It started slowly, almost unnoticeable. Less rain came, wilting a few of man's harvest. Then there was no rain at all.

Leaves grew brown and dry, crackling when trod underfoot. The rain stopping coming, and the sun baked the earth. Autumn had come.

Slowly, the stores of food grew low, and people began to starve. 

Then the rain clouds did come, blocking out the sun. But it wasn't rain that came, no- instead it was fluffy white flakes that grew harsh and covered the earth in a white blanket.

Winter had come.

~'~'~

The ending time for petitions had come. Sans tapped his fingers on the armrest of his throne, sighing in relief. "Sire?"

The Shade was one of a nervous boy, who shifted on his feet. "Someone is here to see you, sire."

"Well, tell them to wait till tomorrow!" He barked impatiently. Sans had promised to meet Frisk in the garden, and he didn't want to keep her waiting.

"I'm afraid this is a matter too important to keep waiting, Death."

Gaster, god of magic, stood there. 

"What do you want?" Sans said. 

"This is about your lovely bride to be, Frisk. She needs to return-"

"No."

"Toriel is starving humanity. Hundreds are dying. Life will only stop until her daughter is returned."

Sans' grip increased on the armrests at hearing about the new deaths. "I don't care. Frisk stays here."

-_-

Frisk sighed. The garden's cold blossoms touched against her skin as she walked, finally sitting next to a pool.

She was confused.

On one hand, Toriel was warmth and familiarity. But Sans...He was unfamiliar but exciting. Sometimes, a dark look of hunger would enter his eyes when he watched Frisk.

The way he touched her, sending heat pooling into her stomach and her heart pounding furiously in her chest and a warmth on her cheeks, it was all so new.

A sudden gurgle made Frisk look down.

A nymph stared at her in concern. "Oh, hello." Mercy said. "Was I disturbing you?"

The nymph shook her head, nodding to her. "Oh, me. Well, I'm Life's daughter. Sans kidnapped me."

The nymph burgled angrily. "I know! And he says he loves me and he's been so kind and gentle. But...I don't know how I feel."

A curious look from the nymph made Frisk sigh. "When he touches me, it feels like electricity. Sometimes, I can feel heat spread through my body, hungry for him to do...something! But, then again, there's also a feeling of butterflies."

There was a moment, then the nymph touched the area where her heart was. Then she pointed to Sans' castle.

"I...love him?"

A nod.

"I...love him."

Frisk could taste the words as they flowed from her mouth. "I love him."