set three months after the destruction of the barrier. flowey is the only one who knows of chara's existence inside frisk. frisk's friends know of how they ended up in the underground.
In the three months monsters had been freed, Frisk's life had changed dramatically—their entire world flipped upside down.
On the first day monsters escaped the Underground, the humans went wild. The existence of monsters and magic had been scrubbed away from humanity after the Humans vs Monsters war. Governments all across the world came together to figure out a plan of what to do with the monsters.
Then Frisk, the tiny 9-year old, produced themself as an ambassador.
With no other live humans that had come into contact with the monsters (and none with such an emotional attachment to them), they were forced to accept Frisk as the official monster ambassador.
Within the next week, Frisk's face was all over the news. Stories and rumors went out—articles and news channels speaking about the identity of Frisk's parents, how they fell in the Underground, how they managed to befriend pretty much every monster, and, the most popular: how they managed to destroy an ages-old barrier.
(Except Frisk didn't touch the Barrier. It was all Asriel.)
Meetings, interviews, and interrogations by federal agents and social workers became Frisk's daily life for the next two months. It wasn't until Toriel officially adopted Frisk (who, strangely, had no birth record) that the attention began to die down. The interviewers began to lose interest in the small child who couldn't even speak. Instead, they became interested in the lives of everyday monsters—coming occasionally to Toriel's home to ask how the human child was faring in the monster community.
Of course, things didn't run smoothly all the time.
There were those who opposed that monsters be allowed to live in the surface. Some even tried to kill monsters and attack them, but fortunately, none succeeded. Many anti-monster supporters voted against the idea for monsters to have equal rights to the humans.
(And yet all their efforts failed, and by the time three months had come, monsters were treated—or at least were supposed to be—equally as the humans were.)
It was a strange turn of events.
Mettaton sighed, tapping away on his phone with his pout set in place. Standing in the middle of the foyer of his grand estate (that he shared with Alphys, Undyne, and Napstablook), he tapped his foot impatiently against the tiled ground.
Frisk was placed gingerly on his hip, being held up by one of his arms. In their hands was a chocolate milkshake (per Chara's request), and around their shoulders was Flowey—where he usually liked to hang out, away from everyone else (he wasn't allowed to go anywhere if Frisk wasn't there, anyway).
What's he so worked up about? Chara inquired, talking about Mettaton. Said robot was pouting even more at his phone.
I think an outing with Papyrus or something, Frisk replied, letting Chara take another sip of the chocolate milkshake. Mom is late to pick me up and he has to get ready, I guess.
Chara gave off the impression of a frown. Why doesn't he just let us go and get ready himself?
He thinks we're too precious, Frisk snickered, but then paused, and correct themself, Well, that I am, anyway.
Chara didn't say anything. They only closed their eyes and drank more from the milkshake. Mettaton looked up from his phone and batted their face gently, a disapproving frown on his face.
"Don't drink too much, darling," he scolded, raising an eyebrow at their fading red eyes. "You'll get sick."
Chara made a tch sound in their head, and Frisk stifled a silent snort. Once he turned his attention back to his phone, Chara stepped in and purposely took a giant sip. Frisk grimaced at the brain freeze that followed.
Mettaton eventually groaned and stomped his boot against the ground. "Ugh, when will Toriel get here!?"
As if on cue, there was a hesitant knock on the door, followed by very faint and very quiet voices from behind. Mettaton raised an eyebrow, but before he could do anything, Frisk clamored out of his arms and handed him the milkshake to hold. They rushed over to the door excitedly to greet Toriel, and just before they grabbed the door handle, they grinned at Mettaton. Said robot was sporting a relieved look.
Frisk swung open the door, and their heart jumped to their throat.
Standing there was someone who was definitely not Toriel. It was someone with familiar dark hair, skin, and eyes. Someone with a familiar face. Someone with a familiar voice as they breathed Frisk's dead name.
Mettaton narrowed his eye. "Who's this?" he asked. When he received no reply, but only silence as Frisk continued to stare, he put two and two together and noticed the similarities between the two. "...Frisk, do you know this woman?"
Frisk turned back towards their robot friend with wide, terrified eyes. My mother, they signed with shaky hands.
Immediately, Mettaton stepped in front of Frisk and put his hand over them to shield them from the woman who was supposedly Frisk's mother. He glared at her, his visible eye shining bright purple. "You're not welcome here," he hissed.
Frisk's mother blinked a few times, surprised, and stepped back a little. "I-I," she stammered, not sure what to say.
This is your mother? Chara muttered. She's so young.
Frisk didn't answer them, and only stared up at their mother from behind Mettaton. They eyed her up and down, drinking in her appearance. She looked less thin, not so malnourished. Her hair looked healthier, her skin darker, her eyes brighter. She had improved greatly—all thanks to the loss of her child, apparently.
"I will call the police and have them arrest you for attempted murder if you don't go away right now," Mettaton seethed, more angry than Frisk had ever heard him before.
Frisk's mother took another step back, shaking her hands. "I-I just saw 'em on TV and w-wanted to know what the hell happened to my baby—"
"Frisk is not your baby," Mettaton corrected, and Frisk wondered if he was going to go into his NEO mode from how much he was steaming. "You left them for dead."
"I... I know that, and—and I regret it, but," their mother tried, looking sweatier and sweatier by the minute, "b-but I just wanted to... talk to 'em about a few things."
"What is there to talk about?" Flowey suddenly spoke up from their place around Frisk's shoulders. He gave her a large, menacing grin. "I think you made it perfectly clear about everything you wanted to say to them when you threw them down the hole."
Shocked, Frisk's mother's eyes went wide, and then narrowed. "You know NOTHING ABOUT ME—" she began, raising her hand as if she were to smack the flower, but then Chara suddenly took control and grabbed her wrist. Their mother gave a gasp, peering into Chara's red eyes, and shuddered visibly. "Y-Your... eyes..."
What is it you want to say? Frisk signed warily, much to the dismay of Mettaton.
Frisk's mother took a deep breath, and that's when Frisk realized that she understood them. Sometime after their descent into the Underground, she had taken the time to learn sign language. The revelation made them feel strange.
"I... wanted to apologize," she said softly, looking more comfortable now that Mettaton had stepped out of the way (she continued looking nervously at Flowey, however, unsettled by his unnerving smile). "When I had you, I was still in high school. I didn't know what to do. My parents kicked me out, and—and I moved in with my boyfriend, y-your father. He was..." She hesitated. "...controlling. He wanted me to get an abortion, but... we were so poor we couldn't afford it. Then I gave birth to you in the middle of an alleyway, and that's... where everything went downhill."
Mettaton narrowed his eyes, and opened his mouth to say something, but Frisk's mother beat them to it.
"W-we struggled on money, and... we were selfish. And mean to you. And that was a mistake." The fact that she sounded genuine made Frisk sick to their stomach. "We hardly took care of you, and then... your father devised a plan to get us more money: getting rid of you. He made me agree—"
You agreed without hesitation, Frisk protested.
Their mother opened her mouth, and then paused, and hung her head. "You're right. I did. I was so desperate to go back to school that I would've done anything by that point." She bit her lip. "And then we cast you down. But... we didn't think you'd survive. Or free the supposed monsters that were down there—" She let out a dry laugh, cutting herself off. "Maybe we did you a favor by throwing you down there... Now you have a better life." She clasped her hands together in front of her chest. "I'm not here to take you back. I'm not here to convince you that I'm a better person now, because I'm not." Frisk's mother knelt down to be at her child's height, and gave them a sad smile through the tears streaming down her face. "But I'm trying. And... just knowing that you heard me is enough for me to handle."
She stood, and looked down at Frisk. They stared at her for a moment, and then outstretched her arms. Her eyes widened, and she reached down to hug them, but then Frisk was signing I don't forgive you and the door was being slammed in her face.
When they turned their back to the door, Mettaton was staring at them with his jaw dropped.
Holy shit, Chara laughed. Savage. Flowey seemed amused as well, though he only showed it with a sly grin.
Mettaton looked like he was going to say something, but he only held up one finger and slowly turned to dial a number and put his phone to his ear. Frisk could hear a faint Hello? from the other line. "Alphys? Yeah, you will not believe what just happened." He walked off, continuing his conversation, and it only made Chara laugh harder.
Frisk walked back to the couch, where their chocolate milkshake was sitting on the side table and slowly melting. They picked it up. You still want it? they asked.
Chara scoffed. Do I want it? It's chocolate. Give it here.
Frisk let Chara take control as they sipped eagerly at the milkshake. Flowey, from their shoulders, twisted around to look at their face. Chara peeked one eye open to peer at him.
"You still haven't changed after a hundred years," Flowey muttered. "When will that chocolate obsession stop?"
From being attached to Frisk's body for so long, they had picked up a few of Frisk's traits and attributes (just as how Frisk picked up a few from them—especially physically, since on their face was now a permanent blush), including their sign language ability.
Chara tucked the milkshake between their legs and raised their hands. Chocolate is good, so fuck off.
Flowey rolled his eyes, looking annoyed.
Ten minutes later, Toriel arrived to pick them up. After Mettaton had ranted to her about everything that happened, Toriel picked up Frisk and carried them to the car without another word. In the car was Sans, who, apparently, could drive now. He flashed them a peace sign, winking at them as Toriel set them in the back seat.
"hey kiddo," he greeted. "what's wrong? you look like you've seen a ghost. maybe i can lift your spirits up."
Toriel climbed into the front seat with a sigh, and then leaned in towards Sans, using her hand to cover her mouth even though Frisk could hear everything she was saying. "Frisk's birth mother came to see them."
"oh boy." Oh boy indeed, Chara agreed.
"Yes. I am worried."
Frisk leaned forward and tapped Toriel on the shoulder. When she and Sans turned around, they signed, She won't come back.
Sans tilted his head. "what makes you say that?"
Their eyes flickered red for a moment. She won't come back.
Toriel and Sans shared a look, before wordlessly starting the car and driving off.
Frisk stared up at the ceiling as they laid in bed, Flowey tucked safely in his pot on the table beside their bed. The ceiling was decorated with tons of glow-in-the-dark stars, upon their request when Toriel asked them what they wanted to decorate their room with.
Frisk turned their head and nudged Flowey's pot, stirring him. He groaned out loud, swiveling around to face them. "What?" he hissed.
Let's go watch the stars.
"We did that last week."
Let's do it again.
Before Flowey could say no, Frisk had already climbed out of their bed and grabbed his pot. They slid on a pair of slippers before reaching over the side of their bed to open the window. It didn't feel all too cold out—summer was settling in—so they gently maneuvered themself outside the window and onto the windowsill. They jumped up, catching the railing of the roof with one hand, and pulled themself up (with the help of Chara). Setting Flowey beside them on the roof, they laid down and put their hands behind their head, marveling at the sight of so many stars.
It was a clear night out. Frisk wondered how many other monsters and humans alike were watching the stars.
I love space, Frisk said happily.
Chara scoffed. Yeah, I know. You can't go an hour without proclaiming about aliens and how they're among us.
Frisk pouted. If monsters are real then so are aliens.
You watch too much X-Files. Chara paused. I still have no idea how you managed to convince Mom to let you watch that. It's not exactly the ideal show for a 9-year old to watch.
I'm almost 10, Frisk protested. Practically a grownup.
Oh, yeah, Chara drawled sarcastically, soon you'll be doing your taxes and putting your house on mortgage.
What's mortgage?
Hell if I know.
When Frisk turned their head, they saw Flowey gazing up at the stars like he was transfixed. They knew the feeling. No matter how many times he protested he wasn't interested in the stars, they could see that, in his eyes, he was just as amazed as everyone on earth. Every monster had dreamed of seeing the stars one day, and that excitement still hadn't died down.
(In fact, on the first night of their freedom, monsters all across gathered together to watch the stars. Frisk could still feel the excitement and wonder every monster felt in that moment.)
I wonder if Flowey could ever manage to turn back into Asriel, they said to nobody in particular.
Chara responded, however, sounding strange. ...He would need a soul.
The human souls are still down there, right? Maybe we can convince one of them to give themself up for him.
Probably not, Chara replied, and then backtracked. Well, I mean, after having their souls encased in glass for years I'm sure they're happy to be free. And not being used by a soulless flower.
But he wouldn't be a soulless flower, Frisk said. He'd be Asriel.
...I guess it's worth a shot, Chara said, and then, as if to not sound too hopeful, said, It probably won't work.
Frisk just shrugged outwardly. They glanced at Flowey again, and then back to the stars. Tracing the constellations with their eyes, their mind wandered to the lives of their friends since they had escaped. Mettaton had made his mark across the world, becoming a popular idol with teenage boys and girls and all around (he was especially popular in Japan). Alphys had become a science teacher in Toriel's school, occasionally working with the professional human scientists. Undyne had become a professional trainer (many times working with kids with disabilities). Sans was—well, Sans. Papyrus had tried to start his own spaghetti shop, but when that failed, he had turned to Undyne and worked alongside her. Muffet ran her own bakery, Asgore dealt with the official matters of the monsters, and everyone seemed... happy.
Frisk's mind trailed back to their time in the Underground. What a strange journey for a young child to experience.
Suddenly, in the midst of the stars there was a black dot, and they sat up suddenly to look closer. But then it was gone, and Frisk turned their head to the side to see a familiar, wispy figure signing his hands at them.
HELLO, CHILD. I AM STILL HERE.
Frisk beamed, while Chara groaned in their head.
Will this guy EVER leave?
Undyne cackled, her laugh echoing throughout the gym. She threw another ball at one of her kids, who had just barely dodged her last one. Papyrus was across the gym, working with a young girl in a wheelchair who was struggling to walk on two feet. He held onto her hands, gently taking steps backwards to allow her to try walking.
Frisk sat in the corner, drawing on a large poster board for the gym's upcoming event. Undyne had written the words, and Frisk was adding in the color details. They switched between markers and crayons, sometimes letting Chara draw some things. Flowey was in a pot beside them, drawing on a random sheet of paper with a black marker. He was only making scribbles, but he seemed to be enjoying himself.
Suddenly, a pair of feet trotted up towards them. When they looked up, they saw a young human girl about their age, with dark brown eyes and soft black hair, and very dark skin that was splashed with white across her face, shoulders, and arms (Vitiligo, Chara informed them). She was dressed in a dark blue dress and had on ballet slippers.
"Can I join you?" she asked excitedly.
Frisk stared at her for a few moments, and then nodded. She eagerly knelt down beside them, taking a few markers and immediately getting to work on series of blue hearts, all different shades.
"Blue is my favorite color," she said. "What's yours?"
Frisk thought for a moment, and then answered, Purple.
The girl frowned, titling her head.
"They said 'purple'," Flowey translated suddenly, looking up.
The girl looked startled for a moment by the flower's sudden verbalization, but then nodded and smiled at Frisk. "I like that color too!" she exclaimed. "My name is Kassia. What's yours?"
Frisk was about to sign again, but then they took the sheet of paper from Flowey (causing him to let out a sigh), and in the corner where there were no scribbles, they wrote down Frisk Dreemurr in red crayon.
You sure like making friends, huh? Chara scoffed.
"'Frisk'?" Kassia mumbled, testing the name on her tongue, and then smiled so brightly her smile could've lit up the room. "I know you! You're the monster kid! That's so cool! Monsters are so cool!"
Frisk smiled at her and nodded excitedly.
"We can be friends, right, Frisk?"
Frisk wrote down Yes in another corner and giggled silently. As they and Kassia returned to their work, Frisk smirked a little internally.
Of course I do, they replied matter-of-factly. I've made many friends. Including you, right?
Chara barked out a laugh.
Yeah. We're friends, Frisk.
Frisk smiled outwardly, brushing their bangs away from their eyes. They glanced up, looking at their friends do their thing, and let out an amused chortle. A year ago, and even more, they never believed they would be happy. They never believed they would be loved.
But now, three months after that fateful moment, here they were. Happy, and loved.
Things did turn out well for them, after all.
and that's the end of the story.
i find it absolutely incredible that this was just a oneshot at first. and yet, so many people commented and asked for me to continue it. and i almost didn't, but i did. and it became so much more than just a simple headcanon. it became a full-on tale. i added quite a few of my own headcanons into it, but many of you enjoyed it nonetheless, and i'm so grateful for that.
thank you for following this story until the end.
until next time.