Frisk woke up with Storm cuddled right against her chest. She felt a surge of delight at the feeling of his incredibly fluffy fur.

She was also aware of another... Larger feeling.

She was cuddled right up to Sans like Storm was to her. She could feel the steady rise and fall of his rib cage, and hear his snoring right in her ear.

Frisk stiffened and shot up, distancing herself. Her cheeks burned.

What the hell? Did I roll over in my sleep? I hope he didn't notice…

Storm mewed in protest.

Frisk looked down at the tiny kitten, scratching her own ear.

"Hehe… let's keep this between us, little guy."

Storm yawned and padded over to her, resting his fuzzy body on her leg. She could feel purrs trembling through the puff bean.

Frisk was filled with an incredible warmth that made her smile wide. THe power of fluffy kittens was too powerful.

She picked him up and squealed at how light and fluffy he was. She giggled as he put both his little paws on her face, soft pads feeling so amazing and adorable.

She played with Storm for some time before Sans finally woke up.

He seemed flustered by something, and a little frustrated. She was going to ask what, but he caught sight of Storm.

"Oh, that little rat. Why are you letting it touch you?" He snarled.

The kitten stared blankly at Sans with wide blue eyes, unaware of the venom in his voice.

Frisk narrowed her eyes.

"Leave my baby alone."

Sans rolled his eyes.

"You've gotta be Satan to give birth to demon spawn like that."

Storm took a step towards Sans.

Sans jumped and shuffled away.

"STAY AWAY FROM ME, YOU UGLY DISGUSTING FUR LUMP SPAWNED FROM THE DEPTHS OF HELL!"

"SANS!" Frisk grabbed Storm and held him close.

"Do not speak to my cat like that!" Frisk growled.

"Oh dear god. I hate my life." Sans groaned.

"Don't we all." Frisk stood up with Storm still in her arms.

"Wanna go drink an unnecessary amount of energy drinks?"

"Sure."

…

For the next few days Frisk stayed at the lab. Sans stayed with her for the most part, though he left a few times each day to check on Papyrus. Papyrus hung out with Undyne and Rocky for longer, Sans said. He didn't like his cinnamon bun around Undyne. He was fine with Papyrus hanging with Rocky as long as he kept the dog away from him (or Frisk? She didn't know).

Frisk was really enjoying her new friend in Alphys. They both had the same nerdy tendency (though she didn't fangirl like Alphys, she was a book geek) and interest in movies and cats. They would talk about cats and cats and cats, and anime. Then they would start talking about anime crushes.

Frisk never really felt any... Kind of attraction to others. But it was fun to think of who would make the best boyfriend. When noticed now that she felt more comfortable with this, and that maybe she was developing sexual feelings. She shook it off as something weird from the Moon Magic. Alphys showed her many desirable men.

Sans liked these conversations as much as he liked cats.

Frisk also found a small, cat sized bandana for Storm. She tied it around his neck. It was a little big now, but he would grow. Storm seemed to like it and paraded around with it on, fluffy chest puffed out in pride.

They also played video games. Sans went back to his house and got his old DS out, and Alphys had made her own that she let Frisk have. The three of them played Pokemon together, like old friends. Frisk was determined to beat Sans, but he used a team of full legendaries like the turd he was. Alphys didn't care for battling and liked getting the "kawaii" Pokemon.

Eventually, Frisk was mostly healed and the topic of moving through Blizzardland was brought up. Sans said that he wanted to go with her. Blizzardland was absolutely brutal. The only shelter was among the frozen rocks and the large domes of the fields. The elevators freezed often. But past that was MTT resort, a wonderful hotel that Sans used to preform stand up comedy at.

That reminded Frisk of Sans's job. When asked, he said he had called in for an emergency vacation, and they let him after hearing about the fight in Snowdin. He seemed unsure if it was because of fear or not.

"Why would they be scared of you? No one else seems to be…" Frisk stared at him, standing in the middle of the bottom floor. Storm hung out on her shoulder, his favorite place to be.

"You don't pay attention. The younger monsters, they are fine. But the older ones, the ones who know... They don't like me. 'cuz I'm a vicious animal." Sans's eyes flickered.

She noticed his right eye had been going out more often lately. It was a little concerning. Was he still low on magic?

Frisk sighed.

"Well, they are wrong. You are not an animal."

Sans opened his mouth to argue, but a loud metallic bang cut him off. The floor shook. Sans winced and covered his ear-holes. Frisk's ears flattened against her head and her tail bushed. Storm mewed softly and cowered against her neck.

"What was that?!" Frisk shrieked.

Alphys ran towards them, looking panicked.

There was another bang, then another. They repeated a couple of times, growing quicker in succession. Sans moved beside her, growling softly. His left eye was flashing between cobalt and a light purple. She recognized the cobalt as his general alert, aggressive or just strong emotional color and purple as a fear or cautious color.

Then, the banging ceased. Everyone was dead still.

Then, chucks of cement flew from the walls, smashing into the floor at their feet. Lights began to flash.

A large, square robot had smashed through the wall. He had a flashing screen of many yellow and red tiles, knobs and buttons below it. He had two long arms and gloves hands and stood on a single wheel. Two leopard ears poked from his head and he had a long, leopard tail that swayed back and forth.

Frisk heard Sans emit a bark-like sound. Sans rarely made wolf sounds, but he was clearly startled.

Frisk jumped, and she felt Storm sink his claws into her shoulder in fear.

"Welcome my precious kitties! Today we have our contestants in our wonderful QUIZ SHOW! How exciting!" The robot clapped his hands, confetti falling from seemingly no where.

"Who the-" As Sans cursed, a loud beep played."- are YOU!?" Sans blinked, realizing he had been censored.

The robot waggled his finger.

"Tsk tsk! No cursing on live tv! Say hello to your gorgeous host, Mettaton! Today we have our two contestants, Sans the skeleton and Frisk the Human! Let's give a round of applause for our guests!" Mettaton clapped again.

Frisk took a step back, eyes going wide.

"Wh-what? I never-"

Sans turned to Alphys.

"Do you know what this is?!" Sans was furious.

"N-no…" Alphys stammered.

"This challenge is quite simple! Answer correctly, or… DIE!"

The lights turned off, and new lights came back on. Colorful dots danced across the walls. There was suddenly square boxes projected on the floor. Each one held a letter.

"Step on the correct answer to proceed!" Mettaton informed in his odd robot voice.

"No." Sans snarled. Frisk put her hand up to Storm to reassure him, nervousness crawling in her gut.

"Question number one! What is the prize for answering the questions correctly!"

The different answers appeared on the squares.

"We're not doing your stupid quiz!" Sans stepped forward aggressively.

His foot touched the nearest square.

It turned red and a buzzer played.

"WRONG!" Mettaton snapped.

Suddenly, Sans was shocked by a flash of electricity. He cried out and fell to his knees.

"SANS!" Frisk put Storm down and ran over. Sans had gotten back up, shaking and growling.

He's absolutely pissed…

Frisk took a step back. His fangs were bared and his eyes just tiny white specks. she felt a nervousness kick her in the chest.

He wouldn't lash out her, right?

Frisk shook her head.

He wouldn't. He was so desperately scared he could hurt her. So he would never.

"Maybe… we should do it. Just to get it over with…" Frisk suggested softly. She flinched when he turned to her.

When he saw this his expression softened with guilt.

"Sorry… yeah, you may be right. Be careful, though. I don't know how well a human fares to being electrocuted…" Purple flashed in his eye.

"Just as well as you do, probably."

"Does our second contestant wish to chose an answer?" Mettaton asked.

Frisk looked over the choices.

Sans had stepped on C, "Mercy."

Not that one.

Frisk gulped.

A said points. B said Medals. D said More questions.

Frisk nervously tapped D and jumped back, scared of being zapped.

It turned green and a chime played.

"COrrrrrect! Next!"

The answers changed.

"What is the former king's full name!"

Different variations of Asgore's name appeared.

Frisk knew his first name, but his last…

What was it again?

In her hesitation, Sans had picked B. It read "Asgore Dreemur."

It was correct.

"ALRIGHT! Let's up the difficulty, folks! What animal is this?"

A cat head was projected onto the wall.

Frisk was about to chose C, Cat, when Sans tapped her shoulder.

"Psst. Look at Al."

Frisk glanced over at the lizard.

She was making a sign with her fingers, an "A".

"What? It's a cat? Why is she…"

"I say just pick A. Besides… I have some… suspicions…" Sans's eyes went dark, and Alphys started sweating.

Frisk sighed, wiping her brow.

"Leave it to you to notice the most obscure details."

Frisk picked A, Mettaton.

"Wow! You can't be stumped!"

The picture zoomed out, revealing… a cat head on Mettaton's chest.

"OH, WHAT A CHEAT!" Frisk flipped him off.

Sans pulled her back.

"Do you want to get electrocuted!" Sans whispered angrily. Now HE was the one soothing her rage.

"You can't tell me that was Bullshit!" Frisk replied just as angrily, pointing at the robot and looking at Sans.

Sans shrugged.

"Whatever. Just focus on the next question."

The next questions were really odd, obscure and impossible questions, such as count hundreds of flies in a jar. However, Alphys gave them the correct answer each time.

"Okay folks, time for the big one! Can our contestants answer this whooper?!"

A dramatic drumroll played.

"In the dating simulation game, Mew Mew Kissy Cutie: Pearl Quest, what is Mew Mew's favorite food?"

Alphys jumped up, waving her hand, as Sans furrowed his brow-bone and mouthed "wtf".

Alphys looked excited.

"OH, OH I KNOW THIS! In the game, in level 3 part 2, if you go down to the beach section of the map and buy an ice cream from the dark blue vendor, then bring the item to Ula on the beach, Mew Mew will start a story saying how…"

Alphys rambled on and on for about three minutes before realizing everything was quiet and still. Everyone stared at her, including the cats.

She started sweating.

"O-oh… whoops?"

"Alphys, Alphys! You should have told me! I would have given them much juicer questions you could have engaged in! Here, how about this one? You'll like this."

The question changed.

"Who does Frisk, our contestant, have a crush on? Oh, the irony!" Mettaton cooed.

The answers were "Papyrus, Undyne, Rocky and Sans."

Frisk inhaled sharply.

"NO! I never… THERE ISN'T EVEN A CORRECT ANSWER HERE! THIS ISN'T FAIR! I've always been... Asexual? I don't know!" Frisk yelled.

"Who the *bleep* thought it was a good idea to put me here?" Sans asked. He was shuffling, bothered b g. Hm.

"Meow!" Storm mewed.

"Y-yeah, Mettaton… that's mean…" Alphys said quietly.

"Oh? Shall I change it?"

"YES!" Everyone stated at once.

"Okay! But only once!"

The question changed.

However, only one word changed.

"Who does Sans, our contestant, have a crush on?"

The answers changed to "Grillby, Undyne, Grocery store lady and … Frisk."

She heard Sans inhale sharply.

"Oh thanks a lot! You should've just answered the last one!"

Frisk turned to him.

"Really? You just agreed to change two seconds ago!"

"Because I didn't want to be involved!"

"You're a god damn hypocrite! We're both in this you know!"

"I didn't ask for it!"

"Neither did I!"

"I got electrocuted! You didn't! So it should have been you!"

"You got electrocuted because you were being stupid!"

"I was not! I was angry because-"

They both started talking over each other heatedly, going into a full blown argument.

"Oh my, it looks like our contestants are arguing. How dramatic!" Mettaton cooed over the two of them.

A colored dot rolled past Storm. The kitten slunk into a crouch and leaped after it, chasing It across the floor.

Frisk and Sans didn't notice in their battle.

Storm lingered dangerously close to the answer boxes.

"How cute! Will our little kitten chose for us?!" A "awww"ing sound effect played.

Storm took his choice and pounced on letter D.

Frisk heard the sound of it being pressed and looked over.

Her eyes widened.

Sans looked over her shoulder. His eye lights flickered.

"… really cat?!"

"The kitten has chosen answer D, Frisk! The human! It is painfully obvious to me! The closeness! The arguing! They are like a married couple already!"

Frisk felt her cheeks catch fire.

"Storm! I trusted you!"

Sans was standing with his mouth agape.

His cheekbones were blue.

"Why… why me. Why. I am going to have an existential crisis and a complete meltdown right now…"

"Well, with the clever doctor Alphys helping you I'm afraid I will have to cut it short. BUT. Don't believe this is the last! Next time! More drama! More bloodshed! More romance! See you next episode!"

Mettaton activated jet propellers and flew out the door. Just as abruptly as he came.

Just… flew out the door.

The room was filled with silence for awhile.

"H…he wasn't supposed… to ask… that one…" Alphys was looking back and forth nervously.

Frisk scooped up Storm in case Sans decided he wanted revenge.

"… that just has to be your cat. Of all of these damn vermin, that one has to be yours." Sans muttered.

"Oh stop it, he didn't mean any harm." Frisk rubbed under Storms chin. He purred.

Sans gestured to the kitten, outraged.

"SO YOU YELL AT ME, BUT NOT THE LITTLE HAIRBALL!"

"Maybe because he behaves better than you." Frisk countered, calmly.

"IT DOES NOT!"

"Maybe you… guys should leave soon. He may… come back…" Alphys said.

"Oh…" Frisk looked over at the lizard.

"Well, if Frisk's ready, we can go through Blizzardland and get to the shortcut past that point. I have a shortcut right in front of MTT hotel. That way we can zap back home."

"Why can't you get there from another shortcut?" Frisk asked.

"It hasn't been used in over two months. It needs to be activated again. I could zap you straight to the castle if I used those paths frequently. But I haven't been up there in forever. Actually, I don't even remember where the shortcuts are in the capital anymore. They may not even exist at this point." Sans rubbed the back of his skull.

"Okay… so we need to go through Blizzardland to get to the shortcut?" Frisk asked.

"Yeah. Unfortunately, Blizzardland is nasty. Always snowing, as the name suggests. And we can't be out past dark."

"W-well, they made the n-n-new train, a-and It is t-taking its first passengers…" Alphys stammered.

Frisk looked over.

"Train? In snow."

"The tracks are made specially to repel ice and snow with magic."

"I don't want to use the train." Sans's voice was tense.

Frisk looked over at him.

"Why? I have never been on a train before. I want to go and see what It's like."

"I don't trust it. Nothing can outdue the magic of the stone." Sans growled, tense.

"I-I-its been out on many test r-runs… I'm s-sure they wouldn't take passengers if it w-wasn't safe…"

"More like people are desperate." Sans replied.

"Sans…" Frisk grabbed his arm.

"Please? You need to calm down a little. You're starting to sound like me, worrying about everything. It will be fun! I'm sure you'll like it too."

"Trains are loud."

"Saaannnnsss…"

Sans looked away.

"Fine! I'll deal with it. Only because I really want to have some fun at the hotel. And you're going with me when we get there. No getting out of it."

"Okay."

"And you are not allowed to bring the cat-"

"WHAT!? NO! YOU ARE NOT TAKING STORM FROM ME!" Frisk cuddled the kitten protectively against her chest.

"Let me finish. You can't bring the cat with you WHEN WE GET TO THE HOTEL!"

"Oh. Fair enough. Though mommy would miss her little baby." Frisk nuzzled Storm. Storm purred loudly.

"Did… you just… ugh. I hate that cat." Sans gave Storm the death glare.

The kitten didn't seem to care.

…

Frisk's injured ear hurt worse in the cold. It was mostly healed, but it was now more vulnerable to the cold. Frisk didn't hurt for the most part, however, but she did have a new shortness of breath. Alphys said she would experience this for awhile, maybe even for years.

The train station was surprisingly packed. Of course, nothing close to a human station, but this was the biggest crowd she had seen yet. All the monsters seemed excited to finally be able to travel with their children without worry.

She was extra nervous around the larger crowd, especially with her mangled ear. Not to mention all the scars underneath her clothes and on her neck. When she was here she could feel them burning under the fabric, self consciously.

Storm stayed on her shoulder. He seemed to like seeing all the new people, and was especially joyed when someone looked at him and cooed. He was growing to be a little attention hog, indeed.

Frisk worked on her sense of smell, trying to pick apart all the different scents.

Sans just grumbled under his breath the whole time. He wasn't even trying to look chipper anymore. As odd as it was, she liked this better. Before when he was always smiling she felt an uneasiness with him, but now he felt genuine.

The train ride was free. Frisk was surprised. Usually it was expensive to ride a train on the surface. But down here monsters were so generous they made any form of transportation free. She guessed it was because there was so little of a population compared to the human population. They reproduced slower and, according to Alphys, didn't need to worry about accidental children.

"M-monsters can c-c-control whether they w-want to conceive a c-child or n-not with magic. If they w-want too, they will, but if n-not… they won't. And both monsters need to be w-willing…"

Frisk wished humans could do that too. Then there would be a ton less kids up for adoption and such.

Monsters were lucky in a way. Many ways, really. But for what luck they had their troubles weighed twice as much

Frisk sat down after Sans in the train seat. The seats were made of soft, plush material, and it smelled like peppermint and chocolate. Soft music was playing somewhere, and monster children ran up and down the lanes excitedly. It had a much closer, warmer atmosphere than any public human place.

Sans had chosen a spot away from the commotion. There were a couple older looking monsters around them, also seeking the same thing. They chatted in quiet, dignified groups. Frisk almost felt out of place here, but she wasn't going to make a fuss.

The floors were a soft purple color, and the walls a pleasant tan. The seats were black with little designs of snow carved into the rims. It was homey and elegant at the same time. Frisk traced the little snowflakes with her fingers, marveling at the little details and edges she could feel. In the wood beside the seats were stylized carvings of wolves and moons. The air smelled of biscuits and snow.

Reminded her of the polar express. Did monsters know what that was?

Storm moved from her neck to her lap, his paws kneading her legs.

The kids ran over gasping as soon as they noticed the fluffy kitten. The older monsters muttered at the noise.

Storm was happy to have their attention. He stuck his little chin into the air in pride, like he was a super model

Frisk was uneasily shy, and Sans used the opportunity to make a bunch of puns about cats to punish her. Frisk

Eventually someone came on the crackling speakers, saying to sit down as the train was going to be moving and hot cocoa was going to be served.

"Free hot cocoa? Best train ever!"

"S'cool." Sans agreed. "Free food."

"Sans." She nudged him.

"Hey, free stuff is cool."

A tall, skinny red monster in a Christmas sweater came down with the hot cocoa and coffee. Frisk took a small cup of creame for Storm. She was astounded they let her have Storm on the train in the first place, and the monster was more than happy to give him his creame.

Sans finished his hot cocoa immediately. Literally, it only lasted in his hands for a minute.

"How do you not burn yourself?" Frisk asked, blowing on hers. It was still a little too hot. Steam curled from the opening on the lid.

"I dunno. You might burn faster than me. I AM a skeleton. Though that maybe was a little hot. I can feel it." Sans pointed to his chest.

"Huh? Where?"

"Wherever it goes. It goes to some sort of magic cavity. It's linked to me, and I can physically feel it if I'm hungry or something upsets it. Like a magic stomach. But I can't touch it or see it or anything. I don't even know where exactly it is, I just feel it in my chest and torso. It's pretty weird."

"Huh. The more you know." Frisk huffed. She wasn't going to try to understand anymore, especially when Sans didn't himself.

She took a sip of her hot cocoa.

THe rich chocolate filled her with yum.

They sat in comfortable silence, staring out the window into the snow.

The snow blew past, and it was all she could see. Everything was white. They passed a plain white field with little domes in the distance. Outside were flimsy looking windmills, spinning in the fierce wind.

They soon came to a cliff. THe train climbed it steadily but sturdily. The rocks were covered in thick white powder, and the train slowly made its way.

"Those kids are too loud." Sans grumbled, putting his feet up.

"Whatever. I don't like kids too much either, but I can deal with them. As long as they don't start crying. I hate it. I start freaking out because it makes me feel so bad, even if it's in a video or something. I remember watching a movie where a guy popped some little kids ballon, and he started bawling. And I cried. Like 'poor kid, oh my god, I want to help him'." Frisk said.

Sans stared at her for a few seconds. Like she grew another head

"… you are one strange, strange human. Or life form in general."

"What? I don't like crying kids. Is that so-"

Storm suddenly shot up and started yowling. He stomped his paws and waved his tail as it puffed up.

Frisk looked down, startled. She moved her arms so fast she accidentally whacked Sans in the face. She didn't know if it hurt her or Sans more.

"What? Oh, is something wrong, Storm?"

"Staddup cat." Sans growled.

Storm turned to her with wide eyes, begging her for something.

"Do you want more creame? I can find them cart guy…"

Sans sat up suddenly, hand gripping the wood. His large hand was gripping it so hard the wood splintered under his boney fingers.

"Something's wrong."

Frisk looked over, her eyes going wide.

"What? Is he sick? Is he hurt?"

Sans's eyes turned purple, and Frisk felt a rush of fear.

What's wrong with Storm?

"It's not the cat…" Sans said slowly.

The train hit a bump.

"Frisk… move, now!" Sans shoved her, causing her to stumble.

Frisk grabbed Storm, her heart starting to race.

"Wh-what? Sans, what's going on?"

"Don't worry, just move!" The urgency in his voice caused some monsters to look their way.

The train hit another bump.

There was a loud groan from the machine. She felt the floor rumble.

Everyone went silent.

Frisk was filled with ice cold terror. It felt more like a slow motion nightmare than anything.

Oh no.

She felt the train sway beneath her feet.

"Sans!" Frisk cried out, feeling dizzy with fright.

The train tiled to the side…

Right off the cliff.

Screams started abruptly as the train fell over the side and smashed into the first set of rocks, sparks flying and the lights flashing. Frisk felt all gravity leave her as the train rolled, and she collided with multiple hard things. She couldn't hear herself scream, but she felt she was making the sound.

The train hit and rolled over and over, till it hit the final set of rocks and tumbled over the last of the cliff edge.

Frisk was shot out the window, crying out as the glass gave way to her body and the cold wind met her.

Then everything went black.

…

Frisk felt the cold snow pressing against her cheek.

The wind howled harshly.

She felt a set of tiny, warm paws prodding her head.

Storm was above her, meowing desperately.

Frisk groaned and sat up.

At first she didn't know where she was or what happened.

Then she was jouted back by the smell of smoke and charred metal.

Frisk shot up, wincing at the tiny shards of glass stuck in her skin.

The train!

She could see it not too far away, on its side. Broken and dented. Smoke trailed out the openings and sparks still flew here and there.

She was aware of distant crying.

She was unable to move for a few moments, the horror overcoming her senses and leaving her lifeless.

Then she realized she didn't know where Sans was.

"S-Sans!" Her voice was rough, but she forced it to work.

"Sans!?" She called again, standing up on shaky legs. She felt like she was going to fall over like the train did. Storm stuck by her leg, eyes wide and little fuzzy body shaking.

Frisk started running towards the train wreck, coughing at the charring smell.

"Sans!"

As she neared, she noticed piles of gray dust under the train, and it blew with the wind. Stray items were strewn about. There was blood in the snow.

"Oh my god…" Frisk couldn't swallow.

How many people just died?

"Sans!" Frisk was getting more desperate.

She tried looking inside the train, but there were flames preventing her entering.

She climbed over the train to look on the other side.

There were monsters scattered in the distance, around piles of dust or crying children. Frisk noticed with a drop of her heart some children were crying alone, and some parents were too.

Oh my god… no, no… this can't be happening… Sans, please don't be dead… I need you… you can't be dead!

"Sans! Sans!"

Storm meowed at her side and started running away.

At first she payed it no heed in her distress, but she realized he was looking at her like he wanted her to follow.

She followed the kitten, her heart pounding against her chest.

Suddenly, she noticed a limp figure stuck halfway under the train.

Storm stopped by Sans's head, sniffing him.

"Sans!" Frisk covered the last of the distance at twice the speed and kneeled beside him, terrified.

His eyes were closed.

She tried nudging him, tears forming in her eyes.

"Sans! Sans… please get up… don't die, please don't die… no, no, no…no… get up!" She shook him, trying to get some sort of reaction.

Storm cried out beside her, hearing the pain and fear in Frisk's voice. Maybe he understood, maybe he didn't.

Suddenly, Sans let out a wheeze and his eyes opened slowly.

"Hu…huff… don't… sound… like that…"

"Sans?" She stopped shaking him.

He let out a small, wheezing cough. She noticed blood dribbling from his mouth.

"You… sound like… your … cat just… died…"

"No, you almost died! And you still might, if you don't get out from under there!"

Storm meowed.

Sans closed his eyes and smirked weakly.

"Look… I don't… think… you can move… a train… Snap pea."

"I've just gotta get you out!" Frisk tried to move it up a little with her shoulder. It didn't budge.

She winced at the feeling of the glass digging deeper into her skin.

"Are… you… okay?"

"You're asking me if I'm okay, meanwhile you're dying under a train? What the hell?"

Sans chuckled.

"What… a way… to go, huh?"

Storm let out a distressed meow.

Frisk tried moving the train again. She realized he was right- she couldn't move it by herself. How could she move a couple tons of burning metal?!

Frisk stood up and started waving her arms, trying to get attention.

"Hey! Someone! Over here! We need help! Please!" Frisk yelled.

No one even looked her way.

Storm suddenly hissed, and she heard a broken growl from Sans

She felt a presence looming over her.

"Looks like we meet again."

The voice was familiar, but she couldn't put it to a face.

The air smelled like burnt biscuits.

Frisk went stiff.

Storm back away, hissing and spitting.

Sans, despite being under the train, took an aggressive tone.

"You… why… are you… here? Leave… her… alone…"

Frisk slowly turned around.

It was the hooded figure from Grillby's. A pair of ice blue eyes met hers from the shadows of the hood.

"Like you're in the position to make demands, Judge. But don't worry. Out here, I am not the person bound by duty as I am without the cloak." The voice was rough and gravelly.

Frisk took a step back.

"W-w-what do you want?" She felt an overwhelming sense of power from this guy.

"Easy. I was riding the train in the cargo area. I probably would be v.i.p if they knew who I were, but that does not matter. I chose that spot. I like quiet. But don't bother trying to signal them off. They are all absorbed in their own grief. It's a terrible tragedy." The monster pulled his cigarette… bone shaped, biscuit? From his mouth and tapped it with a claw, letting the ashes fall into the snow.

Frisk noticed with a sickening twist of her gut that the ashes looked like monster dust, just a bit lighter.

Frisk looked up, her tears overflowing. Her body started shaking.

He's going to die, he's going to die and there isn't anything I can do.

"Easy. Listen, I can help. You want help?" The creature asked gruffly.

Frisk blinked.

"Y-y-you c-c-"

"Yes. Maybe not the whole thing but this little bit. It's why I got the job I do. Watch out."

Frisk swallowed hard and stepped aside.

Sans's dim eye light stayed on the cloaked figure, never shifting.

He put his paws under the metal, right where Sans was stuck and grunted. It lifted ever so slightly, just enough room for Sans to be freed.

Frisk rushed forward and pulled him out. Sans groaned and didn't move or twitch. He just let himself be dragged away.

He dropped it back in the snow with a huff.

"There."

"Took you long enough." Sans inhaled deeply, sitting up in a jolt. Frisk non-verbally scolded him when the action made him groan. To her relief, he didn't seem too badly hurt at all.

The cloaked monsters icy eyes locked on Sans.

"And quite bold to commit treason by escorting a human."

Frisk started trying to check Sans over more, but he pushed her away, eyes locked on the man in front of him.

"There's no laws saying I need to murder every human who wanders in here." Sans's eyes narrowed.

Frisk felt a chill go down her spine.

The figure chuckled.

"I never thought those words would come from your mouth. Out of all of us, you seemed to hate humans the most. But, alas, you are correct. And besides, out here, as I said, I am not bound by duty and law. I am just a normal civilian. With this cloak, I am just like you and every other monster here. Keep an eye on your human. I am not heartless. If you do not wish to see her killed, keep her far away from the barrier. There I am not under my cloak, and I have duty to preform."

He started walking away, cloak dragging in the snow. Smoke curled up behind him.

Frisk was filled with unexplained dread.

She felt she would see him later, no doubt.

Frisk shook her head and turned to Sans, who despite looking relatively neutral gave off an extremely agitated vibe. Upon closer look she could tell he was trembling, and she couldn't help but feel her gut drop.

She checked him over, pressing softly against his rib cage. Nothing seemed broken, but he said after some prying (unhappily) his lower half was pretty stiff and sore. He also admitted to probably some minor cracks in the bone. What was most dangerous, though, was his inability to breath while trapped. Like his magic stomach, he had magic lungs that had a physical connection to his chest. When he couldn't inhale and exhale, he experienced problems, just like a human.

After making sure he was okay Frisk shuffled away, looking down. She couldn't stop her shaking body.

I… that was horrible… that was so horrible… there's so many dead people… so many…

Frisk closed her eyes.

"I… I'm sorry…"

"Huh? What for, Puppo?" Sans fixed his coat. Some of the fur on the hood had been burned and he gave the brown hairs a quick sniff before turning away with a huff.

She felt Storm against her leg. She pushed the kitten away.

"I… I'm the one who made you go in this stupid train… I almost killed you…"

"How'd you know it would fall over?"

"You said, y-you didn't tr-"

"Okay. Then that put the responsibility on me. But it was just a feeling. And you were right, I did need to relax. This had nothing to do with you." Sans sounded surprisingly reasonable for once.

Frisk could still hear the crying and the wails. The pain of all of those people who lost others they loved, siblings who lost each other, parents who lost their children, children who lost their parents.

Frisk felt a gross sob tear through her body.

Sans's voice was soft and light with concern. "Frisk… c'mon, don't do this. We're all alright, come on…"

Frisk buried her head in her hands as the flood came, her breathing stuttering.

"But… but no one else is… no one else is… I can't stand hearing all the crying… why did I, out of all people, have to be the only one that comes out okay! I should be the last… the last person to make it… I've got the stupid power… oh god, I don't want to hear it anymore!" Frisk curled in deeper on herself, her breathing picking up. The panic was overtaking her again.

Storm mewled pitifully while Sans moved in, wrapping his arms around her and trying to calm her down. It didn't help when she felt him trembling still. Whether the gesture was more for her or him she would never know.

He ran his hand from her head down to the middle of her back in long strokes. Gingerly, like he was afraid.

"Come on, don't do this… it has nothing to do with you, or the Saves, or any of that. No one is picked to live or die in these things. And you know you can die and stay dead just like everyone else here. All you can do is just be happy we're all okay. I know it's hard, but that's how things are. Stuff happens."

Frisk leaned into him, unable to stop. Her head was fogged and her words almost inarticulate due to her crying.

"I don't want to hear it anymore… so many people are hurt beyond repair and I can't do anything, I just want it to stop!"

Storm worked his way between her and Sans, crying. He sounded scared.

"I know… but you can't fix and save everyone. Just block it out. We'll move soon, okay? But you need to calm down. Just breathe… slowly."

It took awhile, but eventually Frisk started to breathe slower and think clearer.

She pressed her face against his coat.

I'm never going to be able to sleep again.