Chapter 6: W.D.

It had been a little over a month since I had fallen into the Underground, and time really seemed to fly.

When I had failed to call and visit her, Toriel came to Snowdin, desperately asking around for me. When she found me living with the skeleton brothers, she nearly burst into tears because of how relieved she was. Long story short, I preferred living in Snowdin, so Toriel would visit weekly and got along great with everyone. The only downside with Toriel coming to visit, is that Sans and her plague Papyrus and I with awful puns.

Toriel also didn't like that I had shaved my head, but she quickly accepted and went along with it.

On the other hand, I had met formally met Undyne, and she adored my shaved head, even if she didn't say it out loud to me. Undyne actually liked my hair so much that she shaved half of her head to be in the "shaved heads club" with me. And because Undyne had stopped trying to kill me, it made it all the more fun with her joining the group of Alphys, Mettaton, and I. Anime nights were especially fun when Undyne and Alphys both got so into the anime we were watching.

I had even met Asgore. We both sat down, and had a civil conversation, instead of fighting. When Asgore had learned that I did not plan on going back to the Surface, he actually cried in relief, hugging me tightly. Now I would go over and visit him every Sunday for tea and gardening, talking about any and everything.

...On a more serious note, Grillby and I had been talking more. I had about 50% of my memory from the past timeline back. The other 50% was there, but it just seemed to escape me time and time again; Grillby still warned me about remembering, but I really couldn't help it. I would head over to the restaurant two or three nights every week or so, just to talk things out and comprehend everything with Grillby. The flame monster had been incredibly helpful with trying to comfort me, but he just didn't seem to get that I... didn't really have any feelings to associate with the last timeline.

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"Hey, Sans?"

After knocking on the door, and calling for him, I heard some shuffling from inside Sans' room, before the skeleton opened his door.

Groggily, Sans stood in his doorway, eyes squinted, "yeah, kid, what is it."

I dug my nails into my thumbs, hesitant, "Do you... Do you want to come with me, to Grillby's?"

Sans' eyes widened, as he began to wake up more, "grillby's? like, one of your secret outings to chat with grillbs?"

I nodded, giving him a small smile, "Yeah. I mean... I told you I would involve you when I understood things better, and I understand things now. Plus, Grillby told me you were a scientist? So maybe you can comprehend this quicker than I did."

Sans had gone into his room and gotten his jacket, but as he came back to the door and heard me mention the word scientist, he stumbled, "grillbs told ya i was a scientist?"

I took notice of how uncomfortable Sans had become at the mention of being a scientist, and quickly continued on as we head over to the restaurant, "He said you used to be a scientist, but we changed subject pretty quickly."

As we stepped out into the frigid air, beginning our walk to Grillby's, Sans was quiet and pensive.

Before we stepped into Grillby's, I tugged on Sans' jacket sleeve, getting his attention, "Sans, you've taken me under your wing for the past month or so, and while I have my own... issues, I guess, I've also seen that you're dealing with some stuff." I could feel my cheeks heat up, and I bit my lip, "Ugh, I'm no good with words. What I'm trying to say, is that I dump everything on you a lot, so why not do the same with me? If you have something you need to talk about, or get out, just... try talking to me, I guess."

Sans was certainly surprised with my offer at first, but his surprise and shock, turned into a fond and appreciative smile. Sans ruffled my hair, before putting his hand on the door knob to the restaurant, "thanks kid, i might just take you up on that sometime... maybe when you're more stable though, and not chilled down to your bones."

I playfully punched Sans in the arm, before following him into Grillby's.

When Grillby turned around to greet me, he was very surprised to find that I was not alone this time, and seemed at a loss for words.

Heading up to the bar, I gave Grillby a sheepish smile before sitting down, "Sorry you weren't expecting this, I made the choice kind of last minute." Sensing that Grillby was hesitant about telling Sans about everything, I spoke again, "After finding out everything that I know, I thought it was only fair to include Sans. Y'know, since he used to remember the different timelines, before everything happened. I hope that's okay with you."

After a moment of silence, Grillby turned to Sans, speaking softly, "This would sound really strange to most others, but you worked with Dr. W.D. Gaster, so this may not come as much of a shock or surprise to you."

I bit my lip, interjecting as Sans winced, "Um, Grillby, he didn't seem to react well to hearing Gaster's name in the last run, and I think it's the same situation now."

Sans looked both pale and completely and utterly lost, "'last run', 'gaster', you guys, you're not really helpin' me understand here."

While I kept my mouth shut, Grillby continued on, "What Frisk has been discussing with me every night she has come here, are the timelines. I understand that you and Gaster were delving into the idea of different worlds or alternate realities, of some sort, so this should be something within that realm of knowledge and experimentation. Now timelines, are, put simply, like past lives or instances within our world. The timelines are tied with Frisk's resets, which I assume you have knowledge of."

Sans was quiet for a moment, before nodding slowly, "yeah, i know about the kid's resets. but, this timeline thing is like... an alternate reality, or different world, is what you're saying?"

I jumped in before Grillby could, explaining, "No, the timelines are, well... Personally, I would describe the timelines like past lives. You're born, you go through life, you die, and then you're born again. In the Human society, past lives are most often very, very different from each life you have had. But in this case, it's like I reset, and I live out my life very similarly to the last life, but with changes made. For example, in the past life, I was around eighteen years old when I fell into the Underground, and I had a sister. Yet in this life, I'm fifteen, and have no siblings."

Sans took a moment to digest and comprehend this, before smiling slightly, "so our theories were close to the truth... okay, so basically, frisk can't really, like, permanently die, to our knowledge at least. and because of this, there are different lives, with different story-lines and outcomes, and we don't even know how many different timelines there are."

I thought back to the last timeline, where I had been dying of something that would take care of me. Permanently. Slightly tilting my head side to side, I shrugged, "To our knowledge, yes. My memory of it all is a bit iffy, so I'm not the most reliable source."

Sans gave a slight nod, before becoming pensive once more, mulling everything over.

Leaving Sans to his own thoughts, Grillby planted himself in front of me, picking up a glass to clean, "Frisk, young one, do you need to talk about anything at all? Anything about the last timeline that's bothering you?"

I slowly shook my head, folding my hands in front of me on the bar counter, "No, I'm fine... But, I know that I should be feeling some kind of emotion, but I just don't."

Grillby slowly set the glass he had just picked up, down on the counter. His voice soft, Grillby leaned toward me, "You don't feel anything, no emotion, at all?"

I glanced over at Sans, who had dozed off in the middle of his contemplation, "Nothing. I know I loved him, and I know I loved my little sister as well, but there's... nothing. It's like I'm watching a movie, and a character dies. I'm not the character's mother or anything, so I don't really emote any sadness or anger, I just feel kinda bad about it for a moment, and then continue on with my life."

Grillby seemed to furrow his brows, crossing his arms, "I see. And you don't think anything will be able to change that, somehow? You'll just always see it as something other than your life?"

I shrugged, looking over at Sans, who was still asleep, "I don't know. I can't just force myself to feel anything. Yeah, it makes me a little sad to know that I had a whole other life with so many different things, but that's in the past. I'm living my life now, so why dwell on it anymore. Y'know?"

Grillby smile slightly, his flames a little higher than before, "You understand now, that not everything needs to be remembered or dwelled upon. Seems like you've matured quickly."

A small laugh bubbled up behind my lips, "It's not like I've aged like a fine wine, Grillby. I'm only sixteen, I still have a lot to experience and learn."

Standing up straighter, Grillby went to put a glass away, "Sixteen? I believe you said you were fifteen, Frisk."

I smiled, "Yeah, well, my birthday was in this past month, so I'm actually sixteen now. It just slipped my mind that I wasn't fifteen anymore."

Grillby was quiet for a moment, before he crossed over to Sans and whacked him over the head, "Wake up you blockhead."

Sans fell off of his chair, grumbling, "sheesh, such harsh language."

Grillby crossed his arms, "Frisk's birthday was this month. Did you celebrate?"

Sans got up, sitting back on his seat, "no—don'thitmeagain!"

"Pfft, you guys stop! It's not that big of a deal, okay? It's just like any other day, except I'm a little older," I half laughed, half explained to the pair.

Grillby shushed me, crossing over to the bar, "What kind of milkshake do you want?"

Biting my lip, I debated on what I wanted, "I guess I'll try a vanilla with whipped cream."

As Grillby set the milkshake in front of me, he held up a finger, went to the back room, and then quickly came back.

Holding something behind his back, Grillby spoke quietly, almost bashfully, "I had this for you in the last timeline, but the war—forget that. I had this for you, but I never got to give it to you. Somehow, it transferred into this timeline, so..." Grillby held out his hands, a white enamel orchid on a silver chain, "Happy birthday, Frisk."

Gently pushing the milkshake aside, I took the necklace gently into my hands, "Thank you." Reaching over the bar counter, I gave Grillby a gentle hug, "Thank you so much, it's absolutely beautiful. I love it."

Grillby smiled, taking it back into his hands so he could clasp it around my neck, "I am glad you like it. Initially, I had it enchanted by Gabriel, Liam, and Selena—er—who you have no memory of."

Once it was on, I didn't want to take the necklace off, "I don't have a memory of them yet. Everything will probably come back to me, just not right now. But, Grillby, why did you enchant it?"

Grillby gave me a small smile, before explaining, "There are three petals on that orchid, and each petal represents a person you had held close to you. One, was for Sans. Another, for Asriel. And the last, for your sister, Melody."

At the mention of his name, Sans was comparable to a puppy with it's ears pricked up, "why me?"

I could feel a wild blush coming onto my face, knowing that Sans and I had been in a romantic relationship. Looking at Grillby, I gave him a look that said 'if you tell him I will die of embarrassment so don't even think about it', before answering Sans' question, "You were my best friend. Anyways, thank you Grillby, so much."

Grillby hushed me, getting back to cleaning a glass, "Now, when was your birthday. I want an exact day, time, and year."

Sighing, I mumbled my birthday to the waiting flame monster, "February 29th, 10:58 PM, 2000."

Grillby seemed to make a mental note of that, before setting the glass he was cleaning down once more, strolling over to our side of the bar, and heading to a piano tucked away in a corner. Sitting down, fingers ready to play, Grillby looked over to me, "Any requests, Frisk?"

Smiling, I hopped off my seat at the bar, going over and sitting with Grillby on the piano bench, "Do you know Hey Jude, by the Beatles?"

Grillby nodded, "Of course. You'll have to be patient with me though, I haven't played in a while."

As soon as his fingers hit the keys though, I fell in love.

Closing my eyes, I imagined my fingers hitting every note, my hands moving gracefully.

Under my breath, I sang quietly, "Hey Jude, don't make it bad, take a sad song and make it better. Remember to let her into your heart, then you can start to make it better. Hey Jude, don't be afraid, you were made to go out and get her..." Trailing off, I began to hum instead of sing, so I wouldn't be as self-conscious.

As Grillby continued playing, I could feel the world drop beneath me, and I only hoped that it would be a good memory that was coming to me.

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"Frisk, play it again! Pretty please? Or at least another one?"

Melody grabbed onto my hands, placing them back on the piano and waiting hopefully.

Chuckling, I turned my head to look at everyone else in the restaurant, "Okay, let's take a vote. All in favor of me playing another song?"

Every hand in the establishment went up, along with some whistles.

Turning back towards my sister, I playfully glared, "Okay kid, you get your way this time. Now, what song?"

Jumping up and down, my sister giggled, "All of me! By the Legend guy!"

Smiling, I ran through the notes in my head, and then began. Quietly clearing my throat, and letting the restaurant quiet down, I started to sing, "What would I do without your smart mouth? Drawing me in, and you kicking me out. Got my head spinning, no kidding, I can't pin you down. What's going on in that beautiful mind? I'm on your magical mystery ride, and I'm so dizzy, don't know what hit me, but I'll be alright. My head's under water, but I'm breathing fine. You're crazy, and I'm out of my mind."

Melody contained her excitement, being quiet for one of her favorite songs.

Continuing, I shot a look to both Melody and Sans, who was sitting at the bar with Pandora. With that small ache in my heart, I let it all out with my singing, "'Cause all of me, loves all of you. Love your curves and all your edges, all your perfect imperfections. Give your all to me, and I'll give my all to you. You're my end and my beginning, even when I lose I'm winning. 'Cause I give you all, all of me, and you give me all, all of you."

As I sang, and began to finish up, I never once faltered. Not when Melody pretended to faint from her excitement, and not when Pandora said something that made Sans laugh.

When my fingers left the last note, I stood up, turned around, and bowed.

Applause filled my ears, making me smile as happiness and excitement entered my system.

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When the memory was over, Grillby had finished playing, and had turned to me.

Smiling slightly, the flame monster gave me a brief hug, "I haven't heard your beautiful singing voice in a little over a year. Though, it feels like it's been centuries since I last heard you sing."

Returning a small smile, I shrugged, "I'm sure I was a better singer in the last timeline."

Grillby shook his head slightly, "No, Frisk, I believe you have kept that stunning singing voice." Giving me another brief hug, Grillby got up and went back to his place behind the bar, "Now then, Frisk, Sans, it is getting late. You should head home to get some rest."

Looking over at Sans, who had been quiet the whole time, I saw that he looked deeply confused and lost.

Gently tapping Sans on the shoulder, I gave him a smile as he looked up, "Hey, Grillby's saying that we should get home and rest, so we should probably get going."

In a snap of the fingers, Sans had his usual grin on, "okay kiddo, we can get going." As we walked towards the exit, Sans waved goodbye to Grillby, "see ya next time grillbs, and thanks for invitin' me to this little session."

As soon as we stepped out into the chilly night air, I turned to Sans, "Hey, what's wrong? You seemed... I dunno, lost? Upset maybe?"

Sans kept his usual grin in place, dismissively waving his hand, "nah, i'm fine. just wanna get home, i'm real tired."

After walking a few steps towards the house, I turned to him again, "Okay, you're a liar because you're not just tired, and you don't seem as 'fine' as you usually are. Talk to me? Take me up on my offer?"

Seeming a little shocked at my persistence and offer, Sans slowly gave me a small smile, before chuckling, "okay, okay kid, you win, i'll talk. but first, let's get into the house, 'kay?"

Sans opened the front door of the house for me, letting me step in before him.

Kicking my shoes off, I practically fell onto the couch, before quickly sitting up and looking at Sans. I sat with my legs crisscross, before patting the couch cushion next to me, "Okay Sans, what's been vexing you?"

Sitting beside me, Sans leaned back on the couch to try and appear laid back, but failing. After a moment, Sans let out a small sigh, "okay, now i feel kinda ridiculous. i'm supposed to be talking to a fifteen year old about something that's been bothering me."

Putting what I hope was a comforting hand on his shoulder, I spoke quietly, "Hey, if there's something bothering you, then you need to talk to someone. And chances are, if it has something to do with the timelines, I'll probably have an answer or solution of some sort."

Letting out a small sigh, Sans sat up, turning his body towards me, "okay kid, i sure hope you're right on having an answer of some sort."

When Sans hesitated to speak, I took a few shots in the dark, "Is it about the past timeline? Gaster?" Noticing how Sans flinched in the slightest way, I knew I had found what was bothering him. Clearing my throat a little, I continued, "Okay, so this is about Gaster. Are you—What's your relationship with Gaster here?"

After a moment, Sans sort of shrugged, "i— is there any way that he could still be alive? you talked about him like you had met him, and that means that he lived in the last timeline, right?"

Biting my lip, I took a small breath, "Well, not exactly. When I met Gaster, he wasn't exactly dead, but he wasn't really... fully living either, I guess. Gaster was stuck in the void when I met him." When I saw Sans' perplexed expression, I elaborated, "The void is basically a place where Gaster can exist, but he can't really leave. All he can do is sit and watch life go on without him."

Taking this in, Sans let out a long sigh, "and, uh, how exactly were you able to meet him? If it's a place where he exists, but he can't leave, then doesn't that mean that you wouldn't have been able to enter the void?"

Wincing, I dug my nails into my thumbs, "I— I don't know if you can enter the void while still living, because I died and showed up in the void." Seeing Sans' slightly disappointed features, I felt something in me shift, almost like... I don't know, determination? Placing a hand on Sans', I spoke quietly, "I'm sorry that I haven't been very helpful. I am going to find out more. I promise."

Sans gave me a small smile, before getting up from the couch, "thanks kid, i really appreciate it. but you shouldn't make promises that you may not be able to keep."

Grabbing a blanket from beside the couch, I looked over at Sans, before laying down on the couch, staring up at the ceiling.

As Sans made it to his door, I called out to him, "Hey, Sans?" When I heard his footsteps stop, I continued, "I don't make promises I can't keep."

Rolling onto my side, facing the back of the couch, and curling up, I shut my eyes, willing sleep to come.

"'night, kid."

Walking through Waterfall, heading to Alphys' lab, when something caught my eye.

Something that wasn't there before.

Approaching the weathered, light gray, yellowing door, I grasped the doorknob.

Gentle turning the knob, I opened the door, to reveal the nothingness that lie behind it.

Peering inside, putting one foot through the door, I called out, "Hello? Is anyone here?"

"YᎬᏕ. CᎾmᎬ cᏝoᏕᎬr, CᎻᎥᏝd."

Feeling my stomach sink when I heard that distorted and quiet voice, I instinctively took a step backwards, but the door slammed on me before I could even blink. Not being able to see in the pitch black room, I quietly called out, "Who are you? Why do you want me here?"

The voice came from beside my right ear, quiet, and malevolent, "YᏫu ᏞᏆᎬ tᎾ ᎢᏲem. I aᎷ Ꮤ.Ꭰ. ᏳaᎦtᏋᎡ. bᏌt ᎩᎾu Ꮷo NᎾᎢ knᏫᏔ ᎷᏋ." After a moment of silence, the voice was right in front of me, about an inch from my face, "ᎽᎾᏌ aᏒᏋ ᏂeᎡe fᏫᏒ mᎩ ᏌᏕᎬ."

Backing up as much as I could, I tried to think of what Gaster meant, "You're use— NO!" Running away from where I thought he was, I screamed back at him, "If you take my soul, and if you can somehow come back, then Sans will never forgive you!"

Haunting laughter filled my ears, overcoming my sense of hearing as the laughter came from all crevices of the void, "Ꮋe ᏧᏫᎬᎦ't nᏋeᎠ tᎾ knᎾᎳ tᏂat ᎩoᏌ ᎬᏤen exᎥᎦᎢᏋᏧ."

God, how did I get myself into this so quickly. Why does something bad always have to happen to me?

Almost before I could react, a barrage of attacks came my way, forcing me to evade them.

Wincing as a beam from a Gaster Blaster hit my leg, I looked back at Gaster with tears in my eyes, "Gaster, please, I wasn't lying, I do know you! Just give me a chance to explain, and I swear, everything will make more sense!"

Gaster seemed to hesitate for an instant, before becoming more vehement, "Ꭵ Ꭺm nᏫᎢ ᎥnᎢEREᏕtED Ꭵn ᎢaᏝᏦᎥnᏩ ᎪnᎽ ᏝᎾnᏳᎬᏒ!"

Ducking and rolling, I avoided Gaster's first attack in an instant. But I wouldn't be able to do this forever.

I stood still for a split moment, before taking a deep breath, and charging straight for the fallen and ruined scientist.

Charging straight for Gaster, all of my courage and willpower mustered up, I caught the scientist off guard.

As the scientist just stood there, startled by my sudden "attack", I came up to three feet away from him.

Two feet.

One foot.

Now.

Moving fast, I slid underneath the scientist's spindly figure, narrowly missing his legs.

As I grabbed the doorknob to leave the Void, I quickly called back to the scientist, trying not to cry, "I'll come back for you! I will find a way to help you, I promise!"

Seeing Gaster's torn expression as I darted out the door, I quickly looked away, ashamed at not being able to help.

With the door slamming behind me, fading into the shadows, I could only stand there.

Running a hand through the 4 inches of hair that had grown in one month, I took a shaky breath, whispering quietly.

"I promise."