AN: Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! What are you thankful for? I'm certainly thankful for this chapter. Enjoy!

Kit - I, too, am thankful for this chapter.


"When we leave the Ruins we cannot return. I hope you understand." After a night of good rest, Toriel had sat Frisk down and explained what they would do. That they would try to get to 'the Barrier', the one thing that monsters could not pass through - but that maybe a DETERMINED human could. "Reaching the Barrier is our only choice, young one. I will go with you, and keep you safe as best as I am able."

Frisk gave a nod, looking incredibly considering of Toriel's words. "Promise?" Toriel blinked at the works, looking startled for a second before she was giving a warm smile and patting the child's head.

"I promise I will do my best by you. Will that be good enough, Frisk?" The child gave a nod, looking satisfied as she held her arms out to Toriel. The monster was chuckling softly before picking the child up and shifting her to rest on her hip, nuzzling at her temple before heading for the stairs. She had a messenger bag around her shoulder, and a small backpack on Frisk's back carried with just a few, light things. "Very well, then. Let us be on our way."

"Mmkay. Where are we going, first?" Frisk was leaning against Toriel, looking comfortable and at ease with the monster.

"First is Snowdin. From there, we shall cross into Waterfall, to Hotland, and then...then we shall be very close the Barrier." Toriel, at having trailed off for a moment, had tucked Frisk under her chin, almost as if trying to protect her from something. "For now, however, we are leaving the Ruins- You are warm enough in the outfit I gave you, yes? I would hate for you to get sick from Snowdin's cold."

"How cold is it?" Frisk hummed, burrowing further into Toriel's chest and she would be fine as long as she doesn't have to move because she felt very warm, right here.

"Well, I have no problem with it, but I have heard a fair few complaints in my day," Toriel chuckled, poking at the girl's side. "Of course, I am made of very fuzzy fur, and not warm pink skin that is so very ticklish." Frisk giggled, looking delighted as she swatted Toriel's hand away. There was a quiet, nostalgic laugh, Toriel nuzzling against her again while holding her close. "Now, let us continue. Once we pass this door...our journey truly begins, my child."

"Let's gogogo!" Toriel laughed but pushed the doors open anyway, hardly getting a foot out before Frisk was stopping her. "Pie. You forgot pie." A pause, Toriel tilting her head.

"Hm...so I did... Would you like me to return for it?" Frisk nodded, looking as though it weren't negotiable. "Very well. Would you wish to wait here for my return, or proceed with?"

Frisk crossed her arms, looking as stern as she could. "I can wait." Toriel hid a chuckle as best she could, gently setting Frisk down and making sure she was okay.

"Very well, my child. I shall return in a short while. Please do not wander too far away." With that, she was stroking the child's head before smiling and leaving for the way they had come. With her gone, it was easy to notice the utter silence in the area. It was thick, and heavy, and seemed...like it could swallow her alive... In this small area, this oh so tiny room...

There was something not right about this place...

"Clever. Verrryyy clever." Frisk squeaked, scrambling backwards at the voice as she looked over to the spot of green and nonono please no not again. A happily grinning flower was looking to her, head tilting to and fro as if swaying in a wind that didn't exist. "You think you're really smart, don't you?" Shaking a bit, Frisk didn't answer, only watching him and trying to stay away from him, her arms hugging around her chest tightly. "In this world, it's kill or be killed. So you were able to play by your own rules.

"Just what do you think you're doing, CHaRa?" Flowey tilted his head until his petals were touching the ground, completely bent over and grinning widely and cruelly, eyes dark and hollow and filled...with so much death. "YoU'Re nOt plAyInG thE gaMe riGhT." Frisk's legs were shaking as she slowly fell to the ground, staying as far away from Flowey as she could, scooting backwards until her back hit the doorway.

"Hee hee hee... You're doing things a bit differently this time, aren't you? Why are you so little, Chara? What are you doing? Why are you doing this? Your last run was so much FuN, remember? There was so much screaming and a bit of death and it was GReAt! So what are you doing...you didn't even fight Toriel... WHAT ARE YOU DOING, CHARA?!" At the raised voice, Frisk gave a shout, covering her ears and frantically shaking her head and nononono she didn't want this nono not this not this.

The shout wasn't even heard before a green vine was flicking out and wrapping around her mouth, keeping her silent. Flowey's voice came out a near coo, sounding sugary sweet. "Relax, Chara. I'm not going to fight you. Not yet. I didn't know at first. You were so tiny! Don't worry, we're friends, remember? Don't worry, you'll remember. You have to remember. All those things you did, all those Resets, all those Saves and Loads...you'll remember, WOn'T yOu?" Frisk only stared at Flowey with wide eyes, filled with terror as she tried to run, kick, scream- anything. But it was like she was glued to the spot, unable to move.

"I bet you feel really great...you managed to change the entire timeline into something so NEW! You didn't even FIGHT Toriel! You're changing everything, Chara. You're changing it so, so, so, SO much! You must feel soooo proud of yourself~" Flowey's face seemed to grow into something dark and eldritch, vines keeping Frisk from screaming for help or escaping. "But what happens when you can't control where this is heading, Chara? This is so, so, SO new, Chara. This has never been done. You're so little, Chara. You're so little and you're so small and you're so weak." At that, the vines tightened a bit, near digging into the skin. Frisk flinched, tears pricking at the corners of her eyes and why. What did she do wrong? She was good she was a good girl she didn't do anything why was this happening to her?!

"You're so weak like this, Chara... Will you give up on this world for good this time...and let mE inherit the power to control it?" The face grew more creepy, a tinge of bastardized cuteness to the look. "I am the prince of this world's future." The voice was back to a coo, sounding so very amused. "Don't worry, my little monarch, my plan isn't regicide. And this? This is so much more interesting! A small child with the abilities of a gOd?! How very fascinating!"

The vines were pulling away, Flowey laughing loudly. "I can't wait to see how this turns out, Chara. Let's see if you can really save them this time...or fail like you have before. Over and over and over again." With that, the monster was gone, and the small room was silent once more, save for the sobs of a scared child.

For Frisk, time seemed to pass in a haze of terror and fear until warm, overly soft arms were picking her up and holding her close. A warm, adoring voice softly cooed gentle things to her, sounding so unlike the voice that had spoken to her minutes ago. Frisk held on tightly to Toriel, as though the woman would disappear at any moment. Unlike when Toriel usually calmed her down, Frisk kept crying because this wasn't fun anymore and she wanted to go home.

She just...wanted to go home. This place...this place could never be her home. Not with- Not with monsters like that! She just...what was this place, even... Toriel had called it the Underground, but it was like a twisted version of a fairy tale...a tale. With this place, Frisk was much more of the opinion that it should be called something like...like...

UNDERTALE