"It sounds like it came from over here… Oh! You've fallen down, haven't you… are you ok? Here, get up… Chara, huh? That's a nice name. My name is…"
Frisk winced as she weakly sat up before getting to her feet and looking at the flowers that broke her fall. "Just a little farther, I need to make sure we all make it to the Barrier in time. Then… if Asriel and Chara can help stop everything from resetting we'll finally be free of this nightmare."
With that thought in mind Frisk proceeded through the water before reaching a training dummy that she looked at and smiled before taking a few steps away only to pause when the dummy suddenly glared at her before appearing in front of her floating in the air.
"Hahaha… Too intimidated to fight me huh!?" the dummy questioned.
"No sir, I just didn't want to hurt any…" Frisk started only for the Dummy to glare at her.
"Quiet! I am a ghost that lives inside a dummy. My cousin used to live inside a dummy, too. Until… you came along!" the dummy interrupted while glaring angrily at Frisk causing her to take a half step back.
"Your cousin, please wait I can explain…" Frisk started again only for the Dummy to fly up even higher and continue as though she hadn't said anything.
"When you talked to them, they thought they were in for a nice chat… but the things you said…! Horrible. Shocking! Unbelievable!" the dummy ranted. "It spooked them right out of their dummy! Human! I'll scare your SOUL right out of your body!"
Frisk barely had time to react before more dummies emerged from the water and began glowing before shooting orbs of magic at her that she barely dodged just before one of the orbs hit the original dummy.
"Owwww, you dummies! Watch where you're aiming your magic attacks!" the dummy complained before freezing and glaring at Frisk. "Hey! You! Forget I said anything about magic."
"I don't want to fight you, please we don't have to do this." Frisk pleaded. "I just want to help all of you."
"I'll defeat you and take your SOUL!" the dummy cried ignoring Frisk as more dummies emerged from the water and fired more orbs of magic that she had to dodge as they hit the otiginal dummy again.
"Please stop, I'm sorry if your cousin was upset by what I said. I didn't mean to upset him." Frisk said anxiously.
The dummy continued ignoring Frisk and ranting about using her SOUL to cross the barrier while the other dummies shot more and more orbs of magic that Frisk had to dodge as they occasionally hit the original dummy before it yelled in anger.
"Hey guys!" the original dummy called as all the other dummies emerged from the water. "Dummies. Dummies! Dummies! Remember how I said not to shoot at me? Well… Failures! You're fired! You're all being replaced!"
The dummies all sadly sank back under the water hearing that as the original dummy and Frisk watched.
"Those poor dummies, that wasn't very nice." Frisk told the original dummy only to be ignored again as it started to laugh.
"Hahahaha. Hahahahaha!" the dummy laughed before glaring at Frisk. "Now you'll see my true power: Relying on people who aren't garbage!"
As the dummy said that mechanical sounds started up as robotic dummies appeared.
Frisk looked around at the dummies. "You can't just replace your friends with robots, it's not…"
"Dummybots! Magic Missile!" the original dummy declared as the robotic dummies fired missiles towards Frisk that she dodged only for the missiles to turn and follow her forcing her to dodge them again and again before eventually some of them hit the original dummy.
"Please stop, we don't have to fight like this." Frisk told the dummy. "I want to be able to help you."
The original dummy continued to ignore Frisk. "Dummybots! Try again!"
Frisk continued dodging the magic missiles as they inevitably hit the original dummy causing Frisk to frown.
"Please, I don't want you to get hurt." Frisk insisted only to be ignored as the original dummy ordered more and more missiles be fired as she dodged them before eventually all of the robotic dummies appeared at once.
"Dummybots, final attack!" the original dummy declared as every single robotic dummy fired missiles at Frisk as she desperately dodged them only for a few of the missiles to hit her as others hit the original dummy causing its eyes to widen.
"Are you ok?" Frisk asked nervously.
"No way… these guys are even worse than the other guys." the original dummy whispered before glaring at the robotic dummies causing them to sink back under the water. "Who cares. Who cares! Who cares! I don't need friends, I have knives!"
As the dummy shouted that it revealed a knife that it threw towards Frisk only for her to dive to the ground as it passed over her head. "Please stop."
The dummy just stared at where the knife hit the water. "I'm… out of knives. But it doesn't matter! You can't hurt me, and I can't hurt you! You'll be stuck fighting me forever! Forever! Forever!"
The dummy started to laugh maniacally as it said that before drops of water started hitting it causing it to cry out in pain before floating off.
"Huh?" Frisk asked before a familiar ghost floated up to her. "Oh, Napstablook." I was so worried about trying to get through to the dummy this time I almost forgot.
"… Sorry, I interrupted you, didn't I?" Napstablook asked sadly. "As soon as I came over, your friend immediately left…"
"It's ok Napstablook, it wasn't your fault." Frisk reassured the ghost. "Are you feeling ok?"
"I guess, thanks for asking." Napstablook answered before sighing. "I just wanted to say hello, it looked like you were having fun. Your friend was laughing so much."
"Yeah, I guess he was." Frisk nodded only to frown as Napstablook turned to float away. "Wait, are you sure you're ok?"
"I'm ok, I think I'll just head home though." Napstablook explained. "Oh… feel free to come with if you want, no pressure though."
Frisk watched Napstablook float off before closing her eyes. Sans… so far so good. I'm getting there… I promise.
With that thought in mind she followed Napstablook as he turned to see her. "Oh… my house is up here… in case you want to see… or in case… you don't…"
"I would love to see your house though Napstablook." Frisk smiled. "I really appreciate the offer."
Napstablook blinked in surprise hearing that. "Oh… you're welcome."
As he said that Napstablook led Frisk to a small house with a computer on a desk, a refrigerator, and a table with three CDs on it.
"You like music?" Frisk inquired seeing the CDs. "That's cool."
"You think so?" Napstablook inquired. "I… kind of dabble in mixing my own CDs."
"Wow, do you think I could listen to some of your music then?" Frisk requested.
"Oh… I guess if you want. It's not quite finished yet though… do you mind waiting a little bit… it's ok if you don't though." Napstablook answered.
Frisk nodded in understanding. "I can wait, but I am looking forward to it Napstablook."
"Oh… well I hope it lives up to your expectations." Napstablook admitted before pausing. "You're probably hungry… right?"
"Maybe a little." Frisk admitted. "With all the excitement I sort of forgot."
Napstablook nodded in understanding before floating over to the refrigerator. "I think I have a spare ghost sandwich if you want it."
"That sounds good, thank you." Frisk smiled as Napstablook took out a sandwich and handed it to Frisk only for her hand to pass right through it.
"Oh… that's right, you're corporeal." Napstablook frowned. "Sorry… I should have thought of that."
"It's ok, I appreciate the offer anyway Napstablook." Frisk reassured him.
"Thank you." Napstablook said only to pause. "Actually, after a good meal I usually like to lay on the ground and feel like garbage… it's a family tradition."
"That's an interesting tradition, can I join you for a little while?" Frisk requested.
"Oh… well if you want… just lay still and don't move… until you want to that is." Napstablook answered before lying down as Frisk did the same with a small smile only to frown.
Sans, I wish you didn't have to go through that. I can only imagine what you're thinking right now, and what Papyrus must be feeling. This has to work; it just has to. Frisk thought before closing her eyes and letting herself relax and become one with the world around her before eventually stretching and getting up. "That was nice, thanks for letting me join you Napstablook."
"You're welcome. Oh… and thank you for the company." Napstablook replied.
Frisk smiled at that before walking out of the house and moving to continue traveling through Waterfall only to pause and walk into a small cave where an old turtle monster was sitting.
"Oh, hello there." The turtle monster smiled. "You're a new face around here, the name's Gerson."
"It's nice to meet you Gerson, my name's Frisk." Frisk replied.
"Well Frisk, what brings you out here?" Gerson inquired. "Did you want to buy something?"
"I'm ok, but…" Frisk started before pausing. "What's that?"
"Huh?" Gerson asked turning before noticing the symbol on the wall. "Oh, what are they teaching you in school nowadays? That's the Delta Rune, it's the emblem of our kingdom, the kingdom of monsters."
"The kingdom of monsters, that's kind of a silly name. It looks really cool though." Frisk admitted with a smile. "What does it mean?"
Gerson chuckled. "I wish I could tell you; it's been around since before written history and the original meaning has been lost to time. All we do know is that the three triangles down there represent us Monsters and the winged circle above them represents… something else."
"Something else, you mean like a human or angel?" Frisk asked before pausing. "Probably an angel though."
Gerson frowned slightly. "I have my doubts it represents a human, but a lot of people do think it represents an angel. Some people say it's the angel from the prophecy."
"Prophecy?" Frisk asked. "What prophecy?"
"Oh yeah, well the legend says that an angel that's seen the surface will descend from above and give us our freedom." Gerson answered. "Then again, some people are taking it in a slightly darker way and saying it refers to an angel of death who will 'Free' us from. This mortal coil."
"That's a scary thought." Frisk admitted fearfully. "What do you believe Mr. Gerson?"
"Me?" Gerson asked with a chuckle. "When I see that little circle… I just think it looks neat."
Frisk couldn't help but laugh herself. "Yeah, it definitely does look neat. I hope it represents an angel freeing you from the Underground though."
"Well… hopefully we'll find out one day." Gerson smiled. "See you around Frisk."
Frisk smiled before walking out of the small shop only to frown. An angel that's seen the surface will descend and free them all, but hopefully things will work this time and three angels will be able to free them and keep them on the surface.
With that thought in mind she closed her eyes and took a slow breath before continuing on her path to King Asgore's castle, and the barrier.
(Frisk is continuing to travel through the Underground in order to reach the barrier where Sans and Chara will be waiting for her. Next chapter Frisk will arrive at Temmie village, and Sans will reach his first major obstacle in his genocide. As always any reviews or critique is appreciated.)