Frisk had not had a happy childhood. The scars on their back and their arms could be healed, but the wounds in their heart could not. It had been one of the reasons why they'd jumped down that stupid hole in the first place. Instead of death, they found they'd landed on a bed of golden flowers. The stupid things had softened their fall.

But now they were going to find out what they did wrong. They were going to find out why they'd been left on that mountain.

Getting money had been easy. They'd always had some stashed in the couch. It was a very chilly winter and they shivered as they waited in the bus stop, teeth chattering. They wished they had Sans' jacket; the large blue hoodie with a comforting smell of Grillby's. But instead all they had was their jumper, the very one their parents had left them in.

People whispered as they passed them. Of course they would. They were the human ambassador for the monsters, sitting alone on a bus stop waiting for a bus that may or may not come. It wasn't a very comforting picture. Frisk shivered and wrapped their arms around themselves, finally deciding it would be quicker to walk.

They stood, shuffling through the snow. It was very cold and their fingers were numb with the cold. Snowdin had been cold, but not as cold as this. There had been no wind to drive the cold into your bones. Frisk found themselves taking a very familiar route, the one that led to the new Grillby's. It was located right next to Muffet's shop, which smelled of doughnuts and warm cider.

Grillby's was packed that night. Monsters and humans were milling around in the booths and as Frisk pushed open the door, they could hear the new jukebox playing in the corner. The light that filled the bar was from the bartender himself, Grillby. The flame elemental stood behind a polished counter, idly washing it with a cloth.

Frisk walked up to the counter and heaved themselves up onto a stool. Grillby noticed and his face cracked into a large, happy grin.

"Frisk." He said, the word hissing like warm coals. He wandered to them, smiling widely. "It's been so long."

Hello, Grillby. Frisk signed, smiling. How's business?

"Oh, very good." Grillby wiped a glass with another rag, adjusting his glasses. "Sans comes here every other night… still hasn't paid off his tab."

Frisk smiled. They had a feeling that Grillby didn't care about the tab. At the mention of Sans, however, they felt guilty and their face fell. Grillby noticed and gave them a reassuring grin. "Want fries?"

Frisk began to nod, then shook their head. Hot cocoa.

"Oh? I thought you didn't like chocolate."

Frisk smiled sadly. Had a change of heart. Cocoa, please.

Grillby smiled. "Milk?"

Frisk nodded vigorously; they were chilled to the bone and the heat resonating off Grillby was lovely. Grillby winked from behind his glasses and bent down to retrieve a shiny mug, retreating slightly to fill it with some hot milk.

Frisk felt a strange, gutting movement in the back of their head. They recognised the feeling. It was of Chara, the first human child who had fallen into the Underground. Frisk knew they would come.

"Here's your chocolate, Frisk."

Thank you.

Grillby left, but there was a new person at the bar, sitting in the stool next to Frisk.

Hello, Chara.

Chara didn't respond. They merely stared at the counter, auburn hair falling in a curtain to hide their face. The human child looked no older than twelve, wearing shorts and a dark green sweater with gold stripes. Frisk pushed the cocoa toward Chara, who didn't move at first, but eventually took it in their pale hands.

"What're you doing here, Frisk?" Chara asks, the pink blush that seemed permanent in their cheeks creeping up even more. "You look mad; giving your drink to someone who isn't even here."

Chara took a sip of the cocoa and a shudder ran through them. "I can't remember the last time I-I…"

Drink.

Chara finished the hot chocolate, then pushed the mug back to Frisk. Chara leaned on the counter, looking thoughtful as they stared into Frisk's eyes. They eventually smiled.

"So… finding your parents, huh?" Chara snorted. "That's a laugh. Mine are dead. Yours might be, too."

Frisk shook their head. I can feel it. They're alive.

Chara sighed, rolling their eyes and tapping their long fingers on the counter. "Frisk, no offense, but you're really stupid."

Frisk smiled. Flowey misses you.

Chara blinked, then looked away. "Oh yeah? Big cry baby." They sniffed and Frisk could've sworn they were crying. "How's mom? Still making those pies?"

Frisk nodded, then glanced at Grillby, who was talking with a customer. They then turned to Chara, scooting their chair closer to the dead child.

Chara, I need you to help me.

Chara raised an eyebrow. "Oh yeah?"

I don't want anyone to get hurt. I want you to help me find my parents as quickly as possible.

"That smiley skeleton of yours might just kill me again if he finds out you can still talk to me." Chara said, tilting their head to one side. "I don't think he's so happy after I killed his brother and then everyone he ever knew or loved."

Frisk winced. They had reset the timeline for that purpose, but it seemed as if Chara remembered. Well, they would; if Frisk could remember, it made sense that Chara could, as well. They sat in silence for a long while. Grillby served other customers, refilled Frisk's cocoa, but didn't notice the extra customer.

"I'm sorry." Chara said quietly, staring at Grillby as he moved around. "That was a little harsh… I know that's not a nice subject for you to dwell on."

You're not a nice person. Frisk pointed out.

Chara laughed. "Of course I'm not! I hate humans. You should too, after what your parents did to you."

Frisk shook their head and began to sign again. I must've done something to make them that way. I have to believe there is good in some people… like you. I know you're not a nice person, but it doesn't mean you're a bad one, either.

Chara rolled their eyes. "Now who's the gullible one?" They sneered, leaning on their elbows and tilting their head to one side. "Not all people are good, Frisk. I'm one of them. Stuck forever in your head, watching you have a family and growing old; those are all things I wanted to tear away from humans because of how despicable they are. They never did me any favours."

Frisk rubbed their eyes, feeling tired. Then they sighed and signed some more. I need to find them… please. Will you help me?

Chara didn't answer. Then, "Let's go to my village… There's a guy there who… he might've been the one who told your parents to leave you on the mountain." Their face twisted. "He did that to mine."

Frisk remained silent. After a while, they left the bar. Grillby looked for Frisk afterward, only to find a single golden flower sitting in the chair next to their own. It wilted almost immediately.

"FRISK!"

"Frisk! Where are you, dear?!"

"Kiddo! Come on!"

The streets were empty, but Toriel, Sans and Papyrus were scouring them all the same. Flowey was in a jar that Sans had fished out from the garbage; the little freak deserved it. Asgore was also helping; he was scouring the other end of town with Undyne and the rest of the police force. The policemen of the small town loved Frisk; who wouldn't?

Sans ground his teeth as he wielded his flashlight, searching for any sign of the human child. It was bitterly cold and if Frisk was outside without a jacket, they'd surely be freezing by now. Sans and Papyrus couldn't feel the cold, but by the way Toriel was shivering, he could tell.

"Oh, poor child." Toriel had tears in her eyes. "I can't lose another one… not another one."

"Tori, you aren't going to lose them." Sans insisted, patting her shoulder comfortingly. "I'll find 'em."

"But Sans, what if we can't?" Toriel sniffed. "What if they- what if-"

Sans shook his head, reaching behind him to yank Flowey out of his bag. The flower had a sour face and he began to hiss as Sans shook him around in the garlic jar.

"I'll kill you!" Flowey snarled, his roots writhing.

"Keep talkin', petals." Sans said, scratching the side of his skull. "Now, you know Frisk better than anyone. Where would they go first?"

Flowey snarled, but without much effort. He then rolled his eyes and slumped in his jar, grumbling to himself. "That hothead friend of yours might know. Why don't you bother him instead?"

"Will do." Sans stuffed him back into the back, shutting it tightly and glancing at Toriel. "Let's stop at Grillby's. He might know if Frisk passed by."

Toriel nodded, pulling her coat tighter around herself. Sans waved Papyrus over and his brother had never looked so worried.

"SANS, WILL FRISK BE ALRIGHT?" He asked, his voice quivering.

"Sure, bro." Sans said, cracking a grin. "Undyne is lookin' for them. She'll find 'em in snow time."

Papyrus, for once, didn't chastise Sans for his puns. That's how Sans knew that Papyrus was worried. Sans glanced upward, staring at the swirling snow. He hoped that the kid was alright; a storm was coming and if they were caught in the middle of it… no. He'd find them before that. They'd have a laugh about it over Papyrus' spaghetti whilst Toriel made some of her pie.

They eventually got to Grillby's, just in time to see the bartender locking it up. His flames were subdued from the cold weather and Sans waved at him.

"Grillbz!"

Grillby turned and smiled. "Hello, Sans." He finished locking up the bar and placed the key in his pocket, shoving his glasses further up his non-existent nose. "You just missed Frisk; they left an hour ago."

"They were here?!" Toriel gasped. Grillby now looked concerned, frowning.

"Wait, you didn't know? They popped in for two mugs of cocoa and just vanished afterward. I thought they went home."

"Grillby, bud, Frisk ran away." Sans said, scratching his temple. "Did they say where they were going?"

Grillby's flames flickered briefly, as if in shock. "Ran away? Frisk? That doesn't seem like them." He then frowned. "Come to think of it, they were acting kind of strange. Oh God, Sans, what if I did something?" The bartender ran a hand through his flames, now looking worried. "I should've called you, or Toriel when they walked in alone. I'm such an idiot-"

"Grillby, it's alright." Sans said, reaching over and patting his friend on the arm. "You couldn't have known. Frisk doesn't do stuff like this."

"AND THEY HATE COCOA, SO SOMETHING MUST BE WRONG!" Papyrus said, scratching his chin thoughtfully. Sans also found that strange; Frisk didn't like chocolate, so why order hot cocoa?

"Bro, go and check with some of the people on the street. You too, Grillby. Check if they saw a kid walking around." Sans instructed. Papyrus and Grillby hurried off to obey and Toriel looked slightly sick.

"This is so… surreal…" She sniffed.

There were some muffled noises from Sans' bag and he yanked it open, Flowey looking frantic. "Lemme out! Lemme out! I know where they're going!"

Sans' sockets widened and he reached into the jar, grabbing Flowey and glowering at him. "Oh yeah? What makes you think that?"

"C-Chara liked chocolate." Flowey said quietly. "I-If Frisk is talking to C-Chara, they'll t-try to find Chara's village."

Sans frowned. "What makes you so sure?"

"Chara told me stories." Flowey said, his leaves shivering. "Of the people there. There was a man who told parents to leave their children on Ebott, to appease the monsters. He was the one who made Chara hate humanity. If Chara really is talking to Frisk, they'll want to go back to the village." Flowey's eyes widened. "C-Chara's going to use Frisk to wipe out the village!"

Sans clutched Flowey and looked at Toriel. The monster was shivering, but not from cold, from grief. She clapped her hands over her mouth, sobbing. "Oh Chara… oh no…"

"Where's Chara's village?" Sans demanded, shaking Flowey harder.

Flowey looked up sadly, his face torn.

"Right below Ebott. But you'll never find it." Flowey snarled, his petals quivering. "I'm not going back. I refuse. I can't go back!" He shook and Sans held him tighter to prevent him from leaping out of his hands. "I died there and I'm not dying again!"

"You take me there or I'll crush you to a pile of dust, you whelp!" Sans snapped, his left eye glowing a dangerous blue.

"Go ahead!" Flowey roared. "I'm sick of this jar, anyways! Kill me!"

"Asriel."

Flowey stiffened, then turned slowly to look at Toriel. The monster's fur was matted with tears and she sniffed, holding out her hand. Sans hesitated, then handed Flowey over to Toriel.

"What? I'm not Asriel! I'm Flowey the Flower, you stupid-"

"Asriel…" Toriel said, smiling a sad smile. "A mother always knows." She reached up a hand and stroked Flowey's petals. The flower quivered under her touch and shook.

"Stop…" He moaned. "Stop, stop, stop!" He roared, tears beginning to stream down his face. "Stop it!"

"Asriel… it's alright." Toriel said quietly, lifting Flowey up to her face and pressing her cheek to his. "Mommy's here."

Flowey sobbed. "Mom… stop it… it hurts… why does it hurt…?"

Sans watched, eyes dark. He had always known that Flowey was Asriel, but he hadn't suspected that Toriel knew. It was a terrible burden to bear, having your child die only for them to be reincarnated as a homicidal maniac. Toriel was crying and Flowey was moaning as if in pain.

"Asriel… please…" Toriel sniffed, holding Flowey close to her chest and hugging him tightly. "Please, sunshine… where is Frisk?"

Flowey looked up with watery, crying eyes. Then his gaze hardened. "Put me down."

Sans blinked, his eye flickering and getting ready to grab Flowey should the need arise. Toriel placed Flowey on the ground and the flower shivered in the cold. He didn't try to run away and instead squinted, looking around. He flapped his leaves once or twice before glancing up at Sans.

"Oi, smiley, put me on your head."

"What?"

"Put me. On your. Head." Flowey snarled. "Did I stutter?"

Sans shook his head, but leaned down so Flowey could scrambled onto the top his skull. It felt strange; the flower's petals were oddly soft, but firm. Sans groaned inwardly as the vines snaked down, right past his neck and spine to wrap around his legs.

"What's the deal, petals?" Sans growled, his bones rattling in discomfort.

"I can't exactly walk, you idiot." Flowey snarled. "But I have to feel the ground. And you're so annoyingly short that you're the only one who I can sit on and still be close enough to the ground."

"Did you just call me short?" Sans snarled.

"Shut up and walk, trashbag." Flowey muttered.

Sans did so, rigidly. Flowey was directing him with odd words, such as 'slightly left' or 'three steps to the right'. Toriel followed behind, her face drawn and haggard. Papyrus and Grillby soon fell into line, occasionally asking passersby if they had seen a child wandering alone in the snow. Sans glanced at Toriel, who looked older in the light of the streetlamps.

"You alright, Tori?"

Toriel nodded slowly. "I just want my children back." She said quietly. Sans hesitated, then reached out and grabbed her hand.

"And we'll get them back. I promise."

Then again…

He didn't like making promises.