Sans and Papyrus

Frisk's POV

Frisk awoke later to the smell of cinnamon and butterscotch. They took a slice, immediately stashing it.

"Hey," Kat let out a yawn as she sat up. "Good morning- is that pie?!" Kat dashed toward the pies, slobbering like a dog.

"ESPERATE!" Clover gasped. Kat paused, raising her eyebrow at Clover. "Foods are healing items. We should save them for when we need them." Kat let out a sigh but stashed their pie. Everyone else did the same when they woke up, except Ace, who set his slice aside.

"Is everyone ready?" Frisk asked, standing up. Their friends nodded, going to stand beside them. Ace sat on the bed.

"Goodbye, guys," he sighed. "I'll miss you."

"We'll miss you too, Ace," Kat replied, with a wave.

"Goodbye, my friend," Frisk sighed, unable to meet Ace's gaze as they waved at him. They perked up as something tapped their shoulder. Ace stood in front of them. There was a rectangular object in Ace's hand.

"The phone?" Frisk asked, cocking their head.

"You might need it," Ace replied, handing it to Frisk. They took it and turned away. The others followed them into the main room, where Toriel was sitting with a book.

"Hello Toriel," Kat greeted, waving. The conversation went the same as it did last time, with Kat, Teri, and Ray questioning Toriel until she got up and went to the basement. Frisk immediately trailed after her. She gave the same warnings as she made her way to the end of the hallway. However, Frisk felt no guilt this time. Toriel would not be alone, because she would have Ace, and everyone else had chosen to follow Frisk. They had to continue through the Underground. Frisk wasn't sure why yet, all they knew was that they had to keep going.

"You want to leave so badly?" Toriel's tone was almost dark.

"Uh, yeah?!" Ray snapped, clenching his fists.

"Please?" Teri begged, clasping her hands together. "We really need to go home."

"Hmph… you naive children… fine, there is only one way to solve this. Prove yourselves. Prove to me you are all strong enough to survive." Toriel turned to them, her eyes narrowed. All their souls appeared in front of their chests, shining in the crushing darkness.

"Toriel," Chara informed. "She knows best for you."

"Fine!" Ray snapped, slipping his tough gloves on.

Frisk leaped in front of him. "No! Don't hurt her!" Toriel said nothing. Again, flames shot down from the sky, setting parts of the ground on fire. Kat's pleading went unacknowledged. Frisk dodged each attack, holding back Ray whenever he tried to attack Toriel. No one has to die. Especially not her! She didn't even mean to kill me and Ace! Toriel shot fireballs from her paws, glaring at the children. Fire zipped past Frisk's clothes. They patted out the flames, standing up to stare at Toriel.

"What are you doing?" she demanded, her voice and gaze still cold. Another attack came. Frisk slipped out of the way of the fireballs, casting a glance at their friends. Some had burn marks on their skin. However, none were serious, and Ray and Clover were sharing their candy so everyone could heal.

"Attack or run away!" Toriel's voice was still cold. Fire shot from her paws, hitting the wall as everyone dodged. Again they spared. "What are you proving this way? Stop it. Stop looking at me that way." Toriel glanced to the side, her eyes full of sadness. Then she looked back at them. "Go away!" Fire rained from the sky, though it drifted away and passed them harmlessly.

"Mom, or… Toriel is acting aloof," Chara informed. Toriel fell silent again. Finally, she let out a sigh and glanced at the children with sad eyes.

"I know you want to go home but…" She was practically begging. "But please… go upstairs now." She stopped attacking, gazing at Frisk and the others with tears in her eyes. "I promise I will take good care of you here." She forced a smile. "I know we do not have much, but we can have a happy life here." Frisk refused to move. The others stood at their side, gazing at Toriel. "Why are you making this so difficult?" She sighed, "Please, go upstairs."

"We're not leaving!" Ray snapped, slamming his fists together. Toriel's smile faded. She forced a smile again, laughing weakly.

"Pathetic is it not?" she murmured, mostly to herself, "I cannot save even a single one of you." Well technically Ace is still back in the house… Nobody said this aloud. Toriel was silent for a few moments before she let out a sigh. "No, I understand. You would be unhappy trapped down here. The Ruins are very small once you get used to them. It would not be right for you to grow up in a place like this. I will put all my fear aside for you, my children."

"Finally," Ray grunted, completely exasperated. Their souls disappeared. Frisk inched closer to their friends, standing between Kat and Teri.

"If you truly wish to leave the Ruins, I will not stop you," Toriel sighed, gazing down at Frisk and the others. "However, when you leave, please do not come back. I hope you understand."

"We do…" Kat sighed. Toriel kneeled down in front of them, wrapping her soft arms around Frisk, Teri, and Kat. Warmth enveloped them. Poppy, Ray, and Clover stood aside. After a while, Toriel pulled away, letting out a sigh. "Goodbye, my children." Toriel walked around them, back down the hall.

"Finally," Ray grunted, pushing the door open. "Let's go." Frisk nodded, ambling through the door. The others followed. They continued down a long hallway before stopping in a dark room. Flowey stood in the centre. Ray raised his gloved fists while Frisk guarded who they could with their arm, grabbing their stick.

"Clever. Verrrryyy clever," Flowey snarled, glaring at the group. "In this world, it's kill or be killed. So you were able to play by your own rules, sparing the life of one person, but don't get cocky." Flowey grinned as he continued. "I watched you go through the Ruins. One of your souls is filled with LV from the deaths of innocents." Everyone immediately glared at Ray.

"Don't look at me!" Ray exclaimed, holding up his hands. "Clover stopped me from killing any of them!" Clover nodded.

Poppy let out a sigh, raising her hand. "It was me. I have two LV."

"You've been killing monsters?!" Kat exclaimed, her eyes watering. Poppy nodded.

"Why would you do that?!" Frisk demanded, stomping their foot.

"They were innocent!" Teri added.

"It was in self-defense!" Poppy exclaimed. "They attacked first, they deserved it!"

"We're invading their land!" Clover snapped, throwing his gun into the ground. "Of course they're attacking us, they think we're a threat! We need to assure them that we're not a threat!"

"They almost killed me!" Poppy and Clover glared at each other, their fists clenched and bodies tense for a fight. "Would you rather I be dead?!"

"You didn't have to kill them to defend yourself! You could've ran! Or fought them until they surrendered!"

"No one should have to die," Kat agreed. Frisk nodded beside her.

"Um…" Everyone glared back at Flowey. "Anyways… the ginger isn't wrong. How will you react when you meet a relentless killer? You'll die, and die, and die until only one of you is left." Flowey glared right at Frisk, grinning wickedly. "What will you do then? Will you kill out of revenge?" Flowey's face grew out of his face as he cackled. Then he disappeared. Frisk glared at the spot where he disappeared. I won't let them die. I was able to go back and save Ace, and the same goes for the rest of my friends!

"See?!" Clover explained, gesturing to the spot where Flowey disappeared. "Flowey approves of you killing! Do you want a psycho like him to approve of you?!"

"Oh my God, shut up," Poppy grunted, stepping towards the door. "Let's keep going." Frisk helped her push the door open, resisting the urge to glare at her. How many innocent lives has Poppy taken? Ray made his way toward Poppy, rubbing his sister's arm supportively.

"You're not wrong, Poppy," Ray murmured. "These monsters are threatening our lives, we have every right to fight back."

Ace's POV

Ace waited in the living room, sitting at the food table with his piece of pie. He ate it slowly, savouring every bite. Finally, footsteps echoed through the house and a white head emerged from the staircase.

"Hi, mom," Ace greeted with a wave.

Toriel turned to him, her eyes widened. "My child, why are you still here?" She asked, approaching Ace. "Shouldn't you be with your friends?"

"I want to stay with you," Ace admitted, pushing his pie aside.

"R-really?" Ace nodded. Toriel turned away, laughing weakly. "You do not need to pity me, my child. I will be fine alone."

"It's not for pity," Ace insisted. "I have nothing to return to on the surface and my friends will be fine. If anything, I'd slow them down. I'm not a fighter, I just want to live a safe life."

Toriel smiled. "Well you're more than welcome to stay my child." Toriel kneeled down, wrapping her soft arms around Ace. Warmth surged through him. A warmth hadn't felt this since his mother was alive. It made him smile. Ace returned the hug, pulling Toriel as close as he could.

Ray's POV

As the group walked through the door, a gust of cold wind blew against them. Ray shivered. However, Frisk continued on so Ray followed. Ray pulled his arms into his chest, longing for long sleeves right now.

"How is there snow underground?" Teri asked, looking around.

"It's probably just an ice cave," Poppy muttered, not taking her eyes off the ground. Everyone glared at her. Ray felt a pang of sympathy for his sister.

"How'd you know that?" Ray asked a little ruder than intended.

"I researched them for a story," Poppy answered. Ray stepped over a huge stick.

"Do trees grow in ice caves?" Teri asked, gesturing to the myriad of tall pines beside them. Poppy shook her head. The group froze as a crack filled the air. Ray looked back. The stick he had stepped over, which had been pretty tough looking, had been snapped in half.

"Something's following us," Kat shrieked, pulling her arms into her chest.

"Something dangerous," Ray added, raising his gloves. Clover pressed Ray's hands down. Ray grunted, allowing his hands to fall back to his sides.

"There's no one here," Teri informed, looking around. However, as they continued through the forest, the sounds still followed them. Ray prickled uneasily. The group stopped before a small bridge. Snow was crinkling behind them, getting louder and louder.

"Humans." Kat let out a shriek. Ray froze in place, shivering madly. "Don't you know how to greet a new pal? Turn around and shake my hand." Ray turned around screaming, slapping whatever was behind him. A whoopee cushion sound followed. Ray's eyes widened when he saw the short skeleton standing before him.

"Wow… that was… cold." Ray's eye twitched. His face scrunched up and he was unable to hold back a laugh.

"Heh, that was good," Ray admitted, pointing at the skeleton.

He cracked a smile. "Thanks, I guess I'll forgive ya for ruining my first joke." His gaze shifted to the others. "Anyways, you're humans right?" Everyone nodded. "Heh, that's hilarious. I'm Sans, Sans the skeleton."

"Sans? Like comic sans?" Ray asked, raising an eyebrow.

Sans tilted his head to the side. "I have no idea what that is but sure. Anyways, I'm supposed to be on watch for humans right now. But, y'know…. I don't really care about capturing anybody. Now my brother, Papyrus… he's a human hunting fanatic. Hey, actually, I think that's him over there." Sans pointed to something in the distance. "I have an idea, go through this gate thingy. Yeah, go right through, my bro made the bars too wide to stop anyone." The group obeyed, following Sans in a straight line through the gate. They stopped in a snowy clearing. "Quick, behind that conveniently shaped pile of lamps." Frisk, Teri, Clover, Kat, and Poppy made their way behind their respective lamps. Ray however, stayed put. Sans glanced at him. "Aren't you gonna hide?"

Ray shook his head. "Nah. I'm not afraid." Desperate whispers sounded from behind the lamps but Ray ignored them. Another skeleton entered the clearing. This one was a lot taller, with a dumb outfit and goofy smile. Papyrus.

"Sup bro," Sans greeted.

Papyrus let out a gasp. "OH MY GOD SANS. IS THAT A HUMAN NEXT TO YOU?!"

"Uh… yeah!" Ray raised his tough gloves, narrowing his eyes for a fight, "I'm not afraid of you, come at me!"

"OH MY GOD! SANS I FINALLY DID IT!" Ray was unable to hold back a smile at this new skeleton's antics. He spoke borderline gibberish through his excitement, looking between Sans and Ray with a bright smile. Ray could only make out the word: popular. "AHEM." Papyrus looked back at Ray, his eyes narrowed. "HUMAN, YOU SHALL NOT PASS THIS AREA! I, THE GREAT PAPYRUS, WILL STOP YOU! I WILL THEN CAPTURE YOU-"

"Bring it on!" Ray replied, punching his fists together.

"WOAH, SOMEONE'S EAGER! WELL, YOU CAN CONTINUE ONLY IF YOU DARE!" Papyrus turned and walked away, laughing a strange laugh.

"Well… that went well," Sans mused, glancing at Ray. "I like your spirit, kid, but maybe cool it a bit? Papyrus wouldn't hurt anyone and I can keep an eye socket out for ya." Sans winked. Ray laughed again at the dumb joke.

"I wouldn't hurt him," Ray replied, smiling. "He seems too fun."

"That's good." Sans glanced back at the lamps. "The rest of you can come out now!" The group emerged from behind the lamps.

"I cannot believe that actually worked," Teri grunted, resting her hand on her head. Poppy rushed toward Ray.

"Dude, what were you thinking?!" she exclaimed, grabbing him by the shoulders.

"Hey, chill." Ray stepped back, shoving his sister backward. "I'm fine, and hey, he was probably gonna see us eventually."

"That doesn't mean you-" Poppy grunted. "Ugh nevermind, let's keep going." Frisk took the lead as usual. They made their way through the snowy forest, keeping to the path.