Chapter Two – 'Darkness, Love and Power'
It was Saturday today. It's been nearly a week since I had bad dreams. Even though the dream haunted me as I slept, now that's gone, it bothers me that it happened so suddenly. I'm lying in bed with eyes open, arms lying on my chest, looking to the celling. (This is weird… Too weird maybe. But maybe I should be grateful. Now, I'm free from the past that haunted me.)
But am I really…?
Just because there was nothing I could do, doesn't mean I couldn't have tried harder. (But, Toriel says I did all I could? She's says that, yet…)
I can't actually bring myself to believe it.
(I can't ignore it anymore… I've been denying it for so long. But I know the truth. I know that the only person that let Asriel return into his 'Flowey' form… Was me.) It was me and only me. I had condemned Asriel to the worst fate possible. Realising the pain I've caused to my dearly beloved Asriel, I snuggle close to the blankets on top of me. Facing the truth head on, it's making me cold. I feel cold. I'm losing my grip from determination. I-It's fading from my soul. I'm succumbing to something I've never ever felt. No emotion comes close. I can feel it clawing away at my 'hopes' and 'dreams'. (T-this isn't good… I-I-I don't feel like myself anymore. T-this is wrong! So wrong!) My head starts to ache, I grip my head with both hands, now shivering and cowering under the blankets. (AHHHHH! My head! It hurts so badly! WHATS HAPPENING TO ME! A strange feeling is taking me captive under its overwhelming power.) Is this-?! No, it can't be…
Despair.
I'm trapped by my own despair…
* (You are taken captive by despair. You try to call for help.)
* But no words come out…
* (You fall deeper into despair. It's changing you. You try to flee.)
* But there is no running away from your own darkness.
I feel my eyes close; everything starting to go dark. My eyes feel heavy, and I can't lift them. It stays this way for I don't know how long. When I next manage to finally open them, I see… ASRIEL! He's on his knees tending to golden flowers surrounded by nothing but pitch black nothingness. "Asriel is that you?! How did you get here? Where are we?" I rush over to him, covering the gap in distance between us. I pat his shoulder to let him know I'm here. (…Wait…) I grip my heart, a sense of foreboding falls. (Something isn't right…) "Hey Asriel, what's wro-AHHHHHHHH!" Asriel turns to me. But the look on his face catches me off guard and I lose my footing. Sitting on the ground I sense an evil presence approach me. "Oh, my goodness! Asriel your face! It's dark a-a-and…" I'm cut off as the unfamiliar voice speaks.
"Soulless?! Gyahahahahaha!" …"What the heck?! This isn't funny!" As he laughs manically, his deep voice echoing all around me, I finally realise what I see. Asriel's face, with deep stab wounds, cleaving cuts unmasking his once perfect features. His eyes ooze a black unsettling substance. "Why didn't you SAVE ME Frisk?! Why did you let me DIE Frisk?!" It's horrifying. I can't move, I can't do anything.
I can only look on as what was once Asriel walks towards me, his footsteps slamming like thunder in each step. "….W-what?! No, no, no , no! Get back! Get away! It wasn't my fault!" I use my hands and shift myself backward while still sitting. "I'll…. I'll!" And in a second, the contorted monster is already leaning over me, looking me in the eyes. It slams its fists down on my desperately fleeing hands. "Agaaahh!"
I'm scared.
"Or.. You'll.. WHAT!? KILL ME!?... YOU. ALREADY. HAVE! GYHAHAHAHA! How about, I JUST KILL YOU!?" He starts to choke my throat with both hands, and I immediately feel myself losing consciousness from his strength. The force he was applying was enough to break my neck if he wanted to. "…Kchh.. ack… s-st…op.. pl…ease…Asr…..Asriel!...khaaaaaa!" His breath is close, but it brings nothing but chills over my spine. The fact that he's doing this to me. It sickens me. But I can't do anything.
"You! You left me here to DIE! YOU SAVED ME! But that didn't mean ANYTHING TO YOU did it!? Because you chose not to REALLY SAVE me. I HATE you." He looked down, lowered his hands, and slapped me in the face as I was let go. (Arggghhh..) I fell from his hands in slow motion, but the force of his slap sent me flying away from him. I still managed to hear his last words. "I HATE you…"
I saw his back turn as I continued to fly away from his sight. I still tried to call out to him. "A-ASRIEL NOOO! A-A-ASRIEL! I… I!" Tears began to well up, swallowing the painful and mixed emotions I was now experiencing. "AsRieL… pLeaSe ComE BAck…" My voice broke saying that, my heart slowly but surely breaking from his words. I couldn't get it out of my head. It reverberated off the walls of my mind bouncing back and forth. I felt the same ache strike my head. "AAAAHHHHH! KIIIAAAAAHHHHH!" I screamed at the top of my lungs, tormented by my broken heart. The pain wouldn't subside in the slightest, but... "AAAAHHHHIihihihh…" But my tears were stronger.
Get me out of here, someone help me, pleeeeaaase. I don't like it here anymore. Someone! Anyone please!
* (You call for help from the whole of your hurting heart.)
Please! Someo-
My eyes opened, I was back to my room. I saw four faces, but couldn't distinguish them. Because, as soon as I realised.
* Your family came and answered the call.
I broke down in tears.
"My child! O-o-oh my child." Toriel wasted no time, thrusting me into her embrace. "There, there~ momma's here… Shhhhh~ whatever happened. It's all over now… Shhh please don't cry child~." Then three others joined in on the comforting hug. But my sadness wouldn't stop, my eyes were bursting like flood gates, crying out all the pain I've concealed deep within my soul. I heard the other voices reach out to me.
"HUMAN! PLEASE DON'T CRY! THE GREAT PAPYRUS, YOUR BEST FRIEND, IS HERE!" (Papyrus…? Is that really you…? You came for me...?) "hey kiddo, it's me, your uncle sans. you've been out for a few hours now. toriel called me and my brother over awhile after she came to wake you. she said you were really unwell. so me and papyrus took a uhhh. a shortcut. yeah. we just had to check up on you." (sans too? W-wow… Thank you so much you two.)
And last but not least, my dad put in his comforting words. "I came as soon as I could; I even asked to be 'relieved' during this time from work just so I could see you. I'm sorry I wasn't here sooner, my daughter." (Oh daddy, you silly lug.) "…Thank you all so much." I wiped my eyes as I tore my face from mom's shoulder. I'd finally calmed down. "…I'm sor!-" I was cut off as the four of them hugged me closely. I understood what they were trying to say. "Thank you guys. I promise to talk about what happened later, alright?" They made all made a sound that sounded like agreement, and so we stayed embraced for a time.
I went back into my room as I asked for everyone to stay in the living room. "All of you wait here, I just need some time alone but I promise everything is fine." I put on a weak smile, still shaken by my strangely vivid nightmare. The whole family present let me go, but asked to call them for anything at all, anything even as small as asking for a cup of water. "Thank you, I love you all and I will be back in just a bit." After saying as such, I left them to congregate on their own while I went upstairs to settle some things. I reached my bedroom and jumped right onto my bed, sitting up straight upon landing. "Right, so before I make a bigger mess then I already have, I need to sort something's out first." (I need to call Mr. Wright about meeting him.)
"Be sure to visit to have that question asked, alright Frisk? You're always welcome to stop by! In fact, if you're interested, I'm taking a 6 week crash course on the criminal and civil law of monsters and humans. I'll explain more whenever you drop by."
After remembering his exact words, I took a deep breath and began to dial the office number written on the business card that Mr. Wright gave me. I found it on the desk near my table. (How did it get here, Im pretty sure I've been holding it every night till now?) I zoned back from that thought when I heard the phone start to ring. After a few rings sound off, I hear a voice pick up the phone. But it isn't a familiar voice. "Umm, h-hello?" The voice sounds like that of a child, but a well grown child. "H-hiiii..?" The voice was absolutely adorable, that I could not deny. I decide to speak to this mysterious child before I overstay my welcome. "Hi there young one, I'm looking for Mr. Wright? Is he in his office?" She stays quiet before mumbling out a sentence. "O-o-ohhh y-you are..? C-c-can I-I ask why..?"
(Wow, she got really wobbly with her words now.) "Oh uhh yes, he invited me to come see him this weekend. I was hoping to ask if I could still see him." What followed was something I would never have seen coming. "S-sorry! Mr. Wright isn't seeing anyone now! He only has time for Maya all weekend! Umm… sosorrytodothistoyoubye!" And just like that, the nameless child ended the call. All that was left was even more questions. (What the heck just happened there? Her personality did a 180 and flipped!) After such a weird encounter, I decided I would not call back right now. Instead I texted his cell phone number, that was also on the business card. I asked him to call me when he was next free to.
"Okay, as long as I let him know I want to hear from him, it SHOULD be enough. So the next thing was…" I crossed my arms and attempted to replicate a monk meditating. "..to find out what I experienced in my dreams. I dove deep into my mind, racking my head around every detail trying to piece together anything I could bring up. I don't know how long I was stuck like that for, thinking and remembering things for what felt like eternity. But soon enough, I placed each memory of the nightmare into order, and the whole image became clear. My eyes flashed open, having solved the puzzle that was my nightmare. "I see… So I met Asriel, but he wasn't his normal self. He said he wasn't freed like everyone else was. But I tried so hard to bring him back, I reset so much just for Asriel to be freed. But the Asriel in this nightmare, he was… 'Corrupted', mutated into something dark yet darker until he was barely recognisable."
I placed a hand on my cheek, the same cheek the corrupted Asriel had slapped in my nightmare. "It felt as real as my hand does right now... That's so strange." I committed myself to completing the memory, and dug further. Lowering my hand I advanced onwards. "Then he hit me so hard, I was sent flying, but I felt like I was flying towards nothingness. I remember him saying that he… he.."
"You! You left me here to DIE! YOU SAVED ME! But that didn't mean ANYTHING TO YOU did it!? Because you chose not to REALLY SAVE me. I HATE you."
"…that he hated me. That he hated me. He hates me. Hates me. Me…" I felt my heart breaking again and my head thumping as the words shook my head round and round. I couldn't shake off the feeling that I failed Asriel somehow, even though I did everything possible. A brown fuzzy teddy bear flew right at me. A teddy bear I had never seen before just appeared and flew at me; I didn't even see it coming. "H-huh? Wha? Where did you come from?" I picked up the bear after it hit me, and I ignored its timely arrival as I saw a note was attached to the bear:
hey kiddo, whenever you feel down like you are now just remember, the only magic making you blue is yourself. you know the only way to rise up is to feel…?
The note ended with a question, and at that very moment I felt a familiar feeling lift my spirits. I could feel it, the strength of my friends and family piecing my heart together good as new. My soul fuelled by love.
* (The note left by the mysterious intruder, fills you with 'determination.')
* (Your progress was SAVED.)
Now then! I feel much better! I should go reunite with my family downstairs. They have been waiting long enough to see me. (I got to go say thanks to sans for the cheer up gift.) I hadn't realised but I was sub-consciously bringing the teddy bear that had the note along with me. (Oh right! Haha I still have it in my arms, hiding it behind my back for a bit.) I smiled to myself and hugged the teddy I decided to name: Santa. (Hmm Santa, yeah sounds crazy enough just to fit perfectly.) I ran over to the living room only to see sans up to his old antics again. "Hi everybody I'm back! And! – Wait, why is Papyrus wearing a pig hat on his head? sans leapt at the chance to answer. "oh paps was just boar-ing me with his stories about a goldfish he caught once, I couldn't 'bear it' anymore. heh heh. sans seemed proud of that one as he winked at me.
(Yeah yeah, thanks for the teddy bear, uncle. I plan to ask how you teleported a teddy bear to me later.) I wore a slight smile, playing along to his game. Papyrus was too busy eating spaghetti to really say much about the matter, but I saw he wasn't happy witgh the puns as always. "Really sans, was he being a-?" I got cut off as Toriel interjected. "..A bird-den?!" (Errrgh, mom I was heading there first hmph). "Hey, you took my joke mom!" Too late. sans and Toriel were already lapping up the punch line she stole from me. "Awh gosh you guys seem really happy though." I couldn't help but lighten my expression.
I let out a light-hearted sigh. "Anyway, I feel better now and would like to ask you all something." I notice daddy was gone, probably to work or to the gym. During the years that have passed, Asgore had found an interest in being strong and healthy, and so he dedicated himself to physical self-improvement. It made sense seeing as he loved to be active and busy, always doing something. "Mom, daddy's gone already?" Toriel replied calmly. "Yes Frisk, he has gone to work. He came to see you as an emergency and decided to not neglect his duties." I sat on the floor, next to Toriel while she was sitting in her reading chair, the very same one she loved using in the underground. I placed the teddy bear I was holding sitting up on my lap. Papyrus noticed the teddy bear as soon as he saw it. "WHAT A LOVELY TEDDY BEAR HUMAN! " (Awwwh, thanks Papyrus~ If only you knew sans got it for me.) "His name is Santa." He jumped up from his seat for a second. "SANTA? LIKE SANTA CLAUS!?" Papyrus' eyes shone a beautiful orange. "Yeah, the same one." He clapped with glee. "I LOVE SANTA! IT'S SUCH A GREAT NAME FOR A TEDDY; LIKE NAMING A CHRISTMAS PRESENT AFTER SANTA HIMSELF!" Everyone except Papyrus, who was still gleeful all joined in a bit of light laughter.
I got Toriel to start a fire in the fireplace, since me and her were sitting near it. She picked up the book on the left resting arm of her chair and started reading. "Okay guys now that we're all settled; I would like to announce that I plan to see someone special." Papyrus, who was now eating canned spaghetti… out of the can, immediately thought I was referring to him. "OH BUT CHILD, IM RIGHT HERE! THE SOMEONE SPECIAL! I, THE GREAT PAPYRUS HIMSELF CAN BE SEEN ALREADY CAN HE NOT?!" (Haha that right there is classic Uncle Papyrus for you, always jumping up to anything that sounds like him.) "Uhhh, sorry no Papyrus, I meant a special human." Sans did his brotherly thing and gave Papyrus some light encouragement. "you are pretty special bro, the coolest brother around." Papyrus was taken aback by the compliment. "OH BROTHER, THANK YOU SO MUCH! I AM PRETTY GREAT THOUGH AREN'T IT?!" His eyes were sparkling with confidence. "yes pap, you are heh heh heh." sans went over to pat Papyrus on the back. "now please 'cool' it down a bit, the kid has something to tell us."
Papyrus gave a bashful apologetic look. I rushed quickly to put his worries to rest. "No no, don't worry Uncle Papyrus, you're fine." I lifted only my thumbs to show it was okay. Toriel had been listening to us squabble while reading a book silently. She rubbed my head gently to give her support. I looked up to her, and she pealed her eyes away from the book to wink at me. I felt better with her around. (Thanks mom. Your warm hands really do help.) "Okay, so guys, the guy I plan to see is Phoenix Wright. My mom had him as a guest on Monday's class. He invited me to visit him sometime." Toriel spoke from behind her book. "My child you mean the lawyer fellow?" I answered without hesitation. "Yes mom." I couldn't tell but it felt like Toriel was smiling from behind her book. "I am glad to hear that my dear daughter." (Huh..? Did mom know I was going to..?) It hits me, and it hits me hard. (..! The desk! The business card must have fallen out of my hands during the nightmare this morning.)
I couldn't think of anything to say but… "Ummm, I love you mom." She giggled. "Yes, yes, I love you too." Another gentle rub felt on my head. sans chose then to ask something. "so kiddo, this lawyer guy, any reason you wanna see him?" I fiddled with my fingers trying to find some good words to use. "Uhh he's inspired me to follow him, because I want to become a lawyer now, just like him." sans nodded, just listening and chose not to add to that. His head lowered to the point where I couldn't see the expression he had. It looked like his eye went blue for a split second. Just like that though, a card appears by my lap, face down. "he sounds like such a 'card' kiddo, but.." I turn the card over. "he just better not be' joking' around with you."
(The joker card, huh..?) I looked around for the pack of cards I saw earlier; I spot it on the living room table centred in this room. I stood to take the card I was looking for to hit him back the best way I knew how. Papyrus looked at me, confused with what I was doing. "YOU ALRIGHT HUMAN..? HMMM." I sat back down next to Toriel, as sans looked my way and Papyrus looked at me puzzled with confusion. "Trust me sans, you can trust him too. After all.." I reach for the card I took from the card deck, and added Mr. Wright's business card to the final attack. I revealed them both dramatically, just how sans likes it. "..He IS an 'Ace' Attorney."
Papyrus clapped in awe. "WOWIE HUMAN! YOUR PUNS ARE NEARLY AS EQUAL AS SANS BUT FLASHIER!" sans tried to hide his smile from Papyrus, because his brother complimented him inadvertently. "…..pffttt… hahahaha!" He failed pretty fast though. "haha ahhh kiddo you got me there! you know i love your flair for the dramatic." I squeezed Santa in a tight hug and looked at them in the cutest way possible. "Yeah just for you, my uncles that I love very much." They both [somehow] blushed. "uhheheh heheh, i l-love you too frisk." sans was caught off guard, and so was Papyrus. "OHHH NOOO TOO CUTE! WE LOVE YOU FRISK!"
I felt pretty good because I played it off cutely on purpose, I praised myself in thought. (Haha, cutie Frisk strikes again~! You go girl~!) I decided to shorten the rest of my announcement to: "So I would like to invite my family to come see Phoenix Wright himself with me! What do you say?" Papyrus said yes instantly. "YES HUMAN! IT IS MY DUTY AS MONSTER AMBASSATOR TO CONVERSE AND BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE." sans said "sure" nonchalantly. Toriel replied while reading, "I'm very busy being a teacher; I am free only this weekend at the earliest."
(Hmmm, I wonder if we can do this tomorrow then.) "You think all of you will be free tomorrow to come see Mr. Wright with me, you guys?" Toriel, Papyrus and sans, all sounded their agreement to that. Papyrus played it off as the busyman – or should I say – busyskeleton. "I-I'LL SEE IF I CAN FIT THAT INTO MY BUSY BUSY SCHEDULE. YOU KNOW, BEING THE MONSTER AMBASSASTOR AND ALL." I giggled back to him. "Hehehe~ Of course, I know you work hard for all of the monsters, Uncle~." He leaned his hands back on his head. "NYEH HEH HEH! I BETTER GO TO THE KITCHEN TO PRATICE MY FIRST IMPRESSION!" Toriel got up and said she would help Papyrus with his preparations. Now it's just me and sans. I looked at him but he was just as chill as always. "heh, ive already come up with some great jokes." I scratched my head. "Well, I'm sure you have nothing to worry about." sans' eyes went dark. "they better not or else, someone's gonna have a-." I stopped him there. "OKAY! I get it sans, don't worry, you'll see Mr. Wright's a great guy. His eyes came back to normal. "heh heh i was kidding, kiddo, relax." (Ha ha yeah sure you're kidding… Just like you did back then underground.) The memory of a restaurant and rain comes to mind.
"Y o u ' d."
Thinking back on it now, it seemed innocent to a young mind when he said he was joking. But now I know better. Had it not been for mom, he probably would have ended my life in an instant. Back then, Papyrus wanted to join the royal guard. As far as I know, sans is the type to get blood on his hands just for his brother. He is not a bad monster, but I know that he would turn bad if it meant his brother was safe. I have to watch out for him, I do not want him to do something irreversible. "sans…" I hugged him right then. "I want you to promise me that you won't hurt any humans, ever. Please sans.." He went wide eyed. "whattya mean kiddo..? of course i wouldn't hurt humans. unless my brother was…" I squeezed him closer to me.
"That's what I'm worried about. You keep living for your brother that you'll sacrifice anything for him. Even if that something… was me." sans' eyes went dark, but they weren't in anger, they were solemn. "kiddo, t-that's n-not fair. you can't make me imagine a choice between you and him." I could feel tears building up inside me but I suppressed the feelings until I was done. "I-I know. You need to know this though, forcing lives to end changes you. It corrupts your heart and lets pure darkness infect it."
I should know, my first ever time underground. The first time.. I killed monsters in the ruins before accidently killing mom, I wanted only to cripple her to the point where she would be forced to surrender. I gave the finishing blow without realising that holding back was still enough for her to be killed. I heard a faint voice call to me in the distance, and I couldn't understand what they were saying. I felt so bad that I had to reset to make mom live and spare her. "I love you Uncle sans, please promise me you won't kill anyone, for any reason." sans looked as if he was hit by déjà vu. "heh. i don't like making promises. But just like tori, you have an integrity i can't say no to. i promise i won't kill anyone okay kiddo?" After holding it back for a bit, I let my tears fall having heard his promise being made. "T-thank you sans, this means alot to me because YOU mean alot to me." sans used one of his hands to brush some tears away from my eyes. "We all have demons inside our souls, sans. And we struggle every day to fight them off."
sans patted my head. "hey.. come on kiddo.. you need to stop worrying about me.. im fine and always have been. now cheer up okay..?" sans pulled out a wrench out of nowhere. "i don't have any 'screws loose' just yet." (Haha, you always know what to do to make me smile.) I was smiling like a clown while still tearing up. "sans, stop.. 'screwing' around ha ha ha.." I said that in the kindest way I could. "well i guess i better 'bolt' on out of here." I opened my eyes and pulled away slowly while still knelt to his level. "You're leaving now?" He patted me on the head. "yeah sorry, frisk. me and the bro have a meeting with the japanifornian joint congress about.. something." sans turned to our kitchen. "bro, we gotta go! meeting remember?" Papyrus flew to the front door in a matter of seconds and waited. "IM READY WHEN YOU ARE BROTHER!" I looked at them both as they gathered together and walked out the front door. We exchanged farewells. "Bye Uncles, we love you! I'll give you the details for tomorrow okay?!" They said goodbye to me and mom. "BYE FRISK, I'LL DO MY BEST AS THE GREAT PAPYRUS TO BE WHEREVER YOU NEED ME TO BE TOMMORROW."
sans only said this. "take good care of santa for me." I waved as they turned the corner and disappeared. (I will, don't you worry about that.) I went back into the living room, tidied up a bit, and grabbed Santa. Mom gave me a hand with the cleaning. "Thanks for the help mom, I appreciate it!" Toriel gave me her trademark 'gentle motherly smile'. "It is alright, my child. You can watch TV now if you would like?" I was too excited to sit down and watch TV. "No its fine mom, I'll go to my room for a little bit." I hugged Toriel as I always do, and swiftly made my way back to my room with Santa in hand. I put my hands on my hips having reached my room again and puffed out. "Hmmph, tomorrow will be the beginning to my future!" After a few seconds past I just fell backward onto my bed, arms and legs wide open. (Now what?.. What time is it? Hmmmm.) I looked over to the circular clock above my study desk. "1pm!? It's been 5 hours since 8am when I woke up!? Where did all the time go?!" Totally gobsmacked, my head leaned back until I was laying down flat facing the celling again. This was the same celling I was looking at before I drifted off and had my nightmare.
I sat up and refused to let the images flood back into my mind. Just then I get a text notification. The ringtone plays loudly as I reach for the cell phone in my pocket and check if Mr. Wright has texted me. But it wasn't him… (Oh hey, look! A text from Charlotte!)
Hey bestiee~ Charlotte here! I was wondering if you wanted to hang out tomorrow? I miss you already and its only been 24 hoursss! boohuhu~ ;( 3
My heart starts to beat fast. "Wow, that's not fair Charlotte, I'm a straight girl. Stop trying to turn me gay for you, lovely". I freeze with my mouth covered, having realised what words I just spoke. (Wait, why am I even thinking about that? I have never thought these things, ever! It's not like she would… Mhmhmm~! I need to figure out whats happening to me~!) I do what I saw a video game character do and force both my hands to slap my cheeks. "She makes me feel heavenly, but I need to concentrate." Charlotte has this unspoken ability to make my heart flutter, and I know she doesn't mean to. She just does! She makes me feel so bubbly. She teases sometimes and other times she's just being completely innocent. Every time though, I feel the same feeling of passion for her. (She's just a dreamy best friend to be around, I should be so lucky. Her texting gives me a great idea on what I can do for her). I shake the bubbles out of my system and reply.
Oh heeey bestie~ I miss you too. I would love to hang out with you, but I'm busy. But maybe if you come with me, then we can at least be around each other. There's someone we can go see together :3 3
Asriel springs to mind, having thought about how much Charlotte means to me. (It's weird, my mind is honestly so confused, because I feel like Asriel wouldn't be able to provide the same comforts as Charlotte does for me.) I was assuming alot of things in thinking that. But in all fairness, I think Charlotte likes being just my friend. (… Oh Asriel, I need you here with me, my heart is walking aimlessly in circles without you.) Regardless of my muddled feelings, I should really keep it hidden from her until I understand them better. I sit around hugging Santa when few seconds later, she replies.
Ohhh my! Who's this someone you're talking about? ;) 3
"Hah, and speaking of tease, there it is right on cue." Charlotte is ever the elegant princess. On so many occasions, she has told me how special I am to her. Her words are just coated with pure sugar, so I am pretty excited to see how she reacts once I tell her who this mystery man is; just so I can make her that little bit happier.
The Lawyer from Monday's class, Phoenix Wright himself! 3
I count my fingers, awaiting the reply I expect. "Freak out in 3….2…..1."
Kyaaaaaaaaaaahhhh~! 3 Mr. Wright! You really mean that?! 3
"Yup, hahaha just like I thought." Charlotte is adorable when she's happy. I take great pride knowing that I made her happy just now. She'll be even happier tomorrow when she joins my family to see him. She really deserves a treat from me after all she's done for me, so why not a little eye candy to satisfy her cravings? I mean, for as long as I have known her for, I've never known her to be the type to have highschool crushes on anyone. It kind of makes me jealous considering I kind of like Charlotte but aren't yet sure. It does make me glad to see her experiencing what love could be like in her future at least. (The funny thing is that, I can imagine myself fighting to win her heart. She is a girl worth fighting for). I make a mental note to ask Maya for advice on love, because she seems like the kind of girl who has a good grasp of the concept. Last time when she was at the school Cafeteria with Phoenix, she tried to hide the feelings she clearly has for Mr. Wright. I could see through it because I have risked my life on understanding people's true emotions.
The only true emotions I cannot understand, as a consequence, are my own.
So that's why I have faith in Maya. I have the utmost confidence that she can at least guide me on how to make my own choice, the right choice for me. Having made my mind up, I reply back to my bestie.
Yeah, it really is Phoenix that I want you to come see with me 3 So, do you have free time for tomorrow? 3 :D
I patiently wait for a response and it takes mere seconds for her message to be sent to my phone.
Yesssss Frisk, I would LOVE that! I-I w-w-would really like to see him please, with you 3 x3
Haha, Charlotte really is a sweetheart. I feel better deep down knowing she's going to be there with me. She makes me happy just being around me. I miss her hugs and kisses, and her beautiful eyes, and… and… (Mhmmm damn it I'm thinking too specifically~!) I squish my face in frustration. "Okay Frisk, you have HONESTLY got to stop doing this to yourself. The more you think about it, the harder it will be to see her as only a friend." I stay conscious to the fact that friendships have been broken before on love confessions alone, I start to feel bad for the many people in the world who have lost friends over love confessions. Like I stressed to myself before, I don't even know exactly what I'm feeling yet. After all, it's a new sensation to experience; seeing as I have never desired her romantically before. The ONLY way I can see myself trying to solve this is by… by…!
*You have something special planned, it fills you with Determination.
I texted Charlotte, sans, Papyrus and mom about today; they were all ecstatic about joining me. I gave them the time to meet me, outside my house at 9am. My mom waited outside with me for our friends. Needless to say, sans and Papyrus arrived not long after thanks to sans' trademark 'shortcut'. I greeted my uncles as per usual and we all waited around for Charlotte. It was peaceful and quiet until Toriel broke the silence and asked me a question. "My child, are you sure Charlotte will be coming with us? Has she texted you yet?" I gave her a look of concern and checked my phone for any missed texts or phone calls. (Nothing yet; hmmm I worried that she might have forgotten). The literal possibility that Charlotte was not coming with us made my stomach feel uneasy. (I can't keep everyone else waiting, what should I do now?) I wandered back and forth and one of the steps to our front door.
I paced around trying to think of what I should do. Papyrus tapped his foot impatiently on the ground leaning on a mailbox. "HUMAN, I CANNOT DWALDE FOR TOO LONG, BEING THE BUSY SKELETON THAT I AM. MAYHAPS WE SHOULD DEPART FOR THE OFFICE OF THE PHOENIX?!" He was making sense, if Charlotte isn't already here; it's easy to say that we should just leave without her. Yeah, easy, easier said than done though. I gave her two more minutes, if she was not to show, I would have no choice but to depart without her. My phone plays my message ringtone. (I got a text, is it her?) No doubt about it, it is her!
Sorry I'm late bestie, just had to help mother with some work at the bakery 3 On my way now 3
I keep the phone near my face as I pass the message on to them. "Guys, Charlotte's on her way." sans snapped his fingers but I paid no mind to it as I reread her message to make sure I didn't miss any details. Papyrus yelled in shock at something "NYEH!" My mom must have noticed what Papyrus did because she yelled next. "Oh my!" I lowered my phone to see what all the commotion was about. "i heard you had trouble catching your friendly neighbourhood spider girl?" sans made a joke with a punchline I didn't understand. Someone comes into vision, becoming clearer and clearer. (Is that Charlotte across the road!?)"sans, how did you-?" He just winks at me. (Figures, he never cheats and tells.)
I nudge sans gently, very grateful for getting my best friend here. Charlotte kinda just waddles over to us in confusion, and we just tell her not to worry about what happened. She shakes her head trying to clear her thoughts. Without any thought, she wraps one arm around mine, holding onto it like she'll topple over and fall if she lets go. I give her arm a reassuring squeeze and whisper. "I'm sorry bestie, next time I'll let you know about the next teleport we do to you, I promise." Charlotte kisses my cheek. "You better dearie~." Now feeling content she smiles and listens in. It does not take long for us to organise the next step. I decide to lay out the plan for everyone. "Okay guys, now that we're all here, here's what we're going to do." I explain that Toriel and I will be taking her car, while sans and Papyrus try following us using their 'shortcut'. Then sans interjects with something I had not considered. "ummm kiddo, we cannot really take a shortcut to a place we have never been to. I have to have been there before in order to take our shortcut to it." (Shoot! I didn't think of that.) "SANS! WHY DON'T WE TRY ASKING UNDYNE IF SHE CAN DRIVE US IN HER CAR?" sans goes empty eyed. "uh no. we are not getting undyne, drives to crazy for my tastes." Papyrus looks perplexed. "BROTHER, I HAVE NO RECOLLECTION OF HAVING ANY ISSUES WITH HER DRIVING?" sans glances over to his brother. "yeah well. you always seem to enjoy her adventurous driving style.." Papyrus is taken aback by that comment. "O-OHH. I-I SEE. WELL, DO YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS SANS?" After a long moment of silence, I suddenly hit onto a possibility. "I'll ask my friend. I have not seen for a long time, but she may still be in the area. The whole pack looks at me with wonder. Mom asks first before the others have a chance. "So child, don't leave us in suspense, who is this mystery friend of yours?"
"Well guys, her name, it's… Red. Scarlet Red."
Papyrus lights up immediately. (I knew it, Undyne has told her best bud Papyrus about it. Of course she has, could have not expected less.) "THE HUMAN, RED?! I KNOW HER!" He proclaims. "SHE SERVED AS UNDYNE'S APPRENTICE AND WAS IN THE ROYAL GUARD!" He scratches his skull as tries to remember more. "I BELIEVE RED WAS HIDDEN FROM THE UNDERGROUND KINGDOM BY UNDYNE HERSELF, AND SHE TOOK HER TO A PLACE WHERE KING ASGORE COULD NOT REACH HER." (Yeah, I remember talking to Red that one time where the underground timeline had temporal glitches, allowing me to find her.) Scarlet Red, she was a human like me, and her story is heart breaking… But that's for another day. "Yeah, so are you guys able to wait for her if she can make it?" sans shurgs like he usually does. "yeah. no objections here." Papyrus salutes with pride. "YES MAAM! WE SHALL DO AS YOU ASK, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE I AM YOUR FRIEND!" I smile, happy to hear the good news. I ring her on my phone after a few seconds pass.
*Ring ring* *Ring ring*
Suddenly a response picks up.
"Hi. This is Red."
(Yes, she picked up!) "Ummm hi Red, it's me, Frisk." The goes quiet on her end for a little while, but she eventually speaks again. "Oh. Uh hey Frisk. Been awhile. Something I can do for you?" She sounds calm, speaking in a monotone but still happy to hear from me, which is the green light I needed to ask for a favour. "Red, I need your help, because my friends need a ride to a friend of mine's for an important-" I'm cut off by Red before I explain more. "When and where?" I am so drawn back by her quick response I am left with nothing more to say but "My house. Please?" She wastes no time. "You got it, see you soon Frisk. 10 minutes." I'm left gobsmacked. "Uhh.. uhh… uhhh. I-I… think it worked?" Charlotte, having been silently listening, asks me. "Everything okay, hun?" I cough to regain my composure. "Yeah Charlotte, Red said she's on her way. In 5 minutes." I remind Charlotte of something before I forget. "Charlotte, when you see Red, please don't use her first name around her. I can't tell you why just yet. It's a touchy subject." My best friend stares into my eyes and nods slowly. "Yeah, okay dearie, I trust you."
SO we wait for an uneventful 5 minutes with everyone sitting on our doorsteps. After about 2 minutes, Mom gets the car ready while the bone brothers sit and wait with Charlotte and I. Charlotte snuggles closer to me and whispers something inaudible, I ask what she meant but she shakes her head. "Hehe sorry Frisk, not yet." I squeeze her tightly. "Hehe as you wish." (Whatever she wants to tell me, I respect her, and her decision to wait, for whatever she has to tell me.) Focusing on my best friend in my arms makes it feel like eternity passes before Red finally shows up. Red parks her dark red SUV outside our house and honks the car horn. *BEEP BEEP* Papyrus jolts awake having slept on each other's shoulders. "NYEH!?" being forced awake, Papyrus stands up, still dazed from sleeping as long as they did. sans on the other hand. (Yeah, no surprises there.) "SANS! GET UP OUR VEHICLUAR TRANSPORTATION HAS ARRIVED!" Heraing the sound of his younger brother seems to be what it takes to wake up. "sorry bro, i was just 'dead tired' there."
Papyrus folds his arms, clearly upset but choosing not to speak against it with Red here. "YOU'RE LUCKY WE HAVE A GUEST OR ELSE I WOULD CLOBBER YOU RIGHT NOW." The hints of anger never seem to leave his lips with every word spoken. sans defused the bomb as casually as possible. "awh come on, 'orange you glad to see red here'?" Papyrus taps his foot impatiently. "GET IN. TIME TO GO. NOW!" sans floats his way inside using his levitation magic while Papyrus enters the car normally. I think to myself (Wow, so lazy he does not even have to walk). Red finally speaks after smirking at the scene that unfolded before her. "Hey Frisk, hey Mrs Dreemurr, and hey…?" Her voice trails off once she sees Charlotte. However, my bestie fills the silence by introducing herself. "Ummm h-hi.. My n-name i-is Charlotte. Charlotte Shortcake." (Gees, I haven't heard her last name spoken in such a long time. I barely hear her use it unless she nervous. Ohhh….) I sweep my arm around Charlotte's waist and hold on to her so she doesn't fall over. (I know her nervousness makes her stumble a little, so I gotta keep her balance for her.) I step in as Charlotte loses the will to speak. "By the way thanks so much Red, we're so glad to see you." Mom walks up and places a kiss on Red's check. "Yes thank you dear Red, you are always welcome here." Red just remains silent and nods.
Red looks to Charlotte and asks, "Hey Charley, are you coming with me or…?" My bestie blatantly objects while hiding behind me. "Nonono sorryyy~! I'm going with Frissskkk. And please, Charlotte, not Charley." I nod to Red,"Sorry Red, guess she's coming with me." Red, eyes closed, simply makes a small laugh under her breath, "Hmmhm. That's fine."
I get a move on towards Toriel's car. Alright then let us go, to Mr. Wright's office.
I gesture at Red to follow behind us and she nods, "Okay. Got it. Go ahead." Without any more delay, I check the time and ask mom politely to head to the address on Mr. Wright's business card. "The time's 9.17am, that sounds about right." Charlotte sits at the back with me, and rests her head on my shoulder. Driving takes a little while, with red lights and traffic slowing us down a bit. We reach Mr. Wright's office at about 9.32am.
-The viewpoint has changed to a new character-
"Well Flowey, I don't know how you did it, but we truly are here. HAHA!" The upswept winds brushing against the figure's dark cape, wildly thrashing against the natural force. "This world has been their domain, for them to ravage with their basest desires! But no longer! They know not the force which is I, Craedyl!" [Literally pronounced as 'cradle']. He lifted his hands in a grand gesture with his proclamation, in a booming voice, from the exit clifftop of Mount Edott, the sunlight projecting his shadow masquerading on the surface. "As protector of the world, I must cleanse that which threatens to destroy nature itself. Earth's greatest enemy, spell casters! It is with them that have corrupted this world through attriba magic." Flowey only looked on into the horizon, as he absorbed the sun's rays. He glanced at the direction of Craedyl, who was laughing manically. He examined his figure.
Craedyl was roughly 6'2, of a medium build, dressed in ancient grab that Flowey could not recognise but was interested in. The man was draped in a black cape hood, with pointed ears. His eyes gleamed red, and his red robe was adored with golden embroidery, and gems. Flowey noticed how this figure was of an unknown cross-breed of human and animal. Craedyl was now casting some enchantments in a foreign language, seemingly for practice. "Haha, I Craedyl, will destroy these foul atttribas with my curse casting. The bane of all magic!" Flowey recalled a mental note he made. That's right, curse caster, the first ethereal cast that does not rely on human attributes. Flowey wore an expression of disinterest, and Craedyl caught a glace of his stern look. "Wo is me, why the unsatisfied look, friend?" He asked in a bellowing deep but gentle voice.
Flowey just shook his head silently. He reminds me of you, Frisk. And you too, Asriel. The last battle I had with Frisk truly has left me near powerless. Barely enough to live. I no longer have the power I once had. Suffering the damage from the battle has left me on my last 'life'. If I disappear again… Flowey loudly sighed and Craedyl simply lapped up in delight. "Awroooohoohoo! No worries, it won't be long before I eradicate these cretin and we can return back home! Okay?" He asked with a gentleman's smile that could charm any lady. Except…. "Would you stop doing that, Craedyl!? I'm not a girl?! And… I don't… I'm not…!" Flowey paused as his cries fell on deaf ears, and even more, left Flowey flustered. Then Craedyl turned back to the morning sun, and did something Flowey could have never expected.
"Now! I draw upon your energy, earth and sky, I beg for your strength! Lend thee your almighty power!" As he rose his right hand to the heavens, the skies began to darken, and the ground shook, leaving Flowey trembling. W-what's he doing?! H-h-he never emitted such power when we first met?! WHAT IS HAPPENING!? Craedyl began to levitate in mid-air as the dark clouds covered the sun's rays. Electrical energy surging through his aura, whipping and weaving around his arms and legs. His eyes captured the very essence of destruction itself. His still raised hand flickered, and as quick as the eye could see, a lightning bolt struck his hand from the clouded darkness above.
Then Craedyl turned to Flowey, who was still in shock at the god like power he was witnessing. "Nooow do you see Flowey..? My power… IT. HAS. NO. EQUAL!" Adding emphasis to the final word he spoke, Craedyl posed dramatically as lighting covered the landscape, striking the forestlands down below. "Good and Evil mean naught to me! FOR I AM THE WORLD'S TRUE SAVIOUR!" Then for that single moment, Flowey snapped out of his awe stuck gaze and slumped down with a frown as a sudden realization hit him. Craedyl turned his back to Flowey, laughing at the flames now rising from the forest lands was abruptly cut off anti-climatically. This was due to Flowey calling to him, "Craedyl…?" And as if his monstrous nature was never shown, his features and expression returned to normal, as well as the skies.
Now with a softened expression and mildly sweating in anticipation for what he knew was coming next, Flowey then asked Craedyl "…. That last line…. Good and Evill blah blah blah…. That's… from that trash anime video game you played…" Flowey went full-on dark mode as he completed his question "…IsNt it?" Craedyl, levitating with his back-still turned, quickly shut his eyes as he was caught red handed. He attempted a recovery by denying it. "U-u-u-uhhh n-nooo! Of course not I would never do s-s-s-ome-th-ing sooo uhhhh…. Unbefitting of a-a-a-a G-god!" Craedyl was now waving his hands frantically, attempting to sweep his borrowed quote under the rug. "C-c-ome on now Flowey, w-ww-ho do you th-iink I am-? I-I'm an image of pure perfection!" Flowey watched as Craedyl tried to look like the handsome gentleman from that same video game. Flowey continued his relentless punishment of pointing out the reference. In a manipulated dark demonic voice, Flowey spoke.
" 'Killven Flocking Klein' U!"
It was now Craedyl's turn to tremble with fear. "N-nono please! Please d-don't tell anyone Flowey!" Now hiding his face in embarrassment, shaking his head about in shame, Flowey decided to break the tension by laughing at him. "Gyaahahaah! Gagagaghaha! Your expression Craedyl! Hhaha Its priceless!" Flowey lifted his leaf petals and shrugged, "Relaaaax, romeow, I won't beat you down with it. I mean, you may have set the whole forest on fire, but even I can't roast what's already burned..." He whispered under his breath "…screw you sans..." Flowey could swear his pun was heard by sans himself.
Then they realised…. "Craedyl! The forest you numbskull!" The beast then switched back to the burning forest and performed a curse cast, without the dramatic delays. "Waskande koretru saidcodal!" And just like that, water which materialised out of nowhere gathered in the centre of the sky then exploded, creating a wide-spread rain pour over Mt. Ebott and the nearby forests on fire.
Both sighed in relief, as the water fell. Flowey waved a leaf petal about as if rolled into a fist to shake. "You stupid idot! You could've killed us had we not paid attention to it!" Craedyl said sorry with an apologetic look, then levitated back to the mountain peak where Flowey stood. After a few minutes pass and the rain fades away, they suddenly burst out in laughter for seemingly no reason. They let their laughter carry into the breeze that sweeps back through the mountainside. Craedyl then lowers himself and sits down, letting his legs hang off the end of the cliff. Leaning his hands behind him, his head tilts up as he breaks the silence. "Ya know Flowey, I really did treasure our time exploring the remains of your old home. Seeing all those towns… The buildings and structures… Foreign technology of an age long past."
Craedyl's eyes were distant as he looked back to everything that had lead them here. He let his eyes close slowly, as a smile slowly leaks out from his lips. This smile, was genuine. No façade or hiding behind a personality. "Flowey, this past week, was truly incredible. Even though we have only started to develop a friendship, I am still glad I spent this week with you." He stood tall, as he stamped his right hand behind his back, and placed his left hand over his heart. "I still intend to keep my promise Flowey. I SHALL restore your former body again, permanently."
Flowey didn't try to show it but he was saddened on hearing this bold reassurance. My body… My soulless soul. Once an essence fills it, I'll lose all memories of Craedyl and the time we spent together. Because although Asriel and I are the same, I am nothing like Asriel, but also… I am nothing without him. I will become…. Nothing when… Asriel returns. It hasn't happened before since my empty soul was filled temporarily with the strength of 6 humans. Just enough to keep my memories. If I disappear again, I'll be gone forever… I'll cease to exist.
Craedyl kneeled in front of me. "Flowey, what's wrong? You seem unhappy…?" Flowey stared at him with sadness. "Craedyl, t-there's something I need to tell you…"
"No… Flowey… that… that can't be. I refuse to believe such hypocrisy!" Craedyl struck the ground with his fist, devastating force leaving the ground rumbling a little. His face contorted with agony at the thought. "Arrrr, noooo! I…. But…. We!" Flowey cut him off, wrapping a vine around his month from the ground. "I know Craedyl… I know." Craedyl tried to wrestle his mouth free but it failed as Flowey unleased more vines from the earth to tie his hands and legs down. "Please Craedyl, don't fight. You know we have to do this. Asriel, my true self, he deserves this." Craedyl hung his head low. And then for the first time since Flowey first met him…
"No…. Craedyl… Please…. Don't cry."
Being essentially soulless left Flowey unable to comfort emotions. "I… don't know what to d-d-do when someone…" Craedyl cries heavily but his cries are muffled by the wrapped vine around his mouth. He stopped trying to fight and let his emotions flow. With his parents and sister dead, and his brother and a hometown friend missing. Right now, I'm... I'm all he has. Flowey reflected on the facts rather than dwelling on emotions he couldn't fully comprehend or understand. I have tried seeing other ways, but they all lead to the same conclusion. 'I am not strong enough to maintain my consciousness after Asriel returns'. Craedyl was deep in despair. But his knightly honour knew that even these words would not break the sacred promise he made with Flowey.
An hour passes, Flowey and Craedyl now sitting next to each leaning against the mountain side. "Craedyl…?" Flowey drew what little courage he had to break the silence first this time. Craedyl remained silent, and it seemed that he barely registered Flowey's voice as he distracted himself with curse casting fire and letting sit in the palm of his hand. "Craedyl… I know this seems like a hopeless quest that you have bound yourself to but, I still you. Will you continue to help me not as partners, but as, friends?" Craedyl turned to Flowey as his face lit up a little. "You really mean that Flowey?" Flowey nodded firmly. "Welll…." Craedyl lifting himself from the ground and dusting himself off. "Let's go get your body back."
Craedyl conjured a flower pot for Flowey to sit in, and bound Flowey's mind to the pot so that it could float using Flowey's thoughts. "Thank you Craedyl, this is… much better than having to be carried around by others." Craedyl chuckled with an arm raised behind his head. "Awh shucks, no worries Flowey. No worries at all."
Flowey and Craedyl waste no time taking off into the sky, wind pressure from the take-off leaving a crater below them.
-Back to Frisk-
Sitting in the car with Charlotte is more relaxing then I could have ever imagined. We don't take long to drive to Mr Wright's office but Charlotte still sleeps with arms around my waist. I brush her hair gently. (Ohhh Charlotte, my little slice of heaven. You truly are my soulmate. A best friend who was never scared of showing how much she loves me, in front of anyone we came across. I admired her faithfulness and her willingness to care for me. A human.) I hear her purr and it's the cutest thing I've ever heard. "Meeyyuuhuuuhuuu~." She snuggles into me as she feels my brushing. "Ahhh sweet little Charlotte." Toriel peeks with the front view mirror.
"You kids alright back there? Awfully quiet it seems." I reach away from Charlotte and sit up straight. "Uhhh yess mom, we are all happy and dandy here! Charlotte's just taking a little nap." Toriel turns back to the road. "Ahh you two and your silly games… Please do be mindful of each other that neither of you end up… getting hurt." Mom hangs on those last words for longer than expected. (Something isn't right, I feel like Toriel is trying to tell me something by those last words of hers).
I decide not to ask her for more just yet. As right now, we need to stay positive as we introduce the family to Mr. Wright and ask about that law course. Charlotte wakes up as we park the car outside the office. "Mhmmmmhmmm~~?" I tap her on the nose as she lifts herself from my chest looks right at me. I sneak a kiss on her cheek and whisper "goodmorning sleepyhead". She rubs her eyes and yawns only to collapse into my arms again. "Hehe, what am I gonna do with you Charlotte~?" She kisses my cheek in return and teasingly whispers. "Anythingggg you waaaant Frissssk~." (Oh, not fair). I resist the natural urge to feel flattered and prevent my features from blushing at her light-hearted comment. "Hehehe~ right right, well come on now~." Toriel steps outside to open the door for us both. I yell "thank you mom!" Toriel replies with her usual. "It is of no worry, my children".
Red follows behind, parking next to us. And Papyrus steps out alone. "Uncle Pap, where is…?" I ask as I go to check the back seat only to find sans sleeping, again. I pull a straight face. "Figures." (Alright, I'll bring him if we need him for something.) I turn back to Red who approaches me as she jumps out from the driver seat. I see the others gathering by the side of the office chatting away. So I grab Red's hand and walk with her a few steps away from the crowd and turn into an alleyway. "I noticed you wanted to talk to me, but I'd thought you need a little privacy first." Red nods, and looks at our hands still joined. I cough and release the bonded hands. "Ahem, sorry about that. Okay, so, what's up Red?"
"Frisk, I…." Red's feet shuffle uncomfortably.
Charlotte notices Frisk missing among the group, now wide awake. "Frisk, where are you dearie~?" She follows the path to the nearby alleyway.
And when she finally sees them. It was right then that her heart breaks into a million pieces. Her voice breaks as she calls out weakly at the upsetting sight before her. "…. Frisk...?"
Red. Frisk. Kissing. Each other.
. . .
Frisk pushes Red away, "Charlotte! N-no it's not what it looks like!" Red, ashamed of what she has just now caused. "Ohhhh nooo, noo Im-! I didn't mean for-! Im-! …. So sorry Frisk." Red runs into her car without another word and drives off. Charlotte runs back into Toriel's car and cries into her knees. Refusing to look at me even as I knock on the door window. "Charlotte! Charlotte please! I didn't know Red was going to… I didn't know she… Charlotte I want you to know that….!"
That I love you…
Toriel places a hand on my shoulder. I walk away from her car. "My child, whatever just happened, let her be. We'll come back to check up on her. She just needs time alone." She makes me look at her eyes. "Even if I don't know what happened just now, I know when a child wants to be left alone…" She looks away. "I know all too well, Frisk…" I notice mom recalling a memory from the past. "..Mom.." I hug her and we walk to the front door of Mr. Wright's office.
