Chapter 3: On Our Own

Over the next few minutes, we sat there. Frisk had pulled out a notebook and crayons from her backpack, and began to draw and color. I just stared at Toriel's phone, when I remembered something.

"What a second, I just remembered, I think," I reached into my pocket and pulled... another cell phone. I didn't think it was up to date, but it was much better than Toriel's. "I can't believe I forgot about this. Wingding gave me my own phone." It wasn't quite as big as the one Toriel gave, though it didn't have much in of itself. It was just a simple flip phone. I could make calls, text, or save phone numbers. That was about it.

I looked at Frisk. "So how often do you use this phone?"

She signed back, Toriel calls me, and I listen. But she asks me things, and I can't answer back. She then thinks she got the wrong number and hangs up.

Geez, that's got to be tough. She couldn't even answer her back. Then I asked, "So, did Toriel ever figure out that you can't speak in past timelines?"

Frisk shook her head.

"So this is the first time she figured it out. Well, better late than never." I opened up my phone, and copied Toriel's number into it, then handed Toriel's phone to Frisk. "Let me know if she calls, and asks for anything."

It only took a minute for Toriel to make the first call after that. Frisk answered, and listened, then hung up.

"Um, Frisk... what did she say?" I asked.

She just said we have to wait longer, Frisk signed. About five minutes.

I just sighed and leaned on the pillar. The phone rang again a few minutes later. After Frisk listened in. She told me she called, mentioning something about dogs, and it would take a bit longer. I sighed again, and decided it was best to ignore the calls for now.

I decided to think on what had happened. I was happy that I found Toriel, but she has changed. She was more protective. Outside of the ruins, most of my friends were either deceased, or they have moved on. Well, one in particular, Hapstablook. Even Wingding didn't where she went. But I was going to find her. Nothing would stop me.

But the ones who were gone, permanently... Semi, Wingding's father. Pristina, Wingding's wife and my best friend. The old Captain of the Royal Guard, Girard. Wingding's assistants, especially Lizzie. I'd never see them again.

Apparently, Girard had kids, who were now living in Snowdin. That would be the first town outside the Ruins we would end up passing through, though still a bit far away. But once we got there, I would have to seek them out.

I also heard that Wingding had a son himself. Someone named Papyrus. I never got the chance to ask about to him... Who was he? What was he like?

We got a few more calls from Toriel, nothing Frisk felt the need to tell me about. After about a half an hour of this, I began to get worried.

After about the seventh or eighth call, I finally spoke up. "So, Frisk... That dog Toriel mentioned. What was that about?"

Frisk thought for a moment. The dog took a flower from her.

Okay... I thought.

Then I think the dog... took her phone, she continued signing.

"The dog... took her... phone," I said slowly. "HOW DID THE DOG MAKE THE CALLS THEN?"

Frisk got a startled look in her eyes, and stumbled away. I was confused by this until realized... I just yelled. Maybe I didn't intend to. Definitely not fully directed at Frisk, but still...

"Hey, Frisk, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to yell." I held my hand out to Frisk. She slowly came out of her shell, and gingerly grasped my hand. "It's okay. Let's forget the dog for now, and go find Toriel. Sounds like she might need help."

Frisk let go to sign, but wouldn't we find the dog, too?

I laughed at that. "Come on, Frisk. No more waiting around."

Frisk nodded and ran off ahead of me. I breathed a sigh of relief. I fixed that problem. But I had to remember that in the future, to keep my voice low, and not scare Frisk with loud sounds.

The next room had two more entryways, one to the immediate left, and another down to the right of the room on the back wall. The floor was cover in more leaves, including a few large piles. Lighter stones seemed to make a path leading to the right entrance, but Frisk was already running into the left opening.

"Hey, Frisk, wait!" I called out (lower tone of voice this time), and chased after her.

The room she went into was small, flanked by pools of water on the sides. In the middle, sitting atop a alter... was a bowl of candy. At the base, it said, "take one".

Frisk was reaching into the bowl, which was a bit high, for her, and managed to grab a piece of candy.

I walked up behind, and announced playfully, "You took a piece of candy."

Frisk turned to look at me and silently giggled. I stepped to her side, and grabbed a piece for myself. The candies were taffy in twist wrappers, and looked pretty good. When I got mine, Frisk stepped back towards the bowl, ...and reached in, grabbing another piece.

Okay, I'll play this game, I thought. "You took more candy." Peeked in beside her head. "How disgusting..."

Frisk silently giggled again, and grabbed another piece.

Wow, you're a glutton for punishment. "You take another piece. You feel like the scum of the earth..."

Frisk reached for another, but she went too fast, and knocked the side of the bowl, causing the entire thing to fall onto the floor, candy spilling everywhere.

I laughed. "Now look at what you've done."

Frisk stepped back, looking a little ashamed. But she held out her handed, and presented to the forth candy she managed to grab before it all came crashing down.

"Okay, let's go," I told Frisk, patting her on the back. She left the room, but I looked back at the mess. The candies were wrapped up, so they themselves wouldn't be dirty...

I figured, just in case, I should grab a few more. This was probably monster food, which was made from magic, particularly healing magic, which meant it could fix both physical wounds and magic damage done to the Soul. So I scooped up a handful, and stuffed them into my pocket.

I followed Frisk back into the previous room, where I found Frisk... and another Froggit. And based on the fact her Soul was out, they were in a fight.

Frisk was trembling, as she just stared at the small monster in fear. But the Froggit just seemed a little confuses. But it was clearly ready for battle.

Considering Frisk's past, I figured it would be best to intervene before anything bad happened. "Hey, hey, Frisk, you all right?"

Frisk pointed at the monster.

"Yeah, I know." I remembered that I needed to show her how to handle monsters herself, without Toriel intervening. "Okay, let's try this again, okay. You're going to end this fight peacefully. So first's things first, monsters do have a sense of honor. They'll only attack after you make an action. So try to say something, or sign, I'll translate, and be ready to dodge his attacks. You got that."

Frisk nodded to me, be she still seemed unsure.

"Alright, so Froggits, they have a hard time in life, maybe make it feel good. Try complementing it."

Frisk stepped up. She was still for a moment, but finally tried to give a big smile and signed, you look very cute!

I was happy with her, and was about to translate, but I noticed that the Froggit had raised an eyebrow (so to speak, since it didn't have any), probably wondering what her hand movements meant, but was blushing. So instead, I told Frisk, "The Froggit didn't understand what you said, but was flattered anyway."

Froggit reared back a bit, and there was a flash in its eyes. Suddenly, a few flies appeared, and began to swarm at Frisk. They were small, and there were not very many, but I knew that this was his magic attack.

Since I was not part of the actual fight, I stepped back, but warned Frisk, "this is his attack! Dodge, dodge!"

Frisk tried to step aside as the flies slowly rushed her, but one managed to hit her Soul. Frisk winced in pain, but alright.

"Frisk, it'll be okay," I tried to comfort, "his magic isn't very strong." I noticed Froggit was stepping down a bit. "The Froggit seems reluctant to fight you. Frisk, now's your chance. Tell it the fight is over."

Frisk seemed to consider about how to convey this without words, then pointed away from the two of them, and then waved. I didn't know it the Froggit would get that, and I was about to step in, but then he nodded, gave a croak, a hopped away.

I stepped in front of Frisk, and applauded her. "Good job. You just fought a monster without attacking him. No need to kill him. You've spared his life, essentially."

And we will spare more of them? Frisk asked with a hopeful smile.

"Yeah," I told her. "Remember, each monster is different. They'll have different magic you'll have to evade, and you'll have to find different ways of... 'sparing them'. Yeah, let's stick with that phrase, 'Sparing'. But don't worry, I'll be here to help you through it, and to show you how. Speaking of which, pull out one of your candies."

Frisk reached into her backpack, where she apparently put her candies, and grabbed one. I did the same and grabbed one from my pocket.

"This is monster food," I told her, "this can heal any wound, both physical and magical. Different kinds of food will heal different amounts, but a small amount of damage, like what you took, this will cover."

Frisk nodded, then we both opened our candies, and popped them into our mouths. I could see the few cracks on Frisk's Soul that were left by the Froggit's attack began to mend until they were gone. Though I could still see of the fragility on her Soul. I revealed my own Soul, and I could see that my candy hadn't done anything to the gray cracks in my Soul. I guess this was as strong as our Souls would get.

Frisk looked behind me, pointed in the direction, then signed, do you know what that is?

I looked and told her what I saw. "It's a large pile of leaves."

No, the shining thing above it.

I took another look. "What shining thing...?"

But I tried to look closer, and I swear I saw something. It was faint, too faint to determine what it looked like. But something was there.

It's this yellow star, I think, Frisk signed, I feel like I want to touch it, but it's scary.

I walked over and held my hand out, above whatever it was. I could feel something... reassuring and warm. Like I could feel my confidence strengthening. No wonder Frisk was so drawn to it. But why was she scared of it? I wished I could actually see it.

I turned to Frisk. "I can't see it Frisk, but I think I can feel it. If you want to touch it, then did it."

Frisk stepped up, and held out her hand. She seemed nervous, but she slowly reached out, until she stopped. Then she pulled back, and, with a smile, signed, it made me feel warm and fuzzy.

"There you go, you've got to be brave. Don't back down." I pulled Frisk's Soul out again, and showed her mine. "Do you know what the red of our Souls means?"

Frisk shook her head.

"The color of your Soul shows what trait you have. We both have red Souls, so that means we are determined. No matter what, we will never give up. Nothing will stop us from completing our goals. Remember this. Do not let fear control you. You must stay determined."

Frisk looked to the ground. My first mommy always said to find something to fill you with determination.

"'Fill you with determination,'" I repeated. "I like that. Let's find something to fill you up right now!"

Frisk looked around, and began playing with the leaves again. I joined in, and through a few at her. Soon we rolling around the piles. After we were done, I turned to Frisk, both of us still lying in the pile, our energy still high, and told her, "Playfully crinkling through the leaves fills you with determination."

Frisk smiled, and rolled over to grab my arm. It's been such a long time since I've had so much fun.

Author's Note: So, for this chapter, I decided to establish many of Undertale's most common aspects, like being "filled with Determination", sparing monsters, and monster food (Items). I also established Frisk's fear of loud sounds.

Also, I had to do this, it was such a good idea (at least, to me). As you know, Froggit's don't understand what you say (though you, or at least, Chara, can understand them. And by that, I mean the NPC Froggits. Weird). But for this, since sign language will be used often, I thought it would be interesting if the Froggit simply didn't understand Frisk's sign language. Yeah, I know, not the MOST interesting thing, but I still thought it would be neat.

And... looking at the first three chapters I made, I feel things will be happening kind of fast. It's not easy trying to translate a game story into pure writing. But, I'll do my best.