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Legend says that those who climb Mount Ebott never return.
And that was exactly what Frisk was aiming for.
They moved through the forest until they reached a poorly secured metal gate.Posters-warnings, missing children reports, were plastered across it.
Beside the gate was a sign, it read-
“THOSE WHO HAVE WALKED BEYOND THIS POINT HAVE NOT BEEN FOUND. PROCEED WITH CAUTION.”
Frisk walked right past it.
They pushed the gate open. It creaked as it swung aside, revealing the massive hole beyond. Frisk leaned forward, peaking down curiously.
They had run away from the orphanage. They were tired—tired of the routine tired of a life that felt like it was going nowhere. The rumor surrounding Mount Ebott had sparked something in them.
I mean… it wouldn’t hurt to try, right?
It’s not like it’d matter if I went missing or not.
Frisk didn’t believe a mountain could make people disappear. So they decided to see for themselves.
“There’s nothing else here,” they muttered. “Just a hole.”
"Whole lotta nothing."
Frisk chuckled at their own joke.
They stepped closer for a better look-
-and tripped over a vine.
The ground vanished beneath them.
---
Darkness swallowed me whole.
I kept falling, my body weightless as the air rushed past me. It felt endless- like I would never reach the bottom.
I fell deeper,
And deeper.
And deeper.
Then suddenly-
“Frisk?” a voice echoed, ringing in my ears.
“**FRISK!**”
I jolted upright, gasping, staring at the ceiling above me.
“You’re going to be late.”
Chara hovered over the bed, snickering, clearly pleased with themselves.
Frisk’s heart raced before realization hit. It was just Chara.
“Ah.”
They collapsed back onto their pillow with a sigh, staring up at Chara’s smug grin. They had been scared,but in a weirdly good way.
“Did you really need to scare me like that?” Frisk groaned. “It’s the weekend! I thought something happened!”
They hopped out of bed in one jump and walked to the mirror, fixing their hair.
Chara sat on the edge of the bedframe, watching them.
“No, but how else would you wake up?” they scoffed. “You sleep through every alarm.”
“Your alarm rang five times before I stepped in. How do you even-?”
“Determination,” Frisk said seriously.
A pause.
“…to sleep more!”
Chara deadpanned. “What a creative way to say you’re lazy. You’re really no different from that skeleton with the pink slippers.”
“Whaaat? You mean Sans?” Frisk batted their eyes innocently.
“Obviousl-”
“You got a bone to pick with him or somethin’?”
Chara groaned at the poor joke, standing up next to frisk to flick them on the forehead.
It didn't do much. All it did was slightly tickle Frisk's forehead.
“Cease that. I already endure your endless rambling-I don’t need terrible puns added to it.”
Frisk giggled and lightly jabbed Chara’s side while standing close to them in front of the mirror.
“You know,” Frisk said, “for a ghost, you’re pretty lukewarm now. Unlike when we first met.”
They ran a comb through their dark hair.
“Holding your hand back then almost gave me frostbite!”
…
“…Yeah,” Chara muttered. “I was pretty cold.”
Frisk kept talking, but their words faded into the background as Chara stared at their own hand.
It was true. They *were* warmer now. Less opaque. More present.
They could almost see through their palm.
*Is it possible?*
No.
The dead don’t come back.
Even with all the determination in the world.
And even if I could… I wouldn’t deserve it.
My death...its the reason all of this happened, right?
I’m not a good person.
Even after I confessed everything—
everything—Frisk never looked at me with disgust. Never treated me differently.
How?
How could they hear all that and not hate me?
They comforted me. Hugged me, even when my body was freezing. They were so determined to show me something I didn’t deserve.
Love.
Chara watched Frisk laugh, rambling about something else now.
Hearing their laughter.
How cheerful they are.
How kind they are, so gentle, so.. full of love.
Despite everything that they went through.
How.. alive they are.
How i envy you, Frisk.
“Chara?”
Frisk tilted their head, concern clear on their face.
“Hey—are you okay?”
“Huh?” Chara snapped back. “Ah—sorry. I dozed off for a moment. What were you saying?”
Frisk smiled, relieved. “Dozed off? And *you* call *me* the sleepyhead!”
“But… you sure you’re alright? You looked really out of it.”
“I’m fine,” Chara replied softly. “Just… complicated.”
Frisk blinked, thinking.
God, they loved Chara’s eyes.
That deep red—how it stood out against their green sweater—
Frisk realized they’d been staring and quickly looked away.
“Y-You sure? Do you wanna talk about it?”
Chara smiled, noticing their little stare contest-Lasting a little longer than usual.
"We can discuss my troubles later, for now, i think you should go out and eat with everybody else."
“Right! Let’s go!”
Frisk bolted out, face burning red. Chara followed, smirking.
Frisk was as red as Chara’s eyes.
---
Downstairs, the house buzzed with noise.
Toriel hummed while cooking.
“Papyrus, dear, would you help me mix the batter?”
“I, THE GREAT PAPYRUS, SHALL ASSIST YOU! HERE—A WHISK!”
"Pssh, she doesn't need those paps! SHE NEEDS A SPEAR TO WHIP THOSE CAKES!"
Undyne yelled out, a spear whooshing onto her palm.
“H-Hey! We shouldn’t be so loud! What if Frisk is still sleeping?” Alphys said nervously.
“she’s right,” Sans added. “dont wanna wake the kiddo.”
“THAT IS EXACTLY WHY WE SHOULD MAKE NOISE! IT IS SEVEN A.M.!”
“wow. must wanna see them a skele-ton.”
Toriel sighed-then smiled when she spotted Frisk.
“Good morning, my child! How did you sleep?”
“Great!” Frisk said, sitting beside Sans.
“heya, kid.”
“Hi, Sans!”
“D-Did we wake you?” Alphys asked.
“Nope! Something else did.”
Chara floated upside down in front of Frisk, grinning.
“Oh? Who could that be?”
They phased straight through Frisk.
“Gah-!”
Frisk shivered, shooting Chara a glare.
“HUMAN! ARE YOU ALRIGHT?” Papyrus shouted.
“I’m fine,” Frisk said quickly. “Just thought I saw something.”
“a ghost, maybe?” Sans smirked.
Toriel chuckled nervously.
“I, THE GREAT PAPYRUS, SHALL PROTECT YOU!”
Toriel laughed. “You may call me Toriel, dear.”
“AS YOU WISH...-TORIEL!”
…