Chapter 2

Whatever plagued Chara was quickly dismissed from Frisk's mind when not even an hour later, Undyne was once again giving chase. Frisk was getting tired of all this running. For once, she wanted to have a chance to slow down and take in the world around her instead of constantly running through it.

Although Frisk did not consider herself to be faster than Undyne, she outran the monster by a considerable amount. It wasn't until she passed a sign reading WELCOME TO HOTLAND JUNGLE that Frisk considered it was not by her own speed she outran Undyne. Sweat beads forming on her forehead, Frisk turned around to see Undyne struggling to move forward. It was so much hotter in Hotland Jungle than in Waterfall Marsh, and the heavy armor Undyne wore was unlikely to help with the situation. She might have been going slower in her pursuit of Frisk due to overheat.

When Undyne finally stopped approaching a few feet away from Frisk and fell face forward, it confirmed as much. Cautiously stepping forward, Frisk inspected Undyne. Frisk removed the helmet, careful to not remove Undyne's mask with it.

Undyne's mask was a blue oval with red fin-looking features on the cheeks. What appeared to be large, jagged, pointed teeth were placed where the mouth was supposed to be. Long, red hair tied into a ponytail stuck to her tan neck. Her hair was damp as if Undyne had just been swimming. The heat radiating from Undyne's body scorched Frisk.

Looking around, Frisk saw a well just a ways off. Frisk ran to the well and immediately drew water and poured it into one of the pales next to the well. With a bucket now full, Frisk carried it back to Undyne and poured the water onto the unconscious figure.

Groaning, Undyne began to stir. She lifted her head up, and her eyes locked with Frisk's. The human stumbled back, a silent scream caught in her throat.

Undyne slowly pushed herself upright, stared at Frisk for a moment or two, then turned around and walked away. All Frisk could do was stare at the monster's retreating figure. There was nothing stopping Undyne from capturing Frisk, not when the human did not run away when she had the chance, but Undyne let Frisk go as if she no longer cared to capture the human.

"That was odd," Frisk muttered, although she was grateful to be spared for the time being. She turned her attention towards Chara, who had been silent the whole time, and said, "Why do you think she left?"

Chara, however, did not respond. He continued to stare into the unseen distance. Frowning, Frisk repeated her question two more times before Chara reacted.

"I do not know," he said. "Perhaps since you showed mercy to her, she decided to show mercy to you?"

"Hmm, maybe." Frisk looked back to the direction which Undyne left. Without saying anything else, Frisk spun on her heel and walked to the opposite way.

When they came to a river, Frisk walked onto the dock and sat down. Thoughts of Undyne's mercy circled through her mind. If Undyne, who was only moments before determined to capture Frisk and steal her face, could change her mind and show Frisk mercy, then it was possible others could feel the same way. After all, Papyrus had lied to Undyne for the sake of saving the human from the monster. Even Mon had expressed zero interest in ripping off Frisk's mask so she could steal Frisk's face.

It was enough to have Frisk wondering if any of the monsters in Ebott Forest wanted her face as much as she believed they did.

Flowey, the very first person she encountered here, did not seem eager to steal her face but instead chose to help her.

Toriel showed restraint in favor of protecting Frisk from those with less self-control.

Sans, Papyrus, and now Undyne let Frisk go even though it would have been nothing to them to finally remove the flesh from Frisk's face.

It must have been a long time since Frisk said anything, for Chara asked, "What are you thinking about?"

"I'm thinking I no longer want to run away," Frisk answered. Turning to Chara, she explained without being asked, "I don't think everyone in Ebott Forest is as dangerous as we believe them to be. If Undyne could spare me, then who's to say others won't?"

"What? Do you think by being nice to everyone, they will want to be your friend?" Chara shook his head. "Do not tell me that you are this naïve."

"I'm not naïve," Frisk argued as she stuck out her lower lip.

"Being nice to everyone is not going to mean they will spare you."

"No, but . . . Chara, I think we might have friends if we chose to make them."

"What are you saying?"

"I'm saying . . ." Frisk trailed off. What am I saying?

After thinking about it for a moment, Frisk sighed and said, "Maybe if we have more friends, we could get more help. Not just for my leaving, but in discovering what happened to you. Most everyone should have been alive the same time you were here. Odds are somebody can tell us what happened."

"Would it not be wiser to continue your travels undetected?" Chara challenged.

"As if I have been doing a fantastic job at that this far." Frisk pushed herself to her feet. "At the very least, I want to find Papyrus again. Of everyone, he should be the kindest and most helpful monster we can find."

"What are you going to do?" Chara snorted. "Walk all the way back through Waterfall Marsh to get to Snowdin Lane?"

It was just then a boat came down the river and stopped by the deck on which Frisk stood. There was a ferryman at the front of the boat. The hooded cloak he wore was so large that Frisk could neither see the monster's mask nor make out his body shape.

"Care for a ride?" asked the ferryman, voice too deep for a woman but too high for a man.

Standing to her feet, Frisk answered his question with one of her own. "Where are you going?"

"Snowdin Lane."

"You have got to be kidding me," Chara mumbled, and Frisk futilely tried to resist the urge to laugh.