The Chaos King
Since my normal posting day fell on Christmas, I decided to post on Thursday this time. I hope you guys enjoy the long and early chapter!
Do to having a vocal protagonist who doesn't have to follow the Soul/Player's commands and can say whatever she wants and communicate with people, which aids in the team's communcation with each other, a big change is happening this chapter, and I hope you guys won't mind it. Also, some more headcanons are coming, and the snowball effects are starting their take-off as Frisk and Susie's first adventure in the Dark World concludes.
...
"Wow, this is cool! I've never been on such a big team before!" Lancer said cheerfully as they walked along the winding forested path.
"Don't you have a legion of... various guys?" Ralsei asked.
Lancer looked down sadly. "Yeah, but my dad forced them to listen to me. So they don't actually like me very much."
"Heh, well you don't need those clowns anymore." Susie reassured him. "Just chill with us."
Frisk nodded with a smile, though her heart ached for Lancer. "Yeah, we think you're pretty great, Lancer!"
Lancer smiled at her. "You really think so?"
"Yeah, of course we do!" Frisk reassured him as Ralsei nodded happily.
Lancer smiled widely. "I think you guys are really cool too! And that fight you and Susie had was awesome! Susie, you were all like..." He punched both fists at an invisible opponent several times and pretended to lunge, though almost rammed into Ralsei. "And Frisk was all like..." He tried to imitate Frisk's dodging with fancy footwork, but nearly fell on his ass before Frisk caught him. Frisk looked at Susie and smiled, trying to hide a laugh, and for the first time, Susie smiled back.
They continued walking through the forested path until Susie stopped. "Man, I'm STILL hungry." she groaned, holding her stomach. "It's like nothing I eat here matters. Shoulda stolen more money for the bake sale I guess."
"I've got some Darkburgers and some donuts and stuff." Frisk offered, opening her bag.
"Nah, you keep that. We might need it later." Susie told her. "Plus, that crap doesn't fill me up."
"... I WAS thinking about baking a cake later." Ralsei chimed in.
"Mmmm... What's the catch." Susie asked skeptically.
Ralsei thought this over. "...You have to stop making fun of me, for one."
Susie snorted, then burst out laughing along with Lancer. "PASS!"
"Susie!" Frisk protested. "Is being nice to Ralsei really too much to ask?"
"Yes!"
Frisk rolled her eyes and looked to Ralsei apologetically, but he just smiled and shook his head.
They continued on, and soon came upon a brightly colored tree with a bright red star shaped fruit or candy, Frisk couldn't tell which, on top.
"Look, Susie! A candy tree!" Lancer said brightly.
Susie grinned. "Hell yeah!" She hurried over and jumped up and down, but even though Susie was the tallest in the group, she still couldn't quite reach. "...damn, the last piece's too high up to reach." she groaned. Frisk was about to suggest that Susie could lift her and she might be able to reach it, but Lancer cut her off.
Lancer grinned. "Worry not, Susie! I have a special transformation for times like this!"
Susie blinked in surprise. "R-Really!?"
Lancer made a dramatic pose. "Watch and learn, Team!" He pulled an MP3 player from his pocket and pressed a button that caused a dramatic explosion sound...then proceeded to just put his hands on the ground. "Magical stool forme!"
"...all you did was put your hands on the ground." Ralsei deadpanned.
Susie grinned. "Hey, don't act so jealous." She hopped onto Lancer's back, jumped, and grabbed the candy. "Heheh, got it!"
"Ooo, tell me what it tastes like!" Lancer said eagerly.
"Huh? You haven't had it before?" Susie asked him.
"Oh... I mean, I've always wondered what it's like, but I'm not allowed to pick it for myself..." Lancer admitted, looking sad.
Frisk felt for him, and obviously, Susie did too. She paused, looked at the candy, and immediately handed it to Lancer. "Well, you tell me what it tastes like."
Lancer blinked in shock, then smiled widely. "You're giving it to me...? I thought you were hungry."
Susie paused. "I, uh, changed my mind."
"Hoho! Candy joins the team!" Lancer grinned, and pressed his MP3 player to play dramatic music.
"ALRIGHT ALREADY!" Susie yelled in annoyance.
Lancer finally popped it into his mouth and sucked on it thoughtfully as they walked. Susie turned to him after a moment. "...so what's it taste like?"
"Yum, yum, yum! It tastes like friendship!" Lancer announced.
"What's THAT taste like?"
"Hahaha! Like my teeth are disintegrating!" Lancer answered. Both he and Susie laughed.
"Haha, that's... That's actually... bad." Susie admitted.
"Haha, yeah! But thank you for sharing!" Lancer told her. His smile was soft. "You're a good friend!"
Susie fidgeted and her cheeks started to tint red. "Well, uh... You too, I guess." Frisk smiled at Susie and she groaned and (gently) punched Frisk's arm. "Now don't YOU start!"
Frisk nodded with a smile, but quietly slipped one of her Dark Candies into Susie's hand when no one was looking. The dragon girl's cheeks turned slightly red again, but she took it.
"Just walking along with you guys...feels nice." Lancer then said sincerely as they continued along the path. "Like I'm doing something... important."
"That's because you're alongside the Lightners, Lancer." Ralsei told him. "Our purpose- Darkners' purpose- is to assist them. It's the only way we can feel truly fulfilled."
"That sounds...not good actually." Frisk admitted.
Ralsei blinked in confusion. "Why?"
"Ralsei, you're my friend! I don't want you to feel like we expect you to serve and help us! You're not some servant or lackey." Frisk told him. "You should live for yourselves, both of you."
"Says the girl who thinks she needs to help everyone who even looks at her." Susie muttered. "But yeah, Ralsei, Frisk's kinda right on that one. You shouldn't live just to assist us."
"Guys, it's not like that." Ralsei told them. "Frisk, you like helping people, don't you? And Susie, you helped Frisk and Lancer! It's like that. That's all."
Frisk felt better at this, but that immediately changed when Lancer spoke. "My dad hates Lightners. He wants to..."
"Does your dad seem happy?" Ralsei asked gently.
"... I'm... not sure." Lancer admitted.
"Hey, uh, let's ditch the weird "purpose" talk." Susie said suddenly. "You're probably just glad you ate a weird berry."
This eased the tension as Lancer grinned. "Yeah! I'm still boost from the juice!"
Susie shuffled her feet. "I mean, LOOK, I'm not from here, and hanging out like this... I also feel kinda, uh, y'know..."
"...happy?" Ralsei asked knowingly.
"Psshh, nah." Susie said quickly. A little too quickly. They walked on for a moment, and then Susie paused. "...maybe."
After a little while, they came along a cliff, "Look everyone! We can see the castle!" Ralsei called. Frisk looked into the distance, seeing a massive turreted castle with four cards sticking out of it, a large spade on the front and a fountain shooting inky black liquid that flowed above everything.
"Yes! That's where I live!" Lancer said cheerfully. "Me and, uh... My... My dad."
"What's that black thing emerging from the top...?" Susie asked.
"I think that's the fountain we've been looking for." Frisk told her, though looked to Ralsei to confirm this.
Ralsei nodded. "It is. Once we get there, you two will be finally able to go home!"
"Geez, took long enough." Susie muttered.
"Awesome! Let's hurry! I gotta pick Tina up from school in a few hours." Frisk said.
"Yeah, c'mon, let's go!" Susie said.
Lancer paused. He looked worried.
Frisk turned to him. "Lancer, what's wrong? Are you okay?"
"I...I'm fine!" he said quickly.
"Okay, yeah, that's bullshit and you know it." Susie said firmly. "Now spill. What's bugging you?"
"Are you sure there... isn't another way home?" he asked softly. "The fountain is being guarded right now. If you try to go there, um... Y... You might... get hurt. And..."
"What? C'mon, Lancer. NO ONE's going to beat a team like us!" Susie said confidently. "If anyone gets in our way, all we gotta do... is CRUSH them." She showed her pointed teeth for emphasis.
...but w-what if you had to fight..." Lancer started.
Susie shrugged. "Everybody bleeds, right? Don't worry about it. Whoever it is, they'll be cold on the ground before you can blink."
"Susie! Lancer's dad works at the castle!" Frisk told her. She turned to Lancer. "Is that why you're so worried?" she asked gently.
He stared at the ground. "Yeah...I don't want you and him to hurt each other..."
Susie smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry! We won't hurt your dad, promise." Lancer brightened and Susie's smile turned into a grin. "I'll just make Frisk and Ralsei work their magic on him while I take out the king. After all, like Ralsei said earlier, it's that bastard king causing this whole mess, not so much the other guys. But don't worry! Once he's dead, your dad won't have to listen to him any more!"
Frisk didn't think Lancer could get any paler, but the poor kid somehow did as he flinched. Her stomach sank as she started to realize exactly whose son her new friend was.
"Lancer?" Susie asked gently, noticing the flinch. She sighed. "I said something wrong, didn't I?"
"I..." His eyes filled with tears.
"Your dad's the king, isn't he?" Frisk asked gently.
Lancer nodded and looked at the ground. "...Yes."
Susie sighed. "Damn it, Lancer, I didn't know. I'm sorry." She took a deep breath, and with a moment's hesitation, spoke again. "I won't kill him. I promise. Us and him, we'll just, um... Talk it out. Peaceful-style. Y'know."
"Yeah, Lancer, we won't hurt him." Frisk said gently. "We just want to go home. Trust me, we'd all rather talk it out than fight."
Ralsei nodded. "It'll all be okay, Lancer! We won't hurt your dad! I'll just bake one of my cakes, and we'll all talk, and he'll see that Lightners are nice!"
Lancer fidgeted. "I...don't think my dad will like that..."
Susie gave a rare genuine smile. "Hey, Lancer! C'mon! We're a team, right!? Nothing can stop us! Fighting or not! Alright?"
Lancer hesitated, clearly still worried, then looked up again into Susie's eyes. Slowly he brightened. "... Yeah! Yeah, you're right...! We might as well try! I can help too! I'll get you guys into the castle, and I'll go talk to my dad! Ripen him up!"
Susie grinned. "Hey, now we're getting somewhere! Now, how are we going to do this? Do you got some secret entrance or something?"
Lancer thought a moment. "If you guys are with me, we should be able to get past the guards without them attacking you. We can walk right through the front door. I can just say I captured you! We'll slip right under their noses!"
Frisk smiled. "Good idea."
"Yeah! The $!$? Squad is gonna do it!" Lancer cheered, then looked a bit worried. "Um, guys...? Can-Can I ask you something...?"
"Yeah, of course." Frisk told him.
"Even...Even though I'm the king's son... Are-Are we still friends?" he asked very softly.
Everyone looked at him in shock. It was Susie that was the first to find her voice. "...Huh? Of course, Lancer! Why the hell wouldn't we be?!"
"...My... My dad tried to hurt you... And he doesn't like Lightners... And... I hurt you too..."
Susie knelt down to his level and put her hand on his shoulder. "Lancer. Hey. You're not your dad, okay? Who he is... that's not who you are. Okay?"
Frisk had never heard Susie speak so gently, and as her eyes met the other girl's, she saw a tired sadness in them and had the feeling Susie understood all too well what Lancer was feeling. Just like Frisk herself did.
Frisk knelt down too. "Yeah, you're Lancer, our friend! Whose kid you are doesn't change that." she told him reassuringly. She exchanged a worried look with Susie as both tried to figure out what to do.
Ralsei too tried to comfort him. "We think you're great, Lancer! And things are going to work out okay with your dad. I promise."
Lancer smiled a bit. "Thanks, guys. Now let's get to the castle and get you home!"
As they walked towards the castle, Susie moved closer to Frisk and Ralsei and spoke quietly. "You think you guys can teach me your whole...um...ACTing thing?"
Frisk nodded with a smile and Ralsei grinned. "Of course, Susie! We always knew you had the heart of a hero!" Ralsei cheered.
"Yeah, yeah, don't push your luck." Susie muttered, though Frisk could tell she wasn't actually mad. After a moment, she spoke again. "...Hey, Ralsei...are you still going to make those cakes for us?"
"Well, are you going to stop making fun of me?" he asked dryly.
She smiled a little. "Well, if I HAVE to, I guess."
Ralsei smiled. "Then I'll bake you as many as you like, alright?"
Susie chuckled. "Yeah, like you can make that many, dude."
Frisk smiled at the exchange. FINALLY those two were getting along. Things were looking up.
"Frisk?" Susie then said softly.
"Yeah?"
"Look, I know that if we're going to get out of here, we need to "get along." And I know you're a pretty damn good sweet talker when it comes to these guys. So, um..." Susie rubbed the back of her neck. "If you ask me to do something...I'll listen to you this time. Just don't ask me to do anything STUPID, or I'll go right back to smashing heads."
"Got it."
"Cool. And Frisk..."
"Yes?"
"I'm counting on you." The words were both an acknowledgement and an unspoken apology.
Frisk smiled up at her. "I'm counting on you too."
...
They marched up to the castle gates, Lancer right behind them. There were a group of what looked to be Rudinn, though with a crimson color scheme and visors obstructing their faces, standing in rows along the pathway, and they all aimed their weapons.
"Lightners approaching the castle! Get them!" one, clearly the leader, ordered.
"Hold your fire! They're with me!" Lancer yelled, showing himself.
"Prince Lancer?" one asked in surprise.
"Yeah, I caught them! And I'm taking them right to my dad!" Lancer grinned. "So let us through! Now!"
The soldiers glanced at each other, but stood down, parting before them as Lancer led them right into the castle. While Frisk acted meek and submissive, as if Lancer had captured her, inside she was grinning. This was turning out much better than she had been concerned it would. Without Lancer, they likely would have either had to make up some bizarre plan to sneak in or gotten caught and wound up in jail.
Lancer led them through a maze of corridors, stopping any guard that attempted to attack, saying Frisk, Susie, and Ralsei were good and with him, and that he was taking them to his dad. Frisk and Ralsei smiled, complimented, and made awkward small talk to help win them over, and even Susie, clearly trying to be nice but not sure what to say, chimed in, telling a Rudinn Ranger that his outfit wasn't disgusting. Still, she and Ralsei were proud of Susie for trying, plus, the Rudinn Ranger was over the moon about the backhanded compliment anyway.
But it was when they were heading to the third floor when things hit a snag. Finding the switch to lower the spikes on the stairs led them all to have to go into a small room. Immediately when they passed the threshold, spikes shot up from behind them, trapping them there.
"So the worms have decided to come out and play." a slightly creepy yet somehow suave voice spoke from the shadows.
"Who's there?!" Ralsei asked in fear.
The voice laughed evilly. "Thoust FOOLS!" A door opened and a tall, humanoid monster with blue skin and long white hair that swept over his shoulders, wearing a fancy suit like a figure of ancient royalty, stepped out, grinning maniacally. "I am Rouxls Kaard, thou're greatest adversary! Thou may have clawedst past all those otherest conundrums, but THOUSE were created by UTTER WEAKLINGS! Now prepare thouself for the STRONGEST puzzle of THOUST LIFE! TOIL, worms!"
"Lesser Dad!" Lancer complained, stepping out from behind Ralsei. "I know you want to show them your cool puzzle, but you don't have to SCARE them! the Lightners are my friends! They're with me!"
"I wasn't scared!" Susie growled, though it had no heat behind it.
Rouxls stopped in utter shock, staring at Lancer in befuddlement. "Young prince?" He then sighed. "I wisheth thou wouldst just call me Rouxls Kaard, thoust know. And thou know thoust father willst not be happy about this."
"Well, I'll just have to ripen him up to it then!" Lancer said cheerfully, though Frisk noticed he seemed a bit nervous, and Susie clearly noticed too from her worried expression. "Lesser Dad, take care of my friends while I go talk to him! Show them more of your cool puzzles and make them some of your RouxlsRoux! They'll like that! Well, I gotta go! Have fun, guys!"
"Lancer?" Susie called after him. "You gonna be okay, man?"
"You sure you don't need us there with you?" Frisk questioned worriedly.
"I'll be fine, don't worry about it! I'll meet you at Lesser Dad's shop when I'm done." he reassured them with a grin. Frisk still wasn't sure if he was okay, and neither was Susie, but he was off before they could question him further. They were then left alone with Rouxls Kaard, and the four stared at each other awkwardly.
"So, you're the famous R.K." Frisk said with a smile, trying to lighten the mood. "You definitely created some difficult puzzles in the forest. And Lancer said you helped him put a rocket engine on his bike. That's pretty cool."
"That child is more troublesome than a fistful of fleas! He alwayst asks me the Worste queries, and calleth me his "Lesser Dad," Rouxls ranted though Frisk swore she saw the faintest smile on his face. "I amst Rouxls Kaard, Duke Of Puzzles! Our relation is none, you little water beetle! I placate you for your father's sake! "Take care of your friends," thoust sayeth! "Show thou thine puzzles." Wellst, I shall!" Susie and Frisk glared at him for his words against their friend, but then his voice softened. "How is he, anyhow?"
Frisk blinked at the sudden shift in tone. "He's...doing good. He and Susie hung out together all afternoon." She chuckled a bit nervously. "They built a robot just so they could blow it up in our faces." She gave a teasing smile to Susie to let her know she wasn't bothered.
Rouxls grinned. "Good. I hath taught the little worm well." He then stiffened, seeming to realize what he was doing, and glared at them. "Except for his inferior taste in friends. Thoust may hast fooled the young prince, but thoust will never fool the great Rouxls Kaard! Thou will never get past mine most superior puzzle!"
He made a dramatic pose and a glowing tile with a brown box right next to it slid out of the ground. Frisk glanced between Rouxls and the puzzle in utter confusion. This COULDN'T be all there was to it...
"Guys, stand back just in case it explodes." Frisk whispered as she edged towards the box.
"Yeah, if it's exploding, I'm handling it. I've got way more HP than either of you." Susie said firmly, gently pushing Frisk out of the way and towards Ralsei, then pushing the box on the tile before jumping back.
But there was only a happy little chime sound and the spikes went down.
Rouxls stared at them in open mouthed shock like he hadn't expected them to do something as simple as pushing a box onto a tile. He threw up his arms. "GOD DAMN IT!" he yelled way more dramatically than necessary to the world at large before darting away.
Frisk blinked and looked at her equally dumbfounded companions. "Oookay... Guess we're on our own..."
...
"Great. Since I can't just whack them, now what am I supposed to do?!" Susie asked as they were surrounded by three Head Hathys.
"Well, regular Hathys like to be flattered." Ralsei said quietly. "So maybe we should, um, try..." His face turned bright red. "F-Flirting?"
"Annnnnd hell no." Susie said bluntly. "Frisk, you flirt with them!"
Frisk turned bright red. "I don't know how to flirt! YOU flirt with them!"
"Aww, it's okay if you don't know how, Susie." Ralsei said soothingly.
Susie glared at him. "What? Shut up, that's not the problem!"
"Are you sure?" Ralsei asked.
Susie clenched her fists, looking determined. "Alright, LOOK, wise guy! I'll show you! Watch this!" She cleared her throat loudly and smiled at the first Hathy in a way that she probably intended to be flirtatious but ended up looking demented. "So, uh... come here often?" The Head Hathy looked awkward and just fled.
"Hey, get back here and let me flirt with you!" Susie yelled after them. The other two Hathys sent circular bullets around them that they needed to stay in the middle of, and Frisk had no idea whether this was an attack or them trying to prevent Susie from chasing down that poor Head Hathy.
"It's all right, Susie, just try again." Ralsei soothed.
Susie gave him a challenging glare. "Hell, nah. Let's see YOU do it."
"I suppose if it can't be helped..." Ralsei gave the Head Hathy his trademark adorable smile. "Hathy, your beauty is just...transcendent. Your hair is like a waterfall of..." He paused awkwardly. "...wait, um, do you have hair, or..."
Like the first one, the second Head Hathy awkwardly bolted away and the three had to keep from getting hit by heart shaped rings this time from the remaining one.
"Okay, Frisk, it's YOUR turn to flirt." Susie said firmly. "Hell, you can't do any worse than me or Ralsei."
Frisk took a deep breath. "Okay, okay. Hathy... I...I think your clothes are beautiful." she said, then paused awkwardly. "Or is that just your body?" Once again, a Head Hathy was caused to bolt by an awkward teenager who never flirted or had a date in her life.
Susie laughed. "Okay, maybe you are worse."
"Susie!" Ralsei scolded as Frisk looked embarrassed. "Aww, Frisk, you weren't that bad... And even if you were, we all sucked, so we can all be sucky together!"
Still, they made very sure to avoid every Head Hathy on that floor like the plague. There was no need to go through that again...
...
After getting through a maze of those paper dancer things, the fourth floor involved, yet again, having to go into a small room to unlock the switch for the spikes on the stairs, and Rouxls Kaard was of course there to try the exact same trick as before. He laughed evilly. "Thoust guys really think that was all I hadst? WRONGE! It's time for you to feel my Real Powere! Behold! My ULTIMATE puzzle! HAVE AT YOU!"
It was of course, yet another box, just slightly further from the tile this time. Susie insisted on doing it herself again, just in case this time it did explode, and seemed highly disappointed when it did not.
Rouxls paused awkwardly. "Ahhh..." He then started laughing nervously. "Gullible worms! This wasn'tst REALLY my ultimate puzzle! I have a wayst better one right... here!"
"Can... Can we see it?" Ralsei asked awkwardly.
"No." Rouxls replied, then simply walked off with his head held high.
"All right then..." Frisk muttered.
The stairs were finally free now, and they headed up, Frisk getting a Revivemint from the treasure chest.
The fifth floor, to Frisk's relief, contained a Save Star, allowing them to heal before going any further. There were no enemies on this floor, just a room that looked like it could be Lancer's and a shop they could see Rouxls sitting in.
"Yeah, we're not dealing any more with that bozo." Susie said flatly and pulled Frisk towards the stairs.
But somehow, when they climbed to the sixth floor, Rouxls was somehow there before them despite having been casually relaxing in his shop seconds ago.
"Enough, Worms..." He passed through a glowing door of light. Frisk wondered if he could teleport. "Thou may have CHEATETHED through mine puzzles, but in COMBAT, thou shalt be scattered about! Come, knaves...! Prepareth for battle with..." He brought a K-Round through his door. "...Whatever this thing is!"
"Huh...?! It's the enemy from earlier...! But its crown looks different." Ralsei said. Frisk didn't think it did, but Ralsei had better vision than she did, so she'd take his word for it.
"...It looks the same." Susie muttered.
"Yes! With my Control Crowne... I mayst control ANY disc shaped lifeforme!" He hit a button and the creature stomped forward.
"Oh no! It looks like it's in pain!" Ralsei gasped.
"IT LOOKS THE SAME!" Susie shouted in frustration.
"Yes... The control crown is painful... But, I'm certain this creature will feeleth better when it sees how much MORE pain THOU'LL be in!"
With that, the hurting creature charged forward, and the three heroes prepared for battle.
"Guys, I have an idea." Susie whispered.
"You want to act, Susie? Aww, what's your idea?" Ralsei asked.
"Um... well... how do I say this. I kind of...need you for this one." Susie said, rubbing the back of her neck sheepishly.
"That's fine, Susie. I'll help! You want to apologize to it for earlier, right?" Ralsei asked, smiling.
Susie shrugged. "Nah, I just need you to stay still." With that, she scooped him up. "Frisk, keep it distracted! We gotta get that crown off its head!"
Frisk nodded, diving into the fray, having no clue what Susie was planning, but trusting her regardless. "Hey! Over here!" she yelled at the K-Round and it lumbered towards her.
And then Ralsei came sailing through the air with a yell and slammed right into the crown, loosening it greatly.
Frisk caught him as he landed, pulling him out of the way just in time to dodge as the mind controlled K-Round tried to leap on top of them. She pushed him back towards Susie as she yelled and waved her arms, turning its attention towards her to give him a clean escape. "Susie, you didn't tell me you were going to throw Ralsei! Ralsei, you okay?"
"I'm fine, Frisk, don't worry!" Ralsei seemed completely unruffled about being launched across the room.
"Hey, you didn't ask! And it's working!" Susie retorted.
"Just keep it distracted, Frisk!" Ralsei called to her. He ran back to Susie. "Susie, throw me again!"
Frisk nodded, drawing the creature's attention towards her, trying to keep out of the way of its giant feet and bullets while keeping it away from her teammates. It took throwing Ralsei three more times to get the crown off the K-Round's head and Frisk getting hit by a bullet once while trying to protect Ralsei from being hit, but once the control crown fell off, it instantly turned small again and rolled away happily.
And then they were left standing once again in front of Rouxls awkwardly. The duke looked terrified, and Frisk didn't blame him as Susie clearly wanted to kick his ass, but then he smiled. "Why brilliant! Just BRILLIANT! I knew you couldst do it! Thou great heroes, thou! Thou see-eth, that was merely... a friendly test of thine abilities! But thou hast WON! And now NOTHING blocks thine path! I, personally, could NOT be less of an obstruction!"
"Then what the hell was THAT about?!" Frisk yelled.
"That was to test your Heroick mettle, and so I couldst see if Young Prince Lancer's faith in you was well founded!" Rouxls said cheerfully. "Though I canst now see that thou are the true heroes and friends that he deserveth!"
While the logic made sense in a weird way, Frisk wasn't quite sure that she believed him. Rouxls Kaard was contradictions on top of contradictions wrapped in a ball of contradictions. She didn't trust people like that.
And neither did Susie. The dragon girl gave Rouxls an angry look. "How the hell are we supposed to trust your word after what you said about him?!" she asked angrily.
Rouxls sighed. "Perhaps my wording art a bit Harshe earlier... Lancer is a Darling! A strange and irritating darling! When his father does not cook, he yells like a baby bird, until I feed him worms! I doth not know if this is what it means to be High Ranking, but... despite what I said, the boy is like mine own, and the King is truly a Harshe and terrible man."
Frisk felt sick, but before she could say anything, Susie rushed at Rouxls. "Is Lancer safe?!" Rouxls's eyes widened, then he looked away. Susie grabbed him by the shirt and shook him. "Tell me if he's safe, dammit!"
"Susie!" Ralsei called out, rushing to stop her.
"Susie! Put him down! We need to help Lancer. Now." Frisk said urgently, her heart pounding. She grabbed Susie's arm. "We need to go."
This cut through Susie's frantic rage and she dropped Rouxls. He somehow landed gracefully. Susie paid him no more mind as she grabbed Frisk and Ralsei and rushed up the stairs.
"Luck be with you, heroes!" Rouxls called out behind them.
The throne room looked like there had been a huge fight in it, which made the group even more worried. They rushed through, Frisk stopping for only a second to brush her hand against the save star and heal her party. If they were going to save Lancer, they needed all their strength.
They rushed through the throne room and down a dark corridor onto the open roof.
"Hey, there's Lancer...!" Susie said in relief as they saw Lancer, safe and alive, as he walked over to a giant shadowy figure that had their back towards them, a large cloak obstructing all their features, minus a bright white crown.
"Father!" Lancer said with a smile as he approached the man.
"Lancer, my son. Have you dispatched the Lightners, as I commanded?" the king asked and Frisk's blood went cold. He had expected his preteen son to murder people?
"N... No, b-but..." Lancer's voice was shaky, and from their hiding spot, Frisk saw Susie's hand go to her axe before she determinedly pulled it away, obviously wanting to keep her promise to Lancer.
Lancer then brightened a bit, giving his signature smile. "I did even better! It turns out we don't actually have to fight them! They said they could just talk to you, and..."
The king turned sharply. "They're ALIVE?" his voice thundered.
Lancer kept smiling. "Yes, and I think you'll like them a lot! There's Susie, she's very purple and strong, and..."
The king towered over his son, causing Lancer to shrink back. "WHERE ARE THEY NOW?"
"Umm..." Lancer lowered his head.
Frisk turned to Susie and Ralsei, and they walked forward, not wanting Lancer to get in trouble. "Hey." Susie said casually, though her entire body was tense.
Somehow, Ralsei maintained his normal cheerfulness despite the situation. "It's nice to meet you!"
"...Lancer. Lancer, my son." the king said with deadly calm.
Lancer's voice shook. "Y... Yes, father?"
The king moved closer. Frisk tensed, every part of her wanting to rush over, grab Lancer, and run.
"Do you remember what I told you?" the king said calmly, moving closer to his son.
"D... Don't... get too attached?" Lancer asked softly.
The king grabbed his shoulder before any of them could react. "You have failed. They have poisoned you with their sentimentality. Free yourself, Lancer. They care NOT for you. Their only goal is to destroy our glorious fountain. They. Are. Scum." Every word was filled with venom.
Lancer looked down. "N... no they aren't..."
The king gripped Lancer tighter, suddenly lifting him off the ground. "WHAT DID YOU SAY!?"
Frisk pulled her sword. "Put. Him. The. Hell. Down."
"Let him go." Susie said firmly, pulling out her axe.
The king laughed manically. "Ha ha ha ha... You want me to LET HIM GO!? Then how about this...?" He held a terrified Lancer over the edge off the cliff. "I'll drop him off the edge and let him splatter... Unless you all KNEEL and learn your place!" Frisk lowered her sword, her heart pounding in terror as she desperately tried to figure out how to get Lancer out of this.
"What will it be, Lightners!?" the king crowed.
Susie, Ralsei and Frisk all backed up, putting their weapons away. "Just don't hurt him..." Frisk pleaded.
Lancer struggled in his father's grip. "D-don't listen to him, guys, he'll... he'll..."
"We're not going to let him kill you. You're our friend, Lancer." Frisk told him, tears in her eyes as the three of them knelt. She desperately tried to find an opening so she could grab Lancer and free him, and she could see Susie and Ralsei frantically doing the same.
"Now WATCH, Lancer...!" the king growled, as spade attacks surrounded the group. "SEE what happens when you befriend Lightners!" Frisk knew they were about to die. She prayed for someone, anyone to help them...
And then, with his father distracted, Lancer took action. With a quick movement of his hand, the frantic boy fired a small spade into the king's back, causing him to yell in surprise and instinctively drop Lancer as his attack fizzled out.
"Wh... what the!?" the evil monarch gasped. Lancer took the opportunity to flee, giving the gang a moment to get up. "YOU... YOU TRAITOR...! COME BACK HERE...!"
"Alright, enough already." Susie said with a surprising calm. She swung her axe. "Who the hell do you think you are?"
The king laughed evilly. "To my people, I am a hero... To you? I'M THE BAD GUY!" He pulled his cloak back and stepped out of the shadows, revealing his true form. He looked somewhat like a larger, more muscular version of Lancer, with even a similar outfit but the similar features did not hold her newest friend's charm. His face was distorted in an evil grin, teeth showing, and there was a second, gaping, toothy mouth on his stomach.
"No hero would EVER try to kill their son.' Frisk said coldly. Her hand tightened on her sword, digging the hilt into her skin. For the first time...looking at this monster who truly was a monster in the worst sense of the word...
She wanted to FIGHT.
A hand was placed on top of the one holding her sword. It was Susie. "I know. I hate him too. But remember, we promised Lancer. Don't let an asshole like him be the one to make you give up on your morals." she whispered as they faced the laughing king.
Frisk nodded and halted, letting Susie for once be the reasonable one as she turned to the king. "Arright, listen up. Lancer's my friend." the dragon girl said. "So if we can get by without hurting you, then..."
The king just grinned cruelly, sending a wave of spade attacks at them from all directions. Thankfully, they all dodged without injury. "If I perish, so be it! Show my son the monster you REALLY are!"
"You're the only psycho here." Frisk growled.
Susie squeezed her shoulder. "Frisk, I got this." she whispered before glaring at the king. "Arright, you wanna see what I can do, huh?" She glared, her will changing. A beam of red light struck King, forcing him back.
"How dare you come here, Lightners!" he growled, firing another round of spade attacks, though these ones were directed specifically at Ralsei. Ralsei was struck by one, but still managed to dodge most, and Frisk rushed and shielded him from the rest.
Despite the cruel attack, it was Ralsei who was next to try to reason with the king. "You might not realize it, but... This is a world where you don't have to fight. I know if we try, we can all find another way..."
King was unconvinced. "Such simple minded platitudes... A shame you will not live to realize your naivety. Now perish with the pathetic Lightners you worship!"
Ralsei glared. "Sorry, my friends and I aren't going anywhere!"
"You that left us in the shadows, stripped of meaning..." He sent a chain out, wrapping it around Frisk's waist, yanking her around as he fired spade attacks at all of them. Ralsei was injured trying to get to Frisk and Susie and Frisk were clipped a bit as they struggled to dodge, but finally Frisk broke free of the chain.
Light came from Ralsei's hands and surrounded them, healing them all. "Don't worry, I've got us! Frisk, just concentrate on shielding! Susie, see if you can do that attack again!"
King growled and shot his trident at Frisk in several rapid strikes. She managed to leap out of the way of each one. "You dare to torment us once again?" he growled.
"Believe it or not, we're not here to torment you." Frisk said, trying to remain calm and rational, though only for Lancer's sake. "I'm sorry about the Lightners who trapped your people, but none of us even fucking know them! We didn't come here to attack you! We just ended up here by total chance! And we don't intend to hurt anyone! We care about your son, King. And he loves you! How could you just do this?! Hurt him and try to kill his friends?! Do you know what that would do to him?! How that would hurt him? Don't you care?!"
"Silence, Lightbringer!" the king snapped. 'Your very existence goes against our own... By the Knight's will, I shall shatter your heart to pieces!" He trapped Frisk in a cage of glowing magic surrounded by spikes, and pushed it around as she struggled to stay in the middle, getting hit a few times. Susie yelled in anger, and her Red Buster attack burst from her mouth, forcing King back.
"Frisk!" Ralsei yelled and threw a Darkburger to her. She took a huge bite, her power returning.
The king smirked. "Begone! We have found fresh purpose! For the Knight has appeared."
He grabbed Ralsei in a chain, forcing him to struggle as spade attacks came at him. Frisk rushed forward with a yell of anger, dodging a few aimed at her, and slammed her shield into the side of King's head, dazing him, but only for a second. However, this left her open to attack, and she was trapped once again in the spiked cage.
He laughed as he threw it around her, trying to hit her as she moved with it, staying in the center. "Holy Fountains, whose shadows are creating a new world. OUR world." He sent waves of spades at them, and they all leapt to get out of the way.
Susie struck once again with her Red Buster, stopping the attack, but he still wasn't down yet. "Hahaha... Do you see now our NEW purpose...?"
Frisk kept calm. "I see now that you're a madman." was all she said.
King ignored her. "Soon, this world shall be blanketed in darkness. And DARKNERS shall RULE it." He shot more glowing spades out of his trident at all of them. Frisk tried to dodge and keep an eye out for Susie and Ralsei, only to nearly get hit herself before Susie pulled her out of the way.
"Ralsei! Susie!" Frisk called, grabbing the Top Cake out of her bag, ripping it into three pieces, handing one to Susie and throwing the other to Ralsei. They all stuffed it in their mouths, regaining their HP.
"Now enough talk! Fall before the chain of justice!" King growled, and trapped Susie in the chain this time before sending spades at all of them. Frisk rushed forward, dodging the spades he sent flying at her and slammed the blunt side of her sword into him, forcing him to let Susie go.
King panted. "Ha, you're quite strong, aren't you?" he told them, meeting Frisk's sword with his trident. She blocked his strikes, but this pushed her back.
King used this opportunity to once again trap Ralsei in the cage of spikes as he warded Frisk and Susie off from helping him with a multitude of spade attacks. But he was clearly growing exhausted.. "If I keep fighting you like this then...it seems that..."
His attacks were more desperate now as he wrapped a chain around Ralsei, trying to drag him into the spade attacks he was throwing. Susie once again fired Red Buster at him as Frisk shielded Ralsei.
King was shaking. "My Knight...I shall not fail you..." He sent a final wave of spades at them, but he could no longer hold out. He collapsed to his knees, stopping the attack.
Frisk kept her grip on her sword. Susie kept a grip on her axe. Ralsei watched worriedly, but King did not attack. "Enough... is enough." he said, sounding like a tired old man. "I see... I see that I cannot defeat you. I have grown exhausted from our long battle." His cloak flew into the wind. "Lightners... I... Perhaps I... I have been too cruel. The truth is... I was not always this way. There once was a time... where Darkners and Lightners lived in harmony. A time where Darkners could fulfill their purpose in peace... It would be a lie to say that I, too... do not yearn for those days." He closed his eyes. "...Perhaps... Perhaps you young ones are right. Please... let us put away our weapons. There must be a peaceful solution to all this."
Ralsei immediately backed down, but Frisk and Susie hesitated. While she wanted to believe his words, Frisk felt like there was something...off. It didn't feel right, how someone so cruel, cruel enough to try to throw his own son off a cliff, would change his thinking so quickly, especially in a battle against the people he hated.
"Come now, guys!" Ralsei whispered. "We promised Lancer, remember? We promised him we'd try, and I think we really calmed King down. I think he sees the light now."
Frisk and Susie looked to each other, both unsure. Frisk sighed. She did want to try to make peace, if only for Lancer's sake. She put her sword back. Susie too returned her axe.
"I'm glad you're starting to realize, Mr. King... None of us really want to fight." Ralsei said gently. "If you can just tell us about your worries, I'm sure we can all be friends, Mr. King!"
He smiled a little. "Y-Yes... "Friends..." That sounds... lovely..."
Frisk didn't trust it. She glanced to Susie. She didn't either.
King collapsed to a sitting position, coughing. "My apologies, I am... I am not used to fighting like that... My body is... getting weak...
"Oh, don't say another word!" Ralsei said compassionately. He started to head over.
"Ralsei!" Frisk hissed. "I don't think that's such a good idea!"
"He's hurt, Frisk! And he's not going to attack us any more!" Ralsei told her.
"I'm not sure. Something's up." Frisk said shakily.
"I'm with her. I don't trust the guy." Susie whispered.
King looked at them pleadingly. "Lightners, I know I caused you pain. I caused my son pain. I know you don't trust me. I gave you no reason to. But I swear on my honor, I won't attack. Please... Let us try again..."
"See, guys? I know you're scared, but it's all going to be okay!" Ralsei told her and squeezed her hand before going over to King. His hands glowed with warm, green magic as he healed him. "There, you should be all healed up! How do you feel...?
"L...Let's see..." King said weakly, and Frisk's hand instinctively went to her blade, her eyes warily on him.
But keeping her eyes solely on him was where she made her mistake. King, unlike Susie, was a coward, and attacked from the side with only a twitch of his hand, a massive spade attack sending them all to the ground.
"Never better." Frisk heard King say cruelly from where she lay, stunned, facedown on the ground. She struggled to her knees, frantically looking for her friends. While Susie struggled to get up, Ralsei lay limp. Only the slight rise and fall of his chest reassured her that he was still alive.
"Y...You..." Susie growled.
He summoned three deadly pointed spades, aiming for her SOUL. "Did I say you could get up?"
Frisk was up and moving despite her pain as he fired, throwing herself and her shield between Susie and the attack.
"Frisk...?!" Susie gasped as she tried to get up.
Frisk caught a glimpse of white, and saw an attack above Susie. She threw herself between that as well, protecting Susie even as the bullets struck her.
"Oh, spare me the heroics." King taunted, and spades surrounded Frisk, cutting her deeply and throwing her back. She fought to keep consciousness through the blinding pain.
"You...clever girl... You're the leader, aren't you?" King asked as he lumbered over to her and towered over her menacingly. "So what's your plan? To laugh, as you cast us all back into obscurity?"
Frisk coughed, feeling wet blood coat her lips. "...To protect my friends from an asshole with no honor." she managed to say. She knew she was going to die. She just hoped King would be so distracted with her that Ralsei and Susie could get away, and that someone, anyone, would take care of Tina when she was gone...
He knelt down next to her as she struggled to get up. "Young one... Let me tell you a secret." He grabbed her roughly by the waist and stood up, letting deadly spades hover above her. "Impertinent fools like you PISS ME OFF."
Then a flash of purple came from behind him and he grunted in pain, letting Frisk fall hard to the ground. She struggled to get up, but the pain prevented that.
"Hey." Susie's voice came from behind King. "Get away. From my. Friend."
Frisk weakly opened her eyes, seeing Susie standing with her axe, her eyes glowing a vengeful yellow.
King turned to her and laughed. "Heh he heh heh.. OR WHAT? You'll KILL me?"
Susie grin was casual. "Nah."
He walked slowly towards her. Frisk struggled to get up, to help her, to do something.
"So what's your plan, then...? King asked angrily. "To TALK me to death...?" He walked closer and closer as Frisk tried to move her leaden limbs, looking at Susie desperately, wanting her to grab Ralsei and get away.
"You stupid, stupid Lightner. You honestly think you have any way..." He summoned spades over both of them. "...To convince me NOT to kill you?"
"Nah." Susie said casually. She grinned, her eyes meeting something behind Frisk. "But THEY might."
There was a massive rumbling, and Frisk felt herself being lifted by gentle arms. She looked up into the kind eyes of a group of Head Hathys, Rudinns, and some other monster she couldn't identify.
"L...Lancer?! E...Everyone!?" King's now terrified voice said. "WHAT is the meaning of this!?"
Lancer's cheerful voice sounded from above her. "Sorry, Dad! You're being overthrown!"
"Lancer..." Frisk whispered with a smile. Her body relaxed, adrenaline leaving her. Everything was all right now.
And then her world went black.
...
Frisk floated in endless darkness, or maybe just her soul did. She couldn't feel her limbs. There was no more pain. She felt nothing but tired. Everything was peaceful.
Dark, dark, yet darker...
And then hands, so white they nearly glowed, with pitch black holes in the sides, formed in the darkness. A strange voice came into her mind, deep though almost electronic sounding, calling out to her, but in a language she couldn't understand.
A distorted face appeared from the blackness, gaping sockets and a twisted black smile grinning at her as those hands reached for her...
She screamed. But it made no sound. She struggled to get away, but had no body.
But before the thing could touch her, voices came from far away, calling her name.
"Frisk! Frisk, wake up!"
And then the numbness faded away, feeling returning as she felt herself being moved, someone gently laying her head on something warm that moved slightly(someone's lap?). A multitude of concerned voices cut through the lingering darkness, but two stood above the rest.
"Frisk...? Frisk, come on, wake up, you idiot!" There was a slight sob. "C-C'mon, quiet people piss me off...just say something!"
"Frisk? Frisk, please!" another voice, soft and male, begged. "Just wake up!"
Susie. Ralsei. Her mind flashed back to the battle with King, her friends falling to the glowing spades...
Frisk gasped and opened her eyes, jolting to a sitting position, or at least trying as a wave of pain hit her body, causing her to cry out a bit.
"Hey, hey, easy." Gentle arms steadied her. She looked up to see Susie was the one holding her. Ralsei was kneeling next to her with worried, teary eyes.
"Sus... Rals... All right?" Frisk managed to ask.
Susie laughed weakly. "Yes, dumbass, we're fine."
She felt someone nearly slam into her as furry arms wrapped around her, followed by sobs. Frisk winced, but warm magic poured into her, easing her pain. "Frisk, don't do that again, we thought we lost you..." Ralsei sobbed.
Frisk hugged him back tight. "It's okay, Ralsei. I'm here. It'd take more than that idiot to kill me." she said, trying to smile.
"Hey, Frisk! Phew, it's so good to see you awake!" a cheerful voice said, and Frisk looked up to see Lancer, grinning and standing among a group of Head Hathys. He hurried over to her, carrying something in a bowl. "Here, drink this! Lesser Dad always makes it when I'm sick."
Frisk thanked him, and with Susie's hands steadying her, managed to drink it down. It was some sort of rich, fragrant sauce with some sort of noodles that almost seemed squirmy, and warmed her to her toes, soothing away the last of the lingering aches and pains.
Lancer took the empty bowl back, passed it to a Head Hathy, then knelt at her side and hugged her. She hugged back tightly. "I'm so glad you're okay... Thought I was too late for a second..." the poor kid said shakily.
Frisk smiled. "Hey, I may be low HP, but I'm not THAT easy to kill." she said lightly. "And you came just in time to save our collective asses. Thanks, Lancer. Thanks, guys."
"When Prince Lancer told us what King did, we all came." a Rudinn said. "Everyone remembered how kind you guys were, and I remembered how you were nice enough to help me with Clover's birthday, so we all wanted to help. We decided we'd rather have a king that accepts both us and you!"
"So now I'm king!" Lancer said happily. "Now I'm the dad!"
Frisk grinned. "Congratulations, Lancer!"
"Thanks! And you don't have to worry any more! Dad's in jail! I know you kind of passed out before you heard my cool speech about that." Lancer told her.
"Sorry." was all Frisk could say.
"Damn well you'd better be!" Susie growled and lightly shook Frisk, though was careful not to hurt her. "You scared the hell out of all of us! You were at a decimal of your HP! You nearly died! Why the hell did you decide to be my human shield?!"
Frisk looked down. "You're my friend. I wanted to protect you..." she whispered.
Susie punched her in the arm, though very lightly. "Well, don't do that again! Cause you're my friend too, you moron, and I don't want you dying on me any time soon!"
"Yeah, you had Susie crying." Lancer added.
Susie glared at him. turning bright red. "I was NOT crying! Your stupid dramatic entrance stirred up a lot of dust!"
"You don't have to be ashamed of it, Susie. I was crying too." Ralsei told her, his own voice crackly from his sobs. "It's okay. We were both worried about Frisk." Frisk hugged him close and rubbed his back soothingly as he held her tight.
Lancer looked between them. "We'll give you guys a moment! So you can all be mushy without witnesses!" He hurried off with the others.
"I am okay now, guys." Frisk reassured them, moving her arms and legs experimentally. "Nothing hurts any more. Are you guys okay? You all took pretty good hits too."
"We're fine." Susie reassured her. "The Head Hathys and Lancer healed us up great. I feel better than ever!" She flexed with a grin, her smile reassuring.
"Yeah, don't worry about us! We're fine!" Ralsei reassured her. He then looked down. "Frisk...Susie... I'm so sorry. You guys getting so hurt was all my fault. You tried to warn me not to heal him. You both did. I should have listened. Because I healed the king, we almost... we almost..." His voice shook as he looked up at Susie. "Susie, you were right. I... I was foolish to think we could act so soft to everyone..." Tears filled his eyes. "This isn't a world where kindness always wins, is it?"
"Eh, it's complicated." Susie said gently. "Yeah, sometimes there's people you just gotta fight. But if you NEVER let your guard down, then..." She looked down. 'You might just... hurt someone you care about."
"You just have to find a balance." Frisk added softly. "Make sure the person you're trying to resolve the conflict with isn't someone who will throw your mercy in your face. Everyone here expect King was good, and we're alive because we befriended those people and they helped us in return. King... he was just evil, and a good liar. It's not your fault, Ralsei. You gave him a chance to redeem himself. Hell, you were a far better person than I was during that fight. It's all his fault for taking advantage of your kindness."
Ralsei nodded softly. "But I'll...I'll listen next time you guys have those instincts. I don't want either of you to ever get hurt like that again."
Frisk hugged him. "We believe in you, Ralsei. We both do."
Susie nodded. "Yeah, we do." She then laughed. "But this is the only chick flick moment you two dorks are getting out of me."
Ralsei nodded with a slight laugh at Susie's last line, then looked down sadly. "I suppose you guys should return home now."
Susie nodded hesitantly. "Yeah, I... I guess that's right, huh."
"Don't worry, Ralsei, it won't be for forever. We'll come back and visit. We can even stop by tomorrow, as long as the closet's still open." Frisk reassured him. She grinned. "Afraid that now that you got us, you're stuck with us."
Ralsei beamed at this. "That sounds great!"
"And... we won't go right away. We can't leave without saying goodbye to Lancer and everyone, right Susie?" Frisk asked.
Susie nodded. "Yeah, I GUESS you're right. Well, you know I'm ready to head off, but if you want to..." Susie may have been acting nonchalant, but her smile spoke a different story. She wanted to say goodbye too.
"Good, because everyone else wanted to say goodbye to you too." Ralsei said, smiling. "Please... just let me know when you do leave, all right?"
"Yeah, yeah, we'll try not to skip you." Susie agreed, smiling back.
They headed back towards the castle, and Frisk happily talked to those they passed, even Rouxls who patted himself on the back for "always believing in them." There were a lot of smiles and thank yous, even from Clover's grumpiest head, who did it in a rather tsundere way that reminded her of Susie. Finally, they arrived in the throne room where Lancer sat on the giant throne, his feet dangling off. His smile was as bright as the sun as he saw them. "Susie! Frisk! I thought you were going homeways."
"We were, but Frisk wanted to say bye, y'know." Susie said casually.
"Oh! Really!? Hohoho! That's funny!" Lancer chuckled, not falling for Susie's act any more than Frisk herself. "I thought YOU wanted to say bye because we're friends!"
Susie gave a sheepish smile. "Huh?! I mean... I didn't NOT want to!" She then rapidly changed the subject. "So now that you're king, what're you gonna do?"
"I'm changing some big rules!" Lancer said proudly. "First, Lightners are now legal! Second, prison is now only for dads!"
Susie grinned. "Sounds like some pretty good changes." She then looked serious. "Hey, your dad was, uh, protecting the fountain, right? ...Is it gonna be OK if we mess with it...?"
Lancer smiled. "I have no idea! But it's you guys, so I trust you...! If something bad happens, we'll fix it out!"
"We don't want anything bad to happen though." Frisk said softly.
"Don't worry, everything's going to be fine!" Lancer reassured her.
"Yeah, guess we'll just see I guess." Susie said. "Umm... well, see ya later!"
"Come back soon!" Lancer said happily. "There's always room in town, for a couple of clowns!"
Frisk laughed, then hugged him. "We'll come back as soon as we can, Lancer."
Lancer hugged back happily. "Tell your prince I say goodbye as well."
Frisk and Susie blinked in confusion. "...Is he leaving?" Susie asked.
"No... he's just a sweet little peach." Lancer said, making Frisk giggle.
With the last goodbyes said, Susie and Frisk headed back out the castle to Ralsei.
"Susie, Frisk... Are you going to leave...?" Ralsei asked softly. "Umm, I... I just wanted to say..." He buried his face in his hat. "I... I... I really enjoyed meeting you two, and..."
Susie rolled her eyes. "Hey, can you STOP mumbling into your hat for a sec? Can barely hear ya, dude."
Frisk couldn't see Ralsei's expression, but guessed he was blushing. "O-oh, I'm sorry!" He lifted his hat and Susie jumped about a mile in surprise as they both realized he had soft white fur underneath rather than the black fur they both thought he had. "Um... Frisk, Susie... I... I can't wait for tomorrow." He grinned. "I'll make you lots of yummy cakes, alright?"
Susie looked utterly dumbfounded, then found her words. "Umm, yeah! Sure, dude, haha!"
Frisk hugged Ralsei. "We'll be back before you know it, just leave that closet open."
Susie nodded with a smile. "We will, dude, promise." She turned to Frisk. "Let's go, Frisk."
Frisk reluctantly let go of Ralsei and followed Susie as they walked right down the blue hallway, and into a gray room with a fountain that was not the black fluid Frisk was expecting, but shone in all colors, rippling softly. It was hauntingly beautiful.
"Is this... the fountain?" Susie asked softly. "Dunno how, but... It feels like we stumbled into... something really important, didn't we...?"
"I think so." Frisk said softly.
"Well, there's no time to think about that now. Right now... It's time to go home, right, Frisk?"
Frisk nodded. "Tina's waiting for me." She took a deep breath and stood in front of the fountain. Immediately, she felt something strange. Looking down, she saw her SOUL glowing, a brilliant red almost as bright as the fountain.
And then her soul lifted upwards, and the fountain turned white. The bright light filled the air, and Frisk felt herself being pulled forward...
And then there was only darkness.
...
And now only the Hometown chapter remains! I hope all of you enjoyed and aren't pissed at me for removing the iconic prison scene. With Frisk being so vocal, and able to put the pieces together on what Lancer was upset about, I couldn't see things going the way they would normally.
Also, sorry for no Jevil, as I know people love him, but I couldn't put him in for a myriad of reasons. First, Frisk would have had no way of knowing about the secret basement, especially since they never used the elevator, and Frisk's mindset is not on exploring, it's on keeping her team safe including Lancer, stopping King's plans, and getting home to Tina. Also, if their first conversation with Jevil hadn't set off Frisk's alarm bells, Seam and Malius's warnings would have, and she would have never freed him, knowing he was dangerous. What worked in a video game just wouldn't have worked from a literary standpoint.
Please review and let me know what you think, or if you have any questions or suggestions.