Long ago, there were two races that ruled the Earth.

One made from magic, the other made from clay.

They both lived a turbulent peace with each other for millenniums.

Until one day, war broke out between the two races.

After an arduous series of battles the one's of the clay were victorious.

And sealed the race of magic underground with an ancient seal.

The location of where they were sealed and how they were sealed were lost to time.

Until the past couple of years when mysterious disappearances started being reported.

All the victims being children.

And all of them last seen climbing an abandoned hiking trail that leads around the summit of Mt. Ebott.

Another child was spotted going up the trail.

This would be the seventh.

If a fresh-faced Auxiliary worker wasn't sent there to intercept.

Now he and the child are the seventh and eighth.

Edwin-tale

Ruins - Act 1

A small dripping noise, and a distant glow of the sunlight miles above were the only sources of change in the damp dark cavern that surrounded a small patch of yellow flowers. In the middle of this patch laid a boy who wore a white and red striped shirt, a green jacket, dark blue jean shorts, and black shoes. On top of the boy was a smaller child also wearing a striped shirt but with blue and purple instead. The child also wore matching blue pants, small black boots, and an old bandage on their hand.

"Urgh," The child shuddered as they slowly rose their head. "What's that smell?"

They opened their doey auburn eyes to the source and a few seconds later yelled out in surprise. This in turn woke their pillow.

"Awaken my Masters!" The boy yelled as he jumped up. The movement sent the child rolling backward. The boy blinked and rubbed the back of his head. He then looked up. "Whoah big hole."

The child had a look of pure bewilderment as they rose up to their feet. They pulled a small stick from their pocket and held it like a make-shift sword. But this didn't do much other than cause the boy to tilt his head like a curious dog. "Wh-who are you?" They asked as they slightly trembled.

The boy's green eyes met the child and he gave a dopey grin. "I'm Ed! Bringer of Bacon. Who are you?"

The child was hesitant but they didn't see anything that told them that their new friend was dangerous. So they lowered their stick. "F-frisk," The child answered. "A-are you alright?"

"I'm fine," Ed answered putting a hand to his chest before a low growl responded. "Ok, a little hungry."

Frisk slightly pinched their cheek. Gears were running in their head. "Ed, do- you remember how we got here?"

"We fell," Ed pointed up.

Frisk sweated. "Y-yes yes we did, but do you know what happened before that?"

Ed looked in thought. "Did we make a pact with the Lord of Iron Shavings from the Movie "I Only Need One Dirk"?"

"I- I don't believe we did," Frisk murmured after a moment of internal failure to comprehend.

"Then no," Ed lowered his hands and rose to his feet. "Why?"

"I- haven't been able to talk in forever," Frisk shook their head. "B-but now I can."

"Is that bad?" Ed wondered.

Frisk didn't have an answer for this. The simple act of talking wasn't a tell that something was wrong they figured. The addition of a new friend notwithstanding.

"Let's just- get out of this cave," Frisk rubbed the back of their head. "Maybe we can find someone with food."

"Ok!" Ed saluted and the two walked down the only way that led out of the opening.

Through a columned opening was another clearing with a singular yellow flower in the middle.

As the fallen got closer the flower grew a small smiling face.

"Howdy!" The flower greeted. "I'm Flow-"

"MANDRAKE!" Ed yelled tackling his cohort. Frisk cried out as they hit the floor. "Cover your ears Frisk!"

"So smelly~" Frisk spoke woozily underneath the boy attempting to cover their ears. The flower instead of being offended started laughing.

"It's ok human, I'm not a Mandrake," The flower reassured between chortles. "I'm just a happy little flower."

"That's what they all say," Ed yelled covering his own ears, than panicked and covered Frisk's then panicked again and returned his hands to his.

"Golly, and here I thought you needed help," the flower smirked. "Guess you don't need me then."

The flower was about to burrow when Frisk squeaked out. "W-wait!"

With a wiggle Frisk got out from under Ed. "Sorry about that. W-we actually do need help, do you know where we are?"

"Of course I do," The flower answered swaying back and forth playfully. "You two are in the Underground."

"Underground?" The two humans answered simultaneously.

"I can tell by your faces you haven't heard the legends," The flower giggled. "The Underground is where Monsters live."

"Monsters?" The humans returned.

"Wowie, I'm glad I stayed, you guys haven't a clue," The flower danced. "Don't worry you'll see soon. Until then though, do you want me to teach you how things work down here?"

Frisk looked at Ed, he looked interested as they are. "Eh, sure."

"Oh good, this will be fun. Let's start with names," The flower started. "My name's Flowey, Flowey the Flower."

"I'm Ed," Ed waved getting up again with a grin.

"A-and I'm Frisk," Frisk gave a small smile.

"Well then Ed and Frisk, let's begin," Flowey cheered.

And like a match blown out all of the surrounding area turned black in a flash. Save for a box-like arena surrounded by a white almost translucent barrier. Inside this barrier stood a very disoriented Ed and outside the barrier was Flowey.

"I am dizzy," Ed guffawed shaking his arms to stay balanced. He napped out of it when he realized he was alone. "Frisk?"

"Ed?" Ed heard Frisk talk in his head. "W-where are you? I can't see anything."

"Don't worry, don't worry," Flowey reassured. "Nothing bad has happened, I just created a FIGHT arena. It's a little pocket dimension where Monster FIGHTs happen. Less messy that way."

"Why is Frisk in my head?" Ed asked. "Am I psychic now?"

"Don't worry so much about that, look down at yourself," Flowey commanded.

Ed obliged. "Oh wow, way cool!" Ed found that his body looked like a hollow shell with a red heart in the middle.

"That heart represents the souls of both you and Frisk, the essence of your very beings," Flowey instructed. "As such, only strong hearts can make it down here. And yours, well-"

"How do we get stronger Flowey-sensei?" Ed asked with intrigue.

"I'm glad you asked," Flowey smiled warmly. "Only hearts with lots of LOVE can be strong."

Frisk felt uneasy just from hearing the tone in Flowey's voice. "Ed, I don't like the sound of this."

"It's ok Frisk, Love never hurt no body," Ed consoled the child in his mind. He then turned back to Flowey.

"And since I want to show how helpful I want to be to you. I'll give some LOVE for free," Flowey winked. Then with a small movement of his petals small white pellets started floating around him. "Ta-da~ these friendliness pellets should be enough to help you get to where you need to be."

"No no Ed, I really don't like where this is going," Frisk spoke out. However Ed was eyeing the pellets with delight.

"Ok Ed, be sure to grab as many as you can," Flowey cheered sending the pellets flying through the barrier.

"Itadakimasu!" Ed grinned running at the pellets.

"Ed! No!"

At Ed's touch the pellet exploded and the barrier wobbled from the blast. Flowey howled in laughter as the other pellets exploded in tandem. "You idiot!" Flowey howled as a sadistic grin overrode his regular smile. "Didn't your mom ever tell you not to accept things from strangers?"

The smoke from the pellets dissipated leaving behind an Ed writhing on the floor. Clutching his head as Frisk's pained crying radiated through his body.

"F-frisk I-i'm sorry, I'm so sorry," Ed whimpered. Their souls vibrated wildly against his body.

"Still alive friends?" Flowey teased. "They say LOVE hurts but wow you really sell it."

At this Flowey felt something- familiar in the barrier. Something cold. Ed lowered his hands from his head and slowly rose to his feet. Flowey expected the boy to scowl or cry but the Ed-boy had only a blank expression on his face.

"Yeah, that's right," Flowey laughed. "You hate me now don't you Ed?"

Ed slowly walked to the barrier between them.

"Good, now you get it."

Ed balled up his right hand.

"In this world-"

With a swift movement Ed punched the barrier, the bellowed out but bounced back into shape.

"It's Kill-"

Another punch this one sent the barrier out more.

"or be Killed."

Ed gave out another punch but this time instead of bouncing back into shape the whole square minimized suddenly. Until it only gave enough room for Ed to stand. The sudden rush sent Ed to his knees as his expression softened.

"I've stalled long enough," Flowey chuckled. "Ed and Frisk, it was a pleasure to meet you."

Flowey danced and petals surrounded the cube on all sides. Ed didn't even acknowledge it as he placed a trembling hand over his chest. A feeble attempt to protect his new friend.

"Goodbye."

Flowey laughed wildly as the petals started closing the distance like a slow venus fly trap. Savoring his opportunistic deed he was laughing so loud he didn't hear a woman's voice pierce the darkness.

Burn despair to ashes: Bergentrückung!

True Flame Veil!

Just as soon as the petals met the box a wide plume of fire engulfed the box in a near blue flame. This flame incinerated the petals leaving Flowey to blankly watch as his free souls slipped through his grasp. Flowey started to turn to where the flame came from only to be sent flying by a small orange wisp. With its caller sent out, the darkness fragmented and broke apart, filling the area with light.

The last thing Ed saw before passing out was a purple figure with white furry hands kneeling in front of him and Frisk.