I Will Take Your SOUL and Break Your Heart

by i_never_ate_raindrop_cake_but_i_want_to

Summary:

A story that narrates the adventure of a young woman and her new Human — but also Monster! — friends. She wants to be able to give everyone the Happy Ending they all so crave.

They need help in ending this Sorry Tale before it is too late.

ᯓ★

He asked you why you betrayed him. His breathing was ragged, and his hair did not have the same pleasant odor of coconut oil and wheat that you had grown to love. It was musty, reminding yourself what kind of monster you had in front of you.

Not a Monster, but a monster.

The meaning of his name didn't carry his personality anymore.

"... Ironic, is it not? Since I am not the one who is holding a dusty knife right now."

Chapter 1: Once Upon A New Time

Summary:

The beginning of the Tale.

Notes:

I hope I'm doing a good job :') Enjoy!

Undertale OST: 001 —

Once Upon A Time

. . .

❝Long ago, two races ruled over Earth:

HUMANS and MONSTERS.

One day, war broke out between the two races.

After a long battle, the humans were victorious.

They sealed the monsters underground with a magic spell.❞

. . .

Many years later.

Many years later..

Many years later...

 

MT. EBOTT

201X

 

❝Legends say that those who climb the mountain, never return.❞

. . .

ᵀʰⁱⁿᵍˢ ʷᵒᵘˡᵈ ʰᵃᵛᵉ ᵇᵉᵉⁿ ᵇᵉᵗᵗᵉʳ ⁱᶠ ʸᵒᵘ ʰᵃᵈ ⁿᵒᵗ ᶜᵒᵐᵉ ʰᵉʳᵉ.

. . .

Were the rumors true? Did some people really disappear after they went to the Mountain? And most importantly of all: did Monsters still exist or did they extinguish?

These were the thoughts that were swelling in your brain while you were directed to Mt. Ebott, passing through the enchanted woodland, simply too beautiful to be real.

A few twigs here and there creaking, the autumnal leaves rustling, some insects humming and buzzing, birds chirping in the distance, and the occasional rustle of paws, whether it may be from a lonely animal searching for food, or a mom with her children returning to their lair.

The roots of the trees were so tangled that it was difficult to tell when one ended and the other began, and their crowns were overlapping themselves, forming one big mass of leaves and breaches.

Thick and wild bushes, with a few flowers hither and thither, starting to open up and being ready to wake up to a new and fresh day. It truly was a sight to behold...

It was a misfortune that you miscalculated the distance it would take to walk there; it was way far off than you previously thought. But you made sure that a simple mistake wouldn't ruin your day.

You stiffed a yawn, before you lifted your head to watch the sky: a sunrise was depicted as far as the eye could see. It was magnificent. The collisions of red and yellow, creating a perfect orange, with a vibrant pink and blue, in the morning's calm were always able to uplift your mood and make you feel energized.

The colors of the sunrise painted the trees and bushes into a peach hue, almost beige, making everything seem almost ethereal. It would have surely been an even more stunning and unforgettable experience if you went in the dark when the Stars and the Moon greeted people and wished them a good night.

Thankfully, the thunderstorm that happened last night ended quickly. The puddles that always formed after raining, dried up before you got out. It was as if it hadn't rained at all. 

It was still quite early, you admitted that. Almost no one would go out to visit a mountain at this hour, but there was no meaning in turning back, not now. You were almost there! And besides...

... It was moments like this that made you think the most.

There was a time when you were obsessed with Monsters' history. What would have happened if the Humans hadn't been overly paranoid about having their SOULs absorbed by a Monster? Countless of them were massacred; other living beings with hopes, dreams, friends, and family.

But simple minds are afraid of what is different. Humans were all terrified, desperately looking for something to appease the unwanted feeling of dread.

Fear is a powerful thing. It can control your mind and can make you do things you don't wanna do. So is love.

Then despair turned into anger.

Scary stories of horrible Monsters lurking under the floor were told to children.

People who were friends with Monsters were accused, let alone those who had actual romantic relationships. They were only a handful, but not non-existent. Always called the worst of names, with the most hated being...

'Traitors'. 

A lot of Humans thought that the Monsters had infected the minds of those people, which had driven them crazy, and after a particular accident, someone led an angry mob along the streets, going on and on with chants, pitchforks, torches, and so forth.

The Sovereigns of the Monsters tried to fix everything peacefully, declaring that their kind would never harm Humans in any way and that it was all a big misunderstanding.

That was the straw that broke the camel's back.

After an unfair and violent war, Humans trapped Monsters under Mt. Ebott, leaving a hole in the ground as the only gateway to their world, and continued to live their lives as if nothing ever happened.

Once, Humans had magic flowing through their veins, but after the War, with generations after generations, Humans born with supernatural powers were more difficult to find, until there were hardly any more; as if Monsters took away their magic, like Humans took away their Freedom.

But did you think that would have been the end?

No.

Many years later, there was the first disappearance of a series and the first sighting of a Monster after a long time. The details told by the witnesses were rather blurred, with no connection whatsoever, and it had different outcomes every time. But, in the end, the Monster always died.

More young men and women went missing, with other people claiming to have last seen them on Mt. Ebott. A lot of research had been done, but in the end, they were covered, dismissing everything as suicides, or as deaths caused by animals.

The reason for that is because, underground, there would be a set of double doors made of stone that wouldn't budge no matter how much force it was used, very probably made by Monsters themselves. It was hard to believe that a bunch of young adults would have been able to open them.

One interesting thing was the emblem posted above the doors. Humans knew that for Monsters it was rather important — they had that symbol almost everywhere. It was speculated that it was part of their tradition, but its true meaning remained unknown.

A little nursery rhyme was also made about those poor SOULs, one which little children liked to sing, especially while playing. It wasn't really a way to honor those dead people.

But the rest, as they say, is history; or that's what it's written in the books, at least. You never met a Monster. Well, you think so.

You increased your speed even more. Despite how magical the woodland seemed, you were in a pathless one. It was confusing and dense, like an infinite maze made by nature.

You sighed. There were more plants ahead, behind, on your left, and on your right... Basically everywhere. Maybe you could pass through them? Your head would most likely get a few leaves stuck here and there, but you would do anything to just get out and find a path.

Walking to one big bush, you made your way through it while closing your eyes to prevent the leaves and breaches from hurting them. When you got out, much to your delightful surprise, there was a path made of dirt and enclosed by grass, way thinner than the type of vegetation you had suffered to endure until now.

And... There was a person who was walking down the path, with their hands in their pockets. From what you could see they were strangely dark-yellow-skinned as if they were made of gold, and they also had medium-length straight, brown, and, may you say... well-kept hair. They wore a blue long shirt — or was that a sweater? — with purple-colored stripes, blue pants, and brown shoes.

It was curious that someone would get out at this hour. Should you approach them? This path only led to the Mountain, and this certainly wasn't the place to just make a simple daily walk. It would be nice to meet someone new, and you would encounter them either way when going to your destination.

A new question flooded your mind: should you yell for their attention or run up to them? Maybe the first one was better, since if you started running all of a sudden it would scare them and make you seem creepy.

"Hey! Could you stop for a moment please?" They turned their body towards you, and you were able to see now that they were a young man, more or less your age, with short and choppy bangs, a bandage on his cheek, and with his eyes closed... You could still see his eyebrows raise and then furrow. His shoulders were tense. He seemed like a frightened animal.

... That was weird. Well, he pretty much looked like a salesman in an isolated alley in the middle of the night. At first, he would be nice and kind, but the more time you spent with him, the more you would understand that it was all just a façade, and see an obnoxious and dangerous side. Could it be entirely his fault, though?

Who were you to judge someone by the way they looked?

You fixed your hair from potential leaves stuck there and started running in his direction. He seemed to be taken aback a little bit, but he didn't move away. When you arrived, you still kept a fairly good distance between the two of you and opened your mouth again.

"Hello! Sorry for the sudden encounter. I just saw you heading towards this path, and I wondered if you were going to see the, you know, hole in the ground, too."

In the end, his eyebrows remained raised, but he had a smile. He gave a little nod, saying that he was going there too, and asked if you wanted to come with him.

"Oh, yes, thank you." You were grateful he was willing to accept your company so quickly without even knowing you.

You told him your name, and he nodded once more, saying his name too, which you learned was Frisk. A nice name, and if you weren't mistaken, it was supposed to mean 'lively' or 'fresh'.

"Well... Shall we go?" You asked after a few moments of silence. He told you a little 'all right', and so, you started heading towards your destination.

Despite the friendly demeanor Frisk showed to you, he was utterly confused and also slightly scared.

─── ⋆⋅☼⋅⋆ ───

Except for the sounds of nature all around you two, the walk was filled with silence.

You gazed at the now well-kept vegetation, while Frisk... He also did that, you supposed. You wanted to start a conversation with your acquaintance, so you just said the first thing that came to your mind: a compliment about his clothes.

"You know, your shirt is very cute, I also like the colors." You tried to be as natural as possible, hoping it didn't seem too forced.

When he turned his head in your direction, a sweet smile adorned his lips, before it became a little smirk of what you could only assume was mischievousness. You were confused by his behavior until you heard him say his next sentence, which made you slack-jawed. You were able to feel your blood rushing to your cheeks and your heart picking up pace.

Did he just... flirt with you?

Did he just say 'but not as cute as you'?

Did he mean it?

"What?" You asked with wide eyes.

Damnit, it looked like you never had someone talk rather suggestively to you in your entire life.

It was a little uncomfortable, though...

He laughed, like the whole situation was the best joke he had ever heard in his entire life.

After coming down from your initial shock, giggles started slipping from your mouth, until you were fully laughing too.

"Really? You're flirting with me?" You could still feel your cheeks warm, but you tried to not pay too much attention to it.

He simply answered with an 'I'm not flirting. I'm just being extra friendly to someone who is extra attractive'.

This time it only caused you to roll your eyes playfully.

He then explained that he flirted with everyone, but he was always just joking, nothing too serious. But... If he ever met a female Cuban cigar, he would absolutely be in love with her.

You laughed at his statement. He sure had a... personality like a coquet.

That was the only conversation you two had before everything was sucked by a void filled with silence and nature once again.

─── ⋆⋅☼⋅⋆ ───

You had the impression of arriving at your destination rather quickly, but you weren't sure. Maybe instead you two were walking for hours. You looked up at the sun, still shyly peeking through the trees. Not much time had passed.

Before you, there was the base of a long and narrow path, surrounding the Mountain, slowly becoming steeper and in a spiral shape as you went on until it came to a halt.

The trees and bushes were now way fewer than before, and the grass wasn't there anymore, leaving only debris, dirt, and rocks. A new feeling of excitement was flowing through your veins. You two moved based only on instinct as if you had already traveled this path.

─── ⋆⋅☼⋅⋆ ───

You were only halfway until you were growing tired and started panting. You looked over at Frisk, who at the moment was ahead of you, and saw that he was doing just fine. Well, you guessed he was doing just fine.

Your knees felt like jelly. You genuinely thought they would give out at any given moment, and all you had was a pain in your shoulders and lead in your feet.

But come on, you could do this!

Frisk had already reached the top of the Mountain.

Well, what a surprise.

You ignored him and went back to what you were doing. Inhale through your nose, exhale through your mouth. Inhale, exhale. Inhale, exhale.

It wasn't long before you got to the top with heavy steps. Frisk had his head turned at something big and gray far away. He was fidgeting with his hands. They were small movements but pretty noticeable.

You wiped your slimy palms on your clothes with a grimace, before you approached him.

"Frisk? Are you alright?"

You saw his shoulders tense again and all his movements stopping before you heard a sigh, and he turned to you, giving you a smile.

But there were no crow's feet under his eyes.

He said that he was feeling fine, just a little nervous.

"Oh, it's okay. Don't worry, I understand."

He gave you a nod and began walking towards the cave. You quietly followed beside him, paying attention to the wind gently picking up, swaying some of the leaves to and fro in the breeze, while the older ones were falling on the ground in an elegant dance, leaving the few trees remaining, to lose them, until you finally were in front of the cave.

The sunrise's light shone against the tall buildings and skyscrapers of your city, along with the other smaller mountain behind you, your back, and the entire woodland.

Suddenly, a voice somewhere in your head told you to slow down, to go back, to get out of this place, to leave this stranger, and return to your home. A foreboding feeling, but it was suffocated by a better and more pleasing one: a desire; by another voice that said you had to continue.

Instead of being dark and dreary, the inside was very bright: an orange color, with little drops of water coming from some stalactites. The air was thick with humidity, and breathing was pretty difficult. Wide vines were running in all directions from every side, coming out of the split ground, and stopped in front of a gigantic hole.

You began walking towards it, while also keeping a safe distance.

Peering inside the pit, the only thing you were able to see was something yellow and green. The light from the cave was cast inside the hole, almost making it magical. However, the cracked ground and the big vines near the hole didn't seem all that reassuring and broke the fantasy created.

Frisk was becoming a nervous mess beside you. He just didn't know what to do.

"I'm curious to see what's below, but I don't have the adequate equipment," you didn't plan to go inside the Mountain. It was more than enough to just come and see everything around. "What about y—"

The world seemed to slow down as you didn't feel the ground below anymore and you fell.

The only sound you could hear were your and Frisk's screams — but his ones didn't last long, while you didn't even know when you started screaming, but you continued for a long time — as you both fell into the pit, you saw lights and objects flash before your eyes.

The only thing you could feel before passing out was a weirdly soft ground.

. . .

Undertale OST: 002 —

Start Menu

. . .

Name the fallen human.

.

.

.

W h a t . . . ?

. . .

─── ⋆⋅☼⋅⋆ ───

You slowly started opening your eyes, only to shut them tightly once again as a blinding light hit you. You sat up and held your hand over your face, covering you from the light, so white, so bright that you couldn't look at it.

Wait. Light?

Your eyes opened. The forms began to appear, the senses became sharpened: around you were many beautiful golden flowers and shiny green grass. On some of them, there were pieces of soil and debris, damaging the flowers to the point where their petals were missing. A sweet smell lingered in the air.

Black and destroyed columns were all around you, and dust laid thickly near them, like a mantle. Everything else seemed to be blended in with the shadows.

What happened...?

You remember peering at the hole and speaking to Frisk before you were screaming your head off. Frisk...

Was he dead!? You couldn't bear to see a corpse and—

Oh, never mind, he was breathing softly beside you, on your right.

At least he was alive.

Calm down. Where were you?

Turning your head up, just like the spotlight of a stage, a pale orange light, fading into twilight purple, shined above you and Frisk. Were you in... The underground? Like, actually, under Mt. Ebott!? How?

... You remember missing the ground below your feet before you fell. Probably the earth at the edges of the hole broke due to too much weight? Despite how unsafe and stupid that thought was, it made sense, somehow?

You felt like vomiting. A tight eight knot was in your stomach, feeling like a brick. It was not possible that was true. All of this was not happening. It seemed so surreal…

Please, someone, help you. You just wanted to go home, now. Yes, you longed to see this place since you were young, but that was too much. The worst thing was that you didn't have anything to climb back up.

Maybe you were just in a state of shock. You were definitely in a state of shock, to the point that it was humorous. You couldn't help but let out a breathy giggle.

Hm…

Did the flowers cushion your fall?

Oh no.

You kneeled to a golden flower in front of you. Unfortunately, a petal was missing, mixing with the others on the grass. There obviously also needed to be the feeling of guilt. 

You expected to have at least a headache or back pain, but you felt even better than before. In the end, the voice in your head was right. You should have gotten away from this place.

Frisk seemed to be asleep, but his eyes were always closed, so how could you tell for sure? Either way, you began to shake him as you shouted his name.

"Frisk, Frisk! Wake up!" His brows furrowed and he slowly got up while rubbing his temples.

He started turning his head around, taking in the surroundings, until he looked at your direction. His breath was ragged like he just ran a marathon. He opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, but instead, he swallowed and got up. He dusted his pants off and then offered you his hand.

You took it and got up too, mimicking Frisk's movements as you removed the dust from your clothes.

Wait, something was missing.

Frisk watched as you looked at the little 'bed' of golden flowers.

Your cell phone! You completely forgot about it. Maybe it was still intact. You could call someone! As unlikely as that would be, you just hoped there would be service. You delicately moved the flowers, trying to find your cell phone.

... To your horror, what you brought out certainly wasn't your cell phone, and instead, they were its remains: the metal was full of dents and the glass was completely broken.

Now, you two were undoubtedly remaining there.

Pinching the bridge of your nose, you turned your head towards Frisk.

"Have you brought something useful with you?" You hadn't seen any type of backpack on him, but you still wanted to believe. He couldn't have come to this place without having anything... Right?

Much to your disbelief and disappointment, he just shook his head.

"So, you're telling me you came here with nothing at all?"

He started saying a 'well' before trailing off, and instead, he began rummaging through his pockets, pulling out of the left one a stick. He showed it to you proudly, with a joyful smile on his face.

You looked at the object in his hand, then at him, and then at the object again. You don't think you ever face-palmed yourself so hard in your entire life. The whole situation was absurd, which was the reason why you broke into a fit of giggles. Frisk was looking at you with a frown.

You smiled and dismissed everything with a hand. "I'm sorry, but I think we'll need a little more than that."

How did the stick not even break?

He crossed his arms and tried to imitate an offended expression. He looked like a little kid whose parents said they would take him to an awesome place — in the child's opinion, while for the parents it was just an easy way to spend money — but then going straight towards their home.

In the end, he probably understood it was kinda silly, so he just laughed it off and put the stick in his pocket again.

Despite what happened, he was starting to see the positive side of things.

Everything but the grass and the flowers was still in total darkness, but now that your eyes adjusted to the low light, you noticed that there was a corridor. You turned to Frisk, seeing that he, too, was looking at it.

"Well, my cell phone is broken, we don't have either food or water, so technically, we're stuck here," you said while counting all of your problems on your fingers. "But it's probably better if we gave it a look around, just to see."

Frisk gave you a nod, saying that for now, that was the best option.

You left your cell phone in the grass. It would be impossible to adjust it. Were you polluting like that? You hoped not.

You both began walking through the hallway and stopped when you reached the so-talked-about large set of double doors. But to your stupor, they were wide open.

Pure white columns supported it and a strange symbol, like the one the Humans found when they went down here to do research, was placed above: a circle with wings on each side and three triangles beneath it, with the one in the middle being inverted.

You just couldn't believe it.

The doors were open!

But they were actually not just a set of doors. They were doors that were waiting for you. A portal to a place you shouldn't have ever been. Everything happens for a reason, but also, not everything happens for a reason.

It seemed a strange occurrence, an impossible one, but you didn't care at the moment. You didn't acknowledge how the other Humans probably went through the same experience you were having. You felt far too happy right now. And besides, two Humans could overpower a lot of Monsters, couldn't they?

You looked at Frisk, who had a little smile, and this time, he was the one asking you if you were ready. You felt the knot at your stomach untie gradually until only a simple knot remained, one that you could untie with extreme facility: an overhand knot.

You took a deep breath and felt a glimmer of hope and confidence light up inside you, just like a fire. You gave a vigorous nod, and both of you began walking to whatever was on the other side of the doors. Forward was the only way.

Yeah, maybe with you at his side, everything will be better.

Notes:

This is my first fanfiction. I hope I didn't screw it too much. Ao3 is pretty difficult at first, but once you understand it becomes rather easy ˙ᵕ˙

Chapter 2: A Best Friend And A New Mom? No, Wait, They Aren't!

Summary:

Meeting the Monster species for the first time seems like a dream coming true. Are they friends or foes?

Notes:

Merry Christmas everyone!

Just a little reminder not to please hide the creator's style! Or else the fight boxes will not show, thank you :)

ᵂᵒᵘˡᵈ ᵗʰᵉʸ ⁿᵒᵗ?

. . .

The first thing you saw certainly wasn't what you expected.

In front of you, there was another golden flower, with the same characteristics as the ones that helped embrace your fall: it had a white center, six yellow petals, and a light-green stem; except this one had...

... A mouth, a smiling one, and two black eyes, much livelier than you would have preferred. They were directed in your and Frisk's direction.

It was standing in a small clod of grass, and similar to the room you were in before, a white light shined above the flower, while everything else was dipped in absolute darkness. The scent of freshly picked flowers persisted, but it was weaker than before. 

You and Frisk stopped walking and stared at the plant.

At first glance, you would have said it was rather cute, yet there was something wrong with it. The gleam of its eyes. The slightly, sneering, curve of its mouth. The more it stared at you, the more you found it menacing and weird. Could it be that this flower was a Monster?

You thought that Monsters were more like anthropomorphic animals, or resembled paranormal entities. Or at least, that was what the books said. There were never full and detailed descriptions of what Monsters looked like.

The doors behind you closed silently. Vines intertwined and tied between each other, blocking them.

(Welcome Underground. Welcome to a whole new world of oddities, monstrosities, and wonders.)

. . .

Undertale OST: 003 —

Your Best Friend

. . .

What...? Where was this music coming from?

It was high-pitched and it consisted of what you guessed was... a chiptune? You remember hearing something similar in some arcade machines, computers, and video game consoles when you were younger.

You were certain that you heard this melody in a cartoon you used to watch as a child.

It was very simple, basic, and cheerful, but somehow it made you feel even more scared. You wanted to ask Frisk if he was able to hear it too, but you were beaten to it by the flower, which you learned had very human-like teeth and a tongue.

"Gosh! Not only one but two humans!" It had — or you guessed, he had? — a voice leaning towards the masculine side and it was acute like the unusual tune that was playing from somewhere. "Howdy! I'm FLOWEY. FLOWEY the FLOWER!"

At least his name suited him.

"Hee hee hee... Why'd you make me introduce myself? It's rude to act like you don't know who I am." Flowey added while looking at Frisk.

You heard Frisk's breath itch beside you. Looking at him, his head was bowed. You couldn't see his expression, since his hair covered all of his profile. He didn't dare speak.

Your brows furrowed. What was going on with him, now? It seemed that Flowey knew him. How, though?

"Not talking? Someone ought to teach you proper manners. But first..." Now Flowey's attention was on you, making you flinch from the strong interest he suddenly gave, looking at you from head to toe. "Hmmm..."

After he finished that sentence, no one spoke. The music was the only thing that filled the room. Flowey didn't seem at all bothered by it, though.

"You're new to the Underground," He began as he started leaning towards you. "Aren'tcha?"

Underground?

Well, yes, you were underground. But the way he said it, it seemed as if it was a proper name.

You scrunched up your nose, rubbing your arms with your hands, feeling a sudden coldness hit you. Was it you or had the temperature dropped?

"Golly, you must be so confused." He began giggling while shaking his head, as the whole situation was hilarious.

No, really? It was not like you and some guy fell into a hole, survived thanks to some flowers, and met a talking one. It was something you normally experience every day.

Frisk still hadn't spoken the whole time. There were many conflicting emotions inside him. He knew that if he tried to talk, he would surely cry.

"So, you also have that power? Why are you here?" Flowey suddenly asked, his smile fading away.

The music stopped.

Power?

"I... don't know what you're talking about?"

He laughed. A sound you never wanted to hear again.

The music resumed from where it left. What was happening?

"Someone ought to teach you how things work around here!" He declared with joy. "I guess little old me will have to do."

What did he mean by that?

"Ready?" Without even waiting for an answer, he exclaimed. "Go!"

Before you could comprehend what was happening, there was a beeping sound and your vision started flickering black.

You instinctively closed your eyes as your chest burnt, exactly in the middle, as if something was pulled out. It hurt. It felt like when you would remove the little skin near your nail that bugged you all day, only to experience one of the most excruciating pains known to mankind.

Multiply that by five.

You clenched your teeth, grabbed your chest with both hands and tiredly opened your eyes, seeing Flowey in a monochrome black and white, while everything was dark around you. There were also a text box and a lot of inscriptions: on the left, there was 'FRISK', 'LV 1', 'HP' with a little yellow box near it, a '20/20', and your name, with the same things as Frisk's, only that it was on the right.

Why were there your names!?

... Why were you still surprised?

The pain in your chest started to fade away, and you caught a glimpse of a faint glow below your chin. You looked down, and this time, you were extremely startled at seeing a big green heart glowing.

Wait. Was this your SOUL? But... how? How did this flower remove it?

You had never seen it before. You looked at Frisk, and his was fiery red. He was still looking down, yet he couldn't help but cast a glance at your SOUL.

You knew that the color of a SOUL represents the trait a person showed the most. And sometimes, it could change from an outside force. What no one knew, was what the color meant.

Now that you noticed, also you and Frisk were in black and white. Only your SOULs were the only things colored, along with the yellow box.

Everything looked like a... Videogame? No, that was a foolish thought.

The knot in your stomach tightened once more, making an eight knot again, but this time, for some reason, there wasn't a ribbon.

Saying that you were confused was a euphemism. Almost none of this seemed real.

Actually, none of what happened to you until now seemed real.

But if you learned something from all the experiences you had in your entire life, you would know that you shouldn't always ask yourself questions, no matter how absurd something may be; it would only drive you crazy.

"See that heart? That is your SOUL, the very culmination of your being!" Flowey explained. But only to you. He ignored Frisk.

You knew that. It was rather fundamental information.

"Your SOUL starts off weak, but can grow strong if you gain a lot of LV."

Now, that was something new.

If you were to guess, you think it would stand for 'Level'.

"What... what does 'LV' stand for?" You asked. Your curiosity got the better of you.

"What's LV stand for? Why, LOVE, of course!"

"Love?" You regretted inquiring about that immediately. The way Flowey's eyes bored into yours with such intensity made you feel extremely tiny.

It was ironic since the flower was way smaller than you.

"Yes. You want some LOVE, don't you?" He didn't even acknowledge Frisk, only you.

"I don't know...?"

"Don't worry silly-billy, I'll share some with you!" He then winked while sticking his tongue out of his mouth, making a spark magically fly from his eye. It started to rotate, and in the end, it vanished.

Did a flower just call you 'silly-billy'?

Five white bullets came from behind him together and flew over his head, all the while rotating on themselves.

"Down here, LOVE is shared through..." He stopped looking at you and cast his gaze to the side. "Little white..." A pair of eyebrows suddenly made their appearance, making Flowey's face even more suspicious. "'Friendliness pellets'."

They didn't look friendly at all.

"Are you ready?" He asked once again to you, ignoring Frisk. Did he want to hit you with those? You would honestly pass such an amazing opportunity. "Move around! Get as many as you can!"

The 'friendliness pellets' came towards you, and they activated your fight-or-flight response.

Though, your body thought it would be nice to just freeze on the spot. You were unable to move or act against this threat.

Just before they could touch you, you felt Frisk's hand on your wrist, yanking you from your spot and pulling you closer to him. The pellets went to the position you were in previously and at last, they faded away.

The music slowed down.

"Hey buddy, you missed them. Let's try again, okay?"

The pellets were trying to hit both you and Frisk, but he changed place again, never faltering his grip on your wrist. 

They faded away.

The music slowed down even more. It was starting to become distorted.

Flowey scrunched up the place where his nose would be. 

"Is this a joke?" Flowey sneered and turned towards Frisk. "You. STOP IT. Are you two braindead? RUN. INTO. THE. BULLETS!!!—" Flowey shut himself up. "Friendliness pellets."

He tried to hit you yet another time, faster than before, but still easily dodgeable. Frisk never faltered his grip and changed place again, despite you being able to understand what Flowey wanted to do.

He wanted to hurt you.

... The music stopped.

The pellets faded away.

Flowey had an eerie toothless smile and hollowed eyes. White little pinpricks served as his pupils.

"ₛₒ, yₒᵤ wₐₙₜ ₜₒ ₛₐᵥₑ ₕₑᵣ fᵣₒₘ ₜₕᵢₛ ₚₗₐcₑ wᵢₜₕ yₒᵤᵣ ₛₜᵤₚᵢd cₕᵢᵥₐₗᵣₒᵤₛ ₐcₜₛ?" Flowey chuckled to himself. "ₘₐybₑ yₒᵤ'ₗₗ bₑ ₐbₗₑ ₜₒ, bᵤₜ yₒᵤ cₒᵤₗd ₙₑᵥₑᵣ ₛₐᵥₑ ₛₒₘₑₒₙₑ fᵣₒₘ yₒᵤᵣ ₒwₙ dᵢₛgᵣₐcₑ... Yₒᵤ ⱼᵤₛₜ wₐₙₜₑd ₜₒ ₛₑₑ ₘₑ ₛᵤffₑᵣ."

His voice was rumbling with each word. Part of it was deep and demonic, almost as if two people were speaking at the same time. And if before you didn't like him giving you a toothless smile, you were definitely uncomfortable now.

Cold sweat started to form on your back and hands. You felt Frisk's hand grip your wrist in an almost painful way. His palm started to get clammy, leaving a wet feeling on your wrist.

Panic spread like a wildfire. You may not know why exactly Flowey was acting like that, why he knew Frisk, or what he meant, but you could recognize a bad feeling when you experienced it. And this time, you wanted to listen to your instinct.

You looked behind you, trying to find a way to get out, only to see that the door was blocked by a mass of vines. The way out that was behind Flowey was also off-limits. You were trapped.

You could try to fight him? But, how!?

Well, Frisk still had his stick. You could take it and throw it at Flowey's face.

Yeah, no. Bad idea.

But why wasn't Frisk doing anything?

Vines shot out from the ground and tied your free arm to your torso, making you unable to move.

The same bullets that tried to hurt you were now surrounding you both, except that now they were bigger and more numerous than before.

"Ｄ ｉ ｅ. " Flowey started laughing again in that obnoxious way, and his bullets came closer to you two.

Your eyes started to burn.

Is this how you were going to die...? You closed your eyes, and gripped Frisk's arm with all your might, to the point where it could be said that you were side-hugging him. Prayers filled your mind.

Frisk hoped that he would still get saved.

You could feel the bullets brush your skin, but before they could hit your SOUL, a sound resonated through the air and they stopped.

Opening your eyes, you saw a fluctuating flame to your right, flowing in Flowey's direction. It hit him in the face, leaving a yell escaping his mouth, and made him weirdly fly away.

... Are you... did you actually hit your head really hard and are dreaming? Are you on drugs???

The soft noise of footsteps made you snap your attention to the new being in the room.

Her head resembled that of a goat, with droopy ears and little horns. However, she didn't have cloven hoofs and she didn't stand on four legs. You couldn't see the real colors in this 'battle' type theme, except for her eyes, which were a dark red. She had a furred anthropomorphic body, with paws at the end of her limbs, a pair of fangs, and long, pretty, eyelashes.

She wore a long robe with sleeves, and on her chest, there was displayed the same symbol that was on the set of double doors.

. . .

Undertale OST: 004 —

Fallen Down

. . .

You still didn't like how some melodies played in the background, but differently from the one when you met Flowey, this piece was heartwarming and nostalgic in a peculiar way, very beautiful, yet so saddening.

It was simple and repetitive, with the piano being the only instrument at the moment.

"What a terrible creature, torturing such poor innocent youths..." The goat lady spoke softly, although angrily looking at wherever Flowey flew off. "Ah, do not be afraid, my children. I am TORIEL, caretaker of the RUINS."

You slowly let go of Frisk's arm, but Frisk still kept your wrist in his vice grip. You threw a glance at him. He had his head turned in Toriel's direction.

She seemed very nice — and fluffy. It helped to calm down your nerves.

"The Ruins?" You asked.

"Yes, my child, I pass through this place every day to see if anyone has fallen down. You two are the first humans to come here in a long time... It never happened that two had fallen down at the same time before."

You didn't know why she called you and Frisk 'children', since you clearly weren't ones. She did give some caring, protective, and kind vibes, though, as a mother or grandmother would.

"Come! I will guide you through the catacombs."

… Catacombs?

The room went back to normal, your SOUL and Frisk's vanished and the inscriptions weren't there anymore.

Toriel's fur was a white color, and the robe she wore was purple, with a blue background for the white symbol.

She looked like a dragon you saw in a movie when you were younger. Was his name Fallor? Falkor? Fantor? Something along those lines. He was sweet, but his design was rather unsettling.

"This way."

You gave her a forced smile, and Toriel started walking ahead, but neither you nor Frisk followed her.

You still needed to wrap your head around everything that had happened until now.

As soon as Toriel went to the other room, you turned to Frisk. "Frisk! Wha— what just happened...? Besides, do you think it's safe? I mean, how do we know she won't hurt us?"

She may have greeted you as if you were young kids in need of help — which half of it was true — but she had been too friendly.

You also wanted to ask him about Flowey, but you held that thought for later.

Frisk just shrugged his shoulders, saying that you didn't have another choice either way, and Toriel wasn’t bad, or else she would have let Flowey kill you.

He still trembled a little when saying that.

"Yeah, you're probably right. Can you let go of my wrist, please?"

He furrowed his eyebrows, before looking at his hand, and then raised them. He mumbled a quick sorry, and let go of your wrist.

"Let's go."

You noticed that the vines blocking the door weren't there anymore. It was very similar to the other entrance, except this one was dark purple.

A thought crossed your mind while you wiped your wrist on your clothes without Frisk noticing: Toriel said that you and Frisk were 'the first humans to come here in a very long time'.

Did it mean that those men and women who were declared missing actually went to this place...?

You subconsciously started to chew on your bottom lip.

Were they dead? Or were they living down here? You could ask Toriel later.

She wasn't scared of you, nor violent. Quite the opposite!

The pleasant song that played now also had a bass doing long and low notes. Everything together felt like you were lost and hopeless, but you still had a little hope that things would go better.

Just like how you were feeling.

. . .

Undertale OST: 005 —

Ruins

. . .

The music changed immediately as soon as you entered the doorway. You were a little annoyed at how the tune changed without letting it fully finish, but you let it go when you heard the next one.

It was still a calm and nostalgic melody, with the piano being the protagonist for now.

You inhaled deeply and the well-acquainted musky-sweet smell of dead leaves filled your nostrils. There was also something else, similar to honey.

The room was almost entirely purple, from the violet bricks creating the walls to the lilac floor, which at the center had a lighter shade formed into an old key, but without the bit. The bow of this 'key' was marked by a patch of red leaves, forming a square.

Two sets of gray stairs were on the left and right side, both leading to the same exit. The steps were old, and the stone was worn out from use. A surplus of the same leaves was in between them, with a yellow, glowing sparkle, slowly twisting and rotating on itself.

Toriel ignored the luminous object, and climbed the stairs on the right, waiting for you and Frisk to come.

Like a moth to a flame, you were attracted to the sparkle, and you weren't the only one. You and Frisk made your way to it and touched it with your hand at the same time.

However, nothing happened.

At least to you.

Frisk seemed to be in a dream-like state: his hand was still touching the sparkle, his mouth was slightly agape, and his head was hanging low.

"Frisk?"

He didn't answer.

You wanted to wave your hand to recall his attention, but wasn't that a little rude?

Fortunately, before you could do anything, Frisk went back to reality again — to his dear Monster companion, the human, and the purple room with red leaves.

"Are you okay?" You tilted your head. "What was that?"

Frisk said that he was okay, and explained what happened to him. It turned out that he had some sort of 'save point'. He then asked if you saw it too.

"No, I can only see this— thing." You said, pointing to the sparkle. "But, when I touched it, nothing happened."

He seemed deep in thought, and frankly, you wanted to speak more to him, but Toriel softly cleared her throat, making you remember you two weren't the only ones in that room. "Everything all right, my children?"

"Yes, Ms. Toriel, we're fine."

"Please dear, just call me Toriel."

"Oh, okay... Toriel."

She smiled at you.

Frisk slightly chuckled at you calling Toriel 'Ms'.

Something told you that you shouldn't tell Toriel about the sparkle and this 'save point' Frisk informed you about.

You went on the same stairs she climbed, with Frisk following you.

The upper part had the same deep purple walls, but it was probably made with a different material since you couldn't see any bricks. A few leaves were on the ground — laying rather haphazardly if you dared say.

Two squares were put on the right and left sides. Their inside was black, and all in all, they seemed to function as unglazed windows.

A door similar to them was in the middle, with two green vines — very alike to Flowey's ones — climbing from the floor to the ceiling. A plaque of stone was put above the doorway, but nothing was written on it.

The door led to a room similar to the one before: the walls and the floor were the same, but it lacked stairs, those two windows, leaves, and vines. Something new was the six button-like stones on the ground, with the two in the middle having the ground of a lilac color.

There was another path leading to a deep purple door. The same black symbol was engraved in it. That circle with the wings and the three triangles. It seemed important here.

A yellow switch was placed on the right wall, and a similar plaque to the other one in the previous room was on the far left side.

"Welcome to your new home, innocent ones." Toriel spoke with a very sweet smile, but you couldn't shake off what she just said.

She wanted you and Frisk to live there? With her? You didn't want to disappoint her — for some weird reason — although you obviously couldn't stay with her forever.

"Sorry Toriel, but there was a misunderstan—"

"Allow me to educate you in the operation of the RUINS." Cutting you off and ignoring you, she then walked to the stones on the ground, stepping only four of them, while leaving the two at the center untouched.

Every button made a clicking sound, and Toriel went to the switch to press it, also making a sound. The door opened and she returned to you two.

"The RUINS are full of puzzles. Ancient fusions between diversions and doorkeys. One must solve them to move from room to room. Please adjust yourself to the sight of them."

Frisk turned his head to your scowl, while Toriel seemed oblivious to it.

She talked as if nothing had happened.

You weren't someone who held grudges for a long time, for crying out loud! But you would have preferred if Toriel at least acknowledged what you said.

Either way... Puzzles, uh? Interesting. Why did Monsters have this kind of thing? As a pastime, perhaps? Or to swerve strangers?

Toriel exited the room, and you went to read the plaque, while Frisk pressed the last two remaining buttons. Just to hear that click.

'Only the fearless may proceed. Brave ones, foolish ones. Both walk not the middle road.'

Oh, so those were the instructions. Toriel did exactly like it was written: she didn't walk on the buttons in the middle.

In a hushed tone, you asked him. "Did you hear what she said earlier? About how this was 'our new home'?"

Frisk answered that he did indeed hear it, but he didn't give it much thought.

Why was he reacting like all of this was very normal?

This time he was the one going ahead, and you followed him.

Now the song had more instruments mixed. You could make out a flute, a bass, strings, and was that... a glockenspiel? It created a euphonious sound, so pleasant and beautiful. It felt like a concert just for you.

The next room was very big, and had two little rivers, with a bridge made of wood. There was a sign on the ground and another plaque.

"To make progress here, you will need to trigger several switches. Do not worry, I have labelled the ones that you need to flip." Toriel walked away, not even giving you the time to object to something — anything!

You were about to read the sign, but Frisk snatched your wrist — again — and took you to the plaque, insisting on how it was more important.

"Okaaay..."

Ignoring Frisk's weird demeanor, you read the plaque.

'Stay on the path.'

It probably meant the light purple mark that was on the ground.

Following Toriel, you saw the same yellow switch, but this time several arrows were pointing in its direction, and an inscription was near it. Toriel was looking at you two expectantly, waiting for you to press the switch.

You two went near it and you stopped to read the elegant cursive in which it was written, while Frisk pressed the switch.

'Please press this switch.

— TORIEL'

It put a little smile on your face. It was kinda silly but cute.

Toriel went ahead, and you and Frisk followed her.

This time there were two switches, one full of inscriptions, while the other one didn't.

Toriel was waiting for you, standing by the exit, which had spikes sprouting from the ground.

Normal.

This time, Frisk read with you the inscription, and it said:

'Please press this switch too.

— TORIEL'

Frisk, instead, went to the other one and was about to press it, before Toriel started panicking, shaking her head and her voice becoming more and more high-pitched. "No no no! You want to press the other switch. I even labelled it for you..."

You felt a little bad for her since Frisk was obviously just messing around. He had the most joyful smile you had ever seen him with, until now.

He laughed, and you did too, before you finally pressed the real switch, making the spikes on the ground disappear and causing a slight earthquake.

"Splendid! I am proud of you two, little ones. Let us move to the next room."

Toriel and Frisk went ahead, and you tried pressing the false switch just to see what would have happened.

It didn't even work...

You caught up to your companions, finding them looking at a light yellow dummy with visible stitches and buttons for eyes.

"As two humans living in the UNDERGROUND, monsters may attack you," Toriel began. "Both of you will need to be prepared for this situation."

"Will it be difficult?" You didn't know how to feel. You were glad she was helping you two, but at the same time, you didn't want to stay there.

"Worry not! The process is actually simple. When you encounter a monster, you will enter a FIGHT. When you are in a FIGHT, strike up a friendly conversation."

"And if they try to attack us instead?" Remembering how Flowey treated you and Frisk, you wouldn't be surprised if other Monsters did the same.

"Stall for time. I will come to resolve the conflict." It wasn't the best answer, but you were satisfied nonetheless. "Practice talking to the dummy." Toriel went standing in front of the door, while you and Frisk had nothing else to do, but 'strike up a friendly conversation'. However…

What do you say to a dummy?

"Exactly, what do we talk about?" You asked Toriel.

"Oh, do you need some ideas for conversation topics?" After seeing you nod your head, she continued. "Well, I often start with a simple 'how do you do...' You could ask them about their favorite books... Jokes can be useful for 'breaking the ice.'"

"Jokes?"

"Yes! Listen to this one..." Judging by the very big smile on her face, she probably loved this topic. "What did the skeleton tile his roof with?"

"I don't know. What did he tile his roof with?"

"... SHIN-gles!"

It was in a sense pretty lame, but seeing how excited she was, and her willingness to make a joke, it did take a few giggles out of you.

Toriel seemed very, and you meant, very happy by that: she was practically beaming. Both of you looked over at Frisk, who had been quiet the whole time, to see if he was smiling at least a little.

He wasn't. He was stoic.

However, on the inside, he was delighted by the conversation between you and Toriel.

"... Well, I thought it was amusing." Toriel said after the lack of response.

"Don't worry Toriel, it was pretty funny actually. Thank you for the help." Monster or not, it was apparent she was a bit hurt by Frisk's reaction. Couldn't he bother to make a smile, even a fake one?

Toriel seemed relieved at what you said, which made you feel better.

. . .

Undertale OST: 007 —

Anticipation

. . .

The music was replaced by another one. It was way catchier and had a lot of instruments in it, but you could only make out the drums and bass for now.

The same thing as with Flowey happened: a beeping sound, your SOUL got out, everything went black and white, the text box appeared with its numerous inscriptions, yet this time, there were four buttons: FIGHT, resembled by a sword, ACT, by an ultrasound — you guessed? — ITEM, by a coin purse bag, and MERCY, by an 'X'.

This time, the background was all black, with neon green lines forming into squares.

✱ You encountered the Dummy.

Until now, you were just going with whatever was happening around you. With what emotions your brain threw on the wall and saw what it stuck.

But now? You genuinely didn't know what to do. Should you press the buttons? Or just talk? Or let Frisk do it?

Frisk touched the ACT button.

✱ Dummy

It showed the... Dummy's name?

He could help you understand, as he was probably the only one who could keep you grounded to reality.

He chose the name.

The text box now displayed two new options.

✱ Check                                        ✱ Talk

Frisk chose to Check.

✱ DUMMY — ATK 0 DEF 0

✱ A cotton heart and a button eye

✱ You are the apple of my eye.

Uh. Rather... Cute? It was interesting how the text box would show how much damage and defense something or someone had.

The Dummy didn't say anything. Well, obviously, it was a dummy, but still. You met a talking flower and a goat. Anything could happen.

✱ Dummy stands around absentmindedly.

Frisk encouraged you, saying you should talk to it.

So, everyone had one turn?

"Okay, let's see..."

When Frisk chose the ACT button, he also had the option to 'Talk' along with the 'Check' he did. It had to be that.

You chose the ACT button.

✱ Dummy

You chose its name.

✱ Check                                        ✱ Talk

You chose to Talk.

✱ █████ talks to the DUMMY.

✱ ...

You could use the same joke Toriel told you.

"Uh, what did the skeleton tile his roof with?" You tried to recall her pun to the best of your abilities. After a pause, you went on. "SHIN-gles!"

✱ It doesn't seem much for conversation.

✱ TORIEL is happy with you.

Well, you felt like a fool for talking to the Dummy in the first place, but it was nice seeing Toriel content.

✱ YOU WON!

✱ You earned 0 EXP and 0 gold.

EXP? Like, 'Experience Points'? And you could also win money during a FIGHT? How? You'll ask Toriel about that.

. . .

Undertale OST: 005 —

Ruins

. . .

The same music present before the talk with the Dummy played again, and if you weren't mistaken, it resumed right where it stopped.

"Ah, very good! You two are very good!" Toriel's cheerful voice declared.

"Thank you Toriel. I wanted to ask, why did it say that we won EXP and gold?"

"GOLD, or G, is the main currency used in the UNDERGROUND. You can gain it primarily through winning encounters."

"And EXP?"

"I am afraid I... do not know the answer to that, my child."

She didn't look you in the eyes when she said that, and seemed rather unsure, as if she was lying, but why would she do that? You didn't inquire her anymore.

"Follow me, my children." Toriel went to the other room, leaving you and Frisk alone.

Frisk complimented you, saying that you did a good job with the Dummy.

"Oh, you think so? Thanks, but honestly it wasn't that much. This place is fascinating. Sure, the music playing in the background and the whole 'fight system' still creeps me out, but I'm trying not to pay too much attention to it."

He gave you a nod and together you went to the other room.

Notes:

Finding a way to include the text box during the battle system was horrible ദ്ദി(ᵔ ᗜ ᵔ ). It took me so much time, and I had to create a Work Skin, a CSS, and learn a lot of things about HTML. Searching on the Internet, I understood and I did half the work, but there was a problem that made the text box overlap itself. A kind person on Reddit helped me, and I am extremely thankful for what they did!

Chapter 3: Unnecessary Tension And Bonding Time

Summary:

You and Frisk open to each other a little more. Childish games are a great way to do it. Only when you win, obviously.

Notes:

Enjoy!

ʸᵒᵘ ˢʰᵒᵘˡᵈ ʰᵃᵛᵉ ˡⁱˢᵗᵉⁿᵉᵈ ᵗᵒ ʸᵒᵘʳ ⁱⁿˢᵗⁱⁿᶜᵗˢ.

. . .

The next room didn't have anything special: the same purple floor and walls, some lilac markings on the ground showing a path, and masses of vines, with their curly tendrils sticking out.

"There is another puzzle in this room..." Toriel rested her chin on her hand as if she was in deep thought. "I wonder if you two can solve it?"

Frisk said that nothing was difficult for him while puffing his chest out in pride, closing his left hand into a fist, and bringing it to his sternum.

Toriel merely laughed at that, trying to muffle her giggles with a paw, murmuring something under her breath about how Frisk was such a 'brave human'.

She went ahead, and Frisk turned his head in your direction like he was expecting something from you.

"What is it?"

He began ranting about how he was awesome, and how without him you could have never won that FIGHT against the Dummy, or something similar to that.

What? Couldn't he also have his moments of boastfulness?

Frisk hated the idea of fate, of destiny. The thought of someone, something somewhere controlling his every move made him feel like a puppet, and puppets scared him a little. Along with ghosts, and oversized pies.

But...

In the end, it never seemed all that bad.

He didn't know what would happen in the future. Although, for now, They didn't try to do anything too funny.

Maybe they will help him and then leave him alone.

Or maybe not.

You just smirked while rolling your eyes. "Weren't you the one complimenting me not even five minutes ago?"

A sheepish smile formed on his face, and he turned his head away. You both giggled and let the argument drop, following Toriel. As you two went into the hallway, you froze. Everything happened exactly like when you were in a FIGHT.

. . .

Undertale OST: 007 —

Anticipation

. . .

The same music playing during the encounter with the Dummy came back, and in front of you, there was a frog.

An ADORABLE frog, with its big eyes looking at you.

You couldn't tell for sure what were its real colors due to the black and white setting, but it had three black dots on its chest, with a small creature having eyes and a mouth formed into a frown situated between its two front feet, which seemed more like paws.

✱ Froggit attacks you!

You turned your head everywhere to look for Toriel, but you couldn't find her, so you silently pleaded for Frisk to do something that wouldn't be panicking.

Fortunately, he was rather collected and went to touch the ACT button.

✱ Froggit

He chose its name.

✱ Check                           ✱ Compliment

✱ Threat

He chose to Check again.

✱ FROGGIT — ATK 4 DEF 5

✱ Life is difficult for this enemy.

How sad... This Monster was too cute! It didn't deserve a difficult life!

It had a low attack and defense. You were ready to 'compliment' it – as it deserved to – and the sentence on the Text Box just made you feel sympathetic for it, but Toriel immediately went into your line of vision, staring at Froggit with a glare.

The little Monster glanced at Toriel and then slowly went away, eyes shamefully glued to the ground. The small creature below also looked in the same direction.

Toriel squinted her eyes at Froggit like she was expecting it to come again.

✱ YOU WON!

✱ You earned 0 EXP and 0 gold.

. . .

Undertale OST: 005 —

Ruins

. . .

Everything went back to normal again, and the melody that was before the FIGHT came again, resuming from where it left.

Toriel went ahead without another word. You were grateful for her, but why make you and Frisk learn how to 'talk' to Monsters if when you encountered a real one, she didn't want you to interact with them? Maybe this one was dangerous. You still haven't learned your lesson from what happened with Flowey, have you?

Frisk didn't say anything and just followed Toriel. He wasn't even fazed at all.

On the wall, there was another plaque.

'The western room is the eastern room's blueprint.'

Uh... At the moment nothing came into your mind. You were pretty confused by the hint.

Nonetheless, you followed Frisk and Toriel, to find the same spikes planted on the ground as before, only now there were way more. She couldn't possibly want you to know the correct path, right?

"This is the puzzle, but..." Toriel trailed off. She turned to you. "Here, take my hand for a moment."

She grabbed your left hand, and with delight, you found that her paw was very soft — well, maybe it wasn't that much of a surprise — and that she had little claws at the end of each finger too.

"My child, if it is not an issue, could you please take her hand?" She addressed Frisk this time.

He gave her a nod, and without further ado, he did as Toriel asked.

Your left hand was now occupied with Toriel's, while your right one was within Frisk's grasp.

He had... normal Human hands.

"Thank you," Toriel was about to go, only to stop and turn back to you. "Is it fine for us to hold your hand like this?"

"Oh, yes, it's all right, Toriel," she really had a motherly vibe around her. "I appreciate that."

She looked pretty content with your answer, and you three moved on; hand in hand.

Ahead, left, ahead, right, ahead, left, and ahead.

Where you walked, the spikes went down, and when you stepped on them, they didn't hurt at all.

When you finally arrived on the wooden jetty, Toriel removed her paw from your hand, and so did Frisk. You were gonna miss her soft fur. Frisk... Maybe not so much.

"Puzzles seem a little too dangerous for now." That was all Toriel said before going to the other room, with you and Frisk following closely.

You were grateful that she didn't let you manage the puzzle alone. The hints were pretty confusing and you could have gotten hurt badly.

In the next room was an incredibly long hallway, with some vines here and there, and at the end something white... You couldn't make out what it was.

But how come there were so many plants living without sunlight?

"You two have done excellently thus far, my children." Toriel said happily.

You smiled at her. Even if you did nothing extraordinary except the FIGHT with the Dummy, which was something entirely new, it was nice to hear it.

"However... I have a difficult request to ask of you." Her face suddenly became serious.

"What's that?" You couldn't help but be curious about this.

"... I would like you two to walk to the end of the room by yourselves. Forgive me for this."

. . .

Undertale OST: 008 —

Unnecessary Tension

. . .

The calm melody stopped playing entirely, replaced by fast, high-pitched notes, and some low ones. You couldn't understand what instruments they were since they were all electronic.

You could only watch helplessly as Toriel started running to the end of the hallway.

Why did she do that all of a sudden? Were you in trouble? Was something bad going to happen to you?

The music also gave you tension — unnecessary tension — for no reason at all. The short song thrown into a loop became something insanely annoying.

Frisk chased after Toriel without warning, and you were left in the sole company of the purple walls and floors.

Well, better catch up, no?

You tried to follow Frisk, always staying on the path, which sometimes swayed to the left and to the right. You were having just a little fun in this.

The memory you had of something similar was in elementary school when you played with your classmates at 'Humans and Monsters'.

The game consisted of a group of two people: Humans and Monsters. It tried to recreate what happened during the war, with little extra scenes, in particular a chase scene, where the Monsters hunted the Humans down.

It was similar to what was happening, only that now the roles were reversed.

It was ironic, even if nothing too serious happened in both cases. Or, at least, in this one you hoped it would end so.

Fortunately, the corridor finally stopped, with the path ending before a pillar. That was what the white thing was! Frisk stood before said column.

You looked at it too, only to find nothing. No, wait — there was something, or even better, someone.

It was actually Toriel, standing behind the pillar.

You honestly didn't know what to do, so you did the only thing you could think of: talk like you were in a game of Hide and Seek with some children, and pretend not to know where they were, even if they were hidden in very obvious places.

"Toriel, where are you? We went until the end of the room!"

. . .

Undertale OST: 004 —

Fallen Down

. . .

The beautiful melody that played near Toriel, like it was her 'theme', appeared again. It was similar to a blessing after that ear-hurting cacophony.

"Greetings, my children," was the first thing she said after coming out of the column. "Do not worry, I did not leave you. I was merely behind this pillar the whole time. Thank you both for trusting me."

"You're welcome...?" Your response actually sounded more like a question. You didn't completely understand why she wanted you to trust her. Maybe she was worried that you and Frisk would run off?

Toriel just gave you a sweet smile. "However, there was an important reason for this exercise... to test your independence."

"Our independence?"

"Yes. I must attend to some business and you two must stay alone for a while. Please remain here. It is dangerous to explore by yourself."

Some seconds passed. An uneasy feeling came over you. What if Flowey came again?

"I have an idea. I will give you a CELL PHONE," Toriel was smiling brightly. "Unfortunately, I only have one. I hope it is not an issue that you two will have to share."

Frisk was the only one talking this time. He said it was fine for you two to share, then he asked if you agreed with him.

"Yes, it won't be a problem, Toriel."

"Thank you. If you have a need for anything, just call. Be good, alright?"

She came closer and to your surprise, she placed a white cell phone with an antenna, a yellow box, and various black buttons, in your hand. You could hear Frisk slightly huff in irritation at Toriel choosing you.

You and Frisk both nodded, with you adding a little wave to it, and Toriel left.

Even after she was gone, the music was still there.

How could Toriel have a cell phone? Monsters were sealed underground too long ago, even before technology was invented.

And where did she get it? It seemed she made it appear with magic, and... Oh.

She is made of magic, so it would only make sense.

Either way, you remained in your position, with a pretty big cell phone in hand. Frisk went to the pillar and sat down, leaning against it.

"Can I sit down with you?" You didn't want to stand up for as long as Toriel needed to be away.

Frisk said that it was fine, and he moved a little to make more space for you.

"Thank you." You sat down near him, not too close, nor too far, just at a comfortable distance. "I wonder how long Toriel will be away."

Frisk said that he was curious about that too. Then, out of nowhere, he snatched the cell phone from your hand, causing you to yelp. He murmured a quick sorry and started pushing some buttons on the cell phone.

Specifically, Toriel's contact was already in it.

Frisk pressed a button to choose her name, and the cell phone started dialing her number.

After a while, Toriel's voice could be heard. "This is TORIEL."

Frisk responded by saying a simple 'hello'.

"You only wanted to say hello...? Well then. 'Hello!' I hope that suffices. Hee hee." And she closed the call with a click.

Her reaction was nice, but Frisk seemed unsatisfied, as he touched her contact again.

"This is TORIEL."

Frisk still greeted her, but this time...

"Huh? Did you just call me... 'Mom?'" By Toriel's tone of voice, she seemed flustered and in shock. "Well... I suppose... Would that make you happy? To call me... 'Mother?'"

Frisk responded with a firm yes.

"Well then, call me whatever you like!" She closed the call again.

You turned to him. "What are you trying to do?"

He put his left hand out, making a sign to wait.

As you wondered where Frisk was trying to lead this to, he called Toriel again.

She was about to say something, but Frisk was faster and started flirting with her. He said that 'there isn't a word in the dictionary that can explain your type of beauty'.

You snorted the moment those words left his mouth, and tried to silence your laugh. When he told you he flirted with everyone you thought he was just joking, although Frisk amazed you once again with his actions by demonstrating he could flirt with everyone and their mothers too.

"... huh??? Oh, heh... heh... Ha ha ha!" After a series of unintelligible words, Toriel nervously laughed. "How adorable... I could pinch your cheek! You can certainly find better than an old woman like me. For example... your friend there! She seems like a very nice girl. Why don't you try this on her?"

The click of the call was still resonating in the room. Your laugh died on your lips the moment Toriel said that last phrase: you could feel your cheeks getting hotter. Even though Frisk didn't waste a chance to flirt with you, earlier, it was still flattering to hear it.

You didn't dare to look at Frisk, and found great interest in the ground, while he seemed stoic. It wasn't that big of a deal to him. He loved messing with people. It was as simple as that.

He called Toriel, telling you that it would be the last time for now. He still flirted with her, but this time, he chose a slightly sexual route. He said that 'of all your beautiful curves, your smile is my favorite one'.

"Oh dear, are you serious...? And after you said you want to call me 'mother...' You are an..." There was a moment of silence as Toriel carefully chose her next words. "... 'interesting' child."

The call ended.

You couldn't contain your laugh anymore. The awkward moment was still there, but way weaker, it almost disappeared.

Frisk left the cell phone on the ground and joined you in your laugh. You sat there doing so for a good minute, still reminiscing about what happened. He was grateful his attempt to lighten the situation worked.

Everything went silent between you two, the comforting music being the only source of sound.

You focused on the melody, feeling peacefulness at the moment. It was only broken when Frisk asked you why you came to Mt. Ebott. His voice was quiet, just a whisper, similar to the way you would talk with your friends at a sleepover during the small hours, trying to not wake up your parents.

"I think it's because, during my childhood, everyone talked about wanting to see the Monsters after so many years. From bedtime stories to children's games, everything just sparked a sense of interest inside of me. I mean, I still can't believe we met three Monsters now! …What about you?"

He hummed at your response and gave a vague answer, saying that he went because he was adventurous, but didn't explain much. You didn't mind, though, there was a more important doubt.

Collecting the courage, you asked the question you pondered for so long.

"Frisk, I wanted to ask this to you for... Well, since we met. I just hope it's not rude — which in that case, I'm sorry — exactly, how are you able to see?"

He was taken aback, but smiled and put a finger on his lips, saying that he couldn't tell you.

"All right, then. Keep your secrets."

You two talked from little things, like 'what's your favorite color?' or 'what's your favorite food?' to serious things, for example: 'if you could replace all of the grass in the world with something else, what would it be and why?'.

Actually, you liked to engage in small talk. It served to define your relationship with other people and strengthen your bond with them.

Things went smoothly for some time until the cell phone started ringing. It was probably Toriel.

You were the one picking it up this time, but froze when you didn't know what button to press.

"What exactly is the button to accept calls?"

Frisk showed you, and it ended up being the first button on the right.

You pressed the correct button and Toriel's voice could be heard. "Hello! This is TORIEL. My errands are taking longer than I thought they would. You two must wait 5 more minutes."

Oh. That was not a big deal, you wouldn't die if you waited for five more minutes.

"It's fine Toriel, we'll wait."

"Thank you for being patient." And the call ended.

Who knew what hour it was? The cell phone didn't seem to have a clock integrated.

"Well, Toriel said that we'll have to wait a little more."

Frisk asked if it wouldn't be better to just leave and explore for yourselves.

"Are you sure? Maybe it's better if we wait for a little more. What if she comes and doesn't find us?"

He accepted your words, shrugging slightly his shoulders.

One minute or so passed. You and Frisk haven't done anything since Toriel called.

Yet, out of nowhere, Frisk asked you if you wanted to play 'I spy'.

"That game? Fine, I guess. Who starts?"

It was pretty childish, but it was one of the best options, as you two couldn't do much.

Frisk started tapping his finger up and down on the ground, asking to go first.

He really liked this game, uh? You never saw someone so excited to play 'I spy', least of all, an adult.

"Sure, why not."

He gave you a bright smile, thanking you, and looked around. He said that 'he spied with his little eye something... white.'

There was only one thing white in the whole room. Too easy.

"The pillar behind us?"

To your surprise, Frisk shook his head, saying that it was the cell phone. You forgot that the cell phone was white.

Frisk gave you a smug smile, asking you how it felt to lose.

"Whatever. I don't want to play this game anymore."

Crossing your arms and looking somewhere else, you wondered about a new game to play, a fair one, where you could win, while Frisk only giggled like a schoolgirl.

Your thoughts were interrupted by another phone call.

You picked up the cell phone and pressed the button to accept calls.

"Hello... This is TORIEL. I found what I was looking for."

"Well, that's great, no? Are you coming anytime soon?"

"I am afraid I will not, because before I could take it... A small, white puppy snatched it away."

"A puppy?" A dog Monster, which is a little white puppy? That would be super cute!

"Yes. How odd. Do dogs even LIKE flour? Err, that is an unrelated question, of course," you smiled a little at what she said. "It will take a little longer. Please understand."

"It's fine, don't worry."

"Thank you, small one." And the call ended.

"We have to wait more because a dog took Toriel's flour, but that's good, so I can beat you at another game!" You returned your attention to Frisk. He was surprised to see your change in demeanor but smiled nonetheless.

He asked you what game you wanted to play.

"What about 'rock, paper scissors'?"

He arched a brow at your question. Your game seemed even sillier than the one he proposed. However, he agreed.

You two settled yourselves, now facing each other. You thought about your move. You could use paper, but what if he used scissors? Then you would use scissors too, but what if he used rock? Then you would use rock! But what if he used paper!?

After having an internal war inside yourself, you decided to settle on your first choice: paper.

"Ready?"

You received a nod from Frisk, and that's all you needed.

"Rock! Paper! Scissors!" Both of you said aloud, raising your dominant hand in a fist and swinging it down with each word. You two 'threw' on the third count — scissors — by extending it towards each other.

You: your faithful paper.

Frisk: scissors.

"Aw, c'mon. It's unfair! Let's do it again!"

It's not like you hated losing or anything — yeah, okay, maybe just a little, but it was unfair!

Frisk had no idea how it was unfair, but decided it would be better if he didn't ask you.

You now chose that you will throw rock.

This time it was Frisk asking you if you were ready.

"Born ready."

He smiled at that.

"Rock! Paper! Scissors!"

As before, Frisk won. He threw paper.

"I hate this game." All the confidence you had was shattered instantly, replaced by a feeling of hatred.

Frisk looked at you confused and said that you were the one deciding to play this.

"I know. But it's not funny if you don't win." You crossed your arms. You were probably acting like a kid right now, but you didn't care. The whole thing about 'participation being more important than winning' was all a lie.

Well, it was important for young children to teach them the beauty of hard work and having joy together, where the game is the tool to learn and discover yourself and the surrounding world, but as an adult? Yeah, no.

Frisk started laughing at your behavior, but not to deride you, more than anything else, to the fact that he found your method of coping with your losses hilarious.

He asked if you wanted to play for the last time.

"Fine."

You already chose paper and rock, only scissors were left, and that was what you chose.

Frisk knew well what you were going to throw, and he used it to your advantage. You… weren't the most skillful and unpredictable person at playing games, were you?

Frisk once again asked if you were ready.

"Yes. Rock! Paper! Scissors!"

Frisk threw paper.

It took a moment to register, but the second it did, you were smiling brightly. "I won! Finally! I'm so good at this game." Puffing out your chest in pride, and putting a hand on it. You took less than five seconds to go from nearly being a misanthrope to bragging about a win technically gained dishonestly.

Frisk started softly clapping his hands, and said how good you were, while internally sweating and only now realizing who he had to deal with.

"Yeah, I know, I kno—" The sound of the cell phone ringing made your attention snap back to it. It should be Toriel. Maybe she will come back now.

What you heard certainly wasn't what you expected. There was heavy panting at the other end of the phone, and suddenly... Barking.

You heard a distant voice.

"Stop, please! Come back here with my CELL PHONE!"

And the call ended.

Frisk saw your expression and asked you what happened.

"Do you remember that I said a dog took Toriel's flour?"

Frisk gave you a nod.

"It seems that it also took her cell phone."

He briefly laughed at that, and asked you if you wanted to finally go out and explore.

"Are you sure? Wouldn't it be safer to wait for Toriel?"

He responded by saying that Toriel might take even hours to get here, and that it would only be a waste of time.

"If you say so..." You weren't absolutely convinced by his sophistical words, but agreed nonetheless.

He asked you if you could give him the cell phone.

"Sure."

... You didn't really expect him to ridiculously shove it into his pocket. But he did. And it formed a big bulge.

You and Frisk got up from the pillar, while dusting your clothes off, and walked to the door before you caught something with the corner of your eye.

You turned your head, and you swore you saw something yellow behind you, retreating immediately into the ground.

Could it be what you thought it was...?

"Hey, Frisk."

He stopped and looked at you, asking what was wrong.

"Maybe I'm mistaken, but I think I just saw Flowey."

You were scared, yet by what exactly? You wanted to think that you feared Flowey trying to hurt you or Frisk again.

Only then, you remembered his words again, the 'it's kill or be killed.' Was he scared himself? Yet, painting his image as being just an innocent talking flower and then trying to take your life was an awful move di per sé.

You expected Frisk to reassure you, instead, he said that it may be that Flowey was following you, but not to worry, since now you two knew his tricks.

"I hope you are right." With a defeated sigh from your nose, you and Frisk exited the room.

Notes:

This took me SO much time, I'm sorry! Happy 2023! And I wanted to thank everyone who read my work, even a few lines, and gave kudos! I have many things planned for this story, especially at what happens before entering Snowdin :>

Chapter 4: Exploring The Ruins With This Guy

Summary:

What's the best way to spend your time stuck in the RUINS if not by bearing with Frisk and those constant FIGHTs?

Notes:

This took me so much! I'm sorry, but originally this was gonna be a very long chapter (more or less 12k words), but I decided to split it in half in the end.

ᴴᵒʷᵉᵛᵉʳ...

. . .

Undertale OST: 005 —

Ruins

. . .

Toriel's 'theme' was replaced by the other melody, but this time, it was playing from the beginning.

As soon as you and Frisk stepped foot into the room, the cell phone rang. Frisk took it out of his pocket and beckoned for you to come closer. He then accepted the call, and Toriel's voice could be heard again.

"Hello? Hello? This is TORIEL. My apologies. A strange dog kidnapped my phone. So if you called, I could not have helped you. However, I have recovered it. And you two are still in that room, are you not?"

Frisk lied, saying that you didn't go out.

"What good children you are. There are a few puzzles ahead that I have yet to explain. It would be dangerous to try solve them yourself. Be good, alright?"

He understood and closed the call, putting the cell phone back into his pocket.

You clasped your hands. "Are you sure it's a good idea to lie to her? What if she comes and doesn't find us?"

He said it would be fine, and that Toriel won't get mad.

"Well, if you say so."

You absolutely weren't going to take the blame if anything happened.

Finally, you could take a good look at your surroundings: three big masses of red leaves were on the floor, one ahead of you, along the same yellow sparkle twisting on itself, and two on your right. A corridor led to another room on your left, and a light purple path to another room, down the corridor.

But most importantly of all… there was another Froggit. In the end, the colors of the Froggit were actually white, with black sclera, white pupils, and black triangles on its chest.

You still kept your distance from it, remembering the one who tried to fight you and Frisk earlier.

It just croaked.

Or, at least, that's what you heard before you could alarmingly understand it.

(Excuse me, humans. I have some advice for you about battling monsters.) It was weird, it was like its voice was in your head.

Frisk was as stoic as always, before he seemed to get bored by the frog, and went to play in the pile of red leaves near the sparkle.

Should you be talking to the frog, or thinking about your answer? You chose the former.

"Uhm, sure. What is it?"

(If you ACT a certain way or FIGHT until you almost defeat them... They might not want to battle you anymore. If a monster does not want to fight you, please... Use some MERCY, human.)

"Oh," was all you could say. "We will... Don't worry."

You didn't want to hurt the Monsters that lived here. Who would do something like that? The only time in which attacking was more or less justified, was when it was for self-defense.

For now, the ACT button and the 'MERCY' one, seemed to be the best ones to deal with Monsters' attacks.

But returning to the Froggit in front of you. It was lovely. The way its eyes looked at you with so much innocence — or maybe, not so much — oddly melted your heart.

You were debating between patting it on the head or not. You didn't want to make it uncomfortable, but a little pat never hurt. You tested the waters, and finally, you decided what to do.

Crouching, you gave it a few pats on the head, as you would to a dog. "Thank you for telling us." Its skin was smooth and a little moist. It felt strange to the touch, but you've felt worse.

A terrific thought made you slow down your movements.

Didn't Human hands have natural salts and oils that could irritate a frog's skin?

Before you could do something, Froggit only nuzzled into your hand, croaking again in what you guessed was appreciation. The little creature between its paws was closing its eyes, and it seemed that even it, was happy with the caresses.

Your heart definitely melted at that.

As much as you just wanted to snuggle the frog — and its little friend attached to its body, you guessed— all day, you had other things to do. Reluctantly, you pulled your hand away and stood up. You gave the Monster a little wave with a smile, before following Frisk.

Froggit's eyes never left your form, sad it got to experience the warmth of your hand so briefly, but excited and hopeful to meet you again.

It didn't understand what you said to it, but it appreciated the gesture nonetheless. Maybe it could tell its other friends about the kind human. And just like that, the frog left the room to go spread the news to other monsters living in the RUINS.

You felt the same attraction as before to the yellow sparkle, but you didn't know if it would do whatever it did with Frisk.

You touched it.

Nothing happened.

Heaving a sigh, you turned to Frisk. He was jumping on the leaves, kicking and crushing them, like a toddler, with a big smile on his face.

It was an endearing sight, more or less. Seeing a young man so happy by playing with nature wasn't certainly something you would see every day.

"Having fun?" You asked.

Frisk stopped and nodded feverishly, saying that you should do it too.

"Fine. Let's see what's so entertaining about it." You rolled your eyes, but it was mostly in a joking manner.

You went on the same patch of leaves as Frisk and at the beginning, you kicked them half-heartedly, yet you quickly began to do it with joy, finding it oddly fun.

Frisk watched you contentedly before joining you.

It was fun to play with the red leaves, the crunchy rustling sound they made and your and Frisk's laughter almost overpowered the melody in the background. You felt safe and carefree, experiencing a strong sense of well-being, as if you were deeply connected to Frisk and the rest of the world. It truly was like you were a child again.

After what felt like mere seconds, but it was probably a couple of minutes, you two slowed down your movements until you stopped completely, still giggling euphorically due to the dopamine and serotonin flowing in your veins.

"All right, all right, it was fun, I'm not gonna lie."

Frisk responded with a 'see? I told you!'.

Your gaze trailed back to the 'Save Point,' wanting to touch it, but you couldn't.

"Can you do the thing that you did before? For some reason, I can't do it."

He raised his eyebrows and turned his head to the sparkle. He touched it, and just like last time, he started zoning out.

"This is still weird, I don't think I'm ever gonna get used to it..." You murmured to yourself, as you crossed your arms, and turned to your right.

Where did the Froggit go? You haven't heard it move.

A tap on your shoulder made you snap your attention back to Frisk.

"Did you finish?"

He nodded his head, before asking you if you wanted to go to the closer door, instead of the further one.

"Sure, why not."

While walking, a beeping sound could be heard, and everything went dark.

You were in another FIGHT.

. . .

Undertale OST: 009 —

Enemy Approaching

. . .

New music came. The base and percussion used the same melody that played during the encounter with the Dummy and the first Froggit you ever saw. The instruments were very electronic, and overall, it made pumped you up.

In front of you was another little frog. You didn't know whether it was the same one as before or another one, though.

✱ Froggit hopped close!

There wasn't any need to Check again, no?

Frisk encouraged you to Compliment Froggit.

You gave him a nod and touched the ACT button.

✱ Froggit

You touched the Monster's name.

✱ Check                           ✱ Compliment

✱ Threat

You chose to Compliment. But what could you say?

"You look very cute today, Froggit!"

✱ Froggit didn't understand what █████ said, but was flattered anyway.

Froggit croaked while looking to the side, a warm, red blush coating its cheeks, its nostrils were flaring constantly, while the little Monster continued to blink.

Awww, you made a frog blush!

However, five small flies came one after another to your and Frisk's SOULs.

Frisk yelled at you to watch out for the attacks, while he changed position.

The flies buzzed relentlessly.

Surprisingly fast and tiny, they were hard to keep track of.

You moved away just in time before one could hit your SOUL.

It lingered there, before it moved towards your SOUL again.

And then, everything ended.

✱ Froggit seems reluctant to fight you.

Monsters could attack too during a FIGHT? Well, it was a fight, so it was obvious, but still...

Frisk touched for the first time since you two fell, the MERCY button.

✱ Spare

✱ Flee

It displayed two new options. The first one, 'Spare', being in yellow.

He chose to Spare.

The music was interrupted by another sound. It reminded you of the wind howling. When you were little, you liked to imagine the wind was the tired sigh made by an old gentleman from the skies above, lonely and weary. A fond memory of simpler times.

Dust raised and the figure of the Monster became almost transparent, as Froggit's pupils vanished and those of the little Monster became dilated.

✱ YOU WON!

✱ You earned 0 EXP and 2 gold.

Everything went back to normal.

This was the first Monster you and Frisk ever encountered in a FIGHT without Toriel's help, and it didn't even end badly!

. . .

Undertale OST: 005 —

Ruins

. . .

The music changed again.

The first thing you saw when passing the door, was a pedestal holding a bowl of various pieces of colorful candy. Leaves put together to form the shape of a square were encircling it, while a mass of vines was behind. There were also two little rivers on the right and left sides.

Who put the bowl of candy there in the first place? Maybe it was Toriel?

You looked at yourself in the crystalline water of the river on the left. Thankfully your face and hair still seemed good and in place. You were in this only... for what? Thirty minutes? An hour? Five days? Who knows what would happen in the future.

Leaving your reflection, you looked at the bowl. It had a note.

'Take one.'

You didn't even have time to register what was happening, that Frisk went straight to the candy, taking definitely more than one — a handful of it — to the point where the bowl fell, making the candy spill onto the floor.

He felt like the scum of the earth, but... Candy.

"Wow. Look at what you've done. Do you like candy that much?"

He said that he did, in fact, love candy.

He shoved all of it into his pockets, then he took one out of the dozens he had, took your hand, and put it on your palm.

You looked at him with a deadpan expression, while he smiled brightly. "Thanks, I guess..."

He patted your back, saying that you didn't have to thank him, and went out of the room.

He was amazing. He knew that.

Well, all right then. He could have at least given you a little more. 'Sharing is caring', where?

You studied the piece of candy in your still-open palm. The casing was green, and in white letters, there was written 'Monster Candy'.

Uh, so Monsters had their own brand of sweets?

Opening the casing, you found a candy of the same green color inside. What a coincidence. It had the same shade of green as your SOUL.

You put it in your mouth. It was one of those candies with a hard shell. You let it melt into your mouth, stimulating it a little with your tongue...

It tasted like nothing, unfortunately.

However, you felt a little better. Some tired muscles you had, weren't annoying you anymore. You also felt better emotionally. That was incredible!

Although you didn't know where to toss the casing, and dirtying the place wasn't a nice option, you kept it in your hand for the moment.

There was still the candy spilled onto the floor. Frisk carelessly went out of the room without cleaning the mess.

You debated a little, but eventually, you decided to do what Frisk didn't.

Crouching down, you took the bowl with one hand and turned it upside-down, before gathering all the spilled candy and gradually putting it inside the bowl. Once you were done, you grabbed the bowl — now half full — and put it in its right place, on the pedestal and went out of the room.

Frisk was waiting for you at the end of the room, eating those candies.

You walked near him and saw just how 'good' he organized the candy: in his left pocket were the ones that still needed to be eaten, while in his right pocket, at least more than five casings of candy resided.

How much were his pockets able to contain?

When he spotted you, he quickly chewed the candy and swallowed it, asking why you took so long.

"I put the bowl back in its place." You wanted to tell Frisk that he could have at least done it himself, since he was the one who spilled the candy, but decided it was best not to argue with him right now.

He gave you a nod, took another candy, opened it, and ate it, while putting the casing in his right pocket. Well, he had a lot of sweets in a short period, you just hoped he wouldn't have a stomach ache or something.

"You keep the casing of the candy in your pocket?"

He gave you a nod, and after noticing you too had one crunched up in your hand, he asked if you wanted to give it to him.

"Oh. I guess, if you don't have a problem? I mean, I'm fine at keeping it."

He said it was okay.

"If you say so..." You gave the casing to him, and he put it in his right pocket, along with the others.

Your nose scrunched up a little at that, but you were thankful anyway. "Thank you."

Frisk gave you another nod and was about to take another candy, when you interrupted him.

"Maaaybe it's better if you stop eating so much candy; it's bad for your health. Why don't you keep it for later?" You asked him.

It may be tasteless, but who knows if it contained the same amount of sugar as a normal candy would. Better be safe than sorry.

He looked at you with raised eyebrows, but then he smiled, saying that you were right, and took his hand out of his pocket.

You smiled in return. "C'mon, let's go."

And with that, you two went to the other room. It was normal. Nothing out of the ordinary, except for the two chutes — you guessed they were — on the wall.

You could see something at the beginning of the other room, with it being similar to the puzzle consisting of spikes Toriel helped you with.

If you squinted your eyes you could make out it more clearly—

A sickening sense of no longer being supported by your feet took over, your heart rate and blood pressure increased, and your backside made contact with a pile of other red leaves, as a few of them flew off from the sudden force of the air.

Should he have told you?

You could have died. But thankfully, the leaves broke your fall. Just like the golden flowers. It was a very high fall... Where was Frisk?

The sound of a muffled 'tuff!' and of rustling leaves caught your attention and you looked behind you. Frisk was still on his feet. Wow.

"What happened?"

He gave you an awkward smile, saying that you fell and hurt yourself and that he tried to warn you but it was too late.

Maybe he should have told you.

You made a fool of yourself for the first time in front of Frisk.

(It was not actually the first.)

How embarrassing... But, hey! You were fine! It was the only thing that mattered... You guessed.

"Oh." You looked to the side, not wanting to make eye contact with him. Why were your eyelashes batting so quickly?

Frisk was about to offer you his hand, but you got up before he could.

The room was rather plain: it only had a mass of red leaves — you were extremely grateful they were there — and two doors on each side, leading to who-knows-where.

Wait. Before you fell there were two chutes, which seemed to be parallel to the doors. Think. By that logic, the door on the right was the correct one.

"We should go to the door on the right, what do you think?"

He gave you a nod and you started slowly walking towards the door, testing your legs. They were absolutely fine. You accelerated and walked alongside Frisk.

They had to admit. It was amazing how you picked up on everything so fast.

Almost magically — or, maybe, definitely magically — the door transported you two on some kind of short slide. It was fun for a couple of nanoseconds until you fell on the ground with your butt — again — along with Frisk.

With a frown, you got up, massaging your lower back. This time it hurt a little, but not to the point where it was unbearable. The pain would fade eventually in a few seconds.

Frisk got up too, giggling.

"Well, that was certainly something." You said, while turning your head to look back at the chute you fell from.

Now you were by the other side of the room, and by closer inspection, you could see that there were indeed cracks on the floor.

So, it was like a puzzle, more or less? A mean one, but still, a puzzle. But who could be this cruel to try and do something like that?

Either way, you went to the other room, with Frisk following behind you.

Except for the 'barrier' made of spikes, there was a rock, which you presumed, waited to be pushed onto a switch. A plaque was in between two vines.

But before you could do anything, the cell phone rang. Frisk picked it and you went near him to listen.

"Hello? This is TORIEL. For no reason in particular... Which one do you two prefer? Cinnamon or butterscotch?" 

Frisk said his preference.

Looking at him, you whispered. "You also like that one too?"

He gave a nod, smiling.

"Oh, I see. Thank you very much!" Toriel happily answered.

And the call ended.

You wondered why she asked that question. Maybe she is baking something for you and Frisk? Earlier she said that she had bought flour, so...

"Do you think she is making us a cake?"

Frisk said that it could be, and didn't add anything else. He didn't put the cell phone back into his pocket.

You were only able to make two steps before the cell phone rang again.

"Hello? This is TORIEL. You two do not DISLIKE the other one, do you? I know what your preference is, but... Would you turn up your noses if you found it on your plates?"

So, the hypothesis about her wanting to bake something for you could be considered true? That was sweet!

Pun intended.

Frisk asked you what you thought. 

"Hm? Oh, for me it's fine, I wouldn't complain."

He returned to the cell phone and said that it wouldn't be a problem for either of you, and that Toriel shouldn't be worrying so much.

"Right, right, I understand. Thank you both for being patient, by the way."

The call ended, and Frisk put the cell phone back into his pocket.

You went to the plaque on the wall, reading it.

'Three out of four grey rocks recommend you push them.'

You chuckled, amused. It reminded you of those ads where 'nine dentists out of ten' recommended a new toothpaste.

Well, you just had to push the rock, and—

Never mind, Frisk already did that.

The spikes on the floor deactivated, clearing the path.

But before you could take a step, another FIGHT was triggered.

. . .

Undertale OST: 009 —

Enemy Approaching

. . .

The same song during the encounter with Froggit played again, and before you was a moth-like Monster, with two drooping antennae, two small wings, two little arms and legs, and its body shape resembled that of a ghost. It had an open frowning mouth, with its eyes closed, and with dots under them.

✱ Whimsun approached meekly!

It was... sad. It seemed ready to burst into tears at any given moment, and its wings seemed to not support its entire weight.

"What do we do?" You asked Frisk. "Do you want to... 'Check' again?"

He said that he didn't need to.

Frisk touched the ACT button.

✱ Whimsun

He chose the Monster's name — which you noted was in yellow. Just like Froggit's before.

✱ Check                           ✱ Console

✱ Terrorize

Frisk won't terrorize the poor Monster, right?

To your relief, he chose to Console.

He just said 'I—'

✱ Halfway through FRISK's first word, Whimsun bursts into tears and runs away.

Another wave of dust rose, and the Monster became transparent, just like how it happened with Froggit.

✱ YOU WON!

✱ You earned 0 EXP and 0 gold.

Everything went back to normal.

. . .

Undertale OST: 005 —

Ruins

. . .

Frisk put a reassuring hand on your shoulder, saying that you didn't need to feel bad about that monster.

"How am I supposed not to? It literally started crying and ran away."

He tried to resonate with you, insisting that it was just the monster's nature to do so.

You absentmindedly hummed at that and tried to change the subject. "You're probably right. Let's go see what's over there."

You went into the other room, with Frisk following you.

... Not another chute!

The hallway was rather long, with a chute on the wall on the left side. This time, the cracks on the floor were way more noticeable, and they seemed to extend to the entire hallway.

"Is there a correct path or something?"

Frisk nodded, saying that it may be, and asked you what you wanted to do.

"You know, since if it weren't for those leaves before, I would have probably died, because I'm stupid and didn't notice the cracks in the ground, this time I'm gonna be careful."

Frisk shook his head in a playful — more or less — manner. If his eyes were open, you guessed he would have rolled them.

"My ass still hurts, you know!" You yelled at him, before you went just before the cracks began, taking a deep breath and stepping on one.

As you expected, it was a trap, and you fell.

This time, though, you were prepared.

You tried your best to fall on your legs. When you landed, there was a crunching sound. Your ankles didn't hurt.

More importantly, you didn't land on your butt.

This time you won. Take that, Ruins.

Snapping your attention away from your victory, you glanced at Frisk, who landed beside you a few seconds later, landing too with his legs.

The layout of the room was exactly the same as the one before, only that numerous red leaves were scattered on the floor, leaving only a little piece bare of leaves, as if forming some kind of path. Maybe for how to pass the cracks above?

Frisk started stepping on the leaves — again — and you noticed there was another plaque on the wall.

'Please don't step on the leaves.'

So, by that logic, where the leaves weren't was the correct way to pass.

Or someone didn't want anyone to walk on the leaves. You hoped for the former.

"Frisk, I think we should—" you turned to him, only to find him laid on his back on the leaves, his limbs spread like a star. "... Nevermind."

So. On the far left, go ahead until you reach the end of the room, turn to the right, take at least three steps, turn to the right again, and walk ahead until the end of the room, turn left, go ahead until the end of the room, turn right, take three steps, and you're done.

You got this.

"Let's go, Frisk, I know how to pass this puzzle."

Not even looking to see if Frisk got up, you went to the door. The same experience you had before, happened again, and you found yourself on the short slide, this time, you were able to fall on your feet.

As you moved to the cracks, you thought about the correct path over and over again.

You stopped just before they began, waiting for Frisk.

A couple of seconds later, he finally came, with red leaves in his hair.

You snickered a little at that, at which Frisk furrowed his eyebrows. "Sorry, it's just that you have some leaves in your hair."

He looked surprised, before passing — rather abruptly — his hands on his locks, and shaking his head. He looked like a puppy trying to remove water trapped in its fur.

The actions caused a lot of leaves to fall on the ground, except for one.

"Oh, you still have one left." You pointed to the place it was, on your head.

Frisk tried to mimic your movement, but failed in removing it.

"Okay, wait a second." You stretched your arm, carefully took out the leaf, and threw it on the ground. "There, all done. Now, follow my steps."

Frisk followed you closely from behind.

On the far left, go ahead until you reach the end of the room, turn to the right, take at least three steps, turn to the right again and walk ahead until the end of the room, and turn left. You took the time to go on the little patch of leaves, and to read the plaque on the wall

'Didn't you read the sign downstairs?'

Oh.

Go ahead until the end of the room, turn right, take three steps, and you're done!

"That was easy, no?"

Frisk nodded, saying that you did a good job.

"Thank you, thank you... I know."

The new room was similar to the one with the rock, but now there were three of them. Another river would have hindered the exit, if it weren't for a wooden bridge to help you pass. Not so thankfully, there were other spikes on said wooden bridge.

"I take the first and third rock and you take the second one?"

Frisk said that it was fine for him. He was curious.

As you were about to go to the first one, another FIGHT triggered.

You were tired!

. . .

Undertale OST: 009 —

Enemy Approaching

. . .

That song. Once again.

Before you were two Monsters, which bore the resemblance to a... gelatin?

✱ Moldsmal and Moldsmal block the way.

They slowly moved, as if they were breathing.

Frisk asked you if he could be the one to take care of the first Moldsmal, while you did the second one.

"Sure, it's not a problem."

Frisk touched the ACT button.

✱ Moldsmal A

✱ Moldsmal B

Both of their names were in yellow, just like Whimsun's one.

He chose the Moldsmal A.

✱ Check                           ✱ Imitate

✱ Flirt

He chose to Flirt, and... he started to sway his hips from left to right.

✱ FRISK wiggles his hips.

✱ Moldsmal wiggles back.

✱ What a meaningful conversation!

Frisk turned to you with a goofy grin, suggesting to you that you should do the same thing he did.

"Do I have to?" It was kind of embarrassing.

He forcefully nodded.

You huffed from your mouth, before touching the ACT button.

✱ Moldsmal A

✱ Moldsmal B

You chose the Moldsmal B.

✱ Check                           ✱ Imitate

✱ Flirt

Couldn't you just 'Imitate' it?

You chose to Imitate.

... Well. What now?

Both Moldsmals and Frisk were waiting for you.

You sat down and hugged your knees, remaining as still as possible. The ground was smooth, yet black, making a sharp contrast with the green squares of the background.

The Moldsmal you had to fight stopped moving.

✱ █████ sits down immobile with Moldsmal. She feels like she understands the world a little better.

Yes... It was very nice...

The Moldsmals made wet and slimy sounds.

Several pellets started falling from above.

You got up quickly and tried to move in places where you wouldn't get hit, while Frisk did the same.

Fortunately, the pellets didn't follow your movements, but they exploded into circles of smaller pellets. A weak 'boom!' was emitted every time the pellets multiplied.

You scrambled from your place and moved to the left, before one could hit your SOUL.

A faint odor of sour candy filled the air. It was a very striking scent.

The attacks ceased.

✱ Moldsmal waits pensively.

Frisk began to run and touched the MERCY button.

✱ Spare

✱ Flee

He chose to Spare.

✱ YOU WON!

✱ You earned 0 EXP and 2 gold.

It finally ended.

. . .

Undertale OST: 005 —

Ruins

. . .

These attacks were harder to dodge than Froggit's ones. It was amazing how neither you nor Frisk got hit during all these FIGHTs.

"Finally! I am so tired. I just want to lie on the ground and sleep."

Frisk slightly chuckled, commenting on how it was something he would love to do too.

You looked at your surroundings.

Right. You still had to move the rocks.

Sleeping could come later.

You went to the first one and contemplated between pushing it or lifting it until the switch. You remembered Frisk pushing it earlier, so you chose to do that. Frisk did the same with the second one.

It was heavy, obviously.

Either way, you were able to push it until the switch, and were headed to the third one.

Before you could put your hands on it, a voice interrupted you.

"WHOA there, pardner! Who said you could push me around?"

Did a rock just talk to you? And in a southern accent?

At this point, you weren't even sure if you should be surprised or not.

You put your hands behind your back. "Oh. Could you please move a little... Sir?"

"HMM? So you're ASKIN' me to move over?"

You nodded.

"Okay, just for you, pumpkin."

The rock moved, albeit very little. It was like it pushed itself — which is probably what it did.

"Maybe... A little more? Please?"

"HMM? You want me to move some more? Alrighty, how's this?"

Instead of going forward, it went left.

"Not like that!"

"HMM? That was the wrong direction? Okay, think I got it."

It finally went all the way to the switch, and the spikes on the bridge were deactivated.

"Was that helpful?" It asked.

"Yes. Thank you, Mr. Rock."

You can't believe you just talked to a rock. And also called it 'Mr'.

Frisk was watching the scene rather amused, a small smirk present on his face. 

You turned away from the Monster and back to Frisk.

"It seems we can go now."

Frisk nodded, but didn't hide his smile at all, and you two headed to the exit.

But before you could step on the bridge, the spikes came back, making you flinch backward, surprised.

A second later and you would have been impaled.

You walked to the rock, and it was actually away from the button, while Frisk remained near the spikes.

"Could you please stay still?" You were trying to be nice, even though you had been one step away from death, and certainly, the Monster Candy couldn't make you revive.

"HMM? You wanted me to STAY there? You're giving me a real workout."

And it went to the switch again.

"Aren't things easier when you just ask?" It inquired.

You nervously chuckled; it didn't have bad intentions, after all. "Yeah, I guess you're right. Thank you."

"Anytime, girl."

When you turned to Frisk, you found him already near the door, waiting for you.

When you caught up with him, he turned around, and you two went to the other room.

So, that was the fourth rock that didn't agree with getting pushed!

Another sparkle was there, along with a short wooden table and a cheese on it. A tiny hole was in the wall.

Frisk ignored the sparkle and went directly to the cheese, and started... petting it. Like it was an animal.

"Ew, Frisk, that's so gross! Who knows how long it's been here for!"

He shrugged off your concerns with a hand, while continued touching the cheese with the other and said that it was fine.

... You hoped with every cell of your body he wouldn't touch you.

That cheese seemed to have been there for quite a long time, and to be stuck to the table... What was it there for?

Letting Frisk do his weird things, you went to the sparkle and touched it.

Obviously, nothing happened!

You sighed from your mouth, and turned around, only to be greeted with a pointed snout, right before your face. You were caught off guard, and stumbled backward, yelling just a little — okay, maybe a little too much.

A burst of laughter took you out of your frightened state.

Calming down, you noticed that the snout belonged to a tiny little mouse, with Frisk holding it with one hand, and covering his face with the other one.

He was laughing like he heard the best joke in the world, while the poor animal — Monster? — squeaked frantically.

Where did he find a mouse in the first place? And why was he holding it!?

Now, you definitely hoped he wouldn't touch you.

"Where did you find it?"

Instead of answering you, he snapped a little piece of the cheese, and went to the little hole in the wall. He put the mouse down with the piece of cheese, not without petting the animal. The mouse took the piece of cheese with its paws, and retreated into the darkness.

Frisk was absolutely sure he was filled with determination in that moment.

He turned to you with a big smile, asking if what happened was cool.

"I—I guess?" Not. "Just tell me you're gonna wash your hands later. Please."

He chuckled at your statement, saying that he might do it or not, he didn't know.

Rolling your eyes, you turned your head to the sparkle, remembering that Frisk didn't 'Save'.

"Either way, are you gonna touch this?" You asked, pointing at the Save Point.

Frisk gave you a nod and touched the sparkle.

You turned to look at the hole that belonged to the mouse. Were there other mice there?

Out of the corner of your eye, you saw Frisk moving and taking another small piece of cheese and putting it in his mouth...

"Oh my goodness..." You whispered so lowly, that you barely even heard yourself.

Why did you get stuck with him?

Frisk turned to you and asked you if you were ready to go to the other room.

"Yeah... Lead the way."

You tried to suppress a retch as you followed him.

Notes:

I genuinely can't wait to get to a certain point... Maybe in the future (˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶)

Chapter 5: A New House?

Summary:

After exploring the remaining of the Ruins, you and Frisk find yourselves in a slight misunderstanding with Toriel. Maybe sleeping will help you clear your mind.

Notes:

Here it is, finally! The Ruins arc is coming at its end. Just two or three more chapters.

ᴵˢ ⁱᵗ ʳᵉᵃˡˡʸ ᵗʰᵃᵗ ᵇᵃᵈ?

. . .

The walls twisted themselves, curving in different positions. But something lying in a mass of leaves caught your attention...

A ghost. Now that was interesting.

They were the simple and normal white-looking ghost, with no arms, and two glassy eyes with black sclera and white pupils. A thin black line separated the eyes.

You and Frisk glanced at each other before you carefully went to the Monster. They were saying 'z' out loud repeatedly.

You thought you heard them asking something about you and Frisk being gone yet.

"Uhm. What do we do?" You whispered to Frisk.

He had a frown on his face — for some reason — and overall, he didn't look very happy.

"Frisk...? We can always walk around them."

He ignored you and with heavy steps and clenched fists, walked to the ghost. A feeling in your gut told you that what was going to happen next wouldn't be pleasing.

And indeed, it wasn't.

To your horror and surprise, he began kicking the poor Monster, to which they moaned with discomfort. Before you could say anything, a FIGHT was triggered.

. . .

Undertale OST: 010 —

Ghost Fight

. . .

Another music started playing.

The main melody, in the beginning, consisted of chords, while a bass completed everything.

The background changed slightly: this time, not everything was in green lines forming squares, but rectangles of various lengths, while behind the ghost it was all black.

✱ Here comes Napstablook.

A ghostly — still pun intended — voice sang the principal melody now. This piece had a lot of jazz influences. It could have been amazing to listen to.

If you weren't in a FIGHT right now, that was it.

You took a deep breath and made the first move.

You touched the ACT button.

✱ Napstablook

You chose their name.

✱ Check                           ✱ Flirt

✱ Threat                           ✱ Cheer

Why could you Flirt with every Monster here? What even was the purpose of that?

Napstablook, meanwhile, had a very distant expression in their glassy eyes.

You chose to Cheer. Actions could speak louder than words.

✱ █████ gave Napstablook a patient smile.

"heh..." It looked like they were trying to laugh.

You felt a pair of closed eyes send diggers through your head, despite that not really being possible.

"C'mon Frisk, it's your turn, and please, don't make them sad... at least more than they already are..." You muttered.

Frisk scoffed slightly, before touching the ACT button.

✱ Napstablook

He chose their name.

✱ Check                           ✱ Flirt

✱ Threat                           ✱ Cheer

He hesitated for a moment…

… before letting out a sigh and choosing to Cheer.

✱ FRISK told Napstablook a little joke.

He asked them 'why do ghosts love elevators? It lifts their spirits.'

He— he didn't even wait for them to ask 'WHY do they love elevators?'

"heh heh..." They still seemed to appreciate it, nonetheless.

Then, something unexpected happened.

REALLY NOT

FEELIN UP

TO IT RIGHT

NOW. SORRY.

It... Vibrated. The actual text vibrated.

Shouldn't an attack come?

✱ Cheering seems to have improved Napstablook's mood again.

It was time to ACT.

Frisk was picking at his nails.

You touched the ACT button.

✱ Napstablook

You chose their name.

✱ Check                           ✱ Flirt

✱ Threat                           ✱ Cheer

You chose to Cheer. Again.

"You're doing a great job at FIGHTing us!" Was it considered cheering?

✱ Napstablook wants to show you something.

"heh... let me try..." They murmured, more to themselves.

They started to cry.

However, the tears defied gravity, and fell upside down, creating some sort... of hat?

A smell of ozone filled the air.

Frisk stared motionlessly at the Monster with crossed arms. He didn't move at all.

Napstablook tilted their head. "i call it 'dapper blook...' do you like it..."

It was nice, nothing too extraordinary, but cool, considering it was made of tears.

✱ Napstablook eagerly awaits your response.

You still had to ACT? Well, you could do—

No, wait, it was Frisk's turn! The Monster was waiting for his response!

Frisk touched the ACT button.

✱ Napstablook

He chose their name.

✱ Check                           ✱ Flirt

✱ Threat                           ✱ Cheer

He chose to Cheer.

... He just gave a thumbs-up.

"oh gee..." Two years fell from Napstablook's eyes, but the battle ended before it could be even considered an attack.

. . .

Undertale OST: 005 —

Ruins

. . .

"i usually come to the RUINS because there's nobody around... but today i met somebody nice..." The ghost began.

"Likewise, Napstablook," you smiled at them. "Right, Frisk?"

He turned his head to the other side, and you heard him scoff.

You narrowed your eyes at him.

"... oh i'm sorry... i'm rambling again... i'll get out of your way..." And just like that, they disappeared.

"Why were you so mean to them? They were so cute!"

Frisk began ranting about how much this encounter was just a waste of time and that Napstablook was just plain annoying and NOT cute.

What horrible tastes he had.

Why did he hate Napstablook so much? Is it because they were a ghost—

Your eyes widened as the truth began to dawn on you. "Wait, don't tell me… It's because you are... afraid of ghosts?"

His behavior changed immediately as you said those words: he had a blush on his face and started yelling about how that wasn't true. Him having a fear of ghosts? Ha! That was a good one! Only little children would be afraid of such things!

His reaction was everything you needed to know.

"Suuure... But by the way, you don't have to worry, everyone has fears. You shouldn't feel ashamed just because they are normally considered childish or stupid. I also have fears that probably wouldn't make sense to some."

Frisk calmed down while you were talking. He mumbled a thanks and went to the next room.

You just hoped you didn't mess up.

There were two paths, one ahead of you and one on your left. Eventually, you decided to go to the latter.

Frisk was following you with his hands behind his back, and a pout on his face. He wasn't paying attention to his surroundings, moreso, he was repeating in his head how much of a stupid concept ghosts were, and your words from earlier.

The room contained a long hallway with... guess what? Three Froggits!

Oh, and a sign fixed to the ground, too.

'Did you miss it? Spider Bake Sale down and to the right. Come eat food made by spiders, for spiders, of spiders!'

Ew... Maybe you could give it a shot.

You exited the room, walking past Frisk, who questioned you where you were going.

"There is some kind of 'Spider Bake Sale'. I want to see it. Are you coming?" You said after stopping to a halt.

Ah yes. Those. Frisk genuinely didn't want to go near them, but honestly? At this point, whatever.

He said that he would come.

You both went to the other room.

Dusty and old cobwebs filled the cramped space, and a strong smell of mold the air. Tiny, little spiders tried to scamper as soon as you and Frisk made your presence known.

Another sign.

'Spider Bake Sale! All proceeds go to real spiders.'

Clearing your throat, you turned to Frisk. "Should we get something? Do we even have money?"

He shrugged and crouched down to one cornered spider, asking if it could give him something to eat.

From that moment, you started to witness a conversation between them. The Monster fastly swung two sets of legs, as if gesticulating, while Frisk nodded occasionally.

You looked around to make sure you weren't the only one seeing this. Nope, only you were seeing this.

When it seemed as if their discussion was over, Frisk shook the spider's furry leg and got up.

Some other spiders crawled down from their hiding places and gave him half of a purple donut, which he shoved in his pocket. No talk exchange. No money exchange. But they understood each other perfectly.

Frisk put the food in his pocket and said he was finished as he got out.

You blinked once. Twice. Thrice — for flavor — and finally followed him to the room with the Froggits.

A very peculiar encounter.

"Did you even pay for it?" You asked him before going near the first Froggit.

He said he actually did.

"With the money won in those FIGHTs?"

He nodded.

Yes. Very peculiar.

The frog croaked.

(I heard using 'F4' can make you have 'a full screen.')

What?

One of the Froggits nearby started croaking, but the first one continued talking.

(But what does 'F4' stand for? 'Four frogs?' I have only seen a maximum of three frogs in this room... This is troubling to say the least. Or, if you want, I heard using 'Borders' can add some color to the world. It seems you can—)

It let out a sharp ribbit as another Froggit put its chubby paws on its face, shutting it up, saying something else to you.

(Sorry for my friend. She never listens to me. She's a little dummy. Whenever I talk, she skips through my words by pressing [X] or Ⓑ. Don't mind her. Don't mind me. We're just two gals.)

The Froggit who had her mouth covered by her friend's paws shoved the latter off, giving her a nasty side-eye.

What the hell?

Frog drama. Now that was something.

Frisk pressed his lips together in a firm line and silently went to the third and last Froggit, thanking the stars that that one Froggit said something else, with you following him from behind.

(Sorry about them. They are just silly. In any case, I have heard you two are quite merciful, for being humans... Surely you know by now a monster wears a YELLOW name when you can SPARE it.)

Oh, yes, that was true! Whimsun and the two Moldsmals had their names in yellow, even before you could try ACTing.

(What do you think of that?)

Frisk said that it was very helpful.

As much as he wanted to joke around he had to get out of that room before those frogs said another thing.

(It is rather helpful. Remember, sparing is just saying you won't fight. Maybe one day, you'll have to do it even if their name isn't yellow.)

Well, at least this conversation was more or less normal. It certainly wasn't unsettling like the other one.

Before you could even move another muscle, the last Froggit you spoke to, went near your right leg, and hugged it rather awkwardly with its front paws, looking at you expectantly.

The action completely caught you off guard. With wide eyes, you tried to comprehend what was happening. Froggit was glued to your leg, looking up at you with huge, white pupils, its nostrils flaring slightly.

You suddenly lost your balance due to the Froggit bumping its head on your leg, but fortunately, someone caught you firmly from behind, that someone being Frisk.

You gave him a thankful nod, to which he responded with another one. The other Froggits in the room were hugging Frisk's legs too.

Letting go of you, Frisk patted the Monsters' foreheads, giving a grateful nod to that one Froggit that shut up the other one.

You didn't know what to say — was there even something to say about this?

Giving the Froggit on your leg a nervous smile, you bent over to gently shoo it with your hands, by pushing it lightly on its shoulders.

Much to your surprise, it instead nuzzled its face in your hands... Like the first Froggit who talked to you about showing MERCY to Monsters!

Did they only want some affection? That was so cute! Unexpectedly creepy, but cute.

Your smile became a real one, as you now crouched down and began to properly pet the frog on its head.

The room was filled with croaking sounds, but this time you didn't understand what they were saying.

The ant-sized Froggit — which you didn't know was there — couldn't go near you and Frisk as much as it wanted to, since you could accidentally crush it. Sadly, it had to stay in its place and watch as its other friends had the privilege to be petted.

Frisk wanted to stay in this place, but you two couldn't spend the whole day there.

A ring resonating from his pocket snapped him out of his thoughts. Ah, that must be Toriel.

You heard the ring too, and turned your head to Frisk, but didn't stop petting the Froggit as he took out the cell phone, and accepted the call.

"Hello? I just realized that it has been a while since I have cleaned up. I was not expecting to have company so soon, let alone have two guests!" Toriel chirpily said.

Wait, wait, wait. Are you and Frisk actually going to Toriel's house? Well, she didn't really hide the fact that she would bake something for you two, but you were just following Frisk.

Well, you two were following each other, in reality.

It would be nice to eat something at her house and then return to the surface, though.

"There are probably a lot of things lying about here and there. You two can pick them up, but do not carry more than need. Someday you two might see something you really like," Toriel reminded. "You will want to leave room in your pockets for that."

You looked over at Frisk's pockets.

Yeah, you would be very surprised if he still had space for something else.

Frisk said that he understood and closed the call, putting the cell phone back. He then asked you if you two should start moving since Toriel was probably waiting for you two.

"Oh, sure." You got up and waved at the Froggits with a smile, without noticing a certain flower.

Following Frisk, you exited the room.

"What the hell just happened!?" You whisper-yelled to Frisk, trying not to be heard by the Froggits.

He just shook his head with a frown, telling you that he didn't know.

Meanwhile, the three Froggits had started a game of tag to pass the time, croaking and jumping, the tiny creatures they had on their chests talking telepathically to each other. These humans sure were kind.

They hoped to meet you two at least once more. The time they spent in the Underground, without any form of affection from other creatures beside themselves trying to survive together, made them clingy to whoever showed them even the littlest bit of love. In the beginning, they were scared: not only one, but TWO humans falling down? The same species that during the war killed dozens of their kind without MERCY and locked them Underground?

The first Froggit that saw you and Frisk attacked out of fear, really! But fortunately, it was swatted away by the menacing TORIEL before it could do anything — not that it could actually do anything serious against two humans.

From that one encounter, the word spread incredibly fast. Every monster in the RUINS asked themselves why other humans came there, with TORIEL guiding them, if in the end they would disappear without a trace and the Boss Monster would be left heartbroken?

Either way, some of them wanted to test their luck and face the humans. To their surprise, they never tried to use force as a solution, always winning by compliments, consolations — even though they didn't work — and wiggling hips.

The only time violence was more or less used was with the poor Napstablook just moments before.

· · ─ ·𖥸· ─ · ·

Other chutes. Wow.

And many visible cracks on the ground.

... You went to read the plaque on the wall.

'There is just one switch.'

"What should we do?"

Frisk suggested that you two split up for the moment.

"It's not a bad idea. It will be faster like that," you clicked your tongue and pointed at the crack in the bottom left. "Well, I'll go to that one. Later."

He mumbled an 'okay' and went to the bottom right one. He had to search for the object, after all.

Then, Frisk remembered.

The hole you went to had a monster in it. Oh, well. The monsters seemed to like you, so it wouldn't be that much of a problem, right?

. . .

Undertale OST: 009 —

Enemy Approaching

. . .

"WHAT THE HELL!?" Was the first thing you said as a FIGHT triggered, almost giving you a heart attack, not even a second after you fell on yet another mass of red leaves.

✱ Vegetoid came out of the earth!

In front of you was a large carrot with a wide smile and overjoyed eyes.

This was the first time you fought in an encounter without Frisk's help, whose name, along with the inscriptions and little yellow box, weren't there anymore.

Deep breaths, you could do it. It was a carrot.

You touched the ACT button.

✱ Vegetoid

You chose its name.

✱ Check                           ✱ Talk

✱ Devour                           ✱Dinner

Why was almost everything related to eating the Monster? Only one choice seemed reasonable enough — well, at least to the point where you didn't look like a monster yourself.

A hoarse voice snapped you out of your thoughts. "Eat Your Greens"

"I'm... sorry? What am I supposed to do?"

Vegetoid squinted its eyes. "You Should Eat Your Vegetables"

"Oh..."

If the Monster in question says so.

You chose Dinner.

✱ You lick your lips in anticipation.

✱ Vegetoid offers a healthy meal.

Now the attack. Many, many carrots started to fall from above with speed.

You tried to dodge left and right to the best of your abilities, but as you were bending backward to avoid one in front of you, a carrot hit your back.

The tiny yellow box near your name displayed now a '17/20'.

It felt as if you were playing 'Limbo' with the rain. It didn't hurt as much as you thought. Just a little burning in your chest.

Among the carrots, there was a green one, like your SOUL.

Whether it was from sheer desperation — or stupidity, or a reminder of all the video games you played before —, you ran and grasped the vegetable. It evaporated within your hands, and you felt just a tiny bit better.

The yellow box now displayed an '18/20'.

The room smelled like steamed carrots and peas.

The attacks ended.

✱ Vegetoid cackles softly.

You touched the MERCY button.

✱ Vegetoid

It was yellow.

You slammed your fist on its name.

✱ Spare

✱ Flee

You chose to Spare.

✱ YOU WON!

✱ You earned 0 EXP and 4 gold.

Finally.

. . .

Undertale OST: 005 —

Ruins

. . .

Everything became normal once again, and in the tiny room you were in, there was only a door, but as you walked to it, the next thing you knew, you were on the ground. "Ow..." Getting up, you dusted off your clothes, noticing how Frisk still didn't come out, and the spikes had yet to disappear.

Where could you go next?

Hmm... In the end, you decided to go to the bottom center one.

There, you found none other than the little sad ghost from before. Thankfully, Frisk wasn't with you.

"Hello there, Napstablook," you crouched down to the lying Monster. "What are you doing here?"

"hi... i fell down a hole... now i cant get up..."

"Do you perhaps need any help?

"no... go on without me..."

You didn't really know what to say, and waited until Napstablook spoke again. "wait, ghosts can fly, can't they..."

"I guess so?"

"oh well..." And just like that, they disappeared again.

"Goodbye to you too..." You went back to the room above, finding Frisk near the exit, looking at something in his hand. The spikes on the floor were gone now.

When he spotted you he waved with his free hand, motioning you to come closer.

"Good job at removing the spikes. Unfortunately, I didn't do much: I just entered a FIGHT and met Napstablook."

He internally rolled his eyes.

"BUT! I fought a Monster all alone and I won!"

Frisk raised his eyebrows, but smiled and raised his hand for a high-five, to which you gratefully took.

He said that he also had to battle a monster and in the meantime, he found something.

"What is it?"

He opened his hand to reveal a red, faded ribbon. Its ends were worn out, but it still conserved its beauty. How did it get here?

"It's pretty. You found it in one of the holes?"

He nodded his head, and extended his free hand, asking for your own.

You arched a brown, but placed your hand on his own nonetheless. When you did it, he rotated your hand so your palm was facing up, and tied the ends of the ribbon together on your wrist.

Frisk asked if you liked it.

You brought your hand near your face and looked at the ribbon from every angle.

It was quite lovely.

"Oh. Wow, thank you!" You said with a smile, to which he returned.

Aaaand... this brief moment of peace was ruined by another FIGHT.

. . .

Undertale OST: 009 —

Enemy Approaching

. . .

✱ Migosp crawled up close!

There was a Moldsmal and another bug-like Monster, similar to a cockroach, with antennae, claws, a mandible, and two lines on its underbelly. Its teeth and fingers twitched and spasmed frequently.

Frisk suggested that you show MERCY to the Moldsmal immediately.

You gave him a nod and touched the MERCY button.

✱ Spare

✱ Flee

You chose to Spare and the Moldsmal was gone.

Migosp started doing the 'Arm Wave' dance, a peaceful smile on its face. "Swing your arms, baby."

You shook your head. The Monster and Frisk — who now was dancing too — nodded their heads to the beat of the music.

✱ Migosp doesn't have a care in the world.

Frisk touched the MERCY button.

✱ Spare

✱ Flee

He chose to Spare.

✱ YOU WON!

✱ You earned 0 EXP and 3 gold.

With a silent agreement, you two went to the next room. Three colorful buttons were standing near as many white columns. A plaque was on the wall with another chute.

'The far door is not an exit. It simply marks a rotation in perspective.'

... Uhm, what?

You pointed to one of the columns. "Should we press one of these switch— oh, never mind."

The hallway already led to another room.

It was the same as the one before, only the position of the objects changed. The blue switch wasn't there, but the red and the green were.

Another plaque was put near the exit, blocked by other spikes.

'If you can read this, press the blue switch.'

Frisk wanted to see if you were able to do it. If you had any trouble he could always help you.

"Okay, I will do this one, since you did the other puzzle before. Stay here." You went to the previous room and pressed the blue switch. "Did it work?!" You yelled from across the room for Frisk to hear.

To your disappointment, you heard a 'no.'

"I was sure it would have worked..." You said as you walked to the frame of the door.

Until you saw it. A blue switch on your right, hidden by a column. You stepped on it and heard a clicking sound.

"It worked." You walked up to Frisk. He gave you a nod, and you both went to the other room.

It still was a copy of the first room.

. . .

Undertale OST: 009 —

Enemy Approaching

. . .

✱ A pair of Loox decided to pick on you!

Before you were two round Monsters, with two horns on the top of their head, a large eye on their face, and a mouth full of teeth.

You made the first move and touched the ACT button.

✱ Loox A

✱ Loox B

You chose the first one.

✱ Check                           ✱ Pick On

✱ Don't Pick On

They were both staring intensely at you and Frisk. It was... unnerving, the way they blinked; and let's not even get to the teeth, and how they seemed disconnected from the rest of the body. But even so, they didn't deserve to be picked on.

You chose to Not Pick On on it.

Now, it was Frisk's turn.

He touched the ACT button.

✱ Loox A

✱ Loox B

He chose the second Loox.

✱ Check                           ✱ Pick On

✱ Don't Pick On

He chose to Not Pick On too.

"Finally someone gets it." Both Looxs said at the same time.

Now, the attack.

Several small spheres — which looked like worms, gross! — appeared from your left and right.

They wiggled their way forward, trying to hit your SOUL.

Frisk noticed something on the Text Box.

You were able to duck in time as a tall one was coming in your direction. While you panted, you caught a worm creeping near your ankles in the corner of your eye, making you jump in fear and almost trip.

In the air, a strong sour smell almost threatened to choke you.

The attacks ended.

✱ Loox is gazing at you.

Almost naturally, you touched the MERCY button.

✱ Spare

✱ Flee

You chose to Spare.

✱ YOU WON!

✱ You earned 0 EXP and 10 gold.

. . .

Undertale OST: 005 —

Ruins

. . .

Frisk asked you if you were hurt.

"No? What do you mean b— oh! Yeah, before, when a carrot Monster attacked me."

He took out candy from his pocket and gave it to you.

Taking it, you turned around and opened the casing. You certainly weren't going to eat in front of him. That was embarrassing. You put the candy into your mouth. Something in your body healed. The ache in your back faded away. Sure, the taste was still a disappointment.

"Thanks for that." You turned to look at him again.

He gave you a nod and asked you for the casing.

Letting out a breathy giggle, you handed him it to him, which he put in his other pocket.

You went to read the plaque.

'If you can read this, press the red switch.'

Frisk informed you that the right switch was the one in front of you.

"What? But it would be like, too easy? I don't think it's that one."

Despite what you told him, he went to said red switch and pressed it.

You heard a clicking sound.

The spikes disappeared.

"Ah. "

The last room was yet another copy of the ones before, but only a blue switch was visible.

'If you can read this, press the green switch.'

It was probably just like the second one, where the switch was hidden by a column.

However, there were two columns without their respective switches.

Before you could do anything, Frisk went to the column further away from the exit and pressed a switch.

You heard another clicking sound.

"Great job! Now, let's get out of here."

As you were walking out of that room, you noticed that the ground near the column — the one that Frisk didn't go to — was all cracked.

The new room was bigger and had another long and lighter purple path, where vines occupied a rather big proportion of it.

There were two choices: going ahead or left. The latter had a path full of red leaves, almost forming a cross.

A distant croaking could be heard from the room ahead of you.

You chose where to go and pointed at it. "I will go there, what about you?"

Frisk shrugged and said that he would come too.

And, just like you thought, a small Froggit stood in front of a door, mindlessly croaking.

(Just between you two and me... I saw TORIEL come out of here just a little while ago. She was carrying some groceries. I didn't ask what they were for... We're all too intimidated to talk to her.)

"Why? She seems nice." You asked curiously.

(She is extremely powerful. If she ever wanted, she could kill us all.)

"Has she ever done that before...?"

(Who knows. However, you two are young. You shouldn't fear death. The dead have their secrets, but they are at peace.)

And it croaked again.

That... wasn't good.

You went to the other room, your interest piqued. An amazing view of a city, with large buildings, towers — and even something which resembled a castle! — was in front of you. Each one of them had a unique story ready to tell, created by its citizens. Thick and high walls emerged, covering an endless pitch-black sky, a purple dam meant to keep secrets told in ancient times, protected during wars and battles.

Was this the whole city of the Ruins?

But something else caught your eye. On the ground, shining despite there not being a source of light, like water on taut skin. A... knife?

You carefully picked it up, only to see that it was a toy, made entirely of plastic. Why was that even here?

Frisk kept his distance from the object, almost as if it were cursed.

Throwing it haphazardly on the floor, you went beside him. "That was weird..." You muttered as you were ready to leave the room.

He seemed genuinely surprised at your actions, and asked you why you didn't keep the knife.

You looked at him as if he had just insulted all your relatives known to existence. "Why should I? It's a toy knife, I can't even use it for cooking."

He briefly chuckled at that, visibly eased, and you two went back to the room with the different paths — not without waving goodbye to the Froggit, to which it waved to you too! It lifted its little paw and moved it with exciting vigor. It was so—! ahem. Yes, you went back to the room with the different paths, and chose to go to the one with the leaves.

As soon as you entered the room, you could see a massive tree, its bark thin and cracked, the branches devoid of any leaves, all fallen on the ground. You finally found the tree that had all those red leaves lying around!

"Oh dear, that took longer than I thought it would." The by-now familiar sweet voice echoed through the room, a tinge of concern in her tone. The music stopped and so did you and Frisk.

Toriel swiftly walked beside the tree, with her cell phone in hand, ready to dial a number, before she spotted you two and put it away, coming near you.

. . .

Undertale OST: 004 —

Fallen Down

. . .

Her 'theme' came up again. It wasn't that you despised the one that could be heard most of the time when you did the puzzles, but this one was special. It felt special.

Before you could talk to her, she bent over and touched your and Frisk's faces. "How did you two get here, my children? Are you hurt?"

She used a little bit of unnecessary force, and your head bumped with Frisk's. Your nose picked a sweet, rich, and somewhat exotic smell from him hair.

"Oh, I apologize. Not a scratch... Impressive! But still... I should not have left you two alone for so long. It was irresponsible to try to surprise you like this."

"It's okay, Toriel. And... surprise?" You asked.

"Err..." Toriel was taken aback by your question, and let you and Frisk go. "Well, I suppose I cannot hide it any longer. Come, small ones!"

. . .

Undertale OST: 005 —

Ruins

. . .

The music sadly changed again as Toriel walked, with you and Frisk following her, passing the bare tree, yet staying on the patch of red leaves as Toriel went inside.

There was another sparkle.

Frisk touched it, while you looked at the plaque hung high on the wall. As you scratched your head, trying to decipher what it was written — to no avail, though — Frisk told you that he finished.

This was it, then... Toriel's house.

Let's just hope it won't turn out like the fairy tale of Hänsel and Gretel.

Well, in the end, the two children still won.

. . .

Undertale OST: 012 —

Home

. . .

A soft swing time started playing, with a guitar being the only protagonist.

You were in some kind of front room with a staircase of a creamy color, and a light brown carpet on it leading downstairs. Pretty potted plants were put up for embellishment, along with a bookcase and two empty frames. That was not something you would like to have in your house...

The first thing that hit you was the song, and an amazing aroma of butter, sugar, and... was that cinnamon? Your stomach rumbled, thankfully not too loudly: you haven't eaten anything since you fell — and no, those candies couldn't be considered as food — and the scent whet your appetite.

Even Frisk seemed pleased: he had a big grin on his face and looked around excitedly.

Toriel clasped her hands together. "Do you two smell that? Surprise! It is a butterscotch-cinnamon pie. I thought we might celebrate your arrival."

'We'?

At least, you were right about there being cinnamon.

"I want you two to have a nice time living here. So I will hold off on snail pie for tonight."

'LIVING'?

Confusion took hold of your mind, as the melody was coming to its end, and a few of the notes were placed slightly off-tempo.

Also, ew. As much as snails contained proteins and low amounts of fats, and other nutrients great for your body, it was still a little disgusting. It reminded you of that time when, during autumn, you had met this strange kid who didn't speak your same language but you managed to be friends anyways. You don't remember his face, however, you DO remember his most prominent trait: he went on a hunt for snails when it rained and then fed them to his mice pets. Who knew what happened to him. He should be roughly your same age now.

In any case, the moment that Toriel said those words, there was a sudden tension in the room, one she seemed unaware of. Frisk wondered about what you would think.

You were just trying to wrap your head around everything.

Maybe by 'living here', Toriel meant another thing? Highly impossible, but you hoped for that theory to become true. She seemed very happy, and as much as you wanted to tell her you wouldn't live Underground, you decided to hold that thought until later.

You will first talk with Frisk, and when you have some alone time you will discuss it with Toriel.

Fortunately, the pie's sweet smell and the lovely melody playing were helping you deal with the little stress you were having at the moment.

"Here, I have another surprise for you." Toriel went to the right entrance.

Frisk was about to stop you, but you went to the hallway before he could even lift his arm, wood crunching beneath your feet as you found a short hallway containing three doors. The colors changed from a warm yellow, turning to an orange. With a sigh, he followed you.

A long carpet was extended on the majority of the hallway, where other potted plants — to which one was a water sausage, if you recalled correctly — resided, along with wall lights, another empty frame, and a mirror.

Toriel was waiting for you in the middle of the hallway, extending her hand for you to take, which you did. You couldn't help it. It was too soft! Well, it was completely covered in fur. Frisk came in last, walking at an almost unnerving speed.

"Say, small one, why do you not take your friend's hand?" Toriel asked to Frisk.

He did so without even batting an eye. Toriel led you two to the nearest door, more or less four steps away.

It was... pretty useless, to walk like this for such a short while, but this scenario seemed similar to the one with that puzzle and the spikes, where Toriel said it was too dangerous for you and Frisk.

Letting go of Frisk's and Toriel's hand, you were now standing beside him, in front of the door, while Toriel was behind you two.

She picked at her claws. "This is it... A room of your own. I hope you two like it!"

This was gonna make things more difficult.

"... Thank you Toriel, but you really didn't need to." You told her.

"Oh, please! Of course, I had to. As I said, I want you two to have a nice time living here."

"Yes..."

"But! I need to say something about the furniture of the room."

Frisk didn't pay much attention to your dialogue and Toriel's before, but now that picked his interest.

"What is it?" You asked, also curious.

"I did not— well, have two spare beds, so if it is not an issue... one of you would need to sleep on the floor. Or you two could sleep together! Or one of you could sleep with me? Or... No, how about this! One of you will sleep on my bed while I will sleep on my chair."

Toriel said everything so fast that you were having a hard time understanding, but in the end, you were able to grasp what she meant. Even Frisk was surprised.

"It's fine, Toriel, don't worry. You don't have to give us your bed. We'll see what we can do."

She seemed rather relieved at your words.

You turned to look at the door. The conversation ended and there was only the comforting music, until something fluffy was on your head.

Toriel's paw?

She was petting you — and also Frisk! It was rather nice. Is this what the Froggits felt when you did the same to them? You didn't have the same soft fur, so you couldn't really tell.

You got lost in the feeling, and for a moment your stress was washed away, leaving you relaxed.

"Is something burning...?" Toriel sniffed the air, her nose twitching. "Um, make yourself at home!" Toriel removed her hands in a hurry and ran to what you supposed was the kitchen, as you followed her with your gaze.

You will surely miss her fluffiness.

Frisk asked you if you wanted to see the room.

"Yeah, sure."

But just before you could open the door, he did it for you, and also bowed, while saying 'ladies first.'

"Wow, what a gentleman." You jokingly rolled your eyes at his courtesies.

That got a few good giggles out of you and Frisk.

You went inside first, with him coming in after.

The room was painted in red, light, and soft to not hurt the eyes. Another big carpet was on the floor, combining nicely with a bed on the left side, neat and fresh bedding laid upon it. Two plushies were near the bed — which were adorable — and a chest full of toys at the foot of it. The room also had a wardrobe, a bedside table with some papers and another empty photo frame, a chest, a lamp, and a drawing of one, single flower.

You went near the photo frame. It was really dusty. Why were there so many empty ones around the house?

Frisk opened the chest. Little shoes in a disparity of sizes laid inside.

A itty, bitty, tiny, little red flag raised inside your head.

The whole room felt like a child's one.

You wanted to know Frisk's opinion, but what if it wasn't actually nothing and you were just being paranoid? From what you knew, Toriel could have had many kids who grew up and she kept their shoes as a memory because she missed them. Still a little weird, but explicable. Maybe it was a Monster thing.

Frisk asked you if you wanted to explore the house.

"I would love to, but I'm, like, exhaaausted... You aren't?"

He giggled at your response and said that he felt pretty tired as well.

You turned to look at the only bed in the room.

Perhaps staying the night in this place wasn't that bad of an idea.

"Listen... for the thing about who takes the bed—"

He interrupted you, saying that he would gladly sleep on the floor.

"Are you sure? If you want to, I can do it." You didn't really want to do it. You would get horrible back pain.

He insisted, saying that it was fine.

Sleeping together was a BIG no. If you two at least knew each other a little better it would have been different. Sharing the bed with Toriel would be awkward. Really awkward. And making her sleep on a chair was too mean. It was her own house!

Frisk always tried to make things for you as comfortable as possible every time, but he seemed to be trying too hard and you didn't want him to feel obligated to be nice to you.

Still...

"Thank you. Not only for this, but for everything."

BLUSH.

For the first time you have ever met him, his cheeks finally had a shade of red on them!

So, he didn't feel flustered when people flirted with him or hinted at a possible relationship with one of his acquaintances, but when he got thanked? 

That was rather adorable.

As he shuffled his feet, he murmured that you didn't have to thank him, but appreciated it nonetheless. Not many people told him that.

There was another moment of lack of conversation, until he said that he would go ask Toriel about some covers and a pillow, before he exited the room.

You turned to the bed, realizing that you didn't have any spare clothes.

As much as you wanted to go ask Toriel if she had something to give to you, you shrugged your shoulders, and untied the ribbon — with some difficulties, but they didn't matter — and put it on the bedside table. Removing your shoes, you got inside the bed, and covered yourself.

The pillow felt like bliss. It was like a marshmallow: incredibly soft, and so were the covers.

You looked at the ceiling.

A bath felt like a nice idea. Was there even a bathroom? Could Monsters even go to the bathroom?

Stop thinking that! It was so dumb.

Sorry, Toriel. Tomorrow — or later this day? The time here without the Sun and Moon seemed to never pass — you will help her in some way to clean the bed.

And there was also the pie...

You will do everything tomorrow. But for now...

Your eyelids felt very heavy. You just wanted to sleep, but maybe you should wait for Frisk?

Just as you thought that, he entered the room while carrying a pillow and some covers. Speak of the Devil.

"Do you need any help?" You asked, sitting up.

He threw the pillow and blanket on the ground, near your bed, and said that he was okay.

You still looked at him, while he made his makeshift bed, unsure of what to do. Should you have said goodnight to Toriel? You hoped that she didn't think you were rude.

Frisk finally fixed his bed, but before he got in, he took out the cell phone, the stick, and three Monster Candy. Did he throw the casing in the thrash?

He then went to the lamp and turned it off, leaving the room in darkness and a new song playing.

. . .

Undertale OST: 013 —

Home (Music Box)

. . .

It was the same melody as before, but this time, it was higher-pitched, like a little music box. It felt... nice. It reminded you of a lullaby.

Frisk removed his shoes — not without taking a moment to admire his gorgeous socks with teddy bears and stars — and got under the covers.

"Is it comfortable?" You asked after Frisk adjusted himself.

He hummed.

You took that as a 'so-so'.

"Well... goodnight, then." You said as you turned your back to him.

He bid you goodnight too, yet his head was too clouded for him to feel at peace. Things moved way too fast for him to keep up with. It was cruel and unfair to drag you into this rabbit hole.

Just a little more time. That was all he needed. In the end... he will definitely tell you.

And with that thought in mind, he finally drove off to sleep.

Notes:

Thank you so much for the hits and kudos! I genuinely can't believe how much time already passed since the first chapter was posted ❀⸜(˶´ ˘ `˶)⸝❀ It feels like yesterday I was asking myself if I should start a fanfiction. And here we are. Thank you all, it might not be much for some people, but it means a lot to me🍀

Chapter 6: Late Night Talking

Summary:

Between silly weird dreams and a talk with Toriel, it seems as if you had too many emotions for one night.

Notes:

Just a heads up for those who may be uncomfortable: there are mentions of death anxiety and pretty much a fear of dying in general. Enjoy!

ʸᵒᵘ ᵐᵃᵈᵉ ˢᵒᵐᵉ ᶠʳⁱᵉⁿᵈˢ ᵗʰᵉʳᵉ.

. . .

Undertale OST: 006 —

Uwa‼ So Temperate♫

. . .

Dreams were strange.

Inside a void, a dark black surrounded anything that dared to come its way, except for the colorful leaves: warm yellow, fiery reds, and anything in between. They fell from unseen trees, set high in the inky sky.

Calm music resonated in this place, rumbling and reverberating. The piano took credit for playing the principal melody, always on a loop, as a lonely and anxious bass tried to keep up with it.

Sitting on the cold ground, it was curious how a white, little dog, so in contrast to its background, lay down, seemingly asleep. Its fur was soft and short against the hand, lost in petting it from the head to the back.

Did it know where it was? How lost it was? Or will it finally wake up, knowing the truth, scared and confused about its surroundings?

A single red leaf remained on the puppy's head. Even if someone attempted to remove it, thinking it would annoy the dog, it would dodge the hand and put as much distance as possible, clearly unappreciative of the superfluous help.

The animal always repeated one phrase, though, voice no louder than a whisper. "Sweep a leaf, sweep away a troubles."

Dreams were strange. And it was this charm that captivated so many people.

. . .

Undertale OST: 013 —

Home (Music Box)

. . .

An itch at the back of your throat made you toss and turn around in your bed. An urgent need to drink poked your mind. Slowly sitting up, you groggily opened your eyes, taking in the room you were in. The... unknown room you were in...

Reality hit you like a slap in the face, and instantly, you started to panic, frantically looking around. Due to the Underground being... Well, underground, there wasn't any type of Sun or Moon, so the room was still covered in faint shadows, making it rather difficult to see, but you were still able to make out some shapes. Bed, door, someone breathing, closet, melody playing from who-knows-where — which wasn't really a shape — lamp... 

Your entire body seemed to freeze up instantly. You were only able to lower your gaze to the seemingly sleeping person.

Frisk.

Putting a hand on your heart, you breathed out a sigh of relief. This was Toriel's house, the kind and motherly Monster who took you and Frisk inside, mistakenly thinking you two would live with her.

What time was it? You genuinely had no clue. All you knew was that you were thirsty.

You put the covers aside and slowly got up, careful so as not to wake Frisk up. There was a small gap between your bed and his makeshift one, thankfully big enough for your legs to pass through. You couldn't help but stare at him, your eyes getting used to the dark. He was facing you, so that gave you a full display of his visage. He just breathed silently, curled up like a cat. Since when did he have such sharp canines?

Yet, two things near his back caught your eye. You moved near them, but instead, you knocked something over, a dull thud disturbing the peaceful music.

Heart accelerating, you sneaked a peek at Frisk. Thankfully, he was still sleeping fondly. You tried to see what you touched, hoping it wouldn't be something that belonged to Toriel.

Relief came over at seeing that those were just your shoes.

Now, to try and get a better look at those little objects. You tiptoed near them, and you were able to distinguish two plates with two triangular shapes on them. It also emanated a faint, yet sweet smell of butter, sugar... and cinnamon. Just like when you first entered this house. Were those slices of pie? The butterscotch-cinnamon pie Toriel said you and Frisk were supposed to have tonight? That was a rather sweet gesture. Still, no pun intended!

It nearly made you forget about the fact that your throat was dry and in desperate need of water.

The door was pretty much ahead of you, and fortunately, there wasn't anything else blocking the way. Carefully walking to the closed door, you slowly twisted its handle and opened it, the light of the hallway leaving a trail inside the room and almost blinding you. You stroked your eyes and looked at the two objects, and... you were right! They were actually two slices of pie.

Your gaze shifted quickly to Frisk. A big portion of his body was illuminated, stopping just below his chin, yet he didn't move. Without making a sound, you went out of the room, the music changing as you stepped foot into the hallway.

. . .

Undertale OST: 012 —

Home

. . .

The earlier melody faded away, leaving space for the same one, but with its correct pitch, playing again.

Everything was enlightened, from the hallway to the dining room, so you supposed Toriel was still awake. If that were the case, then you slept for a rather short time. Or it was supposedly 'morning'.

You walked pretty slowly; on one hand, you didn't have that much energy, and on the other hand, you didn't want to startle Toriel — if she was even there. Along with the song, you could sometimes hear the faint sound of pages turning. That meant that Toriel was definitely awake.

"Is someone there?" Asked a voice: Toriel's. She probably heard your footsteps.

At this, you sped up a little, and having reached the doorway of the dining room, you poked your head in, seeing Toriel sitting in her reading chair with a pair of glasses and an open book in hand. Those glasses reminded you of the ones the lady librarian near your hometown would always wear. The fire was crackling in a smooth and rhythmic movement.

You tilted your head. "Sorry to bother you, but I was wondering if I could have a glass of water. I haven't really drunk since I came here, so... if it's not a problem?"

"Ah, sure! I will get that for you right away."

"Thank you."

She closed the book she was reading, put it on the chair along with her glasses, and went to what you guessed was the kitchen. You made your way inside the living room, finally being able to get a good look at it, and waited for Toriel to come back.

There was the chair, which seemed like the right size for Toriel, a bookcase, gardening tools, a large dining table with three chairs, and a dead-potted plant. One of the books stood out from the rest: it was larger and visibly older, with its cover worn out.

This place gave you a feeling of... Home. As a normal home should, after all.

Every breath filled your body with a pleasant warmth, a sensation that seemed to untie the knot in your stomach. Still, you had a nagging feeling that you shouldn't be here. And neither should Frisk.

As you stared at the red and orange flames moving together, forming some sort of dance, you could hear the faint clinking noise of ceramic and glass coming in contact, followed by running water, until it stopped, and Toriel's paws were coming closer to you. "Here it is."

"Thank you." You said when you carefully took the glass she offered to you, the water peeking just over the brim, and drank slowly so as not to spill it. The cold liquid was amazing against your sore throat.

When you finished, you gave the glass back to Toriel, which she took, but she didn't go to put it in the kitchen. Music and the sound of fire filled the room, and you wondered if Toriel wanted to tell you something.

You asked. "Is everything fine?"

"I know it is a little late, but... would you like to talk with me? Of course, if you are feeling weary and wish to go to bed, I will not stop you."

Talk? You were feeling a little tired, but... why not? It would be nice to get to know Toriel more. Also, it seemed that you hadn't slept that much, since she said that it was late.

"Oh, sure! I would be more than happy to spend some time with you." You told her.

She looked relieved upon hearing your words, giving you a sweet smile. "Why do you not sit down in front of the fire? Not too close, obviously. We do not want you to get hurt now, do we? I will put this glass in the sink."

"Alright." You giggled a little at her protectiveness.

As Toriel went away, you did as you were asked, the wooden tiles being comfortably warm.

Coming back, Toriel lifted the book with her glasses on top and sat down on the armchair to put the objects in her lap. "I am sorry if the floor is too uncomfortable for you. If you want, you can sit on the chair."

"No, no. Please, don't worry about me. I'm fine. It's nice here."

She didn't say anything, but her grin did for her.

"What did you want to talk about?" You questioned, feeling rather curious.

"I... wanted to apologize for interrupting you earlier when you were talking." 

You looked at her with knitted eyebrows. When had she interrupted you?

She saw your confused expression, so she explained. "When you were trying to tell me that you and your friend could not stay here. I am sorry..."

"Ah! It's okay. I didn't even remember that happening..."

She seemed eased that you forgave her, but didn't explain why she cut you off, and instead, she asked you another question. "Do you like this place?"

"It's not bad... But I still need some time to get used to the whole 'FIGHT' system. If you don't let your guard down, your life could end very easily." 

"The Underground is a world full of wonders, yes, but also of dangers. Many dangers," Toriel cocked her head to the side. "Well, what did you and your friend do while you were waiting for me?"

"After Frisk... 'talked' with you on the cellphone, we spoke about various things, then we played I spy with my little eye — and he won — and then we played Rock, Paper, Scissors — and he still won two times — until I was finally able to defeat him!" You were gesturing a lot as you spoke, excited to tell Toriel what games you played. You didn't exactly know if she could understand what you were saying but she seemed delighted to see you so animated.

"That is amazing! You two seem on good terms. Have you been friends for a long time?"

"Not exactly. We met on the path that led to the Mountain."

"Oh, I see. He is... rather 'particular'."

You chuckled at her comment. "Yes. You know about the bowl full of candy?"

Of course, she knew about it. She lived here. Nevertheless, she gave you a nod.

"He took A LOT of candy and started eating it. He took so much that the bowl fell and the candy spilled," it wasn't exactly your intention to snitch on Frisk, so when Toriel widened her eyes, you tried to cover for him. "But he cleaned it up! Everything is fine now." Even though you were the one who did that.

"It would not have been a problem anyway," Toriel looked at the ceiling, amused. "Yes, he came here asking me where he could toss the wrapping of the candy. I was surprised at how much he had."

You nodded, while a sudden, shuddering thought crept inside your head, making you rub your eyes.

Were these Monsters the only ones that remained of the War?

You then remembered about the Humans.

"Toriel?"

She snapped out of her daydream and looked at you. "What is it, dear?"

"You said that Frisk and I were the first Humans that fell here in a long time... what exactly happened to the others?"

As soon as you pronounced those words, Toriel's face fell and she avoided to look at you in the eye. "... Why are you asking that? Do you desire to leave this place like they all did? And for what? To die a horrible death, at the hands of HIM?"

You froze. Your eyes widened. Even if you tried to speak, no words came out. You could just stare at the Monster in front of you, thousands of questions waiting, wanting to be asked. Who was this 'HIM'? Was he Flowey or someone else?

Toriel squinted uncomfortably in her chair. Her mouth closed, gritting her teeth, almost painfully. It seemed that she knew this man personally. That made you unwittingly shiver. You were feeling a horrible sense of dread from her now. If you kept your guard low, she could overpower you with no problems.

"The ribbon you had before... it is the same that belonged to one of the humans that fell here." She continued.

You quickly glanced at the place where said ribbon was before you untied it.

It belonged to a dead person...?

The light-colored bricks of the walls seemed to close in on you, almost suffocating. "... I—I'm sorry, Toriel. I didn't mean to remind you of bad things. Really..." You managed to say, albeit shakily.

She scoffed. "It is fine."

The silence felt too thick, too heavy.

You were desperately trying to find an argument to discuss. You couldn't just go and sleep as if nothing had happened.

Darting your eyes around the room, you were met with various choices; some more useless than others.

Fire? Except for commenting on how nice it felt, you couldn't say anything else.

Books? An amazing subject, since Toriel liked them.

Table and chairs? You had nothing in mind for them.

No, wait—

The books.

It was perfect! You looked at the one Toriel had on her lap, having a little difficulty in reading the title from your position and the glasses being on top, but you finally managed to understand what it was about.

Snails.

... Nice.

"Uhm... You know snails, right? Can you please tell me something about them? I never had time to study them, though they seem like a fascinating subject."

Mental high-five. It was amazing.

Toriel perked up immediately. "Oh? Are you curious about them? Well, did you know that snails... Have a chainsaw-like tongue called a radula?"

"No, I didn't know that. It is rather interesting, though."

She had a very big smile on her face. It made you feel way better. Way safer.

A yawn was about to escape through your lips, but you were quick to put a hand in front of your mouth, stifling it. You didn't think much of it, and wanted to still talk to Toriel to ease the tension more, but she didn't believe the same.

"Oh dear, you really are tired. I should not have held you back with futile talking. However, it was very nice having a conversation with you. You seem more mature than your friend."

"It was nice for me too. And thank you for the compliment," you giggled as cold sweat ran down your back. "I wanted to ask you why you call me and Frisk 'children'. It's not, like, annoying or something. I'm just curious."

"Well, it is a long story. But if you want, I can stop calling you like that. As I said, you seem more 'mature' than your friend. Yet, you still have some childish traits..."

You stared at Toriel in disbelief, while she started laughing.

Childish? YOU?

C'mon now, let's be serious.

"What? I—I'm not childish!" You exclaimed with a frown as your face got warm.

Toriel used one of her paws to cover her mouth, while the other was waved dismissively. "I apologize! But the way you talked about what you did with your friend, it reminded me of someone else. Someone close to me, who had a similar personality."

Was she talking about one of the Humans who fell here or another Monster?

Either way, you didn't question her, not wanting to make the same mistake as before.

"Fiiine. Perhaps you're right — but Frisk is still more childish than me," you said quickly. "Maybe, you could consider me… a friend?" You suggested while picking at your nails.

Toriel seemed surprised at that. "A... Friend? I would love to!"

"That's great!" You told Toriel your name, and she repeated it.

"And your friend is called Frisk, right?"

You nodded your head.

"I will still call him as if he were a little child. Because like you said, he is more childish than you." She gave you a wink.

With a chuckle, you got up from the ground. "Goodnight, Toriel."

"Goodnight..." She said, followed by your name.

You walked out of the room and into the hallway until you were face-to-face with the door leading to your and Frisk's room.

. . .

Undertale OST: 013 —

Home (Music Box)

. . .

As you carefully opened it, the music changed to the higher-pitched one again. You entered and tiptoed up to your bed, not before glancing down at Frisk. He changed position now: he was lying face-first into the pillow, with his limbs spread like a star. Didn't he have difficulty breathing?

You climbed on the bed and covered yourself, trying to sleep. There were still many questions you wanted to ask Toriel, though.

Why were there so many puzzles? Why was music playing wherever you went? Why was Flowey the only one to want you and Frisk dead?

His words resonated through your head. 'It's kill or be killed.'

But another thought made you feel even worse: Toriel knew at least some of the Humans that fell here, and they all died. Your ribbon was proof of that. Will the same fate happen to you?

The bed slightly squeaked as you turned around, not finding a good position to sleep. It seemed as if the pillow and the mattress were made of steel, a big difference compared to when you first lay on them.

Your actions must have made a lot of noise, since you heard Frisk's groggy voice, who asked you if you were alright.

Sitting up on the bed, with the covers still on your lap, you looked down at him, seeing that his head was turned in your direction. His hair was an amusing mess.

"Oh, I'm sorry if I woke you up. I was just..." You glanced to the side, thinking of what to say. Lying won't make things better. Frisk had the right to know. "... I talked to Toriel, and she said something about the Humans who fell here long ago, and how... they died to someone."

Frisk was surprised at hearing that, yet he didn't show it. He just tucked a lock of straight hair behind his ear.

"You don't think it will happen to us, too, right? I mean... They were weak and alone, and they probably did something wrong, right?"

No response came back.

"I just— I think I'm scared? I don't want to die... I don't want to leave my family. But, I don't want to stay here for the rest of my life, either. And—" A sob escaped your throat, and you instinctively put your hands on your face and clenched your teeth, feeling your throat constricting, making it hard for you to swallow.

Being afraid of death was a common fear, but it was even more common to be terrified that once you died, you would worry about your loved ones, and how they would do without you. Being tired made people more honest, no?

All those Humans...

They were lost. Scared. They could no longer go Home.

And those puzzles. They only had a single purpose: killing people. Only the few who were worthy could pass between these two worlds.

Hot tears started streaming down your cheeks, and you could only imagine how ugly you must have looked: flushed face, puffy red eyes, and a stuffy nose. Death anxiety started slowly turning into the fear of being judged by Frisk for having a crying crisis over such a stupid thing. You would've loved to be alone right now, yet you also wanted to seek comfort from him. From somebody.

Breaths began to become more and more erratic and heavy, the more you reminded yourself that you were in front of someone. Shame. Disappointment; at your actions for crying being your first reaction in this situation. A double knot, completed with a magnificent ribbon, resided in your belly again.

You barely felt a weight on your bed, silently followed by a hand on your left shoulder, which trembled slightly, yet still kept a firm hold. The mother of all embarrassing silences descended on the room.

There was no desire on your part for him to see you. At least, not at this moment. Your nose started to get runny with mucus, and no matter how many times you tried to sniff, it wouldn't stop. It obviously could not miss the feeling of being a burden. Frisk was probably very tired himself. You didn't only disturb his sleep, but you also started weeping, so he had to cheer you up instead of resting. It was common courtesy.

Unbeknownst to you, Frisk himself was feeling bad: comprehension. Recognizing a shared suffering. He could perfectly understand that you felt overwhelmed by everything that had happened until now. Yet, it was also awkward.

What was he supposed to do? What was someone supposed to do when somebody cried?

So he just sat there, thinking of something to say.

"I—I'm sorry..." You harshly swallowed the thick saliva. "... For bothering you with this stuff."

Eventually, he spoke, murmuring that it wasn't a problem and that it was okay to cry if you felt like it.

Slowly, and with a heavy and shaky breath, you removed your hands from your face to wipe your eyes and your nose, and rested one of them on your lap, but still kept one to shield from your nose down, not wanting to risk being seen with the snot on your face by Frisk.

With a meek voice, you requested. "Can you... ask Toriel to let us go tomorrow?"

Will it be that easy, though?

Frisk didn't expect to hear that, but said that he would do it.

"Thank you..." You smiled weakly. "I'm fine now..."

He asked if you wanted him to grab a tissue.

"No, no— it's okay. Thanks again."

Giving you two final pats on the back, Frisk stood up and went to his makeshift bed. If he said he wasn't feeling a little relieved at not going to get a tissue, he would be lying to himself.

He bid you goodnight.

"Goodnight."

This time, Frisk lay down on his side, giving you his back.

You stared at his hair, noticing how, despite it being very messy, it didn't have any knots; it was just fluffy. Deep brown.

Deciding to finally go to sleep too, you covered yourself up to the chin and faced the ceiling.

You didn't know whether or not it was due to the adrenaline rush released from your body to keep your stress down, or if you would regret this, but you wanted to get out.

You craned your neck to look at the ribbon on the bedside table. Tomorrow.

Six Humans fell and died here?

You and Frisk would break this cruel cycle. You would go and make amends.

Before you could even doze off, a faint glow illuminated your face. Slowly opening your eyes, with surprise, you saw the same rotating yellow sparkle, the one that could 'SAVE'. The dim gleam emanating from it was lighting up your features in a soft yellow hue.

You threw a glance at Frisk. It seemed like he had already fallen asleep: his breathing was calm and slow, slightly snoring. 

You looked at the sparkle again and touched it. A whisper echoed in your head.

'The desire and will to leave the Underground, despite knowing you could succumb to the grip of death, fills you with KINDNESS and DETERMINATION.'

█████       LV 1      █████

Ruins — Home

Save                      Return

You chose to Save.

█████       LV 1       █████

Ruins — Home

      File saved.

Unknowingly, you were the most determined being in the whole Underground at the moment. Even more determined than Frisk.

You were in for a wild ride.

Something you did not know you would regret for the rest of your life.

Notes:

I hope I conveyed the emotions in this chapter right. I admit I was struggling a little with it, but I remembered what I felt everytime I cried and tried to turn it into words, hehe. Also, this ff has more than 300 hits! I genuinely can't believe it. Thank you all so much :)

Chapter 7: Are You Ready?

Summary:

Despite exploring Toriel's little tidy house and learning more about Monsters, your only thing in mind is getting out of the Underground. It will not be as easy as you thought it would be.

Notes:

There it is, finally! It felt like years since I last updated and I'm sorry for that. I had a writer's block on this chapter, unfortunately. Nonetheless, enjoy!

ᴱᵛᵉʳʸᵒⁿᵉ ˡᵒᵛᵉᵈ ʸᵒᵘ.

. . .

Stirring in your sleep, and slightly groaning, you slowly sat up with a hand on your forehead. Your eyes felt dry; no doubt it was due to the crying. Not only that, but your whole face — especially the skin under and around your eyes — also felt dry.

Rehydrating your face sounded very nice at the moment, as it will help bring back moisture. And you should wash your hands.

A soft snore pulled you out of your thoughts, and you turned your head to look at Frisk's sleeping form. Although this time, he wasn't doing any funny poses, just sleeping on his side, with his body facing you. His muscles occasionally twitched, maybe due to stress or for another reason.

Your hands started to get sweaty when remembering the events that happened hours prior. With a grimace, you wiped your palms on your clothes, yet a certain stickiness still remained.

Was there a bathroom? You should probably check, since there were three other rooms you still haven't seen.

Removing the covers from your body, you sat on the edge of the bed and took your shoes to put them on. You slowly opened the door, finding the hallway covered in darkness. It meant that Toriel was likely still asleep. Also, the melody didn't change pitch this time. Was it related to whether the lights were on or off?

The shadows looming over the rooms and the furniture gave you an unpleasant sensation. If there weren't any music, it would've been even worse.

Just for a moment, you pondered if you should go back to your room and wait, but a disgusting and unknown feeling was crawling, covering your form, similar to a blanket. You wanted to rip it off, tear up the yarn tied and crafted by expert hands, and to free yourself in the cold air.

Quietly closing the door as your heart started beating faster, you put your hand on the left side of the wall. If you recalled correctly, there should be more than two lamps in this hallway.

Your fingertips found some rough material, similar to wood, and then a smooth and round surface. Lowering your hand, you touched a long rope with pearls. This should be the pull switch.

As you… well, pulled the cord, and the lamps started to light up, one by one, similar to a chain reaction.

. . .

Undertale OST: 012 —

Home

. . .

You blinked several times before being able to keep your eyes open, trying to remove the burning feeling. It was curiously strange how all the lamps turned on.

The melody turned to its original pitch. So it was something caused by the lighting.

Two other doors were in the hallway: one which should be Toriel's bedroom, and the other one, hopefully, a bathroom.

You went to the second one, opening it a little, just for you to poke your head in. You could faintly see a big bed and a table, and hear calm and steady breathing. The owner's face was obscured, but this was without a doubt Toriel's bedroom.

Closing the door, you went to the third room. It had a sign hanging on the knob.

'Room under renovations.'

So, yeah. No bathroom. Great.

Oh, well. The kitchen will do.

You were about to exit the hallway, but first, you stood in front of the mirror situated at the end to take a look at your appearance.

Thankfully, your hair wasn't that bad — yet you still tried to fix what was out of place. Your face, on the other hand…

It was still puffy and swollen, even after sleeping, and a visible slight discoloration caused by a rough layer of tears and mucus, was on your cheeks, keeping your eyes stuck to your reflection in disheartenment.

You laughed quietly, a short huff of air out your nose, barely perceptible. "I look beautiful."

Making your way to the dining room, the fire was still crackling in the chimney, welcoming you with a warm embrace.

As you passed to the other room with uncertain steps — whether it was the place you needed to be in or not — you were met with normal kitchen appliances: an oven, a sink with a carpet underneath it, a fridge, and an island, where a butterscotch-cinnamon pie rested on top. Various utensils were hung up, from pots to oven mittens, and the shiny cream and light brown diamond-checkered floor reflected the light of the space.

Walking to the sink, you turned on the tap, letting the water run a bit. Soft, white fur was stuck in the drain, certainly Toriel's. You were almost hypnotized by the transparent liquid, before you put your hands under it and began stroking them palm against palm. It would've been even better if you also had soap, but for now, the lukewarm water would suffice.

You cupped your hands and waited as they began to fill with water. Once it started leaking from your palms and onto the steel of the sink, you lowered your head and wet your face.

You repeated the same process many times.

How will Toriel react? She took it awfully when you asked her about the fallen Humans; you didn't even mention the fact that you wanted to leave.

Between the sound of the water splashing, the melody, and the constant white noise created by your thoughts, you heard a muffled call of your name.

"... Are you feeling well?"

You stopped your motions and whipped your head towards the voice, droplets dripping from your chin, and hunched posture similar to that of a wild animal.

As if on cue, Toriel stood near the door with a frown.

"Oh... Hi Toriel. Yeah, I'm okay. Did I wake you up?" You let your muscles relax. For some reason, you were glad it was Toriel who came to check on you, and not Frisk.

You dried your face and your hands on your clothes, and turned off the tap.

She closed her eyes. "No, no, do not worry. I am more concerned about your well-being, dear."

... That made you feel many conflicting emotions at the same time.

You were going out of this house, out of the Ruins, and hopefully, out of the Underground. Her caring nature, even if you knew each other for such a short time, was still an amazement and a stranger to you. You knew that eventually, you might face your end the more you explored and learnt secrets.

"I had better days, but I am fine, thank you." Unfortunately, your statement came off more aggressive than you intended it to be, but you were clueless as to what to say to make the situation better.

Toriel's mouth opened a little, and her brows furrowed, creating wrinkles on her forehead. Ironically, it made you feel like you were the monster.

You slightly massaged your temple. "Look, there seems to be just a misunderstanding. Either way, I'm sorry for waking you, but I needed to wash my face, and here it seems that there aren't any..." Looking away, you continued. "Bathrooms."

Did she even know what a bathroom was?

"Oh, yes! I apologize for that. Monsters do not need to... 'go to the bathroom.' When they eat food, it is converted directly into energy and body mass." She tilted her head to the side, a slight blush on her cheeks.

Well, that explained a few of your doubts. But how did the fallen Humans stay — if they even stayed at her house — without using a bathroom? And, without bathrooms, that meant that Monsters didn't bathe or shower?

"Ah, I see," you muttered. "Now, I'm going to Frisk. To... you know, wake him up."

"Yes, of course, so you two can eat breakfast."

You gave her a nod, and walked to the door, passing Toriel while also cringing internally at how embarrassing the whole encounter was.

Toriel wondered if you even saw the slices of butterscotch-cinnamon pie she left for you and Frisk.

· · ─ ·𖥸· ─ · ·

Opening the door leading to your room, you debated whether or not to turn on the lamp inside. The light emanating would make Frisk wake up for sure, but maybe that was a method too cruel. You would hate it if someone did that to you.

You decided not to turn on the lamp but kept the door open to make it easier to see.

. . .

Undertale OST: 013 —

Home (Music Box)

. . .

Frisk was still in the same position he was before you went to the kitchen. Crouching down, you said his name. "Wake up."

Was it too selfish to interrupt his sleep for your own needs?

He didn't move. So, you dared to gently shake him.

This time, he slapped your hand away, and hummed, murmuring something along the lines of 'another five minutes,' while nuzzling even more into the pillow.

"Frisk, please, Toriel wants to speak with you."

It wasn't entirely the truth, but hey! You can't spell 'friends' without ‘lie'.

… Not really. However, it contained the word 'end'.

Frisk slowly sat up, asking you if you were serious or not.

"No, but you wouldn't have gotten up if I hadn't told you that."

He gave you a face that could only be described as pure hatred — in his book, maybe — in reality, he seemed like a grumpy puppy.

"Hey, don't look at me like that!" You playfully frowned.

Frisk just briefly chuckled and put the covers to the side and took his shoes. As he put them on, you got up and went to the lamp, pulling the switch.

. . .

Undertale OST: 012 —

Home

. . .

A strong groan could be heard the moment you did that. Turning your head, you saw Frisk rubbing his eyes. A slight smirk was tugging at your lips as you apologized to him.

With the room now extremely lit, your attention was drawn to the two slices of butterscotch-cinnamon pie left on two respective plates. Your stomach rumbled slightly, and the faint sugary smell they had wasn't helping at all. Toriel was very kind to let you two have something to eat.

But before you could even think about their taste, two hands swiftly took both slices and shoved them mercilessly in the seemingly infinite darkness of a pocket. You were watching in pure horror at the cruelest act you had ever witnessed someone do.

"Frisk, what the—" You covered your mouth with wide eyes. "... why...?" Those were the only things you could muster to say.

He simply shrugged his shoulders, saying that you two will probably need the pies for later.

He already made that mistake once.

Wait, didn't he pet that mouse and the cheese earlier? And he also touched both of your shoulders, trying to console you while you were crying?

You shook your head. "You know what? I'm not even hungry anymore."

As soon as you get Home — on the surface, your real Home —, you'll bathe for at least three good hours.

He breathed heavily from his nose, but a small smile was on his lips. You would bet money that he would be rolling his eyes at this moment. Either way, he asked you if you wanted him to go talk to Toriel.

... That was right. You almost forgot.

Well, at least why not explore a little? You were never seeing this place ever again. And you should also make your bed. It would be rude to leave it like that.

"Later, maybe? If that's okay with you? Could we first make our beds?

He seemed surprised for a few seconds, before saying that for him it was fine.

"Thank you. I make my bed, and you make yours?"

He sighed but nodded nonetheless.

· · ─ ·𖥸· ─ · ·

Man, you surely were amazing.

The bed, now with tightly and smoothly tucked sheets, clear of any creases, stood proudly in all its glory.

You turned around and saw Frisk flattening a blanket on top of the other ones, left in the place where he slept.

"Good job! See? It wasn't that bad."

He smiled and asked if you wanted to explore now.

"Sure!"

(It would not hurt to look again.)

Before you exited the room, you took the red ribbon you left on the bedside table. With one hand and your teeth, you tried to tie it.

Once you were done, you started heading for the door, entered the hallway, and waited for Frisk. After a few seconds, he came, and he seemed to have taken the cell phone, since his other pocket, which wasn't occupied by your innocent wasted breakfast, had a bulge.

You looked at him. "Where do you want to go first?"

He said that he wanted to go to the kitchen.

He needed to overcome his fear.

"Oh, alright."

You and Frisk surpassed the front room and went to the dining one, where Toriel was sitting on the armchair, with her glasses on, and reading a book. Just like how you saw her before.

Frisk announced good morning to Toriel, while you remained silent, having seen her already.

"Good morning to you, too." She responded.

You were passing Toriel by before she called your name.

"Yes, Toriel?" You asked, turning to her.

"Are you feeling better now?"

You loudly hummed. "Now I'm feeling way better... Thank you for asking."

She gave you a sweet smile and began reading her book once again.

Frisk gave you a questioning gaze, but you brushed it off with a gesture of your hand.

When you got to the kitchen, there was still the big pie. Frisk stopped in his tracks and stared at it.

Maybe he won't overcome his fear. The size of that pie was too intimidating! He was astonished at how you weren't scared.

You squinted your eyes at the bizarre staring contest happening before you. You just hoped Frisk was not debating whether or not he should shove the rest of the pie inside his pockets.

Perhaps when he was distracted, you could sneak and take a bite.

"Is everything alright…?" You cautiously asked.

Frisk broke eye contact — if you could even call it that — with the pie, looking at you instead, and said that now he wanted to go to Toriel's room.

"Uh... Toriel's room?" You repeated. "Are you sure we can go there?"

Frisk pushed away your concerns, saying that it would be fine.

"If you say so."

While he was heading towards the door, you quickly took a small piece of pie, mostly the crust, and shoved it into your mouth.

You instinctively closed your eyes: a sweet and warm taste, like nectar, melted in your mouth; the rich and deep flavor of the butterscotch had a perfect contrast to the woody and slightly spicy taste of the cinnamon.

It was slightly irritating knowing that something as delicious as this could have been your breakfast if not for Frisk.

Dusting your hands off, and the corners of your lips, you removed every crumb left and followed Frisk, who was in the dining room. Together, you went to the hallway. 

He opened the second door and held it for you.

"Why, thank you."

How did he know it was the right one?

Now you could see Toriel's room more clearly: it was rather simple, everything within a blue shade, and it primarily contained an assortment of plants, from cactuses to golden flowers. A pungent smell moved your attention with a grimace to an old bucket full of… snails.

You walked near to the table. A little note was put on the chair.

'Chairiel.'

Awww, that was cute, even the chair had a name!

A notebook on the table contained a pun circled with a bright red marker.

Why did the skeleton want a friend? Because she was feeling BONELY...

It seemed like she really liked jokes. The rest of the page was filled with various puns similar to this one, too.

Toriel confessed that she had no time to clean up before taking you here, but the cottage was actually very tidy.

Frisk was resting against the wall, looking at the cactus, the most tsundere of plants.

You smirked. "Her room looks nice, don't you think?"

He gave you a nod and asked you if you wanted to go to Toriel now.

"Yes. We had to do it, eventually," then, you remembered something. "But before that, can I go and take a look at a book that's in the dining room?"

He said that it was obviously okay for him, and you two exited the room, going to the dining one.

You repeatedly tapped your foot. "Toriel, can I take a book?"

"Of course! You do not have to ask, you know?"

With a chuckle, you answered. "Thank you."

You took the old book that stood out so much to you, while Frisk was warming himself by the fire. It felt strange, almost as if your heart… your SOUL was begging to know a piece of specific information. The book didn't have a title, and you just flipped to a random yellowed page.

Trapped behind the barrier and fearful of further human attacks, we retreated. Far, far into the earth we walked, until we reached the cavern's end. This was our new home, which we named... "Home." As great as our king is, he is pretty lousy at names.

The rest of the page was torn off.

Interesting. Was this place called 'Home' located in the Ruins? It also talked about the King... You didn't see a Sovereign of Monsters until now, nor did Toriel acknowledge one still existed.

You couldn't read anything else since Toriel cleared her throat. "I want you two to know how glad I am to have someone here. There are so many old books I want to share. I want to show you my favorite bug-hunting spot. I have also prepared a curriculum for your education."

'Curriculum'? You already finished school a while ago, and you would gladly not redo any of that again. How old did Toriel think you and Frisk were?

Closing the book and putting it where it belonged, you turned to Frisk and motioned at Toriel with your head.

It was high time.

He seemed to get the message.

"This may come as a surprise to you... But I have always wanted to be a teacher," Toriel continued. "Actually... perhaps that isn't very surprising. STILL. I am glad to have you living here."

She noticed that something was off when neither you nor Frisk responded. and raised her eyebrows. "Did you want something?"

Frisk nodded.

"Yes, dear?"

He asked her when the two of you could go Home.

"What? This... this IS your home now," she stuttered, wide-eyed. "Um... would you like to hear about this book I am reading? It is called '72 Uses for Snails.' How about it?"

Frisk furrowed his brows and questioned her further on how to exit the Ruins.

"... I have to do something. Stay here." She closed the book, put it in her chair, and exited the room.

You saw her going down in the basement.

Frisk told you to follow her. And quickly. It wasn't a suggestion. It was an order.

You both ran to the front room and went down the spiraling stairs of the basement. Gray dust laid everywhere in the enclosed and gloomy space, making it difficult to breathe. You suppressed a sneeze.

The calm melody that played in Toriel's house stopped abruptly.

A sound, you couldn't even describe it as music, took its place.

A sound where something slammed against the walls, creating an echo.

A sound that produced a sharp contrast to what you were used to. It was almost an uncanny feeling.

Toriel stood a little ahead of you in the long and purple hallway. "You two wish to know how to return 'home,' do you not? Ahead of us lies the end of the RUINS. A one-way exit to the rest of the underground. I am going to destroy it. No one will ever be able to leave again."

... What?

Her shoulders shook. "Now be good children and go upstairs."

Your upper lip curled up in disdain.

She went ahead, leaving you and Frisk behind. But not for long.

You both caught up with her.

"Every human that falls down here meets the same fate. I have seen it again and again. They come. They leave. They die. You naive children... If you two leave the RUINS... They... ASGORE... Will kill you," tears welled up in her eyes. "I am only protecting you, do you understand? ... go to your room."

This Asgore was the 'HIM' Toriel told you before?

She continued forward.

You and Frisk followed her and turned a corner.

"Toriel, please..." You murmured.

Why face things you were not ready to deal with?

Her head turned behind to look at you, her red eyes narrowing. "Do not try to stop me. This is your final warning."

She turned another corner.

You still walked behind her, until the end of the hallway, where a violet door, with that emblem, similar to the countless ones you had already seen before, stood.

"You want to leave so badly?" Toriel scoffed. "You two are just like the others. There is only one solution to this. Prove yourselves... Prove to me you are strong enough to survive!"

Thick saliva filled your mouth as you waited for something, but nothing happened.

"Wait," Toriel turned to face Frisk. "... why are you looking at me like that? Like you have seen a ghost," she clenched her fists, sharp claws digging into fur. "Do you know something that I do not? No... That is impossible."

You threw a glance at Frisk. His skin was slightly paler and sweatier, and his hair looked more disheveled than usual.

An 'are you okay?' was about to be asked, however, your mouth wasn't fast enough to keep up with the events.

The room darkened, bit by bit.

A beeping sound could be heard.

Your SOUL became visible.

. . .

Undertale OST: 014 —

Heartache

. . .

You took a deep breath.

Toriel stared at you.

Both your hands and hers were shaking. For adrenaline, yes, but also for something else.

You had to do it. You had to FIGHT her. Now.

The battle had begun.

Notes:

Originally, I wrote the entire scene of the Reader and Frisk making their beds, but then I thought it was too boring, so in the end it was scrapped.
We are getting closer and closer to the end of the Ruins's arc! I'm pretty excited, if I do say so myself.
Thank you for all the hits, kudos, comments and bookmarks! You're all too sweet 🌸

Chapter 8: No. No, I Am Not

Summary:

The final FIGHT. And then, you will finally be free.

ᵂʰʸ, ᵗʰᵒᵘᵍʰ?

. . .

The music started with very simplistic instruments, and the lower-pitch parts, strong and heavy, gave an intimidating aura.

✱ Toriel blocks the way!

As you took a few steps behind, you whispered. "What do we do...?

Maybe it worked like in that game? Where you needed to fight a creature to the point where they would leave you alone? Or perhaps, if you weakened her, she'll know that you and Frisk were strong and will let you go!

Frisk suggested to Talk to her, while he showed MERCY.

(Perhaps, this time, it could work in two?)

You touched the ACT button.

✱ Toriel

You chose her name.

✱ Check                           ✱ Talk

You chose to Talk.

Matching Toriel's intensity and annoyance, you began shouting impulsively. "Can't we just calm down!? Do you really think we—" You pressed your lips, forming a thin and tight line. Being hostile would aggravate the situation. While inhaling, you spoke at a slower pace and with a lower pitch. "We... understand your anger in this situation, and we appreciate your concern for our safety. However, it's important to consider our needs and desires as well."

She just stared coldly at you.

✱ As █████ talks to Toriel, FRISK thinks about telling her that he saw her die.

✱ But... That's creepy.

✱ Can he show mercy without fighting or running away...?

With wide eyes, you turned to Frisk. "What— what is it talking about?"

It was about you, or Toriel?

He froze as shivers ran through his body. A disgusting feeling washed over him, a sick and violent response his conscience gave to his prior choices. To his SOUL, pulsating right in front of him.

You shook your head. "Look, now it doesn't matter, let's concentrate on how to get out of this."

He turned to you and swallowed. His lips slightly curved upwards, in a sad and pitiful imitation of a smile.

He touched the MERCY button.

✱ Spare

✱ Flee

He chose to Spare.

Nothing happened. Toriel didn't dare to speak.

But her actions did.

Streams of fireballs fell from above, crossing and twisting.

It would've been almost impossible to dodge them, but thankfully, there were openings in the middle.

Gathering all of your stress and pushing it aside, you tried to dodge to the left and the right at the best of your abilities.

In the moment when you felt safer, when you thought you escaped danger, you were roughly shoved out of the way.

Stumbling, you tried to regain your balance, as a fireball that was about to hit your SOUL bounced on the ground and disappeared with the rest.

Toriel anxiously scratched the inside of her hands with her claws.

You gave Frisk a thankful nod. He gave one back.

The attack ended.

✱ Toriel looks through you.

Frisk touched the MERCY button.

✱ Spare

✱ Flee

He chose to Spare, and told you to do the same, but wasn't just one person supposed to do it?

Nevertheless, you touched the MERCY button.

✱ Spare

✱ Flee

You chose to Spare.

Toriel still remained silent.

Then, it came to your mind something a Froggit said.

It seemed such a distant memory, but you couldn't forget a single word, as if they were embedded in your mind.

(Remember, sparing is just saying you won't fight. Maybe one day, you'll have to do it even if their name isn't yellow.)

A crackling noise turned your attention behind you, just in time to see thick fireballs dashing towards you as cold sweat poured down your back.

Clenching your teeth, you tried to keep your temper as you jumped into a few free spaces, hot and burning fire grazing your skin.

The fireballs weren't interested in wounding you.

They were interested in your SOUL.

(It is always your SOUL.)

The attacks ended.

An acrid smell of smoke filled the air. You started to pant.

The melody progressed into higher energy sections, involving more complex instruments, and you could almost feel a sense of emotional turmoil in the notes. It not only created a sense of menace but also of regret and sadness.

✱ Toriel is acting aloof.

Understanding the 'plan', you let Frisk touch the MERCY button first.

✱ Spare

✱ Flee

He chose to Spare.

Toriel furrowed her eyebrows.

You touched the MERCY button.

✱ Spare

✱ Flee

You chose to Spare.

She wrinkled her muzzle at your actions. "What are you doing?”

Her right paw began to light up, and she swept it in an arc from left to right, leaving a trail of fireballs. They stood still for a moment, before splitting up and launching towards your and Frisk's SOULs.

Frisk yelled at you not to move and to wait for his signal.

You trusted him. Even with clammy hands, bated breath, and tension filling your body to the brim... you trusted him.

The fireballs left ashes and sparks in their wake.

Frisk was silent.

You closed your eyes tightly. What was he waiting for!? Yet, you still chose to listen to him. It felt right, as if he had more experience and scars than you.

Suddenly, he screamed at you to move away. And you did.

The fireballs hit the floor before vanishing.

The attack ended.

You saw Toriel's chest shakingly expand and contract.

✱ Toriel takes a deep breath.

Frisk touched the MERCY button.

✱ Spare

✱ Flee

He chose to Spare.

"Attack or run away!" Toriel surprisingly growled, a low and deep vibrating sound.

However, you both ignored her.

You touched the MERCY button.

✱ Spare

✱ Flee

You chose to Spare.

"What are you proving this way?" She asked once again, shaking her head.

The battle raged on, and Toriel restlessly lit her other paw too, sweeping both of them in an arc, unleashing her fiery magic and sending waves of flames.

These ones were more eager, bouncing on the black walls at extreme speed, playing a dangerous game between themselves.

Frisk was more agile, experienced, and avoided all the attacks.

But you?

You were not so lucky.

A few fireballs, as if they had a sentience of their own, saw an opening in your distraction and threw themselves at your SOUL.

Together with a slight ache in your chest, a burning sensation shot throughout your hand. You yelped in pain as the fire damaged your skin.

Falling to the ground, you clutched and looked at your wrist and the black-and-white ribbon, the silk threads untying as it slowly shrank from the flames. A bitter and pungent odor was diluted in the air. Soon, a carbon colored, irregular powder rested on your hand.

And just like that, the ribbon was gone.

Frisk glanced at the little yellow box near your name, now displaying an HP of '18/20'.

The consequences of the fire seemed to have been lessened than normal. As if the ribbon was some sort of... shield?

Your whining accompanied the melody, filling the black void with green neon lights. You cuddled your hand close to your SOUL, as if it could help relieve the pain. It was, rather pathetic, how fast you were able to get hurt, while the other Human in the room was able to remain intact from the beginning.

Frisk touched the ITEM button, and rummaged through the uneven knots of his pockets, with the urgency and speed of a gale, searching for something to help you. You two were different. Every small wound had to be cured.

✱ MnstrCndy                           ✱ MnstrCndy

✱ MnstrCndy                           ✱ HalfSpidrDont

PAGE 1

He touched the first ITEM he saw, and called your name, with a certain urgency that motivated you to look at him.

Your brain barely registered him throwing something small, and with luck and adrenaline, you were able to hold the crunchy aluminum casing safe.

Shakingly opening it, a familiar, overly sweet smell and taste filled your nostrils and mouth. It tasted... like licorice.

The dominating heat of your hand dissipated, giving the same pleasant sensation of ice-cold water. It was as if nothing had happened. The ribbon might not be there anymore, but you were still alive and well.

✱ █████ ate the Monster Candy.

✱ Her HP was maxed out.

As the text wrote, your HP went back to '20/20'.

Frisk checked his pocket: only two Monster Candy, a Half Spider Donut, and two slices of Butterscotch-Cinnamon Pie remained.

It should be enough.

He gave you a nod, to which you mimicked.

Toriel's eyebrows twitched. If you focused on her form, you could see how she slightly trembled or how her hands tightened into fists.

Frisk already wasted his opportunity to Spare Toriel, so you were the only one remaining. 

You touched the MERCY button.

✱ Spare

✱ Flee

You chose to Spare.

"Fight me or leave!" Toriel snarled, showing off in a more pronounced manner her fangs, like a caged animal, trying to defend itself in the cruel world it was involuntarily thrown into.

You understood. This was a battle neither you nor Toriel wanted to be having.

Fireballs went dangerously close to your side, forcing you to run near Frisk, as both of you were blocked.

Reluctantly, Toriel let other fireballs fall from above in a slow zigzag pattern.

What she did before was a close call, and if she continued to attack you with her magic, she would do something she would never forgive herself for. How could she bear the sight of you bleeding in her arms? 

It was rather easy to dodge this one attack, as you just had to move carefully between the flames.

More ashes filled your lungs. You could feel the beginning of a runny nose coming.

The way the other human came immediately to your rescue... It reminded her of someone else. It was a compassionate gesture. He did not try to ignore you and let you deal with your wounds on your own.

'To suffer together', is the literal definition of the word compassion.

Conflicting feelings filled her heart. Her SOUL.

You two will go a long way.

✱ Toriel prepares a magical attack.

Frisk touched the MERCY button.

✱ Spare

✱ Flee

He chose to Spare.

"Stop it." Toriel tried to warn you two, even though it seemed she said it more to herself.

You touched the MERCY button.

✱ Spare

✱ Flee

You chose to Spare.

"Stop looking at me that way." Toriel didn't even try to hold your gaze anymore, as her dark red eyes shifted to the floor.

One of the same attacks as before began again: her paw lit up, leaving a trail of fireballs, ready to launch towards your SOUL.

It was easier to dodge when she used only one hand.

You were starting to feel lightheaded.

The fireballs bounced on the floor.

The attack ended.

✱ Toriel is acting aloof.

(Indeed.)

Frisk touched the MERCY button.

✱ Spare

✱ Flee

He chose to Spare.

"Go away!" Toriel yelled once more, her voice cracking.

Frisk shook his head. A smirk, despite being small and unnoticeable, was forming on his face, wild and forced.

You touched the MERCY button.

✱ Spare

✱ Flee

You chose to Spare.

Toriel opened her mouth, before hastily closing it and looking to the side.

Many fireballs fell haphazardly from above in a big mass, leaving no space to move.

It was impossible to dodge them.

You took some steps back. The heat was intense, and you could feel it even from where you stood.

Toriel wouldn't do it, right...? 

Your heart pounded in your chest as you watched the flames come closer by the second.

If you were to get hit, no Monster Candy would help you heal your wounds.

They flew towards your SOUL, but at the last moment, they swerved, faltering, deliberately avoiding you.

The attack ended.

You looked between Frisk and Toriel in shock and confusion. She was Sparing you?

You didn't have time to ponder the question as the burning in your eyes, nose, and throat distracted you. The odor of smoke was nauseating. It made breathing difficult, but Toriel didn't seem to have any problem with it...

✱ Toriel takes a deep breath.

Frisk, unfazed, touched the MERCY button.

✱ Spare

✱ Flee

He chose to Spare.

Toriel bowed her head with a frown. Her shoulders slightly shook.

You gulped back the tears threatening to fall, and touched the MERCY button.

✱ Spare

✱ Flee

You chose to Spare.

The music suddenly stopped.

"I know you two want to go home, but..." Toriel began.

✱ . . .

Again, Frisk touched the MERCY button.

✱ Spare

He chose to Spare.

She continued. "But please... go upstairs now."

✱ . . .

You touched the MERCY button.

✱ Spare

You chose to Spare.

Her eyes widened as she smiled. "I promise I will take good care of you here."

She tried to be hopeful. Choosing to see the hypothetical happiness you three would have in this new Life, instead of focusing on the negative answer she would get.

✱ . . .

Frisk coughed two times, harshly. He was clutching his chest. But that didn't stop him from touching the MERCY button.

✱ Spare

He chose to Spare.

Toriel still tried. "I know we do not have much, but..."

✱ . . .

Half-heartedly, you touched the MERCY button.

✱ Spare

You chose to Spare.

"We can have a good life here."

Did she really think you would leave everything you had before, like it was nothing?

How—

How selfish.

✱ . . .

Frisk touched the MERCY button.

Her voice was quavering, unsteady, and pitiful. "Why are you making this so difficult?"

✱ . . .

You touched the MERCY button.

✱ Spare

You chose to Spare.

"Please, go upstairs."

✱ . . .

Frisk touched the MERCY button.

✱ Spare

He chose to Spare.

As she pouted, her eyebrows lowered and pulled closer together.

✱ . . .

You touched the MERCY button.

✱ Spare

You chose to Spare.

A dry laugh left her lips.

✱ . . .

"Frisk, wait…" You tried to speak, but he paid no attention to you and touched the MERCY button.

✱ Spare

It was his moment.

He chose to Spare.

Toriel lowered her head. "Pathetic, is it not? I cannot save even a single child."

You wanted to say something, anything. Wanted to comfort her. Tell her you were sorry. Help her realize. However...

✱ . . .

... With a sigh, you touched the MERCY button.

✱ Spare

You chose to Spare.

Toriel didn't talk.

✱ . . .

Frisk touched the MERCY button.

✱ Spare

He chose to Spare.

A silent moment of hesitation, then a glint shone in her eyes. "No, I understand. You two would just be unhappy trapped down here."

She was letting you go?

"The RUINS are very small once you get used to them. It would not be right for you to grow up in a place like this. My expectations... My loneliness... My fear... For you, my—" She looked to the side. "My small friends... I will put them aside."

A weight seemed to be lifted from your shoulders. It whipped out all your anxiety and pressure. You experienced the calm within you: the feeling of relief, the most soothing feeling ever.

Little by little, the abstract imagery of this FIGHT, faded away, making you return to the purple walls of the RUINS and the floral smell of honey, washing away the suffocating one of smoke and ashes.

. . .

Undertale OST: 004 —

Fallen Down

. . .

Toriel's theme came once again, this time slowed down, giving the situation an eerie tranquility. Yet, that was just the lull before the storm.

"If you two truly wish to leave the RUINS... I will not stop you. However, when you leave..." Toriel stared at the walls behind you, her shoulders tensing. "Please do not come back. I hope you understand."

You and Frisk were suddenly engulfed in a warm and fluffy embrace, with Toriel's head in between you two. She was slightly trembling, and you could feel her trying to breathe steadily, as if she was compelled to cry, but she wanted to hold it in.

From that position, you were able to understand that the sweet aroma from Frisk's hair was coconut, and... was that wheat?

Toriel smelled of rosemary: a pungent and somewhat astringent odor. But also musky and earthy, like leaves, with a pinch of mint. It somewhat helped you to wash away your worries.

"As the only humans, you two will have nothing but your friendship from now on. You must always be there and protect each other. Goodbye, little one, and..."

The way she looked at you was more than enough to tell you every emotion she was feeling right at that moment: sadness, concern, sorrow, shame... and love.

Too many words she wanted to say, too little time on her hands. The sand in the hourglass was ticking away with each passing second.

"What are you going to do, now?" You asked her.

"Do not worry about me. Someone has to take care of the flowers."

You didn't know that underneath the golden flowers, there was a certain someone Toriel will never let go.

"In that case... I hope we can meet again. I'm— we, are sorry, Toriel."

She gave a nod, before walking in the direction you came from, not without taking a final glance at you and Frisk, leaving the question 'will we meet again?' in the hands of Fate.

It was funny how in such a short time, you were able to form a bond with a Monster; something that was considered so out of your world before.

Yet, she also naively assumed that being a loving and doting mother figure was enough to make someone stay with her. She didn't consider the needs of other people who may not have felt comfortable here.

There was a quick and slight tap on your shoulder, as if whoever did that was too afraid to annoy you.

Frisk asked you if you were ready.

"No. No, I am not... but we can't do anything about that, can we? Let's just go."

He furrowed his eyebrows, but said nothing, as he pushed the set of dark purple doors.

A very long hallway extended in front of you. The music stopped, and your footsteps were the only source of sound. If you listened carefully, you could also hear the rhythmic beating of your heart. The lack of conversation also didn't help at all, but you weren't really willing to talk.

As you walked, the floor changed color, becoming lighter, until you could catch sight of a doorway.

Stepping into the new room, you were met with a normal flower. At least, that was what you would've liked to see.

"Clever. Verrrryyy clever."

Out of anyone who could have spoken to you.

Flowey welcomed you with a condescending sneer. "You think you're really smart, don't you? In this world it's kill or be killed," he looked at the ceiling. "So you were able to play by your own rules. You spared the life of a single person."

"Can't we just walk past him?" You whispered to Frisk, but he didn't listen to what you said.

"HEY, I'm talking! Be QUIET!" He screamed, before giving you a smug grin. "I'm surprised that you're still even alive, you hussy."

"What...!?" Muttering, you clenched your jaw.

"Anyways…" He cleared his throat. "Hee hee hee... But don't act so cocky. I know what you did. You murdered her," his face started morphing, transforming to a horrible copy of Toriel's one, "and then you went back, because you regretted it."

You stepped back from the flower, mocking the goat Monster's face, now melting. Both in the FIGHT and now it was said that Toriel died. So did that mean Frisk...?

Flowey continued, undaunted. "You naive idiot. Do you think you are the only one with that power? The power to reshape the world... Purely by your own determination. The ability to play God! The ability to 'SAVE.'"

That. Only Frisk was able to do that. To touch the yellow sparkle. The only time you could, was at Toriel's house. 

"I thought I was the only one with that power. But... I can't SAVE anymore. Apparently YOUR desires for this world override MINE. Well well. Enjoy that power while you can. I'll be watching." And he laughed, disappearing underground.

A heavy silence settled in the room.

Your heartbeat seemed to have stopped as you remained rooted to your place.

Frisk informed you that you could go out now, pointing at the purple doors. His movements were shy, almost clumsy.

You were quiet, ruminating on everything. From the talk with Toriel at her house, Frisk's behavior during the FIGHT against her, to what Flowey said.

A hand was about to rest on your shoulder, but you pulled away. "... I don't care! Please, tell me what's going on. What— what did you do!?"

You took several steps away from him. The smell of honey was starting to suffocate you.

Frisk clenched his fists. You waited impatiently as he lowered his voice, beginning to explain. How the earlier FIGHT wasn't the first one he had with Toriel.

"... What does that mean?" You asked, feeling a surge of fear and curiosity.

He sniffed and rubbed his eyes. He thought he had to show her how strong he was, so she could let him go, but things... got out of control.

"You mean that..."

He admitted that he did, indeed, kill Toriel. With his own hands.

It was as jarring as a bucket of ice water being poured over your head. Terror washed over you like a wave, raising the hairs on the back of your neck. "You... you what?"

Frisk felt his pulse beating in his ears, blocking out the sound of his jagged breathing. The color quickly drained from his face. He could no longer control his shaking hands.

"It's—" You snorted a chuckle, "it's a joke, right?"

... He claimed it wasn't.

Dread sucked any breath left in your mouth. "How do I know that you won't do the same to me, huh? And why is she STILL alive, then!?"

He heaved a long sigh, as if to prepare himself. He assured you that he would never harm you in any way, saying that he could do something called a 'Reset.' As the name suggested, it allowed him to reset everything that happened since he fell underground. Every action, every conversation would be deleted, as if it never existed.

The memory of Toriel's body disappearing, leaving behind a trail of gray dust... and her SOUL breaking. It left a shiver up his spine every time he thought about it. It was etched deep into his mind.

You gave a nervous giggle. "The first time you came here... Was I with you?"

He shook his head.

"Then— then how...?"

He didn't know.

A mystery barely solved, just another billion pending.

"Did you go further than this place?"

He muttered that he made the 'reset' in this very room.

Was… any of this real? Perhaps it was a dream. The ball of yarn in your brain, full of knots, made it impossible to find a solution. You just had to search the head of it, untying it as you went forward.

He came dangerously close to you and put his hands on your shoulders.

You instinctively raised yours in defense.

You wanted to run for safety, but your feet would not allow you to do so.

He assured you he understood that this was very strange and difficult for you, but it was also the same for him. Frisk said that this was your story, your adventure. You two had to walk through that door and save the entire Monster population. Only then will the mysteries be revealed. The future of the Underground was now in your hands.

And where did that come from?

He suddenly removed his hands, and backed off from you, breathing sharply and short, as if your skin burned him. His clothed thighs were wet, handprints on his pants, where he wiped his palms until they were tingling.

He looked scared. Scared of what you would think of him. If you were going to leave him alone.

He had to endure all of that. On his own. You would have surely broken down.

You tried to calm down. Panicking wouldn't lead you anywhere. But first, you had to reassure Frisk.

He apologized to you for telling you such a horrible thing. He said he just wanted to be honest with you, since you two were friends, hoping you wouldn't hate him or fear him for what he had done.

You frowned, trying to understand. You didn't 'hate or fear' him, but you didn't trust him either.

He turned his head away, tears forming. He swore it was an accident, he didn't mean to do it. He didn't mean to hurt her!

You felt a pang of sympathy, anger, and confusion.

"Any sane person would not know how to process this. And honestly? I think it is just me who is losing it for good. You may have suffered, surely, but this suffering has made you strong, much stronger than you can imagine. You are very brave, if I do say so myself."

Despite him having his eyes closed, this time, you felt as if his stare was intense: fierce and powerful, yet cold and hard at the same time.

"Please, though: no more secrets."

He raised his eyebrows, and his gaze didn't hold any dangerous emotion anymore. He gave a hearty laugh. One that was loud, sincere, and full of joy. His cheeks were a lively red.

Lively, just like his name.

Everything made sense, now. How Frisk always seemed to know how to do a puzzle. How he never, ever, got hurt. How stiff he was when he met you. The first encounter with Flowey. The battle with Toriel.

He was about to open the doors, a cold breeze coming from under them. Frisk couldn’t help but feel grateful for your support.

"... Do you think there will be a Happy Ending?"

He said that he didn't know, but he chose to believe that this was the case.

After you get out of here, what will you do? Telling everyone that you met a lot of Monsters, and not all of them wanted to kill you? Would they even believe you? People most of the time never believed anything until they saw it with their own eyes. But…

... You had better things to take care of.

You didn't want to think about your future.

You didn't want to think about Humans and Monsters. About their differences.

You needed to focus on one thing and one thing only: get out of this place promptly.

It was impossible for you to hear the curious hum of another entity as it listened to your speech. It was always present, watching you. Getting frustrated when you weren't able to do something. Smiling when you won.

♡＊˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚━━━━━━━━━━˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊♡

End Of The RUINS Arc

♡＊˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚━━━━━━━━━━˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊♡

Notes:

The reason why I took so long to update?

I had a writer's block near the ending of the chapter. I tried to make the Reader's reaction as realistic as possible, imagining what I would feel if someone I barely knew told me they killed someone lol.
On top of that, there was also the problem on how to put the picture. I barely managed to do it. It's not the best.

Anyway! Thank you so much for all the hits, kudos and comments!! It's insane! I appreciate each one of you, thank you so much! 😊🌺

P.S: I changed the tags a little. Initially, when I was still writing with story, I didn't want to spoil it too much, so I avoided any tags that would do so. But then, I thought that it would be best for you if triggering stuff was tagged.

Get ready to meet the funky skeletons.

Chapter 9: These Skeletons Are Anatomically Inaccurate

Summary:

Just silly Monsters acting silly.

Notes:

I'm so sorry for taking so much time updating this! Many things happened and I continued being sick on and off during these months! 😭😭

I also wondered if I should post this ff on Wattpad and Quotev, but I'm rather unsure about it.

I wanted to update on the one year anniversary (^o^), but then I forgot it was on December 12th 💀, so I decided to update it on the next 'big event.' Happy New Year everyone!!! 🎉

ᴵ ᵃᵐ ʳᵉᵃˡˡʸ ᶜᵘʳⁱᵒᵘˢ.

. . .

Your pupils shrank to prevent the light from entering, a brighter one than that of the Ruins. How was it even possible?

Body trembling from a sudden chill, you covered your arms as the wind whipped through the numerous and tall coniferous trees. It provided a constant background noise, creaking and groaning like an old rocking chair.

You cautiously took a few steps, the crunch of snow underfoot echoing in the quiet forest, and a sharp, sweet, yet refreshing aroma enveloped you, entering your nose and traveling to your lungs, filling them with cold air. It helped clear your head and push away the annoying smell of honey that lingered in the Ruins.

The snow, sparkling with ice crystals, was softer than you imagined. And drier too. You weren't a mountain expert, but you were sure it shouldn't have been underground.

The wooden door you entered from was all cracked, sticking outwards, and encrusted with ice and snow. Something shone inside a white bush near you, but you didn't give it too much thought.

"Wow… I surely didn't expect snow." You murmured in amazement to yourself. The tense atmosphere of before cracked, leaving one of stupefaction.

If there was snow, that meant that somehow, in the Underground, there could be other weather phenomena? Even thunderstorms...?

Your mouth puffed like a chimney. Teeth slightly chattered. The tip of your nose began to become cold, and your cheeks warm and raw. You hunched over and lifted your shoulders. A blanket and a hot drink sounded really nice at that moment.

Frisk gave a nod. He himself was stunned by the view, not minding the goosebumps covering his clothed arms.

"I wonder, where's the exit?"

He claimed that he had no idea.

"Please. Don't tell me there is more... It's freezing here!" You pinched the bridge of your nose with a whine.

Maybe you should have asked Toriel for more information regarding the exit of the Underground.

Frisk gave you a pat on your shoulder, his fingers and toes starting to burn.

"Well, we should keep moving to stay warm."

You didn't know what you would give to have another Monster like Toriel popping out of nowhere, protecting you.

But of course, it would be even more amazing if they let you leave when you asked them to.

Frisk walked beside you, both of you crossing your arms and taking big steps.

You still couldn't shake the feeling of unease that had settled in your chest. It felt... as if someone was watching you intently.

The trees towered over you and Frisk, casting long shadows on the ground.

"It's beautiful here, but we should be careful. There has to be a way out of..." Your voice quietened as soon as you heard the sound of a branch breaking behind you, and a silhouette caught your attention out of the corner of your eye.

However, when you turned around, it was just you and the snow, and a silence so deep that you felt it in your bones.

Frisk asked you what was wrong.

"I thought I saw someone..."

He looked at the now broken branch, too heavy to pick up, with a frown on his face, before nudging you two to speed up.

A wooden bridge connected to the other land, protected by a gate. As you stepped on it, there was the sound of footsteps crunching on the white ground, but neither you nor Frisk were walking on it.

The cool air mixed with a warm, moist one, holding a sense of anticipation.

"Ｈｕｍａｎｓ． Ｄｏｎ＇ｔ ｙｏｕ ｋｎｏｗ ｈｏｗ ｔｏ ｇｒｅｅｔ ａ ｎｅｗ ｐａｌ？ Ｔｕｒｎ ａｒｏｕｎｄ ａｎｄ ｓｈａｋｅ ｍｙ ｈａｎｄ."

The gravelly voice right behind you made you freeze instantly. You and Frisk glanced at each other before he gave you a nod. You wished there would be no one, just a trick made by your and Frisk's brains, or the wind now knew how to talk.

You both turned around. There was someone, hidden in a dense fog. A bittersweet scent emanated from the stranger.

They expanded both of their hands, crossing them, and waiting for you.

With your brows knitted together, you and Frisk reached for the respective hand and shook it.

A farting sound came from the hand Frisk shook.

. . .

Undertale OST: 015 —

sans.

. . .

A new melody broke the silence, something too difficult to understand, which instruments had, but enough to give a calming aura. No... more of a relaxing one. Sometimes, a trombone could be heard.

The fog disappeared all at once, as if too impatient to give you time to let the tension fade gradually, and instead, punched you square in the face.

The now not-so-mysterious person laughed. "𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚘𝚕𝚍 𝚠𝚑𝚘𝚘𝚙𝚎𝚎 𝚌𝚞𝚜𝚑𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚛𝚒𝚌𝚔. 𝚒𝚝'𝚜 𝙰𝙻𝚆𝙰𝚈𝚂 𝚏𝚞𝚗𝚗𝚢."

A short and chubby skeleton was before you, with a wide, toothy grin, his mouth not moving even when talking. Tiny, white dots served as his pupils, almost glowing in his dark sockets. He wore a blue hoodie, a white t-shirt underneath, black shorts with white stripes, and a pair of pink slippers.

He looked… oddly endearing. Well, not as much as the Froggits or Napstablook, but more or less on the same level as Flowey. Maybe a little higher. It was amazing how many different Monsters there were.

Frisk shuffled his feet, blushing and giving a nervous giggle.

The skeleton let go of your and Frisk's hands.

Why was Frisk the only one who got pranked? Like, thankfully, only he was pranked, but why him?

Frisk thought the same thing. It was unfair.

"𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝? 𝚝𝚘𝚘 𝚜𝚊𝚍 𝚒 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗𝚝 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚠𝚑𝚘𝚘𝚙𝚎𝚎 𝚌𝚞𝚜𝚑𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚢𝚘𝚞?" The Monster suddenly asked, referring to you.

"Uh? No… of course not."

"𝚑𝚎𝚢, 𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚜𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝚌𝚘𝚜𝚝, 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚍𝚘𝚗'𝚝 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚛𝚢, 𝚒 𝚙𝚕𝚊𝚗 𝚘𝚗 𝚐𝚎𝚝𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚘𝚘."

Was that a threat?

"Oh— well, thank you, but there isn't the need for that."

"𝚠𝚎'𝚕𝚕 𝚜𝚎𝚎."

Before you could ask him any further, he spoke again. "𝚊𝚗𝚢𝚠𝚊𝚢𝚜, 𝚢𝚘𝚞'𝚛𝚎 𝚑𝚞𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚜, 𝚛𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝?"

Frisk told him that it was correct.

"𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝'𝚜 𝚑𝚒𝚕𝚊𝚛𝚒𝚘𝚞𝚜. 𝚒'𝚖 𝚜𝚊𝚗𝚜. 𝚜𝚊𝚗𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚔𝚎𝚕𝚎𝚝𝚘𝚗. 𝚒𝚖 𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚞𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢 𝚜𝚞𝚙𝚙𝚘𝚜𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚎 𝚘𝚗 𝚠𝚊𝚝𝚌𝚑 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚑𝚞𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚜 𝚛𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚗𝚘𝚠."

Sans, like... the font?

No, who cares, he said something else—

"Wait, you want to capture us!?"

"𝚑𝚢𝚙𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚝𝚒𝚌𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢? 𝚢𝚎𝚜. 𝚋𝚞𝚝... 𝚢'𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠... 𝚒 𝚍𝚘𝚗𝚝 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢 𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚌𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚗𝚢𝚋𝚘𝚍𝚢. 𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚖𝚢 𝚋𝚛𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛, 𝚙𝚊𝚙𝚢𝚛𝚞𝚜... 𝚑𝚎'𝚜 𝚊 𝚑𝚞𝚖𝚊𝚗-𝚑𝚞𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝙵𝙰𝙽𝙰𝚃𝙸𝙲."

Wasn't Papyrus also a font? Or that paper to write on?

It didn't matter! Why couldn't you breathe? You just got out of the Ruins, and now you already have to endure something else?

"𝚞𝚑𝚑... 𝚒 𝚍𝚘𝚗'𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚔 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚏𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚍 𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎𝚜 𝚖𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚖𝚞𝚌𝚑." Sans said, but it wasn't directed to you.

You felt Frisk's hand pat your shoulder blade. It didn't occur to you that you were glaring at Sans.

"Uh? Oh, sorry. It's just— it would be nice to take a break… sometimes."

"𝚒 𝚐𝚘𝚝𝚌𝚑𝚞. 𝚒 𝚊𝚕𝚖𝚘𝚜𝚝 𝚗𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚢 𝚋𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚔𝚜 𝚖𝚢𝚜𝚎𝚕𝚏, 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚔𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚖𝚢 𝚋𝚛𝚘."

"Really?"

"𝚢𝚎𝚊𝚑. 𝚑𝚎𝚢, 𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚞𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢, 𝙸 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚔 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝'𝚜 𝚑𝚒𝚖 𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎. 𝚒 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚊𝚗 𝚒𝚍𝚎𝚊. 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚠𝚘 𝚐𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚐𝚊𝚝𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚢."

You and Frisk turned to look behind you, but there was nobody.

"𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚘𝚗. 𝚖𝚢 𝚋𝚛𝚘 𝚖𝚊𝚍𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚋𝚊𝚛𝚜 𝚝𝚘𝚘 𝚠𝚒𝚍𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚙 𝚊𝚗𝚢𝚘𝚗𝚎." Sans edged you.

Frisk walked towards the new space, you and Sans following him.

Some kind of sentry station stood among shorter trees, rocks... and a lamp that had Frisk's exact same silhouette.

Sans nodded at his left pointing to Frisk. "𝚚𝚞𝚒𝚌𝚔, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚋𝚎𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚟𝚎𝚗𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚕𝚢-𝚜𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚎𝚍 𝚕𝚊𝚖𝚙," then to you, "𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞, 𝚞𝚑, 𝚍𝚘𝚗'𝚝 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚊 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚟𝚎𝚗𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚕𝚢-𝚜𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚎𝚍 𝚕𝚊𝚖𝚙... 𝚑𝚘𝚠 '𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚑𝚒𝚍𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝚖𝚢 𝚜𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚛𝚢 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎?"

"Wha—"

You couldn't even finish as Frisk took your arm and dragged you to the sentry station, before hiding in his 'conveniently-shaped lamp.'

You found yourself crouching behind the sentry station. Your eyes scanned the several bottles of ketchup, mustard, and relish seated haphazardly inside, and your gaze fell upon a peculiar object half-buried in the snow— a camera. You frowned, wondering why it was placed there. Instinctively, you reached out to uncover it, curiosity getting the better of you.

. . .

Undertale OST: 016 —

Nyeh Heh Heh!

. . .

You couldn't investigate further, as the careless and calm theme of before faded out, leaving in its place an upbeat song with an 8-bit sound. Your heart skipped a beat as you hastily covered the camera again.

Sans' grin stretched slightly. "𝚜𝚞𝚙, 𝚋𝚛𝚘?"

"YOU KNOW WHAT 'SUP,' BROTHER! IT'S BEEN EIGHT DAYS AND YOU STILL HAVEN'T... RECALIBRATED. YOUR. PUZZLES! YOU JUST HANG AROUND OUTSIDE YOUR STATION! WHAT ARE YOU EVEN DOING?!?" A new voice came in, high-pitched and loud.

Looking at Frisk, you saw that he also had his head turned to you. You two stared at each other for what could have been only three seconds, before returning your attention to Sans' brother.

This 'Papyrus' stood tall in his blue attire, with bones as white as the snow, strange eye sockets that twinkled in the light, and an air of confidence. He had a red cape, gloves, and boots, a white chest plate, with some symbols on it — different than the circle with the wings and the three triangles — and blue... briefs. Were they even briefs? Overall, his outfit was decorated with golden accents.

Both of these skeletons were anatomically inaccurate.

"𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚕𝚊𝚖𝚙 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚖𝚢 𝚜𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚛𝚢 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗. 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚢'𝚛𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢 𝚌𝚘𝚘𝚕. 𝚍𝚘 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚗𝚊 𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚔?"

Was he trying to get you caught!?

Papyrus began stomping the ground, the snow creaking under his shoe. "NO!! I DON'T HAVE TIME FOR THAT!! WHAT IF A HUMAN COMES THROUGH HERE!?! I WANT TO BE READY!!! I WILL BE THE ONE! I MUST BE THE ONE! I WILL CAPTURE A HUMAN!"

A choking noise grabbed your attention. Turning to the source, you saw Frisk desperately trying to cover his mouth with his hands, as laughs threatened to slip out. You couldn't help but smile.

"THEN I, THE GREAT PAPYRUS... WILL GET ALL THE THINGS I UTTERLY DESERVE! RESPECT... RECOGNITION... I WILL BE FINALLY ABLE TO JOIN THE ROYAL GUARD! PEOPLE WILL ASK, TO, BE MY, 'FRIEND?' I WILL BATHE IN A SHOWER OF KISSES EVERY MORNING."

He went on and on, bragging about himself. It seemed he really wanted to capture a Human. Why, though?

Sans hummed. "𝚖𝚊𝚢𝚋𝚎 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚑𝚎𝚕𝚙 𝚢𝚘𝚞."

… What exactly was his deal?

But luckily, Papyrus didn't seem to believe him. He huffed with importance, marching past your hiding spot, his focus solely on his brother. "SANS!! YOU ARE NOT HELPING!! YOU LAZYBONES!! ALL YOU DO IS SIT AND BOONDOGGLE! YOU GET LAZIER AND LAZIER EVERY DAY!!!"

"𝚑𝚎𝚢, 𝚝𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝚒𝚝 𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚢. 𝚒'𝚟𝚎 𝚐𝚘𝚝 𝚊 𝚝𝚘𝚗 𝚘𝚏 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚔 𝚍𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚝𝚘𝚍𝚊𝚢. 𝚊 𝚜𝚔𝚎𝚕𝚎-𝚝𝚘𝚗."

The music stopped, followed by a rimshot.

Oh. Sans. Like, Comic Sans.

Frisk was about to choke with his saliva, while you gently hit your forehead on the sentry station's wood.

"SANS!!!"

"𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚘𝚗. 𝚢𝚘𝚞'𝚛𝚎 𝚜𝚖𝚒𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐."

"I AM AND I HATE IT!" Papyrus then sighed. "WHY DOES SOMEONE AS GREAT AS ME... HAVE TO DO SO MUCH JUST TO GET SOME RECOGNITION..."

"𝚠𝚘𝚠, 𝚜𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍𝚜 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞'𝚛𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚜𝚎𝚕𝚏..." Please no, "𝚍𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚋𝚘𝚗𝚎."

The music stopped. Another rimshot.

You had to forcefully cover your mouth not to laugh, as for Frisk... he looked like he was dying. It was a wonder how Papyrus didn't notice any type of unfamiliar noise.

Papyrus groaned and pinched the bridge of his nose — kind of? — but he was clearly finding amusement in his brother's puns. "I WILL ATTEND TO MY PUZZLES... AS FOR YOUR WORK? PUT A LITTLE MORE, 'BACKBONE' INTO IT!!!! NYEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHE!!!"

... What a quirky laugh.

He was about to go away, but just before leaving, he turned around. "HEH!"

After what felt like an eternity, the music stopped and Sans strolled back to Frisk's lamp, his hands tucked into his pockets. "𝚘𝚔, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚊𝚗 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚗𝚘𝚠."

"That was surely something..." You murmured as you emerged from the sentry station, brushing off snow from your clothes with a chuckle.

Frisk nodded, wiping his eyes and contentedly sighing, his breath misting with the cold air.

"𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚊 𝚐𝚎𝚝 𝚐𝚘𝚒𝚗𝚐. 𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚋𝚊𝚌𝚔. 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚒𝚏 𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚘𝚎𝚜..." Sans winked, his tone light, "𝚢𝚘𝚞'𝚕𝚕 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚜𝚒𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑 𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚖𝚢 𝚑𝚒𝚕𝚊𝚛𝚒𝚘𝚞𝚜 𝚓𝚘𝚔𝚎𝚜."

Despite the offer of hearing bad puns from a skeleton was tempting, you still didn't know where to go. Neither you nor Frisk moved.

"𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝'𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚑𝚘𝚕𝚍𝚞𝚙? 𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚔, 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎'𝚜 𝚗𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚎 𝚊𝚏𝚛𝚊𝚒𝚍 𝚘𝚏. 𝚒𝚝'𝚜 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚊 𝚍𝚊𝚛𝚔 𝚌𝚊𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚗 𝚏𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚍 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚜𝚔𝚎𝚕𝚎𝚝𝚘𝚗𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚑𝚘𝚛𝚛𝚒𝚋𝚕𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚜."

You narrowed your eyes. "Thanks, but exactly, where do we have to go?"

"𝚊𝚕𝚠𝚊𝚢𝚜 𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚠𝚊𝚛𝚍. 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚐𝚎𝚝 𝚕𝚘𝚜𝚝."

"Oh... Well, then. Later."

"𝚜𝚎𝚎 𝚢𝚊 𝚊𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍."

Just as you were about to go, Sans spoke again.

"𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚞𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢, 𝚑𝚎𝚢... 𝚑𝚊𝚝𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚢𝚊, 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚌𝚊𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚍𝚘 𝚖𝚎 𝚊 𝚏𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚛?"

You and Frisk nodded.

"𝚒 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐... 𝚖𝚢 𝚋𝚛𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛'𝚜 𝚋𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚘𝚏 𝚍𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚕𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚕𝚢... 𝚑𝚎'𝚜 𝚗𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚜𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚊 𝚑𝚞𝚖𝚊𝚗 𝚋𝚎𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚎. 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚎𝚎𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚠𝚘 𝚖𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚖𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚍𝚊𝚢. 𝚍𝚘𝚗'𝚝 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚛𝚢, 𝚑𝚎'𝚜 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚍𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚎𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚜. 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝚒𝚏 𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚎."

After a shared glance with Frisk, you spoke. "We'll try, I guess."

"𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚔𝚜 𝚊 𝚖𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚒𝚘𝚗. 𝚒'𝚕𝚕 𝚋𝚎 𝚞𝚙 𝚊𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚍." But he went in the opposite direction.

. . .

Undertale OST: 017 —

Snowy

. . .

While Sans walked away, another melody could be heard.

"This song is so pretty!" You beamed, getting lost in the many mordents alternated between the notes from a piano and violins. It felt nostalgic, in a way.

Frisk whipped his head in the direction you two came from.

"What's wrong?"

His movements faltered for a second, and then he assured you it was nothing, but he could swear he saw something yellow move.

The new area had a Save Point and a box with a sign. There were two exits, one to the north and one to the west.

Frisk incited you to open the box, while he... did his own thing with the Save Point, giggling at whatever he heard from it.

As you watched him, you couldn't help but remember when you were able to Save back at Toriel's house. Frisk had to know... it seemed to be some kind of unique power, but now, in this tranquility, the moment didn't feel right.

You decided to wait for the perfect time, an instant when you two could sit down and talk about it calmly and peacefully.

A sign nearby proudly proclaimed...

'This is a box. You can put an item inside or take an item out. The same box will appear later, so don't worry about coming back. Sincerely, a box lover.'

At least this seemed rather useful!

Crouching down, you opened the brownish wooden box. A pale pink glove lay inside. You picked it up, your thumb gently stroking the worn leather.

When Frisk finished, he came closer to you and asked what you found.

"It seems as if you can put something in here and it will reappear in another place. Oh, and now I have a glove."

He breathed out an 'amazing.'

You passed the glove to Frisk, as he examined it carefully.

To your surprise, he told you to wear it.

"What? No."

He insisted, saying that it would keep your hand warm.

"I'm not wearing it! I have standards!"

With a grimace, he dared to say how your 'standards' were dumb.

"I'm not going around with that. Didn't you see the skeletons earlier? Maybe there are other Monsters around! It's embarrassing."

What he wouldn't do to make you see him rolling his eyes at your response. He told you that there were monsters, but most of them were animals or magical creatures.

"Who still wear clothes, talk, and have feelings," you said as you got up. "Look, Frisk, I appreciate your concern, really! But... the glove is ugly."

He rubbed his brows and tapped his foot.

"And it's only one glove. As you can see, I have two hands. What am I supposed to do with the other? Let it die from the cold, while its twin gets to live the best life?"

Frisk thought about how this conversation was starting to make less sense, with each passing second.

"Why don't YOU wear it? You should warm your hand too. I'm not wearing that. Case closed."

Slowly, he set it back into the box and closed it.

He wasn't going to wear that glove. He had standards, too.

"Wait, don't you want to put anything inside?" You asked.

Frisk shook his head, saying that he was fine with keeping things for now.

Now... should you go north or west? Sans did say you had to always go forward.

"Where should we go?"

Frisk peered at the exit to the north, where the enthusiastic Papyrus and the calm Sans were in the distance, talking animatedly.

With a sheepish nod and lips pressed in a tight line, he told you that it would've been better to go to the west exit first.

You two stumbled upon a tranquil river that meandered through the forest. Frisk's eyebrows lifted as he spotted a fishing rod affixed to the ground.

With eager anticipation, he approached the fishing rod, but the cell phone rang, stopping him. He immediately accepted the call, hopeful that Toriel was the one at the other end of the line.

Instead, an unknown voice chimed in. "Hello! Can I speak to G..."

As they trailed off, Frisk tilted his head. You two had no idea who this 'G' was, and the voice sounded unfamiliar.

"... Wait a second. Is this the wrong number?"

Frisk confirmed it was, with a questioningly 'yes?'

The voice on the phone paused for a moment before breaking into a strangely catchy tune:

"Oh it's the wrong number! The wrong number song! We're very very sorry that we got it wrong!"

You blinked in disbelief as the caller continued to sing with gusto:

"Oh it's the wrong number! The wrong number song! We're very very sorry that we got it wrong!"

With that, they hung up.

The song left you both baffled. It was an... unexpected encounter, to say the least.

"Uh... Okay?" You chuckled at the randomness of the call, and Frisk couldn't help but join in. "The hell was that? It was weird. Nice, but weird."

Frisk slowly put the cell phone back in his pocket, agreeing with you.

But who was this person called 'G?'

While you thought, Frisk reeled the fishing rod in, only to let out an audible 'ew.'

"Uh? What's wrong?"

He pointed at a photo attached to the end of the fishing rod, saying that it was the picture of a weird-looking monster.

"You shouldn't say these types of things, and— ew."

In the photo, there was some kind of merman posing. Old grease stains took place on all of his singlet, and short, grey streaks of hair grew at the end of his peachy skin.

At the bottom of the photo, in a crooked and crabbed calligraphy, you could read...

'Call me! Here's my number!'

Frisk laughed at what you said and put the fishing rod back into the water.

"No— I mean. I didn't want to say 'ew,' because he— he isn't that ugly. And even if he were, maybe he's very gentle and caring, you never know."

He called all of that nonsense. 

"Hey! Look that I'm serious!"

He explained that so was he.

"So that's how it is? What would you do if you met a beautiful female Cuban cigar, and you were in love with her, but she was extremely rude and only used you?"

Frisk said it would be fine, but the smirk on his face told a different story.

You sighed exaggeratedly at the situation. "Then... What are we gonna do? Call him?"

In the end, you both decided not to do it.

⋆⋅•⋅⊰∙∘⋆ ❆ ⋆∘∙⊱⋅•⋅⋆

You noticed in the distance two figures. Familiar ones.

Oh.

"Frisk, hey." You raised your hand.

He stopped and asked you what happened.

"Are you sure we want to meet them?" Nodding in the direction of the skeletons, you continued. "Isn't there another way?"

Looking over to the two brothers, he reminded you of what Sans said.

"I know what he said, but... how can we be certain he isn't tricking us?"

His mouth opened a little, before he closed it, contemplating. He assured you that you two were way stronger than those monsters and that the exit was probably near. You just had to be patient.

Your eyebrows raised as you looked to the side. "If you say so."

Frisk began walking, carefully avoiding the big rock on the ground, with you following him.

The music stopped as you walked.

"SO, AS I WAS SAYING ABOUT UNDYNE—" Papyrus, hearing the crunching of your shoes on the snow, looked at you and Frisk.

. . .

Undertale OST: 016 —

Nyeh Heh Heh!

. . .

His mouth was open in shock, while Sans's smile became slightly bigger.

Papyrus looked at Sans, who in turn, was looking at you and Frisk. A short game between them ensued, taking turns and looking at each other.

You and Frisk grinned when Papyrus and Sans started pirouetting, before abruptly turning their backs to you.

"SANS!! OH MY GOD!! IS THAT..." Papyrus clenched his fists near his chest, trembling with excitement. "A HUMAN!?!?!??!?!"

"𝚞𝚑𝚑𝚑𝚑... 𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚞𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢, 𝚒 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚔 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝'𝚜 𝚊 𝚛𝚘𝚌𝚔."

Blinking, you wondered. What rock?

You turned your head behind you. Ah. That rock.

"OH." Papyrus felt defeated, but before he could say anything else, Sans spoke up again.

"𝚑𝚎𝚢, 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝'𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚒𝚗 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚗𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚛𝚘𝚌𝚔?"

"OH MY GOD!!!" He tried to whisper quietly, but failed. "IS... IS THAT A HUMAN?"

"𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚞𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢 𝚝𝚠𝚘."

He squinted his eyes, looking at you and Frisk up and down, and then squealed. Sure enough, there were two humans standing in front of him. "YOU'RE RIGHT! OH MY GOD!!! SANS! I FINALLY DID IT!! UNDYNE WILL... I'M GONNA... I'LL BE SO... POPULAR!!! POPULAR!!! POPULAR!!!" He pretended to cough with discretion in his fist, actually saying 'ahem' out loud. "HUMANS! YOU SHALL NOT PASS THIS AREA! I, THE GREAT PAPYRUS, WILL STOP YOU!!! I WILL THEN CAPTURE YOU! YOU WILL BE DELIVERED TO THE CAPITAL!"

There was also a capital!? So that meant that many Monsters were still alive...

"THEN... THEN!!!" There was a pause before Papyrus shrugged. "I'M NOT SURE WHAT'S NEXT. IN ANY CASE! CONTINUE... ONLY IF YOU DARE!!! NYEH HEH HEH HEH HEH HEH HEH HEH!!!"

As he, laughing, ran away, Sans asked. "𝚠𝚎𝚕𝚕, 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚠𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚠𝚎𝚕𝚕, 𝚗𝚘?"

You stared at Sans. Papyrus seemed harmless and almost childlike. Perhaps it won't be so bad after all?

Sans winked. "𝚑𝚎𝚑. 𝚍𝚘𝚗'𝚝 𝚜𝚠𝚎𝚊𝚝 𝚒𝚝, 𝚔𝚒𝚍𝚍𝚘𝚜. 𝚒'𝚕𝚕 𝚔𝚎𝚎𝚙 𝚊𝚗 𝚎𝚢𝚎𝚜𝚘𝚌𝚔𝚎𝚝 𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚢𝚊."

. . .

Undertale OST: 017 —

Snowy

. . .

Nodding, you watched him leave as the music from before returned.

Just as you opened your mouth to speak, the cell phone began to ring, jolting you both. Frisk reached into his pocket, retrieving it and accepting the call.

You were curious but said nothing, waiting to hear the caller's identity. Could it be again the person who asked for G?

"U—uhhh..." A timid, stuttering woman's voice on the other end whispered to herself. "Oh my god, help..."

Frisk's muscles relaxed, and he asked the caller if she needed something, trying to sound as friendly as possible.

"I'd like to order a... Um... A pizza...? With, uhh... The toppings are, uh... I have them copied, I'll just paste them to you."

You squinted your eyes. Perhaps the Monster calling dialed the wrong number?

'The wrong number song' came to your mind, and you groaned internally.

It will probably be stuck in your head for some time.

The cell phone read out loud random characters: from letters, numbers, and symbols, to punctuation marks. With that, the caller hurriedly hung up, leaving you and Frisk even more perplexed.

Before you two could exchange any thoughts or even take two more steps, the cell phone rang again. Frisk hesitated but ultimately answered the call.

"𝚑𝚎𝚢. 𝚒𝚜 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚛𝚎𝚏𝚛𝚒𝚐𝚎𝚛𝚊𝚝𝚘𝚛 𝚛𝚞𝚗𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐?" Sans' laid-back voice greeted you.

Frisk shrugged in confusion, then responded with a confused 'what?'

"'𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝?' 𝚒𝚜 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚊𝚗 𝚊𝚗𝚜𝚠𝚎𝚛, 𝚋𝚞𝚍𝚍𝚢. 𝚝𝚛𝚢 𝚊𝚐𝚊𝚒𝚗."

Finally, after what felt like an eternity of silence, Frisk stood still, realizing that Sans had been attempting one of the classic 'Is your refrigerator running?' jokes. He couldn't help but giggle at the realization, and he spoke, his voice tinged with amusement, confirming that his refrigerator was, in fact, running.

Sans is not gonna tell him to go and catch it, right?

Instead, the Monster said something else. "𝚗𝚒𝚌𝚎. 𝚒'𝚕𝚕 𝚋𝚎 𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚘 𝚍𝚎𝚙𝚘𝚜𝚒𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚋𝚛𝚎𝚠𝚜𝚔𝚒𝚜."

But before Frisk could respond with any further jest or banter, Sans immediately ended the call.

"I— I'm confused." You furrowed your brows.

Frisk put the cell phone back in his pocket, chuckling and shaking his head, and you couldn't help but join him.

With the call ending on this light note, you two continued your walk, however Frisk felt that something was missing. You two studied the coniferous trees, both realizing it at the same time.

"Kinda weird we haven't encountered any Monsters in a FIGHT yet, don't you think?"

He held up a finger to his lips, playfully shushing you, and how you might jinx it. He wanted to enjoy the quiet while it lasted.

But no sooner had the words left his mouth that everything started to flicker to black, and your SOULs appeared in front of you.

. . .

Undertale OST: 009 —

Enemy Approaching

. . .

✱ Icecap and Snowdrake confront you, sighing.

✱ Jerry.

Warmth enveloped you, and your numb fingers tingled back to life along with a shiver down your spine. The black void had a more comfortable temperature than the one in the forest.

And not only one, but three Monsters stood in front of you! Some eyes were filled with curiosity, and some with indifference.

On the left stood a short and stocky humanoid Monster sporting a hat made of ice on its disproportionately large head. Its posture was arrogant, with large, sunken eyes and a rotating, drill-like nose. It looked down on you and Frisk with a frown.

In the middle was a somewhat disheveled-looking Monster. Three thick spikes rested on the top of its head, and it had unevenly narrow arms and four short legs.

And the last Monster... Its stance was intimidating, standing big and tall on its talons. Its face resembled a snowflake with fluffy feathers sticking out, and despite the sharp teeth in its beak and the overall alarming appearance, it had very pretty markings on its eyes that gave the impression of long eyelashes.

You... had no idea who was who.

But by guessing, Ice Cap should be the one with the hat, Snowdrake the one resembling a snowflake... And Jerry, the one in the middle?

"Oops..." You watched Frisk with wide eyes, realizing that your words had indeed brought you a new challenge.

With determination, Frisk readied himself for battle.

He touched the ACT button.

✱ Ice Cap

✱ Jerry

✱ Snowdrake

After coming to a conclusion regarding whose name belonged to whom, he chose Ice Cap, hoping he got the right monster. Its hat was just so cool!

✱ Check                           ✱ Compliment

✱ Ignore                           ✱ Steal

Determined to 'break the ice,' so to speak, he chose to Compliment.

✱ FRISK informs Ice Cap that it has a great hat!

Ice Cap, taken aback by the unexpected compliment, paused for a moment.

Frisk smiled, but it was soon wiped off when Ice Cap dismissed his compliment. "Envious? TOO BAD!"

You chuckled at the exchange, finding the Monster's reaction to be quite entertaining.

Jerry obviously couldn't resist adding its two cents. "Ka-SIGH."

Snowdrake, who had been watching with a bemused expression, began to speak. "Do I really..." But then he trailed off, unsure. 

Frisk couldn't help but laugh at the delightful absurdity of it all.

But now it was your turn.

You touched the ACT button.

✱ Ice Cap

✱ Jerry

✱ Snowdrake

Eager to contribute, you initially glanced toward Jerry as your potential opponent. However, as you were about to make your choice, something caught your eye. From the corner of your vision, you noticed both Snowdrake and Ice Cap shaking their heads frantically, as if trying to convey a silent message.

Jerry, on the other hand, fixed its gaze on you, its eyes locking onto yours with a somewhat unsettling intensity. It was as if it were saying: 'Choose wisely.'

Your eyebrows shot up in surprise at the peculiar reaction from the Monsters. You turned to Frisk, who simply shrugged in response. It seemed that even he couldn't quite decipher the odd dynamics at play.

Who should you choose?

Well, you didn't want to say it, but... Snowdrake seemed safer. And cuter.

With suspicion lingering, you hesitated for a moment longer, contemplating your choice. In the end, you decided to embrace the moment, choosing to go along with the unspoken wishes of Ice Cap and Snowdrake.

Wearing an amused grin, you finally turned your attention to Snowdrake, who responded by letting out a breath of gratitude and relief.

✱ Check                            ✱ Laugh

✱ Heckle                           ✱ Joke

Your movements faltered a bit. Choosing to Heckle felt too cruel, to Laugh would be embarrassing, and you couldn't come up with a suitable joke on the spot.

So you decided to adopt a more observant approach.

You chose to Check, wanting to learn more about him.

✱ SNOWDRAKE — ATK 6 DEF 2

✱ This teen comedian fights to keep a captive audience.

You couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at the description. A teen comedian, huh?

It was rather unexpected but intriguing. Maybe he'll tell one of his jokes?

Meanwhile, Ice Cap, who had been showing off its stylish hat, was very keen on chiming in. "I just looove my hat. OK?" He declared, seemingly uninterested in Snowdrake's moment. The bird Monster snapped his beak shut and gave it a nasty side-eye.

Jerry let out a sigh and muttered. "Why are we doing this? What a fail."

Snowdrake interjected with a mild protest, his feathers puffing up sightly. "Guys... guys..." It was as if he wanted to keep the spotlight on himself. He was just so impatient to entertain!

Ice Cap smirked, getting ready to fight.

Top hat-like objects were summoned onto the ground near you and Frisk.

They shot chunks of ice upwards, filling the whole place with a flurry of frozen hazards.

It was easy to dodge them. The delay before the ice fell back down gave you and Frisk time to react.

Frisk couldn't help but think that Ice Cap's attacks were more stylish than dangerous.

But the real difficulty came from Snowdrake, who, in a coordinated effort with Ice Cap, unleashed his crescent-shaped projectiles.

Some of them moved in elegant parabolic arcs. Others shot straight lines in various directions.

You and Frisk had to stay constantly on the move, leaping and weaving to avoid Snowdrake's attacks.

The crescent-shaped projectiles filled the air with a mesmerizing dance.

It was as if Snowdrake was trying to put on a show, and you couldn't help but find it cute. Maybe he just wants to be noticed.

In one tense moment, as Snowdrake's projectiles created a quick pattern in the air, a chunk of ice from above threatened to collide with Frisk's SOUL.

The cold breeze brushed against his face as he narrowly managed to sidestep it.

His brain raced as he gave you a shy nod. It was a close one. Even if he could heal himself, it would be better not to get hurt.

The attacks finally ended as Snowdrake breathed heavily.

✱ Snowdrake is puffed up..

"I really didn't need to run that much, you know..." You whispered to no one in particular. It was impossible not to get just a little annoyed.

It was Frisk's turn to make a move in the battle, but he was met with indecision. Who should he choose?

Sensing Frisk's doubt, Ice Cap glanced at Jerry and then back at Frisk. When Frisk raised a brow, the Monster did the same thing faster, twice.

Snowdrake added himself in, nodding towards Jerry.

Could it be that they wanted Frisk to choose Jerry?

Frisk snorted and touched the ACT button.

✱ Ice Cap

✱ Jerry

✱ Snowdrake

He chose Jerry's name.

✱ Check                           ✱ Ditch

He only had two options. 

Feeling as if the Ditch one was a bit too mean, he moved his hand to Check.

Just as he was about to confirm his choice, Snowdrake and Ice Cap slowly shook their heads, their expressions conveying a subtle message.

Frisk paused and looked at Jerry, who gazed back bored.

His hand hovered above the Ditch option, and Ice Cap and Snowdrake nodded, with the same speed as before.

Frisk observed the exchange, trying to decipher its meaning. As he hesitated, in the end, he decided to follow Snowdrake and Ice Cap's silent advice.

✱ You and the other monsters ditch Jerry when it looks away!

Jerry vanished in the blink of an eye, leaving you and Frisk bewildered. The latter, with a puzzled expression, turned to you, uncertainty written all over his face.

Snowdrake couldn't refrain from making a pun at the situation. "Better not snow 'flake' out." He quipped, attempting to lighten the mood.

It wasn't the funniest joke you'd heard, but the earnestness in Snowdrake's voice and the sheer dedication to make you laugh tugged at your heartstrings. Also, he was only a teen! You couldn't just crush his dreams like that!

You exchanged a glance with Frisk, who held a small, encouraging smile.

You touched the ACT button.

✱ Ice Cap

 

✱ Snowdrake

You chose Snowdrake's name.

✱ Check                            ✱ Laugh

✱ Heckle                           ✱ Joke

You chose to Laugh.

✱ █████ laughs at Snowdrake's pun.

Frisk, too, chuckled softly, appreciating Snowdrake's effort to bring a bit of humor.

You decided to play along, letting out a laugh. "You got us, Snowdrake! Laughter is the best medicine, right?" You said, your tone a little awkward, yet still cheerful.

Ice Cap held a disgusted expression, cringing at your actions.

Snowdrake's eyes, instead, lit up with delight. "See!? Laughs! Dad was wrong!" He exclaimed, a mix of surprise and triumph in his voice. You sensed a newfound confidence in Snowdrake, almost a glimmer of self-discovery.

The battle continued as Ice Cap and Snowdrake launched their attacks.

Ice Cap conjured icy waves that rose above the ground, undulating up and down and forming an enclosed path with narrow gaps

Frisk suggested with a giggle that it would be like a chilly dance floor.

You snorted. "Yeah, it would!"

You two synchronized your movements, carefully navigating the gaps and staying close.

Ice Cap felt annoyed, realizing that its usual tactics weren't having the desired effect.

Meanwhile, Snowdrake, repeated his previous attack, sending yet again crescent-shaped ice projectiles soaring towards you and Frisk.

Your heart raced, and your SOUL swayed to the music as you guided yourself through the gaps, avoiding the projectiles sent by Snowdrake.

But hey! You were getting better at this!

The attacks ended, and you couldn't help but wonder how long you and Frisk had been in this FIGHT against Snowdrake and Ice Cap.

It had to finally be the time to Spare them, no?

Snowdrake began flapping his wings with wide eyes, all of his feathers fluffed up.

✱ Snowdrake realized its own name is a pun and is freaking out.

... He realized it only now?

"Hey, Frisk... maybe we can Spare them?" You proposed.

He hummed, his chest rising and falling quickly, and touched the MERCY button.

✱ Spare

✱ Flee

To your pleasant surprise, the Spare option was yellow, meaning that a Monster could finally be Spared.

Frisk chose to Spare.

Snowdrake froze, disappearing with a woosh, and now all of your attention turned to Ice Cap.

You remembered your previous interactions with it. What should you do? The only other three options you still haven't tried were to Check, Ignore, and Steal...

The idea of Stealing its beloved hat crossed your mind.

You touched the ACT button.

✱ Ice Cap

 

 

You chose its name.

✱ Check                           ✱ Compliment

✱ Ignore                           ✱ Steal

Tentatively, you chose to Steal.

Feeling a surge of confidence, you lunged forward, attempting to snatch Ice Cap's hat. However, your timing was slightly off.

Ice Cap's keen eyes caught the movement, and it let out a shout. "I KNEW IT!!! THIEF!!"

You froze, your hand still mid-air, inches away from Ice Cap's hat. Feeling your cheeks hot, your eyes shifted to the floor, realizing your attempt had backfired.

"I... uh, sorry about that," you stammered, trying to salvage the situation. "I just thought— maybe... never mind."

✱ █████ tried to steal Ice Cap's hat... but it's not weakened enough!

Frisk shot you an uplifting grin, silently urging you to brush off the mishap. It seemed like a good idea to Steal its hat from him. You might be on the right track. All you had to was weaken it...

Ice Cap, still fuming, adjusted its hat indignantly with its tiny fingerless hands. "You think you can just waltz in and take my hat!? THINK AGAIN!"

It grew increasingly frustrated, unleashing its top hat attack again.

However, you and Frisk didn't even need to move; the top hats merely shot chunks of ice upward and returned to them without reaching you two.

✱ Ice Cap makes sure its hat is still there.

Frisk touched the ACT button.

✱ Ice Cap

 

 

He chose Ice Cap's name.

✱ Check                           ✱ Compliment

✱ Ignore                           ✱ Steal

Still embarrassed, you didn't notice Frisk choosing to Ignore Ice Cap.

✱ FRISK manages to tear away his eyes from Ice Cap's hat.

✱ It looks annoyed...

"What? What are you doing?" Ice Cap asked, indignant.

Frisk didn't respond, since he had to Ignore the monster.

Sensing as it may do something, you touched the ACT button.

✱ Ice Cap

 

 

You chose Ice Cap's name.

✱ Check                           ✱ Compliment

✱ Ignore                           ✱ Steal

You chose to Ignore, hoping to provoke a reaction.

✱ █████ stops looking at Ice Cap's hat.

✱ It seems defeated...

That meant you could Steal its hat, now?

"OK! I'll ignore you too." Ice Cap declared, feigning disinterest as it looked around, pretending to be captivated by something else entirely.

✱ Ice Cap is desperate for attention.

Surprisingly, no attack came your way; Ice Cap was keeping true to its word, ignoring you and Frisk in return.

Curiosity piqued, Frisk broke the silence, questioning if Ice Cap was going to attack you two.

"NO, DUH! I'm IGNORING you!" It huffed, its frustration evident despite its attempts to appear indifferent.

Frisk seized the opportunity, touching the ACT button.

✱ Ice Cap

 

 

He chose Ice Cap's name.

✱ Check                           ✱ Compliment

✱ Ignore                           ✱ Steal

He chose to Steal.

This time, his maneuver was successful as he snatched Ice Cap's hat with ease, passing it quickly from one hand to the other due to its freezing temperature.

What he didn't expect, however, was the hat quickly melting into his hands, leaving a wave of panic washing over him and Ice Cap encased in an ice cube.

You watched with a mix of amusement and mild horror. You could practically hear the frantic mental gymnastics going on inside Frisk's head.

He wasn't just scared; he was downright terrified. What if he had caused irreparable damage? What if Ice Cap was stuck as an ice cube forever!?

A bead of cold sweat trickled down Frisk's temple as he turned to you, saying how he thought he had messed up.

You couldn't help but chuckle softly, placing a comforting hand on Frisk's shoulder. "I'm... sure nothing bad actually happened?"

Frisk sighed, his expression wavering between a sheepish grin and sheer panic.

Meanwhile, inside the icy confines of its cube, Ice Cap felt exasperated. First, its hat got stolen, and now it was an ice cube. It became the coolest monster in the Underground. Literally.

✱ FRISK tried to steal Ice Cap's hat...

✱ And succeeded!

✱ (It melts in his hands...)

"So... cold..." Ice Cap managed to mutter, its words coming out in frosty puffs.

You, although still hesitant, touched the ACT button.

✱ Ice Cap

 

 

Its name was in yellow, meaning it could be Spared now, but a pang of guilt tugged at you.

You chose its name.

✱ Check                           ✱ Compliment

The options decreased, leaving only two.

You chose to Compliment.

Offering a reassuring smile to the Monster, you spoke. "You know, even without your hat, you still manage to look fine, Ice Cap."

Your compliment caught it off guard. "So I can still impress you?" It inquired, its voice full of surprise.

You and Frisk both nodded in unison.

Frisk added how Ice Cap was really rocking that icy look, suiting it.

Ice Cap would smile if it could; it appreciated it.

No attack came, whatsoever.

But someone did.

✱ Return of Jerry

Its swollen lips were pressed together, and you could almost hear Ice Cap sighing in frustration.

You and Frisk exchanged a glance. Jerry looked at you two with disgust.

Frisk touched the ACT button.

✱ Ice Cap

✱ Jerry

 

He chose Jerry's name.

✱ Check                           ✱ Ditch

He chose to Ditch.

✱ You and the other monster ditch Jerry when it looks away!

✱ Again.

You immediately touched the MERCY button.

✱ Spare

✱ Flee

You chose to Spare.

✱ YOU WON!

✱ You earned 0 EXP and 45 gold.

Everything turned back to normal. 

. . .

Undertale OST: 017 —

Snowy

. . .

You exchanged a surprised glance with Frisk, your eyebrows shooting up in disbelief. "Wow, that's a lot of gold!"

Frisk couldn't help but crack a small smile as he nodded in agreement.

"Finally..." Your heavy breaths created frosty puffs in the frigid air. It carried a musty smell, making you shake your head and wrinkle your nose.

Then, with a playful grin, you nudged Frisk and joked. "If it wasn't for me, you would've lost!

Frisk denied everything you said, and instead took all the credit.

"What!? It's all thanks to me!" You yelled as you — gently — shoved him.

He shoved you back, saying that it wasn't, in fact, thanks to you.

Your banter caused you to lose track of your surroundings, missing the hidden camera, the narration of Papyrus' sentry station, and the sign that clearly instructed travelers to halt and remain still.

Just as your and Frisk's laughter echoed through the air, a gruff voice, similar to the rubbing of stone against stone, shouted in annoyance with a bark. "What's all this ruckus!?"

A tall, white dog with a round face, a dog treat in his mouth, and adorned with a pair of narrowed, inquisitive eyes that seemed to take up most of his expression, came into view. He sported a vibrant cotton-candy-pink muscle shirt adorned with a rather chic dog print, and his paws, serving as hands, gripped the desktop of the sentry station, the claws digging into the wood.

Startled by the sudden interruption, you and Frisk froze in place, you wide-eyed.

But despite his size, Frisk couldn't help but find him adorable.

The Monster hummed and mused to himself. "There's no one here, but I know I heard something move." He looked everywhere, except for you two, as if he couldn't see you.

A FIGHT was triggered.

. . .

Undertale OST: 009 —

Enemy Approaching

. . .

Ohhh, boy.

Notes:

Tbh I'm pretty scared that this chapter is boring and probably illogical — especially the fight with Snowdrake, Ice Cap and Jerry — but it needed to happen!
THANK YOU SOOO MUCH FOR THE SUPPORT YOU GAVE ME!! I'm extremely grateful to each one of you! 🌺

Fun fact: one of the reasons this chapter took so much time to make was because I couldn't find a font that recreated Sans' and Papyrus' ones. So I used the Undertale fonts in my Work Skin, but it doesn't show to everyone, so I apologize if you don't see the font change :(

(Did it make sense what I just wrote?)

May this new year bring happiness and good things to you all!!

Chapter Ten will be even longer! It'll be the last chapter set in Snowdin Forest before we enter the Town!!

Thank you all again!!! <3

Chapter 10: Where Do All These Dogs Come From!?

Summary:

Cute puppies — along with a weird reindeer and whatever that Glyde thing was — fight you. At least you get a lot of money.

Notes:

It felt like years since I last posted. I'm so, so sorry! I was very busy, but to make it up, here's a very long chapter!

ᵂᵒᵘˡᵈ ʸᵒᵘ ᵍⁱᵛᵉ ᵃˡˡ ᵒᶠ ᵗʰᵃᵗ ᵃʷᵃʸ?

. . .

✱ Doggo blocks the way!

You finally got a good look at the dog Monster, his suspicious eyes darting everywhere.

Apart from his simple muscle shirt, his ensemble included leopard print pants, and he held a pair of short swords in a strange and probably painful position, similar to the King’s playing card. His ears were raised, trying to pick up whatever sound there might be.

You moved to touch the ACT button, and Doggo's gaze was now on you, staring attentively.

✱ Doggo

You chose his name.

✱ Check                           ✱ Pet

You only had two options: to Check or to Pet. There was little choice.

But as you thought about it, Frisk walked close to you, putting a warm hand on your shoulder and suggesting you should Check.

You nodded in agreement, but you couldn't miss the big smile that he had. As if he wanted to choose the other option...

✱ DOGGO — 6 ATK 1 DEF

✱ Easily excited by movement.

✱ Hobbies include: squirrels.

Just like a normal dog, huh?

Doggo murmured to himself in thought, his hind legs gently kicking the ground. "Will it move again?"

Frisk couldn't contain his eagerness anymore at the prospect of Petting him and touched the ACT button.

✱ Doggo

He chose his name.

✱ Check                           ✱ Pet

He chose to Pet.

Cautiously, he attempted to reach out for a friendly pat, his red SOUL bobbing at each step he made.

✱ Doggo is too suspicious of FRISK's movements.

Yet, ever vigilant, Doggo snapped back, making Frisk's outstretched hand freeze mid-air. "Don't move an inch!"

A blue, gigantic, sharp sword materialized and began moving in your direction. It was swift and unexpected, a blade that sliced through the air.

Unaware of its true nature, you and Frisk attempted to dodge.

You ran to the far left of the black background, only to smash against an invisible wall, almost knocking the wind out of you.

Shaking your head and continuing to move, you tried not to get hurt, but it was revealed to be useless.

The sword hit yours and Frisk's SOULs.

Both of your HPs now depicted a '16/20'.

It wasn’t the sharp pain of a physical wound— it was just a slight burning that hugged your chest uncomfortably.

Your heart raced, and you clutched your chest, attempting to hold the flames at bay.

Doggo detected the movement, his ears perking up. "MOVING?" He questioned, his voice sharp and probing, barking restlessly, tail thumping against the ground.

Frisk couldn't help but feel a pang of frustration, running a hand through his brown locks.

✱ Doggo is confirming the moving object.

"I'll heal myself, Frisk." You said softly, your eyes meeting his in a silent understanding while he nodded.

You touched the ITEM button.

✱ MnstrCndy                           ✱ MnstrCndy

✱ HalfSpidrDont                     ✱ Stick

PAGE 1

You chose the Monster Candy and looked at Frisk, expectantly.

He remained there, not doing anything.

He mouthed a 'what?'

You gestured to the huge Text Box.

Ohhhhhhhhh...

Yeah, that was true. He was the only one that had healing ITEMs! How silly.

He began rummaging through his pockets.

Doggo's brow twitched as he smelled the air. A mix of his dog treats and the unique scent of the two creatures in front of him made him stand on the alert. They weren't monsters, he was sure of it. The odor they emitted was different from the one he grew used to. And also, one of you two carried something that had a lovely scent to it.

Frisk finally found a Monster Candy and threw it at you.

Putting it in your mouth, and holding the wrapper in your hand, the candy dissolved and warmth spread through your body, reaching your very SOUL.

The burning receded, replaced by a soothing tingle. Your closed your eyes, savoring the relief.

✱ █████ ate the Monster Candy.

✱ Her HP was maxed out.

Then, a spark of inspiration hit Frisk. He remembered the stick he had.

He touched the ITEM button.

✱ MnstrCndy                           ✱ HalfSpidrDont

✱ Stick                                      ✱ ButtsPie

PAGE 1

He chose the Stick, and with a glimmer of hope, he took it from his pocket and decided to toss it, wanting to engage Doggo in a game of fetch. The stick sailed through the air, landing a few feet away from the Monster.

To his delight, Doggo's eyes widened with excitement, his tail wagging furiously and tongue lolling out of his mouth. "HUH!!! A FUN STICK APPEARS!" He dashed after the stick, his earlier suspicion momentarily forgotten.

You watched, amused — and yes, maybe a little jealous — as Doggo retrieved the stick and brought it back, ready for another round, to which Frisk happily obliged.

✱ FRISK threw the stick and the dog ran to get it.

✱ They played fetch for a while.

Amidst the fetch game, the blue sword attack reappeared.

What were you supposed to do!? Even if you ran away, it still hurt you. So if you shouldn't move—

Ohhh...

Oh. Oh.

It was worth a shot.

You hoped Frisk got it too.

The sword came close to you, but this time, you didn't run, and thankfully neither did Frisk.

You closed your eyes and held your breath in anticipation, allowing the sword to pass harmlessly through your body, only leaving a shiver in its wake.

✱ Doggo loves fetch!!!

Frisk turned to you, giving you a thumbs up, to which you mimed.

When the attack subsided, you touched the ACT button.

✱ Doggo

Despite his name being yellow, you still chose it, causing Frisk to furrow his brows and look at you.

✱ Check                           ✱ Pet

You chose to Pet.

You handed Frisk the wrapper and gently approached Doggo, noticing how whenever you moved, his ears twitched and his tail remained high and rigid.

His fluffy ears grazed your fingers, his fur short and smelling musky and of smoke. Finally, after the successful petting, you looked towards Frisk, a triumphant smile on your face.

✱ █████ pets Doggo.

He nodded, acknowledging your victory, but he had to admit slight envy was making its way to his head.

"WHAT!!! I'VE BEEN PET!!!" Doggo practically screamed, his reaction escalating, asking mindlessly a flurry of questions. "PET? PAT? POT?" Echoed in your and Frisk's ears, and you couldn't help but chuckle at the Monster's confusion.

Then Frisk sharply turned to you, begging you to let him Pet Doggo once more before Sparing him.

You nodded with a grin. "Go ahead, Pet him."

Frisk touched the ACT button.

✱ Doggo

He chose his name.

✱ Check                           ✱ Pet

He chose to Pet.

He cautiously approached Doggo, whose eyes were darting between you and Frisk, hand outstretched.

With a gentle pat on the Monster's head, Frisk's chest felt warm, and it wasn't due to his SOUL: he was just happy to Pet the dog.

✱ FRISK pets Doggo.

However, said dog's eyes widened, his body stiffened and he exclaimed. "WHERE'S THAT COMING FROM!"

Startled by the sudden shout, Frisk quickly retreated his hand, only to let a little giggle escape his lips.

After the amazing, beautiful, and spectacular moment of bonding, the blue sword attack reappeared.

Frisk, now feeling more confident, stood his ground alongside you, not moving an inch.

The attack passed through you two without any harm.

Doggo's ears folded back, finding smart your method to remain still, in such a way he couldn't see you.

✱ Doggo has been pet.

Frisk gestured to go and Spare Doggo.

You nodded, and as you went to the MERCY button, you saw that Frisk's HP was still a '16/20'.

"Wouldn't it be better if you healed yourself, first?" You asked.

He brushed it off, saying that when he touched a Save Point his HP would also be restored.

Your mouth formed an 'o'. "I see."

You touched the MERCY button.

✱ Spare

You chose to Spare.

✱ YOU WON!

✱ You earned 0 EXP and 30 gold.

As the dust settled and the battle concluded, Doggo's thoughts swirled with these mysterious events. What had just happened!? All of this was too weird — even for him!

. . .

Undertale OST: 017 —

Snowy

. . .

"A— A— A stick appeared out of nowhere, then disappeared... Was it a g— g— ghost stick...? Did I just return it to the afterlife...? Then, s— s— something pet me... Something that isn't m— m— moving... I'm gonna need some dog treats for this!!!" He stammered, trembling, with his tail between his legs, and retreated into his sentry station.

You and Frisk exchanged knowing glances, your laughter bubbling up uncontrollably.

Frisk suggested ringing the little call bell on the desktop.

You gasped, and nodded quickly, before gently pressing the bell.

As it chimed, Doggo's snout peeked from the dekstop, nose twitching. "Hello? Is anybody there...? No?"

You and Frisk remained as still as rocks, seeing Doggo's muzzle wrinkle. He returned to his sentry station after not getting an answer.

Undeterred, Frisk decided to ring the bell once more, liking the sound it made.

Doggo came once again. "Are you two playing a trick on me? Real funny."

Poor dog... you should probably stop.

But despite it, you rang the bell again, unable to resist the temptation.

With each ring, Doggo's confusion deepened. "Big guy? Is that you? Come on..." He muttered, clearly growing frustrated.

You started feeling a pang of guilt. Maybe you were bothering him too much, now.

Nevertheless, Frisk rang the bell once more, hoping to see his reaction.

The Monster's composure was crumbling at each ring. "Well, it's not the tall skeleton... He's too loud."

Was he talking about Papyrus? Well, how many tall and loud skeletons could be there?

With another retreat, Frisk decided to ring the bell again, wanting to apologize.

When the Monster heard that damned sound, his patience reached its limit. "Whoever you are, knock it off!!!" He snarled, his voice echoing through the forest, sharp canines showing.

"Sorry, Doggo!" You said, Frisk repeating behind you.

As you ran away, Doggo looked at you two. Finally, you were moving! So you were the ones responsible. Damn kids.

He couldn't help but shake his head and bark out a laugh, before lighting a dog treat.

But wait...

Were those two humans!?

He was ready to leap to his paws and char after you two, yet you were already so far away! Undyne won't be very happy about it...

Oh, well. As long as she won't know about him letting you two go, he didn't care much.

⋆⋅•⋅⊰∙∘⋆ ❆ ⋆∘∙⊱⋅•⋅⋆

"That poor Monster! We should've stopped ringing that bell," you sighed as you passed the rest of the burned dog treats. "Also, we're getting tons of money, lately."

Frisk nodded with a grin, and after turning a corner, a familiar face greeted you.

"𝚑𝚎𝚢, 𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎'𝚜 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚒𝚖𝚙𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚛𝚎𝚖𝚎𝚖𝚋𝚎𝚛. 𝚖𝚢 𝚋𝚛𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚑𝚊𝚜 𝚊 𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚜𝚙𝚎𝚌𝚒𝚊𝚕 𝚊𝚝𝚝𝚊𝚌𝚔." Sans spoke, without beating around the bush.

"Why, hello to you too," you playfully rolled your eyes. "What attack are you talking about?"

"𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚜𝚎𝚎 𝚊 𝚋𝚕𝚞𝚎 𝚊𝚝𝚝𝚊𝚌𝚔, 𝚍𝚘𝚗'𝚝 𝚖𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚒𝚝 𝚠𝚘𝚗'𝚝 𝚑𝚞𝚛𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞."

Frisk's eyebrows raised, mentioning how you two just had a FIGHT with Doggo, who was using those attacks.

Was it safe to tell Sans this?

Sans chuckled, his grin widening. "𝚍𝚘𝚐𝚐𝚘, 𝚑𝚞𝚑? 𝚋𝚒𝚐, 𝚜𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚢 𝚍𝚘𝚐, 𝚗𝚘?"

"Terrifying. We barely made it out alive." You decided to play along.

Sans shrugged his shoulders with a bigger smile. "𝚑𝚎𝚑, 𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎'𝚜 𝚊𝚗 𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚢 𝚠𝚊𝚢 𝚝𝚘 𝚔𝚎𝚎𝚙 𝚒𝚝 𝚒𝚗 𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚍. 𝚒𝚖𝚊𝚐𝚒𝚗𝚎 𝚊 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚙 𝚜𝚒𝚐𝚗. 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚜𝚎𝚎 𝚊 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚙 𝚜𝚒𝚐𝚗, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚙, 𝚛𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝?"

Frisk nodded as he crossed his arms.

"𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚙 𝚜𝚒𝚐𝚗𝚜 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚍. 𝚜𝚘 𝚒𝚖𝚊𝚐𝚒𝚗𝚎 𝚊 𝚋𝚕𝚞𝚎 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚙 𝚜𝚒𝚐𝚗 𝚒𝚗𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚊𝚍." Sans continued.

"Okay...?" You mimicked Frisk's position.

"𝚜𝚒𝚖𝚙𝚕𝚎, 𝚛𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝? 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚏𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐, 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚔 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚋𝚕𝚞𝚎 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚙 𝚜𝚒𝚐𝚗𝚜." He accentuated the 'blue' part.

"All right. Anything else?"

Sans scratched his skull, contemplating his response. "𝚑𝚖𝚖, 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐... 𝚍𝚘𝚗'𝚝 𝚐𝚎𝚝 𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚗 𝚋𝚢 𝚊 𝚍𝚘𝚐. 𝚝𝚛𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚖𝚎, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚍𝚘𝚗'𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚗𝚊 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚎𝚗."

"Noted. We'll make sure to avoid any other dog-related incidents."

Sans winked at you two before turning his head and staring ahead, lost in his thoughts.

Fixed to the ground stood a sign, surrounded by a patch of ice, which would surely make you slide.

You gestured to it. "What's the point of putting a sign at the center of all this ice?"

Frisk shrugged his shoulder, and despite the desire to walk on the ice, he read the sign out loud from afar. Apparently, to the north, there was ice, to the south, there was ice, to the ovest, there was ice, and to the east, there was... Snowdin Town!

... and ice.

Wow, you had an amazing plethora of places to go!!

You raised an eyebrow, the chilly air tickling your face. "Snowdin Town? You think there could be an exit?"

Tilting his head, Frisk was a little suspicious but curious nonetheless. He suggested checking out the other directions before going to this 'Snowdin Town'.

The first thing you saw, going in the direction to the west, was a snowman. A tall and cute smiling snowman, standing almost at the edge of a cliff, where you couldn't see anything: it was pitch black.

"Hello. I am a snowman." It spoke, its mouth composed of black pebbles not moving.

Frisk, after he overcame his astonishment, greeted it back.

No matter how many creatures he would encounter, they still managed to surprise him.

"I want to see the world... But I cannot move. If you would be so kind, travellers, please..." The snowman made a sound akin to a sigh. "Take a piece of me and bring it very far away."

"Very far away...?" You managed to ask.

"Yes, please take it to the ends of the earth."

"Wouldn't it— you, melt?

"No, fortunately, I would not."

You and Frisk exchanged glances, before he carefully took a piece of the snowman, handling it as if it were a fragile piece of porcelain, and biting the inside of his cheek, he put the piece inside his pocket. He just hoped the snowman was right.

Well, of course, it would be.

"We promise we'll take it as far as we can." You assured, and Frisk nodded in agreement.

The snowman laughed fondly. "Thank you, I believe in you. Take my hope with you on your journey... good luck!"

You two waved at it as you went away.

Turning to Frisk, you scratched your head. "So, uh... now we also have a piece of a snowman..."

He chuckled, mentioning how all of this was just getting crazier and crazier, and hoping that the piece of snow didn't melt.

"I agree..." You sighed from your mouth.

. . .

Undertale OST: 016 —

Nyeh Heh Heh!

. . .

That music... wait, so this meant—

"YOU'RE SO LAZY!! YOU WERE NAPPING ALL NIGHT!!" Papyrus pointed an accusatory finger at Sans.

"𝚒 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚔 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝'𝚜 𝚌𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚍... 𝚜𝚕𝚎𝚎𝚙𝚒𝚗𝚐." Sans replied nonchalantly.

"EXCUSES, EXCUSES!" Papyrus then noticed you and Frisk, proclaiming dramatically. "OH-HO! THE HUMANS ARRIVE! IN ORDER TO STOP YOU... MY BROTHER AND I HAVE CREATED SOME PUZZLES!"

Other puzzles? How long will it go on?

"I THINK YOU WILL FIND THIS ONE... QUITE SHOCKING!!! FOR YOU SEE, THIS IS THE INVISIBLE... ELECTRICITY MAZE!!! WHEN YOU TOUCH THE WALLS OF THIS MAZE, THIS ORB WILL ADMINISTER A HEARTY ZAP!"

You blinked. "I'm sorry— what?" 

"YEAH! SOUND LIKE FUN???"Papyrus waited for a response.

You and Frisk didn't say anything.

"BECAUSE! THE AMOUNT OF FUN YOU WILL PROBABLY HAVE, IS ACTUALLY RATHER SMALL I THINK," Papyrus tilted his head before his eye sockets gleamed once again with anticipation. "OK, YOU CAN GO AHEAD NOW."

Eyeing the invisible electricity maze that Papyrus proudly presented, you and Frisk both hesitated. The prospect of hearty zaps didn't seem particularly enticing.

"I suggest we leave while we can." You whispered to Frisk.

He nodded in agreement, and you two took a step back, contemplating an escape. Perhaps if... you ran as fast you could, you would be able to escape?

No, scratch that. It was an awful idea.

Papyrus insisted as you attempted to inch away. "COME ON! DON'T BE SO RUDE!!! I SET UP THIS PUZZLE JUST FOR YOU!" He looked slightly dejected. "DO YOU TREAT YOUR MOTHER THIS WAY... WHEN SHE MAKES YOU A PUZZLE?!?!?"

You furrowed your eyebrows. "I doubt a mother would make, whatever this is, for her kids..."

Undeterred, Frisk replied, saying how you two had somewhere to be.

You chimed in. "Yeeeeah, sorry, but we're in a hurry. Maybe next time?"

"THAT'S NOT TRUE! I OBSERVED YOU TWO AND YOU WERE JUST STROLLING PEACEFULLY!!!"

Your mouth slightly opened. "Oh..."

While trying to make a polite exit, a misstep, whether from you or Frisk, led to Papyrus unintentionally getting electrified himself, his bones rattling in surprise.

Sans turned around as he tried to stifle his laughter.

Papyrus was zapped by the electrified maze, emerging with cartoonish burns. The once boastful skeleton now sported a frazzled expression, complete with exaggerated smoke wisps rising from his form.

You held a blank expression. Frisk tentatively spoke up, asking if Papyrus was okay.

The skeleton, still recovering from the electrifying ordeal, attempted to regain his composure. "I— I, THE GREAT PAPYRUS, AM ALWAYS OKAY! THAT WAS JUST A WARM-UP FOR THE REAL CHALLENGE AHEAD!"

A warm-up for himself?

"𝚠𝚊𝚛𝚖-𝚞𝚙, 𝚑𝚞𝚑? 𝚐𝚞𝚎𝚜𝚜 𝚠𝚎'𝚛𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚊 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚕 '𝚎𝚕𝚎𝚌𝚝𝚛𝚒𝚏𝚢𝚒𝚗𝚐' 𝚊𝚍𝚟𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚎, 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚗," Sans replied. "𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚑𝚘𝚙𝚎 𝚒𝚝 𝚍𝚘𝚎𝚜𝚗'𝚝 𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚞𝚜 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚝𝚘𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚍, 𝚋𝚛𝚘."

"SANS!!! STOP IT!!! WHAT DID YOU DO?!?!"

"𝚗𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐," Sans simply grinned, his eye sockets glowing. "𝚒 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚔 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚑𝚞𝚖𝚊𝚗 𝚑𝚊𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚑𝚘𝚕𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚘𝚛𝚋."

"WHICH ONE??"

"𝚞𝚑𝚑𝚑... 𝚒'𝚕𝚕 𝚕𝚎𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚑𝚘𝚘𝚜𝚎."

"OKAY."

Papyrus confidently strode into the maze, leaving a trail of footprints in the glistening snow, and being directly in front of you and Frisk, you could see just how taller he was compared to you two. Frisk couldn't help but take a step back. This skeleton was a gigant!

Okay, maybe not a gigant... still!

The Monster squinted his hollowed eyes, looking now at you, and now at Frisk, all while stroking his chin in thought. "A—HA!" He snapped his fingers, closed his eyes, and with theatrical flair, began reciting a stunning, mysterious, and extremely cool spell to decide whose fate was to hold the orb...

'One Two Buckle My Shoe.'

You watched, your mouth slightly open. How.... why...?

You know what? Nevermind.

The rhyme concluded with a dramatic point towards Frisk, who jumped slightly.

... Woah.

"HOLD THIS PLEASE!"

With a flourish, Papyrus launched the orb into the sky. It soared elegantly, leaving you craning your neck to follow its trajectory, in a spectacle that seemed almost choreographed, as Papyrus rushed back to Sans, retracing his steps.

Frisk reflexively raised his arms, quite unsure if he should catch it or not.

But before he could do anything, the orb slowed down and gracefully landed on his head.

"OKAY, TRY NOW!" Papyrus encouraged, as if it was all normal.

Frisk hesitated, hoping that you went first. Turning to you, he asked if you thought that walking on different parts of the maze would electrify him.

"You know, I really don't want to test whether that's true or not. Just be careful."

Opting for safety, you and Frisk decided to pass the maze by carefully mimicking Papyrus's footsteps, the orb staying still on Frisk's head, until you arrived at the other side.

"INCREDIBLE!! YOU SLIPPERY SNAILS!! YOU SOLVED IT SO EASILY... TOO EASILY!" Papyrus' eyes bulged from their sockets, slack-jawed. "HOWEVER! MY NEXT PUZZLE WILL NOT BE EASY! IT IS DESIGNED BY MY BROTHER, SANS! YOU WILL SURELY BE CONFOUNDED! I KNOW I AM!"

Behind him, Sans winked at you and Frisk.

"NYEH HEH HEH HEH HEH!!" Instead of walking or running away, he smoothly slid away. Backwards.

Sans broke the silence. "𝚑𝚎𝚢, 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚔𝚜... 𝚖𝚢 𝚋𝚛𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚜𝚎𝚎𝚖𝚜 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚑𝚎'𝚜 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚏𝚞𝚗."

Frisk nodded, saying how it was such a pleasure.

"𝚋𝚢 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚢," the Monster continued, "𝚍𝚒𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚜𝚎𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚠𝚎𝚒𝚛𝚍 𝚘𝚞𝚝𝚏𝚒𝚝 𝚑𝚎'𝚜 𝚠𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐? 𝚠𝚎 𝚖𝚊𝚍𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚊 𝚏𝚎𝚠 𝚠𝚎𝚎𝚔𝚜 𝚊𝚐𝚘 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚊 𝚌𝚘𝚜𝚝𝚞𝚖𝚎 𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚢. 𝚑𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚜𝚗'𝚝 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚗 𝚊𝚗𝚢𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚎𝚕𝚜𝚎 𝚜𝚒𝚗𝚌𝚎... 𝚔𝚎𝚎𝚙𝚜 𝚌𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚒𝚝 𝚑𝚒𝚜 '𝚋𝚊𝚝𝚝𝚕𝚎 𝚋𝚘𝚍𝚢.'"

"That's—" You stared off into the snow. "Actually kinda cute...?"

"𝚒 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠, 𝚛𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝? 𝚖𝚊𝚗. 𝚒𝚜𝚗'𝚝 𝚖𝚢 𝚋𝚛𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚌𝚘𝚘𝚕?" If Sans hadn't said it with such pride in his voice, you would've found it sarcastic. And with that, he looked at the eerie black background once again.

You two walked away, before Frisk face-slapped himself, startling you.

"What's wrong?" You asked.

He groaned, taking the orb off his head and saying how he realized he forgot to ask Sans or Papyrus what to do with it.

"Ohhh..." You giggled. "I propose to use it as a weapon."

Frisk raised an eyebrow, asking if you were serious.

"Obviously. We're going to throw it in the face of anyone who bothers us. Or even shove it up their—"

His laugh cut your sentence off as he put the orb on the ground, skillfully kicking it from one foot to the other before resuming to move.

The fun lasted little, as the orb, unfortunately, met its demise, breaking into tiny, shimmering pieces.

"Nooo, the orb!" You whined as you grabbed your face in horror.

The few remnants of the now-broken object disappeared immediately, melting into the snow.

Frisk let out a 'wow.'

"Wow, indeed."

⋆⋅•⋅⊰∙∘⋆ ❆ ⋆∘∙⊱⋅•⋅⋆

"I don't understand why these aren't selling..." As you two walked further, you stumbled upon a light blue furred rabbit-like creature with a bright red nose, looking a bit dejected and muttering to himself. His long ears drooped slightly, his eyes closed. "It's the perfect weather for something cold..."

Frisk raised an eyebrow, and he shifted his weight from one foot to the other, the snow creaking.

The Monster's ears twitched, perking up as he opened one eye in realization. "OH!!!! CUSTOMERS!!!" He exclaimed, a dorky yet enthusiastic grin spread across his face. He wore a yellow short-sleeved shirt with a single, vertical red stripe in the middle, paired with red pants, similar to the umbrella behind his grey cart. "Hello! Would you like some Nice Cream?" He asked with a hint of eagerness, his eyes darting between you and Frisk, his chest puffed out.

It looked like he waited his whole life just for that moment.

You tilted your head. "Nice Cream?"

"Yes! It's the frozen treat that warms your heart! Now just 15G!"

That was... a lot of money, actually, considering how little you usually earned when FIGHTting.

But the Monster gave such puppy — uh, bunny? — eyes and Frisk couldn't help but accept.

"Only one?" The Vendor asked.

Before Frisk could say anything else, you spoke up. "Yes, just one for now. Thank you."

"Here you go!"

... It was just ice on a wrapped stick.

And not like a popsicle, but actual ice.

Frisk seemed satisfied, though, as he took it. But how could he even pay the Monster?

There was no money exchange, not even talking, yet the Vendor seemed pleased. At least, when Frisk bought half a donut from those little spiders at the Ruins, they shook hands.

You looked at the icy concoction in Frisk's hand. "Well, this is... different."

The Vendor grinned. "Ah, yes! It's our special ice popsicle edition. A refreshing twist, don't you think?"

You stared at him blankly, before chuckling. "Sure, why not."

"Have a super-duper day!" He winked. "And remember to check the wrapper."

You and Frisk walked away, crossing the wooden bridge as you turned to ask Frisk a question. "Why don't you put the Nice Cream inside your pocket?"

He refused, mentioning how it would freeze him.

He literally put two slices of pie and a piece of snow in his pocket and now he was being dramatic for some ice?

"So, you will just go around with that?"

He nodded, giving you a finger gun gesture.

Smiling, you saw Sans in the distance. Did he have teleporting as a power? There couldn't be any other explanation.

Sans glanced at Frisk's hand. "𝚠𝚑𝚢 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚑𝚘𝚕𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝙽𝚒𝚌𝚎 𝙲𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚖 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝?"

Frisk licked his lips, saying that it was a long story.

"Do you want it?" You offered.

"𝚗𝚊𝚑, 𝚒'𝚖 𝚐𝚘𝚘𝚍... 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚒'𝚟𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚜𝚎𝚕𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚜 𝚝𝚘𝚘. 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚏𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚍 𝚜𝚗𝚘𝚠? 𝚒𝚝'𝚜 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝟻𝙶."

Frisk smiled and opened his mouth. You shot him a dirty look. "Frisk, no."

His grin fell and he exaggeratedly frowned.

Sans shrugged his shoulders. "𝚑𝚎𝚢, 𝚜𝚑𝚎'𝚜 𝚛𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝. 𝚒 𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚐𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚢 𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝. 𝚏𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚍 𝚜𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚒𝚜 𝚛𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚌𝚘𝚜𝚝𝚕𝚢. 𝚠𝚑𝚢 𝚍𝚘𝚗'𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚙𝚕𝚊𝚢 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚗𝚘𝚗-𝚏𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚍 𝚜𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎?"

Frisk turned his head and saw a big snowball down the path, waiting to be pushed into a hole, just like in mini-golf. It was as if all of his neurons activated for a single scope: win this game.

With a cheeky grin, he asked you to hold the Nice Cream, and telling you to admire how quickly he was going to kick the ball in the hole.

Despite his words, the ice beneath his feet had other plans, and you were forced to endure watching him slip on it, the snowball rolling away and becoming even smaller.

You, with a sharp intake of air through your teeth, winced as Frisk's backside landed with a 'thud' on the snow. "You okay, Frisk?"

Undeterred, he managed to recover, a triumphant smile on his face.

"𝚔𝚒𝚍'𝚜 𝚐𝚘𝚝 𝚖𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚜." Sans remarked, smirking.

"Yeah, I guess he does."

Frisk threw a harsh kick to the ball, making it veer off course, careening into a lump of snow, shifting and revealing a tiny camera. Its lens peeked out from the icy mound, reflecting the faint light filtering through the trees.

He stepped closer, his breath visible in the cold air. What was a camera doing hidden in the snow? And who was watching!?

Meanwhile, you caught with the corner of your eye two brown things.

Down the snowy trail stood two tall sentry stations, with a dog's face on top, similar to Doggo's. The first one had a plaque, in which the word 'His,' was carved prominently, while the second one displayed a 'Hers,' contrasting it with the other.

Your attention then shifted to the ground, where a sign drew your attention.

---

'SMELL DANGER RATING'

Snow Smell — Snowman

WHITE Rating

Can become YELLOW Rating

---

Unsuspicious Smell — Puppy

BLUE Rating

Smell of rolling around.

---

Weird Smell — Humans

GREEN Rating

Destroy at all costs!

---

... Great. So there were two — probably in love — dogs, as given by the sentry stations and the swap of green and red colors, who killed Humans on sight.

That wasn't nice.

A call bell stood on the desktop of both sentry stations. You didn't wish to ring either this time.

After checking the area for good, you returned to Sans and Frisk, the latter staying with his fists clenched near the hole, where a mere little purple flag was displayed.

Tilting your head, you asked Sans. "Is he still trying to put the snowball into the hole?"

"𝚑𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚜 𝚜𝚙𝚒𝚛𝚒𝚝, 𝚐𝚘𝚝𝚝𝚊 𝚐𝚒𝚟𝚎 𝚑𝚒𝚖 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝. 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚋𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚖𝚎𝚕𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚏𝚒𝚛𝚜𝚝 𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎, 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚠𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚘𝚗."

"Ah..." You raised your voice. "Frisk, let's go!"

He held up his hands, stopping you, asking if you could wait for him to do it again, for the last time. He now understood how to play!

You sighed with a smile. "Go ahead."

He cheered with a fist pump, thanking you.

"He's like a puppy," you stood with your arms akimbo, clicking your tongue, purposefully getting into that subject. "Speaking of dogs... what's with those two sentry stations over there?"

"𝚑𝚎𝚑, 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚊 𝚕𝚒𝚝𝚝𝚕𝚎 𝚙𝚛𝚎𝚌𝚊𝚞𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗, 𝚗𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚘 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚛𝚢 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝."

"Uh—huh... I have a question, though."

Sans grinned, seemingly unfazed by the question. "𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚘𝚝."

"Where's the exit?" You inquired, your SOUL glimmering inside with a hint of impatience.

He casually pointed in the direction ahead. "𝚠𝚎𝚕𝚕, 𝚢𝚘𝚞'𝚛𝚎 𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚝 𝚒𝚝. 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚔𝚎𝚎𝚙 𝚐𝚘𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚢, 𝚢𝚘𝚞'𝚕𝚕 𝚐𝚎𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎."

You squinted, a perplexed expression on your face. "Really? It's that simple?"

"𝚢𝚞𝚙, 𝚗𝚘 𝚋𝚒𝚐 𝚍𝚎𝚊𝚕," Sans replied, chuckling softly. "𝚢𝚘𝚞'𝚕𝚕 𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚒𝚝, 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚞𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢."

Well, at least some good news! You must be on the right path!

"I see, thanks. See you later." With a smile, you began walking down the path, towards Frisk, Sans giving you a simple nod.

In front of a now deep blue flag, Frisk breathed heavily, cheeks flushed, as he tried to remove his hair clinging to his forehead. He felt thirsty, his throat dry and his lips started to become chapped from licking them so much. The snow looked almost inviting in his current state. Sweat stuck uncomfortably on his body, to the point where he wanted nothing more than to strip down.

If he wanted to get extremely sick, that was it.

"Are you okay? How was your game?" You asked, a curious smirk on your face.

Frisk shrugged, saying that in the end, he earned little money. Not worth it.

"Oh, well, that's okay, we still have a good amount, no?"

He made a 'so-so' gesture, using his sleeve to wipe his face. Then, suddenly, he pointed at the hole, saying how the snowball was, in reality, a snow decahedron.

You stared blankly at him. "... Yeah."

Scrolling his shoulders, Frisk thought about telling you about the camera. But as he looked at its previous hiding spot, it was gone! However, tiny, little, dog-like footprints lead to the other side for a brief moment, before they disappeared. Frisk watched the snow with a deadpan expression.

"Oh, by the way, there are two dogs that are probably in love who seem to dislike Humans. Something about destroying them at all costs if they catch the scent." You casually mentioned while you gave him the Nice Cream back.

He stopped in his tracks, eyebrows furrowed. He let out a little 'ah.'

"I know, right? '𝚗𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚘 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚛𝚢 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝,' Sans said, but I don't really feel comfortable with that," you smiled at the last part. "Anyway, let's keep moving. We've got an exit to find."

As Sans watched you and Frisk disappear into the distance, you just couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to him than met the eye.

⋆⋅•⋅⊰∙∘⋆ ❆ ⋆∘∙⊱⋅•⋅⋆

. . .

Undertale OST: 016 —

Nyeh Heh Heh!

. . .

And there they stood once again: Papyrus and Sans — the latter being there not even surprising your or Frisk anymore — the familiar theme music punctuating their entrance, ready to unveil their latest puzzle.

With a dramatic gesture, Papyrus revealed his intricated maze of words, woven to challenge the linguistic skills of this daring duo that fearlessly accepted all of his challenges. "HUMANS!! I HOPE YOU'RE READY FOR..." Holding his index finger in the air, Papyrus paused, his eye sockets narrowing. "SANS!! WHERE'S THE PUZZLE!!!"

"𝚒𝚝'𝚜 𝚛𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎. 𝚘𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚐𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍," Sans nodded his head to a piece of paper. "𝚝𝚛𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚖𝚎. 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎'𝚜 𝚗𝚘 𝚠𝚊𝚢 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚌𝚊𝚗 𝚐𝚎𝚝 𝚙𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚘𝚗𝚎."

Frisk hesitantly moved forward, you following suit, picking up the 'puzzle.'

'Monster Kidz Word Search'

A weird Monster called 'Ice-E,' with an unnerving smile, declared...

'Hey kid's! Can you help me solve this puzzle?'

It was... a word search.

'Fall,' 'winter,' 'spring,' 'summer,' 'monster,' 'skeletons,' 'mermaid,' 'robot,' 'cigars,' 'cig,' 'giasfclfebrehber,' and 'hot.'

Those were the words.

You and Frisk slowly looked up from the paper to the brothers.

"SANS!!! THAT DIDN'T DO ANYTHING!" Papyrus exclaimed, arms outstretched towards you.

"𝚠𝚑𝚘𝚘𝚙𝚜. 𝚒 𝚔𝚗𝚎𝚠 𝚒 𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚞𝚜𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘𝚍𝚊𝚢'𝚜 𝚌𝚛𝚘𝚜𝚜𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚍 𝚒𝚗𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚊𝚍." Sans casually responded.

"WHAT!? CROSSWORD!? I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU SAID THAT!! IN MY OPINION... JUNIOR JUMBLE IS EASILY THE HARDEST."

"𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝? 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢, 𝚍𝚞𝚍𝚎? 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚢-𝚙𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚢 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚍 𝚜𝚌𝚛𝚊𝚖𝚋𝚕𝚎? 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝'𝚜 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚋𝚊𝚋𝚢 𝚋𝚘𝚗𝚎𝚜."

Papyrus huffed, crossing his arms indignantly, and turning his nose up. "UN. BELIEVABLE. HUMANS!!! SOLVE THIS DISPUTE!"

Uh?

"WHICH IS HARDER??? THE AMAZING JUNIOR JUMBLE??" Then, his tone fell flat as he lazily gestured with his hand. "...OR THE BORING CROSSWORD..."

"... Frisk?" You asked, waiting for him to answer Papyrus' question.

He sighed and began saying how both were valid responses, before catching Sans' slight nodding towards his brother. Between many 'um's' and 'uh's,' Frisk finally found his words and shyly pointed towards Papyrus, saying that Junior Jumble was harder.

"HA! HA! YES! HUMANS MUST BE VERY INTELLIGENT! IF THEY ALSO FIND JUNIOR JUMBLE SO DIFFICULT! NYEH! HEH! HEH HEH!" He, too, pointed his finger towards Frisk, but not timidly like him. "AND YOU SHOULD EAT THAT NICE CREAM BEFORE IT MELTS ON YOUR HAND!!"

. . .

Undertale OST: 017 —

Snowy

. . .

As he walked away, the music changed once again, leaving only you, Frisk, and Sans.

"𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚔𝚜 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚜𝚊𝚢𝚒𝚗𝚐 '𝚓𝚞𝚗𝚒𝚘𝚛 𝚓𝚞𝚖𝚋𝚕𝚎' 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚎 𝚖𝚢 𝚋𝚛𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛," the Monster spoke, his white dots rolling in his eye sockets. "𝚢𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚍𝚊𝚢 𝚑𝚎 𝚐𝚘𝚝 𝚜𝚝𝚞𝚖𝚙𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚛𝚢𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚘 '𝚜𝚘𝚕𝚟𝚎' 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚑𝚘𝚛𝚘𝚜𝚌𝚘𝚙𝚎."

Horoscope?

You opened your mouth, just to immediately close it. What were you even supposed to say?

Frisk cooed. What an odd — but cute! — pair of brothers.

"𝚢𝚎𝚊𝚑, 𝚑𝚎'𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚜𝚝." His chest puffed out, proud of his bro.

And with that, you and Frisk continued walking, now used to exchanging goodbyes and finding him again not even five minutes later.

And while stomping on the snow, Frisk wondered what your zodiac sign was.

⋆⋅•⋅⊰∙∘⋆ ❆ ⋆∘∙⊱⋅•⋅⋆

The new area had a Save Point ready. A beacon of reassurance lighting this dark road.

Oh, and also a note laying on the ground and a plate of frozen spaghetti on a table, the cold bounding it in place. It was accompanied by a nearby unplugged microwave, all of the settings pointing to 'spaghetti.'

The wall to the north revealed a hole and, atop the ledge, frozen and dull flowers contrasted with the elements that surrounded them.

Written in big, angular letters and rough texture, was a note on the ground.

'HUMANS!! PLEASE ENJOY THIS SPAGHETTI. (LITTLE DO YOU KNOW, THIS SPAGHETTI IS A TRAP... DESIGNED TO ENTICE YOU!!! YOU'LL BE SO BUSY EATING IT... THAT YOU WON'T REALIZE THAT YOU AREN'T PROGRESSING!! THOROUGHLY JAPED AGAIN BY THE GREAT PAPYRUS!!!)

 

NYEH-HEH-HEH,

PAPYRUS'

"Uh." You could almost hear his high-pitched voice yelling those words.

As soon as Frisk touched the Save Point, a gasp escaped him, and with a quick movement, he started to scurry off towards the tiny hole in the wall...

Wait.

"Oh no, no, no, no, no, no," you got in front of Frisk, blocking his path, "No more mice."

He opened his mouth to counter himself, but he wasn't even able to get a word out.

You crossed your arms. "No."

Pouting childishly, Frisk shook his head, insisting that there was nothing to be afraid of.

"I'm not scared, it's simply disgusting! Who knows where that mouse has been."

He huffed, pretty much matching towards the new area, refusing to talk to you anymore. How could you destroy his passions like that?

A long expanse of snow stretched out in front of you, the trees stopped showing in the background, and it seemed as if the forest was floating in complete nothingness.

A sign caught your attention, staying near a shining tree.

'Warning: Dog Marriage

(Yes, you read that correctly.)'

You paused. "You know, I think it may be from those two dogs I talked about earlier... The ones in love?"

Frisk raised an eyebrow, taking a step back and motioning for you to follow him as he turned right and went on, without speaking.

Hey, he told himself not to open his mouth and he was sticking by his word. At least, until you would apologize to him AND the mouse. Poor thing, you probably hurt its feelings!

A bunch of spikes blocked your path. Unlike the RUINS, there were no plaques on the walls to guide you this time.

You crossed your arms and tapped your fingers against them, glancing at the spikes. "Well, how are we supposed to get through without any hints? I mean, we could jump over the spikes, but I don't want to risk it."

Frisk hummed and idly kicked at the snow in thought. It shifted, revealing a hidden map beneath and a bright red cross.

Frisk casually let out an 'oh.'

No! He shouldn't have spoken!

Oh, well.

"Well, that's convenient."

You and Frisk walked to the desired spot, and just like the map said, a switch stuck out of the snow. As you pressed it, a satisfying click echoed through the forest.

And a FIGHT triggered.

. . .

Undertale OST: 009 —

Enemy Approaching

. . .

Before you two stood another dog. Clad in armor, it wielded a sword and a shield almost bigger than itself, adorned with the same symbol of the circle with the wings and three triangles. Fur stuck out in some spots in little tufts, giving it an endearingly scruffy look.

✱ Lesser Dog appears.

You couldn't help but giggle at the sight. "Well, aren't you just the cutest little puppy?" You cooed in a nearly embarrassing way, wanting nothing more than to squish its cheeks.

The Monster let out a small, yet heroic bark. It may be cute, but it was mighty!

Frisk's eyes would be softening at the sight of the dog's wagging tail, which somehow managed to wag despite the heavy armor.

He told you to wait and trust him. He knew how to handle this.

You noticed that now Frisk's HP level was at '20/20' again... How? Maybe it had to do with the Save Point?

He touched the ITEM button.

✱ MnstrCndy                           ✱ HalfSpidrDont

✱ Stick                                      ✱ NiceCream

PAGE 1

He chose the Nice Cream, launching it towards Lesser Dog, who excitedly jumped in the air, leaving its weaponry behind, and caught the stick part of the Nice Cream.

✱ FRISK threw the Nice Cream and the dog jumped to get it.

✱ Let's hope it doesn't get stuck to its tongue.

As the Dog shook its head in excitement, the wrapper holding the stick fell, and you could just barely make out a few words.

'Love yourself! I love you!'

Oh, so this is why the Vendor said to check the wrapper. That was cute!

Frisk dusted his hands off with a satisfied smile, finally free.

Lesser Dog, however, didn't care for the message, and tossed the Nice Cream into the air, catching and devouring it in a single, enthusiastic bite, a 'gulp' emitting from it.

It grabbed its sword and shield and looked expectantly at you and Frisk, its fluffy tail wagging excitedly and its tongue lolling out, as if it didn't just eat something not entirely edible.

"Uh." You stared at the dog, whose large and round eyes didn't hold a single thought. It was just happy to be there.

You touched the ACT button.

✱ Lesser Dog

Despite the name being yellow, you still wanted to pet it.

You chose its name.

✱ Check                                 ✱ Pet

✱ Pet                                      ✱ Pet

✱ Pet                                      ✱ Pet

You randomly chose one of the Pet options.

✱ █████ barely lifted her hand and Lesser Dog got excited.

Lesser Dog knew you two weren't monsters. You didn't smell like ones. It knew you were humans. But it simply didn't care.

The lovely Monster panted and wagged its tail...

... And its neck slightly began to stretch.

Neither you nor Frisk had the time to even register what happened to the dog as an attack began.

You didn't even get to Pet it!

A tiny, white puppy, appeared on your right.

That... That dog was familiar. You felt as if you've already seen it.

Maybe from a dream...?

Sprinting energetically, it immediately leaped towards Frisk's SOUL, squeaky barks resonating through the air.

He swiftly maneuvered, ducking and sidestepping the dog's trajectory.

The attack ended.

✱ Lesser Dog is barking excitedly.

Frisk touched the ACT button.

✱ Lesser Dog

He chose its name.

✱ Check                                 ✱ Pet

✱ Pet                                      ✱ Pet

✱ Pet                                      ✱ Pet

He chose to Pet.

✱ Frisk lightly touched the Dog. It's already overexcited...

Yet, his fingers barely grazed its long fur, as Lesser Dog was already trembling and... vibrating? Its neck slightly raised again and its tail wagged even faster.

"... Is it me or did its neck...?" You pointed at the Monster.

Frisk studied the dog for a moment, the battle music resonating in his ears, and he turned towards you, nodding. Its neck was surely longer than before.

As much as Frisk — and also you — wanted to continue Petting the dog, you two knew you had to finish. He told you that it would be better to Spare it, now.

You sighed. "Yeah, you're right..."

You touched the MERCY button.

✱ Spare

✱ Flee

But just then, Lesser Dog cocked its head to the side, giving a questioning bark. Its gorgeous, shiny, and innocent eyes sparkled.

Frisk cooed at the dog, saying how cute it was.

"Awww...!" You put your hand in front of your mouth. "I don't have the heart to Spare it... How about we, like, continue Petting it?"

With a huge smile, Frisk wholeheartedly agreed with you.

You touched the ACT button.

✱ Lesser Dog

You chose its name.

✱ Check                                 ✱ Pet

✱ Pet                                      ✱ Pet

✱ Pet                                      ✱ Pet

You chose one of the Pet options.

✱ █████ pets the Dog. It raises its head up to meet her hand.

While you stepped forward and reached your hand towards the dog, your fingertips made contact with its fur, and Lesser Dog responded with enthusiasm. Its head shot upward, meeting your hand with a cold, humid nose that pressed gently against your palm.

And so, the Petting madness began.

You and Frisk continued to Pet Lesser Dog, not once, twice, or even thrice, but repeatedly.

With each pat, Lesser Dog's excitement grew. Its neck started stretching higher and higher, its ears flopping around, and it eventually ceased its attacks.

It got to the point where its neck extended to absurd lengths, leaving only its blurred, nearly invisible wagging tail, moving at such speed that it became almost transparent.

It was possible that you and Frisk may have had a problem. Perhaps mankind was not meant to pet this much...

Eventually, you reached the pet count to rival all pet counts — 55 times, to be precise — Lesser Dog's head completely disappeared from view.

Maybe, just maybe, it was time to Spare the Monster...

Frisk had the honor of being the last petter, so you now had to Spare Lesser Dog.

You touched the MERCY button.

✱ Spare

✱ Flee

"Bye Lesser Dog!" Waving at it, you could faintly hear happy barks from high above.

You chose to Spare.

✱ YOU WON!

✱ You earned 0 EXP and 60 gold.

60 gold!? That was the most money you've received until now!

"That sure was something." You should wash your hands at the nearest bathroom.

. . .

Undertale OST: 017 —

Snowy

. . .

You and Frisk retraced your steps, approaching and passing by the once-blocked pathway, now crossing the bridge ahead, only to be met with an abrupt halt in the pretty melody that had accompanied you so far. Instead, an eerie silence enveloped the air as two cloaked figures in black, with the face of a dog printed on their robes, and sandals, emerged, wielding axes. The change in atmosphere was palpable.

"What's that smell?" Inquired a deep, masculine voice, cutting through the stillness.

"(Where's that smell?)" Chimed in a more melodic, feminine tone.

"If you're a smell..."

"(... identify yoursmellf!)"

. . .

Undertale OST: 019 —

Dogbass

. . .

The music changed, a catchy bass line contemporized with the two figures circling you and Frisk, both of you staying still as they sniffed you, their muzzles getting too close for your comfort.

Wait... Were these the two dogs from the sentry station?

"Hmmm... Here's that weird smell..." The masculine voice snorted as the melody came to a halt. "It makes me want to eliminate."

"(... Eliminate YOU!)"

In an instant, your vision flickered black, your SOUL was pulled out and you found yourself in yet another inky background, but this time, the snowy ground beneath you replaced the ominous black floor from earlier.

. . .

Undertale OST: 009 —

Enemy Approaching

. . .

✱ Dogi assault you!

The hooded figures revealed their appearances. And as you guessed, they were actually dogs. Except for — who you thought was the male one — had a thick brow and mustache, while the other one, the female, had long eyelashes, both of them possessed round snouts and floppy ears.

They wielded their long axes in a protective manner towards each other, their weapon mimicking the eyes of their equivalent spouse.

Frisk looked at you, raising an eyebrow and pointing at the Monsters as if saying: 'These are the dogs you talked about?'

You nodded, and shifted your weight from one foot to the other, silently asking Frisk to begin first.

Thankfully, he seemed to understand, and considered his options, touching at the ACT menu.

✱ Dogamy

✱ Dogaressa

He chose Dogaressa's name. She seemed to be more patient and understanding by the innocent look on her face.

✱ Check                                 ✱ Pet

✱ Re-Sniff                              ✱ Roll Around

He did a double take and shook his fists with excitement as he noticed the 'Roll Around' option.

"Oh," you looked skeptical but shrugged, letting him do what he wanted. "Try it, I guess."

That was why the ground wasn't the usually hard, spotless, and black one?

He eagerly hit the 'Roll Around' option while you watched, a slight grimace on your face, as his clothes started to become dirty.

✱ FRISK rolls around in the dirt and snow.

✱ He smells like a weird puppy.

The dogs exchanged skeptical glances, their tail staying still, unsure of Frisk's intentions. Was this some peculiar human custom or was he just weird?

With a grin, Frisk encouraged you to do the same, but seeing the state of his clothes and his hair, you thought thrice.

"Yeah, I'd rather not..." You pressed your lips together as you shook your head.

You touched the ACT button.

✱ Dogamy

✱ Dogaressa

You chose Dogamy's name.

✱ Check                                 ✱ Pet

✱ Re-Sniff                              ✱ Roll Around

Instead, you tentatively chose to Pet him.

While you slowly reached for his snout on your tip toes, letting him get acquainted with you, he recoiled at your scent, avoiding your touch.

"Paws off you smelly human." He scrunched his muzzle, shivering, as if trying to remove your odor from his senses.

Dogaressa growled, her hackles raised. "(That's not your husband, OK?)"

And Frisk was, in fact, not correct.

Dogaressa was just a little more aggressive than Dogamy.

You raised your hands in front of you, backing off from them. "Sorry..."

Well, excuse you for trying to be friendly.

✱ The Dogs are too suspicious of █████'s smell.

Axes descended in synchronized arcs — their movements a dance — gripped tightly between the Monsters' paws.

You and Frisk guided through the pattern with precision and calm.

Which meant, that you two basically ran away with all your might, that damn snow slowing you down and making your movements sloppy.

The attack thankfully terminated, the couple nuzzling their noses together affectionately, as if they didn't just try to kill you.

✱ The Dogs may want to re-smell FRISK.

Frisk touched the ACT button.

✱ Dogamy

✱ Dogaressa

He absolutely decided to choose Dogamy.

✱ Check                                 ✱ Pet

✱ Re-Sniff                              ✱ Roll Around

He chose the 'Re-Sniff' option.

Dogamy and Dogaressa cautiously approached him, tails low and slowly wagging. He offered his hand, letting them get acquainted with his smell.

As their noses twitched, the tension lifted, and the dogs, no longer aggressive — at least towards Frisk — widened their eyes.

✱ The Dogs sniff FRISK again...

✱ After rolling in the dirt, he smells all right!

"What! Smells like a..." Dogamy began.

His wife gasped. "(Are you actually a little puppy!?)"

✱ The Dogs think that FRISK may be a lost puppy.

They both threw their axes onto the snow, and Dogaressa couldn't help but sniffle and lick Frisk, her tail wagging cheerfully, while Dogamy had a big grin on his face, his head was already full of new game ideas he could play with this new puppy!

You muttered with a blank expression, seeing Frisk get covered in the dog's saliva. "... What."

However, Frisk seemed rather happy. He hugged Dogaressa — who, after all, wasn't so bad! — laughing wholeheartedly at the Dogi's love.

Now, what were you supposed to do? It was your turn to choose an option, but the Monsters were occupied in showering the new addition to their family in affection.

Might as well Check them.

You slowly touched the ACT button.

✱ Dogamy

✱ Dogaressa

You chose Dogamy.

✱ Check                                 ✱ Pet

✱ Re-Sniff                              ✱ Roll Around

You chose to Check.

✱ DOGAMY — 6 ATK 4 DEF

✱ Husband of Dogaressa.

✱ Knows only what he smells.

You expected an attack of some kind, but instead, nothing happened. Dogamy and Dogaressa didn't move an inch from Frisk.

✱ The Dogs are saying sickly sweet things to FRISK.

You waited for Frisk to make his move, but he seemed too busy. "Frisk." You called him, starting to feel a little impatient — envious, too.

He snapped out of his daydream and tried to touch the ACT button, the two dogs holding him in a tight and warm squeeze.

✱ Dogamy

✱ Dogaressa

He chose Dogaressa.

✱ Check                                 ✱ Pet

✱ Re-Sniff                              ✱ Roll Around

He chose to Pet.

"(A dog that pets dogs... Amazing!)" Dogaressa said with glee, her snout bumping against Frisk's hand.

Her husband whined and whimpered, his tail no longer wagging. "What about me.............."

Frisk reassured the poor dog that he, too, would get Petted.

✱ FRISK pets the Dogaressa.

Wait. 'The' Dogaressa? So, it was a title?

As the trio was having a rather adorable bonding moment, you touched once again the ACT button from the sidelines.

✱ Dogamy

✱ Dogaressa

You chose the Dogaressa.

✱ Check                                 ✱ Pet

✱ Re-Sniff                              ✱ Roll Around

You chose to Check.

✱ DOGARESSA — 6 ATK 4 DEF

✱ This puppy finds her hubby lovely. SMELLS ONLY?

Aww!

Then, she, along with Dogamy, were similar to Doggo? They seemed to have better eyesight, though.

Once again, no attack came.

✱ What even is happening anymore.

Frisk was unbothered by anything that was happening, simply giddy to have the once dangerous guard dogs, now licking his face.

 

He touched the ACT button.

✱ Dogamy

✱ Dogaressa

He chose Dogamy.

✱ Check                                 ✱ Pet

✱ Re-Sniff                              ✱ Roll Around

He chose to Pet.

Dogamy's eyes shined and sparkled as Frisk scratched him under his chin and behind his ears, letting out a few contended barks. "Wow!!! Pet by another pup!!!"

Okay, it had to be the time to Spare them, no?

You touched the MERCY button.

✱ Spare

✱ Flee

Finally, you chose to Spare.

✱ The Dogs' minds have been expanded.

Frisk froze as the white fur he held onto became cold and, just like dust, vanished from his hands.

✱ YOU WON!

✱ You earned 0 EXP and 40 gold.

. . .

Undertale OST: 017 —

Snowy

. . .

The battle finally ended and the Dogi's had their black cloaks covering their faces and their axes, and Frisk's hair and clothes returned clean, as if he didn't roll in the snow.

"Dogs can pet other dogs???" Dogamy cocked his head, shocked.

The Dogaressa held her husband tightly, putting her free paw on his chest. "(A new world has opened up for us...)"

"Thanks weird puppy!" Dogamy waved excitedly as he and the Dogaressa walked away.

You turned towards Frisk. "That just happened."

He giggled, already missing the warmth and softness of the Monsters' fur.

Between the towering snow-covered trees and the frost-kissed landscape, you two turned to the right, trudging through the snow.

As you approached the new area, sprawled across the ground where lumps of snow circling two blue X's, while a switch stood near.

Another puzzle? It seemed so, since the sign on the ground proclaimed...

'Turn every X into a O. Then press the switch.'

You looked to your right, and over tall spikes, Papyrus was watching you and Frisk intently.

"... Hi?" You said, unsure, to him.

"HELLO HUMANS!! BRACE YOURSELVES FOR MY NEW PUZZLE, A MASTERPIECE CREATED BY YOURS TRULY!" Papyrus announced, extending his arms dramatically.

You couldn't even open your mouth, that a click echoed in the air, and Frisk had resolved the puzzle, the X's turning to green O's and the spikes disappearing.

"WHAT!? HOW DID YOU RESOLVE IT? AND, MORE IMPORTANTLY... IS THERE ANY LEFT FOR ME???"

"Left— left what?" You asked.

"SPAGHETTI OF COURSE!!!!"

Frisk stood beside you, elbowing you, asking you to speak up.

"Uhhh... We ate it." You said the first thing that came to your mind.

"REALLY!? WOWIE... NO ONE'S EVER ENJOYED MY COOKING BEFORE..." There was a moment of silence, as he looked at you and Frisk in endearment, his eye sockets shining. "WELL THEN!! FRET NOT HUMANS! I, MASTER CHEF PAPYRUS... WILL MAKE YOU ALL THE PASTA YOU COULD EVER WANT! HEH HEH HEH HEH HEH HEH NYEH!"

He walked away, getting ready to present the next puzzle.

You rubbed your arm. "I kinda feel bad for lying to him, but I would've still felt bad even if I told the truth..."

The trees began to become less and less, with only a few scattered here and there, leaving an all black background.

"MY BROTHER STARTED A SOCK COLLECTION RECENTLY. HOW SADDENING..." Papyrus closed his eyes and shook his head in such pure sorrow. "SOMETIMES I WONDER WHAT HE WOULD DO... WITHOUT SUCH A COOL GUY TAKING CARE OF HIM??? NYEH HEH HEH!"

Why would a skeleton wear socks? Actually— any kind of clothes?

"IT'S ACTUALLY QUITE INTERESTING, HOW MY BROTHER ACQUIRED SUCH A LARGE SOCK COLLECTION, CONSIDERING EACH SOCK LOOKS IDENTICAL TO THE NEXT," he thought for a moment, pondering on what question he should ask you two. "SAY, WHAT KIND OF SOCK DO YOU TWO FAVOR?"

What kind of question was that?

You blinked at him. "The ones that are comfortable...?"

Frisk replied with a hesitant — 'the kind that covers my feet?' — his expression blank.

"INTERESTING..." He stroked his chin, before blocking your path, to prevent you from seeing the puzzle. "IN ANY CASE! YOU TWO WERE TAKING A LONG TIME TO ARRIVE, SO... I DECIDED TO IMPROVE THIS PUZZLE... BY ARRANGING THE SNOW TO LOOK MORE LIKE MY FACE... UNFORTUNATELY, THE SNOW FROZE TO THE GROUND."

You and Frisk looked past Papyrus. Some bits of snow of looked a off, but overall it was close enough that you could tell — more or less — it was supposed to be him. Now, there were many more X's needing to be turned into O's.

"NOW THE SOLUTION IS DIFFERENT! AND, AS USUAL, MY LAZY BROTHER IS NOWHERE AROUND! I SUPPOSE WHAT I AM SAYING IS..." He got into a heroic pose, his cape flowing in the wind. "WORRY NOT, HUMANS! I, THE GREAT PAPYRUS, WILL SOLVE THIS CONUNDRUM! THEN WE CAN ALL PROCEED! MEANWHILE, FEEL FREE TO TRY THE PUZZLE YOURSELVES! I'LL TRY NOT TO GIVE AWAY THE ANSWER!!!"

"Okaaay..." The sign said the same thing as before, and as Frisk was already trying to solve it, you realized that it might be difficult for him to do it alone. "We can't step on the same 'tile' twice, right?"

"UNLESS YOU WANT TRIANGLES... THEN, YES."

"Yes that we can't step on the same tile twice or yes that we can step on the same tile twice to have triangles...?"

"JUST STEP ONCE!!"

A long row of tall spikes blocked the exit, and since this puzzle had three entrances, you entered from the closest one, stepping on many blue X's, and stopping just before you needed to touch them again, letting Frisk complete the other half of it, before he pressed the switch.

"WOW!!! YOU TWO SOLVED IT!! AND YOU DID IT ALL WITHOUT MY HELP... INCREDIBLE! I'M IMPRESSED!! YOU MUST CARE ABOUT PUZZLES LIKE I DO!"

"I guess you could say that..." You walked away from the puzzle, Frisk nodding along.

"WELL, I'M SURE YOU'LL LOVE THE NEXT PUZZLE THEN! IT MIGHT EVEN BE TOO EASY FOR YOU!! NYEH! HEH HEH! HEHEHEH!!!" He ran past Sans, who definitely wasn't there before, now waiting for you.

The shorter skeleton was gazing behind you and Frisk, almost a scowl on his face, but when you turned to look at whatever he was watching, nothing was there.

"𝚐𝚘𝚘𝚍 𝚓𝚘𝚋 𝚘𝚗 𝚜𝚘𝚕𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚒𝚝 𝚜𝚘 𝚚𝚞𝚒𝚌𝚔𝚕𝚢. 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗'𝚝 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝚗𝚎𝚎𝚍 𝚖𝚢 𝚑𝚎𝚕𝚙," Sans remarked, his smile returning, "𝚠𝚑𝚒𝚌𝚑 𝚒𝚜 𝚐𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝, '𝚌𝚊𝚞𝚜𝚎 𝚒 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚍𝚘𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚋𝚜𝚘𝚕𝚞𝚝𝚎𝚕𝚢 𝚗𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐."

Frisk mumbled a 'glad we could impress you.'

⋆⋅•⋅⊰∙∘⋆ ❆ ⋆∘∙⊱⋅•⋅⋆

The coniferous trees gradually disappeared the more you walked. Now only tall trunks could be seen, their branches intertwining with each other tightly and fittingly. Once you spotted Papyrus, Sans was there again, standing beside him.

. . .

Undertale OST: 016 —

Nyeh Heh Heh!

. . .

"HEY! THE HUMANS! YOU TWO ARE GONNA LOVE THIS PUZZLE! IT WAS MADE BY THE GREAT DR. ALPHYS!"

"Who...?" You muttered.

And so, the great explanation began, Papyrus completely ignoring your question.

"YOU SEE THESE TILES!? ONCE I THROW THIS SWITCH... THEY WILL BEGIN TO CHANGE COLOR! EACH COLOR HAS A DIFFERENT FUNCTION! RED TILES ARE IMPASSABLE! YOU CANNOT WALK ON THEM! YELLOW TILES ARE ELECTRIC! THEY WILL ELECTROCUTE YOU! GREEN TILES ARE ALARM TILES! IF YOU STEP ON THEM... YOU WILL HAVE TO FIGHT A MONSTER!! ORANGE TILES ARE ORANGE-SCENTED. THEY WILL MAKE YOU SMELL DELICIOUS! BLUE TILES ARE WATER TILES. SWIM THROUGH IF YOU LIKE, BUT... IF YOU SMELL LIKE ORANGES! THE PIRANHAS WILL BITE YOU."

You began questioning everything he said. Piranhas? Oranges?

"ALSO, IF A BLUE TILE IS NEXT TO A, YELLOW TILE, THE WATER WILL ALSO ZAP YOU! PURPLE TILES ARE SLIPPERY! YOU WILL SLIDE TO THE NEXT TILE! HOWEVER, THE SLIPPERY SOAP... SMELLS LIKE LEMONS!! WHICH PIRANHAS DO NOT LIKE! PEOPLE AND BLUE ARE OK! FINALLY, PINK TILES. THEY DON'T DO ANYTHING. STEP ON THEM ALL YOU LIKE. HOW WAS THAT!? UNDERSTAND???"

You shyly raised your finger. "... Can you explain it to us like we're five?"

"OKAY... I GUESS I'LL REPEAT MYSELF. RED TILES ARE IMPASSABLE. YELLOW TILES ARE ELECTRIC AND DANGEROUS. BLUE TILES MAKE YOU FIGHT A MONSTER. GREEN TILES ARE WATER TILES. ORANGE TILES ARE ORANGE SCENTED. IF YOU STEP ON ORANGE, DON'T STEP ON GREEN. BROWN TILES ARE... WAIT!!! THERE ARE NO BROWN TILES... PURPLE TILES SMELL LIKE LEMONS... WHY DON'T THE YELLOW ONES SMELL LEMONY? UMM... WAIT!! DID I MIX UP GREEN AND BLUE!? THE BLUE ONES ARE WATER ONES! PINK TILES... I DON'T... REMEMBER???"

Frisk suggested that they didn't do anything.

"OH, YES. YOU'RE RIGHT! OKAY! IS IT MORE 'FIVE-YEAR-OLD' LIKE NOW!?"

"I doubt a 5-year-old would remember any of what you just said." You told him, Frisk nodding, mentioning how he himself didn't remember any of what Papyrus just said.

"Me neither."

"WHAT 5-YEAR-OLDS DO YOU TWO FREQUENT?!?"

"Uh... normal ones?"

Papyrus deeply sighed, as if the weight of the world rested on his poor, bony back. His hands dangled limply by his sides, his shoulders slouched, and his head hung low.

Interjecting and trying to cheer him a little, Frisk said that you two will still try it.

The Monster immediately returned lively. "GREAT!! THEN THERE'S ONE LAST THING... THIS PUZZLE... IS ENTIRELY RANDOM!!!!!! WHEN I PULL THIS SWITCH, IT WILL MAKE A PUZZLE... THAT HAS NEVER BEEN SEEN BEFORE! NOT EVEN I WILL KNOW THE SOLUTION! NYEH HEH HEH! GET READY...!"

Those words left his mouth, and the colors began to mix and swirl, making you hardly see. Would Frisk feel the same thing?

You closed your eyes, feeling dizzy, and when you opened them again, there was only a pink path leading to the other side, surrounded by red.

The music stopped. There was only silence as Papyrus shamefully rotated on himself and slided away.

It seemed like this 'Dr. Alphys' didn't really know how to make hard puzzles.

. . .

Undertale OST: 017 —

Snowy

. . .

You and Frisk passed the soft pink puzzle, and Sans, always with his hands in his pockets, nodded towards the puzzle. "𝚒𝚝'𝚜 𝚊 𝚗𝚒𝚌𝚎 𝚝𝚘𝚞𝚌𝚑. 𝚙𝚒𝚗𝚔 𝚜𝚞𝚒𝚝𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚕𝚊𝚌𝚎, 𝚍𝚘𝚎𝚜𝚗'𝚝 𝚒𝚝?"

Before you or Frisk could say anything, he shifted the topic again. "𝚒𝚗 𝚊𝚗𝚢 𝚌𝚊𝚜𝚎, 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚜𝚙𝚊𝚐𝚑𝚎𝚝𝚝𝚒 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚕𝚒𝚎𝚛... 𝚒𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜𝚗'𝚝 𝚝𝚘𝚘 𝚋𝚊𝚍 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚖𝚢 𝚋𝚛𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛. 𝚜𝚒𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚌𝚘𝚘𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚕𝚎𝚜𝚜𝚘𝚗𝚜, 𝚑𝚎'𝚜 𝚋𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚒𝚖𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊 𝚕𝚘𝚝. 𝚒 𝚋𝚎𝚝 𝚒𝚏 𝚑𝚎 𝚔𝚎𝚎𝚙𝚜 𝚒𝚝 𝚞𝚙, 𝚗𝚎𝚡𝚝 𝚢𝚎𝚊𝚛 𝚑𝚎'𝚕𝚕 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝚖𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚎𝚍𝚒𝚋𝚕𝚎."

"Well, at least he's trying." You said with a smile. At least he acknowledged that it was impossible to eat that plate of spaghetti.

Sans shrugged. "𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝'𝚜 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚝𝚜."

Walking ahead, you were greeted by countless snow statues of dogs with broken heads and twisted necks, rather impressive and full of details.

Another sentry station stood at the center, where a tall and slender deer woman wearing a deep purple and lime green outfit, accompanied by lilac eyeshadow and lipstick, kicked the snow with her manicured hooves.

'AWARE OF DOG

pleas pet dog'

This was stated on the sentry station. On the floor inside was a box full of small, round objects. They were golden brown, with soft fur. Beside them, there was a camera.

Wait—

A camera?

"... Frisk?" You looked at him.

He hummed, his attention turning from the Save Point to you.

"There's a—" You pointed to the inside of the sentry station, but the camera was gone. "What. There— there was a camera here!"

Frisk piped up, saying how he had found one too while he was playing with the snowball, but someone took it. Probably a dog, given the footprints that were left behind.

"Well, okay!" You clasped your hands with a smile. "Let's just forget about it. I'm sure it won't be important."

This will surely come back to bite you, won't it?

You turned to look at the statues. "Kinda impressive, though..."

"I know, right?" The deer Monster said, playing with her short, light brown ears, her white snout twitching. "A dog just rushed in here, filled with inspiration. It kept trying to build a snowdog that expressed its own emotions... But, as it built, it kept getting more excited about the sculpture..."

Uh, it sounded like a familiar dog...

"Its neck got longer and longer, and it added more and more snow, until..." She sighed, shaking her head. "It was rather sad to watch, but I couldn't turn away."

"Oh..."

"Yes. 'Oh.' Poor dog..."

Moving forward, you and Frisk encountered yet another puzzle, with a vast expanse of ice and those blue X's etched into it.

Frisk told you that as he tried not to break his legs, you could explore the other part.

He thought you would stop him, tell him that you would solve the puzzle, instead—

"Okay. Be careful."

You turned to your right, where not even branches surrounded you, only darkness, as if the ground was held by thin, invisible strings. It felt eerie in a way, but the music helped, for the most part.

... Up until you were greeted by a snow Papyrus, its muscular form and toned abs visible through the thin fabric of its red scarf, and a lump of snow with the word '𝚜𝚊𝚗𝚜' written on it in red.

"... Alright." Was all you said as you returned to Frisk, who was gliding carefully across the ice, going from X to X and turning all of them into O's, until he finally landed on the switch. The melody briefly stopped and the bridge began to expand, linking to the other side, before it resumed.

Frisk motioned for you to follow him as he slid on the ice.

You took a deep breath and gave yourself a push. Endlessly tall and imposing trunks towered over your form, temporarily obscuring your vision completely. The slide was short, and as you almost tripped and fell face first into the snow, something dropped on your head.

Frisk pointed to your head, saying that you had a mini house on it!

You shook your head to get rid of it, and pointed to his head. "And you have a kiwi bird on yours!

He smirked and ruffled his hair. It still had traces of snow in it, but he didn't mind. They would simply melt with time!

You now had two possibilities: if you walked ahead, you would meet countless snow lumps, and if you turned right, there was Sans staring at you.

"𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝'𝚜 𝚞𝚙?" He asked, tilting his head.

Without missing a beat, Frisk immediately said that you two were lost.

"𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢? 𝚞𝚑, 𝚠𝚑𝚢 𝚍𝚘𝚗'𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚐𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚢, 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚗?" He pointed behind with his thumb. "𝚒𝚖 𝚜𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞'𝚕𝚕 𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚠𝚊𝚢."

You two listened to what he said, but as you passed him, pure, white, fluttering dots inside uneven holes in the walls, followed your every movement, staring you down. You almost slammed against Sans as he stood in front of you. Again.

"Weren't you..." You glanced back, only to find him behind you, winking. "... Behind us...?"

Frisk, busy in looking at the walls, was trying to tell you something, until a FIGHT was triggered.

. . .

Undertale OST: 009 —

Enemy Approaching

. . .

✱ Gyftrot confronts you!

Finally, an enemy that wasn't a dog! However...

A disfigured creature, akin to a reindeer, glared at you with big, glossy, unblinking eyes. Its vertical jaw, similar to an insect's mandibles, near a hollow heart-shaped nose, opened to huff heavily, showing sharp, crooked teeth.

The animal had four dots on its back, a sticker on its forehead and a barbed wire wrapped tightly around its antlers along with a full stocking. Beady, moving eyes were at the base of its antlers, and pine trees held on its tines.

It was the first time since you had come to the Underground that you saw such a... 'realistic' Monster.

"What the hell is that thing?" You whispered to Frisk, taking a step back.

He said he didn't know, his voice barely audible over the sound of Gyftrot's heavy breathing and the music.

It was shaking its head vigorously, slight grunts and growls emitted from its mouth.

You pondered out loud. "I think... something's wrong with it?"

In any case, it couldn't hurt you, no? By being in this 'battle mode', the Monster had to wait for you to ACT first.

You cautiously stepped forward, your hands raised in a non-threatening gesture as you touched the ACT button.

✱ Gyftrot

You chose its name.

✱ Check                                       ✱ Decorate

✱ Undecorate                              ✱ Gift

Well, basing on what you were seeing and putting two and two together, Undecorating Gyftrot would probably be the best option.

You chose to Undecorate.

Great. Now came the part where you actually needed to proceed with the ACT.

"Hey, it's okay," you said, trying to make your voice as gentle as possible. "We're not here to hurt you. We're here to help."

The Monster lowered its head, grumbling something, but staying still to let you touch it.

✱ █████ removes the barbed wire made of pipe cleaners.

Not knowing what to do with the object, you let it fall on the ground, watching how Gyftrot now seemed far more content, emitting a fresh smell of pine needles.

"That's a little better." Gyftrot muttered, its voice deep and gruff, like the rustling of dry leaves, its mandibles opening and closing.

Frisk touched the ACT button, understanding that the way to win this FIGHT was to remove all decorations from the Monster.

✱ Gyftrot

He chose its name.

✱ Check                                       ✱ Decorate

✱ Undecorate                              ✱ Gift

He chose to Undecorate.

With a gentle touch, he reached up to remove a seemingly sticker stuck on Gyftrot's forehead, the latter letting out a small hiss at his fur being pulled.

Frisk apologized with a sheepish grin, and looked at the sticker, that in reality, wasn't actually a sticker. It was a faded photograph of Snowdrake with a bigger, similar Monster, probably his older sibling or parent, captured in a cute moment, where they laughed and tightly hugged each other.

Frisk thought about keeping the photo. If he would meet Snowdrake again, he could give it to him...

He could try.

With that, he put it in his pocket and got ready for an attack to come.

✱ FRISK removes a childhood photograph of Snowdrake and his parent.

"Thank you," Gyftrot said, a warmth in its tone that hadn't been there before. "That's kind of you... I guess."

The air grew colder. The reindeer reared back, towering over you and Frisk. Its hooves, encased in frost, slammed into the ground with force, the sound reverberating.

Countless snowflakes began to fall, each one shimmering with a faint light. They descended in wave patterns, swirling around, sharp as blades.

You and Frisk sprang into action, dodging and weaving, the snowflakes hissing past you.

Fortunately, it was easy. They were tiny and and not many.

The attack ended.

✱ Gyftrot is slightly less irritated.

Now, only a stocking remained, and perhaps, you could finally Spare it.

You touched the ACT button.

✱ Gyftrot

You chose its name.

✱ Check                                       ✱ Decorate

✱ Undecorate                              ✱ Gift

You chose to Undecorate.

Reaching up, you grabbed the stocking from Gyftrot's antlers. It wasn't filled with candy or small toys, but instead, it was stuffed to the brim with... chicken nuggets?

Had you seen that right? They certainly smelled like ones.

Should you eat one?

Yes? No?

They seemed pretty inviting... and you hadn't eaten anything since you fell — if you don't consider that one microscopic crumb of butterscotch-cinnamon pie.

You know what? You weren't going to eat something that had been stuck to some kind of reindeer-insect-thing's antlers.

And with that, you let the stocking fall to the ground, the chicken nuggets spilling out.

✱ █████ removes a stocking filled with chicken nuggets.

"Finally!" Gyftrot exclaimed, attempting a few bucks, leaping into the air before landing with a clank.

It had nothing else on, so that meant it could finally be Spared!

While you weren't watching, Frisk bent down and quickly put two chicken nuggets inside his mouth, happily munching on them.

Gyftrot froze and looked at him with the best disgusted expression it could make. Frisk simply raised a finger to his lips, shushing it.

You turned towards Frisk after seeing the Monster's face, raising an eyebrow. "What?"

He put his hands behind his back, claiming that it was nothing.

He went to touch the ACT button, but just then, he stopped and looked at you, remembering that there was also a Gift option.

"Yeah, okay, but what would we even gift it?" You tilted your head.

Frisk suggested to give to Gyftrot money.

You looked at him like he just told you the dumbest thing ever.

"... No." You whispered, shaking your head. "No."

He lifted his hands, asking you what you two should give it then.

"Nothing! I mean... we aren't made of money and we don't have anything else," slowly, you looked back at Gyftrot. "You don't mind, right? It's just that we don't have anything valuable to give to you."

It stared at you dead in the eye, not saying anything.

You were about to open your mouth to defend yourself, but Frisk came up with an amazing idea.

He touched the ACT button.

✱ Gyftrot

He chose its name.

✱ Check                                       ✱ Decorate

✱ Undecorate                              ✱ Gift

He chose to Gift.

With a big smile, he gave Gyftrot a thumbs up.

✱ FRISK gives the cheapest gift of all...

✱ Friendship.

"Uh..." Gyftrot's ear flicked, searching for an answer. "You... shouln' have...?"

There was a collective pause, no one knowing what to do.

... You touched the MERCY button, already knowing that this situation would probably only worsen.

✱ Spare

✱ Flee

You chose to Spare.

✱ YOU WON!

✱ You earned 0 EXP and 75 gold.

. . .

Undertale OST: 017 —

Snowy

. . .

As the dust settled from your FIGHT, Frisk nudged you with a knowing look, saying how he was right to give Gyftrot a gift to get all that money, the corners of his mouth turning up in a small, satisfied smile.

You crossed your arms, your brows furrowing slightly. "We can't be sure it was the gift that did it. So no, it doesn't really count."

"𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚍𝚘𝚎𝚜𝚗'𝚝 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚝?" A voice interjected.

Sans stood behind you, hands tucked in his jacket pockets, that same grin on his skeletal face.

You and Frisk exchanged a glance, before you responded, gesturing casually. "Not much... talking about our battle back there."

The Monster chuckled. "𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚜𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞'𝚛𝚎 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚞𝚜𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚊𝚜 𝚊𝚗 𝚎𝚡𝚌𝚞𝚜𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚔𝚎𝚎𝚙 𝚊𝚗 𝚎𝚢𝚎 𝚘𝚗 𝚊 𝚌𝚎𝚛𝚝𝚊𝚒𝚗 𝚜𝚔𝚎𝚕𝚎𝚝𝚘𝚗?" He quipped. "𝚢𝚘𝚞'𝚛𝚎 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚏𝚘𝚕𝚕𝚘𝚠𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚖𝚎, 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚢𝚊?"

Frisk assured him that you two weren't.

"𝚑𝚖𝚖𝚖..." He hummed, seeming deep in thought, his eye sockets narrowing, before shrugging. "𝚠𝚎𝚕𝚕, 𝚒 𝚋𝚎𝚕𝚒𝚎𝚟𝚎 𝚢𝚊. 𝙹𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚍𝚘𝚗'𝚝 𝚐𝚘 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚋𝚒𝚐, 𝚜𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚢 𝚍𝚘𝚘𝚛 𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎."

Following his line of sight, you saw a path which led to a cliff and a door a few steps away from you.

You tapped your foot against the snow. "Why's that? What's so scary about it?"

Sans's grin seemed to widen, if that was even possible. "𝚠𝚎𝚕𝚕, 𝚜𝚒𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚊𝚜𝚔𝚎𝚍... 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚌𝚔 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚌𝚔."

"... Who's there?" You had a feeling you knew where this was leading to.

"𝚋𝚘𝚘."

"Boo who?"

"𝚍𝚘𝚗'𝚝 𝚌𝚛𝚢, 𝚔𝚒𝚍. 𝚒𝚝'𝚜 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚊 𝚍𝚘𝚘𝚛," he took a moment to chuckle, pleased that his pun worked, Frisk joining him. "𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚜𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚘𝚞𝚜𝚕𝚢, 𝚒𝚝'𝚜 𝚐𝚘𝚝 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚕 𝚜𝚙𝚘𝚘𝚔𝚢 𝚟𝚒𝚋𝚎𝚜."

"I guess we'll see. C'mon, Frisk."

The path led you to the cliff that overlooked a breathtaking view of the spread out forest. Below you, countless trees stood tall, their branches heavy with snow.

In the distance, you could see a lone house, nestled in a clearing, its lights a warm beacon in the cold. As you watched, a figure emerged from it. They were small and blurry, little more than a stickman from your point.

Your eyes were fixed on their body. Meanwhile, Frisk's attention was drawn to the enigmatic black door. It stood solemnly, a faint, green light emitting from it, seeming to beckon him closer.

He felt a pull towards the door, and in a soft calling of your name, he told you to look at it.

Your gaze shifted from the creature to where Frisk stood, your eyes landing on the door. "Hm... I wonder what's inside?"

Frisk simply answered with his actions, entering without a second thought.

"Wait!" You yelled after him. You were to ask Sans for help. However, when you turned, he was already gone, not a single trace of him.

. . .

Undertale OST: 020 —

Mysterious Place

. . .

The music changed, beginning with single, reverberating plucks, sending shivers down your back.

The ground under your feet glowed with a soft turquoise hue, crunching as you stepped on it. The air was filled with a gentle luminescence, and above you, the space was dotted with lights that twinkled like distant stars.

The long and narrow path lead you forward, and as you walked, the small white dots seemed to dance around you. It opened to a room bathed in green shadows, yet at its end stood a purple wooden door, with that circle with wings and three triangles. Four mushrooms were set around it. They were large and white, their caps wide and flat, and their surfaces smooth, emitting a faint radiance.

Another instrument entered the melody, its high notes slow and deliberate, resonating and bouncing against the walls.

Frisk, with slow steps, went to the door. He tried to push it, to pull it, his fingers tracing the contours of the door, until he found a small section where the wood had splintered and, with careful movements, wiggled his fingertips into the gap, pulling with steady pressure. But it didn't budge.

For all he knew, it could be an exit.

Maybe touching the mushrooms in a certain order would open the door?

Your fingers brushed against them, earning a cute, squeaking sound, and just then, a FIGHT triggered.

. . .

Undertale OST: 009 —

Enemy Approaching

. . .

✱ Glyde swooped in!

A huge, round, intimidating Monster, with its body that seemed to be made of a smooth, shiny material, appeared. It possessed long, slender arms, their ends like fins. It floated in the air, gliding and its tail swaying. A wide, confident smile stretched across its face, reaching its big, white eyes.

Its attacks were going to be extremely difficult to dodge, won't they?

You looked at Frisk, who in turn, looked back at you.

"You can go." You gestured to Glyde.

He shook his head, saying you should be first.

"No, no, I insist."

He was about to refuse, when—

"Aw, c'mon! Just do something!" Glyde's voice cut through, making you and Frisk jump. It whined loudly at the insufferable wait it had to endure. It was too much! It was getting bored!

"Okay, I'll go." With a sigh, which sounded more like a huff, you went forward, touching the ACT button. You began to feel tired. A good night's sleep sounded so nice right now!

✱ Glyde

You chose its name.

✱ Check                          ✱ Applaud

✱ Boo                              ✱ Nothing

Stopping for a moment, you didn't know what to do.

... Applauding maybe would be the best option?

You chose to Applaud, not really convinced.

✱ █████ claps really sloppily.

✱ Glyde sucks up her praise like a vacuum cleaner.

Glyde began to perform a series of excited aerial flips, each one more elaborate than the last, its tail wagging. "OK! I rule! I admit it!"

So, it liked attention?

Frisk pondered on what to do as he touched the ACT button.

✱ Glyde

He chose its name.

✱ Check                          ✱ Applaud

✱ Boo                              ✱ Nothing

Following what you did, he chose to Applaud, in a way that would inflate anyone's ego.

✱ FRISK claps like a gorilla.

✱ Glyde is becoming addicted to your praise.

"What else do you have to say!?" Glyde shouted, its grin widening with each clap, until laugher bubbled from its throat.

Then, obviously, an attack came.

Glyde spread its wings and soared into the air, and with a flick of its tail, waves of star-shaped bullets cascaded towards you and Frisk, twinkling and shining.

Your mind raced as the stars bore down on you two. You were right. Its attacks were going to be difficult to dodge.

Frisk whispered to you a 'good luck'.

"You too." You said in a small voice, the stars reflecting in your wide eyes, like a deer caught in headlights.

But in the end, your instincts kicked in.

You sprang into action, darting away at the last possible second. The stars whizzed by, close enough to feel their heat on your skin and SOUL.

Somehow, you both managed to end up without a single scratch.

✱ Glyde is giving itself a high five.

✱ ... somehow.

It— it just slapped its own face with a fin.

Why?

You, trying to remove that image from your head, touched the ACT button.

✱ Glyde

You chose its name.

✱ Check                          ✱ Applaud

✱ Boo                              ✱ Nothing

To change what Frisk did before, you chose to do Nothing, your hands still by your sides, your gaze fixed on the Monster.

✱ █████ does nothing.

✱ Glyde looks disappointed she isn't paying attention.

Well, you were paying attention, you just chose to ignore the Monster.

Glyde's performance came to an abrupt halt, and it hovered in mid-air, a look of confusion crossing its features. "Eh? You forgot to clap."

Okay, perhaps it wasn't the best choice.

Frisk touched the ACT button.

✱ Glyde

He chose its name.

✱ Check                          ✱ Applaud

✱ Boo                              ✱ Nothing

Frisk liked whatever you did, and so, he decided to choose to do Nothing, too.

✱ FRISK does nothing.

✱ Glyde looks desperate for attention.

"HELLO?? I'M RIGHT HERE!!!" It shouted, its white eyes narrowing, seeming ready to punch Frisk.

Without warning, it launched another attack.

Waves of star-shaped bullets filled the air, just as before, but now, larger, exploding versions of the stars accompanied them.

Each massive star detonated with a dazzling flash, and words burst forth in their wake.

Remember when you thought how you and Frisk ended up without a single scratch in the first attack?

... Yeah.

You and Frisk moved with all the agility you could muster, but the larger stars exploded unpredictably, sending shockwaves. The ground rumbled, making it hard to maintain balance.

You dived to the side as an exploding star nearly clipped you, whizzing past your ear, a word, 'SWEET', almost blinding you.

Frisk’s heart pounded as he narrowly avoided an explosion, the word 'VIBIN' flashing brightly in his peripheral vision.

You two could only pray that this attack would end quickly, or you wouldn’t last long against this assault.

With a — in Glyde's opinion — quirky 'SPICEY', a star detonated against Frisk's red SOUL, his HP going down to a '13/20'.

And he had Saved not even ten minutes ago!

Your neck almost cracked at the fast way you turned to look at Frisk, who clutched at his heaving chest, and soon, you understood why.

A 'RAD' exploding your way almost made you fall backwards, your torso burning, the feeling expanding to your arms.

Your HP, went not to a '13/20' like Frisk's, but to a '14/20'.

As the last of the star-shaped bullets fizzled out, you and Frisk caught your breath, while Glyde's expression turned into a satisfied grin, happily doing acrobatics.

✱ Glyde is doing tons of flips to get your attention.

Frisk called your name, telling you to heal yourself so he could do something.

"Oh, okay..."

You touched the ITEM button.

✱ MnstrCndy                           ✱ HalfSpidrDont

✱ Stick                                      ✱ ButtsPie

PAGE 1

You chose the last Monster Candy, Frisk tossing it to you.

Glyde reappeared, floating above you with a smug expression. “Wat’cha doing?”

"Healing myself?” You replied as you ate the Candy, your HP returning to a '20/20'.

✱ █████ ate the Monster Candy.

✱ Her HP was maxed out.

“Aw, poor baby,” Glyde taunted, its voice dripping with mock concern. “Sorry... for NOTHING!” With that, it flipped and spun in the air, mocking you.

That piece of—

Frisk was fed up with its attitude. It acted far too entitled for his taste. He decided to change things a little.

He punched the ACT button.

✱ Glyde

He chose its name.

✱ Check                          ✱ Applaud

✱ Boo                              ✱ Nothing

He chose to Boo, cupping his hands around his mouth and shouting.

Glyde paused mid-air, its wings fluttering erratically. “Boo? What a wimpy ghost,” it scoffed, rolling its eyes. “I don't have time for this.”

With crossed arms and a stern expression, Frisk looked up at the Monster, waiting for it to leave.

✱ FRISK boos loudly.

✱ Glyde leaves to look elsewhere for praise.

It finally turned away, flapping its wings lazily. “I’ll find someone else who appreciates true coolness.”

✱ YOU WON!

✱ You earned 0 EXP and 120 gold.

The room fell silent, the oppressive atmosphere lifting instantly.

It worked. It actually worked!

. . .

Undertale OST: 020 —

Mysterious Place

. . .

You returned in the room with the fluorescent mushrooms, that distant melody, and you could almost feel the weight of those 120 G added into Frisk's virtual pockets.

Frisk let out a 'damn', breathing a sigh of relief.

You nodded, returning the Candy's casing to him. "Damn, indeed. That Monster was rude. The money was worth it, though."

For the last time, Frisk tried to open the door, thinking that since you won the battle, it would have opened, but unfortunately, it didn't.

. . .

Undertale OST: 017 —

Snowy

. . .

As you two stepped out of the room, once again out in the cold area of the forest, disorientation washed over you, along with a pang of vulnerability. Finding yourself facing the cliff and the house, the place seemed different, shadows stretching longer and deeper than before, and overall, it was colder.

You blinked, your breath visible in the air and goosebumps rising on your skin. Had it always been this dark?

Sans couldn't be seen anywhere, and since, except for the door, it was just a dead end, you and Frisk went to the other side, where coniferous trees began to return.

Many snow puffballs were scattered all around, accompanied by a tiny, brown doghouse and a sign on the ground.

'Woof.'

While you looked at the interior of the doghouse to see if there was something inside, Frisk began to search from snow poff to snow poff, until he exclaimed excitedly about how he found 30 G inside the snow.

Walking over to him, you wanted to see how this currency looked like, but when you arrived, he had nothing in his hands. "How does money work here?" You asked.

He brushed his clothes off, replying in an unsure tone that it was 'technological or something like that', similar to when you two were in a FIGHT.

"Oookay...?"

It could mean anything and nothing at all at the same time.

Another snow puffball blocked your exit. You could just go around it, but right in that moment, the music faded away. It wasn't a normal snow puffball, was it?

In fact, the snow stirred, revealing a white, fluffy tail, wagging with enthusiasm. Then, a small dog's head, its humid nose twitching as it smelled the air. It barked squeakingly, once, twice, Frisk cooing at its cuteness.

... Until the dog began to rise, its form expanding and morphing, snow falling from its huge body. It towered above you and Frisk, clad in grey armor, its dog-faced spear gleaming in the cold light.

"Oh."

. . .

Undertale OST: 021 —

Dogsong

. . .

... What kind of melody was this? It sounded like a dog had gobbled up an autotune machine and started barking.

This time, too, the black ground was replaced by snow. You just hoped there wouldn't be an option to Roll Around again.

✱ It's the Greater Dog.

You decided to take the initiative, touching the ACT button.

✱ Greater Dog

You chose its name.

✱ Check                                ✱ Pet

✱ Beckon                              ✱ Play

✱ Ignore

How could you Ignore it? That would be too cruel! And the dog was pretty far away, so Beckoning it first would be best.

You chose to Beckon.

Crouching, you clapped your hands, calling out to the Monster. “Come here, puppy!”

The huge dog's ears perked up, it threw away its spear, and ran towards you on all fours, tail wagging furiously. As it got closer, it leaned down and gave you a big lick right across your face.

✱ █████ calls the Greater Dog.

✱ It bounds towards her, flecking slobber into her face.

“Ew!” You laughed, cringing and wiping your face. “Okay, okay, you're a good boy, aren't you?”

Instead of a deep and resonating bark, the Monster let out a squeaky and high-pitched one.

If you had to be honest, you disliked the fact that you had to choose to Pet Greater Dog, when you had it right in front of you. Frisk could do it, though. And since the Monster was close enough now, he touched the ACT button.

✱ It's the Greater Dog.

He chose its name.

✱ Check                               ✱ Pet

✱ Beckon                              ✱ Play

✱ Ignore

He chose to Pet, reaching out and gently caressing Greater Dog’s head, the latter leaning — a lot — into the touch, clearly enjoying the attention.

✱ Greater Dog curls up in FRISK's lap as it is pet by him.

Frisk fell to the ground as the dog pounced on him, knocking him in the snow, and settling all of its weight onto him. He looked so tiny compared to the Monster!

He gasped in surprise but quickly started laughing as Greater Dog circled a few times, getting comfortable, and then settled down right in his lap. Frisk continued to pet it, his hands sinking into the soft fur. The warmth of the dog against the cold of the snow was nice.

✱ It gets so comfortable it falls asleep...

Greater Dog’s eyes started to droop, and within moments, it fell into a deep sleep, its wagging tail coming to a halt, its body going limp.

Frisk, not being able to see the Text Box, became alarmed. His laughter gradually died on his lips as he turned concerned. Did he accidentally kill the Greater Dog!?

✱ Zzzzz...

Just as panic started to set in, Greater Dog let out a loud snore. It liked this human, it was warm and cozy!

✱ ...

Frisk let out a relieved sigh, his hand still gently petting the now-snoring dog. Thankfully, it was just sleeping.

... But now it was getting far too hot under all that fur. And he couldn't feel his legs anymore.

✱ Then it wakes up!

✱ It's so excited!

You watched them with a small smile. It would've surely been a cute picture. If you still had your cell phone, that is. And you didn't think that the one Toriel gave you could take photos.

The Greater Dog's eyes snapped open. With a big stretch and a loud yawn, it got up from Frisk’s lap, shaking itself off before running back to where its spear was, leaving Frisk on the snow, sprawled out like a starfish.

You stepped over and offered your hand to him. “You okay?”

He grasped your hand, managing to get back on his feet, albeit a bit wobbly. He thanked you, saying that he just felt his legs numb, but nothing he couldn't handle.

At least Greater Dog was kind enough to wait for Frisk to get up and let him shake his legs to remove that feeling of pins and needles and the snow from his clothes.

The room became smaller, encaging you, Frisk, and the Monster.

A big spear was projected onto your right, flickering from blue to white, similar to Doggo's attack.

You remembered the pattern well: blue meant stay still, and white meant move.

It was fairly simple to avoid, and you two managed to dodge the spear’s flickering movements with ease.

✱ Greater Dog is patting the ground with its front paws.

You were walking to touch the ACT button, until Frisk stopped you, as he realized that Greater Dog was, in fact, a dog! So that meant he could use the Stick! He had such a great idea to pick it up from the ground on his way to Mount Ebott.

He touched the ITEM button.

✱ HalfSpidrDont                          ✱ Stick

✱ ButtsPie                                    ✱ ButtsPie

PAGE 1

He chose the Stick.

Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out his reliable Stick, throwing it to Greater Dog.

The massive canine’s eyes followed the stick, and it ran after it with surprising agility and squeaky barks, returning it — all chewed and drooled — to Frisk, who threw it again.

✱ FRISK threw the stick and the dog ran to get it.

✱ They played fetch for a while.

Seeing how much fun Frisk was having, you wanted to join in. When it was your turn, you were about to touch the ACT button, until Greater Dog let out a tired yawn and flopped to the side, exhausted from all the excitement.

“Aw, it's too tired to keep playing." You said, smiling warmly.

Then, it would be Pet time instead.

You touched the ACT button.

✱ Greater Dog

Its name was yellow, but still wanted to Pet it, so you chose it.

✱ Check                                ✱ Pet

✱ Beckon                              ✱ Play

✱ Ignore

You chose to Pet, gently stroking Greater Dog’s back.

✱ Despite not needing to, █████ pets the dog.

✱ It sinks its entire weight into her...

✱ Her movements slow.

✱ Thanks to her, now it isn't pet enough...!

Why was the Text Box so sassy all of a sudden?

Greater Dog let out a content sigh and rolled over, knocking you backward on the snow. You sat up, and the Monster put its head on your lap, its tiny ears flopping. You could understand Frisk, now. It surely was comforting to have a giant ball of fluff on you, but it could get, just a little, overwhelming. Especially since it was blocking all movement from your legs.

The Monster, even while enjoying the pets, launched another attack.

Another very familiar dog appeared out of nowhere, sleeping, its chest moving up and down slowly.

Frisk looked back at you, asking you what he was supposed to do.

"I think you're the only one who'll get attacked," simply shrugging, you continued to Pet the dog, "I can't move."

As soon as you said that, he tiny dog awakened and fired off big 'BARK' words towards him.

Frisk cursed under his breath, before swiftly moving out of the way, feeling the wooshing of the words as they grazed his skin.

Meanwhile, Greater Dog used a gentle, yet big, paw to push against your green SOUL, its smooth pads leaving a ticklish feeling spreading through your body.

Wait, weren't his paws covered by armor, too?

Eh, the dog probably left the gloves somewhere.

Giggling, you let the puppy do its thing, while Frisk was running like a madman, trying to keep his '13/20' HP not go lower than that. "You're sooo cute! You know that, right? Of course you do!"

As an answer, you got a soft, high-pitched bark and a wagging tail.

Meawhile, the little dog only let out four barks, luckily.

✱ Pet capacity is 40-percent.

Once the attack ended, Frisk looked at Greater Dog with a fond smile, not being able to stay mad at it.

He couldn't possibly not Pet it for the last time! Done that, you two could Spare it.

He touched the ACT button.

✱ Greater Dog

He chose its name.

✱ Check                                ✱ Pet

✱ Beckon                              ✱ Play

✱ Ignore

He chose to Pet again.

After all, it was only right to shower the friendly dog with affection, regardless if it attacked him.

Greater Dog rolled off your lap, responding immediately to Frisk's petting by turning over onto its back, exposing its armored belly with its tongue lolling out, melting — thankfully not literally; you expected anything to happen at this point — under his attention.

Frisk couldn't help but coo at its cuteness, calling it a 'good boy'.

✱ FRISK pets decisively.

✱ Pet capacity reaches 100 percent.

✱ The dog flops over with its legs hanging in the air.

With the dog now completely at ease, you finally managed to get up, brushing off the snow from your clothes.

You glanced at Frisk, who was still petting Greater Dog, your tone firm. “Okay, I think we’ve given the puppy enough love for now."

You touched the MERCY button.

✱ Spare

You chose to Spare.

✱ YOU WON!

✱ You earned 0 EXP and 40 gold.

Greater Dog's body became cold and limp, turning to dust right in front of Frisk, his fingertips staining.

This was the second time that day! First Dogamy and the Dogaressa, now Greater Dog, too!

You and Frisk returned to the snowy forest, along with the Greater Dog, who now had its paws covered by gloves once again. Complete silence enveloped you as the huge dog came out of its armor, revealing itself to be actually just a little guy!

It licked first Frisk, then you on the cheek with its pink and rough tongue, leaving a trail of saliva that sparkled in the light.

Frisk made a disgusted sound, wiping off his face with a laugh, gently pushing the dog's snout away.

You giggled. "Guess he really likes us."

The armor wobbled and clanked as the dog returned to it backwards, its tail high in the air, wagging non-stop. Somehow, it was still able to walk, disappearing from view.

. . .

Undertale OST: 017 —

Snowy

. . .

"Well, okay!" Looking at Frisk, you crossed your arms. "By the way, how much money do we have?" 

He tapped a finger to his chin, thinking for a moment, before saying that you two had exactly 452 G.

"What."

Nodding, he confirmed what he said.

"What."

⋆⋅•⋅⊰∙∘⋆ ❆ ⋆∘∙⊱⋅•⋅⋆

Between Frisk telling you that no, you two weren't exactly rich, and no, this type of currency didn't have any value outside the Underground, you were met with another path, which led to a long, narrow bridge that stretched across a vast chasm. It was a simple construction of wooden planks and ropes, swaying gently in the cold breeze, and below it, layers of rock and earth cascaded down into the darkness of the abyss.

Frisk stopped, tapping his foot against the snow. He asked you if you two had to cross the bridge, his fingers twisting themselves in the fabric of his shirt.

"I mean... there doesn't seem to be another way." You stepped onto the bridge, Frisk trailing behind you a few seconds later.

The wooden planks creaked under your weights, and in that moment, maybe you should've thought twice. Nah, thrice.

With each step, the bridge oscillated slightly, sending small flurries of snow spiraling into the void beneath.

"Don't look down, don't look down, don't look down—" You dared to look down. Your heart leapt in your throat. "Why the hell did I look down."

The bridge began to creak and sway more noticeably, the wind picking up and howling around you.

"Why is it moving!?" You harshly grabbed the railing, to the point where your knuckles turned white.

Frisk chuckled, trying to be brave, while in reality, he was on the verge of fainting. He didn't mind heights... but these were very tall heights... and it certainly didn't help that the bridge was all slippery. The sight of the deep chasm made his stomach churn.

Just then, a loud voice echoed. "HUMANS! THIS IS YOUR FINAL AND MOST DANGEROUS CHALLENGE! BEHOLD! THE GAUNTLET OF DEADLY TERROR!"

. . .

Undertale OST: 016 —

Nyeh Heh Heh!

. . .

Oh, you knew that music and voice too well, now.

Halfway across the bridge, a figure emerged from the fog: no one other than the great Papyrus — and Sans —with his cape billowing dramatically behind him.

Above him dangled various weapons on ropes: two spears, a spiked ball held by a chain, a fire pit, a cannon... and another white dog... uh.

"WHEN I SAY THE WORD, IT WILL FULLY ACTIVATE!!!" He put his hands on his hips, a wide smile stretched on his face. "CANNONS WILL FIRE! SPIKES WILL SWING! BLADES WILL SLICE! EACH PART WILL SWING VIOLENTLY UP AND DOWN!"

"The dog too...?" You asked, pointing at it.

"THE DOG TOO!"

The poor thing was swinging left and right, but it didn't seem to mind. It always stood with that little smile on its cute muzzle, its tail wagging.

He rubbed his hands together. "ONLY THE TINIEST CHANCE OF VICTORY WILL REMAIN!!!"

"If we cry, will you let us go?" Picking at your nails, you spoke while Frisk whined softly behind you. He was ready to cry if it meant he wouldn't get killed.

"NO!! I MUST SHOW NO COMPASSION TO YOU HUMANS!"

Frisk claimed how you two haven't done anything to him.

"IT DOESN'T MATTER," he waved a hand dismissively. "ARE YOU READY!? BECAUSE! I! AM! ABOUT! TO DO IT!"

"You know, Frisk," whispering to him, you watched as the weapons — dog included — lowered, "those weird technological things you can do, whatever they are, they'd be really useful right now."

He told you that he couldn't do anything at the moment, tucking a strand of hair behind his ear.

"Well, it was nice meeting you." You squeezed your eyes shut, waiting for any death Papyrus seemed fit. But still, he HAD to be bluffing, right? There was no way he would do it... right?

You haven't known the Monster for a long time, but he didn't exactly strike you as the bloodthirsty, violent one.

Besides, he went on all that talk about wanting to capture a Human and deliver it... to the—

"Capital!" You yelled, making Papyrus and the weapons stop in their tracks.

The skeleton, startled, faced you. "WHAT??"

You took a deep breath, hoping you had bought some time. "Didn't you say you wanted to capture a Human and deliver them to the capital? If you kill us now, how are you gonna do that?"

Frisk shook your arm, asking you what exactly you were doing.

Looking at him, you said in a low voice. "I'd rather be captured than brutally murdered."

Papyrus paused, his arms slowly lowering to rest at his sides. "YES, THAT'S TRUE... I DID SAY THAT. IF I KILL YOU NOW, THERE WOULD BE NO HUMAN TO DELIVER TO THE CAPITAL..."

Sans chimed in, shrugging. "𝚜𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍𝚜 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚊 𝚜𝚘𝚕𝚒𝚍 𝚙𝚕𝚊𝚗, 𝚋𝚛𝚘. 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍𝚗'𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚖𝚎𝚜𝚜 𝚞𝚙 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚋𝚒𝚐 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎, 𝚛𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝?"

Frisk added that you and him could help Papyrus figure out a way to capture you two, if the situation called for it.

The Monster put his hand to his chin, deep in thought. "HMM... YOU DO MAKE A COMPELLING ARGUMENT. I GUESS... I SHALL SPARE YOU THIS TIME, HUMANS."

You did it! You actually convinced him!

But then he paused, a blank expression on his face. What was he doing!? Was he REALLY letting two humans convince him to let them go!? "WAIT! NO! I MUST FOLLOW THROUGH WITH MY PLANS!!"

Nevermind.

The mechanisms groaned once again, and the bridge continued to sway in the wind. You began to feel the heat of the fire pit from below, slowly creeping up.

Gazing up at Sans, he seemed... strangely calm. He gave you a nod, before glancing back at his brother, as if awaiting for something to happen.

In the meantime, as Frisk was considering to just jump off the bridge, an unsettling sense of peacefulness filled his heart, making him relax, and he barely remembered why he was so nervous to begin with.

(Everything will be okay.)

Your mind raced to try and think of ways to stop Papyrus, but just as you were about to talk of random ways to deliver you and Frisk to the Capital that didn't require you two being dead, the weapons stopped moving.

The small dog continued to spin, its paws swaying in the air.

Papyrus turned his back, his head hung and his shoulders slumped. He saw the fear in these humans' eyes, guilt washing over him.
Well, in only one of the humans. The other had its eyes closed, but he guessed it probably felt the same thing.

Sans nudged Papyrus, tilting his head. "𝚠𝚎𝚕𝚕? 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝'𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚑𝚘𝚕𝚍𝚞𝚙?"

"HOLDUP!? WHAT HOLDUP!? I'M..." His expression softened for a moment, but he shook his head. "I'M ABOUT TO ACTIVATE IT NOW!"

"𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝, 𝚞𝚑, 𝚍𝚘𝚎𝚜𝚗'𝚝 𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚟𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚍.." Sans' eye sockets squinted as he smiled. He already knew how it would've ended.

"WELL!!! THIS CHALLENGE!!! IT SEEMS... MAYBE..." He shifted his weight from one foot to the other, looking down at his boots, "TOO EASY TO DEFEAT THE HUMANS WITH."

"Uh?" You looked confused, and Frisk, standing behind you, mimicked you, saying 'uh?' as well.

He nodded vigorously, his movements exaggerated as he tried to make his point. "YEAH! WE CAN'T USE THIS ONE!!! I AM A SKELETON WITH STANDARDS!!! MY PUZZLES ARE VERY FAIR! AND MY TRAPS ARE EXPERTLY COOKED! BUT THIS METHOD IS TOO DIRECT! NO CLASS AT ALL! AWAY IT GOES!"

With the flick of his wrist, the spears, cannon, fire pit and dog all retreated into the shadows, leaving the bridge clear.

"PHEW!" Papyrus exhaled deeply, wiping his forehead.

Your grip on the railing loosened, you and Frisk staring at Papyrus deadpan. His head darted around to see if you were watching exclusively him or someone else. "WHAT ARE YOU TWO LOOKING AT!?"

Hesitantly, Frisk asked if he could hug him.

The latter recoiled — whether in surprise or disgust, you couldn't tell —, his hands fluttering to his chest. "WHAT!? NO!! THIS WAS ANOTHER DECISIVE VICTORY FOR PAPYRUS!! NYEH!! HEH!!" He paused, his bravado faltering. "... HEH???"

Feeling awkward at just standing there, he turned on his heels and walked away with a noticeable huff in his steps, trying to maintain his honor and dignity.

. . .

Undertale OST: 017 —

Snowy

. . .

Hm.

Carefully, you and Frisk finished passing the bridge, coming face-to-face with Sans. "𝚒 𝚍𝚘𝚗'𝚝 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚖𝚢 𝚋𝚛𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛'𝚜 𝚐𝚘𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚘 𝚍𝚘 𝚗𝚘𝚠. 𝚒𝚏 𝚒 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞," he gave a small chuckle, his smile not faltering, "𝚒'𝚍 𝚖𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝚜𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚒 𝚞𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚛𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚋𝚕𝚞𝚎 𝚊𝚝𝚝𝚊𝚌𝚔𝚜."

Frisk asked him if Papyrus used those type of attacks.

"𝚖𝚊𝚢𝚋𝚎 𝚢𝚎𝚜, 𝚖𝚊𝚢𝚋𝚎 𝚗𝚘," he shrugged, "𝚠𝚑𝚘 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠𝚜?"

Keeping in mind Sans' ambiguous answer — which probably meant that blue attacks were going to be used — you walked for a bit, where the path began to widen. The dense forest thinned out, and the air warmed.

And there, you were greeted with the sight of a colorful village, where on a banner strung between two poles, stood a large, festive sign adorned with Christmas lights, in green, blue and red colors, that spelled out:

'WELCOME TO 

. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁SN☃︎WDIN. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁'

And below, smaller...

'Town!'

. . .

Undertale OST: 022 —

Snowdin Town

. . .

Notes:

I love dogs!! ૮ • ﻌ - ა. So cuteee! Thanks for reading! 🌷

P.S: sorry again for the long wait!

Chapter 11: Three Bunnies And A Bandanna

Summary:

In which Frisk seems to like spending money a little too much. But hey— at least he got a place to sleep at a cheap price!

Notes:

Enjoy!

ᵂᵒᵘˡᵈ ʸᵒᵘ ʰᵃᵛᵉ ᵖʳᵉᶠᵉʳʳᵉᵈ ᵗᵒ ˢᵗᵃʸ ⁱⁿ ʸᵒᵘʳ ᵒʷⁿ ʰᵃᵖᵖʸ ʷᵒʳˡᵈ?

. . .

Undertale OST: 022 —

Snowdin Town

. . .

A more cheerful and catchier melody took place, an uplifting tempo that matched the sight of cozy wooden houses lining the streets and the sound of laughter and chatter drifting through the cold air.

The music felt lively: with mordants, light staccato notes, and a rhythm that encouraged you to step in time with the beat on the snow, thicker around here than before.

In the distance, various Monsters talked to each other or simply minded their own business, unaware of your presence.

You felt a twinge of nervousness settling in your stomach. This was a town. More exactly, the town you saw in the directions back at the forest. It was probably full of Monsters. And if they knew you and Frisk were Humans, they would get into more FIGHTs with you — or worse —, and then it'll be harder getting out.

But at the same time, you never really had any problems when you first came into the forest. Sure, Sans and Papyrus — actually, only Papyrus — created puzzles to stop you, and sometimes you encountered small Monsters in battles. Only for a few exceptions, like Glyde, Dogamy and Dogaressa, proved to be slightly more difficult to deal with, considering one was a rude show-off, and the other two wanted to eliminate you.

And if Sans' advice was true, you just had to go ahead to find an exit.

... What ahead meant, though, was a mystery.

From what you could see, those handful of Monsters were various animals, all colorful and cartoonish-looking, some gathered around a tree.

Frisk, however, had eyes for only one thing. He told you he was going to make his HP return to '20/20', before immediately making a beeline for the Save Point.

You stood by the nearest building, a sign that read 'SHOP' hung high, attached to another that said 'INN', not really knowing if Frisk wanted to buy something or not. Looking around, you noticed the lights scattered around the streets, glowing colorfully, offering an extra illumination.

As you waited by the shop's entrance, you eyed the box that sat near the Save Point. If you remembered what the 'box lover' wrote, it probably still had that not-so-appealing glove inside.

A shuffle and a movement from your right caught your attention.

Squinting your eyes, trying to see in the darkness that slowly, but surely, began to fall, an object retreated into the bridge you came from.

... He was still following you? And he was not being that subtle, either.

And at the same time, unawarely, the lens of a camera recorded every movement from under the bridge.

Frisk Saved, and decided to look at the box later, considering there was a whole shop you two could... well, shop! And ask for information, too. He would put something in it afterward.

As he returned, he asked you if you wanted to enter the building.

You crossed your arms. "Are you sure they won't, like, freak out at seeing two Humans?"

He thought about it for a moment, before deciding that trying to enter won't hurt, and, based on the reaction, you'll determine what to do next.

You shrugged. "Why not? It... it sounds good."

. . .

Undertale OST: 023 —

Shop

. . .

A gentle melody, starting similarly to the same song you heard when you were in the forest, just with different instruments, made its way into your ears, accompanied by the jingling of bells as the door opened.

The shop was warm and inviting, filled with various items and wares neatly displayed on shelves: from books, framed photos depicting two rabbits, flower-filled vases, chests, and to a scroll, with such small writing that you couldn't read, featuring that same winged circle and three triangles at the center. A big candle gave a welcoming, orange glow to the place, and near it sat the remains of other ones that had already burned out.

Behind the glass counter stood the shopkeeper, a pretty and tall purple bunny wearing a lilac tank top, a small, golden necklace, and a summer hat. She greeted you with a friendly smile, her fur illuminated in a soft, yellow shade. "Hello, travellers," her voice felt comforting, pleasing to the ear, "how can I help you?"

She didn't seem scared, in any way. Did she not know you two were Humans or simply didn't care?

Frisk said that you two were new to this place, and needed general directions.

"Oh!" Her nose twitched. "Well, in that case, welcome to Snowdin! I can't remember the last time I saw fresh faces around here. Where did you come from? The capital? You don't look like tourists."

Then, it dawned on you.

Why did you even enter a shop? To buy something? That was what they were for, but you didn't really need anything. Hopefully.

Actually, some food sounded nice.

Frisk seemed to have other ideas, though. He scratched his head, letting out an unsure 'uh...', until his attention was snatched by the most beautiful thing in the whole world.

A bandanna.

BUT—!

It wasn't a simple bandanna.

It had abs. It was... manly. It was cool. Everything — and more — Frisk could have ever hoped for. And there was the twin to that glove too! It was still ugly, but now there were two!

"... We're just passing through." You answered when Frisk didn't. He brought his face close to the counter, his nose pressed against the glass.

Inside the glass counter were round, brown sweets with swirls at the sides, bunny ears at the top, and two little dots for eyes and a nose, their backs sprinkled with brown powder. They even had tails! Food shouldn't generally be this adorable. Next to them were two popsicles attached together.

That was it.

And further along the counter, you saw the other glove, rugged and old like the other one, haunting you, and beside it, a plain bandanna with abs poorly drawn on it.

"Yes..." The shopkeeper tilted her head, her eyes darting around. "Uh— would you like to buy something?"

Frisk pointed to the bandanna, telling her he wanted it.

"The Bandanna? That'll be 50G."

"... Are you sure?" You looked at Frisk, furrowing your eyebrows. He did say you two had four-hundred-and-something-G, but 50G? It still seemed pretty expensive.

Telling you not to worry about it, he brought a hand to his chest, swearing he needed the bandanna.

The shopkeeper snorted, before chuckling, a paw on her mouth to stifle her laughter. "Well, if you REALLY need it, who am I to say no to such a cute face? Hmm... how about 35G?"

You did a double-take. Wow, she casually lowered the price just cause of Frisk being... himself? Despite everything, he still tried to make the price lower a bit more, giving her a big grin, his cheeks getting rosy.

"Sorry, hun, can't go lower than that," she shook her head, "I still have to make a living off of this."

Frisk's brows raised, apologizing as he placed his hands in front of him.

"Don't worry. No hard feelings."

He returned the smile, before looking at you, as if awaiting for your approval on this.

You placed a hand on your hip. "I.. guess you can buy it?"

Cheering with a fist pump, he thanked both you and the shopkeeper, before giving — somehow — those 35G.

She took the bandanna out and handed it to him. "Thanks for the purchase."

He delicately held the sacred object, and slowly, as if it would reveal secret powers, tied it to his head.

A moment of silence passed, until...

With a burst of energy, he began to hop up and down, asking excitedly if he looked good in it.

"You look amazing," the shopkeeper chuckled, "ready to take on anything!"

"I agree." You nodded.

Face now red, Frisk fanned himself with a shy smile, rocking back and forth on the balls of his feet. Was it hot in there or was it just him?

You pointed to the sweets that looked like bunnies. "Could we also have one — maybe two is better — of those?"

"The Cinnamon Buns? It's my own recipe. 25G each."

50G for two? It sounded like it was too much... and you already spent 35G...

Turning to Frisk, you awaited his confirmation. He simply shrugged, not really caring how much you spent.

The Monster nodded, taking two Cinnamon Buns, and gently wrapping them with a purple napkin. "Here you go."

"Thank you." You took the warm sweets, a mouth-watering smell emanating from them.

Frisk decided to also ask about the two popsicles.

"We call it 'Bisicle'. 15G."

He accepted, and it was handed to him, while you tried not to devour the Cinnamon Buns right then and there.

Putting it in his pocket, Frisk asked if you would give him the Cinnamon Buns, too.

You looked at him blankly. "Frisk. Dude. I'm starving. Please, just for this once, can we not stuff them into your pocket and just— you know, eat them?"

The shopkeeper spoke in. "Well, if you're hungry, Grillby's has food. These are more for... healing purposes."

"Damn it..." You muttered. "Stuff them in your pocket, then."

You handed the Cinnamon Buns to Frisk, watching as they were shoved mercilessly in his pocket.

But if they could heal you, then it was better to keep them for future FIGHTs, you guessed.

However, you definitely still remembered that one time with the cinnamon-butterscotch pie and how Frisk didn't let you eat your slice. Toriel had made it exclusively for you to eat! Who knew how they ended...

The shopkeeper chuckled. "You really cleaned me out in a jiffy! Guess I'll have to restock. I wish we could've met earlier!"

"Is there something else we can do here?" You asked, trying to change the subject.

"As I said, Grillby's has food, and the library has information..." She counted on her fingers. "If you're tired, you can take a nap at the inn. It's right next door — my sister runs it. And if you're bored, you can sit outside and watch those wacky skeletons do their thing."

In all of Snowdin, how many 'wacky skeletons' could there be if not for Sans and Papyrus?

As you pondered, you missed the jingle of bells, the smile and the wave the bunny gave to say goodbye to Frisk, before returning to you.

"There's two of 'em... Brothers, I think. They just showed up one day and..." She smoothed the fur along her arms, trying to find the right term. "... asserted themselves. The town has gotten a lot more interesting since then. A lovely pair, that's for sure."

"I see..." You murmured, lost in thought.

The shopkeeper squinted her eyes, taking in all of your features. "You're interesting. I've never seen a monster like you and your friend before."

Monster? Your pulse quickened. So she did not know you were Humans... and that was for the best, actually.

You froze momentarily, feeling a pang of nervousness but managed a smile. "Oh, really? We, um... I guess we're just unique!"

Her eyes softened. "Well, every monster is welcome in Snowdin. It's always nice to meet new faces."

You felt slightly more at ease. "Thank you..."

Frisk seemed awfully quiet, but you didn't press the matter. He probably was still engrossed in his new bandanna.

"You're welcome," she smiled warmly. "Enjoy your stay in Snowdin. And remember, if you ever need supplies or just want to chat, I'm always here. In the end, we only have each other during these times."

"Yes... of course." You absolutely had no idea what she was talking about.

She sighed, her ears lowering slightly. "But... we all know deep down that freedom is coming, don't we? As long as we got that hope, we can grit our teeth and face the same struggles, day after day... That's life, ain't it?"

"... Uhhh—"

"Oh, but enough of my rambling. You probably have places to go. Sorry."

"No, it's okay. Don't worry," you tapped your foot against the wooden floorboards. "But yeah, maybe we should go—" You looked at Frisk.

Actually, at where Frisk had been. Now only your shadow greeted you.

He wasn't nowhere to be found. Where did he go?

"... What?"

The Monster tilted her head. "Your friend? They went out after I mentioned about the Inn."

Pinching the bridge of your nose, you huffed. "Of course..."

He could've at least waited for you or let you know he was going out! Well, as long as he wasn't dying or got lost, it wasn't that bad.

"Thanks again," you took a few steps back. "I'm going to look at the Inn. Goodbye!"

She waved at you. "Bye! Say hi to my sister for me if you can!"

As you turned to leave, you nodded, before opening the door, bells jingling.

. . .

Undertale OST: 022 —

Snowdin Town

. . .

The cold air enveloped you once again, goosebumps rising on your skin. Now, to find Frisk...

As you stepped into the two-story building, a wave of warmth immediately embraced you. The interior was bathed in orange tones, emanating from a lamp in the corner. The reception area felt quaint, the air filled with the comforting scent of vanilla. Wooden beams ran along the ceiling, the floor was adorned with worn spots, and a heart-filled doormat laid under your shoes.

The reception desk stood at the center, manned by the same orange bunny you saw in the pictures at the shop, wearing a yellow dress with blue accents. She was hunched over the desk, her head bowed and pen moving swiftly across the paper of her guest book, her eyes closed.

Behind the desk, a framed picture of mountains under a clear blue sky hung on the wall. To the left, a staircase led upwards. On the right, a little white bunny sat on Frisk's lap, playing with him on a plush red couch.

When you entered, the adult bunny's ears twitched, looking up at you, followed by the little one and Frisk.

"Frisk, there you are!" You exclaimed, relief evident in your voice. You noticed the innkeeper staring at you as well. Awkwardly, you wiped your shoes on the doormat, closing the door behind you and taking a few steps ahead. "Hi?"

Frisk smiled, waving at you from the couch along with the white rabbit on his lap, clumsily shaking their paws. They didn't have a mouth or a nose, just two black, beady eyes surrounded by pure, white fluff.

"Welcome to Snowed Inn! Snowdin's premiere hotel!" The Inn's owner greeted with a gentle smile, putting down her pen momentarily and nodding towards Frisk. She kept her eyes closed. She could be his twin! "You must be this traveller's friend, right?"

Her words didn't quite make sense to you. "Yes, but..." You cleared your throat, trying to understand. "This Inn is named Snowdin...?"

"No, no! It's Snowed Inn!" she corrected, her smile widening.

"... I don't get it."

She enunciated clearly. "Snowed. Inn."

Ohhhhhhhhh...

Snowed Inn.

And it sounded just like Snowdin.

While you stared blankly at the floorboard, the Monster giggled. Tourists always fell for that one! "Don't worry. Your friend rented the rooms for 'a little while.' Please, wait a few minutes until I get them ready."

"Uh? I... Okay? Thank you?" You responded automatically, barely registering her words as you tried to process everything.

The innkeeper left the reception desk, climbing the stairs with a graceful hop, leaving you, the rabbit Monster, and Frisk behind. Frisk called your name, snapping you out of your thoughts as he patted the couch beside him.

"Well, OKAY..." You sat down, the soft cushions sinking under your weight.

"Hi." The little bunny said, staring at you intently, their tiny claws clutching around Frisk's trousers. He didn't really mind.

"Hello." You replied, smiling at the child.

Frisk gently petted the Monster's forehead, their short ears folding back and their paws retreating under their chest, becoming a loaf. He mentioned that this was the innkeeper's kid.

"... I just like the bandanna..." They murmured, their eyes closing as sleepiness began to take over. They gritted their teeth, making a sound akin to purring. Their eyelids felt heavy, but it was far from bedtime!

Frisk beamed with pride. EVERYONE loved the Bandanna!!!

Lowering his voice a little, as to not disturb the Monster, he apologized for disappearing. He explained how maybe he got a little too excited about the prospect of sleeping, left without saying anything since you were still taking to the shopkeeper and bargained with the innkeeper for a lower price.

"Ah."

... And how he thought that you too would've liked to sleep, but if you didn't, he'll just tell the innkeeper that it was a mistake.

"No, it's okay... How much did it cost, by the way?"

He told you that the original price was 80G per room, but with some pleading, puppy eyes, and a bit of pity, he got them for 30G each.

"Wow. I mean— there's a big difference between 160G and 60," you commented, "you did good. And yeah, I'd like to sleep."

As long as it was safe.

The innkeeper returned, dusting her hands off. "Here's your keys," she said, handing you and Frisk each a brass key attached to a wooden keychain shaped like a snowflake, "your rooms are up the stairs, second and fourth doors on the right. Make sure to bundle up! If you need anything, just let me know."

"Thank you," you replied, taking the key. You stood up from the couch, waiting for Frisk to follow you.

He gently tapped the little bunny's nose, the latter mumbling something incoherently. The innkeeper giggled and gently slid a hand under her child's belly, and the other beneath their lower back, lifting them slowly and holding them against her chest.

As you two climbed the wooden staircase, the steps creaked slightly under your feet. The second floor was just as cozy as the first, with a hallway lined with more framed paintings and soft carpeting underfoot. The warm, inviting atmosphere made you feel at ease.

Now... who had the second or the fourth door?

Frisk tried unlocking the second door, and with a satisfying click, it actually opened! He waved goodbye with a cheerful smile and entered, closing the door behind him.

You approached the fourth door and unlocked it. The room was simply furnished, lit by a soft lamp. A twin bed covered in thick, warm blankets beckoned you to just lay down and close your eyes. A window overlooked the snowy streets of Snowdin, and a small desk with a chair sat in one corner along with a trash can.

... No bathroom in sight. Great.

You didn't know what you were expecting, considering Toriel told you Monsters didn't need them.

Meanwhile, Frisk was emptying his pockets, placing everything he had on the desk. He meticulously arranged all the ITEMs, making sure nothing was out of place.

Bisicle? Check.

Two Cinnamon Buns? Check.

A Half Spider Donut? Check.

His beloved stick, covered in dog's slobber? Check.

Two slices of Butterscotch-Cinnamon Pie with lint stuck on them? Check.

Snowman Piece that, for some reason, still hadn't melted? Check.

Lots and lots of candy casings? Check.

Photo of Snowdrake and the other monster? Check.

... He'll make sure to give it to him, somehow.

Grabbing all the candy casings, he tossed them in the trashcan, absentmindedly scratching his cheek, his fingers coming into contact with his bandage. He almost forgot he had it in the first place.

Before he could think any further, he sprawled on the bed, face-first into the mattress, not even bothering to take off his shoes or the bandanna. He didn't even turn off the lamp. As soon as his head touched the pillow, he passed out and so did you.

. . .

Undertale OST: 018 —

Uwa‼ So Holiday♫

. . .

Reality felt distant.

The void was different. The leaves were gone, replaced by gentle snowfall. Clear, intricate snowflakes drifted down, each unique and visible in the air. The music had shifted, too, presenting a tune filled with the jingling of bells and chimes, reverberating and rumbling softly.

The white dog still laid on the ground, but it was wearing a red scarf and a Christmas hat, the colors standing out against the blackness.

Who had given them to the dog? Did it feel cold? It certainly seemed more content than the last time.

The puppy's fur remained soft under the hand, which sought warmth from the cold air nipping at the skin.

The red scarf fluttered slightly with each breath the dog took, its hat covering its ears. A phrase repeated softly from the animal. "Cold outside but stay warm inside of you."

Reality felt distant, drifting away like a fleeting cloud, barely there and easily forgotten.

Notes:

A shorter chapter this time to balance with the previous one (ಥ◡ಥ)

Just a reminder that I'm totally open to criticism! Whether it's towards character development, grammar, or writing in general!

Chapter 12: The Calm Before Yet Another FIGHT

Summary:

You and Frisk explore Snowdin Town and all it has to offer in blissful peace (more or less). Naturally, peace never lasts long!

And— oh... what a surprise. Frisk also likes wine a lil too much.

Notes:

:')

ᵂⁱᵗʰᵒᵘᵗ ᵏⁿᵒʷⁱⁿᵍ ᵗʰᵉ ᵗʳᵘᵗʰ?

. . .

The sentence that the dog was repeating changed. Instead of silly words coming from its snout, an awful sound filled the room. It was a grating, repetitive noise that jolted you awake.

You sat up abruptly, heart pounding, and realized the sound was still there, coming from the room on your left.

"What IS that...?" You groaned, rubbing your eyes.

It didn't take long to figure out. Someone — or more than someone, probably — was snoring. But not in a normal way. It was weirdly... synchronized, like they were syncing together to create a melody. A horrible one, so loud that you could barely hear the music.

That meant that they were probably sleeping well. Good for them.

And sure enough, the three monsters were all cuddled together under the comforter in their own room, hugging each other, mouths wide open.

You sighed, rubbing your eyes. The noise was too persistent to ignore. You might as well get up. It felt like you hadn't slept at all.

... Sleep. That was something you’d like to have more of.

A dull unease still lingered in your chest, the kind that had settled there since you first found yourself Underground. Monsters were kind to you, kinder than you'd expected, but this world wasn't yours. No matter how warm their hospitality was, a part of you still yearned to escape. You weren’t like Frisk, who seemed to be fine wandering in here. You couldn’t just exist here as if it were normal.

You didn't even tell anyone where you were going. What if you never make it back? How was this even real? Monsters, talking flowers, magic?

Maybe you hit your head harder than you thought...

You sighed again, getting out of bed. Dwelling on this wouldn’t do any good.

For a moment, you debated whether to fix the bed. It wasn’t like you were planning to stay much longer, and the Innkeeper should have staff for this sort of thing. Still... she’d been kind to you.

Eventually, you decided to do it. Smoothing out the blankets, you gave the pillow one last pat before heading downstairs.

The lobby was quiet, save for the soft notes of the background music that was reaching its end, only for it to resume in an interminable loop. Near the entrance, the little white bunny from before sat on the floor, looking up at you with big, beady eyes.

“Good morning!” They chirped, waving a tiny paw.

“Good morning,” you replied, glancing around. No sign of the Innkeeper. “Where’s your mom?”

The bunny scratched their ear with a hind leg, then licked their paw, a pink tongue darting from an invisible mouth. “She’s... busy... with... something,” they mumbled between licks.

"Okay. Thank you," you sat on the sofa, looking down at the bunny who finished grooming themself and was now trying to get up on it. "Do you need help?"

“No! I can do it!” They huffed, stomping their little back feet twice before hopping onto the couch with surprising precision.

You chuckled. “Heh, good job!”

It wasn’t long before the bunny child nudged against your hand, subtly — then not so subtly — placing their head beneath it. You got the message.

Soon, you found yourself petting the rabbit — well, they wanted to be petted, actually —, understanding why Frisk had done it too. Their fur was incredibly soft, and they leaned into your touch, clearly enjoying the attention, gritting their teeth. It did feel a little strange, considering it was like petting a normal bunny, just one that talked.

“You’re really fluffy,” you mused.

“Thank you!” The bunny closed their eyes contentedly, tucking into a loaf. “I like your paws. They’re weird.”

"... Thanks?”

“You’re welcome!!” They basked in your attention for a few moments, enjoying the pets, before suddenly perking up. “Why did you come here?”

The sudden question caught you off guard. “Here— here where?”

“To Mom’s Inn!”

“Oh. I just needed a place to stay for a while.”

“Where will you go next?”

“Uh... out of Snowdin...?”

“Like Hotland? The Capital? Or—” They gasped dramatically. “Waterfall???”

“Well—”

The bunny let out an excited squeal and immediately started zooming around the couch, twisting and shaking their little body mid-air. “I LOOOOVE Waterfall!!! It’s so shiny and sparkly! It’s full of yummy flowers!!”

You dodged their flailing paws as they bounced in circles, their paws almost high-fiving your nose more than once. “Woah, careful!”

Eventually, they tired themself out and flopped onto your lap, becoming an unmoving puddle of fur. “Waterfall is soooo coooooooool...” they mumbled, their words slurring into a yawn. Their eyelids fluttered. “I need a nap.”

“... Ah.”

This was the most beautiful moment of your life. You were going to die from the sheer cuteness.

The bunny snuggled against your hand, then, you felt a rough, slightly wet sensation on your fingers. Glancing down, they were licking your hand sleepily. Their tiny tongue flicked out as they struggled to keep their eyes open.

Before you could react, light footsteps sounded from the stairs.

For a second, you thought it might be Frisk. But no, the Innkeeper entered the lobby instead.

Whatever greeting she may have had for you was replaced by a gasp. She quickly dashed forward with a sheepish look on her face and gently scooped up the sleeping bunny into her arms, the latter waking up and mumbling something incoherent. She shot you an apologetic look. "I'm so sorry! I don't know what's with my kit grooming and falling asleep on guests!"

You shook your head. “It’s okay, don’t worry.” You smiled at the bunny, who yawned and rubbed their eyes with a tiny paw, trying to stay awake.

The Innkeeper’s expression softened as she looked at her kit. Then, she glanced back at you. “Anyway— you’re already awake? You slept for less than ten minutes.”

You blinked. Ten minutes? No wonder you still felt exhausted. “Really? It felt longer...”

Her smile faltered slightly. “I’m so sorry about that. You must be exhausted! Let me refund you and your friend.”

Just like that?

You hesitated. “Uh, I don’t—”

“I insist.”

... Well. Who were you to refuse such a polite request?

“Thank you. But I’d rather wait for my friend first.”

“Of course!” She nodded. “Take your time.”

As she turned to leave, you hesitated again. “And, um, sorry, is there a bathroom?”

The Innkeeper looked puzzled, her nose twitching. “A bathroom? Do you need to shower?”

“No, no, I mean, like... is there a sink or something?”

Even though, honestly, you should probably shower, too.

Understanding dawned on her face. “Oh! Of course! Follow me.”

She led you to a small room. Inside was... a sink.

Just a sink.

... Nice.

After she left, you washed your hands and face, relishing in the cold water. The sensation was refreshing, clearing away lingering sleepiness, dog slobber, bunny fur, and the vague feeling of second-hand cheese petting.

When you returned to the main area, Frisk was finally downstairs, looking well-rested and in a surprisingly good mood. He was sitting on the couch, swinging his legs and humming the tune that echoed through the Inn.

“Hey,” you greeted, walking over. “How’d you sleep?”

He tilted his head at you, giving a small shrug, mentioning how it was decent.

Now, it wasn't like he always stayed at seven-star hotels, sipping the finest of wines on his luxurious canopy bed, wearing the softest of robes, and having the best of butlers serve his every whim with the flick of his wrist.

He'd really like that, though.

Nodding absentmindedly, your eyes darted from one piece of furniture to the other, trying to find your words. “So... ready to, like, head out?”

Frisk hopped off the couch, nodding eagerly. He mentioned that the Innkeeper had already refunded him.

"That's good," you replied. It wasn’t just to fill the silence or acknowledge what Frisk had said. It was genuine relief. After all, you were going to need that money later. The Underground was vast, and there were plenty of shops with useful ITEMs.

Something akin to deja vu, yet not quite there, made its way into your brain, stopping you in your steps.

The thought didn’t sit right. It was as if it had been placed in your head by someone else, something else. You frowned, rubbing your temples. Had you always felt this way? It was a ridiculous thing to be concerned about, yet for some reason, it mattered.

... (Where did that thought come from?)

A nagging feeling gnawed at the back of your mind, as if you had considered this before, somewhere, somehow. But no matter how hard you tried to grasp the thought, it slipped through your fingers like melting snow. Your stomach churned with unease, but before you could dwell on it any longer, Frisk was already pushing open the door.

The rattling doorknob caught the Innkeeper’s attention. Her ears twitched, and she quickly trotted down the stairs, greeting you both with a warm smile. "Thank you again for staying! Come back anytime, and... well, good luck out there. Stay safe."

“Thank you,” you replied, smiling back. Frisk offered an equally excited wave as the two of you stepped out into the chilly Snowdin streets. He didn't get to see the little bunny who had good taste in bandannas, but at least he said goodbye to the Innkeeper!

The cold nipped at your nose, and you shivered slightly. The temperature drop was noticeable, making you rub your arms.

Frisk, however, remained unfazed. He skipped a few steps ahead, his breath visible in soft puffs, as Snowdin revealed itself in full activity. The quiet morning stillness had been replaced by the chatter of Monsters bustling through the streets. There were definitely more of them now. Different shapes, sizes, species, all going about their day.

Frisk’s attention was caught by a small igloo in the middle of the street, seemingly serving no purpose. It was just there. Curious, he approached it, promptly ignoring the sign on the ground next to it. Peeking inside revealed... nothing. Just an empty, cold dome of snow.

“That’s not just an igloo, it’s... uh... a shortcut,” another rabbit Monster said, a young-looking one with freckles on his cheeks, hands in his pockets. “One of the greatest inventions in all of Snowdin. That's what everyone wants to believe, at least. Takes you right to the other side of Snowdin. Saves you, like, two minutes of walking. Revolutionary, huh?”

Maybe later. Frisk didn’t particularly feel like ending up stuck halfway through or something.

Meanwhile, you were still distracted, the unease from earlier lingering in your mind. Your thoughts felt off, like puzzle pieces jammed into the wrong places, and—

Your attention was taken by Frisk suddenly yelping.

He was standing stiffly, looking down as if someone had stabbed his foot.

But instead, clamped onto his boot was a bunny. A very small, very round bunny with tiny chompers and no regard for personal space. It blinked up at him calmly, then went in for another bite. It also kinda looked like a pancake...

"Ha! I knew it!" The freckled rabbit exclaimed, crossing his arms. "The little menace always pulls stuff like this. He keeps running off, trying to eat random snow piles. Or hug strangers. Or eat strangers. Or lick trees." He waved a paw. "You know, normal stuff. He and his ‘owner’ there disturb me.”

What?! Frisk didn't want to become bunny food!

The taller bunny, who was holding the tiny troublemaker on a leash, gasped and grabbed Cinnamon, the latter now dangling in her arms like a plush toy, blinking innocently. "Oh my! Cinnamon, that’s not food, sweetie!" She giggled, looking up at Frisk with an apologetic smile. "Sorry about that. He gets a little too excited sometimes. Isn’t he just the cutest, though?” She sighed dreamily, nuzzling her cheek against his. “Bun-Buns are sooo adorable... tee hee... bun-bun-bun-bun-bun...”

A bunny holding a bunny on a leash... huh. Frisk watched her, his lips twitching into a tiny, amused smile. Okay, bunnies were really cute. Even the ones that tried to eat people.

You looked at him, eyes narrowing. “Are you okay?”

He wiggled his foot experimentally, glancing down at his shoe, saying that he would live. How strong were even the bunny's teeth to cut THROUGH?

Whatever.

Up ahead, near a large decorated tree, a burly — and blue? — bear Monster was speaking to a group of younger Monsters, their deep voice carrying over the hum of conversation.

As you and Frisk walked past, you caught part of the story. "Local teens used to torment a Monster by decorating its tree-like horns," the bear explained, tapping their claws gently against a present. "It felt pretty bad about it, so folks started giving it presents to cheer it up. And that—" he gestured to the pile of gifts under the tree, "—is how the tradition of putting presents under a decorated tree started. Who knew a little torment could bring about something good? Haha!” They added, giving a hearty laugh.

... That Monster with decorated tree-like horns sounded familiar.

Your gaze lingered on the presents, some labeled with names in neat handwriting, others messier, almost like a child had scribbled them. Some neatly wrapped, others with lopsided bows and crumpled edges. One had clearly just been shoved into a bag with no effort. Another looked like it had been stomped on a few times. And another reeked of peppermint.

Curious, you stepped closer to the pile of gifts. That was when—

BAM.

Two massive paws clamped onto your shoulders. Your SOUL nearly left your body.

You barely had time to react before a brown bear, wrapped in a cozy jacket, leaned in.

Too close.

Their breath was warm. Their grip firm. Their eyes serious. And their teeth sharp.

“You see,” they muttered, voice low and grave, “this town doesn’t really have a mayor.”

“Uh—” you started, but the bear’s grip tightened slightly, claws poking you.

“But if you ever have a problem...” Their voice dropped even lower, nearly a whisper.

You swallowed.

“... A skeleton will tell a fish lady about it.”

They stared at you.

You stared at them.

Then, they nodded slowly, their beady eyes narrowing as they let you go. “That’s politics.”

“What...?”

“That's politics.”

“I—”

“Politics.”

 “But—”

“POLITICS.”

⋆⋅•⋅⊰∙∘⋆ ❆ ⋆∘∙⊱⋅•⋅⋆

In the meantime, Frisk had been caught up in a conversation with some kid named Monster Kid. And... in Frisk's honest opinion — he didn't want to be mean, though! — their name sucked. Like, what kind of parent would look at their newborn child and think: ‘yes, Monster Kid would be such a beautiful and fitting name for them.’

Not to judge, obviously. They seemed pretty cool in his book, so he didn't care.

"That's a sick bandanna!" They exclaimed with a smile, rocking on their feet.

And they had good taste in accessories, too!

Frisk instinctively reached up, brushing his fingers over the fabric of his bandanna, muttering a shy ‘thank you’.

Monster Kid — it was actually just easier to say MK, not gonna lie — looked at Frisk up and down, pursing their lips and squinting their eyes a little. "Y'know, it's kinda funny... you're wearing a striped shirt, but you don't really look like a kid. All monster kids wear striped shirts. That’s, like, a thing."

Frisk looked down at his shirt and tugged at the hem of it. Blue and pink. Very soft. Probably made of cotton.

... Huh. He just liked his sweater.

Before he could fully process it, MK leaned in, eyes gleaming with sudden realization. “Wait,” they gasped, posture straightening. “Are you... a kid who looks old, or are you some kind of grown-up who wears kid clothes?”

Frisk opened his mouth, then closed it, frowning. He wasn’t that short, right? Sure, some people assumed things about him, but— was he giving off child vibes? That couldn’t be right. He was a cool adult!

He furrowed his brows, trying to figure out how to respond.

⋆⋅•⋅⊰∙∘⋆ ❆ ⋆∘∙⊱⋅•⋅⋆

The blue bear was still talking about the history of the present tradition, completely unbothered. All around you, Monsters chatted and minded their own business like nothing had happened. No one batted an eye.

Not even the other brown bear, who was now casually reading a newspaper pulled out of basically nowhere, one foot propped against the wall right next to Grillby’s.

As if they hadn’t just ruined your peace of mind forever.

In any case, from where you stood, the pub looked inviting in a way that felt almost too tempting. Its wide windows glowed softly, amber light spilling out onto the snow-covered street. Through the glass, you could faintly make out flickers of flame moving behind the counter. Shadows of Monsters shifted lazily inside, silhouettes blurred by the frost on the windows, the warmth inside fogging up the glass.

If you listened closely, you could even hear the faint clink of glasses and the low, crackling pop of firewood — or something like firewood, at least.

Frisk caught up to you, eyeing the pub. Honestly, he was still exhausted. Maybe it wouldn’t be such a bad idea to stop there, even for just a minute. The warmth flowing out seemed to draw you both in like moths to a flame.

He was about to say something when—

“Everyone’s in there again,” a Monster muttered nearby, their voice slightly muffled.

You glanced over, managing to finally shake off the phantom pawprints lingering on your skin.

A mouse Monster stood nearby, wrapped in an oversized scarf that covered most of their face, big ears drooping slightly as they stared at the glowing building. Beside them, another Monster, taller, with crosses for eyes and horns curling from their head, grinned.

“There they go again. Always laughing, cracking jokes,” the mouse continued, absentmindedly shaking the snow on top of their boots, “trying to forget about... everything.”

The horned Monster gave a quiet snort, a wisp of cold breath curling from their nose. “Heh. We know there are lots of problems—”

“Dreariness. Crowding. Lack of sunlight,” the mouse finished for them, narrowing their eyes. “And these are only a few.”

The other's grin didn’t fade. If anything, it grew wider, a little more crooked. “Still,” they hummed, voice low and oddly light, “what else can we do? No point in moping. Might as well smile. Why don't you join ‘em?”

“... I’m just not very funny,” they muttered, tugging their scarf up higher over their face.

Their words hung in the cold air for a moment, drifting away like mist. Then, as if nothing else needed to be said, they both returned to silently watch the glow of Grillby’s, their breath fogging in the cold.

You couldn't help but glance between the two of them and Grillby’s, your curiosity prickling. You weren’t sure why, but something about their words tugged at your attention. Maybe it was how casually they spoke about such heavy things.

Yet, your gaze kept drifting back to the warm light of the pub. The pull was strong. You could practically smell the fire-roasted food from here, mingling with the faint scent of old wood and smoke.

Frisk, however, had already started walking again. His pace stayed steady, though his expression seemed distant for a second, like he’d been dragged into some private thought against his will. The feeling of being watched by something unseen wasn't helping either. His shoulders tensed, one of his hands curling slightly tighter around the stick in his pocket. He mumbled something under his breath, too low to catch.

You watched as he shook his head once, subtly, as if dismissing whatever had just crossed his mind, and kept walking like nothing happened.

“... But...” you whispered, eyeing his retreating back, still half-focused on Grillby’s. “There’s food in there...”

Before you could even think about dragging him back by his hand, loud, high-pitched shrieks split through the air.

“RAAAHH!! I'M A MONSTER!!!”

“NOOOO!! I GOTTA RUN FASTER!!”

You flinched, startled by the sudden noise, whipping your head toward the source.

A little ways ahead, in a snowy clearing, two small, light-blue slimes were bouncing wildly around a much larger slime — maybe their father, given the moustache — yelling at the top of their lungs, or whatever they had, as they chased each other in dizzying circles. Their round, bright blue, jelly-like bodies jiggled with each leap, leaving trails in the snow as they slid and flopped around.

Behind them was a cluster of cozy-looking houses nestled together, all blanketed by fresh snow, smoke curling lazily from their chimneys.

One of the smaller slimes wore a little pink bow on her head, making her easy to spot as she chased her brother, who was practically shrieking with laughter. She suddenly lunged, causing the other to dramatically splat onto the snow with a garbled squeal of defeat.

“Gotcha! I captured the last Human! You’re gonna be stew now!” She declared triumphantly through giggles.

Frisk had stopped too, his expression softening with faint amusement as he walked closer towards them, you following. 

The larger slime chuckled, while the kids' shrieking only grew louder, their voices ringing through the chilly air.

His gooey body wiggled as he spoke, referring to you and Frisk. “Ahh, they’ve been obsessed with that game lately,” he said with a fond sigh, watching his kids tumble around. “It’s called 'Monsters and Humans'. Been playing it every day.”

Frisk was tuning out pretty much everything that the slime was saying, focusing solely on his moustache. It was magnificent. Regal. Majestic, even. Bushy, perfectly curled at the ends, and shining faintly with some unknown slime sheen.

... And suddenly, he wasn’t standing in Snowdin Town anymore.

No.

⋆⋅•⋅⊰∙∘⋆ ❆ ⋆∘∙⊱⋅•⋅⋆

He was seated in an extravagant velvet chair by a crackling fireplace, legs crossed, dressed in an expensive robe with golden embroidery, soft slippers on his feet. He delicately swirled an ornate wine glass in one hand, filled with, of course, only the finest grape juice, and with his other hand, he twirled the most luxurious moustache imaginable, shimmering under the chandelier light, his face the very picture of sophistication.

“I must say, the markets have been quite dreadful this year,” he said in a perfectly refined, snobbish voice, complete with a dramatic eyebrow raise. “Simply dreadful.”

Rich monster aristocrats gathered around him, nodding gravely, hanging onto every word he said, utterly captivated by his wisdom.

A butler monster approached, holding a silver platter stacked high with delicate candies and glistening confections.

Frisk, of course, did not even glance their way as he absentmindedly plucked one of the treats from the tray, holding it between two gloved fingers like it was some priceless gem. “Indeed,” he mused aloud, inspecting it with narrowed eyes, “the texture of this Monster Candy is simply divine. Aged precisely... seventeen minutes.”

The crowd gasped, scandalized and deeply impressed.

He popped the candy into his mouth with practiced grace, savoring its faint licorice flavor. Then, with a soft, dramatic chuckle, he leaned back, fingers elegantly curling around his imaginary moustache once again. “Goodness,” he sighed, voice dripping with exaggerated woe, “they simply don’t brûlée licorice like they used to...”

What is a brûlée, you may wonder? Could it be done on licorice? Was it even a real word?

He did not know. He frankly did not care.

The crowd burst into polite, awe-filled applause, monocles glinting, wine glasses raised in admiration.

Frisk gave one final, satisfied twirl of his imaginary moustache, opening his eyes—

⋆⋅•⋅⊰∙∘⋆ ❆ ⋆∘∙⊱⋅•⋅⋆

SMACK!

Reality hit him between the eyes — literally — when a stray snowball from the slime kids’ game splatted right on his nose.

He just stood there, with cold snow sliding down his face.

The two slime kids gasped.

"OH NOOO!!" Squealed the girl with the bow, bouncing frantically in place. "WE GOT A CIVILIAN!!"

Her brother flopped backward dramatically in the snow. "We’re gonna get ARRESTED!!”

The father slime let out a deep sigh, slithering over to them. His moustache jiggled ever so slightly as he spoke. "Now, now... What did I tell you two about aiming your snowballs?"

The kids immediately wilted under his stern gaze, sinking halfway into the snow as if they were melting. "Sorry, dad..." they mumbled in unison, their voices wobbly and high-pitched.

The father turned to you and Frisk, offering an apologetic smile— well, as much as a slime could smile. "Kids these days... Always getting a little too into their games,” he laughed, gazing at the sky. “Ahh... to be young again. The world sure felt boundless back then...”

Behind him, the kids had already resumed their screaming, completely oblivious to the fact that they'd just annihilated Frisk’s most important business meeting in history.

“I’M THE HUMAN THIS TIME! YOU CHASE ME!!”

“FIIINE! MONSTER ATTAAAAACK!!!”

You watched them blankly, then turned to Frisk, only to find him silently wiping his face with his sleeve, dead inside. “... You good?”

He shrugged, as if that hadn’t just happened at all, and muttered something under his breath about ‘destroying dreams’.

You weren’t sure whether to laugh or be mildly concerned.

The slime dad finally wandered off, wobbling away to gather his kids before they could hit poor, unsuspecting civilians again. You and Frisk took that as your cue to leave.

And… Frisk had decided to go ahead, where the path stretched forward again and the snow thinned out. Where you could already see from where you were a dark stream lying ahead, cutting straight across the clearing.

You — for some reason — followed him, the glowing lights and town sounds faded behind you, and so did the music.

Now, only the soft, wet sound of water gurgling echoed in the air, as if the water was slowly breathing, gasping with each breath it took.

Frisk quickly dipped a finger in the river, telling you with a sudden, thick, posh accent that the water was freezing.

And walked away, wiping his finger on his sweater.

...

Okay. Good to know. It wasn't like you were planning to take a swim in there anyway.

Did those kids hit him too hard or something...?

Returning to the clearing, on your left, you saw a tall, grey wolf throwing big, perfectly carved cubes of ice produced by a machine into the stream. They grabbed one up with both paws, hefted it with ease, and smoothly chucked it into the flowing water, resonating in a 'splash!'

And then grabbed another.

Was that their job? What even was the point? To cool down the waters, maybe?

It was already cold, though!

Frisk was too busy watching the cubes vanish into the distance, brows furrowed slightly like he was genuinely trying to understand the logistics of it.

Neither of you said anything. It wasn’t worth asking.

That was when you noticed it. A small house tucked away by the side, almost hidden by the heaps of snow around it. It was ordinary, nothing special: no signs, no name, nothing. Just… a house. It looked normal. Quiet.

But taped to the door was a crooked little sign, written in shaky handwriting:

‘PLEASE KNOCK.’

Frisk, of course, didn’t even hesitate.

Before you could stop him…

Knock knock knock.

Silence.

There was a pause. And then, “ahh… what a beautiful knock…!”

You blinked.

You and Frisk exchanged a look. His face said exactly what you were thinking.

‘What?’

Still… something about it was weirdly tempting to him. 

(Do it again.)

He knocked again, a little slower this time.

Knock knock knock.

The same dreamy voice floated from inside. “Ahh… maybe if I don’t answer, I’ll hear it again…”

You turned to Frisk slowly, giving him a look like ‘are you seriously continuing this’.

He didn’t even look at you.

(Just one more knock.)

Knock knock knock.

There was the faintest of sighs. “Ahh… my patience rewards me.”

There was no other response. No footsteps. No invitation inside. Nothing.

Just that.

Frisk just shrugged like ‘welp, that’s life!’ and casually kept walking without a care in the world.

You stood there for a second longer, staring at the door like it had personally offended you, then muttered under your breath, “weirdos everywhere.”

And followed him.

The two of you didn’t walk far before finding yourselves in front of a squat, little brick building, warm-looking, with big yellow windows glowing against the cold. A blue, wooden sign hung above the door.

It proudly read in white letters:

‘LIBRARBY’

... Now, there was no real reason to go inside. It wasn't like you were out here begging to learn about local Monster economics or whatever. But also... how could you pass up the chance to see Monster knowledge, written by actual Monsters?? This wasn’t some human textbook trying to explain things for the masses. This was real stuff. From the source.

You stepped in, leaving Frisk to follow you begrudgingly, groaning under his breath.

The bell jingled gently above the door. The scent of old paper and dry wood settled over you. It was small, more like someone’s living room pretending to be a library. A few worn bookshelves lined the walls, neatly arranged by color. Red. Blue. Yellow. Orange and green. A rug lay beneath a wooden table — there was even a little doily right in the middle of it! —, patterned and faded. A few Monsters sat scattered around, flipping pages or scribbling notes.

Behind the front desk, a Monster glanced up from their book. They barely even blinked, simply adjusting their thick glasses. “Yeah, yeah. We know,” they said, not even bothered to whisper, waving a feathered hand lazily. “The sign’s been misspelled forever. Nobody’s fixed it.”

... You didn't even say anything!

Well, at least they were honest about it.

“Oh! Okay... I guess. Thank you?”

Meanwhile, Frisk wandered deeper into the shelves, dragging his fingers across spines until he landed on a red book. He would've preferred a computer, however. There wasn't one in sight. What happened to offering poor souls public access to computers for research?

He cracked it open and squinted at the title.

Monster Funerals:

A School Report

---

Monster funerals, technically speaking, are cool as heck. When Monsters get old and kick the bucket, they turn into dust. At funerals, we take that dust and spread it on that person's favorite thing. Then their essence will live on in that thing...

Uhhh, am I at the page minimum yet? I'm kinda sick of writing this.

He stared at it, unimpressed. Then flipped the book closed and shoved it back.

He grabbed a blue one next.

The Magic Within

---

While monsters are mostly made of magic, human beings are mostly made of water. Humans, with their physical forms, are far stronger than us.

... Lame. But he kept reading.

But they will never know the joy of expressing themselves through magic.

They’ll never get a bullet-pattern birthday card...

Still lame.

Frisk audibly sighed through his nose and kept reading.

You watched Frisk read that book with the same amount of passion someone would have for skimming a cereal box in the morning while the TV was off.

At the same time, a hulking cyclops Monster sitting at a nearby table slowly squinted at you. Just... stared. Hard.

“That look in your eye...” they finally said, gravelly. “You’re someone who has trouble solving Junior Jumble, aren’t you?”

You blinked, baffled. “... Huh?”

They just nodded slowly. “Yeeeeah...”

Okaaaay then. You decided not to think about it too hard.

Across the room, a yellow, rhinoceros-looking girl with neat, blonde hair was hunched over a stack of papers, her tongue poking out in concentration as she scribbled furiously. Her desk was a mess: loose sheets, scissors, pencil stubs, and eraser crumbs, all scattered messily across the table.

You found yourself drifting closer, curiosity winning out. What was she working on?

You leaned in a little, just enough to peek over her shoulder—

Only for her to glance up and catch you mid-snoop.

You froze.

She blinked at you, then smiled, like it wasn’t weird at all. “Hi."

"Hi," you replied. "Sorry, am I bothering you?"

"No, not at all! I was just sketching the newest comic that'll go in the newspaper. There's barely any real news to cover around here!" She said, twirling her pencil between her fingers, her eyes lighting up. “Hey, do YOU read the paper? I'd like to get more feedback from our readers!”

You spoke without missing a beat. “Yeah. Sure. All the time.”

Why did you say that???

She perked up. “Oh, cool! What’s your favorite comic?”

“... Uh..." You stalled. Brain static. Words gone. You glanced away for a single, frantic second and blurted the first thing that came to mind. “Uh— Snail... Snailson’s Slow Adventures.”

Silence.

Ugh. That was so dumb. That was so dumb.

She paused before beaming, a big smile forming on her lips. “No way! That one’s hilarious!”

You stared at her.

No. That wasn’t real. That couldn’t be real.

“That’s real? I— I mean, of course it's real, since I read it!” You laughed nervously. “... Yeah.”

“Totally! That one's a favorite by the kids.”

What the hell.

⋆⋅•⋅⊰∙∘⋆ ❆ ⋆∘∙⊱⋅•⋅⋆

After that embarrassing moment, you made your way to a tall shelf labeled ‘Science & Theory’ and pulled out a heavy, dark green book, the cover cracked at the edges.

Heart and SOUL

---

Love, hope, compassion... This is what people say monster SOULs are made of. But the absolute nature of ‘SOUL’ is unknown.

After all, humans have proven their SOULs don’t need these things to exist.

“... Huh.”

At the same time, Frisk grabbed an orange-colored book next, straight up ignoring the yellow one. It seemed boring. Too yellow.

“Aren't you gonna read that yellow book?” The rhinoceros girl suddenly asked, eyes wide and shining. “It seems... REALLY cool. Like, maybe it’ll teach you how... uh... to do— well, awesome stuff!! ”

He flatly said ‘no’ and opened the orange book.

“Aw...” She fiddled with her pen, looking at the floor, her short ears folded. “I— I guess no one will read it, huh? Oh well...”

Why was he feeling like a horrible person?!

He exhaled sharply. Ugh, fine!

Tucking the orange book under his arm, he decided to give the yellow one a try, the bright cover almost blinding him.

(Will find a name for this later.)

---

(Here I am...)

(Writing this book.)

(A person comes in and picks up the book...)

(They start reading it...!)

The rhinoceros monster cleared her throat. “Sorry, I'm still writing that one! But you liked it, right?”

It was an unfinished book.

Unfinished.

And full of parentheses too!

... 'Yes’, he said. Yes, he really, really liked it.

He wanted to grab his hair and pull it out, but the way the girl smiled so sweetly, so much that her eyes squinted too, made him quiet down and smile back.

(Now, onto the orange book.)

MONSTER ANATOMY

---

Because they are made of magic, monsters’ bodies are attuned to their SOUL. If a monster doesn't want to fight, its defenses will weaken. And the crueler the intentions of our enemies, the more their attacks will hurt us.

Therefore, if a being with SOUL struck with the desire to kill...

Um, let’s end the chapter here...

He stared at that sentence a little longer than the others. His shoulders tensed, his hands curling just slightly around the cover.

(So, that is why it took so long.)

Then, he slowly relaxed as he closed the book again with a quiet snap.

He made his way to the last shelf, now flipping through a pale green book.

MONSTER HISTORY PART 4

---

Fearing the humans no longer, we moved out of our old city, HOME.

We braved harsh cold, damp swampland, and searing heat... Until we reached what we now call our capital.

“NEW HOME.”

Again, our King is really bad at names...?

Frisk snorted under his breath. This sounded like something you'd like.

He glanced up, then toward you.

You were still by the other shelf, fingers lightly tracing the cover of a dark green book. Your brows were furrowed as you read, totally immersed.

He called your name, nodding towards the book in his hands.

Walking over to him, you kept your voice low as you spoke. “Yes?”

He just turned the book so you could read.

You held it carefully, heart ticking a little faster. It seemed to be the continuation of that torn-off page you read at Toriel's home.

So, they expanded their territory and created a capital, the same one Papyrus wanted to deliver you and Frisk to. New Home...

Frisk left the book in your hands, walking back to the center table, his attention taken completely by the doily. He reached out and touched it. It was thin and soft, almost lacy, with the outline of a smiling cat stitched right into the center.

It was so stupidly cute.

For some reason, it made him sad.

Sitting across from the cat-shaped doily was a cat-thing-monster, slowly circling words in a puzzle with her pencil, her hair tied in a bun.

At first, she didn't notice him staring at her. Just kept circling, scribbling, and circling.

Eventually, she glanced at him from the corner of her eye. “... You wanna help?”

He shook his head, asking her what she was doing.

She smiled. “Word searches!”

Word searches? But those were for old people!

Whatever. He couldn't tell her that.

The monster set the pencil down and leaned back in her chair, stretching her arms. “When I was younger, my teachers gave me word searches whenever they ran out of actual assignments,” she said, grinning a little. “I used to think they were a total waste of time. But look at me now. Number one word-search creator in the entire underground.”

Oh, okay. That was cool.

He squinted at the puzzle. It was titled:

‘Snowdin Vocabulary for Young Mindz!!!’

And had little cartoon bears on the corners.

He didn’t say anything, but his disappointment was palpable.

⋆⋅•⋅⊰∙∘⋆ ❆ ⋆∘∙⊱⋅•⋅⋆

You met with Frisk near the exit. For being a library, no one really talked in a low voice. And when you stepped out, it was peaceful. Even the music seemed to have softened.

Now a house stood in front of you. It was tall and made of wood, the roof sagging a little under the weight of thick snow. A big wreath hung on the door, dusted with snowflakes. The lights coming from the windows were golden and glowing, bouncing off the snow. Christmas lights twinkled along the rooftops, red and yellow, strung clumsily in zigzagging lines across a house. To the left of the house were two mailboxes. One was overflowing, absolutely bursting with junk mail, letters, coupons, folded papers, and flyers to the point where the lid didn't even close properly anymore. A quick glance confirmed your suspicions: the nameplate just read ‘𝚜𝚊𝚗𝚜’.

Right next to it was a second mailbox, pristine and polished, and gleaming in the light. The nameplate, written in capital letters, read: 'PAPYRUS’.

Next to the house was another small igloo, and Frisk would bet money that it was probably connected to the one near Snowed Inn.

But never mind that, because it was what sat beside the igloo that caught your attention.

There was a shed.

Just a little building with a red roof, no windows, and a door that looked like it had been locked for decades. The kind of place probably had absolutely nothing of interest inside, and yet every part of your brain told you to open the forbidden door, go in, and explore.

You didn’t.

Mostly because it was locked.

Yes, you knew, because Frisk was currently trying to open it.

Beyond the shed, the snowy path continued. Trees there were thicker. It was colder, and the air stood still, an unsettling quietness descending upon it.

Snow crunched beneath your feet as you and Frisk began to move again, slowly but surely. The lights of the house twinkled behind you, and in the distance, another chunk of ice splashed into the water.

Just as it was floating lazily past on the river, you glanced at Frisk and nudged him gently with your elbow. “So,” you asked, keeping your voice casual, “read anything interesting in there?”

Frisk, hugging his arms to stay warm, gave a quiet nod. He told you how monsters turned to dust when they died... and how, at funerals, people would scatter that dust over something the monster loved, so their ‘essence’ could live on in it.

You blinked, surprised. “Oh... They didn’t mention that in school. Well, I know that they turn into dust, of course, but I didn't know about the funeral part.”

He looked down at his boots, his breath puffing in front of him in the chill, then added how monsters were all made of magic and humans not, so you were stronger.

And... something about some bullet-pattern birthday card?

You snorted softly through your nose. "Luckily, I guess.”

He didn’t laugh, just kept walking beside you, hands deep in his pockets now.

There was a small pause before you asked, gently. “Was there more?”

He hesitated. Then shook his head, saying that it was all.

(Why?)

You looked at him for a beat too long. Something about the way he had answered felt...

You couldn't put your finger on it; however, you definitely sensed as if there was more to it.

But you decided not to press him.

⋆⋅•⋅⊰∙∘⋆ ❆ ⋆∘∙⊱⋅•⋅⋆

The snowy path stretched out ahead of you like it was never going to end.

No, seriously. It just kept going. And somewhere along the way, the music faded, too.

You were going to meet someone now, right? 

You frowned, slowing your steps. Frisk had already taken a few ones ahead, but even he stopped shortly after.

It got harder to see, a stubborn mist settling over. The only thing visible was a tall silhouette standing at the center of the path, thin and unmoving, almost like a statue.

The silhouette kinda looked like...

“HUMANS.”

Both you and Frisk jumped.

The voice was unmistakably Papyrus’, loud and confident. “ALLOW ME TO TELL YOU ABOUT SOME... COMPLEX FEELINGS,” he stepped fully into view. Behind him, the trees framed his tall skeleton figure like stage curtains, cape fluttering slightly in the wind. “FEELINGS LIKE... THE JOY OF FINDING OTHER PASTA LOVERS! THE ADMIRATION FOR SOMEONE’S PUZZLE-SOLVING SKILLS! THE DESIRE TO HAVE A COOL, SMART PERSON THINK YOU’RE COOL IN RETURN!”

You exchanged a look with Frisk. He didn't seem very keen on having another FIGHT.

Papyrus continued, utterly unfazed. “THESE FEELINGS...! THESE FEELINGS MUST BE WHAT YOU TWO ARE EXPERIENCING RIGHT NOW!!!”

Frisk tilted his head, lips parted slightly. What?

“I CAN HARDLY IMAGINE WHAT IT MUST BE LIKE TO FEEL THAT WAY,” he said, placing a hand on his chest. “AFTER ALL, I AM VERY GREAT. I DON’T EVER WONDER WHAT HAVING LOTS OF FRIENDS IS LIKE,” he threw his head, laughing broadly. “IN FACT... I PITY YOU. LONELY HUMANS...”

Okay, you weren’t lonely! You had Frisk. And a dog licked your face. And a bunny kit took a nap on your lap!

“WORRY NOT!!! YOU SHALL BE LONELY NO LONGER! I, THE GREAT PAPYRUS, WILL BE YOUR—” He froze, the words catching in his throat.

Not now! He had studied this to perfection! He had a great plan in mind!!

So why did it all feel... bad, now?

He turned around, slowly. “... NO,” he said suddenly. “NO, NO, NO. THIS IS ALL WRONG. I CAN’T BE YOUR FRIEND!!!” He declared, voice cracking slightly. “YOU’RE HUMANS! I MUST CAPTURE YOU!! IT’S THE ONLY WAY I CAN FULFILL MY LIFELONG DREAM...! TO BECOME... POWERFUL!! POPULAR!!! PRESTIGIOUS!!! THAT’S PAPYRUS!!! THE NEWEST MEMBER...” He lifted one arm into the sky, beaming, eyes wide with pure, chaotic ambition. His smile hurt, sweat made his bones slippery, and doubt clouded his mind, but he could do this. He must do this! “OF THE ROYAL GUARD!!!”

A new sound kicked in, bright and brassy and weirdly bouncy, shattering the silence. You didn’t know where it came from.

Frisk raised his eyebrows. Maybe you and he could end this without needing to FIGHT.

He stepped forward like he was about to hug Papyrus on the spot and end this entire encounter, but the skeleton lunged back with a finger pointed dramatically. “EN GUARDE!!!”

. . .

Undertale OST: 024 —

Bonetrousle

. . .

Aw, c'mon!

Notes:

I'M GENUINELY SOOO SORRY!! :(

I've been extremely busy this year with some personal projects and my motivation went on and off. I can't promise I'll get the next chapter out quickly but it definitely won't take another whole year to make!

You've all been so sweet and supportive, I giggle and twirl my hair every time I read a comment!! Thank you all so so so so much ☺️🫶♥️ you make my day brighter :]

Also, Deltarune chapter 3 and 4 dropped in June! They were insane! And chapter 5 will release in 2026!! :)

And on an important note, I'm thinking of making Frisk use they/them pronouns. Tbh I don't really remember why I made Frisk a guy...? But let me know about that, please! It's just to be more true to the game. If y'all don't want to I'll simply leave it as it is! <⁠(⁠￣⁠︶⁠￣⁠)⁠>

ANDDDD

For those of you who are familiar with Hollow Knight and such, the trailer for Silksong dropped yesterday! And it's only two weeks away wow

But just to say that after this fic of Undertale (a̶n̶d̶ ̶D̶e̶l̶t̶a̶r̶u̶n̶e̶) is finished, I'll definitely make another extremely self-indulgent one for HK and Silksong :) I already have all the plot ready lol

Sorry to ramble, and sorry again for taking so much time!

Notes:

All text dividers are taken from this site!

https://emojicombos.com/

Series this work belongs to:

• Part 1 of Petrichor