Kit - Sorry we skipped a day! We totally forgot until Kas reminded me this morning! So enjoy today's double update (proofing the second chapter now). Enjoy!


Chapter Ten

::

"...You use fire magic, right?"

"Yes, I do. Would you like me to try and heat up this food for you to eat, young one?" Toriel seemed rather amused, especially after having read the note.

Frisk gave a nod, smiling up at Toriel. "Yes, please." Toriel chuckled but complied, heating the food up to a perfect temperature and then holding it out carefully for Frisk, making sure she wouldn't burn herself. Giving a wide grin, Frisk took the plate and sat herself down. "Thank you." She sniffed at the plate, wrinkling her nose and tilting her head. "It smells weird."

"Perhaps that is because it was heated with fire magic? Or do you have fire magic of your own? I would not be surprised with that warm skin of yours," Toriel teased, poking the girl's side lightly.

Giggling, Frisk started to slurp at the spaghetti with a nod. "Yeah, okay." Happy, Toriel looked over to Sans, seeming amused as she began speaking once more.

"So, your brother, he seems..."

"Strange?"

"I was going to use ambitious," Toriel smiled, tilting her head. As she spoke, Frisk continued eating at the pasta until it was about half gone. She then placed the plate in front of the mouse hole, giving a smile. "He is very nice, it seems. He said he wanted to be a member of the Royal Guards?"

"Yeah, it's kinda been his dream for years," Sans said, scratching at the back of his skull. "He even gets a couple lessons from Undyne." For cooking...

"Undyne? Is she in the Royal Guards, then?" Undyne...that was a name she had not heard in a long time. And even then, just in passing. Although she recalled the name mentioned by Sans once or twice when they still only communicated through the door of the Ruins.

"She's the Captain." A startled pause from Toriel, and then a considering nod.

"I suppose that is not too strange a thought. She was very ambitious as a child, as I recall."

"You knew her?" That wasn't something that he'd known, in the other timelines. That- How much else did he not know? He suspected and made theories, but how much...did he really know about the people he called friends...

"In passing," Toriel nodded, looking rather contemplative now as she watched Frisk. "The Ruins were not always my home, and once... I knew of Undyne. She was ambitious, but I never thought for her to become Captain of the Royal Guard. How much she must have grown..." If things had gone different, would hers... No. Best not to think of it. "Well, I believe it would be rather rude to keep Papyrus waiting on us to challenge his next puzzle." At hearing Toriel's words, Frisk looked up at them, looking to the direction they were supposed to be going.

She stared that way for a long moment before glancing back in the direction they'd came from. When she looked over, she felt her heart drop as she shot at Toriel, a small scream escaping as she clung tightly to the woman's legs and nonono she'd seen the yellow she saw him nonono as long as she wasn't alone she was safe she was okay it was fine. Both Toriel and Sans were rather startled, Toriel picking the girl up and holding her close at once.

"Frisk? Frisk, what is wrong, my little one? Are you alright?" Sans was only glaring over towards the way Frisk had been looking, eyes flickering blue and something...was not like it was meant to be. And that scream...it sounded like Frisk had been about to...about to die... The girl only frantically shook her head, still shaking as she held onto Toriel as tight as she could, hiding her face in the woman's shoulder. "Ssh, there, there, my child. All is well." Toriel gently rubbed at the girl's back, tucking her close and already starting to walk, Sans lingering long enough to be out of earshot before speaking quietly, voice deathly calm.

"If you even think to hurt her, well...I think you'll remember what might happen." The only response he received was the snow swirling around them and the wind rustling the branches above and nearby. "Whatever." He walked after the other two, not feeling quite comfortable with turning his back because if Frisk was changing so much in this timeline...

What would happen with him, this time?

::

While Toriel and Sans argued over how best to solve the puzzle they were at, Frisk was wandering off on her own, within range of view for both Toriel and Sans. She walked into a small little clearing, tilting her head a bit as she shuffled her feet on the ground to clear some of the snow.

Suddenly, before she could be properly aware of how it had happened, there were two 'dogs' cloaked in black robes and carrying large weapons, faces hooded and Frisk was pretty sure they were dogs. They were rather...walking on two feet. Instead of four. "What's that smell? What's that smell?" Where one talked, it seemed the other picked up and echoed almost immediately. "If you're a smell... Identify yoursmelf!"

"Um...hi?" Frisk stayed where she was, looking a bit nervous of the two. There was a bit of sniffing from the two as they circled around her, looking and sounding confused and there was a bit of poking and prodding.

"Hmm... What's that weird smell? Puppy? Smells like a puppy. But not a puppy. But puppy. But not. Both. Smells like two things. Strange puppy." They were now poking and prodding at her and sniffing her much more closely. Unsure how to respond, Frisk only curled up a bit, leaning away from the pokes and prods. She wasn't really sure what to do here. "Must be a lost puppy. We should make sure the puppy finds the parents. Yes, the lost puppy must be found. Strange smelling lost puppy." There were now sniffing her even more, trying to pick up a scent of a monster that they could trace her back to.

Sans glanced over to Frisk from where he and Toriel had just figured out the puzzle, looking a bit confused. Two dogs were...sniffing her. But it didn't look like they were attacking her. Ehh, she'd be fine. Probably. She'd probably be fine. Besides, those two were friendly dogs, so it's not like she would be hurt. Still...probably wouldn't hurt to go over and check on her, just to be sure.

Out of earshot of Sans and Toriel, Frisk gave a small whine. This was weird. This was weird, and she was kinda sure she didn't like it. A rather invading sniff, another, louder whine, and she abruptly found herself being picked up, and then set back down behind a familiar skeleton.

"Heh, sorry, friends, but this is our puppy. Just strayed a bit too far, no need to worry, and all that." And Frisk may have clung a bit to Sans, still looking a bit unsettled by the encounter. And Sans may have shifted a bit to hide more of the girl, still smiling at the dogs before waving them off, and yes, yes, they would keep a closer eye on her. "Woo, sorry about that, kid. They don't really get the whole personal space, thing. Especially when they see a lost 'puppy'."

"Why'd they think I'm a puppy?" Frisk looked up at him with confusion, making sure the two dogs were gone.

"Eh, it's nothing on you, they just tend to think most kids are puppies. Considering you've been around monsters for a while, our scents kinda rubbed off on you. Think of it like hugging a person too long, and then realizing you smell a bit like them. So you just smelled like a kid monster, is all." Sans ruffled her hair, looking amused.

"Is that...bad?" Because she wasn't a monster. She was human. And didn't some of the people around town hate monsters?

"Eh, not down here. Down here it's pretty normal." Sans was already leading her towards the next puzzle, slowing down enough to make sure Toriel could catch up to them. "I imagine by the time you get back to your home the smell will be back to what it should be. Nothin' to worry about, kiddo, just a bit of a swap I guess."

"...Yeah..." Right. Right, her family. Her mom and dad and Josh. They were all waiting for her. How'd she forget?

"Now, let's go see what this next puzzle is."

::

"What?! How did you avoid my trap of delicious spaghetti?!" A pause, Papyrus looking at her curiously. "More importantly, however, is there any left for me?" Frisk snickered, shaking her head. "Really?!" There was an expression from Papyrus that made him look very touched and honored. "Wowie...no one's ever enjoyed my cooking before..." Frisk gave him a bright grin, looking proud of herself.

"Well then!" Papyrus struck a dramatic pose, beaming widely. "Fret not human! I, Master Chef Papyrus, will make you all the pasta you could ever want!" A loud, boisterous laugh. "I shall even flavor it with extra snails next time!"

Frisk only stuck her tongue out, giving a shake of her head. "Snails are gross." Papyrus only laughed, looking to once again be in a 'superhero' pose.

"You should not dismiss snails so quickly, human! They are part of a balanced meal, after all!" Papyrus was still looking rather proud of himself. How wonderful to know his food was now edible by others!

"Who eats snails? Those are gross, and slimy, and totally not good."

"Most monsters eat snails! In fact, I put them in all my cooked spaghetti!"

"Eeewwwwww." Frisk was shaking her head, her tongue stuck out as though she was trying to get the snails out. Sans only watched for a moment, tilting his head as he thought about it. Teach her how to Load...not teach her how to Load...eeh, he'd get to it later. Maybe. "You're mean! You're a meaniebutt!"

"How rude to say, human! I am a Royal Guardsman!" A covered cough of 'in training', Sans hiding a snicker with a cough.

"You made me eat snails! Those are gross! They're like slugs!"

"Snails are nutritious! With them, why, one day you may grow up to be as big and strong as I am! The Great Papyrus! Nyeh heh heh heh heh heh!" With that, Papyrus was flouncing away with his cape flapping behind him in the breeze. As he left, Frisk was trying to wipe her tongue off, looking disgusted. Sans only offered her a snowball.

"If you lick it, it'll clean your tongue." Probably. "Although I'm sorry to say it's not fried."

Frisk licked at the snowball, throwing it in Papyrus' general direction. It got about a foot before falling to the ground rather anticlimatically. "Snails are the grossgustingest." Behind them, Toriel shuddered at the word, Sans only snickering.

"Couldn't agree with you more, kiddo. Now, come on, I'll show you how to do these puzzles." With that, Sans was gently taking her by the hand, leading her to the bright blue X's on the ground and showing her how to step on them to turn them into O's. "You can only step on them once, otherwise they turn into triangles. Once they're all O's, you press that metal button, and the spikes go down. If they're not all O's, you can't proceed. Got it?" Frisk gave a nod, ripping her hand away to run around the rocks and flip the other switch.

"Like that?"

"Just like that," Sans nodded, pointing to the metal tile between them. "Then you just press that. Or step on it. Whatever works." Frisk ran over and hopped on the metal plate, watching the O's turn green, and the spikes disappear. "Nice job, kid. Guess you spiked that one." Frisk giggled, grabbing some snow and putting it down the back of Sans' shirt.

"Get dunked on!" With that, she ran off towards Papyrus, laughing the whole way. Sans was only staring after her completely silently before looking to Toriel.

"Tori I want to keep her." The child was perfect. "We should do that- We should keep the small human."

Toriel paused, looking genuinely considering. "Well, her family did leave her..." Sans only waved his hands in denial, and, right, no, could not keep the tiny child- Right.

"No, no, just a joke, I didn't actually- ...They did what." What? He didn't- He had never heard- Every human child he had met had been trying to get back to their family, even this Frisk, so why...

"She said her family went to a place they would never return from. So, she climbed the mountain to try to follow after them. I am not sure what could have sparked such a thing, though..."

"Neither am I, and I'm kinda hopping we don't find out," Sans muttered, glancing over to Frisk, who was already talking to Papyrus in the next area.

"Really? And here I thought you knew everything." Toriel hummed, walking over to Frisk with a tilt of her head. Sans only followed after, bashfully scratching the back of his head.

"Aw, shucks, Tori, you're gonna make me blush! I don't know everything, just a good bit. You'd be surprised what you pick up when you run a couple sentry stations, and all." Surprised what can be remembered after a Reset...

"Mhm. So, what are Save points?" There was a sudden silence from Sans, a flicker of blue in his eyes before he was looking up to the woman with an unreadable expression.

"Toriel, you wouldn't believe me if I told you." How could anyone believe things like that? That something as simple as a child could change their world...over and over with the power that could be liken to a god's.

The woman only glanced to Frisk, and then back to Sans. "I doubt that."

"...You know, you might be right," Sans mused. Still, though... Something about her...there was some connection between that goddamn flower and Toriel and the two children that had been hers...so what. "Eh, I'll tell you later, probably. For now, we should probably help the kid before they get XO'd by this puzzle."

"It's 'KO'd,'" Toriel corrected.

"Aw, come on, it's been a nonstop day of puns and jokes. I only have so many to use, Tori, I'm reaching exhausting limits."

"That is snow problem of mine." Toriel gave a hum before kneeling beside Frisk and speaking quietly to her. Sans was only looking a touch flustered and dammit why did these two have to be perfect uuggghh and...huh...

"So, ah, kid, did...Pap help you with this puzzle?" It was completed. All of it. Flawlessly. Even the button had already been pressed down to get rid of the spikes.

"No," she said, looking extremely proud of herself as she looked up at him, her hands clasped in front of her. Sans only nodded, patting her head.

"Good child." And, yes...yes. This was a good tiny spawn of a child. He glanced to Toriel, who had her full attention on Frisk. "Aw, come on, Tori. Don't give me the 'cold shoulder.'"

Toriel gave Sans a polite smile, tilting her head. "Sans? Frostbite me." Sans might have shifted to hide behind the tiny child because oh. Oh, damn, she was holding that grudge, wasn't she? He should...avoid her, probably, until this was all said and done.

"Noted." After a moment, they got started on their way, Sans deciding to remain there for a bit. Once Toriel and Frisk turned a corner, they saw Sans there, waiting for them next to Papyrus, a lot of grey colored tiles in front of them. "Sup?" A pause, Toriel glancing back to where Sans had been, narrowing her eyes at him in suspicion. Sans only shot her a beaming grin, and, yes, if she was going to be a brat, so was he. And he had much more practice in the matter, after all. "Hey, kid, good job on solving that puzzle so quickly. You didn't even need my help, which is great, cause I love doing absolutely nothing." Frisk beamed at the praise, and trying not to bounce because yay.

"So, TORI-" Papyrus was barely able to speak before he was suddenly thrown a good twenty feet behind them, Sans looking unbothered as he stuck his hands back in his pocket, smiling at them.

"Sorry, Pap had to fly off and get something real quick."

"So then. The puzzle?" Ouch. That one kinda hurt. He deserved it, but still, ow. Glancing to see Papyrus was struggling out of a snow mound, he nodded.

"Right. So, this one was made by Alphys. Basically throw the switch, get random tiles, and then walk across them. I'm not gonna go over all them, but, uh...pink is good. I remember that pink is fine. And red can't be crossed or something, and yeah. That's probably all you need to know." Especially since he may have tampered with the machine a bit. "Yo, Pap, you wanna throw the switch-"

"I shall!" With that, Papyrus - who had made it back to Sans' side - was throwing the switch with gusto. It was a few moments of rapidly changing colors on the tiles before it settled into two rows of pink straight down the middle, and then red on either other side. Laughing in success at knowing this puzzle would dupe the human for ages, Papyrus spun away with laughter, Sans looking rather amused.

Frisk giggled, looking amused herself as she slowly stepped onto the pink, looking back at Toriel. Toriel gave her an encouraging smile, nudging her along as she followed after. A glance up showed Sans was already gone from where he had been - although there had been no sound of crunching boots, she noticed. Frisk took off running after Papyrus, though she waited long enough for Toriel to catch up. Entering the new area, she saw a Save point glimmering in the snow. Toppling a column or two of snow, she lunged for it, laughing as the snow went up in a cloud around her. The snowflakes landing on her nose and hair filled her with a sense of DETERMINATION.