The Tangled Webs We Weave Ch. 1
AN: Hello everyone! Introducing my first Undertale fanfiction! I have an Overwatch one, so I figured Undertale would make a good balance. This takes place post pacifist run, on the surface world. I hope you guys enjoy! -Kiba
No one really remembers exactly why the war started. Everything seemed to be going great. The child who'd gone missing, Frisk, just suddenly showed back up with a bunch of monsters in tow. Unexpected, but we were more or less so relieved to find him unharmed that we didn't pay it much mind.
At first, life seemed to go back to normal, albeit with a few monsters sprinkled here and there. Then, as suddenly as they came, they began to die. Rumors were abound about why or how: supremacist cells going on rampages, some human based bioweapon, I myself was subscribed to the idea that after being down in that mountain for so long, they just weren't equipped to survive on the surface.
But to their king, Asgore, it didn't matter much. Lives were lost, and the newly released monsters were seeking someone to take responsibility. They chose humanity. Thus, the war began. They came at night, quickly dispatching just about everyone in the village with ease. Some of us, myself included, were rescued by Toriel, a monster who opposed Asgore's plans for war.
She insisted we find Frisk and let the kid try to convince Asgore to stand down, but the child had up and vanished again. We were given no choice any longer, we had to fight back. But, we refused to throw fuel on to the fire, instead electing to fight a war of subterfuge and espionage. In the shadows, we sabotaged monster attacks, planned out strategic assassinations, the works. It was like a game of chess, and we were trying to eliminate as few pieces as possible.
That's where my part of the story begins: Captain Araen Mygalo, of the Corps of Human Unity with Monsters Pals…or as our commander Toriel calls us, C. H. U. M. P. s. Her and that damned skeleton have the worst jokes. To be honest, I don't necessarily trust him, but if Toriel says he's okay, then I'll play by her judgment.
So, now that you have that background, it may not be so surprising to find that our story starts in a very inconvenient place: dangling upside down by my ankles, surrounded by arachnids with some abomination of a muffin clambering closer towards me.
Actually...I'm sorry, I know we're jumping around a bit. Let's take a few steps back again. That night, word had been passed from our sources that there was an opening that would allow us to get inside of the castle that the monsters had managed to commandeer shortly after the war started. They'd blown through our king's guards and defenses with ease, and with the castle they had the advantage. If we could get a guy on the inside, we could not only find out their plans, but eventually even be able to mount a quick uprising while our enemy rested. When that happened, we'd be able to end the war quickly and decisively.
So, naturally, as Captain the job was handed to me to infiltrate the castle. "Be careful," Toriel warned me as I began to clamber into the sewers. I looked up at her worried expression with a big grin.
"I'll be fine. Once this war's over, save a piece of cinnamon butterscotch pie for me, okay?" She nodded, her hands clasped together as I gave her a friendly two-finger salute and slid down the ladder to land in the water with a quiet splash.
Freezing, I waited patiently to see if the sound of rushing footsteps would signal I'd given away my position. When nothing was heard, I climbed on to the concrete walkway, and slowly made my way through the labyrinthine pipes.
I had to admit, the glowing fungus and flowers that had invaded from the caverns when the monsters came to the surface were helpful in slipping through the dark tunnels without having to worry about detection from a torch's light. My ears craned to hear any sound of life, but so far there was nothing. This was a good sign, it meant that the information we'd received was good.
My heart was pounding in my chest as I shambled onward, glancing at the map occasionally. According to the guide, I'd be coming upon a large antechamber, just beneath a small passageway that led to a maintenance hatch hidden within a storage chamber.
It was then that I felt something tug at my ankle. As an impulsive reaction, I turned, hand springing away from the danger, only to find that it had simply been a cluster of cobwebs. I'd been surprised by the strength of their grasp, and when I stepped back from them cautiously, it was then I realized that I'd managed to end up in an even bigger pod of them.
"What is this?" I muttered to myself, my ankle having become entwined in the many threads. Slipping my foot from my shoe, I heard a girlish giggle from the shadows. My eyes darted around nervously, but I could see nothing save the darkness. That was when I realized there was no fluorescence here. I was blind in this chamber any where further than a few yards in front of my face.
I quickly pounced to the wall, attempting to climb the thick webs that coated their sides like ladders. That however did not work out for long. "Oh look, a guest," the giggle echoed around. "I wasn't aware we'd be joined for tea."
Tea? Sure enough, the scent of herbal steam began to waft upwards from an unseen source. It was soothing, almost mesmerising, but I quickly shook myself of such thoughts. Drinks could come after I saved my people.
Reaching upward, I threw myself, grasping another thick strand. "And so nimble too," she mused. "Ah well, we know how to handle humans, don't we lovelies? After all...they step on us…" I found another hold, pulling myself up. "Swipe us away." Another one found, another foot gained on the perch. "Tear off our legs," the voice cooed, "but worst of all…" When I'd managed to just get close enough to the manhole, her next words sent a shiver down my spine. "They don't even stay for tea. What's a girl to do?"
Suddenly the thread I'd stood on was jerked hard, sending me tumbling down the sheer surface towards the harsh concrete floor. I was ready for my end, until my fall slowed and I bounced slightly.
My arms were bound to my sides, like a cocoon. The gratitude for which rested with the layer of sticky webs that had been hiding behind the wall of web I'd climbed. I kicked myself for not having noticed it when I was climbing. This was clearly a trap. "What should we do to this rude, human?" the voice asked to no one in particular.
"Brew him," a high pitched squeak echoed just beside me, causing me to quickly jerk my head away.
"Drain him!" another rang.
"Strip him of his flesh!"
"Bake him in a cake!"
Every option just became more and more gruesome, before the first voice chimed in again. "I've got an idea," she cackled gleefully. Suddenly there was a flicker of flames, revealing a cute face, framed by black hair tied up into two short pigtails. The surprising aspect wasn't her sudden closeness to me, as much as it was that she had five pure black eyes positioned in different places above her fanged grin. "I think the human deserves a kiss." The other voices began to chitter in agreement as she held the candelabra higher to examine me. I could see her better now. She had six arms, three on each side, in addition to the two legs she was perched upon.
"Release me," I stated firmly. "My mission does not concern you, so you will at least be guaranteed safety upon my freedom." She giggled again, sending the bright red ribbon around her neck to bob up and down with her petite breasts.
"How absolutely adorable!" she cooed, pouring herself a cup of tea with two of her free arms, using a third to lift the cup to her lips. Sipping it politely, her finger extended, she placed it back on the porcelain saucer before she leaned closer to look at my face. Each of her five eye blinked in turn, though they closed horizontally rather than vertically. "Tell me, human. If I let you go, will you stay with me for tea?"
"No," I answered. "I have more important things to do than have tea with you."
"How rude," she declared, placing one hand over her chest in feigned offense. "Ah well, a kiss I decided, and a kiss you shall have. What do you think dearies?" Again the chittering surrounded me. As I began to wriggle in an attempt to get to my knife so I could cut free, she reached out and tapped my nose playfully with one long digit. "Now, now. Struggling is futile, human. You should just relax. My webs are comfortable, aren't they? Enjoy yourself...while you still can."
She began to lean closer to me, two of her hands reaching outward to rest on my cheeks. I wasn't certain what she meant by a kiss, but I knew I didn't want to find out. I tried to turn away, but with a forceful turn, she pulled me to face her, and placed her lips on mine firmly.
There were hoots and cheers from the voices, as a stinging pain went through my lips. She'd bit me! I could feel venom injecting into my body, before she at last pulled away. "Sweet," she noted before drinking more tea. "I'm almost sad that I won't get the opportunity to taste that again. But...snacks are best shared. Come now pet," she giggled, clapping two hands together.
Pet? What pet? A low rumbling came from beneath me and staring through the grate, I could see by the flickering flames the fanged maw of a beast that wasn't quite spider, but wasn't quite muffin either. What in Gods' names was that thing?!
I could feel my body growing numb from her bite, and I continued to squirm in an attempt to free myself while I still could. It was clear that the mission had been compromised by this ambush. They'd known I was coming and set up an attack to meet me.
Right, so where things start to get interesting. Knew we'd get here eventually. If you're scared for my safety, don't be. It's a tad hard to tell my story if I get chomped by that thing. Anyway, where was I…Ah, yes!
My head began to spin, but be it from the blood rushing to my head or her venom, I couldn't know. However, there was one advantage from my position. I'd managed to slip my dagger out of its sheathe and was cutting away at my bonds quickly, even better, neither the spider girl or the other voices had seemed to notice.
With the sticky webs cut to pieces, I'd have the opportunity to bolt, leaving me to find a new point of entry later. While they were searching the sewers for me, I could easily hide and find another way inside. They'd either assume I passed out in the water and drowned, or better, that I fled from the castle altogether, requiring them to go on a man hunt.
Just as the beast's jaws were about to snap shut on my head, I used the gap that I'd cut to kick the wall and send me swinging out of its clutches. The spider woman spit out her tea in surprise. As she coughed up the tea she'd accidentally inhaled from the shock, I quickly freed myself completely, rushing towards her. I had to buy myself some time.
"No, wait!" she cried at me, holding out two hands defensively as I came upon her. Slamming into her chest with my shoulder, the tea set clattered to the ground from her hands, and the frail girl was tackled into the far wall. "St-stop!" she begged, but I wasn't listening.
The dizziness was getting worse and it wouldn't be long until I was out. Firstly, I had to keep her from chasing after me when I ran, so grasping the webs that covered the sticky ones, I quickly grabbed each of her arms, pulling them over her head and binding them together. "See you," I whispered tauntingly. "Thanks for the offer, but I'll pass on tea."
"Wait, don't leave me here...you can't…!" Taking another thick strand of web, I wrapped it around her mouth, silencing her mid complaint. Turning on my heels, I then began to run, my feet pounding against the pavement.
As I fled the room, I could still hear her muffled cries. Maybe it was the fact that she sounded so scared, even with me absent, or maybe it was the intoxicating effect of her venom reminding me of her 'kiss', but I turned to look over my shoulder.
Her 'pet' was advancing on her, licking its chops eagerly. This is what she deserved, I told myself. She wouldn't have shown you mercy when you were in that position. You could just leave and no one would ever know. There'd be nothing left of her.
"Damn it!" I growled, drawing my dagger and rushing back in. I had three minutes tops, I estimated. Once this abomination was dispatched, it was back to my first plan. Run, hide, wait for another opportunity. All five of her eyes shut tightly as she let out a suppressed scream, bracing herself for the end.
With a flick of my wrist, the metal blade spun through the air, stabbing into the side of the muffin spider's cheek, causing it to let out a bellowing roar right into her face. Opening one eye, she seemed confused as it turned to look at me. Well, I'd managed to get its attention now. Now what? Run, my mind commanded me, but I knew the girl wasn't safe until this thing was out of commission.
As it came towards me, I drew more daggers. I hoped I could still aim straight considering the way the room was spinning around me. I hurled my knives one after another into the creature, but it only seemed to make him that much angrier. This wasn't working! It was like this thing couldn't be killed.
Turning to a nearby wall, I scrambled up the side towards the roof. Every movement made my stomach lurch as I clung to the webbing desperately. Come on, I pleaded. Just a little more!
Sure enough, the monstrosity was moving behind me and gaining fast. When it was almost upon me, that's when I put my plan into action. Kicking from the wall, I tore a large sheet of web away, falling towards the ground below. It went over the beast's confused head, causing it to let out a puzzled growl before realizing what would happen.
My descent slowed slightly, but I couldn't grip the web anymore and crashed hard to the ground with a pained grunt. As I groaned weakly, I looked up to watch as the muffin-spider thing rolled quickly down the wall, trying to find footing but only tearing more sticky web with it. When it reached the ground, it looked like someone had made the largest ball of yarn out of sticky, glistening silk.
"You...owe me…" I grunted to the woman, picking up her candelabra and getting to my feet. A black shifting mass of spiders moved to intercept my way out, but holding the candles' flame in front of me, the parted in fear to let me through as I shambled slowly through the sewer.
It wouldn't be long now. My eyes closed, causing me to stumble and fall to my stomach. My source of light clattered from my hands to land in the slow flowing water with a plop. Opening my eyes once more, I used what miniscule strength I had to drag my body down a side duct, propping my back against the wall with a hiss.
I wasn't far enough, I knew. When the guards came to investigate, she'd easily be able to lead them towards me. Damn it, damn it, damn it all to hell! "Sorry Toriel," I managed to mumble before I sagged limply onto my side, closed my eyes, and fell fast asleep.
"You...owe me…" the man had said, before taking the candles and moving to leave. My pretties went to stop him of course, but I knew they wouldn't succeed. Fire and spiders often don't mix, much like the cold.
He stumbled through the halls, and I couldn't help but feel a soft grin come upon my lips. My venom was still working through his system. It wouldn't be long until he was out like a light, then our little dance would resume. It was hard to teach my pet friend from foe, and the best luck I'd had was getting it to go after things tangled in the webs.
Never in my wildest dreams, did I think that I'd end up on the menu for his meal. I was certain that my party would have ended, but for whatever reason, the human came back and tried to kill my pet.
Foolish, of course. My pet was a work of art and, try as one might, one can't kill art. I turned to look at the large ball that encased my sweet pet. I hadn't had such clever prey in a long time...perhaps boiling him in tea was the better option. My tea! I realized with a disappointed whine as the cracked pot that had fallen from the table guzzled out the delicious brown liquid into the sewer.
Opening my lips, I began to use my adorable little fangs to gnaw through the webbing that gagged me. When it came free, I let out a disgusted blech before spitting the horrid taste out of my mouth. "Come to me, pretties," I called out. "Please help untie my wrists."
"Yes ma'am," they sang cheerfully, scrambling up the walls to begin cutting and biting at my bonds. Once I was free, I massaged each of my wrists in turn.
"Wait here," I instructed, going in the direction I'd seen the intruder leave in. "Come on, prey...where are you?" I murmured, my shoes clicking along the stone. It still surprised me how quickly I readjusted to the dimness of the underground. Sure, the sewers weren't ideal, but it beat the fate of those 'risks' that decided to stay in the castle once it was captured.
I was fairly certain that Asgore had gone completely mad. Starting a new war with the humans was one thing, turning on the monsters he felt weren't dedicated to his cause was insanity. So I'm a tad more fiscally minded, that doesn't necessarily mean I'd sell out my home for a few handfuls of money. I'd already gotten the spider clans united, what did I care for money now?
But Asgore had ordered my execution anyway, so I fled in the storage closet, found the secret passage into the sewers, and hid out there ever since, setting up my web traps for any monster foolish enough to try to come after me.
I was shocked that a human managed to find my home before Asgore did, but then again humans always were a rather clever bunch. Either way, he'd seen my hide out, and that meant if the humans didn't come after us once he woke up, then it was entirely possible that the monsters would capture him and torture the information from him. This was a risk to my pretties that I just could not afford to take, regardless of owed favors.
Rounding the corner, my eyes flushed open and shut in sequence, allowing my gaze to pierce through the dark. There was no sign of the candle's light, but that meant little. He wouldn't have been able to get back to the surface, not after the dose I'd injected him with.
My tongue ran over my lips once more, tasting him on them still. It wasn't a bad flavor. Bold, with a just a dash of spice to set the flatness off. With a tinge of sweetness, and maybe a small bit of smooth cream, the flavor would be absolutely divine. Just thinking about it sent chills through all of my limbs.
Stepping further, I managed to see a strange out of place shape, just jutting out of an offshoot. Sure enough, it was the back of the man's head, now resting on the ground. Rubbing my hands together, I prepared to get to work.
Grasping his arm, I let out a grunt of effort as I began to drag him towards the water. I was a lady, after all, and a lady does not get herself messy by doing the brutal murders directly. No, instead I'd drop his sleeping body into the current, and the sewers would take care of the rest.
A few gulpfulls of sewage, and it'd be bye, bye for the human, and without the hassle of cleaning a mess too! Carefully stepping over the pass, I tugged again, his boots scraping against the ground in resistance to my pulling.
So I wasn't very strong physically, but I hadn't expected him to be this heavy, even as dead weight. I was trying to avoid falling into the sewage, but it was hard to maintain a grip on his wrist at my angle.
I scratched my chin in thought before jumping back across. Maybe if I just rolled him into the water, it'd be easier. Leaning closer to him, I slid four of my arms beneath him, the other two falling to my side to help brace my knees, for extra leverage.
Gritting my fangs in effort, I began to try to shove him, but I froze when I heard him mutter something beneath me. What had he said? Tilting my head to hear him better, he wheezed out again, "Toriel."
Toriel? He knew the queen?! I'd just assumed she'd been one of the first that the king exterminated when he went on his rampage. But...if she was alive then that meant…! I clapped my hands excitedly. Yes! With her help, we could get some sense into Asgore, then maybe we'd be able to get out of this smelly sewer and back into the world we'd attempted to become a part of.
There was, however, one tiny little snag in my plan. Gazing down at said snag that still slumbered peacefully, I sighed. Pulling my arms out from under him, I brushed his hair from his face with a smile. I always did love the way they looked when they were out from my venom.
Weaving quickly, I spun him a small stretcher and rolled him onto it. Grasping the silken rope near its front, I began to tug him, just a little at a time, back towards my pretties. This would definitely work. This would work very well indeed.
To be continued...