Chapter 8: Friend, Foe, or Fool?
The human and skeleton left the Temmie Village, walking back along the dark path with Braedan leading Frisk along. Once back on the dimly lit glass pathway, he led her back to the second crystal, revealing another path that had opened up. Frisk groaned.
"So I was supposed to backtrack?" She asked, embarrassed.
"Yeah, it's an annoying puzzle." Braedan replied with a shrug. "Don't beat yourself up over it. I still run into unfamiliar puzzles occasionally." He then grinned before reaching into his jacket and offering her a can of soda from his jacket. "Drink for the road?" Frisk paused, tilting her head.
"What kind?" She asked hesitantly.
"Root beer." He replied, holding it out to her. "Even still cool to the touch." She quickly accepted the can, cracking it open and taking a long sip.
"Thank you!" Frisk said with a wide smile. "I really missed this."
"Don't mention it kid. I found five or six cans about a month ago." He said as he motioned for her to keep walking. "Glad the last one cheered you up so much."
"Last one?" Frisk asked before Braedan glanced back at her.
"Don't worry about it, just keep walking. I'm not an end all fight repellant." He called back, causing Frisk to rush to keep up to the taller figure.
"Sorry! Please slow down a bit!" Frisk gasped, causing Braedan to stop, glancing back at her.
"Oh, sorry kid. I'm used to walking with Papyrus and Dyne." He said, rubbing the back of his skull. "I'll adjust for you, kid."
"Thanks… wait, Dyne? Like… Undyne? The human killing monster?" Frisk asked normally as she glanced up at Braedan.
"... Undyne's got her reasons for why she is the way she is. Not every human who fell down here has been nice and friendly." Braedan explained calmly. "She and I just don't always agree on how to do things."
"And how does she do things?" She asked softly.
"... Full force." Braedan shrugged before they continued in silence, passing by signs detailing monster history. Eventually they reached a small clearing with a large patch of tall reeds to the side. Braedan paused, glancing back the way they came. "Frisk, hide."
"Hide?" She asked, before Braedan nudged her towards the reeds. As he did, she heard the faint noise of metal clanking, growing louder by the second. She quickly bolted into the reeds, crouching and listening in silence, hoping nothing bad happened. The sound grew louder as a large imposing figure in jet black armor holding a long spear of bright blue light stormed out of the darkness up to Braedan.
"Braedan! What are you doing here?! There's a human in the underground!" The armored figure asked… and yelled.
"Well, I must've missed them. I was gonna pop over to Hotland. Muffet owes me a donut." Braedan said calmly. "Besides, the human doesn't seem that dangerous. Nothing like Savage was, at least from what I heard."
"That's not the point! This makes seven souls! We can be free! Then I'll make the humans pay for everything we suffered." Undyne declared, full of energy.
"Violence is only gonna bring more violence, Dyne. You really wanna start another war?" He replied casually, frowning at her. "You really wanna hurt a kid? Cause if you're willing to, I won't help you."
"... That's your choice, but we have to claim our freedom. How long do you want everyone down here to wait?" Undyne replied, slamming the spear's haft against the ground.
"I made a promise to a friend that I wouldn't give up on anyone. Human or monster." Braedan replied coolly. "So I'll look for another way. A better one. So have a little faith, fishface." Undyne sighed before gently slugging the skeleton's shoulder.
"Just don't get yourself killed, bonehead." Undyne said before walking past Braedan and continuing into the darkness. Braedan watched her go, listening as the clanking sounds faded away. Frisk peeked out of the reeds, seeing Braedan waiting for her. She slipped out and stood beside him.
"... Am I causing trouble for you?" She asked softly.
"Nah, Frisk. Trouble's part of life. Don't worry about mine, I'm tougher than I seem. Mostly, I'm just worried for you."
"Worried for me?" Frisk asked, surprised.
"... Listen kid, there's no other humans in the underground. And if you keep going, you'll have to fight Asgore." Braedan said calmly, before turning to face her. "That's not a fight I can help you with, and Asgore's supposedly one of the best warriors in the underground. I just gotta ask… Do you really need to keep going?" Frisk was quiet, before glancing up at him.
"... I gotta know what happened to my friend, and I do want to go home…" Frisk fell silent for a moment. "... But I don't know if I'll be able to. Especially if I have to fight Asgore, or even Undyne."
"You could stay here, kid." Braedan replied with a shrug. "Life in the underground isn't that bad."
"... Maybe." Frisk nodded. "I'll think about it, okay?"
"Yeah. Let's keep going kid." Braedan nodded, before starting off again with Frisk walking alongside him.
"Do you think it would be better if I leave?" She asked, glancing over at him.
"To be honest? I like having you around. It's barely been a day and you've already become friends with half the underground. You're brightening this place up a bit. I just want people to be happy, and watching you, I feel like one day that'll be a reality."
"You really think so? I'm just a kid after all." Frisk smiled.
"Course! Besides, I'm not that much older than you. Couple years maybe, pint size." He replied as he began gradually outstepping her.
"Hey! I'm not that short!" Frisk whined… as she jogged to keep up. "You're just really tall!"
"Says the fun sized teen." Braedan laughed. "I might as well grab that donut while I'm here though. Feel like I have the rumblies only spiders can satisfy."
"Spiders? Ew!" Frisk shivered. "You eat that?"
"Two words. Temmie. Flakes. I will eat anything else. Besides, they taste pretty good." Braedan shrugged. "Plus, she gives me a discount. It's a frequent customer deal." He grinned as he matched Frisk's pace once more.
"Still, eating spiders is weird." Frisk mumbled, slowing back to a walk.
"Underground's a weird place, Frisky Bits." He laughed. "Ya get used to it."
"... Wait, how can a skeleton have the rumblies?" Frisk asked, pausing and scratching her head.
"Guess I meant the rattles." Braedan said with a wink, causing Frisk to giggle.
"Hey Braedan?"
"Yeah, Frisk?"
"Thanks for the help." She began. "It's nice having a reliable friend helping out."
"No problem, Frisk. That's what friends do, right?" Braedan smiled before pausing as a song started playing from his pocket. He pulled it out, answering the phone. "Yo Sansy, what's up?" Frisk waited patiently, keeping an eye out for any monsters. "Yeah, I can go help out Papyrus. Yeah, no worries. Yeah, we'll hit up Grillby's later for some fries. Yeah, see ya Sans." He hung up and sighed, turning to Frisk. "Hey kid, I'm gonna have to ditch you for a bit. Sans wants me to keep an eye socket on Papyrus. Apparently, he's freaking out about something. I'll do my best to catch up later."
"But… what if I run into Undyne?" Frisk asked nervously. "What should I do?"
"Uh, book it? Undyne's pretty slow in that heavy armor she's wearing. If you can make it to Hotland, she'll be even slower cause of the heat." He shrugged. "Only place I can beat her, cause I handle the heat better than she does."
"Okay… So just run?" Frisk said, nodding.
"Yeah. I'll do what I can to help once I catch up." Braedan nodded, tussling her hair. "Papyrus and I will come up with something."
"Alright…" Frisk sighed. "Just hurry. I really don't want to fight Undyne."
"I'll be back as soon as I can. Stay safe, Frisky Bits." He said with a wave before jogging back the way they came, leaving Frisk by herself. She sighed as she turned and kept walking further, feeling alone.
Yeet. AND SO IT CONTINUES. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
