"Bravery"

"Ugh!" Undyne groaned from the couch, trying to flip through the channels as they all waited for Sans to get back, only to realise that the TV had been unplugged for quite a while. She could have been at the beach for crying out loud! "When is he getting here?!"

"FEAR NOT! MY BROTHER MAY BE LAZY BUT I ASSURE YOU HE'S DOING HIS BEST!" Papyrus said aloud, sitting on one of the many cardboard boxes stacked in the sitting room.

"But they're hours away! How is he supposed to get here without a plane ticket?"

The door clicked open, revealing Sans, Asgore and Frisk standing in the doorway. The older skeleton apologised as he entered the room. "hey everyone, sorry it took so long. 'Gore just got out of a meeting so we had to take a shortcut."

"Sans, we were just in Washington. How did we get to Snowdin so fast?" The king of monsters asked, looking confusedly into the nearly-bare home. He was wearing an ill-fitted plum-coloured suit that seemed to be mimicking his old robes. Frisk stood by his side in an even more ill-fitted suit.

"And I was in Miami in the middle of a mud bath. By now I've stopped asking questions." Mettaton whined from his place in the corner, leaning against the wall with a muddy towel wrapped around his Ex form's waist.

"A-any way!" Alphys stammered nervously, sitting next to Undyne. "Why did you call us all here Sans? If you needed a f-favour you could've just asked."

"oh. i don't need a favour. she does." He gestured to the stairs where two figures were making their descent.

The room gasped.

"Hello everyone." Toriel greeted everyone, a small human holding her hand. "I'm glad Sans was able to get you all here safely."

"HELLO YOUR MAJESTY! HOW HAVE YOU BEEN?" Papyrus waved from his box before looking frantically between Frisk and the other human child. "AND WHY ARE THERE TWO FRISKS?"

"That's not me Paps." Frisk signed, clearly tired from their time in Washington. "That's a girl."

"WOWIE! A NOT-FRISK!" He got up, giving the girl the widest smile possible whilst shaking her hand. "I HOPE WE BECOME GREAT FRIENDS NOT-FRISK!"

"Papyrus, please. It has been a long day for her." Toriel asked. The skeleton nodded and backed away happily to his seat. The queen then turned to speak to the rest of the room. "Everyone. Meet Jade. She will be staying with me for the foreseeable future."

"Oh! That's fine!" Undyne replied, looking relieved. "You adopted another kid! I thought it was something really serious."

"Do I have to share my room?" Frisk signed, more concerned about their bed than their new step-sibling. "Cause I'm not down for that right now."

"Frisk! Don't be rude." Toriel chided, laughing as she tousled the smaller child's hair.

"Tori..." Asgore suddenly spoke up, looking worse for wear. "She looks... very familiar."

Toriel's eyes stared straight through him. "As she should. For you see. She didn't come from any orphanage. She fell down in the Ruins."

The fish-woman commented first. "Whoa! Even with the barrier broken kids still fall down here? Some things never change!"

"Isn't that k-kinda illegal?" Alphys asked, eyes flickering across the room. "I mean h-her parents could be l-looking for her."

"I'm getting to that." The goat monsters explained, diverting her attention to the one across the room. "Asgore. What was the colour of the first soul you harvested?"

The king shuffled uncomfortably. "It was a very long time ago Tori... but I think it had been the light blue one I believe?" He looked down at his feet, shame visible on his face.

"Check her. What colour is her soul?"

"It's... light blue? Tori... what are you trying to say?" His voice hitched as he looked at the small girl.

Jade stepped forward and wrapped her arms around the king.

The king gasped, the realisation hitting him like a ton of bricks. The coffins back in the castle. They had been empty after the barrier was broken. He had assumed that the SOULS had escaped and passed on as human souls often do. But her eyes... the colour of her soul...

His arms wrapped around her, almost completely covering her small form. "My child... I'm so sorry. I am so very sorry." His eyes were misty as he held onto the child, all but whimpering out apology after apology.

"I forgive you Mr Dreemurr. You were trying your best."

Asgore drew in a sharp breath and let the tears fall freely.

For in that moment he felt as though all of his sins were forgiven.

"HEY!" The knightly woman broke the silence. The whole room turned to stare at her. "Sorry for breaking up this beautiful moment, but I have no idea what's going on!"

Jade broke from the hug and explained with a clear voice. "I, along with the other lost souls, have resurrected following the destruction of the barrier. I was among the first to awaken and was able to find my way back to the Ruins, but... " She paused, looking very fearful. "The others are still out there. I wasn't able to find them when I came to and I fear that they are wandering the Underground alone and confused."

Toriel stepped in as the girl's eyes began to water. "That is why I've called you all here today. All of my children are out there I need you all to help me find them."

"WHAT?" Frisk signed wildly, the rest of their words undecipherable as they came out in a blur.

"But t-that's impossible! No amount of Determination could allow a human to come back fully. T-then again, we know so little about human s-souls." The scientist mumbled to herself, looking at Jade critically. "Plus it might be dangerous..."

"So we just gotta round up some human brats?" Undyne mused before exclaiming. "I'll do it!"

"O-oh! So will I!" Alphys said, changing her attitude upon hearing her partner's answer.

"Oh what the hell. I was missing the ol' Underground anyway." Mettaton agreed after a moment of thought. "Plus the presses go mad for this sort of story."

"WONDERFUL! NOW... WHERE DO WE START?" Papyrus asked, turning back towards Toriel. "THERE WERE SIX SOULS YES? THEN THAT LEAVES AT LEAST FIVE UNACCOUNTED FOR."

The queen seemed to be lost in thought for a moment before answering. "Well with Jade here that leaves... three boys and two girls left. All with different soul types. The youngest being five years old and the eldest around eleven I believe?"

"thats a good start." Sans commented, looking around the room. "hmm. looks like we might have to spilt up though. five kids, six people might be-"

"Hey. Where's Frisk?" Undyne asked, pointing towards the spot where the kid once stood.

"huh?" The skeleton looked around confusedly before sighing loudly. "alright. make that six kids, six people then. don't worry, i think i know where they ran off to. good luck guys." With that he walked out the door, all but disappearing into the cold night.

"TYPICAL." Papyrus broke the silence, looking a bit peeved. "FRISK CAN'T RESIST THE CHANCE TO EXPLORE. AND MY BROTHER CAN'T RESIST THE CHANCE TO NAP." He huffed a bit before declaring loudly. "I SHALL DO MY PATROL AROUND SNOWDIN FOREST. I SUSPECT AT LEAST ONE OF THE CHILDREN MIGHT BE THERE."

"Me and Alphys will both go down to Waterfall. Monster kids used to get lost in the caverns all the time." The fish-woman said, holding her partner's hand. Alphys nodded in reply.

"Then Hotland is my territory. No doubt the little beauties will be attracted to my resort. Gives them a little sense of home." Mettaton boasted, posing dramatically to a camera that wasn't there.

"Tori..."

The room went silent once more.

Asgore still stood at the other side of the room, Jade still holding on to his suit jacket.

"Would it be all right that I join them as well? I feel ungodly terrible for what I have done. It would only be fair that I help these children instead of hurting them even further." The king's face was a stiff frown, red salty streaks marring his eyes.

The queen seemed reluctant, considering past events. She sighed heavily. "Fine. You may join the search party."

"Thank you Tori. I'll-"

"HOWEVER." She cut him off, giving him a stern glare, the same used for whenever she spoke to an unruly child. "You must understand Asgore. These children may not be as forgiving as Jade is. At least one may attempt to Fight you. Promise me that you will Spare them. They have been through so much."

The king nodded determinedly, straightening his back. "On my honour. No harm shall ever again befall the human children."

"Then it's settled then." Toriel gave an elated smile, clapping her hands together. "Me and Jade will stay here until everyone else returns. When you find the children, please come back to Snowdin so we can regroup."

"YEAH!" the room echoed with cheers, emptying out within seconds as the posse left for their hunt. Leaving Jade and her adoptive mother alone in the house.

It was silent for another minute before the young girl asked. "Mother? Why did you say five children?"

"Because there were five others with you. Was there not?" The goat-monster wondered, suddenly a mite concerned. "Was there others with you?"

"Not really." Jade replied, looking more puzzled. Deciding to drop the subject. After all, she could mention the others when the posse got back.

/X\

Snowdin Forest was quiet.

No, scratch that. It was completely silent.

No. It was absolutely and utterly desolate.

Papyrus trudged through the snow. Taking a familiar route around the whole area. The regular residents of the forest had long since evacuated to the pine and ash groves that blanketed the outside of Mount Ebott, leaving their home forest empty.

"Now if i were a small, impressionable human child. Where would I go to?" He though to himself, slowly making his way to the long bridge when an idea popped into his head. "OF COURSE! PUZZLES!"

He galloped over to the series of puzzles he had originally set for Frisk when they'd first passed through. But was ultimately disappointed when he found no signs of life around any of them. Not even mice were present.

As he dejectedly walked back through the forest, he let out a sad sigh. "HOW TERRIBLE THAT TODAY'S YOUTH WOULD SQUANDER THEIR YEARS BY NOT SOLVING PUZZLES! WHY WHEN I WAS THEIR AGE I WAS- NOT VERY GOOD AT READING OR FINE MOTOR CONTROL. BUT HEY EVERYONE GOES AT THEIR OWN PACE."

A snowball hit the back of his head, shaking him out of his thoughts.

"HMM? WHO THREW THAT?" He wondered out loud, taking notice of how the nearby bushes rustled as he spoke. With a sly grin he made his way over to the patch of undergrowth, pretending to talk to the air. "IF YOU ARE A HUMAN, IT WOULD BE GREAT IF YOU SHOWED YOURSELF. AFTER ALL, I'M JUST A WEE SKELETON- AHA!"

Pulling back the branches, his smile fell when he saw a bundle of white fluff sitting in the middle of the bush, chewing on a discarded bone. The skeleton paled when he realised that it was part of his ruined special attack.

"YOU MANGY MUTT!" He yelled at the dog, startling it out of it's hiding spot. Spewing insults at the animal as it playfully circled his feet. "YOU CHOLERIC CANINE! YOU BOISTEROUS BEAST! YOU-"

Another snowball smacked him in the face. His anger forgotten, he wiped the slush from his eyes and was shocked to see small figure right in front of him.

"Ha! I got you twice!" The creature laughed loudly, the annoying dog abandoning it's bone to run over to it. The creature continued to giggle and screech as it and the troublesome animal played like a pair of young puppies. Tossing half-hearted snowballs behind it.

Papyrus stood there slack-jawed for a solid minute before pulling out his phone.

"Hello, this is Toriel speaking." a soft voice came from the speaker.

"HELLO, YOUR MAJESTY."

"Oh! Hello Papyrus! You haven't found something already have you?"

The skeleton was silent for a moment before answering. "MAYBE?"

The kind voice continued, unaware of the sounds of play in the background. "Anything will help us at this stage dear. Now what have you found?"

"IT'S SMALL. HAS BLACK HAIR. AND IS NOW CURRENTLY DRAWING A DOG IN THE SNOW RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME."

"Oh!" The voice's tone raised. "Papyrus! You've found one of them! Wait... Is it a little boy in nightclothes?"

Papyrus gave the supposed child a nice long look before confirming. "YES. HIS SHIRT SAYS SOMETHING ABOUT A MOUSTACHIOED MAN NAMED MARIO."

"I know exactly who you're talking about!" Toriel's excitement was palatable, he could even hear her hand shake as she let out a happy sound. "His name is Tan. I believe he is about seven years old? He was the happiest bundle of energy I ever laid my eyes on..." He voice drifted off, now sounding a bit sad.

Papyrus knocked out of her funk. "WELL THEN! I BELIEVE I'VE FOUND HIM. NOW ALL I HAVE TO DO IS-"

He looked down and was dismayed to see that the human and the dog were no longer to be seen, a small trail of footprints leading farther into the woods. The skeleton's words died in his throat, instead coming out as a painful wheeze.

"Papyrus dear. Are you all right?" Toriel asked worriedly. "Is the child okay?"

"OH! OF COURSE YOUR MAJESTY!" He lied through his teeth, fast walking through the path, trying to catch up with the child. "JUST PLAYING A LITTLE GAME OF TAG."

"Make sure not to stay out too long! It is so dreadfully cold tonight. I hope to see you soon dear."

"GOODBYE YOUR MAJESTY!" He quickly hung up, now sprinting down the trail.

He could hear the laughs and barks ahead of him. Every so often he'd catch a glimpse of the child before turning a corner or getting a face-full of snow yet again. Even as Papyrus called out his name, the tiny human seemed far more interested in playing instead of conversation.

"You can't catch me!" The child now known as Tan yelled over his shoulder. His pyjama bottoms dirtied with mud and snow, and his face sullied with small scratches and leaves.

Papyrus was having trouble keeping up. Toriel wasn't lying when she said that the boy was a bundle of energy. "NOW TINY HUMAN IF WE COULD SETTLE THIS LIKE RATIONAL SENTIENT BEINGS, MAYBE WE COULD-"

"Nope!"

Another snowball hit him square in the chest, slowing his pace and making him lose sight of his target. The skeleton made a shuddering sound as the snow melted into his clothes.

"ARE YOU NOT AFRAID OF HEIGHTS, OR DOGS, OR CATCHING A COLD?"

"Nope!" The answer was more distant this time, the snowball landing a foot away from it's intended target.

"YOU ARE A VERY BRAVE YOUNG MAN! THE ROYAL GUARD WOULD BE GLAD TO HAVE YOU!" Papyrus yelled in an impressed tone, thinking of the best compliment he could.

After ten minutes and no sign of the kid, the skeleton was ready to give up when he noticed the child's footprints were beginning to get closer and closer together. With one last burst of energy, Papyrus sprinted forwards and finally caught up with his mark.

"AHA TINY HUMAN! YOU HAVE FINALLY BEEN CAPTURED BY THE GREAT PAPYRUS! IF YOU SURRENDER NOW YOU WILL... TINY HUMAN?"

Lying there face first in the snow, did Tan lie. The annoying dog let out a string of scared high-pitched yips, circling the fallen human and pulling at his clothes with it's teeth. He wasn't moving.

"Oh no... NONONONONONONONONO!" Papyrus all but swooped in, scooping the child into his bony arms. Pressing an ungloved hand to the boy's face he could feel that the skin was burning up. "PLEASE DON'T DIE TINY HUMAN! TORIEL WILL BE SO UPSET!"

There was no response. The child's breathing was quick and strained, sounding more like a squeal.

"OH NO. OH DEAR. UM... I'LL TAKE YOU HOME! I'VE GOT MEDICINE, AND BLANKETS, AND MAYBE SOME 5-STAR SPAGHETTI IF YOU CAN STOMACH IT."

Any energy lost in the game was instantly returned to the skeleton, who began all but galloping from field to field, gliding from ledge to ledge, crossing clearings in one big stride. All as a small, helpless child was held protectively in his arms.

And a small annoying dog followed after him.

/X\

"YOUR MAJESTY, A BLANKET PLEASE!"

Toriel's heart jumped into her throat as the younger of the two skeletons burst through the door, an orange-soul child lying limply in his arms.

"Oh dear lord!" She gasped, feeling the human's forehead. "He's burning up! Jade sweetheart, please fill the tub with lukewarm water. If it's too hot he'll get even sicker."

The girl nodded and ran to the bathroom, accidentally knocking over loose junk as she struggled to find it, eventually finding it connected to the kitchen.

The goat-monster took the boy into her arms and was shocked to find that his pyjamas were completely soaked to the bone and the tips of his toes were turning a strange blue tinge.

"How did this happen Papyrus?" She demanded, glaring at the taller monster.

Papyrus's tiredness finally caught up with him and he began to pant and wheeze. "WE... WEREN'T PLAYING TAG. HE RAN AWAY FROM ME AS I FINISHED OUR PHONE CALL. I JUST FOUND HIM LYING DOWN LIKE THIS."

"Your poor dear." She whispered to the boy in her arms, painful memories flashing before her eyes.

"Mother! The bath is ready." Jade called from the bathroom.

The two adults made their way into the bathroom, the little boy still slack in the queen's arms. He put up little resistance as he was striped of his pyjamas and placed into the room-temperature water. It was now mostly a task of warming him up until there was no more threat of hypothermia.

Toriel used a small yellow sponge to wipe him down, the boy sleepily lying against her arm. "He didn't show any signs of being fatigued or anything?"

Papyrus shook his head, rubbing his thumb over the child's wet forehead. "HE DIDN'T LET ON FOR ONE MINUTE THAT HE WAS TIRED. SUCH A BRAVE YOUNG MAN!"

"I know he is." She wrung the wet sponge over Tan's head, gaining a groan of protest as his hair was soaked. "He was also a terror to watch. He didn't even ask to leave the Ruins. I turned around one day and then he was gone. I think he was excited to meet everyone beyond the door..."

She grew quiet, now deciding that his temperature had risen adequately and lifted him out of the bath. Papyrus wrapped an oversized towel over his body as Jade did the same to his head.

"A few days later I had heard that he had... passed on. The details were vague but... he apparently went missing from the town few day prior and they had found him..." Her voice cracked as tears welled up in her eyes.

"I'LL RETRIEVE ONE OF MY OLD NIGHTCLOTHES FOR HIM." The younger monster stated, realising that the queen was close to crying. He swiftly went up the stairs into his room. After a small amount of time and a lot of crashing around, he returned. In his hands was a pair of slightly greyed pyjama pants with a star pattern and a much too large t-shirt with the words Tune Squad plastered in front of a space themed background.

Tan, who was now vaguely awake, seemed to recognise the symbol on the front of the shirt and held up his arms so the skeleton could slip it on him. After one last rub down with the towel, he was fully dressed and absolutely tired.

Without needing instructions, Papyrus scooped up the child and brought him upstairs to his bedroom. Upon seeing the racecar bed, Tan let out a small "Vroom vroom!" as the skeleton tucked him in.

With a small tousle of the hair, Tan was out like a light. The tall skeleton made sure that the pillow was secure before turning down the lights, looking back one last time to make sure that the child was still there. Closing the door, he let out a contented sigh.

Toriel stared blankly at him.

"HM? WHAT SEEMS TO BE TROUBLING YOU MY QUEEN?"

The goat-monster shook herself from her thoughts and replied. "You never struck me as a fatherly type before Papyrus."

The skeleton looked suddenly embarrassed and scratched the back of his neck. "I WAS SIMPLY EMULATING WHAT SANS USED TO DO FOR ME WHEN I WAS BUT A BABY BONES. I FIGURED IT WOULD WORK ON THE TINY HUMAN."

"And that it did wonderfully." Toriel praised, leading the younger monster down the stairs. "Come, Jade wishes to hear about your tales as a guard."

Papyrus didn't need to be told twice.

Notes: Hope you enjoy this one. Two down ? to go! I also added a lit Popyrus into this. I'm not sure if I should have all of the kids be raised by the main OT3 or let the others had one or two.