I sat in between my two boys as they conversed easily. On the television Mettaton talked happily about an array of current events but my mind remained within itself, reviewing my life from my new perspective. I often found myself doing it. My entire world had changed so much in the past year. I'd been through so many things, met so many people, felt so many things...

A silent grin stretched across my face, summoning memories of my childhood, before the incident. My parents were always smiling and laughing. They treated me like a princess, and raised me like one too. I didn't have many friends, outside of Jace of course. Jace was my unofficial adoptive brother. Him being a ginger only made us closer. He'd always been a bit more adventurous than me, though we both tended to slip into trouble.

When we'd get into fights, it was usually me that started them, being the Smartass I was. My smart mouth got us into tight situations all too often. I'd always take and deliver the first of the blows, but Jace always stepped in. It'd be a miracle if he didn't come out of them with at least one new scar.

My mind dug further and further back, reclaiming memories from as far back as when I painted a fridge with peanut butter at the age of two. Suddenly, my mind clicked and an influx of memories were accessible to me. They weren't my memories though. My consiousness left my body and I plunged into my mind. My chest filled with a cold feeling of fear. In these foreign memories, I was alone.

Alone once again. I looked around and found myself once again amongst the bed of golden blooms that rested below the entrance of the underground. Pillars surrounded me and I furrowed my brow.

"Why am I back here?" I muttered.

A child's sobbing broke the air as if cued by my question. I turned my head and saw a child lying in the middle of the flowers. She laid face down, crying. Auburn hair fell from her head in waves and she wore a tattered sweater with shorts and worn tennis shoes. Recognition registered and I flinched away. Her name spilled over my lip in a hushed tone.

"Chara?"

Sobbing, the child seemed so fragile and defenseless. It was the same feeling one had when they held a newborn, wanting to protect them. Two reactions battled within me: helping the child or leaving her to suffer. After her actions, I felt she deserved it, but she was just a child.

I spoke, words coming out in a hiss of irritation. "Why are you crying? Shouldn't you be off ruining someone's head?"

She continued to cry, not even flinching at my words. "Come on Chara! We both know I hate it when you play the innocent act!"

Chara tried to get up, but her arm was hurt and she gave out a cry. Another sob racked her and the fight within me got more intense. "Speak to me dammit! Quit with the hurt shit! You've died a million times, you've handled worse!"

I started to approach her but froze as a voice echoed through the chamber. "Hello? Is someone there? I hear crying."

My eyes widened as I looked to the entrance. "No, don't come in here! She's dangerous! She-"

A head peered around the doorway of the room, and my breath fell short. The furry head of the goat child I'd only ever seen in photos now surveyed the room. He wore the same yellow and green sweater as in his photos, white fur matching his parents.

"Asriel?! But how- Does Toriel know?"

He saw Chara and gasped. "Oh my God! Are you okay?!" He cried, running to the child.

I ran to block his path but I was met with a horrible truth. As I started to speak, Asriel walked right through me, my body moving around his like a mist. I shuddered, turning around to look at the two.

"They can't see me..."

"I know, it's frustrating."

I whipped around and saw Chara, except she wasn't the one that sat crying on the ground. It was the sheepish one that had plagued me since I woke up.

"Chara, if this is some trick-"

Her red eyes turned to me and her temper flared. "YOU WOULDN'T LISTEN, SO I HAD TO BRING YOU HERE! YOU WOULDN'T LET ME EXPLAIN."

I stood down, looking at the child in confusion. "What?"

Chara pointed to the two other figures. I understood then, it was Chara's memories.

"I used to be a good child, if you didn't know. I really loved Asriel. The Dreemurrs became my family."

She waved a hand and the scene shifted, turning into Toriel's old home. The fireplace was blazing and Toriel sat in a cushy armchair. Below her sat Chara and Asriel, listening as she read about snails.

"Mom... Dad... they took me in, even though I was human. I really loved them. When I did all those terrible things, it wasn't me! It was this... darkness."

Again the scene shifted and I looked at the Past Chara. In her hand, she held a knife as she looked down at a young froggit. A creepy smile twisted her face. The froggit couldn't escape because they had been cornered. She began to raise the blade when Asriel's voice beckoned her back. Her smile shrank and her eyes dulled, looking down at the cowering figure. Tears teased at the edge of her eyes as she muttered an apology and dropped the knife, running to Asriel.

I glanced at the child as she spoke to me, understanding her more and more. I hadn't ever entertained the thought she might have been good once. Then again, aren't we all born innocent. Chara glanced at me and the scene changed again.

"Every time a monster made fun of me or Asriel, that darkness grew. I-I'd snap at them, threaten them, scare them..."

The scene changed, taking on a more tragic atmosphere. Past Chara laid in a bed, shivering severely and coughing blood. Toriel and Asriel both sat at the side of the bed, crying or cooing sweet nothings for Chara. Asgore was outside the door, aggressively discussing with a doctor.

"Eventually, that force too much for me. It started to consume me." Chara paused and chuckled, "they always thought it was some random human sickness. Eventually I died. My body couldn't handle it, but it still didn't corruptmy soul."

"You died because of the darkness, but your soul wasn't corrupted. Then how did you get corrupt?" I asked.

"The darkness didn't go away, it was still attached to me. It wasn't until Asriel.... he..."

Chara broke into tears as the scene shifted again. High in the sky, the sun warmed my skin. We stood in the middle of the village. People were gasping in horror and disbelief, shouting accusations as a goat person, clothed similarly to Toriel, walked through the village, cradling a child's body. Long pointed horns curled from his head and his eyes were reversed, black with a white iris. Black lines decorated his face and power seemed to roll off of him, but he seemed gentle.

"That's Asriel?!" I gasped.

Chara nodded. "H-He took my soul... after I died. He h-heard me muttering about the flowers up here in my sleep, and wanted to fulfill my last wish."

Battle cries shook the air around us and I watched in horror as Asriel was attacked. Arrows and spears punctured his flesh, blood turning to ash. I raised my hand to my mouth and covered my cry. He didn't raise a hand against the attacks. He died slowly, protecting the body from the weapons, though it had long since passed.

A tear fell over my eye, heart shattering. "He died, just to bring you to the flowers..."

"After he died, I lost it. All the love and compassion I felt for my family and my friends, turned into hate and anguish for the humans that killed him and the monsters that failed to stop him."

She stopped, trembling in her tears. "IT WAS MY FAULT!!!"

Her body flickered and in its place I saw a demon, the same that ravaged me so long ago. I fell to my knees next to her and pulled the trembling child into my arms. She fell silent, looking at me with surprise. I ignored the look and hugged her, holding her head against me.

"I'm so... so sorry Chara. I wish I'd known. I would have-"

"You couldn't have done anything other than what you did do. When you burned in the lava with my blade and Flowey... and me... it changed everything. Your actions gave my soul a second chance. Yes, I still feel the darkness but I can control it now."

I pushed back and looked at Chara, brushing her short hair behind her ear. The area around us shimmered, and it rippled into a field of golden flowers. I wore a white gown, matching Chara's. She looked around in bewilderment and I giggled. "Chara, you shouldn't have suffered. You were just a child." I cooed.

Removing my hand from her, I plucked a golden flower and tucked it behind her ear. "But I understand now. I'll help you."

She looked at me with tearful eyes, face screwing up as she started to cry again. "Thank you Cherry! Thank you so much!"

I snickered and stood. My hand waited in front of her as she looked at me with confusion. As I waited, I let a gentle breeze move the hair from my face as I looked into the distance.

"It's a beautiful day outside...
Birds are singing...
Flowers are blooming...
On days like these, kids like you..."

I moved my eyes to meet hers. Shakily, she took my hand and I pulled her to her feet. She watched me closely as I smiled.

"Should be learning to smile."

She spit out a laugh and smiled through wet eyes. Her arms encircled my neck and I shared a hug with her. With my mouth next to her ear, I whispered quietly.

"I'll help you pass on. I'll help you find your peace."