Alright. Here's another one, ready to go!
Not gonna make a long note this time, were just gonna get on with it! Hopefully it goes through okay.
Chapter Start!
"Mmmm...uwaaah! What a wonderful day for a picnic!"
Pandora stretched her arms as she found herself dressed in a pink and yellow striped mini-dress, with her picnic basket in hand. Parides was right behind her, carrying about ten more baskets for her with a weathered sigh. "I don't think we need this many baskets. There's only going to be three of us."
"Exactly. Three for me, three for you, three for your wife, and one is for us all to share."
"Pan..."
"Don't 'Pan' me! This is definitely a legitimate picnic plan! And you better not have forgotten my pink lemonade! I mean it!"
"I have it, I have it." Parides groaned as he lightly tapped one of the picnic baskets, revealing the three large gallons of his friend's favorite drink within it.
"Aaah! You did! You really did bring it!" Pan squealed gleefully as she glimpse Parides and nuzzled his cheek. "You're the absolute best, Parides!"
"You're welcome. Now, please get down from me before Alarielle comes. I don't want her to get the wrong idea-"
"How can I get this wrong, Dessie?"
"Eeep!"
Parides stopped in place and turned towards the sound of the second feminine voice. A woman was slowly striding towards them, with a basket of her own in hand. Her fresh, golden hair danced in the passing breeze, and was long enough to nearly reach her feet. She was clad in a golden dress that reached to below her knees, to match her shining golden eyes. She walked barefoot, yet her feet did not disturb the grass she walked on at all. She smiled knowingly at her husband and fellow friend. Her natural beauty made Parides blush.
"A-Alarielle!"
"As far as I can tell, our precious Dora is just being herself again."
"O-Oh. Well-"
"Good to see you, Alarielle. Unfortunately, you'll have to wait your turn. We got here first, together." Pan huffed, casually stuffing Parides face into her generous bosom and sticking out her tongue. "Besties first!"
"P-Pan! Please!" Parides blushed deeply, his voice muffled from the contact.
"Goodness, Dora. You mustn't be so rough with him." Alarielle shook her head as she went to gently separate the two. Parides almost thanked her for freeing him, only to freeze up as Alarielle gently does the same with her own chest, gently hugging his head to push him deeper between them. "You have to be nice and gentle. He needs time to make himself comfy."
"Tch, I was getting to that part."
"C-Can you both stop?!" Parides reluctantly pulled away from his wife, before sighing both her and their best friend. "You both truly love licking on me..."
"You make it too much fun, Dessie." Alarielle lightly pats his cheek, before giving it and his muzzle a gentle kiss. Both of them made him blush, though he managed a small smile and reached over to hold her hand.
Pandora smiled at her two friends, before she sensed that one of her subordinates wished to speak with her. She sighed in slight annoyance. "Hold on a sec, guys. It's them." She walked a decent distance away, before manifesting a hologram before her. "Go ahead."
"Greetings, Mistress. Revan has just returned from his self-assigned mission." A sultry, feminine voice spoke to her as Pandora could hear the sounds of crashing and very harsh swearing in the background. "He didn't come out unscathed like he thought he would. If anything, he's being a sore loser, as usual. He overestimated himself, and underestimated his targets."
"Right. That's kind of his thing, being a sore loser." Pan shrugged. "So, what will you lot do miss while he recovers from his undignified loss."
"I'd like to give things a try. Watching her fight has sparked some...curiosity within me."
"Oh? You've found someone new to play with?"
"I'd personally like to test her might for myself, with your permission." The woman said, as twelve swords could be seen levitating on their own behind her back, in a wing-like fashion. "I haven't felt such an anticipation for battle in years. This woman's intense passion for combat...I want to taste it. Experience it. Savor it! I...I do not think I can resist the spell she's cast on me, Mistress. I simply MUST meet her in battle!" Her request sounded pleading, desperate, even.
"Do whatever you want. If you think it'll help you out in the long run."
"You're far too kind, Mistress. Thank you for hearing me out. That is all I wanted. I bid you good day." The woman vanished from the hologram projection, as Pandora turns back and returns to the picnic area, where Parides and Alarielle were beginning to setup. Pandora hummed while rubbing her chin.
Been a while since she willingly asked to go after someone to personally challenge to a duel.
As Pandora sits down with her two friends, pouring herself a large cup of pink lemonade, she thought to herself with a wondering hum.
With things the way they are now, how will you greet this challenge heading your way, Undyne?
(?)
Toriel gradually managed to open her eyes as light was beginning to pierce into them. She briefly shielded her eyes with her right paw as she tries to sit upwards, wincing slightly as she felt intense pain all over, but mostly from her back, where her opponent viciously stabbed her multiple times. It appears that she took more damage than she thought.
Though now that she was waking up proper, she could see that she was not wearing the clothes she had before. Her upper half, and especially around her back, was covered in bandages, up to her neck. Much of her lower half also had bandages around her, though thankfully she at least wearing a hospital gown.
Dazed and confused, she lightly nursed her head as she looked at her surroundings. She seemed to be in an infirmary of sorts, seeing various medical equipment, be they mostly technological, mostly magical, or a bit of both.
Where am I? The last thing I remember was Terra sending me and Frisk under. Did we end up somewhere else? Toriel's eyes widened. Oh my goodness, Frisk! Where is he?!
A second later, the door to her room was pushed open quite forcefully, giving her a brief shock. The one at the doorway was someone she didn't recognize, a human nurse with a violet-colored uniform, which was somewhat a strange color for a nurse. She sighed with relief as she briefly looked outside.
"She's awake. You can come in, now."
Not wasting any time, Frisk poked his head in, briefly expressing his shock and relief through a stunned gasp, before he rushed over to Toriel's bedside.
"Mom! You're awake!"
"Frisk, my child..." Relief washed over Toriel's entire being, smiling gently as Frisk as she opened her arms for him to jump into. Both of them felt warm relief coursing through both of them in their gentle hug, with Toriel petting the top of his hair. "You're alright. Thank goodness you're alright..."
"I should be the one saying that! You were seriously hurt, the worst out of everyone fighting that Revan! The right, the enormous beam of lightning, him stabbing your back over and over while you're protecting me...!" Frisk's ramble was muffled slightly due to his head being buried in her bosom, trying in vain not to cry into it. "It was all so terrible, and then I just got sent away and I didn't know how you were doing, I just...!"
"Shhh. I am well, my child. Please, do not weep. Seeing you are healing quite well will no doubt accelerate my own. It is okay. I apologize for worrying you so deeply." Toriel coos quietly to the trembling Frisk, nuzzling him and repeatedly giving his head gentle kisses to soothe him as he wept into her pillowy bosom, closing her eyes and humming softly to him.
I was selfish. My temper got the better of me and despite fighting valiantly, ended up becoming viciously injured in trying to fight Revan. I lost sight of things. I could not help it. And Frisk had to witness all of it.
"Frisk, sweetie." Toriel gently called to him, and he raised his head to meet her smiling gaze. She then proceed to kiss both of his cheeks, then placed a much longer smooch to his forehead. By the last one, Frisk was calming, and was trying not to laugh.
"M-Mom, cut it out! T-This is serious!"
"Indeed it is. Which is why I shall kiss you as many times as needed until you begin to smile again. Mwah!" Toriel declared, with a quick smooch to his nose for good measure. That got a smile and a brief laugh out of him, with Toriel smiling at her accomplished goal. Frisk would be in a much better position to speak with less stress on his mind. "Now then, no tears. At least for the moment." Toriel instructed as she lightly licked her thumb and used it to wipe away the dried tears on Frisk's face. "You are alive and well, and I'm recovering. Let us take solace in that, before anything else."
"Ok..." Frisk nodded quietly, allowing himself to sink back into Toriel's chest with a sigh. Toriel pets the back of his head as she closed her eyes and continued to hum to him.
'One way or another, I'm going to obliterate you all. Starting with you two.'
Toriel repressed a grimace. Such a thing will not happen. Hell will freeze over first before she allowed such a thing to come to pass. Revan won't be doing such a thing. She refused to allow him to kill any member of her family, or any of her friends. She'll stop him, no matter what.
But right here and now, she and Frisk needed this quiet time to themselves. That was one of the most intense encounters they've had this far, and it ended with Toriel a bloodied mess that refused to budge for anything or anyone. That obviously wasn't pleasant for Frisk to watch, and Toriel felt guilty for putting him through that. So sitting quietly and letting him rest in her bosom during her recuperation was the least she could do as a starting apology. Her beating heart and soul soothed him, reassuring him that she was still alive and well.
Toriel would not put him through the loss of more mothers.
Though much as she would prefer to just sit quietly and cuddle Frisk, tempted to just keep letting him rest nice and comfortable on her chest, there were other important things to worry about at the moment that needed to be attended to. She can't allow herself to get lost in how adorable her son is.
"Frisk, did you try calling the others?"
"Hm?" Frisk lifted his head a bit, though still rested on her chest. "I did a few times. My phone won't turn on."
"Truly?" Toriel blinked as she reached out for her phone, which was placed a bit away from her on a tabletop. She grabbed onto it and attempted to turn it on a few times. The screen didn't so much as warm up or flicker. Then she notices the charring on the device. No wonder neither worked, they were far too badly damaged.
Alphys built and upgraded these phones to be quite durable. Though it seems that lightning beam was too much for them. Toriel thought with a sigh. With this little mishap, both of their phones being wrecked, they had no way to contact their friends and let them know where they were and that they were alright. And even if they couldn't, they would at least be able to track the devices. Both options were shot down in one glance. Their best bet was to wait for Gaster and their separate party to fill them in as best they could, having been the other ones who heard what may go down between Legatum and Libertas.
Until then, they were stuck in a currently unknown land with no way of contacting the others.
"Such misfortune..."
"That sounds familiar."
"Excuse me?" The nurse from before popped her head back in, unsure if she should be interrupting or not. "If you're awake enough to move, you can go ahead and check on your friend. She's in the lunchroom, helping herself...a lot."
"Faryn?" Frisk wondered, looking to Toriel's reaction, which was brief surprise.
Faryn is here too? Oh goodness. She didn't know if that was a good or bad thing yet. But at the very least, they knew where she was. There was no way either herself or Tamotsu would forgive her if something happened to her.
As they entered said lunchroom while not expecting much, they did indeed see Faryn there, eating quite a bit...no, not a bit, a whole lot. She was also covered in several bandages and looked like she's been asleep several times, but other than that, she seemed fine, which brought Toriel a bit more relief.
If she is well enough to eat in abundance as usual, then she is most certainly alright.
"Wowsers, look at the little lady go!" One of the onlookers exclaimed with widened eyes.
"Rare to see a lady stuff herself in a manner so unladylike, and not have a care in the world how it looks." Another hummed with folded arms.
"Such an appetite for a growing girl. Wherever she's from, she'd fit in nicely in Gustus!" Yet another guffawed. The last comment sent Toriel and Frisk reeling back in surprise.
Gustus?! We were sent an entire Kingdom over?!
Just how powerful and long-reaching was Terra's earth magic to manage something like that? Well, it did seem possible, if she's able to sink an entire island. Toriel still had to make her answer for that, but that's an issue shelved for later, considering the information they received during their exchanged.
"Pwah..." Faryn finished her latest plate out of many beside her, setting it down and smacking her lips, simply laying back with her hands on her slightly distended belly, her tails lazily waving about. She turned to then others, placed her hands together and bows gratefully. "Thank you for the meal."
"Faryn!" Frisk called out to the fox princess. Faryn blinked and turned towards the sound of Frisk's voice. Then and there, her eyes brightened up significantly.
"FRISK!" She hopped onto the table and leapt off of it pouncing onto Frisk with little to no warning and sending them tumbling across the floor. They both ended up sitting up, with Faryn hugging Frisk tightly. "You're okay! Super okay! That's such a relief! I was really worried about you and Miss Toriel! I tried to distract myself by eating while I was waiting for you to recover, and it only sorta worked!" Faryn exclaimed while her tails wagged happily. She nuzzled Frisk's cheek with her own as she smiles cheerfully. "But now you're both awake and alright, and with me having a full belly, I'm super happy right now!"
"Hehe. Good to know you're okay too, Faryn." Frisk chuckled as he returned the hug she gave him. He felt like a stuffed toy with how she was hugging him due to her being a bit taller, though he didn't mind this all too much. He much preferred to see Faryn smiling and being silly, rather than being angry and saddened and crying. That event back there was the first time he's seen Faryn so emotionally distraught for himself, and he felt like he needed to do everything he could to help her feel better.
Perhaps his mother had a point. Seeing Faryn well made him feel better too.
"I thanked everyone for the meal. Though it just didn't feel super complete. I wanted you and Miss Toriel to eat with me, Frisk."
"It's alright, Faryn, I'm sure we'll get another opportunity soon."
"Hopefully super soon. Eating your sorrow away isn't nearly as fun as eating with happiness and friends. Friends make food even better than before. I'll make this up to you, Frisk."
"Really, it's fine. We've got time for it." Taking things to a different direction, Frisk lightly looks behind Faryn, to her tails. "Oh, Faryn. I didn't have the time to notice because of how intense things were getting, but I realized that you have a second tail now."
"Oh?" Faryn turned to look at her twin tails, swishing them around a bit before gasping. "Oh my gosh, my second tail manifested! It kinda slipped my mind, but I could kinda feel it. Now I actually see it!" Faryn lightly grabbed both of her tails and lightly hugged them. "My second tail. Daddy's gonna be so proud of me!"
"I wanna hug one! Can I hug one?" Faryn heeded Frisk's request as one tail eased towards him, wrapping around him and nearly engulfing him in fuzzy fox fur. He holds onto it, lightly petting it several times, before going on to hug and nuzzle it with a sigh. "It's so super fluffy..."
"Maybe if I become stronger and more of them manifest, they'll become even fluffier!" Faryn looked at the ceiling in wonder. "I wonder if I could become even fluffier than Daddy one day?"
"That would be so cool!"
"You really think so? Sweetness!"
Chuckling at the children's silliness, Toriel began walking over to join them, before intense pain erupted from her back and she nearly fell over completely, only stopping herself via her arms and knees. "Ugh..."
"Mom!/Miss Toriel!" Frisk and Faryn panicked briefly as they ran to her side, frantically checking her over and attempting to help her slowly stand back up.
"I...I am fine, children. Just a bit woozy, is all." Toriel attempted to reassure them, though couldn't completely ignore that the sudden burst of pain nearly made her pass out on the spot. She refused, and kept it together and kept herself awake, if only barely. I am more wounded than I thought...
"If you're not feeling all that well, you'll need to return to bed. You were the worst injured of the three, you shouldn't push yourself too hard." The nurse from before suggested worriedly.
"No, I am fine enough to walk on my own. I truly appreciate the concern." Toriel gently rebuffed, with the two children by her sides helping her stand, until they reluctantly separated to let her move on her own. "Is it true? Are we truly in the Gustus Kingdom?"
"Yes ma'am. You appeared from underground, right in front of our healing center. We were told to get you three patched up immediately, as soon as possible." She informed. "Though I must say, while you're obviously not fully healed yet, it astounds us that you've all woken up so soon. With the severity of your injuries, even with our efforts, we expected a week at the most. But you've only been out for a day and a half."
"Oh? Is that so?" Toriel did seem a bit surprised at so little time passing despite how severely hurt they were. Though she supposed that the lingering pain they all felt through their bodies wasn't about to go away nearly as soon. On top of that, they still had no way of contacting their friends and family. They were put in a really bad spot that could have been worse, had it not been for these people's hospitality towards them.
"If you wish, our Royal Highness said he would like to see you as soon as you've recovered enough. He doesn't want to rush you though, you can go see him whenever you feel well enough to do so."
Toriel thought it over. If their King was benevolent enough to not only give them hospitality but also time and energy to heal their wounds, then it would be fair to at least meet with him. She hoped she'd still be able to stand straight without almost falling over.
"We will go see him. Children?" Toriel turned to Frisk and Faryn for a second opinion. Both of them nodded with raised hands.
"Let's go!"
Gustus itself was not as advanced as Legatum appearance wise. Though from what the trio could observe, it was not inferior by any means. If anything, it looked less like Legatum's advanced massive city, and more like a massive expansive village that extended a great distance far and wide. Architecture didn't appear as advance looking but also nowhere near inferior feeling. They were neatly and competently made to ensure quite a bit of punishment in case something might happen to damage them.
The road ahead was also filled with a rich and expansive field of crops, connected to large farms with quite a surplus and variety of normal farm animals. Connected to them were various rivers and lakes of different sizes, which may have been used to properly water said plant life, feeling purified with water magic, keeping it safe for both watering and drinking. The trees themselves were a majestic sight to behold. While a majority of them ranged from being normal sized trees, a select few that are within view were enormous. Enough that several communities were built on the trees branches, and houses can be built upon the large branches and still be safely secure.
If there was a contrast Toriel would make, it would be that Legatum was much more city-like and advanced. Where here in Gustus, life feels so much simpler, and less bogged down by luxury and materials. Of course both have their troubles and hardships in order for their way of life to work, it's just that before the clash in Legatum, when they first stepped into it via airship, compared to how the atmosphere feels in Gustus, they have a very similar feeling of hard-earned success, but in different directions.
"Woah..." Faryn blinked, her two tails waving in wonder as she took in the scenery before her. "Everything is so pretty and green." She lightly gazed around with her hand on the ground. "The plant life is really strong here, with an extra rich soil for it to grow from." She stood back up and clasped her hands behind her back. "It kinda reminds me of home, a little."
"The soil would definitely have to be strong, for trees to rival the height of entire tall buildings!" Frisk muttered while gazing at said trees with stunned disbelief. "Seriously, those trees are ridiculously huge!"
"You're not wrong about that, visitors. We're approaching our King's residence right now." Their guide instructed them while pointing ahead. And from what they could see, it was the largest and most expansive tree they've seen in the area yet, with the leaves attached to the branches being large enough to serve as platforms to stand safely on. As they sensed life in the great tree aside from the tree itself, it wasn't hard to realize that many people were inside of it.
"I know treehouses are a thing. But tree palaces? That sounds really cool!" Frisk exclaimed in awe.
"I don't sense much magic from the tree itself. That means it grew naturally." Toriel muttered while thinking about what this means for most of the trees in the area.
"Alright, he's waiting inside. Let's not keep him waiting too long." Their guide instructed, a fist beginning to form around them and carrying them onto a giant leaf, which carried them right into the tree palace.
Once they got inside, Toriel was even further baffled by how it seemed to be even bigger on the inside than it was outside.
Numerous humans and monsters were scurrying about in an orderly fashion, either walking along or using giant leaves to get around airborne. Many of them exchanged friendly greetings with one another as they were busy making sure everything was in order. This might have been the main hall, of sorts.
"He's further upwards, I'll be taking you there." The leaf was surrounded in a stronger that, that soon began to carry them upwards. The place only seen to further expand, with expansive tunnels connected inside the giant branches they saw outside.
They finally made it to the area they were looking for, which was located in the very center of the tree. It was there, that they found who they were looking for.
"Your highness, I've brought them as you requested." Their guide announced, before quickly turning to the trio. "Whatever first impressions you get from him, please be understanding. He truly is a compassionate King. He's just a bit... eccentric."
"Believe me when I say that we don't mind eccentricity. It makes things...interesting." Toriel hummed with a tired smile. The guide nodded, then returned with her fellow workers to manage other parts of the tree.
"I wonder what the King is like. Sensing some strong magic coming from one person." Faryn hummed while curiously looking around the room.
"Who knows. The thrones right there, yet I don't really see anyone." Frisk noted with a hand over his mostly closed eyes.
"He's definitely in the room, though. I can sense him." Toriel hummed quietly. "Is he hiding from us?"
After a moment of confused silence, they finally heard a quiet, timid voice ringing out. "I-I'm here. I j-just needed a m-moment to r-regather my thoughts and my n-nerves..."
Toriel blinked. That voice sounds awfully young...don't tell me...
Slowly, someone did step out from behind the throne, someone small and seemed to be further shrinking in on themselves even when they're revealing themselves. From what they observed, the person in question was wearing large circular glasses that he pushed up a few times to keep them from falling. Both his shirt and shorts were green with black stripes, along with the robe around his shoulders. There was even a shining green crown on his head...which was too big for him so he was also trying to keep it from slipping forward in front of his face. His jade colored eyes looked anxious, yet he pushed himself onward.
"H-Hello...a-and, umm...w-welcome to G-Gustus...m-my name is, uh...G-Galen..." He struggled to mutter out his greeting, before he bowed quickly. "I-It is very nice to m-m-meet you!"
He kinda acts like Alphys from a long time ago. Frisk thought curiously.
He seems like a really shy person. Faryn thought with a sway of her tails.
Toriel, however, could only stare wide eyes at the boy before them, her mind trying to come to terms with what she was seeing. He's a child. A very young child, younger than both Frisk and Faryn. He cannot be any older than eight years old! And yet he is the King?! Something about this picture seemed very wrong to Toriel. Not the boy himself, she can sense that he was a polite, if terribly shy, young child. But he has been named King at a very young age. It felt disturbingly like Rebecca's case, except by the time she met her, she was a grown adult.
Now? She actually sees such a young child in charge of a whole Kingdom, which should have been made official many years later. She was very sure something surrounding the circumstances was wrong, but she didn't want to stay stunned in silence for too long, lest she be perceived as rude. She regained her composure and cleared her throat.
"King Galen. It is very nice to meet you as well." Toriel greeted with clasped paws while trying to keep the questioning for later.
"Hi King Galen!" Frisk waved to him with a smile.
"Very grateful to meet you. Thank you for your hospitality." Faryn politely showed her gratitude with a graceful bow.
"O-Oh! Y-You're w-welcome. I c-couldn't just l-leave you lying helplessly on the g-ground with y-your injuries. S-So I had s-some p-people come get you and t-treat your wounds..." Galen again struggled to get through his sentences.
The poor thing can barely get a sentence out. Toriel pouted slightly.
"My gosh, Galen! You, like, actually got more than one sentence out when meeting with strangers! So proud of you!"
The trio was surprised by the newest arrival, which was slowly manifesting from the wood in the floor. It began taking shape into something feminine, with bright orange eyes shining first. Her skin was green and her hair consisting of vines, with various flowers attached to it. Though what somewhat startled Toriel was the fact that as soon as the feminine figure rose fully from the ground, she noticed something.
A very obvious lack of clothing, save strategically placed wraps of leaves around her person, managing to cover several critical places, though a majority of her otherwise bare, full-figured body was clearly visible.
"She's pretty..." Frisk muttered in awe, before Toriel went to cover Frisk's eyes with her paws. "Huh? What's going on, Mom? I can't see!"
"That is the intention, my child." Toriel deadpans. She looked upon the plantlike monster with a sigh. A dryad. I can sense she is quite trusted. Her modesty, however...
"Hey hey! Good of you all to come here after waking up! We were getting kinda worried about ya!" The dryad monster waved her hand with a cheerful grin. "You were worrying my little King here, though we didn't expect you to wake up so soon! You gals-and guy-are, like, a lot tougher than ya look, especially with your wounds."
"We're strong like that." Faryn raised a hand in response. "Hello! I'm Faryn! Thank you for your hospitality. Are you a dryad? I read about dryads once! They're a type of plant monster that are mostly female, a strong affinity for plant magic, and are very beautiful!"
"The 'beautiful' part definitely checks out." Frisk raised a hand as well.
"My child, please..." Toriel sighed tiredly at Frisk. The boy didn't even hesitate for a second.
"Yep! Danielle the Dryad at your service! That's my name! So, like, don't wear it out or anything like that, mmkay?" This Dryad was surprisingly perky, Toriel would notice.
"R-Right." Galen nodded quietly. "N-News spread t-to here. Wh-What's...u-um..."
"Let me take over for a bit, Galen sweetie. Or we'll be here all day." The dryad patted his head, before turning to the trio. "We kinda knew about the two Dreemurrs already, but we were especially surprised to see the daughter of Demon Fox King Tamotsu here with them."
"Oh, right. Daddy did go by that title a few times to make himself look scarier so that people would leave him and Astus alone." Faryn recalled while rubbing her chin. "I wonder what being called Demon Fox Princess Faryn would sound, though? Would I sound scary? Or would sound cool? Or scarily cool?"
"Well, that would depend on how people see you, I think." Frisk hummed with a tilt of his head, Toriel's paws still over his eyes. "You would obviously want your own Kingdom to see you in a positive light. So maybe it'll help that it's a title seen as something that also defers enemies away. I think."
"I guess so."
"Hey hey, let's totally stay on topic here. We've all got much to talk about, you see. Like, so much to talk about." Danielle said before they could stray further from their main subject. "Maybe we oughta start with how the heck you all got here."
"It is quite a story." Toriel shook her head with a tired sigh. "Perhaps we can tell such a story somewhere more comfortable?"
"O-Oh! S-Sure! I-I know a p-place within our G-Great T-Tree where we can b-both rest and get you all s-some more fulfilling food to eat." Galen offered, shyly pushing up his glasses.
"Oh! I would like some more munchies! That would be great!" Faryn raised her hand in rather obvious agreement, paired with a wagging two tails.
"G-Great! I-I can show you the way easily! D-Do follow me,.p-please!" Galen nodded as he hurriedly ran off while trying to keep his glasses on his face and his crown on his head.
"Gustus's King has quite the stutter on him. It reminds us of someone we knew, before she mostly grew out of it." Frisk noted while placing his hands over Toriel's paws, trying to get a look at Danielle, but Toriel was firm in her hold.
"Yeah, he's, like, totally a shy cutie, but a cutie nonetheless. I've been assigned to look after the little guy as he grows up. Or more, like, I volunteered because I wanted to do it anyway." Danielle informed as a bird perched on top of her head, with her not giving a care. "I thank you for being totally cool with him so far, guys. Really appreciate it. Despite, ya know, one of you having some slight reservations about it. If you have questions, we can totally help answer them as we follow our cute little King!"
"That would be appreciated." Toriel hums as she, Faryn, and Frisk followed Danielle down the tunnel that Galen headed down. "Now firstly, Galen seems a bit young to be a King, does he not? I mean, I do understand that he is doing quite well despite that, no doubt with your help and others help. I would just like to know what has landed him in such a place so early in his life. I heard a similar story from a friend I've met in Legatum, except Galen's case seems much more recent."
"Yeah, did something happen?" Frisk asked while briefly managing to push Toriel's paws upwards, enough to see the shapely Danielle from behind. Toriel quickly covered his eyes again, making the now blushing boy pout slightly.
"I guess you could say that. Quite a bit happened, actually. Though I think I should, like, start with the one fact that everyone in the Kingdom knows about Galen."
"What would that be? Something quite important?" Faryn raised her hand.
"Important, you can totally see it that way." Danielle sighed as she waved her hand, a wall of branches being gently moved away due to the motion. "This entire tree is a large palace, as you can see. It is Galen's favorite place to be. His parents had him in this tree, where he feels the safest. Which is fair. I mean, like, who wouldn't feel safest in their own homes right?"
"Righto!"
Danielle stopped in place with another sigh. "From the day he was born up to now, he's, like, never once left the sanctuary this tree has provided him. He's just, totally terrified of leaving the haven of this tree."
"Why is that?" Frisk asked, now getting a bit more serious, as this involves a new potential friend.
Danielle sighed once more, before turning to the trio with a sad look in her eyes. "His parents. They've fought one of the most dangerous monsters on the continent, and lost. He devoured them and absorbed their souls. We were barely able to get Galen away from him."
"That's...that's awful..." Faryn noted, her fox ears drooping downwards.
"Totally. This was no ordinary malevolent monster. He's one of the big, BIG names around." Danielle informed. "Word got around. You made friends with the water dragon, Leviathan, right?"
"We know of Levi and formed a partnership, yes." Toriel nodded, unsure of where this was headed.
Danielle nodded grimly. "Well, this is one of his rivals in the old days. Where Leviathan mastered the sea, this guy mastered the land. He's Behemoth."
(?)
"Hey. Hey there, buddy. Mind having your eye sockets light up? Ya don't have to completely wake up, I just need to see the lights in your eye sockets."
Sans heard a deceptively comforting voice speak out to him, which caused him to somewhat come too. He shook his skull and tried to get a clearer view of the blurred figure in front of him. Taking a moment to focus, he saw that it was the dragon responsible for knocking him out.
Toxin.
"Hey, ya woke up anyway! That's fine too! Welcome to the land of the awake, buddy! When the rumors said you were a heavy sleeper, they weren't kidding around!"
"...ah. captured by the enemy. that kinda sucks for me." Sans muttered while gazing down at the restraints holding him back.
"Ah, worry not. Your magic's not being restrained. I'm not that barbaric." Toxin shook his head. "The poison is messing with your body to the point where you can't focus it properly even if you tried. Normal poison won't cut it for a skeleton monster, but esoteric poison is a different story. You're gonna get a coma-inducing headache if ya do, and I prefer you to be awake."
"right. where am i?"
"Your in my humble abode! Somewhere within my home Kingdom! Make yourself at home!"
Sans gazed around at the room. It was filled to the brim with torture devices and surgical instruments, as well as various types of poisons, venoms, and yes, toxins stored in several different pieces of containment.
"...yeah. i feel right at home." The skeleton turned to Toxin with a sigh. "i ain't got a chance of escape, do i? if that's the case, whaddya intend to do to me?"
"Well, the pragmatic thing for me to do would be to kill you right here and now. Believe me, I did think about it." Toxin hummed while pacing across the room, rubbing his chin as his tail waved slowly behind him. "Though after enough pondering, I decided that would be a bit of a waste. I at least gotta make some use out of you first."
Sans chuckled and shook his head. "buddy, you oughta know where that kinda thinkin' tends to lead. self-sabotage."
"Yes yes, you might be right about that. Who knows? Maybe this whole thing will very well end with me being killed at your friend's hands." Toxin clicked his tongue. "But alas, such is the risk of being a scientist and a doctor. You have to take risks to make some big steps. I do so for my Kingdom. And for me as well, so it's a win-win!" Toxin soon caught up to Sans, leaning his head forward. "But let's not waste any time. I'd like to get started. Your brother and friends are likely to come for you sooner rather than later."
Sans kept focused on Toxin, narrowing his eye sockets. "whaddya got in store?"
"...You know I just noticed that despite being a skeleton monster, you and your brother make normal facial expressions just as easily as everyone else. Your brother even gets bulging eyes when he shouldn't even have eyes! Skeleton monsters are truly bizarre, a very fascinating monster type." Toxin briefly steered off topic, before coming back again. "Sorry, got off-topic. Anyhow, I'm about to conduct an experiment, and you're my special volunteer. Lucky you!" Toxin held out his paws, and splotches of poison began to rise up from it. The disgusting blob shaped itself into a spider like form, which Toxin letter gently. "Cute little gal, isn't she? Do you think your spider friend would like it?"
"what are ya gonna do with that?"
"This is a special brand of poison. It's going to put you into a deep hallucination. Make you fall into your own personal hell. I'm going to observe how long you can endure it until your mind shatters." Toxin smiles warmly, head tilted. "And if you manage to survive it, that means, when you're mind is out back together as we desire, you'll make a fine golem to sell to Valantis!"
Sans blinked. "valantis..? who's that...?"
"My latest business partner. But you don't need to worry about him. You've got more important things to focus on. Speaking of which, gotta make a call. Here ya go, buddy!" Toxin shrugged as he gently placed the blob on Sans' leg, and it began crawling up his body. Toxin used his tail to pick up a phone, briefly dialing something, then speaking. "Heyo! It's me, big guy! How's it been? Me? Great, great. Hey, I'm gonna need to cash in on a favor you still owe me. Remember the Kingdom you've clashed with a long time ago?" Toxin turned around. "Yes, that one. The one that's all nice and green and filled to the brim with greenery. A green paradise, if you will. Nice and pretty. Anyway, you're much stronger than last time, and my own King can't have the much friendlier Gustus helping the damaged Legatum too soon. Our enemies are dangerously charismatic."
Toxin coughed a bit into his fist, pulling the phone away from him. After clearing his throat, he pulled it back to his face, and that haunting, acidic grin came back.
"Do me a solid and turn it into a desert wasteland this time, kay buddy?"
As Sans balked at Toxin's intentions for Gustus, the poisonous blob managed to make it up to his skull. He felt it entering through his right eye socket.
The last thing he heard before blacking out from the ensuing pain was his own screams of agony.
(?)
...hell...
he said that his poison would make me hallucinate, send me to my own personal hell.
what would that be like? i've kinda forgotten for a while, so it may be hard to remember.
...then again...
...why would i want to...?
"RISE AND SHINE, SMILEY TRASHBAG!"
Sans' eye sockets widened as he gazed upwards towards the sound of the booming voice. A very familiar booming voices coming from a very familiar giant screen, with large spiked vines attached to it. The smug, cruel face on the screen sneered at Sans, as it's vines poised to attack.
"Don't tell me you're falling asleep?! Fine by me, but you should know that the slightest mistake means your long-awaited death!"
"That's right."
Sans heard another familiar voice, and looked down to see the owner of it. It belonged to a familiar boy with a green and yellow striped sweater, with rosy cheeks, crimson eyes with blackness emitting from them...and he had a knife in his hand.
"We're supposed to be each other's final boss, Sans. How can we make it fulfilling if you suddenly fall asleep on us? That'd be no fun at all."
Sans stepped back a bit, gripping his chest as he tried to process what was going on. stay calm, sans. ya gotta stay focused. it ain't real. none of it is real. it's not-
He tried to rebuild his mental walls, but he felt something wrapped around his neck. A piece of cloth. He pulled it back slightly to see what it was.
It was Papyrus's treasured scarf, and it was glittered with his dust. And it felt far too real to brush off, even though deep down he knew it wasn't.
His attempts at concentration shattered instantly. As the lights in his eye sockets went out, his soul having frozen in disbelief, cold sweat running down his skull, and the two enemies ahead of him charging in for a team attack, Sans had only one thing to say, and came out as a whine of shocked helplessness.
"...wha..."
Well, we've checked up on several things, mainly the location and wellbeing of several missing from the large gang. One side is doing much, much better than the other, though...and even then, it might not last very long...
Some people are being sent after others, others are going after others on their own volition...things might be getting hectic soon.
This arc shall not be contained to a single Kingdom. Legatum is wounded, Gustus is about to be cut off from helping, a friend is held prisoner in Libertas, and the final battle for the continent is likely to take place in Solitas. This is next step towards their dreams, it shall be even harder than the last.
It begins now.