Chapter 11: Five Years Later

Five years had passed since Kayla had come to the Underground and River Person had adopted her. She was now a young girl of seventeen, knew reflective, protective, telekinetic, and fighting magics, and had been dating Napstablook for the past year. The usually-sad ghost seemed to perk up around Kayla and she always took time to help him through his bouts of depression.

At first it had begun with just Kayla helping Mettaton on set and one day, when Napstablook was having difficulty finding the music he had made for Mettaton's performance, Kayla had helped him look and they had found it. That, and Kayla's love for music, led the two to becoming friends and then boyfriend and girlfriend. He didn't mind she was a human since she was kind to him and listened to him. He did the same for her.

Kayla almost never wore her hood up anymore seeing as everyone in the Underground knew her and accepted her and she accepted them. Sans joked how she seemed to 'save' the Underground, to which she would say she hadn't, but he would point out that the other monsters felt hope that if a human could accept and befriend them, perhaps there were more like her on the surface.

"Not that I knew of, Sans," she had told him.

"Maybe because you only got a limited view of the people on the surface," he said gently, knowing of the abuse she endured and then to be thrown away like garbage by a family who claimed they had loved her. "And you're certainly not like them."

That was true, but Kayla didn't hold much hope that the surface world would be so accepting, though she wished it was possible. One night, she couldn't sleep and heard her father in the living room and got up out of bed, going to the living room. "Papa?" She called softly.

He looked up from a book in his hands. "Kayla, is something wrong?" He asked.

"I can't sleep," she answered.

He motioned her closer and she went up to him as he scooted over in his chair, which was large and plush, and Kayla sat down, leaning against her father's side. He wrapped an arm around her and began gently stroking her hair. "What's troubling you, my little one?" He asked.

Kayla was quiet a moment. "Papa, do you think there's people on the surface who will accept you guys and will be open-minded?" She asked.

River Person was quiet for a moment. They hadn't had this conversation in five years. "What brought that question on?" He asked.

"Sans and I were talking earlier and he said that I helped the monsters to have hope that there are good people on the surface, but I told him I hadn't seen any, and he said it was because I never got a chance to see that, due to being an orphan and then in that abusive family that threw me away," she said. "I think he's right about that, but...what if all humans are like that?"

"Well, you're not," he responded.

"That's different, Papa. You saved me from drowning," she protested lightly.

"Yes, but you could have easily rejected my help and run away when you had the chance, but you didn't," River Person said gently. "Because you wanted a parent and I wanted to prove that just because I'm called a monster doesn't mean I act like one."

Kayla couldn't rebuke that because it was true. "And you're the best father I've ever had," she said honestly. "I do hope someday the surface will be willing to accept you all."

"With young ones like you proving that we are the same no matter what, I'm sure that will happen," he said before noticing her eyes were drooping. "Are you feeling sleepy now?" He asked in amusement.

"A little," she admitted, snuggling into his side, making him chuckle as he lifted her into his lap and then stood up, carrying her back to her bedroom as she rested her head on his shoulder, falling asleep now. River Person gently tucked her into her bed and smiled, gently stroking her head in a fatherly manner.

"There are humans who are open-minded just like you, little one," he said. "And someday, we'll meet them. Someday."

He quietly left the room, hoping that that day would be soon. The monsters really did need to be free from the place that had been their prison for so long. A prison that had resulted from a senseless war because people were so close-minded back then and then when Prince Asriel had simply gone up to the surface world to grant Chara's last wish.

Chara. River Person remembered the adopted princess well. She had brought happiness to the king and queen and prince and even to the inhabitants of the Underground. He recalled when he had first begun learning about driving a boat on the river and giving people rides to their destinations. Chara and Asriel had been playing hide-and-seek and the young girl had hidden on his boat without him knowing it, so when he took a rabbit couple to Hotland, he hadn't realized the young girl was on board until she had popped up suddenly and looked terrified at not being in the same place as before. He had soothed her, promising to take her right to her family. He had tied his boat to the dock securely and carried her to the castle, where Asriel had returned in fear that he couldn't find his sister. Asgore had been about to send out the Royal Guard when River Person had entered with Chara safely in his arms. He had apologized to the king and queen, admitting he had no idea the princess had hidden on his boat in the game of hide-and-seek and they had forgiven him easily. Even Chara had forgiven him, saying it wasn't his fault and she shouldn't have hidden in his boat. He told her it was alright as she had just been playing. For a while, before she had gotten so gravely sick, she would beg him for boat rides and he never refused her that.

A tear dropped down from his eye. News of the princess' death had hit him hard and it still ached a bit to this day, though in the years he had been raising Kayla, the ache had faded away mostly, but a small part still lingered, which he was glad for, as he didn't want to ever forget the princess.

The next morning, he received a call from the Queen. Surprised, he responded. "My Queen, how are you?" He asked politely.

"I'm good, River Person," she replied. "Please, is Kayla there?"

"Yes, one moment."

When Kayla learned Toriel wanted to talk to her, she immediately answered. "Miss Toriel, is everything alright?" She asked.

Over the years after she had met the Queen, Toriel had insisted Kayla address her as Miss Toriel. It was less formal and she felt better that she could relate with the girl as a friend. Kayla had understood and honored her wishes.

"Kayla, dear, do you recall that dream you had, about you falling and something chasing you and you ran into me?"

Kayla felt her heart stop. "The vision," she said, getting her father's attention. She had told him about that dream and he now listened.

"A young child fell down here last night," Toriel said. "A nasty creature was chasing her and she ran into the Ruins. She's here right now and sleeping, but I was wondering if you could come and see her. She might be the one you recall, or at least were in the shoes of, in that dream."

"I'll be right there, Miss Toriel," she promised as she signed off.

River Person looked at her. "The dream you had?" He asked.

She nodded. "Another child fallen down here, Papa," she said. "She ran into Miss Toriel, just like in my dream. Something was chasing her."

The seventeen-year-old wasted no time in grabbing her winter cloak and running out the door. "Be careful!" She heard her father caution her.

"I will, Papa!" She called back in promise and waved before racing down the path, running by Sans' hotcat stand and would have continued if he hadn't grabbed her in his telekinesis.

"Hey, what's the hurry, kid?" He asked with a smile.

She turned to him. "Sans, another child has fallen," she said. "Just like in my dream."

The skeleton became more alert. "Where?" He asked.

"Toriel. The Ruins," Kayla said. "We've got to go."

He nodded. "Hold on," he said, wrapping an arm around her and she hugged him, knowing he was going to teleport them to the door outside the Ruins, the same door where Kayla had first met Toriel. They arrived and Sans knocked, to which Toriel opened the door and let them in.

"The poor little one was injured from battling the creature after her and I found other bruises and scars that must be from the surface," Toriel said.

"Another abused child?" Sans asked, feeling sick. He hated to hear that a child had been abused.

"Yes," the goat lady said. "She was so afraid of me that it took me a bit to calm her down and get her to trust me enough to heal her injuries."

Just then, they heard footsteps and a small child with brown hair and brown eyes came out. She wore a pink and purple striped sweater, brown shorts and brown boots. She gasped upon seeing Sans and hid behind Toriel, whimpering.

Kayla, who had been on Sans' other side so the child hadn't seen her, came closer and kneeled down. "Hey," she said softly.

The little girl peeked out at her, looking curious at seeing she was a human. "Y-Y-You're h-human too?" She asked, her voice trembling.

"Yes, I am," Kayla responded gently. "I fell down here a long time ago myself."

She smiled. "I'm Kayla. What's your name?"

"Frisk," the child answered softly.

The older girl felt sympathy for Frisk, who was no doubt terrified at being in a new place and wondering who she could trust. "Don't be afraid, Frisk. We won't hurt you," she said softly.

Unknown to her, Sans had decided to step outside, seeing as his appearance had frightened the little one and he didn't want her to be frightened of him while Kayla was trying to calm her down.

After a bit, Frisk had calmed down and Toriel had given the young girl permission to go with Kayla to explore the rest of the Underground and to give her a call whenever. Promising to do so, Frisk went with the older girl and they began walking through Snowdin.

"The Underground is really a nice place," Kayla said to her.

"But it's full of monsters, right?" Frisk asked, unsure about the monsters, despite Toriel's kindness.

"True, but they're very friendly, especially the king," she said. "He's kind and gentle from what Papa told me."

"Who?" The little girl asked.

"Oh, my father, the River Person," Kayla replied. "He saved me five years ago when I was thrown down here and fell into the river. If it hadn't been for him, I would have drowned."

Frisk was curious. "But...are there some bad monsters?" She asked, recalling the scary one that had chased her before she had run into Toriel.

"Not that I know of," the older girl answered. "Although, be cautious around Undyne when you first meet her. She may not be willing to be friends at first, but may give it a chance if you give her a chance."

The little girl nodded. "I'll keep that in mind," she said.

"Don't let it rattle your bones," came a voice that made both Frisk and Kayla yelp in surprise and whirl around, with the little girl hiding behind the older girl, who now glared at the laughing skeleton in front of them.

"Sans! You almost gave Frisk and I heart attacks!" She scolded. "Why I-EEEEEEEEE!"

Sans cut off her scolding by reaching forward and tickling her sides, making her yelp before she laughed as he kept tickling her, going for her stomach and making her fall to her knees, unable to stand up as he kept up the tickle torture.

"AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! SAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHANS!" She laughed out.

He chuckled. "You still mad at me?" He asked in a playful, teasing voice, giving her a moment to catch her breath.

Kayla took some deep breaths and looked at him. "Ugh, Sans," she said without heat, a smile on her face. "You drive me out of my skull sometimes, but I can't stay mad at you."

"Of course you can't. I'm too bone-ified of a friend for you to stay mad at," he responded, making her chuckle at his pun.

Frisk had been hiding behind a nearby tree as this had happened and Sans noticed her. "Hey, Frisk," he said, a friendly smile on his face. "You're kind of too far away to shake hands with a new pal."

The little girl looked unsure, but Kayla smiled. "It's okay, Frisk," she said. "Sans is harmless. He won't hurt you."

Looking nervous still, the small girl took a brave step towards the skeleton, though looking ready to bolt at a moment's notice. Sans kept his friendly smile in place, not moving until she was in front of him, to which he held out his hand and she went to shake it before spotting something in his hand and instead grabbing his wrist, making him look at her in surprise before he noticed what she had seen. "Hey, no fair," he said without heat. "You peeked at my hand."

Frisk giggled before letting out a squeak as Sans gently grabbed her arm and used his free hand to tickle her right ear, which produced giggles out of her. "Well, well, a tickle monster's favorite sound," he said with a chuckle as he playfully wiggled his fingers into her stomach, making the little girl laugh before he stopped, gently pinching her right cheek. "Feeling better, kiddo?"

She nodded, feeling more at ease with him. "What's the Underground like?" She asked.

"Sounds like it's time for a tour," Sans said, gently scooping up Frisk and holding out his hand for Kayla, who took it as the skeleton led them on a tour of the Underground.

Well, now Frisk has joined the Underground. Next up: the monster after Frisk returns, but she and Kayla are saved by an unexpected savior. Stay tuned! :)

And for those of you that like Napstablook, I figured he needed a little scene too as Kayla's boyfriend. :)

And please leave a review, but no flames!

GoldGuardian2418