They stand there, surrounding you. Each of their faces are twisted, concealed by static. Their words break your heart, and it seemed their souls couldn't bare the burdens either. They all attacked you, their magic hurting your soul. The pain radiated through your body. For all the damage dealt to your soul, the damage ripped your body apart. Tears sting in your eyes and your body aches. Another attack, this one ramming you in the side. You are thrown across the darkness, and you can hear your own ribs snap and you could not help but scream. You cry for help.
But no one came.
Your eyes snap open, and you clutch at your side. You bite back the pain, resisting the urge to scream. You sat there, sweat dripping off your forehead down your face as the minutes tick by. The pain subsides enough that you manage to move, and carefully, you lift up your pajama top. Even in the darkness of your room, the discoloration of your skin running up your side became visible. The bruise only seemed to be getting more painful and more colorful every night. You twist around to check your other side and can't help but release a small yelp. Your ribs... you felt this pain before, but while you quietly assure yourself they're not cracked- maybe broken, you intrinsically know that they are. Now you turn, slower this time, to look at the other side. You stare at the poorly applied bandage, wrapped all the way around your waist. You had taken the bandage from the first aid kit your mom had bought the other day and had been trying your best to take care of yourself without causing worry. No one at this point seemed to have noticed, and this filled you with relief. As does the fact that your thrashing in your sleep has not re-opened the deep gash going across your side. You sigh and fall back into your bed.
You stare at the ceiling and the little glow-in-the-dark stars that you and Sans put up so you could memorize the universe. It made for a good distraction as the throbbing and aching slowly subsided. You look out your window to stare at the town outside. Snow blanketed the sidewalks, and the house across the street was dark. A street lamp flickered, or was that your eyelids, fluttering as sleep lured you back into its strange, painless embrace.
The next morning you awoke to a light tapping at your bedroom door. "Good morning, my child. It is time for you to awake and face the day!" Your mom called through the wooden door. You were quick to wake but slow to rise. Your cut hurt, more than it had the day prior. You got up and left the warmth of your bed and slipped off your pajamas and stared at your reflection in the mirror. Bruises of a variety of colors and sizes and cuts and scrapes in various stages of scabbing over littered your body. The bandage covered a lot of it, and small patches of old dried blood seeped through from some of the smaller cuts, but the gash on your side, there was fresh blood showing through. You slowly unraveled the bandage over the wounds and you felt your blood turn cold. The gash did seem to have opened up during the night, not much, but it scared you nonetheless. This gash was deep, and from the recent opening you could see white and yellow cloudy fluid coming out in parts. You were used to bruises and hurt bones, but cuts were new. You didn't know what to do with it, so you just told yourself it would be fine. You couldn't tell anyone, not your new family. You could just imagine the guilt, the hurt on their faces if they knew that they did this to you and didn't even remember. You sighed, picked back up the bandage and tied it tight around your waist, sure to wrap the cleaner part of the wrap around the wound.
You searched your wardrobe and found a sweater very much like the one you fell into the Underground in. Your mom had bought it for you just a few days before, a reminder of the one that had gotten so tattered during your time in the ruins. You slipped it, a pair of jeans, and fuzzy blue socks on and sat on the bed. Swinging your legs back and forth, you readied yourself and thought about the day ahead. Mom had planned an exciting day for you, a day of relaxing and hanging out with your friends after a long, stressful two weeks. You sighed, got up and left your room. You walked through the hall and into the kitchen, where the scent of eggs and bacon made your mouth water. You ran in and hugged your goat mother from behind. She was startled, but quickly turned around to return the act. "Good morning, my child. I trust you slept well?" You nodded without hesitation, too focused on the food to think about your lie.
"Well good. I hope you are ready to egg-perience your breakfast so you can baco-me a bigger, stronger Frisk!" You snorted. It seems your mom had been exchanging bad puns with Sans via text all night again. You shook your head and smiled.
"It's too early for bad puns, Mom! You are going to scramble my brains!" Mom smiled and giggled at your own bad pun. She was growing accustomed to being called mom again, and every time you referred to her that way it seemed to bring a bigger smile to her face each time. You sat at the table and were served your breakfast. It was only when you began to dig in did you become very dizzy, very suddenly. Your mom must have sensed it, or seen it on your face because she asked.
"Are you okay, Frisk? Perhaps you should take it easy today." You vigorously shake your head, making the dizzy spell only worse, but no matter what you were determined to hang out with everyone. You hadn't seen them much after coming above ground, as you had Ambassador duties to attend to and everyone else was settling down. Honestly, you were beginning to feel lonely. Your mom gave you a face, then shifted into a weak grin.
"Take things easy today with your friends, my child. Do not stress yourself." You smile and nod, the dizzy spell fading already. You ate, but it wasn't as much as you usually ate. You thought your stomach must be a tad upset. You bring the dishes up, kiss your mom on her soft furry cheek, and make a mad dash to the door. You make little time in getting on your snow boots and jacket and rush into the cold chill that was outside.
New New Home had been built in a matter of days, and it made you wonder just how useful your friends magic really was. While some were building homes from scratch, like Undyne, who's old house burned to the ground, and Alphys, who was kicked out of their old lab after being fired as Royal Scientist, others were taking apart and rebuilding their homes from below and bringing them above. Everyone had been too busy or too excited to spend much time with you and you were absolutely fine with that. You needed the time to think. Everything had happened so fast. In the beginning, after you had reached the surface, it had seemed like your whirlwind adventure had come to an end. Now, you were sure the Underground had been a walk in the park. Toriel and Asgore had asked you if you wanted to be Ambassador of the Monsters, and you had gladly accepted. That meant that when it came to your friends reemergence, it fell to you to straighten out the details and gain the humans support. So far, it had not been easy. Humans were hesitant to say the least, many outright xenophobic (a word you had only recently learned from your studies, something that has consumed virtually all of your free time). Humans were stubborn and stuck in their ways, Frisk knew that. However after days of work, arguing, debating, and nails bitten to the nub, the monsters were given land to stay on- the land right outside of Mt. Ebott. Frisk had brokered the deal so that soon more supplies and funds would trickle into the town. At least you hoped it would. These were all things that plagued your mind as you walked down the block to Sans and Papyrus' new home.
The skeleton bros too had built from scratch, but to you it looked the exact same. You walked up their perfectly shoveled driveway, the handiwork of Papyrus, up to the front door. You knocked, and then stood waiting for a response. There was a loud crashing sound coming from inside and you couldn't help but giggle. It sounded like Papyrus, in his haste, tripped and fell down the stairs, not funny in that of itself until you began hearing Sans berating his brother with bad jokes and puns about his mishap. It took a good minute or two before Sans answered the door, obviously ordered to by the currently preoccupied Papyrus.
"*hey kid. You're here kinda early. alphys and undyne haven't even showed up yet." He smiled, then again, Sans was always smiling. He wore the same grin plastered to his face. His eyes were tired looking, or, how ever a skeletons eye sockets could appear tired. He gave you the once over, and you gave him a look. Sans' appearance never really changed; he always wore a turtleneck (that seemed to be getting a bit dingy, you thought, perhaps Christmas present idea?) or an ironic/ punny tee-shirt, with basketball shorts and the same bright blue jacket that he never zipped up and always smelled of grease when he brought you in for a hug. Today he was wearing a tee-shirt that said in comic sans font "Periodically, I say a joke that knocks the O2 right outta ya." You always wondered where he got such bad tees.
"*oh, you want to come in. 'wondered why you were just standing there." He opened the door wide and you walked in. The living room was the same as it was in Snowdin, though the wallpaper was a different shade and the furniture was newer. You took off your snow boots but didn't bother taking off your jacket. Soon after coming Aboveground, you learned the skeleton brothers did not feel the cold, so they never turn on their heater, so it was as cold inside as it was out. That explained how Papyrus wore his battle armor without freezing. You lined them up next to the door and took a seat next to Sans on the couch. Papyrus had made it into the kitchen, and was busy cooking. You didn't have the heart nor the appetite to wonder what delicious pasta he was butchering into something completely inedible.
"HELLO, DEAR HUMAN. I, THE GREAT PAPYRUS, AM PREPARING A MIGHTY FEAST FOR YOUR DAY OF RELAXATION! NYEHEHE!" He ran over, leaned down to give you a hug, then rushed back to the kitchen. He was wearing a sweater with little fall leaves dancing around his waist and sleeves, the colors a muted tone to match the leaves that had fallen and littered the ground just a few days before the sudden snowfall. He had on a pair of jeans that sagged around his bones, and you found yourself curious as to how they didn't fall off.
"*so kid, you excited about today?" Sans asked, his voice slightly monotonous with a tinge of affection. You nod. It would be a day of snow forts and snowball fights, snowman building and snow angel making, and after everyone grew tired of that everyone was going to settle down with hot cocoa and Alphys' new anime obsession. It would be a great day to take your mind off things.
"*tori called earlier. if you're not feelin' okay, just holler. you do look kinda pale, kid, we could just relax for the day. tibia honest, i am perfectly fine with doing nothing. you know how much of a lazy bones i am." You grin, but inside you know he is right. You weren't feeling too hot, actually, you were feeling really hot, but still you kept on your jacket. You make a face thinking about this revelation. A moment later, you looked up and gave the skeleton a wide grin.
"I'm fine! I can play all day with you guys! I've been really excited to go sledding with Papyrus and Undyne and make snow piles with you, Sans!" Sans giggled at that.
"*as long as you're up to it kid, we will play all day if you want." His smile grew and he threw his arm around your shoulder.
"*wanna watch TV till undyne and alphys get here?" You nod. As the only house in New New Home that received cable, Sans and Papyrus were your go-to spot in the first few days to watch and study politicians debate and talk. That part was your studying, though you admit you occasionally flipped between that and your favorite cartoon when things were getting tedious in the debate. Sans flipped on the TV and together you began to watch a bad sci-fi movie about monsters. Sans at every opportunity made fun of the inaccuracy of it, and you couldn't help but laugh. Meanwhile, Papyrus busied himself in the kitchen, and while you felt kinda bad for not asking if he needed help, you also knew that you would have spent the next hour hearing about how, the Great Papyrus, is an expert chef who needs no help from anyone but master chef Undyne. You could smell burning, and hear the occasional "NYEH" or "I AM A GENIUS" escape the kitchen. You roll your eyes as you can only think about the indescribable tastes you have will face later.
It was an hour later when Alphys and Undyne arrived. Alphys said hello and gave you a small, cute hug before retreating over to the TV and setting up her anime collection for later. She had on a long brown sweater and bright blue scarf that fell to her ankles. You thought she looked so tiny and cute you wanted to hug her again, but before you could Undyne came over and tried to suplex you. You knew how badly that would hurt, with or without hurt ribs, and opted to initiate the hug by going for her long legs. She blushed, but quickly recovered by leaning down and messing up your hair. She matched her girlfriend, but the colors were inverted. The bright blue of her sweater brought out the red of her hair, which you noted, was longer and tied up. Her eye patch was gone, with just a strip of bangs covering that eye. Goodness, these two were just too cute for you to handle.
"So kid, what we gonna do today? Fight? Make snow forts? PELT OUR ENEMIES IN A HOLY HAIL OF SNOWBALL-FURY?" Undyne gave you a toothy grin. You released her legs and ran for the door, slipping on your boots and you began shacking from excitement. Was it excitement? You couldn't tell. No matter what, you were going to play in the snow, have fun, and enjoy your friends company for the short time you could. You were determined to have fun. Sans snickered.
"*looks like the kid ain't waitin' around." He hoped off the couch and slipped on his slippers. He zipped up his trademark hoodie and you ran out the door as quickly as you could. He followed you outside, and so did everyone else. Papyrus was the last out, as he was no doubt putting out a fire or two and setting his meal on simmer.
You all began simple- snowmen. Undyne and Papyrus started to build a snow sculpture together until Sans had to say something.
"*hey, ya know, those look great, bro. but i can't help but wonder... are you just throwin' undyne a bone and lettin' her off easy? 'cause there isn't another human or monster that can build a snowman like you, bro." This began the Great Snowmen Massacre (no monster snowmen were hurt in this competition). It took many attempts, many snowmen ambushes, and their subsequent destruction until finally you declared it a draw between Papyrus and Undyne. Personally, you liked Alphys' try at making the main character of the Mew Mew anime she loved to watch, but you didn't want to see it destroyed in a fury of Undyne. During the chaos, you took it upon yourself to bury Sans (who had laid down and fallen asleep at some point in the snowman competition he started) and shape the snow around him like a giant robot. Alphys had helped when you got stuck on what to do.
Next came the most epic snowball battle in history. Undyne, with great passion, made a massive arsenal of tightly packed snowball. Papyrus and yourself built a fort out of Sans, who had since woken up but refused to move. Just as you began making your own arsenal of snow, snow hurled at incredible speeds began whizzing through the fort and the surrounding air. You ducked, and one barely missed you, but to your left Papyrus, who was much larger and taller than you, took one to the chest. He was thrown back about ten feet. You managed to flee to your fallen friend, and swore to him vengeance. Together you came up with a plan. Papyrus stood, and walked over to the rampaging fish, and offered to her the opportunity to train. Undyne dropped her loaded snowball and cracked her knuckles.
"Oh, THIS is going to be fun. What are we practicing today? Are we sparring? Fighting? ATTACKING?" She asked, her grin growing.
"NO, WE ARE PRACTICING DODGING." And before Undyne could speak up, Papyrus ducked and you threw a snowball as hard as you could. Hit her right between the eyes. Her fury grew red hot, and her fins on her the side of her face spread in anger. She yelled, smiling of course, and scooped up as much snow as she could into a large boulder-shaped snowball. Instinctively you and Papyrus looked to each other and ran. She chased you around the yard until finally you hid behind Fort Sans (who was giggling and making wise cracks about, well, everything). It seemed Undyne forgot Sans was there and tripped over him as she tried to plow through the fort, causing all four of you to tumble and fall. Sans didn't even wait.
"That situation sure snowballed." He laughed while Undyne and Papyrus yelled at him, smiling. They didn't stop until they noticed you weren't making a sound. They looked over to see you hugging your sides. The fall had only aggravated your ribs and you think you opened up your cut even more. It burned. You were burning up. Everyone huddled around you.
"*kid, you okay? you didn't take that hard a hit, did ya?"
"HUMAN, ARE YOU ALL RIGHT? YOU LOOK PALE FOR A HUMAN. AND I SHOULD KNOW, I HAVE BECOME FRIENDS WITH MANY!"
Sans leaned right in front of you and looked you straight in the eye. His floating white pupils were studying your face and you tried to hide you pain as best you could. It didn't seem to be working.
"*kid, you don't look alright. let's get ya inside and relax for a bit then call it a day, okay?" He picked you up like a little kid and carried you inside. Alphys, who had slipped out from the commotion and headed inside, sat with hot cocoa in her lap as she readied a spot on the floor for her and Undyne to share. She seemed to have been busy because on the table laid a mug of cocoa for each of you. Sans sat you down on the couch and took off his jacket and covered you in it. You were thankfully for the gesture. You were shivering, but you didn't feel cold at all, just really hot and sweaty, and all of a sudden, really tired. Your side hurt, and you couldn't help but hide your hand underneath the jacket to put pressure on your cut. Everyone settled in around you, Papyrus to you side on the couch and Undyne and Alphys snuggled on the floor. Sans brought over your hot cocoa then sat next to you. Alphys turned on episode one of the anime and you all began to watch. Not long into the show your head began to swim and feel much, much heavier. You rested it on Sans' shoulder. He gave you a lingering glance, but you gave him a reassuring smile. He returned a small grin and continued watching. Then your eyelids began to feel heavy, and slowly they fluttered down. It started becoming hard to breathe.
"*kid?" Sans whispered, twisting his bones to look at you. Your head fell into his lap as it slipped from his shoulder. You remember his sockets growing wide but his pupils shrinking to a pinpoint, and then him yelling. The rest you don't recall.