Author's Notes: Sorry about the inconsistent updates, life is crazy right now. Just so you know I'm still working on Stick of Truth, but I wanted to do this because I feel having something serious will help offset the nature of the other story. I also wanted to make something emotional, and, well, what's more emotional than Undertale? Anyway, enjoy my take on the story.
Prologue: The Dare
Frisk looked out towards the sunset as it bathed Starstrike City in its' last gasps of light. He was sitting atop a hill on the outskirts of the city for just this purpose, he loved to see it every day before returning to the orphanage. With a sigh, the small child got up and hefted his backpack onto his, well, back, and started the trek home. As he was traveling his thoughts drifted towards what awaited him, a meager meal, two hours of TV, (if they were lucky,) and then bed. It was the same every day, and Frisk was sick of it. He wanted change, he wanted an actual home instead of the near-prison he lived in. He let out another, heavier sigh as he thought this. "I guess it could be worse." Frisk said aloud. "I could be out on the street." With that he entered Ebbot Forest, the wilderness that surrounded the orphanage. The sound of animals, tired from a long day of survival, getting ready for bed filled Frisk's ears. The lower pitched tweets of birds as they nestled into their nests, the skitter of squirrels as they hurried toward their dens, and the burrowing of gophers retreating into their holes surrounded all formed an orchestra of sound that Frisk absolutely loved, it was another thing he looked forward to all day.
His reverie was broken by a shrill, rough voice that cut through the sounds of the forest.
"C'mon, Lloyd! Don't be such a wuss!"
Frisk turned toward the sound and saw a bunch of other kids crowded in front of the path toward Mt. Ebbot, the mountain the forest surrounded. The one who spoke was Charles, a red headed freckled boy that wore a shirt with a shooting star that had a challenging expression on it, the symbol of the Star Strikers, their home team. The boy he was talking to, Lloyd, had a thick mullet of blonde hair and wore a white shirt with the symbol of an atom on it. He wore a nervous and worried expression as Charles berated him.
Frisk knew both these kids from the orphanage. Or rather, he knew of them, the three weren't friends, Frisk rarely talked to anybody. He was always too nervous to talk to anyone, especially after…. he shook his head best not to think about that. He approached to see what was happening.
"B-But Charlie, no one ever returns from there! What if I get eaten?" Lloyd said, shivering.
"Pfft! It's just a story dummy! There are no monsters up there. Just a buncha rocks. Anyone can climb that mountain! Even…." Charles turned around and took notice of Frisk. "Even Frank here! Hey there buddy!" He said, walking towards the aforementioned boy, Frisk frowned. People were always getting his name wrong. Charles ignored the frown and put his arm around the other boy. "Frank! It's good you're here! Ya see, I dared Lloyd here to climb up the mountain to get me a rare flower to give to Beth, but he's being too much of a chicken to climb it. Wanna help me out here?" He asked, gesturing towards Mt. Ebbot. Frisk, like every other person in Starstrike City, knew about the legend about it, no one returned from it, that monsters lived there and ate anyone who entered their domain. It was no wonder Lloyd didn't want to go. Frisk looked toward the boy and saw him start to sniffle. If Frisk didn't do this, Lloyd would be forced to go. He sighed and nodded.
Charles clapped him on the back. "Thanks, bud! The flower should be about a quarter of the way up, in a cave. Get it and come back down so I can give it to Beth on our date! I'm counting on you!" He explained. Beth was the prettiest girl in the orphanage, every boy pined for her, and somehow Charles got her. Frisk never understood why, the guy was rough and rude at times, but then again who was he to judge her taste in boys? Frisk began walking toward the trail when Lloyd made a noise like he wanted to say something, Frisk turned to him but the other boy said nothing. Frisk shrugged and continued, beginning the long trek up the mountain.
Once he was out of earshot, all the boys except Lloyd began to laugh.
"That was classic Charlie! Sending that weirdo up there!" One said.
"Yeah, he'll be up there for hours looking for a stupid flower!" Another heckled.
Charles smirked. "Yeah, that'll teach that weirdo. Always hanging around, hovering over people without talking to them, thinking he's too good to talk to any of us. Good riddance, I hope he doesn't come back." He said cruelly. The group then began walking back to the orphanage, all except Lloyd, who looked toward the mountain trail worriedly.
"C'mon Lloyd! If we're late, we'll miss TV time!" Charles yelled. Lloyd made a sobbing sound and began going after his friends. Frisk would be fine, they were just stories, just stories….
It took Frisk hours to climb even a quarter up the mountain, he was panting and sweating by the time he found a cave. He looked out over the edge of the trail he was on. By his best estimate he was at least a quarter of the way up. This had to be the cave.
He approached it and looked inside. A massive chasm opened up in the middle of the cave leading further down. It was covered in greenery, with roots reaching down from the ceiling and snaking around the cave floor. Amidst all this was a single bright red flower that lay on the opposite end of the chasm. Wanting to get back home as soon as possible, Frisk ran towards the flower, not noticing the particularly thick root in front of him. His foot caught on it and he tripped, the momentum of his run carried him through the air and into the chasm. He screamed as he sank into the dark depths, fearful for his life. After a few seconds of falling he hit the ground hard. His vision swam as he slowly lost consciousness…..