Chapter 7

Frisk tried with little success to swallow her heart. She and Papyrus stood outside of Undyne's front door. The sound of a piano being played came from the other side, signaling that someone was home. Someone from whom Frisk stole. Someone Frisk was sure would not welcome the human into her home and help her figure out the truth no matter how noble the cause.

"Um, Papyrus?" Frisk tried just as Papyrus raised his fist to knock. "Do you think . . . maybe this isn't a good idea after all?"

"I know Undyne's intentions were a little . . . murdery earlier," Papyrus replied, "but I know that once we explain what we're trying to do, I'm sure she will be happy to help. Undyne wants to be free just like everyone else. We just need to inform her that violence isn't the only solution!"

With that said, Papyrus knocked on the door. The piano music abruptly stopped, as did Frisk's heart. For better or for worse, there was no going back now.

"You might have to offer Undyne's tutu back," Chara said as if it only now occurred to him. "It won't guarantee her trust, but . . . it might soften any harsh feelings she still has for you, even if only a little."

But if I give it back, will you lose the memories you just got back? Frisk wanted to ask. Yet at the thought, Frisk had questions. Does the proximity of the human items help Chara recall who he was, or do we only need to have them for a little while for Chara to remember his past? What would happen if I lost any of them? If I gave Undyne her tutu back, will Chara forget the past that has him so miserable and give me back the friend I had?

Before Frisk could truly ponder the thoughts, Undyne's front door flew open. A tall figure, not seeing Frisk as she stood behind Papyrus, stood in the doorway. As if in a bad mood, a gruff voice greeted Papyrus.

"Papyrus, you're late!" Undyne scolded. "I know we had disagreements about the human, but that does not give you the right to not show up without letting me know!"

"Apologies, Undyne!" Papyrus exclaimed. "I would have been here sooner, but I was . . . caught up in something."

Undyne snorted. "Something more important than training?"

"Well, erm, yes." Without a word of explanation, Papyrus stepped out of the way so that Undyne could see Frisk.

Frisk swallowed but held her ground. Undyne visibly tensed. Chara floated close to Frisk and gently touched her on the shoulder, the first form of contact he provided since remembering his previous life.

Fingers curling into tight fists, Undyne growled as she snarled at the two, "Please, come in. Make yourselves at home."

While Papyrus didn't hesitate to step inside, Frisk lingered a moment before following Papyrus. She didn't want to be far from Papyrus for a second. If Undyne chose to attack Frisk, Papyrus was Frisk's only hope of ever leaving again with her face still intact.

"Why are you here?" Undyne snarled as she softly closed the door behind them. She was no longer wearing her armor. Instead she wore a light blue blouse and black trousers. "Do you want to rub in your victory over me? Are you here to mock me?"

Realizing after a moment that Undyne addressed her, Frisk shouted, "No! No, that's not it at all!"

"Then why are you here?" Undyne repeated.

Hand on Frisk's shoulder, Papyrus responded for the human. "Frisk and I have been doing some research, and we were starting to think we might know how to break the curse."

Undyne laughed without humor. "Let me guess: you think we need the faces of seven humans, right?"

"Yes, exactly!" Papyrus exclaimed. Then, "How did you know we were theorizing that?"

"If you had listened to me every time I told you how to break the curse, you would know." Undyne shook her head. "It takes the same kind of power to destroy a magical barrier as it takes to construct one. Since seven human faces were sacrificed to place this curse, it will take seven human faces to break it. This was theorized a long time ago. That's why King Asgore has been collecting the faces of those humans who have recently started appearing in Ebott Forest. That is why that human you are refusing to harm is so vital to our finally ending this curse."

"So our guess is true!" Frisk felt so relieved she forgot to fear Undyne. "That means we know how to free everyone!"

"Don't sound like you're going to be our hero or anything," Undyne snarled. "We have been doing fine on our own for the past six years. We only need one more face to break this curse, and that face belongs to you."

Hands flying up to hold her mask in place, Frisk was at a loss for words. Papyrus gently said Undyne's name but offered nothing else. Chara hovered closer to Frisk.

"Do you think there is a way we can break the curse without your having to die?" he asked.

Gathering her courage, Frisk repeated the question to Undyne. The monster answered, "I have no clue, but unless you could lend us your face, I don't think so."

Yet as she spoke, Undyne crossed her arms and looked away from Frisk. There was something else going on her mind. It was enough for Frisk to think that perhaps there was more to breaking this curse than knowing how to do it.

"Is there a cost to breaking this curse? Other than the seven sacrifices, that is?"

Undyne was silent for a moment, then exhaled loudly. She opened her mouth as if to answer, then slammed it shut. Her whole posture went stiff.

"Why should I tell you?!" Undyne snapped. "If you weren't a guest in my home, I would have cut you down the moment I saw you! How can you claim to want to break our curse when your continued existence is the crime keeping us trapped?"

"Undyne, this is unnecessary!" Papyrus grabbed Frisk by the shoulders and held her close. "At least she wants to help us be freed from our curse."

"If she wants us freed so badly, she would let me take her face right here and now." Undyne gathered her magic to manifest a spear. "I would be quick. Human, you would be dead before you felt any pain. King Asgore would keep you alive as he skinned your flesh right off your face. Would death by my hand not be more merciful than if I left you to die in his hands instead?"

Before Frisk could think of anything to reply, Papyrus started clicking his tongue. As if Undyne was not trying to convince Frisk to grant Undyne permission to end the human's life, Papyrus said, "I'm very disappointed in you, Undyne. I thought if there was anyone who was smart enough to solve our problem without violence, it would be you. But I guess I was wrong. You're too much a coward to try to finding a less bloody solution."

"Coward?!" Undyne's spear disintegrated, and the monster stood straight and jammed her thumb into her chest. "I am no coward!"

"If that were true," Papyrus said as he pat Frisk on the shoulders, "then you would befriend Frisk and use the power of friendship to find other ways to break the curse. However, it's clear you would rather take the easy way of violence than the challenging way of making friends."

"As if I would ever back down from a challenge." Stomping forward, Undyne pointed at Frisk and snarled, "Prepare yourself, human, because you are about to have a fun time with your new best friend Undyne!"