Welcome Back
The cupboard was on fire, and it was eventually going to spread. Papyrus was curled up in the corner, crying helplessly. Alphys had fallen down, holding her stomach in pain. Sans was being held, unable to fight back. Frisk was standing defenseless against a monster with a flamethrower. Someone had to act. If not, everyone was going to die.
Serifa remembered how strong Sans was. How he had been fighting with Royal Guards back when he was trying to save her. If only she could do something like that. If only she could just summon bones and defend her friends, like Sans had done for her.
And it happened. Magical bones just emerged from the ground, disabling the monster that was threatening Frisk. Serifa felt it. She felt the magical energy she didn't even know she had before being somehow unleashed from her body, and then taking form. Her eyes widened. She looked at her hand.
-H-How... How did I...?
-QUICK! DO IT AGAIN, SERIFA! Sans shouted at her.
-I-I...I don't kno-
-DO IT!
Without even realising how, she summoned more bones that pierced the four monsters. The one she had attacked before turned into dust. The others got weakened enough for Sans to escape them. He ran to Serifa.
-Keep at it!
-I don't know how I'm doing this!
-Doesn't matter now! Just imagine those attacks and they will happen!
Serifa tried to imagine the attacks as Sans said. She needed to kill three monsters. She pictured three bones piercing each one of them and killing them slowly, just like Sans used to kill Royal Guards. She had to strike fast, before they could stand back again. And she did. She wasn't even sure how she was doing it, but she was willing the attacks to happen. The enemies turned into dust.
-Quickly! We need to get outside before we burn! Frisk shouted.
She helped Alphys up and held her while they were getting out.
-Paps, come on, quickly!
Sans called for Papyrus, but he didn't respond. He just kept crying on the floor. Sans got infuriated.
-PAPYRUS! Get up, I won't let you die here!
-It's pointless...
-What the HELL are you saying?
-They are winning, Sans... They keep killing humans and we can't stop them... But maybe, if we just disappear, they'll have no reason to keep this up...
-So you just wanna sit here and die? Without trying at all?
-I already tried, Sans...and I failed… he sobbed.
-Enough talking. I won't let you burn here like a fool.
Sans grabbed Papyrus's hand and pulled him up, dragging him outside of the room. Serifa ran with them.
-Where are we going? she asked.
-To the exit, of course.
-Aren't we gonna fight them?
-Are you kidding? They are too many for us to handle!
-But I can fight!
-You aren't experienced enough, we don't know how much power you've got or how it works and you're one against who knows how many! Plus, I can't run easily with Papyrus. It's better to escape for now!
-...Right.
They ran through corridors and stairs, trying to avoid the flames that had engulfed the building. They saw the enemies one or two times, but they lay low instead of fighting them. With Papyrus so frustrated and Sans barely being able to pull him with them, they had no other choice. When they finally managed to exit the building, they found Frisk with Alphys.
-What took you so long? Frisk asked.
-Never mind that, we need to leave as soon as possible. Especially you and Serifa. You're humans, they're more likely to go after you.. Sans replied.
-I know. I called Undyne, she's coming here with her car as we speak!
-Great... We've got time to show them, then! Serifa smiled and ran to the building again.
-WHAT ARE YOU DOING? Sans chased after her, grabbing her arm.
-Don't follow me! Sans... I just realised something... You can't fight, right? The price you paid to get me back...was it your powers?
-Y-Yes...
-Then...! If I got them in your place... Isn't it my duty to use them? To protect those in need? I can't just stand there being useless all the time, like I did before!
-You are heading towards a building in flames, filled with enemies that can shoot fire at you whenever they like. Do you honestly believe there are any survivors inside by now? There's no one you can save...
-I can kill them though! Or at least a few of them! One less enemy means less victims in the future! And, also, you and Papyrus are out, so it's easier for me to move around on my own!
-We don't know their numbers or what they can do! You don't know the layout of the Lab! If you run inside there, you're gonna die! If you want to help us, you should stay alive! Don't be reckless, Serifa! You don't even know how to use these powers properly or for how long!
-Fine... Serifa sighed. But, you have to promise me... Promise me that you'll train me, teach me everything you know! If I have the potential to become a super-weapon for you -no, for everyone... I want to do it!
-As long as you promise not to be careless with it and not to put yourself into danger, yes. I will train you.
-It's a promise, then.
They walked back to the group. In a few minutes, Undyne arrived and picked them up with her car. She started driving.
-Is everyone alright? she asked.
-We're okay but Alphys needs to lie down. Frisk responded. She got hit pretty hard.
-ALPHYS?
-Don't worry, Undyne, she's not vitally hurt or anything.
-How did that happen?
-She tried to save me. These monsters tried to get me and she got in the middle... She's a hero, really.
-I'm not a hero... Alphys mumbled, smiling a little.
-I'm alive thanks to you, Alphys. You are MY hero.
-Why did it have to be Alphys though? You had Sans and Papyrus there, right?
-I...don't have my powers anymore... Sans sighed. Sorry...
-Right, Alphys told me so... What about you, Papyrus?
Papyrus didn't respond. Undyne realised he had been crying all this time.
-What's with him, guys?
-Papyrus...he's broken after the kindergarten incident. He won't fight, he won't run... Serifa sighed.
-WHAT?
Undyne suddenly pulled over and stopped he car. She got out, opened Papyrus's door and pulled him out angrily.
-Are you saying that Alphys got hurt protecting Frisk because this guy was too busy brooding instead of fighting?
-Easy now, Undyne, I'll be fine! Alphys tried to calm her down, as everyone got out of the car.
-Papyrus! How, HOW could you do this? How could you leave your friends at such a time? They needed your help and you just abandoned them! This isn't what I trained you for!
Papyrus looked away in shame.
-Are you for real?
Papyrus only sobbed.
-ANSWER ME, GODDAMIT!
Undyne got so enraged she punched papyrus down angrily.
-Hey don't-
Serifa tried to intervene, but Sans put his arm in front of her, stopping her silently.
-Are you such a coward, Papyrus? You were to become A ROYAL GUARD! DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS? It means you have to FIGHT! No matter the odds! No matter how much you've lost! If there's something to fight for, you fight, even when it seems impossible to succeed!
-I'm useless... Papyrus cried.
-I trained you, you know! Are you saying that I did a bad job? That I was wrong to believe in you?
-N-No… I'm just...not good enough, not good like you… Papyrus cried.
-That's not true! But, even if you think that, you have to try your best! Your friends' lives are on the line! They depend on you, you're their hope! You can't just leave them! That's betrayal!
Papyrus didn't reply. He was still too broken. Undyne was furious. She summoned a dozen spears, surrounding him.
-If you won't fight, I might as well kill you. What are you gonna do?
Papyrus looked down. Undyne sighed.
-Alright then. Maybe you should just see the consequences of your actions.
Undyne threw one of the spears on Frisk, piercing her stomach. Frisk screamed in pain and fell on her knees, holding her belly.
-FRISK! Serifa shouted, ready to run to her.
Sans stopped her once more.
-What are you doing? She's gonna die at this rate!
-She won't. Trust me. Trust Undyne. And, more importantly...trust Papyrus.
-So, what are you gonna do Papyrus? You're gonna let your friend get killed? Undyne smirked, throwing another spear on Frisk.
Frisk started bleeding from her belly. Her breathing was getting heavier, but she was holding on.
-You know what? This is getting boring.
Undyne made her magical spears disappear. She walked over to Frisk and started kicking her, making her tear up in pain.
-I can't just watch this happen! Serifa said angrily, walking towards Papyrus.
-Serifa! Frisk will be alright! Sans tried to stop her.
-Don't care.
She walked to Papyrus and knelt beside him, then slapped him across the face.
-Listen, Papyrus. We both know that Undyne isn't gonna kill Frisk for real. But, even so, look at her! Frisk is suffering in pain right now, just so you can get back to your senses! Are you just gonna sit there and let it happen? ARE YOU?
Papyrus looked at Frisk. She was, indeed, in pain. And she wasn't resisting. All for his sake. All because she believed in him. And all he had done was let her down. He had to change that.
He finally managed to get up and summon a wall of bones between Frisk and Undyne.
-Well, look who's back! Undyne smirked. Poor Frisk, she's in so much pain... And I happen to have a bisicle with me! It can help heal her, you know!
-Use it...please. Papyrus uttered.
-Come and get it from me and use it yourself! Undyne provoked him.
Papyrus walked to her, but she threw a spear in front of him, stopping him in his tracks.
-Not so easily...you have to fight me first.
Papyrus looked into her eyes. She was dead serious. He suddenly ran towards her, summoning bones and attacking. He managed to hit her twice, while getting hit himself four times by her spears.
-Haven't trained in a while, huh? Undyne smirked. And you call Sans lazy!
-Just give Frisk the bisicle! Papyrus shouted and summoned bones from below her. She jumped to avoid them but still got hit a little.
-Heh...nice one.
She ran to Papyrus, countering every bone he threw at her with her spears. She pushed him down and surrounded him with more spears, ready to attack him. They looked into each other's eyes, breathing heavily for a few seconds.
-Welcome back, Paps.
Undyne got up and offered her hand to Papyrus. He grabbed it and she helped him up. She threw the bisicle to Serifa.
-Go on, give it to Frisk. We made her suffer enough.
Serifa ran to Frisk as quickly as possible, giving her the bisicle. Frisk started sucking on it like a maniac.
-Is that really gonna help her?
-Yes. The damage she got was mainly magic, and this is a magic healing item. Sans informed her. I'll explain more when we train.
-Frisk, are you feeling better? Alphys asked.
-Yes... she mumbled, still sucking on the bisicle that had become a unisicle by then. Though Undyne did mess me up quite a lot there.
-Sorry, kid. I needed to do so-
-To help me. Papyrus interrupted her. I'm the reason of all this and I should have stopped her sooner. I truly am sorry... I let you suffer in all that pain... It was unacceptable of me.
-It's fine, as long as you're yourself again. Are you, Papyrus? Are you ready to fight again?
-Yes... I'm back for good now.