FriskTale
The next few weeks passed quickly. Susie frequently joined them, slowly getting friendlier. Their group stayed at five in number, which Frisk felt was good for the time being. Noelle mentioned on occasion that Berdly asked where she, MK, and Susie were going after class almost every day. Frisk still didn't think that Berdly would be a good influence for Asriel, so they had Noelle keep him away as much as possible.
Meanwhile, Asriel was growing accustomed to his new friends. Even Susie. He grew to like them all, and Frisk knew he was very happy with so many different people. It showed in how he talked a lot more. Before, he was very shy and soft-spoken. Now he was more talkative and outgoing. Frisk felt a great sense of accomplishment. A part of them was confused about why they were so involved with this Monster, but deep down they cared for him very much.
One day, Frisk was walking around the front yard of the Dreemurr's home. It was very bland; all grey with only a pile of leaves to play with. But as they walked around, they heard a couple of voices nearby. Curious, they followed the sounds. They came to the entrance of the castle. They found Asgore, and he appeared to be talking to someone who was hidden around the corner.
"Thank you for the update, Doctor," the king said. He then turned and began walking away, in Frisk's direction. He stopped for a moment when he saw them. "Frisk? What are you doing here?"
"Who were you talking to?" Frisk asked.
"Oh, my Royal Scientist," he explained. "I have her give me updates on her various projects."
"Can I see her?"
"I'm afraid she just left," Asgore apologized. "And for now, perhaps its best if you don't meet."
"Why?"
"I feel as if you might… distract her if you do," Asgore explained. "Now, lunch will be ready soon. Let's not be late."
Asgore guided them back to the house, but Frisk kept glancing back the way they came. They were curious about this person, but they supposed they should wait.
Later that day, Frisk and Asriel met up with their friends. Noelle wanted to show them her hometown of Snowdin.
"Just be sure to bundle up. It's cold there," she advised.
Frisk recalled their brief trek through the area after they came here. So, they grabbed a coat to wear for the journey.
A while later, they were in the snow-filled cavern. Frisk had to admit it was very pretty.
"Welcome to Snowdin," Noelle said.
"Pretty cool, right?" MK asked. "I live here, too."
"It is nice," Frisk answered.
"Ah-choo!" Susie sneezed. "Why does your home have to be so cold?" Her arms were wrapped around herself and Frisk could almost swear she was shivering.
"At least it's not crowded like New Home," Asriel said. "It's a lot quieter, too."
"Yeah, it's got that going for it," Susie agreed.
"Well, how about we show you around?" Noelle requested.
"Lead on," Frisk said.
Noelle and MK guided them around Snowdin Town, pointing out everything worth mentioning. Frisk giggled at the misspelled sign on the library. They waved at all the residents of the town and marveled at the Inn and the shop next door. Though the thing that excited Susie was the restaurant called "Grillby's".
"Think we can get a bite to eat?" Susie asked.
"I guess so," Noelle agreed.
"Cool! Hey, Az, can you foot the bill?" she asked.
"Uh, what?"
"Cool." With that, she walked in, the rest following.
Frisk found the place was heated, which was very pleasant. At one table were several dogs, all dressed up in outfits that made them look like fighters. Except for one. He wore a pink tanktop with brown pants. They were all playing poker.
There were a few others scattered around, though Frisk found their eyes drawn to a skeleton in a hoodie lounging at the bar, a bottle of ketchup in hand.
Frisk diverted their gaze, following their friends to an open booth.
After they sat down, a fire elemental in a tuxedo came up and handed them a menu to look over.
"Wow. Everything here seems to be swimming in grease," Susie noted. "Awesome."
"I don't like this place all that much," Noelle admitted. "Grillby doesn't usually serve things for my kind."
"Well, I think I'll get a burger," Susie said. "What about the rest of you?"
"Not sure yet," Asriel said.
"burger? now here's a monster with some taste."
All five of them jumped at the skeleton that suddenly appeared at the end of their table.
"Sans!" Noelle complained," Don't do that."
"sorry, kiddo. didn't mean to scare ya." The skeleton looked over their group. "huh. don't get a lot of kids without their parents often. least not in these parts."
The skeleton looked them over, lights in his eyes, scanning them. Eventually, his eyes landed on Frisk. For just a moment, Frisk thought they saw hate in his expression. And images flashed in their head of battle in a golden corridor, but both faded.
"hey, you're a human, aren'tcha?" the skeleton asked.
"Yeah. My name's Frisk," they said, holding their hand out.
"name's Sans. Sans the Skeleton," he said, shaking their hand with his free one. Frisk was only a little grossed out by grasping a skeletal hand.
"Nice to meet you," Frisk said.
"so, whatcha kids doin' here?" Sans asked.
"Oh, I wanted to show my friends around Snowdin," Noelle explained. "Most haven't been here before."
"I have," Asriel said.
"I haven't," Susie added.
"well, that's nice. hey, if you don't mind, could you do me a favor?" the skeleton asked.
"I guess. What is it?" Noelle asked.
"my bro's been kinda down lately. undyne keeps him from joining the royal guard. but i think seeing a human would make his day. so, if you could pop by later, that'd be great," Sans requested.
"We'll see," Noelle said.
"cool. welp, see you around." With that, he returned to the bar, sitting on his stool and swigging from his ketchup bottle.
"So where does Sans live?" Frisk asked.
"Near the edge of town. We actually passed his place on our way in," Noelle explained.
"You want to go see his brother?" Susie asked.
"Why not?"
"I think it'd be fun," Asriel added. "Its nice meeting new people."
"See? Asriel wants to go," Frisk said.
"After we tour Snowdin," Noelle agreed.
"Fine by me."
After the food came, someone new came to the table. She was a fox girl wearing a kimono.
"Hiya," she said, beaming up at them.
"Oh, hi Kanako," Noelle greeted. "What are you doing here?"
"Mommy and I are visiting Snowdin," Kanako said. "And then I overheard there was a human here."
"That'd be me," Frisk said, waving at her.
"Wow. I've never seen a human before," she said. "Daddy said that you might be dangerous, though."
"Do I look dangerous?" Frisk questioned, gesturing to themself.
"No," Kanako answered. "Hey, mind if I hang out with you for a while?" she asked. "My mommy is busy and what she is doing is boring."
"Well, we probably should let you, if for no other reason to make sure you aren't hurt," Frisk decided.
Kanako gave a big smile before sitting next to Noelle. Frisk wasn't sure why, but when they looked at her, they were reminded of a bed and a spoon.
A while later, Noelle and MK lead them to Sans and Papyrus' house. It was a two story, had Christmas lights on it, and a pirate flag flapping on the front.
Noelle lightly knocked on the door. A moment later, Sans opened it. "heya."
"Wait, weren't you just at Grillby's?" Susie questioned.
"yep," Sans answered. "you here to see my bro?"
"We sure are," Frisk said.
"splendid. i'll go let him know. feel free to make yourselves at home." He held the door open for them to walk in. Frisk meant to talk to Sans after the door closed, but when they turned around, he was gone.
Frisk sat down on the sofa in the living room, facing the tv on the other side of the room. There was a set of stairs that lead up to the next floor, with two doors visible. One had yellow police tape on it and stop signs, the other was ordinary, except for the flame colors visible from the bottom. There was also a picture of a bone between the doors.
Frisk glanced around the rest of the floor they were on. Opposite the stairs was a kitchen, with a visible sink that was way too tall to be practical.
The door with the tape opened, and out stepped another skeleton, this one taller than Sans.
"WOWIE! WE HAVE GUESTS!" the skeleton said, upon looking at them. He bolted down the stairs, standing before the group. "HELLO, MY NAME IS PAPYRUS! I'M SURE YOU'VE HEARD OF ME."
"I don't get out of New Home much," Susie said. "Can't say I have."
"THAT'S OKAY. I'M NOT VERY FAMOUS. YET."
"So, Sans is your brother?" Asriel asked, sitting next to Frisk.
"YES. HE MENTIONED THAT ONE OF YOU WAS A HUMAN," Papyrus confirmed.
"That'd be me," Frisk said, giving a small wave. "Hi."
"WOWIE! AN ACTUAL HUMAN! I CAN'T BELIEVE IT. UNDYNE TALKS ABOUT YOUR KIND ALL THE TIME."
"Really? Like what?"
"WELL, SHE TALKS ABOUT YOUR COOL SPACE BATTLES, YOUR AWESOME GIANT ROBOTS AND FLOWERY SWORDSMEN. HUMAN CULTURE SOUNDS RICH AND FACINATING."
"Uh, pretty sure we don't do space battles," Frisk said.
"REALLY? BUT SHE SHOWED ME TAPES OF THOSE FIGHTS THAT HER FRIEND ALPHYS GOT FROM THE SURFACE."
"These wouldn't happen to be cartoons with colorful packaging, would they?" Frisk asked.
"THEY WERE."
"Yeah, that's all anime. It's just fiction," Frisk explained.
"ANIME? YOU MEAN LIKE THOSE CARTOONS FOR SMALL CHILDREN?"
"They're not all for small children."
"OH. WELL, YOU HAVE FANTASTIC IMAGINATIONS TO COME UP WITH STUFF LIKE THAT, THEN," Papyrus said. "AND WONDERFUL ARTISIAN SKILLS TO ANIMATE THAT STUFF AS WELL."
"I'm pretty sure you should tell the people who actually make the stuff that," Frisk said.
"WELL NOW, ENOUGH ABOUT ANIME. LET'S SPEND SOME TIME HANGING OUT AND SHARING THINGS," Papyrus said. "YOU CAME HERE TO MEET THE GREAT PAPYRUS AND I SHALL ENTERTAIN. LET'S GO TO MY ROOM!"
Papyrus began marching up the stairs, Frisk and their friends following.
After hanging out with Papyrus, all the kids went home, with Kanako being collected by her mother. Frisk and Asriel went back to their house where Toriel was making dinner. Frisk went to the kitchen, thinking they might offer their help. Though when they got there, they saw Toriel was holding a pie in her hands, fire coming from them, cooking the pie.
"How are you doing that?" they asked.
"Fire magic," Toriel explained. "It is natural for us Monsters to use magic."
"Wow. I wanna learn," they admitted.
"No human has used magic in a long time," Toriel said.
"That doesn't mean it's impossible, right?"
Toriel thought on that for a moment before agreeing. "I suppose I shall prepare a lesson plan for tomorrow. We will start in the morning."
The next day, Frisk and Toriel were in the front yard, with Asriel watching.
"Now, before we begin, know that it is harder for humans to use magic, so do not be discouraged if you do not get it right away," Toriel said. "It might in fact take weeks to produce anything."
"Okay."
"Now, start by closing your eyes."
Frisk did as they were told, though Toriel just assumed they were closed.
"Now reach deep within yourself. Deep within. To your very Soul. That is where your magic will come from," Toriel continued. "For all Monsters, it is merely instinct to use magic. For humans, it is much harder. You must be in tune with your Soul for it to work. Can you feel it?"
Frisk hummed. "Not sure."
Toriel knelt down and stretched a hand forward. "Focus on this sensation." With magic, she made their Soul visible. Frisk could feel a tingle in their chest. It was almost familiar.
"What is it?" they asked.
"That is your Soul. It is who you are. Focus on that feeling, and channel it through your body."
Frisk did as bid. When they did, they felt a tingle at the tips of their fingers. "Okay."
"Good. Now try to push what you feel outside of yourself into the exterior world," Toriel advised. "Now, it may be hard, so do not get discouraged if you cannot do it."
Frisk did as Toriel instructed. They tried to push what they felt at the tips of their fingers out of their body. When they did, a red glow emitted from their hands.
"Whoa," Asriel said. "Is it working?"
Toriel glanced down to see whisps of unformed magic swirling around Frisk's hands. "It is," she said, surprised.
Frisk cracked an eye open to see the formless magic swirling around their hands. They brought them up so they could see it better. "Now what?"
Toriel shook her head. "Now try and form it into something. An object, an element, a creature, whatever feels natural to you."
Frisk wasn't sure how to do that. But then an image came to their mind. A picture of red fire. They tried that, and the whisps suddenly turned into flames. Frisk jumped, stretching their hands out, waving them like mad.
"Calm down," Toriel said, laying calming hands on their shoulders. "Your magic cannot harm you."
"My hands are on fire!" Frisk shouted.
"So are mine when I bake," Toriel said. "The flames are made from your Soul, so they will not harm you."
"Aren't you worried I might hurt you?" Frisk asked.
Toriel chuckled. "I can tell by a glance that the flames are very weak. What is more, you are not trying to hurt me. Therefore, I can place my hands in them and not be burned."
"So, my magic won't hurt you?" Frisk asked, bringing their hands back in front of them.
"They will only burn what you want to burn," Toriel said. "With time and practice, you can control them to do that all the time."
"Okay, but how do I make it stop?"
"Just stop fueling the spell," Asriel said. "Stop giving the flames magic and they'll go away."
Frisk wasn't sure what he meant, but they focused and stopped the tingling from their Soul, the flames going out when they did.
"That was a great first lesson," Toriel said. "I think that will be all for today."
"Okay. Come on, Asriel, let's go play with our friends. I wanna show them my magic," Frisk said.
"Sounds awesome!" Frisk and Asriel ran off, leaving Toriel by herself. She watched them go, puzzled how Frisk managed that so much so quickly.
Frisk showed their friends their new spell, amazing the four of them, which now included Kanako.
"Wow. You're human, but you can use magic," Noelle said.
"It's a little hard," Frisk admitted. "And tiring."
"That's because you're not made of magic like us, dummy," Susie said. "You're human. You're mostly physical stuff. That doesn't work with magic easily."
"At least they can do it," MK said. "Hey, think you'll be able to make even more awesome spells? Even make bullet patterns?"
"Let's not go that far," Asriel said. "I think the fire is cool enough. Besides, who knows what too much would do to their body."
Frisk conjured a small flame in their hand. It didn't come as easily as it did for the Dreemurrs, but they could do it. The flames burned red, making a soft glow on the surroundings.
"Wonder why your magic is red," Kanako said.
"Maybe it's because their Soul isn't white," Noelle suggested. "They are human."
"Oh, yeah, that makes sense," Kanako agreed.
"You sure your parents don't mind you hanging out with us?" MK asked.
"I asked, and mommy and daddy both agreed it was fine," Kanako answered.
Susie was about to speak up when a spear landed next to her, the tip buried in the ground.
"Where'd that come from?" she wondered.
"Nyagh!" Then an armored figure landed near them, one hand in the air.
"OMG! Undyne!" MK almost squealed.
"Howdy, captain," Asriel greeted, waving at her.
That was a cool landing, Frisk thought.
Undyne straightened herself up, taking her helmet off. "Heya, kids. What's going on here?"
"Frisk was just showing off the fire spell they learned," Asriel answered, the human waving.
"Really? Say, aren't you human?" the fish monster asked, and Frisk noticed she wore an eyepatch over her left eye.
"Yeah, I am," Frisk answered.
"Wow. Never seen one before," Undyne said. "Of course, there have never been any humans down here before, either."
"Hey, I think Papyrus mentioned you," Frisk commented.
"Heh, wouldn't be surprised," Undyne said. "He's been trying to get in the Royal Guard for some time. I told him he had to capture an enemy before I let him in."
"But… there's nothing like that down here," Noelle pointed out.
"Anyways, think you can show me that fire spell, kid?" Undyne asked.
Frisk conjured another flame because the last one went out when Undyne did her landing.
"Huh, neat," Undyne said. "Kinda small, but that's not surprising. Magic is hard for humans."
"Anyway, what are you doing here?" Frisk asked, changing the subject.
"Oh, just patrolling," Undyne answered. "I was passing by when I saw your little group. Took extra notice when I saw one of you was human."
"What do you patrol for? Noelle said there's nothing down here," Frisk questioned.
"I just keep a lookout for any monsters that need help," Undyne answered. "That's part of the job of the Royal Guard. Granted, it's really the only job we have. Nothing bad happens down here, at least nothing big. So, I just have the guard keep a lookout for any monsters in need of help."
"Oh, that's nice," Frisk said.
"Well, this has been a fun chat, but I gotta run." Undyne put her helmet back on before bolting off, leaping up onto a cliff before running across to another one.
"Wow! We just got to talk with UNDYNE!" MK geeked. "She's so cool!"
"You think everything is cool," Noelle said.
"But Undyne's super cool!" MK retorted. "She beats up bad guys and never loses!"
"She seemed cool," Frisk said. "So, she's part of the Royal Guard?"
"Part of it? She runs it. She's the captain," Susie corrected.
"Dad and her talk every few days," Asriel said. "He actually told me once a story of when they first met."
"This I got to hear," Frisk said, facing him.
"Okay, so this was a few years before I was born. One day, while dad was working in his garden, she just showed up," Asriel said. "Now, keep in mind, she was about our age when this happened. She tried to attack him to prove she was the strongest."
"She attacked the king?" Noelle asked.
"She tried," Asriel explained. "Emphasis on 'tried'. Dad kept avoiding her hits and refused to fight back. Eventually, he asked her if she wanted to learn how to beat him. She said "yes" and he trained her and trained her until she became the head of the Royal Guard."
"Your dad is a real fuzzball," Frisk said. "Only he would train a girl who moments ago tried to kick his butt."
"But you gotta admire her," MK said. "She learned how to fight from the king himself. Which makes her even more awesome!"
As the rest talked about Undyne, Frisk looked in the direction she ran off. For some reason, the story had sounded familiar. And beyond that, Frisk felt a sense of attachment to the guard, like she was a great friend.
End of Chapter 5