Author's Note:
Sorry about the long wait. A combination of some writer's block as well as a trip to Washington DC(which has proven to be a slight dissapointment) due to a certain Cheeto's raw stupidity. That may have had a slight influence on some of the tone of the chapter. Including, some news from foreign countries own...issues.
There'll likely be some delay on anything else I write, mainly because of the short vacation. But still, please enjoy and follow. Should probably say I don't own this but...ehh.
Chapter Seven: Surface Trivia, and a Spirited Spider
…
…
The hell is going on?
Ok…fell asleep…and now I'm apparently hanging from a ceiling?
Let's look around for clues.
Ok…webbing…well that was easy enough.
"Muffet? Why did you tie me up?" I waited for the shadow in the left corner to move, and I grinned at their sudden gasp.
"I…apologize for the abruptness human but I…require your…assistance."
This was the first time I had ever seen the spider sound so unsure of herself. Admittingly I hadn't known her for more than a couple of minutes. So I couldn't be so sure of where exactly her personality truly lied.
"What do you want?" I preferred the blunt approach for this, my empty stomach making the decisions for me. The spider monster flushed under my scrutiny and I waited for her to reply back. I wouldn't tolerate lateness when I was frankly starving.
"I…wanted some advice…" I quirked an eyebrow waiting for her to elaborate. She tapped her fingers together and I waited, she groaned before continuing, then stopping again.
"Well?"
"I WANT YOUR HELP IN WINNING ASRIEL'S HEART!"
…
…
Heh…
Hehehe…
Hehe…
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Oh my god that's…that—FUCK!"
My head suddenly collided with the hard ground as the webbing holding me let go. I swear I heard a crack but thankfully that was the wooden floor instead of my skull breaking.
"Shut up! Just shut up!" I kept laughing, and I started choking when she muffled her screams with a purple pillow.
"Oh god you're killing me! Pffthaha!" I stopped my laughing however when she summoned a constantly shifting ball of webs and wires. Deciding that my survival was more important than a good laugh.
I leaped up, waving my hand as I got my footing. Muffet was still blushing but she no longer looked like she was going to feed me to her pet.
"Right and you decided to ask me on how to help you?" I was skeptical.
She turned away, an uncertain look upon her face. "Well…you were the easiest of his male companions to grab. His other friends are more…cautious than you are."
…
Goddamnit.
"So please dear…will you help me?"
I sighed. "I'm not going to say no but I'm not the best person for this stuff. Any advice I give could do wrong."
"I don't care…I need help." She sounded desperate.
I sighed a second time. "Ok," she beamed but I stopped her from saying another word. "But I'll have to get Chara and Frisk's help for this." She didn't look happy about that and I rolled my eyes at the response.
"Muffet dear, neither of them are interested in Asriel in that fashion. No matter what Mettaton says. They'll gladly help you out."
At least Frisk will…I'm not too sure about Chara. Also I swear I hear a music box version of Spider Dance playing in the background…
Eh…I'll leave that be for now.
"All right I'll take you to them but…"
I really don't like the use of but in that sentence.
"You'll need to ride my pet to get there." I froze as a hot puff of air tickled my hair.
…
I already knew what was behind me…and I hated it.
(Frisk's POV)
Where is he. Where is he. Where is he?
He was here a few minutes ago…I just got up early to change and take a shower and when I get back he's gone! The only evidence of what happened is the webbing left behind.
Which could only mean…
The door was nearly ripped off its hinges when a frantic Chara burst in. She was gripping a phone Toriel had gifted her, and her feet squeaked against the hardwood floor.
"Muffet kidnapped Br—why are you in a towel?" A noticeable blush formed on her cheeks.
I rolled my eyes at her. "Because I was taking a shower duh." It seemed Chara had some choice words for me.
"Ugh…just change already. Muffet's already bringing him back anyway."
I tilted my head. "How do you know that?"
She waved her phone at me with an upturned nose. "He told me on her phone. Said she wanted our help in setting her up with Asriel."
…
"Frisk…? What's with that face?"
Hee…hee…
"Frisk calm down…don't you—."
"EEEEEEE!"
"FRISK! Don't start yelling you'll wake the neighbors!"
I stepped backwards, using some green barriers to speed up my trip to change.
This is going to be great…I get to actually set someone up!
EEEEEEE!
"So let me get this straight. You and Asriel have been dancing around each other for years. And you think we can finally break that cycle and get you guys together?"
Muffet meekly nodded, a purple blush on her spider face. She winced when I clapped my hands together. A grin formed on my face.
"Then you've come to the right people! You and Azzy will be together in no fine at all." The spider monster looked happy and giddy at my confidence.
"Do you promise human?" I nodded and she gave me a sweet smile. If it wasn't for the fangs and the multiple eyes and arms she would have seemed like any normal girl.
"Are you going to let me go now?" I ignored the muffled voice speaking into my ribs. My right arm was currently wrapped around a certain kidnapee's waist while I carried him like a piece of metal pipe. His legs and arms dangled in the air and he wore a deadpan expression on his face.
"You got kidnapped…" was my reply to the small boy.
He chuffed with an embarrassed tone. "Fair enough…but still. I don't think this is necessary."
"Tough shit." He growled at my harsh tone and he tried and failed to wriggle out of my hold.
"Damn it…" he relaxed and I picked up a calculating emotion that put me on guard.
But I have to help Muffet…so no distractions.
I adjusted my usual blue and purple sweater, my only change in outfit being the long and cozy set of dark brown fur lined pants and a sansy sweater. My passenger seemed to find it comfortable, if his nuzzling of it was any indication.
"Right so what kind of date we talking here? Something super fancy and classy…or more casual and low stakes?"
"Hmm…I would prefer whatever made Asriel comfortable. And personally I don't mind his tastes. I've been thinking a movie date is a safe bet…and they're airing an anime in the theater dearie has been dying to watch."
"Are you sure? This is your date too." She nodded with a smile.
"I'm fine with it. I don't dislike anime and this one is of a classier nature than most."
Well okay…
"So what kind of plan do you have exactly?" My companion asked from right next to me.
"None." I replied cheerfully skipping out of the door. He had a dumbfounded expression and I smiled. "It's not exactly complicated… Muffet just needs to ask him out."
"It is not that simple." I took a step forward and she yelped as I booped her nose.
"It is that simple. He's not some oblivious fool, just ask him and he'll definitely go out with you. And if you don't I'll make you ask him out…"
"O-Okay…" She nodded and I gave her a thumbs up.
"Now go! Run to him darling! GOO!" She shrieked running off at literal supersonic speeds.
"That was easy enough…I thought you would go with some over elaborate plan." I shook my head, maybe I would do such a thing when I was younger and more naive but…
That was a lifetime ago…
"Now let's f—OOF!" My face took the brunt of a sudden barrier and I dropped Brandon by mistake. He landed on a bouncy layer of blue magic with a smirk. Before my hands could reach out to grab him, he blurred back hitting the side of the apartment with minimal error…
"Hah? Victory is mine!" I blinked as he posed dramatically, though once he was under our scrutiny he wilted. A bright blush went up from his neck up to his ears and I giggled.
He's adorable…
He rubbed his arms, his eyebrows furrowing up. "You said you want to follow them right? To check up on them?" I nodded, bouncing up and down.
He couldn't meet my eyes anymore and I didn't understand why. Chara started rolling her eyes and the shorter boy stammered, his eyes darting back and forth between the two of us.
"Uh you okay?" He nodded, though I could still tell he was staring…though he was staring at my stomach instead…
His eyebrows lifted up. "Huh…should probably change into my clothes instead of my pajamas."
That would be best…
(My POV)
I really have no idea where they got this…I guess we all match though…
I had put on a green and blue striped sweater paired with black fur lined trousers. A nice blue sweater completed the outfit since New Home is still rather cold despite the abundance of people living in it.
From what I could tell we had about four hours before the movie started. And shortly after Muffet had left, and given Frisk a paid day off for her help. Frisk had also shoved a breakfast burrito into my mouth.
Yeah…not sure what that's about…
"You still want the other one?" My eyes followed the tantalizing source of nourishment. I nodded and Frisk more gently passed it into my cold hands.
For now we had mainly been wandering about, taking in the sights of the city. At this point the monsters seemed to be used to our presence. I took a bite of the food, aiming to ask some questions.
"Uh…Frisk?" She turned to smile at me.
"Yeah?" I tapped my fingers against the burrito held in my hands.
"What's the surface…your surface like?" Her smile faded and I felt like I had made a mistake asking her.
"It's not…too bad on the surface…but…a lot of mistakes were made…" I could tell she didn't approve of the decision making up above.
"Did some countries up top make some dumb errors? Like the UK, Russia, or maybe Brazil or Venezuela?" America could be included in that list of fuck ups…though in the case of Russia I'd be thinking more long term issues due to their…meddling.
I had a bad feeling when her eyebrows furrowed in confusion…
"I'm sorry to say I don't think I've heard of any countries like that still existing…" I pulled out a phone, showing her a map and guiding her to those mentioned countries. Her eyes lit up, and mix of sadness and horror made the pit in my stomach deeper.
"What's wrong…?" She blinked a few times, and under my cautious look she cleared her throat.
"Well…in my…time I guess…those countries were…devastated during the mid to late twenty first century…"
Oh…huh…what the hell happened…
"I'll start with Brazil first…apparently just before the start of the 20s they had elected…a rather…unsavory individual to power. In his time in office, massive quantities of the rainforest were devastated for illegal mining and infrastructure projects…thousands of natives were killed. A feedback loop started as the following presidents continued the trend of deregulation, and the rainforest started collapsing."
Holy crap…but that would mean…
"The Amazon is gone in my timeline…along with almost every species that once called it home…" There was a grave tone in her voice and even Chara was left speechless.
That's…horrific…in every way imaginable…
"It…it didn't end like that right?" Chara seemed afraid to ask.
Frisk has a dark look on her face. "Around the 40s South America became increasingly unstable as a combination of environmental degradation and climate change…ruined them."
"That's…" I trailed off.
"Venezuela was the first to go…breaking apart into a bloody civil war, spreading death and conflict to its neighbors." And I can tell it's only going to get worse isn't it? And I really don't want to think about the fact this might be my own world's fate.
"Some of the more prosperous nations managed to get through it…mainly by incredibly violent border reinforcement and expansions into vast supercities…but Brazil suffered the worst fate…"
How the fuck can it get worse than civil war and massive migration waves?!
"H-How?" Even Chara didn't take it well, living in the same time period as I did, before it had all come to a head.
"Survivors…from one of the tribes…a tribe of mages…" All of us stepped closer, intrigue and curiosity controlling our actions. "There isn't much footage of those times…only that whatever happened. Within a decade…most of South America had gone empty…"
I think I want to go home more than ever…seriously…the Surface is a bit of a crap-sack world. What the hell kind of dark magic does someone need to perform to wipe out an entire continent? I needed to know what happened to the other countries…
"R-Russia?"
"Destroyed in a nuclear war with the remnants of China." Was Frisk's answer.
"The UK?"
"The union was broken apart in the 20s and England became everyone's bitch…" That…is an uncharacteristically dry reply from someone as cheery and…bouncy as Frisk.
Also…ouch from a global spanning empire to the mere puppet state of the major world powers.
Wait…what about Africa and the mideast…
"Also cleansed in nuclear fire and population collapse…something to do with mages too? Only a few countries really survived…the end of the world I guess?"
How did she know? Oh it must have been written all over my face.
Huh…did any country survive from those regions…
"No…if you mean a country anyway…some people lived but…it wasn't the same…"
"You home is kinda shitty huh?" She nodded and I decided it was best we move on to something nicer and less depressing.
"Yikes…that…is worst than I was expecting. Even I didn't think they'd screw up that much."
"Let's move on…this topic is rather depressing and I no longer want to continue this." The two girls nodded in agreement and I felt sweet build up once I realized where we were heading.
I hadn't noticed the detour…we were at a private gym that Asriel had…acquired so we could train our magic.
"U-Uh…are we here to…?" Chara gave me a wide mischievous smile that looked good on her, and to my surprise she started jogging.
Hey…shit she's fast!
…
…
"Dude…I know she has a great ass but…"
"FRISK SHUT IT!"
"Never! It's my eternal job to tease!"
"GAAA!"
"Quite a workout…but it's nice getting back into shape. Good thing I had a big brekky." Frisk giggled at Chara's slip yet I still felt like I was dying. I must have already lost weight by now and chugged down a liter of water over the last hour. Seriously those two had stamina and endurance like a damn horse…that…came out wrong…
It was in my case, also a test of magic…Chara said summoning my aura and continuously infusing it with my body will help with magic and endurance. It apparently also gives you a healing factor, healing injuries that take days in minutes. And since I'm exercising…I can take more strain without causing major damage to myself.
Still it was certain that Chara and Frisk has far more experience in using magic, they were barely breaking a sweat with my pace. Once I had gotten used to doing it my myself they worked themselves down to the bone. Hell I saw Chara lift several hundred pound weights on each side with nary a flinch. While Frisk with minimal magic use, clocked thirty two miles per hour on a dash.
I cursed my simple male hormones…because Frisk just loved to tease and fluster people. Apparently today was a real workout so she thought to change into a blue sports bra and black gym shorts…so…I was a little distracted.
An unamused Chara snapped her fingers and I blushed, doing my best to return to the lesson.
"S-Sorry I'm just…a little distracted." Chara tapped her fist against my forehead and pressed.
"I know Frisk is annoying but there's nothing you can do about it. She likes flaunting it." I mulled it over, unsure of how to feel about it.
"I suppose she is a bit intense…and it's not easy for me. I'm not…used to…this…" we both seemed to be coming to the same conclusion.
…
"God she's hot…" Chara groaned and I nodded absently.
"She's gorgeous." Waving my arms around for emphasis, replying loudly to Chara. I could hear Frisk curse when she took a wrong step. At our rather loud agreement she had almost tripped herself up.
"Heh…she's probably one of the few humans I would consider…well…you know?" She waggled her eyebrows and I almost choked when Frisk lost it, falling flat on her face.
"C-Chara!" Chara finally broke, cackling and backing away onto a bench, kicking her feet up.
"Haha! Too cute! You tease but you can't take the heat back." Frisk pouted. Chara's body shook with amused chuckles. Eventually her laughter trailed off and she became more serious…
"What? Are we going to work on magic now?" She snapped her fingers in reply and I took another desperate sip of water, keeping in mind the continuous field of magic I was outputting.
"Of course young grasshopper." She replied in a sage tone. We paused for a moment, and I added a bow. She laughed and I felt a smile pull at my lips.
"So what are we going to go with?"
"I'm glad you asked," she bounced up, and my thoughts were elsewhere when she used her green sweatshirt to brush her sweat away. "You've been working on single magic type spells right?" I nodded, and it was the truth. Mostly just fiddling around lesser magic on the couch.
Everything about magic was a miracle…a single human being could perform the work of semi truck with barely any effort. My guesses on my telekinesis spells was that I could throw eighty thousand kilograms at over thirty miles an hour with minimal effort. Someone with an Integrity soul could do so at over fifty miles per hour.
At the same level of attack…which for me is a mere 2.
God…the ability to punch through tank armor being a mere two is insane…
"Anyone down there?" I grimaced when I found Chara's hand patting my head, the girl smiling widely.
Hmm…head pats are nice…
…
"Uh…yes? I'm fine go on." She beamed and continued on with the lesson.
"Something that's well established is the use of fusion spells. Combining different spells from different traits to form a more versatile tool. For example, combining a trap with combat oriented magic to form a truly deadly maze. Or adding blades to a perseverance web spell."
That makes sense…
"Are you asking me to try to make some fused spells?"
"Yep. Heck I have an example right here…" She breathed in and out and around her hands, orange ethereal boxing gloves were projected around her fists. They were shortly after, modified with yellow barrels forming. She dropped into a boxing stance of some kind, and launched a punch…
In a single movement, yellow flaming bullets shot out, shimmering and detonating against the invisible barrier of a magic training section.
Hmm…what can I…ok…got it…I focused on a disk shaped blob of aura, forming a basic pressure based aura mechanism.
Pressure Trap…
Command: Activate in .5 seconds
In its current state, the spell was limited to mostly non lethal damage…and at the moment it was left without a spell to activate. But I did have one suitable spell…
Combine: Pressure Trap; Plasma Bolt; Whip
"You gonna try it out?" I nodded and I drew out the aura from within my soul. I threw a few dozen of the traps on the ground, wincing at the drain on my slowly growing reserves. She took a step forward and a smirk grew on her face…
BOOM!
She exploded into action, moving at immense and incredible speed. The traps activated in hues of dazzling purple and blazing yellow. Plasma whips surged to life, one or two lashing against Chara's back while the rest were dodged or torn apart by conjured shotgun blasts. As she sped towards me with possible killer intent I panicked…
Speed Burst X2.5
I modified the spell as my senses came together…slowing my movements in exchange as the energy went to…
Mind Dilation X3.5
My body was slow and stiff while my mind raced to do something else…it didn't take long to figure it out. Just as she passed the last of the failed traps I created one more.
Tripwire spell
Command: Instant on contact
Combine: Tripwire; Blue Bounce barrier
I ended the spell and everything went back into real time as my spell hit at the last second. Unfortunately in my rush I had made some miscalculations on her trajectory.
Her feet triggered the wire…and she flew up as the bouncy layer of Integrity magic threw her up.
"SHIT!" She was thrown twenty feet in the air, her arms flailing for purchase.
Shit…b-but she shouldn't have been so…well terrifying.
Dammit.
I moved back and forth, while Frisk stepped back. Chara started to come back down in an arc and I leaped into action. While she was yelling out curses, the redhead drawing ever closer as I opened my arms to catch her…
Wait…couldn't I have used a spell to catch her…? It would have been easier and safer…
"THE HELL MATE!"
Well…
Shit…
POW!
I groaned, my eyes closing in response to the impact.
My left hand squeezed a well muscled leg while my right kept itself on Chara's lower back and no lower for my own safety. I blinked a few times, making sure I wasn't under some illusion or had been knocked out on impact.
"Uh…nice catch?" Chara complimented me with some hesitation, caught off guard as much as I was. My feet would normally have been wobbling under the significant weight, but my body didn't have the same weaknesses as it once did.
But even then I wasn't exactly in an easy position to maintain, and Chara's…long…long legs kinda made everything unbalanced. And my arms couldn't reach out to hold her upper back very well.
"R-Right…uh sorry about that…" she shrugged, giving me a playful smile.
…
…
"You…u-uh should be putting me down now."
Should…should I? This is oddly comfortable…but that may just be because I'm holding a beautiful women in my arms.
"Well?" Frisk was crossing her arms, a knowing smirk on her face.
"Erm…" I released her legs, and her feet dropped to the gym floor with nary a sound. I pushed her forward with my remaining hand until she balanced herself.
"Uh…you okay?" Chara sounded worried and I nodded, not liking the tone she was showing me.
"Yeah…just surprised…that's all." I pressed my hands together, feeling shivers and shakes make their way through my system. Being so close was…was…
"Yoooo!" I stuttered as Frisk dashed over, her sneakers squeaking against the floor. I was squashed against her side, my cheeks tickling with her…chest's…movements.
"What?" Chara's back sunk into an exasperated stance, her face blank.
"It's clear that our friend here is fascinated by close contact with a lovely female specimen like yourself." She used a pompous and sophisticated tone that did not fit Frisk at all.
"The hell is that supposed to mean?" Though it definitely left the sole redhead in the room confused.
"He likes being close to your boobs and legs…" she replied cheekily.
…
"What?"
Frisk opened her mouth. "I—." I took the liberty of lifting and then throwing her out of the window. The window shattered, raining glass onto the outside while Frisk cursed me out.
THUMP!
Chara gave me a look and I whistled innocently.
(Chara's POV)
"So…mhmm…we following Asriel and Muffet on their…crunch…date?" I took a few bites of the popcorn I had bought using some money Frisk had given me at…my request lets say…
We had bought three seats two rows above the middle row Asriel and Muffet had chosen. I took the middle seat while Frisk was on my left while Brandon was on my right. He was sharing my extra large popcorn, while Frisk had her own.
"Daddy are we lost?"
Unexpectedly the movie premiering was a rerun of Spirited Away, how they had gotten a copy after a hundred plus years I have no clue but I loved that movie when my m—
…
Our little midget seems to like the movie, I could see the interest light up his eyes and his legs wave back and forth as his mood pick up. Up in front I could see Muffet and Asriel talk, and could just about hear them. And their interactions were the cutest… I felt the urge to flip his ears over his eyes like when we were—
Ahem… back to them…
"Ooo such a fascinating style…humans are an interesting group are they not?" Asriel nodded, a wide grin on his furry mug.
We stayed quiet, the two young monsters inching a little closer as the movie went on. Muffet sounded amused when the parents were turned into pigs…in general she enjoyed the movies strangeness.
CRUNCH!
I blinked, leaning against the movie theater chair as old memories floated up to the surface…memories I had long suppressed…
'Oh my little devil child. Where is your smile? Mommy loves it when you smile. But I know a movie that'll put a smile on your cute face.'
I blinked again, tears falling for the briefest moment.
"Hey…are you okay?" His voice was soft, uncertain but also worried…hesitantly reaching out to my wrist. His touch was brief and…comforting. I ripped myself away from the screen to face him. His toothy grin had dropped into a discomforted and distorted grimace.
"I…it's nothing I'm okay…"
"Because it looks like…" he stopped and I took a calming breath. He didn't deserve me exploding at him.
I was okay.
Mostly. But…
"You're a good person though…you know that right? Better than me anyway…" He looked shocked at my admission. I assured him with a superior facade. "Only barely though…I'm not as lazy as you."
"I suppose not. Getting motivation out of me is like squeezing blood out of a rock. Yet…I seem to be doing fine, for now anyway…" He went silent, having run out of steam quickly.
"You're doing well enough." He shrugged, glancing back to the movie. We fell into a comfortable silence enjoying the old favorite of mine.
Yet he deaned to end the silence.
He licked his lips, clearing his throat. "If…you…ever want to talk. I'll listen…promise." He shrunk in on himself once I faced him, but he didn't back down or retract his statement.
"Sure…"
There wasn't much to say after that.
(My POV)
I yawned while surfing through my phone…after the movie had ended we had headed back home, though Chara had ended up paying us a visit.
She seemed oddly ragged…saying something about Asriel and Muffet. I suspected it was only an excuse. Why she would give it I wasn't sure, could have been she was lonely, or just some nightmare.
Chara didn't say a word, snuggling into a blanket Frisk had offered her while I had my own while I surfed the web. Eventually I came upon some news on a game called…
Deltarune.
Why was this so important…?
…
…
O-Oh my…this is…
"Hey…you seem a little nervous mate?" Chara scooted over, her eyes filling with worry.
"I just found this…" I scooted over so she could see, the women was intrigued reading what was on it.
"Deltarune made by Toby Fox…" I froze when the words entered the air.
That's…
"Hmm…there's a video here…"
Uh maybe she shouldn't…
"…"
"…"
Well…at least you get a sequel? Chara's face was unimpressed almost like she had read my mind. I honestly didn't expect this to happen when I had fallen Underground.
Then Chara spoke.
"Well…I have questions. Ones you can't answer…"
Ain't that the truth.
…
What is she holding? Once the shock had worn off I could see Chara fiddling with some small wooden scroll. She was trying to decipher it if I was guessing correctly. But the language on it was unknown, but resembled...wait I think it was Latin actually.
"What's that?" She formed a small hesitant smile, her fingers tapping against the well preserved paper.
"Oh, it's a correspondence between King Rasgore and some Roman guy during the late fourth century. Something about 'barbarian' invasions? Apparently asking for assistance in exchange for money and resources?"
The Kingdom of monsters corresponded with the Roman Empire? Well the west…if the they were talking about the tribes of Germania invading.
"There's other stuff like this in the Royal archives. Tens of millions of magically preserved texts dating back to ancient times, probably around the time of Sumer."
That…that would be a goldmine of archaeological data. A practically uninterrupted line of stories and records of human history. Heck it could provide some clues to own home, since their history seems close enough to our own. Centuries of misconception and mystery unveiled, depending on how good their records are.
"That's…that's…" I was left speechless, but suddenly Chara's discomfort became obvious. "What?" I asked her and her eyes flitted downward.
In my excitement I had practically crawled onto the girl's lap, my eyes widening at my audacity. I wasn't typically one for physical affection. Aside from occasionally hugging some of my family(usually hesitantly or to annoy them), this was new to me.
"Uh…this must be really intriguing for you?" I nodded with a blush, waiting for her to say anything.
…
Well?
"Is there anything else you want to know? I know about some of the Monster nations from before the Great War."
Huh? I thought…should I ask her?
Yes I should.
"I thought you would have pushed me off by now." She shook her head, covering her mouth with her right hand.
"Nah…you're good…it reminds me of…simpler times…"
"How so?" A part of me wanted to know what was making her this way, but I didn't want to hurt her. It didn't feel right…I didn't want to hurt either of the human women, women that the world had hurt.
"I…used to do this with…my mom."
She had a—no of course she does. Everyone has a mother…if they're human anyway. Who knows how monsters work…probably some weird magical shit.
"She…was always pretty small…even more of a midget than you are." I glared at her, and she responded with a weak laugh. "I surpassed her height when I was like ten. A bit of a lanky, skinny thing back then. Super awkward and edgy…"
I pictured the image…laughing at the idea of a goth Chara. Dressing in all black and other stereotypical things they do. It helped that I could certainly see that happening in a normal world.
"Sounds adorable." She blushed and I poked her side playfully, another of my habits coming to the surface.
"Anyway…we used to do this…" She waved to our current position and I acknowledged her with a nod. "All the time…because again she was like four inches shorter than you. A legal midget."
I imagined the Chara in front of me, adding a few pound and removing twelve inches to account for both age and size.
"Was she nice."
A nostalgic grin showed up. "She was…"
Oh…I'm not sure I should ask her what happened or not. It looked like a sensitive topic. And you wasn't the best at these situations.
"She's probably why I ended up loving the monsters so much when I fell down. All those timelines ago…they were just as kind and gentle."
I swallowed nervously. "I'm sorry." she shook her head, a deep sadness making me shudder.
"Things happen, and it's not always fair or just." Still, that doesn't make it fine or okay.
"I…but still that's not…" I stiffened when the girl reached over, pulling me right onto her comfortable lap. Her arms wrapped around my form, her hair and hit breath tickling my neck.
I…what…why…errr…huh…buh…
Need…brrr…
Rebooting…rebooting…
"Uh, you know Frisk will use this against us right?" I asked her with a resigned and belated tone.
"Don't care. I just…need something to hold. Used to do this with Azzy back in the day. And it feels like so long ago…even when it never really happened…"
I feel really glad I never had to deal with time loops…I'd go nuts pretty quick.
"Ok…I'll be your pillow. And you said you knew a lot about old monster history right?" She kicked her feet at the question and I ended up relaxing into her shaky embrace.
Kinda nice actually…she felt like a warm blanket, and it made me a little sleepy…but I wouldn't be going to bed just yet.
"Yeah…there used to dozens of monster kingdoms scattered all over the world. Cities interconnected by magic across thousands of miles. From the city of Atlantis(well Thera too…) to the rabbit kingdom of Brasil. The empire of Lemuria…a large floating landmass uplifted by monster magic, destroyed by the Pandyan empire during the war."
Well…damn…
That's…jeez…
"So cool…" I whispered dramatically. She chuckled and kept going.
"Well…Asgore's father used to be friends with a Byzantine emperor…"
(3rd POV)
Quietly tiptoeing into the living room, a certain blue eyed human women couldn't help but smile at the sight. The former princess held the young man close, small bite of drool leaked out, fortunately missing the boy. He was deep asleep, snores escaping on a consistent basis.
Frisk was holding a larger blanket in her hand and carefully placed the blanket around them. The two relaxed even deeper into their sleep and she smiled.
"Good…you're someone she has no baggage with…she can open up to someone who's still relatively innocent." The girl sounded sad, a hint of the broken girl hidden underneath the facade of a happy go lucky pacifist breaking free. She brushed the sleeping girl's hair back before backing away into the privacy of her room.
The door clicked shut and within fifteen minutes, the only sound was the steady breathing of sleeping humans.
(Kris's POV)
"The sea is nice isn't it Kapro?" My little buddy purred in agreement, curling up next to me while we sat near a little shelter I had made near the ocean.
I was cooking one of the rabbit thingies on a fire…and I had to wash my knife…Kapro had gotten her well deserved piece too. It tasted kind of like venison which I had tried a few years ago when…auntie was…was…
"It's a lot cleaner and and alive than the last time…do you want me to tell you about it?"
She tilted her head, her teeth glinting in the Icelandic sun.
"Of course you do…I'll tell you. But it's not a nice story."
(Kris's POV; Three Years Ago)
"Auntie? Why are we here?" I asked the dark haired lady who had loved me since birth. She had been really quiet since she gotten a frantic call from a friend. A member of the Earth Conservation organization. Something about saying goodbye…
It was cold which was why I was bundled up in a big green coat. We had walked to the edge of the water, and I could see a huge dark shape floating near the shore. Like the size of two whole buses! Bigger even…
"Kris…you want to take a swim? My magic can protect you…" Auntie sounded dead.
And it scared me…
"O-Ok…" She breathes deeply, creating a thin green-yellow-blue barrier. Like an extra coat, it kept me even warmer and stopped water from coming in. When we stepped into the water we started floating instantly.
It was cool…
We left the shore, like maybe thirty five meters from land. The shape circled lazily around us, the water pushed away by the sheer bulk.
"A whale? A whale…here?!" I shouted in excitement, shaking Auntie's shoulder. She didn't respond, looking…so…so sad. Her hand reached out and my amazement quintupled as the whale revealed itself pushing against the older girl's hand.
"A Blue Whale to be specific. An old friend you could say…who wanted to speak with me." I blinked owlishly not getting it.
"Whale's can't talk…right?" She smiled wistfully, waving me over. I placed my own hand, marveling at how puny my hand was against the whale's head. Smooth skin yet riddled with incredible age.
"You're right they can't. But they can sing…you just have to listen to the light inside their SOUL. Listen well…please…"
I felt it.
A voice…so incredibly beautiful. One who had seen more than I ever could. A 110 years of life and pain and love.
The world revolving endlessly…the shadows cutting deeper. The darkness growing darker and darker. Every song left broken and defeated…vanishing quietly against the dark. The world that they know becoming fantasy…
She was the last song…the final raging against the dying of the light…
"I…" the whale murmured an air shaking rumble, almost nuzzling me into the water. As if saying it would be all okay.
She was lying…
"Your grandchildren are gone then? You are the last…the last of all of them." It was a statement instead of a question coming out of Auntie's mouth.
The whale murmured again. And Auntie bowed.
"The world will be lesser…I'm sorry…" I felt the song comfort her, the message embedding into our very souls. Something that would last for eternity.
I could already feel it…the great beast was growing still. The great lungs pumping life giving air contracting under her great bulk. Soon the song grew desperate, passing its memory, its hopes and dreams to us.
The song had ended…and with that end came the end of a song that had lasted over thirty four million years.
I could no longer hear her breathing…
Auntie gave her a final pat before with a pulse of kinetic aura, she pushed the whale out into the deep, following the body.
"Go to the shore…I have something to do…and you can't be there to see it." I acquiesced with a shaky nod, hitting the shoreline quickly.
Eventually they both vanished out of the sight.
I waited for what seems like hours…almost falling asleep until a flash of light woke me up. I almost screamed when Auntie suddenly appeared with a weary and depressed look.
"It's done…come along now." She took my hand, dragging me away with urgency.
Yet the damage was done. I was finally awake to the world around me. What was once an ugly and empty beach became something more…a sign of decay.
Around me…I could see the bodies and skeletons scattered across the land. Washed ashore, the bloated bodies of sharks and fish and dolphins…some years or even decades old.
My leg brushed up against what I had thought was a rock, but was actually the skull of a harbor seal.
The sea which was usually casually noted as emerald green, was instead a sickly color that filled me with disgust.
The world was coming to a bitter end…and Auntie knew it.
(Kris's POV; Present)
"The world ended. But the world revolves back again…so here you are. A survivor…" I patted her soft, fuzzy head. I always loved animals…their souls were simple, yet their songs were as beautiful and unique as any human. Each singing a different song, a different tune.
The ants sung of work.
The trees sung of growth.
The bird sung of flight, of fun, of music.
The Radeers(Yeah!) sung of dining and bouncing.
Kapro sung of hunting and chase. Cuddling and play, hope and dreams.
Their intentions were mostly pure instinct, only the most complex had anything more. Good old Kapro was among them, singing among the greater birds with the same level or even above them.
"It's a beautiful day outside. Kids like me…should be walking." I stood up, waving Kapro to follow. I left my shelter behind, putting out the fire and storing my hunt within my Inventory…which I had forgotten I had.
I was getting closer…I had heard the rumor…felt the song.
Many said the children that had fallen were killed…their souls stolen by monsters and demons
But I knew better…each of the souls were determined, a change telling them that falling would change the world. Their song didn't die when they fell…whispers told me of love and hope, of a sacrifice willingly made so all could be free.
So I needed to know…I needed to see for myself.
Whether these monsters of ancient magic were worth the effort, whether they could bring hope to the remnants of the old world.
Or would humanity snuff out their light…like they had done to everything else?
I—bleh!
"S-Stop that tickles!" I giggled when my animal companion tackled me, licking my face. "Eww! Gross!" Slobber dripped down my face, and I wiped it off with a laugh.
I shouldn't be so serious. It wasn't good or healthy to be thinking of this.
"T-Thanks." She blinked owlishly and I walked on, undeterred.
Off to the mountain!
Again!
(3rd POV)
"Ahh…son? Err…sons?" A voice sounded out through the home of a certain set of bonely brothers. The tallest and youngest twitched for a brief second, narrowing his eye sockets, an odd notion for many.
"YES FATHER? IS THERE SOMETHING YOU NEED FROM THE GREAT PAPYRUS?"
An amused chuckle.
"Yes…you've heard the challenge that Mettaton sent against the human?"
"kinda hard not to. didn't think mettaton would have the spine." The younger brother groaned, while the shorter one known as sans laughed.
"I believe he will benefit from your combined guidance. Will you do this task for your dear father?"
"OF COURSE! IT WON'T BE A SHOW IF THE HUMAN IMMEDIATELY FALLS IN THR DRAMA BATTLE!"
"no prob. we'll give him the good one, two. should prove interesting."
The scientist chuckled. "Very interesting indeed."
"INDEED! A FORM OF UNDYNE'S TRAINING SHOULD WORK!"
A mile away, a snoring figure shivered in fear, his senses warning him of a soon approaching danger.
Unfortunate that it would not prepare him for the true threat still coming.
The demon who comes when their name is called…
Author's Note:
Okay about the history I'm setting up. For whatever reason I've always liked the idea of a world in the wake of human made disasters. Of a world where we had failed to change...
You could say that this timeline is a bad end timeline...the Genocide to our Neutral at our current pace. Some versions of Deltarune could be a Pacifist timeline...for now anyway.
Frisk and Kris were born in a time of collapse and hopelessness...Magic was in a terminal decline, Magi receding away from magic deprived humans. Those who shunned them as their use to them was slowly lost.
A world that has gone empty. Every hint of natural beauty and majesty is gone. No pods of whales hunting for krill or fish, no herds of millions wandering the African plains. No bears hunting and browsing. Only disparate whisps remained. Those who were small or adaptable would be all that lived. Gone with those losers of the game of Life, entire nations and cultures wiped away by the mistakes of those long dead.
The humans will be no help...their moral and hope is shattered. Their great cultural centers have been shattered by war and a natural disaster of their own making. Despite their technological superiority, they would consider us a Paradise, a still intact world. A world where their history still lives...where people can still marvel at the ruins of the Greco-Romans and the Egyptians. Where they can go to their ancient temples of worship, where they can attend their pilgrimages, and learn about their people.
In the end...only monsterkind will still remember Humanity's past. The archives will paint a clearer picture of how Monsters and Magic changed the world.
Future chapters will expand and build on the world I've made...modified.
I hope you'll continue to follow me...on that path of healing opening up in this story.