, he hadn't tried to abandon him, he wasn't gone forever. But like Sans had said… Grillby wouldn't think that, not after our last visit. He knew. He saw me. He saw what an… absolute wreck I was. No, he knows. I just. Need to remind him how much I love him and how sorry I am.

“go on, dad,” Sans encouraged with a grin, nudging his father's arm. “we'll wait here for you.”

A warm smile crossed his face, eyes traveling upward to Papyrus.

“Yes yes, go! Don't keep uncle Grillby waiting all night!” Papyrus rest his hands on his hips and leaned toward the pair, but his scrutinizing squint turned quickly into excitement and his own encouraging light. Instead, he made quick shooing motions toward his father, obviously telling him in a nice way to scram.

Raising a hand, Gaster left out a scratchy laugh into it, nodding to both his children. He cleared his throat, absently taking the hand off his chest to rub his throat quickly. Not speaking would take some getting used to, he'd never had to deal with the problem before. Lowering his hands, he signed out, “alright, right, ok.”

There was a moment's pause when the scientist took a moment to breathe in deeply. It was a starting breath, trying to build up his courage to confront the bartender. No, not just the bartender. His bartender. Heavens, there's so much I need a explain. Oh Grillby… I finally get to see you. And now... you can see me. There was a skip, a flutter in his chest at the thought. Grillby would see him. Grillby would see him. The scientist sat up straighter, huffing to himself. I just. Need to go there. One step at a time, Wingding. Go to him. It'll be ok.

Beside him, Sans tilted his head where he lounged, watching his father psyche himself up. “if you're worried about it, i doubt anyone would be in your seat,” his eldest son offered. “i've never seen it occupied since, so it's likely safe.”

Nodding again, Gaster took another breath. He felt nervous, he felt oh so nervous. Not because of Grillby, no, his gentle flame wouldn't ever do anything to harm him. But the time apart, the break before his fall, the distance he unwittingly put between them. I owe him so many apologies, I've done us so wrong… my timing couldn't have been more terrible. The scientist huffed, swallowing back his fear. He wouldn't be able to do anything if he just sat here. He had to act. He had to see Grillby. Most of all, he had to make it right.

Right. Come on. Go to him

When he glanced over, both of his boys were looking at him with eyes of expectancy and encouragement. They had full faith in him. It was time he did too.

“Ok boys,” he signed, smiling. “I'll be back. I'm going to him.”

“Don't hurry back!” Papyrus urged, then paused. “I mean, only hurry back once you two have talked. Then that's ok! Hurriedly take your time, dad!”

Beside him, Sans gave a laugh. “don't worry, dadster. have as many tinder moments with uncle g as you need. we've got nothing but time.”

While his youngest son groaned, Gaster laughed again quietly as a gentle flush settled on his face. His grin widened, the pounding of his soul calming a touch with their words. His sons were the most wonderful things. The scientist didn't know what he'd do without them.

Now or never. Go to him.

A gentle sigh passed his lips as the skeleton reached up to press a hand over his chest. He felt the drumming of his soul underneath his fingertips, beneath his ribs, the strength of it he hadn't been able to feel for two years. The life uncloaked by shadow, still brimming with potential. Opportunities. Magic he once more fully possessed. Magic hands didn't take too much effort, they were one of his most natural magical abilities. They were his. But teleporting was manufactured, experimental, though mastered. It took leaps more energy than the hands did, and it was here Gaster wondered if he could execute it correctly. Despite the nap, he was still exhausted. Teleporting would only make it that much worse. As his eyes traced the hole in his other hand, his left, the scientist gently closed that fist.

It was worth it if it meant he could see his love and let him know he was ok.

Closing his eyes, Gaster breathed in slowly, deeply. His chin tilted up, calling on the magic that would whisk him away. He had teleported many, many times still while in the void but they had never taken a direct draw of his magic. Now it would, and that was alright. Gaster would just have to get used to it again. Add it to the list.

The nature of his teleporting changed. Where once a usual quick, light blue aura surrounded him, now it turned to dark gray. A glitchy crackle and pop sounded, before the shape of the scientist was gone. The pull of the teleport tugged him, scenery changing as the world soared by in a single second.

The next thing Gaster noticed was the dull lighting behind his eyelids, and suddenly being blasted by the comforting, homely feeling of warmth. The feeling jostled him in the most surprising yet happy way, but he couldn't quite focus on that for a moment. He felt disoriented, gasping softly at the shift and he squeezed his eyes closed tighter. Ohhh heavens…

Blinking them open after a moment, he raised a hand to rub the side of his skull to ease the small bout of dizziness. Giving it a gentle shake, his eyes slowly focused on the bar in front of him, getting his senses back. That feels almost like I’m relearning how… to…

There was a shatter.