After dinner, You, Gaster, and Papyrus cleaned the plates and silverware while the Muskets got ready for bed. As you stood on the counter putting away dishes you decided to strike a conversation "Hey, Gaster, how was your day?" Gaster smiled crookedly and handed you another dried plate, "Why it was very good, I reunited with Alphys, as I had told you. We talked and she showed me some of her work" You nodded "Right, May I ask, how do you exactly know Alphys?" Gaster put on a thoughtful expression, then answered

"Before I fell into my own creation, Alphys was my assistant, she was assigned to me by Asgore, in fact, she helped with a lot of upgrades to my previously failed experiments. I remember this one time," Gaster chuckled as he passed another plate to you "She was so enraptured in one update that she didn't leave her station until it was finished, not even I could've moved her, I tried to order her to go home but she just right on working" He shook his head at the memory

You smiled, Alphys had struck you as someone who would be passionate about everything she loved. From the quick little conversations, you were able to have with her, it was obvious that she cared about all of the people she surrounded herself with.

As soon as the last of the dishes were washed, Papyrus turned to both you and Gaster "NYEH HEH HEH!! FINALLY, THE CUTLERY IS ALL WASHED! AND EXPERTLY SO BY NONE OTHER THEN THE GREAT PAPYRUS!!!" You smiled and said "Amazing job Pap! Now we don't have to worry about getting sick" Papyrus placed a gloved hand on the right side of his white armor and his cape/scarf waved in the non-existent breeze. Which, of course, confused you, but you shrugged it off "NYEH HEH HEH HEH! YES, WE WOULDN'T WANT THAT!" Gaster handed you the last plate while looking fondly at his son and you put it away.

Afterward, you started to jump off when two hands lifted you up then place you on the ground gently, looking up you saw that Gaster had helped you and puffed out your cheeks, slightly annoyed "You know, Gaster, I may be short but I can get down myself." Gaster only just chuckled and patted your head. Just then there was a knock on the door right as he was about to say something. Acting quickly you rushed out of the kitchen with an "I've got it!" and went to the front door.

Just as you were about to open it you heard another knock, this one slightly more insistent. Amused, you opened it to reveal Frisk and Toriel, both looking slightly winded and urgent. You looked at Toriel "Hello Tori, Why are you and Frisk out at this time?" Before Toriel could answer Frisk tugged on your sleeve, trying to gain your attention. Gaster joined you by the door, interested in what was happening

When Frisk had drawn your eyes to her, her hands started flying 'Sis, it's Chara. She started acting strange right around dinner than just locked herself in our room, she said she needed your help, she also started saying something about shadows but then her voice got all garbled and weird. Then she screamed!' As Frisk was signing all of this Toriel started wringing her paws and looking side to side

When she finished you stood there mulling over what Frisk had just said. You glanced at Gaster, who was still trying to figure out what was going on.

That was all you needed.

You dashed out of the door, through Frisk and Tori, skipping the two concrete steps that led to the porch area and flat out ran down the sidewalk. You heard your name being called behind you but you couldn't care less. Chara needed you, The Shadows was trying to drag her down once again but you couldn't, Wouldn't let that happen. She deserved to be happy, not stuck to the unending Hate that fueled that blob of black goo

As it was nighttime, and being winter, the air was very chilly as you ran through the dark street. The cold wind rushed past you, trying to take away the warmth you had from the house.

But when you exited Snowdin Drive, however, your crystal started to glow, and you started to feel the negative energy of The Shadows and rushed passed the sign that said Ruins' Road to the left entering the street. You pushed your legs faster as the gloomy feeling started to get stronger.

Your breaths came in and out in gasps but you kept going. You needed to get to Chara.

House after house sped passed your vision, but you only had eyes on one, it was lit up with half-finished decorations, the front door was wide open, inside light spilled out and as it neared you could feel the negativity sourcing from it. When your socked feet hit the browning grass you didn't heed the small poking sensation and rushed into the home, only then did you stop, catch your breath, and look around

Having never been inside of the Dreemurr's residence, you took in the light tan walls, flowering plants in almost every corner, some being light glowing blue the others golden. And the heavy atmosphere, as if without your crystal and magick, you would've been overwhelmed with the negativity.

That's when you heard the most painful scream you had ever heard.

It came from the right and you took in a breath "Chara," You whispered and took off once again, heading to the right down a hallway and stopped at the first door you came to. Sensing the bad energy, you squared your shoulders and focused on the magick whirling in your crystal and let flow to your (D/h) then, with the other you knocked

"Chara?" You started, your voice resonating through the entire empty house like it was slicing through the darkness like a hot knife through butter. "I'm here to help, The Shadows won't harm you any longer" Your magick wound around you like a protective snake as you tried the door, however, once you did, the door was yanked open and a short figure tackled you. Knocking the wind out of your lungs.

Their face went inches from yours and you instantly recognized the Ruby Red eyes, the pink blush, and the creepy smile...

It was Chara. But she was controlled by The Shadows

She had one arm placed across your neck effectively chocking you, the other one raised, its hand holding a deadly looking knife. Your magick wound around the arm blocking your air pipe and thrust her off, the possessed Chara growled having been thrown up against the wall and held there, you regained your posture and kneeled, looking up at the Shadowed Chara struck a chord within you, she was writhing against her restraints

But yet she was trying to stop herself, it made you think back to when you first met her and you closed your eyes, feeling like a failure. She had gone through so much, and you failed to protect her Hope. Letting your magick manifest, you stood and gazed into the red eyes and placed your hand on her cheek

She stilled. Her eyes filling up with tears, Normal, and Black, your magick swirled around the both of you and, letting your own tears fall, you cleared up the mess that was The Shadows

(F/c) tendrils spiraled around them and the room Chara had come from, an angry yowl/scream emanated from inside and you grunted as a wave of different negative emotions struck you.

Soon enough it passed and the air around you cleared and felt normal, you released Chara gently and crashed down to your hands and knees, the last thing you did and saw was Chara kneeling in front of you holding a feather, from your wings, however it was encased with accents of silver, putting the magick away and covering your add-ons, and Chara crying out your name

Before a strangely familiar blackout took over from sending the darned Goo back that had hurt you and Chara more times than you cared to count.

"Chara! You're alright!"

"M-Mom, (Y-Y/n), sh-she's not breathing"

"What?!"

"Kid, move out of the way"

"Oh, Sans is she...?"

"..."

"Sans?"

"...I don't know Tori...."

"MHN!!!"

"What is it, my child?"

"Chara, what is that in your hand?"

"I-I don't kn-know, it just appeared..."

"..."

'C'mon (Y/n), please don't leave me'

'Sis, you said you would come back no matter what, please make good on that promise'

[Oh (Y/n), Why do you get into these situations? Stop throwing yourself in the way of danger]

Chara's POV

It began as a normal evening, my family and I were having fun preparing dinner. I was happy.

And I was free.

Since I had escaped the Void with (Y/n) and Gaster, things felt as normal as they could be, with the exception of Frisk.

But then things started to feel off, first, it was small, like the faint pulsing in the back of your head after you had been exercising for a long time, and were breathing hard.

Then it just grew, and before I knew it, I could feel IT taking over. Doubts crept into my mind, things I knew weren't true, so I ran. I ran for the safety of my family, I slammed the door to my bedroom that I shared with frisk and locked it, to make sure I couldn't hurt anybody.

Not surprisingly, Mom came and asked what was wrong, by this time the frightening black glop was manifesting around me, scared, I yelled out that I needed (Y/n), to tell her that The Shadows was here, Mom asked what was happening, but I just kept yelling that I needed my adopted older sister, when the inky stuff shot into my mouth, blocking my vocal cords from making any sound

It was not pleasant, it felt like fire, and I screamed in agony. It was all garbled and it only allowed The Shadows to fully take over, I fought it, I fought it with everything I had the thought kept repeating into my mind

'Just a little longer, just a little longer, that will be enough time for (Y/n) to get here'

The Shadows questioned it. A sickeningly sweet voice rang 'Will she? Will your savior come?'

'Yes,' I had answered still struggling

'Are you Sure?'

I stopped, doubting, will she?

I will always come, Chara, if there's one thing I what you to remember, it's this; 'no matter how long, no matter what, I will come back, always' can you remember that?

'Yes, I can,'

'Sorry?'

'Yes, She Will'

I had writhed against my restraints, even though it didn't help me, I could feel a handle vaporize into my hands a curved blade with serrated edges. I tried to throw it, but my arm wouldn't respond

Then, I felt something, something Good,

It wasn't more than an aura but it was familiar, it felt like reassurance, empathy, care, and Love.

Not the kind that made up the oily substance, but the kind that (Y/n) would always show.

And it was her, she was coming and she was coming fast.

The Shadows knew it too and made my body face the door, slowly unlocking it

I felt like I couldn't move anymore, with the relief of knowing (Y/n) was coming, I allowed my resistance to lax. I swiftly resumed FIGHTing but couldn't do any more than before, as (Y/n)'s aura grew stronger, I felt my soul grow at the same rate. And The Shadows' control on me started to weaken

But when I could feel (Y/n)'s aura enter the house, The Shadows' took Complete control

You know what happened next

Now, (Y/n)'s possibly dead because I couldn't stop myself...

She doesn't deserve this...

To care so much and get hurt by protecting us...

This just isn't fair.

Sans' POV

We were all in the Dreemurr's home as both Papyrus and Toriel were working on (Y/n), after she had bolted out of the house, Toriel explained that Chara had not been feeling so good and had locked herself in her room. Dad had nodded apparently understanding and urged us to follow her in case "She gets hurt"

I went almost immediately, but I wasn't fast enough. She was already hurt by the time we got there, Chara was kneeling over her crying out her name and clutching some kind of feather

As far as physical wounds went, she didn't appear to harbor any of them, but it seemed more of a mental state of exhaustion, however, she wasn't looking too good...

I sighed and turned away from her form, and I went to Chara, who was in the far corner of the room hugging her knees and her face shielded by them. I sat next to her letting out an 'oof' and leaned against the tan wall. She glanced at me and I could hear a sniffle, don't ask why I just can, I placed a hand on her head and started to rub back and forth.

I purposely ignored the fact that I was sitting and trying to comfort the same child who I would've not hesitated try and gain my judgment precisely three timelines ago.

"I-I'm s-so sorry" I heard her mumble, breathing out a sigh I replied "It wasn't your fault," Chara suddenly looked up, knocking my hand away "Yes. I-It is. If I hadn't let The Shadows in this wouldn't have-" I cut in "The Shadows? What do you mean?" Chara took a very deep breath, closing her eyes, then, gazing at (Y/n), she turned to me and said: "The Shadows is responsible for all those Timelines Sans, I-I'm sure you understand which ones I'm talking about" I nod, still confused "It is the Hate Frisk acquired and dumped on me that made me do all the terrible things I-" She dropped her head "That I regret with all my soul"

For a minute I was stunned, she really wasn't the one in control, the one who killed everyone in the entire Underground, she was merely a player, like everyone else.

I closed my eyes and blindly pulled Chara to me, at first she resisted but then she accepted my embrace shuddering at her unshed tears "It was never your fault Chara, it never was" I said, now trying my utmost to soothe her, it was something I never had even thought of doing my entire life, being as lazy as I am, but if (Y/n) managed to clear her of her pain, I didn't want to make it worse.

She broke down and I rocked her back and forth, then the thought came to me a few minutes later as I was glancing at Toriel and Paps, who both had sweat beading down their faces "Chara," I began, she looked up at me her eyes still streaming tears, and a thin line of snot running down her nose "What was that feather you were holding?"

That's when we heard her voice say hoarsely "What Just Happened??"

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