Chapter 11: She's Here!

Frisk fiddled with the ribbon they had tied in their hair. It was pretty and faded. It seems it could crumble at any moment, but it helped keep their locks out of their face when they dodge in their 'fights.' They couldn't really call them fights really. The monsters always attacked them. Chara always encouraged them to fight back, but they always dodge and ACTed until they could leave the battle peacefully, like how their mom would have wanted them to do. How they liked to do it.

Frisk could feel the familiar burn in their eyes when they thought of this. They missed mom and her great big warm hugs and smiles. They miss how nice her voice sounded, reassuring and soothing. How safe they felt around her. They still love her. They miss her. Frisk sighed.

They don't even know why they were being attacked by the monsters. Why did almost every monster want to kill them? Did they do something really bad to cause this? Mom always told them they were a wonderful and good child; that they don't have to listen to others, to be themselves. Well, they were going to make up for whatever they did and be as kind as they could.

They reached the first save point they could see in entering Waterfall. They giggled as they touched the star. The names of all these places are so silly! They walked around the little area to talk with the fellow children. Apparently, it is a tradition to wear a striped shirt if you are a child down here. Frisk smiled at their sweater. They almost went on ahead to the next area of Waterfall when they saw Sans.

They ran up to the punny skeleton with a big smile. They giggled at their own terrible joke. Sans is funny with his terrible puns. He was the only Monster so far to not try and hurt them. Plus, he was really nice and helpful. He even understands sign language! He's a really cool guy, but not as cool as The Great Papyrus! They grinned wider at the thought of the goofy skeleton. They waved at the stout skeleton to gain his attention.

"oh, hey kiddo, how've you been?"

"I'm good. How are you?"

"kind of hungry, wanna head over to grillby's for some grub?"

They stared at the chillax skeleton in confusion.

"Is it time for your break?"

He shrugged. Frisk narrowed their eyes. Mom had always stressed the importance of keeping a job or jobs.

"well, with two jobs, i can have twice as many legally required breaks."

Frisk giggled and nodded in acceptance. They were really hungry anyways. They have been eating so many sweets lately that they really miss having a decent meal. Even when eating those treats, it was mostly to help recover their HP. Sans' grin seems to have gotten wider too. He got around his station and headed towards the next area deeper into Waterfall. Frisk hesitated a moment in confusion. They remember Grillby's being in Snowdin Town, in the other direction. Sans must have noticed their confusion. He winked in reassurance. Frisk smiled back.

"hey, don't worry kid, I know a short cut. come on."

Frisk followed him. In a time span of a blink, they were in Grillby's foyer. Gazing around in wonder and confusion, they wondered how they got here. Did Sans do something? Can he … teleport? That would be AMAZING! Not bothering to question it, Frisk walked eagerly next to the adult skeleton. They waved at Grillby in greetings. They climbed onto a stool. They froze when a very loud far noise resounded throughout the room. Snickers sounded around the room. They flushed a bright red. They quickly removed the whoopee cushion from their spot to fling it at their suspect, giggling all the way. Sans scrunched up his shoulders against the wimpy projectile, laughing deeply at them.

"whoops, gotta watch where you sit, sometimes weirdos put whoopee cushions on the seats."

Frisk couldn't laugh any louder without hurting themselves. He didn't even deny it! Werido! Calming down, they glanced at the skeleton to see him staring at them with his eye lights. It was like they reminded him of something or someone. Nah.

"well anyways, let's order, whaddya want…?"

Frisk hum and hawed in dramatics over the two choices they were given. Fries sounded really good, but a burger sounded even better!

"A burger please!"

"Hey, that sounds pretty good! Grillby, we'll have a double order of burg!"

Frisk relaxed into their seat and ideally played with their ribbon. Hearing bone scrapes, they turn to see Sans rubbing his skull with his skele-hand. They tilted their head in question. Sans seems conflicted and maybe confused. The question on their opinion of Papyrus wasn't what they thought he would ask, but they answered honestly anyways. They learned from mom that honesty was always good but should be done politely. Then again, she should take her own advice really. She can be so blunt sometimes.

Frisk smiled when their order came out fresh. They thanked Grillby and politely refused the ketchup. They watched as Sans somehow drank the tomato concoction. They weren't really grossed out about his drink choice. They had seen their mom swallow a shot of ketchup before on a dare one of their friends made, without hearing the compensation. Heck, they even like weird stuff too, like dipping cafeteria chicken tenders in chocolate pudding. They like to think that everyone had a weird eating quirk.

Frisk tucked into their burger, the glorious meal it was, as they listened to Sans admire his little brother. They wondered if they could ever be an older sibling. I would be nice to have a younger sibling. They are going to need to ask their mom when they get out of the Underground and find her.

"oh yeah, i wanted to ask you something."

Frisk looked up from their food to give Sans their complete attention. Suddenly, they felt enclosed. They could only see Sans. Was what he was going to say important? Alright, they were determined to help Sans!

"have you ever heard of a talking flower?"

Frisk raised an eyebrow. They thought about it. The first thing to come to mind as the echo flower they fiddled with before greeting Sans. Those were fun. The second was the mean yellow flower they first met. Did Sans know more about the plant? They nodded.

"so you know all about it, the echo flower."

Oh

"Not really, sorry Sans"

"it's okay kid. they're all over the marsh. Say something to them, and they'll repeat it over and over…"

Frisk furrowed their brow. Where was he going with this?

"What about them?"

They listened carefully to Sans. They frowned stiffened in dread that the mean plant monster has been talking to Papyrus. They nodded in agreement to keep an eye out for the flower. They ate the rest of their burger in silence.

"hey kid"

They looked up from staring at the counter. Sans' burger lay on its plate, untouched. They eyed it for a moment, wondering if Sans would let them have it if they asked. Without a word, Sans slid his plate over. They gave a smile and a thank you. They took a bite before signing to Sans.

"You wanted something?"

Why was he staring at them? Frisk doesn't believe that Sans would like like them. They were pretty sure he doesn't have the same thoughts.

"yeah, a newcomer in snowdin came looking for you. said that you were their child. have in mind anyone that would come looking for ya?"

Frisk thought back to Toriel, but she wouldn't come of The Ruins. Toriel was nice. She can make a great pie, but she wasn't their mother. Their mother was human. Their mother was Kia. Their mother might be down here with them! They gasped at the possibility. It could be defiantly be a possibility.

"Yeah! My mom! Her name is Kia. Do you know where she could be right now?"

Sans sighed and shrugged. He took another sip from his condiment, finishing it off. He gave them a wink.

"can't say that i do, but they are very determined in finding ya. You should be able to see them soon, but i gotta warn ya kid. the condition she is in isn't the greatest."

They stared at him in confusion. What he mean? Did, did something happen to her? No, no, they need to find her! She has to be alright! They got off of their seat faster than Sans could and speed walked to the exit. They waved back at Sans along with their thanks and goodbyes. They were out the door and dashing through the snow to find their mom. Left, right, up, and down, she wasn't in the wintery town. Waterfall then!

They skidded to a halt as they came back to the area with the station Sans was in before they went to Grillby's. They took a moment to catch their breath. Taking a deep breath, they straightened and looked around. There, standing in front of an echo flower and talking to a fish monster, was a familiar figure. Long curling dark blonde hair falling to the waist, the same clothes they last saw her in, the same stature, there was their mom. Tears burned their eyes. It felt like it had been an eternity since they last seen her.

"Mom," they whispered. They watched and waited with baited breathe to see her turn around. The figure stiffened before trembling. They furrowed their eyebrows. Their mom doesn't tremble. The figure's arms wrapped themselves around their middle before cautiously turning around. They gasped when they saw her turn towards them slowly. There standing was their mom but at the same time, not.

There standing with their mom's clothes, hair, and height, was a skeleton with red eye lights and watering eye sockets.