It became clear quickly that Mrs. Babcock was not the only ghost in Blithe Hollow. Just stepping out the door, Frisk found themselves in a world of people surrounding in green auras. Most were human. Most wore the signs they carried with them when they died, from skin worn with age or necks still connected to the nooses that hung them. All saw Frisk staring at them and greeted them with a smile and a handshake, especially as Mrs. Babcock approached them.
Most also saw Mrs. Babcock and changed their tone to the kind adults used when they though children couldn't hear them. Mrs. Babcock responded back and changed her tone to the kind adults used when they were done discussing something and wanted to end the conversation as politely as possible. There was only one person Mrs. Babcock bothered to stop and have a conversation with. It was another ghost that probably was as old as Mrs. Babcock when she died, but her body was far more wrung and frail.
Frisk did not pay attention to the entire conversation. They changed their tone to the kind adults use and children recognize as not worth their time to eavesdrop. Besides, they had found a ghost dog.
There was a skeleton outside the door of the Ruins. This did not surprise Norman as much as he thought it would. Skeletons were more likely to be monsters than flowers or goats. The skeleton was not as scary as he should be, either. No cracks in the skull, or guts spilling from the ribcage…he was even wearing a turtleneck underneath his hoodie.
The skeleton monster actually seemed to be more surprised by Norman than Norman was of him. A world of emotions passed behind the skeleton's rather expressive eyesockets before Norman could really put together what he was seeing. By the time Norman found himself able to talk again, the skeleton had beat him to it.
"just one of you this time, huh?"
"Uh…yes?"
"great. let's see if we can't get one of those other lamps to work for ya."
In a lot of ways, Frisk could understand why Monsterkind held the Dump in such high regard. After all, where else would the anime end up? It was the only way they had left to see what was happening on the Surface.
What they could not understand was how one managed to live in a house and a dump simultaneously. Even the old house by Blook Acres was in better condition than the one Mrs. Babcock led them to. It sat on the edge of town, far enough away that nobody would think to find it. It barely stood on its own; wood beams falling off and tarps replaced roofing.
Mrs. Babcock appeared to have the same reservations Frisk did. She appeared just to wrinkle her nose at the things she could not smell, and looked down at Frisk to give them an encouraging nod.
Frisk summoned their determination and knocked on the door.
There was an audible thud as the occupant jumped at the sound.
"Who's there!" A grizzle voice called from inside. "I'm warning you, I already withstood a hummus attack! I'm made of steel!"
"Calm down, John, it's just us!" said Mrs. Babcock.
There was a moment of silence. The door creaked open. Two bright blue eyes, virtually hidden under thick black eyebrows, stared at the two.
"Elaine," the occupant said. "Never thought you'd be here."
"Well, never thought I would need to come in," said Mrs. Babcock. "Now would you let us in? We'll catch our death out here."
The eyes drifted down to Frisk. "And what's that?"
Frisk waved.
"I literally just had a stroke; I don't have time for this…thing!"
"Listen," said Mrs. Babcock. "I know how you feel about me, but you're the only one left who can help them out. I mean look at them! They're not even Norman's age yet!"
The blue eyes focused on Frisk closer. The door swung open, revealing the face and body attached. The occupant looked just as old and ghastly as Mrs. Babcock did. The only thing that stopped Frisk from thinking he was a ghost was the lack of green air about him.
"They can see you," said the man.
"Yes," said Mrs. Babcock. "We don't know how yet, but it has to do something with Norman."
"And where is Norman?" The man asked.
Mrs. Babcock fell silent at that. Both eyes were on Frisk.
Frisk signed gone with a hesitant shrug.
The man looked towards Mrs. Babcock for confirmation.
"Whatever they did to end up here, they think it sent Norman back," said Mrs. Babcock. "We need your help."
The man stopped his staring only to dissolve in a fit of coughs that did not sound like they were natural. "I don't have any time left. If Norman's gone…then you'll do."
Frisk found themself being pulled up into the air and carried into the house. They were put on a desk before they could complain. A book was thrust into their arms.
"At sunset tonight, take this to the place where the Witch is buried," The man collapsed into another coughing fit. He fell to the floor, and then he stopped moving altogether.
Before they could move, a fog of green formed where the man had stood.
"Ya got that, kid?" The man asked.
Frisk nodded.
"Good! The world's counting on you! I'm free!"
The house lit up as the ghost of Mr. Prenderghast laid itself to rest.
When monsters died, their bodies turned to dust. Their souls shattered. There was no real mess to have to take care of. Frisk wished they did not know that.
Humans were different. They realized that as they stared at the body.
"He's the groundskeeper for the cemetery; he's bound to have made some sort of arrangement," said Mrs. Babcock, though Frisk could tell she was mostly talking to herself. "You shouldn't have to be the one to call him in, kid. They'll find him eventually."
Their attention was on the book that had been shoved in their arms. It was even older than the man, and resembled more one of the books Aunti Whispers had. They opened it up, and were surprised to find illustrations inside. Gorgeous pictures, only slightly diminished by the age of the book, of princes and princesses. The page showed the most signs of use, with dog-eared corners and notes scribbled in runes and chicken-scratch notes that Frisk could not read if they tried. It took Frisk some time to figure out the fancy calligraphy of the title: The Tale of Sleeping Beauty.
They switched the book for the notebook and asked Mrs. Babcock where the cemetery was.
"YOU'VE TAUGHT ME A LOT, HUMAN. I HEREBY GRANT YOU PERMISSION TO PASS THROUGH! " said Papyrus. "AND I'LL GIVE YOU DIRECTIONS TO THE SURFACE! CONTINUE FORWARD UNTIL YOU REACH THE END OF THE CAVERN. THEN, WHEN YOU REACH THE CAPITOL, CROSS THE BARRIER. THAT'S THE MAGICAL SEAL TRAPPING US ALL UNDERGROUND. ANYTHING CAN ENTER THROUGH IT, BUT NOTHING CAN EXIT…EXCEPT SOMEONE WITH A POWERFUL SOUL."
"Like me?" Norman asked.
" LIKE YOU!" said Papyrus. "THAT'S WHY THE KING WANTS TO ACQUIRE A HUMAN. HE WANTS TO OPEN THE BARRIER WITH SOUL POWER. THEN US MONSTERS CAN RETURN TO THE SURFACE! OH, I ALMOST FORGOT TO TELL YOU…
"TO CROSS THE BARRIER, YOU WILL HAVE TO PASS…THROUGH THE KING'S CASTLE. THE KING OF ALL MONSTERS…ASGORE DREEMURR."
A chill ran up Norman's back, and he was sure it was not because of the chill of Snowdin. Papyrus' tone had shifted in a way Norman did not think possible from the happy skeleton.
"HE'S…WELL…HE'S A BIG FUZZY PUSHOVER!" said Papyrus. "EVERYBODY LOVES THAT GUY! I AM CERTAIN IF YOU JUST SAY…'EXCUSE ME, MR. DREEMURR, CAN I PLEASE GO HOME?' HE'LL GUIDE YOU RIGHT TO THE BARRIER HIMSELF! ANYWAY! THAT'S ENOUGH TALKING! I'LL BE AT HOME BEING A COOL FRIEND!"
Papyrus moved back towards his house in a pattern Norman could not describe with words, laughing along the way. It took Norman a bit longer to process what Papyrus had said and move again.
He would have to fight the King of All Monsters. He was willing to bet it would not be as easy as Papyrus had been.
The new area started abruptly, like he had just stepped into a doorway into another room. It was vastly different than Snowdin, with bare cave walls and an uncomfortable humidity that had him tugging at his jacket.
"hey kid."
Sans sat at another checkpoint station that looked remarkably like his old one, even down to the snow on the roof. For just a moment, Norman tried to figure out why it was there and how it hadn't melted yet.
"thinkin' of headin' to grillby's. wanna join me?"
Norman was about to decline when he realized the last decent thing he had to eat was the Butterscotch Cinnamon Pie, and that was a long time ago. If he was going to get close to the King of All Monsters, he would have to eat something.
"Uh, sure…"
"great. c'mon, i know a shortcut."
It did not really feel like it took them long to get to the cemetery. It felt a lot longer to Frisk.
The Cat was there waiting for them. He rushed to Frisk in a move that looked a lot more like he wanted to get his paws off the damp earth rather than greet them, growled at Mrs. Babcock as the specter took shape, and jumped up onto Frisk's shoulders.
It did not take them long to find the graves that Mr. Prenderghast was talking about. It was sunset, time to read the story.
They opened up to the book to the heavily marked paged and looked up. What were they supposed to do? Read it aloud? They knew their voice was not going to work, even if they tried.
"What is it that you're trying to do?" The Cat asked.
They didn't exactly have time to explain. They held the book up for him the way they would their notebook.
"I really don't read the language of humans unless it comes from you," said the Cat. "And I would prefer not to unless you tell me what's going on."
Frisk turned around. Mrs. Babcock was not there to read it for them.
The sun dipped below the horizon, and sets of skeletal hands shot from the ground.
Norman was not entirely sure how they had gotten to the bar, only that they were as they turned the corner.
"pretty neat shortcut, huh?" sans asked.
Norman did not have time to answer. Everyone in the bar had taken to greeting sans. He followed sans sheepishly towards the bar and took one of the stools.
"so what sounds good, kid?"
"Uh…a burger?"
"alright. grillz, two orders of burg."
The bartender, who looked like his entire body was made of fire, gave the two a scrutinizing look before disappearing into the back.
"so, kid…"
The atmosphere of the bar grew heavy.
"do you know anything about a talking flower?"