Four days.  That's how many days I had been staying with Sans and the others, planning how to defeat Flowey without getting ourselves killed.  That's how many days Chara had been in my head, trying to get me into Sans's lab.

After Undyne and Alphys had arrived, Sans had been able to convince them of who I was and why I was there.  Undyne had found it hardest to believe, needing all three of the others combined to convince her.  Currently she was visiting the royal lab with Alphys while Papyrus guarded the border to Snowdin.  That left Chara, Sans, and I sitting outside of his house as the street fell silent for the night.

You should ask him now, Chara told me.

It's too soon, I replied.  Give it time.

I've given it time! Chara snapped.  Are you going to get me my body back or no?  Remember your promise, Frisk.

"You've been really quiet lately, kid," Sans commented.  "A lot on your mind?"

"You have no idea," I sighed as Chara grew quiet, content to grumble to herself.  As Sans glanced at me, it seemed as if he knew what I really meant.

"I think I may have figured out how to give you back your color," Sans told me.

"You do?"

"Sure.  I was working on it for Goner Kid, but I'm coming across a few problems because she can't remember who she is at all.  For the machine to work, either she needs some memories or someone else needs memories of her.  Which means it should work just fine for you."

I could sense Chara's excitement about that.  Before I could react she had gathered herself together, taking control of my mouth and speaking through it.

"Where is it?" she asked.  Sans's smile faded as he watched me thoughtfully.

"My lab," he finally answered.  "Most people don't know about it, and even fewer have ever gone in.  But that's where I keep the machine."

I managed to wrestle back control from Chara, who happily faded into the background.

You'll thank me later, Chara told me.

Don't think this is over yet, I growled.  We'll talk about this later.

"I didn't know you had a lab," I said.  Sans's smile returned.

"What good timeline watcher doesn't have a lab?" he asked.  "I get a ton of work done in there.  A skele-ton."

I hate his stupid puns, Chara complained.

"Come on, we'll take my shortcut," Sans offered, leading the way behind the house.  For a moment everything faded to darkness.  Then the light came back, illuminating the inside of a lab.  Machines and display screens crowded the room.  Several of the displays seemed to be security feeds.  Each of the locations was different, but they all shared something in common.  I was dead in the center of the screen.

"It was the last footage I was able to get before the timelines fused," Sans explained, pressing a button.  As one, the screens went dark.  "The machine is right over here.  Just give me a second to get it ready."

Sans moved to the side of the room, powering on a large machine made of gleaming metal.

Look around, Chara ordered.  The machine will be around here somewhere.

How did you take control of my body? I countered.  Have you always been able to do that?

You're useless, Chara growled.  She exerted her will, taking over once again despite my efforts to stop her.

"What does the machine do?" Chara asked Sans.  He didn't glance up as he spoke.

"It takes the memories you have and returns you to a prior state using my magic," he explained.  "The only thing I don't think it'll fix is a lost SOUL.  There, that should do it.  Just come over here and stand on this."

Chara forced us onto the circular platform Sans had pointed to.  Sans hesitated, one hand on the switch.

"Frisk, after it works, you might want to stand back," he told us.  Then he activated the machine.

Ghostly blue light flowed from the machine and surrounded me.  I could feel Chara's giddy excitement as she released her hold on me.  Moments later she was gone.

When the blue light faded, my skin and clothes had returned to their natural color.  But I wasn't alone on the platform.

Another girl was standing beside me.  She could have been my twin, except she was wearing a green sweater with a single yellow stripe.

"Get back, Frisk!" Sans ordered, one of his eyes glowing blue.  I backed away as Chara stepped forward.

"Did you really think I'd be gone forever?" Chara asked, grinning.  The smile never reached her eyes.

"I knew you'd come back.  I'd watched the timelines enough to see that.  The question was who you would possess," Sans responded.

"I bet it just hurt when you saw I picked Frisk."

"If you even think about hurting Frisk, you're gonna have a bad time."

The door to the lab flew open and four people rushed in.  The first was Undyne, dressed in full battle armor.  Right behind her were Alphys and Mettaton.  The final person to enter the room was Papyrus, smiling widely despite the impending battle.

"Changed your mind about fighting?" Sans asked Chara.  Her grin only widened.

"Sans, you're not fighting me.  You're fighting us."

Chara held out a hand and I felt a stab of pain in my chest.  A red heart, my SOUL, left me and flew to Chara's waiting hand.  I felt empty inside without it.

"Stop Chara, but don't hurt Frisk's SOUL!" Sans warned as Mettaton, Undyne, and Papyrus charged forward.  Chara held my SOUL protectively in front of her, ready to ward off any attacks.  Alphys appeared at my side, pulling me away from danger.

Chara blasted Mettaton and Undyne aside.  Alphys squeaked and ran to Undyne's side as Papyrus and Sans charged forward together, throwing bones as they went.  As Chara held up my SOUL, the bones vaporized or swerved to the side.

"Let's go, Frisk," Chara said, striding forward and grabbing my arm.  "We've got a lot of catching up to do.  And I'm pretty determined that we get some time to ourselves."

Everything faded into darkness as Chara pulled me into a shortcut.