Hi, welcome to chapter 7!

I apologize, its another filler chapter. There will be plot progression in the next chapter, I swear!

Also, as I'm sure you noticed, I didn't give Sweet mask an actual name in the chapter he was introduced.

So, his name is going to be Seito. No particular reason why I chose that name, I just thought that it fit him. (yes, I am aware that his name was revealed in the webcomic, this story was started before that).

I would also like to thank King-Dorado for their constant feedback on my story! To answer their questions, I may post a sequel when I finish this story. If I enjoy developing this world when I'm done as much as I do now, then a sequel is inevitable. Besides, I already have many ideas for it!

Also, the rumors are not based around Sans, the humans don't even know he exists yet. However, I will say that there will be some characters that are categorized as god level.

Well, that's enough from me, enjoy the chapter!

Sweet mask landed on the ground softly and gracefully. Looking around, he made to inspect the bed of flowers.

As he went to get a closer look, he noticed that they had been disturbed recently, which served to show that Metal Bat and his sister had landed there.

Deciding that it would do him no good just standing there, he strode forward, hands in pockets.

As he left the room, one of the flowers in the bed began to twitch, revealing itself to be Flowey.

Thank god I checked his stats before attacking him this time. Flowey shuddered. This human was even worse than the last one! His LV capped out at a horrifying 45!

I need to figure out a way to get their incredibly powerful souls, but how? Wait, that's it! The souls that the old fool is keeping locked up in the castle! I can't get to them now of course, but with how strong these humans are, they should have no problem getting there and creating a distraction for me!

With a new plan set in motion, Flowey burrowed into the ground, going to spy on the new human.

Seito was continuing on, when he approached what was obviously a constructed arch, putting him on guard.

If there is architecture down here, that must mean that there's also someone, or something down here. Hopefully Metal Bat is able to handle whatever's down here. It would be horrible for the media to report an S-class dead. He thought.

Coming to a new room, he realized that the door leading to the next room had been opened recently. Reasoning to believe it was Metal Bat's doing, he continued on.

After going through a painfully easy "puzzle" of flipping obnoxiously labeled levers, labeled by someone by the name of 'Toriel', Seito stopped when he came across an entire room of spikes.

Doubling back to look for a way to solve the puzzle, he came across a plaque that he couldn't read. He reasoned to believe that the sign gave a clue as to how to solve the puzzle, but then again, he didn't think that he needed it.

Upon entering the previous room, Seito took notice of the strange pathway, before realizing that both this room and the next had the exact same dimensions.

"Clever. Very clever." He muttered, before memorizing the pathway and heading back to the next room.

He went to step on the spike, and as expected, it retracted as soon as his foot came close. Smirking to himself, he strode through the floor of spikes, taking the twists and turns necessary, before moving to the next room to continue his search.

Meanwhile, Badd and Zenko, having just encountered Napstablook, looked to Chara for guidance. Rolling her eyes at the obvious plea for more info, she obliged.

"Napstablook. Threat level: tiger. This ghost doesn't seem to have a sense of humor."

Nappstablook looked at where Chara was floating before speaking in a melancholy voice.

"Oh, I'm real funny."

Badd and Zenko looked at him, shocked.

"You can see her?!"

"Yep, all ghosts can see spirits. Of course, if they bond with anything corporeal, then they aren't able to anymore, due to them not being a full ghost."

"Huh, the more you know." Badd said, before focusing his attention back onto the potential threat, only to notice that the ghost was crying silent tears.

"Aw, what's the matter Napstablook?" Zenko asked, going to wipe the tears away, before recoiling in pain.

"Youch! That burns!" She hissed.

"Zenko! What happened? What did he do to you?" Badd asked, glaring at the ghost.

"Oh yeah, I forgot to mention, Napstablook cries acid tears."

Badd switched his glare onto her.

"You just 'forgot' to mention that important piece of information?" He asked with a scowl.

"Hey, look, it didn't cross my mind at the time. I'm sorry, okay?"

After making sure Zenko was alright, Badd helped her back up, before the two faced the ghost once more.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you like that. Oh, I'm such a screw up. I should've just stayed home today."

"Aw, don't put yourself down Napstablook. I'm fine, see?"

Zenko gave the ghost a patient smile, seeming to lift the ghost's spirits, if only a little.

"Heh." Seeing that what she was doing was working, Zenko decided to tell him a joke.

"Hey Nappstablook, what's a ghost's favorite fruit?"

"I don't know." Nappstablook said cautiously, unsure where she was going.

"Boo-berries!" She giggled, while Badd and Chara just shook their heads at the lackluster joke. Nevertheless, Nappstablook seemed to like it.

"Heh heh. Let me try."

Zenko gave him a thumbs up, and she and Badd watched, amazed, as he started crying upwards, defying the laws of gravity. Eventually, the tears started to make a little top hat on top of the ghost's head.

"I call it 'Dapper-Blook'. Do you like it?"

"I love it! It makes you look so cute!" Zenko cheered, while Badd just smiled.

"Looks nice on you man, it suits ya."

"Oh gee..." Napstablook said with a ghostly blush.

"I usually come to the ruins because there's nobody around. But today I met somebody nice... oh, I'm rambling again, sorry, I'll get out of you're way."

"Bye Nappstablook! It was nice meeting you!" Zenko waved after him. Badd just chuckled. "Come on, Zenko, let's keep going." He said, before the group continued on.

Seito was confused. He had seen a couple of what were obviously monsters as he progressed, but before he could even move to attack them, they either ran away or hid.

What the hell is up with these monsters? He asked himself. They're supposed to be hostile and looking to attack me, but they just scamper away before I can even raise my hand to attack! Did Metal Bat scare them when he came through here? But then why would he leave them alive?

He continued on, still trying to figure out his question. Unbeknownst to him, the monsters were steering clear of him because they sensed his killing intent.

Entering the next room, Seito was confused at it's length. It seemed like an odd design for a room to be half a mile long. Seeing nothing of interest, he raced to the end, with speeds comparable to a jet. Reaching the end of the room in under a second, he spotted a small dent in the wall, a small speck of dried blood also noticeable.

Hm, curious. Could this be Metal Bat's doing? He wondered. After inspecting it a little longer, he continued to the next room.

Unknown to him, a small head peeked out around the corner. Interesting. This one came in search of the others. Flowey thought. Maybe I can use that to my advantage. Flowey chuckled darkly before burrowing under the ground, off to check on Badd and Zenko's progress.

The trio had gone through a couple more rooms and puzzles, as well as having encounters some more monsters. They had come across a "spider bake sale" but when they saw the slogan, they they decided to wordlessly skip it.

"Come eat food made by spiders, for spiders, of spiders!"

After that, they had encountered what Chara called a Moldsmall and a Migosp. After learning that the Migosp didn't like a lot of company, they lured the Moldsmall away. The Migosp started to dance afterwards, something that Zenko happily joined in on, while Badd just laughed at his sister's antics.

Soon, they came to a hallway with a lone Froggit. It croaked twice, and Chara translated.

"I saw Toriel come through here earlier carrying some groceries. I didn't ask what she was getting. We're all to afraid to talk to her."

Zenko looked confused at that.

"Why would you be afraid of Toriel? She's nice, isn't she?"

"Well, it's just that she has a powerful aura, which makes us other monsters nervous. She's actually quite nice."

Zenko huffed. "Well, that's just a weird reason to be afraid of someone. My big brother is strong too, and I'm not afraid of him!"

Badd however, was thinking. Tori's considered strong down here huh? Wonder what her threat level would be.

They continued walking, soon coming to a room that was a cliff overlooking a run down city.

"Whoa, look at that. To think that the monsters down here could build something like this in a cave." Badd said, amazed.

Zenko looked at the city as well.

"Well, it looks like it's been abandoned for a long time."

Badd thought on that for a minute.

"Well, Tori did say that the other monsters moved out of here a long time ago. They might not live there anymore."

"Well, this is a dead end. Let's head back, I think I saw another path." He said, motioning for Zenko to follow.

Indeed there was another path, and it lead to a dead tree, with leaves strewn out below it. Suddenly, Badd's phone started to ring, and there was only one person who could reach him down here.

"Sup Tori?" He asked, walking around the tree's trunk. But when he turned around, he came face to face with the goat lady herself.

Toriel, upon spotting the siblings, quickly hung up and rushed over to them, worried.

"Badd! Zenko! How did you get here? are you hurt? there there, I will heal you."

She fussed over them, healing a couple of minor wounds Zenko had obtained over the course of their trip.

"Hey hey Tori. no need to get so worked up! We're fine alright?" He said, overwhelmed by her protective nature.

"Still, it was irresponsible of me to try and surprise you like this."

Zenko gave her a look at that.

"Surprise? what do you mean?"

Toriel looked off to the side.

"Oh, well I suppose I cannot hide it any longer. Come."

She made a motion to follow with her hand, as she began walking towards the house that they had somehow missed before.

Entering the house, Toriel allowed them to look around, before speaking.

"Do you smell that? Surprise! It's a butterscotch-cinnamon pie! I would like you to have a good time living here, so I'll hold off on snail pie for tonight."

Ew, snail pie? wait, what did she mean by living here? Thought Badd.

He and Zenko were about to question her about it, but the pie did smell good, and they were pretty hungry. Putting the question in the back of his mind, Badd made for the kitchen to eat, Zenko close behind.

"Mmm, that was delicious! Didn't take you for a pastery chef Tori, but that was the best pie I've ever had!" Badd complemented Toriel, Zenko nodding her head in agreement.

Toriel just giggled.

"Oh it's just a hobby, but I do enjoy having someone else to cook for."

Zenko, from a combination of the journey and the food she had just eaten, was getting tired.

"Hey, Zenko, you gettin tired?" Badd asked her. she nodded, rubbing her eyes.

"Well luckily for you, I happen to have prepared a room for you as well. come now, I'll show you there. Badd, if you're feeling tired, I had the spare room prepared for you." she said as she lead Zenko to the room.

"Nah, I'll be fine, I'm still wide awake." he said, examining the bookshelf. After finding nothing of interest, he went back to the kitchen table, leaning back in one of the chairs.

A couple moments later, Toriel returned, and sat in the chair by the fireplace, picking up a book.

"So Tori, how long have you been living here, in the ruins?" Badd asked, attempting to make small talk.

"Oh, quite a while, over 1,000 years now, actually." she said. Badd spit out a swig of water that he had been drinking, and looked over to her, shocked.

"Over 1,000 years?! just how long have you been around for?"

Toriel didn't seem offended in the least by Badd's reaction. The others had had similar ones, anyway.

"Well, I was around during the war between humans and monsters, Which was over 3,000 years ago. Not even I know my actual age though. things like that seem to be lost to time when you live as long as I have."

Badd, still a little stunned, responded with another question.

"So, are you, like, Immortal, or just really long lived?"

Toriel giggled.

"I cannot die from old age, if that's what you mean. However, I could be killed by a wound severe enough."

Badd was surprised that she was telling him something like that. It would have been safer for her to say she was immortal. He was truly surprised by how much she trusted him.

"Excuse me Badd, but would you mind if you shared some stories about your life on the surface? I would like to get to know you a little better."

Badd figured that if she would trust him as much as she did, then it wouldn't be too much to ask for him to share a bit about his life.

"Well, I do have a couple of good stories in mind."

Badd proceeded to tell her about some of his toughest missions as a hero, as well as some of his escapades with his sister. He talked for hours, and Toriel was listening intently to every word. she particularly enjoyed the stories about the various shenanigans that he and Zenko got up to.

Chara was floating in the corner, a satisfied look on her face. Huh, he really hit it off with mom.

Sorry if it was cut off a bit abruptly, I couldn't find a good place to end it. Next chapter Seito finally catches up with Badd and Zenko! Be sure to review, and I'll see you in the next chapter!

Edited 3/15/20