Undertale: Severed Ties (SansxFrisk)

Chapter 6

Toriel returned from the pond clutching a jar. Lacey wings fluttered within. "Good news, I caught a king-sized drago-" The goat woman stopped and took in the scene before her.

Frisk snoozed in the sun light. Her head rested on San's shoulder, hair spilling over the fur of his coat. The only movement was the gentle rise and fall of her chest.

Sans opened his eyes when Toriel approached. "Hey," he murmured. "Frisk is really tired. You should probably take her home."

Toriel's brows bent, not with worry but relief. "She's finally sleeping again."

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All color drained from the room. Lungs refused to take in new oxygen. This couldn't be real. All Frisk could process were the words inked into MK's latest letter.

Dear Frisk,

Maybe my previous letters weren't clear enough.

My life is running well. So well, that I do not see

any reason for us to continue exchangeing letters. And

I doubt we will ever see each other again. The Village and

Taurville are separated by thirty miles of hostile wilderness.

You and I may have been friends at one point. But the

past is no longer a reality. It's time you realized that.

Stop writing me.

-MK

Eyes watering, Frisk folded the letter up. Her breath returned but was ragged. Both knees gave way and she hit the hardwood floor. Maybe if she had worded her letters differently, this wouldn't have happened.  Maybe her handwriting annoyed MK. "What if I had convinced Toriel to move to Taurville?" No, that never would have worked.

Frisk grabbed the roots of her hair. Was this really happening? She had tried to make it work, to water the withering plant of friendship. But that plant had a lifespan, and its time was up.

*                                  *                                   *

Astronomy class began with one seat still vacant.

"Where's Frisk?" Undyne asked.

"I thought she was with you," said Sans. He paused. "Maybe she's sick."

Jila raised a stubby arm to the ceiling. "Here we have the constellations Capella, Perseus and Cetus. Who can name that fourth one up there?"

*                                    *                                      *

Five days had transpired since Frisk received MK's final letter. She had missed two astronomy classes and left her room only to shower and give Toriel completed homework. Needless to say, her grades weren't soaring. If her sleep was bad before, now it was horrendous.

Nothing Toriel said or did could get Frisk to talk about what happened.

Frisk didn't go outside. And eating seemed pointless. Even the candy her mom offered her had lost its luster. Most afternoons, Frisk spent in her dim bedroom with the curtains closed. She had headaches from crying and sunlight only made them worse.

"This is ridiculous," she thought, sitting on her bed. "I shouldn't be feeling like this. I have other friends. My life is the same as ever. The only difference is that I'll no longer be getting those half-hearted messages in the mail." That last thought only made Frisk cry harder.

*                                    *                                *

"Thank you for coming, Sans." Toriel stepped back from the entrance. "Come in."

The short monster entered the home with viligance. "Where's Frisk?"

"In her room."

Toriel led Sans into the dining room. "Have a seat, I'm just gonna take the kettle off the stove."

Sans waited at the table. The house was deathly quiet. Toriel returned with a pot and two stone cups.

She poured sea tea into both cups and passed one to Sans. "I'm sure you've noticed. Frisk hasn't been going to class."

"She isn't returning my calls," said the skeleton.

"Something happened last week. Do you have any idea what is making Frisk act like this?"

San's eyes took on a sad shape. "She hasn't shared anything with me. All I know is, Frisk seemed troubled even before the humans attacked."

Toriel stared at her shifting paws. "I see."

"Is that why you asked me here?"

"No." The tired mother took a long sip of tea. "Lately, Frisk has been...sneaking out at night. I hear the window open and she climbs out." Toriel's eyes welled up. "I don't know where she goes but many hours pass before she slips back inside."

"How many times has she gone out?"

"Six." Toriel pressed her paws together. "I know you're good at moving about undetected. So please, find out where she's been going."

"What exactly do you need me to do?" 

"Follow her, but don't let her see you."