Author's Note: I know it's been like a month or something but I've been busy. School, life, and writing other stories busy. Also, this chapter alone is like 3,000 words. Blame me who couldn't decide on a stopping point for ONE chapter xD

Again, sorry, but now I need to write the next chapter. See ya on the footnote! (Are they called that? SOMEONE PLEASE EXPLAIN THAT TO ME)


Date: December 23rd, 1920

Location: Rubenberg Orphanage

Time: Late afternoon

The sun was already setting, making the sky a lovely painting of orange, purple, and red. The city was low on activity, most residents retiring to their homes or closing up shops, save the late night bars and taverns. The air was cold and dry and with no cars on the streets, it looked like a ghost town.

There was one singular property that was buzzing with life though. The Rubenbergs always were the nicest to children, taking in any child who requests hospitality. Their orphanage was known by many, hated by few, and loved by so much more. The children were always playing, with boisterous chatter, and always optimistic.

Gaster did not exactly know why he was there, in the back of the main room of the orphanage, but Asgore had invited him over. Apparently, Toriel had earned a job there and in celebration of the holidays, the children are interacting with important figures while waiting for a play to start. "A play that the children are performing. Come now, old friend, you should join us! We can catch up with each other," as quoted by Asgore over the telephone.

The tall doctor was dressed in work clothes still, not bothering to get into the Christmas spirit. His back was pressed against the back wall, watching the children play from afar, and having an internal conversation with himself to keep busy.

Spread across the room, along with comers entering and exiting, are well known figures to the Monster community, some of which are human even. Asgore was there to represent how he is wealthy but kind-hearted and Toriel was in another room preparing the play.

The noise in the room would have made it impossible for efficient conversations but everyone managed that, taking advantage for private talks in the corners. Gaster eyed a short skeletal Monster off to a corner surrounded by children. Like anyone else, the doctor knew who it was. Sans was dressed in a casual attire: button-down shirt with dark brown cloth pants. The children around him took interest in him as he was barefoot and a child was very intrigued in Sans' shoes. The image was a happy one, or at least, it should have been. The investigator had a smile planted on his face but Gaster knew the real monster behind the mask.

It sickened him.

"Mister!"

Gaster looked down to find a human boy tugging at the doctor's pants. He wasn't a normal human; he had feline ears and a cat tail. His faintly blonde hair was almost white and dark gray kitten ears poked out from the top of his head, along with a tail sticking out from his brown pants. The boy had suspenders holding up his pants, one of them hanging from the side, and his white shirt was somehow clean. He himself was a little dirty as Gaster spotted soil around his neck and face. His eyes were a twinkling green however, a complete stand-out.

The tall skeleton only stared down the nervous boy, horrible thoughts coming into his mind, before speaking, "What do you want, little boy?"

The boy extended his arms towards Gaster as if reaching for a hug but his fingers were flexing as if saying to give him something. Wing Dings knew what the boy wanted and he was not fast to respond, hesitating and questioning himself.

The child was stubborn, keeping his arms extended. At last, Gaster found himself picking up the child softly, like a cradle. The boy laughed and giggled. The doctor let a smile slip.

"Me name's Charles, mister! What's you?" asked the boy. He held onto Gaster's coat like for dear life. Like a proper child.

Gaster did not want to socialize with a human child, much less a hybrid. Instead, he prayed for someone to notice the situation and save him from having to answer. If there was one thing important to the doctor is that he values secrets above all. Secrets is the only thing one can control for yourself. Everything else can be manipulated by the influence of others.

As if the gods listened, some had called Charles over.

"I believe you must leave… Charles," Gaster found it hard to be informal, especially casually saying a child's name. He was used to such high power and here is this boy hybrid forcing the skeleton out of his comfort zone.

"But I don't know your name," pouted Charles. Gaster glared at the boy sternly and the boy's pout grew even further. The doctor lowered his arms so that Charles can easily slip off but the child found it hard to leave. Why? Gaster did not know.

"Charles! Ah, there you are, child. You mustn't run off like that." A tan woman strode over to where Gaster was with the child. She was young, not that that was not common, but she was older looking too. It was strange. Her golden hair was long and wavy, her green eyes like Charles', and she almost matched Gaster's height, if not by a head. She also had feline attributes…

"So sorry, mister. I promise that this will not-"

"No, it is alright," a deep but gentle voice said. Gaster looked from the young lady and lo and behold, there was Asgore approaching the group. The goat Monster's golden beard and hair, his huge horns, and his soft brown eyes. His large shoulders and posture made him seem the opposite of what he really is: a big, fluffy pushover.

Charles' eyes seemed to widen at the sight of the noble. His ears perked up and his tail was wagging like a dog, very unlike a cat. The lady seemed to have reacted in a same way but she held the little boy closer to her even more.

"Oh, please, pardon my interruption. It just seemed like my friend here needed a little of counseling," smiled Asgore pleasantly. Gaster stood with his back to the wall, not showing emotion or gratefulness even if he did.

"Wow! You Mr. Dreamer, right mister?" asked Charles excitedly. He jumped up and down on the spot to emphasis.

"Well, yes, little boy." Asgore kneeled down to ruffle the boy's hair and his ears twitched along. Wing Dings felt like smiling at the sight.

When the kind gesture of Asgore was done, he stood up and looked upon the young lady holding Charles closer to her legs as if protecting him.

"You must be his sister, correct? You are much too young for motherhood," stated Asgore, his large paws coming down to his sides.

"Oh, uh, yes, sir."

"What is your name, youngling?"

"S-Sierra, sir," stammered Sierra. Asgore nodded and placed a large paw on the sister's right shoulder, "Take good care of your brother; he's a good one." He smiled and sent the lady on her way with Charles glancing behind and waving before running off with other children.

The noble turned to Gaster, his face seeming like he was ready to punish someone. Alas, that never came to be and instead Asgore took Gaster into a warm embrace, surprising the old doctor.

"W-Wha-?" let out the skeleton. While Asgore hugged him, Gaster did not hug back. After what seemed like a long while, the goat let go and took the skeleton by his shoulders, stepping back as if getting a look at him.

"You have aged," said Asgore casually.

"Well, I am sure how much skeletons show of aging," responded Gaster in an unfriendly manner.

Asgore chuckled softly, "It has been long, old friend."

"Yes, well, it has only been a couple of years. I would not be called 'old' because of that."

Asgore showed kindness and fondness towards the old doctor in a way that no one could resist. Gaster let go of his stoic mask and returned a smile.

"Come now, friend, the play shall be beginning soon. We mustn't want to be late for it!" bubbled Asgore. He journeyed through the room of children and Gaster was forced to follow. From the corner, the doctor could see the investigator had not moved from his spot in the back. It was nerve wrecking, knowing someone was more stoic than Gaster himself. The small skeleton seemed to be sleeping, his blue fedora masking his facial features, the slow rise and fall of his chest…

"buddy, i think you were going somewhere," said the small skeleton. It caught Gaster by surprise but he quickly regained control.

"Pardon, I did not mean to stare," returned Gaster, "I shall be on my way then." He hurried behind Asgore, dreading another meeting with a child or of the kind.

That Monster is certainly strange. He seemed tired… Well, of course. He is an investigator after all, one hated by the police for that matter. Hmm, what is he doing here anyways?

Sans knew who the tall skeleton was. In a town as small as this one, everyone knew each other's names, it was common knowledge. Everyone knew who he was too, especially since he is more public. He didn't always like the publicity, it got frustrating sometimes, but Papyrus always seemed to enjoy it so Sans made it his goal to keep his younger brother happy.

The shorter skeleton stood up slowly as he was not a huge fan of theatre. The main room was relatively empty; only a couple of children were left and Sans figured that they were not acting in the play. Not many adults were left, almost all left to see the play. Sans didn't even know what the play was but he wasn't interested.

Sans considered leaving for home early or maybe he could just stop by Grillby's. It was still too early for dinner but a small snack won't harm anyone….

The room wasn't as empty as it had seemed. It was even more bare now; the children were gone - when did they leave? - and all the adults had left too, leaving only Sans alone. He liked to be alone sometimes but this was just too much. The adults probably left to go see the performance but… Where are the kids?

Sans shook his head and sighed, "i swear to God i'm going insane…"

"Don't say that, mister. You seem very much sane." It was a voice and Sans didn't recognize it. It was somewhat high-pitched, like a small toddler, but also very mature. The skeleton opened his eyes and focused on the small figure looking back up at him.

The child was human, completely, not a hybrid like some others. They had unusually short hair for their gender seemed to be female. An oversized coat wrapped around them, but it didn't look like suffocating, instead it looked loose, like a robe. They bore shorts of brown color and a shirt of a navy blue color. The child couldn't even reach up to Sans' waist.

Sans was shocked to say the least. The child seemed so young yet… so educated? They seemed so poor too and the poor never got a chance at education. The skeleton could already tell that the child's vocabulary was at least that of an adolescent.

The child blinked, "Mister?" They sounded so sweet and innocent…

Sans couldn't say anything. There was something in his mind nagging him… Something about this child that seemed familiar… He just couldn't put his bony finger on it.

"Sans! - Oh…" It was another voice. Sans knew it this time.

"My child… Please, do give me and Sans a little of privacy," said Toriel with a warm smile and soft eyes. The human child looked to Sans and then back at Toriel, "Sorry, Ms. Toriel." They turned to Sans and lightly bowed their head, "Sorry, Mr. Sans."

The child brightened up almost immediately and ran into the room Toriel was coming out off. Their giggles and laughs could be heard as they disappeared from view. Sans mind would not stop at telling him he was missing something there. There were many hybrids, as Monsters were much more accepting of them than humans, but yet, that was the only full-human that Sans had seem all day. The only other human Sans had seen in recent days was-

Sans' face grew grim…

"Sans, are you alright?" asked Toriel. She did not look as solemn anymore. Sans wondered if it was because of the holiday cheer and whatnot or if it was of what Sans suspected.

"y-yeah, tori. sorry, i had a thought come in through my skull. nothing important really," chuckled Sans.

"Well, in that case, why are you not seeing the performance? I had assumed that if you came then you were interested."

Sans shrugged, "fell asleep and just woke up, tori. theatre isn't exactly my favorite pass-time either."

"Ah, yes… I forget that you do not enjoy theatre," laughed Toriel, "May I be so bold as to ask why? Surely it is not because it is a social event?"

"yes, haha, tori. no, i just don't like plays, that's all," said Sans. His thoughts did not match his words. Horrible, horrible thoughts of that blasted war… Do all plays have to be over-dramatic with the whole love and war clichés?

"Not even Shakespeare?" asked Toriel.

"toriel, i'm fine, really. i do want to know, however, why a job here?"

Toriel seemed confused, "Whatever do you mean?"

"i mean, why resign from your teachings at the grade school and transfer here, to an orphanage of all places?" Sans moved out of his casual lean on the wall and stood straight, showing that he was serious about the subject.

"I…" Toriel sighed, "I do not know why, Sans. Perhaps it was because I get to know that these children can have family one day and I have the opportunity to watch them grow into adults. Or, perhaps it is because Frisk-"

"-reminds you of Chara…" finished Sans, looking down, grim. Toriel gaped at him, almost gasping. Sans looked up at her eyes, "yeah, i noticed. probably the reason why something about that human was bothering me."


A/N: WELL HOLY CRAP

Yeah, so I got a review asking if Frisk is even in this story and I read it and went like, "MUAHAHAHAH, YOU HAVE NOOOO IDEA" at my computer.

I know, I'm delirious right now, after publishing two (I think only one tho xD) more stories and updating another. I'm tired xD And bored. Tired and bored. OH WELL!

Also, yay, Frisk joins the cast! I do have to say this: I have a tumblr blog now for all your MysteryTale needs SO if you have any questions or anything really, please direct them to there. Also, I'm uploading some official design pics on there too. Just for some since I'm too lazy to draw everyone at the moment xD

See ya in the next chapter, mate! DON'T FORGET TO REVIEW, THEY MAKE MY BUSY AND TIRING DAYS AWESOME XD