Disclaimer: Undertale and Earthbound do not belong to the author. They belong to Toby Fox, and Shigesato Itoi and Nintendo respectively. Mother:Cognitive Dissonance was created by handish2000.

Flowey: Right, this isn't really a surprise, is it? This loser of an author? He even changed the title of the chapter! Geez, what the-

(...): HeLlo, What'S thIs?

Flowey: Wait, who the heck are you?!

(...): hOW InterEsTinG. i DO BeliEve thAt ThIs wIll bE usEful.

Flowey: Answer my question!

(...): AnD WhO Are YOu? nO mAttEr. gO AwaY.

Flowey: You can't tell me what to d-

...

(...): BeTTer.


Chapter 14: Shadows in the Corner

The Underground would never cease to surprise me. From the comfortable RUINS to the frigid Snowdin. And from the frozen Snowdin to the damp Waterfall. As PAPYRUS and I ran further into the Underground it became warmer and wetter, and the layer of snow that blanketed the ground became thinner and thinner. Until suddenly my legs hit stone. I was so used to the snow of Snowdin that I stumbled slightly. I would've fallen on my face for the second time that day if PAPYRUS hadn't caught me.

"CAREFUL, FRISK," PAPYRUS admonished me.

I nodded, face hot in embarrassment. But there was no time for that. We had to catch Ninten!

I quickly ran forward, beckoning PAPYRUS to follow me. And after a moment he did, walking after me. The deeper we went into Waterfall the darker it got until the only light was patches of glowing fungi on the wall and crystals hanging from the ceiling. Coupled with the cold damp air and the streams of water cascading from the ceiling, it was completely different from both the RUINS and Snowdin. I had stopped running, stumbling in the darkness as my eyes tried to adjust, and PAPYRUS was directly behind me, making sure I didn't fall.

"FRISK?"

I glanced at PAPYRUS, curious. I couldn't see the skeleton's face clearly in the dark, but…

He looks worried?

PAPYRUS glanced at me and I asked him to go on.

"IT'S JUST...HOW SHOULD I PUT THIS...YOU HAVE ENCOUNTERED THE ROYAL GUARD DOGS, YES?" he asked.

I nodded, remembering the dogs that had hounded Ninten and I throughout Snowdin. But I had met them in Grillby's and they seemed nice.

At least when off the clock…

"WELL, WATERFALL IS FAMOUS! FOR BEING THE HOME OF…" PAPYRUS coughed nervously and I stopped and stared at him.

What's wrong with him? I didn't take for PAPYRUS to be the nervous sort.

I nodded, feeling nervous myself, and asked PAPYRUS what was wrong.

The skeleton stared at me before sighing.

"WATERFALL IS FAMOUS FOR BEING THE HOME OF THE CAPTAIN OF THE ROYAL GUARD-"


We ran. I ran. Away from the Ruinkeeper, who was painfully overbearing. Away from the Tall Skeleton, who was too loud. Away from the Thief, who had taken what was Hers and-

Who was she?

I stopped and clutched at my head in the darkness. It was still cold but it was a damp cold, not the sharp dry cold of that snowy town. In the darkness things whispered. We screwed our eyes tighter, our tail thrashing, as red things leaked from the dark and curled around us, screaming in our ears- youfailedyoukilledwhathaveyoudonewhatwouldshehavesaidmothermothernintenninten-!

'Shut up!' I roared. The tendrils of red disappeared and all was dark again. We opened- No! I. I! I was me! I was me! Not we! Me! I am-

Niiue.

The name rang in my head like a bell and the pain faded. Niiue. Niiue. That was my name. Not Ninten. No, Ninten was-

A Human who looked just like you, with the same shirt and hat. But with black hair, and brown eyes, and human, human, human-!

I opened my eyes, breathing deeply, trying to calm myself. Wherever I was was darker than anywhere else I had been in the Underground. But now, I could see in the darkness. I could see everything so clearly that I squinted my eyes, confused.

But that made sense, didn't it? I wasn't human, I was...I was…

Whatever I was, I apparently had night-vision.

Something moved in the corner of my vision and I turned. My pink tail waved to and fro slowly and I stared at it, frowning. Slowly I looked over myself. My skin, my claws, my paws. I even went cross-eyed trying to stare at my snout.

It was weird. There was the lingering sense of confusion, that I wasn't supposed to have paws and a snout and a tail, that I was human- But it was fading fast. Now I felt normal, I felt good, I felt-

Strong.

So strong! No longer using all my power to keep that illusion of humanity, my PSI was at full capacity! With the barest of thoughts I brought forth a torrent of fire between my hands paws easily under my control. I grinned and created fire, ice, and thunder, relishing with each use of PSI. I laughed as I created a Flash, mind expanding-

And suddenly I could feel all the Monsters around me as I expanded my senses. I felt the various minds as I passed over them, each mind a flicker of light in my mind's eye. Soon I reached my limits and I slowly I looked over all the minds in my radius. If I concentrated on a mind, all the others would fade but I could see more clearly the mind's emotions, thoughts, body!

This was Telepathy! Not that pale Human Imitation! Nothing that those Earthlings stole could compare to true PS-!

A bright mind suddenly flashed into view. Bright, compassionate, and oh so familiar-!

Frisk!

Before I knew it my mind hand snapped back into my head and I fell back, hitting the ground hard. I winced, baring my teeth as my ears pressed against my hair and my tail trashed. Soon the shock passed but I didn't get up. Instead I just laid there on the ground, looking up at the ceiling.

Frisk. Frisk! Frisk!

I had left them! I had abandoned them! The image of their face as I had been ready to run burnt into my mind and I felt guilt a thousand times more. Why!?

Because they were Human. They wouldn't understand. As soon as they saw me, the real me, they would-

Would what? I was talking about Frisk here! Frisk! If there was one Human would would be able to accept me without hesitation, it'd be them! Frisk loved everyone!

But Human, Human, not to be trusted, betrayal not to trust humanhumanba-!

I sat up in a flash, clutching my head again as red voices whispered again.

'Shut up, shut up!'

The voices disappeared again and I sat there.

If the voices said Frisk wasn't to be trusted, then I knew for fact that Frisk could be trusted. After all, they were my frien-

A friend I had left. Ran away. Abandoned.

I never knew it was possible to feel this much guilt!

I sat there for a moment, unsure of what to do.

I ran. But they were Frisk, my friend. But I had ran! Could I really just go back after that?

Of course I could. They were Frisk.

I smiled, something warm bubbling in my mind as I thought of them.

I had to go back, I thought, standing to my paws and turning back the way I had come.

I had to go-

!

Someone was near me. I immediately tensed and looked around. My ears stood up straight and my tail thrashed as I looked around. There was someone near me, I knew, but where-?

I slowly opened my mind. And for a moment all was quiet. And then a mind like a sword, like steel like all-burning fire-!


"-UNDYNE!"

PAPYRUS posed dramatically. I didn't know who this Undyne was, but his pose told me enough about her.

Captain of the Royal Guard? If she's the head honcho, she must be tough! Kenny said.

I gulped, suddenly imagining a huge imposing warrior.

"Are you guys talkin about Undyne!?"

I yelped and turned around. A small monster kid stood behind me, grinning eagerly. They looked like a yellow dinosaur, with scales and spines running down their head like a mohawk. Like all kids they wore a striped shirt, theirs yellow and brown. They were wearing brown shorts on their stubby legs, and brown shoes, but-

Where are their arms?

The monster kid was smiling so wide, eyes shining so bright, that if that had had arms they would have probably been waving them.

"OH, HELLO THERE, MONSTER KID," PAPYRUS said, looking down at the kid.

"Yo! So, are you guys sneaking out to see Undyne too!?" The Monster Kid asked.

I looked up at PAPYRUS, who looked down at me. Monster Kid stared at us.

Well, say something!

Stammering, I told Monster Kid that we were actually looking for a friend. PAPYRUS nodded furiously behind me.

"INDEED! A VERY DEAR FRIEND OF OURS HAS BECOME LOST, SO WE ARE SEARCHING FOR HIM!"

Well, that's not all we're doing…

"Yo, for real?" Monster Kid looked worried for a moment, before smiling.

"Well, I know who can help!"

Wh-who?

"Undyne of course!" Monster Kid's eyes sparkled.

"She'll be able to find your friend easily!"

Lost, I looked up at PAPYRUS for a bit of help.

PAPYRUS had cupped his chin in thought.

"IT IS TRUE THAT UNDYNE COULD HELP…" he mused.

"Dude, she can do anything!" Monster Kid gushed.

"...YOU ARE RIGHT! UNDYNE CAN DO ANYTHING! COME, FRISK! LET US FIND HER!" PAPYRUS exclaimed.

Before I could argue PAPYRUS grabbed me and started dragging me along. Monster Kid followed us eagerly and I could do nothing as both of them lead me towards the Captain of the Royal Guard.

Hopefully Ninten's having a better time.


I stared up at the armored figure looming above me, eyes wide. They had suddenly appeared from the darkness without warning. And they were huge! A good twice as tall as me, and at least three tonnes of intimidating metal, jagged in shape. The figures helmet was warped into a ferocious scowl and they had a glare as piercing as a searchlight. Caught in a gaze like that, I might as well have been in a tractor beam- I froze under the figures glare.

"Who…"

The figure's voice could only be described as menacing and I winced, ears pressing against the back of my head. The figure stepped closer, metal boot clanking against the ground.

"Who…"

I winced as red outlined my vision again and I closed my eyes, trying to ignore the whispers. Suddenly there was a pressure on my shoulder and I opened my eyes to see the figure glaring at me. I flinched back, trying to escape but the figure's grip was vice-like and I got nowhere.

"Who-"

'Get away from me!' I yelled. Or, tried to. My mouth opened but instead of words I yowled. But the telepathic backlash made the figure jerk back. Unfortunately they didn't let me go so I thrashed in their grip, summoning PK Fires that spun around me, burning firelight shining off the figure and-

"Settle down you brat!"

Before I knew it I was weightless as I was thrown away. Only quick thinking prevented me from slamming into the wall, which I knew would break something, as I hovered in the air. That voice...It was malevolent anymore-

"Didn't anyone ever tell you not to play with fire, punk!?"

-but it was extremely angry. I could feel the raw anger rolling off figure as she- and her voice had been unmistakably a female- as she glared at me. I started to back away warily, silent. And the figure suddenly grabbed her own head and- pulled it off?!

No, that metal was obviously armor, fool.

I didn't know what I had been expecting under the armor. But the shining blue scales did throw me off. She resembled a mix of human and those aquatic cold-blooded creatures that lived in the water-Newts? No, fish!- Her face was remarkably human, but she lacked their distinct nose and her eyes were yellow with slitted black pupils- Like yours. And sharp white teeth, two rows of teeth like knives were bared as the figure glared at me. Her bright blue scales were contrasted by the fiery red hair that was pulled tightly into a ponytail, and I couldn't help but stare. Whoever this woman was, she cut an imposing figure.

"Hey! ARE YOU EVEN LISTENING TO ME!?"

The sudden yelling made me flinch and I grabbed my ears, trying to protect them as the figure glared at me, anger in her gaze. Much to my surprise that anger suddenly died down and the woman's scowl turned into a small frown as she stared at me with an unreadable expression. Before I could react the woman- We can't keep calling her woman forever, then what can we call her?- ...Call her Pippi, Pippi? Why Pippi, she doesn't look like a Pippi-

"Hey, kid!"

I jerked back and fell to the ground as the woman suddenly grabbed my arms. Sudden pain lanced through them and I hissed and looked down, ready to yell at the woman to ease up a bit. But she was holding me gently, her thumb brushing against...burns?

I stared at the angry red burns that covered my arms. How…? When…?

You wrapped yourself with a PK Fire when she grabbed you. You aren't fireproof!

...How hadn't I noticed before?

Easy, because whats a burn compared to what you did-!

I closed my eyes and willed the voices to just shut up!

"Kid!"

My head blissfully clear I opened my eyes to see the woman glaring at me again and I couldn't help but shy back. The woman looked back down at my arms and frowned, before standing up. And hoisting me into the air because she was still holding onto me.

'What are you-?' I began, using Telepathy again. It seemed more natural than trying to use my voice.

"Quiet," the woman's voice was curt, but it lacked the bite from before, "We need to get those burns treated."

And with that the woman walked deeper into Waterfall, carrying me like a bag of groceries.

Well oh great, the voices are back Maybe Frisk is having a better time.

Frisk…


"THAT'S STRANGE. USUALLY THE HIDDEN SECRETS BEHIND WATERFALLS ARE MORE USEFUL."

I traded glances with Monster Kid, both of us sopping wet. PAPYRUS was similarly drenched, but was still standing under the waterfall in question. We hadn't gotten far before PAPYRUS and gotten distracted, insisting that he saw something behind a waterfall.

Not that he was wrong of course. There had been something behind the waterfall. I looked down at the dusty pink tutu I was holding in my hands.

As secrets go, this is pretty disappointing.

While I couldn't help but agree with Kenny, the tutu was very cute, and I was tempted to put it on.

What? C'mon, it's sopping wet.

Well, so were we. I stared at the tutu for a moment before shaking my head. No! We had a mission!

I quickly stuffed the tutu in the backpack and ran ahead to the relativity dry ground that wasn't the waterfall, waving at PAPYRUS and Monster Kid to hurry up. It only took PAPYRUS's a second to match my pace as we ran deeper into Waterfall, and it took Monster Kid a few false starts and falls, but the three of us ran further and further, past long grass and towards-

Pond!

Kenny's sudden warning startled me enough to stop and thus I didn't fall into the sudden pond of water in front of me. But my friends, without friendly voices in their head, ran on past me and-

I blinked as PAPYRUS ran over the water like it was solid ground, kicking up spray as he did. Monster Kid on the other hand-

*Sploosh*

I stared at the ripples of where Monster Kid had fallen in.

...They don't have arms. Can they swim?

After a moment a bubble bubbled up to the surface and I started to panic. I quickly shrugged off the backpack and leapt in. At the same time Monster Kid thrashed up to the surface and we barely avoided slamming into each other. A moment of sheer chaos and splashing followed but somehow I was able to drag both of us onto land. We rested on our backs for a moment, gasping. I flinched as Monster Kid suddenly laughed.

"Man, that was totally wicked!" I stared at them incredulously and they turned towards m, eyes shining as they smiled.

"You were so cool!"

Me?

Before I could try to stammer a response PAPYRUS called out from the other side of the pond.

"ARE YOU TWO OKAY?"

"Yo, we're fine man!"

A little soaked, but yeah…

I'm afraid soaked is the default state in Waterfall. Hope you brought a swimsuit.

I pouted, because I hadn't brought one. No one had told me.

"HMM. CAN YOU TWO SWIM OVER HERE?"

Monster Kid shook their head.

"Naw man, fraid I don't know how to swim!"

They both turned towards me and I blushed, looking down at my feet. I didn't know how to swim either.

"THAT IS NO PROBLEM. I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT THERE IS A WAY TO CREATE A BRIDGE! LOOK AROUND YOU!"

"Kay, dude!"

Monster Kid immediately ran off, looking to and fro for something. I was worried that they would fall again, but walked away to help search.

Try searching the walls Kenny suggested. I did so, sidling against the damp wall, looking for switch or a button or something.

Instead I found a small alcove. It was barely big enough for an adult to crawl into, but plenty big enough for me, and I knelt down and found-

Ooh, bridge flower! Kenny exclaimed as I examined the strange pale pink plants.

Bridge flowers? I looked up and spotted the sign above.

When four Bridge Seeds align in the water, they will sprout.

"Ooh, what did you find!"

Monster Kid suddenly appeared behind me and I barely stopped myself from falling on the Bridge Seeds. I quickly pointed at the sign and Monster Kid read under their breath before brightening.

"Ooh, maybe these will get us past that water!"

Probably.

I quickly grabbed a Bridge Seed, and Monster Kid, well...tried to. After a moment of struggling to pick it up in their mouth, I took pity on them. Which was why I probably put a Bridge Seed on their head. The strange plant somehow perfectly balanced on their head.

As soon as I did that I immediately regretted it and felt my cheeks flush. Monster Kid blinked and tried to look up at the plant on their head. There was a moment of mortified silence. Before Monster Kid grinned.

"Hey, this is a wicked idea!"

I blinked. There was no dishonesty in Monster Kid's voice. Slowly I smiled and chuckled, before laughing and putting a Bridge Seed on my own head. The plant must've been magic, because it also sat there perfectly balanced. I quickly took another one in my hands, still smiling, and rushed towards PAPYRUS.

When we had let all the seeds drift onto the water in a row the strange plants suddenly bloomed with large pink flowers big enough to steep on. I wasn't sure if they would hold my weight though- but Monster Kid ran forward, hurriedly telling me to hurry up, and the bridge held their weight. I took a tentative step onto the flower bridge and sighed in relief as it held my weight.

"CONGRATS, FRISK! YOU HAVE COMPLETED THE FIRST PUZZLE OF WATERFALL! A PUZZLE CREATED BY THE GREAT DR ALPHYS TOO! THAT IS NO MEAN FEAT!"

I blushed under PAPYRUS's praise, looking down at my feet.

"NOW, LET ME SOLVE THE NEXT PUZZLE! IT WILL BE OVER IN A FLASH! NYEHEHEHE!"

I watched as PAPYRUS ran towards another bunch of Bridge Seeds, Monster Kid following them. I was about to follow too-

Hey, what's with that room over there?

I blinked and look around.

There!

The room Kenny was talking about was wasn't really a room so much as it was a plank bridge that lead...somewhere.

I was too curious, and Kenny was encouraging me, so I walked over to the bridge. I quickly glanced over my shoulder, seeing PAPYRUS looking at something with a puzzled expression, before walking into the dark.

The bridge had lead into a room. And the room was small, with only a...park bench?

It was the type of bench you'd see in a park, but this one just sat in this small dark room who's only illumination was an Echo Flower.

I walked up to the flower, making sure I was silent, before giving it a prod.

"...I Just Wasn't Ready For The Responsibility."

I blinked at the strange, somber message. For some reason it sounded sorta familiar…

Hey, look under the bench.

I raised an eyebrow at Kenny's strange request before kneeling down and reaching under the bench.

You got an Abandoned Quiche!

I looked down at the battered spinach-egg pie in my hands, not sure what to make of it. Who tossed a quiche under a bench? Especially a bench that was in such a remote location?

Maybe whoever made it couldn't handle the responsibility? Kenny offered.

I frowned. What responsibility did a quiche give?

Kenny shrugged their shoulders.

"Don't ask me."

I blinked at the pale human child. Kenny blinked back at me, before squinting.

"...Wait a moment…"

"(23).(5).(12).(3).(15).(13).(5)..."

The sound of garbled static scraped down my spine and I whirled around to see the figure from before, grinning at me from the corner of the room.

I froze, wool filling my head as my legs seized. The only thing I could see was the grinning face, coming closer and closer to me.

Please…

No…

Go away!

Suddenly I was underwater, and the shock of it caused me to gasp. I got a lungful of water for my troubles, and I flailed underwater, trying to claw to the surface of the dark water, trying to breath-!

Arms grabbed me and hauled my out and I took deep breaths of air, choking and coughing. I heard PAPYRUS ask me if I was okay, but I was too busy coughing to hear properly. In my head Kenny babbled-

I was trying to drag you away, but I didn't see that the bridge was gone I'm so sorry-!

I coughed and coughed as PAPYRUS patted me on the back, and as I did I looked around for the shadowy figure.

But nobody was there.


Captain Undyne placed the cup of liquid, tea she called it, in front of me and I stared at it curiously. Hot, near boiling, heated water vapor rising from the surface, a strange yellow color, but the liquid it's called tea was in a cute little mug shaped like a fish.

Captain Undyne seemed to like fish. Fish house, fish mugs, fish mittens. Why? Was it because she was a fish- but she clearly wasn't. Air breathing, bipedal-

"Blugh!"

Captain Undyne violently sat down, most of her armor now resting where she had violently thrown it. Only her arms and lower legs still had the black jagged metal. The Captain of the Royal Guard's mood spiked into annoyance and she glared at me.

"What're you staring at?" she said, loudly.

-vocal and hotblooded too. No, Undyne wasn't a fished, she was a monster that resembled a fish superficially, so why did she like them so?

It is a bit stereotypical Oh great, the voices were still here.

"Punk? Are you even listening to me!?"

The sudden yell broke me out of my thoughts and I looked up at Captain Undyne, ears lowering and tail curling. My lack of control of my body was irking me wearing your heart on your sleeve? And what did that even mean?

But at least monsters did not have PSI. Otherwise my very thoughts wouldn't have been private. Captain Undyne's certainly weren't.

Well, not thoughts. But emotions were as clear as light itself. Clearer than light. My sight, taste, touch, hearing, smell, and chronalperception paled in comparison to my empathy. Not human empathy, but the empathy of...whatever I was, and with this ability I could feel the emotions of others-

And Captain Undyne's anger was slowly starting to peak in a brilliant flame that was about to explode. Oops.

I quashed down all my senses and the voices that niggled in my mind to concentrate on having a normal earthling conversation.

'Thank you' I said, nodding my head.

Captain Undyne narrowed her eyes and tapped her table with her metal covered claws. I couldn't help but notice that the table looked worse for the wear.

"Can't you speak normally?" she asked.

I couldn't help but feel embarrassed, even though I had no reason to.

'No. I'm afraid telepathy is the only way'

"Telepathy?" Captain Undyne leaned in closer and I leaned back. Interest leaked from her.

"What'd ya mean?"

I slightly panicked. Idiot, nobody here knew about PSI, and Captain Undyne wasn't Toriel or Frisk!

'Er, you know, talking with your mind!'

I stared at Captain Undyne, watching her emotions. Interest, distrust, confusion...excitement?

Desperately wanting to change the subject, I looked down at the tea that was now an appropriate temperature for consumption and lifted it up. Only belatedly did I realize that I had done it with telekinesis.

But it was too late to go back! Especially with Captain Undyne staring at me like that! So I instead decided to try to enjoy the drink. Hovering the cup closer to me I hovered it in front of my face and-

Ooh, you have a snout. Human drinking wasn't made for snouts.

I stared at the cup for a moment, unsure of what to do.

"Well?" Captain Undyne suddenly grumbled, "Are ya going to drink it or what?"

The tone of Captain Undyne's voice made me stick out my tongue to lap up the tea. Part of me was mortified- what was I doing? But the rest of me kept lapping up the tea, for it felt natural. And the tea tasted really good. I finished the cup greedily, grabbing it for the last drink, before placing it on the table. It was only when Captain Undyne coughed loudly did I realize she was waiting for me to say something.

'The tea is very good, thank you'

Even as I told her this, I felt buzzing in my arms and looked down. The first thing Captain Undyne had done after dragging me to her house was throw me into a chair and then violently bandage my arms. She had done the job well. Too well, really, and she might've cut off the circulation. But somehow the bandages helped the burns. And now I could feel the healing magic of the tea course through them.

Because food in the Underground healed, and that was just unfai-

"Fufufufufufu!"

It took me a second to realize that Captain Undyne was laughing. The Captain grinned at me, showing her razor sharp teeth.

"Of course it is! Asgore bought it, after all!"

Asgore King of the Underground, the one who demanded the human souls. I tensed, but Captain Undyne didn't seem to notice.

"Hey, punk? Mind if I ask you something?"

Before I could say anything Captain Undyne leered at me, leaning over the table.

"Who the heck ARE you?"

I froze.

'What do you mean?' I tried to keep my tone innocent. But I was currently sitting in the house of the Captain of the Royal Guard of Monsters. It was hard to be still in this situation, and my skin was crawled as everything told me to run.

"I mean, I've never seen you around before. You're probably from Snowdin, right?" Captain Undyne asked.

'No, I'm from-' I thought quickly. I couldn't say the RUINS, because no one but Toriel lived there. I couldn't say Snowdin, for obvious reasons. And I couldn't say Waterfall, for even more obvious reasons. '-I'm from…'

I was drawing a blank. Why didn't I just say I was from Snowdin!?

Captain Undyne was glaring at me.

"Well? Where are ya from?!"

I just stared at her, thoughts stalling.

'Home' I blurted out.

Captain Undyne blinked.

Where had that come from?

Well, everyone comes from a home shut up!

"You come from Home? For real?" Captain Undyne asked suspiciously.

'Er-'

"Ya sure ya don't mean New Home?" Captain Undyne pressed.

I grasped it like someone adrift in the void of space would an airlock.

'Yes, that's what I meant! I'm afraid I usually shorten it' I said quickly.

Captain Undyne crossed her arms, single eye still glaring at me.

"Well, you shouldn't. It's just confusing," she grumbled.

I sighed in relief, thankful that the Captain had accepted my lie so easily. I tried to relax and some tea would be nice right now.

"Hey, punk!"

Captain Undyne's yell made me flinch again. When I looked up at her, she was standing, holding a little device, a phone in her hand.

"What's your parent's number?" she asked.

I just stared at her. She rolled her eyes and glared at me.

"Your number, kid! C'mon! You've gotta know something as simple as that!"

'I-I don't have parents'

Why did that thought feel so bitter?

Captain Undyne blinked once. Then twice.

"Oh…" she trailed off, before scowling. But there was no anger directed towards me. Only awkwardness permeating the room. I looked away from Captain Undyne, trying to keep the sudden whirlwind of thoughts in my head.

Not a lie that we don't have parents.

Another lance of bitterness, something ugly curling up inside me. But why?

Try to remember, Geigue.

I almost snarled, trying to make the voice shut up.

A phone ringing made me look up. Captain Undyne was staring at the phone in her hands as it rung a cheery little tune. And then she fumbled with it, trying to answer.

"Hey, what is it!?" Captain Undyne barked. I couldn't hear the other end of the conversation, but I could feel Captain Undyne's mood lift up as she grinned. It wasn't a particularly friendly grin.

"I'll come right away, old geezer!" Captain Undyne yelled, before violently shoving the phone into her pocket. In a flash the Captain of the Royal Guard was outside the door, her house echoing with the force she had put in slamming it.

A second later the door opened just as violently and Captain Undyne peeked her head inside to glare at me.

"Hey, STAY here until I come back, punk."

Another booming slam. And less than a second later Captain Undyne peeked inside one more, her expression slightly more friendly, though it was hard to tell.

"And, uh, help yourself to any snacks if your hungry. Now STAY HERE!"

Another booming slam.

I waited for the Captain of the Royal Guard to enter once again, but after a moment of silence I realized that she had left for good.

This was my chance to leave. To escape. To find Frisk and-

I hesitated for a moment, before shaking my head.

First I'd find them. And then I'd figure out what to do later.

And so I quickly got to my feet paws and walked outside the door. I cast out my mind to make sure the Captain wasn't there, and after seeing that she was nowhere near by, I opened the door with a flick of my hands and made my escape from the angry house.

I hadn't gotten that far from the house when I had glanced up. And once more became lost in the ceiling. The Ceiling of Waterfall, with it's sparkling stones, looked like the night sky. A pale imitation, but I couldn't help but become lost in it. The rest of Waterfall seemed to disappear, fade away, and for a moment I felt like I was drifting through the depths of space.

G..e..e..g…

What was that.

I turned around and blinked. And I was still in the darkness, with only still points of light for illumination. I immediately flailed, trying to feel the stone under me, anything. But I just cartwheeled in the void.

G...e...gi…

Ge...gi…

Geegi

I froze, floating there for a moment. And hesitantly, I called out.

'Mom?'


"THIS IS THE WISHING ROOM!" PAPYRUS declared in a hushed whisper.

After fishing me out of the water, the skeleton had immediately placed me on his shoulders, stuffing my backpack into his own. I couldn't blame him, because I had worried him a lot. Apparently I had disappeared. By the time PAPYRUS had noticed, he and Monster Kid had already solved the puzzle, and Monster Kid had run off. But PAPYRUS had noticed the fact that I wasn't in the room, and had called out repeatedly for me. He had even reset the Bridge Seeds to try to find me. And then I had splashed into the water and almost drowned.

PAPYRUS had asked me what had happened, and for a moment I had been tempted to not tell him about the strange figure. Kenny had wanted to keep him in the dark. But...PAPYRUS was my friend.

So I had told him about the strange grinning figure. Everything- or, at least, almost everything. I had left out the part with Kenny and Ninten.

PAPYRUS had stared at me strangely after I told him, and I couldn't make out what he was thinking. And then he had reacted appropriately, hugging me tightly and asking me if I was okay.

After that he had just placed me on his shoulders. Not that I minded. I felt infinitely safer with PAPYRUS.

And the view is incredible! Kenny cheered.

I couldn't argue with that. Especially when PAPYRUS walked into the next room and I saw the ceiling.

Until now, Waterfall had been the darkest place in the Underground. And now, with the stars shining above, it was the brightest. I gaped up at the ceiling, mouth open.

It looks like the sky… Kenny whispered, just as amazed.

It was breathtaking. So much that for a moment I thought they were real stars. Then as my eyes adjusted I realized that they were just crystals, embedded into the ceiling.

I looked down as PAPYRUS proclaimed the name of the room.

Wishing Room?

PAPYRUS just grinned in response, before walking further into the room. I was wondering why when I looked down and saw the Echo Flowers.

PAPYRUS walked over to one and nudged it.

"A long time ago, monsters would whisper their wishes to the stars in the sky. If you hoped with all your heart, your wish would come true. Now, all we have are these sparkling stones on the ceiling…"

The voice in the softly glowing Echo flower was melancholic, and I felt slightly sadder. But PAPYRUS didn't seem to be affected and he quickly strode through the room.

"THIS PLACE IS WHERE WE GIVE WISHES!" PAPYRUS whispered again, grinning as he looked up at the ceiling. As he walked, the Echo Flowers we passed whispered their echoes into the air.

"C'mon, sis! Make a wish...!"

"I wish my sister and I will see the real stars someday…"

"Thousands of people wishing together can't be wrong! The king will prove that!"

PAPYRUS stopped at that Echo Flower.

"OOH, THAT WAS UNDYNE!" he said excitedly. I tried to smile at his enthusiasm. It was clear that Undyne was a good friend of PAPYRUS, and I desperately wanted to meet her. But meeting the Captain of the Royal Guard…

'Would end badly' Kenny finished.

We passed another Echo Flower that gave off a strange garbled Echo, and I wondered who had a voice like that.

Soon we had left the Wishing Room, but the ceiling above still resembled the night sky, so as PAPYRUS walked through Waterfall I lost myself in the ceiling, trying to forget about the grinning monster or anything else.

Looking up at the stars like this, Kenny whispered, Fills us with DETERMINATION.

PAPYRUS suddenly grunted, bringing me back to Earth, and I looked down. PAPYRUS had not shown a single sign of tiring as he carried me, and I knew that I wasn't that light. And even though PAPYRUS's shoulderpads made surprisingly comfortable seats, I felt sorta bad about just riding him. So I poked him to get his attention.

"HMM? WHAT'S WRONG FRISK?" PAPYRUS asked.

I shook my head and told him nothing was wrong. But I did ask him if he wanted to take a quick break.

"HMM? OH, DO YOU NEED A BREAK, FRISK?"

Well, I had asked him if he wanted a break…

Just roll with it. I don't think it's possible for PAPYRUS to become tired.

I nodded and PAPYRUS immediately put me down. The sudden change in altitude made me dizzy, and when the world stopped spinning, I was staring at a piece of cheese.

Now, this cheese was standing on a little table, and it was next to a cute little mouse-hole. The cheese was unfortunately covered by a thick layer of purple crystal. Which was probably why the hooded to it was furiously hacking at it was a scythe.

I stared at the rat-shaped hooded figure for a moment, not sure if my eyes were playing tricks on me.

It's a little cloaked rat holding a scythe. It has surprisingly good form.

The hooded rat did have a mean swing and I watched entranced for a moment as the little blade flashed in the darkness, the hooded rat trying to get to the cheese.

The hooded rat lifted the little scythe high above their head, probably preparing a truly stunning swing. And then they froze, as if realizing that someone was watching. I was aware of PAPYRUS behind me, also staring at the hooded rat. The hooded rat for the most part had frozen like a statue.

There was a moment of silence, broken by PAPYRUS.

"IS THAT RAT HOLDING A GARDENING TOOL?" he asked, voice no longer a whisper.

And the hooded rat whirled around, and for a moment I could see inside the hood, and see the pale shape of a rat skull.

Correction, skeletal hooded rat. After it! Kenny yelled, because the rat had bolted, leaping off the table and scurrying across the floor ground. I quickly ran after it, galled into action by Kenny, and I heard PAPYRUS scrambling to follow me. The skeletal rat was fast, and I ran with all my might but couldn't seem to catch up. Soon PAPYRUS was beside me and the skeletal rat rushed into a hole in a door in the wall. PAPYRUS, who had overtaken me, barreled through the door at full speed, blasting it from its hinges, and I quickly ran after him.

Oh, wow it's dark in here.

This room didn't have the shimmering crystals and it took my eye's a moment to adjust. PAPYRUS was standing in front of me, the door still standing in front of him as he looked around wildly.

"FRISK, DID YOU SEE WHERE THAT RAT WENT?!" PAPYRUS asked, his voice full of excitement.

"I'VE NEVER SEEN A SKELETAL RAT BEFORE! IN FACT, I'VE NEVER SEEN ANOTHER SKELETON ASIDE FROM MY BROTHER BEFORE! AND...WHERE DID I GET THIS DOOR?"

PAPYRUS looked at the door in front of him curiously, reaching out to knock on it. The door silently fell over, and instead of hitting the floor it...disappeared. I slowly felt ice form in the pit of my belly and when I looked behind me, I saw nothing but darkness.

"THAT'S STRANGE. I'VE NEVER SEEN A DOOR IN WATERFALL LIKE THAT. NEVER SEEN A DOOR DISAPPEAR EITHER."

"(23).(5).(12).(3).(15).(13).(5)..."


Breaking into the strange pink house had not been difficult. Even if the door had been locked, it would've been easy to break it open with a blast of psychokinesis.

However, hovering up to the window and unlatching it with a little telekinesis was much stealthier.

The inside of the house was just as pink as the outside. Contrary to what I had thought, the house didn't have two floors. The window was just high above the floor. Which was strange. What was the use of a window you couldn't reach without a ladder?

Come to think of it, what was the use of a window underground?

I dismissed the strange architectural decision as I hovered down to the floor. The house really was just pink, all in various shades. It felt oddly comforting, and I couldn't help but admire it for a moment. But it was clear that no one had lived in the house for a long time. Journals littered the floor, the bed looked pristine, and the TV and wardrobe had a visible layer of dust coating them.

A poster hung on the wall, about some sort of performance, but I was only interested in the wardrobe. Something within it was calling to me, tugging at me, and no matter how curious I was about the owner of this house-

I waved my arm and watched as the wardrobe opened up, revealing old dusty clothes hanging undisturbed.

-was more important. But why, what was tugging me towards this random house, this mundane wardrobe?

Look closely.

I did. All I could see were old clothes. A dress, a shirt, a coat-

My eyes snapped back to the coat. Much like the room, it was pink, but-

I reached towards it, hand trembling, and shakily the coat floated towards me. I snatched it from the air and fell to the floor, clutching it.

This coat! This familiar pink! This smell but how could perfume last for so long it didn't matter!

This was her coat. Her coat! HER COAT!

As if responding, the coat glowed with a haunting pink color and-

Take a melody, simple as can be~

Give it some words, in sweet harmony~

Raise your voice…~

The voice echoed and when the last echoes became silent my throat constricted and I looked down at the coat, desperately wishing to hear it again. The coat shook in my arms, I was shaking like a leaf and-

A drop of red appeared on the coat. I stared at it for a moment, not sure what had happened. Something wet was on my face, and absently I wiped it away.

My finger came back red.

I stared at it for a moment. What…?

Crying when you can't How very much you haven't changed.

I started and turned around as the house seemed to become darker. Whispers susurred in the corner of the room and held the coat, her coat, tighter as I whirled around, looking wildly for the source.

Still crying?

How sad

Pathetic

'Get out of my head…' I couldn't muster the energy to shout.

'Shut up' I screwed my eyes shut and squeezed the coat, trying to get the voices to shut up.

Voices?

No.

My eyes snapped open and the TV turned on. The static casted a harsh light on the room and I winced. And then the pawprint appeared, followed by the red eye, and I realized that maybe the voices weren't just voices.

'Geigue…'

The voice washed over me like a sudden wave. A wave made of hatred, of rage, of, of-

'It hurts...It hurts...IT HURTS!'

The screen became red and suddenly I was choking. I clawed at my throat, and looked down. And I saw the tendrils of red wrap around my throat, constricting it, strangling-!

More red tendrils wrapped around me as I struggled, and as each one touched me I felt my head fill with static and-

'it hurts, IT HURTS! Ithurtsithurtsithurts! Go back...go back!

It hurts, it hurts! Stop singing, stop singing!

Maria, Maria, Mothermothermother!

IT HURTS!'

-screams. I felt my struggles become weaker. I felt the life start to leave me. I felt the coat slip from my grasp as the darkness began to close over me.

I wanted to scream, to cry for help, but the vice around my throat and the screams in my head drowned out any call for help.

Please…

Help…!

The red screams loomed over me and I knew with sudden clarity that I was about to die. And as I became calm, darkness claiming me and red glaring at me-

A bolt of blue tore through it, slamming into the TV, and the screams were blasted away by a yell of-

"NGAAAAHHHHHHH!"


"WeLcoMe."

The fact that I could understand the staticy voice of the Grinning Figure did little to calm me, and I felt my heart beat furiously as they appeared in the darkness. I scrambled towards PAPYRUS, clinging to them and trying not to hyperventilate as the Grinning Figure stared at me.

PAPYRUS had taken one look at the figure, and then one glance at me, before stepping in front of me protectively. The usual grin on his face was now replaced by a frown.

"H-HELLO THERE!" PAPYRUS began. The Grinning Figure just stared at him silently and PAPYRUS coughed. Behind me I could feel something massage my shoulders, and Kenny whispered assurances.

"Don't worry, PAPYRUS is here, he won't let anything happen to us-"

"I'M AFRAID THAT YOU ARE SCARING MY FRIEND, STRANGER!" PAPYRUS attempted to sound friendly, but was obviously also disturbed by the Grinning Figure, "AND I WAS HOPING THAT YOU...COULD...STOP?"

The Grinning Figure stared. Before chuckling.

It sounded like stone scraping against a chalkboard and I winced further.

"Ah, PAPYRUS. YOu aRe hEre tOo."

"Wha-?" Kenny began. I was just as confused, and PAPYRUS titled his head.

"OH, DO YOU KNOW ME? HAVE WE MET BEFORE?"

"wHat, yOu doN't RememBer me, PAPYRUS?" the Grinning Figure chuckled again, and suddenly a skeletal hand appeared from thin air. The Grinning Figure made a gesture towards himself.

"AllOw me tO IntroDucE MysELf. mY NAMe Is DoCtOr W.D GaSteR."


(...): HOw CurIous InDeed.

...

Is he gone?

Oh, I hope so. I didn't think there was anyone creepier than the flower. But it turns out I was wrong. Anyway, Happy New Year to everyone! Welcome to the Year of the Justifiably Defensive Lobster!

This chapter took a while, but I think it turned out rather well.

D3lph0xL0v3r: Thank you! As for your questions, well, read on!

RaeChanNau: Well, Kenny seems like a pretty swell guy. And no, it turns out Ninten, isn't Ninten.

Waterflame89fan: I was worried no one was going to get the number text! I made it sorta simple, but still. And i'm glad you're enjoying it!

Thank you everyone who's sticked with this story so far! We're about to kick into high gear, so hang on! And tune in for the next chapter, 'Guardian of the Water'! Remember to Read and Review!

Disclaimer: Undertale and Earthbound do not belong to the author. They belong to Toby Fox, and Shigesato Itoi and Nintendo respectively. Mother:Cognitive Dissonance was created by handish2000. Discworld belongs to Sir Terry Pratchett.