St. Paul's Churchyard
Friday, April 26th, 2120. 12:03 AM
As they approached the cathedral, Frisk could hear multiple explosions and sounds of gunfire coming from the vicinity. They paused on the top of the glass building overlooking the school and churchyard while Willow caught her breath behind them.
"Jesus Christ Frisk," Willow said, panting as she brought her hands to rest on her knees. She pulled out her commlink and followed up on the situation on the ground. "I know we're in a hurry, but rushing will get us nowhere! We already almost died on the way here, all of the bloody jumping isn't helping." She shot a protesting look at Frisk, who took her complaints with an expression of indifference. Their stoic demeanor upset Willow somewhat, but she was willing to let it go when she remembered that they were probably barely holding it together under the surface.
"We're already behind schedule. According to the radio chatter I can hear, it sounds like multiple groups have already made their move into the Cathedral. It even says here that Undyne breached already. They want us to breach through the back door, so we should hurry before anyone spots us."
Willow let out a deep sigh. "Fine. But are you sure that we're ready? We're gonna have to blow the door open, it's made of solid metal. And once we breach, we'll likely have to face him, and it doesn't sound like we did too hot last time."
Frisk tightened their face in anger as they reached down to grab the hilt of their katana. "That was because I wasn't here. Now that I am, I know I have the power to face him. I'm not letting Cage go without making him answer for what he's done." Frisk turned around and, unexpectedly, had their hand grabbed by Willow as she tried her best to assuage Frisk's worries. Frisk looked weary as they softened. "We'll get through this. I know it. I promise I won't lose myself in there. Look, I- "
"Don't even start it! Nope!" Willow yanked her hand back and she pretended to be angry at the ambassador. The truth was that she could hardly contain her happiness that Frisk wasn't all the way gone. "We'll have our sappy moments once we've captured Cage. But for now, I don't want to hear it out of you! Not. A. Word. I already promised myself that I wasn't going to cry until this was over." She relaxed and giggled a bit before looking over the ledge at the cathedral and the ensuring chaos surrounding it. "What do you want to do? Should we go together to blow the door?"
"Stay here. Cover me as I jump down and blow the door. Once I'm ready, I can do it and we can breach together. Does that sound okay?"
Willow hesitated, looking around the tops of the buildings before ultimately relenting. "Oh, okay. Just to be safe, take my extra handheld explosives. I'll wait here and be your eyes and ears."
Frisk offered a weak smile before turning and flatly jumping off One New Change and into the street below. It was surprisingly easy to clear the fence encircling the grounds, and even Frisk was surprised by how it easy it was to plant the charges. After only a few minutes, they tuned their communicator on and tried to pick up Willow. At first, Frisk tried to use the nonverbal signals, as they had been briefed to do before the mission. But one, two, three minutes eventually went by with no word from Willow. They decided to try a direct line.
"Pen One, this is Muppet Six. I'm all ready here, what's your hold up?"
The voice they then heard is not one they expected to hear at all.
"Go on love! Tell the royal whatever they want! I won't stop you."
Frisk's sweat ran cold as they drew their sword and sprinted through the grounds to the gate. From there, they could easily see that a Cauldron operative with pink hair had taken Queen Willow hostage. She wore the same uniform as the others, but kept two shields on her legs and what look like a large bladed spinner on her right wrist. However, instead of using those weapons, she opted for a handgun pointed directly at the back of the Queen's head. Willow, despite being able to activate her orbs in time, was powerless in the face of a handgun at point-blank range. She and Frisk both knew that there was no way her magic would travel far enough in time.
"Frisk! Go on without me! I'll be okay, I promise. If you stay, you'll get caught up too!"
"WILLOW! No, I'm not leaving you behind! I'm not putting any more of my family at risk tonight! And you! You pink-haired bitch, I know you can hear me! You'd better let her go!"
Raven laughed with a tinge of delight in her voice. She leaned in close enough to Willow's communicator to make sure that Frisk could hear her. "My my, I never would have imagined that the ambassador of such an important country would be so foul-mouthed. Now is that any way to talk to a person, especially when said person is holding the figurehead of an entire country hostage?" From the way she spoke, Frisk could tell there wasn't a serious bone in her body at all; her entire demeanor signaled that she saw the proceedings unfolding in front of her as if they were a game to be played. Willow and Frisk both as people to be played with.
"Frisk, it's a trap!" Willow said, visibly upset but not squirming enough to find out if Raven really would shoot her. "She doesn't intend to kill me, she just wants to-"
Before she could finish, Frisk quickly dashed across the street and out of view of Raven and Willow. Frisk ran down Cheapside and, in a panic, tried to consulted Chara on what to do next. Even in their mind, Chara could feel their partner's voice trembling and cracking as they tried to maintain their composure.
"No no no, Chara no! This can't be happening! Not now! Not fucking now after everything we've done! What do I do? I have to approach her a way that she won't be expecting, but-"
"Frisk, calm down, we can do this! How many times have we had to watch our friends be held hostage before? Reset or not, this doesn't make a difference. Compose yourself and focus! Plus, your anxiety makes me feel heavy. I hate it when I feel heavy."
"Y-you're right. I…I can do this. Oh god, I can do this." Frisk's heart continued to beat out of their chest as they tried to regain focus on their immediate surroundings. "What now? We need to get up there, but there's no natural footing, and climbing will take too long."
"Frisk, on your left, coming up! There's an alley there. With our energy, we should be able to wall jump up these walls, and then we can then…"
"Pshhh. That stupid kid. They actually think that they can get past me by going around the back? Do they think I got in on this game yesterday?" Raven circled around Willow's left side, keeping her spinner close to her neck as she brought her gun to face in the direction Frisk ran. "I'm under orders to not shoot you but I can and will shoot them, just you wait, little princess."
"Excuse me! I am a queen, thank you, and work hard to bring honor to that right, you…you terrorist!" Almost forgetting she was being held a knifepoint, Willow got a little flustered by that attack on her character. Raven fought herself to hold back a grin as she dragged Willow even further up the building and focused on the horizon. "I've led this country for three years and I will do so again after this entire crisis is over."
"Gosh, you're so easy! I'm happy that I got the job dealing with the excitable kids, you're so much more fun than any army brat I've had to go up against. And who can resist the charms of an upset lady, no?"
"Excuse me!? Are you literally hitting on the girl you kidnapped just now? Are we really doing this? Plus I'm 17 years old and clearly mature for my age! Meanwhile, you don't look a day over 40 dear, you should be proud."
Raven used the tips of her fingers to stroke Willow's chin as she took aim in front of her. Biting Raven's hand now would almost assuredly result in her slashing Willow's neck by accident or otherwise. She held back the urge as much as she could. "I'm 19, your highness." Raven said in a sarcastic tone. "I appreciate the compliment though, it gives me even more of a reason as to why I'm able to dominate you so well."
Willow blushed even more and had to restrain herself from turning on Raven then and there. Just who was this idiot? Did she care a bit at all about her situation? Is she that confident in her fighting skills that she just isn't concerned? Or is it something else? Just as Willow was about to offer a retort, Raven shushed her and took aim at the top of the alley. Willow's anxiety spiked as she could do little but wait for what Frisk would do to get out of this one.
Raven smiled as she lined the sight up with the top of the alley. "That kid. I can feel their energy all the way over here. It's too bad, really. Keep your eyes open for this one, my fair Willow. This is how you kill a monarch."
It happened in a second. Before Raven had a chance to fire, she had her handgun taken out of her hand by a sword that went flying past her. Recoiling, Willow took a chance to kick her to the floor and move free of the arc of her spinner. Extending her now free left hand to break her fall, Raven used the momentum to spin and knock Willow to her feet. Once back on her toes, she grabbed her spinner and swiveled as she looked for Frisk above the alley. But to everyone's surprise, Frisk appeared to Raven's right, far beyond the alley and well within the footprint of the building. Their red eyes shining amidst the night sky, Frisk held their sword above their head as they took aim at Raven.
She laughed. "A small sword!? Well done! I can't say I was expecting that, especially since I can't say I was expecting much of anything at all when we started. You've saved you friend! But all you've done is doomed yourself. Willow gasped as Raven blinked and her hazel eyes too turned Red. Before she could warn Frisk, Raven spun her spinner, producing a barrage of magic spinner attacks all aimed at Frisk. They responded in kind, swinging their sword in a powerful, wide arc that caused a beam to slice through all of Raven's attacks one by one. Not letting herself get sliced up, Raven jumped back to the edge of the building as Frisk's attack connected with a building and caused an explosion big enough to send shards of the building's glass ceilings to the floor below. Willow screamed as Frisk came to rest by her side.
"Willow! I'm sorry, are you okay? I made sure to aim around you as much as I could, I'm grateful that you're not hurt! I just, I didn't –"
It was Willow's turn to shush someone, this time Frisk. She was, however, far more serious that Raven ever was. She let herself go on her royal friend. "Frisk, darn it! I told you not to come back! I was going to be alright! She wasn't going to kill me. Her entire goal was to get you up here so wouldn't be down there. She's trying to keep you from breaching."
"Wha…wait, so this all was a distraction? You don't think that something's happening down there, do you?"
"I don't know, but I know that whatever's happening down there needs you more than I do up here." The desperation in Willow's voice was caught by her pleas. Frisk quickly looked around her to see Raven composing herself after the blast and taking an annoying look at the two of them from afar. Willow continued without paying her any care. "Frisk, listen to me. People down there are going to die if they don't get our help. You and I both know the threat that Cauldron poses to those without any sort of magic. We can't let this continue on while they hold us out here. I know I've been really hard on you by tonight but-"
"Could you two both hurry it up? I'm not gonna let you leave so whatever plan you're making is pointless." The whimsicality of Raven's voice had been replaced with mild annoyance. She cracked her neck as her now red eyes stared both of them down. Frisk exhaled at the thought of her too having powers of determination.
"Ignore her" Willow said "What's important is that you get down there and do what you can. I know you feel like you've failed somehow. Like all of this is somehow your responsibility for not being there, or not doing enough. But none of that matters now. All that matters is what you do next.
"I…I…don't – look out!" Frisk quickly picked up their thrown Wakizashi and stopped a weak magic bullet thrown by Raven. She continued to spin their spinner at them as she closed the distance, each shot with increasing intensity.
Willow summoned her Bullet orbs and pulled out the old pistol of her own. "Frisk, you've taught me well. So please, on my mark, get ready to make a break for it. She had a Red SOUL like you, right? I'll be on the lookout."
Frisk hesitated, but without responding or waiting, rushed to the edge of the building closest to them. They yelled as they ran and jumped off the edge. "It was easier that way! Don't die on me, okay? If you need help, you know where to find me!"
Willow smiled, muttering under her breath something about that being classic Frisk, and as expected, Raven made a break for the side of the building too. Her advance was soon stopped short by a hail of bullets blocking her way, and like it or not, now that Willow was back in fighting shape, Raven would be forced to contend with her first if she ever hoped to get anywhere.
"Kid, you don't know what you're doing." Raven said, possibly the first sentence she uttered this entire battle with anything but a smile on her face. "I've seen you. I know what you're capable of and I know you don't have the skills to take me on tonight. Do you really want Britain to lose its leader tonight?"
A shiver shot through Willow's body at Raven's sudden seriousness. She gripped her pistol tighter and aimed it square at Raven. "Even so! I can't give up! The future of this country depends on what happens here tonight! I'm…I'm not going to let my people down."
Raven's scowl turned to a full grimace as she rushed forward. "You stupid princess! We don't even want anything to do with your dumb country. Remember, you brought this upon yourself. You chose this!"
Willow stepped back to avoid a swing and then a roundhouse kick from Raven before using her forearm guards to stop Raven's return swing of her spinner. Now in a deadlock, she brought herself in and let her yellow eyes pierce Raven's SOUL as they both brought their powers to bare. She looked her dead in the eye and tightened her grip as she solidified her stance. The tables beginning to turn, she smiled as Raven's mood continued to sour: It was now clear that they both were in for a long fight.
"I told you. It's Queen."
Alone now, Frisk descended the back stairs of the cathedral into the crypt below. The normally brightly-lit basement had had nearly all of its lights taken out, so Frisk cautiously walked along the walls as they moved down the narrow staircase. At the other end of the crypt, they could hear the yelling of soldiers mixing with the voices of the remaining Cauldron members. Also, every now and then, there would be a large crash and the floor about would shake and rattle, dropping little pieces of rock to the floor and forcing Frisk to crouch for their protection. Given the fact that Frisk couldn't hear Undyne's characteristic yelling down here, they assumed the fish captain must be fighting upstairs. All around them, battles raged on between friend and foe, and Frisk could do little but stand by and watch. Eventually, Frisk reached a certain point where they could advance no further without guidance. As much as they didn't want to, they would be forced to call for help.
"Chara, this is awful. Can you see anything?"
"Hey buddy, I'm just you." they nonchalantly replied, "I can notice things if you can see it, but I certainly can't see anything you can't."
"Wonderful." Frisk sighed and clicked their communicator. Maybe a different approach would do the trick.
"Pen Three, this is Muppet Six. Can you hear me?"
"Looooud and clear. I can see that you made it to the crypt, congrats soldier." Frisk shuddered at being called that but let Justin continue. "Can you see Cage? We had you breach from the other end in hopes that you would see him."
"That's just it though, I can't see anything, let alone Cage. From the way it sounds back here, it sounds like I'll occasionally hear someone, but – wait!"
As they were speaking, a couple of Cauldron operatives came running to the back of the crypt. Two of them were carrying a wounded comrade while someone else, a feminine voice, gave them orders from the front. Frisk ducked back up the stairs to ensure they wouldn't be seen.
"….sure this would work right? We can throw him right in? I mean, he can walk but -" The two bent down as a spray of bullets whizzed by, ripping off pieces of rock as they connected with the wall.
"He's pretty badly hurt! You're sure there's a medic waiting on the other side?"
"Yes, but we need you here!" The person at the front of the group drew a magic bow and made four arrows of white light materialize in the dark, revealing a girl as the attacker. She shot them in front of her, illuminating the ruin of the crypt, and with a snap of her fingers, created a field that electrocuted everyone that happened to be between then. She then turned to usher the trio to what sounded like the end of the crypt.
"If he can walk, send him on his way down. Falcon is waiting for us all at the other end of the portal and will make sure he gets the medical attention he needs. But for now, we need to hold off the Brits as long as possible! Let this be a lesson to anyone else who wants to hold back. We have to give this our all if we're going to survive!
Frisk could hear the wounded soldier's grunts and the others helped him to his feet and slowly, he disappeared into the darkness. After he was well on his way, the others issued a verbal salute to the girl and all three of them ran forward to join the ensuring chaos at the other end of the crypt.
"Pen Three, are you getting all this? What does she mean by "on his way down?" I thought this was the lowest level of the cathedral?
Justin sounded genuinely surprised. "I…I thought so too. Hell, I lived here my entire life, I've been in and out of this cathedral so many times. I never noticed a level below the crypt. What did our plans say?"
A woman inside the command center spoke up. "My Lord! There are no such architectural plans that implied anything otherwise. Our planning staff confirms it."
"Then, I don't know. It's possible there could be more, but I can't confirm it from here."
Chara spoke up, annoyed. "Well obviously there has to be something down there! And if Cage isn't up here in this warzone (which I doubt he is), then he has to be down there."
Frisk nodded in agreement. They then voiced Chara's argument to the rest of the group. "It sounds like this lower area must be where Cage is. After all, we know he's still in London, and due to his wounds, he can't be fighting right now."
"F-F-Frisk, wait! Wait, um, I-I mean..Muppet Six..." Alphys said, surprising Frisk with her unexpectedly sharp voice in their ear. "I'm picking up very strong magic readings from right below you! The strongest I've felt since you've been in London! They're even identical to the magical energy found in the Underground. I think that something's down there."
"What, really? Ugh, this is so confusing. I don't know what to make it." Frisk said, inching along the wall to the spot where it sounded like the Cauldron operative disappeared out of earshot.
Chara egged their host on. "No choice left but to go down. Why waste our time up here?"
"Muppet Six here. I'm heading down there. It feels like there's a set of stairs embedded to the dais in here. I'm going to follow them and see where it goes."
Alphys held her tail and worried about Frisk from afar. "Be careful Frisk! I don't like how things seem down there. Don't do anything unnecessarily risky!"
"Pen Three agrees. Nevertheless, head in. We need to find Cage and put an end to this madness.
Frisk felt out the first step, then the second, and little by little started making their way down the steps into the area below. As they descended, the path ahead became brighter and brighter, and eventually the seeming low and dim cavity in the Earth let out into a great space. Frisk emerged in what look like a bright cave that existed under the entirety of the massive church above. Frisk could hear a waterfall to their left, and on the right of the room was an area of bright light. The jagged walls were covered in hues of blue by the bright water that flowed around the entire room, and despite there being no way that any natural light reached this area of the church, the entire room seemed bright enough to seem like daytime.
The stairs let out onto a wide island surrounded by water, and at the end of the island, looking down into the pool of light, was a man with a messy mop of hair and a brace on his left leg. Frisk took a deep breath in as their heart sank into their stomach. Each footstep, the next heavier than the last, echoed across the room as they descended the stairs and on to the land below. There was almost certainly no way that Cage didn't know Frisk was here now. Even so, Frisk metered breath to try and not lose control of themselves or the demon within. Holding their feelings in was so hard to contain. After all this time, Frisk had finally made it to the end of their struggle.
Eventually, Frisk came to rest at the middle of the island, staring down the Cage's back and contemplating what to do next. Should they try to slash him when he wasn't looking? But there's no way that he doesn't know they're already there. What about trying to hit them from there with a magic attack? Could they charge their energy long enough for it to matter? And how would they close the distance in time? The possible options seemed overwhelming. But before long, Cage would turn to face Frisk on their own. His scruffy face and messy hair belied the fact this twenty-something year old man ran a terrorist organization that now spanned the globe, and Frisk was initially given pause by how young he looked. But that energy quickly turned to anger as their mind filled with the memories of everything he had done.
The two of them remained silent, both intently staring over each other as the sounds of dripping water and the staccato of distant gunfire bounced around the walls. Frisk's scowl grew as they took it as another sign that Cage had done nothing but ruin the peacefulness of this place. They gripped the hit of their sword tighter as their expression intensified.
Cage smiled. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Ambassador Frisk."
A/N - I can't believe this chapter is finally finished! And now this arc can move into its eventual conclusion. I've been waiting an entire year to write this part of the story, among many others. School got really, really rough this semester, but despite the schedule slip, I'm really, really happy that I've made it this far at all. What wonderful proof that despite my life rn, I can still excel at one thing :')
To the readers who have made it this far, thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for reading what now feels like my life's work! I can't begin to talk about how much I think about this fanfiction! I have so many ideas for it and for the stories I want to tell, and I feel like I've spent so much of my year imagining the kind of world I want to create in my story. I worry that my fanfiction is bad, or that a lot of people don't enjoy it, but as long as even one person wants to read my work, I'll be very, very happy 3
So this arc reaches the crest of its emotional crescendo. This chapter was, by far, the hardest of any of them to write, no doubt because of the numerous action scenes I had to put in. I questioned putting this arc second in the story because of its heavy reliance on OCs, but I'm honestly really happy with how its turned out so far. I'll get to focus on the main cast a little more, especially in these upcoming chapters (and in the next arc)! They say your first fic is always rough around the edges. But I'm doing my best to make the polish just right. That being said, I'm always interested in criticism! So don't be afraid to leave me your comments! Until then, see you in the next notes!
