Chapter 42: Home

In the dark depths of her unconsciousness, Frisk spotted a tall shadowy figure up ahead.

"So you're finally awake."

The voice was familiar.

A man stood in front of her in red ninja garb.

Frisk's eyes darted towards him.

"Chara? Is that you?"

"Yeah."

"Why do you look like that?"

"This? Don't know. I thought it might be cool to dress like a ninja and I guess just that thought made me look like this."

"What happened?"

"You are unconscious."

"If I'm unconscious how are you here?"

"His essence is attached to you," said a distorted voice. It seemed to be coming from the shadowy figure.

"Who are you?" Frisk asked.

"A friend," they said. "I'm the one that's been guiding you through Chara but he's the only one who can interract with me in the real world."

"Wait is that true?" Frisk asked Chara.

He nodded.

"Then who is they?"

"They are the player. It's just easy to call them that. They are the one guiding us after all."

"Oh but why?"

"I'll tell you at my own time, dear."

Frisk awoke in a warm bed spotting Napstablook hovering by her bedside.

"are you alright?"

Frisk sat up wincing as her fingers clutched the back of her head.

"Chara, are you there?"

"I'm here."

"That wasn't a dream, was it?"

"Dream?"

"Yeah, there was this black void and the shadowy figure."

"It kind of felt like a dream but I never heard of two people having the same dream much less remembering it. I guess they were right. All I needed to do was call their name."

"You mean you know them?"

Chara shrugged.

"Not really. They've just been giving me advice occasionally. They're the ones who gave me the suggestion to check out that room with the candy. Don't know why though. Curiosity perhaps?"

"hmm, that's interesting."

"So how'd you turn into a ghost anyway? Napstablook said you were the king's son right? That must mean he must be human right?"

"not at all," Napstablook said. "our king is a monster. humans rarely come down here. chara was one of the first to fall. the king adopted chara raising him like his own child."

Chara's eyes widened.

"Really? Sounds cool. Too bad I can't remember much."

"That would make you royalty though wouldn't it?"

Chara smirked.

"I suppose so. Guess that means you have to give me the royal treatment."

Frisk groaned.

i'm glad you're alright though. you were out cold."

"Where are we anyways?"

"loox brought us to his house. i was a little worried when you were knocked unconscious. cobra insisted on bringing you here afterwards. isn't that nice?"

Frisk looked around.

"I see you're finally awake," Cobra said. "So tell me what do you know about a yellow flower?"

"Yellow flower? Are you talking about Flowey?" Frisk asked.

Cobra looked smug.

"So you do know him then?"

"He tried to ambush me the moment I fell down here."

"Are you not in cohoots with them?" Cobra asked.

"No, why would I be after he tried to kill me?"

"I see. I'm sorry about the misunderstanding. Loox had a run in with the flower killing a froggit."

"What? That's awful."

Suddenly what the froggit had been saying about her killing his brother made a lot more sense.

It still did not explain his attack unless the froggit had thought she was the one responsible for killing his brother.

'Guess that's another question for Shorty if I ever run into him again.'

"Well you be careful. If that flower can kill monsters, he's likely dangerous to trifle with. Call me if you run into any trouble."

"Well I'll let you know if I find anything. By the way, do you have a bathroom in this place?"

"I beg your pardon. Bathroom? We don't have any need for bathrooms down here," Cobra said.

"What? Are you serious?" Frisk asked.

"I am, unfortunately."

She sighed glancing up at Chara.

"Well you could always just go outside right?"

Frisk turned to glare at Chara.

'I could if I had some privacy.'

Chara fumed.

"What are you trying to say?"

'You know exactly what I'm trying to say.'

"Do you have a cellphone?" Cobra asked.

"Yeah."

"Then I can give you my number and you can call me if you find anything."

Frisk handed him her cellphone.

"Sounds good to me."

He handed it back to her.

"So how do you get to Toriel's place from here?" she asked.

"it's south from here. you turn left and head north," Napstablook said. "by the way, i couldn't help but overhear your conversation. is prince chara upset about something?"

Chara huffed, his arms folded avoiding their eyes.

"This guy wanted to use the bathroom but it doesn't want me watching. I don't see the issue though," he said. "We're both guys. What are you trying to hide?"

"I'm not hiding anything. You wouldn't like it if someone heard what you were thinking would you? It's the same thing. I just want something hidden from you for once."

"i see," Napstablook said. "i do have a temporary solution."

"Napstablook who are you talking to?" Cobra said.

"cobra, do you still have that sacred charm?"

"You mean the one that repels ghosts?"

"yeah."

"Yes, but why do you want to know? It's dangerous for you to even use it as you are a ghost yourself."

"it isn't for me. this person has a ghost problem of their own."

"I see."

With that Cobra slithered away.

"Thanks for the help."

The ghost blushed.

"dont mention it. i ought to head out too with business as slow as it is. well see ya."

Napstablook disappeared.

Cobra returned with a silver amulet.

"Here it is," he said.

"Well I'm not gone," Chara said, nastily.

"There is a condition while wearing it. It's most efficent when you can actually see the ghost and more efficient depending on how powerful your intent is."

"Oh, guess that's why I haven't kicked the bucket."

Cobra handed her the pendant. The moment Frisk touched the pendant, a white light began to expand literally pushing Chara out of her sight.

"There is one condition however. Unless you can use monster magic to recharge it, it will only last for about an hour."

"Guess I shouldn't have expected much," Frisk said as she slung it over her neck.

With that she headed out glancing at the buildings she passed by. A pub was across the street where she was staying as well as an old library.

As she was heading out of town however she spotted a toy knife on the ground and picked it up before heading out.

A frog stood outside.

"Shorty is that you?"

The frog's eyes darted towards her and he jumped with fright.

"Oh you're that human from earlier? Where'd you get that ribbon in your hair?"

Frisk smiled.

"After I talked to you I was exploring the next room with Napstablook. They found the ribbons at the bottom of the stairs. Why? Is something the matter?"

"There was another human just like you who wore that ribbon when they fell down here however weren't as lucky as you. We chased them unil they fell into that hole but she couldn't move. She was paralysed but we hadn't found out until it was too late. See our magic targets the soul so if you know what is hitting you anyone could easily dodge it but she didn't evade a single one. She just kept healing her wounds over and over again until she couldn't. It was was sad but our king needed her soul to break the barrier."

"Why is it so important to him to break the barrier?"

"So we could be free. There is a barrier that traps everything underground. It's not exactly a happy place either."

"The surface isn't heaven either," Frisk said. "It definitely won't be heaven if they find out you've killed a human either and trust me I would know."

"Yeah but we don't really have a choice at this point."

"I suppose I could help you leave the underground and give my soul to the king if you think it could help I'm certainly not gonna use it at this rate. If it'll make amends, I'll do anything but you ought to think about this before the rest of your kind are killed. See humans don't take to kindly to murder even if it is justified."

"Thank you, human."

"Don't thank me until you've reached the surface," Frisk said before she left.

Finding a place with sufficient shrubbery that would cover her should any monster get any ideas, Frisk dealt with her messy business. After that she headed out.

Following the directions Napstablook gave her, she followed the trail of red leaves to a clearing with an black tree trunk in the distance surrounded by leaves. The leaves must have fallen from the tree because the trunk was bare. Frisk noticed the effects of the white light began to falter and Chara came hovering back.

"Ha the pendant barely even lasted for thirty minutes," said Chara smugly.

'Well I can recharge it if you try to sass me again.'

Chara frowned.

"Sorry, alright."

Frisk spotted Toriel heading in her direction.

"Oh dear, that took longer than I thought it would."

She brought her phone to her ear when she caught sight of Frisk and embraced her.

"How did you get here, my child. Are you hurt?

Cuts litered Frisk's arms and legs.

"I guess the monsters weren't able to heal you all the way, huh?" Chara said.

"Who did this to you?"

Frisk's face heated up.

"Uh..."

Her eyebrows furrowed and her lips pursed into a frown.

"You will get an apology but first I will heal you. I should have not left you alone for so long. It was irresponsible of me to try to surprise you like this."

"Surprise me?"

"Still that can wait. Now tell me which monster did this to you?"

"Really? It's not that bad," Frisk said.

"Not that bad?" She snorted. "If there was forgiveness then there would be no need for restitution. Come along, dear."

Toriel grabbed her hand and led her back to the monster city. Prior to this, Frisk had never taken the time to look around the city.

The city had pink buildings in the distance. Many of the buildings looked inspired from medieval architecture.

One of the first buildings Frisk had seen whilst walking through the city was a couple of houses on the right. There was also a house on the left.

Loox had been walking towards them exiting a building behind the house on the left.

A froggit had left the home on the left at the same time. He caught sight of Loox.

"I heard my brothers scared you out of the city. After rumors have been going around about what's outside of the city. I can see why you wanted to return. It's fitting for a coward like you," Shorty said.

"Hi Shorty," Frisk greeted him.

Loox turned and saw the human alongside the froggit.

"Hey human," Shorty waved at her.

Toriel turned towards him glaring at the tiny froggit.

"I see you two have met."

Shorty swallowed nervously.

"Ulp."

"You would not happen to be the one who picked on this child, would you?" She asked coolly.

"N-no, not at all," Shorty said.

Loox scoffed.

"You think we're a threat to humans? They're a bigger threat than we are."

"So you think that excuses your actions then?" Toriel asked. "If I find out that you've touched a hair on this child's head you'll wish you never did it."

She conjured a fireball.

Loox gulped.

"I'm sorry. I was the one who hurt them but it was an accident. That whimsun lured me into it."

Toriel snorted and smiled.

"As long as you're truly sorry and promise not to do it again, I will forgive you."

Loox addressed Frisk.

"Sorry human."

"Where's Cobra anyway? He was just with you wasn't he?"

"Yeah, he told me he wanted to visit the ancient library before heading home though I don't know why. That place hasn't been touched in years."

"Well we ought to be heading home small one," Toriel said.

"Alright."

Toriel lead her back to her home. It was a small house with a door between two wide windows. Below the windows were piles of red leaves.

Frisk stepped inside where it was warm and toasty. She saw a small bookshelf to the left corner of the room and a table with a pot of yellow flowers that looked like bells.

Toriel stood in the middle of a long hallway that stretched out to the left and right.

"Do you smell that? Surprise! It is Butterscotch Cinnamon pie. I thought we might celebrate your arrival. I want you to have a nice time living here so I will hold off on snail pie tonight. Here I have another surprise for you."

Toriel wrapped her right arm around Frisk's shoulder and lead her to the hall to the right. As they were walking down the hall, Frisk spotted a long yellow rug with a strange design strewn across the floor. Eventually Toriel stopped at the first room of the left side. It stood between a small wall lamp, a large pat of what looked like willow and a table with a small pot containing a red flower.

"This is it. A room of your own I hope you like it," Toriel said rubbing Frisk's head with her paw.

It was so forward that Frisk nearly jumped out of her skin but she'd allow it this once.

The smell of smoke waffed through the air.

"Is something burning?"

Toriel broke away to glance towards the kitchen.

"Um, make yourself at home."

Frisk stepped into the room.

A tall lamp was in the upper left corner. Below it were two stuffed bears. One was red and the other one was white.

Beside it was a twin-sized bed with plaid red blankets. Did Toriel have a child in the past? Perhaps they stayed here.

Below the bed was a small basket of toys with legos and action figures inside.

"You don't seem very interested in them," Chara said.

'Well they're for little kids aren't they? Of course I wouldn't be interested in them.'

By the bed was a cabinet with a drawer underneath. Next to that was shoe shelf with an empty picture frame on top and a faded photo of Toriel ripped down the middle. Below her was a child with short brown hair wearing a green and yellow striped shirt.

Their face was faded.

"I guess Toriel had another kid down here huh?" Chara asked.

On the wall next to this was a drawing of a yellow flower and a lamp on a wooden stool.

Frisk left the room to explore further down the hall and headed to the room next door were a bed larger than her own stood against the left wall.

"It's a queen sized bed."

'No sh-t.'

A desk stood below it with a chair next to it. There was a book was opened with a passage being circled.

"Looks like Toriel's diary."

She read the passage.

"Why did the skeleton want a friend?

Because she was feeling BONELY."

Frisk snorted.

Toriel really liked the puns didn't she.

Still this passage seemed kind of sad.

Frisk read another entry on the next page.

"Dear Diary, Today I met someone on the other side of the door. I'm thankful for a new friend. It's hard to keep in good spirits these days. He goes by the name of Sans. I find him rather humerous."

Frisk flipped through the pages until she saw another entry.

"Dear Diary, I talked with Sans today. He sounded a little concerned like he sensed my worry. It's been a while since a human has come down here. Ever since Dorothy died, everything just seems so dire and I was a little concerned so I made him promise not to kill the next human who falls down here and protect them from Asgore. I know it's not fair to ask that from someone but I'm a little relaxed knowing the next human will be safe."

A bookshelf stood next to her bed and next to the bookshelf was a wide dresser with two drawers. Frisk took out one of the books and opened it to the middle. Those plants in the hall by her room weren't willow they were water sausages. In the drawers in the dresser next to the bookshelves was a factory of large socks.

"How scandalous," Chara popped up.

She walked up to the cactus on the lower right corner of the room.

"Truly the most tsundere of plants."

"Tsundere?" Frisk asked.

"It's just a term for someone very prickly. Underneath that prickliness is supposed to be a heart of gold," Chara supplied. "Gee whiz, haven't you seen any anime?"

Frisk shook her head.

"I've seen cartoons."

Frisk headed further down the hall spotting a table next to another room.

Inside the table was a drawer of broken crayons and flower seeds. The door had a sign.

"Room closed for renovations."

Frisk tried to open it but it was locked and glanced at the long mirror nearby.

"It's you," Chara said, laughing at her reflection.

'Har dee har.'

Frisk headed to her room and jumped face first into the covers. She got up at the sweet smell of cinnamon and butterscotch. A triangular piece of pie was set on a plate next to her bed.

Frisk opened up her phone and clicked the pickup item app button in.

The pie disappeared.

"Uh what?" Chara inquired in confusion. "How did ya do that?"

'How'd I do what?'

"Well you just opened that app and with a couple button presses and made that pie disappear."

'Oh that? Well, I was talking with Tiny about my phone and he was telling me about some of the apps. Apparently the pick up item app converts items into data to be stored on your phone.'

"Wow, that's amazing."

'Yeah, I know. There's nothing like it on the surface.'

She headed back in the hall intending on heading to Toriel's room to thank her.

On the way, she caught sight of some things under the table next to her room. There was some coloring books underneath them and an old calendar marked January 2013.

'Interesting.'

Upon looking in Toriel's room however she was nowhere to be found. Frisk headed back and decided to explore the rest of the hall.

She eventually saw Toriel sitting in a big brown chair with a yellow blanket over the top in the top right corner of the room. On closer inspection, Frisk saw she wore a pair of reading glasses as she read an orange colored book titled, '72 uses for Snails'.

Besides her was a warm yellow brick fireplace and beside the fireplace was a large bookshelf. Next to the bookshelf was a stand with filed down tools.

To the left side of the room there was a large brown rectangular table with a pot of dead plants. Surrounding the table was three chairs.

"Thank you for the pie."

"You are welcome, my child. Why don't you play outside for a while. Here I have an idea."

Toriel got up and headed to her room.

Frisk followed her.

She opened up her wardrobe pulling out a magenta striped sweater and threw it over her head.

"It can get really cold in the afternoon," Toriel said.

"Really? How do you know when it's noon?" Frisk asked. "There's no sun down here."

"Some monsters are built with internal clocks to tell the time."

"Really? How? I mean how do you know it's the real thing?"

Toriel chuckled.

"I suppose I do not. Most of our skills are magic-based. There is no proof that it is real outside of what you see but I believe it anyway," she said. "Would it be better believing in something that people doubt even though they have seen it or believing in something that no one believes in because they don't see it?"

"Never really thought of it that way. I guess there's doubt no matter what it is."

"To me there is no disadvantage in believing in something that is a fantasy and people confine themselves by being cynical of everything."

"I see."

As Frisk headed out she spotted Napstablook hovering by the empty tree trunk outside Toriel's home.

"Hey Napstablook, what are you doing here?"

"i'm thinking about heading back home."

"You mean there is an exit to this place?"

"yeah, it's in that house downstairs. it's locked though so i just phase through it."

"I see. Why didn't she tell me?"

"oh dear, you think she's trying to keep you here?"

"Why would it matter?" Chara asked. "You weren't gonna leave were you?"

"I can't stay here forever," Frisk spoke. 'Even if I could, it's just not realistic to expect everyone here just to accept me. I'm different. While some monsters might accept me, others will try to kill me. It's only a matter of time before they do.'

"Maybe-"

'What? Do you really think they'll be any different to the humans on the surface? Monsters are still created with human intentions. Humans don't accept others that are different from theirselves.'

Chara was quiet.

"oh i'm sorry. i'd help you if i could," Napstablook said.

"It's alright." Frisk said. 'I'll escape from this place.'

"good luck," he said before he disappeared.

Frisk headed back inside. With determination, Frisk began to rummage through the kitchen cupboards for a key.

Restlessly Frisk began scouring the cupboards.

"What are you doing?" Chara asked.

'Escaping.'

"You can't be serious. Even if what you said was true. Toriel can protect you isn't that enough?"

She glanced in the fridge and spotted a chocolate candy bar.

'For me it might be but have you ever considered her feelings? Some monsters won't be happy with her hiding a human. I'm sure there are even monsters that feel strongly about this. I won't do that. It's my war, my battle. Besides I made a promise.'

In the cupboard was some cookie cutters in the shape of tiny monsters.

"They're for gingerbread monsters."

'I know that.' Frisk grumbled. 'Useless, there's nothing here.'

"What were you looking for?"

'She has to have a key somewhere.'

"Why not just ask Toriel?" Chara suggested.

Frisk coughed.

'No, how do you think she'll react?"

"Are you alright?" Chara asked.

Frisk coughed harshly. Her head spun from dizziness and she stumbled to the ground.

"Hey snap out of it. You got to stay awake."

Frisk collapsed to the ground unconscious.