((A/N: Thanks to JashertheDarkened and Meg for your reviews, as always, they are very much appreciated))
On the promise to be careful, Papyrus left the Skele-families house to warn Undyne and have her spread a warning to all the other sentries and the royal guard to keep a lookout for Falmercia. For some reason, Frisk had a bad feeling about this, but because she didn't have a good reason to, she stayed quiet.
She tugged on Sans' hoodie, "What do we do now?"
Sans looked down at her, "we don't know what falmercia is planning, or even where she is, so the best use of our time would probably be getting you able to summon your gaster blasters."
Frisk looked down ashamed, but nodded to show her agreement. "welp, let's go," Sans took her hand and headed towards the door.
Gaster stood up as well, and Sans stopped giving him a look, "Sans, please, I am well enough to at least watch. I taught you, so I know about these things, and if my suspicions are correct and our dear Frisk here is having trouble, finding out what the problem is the least I can do to help."
Sans looked conflicted, before sighing, "alright dad, you can watch."
The went back to the same clearing, Gaster sat on a nearby rock, with an intent look on his face.
"alright frisk, give it another shot. do you need me to guide you through it again?" Frisk shook her head, she remembered perfectly.
She managed to get a feel of her magic this time without needing to close her eyes, and just as easily as last time, she pulled so out the magic out in front of her, creating a barely visible blue mist. Now for the last part, letting go. She slowly started to loosen her grip on it, when a spike of anxiety consumed her soul and she gripped back tightly on it. She made a second attempt to loosen her grip and she found that she just couldn't, and the mist faded away, leaving her tired.
"that-that's okay frisk, you can have some rest before trying again." Sans said in a consoling tone, Frisk shook her head.
"I can give it another shot." She insisted, this time, pulling the magic out in front of her was effortless, and took no time at all, this time, a bit more shushed than before, she loosened her grip on the magic. Almost there, she had almost completely given up control… She gasped in panic and the magic dissipated.
"frisk! frisk, are you okay?" Sans gripped her shoulder, and she nodded, panic wearing off and leaving behind confusion.
"Y-yeah."
"If I may, I believe I have figured out the problem." Frisk hadn't heard him, but Gaster had approached the two of them, Sans and Frisk looked up and saw him looking down at Frisk with concern.
"dad, what's up?" Sans asked, a sickening feeling filling up his soul.
"From watching Frisk just now, it is clear for me to see that she has no issue with manipulating the magic itself, but rather the issue is something else completely. Every time she gets close to releasing her grip on her magic, her soul pulses with fear, anxiety. For some reason, she is subconsciously afraid…" From the look on Gaster's face, Frisk could guess that he knew more, but Gaster didn't explain any further.
"babybones, why are you scared?" Frisk turned her skull to see San's troubled face. "is it because… because of what happened in the previous timelines?" Frisk automatically flinched at their mentioning and Sans looked down with a guilty expression, Gaster frowned.
Frisk shook her head, "No! That not-"
"dad, can you watch after frisk for a while, i-i need a minute." Sans disappeared, taking a shortcut and Frisk sighed. She had messed everything up once again.
Gaster put a hand on her shoulder, "Do not fret, this is not your fault." Frisk didn't feel so reassured though.
"Mr Gaster?" She politely asked for his attention, looking up at him.
Gaster chuckled, "Sans and Papyrus have claimed you as their sister, have they not?" Frisk nodded, slightly confused, "Then I too accept you as part of our family." Frisk felt her magic rushing to her cheekbones, and she realised that she was blushing. "You can call me dad if you want, or just Gaster if you are uncomfortable with that, but you certainly do not have to call me 'Mr Gaster'."
"Thank you, dad." She tested out the word in her mouth, finding it wasn't too uncomfortable. She had never had a proper father figure in the past, her human father had always been at work, and although she had jumped at taking Toriel as a mother like a moth to flame, she and Asgore never really got to that kind of relationship, as Asgore had always been so guilty that he was never less than 120% respectful towards her, which made it difficult to form a comfortable relationship with him.
"So, um, dad…" Frisk started again, having a little difficulty as she no longer had the resolve she had before, "Is there anything else that Falmercia told you… about the souls that she gave Sans and I?"
Gaster looked down, "She did, though it has little importance now, it is because she is a sloth demon, the souls she creates will always be what she called 'sloth stained', and unfortunately, from what she told me, this condition is incurable." Frisk looked down, a feeling of hopelessness consuming her soul.
Gaster surprised Frisk by continuing, "That is why you and Sans are affected by Falmercia's aura than I was, and you will be more than anyone else, even those naturally slothful."
Frisk looked up at that, raising a non-existent eyebrow, "Falmercia's aura affects different people on different levels?" She asked.
Gaster nodded, "That is correct, the more slothful a person is, the more her aura effects a person, though… I do suspect that if one were to have enough DETERMINATION, they may be able to overcome the effects, but of course, that is only a theory."
Frisk nodded. A sudden feeling of guilt washed over her, she had been developing a theory on what the Legendary Artefact was, and now she wished Sans hadn't sent Chara away… Another thing that was Frisk's fault.
"BROTHER! SISTER!" Papyrus voice interrupted Frisk's thoughts, "I BELIEVE SOMETHING TERRIBLE HAS HAPPENED!" Sans was instantly back at Frisk's side.
"what's up, bro?" Sans asked as Papyrus ran up to them.
"I AM AWFULLY CONCERNED BROTHER, UNDYNE IS NOT AT HER STATION, AND NO-ONE I HAVE ASKED HAS SEEN HER SINCE THIS MORNING, THIS IS UNLIKE HER." Papyrus sounded worried.
Sans and Frisk shared a look, "papy, you stay here with gaster, frisk and i will go look for her, alright."
Papyrus looked like he wanted to protest, but nodded and took Gaster inside. Sans grabbed Frisk's hand and immediately took a shortcut to waterfall. When the room the entered was empty, he shortcut to another, and another, and another.
When that room didn't have Undyne, Sans sighed, he looked like he was going to teleport again when Frisk stopped him by tugging on his sleeve.
"what is it babybones?" he replied in a hushed tone. Frisk pointed to the room next to the one they were in, and Sans peered in. Inside there was a familiar yellow flower.
Sans and Frisk shared a look. What was Flowey doing here? The two decided to spy on Flowey to find out.
A shadow grew over Flowey.
"Sorry to keep you waiting," They heard Falmercia's voice, "I was uncharacteristically busy."
Frisk started to shake, and Sans leaned over to see why. A frown formed on his face as he saw Undyne in her latest form.
