Frisk was working near the entrance of the Ruins, their cloak around their shoulders. Sans had told them that his brother had come up with a rather neat idea for a puzzle; create a grid of X's and to solve it, you had to step on them to make them all O's. The difficulty lay in the layout of the grid. Obstacles positioned in specific places would force the person solving it on a certain path.
Frisk was trying to come up with a way to incorporate that into a new puzzle when they heard something. It sounded faintly like a thump. They followed the noise, going to the room where they had first entered the Underground. Before rounding the corner completely, they saw what looked like a line going from the hole in the ceiling to the bed of golden flowers. They looked a little harder and they could see the tan color of the line and how it was actually several strands wound together. Frisk was looking at a rope, a foot or two of it coiled on the ground.
They hid behind the bend, peering out at the shaft of light, fearing what was about to drop from above. The rope shook on occasion and Frisk could hear several voices coming from the hole. After a while, a tall figure appeared, descending down the rope. Frisk got a look at the person and recognized them. They could hear more voices and knew that the others were coming down as well.
Frisk ran back to the previous room, panicking. They were not ready for this. They were here already. Frisk knew those people and they would not be willing to share the Underground will all these Monsters. Frisk's puzzles were not hard enough to stop them, either. Only slow them down. The Monsters were in danger. Frisk had to think of something, and fast, because the moment those people got their bearings, they'd start systematically tearing this place apart.
Frisk looked over at the puzzle within this room. They had modified it so if the wrong solution was input, it would cause a rockslide to bury the intruder. Thinking fast, they did just that, but ran right after they flipped the switch, causing several tons of boulders to crash behind them. The cave-in would block their progress, but Frisk knew they had equipment to get past that so it was only going to slow them down.
Toriel. She'd know what to do.
They started sprinting for their home, activating the puzzles on the way, as well as telling the Monsters of the invaders. They started grouping up and heading for Toriel's home, as well as spreading the word that the day they all feared had come.
Frisk got to the house first and Toriel was leisurely reading a book. "Greetings, my child. Is something the matter?"
"A big one," Frisk said. "Humans. Ten of them. All armed and very dangerous."
Toriel straightened herself in her chair. "Are you sure?"
"Pretty sure."
Toriel closed her book. "How dangerous are they?"
"They have guns of all types," Frisk informed.
"Gun?"
"A weapon that shoots a piece of metal at high speeds. They can kill you with just one shot if they hit the right place."
Toriel stood up. She appeared worried. "You are really certain that they mean us harm?"
"Yes!" Frisk shouted. "They're all adults so they aren't going to be nice at all!"
Now Toriel seemed worried. "Oh dear."
"I've already spread the word, but I haven't finished my puzzles. They won't be hard enough to stop them, only slow them down."
Toriel seemed to be thinking. "I am not sure what to do, then."
"I do. Evacuate. We need to leave the Ruins," Frisk advised.
"I am not sure about that, my child."
"Why? If the puzzles don't stop them, the doors might. Admittedly I don't know much about magic, but maybe you could modify the enchantment on them to keep them from leaving."
"And imprison the humans here?" she asked incredulously.
"What else can we do? There's no other way to contain them," Frisk pointed out.
Toriel didn't seem to like that idea.
"Look, while you debate, I'm going to help organize the evacuation," Frisk decided. "I'll be back as fast as I can." They ran out, searching for more Monsters, leaving Toriel with her thoughts.
Evacuation. Frisk was suggesting that and while the idea had merit, she didn't want to confront the Monsters beyond the Ruins. She hadn't seen any of her people on the outside since she exiled herself here. And Asgore… Leaving here meant perhaps one day seeing him again. She didn't want to lay eyes on him, ever. But… staying here meant staying with those humans. And if Frisk was scared of them, who knows what they would do to her.
She didn't want to leave, but she didn't want to die and she didn't want to abandon Frisk, who could very well venture outside if they felt scared enough.
Idly, she recalled that she was supposed to meet her friend on the other side about now. She couldn't decide what to do on her own, so perhaps she needed an outside opinion. She went downstairs and ventured through the long hallway to the doors.
She heard the knocking on the other end and cut him off before he could crack his first joke. "Not now, my friend. I have an urgent matter to speak of."
"what is it?" he asked.
"My child has discovered that several humans have entered the Underground and they are very dangerous. They have some sort of weapon that can kill us from a distance."
"that sounds bad. what are ya doin' about it?"
"My child has suggested that we evacuate the Ruins and enter the rest of the Underground. It is a good idea as I can alter the enchantment on the doors that keeps you out so it will block the other way."
"but that's not what you want?"
Toriel sighed. "I… I want to believe these humans can be good, but my child does not believe they can be. On the one hand, I should listen to them and help everyone leave. On the other, I fear for their safety once they leave as I know they will be hunted and possibly killed for their Soul once they pass through these doors. I cannot decide what to do so I need your help friend. What do you think I should do?"
There was silence for a moment as he thought. After a while, he spoke. "well, if you ask me, if it was just one and if it was my brother, i'd kill the human to protect him. but it doesn't sound like it will be that easy. but… the real question is, what do you want?"
Toriel thought it over. "I… I want my child to be safe and I want to take care of them, but I don't want to put them in danger to do that."
"they will be in danger no matter what you do," he pointed out. "in there or out here, the danger is there. but… if you bring them here, i'll do my best to look after the kiddo. after all, i made a promise."
"But… I am not sure I want to confront –"
"forget that. what's most important to you?"
Toriel collected her thoughts and tried to put them in priority. "My child. Their safety is what is most important to me."
"then the solution is obvious; take frisk's advice. get everyone out of there. i'll even have my bro help out as much as he can."
Toriel sighed. "I suppose so. Alright, I will start… wait. How did you know their name?"
"kid told me it themself when it was just us," he answered.
Toriel hummed. "I guess they know yours now, too?"
"yep."
"Well, in a short while, we will be meeting face-to-face, it seems, my friend."
"guess so, old lady. i'll go tell my bro. he'll get everyone in town prepared."
"And I shall help Frisk organize the evacuation. See you soon." She turned away and headed back upstairs. She found Frisk running back and forth, a few Loox running around as well. She could hear Frisk talking to them and it sounded like the Loox were reporting to them.
"Group's two, three and four are all together?" Frisk asked one.
"Y-yeah. The group leaders are standing by," one of the Loox said.
"Good. And the Vegetoids? Do they understand their duties?"
"Burrow around the city to check for any stragglers, the same as the Whimsun," the second Loox said.
"Excellent."
"But where are we going?" the third Loox asked.
"Out of the Ruins," Toriel said, walking up. The Loox shrunk back a bit at her presence. "The Monsters outside will hopefully be ready for your arrival."
Frisk smiled at her. "Good. What about us?"
"If you have a moment, you should pack up your room. We will be leaving as well," she suggested.
"Thanks. Oh! The spiders! I need to come up with a way for them to leave," Frisk realized.
"The area just outside is rather cold," Toriel warned. "They might not be able to cope with the temperatures."
Frisk would marvel on that later. While she spoke, they had come up with a solution. They turned to one of the Loox. "Talk to a few Vegetoids. Have them burrow tunnels in the ground big enough for the spiders to crawl through. If they can make it past that cold region, they should be fine. But be sure they understand to collapse the tunnels behind them."
"I'll go find one and tell them that," the Loox said, running off.
Toriel was impressed. For a moment, she almost thought she saw a younger Asgore in Frisk. "Is there anything I should do?"
"How long will it take to reverse the enchantment on the doors?" they asked.
"Only a moment."
"Then try to help the evacuation. Make sure to guide all the Monsters to the doors. I'm going to let them know we're leaving the Ruins." Frisk turned to the Loox. "Make sure all the group leaders know that. Head for the end of the Ruins. We're evacuating to… whatever the area outside the Ruins is called."
The Loox ran off to do their task, Frisk doing the same. Toriel decided that before any of these groups showed up that she'd pack up her things. She wouldn't be able to take much, but she'd get whatever she could carry.
Over the next hour, Frisk supervised the evacuation of the Ruins Monsters. They came through Toriel's home and she had made sure to open the doors so the Monsters could walk through. Frisk had heard back from one of the Loox and the Vegetoids were already halfway done with the tunnels, the spiders crawling behind in long lines.
Right now, Frisk was putting their things in a bag, which they would carry with them when they left the Ruins. They looked around their room, realizing that they were going to miss this place. It was the first home they had and now they had to leave it behind. They walked out into the hall and the Monsters were managing to walk though in a fairly orderly fashion. There was some shoving and a few shouts, but ultimately, everyone was behaving themselves. Frisk waited for a gap in the line before crossing, going to help Toriel finish her packing.
They found her packing up her books in the living room along with a few personal possessions. "I'm all done," they told her. "Need any help?"
Toriel turned to face them. "Not at the moment, no," she answered. She stood up for a brief moment, looking around the living room, which seemed emptier now.
"What's wrong?" they asked when they saw her saddened expression.
"This has been my home for so long and now I have to leave it behind," she explained. "I am not happy that I have to leave, nor am I happy that I will have to face everyone outside again. But for you my child, I will put my discomfort aside."
Frisk came up and held her hand. "It will be alright, mom," they assured. "We can make a new home out there. And it will be much better than this one. You'll see!"
Toriel smiled a little at that. Frisk started leading her to the stairs when a Whimsun came fluttering up.
"Human, human!" it said, panicked.
"What's wrong?" Frisk asked.
"My friend's been captured," it said. "We were looking around for anyone left behind when these humans came up and pointed these weapons at us. I was able to escape, but my friend is still back there!"
"Where were they?" Frisk asked, stepping away from Toriel.
"In the room before the one with the weak floor," it answered.
"I'll go help them," Frisk decided, taking off.
"Frisk, wait! You could get hurt!" Toriel shouted.
"I know those weapons better than you," Frisk said. "And you're the only one who can reverse the enchantment. Get on that. I'll meet you at the exit." Before Toriel could say any more, Frisk ran.
They sprinted though the halls, passing Monsters going the other way. After a while, they reached the room with cracks all over the floor. Frisk had memorized the path through it, so they were able to keep going. Once past it, they could hear other voices up ahead and the distinct meek voice of a Loox. They started sneaking, moving quietly so they wouldn't hear their approach.
"Please don't hurt me," the Loox pleaded.
"What should we do with this one-eye thing?" one of the humans asked.
"Maybe throw it like a dodgeball?" another suggested.
"Or we just shoot the freak," a third recommended.
"We need answers first," one barked. "If this place is safe, we could use it. First though, we need to find Frisk."
The human in question had no intention of being found. They pulled their cloak around them tighter, pulling their hood over their head to conceal their face for good measure. They rounded the bend and saw four humans, all with rifles, surrounding a Loox. Frisk needed to get the Monster out before one of them thought to kill the Monster.
Frisk had a good idea how to do that. There were a few pebbles on the ground, all of them rounded. Taking careful aim, they tossed the pebbles as hard as they could, knocking a couple of them down. They disoriented a third and the fourth was knocked out.
"Run!" Frisk shouted at the Loox, making their voice deeper to disguise it. The Loox ran out of the circle, Frisk behind them.
"Stop them!" the disoriented one yelled. Frisk didn't look back, but they could hear the other two getting back to their feet. They rounded the corner, then a loud bang rang out, the Loox flinching when it did and Frisk shouted as they felt something rip into their middle.
Frisk stumbled mid-stride as they felt themself get shot. They clutched their side in pain, but ignored it for now. "Keep going," they gritted to the Loox, running ahead. The two of them got to the room with the cracks and they started running along the correct path. Frisk heard a shout behind them. It sounded like one had stopped the other two before they could walk on the cracks. Which meant they had come across another puzzle before it.
Frisk and the Loox kept running, managing to reach the end of the maze. By then, the humans thought it was a trick and stepped on the floor. However, they didn't step on the safe path and Frisk had modified it so that when that happened, the entire floor collapsed. Frisk heard another shout as the humans fell into the pit.
Frisk knew it would slow them down. That would buy them some time. "Are there any other Monsters back there?" they asked the Loox.
"No. I'm the last," it answered. "Are you hurt?"
"I'll be fine. Let's get to the exit." They ran as fast as they could, arriving at Toriel's house. By then, almost all of the Ruins were evacuated. The Whimsun was glad to see their friend alive, apologizing for running away. They went ahead of Frisk, who followed at a more sedate pace to ensure everyone got out. As they walked, they checked their side. They pulled their hand away, but saw no blood. Pulling their shirt up, they couldn't see a hole anywhere, yet their side felt like it was on fire.
They looked at their back and there was a small stream of blood coming from a wound in their lower right back. They placed their hand over the hole, stemming the flow of blood before resuming their pace. They reached the Ruins doors, Toriel standing by them, ushering Monsters past.
"Mom!" they shouted.
She turned and saw them. "My child!" she exclaimed, relief washing over her features. She ran up to them and then the relief was replaced with horror when she saw the red stain on their shirt. "My goodness! What happened?"
"Got shot," they answered. "Don't worry about it right now. If I'm still going it means nothing important was hurt. Let's get out of here then you can patch me up."
She took them by the hand, leading them through the doors and outside of the Ruins. Frisk stepped onto a ground covered in fluffy white stuff that crunched under their foot. They were going to ask about it later. Right now they turned to watch Toriel close the doors behind them. Then, white flames appeared in her hands and they washed over the doors. Lines appeared in intricate patterns over the doors before vanishing.
Toriel sighed, falling to her knees. "It is done," she panted.
Frisk sighed in relief. They walked closer to her, but the pain from their wound started to catch up to them and putting any weight on their right foot was agony. After three steps, they collapsed on their rear.
"My child?" Toriel asked, fearfully.
"I'm okay. Aside from the hole in my back," they said. Now the world was spinning and it wouldn't stop. They felt themself fall on their back and hear a brief shout from Toriel. "I'm just gonna lie down here for a while."
She came and looked over them, trying to find where the injury was. She flipped them on their front, tossing the cloak aside and pulling their shirt up, finding the red hole where they were injured. "Oh, you should have let me heal that sooner." She started channeling her magic into her hands, a soft green glow emitting from them. She started sending the magic to the hole-
"No!" Frisk shouted, shoving her hands away and emitting another groan of pain. "No, not yet."
"Why not? You could die from blood loss," she reprimanded.
"Guns work by shooting a projectile into the body. Some bullets go right through, but there's no exit wound on my front. You heal me up, you'll seal the bullet inside," Frisk informed.
"What do I do?" Toriel asked.
"You need to… reach inside… and pull it out," they advised.
"Inside you?" Toriel questioned.
"It's the only way to get it," they said. "It's gonna hurt, so I need something to bite down on."
Toriel took their cloak off and handed it to them. They wadded it up and bit down. She held their shirt up, looking at the small hole, then at her comparatively large fingers. She bit her lip before shoving her pointer and thumb inside, Frisk letting out a brief shout of pain as she did, biting down on their cloak. Feeling simultaneously guilty and grossed out, she started digging in the wound, Frisk letting out more shouts of pain.
"what's going on here?" a familiar voice said, causing them both to freeze up. They turned and saw a skeleton standing there. He was dressed in a blue hoodie, black shorts with a white stripe on each leg and pink fuzzy slippers.
"That voice," Toriel mused.
"think we should save the introductions for now," the skeleton suggested. "might i ask what you're doing?"
"Trying to get something out of Frisk," she said. She resumed digging, the skeleton helping distract her from thinking on what she was doing.
"well, i'd ask what happened, but i think it's kinda obvious," he said. He walked over so he was standing in front of Frisk. "and i'd ask how it happened, but you got that purple cloth in your mouth, i'm assuming so you don't bite your own tongue off. just look at me, kid and you'll be fine. though i would like to know why you have to help them this way and not with healing magic."
"They say that if I use magic to heal the wound before getting it out, I will seal the projectile inside," Toriel said. "I do not want to hurt them, but I fear what will happen if I leave it there."
"well, that looks a little gross, so just don't think about it and you'll be fine," he recommended.
"You are doing wonders to take my thoughts away from – Wait, I think I got it," she said. "Okay, I am pulling it out now." As she did, Frisk's muffled screams got louder. After a few agonizing seconds, her hand was out and clutched between two claws was a piece of copper. After she got it out, Frisk collapsed, moaning in pain. She tossed the copper away though Sans picked it up and put it in his hoodie's pocket.
Toriel then channeled her magic to her hands and to the wound, healing it up. Frisk was writhing in pain as she healed them up, taking the cloak out of their mouth. She wrapped them up in it as they were now shivering.
"How do you feel now, my child?" she asked, scooping them up in her arms.
"Tired," was their answer.
Sans came over. "well, now that that drama's over, time for introductions." He held out a bony hand to Toriel. "name's Sans. Sans the Skeleton."
"I am Toriel," she replied, taking his offered hand, holding Frisk with one arm.
"i figured as much," Sans said. "well, i guess i should welcome you both to Snowdin. and i'm a sentry for this place. i'm supposed to be on the lookout for any humans who come by. but i'm not interested in capturing anybody. my brother on the other hand, he's a human hunting fanatic."
"Will he be a bother?" Toriel asked.
"nah. he's not threatening. even if he tries to be. in fact, after all this, seeing a human might just make his day," Sans said.
"I am not sure revealing Frisk to him is a good idea," Toriel said, noticing that Frisk was still conscious, if loopy.
"c'mon, old lady. papyrus would never hurt anyone. and, to be honest, he's been kinda down lately. i think seeing the kid will cheer him up. in fact, i think that's him coming right now."
"It's fine, mom," Frisk whispered. "I think we can trust him."
Toriel sighed. "Alright. If you say so."
A moment later, a much taller skeleton came up, dressed in a strange outfit.
"sup," Sans greeted.
"YOU KNOW WHAT'S 'SUP', BROTHER," Papyrus said, his voice rather loud to Frisk. "A WHOLE LOT OF MONSTERS HAVE JUST SHOWED UP IN THE FOREST AND THEY'RE FREAKING OUT OVER A HUMAN ATTACK! AND HERE YOU ARE, LAZING OUTSIDE YOUR STATION! WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN DOING?!"
"just relaxing and trading some jokes," Sans answered. "wanna listen?"
"NO! I DON'T HAVE TIME FOR THAT! WHAT IF ONE OF THOSE HUMANS COME'S THROUGH HERE?! I MUST BE THE ONE! I WILL BE THE ONE! I WILL CAPTURE A HUMAN AND FINALLY BE PART OF THE ROYAL GUARD! PEOPLE WILL ASK TO BE MY 'FRIEND'! I WILL BATHE IN A SHOWER OF KISSES EVERY MORNING!"
"well, i got some news for ya, pap," Sans said. "one of those humans is here right now."
"REALLY! WHERE?"
"right there," Sans gestured at Frisk in Toriel's arms and it was probably now that Papyrus registered her.
"SANS! THAT'S NOT A HUMAN! THAT LOOKS LIKE ASGORE! WHY WOULD HE EVEN BE HERE? IS THIS A PRANK?"
"i was referring to the thing in her arms, pap."
Papyrus got a closer look and googly eyes appeared in his eye sockets. "OH MY GOD! THAT'S A HUMAN?"
"yep, but i wouldn't try to capture them. or do anything to them right now."
"WHY NOT? UNDYNE WILL BE SO PROUD OF ME! SHE'LL FINALLY LET ME INTO THE ROYAL GUARD!"
"Excuse me," Toriel said. "But Frisk is in no condition to do anything. I have just healed them from a very bad injury. And you will not tell this Undyne about my child."
"YOUR CHILD? THEY DON'T LOOK ANYTHING LIKE YOU."
"i think she's saying the kid's adopted, papyrus," Sans said. "and i would listen to her. she's not going to be gentle if you threaten the kid."
"BUT UNDYNE TOLD ME TO CAPTURE ANY HUMANS THAT I SAW AND TO BRING THEM TO HER," Papyrus said. Toriel glared at him and he shrunk under her gaze. "BUT I GUESS I'LL GIVE THEM A PASS ON THE GROUNDS THAT THEY ARE TOO WEAK. I DON'T THINK THE KING WANTS A WEAK HUMAN."
"Thank you," Toriel said, relieved.
"so now what are you going to do?" Sans asked.
"I do not know. We need a place to rest and allow Frisk to recover," Toriel answered.
"and i don't think the inn in town is a good idea. after today, it's going to be packed," Sans added.
"THEN PERHAPS YOU COULD STAY WITH US!" Papyrus suggested. "WE LIVE IN TOWN AND OUR HOUSE IS BIG ENOUGH FOR THE TWO OF YOU."
"Oh, I do not want to be a bother," Toriel fretted.
"IT WILL BE NO BOTHER," he assured. "OUR HOUSE IS A MUCH BETTER PLACE TO REST THAN OUTDOORS. AND OUR COUCH CAN DOUBLE AS A BED! PLENTY OF SPACE FOR YOU!"
"and it'll also be a good place to lay low," Sans added. "not many monsters this side of waterfall know what a human looks like. so, it'll be safe for the kid."
"I guess that will suffice," Toriel agreed. "Frisk?"
"Sounds good," they said quietly.
"THEN FOLLOW US!" Papyrus said, turning around and walking ahead. "THE GREAT PAPYRUS WILL GUIDE YOU RIGHT TO SNOWDIN TOWN. NYEH HEH HEH!"
"meet you up ahead," Sans said, walking in the opposite direction.
Toriel adjusted Frisk in her arms and followed, worried slightly but assured. Sans was her friend and she had heard a great deal about his brother. Perhaps he could be trustworthy enough.
The walk was long, but enjoyable for Frisk. They rested the whole time in Toriel's arms, listening to Papyrus rambling about the forest, his puzzles, and his brother and how lazy he was. Frisk also asked about all the white stuff around and Toriel told them that it was snow. Frisk was amazed by the stuff, especially as they looked around at how large the Underground was. They had only known the Ruins. This part, Snowdin, was much bigger. And Papyrus said that this was just one of four areas. Frisk wasn't sure if they'd be able to see it all, but they hoped that they could one day.
After an hour, they walked across a long rope bridge and arrived in Snowdin Town. Frisk tightened their cloak around them to better hide. Toriel was also wearing a cloak of her own and she pulled her hood up as she walked into town, concealing her face. Papyrus guided them straight through town, arriving at a two-story house.
"WELCOME TO MY HOUSE!" Papyrus exclaimed. "WELL, TECHNICALLY, IT'S MINE AND SANS', BUT I PREFER NOT TO DISCUSS HIS HALF. HIS ROOM IS LIKE ANOTHER WORLD. A WORLD WHERE THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO CLEAN!"
Toriel giggled at that. The tall skeleton lead them both in, Sans already sprawled on the couch.
"How did he…?" Frisk muttered.
"MAKE YOURSELVES AT HOME!" Papyrus said. "WE MIGHT NOT HAVE MUCH, BUT WE ARE MORE THAN HAPPY TO HOUSE YOU!"
"Thank you for letting us stay here," Toriel said.
"no problem," Sans said. "i imagine you've both had an exhausting day. why not take a load off?" He patted the couch.
"I could go for a nap," Frisk said.
"While you do that I will make some dinner for us," Toriel suggested.
"YOU CAN COOK?!" Papyrus asked. "THEN LET US MAKE A MEAL TOGETHER!"
Toriel set Frisk down on the couch, allowing them to relax. She and Papyrus went to the kitchen, Sans and Frisk still in the living room.
"well, today was certainly interesting," he said. "so, you gonna stick around here or try to see what else is out there?"
"Think I should recover first from being shot," Frisk answered, lying down. "Wake me when dinner's ready."
"sure thing. sweet dreams, buddy."
The moment their head hit the cushion, they were out.
End of Chapter 3
