Chapter 16: History and Fun
In the next area, we were able to see Sans next to a telescope and another creature with a cave entrance in between them. Frisk immediately let go of Kia's hand to see what the stout skeleton was up to now. Kia had also immediately felt the loss of feeling in her hand. She took in a deep breath and approached Sans as Frisk left with a red circle around their eye from the eye piece on the pranked telescope. Kia smirked tiredly in humor.
Frisk went into the cave to explore. Taking a quick peek to make sure it was safe; there was only what seemed to be an ice cream vendor. Giving a sigh, she looked at a nervous Sans. She smiled.
"Hi Marshmallow"
He jumped, as if he couldn't stand the sound of her voice without being afraid or nervous. Guilt pools in Kia's nonexistent stomach. She did this. He blinked and awkwardly chuckled.
"oh, ah, hey how've ya been?"
"Oh, I've been scared, sad, and grateful, nothing too out of the ordinary."
He stared at her in slight confusion.
"grateful? For what?"
Kia rolled her eye lights. Of course, he would play dumb. Wouldn't want Undyne knowing that he protected her and Frisk. Fine, she could keep a secret. Kia smirked at him mysteriously.
"For everything"
She held out her hand gently for him to take. She smiled at him softly. Sans hesitated. He doesn't know what to do with an approachable Kia. Was it a trick? What is she thinking? Well, one way to find out. He grasped her hand lightly, so if he needs to, he can snatch it away. He didn't expect her to step forward, forcing him to step back into his little alcove. This hid them from view of the little white drop creature nearby.
Sans was just about to let go of her hand and teleport away when he registered that her grip on his hand was gentle. Her other arm had come around his side in a very loose hug with their clasped hands between them. Her chin was timidly resting on his clavicle. Something dripped onto his shoulder. He was almost too shocked to hear her whisper.
"Thank you"
She let go as soon as he blinked. He watched in a confusion she smiled one last time before moving to the entrance of the cave to pick up a sticky fingered Frisk, who offered her a Nice Cream. They waved goodbye and left through Echo Marsh.
Sans let out the breath he didn't know he was holding.
Xxxxxxxxxxx
Frisk went about exploring the pathways as Kia was a few steps behind, keeping an eye out for danger. In their wandering, they had found a patch of tall grass with a pair of ballet slippers hidden among the tall blades. Frisk was quick to put them on and start twirling about the small clusters of glowing mushrooms. Kia chuckled.
Coming back around to take another route, Kia admired the water as Frisk stopped to take a call. Kia knelt down to dip her phalanges into the current. Strange light particles twirled into the air and the current flowed against her hand. It was pretty.
Kia glanced at the water and paused. Staring back at her was someone she didn't recognize. She clenched her jaw and furrowed her brows. The skull with brown yellow hair and scarlet eye lights did the exact same thing with its' visible jaw bone and pliable brow bones. Kia's eye lights dimmed as she stared. Her hand suddenly came up to slap it across her face with water. Her darkened eye sockets were watering with red tears.
Kia jumped at the hand on her shoulder. Frisk was frowning in concern. Kia swallowed her self-pity and got up. That is what she looks like now. She just needs to deal with it. Kia smiled at the unconvinced Frisk and continued to walk.
They passed another echo flower with the continued passing conversation. The pauses in the conversation must be really long with the distance between flowers still make a coherent talk. The board walk ended soon after. Kia noticed a small alcove with another History Plank was hanging all by its lonesome.
'The power to take their SOULs. This is the power that the humans feared.'
Kia sighed. So it was depicted the human nature, whatever couldn't be understood or accepted, it was feared for whatever reason. Then what is feared would soon be hated for going against common logic or principle. Flashes of fellow test subjects mutilated beyond recognition flowed through Kia's fore mind before being pushed back.
They continued to the next room where they met Onionsan. It seems to be an accurate name since the shape the octopus' head looked like an onion. After that, we came upon another area that seemed very loney. Kia turned a corner to see what would be at the northern room. She encountered a fish monster.
She seemed really shy and her attacks were vocal. Kia decided to hum a sad song. Kia sang a verse of the sad song as she dodged the music notes headed her way. Kia spared her when Shyren had gained enough confidence in herself. Kia glanced back to Frisk to see if they were alright. Frisk was dancing an attempt at ballet. Kia giggled and twirled them around. Frisk spun and spun until they stopped to lean on their mom to keep from being dizzy.
Kia laughed and hoisted them into her boney arms. She crossed over to read the plank on the wall next to the room.
'The northern room hides a great treasure.'
Kia ooooed in pleasant surprise. Kia went in the room. There was only a piano and a riddle. She checked behind the piano, nothing there. She moved on with a snoring Frisk in her arms. The long hallway held puddles and more History Planks.
'This power has no counter. Indeed, a human cannot take a monster's SOUL. When a monster dies, its SOUL disappears. And an incredible power would be needed to take the SOUL of a living monster.'
Ki clenched her jaw. She did not like where these are going.
'There is only one exception. A SOUL of a special species of monster called a "Boss Monster." A Boss Monster's SOUL is strong enough to persist after death… If only for a few moments. A human could absorb this SOUL. But this has never happened. And now it never will.'
Kia clenched her eye lids shut and stopped walking. She has a feeling that this is going to foreshadow something. Something not good.
Kia kept walking. She passed a stone statue being rained on. Kia noticed that its feet were dry. Kia glanced back at its hooded and shadowed face and gave a nod of silent respect. The next area had a bucket of umbrellas. Getting an idea, Kia smiled. Since her other had was occupied by holding up her child comfortably, she only had one hand available to carry an umbrella.
Kia walked back to tuck the umbrella into the statue's lap. A music box started to play, gently waking up Frisk. Kia smiled and swayed as she enjoyed the little toon. Frisk slipped out of their Mom's grip to take her hands and sway with her. They smiled.
The Kia remembered the riddle. Listening more closely, Kia hummed along as she went back to the piano room and played the piano to the music. If, anything, she only able to play the piano just barely. Years ago in high school she was in the choir program and when need of it came up she learned what keys were what note to help out and do a little more on her part. Kia jumped in surprise when a wall collapsed almost right now. Frisk skidded back into the room from which they wondered from to see a freshly made cave entrance. They dashed inside, before Kia could step toward it. She dashed inside as well.
Inside there was only a stand with a red orb on top. This was the treasure. Frisk approached it but stopped to look into their pocket. A white Pomeranian popped out and padded for the Ancient Artifact. Kia grabbed it first and shooed away the dog. It didn't look like much. Kia put it away in her bag for now.
They came back to the bucket of umbrellas to pick up two. They walked on to a hallway that continuously rained. Frisk hopped in puddles as they walked. Kia hummed to fill in the silence. They came upon MonsterKid taking cover under a too small overhang of rock. He smiled as he noticed the two.
"Yo, you guys got umbrellas? Awesome!"
He run right up behind Frisk to share the small space. The three traveled through the reflective puddles. For moments at a time MonsterKid would stop to gush about either Undyne or simply talk. Kia assumes he doesn't like the silence.
The next room was dark with a dim light from above to see, but it was dry. It wasn't until MonsterKid run up ahead to stare at something in the distance that Kia noticed the ceiling of crystals and the castle just below them. It was a beautiful sight. When they had their fill of the sight, they moved on. When there came a ledge, Kia helped Frisk up and offered the same to MonsterKid, but the little dino wanted to find another way on his own. He ran off, tripped, got back up, and continued in the other direction. Kia just shook her head.
Kia climbed up the ledge with little difficulty. Frisk helped by pulling on her clothes. Once properly on the ledge, Kia patted herself down, and Frisk did the same. They walked until they came to another SAVE point and two more planks on the wall. Kia decided to read those History Planks first. She hummed to the distant music that she can somehow still hear.
"The human, afraid of our power, declared war on us. They attacked suddenly, and without mercy."
"In the end, it could hardly be called a war. United, the humans were too powerful, and us monsters, too weak. Not a single SOUL was taken, and countless monsters were turned to dust …"
Ki suddenly thought to when she met Marshmallow. A chill slithered across her bones. She suddenly understood by what he meant by 'dusting.' Kia clenched her jaw. She continued to hum to the music box as she grasped the SAVE point. She looked up at the ceiling to see the droplet. She absorbed the energy, giving her life after death. Her Soul reversed its progression to being introverted.
Kia is DETERMINED to protect Frisk, so she wouldn't dust any one.
Within her bleeding SOUL, multiple others heard and felt her emotions. They smiled and hoped. Things are going to be alright. Kia could handle almost anything coming her way. Frisk is smart. They can figure out what to do in any situation.
With all their hopes and dreams for the happiness of this small family, their wish has to come true … right?