"We've finally got to the surface... And you're still slacking off!"
"I really do believe that I should be the one to be there when Frisk awakes."
"Heh. Yeah, I know. But after talking to them last night- well, I should be here. And you'd both be more useful than me with putting plans in motion."

Frisk awoke slowly. They'd slept long and soundly, and waking was like remembering their own body again and reconnecting with it. For a while they curled up, simply enjoying the warmth, the sweet smell, the quiet. But then confusion crept in with their memories. Where... were they? They hadn't slept in a bed in... ages.
No, wait. That wasn't right. They sorted through it- falling, and sleeping at Toriel's house. Resting in Snowdin, on the brothers' sofa (despite Papyrus trying to convince them to take his bed.) Last night. Freedom. Nightmares. They opened their eyes.

The light was dim, but there was enough to see by. They were back in Toriel's house, in the bed they first slept in in the Underground. They might have thought they had dreamed everything that came after, but for the figure sat on the floor, leaning against the wall reading. Back in his familiar hoodie, he was a comforting reminder that yes- it all happened, and it hadn't reset. Frisk had friends, maybe even a family- at least for now. They had done a good thing, made things better- hopefully- for many. And he hadn't left.

"Sleep well, kiddo?" Sans had noticed they were awake and was peering at them over his book. They nodded and pulled the duvet tighter around them, not wanting to get up just yet. "Might not want to spend too long in there- you're lucky there's any pie left for you at all."
"Mm." Frisk wiggled further into the cocoon they were turning the bed into. If they stayed here- if they didn't move- nothing had to change. They could stay safe, and warm, and wanted. Loved. Sans had been the first to say it- oh, not about himself, just that Frisk had "gained love". They didn't want to risk losing it again.
"You all right, kid?" Frisk looked up at Sans as he sat on the bed, his eyes glowing softly in the low light. They had to get up, though, didn't they? To make things better. To make a difference. To move forwards. For all the monsters, and... And for themself.

Frisk screwed up their determination and sat up. The duvet fell off their shoulders and they rubbed their arms, then pulled a face and pulled at their sleeves. "Eurgh... I think I need new clothes. These are gross..."
"Didn't want to say anything, kiddo. But it's all sorted. Tori uh... dug up some old clothes for you. Just try not to think about where they came from."
"Oh. I- oh." Frisk winced. Old clothes were probably... Asriel's or Chara's. That was a creepy idea to contemplate. That, or one of the other humans who had fallen down- given that their bodies were all in the castle, that was even more unnerving. They slipped out of bed and padded bare-foot down the hall to the bathroom, following Sans' advice to try not to think about it.

The clothes were in a neat pile on top of a chest of drawers. They picked them up and took a look- they mostly looked new and unworn. In fact, the t-shirt actually looked like it had just come out of a packet. Frisk looked in the bin and their thoughts were confirmed- this must have ended up with all the other human cast-offs at the dump, and who would wear it? Most monsters weren't human proportions; the only one they'd met who was close to their size had no arms. The socks also felt new- if a little too big- as did a pair of underwear.
The trousers, however, were softened from wear, and- as Frisk held them up- a little too short. Still, they would have to do. They peeled their well-worn clothes off and jumped in the shower.

A thorough scrub did them some good. Dried, dressed, and their hair forced into some vague semblance of order with a wiry scrubbing brush, they glanced in the mirror. They looked okay.
Good enough? they wondered. Hopefully. The monsters hadn't judged them for wandering around in steadily filthier clothes, after all. It's fine, they told themself.

Upon leaving the bathroom, something caught their eye. Frowning, Frisk made their way towards the door leading into the ruins. They couldn't go out- their boots were in the bedroom- but they could look...
Hovering timidly near the doorway was... Frisk remembered them, a shy and timid little monster who had burst into tears and run away when they had tried to console it, when they were new to the Underground. They smiled gently at it.

"Hey- feeling better?" The tiny monster squeaked and flew around the doorway. Frisk stuck their head around, to see it. "You alright?"
"S-sorry. I- sorry."
"What's wrong? You know the barrier is up, right? Do you need help getting to the surface?"
"N-no... I... Th-thank you... F-for everyone..."
"I'm glad it all turned out okay. Um... Do you like pie?"
Frisk's words caused it to burst into tears and- once again- run away. They blinked, bemused, before returning to the bedroom, where Sans was still sat on the bed, reading again.

"Better?"
"Yes. Thank you."
"No worries, kid. Who were you talking to?"
"Um... A monster? A little one." They held their hands several inches apart. "Flies. Cries a lot. I saw, um, it, in the ruins before... and another one like it in the Core, although that one had armour and was less tearful and more... murderous?"
Sans shrugged. "Seems you get that a lot. Come on- let's get some of that pie."

Sans waved Frisk to the table in the living room. They sat down; the coals in the fire were still glowing slightly. It felt strange to be back here. They could have stayed. They could have never left, and saved themself so much pain.
No, they thought. They couldn't have, they would have been bored, sad and lonely. They would have come to resent Toriel. This... This was better, wasn't it? Despite the new nightmares.

A small sound prompted them to turn around. The tiny monster was in the doorway, fluttering timidly.
"Oh!" Frisk smiled. "Did you want some pie?" There was a pause, before it fluttered over to the table, sitting on it.
"Th-thank you..."
"So, uh... Do you have a name?"
"W- I'm Whimsun...

Sans had obviously heard enough to glance in and see what was going on, as he came in with a plate each for himself and Frisk- and a tea saucer with a tiny bit on for their guest. The tiny monster squeaked at his piercing gaze and looked away, but didn't flee. It waited to start eating until after Sans and Frisk did.

Cinnamon-butterscotch pie, with plenty of cinnamon. Of course. Frisk smiled slightly.
"You're lucky there's any left," Sans said. Frisk glanced over. "It's good pie."
"'Goodpie'? You're leaving?" Frisk quipped. Sans snorted.
"Good one, kid. Too bad Papyrus isn't here."
"Y-yeah, I think I'm all punned out. It's... not what I'm best at."
"It's okay, kid, that was still a good slice of humour."
Frisk groaned and used a mouthful of pie to try to hide their smile. It didn't work, and Sans chuckled, before turning his attention to his own pie.

It wasn't long before they were all done. The little monster was brave enough to land on Frisk's shoulder and hug their head before fluttering off, and Sans- Sans did something Frisk had never seen. He stacked their plates and levitated them, his left eye glowing. With a wave of his hand, they flew into the kitchen. Frisk stared open-mouthed.

"What?"
"I didn't know you could do that!"
Sans' grin widened slightly. "Yup. We ready to go?"
"Oh. Yes." Frisk took a look around the room, remembering the smell of pie, the way things were now. "I just need to put my boots on, and then... Then I'm ready."

Work had already started on the surface, with monsters mining stone from under the surface and transferring it to the castle. Alphys was in her lab, working on ways to help make the structures sound and easier to build- but with every monster pitching in, the work went by quickly, even if it was sometimes a little... chaotic.
Frisk wasn't strong enough to be much help physically, nor did they have helpful ideas on how to build; but their friends made a point of keeping them involved, asking their opinion. They helped Asgore write a letter to the mayor of the nearest town- and volunteered Sans for delivering it, at night, with his hood up. Undyne was shifting more rock than anyone else- even if it didn't always end up neatly arranged- and Papyrus wanted to help with everything and everyone, at once.

And over it all, Toriel was helping make everything come together; solving disputes and helping the monsters stay focused on the task. As the sun started to set, it was already a very different scene to the party of the night before- the atmosphere was still happy, but now it was honed; wooden structures were clearly being build in the trees by some monsters, guided by webbing, and markings of string and stone markers were spreading out from the exit from the Underground, painting a picture of their plans.

Everyone felt... Well.

Everyone felt full of determination.