NOTES:
This Fic originated on Archive Of Our Own, and was inspired by "The Golden Quiche" and "Ebott's Wake."
There are going to be some formatting differences between the two versions.
: - : : - : : - : : - : Marker to skip additional info (if desired)
I have a magic system for AberrantTale (inspired by The Golden Quiche (but heavily altered) and D&D).
It is posted on AO3 and will not be moved here, but all the important stuff is in the fic; the rest is just fluff and extra info/hints.
If you're interested in the shape of the continent for my AU, go to my reddit page /r/AberrantTale
I will also be posting updates for chapter progress there, and other art stuffs when I eventually decide to do that.
Don't worry about joining the Reddit or upvoting or w/e, because I don't care about that; it is just for convenience.
-Additional Characters:
Frisk's parents (OC), Papyrus, Sans, Alphys, Undyne, Toriel, Asgore, Undertale Monsters, and OCs galore.
-Extra tags:
Timey-Whimey shenanigans, Female Frisk, No Smut, Death, Lovecraftian Monsters, Dealing W/Trauma, Mettaton is famous, Rebuilding Society, Magic and Science, Dubious Science, Frisk's Parents are nice, Horror, Feels, Slice of Life, Some puns/Humor, Eventual Happy Ending, References to Lovecraft, Necromancy, Magic School, Background Relationships, Near Death Experiences, Mischief, Everyone Needs Therapy, Sacrifices, Dark Magic, traumatic childhood, Implied Past Child Abuse, Jerry doesn't exist, Chara is good, Chara's parents are not, Worldbuilding.
Do you believe in happy endings? Do you think that, if you do your best, everything will turn out OK? Because I do.
This is, ultimately, a happy story. The only question is, are you strong enough to stay through all the Bad Times?
Enter if you dare.
: - : : - : : - : : - : Additional info end.
Before proceeding:
I have been working on this fic for a while now, and while I am happy with some aspects (especially the, albeit small, amount of progress I have made as an author), I am not content with the fic as it currently exists.
I do not feel that it properly conveys my intent for it, but especially not the characters, and there are many details and things that are overall useless.
In short, I want to make this fic better... so I have started planning a re-write for it.
With that being said, I am going to continue working on the current version of the fic in order to wrap it up as much as I can and as satisfyingly as I can, but without going through all... 11 planned arcs.
As for what effect this will have on the story thus far, it wont have much of an effect... OK, that is a lie, it wont have any effect. The story will progress as I expected it to, but will cut off before the next arc starts. You probably won't even notice, because I planned it to feel like the end of the story... and then I'd go: "But wait, there's more!"
:-"PROLOGUE"-:
The Great War
In an age long past, Firma was formed by ancients long forgotten, seeded with life by another, and... abandoned. Left to their own devices, the two dominant species -Humans and Monsters- lived together in harmony. As time went on, the inhabitants of the world honed their magic. Their civilization thrived under wise leadership, and it seemed as though peace would reign through the land...
What follows now is a recounting of the Great War and the breaking of the Barrier, as described by surviving documents and word of mouth from the Elders.
The worries of this world all started with a discovery.
A small kingdom had invited a Boss Monster, from a neighbouring village, to a festival celebrating the turn of the millennia.
Sometime during the festivities, the king tripped and hit his head on a fountain. A nearby monster, part of the Boss Monster's escort, rushed to the King's aid; but it was already too late.
The King's soul was absorbed as the monster attempted to provide aid...
When word first got out, everything was fine -even hopeful-.
Some documents describe failed experiments to transfer a human soul into a new body, using a monster as a temporary host.
As time went on, however, several groups arose that were suspicious of monsters. Some groups suggested that monsters planned the king's death, to absorb his soul.
The other groups, and those who were present, spoke against them to no avail.
:-:
The unrest felt by humans and monsters grew in parallel with the gap between them.
As the unrest grew, more and more kingdoms began researching technology that did not depend on magic. They were unwilling, wisely so, to continue being dependent on magic.
At first it was just small things. Things to distract them from their problems, both perceived and real.
The thing about research, however, is that it can lead to many dangerous things...
What started off as a means of celebration, fireworks they called them, became weapons... From explosives to propellants to projectile weapons.
Vehicles were not far behind.
As they became more technologically advanced, unease began to decrease among the populace.
Those in power, however, did not feel the same. They ordered secret experiments to be pursued, none of which are fully known. The remaining documents reference some sort of laboratory, but it has yet to be found.
:-:
While humans advanced their technology, the Human Magi honed their craft.
Unwilling to fall behind the monsters in magic potential, seven of the most powerful Magi, called Sages, opened a school.
The Sanctum of the Seven Sages was open to all, but focused on human advancement. With wisdom, the Sages infused and enhanced the stone of their school; in times of disaster, it would stand tall and protect those within.
Within the Sanctum a powerful artifact was created, one that would protect those within from reality itself.
It was a masterpiece.
A perfect crystal sphere made almost entirely of small interlocking arcane patterns, filled with determination.
This Artifact, when activated, was designed to create a massive barrier that would block anything from entering or exiting it. Of course, it was also designed with a means to take said barrier down; but fate had other plans.
:-:
The Great War started in 1975 with a single human king.
Greedy for power, desperate for safety from a fictitious enemy, and impatient.
Unwilling to sit by and wait for his enemy to make a move, the king set his forces against the Monster kingdom. The smaller settlements fell swiftly, and no monster was able to send a warning.
As the troops continued in their march of death, the king spread information through the human kingdoms.
The king declared war against the monsters, claiming that monsters had begun stealing souls from humans within his kingdom.
Though fabricated, it brought old worries to the surface and made them appear valid.
Kingdoms that had already been weary of monsters armed themselves and joined the war, as with many who were undecided.
Those who saw the truth and tried to aid Monster-kind were killed. Only those in the Sages' Sanctum were safe.
:-:
Death and destruction reigned supreme during the Great War, both sides took heavy losses.
Years had passed without either side gaining any meaningful ground.
Monsters, despite their affinity for puzzles and magic, found themselves slowly running out of options.
Humans, despite their overwhelmingly large armies and superior weapons, also began to run out of options.
The human kings, however, did not care.
It had been made known, not long after the war started, that Boss Monster souls could be absorbed by humans; but the kings declared any such act as treason.
They felt that, no matter what advantage it would give them, taking a monster soul into oneself would make them no better than monsters.
The king who started the war, refusing that option, turned to the Sages for assistance.
The Sages had previously made their stance known to all, that monsters deserve to live just as much as humans; but that did not stop the greedy, desperate king.
After many attempts to persuade the Sages, they relented... or so the King believed.
The Sages proposed a way to rid him of the Monsters once for all, in a single fell swoop.
They proposed to give the Artifact to the Monsters as a false offering of peace, and use it to rid the world of monsters.
At the time, only the Sages knew the true nature of the artifact, so the king agreed to their plan.
:-:
Peace, so desperately sought, was only an illusion; but it was an illusion the King of Monsters could not see through.
He sent a messenger with his acceptance of the proposal and his terms, and received in reply a place for the now horridly historical event.
The human king, feeling impatient and overly confident, began preparations to take the Artifact to the meeting.
It is speculated that sometime during transport the Artifact was scratched or otherwise damaged in a small, unnoticed way... it is this failure that lead to disaster.
The peace negotiations went better than expected, for the humans and the monsters alike.
After the meeting was concluded the human king presented the King of Monsters with the Artifact, and convinced him to present it to his people as he made his speech for the successful negotiations; the king of monsters, of course, accepted it and agreed.
As the Monster king took the Artifact into the mountain, the Sages used their magic to watch the Artifact and waited for when it was in the best position possible.
It didn't take long for the King of all Monsters to begin his speech, and when he did the Sages began their ritual.
Pouring their magic into the Artifact, the Sages activated and powered it remotely... but chaos ensued as the barrier was forming.
Unable to stabilize, the outside of the barrier collapsed in on itself repeatedly; sending pulses of chaotic magic throughout the land.
Many of these pulses flew off into the sky, but those that didn't twisted or killed any living thing they touched.
It is unknown if any human kingdom in the west still remains, but all villages that can be safely explored have been razed.
Magic infused buildings, once sturdy and resistant to the elements, exploded as the magic within violently destabilized.
The Sanctum of the Seven Sages, however, was untouched.
The Sages, in their wisdom, prepared the school against magic attacks; after all, you can't learn magic without blowing things up eventually.
:-:
On the edge of death, the Sages used all their power to stop the Artifact from functioning; overwhelming the magic within and reducing it to nothing more than an ornate crystal sphere.
The barrier, now a one-way death trap instead of an impenetrable sanctuary, began to draw magic from the world to remain stable.
Only one Sage survived, the Red Sage.
Filled with determination, the Red Sage fought against the grasp of death and returned to their Sanctum.
Sadly, however, the Red Sage passed in the year 1993 due to incurable injuries after only a few days.
Though leaderless, the magi managed to maintain order for many decades.
:-:
Without properly trained architects to repair the Sanctum, it began to degrade as time passed and aberrant creatures attacked.
Many technological advancements were lost as well.
With no one trained in electrical engineering many conveniences degraded and ceased to function, without vehicle repair they had to return to horses, and without a proper leader order was slowly chipped away.
Some took to studying the remaining technology in hopes of learning how it functioned.
Others began clearing a path to Mt. Ebott, in hopes that Monster-kind would be able to help.
Once secured, the mountain was under almost constant surveillance.
Due to the distance, and lack of automotive transportation, it became necessary for a permanent base to be set up.
So, in 1998, a small village was founded at the foot of the mountain.
Made mostly of volunteers, the families that lived there kept the area clear of the aberrant creatures that now dominate the world.
Occasionally a few volunteers would go up the mountain to check on the barrier, those who did rarely returned.
As time passed, many of the aberrant creatures were pushed back beyond the mountain pass; the area became moderately safe.
With the way clear, and the area safer, the remaining Magi began to study the barrier.
Their research, however, proved fruitless. Without access to magic, they could not take the barrier down.
:-:
During the year 2015 a child named Chara ran away for unknown reasons, presumed dead.
Later that year, a monster descended from the mountain carrying their body; the family of the child attacked the monster, and was joined by others.
As hopeless decades passed, a few families within the village started to express their dislike for monsters; claiming that trying to save them is pointless, since they kill humans.
Without hope, and with the rising tension, many from the village began to disappear; mostly children, but a few adults as well.
Some are thought to have wandered off into the wilderness, and have likely been killed by the malignant fauna.
Others, however, made it clear that they had left for the mountain, despite the warnings.
Only one ever returned alive.
Curious and determined, Frisk went hiking up the mountain to see if the rumours were true; armed with a stick that, with enough imagination, looked vaguely like a sword. As they were exploring, they stumbled and fell while in a dark cave… what happened after that is Undertale.
The year is 2045, 52 years after the Great War; and at long last…
The barrier is broken.
:-:
:-"An ending is just an invitation for a new beginning"-:
* Looking out at the sunset... fills Frisk with DETERMINATION.
Looking upon the horizon, Frisk and crew can see the westward setting sun directly ahead, another mountain peak to the south west, and a mountain sized building Frisk calls the "Sanctum of the Seven Sages" to the north west.
At the foot of Mt. Ebott, below the sun, the group can faintly see the tops of buildings and what must be a defensive wall. One building in particular that stands out is a tall dark building, probably a mansion.
Unfortunately, It is difficult to see more detail from their distant position, especially since Spring is starting and the leaves are beginning to grow back.
In front of the group lays a dirt path that stretches down the mountain and into the forest, before disappearing behind newborn foliage...
Toriel, gazing at the sunset, lets out the breath she just realizes she is holding. "Oh my..."
Asgore comments "Isn't it beautiful, everyone?"
Not fully paying attention, Alphys comments: "Wow... it's e-even better than on TV. WAY better! Better than I ever imagined!"
Undyne, keeping her gaze on the sight, asks "Frisk, you LIVE with this!? The sunlight is so nice... and the air is so fresh! I really feel alive!"
Undyne starts to smile as she finishes talking, feeling better than ever. Truly, monsters are free.
Meanwhile, Papyrus, wondering about the scene before him, finally asks his brother:
"HEY SANS... WHAT'S THAT GIANT BALL?"
Without demeaning him, Sans casually replies: "we call that... 'the sun,' my friend."
"THAT'S THE SUN?! WOWIE! I CAN'T BELIEVE I'M FINALLY MEETING THE SUN!"
Asgore, still in his own little world comments "I could stand here and watch this for hours..."
Toriel, with a stern undertone, says "Yes, it is beautiful, is it not? But we should really think about what comes next."
"Oh, right. Everyone... This is the beginning of a bright new future. An era of peace between humans and monsters. Frisk... I have something to ask of you." Asgore looks down at Frisk and asks "Will you act as our ambassador to the humans?
Without a moment of hesitation, Frisk accepts the responsibility. To which Papyrus begins exclaiming "YEAH! FRISK WILL BE THE BEST AMBASSADOR! AND I, THE GREAT PAPYRUS... WILL BE THE BEST MASCOT! -
As soon as Papyrus begins to move, however, Frisk anxiously warns him "It isn't safe out here. We need to stick together."
Sans lets out a little chuckle, "heh. looks like the kid's got you all figured out paps. if they say it's dangerous to split up, we should listen to 'em..." Sans gave his brother a wink, "don't ya think?"
Frustrated that he will have to wait longer to meet his soon-to-be new human friends, Papyrus sighs and says "FINE... BUT WHEN WE GET TO THE HUMANS, I, THE GREAT PAPYRUS, WILL GREET THEM!"
Frisk nods in agreement.
Undyne looks at Frisk and complains "Aw come on, it can't be THAT dangerous! We just went through... I don't really remember exactly, but YOU have been through so much! No doubt all of it was worse than anything out here!"
Frisk shakes their head in disagreement, Undyne relents. She feels a little concerned, but doesn't show it. Alphys slides a little closer to Undyne, not feeling particularly confident on the Surface anymore.
After a moment of silence, Toriel speaks up. "Frisk... You came from this world right...? So you must have a place to return to, do you not?" After a moment of hesitation she continues "What will you do now?"
Frisk, gazing at the setting sun, feeling somewhat confused by the view, suddenly remembers their parents and says "I need to make sure mom and dad know I'm safe, they must be worried sick."
Disappointed, but understanding, Toriel replies "Ah. ... I see. ... Well, I hope-"
Frisk interrupts Toriel with an unexpected hug. "My parents would love to meet you." Frisk looks up at Toriel and shifts their face so subtly that only a mother (and Sans) could tell they are smiling.
Toriel let out a sigh and returns the hug, relief tinged with only a little disappointment; perhaps, in another life, they would stay with her; but in this life they have loving parents. "I am glad... Well, we should get going."
"Yea, let's go... Will you hold my hand Toriel? Let's head to my village to see if the guards know where my parents are."
Pleasantly surprised, Toriel accepts the child's hand and walks with them down the mountain; friends... and ex... in tow.
:-:
The path they are following is well worn, and seems to have just recently been taken. In the distance, the group can hear the call of animals and... something else. Whatever it is, it put Frisk on high alert. The forest trees, though their leaves are sparse, are not easy to see beyond; but that just makes the group more curious, despite the dangers. The sunlight, filtering through the trees, fills them with joy.
After about 15 minutes of walking, Frisk hears a woman in the distance, calling out: " Frisk! Where are you mon ange? " but it is almost too faint to hear.
Frisk stops and looks up at Toriel, "I think I can hear my mom calling, looks like we don't have to ask the guards after all."
"That is good. We should hurry though, would not want her to worry more than she needs to."
:-:
The group continues down the path, following Frisk, and they turn south at an intersection away from a larger path; it seems to be the path that leads to the village. From this vantage point the group can more clearly see the village and the fields around it. On the East side, are fields that seem to intersect with the river, no doubt farmland. To the North, facing the group and Mt. Ebott, is a green field with the occasional yellow splotch of flowers. And to the West lays more farmland. The wall is still not entirely clear from their position, but what they can see looks worn out and damaged.
Frisk looks over to Papyrus with a subtle look of worry, making sure he stays with the group.
Sans chuckles and says "don't worry kiddo, we'll keep paps out of trouble... but hey, how long has this village of yours been here? It looks relatively new."
Thinking for a moment, Frisk replies "About 47 years?"
"47 years huh? well, i guess that means it isn't the same one chara came from then."
Frisk's face adjusts subtly into one of amusement "Huh?-" Before Frisk could finish, or Sans could reply, they hear the woman call again, this time much closer. Frisk yells in response, "Over here mom! Oh and I made some new friends!"
The woman's voice, sounding a little worried, yells back saying "stay put mon ange, we are coming! Then you can introduce us to your... new friends."
:-:
Frisk and crew obey, and, after about a minute of anxious anticipation, Toriel's grip slightly tightens around Frisk's hand. Frisk looks up at Toriel and gives her a reassuring smile. A few moments later the group sees a slim, fair skinned, woman in a black dress emerge from the side of the road. She moves carefully and gracefully through the brush to keep her dress, and parasol, from catching on any stray twigs or branches. Behind her, assisting her in keeping her dress from tearing, stands a man with tan skin, in a black suit and bow tie. On his side is a rapier, ready to be drawn at the first sight of trouble.
Upon seeing the party, the two approach and their original worries fade. The man nearly shouts "My star, you had us worried sick! You are lucky you were not gone that long, who knows what your poor mother would have done?"
The woman bends over slightly, looking at Frisk, saying "yes, my angel, your father was worried too. I see you have brought some... interesting friends with you." A sly smile forms as she looks to Frisk's friends.
Turning to look at the one holding Frisk's hand, she curtsies and says "My name is Marceline. Marceline Addams. And this..." She gestures gracefully with one hand to the man next to her, "is my husband, Conrad Addams; great grandson to Gomez Addams. And you must be Frisk's new friends, it is a pleasure to meet you."
Toriel releases Frisk's hand and returns the curtsy. But before she could reply, Papyrus leaps to the front of the group and announces, with one hand on his chest, "I AM THE GREAT PAPYRUS, MR AND MRS FRISK'S PARENTS! IT IS A PLEASURE TO MAKE YOUR ACQUAINTANCE!" his short cape flapping in the non-existent wind. The couple grin at his display.
Sans steps forward and offers his hand to Conrad. "i'm sans, sans the skeleton."
Conrad takes San's hand readily and firmly, and feels a joy buzzer go off. Laughing, he grabs Sans behind his elbow and shakes his hand a little more vigorously "Haha! Well met Sans, and well met Papyrus! A joy-buzzer in the hand, classic; I like your style!"
"heh, well frisk i gotta say; i like your dad already."
Toriel, stifling a giggle, continues her original introduction: "I am Toriel, and behind me is... Asgore, the king of monsters." Asgore waves with a sheepish smile as Toriel looks down at Frisk and continues: "Frisk has been a wonderful child, they even helped break the barrie-"
Undyne enthusiastically cuts in "YEAH! They are AWESOME! Like, when I uh... They were so cool even when... uh... heh..." Undyne, somewhat embarrassed remembering what happened in the Underground, stumbles on her words before Alphys joins in to help her partner...
"I think what Undyne means is that the underground is n-not... uh heh... p-particularly safe for... humans... But! Frisk was OK!... Oh... My name is Alphys, by the way... aheh I uh... forgot to introduce myself..." Alphys and Undyne look to the side and begin to blush nervously as Toriel gives them both her patented 'Mom stare.'
Conrad speaks reassuringly to Alphys. "No worries, Alphys, and it is a pleasure to meet you all!"
Turning to look at Toriel, he continues to speak. "Now... you say that my dear little Frisk helped break the barrier?"
Asgore, as he reaches forward and pats Frisk on the head, says "yes, Mr. Addams. They were quite helpful with other things as well."
"That is wonderful news indeed! And you may all call me Conrad." He ponders for a moment before continuing. "I think we should celebrate, but perhaps not now... Almost everyone stays indoors as night approaches. Let my wife and I go and call off the search, we will meet you at the village and, once we have all gotten some much needed rest, we can talk about celebrating this wonderful turn of events!"
Now looking to the group in general, Marceline remarks "I am sure Frisk will be safe in your care, in the meantime."
:-:
After a brief curtsy between Marceline and Toriel, as well as a firm handshake from Conrad, Frisk's parents turn around and walk down the path.
Looking back as the group travels onward, Toriel catches sight of Conrad gently grabbing Marceline's hand, pulling it close to his face, and kissing it as they talk to each other about the day's events. They look excited, and relieved.
Frisk grabs Toriel's hand, and smiles at her subtly, "lets go."
With the party further down the path, Undyne begins to speak to Frisk sheepishly. "Sorry about that Frisk... I uh... almost told them about all that stuff that almost happened to you, and I started to panic..."
"It's OK, my dad and I spar all the time; It's pretty fun. He probably would have laughed about it. After all, I'm not hurt."
Undyne feels relieved, but still a little concerned. No wonder why Frisk evaded all her attacks so easily, at least they were having fun... right?
"...Hey punk, you never told me you could fight with a sword though; why are you holding out on me, huh?"
Frisk shrugs.
"Pff if you had told me THAT when you asked about my giant sword, I would have let you use it instead to point at stuff!"
"Your sword is too big for me Undyne... besides, wasn't that a gift from Alphys?"
"Oh... heh… but still!"
Undyne smiles, feeling more comfortable now after their brief chat, and begins to walk closer to Alphys.
:-:
The group continues on in comfortable silence, which is only occasionally interrupted by the sound of crickets chirping as night slowly encroaches. They occasionally stop to enjoy the sights and sounds the forest has to offer -including the sound of the river nearby-, and after a few minutes they start to see the village. It's small, with golden flowers popping up here and there, and looks simultaneously old... yet new. Like it was recently constructed of old parts. Toriel's grip tightens, seeing the end of their journey, and seeing this village that seems to be just barely getting by. The wooden wall around the village is clearly visible, and the marks on it worry the group of monsters. Frisk seems nonchalant about it; as usual.
"It's OK," Frisk says, "it's a lot better than it looks, trust me. We just started to replace some of the older buildings with stronger ones, and soon we are going to fix up the wall."
"That is not it Frisk, not completely." Toriel says, her words tinged with worry, "It is true that I am concerned about this village, but I am also concerned about you. A child should not have to grow up in such dire circumstances."
Frisk remains silent as the party approaches the eastern gate where two guards are standing, suspicious of the new arrivals.
Papyrus, ever eager to make friends, goes ahead of the party to greet the wary guards; which seem unsure of what to make of the view.
Standing in his customary pose, with his small cape flapping in the non-existent wind, Papyrus greets the guards, "HELLO HUMANS! I AM THE GREAT PAPYRUS! I AM SURE YOU ARE ALL SHOCKED TO SEE SOMEONE AS GREAT AS ME BEFORE YOU! BUT BE NOT AFRAID, WE CAN BE FRIENDS!... WHAT ARE YOUR NAMES?"
The guard on the left cautiously replies "Uh... I am Johnathan, and this is-"
"I can introduce myself John!" The guard on the right interrupts, then sighs. "My name is Arthur, pleased to meet you. You... must be monsters?" Arthur holds out his hand for Papyrus to shake.
"WHY YES! WE ARE MONSTERS. VERY OBSERVANT OF YOU! NYEH HEH HEH!" Papyrus takes the man's hand and shakes it excitedly. "BEHIND ME IS ASGORE, THE KING OF MONSTERS, MY BROTHER SANS..." Pausing as he eyes his brother, he looks side to side and says "BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU SAY OR HE WILL RUIN YOU DAY WITH PUNS."
"you could say, i'll punish you. heh." Sans declares, making Papyrus rather upset.
"SAAAANS! CAN YOU NOT?! I AM TRYING TO MAKE A GOOD IMPRESSION WITH THE HUMANS! WE DON'T NEED YOUR EFFORTLESS PUNS!"
"hey, i put a ton of work into my puns a-"
"NO SANS! I AM PUTTING MY FOOT DOWN!" Papyrus shouts as he begins stamping his foot.
Sans chuckles as he looks at the expressions of the guards, "you should see the looks on your faces. priceless. if it'll make you happy paps, i guess i won't make puns for a while." Sans winks at Frisk mischievously.
Though very confused at the events unfolding between them, the guards keep their wits about them. "Wait," Andrew says as he looks at Asgore's imposing form. "Did he say, king of monsters? I'm assuming... you are the king of monsters?"
Asgore steps forward and greets the guards, giving a slight bow. "Howdy... Yes I am Asgore, the King of Monsters. It is a pleasure to meet you two."
"Hey... Johnathan, doesn't he kinda look like that monster that came in years ago, but bigger?"
"Yea, but... it must be a coincidence. Look, Frisk is with them; they can't be all that bad."
"True..." Andrew ponders for a moment, and then Toriel speaks.
"You said something about a monster coming into the village, did you not? Was he... by chance... carrying a child's body?"
"Yea," Andrew replies. "A lot of villagers attacked him... I don't suppose you know who the monster was, or why he had a child's body...?"
Toriel, letting go of Frisk's hand, holds her hands to her chest while looking to the past and says "yes that was... our son. Asriel... he... he was best friends with Chara... They-"
A large grey haired man in armor walks up from behind the guards and interrupts with a deep voice full of empathy. "You don't need to say anymore, ma'am... I'm... sorry for your loss. We will get it straightened out in due time... In the meantime, let me guide you through the town to the Addams's residence. I bet Frisk is anxious to get home." The man holds out his hand to Toriel, "My name is Bernard, by the way, Bernard Ward. I am the Captain of the Guard in this village."
Toriel accepts the man's hand, and receives a firm but gentle handshake in return. "Thank you, Mr. Ward."
Impressed by his stature, Undyne looks the man over while Alphys hides behind her; maybe anime is real after all?
"Of course, ma'am. We should get going, it is starting to get dark, we can continue introductions at the Addams family residence... The streets are mostly empty now, so it shouldn't take too long."
Asgore nods at the man, "Lead the way."
:-:
The village is, despite appearances, nice. Many of the houses look like log cabins, but the newer looking houses are made of stone. The group passes by a large clearing that looks like it supports various activities. The town hall is two stories tall and looks well used. Next to it the group passes what looks like a barracks, complete with a training ground to the side; the dummies they use look more like weird animals than humans. A small church-like building hosts various unknown symbols on it. Alphys, Sans, Asgore, and Toriel recognize them as magic symbols, but they are not set up properly.
Though few people are on the streets as darkness begins to claim the sky, many look through their windows while the group makes their way. Villagers try to sneak glances at them through shuttered windows, children stare, and others panic -rushing out of sight-. Monsters haven't been seen for a long time, so many are wary; others remember the last encounter vividly.
It isn't hard for Asgore to see over most of the buildings, no doubt special preparations need to be made for his... large stature. Most of the buildings seem smaller than normal, probably to minimize their presence. He can see a large, dark, building in the distance that looks to be somewhat in disrepair. The group continues through the streets, waving occasionally as onlookers and the rare, curious, passersby investigate. Papyrus, of course, is more than willing to talk to any who ask questions.
"YES! I AM A SKELETON! NOT JUST ANY SKELETON, HOWEVER!... I... AM THE GREAT PAPYRUS! AND IT WOULD BRING ME GREAT JOY TO BE YOUR FRIEND!... WE ARE GOING SOMEWHERE RIGHT NOW THOUGH... SO MAYBE LATER."
"What about him?" A young kid says, pointing at Sans while standing in their doorway, "is he also a Skeleton? He looks different."
"YES, THAT IS MY BROTHER SANS!... SANS WHY AM I INTRODUCING YOU AGAIN!? YOU SHOULD DO IT YOURSELF, LAZYBONES!"
"heh, but you do such a good job at it papyrus. besides, i waved."
"NO YOU DIDN'T SANS. I SAW YOUR LACK OF WAVING! YOU CANNOT FOOL THE GREAT PAPYRUS!"
Toriel stifles a giggle as she listens to the brothers go back and forth, then decides to join in. "I am sure Sans will introduce himself to everyone later, Papyrus. He is probably just eggsausted. I bet he will open up out of his shell when he gets some sleep."
Sans snickers at Toriel's puns as Papyrus groans as though he has been physically assaulted.
"UHG, WHY DO YOU HAVE TO LIKE SUCH LAME JOKES?"
"welp, i'm hungry now too actually. i could really go for some dates, couldn't you frisk?"
After Frisk giggles at Sans' and Toriel's food puns they notice that their house is nearby, so they grab Toriel's hand excitedly to pull her ahead of the group and to the gates. "There is room for everybody here, even Asgore will fit!"
Toriel smiles at the child for their consideration "It is a very nice house frisk, thank you for your concern. I am sure we will find places to stay soon enough, so we don't overstay our welcome."
"You don't have to! We have plenty of room!" Frisk counters.
Toriel giggles at the child's innocent enthusiasm and relents. "Well, if you insist. I am sure it will be alright... As long as I am able to have... space."
As the rest of the group turns the corner and approaches the building, Papyrus exclaims "WOWIE! WHAT IS THE BIG SPOOKY LOOKING BUILDING!? FRISK, IS THIS... IS THIS WHERE YOU LIVE!? IT'S HUGE! AND AWESOME!... IT ISN'T HAUNTED IS IT?"
"No, but mom wishes it was. 'Can't have everything,' she says."
:-:
Big and spooky indeed, the house looks easily a few centuries old. Standing two stories tall (with a three story tall tower in the front), with dark wood panelling, and looking like a little TLC will turn it into a different building, the Addams's Gothic mansion is easily one of the largest buildings in the town. Beyond the fence and gate, the yard is taken care of moderately well; it almost seems as if a child mows it, which very well could be the case.
"As you probably already know," Bernard says while rubbing Frisk's hair into a mess, "this little trouble maker lives here. It is probably the only house that can accommodate all of you..."
As Bernard looks back to the mountain, he continues. "Speaking of, I am sure there are more monsters in the mountains, but I advise that they stay there for now until we can prepare space for them... The surface is not as safe as it used to be anymore, not since the war. Some pretty nasty magic got released when the barrier went up, and it transformed most of the creatures in its path into... twisted things." Bernard gives a worried look to the monsters as they look at him curiously, their concern rising.
"That is most unfortunate news," Toriel replies. "We will have to let everyone know as soon as possible, so no one gets hurt."
"Unless you can teleport, I don't recommend going back up the mountain path at night. All sorts of creepy m-... abominations start to roam when it gets dark."
"Bad Saint Bernard!" Frisk admonishes as they playfully karate chop his waist, feigning a brutal punishment, "I know you were about to call them monsters. I told you that you can't do that, because the real monsters would be offended!"
Papyrus, perplexed by the new title, blurts out "SAINT BERNARD? IS HE A PRIEST OR SOMETHING? OR IS HE SECRETLY A MEMBER OF THE DOG CLAN?"
"Hehe, no that is just my nickname for him" Frisk replies as they start to counter against the assailant who begins messing up their hair. "He looks big and scary, but he is really kind and grandfatherly if he likes you!"
Bernard chuckles awkwardly as he defends himself. "H-hey Frisk! Don't go giving away my secret! You're gonna give me a bad name, I've gotta keep up my tough appearance or the recruits won't respect me!"
"Everyone already knows, silly. Why do you think they call you Grandpa Ward now?" Frisk stars to giggle as they are assaulted with tickling fingers from Bernard.
Toriel is filled with relief and nostalgia while watching them. Frisk has some pretty great friends, and family... it makes her miss her own even more. As she stares off into space, reminiscing, the sound of Frisk giggling fades and she feels someone tugging on her sleeve. When she looks over, Frisk is standing next to her with their arms out expectantly; with the most subtle look of worry only a mother could notice. The rest of the party has apparently gone ahead, and it's just Frisk and Toriel.
She kneels down as she embraces Frisk in a hug. "Thank you, Frisk."
"Come on, Toriel, let's go. I want to show you our awesome kitchen and the library! Maybe you could make some butterscotch-cinnamon pie?"
"I would like that very much, let us go." Toriel stands up, takes Frisk's waiting hand, and follows them into the house.
:-:
* Looking at their awesome mansion... fills Frisk with DETERMINATION.
* A bright yellow star appears next to the gate, Frisk feels rejuvenated.
* FILE SAVED.
:-:
As the group starts to approach the doors, Bernard briefly continues introductions with those he has not learned the names of before departing; having to get back to the other guards before they get into trouble.
Shortly after, Frisk's parents walk up and join them.
"Please," Marceline asks in an even but mysterious tone, "let us give you a tour of our home."
"Yes! And from now on, think of this as your home too. I insist." Conrad declared. "Mi casa es su casa!"
Papyrus looks around the group as they make their way to the doors and asks, "HEY... WHERE IS SANS?" Looking toward the road, he continues. "DID HE FALL ASLEEP AT THE GATE? THAT LAZYBONES, I'LL GO GET HIM!"
"no need paps, i'm right here."
Turning around, Papyrus sees Sans. "WHERE DID YOU GO OFF TO, YOU KNOW IT'S DANGEROUS OUTSIDE WHEN IT IS DARK! I SWEAR, IF YOU WERE SLEEPING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD I AM GOING TO HAVE TO-"
"relax pap, i just got turned around. i'm here now right?"
"HOW DID YOU GET TURNED AROUND IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE!? YOU JUST HAD TO GO FORWARD!" Papyrus shouts a little too loudly.
Sans shrugs and gives Frisk a wink before replying, "well, what can i say... oh, hey," Sans looks to the side, "while i was turned around, i let the others know to hang out in the underground until we come back."
"SANS ARE YOU SAYING THAT YOU WENT ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE UNDERGROUND ON ACCIDENT!? HOW!? IT HASN'T EVEN BEEN THAT LONG!"
"i took a shortcut, of course... i knew where i was going, i was just too lazy to turn around i guess. so i figured 'eh, why not, might as well let everyone know it is dangerous out here.'"
Papyrus stares at his brother in disbelief. "SAAANS! THAT IS THE MOST LAZY YET RESPONSIBLE THING YOU HAVE DONE YET!..."
Papyrus groans before continuing, "COME ON THEY ARE LEAVING US BEHIND. I WANT TO SEE THE KITCHEN AND SHOW THEM MY AMAZING PASTA MAKING SKILLS!"
"heh, alright papyrus, i'm right behind you."
Sans and Papyrus join the rest of the party as they pass through the entryway.
It... is... huge! Asgore has no trouble going through the door or moving around in the foyer and, despite appearances, the house is well kept. Dark stained wood is very prominent throughout the mansion, and the red carpet contrasts nicely. Occasionally, as they guide their friends through the mansion, Frisk points at something and says "don't touch that." Which, really, just made them want to touch it even more.
Frisk, however, explains: "The house has all sorts of traps and tricks in it, you need to be careful."
Papyrus is intrigued by it all, it's like the mansion is a giant puzzle, waiting for him to solve it.
Ascending the stairs, the group moves to the second story and each is shown where their bedroom is. As the party rounds back, going down the stairs into the foyer, they head to the kitchen. Toriel is quite taken by it. The appliances are so old, but looked... new? The wood burning stove is kept very clean.
Toriel asks, "would it be too forward of me to ask if I may use the kitchen on occasion?"
Chuckling heartily, Conrad replies "Of course, of course! Like I said, make yourselves at home! But I suggest waiting until after we finish the tour, there are more places for us to visit... and it is important that you are familiar with where all our surprises are; wouldn't want anyone to get hurt on accident!"
The group continues moving through the house as the Addamses give them a tour. They visit to the conservatory, the ball room, the very large living room, the play room -which looks like where Frisk spends most of their time-, a small alchemist's laboratory -which Alphys was given permission to use-, Marceline's study filled with books, the library -whose many books catch Toriel's eye-, and Conrad's office (which also has books, but the group was warned against touching them). Nearing the end of their tour, they arrive at their final destination; the greenhouse attached to the side of the mansion.
Asgore is impressed by the wide variety of plants and, since he loves gardening, he asks "may I help tend to your plants?"
Marceline responds, as even toned and mysterious as ever, "of course, King Asgore, any help is welcome."
"Just Asgore is fine. Frisk's family is our family."
Frisk nods in agreement.
"Very well, Asgore. I just have one warning, sometimes the vines get cranky if they are not fed. They have a tendency to... eat things."
"Golly, well... I will be careful then. Thank you for the warning."
:-:
With the tour over, the party makes their way back to the main lobby and slowly separates as they go to their rooms; hoping to get settled in before dinner. Thinking on the day's events, it seems... serene. Just laying down in a bed that isn't truly theirs, with the sun now over the horizon giving way to the stars and moon... It's almost too good to be true... almost. Trouble, it seems, is just around the corner.
:-:
Toriel quickly cooks up a meal for everyone with the help of Marceline and Frisk. Toriel's fire magic makes cooking go even faster.
Marceline, quite taken with the dancing flames, admits sadly "it is quite unfortunate humans have lost magic, witchcraft just isn't the same."
Occasionally, Conrad sneaks into the kitchen and plays around foolishly with Marceline and Frisk, taking a bite here, pretending to chop off his hand there while "helping"... Toriel reminisces as she watches them. It is nice to see Frisk in such a loving and close family. With dinner ready, and dessert in the oven, Toriel goes to yell for everyone, but Marceline stops her before she can, saying "you can use these brass pipes Toriel, they go throughout the house."
"Oh! Why, thank you. That makes calling everyone much easier... Perhaps I would not have been able to yell loud enough, now that I think about it."
After finishing her statement, Toriel looks at the brass pipes and flips the covers off before speaking into them.
Upon hearing Toriel through the pipes, Undyne and Alphys leave their room. Shortly after, Undyne decides to talk with Alphys as they look around the house on their way.
"No wonder the punk survived the Underground so easily... Growing up in a place like this, you have to be really careful... But man, this place is FREAKING AWESOME!"
"I know, right? T-they even have a lab I can use for experiments, and the house is s-so huge! Even though this is the surface, I feel like... like we are still in the underground! B-but not in the bad way, you know?"
"Yea I know exactly what you mean! It's familiar, but in a good way! And look at this!" Undyne punches one of the hallway walls, "this place is reinforced with some seriously strong stuff!"
"Huh... I w-wonder why they need reinforced walls..."
"Are you kidding Alphys? I took a wrong turn and almost got blown up! If the walls weren't reinforced this place would probably be in shambles..."
Alphys, so focused on the words 'almost got blown up', didn't register the rest of what Undyne said and she immediately starts worrying and panicking.
"OHMYGODWHATDOYOUMEAN!? THERE ARE EXPLOSIVE TRAPS HERE!? WHO DID THAT? WHY!? OHGODIMNEVERLEAVINGMYROOM! "
Alphys curls her tail behind herself and starts walking even slower, looking more critically at the floor.
"calm down alphys, i'm trying to practice sleep walking..." Sans says as he winks at Alphys reassuringly, "i'm sure it was nothing, all the stuff i've seen here is pretty mild. mostly just special effects and smoke."
"ARE YOU SERIOUS SANS!? SLEEPWALKING!? IN THIS HOUSE!?..." Alphys almost starts to yell, which Sans just shrugs off. Slowly getting her wits back she continues speaking, but somewhat shakily. "O-ok... but still... isn't all of this d-dangerous? I mean sure, Frisk grew up here and seems to act like... like it is fine, b-but maybe we should talk to them about... toning it down?" Alphys starts to tap her claws nervously as she stares downward, watching for booby traps.
"if you're that worried about it, then go ahead. the kid's dad said to think of this as our home. kinda hard to do that if you are worried about being blown up, right?"
"R-right... I'll talk to them about it... soon... maybe tomorrow. Let's keep going, we don't want the food to get c-cold..."
As they walk down the stairs, they begin to hear the sound of clanging and clashing metal. The closer they get, the more they recognize the sounds of swordplay... and sure enough, at the base of the stairs is Frisk and Conrad; sparing.
:-:
"Engard Senior Mustache! I will have your head this day yet!" Frisk shouts playfully and enthusiastically as they thrust their toy rapier forward.
As he parries the very telegraphed motion, Conrad feigns while saying "Oh ho! Getting a little over confident are we my little star? I will show you what it means to lose at the hands of SIR CONRAD ADDAMS! "
Their play goes on for several more seconds before Frisk fakes being stabbed in the heart and starts pretending to slowly die, saying "Noooo! Curse you Addams! You have foiled my plans yet again!... BLEH!" as they fall to the ground in an overly dramatic way and start to laugh.
The group, though amused with the antics of father and child, continue to make their way down the stairs -while stifling their laughter- and go on their way to the dining room; which reminds the duo that dinner is ready.
:-:
To Frisk's view, the dining room is aclog with the fur of... two very fluffy boss monsters. Toriel and Asgore decide to sit separately from each other, as there is plenty of room at the table for them to do so. The table itself is made of the customary dark wood, and can easily sit twice the number of monsters that are present (size accounted for). The chairs are well crafted and comfortable, and the candles in the Chandelier dance with magic fire. The entire scene is a feast in and of itself. Laid out on the table is a very large meatloaf, several loaves of bread, and various types of green vegetables. There are also beverages of various kinds, but all the glasses at the seats were filled with water.
"Have to drink water before you are allowed to drink anything else, otherwise you will shrivel up!" Frisk comments, as everyone else approaches the table.
Shortly after, Frisk comments again. "Well, except the skele-bros, but I forgot that when I set their places..."
Not offended by the oversight, Sans asks "do you guys have any more ketchup?"
Marceline, curiously replies, "of course, you may get it from the fridge."
"Careful mom, Sans will drink all our ketchup if we don't set a limit." Frisk warns.
"heh, hey kid who are you talking about? I wouldn't drink all the ketchup... just most of it."
"Well, as long as you don't drink too much you can help yourself. We need some for other meals, after all."
"'course."
Papyrus, somehow managing to enter the dining room unnoticed, blurts out "I WOULD LIKE SOME MILK, IF YOU HAVE ANY. IT IS GOOD FOR YOU AND FULL OF CALCIUM!"
Though his sudden and loud voice surprises her, Marceline doesn't show it as she replies "of course Papyrus, there is a new gallon in the fridge... please don't drink it all."
"THANK YOU MRS FRISK'S MOM!"
"Please, you may all call me Marceline."
After getting the ketchup and milk, the two sit at the table near Toriel and begin to eat.
"THANK YOU FOR MAKING THIS WONDERFUL MEAL! PERHAPS SOON I WILL BE ABLE TO SHOW YOU MY WONDERFUL COOKING AS WELL! I AM VERY GOOD AT MAKING SPAGHETTI, IF I DON'T SAY SO MYSELF! WHICH I DO! NYEH HEH HEH!"
Marceline replies, in as mysterious of a tone as ever, "I think that would be lovely, thank you Papyrus."
:-:
While sitting around the table, eating their various portions of food, some inconsistencies start to bug Sans again. Thinking back on the day, he remembers the look on Frisk's face while looking at the sunset; the face of someone who is confused. Someone who recognizes what they are looking at, but doesn't know why. So, after having a slice of Toriel's famous pie for dessert, Sans finally decides to ask.
"hey, kiddo, you said that this village was only 47 years old, and it seems chara came from here and that whole event was pretty recent... but that can't possibly be right, because chara died over 1000 years ago. we've been under that mountain for about... two thousand years... give or take a century."
"Huh? That isn't possible, the war ended just 52 years ago... Chara fell in 2015." Frisk, not quite sure of themselves, looks back to their memory of the sunrise again. "Maybe... time in the underground is different for the surface?"
"not likely... but who knows. i guess we wont know till we go back, huh?"
"Yea... Hey mom, dad, how long was I gone for?"
Marceline, after finishing the food on her fork, replies "I'm not sure little angel, but it couldn't have been more than a few minutes."
"...I swear I was there for at least two days... Could I go up to the mountain with Sans tomorrow to investigate these time shenanigans?"
To this, Conrad replies "I think it is best if you don't for now. I'm sorry my little star, but we were so worried when you disappeared; perhaps if you went with Mr. Ward or his squire, but I feel that you should spend the day at home tomorrow."
Dejectedly, Frisk replies "Ok dad... I understand."
Undyne, not wanting her friend to feel too bad, assures them "It'll be fine punk, me and Alphys-"
"Ahem... I think you meant: 'Alphys and I'" Toriel corrects using her signature 'teacher voice'.
Undyne corrects herself, continuing sheepishly, "R-right... heh... Alphys and I can go with Sans to check it out, and we will tell you about what we find; OK?"
Alphys, not sure if she should speak out about being volunteered to do something... but also wanting to stay with Undyne, decides to let it slide.
"then it's settled. undyne, alphys, and i will go back to the underground to investigate. you wanna join paps?"
"HMMM... NOT PARTICULARLY. TIME JAPES ARE NOT THE KIND OF JAPES I ENJOY... BESIDES! I NEED TO MAKE A GOOD IMPRESSION WITH THE HUMANS!"
"heh, alright... welp, i think it's thyme I headed to bed. g'night everyone."
As Toriel and Sans snicker at the joke, Papyrus is not happy. "UHG!"
After waiting for Sans to leave the room, Papyrus picks up his and Sans' plates. Everyone else takes their plates to the kitchen soon after as well.
As they clean up dinner, Papyrus asks "MRS. FRISK'S- I MEAN... MARCELINE. WHAT DOES 'MON ANGE' MEAN? YOU SAID THIS TO FRISK, SO I AM SURE IT IS A NICKNAME, BUT IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE ANYTHING I RECOGNIZE..."
"It is French, for 'my angel,'" she replies while assisting with the dishes.
"OH, I SEE! HOW FITTING, SINCE FRISK IS LIKE THE ANGEL FROM OUR PROPHECY!"
Frisk holding back a yawn, says "I should head to bed... good night everyone," deftly managing to skimp out on chores, using the power of sleepy children and distracted parents.
"Good night little angel, have pleasant dreams."
"YES! GOOD NIGHT FRISK! SLEEP WELL!"
With that, the rest of the night was relatively quiet as the remaining people clean up after dinner and dessert. Not long after everything is cleaned, Alphys and Undyne decide to turn in and, shortly after them, Asgore also excuses himself. Then, it was just Toriel and the Addamses.
Marceline, seeing the hidden distress on Toriel's face, asks "Toriel, why don't you accompany me to my study?"
"I would be glad to accompany you, is there something you would like to discuss?"
"Yes, and no. I would like to make you an offer."
"Oh, alright, lead the way."
While walking to their destination, Conrad turns and heads to the Conservatory while Marceline continues to speak,
"I wanted to thank you, all of you really, for taking such good care of Frisk. I know they can sometimes be a bit of a handful, but I can tell they feel safe with you. I also hear that you enjoy reading, so..."
When they arrive at their destination, Marceline waves her hand toward the study. It boasts quite the selection of books and papers, though not as many as the library.
"I would like you to feel at home, so as long as it isn't from the bookshelf next to the desk, you may read to your heart's content. Some of the books are... dangerous, while some are dreadfully boring. I think you will find the ones on the far wall, near the fireplace, more to your liking. Feel free to use the recliner and fireplace as well, should you want to stay and have some time to yourself."
With an undertone of guilt, Toriel replies. "Why, thank you very much, Mrs. Addams. That is very kind of you. I appreciate your hospitality, and, if I may contradict you, Frisk was a delight to have... Though... Frisk mostly went through the underground alone. I can not say it was an entirely pleasant experience, as I am sure many misunderstandings occurred along the way..."
Toriel briefly pauses to collect herself, "I regret not going with them in the first place, but the past can not be changed."
"Thank you for your honesty, Toriel. And please, call me Marceline. I will be in the conservatory with Conrad should you need anything."
"Alright, thank you again... Have a good night, Marceline."
"You as well."
With their conversation over, Marceline leaves as Toriel sets the fireplace ablaze with fire magic and goes over to the bookshelf. With a book in hand, she sits in the nearby recliner to read... before remembering that she needs to put on her reading glasses.
The night is silent save for the chirping of crickets, and the occasional groan or creak as the house cools down from a day in the sun. Toriel relaxes in the chair, reading a book titled "102 things to do with frog's legs," and slowly begins to doze off.
The night is silent... the stars, twinkling, and the world... eerie?
A howl occasionally echoes through the dark night sky which doesn't belong to any creature the monsters of the Underground recognize; but they still feel at peace... if a little uncomfortable.
* Sleeping in their cozy bed, among friends and family, fills Frisk with... DETERMINATION.
NOTES:
Inconsistencies and errors in the prologue are hereby declared as an intended story mechanic and therefore will be ignored if mentioned.
Any unintentional errors are also hereby considered intentional.
I reject your reality and substitute my own.
Fair warning, this story will not be all fun and games; though there are fun and games to be had.
This work is an exploratory telling of a story, and I am probably going to re-write it at a certain point (this is my first literary work).
This work contains quite a few references to other material, but any names used that are not intended references are merely coincidental.