As the two were walking down the trail back toward the cavern, Asten took out his notebook and began to write.

'What was Sans inquiring about?'

Frisk read the message as he handed the notebook to her. She thought back to the conversation she had earlier with Sans. She began to feel a sense of dread at the thought of Flowey and how he could be trying to influence other people in the underground. Not only that, she was concerned as to what "dark" thing had entered the underground with Asten.

"I think Sans might know about Flowey. He didn't exactly say that but… he kind of implied that he did."

Asten began to think to himself. He didn't really think of the flower as much of a threat, but Frisk seemed to be genuinely concerned about it.

'I would not concern yourself too much with that thing, besides, if we come across it again I shall rip off every pedal on that creature's head if that would please you.'

Frisk was thankful for what Asten had just wrote. He was endearing in the way he promised to protect her. She felt safer traveling with him. She smiled back up at him as she spoke.

"Thanks, but I don't think that'll be necessary."

Frisk began to ponder about other things to ask him as they continued to walk together.

"So, you said that you meet Toriel, right?"

'Yes, I happened upon her home while I was traveling through the ruins after I fell. She seems like a kind soul. Spoke about you quite a bit.'

"Yah… that's her alright…"

Frisk seemed to be saddened by the way Asten talked about Toriel. She began to feel guilty for leaving her in the ruins. 'She was just trying to protect me…', she thought to herself, feeling a little regretful for leaving her in the way that she did.

Asten could sense that something was wrong by the way Frisk's face had saddened from her normally cheery demeanor.

'Is something troubling you?'

Frisk looked up, noticing a glint of worry in Asten's eyes. She smiled as she looked back up at him.

"I'm fine."

She could see that Asten didn't seem convinced by her response.

"I promise."

Frisk began to think of something else to say, trying to get the thoughts about Toriel out of her head. She began to think about what Sans had told her, about how Asten was from a world vastly different from her own.

"What was your life like before you fell down here?"

'It was…'

He stopped writing, thinking about the right words to describe it to her.

'… a very decrepit and horrid place. A hell on earth. It was a place of monstrosities and unparalleled savagery. I wish to never have to go back there.'

"You must have had friends, right? People who cared about you?"

Frisk could see sadness in Asten's eyes. The armored figure gave a pause before writing again.

'I wish not to speak about that.'

Frisk looked down at the ground, feeling embarrassed that she had struck a nerve.

"Sorry, I shouldn't have asked."

Asten looked down at Frisk, noticing her downtrodden look. He began to write, handing her the notebook when he was finished.

'It's not your fault, you didn't know.'

Frisk looked back up at the armored figure, she could see a friendly look in his eyes. She gave him her usual gentle smile, before speaking again.

"Thanks… you know I'm here to talk if you need to…"

'Thank-you.'

The two continued into the cavern and past the guard post they had seen Sans. They found themselves in front of a tall, and narrow field of marsh grass. To the left of them was a clearing, shrouded in almost complete darkness. They continued forward and into the tall grass. They began to hear footsteps to the left of them. Asten immediately dropped to one knee, signaling Frisk to do the same. The footsteps continued to echo from the dark clearing. As the footsteps stopped a voice could be heard to the darkness.

"H… HI, UNDYNE! I'M HERE WITH MY DAILY REPORT… UHHH… REGARDING THAT HUMAN, I CALLED YOU ABOUT EARLIER…"

The voice sounded extremely nervous. There was a pause before it spoke again.

"…HUH? DID I FIGHT THEM? Y-YES! OF COURSE I DID! I FOUGHT THEM VALIENTLY!"

"…WHAT? DID I CAPTURE THEM…? W-WELL… NO. I TRIED VERY HARD, UNDYNE, BUT IN THE END… I FAILED."

There was another pause.

"W-WHAT…? YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE THE HUMAN'S SOUL YOURSELF…"

"BUT UNDYNE, YOU DON'T HAVE TO DESTROY THEM! YOU SEE…"

There was another pause.

"…I UNDERSTAND. I'LL HELP YOU IN ANY WAY I CAN."

Asten and Frisk could hear footsteps trail off into the distance. Asten began to motion for Frisk to move again. As He began to step forward, his iron knee guards made contact with his metal plated boots, causing a distinct metallic sound to echo through the field. Neither Asten nor Frisk dared to make another move as they began to hear the sounds of heavy metal boots nearing their hiding spot in the tall grass.

Asten made ready, his large black iron shield held out in front of himself, his knee dug firmly into the ground and his right foot was planted into the soft, moist earth. Frisk was kneeling behind him, hoping to avoid any unnecessary confrontation. The thundering sound of the foreign boots came closer until they stopped just a few feet outside of the grass field. Asten could see half of its form, the other half was shrouded by the darkness of the cavern.

From what he could see it was a knight of some sort. It wore blackened armor. Its iron shoulder boards jutted over the arms, ending in a sharpened, spear-like point. The half of its helm he could see was menacing, sharp aesthetic grooves gave the helm the appearance of bearing teeth. A long red plume flowed out of the back of this helm. A single blue eye glowed within the darkness of the cavern, scanning above Asten and into the rest of the grassy field.

The knight stood there, searching for the cause of the noise. Minutes passed before the knight slowly backed away, disappearing into the darkness. Frisk and Asten took this as their opportunity to move to the opposite side of the field. Slowly, the two moved through the grass until they reached the clearing on the other side. They stood up, and seeing as though the coast was clear, Frisk reflected upon what had just happened.

She turned to Asten who was still staring off into the distance where the knight had disappeared.

"That sounded like Pap, you think that was his boss he was talking about…?"

Asten turned to her and began writing in his notebook.

'I do not know, but what would Papyrus be doing out here?'

"I don't know, but he sounded nervous, I hope he's alright…"

Just then, the two heard a rustling from within the grass. Asten made ready with his shield, his free hand was clenching the helm of his sword, ready for a fight.

Out of the grass came a small figure. It was the armless kid from the entrance of the cavern. Asten relaxed, taking his hand off his sword and letting his shield down to his side. The child began to speak.

"Yo… did you see the way she way staring at you guys…! That was so awesome! I'm sooo jealous! What did you do to get her attention…?"

Frisk and Asten gave each other a confusing look as the kid continued to stare at them. He spoke again.

"HaHa. C'mon! Let's go watch her beat up some bad guys!"

With this the armless kid began to run down the darkened trail, tripped over himself, and proceeded to run until he was out of sight. Frisk began to speak.

"Well that was weird, I hope he doesn't get lost down here…"

Asten began to write.

'Never mind that, what are we to do about that knight?'

"I don't know… ah… maybe we can talk to her…?"

Frisk shot him a hopeful look as he looked down at her, a questioning look in his eyes.

'Frisk, I don't think this a situation that calls for conversation.'

"I know, but… we can at least try… can't we…? Let's just keep moving and hope for the best… ok?"

She gave him a reassuring smile.

'Very well.'

Asten did not look convinced.

"Thank-you. Now… let's see were this path takes us."

They continued to walk down the pathway, the noise of the water was calming despite the encounter the two had just been through. Asten remained paranoid, looking at the edge of the darkness on either side of the path as he walked with Frisk.

They soon came to a river, spanning about fifteen feet in girth. They stopped, wondering as to how they would cross it. After a few moments, she noticed something hanging on the cavern wall. Frisk read the old and dusty sign that hung on the rock wall besides the path.

'When four bridge seeds align in the water, they will sprout.'

Around the corner she noticed what appeared to be unsprouted lily flowers laying on the ground.

"I got it!", she said quickly running over to the seeds, as Asten looked on.

She began laying the seeds into the water. As she did this, they began to expand, showing their vibrant pink pedals.

She felt very proud at figuring out how to form a bridge across the river, when she suddenly remembered something. 'How's Asten supposed to get across… there's no way the flowers could hold up all of that weight…' As she was thinking she heard a very loud and very repetitive metallic noise to the left of her. She looked behind her to see Asten sprinting at full speed. As he neared the edge of the river he jumped, planting the soles of his boots on the opposite side in a loud thud that shook the ground beneath her.

She was surprised that someone in a suit of armor could jump such a distance. She began to laugh and clap as she congratulated him on the performance.

"Bravo, bravo!"

The knight gave a bow as Frisk began to walk across the flower bridge. The two continued forth, into the rest of the cavern.