Chapter 43: The Cyan Soul
The next time she woke up it was to the sound of knocking.
"Who is it?" she sputtered.
"Rise and shine, you got to get ready for school."
It was a distinctly male voice.
Frisk groaned, glancing around. She was bewildered by her surroundings. Wasn't she at Toriel's home or had everything been a dream?
Just then someone came in. A girl who was a little younger than her came inside.
She had short blonde hair that reached to her shoulders and there was a single red ribbon in her hair.
The girl was already dressed in a red t-shirt and a blue skirt.
"Dad told me to help you get dressed."
She held out her hand.
Frisk groaned but took her hand.
The girl pulled her up.
Frisk realized as this was happening she couldn't feel her legs and nearly collapsed on the girl.
"Why can't I feel my legs?"
The girl chuckled.
"Don't you remember, you were paralysed after you got into a car accident. That's why dad helps you get dressed every morning."
The girl helped her into a floral t-shirt that showed off a tasteful amount of her cleavage and a ruffled violet skirt before rolling in a wheelchair.
She helped Frisk sit onto it and then rolled her out of her bedroom into the kitchen.
Two men were sitting at the table. One of them was a bald brown skinned man and the other was a pale man with a combover.
There were four plates of food set on the table.
"Good morning, Sunshine," said the man with the combover.
Frisk glanced at her plate. It looked all in all very appetizing but she was reluctant.
"Why don't you eat, dear?"
Frisk took a bite and moaned.
"Delicious," she said before she could stop herself.
"Of course it's delicious," the girl said. "Dad, made it."
"Which one?" Frisk asked.
The girl and the guy with the combover pointed to the man who seemed to avoid her eyes.
"Hehe, he's so flustered because he's not used to anyone complimenting his cooking," she said.
The man with the combover glanced at the watch on his wrist.
"Well I got to head to work so Dorothy I'm counting on you to take your sister to school."
"Where does he work?" Frisk asked.
"He's a rockstar, silly."
After breakfast, the other man drove them to school after helping Frisk into the car.
"Dad I have basketball practise after school so pick me up later."
He nodded as he helped Frisk out of the car and into her wheelchair.
"See you later, honey," he said kissing Frisk on the forehead before driving off.
As Dorothy wheeled her in the direction of the classroom, Frisk began hearing murmurs coming from the other kids outside.
She heard her name being spoken.
"Is that Dorothy?"
"Yeah."
"Who's she pushing in the wheelchair?"
"I heard that's her older sister."
"I feel so sorry for her, can you imagine having a sister that can walk while you sit in a chair all day?"
Frisk turned and saw Dorothy's lips twitch and her eyes watering.
"Hey!"
She addressed the kids who said that.
Dorothy's eyes widened.
"Sis, what are you doing?"
"Are you just gonna let them slander you like that?" Frisk asked.
"It's fine. They do it all the time."
Frisk glanced at her.
Her face was pale and her eyes were glassy.
Frisk sighed.
"Are you sure? I can-" she said before she cut herself off.
She couldn't do anything if she were intending on beating up those boys.
The wheelchair would put her at a disadvantage and she wouldn't be able to dodge or parry as efficiently without her legs.
"Nevermind," she grumbled.
"Look don't worry about it. I'll manage. I always do," Dorothy said.
When Frisk was wheeled to the classroom, she finally spoke.
"Why do you let them talk to you that way?" she asked.
Dorothy was silent.
"Stop avoiding the question. I'm not that fragile y'know."
Dorothy flinched as a brown skinned girl wearing a ponytail shoved past her.
"To get accepted," she said.
"Who was that?" Frisk asked.
"Trudy," Dorothy said. "She's captain of the basketball team."
"A real nasty piece of work isn't she and rude too."
"Sis, y'know basketball has always been my dream. I'm not gonna let her get in the way of my dreams."
"It's any wonder any girl would join the basketball team with her. Why is she even on the basketball team anyway?"
"I heard she's really good."
Frisk snorted.
"And there's the real reason because the coach is a sore loser who only cares about winning a game. Wonder what would happen if they took that privilege away maybe then she wouldn't act like such a b-tch."
"Sis, calm down it's alright."
Frisk snorted but kept her opinion to herself.
During lunch time while Dorothy was helping the teacher move some stuff, Frisk was wheeled into the cafeteria.
On the way she spotted Trudy talking to a young woman.
"So have you picked who's gonna be on the basketball team? I refuse to be on the same team as that invalid."
"Surely you'll reconsider."
"I've never heard of it. Think of what people would say when they discover Dorothy playing basketball in her wheelchair. We'd be a laughing stock."
The woman sighed.
"You're right."
'Invalid? She has both of her legs.'
Frisk tried to move her legs and they moved effortlessly in her chair.
She was wheeled into the cafeteria without further note.
Dorothy joined her minutes later.
"Sis, are you there? You look a little out of it."
"Dorothy," Frisk whispered.
"Sis you look pale. Are you alright? You're kinda scaring me," Dorothy said.
"I can feel my legs!"
"How?" Dorothy asked. "That should be impossible."
"It isn't though. I've always been able to use them. I thought it stranger when I couldn't but then I heard something," Frisk said. "You're the one who was in the wheelchair the whole time, weren't you?"
Dorothy's eyes lit up in surprise.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Quit denying it," Frisk snapped.
Dorothy's eyes contorted in shame and she avoided Frisk's gaze.
"It's nothin' to be ashamed about."
Dorothy sniffed and glanced at Frisk with teary eyes.
"How would you know?"
"I just do. There are people in worser situations than you are so quit whining and do something about it. There's someone out there who will accept you, trust me. I would know and I'm scummier than you."
Dorothy snarled.
"I don't need your pity."
Frisk snorted.
'It wasn't pity. It was the truth.'
She saw Dorothy walk away.
After school, Frisk headed to the basketball court refusing to head home and decided to watch Dorothy practice instead.
All throughout practice the girls on the team avoided passing to her as well as the other outcasts on the team.
It was becoming increasingly clear that the team's arrogance was it's only redeeming trait as it seemed to thrive on it's best players showing off their fancy footwork and shooting.
Trudy seemed to catch on the the fact that Frisk was watching the game too and glared at her.
After the game, the coach handed them a paper stating who had made it past the tryouts.
Trudy walked up to Frisk.
Frisk assumed from her sinister smirk and cocky stride that she was confided she had made the list and wasn't afraid of making other people feel terrible because of it.
"Oh my lookie here, another invalid. Are you hoping to join the basketball team like your sister?"
Frisk leapt to her feet and shoved the wheelchair from behind her away.
"What if I am?" she asked before shoving Trudy with her hand.
Trudy's eyes narrowed and she glared at Frisk.
"Are you pickin' a fight with me. You won't win. My friends will beat you up."
Frisk smirked and Trudy shivered.
"Bring it on or are you all bark and no bite."
Trudy shoved her back.
"Ha ha, don't get cocky."
Shadows fell over Frisk's face.
She chuckled but it demented and uncontrolled.
With newfound strength, Frisk pushed her.
"H-" Trudy stammered but Frisk didn't stop until she was against the wall.
"You know what I love to do to lil' girls like you? Frisk asked grabbing her and shoving her against the wall. "I like to beat them up."
Frisk held her up and punched her across the face and began stomping on her.
"Sis, STOP. That's enough," Dorothy said.
Some teachers had to pull her away, that's how uncontrollable she was.
Amongst the sudden clamor, Trudy was taken away and Frisk was taken to the principal' office with Dorothy.
They sat in the principal's office together.
"You're right. I was the one who was paralysed," Dorothy said. "I just wanted to-I had dreams too."
"I know."
A long silence ensued.
"You didn't have to beat her up y'know."
Frisk turned and glanced at her.
"I wanted to."
"Why?"
Frisk sighed.
"She made me feel weak and I don't like feelin' weak."
"Sorry," Dorothy said. "I felt happy though."
"Why?"
"When I was alive I never had a sister. I don't even know your name."
"It's Frisk."
"Well it was nice meeting you, Frisk."
Everything slowly faded away and Frisk was left to her senses. Something cool and wet was placed on her forehead.
She woke up spotting Toriel at her bedside.
"Are you alright, my child. I was a little worried about your fever."
"I"m fine," Frisk said, removing the cloth on her forehead.
"Then I'll be in the living room. Call me if you need anything, my child," Toriel said before leaving the room.
Frisk looked awful, her eyes sunken and bloodshot. Still she was determined to leave.
The dream only providing more incentive to do so.
"Just ask her," Chara said. "She will understand."
Frisk headed to the living room to talk with Toriel. She frowned upon looking at Frisk.
"Are you sure you're alright, my child? You look a little pale."
"I'm fine."
"You know you can talk to me if you need anything."
Frisk nodded.
"I know."
"I want you to know I am glad to have you here. I know it could get a little suffocating down here but I will try to make your life more enjoyable down here."
Frisk swallowed.
"I can't. I can't say here."
"But-"
Frisk snapped.
"I don't belong here and I never will so STOP it. Quit making me love you. You deserve so much better than someone like me."
Toriel looked pensive.
"That's not true."
"When can I go home?"
"What? This...this is your home now."
"Let me leave, please," Frisk said.
Toriel sighed.
"I have to do something, stay here."
Toriel got up and Frisk followed her.
'Where's she going?'
"Downstairs," Chara said. "I think she's going to destroy the exit."
'No, how do we stop her?'
Frisk passed the small bookshelf and headed downstairs in a narrow hall comprised of purple brick walls.
She followed the path until she spotted Toriel by a large white door.
"What are you doing?" Frisk asked.
Toriel turned and glared at her.
"I am destroying the exit. No one will ever be able to leave again. Now go upstairs."
Frisk snapped.
"No, I won't let you do this."
Tears slipped from the corners of Toriel's eyes.
"Prove yourself then. Prove to me you are strong enough to survive."
Toriel held out her arms outstretched.
Frisk swung with her knife.
Suddenly Toriel fired a circle of fireballs in her direction.
Frisk swiftly dodged to the right before slashing at her with the knife.
"Stop it. Don't do this," Frisk pleaded.
Toriel ignored her.
With a sweep of her hands, Toriel fired a line of fireballs which Frisk dodged.
"LOOK OUT!"
Suddenly a couple of fireballs hit her in the back.
"Ugh," Frisk groaned.
Wincing she got up.
'Like the dust of our enemies we burn our regrets,' a voice spoke to her.
Suddenly the knowledge of how to use fire magic crossed her brain.
She swung at Toriel.
Toriel fired more fireballs.
Burns wracked her back, the pain slowing her down.
A fireball headed towards her and she knew she wouldn't be able to block it in time.
Frisk screamed as it hit her in the chest.
Toriel looked away as she shot more fireballs.
"Stop it. We don't have to do this."
The fireballs passed by her avoiding her entirely.
Frisk struck again.
"Why are you looking away?"
Toriel fired more fireballs all of them avoiding her.
Using all her strength, Frisk swung her left hand leaving a large gash on the right side of her abdomen.
Toriel clutched her chest.
"Urgh. You're stronger than I thought."
Frisk collapsed to her feat as Toriel clutched onto Frisk's shirt.
"Listen to me, if you go beyond this door keep walking as far as you can. Eventually you will reach the exit."
"There was no oth-"
"No, It was selfish of me to keep you here. I realise that now. Whatever happens to me, don't let Asgore take your soul no matter what. His plan cannot be allowed to succeed. Be good, won't you my child."
Toriel faded away leaving only a white upside down heart which stood for a moment before it cracked down the center and shattered into pieces.
Frisk froze, white with shock and fell to her knees clutching the ground in agony.
"Why?" she whispered. "Why did you block me? Why did you just stand there like an idiot? Why didn't you fight back?"
"She was trying to protect you the best way she could," Chara said.
"What if I could have saved her?" Frisk asked.
"You can't," he said. "If you could we wouldn't be here right now."
Frisk sighed before slowly stumbling back upstairs. She headed to her room, collapsed on the bed and sobbed into her pillow.
In the corner of the darkness, Frisk saw the figure from before.
"Why are you here again?" Frisk snapped. "You did this didn't you? Why did you let me kill her? Why didn't you stop me."
"You couldn't have known you'd kill her," the voice said. "There's no way you could have known that."
The voice pleaded for Frisk to see that.
"You were trying to defend yourself. She's the one who attacked you first, didn't she?"
Frisk sighed.
"Does it matter? She loved me and I killed her. I've never regretted killing anyone but she was trying to protect those kids even me. She didn't deserve death."
The dream faded and Frisk woke up. Much to her surprise, the pain of the burns no longer was present in her chest and she felt energized.
'Weird, it's like I wasn't burned at all.'
"That's because the player healed you while you were asleep," Chara said.
"Oh, I didn't know the player had that ability."
She put on the sweater Toriel had given her before she headed downstairs past the sealed door.
Flowey popped out of the ground in the room ahead with a smile plastered on his face.
"Hee hee hee I hope you like your choice." He said, his brows upturned and his eyes half-lidded and his smile strained. " In this world it's kill or be killed. He he Froggit, Whimsun, Vegetoid, Loox, Migosp and Moldsmal think about those names. Do you think any of those monster have families? Do you think any of them have friends? Selfish brat. Monsters are dead because of you."
"You're the one who killed the froggit. You knew that's all it took for them to retaliate," Frisk said.
"Hmm, so what if I did. What about that ol' hag hmm? You killed her without a second thought. That ol' hag thought she could break the rules, spare a human child. She tried so hard to save you humans but when it came down to it," Flowey said with a toothy grin. "...she couldn't even save herself. What an idiot. Hahaha heeheehee."
Frisk was about to reply but before she could he sunk into the ground.
"Don't let him get to you," Chara said.
She huffed.
"Even you think it's my fault this happened don't ya?"
"No, I don't."
"You don't have to say it. You implied it. You could have encouraged me by saying it's not my fault or something like that but even you must agree that what I did was unforgivable."
"Why does my opinion matter? I'm not alive and it's not like I can interact with anyone other than Napstablook."
Frisk sighed.
The two continued for the door at the end of the ruins.