As Asriel pushed through the large double doors of the dining hall, Aberon stood up from his chair at the far end of the table, and welcomed them.
"Good morning, you two! I trust you slept well?" he asked, offering them both a chair. Karen sat down next to Asriel, across from Grag, who was shuddering nervously in his chair, which was hilariously too big for him.
"I sure did. Had a nasty wakeup call, though, with that Grobzug Karen adopted." Explained Asriel.
"Ah… I wondered what that sound was… How about you, Karen?" continued Aberon.
"I slept very well, sir. However, this morning wasn't exactly pleasant." Growled Karen, her teeth gritted. "Grag." Aberon sighed.
"What did he say this time?" he asked.
"He said that women can't fight like men do, which I think is very sexist." Said Asriel. Aberon laughed.
"What's so funny about that, Aberon?" asked Karen.
"It's true." He grinned. "Down here, most of the female monsters are too fragile to even lift some of the weapons we have. As for humans… well…"
"I can't believe you. You're just so… Ooh, if you weren't royalty, I'd consider teaching you a lesson. Not to mention that one of your guards lost three toes to a woman, and on the surface, there are many more monsters and humans, who are, in fact, female, that would beat your ass to a bloody pulp if they heard you say something like that!" Seethed Karen.
"Really, now? Well, that's certainly interesting to know. But, they couldn't compare to my Guardsmen. They are the pride and joy of my kingdom." Smiled Aberon calmly, which succeeded in pissing off Karen even more.
"Excuse you?! If our captain of the Royal Guard were here, she'd absolutely destroy you!" screamed Karen.
"She? A Captain? Hmph, must say, my brother's choice of soldiers has really gone downhill." Sighed Aberon. Asriel sat in silence as the conversation unfolded. He was looking at Aberon, who was staring down into some scrambled eggs.
"She was trained by him as a child! There isn't a single attack that she can't predict, and I admire her for that!" continued Karen, her face going red with anger.
"What kind of Monster is she?" asked Aberon suddenly, catching Karen off-guard.
"I don't know, but I do know she's amphibious." Replied Karen. Aberon broke down laughing.
"A fish. My brother trained a fish?! That's rich." He smiled.
"Carnivorous, as well. Part piranha." Snarled Karen.
"Come, now. Don't be so hostile. I know what some monsters are capable of. Please, enjoy your breakfast, it's getting cold." Implored Aberon. Karen scoffed, and began eating her bacon. She sank into the chair, a smile replacing her grimace. Asriel smiled, and looked at Aberon, whose face looked sourly back at him. He chuckled and began eating, as well.
"Grag told me that you knew something called Tae Kwon Do. What is that, like a recipe?" asked Aberon.
"No… Sire, it's a… fighting style… I believe?" guessed Grag.
"Martial Arts. You know how a lot warriors rely on swords, spears, maces, axes, bows and arrows, and whatever other weapons there are?" asked Karen, still slightly annoyed with Grag.
"Aye, I do, having been trained to use a broadsword, myself." Said Aberon, nodding as he continued digging into his food.
"Well, Martial Artists use none of them." Smiled Karen. Aberon stopped chewing and looked up at Karen.
"Magic?" he asked. Karen held up her hands, flexed her fingers, and balled them up into fists. She smirked. Aberon cracked a smile, and then laughed loudly. Karen's smirk slipped into a frown.
"You doubt me?" asked Karen.
"You're quite insane, to only use your fists." Laughed Aberon.
"Well, there's a fine line between insanity and skill, and I crossed it long ago." Smiled Karen. "Care to put your money where your mouth is about just how skilled your Guardsmen are?"
"I don't want you getting hurt." Said Aberon, standing up from the table, his plate emptied.
"I won't… Tell you what. Let's make this interesting. Send me… five of your best guards. They won't die… but they will hurt. You'd be surprised at what this tiny frame can do." Laughed Karen.
"Hmph… This sounds like a bet. What if my Guardsmen win?" asked Aberon.
"Help yourself to what's in our bags. I'm sure there's something you're after." Said Karen.
"Physical items are of no importance to me. Perhaps some more information on that Flowey character Asriel told me about… He seemed to be hiding something from me." said Aberon.
"And if you lose?" asked Karen. Aberon smiled.
"If I lose, I'll let you in on a little mining operation just outside of town. We've been searching for something in that area, and if you find it, then it's yours." He grinned.
"Deal." Smirked Karen. "See them in the courtyard." Karen turned to Asriel, who was shocked into silence at Karen's confidence. Karen noticed this, and asked him what was wrong.
"Karen… Do you really think you can beat them all?" he asked.
"Easily. Aside from my normal instructor, I've been getting lessons from Undyne." Whispered Karen in Asriel's ear.
"Oh… Wow… Okay…!" laughed Asriel. "Just be careful. No idea what you'll be facing."
"I'll be fine. Undyne's actually a better Martial Artist than you think. I mean, she trained Frisk, right? I can't be much different." Smiled Karen, heading out of the dining hall. Aberon stared after the two of them as they left, and then turned to Grag.
"Grag, go get the guards. Tell them we have a Challenger." He ordered.
Karen stood out in the middle of the training courtyard, stretching her muscles and warming up for her fight with Aberon's Guardsmen. Asriel sat on a nearby bench, nervously waiting for the Guardsmen to come through the doors leading to the courtyard.
"I feel like she's going to really get fucked by this, Asriel." Whispered Flowey. Asriel growled.
"You're not helping, weed." Said Asriel. "My whole secret about what you did is going to be blown if Karen… Goddamn her overconfidence!"
"You think she'll lose, too? Heh… I thought it was just me." laughed Flowey.
"Fuck… you…" sighed Asriel, just as the doors to the courtyard opened, and five guards, each one of varying sizes, stepping through into the area. Two of them, Asriel and Karen recognized.
"Grag…?" said Asriel in disbelief. "You're fighting Karen?"
"I'm sorry, sir. Being the General of the Guardsmen, I will face her last. She will work her way up the ranks of my men. Starting with Jerry, my Corporal, all the way up to me. Any rules you want to set forth before we start fighting?" asked Grag.
"Let me answer your question with one of my own: Have any of your men ever been disarmed?" asked Karen. The soldiers looked at each other unsurely.
"What is this, 20 Questions?" asked one of the soldiers, a brawny looking feline with a scar running across his right eye.
"Do I hear a volunteer?" asked Karen, causing the soldier to step forward.
"Second Lieutenant Claus, ma'am." Grinned the soldier, drawing his sword.
"Hupupup! I still haven't set the rules." Smiled Karen. "No weapons, no magic. Just fists. Also… No armor… Strip, gentlemen." All the soldiers, including Grag, tensed when they heard Karen say that.
"Who are you to order us around?!" asked Claus. Grag growled his disapproval of Claus.
"Strip, gentlemen! That is an order!" called Grag. "Any clothes you have, wear them. There will be no dingalings shown here today."
"Aw…" sighed one of the soldiers, a scrawny reptilian creature.
"That one's proud of himself." Laughed Karen.
As soon as all the soldiers were stripped of their armor, Karen inspected each and every one of them to make sure that none of them were concealing anything, even the biggest, fattest one of the group, during whose inspection, she gagged from the smell.
"Okay… Now… Jerry…" smiled Karen, beckoning Jerry forward. "Let's see what you've got."
Jerry stepped forward, and raised his arms. Another set of arms emerged from underneath, surprising Karen. Jerry winced in pain.
"You alright?" asked Karen.
"You have no idea how good that felt!" sighed Jerry. "That armor is not meant for four arms."
"Let's see how long you can last." Smiled Karen, taking a fighting stance.
"Just keep in mind, I don't want to hurt you." Said Jerry, concern lacing his voice.
"Ladies and Gentlemen! First one to be knocked out or leave the ring is the loser!" called Grag from the sidelines. "Jerry! If you leave the ring, there will be no rations for you tonight!"
"But, sir! You hate on him so much, already!" said Claus.
"I know! Why do you think he's still Corporal?!" asked Grag sarcastically.
"Hey, Jerry?" said Karen. "If you let me beat Grag, I'll ask the King to promote you. Besides, Grag owes me for what he said." Jerry shook his head.
"I'm sorry, Karen. I'll make the next rank on my own. But thank you." Nodded Jerry, raising his fists and slamming them to the ground towards Karen's head. Karen somersaulted backwards, and then bounded forwards, and punched Jerry directly in the face. Jerry skidded backwards to the edge of the ring, still on his feet. His legs faltered and he took a knee to catch his breath.
"Just a hit? From a human with a Level of Violence of 1? You look so sturdy, Jerry! Come on…" sighed Karen in disappointment. Jerry looked up at Karen, wiping blood from his nose, a smile on his face.
"Damn… What a punch… If I may be so bold, can you roll up your sleeve?" asked Jerry.
Karen did as she was told, and rolled up her sleeve. Her arm was muscular and toned, and showed nearly no fat. Jerry's eyes widened.
"Whoa." He said simply.
"Yeah. Also, Jerry… Take a look at where you are kneeling." Smiled Karen. Jerry looked around, and realized that his heels were nearly out of the ring. Realizing this, he stumbled forward.
"Holy… You… You're strong." Laughed Jerry.
"80% Irish. It's in my blood." Grinned Karen, patting her arm.
"What's the other twenty percent?" asked Jerry.
"Vietnamese… Though that barely shows on the face." Laughed Karen. "Red hair, freckles… but no Asian eyes. Go figure. Plus, most Irish women have green or brown eyes. Mine are Cerulean Blue."
"Heh… So that's what it is…" laughed Jerry. "Umm… What's an Irish? What's a Vietnamese?" Karen slapped her head with her palm.
"Forget it. One more punch and you're out, anyway." Sighed Karen.
"You haven't let me throw a punch at you, yet." Grinned Jerry.
"Because you're slow. Timing and speed is everything." Said Karen.
"I'm not slow! You're just tiny!" said Jerry, lunging forward and punching Karen in the face. But Karen didn't flinch. In fact, she didn't even move. As Jerry's fist sat on her cheek, Karen smiled, grabbed Jerry's wrist and forearm, and threw him out of the ring behind her. The rest of the soldiers stared at Karen in shock. Karen clapped her hands to shake off the dust and then turned her attention to the others.
"Who's next?" she asked.
"Claus…? Get your furry behind out there before I throw it in the river!" shouted Grag.
"Ooh, someone's a little salty." Said Flowey, causing Asriel to laugh.
"What's the matter, Grag? You don't like being proven wrong?" asked Karen. Claus growled and made a dash for Karen, claws unsheathed.
"No one disrespects the General!" he cried, taking a swipe at Karen. Karen dodged it, but just barely.
"Claws?! I thought-" started Asriel.
"They're a part of the body, Azzy! They're fair game!" cried Karen, dodging Claus's claws with increasing ease.
"HOW! How are you so fast!" screamed Claus, taking a pause to breathe.
"About a year of training will do that. Especially with an ex-Captain of the Royal Guard." Said Karen, seizing the opportunity to kick Claus out of the ring. Claus heaved for air, and then started running back to Grag.
"Pussy." Said Grag.
"Yes, I am a cat, and that girl is a human. Though, I'd be surprised if she made it past you, Kowl." Said Claus. The reptilian soldier smiled, and disappeared from view.
"Hey! No magic!" called Karen.
"Chameleon Monster. It's his natural biology." Said Grag coolly, as Karen took a fighting stance, her eyes darting around. Suddenly, there came a sharp snap from behind, and Karen flinched as Kowl's tail hit her in the back, creating a small cut in her sweater. Karen whirled around, but Kowl had disappeared again. Karen closed her eyes.
"Sensei always said that your ears are your greatest weapons." She thought to herself. As she listened, she began to hear things more clearly. She could hear, in the distance, chickens clucking, a pair of Grobzugs fighting outside the walls of the ring, and then, she heard it. A faint hissing; it was short, and it was fast, but Karen's reaction time was faster. She spun around, and caught Kowl in the throat with the side of her hand. Kowl choked and fell to the ground, heaving for air, his tongue lolling strangely out of his mouth.
"Oh, sorry, was that momentum doing its job?" asked Karen, grabbing Kowl by the throat, and tossing him out of the ring gently. Kowl stumbled to the ground, and chuckled.
"You're… You're good… for a girl… No… a woman. Your skills rival us men." Said Kowl. Karen smiled in recognition and turned to the two remaining soldiers.
"Graaaaaaaag? I'm getting admirers!" called Karen. Grag growled, and pointed towards her angrily. The soldier sitting next to Grag, his fat body jiggling as he stood up, moved towards Karen with the speed of a walrus. Karen broke out laughing.
"This tub of lard is my last opponent before you, Grag?! This'll be a piece of cake!" she smiled confidently. Kowl, having recovered from his scuffle with Karen, took a seat next to Asriel.
"So… How long have you known her?" he asked to Asriel.
"Five years. She's taken Tae Kwon Do for all of them, but she trained with Undyne for two of them." Replied Asriel. "Also, that was a dirty move."
"Sorry, it's my biology. Besides, I was desperate. Grag was giving us all an earful before about how important this was. He's worse than my mother ever was." Said Kowl. "Ooh, good punch."
"You should meet mine. She's sweet most of the time, but don't ever piss her off." Smiled Asriel. "Did she just sweep his legs?"
"Yeah, and he's coming towards us. Move!" screamed Kowl, grabbing Asriel by the midsection and pulling him away, just as the fat soldier came crashing down onto the bench where they'd been sitting. The fat soldier groaned, and turned to the two of them.
"Hey, Kowl. How's it hangin'?" asked the soldier.
"Pretty good, Bjulg, except you almost squished us." Replied Kowl. "Uh, how much do you weigh again?"
"545. I really should lose some pounds. Plus, I think I have a concussion… Ugh…" Said Bjulg, as he passed out. Kowl's eyes widened.
"What the fuck is this human?!" he shrieked.
"That would be my girlfriend." Said Asriel. Kowl turned to Asriel, eyebrows raised. "Don't judge me, Kowl."
"That's hot." Said Kowl, which made Asriel punch him in the face.
"She's taken." Growled Asriel.
"So, Grag. Ready to get your ass handed to ya?" asked Karen.
"I will not be beaten by a woman!" screamed Grag, hopping out onto the field.
"That's what they all said." smiled Karen to herself. Then, to Grag, "Come on, shortstack."
"Don't call me short!" shrieked Grag, throwing his leg out towards Karen's face, which she caught midair. Grag gasped, and tried to kick her with his other leg, which she also caught. Grag squirmed in Karen's grip for a moment, before he lifted his torso and headbutted Karen right in the nose. Karen stumbled backwards, blood gushing from her broken nose.
"You broke my nose!" screamed Karen, wiping the blood away with her arm.
"Us Ironhead Goblins are known to do that." Smiled Grag. Karen spat in the dirt, and smiled.
"Ironhead, you say? Tch… You're going to feel a little rusty, then, after I'm done with you." Grag smiled, and ran his hands through whatever hair he had left.
"Metal jokes… they never get old…" smiled Grag, as Karen took her fighting stance once again, blood still dripping from her nose.
"Captain'll sort her out." Said Claus to Kowl.
"I don't share your confidence, Claus." Said Kowl, rubbing his throat.
"She'll win. I know it." Said Asriel, as Karen rushed towards Grag with a scream. Grag's short stature made him a difficult target to hit with punches, so Karen had to rely on her footwork if she wanted to survive the fight with Grag. Kick after kick, Karen felt sure that one of them would hit, but Grag was just too quick for her. He hopped from spot to spot, making Karen dance like a maniac just to keep up with him.
"Having fun yet?" asked Grag.
"Stand still, you little shit!" cried Karen, finally managing to grab him by the arm and flinging him over her head. But before she sent him flying, Grag grabbed a hold of her hair, and used the momentum to slam into Karen's stomach. Karen felt something break, and she coughed up blood. Before she crumpled, Karen grabbed ahold of Grag again, this time by the legs, and tossed him out of the ring into an armor rack. Her vision blurred, she could only see the shape of Grag's body lying in the shattered remains of the armor rack, and that sight made her smile. She allowed herself a small chuckle.
"I… win…" she said, before collapsing to the ground.
"Karen!" screamed Asriel, running into the ring to Karen's side. "Oh, my God… Someone get a medic! Now! Claus! Kowl! Someone fast! Anyone!" Immediately, Claus began running for the courtyard door.
"Azzy…" sighed Karen. Asriel turned back to her, tears in his eyes.
"Karen… Please don't die on me…" wept Asriel.
"I'm fine… Just ruptured something, is all." Said Karen, coughing up more blood.
"Why did I let you do this?!" asked Asriel.
"Because… I wanted to prove them wrong…" said Karen weakly. "Grag wasn't kidding, though. Men don't fight like women do."
"Grag was stupid… He could have killed you with that thick head of his!" cried Asriel. Karen laughed.
"But he didn't. Agh… it hurts to laugh." Said Karen, chuckling weakly.
"Don't worry, help is coming… Everything will be fine." Reassured Asriel, just as the medic came running out to the courtyard, hands green with healing magic.
"Asriel… I won…" sighed Karen. "I actually won… Undyne said I could do anything if I put my mind to it…"
"You hefted a 545 pound monster into a wall. That's impressive." Said Kowl. "And you caught me in the neck while invisible. You're no ordinary fighter."
"Trust me, boys… It wasn't easy… Though, the fat one made my arms burn… No offense." Said Karen, just as the medic stepped away, the healing complete.
"None taken." Called Bjulg, rubbing his bulbous head. Grag, seizing the opportunity of the moment, tried to slip away, but Asriel caught sight of him.
"Get. Back. Here." Growled Asriel, grabbing Grag with blue magic, and pulling him towards him. "You're not getting away that easy… General."
"She was asking for it! No one calls me short and gets away with it!" shrieked Grag.
"That last attack could have killed her!" shouted Asriel, slamming Grag to the ground.
"Asriel, no!" called Karen, grabbing Asriel by the leg. Asriel's eyes were glowing hotly with power as he increased the strength of the blue magic's hold on Grag. Grag screamed.
"Azzy, stop!" cried Karen, standing up now, and wrapping her arms around him. Asriel, blinded by his own rage, threw Karen to the ground. Karen stared up at him, shocked. Asriel stared back into her deep, blue eyes, and his breathing changed from short and choppy to long and shaky. He looked around at everyone, who was staring at him with equally shocked expressions. The blue magic surrounding Grag dissipated, and he looked over at Karen. Asriel looked down at his hands, and for a split second, he thought he saw them return to the familiar shape of leaves.
"No… No… No no no…" cried Asriel, fleeing from the courtyard.
"Asriel!" called Karen, running after him down the hall.