Encounter at Grillby's
"Um. King Asgore said that um . . . well, when he finds her . . ." Papyrus couldn't even finish the statement. How could he? If someone had the power to teleport like that, and with such mean words before leaving, it was probably someone who had a real way out. There was a good chance they were gone from the Underground. There was a very good chance, as Alphys said, that it was some of FRISK that had been out there. The cunning and skills of it seemed to match.
After that outburst and trick, the first thing Alphys did was call up Mettaton. He was currently on TV, and nowhere near the castle. While the speech about the marriage brought up questions that King Asgore wanted answers to.
At least King Asgore seemed very sensitive about the issue. He even patted Sans on the back. Not that his brother would or could appreciate such a gesture from the King. He seemed to be in his own little world now. "Sans?" Papyrus said. "D-did you get that?"
"What? Huh? Oh." Sans lifted his eyes from the floor. "No biggie, I guess. You know, I but uh, Frisky won't put him in danger. Probably got safety. Yeah. They are . . . they'll be fine." He looked upward and sighed. "I'm gonna go home and take a nap."
"Um. Sans? I don't think . . ." Papyrus didn't know what else to say as he hugged his brother. "Oh, Sans! I'm so, so, soooo sorry!"
"Hey, it's fine. We're fine." Sans patted his side lightly. "Just us two, but it's always just been us two. It'll be okay. Don't cry."
"Stop that!" Papyrus demanded. "I am trying to comfort you!"
"Uh, Sans?" Alphys called to him.
"It's fine, okay?" Sans patted his back again. He didn't really want to deal with anything else. Everyone else knew the answer to the questions the King wanted. What did it matter? "Relax, Pap."
"Sans?" Alphys called to him again.
"It'll be great for them. I bet. And, life just keeps going for us." Sans shrugged. "No. Big . . . deal."
"Sans?" Alphys bugged him once more. "Not everyone left yet. Please look?"
What did she mean? Sans looked toward Alphys as she showed him the MP that she had kept. "You know, these things always seem to come in handy. Even if they can't be used for as much, they are even handier for social stuff. A little reprogramming, and I can get endless messages down here on the paid without any extra money or plans or uh . . . And um. Sorry, train of thought. Um, there was an alert on it. I didn't think much of it. I wasn't checking it then. But." Alphys shoved it into his hands. "There was some strange teleporting news, and it ended around in Snowdin."
"As if that helps Sans!" Papyrus said, trying to hug him harder.
"Well, no, but." She gestured to the right side of the screen. "All of the heat signatures went away, except two. It looks like it traveled on the ground for awhile, stopped, and traveled again."
Longshot. It was a real longshot. There was really no reason Frisky would have stayed without shackles. She was going for freedom. Really. Why even bother? But . . . "Where?"
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Sans arrived where the steps stopped, and then picked back up. He looked backward into the snow. There were two sets of footprints. One made by a Monster, and one made by a human. Then, it just turned into a Monster's footprints after a small part in the snow where it looked like a body or two had been laying.
Sans followed the footprints, putting a little more speed in his trot than usual.
It ended at, of all places, Grillby's.
What the . . . He stepped inside. Her. It was her and Chance's body. Chance was lying slumped, only half conscious next to a small seat. Frisky was unconscious, stuck in a strange monster's lap.
Sans didn't recognize them at all. Lately, Balancers had been seen coming in. Monsters that didn't quite look the same as them. Not in very big numbers, and so far no huge events had happened with them. It was the same with Monsters too. A lot of the regulars were missing. Probably exploring out of the Underground barrier, seeing the rest of the world they had been denied.
Which would be great later.
Sans tried to stay casual as he approached the table but he just wanted to yank them away as fast as possible! She came back. She really came back? She was freed away by the rest of the Frisk. But, she stayed? She stayed, and by the look of it, she was risking her own life to get back.
There were two Balancers. One looked like it was more amphibious. Probably wouldn't be around for too long out of water. Green and thick skinned, it looked like a Monster. The second though was even stranger. It almost appeared human except for some horns on it's head. It was about the size of Papyrus.
Moving closer, Sans saw Frisky's legs and feet. He had to read up a lot on human survival to pass the committing, and he knew from that, it wasn't good. That might equal permanent damage. Shoot! She needs a healer, quick. Why is she so bad off? Sans approached from behind. "Hey there, new guy. I need to ask you about that human luggage you've got."
"Don't bother. It's mine." It stood up and held Frisky haphazardly on it's shoulder like a ragdoll. "Look how cute it is? It's not even half my size."
"Yeah, guess so. But, uh, I kind of need her and that kid." Sans was trying to stay calm, but he really didn't like the way he was holding her. "Hey, Buddy, let's talk about this. Okay?"
"Hmm . . ." He shrugged. "I'm a reasonable Balancer. What do you want?"
"I just need them back. Just, hand them over. Cool?"
"For how much?"
Really, he had to pay to get them back? "Well, let's talk then. You're a Balancer, right? Hey, that's great. Haven't met one of you yet. I'm Sans. Sans the Skeleton. You're going to find around here your money thing doesn't really balance out to anything. We pay for stuff with GOLD around here. So, why don't I just give you a pinch of GOLD for them?"
"I don't know. This is a pretty good haul right here." The Balancer held Frisky up by the neck off his shoulder. "Humans don't often have their young out." He stroked her cheek. "How much are they worth to you?"
Okay. Sans hated fighting. He didn't want to fight in Snowdin of all places. He definitely didn't want to fight in Grillby's. Not only that, that Balancer was holding Frisky, and he didn't want to hurt her. "I got GOLD, not money. Can we try and work with that?"
"I don't know how much is a lot of GOLD. I could be getting ripped off," The Balancer insisted. "Oh, the feet. Oops." He placed his hands around Frisky's legs, healing her up. "There we go, all better honey."
Sans watched his hand creep up higher on her legs than needed for healing. "Hey there, thanks for healing her. Appreciate it, but you really shouldn't hold her like that."
"You really better start to figure out a price then, 'cause I just stopped for a second and then I'm out of here," he insisted. "With my prizes. Oh yeah, and the price would be for the kid. I'm not losing the woman."
"Um." Sans held his hands out. "I really need both of them there, pal, so let's even out this situation."
"I'm not giving away both."
"Why not? The situation will stay more balanced."
"Hey, Sans?" Sans turned to see one of the locals that was still around. "Yo, hey, you need some help?"
"Nah, nah." He waved him off. "I'm fine. We're just talking. Nothing big." Sans tried to step a little more forward. He and Papyrus had spent a ton on the requirements they needed for Frisky and Chance. He didn't have too much to offer. "Well, GOLD is kind of hard to get unless you get a job inside the Underground. If you pass this way back and forth, then you're going to want some, right? You can find some out there, but without a job, you're not gonna get much. So, what about 10,000 GOLD?"
"Well. That sounds like a lot." It seemed to be thinking. "That's tough, I don't know. I would almost consider it, but this is really a nice thing I got going on here."
"It's just a human and a kid. Barely a couple meals, right? Why don't I just buy you a couple meals instead?" Because he only had enough for a couple of meals.
"What do you mean? I'm not eating them." He pulled her forward on himself. "She's a unique one. Only the human young are this small, but gawdamn, look at that body."
"Well then, pal, this isn't exactly the way to woo her," Sans chuckled. "Come on. Crack open a dating book."
"I'm not eating her and I'm not taking time to woo her." The Balancer touched the top of San's skull. "Aw, look, you're about the same size, huh? Seriously. Beat it, shrimp. You're starting to bug me. Plus, you're kind of freaky. You always talk without moving your mouth and just smile a lot. Creepy grinning little twerp."
Really? What kind of monster touches another like that? These Balancers really were different. "I'm. Not real comfortable with the way your touching my skull right now. Really need to back off."
"Aw, look, the shorty is getting a little teed?" He wobbled his skull. "Look, I ain't got any more time for this, I'm just cutting through to get home. I've gotta get bills paid."
"Well. Hey. Then stop wasting time with those humans and . . ." The Balancer's hand was still on top of his skull. "Go away?"
"Oh, look at you. Pretending to be a little tough guy." He took his hand off his skull finally. "Fine, I'll let the kid go for the GOLD."
"And the other." Sans was getting tired of him.
"Nuh uh, Shrimp. I wouldn't even trade this short cutie for money." He raised her hand up high and jiggled it. "See, look at her? Love the cute little ragdoll size. This smol bean will be twice as fun when she wakes up."
"Really." Sans was losing his 'creepy grin'. "She's not a ragdoll. Not a short cutie. Not a 'smol bean'." Whatever that was. "Look. Just, don't make this tough. Kay?"
"No way, fuck you, you little shrimp ass." He shoved his hands underneath her coat. "Nah, forget it, I want the kid too. Less chance my fun kills it again. They tend to care about their young more than themselves so their chances increase to survive. Huh?" He looked around. "What the heck is that thing?" He gestured to the funny board in front of him.
Everyone headed out of Grillby's. There was barely any room in there, and with an encounter in there, they didn't want to get pulled into the fight.
"What's this thing? What's that?" The Balancer looked back toward Sans. "Hey, why are you closing your eye sockets?"
When Sans opened his eye sockets back up, they were solid black. "One. Last. Chance." He closed his eye sockets again. "Give them up. Now."
"Neat little trick, but fuck you. You think you can take me on?"
"Board. Use it."
The Balancer gazed at the board. He selected Fight.
Sans easily dodged it, but it did shatter a table on a booth. He knew he had no choice but to fight the thing, but he was still holding Frisky. How was he going to do this?
"Whuuh?" Chance was snapping out of it. "Momma?" As the Balancer tried to catch up, he quickly rolled out of the way, sensing danger. He still wasn't feeling well, but he was making his way toward Sans.
"Chance. Know your young, pal, but can't watch you. Get out of Grillby's." Chance knew his way around those boards, and he should guess what was going on.
"If you try to make it past me, I am going to eat you," the Balancer threatened Chance.
That Balancer had already made three offenses on the board. Even if he survived the battle, that Balancer was as good as dead. The board was starting to tick red on his side of the field. "Behind the bar, kid. Back way." Chance crawled behind the bar and headed through the back of the restaurant to the back door only the cook Grillby used.
"Damn it! I can't get half as much without the young," the Balancer complained, still holding Frisky tightly. "I am so going to kill you, you annoying little fucker."
Sans just stayed still, only moving a second from the dodge of the fight. He wasn't worried about the Balancer, he'd be dying soon. He needed to get Frisky up and off before- Out of time! He hated to do it. He knew that she didn't like it, but it was necessary as the board made a high pitched noise. He used his magic on her and brought her straight toward him.
Just in time. Sans moved out the backway of Grillby's as he heard the terrifying scream of the Balancer. No one disobeyed the boards. Every Monster in the vicinity probably came to kill him for the offense. Or more likely to make the sound turn off. It was a really horrid high pitched sound, and it wouldn't stop until the offender was taken care of.
Chance was just outside, but barely standing. Really sick.
Sans held Frisky, still out like a light. Without any support, he still had to use his magic. At least she wasn't too big. She must be in real bad shape if she didn't even know he was using his magic to balance her. It was the worst thing in the world to her mind.
Chance was easier. He used his magic to scoot the sick kid closer. He wrapped his other arm around him, part of him not really believing he was there. He should have been long gone. Both of them. They were 'rescued' from him and Papyrus, so . . . "How ya holding up?"
"Cold. Really, really, c-cold," Chance said back, gripping Sans. "M-m-momma got super cold. Even colder."
"Kid, temperature's still the same." Sans looked at Chance. That Monster hadn't bothered healing him, only Frisky. No need to heal him, with the way he was speaking about . . . that was just . . . there wasn't even a word for it! No Monster talked like that. They'd eat people. They'd eat each other. They'd fight each other but it was apparent that the nastiness of humanity just joined with Monsters to create those things. Hopefully, there was some better ones than that out there.
"S-Sans? W-warm?"
Right. "How come you're so cold?"
"F-f-frisks. Th-they had protection," Chance muttered. "I-I don't remember much, but I heard them. Th-they left.M-Momma wouldn't go. She kept saying that . . ."
Sans watched as he slumped right against him.
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"Oh my goodness." Monster Kid's mom kept them each in bed. "I am doing what I can. It is apparent that the boy's magic has been helping the regular human woman stay alive, but, even it seems tapped out. Usually a Monster has something reserved, but there's hardly anything left."
The roll out of danger and running out of Grillby's. They weren't well off at all. Frisky was still unconscious and Chance was back in the same state as before. "You have good timing, Sentry." She kept her hands on both of them. "I do not know if I will be strong enough alone. You see, their hit points keep getting lower, even as I heal them. This is a natural weather phenomenon. Weaker Monsters don't come into harder weather areas like Snowdin or Hotlands for this reason."
"Whatever it takes. What do you need?" Sans asked. "Another healer?"
"Ooh. Luck. Lots of it, and a very advanced healer would be good, but I'm about the most powerful in Snowdin. I'll do what I can."
"Got it. I will get Queen Toriel."
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In no time at all after explaining the situation, Toriel followed him from the ruins to right there, healing each of them as much as she could. "So cold, oh they are so cold! They almost died. The snow is just too cold out there right now for fragile human skin. I keep my children nice and warm in the ruins. You don't come out in this weather for very long, and especially in the conditions right now."
Please, please, please be okay. Sans looked over toward Papyrus. He had to bring him there. He needed him there, 'cause Sans himself didn't know how to take what was going on.
"They'll be okay?" Papyrus asked her.
"Yes, yes, We've almost got them all better." Toriel patted Chance's head. "Your family is almost all better, Sans."
Sans just stood, staring at them. Still, not quite believing it. Frisky could have left. Could have left and won, like FRISK always did. Whether it was to win the freedom, or whether it was to murder everything, FRISK always won. "Why . . ." Chance was trying to say something before he fainted. He was starting to look better. Just getting some deserved sleep.
Then, it finally happened. Frisky opened her eyes.
She looked around, still obviously out of it. "Oh, I did it again. Really didn't think I'd survive that one." She moaned and felt around, probably for Chance. "Huh?"
"You're in a bed, safe and sound!" Papyrus said from her side. "Both of you are fine now!"
"Why?" Sans said to her. He should have asked how she was feeling, if she was okay, but it just came out. "You could have left. You should have left. You . . . why?"
"Because." Frisky shook her head. "Sans, you knew me as a prisoner, and that's all you know of me. You don't remember when we first met. You think I'm one of the other FRISK's. I'm just part, and I'm a part that you don't really know." She laid her head back down. "I don't have DETERMINATION to keep running on adventures. I have DETERMINATION to do the right thing, no matter the cost." She sighed and started to go to sleep.
"Okay, a little more healing. Back up, Sans," Toriel warned him. But, she gave him a warm smile. "She'll be okay, and, we'll get this done right. Okay?"
Sans nodded but couldn't say much. She was right though. Even though she'd been shackled, she hadn't gone cursing or fighting. But. She didn't even have shackles, and she stayed. She stayed. For him.
She put him first. No one . . . put him first. Even though Papyrus tried his hardest for Sans, he was still his little brother. He still took more care of him than the other way around. This was . . . "I need to do something to help. What can I do?" He snapped his fingers. Clothes. "I'll be right back."
Sans teleported back to King Asgore's, trying to ignore all the utterings and wonderings as he looked through the clothes.
"Are they alright?!"
"Is Papyrus coming back?"
"Now what are you going to do?"
"Was it really other parts of FRISK?"
"Do you know why she came back?"
He went through the stack and tried to find something better. He'd been having her in his simple shirts and coats, even though they had other clothes now. They had to have something they never wore before to count for it. Well, he could use them now.
And he had no real idea how Frisky would react when she found out she had to marry a Skeleton now, but he wasn't going to start it with a fight and shackles this time.
"Sans, will you tell us something?!" Undyne finally commanded of him. "Are they okay, yes or no?"
"Yeah, yeah. There it is." A Temmie dress, the most expensive single thing they bought. Most of the clothes had be custom made, and the top notch designer for that was actually a Temmie. Named Bob. Bob didn't just specialize in the sizing, and Sans and Papyrus had made sure they got some built in magic inside of many of the clothes. It should really help keep her warm, and . . . and the other thing.
"If they are conscious, we really need to get this done," King Asgore said to Undyne. "The law is the law. As long as it is safe."
"But, um, maybe a small grace period? Any at all?" Alphys asked him. "I-I think it would be easier to-ooh! Is that her wedding dress?"
"Wedding dress?" Sans watched Undyne and Alphys both staring at the dress. "What?"
Alphys seemed to forget she was even talking to the King as Undyne and her came over and checked the Temmie dress. "Is that a dress by Bob? Did you tell her how to design it?"
"How in the world could a guy understand it this well. Especially you. Who helped you?" Undyne questioned him.
"Huh? Look, I don't have time for this." He started to dig into the small sweaters for Chance and looked for the socks. "Shoes, shoot! I need shoes for her too. Socks and shoes." He gathered a sweater, pants, socks, and some shoes. He was grabbing the dress and it's matching pants, when he heard a screech from Undyne and Alphys.
"No, no, no, don't wrinkle it!" Alphys insisted. "That's a custom Temmie wedding dress, you really must be careful!"
Okay. For one, it was weird to hear Alphys actually speak so loud and directly. For two, it was just a dress, not a wedding dress. For three, he was wasting time. Grabbing the dress again, he ignored the yell this time as he took off.
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"Impossible." Flowey stared through the stain-glassed windows, getting the strange word Frisky and Chance had actually come back. "That's impossible. He wouldn't have done that. That's impossible!" But it was. It was the same dress. Sans didn't know a thing about anything. So, how? "He made a custom dress that was exactly the same?"
"FRISK used to say resets caused 97.5 percent of the memory to wipe out."
Flowey heard Chara's voice around him again. "Which is pretty much all. What's the point?"
"That leaves 2.5 that dwells inside."
"I repeat," Flowey groaned. "Soooo?"
"Apparently her dress was important enough for his 2.5 to remember."
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