At first, Papyrus had purely reflexively headed towards Waterfalls. That was where Undyne would meet him for reports and training and he went there on foot nearly every day, which is why he hadn't immediately thought that riding the Riverperson's boat would get them to Hotland faster. He only realized that halfway between Snowdin and Waterfalls, and decided he wasn't going to turn back now. Besides, his baby monster was quivering in his arms. Better get to a warmer place first, then he'd figure things out. He'd look stupid if the baby caught a cold over shedding their fur.
They were barely past the area where the snow melted when Frisk signified to him, very clearly, that she loved Waterfalls. Her large hazel eyes kept wondering with amazement over her surroundings. She'd throw a fit of laughter when Papyrus lifted her over his head to cross high grass – "WHOOPSIE DAISY! COMING THROUGH!" The pretty shining stones, on the walls and ceiling, especially caught her eye. Sometimes, she'd reach out to try and touch them, and when he could, Papyrus would lift her again until she did.
It was late already, there were barely anyone outside at this hour. Everyone was having diner, or already in bed. Except for a few teenagers who'd sneak out and whose whispers the echo flowers would repeat each time Papyrus shoved them.
Wanna hear a joke?
Come on, we're gonna be l…
Over here!
Oh Mary~ Contrary~ How does your garden grow~
So the bear says to the snowman…
She was surprised, the first time. She had wiggled about, looking for the voice's owner, to the point she almost fell from Papyrus's arms. Then, after a few more tries, she ended up realizing the flowers were talking, and started crying out happily every time Papyrus touched one.
Tell me your wish.
Come on, let's swim!
… thes in the bushes, see?
Papyrus soon figured out what was amusing her this much and gladly "accidentally" shoved as many flowers as he could. He was almost forgetting about the baby monster's assumed illness. They didn't look sick at all, after all, he might as well take some time on the way to have fun. He suddenly had an idea.
"Baby! Do you want to see something very cool?" Frisk looked at him, oblivious. Papyrus settled her a little better on his arm, raised his other hand to his mouth like a megaphone and yelled : "NYEHEHEHEHE I AM THE GREAT PAPYRUS, FUTUR AMAZING MEMBER OF THE ROYAL GUARD!" Frisk slapped her little hands over her ears, emitting a high-pitched cry to show her disapproval. Papyrus apologized by cradling her a little, then, without another word, picked up a stone lying on the floor and threw it in the middle of an echo flower patch. An opera of Papyrus voices suddenly flowed into Waterfalls, and Frisk forgot about being angry.
Nyehehehehe I am the Great Papyrus, future amazing member of the royal guard!
… am the Great Papyrus, future amazing member of the royal guard!
… hehe I am the Great Papyrus, future amazing member of the roy…
Frisk laughed and clapped her hands, pleased. Papyrus bowed his head like a king, flattered. He walked faster, shoving as many flowers as he could on his way, as they sung his phrase around them.
… the Great Papyrus, future amazing member of the royal guard!
… Great Papyrus, future amazing member of the…
… Papyrus, future amazing member of the royal guard!
"Papyrus, what the heck are you doing?!"
Papyrus jumped and stopped, almost falling over. He turned around. Undyne, hair down, wearing only a tank top and sweat pants, was staring at him with a completely perplexed look. The skeleton looked around, a little surprised. He hadn't realized until now, but his running had brought him very close to the Royal Guard Captain's house.
"Oh, hello Undyne! I was playing with Baby… Nyehe, I guess we're a little bit too noisy, aren't we?"
The fish lady didn't answer, her stunned eye stuck to the little girl wiggling in Papyrus's arms as she didn't understand why the game was over. Papyrus followed her gaze and his face lit up.
"Oh, you two are not introduced yet! Baby, meet Undyne! Undyne, this is Baby!"
"Where did that come from?" Undyne exclaimed, still very perplexed.
"From… My closet? I found them at home, and now I'm bringing them to Dr. Alphys."
"Why?"
"Because they are shedding! They might be sick!"
Undyne sighed and pinched her forehead. "For the love of Asgore, Papyrus, they are not shedding."
"How would you know?"
"Because humans don't have any fur to shed!"
"Uh… I know? What about it?
"Oh my God, Papyrus!" yelled an exasperated Undyne. She pointed at Frisk. "This. Is. A. Human."
Papyrus blinked once or twice and looked at the little girl in his arms. "That's a human baby?"
"That's a human baby," Undyne repeated.
"It's a human baby!" Papyrus's face lit up with a huge smile and he started jumping up and down, completely overexcited, causing Frisk to laugh. "Does this mean I finally captured a human?"
"I guess?" Undyne shrugged but couldn't repress the large smile deforming her jaw as she witnessed the joy of the adorable idiot she called her student. She hesitated for a moment when she saw the cute little thing giggled in the skeleton's arms, and shook her head. Orders are orders. She reached out. "Give it to me, now. I'll bring it to the king."
"Oh, yes, yes, right!" Papyrus took a few steps, then looked at Frisk and looked puzzled. "Uh, hey, Undyne? Why does the king want humans, by the way?"
"To break the barrier, of course!" Undyne said a little too fast. Papyrus looked confused.
"I don't think Baby knows how to do that either."
"No but… It… Gaaah, Papyrus, I'm tired, ok? It's too late for this kind of questions! Give it to me so we can get this over with!"
"But it's a baby!" Papyrus cried, almost offended. "You have to be careful, they're fragile!"
Undyne gritted her teeth. "I know, I'll be careful, I promise."
That's not so sure, actually, Papyrus thought without daring to say it out loud. A drop of sweat was slowly rolling on his temple. Undyne was growing urgent, something was wrong. The skeleton might be naturally innocent, but he wasn't as thick as he let show. In his arms, Frisk's eyes travelled between him and Undyne, filled with curiosity. "O… Of course you'll be careful, Undyne!" the skeleton said with a big smile, hoping to deescalate the growing tension. "But maybe the king didn't think Baby couldn't open the barrier. What if I came with you, we could talk about it, what do you say?
Undyne sighed between he clenched jaws, tense, and her eye quickly looked around before focusing on Papyrus again. Yes, clearly, something was wrong. "Stop that, give it to me, go home and forget about it, do you hear me?"
"Eh, but why? Undyne, I have the very vague feeling there is something you do not wish to tell me."
"Damn it Papyrus, that's it!" the fish lady snapped at him, and Papyrus jolted. The hand she held out turned upwards and closed around a suddenly materialized magic spear. Others appeared behind her, dangerous, ready to throw. "As head of the Royal Guard and in the name of king Asgore, I ask you to hand the human to me."
"Undyne, please!" Papyrus held Frisk closer. The little girl wasn't laughing anymore, she looked shared between confusion and panic. She started to whine, frightened. "You are scaring me, what's wrong? We can always talk!"
"Undyne, n-no! Don't hurt them!"
Undyne and Papyrus both jumped. Sans on his brother's side in a second, aggressive, protective, left eye lit with a dangerous bright blue. As for Alphys, she walked hesitatingly into the space between the skeletons and the fish lady, trying not to look too terrified.
"Alphys? What the hell is your problem today, you all!?" Undyne roared. "Let me do my fucking work, damn it!"
"Undyne, killing the human won't do any good!" Alphys spat in one breathe.
Papyrus jumped, but didn't say anything. Frisk had started crying in his arms, scared by all the yelling. Sans wanted to slap Alphys. Neither him nor Undyne had ever had the nerve to tell Papyrus the truth about the humans' fate when they were brought to the king. Undyne, filled with rage, now seemed far from those worries.
"Alphys, get out of my way!"
"N-n-no, Undyne, you don't get it…"
The Captain wasn't listening and seemed about to attack, completely mad with some sort of overwhelming rage. Sans reacted immediately. The monstress's soul went blue and she was suddenly stuck to the ground. A bone broke the spear in your hand, just in case. "Damn, dude, you need to see someone about your anger issues," he commented casually.
Undyne hissed at him like an angry cat, but Sans was holding her soul. It would last a few minutes, at most, so the skeleton was getting ready to take his brother and teleport. Papyrus was petrified, stunned, like he couldn't believe what was happening. Frisk was sobbing in his arms, terrified.
Alphys gathered up her courage and walked up to her, slowly. "Please, Undyne, calm down."
"You're on their side? What's wrong with you Alphys? That's a human!"
"I know but…"
"The king needs their soul! We are this close to breaking the barrier, Alphys!"
"Undyne, you have to listen to me! This is all just a huge misunderstanding! But first, please, calm down, you are scaring everybody!"
Undyne's incredulous gaze stayed on her for a moment, then rushed to Sans, Papyrus. Frisk. She pressed her face against the ground, deliberately bumping her own forehead, and gave a good long yell while punching the stone, so loud the cave's walls trembled around them. Frisk echoed with a long terrified screech.
Undyne finally looked up, slightly calmer, and looked at Alphys again. "You've got five minutes to convince me, Al', and I hope you know what you are saying."