The snowy air was still.
A small figure walked through the forest, boots crunching softly beneath her. Frisk rubbed her arms for warmth. Trees loomed around her, silent sentinels in a world she didn't yet understand. After escaping the Ruins, guided by Toriel's gentle kindness and heavy warnings, she was now alone.
Until the sound came.
Crunch.
She froze.
Another step. Behind her.
Crunch.
She turned—nothing.
Then silence again.
The girl picked up her pace.
Crunch.
She was sure now—someone was following her.
A branch cracked. Her breath caught. She spun around—still no one.
Then, ahead of her, a small wooden bridge stretched across a shallow chasm. Not wide, but deep enough to fall and regret it. She hesitated. The air felt heavier now.
She took one step onto the bridge.
And a voice broke the silence.
"don't you know how to greet a new pal?"
She jolted and turned sharply.
A short skeleton wearing a blue hoodie and slippers stood behind her. His grin was wide and lazy. His hands were in his pockets. His stance, relaxed—but something about his presence made the hair on her neck rise.
"turn around and shake my hand."
Frisk blinked, unsure.
Slowly, she reached forward.
PFFFFTTT.
A whoopee cushion sounded.
The skeleton chuckled. "heh. the old whoopee cushion in the hand trick. it's always funny."
He stepped forward.
"anyways, you're a human, right? that's hilarious. i'm sans. sans the skeleton."
He paused, letting the silence stretch just enough.
"i'm actually supposed to be on watch for humans right now. but, y'know... i don't really care about capturing anybody."
A beat.
"now my brother, papyrus… he's a human-hunting fanatic."
Frisk blinked, unsure if she should laugh or run.
"hey, actually, i think that's him over there."
Sans pointed vaguely ahead. "i have an idea. go through this gate thingy. yeah, just go right through. my bro made the bars too wide to stop anyone."
As Frisk stepped forward cautiously, the reincarnated soul inside Sans smiled to himself.
This was just like he remembered from the game.
But this time... he was in it.
And this time, he had a promise to keep.