A Maelstrom's Tale
Chapter 14: Déjà Vu?
Consciousness gradually returns to Naruto who at first felt like he was floating in the air with no gravity applied to him then the next thing he realized that he was lying on something soft which was more than enough to rouse himself awake.
"Oh man, what happened and where am…i?" Naruto trailed off as he looked around and noticed that he was lying in a bed of flowers very familiar to him and the same could be said for his surroundings "I'm in the Underground? That weird portal must have warped me here. That's a relief, for second there I thought that I was warped to another world like in those manga and anime,"
He got up and patted the flowers and dirt off his clothes before looking around "Might as well make my way out and head back home,"
The blonde began making his way through the Ruins, already knowing where exactly to go and how to traverse the traps laid throughout the area, looking around as he walked and felt nostalgic while recalling what he and the others went through when they first came here.
However, he felt something weird that even his SOUL thumped in discomfort. It felt like the atmosphere had gone still, the place was silent…dead silent that Naruto would have chalked it up to the fact that it was because all of the monsters had moved out of the Underground but he didn't feel convinced that it was the case. Then there was another oddity.
"…dust?" Naruto muttered lowly as he looked at the aforementioned dust in confusion "Why would there be dust scattered all over? It hasn't been too long since the monsters had left and for some reason, he felt something familiar about the dust and didn't like it "Best I kept on moving, I'm almost at Toriel-baasan's old home,"
Sure enough, Naruto arrived at the place and went inside "Still looks the same like the first time, now to head downstairs and make my way to Snowdin," he went down the stairs to the long tunnel. Naruto reached the exit and came upon a pile of dust yet again "Dust again, and in a pile here?" he was nervous about the dust at first, but now the feeling of fear was taking root in his heart. Things have been very odd and unusual ever since that portal brought him here "Could this dust be…no it can't be. I'm probably thinking into it too much,"
He went through the exit with hesitance and soon entered the Snowdin Forest where he noticed faded footprints on the snowy ground leading further inside the forest "There's someone here before me? Maybe it's one of the monsters going to Snowdin Town, I'll see about catching up and hopefully getting some answers," Naruto set off at a jogging pace, unaware that he was being watched.
Somewhere in Hotland, someone was watching through the monitor at the many piles of dust with the numbers gradually increasing in horror. She wasn't expecting anything like this happening ever since she first saw that human emerge from the Ruins, at first she thought that the human could be friendly but it was immediately shattered when she saw the human kill a monster without hesitation "Oh my god, that human is killing the monster, at this rate; she might wipe us out. No, I-I mustn't think that; I'm sure Undyne will be able to stop the human before that happens and…huh?"
The person noticed something on one of the miniscreens and zoomed in only to be shocked upon what was on display "Another human, here? This might make things worse; I need to call someone!" she scrambled for her phone and quickly dialed in a number.
Back with Naruto, he was already crossing the bridge leading to Snowdin Town. Along the way, the blonde kept seeing piles of dust and at times actually caught glimpses of monsters but for some reason, they hid away from him as if terrified to be in his presence.
"What's going on here, why are there still monsters in the Underground and why are they scared to see me? It's like they don't even recognize me…," Naruto muttered lowly to himself as he finally arrived at Snowdin and soon noticed that there was no one outside but the lights in the houses are on "I…I don't understand, there are monsters still living here? Why?"
"Ain't that a question that is on everyone's minds today?" a familiar voice suddenly spoke, causing Naruto to trace the voice towards a Christmas tree where he saw someone just as familiar step out from behind the tree.
Naruto was surprised to see who it is "Sans? What are you doing here, what's going on?"
"Seems like you know me when I don't know you," said Sans nonchalantly but there was nary a trace of humor in his voice, making Naruto feel rather tense.
"What do you mean by that? Of course we know each other, you helped Frisk and I out while we were in the Underground and trying to find our way out the first time," Naruto pointed out, then he noticed something about Sans "Isn't that Papyrus' scarf you're wearing? I'm surprised that he's letting you wear it,"
"…,"
Naruto then saw Sans reach for the scarf and grip it very tightly without saying a word, this action drew concern from Naruto as he hesitantly called out to the skeleton "…Sans?"
Sans glanced at the second human before, feeling wary and couldn't help but suspect that he too might kill monsters as well, but the fact that this same human knew him and everyone in the Underground very well also raises a lot of questions that require answers "…follow me, kiddo. It's too cold for us to hold a chat out here when we can do it at Grilby's…no need for a shortcut,"
Filled with even more confusion and questions, Naruto followed Sans over to Grilby's and went inside, mildly noticing that none from the Canine Unit were present. They took their seats at the counter and sat down in silence for some time until Sans decided to speak up.
"So…how is it that you know my name and that the scarf is my brother's?" asked Sans.
Naruto crossed his arms as he responded "Of course I would know you two as you both my friends…," he went on to speak about his & Frisk's time in the underground and how Sans helped them to the end and are friends "…you can't say that you don't recall?"
Sans shrugged his shoulders as he replied "Sorry, none of those ring any bells in my skull especially since I've never met you in particular,"
Hearing this, Naruto couldn't be anymore confused "I'm so confused, Frisk and I had even shattered the barrier and freed all of the monsters! So why are they back in the Underground?"
"Kiddo, you must have bumped your head on your way here. That's quite an imagination you have there," said Sans.
"I'm not imagining things! I'm telling you the truth!"
"Look kid, as far as I can understand, we never met each other before and it was just Frisk that fell down. As for the barrier being shattered part, heh, the barrier is still there so I don't know what to tell yeah. Tibia, honest here, I think you may have hit yourself in the head too hard after that fall,"
"Darn it, why are you doubting me about this?!" thought Naruto with growing frustration.
"Although, the fact you even know my name as well as Papyrus's scarf and the kid which we never met as well as telling me your story does raises questions given it was very specific," Sans hummed thoughtfully "And to add on the fact, despite your story is farfetched given that it never happened, you don't look like the lying type as I get the feeling you're telling the truth,"
Naruto huffed "Of course, I'm not lying,"
"Okay kid, let's say I believe you and tell me more of your story, I might have a theory of your situation"
"Sure…," Naruto proceeded to tell Sans everything he knows as well as the names of the monsters he & Frisk befriended as well as how the monsters are living on the surface with the humans. Sans was listening in as the more he hears his story, he was starting to think this human is not around here I don't mean him being in the Underground but like…not around in this world but he needs to make sure before he can confirm his theory.
"I see…I believe you, but I want to ask something; how exactly did you arrive here?" Sans inquired.
Naruto hummed thoughtfully "Well, I was doing some training in the forest to sort out some…issues, that's when a weird portal suddenly appeared from out of nowhere and sucked me inside, then I woke up on a flower patch inside the Ruins,"
"…that just confirms what I'm thinking, the reason why I don't know and yet you're so familiar with the Underground. The portal didn't simply transport you to the Underground, it took you from your own timeline and into mine,"
Naruto was silent for a moment before chuckling "That's funny Sans, surely that's not the case here,"
However, the blonde took note of the seriousness in Sans's expression "I'm not kidding with this, I'm actually being serious about this for once, no puns about it,"
"Could it be true, that portal sent me to another timeline? Then again, it could also explain why Sans wasn't familiar with me and that the monsters are still in the Underground. Plus I didn't see the Save Points along the way too…I wonder why?" thought Naruto "But then, how am I going to find my way back to my own timeline?"
"No worries there kiddo, I'm pretty sure that Alphys and I can figure a way to get you back to your own timeline," said Sans with a reassuring grin.
Naruto smiled softly in gratitude "Thanks very much Sans, I've been wondering for a while, why are all of the monsters scared of me and where's Frisk? Is she with Papyrus or something?"
At that question, Sans looked away from Naruto with his eyes turning black, not knowing of what exactly to tell the blonde who was wondering why he hasn't gotten an answer yet "Sans, what's going on?"
After a moment of silence, Sans finally spoke "…Kid, there's something else you should know about my timeline that you have found yourself in and the reason why the monsters are afraid and went to hiding. It all involves with Frisk,"
Naruto frowned at this, just what is it that scares the monsters so much and does it have to do with Frisk? "Sans, what are you getting at here? What does this involve with Frisk?"
The skeleton hesitated before letting out a sigh and finally dropped the bomb "Well kid, the reason this is involves Frisk…because she's committing Genocide here. Frisk is going around killing monsters left and right which is the reason why the monsters around here are afraid and went to hiding after seeing you. In others words kid, Frisk started another Genocide run,"
Naruto simply sat there as the words repeatedly echoed in his mind; Frisk has been killing innocent monsters, a girl whom he knows well to be gentle and kind is not hesitant in killing without a second thought. He just couldn't believe it, the sense of denial was strong in his gut. Then he recalled a certain detail in Sans's statement.
"Hey Sans, what do you mean by another Genocide Run?" Naruto inquired confusedly.
"This isn't the first time that Frisk has done a Genocide Run, she has done so three times and this will be the fourth one,"
Naruto was now beyond horrified to learn that Frisk had been using the power of Reset to repeatedly kill the monsters without any remorse, for what reason would she be doing this so many times? "Just why is she killing the monsters?"
Sans shrugged in response "Who knows? Best guess is that she wanted to gain LV, leaving behind nothing but dust in her rampage,"
"Dust? Then all what I've been seeing…oh my god," Naruto had forgotten what happens to monsters when they die or are killed but now it came back to him "She even killed Toriel-obaasan," then something equally disturbing came to mind as he turned to Sans "Did she also…to Papyrus?"
"…," nothing needed to be said with Sans's silence telling him everything.
Naruto had never felt so confused with this mixture of emotions stirring in his mind, he just doesn't know how to make sense of any of this. the Frisk here is far too different from the Frisk he knows and cares about, it's almost as if she's not the same person at all.
"Something doesn't make sense at all, I need to figure this out and fast before any more monsters get killed by her," thought Naruto before speaking to Sans "Do you know where Frisk is right now?"
Sans hummed in thought "If I had to guess, I reckon that she'll be at Waterfall by now. However, I need to go to Alphys at Hotland so we can figure out a way to help you as well as dealing with Frisk. Until then, I want you to hide at my house,"
Naruto frowned "No, I can help you stop her,"
"No can-do kiddo, I can't risk her finding out that there's another human here in the Underground. She won't hesitate to kill you,"
"I'm not weak Sans, I was trained in combat even more so thanks to that training trip I had with Undyne and the others,"
"It doesn't make it any less dangerous for you,"
"Darn it Sans, this may not be my timeline but I won't just sit by and watch you all suffer this again and again. I know I can he-,"
"Enough already!" Sans snapped at Naruto with his eyes glowing blue, effectively silencing the blonde who was taken by surprise. The skeleton sighed at this "Sorry about that kid, just have a lot on my plate already. I'm still trying to come to terms about not being able to save my brother again and I'm reaching my limit. So please, just listen to me on this,"
"…,"
"Just stay inside my house and wait until I get back. We'll definitely get you back home," Sans hopped off the bar stool and began walking away "This is not your fight but rather ours," he closed the door behind him and left.
Naruto sat alone in silence, contemplating over Sans's words. As much as he understands reasoning, a part of him isn't willing to accept being idle and worrying about what-ifs else he would be filled with nothing but regrets to add to his problems already bothering him even at night.
"You may be right about this not being my timeline Sans, but I'm not going to cower in a corner and hope for the best when I change things with my own hands right here and now," Naruto hopped off the bar stool with his eyes narrowed in focus "Sans said that Frisk will be at Waterfall by now, I'll head over there and hopefully stop her before she gets to Undyne and Monster Kid,"
Naruto left Grilby's and was soon running down the snowy in direction of Waterfall, unaware that someone had seen him leave and was quite shocked at his presence in the Underground.
"Another human, here? How could it be so when I haven't seen him during the previous Resets? I wonder how she will react upon seeing him," said the person before following after the blonde silently.
This is Hussbek online with the latest chapter, Naruto wakes up and finds himself in a familiar area and added it up to the portal randomly warping him from the forest to the Ruins in the Underground and so figured that he could make his way out the normal way. But then, things started being weird as he began to catch glimpse of monsters still living in the Underground as well as dust which made him feel rather uncomfortable.
Once he arrived at Snowdin Town, he came across even more oddities then saw a familiar face in the form of Sans but for some reason, he didn't recognize Naruto. A later conversation reveals to Naruto that the portal sent him away to an alternate timeline and was horrified to learn that Frisk had been using the power of SAVE and RESET to kill all of the monsters in the Underground repeatedly to the point that he questioned if it was Frisk doing this at all. Naruto offered to help stop Frisk from continuing the genocide but Sans refused, not wanting to get the blonde killed in the process and demanded that he hides in his house until the situation is over before leaving Grilby's. however, Naruto wasn't one to be dissuaded as he left for Waterfall in order to confront her there.
Sorry about the short chapter but if one is to be technical, it would be so since we've already explored the Underground in the previous arc. I'm trying to make things as interesting as I can with Naruto having to endure the difficulties in the Genocide route before eventually resolving things. Be sure to read and review like always.
This is Hussbek from Ghana.
Signing out and staying alive.