Chapter 50: Premonition
The next morning, Sans woke with a massive headache.
"ugh my head."
"SERVES YOU RIGHT. YOUR VALUED GUEST HAD TO TAKE YOU HOME."
"ugh."
"LUCKY HE MANAGED TO MAKE YOU A HANGOVER REMEDY. I SET IT ON THE TABLE NEXT TO YOUR BED."
Sans glanced at the bowl of soup beside his bed.
"thanks papyrus."
"DON'T MENTION IT BROTHER."
All throughout the night, Papyrus had watched intently as Frisk followed the directions pitching in every now and then to help.
Frisk was actually surprised when she found he could follow the directions.
"If you can follow a recipe why don't you ever use one when you're cooking spaghetti?"
"UNDYNE ALWAYS SAYS MY SPAGHETTI HAS NO FLAVOR. SHE'S BEEN TEACHING ME HOW TO USE SPICES IN MY COOKING. I TRIED TO ADD THEM WITH SOME OF MY RECIPES BUT THEY DON'T TURN OUT RIGHT."
"Really? So that means you really can cook then?"
Papyrus had the expression of someone who was knocked silly by a flying fist.
"NO! I HAVE NOT MASTERED IT. I AM NOT FIT TO CALL MYSELF THE GREAT CHEF PAPYRUS UNTIL I HAVE MASTERED THE ART OF SPICE."
"You can follow a recipe though so why am I doing this?" Frisk asked.
"I'VE TRIED ADDING SPICES BECAUSE IT LOOKED SO BLAND BUT MY BROTHER GOT SICK."
Frisk smacked her head.
"Have you thought maybe it was because you added the spices? Do you do that to every recipe you come across?"
"OF COURSE, IT'S JUST MORE FUN TO USE THEM."
"It's a hangover remedy for a reason. You add spices to it, wouldn't it lose it's effect?"
"AH, I'VE NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT THAT."
After they had finished Frisk handed the pot to Papyrus.
"You can put it in the fridge and it should be ready in the morning."
Immediately after that she had gone to sleep, Papyrus had gone to bed thinking what she said.
He was heading downstairs eager to show Frisk what he had learned before he noticed Frisk was gone.
"GUESS HE HEADED OUT."
As Frisk was leaving their house, Snowy intercepted him. He mouth open in shock.
"You're staying with them?" he asked.
"Well yeah."
"Cal told me you've been staying with the innkeeper."
"I was. Not anymore."
"He he, wait until Barb gets a load of this."
"Oh?" Chara inquired.
"What do you mean?" Frisk asked.
"Don't ya know? Barby has a huge crush on Sans. She'd give anything to get that close to him."
Chara grinned.
"Wow, that's very interesting," he said.
"Oh I didn't know that. What does she like about him?"
"I don't know if I should say."
"Now I have to know," Chara said.
"Well now you've peaked my curiousity. You're not gonna leave me hanging now, are ya?"
"Hey Snowy."
Snowy jolted before turning around.
"Hey Barbs," he spoke, looking very sheepish. He laughed, his left wing stroking the back of his head.
She narrowed her eyes at them.
"What were you two doing?"
"We were just talkin about things-"
"What kind of things?"
"About your huge crush on Sans."
"Ha, what do you know? The guy is a giant blabbermouth," Chara said.
Barby's cheeks turned red. Smoke was emanating from her head.
"You told them?" she snapped.
"Yeah, what's the problem?"
"Snowy, you're such a blabbermouth. How did you two get on the topic of Sans anyhow?"
"Well you see the human is-"
"-heading to work," Frisk said.
"Nice Save," Chara said.
"Why are you out here anyway?" she asked.
"Oh right, I was taking a walk. I guess I got a little preoccupied. No use in doing that now. You're heading to work right?" Barby asked.
Frisk nodded.
"I was actually going to see if you were coming but I can see that's no longer necessary. Cal is already inside," she said before following Frisk inside. "So how's he doing anyway?"
"You mean Sans? He's fine," Frisk said.
"Good my father was very worried about him."
"Are those two close?' Frisk asked.
"My father helped him when he was in a rut. He thinks of Sans like a younger brother. Still if it wasn't for Sans or Papyrus, I have the feelin' he wouldn't be the same. He always looks like he's shouldering some big burden."
Once the two headed inside, Frisk changed in the backroom before talking to Grillby. Most of the regulars were already present.
Cal was seated at the front of the pub along with Barby.
"So you're working again, huh?"
"Yeah."
"Well in any case it looks like you're having alot of fun."
A voice came from the far right side of the front counter.
"Hey Grillbz, where do I get something to eat in this place?"
Grillby waved Frisk over.
Cal joined her.
She noted that the monster in question was a brown horse monster with a yellow mane and black coat.
"Oh you gotta be kidding me," Peter said.
"What would you like to order?" Frisk asked.
She finished jotting down his order before heading back. Cal was about to join her when she tripped over Peter's leg outstretched before her. Her face slammed into the floor.
"What a jerk," Chara said.
"You a-s, what'd you do that for?" Cal snapped.
Peter sneered.
"You can't possibly think we've completely welcomed you and your father, you city slicker."
Barby fumed but Cal got up.
Peter chuckled.
"Ah, did the poor city slicker get her a-s handed to her?"
Cal turned and punched him across the face knocking him to the floor.
"Ha, serve ya right. Ya jerk," Barby said.
"You-" Peter sputtered, glaring at Cal and angrily clutching his nose.
"Wow, she really kicked his a-s," Chara said.
"Are you alright?" Frisk asked.
"Yeah."
"I can beat him up for you if you like."
"He's always been nasty though. This is nothin' new."
"Y'know I think he might like you."
"What?" Chara sputtered.
"What?!" Cal spat with equal surprise. "I'd never go with that slimeball."
Frisk chuckled.
"Good, because you deserve much better," she said. before heading back to get another order.
Chara noticed Cal's face turn visibly pink.
"Are you deliberately trying to flirt with her?" he asked.
'What are you even talking about Chara?'
"What's the deal with telling her she deserves better? Are you trying to hint at something?"
'No, I was just giving her some friendly advice.'
"Pssh, you are friends with a hot monster and you don't even wanna date her?"
'Date her? Why would I want to do that?'
Chara sighed before face palming.
"Forget it.'
When Frisk had gone, Barby spoke.
"Say Cal, have you heard from Snowy? His father came by asking about him."
Chara who had remained behind to overhear the juicy bits, listened intently.
"Oh really? He was acting very silly when he was riding on Avian," Cal said. She faintly recalled the red flush on the plane's cheeks. "I hope he didn't agree to do something silly. She can be quite merciless sometimes."
"This doesn't smell like Snowy," Barby said. "Still I cannot deny the hunch that something smells fishy. Lately don't you think the human has been rather chummy lately. You and Avian have been acting weird since he showed up and I'm not even going to mention that whole episode with Sans."
"I haven't been acting weird. Wait, what episode with Sans?"
"The human brought him home after he got plastered. Oh that's right you don't know about the feud between him and Snowy's father do you?"
"So he took him home then? What's so strange about that?"
"Just a couple of weeks ago, he was adjusting his tie and just days before that Sans manages to talk my father into letting that human work for him. The guy's obviously an expert casanova."
Chara chuckled.
'How do they get 'Casanova' from that? The dude couldn't flirt to save his life.'
"I don't believe it. Barb, you're not jealous of him for stealing your guy are you?"
Smoke emitted off of Barby.
"No, of course not. That's ridiculous. There's no way Sans would even be interested in him. He's probably too lazy for a relationship to begin with."
Frisk came back with Peter's meal.
Barby glanced at Frisk, her mouth opened in disbelief.
"Nah, it couldn't be."
"What?" Cal asked.
"You don't think the human got involved?" Barby asked.
"What do you mean?"
"He could have used his charms to seduce Avian."
"Nah, he's too cool to do something like that," Cal said.
Frisk headed back inside to take the other customer's order.
Cal stopped her as she was delivering a meal to one of the customers.
"Hey, you ought to hear what these girls were just talking about. Apparently not only have you stolen tsunderplane's heart, but you also have stolen the cow and the skeleton's heart."
'Skeleton?'
Chara chuckled.
"Obviously they're talking about Sans."
'I get that. What I don't understand is how anyone could think they're was something going on between us to begin with.'
"Well you do seem to push his buttons."
'Not intentionally. I can't help it if he p-sses me off.'
"Genius, even your friends think something is going on between you. All that fire elemental was talking about was how he was fixing your tie and how you took him home yesterday."
'It was crooked and it's not my fault he made a bad decision due to some faulty judgement,' Frisk retorted hotly.
"Say something strikes me odd," Cal said. "Avian was acting very funny after she returned with Snowy yesterday. Her face was very red. You know she only gets that way around you."
"And?"
Cal narrowed her eyes.
"You weren't flirting with her yesterday, were you?"
"Of course not," Frisk said.
"You lie so effortlessly," Chara said.
'Flirting implies that I was trying to lead her on for my own amusement. I didn't do that. She does that enough on her own.'
Snowy came in and ordered a drink as they were taking joined them.
"Hey what's up."
"Oh we were just talking about our friend getting chummy with everyone," Barby said.
"Are you talkin' about Sans?"
"So something is going on?"
"What do you know?" Cal asked.
"Well the human is staying with him."
"What?! Barby snapped grabbing onto Snowy's feathers. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"He said you'd go berserk. Shake him anymore then he'll be losing more than just the feathers on his chest."
Barby released him.
"Oops, sorry."
"I guess our buddy is one lucky son of a gun."
Barby glanced at Cal.
"Still believe he isn't cool enough to hit on Avian."
I mean even Sans likes him and if Sans can fall for his act anyone can."
Cal thought about it and seemed to agree.
"So Snowy, why did Avian come by to pick you up two days ago?"
Snowy spat out his drink.
"No reason, no reason at all."
Frisk rolled her eyes.
'What was the point in keepin' it a secret? He might as well tell everyone.'
"You weren't tryin' to avoid your father were ya?" Cal asked.
Snowy turned avoiding her eyes.
"Course not."
Cal's eyes turned red.
"Snowy," she snapped, punching him on the head.
"Ouch. Sorry I'm sorry alright."
Once Frisk was finished with work, she headed back to the locker room to change out of her uniform and headed out.
"Well I'm headin' home see ya later."
Some minutes passed after Frisk left when a humanoid monster wearing a red cloak headed inside the pub.
"What'll it be?"
"Do you have apple juice?"
Grillby handed her a glass.
"I heard a human was here."
"Yeah, there was," a voice spoke from behind her.
The monster turned towards them. Barby and Cal were glaring at Snowy who only looked at them with confusion.
"What? What did I do?"
Other voices came from the monsters in the pub.
"A human? A human was here?"
"Scandalous."
"Oh, who're they staying with?"
"I think he's staying with Sans," Snowy said.
"SNOWY!" Cal said.
"What?"
"You're such a blabbermouth," Barby said.
"So Sans is protecting the human huh? Well I'm afraid I'm gonna have to crush his dreams. Tell the human to meet me at Waterfall tomorrow evening. No getting out of it either."
She waved her red cloak off her body dramatically.
"Say 'Red' wants to meet him."
With that she headed out.
As Frisk headed into the skelebro's home, she caught sight of Sans watching tv.
"Hey!"
Sans didn't look at her.
"i heard what happened yesterday and i'm sorry you had to see me like that."
"Look don't worry about it. It wasn't a problem I can completely understand why you did it and if it happened again I'd help you in a heartbeat so don't apologize."
A blue flush appeared on his skull where his cheeks would have been and again he avoided her eyes.
"heh, well thanks kid."
There was a figure that stood in the distance shrowded in darkness.
"My my, you've finally remembered me huh?"
"(redacted), who are you talking about? of course i remember you."
"Could have fooled me. The way you hover around that human, guiding them and protecting them. One would think you like humans even after what they've done to me."
"that's not true."
"Oh? then what do i look like?"
"i don't remember."
The figure glanced at him as if it expected this.
"That's understandable. It's been a long time since you've seen me but surely you haven't forgotten my name."
"no, of course not it's g-g-(redacted.)"
'what? what's going on? why can't i remember his name? i just had it and then i lost it.'
"I'm sorry, Sans but (redacted) isn't a name. You can't hide the truth from me. I am not such a fool and I don't like being treated like one. You know who I do with people who treat me like a fool?"
The figure expanded, the darkness turning into long limbs.
"I consume them."
"what?! no!"
One of the limbs flew towards him grabbing him by the torso and dragging him towards the darkness.
"please, i didn't mean it. i'm sorry."
"It's too late."
The darkness became closer and closer.
Sans woke up with a scream sweat beading down his skull. He looked around. It would appear that it only was a nightmare.
He headed downstairs. It appeared the kid had already left for work.
Just as he was about to get a glass of water before heading back to bed, he heard a knock on the door.
Sans answered it.
Red stood outside.
He glanced at Red with surprise.
"huh wasn't expecting a member of the royal guard at my door."
"You should've. It's awfully cocky to believe you can hide that human here forever."
"what do you want with him?" Sans asked.
"Why are you defending that human after what he did to Doggo?"
"who says i'm defending him?"
"You're a horrible liar."
Sans shrugged.
"i wasn't tryin'."
"SANS, WHO IS THAT AT THE DOOR? IS THAT A GUEST. YOU SHOULD INVITE THEM IN FOR BREAKFAST."
"come in."
Red walked inside and sat on the couch as Sans headed to the kitchen to fetch a glass of water.
"Then why are you keeping the human at your place?"
"he owes me."
"Really? That's all. I never pegged you for the greedy type."
"guess you've learned something new."
Sans joined her on the couch.
"Cut the cr-p. He's been here for weeks. You could have turned them in sooner and the king would have paid you the difference."
"really? i guess it never crossed my mind."
"Admit it. You like them that's why you wanted them around."
"course not," he said as he took a sip of his water.
"He might like you though."
Sans coughed and stammered.
Red grinned smugly.
"Really Sans, I'm amazed the thought hasn't crossed your mind."
Papyrus came in with two plates of spaghetti.
"OH YEAH, I ALMOST FORGOT."
Sans turned once he realised his brother was addressing him.
"I'M TRAINING WITH UNDYNE TODAY SO I'M GOING TO BE BACK LATE."
Red took out a vial from her belt containing a vial of Somnila and she poured it in his food while he was distracted.
Once exposed to the air the drink became invisible. It also had the quirk of being tasteless.
"WELL SEE YOU LATER, SANS," Papyrus said before he headed out.
Sans glanced at Red and noticed her plate of spaghetti untouched.
"aren't ya gonna eat? he did fix a plate of spaghetti for ya."
Red's face flushed and she smiled.
"Oh of course."
From the corners of her eye, Red saw Sans pick up his fork and twirl the pasta.
Red happily dug into the spaghetti and promptly spit it out.
"Ugh, this is terrible," she sputtered. "This is supposed to be spaghetti?"
"well no one asked you to drop by."
Red fumed.
Sans happily dug into the spaghetti eating it until his plate was empty.
"Y'know there's no use in delaying the inevitable. The king will get their soul."
"then what? we go to the surface? The humans will find out what we've done."
Red's smile faded.
"True but maybe justice is what we deserve. How many humans have monsters killed for the king? 6 or 5? I'm just sick of running away."
Sans was silent.
Red turned when she heard a snore.
She saw Sans was sound asleep.
"Perfect."
Outside Grillby's, Frisk spotted Snowy standing by the door. He glanced at Frisk as she headed closer.
"Why are you here?" she asked.
"Is it not normal for me to be here?" he said.
Frisk shrugged and tried to walk passed him but he moved to block the way.
"That isn't suspicious in the slightest," Chara said.
"What's going on?"
Frisk narrowed her eyes shrewdly.
"He told everyone inside the joint that you were human."
Frisk turned and saw Cal come up from behind.
"Well at least, he didn't cause the end of the world, right? Right?" Chara said.
Snowy looked as if he was trying to keep it cool.
"So they might be out for a little blood," he said.
"I'm fine. Quit blocking the door."
Snowy stepped aside.
The inside of Grillby's which was usually noisy was immediately quiet, the moment Frisk stepped inside.
Everyone turned, their attention diverted by the human who stepped inside.
Then everyone erupted in conversation.
"Wow, are you really human?" Mr Fishy spoke.
"What's it like on the surface?" Venus asked.
"Wow, quite the celebrity now aren't ya?" Chara said.
"Ha, must be as populated as the captial if that city slicker is friends with him," Peter said.
"What if they try to kill us?" Honky asked.
"If Sans trust them then they can't be that bad," Grillby said.
Frisk glanced up at Grillby in surprise.
Even after all that talk about what humans have done to his wife, it was astounding that even Grillby had faith in them.
Even after everything she had one, these monsters were willing to look past that just because Sans trusted her.
It was clearly ill thought especially since Sans knew what kind of person she was.
"Is it alright if I work today?"
Grillby motioned to the backroom.
After Frisk headed in the back to change in her uniform, Red came in handing Grillby an envelope before heading out.
Once Frisk had finished changing, she headed to the front of the pub and saw Grillby opening an envelope.
"What's with the envelope?"
"Don't know. Haven't opened it yet. A monster was asking for you the other day. She told us to tell you to meet her tomorrow evening at Waterfall."
"Why should I? It's obviously a trap."
"That should be the least of your concern."
Frisk continued her job as usual.
It wasn't until later that afternoon, Papyrus had dropped by much to Frisk's shock.
"EXCUSE ME. HAVE YOU SEEN MY BROTHER?"
Honky spoke.
"Grillby says he hasn't seen him at all."
Papyrus frowned.
"REALLY? I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR HIM EVERYWHERE. HE WASN'T EVEN AT HIS POST AND HE WON'T ANSWER HIS PHONE."
"What?!"
Suddenly something hit Grillby as he opened the envelope and glanced at the letter before handing it to Frisk.
"Just in case, you don't have enough incentive to meet me at Waterfall at 8 o'clock the evening. I've captured Sans, your little boyfriend. If you're late I'm feeding him to the fishes."
Frisk sighed.
"I hope you don't intend on doing anything foolish," Grillby said. "Sans has got himself out of worser situations."
"I'm not doing it for him. This monster's attitude really p-sses me off," Frisk said.
With that she headed out. Much to Frisk's surprise, Snowy was outside along with Kid.
"You're heading out, aren't you?"
Frisk nodded.
"If you are the least we can do is exchange number that way can call me if you get in any trouble."
Frisk handed him, her cellphone.
Snowy rummaged through the menus on her phone.
"Wow, you have everything on this phone, a storage app and the pick up item app. Genius."
He handed the phone back to Frisk.
"I left my number on your quick contracts so you should be able to contact me more easier."
Frisk took the phone.
"See ya," he said and Frisk headed north of town.
Kid joined her.
"Do your parents know you're out here so late?"
"Ah come on you're no fun. My parents never let me do anything cool."
Frisk sighed.
"Look just stay outta my way."
As they headed out, snow began to fall from above. The snow became more swift the further they walked. She looked up but she could only see grey.
In the distance however was a cave.
Once inside, Frisk walked past the river which seemed to flow past Snowdin into the cave.
The two continued until they spotted an orange fish monster by a light blue flower that caused the cave to glow.
"What's that? It looks so beautiful," Frisk said.
"This? This is an echo flower. It repeat the last thing it heard over and over."
"I see."
The two continued on.
Further into the cave was a wide body of water and rocks floating down a stream of water.
Frisk saw it lead to an endless abyss.
To the left was another box. Out of curiosity she opened it. Inside was the knife and a note attached.
'In case anyone else falls down here, please keep healing items on you at all times. The box may be tempting but only do so when you have a full inventory of healing items. It is no good to stock all items and leave with an empty inventory. Sincerely a box hater. P.S: If you should leave this place please relay a message to a boy named Frisk should you happen to see him. Tell him I'm sorry I couldn't return but I'm alive and well and living happily underground.'
'He's been here this entire time. No, it has to be coincidence.'
"Who's this?" Chara asked.
'No one important.'
She placed the note back inside the box before she spotted Kid wading in the water nearby.
"How deep is it?"
He drew closer to the other end of the water back to the land.
"It doesn't reach past my feet."
She took out the knife from the box and placed it in her pocket.
With glee, Frisk joined him easily dodging the rocks.
Further along the path they passed through tall blue grass and eventually reached another large body of water. Nearby were four plants near a bell.
"They're called 'bellflowers'," Kid said. "I heard it's because no matter where you place them, the bell calls them back to the location they were grown."
Frisk placed them in the water and they sprouted into flowers with large leaves.
"That's neat. Are they sturdy?"
"They don't look it but they are quite sturdy."
Frisk carefully traversed the bellflowers across the water.
Further north the water seemed to continue blocking the path.
"There's more flowers over here."
"Why don't you ju-"
The land mass seemed narrow enough to cross though with the help of the bellflowers.
Frisk picked them up and set them in the water in a line of four.
"Y'know It'd probably be easier if we just jumped across the water."
Chara smacked his forehead.
"I was just about to say that."
Frisk's face heated up.
"I completely forgot I was in a hurry."
"That much is obvious," Chara said.
The three scurried across the flowers into the next room.
"This is the right way, right?" Frisk asked.
"Heh, heh, you think most monsters are willing to get their feet wet?"
"Good point."
The room ahead was filled with echo flowers, the whispers of monsters coming from the plants.
Stalagtites came hanging from the ceiling adding a blue glow to the room until she saw something glistening in the air.
Carefully she took out the knife and slashed through it.
It fell to the floor like-
"string?" Chara asked.
"Ha, I'm surprised you didn't fall for my trap."
Frisk looked around restlessly.
"Who was that?" Kid asked.
Sweat beaded down her face and she felt her heart beating erratically.
"Kid, run!"
The yellow monster glanced at Frisk heeding her warning and headed back.
"You're a strange human. Y'know I wasn't gonna hurt him. Why would I hurt a monster when I'm after a human?" Red asked.
Her voice appeared to be coming from above.
Suddenly her neck, arms and chest began to feel crushed.
Frisk felt the string clutching her neck.
It felt like with time, the wire would cut through her neck.
Choking on her breath, Frisk tried to reach for the knife in her pocket.
It was inches away from her hand. She just needed to get closer.
Finally she grabbed the knife, inching it between her hands trying to cut the string that binded her arms.
Suddenly the slack loosened and Frisk sliced the string cutting off her oxygen supply.
"Ha ha, that was child's play," she said shakily.
"Be careful there's more of that where that came from," Chara said.
He began grabbing the strings himself as Frisk's knife slashed through them with deliberate strokes, pieces of string falling to the ground.
Red fumed glaring at Chara.
"How dare you?"
Suddenly monsters came from behind the echo flowers behind her.
Frisk saw one of the monsters was Sans and the other one was Papyrus.
"What the-Sans, are you-"
Just then Papyrus slashed at her with a white bone.
Frisk yelped as she barely dodged the attack and ran further into the room. A bridge expanded from left to right.
"What's going on?"
She headed to the right.
Blue bones suddenly shot up beneath her. It was a dead end with rocks protruding from the ground.
She yelped as she felt the bones slash through her leg.
Sans flew up and fired blue bones at her.
Just as she thought it was the end, words shot throught her head.
She was certain it wasn't english though it looked like it could be human in origin.
'As like the water be still. As the shadows of the darkness wath our every sin, they punish the living for their transgressions.'
The revelation was like a recollection. She concentrated on conjuring bones and suddenly white bones shot from her hands, each of them embedding into Sans as he was pinned to the wall.
Papyrus swung again and she retaliated slashing across his chest with her knife. They instantly vanished and two shredded echo flowers appeared where they once stood.
Frisk looked at them horrified.
"By the look on your face, you probably thought you killed them. Lucky for you, they are just clones. That's the ability of my sword. When your sword absorbs magic from monsters, cloning them is really quite easy."
"I thought you don't hurt monsters."
"I don't. Papyrus and I are old sparring buddies."
"What about Sans?"
"Well he was in no position to refuse."
"Hey, she's behind you," Chara said.
Frisk whirled around firing blue bones that pinned her to the wall behind her.
"Two against one? That's not fair," Red said.
Chara's eyes widened.
"You can see me?"
"Of course, did you really think you were that clever?"
'Chara come on, we have bigger things to worry about other than the fact she can see you.'
Frisk ran until they came to a dead end. Kid was up ahead.
"I thought I told you to run."
"I did, but I couldn't leave you behind to handle that monster. What kind of monster do you take me for?"
Frisk sighed eyeing the reeds nearby.
"Ok then, change of plans."
She pulled out one of the reeds taking it apart and handing a piece over to Kid.
Frisk slowly submerged herself under the water with the reed held to her mouth holding onto the other reeds under the water for support.
With one of her hands she motioned Kid to join her. Kid seeming to get the message joined her.
'Chara can you let us know when she's gone? Try to remain out of sight if you can.'
Chara floated behind a wall peering around the corner.
Red was walking towards the edge of the dock, looking around. She appeared to be puzzled before she floated across the water causing trails of waves behind her.
"Okay, you can come out now."
Frisk slowly eased her way out of the water along with Kid. A picture on the plaque in front of her however caught her attention.
'What in the world is that?'
Chara floated until he saw what was in front of her.
"Wow, that does look a little unsettling. It kind of looks faintly familiar."
It was a picture of a goat monster drawn with angelic wings, a halo, very human-like eyes, nose and mouth.
Kid seemed to catch on to their horrified expressions.
"That's supposed to be a depiction of what happens when a monster absorbs a human soul. No one's done it though because it's against the law to absorb a human soul without the king's approval," he said.
The three got on a raft and headed to the other side. They walked for sometime until they came to the shore.
There was two paths divided by tall pillars.
Frisk decided to take the left path most of which was becoming shrouded in darkness. Light from the spaces between the pillars began to light up certain areas of the path.
Frisk stepped forward slipping on one of the lit up tiles falling face first into the dark parts of the floor only to find it wasn't floor at all.
'Sh-t.'
Immediately Frisk reached up to grab the corner of the lit floor barely holding on.
With her heart beating erratically she pulled herself up carefully.
'So we're avoiding the dark parts of the floor are holes huh?'
Further along the path the light from above hit the floors for a brief second reflecting off the tiles before disappearing periodically.
'Cr-p'
Suddenly out of the shadows, Red popped out lunging at her with her blade.
Frisk barely had the time to dodge it as the blade slashed through the right side of her body.
'Double cr-p.'
"How stupid can you be? Did you really think I'd leave without my quarry?"
Red snorted.
"If you had a decent set of brains I'd have sent that ghost to see if I was still here but I guess you couldn't wait to see me. Surprising, considering you're as slow as molasses."
Frisk ran quickly, gritting her teeth as the pain burned.
Her heart raced quickly as she traversed through the puzzle slipping numerous times.
Still she continued until she stumbled across a cave leading to a lake covered in echo flowers.
'That's it.'
Frisk uttered something into the echo flowers.
"What are you doing? Hurry up before she catches you," Chara sputtered.
Clutching her side, Frisk headed out and to the right spotting some tall grass.
She stepped inside, crouched down and was quiet waitng for Red to lose track of her.
At one point, Frisk heard her eerily close before she disappeared.
'Chara, can you keep an eye on her? Make sure she's gone.'
"What about you?" he whispered.
'I'm fine. That's the least of my concern right now. If she finds me I'm history.'
Chara peeked out of the grass seeing Red hovering around the echo flowers as if intrigued by something.
His eyes followed her until she vanished north having disappeared on the other end of another large cave.
Chara headed back.
"She's gone now."
'Good.'
As Frisk tried shuffling out of the grass her boots brushed against something soft.
She looked down and saw a pair of pink ballet shoes. Removing her shoes she slipped them on her feet.
"I guess those used shoes make you feel incredibly dangerous, huh?"
"Well it'd be easier to be more sneaky when the shoes you're wearing are not making any noise."
Just as she thought she was in the clear however further to the right was what looked to be a Moldsmal in her way.
She carefully tried to pass when the creature snarled and grew bigger in front of her eyes.
"Cr-p."
She slowly backed away but the creature began to sink in the ground.
Frisk quickly ran when suddenly the creature emerged from the ground and bit into her leg with it's sharp teeth.
She yelped.
Blood seeped from the wound staining the monster's teeth.
Biting her lower lip, she summoned some white bones hurling them into the monster and it faded into dust.
"I've been meaning to ask you something," Chara said. "I've noticed that every time a monster attacks you, you appear to gain the ability to use their magic. How are you able to do that?"
Frisk shrugged.
'I don't know. Like I told you before I heard a voice. I'm beginning to think the words are incantations for spells. The language I keep hearing doesn't sound like english yet I can understand like it's english.'
"Interesting."
'It would be even more interesting if I could figure out how to use it. I seem to switch between tossing blue bones and white bones."
"Weird."
Frisk headed northeast until she came to a room surrounded by water. The water was still as she cautiously traversed it to the other side.
Suddenly a yellow tentacle sprouted out of the water.
"That looks dangerous."
'Quiet.'
Frisk continued to walk.
Another tentacle came from the water.
'I don't like this.'
One of the tentacles reached into a crack in the back of the cave pulling out Sans who unconscious.
"I told you it wasn't wise to cross me."
Frisk looked up and snarled. Red was flying near the back wall.
"That's dirty."
"I don't remember providing any rules."
"Sans!" Frisk called to him.
Sans however didn't stir.
"SANS!"
"He can't hear you. You do know he's a deep sleeper don't ya?"
"SANS," Frisk yelled, her voice loud and gutteral.
Sans stirred.
"Huh?"
He looked down before he saw he was wrapped in yellow tentacles. He looked up and saw Red.
His eyelights were completely gone from his sockets.
"gee, you're a pain in my side. that's dirty, poisoning my food. you better not have done anything nasty with my body."
Red snorted.
"What do you have that I would want? There's nothin' but bones."
Sans shrugged.
He glanced at Frisk. His eyes drifted to her wound.
"where'd you get the wound?" he asked.
"I had a lil' trouble gettin' here."
"i'd help you but i'm a little tied up at the moment. well i'm countin' on you to take care of this broad," he said before his eyes closed and he headed back to sleep.
"Look out!" Chara's voice cut through her thoughts.
Suddenly two tentacles wrapped around her from behind and pulled her backwards into the water.
Frisk struggled in it's grasp. Pulling out her knife, she poked at the tentacles which immediately twitched as if in pain loosening their grip on her. She struggled to the surface and clutched on to a solid object and was pulled to the surface.
"Avian?"
"Baka, do you want to die? If you're gonna head out straight for the danger the least you could have done was tell us," she said.
"Sorry."
She coughed.
How did you know I was down here anyway?" Frisk asked.
"I ran into Snowy," Avian said avoiding her eyes.
"So Snowy told you then?"
"Yeah."
A creature shaped like an onion peeked above the water.
"I'm sorry about attacking you. Please don't hurt me."
"You touch me again, you'll lose a tentacle. Release that skeleton, this instant."
The creature dropped Sans next to them.
"oof."
"Sorry," the creature said.
"That's it? Not even a thank you?" Avian huffed. "See if I ever help you again. Snowy was worried about you so he asked me to help you."
Frisk sighed and slumped to the ground.
"Well thank you."
"Just like that? You still owe me a kiss."
"Alright, come here."
Avian's nose drifted closer to Frisk's lips and she kissed on the cheek causing her nose to turn a cheery red.
"i see even the ladies swoon over you."
Frisk glanced at Sans in confusion.
Were there men swooning over her too?
Suddenly Sans' skull turned a dark shade of blue.
"Why the h-ll is he blushing for?" Chara asked.
Sans glanced up at Frisk.
"thanks for-"
'Helping you? Next time help yourself.'
Everything faded to black before Frisk could voice her thoughts as she succumbed to her injuries.
The next time she awoke, it was on a soft bed in the corner of a large room. The only contents of the room was a computer, a tv and a refrigerator but the walls were dusty laden with cobwebs.
"i see you're finally awake."
Frisk turned and saw a ghost with a moustache by her side.
"you were tossing and turning in your sleep so i was a little worried. your friend was very concerned about you."
'Wouldn't really call him a friend.'
Still it didn't stop Frisk from asking.
"You mean Sans?"
"if you were talking about that airplane then yeah."
"Oh."
"there was a skeleton too but he looked frightened at the sight of me. he vanished before i could say a word."
Frisk snorted.
'Of all things to be scared of. He isn't even a scary ghost.'
"Are you talking about me?" Chara asked. "I'm flattered but unless you are a special case I don't swing that way.."
"I wasn't thinking about you," Frisk retorted.
"oh you're still there huh?" Napstablook asked.
Chara blushed.
"Yeah," he muttered sheepishly.
"are you two dating?"
"No," Frisk said coolly.
"Then who was this ghost that you said wasn't so scary, hmm?" Chara asked slyly.
"It's Napstablook."
"How disappointing," Chara said.
"You just said you didn't swing that way."
"It still would have been cool if you did fancy me that way. I could use the ego boost."
Frisk sighed.
"Anyway it just surprised me that Sans would run away from a ghost like him," Frisk said.
Chara shrugged.
Frisk got up and winced.
"your wound still hasn't fully healed"
The covers fell from where they were covering Frisk.
Blood seeped through the magenta striped shirt she wore beneath her coat.
"you wouldn't let anyone near you so i treated you. see humans can't attack ghosts because we don't have a physical form. don't worry though i only removed the fabric that was covering the wound and i patched up the rest."
"Thank you," Frisk said, a smile at the edge of her lips. "Can we go outside?"
"sure, use my head as a crutch. don't worry ghosts can stabilize any form of their body."
Frisk placed her hands on Napstablook and got up. He helped her outside where Avian was.
"Hey!" she said.
"You're awake."
"Yeah, it appears that way."
"I'm glad you're alright."
"Can you lend me a wing?"
"Sure but don't get used to it."
"be careful alright, it is dangerous out here," he said and with that Napstablook vanished.
"so you can be polite when you want to."
Frisk blushed before whirling around. She spotted Sans walking up to her.
"What's it to you?"
Sans chuckled.
"you should smile more often. it's a good look on you."
'Just what is that supposed to mean? Is he making fun of me?'
Frisk glanced over his shoulder.
"Hey Napstablook."
Sans' pupils shrunk and immediately he turned.
Frisk snickered.
"Haha, you should have seen the look on your face."
"not cool."
"Yet you're still smiling," Frisk said with a grin.
"being a skeleton doesn't allow much freedom in expression."
"So you're scared of ghosts, huh?" she asked. "Why?"
"if something is not solid it's usually dangerous."
"Well it's nice to know that even you can be scared sometimes."
"why? are you scared?"
"Of course but that's the least of my worries. Sometimes you got to be brave even when you don't want to."
"sometimes its ok to be scared y'know."
"I wish that were true."
Frisk smiled pensively.
"well i'm glad you're alright but i hope you're not intending on going too far in that getup."
"What's wrong with it?"
"nothin', but your pants are pretty much ruined at this point."
Frisk glared at him.
"Then what do you suggest?"
Sans handed Frisk a dusty tutu.
"it's a pretty strong piece of armor if that's what concerns you."
Avian blushed.
"You can't be serious," Frisk spat. "It wouldn't even cover my legs."
"i'm sorry there's nothin' else i could find. look, don't worry about it. you just have to wear it until you could buy yourself some new pants."
"I suppose you're right. I just hope this doesn't cause any trouble."
"why would it cause trouble?"
Frisk sighed and pointed at Avian who's face turned even redder.
"You could tell she's just thinking about how sexy my legs are."
"point taken."
"I just have a bad feeling."
She pulled the tutu up her hips and changed out of her pants.
"so that's how you wear it huh? you kinda look like one of those dancers you see in the theaters. what do you call them on the surface?"
"Ballerinas."
"yeah, that's it."
Sans held out his left hand.
"so wanna dance?"
"Are you serious? This isn't the time to be dancing."
"you gotta relax and unwind."
"There's no music."
"so you can't dance. maybe you're just too scared."
Frisk sat up and glared at him removing her jacket. She grabbed his hand tightly.
"these can break y'know," Sans said as he grabbed her hand.
"You told me to dance. You didn't say how."
She stumbled on his feet.
"y'know you're very awful at this."
"Well I can't dance."
He swung her around.
"Am I the woman now?"
He released her.
"well that was fun," he said.
She joined him.
"wait here, i'll be back."
He came back with a mug of sea tea.
"drink up."
He sat next to her.
"I take it you already called you brother and told him you were here."
"yes, it's just our luck that the costume party is being hosted at the captain's home two days from now. i'd suggest a good disguise after all she despises humans."
"At this rate, I'd be surprised if any monster liked humans," Frisk said.
Sans was silent.
She hadn't exactly liked him either.
"So are you stickin' around?" she asked, picking her coat off the ground.
"nah, if i did i wouldn't sleep a wink."
Frisk chuckled.
"well see you around, kid."
With that he walked away.
"Y'know you kinda look cute in that tutu," Avian said.
"Thank you."
"Baka, don't ruin it be making an expression like that. Look I know things are tough just don't be afraid to ask for help if you need a shoulder to lean on, alright? You don't have to go through everything alone."
Frisk chuckled.
"I'll keep that in mind."
"Well we should get back," Avian said. "Napstablook said we could stay with him for a couple more days until you completely recover."
"Ha, that's good," Frisk said leaning on her wing.
Avian lead her up to two houses. One was pink and the other blue. Both were slanted.
She brought Frisk inside the blue one which she assumed was Napstablook's home.
The moment they arrived, Frisk collapsed on the bed with exhaustion.