Asparagus
Frisk and Flowey encountered a rickety bridge just outside of the crystal-flecked tunnel. They crossed it with ease. It was near the end of the long bridge that they were stopped. They turned around.
Monster Kid raced down the bridge and stopped before them. "H-hey! It's you. I know I'm not supposed to be here, but… I need to ask a favor of you. Yo… you're human right? Heh… I knew it. Well, I know now. Um, well, Captain Undyne told me to 'stay away from that human' so… I guess that's you. So, I guess that makes us enemies, me being a monster and you a human. Normally I'm good at it but… I just can't hate you. So, uh, say something mean so I can hate you?"
"Why?" Frisk questioned. "I mean, why can't we be friends? Even if we're different?"
"Yo, Frisk, you're really nice but humans are our enemies you know. So, just, tell me something bad, okay? To, uh, make me feel better?" Monster Kid requested.
Frisk hesitated. "Um… uh… you're a c-clumsy no good monster."
Monster Kid tipped his head. "Huh…? That's your idea of mean? Pfft. My sister tells me that all the time! Guess I have to do it, then." He straightened himself out. "Yo. I… you're a… stupid human. …darnit." Monster Kid rolled his eyes. "Yeah I stink at this. I'd better go home." He turned and ran away. Unfortunately, he tripped and fell. With a cry of surprise, he bit down on the bridge and clawed at the beams holding it up with all his might. His tail wagged back and forth in an effort to keep his balance. "H-h-help! I-I fell!"
Captain Undyne appeared at the other end of the bridge. She held up her hand to summon a spear but hesitated upon seeing Monster Kid. She took a step forward to aid him. However, Frisk was already by his side. The human wrapped their arms around his neck and chest. Flowey's vine ensnared his waist and upper chest. Together, they dragged the kid onto the bridge.
Once he was stable, Monster Kid stood up. Frisk and Flowey let go. Immediately, he whipped around to face Captain Undyne, head low and tail whipping back and forth. "Yo! If you want to h-hurt my friend, th-then you're going t-to have to get p-past me, first!" Monster Kid puffed out his chest to make himself look bigger. He narrowed his eyes and bared sharp teeth. Unfortunately, his stutter and size did not make him that threatening despite his spikes, teeth, and clawed feet.
Captain Undyne took a few steps back, hesitated, and then walked away.
Monster kid turned back to Frisk. "She's… she's gone. You really saved my skin there. Guess, uh, being enemies was just a nice thought. Haha… Guess we'll have to be friends instead. I should really get home. My parents must be worried… Welp, see you later!" The kid turned and raced away.
Frisk gave him a small wave. "He's… that was really brave of him."
Flowey nodded. "Yeah. You did a great job, Frisk. Now, let's not let his bravery go to waste. I think we're at the end of Waterfall, anyway."
The human sighed and nodded. "Oh, that's good." They turned and left the bridge and crossed through the tunnels. Soon enough, after a small amount of walking and another bridge, the tunnel opened into a cave. A rocky outcropping with a hole at its base was the entrance to the next tunnel. The cave system opened around them. Crystals glimmered in the ceiling.
Frisk and Flowey continued forward. They were stopped dead by a loud voice above them.
Captain Undyne, perched on the rocks above, glared down at them. "Seven. Seven humans souls and King Asgore will become a god. Six. That's how many we've collected thus far. Understand? Through your seventh and final soul, this world will be transformed. First, however, as customary for those who make it this far… I shall tell you the tragic tale of our people. It all started, long ago…" Quite suddenly, her dark voice sharpened. "No. You know what? Fuck it! Why should I tell you that story, if you're about to die?!" Captain Undyne's midnight metal fingers caught on her helmet.
Clang!
The metal instrument that protected her head and hid her face clanged down the rocky outcropping. She glowered down at them with one orange, slit-pupil eye. Her left eye was covered by an eye patch. Fins sprouted from the sides of her blue head instead of ears. Her long red ponytail flowed back over her armor. She bared her fangs in a twisted grin. "YOU! You're standing in the way of everybody's hopes and dreams! Our history books taught us that humans were a fierce race, hardy and combative. But you? You're just a coward! Hiding behind that kid so that you could run away from me again. And let's not forget your goody-two-shoes shtick!"
Captain Undyne laughed, baring every razor tooth she could and creating a harsh sound that mimicked a laugh, though it could have been a mocking bark. "Oooh! I'm making such a difference by hugging random strangers!" Her twisted grin returned and her voice evened out. "You know what would be more valuable to everyone? If you were dead! That's right, human! Your continued existence is a crime! Your life is all that stands between us and our freedom! Right now, I can feel everyone's hearts pounding together! Everyone's been waiting their whole lives for this moment! But we're not nervous at all. When everyone puts their hearts together, we can't lose! Now, human! Let's end this right here, right now. I'll even give your coward hide a chance to prepare yourself. Step forward when you're ready to die! Fuhuhuhuhu!"
Captain Undyne crouched and set one hand on the stone before her. Her sharp gaze did not leave Frisk. Frisk looked back at Flowey. "Th-this is it, then?"
"Don't… don't give up, Frisk!" Flowey encouraged. "W-we can do this! We can…" His voice lowered to a breath. "You're fast. We can do this."
Frisk gave him a curt nod. "I… I want to try talking to her first." A glimmer of yellow light appeared to their right. Frisk's fingers passed through it.
"The wind is howling. Your greatest challenge so far is before you. You are filled with determination."
"You were literally whimpering about her trying to kill you a few minutes ago."
"I-I know. I shouldn't have said that."
"You're a strange kid, Frisk."
Frisk shut their eyes and took a deep breath. "Flowey, she's good, fast, and strong. I'm going to need your help now more than ever."
Flowey nodded. "I will not let you down, Frisk! I promise!"
Frisk smiled. "Thank you, Flowey. Let's… let's get this over with." Frisk looked up. Captain Undyne looked like a hungry cougar, perched in the rocks and teeth bared in the anticipation of a meal. Frisk took a step forward.
Captain Undyne hissed in glee and laughed, "That's it then? Well here I come!" A spear materialized in her hands. The monster leaped from the rock and landed between them and their exit. Her spear cracked into the earth and sunk a few inches into the stone. Frisk's soul appeared before them. Captain Undyne tore her spear out of the stone. "En guarde!" Captain Undyne cried with a wave of her spear.
Frisk jumped. Their soul turned green. They could not move. It was as if chains wrapped about their ankles and anchored them to the ground. Captain Undyne snapped her spear in half and threw the staff at Frisk. Frisk caught it and held it close.
"Undyne- Attack 60, Defense 30. HP 1800. The heroine who NEVER gives up."
Captain Undyne sneered, "As long as you're green you can't escape! Unless you learn how to face danger head on… You won't last a second against me!"
Crystal spears appeared before them. As soon as they formed, they launched themselves at Frisk. Frisk raised their staff. Each time a summoned spear hit the staff, the summoned one evaporated.
"C-Captain Undyne!" Frisk pleaded once the last spear dissipated. "I don't want to fight you!"
"I wouldn't either!" Captain Undyne laughed with a venomous smile. This time, the wicked spears materialized all around the and shot forward.
"L-Left! Left!" Flowey yelped. Frisk whipped around, holding up their spear-shaft. The last of the spears vanished. "Right! D-D- FRONT! FR- RIGHT!" Flowey stammered as he attempted to instruct them as fast at the spear came. Their heart began to crack.
"I won't fight you!" Frisk stated.
"For years we've dreamed of a happy ending…" Captain Undyne admitted, ignoring Frisk completely. "But for years the possibility never came true." More spears were summoned. Frisk gasped and blocked each one they could. Flowey's direction aided quite a bit as the spears were small. They were blue approaching, but flashed a blood red upon getting too close. Although it helped, it still wasn't good enough. Their soul cracked further.
"Now, sunlight is just within our reach!" Captain Undyne crowed and summoned another circle of spears. These ones were slower. A plethora of spears circled and struck. Although they were slow, they were so close together, Frisk couldn't discern spear from spear and had to spin around so fast they made themselves dizzy. "I won't let you snatch it away from us!"
Frisk, hardly concentrating on Captain Undyne's words, matched each spear thrown at them. When they turned back to her, Captain Undyne flashed a menacing smile. "Ngahh! Enough warming up!" Spears came more quickly this time. Frisk manage to block them all. Then, the spear Captain Undyne held flashed out. It phased through their soul and turned it red. Their spear shaft vaporized. Another spear approached. Frisk ducked and took a step back. They could move!
They attempted to run past her. A wall of spears appeared. Frisk cried out in fear and took a step back. Spears spun into existence and shot at them. Frisk jumped back and ran forward and side-stepped the absurd about of spears. Once the volley was over, Frisk looked up at Captain Undyne. She didn't look tired in the least.
Without hesitation, Frisk slipped under Captain Undyne and raced away. Their soul was absorbed into their body again. Captain Undyne gave chase. Flowey gasped, "Oh- run faster! She's catching up!"
"I can't!" Frisk gasped. "I'm going as fast as I can!"
"SHE HAS METAL ARMOR ON! HOW?!" Captain Undyne raced ahead of them. Their soul appeared before their chest. They skittered to a stop before they could hit Captain Undyne.
"Enough running away!" Captain Undyne barked. "Honestly, I'm doing you a favor…"
Spears shot up to make a cage around them. Blue circles began to glow under them. There was only one spot at a time that didn't glow blue. Once the attack was over, Captain Undyne swung her spear at them. The wall of spear vanished. Frisk's soul turned green. The spear shaft appeared in their grasp.
"No one has made it past King Asgore." Spears came at them from the front and the back. Some were quick, some were slow. Frisk's back hurt from the amount of times they had to spin around and around to catch the spears. By the time the attack was over, Frisk felt dizzy.
"So, killing you now is an act of mercy," Captain Undyne growled. The sudden thought of Toriel crossed their mind. A barrage of arrows shot at them. A golden spear raced toward them at the end. Frisk had little time to wonder about its color when it flew around to their other side. Frisk yelped in pain as the final spear tore through their soul, shattering it like glass. Shirk. Chink!
You cannot give up just yet… Chara! Stay determined…
Frisk and Flowey woke up by the golden light, by their last save point. Frisk took a shaky breath before engaging again. Captain Undyne did not seem to have any recollection of their death. That was fine; Frisk did not like the idea of Captain Undyne boasting further.
Six more attempts were made before they got farther than before.
"So, stop being so damn resilient!" Captain Undyne snarled and waved her free hand. Arrows popped up everywhere. Frisk couldn't dodge them all. By the time the barrage was over, they felt dizzy. Mercifully, their soul turned red. They ducked another arrow. They raced forward.
Captain Undyne inevitably caught them, straight under an electronic sign that had letters that moved. "WELCOME TO HOTLAND" was spelled in bright red letters. They were so close.
"Erg! Enough running away!" Captain Undyne snapped. Their soul turned green. Without hesitation, Frisk nearly swallowed the cinnamon bunny whole. Most of the cracks vanished. "Dr. Alphys told me that humans were determined…" More spears attacked. Gold mixed with red as they sped at them. Flowey gripped the spear shaft and spun them around to block many of them. Flowey couldn't possibly talk fast enough to give them appropriate directions. By the time the barrage ended, Frisk's head was fuzzy. Captain Undyne turned their soul red.
"I see now what she meant by that." This time, spears formed a circle around them. They spun and closed in on them in large, shrinking circles. Frisk had to dart out of the openings provided. Each time a circle vanished, another appeared. They were completely trapped. By the time the attack was over, Frisk's mind had cleared enough for them to run away.
"DODGE!" Flowey cried. Frisk's eyes grew round. A spear, summoned outside of their fight, formed and shot. It tore into their shirt and chest. Shirk! Chink…
You cannot give up just yet… Chara! Stay determined…
Frisk could hardly get past Captain Undyne. Their soul shattered again and again and again. They reappeared at the golden sparkle again and again and again. Frisk dodged and ran and blocked as fast and hard as they could. Yet, each time they fought, each time they died, they found that they were getting better.
Seven more tries later, Frisk made it to the farthest they'd gone in that battle. "WELCOME TO HOTLAND" glowed in red dots that moved across a giant electric sign.
"But I am determined, too!" The spears came fast- too fast. Cracks formed in their soul. Frisk blocked each spear as best as they could, though the barrage of golden spears at the end cracked their soul further.
"Determined to end this right now!" The spears came faster. Green mixed with blue. They were too fast for Flowey to help through words. He tapped their sides with his vines to show which direction the closest spear was arriving.
"Ngahh! Die already, you little brat!" Captain Undyne spat. Golden arrows mixed with blue and red. Frisk whipped around and caught as many as they could. By the time the barrage was over, they nearly dropped the spear shaft for injury and exhaustion. Their soul turned red and they ducked the spear.
However, as Frisk and Flowey raced away from the infuriated Captain of the Guard, their phone rang. Frisk picked up the phone. "H-Hello? I-I'm kinda busy!" they wheezed.
"HUMAN? WHAT DO YOU MEAN? WHAT HAS KEPT YOU BUSY FOR SO LONG? YOU SAID THAT YOU WOULD'VE CALLED ME BY NOW!" Papyrus complained.
Frisk squeaked and glanced back. Captain Undyne was pressing in closer. A cluster of spears flew at them. Flowey hissed, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! TELL HIM WE'RE BUSY!"
"I'm s-sorry! I'm super b-busy right now. I'll call you later, okay?" Frisk promised and hissed in surprise as they nearly tripped over a spear that rushed up from the ground. Blue circles appeared in the path before them.
"HOW LONG IS LATER?"
"I-In a few minutes! I swear to God, I will call you back in a few minutes!" Frisk wheezed and side-stepped a spear that Captain Undyne threw from behind. "I have to go now! Sorry! I'll call you back! I promise! Bye!" Click. Frisk ducked as the spear was waved at them.
They sped out of the tunnel. Heat blasted into them so suddenly that they nearly tripped over themselves for the climate change alone. They stood now upon hard, red stone. Lava boiled beneath them, long enough away to keep from heat stroke but close enough to feel its heat and see its light. In a sentry station just outside of waterfall, Sans pretended to sleep. One eye was opened slightly to watch Frisk run. His sardonic smile widened and he snickered at their overwhelming fear.
Flowey hissed at him. Sans flicked his fingers. A wall of bones appeared. The way to the bridge above a lava pit was blocked. Captain Undyne, cackling in glee, stopped behind them. Sans pretended to go back to sleep. Frisk held up one hand and backed up until they were right before the bone wall. "U-uh! Um! We don't h-have to fight. No one has to die t-today."
"Can it, Human," Captain Undyne growled and pointed her spear toward them. One hand touched something on her belt. It looked like the thermos Temmie owned. "Your soul belongs to me."
"Like h-heck it does!" Flowey squeaked. A round of friendliness pellets destroyed three of the bones in the wall. A vine whipped out and tore Captain Undyne's ponytail back. She gasped and took a step backward. One of her spears cut his vine in half. "AGK! Go! RUN!" Flowey's injured vine retreated into his backpack. Frisk squeezed between the bones and raced down the bridge. Sans waved his hand. The bone wall vanished. Captain Undyne gave chase. However, by the time Frisk's feet hit warm stone, Captain Undyne's movements had slowed. They turned back to see Captain Undyne, wheezing and gasping.
"Armor… so… hot…" she wheezed. Sweat dripped down her face and armor. Captain Undyne took another step forward. "But I can't… give up…" Captain Undyne's spear vanished. The fish monster took a few more steps forward and then collapsed.