(a/n: Sentences in Italics are spoken by Chara.
-Dashes- around a sentence indicate a memory.)
Chapter 6
Frisk looked over at the next puzzle, Papyrus shifted nervously, "HUMAN! HMMM...HOW DO I SAY THIS...YOU WERE TAKING A LONG TIME TO ARRIVE, SO... I DECIDED TO IMPROVE THIS PUZZLE BY ARRANGING THE SNOW TO LOOK MORE LIKE MY FACE." He rubbed the back of his head, "UNFORTUNATELY, THE SNOW FROZE TO THE GROUND. NOW THE SOLUTION IS DIFFERENT!" He sighed, "AND, AS USUAL, MY LAZY BROTHER IS NOWHERE AROUND. I SUPPOSE WHAT I'M SAYING IS...WORRY NOT HUMAN!" He posed dramatically "I, THE GREAT PAPYRUS, WILL SOLVE THIS CONUNDRUM! THEN WE CAN BOTH PROCEED! MEANWHILE, FEEL FREE TO TRY THE PUZZLE YOURSELF! I'LL TRY NOT TO GIVE AWAY THE ANSWER!"
Frisk walked around the puzzle, they pressed a few of the buttons and reset the puzzle. They knew the how to solve it, probably, it hadn't taken too many tries last time but that was no fun. Frisk walked back to Papyrus.
"SO, YOU WANT A HINT, HUH?" He rubbed his chin, "WELL... I'VE BEEN LOOKING AT THE PUZZLE...AND I THINK THE SOLUTION...IS TO TURN ALL THE X'S INTO O'S! YOU SHOULD TRY THAT!"
"Can I have another hint?" Frisk asked out of curiosity.
Papyrus put his hands on his hips, sweat beaded on his forehead, "MAYBE SOLVING THE LAST PUZZLE AGAIN WILL HELP. ASK AGAIN FOR MORE GREAT HINTS!"
Frisk giggled. "More!"
Papyrus eyes shifted back and forth nervously and cleared his throat, "EUREKA! I'VE FIGURED OUT THE PUZZLE!" He held up a finger, "YOU SEEM LIKE YOU'RE HAVING FUN, THOUGH... DO YOU ABSOLUTLEY, DAPSOLUTLEY WANT THE SOLUTION?"
Do you absolutely, dapsolutley want the answer?
Frisk choked down a laugh and shook their head rapidly.
"WOW... YOU'RE TRULY A PUZZLE PASSIONEER!" Papyrus said excitedly, "I'M SO ENTHUSED BY YOUR ENTHUSIASM! YOU CAN DO IT HUMAN!" He gave them a thumbs up.
Frisk took deep breath.
Absolutely dapsolutly, they whispered.
Frisk snorted and clapped their hands over their mouth.
"HUMAN-?"
"s-sorry!" Frisk giggled, "but 'absolutely-dapsolutly' j-just!"
"I SEEM TO HAVE TICKLED YOUR FUNNY BONE?" He said, pleased with himself.
Frisk laughed, grabbing onto Papyrus's hand to keep from falling over. His thick red gloves gripped them tight.
"That was funny." Frisk said once they managed to stop laughing.
Papyrus said, "IT WAS, WASN'T IT?"
Frisk nodded.
"ERR," he hesitated, " PERHAPS IT WOULD BE BEST IF YOU DIDN'T TELL MY BROTHER THOUGH."
"Do you hate puns?" Frisk asked.
"THE PROBLEM WITH PUNS, IS THEY ARE NOT COOL!" Papyrus narrowed his eyes, "THE GREAT PAPYRUS MUST STRIVE TO BE COOL IN ALL THINGS!"
"But you're always cool Papyrus." Frisk said.
"OH-" Papyrus cheeks took on a blueish, "WELL, O-OF COURSE I AM!"
Frisk squeezed his hand, "Can we do this puzzle together?"
"TOGETHER? YOU DO NOT WISH TO SOLVE IT YOURSELF?" He asked.
Frisk bounced on their toes, "But doing it together would be fun!"
"DOING PUZZLES WITH SOMEONE?" Papyrus seemed bewildered by the idea.
Frisk tugged him over to the puzzle, "Should we start on different sides and meet in the middle?"
Papyrus shook his head, "IF WE START ON OPPOSITE SIDES IT DEFEATS THE PURPOSE OF THE PUZZLE!" He held his chin thoughtfully, "HOWEVER, IF WE START TOGETHER THEN WE WILL END UP PRESSING THE BUTTONS TWICE WHICH WOULDN'T WORK EITHER. HMMM..."
Frisk waited patiently while Papyrus was thinking.
He looked down at Frisk and his eyes lit up, "I'VE GOT IT! NYEH HEH HEH!" He bent down and picked Frisk up and placed them onto his shoulders. "HOLD ON TIGHT!"
"Yes!" Frisk said breathlessly gripping tight to his scarf, "You're so tall! I can see everything!"
"ANOTHER BRILLIANT IDEA BY THE GREAT PAPYRUS! NOW!" He pointed at the puzzle, "LEAD THE WAY HUMAN! I SHALL PROVIDE ADVICE AS NEEDED!"
Frisk pointed the way through the maze. They had to reset three times, once because they messed up, and twice because of excessive exuberance. When all the X's had been turned into O's, Papyrus carried them over to the switch and set them down on it, dropping the spikes with a 'shunk'.
"WOW! YOU SOLVED IT!" He beamed with pride, "MY ADVICE HELPED! IT REALLY HELPED YOU! INCREDIBLE! I'M IMPRESSED!"
Frisk glowed at all the praise.
Papyrus said, "YOU MUST CARE ABOUT PUZZLES LIKE I DO!"
Frisk nodded and grabbed Papyrus' hand again.
His large hand wrapped around Frisk's small one very gently, "WELL, I'M SURE YOU'LL LOVE THE NEXT PUZZLE THEN!" He said as they walked towards the next area. "IT MIGHT EVEN BE TOO EASY FOR YOU! WAIT HERE!" he let go of their hand at the top of the puzzle grid and ran to the other side excitedly, "YOU'RE GONNA LOVE THIS PUZZLE! "
Sans was already waiting on the other side of the grid. He glanced from Papyrus to Frisk and gave them a questioning look.
"IT WAS MADE BY THE GREAT DR. ALPHYS! YOU SEE THESE TILES!?" He swept an arm towards the grid, "ONCE I THROW THIS SWITCH...THEY WILL BEGIN TO CHANGE COLOR! EACH COLOR HAS A DIFFERENT FUNCTION!" He took a deep breath and then launched into the explanation at breakneck speed, "RED TILES ARE IMPASSABLE! YOU CANNOT WALK ON THEM! YELLOW TILES ARE ELECTRIC! THEY WILL ELECTROCUTE YOU! GREEN TILES ARE ALARM TILES! IF YOU STEP ON THEM...YOU WILL HAVE TO FIGHT A MONSTER! ORANGE TILES ARE ORANGE-SCENTED. THEY WILL MAKE YOU SMELL DELICIOUS! BLUE TILES ARE WATER TILES. SWIM THOUGH IF YOU LIKE, BUT...IF YOU SMELL LIKE ORANGES! PIRANHAS WILL BITE YOU. ALSO, IF A BLUE TILE IS NEXT TO A, YELLOW TILE THE WATER WILL ALSO ZAP YOU! PURPLE TILES ARE SLIPPERY! YOU WILL SLIDE TO THE NEXT TILE! HOWEVER THE SLIPPERY SOAP...SMELLS LIKE LEMONS! WHICH PIRANHAS DO NOT LIKE! PURPLE AND BLUE ARE OK! FINALLY, PINK TILES. THEY DON'T DO ANYTHING. STEP ON THEM ALL YOU LIKE." He took a deep breath, "HOW WAS THAT!? UNDERSTAND?
Do you understand that explanation?
"...not really." Frisk said honestly. They had been too bewildered to even answer last time.
"OKAY... I GUESS I'LL REPEAT MYSELF..." he said reluctantly and started again, speaking even faster than before, "RED TILES ARE IMPASSABLE. YELLOW TILES ARE ELECTRIC AND DANGEROUS. BLUE TILES MAKE YOU FIGHT A MONSTER. GREEN TILES ARE WATER TILES. ORANGE TILES ARE ORANGE SCENTED. IF YOU STEP ON ORANGE, DON'T STEP ON GREEN. BROWN TILES ARE...WAIT!" He froze and shook his head, "THERE ARE NO BROWN TILES...PURPLE TILES SMELL LIKE LEMONS. WHY DON'T THE YELLOW ONES SMELL LEMONY?"
Frisk shrugged.
"UMM...WAIT! DID I MESS UP GREEN AND BLUE!?" He pulled out a sheet of paper and squinted at it, "THE BLUE ONES ARE WATER ONES! PINK TILES...I DON'T... REMEMBER? WAIT! THOSE ONES DON'T DO ANYTHING. OKAY! DO YOU UNDERSTAND BETTER NOW!?"
Even less.
Frisk agreed, "Even less."
Papyrus narrowed his eyes and skimmed over the instructions again in frustration, "…...OK, YOU KNOW WHAT?" he sighed, "HOW ABOUT... YOU JUST... DO THIS PUZZLE... ON YOU OWN... I'LL LEAVE THE INSTRUCTIONS... JUST READ THEM. THEN WHEN YOU UNDERSTAND IT... YOU CAN THROW THE SWITCH. AND DO IT AT YOUR OWN PACE. GOOD LUCK. NYEH... HEH... HEH!" He dropped the paper on the ground and walked off, a little slower than normal.
Frisk wondered if maybe it would've been better to let him activate the machine even though it would break. They glanced at the paper on the ground, it was in Alphy's chicken scratch handwriting. Frisk was impressed Papyrus could read as much as he had.
They stared at the machine for a long time, it looked uncannily familiar.
What came first the Mettaton or the machine?
"actually, the spaghetti from earlier..." sans said from behind them, "it wasn't too bad for my brother. since he started cooking lessons, he's improving a lot."
They turned away from the machine and walked back to Sans.
Sans said, "i bet if he keeps it up, next year he'll even make something edible."
Frisk frowned very slightly at Sans.
"i'm just teasin'" Sans mussed their hair, "you're a good kid."
Frisk straightened their hair with their fingers and scowled at Sans.
A wicked grin crept onto his face and clapped both his hands on their head, rumpling their hair.
"Don't!" Frisk giggled trying to swat Sans' hands away.
"not a chance." he chuckled as he spun their hair into a rats nest.
Frisk grabbed the bottom of Sans jacket and ducked under it, slipping under his arm and out the other side and hugged him from behind, "Stealth hug!"
"sneaky." he grinned. "but you'll never get the squeeze on me that way." he sort of, sidestepped- shifted like fog, and Frisk was holding empty empty air. They paffed down in the snow. Sans winked, and in between a blink he was gone leaving only the sucking space where he had been.
Frisk stood up and absently straightening their hair. They knew about Sans' shortcuts but the other move was something they had never seen before. Frisk wished they could dodge like that. They carefully untangled their hair as they walked, frowning at the random little snarls that caught and pulled. The path opened into a empty field of snow, except for a guard station. Frisk looked around in confusion, there was supposed to be something here, they were certain of it.
You haven't seen Lesser dog yet.
That was it. Frisk went over to the guard station and looked inside there was only a box of raisins on the ground.
-Pomeraisins They suggested.
Frisk smiled.
Snow crunched under paws behind them, as Frisk turned and Lesser dog was right in front of them, tail wagging madly.
Wields a stone dogger made of pomer-granite. They giggled. Frisk could feel their excitement.
Frisk dropped their backpack and pulled the stick from the side pocket, waving it in the air.
Lesser dog barked excitedly and spun in a circle.
They threw the stick across the field, Lesser dog dropped its weapons and was off like a shot, returning with the stick before Frisk could even take a breath. They threw the stick over and over again. Once Lesser dog grew tired of that game they played keep away, running in circles around the guard house. Frisk stopped to catch their breath and Lesser dog pressed against them. Frisk ran their hands through the dog's white fur. Lesser dog's neck stretching across the snow as they slid their fingers through the soft fur. Frisk lost track of how long they pet them.
It's possible that you may have a problem.
Frisk buried their face in Lesser dog's neck and closed their eyes. Lesser dog was half asleep, its tail sweeping lazily back and forth across the ground. They wanted to sleep too, for seven months, two weeks and four days. Then, maybe, when they woke up, it would all be like they left it.
It'll be ok, Frisk.
Frisk pulled their face out of Lesser dog's fur. It seemed like forever since someone had said their name. It felt good...they felt more real.
They smoothed the fur on Lesser dogs neck and smiled, "You're a good dog."
Lesser dog whined slightly and bumped Frisk's hand gently. Frisk pet them one last time and looked around for their stick but couldn't find it. They left it for Lesser dog to play with later.
The next puzzle was another button puzzle but on slippery ice. They like this one, the way it spiraled to the center was very soothing somehow.
They stepped wrong after the third button and slid off at a weird angle. They tumbled down the ledge, with their heart racing and stomach in their throat, into the soft snow below. Frisk sat up with a gasp. The snow had cushioned most of the fall but that didn't make it any less scary. Their hands were shaking in time with their heart. They glanced around the small area and spotted two shapes in the snow.
Papyrus and Sans had made little snow sculptures. Papyrus' was very good, it looked very much like him. Sans had made a snow lump and written 'sans' on it in red marker. Frisk absently made a smaller snow lump beside Sans' and used their fingertip to write 'Frisk' in the snow. By the time they finished their hands had stopped shaking and were just stingingly cold. They pulled them inside the sleeves of the jacket and hiked back up to the top of the puzzle.
This time they went slower and made sure to slide in perfectly straight lines. Frisk jumped on the button to finish the puzzle and the spikes dropped with a snick. They slid along to the thin path of ice through a black patch of trees; holding their breath as they slid into the darkness. A lump of snow fell on their head as they exited.
It's a little bird! The snow looks like a little bird!
"really?" Frisk asked.
Yeah! Do it again! Do it again! They said excitedly.
Frisk hesitated for a moment then slid back the other way. They braced for the plop of snow as they slid back into the light.
It looks like a hat! A dapper blook hat! They said.
Frisk giggled and slid back through.
This time it's a house! It's got windows and everything!
They slid again.
aww, its just a lump...
"Maybe that's it?" they asked as they brushed the snow off. Their head was getting cold.
They agreed reluctantly, ...yeah...
Frisk slid back to the other side, fump, and shivered as a drop of snow slid down the back of their neck.
...it's a snow dog... they said in awe.
"hee hee!" Frisk giggled as the snow collapsed and slumped off their head.
It was beautiful! they protested.
Frisk laughed harder, wrapping their arms around themselves and squeezing.
Well maybe not beautiful, but it was really cute!
Frisk nodded as they tried to get their breath back.
They felt annoyed.
"Eep!" Frisk jumped as a shivery tingle ran down their back, like a cold finger down their spine, "Chara!"
Chara stopped suddenly like an intake of breath and for the space of a heart beat they both held still.
You... know who I am? They asked.
Frisk said hesitantly, "is it- is that right?"
...Yes... Chara said almost reluctantly, I'm... I'm Chara.
"I thought it must be you." Frisk said, "Before, Flowey always called me by your name. It was weird until I saw the tapes in the lab basement..."
They both shuddered.
"...then it made more sense." Frisk said.
I just, I don't understand, why you can hear me...now? Why now? They asked.
Frisk eyes flicked back and forth as they searched their memories. "I was... scared... really scared. It's hard to remember clearly..."
You don't have to-
"I just didn't want to get hurt anymore and I thought the sooner I left the sooner it would all stop." they continued, "somewhere it changed and I wanted to help everyone even if it hurt..." They paused, grabbed the edge of their coat and fidgeting with it absently, "All the helpful things you told me, and the funny things and the silly things, they helped... a lot. There were times I woulda just hid and cried but I didn't feel lost because of you..."
You responded to what I said but you never spoke to me, before now. Chara said.
"I don't know..." Frisk said miserably, "I couldn't have known all those things but it didn't feel like someone else. It felt like my own voice even though it couldna' been."
I understand. Chara said placatingly, You went through the underground in just a day or two last time, no sleep, nor rest except a few minutes here or there. You had so much determination to get out, it drove you like a whip. Once you were outside the barrier you passed out and slept for four days. I... everyone was worried. And I... I helped only when called upon. I never tried to... reach you.
"...I forgot you..." Frisk said upset, pressing their hand hard over their heart.
Up on the surface, Chara said, you were starting a new life and helping Monsterkind, how could you remember someone you didn't know existed?
"but you helped me..." Frisk sniffed.
The only thing remembering me would've helped with was making the nightmares and flashbacks worse. Chara said flatly.
Frisk squeezed their hands tight, their fingernails digging into their palms.
The memories and dreams were really bad, but you wouldn't tell anyone... I wish I had- Chara stopped mid sentence and hesitated, then tried again, maybe, it would've been better if I had tried...so you knew you weren't alone.
Frisk wiped their eyes, "Thank you for helping me."
...Don't thank me... Chara said softly.
"An' I'm sorry I forgot you." Frisk said.
Cut it out.
Frisk frowned, "But I mean it!"
Yes, yes. Chara said, You're the magical unicorn of love and kindness, I know. Someone could step on your foot and you'd be the one to apologize.
"Would not." Frisk said annoyed.
Says the kid that let the whole Underground use them for target practice and still helped set them free. Chara said dismissively.
Frisk frowned, glaring at someone who couldn't be glared at.
Chara said, The more interesting question, is how I ended up attached to you anyway. I died about a hundred years ago and six brats fell before you did. Even the first time through I thought it must be some sort of messed up joke. Prophecies and fate, I don't believe in any of that garbage...They grumbled.
Frisk giggled and smiled tiredly. They felt wobbly, like their head was too heavy.
Are you ok? Chara asked in alarm.
"...jus tired and hungry." they took a deep breath, " 'n cold..."
Snowdin isn't far. We can avoid most of the monsters. Just a little further, Frisk. Chara said encouragingly.
" 'k." Frisk nodded, and stepped forward.
(a/n: This story updates weekly.
Thank you for reading this chapter! I hope you liked it. I really appreciate feedback, if you have any, it make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.)