The monster I faced was no stranger than the rest of the monster we had met thus far. It had a shy countenance, facing away from me. I tried a friendly approach.
"Hello!"
It didn't say anything, just sang out one, sullen, off-key note. A slow magic attack came at me, in the form of a fourth note. I dodged it easily.
Frisk piped up,
"It's Shyren! Too shy to sing her deadly song. Try singing or humming."
Shyren looked more scared of me then I felt scared of her. I decided to sing a sad song, to encourage the poor monster. It was a love song.
"You only need the light when it's burning low," Shyren perked her head up, eyes trained on me.
"Only miss the sun when it starts to snow,"
Shyren hummed along. The white notes grew faster, but I still dodged with ease. Many many battles had given me lots of practice.
"Only know you love her when you let her go," I noticed out of the corner of eyes that monster where trickling in, drawn to the sound of my song, and Shyren humming along confidently,
"Only know you've been high when you're feeling low," More and more gathered around as Shyren hummed louder. The notes grew faster still, but I didn't halt my song.
"Only hate the road when you're missin' home,"
I noticed a certain annoying skeleton on the fringes of the congregation.
"Only know you love her when you let her go,"
The white attacks were whizzing past me at high speeds now. One nicked my soul just a bit. I flinched back, but knew I had to finish.
"and you let her go."
I ended with an air of finality, and the monsters around roared their approval. Shyren smiled confidently, and the Fight ended. The monsters trickled away.
"That was amazing Allie!"
Frisk bounded up as Shyren drifted off, humming to herself.
I glanced at the place I had seen Sans standing only moments ago, but he obviously had left in a hurry.
"Here."
Frisk shoved a Cinnamon bun in my hand.
"Eat."
I protested, trying to tell Frisk that supplies were low and that we should save it. But they insisted. The yummy treat was so delicious, and my soul was fully healed.
The room was now empty, and quiet. There were two paths, to the north and east.
"Let's go up first."
It was a smallish room, with a single sign and a blue grand piano.
"Puzzle?"
"Puzzle."
Frisk read the sign,
"A haunting song echoes down the corridor. Won't you play along. The first eight are fine. First eight what?"
I shrugged.
"Notes I guess. Do you hear a song?"
We paused, ears pricked. But there wasn't a sound to be heard.
"Maybe the answer is in the east hall?"
I nodded.
"Probably."
I wondered again who made all these puzzles. Undyne? Maybe Shyren? Possibly. She had liked music.
More signs lined the corridor, telling us information we had already learned, about Boss monsters.
The interesting thing about the next room was, in fact, the lack of signs. A lonely looking statue was being pelted by rain. It's head was down, and it looked mournful. My heart jerked at the sight of it. Frisk must have felt the same way because they said in a small voice,
"We need to help it."
Now pause for a second. Take in the scene. Two humans staring at a stone monster, feeling guilty and nostalgic. It sounded ludicrous. How could someone possibly help a non living, solid, stone creature?
But it went deeper than that. It wasn't the statue we felt for. It was what it represented. Monster-kind. The people humans had trapped under a mountain without a second thought. I felt a wave of guilt crash over me.
I couldn't bear it a second longer.
I took Frisk's hand and walked on.
"Allie?"
"Don't worry. It'll be fine, I promise."
A dangerous promise, but one I intended to keep. Maybe I was being selfish, trading the life of many for one. But Frisk dying was not an option.
"Allie. I want to help them."
"I do too, but you are my first priority."
They didn't reply, just let go of my hand and darted ahead.
"Unbrellas!"
They grabbed a salmon colored one and hastened back to the statue. As they placed it into the cold stone hands, a music box started playing.
It was the musical embodiment of all the emotions I had gotten looking at the statue. It played over and over, in an endless, rolling cycle as we gazed at the statue.
"Allie! I've got it!"
Frisk's voice pulled me out of my stupor. I wiped a tear off my cheek that had slipped out of my wet eyes.
"The song! The puzzle!"
It clicked in my mind as well.
The notes were simple as I sat at the cold piano. After eight notes, a door slid open, heading north.
"Yes!"
I shouted happily.
Frisk gave me a high five.
"I knew piano lessons would come in handy."
They grinned.
The northern room was even smaller than the last, with a white pedestal, and red artifact. I wanted to grab it, but my backpack had suddenly become much heavier, like someone had dumped some rocks into it without my knowledge.
I set it down, and knelt to open it. As soon as the zipper was open, a small, fluffy dog leaped out. It headed straight for the artifact, absorbed it, and was gone, in a matter of seconds.
I stood frozen on the spot, utterly gobsmacked.
Frisk burst into laughter, breathlessly gasping,
"Your face. I couldn't help it."
That's all they managed to get out before continuing to laugh. I was truly annoyed with that dog.
After Frisk managed to gain control, they smiled at me.
"It reminds me of the day we met."
I nodded, a wistful, lopsided grin on my face.
"Whether accident or fate, I'm glad it happened."
"Even after all this?"
Frisk made gesture around, implying the whole of the Underground.
"Especially after this." I said firmly. They looked at the ground, expression unreadable. I continued,
"Remember Toriel and Paps, even Sans, and all the rest of the lovely monsters we've met. This isn't some tragic story. We can help these monsters, I'm sure of it."
Frisk whispered something so softly I hardly caught it.
"They need my soul. They can't leave without it."
It was so hard to remember that they were only ten. So young, yet so strong. But it was moments like these when you were reminded.
I pulled them into a fierce hug.
"I'm telling you that they aren't getting your soul." Holding their small form filled me with purpose and courage. Like hell Undyne was going to even touch Frisk, at least not unless I was a cold, stiff corpse.
*The distant sound of a music box keep you determined*
Oh Lordy this was so short. Sorry folks I did warn you. I went to a high school wide back to school retreat and it was so fun and so exhausting, but I didn't have time for writing. Then we had a volleyball game, right afterwards. (If you were curious, we stomped them easily) BUT! BUUUT! Here we are. A new chapter though short.
Love y'all!
Sparklefairy
