A tall figure loomed over an echo flower, its bioluminescent light glowing up his front, though he was a mere shadow from behind. He wore a white t-shirt over his body of green-blue scales, with ripped jeans and leather boots to match. His head was shaved bald, but a thin line of violet hair could be made out.
He was stroking his chin as he stared at the echo flower, which was unusually silent. He nudged it with his boot to no effect.
Cautiously, he crouched down, leaning closer to the flower, curious now. It was as he'd expected. The last voice to speak to it had been whispering. Barely audible.
He made out two words.
"Behind you."
With a spin, a cyan katana emerged out of thin air, pulsing with energy as he knocked a similarly-colored arrow out of the air that had nearly collided with him.
The arrow was vaporized as a much smaller figure charged at him, holding the same weapon he had in her hands as she moved forward with intent. His blade met hers nearly effortlessly, but he was forced to block several more times for her rapid strikes, before performing a parry and striking back. He wasn't surprised when she matched his speed and tenacity perfectly, but surprise did rise in him when she angled her katana to the side, before knocking it out of his grip.
His katana vanished into nothing before it even hit the ground as he smiled down at the girl, who was now pointing her katana at his chest.
"Not bad, Undyne," he commented. "At this rate, you might even pass me."
Undyne's katana disappeared as she returned his smile, though hers was much wider, baring her fangs in full. "Think I got what it takes to be Captain?" she asked. At this, he chuckled.
"Not yet," he admitted, and her face fell, prompting him to continue. "Yet, Undyne. Keep training, and you just might."
The two began to walk away from the echo flower, deeper into the darker parts of the cave- though that was hardly an issue for them. Their golden eyes shone in the dark like small lamps, and from their perspective, they could see quite clearly even in the pitch black.
"I still don't like using the sword," Undyne stated.
"Katana," her father corrected.
"Whatever," the girl shrugged. "I'm good with it but I hate how it feels."
"We've been using katanas since before Flouis Dhelaron was Captain," her father stated. "It's tradition."
At this, Undyne fell silent. Her father was very serious about the tradition of the Dhelaron family, which dated back for as long as there was history. They were named after the first aquatic monster, who was revered as a God to monsterkind, alongside others like Arachne, Orion, and Guija, just to name a few.
The Dhelaron district came into view, a neighborhood of houses, some built on the stone of the caves, a few others integrated into the deep pools of water that dotted the Glowing Cavern, which this province was named due to the hue along the walls left by the echo flowers that stretched its length. The Snowy Forest was too cold for the flowers to thrive, and the Crimson Cavern was too hot. Then there were the cities at either end of the Underground where… well, one she'd never visited, and the other was too industrial for plantlife like that.
She preferred it out here. It was peaceful. Quiet.
They approached their home, a uniquely-designed abode in the shape of a monstrous fish face, and entered to find it empty save for the table, piano, the usual. Her father let out a sigh, before calling; "Ravin!"
No response. He shook his head. "He's probably out talking with the Puzzle Master again," he stated. "Sometimes I swear that boy has more interest in puzzles than battle."
This wasn't a secret at all. Ravin Dhelaron was a gentle soul, rare for someone born of the Dhelaron family. He liked puzzles, especially crosswords, and would often stuff himself into a book. Her father hated it, and while Undyne certainly didn't understand her brother's interest in it all… she still made an effort to join him in his endeavors from time to time.
As it turned out, she was terrible at puzzles by herself, but with him directing her, she could often create some great puzzles, plus her strength came in handy. She could push large boulders for him, whereas he could hardly arm wrestle a ghost.
Puzzles were something most monsters had an affinity toward, though the Dhelaron's were usually the exception. They were bred for combat, and lived by it. Without it, they were pretty much useless. At least that's what her father always said. He also told her tales of another race of monsters that they had once been both rivals to, as well as partners. The Skeletons, which had apparently been all wiped out in the Great War, and usually made up the bulk of the Royal Guard. Without them around any longer, the Fish Monsters had to step up and fill the absence, but now their numbers were diminishing, and with mom gone…
Undyne shoved those thoughts away. It still hurt to think about her.
Instead, Undyne turned her gaze upon the piano, a gift from her mother years ago, who had been a pianist herself. It was old, dusty, and falling apart, not to mention some keys stuck while others played the wrong note, but Undyne still tried to learn through it anyway. In a way, it was how she could honor her mother.
"Would you mind collecting your brother?" her father asked, to which the young Undyne crossed her arms and pouted.
"I did last time. It's your turn."
Her dad let out a groan. "Alright, fine. Remind me not to make agreements with you again," with that, he turned and made his way out, leaving Undyne to herself.
It wasn't exactly customary for younger siblings in the family to aim for the mantle of 'Captain of the Royal Guard', but Undyne had the heart for it, alongside the strength, wit, and will. Or so she thought, at least. She trained with her father, who was the current Captain, but she knew he wasn't teaching her everything. Not yet at least. What she really wanted to do was go directly to the King himself. Prove to him that she was capable of it. Break the tradition. She knew her brother didn't want to be Captain, and she did. It was perfect.
… too perfect. Undyne glanced out the window to make sure her dad had left, before she immediately opened the door and dashed off, simply a blur to most eyes. Was this probably stupid? Was this spontaneous? Yes. Yes it absolutely was.
Which is exactly why it felt right.
"KING ASGORE!"
He was somewhat startled by the shrill voice behind him, and felt dread weighing on his heart as he slowly turned, expecting- not what he saw. He was relieved to see it was a monster child, Jariah's daughter if he recalled correctly. He hadn't seen her in a few years, not since she was born. She looked as feisty as her father had in his youth.
"Yes?" he hummed, appearing more concerned than intimidated, as Undyne had been hoping for. She paused, forgetting the entire speech she'd planned on the way over, before she finally broke it down to two words; "FIGHT ME!"
The king raised a brow at this, staring at her for a moment, before he smiled. "Okie dokie."
This put her off again, his reactions being nothing like she'd expected. Shrugging it off, she charged forward with a sword, attempting to slash at him.
The king stepped to the side, avoiding her move entirely. He didn't even remove his cloak for battle, simply wearing it snugly over his body. She wasted no time in charging forward again, stabbing forward this time and hitting nothing as the king merely stepped to the side.
Undyne let out a frustrated yell as she began to wildly swing at Asgore, who calmly stepped out of the way of every single one of her attacks until she had to stop, breathing heavily.
"Why… why aren't you fighting back!?" she demanded, feeling her face flush. This was so embarrassing. The king hadn't raised a finger against her and was still winning.
"Should I?" he asked.
"YES!" Undyne barked, charging forward and exhausting herself more with fruitless attacks until she collapsed to the floor, chest heaving, her weapon disappearing as she started to cry.
Asgore knelt down beside her, before he plopped down onto his rear, crossing his legs. "There's no need to cry," he assured her warmly, patting her comfortingly on the back. "If it makes you feel any better, your form is very wonderful. Much better than your father when he was your age."
She let out a chuckle at this, looking up at the king. "R-really?"
Asgore laughed. "Really. He was always tripping over his own feet every other second. But that didn't stop him. He trained and trained until he was the best he could be. You could do that too, you know. You might have been unable to land a hit on me today, but if you train more, that can change," he paused, appearing thoughtful for a moment. "Your father has been training you, right?"
"Yeah," Undyne nodded. "Mainly because my brother doesn't want to."
"That's quite alright. Combat isn't everyone's cup of tea. Speaking of, would you like some?" Asgore asked, his smile kind and genuine. Undyne stuck out her tongue in disgust.
"Ew. Isn't tea just leaves?"
"Mostly. But you haven't had my tea," he chortled as he rose back to his feet, offering her a hand. "I can see that fire in your eyes. You love battle, do you not?"
She gave a nod, to which Asgore led her out of his throne room, heading toward another part of the castle.
The kitchens they entered put Undyne's entire house to shame in size, and Asgore immediately busied himself with a tea kettle. "I understand the traditions in your family, but if your brother doesn't wish to be the next Captain, then that is his decision. Your father will come to terms with it in time. If you're serious about it, however…"
He once again paused, pouring a couple of drinks before adding sugar to them. "Your father's first teacher was Gerson Boom. I'm sure you've heard of him?"
At this, Undyne's golden eyes shone with excitement. "The Hammer of Justice!" she confirmed, to which Asgore nodded in satisfaction before handing her a cup of tea.
"He was Captain of the Royal Guard during my own father's reign as King. It wasn't until he retired that your great grandfather, Flouis, replaced him."
Undyne listened as she took a sip of the tea, surprised to find that it was exploding with flavor, and the warmth of it wasn't scalding in the slightest, instead warming her insides with a small, single gulp.
"Wow," She exclaimed, now staring at the drink in wonder. "I love tea!"
"I thought you might, it's my Golden Flower recipe," Asgore chuckled. "Gerson is a good teacher. He taught me, Flouis, and your father. If you wish to make the next step in your training, it would be wise to go to him. His teachings are some of the most important, though a little unorthodox in regards to actual combat."
At that moment, the door into the kitchen suddenly flung open and in limped a huffing Jariah, sweat beading on his forehead. "Undyne," he looked sternly toward his daughter, who quickly lowered her gaze to the floor. She felt bad, especially seeing his limp, something given to him by a human that had never fully recovered.
"I'm so sorry, your highness, I-"
"Oh, it was no trouble," Asgore smiled. "I was just suggesting she go see Gerson for more training."
"For more…" at this, Undyne's father stopped, appearing confused.
"It seems your father and I have some things to discuss," Asgore told Undyne. "You should go find Gerson. Good luck!"
She'd heard a lot about Gerson from her father. The old turtle hermit was a master of all known martial arts, one of the wisest and most knowledgeable people in the world, but also a weirdo with dry, sarcastic humor.
When she finally found him, he was doing something she hadn't been expecting. She'd expected to find him shattering walls with his bare fist during some training exercise, but instead, he was sitting at the edge of a stream, dipping his feet into it, listening to the steady drip of water off of stalactites onto the cavern's stone floor.
Slowly, she approached him, frowning. He made no move as she neared, and by the time she was a few feet away, she cleared her throat.
He slowly turned his head to look at her, one eye squinting somewhat scrutinizingly. "Eh? You lost?" he asked.
"No," she replied immediately. "Asgore told me to find you to make you train me?"
"Make me? Fluffybuns told you that?"
Undyne was put off by the nickname, opening her mouth to reply before pausing, at which Gerson let out a cackle. "I haven't talked to Asgore in years," he stated. "He and I aren't on the best of terms right now. Why should I train you?"
"Because," Undyne answered. "I'm going to be the next Captain of the Royal Guard!"
At this, Gerson's eye looked her up and down judgmentally. "You're the younger one, huh? Dhelaron family breaking tradition?"
She gave a simple nod. "My brother likes puzzles, I like battle. I deserve this."
"Entitled, eh?" Gerson let out a dry chuckle. "Alright then, hit me."
Undyne, eager to prove herself, didn't need to be told twice. She moved forward, conjuring her sword, and slashed at Gerson, who merely scooted to the side, avoiding her slash before he stood and took a single step back, dodging her next attack.
She could see where this was going, especially as the old monster dodged her next dozen attacks with ease, leaving her feeling even more humiliated than before.
"Can't even land a hit on me?" Gerson shook his head, clicking his tongue. "Come back tomorrow and try again."
So that's what she did. Day after day, she returned to Gerson, attempting to land a hit on him and never succeeding. Not once did he retaliate or block. Just like Asgore, he effortlessly dodged every single attack she made.
He had her doubting herself and her abilities for the first time. Where her father had praised her, Gerson did not. Instead, he mocked her. Her form, her magic, her speed, all of it. It angered her, but after a while, she started to believe it. What if she really didn't have what it took to be Captain of the Royal Guard? So after weeks of trying to land a hit on Gerson, she simply didn't show up one day, which didn't go unnoticed by her father.
"You're usually out the door by now," he commented, cooking breakfast. She grumbled an inaudible response, to which he raised a brow. "Gerson's got you trying to hit him still?"
"I'm giving up," she immediately replied. "I can't hit him. I'll never be able to, and he's right. I don't have what it takes to be Captain of the Royal Guard, let alone a warrior," she buried her face into her arms as her brother beside her stopped chewing to stare at her.
Her father was taken aback by this as well, and cleared his throat. "Undyne. Have you considered… strategies?"
At this, Undyne slightly lifted her head. "... no…" she admitted. Jariah nodded.
"I know that many battles require speed, and the headstrong attitude you have, but Gerson isn't an ordinary opponent. He's tricky and manipulative. Try… looking at it from a different angle. Use magic, you don't have to attack him personally all the time."
Undyne took it to heart. She opted to give this one last chance. To try a different strategy than her own, which clearly wasn't working in the slightest.
"You're late," Gerson commented as she approached him near the mouth of a cave a few minutes later.
"Enough talk!" she barked in reply. Immediately, she charged forward with a slash, to which Gerson dodged as he shook his head.
"Some skulls are thick, but yours takes the-"
He was silenced as an arrow struck the back of his shell, knocking him forward and off balance for Undyne to place her sword against his chest.
For the first time, he gave her a look of interest. "I retract my last statement," he grinned. "I was hoping you'd try something else eventually. What was it you hit my back with?"
She conjured one of the arrows in her hand, to which he stared at. "Hm… summon a larger one."
Confused, Undyne complied, summoning one double its size.
"Bigger."
She did so again, forming an arrow double her own height, to which Gerson nodded. "Use that," he told her.
"Why?" She found herself asking.
"You struggle with the katana," was his answer. "Your form is restricted and you're stiff. Uncomfortable. Arrows are easy to summon, yes?"
She nodded, so he continued; "What you have now is a spear. Advanced movement, easier summoning… I believe that's your weapon."
Now she stared at the spear in wonder before grabbing it. He was right, something felt proper about this. She could hold it from any angle but one of the tips. This just felt… right. There was no better way to describe it.
"Every Captain of the Royal Guard is a dealer of justice. I was the Hammer of Justice. Your father is the… Katana of Justice," Gerson explained, seeming a little distasteful of her father's title. "I told him 'sword' sounds better than 'katana' but he was really adamant. But for you? Spear of Justice rolls off the tongue a lot better."
Her gaze returned to Gerson. "When do I start training?" she asked.
"Start? You mean when do you continue," the old turtle corrected. "We started weeks ago. Now that you've passed your first test, we can move on."
For years, she trained under Gerson. She perfected her art and craft, but there came a day where Gerson told her he couldn't teach her anything else. So he sent her off to Asgore, who continued her training himself. Then the disease struck, known as 'Fallen Down'. Her brother and her father succumbed to it, alongside countless other monsters. They died, and she was left completely alone.
Asgore continued her training, only because she insisted he did. He had wanted to give her time off to mourn, but this was the only way she knew how. Work out the grief. Then came the day where she received congratulations. Asgore anointed her as the Captain of the Royal Guard.
Everything had presumably led her to this moment, staring down at the form of a human child who was approaching an echo flower curiously. The adult Undyne rolled her shoulders for a moment, getting ready, her heavy armor felt practically weightless on her.
The child bent down to the echo flower to hear what it had to say, giving the human two quiet words;
"Behind you."