A/N: Make sure to read to Prologue in the story's description if you haven't. It'll update you on the current setting. ~ Rachie

Frisk let out a yawn and stretched her stiff limbs. The amount of sleep she had been getting seemed to dwindle as she was left to face the upcoming event of her brother's coronation. As she slowly climbed from underneath the warm covers of her bed, an unforgettable scent caught her attention.

Toriel, who had took her in and treated her like family, became a mother figure to Frisk ever since she had fallen. Everyday she'd prepare a perfect breakfast consisting of pancakes and freshly cut fruits. And each morning there'd be a little twist to the meals Toriel prepared. Strawberries cut to look like hearts, banana slices made to form a smiling face; whatever the design, it just created one more reason for Frisk to be excited when she awoke in the mornings.

"Ah, good morning, Frisk." Toriel greeted her in a motherly tone.
"Good morning, mom." Frisk smiled as she tied off the end of her braid. She hadn't cut her hair since she'd fallen to the Underground, so it naturally had grown out to the length of her waist. She never paid it any mind and seemed to enjoy creating new hairstyles that Mettaton would often help her with.

Frisk thanked her mother for the meal and hurriedly dug into the pancakes. This mornings' design greeted her with a classic blueberry, smiley face and golden banana locks. She naturally smiled back at the fluffy stack and eagerly dug in. A welcomed silence fell over the room as she ate and Toriel tended to the piling dishes.

As soon as Frisk had finished eating, she washed her own dish- hoping to spare her mother the trouble- and slid into her favorite, worn, brown boots. "I was going to go to the store in Snowdin to get some gift ideas for Alphys's birthday, need anything?" She remembered to ask, peaking her head in the doorway to observe her mother.

"Ah, we could use some more cinnamon and butterscotch. Other than that- wait!" Toriel had completely abandon her previous task and turned anxiously towards her inane daughter. "Frisk, you know it's cold in Snowdin, yet you dress so modernly? At least put on a jacket!"

Before Frisk could move a muscle, her mother had already began scrambling about and was searching for an outfit more suitable. The fall season had arrived (at least it did in the over world), but in Snowdin, the only season that ever came was winter. However, the citizens of the town seemed to welcome it and take pride in the customs that their home offered. 

Frisk's thoughts dispersed as Toriel came running back with a blue and purple striped sweater, and a pair of white mittens. She sent her daughter out the doorway, but not before giving her a million warnings, a list of DO's and DO NOT's, her cellphone, and a kiss on the forehead. "Do not stay out any later than seven o' clock! Goodbye Frisk! Be safe!" 

"Bye, I'll be back soon!" 

The teenager made her way into the basement and exited through the large door that served as an entry way to the rest of the underground. A cold chill ran through her body, reminding her of the warmth she was fortunate to have and the person who was kind enough to give it to her. A sincere smile spread on her face and replaced the icy feeling that kept irately nipping at her.

. . .

The journey to Snowdin didn't take long, it was only the next town over. However, traveling through the large forest of intimidating trees just before hitting the town had always given her a sense of timidness. The more she feared it, the longer the path seemed to grow. But the eerie forest also held some good memories.

She met a certain someone in these woods once. A certain someone and his spaghetti-loving brother.
...
She quickly scuttled into the town, feeling a sense of relief when it was bustling with townsfolk. A few monsters stared while others carried on with their lives. She took a moment to rid herself of the unpleasant thought of being watched, and made her way into the shop. A sudden wave of warmth coursed through her, nearly making her forget how cold she was in the first place.

The shopkeeper greeted her with a common line, asking if she needed anything, then returned her attention to other things. 

Frisk took it slow, carefully searching each aisle for an item Alphys might want, or at least something that would spark an idea in her head. After all, manga or anime figures weren't exactly easy to come by- and searching through piles of trash to find it didn't exactly seem earnest. 

All of her attention was solely focused on looking for the perfect gift that she seemed to block out everything else around her.

However, there was another patron in the store, one who had been watching Frisk continually as she mumbled to herself. She was, of course, unaware of the stalker. If she did catch anyone staring, she assumed it was just because monsters seemed to be fascinated by seeing an actual human. 

"THAT IS THE HUMAN, CORRECT?"

"Yeah, but I never see her here!"

"LOOKS LIKE SHE'S REALLY PUTTING SOME BACK-BONE INTO IT! NYEH HEH HEH!"

"Papyrus! We came to get food for our lesson! Not to watch the human do... humany things."

At this point, it would've been difficult for Frisk not to notice Papyrus and his fish companion, Undyne. 

These two had been with her through thick and thin. Papyrus welcomed her with open arms; thoroughly japing her with his tough puzzles, cooking the most irresistible of spaghetti, and even going as far as to accompany her on a date after their first 'battle'. When Frisk was younger and just getting used to the shenanigans of the Underground, she flirted with anything that moved, and yes, that included Papyrus. Now looking back at her actions, she'd always be left cringing or blushing with embarrassment. 

Undyne was rather difficult to befriend. After all, she wanted Frisk dead in order to escape the Underground. But after a few drinks and cooking lessons together, the two of them grew insanely close, and even considered each other as sisters. Since Frisk had gotten older, the two would often train together in hand-to-hand combat. Undyne figured it'd be better if she had a form of self-defense. 

"Uh... Hi, Papyrus and Undyne." The girl greeted, staring across the aisle at the two. 

"GREETINGS HUMAN! IT IS I, THE GREAT PAPYRUS! UNDYNE IS HERE AS WELL!" He said, putting up his hand as a greeting and walking over to join her. Undyne followed swiftly behind him, not wanting to get shown up by the eager skeleton.

"WHAT ARE YOU SEARCHING FOR? MAYBE WE CAN HELP!" Papyrus offered enthusiastically.     "Alphys's birthday is coming up, and I just wasn't sure of what to get her."  

Frisk noticed that Undyne's face went red at the name of the royal scientist; Papyrus, however, was too innocent and naive to notice it.
"W-Well, we'd be glad to help! Isn't that right, Papyrus?" She laughed nervously.
With shifty eye-sockets, the tall skeleton leaned over to Frisk and put his hand near his mouth as if pretending to whisper to her. Of course, with it being Papyrus, it did not come out as a whisper.
"I THINK UNDYNE MAY BE COMING DOWN WITH SOMETHING! SHE'S ACTING A LITTLE FISHY, IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN."

Frisk let a little giggle escape her mouth before nodding at Papyrus's accusation. The skeleton felt a little blush creep onto his cheeks, seeing Frisk's cute smile and being so close to her. Frisk had become important to him, and there was no way around that. Her smile had always seemed to spark unknown feelings within his skeletal heart. A few minutes later, Frisk left only with the items Toriel had asked her to get, followed by Papyrus and Undyne who carried multiple bags of spaghetti. As soon as they exited the store, the group was hit by a giant gust of freezing wind.

The unexpected run-in with some of your best friends fills you with determination.