One World: Many Souls
Chapter 22: Frisk Protection Squad
Frisk's Point of View:
My heart was pounding so fast in my chest… it hurt so much…
I wasn't sure exactly what I was going to do, but… I knew I couldn't hide at home any longer. With help from Angel, Sans and Papyrus, I spent the summer catching up on all the material that I'd lost out on from Luke. I studied all summer to make sure that I could go back to school the day that my senior year began.
It was finally that time, and yet, I was incredibly nervous…
I'd sent letters to every single one of my friends that I'd wronged while under Luke's control. Angel had told me that they got the letters. They called multiple times during the summer to try and talk with me… but… I just… couldn't face them. I hurt them, I really tried to destroy the relationships we had with each other. Even if it was Luke's doing to get them away from me… it was still me who did it.
I had the entire summer to cope, to be in a friendly and warm environment where I was able to learn, help my family with their children, and recover some of the time I'd lost. Angel and Papyrus made tasty meals together like when I was a younger. Sans told me jokes all the time or would play games with me. He was also my tutor since he knew a lot more of the science and math stuff.
Spending time with the nephews and niece also just brought me to tears every time I held them. I couldn't believe how much I'd missed when they were first born. How Luke had robbed me of enjoying their births. I think back to the moments and it stings so terribly how I hadn't felt much of anything. I tried to spend whatever time I could caring for them.
It really gave me a glimpse into the life of Angel's. As she cared for me, her sister who she didn't have to for all those years. They were so precious and dear, so innocent and young that didn't know the horrors of the world yet. Was… that how Angel felt a lot of the time when it came to me? As she raised me, cared for me? I sometimes couldn't let the little ones out of sight in fear that something would happen.
That must have been a lot of what she feared, and she learned how to raise her own children by helping out so much with me. I wasn't sure yet if I wanted kids when I got older. I knew I wasn't ready then, especially with everything that happened to me with Luke… but maybe… And helping raise the three musketeers could probably prepare me for that.
"Frisk?" Angel's voice called out to me in the hallway while I was staring at my backpack.
I honestly hadn't used one much in the last five months. Not since April when my nightmare ended. Angel had been kind enough to get me a new one, since the last one reminded me a lot of Luke… it was more his color and style. My new one? That was all Frisk. A brilliant red color with purple and gold letters into it. Patches of spots and musical instruments were all over it to give positive vibes.
"Yeah?"
My sister started at me for a few minutes with a pained smile. One where she wanted to go with me but knew that some battles I had to fight on my own. I was scared to death to go back to school. But as a family, we all talked about it and knew I needed to go back.
Papyrus was taking a few less courses for the next couple of years, delaying his graduation, but giving him more time to specialize in what area of food he wanted to work in as well as spending time with family. It was roughly my game plan too when it became time for collage.
Collage… that was something I never thought about with Luke controlling me… I was more than likely going to be a trophy wife for him.
"Sans offered to drive you up to school if you want? It's on his way to collage."
I blinked a bit in surprise at that statement. "Drive me? Sans has a license? And he's not going to just teleport?"
"Well, as the little ones grow, it makes more sense to travel around by car so they can get used to the area. So, he got his license a little while ago with the help of Gram."
"Oh…" It must have taken place when I was… still under Luke's control.
"Don't go there, Frisk." My sister approached me already knowing what I was thinking. Her hand landed on my already red cheek in a form of comfort. "It's not going to help. Your still healing, and this kind of healing… it takes a hell of a long time… Do you remember when I lost my arm? After that big fight with Undyne and how unstable and moody I was? And you guys had to do a lot of things for me until Wingdings gave me a new arm?"
I shivered unconsciously at the thought. It was a time I could hardly forget. One of our now best friends was our enemy, she chased us for an entire night. Angel lost her arm to acid mushrooms in her attempts of keeping me safe. Angel took months to recover, even to wake up, and it was even that many more for her mental state to come back. She wasn't just moody, but was agitated, constantly frustrated at what she could and couldn't do…
My eyes widened in realization. "Oh…"
My sister smiled ever so pained at me. "I never wanted you to be able to compare to me on that level, but it seems now you can. Somewhat of the frustrations your feeling is what I went through during that time. You saw how long it took me to recover, and even after I was given a new arm, then I still struggled when Mettaton came after us. Remember how unstable I was then?"
My sister got drunk on echo flower essence on a live talk show because of how afraid she was to publicly show herself to the monster kingdom and felt so uneasy around that tin can. Yeah… she had it rough.
"That's why Sans and I didn't want to push you, knowing how hard it was. And we're here for you."
I nodded slowly at my sister. "T-thanks… but… can he teleport me instead? It'd be… quieter… and less flashy… and… I could try to get settled before… other people show up."
My sister watched me for a few moments, but she nodded carefully at my words. "If that's what you want Frisk. Just keep your phone on you. Sans' classes don't start until noon, so if anything should upset you too much that you need to come home, call him. And Papy and I will be here for you, okay?"
"…Okay."
"Ya ready ta go, Kiddo?"
Turning my head to see the suddenly appearing brother of mine, I bit my lip in my nervousness. "Could you… instead… teleport me? I could get there quietly… before others show up…"
Sans shared a look with Angel. One that I knew all that well. The two of them were very worried, but also didn't want me to feel like they were going to force me into something I didn't want.
"You sure Frisk?" Angel commented slowly to me. I felt her fingers tracing the skin of my cheek in comfort.
"Yeah… please?"
Another look was shared between older brother and sister. With a sigh though, I saw Sans give into my demands. A tired grin on his features, stressed and worried for me, but also trying to do what I wished.
"Yeah, sure Kiddo."
Sans came close then, hugging me to his body. My face hidden into the shoulder of his jacket. His fluffy blue one he'd had for all those years… Taking a deep breath of the freshly washed cloth, I attempted to calm myself before I felt that tingle of a sensation before we were teleported away.
I felt the warm breeze on my bare legs quickly. My outfit basic and more summer related. New jeans shorts and a sleeveless shirt. The breeze felt really nice, and it helped keep my nerves down that were creeping up the back of my throat as panic was attempting to settle in.
"Alright Kiddo, we're here."
"O-okay."
"Ya got yer cell phone in case ya need us right?"
"Yeah…"
"Good. M'class don't start 'til noon, but call no matter what, alright?"
"Yeah…"
I felt a soft bonk to the top of my head. Sans didn't have lips being a skeleton, but it was one of the ways he often showed us all affection at the house.
"Ya got this, Frisky. Don't let 'em spook ya. It's just snot nose brats." A deep chuckle I could hear from him. "Ya could run in circles around those idiots. Ya gonna be just fine."
I could only nod to him, that was when Sans knew there was no more he could do for me. In a flash of blue, he was gone and I was on my own before the school, but I didn't dare approach it yet. In the quiet of the morning, I spent my time standing by the tree that Sans put me by to partially hide myself from view.
It was there that I was attempting to keep myself calm, but I was worried. The people I didn't know starting at me scared me a good deal, but the thing that worried me the most were the previous friends I had. MK, Jay, Sophie, Asriel… even if the latter of them all was the one to come to my rescue, I was still afraid to face any of them. I had no idea how they felt. I sent them letters during my months away apologizing for what I'd done, but…
I couldn't read the letters they sent back.
I couldn't listen to their words. I didn't want to know how much they hated me… How much they despised me… It was too much to think of the friends I treasured like that.
But by coming early, I could avoid that. No fancy car showing up at the entrance to show me off. No one to stare at the Terians house member that got herself taken advantage of by a handful of stupid boys with terrible ideas. No one to realize just how scared I was.
I wanted to go home… I didn't want to be out there…
But I had to be strong. I promised Angel and Sans I'd try…
"Is she here yet?"
The voice I heard had me diving behind the tree entirely I was by. That voice resonated with me and fear shot through so quickly. The voice was high pitched, and I only had one friend with that high of a voice.
Sophia, she was around.
"She's should be getting here soon. Angel did tell my mother she was going to try and come today."
That was Asriel's voice. I hadn't seen much of him since he saved me in April. It wasn't from a lack of trying on his end… but I just… couldn't face him or the others… I wasn't ready… and I still didn't believe I was at that time…
I was so afraid…
"Shit… maybe we got here too early?"
"Give it a few more minutes. I doubt she'd want to come by car, she probably had Sans bring her by teleportation."
MK and Jay… they were both there too…
My heart hammered in my chest; it was too much. I was getting queasy just from standing by that tree. I had to sit down. I slowly sank to the ground, hugging my knees to my chest. I struggled to try and calm myself.
"Hey… do you guys… feel that?"
It was in those moments that I figured out it was my soul that Sophie had mentioned about. Primal fear and absolute terror shot through me, but I was frozen to my spot. I struggle to keep my hyperventilating to a soft sound.
But… I couldn't escape…
It was in those same moments that Sophie came around the corner of the tree I was hidden behind. Her eyes widened at the sight of me, and most likely the way I appeared. I could barely make out my rough appearance in the reflection of her eyes.
And that's when the crying happened… Ugly crying where tears and snot just slithered down my face as I sat there in fear. I had no idea what to do…
"F-frisk? Oh my god, are you okay?" Sophie paused for only a moment before her feather covered fingers wrapped over her beak. "What in the world am I saying, of course you're not! You're scared. It's okay… it's okay Frisk. We're not mad."
In my moments of stillness, Sophie took that time to hurry forward and hug me. At first, I couldn't do anything while she kneeled there on the ground with me, hugging me tightly to herself. Her feathers were just as soft as I remembered them. She… wasn't hurting me…
Did… she not hate me?
Shaky hands lifted from my sides to hold her tightly to me as my hyperventilating turned into sobs. Loud ones that only were kept quiet by hiding my face into her feathers.
"F-frisk?" Sophie's startled cry I could barely hear over myself. "I-it's okay! Really! We're just happy your back! Oh!"
She whined in those moments as she struggled to me. I could barely hear her calling out to the men of our group before more hands I could feel on my shoulders.
"Come on Frisk, come over here."
The hands on me were metallic. It was MK who was there next by my side. I especially felt guilt creep up through my body when I knew he was there. I especially got into fights when he asked about what Luke was doing to me. He was very concerned, and rightfully so.
"It's okay, we're not mad."
Metallic hands I felt pulling me gently from Sophie. I had no energy to fight as I was pulled from her but then pulled into those same arms and against a textured leather like skin that peaked out from a sleeveless shirt. I climbed up onto the body of MK who lifted me off the ground with ease. My arms wrapped around his neck, legs around his waist. I clung to him, the one I hurt the most.
"I'm s-sorry…"
"Listen to me Frisk, we're not mad." I could feel MK struggling to have me pull back and look at him. When he finally was able to, through the tears I saw his goofy looking face, his two mishappen front teeth slipping out from beneath his lips and a raised eye brown toward the top of his head. "Didn't you read any of the letters we sent you?"
And that just made me feel more guilty. Shaking my head, I feel back into his shoulder, crying still.
"Ah shit… Yo, Azz, can you call Angel? I think we gotta take her home, and see if she can get us out of school to."
"Yeah, if she's struggling with us at the front door, we gotta make her feel better before we take her into those doors."
Jay cleared his throat in the background. "I suppose it's a good thing our parents were all made aware of it then. I'll inform my mother and then proceed to inform your parents as well while you and Sophie take care of Frisk, MK. I can feel the guilt she feels, it's quite… potent…"
I was making them feel my emotions… how could I screw up so much?
"Oh Frisk… it's okay! We're here for you!" Sophie's words were in my ear, trying to give comfort while her feathers danced across any exposed area of skin she could reach to calm me. "Oh MK, what do we do?"
"Let's get her home… shit. She's so light… Has she been eating?" My longest friend of them all took that moment to jostle me in his arms before he roughly pulled me back to face him. "Hey! Look at me Frisk!"
I was frozen at his command. My hands were shaking at his words. He sighed before using his hand to hold my face to only look at his. It was terrifying… what did I do?
"We're not mad at you. In fact, we're happy your home." MK's words were strange to me as he continued to hold me, not letting me look away. "We don't blame you for what you did because it was all that asshole's fault. Don't you get it? We're the Frisk Protection Squad. I'm the fucking captain that's gonna blind him out if he ever even looks at you again. Sophie's our sergeant who's gonna claw him to death with those talons of hers. Our newest and aspiring private Azz is gonna burn the asshole to death while our specialist Jay is gonna drown him. Okay? Nothing is ever gonna happen to you again."
That was the point where words of theirs struck a chord in me. They didn't hate me? They still were there for me no matter what happened?
I pulled back just enough to face the male who carried me. MK's face was strangely stoic as he watched me, but underlying lines of worry were etched into his brow. I carefully looked beside me to Sophie. Her fingers were outstretched, ready if she needed to take me from MK or help if I fell. Beside them were worried looking Jay and Asriel. Both of them watched carefully in our direction while speaking with other parties over the phones.
And it was then when the guilt finally let me go, even partly, and I was able to show a wobbly smile through my crying.
"Thank you…"
"What? Did you honestly think we were going to abandon you? You idiot, we love you too much to let you go." MK snorted at me. "Seriously Frisk, we're not going anywhere."
"He's right!" Sophie was quick to chime in. "You're our best friend! You saved me from that stupid drug ring and helped everyone in the entire underground. You think some stupid boy who controlled you is going to keep us away? No way! We always tried to come back around, but he kept you away from us."
They were always there… I couldn't believe I didn't notice…
"I just got ahold of Angel." Asriel called out. "Sans should be here in a sec to teleport us back."
"My mother said she'd inform your parents as well." Jay was quick to comment before using the bubble he rode on in order to join us. "I hope you're ready for us to be beside you again Frisk, because you're not getting rid of us anytime soon."
Sophie cooed loudly. "Here, here!"
I still struggled not to be holding onto one of them as I cried my apologies and thanks into their clothes. Sans came at one point and had us home, but I hardly noticed when. My friends were by my side, protecting me in the worst of times while I recovered from the terrible events that happened to me. I still needed more time to heal. I wasn't… entirely over what happened or ready for certain things. However, with my friends and family that I had once wronged when not in control of my own body at my side… I knew… finally… I could let it go.
I couldn't let the guilt hold me anymore.
Witch's Note:
Oh man... beginning of senior year and Frisk is all prepared, ready to go and... panic attack. Poor girl. But not unexpected. It's only been roughly four months since she was freed from Luke's control and while she did have the entire summer to be with her family and catch up, writing letters to all those she's been hurtful to, and couldn't even bear to look at their responses? And then try to just go back to school like nothing happened? Honestly, I think she bit off more than she could chew, but... we have to keep in mind that her mind still isn't in a proper place as she prepared for the hurdles that she's been avoiding for months.
But I'm glad she's learning how to heal, slowly but surely.
And (I pause for a moment to look for my best friend who isn't there beside me. Signing, I take a moment to stand. Leaving my wonderful abode to sneak over next door to where Mystic Girl's door is. Opening her door in our large castle-like home, I could see Mystic Man inside playing some video games while his girlfriend was rather busy. Heading to the back where her office was and seeing she wasn't there, I knew she had to be in the dungeon.)
(Moving next to where she had that secret hidden door, I knocked in a special pattern to get her attention that we only used on rare occasions. Moments later, when I was prepared to knock a second time is when the wall opened up out of the bricks and I saw her emerge. She was just putting on a fresh set of gloves and then began to pull back her hair, but I could see the little bits of blood splatter on her face and the plastic jacket she wore to keep the gore off herself.)
Sorry to bother you, Sis, but you know what day it is right? Gotta take your break now from torturing Luke and hunting for the doctor while we speak to the readers.
Mystic Girl: Right, right. I got it. Just a sec. (She turned to face back down the dark tunnel she was down within. I didn't try to look in any further, once she did something with someone, it wasn't my place to get involved.) Break time for group two, group three, start in. And wake up group one in an hour.
(In the background, a chorus of "yes ma'am" could be heard. Leaving that alone for the most part, I led her back to my side of our dwelling before we got started.)
Me: You ready?
Mystic Girl: Hell yeah, we got work to do, so let's start with those reviews!
Thechaosmaster: Oh Chaos! Are we making you cry? Damn, you know it's well written if it can move a person to tears... Wow.
And for the other parts you've said, with Mystic Boy... I don't know. We haven't heard anything on our end through PM or anything if you're wondering, but sometimes this happens for some people. It could be nothing, or they could be having some emotional things happening right now and just need a break. Let's just hope for the best, give them our love, and wait for them, okay?
And for your story, yes! Hearing your writing again and getting part of Hotland written makes me so excited! I've been waiting for those new chapters, but it's fair to pre-write things. I do the same thing. I'm ahead of you guys by posting by almost twenty-five-twenty-eight chapters. Trying to stay ahead as much as I can so I can post gently without the stress of rushing the work. That's the last thing I want. I'm excited for the next chapters, but I want to see your work at its best, so take your time. This story Mystic and I have been working on for a long time. This one actually we started writing... what was it? Two years ago?
Mystic Girl: Something like that. We did a lot of idea writing on long drives when we had more free time and before things got complicated, that was for sure. Limited more now with lives, family and friends taking over a lot, but oh well. (She shrugs.)
Me: Well said! Now, for the last part that Chaos wrote about, that's directed at you, my dear sister. So, I'm leaving that up to you.
Mystic Girl: (Mystic Girl thinks back to the project she was just working on before coming up to meet with me for taking care of reviews. Her mind traced back to a deep, dark room in the bottom of her secret lair where there appeared to be a one sided glass box attached to a wall, where once inside, the teen couldn't see out unless it was opened. Group one had been in charge of getting the raging teen inside, locking him down with restraints and trapping his magic through a choker collar around his neck. The collar was also attached to a special panel she had hooked up outside the enclosed box where all parties of her legion could watch on at the specimen of Lucas Madden. She did love those buttons, each one did something new and different, and even she didn't know all the functions yet.)
(Where was the fun in knowing all the surprises?)
(Of course, Mystic was planning to bring down Chaos and Mystic Boy as soon as she was able to get away from Halloween. The writer, while not opposed to violence or anything of the sort, especially after what she did to beloved characters like precious little Millie, she honestly didn't want to be involved too much with the characters that had been released from her custody and into Mystic Girl's hands. As Halloween put it, "Not my monkey, not my circus. Have at it.")
(She really wanted to go back and test that new red button they installed, she hoped it was something good with all the technicians she had downstairs preparing. And of course she had to clean off the blood from herself from Luke coughed all over her while she was playing with some buttons that revolved around electricity, and then he was healed, only to do it all over again. But coming back to the present, seeing Halloween waiting on her response to that question. Mystic decided to hold it in and keep it quiet.)
I'm not sure... techs are working hard down there, have a look when you're free.
(It was hard to miss the suggestive wink to her words.)
Shadow8Phantom: You always managed to hit close to home, my friend. Always right on all accounts as we look back on it all. So horrifying, so humiliating for that poor girl. She went through so much, and now she's trying, but taking multiple steps back.
Granted, as you can see now, she's got her protection squad to help her. But you bring up good points when it comes to her finding love and caring for someone in the future. It's going to be hell in a handbasket for her to find someone who she's willing to try with, or maybe she might not? Time will tell in that factor, so hopefully no hints have been spoiled!
But it does bring up some key points when you talk about how Luke's magic was almost right there to finish the job. How close she was to being lost. Her magic was capped off by him so she couldn't do a thing. She was trapped in her own body, becoming a shell. Now that she's liberated, metaphorical walls of her own making keep preventing her from moving on for the time being. But hopefully that will change.
Not A Shady Guy: So that's how it works in other areas... I guess it's a bit simpler here. Or at least it was for me. I went to an Elementary and Middle school combination (grades K-8) then high school (grade 9-12) before then looking into colleges that fit the degree I'm in now. It's been so long since I've been in grade school... I graduated from grade 12 in 2013...
Oh, and I'm so happy you love those interactions with Angel and the kids! I have many more of them planned as they get older, so look out for those! And lots of other hilarious situations on Angel and Sans' side. Keep in mind that he hinted at how many kids he wanted...
And he's most likely gonna get it. XD
And I know you didn't leave the cause when it came to Luke. He was a rare case you weren't going to go to bat for. That's more than fine. I'm looking forward to the squabbles when it comes to other characters unless you deem them too far gone! And trust me, there is more to see! And I have a lot planned.
Don't worry if your reviews are shorter. Studies are important and we know they start for you soon. Do your best, and just let us know how you're doing when you have a break. School work is tough, makes me happy I don't have much work that I bring home with me, or phone calls to answer now that I'm in my desired profession. And I know Mystic feels the same as me... school work sucked after a long day of learning.
Mystic Girl: Fuck yes... don't ever send me back...
Dasansi: Ah, so you have questions about the focus of this story and how long we're following the cast? Welp, to put it simply, we are mostly focusing on Angel, Sans, Frisk and Papyrus for the time being with them being the main characters, granted, that will semi-switch once they have settled more into their lives, and then we'll be bringing in more of the kids. While I don't want to reveal too many details just yet about exactly what will take place with a wild doctor loose, and what will take place for the kids, or how many kids there will be, the rough game plan is to run their lives until... Angel and Sans are roughly about fifty years old before I have a special ending.
But that's all I'm willing to share, and that might be too much...
Oh well! But I think we've gotten it all done over here! Another chapter done and who knows what's next? Perhaps we get a chance to focus on Papyrus? Or do we focus on the family? Or maybe some more with Frisk?
You'll all just have to see next time! Love you all and see you next week!
Halloween Witch and Mystic Girl
