zackthedog

The constellation that represents him is the Canis Major (or the Dog constellation)

Unfortunately, he is in the stage 4 of crystal disease: not only crystals are growing in the crack in his skull, but also his torso is completely crystallized!

Unlike Sans, he's not totally blind in the left eye

He cracked his skull in an accident when he was a little kid

He has memory issues

Low self-esteem but he is trying his best!!

Since Sans distance himself from Paps, he only wants to have his old brother back :(

In my AU, he guides Frisk through the Underground, at same time he tries to convince Sans to do the right choice (and to stop being an idiot)

The ground was covered in a thick layer of snow, glistening with mounds of shimmering dust. Trees stretched to the ceiling of the Underground, their branches devoid of a single leaf. A strange mist stretched across the horizon, shimmering in the wind. The only illumination was an iridescent aurora of vibrant colors, rays of light illuminating the mist as if the light itself were dancing. The cold was far more intense than before; you held your lantern tightly close to your body to keep warm.

The enormous door behind you was closed, sparks of magical energy enveloping it like a padlock. Toriel's magic must have created a barrier to prevent winter from advancing further. But you knew it was only a matter of time before it crumbled.

The only way forward was along the winding dirt road that would lead you to a small town, or so you hoped.

Your legs trembled, your breath was ragged. The pounding of your heart echoed in your ear like a drum. Tears filled your eyes, but you wouldn't let them fall.

It all depends on you, Frisk! Don't be a scaredy-cat and keep walking!

You had no idea where that determination came from.

But you knew it didn't matter if you asked for help. If you want something, or have a problem, YOU are the one who will solve it. Your life was only in your hands.

* * *

You walked for many minutes until you saw something that looked like a newsstand. Or a guard post?

It was made of wood, snow covered the roof, and small ice stalactites lined the edge, like a Christmas decoration.

Looking closely, it didn't seem abandoned. There was even an empty mug on the table.

Then you heard footsteps behind you. That gave you a huge fright.

"DO YOU NEED ANYTHING - AH!! HUMAN!"

A skeleton lifted you into the air. He was as tall as Toriel. He wore a long, tattered red scarf and a bright orange wool sweater. His eyes watched you intently. Or rather, one of them. On the left side of his skull was a hole from which emerged enormous, pointed crystals, shining like the aurora in the "sky”. And his right eye had a circle of orange light.

But you didn't have much time to analyze further, because the skeleton started asking questions. Lots of questions…

"WHAT IS YOUR NAME? FROM WHERE YOU CAME FROM? FROM THE RUINS? IS IT OPEN NOW? WHY ARE YOU HERE? WAIT, WHAT KIND OF LANTERN IS THAT— HMPH!" You quickly put your hand over the skeleton's mouth to silence him.

"Hold on! Let me speak! My name is Frisk, I come from the surface, yes, I came through the Ruins, I'm just passing through because I need to get to the CORE, so please Mr. Skeleton, LET ME GO." He finally puts you back on the ground.

“ONE THOUSAND, TWO THOUSAND APOLOGIES!! I, UHM, I…” he starts fidgeting with the end of his scarf and looking at his feet, shrinking his bony body “MY NAME IS PAPYRUS, PAPYRUS THE SKELETON, MY ROLE IS, WELL, MY ROLE IS TO RECEIVE ANY HUMAN WHO COMES THROUGH HERE AND MAKE SURE THEY ARE SAFE.” You smile.

"It's a pleasure to meet you! So, could you tell me which way to go? I'm in a bit of a hurry here."

He tilts his head.

"TO WHERE?"

"...To the CORE?"

“THE CORE? WELL, UMM…” he looks nervously from side to side. “ISN’T IT BETTER TO GO TO THE CITY FIRST? YOU'RE NOT WEARING CLOTHES WARM ENOUGH ... I CAN GET YOU SOMETHING, IT'S MY DUTY NOT TO LET YOU FREEZE TO DEATH!"

"Hmm, that's true..." I can't even feel the tips of my fingers anymore! You think.

“WOWIE, LET’S GO THEN!” he starts marching, not towards the rest of the dirt path but into the forest.

"Are you sure this is the right path, Papyrus?"

"NOW, TRUST ME, IT'S THE FASTEST AND SAFEST WAY, WITH THE SEAL OF APPROVAL OF… THE BIG COOL GUY HERE!" He points to the sweater, which has "COOL GUY" written on it along with an arrow pointing upwards.

You look at him, confused.

"YEAH, UHM, IT'S A JOKE, BECAUSE I'M COLD, WELL ACTUALLY WE'RE ALL COLD - OH NEVER MIND. FOLLOW ME, HUMAN."

And of course, you follow him. You're getting tired of following adults who take you to "safe" places. Did they even know you had two legs and a functioning brain?

Looking back, you'd swear you saw Flowey, but maybe you're imagining things.

* * *

Papyrus walked ahead of him, sometimes stopping for a few moments and turning in a completely different direction.

Does this guy really know the way?

But you followed him anyway; in your situation, any help was welcome, and he gave you no reason to distrust his intentions. Still, you watched him intently, and saw the glistening crystals pulsing in his skull. A shiver ran down your spine. You couldn't contain yourself; the words came out without thinking:

"These crystals... is it the disease?"

"OH, YOU KNOW... UM, YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT."

“Do they hurt?”

“I’M FINE! I HAVE THIS CRACK IN MY SKULL SINCE I WAS A CHILD! THE CRYSTALS JUST GREW IN IT, IT’S PRETTY COOL, ISN’T IT…?”

You didn't quite know what to answer. Papyrus also remained silent for a while. Then he cleared his throat and continued.

"... YEAH RIGHT, MY TURN! WHERE DID YOU CAME FROM?"

“As I said, I came from the Ruins, I lived there for a while, but now I needed to leave to help… someone very dear to me.”

"HMM, I IMAGINE IT'S THE MYSTERIOUS VOICE... I HAVEN'T HEARD IT IN A LONG TIME."

"You... you know her?"

“NO, YES, MAYBE? SOMETIMES WHEN I COME HERE, I GO TO THAT BIG DOOR TO TALK! SHE DIDN’T TELL ME MUCH ABOUT HERSELF, ONLY SAID THAT SHE GUARDED THE RUINS AND PROTECTED THEM FROM THE ETERNAL WINTER… AND SHE SHARED SEVERAL WONDERFUL SOUP RECIPES WITH ME!” he sighs “HUMANS OFTEN PASS BY THERE, SO I ASSUMED THAT WAS THE CASE FOR YOU TOO…”

"She took care of me. She gave me a home. I need to return the favor!"

"...NO ONE DOES SOMETHING GOOD EXPECTING SOMETHING IN RETURN, YOU KNOW?"

You try to argue back, but you can't think of any valid points.

A silence followed the entire way. Only the sound of the wind and the swaying trees could be heard. The fog still obscured the horizon, but if you strained your eyes enough you could swear you saw a figure in the distance, watching you. But it could also have been anything else.

So, finally, you arrive.

It was a small town indeed. The wooden buildings were covered in glistening snow, wooden planks boarding up their windows and cracks. But what stood out most was the enormous bonfire in the center of town. Several monsters were gathered around it, some dancing around the fire and others simply huddled together under blankets, chatting while drinking a cup of hot chocolate. You notice that some monsters were throwing not only firewood, but also pieces of furniture or even entire doors to fuel the fire.

Papyrus was the first to speak.

"ISN'T IT BEAUTIFUL? OH, HOW I LOVE COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES… EVEN WHEN I DON'T PARTICIPATE!"

"It's... it's really beautiful." Well, everything was beautiful until you saw the crystals growing on the monsters' bodies, some were completely covered in them.

"I, UM, I NEED YOU TO STAY HERE. I, I NEED TO DO SOME THINGS AND IT'S BETTER IF YOU STAY HERE IN THE CITY WHILE I GO OUT. IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY BORING, YOU KNOW."

The skeleton placed both hands on your shoulders, crouching down to look into your eyes. Looking closely, beneath the eye sockets there was a dark spot, as if he had deep dark circles under his eyes. His face was furrowed with concern.

He and Toriel would really get along very well…

"Yes, of course! You can count on it!"

“THANKS, BISK!”

He sighs in relief and leaves, disappearing among the monsters surrounding the campfire. You stand there for a few moments.

"Okay, I'm staying here, now I'm going to take a look around."

It wasn't that you didn't appreciate Papyrus's intentions, but you'd spent too much time in the Ruins doing nothing. You had a single objective: to get to the CORE and… see what you could do about it. It wasn't exactly a well-thought-out plan, but it was what you had at the moment.

You also longed for more answers.

So, you started interacting with the residents.

None of them seemed very surprised that you were human. In fact, they were surprised that you were still here. Just like at the Ruins, everyone was friendly, and even those who weren't in the mood for conversation apologized politely.

A group of monsters sitting near the campfire called you over to sit with them. It was a rabbit and two dogs, their shoulders and arms adorned with small yellow and green crystal stones; they laughed so loudly they were sobbing. They seemed to be drinking some kind of beverage.

"Hey kid, nice to meet you!" says the rabbit “I own the little shop over there” she points to a small house. In front of it was an awning displaying some products in wooden crates, lit by candles and lanterns. “If you want anything, we can negotiate!”

"Hi, I'm Frisk…"

“Hello, hello, my name is Dogaressa and this is my husband Dogamy, he doesn’t talk much.” He waves to you. “Would you like some mulled wine? We have some of the safe for children special!!"

She fills a glass with a kettle; it's a hot, dark liquid that smells of grapes and a few other spices. You can't resist and try just a little sip, and it's delicious! You lick your lips and they laugh, Dogaressa pinches your cheeks. You blush.

"AAA how I love human children, they're so cute, it's a shame they leave us so soon."

"What?"

"Don't you know?" the rabbit exclaims “Humans are taken to the Capital to be with King Asgore. The effects of, you know… are very dangerous for you. Anyway, Asgore, with his powerful magic, keeps you safe until the barrier breaks!”

"YEAH RIGHT, and it won't be long, Asgore is almost there, and we'll all be able to escape!"

Dogamy claps his hands and drinks all of his mulled wine at once.

"Does that mean the other humans are in the capital?" That's why they didn't return to Toriel! They're safe! But… “But why isn't everyone with Asgore, if it's safe there?

"It's not safe for MONSTERS. Only very strong monsters get close… of that. And also, he would use a lot of magic protecting so many people, wouldn't he?

The trio of friends laugh loudly and almost spill their drinks.

"Oh dear, Papyrus really didn't fucking explain anything to you?"

"Dogaressa! Poor Papyrus, he suffers so much, of course he must have forgotten..."

"Shhh - he doesn't like it when people talk about that!"

"What you were saying?" you ask, but they both refuse to explain.

Then, Dogamy begins to speak in a painfully hoarse voice. His entire throat and teeth are crystallized.

“COUGH COUGH… He’s in the final stages of the disease, I saw him show the Captain of the Royal Guard his ribs covered in crystals, it’s a miracle he’s still walking around…” he pauses to breathe “Ah, I don’t know how he still has so much magic left… he and his brother are a great mystery.”

"Honey, you shouldn't talk about that! You shouldn't even talk about anything, save your voice!"

“Papyrus…” your heart ached. “Well, if he has a brother, at least he’s not alone!”

“Well…” the rabbit looks at her drink “I haven't seen him in town for YEARS. He works for the King, he's the one who brings the humans here, I imagine he lives in the capital now - HELLO PAPYRUS!"

The dogs spit out the mulled wine and stare in shock at the skeleton right behind Frisk, their eyes wide. The rabbit drank her beverage very slowly, trying to avoid eye contact.

You look up and try to smile. The skeleton gives you a small smile back, then frowns back at the trio of monsters.

"NOW THAT THE GOSSIP IS OVER... LET'S GO, TICK, I'VE DONE WHAT I NEEDED TO DO!"

You grab your lantern with the white flame and bid farewell to the monsters. As you followed Papyrus, the monsters began to laugh euphorically and toast with more mulled wine.

* * *

You glance at Papyrus apprehensively as you walk behind him. Clutching your lantern, you finally gather your courage and ask:

“Are you angry...?”

"WHAT? HUMAN, OF COURSE NOT! I MEAN, NOT AT YOU. THEY SHOULDN'T BE SPREADING RUMORS ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE'S LIVES."

"That's true, but they were very kind to me!"

"THAT'S GREAT, THAT'S GREAT..."

You two stop in front of a cabin near the city limits. It was made of wood, like all the buildings in the city. The roof was covered in snow, and stalactites decorated the facade. High up on a flagpole, you saw a pirate flag that wasn't waving; it was completely frozen, motionless. Lanterns illuminated the entrance. A little smoke rose from the chimney.

"WELCOME TO MY HUMBLE HOME! I'M MAKING SOME SOUP FOR US, AND I'VE ALREADY GRABBED SOME WARM CLOTHES FOR YOU TO WEAR!"

He opens the door and bows.

Inside the house it was warm, just like Toriel's house. Candlesticks and candelabras glowed with an orange and red fire. But unlike Toriel's house, everything was organized: the books are on the shelves, the blankets neatly folded on the sofa, and in the kitchen every pot and plate in its proper place. Well, except for the toolbox on the coffee table. In the kitchen, the wood-burning stove had a pot that bubbled and gave off the aroma of cooked vegetables and seasoned broth.

"I, UM, ADDED SOME CAPPELLETTI TOO... IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT, THAT'S FINE!! I CAN TAKE IT OUT!"

"No need! Wow, it looks delicious, thank you!"

Papyrus blushed, and he began fidgeting with the end of his scarf.

“WELL… TICK, I LEFT SOME CLOTHES THAT I THINK WILL FIT YOU, THEY’RE IN THE GUEST ROOM! THE SOUP WILL TAKE A LITTLE LONGER TO BE READY, SO YOU CAN CHOOSE WHICH ONE YOU WANT!”

"Um Papyrus, you know my name is Frisk, right?"

“REALLY? OH, I’M SORRY FRISK!” he covers his face with his hands “I HAVE A LITTLE PROBLEM REMEMBERING THINGS… WHEN I WAS A CHILD I HAD AN ACCIDENT, SINCE THEN I DON’T REMEMBER VERY WELL, AND NOW WITH…THIS” he points to the crystal lodged in his skull “IT’S EVEN WORSE.”

You assure him that there's absolutely no problem at all.

You go upstairs and head towards the guest room.

There were two doors in the upstairs hallway. One of them had a sign, written: "PAPYRUS THE COOLEST GUY." There was nothing written on the second door, but you noticed remnants of torn stickers; some were of stars or planets, others were impossible to identify. You enter the supposed guest room.

Leaning against the wall was a bed with a blue blanket and pillow; on top of it you saw a small pile of folded clothes. In the cabinet next to it was a single lamp. The window, unlike the others, wasn't completely boarded up; a crack allowed the light of dawn to illuminate the room. On the wall were some posters of sci-fi films from the surface. Napstablook once told you that yes, human things from the surface sometimes fell into the Underground and the monsters reused them.

In the rest of the room, there were only a few stacks of cardboard boxes sealed with tape. Only one of them was open: it was full of used clothes.

You checked the clothes Papyrus had put on the bed. A lilac sweatshirt with some stains of who-knows-what, an old dark gray coat, and a light blue wool sweater. You chose the latter and put your poncho over it. It really looks much better now. You put the other clothes back in their former owner's box. You decided to put your lantern in the cabinet next to the bed.

But before you could leave, you heard a knock on the window. Turning around, you saw that talking yellow flower smiling at you.

"Do me a favor and open this up, it's cold, you know?" Flowey says.

You open it, hesitating a little.

"Phew, thanks, my favorite idiot!"

"What do you want, Flowey? It's not time to laugh at me because of my hilarious death.” 

"Yes, yes. I just want to know if you've gone crazy too."

"What?"

"Didn't you see the locals here? Everyone is laughing and celebrating FOR WHAT? The last time I came here, there were TWICE the number of monsters, and now POOF!" 

“I admit I found that strange too,” Flowey was about to speak again, but you continued, “But it was before. I think, like Toriel and Napstablook, they’re trying to move on with their lives, enjoying the time they have.”

"Idiots, how can they find something good in this nightmare?"

"It's not about finding something good, it's just about not letting negativity consume you. Things are bad enough already, but it doesn't need to get worse. Otherwise, everyone would end up like you, a boring and meddlesome dry flower."

Flowey gives you a really nasty look; you swear that if he could, he'd hurt you right now. But he can't.

"FRISK, THE SOUP IS READY!" Papyrus shouts from the kitchen.

"Go ahead, you can go crazy along with everyone else," Flowey begins to walk towards the window.

"You're very strange, Flowey. You don't need to follow me or talk to me, but you still do! Ever since day one! And then you say we're the crazy ones." You say as he leaves and closes the window.

You go down the stairs.

Papyrus had already set the table, the soup pot in the center and two plates at either end. He was already seated, waiting for you. The smell was irresistible.

You ate in silence, too busy devouring the best soup you'd ever had. When you felt satisfied, your eyes began to feel heavy; it had been a long day. But first, you needed answers.

"How do you manage to get so much delicious food? Sorry if I'm being rude..."

“DON’T WORRY! HMM… IN THE UNDERGROUND WE ACTUALLY HAVE A LIMITED FOOD SUPPLY, THE ROYAL GUARD REGULATES THAT. BUT WE WON’T STARVE, BECAUSE KING ASGORE AND THE ROYAL SCIENTIST BUILT A GREENHOUSE FOR US TO PLANT!”

"That's amazing! This King seems like the coolest guy ever!"

"AND YES! HE SHELTERED ME AND SANS WHEN WE WERE CHILDREN, HE'S THE KINDEST MONSTER I'VE EVER KNOWN!"

"Sans... is he your brother?"

Papyrus hides with his scarf.

“AH, THOSE THREE TOLD YOU, RIGHT? UHM, OH MY GOD.” He takes a deep breath, then continues, all at once, “WELL, SANS IS MY OLDER BROTHER, FOUR YEARS OLDER TO BE MATHEMATICALLY EXACT! HE LIVED HERE WITH ME, IT WAS PERFECT. HE WAS AMAZING AND TOOK CARE OF ME. BUT THEN, WHEN HE WAS A YOUNG SKELETON, HE SUDDENLY SAID WE WERE GOING TO TAKE THE HUMANS TO ASGORE, AND AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS COOL BECAUSE I ALWAYS WANTED TO HELP. SIX HAVE FALLEN BEFORE YOU SINCE I WAS A CHILD, AND ALTHOUGH ASGORE SAID IT WAS DANGEROUS FOR THEM TO BE EXPOSED TO THE WINTER, THEY PROMISED THEY WOULD COME BACK TO SEE ME, OR SEND A LETTER, BUT SO FAR NOTHING, AND SANS WON'T LET ME VISIT THEM, AND I JUST… ARGH!"

Papyrus slams his hands on the table, startling you.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry. It’s just that…” he then, for the first time, speaks very softly, almost in a whisper, “…I asked how they were once, he told me they were in a better place now…” He looks at you, his open eye pulsing with white and orange colors.

"But what does that mean?"

"I don't know, Fishy..."

Papyrus jumps up from his chair.

“BUT HEY! MAYBE I’M BEING JUST PARANOID NYE HE HE he he he…” he coughs “I JUST THINK IF YOU SEE SANS, DON’T TRUST HIM.”

You nod your head.

Tomorrow you will continue your journey to the Capital; the skeleton says he will think of a plan to help you get there safely. But first, Papyrus insists that you sleep in the guest room. He doesn't even need to say it twice because you already had that in mind. You felt an enormous weight on your shoulders, your legs ached from walking, and your head was dizzy with so much information.

You say goodnight to each other and go to your rooms.

You look at Toriel's flame beside you, wondering if she and Blook are alright. They must be in front of the fireplace, reading books and drinking tea, Toriel in her armchair and Napstablook lying on the rug. I wonder if the fire there is the same as the one I have here?

Was this the right choice? Leaving the Ruins?

At the time it seemed so simple. But now the truth is staring you in the face, clear as day: you hadn't the slightest idea what you were doing. But now you're already here. And you acted with such certainty, such confidence, you didn't want to suffer the humiliation of admitting it…

Finally, you sleep.

* * *

* * *

You dream of the surface. Of the feel of the grass on your hands, the warmth of the sun, the stars and their constellations. Toriel is calling you to come home, but no matter how fast you run, you never get there.

The ground disappears beneath your feet. You fall. Your body hits the ground with such force that you hear your bones breaking. And in front of you is your mother, although you couldn't hear what she was saying, you already knew what it was about.

You woke up in a cold sweat.

What happened?...

But you don't even have time to remember, because Papyrus took off your blanket and started talking.

"GOOD MORNING... UHM... FRISK?"

“That's the one!”

“NYE HE HE, SEE? I'M GETTING THE HANG OF IT!” he seems very proud of himself. “YOU'RE SO LAZY, HUH? I WAS WAITING FOR YOU TO HAVE BREAKFAST AND YOU NEVER CAME DOWN! COME ON, COME ON!”

The skeleton shoos you out of bed and guides you downstairs, where toast and tea await you on the table.

As if nothing had happened yesterday, you take the opportunity to get to know each other better. Favorite color, hobbies, talents, dreams…

"...WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU DON'T HAVE ANY DREAMS?"

"I mean, I want to have a better life than when I lived on the surface. But beyond that, I don't have a specific plan for the future; as long as they need me, I'll be available!"

“BUT YOU’RE JUST A CHILD! DON’T YOU WANT TO BE… I DON’T KNOW, AN ASTRONAUT? TO TRAVEL THE WORLD? TO BE A BASKETBALL CHAMPION?” Papyrus narrowed his eyes.

"Well, I'm already grown up! I don't have time to think about these things!" You looked everywhere but at Papyrus. "Anyway, have you thought of anything yet?"

"WHAT THING?"

You roll your eyes.

"How can you help me get to the Core? You said yesterday you'd think of a plan!"

“AHM…………” Papyrus closes his eyes and leans back, until he stands up and begins to collect the empty breakfast plates. “WELL, I OBVIOUSLY THOUGHT OF A MEGA HYPER PLAN FOR US! AND THAT PLAN WILL APPEAR ANY MOMENT, WE JUST HAVE TO, AHM, WAIT!”

He was fidgeting with his red scarf; it looked more torn than it had been yesterday. You decided not to press the matter any further.

Everything was ready to begin the journey to the capital. Papyrus explained that the trip would take a day if they walked without interruption. Although you hadn't asked him to accompany you, you felt immensely grateful for his intervention, even though it was unsolicited.

He looks at you and holds the doorknob, waiting for your confirmation that you were ready. You nod and give a small smile. He opens the door; the cold wind gives you a thermal shock, and for a few moments it takes your eyes to adjust to the bright light of dawn.

When you finally regain your clear vision, you see someone standing in front of the door, as if they were waiting for you.

"Heh, finally, it was about time for ya two to show up."

He was a skeleton like Papyrus, but much shorter, only slightly taller than you.

He was wearing an old blue hoodie with soft white fur. In his right hand he held a crystal cane that shone with blue and green hues, it seemed to be carved from a geode. But the most intriguing thing was his skull: on the left side, a blue eye shimmered with magic, on the right side, the eye socket was filled with a smooth crystal very similar to Papyrus's; and cracks in the rest of the skull revealed more of this iridescent crystal.

"S-SANS?? WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE? I, I DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE COMING!"

“Good morning, lil bro. Ya know how it is, nothing escapes from my knowledge..." Papyrus's brother looks at you and smiles. "Nice to meet ya, Frisk! I'm Sans, old brother of this big guy, I'd love to talk to—WAIT HOW COULD I FORGET?"

He turns his back to the two of you, you look at Papyrus expecting answers but he's staring at his scarf, almost as if hypnotized by it.

“A-HA! NOW WE’RE GETTING IT, let’s start again, from the beginning…” He slowly turns around until he’s facing you again, but this time he extends his hand to you. “Morning Frisk, nice to meet ya… hey. Don’t leave me hanging here.”

You shake Sans' hand. And CLICK.

Nothing happens.

"...pretend ya got an electric shock, capiche?"

“... okay?”

Sans' smile quickly fades, and he becomes serious again. In fact, he even seems annoyed. He glances at Papyrus, making the poor skeleton even more nervous.

"Anyway... I need to talk to ya. I was going to join the dinner and etc, but I think someone forgot to tell me they changed the locks of the house."

"CAN YOU BELIEVE IT BROKE DOWN YESTERDAY AFTERNOON? I WAS SO BUSY WITH OUR GUEST THAT I FORGOT TO SEND YOU A LETTER!"

The two brothers shrink back and look at the ground. For a second you think you saw Sans' eyes fill with tears, but he quickly returns to normal.

But the atmosphere remains awkward between the three of you.

"...hm Sans, I'd love to talk to you, I just need to sort some things out with Papyrus first and then." You murmur, Papyrus's eyes widen.

“Oh, great kid, no problem! I believe Paps already told ya why I came here, right?” Sans puts his hand on his forehead and shakes his head a few times. “I’ll be waitin’ for ya at Grillby’s in an hour! Don't be late.” 

He starts to leave, but stops halfway and glances at Papyrus over his shoulder.

"It was good to see ya bro, I'm glad ya're doing well."

"SEE YOU LATER, SANS! IT WAS GOOD TO SEE YOU TOO!"

Papyrus smiles and waves, and Sans walks away.

Silence.

Only the sound of the wind and Sans's footsteps and his cane echo in your ears. Papyrus exhales all the air from his lungs, or something like it, as if he was holding his breath.

You're the first to speak.

"He's actually nice, a little weird, but everyone's weird around here... no offense!"

Papyrus starts laughing.

“HEHEHE! YEAH, MY BROTHER IS COOL. THE MOST INCREDIBLY COOL GUY IN THE UNDERGROUND! YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN HIM WHEN WE WERE YOUNGER, AH, GOOD TIMES.” Papyrus takes a deep breath and whispers, “I wish it was still like it used to be…”

You hold Papyrus's hand, and he squeezes it tightly in return.

Papyrus told you his point of view about Sans last night, now it's your turn to decide yours. It's a huge weight on your shoulders.

“YOU’RE GOING WITH HIM, AREN’T YOU?” You snap out of your thoughts, how long have you been staring into nothing? “I SEE IT ON YOUR FACE, FRISK. D-DON’T WORRY! SANS MIGHT ONLY BE ACTING WEIRD WITH ME! AND ASGORE IS A SWEETHEART, HE WOULDN’T HURT A FLY!”

"Why don't you come along?"

"IT'S JUST THAT... THE CASTLE IS NEXT TO THE SINGULARITY, EVERY TIME I GET CLOSE TO THAT THING MY MAGIC GETS WEIRD, AND IT'S THAT MAGIC THAT'S KEEPING ME ALIVE, AND IF I EXHAUST IT, I-"

He doesn't need to continue explaining; it was clear to you what he meant.

Papyrus promises he'll say goodbye as you leave town. He needs to do his daily patrol in the forest and will be right back. Even though he's hesitant to leave you alone, the skeleton has faith that everything will be alright.

* * *

Grillby's is a bar located right in front of the bonfire. At the entrance there's a sign that says "Everyone is welcome!". It seems like a friendly and cozy place.

You open the door and a bell rings, signaling that a new customer has arrived. You imagined a place full of monsters drinking mulled wine, live music, lots of gossip, and maybe a game of pool in the corner. Your father took you to a few bars; you already had experience in that field.

But the place is empty.

There were no tables, chairs, or sofas… Just a counter in the back with a big lantern illuminating the space.

Wait, no. It was a fire monster. He was wearing an overcoat and a high-necked sweater. His fire was bright red, and small ashes floated in the air before falling to the ground. Behind him were only three barrels with taps for serving drinks.

At the counter, seated atop a wooden crate as if it were a stool, was Sans, drinking something transparent along with shiny ice balls.

You sit in a crate next to him.

"Hehe, ya're even ahead of the game! Frisk, I wanna introduce ya to Grillby. He's not much of a talker, but he's a good listener, isn't that right, Grillby?"

Grillby doesn't answer, but he serves you a cup of tea. You thank him.

"Ya know, Grillby has a huge heart, thanks to him that bonfire is still going hot as hell!" he winks. "He really warms my tart- I MEAN MY HEART! OH FUCK.”

You laugh loudly, so loudly you almost spill your tea on the table. That caught you off guard. Sans starts laughing too, his breath reeked of alcohol but he didn't seem drunk. Grillby doesn't react, he just comes out from behind the counter and goes into the kitchen.

Until he stops and becomes serious, you calm down, and then he starts talking.

"What did Paps tell ya?"

You freeze at the question and decide to be partially honest. You explain that you knew their job was to take them to Asgore for protection, as it was too dangerous for humans to be in contact with the winter. You don't comment on Papyrus's suspicions. Sans seems satisfied with the answer.

“Hmm, that’s right, kiddo.” He takes the last sip from his glass. “I hate to say this, but about six years ago, two humans were affected by the crystals and disappeared. They probably died, but their bodies were never found. I was 14 at the time, Paps was 10, and we lived in the castle with King Asgore. These two humans fell into the Underground, just like ya, although they were much older. The King took them in and gave them a home in Icefall. One day, an accident happened, I unfortunately witnessed it… Since then, I’ve been helping Asgore take care of the humans who fall here. It’s my duty.”

"Sans, I'm so sorry about this! But I want to do more than just sit around, I want to help too! I can figure out a way to end this winter!"

Sans' expression was indecipherable. His wide eyes stared blankly into space. Their colors danced. You had to call him a few times to snap him out of his trance.

"Ah, um. Yeah. I can help ya with that wish!" Although his tone of voice was excited, his facial expression was neutral.

"How?"

“I know a way to destroy the damn Anomaly” he whispers in your ear “But I need ya help! Ya know, the soul of humans has an inexplicable power… I believe that YOU can be our hero! What do ya think?” He extends his hand.

"Wait a minute." 

You were about to say yes, but right then you remembered: "And can't the other humans help too?"

“They cannot help me anymore.” He rolls his eye. "Just accept it damnit, we cannot waste any more time!"

Sans tapped his fingers on the counter, making a TEC TEC TEC sound.

"Sans, do you promise me I'll come back?"

He pauses for a long time. Then, his left eye gradually loses its magical glow until it becomes as black as the twilight of night, and its crystals begin to shine intensely.

“Don’tcha make me promise something that I’m unable to fulfill.”

You start to get up to leave. But Sans stops you by grabbing your shoulder; it was effective because you freeze in place.

“Ah, kid… look, if ya really wanna help save us, ya need to understand this. I know it’s difficult, so I’ll give ya time to think straight. I’ll meet ya again in Icefall; I hope by then you’ll have changed your mind.”

In the blink of an eye, he vanishes, as if he had vaporized into thin air.

You walk slowly to the exit.

.

.

Chapter I - Ruins

All you could hear was the echo of dripping water and a light breeze; the scent of sweet flowers and damp earth filled your lungs. You sat in the middle of a field of golden flowers, disoriented, not knowing what to do. You only remembered your name, Frisk. You didn't remember how you got there, only that you were far from home.

The bluish-gray walls stretched throughout the cave. A cold wind blew against your face. From the top of the cave, you saw a small point of light, it was the only source of illumination. Your stomach rumbled, your head ached, but even so, you gathered all your courage and stood up to go deeper into the cave. Perhaps this new place will be kind to you, however frightening it may seem. A new opportunity for a better life lies before you.

Walking slowly, you arrive at the next room. Amidst a mound of earth, there was a single golden flower, dry and withered with some petals missing, as if it were on the verge of death. It turns to you. In the center of the flower, two small white eyes appear, and an open mouth shows surprise. Whatever this being is, it didn't expect to see you here. It begins to speak; its voice is bitter and sharp.

"Argh, another human..." he says. "What's your name?"

"Hm... Frisk." You reply reluctantly.

"My name is Flowey, the flower, I'll be your first friend...and as your friend, I'm going to tell you a few things..."

The flower makes a terrifying expression, as if his face were split in two. You gripped a twig you found on the ground tightly, your hands trembling, but determined to fight if necessary. Flowey noticed your attempt and frowned in annoyance. “Welcome to the Underground, brat. This will be your last stop if you aren’t smart enough. Here, it is to die or be killed" With each word, his tone grew harsher.

“What… What kind of joke is this? This isn't funny!" You try to shout, but your voice comes out hoarse, you can't stop trembling. The last bit of hope in your heart begins to dwindle. Here it would be like before, after all, nothing has changed.

“I'm too tired for this right now, Frisk. You might think about continuing, acting like the protagonist of a boring story about heroism and friendship. But here, all your choices lead to a coffin with your name written on it..." The last sentence came out as a whisper.

You know that's not true. A voice echoes within you: you had come this far, you weren't going to give up now! Everything can get better, you just have to try, no matter how difficult it may be. Even in the worst possible scenarios, even when there is no light, you will light a new one. A flame of DETERMINATION burns within you, you put all your weaknesses in a box locked with a thousand keys and take one step forward, and another, until you are walking towards the exit. You throw the stick on the ground, your hands tremble but you ignore it.

As you passed Flowey, you saw the earth shifting around you. A root emerged from the ground and stretched toward you. But you didn't run or fight the impending danger; instead, you only reflexively closed your eyes. Then, you heard a loud, painful cough, followed by the sound of something returning to the earth. After a long silence, your eyes opened to see an even more withered flower hanging back, staring at the ceiling.

Flowey sighs wearily: “I don’t even know why I try anymore.” His remaining petals close like a rosebud, his entire stem shrinks, and he disappears into the cave floor. Feeling a little sorry for the tiny flower, you continue.

The only possible path leads to a kind of temple, or the ruins of an ancient city. The further you go, the colder the air seems to grow; even in a wool sweater you feel a chill. As you walk into the darkness, an ancient story comes to mind: Long ago, after a terrible war, monsters were banished from the surface and went into hiding underground, beneath Mount Ebott. And it was said that whoever climbs that mountain never returns…

* * *

Dry, rotting leaves are piled in the center of the room, and at the far end of the hall, stairs lead to another entrance. It's dark, illuminated only by torches with a bright white fire. This place seems to be a building forgotten by time, left to decay. Dark blue bricks formed the walls, dead vines covered them. Each step echoed loudly off the dusty stones, the sound mingling with the leaves being carried by the wind. Until you hear someone walking towards the room you were in. You try to find a place to hide, but it's in vain, the only way is to go back.

But before you could have a chance to escape, a gloved hand gripped your shoulder. You froze.

“WAIT! Are you lost?” Her voice was as gentle as the melody of a violin; you couldn't contain your curiosity and looked at the stranger. She looked like a goat, but she was bigger than any adult you had ever seen. Her horns were vibrant pink, and two small white tusks protruded from her snout. She wore a long blue winter coat, so long it looked like a dress.

“Oh, child.” Her pink eyes filled with tears. “My name is Toriel, I am the guardian of the Ruins, what is your name?”

"...My name is Frisk" you whisper, Toriel has to bend down to hear you better.

"Welcome, dear, come with me, it's dangerous to walk alone around here."

She holds your hand, trembling slightly, as if afraid something might happen. You climb the stairs, Toriel murmurs a calm melody you don't recognize, you simply continue forward through the dark corridors lit by more white torches, without saying a word.

It's a confusing labyrinth, full of broken mechanisms covered in dust, secret passages, and dead plants. The icy air froze your lungs and made breathing difficult, each inhalation was a burning sensation in your airways, and you felt your heart beating slower and slower. Toriel seems to sense your suffering and creates a flame with her hands, she flies to your side and...landing in your hands, it warms you instantly. It feels like even the colors in your vision have come back to life and pulse along with your heartbeat.

"What is that?" 

“Magic, my child,” she explains. “Do you see these torches? I lit them all to help the inhabitants of the Ruins find their way back home.”

"Are there more monsters living here?" You try to touch the fire with your hands, but nothing happens.

“Oh, but of course! This is a haven for the entire Underground, the last place we can call home…”

Toriel stops walking, taking a deep breath. She pulls her hands back to her chest and blows a brief, warm breath onto her gloves.

“Let’s continue…” She looks at you and flashes a wide, ear-to-ear smile that reminds you of the strange flower’s smile from before. You raise your guard, every muscle in your body tensing. You continue walking into the unknown. Toriel shared some interesting facts about the Underground and even tried a few awkward jokes to lighten the tense atmosphere that now hung over the two of you. You think about running away and hiding under some rubble, but what good would that do? You were alone and couldn't let any opportunity to survive slip away, the only thing left to do was pray that it was the right choice.

While you were lost in thought, Toriel finally announced that they had arrived at their destination. A house. It was a small and simple building, but well-kept, a home amidst this desolation. Rotting leaves covered the ground and surrounded a huge, cut tree trunk in the middle of the garden. Some tree had grown there long ago but had been felled.

She invites you in. You hesitate for a few moments, but the pleasant temperature pulls you inside against your better judgment. Toriel quickly closes the door behind you and pulls your hand again. She shows you all the rooms quickly, not giving you time to explore in detail. The house is very comfortable, with rugs and candles everywhere, books scattered on the tables, and a fireplace lit in the living room, surrounded by armchairs. You notice that amidst the fire, pieces of a chair were burning. The kitchen was a mess, full of stacked pots and pans, cabinets without doors, broken drawers, and a rusty oven. Toriel's room was in the same state. Near the front door, there were stairs leading to what would be the basement, but she didn't let you get anywhere near them. Toriel leaves the guest room for the last, and surprisingly, she lets you explore the room on your own while you wait at the door. Unlike the rest of the house, everything is immaculate; even after opening all the doors, drawers, and boxes, nothing is broken or out of place. The room was full of toys, clothes your size, and children's books… all arranged as if she already knew you were coming. You sit on the soft bed, covered in fluffy, fragrant blankets and pillows, and Toriel sits beside you.

“Frisk, I imagine you already know our story… Many years ago the monsters were trapped in the Underground, and humans created a magical barrier that prevents anyone from leaving. I'm afraid you won't be able to return home…”

Deep down, you already knew this.

“My child… I’m alone here and, well…” she smiles from ear to ear. “You can live with me and keep me company! I’ll take care of you as if you were my own child! What do you think? Would you give me that chance?”

You hesitate. She was a stranger, a monster trapped for hundreds of years in this crumbling place. But when you looked into her eyes, you saw something you'd never seen before, something nameless that burned in your heart with empathy. You nod and hug Toriel, surprising you both. After a few moments, she reciprocates. After long minutes, she gets up breathless and says she's going to make a delicious pie and hot chocolate for both of them. The flame continues in the room, warding off the cold that seeped in through the cracks.

You let your body fall onto the bed and close your eyes, the weight of the day falling on your shoulders, and for the first time you feel tears streaming down your face. You were only 12 years old, lost in an abandoned world full of strange creatures with questionable behaviors. Amidst the crying, you laugh. It felt like you had been reborn. You felt alive, despite everything. Hugging one of the pillows, sleep falls upon you like an embrace.

After some time, Toriel comes to your room and leaves the pie in the cabinet next to your bed. She leaves quietly and in the morning she will come to wake you up to invite you to breakfast.

* * *

She was screaming again.

“You’re a useless child! You can’t do anything, where’s the reward for everything I’ve done for you? You don’t speak properly, you don’t make friends when I tell you to, you don’t clean the house, you don’t have any useful talent… the only thing you do is stay in that filthy forest! You want to see me suffer, is that it? I gave you life, and you throw it away? Is that fun?! I’M TALKING TO YOU, WHERE ARE YOU GOING? COME HERE NOW! IF YOU GO OUT THAT DOOR, I DON’T WANT YOU TO COME BACK, NEVER!”

You run, searching for a safe place, anywhere really. You venture deeper and deeper into the dark forest, climbing the cursed mountain. You no longer care, you just run without thinking. Then, you fall…

* * *

You wake up with a start. Your body was trembling, you couldn't breathe. You inhale and exhale calmly, or at least you try to.

It took a while, but when you came to, you noticed a pie placed beside the bed, with a small heart drawn on it. Yesterday's memories come flooding back. You ran away and fell into the Ruins, and now you were trapped here, with nowhere to go back and no way to get back. It was a dead end. You take another deep breath and shove a piece of the pie into your mouth. It's the best thing you've ever eaten in your entire life; you can't stop. The taste of cinnamon, butter, and sugar dances in your mouth.

After devouring the piece of pie, you get up, carefully make your bed, put on clean, warm clothes, and rush out of your room to find Toriel and thank her.

However, just then you bump into her, spilling the hot chocolate she was carrying in two mugs.

"Oh no, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry..."

“Calm down, Frisk! Everything’s fine! Just clean up afterwards, I’m so glad I made plenty for us, hahaha!” Toriel smiles and tries to cheer you up. “I was going to invite you for our first breakfast! I made pancakes, they must be delicious, let’s go before they get cold, hurry!”

And indeed, they were delicious. Fluffy pancakes, topped with molasses and chopped fruit. The hot chocolate even had marshmallows! And for dessert, the rest of yesterday's pie. You were very satisfied, your whole face was covered in food. Toriel gently wipes you off with a napkin. Then, you help her clean the dishes and put everything away in the cupboards (or shelves, considering the state they're in). While cleaning, she laughs at your care; she didn't seem to mind the mess but appreciated your effort in helping.

After that pleasant moment together, Toriel invites you to walk through the Ruins. She hands you a poncho to wear and says it will help with the cold. You had even forgotten about the cold outside. Before leaving, you notice that the white flame hasn't left your side yet. When you finally open the front door, a sudden cold wind blows on you two. Where is this wind coming from, anyway? Wasn't this supposed to be a cave? As you were about to question Toriel, she took your hand and began to lead you to the first stop on the tour. Her hand was firm and didn't loosen its grip, keeping you close. Her glove had a soft, fluffy texture underneath but was hard and smooth on top.

* * *

The first stop was on a kind of balcony. From there you could see the entire extent of the Ruins: buildings, houses, and ancient gardens filled your view. You saw several small lights illuminating the labyrinthine paths between the structures. In the air, it was possible to see a mist of shimmering dust moving with the wind, sometimes it fell like snow, sometimes it shone like a dawn.

“This… is beautiful!” You wished you had brought your camera to capture the moment. Toriel agrees and says, “It really is, isn’t it? This place is the most beautiful in the Ruins, I always come here when I want to think. It’s my special place… now it’s OUR special place.” She strokes your hair, and you feel your shoulders relax.

You watch the dust settle, but when you try to catch a handful, Toriel pulls you back. She says it's time to go somewhere else and takes you away, holding your hands so tightly it almost hurts.

When you were about to question her, you had already arrived at your next destination: a hidden room near Toriel's house. It was a room with mechanisms, but unlike the others you had seen before, these didn't seem broken or abandoned.

Three levers were on one wall, and right below them were three buttons on the floor. There was also a fountain in the center of the room, but it had no water in it.

"...What is that?"

“We monsters like puzzles and challenges; it’s a way to connect with others and improve our skills. There were several puzzles throughout the Ruins, but this is the only one that’s still functional.”

Her face saddens, but soon her gentle smile returns.

"The goal here is to find the right combination to activate the source! You can try it if you want, I'll be here if you need help!"

You begin to analyze the puzzle meticulously.

After a few minutes, something catches your eye: a lever and two buttons are covered in dust. Clearly, these haven't been activated in a long time, so the clean ones are the right ones. You lower both levers and click the button; immediately, water gushes from the fountain.

“Wow! So fast and without needing help! You’re a very intelligent child, I’m impressed!” Toriel bends down to speak at your level again, you feel your face heat up and become awkward. You weren’t used to compliments. Toriel laughs at your embarrassment and guides you to what she calls a special surprise.

The last stop on their short walk, which was right at the end of the corridor where the fountain room was located, was a house. It was simple, dirt covered the walls and doors, it seemed empty but through the window you could see a light on. Toriel knocked on the door twice, and then it opened.

A ghost stood before him, semi-transparent and wearing ear protectors (though it had no ears to keep warm), with two points of light forming its eyes. He appeared to be crying, but when he noticed your presence, he began to speak.

"Ooooh, hello To-Toriel! And, uhm, human child, I guess?"

"Frisk, this is Napstablook, our neighbor! This is Frisk, our newest resident in the Ruins!"

"Um, hello..." you say, keeping your voice low.

"Oh, welcome... Hm, you can come in if you want."

You enter; the house didn't have much furniture, just a lit fireplace, a table in the center, and a cello. Some dusty books were scattered on the floor.

Napstablook returns to reading a book on the floor near the instrument, ignoring the visitors. Out of curiosity, you try to see what he was reading. From a distance, you see that it's an old, dirty book with several torn pages, and it's upside down. The ghost seems too nervous to say anything, his eyes quickly travel between you and the book. Toriel gives you an encouraging look, waiting for you to start a conversation. There's no other option.

"What are you doing?" You try.

“Well, I’m… looking at this sheet music book… You know, I really like music. But since—” Toriel stares at the ghost with a sudden, stern look. “Tell them what instrument you play Blook!” She changes the subject.

“Um, I play this cello, do you want to listen?” He says quickly. You start to ask what he was saying before Toriel interrupts, but the ghost drowns out your questions with music.

It was a familiar melody, a song you loved. A refuge from chaos, sadness, and fear…

Unable to contain yourself, you start singing along, the lyrics overflowing from your mouth automatically, without even thinking. It's so natural, you'd forgotten the good feeling that filled you when you sang. Your voice was always quiet and low at first, almost a whisper. But as the music progressed, your voice sang louder and louder until your soul overflowed from your chest.

… Time after- Sometimes you picture me I'm walking too far ahead You're calling to me, I can't hear What you've said Then you say, "go slow" And I fall behind The second hand unwinds If you're lost you can look and you will find me Time after time…

"My child! How amazing! How do you know this song?"

"My lady... I'm sorry, I, I brought this book from Icefall," the ghost shows the cover, with the title:How to play the biggest hits of the 80s. "I believe it might be from the Surface."

“Yes, it is! I love this song, I’ve always listened to the CD in my room since I was little.” You jump excitedly, but quickly recoil, embarrassed by your happiness. You just can’t contain yourself!

Nasptablook's melancholy expression changes into a sweet smile. Soon, a conversation begins between the two of you about the songs in the book. Toriel seems pleased and doesn't interfere anymore. After quite some time, you say goodbye, and Toriel takes you back home. It was difficult to tell what time it was, without the sun or a clock in sight, but you were exhausted from the walk. Toriel makes dinner, and you sit down together to eat.

"Frisk, see? There are so many beautiful and interesting places here, and even a friend to talk to! You can go to all these places I showed you today, just let me know before you leave, okay?"

"Shall we see more places tomorrow?" You almost choked on the food in your mouth, you were so excited. You loved exploring and finally had that freedom back! But then…

"Oh no. I'm sorry, but other places are off-limits. I don't want you to get lost or hurt! Also, the stairs to the lower floor are off-limits."

"But-"

Toriel starts coughing. You try to help her, handing her water and patting her on the back. Had she choked?

Toriel was trembling so much that she seemed to be convulsing.

After everything calmed down again, her voice came out weak and hoarse.

"I'm sorry Frisk, please trust me?" She holds her hands with a distressed look. "You promise me?"

"I... I promise, Toriel."

"Oh, that's great! Let's finish eating, and then go straight to bed, it's getting late." She seemed disoriented but acted as if nothing had happened.

After dinner, she takes you to her room. You lie down and she reads you a bedtime story, a tale about bears who became best friends or something like that. It was very childish, but the important thing was the intention.

The flame floated above the blankets, warming you. Toriel says goodnight and leaves the room, leaving you alone with your thoughts. You hated the feeling of being trapped, unable to decide your own life. It was yours, after all. However, you had the chance to have the life you always wanted, with a loving family and a safe home. Maybe you can convince Toriel to let you explore. She'll understand.

Six weeks and a few days had passed since the fall. During that time, your routine was always the same. Toriel would wake you up and you would have breakfast together, after cleaning up the mess in the kitchen she free you to leave. The flame of Toriel's magic, of course, never left your side, warming you and lighting your way. Its glow was strong, but sometimes it flickered; you were afraid it would go out and the intense cold would return. You also had your red striped poncho that you always wore before leaving, its wool warmed you and reminded you of the rare good moments in your old home.

Over the course of several days, you noticed that Toriel had some kind of… condition. She seemed weak and lethargic, had deep, dark circles under her eyes, and refused to tell you what the problem was. She would cough intermittently. Even so, despite everything, she still pretended that nothing was wrong! With each moment of weakness, her magical fire wavered. Worse still, you noticed that she never took off that glove or the coat. Every day it was always the same outfit. You asked why, but she ignored your questions and obviously didn't show you what was underneath those gloves.

You would go to Napstablook's house, your only friend (besides Toriel). He was a friendly and melancholic ghost, always sighing about something that bothered him. There wasn't much to do in the small house; you would play music or just lie on the floor in comfortable silence. Occasionally, when he was in a good mood, he would tell you about the rest of the Underground, about his friends or his family, although he always cried with longing after the stories. You would ask if something had gone wrong and that was why he came to live so far away, but he never answered you.

During lunch with Toriel, you took the opportunity to chat and get to know each other better. She was always kind and attentive, and did everything to cheer you up. She was also studious and would tell you a new topic every day, very enthusiastic about teaching as if she were a teacher. For the rest of the day, when Toriel went out to do her chores, you would take a book to read either by the fountain or on the balcony. They were books of all kinds: jokes, recipes, science, history, children's fables, or even about slugs and snails. Hours and hours would pass, and when it was dinnertime, Toriel would come to get you to take you back home. Dinner was always on the table, with only the fireplace illuminating your space.

Finally, at last, she would take you to bed and cover you with the blankets, sleep would weigh down your eyes and you would rest.

And it all repeats again… the same things… every day.

Obviously, by the end you were bored. A desire grew within you to explore every corner of the Ruins and discover the secrets that Toriel and Napstablook were hiding. Toriel's prohibitions bothered you. As much as you liked her and appreciated her hospitality, you couldn't fully trust her.

She always said that many monsters lived in the Ruins and that she visited each one while Frisk was away, to see if they needed help. But apart from the ghost, you didn't see any other monsters, not even from the balcony view.

She always said nothing was wrong, but the house was falling apart, just like the Ruins. Even if she covered the dirt with carpets or hung frames were used to cover the holes in the walls, the chaos was visible. Ironically, everything was in ruins. Inside and out.

So, you plan your little getaway to explore the Ruins. As long as you're back by dinnertime, everything will be fine, right?

* * *

It was morning, and you told Toriel you were going out to spend the day with your ghost friend. She smiled and told you to be careful, then walked you to the door with a bag in her hands. Before leaving, you turned to her. She was one of the kindest people you'd ever met; she welcomed you and treated you well even though she didn't know you. You took a deep breath and made one last attempt.

"Hm, Toriel, what do you do while I'm gone?"

“Ah Frisk, as guardian of the Ruins, it’s my duty to make sure everything is alright and to help the monsters who live here. You always ask me that! Do you have something to tell me, child?”

"Me, well" Come on Frisk, don't back down now! Stay determined! "I wish I could help you with your tasks, can I go with you?"

“Oh my child, of course not, you know that!” She says, placing one hand on your shoulder. “Enjoy the day with your friend! Don’t worry about these things.”

"It's just that I wanted to be able to see the rest of the Underground-"

Toriel interrupts you.

"NO!" She coughs “No, I feel relieved knowing you’re safe here. I don’t want anything bad to happen to you, let’s drop this subject, okay?” She hands you the bag, inside it were several containers of food. “Take this lunchbox! And stay safe at Napstablook’s house!”

"Ah... Thank you very much, Toriel."

You say goodbye, a feeling of guilt grows within you, but it was the only way. If she won't tell you the truth, you'll find out on your own one way or another. She'll understand eventually.

The walk to Napstablook was tense, anxiety wouldn't leave you alone, but at least Toriel's fire calmed you with its warmth. His house was always the same, frozen in time. You don't even need to knock anymore. The ghost is on the floor, near the lit fireplace, reading another book; he doesn't even notice your presence until you start talking.

"Good morning, Look!” 

"Ooh, Frisk, hello. I don't feel like playing today... Let's just lie on the floor, I don't know, maybe talk later..."

You take a deep breath.

"Actually, I need your help..." He looks at you intently. "I'm going out to explore the Ruins, and I need you to help me! Don't let Toriel suspect anything, please?" You speak in a whisper, as if she could hear you.

"Ooh Frisk! But, but, but, not me, I-"

"I know she asked you to keep a secret, and I'm not going to force you to tell me. But please, my friend, just for today? I'll be back at dinnertime."

Minutes of silence passed, the ghost staring nervously at you.

"Hm, okay... I can't stop you if you really want to go," he says sadly.

"Thank you, friend. If I could hug you, I would."

Then you go out the door.

* * *

Each corridor and room was identical: the same bricks, dead vines covering the walls and rotting leaves on the floor, broken puzzles, empty houses, and the occasional shimmering dust that fell like snow or was lifted by the cold wind to become part of the floating mist on the ceiling. The torches and bonfires were made of Toriel's white fire, and burned with the help of any kind of wood available, from twigs to pieces of toys or furniture.

Everything seemed abandoned and lifeless. Where were all the monsters that used to live here?

Even the spiders, which like places like that, were gone. Rats and insects even less so. Simply nothing.

In some places, you saw mounds of bright white dust on the ground, mostly inside abandoned houses. In some, the furniture, objects, and even toys remained, dirty as if they hadn't been used for a long time. In others, everything was empty, any trace of life washed away. You think that perhaps everything was being used as fuel for Toriel's fire.

You were almost giving up when a sound of crying echoed down the hallway. It was high-pitched, like a scream. Following the sound, you heard more and more voices as you got closer. Until, you saw…

A circle of six different monsters was moaning in front of one of the houses. They matched the descriptions of Napstablook and Toriel, but something was wrong.Very wrong. 

Sharp, colorful crystals covered their bodies, or rather, protruded from within them. Some were on their arms and legs, others were on their backs or bellies, one even had a hole in its head, with crystals emerging from within. But worse than that was a monster in the center of the circle: it looked like a frog, but the entire right half of its body was covered in these crystals. They weren't like the others, they sometimes shone with a light blue glow, sometimes froze in a dull gray. It seemed to be suffering. You rush to try to help, to do anything, as fast as you can. When you manage to get close, the crystals turn only gray for a few moments, and then the monster crumbles into shimmering dust before your eyes.

One of the monsters beside him, an almost frog-like creature with pastel green crystals on its back, says seriously: “Another one is gone, there are few survivors left now… child, if I were you I would return to your home, and never leave again, it’s not worth it anymore.” As he said this, his crystal grew a little more, it seems he was tired. No words came out of you, you just watched the dust being kicked up by the freezing wind, until nothing was left. When you came to, everyone had already left for who knows where, it didn't matter now. Even with the fire beside you, the cold was unbearable, freezing your heart.

"Do you understand my warning now?" A familiar voice asks you, right in front of you.

"...go away, Flowey." You didn't have the energy to deal with this right now.

A loud cough brings you back to reality.

“Well, as I was saying… I was going to tell you the truth, but since you don’t want my company…” He almost closes his eyes again to leave, but you shout “Wait!!” in a leap. The flower seems very pleased with itself.

"Do you know what happened to, to him?”

"Oh, you idiot, obviously yes, everyone knows... except you. I hate lies too, so I'm going to tell you a story, pay close attention because I'm not going to repeat myself." He coughs and then continues.

"Once upon a time... in the center of the Underground was the CORE, a mechanism that transformed magic into energy and heat for all the monsters. One day, it exploded, and...something appeared in that place. A singularity, a hole so small yet so powerful, orbited by shimmering dust and magical energy. That Anomaly, as it started to be called, plunged the entire Underground into a hellish winter, eliminating all warmth; no one could escape the freezing wind that billowed from there. At the same time, a disease began to affect the monsters, the crystal disease, a terminal illness that consumes the soul until nothing is left, as you just saw. No matter how much the monsters use their magic to slow the disease, the end was always the same. No one can escape because of the barrier, no one can survive the disease, no one can rest in this icy cold, it's the final chapter of this world. AND THE END. Cool story, huh?" He winks.

You freeze. Everything makes sense now.

Deep inside, memories of your life on the surface still gnaw at you; in your nightmares, you relive each of your most painful memories. The fights with your family, the estrangement from your friends, your failed attempts to improve your life being crushed right before your eyes… Then, when you finally escape to finally LIVE… When you gain control over your own path, when your days are filled with peace and love… No. You won't allow it.

"...But isn't there any way to change that?"

“Did you even hear me? Do you want me to speak louder?” He opens his mouth until it completely covers his small face; deep in what would be his throat, you see some yellow crystals growing. “THERE’S NOTHING TO DO! NOTHING WORKS!! GET A GRIP AND GIVE UP!” He gasps for breath from the effort of shouting so loudly. Everything falls silent; only the sound of his heart and the echo of Flower’s voice can be heard.

“I just can’t believe this is the end…” Thick tears fall to the floor, you begin to sob loudly. “Am I going to be stuck here, sitting and waiting for everyone, including myself, to die? This isn’t fair! Why does something always have to go wrong?!”

“Well, yes, you finally understood.” Flowey, strangely enough, stretches out one of his leaves to pat your shoulder. “In the end, everyone understands, even the last human understood, even if it was too late…”

You suddenly stop crying.

“What did you say?” You frowned at the flower. Flowey swallowed hard. “Spill it. Now.” You held Flowey by the middle of his stem, so firmly that Flowey complained of the pain. You're no longer afraid of this little flower; after all, he's dying of the disease too, too weak to do anything but speak.

“OKAY FRISK. LET ME GO. I'LL TALK.” You don't let go, but you loosen your grip so as not to hurt him. Flowey coughed and cleared his throat before speaking. “Look Frisk, they say that the souls of humans are so powerful, much more so than those of monsters, and that they can continue even after the body decays… No one has ever managed to get close enough to the Anomaly to destroy it, they all ended up dying, but…” Flowey closes his eyes and pauses for a long time, anxiety fills your poor heart. “Humans might be able to, the last one who fell discovered this and tried, but in the end succumbed, no trace of him was found. We don't even know if he really went to the Anomaly! But that's what the rumors say…”

You are in a state of shock.

So there's a chance, I can build the life I've always wanted…

You stand up slowly, without saying anything.

Like he read your mind, he begins to list all the reasons why it's a bad idea. But you don't listen to anything, you just turn around and start walking towards Toriel's house. You urgently needed to have a conversation with her. Flowey appears in front of you, emerging from the ground like a worm being ripped from the earth by a bird.

"Crazy. You're crazy. All humans are crazy!! Beasts who pretend to be heroes so they can brag later." You ignore him. "I don't care, why should I? You can die, it doesn't matter."

Its petals close, and once again it disappears into the ground; you are alone. A weight remains on your shoulders, so heavy that you feel as if your skin is tearing and your bones are crumbling.

But now you've made your choice, going back wasn't an option. In the dark, in the cold, with a bit of glittering dust clinging to your body, you make your way back to Toriel. The white flame, which always accompanied you, has abandoned you. You feel more alone than ever. All you can think about is Toriel and Napstablook. Your new life, your new home. You are filled with determination.

* * *

Something is wrong.

You could see no more than an inch in front of you; darkness had taken over your vision. The world seemed colorless. The magical fire of the torches that illuminated the path was weak, only a faint ember flickered in the cold, dry wind. The air burned your eyes, like a blizzard but without the snow. You could only hear the sound of your footsteps on the dead leaves and your heart beating rapidly.

After more than an hour of rushing through the labyrinth of the Ruins, you're almost there when someone passes by you. Or rather, runs right through you. You turn around and see a panting, crying ghost, its body more transparent than usual. "Napstablook!! What happened?" You rushed to meet it; something very bad happened in your absence.

"F-Frisk... I, I tried, but you were taking too long, and I went to Toriel, but she wasn't answering the door, so I went in anyway, and she was... I don't know what to do... I don't want to be there to see..." You didn't stay to listen to what happened, deep down you already knew.

You started running as fast as you could towards your house. Your legs were trembling with pain, but you didn't care.

In front of Toriel's small house, everything seemed the same. The leaves danced in the wind, and the glistening dust accumulated on the cut tree trunk. But the lights seemed to be off. You entered carefully, your eyes taking a while to adjust to the darkness. Everything was in its place: the armchair with stacks of books, the dirty pots scattered in the kitchen, your room was as you had left it when you left, and Toriel's room was full of clothes and rags thrown on the floor. But no sign of Toriel. Or from a pile of dust. Your stomach turns just thinking about it.

You were almost giving up when you saw: two pairs of gloves thrown on the balustrade of the stairs to the basement. You didn't think twice and started to go down, holding the gloves in your hands.

It was dark and smelled of mold and burnt wood. With each step the stairs creaked, their sound echoing off the brick and stone walls.

A long corridor stretched out before him, at the end of which a soft, iridescent light pulsed, illuminating the path.

You walked slowly towards the light.

On the floor, Toriel sat leaning against the wall, her legs stretched out in front of her and her arms resting on either side of her body. Her blue winter coat was covered in ash. Her chest rose and drooped painfully slowly with each breath. She was awake, staring blankly into space, her eyes drooping in pain and her mouth open to breathe better. Her horns were colorless, their usual pink completely faded.

Light emanated from crystals that tore through the skin on the backs of his hands, extending down his arms, though concealed by his coat sleeves. They were pastel pink and blue, like a garden of peonies and forget-me-nots. The crystals grew horizontally, their sides reflecting the light like a prism, their points hidden within the muscle of his hands and arms. At the edge of the opening, there was no bleeding; it was as if the flesh had turned to rock and the blood cells had become glitter embedded within it.

You began to sob intensely, your lungs convulsing with each wave of crying, your legs weakened, and you fell to your knees beside Toriel.

“My… child?” She turns to look at you. “Ah… please, don’t cry… shhh shhh.” She uses one of her hands to stroke your head, trembling slowly. You stay like that for a while, until you are ready to speak.

"I... I know everything, Toriel... I'm sorry, I broke the rules and, and—"

"Oh Frisk, I knew you'd find out someday... I just didn't want it to be like this. I'm not angry, it was inevitable."

"Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

I want you to be able to live happily, without the fear of death darkening your days. You're just a sweet child and deserve to live as such… But my decision to keep you out of the loop hurt you even more, I see.” Tears stream down her pink eyes. “I'm sorry, my dear… oh, please forgive me…” You say nothing, just hug her.

"Are you going to...?" you ask in a whisper.

“I’m afraid so, Frisk. The crystals have spread all over my body.” She takes a deep breath. “I’ve already spoken to Napstablook; he’ll take care of you when I’m gone.”

"NO! I, I want to stay with you, Toriel! I can help you!

“There’s nothing to be done. I spent years sealing the entrance to the Ruins with my magic, every day I came and fought against the winter, but it was in vain!! The cold defeated me, Frisk…”

You sit down and look Toriel in the eyes, and hold her hands firmly.

“But he didn’t beat me.” You state without hesitation, “I know I can go to that singularity, I can save you!”

Toriel looks at you with exhausted and melancholic eyes.

“No, Frisk, you can’t. Others before you have tried, they left, and none ever returned. Human souls may be strong, but no one knows what you will face… I want you to enjoy your life!!” Her voice is hoarse and weak, but she tries to shout to knock some sense into her own head.

“I have to try!!” Before she could start questioning you again, you interrupted her and continued, “I promise, from the bottom of my heart, that when I realize it’s impossible, I’ll go back to the Ruins, I’ll come back to you, and we’ll enjoy all the time you have left together. I promise with my soul, Toriel. I can't just sit here and accept it, I can't lose my only family..."

“Oh Frisk, my dearest child!” She sobs. “I, I wouldn’t be able to stop you, and if you’re so determined and certain, I—” Toriel hesitates, “I allow you to leave.”

"AH TORIEL!!"

You embrace again. Your hearts fill with affection, a comforting warmth dispelling the frigid winter air. It's as if your souls are embracing as well. Time has stopped, you remain in that moment for a long time. Until you help her get up, and you start making your way back home slowly. On the way you meet Napstablook, he continues to cry, worried and distressed by the news of your departure. But you convince him to take care of Toriel while you're away, and he reluctantly agrees.

For the rest of the late afternoon, it was like any other day, as if nothing had happened. You made sandwiches and tea for the three of you. A quiet conversation followed near the embers of the fireplace. Laughter, jokes, shared memories. Like a winter weekend spent with family. As night fell, you all went to rest; it had been a long day, and tomorrow your journey would begin. You were determined, but you kept a secret: you wished the peaceful day had never ended, you wanted to be able to go back in time to enjoy the good moments again. You closed your eyes and hoped your wish would come true.

It was the worst goodbye of her life. In Toriel's room, along with Napstablook, you share your last hug. They tell you how to get to the Core in Coldland. There won't be many obstacles along the way, but the cold itself is a challenge. After a final conversation with your ghost friend, he leaves to let you spend some time alone with Toriel. She looks at you anxiously, with pain and sadness. You can't find words to say to each other, you just look at each other and contemplate the time you spent together, it seems like an eternity. A happily ever after, but now it ends. Before leaving, Toriel uses the little magic she has left and makes a lantern with a magical white flame.

"My beloved child, take this with you, so I can keep you warm even from afar."

"Thank you, for everything." 

You look at each other one last time, and then you head towards the Ruins' door that leads to the rest of the Underground, holding the lantern tightly in your arms.

* * *

You arrive in a room covered in snow, ice stalactites covering the ceiling, and a strong wind blowing through the cracks of the enormous light blue door on the other side. On the walls and floor you see spots full of soot and ash, as if a huge bonfire had been lit, but there was no trace of wood in sight.

As you walked to the other side, the ground beneath your feet shifted, and a familiar creature sprouted up in front of you.

"I thought you'd never show up again, what a pleasant surprise." You roll your eyes.

“Um, well, I thought so too…” He looked around anxiously. “I, I have nothing better to do, and as annoying as it is to see you playing the hero, keeping up with you will be more fun than staying here in this dusty cemetery!” His face broke into a smile. “It’ll be hilarious to yell ‘I told you so’ right in your idiot face!!”

You simply agree, and once again, he disappears. You notice the door opening by itself, revealing a snow-covered landscape with tall, leafless trees, a dirt path on the ground, and in the sky (or rather, the Underground's ceiling) an aurora danced and illuminated as if it were day. The cold was much worse than inside the Ruins; you felt your fingers go numb. The wind made the magic flame flicker, but didn't extinguish it.

You stepped through the door and into this new world.

The door slams shut behind you, and you hear laughter echoing through the forest.

.

.