Chapter Two
So Sorry

Warning: Spoilers for the pacifist ending (probably).

Standing in front of the two brothers, you watched silently as they hugged it out. Well, more like Asriel squishing the manifested spirit in a killer hug. But since he wasn't alive, it only squished him. Although, you were silently hoping that it would. "Alright you two, are you ready?" They both looked at you quizzically, making you sigh in frustration. "Are you guys ready to get a soul?" Chara laughed, "Ha! Just how are you going to get a soul, especially a monster one?" "Won't need to. With my determination, I could make you both a soul. And if I can't, then I could split my soul into three parts. Does that sound good?" Asriel smiled, nodding enthusiastically. Chara, on the other hand, didn't seem pleaded by this, not one bit.

It took him a moment to think before he finally gave in, well, after Asriel started to plead and beg, which began to annoy him greatly. "Fine. But only because I want to see you fail." "Chara!" "What?" A small smile formed on your lips as you held back a giggle that threatened to bubble from your throat. "Alright, who wants to go first?" You swore you saw stars in Asriel's eyes as he shot his hand in the air, "Ooh! I do!" Now you let the giggle escape. Damn he was adorable like this.

"Ok Asriel, hold out your hands." You instructed, the goat prince doing as told as he held out his arms, the palms of his furry hands facing up. Taking his hands in your own, you relaxed, (E/C) eyes closing as you focused on what you wanted to happen. A shimmer of (F/C) sparked in front of your chest before your soul was visible. 'God please let this work, it's gotta work. I know that I can do it, please give me strength in this.' You were never really a religious person, and you never really prayed. But you needed all the strength you could get to help these two.

Chara stood idle, awestruck at the scene before him, strings of (F/C) were radiating off of your soul, floating in front of Asriel's chest and taking shape. A heart, golden in color, a perfect example of Asriel. The boy was almost as innocent as his mother, so a heart of gold was a good representation for him. The goat opened his eyes, tears forming in them at the sight of the soul, a wide smile on his face as it lowered into his chest. You had opened your eyes as well, smiling as the soul floated into Asriel, good, now all you had to save now, was Chara. But you were tired, and they both noticed this.

Chara turned away, "You don't have to save me you know. Just take Asriel and go. I'll be fine here." Now this simply won't do. You and Asriel both looked at him before looking back at each other. The both of you were determined to save him. Reaching out, the two of you took one of Chara's hands, surprising the boy as he shot his head back up. There were tears, and he seemed to be trying to keep then at bay. Giving him a sympathetic smile, you spoke in a soft voice, "Chara, you deserve a second chance at life too. So please..."

"Stay Determined."

That statement was enough to have the boy quivering, that was the same line he used to keep you strong. To keep going, stay alive, to fulfill the plan him and Asriel had made. Was he... regretting what he had done? Looking up at you and Asriel, only to lock eyes with you, that happiness, that hope, that determination, to save him. Him. Just what was wrong with you?! He couldn't understand why you were being so nice to him, why you were doing this. To save him. A lost hope. An insane boy like him.

But he felt... determined. Like something deep down was telling him that he needed to live. What it was, he had no idea. It felt, energizing, hopeful. Strange. That would be one way to put it, it was just abnormal for the spirit to feel this determination in a pacifist route. Chara simply stared into those bright, determined (E/C) orbs that remained on his blood red ones. He felt stronger, and heavier, unlike how weightless he felt before. A soul was forming between the two humans, a dark red, darker than his original soul, but still had that red hue to it.

You could feel the difference in Chara to say the least. He was starting to become more human, physically. The male's skin had gained a bit more color, though still quite pale, and his once faint rosey cheeks were slightly darker. Now you could feel the phalanges in his fingers, how they differed from your own. He felt more human now, when he was in his physical form, he felt like a bed sheet, fabricy, like a doll. So this was a great improvement, a great improvement indeed. Looking down, finally breaking the drowning eye contact with him, you smiled seeing the burgundy colored soul.

With careful movements, you let go of Chara's hands, now holding the soul as if it were glass, which it practically was. Asriel was waiting in growing anticipation to watch his brother finally have a soul again. But Chara only stood like a board in the ground, upright and rigid, staring at the soul in your hands with dull red eyes. He shouldn't have been so surprised by the fact that his soul was darker on color, but it still sent a weird feeling through him. Sadness, anger, fear? It was a mix of the three.

He was angry, angry because his plan had not worked as he hoped, at Asriel for not getting it right the first time, at you for being so fucking determined. Sadness for killing the only people that truly cared about him, for being the reason his parents were now separated, for putting so much heartache and despair on your shoulders. Chara was afraid, fearful to what would happen once they got to the barrier, he knew what would be waiting for them. Their parents, Sans, he would be waiting, and once he saw who was with you, there was no telling what would happen.

A shudder went down his spine as he felt you place the soul against his chest, noticing that he wasn't responding to anything you did. A more alive glint was in his eyes now, the red orbs having been slightly clouded over and hollow while he was still dead. He was alive, now feeling something in his chest beginning to beat slowly before picking up the pace. Chara's heart, it was beating again. It felt so alien to the male now, the feeling of being alive, breathing, and he fell. Not quite used to the weight in his legs.

Both you and Asriel were at his side in an instant to help Chara to his feet. And one thing you noticed was the tears in his eyes. Those radiant, blood red hues that had captivated yours only moments ago. You wanted to comfort him, so did Asriel, and the two of you wrapped your arms around his frail frame. He could hold back his tears better than Asriel, you knew this already, but that didn't mean that he still didn't cry. It's a natural part of being human. To cry when experiencing a great deal of happiness or sadness. You had a feeling though, that the poor boy was going through both. And he was.

Chara was in a turmoil of emotions, but what he had felt more, over all them, was sadness. He was engulfed in it, like he was tossed in to a river chained to an anvil, unable to find his way back to the surface for air. But he could feel the comfort radiating off of both his brother, and you. You... There was something about you he couldn't quite place, different? No... Strange? A bit... Whatever it was, he found a sort of, attraction for it? Now that he had a soul, he felt fuzzy around you, something about you was making him feel like this. And he wanted to punch you in the face for it. Though he also felt the urge to protect you.

He didn't like this. Not one bit. This feeling, it felt like it was going to kill him. He wanted to scream at the top of his lungs at you because of you making him feel like this. It wasn't until he heard his brother that he snapped out of his thoughts. "Chara, are you nervous?" The brunette looked over at the goat boy, "Nervous? About what?" You looked back at the two, since Chara had zoned out, you had all passed through the Ruins, Snowdin, and Waterfall, now entering Hotland. Deciding to not listen in, you began to look around where you were going.

"You know... With mom and dad... What are they going to think when they see us again... After they saw us die..?" Asriel's smile had faded into a small frown, now looking at the ground. Tears had formed in the goat's eyes on instinct, making Chara smile a bit, nudging his brother awkwardly, "Hey, come on. Don't worry about it. You didn't do anything wrong. I'm the one who should be worrying about this." Chuckling nervously, Chara looked down at the ground as well, his crimson red eyes fixated on the stone ground below him, watching as it changed to metal.

You looked back at them once again, the two princes were both looking at the ground, looking depressed. This made you puff out your cheeks, "Guys, they're your parents. They will be happy to see their children alive and well. I know they will." The two looked up at you, Asriel giving you a small smile, but Chara gave you a worried look, crimson meeting (E/C) for only a second before he looked down once again. A light red color grazed his cheeks, and you were about to question it until you were engulfed in the familiar light of Judgement Hall.

This hall where you had died so many times, where Chara had killed your friend. Where you had lost Sans' trust. It was actually a beautiful scene, when it's not covered in blood that is. Golden walls reflecting what seemed to be sunlight, but it wasn't, and you never chose to question this. Even if it did confuse you to an extent. "So, kid, this is what you were doing." You tensed up, watching as a smaller figure came out from behind a tall pillar a few feet ahead of you three.

"Sans-" You were interrupted by him chuckling, "We... were starting to get worried you know. Thought that you had run into trouble..." the small white pupils in Sans' eyes vanished. "Guess we were right." Before you could do or say anything, the familiar ring of a soul changing colors resounded though the hall. Chara. His burgundy colored soul was now blue, and the boy struggled to stay standing. "Sans! Stop!" You exclaimed, reaching out for Chara, but you were stopped by a wall of bones. "Sorry kid. But I'm not taking any chances."

Tears formed in your eyes as you watched Sans lift his hand in the air, in responce lifting Chara as well. There was no sign of movement from the boy as Sans prepared his first attack, left eye glowing a bright blue with a mix of yellow. Gaster blasters, bones, everything was coming down on the crimson eyed male, but Chara made no effort to move as they came at him, the boy simply staring down at the floor. But something in Chara was telling him to move, as if everything had slowed down, he looked over at you and Asriel.

Your tearful eyes, and Asriel's shocked and fearful expression was enough to get him moving, dodging each attack in swift movements. He wasn't going down, not at the likes of Sans. Determination flowed through him as he made no effort to attack, he wanted to, to attack and kill that smiley trash bag, but something was holding him back from doing it. Glancing at his new soul, it floated just in front of his chest, but a sudden jolt from it was enough to make his focus turn back to Sans. The skeleton's smile was gone, a frown now replacing it, another attack was thrown at him, and he dodged it once again with ease.

Chara chose to act, reason with him, "Sans, I know that it's beyond late for apologies. But I'm sorry..." Sans defence lowered, attacks rising. Another attack, dodged. "I'm weak, I don't have a weapon... But I don't want to fight... I doubt you care though..." Chara then remained still, right as a single Gaster blaster began to charge. You and Asriel both shut your eyes, knowing that the light from the blasters were far too bright. But the attack never came. Looking up, your eyes widened when you saw that the Gaster Blaster's attack was discharging, Chara slowly being lowered.

"Y'know kid. I'll let you go this time. But I'm not doing this because I take pity on you. I'm doing this because (Y/N) seems to really care about you." Chara looked at the skeleton confused while your face flushed a light pink. Once the boy was on the ground, the wall of bones faded, making you run up to Chara and begin to inspect for injuries. Checking him all over, Chara blushed when you lifted his shirt a bit to check his stomach, shoving your hands away and pulling his shirt back down. "Idiot. I'm fine!" He exclaimed, his rosey cheeks darker with the blush.

You nodded, thankful that he was fine, "Good. I don't have anymore food items to heal you with." You stated, wrapping your arms around him in a quick hug before taking his hand as well as Asriel's. Sans tilted his head at you three before sighing, "Come on. The others are worried." he muttered, clearly not happy as he began to walk up ahead. None of you said anything, silently following behind. Looking down, your gaze shifted to your hands, both were locked with the two boys, the boys you has saved. A small smile tugged at your lips as you tightened your grip on their hands slightly. This got the attention of Chara though, the crimson eyed boy looking at you confused, until he saw that smile on your face.

Why were you happy? That question began to swirl around his mind as he turned his gaze away from you. You were... unique. To say the least. But that uniqueness really seemed to catch his interest. Though, thoughts aside, he felt himself get heavier once they went through the door to the pathway the barrier would be. He had only ever been here when, well, him and Asriel had merged their souls. Regret filled him as he stopped, making you and Asriel turn to look at him confused. But one look at his face said it all.

You frowned a bit, letting go of Asriel's hand and used it to brush away a few strands of hair in his face. "Chara... it's ok, we'll be right there with you..." you whispered soothingly, placing a gentle kiss on his forehead. "You don't have to worry... I'll be right there for you..." Chara looked at you, a dark red hue ignited on his cheeks as he tried to process what you had said. Finally he sighed, "Alright. I'm coming..." You smiled, now beginning to walk with them once more, Sans was nowhere in sight, meaning he had moved ahead while you three were distracted.

Your steps were slow, so were theirs, and time seemed to slow down as you revealed yourself from the shadows. Everyone smiled at you, excluding Sans, who was glaring at the floor. "Hey everyone, I hope... you don't mind that... I brought two of my friends..." you said, making everyone, minus Sans, confused about your hesitance and uncertainty. You tugged at their hands, signaling that they could step closer, and they did. Gasps from Asgore and Toriel were enough to keep you staring at the ground.

The quick and heavy steps from both goats were enough to make both boys finally look up at their parents. All of you were pulled into an embrace, you smushed up against Chara by the two elder goats. "My children... You are back...." Toriel sobbed, nuzzling her snout into Asriel's shoulder while the goat child hugged her the best he could. "...But... How...?" Their gaze turned to you and you shrunk back, not really liking being the center of attention. "It's... a long story..." Chara spoke up for you, making you turn your gaze over to him with a sort of surprised look on your face.

Chara simply stared back, his bright red eyes seemingly dull and half lidded. Maybe there was something wrong? You would have to ask him about it later. But at the moment, you really just wanted to go home, knowing that your family would be worried sick, especially your brother and Ally. Ally probably blamed it all on herself, though it technically was your fault for being a chocolate whore. Hey, chocolate is good! You honestly blamed Milton Hershey. His chocolate was the best. Oh jeez, off topic.

You hadn't even realized that everyone, including yourself, had exited the Underground through the broken barrier until you were almost blinded by the golden rays of the morning sun. Everyone stood at the edge of the cliff, and you simply stared out at the view before you. It was beautiful, below was the forest, mainly consisting of pines, or the occasional oak or fir. Then there was Mt. Ebott as well as the small city and ocean in the distance. From at this view, it certainly looked beautiful, and you couldn't stop the smile forming on your face. You were finally home.

Looking over at all the friends you've made, you were happy to see that they were happy as well, but that smile on your face faltered when you noticed Chara wasn't smiling. "Chara...?" He looked over at you, Tilting his head ever so slightly to signify that he was listening. "Are... You alright...?" His frown seemed to deepen as he looked down at the edge of the cliff, "....No...." was his answer, and your frown deepened as well. A tiny sigh escaped your lips, and with a swift movement, you had engulfed him in a hug, taking him by surprise.

"...(Y/N)...?"

"Yes...?"

.
..
...

"Thank you..."