Kid flicked their tail, letting it quietly slap the ground as they tried to figure out where to start. "Well…I…I heard what happened about Undyne…and Papyrus…" They grew quiet, their raptor like claws digging into the ground a little as they shuddered. "We lost our Captain—and we lost Papyrus—and he's so cool!"

Frisk jerked a little as Papyrus made an unintentional racket. 'Wowie…a genuine compliment!'

Undyne's voice came next with a laugh. 'Awesome! Papyrus, where did you get this little fan?'

Frisk focused on tuning them out so they could focus on the reptile's words. "Then I realized…yo…we lost some sentries…and now we don't have Undyne patrolling Waterfall anymore…"

They paused and then raised their head as they continued as they looked to Frisk with honey brown eyes. "So…I decided I'd patrol in their place." Frisk blinked in surprise and their ear fins twitched as the others became more alert to the conversation.

"I know it's not much," they told the former human. "I'm just a little kid. If I really did run into trouble…the best I could do is run away and hope to find actual help. I guess it at least feels like I'm doing something. Haha…"

Frisk smiled a little. The young monster was rather sweet at least, wanting to help out the kingdom even though they could just as easily let the adults handle the situation. Frisk wasn't one to talk about that however, seeing as they would have done the same thing.

With that they offered out a bit more food to the reptile who happily accepted it. Frisk hummed softly before looking up quietly as they commented on their actions fondly. The child dipped their head sheepishly and Frisk thought their scales were slightly red around the face… "Yo…it's uh…it's nothing," they managed as they grinned. "Uh, anyways…"

They turned their body slightly so that they were fully facing Frisk. "I uh…notice you here quite a bit when I go through Waterfall, so…I was wondering, cause uh…yo…not all the time, but uh…maybe I could bring snacks out here for you too?"

Frisk looked at them, contemplating the offer. This was their alone time in a sense, but…it was more to escape the whole ordeal of being Ambassador. This monster was a child like they were. They wouldn't talk about boring meetings or ask them to think up a speech. They were alike in that way and…Frisk didn't mind that.

Quietly, they nodded and spoke softly to assure the child. The reptile perked. "Yo! That's great! Oh…uh, by the way…" They laughed sheepishly. "Haha, this is silly…but I didn't catch your name… …Frisk, huh?" They smiled and then with a grunt they hopped onto their feet.

"Anyways—it's late, so if I don't get home soon, my family will make a big fuss. Here—keep the treats, they're all yours." Frisk blinked, and just as they were about to leave they called out, causing the young monster to stop and look back to them questioningly.

The child raised their hand, silent for several long moments before asking the monster's name, stating they didn't want to think of them as the kid monster for the rest of their days.

The reptile smiled. "Just call me…Rex."

Frisk blinked and tilted their head. Rex…? However, the child was long gone before they could figure out what else to say.


Dogamy panted as the hot blazing sun came down on him. He, Gerson, and Frisk were down in the human city in the afternoon and while Dogamy had traveled through Hotlands before, this was a different kind of uncomfortable. The air itself felt sticky and the sidewalk threatened to sear his paws, despite the sandals he wore.

Gerson wasn't faring too much better as he walked barefoot, practically in the same boat as the canine. He looked up. "You doing okay, Neck-Warmer?" They gave a soft moan of reply.

"You really should take that cloak off," Dogamy said. They were wearing the one Mettaton provided. They still had the scarf as well, but they did take off Sans's hoodie, tying it around their waist so that they still had it.

Frisk's ear fins drooped fully, and the child could hear Undyne's moans of complaint. The child took note that the monsters moved into the shade of the building and they raised their head, looking at Michael and William who were faring only a little better in the heat. A while back they had come out of a meeting and William had suggested having lunch somewhere.

The child knew why. He wanted to have that talk at long last now that there was some free time. The reason they were walking was because originally, the place William wanted to go to was just a short distance away but, to the Leader's surprise, they had been greeted by a 'No Monsters' sign.

After that they just continued through the city going to the next nearest one, but if it didn't have a sign, they were closed. William walked along, muttering in irritation. "Honestly, I should try to ban these signs," he grumbled to Michael.

"Except the people can vote on that," the younger man reminded. "And you would lose. Terribly."

"I know."

Michael gave a worried glance back toward the monsters. "Hey, William, we really need to find a place. This isn't good for them…"

"Got any ideas?"

The man gave a hum and snapped his fingers with a grin. "Yes, actually. No promises, but I was there last night and I didn't see that bloody sign." He turned, and waved to the monsters. "We're going to try one more place, all right? Here, follow me!"

Five minutes later Michael paused in front of a building in a district full of small businesses. The shade of the building brought relief to the monsters as the cement no longer burned their feet. Dogamy panted heavily, his tongue hanging out as he looked up at the restaurant. There was nothing fancy to its design with the outside made from faded red bricks.

There was a long stretch of windows along the front and a door on either front corner of the building. Though Dogamy couldn't see clearly through the window as it seemed there weren't a lot of lights on in there, due to it still being early in the day.

The one thing he was glad to see was a lack of a sign to keep his kind out. Then, he glanced up to see the name of the place. He paused, and frowned as he tilted his head. "…House Mouse?" he questioned.

Michael chuckled. "Jeremiah would be happy to explain the name."

Gerson perked. "You know the owner?"

The man gave a happy hum. "Yeah—Jeremiah and I go way back. He was my senior partner on the force before he retired and started up the House Mouse."

With that he opened the door and led them in the air conditioning and the cool floor being a relief to the poor monsters. "Hey! Jeremiah!" Michael called as they all filed in.

Frisk took note of the layout, being reminded on an old fashioned diner from the sixties. The building was rather long with booths lining the windows and then four separate tables on either end of the place that could comfortably seat four but could have eight. There was even a bar with fancy stools that reminded them of Grillby's ever so slightly except instead of drinks behind the bar, it was the kitchen, allowing them to see the chef cooking.

When Michael had said senior partner, Dogamy and Gerson had expected someone around William's age, or older. However, the one who looked up had to be in his thirties—forties at most, looking maybe five or ten years older than Michael. He had sandy blonde/brown hair, and he had vivid yellow eyes.

"Afternoon, Rookie," he replied with a smirk coming to him.

"I told you to stop calling me that!" Michael paused, and then glanced around. The House Mouse usually had a quiet clamor to it, but things had fallen strangely silent. The humans were all looking at the monsters. Some with simple curiosity…some with open hostility…and those who were not happy took their harsh gazes to Jeremiah, expecting him to do something.

With that the man spoke again, with an over the top, dramatic tone in his voice. "Oh no," he said. "Monsters have come in—but I have yet to get that sign—" Jeremiah sighed heavily. "I guess I'll have to serve them this time." His tone dripped with sarcasm.

Michael snickered. "Take a free table," he told the rest of the group before coming over to the bar, talking quietly to the slightly older gentleman. "You're ridiculous. Technically, as a restaurant owner, you don't need a sign. You choose who you serve."

Jeremiah leaned forward, smiling. "Yes," he muttered to Michael. "And I choose to serve all my customers. If people don't like it, they can leave. Anyways, since you're here…" Michael suddenly found himself with a handful of menus. "Why don't you go hand those out?"

"Yeah, no problem," Michael replied before going over to the booth that had been chosen, with the monsters in one though William had yet to take a seat while Frisk sat on the edge of their chosen booth. "Here we go," Michael said as he set down menus to the exhausted monsters.

Eventually, the group chose what they wanted and as Jeremiah cooked, the other customers eventually left, leaving it only with the small group. Oddly enough as he started to finish up, it was Michael who went to take the food from the bar to the table. It was then that Frisk noticed that when Jeremiah moved…something seemed off.

"Here we are," Michael said, setting the food down carefully and then sliding into his seat closer to the window before William finally decided to sit down. Yet, as they ate, Gerson looked up.

"Well, we still don't know…" Gerson said. "What's up with the name?"

Jeremiah perked, and then smiled. "It's police jargon." The two monsters glanced to each other. After communicating with the humans for a while now they knew it worked like their sentries. They weren't military, but could defend themselves and worked in law enforcement. "House Mouse," Jeremiah continued. "Refers to a police officer that rarely leaves the building for any reason. It suits me as I rarely ever leave the restaurant."

"Then supplies…?" Dogamy asked.

"Usually, they don't carry it in—at least in the kingdom," Gerson murmured.

Jeremiah nodded. "They don't. I just call the rookie over to help me on those days."

"Do I look like free labor?" Michael complained.

"Why yes. Yes you do."

"Hey!" The argument ended with the others laughing and finally getting to their meal. While the monsters ate, Michael and Jeremiah talked casually, constantly ribbing on one another.

When Frisk finally finished eating they looked up at William and then dipped their head, slipping out of the booth, coming over to him and lightly tugging on the cuff of his sleeve. "Neck-Warmer?" Gerson asked in confusion. They assured him that they just wanted to talk to William at least somewhat privately.

With that they moved to the far side of the diner, sitting at one of the tables. Frisk was quiet and then looked up. "…you made a point of saying I had red eyes," they murmured, letting Toriel lead the conversation. "Why red eyes though? How could you guess something like that?"

"Hmm," the man murmured. "Well, it doesn't look like it's the same for all of the monsters, anyways. However, with humans…you can tell our magic type by the color of our eyes. Clarabelle has aqua magic, Michael has orange, Jeremiah is yellow…and of course, mine is red, as you can see here. Though, unlike monsters—if what I've seen is anything to go by—we can only learn the one magic we were born with."

"…you knew I had red eyes because I was immune to your bubble?"

"Exactly. Red magic users are immune to most—if not all of another red magic user's effects. Not that it's ever a problem. Red magic users never fight…"

"…why's that?"

William sighed. "Red magic users are rare to come by. It's not heritage that defines a red magic user. It's practically a rarely heard of fluke. Just a few every generation. So the odds would be…hm…one out of every twenty thousand, perhaps, has a chance to be a red magic user. Of course, the city isn't that big, so those births are spread far apart."

"That doesn't answer why you don't fight…"

"Upon birth, and realization of the eye color…the government takes in the child to train them. The position of Leader, my little Ambassador…can only be held by a magic user like us. No other magic type can have this position." Frisk blinked rapidly in surprise. "How no one found out about you is beyond me, but…Due to the obvious advantages, the government refuses to make us their enemy. So, red magic users are raised to work together. There's never been an incident…"

It was then that a look of concern came to him. "Not that there's much chance of one at the moment…" Frisk looked at him worriedly and then quietly questioned what was wrong. The man sighed as he drew a hand over his face.

"Within the past few years, other red magic users like ourselves have…" His eyes dimmed. "Disappeared. No warnings, no…idea to where they are, or how they are faring. Frisk…" He looked up with a serious look in his eyes. "As it stands, I am officially the only red magic user in the city. One day, something's going to happen to me…and when that does happen, there are currently no others to be elected—or drafted in."

Frisk frowned at the terms, and he explained it swiftly. "When there is more than one red magic user, the city elects the one they want to lead. If there's only one, well, they're forced into the role. So you can see why Clarabelle is ridiculously protective of me. If I'm gone, well…however, my problem remains."

"…are you asking me to fill the role if it happens…?" they asked in bewilderment.

"Not exactly," William replied while his eyes lit up a little again. "I am saying that I would like to teach you how to harness your magic. You'd definitely find it useful. Though, I have one final question for you before I lead into that."

"And…what's that…?"

He leaned forward slightly. "What do you know of the golden stars?"

Frisk jerked as their blue eye flared up suddenly while their gaze landed harshly on him. William let out a soft breath of amusement. "I seem to be the best one at riling you and the others, hm…?"

"…how do you know about those?"

"Because a while back…I had that power," William explained. "It's part of what got me to be Leader. Then, all the sudden, one day I woke and I could no longer see the stars." He chuckled weakly. "It was a little surprising. I had to be extremely careful with what I did after that, but…do you know the rules to those?"

"Someone told me that it's only the most determined who can see it."

William nodded. "It seems that's you. Though…it couldn't have been for this whole while, now could it? You're barely twelve from the looks of it."

"There was at least one other before me," Frisk murmured. "Though I don't have details I wish to share."

"No, I won't pry on that," William assured. "The question is…do you have it now?"

Frisk hesitated and then slowly nodded, but then they looked up at him with a glare that was purely their own. William wasn't quite sure why, but he knew they didn't want to talk about the abilities that came along with seeing the stars. The man sighed. "Very well, I won't dwell on that exactly, but I will say that makes you potentially the strongest red magic user as you can use those abilities to your advantage."

"How so…?"

William looked at the drink he had carried with him and then knocked it over. Instantly, it and the liquid that was spilling out, went gray, and it hovered there. "See, this is how I pause time. In a small space for the most part. What I did back then was my limit almost. It takes a lot to hold it. Though fair warning."

He touched a droplet and the liquid sprung back to life, falling onto the table. "You interact with it and time moves again. However, you can see the stars, Frisk…" He looked to them. "You can save and reset, defy time and death. You, with practice, could bring the world to a halt. It's a dangerous power in the wrong hands, but…you could save many with that same ability."

Frisk nodded as they thought about it. "…and you want to teach me?"

"If you were hostile, I think I would have figured it out by now."

"…and if you're wrong?"

He smirked. "Which I'm not, but if I am, well, then that's the risk I'll take."

"…when can we start?" Frisk asked. They were genuinely curious of their ability, and if they could learn to harness it…

William smiled. "As soon as possible." Then he glanced back over his shoulder. "Hey, Jeremiah, may I have an empty glass?"

"Are you giving that kid a magic show?" Jeremiah asked as he grabbed a cup and hobbled around the bar. Unlike Grillby's, there was a spot to slip out on either side due to the length of the place. However, as he stepped into view Frisk noticed a brace on his right leg that went from his lower thigh to his upper shin.

His limp was heavy and noticeable and Frisk realized now why the restaurant was aptly named House Mouse. He was a former officer that rarely left the building, for going anywhere with a leg like that was difficult and the monsters realized why he was so young for someone who was retired. He was injured on duty.

William took the new glass and resumed time, letting the falling liquid go into the other glass. "So, you really are up for it?" Frisk nodded and he chuckled. The rest of the stay was quiet, but it held a friendly atmosphere with Dogamy talking to Michael and Gerson questioning Jeremiah about various things. Eventually, they left with Frisk looking off into the distance.

From what William had said…they learned something about an old puzzle of theirs and they were determined to look into it as soon as they could.