**"Bold text in quotation marks signifies words spoken aloud." 'Italicized text enclosed with apostrophes signifies a character's thoughts.'**

Kel tries to confront Undyne, who is close to the breaking point. Decisions are made that will drastically affect what comes next.

Chapter Seven: A Promise

"Undyne, I've had enough. You can't keep pretending everything's okay."

The head of the guard glanced up from the tea she'd been staring blankly into, meeting the angry magenta eyes of her concerned cousin. Man, if there were a list of shit she didn't need right now, this would top it. Undyne gave an irritated sigh and poked the middle of Kel's forehead roughly, her other hand tensing on the dining room table in anticipation of a fight. She should have known this was coming. After her second encounter with a human just a few days ago... well, she'd been unable to get back into anything. But she definitely didn't want to talk.

"Butt. Out. It's none of your business, twerp."

"I know what you did, Undyne. You can't tell me it doesn't affect you! I've seen how you've changed..."

"Damn it, Kel, can't you just give it a rest? Being head of the guard is tough enough without you nagging me!"

Undyne felt a bit guilty for that one; clearly she'd hurt Kel's feelings. She wished her cousin would yell or get upset, it would make fighting with her so much easier, but instead the other fish monster grew quiet and draped a loving arm around her shoulder.

"I'm sorry. I don't want to make it harder for you. I'm just worried, Cuz. After the first one..." Kel paused, feeling the subtle but growing tension from her relative. "You changed. A lot. But now, it's like... it's like you're numb, or something. It's a little scary. I just want the old Undyne back, y'know? I want you to be okay again. If it means talking to Asgore..."

"I. Am. Fine. Please just drop it, Kel. Please. You've got me begging here, punk."

There was a long, strained moment of silence before the green-tinted fish monster sighed in defeat. "Alright, alright." Undyne heard an undertone of mischief in the other woman's voice, though, and wasn't surprised when the arm around her shoulder suddenly had her in a headlock. "Surprise noogie attack, ahhh!"

"Oh, it's ON, jerk!"

A violent but extremely fun pillow fight broke out following a chase to their shared room, ending only when they accidentally broke a window and had to stop to clean up the glass. Kel looked over and saw Undyne actually smiling for the first time in days, and decided to chance it.

"Hey, I got an invite from Doggo to hang out with the Canine Unit in Snowdin. You should come. They miss you."

Undyne glanced over, her interest piqued. "Grillby's?"

"Obviously, it's the best hangout spot in town."

"Mmm, grease... cheese fries... ah, what the hell. Sure, I'm in."

Kel beamed at her cousin, pleased that she'd gotten her to agree on any kind of social outing. She just hoped it would do Undyne some good.

An hour or so later, the two had arrived in the wintry town. Luckily it was only a couple of blocks from the riverperson's boat to Grillby's; neither monster liked the perpetually cold weather in Snowdin. The warmth of the diner was a welcome change, and they went right over to the tables that the dogs had taken over.
When they saw Undyne with Kel, the furry guards practically jumped their boss with hugs and affection. That, more than anything else could have, drew out a real laugh and smile from Undyne, and she began to unwind for the first time in... Well, she didn't even know how long. It was wonderful to just eat some junk food and hang out with old friends, and forget about her problems.

After being there almost the whole day, Undyne and Kel reluctantly pried themselves away from the group; they wanted to get back to Waterfall before dark. As the two were walking toward the riverperson's stop, however, a flurry of snowballs hit Undyne's back.

She turned and glared furiously at the perpetrators, who turned out to be... kids. A bunch of very angry-looking kids, ranging from pre-to-late teens. "What the heck is your problem, jerks?" she shouted at them, causing Kel to turn around as well.

"We know what you did to Vickie, you big meanie!" piped up one of the younger-looking monsters, tears streaming down their face.

"What the... who are you even talking about, punk?"

"Vickie Rose is the girl that came through here. The one with the dancing shoes, remember?" An older monster replied this time, a brightly-colored bird monster with sunglasses that couldn't hide an upset expression. "She started a club with us in Snowdin forest. She was our super cool friend. And you made her go away, Miss Undyne. You made her fall down."

Undyne felt like a huge hand was gripping and twisting her insides, but she refused to show weakness, not in front of these dumb kids. "You brats don't understand anything. She was a human, idiots! She killed monsters. I stopped her. That's what the guard is for. Come complain to me when you've done anything to help your people."

The head of the guard twitched when she felt Kel's hand on her shoulder. She should have known it was a mistake to come here; she should have known it would backfire somehow. Before she could do something dumb or violent, Undyne turned on her heel and stormed toward the boat, her cousin close behind. When they reached the boat and actually got on their way, Undyne buried her face in her webbed hands, wishing she could rip out whatever had her insides in such turmoil.

Undyne couldn't believe she'd had it wrong. So, so wrong. The human girl, Vickie, she hadn't killed kids. She'd been telling the truth; she'd killed only monsters that attacked her first. Not only that, but she had apparently made such good friends with the kids of Snowdin that they were now turning against the guard.

"Kel..."

"I'm sorry, Cuz, I had no idea they'd be there, I didn't know that they'd made friends with..."

"Why do I feel this way, Kel? I'm just doing my damn job, why does it feel so WRONG?!"

Undyne would normally rather gouge her own eyes out than cry, but her cousin gently hugging her sent her already-frayed nerves over the edge. Soon she was clinging to the other monster and just sobbing silently into her shoulder. Kel did her best to comfort the distressed guard as they reached their destination, whispering a quick thanks to the riverperson, who was silent for once.

Kel made herself a promise, then, that she'd personally see to the capture of another human should one fall down in their lifetimes. She wouldn't let Undyne go through this torment again.