(Frisk's POV)

Frisk dug around in her closet after a Friday's worth of school, trying to find the pack of cards she knew she stashed there a few days ago. Or was it weeks? Bah, she couldn't remember. The start of the school year had been a little chaotic to say the least with the usual plethora of craziness her family seemed to produce, and thus she was having a hard time remembering exactly where she put little things like this. Since it was nearly December now, some of the things she stored during the past few months seemed to be lost to the ether. And, for some odd reason, she couldn't stop the odd nagging feeling in the back of her head that she was forgetting something. She could never figure out what, though, which was annoying. The feeling came and went at odd times... at the zoo, listening to some of Mettaton's CD's, when Halloween rolled by... but it never really got in the way so she ignored it.

Ah ha! Frisk thought in triumph, putting the small pack of troublesome cards from the closet in triumph since Sans, Papyrus, Flowey and her could finally have a Cheat rematch. The skeleton brothers were over for the weekend, Toriel kindly offering them guest rooms as they toured around the city, finally looking to move from the Underground. Toriel was also taking advantage of their stay, asking them to babysit Frisk as she went out for a nice dinner with Asgore. The skeleton brothers happily agreed, and for that Frisk was glad. She was so happy that Toriel and Asgore were trying to fix their rather shaky relationship, which she hoped worked out this time.

Hoping from the chair with her prize in hand, her mouth dropped open in a silent shriek as the bottom of the package ripped, spilling the deck of cards onto the floor. This was the only deck they had, and they needed to keep track of all the cards. Dropping to her knees, she began collecting the scattered cards, huffing and puffing as she tried to figure out which ones were missing. Eventually her search led her to the floor of her closet, and she managed to find most of them without much trouble. But the last one eluded her. She searched for the queen of hearts, digging into the clothes, blankets and shoes in an effort to locate it. She knew there weren't any more cards on the floor of her room, which meant the card had to be in her closet.

Finally, when she'd dug her way to the back right corner, she located the card and grabbed for it, fingers brushing against sometime wrapped in newspaper. Eyebrows furrowing, she pulled the package free from that she could only describe as a hiding spot, shifting so she was sitting cross legged on the floor with the bundle on her lap. She paused briefly to put the queen card away, then turned the package over in her hands as if trying to peer into it. What would she have needed to hide in the back of her closet?

Curious, she tugged at the tape holding the paper down, tearing free the first sheet to uncover another layer with something scrawled across the surface in black marker. Record of (y/n). Who's (y/n)? Frisk couldn't help but wonder, something beginning to nag at the back of her mind as she recognized her own writing. It was that feeling again, the one that said she was forgetting something super important. Her curiosity growing, she tore into the remainder of the newspaper, uncovering a thick wad of vines. Flowey's by the looks of it. His normal ones too, and not the huge ones he used to kill people. Frisk wondered how long the vines had been wrapped around whatever object they protected, since they were still green and seemed alive. Tugging at the rows of vines, she ended up needing to cut a few of them to loosen the bunch. But after just three snips, the vines loosened and fell away, finally freeing a rectangular, wooden box. Carved into the top of the box was a simple heart, and it was kept shut by a simple metal latch. Popping open the latch and pushing open the lid, Frisk was greeted by the sight of a folded piece of paper. Somewhat anticlimactic, but something under the paper caught her attention. It was a photo. Or a stack of photo's to be exact, and when Frisk pulled them from the box she discovered something both familiar and not.

The first was of a newspaper clipping; a photo depicting a girl standing on a stage in the middle of what looked like a concert. She seemed so familiar, but Frisk couldn't quite place her.

She put the photo to the side, her eyebrows furrowing. The girl, this (y/n), seemed so familiar, yet Frisk still couldn't place her. Moving to the next photo, she blinked in shock at what she was seeing. She could easily recognize herself smiling in the photo and the girl beside her as this (y/n), but she couldn't for the life of her remember getting it taken. It looked like they were at a skating rink, Asogre, Toriel, and Undyne barely visible in the background. She flipped the image over, looking for more information. Skating rink. 9. But... the ninth what? She put the photo to the side, seeking the next one. This time it was a picture of the main group, sitting in the snow on a picnic blanket. There were a couple toboggans in the background of the image, and (y/n) was sandwiched between Sans and Toriel on the blanket. She was smiling brightly, and based on the closeness of the other monsters they knew her. Frisk flipped the image over again; Tobogganing on the Dec 31st. 9.

The nagging feeling turned into a full blown pressure, begging Frisk to remember something about the girl in the pictures. The girl who looked like she fit into the group so well. The one who was now missing from her memories. Looking for answers, Frisk began flipping through the pictures faster and faster, trying to find anything that helped her remember.

The one after that was had (y/n) dressed in what Frisk recognized as Emily from the Corpse Bride, Sans dressed as a grim reaper, and Papyrus dressed like Link from the Legend of Zelda, rocking it out on Garage Band. Frisk and the other monsters sat behind them on a couch, the floor and chairs, cheering the group on as someone snapped the picture. Halloween. 9.

The next one was another group pic, and it looked like everyone was sitting in the goat pen of a petting zoo. My birthday! 9.

The next one had (y/n), Frisk and Mettaton making duck faces at the camera, the back reading November 8th. 8. The number was different. Why?

September 24th. 8. She was sitting on the couch with Sans, Undyne, and Papyrus, one hand thrown up in victory as the others looked defeated. Each one held a Wii remote or a Mario Kart wheel.

Halloween. 7. She was posing dramatically with one arm extended and the other on her hip, mirroring Undyne who stood to her right. Mettaton was sprawled on the floor on his back, resting on his elbows with one leg extended into the air. Frisk was standing in the middle, holding a haughty pose with her arms crossed over her chest, Papyrus stood behind her with his hands resting on his hips.They were dressed like pirates, Frisk being the captain and the rest being members of a crew.

More and more photo's flashed by, all with dates and a separate number on the back, counting down to something. Once she'd started looking she was unable to stop. She needed to see the rest. Needed to know.

Coming to the end of the photo stack, the ones she'd already seen scattered on the floor around her, she flipped to the next photo and paused. It was of (y/n), of course, once again dressed in the Corpse Bride costume sitting on a couch with Sans and Papyrus. Papyrus looked a little flushed in the picture, but he was cheering the girl and Sans on as they played the pocky game. There only was about an inch left between the two of you, and Frisk could honestly say she'd never seen Sans blush that brightly. She flipped it over, finding the date she expected. Halloween. 9.

Frisk didn't think she could be more surprised or confused, but she was wrong. The following image was of Sans and her, standing under a lock of mistletoe with barely and space between them. The were looking into each others eyes, foreheads resting together and with expressions on their faces Frisk could only describe as absolute adoration and love. Their hands were locked together beside them, fingers weaved together in a way that said they were more than just friends. They looked... like they were in love. Christmas. 8.

The next one was another of just (y/n) and Sans, sitting on a park bench surrounded by the colours of fall. This time they were aware of the camera; Sans with his arm wrapped around her shoulder and his other hand resting on her thigh just above her knee, she with her arms thrown around his neck, planting an affectionate kiss on his cheek as he laughed. They looked happy. October 7th. 7.

The picture was labeled November 19th. 6. It depicted Sans and (y/n) sleeping on a familiar orange couch, in a position that could only be described as cuddling. Sans was on his back, one arm trapped between his head and the pillow he was using, the other tangled in her hair. She was lying half on half off him, with her legs beside his but her torso over his. Her head was nestled under Sans' jaw, her hand beside her nose on his chest. They looked so peaceful.

There wasn't one for #5 this time. At least not with them together. This one was just a picture of Sans as he stood with his back to the camera, looking up at the sky while it snowed. The message was a little different on the back this time... Bad end. 5.

The next one had them together again. They were sitting on a porch, a telescope sitting beside Sans as (y/n) pointed at the sky. Once again Sans' arm was around her shoulder, and she was resting her head on his shoulder. Around their backs was a fuzzy looking blanket, the night clear but snow resting on the ground around them. Just from looking at the picture, Frisk got the feeling they were content. November 23rd. 4.

The last image in the stack looked like it had been taken at a party with the whole group. Others were scattered about the room, but the focus was clearly on the two of them again. Sans was sitting on the couch, turned towards (y/n) with one leg bent against the back of the couch as he reclined against the armrest. She sat between his legs, her back against his ribcage and her head tucked under his chin again. Sans had his arms around her stomach, and she held a slice of cake between in one hand and a fork in the other. She was lifting a bite of cake towards Sans' jaw, intent on feeding him a bite. They looked comfortable, relaxed in each others presence. December 22nd. 3.

That was the last picture.

Frisk pressed her hands to her eyes as the last picture fell to the floor, trying to process everything she'd just seen. God it was all just too much. How... what had happened? Pushing some of the photo's aside so she could reach the folded paper, she picked it up and carefully unfolded it. Once again she recognized her writing, and as she hoped it held more information on what had happened. It just... wasn't the kind of information she wanted.

It was a list. A list of deaths. Her deaths.

The first one was one of the shortest, like Frisk had written it in a haste. Route 1. Shot by M. Died Dec 31st before midnight. Reset at...? Frisk didn't know who M was either, but with a quick glance she realized that they were mentioned a few other times as well. Swallowing the lump in her throat, Frisk read on.

Route 2. Reset 1. Hit by drunk driver. Died Dec 30th after 10pm. Reset around 10:30pm.

After that it seemed like Frisk started taking down more detailed notes, like she'd been writing them at the time or right after they happened.

Route 3. Reset 2. Drowned in a hot spring. Died Dec 31st 9:06pm. Told Sans what was happening, he got overprotective. She went in alone, slipped and hit her head, falling into the water. Reset at 9:10pm. Telling Sans changed something...?

Route 4. Reset 3. Smoke inhalation. Died Dec 31st at 11:59. Told Sans again, he got overprotective. She didn't tell anyone where she was going and we didn't make it in time. There was a fire. She was helping others get out. Reset at 12:01am, Jan 1st.

Don't tell Sans again. Changes something.

Route 5, Reset 4. She wasn't there. Died ? Reset ?

Route 6. Reset 5. M/suicide. Died Dec 31st 8:01pm. M killed Sans somehow. Only she would know how it happened. Tried to save her. She had a gun, said she couldn't go on without him. She was covered in white dust. Reset 8:01pm. Protect Sans.

Route 7. Reset 6. M. Died Jan 1st early morning. He kidnapped her. Cut her throat when he didn't get his way. Reset 2:41am.

Route 8. Reset 7. Accident. Died Nov 18th 4:52pm. They were just roughhousing. Mettaton, Undyne and Papyrus. It was an accident. Mettaton lost control of one of his bombs, Undyne one of her spears. There was nothing we could do. It was an accident. Reset 5:00pm.

I hope this time is better.

Route 9. Reset 8.

With shaking hands, Frisk grabbed the black marker located in the bottom of the box. The one she'd written all the other dates and deaths in. Uncapping the pen, she lowered the flattened tip to the paper once more.

M. Died Jan 1st 3:34am. M got into her dressing room. He attacked her, had some sort of poison. There was nothing the doctors at the hospital could do. Reset 3:38am.

Frisk rubbed at her cheeks as tears spilled from her eyes, unable to stop sobbing as she remember. How could she have forgotten her? How? (y/n) was so important to her, to all of them. Though Frisk and Flowey were the only ones who remember you from each previous timeline, every time she came into the picture she simply clicked into the rest of the group. Like a puzzle piece, she fit in perfectly with everyone else, seamlessly seeming to fill a hole they didn't even know existed.

And with Sans... gosh, the two of them were made for each other. Frisk might not have been a big believer of soulmates, but if there ever was an example it was them. There were only a few other couples Frisk knew that came close to what she and Sans had. The pictures only showed a sliver of what the couple was like together. Sans always made her laugh, and she made him happy. Like really, truly happy. Even after Frisk freed the monsters from the Underground, even when she promised him time and time again that she wouldn't RESET or LOAD again, he was always a little on edge. But then with her... he really relaxed. (y/n) gave him true hope of the future. One in which he had a life beyond worry and doubt.

But then she died. And then she RESET. Like she was trying to get a better ending.

So what changed? This time (y/n) hadn't RESET. This time they'd continued on, this time they forgot. But how? No one even seemed to notice something missing, just as Frisk hadn't. Until now, that was. Wait... then maybe... maybe the others could remember too. Maybe if she showed them the pictures from this last RESET they'd remember her. Maybe then, if they worked together, they could figure out what happened to her!

Gathering the pictures in her hands, Frisk stood and swiped the tears from her eyes, heading for the closed door to her room. But when she reached the doorknob, she stopped dead in her tracks, a chill running down her spine. No. She couldn't tell them. She especially couldn't tell Sans. If he remembered, if he remember what happened to (y/n) in this timeline... he'd be devastated. He would crawl into his protective shell, shut all of them out. Frisk couldn't do that to him... to any of her family members. For whatever reason, (y/n) had decided not to go back through a RESET, decided to stop. She decided to die. There was no way for her to come back now. Frisk still couldn't access the RESET function, and her SAVE wouldn't help either. For one she'd saved over the January 1st file, and even had she not she saved while they were waiting for her at the concert... after she'd already been poisoned.

For once, there was nothing Frisk could do.

Backing away from the door, Frisk turned back to the photo's scattered around the floor of her room. As much as it hurt lying to those she trusted so much, she couldn't put them through that pain. It would be like losing (y/n) all over again. At least now... now they couldn't be hurt by her absence. No... she couldn't tell them. She would keep this between her and Flowey; because she knew he wouldn't out her about this. It was better this way.

It had to be better this way...

... so how was that?

I know this wasn't the most plot filled chapter... but I wanted to have this transition on it's own.

Fair warning to ya'll... from here on out the story is going to be... different. I always meant for the story to be divided into a part 1 and part 2, and this is the official start of part 2.

Next chapter... ?