A/N: Hi everyone. What's up? Nothing much for me. Just enjoying summer and doing some projects around my house. As you see from this chapter, I have debating how to write fights. Whether to keep them in a video game format or actual fights. Anywho, I hope you enjoy this chapter. R&R


*Searifa is sparing you.

Kendall heard the words so clearly as the two stared at each other like someone had whispered them to her. The teen paused. The reptilian monster's looked nonthreatening. Her thin shoulders hunched as if prepared for a blow. Green eyes were screwed shut as clawed fingers dug into the snow creating little trenches. The teen took a deep breath and a step back. Any anger directed toward the monster vanished. She turned away from the monster leaving her in the snow. It was pointless to waste time on the monster. She told herself that impatience stayed her hand and not the nausea that was in the pit of her stomach.

"Thank you for not killing me," a soft voice called out. The teen flinched at the sentence. How was that something to be grateful for? She looked down at her hands coated in dust. For the briefest of moments the silvery white turned red. Kendall took a sharp breath blinking her eyes so the red returned to silver. She shivered as she thought of lives she had ended. Were some of the monster's children? Students like her? Did they have family who would look for them and would find nothing but dust. Why hadn't she thought about it until now? She murdered them. A warm weight settled on her shoulders making her jump. "You appeared to be cold," Searifa's voice explained as Kendall turned to her right where the monster had appeared.

The monster backed away as Kendall looked down. A green pea-coat was draped over her shoulders. "I have a pair of mittens and a scarf in my inventory if you are in need of them," Searifa continued as the clothing materialized in her hands. Kendall pulled the coat correctly buttoning it up. The green material hid the silvery dust.

"Why are you doing this?" Kendall asked. "Is this a trick? Are you trying to get me to let my guard down? Is this some ploy to kill me?" It had to be. Monsters were monsters; they wanted to kill humans. They weren't nice, they couldn't be.

"If I had wished you harm, It would have been easier to do so when you were unconscious," the monster said matter-of-factly, not threatening. Kendall balked at the fact. "You're shivering again. Please take these," the monster added holding out the mittens and scarf to the teen. Kendall took the clothing from the monster's claws. "Honestly, I don't know why I am helping you," Searifa responded turning back to the town. "I suppose I would like the same hospitality to be offered to me." Kendall looked up at the lizard monster who was still looking at the town. She was so still the monster could be a statue.

"So are you going to get me out of here or are you just going to stand there all day?" Kendall asked her tone a little harsh.

"You are asking for my help?" the monster asked putting a hand on her chest. Kendall rolled her eyes, but nodded. A smile spread across her muzzle; it almost made the girl feel guilty for being so rude to the monster. "You'll be returned to your family safely. I can assure you that," she continued straightening to her full height.

"Yeah, sure. Let's just get out of here," Kendall muttered casting one last look down at herself. All evidence of dust was gone covered with a new coat and mittens. It was like it never happened, but Kendall could still feel ... dirty.

"I must apologize. I clearly have forgotten to pack a hat," Searifa said as she started walking beside the teen. The reptilian monster looked almost ashamed of herself.

"Whatever, it's fine," Kendall grumbled, not wanting to accept anymore hospitality.

"We are not too far from my house. We can backtrack and get it," the monster said. Kendall glared at the monster. "Or in the effort of saving time," Searifa continued pulling off the beanie from her own head and handing it to Kendall. "It doesn't match, but you will not be as cold."

"Thanks," the teen mumbled as she put on the clashing article on her head. Now the guilt was returning ten-fold.

"You are very welcome," the monster replied. The two became quiet the only sound in the small town the crunchy sound of the snow being pressed under their feet. Kendall looked away from the monster that walked by her side. How could she help her? How could she look at her dust covered hands and still offer her aide? She had even tried to hit the monster and yet the reptile walked beside her. "I am a little reluctant to ask, but may I use my magic on you? I am not creating bullets; I just want to check your stats and hide you from unfriendly eyes," the monster explained.

"check my stats?" Kendall asked, "Like a video game?"

"Perhaps. I am not entirely sure since video games are fairly rare down here. If you are unsure, you can check my stats as well. I understand that some monsters feel like it is an invasion of privacy. I feel the same way myself, but I am willing to put that aside for the moment," Searifa explained trailing off as she realized that the girl was getting lost in the explanation.

"Why?" Kendall asked, "Why do you want to check them?" The girl was never a fan of games and even mocked other girls that did. Kendall was starting to regret not paying attention to those nerds.

The lizard tilted her head down to look the human into the eyes. "I am concerned that your HP hasn't fully recovered. Your body was pretty battered from the fall. I was able to heal most of it and the soup would have also helped, but I want to double check."

"You're really concerned about a murderer," Kendall mumbled.

"I am concerned for a child who fell into an unfamiliar situation," Searifa corrected, "I am concerned about a scared human who has been attacked by a variety of monsters."

Kendall became silent at the kindness and concern the older female had on her face. She didn't even retort at the child comment. "Sure, go ahead and check my stats." She braced herself for whatever the other was planning.

"There's no reason to be frightened. Checking is entirely painless. I will begin at the count of three," Searifa said calmly. Kendall nodded quickly as the reptile counted. She closed her eyes as the monster reached three. There was nothing, no pain, no difference. "You can open your eyes. I am finished."

Kendall opened her eyes slowly. "So what did they say?" the human asked.

"Your HP is stable. ATK is currently 12 and DEF is 10. Those are...good," Searifa ran a clawed hand over the frills on her head. Kendall couldn't read the expression, but she had a feeling that the reptile was uncertain about something. She held out her hand and a bunny-shaped cinnamon bun wrapped in a napkin materialized in her out-stretched claws. "I know I said that your HP was acceptable, but it would be reassuring to recover a bit more." The teen took the treat from her hand and took a bite. The delicious taste was intoxicating. The bread was soft and fluffy with just the right amount of sweet cinnamon. How was monster food so good; it beat everything on the surface.

"So how you check stats?" Kendall asked around the bite she took.

"Please don't talk with food in your mouth. It is rather rude," the monster corrected scrunching her muzzle in disgust. Kendall took another bite with a shrug. Searifa sighed, but answered the girl's question. "The easiest way to check stats is to start a confrontation," the reptile explained, "Most monsters don't have to, but it is a training exercise that we have for young monsters who are just discovering their magic." The monster stopped moving and the world changed to black and white.

Kendall barely reacted when her brown soul -which looked a little redder than before- floated in front of her. "Since I started the confrontation, you will get the first move. You will see four options projected from your SOUL." Searifa paused for a moment as Kendall searched the area beneath her soul. Just as the monster stated there was four golden boxes floating beneath the heart. How had she not noticed before? Most of her fights seemed like a blur without much thought put into them. It was a little disconcerting. "Moving on, the options are FIGHT, ACT, ITEM, and MERCY. As clarification, we will not be using the FIGHT option. To check simply select to ACT."

The monster paused again to allow Kendall to follow directions. Kendall pressed the little box with her hand. Check, Flirt, Compliment, and Complain were the options. She pressed check and looked up at the monster. Beside her was another text box. HP 1000 ATK 1, DEF 20, *Believes that food can solve everything. Kendall rose an eyebrow at the last sentence. Searifa shrugged, "I'm not incorrect. Food heals and eating food with others create lasting friendships. Family meals are the best method of bonding."

Kendall laughed at the statement, all fear of the monster gone. The monster became something more than just a mindless, bloodthirsty creature. She became...human... or at the very least something like it. Speaking of which, Searifa had trailed off her long-winded explanation to look embarrassed. "Did you pick that out?" the teen asked at last as her chuckles died down.

Searifa shook her head though she still looked down in embarrassment. "Flavor Text are not controlled by the monster being checked. I have no control over it. ..That's a little incorrect. I can alter it slightly, but it will never lie. I apologize for rambling again. I'll spare you," the monster explained. The reptile lowered her head in a nonthreatening manner. Kendall reached out to pressed the MERCY option when a row of bones sprouted from the ground. The teen jumped back from the white attack fingertips barely brushing the spare option. The world became normal again as she searched for the source of the attack.

A clawed hand pushed her gently as Searifa took a protective stance in front of the teen. "Sans, there is no need for this. I am escorting the human to the capital personally," Searifa explained. "They will not harm anyone else." Kendall moved to look around the reptilian monster. Standing a couple yards away was a short skeleton in a blue hoodie. He seemed unthreatening with his slouched posture and his hands in his pockets.

"Seari, you do know what you are protecting." Sans said his voice a deep baritone. The voice was cold as the skeleton's eye-lights dimmed. Searifa's protective arm lowered slightly, but remained outstretched.

"Yes, I am protecting a child," Searifa responded taking a step back causing Kendall to reverse as well. Her voice was steady and sure. Sans narrowed his eye-sockets toward the teen.

"They killed monsters. what will stop them from dusting you," Sans continued. The reptilian monster shuddered.

Searifa looked down and Kendall knew that there was absolutely no reason for the monster to trust her. The skeleton would make the reptile see reason and there would be nothing that Kendall could do to stop it. The teen acted quickly. She needed time to escape and a good distraction. The blonde pushed her protector toward the skeleton as she turned tail to run. A warm almost static-like feeling wrapped around her.

UT~UT~UT

Searifa hit the snow roughly once again turning to face the retreating human. She spun her magic around the human. The teen's image warped like a mirage. Searifa could still see the teen running through the snow, but knew the skeleton wouldn't. "here," Sans's exasperated voice muttered as a boney hand reached into view. Searifa put her own hand in it and got to her feet with Sans's assistance.

"Thank you," the reptile replied brushing the snow off her knees. "Sans, I understand that you are disappointed."

"wasn't the word i was lookin' for," Sans muttered. His eye-lights were focused on the distance where the human disappeared.

Searifa looked away feeling a little ashamed. "Betrayed might be a better word," Searifa helpfully added with a sigh.

"yea, i guess so," Sans said looking up at the reptilian monster. "you ain't hurt, are you?" His eye-lights did a quick scan.

Searifa shook her head, "I am fine. Sans, I don't think she intended to hurt anyone. I believe that she was just scared. She attacked in self-defense." She wrapped her arms around herself.

"ok. glad that you are okay," Sans replied, but the reptile could tell that he wasn't listening. He had already made up his mind and it told him that the human had to die.

"Are you going to hunt her down?" Searifa asked, her voice resigned.

"nah, much too lazy for that," Sans answered, his permanent smile seemed a little tense. He shrugged. "welp, i'm headed to grillby's." He walked slowly away. Searifa took a couple of steps back intending to follow after the retreating human. "are you coming?" the skeleton asked looking over his shoulder.

Searifa paused; it would be rude to reject his offer. "It is very kind of you to offer. I would be glad to accompany you," Searifa responded as she stepped to be at the shorter skeleton's side. The reptile walked beside the skeleton as she debated what to do. She could just follow Sans to Grillby's and forget about the human. Undyne or the other guards would find her soon enough...and kill her. Searifa ran a hand over her frills; could she really just stand by and just let the girl die. If she was smart, she would. After all that was the only way the monsters could escape their underground prison. She also promised the girl that she would protect her. Searifa sighed; if she didn't have her word, what would she have. "Sans," Searifa whispered. The skeleton's eyelights flicked in her direction. "I'm very sorry. Perhaps we can reschedule," she added as she wrapped herself in her own magic.

The warmth of her magic weighed itself down like a blanket before she turned tail and ran. She focused on her falling footsteps and not on whatever Sans was doing behind her. She couldn't think about him; he probably hated her and she deserved it. Each footfall was exact; she couldn't fall into the snow again. The frills on her head pressed into her skull as cold wind blew past her.

Her green eyes looked ahead as she searched for the human. She breezed past the bridge leading to Waterfall without a glance. Her footsteps slowed only when she entered the first cavern of Waterfall. "Are you crazy or dumb?" a familiar voice asked. Searifa turned to see the human teen leaning against an empty sentry station.

"I am afraid I don't understand what you are asking," Searifa replied. She struggled to catch her breath.

The girl sighed pushing herself upright. "I killed monsters and even attacked you twice and you are still helping me. So you either are missing some marbles or you are too dumb to realize that I'm dangerous," the girl explained pointing to her head.

"Oh, I don't have an answer for you. I would like to say neither and that I'm just a kind person, but I believe that you are already assumed that I am insane. I am starting to believe it myself," Searifa replied with a chuckle. "We should move along before Sans reappears," the reptile continued to speak as she removed her coat. The humidity would damage the wool material. She glanced back to Snowdin with a worried expression.

"Sure, lead the way," the girl said as she also removed her borrowed coat. Searifa nodded as she walked past the sentry station. The pair were silent as they left the cavern. Searifa kept an eye out for any monsters ahead magic already swelling in her soul. It wasn't as plentiful as she would have liked it, but there was little she could do now. She could eat a cinnamon bunny to ease the emptiness she felt in her soul. "Did you fight him?" the human's voice broke Searifa's self- assessment.

"Sans? No, I didn't. I didn't have a reason to," Searifa answered offering the girl another cinnamon bunny. The girl refused the treat. "Besides he isn't a bad guy."

"I'm pretty sure he wanted to kill me," the girl responded. "So as my guide shouldn't you have fought him or something?"

"I never implied that I would fight any monsters," Searifa said her mouth turning to a frown. She gave a shrug to the girl as she took a bite out of the rejected cinnamon bunny. With her free hand she covered her mouth as she chewed.

"So how are you going to protect me? Talk to them?" Kendall asked in disbelief.

Searifa swallowed the last of her cinnamon bunny allowing the magic from the sweet fill the emptiness. "That is the general idea. Don't fret, most monsters don't care for fighting. Or perhaps at least not to the death. Sparing is often seen as a method of making friends."

"You're pulling my leg," Kendall interrupted. "So you fight each other to make friends."

Searifa nodded, "Spars are completely safe. It is a bit of a strange practice, but I assure you most monster would spare you if you ask." Kendall shook her head with a huff as the two entered the next cavern.

The sound of roaring water echoed through the cavern. Searifa could hear the girl gasp in surprise. "How is there a waterfall down here?" the human asked watching the water rush by. Occasionally large rocks floated by.

"Magic," Searifa answered and Kendall groaned a 'I'm serious'. "I have no idea. Perhaps it is runoff from the Surface." Kendall took her flats off before she stepped into the water and the monster did the same. The water reached Kendall's waist threatening to push her over.

Searifa kept an eye on the girl as the two waded across. Kendall hurried her pace trying to pass a rock instead of waiting. The gray stone struck her side knocking her feet from under her. Searifa watched as the girl's golden hair sunk beneath the water reaching into the water.

Her claws caught fabric. With a strong tug, the reptilian monster pulled a sputtering human out of the water. She held fast to the human looking over her arms and spinning her around to search for injuries. "Are you okay? I should have been paying more attention." The reptilian monster pulled the girl to the other side of the waterfall.

"I'm fine, mom," Kendall complained with an eye roll.

Searifa gasped offended. "Mom? You're almost my age. How old do you think I am?" She put a hand on her chest. A little overdramatic maybe, but the monster didn't care.

Kendall narrowed her blue eyes looking serious for a moment. "Forty," the human answered with an impish grin. Searifa gasped in mock hurt while the girl laughed loudly holding herself together. With an equally mischievous grin, the reptilian monster shoved the girl back into the water.

Kendall stumbled slightly splashing as she got her balance. She was laughing all the way back to shore. Searifa chuckled as well reaching out to help the human up. "Twenty-two, by the way," Searifa responded as the girl got back onto dry land.

"What? I thought people in their twenties are supposed to be fun," Kendall stated as the two continued down the path.

"Once again. I am insulted," Searifa said with a dramatic sigh. Kendall laughed again as the two left the cavern. The reptile smiled back; the human was different than she thought. Rude, yes, but definitively not a creature of destruction. It put her mind at ease and all questions were dying. Searifa could and would protect this human. She smiled to herself perhaps the human could put in a good word in with the other humans when she reached the surface. Maybe war between monsters and humans wouldn't start; maybe the humans would accept them.

"Seari," the girl called interrupting the monster's musing. "I never said my name. It was rude of me. I'm Kendall."

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Kendall," Searifa responded politely holding out her hand to the teen. Kendall muttered a 'nerd' before shaking the outstretched hand.


A/N: So I'm here again. I know you probably don't care. But I was thinking (random plot bunny) about writing an SYOC for Undertale taking place during the Monster-Human war. It is not something official yet, but if there is interest I will post an prologue and character introduction. Have a good day y'all. And those who live in the USA Happy early Fourth of July.