QXR0ZW50aW9uOiBTdWJqZWN0KEU0NUZBKSBBbmFseXNpcyBpcyBjb21wbGV0ZS4KCU5vIGdlbmV0aWMgYWJub3JtYWxpdGllcyBkZXRlY3RlZCBpbiBTdWJqZWN0KEU0NUZBKS5nZW5vbWUuCglTdWJqZWN0KEU0NUZBKSBjbGFzc2lmaWNhdGlvbiBzdHJ1Y3R1cmUgaGFzIGJlZW4gbW9kaWZpZWQuCglTdWJqZWN0KEU0NUZBKS5EYXRpbmdTZXJ2aWNlLkVsaWdpYmlsaXR5IHNldCB0byB0cnVlLgoJRXN0YWJsaXNoaW5nIFJvdXRlIE5ldHdvcmsgZnJvbSBSZXB1dGF0aW9uIE9ic2VydmF0aW9ucy4KCVR3byBjYW5kaWRhdGVzIGRldGVjdGVkIGZvciBpbml0aWFsIFJvdXRpbmcuCglFcnJvcjogQWRkcmVzcyBSZWRhY3RlZFswXSB1bnF1YWxpZmllZCBieSB3YXkgb2YgYWdlIHJlc3RyaWN0aW9ucy4gUm91dGUgVGltZXIgZXN0YWJsaXNoZWQuCglBZGRyZXNzIFJlZGFjdGVkIFsxXSByZWZvcm1hdHRlZCB0byBSb3V0aW5nIHNwZWNpZmljYXRpb25zLiBNZW1vcnkgcmVmb3JtYXR0aW5nIHByb2Nlc3MgaGFzIGJlZ3VuLgoJQXR0ZW50aW9uOiBDYW5kaWRhdGVzIGZvciBSb3V0ZSBTeXN0ZW0gZGV0ZWN0ZWQgaW4gRHVuZ2VvbigyNTUpCglzdXBlci5MZXlDYXN0IHggPSBuZXcgTGV5Q2FzdFtEdW5nZW9uKDI1NSkucm91dGVTeXN0ZW0oKSldCglzdXBlci5Sb3V0ZSBuZXdDYXN0ID0gbmV3IFJvdXRlW3hdCgluZXdDYXN0IHJlZm9ybWF0dGluZyB0byBSb3V0ZSBzcGVjaWZpY2F0aW9ucy4KCihEYXRpbmcpIHNwZWNpYWwgZXZlbnQgZGlzY292ZXJlZDogSGVhcnQgUmVzdGFydCBvZiB0aGUgSGVybWl0IFF1ZWVu
…
Monster Fact #289: The Germanic and Kyivan variations of the Puca (if they were born from the Conversion Process) defer from other variations by being able to recall how they looked when they were still human. These memories are so hardwired into a Puca's magical system they are able to fully obscure their horns and tail while shifted into this form. A trait that makes them highly desirable to other Puca tribes, especially those that deal in human-targeted espionage.
…
*...
"Huh?"
*...
"Oh. you're awake. That's great! It's been a while."
*...
"No, you haven't missed much. Everyone is pretty much the same. Like always."
*...
"Of course I've been good, who do you take me for?"
*...?
"Well someone's certainly cranky. I don't hear from you in centuries and the first thing I hear again is that? You're going to break my heart."
*...
"Tulpas can have hearts. You don't know."
*...
"As- Asriel- look I- look- ok ok fine! Fine! Stop, stop, I don't want to fight. You're all I got left."
"...I've been "exploring" again. Been doing it for a while now. Eba- No murders or anything calm down."
*...
"I am telling the truth. I'll share my memories if you don't trust me. Believe me it was more boring than when you were awake the last time. Until now, that is."
*...?
"Oh just a little thing as-"
"The seventh human that fell into the underground last week."
*...!
"Figured that would get your attention. Yesterday he made such a performance Asriel you should of seen it. Such wondrous violence and gross displays of power it almost made me feel like I had emotions again. And that was just during the day. Last night though, if Mom didn't intervene.
"Oh man."
"Kill or be Killed wouldn't been able to even begin to explain what that human was going to do to that overgrown tuna fish."
*...
"You're just saying that because you didn't see it for yourself. Here are the memories."
(Few moments pass...)
"You don't seem impressed."
*...
"Yeah, I saw the Terracotta he had with him."
*...
"No."
"I don't want to talk about it right now. There's too much to do already."
"..."
"...later, I promise."
Home: Act 5
"My name is Ed and I'm digging a hole. Diggy-diggy hole. Diggy-diggy hole," Ed sang. His voice echoing through his network of tunnels as he landed punches into a rock. As the rock split apart and teal circular stones hopped into his INV he raised his hands and waved them back and forth. "My name is Ed, and I'm digging a hole. Diggy-diggy hole, digging a hole."
Ding
Provisional System connection Restored.
Focus and Utility Number connection restored.
"Brain's back!" Ed exclaimed to no one. His eyes glowed emerald light as a translucent rectangular object appeared near the top left of his vision. Then disappeared as quickly as it came. Leaving behind a small prickling sensation that went through the inside of his head like a wave.
Ah, feels good to think again. A subdued more mature version of Ed's voice echoed through his head as the wave receded. Returning to his square rocks Ed allowed this being in his head to process the things he missed while he was under. Small pieces of driftwood pulled by small snakes out from under a howling storm. Scents, images, small bits of data from his vast knowledge of 5 cent sci-fi rags of his past and the new media of his present, anything and everything that could rig together a timeline of events. Moments passed and Ed prepared to continue his rock smashing at the subdued voice's relief. Good, I didn't get anyone hurt this time.
"Aww, don't be like that," Ed cooed as he sent a fist through the square stone. The rock broke into 2 teal oval-shaped prisms and jumped into the INV. "I've gotten much better at controlling myself. No one noticed a thing."
Any rain clouds?
"Some, but they weren't as strong as before," Ed recalled. A frown replaced his smile slowly as he formulated the question on the fore-front of his mind. "Why- did you tell Anyu about Abe-ji?"
Ed immediately found his answer as a sharp pain pierced through his chest and his vision blurred for a second. He grimaced as he placed a closed hand over the area of the pain. In response the pain intensified.
Ed, in a panic, watched himself lift a sleeve and raise his free arm to his mouth.
"W-wait! Wait!" Ed pleaded. Unfortunately opening his mouth enough to place a section of his fore-arm into his mouth.
Ed closed his eyes and squeezed his jaw shut around the flesh.
A moment later rivulets of red began to drip onto the cavern floor.
I- I tried to talk for us.
Tried to- open up more.
Like what Ibiki said.
Ed squeezed his mouth harder.
The pain wasn't doing what his soul wanted.
It was too strong, way, way, too strong.
This-
we-
I-
I-.
I don't want to be here!
I want to go back to Peach Creek!
I want to see Eddi and Double d again!
I want to see Sarah again!
I wanna see Kaitlyn!
Nazz!
Gerta!
Jamie!
E-everyone!
I don't want to be like this!
I want to be happy again!
I don't want to be here!
I want to go home!
"Are you hungry?" A child-like voice broke Ed's downward spiral.
A sickening crack filled the area as Ed responded to the sudden voice by completely closing his jaw. Sending his teeth through the skin, muscle, and radius bone of his left arm.
…
"Urg, you humans make a real mess you know that?" Flowey grumbled as large conjured leaves finished wiping away Ed's blood from the surrounding rocks. As he wordlessly ordered the large leaves to wring the congealing liquid out into the void he made another sound of disgust. "And here I thought Monster dust was a pain to remove."
"Sorry," Ed mumbled, sitting and sulking in a corner. Lightly illuminated by multi-colored leaves delicately wrapped around his wound.
The leaves helpfully assisting the ominously potent HP regenerating effect he discovered happens when he, in excruciating pain, accidentally swallowed the portion he broke off from himself.
Flowey, after a few moments of watching Ed, sighed. "Oh don't be so glum Chum. It's not the first time I saw someone bite something off of themselves," He spoke again, his playful tone grabbed Ed's attention. "Think of it this way. I could of just as easily of let you bleed out. I wouldn't mind inheriting control of this world again. You want to know why I didn't?"
Ed shook his head, surprising the flower. "I read a lot of comic books. You are either having fun watching me or you need me for something you're planning."
"Not the forgiving type are you?" Flowey asked hypothetically. His face then contorted into a sinister grin. "Good, you're smarter than you look."
"Which one is it then?" Ed asked stoically.
"Both, in a way," Flowey admitted. His face reverting back to normal. "You are the most exciting thing to happen in such a long time. I just couldn't let it end like this. It's such a sad and pathetic ending for someone with so much potential like yourself."
Ed couldn't help himself. "Potential?"
"Oh yes, " Flowey nodded. "You may not understand fully right now. But you have powers in this world. This cave, this dungeon, Asgore's War, The End of Humanity, all illusions for someone like you. Heck, if you weren't so busy doing god knows what to god knows whom Asgore would have already of been dusted by now."
Flowey noticed Ed tense up and continued. "But- I get it, you want to be the big dumb hero. The one to solve everyone's stupid, petty problems. Feeling that- since you're the only one that can do it, you must be the one to do it. I get that, I understand that. I felt that way myself at first."
"What are you trying to say?" Ed asked sternly as he rose back to his feet. He felt a light rustling, and tepidly investigated one of the leaves on his arm. At the light touch he tensed up again as several friendliness pellets rose up from the leaf wrap. Only to sink back into the rainbow leaves when Ed removed his finger.
"What I'm saying is you are going about this the wrong way," Flowey answered, unaffected by Ed's growing hostility. "All the power and influence to get everything you truly desire in life, and this is what you're doing? Whining over the misfortunes of the dead? Biting yourself like a deranged beast?"
Flowey shook his head. "No, no, whether you know it or not, whether you care for it or not, you became the king of this world Ed. As soon as you came down here. And I can't in good conscious let you squander the crown like this."
Ed gave the flower a glare."If I'm a king as you say, is this going to be my crown?" He challenged, gesturing to his bandage.
"That's just to make sure you hear me out, like I said- my plan isn't regicide," Flowey winked.
Ding
As if on cue Ed's leaf wrappings lost their color and began to disintegrate into small squares. Leaving behind clean unblemished skin underneath. "See?" Flowey said sweetly. "Almost good enough to eat right?"
Ed said nothing as he moved his hand over the uncovered area. Feelings of shame waved through him as brief memories of his friends on the surface filled his head.
I'm sorry guys. I thought I could stop myself this time. Ed thought.
His voice, the only echo in his mind-space again.
With his faculties returned to their enhanced state.
And the pain in his chest temporarily numbed.
Ed returned his focus to the flower monster. "What powers are you talking about?"
"Well, I could tell you," Flowey danced. "But where's the fun in that? A little experimentation, a few more deaths, and you'll figure it out on your own."
Ed rose an eyebrow while watching a piece of clear plastic materialize in Flowey's mouth.
"I hab a gib-ft," Flowey forced out before spiting out a small rectangular prism filled with coiled shiny black tape. It bounced across the floor and landed at Ed's feet. "If you truly don't believe me, play the tape. Then when you finally figure it out, when you finally begin to remember, we'll talk again."
Ed's curiosity drove him to pick up the tape.
Then after a brief glance his curiosity turned to confusion.
Because of the kanji stamped on the tape in white ink.
作り上げた みつき "MC" : 最後の
(Mitsuki Tsukuriageta "MC": Final)
"I'll see you up ahead," Flowey said with a smirk.
Before Ed could meaningfully react, Flowey quickly dug into a hole. The hole was sealed behind him. Leaving the tape as the only evidence that he was even there at all.
A few minutes passed while Ed puzzled about the strange tape. He had an idea about what it was but as far as he knew it shouldn't of been made yet.
The tape shouldn't exist if the recipient still exists.
And thankfully he still knew she exists.
He just talked to her, he remembered talking to her.
So why is the tape in his hands now?
And why did Flowey have it in the first place?
I need to find a tape player. Ed thought. Then he placed the tape into his pocket. A topic he would have to remind himself about later.
After a nod of resolve, Ed returned to his mining operation.
Thirty minutes in he started hearing music in his head.
It was a melody he didn't know before.
A melody that brought a smile to his face again.
Lyrics came next, a deep male voice as the source.
He didn't know the language the man was speaking in, but the feelings behind them felt strong, immensely strong.
He decided to join in when the voice entered the chorus of the song.
"Раскудрявый клён зелёный – лист резной.
Я влюблённый и смущённый пред тобой.
Клён зелёный, да клён кудрявый,
Да раскудрявый, резной! "
He sang, his heart swelling with warmth. He repeated the chorus with increased passion. So elated his eyes went closed. Unaware of his hands rising in temperature as well.
"Раскудрявый клён зелёный – лист резной.
Я влюблённый и смущённый пред тобой.
Клён зелёный, да клён кудрявый,
Да раскудрявый, резной!"
clang!
Ed's eye immediately opened to the loud metal noise that happened after he sung the final word of the chorus.
The song faded away, leaving behind the humming sound of a glowing red trident struck in the stone wall.
A 1 to 1 copy of Bergentrückung surging concentrated fire-weapon magic.
Welded by a large tendril like structure of black and white squares. The squares were trembling and colliding with each other, almost like they were desperately containing something that emitted sinister dark red light in the center of the structure.
Just as quickly as it appeared the trident and the tentacle disappeared in a gleam of light. Leaving Ed just standing there dumbstruck.
And deep underground, Flowey laughed.
He was right.
He and Asriel were on the ground floor of history.
Flowey was excited about the chaos he could create.
Unknown to the fact that Asriel didn't share this feeling.
He already saw the end result of the tulpa's line of logic.
Too many times before.
Yet, he didn't stop it.
He couldn't stop it.
He wasn't the one in control.
He didn't have the hearts to do so.
…
Attention: Entry transcript redacted due to User Age Requirements. For more information, or if you believe this classification was in error please contact the Palisade Time Capsule Administrator at (REDACTED).
(RESTARTING A HERMIT'S HEART) TANGENT BEGIN
…
"Before I begin, I need to emphasize something very important," Toriel began to explain as the group dug into their breakfast. "The Underground is a dangerous place, not just because of Asgore and his Royal Guard."
"In what way?" Frisk asked pointedly focusing on Toriel's words not the human form Toriel was still shifted in from the night before.
A woman with long black hair and soft carmine eyes behind simple eyeglasses. The human form also had tan skin, a thin body and unfortunately for Frisk, very ample curves clothed in a white tank top and purple pajama pants.
Frisk felt distracted enough. Mostly from Anyu's remarks, the predicament of how she woke up that morning, and now from watching Ed tear into his eccentric breakfast of beef gravy and buttered toast like a wild jackal.
Toriel lifted a palm. A light sprung forth and created what looked like a large old map that hovered over the furn in the center of the dining room table. "There are three main sections of the Underground that need to be passed before you can reach the barrier. Snowden, Waterfall, and Hotland respectively."
"Very- on-the-nose," Anyu commented.
Toriel sighed in disappointment. "Yeah, Asgore is not the most- creative with naming things. You'll find more examples as you continue your journey."
How old is this? Frisk wondered after a cursory glance across the map. There's no Core or New Home on this.
"Snowden has the smallest concentration of guards of the three but makes up for it with hostile beasts," Toriel began to explain, highlighting the giant white area of the map. "Thankfully the actually dangerous ones attack at night so if you find shelter at night you will be fine."
"What's that thing in the middle?" Ed asked after a large gulp of Au jus.
Frisk and Anyu turned their attention to the drawing in the middle of the Snowden map. It had the appearance of a double helix structure made out of crystals.
"That's a representation of the Snowden Day Lantern," Toriel explained. "The Day Lantern was one of the first improvement projects we started after the fall of the Aristocracy. It was originally built to simulate a day and night cycle to help regulate sleep patterns. We found out it also had a beneficial effect against Snowden's frequent blizzards. Another reason I'm emphasizing to not travel at night."
"So- night is basically just the time the lantern is off," Frisk inferred. "Does it give a warning before it shuts off?"
Toriel nodded. "The lantern starts gradually shutting down at 8, when it does it plays a song. You will then have an hour before what we used to say "the Primeval Snowden starts waking up.""
"Ooo I like that name," Ed commented. "Sounds like a hard mode version of an area in a video game."
"How long does it stay down?" Anyu inquired, getting amused by the handle of her cup of tea seemly attaching itself to her unclosed paw every time she removed it from the saucer underneath.
"11 hours on, 11 off, 2 in-between," Toriel recounted bringing her own cup of tea to her lips. "In terms of guards Snowden is the least watched. Sentries are the only concern, and given Ed's Fight status even if they spot him they can't enter the dimension where his soul is in danger."
"Oh that's good," Ed commented with a smile.
"No, that's not good," Anyu answered back.
"Not good?" Ed returned.
"Sentries are supposed to report what they find. Which means there is someone they are giving reports to," Anyu rationalized.
Toriel nodded slowly pulling attention back to her. "His name is Grilby, he's Asgore main spymaster and the "Caretaker" of Snowden Town. According to my friend on the outside the sentries spend almost every night at the bar he owns."
Sounds about right. Grilby is mysterious enough for the job. Frisk agreed silently. She then started to ponder. Though this is Sans telling her this. Could there be a misinterpretation?
"So pretty much if a sentry finds us, we're screwed," Anyu grumbled.
"Not really," Ed replied with a frown. "We can always fight our way through."
To this Frisk started to tremble.
Toriel just closed her eyes and shook her head lightly. "That's- easier said than done I'm afraid," she said solemnly. "No human that have fallen down here ever got past Asgore."
"All the humans that fell down here were children though," Anyu retorted. "If anyone has a chance to crack any skull that gets in the way it's Ed."
Ed instead of feeling proud retained his troubled expression.
"H-hey, maybe we shouldn't resort to violence so quickly," Frisk offered with a worried tone.
Anyu turned to Frisk with an angry look. "And what do you suggest we do instead Mahatma? Offer flowers and play guitar riffs while the mountain king's goons rip Ed's soul out?"
"I'm not offering that," Frisk immediately repelled. Her hands up in defense. "All I'm saying is, there are different ways to handle conflicts instead of just fighting it out. Maybe we can try other ways to get past the Royal Guard and Asgore without having to- you know- kill them."
"Asgore- killed a baby, Frisk," Ed spoke out softly.
Frisk's argument died in her throat. And she judged by the looks on the other women's faces that they weren't aware of this knowledge either.
"Wh-what?" Anyu asked, removing all doubt.
"Tayo Urashima," Ed recalled grimly. "Reported missing along with 10 year-old Shizuki Nagano on Feburary 18, 2045. He was only 9 months old. Hojo sent to investigate, no leads were found."
"That- sounds very clinical," Toriel noted.
Ed looked down. "Me and Abe-ji were doing a investigation on reports involving 6 missing children and the "Mystery Forest". I used to read the reports constantly. Thinking that the children were taken by the Palisade Goatman who lived in the woods."
Frisk and Toriel's stomachs dropped to the floor.
"The what?" Anyu asked.
Before Ed could respond Toriel hesitantly coughed into her hand. "I- I fear we're getting off subject."
"Oh," Ed snapped out of his troubled expression. He then bowed lightly to the group. "Sorry, sorry, I didn't mean to bring everyone down."
"Oh no no, you did no such thing," Toriel consoled with a smile carefully masking her past guilts. "It's just- there isn't much time before the Day Lantern turns on, and you three need all the time you can get."
Anyu gave a quick glare at Toriel but otherwise became quiet. She had time to ask Ed later, and she didn't want the goat-mom / temporary goat-milf forcing her compliance through her brand marks.
For the third time that morning.
In the case of Frisk it took a few moments to calm her nerves. Every fiber of her being rejected Ed's condemnation. She knew Asgore. Even though the weight of the duty he had to his people forced him to do horrible things, he would never resort to infanticide to get a soul. She never met a version of Asgore that did before, and she was not entertaining the thought of this version of him doing it now.
However she understood why Ed would believe this. He didn't have the same insight into Asgore's character she did. And all the information he had access to at this point in the run pointed to this accusation.
Frisk's thoughts stopped processing as she stared with surprise at the picture Toriel pulled up.
In her thoughts she glossed over Toriel's explanation of what they would expect in Waterfall.
It was the picture of a grinning Undyne that brought her back.
"This is Undyne Natsuki, Asgore's second-in-succession and Captain of The Royal Guard," Toriel explained stoically.
"Is that a Calypso?" Anyu asked with intrigue. "I thought that race was wiped out when Atlantis fell during the War."
"I understand why you would think that, but no, she's a Mermillia," Toriel explained then pointed at the fins on the side of Undyne's head. "Different scale coloration, and facial fin structure."
"And a cool eye-patch," Ed commented.
"According to my sources she is the only monster in the Underground besides Asgore and myself who can effectively use offensive magic outside the Fight dimension. Which places her as the biggest roadblock you need to handle if you ever have a chance at making it to the surface," Toriel explained.
Frisk raised an eyebrow. "Toriel, how- do you know all this?"
To this Toriel smiled. "You would be surprised how many monsters don't notice a moldsmal with tiny white horns wiggling near their information circles."
After this Toriel started explaining Hotland.
And pulled up a picture of the Royal Scientist.
Frisk's stomach plunged to the earth's core.
The picture showed a human-like face with long white hair, pale skin and blue eyes. She had a sad look on her face, and her eyes lacked a spark Frisk found in a regular human's eyes.
"It's alright to feel confused, I was myself at first," Toriel explained. "But despite her appearance Dr. Hephestia Sayori is not a human, she is actually a Cadaver monster."
"Cadaver?" Frisk asked.
Toriel uncomfortably explained. "Well- sometimes in the Conversion Process a human body sometimes- doesn't perform Reconstruction, and depending on how much the body has- erm- "returned to the earth" as it where, the formulated monster soul ends up just- inhabiting the body anyway. The soul then- stops the body from further returning to the earth, and reanimates it using the ley network the soul weaves into it."
"So, not all that different from where skeletons and ghosts come from?" Ed surmised giving a thoughtful rub of his chin with his finger.
"That's correct, and thankfully because of the nature of Cadaver biology, she would have to literally be in a life-or-death struggle to put her body in danger of being damaged. So if you keep the hostilities at a minimum, you won't have much trouble from her directly," Toriel said, punctuating with a sip of her tea.
"My thing is, do we need to worry about her knowing Ding though," Anyu replied.
"Ding?" The humans and Toriel asked in response.
This threw Anyu off a little bit. "Well- you know- human magic. When their eyes glow," She said looking pointedly at Ed. Then looked away flustered when he tilted his head like a curious dog. "Look, I don't know the real name of it. All I know is that I fought skeletons that could use it before. So I called the magic Ding from the noise that came from their skulls when they did a spell."
"Oh- I get it now," Ed realized.
"You've heard it too?" Frisk asked.
"I haven't been around skeletons before," Ed shook his head. "But I hear a ding go off in my head when I do something right. Like making a Dust-up Wall or performing a Brain Clean on myself. Anyu, does the ding sound like this?"
He then made a high-pitched noise. "King!"
Anyu grew wide-eyed. "Yeah- that's exactly what it sounds like."
"And- this happens every time?" Frisk reiterated, ignoring the chill that went down her spine. Bad memories of runs long past.
"Oh yeah, every time without fail," Ed answered with a nod. "It's sometimes the only way mages can tell anything happened at all."
The group then grew quiet, unsure about how to proceed in the event Anyu's concern was true.
All the while dread clawed at Frisk.
What was discussed was nothing new to her. All she had to do was think about what Sans was capable of when he got serious.
No, this dread was coming from a different source.
The picture Toriel brought out.
It was wrong.
It's supposed to be a picture of someone else.
Something happened to the monster that was supposed to be the Royal Scientist.
Something happened to Dr. Alphys.
To avoid coming up with the worst possible theory Frisk forced her eyes shut.
No, no, it can't be that. She- she must of – left or something. This run maybe she- didn't try to hide what she did and- must of stepped down. Frisk thought with untenable optimism. And in turn, this Hephestia took the position afterwards. Y-yeah, that has to be it. There's no need to immediately assume she- "did something cowardly".
Her rationale didn't quell the dread as well as she hoped.
…
The passageway in Toriel's cellar gave way to a large ornate door. It's decoration not all that different from the Ruin doors before it. But to Frisk it was always a bittersweet sight, and this time it was unchanging in its metaphorical message.
It was a one-way-door, there was no going back now.
Not till the end of the road.
"Here it is everyone," Toriel spoke calmly. "The door to the rest of the Underground."
She turned to the group. "Are you ready?"
Ed zipped up his jacket. Then gave a salute and a grin. "Ready and wilko!"
"Ready," Anyu confirmed. Confident that her fur was enough to combat the cold.
Frisk pulled out her scarf out of the INV and wrapped it around her neck. "I'm ready."
Ed briefly looked at Anyu then with surprise remembered something. "Oh, did you get the leaves?"
"Leaves?" Toriel repeated then with a slight shock she realized what the question meant. "Oh, that's right. I completely forgot."
Frisk and Anyu gave a brief look of confusion as Toriel conjured a small cloth bag.
"Anyu I want you to have this, it will assist you," She said pulling out a few objects. Upon closer inspection, in her hand was three red leaves that littered the floor of the Puzzle Plaza. With small symbols burned in their centers.
"I- don't understand," Anyu said confused.
"Tanuki are able to shape-shift other beings and objects as well as themselves," Toriel explained. "They just require leaves."
"And I made them sticky," Ed added proudly pointing to himself with his thumb.
"If these were in Toriel's bedroom, I bet you did," Anyu responded with a smirk. Then, after getting the reaction she wanted, she looked at the leaves closely. After a few moments she asked. "So, how do I use these?"
"All you need to do is infuse your magic into the leaf, place it on wherever you want, then desire what you want it to turn into," Toriel instructed, a light glare of annoyance still on her face. "Your Special Trait will handle the rest."
Frisk, while this was going on inspected the markings burnt on a separate leaf. Something deep inside told her they were a language that was ancient in origin. An unbroken sequence of letters, symbols, and numbers seemly placed haphazardly together with little regard for capitalization or word structure.
A human-made creation, clearly immune to the translation ability of regular monsters.
And undecipherable to humans who weren't mages it turned out.
"I trust you'll have plenty of time to practice once you get in contact with my friend on the outside," Toriel said placing the leaves back into the sack. She then gave the sack to the small monster, who stashed it in her INV.
"Erm- thank you," Anyu said with curiosity. "But- why are you giving me this?"
Toriel answered by walking up to Anyu, she then crouched down onto her knees, and gave a smile. "Well, can't say our first meeting was ideal. But I can say it has been very interesting talking with you these past few days."
Anyu looked Toriel up and down curiously. "It- has," She said, a little on-edge. She then noticed Toriel glance at Ed behind her shoulder with a look of uncertainty. He in turn nodded, and gave a thumbs up with a grin. This allowed Anyu to calm herself down. "You guys aren't subtle you know that?"
Toriel responded with a nervous laugh. "I figured that, since I've- decided to become a part of Ed's-" She then glanced at Frisk then looked back. "group of- date friends,"
"Frisk isn't a baby Mama Riele, you can say harem," Anyu parroted giving an amused smirk at Toriel's expense.
"Yeah, i-it's ok Toriel, really," Frisk said, nervously attempting to placate the horrified caretaker.
"N-nevermind what it's called, that isn't the point," Toriel stammered with a brief flail of her arms. She then refocused on what she wanted to say. "a-all I'm saying is that, since I'm now part of the same group as you are, I want a way to- bury my hatchet I think the term is."
Anyu took a moment to process then looked down with a frustrated huff. "Oh, so that's what this is. More trades for subservience."
"No, no it isn't," Toriel said with a firm shake of her head. Which surprised the small raccoon. "The Five Families have already put you into an unsolvable debt. I'm not going to ask more from you just for the sake of circumstance."
She then smiled softly. "Ed sees good in you, and- despite my experience telling me absolutely not to, I'm slowly starting to understand why. And because of that, I want to be more cordial to you than I was."
Anyu mulled over her next words carefully. "I- hope you understand why I don't outright trust you either right?"
"I do," Toriel nodded. "I just don't want this relationship to start with both of us going at each other's throats. It's not conducive to a mutual loving dynamic I desire to cultivate wherever I am and- whoever I desire to be with."
I feel like I should be concerned for Toriel's free will. She seems a little too eager to jump into this "dynamic". Frisk thought as she watched Ed go up to Toriel and softly lay a hand on her shoulder.
"Yeah, like a family, or a school of armored bull squid from the third entry of the Buster 99 Anthology," Ed added with a smile.
Anyu gazed at them for a few moments then sighed. The fact that Toriel was willing to give her anything, especially a way to supposedly give more utility to her combat and survival stratagems won out over her hesitation. "Alright, I choose to believe you, for now."
"Very good, glad we could have this talk," Toriel concluded happily. "Now then-,"
She rose back to her feet and turned her attention to the door behind her. "Now everyone, this is important. Once this door closes behind you the barrier protecting it will forbid you from going through again. If you need to come in for anything, you're going to need to call me first."
"I wish you could come with us," Frisk said softly.
Toriel lowered her head. "I wish I could as well. But like I said, I require far too much maintenance to be of any help out there." She then came up to Frisk and pulled her into a hug. "Besides someone has to keep an eye on the others stuck here."
Frisk froze.
A photo entered her mind.
A short man with short black hair and dark blue eyes wearing a yellow bowling shirt.
A woman with long coral-pink hair, accessorized by a large red bow, and sky-blue eyes wearing a long baby-blue dress.
And two young children.
A boy, and a girl.
Wearing striped shirts, the boy green and yellow, and the girl red and purple.
Everyone was smiling.
Before Frisk could decipher the meaning behind the image, she was pulled back to reality by Toriel's voice again.
This time in Soulsprechen, given how busy her mouth was being with Ed's.
*Ed...
*If for a horrible reason...
*You ever lose your way, come back to me.
*You'll always be safe here.
*I promise.
Another voice came out in Soulsprechen. A voice so quiet Frisk almost had to confirm with herself a few times whether she actually heard it or not.
Toriel,
After everything is done,
And before I can finally truly go home,
I will find a way to repay the kindness you've shown me.
I promise.
Was that- Ed's soul? Frisk thought curiously. Unaware of a heat that was growing in her face and stomach.
Anyu then huffed. "If you guys are going to go into round 11 you need to let the kid know right now."
"Eleven?!"Frisk blurted out, now painfully aware what she was staring at.
This caused Anyu to snicker and the PDA to end abruptly. By Ed running into a corner of the room immediately, and Toriel nervously shape-shifting back to her normal more child-friendly "goat" form. After obscuring the vision of everyone with a massive puff of smoke that is.
"Well- well like I said," Toriel rebounded, as she nervously straightened out her dress. "You guys are always welcome to come back. The entrance is only a phone call away."
She started to walk away from the group then she turned back. "In the meantime, take care of each other will you not?"
"W- we will," Frisk said with an awkward smile.
Ed seemed like he was about to turn but decided against it at the last minute. He instead gave an ok symbol with his hand over his head. "You can count on me!"
Now content, all things considering, Toriel nodded then said. "I'll see you guys soon. Be good."
And with that Toriel walked back the way she came. Leaving the group to their devices.
Anyu padded over to the fidgeting man in the corner with a grin on her face. "Need help Mr. Elephant?"
"No! I'm fine! Fine and not-like-a-happy-elephant, yup that's me!" Ed yelled in a panic. Then a few moments later he slumped against the wall and spoke again "I- I'm so sorry Frisk. I didn't mean for you to see me like this."
"It's- alright," Frisk placated nervously, still red in the face. "It's a n-natural response."
"In fact she quite liked what she saw," Anyu added, seeing the opportunity she waited for.
Ed tensed up and Frisk turned outraged. "No I didn't!"
"Oh? Then was you subconsciously opening your mouth while staring at the mage's staff a natural response as well?" Anyu pried with a grin.
"Shut up!" Frisk exclaimed in anger.
Ed groaned and curled up against the wall. "I'm going to Heckie. I'm going to Heckie, I'm going to Heckie."
"Ed I didn't see anything I promise!" Frisk stammered waving her arms in front of her with her eyes closed. She then began to placate when she saw Ed sit down, and cover his head with his hands. "A-and even if I did, I already know where babies come from, t-the birds and the bees and all that. I had to learn that before I could leave the orphanage to start living on my own."
Ed stopped shaking then a few moments later turned his head. "You are living alone too?"
"Er- well- my apartment is in the same building as my brother's so I'm not completely living alone," Frisk explained, a little surprised that what she was saying was the truth. Seems the holes in her memory were starting to fill themselves in faster than she thought they would.
"I'm surprised they let you leave so early," Anyu said.
"Oh yeah, people can register for the Rumor Mill at thirteen," Ed corroborated. "They can only do simple Tasks till they reach 15 but they get all the benefits that come with the membership. Like- having a home."
The conversation halted as a muffled sound of chimes came from the door. Followed by a musical accompaniment equally distorted by the walls of stone.
"I- guess that's our cue," Frisk said. "Everyone ready?"
"As I'll ever be," Anyu answered. She then turned to Ed. "You cooled down enough?"
Ed looked down at himself then turned around confidently. "I'm as cool as refrigerated macaroni."
"Swell," Anyu returned to Frisk. "Hope you're ready kid, anything can happen from here-on-out."
Frisk nodded with a determined look on her face. "I'm ready for anything."
Anyu then gave the command. "Alright Mage, do the honors."
Ed nodded then turned to the door. He then pointed at it with his eyes closed "Your war against the surface ends here King Asgore!"
And then to the surprise of the group, he rammed his full body into the door.
The door buckled, an "Unlimited-strength" wall of magical glass shattered, and the tunnel was filled with an almost blinding light. Along with a massive blast of freezing air and snow.
The group was now at the full mercy of the Underground ahead.
However the group was prepared for it.
Frisk was emboldened by her will.
Anyu was driven with ambition.
And Ed was filled with determination.
HOME SEQUENCE END
SNOWDEN SEQUENCE BEGIN