Undyne didn't show up after that day. Assuring herself that Frisk was alright, Toriel continued to bring them to Snowdin. When Frisk's friends weren't in school, they would all play together. Toriel taught Frisk herself, but their friends attended a school in New Home, which meant that Papyrus was the only one they saw all the time. It irked them that their friends had to do such a thing. Toriel wasn't about to let them go to the same school because it was on the other side of the Underground.

When Frisk was able to play with their friends, they learned what going to school and classes was like. Their descriptions of it made Frisk glad they didn't have to go somewhere for school. Especially when Noelle talked about this annoying bird Monster named Berdly.

Time passed and Frisk wanted to go see what was past the skeleton brothers' house. Toriel continued to forbid it, saying it was far too dangerous. But every time Frisk met up with their friends, they gave them stories about what was beyond the snowy fields of Snowdin. A marshy swamp with rivers and lakes. A cavern that was all rock with lakes of magma instead of water. And their description of New Home made it sound like an intact version of the Ruins.

Frisk kept wanting to go out there and explore the rest of the world. But Toriel refused to budge on her stance. Until one day.

The day had started ordinary enough. Frisk's friends had to attend school that day, so they were just going to meet up with Papyrus. But the whole day they were getting ready, Toriel noticed that Frisk was moving slower than normal. On top of that, they seemed to be having trouble keeping their eyes open and, while they swore they slept the whole night, it looked like they were fighting the urge to doze off.

It wasn't until they were ready to depart that Toriel brought it up. "My child, are you alright?" she asked.

"I'm fine," they insisted.

Toriel wasn't sure she believed that. She lowered herself so she could see them better. When she did, she just now noticed how red they looked. She laid a hand on their forehead, and through her fur, she could feel the temperature of their skin.

"Oh dear, you are very warm," she said. "I would call that a fever."

"What's a fever?" Frisk asked.

"It means there is something wrong with you. Perhaps you should stay home," she suggested.

"No! I don't wanna…" They tried going for the doors, but stumbled as they did. Toriel managed to catch them before they hit the floor.

"Frisk, how are you feeling? Be honest," Toriel insisted.

"I'm fine mom, I'm…"

"Frisk."

Toriel's stern voice made them reconsider. "My head feels stuffy," they confessed. "And… it's a little hard to breathe."

"Oh dear, you are sick!" Toriel exclaimed. "You cannot go see your friends. You should stay and rest."

"No. I want to see Papy," Frisk insisted.

Toriel turned on her heels and returned Frisk to their room, despite their protests. "I am sorry, my child, but you need to rest. It is the only way to fight this."

"But I'm… I'm… I…"

Toriel quickly grabbed a tissue and held it to Frisk's nose as they sneezed.

"You are not fine," she insisted, preempting their statement. "This will only get worse if you do anything."

"But…"

"Rest, my child," Toriel said, her tone brokering no room for argument. "You will see your friends after you beat this."

"Fine," Frisk pouted, laying down on their bed. Toriel pulled the covers over them.

"I shall be just outside if you need me," Toriel assured.

Toriel tended to Frisk for the rest of the day, bringing them as much water as they needed and making food that she knew would be easy for them to eat and digest. She didn't know much about human illness, but she knew that it was similar to Monsters in many regards. While humans got sick in different ways, plenty of diseases could be beaten just by rest.

She hoped it was something mild, so that Frisk could see their friends the next day. She did write a note and slip it through the door in the Ruins, hoping Sans would find it. It wasn't a long note. It just told the skeleton why she and Frisk wouldn't be there today.

The next day Toriel went to get her child hoping they were feeling better. But to her horror, they weren't. In fact, if anything, they seemed to be worse. Their temperature spiked and their nose was running.

She tried to assure herself that it wasn't the same thing that killed Chara. That human had also vomited most of the time, and Frisk said they didn't feel like throwing up unless she gave them too much food or water. She kept fearing that she would lose them to whatever this was.

After making sure that Frisk was comfortable and had what they needed for a couple hours, she went to the doors to Snowdin. She heard a knocking coming from the door, which meant Sans was there.

"Greetings, my friend," she said.

"heya. missed ya yesterday," came Sans' voice.

"I am sorry, but I could not leave," Toriel said.

"care to explain why?"

"I already did. In the note I left."

"what note?"

Toriel was confused. "I slipped a note through the door yesterday explaining why Frisk and I were unable to come."

"you did?"

There was a moment of silence before she heard Sans again.

"oh, look at that." His voice was slightly muffled, like he was facing the wrong way while speaking. "no wonder i didn't find it. it was snowing yesterday. must have covered your note by the time i showed up. heh. should have checked the area rather than just knock on the door. man, that makes me a real… bonehead."

Toriel gave a half-hearted giggle.

"you okay? usually you laugh more than that," Sans asked.

"No. I am not," she said, letting her sorrow through her voice.

"what's the problem?"

"It is Frisk. They are sick. Very sick," she explained.

"oh, bummer," Sans said. "well, nothing a few days of rest won't fix, right?"

Toriel didn't respond. Images of Chara dying from some unknown illness kept flashing through her mind.

"right…?"

"I am not sure," Toriel said. "They were bad yesterday, but today, they are worse. I… I am scared, Sans. W-what if what they have is fatal? What if they die from this? What…"

"whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa," Sans said rapidly. "you're panicking and that's not helpful. it's not what frisk needs right now. just tell me what's wrong. maybe i can tell ya what they've got."

Toriel sighed before explaining Frisk's symptoms. Once done, Sans hummed in thought.

"hmm. sounds like they got some kind of bug," Sans guessed.

"Is it…?"

"usually no," Sans said. "a few days rest is normally what it takes. these bugs happen every so often so it's no surprise they got it."

"But… Frisk has never been sick before," Toriel said.

"wait, never?" Sans asked skeptically.

"Never."

"…i'll marvel at how you managed that later, but tori, that's actually bad. if they've never gotten sick with anything before, their immune system might not be able to fight off whatever this is."

"So… they could… actually die?"

"it's more likely," Sans hedged. "it might be smarter to have someone look at them."

"I… I am not sure I want any more Monsters to see Frisk," Toriel said.

"c'mon, tor, your kid could die," Sans insisted. "they need to see a doctor to survive."

Toriel wasn't sure she'd be able to handle the stress. But she didn't want Frisk to die, either. So, she would just have to bear it.

Before she agreed, Sans spoke. "if it'll make you feel better, i know someone who knows a lot about humans and she's probably the most qualified person down here to look at them."

"Thank you," Toriel said. "I shall go get Frisk."

She got her child and wrapped them up in their coat before carrying them. She walked as gently as she could to not make them more miserable. She opened the doors to the Ruins and Sans was already there.

Just before he spoke Papyrus came from between the trees.

"FRISK!" he exclaimed. "IT IS VERY GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN! WHERE WERE YOU YESTERDAY?"

"Ow!" Frisk yelled, hands to their ears. "Papy, stop shouting."

"BUT… I'M NOT SHOUTING," Papyrus said, confused.

"they're sick, bro," Sans explained.

"OH MY! IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO?" Papyrus asked.

"i'm takin' them to see a doctor," Sans explained. "she'll be able to help them. sorry, bro, but you can't come."

"OH," Papyrus was disheartened by that. "WELL, NO MATTER. I SHALL BE EAGERLY WAITING BACK HOME FOR YOU." Papyrus let out his signature laugh before walking up into the air. Toriel watched in awe as he ascended like he was stepping up stairs, running back to town. Had Frisk been more cognizant they would have marveled at that.

"okay, hold my hand," Sans said, extending a bony hand. Toriel took it, bracing herself for the teleport. One moment, they were in Snowdin Forest. The next, they were in a smooth, white building with tiled floors.

Sans let go of Toriel and started walking around the room they found themselves in. Eventually, a yellow lizard-like Monster exited through a sliding door.

"Okay, ohhkay. I can do this," she muttered to herself, apparently not noticing the company. "This won't be too hard. It's not that big a deal. I should be able to-"

"hey, alph," Sans said, making her jump three feet in the air.

"SANS! W-what are you doing here?" she asked.

"need your help, and it would be great if you could keep it on the down-low," Sans explained.

"What kind of help?"

Toriel walked forward then, making the new Monster look at her in surprise. "Please, help me," Toriel asked. "My child, they are very sick. And… I fear that they might not survive."

"B-but, I-I'm not a doc-doctor," she stuttered. "W-what co-could I p-possibly…"

"you're the most qualified person down here, alph," Sans said. "if anyone can help the kid, it's you."

"W-well, I g-guess I can take a l-look," she decided.

Toriel knelt and held Frisk out for this Monster to examine. When she got a good look at Frisk, she gasped for a moment and then muttered under her breath "oh, wow." She looked at Frisk who was barely able to keep their eyes open.

"Hmm. I-if you'll let me, I-I'd like t-to take them s-somewhere I c-can properly examine them," she offered.

"If I can be there," Toriel said.

"S-so long as you d-don't get i-in my way," she agreed. Toriel nodded and the Monster led her to a separate room. Frisk was laid on a bed and the Monster began examining them. She checked her instruments over while Toriel waited by the door. It felt wrong on some level to be so far away from Frisk but she had to bear it for their sake. She just hoped this Monster didn't backstab her.

After a while the Monster left for a few moments while muttering "it's not that bad. I can fix this." She returned with a bottle and a glass of water.

"Okay, um, kid. Can you hear me?" she asked. Frisk nodded. "Okay, I need you to open your mouth. I'm going to put some pills in and it's very important you don't swallow them yet. Then I'm going to give you some water and I want you to swallow it with the pills, got it?"

They nodded and she held their head up with her hand. She used the other to place the pills in Frisk's mouth. She grabbed the glass and held it to their lips before they had a chance to spit out the pills. They swallowed the pills and water at the same time. Once done, she let their head down to rest on a pillow.

"Okay. Okay. That should do it," she said.

"What did you do?" Toriel asked.

"I gave them some antibiotics and a few other things," she explained. "It wasn't anything serious, but it could have messed them up for several days. These should help them get their strength back and help fight it off."

Toriel breathed a sigh of relief.

"so, kid gonna be okay?" Sans asked.

"Um, yes," she confirmed. "T-they should be f-fine."

"Thank you," Toriel said.

"Uh, n-no problem. Um, perhaps we should step outside to let them r-rest."

The three Monsters left the room, stepping into the hall.

"well, i suppose now is the time for introductions," Sans said.

"Oh, right," the lizard said. "Um, I'm Alphys, the new Royal Scientist." She held out a hand for Toriel to shake but right now the goat woman was processing that new information.

"Royal Scientist?" she asked. She turned to Sans.

"what? i told ya, alph is the most qualified person down here to help them," Sans defended.

"D-don't worry, I won't tell a-anyone," Alphys assured. "I-if that's what's bothering you."

"And can I trust your word?" Toriel asked.

"the king already knows about 'em, so it's not like there's any damage she can do that hasn't already been done," Sans explained.

"H-he does?" Alphys asked.

"yeah. he's known about the kid for a couple years now," Sans explained.

"W-why didn't you t-tell anyone?"

"their mom made me promise not to."

"Their mom?" Alphys repeated.

"I have raised Frisk since their birth," Toriel explained. "They are my child and I have always cared for them."

"S-since birth?" Alphys asked. "Wow. H-how?"

Toriel did not answer.

"well, onto other things," Sans said. "undyne knows about the kid too and she might already know they're human. though, i wouldn't say as much in their earshot."

"Why?"

"Frisk believes they are a Monster," Toriel explained, which stunned the scientist.

"W-what? H-how? Why d-do they t-think that?" Alphys asked.

"no clue," Sans shrugged. "though them being able to use magic may have somethin' to do with it."

"They can use magic?" Alphys asked in awe.

"Yes. I have trained them how to cast spells," Toriel informed.

"after i managed to convince her that they weren't messin' with her," Sans added.

"Wow. We know humans used to be capable of using magic," Alphys muttered. "But at such an age? I wonder how that happened?"

"I admit I too am curious how it happened," Toriel admitted.

"H-hey, would it, um, be okay if I took a few samples to test?" Alphys requested.

"What kinds of samples?"

"Oh, nothing major," Alphys assured. "Just a few skin samples, maybe a bit of blood, some hair, spit. Maybe a few other body bits that grow back."

"And what purpose would you have for those samples?" Toriel asked skeptically.

"Well, I don't have any other live humans to study, and, maybe, I could get you an answer as to their abilities," Alphys explained.

"Just that? Nothing else?" Toriel asked.

"W-well, I don't really h-have any o-other use for them," Alphys said.

"i think you should go ahead," Sans suggested.

"Why?"

"well, it might be able to give you some answers about your kid. plus, it's not like she can learn anything about them from a few irrelevant body parts."

Toriel pinched the bridge of her nose, sighing. "As long as it is nothing invasive," she decided.

"It won't be. I'll be r-right back." With that, Alphys scurried off. She grabbed a few things before heading to Frisk's room. She returned a few minutes later, her samples collected. "Okay, I'll get to e-examining these r-right away."

She headed off to another door, closing it behind her and leaving Sans and Toriel outside Frisk's room.

"so, gonna wait here until your kid can go?" Sans asked.

"Yes," Toriel confirmed. "If I might ask, how is it you and Alphys know each other?"

"we met in the dump," Sans explained. Toriel was confused, so he elaborated. "i was looking for some things for my bro and i found her rooting through the trash for human stuff. 'course, she wasn't alone. two other monsters were with her, looking through the trash as well. they pointed me in the right direction and i've kept in contact ever since."

"And how long has she been working here?" Toriel asked.

"i think she started a couple weeks back, actually," Sans explained. "the king was looking for a new royal scientist and he was impressed when he saw her work in robotics."

"Robotics?" Toriel asked.

"you know, robots. machines that work on their own."

"What kind of robot did she make that would get her to this position instantly?" Toriel asked.

"HELLO, DARLINGS!" said a new voice. A box on a single wheel with a pair of arms came rolling up. "WHAT BRINGS YOU LOVELYS HERE?"

"heya, mettaton," Sans greeted.

"GREETINGS, SANS. IT'S BEEN A WHILE, HASN'T IT?" the robot replied.

"eh, not that long," Sans shrugged. "anyways, how you doing?"

"GETTING BETTER ALL THE TIME. I'VE MANAGED TO KEEP MY BALANCE ON THIS WHEEL THE WHOLE DAY!"

"wow, cool. still looking to entertain?"

"YOU BET. AT SOME POINT I'M GOING TO HAVE ALPHYS ASK THE KING IF I CAN START A TV SHOW. IT WILL BE GLORIOUS! FABULOUS! ASTOUNDING!" He posed as dramatically as a box on a wheel could. "JUST YOU WAIT, ONE DAY, I'M GOING TO BE THE BIGGEST STAR IN THE UNDERGROUND. TA TA, DARLINGS!"

He rolled off, leaving Sans and a befuddled Toriel behind.

"that was mettaton, the robot alphys made," Sans explained.

"I gathered that," Toriel said. "Dear me, I was not prepared for that. It seems a lot has changed since my absence."

"yeah, quite a bit. you know, i think the kid would like to see more."

"It is dangerous for them," Toriel said.

"it's always dangerous," Sans rebutted. "let the kid live a little. after this, they're gonna beg to see more of the underground."

Toriel rubbed her head as she thought that over. "I suppose you are right. I shall think on it."

"okay," Sans said with a nod. "well, think i'll have a look around. see what's happened since i was last here."

Before she could ask what he meant, he walked off, leaving Toriel by herself. She looked at the door to her child's room, hoping they were okay. She thought on what Sans said. Would it really be worth it to allow them to roam that much? What if they were seen? They could be killed.

But hadn't she already taken that big of a risk by letting them out of the Ruins? The Underground had shown so far that it didn't recognize Frisk as a human, and though a few Monsters did, it seemed like the majority didn't.

Well, first she was going to let them recover from this. Then she would decide. But… perhaps it would be safe to allow Frisk to roam.

End of Chapter 8