Emblemtale: The Ancients- Support Conversations 1
(Sorry I haven't updated this lately, I just haven't had time, but, anyway, I had this idea a while back and thought it would be a nice way to break up the action, if you'd rather I focus on action, don't be afraid to say so)
Llain and Frisk- Support C
On the road back to the Monster Kingdom, the group decided to set up camp in order to recover their strength after their encounter with the Praetorites, after the camp was set up, Llain decided to get in some sword training in order to keep his skills sharp, he returned to his tent in order to retrieve his sword, but no matter how hard he looked, he couldn't find it anywhere.
"Hmm, strange, I could've sworn I left it somewhere in here..." He muttered to himself "Perhaps I left it near the campfire?" he left his tent and went to the middle of the camp, where he found Sans tending to the fire, poking at the fire with a stick.
"hey, llain, need something?" Sans asked, not looking away from the glowing flames "lookin' a little lost, there, bud."
"I seem to have misplaced my sword" Llain explained, scratching his head, looking around the camp "I could've sworn I left it in my tent, but I damn near turned the thing upside down and couldn't find it, you wouldn't have happened to see it, would you?"
"well, it isn't around here, that's for sure" Sans answered, tossing his stick into the flame and watching it burn "but I have a feeling if you look behind the mess tent, you'll have this whole matter 'sword'-ed out, heh."
"Mess tent, huh?" Llain repeated, looking over to the long tent they used to hold meals "Thank you, Sans, I'll go check it out" Sans only gave a nod as a reply as Llain walked off and headed towards the mess tent, as he got closer, he could've sworn he heard quiet grunts coming from behind it, he walked around the tent and saw Frisk wielding his sword, struggling to effectively swing the blade, pulling off very amateurish swings, as well as getting the blade stuck in the ground, Llain chuckled to himself and spoke "Your footwork could be better, and you're over-swinging, you'll leave yourself open to a counter."
"Aaaaah!" Frisk screamed, dropping the sword to the ground, she quickly turned around and saw Llain standing there, a grin on his face "Llain!, I-I wasn't...It's j-just...um..." Llain then sighed, walking over and grabbing his sword.
"It's fine if you wish to learn swordsmanship..." Llain began, giving his sword a few test swings "...But you should at least ask one of us to lend a hand, self-teaching is all well and good, but you could hurt yourself if you don't know what you're doing."
Frisk didn't answer, her eyes locked on the ground, she soon looked up at Llain, a sad look in her eyes "I just...I don't want to be saved all the time, every time I go into my Dragon Form, I end up passing out, and if I don't use it, I'm just getting in your way, and if more of those...things show up, I want to help!"
Llain put his hand on his chin and closed his eyes in thought "I can't argue with her logic...those things shrugged off most of our attacks...but putting her in danger isn't ideal either..." He opened his eyes and saw Frisk staring up at him, nearly on the verge of tears, but he could see determination behind the sadness "This kid has some fire..." he finally let out a sigh and responded "...Right, If you want to learn, we may as well start now, Undyne is guarding the equipment tent, go see her and ask for two wooden swords and we'll get this underway..." Frisk smiled before nodding and running off, leaving Llain on his own "...Should I really be teaching this kid to fight?"
Before Llain could continue his train of thought, Frisk returned as quickly as she had left, holding two thick tree branches "Um...we didn't have any wooden swords, but Undyne gave me these instead...will these work?"
Llain took one of the branches from her and turned it over in his hand, he then swung it to test its weight "Well, it's not ideal, but it'll work, I suppose" he then suddenly swung out at Frisk, who only barely blocked it "Quick reflexes, that's good."
"U-Um...do you think you could give me a warning before you do that again?" She asked, shaking the pain from her hands.
"An enemy on the battlefield won't be so courteous" Llain told her, he then brought up his stick in a defensive position "Now, your goal will be to disarm me, got it?"
Frisk looked at the stick in her hands and then looked at Llain, who gave her a reassuring nod, she then adopted a more serious expression and nodded "Got it!" she readied her stick and charged, determined to knock the stick from Llain's hand, but he was quick, able to deflect and redirect all of her strikes, even knocking her down at one point.
"Come now, little lady, don't you wanna learn?" Llain taunted, trying to get a rise out of her "You wouldn't last long on a battlefield!" he helped her to her feet and blocked her again when she tried to go for a sneak attack "Saw that coming a mile off!" she tried one last attack, but he was able to counter and send the stick flying from her hands "Hmm...perhaps it would be best if we left it there for today.
"...Alright..." Frisk replied, a hint of disappointment in her voice "...Can we...try again later?, please?, I want to help when we get attacked!"
"Sure, we'll keep training until you're as good as me" Llain answered, patting her on the head "You just name the time and place, Little lady, and I'll help you out."
"Thank you so much, Llain!" Frisk cheered, her smile returning "I promise, I won't let you down!" seeing the sun starting to set, they decided to return to their tents, talking about what they should focus on next...
Sans and Papyrus- Support C
After the group had set up camp, Papyrus busied himself with various tasks around the camp, such as making sure all of their equipment was accounted for, as well as making sure the perimeter was safe, as he continued his sweep of the perimeter, something caught his attention, there was a strange rustling in a nearby bush.
"Hmm...there's something in that bush..." He thought, readying his spear "It may be an animal, some hunting may be good for our supplies...but it may be an enemy" the rustling continued as he muttered to himself, Papyrus steadied himself and prepared his spear, he then lashed out, trying to catch whatever it was in the bush unawares, before the blow landed, something flopped out from the bush, and to his surprise, it was his brother... "SANS?!, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"
He looked at the prone form of his brother, who was gently snoring, Papyrus let out an exasperated sigh and jabbed Sans in the skull with the blunt end of his spear, his eyes slowly opened and he looked up at Papyrus with his usual smile on his face "oh...hey bro, what's up?"
"WHAT'S UP!?, I nearly attack you and the best you can give me is 'what's up'?!" Papyrus yelled, rubbing his forehead "What are you doing out here anyway?"
"well, I thought this would be an ideal place to participate in one of my favorite pastimes..." Sans explained "the time honored tradition of...napping."
"I can not believe this..." Papyrus scolded, glowering at his brother "How have you kept a position in the kings army with such a poor work ethic?"
"well, I do tell a good joke" Sans responded, still laying on the ground "maybe he keeps me around in case his jester needs replacing?"
"Joke all you want, brother" Papyrus retorted, grabbing Sans under his arms and picking him up "But I swear to you, while the two of us are on this quest, I, The Great Papyrus, will make sure you work!"
"i'm gonna have to pass..." Sans protested, yet made no attempt to escape his brother's grasp "i do enough work as is..."
"Oh?, and why haven't I seen it?" Papyrus questioned, carrying Sans back to camp, then taking him to the equipment tent.
"well, most of my work is behind the 'seen's, geddit?" Sans joked, waiting for his brother to laugh "Oof, tough crowd, so, why are we here?"
"Your first task!" Papyrus replied, holding up one finger "Will be to assist me on examining all of our equipment and making repairs, should they be needed!"
"eh, i'm sure all our equipment is fine..." Sans answered, trying to leave the tent, but Papyrus quickly blocked his escape
"If you are so sure, then this should take no time at all!" Papyrus said, a disconcerting smile on his face "It should take us at least until sunset!"
"right...no time at all..." Sans sighed, looking at the stock of arms and armor behind him, bracing himself for the task ahead of him...
Alphys and Undyne- Support C
Alphys had been put in charge of the mess tent for that night, being one of the few members of the group least likely to burn down the camp or poison the other members, she set about preparing a pot of soup, checking her recipe time and time again, making sure that every minutiae was prepared and accounted for, after a while, she completed the soup and called the others to dinner, as they funneled in, she could have sworn Undyne shot a disquieting look towards her.
"W-Well, I haven't tried this recipe before..." She explained, ladling her creation into the bowls laid before her "I-I hope you enjoy it!"
"Thank you, Alphys!, It smells amazing!" Papyrus thanked, leaving Alphys and the others, aside from Sans, baffled as to how he could even smell, after that, dinner went off without a hitch, everyone talking and sharing stories, with Llain regaling the group of interesting jobs his mercenary company went on, once everyone was finished and the cleanup was complete, they all began to leave, except for Undyne, who stayed behind, seemingly wrestling with thoughts, Alphys meekly approached her and finally worked up the nerve to speak "U-Um...Undyne, a-are you okay?"
Undyne was silent for a moment, but then spoke "Am I okay?, How can you ask that?!" She suddenly slammed her fist on the table, cracking it slightly, causing Alphys to jump back "You disappeared from the kingdom a year ago and now you just show up like nothing happened!?" she then snarled, cutting off any reply Alphys may have had "Do you know how hard I looked for you!?, Hell, I was about ready to cross the border!"
She finally fell silent, her angry breathing the only sound in the tent, after she let that out, Alphys spoke, her voice wavering "I-I admit...I was gone a long time...I got t-too wrapped up in my research..."
"Well, I'm sorry we got in the way of your 'research'!" Undyne scoffed, getting up from the table "...Thanks for the soup..."
"Undyne, wait!" Alphys called, tears building in her eyes "I truly am sorry, I meant to return after a month at most, but what I found enthralled me!, What can I do to make it up to you!?"
"You wanna make it up to me?" Undyne questioned "How about you think of other people's feelings before you just up and leave next time, huh?" with that, Undyne left the tent, leaving Alphys alone in the tent, with only her thoughts accompanying her...
THE END!
A.N: Sorry to leave it on such a heavy note, but I hope you enjoy this nonetheless, and again, if you think I should focus on the Action, don't be afraid to tell me!