Me: I feel like the title looks so pretentious! *silently facepalms* And look, I pushed forward...

Shamir: No, Shock, it's really...fitting. And yeah, looks like you pulled another update in the same day. Inspiration?

Me: That's for the readers to decide, I guess? *sweatdrops* And yes, I have been inspired!

Gerson: Ah, looks like we're goin' to have a little chit-chat about heroism.

Me: I hope you won't think too badly about me, Gerson.

Gerson: Wa ha ha! Why would I, young'in? You're doing a good job.

Me: Uh...thank you, it means a lot.

Shamir: This time, I shall start the drabble.

*Roar of Light ensues*

DRABBLE START!


A HERO'S GUIDANCE AND UNDERGROUND RUMORS

Shamir was starting slowly, but surely, to figure out just how much of a villain Ratoveros turned himself into, simply because he didn't understand what Gerson tried to teach him - the real values of a hero - while the jaguar was more than willing to learn them in reality, as opposed to the constant lies his captain dished out on him. "Dad told me that Gerson used to teach Ratoveros, so maybe that's why he kinda hated me all the time I was training, and now, during my leadership..." Shamir sighed as the very way Gerson told him once that a Dreemurr wouldn't do such a thing - he meant that a Dreemurr is neither arrogant, nor hunting glory - and resumed his thoughts as he walked down the capital's stony streets, "The turtle is known to be a really shrewd judge of character, he must know something different about being..." he huffed, trying to find proper words for what he meant, "...being a leader worthy of respect."

The monsters were still displeased with him, as he could catch angry glares and soft whispers amongst them - even a certain purple feline that Shamir caught himself admiring every now and then - but he knew that, unless he changed, there would be no way for him to ever get her. "It's not completely hopeless, but in some ways..."

What he didn't really know was that Catty found herself looking at him as well, in spite of the circumstances they were in - he knew exactly what he wanted in life and was really strong willed - the former was something Catty admired in the jaguar. "Here I go again, watchin' him. And I'm stuck with Burgerpants on my head..." she sighed. "I wish he'd just notice me already."

"Hey, Catty?" her best friend, Bratty the Alligator said.

"Yeah, Bratty?" the purple feline replied, after a moment.

"Somethin' on your mind lately?"

Catty hesitated a bit before turning to face Bratty, but eventually replied. "No. Just a fleeting crush, I...I think."

"Oh? Is it Parvos? I saw you looking at him with wanton eyes."

"Uh, what got that idea in your head?" Catty replied nervously.

"Sometimes Bratty can be sooo clueless." the purple cat thought as her friend eventually backed down on asking, formulating her own idea about who Catty wanted, while she found out that Shamir was no longer on that bench. "Damnit..."

Shamir shook his head as he didn't want to focus on Catty right now - she was all too distracting even from afar - and stopped at the new station point of the River Person, at the edges of the capital. "Time to talk to Gerson..." he thought, while sitting himself on the small bench of the boat, and River Person knew that the jaguar was in no mood for talking today - while the strange monster felt the silence a little too heavy for them, and decided to encourage Shamir for a change.

"Tra la la. Do not fret, you shall learn a lot."

"Thanks." was all Shamir could reply as he silently waited to reach his destination.

As he touched, first feet, the humid grass of Waterfall, he realized the River Person's station was near Gerson's small shop - perhaps the strange monster thought it was convenient for both them and the old turtle - and felt somewhat relieved that he won't be traveling too long to find him. The moment he went through the threshold of the small shop, he noticed that nobody was here, but by the looks of the shop, someone was here just a few minutes ago. "Damnit, must've missed him." the jaguar thought as he scratched the back of his head in puzzlement. "He didn't even bother to leave a note...perhaps he doesn't have that many customers."

His eyes were looking around, until he noticed a carved Delta rune and gently touched it with his paw, exhaling in relief. "...The symbol of my family...of our kingdom." he thought as a loud click was heard somewhere deeper in the cave. "What the..." Shamir cursed mentally before moving away from the small stand where Gerson sold his wares, and started advancing, as he could pick up some sounds down the tunnel.

While he wasn't used to the darkness, the subtle light from outside was more than enough to give him a way around, to notice towards whatever he was heading, and unsheathed rapidly one of his Dual Sabers. It didn't hurt to be wary, after all - and he learned that from his father, a thing that filled him with pride - as the tunnel seemed to narrow down in what seemed like an entrance.

"I wonder what is Gerson hiding..."

The door was made of steel - Shamir could feel the coldness of the material under his paws - and it seemed impenetrable. "One way to break through it!" the jaguar thought as he unsheathed his second saber, and charged them with lightning. "If my Jaguar Fury can't break through, it will cause enough noise for the old turtle to come out." he planned ahead, gritting his teeth in disbelief.

"Jaguar's Fury!" he bellowed as the X-shaped attack managed to chew in the material, leaving a deep dent, but it wasn't enough to actually make a hole in it. However, the noise managed indeed to attract somebody's attention, because he could distinctly pick up some vibrations behind the door, and stood ready. Various locks on the door started sliding away, one by one, while a gruff, old voice grumbled in disappointment.

"Wait a sec, King Fluffybuns." Gerson said as he kept sliding away the locks.

"What the hell?! I'm not my fa - wait. So that's where Dad went when he was absent!" Shamir realized as some memories of his past were now much clearer. "But why in here?" his mind raced as he tried to understand why the two monsters were so secretive.

"Okay, I'll open the door for ya. Just make sure you haven't been followed." the old turtle said, as he opened the door, only for him to widen his healthier eye in shock. "What are you doing in here?!"

"Sir, I merely wanted to see you, at my father's request." Shamir said as he sheathed his swords and bowed respectfully.

"Hmph. But know, you ought to keep quiet about this place." Gerson said. "Only the king, you, and I know about this. Tell any other living monster in here and I will find a way to eliminate you."

"Rest assured, sir, no other soul will know." Shamir assured as he placed his paw over the Delta rune. "After all, it must be important if you care for its' secrecy."

"Hmph. Come in." the old turtle gestured for the jaguar to enter, and then locked the entrance with a well-aimed kick that forced the locks to slide back in place.

The cave before Shamir was indeed large, and filled with numerous battle equipments, from training dummies to various weaponry, like axes, maces, and the likes - it seemed that the turtle was doing serious training , or he trained someone else - while Gerson was content to sit on a large bench on the sidelines, inviting the jaguar to sit as well.

"What's with all this?" Shamir gestured towards the whole gear.

"King Fluffybuns trains under my supervision." the old turtle replied, folding his arms.

"Whatever for?" the jaguar's eyes widened in surprise, "He's strong enough on his own!"

"Yes, but he trains just so he doesn't forget the main ways of a hero." Gerson huffed in annoyance. "But you? You have forgotten them long time ago."

"N-not true!" Shamir stammered, "I-I know them!"

"What, you believed that ol' con Ratoveros? He was painful to train, I can assure you."

"But..." the jaguar sighed, "can't you train me too? I..."

The turtle gave him one scrutinizing look, remembering what Asgore often told him about the jaguar in front of his eye, "He tries so hard to be worthy of our name..." and sighed as he knew that an explanation to Asgore will be in order, about how did Shamir manage to discover their secret training ground.

"Look, kid. If you really wish to change your ways, you should start by being honest with yourself."

"What? D-do you think I'm lying to myself?" Shamir asked, tilting his head in curiosity.

"You have no idea how much." Gerson said as he shook his head.

"I am their adopted son...I learnt much about kindness, courage, love and hope under their guidance..." the jaguar started saying as his eyes brimmed with a few tears."I try each day to make them proud of me... "

"Yes, your actions sometimes determine their pride. But actions are also...subjective, if they are done out of foolishness, like you do." the turtle stated matter-of-factly.

"Master Gerson..." Shamir shot his azure eyes towards the old turtle, "teach me how to be a true leader."

"What I can teach you is enough to make you discover your true self." Gerson said, "But that means you must be constantly honest with yourself, as well as figuring out everything on the run."

"You mean, taking responsibilities for all of my mistakes, and learning from them?" Shamir said, as he recalled the other day, when he and his father talked about Ratoveros.

"Exactly. That is the first step in honesty."


(Sans' Lab, Snowdin)

Sans was talking with Alphys on the UnderNet, as he was far too busy for the day - he worked on the machine his father, Dr. Wingdings Gaster, left behind - and throughout the conversation, he noticed that Alphys was extremely excited over something, and stopped for a moment from his notes.

[sans.]: what's up, alphy? why are you typing so much, you ping me like crazy.

[alphys]: I have heard some intriguing news on the Undernet, they say Shamir and Catty have a thing for one another.

[sans.]: what the holy pawprints...

[alphys]: I know,it's shocking right?

[sans.]: it's electrifying.

[alphys]: But, how are we going to make them admit their love?

[sans.]: gee, alphy, you can't force 'em. they'll have to come out on their own.

[PapyrustheDazzlingSkeleton]: WHAT? SHAMIR AND CATTY? SINCE WHEN? I NEED A HEADLINE, I MUST HAVE A HEADLINE.

[sans.]: paps...

[alphys]: Papyrus! I can't believe you're freaking serious about this...

[alphys signed out.]

[sans.]: nice, paps. just nice.

[sans. signed out.]

"count on my bro to just nail it in the worst way possible..." Sans shook his head in disappointment as he returned to work, but he realised, after a good fifteen minutes, that he couldn't actually focus on anything, because the news were indeed intriguing. "shamir and catty...hm..."


(New Home)

The two Dreemurrs were sitting at a large table, outside, in the beautiful inner gardens of the Castle, sipping their tea and nomming some Butterscotch Pie, while talking about various topics - from how the Underground was faring, how pleased or displeased were their subjects, and last but not the least, about their adopted son, who was heading now on a seemingly better path than before.

The birds were chirping joyfully, and it seemed nothing could really ruin this day - for the first time in many years, Toriel and Asgore were actually taking a genuine break from everything - but they knew that things weren't going to be that simple all the time, unfortunately.

"Asgore..." Toriel broke the silence between them with a somewhat worried voice, "Do you believe that Shamir will follow the path we've offered him?"

"Tori..." Asgore rolled her name with a soft tone, gently taking her paw in his, "Deep in my heart, I know that he will. And I hope that he stays on it."

"Did it ever cross your mind that he might fall astray?" she said, as a few tears spilled on the table, "My child...I do not wish for him anything else than happiness and good will."

"Do not worry, Tori." the king rose from his seat and gently placed his paws over her shoulders, "He will not fall astray, and even if he does..." Asgore sighed, "...I hope there will be monsters that will remind him of his real self."

"My child..." Toriel whispered under her breath as she felt a pang of sadness in her heart, "Please..."

"Find a way to remain the son I love with all of my heart."