First encounter

It has already been four days since the human child left her home. She still couldn't believe how determined they were to leave... but to be honest with herself, how could she blame them?

Sure, they did look so happy to be able to live with her, they almost seemed relieved. She too was happy, for a fleeting moment. It was selfish yes, but she finally had a ''familly'' again. She felt like her house was finaly a home once more.

Yet, the more days the child spent with her, the more they seemed upset. Or maybe was it guilt? Surely, they had a home somewhere else, people waiting, worrying about them.

If it was the case, they would've never really been happy stuck with her in the ruins. After all, she was only an old grieving monster. Not even their own mother.

All those negative thoughts have been haunting her ever since they were gone. Were they safe at the very least? Back during training they were simply perfect, such a good child, sparing everyone they encountered.

Did they manage to pass the royal guards or sentries that are surely looking for them?

She sniffs a bit, brushing her paws over her eyes in hope to clear all the tears that have gathered up. Two days ago, she resumed her daily routine of looking through the ruins in was is now reluctant hope of finding a new fallen human.

In the state she was, her neighbours and fellow monsters have clearly decided to give her some space too, leaving her to a lonely and quiet walk.

She was just about to be done with this little task when she reached the infamous ''entry'' of the underground.

'The vines of this evil little weed are literally everywhere on the ground today' she though.

She then hear loud cracking resonate and the flower's eerie little voice hissing further away in the other room. Letting her own energy fill the room freely, she feels a strong soul up ahead. She quickens her pace apprehensivelly, finally reaching the bed of yellow flowers.

There to the side is Flowey with his vines around someone's leg. The limb is visibly snapped in half.

''Come on you IDIOT!'' The flower says, shaking the limp body in the air. ''Why don't you wake up!? Isn't it painful!?'' He tightens his hold, bending the leg in an unnatural angle.

The stranger doesn't react at all. She rapidly summon a ball of flames and throw it at him, making his vines curl in pain and vanish in the ground along with him. Unfortunately, that leaves the cloaked figure to land directly on its head with a soft whimper. She rushes to their side and turns their body on their back.

What she discovers surprises her. ''A skeleton?''

Not what she had thought or hoped* she'd find in here, but now is not the time. She starts her search for injuries. The stranger's soul is very blurry, obviously hiding itself even while unconscious. So well hidden she can't seem to see any color but it's still evidently powerful.

They're out of danger then.

Their skull, being the only piece of bony ''skin'' she could see, seemed also fine so she looks back at the leg. The battle boot they wear seems to have held everything inside their pants. She frowns before deciding to pick them up.

Healing them will be easier at her place.

______________________________________________________

You wake up to a soft call of your name. Your brain is fuzzy and your head is throbbing again, probably due to the impact of the fall.

Déjà vu much?

Putting a hand to your face, you discover that your mask is still miraculously on. You force yourself to sit up and look at your, again, very blurry surrounding.

''I... didn't die.'' you say, somewhat relieved if not bewildered.

You look around, now very confused. Seems like you're not in a cave but in a... child's bedroom??? There's toys everywhere and even what looks like a couple of small shoes in a box.

Gaster calls you again, obviously regaining his composure. I'm relieved.

Are... Are you alright?

''Hey G...'' You groan breathlessly. Your brain is definitely gonna be pudding if you continue to bang it everywhere you go. '' Yes, I'm okay... I guess.''

'Worried' bounces off the walls of your mind.

Gaster is somehow feeding you is strongest emotions and thoughts now, you don't know if he's aware he's doing it.

Are you sure? You feel you shoulder slowly tense. He obviously doesn't feel too good.

''Why wouldn't I be Gaster?'' You say, confusingly annoyed.

He feels reluctant... or more like creeped out by something.

Look down at yourself, dear.

You do as he ask, lowering your eyes and picking the blanket off of you. Your pants has been rolled up all the way up over your knee on your left leg. The only pieces left of your prosthetic are the cracked socket, the knee and some shards of the shank.

''Ah, shit.'' You frown. You must've broke it during the fall.

Uncontrolled shivers go through your back as you try to move and make the broken pieces crack.

''Why are you so jumpy, buddy? You know it's just a broken prosthetic, right ?My leg is fine... sore, but fine.'' You sit on the side of the bed, wondering how you're gonna get to Frisk now.

Have you ever truly heard the sound of cracking bones?

'' ...Not exactly, no.''

 It is pretty similar.

To be honest, I don't particularly enjoy hearing a noise so familiar... and the way your leg looks. Pardon me, but it is usually an ghostly sight for someone like me. It seems that I am not as tolerant as I once was looking at this on you. He says, his voice barely hiding disdain.

You laugh bitterly at that '' I don't very much like my leg either, dear. So that makes two of us.'' You take a breath in.

'Dammit, how am I gonna walk like that?'

You sigh and look at the room again. ''Where am I, G?''

At Queen Toriel's house. In the ruins, near the entry to the underground. He says as he squeeze your shoulder, both sympathetic to your silent discontent and rhetoric question. There's a makeshift crutch left for you near the bed.

You tilt your head to your shoulder, trying to sense him better, leaning on "him", imagining him in the room. A small smile reaches your lips before you actually get what he just told you.

''Queen?''

You jump at a knock on the door followed by a female's voice.

''Hello, I heard sounds. Are you awake?'' You jump up, momentarily forgetting about your missing ''limb'' and nearly falling forward. Luckily, bot previous training and a ghostly set of hands on your arms make you regain balance on your right leg.

''Can I come in?'' She ask again as the door slightly opens.

You nod, grabbing the crutch before lowly groaning and answering a mute

''Yes.'' The door opens to let you see that the voice belongs to none other than a white humanoid goat lady almost three feet taller than you. A monster. An actual real monster.

You feel guilt creeping up your back.

This must be Toriel. She really holds an intimidating stance at her height and you instinctively ready yourself for anything she might possibly attempt. She could easily overpower you in your current state.

You bow the best you can, which ends up being very stiffly. Man, you hate the position in which you are stuck right now.

Feeling the untrusting pulse you spread through your soul, Toriel brings her hands up in a light show of goodwill.

''I do not wish to harm you, dear. I just wanted to know how you are feeling.''

A hand pats your upper arm as you start to feel Gaster's warm presence right behind you.

'Calm, calm'

She means well. Don't worry.

At those few words, you're immediately soothed back into a semi-calm state. An uncontroled reaction which momentarily throws you off too. You can feel fondness coming from him.

You sit back down, wincing when the cracks on your prosthetics socket rub and nip at your scars. The goat lady makes a worried move toward you, but you snap your head back at her and she backs down.

You exhale slowly. You'll have to endure the pain until you can remove the fake limb off you without looking suspicious. Which makes you thank god for you putting on your white prosthetic today. The weird design you and Frisk decided to pick back then can apparently be passed off as some strange skeletal leg here.

The goat lady, feeling the wary aura dissipate, approaches you calmly and kneel in front of you.

Wow, even now she's still a head taller than you.

She kindly smiles at you, carefully putting a white paw on your good knee and looking at your other leg.

''The other part of your leg dusted before I could try to heal it. I'm very sorry...'' She cautiously tells you, measuring every word coming out of her mouth.

What? 'Dust?' you think.

When monsters die, our magic dissipates, effectively turning us into dust. Heavy injuries can also turns to dust if left untreated. It acts similarly to your human necrosis or so I've read. He fills in for you.

What would you do without him?

'Well aren't you a knowledge box? My savior.'

He smirks, you just know he does.

'G... I'm no monster. Its not even my real leg. How did it dust?'

His smirk widen. Lets just say I contributed to your little game of pretend and ripped the loose parts from your reality.

'Clever' You think.

You find yourself returning a smile at his frankly surprising shenanigans.

'Impressive'

You didn't know he could do that. You had every reason not to, but now you can't help but being angry with yourself for ever doubting him.

Toriel is still looking at your face with a regretful look in her eyes. Your lack of immediate answer must've made her think you weren't taking the information too well. You could now feel the motherly nature she held in her gaze alone. You delicately lay your hand on hers. Opening your mouth to reassure her, then you think about your chin possibly going past the mask and maybe showing your skin. You close back your mouth and shake your head. She smiles sadly at you.

You can only feel kindness coming from the queen’s actions.

Would it really be bold of you to assume that Frisk might be safe if the creatures underground are as good as the ones you've met? You let that thought only comfort you slightly, take Toriel's paw and squeeze it a bit. Just to let her know you thank her.

''Is your leg okay?... Um, what's left of it?''

You nod, unroll your pants over the leg and tie a knot so it doesn't just hang loosely. The goat lady gets out of your way.

''That's good.'' She stands up, offering you her hand to grab. You look longly at it before taking it and she lift you with seemingly no effort at all.

''Perhaps you would like to join me for a bit of snail pie then?''

Snail pie? Ew…

''I just baked one. It could make you feel better.'' She gives you another one of her kind smiles, this one also a bit hopeful. You grab the crutch, turn back and deny her silently. You search through your memories and sign her a 'Sorry'. Her deceived look rapidly turns to surprise. 

''Oh, you speak sign language?''

'Yes' You lie.

You never really signed yourself, but Frisk used to do it when they were very young and developed issues with speaking. So you choose to learn it at that moment, but it’s been a while and you got to admit that you're reeeeaaallly rusty. You hoped it would've helped limit the conversation with other monsters when they learned that 'you don't speak', but your infamous luck choses today that Toriel could seemingly still understand you. You exit the room with her. Gaster seems to have felt your uneasiness while trying to sign correctly.

Perhaps I could be of assistance? Just let me borrow your arms and tell me of what you'd like to says.

'You really do know everything don't you?'

You both share a silent laugh.

I just like to make myself useful.

You smile 'Alright, thank you again, Doctor.'

It is no problem.

You and Miss Toriel stop close to a stairway when she asks you '' What would you like to do then, dear?''

You think.

'Maybe go home, it has been a long day and I still have to find a ...friend of mine who's missing.'

True to his words, Gaster's makes your hand sign everything you just though. Unluckily, the hesitation at the end of your sentence also delayed your signing and the goat lady noticed it. Doubt fills her eyes momentarily before she put a noticeable facade with a quick smile.

''Alright, it is understandable. I'll help you to your house then, where do you live?'' She takes hold of your arm, seemingly to help you walk.

It doesn't feel right. Her hold is too strong around your arm. She's keeping you to her side.

Back off. You grit your teeth.

I don't like where this is leading.

You feel yourself tense with him. 'Me either, G...'

You try to think of a way to phrase it to possibly reverse the rapidly worsening situation.

'It's not in the ruins.'

She nods, ''leading'' you down the stairs. ''Might I ask why you are in the ruins then, dear? Is your friend here?''

She is purposely showing you her soul. It is wary, distrusting. She's intimidating you. Gaster tenses more.

You don't think there's any use in lying on that one.

'Last I know of them, they were here.'

At that Toriel stop smiling. Her grip on you tightens.

''I walk around the ruins every day. If you give me a description, I might know where they went.''

You're not safe (Y/n), she is getting agitated.

You feel him jerk back. Your body follows, successfully dislodging you from her hand.

Toriel lets her facade fall. Her glare meets your frown as you stare at her while trying to back away.

What did you do? Were you that suspicious? What gave you away? Does she know you're human? Do monsters hate humans? Gaster doesn't seem to hate you though. Too many questions!

You already made your way through a long hallway and a corner is now very close behind you.

''You're looking for the last human child, aren't you?''

You see flames licking her fingers as her tone lowers. She knows that Frisk was here!?

''Why are you after them?''

You change your stance, ready to dodge and/or attempt to flee. You're in no position to fight right now. Gaster is getting protective, you feel his magic caress you, surrounding your soul. You call your own magic as you think about how to defend yourself. Truth be told, you're pretty much fucked.

''Has Asgore sent you?'' she practically snarls, bearing you her teeth.

Who is Asgore? No, she doesn't get it. You try to explain yourself fast, hopping to calm her down. Fuck signing it.

''I'm just looking to get them ba-''

That was probably the wrong answer as she throws a fireball at your face. You duck your head just in the nick of time and it hits the wall behind you. You look back at her to see her preparing a smaller series of balls. You decide to flee, attempting a truly pathetic run with the crutch but still going as fast as you can with a missing leg .You hear fire hitting the floor right where you were moments ago.

Jump right!

You do, still running, or more like bunny hopping at this point. Another flame burns the ground where you stood.

'G, protect my back! Anyway you can, please! I need you!'

You think, still struggling in your limp-run. You see a door in the distance, but the goat lady is fast on your trail, only slowing down to summon her magic and hurl it at you. You think he nods to you with a hum and you feel all the magic in your body concentrate on your back. While you run, Gaster manages to form five black ghostly hands that efficiently deflect everything thrown towards your body. You breath rapidly becomes labored; your limping/running mixed with the strain of G pulling at your soul quickly grows tiring. You see an engraved rock door ahead. Only a couple of steps and you can baricade yourself safely away from her! Unfortunately, just when you were gonna reach the door...

Ugh, brace yourself!

You go stiff as a clawed hand pierces right into you side, tearing through your clothes and skin and projecting you to the wall.

A breathless yell leaves your lips when you hit the purple bricks. Hitting the ground, you try your best to sit up fast. The pain only bearable due to the adrenaline coursing through your veins. Toriel slowly gets closer to you.

''You will never have them.'' She slowly lifts her bloody paw, only momentarily frowning at the liquid on it.

''You will have to go through me first.''

Fear grips at your heart when you look in her eyes.

Remorseless, empty.

A look you've seen way too much in your life and know way too well. She IS gonna finish you off. You pull at all your magic in panic and hurl it at Toriel, not caring as long as she gets away from you. She does.

A ghastly sludge hits her hard and sends her flying backwards, hitting the opposite wall. You get up as fast as you can, grab the crutch again and quickly open the door. You hear behind you the screams of the lady as she fights against your corrosive magic. You don't even care anymore, you just want to get out of this place and hold your kid.

Please, hold on.

Gaster squeaks your name, barely fighting the frightened tone in his voice.

'Live' His thoughts are practically screaming in your head.

The more you limp through this new hallways, the more your vision blacks out. You used too much magic. You've got nothing left. You'll soon pass out. You shake your head and hiss when the fast movement pulls on your ripped up bloody side. You have to find some form of safety before you fall unconscious. You put pressure on the injury and resist the urge to fall to your knees right then.

You keep walking, leaving a trail of blood behind you.

Please. Please Dearest. Stay strong, you'll manage.

He tries to urge you forward, his presence surrounding your body, gripping at your skin.

'Don't die.'

You reach a second door. There's a cold breeze coming from the other side. It's the exit!

You force your pain away for a moment and hop to it, jaw clenched. Your whole upper body collides on the door as you scramble to the handle and pull. It’s too heavy for your weakened state. You lean your forehead on the cold rock, grinding your teeth and hitting the door in both anger and hopeless.

A ball of flames suddenly hits the walls about two feet to your left. You quickly look back.

There stands the goat lady. Shaking her head, to probably knock off some blurring vision of her own. She is as beat up as you, maybe even more. Patches of her fur is burned off all the way to the flesh. Her clothes are a shredded mess of black and purlpe colors. Some of the corrosive magic is still eating out one of her arms. She's far back in the hallway, but slowly limping/creeping closer. Intent on having you. Her less injured hand reaches out to you, flames appearing at her fingertips.

Your breathing stop momentarily, world groing silent, you turn back to the handle, pulling it with all you might.

Just a little more!

He says, voice rough.

'PLEASE'

You pull harder, yelling in pain and desperation. It's frozen in place! You feel Gaster's rage pass through you and a pulse of dark, heavy magic fills your soul. You look at Toriel, she is still creeping closer. Moving back, you aim at the door and use all that new magic to just 'BLAST THROUGH!'

A bone-like mass starts to form something like a jaw over your head and it opens to free heavy plasma on the door as you scream through the scorching pain that your soul receives.

______________________________________________________

Crunching of feet resonates in the silent snowy forest surrounding the ruins. Soft humming can be heard through closed mandibles. Sans was feeling optimistic today, the kid seemed to have finally got it right this time. Sure, hoping for any better would probably just lead to disappointment on his end, but it felt nice to just enjoy how good they were in this timelines. Why not appreciate it a bit before it goes away? . At the moment they're probably still strolling around in Waterfall. Everyone there was pretty harmless anyway, Undyne being the obvious exception. He decided to take a break at following them as they were doing quite fine on their own and go talk to Tori for a bit. No harm there. Just practising one or two jokes, keeping the lady informed on them and he'll go back to the kid.

The little skeleton was just about to reach his post when a loud explosion shakes the ground below him. Blows of wind and snow makes him stumble backward.

''W-Wha?'' He gasp, shielding his face and quickly regaining his balance.

His pupils go out just milliseconds before he ducks away from a frighteningly disproportionate mass of plasmic magic pass him. He looks back in time to see another explosion far away behind him. The city!

No.

That was coming from the ruins! He teleports a couple of meters away from the door and looks around him with eyesockets wide. Some, if not all the trees were knocked down from the blast and so much snow flew away that he could see the permafrost at some places. What used to be the door and the rock wall around it is now only rubbles scattered everywhere. Some pieces are still fuming.

Magic is crackling so heavy in the air, you can almost choke on it.

He looks at where the door would be, but there is no way to see inside. Patches of flames creates a heavy smoke cluttering the entry.

''What is all this?'' He thinks in disbelief. ''This never happened before.''

Just before he makes a move to investigate he notices movement in the smoke. A figure limp/jumps its way out off there, gripping at everything to help it stand. Barely a couple of feet out of the smoke and you fall to your knees.

You're completely out. Your body shakes from lack of magic. The cold and the pain making you fold in on your quivering body. Your vision is narrowing and your hearing is muffled. You look a the snow under you and see it stained red with your blood.

You barely register when a deep voice ask ''Hey buddy, you okay ther-''

You snap your head toward the sound, your mind screaming danger.

Sans freezes in place. He couldn't see it before because of the hood, but there, in front of him, was another skeleton.

What looked like a bloody cracked skull with wide empty eyesockets was now looking directly at him. How? He thought him and his bro were the only ones left.

Very light-headed, you make a move to beg for his help. You're scared, you don't feel Gaster around you anymore, you just don't care who or what this guy is.

'Help me please!' You squeak, your hand barely has time to reach out toward him before a horde of fireballs hits your back one after the other.

You screech, but nothing comes out. The pain suddenly stop and you only see black.

Your body hits the ground and Sans rapidly turn his gaze to... Toriel!? He runs full speed as he sees her fall to the floor next.

Dropping to is knees beside her, he takes a hold of her burnt face and lifts it to look at him. She only spare him a glance before closing her eyes and whimper as her body slowly turns to dust.

He turns his sight right away, slowly feeling her remains slip through his hands and lay on his shorts. He closes his ''eyes'' and takes in a few breaths, forcing himself to calm down. Still not looking, he gets up and turn around to head to the skeleton's body.

His pace is slow as he drag his feet. Why hurry? The only thing that's probably left is their coat anyway... The smaller skeleton reaches them and kneels again. He grips their hood and lifts it, thinking he'll only see dust and maybe some pieces of bones.

He's surprised when he actually find particles. Not powdery, but tiny cubic particles glitching away in the wind. His eyesockets widen and he looks back at the coat in his hand.

'Where did I see that before?'