As Frisk walked out of the library she almost got impaled by an arrow.
She jumped back, the point grazing her chest.
Frisk felt sweat gather on her brow and her heart speed up to a million miles an hour. Her eyes slowly wandered from the tip of the drawn arrow to the hands holding the bow, to the face of her… visitor.
She was a fish-like monster, with pale blue skin and an animalistic yellow eye. Her left eye was covered by a beat up eyepatch. She wore a heavy brown coat over a blue shirt with a sun in the middle. Her mouth was bared in a snarl, showing off sharp fangs.
She had red fins that fanned from the side of her head and blazing red hair held up in a ponytail by a gold ribbon. She had a quiver with arrows poking up from one shoulder.
Her eye was narrowed with a burning rage, and her hold on the arrow on her bow firm.
Frisk couldn't form words, her body shaking.
"You. Human scum. Are coming with me." The fish said firmly, her voice cold.
"W-w-"
The fish drew the arrow back slightly farther.
"No questions. Move." The fish's voice was sharper than the tip of the arrow she held.
Frisk shakily complied, forgetting everything else but sheer terror.
What did this stranger want with her? What did she do? She thought she was safe here.
The fish walked closely behind, the arrow dangerously close to Frisk's back. Frisk shivered and walked on, her steps uncertain and clumsy.
They went past the welcoming house of the skeleton brothers, and into a clear path by the river. The water was completely frozen over, and the distance hidden by a heavy icy fog.
Frisk's throat tightened. No ones here… oh no…
As they walked by a sturdy spruce tree, she caught a glimpse of yellow.
One of those yellow stars she had seen before sat beneath the needles, glowing bright.
Frisk felt a strong connection to it, and her feet stoped suddenly.
The arrow jabbed her back precariously.
"Keep moving!" The fish growled.
Frisk whimpered and forced her feet to keep moving. As they moved past, Frisk tried to touch the star with her tail. The tip lightly brushed the star.
Frisk felt a strong jolt of energy and warmth that made her flinch. It ebbed away as soon as it came, however, and she didn't have time to think about it as she was forced to move onward.
Eventually they came to the end of the stretch of land, right in front of a hill.
"Stop." The fish growled.
Frisk froze, her limbs stiff with fear. She was trembling now.
What is she going to do…
A tightness in Frisk's stomach told her she already knew the most likely answer.
Panic flared up in her chest.
What am I going to do?! I should've ran back into the library! I'm too far away now… unless maybe… I…
Frisk's mind whirled until she thought she was going to throw up.
She turned back to face the Fish, eyes wide.
As the fish opened her mouth to talk, Frisk hastily knelt down and picked up a handful of snow, chucking it at the fishes eye.
She didn't expect this, and hissed as the cold substance collided with her face.
Frisk realized she screwed up, but didn't stay to think on it. Her legs started moving involuntarily as she ran as fast as she could back towards Snowdin.
If I can get back, I can get help! Please…
She got halfway across the clearing when she heard a voice behind her.
"You shouldn't have done that, human."
There was a sharp snap, and the next moment red hit pain blazed through her torso.
Frisk stumbled over, feeling the arrow that had hit her dig deeper, making her gasp.
She stayed still after that, the pain paralyzing her.
No… no… it hurts…
Frisk's eyes grew watery, and she couldn't stop the tears that began to run down her face.
There was the crunch of footsteps behind her, and soon the fish was standing over her, looking royally pissed.
Something flashed in the monsters eye, but Frisk couldn't catch it. The fabric around the arrow was starting to feel warm and sticky.
The fish raised her hand.
"Farewell, human."
A glowing blue spear materialized in her hand, and Frisk watched it come down in the few seconds she had before the world went black.
The next thing she felt was weightless, like she was floating in a dark void that never ended. She couldn't think or breathe or hear, only feel.
Then she was right back in the snow, standing beside the spruce tree with the fish behind her.
Frisk drew in a desperate breath, the adrenaline and fear bursting forth. She stumbled into the snow, unable to process what the hell just happened.
"What the- Get up!" The fish snapped.
Frisk looked back at her, shaking. She touched the place where the arrow had hit her with her hand, but nothing remained but a faint ache.
She had died.
Again.
Her mind slowly put the pieces together.
T-this… happened l-l-last time… with the d-dog… I-it was that st-star…
Frisk fought back tears and swallowed hard, feeling the powerful sensation deep in her soul she had experienced many times before.
This caused her mind to clear slightly.
"Why… are you doing this?" Frisk asked, evenly. Her panic was going down surprisingly fast- replaced with DETERMINATION that must come from just dying not to long ago.
The fish's eye twitched.
"I'm taking your soul and giving it to the king." She growled.
Frisk's ears moved back slightly, but her determination grew. The logical part of her mind whimpered pitifully, but the hidden part was growing stronger.
"Then I'll be able to join the royal guard, like I've always dreamed." The fish added.
Frisk's ears pricked up in surprise.
I've heard that before… wait, didn't Papyrus have a friend… who he said he worked with?
"Are you friends with Papyrus?" Frisk blurted out.
The fish blinked. Then she lowered her bow.
"Yes, I know him. The damn skeleton was supposed to capture you, but it seems he's made friends with a fucking human instead."
The strong language sounded in place coming out of the monsters mouth.
Frisk Inched back ever so slightly, moving her arm near her pocket.
"Well… do you… really need to be in the royal guard? Papyrus-"
The fish stomped in anger.
"Hell yes I do! I've worked so damn hard my entire life to get in that damn guard, but that stupid dog always gets me! I can't do well in this cold environment, but if I could just… but that's not the only reason I need your soul, human! We've been trapped down her for ages… all because of your race! You trapped us down here and it's my duty to help bring the justice we need!" The fish bared her teeth, and Frisk was halfway between returning the gesture or tucking her tail between her legs.
The smallest thing could tip her in either way now, and she hoped this rush of determination lasted.
Frisk narrowed her eyes.
"What did I do?"
The fish monster's eye opened a little wider.
"H-huh? What did you do? You're a human, that's what!"
"And if you were a human and I were a monster, how would you feel?" Frisk countered.
The monster paused, then shook her head angrily.
"Fuck it. You are the last piece in the puzzle we need, and the last piece I need to get what I've fought my whole life to get. I don't give a fuck what you say, human! So stop talking and get moving!"
Frisk blinked, the burning in her chest spreading. Her heart was still pounding, but her head was dangerously clear.
Frisk stood up slowly, but didn't move.
This fish was trying to take her away from Snowdin.
From her new friends.
From the library, from the Skeleton's home. From sudoku puzzles with Papyrus and from late night movies with Sans.
She was taking her away from everything she found, and Frisk realized she wasn't ready to let it go just yet.
And even if that meant throwing her shy, fearful self to the side, that's what it had to be.
"…You're not taking me away." Frisk said quietly, halfway between a growl and an uncertain whimper.
The fish monster narrowed her eye, the pupil becoming thinner.
"What?"
"You're not taking me away from them." Frisk growled, louder. Her voice was solid now, and a part of her found it hard to believe it came from her own mouth.
The monster seemed surprised at this, but then quickly hardened. Her bow faded from her hand.
"So be it. If you won't offer your soul voluntarily, I'll have to take it from you. In the name of monster kind and my own damn dignity, I, Undyne, will strike you down!"
Frisk drew her dagger without a word.
Hopefully she wouldn't have to use it.
But a part of her told her talking to this monster wouldn't work like it did on the softer likes of Asgore and Papyrus.
The thought sent a twinge of uncertainty into her gut.
As Frisk's soul came out, she noted that the red streaks were glowing brighter, and seemed more abundant.
"En guard!" Undyne growled, and She summoned a spear, swiping the air with it.
Suddenly, Frisk's soul turned a bright, dazzling green. It startled her, even more so when she noticed an almost transparent green shield in front of her.
The monster then swiped the air with her spear again, this time smaller spears forming it its wake.
"You'll have to face danger head on to survive a moment against me!"
Frisk didn't have a moment to question her statement as the blue spears began rocketing towards her.
Frisk gasped and stumbled back, losing her resolve for a moment.
Luckily, she didn't move around. Stupid in another situation, but not in this one.
The spears collided with the shield, and made a sound like bullets hitting a car that echoed through the empty clearing.
Frisk took a breath and realized what the shield was for.
What else would a shield be used for?
Undyne sneered at her.
"What, you ready to tuck that stupid little tail of yours between your legs?"
Frisk growled lightly, tensing up and preparing for the next attack, her tail bristling and her ears flared.
I need to focus… this isn't like Papyrus…
In a meer second, the spears were hurdling at her again, and she dig her feet into the ground. Her heart was beating faster than the fastest plane, but her soul burned with DETERMINATION.
Maybe she could actually do this.
Frisk flinched as the spears crashed against the shield, the sharp sound hurting her ears.
Frisk caught a flash of blue in the corner of her eye, and reeled around to catch two more spears coming from her right.
She just now noticed her body was quaking.
Frisk heard the crunch of her footsteps and turned again.
Undyne was sprinting towards her, spear in hand. Her soul was no longer green, and the shield faded into the crisp air.
Frisk squeaked and jumped to the side, watching the spear stab the air where she would have been seconds earlier.
Frisk's chest pounded as she acted on impulse, slicing at the fish in a panicked manner. She easily blocked it with her spear, and the dagger slid off the glowing surface harmlessly.
She felt a twinge of fear break through her determination, staring into the fish's blazing yellow eye and sharp, sneering smile.
"You gonna have to try a little harder than that." She growled.
Frisk pulled her arm back, trying to move backwards. She wasn't fast enough, and before she could think Undyne raised her leg and kicked the human in the stomach, sending her rolling through the snow. It was all she could do to keep a grip on her dagger.
Frisk felt the breath leave her lungs. She was left wheezing and winded in the snow, grasping at her stomach.
Undyne wasted no time in approaching her, and Frisk struggled to her feet. Her legs were shaking so badly that it was hard to keep standing.
But she felt a twinge in her soul and the burning feeling grow stronger.
She couldn't let this fish kill her.
But…
Could she kill to save her own life?
Frisk blinked, not thinking of this. She wasn't given time as she felt her soul change and the green shield appear again.
The spears came faster than before, and Frisk found it hard to spin around in time to catch them.
"Well, I'm surprised you haven't been skewered to mush yet! Consider yourself lucky, scum." Undyne said sharply. Frisk felt her ears twitch, but she didn't pay any attention.
She had to focus on the spears.
They soon became the only thing in her world, coming from left and right and north and south.
However, a yellow spear emerged from the other blue spears, throwing her off. Then it disappeared, confusing her more.
Seconds later the same yellow was reflected on the back of her shield, behind her.
Frisk felt her ears move back as she turned and tried stepping away, her mind swirling.
Seconds later it flew past her, slicing her arm.
At first Frisk thought it was just a cut in her sweater, but seconds later a warm, wet feeling proved it wasn't.
She didn't feel the pain, however. Perhaps because of the adrenaline, or the determination.
Seeing her own blood well up on the gash made her feel dizzy and disoriented. Despite the world being black and white- with the occasional colorful magic- she could see the red of her blood clearly.
Frisk turned back towards Undyne, feeling her soul shift yet again.
Maybe she can't hold that state for long….
Undyne looked slightly peeved.
"No human has ever lasted this long. Whatever, I'll finish this soon!"
Undyne jumped forwards, a new spear in her hand. Frisk took a breath and jumped to the side.
Her thoughts went back to the dagger in her hand.
It would save her life to kill Undyne, but how would Papyrus feel? As much as she hated to believe, this fish was his friend…
After all he did for her, what right did she have to do that to her?
Undyne came forward again, swinging her fist. Frisk just narrowly avoided her armored knuckles, feeling her stomach drop.
She was losing resolve.
Uh oh.
In a panic Frisk lashed out with her hand, aiming her sharp nails at her opponents face.
Undyne growled as her nails made contact, leaving red scratches across the fish's skin. Frisk jumped back, holding her hand.
Huh, guess this Wolf crap does come in handy…
Undyne's gaze followed her, a rage burning in her eye.
"You're gonna pay for that, human!"
Frisk gulped.
She could never match her physically, especially since she had lost some of her determination. She didn't want to kill her, either, as much as she would have liked.
What could she do?
As Undyne came at her, something flashed in her mind.
Maybe I should… fight more like I just did… like a wolf…
Frisk nodded to herself and suddenly turned tail, running from the fish.
She could hear a surprised grunt from Undyne, and the sound of a spear forming.
"Say goodb-"
Frisk suddenly slammed her feet into the ground and turned around, facing the fish. She slashed at Undyne's hand with her dagger before jumping off to the side.
Undyne roared with rage. "You little SHIT. What the hell are humans made out of!?"
Frisk circled around Undyne, trying to think.
She couldn't tire her out… Undyne was trained and she wasn't. Besides, the gash in her arm was still bleeding and who knows what other wounds she would get.
Frisk noticed the Ice ahead giving off a glint off bright light at her current angle.
Frisk felt something in her gut, an instinct.
Maybe… if I get her over there… on the ice…
Suddenly, Frisk felt a surge as an idea formed.
That's it! If I can get her on the ice and then break it and get her wet, I can slow her down!
Undyne grunted and tried to come at her again, and Frisk could feel the air rush past her as she dodged just in time.
Her legs shook slightly, alerting her to the increasing emergency of her situation. She couldn't keep dodging by a hair.
Frisk's eyes flashed from Undyne to the ice. Undyne was huffing and grunting in rage, clenching and unclenching her fists. Her fins were fanned and shook slightly.
"You're… just like him, Dammit!" Undyne smashed her spear against the ground. "You stupid dogs never stand and die! Always moving, always looking… looking at me like that! That exact look! I see it in your eyes… Damn you!" Undyne was pointing at her face, and Frisk's eyes widened slightly.
"H-huh?"
Undyne's eye twitched.
"Your eyes… they're deep, yet sharp, narrow. Like a wolf. I hate that look! I'm not like you Moon-bloods… I'm a Sun- blood and I'm proud of it! I won't take that shit from anyone, whether it be that pathetic dog or you!"
M-moon… blood? Sun blood? What are those?
Frisk couldn't help but cock her head in curiousity.
Undyne seemed upset by this.
"What the hell? Stop looking at me like that and just die!"
Frisk scrambled back to the current situation and ducked as a spear was thrown at her. She was surprised she wasn't turned green yet again.
Can she not do it again? Well, maybe that's good… but I need to find a way to get her over there…
Frisk looked over at her arm, at the deep scarlet soaking her sweater. Realizing it's existence, she felt a pang of pain in her arm, still dulled from adrenaline.
She doesn't have her bow, I need to run for it. Oh boy… please don't let me die… please…
Frisk steeled her nerves and just as Undyne made another move towards her Frisk began sprinting away as fast as she could.
"You little brat! You're not getting away from me!"
Frisk forced her legs to move as fast as she could manage, trying to overcome the snow. She could hear the heavy clunks of Undyne's feet behind her.
Just as she reached the bank of the frozen river she heard a whizz, the sound Undyne's magic made. Frisk cursed and turned around throwing herself to the ground as an arrow flew past her head. She felt the tip graze the top of her head, and her heart crashed.
She could see the shadow of Undyne as the warrior loomed over her. Frisk rolled as fast as she could and pulled herself to her feet.
In the time she spent finding her feet Undyne had come over, bow in hand. Just as Frisk looked up she slammed the side into the humans face, and Frisk shrieked in pain as she was sent sliding across the ice.
The hit left her dazed as black dots raced across her vision. The distinct metallic taste of blood filled her mouth, and the ice was cold against her cheek.
Frisk couldn't let her eyes close. She feared they wouldn't open again.
I need… to…. Get… a little further… o-out…
Undyne stepped onto the ice, her reflection distorted on the ice. Frisk got to her knees, one hand holding her head.
She realized her dagger wasn't in her other hand. A quick glance revealed it had fallen a little further out on the ice.
Frisk looked from it to Undyne. She was already dizzy, standing would make it ten times worse. The ice wouldn't help. She wouldn't be able to react fast enough.
Frisk squeezed her eyes shut for a moment.
Oh no…
Undyne glared at her, spear forming in her hand.
"This is it, human. Take your last breaths." She sounded slightly triumphant.
Frisk drew in air into her aching lungs and summoned all her strength to send herself sliding towards her dagger.
"You can't go anywhere, human."
Undyne slowly started to walk towards her, and Frisk felt more panic well up in her chest.
The ice isn't breaking! It needs to break… please…
As Undyne drew closer Frisk could feel the desperation choking her, killing her.
She reached for the dagger, and , in one last move, slammed it into the ice.
It broke through, the blade burying itself in the frozen water.
Frisk heard a loud crack, and as Undyne's heavily armored foot came down again, heard another crack.
Hope rushed into her chest like a wave.
Is it… breaking?
Suddenly, quicker than anything she ever knew, the ice shattered…
Sending both of them into the water.
Frisk let out a surprised scream before she fell into the ice cold water.
All around the ice was cracking and breaking, and the river began rushing again. The water was so cold, it was painful. Frisk opened her mouth in a silent cry, sending a spray of bubbles from her mouth as her body was unable to move from shock.
The rivers current pulled at her, and she could feel herself turning and spinning. She could feel herself slamming against chunks of ice.
Her world was a swirl of bubbles and ice and darkness. Her chest felt pinned and she felt a desperate feeling in her lungs. On impulse she opened her mouth and tried to suck in air, only to suck in the freezing water into her lungs.
She coughed, pain spreading through her chest.
I-I- oh n-no no no…
Frisk finally moved her limbs, trying her hardest to fight against the water, she didn't know what was up or down, left or right. She just kicked out in panic, trying her hardest to reach something.
Her head broke the surface unexpectedly, and she sucked in a short gulp of air. She couldn't take in more- her lungs needed to be rid of water. Her head bobbed as she struggled to stay up, chunks of ice hitting her as she did so.
She caught a glimpse of a tree in the corner of her eye and started trying to reach it with all her might. She still couldn't breath- all she could manage was short gasps and it was doing nothing.
One of her kicks hit ground, and she realized she reached the bank again. Frisk struggled onto the shore, coughing up the river water and crawling onto the snow.
The chilly air hitting her cold body hurt.
Frisk collapsed, her body trembling violently and her teeth chattering against her will.
Everything was so cold.
She couldn't form thoughts or images, all she knew was the painful cold and horrible feeling in her chest.
She heard a faint cough coming from her right, and she slowly turned towards it.
Undyne had crawled up on shore as well, the fur on her coat frozen stiff in clumps. Her skin had lost its color, now a pale, frost bitten blue.
Frisk let out a tiny wheeze.
Looks like they both lost.
It took her a few moments to realize Undyne wasn't moving. She almost looked frozen herself.
She almost looked like a frozen fish taken out of a freezer.
Frisk flinched with realization.
She's dying from the cold…
It suddenly felt a lot worse to see her die.
It felt better when she was about to kill her, but…
Frisk shuddered with the memory of her death.
She then remembered Papyrus. His innocence, his loneliness.
This was one of his only friends.
Frisk stared ahead for a few more moments before grunting and pulling her shaking body off the snow.
Her limbs felt frozen and didn't want to bend, and her sweater was stiff.
She stumbled, almost falling over from the rush of dizziness that came with standing up. She focused on the spruce tree ahead, trying to keep her balance.
Once this was done, she began to limp back towards Snowdin.
Everything but the path right in front of her was blurry. The blurr began to spread, and soon everything was a white and green blob.
Frisk felt her mind slip, and she couldn't stop her legs from giving out and her body from crashing into the snow.
Looks like I didn't make it after all…
Frisk felt oddly detached, and the thought didn't scare her.
Just as she closed her eyes and the world began to fade, she heard a familiar call from up ahead.
…
Everything was warm.
She couldn't think at first. She didn't think about where she was, what just happened, what she felt. Everything was warm, and that was all she knew.
Soon she began to come around, feel the soft blankets and pillow. She also realized there was a mattress beneath her instead of a couch.
Frisk's eyes opened without her telling them to, and she grunted at the light.
She raised her arm up to her head, covering her eyes.
Too bright.
There was a soft click, and the light in the room dimmed.
"Sorry 'bout that, I was just being a numbskull I guess, heh."
Frisk jumped at the sound of the familiar voice, eyes flying open. The pain in her head and arm flared, but the recent memories flooding her mind along with current questions distracted her.
Frisk realized she was in a new place she had never been on before. It was rather messy, various debris scattered across the floor. She was on a plain mattress with no sheets, right up against the wall.
Sans was sitting cross legged on the floor next to the mattress, what looked like a joke book in his lap. He stared at her with lazy, half lidded eyes.
Frisk was slightly disturbed to wake up to Sans of all people staring at her, but she decided it was better than a Undyne.
Frisk let out a breath of relief.
She wasn't dead.
Sans blinked slowly, his head resting on his hand.
"'Bout time you've woken up. Any longer and I think Pap would have a heart attack… well, I guess he can't have one of those, can he?" Sans snorted.
"Sans… where…" Frisk felt slightly awkward, being in some random persons bed.
"My room. Undyne's got the couch. Papyrus didn't want to put either of ya on the floor."
"Oh." Frisk flinched.
Not some random person after all.
Sans seemed to notice this, and his expression changed.
"Hey, chill, its fine. I don't care. I just keep the door locked all the time to keep Papyrus from coming in here and bugging me about cleaning it."
Frisk sighed and tried not face-palm.
Of course that's why.
Sans yawned, closing the book.
"So, it looks like ya got in a bit of a scuffle with Undyne. Pap was lookin' for ya at the Library and the Librarian said you'd been gone for a while. He seemed pretty worried and I guess it rubbed off on Pap. He thought you left or somethin'."
Frisk rubbed her eye, trying not to move her aching arm.
"Um… yeah… I guess… I had been called out by someone and she just dragged me away…" Frisk shuddered, remembering the arrow going through her torso as she died.
She did a hell of a lot more than drag her away.
"I gotta say Snap pea, That's a pretty nice feat right there. She's the strongest non-Canine monster I know around here… well, maybe second strongest. If she wants something dead, it's most likely gonna die. You really left a mark on her face."
Frisk looked away.
It felt kind of… weird… to think back to that.
Sans chuckled deeply.
"Well, not to say she didn't leave a mark on yours. But hey, turn towards me."
Frisk's ears pricked as Sans stood up, stretching.
"H-huh?"
Sans pointed a boney finger at her arm.
"I didn't want to touch that while you were out. It's not terribly deep, but it looks like it still needs something and I didn't want Papyrus to do it cause he'll overreact and think your arm is going to fall off."
Frisk smiled lightly and shook her head, thinking of the tall, innocent skeleton.
"Yeah, you're probably right."
Frisk turned hesitantly, looking at her arm herself.
The gash was still bright red, the skin and cloth around it deep red. Frisk realized with a pang of fear it was a lot worse that she has first thought- but like Sans had said, it wasn't terribly bad.
Frisk was uncomfortable as Sans got closer, and she had to stop herself from pulling away.
Sans poked around it a little, and Frisk was almost on the edge of growling at him when he finally pulled away.
He put his hands up.
"Hey, see? No harm done. Now, I'm going to go downstairs and get the aid kit, and check on that damn fish stick. Odds are she's gonna be a little upset when she's up and I can't afford a new couch."
As Sans turned and left, closing the door lightly behind him.
Frisk let out the air she had been holding, happy she was finally alone.
Frisk surveyed her surroundings in closer detail. A dusty exercise bike was shoved in one corner, and it looked like it had never been looked at for years and years. A crooked desk was also present, as well as a dark wood dresser. It seemed it served no purpose, as all of Sans's clothes seemed to be spread across the floor like the aftermath of a teenage drinking party.
The thing that really caught her eye, however, was a large poster of a wolf on the wall. It was posed over a snowy mountain, it's eyes deep and wise and it's stance powerful.
Frisk remembered that both his jacket and shirt had wolf prints on them.
It seems he likes wolves, I guess.
Frisk looked down at her own tail, which had been unconsciously wrapped around her feet.
Maybe he can tell me more about this and how it happened…