Ever since King Asgore was poisoned by the first fallen human, the Underground has been full of tension. Queen Toriel decreed that all humans be treated with kindness, and that no violence may befall them. In fact, it is said that she has cared for the previous humans that fell, just as she had done with the human that had murdered her beloved King.
The Rebels disagreed with this edict, vowing to gather the human souls to break through the barrier and finally be free. The Rebels believed in fighting for what's right, while the Queen vehemently opposed them with her Royal Captain and her guards.
Undyne, the Rebel Leader, believes in their cause. But a certain skeleton has been getting in her way lately...
The wind was howling.
Queen Toriel shuddered. She looked to the small crack above, and noticed dark clouds gathering on the outside world. A storm was coming. It would be violent, certainly. It was times like this that she was glad they stayed Underground. If only the other monsters could understand the dangers.
She took a sip of her tea. Still too bitter. Her eyes fell upon the old king's throne, now covered in a sheet, placed away in the corner of her garden. It wasn't dusty. She cleaned it regularly. She wouldn't allow it to dirty.
While the outside world may have been cold and angry, the garden seemed happy today. A few flowers disobeyed and wilted here and there, while others might have grown far too large, but for the most part, they listened to her. Toriel never could quite handle the flowers the same way he could.
Despite it all, it was another good day in the Underground. Maybe she'd visit her royal scientists today and see their progress! Those two always seemed so happy to see her. Truth be told, they never failed to brighten her day either. Especially Sans.
A cold wind bit into her fur. She shivered, finding her eyes had fallen upon the empty throne yet again. She fought the urge to apologize.
An explosion boomed into her sensitive ears, causing the Queen to flinch. Thunder?
"YOUR HONOR!" The sound grew louder. "YOUR HONOR!"
Toriel let out a sigh of relief. With a polite smile, she greeted the knight. "Yes, Captain Papyrus? Something to report?"
The knight's heavy armor clanked and jingled all while his bones rattled to the rhythm of his jogging. As usual, the bone white chest piece was polished to an excruciatingly bright sheen, capable of blinding any who might dare to stare at it too long.
"YOUR HONOR!" Papyrus boomed, his voice muffled under his helmet. Strangely, the helmet was shaped almost exactly like his actual skull. With a huff, he removed his skull helmet, revealing what appeared to be the exact same face. "INCREDIBLE NEWS, YOUR HONOR!"
Toriel flinched again, his voice now even louder without the helmet. She never could bring herself to correct the knight that it was 'your majesty' and not 'your honor.' She cleared her throat, attempting to sound more royal. Papyrus liked that. "What news do you bring, Captain?"
Of course, nearly every day Papyrus came bursting in with 'incredible news' about how a cat monster was stuck in a tree, or how Shyren was holding a concert, or how well his pet rock was doing that day. Toriel did not mind. She handpicked the tall excitable skeleton after all.
Under her rein, it was imperative that all humans be treated with the same respect and dignity as any other monster. Papyrus had proven to be one of the most hardest-working and gentle souls she had ever met. He was always very eager to help any monster in need, and often created enjoyable puzzles for future humans (or monsters) to solve. Queen Toriel, of course, made sure every puzzle was safe! She would often even help Captain Papyrus create new enjoyable puzzles for the kids.
In her eyes, no one could be better suited for the job of keeping the peace. Yet still, the wind howled. Toriel did fear for his safety at times. She had hoped the armor he designed would be strong enough to protect him from any harm.
As if waiting for her inner monologue to finish, Papyrus bowed before Toriel. She usually would never allow anyone to bow before her, but Papyrus seemed to really enjoy the authenticity. "YOUR HONOR, THERE'S BEEN REPORTS OF A HUMAN!"
Her royal façade shattered. That smile faltered. "A… human?" she repeated dumbly. Her next words were only audible to her. "Already?"
Papyrus looked up at her, his eyes glistening with heroic sparkles. "YES! HOW EXCITING! I CAN'T WAIT TO MEET THEM! BUT, I FIGURED I SHOULD TELL YOU FIRST!"
Toriel's thoughts whirled like the storm above. While she did not fear the human, she did fear the consequences. Not all monsters were so keen on staying in the Underground. Not all monsters wished to treat humans with kindness.
"WELL IF YOU'LL EXCUSE ME, YOUR HONOR, I HAVE A HUMAN TO CAPTURE!" He paused then added: "AND ESCORT SAFELY TO YOUR HOME!" In a flash, he donned his skull helmet and ran towards the garden's exit, his red scarf fluttering with glee behind him.
"Papyrus, wait!" she called out.
Thunder boomed, and her voice was drowned out by the muffled 'NYEH HEH HEH's in his helmet. Before she could give chase, he was already gone. Toriel looked back to her home. She would need to prepare.
Her eyes fell to the old throne once more. She prayed he would be all right.
.
.
.
She hated it here.
"hOI! i'M tE-"
"You're Temmie, I know," Undyne groaned as she strolled past the various vibrating monsters. She pointed at the Temmie next to the first and the ones next to that one. "And you're Temmie, and you're Temmie, and you're Bob. I know. I've been coming here every day for years, and you all say the same damn thing."
The Temmies grew silent, looking amongst each other. Finally, they stood still. Maybe she had gotten through to them?
"hOI! i'M tEMMIE!"
Undyne threw her claws in the air. "Ngaaaaah!" Despite her threatening motions, the Temmies continued to stare and vibrate like always.
Temmie Village bustled with various Temmie activity, as usual. Hungry Temmies lined up at the shop to buy their Tem Flakes, using their own Tem Flakes as currency. Temmies chattered amongst Temmies about their rich deep Temmie lore with zero details past that. It was the same maddening process every day.
Undyne shook her head and tried to ignore it. She ducked and crawled through a small hole in the cave's wall, and as usual, she had the most distinct scale crawling feeling of being watched. Every time. As she stepped out into the secret room, sweaty grunts entered her fishy ears.
"Hello, Undyne ;)," Aaron winked, his muscles glistening with way too much sweat. He flexed next to a pair of dumbbells, practicing for anyone that might challenge him. He was the perfect defense to keep the Temmies away. mUSCLES r nOT cUTE!
"Hey, Aaron," Undyne waved. She was always glad to have him around, even if he wasn't part of the cause. A flexing challenge usually helped with any stress she might be feeling. However, today wasn't the day for flexing. Something was in the air. Her spear hand tensed, itching to be used.
Looking past a pair of worn and possibly angry-looking dummies, Undyne found herself at the Rebel Base. It wasn't too showy, and it didn't need to be. The base's wooden boards were rickety and scratched after generations of use, but somehow this old thing managed to stay standing. Inside held several tables and chairs, some holding unfinished card games, others Nice Cream wrappers and old burnt doggy treats. Weapons of all kinds lined the walls, from spears with dog faces, to matching his/her axes. It was a sty that desperately needed some cleaning, but that was for another time.
The Rebels formed themselves many years before Undyne was even born. They had been a part of the Underground since anyone could remember. If Undyne had been the leader back then, she would have named it something cooler, but apparently it was named in honor of old King Asgore who was never great at names.
It's been told that the poor guy died due to food poisoning by flowers from his old garden. Sad way to go. Worst part was the King's own adopted human kid was the perpetrator. Killed himself, and his dad. The King's blood related son died soon after as well, although not much information is known about that. More than likely that human's doing as well.
The Queen wanted everyone to forget it happened, wanted to pretend that humans did nothing wrong. As if the humans weren't responsible for banishing them underground like they were diseased mutants, jailing them and tossing away the key. And some monsters did forgive and forget. But not everyone. Not the Rebels. They wouldn't forget what the humans did, and they wouldn't forgive so easily either. It was shortly after the old King's death that the Rebels had formed, demanding for a change. It was at that time the group was at its absolute largest, too. That was a long time ago though.
The Queen passed an order to everyone in the Underground to treat any potential human like they would any other monster. With kindness and respect. Undyne spat just thinking of it. The Queen thinks it's better to stay Underground! She doesn't care about the overcrowding, she doesn't care that they'll never see the outside world, see the stars.
But the Rebels do.
Undyne moved through a door, her dirty boots squeaking against the floorboards. The old Rebel leaders stared at her through their painted canvases, their will for a better monster life filling her with determination. They worked hard, they kept these old tales intact, and now it was up to Undyne to keep them strong.
Past the paintings, past another set of old doors, Undyne made it to her seldom used office. It was a dingy little place, papers and maps strewn about haphazardly. On her desk, a half-eaten Crab Apple lay, nearly rotten, and mostly forgotten. She pushed that and her old cup of Sea Tea over onto the floor, her claws reaching underneath.
With a satisfying click! And the whirring of an old antique machine, a secret compartment opened in one of the moldy walls.
She wanted to see them again today. She needed to remember…
She had both her eyes back then. Strangely enough, it felt harder to see.
Like most monsters, Undyne had lived in New Home. Of course, back then, she had no home, no parents to speak of. She couldn't remember them either, nor did she wish to. Sadly, this wasn't entirely uncommon. New Home was (and still is) overcrowded. Undyne knew the other kids without parents or homes as well, and she liked them. Queen Toriel tried to set up homes and schools for any homeless monsters, but it simply wasn't enough.
That's not to say Undyne was unhappy. Even as a little street urchin, she enjoyed finding a new hole to sleep in, new places to explore, new food to steal. Sometimes things could get a little dire. Sometimes she'd go a day or two without eating, but it was okay. Sometimes the weaker monsters couldn't steal like she could. Even as a child, Undyne would give up her snacks for the few that couldn't get their own. It was all right. Queen Toriel was doing her best, they'd say. She did a good job, they'd say.
While there was always plenty of room in places like Snowdin or Hotland, most monsters simply could not live in those climates. So most lived in New Home. New areas were being dug out by the Queen's orders every day, but it wasn't enough. But it was okay. She was trying her best. Some were unhappy. Some wanted to leave the Underground. That just wasn't possible. Some were afraid to criticize the Queen's decision, and Undyne didn't blame them.
"I hate it here!" A monster child said, looking up at the cavern's looming stalactites. "I want to see the outside! I want more room to play!"
Undyne growled then, her little scaly hands turned to fists. "You watch what you say about the Queen!"
She forgot what the child looked like. "What do you care about her? You live on the streets!"
She remembered growing angry then, ready to hit the opposing child. Her dirty fangs grit together. "I don't care! I like it here!"
She didn't forget what the child had said. "Well, you might like it here, but I don't!"
Undyne's stomach growled. Two days had passed again, and she had eaten nothing more than a morsel. It was getting harder and harder to steal from shops. Most places knew her now, ready for "that scaly street urchin." Ugh, why did she share that bisicle with that dirty little cat and alligator.
Because they were hungry, too. She had to help them. Who else would?
The stone buildings of New Home felt so much bigger back then. She couldn't understand it at her age. How could it be so crowded when the buildings were so big? She remembered vividly pushing through Froggits, dodging through Whimsalot's fluttering wings, and sliding by slimy moldsmals. A normal day in New Home.
"Wah hah hah! Thank you kindly!" A scratchy old voice rose above the usual chatter of the monster filled street. Undyne couldn't help but grin. Hopefully, whoever this guy was, he had some food.
Ignoring a Loox's cries, "Don't bully me!" Undyne nimbly hopped off their head and onto a soft striped awning, above the crowded streets. From up here, she could see her target clearly, just across the way. He was busy with a customer.
"Wah hah hah!" She remembered thinking back then how genuine his laughter felt. Her child mind didn't know how to put it into words, and her growling belly fogged her thoughts. He was just some old turtle, selling weird crab shaped apples and tea on a flimsy wooden stand. Focusing harder, she noticed the old turtle's eye stayed permanently shut.
Perfect. How could anyone with only one eye be strong?
His wispy old beard reminded her of the wizards that other monsters talked about. Liver spots littered his grey green scales like gross puddles on the street. The old man barely even had any teeth left! What teeth he did have were misshapen and ugly. Probably couldn't even eat the apples he was selling. Really, she'd be doing him a favor with her theft!
With a hop, she was back among the river of monsters, swimming through their bodies with ease. With all the monsters about, there was no chance he'd see her. Soon she was under the stand, her little body not even tall enough to see over it.
"Wah hah hah! Careful with all that nothing ya bought!" The old voice laughed as an unpleased monster left. This was Undyne's chance. In a quick motion, she snatched an apple in one claw, and stole a nice cup of tea in the other. There was no way he noticed, it was too busy. She didn't even need to run.
Undyne quickly took a bite out of the apple. Fruity and savory. The texture was soft like crab meat. Grinning, she drank from the cup, tasting a delicious sweet and salty liquid. Things just tasted so much better when you were hungry! Especially free food. This might have been the easiest meal she had gotten in a while, too!
"Woah there!" A wrinkly hand grabbed her by the scruff of her tattered striped shirt. "Scuse' me little missy, but I think ya forgot to pay! Wah hah hah!" His grip was rough, holding her a little too tight, betraying that genuine laugh. The crowd of monsters gave the old man space, like a rock cutting a river in two.
Undyne whirled around, clutching the food and drink like her life depended on it. It probably did. "I didn't forget!" she yelled, angry that this old man was defending his stolen goods. "Leave me alone!" Her hands full, she snapped her fangs at his fingers, expecting him to flinch and let her go.
Instead, she found her mouth full of gross salty old scales. Her fangs were sharp and pierced through his arm like they were rusty shields. He didn't so much as flinch.
"Must be mighty hungry, aint ya?" He said, his lone eye wide, staring deep into her. She wouldn't admit it then, but it frightened her. He saw too much. Saw through her. "But I'll have to ask ya to at least eat the apple before ya start eating me, wah hah hah!"
Undyne growled and struggled, tossing little curled claws at the arm. No one could hold her! No one! No one had ever stopped her before! "Let me go!" she screeched.
Like the old man's laugh, his frown, too, was genuine. Annoyed. "Calm down, ya little urchin!"
Maybe it was respect. Maybe it was fear. But Undyne stopped biting and punching, and stared up at the old man, still defiant.
His frown vanished, replaced again with that warm, half toothy smile. "Much better! Now, what ya did just now was mighty wrong, ya know." He nodded. "Where's your parents, little urchin?"
"I don't got any!" Undyne yelled, on the verge of tears she was so angry. She never cried. "I don't need any!"
His eye blinked. Again, he stared. Stared into her. Too deeply. She couldn't help but shiver. An odd noise escaped his dry lips. "Well, either way, you can't be goin' around stealing from people, ya hear?" He looked over to his stand, forcing Undyne to see as well. A huge dark weapon gleamed, blunt, and black. Probably even older than this old man. "People call me the Hammer of Justice, ya know."
So, it was a fight then, huh!? Undyne was no stranger to fights. She dropped the tea onto the stone concrete and reached for a nearby stick. It was more like a twig really. "Yeah!? Well!..." She gripped the branch hard, feeling it already crumbling in her claws. "I'm the Spear of Justice! I'm not afraid of you!" She pointed the little leafy thing directly at his one good eye.
The old turtle stared at the little girl before him, brandishing an old stick. In an instant, his grip on her faltered, and his laughter boomed again. "WAH HAH! HAH!"
She was free now. She could have run away. The old man could barely control himself, slapping his scaly old knees and wheezing like a fool. She could have escaped. "What's so funny?!" Undyne demanded, shoving her stick closer to his shell, threatening to poke it. She didn't like being laughed at.
Undyne moved to Waterfall soon after. Gerson's home was always available to her, anytime she pleased. Whenever she returned, she always found the bed neatly made, a fresh crab apple, and sea tea sitting nearby.
She much preferred Waterfall over New Home. Undyne would spend most of her years growing up, and picking fights in the dark, damp caves, enjoying the watery lakes spread throughout. She even made friends for once. Maybe Gerson was a good influence on her. Maybe she just didn't need to fight as much as she had at New Home.
Dogamy, Dogaressa, Doggo, Greater Dog, and Lesser Dog. They were just pups back then, but they were rambunctious and excitable. They followed Undyne around, and she was all too happy to pet and roughhouse with their seemingly unlimited energy. Others might look at her funny when she went to the cold frigid lands of Snowdin to visit the dogs, but even as a kid, she'd beat up anyone who talked smack about her or her friends.
"When I grow up, I'm gonna join the Royal Guard!" Undyne roared, readying a heroic stance against little Dogamy and Dogaressa. Even back then, they were inseparable.
Dogamy held his plastic toy axe in front of Dogaressa, his fangs showing in a mock growl. Dogaressa sported a similar stance, but her teeth looked sharper, her growl more menacing. "I'm gonna join them too! (I'll be the Captain of the Royal Guard!)"
Doggo stood under a snowy tree, smoking his dog treats. It was a bad habit he had learned early on, and he hid it from his parents well. Undyne and the others swore they would never tell on him. Greater Dog and Lesser dog simply looked on the mock fight, tongues lolling and tails wagging.
Undyne cackled, her light green spear shimmering in her hand. It faded in and out, as she hadn't quite learned how to control it fully yet. "No way! I'm gonna be the captain! And I'll destroy the Rebels myself!" With a bit too much force, she pushed Dogamy into the fluffy white snow.
His eyes lit up with tears, while Dogaressa's lit with rage. "Owwwwooo! (Why'd you push him so hard?!)"
In her excitement, she forgot that it was Dogaressa who was more okay with roughhousing. She didn't mean to make him cry. "Well, maybe he shouldn't be such a baby!"
At the very least, Dogaressa made for a great opponent afterwards. Undyne couldn't even remember who won that fight. Probably Undyne. Yeah.
The first time she met Queen Toriel was strange. Undyne had always heard of her, but never seen her in person. There were so many people to meet, so many people to help, she never quite had the time to see them all. Undyne remembered holding the Queen up on some unrealistic pedestal, but then again, most everyone did.
Toriel was tall. Very tall. Undyne was impressed. She must be so strong! She must be unstoppable! Her feet crunched in the snow as she waved goodbye to the people in Snowdin. Undyne and the dogs hid stealthily behind the trees, watching her every move. Once Toriel thought she was out of sight, her smile broke, and a deep sad frown washed over her muzzle. Undyne didn't think much of it back then.
All she knew was she had to defeat the Queen. If she could fight the Queen and win, she'd be the strongest in all the Underground! Everyone would know it! The Queen would be so impressed, she'd make Undyne Captain of the Royal Guard right there! It was perfect! Her little heart pounded in anticipation, her spear hand clenching and unclenching.
The Queen drew near, and Undyne knew it was the perfect time to strike. "Ngaaah! Stop right there!" She roared, leaping in front of the immense monster before her. The dogs stood behind her, tails wagging, toy weapons at the ready.
The Queen let out a small noise of shock, clearly impressed with Undyne's cunning. "Oh, goodness!" She breathed a sigh of relief, as if worried it might have been something worse. "Hello there, children!" Her smile then was so warm and so comforting. Something Undyne never understood. It made her heart heavy.
Focusing her energy, Undyne clenched at the spear in her hand. She wouldn't let it fade out of existence now! She needed her full power! "I'm Undyne, the Spear of Justice! I demand you fight me!" She had practiced that line many times just in case of such an occasion.
The Queen blinked, appearing confused. She didn't take a battle stance.
Undyne wouldn't take no for an answer. "Fight me, now!" She cried, leaping forward towards the Queen.
In a swift movement, the Queen snatched up Undyne, halting her heroic charge. "Now now, my child!" She said, her eyes glowing with great power yet also a warm gentleness. "Fighting is wrong."
The words felt like a stab to the gut. Instantly the spear blinked out of her hand. Undyne's body felt limp, weak. "Wrong?" she repeated dumbly.
The Queen nodded with the sternness of a parent Undyne never knew. "That's right. Fighting is bad. In the Underground, we talk through our problems, and we never hurt anyone. Hurting someone else is wrong. You must only be kind."
Undyne couldn't believe it. Her mind faltered, seemed to drown in a whirlpool of conflicting thoughts. She meant to speak, but words wouldn't come out.
Am I a bad person?
Queen Toriel saw the effect her words had on Undyne. She frowned. However, something in the distance compelled her to move quickly. She put down the little fish girl gently, noting that the dogs had also backed down. "Oh, my children…" she sighed. It appeared she wanted to stay longer, but simply couldn't. "I am not angry with you. I mean only for you to learn kindness."
Undyne couldn't even look up at her.
"Here, my child," the Queen said after a moment. "Please, take this." She gently placed a plate into Undyne's claws, a warm fluffy piece of pie seemingly floating atop it. Where did the Queen keep this?
Again, the Queen looked out into the distance. Quickly, she knelt, close to Undyne's eye level. Those fiery red eyes stared deep into hers, and she could feel a strange invading judgement again. Toriel licked her index finger and gently rubbed a dirty scrape off Undyne's face. With a sigh, she shook her head and went down the snowy road.
The pie was delicious, but left a bitter aftertaste.
She went home to Gerson later that day. Undyne didn't mind sleeping out on her own usually, but she felt strange. She stared at the cave floor instead of looking forward. She couldn't make her spear appear at all anymore.
"Wah hah hah!" Gerson greeted with his usual laugh. "Hey there, little urchin!"
She moved past his store's stand and to the bed at the end of the room. She flicked the little blue mushroom light on. With a sigh she said, "Hey, Gerson," and bit into her Crab Apple. It tasted sour compared to the pie she had earlier.
Gerson may have had only one eye, and that eye barely worked, but he could always see through her. Back then, it felt like some kind of superpower to little Undyne. How could he know she was feeling bad? It was because he was a hero, of course!
No, she was just really obvious.
"What's wrong?" Gerson asked, a toothy old smile on his wrinkled face. "I've never seen the Stick of Justice look so sad before! Wah hah!"
Undyne growled. "Spear of Justice! I'm the Spear!"
"Wah hah hah! Believe me, I haven't forgotten!" He laughed again.
But instead of shouting further, Undyne just bit into her soft apple again. Gerson frowned. Usually his teases got her out of any funk she was in.
For a while, the two listened to the gentle drips and drops of Waterfall. The echoes and the echo flowers flowing together with little droplets, sounding like a cascade of water all around. She wasn't sure why she said what she said next.
"Grandpa," Undyne cringed, usually avoiding calling him that. He didn't tease her for it. Merely moved closer. Then the words simply spilled out. "Am I a bad person?"
Gerson let out a grunt of surprise. "What! No! No, of course not my little urchin!" His cracked and scaly hands patted her head gently, a strange yet comforting feeling. "Why, you're the Spear of Justice, remember! Why would you ever think that?"
Undyne hated this feeling. The words kept spilling out, falling into the cave, the echo flowers nearby mocking her every step. She didn't want to say them, but it kept happening. "I… um… Queen Toriel…"
Gerson's eye widened, he had probably already figured out what happened.
"She told me fighting was bad. But I love fighting, Gran-er, Gerson! Is it—is it really wrong to fight?" She hesitated, a little hiccup escaping. She wasn't crying! "I had to fight, sometimes! I had to!" She paused. "Didn't I?"
Gerson let out a groan and scratched the back of his head. "Ahh, well, Undyne…" he sighed. "Don't let ol' Toriel get to you like that." She noticed then, how he never referred to her as the Queen. "She's a good lady! A very good lady! She knows what's best for us, for sure!" He kept scratching his head. "She's been through a lot. She tries her best."
Undyne didn't understand. She looked up at the old turtle who for once fumbled over his words. "I don't think she knows," Gerson went on. "That sometimes fighting is the only way. Maybe she just refuses to think that now."
"Does that mean…" Gears turned in her little cranium, and she never forgot this moment. "The Queen is wrong?"
His head sure seemed itchy. Couldn't stop scratching at it. "Ah, well!" Gerson was at a loss. "Nobody's perfect, my little urchin! But…" He stopped scratching finally and looked back to Undyne, a big goofy grin on his face. "If she thinks you're bad for fighting, then she's as wrong as wrong can be! Wah hah hah! I know you're a good little girl, and I know you'll be a hero when you grow up! Fighting or not!"
Undyne took a sip of her sea tea. The sweetness energized her.
He never did agree on her joining the Rebels, though. But he still supported her, in his own way.
Undyne found herself in the present again. Her empty eye socket felt cold, the skin beneath her eyepatch irritated. The thing in her claws felt smooth, yet still tough. She eyed it harshly, touching it with a hate filled gentleness. She could crush it. Destroy it right there. But she needed it. They all needed it.
Again her empty eye socket writhed. She wanted to rub it, scratch it, do something to fix it, but she learned long long ago that nothing would fix it…
The day she lost her eye felt like every other day. The scolding of Queen Toriel had already been but a distant memory. Not forgotten, however. It was there, always there, but she didn't take heed to it so much.
The dogs came to Waterfall today to visit. Lesser Dog and Greater Dog loved the new smells, the strange waters, and the constant barking of the echo flowers. Those two never quite realized it was just their own barking echoing back at them. She wondered if there were still echo flowers out there somewhere barking and yipping like that day. She hoped so.
Dogamy and Dogaressa hated the water. Doggo wasn't a fan either, but as long as he had his treats, he didn't care. Greater Dog had already grown into quite the big puffball even at their young age, towering over the tiny little fluffball that was Lesser Dog. Undyne was never sure if they were brothers or just good friends. She never felt comfortable asking, and Greater Dog wasn't the best at conversations.
While Greater and Lesser still hadn't learned to walk on two legs yet, they did love going for a swim in the lakes. Their little and giant feet treading water happily, swimming in circles. Every so often they'd jump back out, shake all the loose water from their fur, and splash the rest of the group unknowingly in the process.
"No! No more water! (I hate water! Cut it out!)" Dogamy and Dogaressa cried/growled.
Undyne laughed. She'd go swimming with the dogs, too, pretending to be a deadly shark out to prey on them. Greater and Lesser dog simply licked her face before she attacked, never realizing she was trying to impose danger.
Something strange happened though. Something no one could predict, something very few in the Underground even realized happened.
Reeds rustled nearby, grass shaking and shivering with the presence of something. Dogamy whined but held his toy axe in front of Dogaressa anyway. Dogaressa scooted in front, baring her fangs. "H-hey, who's that smell?! (Identify yoursmelf!)" Their nostrils flared, indicating it was a strange smell indeed.
Those two were always so jumpy. Undyne wasn't afraid. When a pale little form tumbled out of the reeds, she and her doggy friends ran forward towards it. The dogs sniffed the thing like mad, tails whirring like well-oiled machines, noses huffing, and only one growler and one whiner.
Undyne looked over the little thing. They were smaller than she was, skinny too. She'd seen this before too many times. Looked like the poor thing hadn't eaten in days. They wore a big pair of glasses, fogged up and cloudy, hiding their eyes away. In their hand, they clutched a notebook and pencil tightly. Something was off about this monster. They were so fleshy, even a little twitchy. It wasn't like any monster she had seen before.
A tentative hand pet Lesser Dog's fur, stroking sweetly. At times, their little hand would clutch the fur a little too hard, but Lesser Dog didn't notice, licking their pale face at any possible instance. That face. Their lips curled into a smile sometimes, like a nervous twitch. Greater Dog wanted some pets, too, but they looked a bit too afraid to pet that big furry form, even though Undyne was certain Greater Dog would never hurt a fly.
The revelation stabbed into her skull. "You're a human!" Undyne shouted, practically hopping with excitement. A human! Wow! She'd heard stories about them from other monsters, and Toriel's laws claiming to treat humans with respect. They were harmless, nice creatures, and although they were different, should be treated like any other monster.
If only she had known better.
The human flinched at the shout, again gripping Lesser Dog's fur too tightly. They didn't seem to talk much. Maybe too afraid to speak. Maybe too hungry to speak. Maybe unable, or simply too far gone. Dogamy's tail turned into a high-speed wag, escaping from between his legs once he heard. Dogaressa was still cautious. Smart. "A human! A human! Wow! Please pet me too! (Humans are weird!)"
Undyne could hardly contain her glee. She could take this human to Queen Toriel! Toriel wouldn't be angry at her anymore if she saw how well she could take care of this human! She'd be Captain of the Royal Guard and beating up bad guys in no time! Gerson's home wasn't too far from here, maybe he could help as well! Everyone would be so proud of her!
Before her thoughts could take her away any farther, a deep voice burned: "Children! Get away from that human, at once!" His throat sounded scorched and hot, and it commanded authority.
Undyne looked back and saw them for the first time. The Rebels. She'd heard stories about them, some good, most bad. They disobeyed the Queen, refused to take any humans to her, and distrusted the lot of them. The dragon monster before her stood tall, his green scales gleaming with power and danger. His horns were twisted and sharpened to a wicked edge, and his eyes burned holes into the little human.
Next to him another large man stood, powerful and fierce, despite his fluffy bunny ears. Undyne would later learn that these two were 01 and 02's fathers. But she had only recognized the dragon, as the current leader of the Rebels. His armor was nothing like the Queen's knights armor. It didn't shine, it didn't glimmer, it looked like rough leather hastily strewn together by unskilled hands. They didn't have the resources like the Queen did.
Undyne wasn't afraid of them. She jumped in front of the human, spear firmly in hand. Her eyes glared deeply into the rebel leader's own, and she felt the human behind her twitch in fear again, nearing a convulsion. The human was clearly sick. "No way! You're the bad guys! You're not getting this human!"
The dragon frowned deeply, while the bunny knight grimaced, gritting his teeth not in anger, but in worry. "Please!" The dragon's voice burned and begged. "Step away! Let us handle the creature!" It sounded as if it hurt just to speak, flames licking the air around his mouth.
The dogs soon followed Undyne's lead, even Dogaressa. They all believed in their Queen, and knew what it meant to allow the Rebels control over a human. They growled and barked, forming a barrier around the human, all except Lesser Dog, who continued to enjoy his petting session. The petting was getting more fervent, a little rougher.
The Rebels wouldn't make a move yet. Undyne, back then, thought maybe she had intimidated them. No, the Rebels feared for Undyne's safety. The large bunny man stepped forward, concern in his eyes. "Like, dudes, please! We, uh… we like promise, we won't take the human! Just get away from it!"
The leader's eyes glared at his friend in silent communication. He let out a sigh, and realized it was the best course of action. "He's right. We promise to leave the human alone, if you kids will just stay away from it."
Undyne grit her fangs together. "And why should I believe you?"
The human flinched again at the shouting. That nervous twitch of a smile spreading wider and wider. They clutched at Lesser Dog's fur now, almost as tightly as the notepad they held. Lesser Dog let out a small whine. They gripped too hard.
Flames bled out stronger than before as his voice scratched and burned. "We fight for all monster kind!" The Rebel Leader said, his throat smoking. "We only wish to protect everyone, to help those too weak to help themselves. If it means letting the human go to protect you all, we will gladly obey." He paused, took a careful step forward. "Now, please, move away from the human."
Undyne mistook the fear in his eyes for malice. She felt the human shivering behind her, felt their fear coursing through her. It made her feel strange, feel frightened. It was clearly the Rebels tricking her! "We will never let you have them!" Undyne shouted, her voice echoing throughout all of Waterfall.
Something happened. She must have shocked the human. Or maybe this was just the way of humans. The human jolted at her roar, their body no longer shivering, no longer twitching. In a flash, Lesser Dog was gone. Dust. Undyne's mind couldn't process. She wasn't sure when, but she found herself staring at that smiling face, eyes hidden behind cloudy glasses. The other dogs were shocked too, Greater Dog especially so.
In one hand, the human held their notebook, and in the other a simple pencil, although the black point of it shone with dust and darkness. The Rebels shouted something, but Undyne didn't hear. There was another shouting behind the human, an old raspy voice, and a clunking form. The human stepped closer to Undyne, that grin haunting her dreams for years to come.
She couldn't attack them. It was wrong. Her mind was reeling. Lesser Dog just died? What?
Undyne's last memory was of the human barreling forward, pencil in hand, point aimed for her face. After that, it was black…
Her missing eye writhed in pain, burned with an invisible heat. She ignored it like she always did. Undyne's claws scraped against the glass, watching the purple soul of that human twitch, it's movements seemingly mimicking her phantom eye. She wished she could destroy it. For everything it did.
Greater Dog never quite got over Lesser Dog's death. Sure, he'd still wag his tail, he'd still love a game of fetch, but his tail never wagged quite as much. He jumped at sudden movements, whined in his sleep, and howled some nights. Undyne trained Greater Dog as best she could in spear techniques, but that big fluffy dog could never find the anger needed to attack. She respected Greater Dog for that.
That human all those years ago went unnoticed through the Underground. Apparently hiding, dodging past all manner of monsters. She never understood why the human decided to come out to her and the dogs that day. Only the Rebels had caught wind of the human, but by the time they had, obviously, it was too late.
Whatever happened, that human's soul was captured. It was the fourth soul the Rebels held onto. Other humans in the past that made it to Toriel might have died by now, but that naïve Queen refused to at least hand over the souls after they died natural deaths. No, she let them free, a complete waste! She'd sentence her own kind to this jail just to comfort a few human souls? Was she so blind?
Undyne grunted and slid the soul back into the secret compartment, where the others glowed and hummed silently to themselves. Four souls. She'd never gotten one herself, but she was prepared. She might never see the day the monsters would free themselves from the Underground, but she'd do all she could to make sure they would someday.
The old Rebel Leader's son stayed in the group, but he chose not to lead. Like his father, he wasn't much for words. He preferred Undyne become leader, and she was all too eager to oblige.
The Rebels had been kind to her. Taught her the history of monsterkind that Queen Toriel was too afraid to tell. That purple soul human was not the first to kill a monster, and certainly wouldn't be the last. Undyne bit into the soft supple meat of the Crab Apple, the sweetness of it leaving a nostalgic taste in her body and mind.
She needed to hold onto that anger. The rage kept her going. When it all felt pointless, when it felt like the world was against her, she just needed to remember. Remember Lesser Dog. Remember the sad faces of those monsters who wished to leave.
"Boss!" A voice barked, stomping into her shoddy little office. "Boss! Boss, where are you!?"
It was Doggo. Undyne made the conscious effort to get up so he could see her clearly. "I'm here, Doggo, what's up?"
A doggy treat burnt dangerously close to his lips, but in his haste, he didn't notice. "A human! There's been human sightings going around!"
Undyne grit her fangs. "What? Are you sure!?"
"One hundred percent!" He said. "Uh… Boss? You still here?"
The Rebel leader sighed and stepped to the side. "Yes. But uh, how can you be so sure?" You know, what with your terrible eye sight.
Doggo coughed up his doggy treat onto the floor, wiping his burnt lips. "I had Dogamy and Dogaressa sniff around Snowdin, Boss! They recognize the scent as human for sure!"
Those two wouldn't get their smells wrong. Not about this. Undyne tossed her Crab Apple to the floor with the rest of them. "All right, Doggo. Good work. I want you and the other dogs to watch Snowdin, got it? I'll look through Waterfall myself. Call up Number 1 and Number 2 and make sure they watch over Hotland."
Doggo nodded, searching his pockets for another doggy treat already. When he couldn't find one, he shifted his eyes from left to right. "Uh, but… One last thing, Boss. What should we do about that Royal Guard Captain?"
Undyne groaned. She had forgotten about that.
"Should I take care of him?" Doggo asked, his knife gleaming.
Her fist pounded down onto her desk, causing Doggo to yip. "No!" She roared. "No. I'll handle him."
"Of course, Boss!" Doggo nodded with a salute. "I'll be sure to keep my eyes peeled! Nothing will get by me!"
She doubted that. "Doggo!" Undyne called after him, stopping him in his tracks. Adrenaline pumped through her veins, and her claws shook. "Be careful. I don't want to lose anyone else."
A doggy treat burned in his drooling muzzle already. With a stern nod, he looked back to her. "I will, Boss." Then he walked off.
Undyne stared after him and considered.
The Captain of the Royal Guard, the Great Papyrus. It was as much of a mouthful as he was a thorn in her side. As she donned her rough leather armor, ignoring the cracks and shudders from years of use, she remembered her first official day as the Rebel Leader. Her second meeting with the queen, and her first with that damn knight…
Her emerald spear crackled with energy, pulsing and flaring, threatening to burst at the lightest touch. Undyne's boots stomped up the steps of New Home and into the Queen's chambers. She growled, fangs bared, a frown of disgust stuck to her lips. No one had stopped her so far! Not a single guard! Did they not fear her? Did they not care? Where they simply just lazy?
A Knight Knight's towering form shadowed the hallway to the Queen's garden. Her black armor gleamed dangerously against the light from the stained-glass windows. Undyne prepared for a fight, took a battle position, and then sighed. A snore grumbled out of the Knight Knight, her enormous mace used only to prop herself up. Undyne easily maneuvered around the titan, seething with rage.
As Undyne neared the garden, a wandering Whimsalot found her in their gaze. "Halt!" the small fluttering monster ordered, rushing toward her. They held a bow, gripped firm in their gauntlet, and yet did not keep it at the ready. "What business do you have here, madam?"
Did they not even know who she was?!
"I'm here to see the Queen," Undyne growled through grit teeth.
The Whimsalot shook their head and then nodded in thought. "Ah, yes, of course! She's right through that door, enjoying a nice snail pie in the garden. Please enjoy yourself!" With that, it fluttered away, completely ignoring the malice in her eye or the spear in hand.
This woman had no place being Queen! Her knights were overly trusting, unprepared, and just plain lazy! When Undyne ruled the Underground, she would make changes around here. She couldn't understand why previous Rebel Leaders didn't simply take over. Sure, they spoke of respecting her, realizing all the good she had done for the Underground, but couldn't they see what they could do if they took it themselves?
It had been a long time coming. Now that Undyne was the Rebel Leader, there was no one to stop her, no one to tell her otherwise. Undyne kicked open the double doors to the garden, a gust of wind knocking the flowers about.
"Oh?" A gentle voice hummed. "A visitor?" The Queen smiled sweetly, pie placed delicately on the plate, and a warm tea seated next to it. She didn't seem to notice Undyne's threatening aura, or even remember her. "Would you like some pie?"
Undyne slammed the butt of her spear against the dirt, cracking the ground dangerously. "No!" She yelled, enraged further by her lack of defenses. "I am Undyne, leader of the Rebels! I demand you step down from the throne this instant!"
The Queen frowned, quickly realizing the seriousness of the situation. "Undyne? But the previous leader…"
"He's gone!" She said with a pang of sadness. "Whatever truce you may have had with each other is over. I am the leader now, and I suggest you step aside like the rest of your inexperienced knights! I will lead the monsters of the Underground to the outside! I will offer them a choice to leave, where you gave them none."
Queen Toriel shook her head, eyes defiant. "I apologize, but I will not step down simply because you tell me to!"
"You leave our own people to suffer for your cowardice!"
Toriel grimaced, clutching at her royal robes. "I… I do all that I can."
"Then give us the human souls, at least!" Undyne demanded, taking another step forward.
Again she shook her head, eyes ablaze. "I will not, nor will I ever. All humans deserve the same respect as monsters."
"And yet you force us to live underground like rats!"
She would not falter. "I do not deny the problems my decisions might cause, but I believe they are for the best for all of us."
Undyne took another step forward, spear edge sharp. "And I believe we deserve a choice in what we think is best. I believe the weak deserve to be heard! I believe they deserve to be protected from the humans and not fall victim to their every whim!"
The Queen let out an exhaust-filled sigh, as if she's been arguing this for centuries. "I will not step down," she said quietly, firmly.
"Then I'll make you," Undyne threatened.
The Queen never flinched, showed no fear. Undyne couldn't help but respect that. She knew, deep in her heart, Toriel was not a bad person. But she had to go. "Do what you must," the Queen replied, a shimmer of flames in her palms, and a sad frown upon her muzzle.
It was settled. No more talking. No more words!
Undyne cried out, her pent-up frustration, her rage, her sadness, and charged forth, spear in hand. Still, the Queen did not flinch, merely readied herself, the flames burning brighter. The poor, the weak, and even Lesser Dog's voice blared in her mind, begging for a better life. She threw the spear forward and it crackled like lightning, ready to pierce its target.
"NOT SO FAST, EVIL DOER!" a voice boomed like thunder. Undyne nearly tripped over herself. The spear struck a bone white shield, denting its perfectly smooth metal form. "YOUR HONOR, I WILL PROTECT YOU!"
"Papyrus!" Toriel yelled, her flames already extinguished as she worried over the tall skeleton before her. "Are you all right?!"
Just where the heck did this guy even come from?! It was like he floated in without a sound!
The Knight arose super cooly from his shielded position, his scarf fluttering in the breeze from above, and his skull grinning with a hint of smugness. "NYEH HEH HEH! NO ATTACK IS TOO STRONG FOR THE ROYAL GUARD CAPTAIN THE GREAT PAPYRUS!"
While his confidence was impressive, Undyne had bigger fish to fry. Ugh. Not a great expression. "Whoever you are, get out of the way! My fight is with the Queen! Not you!"
Striking another wicked cool pose, the knight proceeded to remove his skull off his shoulders. Wait what?! "I CAN'T ALLOW ANY HARM TO COME TO THE QUEEN!" He said, his voice somehow even louder. Undyne realized that this knight was wearing a helmet replicating his skull. Beneath that smugly smiling skull laid …. Another smugly smiling skull. "OR ELSE I WOULD BE A PRETTY BAD ROYAL GUARD!" He winked. "AND I'D RATHER BE A PRETTY RAD ROYAL GUARD. NYEH HEH HEH!"
Okay, that was good.
Undyne shook her head. She was getting distracted! "Fine, then! So I have to fight against your best knight before I can fight you, eh? I don't care!"
The Knight known as Papyrus shook his skull. "OH, WOWIE, NO!" He posed again, his boney armor shining way too bright in her eye. "FIGHTING IS WRONG! I JUST PROTECT THE QUEEN AND MAKE PUZZLES!" He paused for a moment thinking. "AND SPAGHETTI. I'M ALSO THE ROYAL CHEF."
The goat queen smiled sheepishly.
Undyne couldn't believe what she was seeing or hearing. "No?! What do you mean no!? Then get out of the way and let me fight her!"
Again, he shook his head. "I'M SORRY! IT IS MY DUTY TO PROTECT THE QUEEN!" He placed his shield against his palms and plopped a glob of soggy noodles and watery sauce upon it. "CAN I INTEREST YOU IN SOMETHING TO EAT INSTEAD?"
Undyne's claw turned into a fist and she grit her teeth. Did he mock her?! Who was this knight?! Was he trying to get into her head!? It didn't matter! She wouldn't let this weirdo stop her!
"Forget it, then!" Undyne yelled, charging forward again. She'd ignore this foolish knight and go for the Queen anyway! With a flash, she shot her spear forward, aiming straight at the queen.
Somehow, Papyrus' eyes bulged out of his sockets. Although she was pretty sure he had no eyes?! Also, what!? How did her spear end up in the knight?! The spear stuck into his breastplate, cracking the once pristine armor. "WOWIE, THAT WAS A LITTLE PAINFUL!" he said cheerfully.
"Papyrus, please!" Toriel begged. "I will be quite all right! Please, leave this to me!"
Undyne's rage was bleeding out like sauce on frozen spaghetti. She pulled the spear out of the knight. "I… didn't mean to hit you! Damn it!"
Papyrus simply smiled. "PRETTY COOL, NYEH?"
The Rebel leader scowled. "No! It's not cool at all! Get out of the way!"
"AGAIN, SORRY, BUT I AM SIMPLY TOO RAD TO DO THAT!"
No! She couldn't let this rage leave her! She couldn't leave here empty handed! Undyne would take the throne! With another roar, she charged forward, this time with a good ol' fashioned fist. Her strike was fast, accurate, and powerful, she wouldn't miss Toriel this time!
Her knuckles slammed against a metal skull, leaving his head vibrating and her fist bruised. "OWWIE!" Papyrus said as his eyes bulged out and pinged against his helmet.
"Papyrus, please, that's enough!"
"Yeah, stop it, will ya!?" Undyne realized too late she had just agreed with her enemy.
"NO CAN DO!" Papyrus continued, picking himself up off the dirt, his beautiful armor scuffed and battered now.
Undyne was furious. Her blood boiled. But she was not angry with the Queen or her knight. She was angry with herself. She couldn't keep attacking someone who wouldn't fight back! Especially a fellow monster! Her spear blipped out of existence.
Papyrus noticed this. "NYEH HEH HEH! DO YOU GIVE UP TO THE AWESOME POWER OF THE GREAT CAPTAIN ROYAL GUARD PAPYRUS?!" He paused. "OR WAS IT CAPTAIN OF THE ROYAL GUARD, COMMA, THE GREAT PAPYRUS?"
Everything she had worked so hard for! All those monsters that were counting on her! All the training, all the fighting, all the preparing for this moment!
Her claws clenched and unclenched, trying desperately to hold onto that anger that fueled her moments ago. But it was all wrong! It didn't feel right, not anymore. With a grunt, she finally said, "I won't give up that easily. You haven't seen the last of me." She cringed at that last part. She didn't mean to sound like a stereotypical villain.
Luckily, Papyrus' smile only grew wider, his eyes sparkling with hope, and even a bit of admiration. He seemed to enjoy that final line. "I CERTAINLY HOPE NOT! I THINK WE'LL MAKE GREAT FRIENDS!"
Queen Toriel stared onward at the strange events unfolding before her. She didn't understand. But then again, not many would. Not even Undyne.
"Pft, friends with you?" Undyne spat on a flower nearby as she stomped away. "I will never be friends with you. You and the Queen are my enemy, you understand?"
She never forgot that laugh of his. Full of confidence, even after taking so many attacks head on. "NYEH HEH HEH! WE'LL SEE ABOUT THAT!" Deep down, she also felt some form of admiration.
That was a few years ago, however. Undyne had no plans on losing again. A human was too dangerous, too important to lose. She was willing to do whatever it took to defeat her enemy.