Oh my gosh guys! Thank you so much for the nice reviews! You're really keeping my motivation going!

So, I've been told that this chapter isn't very good, and here I am posting it anyway, haha. Sorry fam.

Before you read this chapter, I have some things to explain.

First of all, this one is a bit shorter than the others, and is mostly just a transition. I didn't really want to get to the majority of Snowdin yet because then this chapter would be unbearably long and convoluted, so I broke it off a bit early. Also, I skipped the Toriel fight and Flowey's reappearance because this isn't Frisk's story and while there's probably not going to be any major changes, I can toy with the events a little. I didn't know how to go about writing a Toriel fight without Dean fighting back because he would've been so betrayed by the turn of events, and maybe Toriel just thought they might be safer with each other. I don't know. Also there's a fourth-wall break in this chapter that I tried to delete out but I couldn't bring myself to, so sorry about that lol.

Again, thanks for favoriting, following, and reviewing!


Toriel returned a few moments later, carrying a small, horrendously yellow backpack in her hands.

"Here you are," she said softly. Dean accepted the bag and tucked the plate of pie safely inside for later.

"Follow me, young ones," she continued gravely, and turned for the set of stairs leading to what Dean assumed was the basement. Why hadn't they seen it earlier and investigated? Probably because the author forgot the details.

Thank whatever higher power that Dean didn't believe in that Sam reluctantly slid off his chair and trailed after Toriel and his brother.

The basement was long and dark, and Dean immediately let his guard back up. After all, he couldn't afford to get soft now, of all times. He had to be prepared.

They finally stopped before a large, purple door bearing the same symbol as the one on Toriel's dress. Toriel didn't say anything for a few moments, and Dean took the chance to once again check his little brother.

Sammy was still definitely moping, arms crossed over his chest and eyes never straying from the ground. Two clear scuff lines in the dusty purple floor led right up to the younger boy from where he'd dragged his feet along zombie-like.

Dean, much to his irritation, felt a pang of sympathy for him, but his brother's happiness unfortunately had to be addressed at a later time, preferably when they were back to the surface and didn't have a million different threats hanging over their heads.

"This is the exit," Toriel finally began, voice heavy. "If you truly wish to leave the Ruins... Then I will not stop you. However, when you leave... Please do not come back."

"Why not!" Sam suddenly interrupted, and Dean winced. "Why can't we at least come visit?"

"She doesn't want us to," Dean snapped. He understood- at least, he was pretty sure he did. It made sense for her to leave them, too. "And we won't be able to anyway," he continued, just because he knew Sam would need more reasoning than that. "What? Did you expect us to jump down that freaking hole every weekend to come say hi?"

"We could find another way!" Sam exclaimed.

"She doesn't want us to!" Dean repeated vehemently.

Sam, finally, graciously, fell silent again. He turned to Toriel with pleading puppy eyes but it didn't seem to have much effect.

Toriel looked pained and she closed her eyes to take a steadying breath.

"I am sorry," she said sincerely. "I hope you understand." A beat passed, as if Toriel was suddenly unsure, but then she leaned down and enveloped the two Winchesters in a motherly embrace- one neither had ever really known. If, when she pulled back, there were tears in her eyes, neither boys pointed them out. Their eyes certainly weren't clear either (though Dean would deny it later).

Toriel stood over Dean and Sam with a last, searching expression, as if she was memorizing what the two looked like. "Goodbye, my children," she said, and then she was gone.

"That's not fair!" Sam shouted, stomping his foot in-full seven year old glory. "She just left! Just like Dad always does!"

Dean was absolutely floored by his brother's sudden turn in temper. Was he upset with Toriel? But the kid loved her- Dean was the one who was supposed to be upset!

"Whoa buddy, where is the correlation-"

"They always leave!" Sam burst, reaching up to wipe at the tears leaking from his eyes.

Damn it. As if Dean didn't have enough on his plate, now his brother was suddenly coming to terms with his abandonment issues. Of all the times.

Dean pulled Sam's face to meet his gaze. "They have to," Dean stresses the 'have', "Toriel can't come with us, she needs to stay here. And Dad doesn't leave because he wants to- he's saving people, Sammy." Sam didn't look convinced, so Dean threw out a last resort. "I'm never gonna leave you, alright? So you're stuck with me, at least."

Sam's bottom lip trembled, and he looked a bit wary. "You didn't have to tell me that; I knew that."

Ouch. Shot through the heart.

"Just reinforcing it," Dean said smoothly. "Come on, we gotta get going."

Sam swiped furtively once again at his face before he straightened his back and nodded determinedly. "Alright. Alright, let's go."

Dean stood back up and turned back to the door. A tentative shove proved that it was, in fact, open.

"I'm sorry we couldn't stay," Dean said softly, one foot hanging suspended over the threshold.

Sammy didn't speak, but he grabbed Dean's hand and that said enough. With a shared deep breath, the two crossed into the darkness beyond.

The sudden light, dim as it was, so sharply contrasted the total blackness of the previous room Dean cringed, bringing his hand up as a visor over his eyes. He couldn't see a thing, and he must've jumped a mile high when he felt the ground under his feet crunch.

Dean blinked garishly in the light and stared.

Snow. He'd stepped in snow.

A quick glance up proves that yes, they were still underground. But how in the Hell was there snow? And- a sweep of their surroundings- an actual forest? Yes, there had been the various trees scattered throughout the Ruins, but those could easily be explained by Toriel having planted them. A whole forest, though? Didn't make any sense.

"Wow," said Sam breathlessly, beholding the wonderland scene before them.

"Wow is right," Dean agreed.

The connection finally formed in Dean's head that snow equaled cold, and he hurried to shuffle out of both his jean jacket and hoodie.

By the time he was holding the items out to Sam, he was already freezing in the chilly air. His loose green shirt did nothing to defend against the gusty winds, and he was fairly certain his necklace might get swept away, too.

His hand clasped around the pendant firmly while Sam eyed the jackets skeptically, glancing up at Dean with furrowed brows. Dean shook his arm a little, leg jittering against the frigid temperature.

"Just take it, Sam. You need it more than I do."

Sam looked like he was about to protest but gave in rather quickly, taking both garments from his brother and pulling them on.

Sammy wrinkled his nose, holding up his arms to show how long the sleeves continued past his hands.

Dean snorted. "I'm pretty sure you can deal with it."

Sammy stuck out his tongue.

Dean wrapped his arms around himself and turned back toward the path. It was lined by evenly spaced, snow-covered trees that probably would've served as a good set for a horror movie. There was no other direction.

Sam latched onto Dean's hand once again, extra sleeves and all, and the two set off down the trail.

They had been walking for no less than a minute when they came across a large branch in the middle of the path.

Dean briefly entertained the thought of dragging it along as extra protection against unwanted enemies but discarded the notion almost immediately. It was much too big to even lift, much less carry around for the remainder of their journey. Sam seemed to be in agreement, even though no words were spoken. He didn't even try and move it out of the way like he usually would- "so no one would trip"-, being the irritating good-hearted kid that he was.

They went around the branch and continued on, neither of them giving it much thought.

Until the same branch made an unmistakable snapping noise two feet behind them.