Apologize for this chapter taking so long. The second semester of school started up again along with a major case of writer's block. I am typing this on the 24th and hopefully it will be posted sooner than later.
[Chapter Ten: The Badge and The Burden]
A gentle rocking dragged Gaster from his rest. He groans as he rolls over and opens his sockets before covering them from the bright light pouring from the open window. Unfortunately there was a large hole in his hand making the action futile. With a sigh and a grunt the Monster sits up and looks over at the Human sitting on the bed.
{Good morning Frisk.} he says as he rubs his sockets with the palm of his hand. Frisk returns the greeting in sign language before scooting off the bed. Gaster looks up from the Human and notices the other two messing with their new Scrolls.
"oh hey g, finally awake huh?" mumbles Sans without looking up from the device in his hands, "these are pretty neat, lot fancier than my old phone, wouldn't you say pap?"
"YES INDEED, ALTHOUGH IT TOOK ME SOME TIME TO EVEN OPEN IT." he says sheepishly while rubbing the back of his skull.
Gaster hums in curiosity as he pulls his own Scroll from his pocket, he looks it over before sliding it open. {Interesting,} he mutters to himself as he rotates the device in his hands, {it seems to be a form of hard light technology. I would enjoy taking this apart but this is my only one so I digress.} He scans over the applications on the home screen: a telephone icon presumably for making calls, an icon that simply says CCT, and a newspaper icon. He ponders a moment before tapping the newspaper one. The icon expands to take up the screen before a video clip plays.
A swarm of wolf-like Grimm are shown rushing towards a town before being stopped by a group of five women. The camera zooms in on the huntresses showing them in better detail. A shorter woman with particularly sharp teeth and a blue shark tail impales a Grimm with a trident before flinging it into another one. A taller pink haired huntress slices a Grimm that was lunging at the shark Faunus in half with a large scythe before moving to the next. The camera turns to a burst of flames within the swarm as an orange haired girl slashes at the Grimm around her with a flaming sword in hand before blocking a swipe with a shield. A large purple tentacle grabs a Grimm by the leg and tosses it into the air before it explodes. More tentacles pull Grimm towards the octopus Faunus as she crushes a few while throwing others to be shot by a blonde huntress with a large rifle perched on a rooftop.
The video continues to play as Gaster closes the app and looks to the pile of books. His eyes return to the Scroll before sliding it shut and getting off the bed. The skeletal duo looked up from their Scrolls towards Gaster as he approached the large stack of books, picking up the top most one and sitting down at the desk nearby.
"hey g, what cha doin?" asked Sans as he looked through the semi transparent screen. The question catches the attention of Frisk as they look up at the ex Royal Scientist.
{I'm going to study as Ozpin asked us to. While he requested us to do so, I am also interested in the history of this world.} he says this before opening the large tome, {I'd suggest you three do so as well.} He calmly looks down at the pages of text and gently pats a pocket before stopping. Then patting the other pocket. His boney brow furrows in worry as he pats himself down once more. {Oh no..} he mutters quietly as he holds his hand out and closes his sockets. A dull light engulfs his hand as two used glass cups appear in his palm. {No no no.} he continues as the others look at him confused. With a heavy sigh Gaster sets down the glasses, {Damn it.}
"you good doc?" asks Sans as he collapses his Scroll and shoves it into his coat pocket.
{My reading glasses, I left them at my desk before… before I came here.} he admits in defeat.
"hmm not much we can do about that huh."
{Exactly.} he groans as he puts his head into his palms.
Frisk ponders for a moment before a metaphorical lightbulb turns on above their head. Fishing into their pocket as they scoot off the bed and walk up to Gaster's side, tugging on his sleeve to get his attention.
Lifting his head up from his palms he is greeted by a familiar object, a pair of cloudy glasses. {Wh-Where did you find these?} he asks Frisk as he gently takes them from their open hand.
Frisk takes a moment before placing their fist on their chin and pulling down then sticking their thumb out while placing their other hand over the fist.
{Old turtle..? Oh Gerson? That old coot is still kicking?}
Frisk gives him a reassuring nod as an answer as they shrug.
{Well uh thank you Frisk.} he then pulls a cloth from the inner pocket of his cloak and begins to rub the lenses.
While he fiddled with his glasses Frisk grabs a few smaller books for themselves as they return to their bunk. The small stack of books were spread out on their bed as they tried to decide which to start; Aura: The Power of the Soul, The Great War, Nature's Wrath: Dust, or the Grimm Encyclopedia.
"DECIDING WHICH BOOK TO READ HUMAN?" asks Papyrus with a book in his own hands. Frisk nods while gesturing towards the smaller book in his hands. "OH MINE, WELL I'M NOT THE BEST WITH LONGER BOOKS SO I CHOSE ONE ABOUT THE LEGENDS OF THIS WORLD." he says with a smile as he holds it so Frisk could see the cover. 'Legends of the Past' was printed along the top and was accompanied by a picture of a man surrounded by Grimm. Frisk gave a smile and a nod as the skeleton returned to his bed while flipping the book open. Giving a quiet hum as they finally pick a book to start with then stacking the rest off to the side. They flip open to the first chapter of the book, Chapter One: Lesser Grimm.
[Later]
It was sometime around noon when Frisk closed the smaller encyclopedia, while true they didn't read every word in the book they still understood a fair bit about each one. "The Grimm we encountered are called Beowolves and the one Gaster dealt with was an Ursa." they say to themselves before being interrupted by the quiet rumble of their stomach. Noticing this Frisk reaches into their pocket and pulling out a rather crustacean shaped fruit. They go to take a bite before a voice catches their attention.
{Um Frisk did you just pull an apple from your pocket?} questions Gaster while looking rather confused.
Frisk holds out their hand and shakes it slightly before arching their arm while making a throwing action into it. (Kinda, inventory.)
{You have access to your inventory through your pocket?}
In response Frisk nods their fist with a confused look. (Yes?)
"yeah g, not everyone is as old fashioned as you. spatial magics have been refined within the twenty years you've been gone." butts in the lazy skeleton as he picks a book up off his face. "no more need for the light shows just a thought can pull stuff out."
{Hmm interesting, I'll need to practice then.} mutters the scientist as he spins in the chair to grab another book, setting the one in his hand onto the impressive pile of finished books. Unlike Frisk he had read every word in each of the books he picked up while taking mental notes on the important segments within. {I wonder when Ozpin will return,} he ponders as he cracks open the new book in front of him allowing the later half thump onto the table.
[Ozpin's Office]
The man sighs as he rubs his temples, a pile of paperwork is strewn across his normally clean desk. "Commissioning armor for him is going to take some time, longer than I'd want." he mumbles before taking a drink out of his mug. He turns from the commission papers to the new student's enrollment papers. "Creatures made of magic, hmm…" he ponders as he lifts the small stack of paperwork. He holds out his other hand and focuses before a small green orb appears. The magic barrier quickly flickers and disappears as he lets out a sigh while readjusting the papers. "They may be useful against her…" he shakes his head at the idea, "why would they me? They have no reason to."
He leans back in his chair before a ringing is heard coming from under the papers. Brushing them aside he taps the accept button, "Yes Glynda?"
"Ozpin they said the armor would take a day or two, what shall we do in the meantime?" asked the teacher, voices of students could be heard in the background.
With a heavy sigh the headmaster replies, "For now get two pairs of gloves for Sans and Gaster along with a jacket, a turtleneck, and pants for Papyrus." Ozpin leans forwards, resting his elbows on his desk and running his hands up along his face and through his hair. Glynda hangs up with an "understood" as he sighs once more.
"This is going to be a long year."
[Dorm]
After reading through two more books, Papyrus had gotten restless. Looking around the dorm he notices the door opposite the bathroom. "HMM?" he hums while approaching the door, grabbing the knob he carefully opens the door. "WOWIE!" he exclaimed, gaining the attention of the other three.
"what's up pap?" asks Sans as he suddenly appears next to the taller Monster causing Papyrus to jump slightly.
"WELL FIRST, SANS STOP DOING THAT," scolds Papyrus before carrying on, "AND SECOND WE HAVE A WHOLE NOTHER ROOM HERE!" The skeleton opening the door wide revealing a large room. The right hand wall was a large window with a sliding glass door that led onto a narrow balcony. Before the window there were two couches positioned in a sideways 'L' shape around a medium sized holo screen on a low table. On the left side of the room was a small kitchenette accompanied by a set of four lockers. "WOW A SHRUNKEN KITCHEN!" shouts Papyrus as he dashes to the counters.
"i'm pretty sure it's called a 'kitchenette' pap." calmly explains Sans who is now lounging on the couch.
"OH…" mutters Papyrus before turning to the mini fridge, "THERE'S ALSO A… SMMAALL..?"
"mini."
"MINI FRIDGE!" Papyrus continues as Gaster and Frisk join them in the common room. Both of them looking around and taking in their surroundings. Frisk quickly joins Sans on the couch before searching for a remote for the holo screen.
{This entire time we were in here there was another half of the dorm we didn't know about?} mentions Gaster in bewilderment.
"Most properly enrolled students know of this." says a voice from behind Gaster causing the Monster to jump back only to realize that it was Ozpin. "Pardon for the intrusion, I invited myself in when you didn't answer the door."
{Ahem uh, apologies accepted.} sputtered Gaster as he fixed the lapels of his cloak. {And you are here for..} led Gaster.
"Unfortunately the equipment necessary for your, 'disguises' if you will, won't be ready for another day or two so we had to get some temporary things." he says as he motions for them to follow him into the previous room. As they do he shows them the small pile of clothes that were set on the desk. "Sans and you were the easiest to get something for, you two have a pair of gloves for now." he says this while handing the duo a pair of well fitting leather gloves, "For you Papyrus we needed some more, let's say complex items. So for now you have a standard jacket, a turtleneck, and a pair of pants." handing the skeleton as he speaks.
"THANK YOU PROFESSOR OZPIN!" said Papyrus as he accepted the folded garments, "I'LL PUT THESE ON RIGHT AWAY!" The Monster quickly dashes into the bathroom before Ozpin had any time to tell him it was unneeded. "TADA!" announces Papyrus as he bursts into the room, wearing the turtleneck and jacket over his Battle Body.
"pap i think you need to take off your battle body for it to work properly." comments Sans.
"OH, WELL I SHALL DO THAT NEXT TIME!"
Ozpin clears his throat to get their attention. "Ahem, I am also here to give you your schedule for tomorrow." he interjects as he pulls a sheet of paper off the desk, "Along with that you will be receiving modified versions of the school uniform later today as well." He hands the paper to Gaster for him to look over. "Now then I still have some matters to deal with for today, I will see you tomorrow." says Ozpin as he approaches the door to the room.
{Um Ozpin, what is this last one on the schedule?} asks Gaster as Ozpin reaches the door.
"Ah yes that, that will be a time where you tell me about your magic system and I will answer any other questions you have about Remnant." replies Ozpin before closing the door behind him.
"welp back to 'studying'." says Sans laying down on a bed while placing a book over his eyes.
Well I guess that week turned into a "week". I apologize once more, I have had a rather busy month and I ran into multiple cases of writer's block while trying to type this, along with a few other distractions. Speaking of said distraction there is a reference to it within the chapter. If you want you can read back and say if you found it or not.
Now then Questions!
Gamma-X
Oh no...*please* don't tell me monsters will be falling into Remnant one after the other? Please no… We got enough characters. Though, I wonder what Flowey/Asriel will do once they enter Remnant… And darn... Kinda wanted Chara and Frisk to be a part of the same Soul considering all their Resets... It would've been awesome! Kinda like a bi-polar thing, where Chara was given *some* control when Oz woke Frisk's Aura/Magic. Would've been SUPER awesome. xD
The other monsters won't be falling into Remnant one after another so no need to worry. ;)
Next chapter will hopefully come out sooner than later. Now then it's like 11:30pm when I've finished typing this. I'm gonna go take a nap then post the chapter. Y'all see this tomorrow. Well I hope you've enjoyed this (rather late) chapter. See ya next time!