FRISK

LV 1

HP 40/40

G 10

The reason why four people came to Mt. Ebott on the fourth year of the new monster calendar, on April 4th was threefold.

The first reason could be called nostalgia. After all, it had been over a year since they had had reason to visit the underground. Before, it had been a matter of coming in to help relocate those that were still in the old towns and capital city. Construction on the capital monster city above ground, which was stuck right next to the human one and titled "New New Home" by the king, was quick by human standards but slow by the standards of the monsters that were eager to leave the darkness. But after about two years, everyone that wanted to leave was successfully moved aboveground and resettled in forests, in lakes, in the city, and in small towns–even one at the top of Mt. Ebott itself, Snowdout.

So there was no reason to go down below. Surely an environment that was once heavily populated and now abandoned would change over a year. Those four people were curious about how it would look now.

But more importantly, the second reason would be because not everything was dismantled and moved from the underground. Almost everything was moved and improved upon in the surface world, but one thing in particular was difficult to relocate. The energy source of the entire underground, the Core. The fact that it couldn't be easily moved up to above ground was a shame, because as it was the monsters in the capital were having to pay an exorbitant amount for electricity from the human city.

If these three people could find the Core, it would not only be a boon for monsters but for the humans in that city as well, who would be given a renewable energy source. It was, in fact, the promise of the Core helped smooth some of the initial friction between the humans and the monsters. That was why they were coming to find it.

It was difficult to relocate for a reason that related to the third reason that this group was going into the underground. Alphys hadn't wanted to shut the Core off for one reason only.

There were monsters in it.

Only a small handful of people... So few people that most of the underground hadn't noticed. In fact, they really hadn't noticed. But there were a small handful of monsters that didn't quite forget. Alphys was one of those people.

In order to get the Core, those monsters would have to be rescued first.

"Now that we're free..." the good doctor had relayed, before their climb, "I started doing more work to try and find a way to help them. It was... Uh... hard! Because... You know, nobody remembers them... Or that they even existed.

"So I ended up having to do everything myself, at least mostly...But!" She had handed to Frisk a folder of documents. "This is the result of all my research. I think as long as you stay determined, there might be... a chance to bring them back."

Frisk was one of those four climbing Mt. Ebott that day, with the folder in her pocket. She had looked through the folder for a while, but evidently it was too complicated for her to understand. Alphys told her that when the time came, she would explain the necessary parts as they went over the phone.

Although Alphys hadn't told her this in particular, Frisk had a feeling that Sans was coming along because he knew something about this too. But it was just a hunch. She had asked him about the work room once before, and he hadn't given her any definitive answer. Just pointing out that it was rude to snoop in somebody else's drawers, steal their keys, and visit their private work rooms.

"Sorry not sorry."

That was all they discussed about it, and aside from making puns all the way up the mountain he hadn't said anything else. That was fine; Frisk was used to him not telling her anything.

"NO NEED TO WORRY!" She heard from behind. "WITH I, THE GREAT PAPYRUS, HERE TO HELP WE WILL COMPLETE THIS MISSION IN RECORD TIME!"

"yep. s'nowdout about it."

"...OUR MISSION IS GOING TO BE A FAILURE."

There was a small entrance in the mountain that, according to Alphys' instructions, would lead down into the core. Not wishing to run into that flower again, or any of the animals that might have... moved in after the evacuation, Frisk was happy to take any route that required as little backtracking as possible. It should be around here somewhere.

She stopped and looked up from the map.

She couldn't see anything of note. There were many rocks around, obscuring the view.

"Hey! What's up, kid?" In her armor, Undyne looked plenty intimidating. Although she wasn't worried with Papyrus and Sans along, Frisk was glad to have yet more muscle.

"It's too rocky. I think there's supposed to be a door here."

"No problem!" She summoned a magic spear, and only in minutes the rocks were reduced to rubble.

After that, the door was easily in view, a deep blue with the same emblem in view as she had once seen all over the Underground.

Frisk smiled big, "Thanks Undyne!" and she ran forward.

She opened it up, and the familiar heat of Hotland blew into the faces of the four standing there, Undyne uttering a groan. "Ugh, I forgot we'd have to go down there. This is going to suck!"

Taking a step into the cavern, Frisk looked back. "Don't worry," she said, taking the folder of documents out of her pocket. "We won't be in there for that long."

"Yeah, let's get this over with!"

Undyne was the first to march inside, even in that sweltering armor. Sans was the last, giving a yawn. "you guys go ahead. i'll catch up after my break."

From entering Hotland, it wouldn't take much time for them to reach the Core. And then from there….something. Alphys would have to tell them. Things could get unpredictable when it came to a magical energy source.

But Frisk believed that she would make a difference.

She had already seen some of those faces of the people that were lost. The grey monsters that were there one moment, speaking, and then gone the next. And that gastly shape…

Black coat, over a white shirt. Huge gaping holes for eyes, with cracks up the left eye and down the right, each with sparks of light and life deep /deep/ within. A gaping hole for the mouth, which had gasped and gotten even wider when she touched the being. He had holes in both skeletal hands.

She had described all of it to the others and then Alphys, and only Alphys understood.

"Yeah! Holes in his hands, that's uh, that was the previous royal scientist. Dr. Gaster."

"Blobby? …Yeah, I guess, um, being, uh, scattered across time can deal you some damage. And, uh, distort your body a bit. Probably."

"Uh, don't worry though. He's not, uh, bad? I d-d-don't know how he is now, though."

"B-but…he's the smartest monster there is. It's because of him that the Core even exists."

"Frisk, i-i-if you can get him back... I think it would d-do a lot of us good up here in New New Home."

Dark here.

I feel as if I am forgetting something.

But sometimes I start to remember.

It was over a long period that my pieces had begun to reassemble in one place.

I wonder why that is actually.

The effort is so successful that I've even begun wondering again.

It's getting even easier today.

Very interesting what's going to happen next.

Author's Note: Only thing to say for this is that I'll be using a popular AU, specifically the Handplates AU, as the backstory for this fanfic (which is particularly relevant since Gaster meeting Frisk is part of the fic's premise.) I'd strongly recommend you check out Zarla's AU for yourself on her Deviantart account, the comics are excellently written and illustrated.

I also want to clarify that the only reason Frisk has higher HP is because I figure your HP goes up as you age as well as when you kill monsters, and they did grow up a tiny bit.

I wanted the title to be ✌💧 ❄ ❄ ✋✌ darnit but ;-; And I apologize that not all the wingdings are actually supported here EWE it's not necessary that you understand Gaster's speech when he's talking in wingdings but to that end I'll post a translation at the bottom orz.

Next Chapter: Dummied Out