Disclaimer: I don't own Undertale. Let me know what you guys think and please enjoy.

Also, trivia or no trivia?

Frisk was silent, her eyes like thin lines and her mouth set as she thought to herself while she walked. She was so deep in her thinking; she nearly missed the glow of a golden star in front of a fountain with a statue that looked like Mettaton. Before all this happened, she would have laughed at how the water spouting out of the robot's statue's mouth spouted onto the floor, but now it didn't even bring her a chuckle.

Her contact with the SAVE star was brief, and she made her way to the receptionist.

"Hello, is there…"

"Before you start," the monster sighed, and Frisk didn't bother to ask where the sigh was from since his head was a giant hand. "Yes, we know the elevator to the city isn't working."

"Actually, I want a room."

"Oh, well in that case." He cleared his throat, "because of this incident, rooms are running at a special rate. "

"How much?" Frisk asked quickly while pulling out the money from her messenger bag.

"200 gold, interested?" He chuckled, and Frisk didn't even pause as she put the money down in a rush, and held out her hand for a key. She didn't want to stay around here anymore.

"Fabulous!" The hand man laughed, counting out her money in a quick fashion. "We'll escort you to your room, no worries miss."

"Thank you." She said softly, trying to push down thoughts and not think about what happened in the restaurant. Another monster appeared, with a bright smile. Normally, she'd smile back, but she couldn't muster one up, she felt drained as the monster started moving and she went to follow.

The place was larger than she thought, and she plopped on the bed and heard the door close behind her. She was glad for it as she started to crawl under the covers and let sleep claim her as tears started flowing.

"Frisk…? Oh, Frisk?"

Frisk's eyes opened at the sound of a woman's voice, and she rubbed her eyes. "Mom?"

"About time you woke up, sleepy head. Now…" Her mom smiled at her, her fingers stroking her hair as usual as Frisk felt her mother's magic covering her. "How about some breakfast?" She continued to smile, though Frisk could already see it.

Her mother's eyes hadn't been a bright orange in a long time, but now they were a dull brown with dark circles around them. Every day her mother got slower, and more sluggish even that air of grace and strength her mother possessed was gone. Still, Frisk was confused.

"I'm...home?" Light poured through her window and Frisk swore the birds were singing. Still, something was eating at her gut. "This can't be right…"

"What a strange question. Of course, you're home, silly." She laughed and turned to walk away as Frisk started to shake her head.

"No, this is wrong…" Realization hit her, and the light started to fade, and the house went silent. "You're...you..."

"What…?" Her mother stilled at the door and slowly turned around "What are you trying to say, Frisk? That I'm dead?"

"M-m-mom?" Frisk cried out as those eyes stared back at her and mother came closer as Frisk tried backing away.

"What's wrong, Frisk? It's not like this is the first time."

Frisk!

She snapped up quickly, holding herself as her body trembled at the image in her head, those soulless eyes that stared back were ingrained now.

I…She kept breathing in and out, trying to will the image away.

You had a nightmare. That woman…was that your mom? Are you trying to save her? Is that what this is about? You think if you save the Underground fast enough, that she can just stop shielding you so that she won't die?

Stop asking questions…

Just how many times did you save and reload to help her? If she's been shielding you this long, there's no possible way that she'd live. Her magic would still be exhausted, is this even about the monsters, Frisk? Was it ever?

STOP ASKING QUESTIONS! Frisk swallowed and breathed out, with only silence in her head. She could feel the tears flowing over her cheeks, but she wasn't even sure why she was crying anymore. Her mom? The truth about Sans? I'm such an idiot…

She couldn't help but laugh at herself as she brought her knees tighter to her chest and laid down her head hiding behind a curtain of hair. He didn't protect me because he wants to...An image flashed to her of her mom. And the one person that did...She breathed out again, slowly lifting her head. She'll be gone again soon. The other mages want me dead. My father wants me dead. All because they want to fix our ancestor's screw up…And the knights...the other humans...they just want me dead because I'm a mage. But you knew that, right?

Frisk wiped at her cheeks and got out the bed still hearing silence in her head. She huffed in response as she left the room after grabbing her bag.

The silence in her head was odd as she walked, and Frisk didn't know what to make of it though so much else was on her mind.

She sighed, surprised to see she was back in the lobby as she didn't even recall walking so far. She took a look around, going inside one of the areas as the smell of grease and burgers hit her nose. Behind the register was what looked like a cat, she didn't even feel her usual "Aww, so cute." hit her as she walked up seeing it.

The menu screamed Mettaton, and she couldn't help but notice how high strung the cat monster looked.

"Are...you okay?"

"I can't talk to customers who haven't even bought any food!" He laughed, eyes nervously glancing to and fro in a way that had Frisk rise a brow.

"Um...okay then…" She sighed, pointing to the nearest thing before remembering her lack of her. Her hand went to inside her bag, and her hand went over a hot cat as she pulled it out, she swallowed hard, feeling tears threatening to start again as she went to the nearest trash can and dumped it.

Taking a deep breath, she went back to the register, "Can I get a glamburger?"

"Sure!" He laughed, his smile was so big that it was teetering on frightening as Frisk felt the urge to back away.

"Are um...you're sure you're okay?"

"Why do you keep trying to talk to me?" He hissed, his movements jittery as he leaned forward then back, laughing until suddenly no expression at all. "Sorry. I…" He smiled harder than before as he handed her the burger. "I wanted to be an actor! I used to anyway!"

"Well, uh, I guess it's good you work for Mettaton then." She smiled as she slowly backed away.

"Yeah" He laughed. "I did use to want to work for him! It was a dream of mine really!"

"Use to? Is Mettaton bad?"

"Bad?" He laughed harder, and Frisk took a large step back as his movements became sporadic. "Haven't you seen this place? It's a labyrinth of bad choices! And every time we try to change something for the better, he vetoes it and says, "That's not how they do it on the surface""

"On the surface?"

"You didn't know? Humans are always eating hamburgers made of sequins and glue!"

"Sequins and…" Frisk unwrapped the burger from its paper to see it was just as the guy said. Rubbing a temple with her free hand, she felt more down. "God…" She breathed out. "This day couldn't get any worse. First, the guy I like wasn't who I thought and he…"

"Oh, its love advice you need then?" He laughed and took out a cigarette, and she could see the nerves melt away from him. "I like you, so let me help you out there." He exhaled after sucking down the whole thing, and exhaled smoke as Frisk wrinkled her nose. "Never interact with attractive people. Unless you're one too, they'll just take advantage of you…" He breathed out, and Frisk looked away.

"Yeah…."

"Like once, these two chicks asked me to sneak them some glamburgers, and uh…" He looked down. "Bad idea."

"Um…. yeah." Frisk nodded and took another huge step back, part of her feeling sorry for the guy and the other part slightly crept out as she kept backing away until she was out of there.

"Bye, buddy!" He shouted as the door closed behind her, and she kept walking, the word Core with bright letters stood out, but she turned to go out the other way.

Wait, what are you doing? The Core is the other way!

Oh, so you are still there...Frisk answered back, feeling irritation that wasn't hers as she walked. She knew which way she was supposed to go, but her determination felt at an all-time low as she kept moving and found herself in an alleyway.

"What's this?" She tilted her head, seeing a door as she went inside. She was surprised to see a cat monster girl and what looked like a dino monster girl. This is a store?

"Hey!" The dino monster exclaimed. "Check it out!" She laughed, pointing to wares as the cat girl monster joined in.

"Yeah! Check it out!"

"Okay…" Frisk nodded as they both beamed at her.

"I'm Catty, and this is my best friend Bratty!" The cat exclaimed, and Frisk could swear she heard Bratty say the same thing as the two girls just started giggling.

Bratty laughed "But you should totally buy all our stuff!"

"Like totally! I even found a gun in a dumpster!"

"Wait! OMG!" Bratty screamed, making Frisk jump. "Is that a glamburger?"

"Oh my god!" Catty squealed. "Gimme!" She reached forward, and Frisk was surprised that anyone would want one of the burgers.

"God, Catty. You could TRY to have some self-control!" Bratty lectured, but Frisk could hear the teasing tone behind it as Catty gasped.

"Sorry!"

"Cause OBVIOUSLY they brought that burger for me."

"No way!" Catty hissed and stuck out her tongue.

"Um...I think I'll just keep it but...about the gun and hat…" Frisk looked over, feeling sure she could see a yellow glow. "Can I buy those?"

"Oh my god! We're going to be so rich, Bratty!" Catty was practically bouncing as Frisk took the gun and hat after making room once she moved items with her phone. She held both in her hands.

It looks, so battle-worn, I almost want to grow a beard and call myself a cowboy. Frisk laughed at herself until her brow furrowed. Wait...this gun looks like an antique, just how old is it. Yellow Soul mages don't even use these even more…

"Thanks." She looked up, waving at both girls as she left. Her fingers went over the barrel with confusion; it felt as familiar as the magic from her phone when she used yellow SOUL magic. The hat had been the same. Why do I feel like I felt magic like this before? I don't know any yellow SOUL mages, so, who do these belong to?

Are you going to go to the Core or not? What's the holdup?

There was never a sacrifice…

What?

No yellow soul mage has ever been sacrificed to the mountain or disappeared from town. Their marksmanship is way too valuable to too many people…

Well then, how did it end up down here? Or are you still having your pity party over the skeleton?

Frisk stiffened, looking down as she took a deep breath. Did some other mage from long ago risk themselves for the monsters? Maybe someone came down here purposely?

I don't know…

She chewed her lip thinking the voice sounded cryptic. Looking upwards at the sign spelling Core, she thought to the other monsters and even Sans. Was she doing this for her mom…or them?

Good question, you were all gung-ho when you were all about the skeleton...so are you saving them, partner? The voice became darker, and she could feel those emotions taking over. Or do I, do it?