Flowey: So, how's it feel to write your final chapter? I've won now, so there's no need for more. Witness my triumph!
Disclaimer: Undertale and Earthbound don't belong to the author. They belong to Toby Fox and Shigesato Itoi respectively.
Flowey: Hey, are you even listening?!
Chapter 6: Home Sweet Goodbye
"4th-D Slip…"
"Die!"
Ninten's HP: 0.
I stared at the ground uncomprehendingly.
Ninten's HP: 0.
That...That couldn't...It…
Ninten's HP: 0.
He couldn't be…
Ninten's HP: 0
...Dead. Ninten was dead.
I screwed up my eyes, feeling a hot sharp pain behind them. I wouldn't cry, I wou-
Tears started to flow and I hiccuped.
He couldn't be dead!
Ninten's HP:...0?
N…! N…! Looks like you got your head handed to you-
Not quite yet!
I relaxed my grip and the body dropped to the floor with a thump. I watched it with a smile, my entire face aching.
"Heh. Serves you right. Now then, to take your SOUL…"
I waited eagerly for the SOUL to appear. Maybe it wasn't quite to plan, but this was still a good thing! A human SOUL, all for himself! Now he could make the brat suffer for good…
The SOUL didn't appear.
I glared at the corpse.
"C'mon...Give me your SOUL!"
Did I shatter it? No, I was too careful to do that. But if I didn't shatter it, then the SOUL should be-
The body stirred.
I stared at it, motionless.
"No...How…?"
The body lifted it's unbroken hand and pulled itself to its knees.
I took a step back.
"You're dead! I killed you!"
The body stood up shakily and gave a wet cough.
'Did you?'
I stared at Ninten incredulously.
"Have you looked at yourself?" I asked slowly.
'Nope.'
I sighed.
"I'm going to have to kill you for real now, you know that? You're just making it harder on yourself."
'Bite me.'
I sighed. And pulled myself to my full height, the ground crumbling beneath me.
"GOODBYE, NINTEN…!" I grinned.
Ninten gave a weak nod.
'Goodbye…'
I charged towards Ninten, snarling.
Ninten's SOUL glowed with faint blue power. And then he disappeared just, as my vine harpooned through him.
"Wait, what-?"
I landed on the ground. Which was really painful, even with the leaves cushioning my fall.
Carrot cakes...That was worse than fighting a pack of Silver Wolves. It was worse than a bunch of Titantian! It was worse-
I suddenly became aware of sobbing and with some difficulty, I turn my head.
Frisk was staring at me , tears running down their eyes.
I wonder why their cryin-
Oh.
It was kinda sweet in a weird way, knowing that someone would cry over you if you died.
I didn't trust my voice with speaking so instead I mustered up my mind, marching through the pain.
'Frisk...Toriel…'
They both looked at me in shock, and I tried to give a smile and a thumbs up, even if I probably looked like a tomato in a blender.
'Nice job Frisk-!'
Gurk!
Frisk's tears were hot and their grip was strong as they held you, shaking.
Like I said, it was kinda swee- Oh, blacking out now.
…
…
H-Hello…? H-Hello, is anyone there?
….Help….
O-Oh! Oh no, are you hurt!
...gh…
H-Hang on, I'll get some help. Mom! Dad!
...
…
I woke up with a start and slapped my hands over my mouth. I didn't need to bother though. Ninten was still fast unconscious. I stared at him for a moment before shifting on Chariel, which had become a permanent fixture of the room, to become more comfortable. Ninten laid silently in the bed, bandages wrapped around his head and body. At least he was still breathing? I shook my head and frowned. It had been a day, and he still wasn't awake. He didn't even move. If it wasn't for the fact that he was breathing, he looked- I shook my head. Bad thoughts!
"Frisk?" I turned to see Mom standing by the door. She smelled like freshly baked pie, and I'd be excited about that if…
"He's still not awake, is he?" Toriel said softly, walking up to the bed.
I shook my head and turned back to Ninten. A moment later I felt Mom's paw resting on my shoulder.
"Frisk, perhaps you should go outside for a moment? You cannot stay in this room forever."
I knew why she was saying it, but I was reluctant to follow her advice. What if Ninten woke up while I was gone.
I thought for a moment. What if he woke up? It didn't matter if I was here or not. I looked up at Toriel, who gave me a soft smile. I nodded and slipped off the chair, walking into the hall. I glanced behind me and saw Toriel hanging over Ninten, her hands glowing with healing magic.
The house was empty. It usually was, but now I actually felt it's emptiness. It was too quiet, too small. I don't know why I felt this way, but I had the irresistible urge to leave the RUINS right away. But I couldn't just yet, so I waited patiently.
I made my way to the door of the house, pausing. Toriel had explicitly told me not to go outside into the RUINS. And I know why she said that. But I had the feeling that if Flowey wanted to he could easily break into the house even if he needed to tear down its walls. I shivered at the thought, and start to walk away. There was a knocking sound on the door. I froze and turned to the door warily. Something knocked on the door again. Should I open it? I thought for a moment, before reaching for the door knob. Flowey wasn't the kind of person to knock on the door politely. So it had to be someone else, right?
I opened the door slowly and peeked outside. Whimsalot saluted.
"Tally Ho, young squire!"
I smiled and opened the door. Whimsalot hovered into the house and looked around.
"I say, is the Ruinkeeper around?"
I nodded.
"Ahah! I need to see her at once!"
I shook my head.
"Busy…"
I thought I could make out Whimsalot frowning under his armor.
"Hmm. Tis a problem. There is an urgent matter!"
I look at Whimsalot curiously and he hovers silently for a moment.
"We've found something from the surface," Whimsalot said at last.
I blink in surprise. Something from the surface.
"What…?" I ask. Whimsalot shakes his head.
"I cannot make head or tail of it. But it is nothing from the Underground, that is for certain." I frown at that. Something from the Surface...I think of Ninten. Could it be something that belonged to him? Or…? I frown while Whimsalot hovers in the air, wings fluttering. I come to a decision and turn towards the door.
"I'll go…" I said. Whimsalot bounced. "Truly? Very well. Let us be off!"
I walk out the door and close it quietly. Whimsalot flies ahead and beckons towards me. I quickly follow him and we walk past the… I stopped and stared at the remains of the Old Tree. IT has been torn to splinters, the stump torn out by its roots and tossed to the side. And you could just make out scratched writing in the bark of what remained.
You're next
I shudder and quickly turn towards Whimsalot. "Let's hurry…!"
I watched as Ninten slept. The bandages would not need cleaning again, and she had patched up his tattered clothes. His injuries had been healed to the fullest extent her magic could heal them. All that was left was for Ninten to wake up. I stared at the boy- because for all his bluster he was still a boy, sadly. This was all my fault. If I had been with him when that...wretch had attacked, he would not be so injured. If I hadn't run away. Or if I hadn't attacked them in the first place…
I shook my head. There was always time later to feel guilty. Now wasn't the time. I sighed and brushed some of the hair out of Ninten's face. And suddenly he stirred. I paused and watched him carefully. It wasn't much, but he moved slightly, groaning.
"Ninten?" I said softly.
Ninten's voice came out as a harsh, wordless croak and his eyes screwed up shut as he curled in on himself. I watched him and wondered what had happened to him in the past. A glimmer of anger flared as I thought about how he had been sent to save the world. He was just a boy! If she ever met whoever had decided that was a good idea, then she'd-
Ninten trembled and I acted immediately, placing a hand on his head. He tensed. "There there…" I whispered. "Everything will be alright…" I started to hum and slowly Ninten relaxed, his face became peaceful once more. And I watched sadly. What indeed had happened to this boy, to have scars like that?
Oh, holy plum cakes everything hurt.
I was vaguely aware of becoming conscious again, though I couldn't be quite sure since everything was muffly and dark. There was some sort of cloth on my face and body.
It took me a moment to realize my eyes were closed. I debated opening them, before deciding to heck with it and waking up. The light blinded me and I tried to say something along the lines of 'Oh god, light.'
It came out as "Aghrodlihts…"
Something blurry blocks the burning light and for a moment you blink rapidly, trying to see it. Your vision focuses and you see a mountain of white fur.
"...Toriel…?" I croak out. My throat was as dry as the Yucca Desert and I started to cough violently. Which in turn made my body jerk with the coughs. Which in turn pain.
"Drink."
I reach for the glass through teary vision and grab it. The only reason it doesn't topple from my hands is a hasty Telekinetic grab. I bring the glass to my lips, wobbling slightly, and start to sip gingerly. I expected cool water. Not warm cider. It took all my concentration not to start coughing and spluttering. Instead, I tipped the glass a little further back. The cider was rich and strong. It was like drinking the essence of apples topped with sprigs of cinnamon. It was loads better than that Spider Cider from before, no offense to the spiders. And as I drank it I could feel my body melt, the pain fading. I don't surface for breath until I'm finished with the glass and as the last drop passes through my lips I take a deep breath. Toriel takes the glass from my hands gently. I turn towards her. She smiles at me, though I could make out bags under her eyes.
"Ah, Ninten. You are awake!"
I nod, not sure what to say. Toriel doesn't seem to mind the silence, and busy's herself by placing the glass on a plate and standing up.
"I shall go grab some food. Wait here for a moment-"
"Wait."
Toriel pauses midstep and looks at me, her face radiating concern. A small part of me sneers at that. I didn't want to be coddled, it said venomously. As I usually did, I ignored it. I was covered in bandages and ached all over and- Well, I could darn well use some coddling. It was only a moment later that I realized I'd been silent for a good moment. I flushed and trying to think of something to say.
"Heheh."
I paused as Toriel chuckled and sat down once more, offering me a patient smile. I...I decided to shift the conversation.
"So," I looked down at the bandages swaddling me, "I guess I got the mummy treatment, huh?"
"You should not joke about that, Ninten," Toriel scolded. "You were on the brink of death when you appeared. You gave both Frisk and I a horrible shock."
I scratched the back of my head guiltily.
"Er, sorry about that…"
Toriel sighed.
"It's okay. As long as you promise not to do something like that again," Toriel smiled, "You may be brave, but please look after yourself."
I nodded.
"I'll try ma'am."
"There is no need to call me ma'am. I may be old, but…" Toriel was silent for a moment before shaking her head.
"Just call me Toriel." I don't know if she was doing it on purpose, but she was looking at me with a kinda scary glare. I nodded quickly.
"Toriel. Got it."
Toriel smiled and I sighed internally.
"So, what happened after I, uh..."
"Dropped by?" Toriel offered.
I stared at her for a moment.
"...Appeared."
If Toriel frowned, she did it too fast for me to see.
"We immediately rushed you inside. I had to stabilize you quickly. After that, we placed you here to rest."
I looked down at the bed. It was the second time waking up after an injury. At least it was soft.
"How long have I been out?" I asked, dreading the answer. If I had lost another three days…
"You've been out for about a day."
I stared at Toriel. Just...Just a day? With the beatdown he had gotten?
Magic was a scary thing.
I realized something suddenly.
"Hey, where's Frisk?" I asked. I could've done a Telepathic sweep of the house...If I hadn't been run over by a very thorny tumbleweed of course.
Toriel blinked and turned towards the door.
"Frisk!" she called out.
Silence.
"Frisk! Ninten's awake!"
More silence.
"Frisk?"
Crickets would've been welcome at this point.
I could feel the worry and fear that was staining Toriel's mind. Not that I was doing any better, tensed and looked at every shadow to see if there was a flower lurking…
"...Yes…?"
Toriel visibly sagged in relief and I let out a breath when we heard Frisk's voice. A moment later Frisk appeared by the doorway. Toriel stood up and hugged them.
"Don't worry me like that again," she scolded. Frisk mumbled out an apology before looking at me with a small grin. I waved and offered my own.
"Yo!"
"Yo…"
I grinned and threw the covers of my body, swinging myself off the bed. And onto the cold floor below.
I smiled at Toriel while rubbing the bandages over my arms. I had found multiple bandages over my body and face while changing from my PJs into my clothes. Clothes that had been sewn carefully by Toriel.
"Thanks for fixing my clothes, Toriel. These are my favorites."
Toriel smiled.
"You are welcome. But please, do not pick at your bandages. You will never heal otherwise."
I stopped picking at the bandages. Heh, I kinda looked like Teddy after a bad fight!
"Okay then, Toriel-" I took a seat at the table, "-What did you want to talk about?"
Toriel sighed and took her own seat. She stared at me for a good while, her face expressionless. Frisk, who had been walking around carrying some heavy books, paused before setting them down with a thump and walking over to them.
"I will not stop either of you from leaving the RUINS," Toriel began. "I fully intend to join you, of course."
Frisk smiled and gave Toriel a brief hug. Toriel gave a small smile and patted their head. I felt a slight pang, and shake my head. Toriel turned back to me, serious.
"However, I feel as if I should ask what you intend to do."
"What do you mean? All we got to do is get to the Barrier, and-"
"And do what?" Toriel asked calmly. I thought wildly for a moment.
"Break it?" I said weakly.
Geez, was that all?
"The only way to break the Barrier is to gather seven Human SOULS," Toriel said.
"Ah, but the Barrier was made a long time ago, right? Now there might be something that can destroy the Barrier! All we have to do is get past it!"
I smiled at myself, pleased with my suggestion. That would totally work! All they needed to do was get to the outside world, and my grandfather's lab might have something-
"I'm afraid that it won't be that easy," Toriel interrupted.
Frisk and I blinked and looked up at her. She wore a weary expression.
"...?" Frisk tilted their head and tugged on Toriel's sleeve.
"Frisk...Ninten…" Toriel sighed.
" A Human SOUL alone is not strong enough to escape the Barrier. It would require the combined SOUL of a Human...And a Monster to escape."
Oh, darn.
"And Monster SOULS do not last like Human SOULS after death. They fade to dust almost instantly," Toriel was in her teacher mode.
"The only Monster SOULS that last after death are the SOULS of Boss Monsters."
"Boss Monsters?" I asked, not liking where this was going. Toriel nodded and sighed.
"There are only two Boss Monsters in the UNDERGROUND. The King of Monsters himself...And me."
Frisk immediately took Toriel's arm, holding it protectively. Toriel blinked in surprise, before laughing.
"Frisk, it is alright. I know neither of you would hurt me. But it still presents a problem. Unless we take the King's SOUL...You cannot escape the Barrier."
Frisk vehemently shook their head.
Toriel looked at them sadly.
"Frisk...The King was the one that started this war with any Human that enters the UNDERGROUND...He will not...Cannot show you any mercy."
Frisk puffed their cheeks out and shook their head again.
"Frisk?"
"…won't hurt...I won't hurt anyone!" they declared.
Toriel gave them a bittersweet smile.
"Frisk...You are a sweet child."
"They're right, though. We don't have to hurt anyone."
Frisk looked at me expectantly.
"What do you mean, Ninten?"
I grinned and raised a finger.
"4th-D Slip," I said, satisfied.
Toriel and Frisk seemed confused.
"PSI…?" Frisk asked. I nodded.
"Yeah? You remember how I can appear out of thin air?"
Both of them nodded.
"Well, that's PSI Teleport. It allows me to go to anyplace I know very well. I need to run to do it, but it comes pretty handily."
"Teleportation doesn't work against the Barrier. It has been tried before," Toriel said sadly.
"Ah, but that's because when you Teleport, you only travel in three of the four dimensions," I explained.
Toriel and Frisk looked at me blankly and I sighed.
"Uh, let's see…"
Sometimes it was hard being smart.
"Y'know how there are four dimensions, right?"
"There are?" Toriel asked. I nodded.
"Yeah. You got the three dimensions of space- X, Y, and Zed-"
Frisk interrupted me.
"Zed?" they asked in confusion.
I nodded.
"Yeah, Zed. Anyway, you go those dimensions of space that you move through, right? Well, you also move through the fourth dimension. Time."
"Time?" Toriel repeated in surprise.
"Yes. Teleport can't move through Time. But 4th-D Slip can."
"Time-Travel…?" Frisk asked curiously.
I shook my head and sighed.
"No, thankfully. That'd be a real headache. 4-D slip allows me to escape anything by violating causality. Making effect happen before cause. It is a PSI that only I can use."
Frisk looked suitably impressed. As did Toriel.
"I admit, I do not understand all of what you've said. But is it true that you could use this power to get past the Barrier?"
I put my hands on the table and nodded.
"Yes. All I'd have to do is want to escape the Barrier. And I would. The effect would happen before the cause, and thus the cause would have to happen. It how I escaped Flowey."
Toriel and Frisk looked up at that.
"Truly? How?"
"I prepared a 4th-D Slip when it was clear that I wasn't going to win the fight. And because effect happens before cause, I escaped. And because I escaped, Flowey couldn't kill me. That make sense right?"
Based on Toriel's and Frisk's face, it really didn't. But they at least seemed to understand that 4th-D Slip was the ultimate escape.
Toriel thoughtfully cupped her face.
"...If what you say is true-"
"It is," I said.
"-Then, perhaps…"
Toriel looked hesitantly hopeful.
I stood up and walked to her.
"We won't know unless we try," I said honestly.
Frisk nodded and smiled at Toriel.
Toriel's returning smile was small. But it was there. There was hope in her eyes.
"Hey, Toriel? Can I ask you a question?"
"Hmm? What is it, Ninten?" Toriel asked, washing her paws. I thought about how to ask this politely.
"Er, do you and the King of Monsters know each other?"
Toriel froze, as did her mind. Not that I was reading it. But you couldn't turn off PSI, just like you can't turn off your eyes. The only thing you could do was not look.
Toriel had a pretty good poker face, all things considering. But there were small tells. The soft sigh she gave, the way she tensed before relaxing. Her thoughts going from a buzz to a carefully blank.
Oops.
"Er, I'm sorry. I'll just leav-"
"What brought you to that conclusion?"
I stopped midstep and looked behind me. Toriel was staring at the wall, her arms on the sides of the sink.
"...You said that you were the only other Boss Monster, aside from this King," I said, turning around.
Toriel gave a mirthless chuckle.
"Yes. We have a shared history."
Oh, I was so curious. But I knew how people reacted. The kind of history Toriel was talking about probably wasn't the kind of history people liked talking about.
"Oh. Okay."
Toriel remained silent and I looked around awkwardly.
"Uh, I'll go see what Frisk's doing-"
"Ninten."
I stopped. Toriel's voice was serious.
"You will face the Monster King no matter what. I...I will try to be there for you, but-"
I didn't say anything.
"If you and Frisk are to face the King Of Monsters alone, Angel forbid...Then, please. Protect Frisk. Kill the King."
…
"He won't allow you to leave with your lives. Though I am loathed to say it, the only way you can live? Is to kill ASOGRE."
I turned my head. Toriel's head was hung low, but her emotions were remarkably calm.
"...I understand."
I gave her a thumbs up, psychically adjusting my cap.
"No matter what, I'll keep them safe."
"...Thank you."
I left Toriel alone with her thoughts.
"Hey? You sure you should be outside?"
I turned around to see Ninten walking out the house. I smile and wave at him, motioning for him to sit. He jumps over to me, falling onto the leaves and sending them into the air.
"Hey…!" I said, brushing leaves out of my hair. Ninten just grinned.
"C'mon! It's leaves! You can't not play with leaves!"
I agreed and as such threw a handful of leaves at him. The leaves never hit him, instead hanging in the air lazily.
I stuck my tongue out. Ninten just laughed.
"You're cheerful today, aren't you?"
Then he looked at the dead tree in the yard. I followed his gaze sadly.
The tree that looked dead but still grew leaves was now in pieces. Its branches were shattered and its trunk was broken. Roots were exposed to the air, twisted and deformed. And on the trunk was carved a message-
"You're next," Ninten read carefully.
I looked at him in surprise.
"PSI…?" I asked.
"PSI," Ninten agreed. The smile fell off his face.
"Well, the flower sure as heck has some anger management problems, huh. Didn't need to destroy the tree like that."
I look around nervously for a grinning face or golden petals.
"Are you afraid of him?"
I turned to see Ninten looking at me. I hesitated whether to lie.
"...Y-Yes," I said honestly, looking away.
I could've just said no. It would have been a cool thing to say. Why did I say yes? Nobody liked a cry baby-
Leaves fell over my face and I brushed them away quickly.
"It's fine to be afraid y'know. I sure as heck am afraid of that weed."
I stopped and looked at Ninten in surprise.
"Afraid…?" I asked.
Ninten looked off into the distance.
"I've seen a lot of things on my adventures. A lot of amazing things. A lot of scary things."
Ninten's cap fell over his eyes.
"A lot of things I'd rather not have seen. And I met a lot of people. Good people, bad people…"
Ninten chuckled dryly.
"Flowey is up there as a really bad person, that's for sure. So yeah. He's scary...For a flower," Ninten added swiftly.
He looked at me.
"I don't know how many other bad people we'll meet. But! The key is to be able to meet them head on. Never let them have what they want. Always be determined."
I was plenty determined.
"Besides," Ninten grinned, "I got you're back!"
I grinned back and as if synchronized, we bumped our shoulders, laughing. And then I remembered.
"Wait…" I said standing up. Ninten tilted his head and I ran into the house quickly. On the desk next to a pot of water sausages was a small leather bag. I grabbed it and quickly ran back out to Ninten, plopping down next to him.
"What's that?" he asked curiously. With some effort, I tugged the bag open, old leather cracking.
"Found this near the entrance…" I said, picking up the objects I had found one by one.
A fluffy light blue towel, with a golden star embroidered onto it.
A little pin of a golden star.
A sealed jar full of little shiny crystals.
And three cassettes, the words on them faded beyond legibility.
I watched carefully as Ninten stared stonily at them.
He picked up the towel and muttered, "Always need a towel when hitchhiking."
He took the star silently and after a moment pinned it on his chest, alongside the franklin badge.
He looked at the jar curiously and tried to open it. And tried again. And once more, grunting loudly and eyes glowing. After a moment of staring at it, he put it aside.
And then he gingerly picked up the cassettes.
"…Thought I lost these things," he whispered.
I looked at him. He looked at the cassettes reverentially.
"Are…they important…?" I asked. A moment later I felt dumb. Of course they'd be important!
Ninten looked up.
"Huh? Oh, these? Yeah. They're cassettes for a Walkman. They're one of my…treasures, y'know?"
I nodded in understanding, thinking of the little trinkets I had collected.
"Ninten! Frisk! Lunch is ready!"
Toriel's cry echoed and I glanced at the remains of the tree. I shivered and quickly ran back into the house. And Ninten followed, objects floating around him like little moons.
"Ribbit."
"I didn't know Frisk was so popular," Ninten said. I glanced at him, before looking back at Frisk. They were currently talking happily to the various Monsters that had gathered to say goodbye. There were Whimsums, Froggits, Loox, Migosp. And Final Froggits, Moldessas, Astigmantisms, Migospel.
Frisk walked to and fro between them all, talking and smiling and laughing.
I smiled happily. My child...
"Toriel?"
I turned to see Ninten looking at me. My eyes were stinging, and I quickly wiped them.
"I'm fine," I said. Ninten didn't say anything and looked back at the crowd of Monsters.
"...They've made a lot of friends, haven't they?" Ninten said.
I nodded.
"Yes. I'm proud of them."
"It's nice that the Monsters are helping us too," Ninten said, looking at the pile of gifts next to them.
There were fresh vegetables from the Vegetoids, Monster Candies from the Forggits, eye drops from Loox. And a special gold card that proudly proclaimed Frisk to be a VIP of the Spider Bake Sale.
It made my heart warm, thinking about the friends Frisk made in the RUINS.
I looked at my home sadly. It had been home for so many years...It would be tough to say goodbye.
"They say home's where your family is," Ninten said casually.
I turned towards the young boy with a smile.
"I know. Still, it will be tough to say goodbye."
Because if they succeeded, then Monsters would go free.
Dare I hope?
"Toriel?"
I was brought out of her thoughts and turned towards Ninten.
"Yes, Ninten?"
"How are we going to take all of this?"
"Frisk? Are you awake?"
Frisk mumbled and tried to hide underneath their blanket.
"If you don't get up, I'll yank the blanket off."
"…" Frisk sat up and looked at me, their hair bedraggled. Not that my bedhead was any different.
"I need to talk to you. About…"
I took a breath and sat down at the end of Frisk's bed.
"…About SAVE and LOAD."
Frisk noticeably tensed. I stared at them.
"I don't expect you to talk about it if you don't want to. In fact, I don't need an explanation."
"…?" Frisk looked confused.
"I just wanted to say…Well, I understand what it's like having a power no one else has. I understand how scary it can be."
I scratched the back of my head and chuckled.
"I guess that's the only reason I woke you up. Uh, sorry about that. I-I'll just let you get to bed."
I quickly got up to my feet and left the room, not looking back.
Geez, what was I thinking?
I listened to the footsteps as they receded. I smiled to myself. Yes, Frisk had made some good friends. And Ninten was a sweet child. I looked around the dark house . How long had this been my home? As long as the War had started. I almost could pretend to forget what life was like before the War.
"Look at this, Mom! Look at what I found!"
I clenched my paws and took a deep breath.
How many children had she seen come and go?
Frisk wouldn't be one of them-
There was a sudden knocking on the window and I turned towards it swiftly. The candles around me flared to life and I glared at the window calmly.
Nothing happened and I slowly put a lid on my magic.
Frisk wouldn't be one of them. I swore it on the Angel itself.
"Long time…" I said, fidgeting and adjusting the backpack on my shoulder.
"She'll be here. Don't worry," Ninten said while levitating a few pebbles and shrugging his shoulders. The backpack he had taken from Home had been found unharmed, and now was even more full.
"Wanna see me do it again?" he asked with a grin.
I nodded excitedly.
"Alright. Now...Behold!"
The pebbles floating in Ninten's hands started to spin rapidly until they became a grey blurry ring. I clapped. We were interrupted by the sounds of heavy chains and a lock. We looked up the stairs.
"Toriel?" Ninten called.
"Just a moment!" There were footsteps, and Toriel appeared at the base of the stairs. Both of us stared at her for a moment. She fidgeted.
"Is something wrong?"
I glanced at Ninten and back at Toriel. She was wearing a heavy grey coat over her normal clothes, a long multicolored scarf around her neck, purple hat over her horns, and large green boots and gloves.
I was aware of Ninten trying not to laugh. I took Toriel's hand and smiled.
"You look good, mom…"
Toriel smiled happily.
"You think so? I was trying to disguise myself."
"It worked perfectly."
I shot Ninten a look. He kept his face straight.
"Ah! You two should take these as well."
Toriel handed us two worn coats. Mine was a soft periwinkle color. Ninten's was a dark red.
"Why the coats?" Ninten asked as he put it on.
Toriel answered while helping me put on the too big coat.
"Outside the RUINS lies Snowdin Forest. A frigid wood perpetually covered in frost. It would be best for you to bundle up."
I smiled as Toriel wrapped me up snugly.
"Makes sense. It can't be too bad, though."
Toriel didn't say anything and stood up to her full height before looking at the stairs evenly.
I took her hand and squeezed it gently. Toriel looked at me and gave me a smile.
"Shall we get going?"
I nodded and turned to Ninten.
"Right then! Let's go!"
Flowey: That damn brat...That damn, stupid, psychic brat!...I'm going to kill him! All these changes are his fault...Everything...He shouldn't be here...I'm going to kill him!
….
"I am the future of this world…"
AN: Hey, everything ended up alright! And I still gotta a lot more chapter to write-
Flowey: Oh shut up!
-So lucky me. In the games, 4th-D Slip was an instant escape always unless you were fighting a special boss. Ninten's explanation is my own interpretation of what that means, with the clue its name gives. So while Ninten doesn't have a special attack move, he does have the ultimate escape/defense.
Whimsalot appears in the Ruins in Hardmode.
So now our heroes have a plan to escape the Barrier. Will it work? And just what is the history between Toriel and the King of Monsters? Tune in next time! Remember to review!
