New Home, Underground:
"Here, it's for you." Back on their bench, Frisk handed Glorious the frog some sweet churros that the child had just bought for everyone.
The monster had just fixed his hair, putting his blond locks back into place with annoyance. When the little human approached him, even though he had deliberately ignored him the first time, Glorious glared at Frisk.
The latter did not worry and waited; near him was Asriel, who was eating his share with delight. He looked at the couple with some apprehension. Glorious must still be mad at Frisk for their humiliating defeat, he was sure. And the little goat knew that his friend wouldn't stop until he made peace. Even if it means returning in a third round if the monster asks for it. When the little prince looked for the skeleton brothers on the other side, Sans made a tasteless joke about churros to his brother Papyrus, who let out an exasperated groan and was now looking at his snack with revulsion.
"WELL DONE ! BECAUSE OF YOU, I WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO EAT IT WITH THE SAME ENTHUSIASM AGAIN! AND FRISK, DON'T LAUGH: YOU'RE ENCOURAGING HIM!"
Sans winked knowingly at the little human who was now trying to hide, under the less amused gaze of Asriel who seemed to share Papyrus' opinion on jokes. The skeleton replied:
"oh, admit it was funny. you're smiling!"
"NO, I DON'T! YOU IMAGINE THINGS!" Papyrus vehemently denied it, but the smile he wore didn't fit his statement well. Which led to another fit of giggles.
Meanwhile, Glorious was still there.
And Frisk was still holding the churro.
The monster ends up losing patience: "Okay, will you explain to me what I'm doing here? Unlike you, I have work, and you're wasting my time."
Frisk was not offended by his remark and, preferring to remain as respectful as possible, he smiled slightly at the irritated pink frog. "Look, I know we're off to a bad start, but it's not too late for us all to become friends, right?"
This time, Glorious laughed sarcastically, without joy or amusement. He ended up unceremoniously taking his churro from the child, whom the monster looked at with a certain condescension.
"Become friends with you?" he repeated, pointing at him with his treat, an ounce of contempt and pity in his voice that the monster did not hide as he studied him from head to toe.
Frisk did not shy away from his animosity, surely the result of his bitter defeat and the bitter taste of having lost. The child added, with even more enthusiasm than before. "Yes, of course yes!" Then he added, cautiously: "But first, you must apologize to my friend. You didn't behave very well with him earlier!"
The monster glanced unkindly at Asriel, who stared back. This Glorious was not at all friendly and spoke terribly to Frisk: he really started to think that they should all leave. The young prince finished swallowing his churro; Sans and Papyrus were done bickering – and besides, the smaller skeleton looked ready to sleep standing up.
It was time to go.
"Let go. Let's ask Sans to take us home."
"One minute." Glorious held him back, while Asriel went to pick up Frisk and approached them.
Something had changed about him: his repulsed expression had not disappeared, but a trace of curiosity and distrust had settled on his face. The apparent change in his behavior kept both children there. After a few seconds, the monster seemed to have a strange glow in his eyes. Cautiously, the frog asked:
"Earlier, I have had the vague impression that you are familiar to me. And your human friend too, by the way: tell me, are you acted in a sitcom or something like that?"
"dude, you'd have to have been living in a cave for the last two years not to recognize it, both of you" Sans interjected for the first time, opening a drowsy eye towards the trio, and a rather bored one towards the frog.
i had the impression that this arrogant guy didn't seem to know who they were. That would be quite strange, indeed. Who could ignore it? But faced with Glorious's perplexed look, the skeleton thought quickly: his smile deepened and, with the intention of teaching the monster a lesson, he decided to make the introductions in the formalities:
"you have before you the prince of monsters, the son of king asgore and the former queen toriel: asriel dreemurr. and the one who represents the entire nation of monsters, the savior of the underground and the child of the surface under the protection of royalty: frisk, the eighth human.
"Um... Sans? Don't you think you're doing it a little too much?" Frisk whispered to him, signing the "a little too much" with his fingers, without understanding why the skeleton had them in such an embellished way.
He added, with a touch of dark irony, and his eye sockets becoming darker: "believe me, I know someone who might chase you away with fireballs, if she were to learn the whole trick of fight. and bad luck for you mate, tori is pretty online for an old lady."
Frisk really couldn't understand where Sans was going with this; when he looked at Glorious again, he had suddenly stood up, stunned, and was making a funny face. He had dropped his churro, which was slowly dissolving on the ground.
His bulging gaze darted back and forth between him and Asriel, who seemed just as surprised as his friend by his exaggerated reaction. After a while, bells seemed to ring in his head; at that moment, its pink hue seemed to lose a few tints of color.
"you...you have to be kidding?" His hand passed over his sweaty forehead, looking devastated. "I knew I saw these kids somewhere!"
"oops...sorry. maybe i should have told you about it before if you really didn't know. you were right, az." To drive the point home a little, Sans took out his phone and turned it on in front of Glorious.
The screen shot of him in a cheesy style changed to the video of Glorious chasing Frisk with his magic bubbles, until his total defeat and Frisk's crushing victory.
Is that why Sans didn't want me to intervene after all? Asriel asked himself seriously, while Glorious seemed to break down a little more with each passing second. The skeleton was sneaky: the little prince had somewhat forgotten this fact. He had to remind himself not to be fooled by his deceptive phlegm again. I should know better than anyone.
All of Glorious' confident and lofty demeanor faded after this revelation. Now he looked at the children he had wronged with fear and terror. The monster looked specifically at Frisk, and a light of recognition shone in its eyes.
"You, I remember now! You faced Mettaton in an epic dance battle. And you won: no wonder you got away with it against me!" Glorious groans into his hands, devastated: "My career in show business is ruined! I insulted the son of our Majesties AND the ambassador! If the producers find out, they will cancel my contract! Farewell, dream life! Farewell, gold record and exclusive interview! Farewell, partnership with Mettaton! I was just starting to make a name for myself: it didn't last long."
This guy must not be too interested in politics to be so ignorant, thought Frisk, who was a little sad to see the frog worrying so much about his work. He was beginning to blame himself for not having introduced himself to his friend in this way, if the monster was unaware of their identity until then.
"You really didn't recognize us?" Asriel wondered, less upset by the monster than earlier. He found him a little pitiful, cowering like he was.
Glorious didn't seem to hear them, and continued his dramatic complaints: "Back to that cheesy name Timmy, that person everyone ignored and made fun of all the time."
|ACT|❤
|COMPLIMENT HIM|❤
"I like this name! And it's not as weird as mine, 'Frisk'" Frisk responded hurriedly, grabbing his hands, worried that the monster would denigrate himself the way he did. It was true that the frog had been very rude, and he hadn't apologized yet.
But upon hearing it, it stirred something in the child's memory:
"Look, it's Frisk."
"Frisk, what a weird name..."
"He's weird: look at him! I can't even tell if it's a girl or a boy."
"Always all alone and on his bench: he sends shivers down my spine with his lack of expression."
Sitting alone in the courtyard, Frisk turned away from all these children who were talking and laughing behind them. Her bangs hid her tired eyes behind. He didn't rule, even if he heard them making fun of him. They would eventually get tired and leave, he told himself, if the child without friends or family continued to ignore them like he did. Frisk just looked beyond the courtyard fence: in the distance, Mt. Ebott peeked out from behind the clouds.
It was called "the entrance to the afterlife", because there, no one ever returned. That was what the adults said; several children his age had disappeared. A few years ago, access was prohibited. Sometimes, like now when her heart ached painfully, Frisk wondered if her family was there. After all, they were all now living in the afterlife, and the child was left alone and unhappy here.
When he looked at this frightening mountain, which the books said was where monsters lived, a strong desire took him to head towards its summit, like a calling.
He had made his decision.
What an intriguing past you have there.
So, you too had no place in this world?
What a pitiful child.
"Frisk?"
Why did he keep hearing them even now? Why did the last child look worried? Nobody had ever done it. He just had to hide them, as always. This shouldn't affect him: if he distanced himself enough, the annoying voices would stop.
"Frisk, can you hear me?"
Just leave, I know y'all don't like me, Frisk hoped, as he tried to cover his ears so he would be deaf outside. I'm just going to go away, towards the mountain, and never come back.
"hey, kid. everything is fine ?"
This voice... It was not a child, but that of an adult. Frisk abruptly returned to reality, where everyone, Sans, Papyrus, Asriel, and even Glorious whose hands he was still holding, were looking at him with uncertainty and concern.
Frisk blushed: how long had he been gone? As long as he didn't think out loud. He focused again on Glorious – or Timmy – and tried to sound reassuring. "You don't have to worry: if anyone asks, just tell them that you and I used to train together."
Timmy/Glorious looked at him blankly, a little wary, although he didn't remove himself from Frisk's hold. "Would you be willing to cover for me? Even after what happened?"
"I would be sorry if you can't achieve your dreams because of me: I provoked you, after all" Frisk admitted with a rueful smile, shifting a little on his feet. "I apologize for making fun of your dancing skills: you are very talented, as much as Mettaton. I really think so."
His sincere apology made the frog monster blush even more. A little uncomfortable, he pulled at his blond curls and looked away.
"I...I wasn't very nice earlier either," the dancer admitted awkwardly through tight lips, then sighed, "I apologize for my behavior."
"It's forgotten ! Now we can all be friends, right?" Frisk concluded cheerfully.
Glorious nodded, then he looked at Asriel with respect and apprehension: "My deepest regards, Your Highness. My attitude was unworthy towards you."
In response, Asriel shrugged his shoulders and, like Frisk, gave him a kind smile: "Everything is fine with me too. And there's no need to call me «Highness»: Asriel, or Az, is fine."
The young prince no longer really cared about what had happened before. The monster had made a mistake and apologized to them. It was enough for him. Now, his main concern was Frisk: the little human had been acting very strangely earlier. Suddenly, he froze, staring into space, as if he were somewhere else, and mumbled things that neither he nor the others understood.
And, despite her current smile, Asriel had a feeling that Frisk was forcing himself to appear normal. That worried him.
At that moment, Sans announced.
"if you're done, it's time to go: we've already hung around here enough," Sans called after them, to the disbelief of Papyrus who looked at him strangely.
"BUT SANS, YOU LAZYBONES: YOU LOVE HANGING OUT AND TAKING YOUR TIME, NOT TO MENTION LAZING ALL DAY!"
"i don't know what you're talking about~"
"Hey! What are you doing here?" Frisk suddenly exclaimed, stopping Sans and Papyrus' bickering. "No, no, do it again!".
The little human had taken his phone to exchange his Undernet account with that of Glorious, to add him to his directory filled with dozens of friends. But, out of nowhere, the Annoying Dog had seized the rectangular object between its jaws and was now looking at the small troop with an amused air and its curled tail wagging. They raised lips seemed to mimic a smile. They wiggled happily, shaking white fur, as Frisk slowly approached the dog.
"Good doggy, give me back my phone~ Be a good doggy..." But the closer the human got, the more the Annoying Dog backed away and jumped around, probably thinking they were playing a game. On the other On the side, Frisk saw Asriel who had joined him to take the animal from behind, his arms outstretched and his tongue stuck out in concentration.
Not far away, Papyrus seemed ready to help them and looked at the dog with an bad eye: the dog loved to steal his collection of bones and those from his special attack. It was the scourge of his life and that of many people. His duty was to stop him for good!
As for Sans... he didn't do a damn thing.
Glorious was undecided about the situation and was still waiting, his phone in his hands. "What will happen now?"
"it's going to end soon..."
"Az, now!"
The signal sent, the two children threw themselves at the Annoying Dog, whom they had cornered against a wall. But, with astonishing agility, the animal escaped from them with a deft leap. Instead of catching him, a violent pain fell on the foreheads of two friends, who rolled on the ground groaning and holding their head.
"Ouch ouch ouch!"
"My head..."
"I've got you, you evil creature!" Papyrus summoned a cage of blue bones beneath the Annoying Dog to imprison him, while the little devil curiously sniffed at his squirming victims.
In vain, the dog felt the trap coming and galloped away with a yelp; Frisk got back on his legs, still a little dazed.
"Little phone thief: come back immediately!" And the child went after him, leaving his friends behind.
"Ah, Frisk! Wait for me !"
The little human barely listened to Asriel who tried to join him, or the rest of the gang behind them: he tried not to lose sight of the awful animal that was darting through the streets and crossroads. But it was hopeless: the Annoying Dog was widening the distance a little more every second. Without realizing it, the child headed towards the furthest part of New Home, far from the center and the inhabited area. The houses were not colorful and were falling into disrepair; the streets became winding and one could easily get lost.
After a while, Frisk no longer saw the little white tail in front of him, and found himself trying various directions at random.
Frisk continued running for a while longer, and long after losing the Annoying Dog. Then he trotted off, less sure of himself. And when Frisk walked on the path, until they came to a dead end.
He had lost track of him... However, I could have sworn I heard him sneaking that way.
Uncertain, the child stopped and looked around him; the walls of the houses were cracking, very old and abandoned. Frisk realized he didn't know where he was either.
No one was there either: not a living soul or monster or his friends that he must have lost. The child no longer even heard them calling him
A bead of sweat broke out on Frisk's forehead, realizing what a mess he was in.
"Uh oh."
"IT'S TERRIBLE! WE LOST FRISK! WHEN THEIR MAJESTIES LEARN OF IT, AND ESPECIALLY LADY TORIEL, THEY WILL BE VERY VERY UPSET AGAINST US!"
"huh... let's avoid talking to tori about this for now, if you don't mind, pap and az." Sans asked his brother and, for once, the skeleton looked very uncomfortable.
Papyrus nodded vigorously. Next to them, Asriel squirmed in discomfort, rubbing the back of his neck guiltily. He held his phone in one paw, and admitted:
"Um... sorry, Sans, I already warned Mom when I came back to you, after Frisk gone," he revealed, showing the message the young prince had sent, warning their mother that Frisk had run away.
Toriel's response... had been strangely restrained.
Stay here, was all she had marked.
This alone was enough to make the bones of the two skeletons turn pale: Papyrus uttered a cry of fear worthy of a large painting, his eye sockets wide and clutching his head. Sans banged his head in a mitten, sensing the coming punishment that Toriel would probably have in store for him.
she's going to kill me...
"Hey guys !" Glorious approached the small, devastated group, also participating in the search. "I put out a message to all my followers who are in New Home right now. A few saw him: the last one to have crossed him told me that Frisk was heading towards the old city."
"ok" Sans quickly came up with a plan, given the circumstances. His dark gaze rested on the trio. "you wait for tori and tell her where we are, while i go there. with luck, i'll find the kid before he gets into big trouble. see ya."
Before anyone could say anything, Sans immediately teleported away. Having never seen the skeleton, or anyone, perform such magic, Glorious blinked for a moment. Then, a post from one of his subscribers appeared, and the frog's attention was focused on the photo and the message.
Look at this ! It looks like a kind of glue, it was said below the image, where young monsters and humans pointed to a white streak staining the ground in the direction of the old city.
-oOo-
"Here you are again. Did you find it?"
The Annoying Dog had just crossed a wall; the same one where Frisk had stopped behind. The animal barked happily at the hooded figure that had been waiting for it.
This one bore an uncanny resemblance to the River Person, but the cape that covered them did not hide the pair of striking red eyes beneath the hood. As for their face, or the rest of body, it was nothing but an abyss of darkness, impenetrable and intimidating. Even their voice had no real tone.
Far from being worried, the dog walked towards them and offered Frisk's stolen phone. The individual grabbed it and, with a wave of their arm, they revealed the collection of hearts hidden within them. Everyone had their own color and was full of energy.
They were human Souls.
Delicately, the Stranger grabs the Souls and snuggles them against them, as if comforting children. In response, they flashed slightly and dazzled their torn clothing.
"Dear fallen children, I regret tearing you from your eternal sleep," they cried, sincerely sorry for this cruel and unjust, and yet so necessary, act. "You, who have been unjustly cut down by a tragic fate, I ask you to once again assist your friend. Frisk will still need your help, to protect himself and his loved ones. Without you, I fear it will come to an precocious end, and this story will never be able to end the way I want it to. So please: once again, lend him your power and strength on this journey."
They waited respectfully for the Souls to respond: one by one, Patience, Courage, Integrity, Perseverance, Kindness and Justice, without exception, glowed with spontaneous brilliance. It was an enthusiastic yes.
The Stranger felt no joy at this. Because they knew it would happen this way, according to what they wanted.
Despite this, the mysterious being allowed the Souls to transmit their power to them. And for Frisk to receive it... they would have to do a terrible thing.
I have to do it. So that this story would have a true happy ending, he reminded himself. Even though my actions may seem cruel... it will all make sense, in the end.
A bark caught their attention: the Annoying Dog sniffed the phone they were still holding. Then, with a jump, he slipped into Frisk's inventory. The Stranger snorted in amusement, their menacing eyes narrowed good-naturedly.
"Well, I'm glad to see you want to contribute. It's time I gave it back to the child."
As the Stranger, in a white light, made the device disappear, a shadow slipped behind their back. Sneakily and silently, it filled the entire aisle and stared at them hungrily.
They noticed it immediately and sighed. Of course it has to be there. Because for this story to make sense, the plot had to be thrilling. And the entity behind them knew that there was nothing they could do about them : it was essential for this to continue.
The shadow chuckled darkly.
Please enjoy the show. And see where the consequences of your actions will lead this world!
