Ello folks! Arana here!

You may have noted that Asriel has a part in this so far. Except he hasn't been truly introduced yet (he will shortly) but I just haven't change the little blurb before the chapter telling you who speaks like that. So yeah.

So, this story hasn't gotten a bunch of view yet (I'm working on figuring out a summary that brings in some new folk) but that doesn't bother me. I mean, I can't have all my stories boom like Gumdrops did, right?

Do you wish to help me design some characters or places or even the cover of the story? Go ahead and do some art!

Now onto the story!

(Asriel speaking)

"*C'ara speaking"

"Frisk speaking to the ghosts via thought"

Chapter 4

Frisk and C'ara soon figured out that, unlike what Mayor Joe said, the other Bright Souls had stayed in Ebbot Village for at least a night before going to the mountain. Not even a full night, actually, as they soon learned.

Frisk had been woken up in the middle of the night when she felt conscious-es brushing against her own. They were sad, angry, even embarrassed. They were reaching out to her for forgiveness or to try and make her guilty of sealing the monsters away.

The pair soon realized that there were many hauntings in the village. They noted that nightlights lit every room, and why their own room had the lights turned on at all times, but dimly when they were supposed to be off. It was to keep the ghosts out of the houses, it seemed.

If someone else had been in Frisk's shoes at that moment, they would have fled the village right then and there. But Frisk was curious, especially because it seemed that many of the spirits were crying over their lost children.

Getting dressed and putting a scarf around her neck, Frisk went downstairs to the still awake innkeeper, who looked at her sadly.

"They woke you, didn't they?" the innkeeper asked, her voice barely audible.

"Yes, but I am not fleeing," Frisk answered in a hushed voice. "Are the spirits all from the war?"

"Not all of them," the innkeeper sighed. "About a third of them died after the war, mainly the parents of Bright Soul children whom were taken away. Not all of our distraught families died like the poor parents that haunt us. Nay, those who died after their children were taken haunt us because they were murdered for bringing those poor children into this world." The innkeeper paused, looking away. "My own son was taken away the same day as you were, Frisk. You were good friends."

"You recognize me?" Frisk asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes, because I cared for you when your parents disappeared," the innkeeper sighed. "I am Marsha, and you should know my son Jackson, right?"

Frisk smiled, and motioned to her bags. "He gave these to me for my trip here," she said. "Although it seems odd to me that you know both of our names…"

"I asked for you two not to change your names when they came for you both," Marsha said, brushing a tear from her eye.

Frisk thought carefully about her next question. "You said that the parents of Bright Souls were usually murdered," she said slowly. "How did you not take the same fate?"

If Marsha was taken aback, she did not show it. "I adopted Jackson when I found him on the side of the road near Mount Ebbot's forests," she sighed. "And I was in the process of adopting you when they came to take you and Jackson away. They spared me because I was not the blood mother of you or Jackson."

Frisk nodded slowly, taking this information in. It was a usual thing for her to end up as an orphan, so this was not unusual for her. What was unusual was the fact that she was almost adopted.

"I'm going to go roam about the town," Frisk said, bowing slightly. "Do not worry about me, I can handle myself."

Marsha's eyes widened, given Frisk the impression of Toriel trying to stop her from leaving the Ruins. The innkeeper made a move to grab the "young" Bright Soul, but Frisk skillfully dodged the movement and ran out the door, C'ara trailing her.

"*This is getting weirder and weirder," the ghost girl commented.

Frisk was about to respond when she noticed a ghostly monster coming towards her. The monster seemed to be a boss monster, with chipped horns and golden fur. Unlike most boss monsters they had met, this one had hooves and a long tail ending with a brush like fluff of fur. He seemed heavily wounded, as it seemed that he was eternally starting to dust. He wore only a mail chestplate and chainmail trousers, as well as a pouch on the side of his hip, from what Frisk could tell.

The boss monster limped towards her, before stopping and kneeling before her. "Bright Soul…" he panted out. "I am Vlad, the King of Dead Monsters…" He paused to take a breath. "Please… save my people who still live, and stop my daughter Alphys from starting another war… she is distraught over the loss of her children, and her wife Undyne has left her, so she is not of the right mind. I cannot visit her due to the Barrier, although I roam the woods every day to ward off humans, as do most of my fellow ghosts. We all wish not of another war, and though some of us hate the fact that our descendants are locked in the mountain, it was a good idea to go with it on Alphys's part."

Vlad paused again, waiting for Frisk's response. By now, they were surrounded by other ghosts, most of whom were murmuring prayers. They were not all monsters, as some of them were humans. A small percentage of them seemed to be human-monster hybrids, and there were even a few Bright Souls in the mix. From the windows of the town, Frisk noted that the townsfolk were also watching. Marsha was even in the doorway of the inn.

Frisk nodded. "I will stop the war," she said. "And I will find a way to free the monsters." She bowed, and then waited for the spirit king's response.

He limped up to her smiling, and took her hand, surprising the Bright Soul as he was somewhat corporeal. From his pouch he produced a heart locket necklace, a red heart surrounded in shining gold, and put it in her hand. "Take this," Vlad said, bowing his head down to Frisk's eye level. "Alphys will recognize it when you battle her. Maybe Undyne will too." He then sighed. "Use your powers wisely, ancient soul, as there are some spirits who will wish to harm you. And to you, spirit follower, keep an eye out for those spirits."

And with that, Vlad and all the other spirits dissolved into fine, sparkling dust, which rose to the sky and mingled with the stars. Afterwards, the stars seemed to be more in numbers, and light flooded the town square.

For a moment, both Frisk and C'ara were still. It was always a surprise to find someone who realized that they weren't the age they showed, or even notice C'ara. But when someone addressed them head on like that, they knew that there was urgency to this mission.

Frisk looked down at the heart locket and then carefully opened it. Inside were two monsters, Vlad, and a lizard monster who resembled Alphys. The two seemed happy.

Then, Frisk closed it and put it around her neck, thinking.

"Alphys is Vlad's daughter… and Undyne's her wife," Frisk said to C'ara. "Now we know that this has to be a -shift AU. I wonder where Asgore and Toriel are placed…"

"*Probably where Undyne and Alphys are usually." C'ara murmured. "*We should go get some more rest, we have a big day ahead of us."