Chapter 4: Helping Out

Frisk wanted to explore the rest of the monster's town and ran up ahead on the path while Sans and Papyrus followed. "I almost forgot that kids were a bundle of energy," Sans said jokingly.

Papyrus chuckled. "Yes, especially Frisk," he said, reaching into the front pocket of his brick-red hoodie and pulling out some soft fruit chews, holding his hand out to his brother for him to pick one.

"Thanks, bro," the short skeleton said, choosing a red fruit chew while the tall skeleton chose a pink one and they continued walking before seeing Frisk pause and grow curious about one of the few stores in the town. "Look. She found Grillby's store."

The little girl was very curious about the store that painted a soft white and the windows sparkled, giving her a mirror view of herself and giving her a clear view of the inside. Seeing someone in there and hearing humming that was sounding similar to Undyne's when she hummed the monster's lullaby, the six-year-old went to the open door and went inside.

Grillby had just set down a crate of apples to check them over and decide what to put out for sale and to use in a pie when he saw a bit of purple out of the corner of his eye and turned to find the young child standing there and he blinked before coming out from where he was to make sure he wasn't seeing things.

Frisk looked up to see a person that was literally a walking flame dressed in a white, long-sleeved shirt, long white slacks, and white dress shoes. Her small face had a look of amazement that made Grillby chuckle. "Hello," he said pleasantly.

She looked very shy and gave a small wave, which made the fire monster chuckle again before he gestured around. "Take a look around and tell me what you like, little one," he said.

Her face brightening, the little girl set to explore while Grillby went back to looking over the apples and set some aside to make some pies before going over some of the other supplies he had, spotting the young child looking at some of the fruit candy he had in stock and she was curiously reading the labels, tilting her head to the side as if concentrating and from the looks of it, trying to pronounce some of the words, a hunch proved true when he got closer and heard her trying to pronounce 'cinnamon'. "Cinnamon," he supplied helpfully.

"What's that?" She asked.

"It's a sweet-smelling spice used in baking and other things," he answered, showing her some cinnamon sticks and she breathed in the aroma and smiled.

"I like that scent," she said.

"It's one of my favorites too," he said as he noticed she looked at another word and bit her lip thoughtfully.

"Butter…sc…otch. Butterscotch," she said.

"Very good," he said with a smile. "What is your favorite flavor?"

"Grape," she said instantly.

Grillby reached for a grape fruit stick and handed it to her. "Here you are," he said, smiling.

Stunned, she smiled. "Thank you!" She said excitedly and hugged him, making him blink in surprise, but he chuckled and returned the hug, scooping her up in his arms and continuing with his work as she ate the treat and watched him curiously.

Sans chuckled as he entered the store and Papyrus also smiled. "Hello, Grillby," the tall skeleton greeted.

"What's up?" Sans asked with a wave.

"The ceiling!" Frisk said instantly, giggling when she heard the three chuckle at that.

"That's a first," Grillby said.

"What?" The little girl said.

"Sans letting someone take his punch line," the fire monster said.

The orange-hoodie wearing skeleton shrugged. "I don't mind," he said with a smile. "Whatcha got in today, Grillbz?"

"Some fresh fruit and a few other things," he said. "Seems the police brought up a bit more this time for our stores."

Papyrus sighed at that. "If only we could go into town and do so instead of waiting for them to bring the food once a week," he said softly.

Frisk didn't like the silence that filled the store and she rested her head on Grillby's shoulder, to which he smiled gently at her and patted her head with a gentle hand. Sans instantly snapped his fingers to activate his telekinesis and made the apples Grillby had set aside for pie to move around in the air. Papyrus glanced at his brother curiously before getting a gleam in his eye. "Sans, do you need a hand?" He asked with a smile.

"Just a couple of them," the shorter skeleton answered as the apples began flying around the room gently with Papyrus grabbing the ones that came close to him and tossing them carefully to Grillby, who caught them with his free hand. Frisk, mesmerized by the show, giggled and clapped, holding out her hands to catch one. Sans winked at Papyrus, who winked back as he gently tossed the apple towards the little girl and Sans used his telekinesis to slow it down so that it fell gently into the small hands.

Frisk's face lit up as she 'caught' the apple, making the three monsters chuckle in amusement as Grillby then gently poked the little girl's stomach, making giggles pour out of her mouth as she handed him the fruit and he set it aside. "Well, I've got some more things to set up," the fire monster said.

"Can I help?"

Frisk's eager question made the three smile and the brothers nodded. "Why not?" Papyrus said. "Would that be alright with you, Grillby?"

The store owner nodded and the two skeletons and little girl helped him out and a few of the other monsters that came into the store noticed the young girl and their faces not only lit up but took on awed looks as the six-year-old was helping set things up and even greeting the customers that came in, making them smile and even Grillby smiled and after he closed up, the fire monster picked up Frisk and the three monsters began walking to their homes.

Grillby's home was near the skeleton brothers home, which was a good distance from his store and Frisk rested her head on the fire monster's shoulder, a small yawn leaving her mouth. Sans noticed and smiled. "Hey, Grillby, Frisk would love it if you sang the monster's lullaby to her," he said.

Seeing Frisk turn her head so that she was facing him while still keeping her head on his shoulder, Grillby nodded and hummed a moment to warm up his voice.

"Look up, see those bright stars,

They're the nightlights of nature,

The moon loves to touch the Earth,

Just as the sun does in the day.

"A star, the moon, and sun,

Three of a kind up there,

But all share the sky above,

With no quarrel or qualm.

They even make room for a cloud,

Happy to allow another to share the sky with.

All four are part of you and me,

Need all four to have the sky we do,

Each in balance every day,

The cloud, sun, star, and moon."

Frisk went still in Grillby's arms and all three saw she was sound asleep as they made it to the fire monster's home and he gently handed Frisk to Papyrus. "She makes me remember my wish," he said.

"What wish is that, Grillbz?" Sans asked.

"To have a child of my own someday," Grillby answered softly.

The brothers fell silent at that and Papyrus was first to speak. "I'm sure it will happen," he said. "Frisk accepts us and if we return her to her family, surely that will help other humans see that we're like them."

"That would be awesome," Sans said in agreement as they wished their friend a good night before heading for home. "Yeah, that would be awesome," the short skeleton repeated softly.

Papyrus looked at Frisk and smiled at seeing her asleep. "Yes," he said just as softly in agreement.

So, Frisk has met four of the monsters and so far has made friends with them. Next chapter: can the six-year-old help someone who only appears when his lullaby is played? Stay tuned! :)

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GoldGuardian2418