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Toriel had finished reluctantly walking off to rejoin the others, leaving Frisk alone on the hill, overlooking the sunset.
Alone, of course, aside from their new friend Chara.
The two of them, one within the depths of Frisk's soul, stared at that sunset. They took it all in. The warmth of the light. The freshness of the air. The feeling of great accomplishment.
For the others, it had been a mere few days. For these two, it had been much longer. Almost like a lifetime. The two did not completely remember what had happened in the other timelines; memories were fuzzy, it almost felt like a dream... or maybe a nightmare.
They knew, they could both feel it, how many times they'd tried. Each time, with limited knowledge, figuring it out a bit more. Not, however, before they both drifted to a dark path. A faint recollection, of sitting in that void, somewhere just outside the barrier. Hearing phone calls from the friends Frisk made, unable to do anything for them, yet not being willing to simply move on. Not yet loading or resetting, just wallowing in failure. At this point, the two had felt like complete wretches. Chara, as if all the negative thoughts they'd ever had about themself were absolutely true, that the humans in their life that tormented them were right to do so, right about them. It made them think back on how they'd been to their brother, and curse themself. Frisk, as if all the nasty things anyone had ever said to them had to be true, as if they deserved the hard life they'd led. From this self-pity, self-loathing, and doubt, something was able to creep in.
Desperate for an answer, for a solution, it exerted it's control. In the mind of Chara, a dark idea arose; If the monsters cannot be free of the underground, maybe they could be free from life. Indeed, it was sadly Chara's go-to solution for the harshness of life. Frisk, against their better judgement, found themself nodding their head. It had taken the two. When they reset, suddenly, a new course of action was taken.
But Frisk didn't give in. Right near the end, they simply couldn't take it anymore. They broke away from the control of whatever it had been that compelled them to do this. It wasn't at all what they wanted, it wasn't at all how they were. Chara had felt betrayed, once again someone stopped their plan right at the crucial moment... but now, of course, they were so happy Frisk didn't go through with it. They were truly foolish, they understood now, after so many more attempts. Frisk never gave up, after that.
Chara wanted to much so tell their little brother that he was right, that it really wasn't his fault, that they were so, so sorry for everything they'd done, for making him think the world really was "Kill or be killed." This was all their fault... however...
"We finally did it." Chara told Frisk, from inside their mind.
It had taken so long. What the two remembered clearer was trying, so many times, to figure this out. Big RESETs caused this memory loss, but smaller LOADs did not. Frisk loaded saves many times; When Frisk had accidentally killed Toriel and Undyne, unsure of how to proceed at first. When neither of them could figure out how to get the ratings up and ended up killing Mettaton. When they were... yet again stranded in that black void. Flowey had said Frisk had "already fought him", which made them realize these things had happened before.
The two tried, and tried, and kept trying. When Frisk had made a mistake, they refused to let things stay as they were. At first, Chara didn't quite like this; actions must have consequences. The people who hurt them often did so because they thought there were none, not for a "demon child" like them. However, Frisk was so earnestly resolved to fix things. It didn't seem as if they did it to avoid the responsibility, but simply because they refused to accept the outcome. Specifically, refused to stay in a world where these people were dead. Refused to stay in a world where the barrier still trapped the monsters underground.
Frisk refused to accept this. It would not be how things were. Frisk was filled with determination.
And it paid off.
The heroes stood there, now, finally, after all this time. The barrier was broken. Chara's 100 year wish to save their monsters, their real people, had finally been answered.
"Heh, yeah, I guess we did, huh?" Frisk chuckled in response to the aforementioned sigh of relief.
They frowned a bit and said "I'm sorry... that we couldn't save your brother."
Chara rebuked them "Don't be! There is nothing we could really do about that. It pains me... but we've done all that we can. Or, rather, you've done all that you can. Hahaha, I didn't really do much."
Frisk still frowned "I know... it's just, that story I heard. Even the truth behind it. It was such a big motivator. I still feel so bad for the both of you, I wish it never happened."
Chara metaphysically poked them a bit "Yes, I know. I remember how hard you cried after those monsters had told you the tale. I wish it never happened as well, of course. However, it did, and we cannot go back far enough to change it."
"Hey" Frisk said "I wanna correct you! You said you didn't do much, but that's not true at all! You helped a lot" and they started smiling "You helped me with all that info on the monsters, told me so many things, gave me suggestions and helped me figure out what we needed to do. Better than all that, you supported me! You encouraged me, you believed in me, and well... you were just there for me as a friend! I loved talking to you, learning about you, having fun with you. It helped a lot, I wouldn't have been able to do this all by myself... you saw it, right? My friends... they're where my determination comes from."
If Chara could look surprised, they would have "F-frisk... th-thank you." and if their expression could have turned soft, it would have "I do not think too highly of myself, but I suppose there are some things even I can do. I am glad to be your friend as well, though you deserve a much better one than me. You're making this strange existence of mine much more tolerable. And you did it! You saved the monsters when I could not! I am..."
"I'm so truly grateful. Thank you, Frisk. You've saved my people, and maybe you've saved me as well. I'm at the most hopeful I've been in all my... well not my life, but my existence at least."
Frisk pouted a bit "Hey, first off, don't say that! I just said I like having you as a friend, I don't need a 'better' one." and then broke into a big grin "You did well, Chara. I'm glad I helped you set some things right. I hope I helped you out, and I hope you can be a little bit happy living with me. I'm at the most hopeful I've ever been too. Oh, and, you're welcome!"
Chara laughed, not one of their nervous laughs, one of their self-loathing laughs, or one of their laughs to hide their true feelings. A real one, a happy one. "You really are something, you know? I've never known a human like you... I'm so impressed. You're like some kind of hero. I had always wished a hero would come along to save me... and later, to save the monsters as well. It seems you came a bit late, but I blame the fates for that."
Frisk rubbed the back of their head "Heehee, well, better late than never, right?"
"Yes, indeed! As I said, I am truly grateful... and, Frisk?"
Chara's tone became serious, so Frisk tensed up and became just as serious "Yeah, Chara?"
"Since we're both being so hopeful, and believing in tomorrow and all that... let's, not give up on Az either, okay?"
Frisk's heart felt like it skipped a beat, and their breath hanged for a second.
They nodded "Yeah, okay. For now, this is all we can do... but maybe some day... Even though... even though he's gonna turn back into Flowey..."
Frisk was, once more, filled with determination.
Their fist tightened "... I won't just leave him. I have to believe that things can work out with him. I have to try and make things work out with him."
A look of such great strength was etched onto their face. They had opened their eyes all the way to show their pure golden irises.
Chara spoke up "I will not fool myself into thinking he can ever really be my brother again. He cannot ever really go back to being the Asriel who I loved... but maybe he can still be happy and compassionate. Maybe things can get better for him. Things have somehow gotten better for me, after all, you even made me a better person. If anyone can do it, I'm sure you can, Frisk. I want to do what I can for him, since I am the reason he is like this... and, because of everything else I've done."
A few tears dropped from Frisk's eyes "Yeah... and hey, as weird as it sounds, I think you made me a better person, too. So, of course I'll help you with this. Together, we can make up for what you did. I know it."
Chara couldn't exactly cry as they were. They were some 'spirit' without their soul. Perhaps it was just sharing a soul with Frisk, but they felt a strong emotion, hearing them say that.
"I have said this so much already, but I truly mean it: Thank you, Frisk. Thank you so much. Let us continue on from here. I apologize, but it seems you will have to put up with me some more!"
Frisk giggled and said "There's nothing to 'put up with', silly! I told you, I like being your friend. But yeah, let's go! For now, we'll have to leave him there. But, we'll be back." they gave another grin and narrowed their eyebrows "We'll be back for 'im. My journey might be over, but my wannabe heroism is far from finished. I've got a lot to do. We've got a lot to do! So, let's go, partner!"
"I would like so much to simply rest in peace... but I cannot. You are right, there's much left to be done. I want to be here with you, to help you whenever I may. I want to help Az. I want to see you laugh with your friends. I want to watch over the monsters, as they integrate into the human world. There is indeed much to be done! So yes, let us go, partner! To the end of the world-"
"And back!"
After completing their friend's sentence, Frisk dashed off down the mountain to meet back up with all their new monster friends.
Though this may have been the end for you, know that it was just the beginning for the two tragic children known as Frisk and Chara.