#long one again

[gripes-withthesun]

... and also of relationship anarchy

[text:

of queer friendships - Hritvika Lakhera

My best friend and I are not lovers/ are not not lovers;/ I seldom say it so plainly. See –/ I am a particular brand of a logical poet. I fell in love/ with categories. In my mind are cabinets and endless files. See –/ I understand the impulse to put a name to everything –/ save this.

My first lover wanted to marry me. I wanted to want it too. One night,/ we stared out through the window and she said, “I can see it clearly now –/ I want us to grow old together and sit like this/ beside each other and watch the outside from/ our rocking chairs –/ and I would be scared no more with you beside.” I laughed. I cracked a joke about/ some earlier happenstance. I was terrified./ “Forever” was the elephant in the dimly-lit corridor./ “Forever” hid beneath my bed and grabbed my leg at night if I got too comfortable.

I cannot be forever./ I hope to cease./ I hope to be somebody new/ every week./ We could be anything –/ don’t you see? –/ anything; anything at all,/ and then something more/ come next week./ My best friend and I –/ we are infinite;/ two orbits intertwined –/ bound to each –/ and each:/ boundless./ When I cease to be/ I bid my lovers goodbye/ and to my dearest friend I say,/ “I am being unmade but/ I will see you again/ the coming week”/ and meet her for the first time – again./ We aren’t lovers, but more –/ we are a weekly wednesday –/ boundless, infinite;/ at home.]

[dont-be-gentle-please]

Whump prompt 4

Whumpee is captured/in a(n abusive) relationship with Whumper. When they finally escape, their friends don't take their pain seriously, they gaslight them and tell them they were better when Whumper was around. Even Caretaker doesn't do a good enough job.

After a while, they end up with Whumper, more broken and hopeless than before.

One day, as they hide in their room afraid of the special guests Whumper has promised, they hear Caretaker's and their friends' voice. Turns out, it was all a game played by the group to mess with Whumpee.

[for-a-flower]

Undertale

           Alphys hurried down the hall to join Frisk.  "Sorry about that!" she said.  They walked together in the long hall.  Frisk still didn't feel ready to meet Asgore.  He was worried.  "So . . . you're about to meet Asgore, huh?" said Alphys.  Frisk nodded.  Alphys glanced away.  "You must be . . . pretty excited about all that, huh?"

            Frisk shook his head.  "No . . . I'm terrified," he said.  The two walked in silence a moment.

            Alphys’ reluctant response didn’t offer the encouragment the child had been hoping for.  "Well . . . you'll finally get to go home!" Alphys said.  As she shuffled along nervously, it was obvious neither of them were sure of the immediate future.  They reached the elevator.  Alphys stopped a few feet away and watched the doors open for him.  Frisk stepped toward the doorway.  Alphys held out a hand.  "Wait!" she called.

            Frisk glanced back.  "What?"

            Alphys scratched her head with a nervous grin.  "Oh, I mean . . . I was just going to . . . um . . . say goodbye and . . ."

            Frisk sighed and stepped away from the elevator.  "What is it, Alphys?  You might as well tell me.”

            Alphys frowned.  "I can't take this anymore," she mumbled.  "I . . . I lied to you."

            "Hu?  About what?"

            She lowered her head.  "A human soul isn't strong enough to cross the barrier alone," she said.

            "So . . . how am I ever supposed to leave?"

            "It . . . it takes at least a human soul . . . and a monster soul."

            Frisk stared.  "What?"

            Alphys slowly lifted her head with a frown.  "If you want to go home . . . you'll have to take his soul.  You'll have to kill Asgore."  The child was speechless.  All this time . . . and no one other than Chara and Flowey had told him to kill someone.  What was he supposed to do?  Alphys shook her head on the verge of tears.  "I'm sorry," she said.  She turned and ran, leaving the human alone by the closed elevator doors.  After a moment, Frisk stepped toward the elevator.  The door opened again.  He walked in and pushed a button to take him to the highest level.  The door closed and the elevator started upward.  It seemed to take hours to get where it was going.  Frisk sighed, his gaze glued to the floor in front of him.  He didn’t like this.  Maybe Flowey and Chara were right.  In order for anyone to escape the underground, there seemed to be only two options . . . kill or be killed.

            Frisk stepped from the elevator into a hall of brick.  The path ahead was dull but more kept than the Ruins had been.  Frisk moved onward by himself.  In complete silence, the child continued down a long, empty street in the capital.  He glanced around in confusion.  Everything was quiet . . . like on one was around . . . like they had all left.  But they had nowhere to go.  Why would it be so empty?  He turned left, following the street.  He saw a high wall and an open gate ahead.  Was this the castle entrance?  Frisk passed through the opening into a smaller, enclosed area.  He saw a small home with a wooden door and windows on either side.  He stopped a few feet from the door as a frown crept across his face.  This home was built nearly identical to Toriel’s in the Ruins.  Frisk’s mind jumped back as he remembered Toriel happily leading him to her home.  The brief memory was accompanied by a deep pain.

           Frisk sighed and reluctantly opened the door.  His mouth dropped open as the door slowly swung to the side.  He felt tears coming but tried to hold them back.  The home’s interior was exactly the same as Toriel’s as well, with one exception.  It lacked color and life.  It seemed empty, abandoned, and pretty much how Toriel's home probably looked now.  Frisk shook his head, wiped his eyes, and forced himself to continue in.  He glanced down a hall to the right then toward a dining room on the left.  There were various Golden Flowers in vases and pots scattered around the house to bring some life to it.  But there still seemed to be a lingering emptiness.  Frisk approached a staircase which he knew led out of the house.  A large chain with two locks blocked the entrance, but there was a note attached to it.  Frisk read the note.  'Howdy!  I'm in the garden.  If you have anything you need to get off your chest, please don't hesitate to come.  The keys are in the kitchen and the hallway.'

            Frisk sighed.  He was hoping to avoid walking through the whole home.  "Don't make me do this," he mumbled.  He left the main room and quickly entered the hall.  He spotted the first key on a stand near the mirror.  He started toward it but stopped at the first door on the left.  Frisk glanced through the open door.  There were a few differences with this bedroom.  This one had two beds, one against the left wall and one by the right.  There were several dusty children’s toys lying around.  Frisk moved inside toward a shelf with a few things lying on it.  There were a couple toys, a drawing of a Golden Flower and a rainbow, and a heart-shaped locket.  Frisk picked up the locket.  He couldn’t open it so he turned it over and read the words 'Best friends forever' on the back.  Frisk smiled and put the object in a pocket.  He glanced at the bed and nightstand against the left wall.  His eyes locked onto a worn dagger, which lay on the stand beside the bed.  Frisk froze in fear and regret.  He stood a few feet from the knife, staring at it.

            "You know what you have to do," said Chara.

            Frisk lowered his head to hide his face.  He sat on the bed, sniffling.  ‘No.  I can't kill anymore.  I can't make myself do it,’ he thought.

            "Don’t you want to get out of here alive?  Pick up the knife and use it!"

            ‘Why did you come back?  Go away.  Stop making me feel like this.’

            "You don't know what or who Asgore is.  What if he is a monster . . . an awful one.  Would you let him live?  Would you spare his life?"

            Frisk scowled.  "I don't know!" he shouted.  He wiped tears from his eyes.  Several seconds passed as the human calmed himself.  "Just . . . let me make my own choices without bothering me about them."  Quiet.  A few minutes passed.  Frisk's head was down, hair covering his eyes.  He let out a sigh then lifted his left hand and reached over to grasp the dagger’s handle.  He could feel Chara's following excitement.  Frisk lifted his head, a frown on his face.  "I'm not doing this because you told me to," he said.  "I'm doing it because I need a way to protect myself.  I won't kill him with it."

            "It's a weapon.  That's what it’s for," said Chara.

            Frisk slid off the bed.  "No . . . it’s not.  Not to me.  Not anymore."  He left the room and rushed down the hall.  He snatched the key and paused to look in the mirror.  He was a complete mess, egg in his hair and drops of milk splattered over his striped shirt . . . not fit to meet the monster king.  However, he didn't have much of a choice.

            “Despite everything . . . it’s still you,” said Chara.  Frisk turned around to head back to the main room, but there was a Froggit sitting on a colorless rug before him.  For a second, he thought it would attack, but the frog creature instead spoke to him.  

           "A long time ago, a human fell into the Ruins.  Injured by her fall, the human called out for help," it croaked.  The Froggit then hopped aside to allow Frisk to pass.  Confused, Frisk stepped around it and hurried to the kitchen.  As he passed through the dining room, noting two large and two small chairs at the wooden table.  He entered the kitchen and found another key on the counter.  He put both on the key-chain of his phone then read a second note on the kitchen counter.  'Howdy!  Help yourself to anything you want!' it said.  Frisk shook his head and kept moving.  He stopped again when a Whimsum fluttered through the kitchen doorway.

            "Asriel, the king's son, heard the human's call," it said softly.  "He brought the human back to the castle."  Frisk stared at the bug creature in confusion.  The Whimsum shyly retreated out of the way.  Frisk ran by it to the staircase and unlocked the chain's.  They dropped to the floor with a loud clang.  The child rushed down the first few steps and almost tripped on a couple Moldsmols.

            "Over time, Asriel and the human became like siblings.  The King and Queen treated the human child as their own.  The underground was full of hope," said one.

            "Why are you telling me this?" Frisk asked them.

            "This is the tragic tale of our people," the other replied.  "We were told to gather and tell you."  They slid out of the way to let Frisk continue.  He passed them.  This must be the story Undyne was going to share before.  Frisk wasn't sure he wanted to hear this right now but he was curious about it.  The human entered a tunnel below the house and slowed when he looked ahead.  Monsters of all kinds had gathered along his path.  Some monsters he recognized, some he didn't.  Some of their kinds he had killed, others he hadn't.  Frisk took a deep breath and reluctantly continued.

            "Then one day . . . the human became very ill," said a bug creature as Frisk passed.

            The human glanced at a group of Vegatoids that peered back with sadness in their eyes.  "The sick human only had one request . . . to see the flowers from her village . . . but there was nothing we could do," they said.  Frisk increased his pace a little.  The path ahead was long and he wanted to get through the area quickly.

            "The next day . . . the next day . . ." said the monsters as he went.  "The human died.  Asriel, wracked with grief, absorbed the human's soul.  He transformed into a being with incredible power."  Frisk kept walking, his eyes focused on the path ahead.  Now he knew who that monster was in the illustration he had seen in Waterfall.

            "With the human soul, Asriel crossed through the barrier," said an Icecap to Frisk's right.  Frisk glanced at them as he passed by.  "He carried the human's body into the sunset . . . back to the village of the humans."  Frisk looked ahead, ignoring the gathering monsters around him as he tried to press on.  But he let their voices reach him and listened to their story.

           "Asriel reached the center of the village.  There, he found a bed of Golden Flowers.  He carried the human onto it."  Frisk stepped out of the tunnel and gasped at the sight before him.  Both sides of the street were lined with monsters of every kind, waiting to tell him this story.  Someone must have set this up.  But he had no idea who.  He kept going and listened as he walked.

            "Suddenly, screams rang out in the village.  The villagers had seen Asriel holding the human's body.  They thought that he had killed the child.  So the humans attacked him with everything they had.  He was struck with blow after blow."  Frisk lowered his head a little, holding back tears.  This was the history of his village too . . . his home.  The monsters continued.  "Asriel had the power to destroy them all . . . but . . . Asriel did not fight back.  Clutching the human . . . Asriel smiled, and walked away."

            Frisk lifted his head, tears in his eyes.  He sniffled and moved faster down the street.  "Wounded, Asriel stumbled home.  He entered the castle and collapsed.  His dust spread across the garden."  Frisk gritted his teeth, trying to control his feelings, but it was only getting harder  "The kingdom fell into despair," the monsters continued.  "The King and Queen had lost two children in one night.  The humans had once again taken everything from us."

            Frisk narrowed his eyes and moved even faster.  "The king decided it was time to end our suffering.  Every human who falls down here must die.  With enough souls, we can shatter the barrier forever.  It's not long now."  Frisk shook his head.  He couldn't hide what he felt and finally bolted down the long street as tears blurred his vision.  The monsters spoke in unison as he ran.  "King Asgore will let us go!  King Asgore will give us hope!  King Asgore will save us all!"  Frisk ran several more meters as the monsters repeated themselves.  And finally running out of breath, he panted and slowed.  The monsters fell silent.  Frisk was nearing the castle.

            "You should be smiling too," said one of the monsters.  "Aren't you excited?  Aren't you happy?"  Frisk refused to look at the creature as he passed.  He neared the end of the street and stopped when a single Froggit hopped into his path.

            "You're going to be free," it croaked.

            Frisk sniffled and glanced down at the frog.  "You . . . don't even know what I am."  He stepped around the Froggit and ran for the open gate ahead.  He had to get off the street and out of sight.  All those innocent eyes on him was a pressure he couldn’t take any longer.

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Full Chapter List

[sarah--writes-blog]

Aftermath

Alright friends, it’s headcanon time again! This time going right for the feels.

This will go in the “Headcanon” category. If you want to take this idea and expand upon it, please do! Tag me so I can see what you create! And HERE are my other headcanons!

When all's said and done, Zarkon is defeated and the universe is saved, the paladins would return home.

And there are questions. ESPECIALLY from the World Space Government (which I'm sure there must be?). We see in Episode 1 that humans haven't discovered alien life yet, and they just brought back two sentient, very intelligent, human-like creatures with super advanced technology. Not to mention a successful human-galra hybrid (seemingly) without huge biological problems.

(And aliens have a concept of a mall? And what on Earth is ‘Quintessence’? It’s a castle and a ship?)

So there is a long period of time before Team Voltron is actually free to do what they want. And once they're free, the questions start to come from within the group.

What's going to happen with Coran and Allura? Where are they going to go? If anywhere? There's no Altea to return to. Is Allura still considered the princess if she only rules over one person, who's her caretaker? What if the universe needs Voltron again? 

What about Keith's relationship with the Blade of Marmora? Would he go back to be a part of them? Would he pursue his mother?

Now that the Holts are back, will they complete the Kerberos Mission? Would Shiro dare go back there, considering what a traumatic experience that was? Would Pidge join them?

Could Lance and Hunk go back to the Garrison to actually get pilot's licenses? Even though they're pro lion pilots? Where does being a paladin rank in the military?  What about their families? How would they explain any of this?

No one really wants to think about any of that. So in the meantime, the paladins decide they should show the Alteans Earth, both in terms of natural wonders and the culture of humans. They take turns deciding where to go and make a long road trip out of it.

Shiro vouches for the simple. Niagara Falls, the Grand Canyon, Mt. Fuji, something nature-based that wouldn't overwhelm the Alteans with a culture shock. Allura completely falls in love with mountains - Everest, The Rockies, any and all of them.

Lance is the opposite. He wants to take them to London, New York, Moscow, Tokyo, Sydney, all the big capitals of the world. After all, learning through immersion is the most effective, right?

Coran is a bit too enthusiastic for the New Yorkers. But the paladins are happy he isn't overwhelmed. Allura, on the other hand, doesn't like how taxis will almost run her over, even though she's "in the human CROSSWALK SHIRO WHAT DOES HE THINK HE'S DOING I'M WALKING HERE!"

She ends up fitting in more than anyone expected.

Pidge wants to expose them to some of the concentrated culture and history. She takes them to the Smithsonian (which they spend DAYS exploring, stopping at each exhibit and reading the paragraphs about each object).

She also takes them to the scientific sides of Earth. The Monterey Bay Aquarium, the San Diego Zoo, Tier 1 Universities with labs, NASA Headquarters, you name it.

Hunk suggests something a bit different. While culture is good and all, he thinks they should definitely have more fun. The largest waterpark in the world. Disneyland. The fastest rollercoaster that's actually legal.

They try their best. And Coran and Allura hold up well. But they don't understand the seeming obsession with an animated mouse, and rollercoasters aren't really Coran’s thing. And nothing compares to piloting the Lions in zero-G.

By the time it's Keith's turn to suggest locations, the Alteans are wiped. Happy and educated, but exhausted nonetheless. No one has any idea what Keith might be thinking about sending them to.

"How about we just visit our hometowns? We can stay a few days in each, relax, introduce families, and let them absorb everything."

Coran and Allura are 100% down with this.

It goes well until they get to Keith's hometown. A small city in the heart of Texas, past large expanses of cattle ranches  ("ALLURA LOOK AT ALL THE KALTENECKERS!")

Keith finds his old home, and no one else is there. He sheepishly apologizes for the mess because he hasn't been there for years. It's quiet, and there's not much to do, but that's exactly what the Alteans need.

They go to take a nap and recover, leaving the humans alone for an hour or so.

Hunk breaks the silence with a wobbling voice, "I don't want them to go..."

Pidge had tears dripping down her cheeks, but she doesn't say anything.

Lance and Keith are just barely holding it together. Lance's bottom lip is wobbling. Keith won't look at anyone or say anything, but tears are gathering up. Everyone put the ideas out of their minds so they wouldn't have to face these realities.

Shiro promises he'll talk to them about it - he seems the most composed about the situation. He doesn't know what he'll say, but he still promises to talk.

When the Alteans come back from the nap, everyone is a mess. But they look upset too? What's going on?

Allura is the first to speak, but she uses force to get her words through, "Coran and I were talking...and we've realized we can't go back. Well, we always knew, but it recently came to life again that...we have no planet to return to." 

She straightens her spine and puts on a touch face, "And for all we know, there could be another threat in the universe that Voltron needs to address! And that doesn't work very well if Voltron is scattered across the galaxies!"

Coran takes a much more gentle and direct approach, "Putting Voltron aside, we've grown quite fond of you humans and your Earth culture. You have become a family to the Princess and myself. And the fact of the matter is...we have nowhere to go. Perhaps it is overstepping our boundaries as guests on your planet, but...could we stay-"

Before Coran can finish, the paladins have gathered them up in a large hug, sobbing with relief.

They park the castleship and all the Lions in an undisclosed location to keep the lions safe. It quickly becomes more of a home than a ship. 

Each paladins' room gets decorated with new paint and posters. They get a large tank for an aquarium, fill the shelves with books, stock the kitchen with real food, get some carpets for those metal floors.

They patch in a direct line with NASA and the ISS to do their part in research and protecting Earth. The Altean tech boosts earth's space race, and connections with other intelligent species are established.

As the years go by, the lions are regularly taken out for exercise and to go anywhere in the local universe. Blue often visits the Garrison with Lance, both as a bragging piece and to help with training. She loves when the students explore her and marvel at how easy Lance can pilot her.

Green serves as a research facility for missions off of Earth. She helps finish up the Kerberos mission with the Holts, and is a huge help when transporting rocks and materials from foreign bodies. She also helps with rainforest restoration, if being nothing but a figurehead (because a giant metal lion might have some troubles landing in the rainforest without doing any damage).

Yellow stays on Earth most of the time. He very good at helping with natural disasters. Hurricane going to hit the east coast? Everyone get in the big metal lion and evacuate, we’ll be able to make enough trips fast enough to get everyone out in time. What are we going to do about all these buildings collapsing from the earthquake? Have the big metal lion stabilize infrastructure. Do we need a really big hole really fast? I bet that big metal lion can dig.

Red is much more on the outer-space level. He’ll redirect asteroids out of Earth’s path, and transport people long distances for negotiations. When there’s nothing to be done, he’ll stay with the Black Lion and relax.

Finally, the Black Lion stays with the castleship most of the time. Just like Shiro, they’re done with all this saving the universe. They’ve both served their time, been captured, had Zarkon inside them - they’re done. They retire. But they’re always ready to form Voltron, just in case.

Ultimately, the Lions and the paladins continue to be useful on Earth, zooming around the planet and helping in their various ways.

But the castleship remains parked for the rest of its life.

[for-a-flower]

Chapter 7 (The End)

(WARNING!  There is violence and death in this part.)

           Frisk took a deep breath then stepped through the throne room’s open gate.  Bright light and bird song filled the room beyond with a peaceful, pleasant atmosphere.  The floor was nearly covered in grass.  Large Golden Flowers spread from one wall to the other.  The king was there too.  His back was turned with a long, purple cape hanging from his shoulders.  He must not have heard Frisk enter.  Even from the back, Frisk could tell that Asgore was large and strong.  Yet the king hummed quietly to himself while emptying a watering can on the flowers at his feet.  On his head of blonde hair, a little golden crown sat perfectly between two large horns.  Frisk nervously moved toward the king as Asgore continued humming a familiar tune.  He lifted his head a little and the humming stopped.  Frisk froze, but Asgore didn't turn around.  "Oh, is someone there?" he asked.  His voice was deep but kind.

           “Uh . . . y-yeah,” Frisk stammered.

           "Just a moment!  I have almost finished watering these flowers."  That time there was excitement in his words.  Asgore set down the watering can beside his throne.  "Here we are."  He turned around with a kind greeting.  "Howdy!  How can I . . ."  Asgore’s words trailed off and smile vanished when he saw the child.  Frisk's heart sank as soon as he saw the king’s face.  He was the same kind of monster as Toriel.  Asgore stepped back, knocking over the watering can and spilling its contents.  "Oh," he said.  Frisk noticed a second throne near the back wall that was covered by a sheet.  His mouth dropped open as he finally connected the pieces.  Toriel was the queen.  Frisk hadn’t just killed a friend, he had killed the monster queen, Asgore’s wife.  What made it even worse was that Asgore didn’t even know.

            Asgore's brown eyes glanced over Frisk’s condition with pity.  A brief smile came to his furry, white face as if the sight of Frisk had sparked a happy, old memory.  "I so badly want to say . . . 'Would you like a cup of tea?'  But . . . you know how it is,” said the king.

           Frisk frowned.  “What . . . what do you mean?” he asked.

           Asgore turned away.  He stepped through the flowers and stopped near the left wall.  He glanced back at Frisk as if he was hoping the child had left.  "Nice day today, huh?" he said.  "Birds are singing . . . flowers are blooming . . . Perfect for a game of catch."

           Frisk nodded and forced a smile.  “I’d be up for a game.”

           Asgore’s smile slowly faded, brown eyes drifting away.  “You know what we must do,” he said.  “When you are ready, some into the next room.”  The king turned to move away.

           “But . . . but I don’t want to fight you,” Frisk protested.

           The king’s head lowered.  “I do not want to fight you either.  But this is how it has to be,” he said.  Asgore continued through an opening in the far wall and disappeared in shadows beyond.  Frisk sat down in the Golden Flowers near the throne.  He wasn’t ready.  Asgore was so big and strong.  How was he supposed to fight him?  Maybe since Asgore didn’t want to fight, Frisk could find a way to convince him not to kill him.  The child took a few minutes to think, while he kept an eye on the dark hall Asgore had entered.  Frisk got to his feet and approached the open doorway.  He paused at the entrance, took a deep breath, then continued in.

           Asgore was waiting for him only a few steps beyond.  He looked nervous.  “How tense,” he said.  “Just think of it like . . . a visit to the dentist.”  Frisk swallowed hard, peering up at the king pitifully.  Asgore led the way further down the tunnel until he reached a large, metal gate.  The king stood before the closed gate but didn’t look back as he spoke softly.  "Are you ready?"

           Frisk shook his head.  “N-no,” he said.

           "I understand," said Asgore.  "I am not ready either."  Frisk wanted to say something else . . . but didn't know what.  Asgore opened the gates and stepped through, cloak flowing behind him.  Frisk wasn't ready for this but what else could he do?  Avoiding this confrontation meant that he'd never get home.  And jumping back to his last save point wouldn’t help either.  All he could hope for was the skill to evade and survive Asgore long enough to tire him.  With that thought Frisk gathered his courage and stepped through the gate.  No matter what, he would eventually make it by as long as he was willing to try.

            Frisk stepped through the open gate to join Asgore in a large cavern.  A wall of pure magic energy stood before them, blocking the way to the surface world like a thick, cloudy glass.  It rippled with quiet hums and swishes of power as it lit the cavern with a soft glow.

            Asgore stood a few feet ahead of Frisk, his back turned.  "This is the barrier.  This is what keeps us all trapped underground."  He paused then added, "If . . . if by chance you have any unfinished business . . . please, do what you must.”

            Frisk sighed with regret then spoke in a small voice.  "I wish I could.”

            Hearing his young voice, Asgore lowered his head.  "I see . . . This is it, then."  Slowly the king turned to face the human child.  "Ready?"  Frisk looked up at him, fear in his eyes.  He wasn’t ready but didn't say so.  On either side of him, three slots opened along the floor while one opened before him.  Frisk stepped back cautiously, glancing left and right.  Seven glass containers lifted from the openings.  Six of them held six uniquely colored human souls.  They floated inside their vessels, glowing with life and energy.  The seventh container before Frisk was empty.  As the child glanced over the containers, he felt a horrible dread.  He didn't want to die and end up just like the other humans, but he didn’t want to kill Asgore either.

            Frisk trembled as he faced Asgore.  The king towered before him as a strange light filled the cavern.  A cool, purple glow was shining through the barrier from the world beyond.  As Frisk and Asgore faced each other, the human knew his journey was near its end.  Frisk narrowed his eyes and stepped forward.  This could still end in numerous ways, but he was determined to make it out . . . more than he ever had been.  A yellow glow flashed in front of him, marking the timeline just as Asgore lifted his head with a frown.  "Human . . . It was nice to meet you."  His brown eyes drifted down.  "Goodbye," he said.

            Asgore thrust out a hand to the side with a red glowing trident in his grasp.  Frisk stepped back.  Asgore held the trident in front of him, purple cloak flowing behind.  With the cloak no longer concealing the king’s attire, Frisk could see he wore a full armored suit.  The child suddenly wondered what he had gotten himself into.  He wanted to try talking to Asgore but what could he say?  Asgore lifted a large furry hand, igniting a fireball between his fingers.  He waved a hand before him, flinging a wave of fire at the human.  Frisk jumped it without trouble.  Asgore thrust his hand forward.  Swirling flames scattered outward and swept through the air toward Frisk.  His eyes darted left and right.  He didn't know how to escape this attack.  Fire swept over the child with a forceful breeze of heated air.  He winced and struggled to keep his footing as the king flung another fire attack.  There was no time to avoid it.  Flames struck him with a terrible, searing heat.  Frisk screamed and dropped to the ground.

            He tried rolling to put out the fire but it had already done too much damage.  He felt his grip on reality slipping away as his soul trembled inside him.  He was losing.  The pain faded as darkness enveloped him.  "You're going to be alright!" said a reassuring voice.  "Chara!  Stay determined!"  This time Frisk recognized this voice.  It was Asgore's . . . probably a memory of Chara's from long ago.  Either way he was right.  Frisk promised he wouldn't give up.  Frisk opened his eyes, as the barrier’s light folded back into the cavern around him.  He stood before the king yet again, but oddly enough Asgore didn't say anything this time.  He summoned a magic trident and continued to attack.  Several flames flew at Frisk, who quickly ducked.

           "Asgore, please, you've already killed me once," said Frisk.  Asgore nodded sadly.  Frisk frowned.  "Please, don't make me fight you like this!"

            Asgore readied his trident for a strike.  The object flashed an orange color as it swung through the air.  Frisk wasn’t expecting that.  The trident struck him hard on the left side, throwing him to the right.  Frisk hit the rocky ground, slid a little, then stopped and moaned.  A shooting, awful pain lingered in his side.  Surely a rib or two had been fractured.  Asgore waved a hand, sending a spinning ring of flames at the downed human child.  Frisk scrambled to his feet, dashing for the only gap.  As the king continued to throw fire magic, the child tried begging him to stop.  No matter what Frisk thought to say, Asgore wouldn’t respond and didn’t hesitate.  Though his hands shook, the king continued striking while Frisk frantically dodged to stay alive just a little longer.

            After dealing with burns of other attacks, Frisk slowed and drew the worn dagger.  He sighed, raised the knife, and bolted toward Asgore.  Frisk jumped a low swing of the trident and struck at the king.  The dagger scraped across Asgore’s armor chestplate.  Frisk swung back a little harder.  The knife chinked harmlessly against metal armor.  Asgore stepped back and with a sudden blast of flame, he knocked Frisk away.  The human rolled over the ground which inadvertently put out the fire.  He cringed and got back to his feet.  He faced Asgore, a complete mess, as adrenaline and determination drove him.  He didn't want to end up killing him like Toriel, but maybe if the king was weakened he'd stop fighting.

            Asgore’s trident turned blue in color.  He stepped forward to make a wide swing at Frisk, who froze in place.  The weapon passed through him harmlessly.  Asgore swung back, the weapon flashing orange.  Frisk took several steps back as the trident passed through him again.  The king resumed various fire attacks as he firmly stood his ground.  No doubt he was determined too, determined to free his kingdom.  Air temperature rose as Frisk zig-zagged between the fires.  A fireball hit against the child’s right leg.  He cringed but managed to stay on his feet and keep moving.  Frisk gave Asgore a pathetic glance.  He was nearly out of strength, injured, and could not keep fighting for long.  The king’s next attack was surprisingly slower and almost half hearted.  He sent a slow moving wave of intense fire across the ground.  It was hard for Frisk to avoid, but he managed to leap over it safely.

            "Asgore?" said Frisk.  The king lowered his red trident.  "I know what your plan is for the seven human souls but . . . maybe there's another way."

            Asgore Dreemurr shook his head slowly.  "There is no other way to leave," he said.  He frowned but lifted his trident even as tears came to his eyes.  It was abundantly clear to Frisk that Asgore was forcing himself to do this.  The human reluctantly lifted the dagger again.  This time he had to fight and he knew it.  But he was going to hate every second of it.  Frisk scowled then dashed across the cave floor while Asgore prepared an attack.  Frisk reached the king and made the best strike he could manage in a weak, injured condition.  This time the dagger cut through Asgore's metal plating like paper and sliced across his chest.  Asgore cringed in pain as the flame in his right hand flickered out.  Frisk backed away slowly and lowered the knife.

            Asgore staggered and the trident vanished.  With a thud he dropped to one knee, breathing heavily.  His head hung as he knelt in the dark cave.  Asgore sighed and finally spoke to him.  "So that is how it is.”  He lifted a hand to his chest.

            Frisk stepped closer.  "No.  I didn’t mean to hurt you!”

            Asgore lifted his head to see the child.  His body trembled but he was still hanging on.  Maybe he hadn’t hurt him enough to kill him.  Asgore sighed and looked at the ground before him.  "I remember the day after my son died," he mumbled.  "The entire underground was devoid of hope.  The future had once again been taken from us by the humans."

            Frisk nodded.  "I . . . know the story.”

            “Not all of it.”  Asgore shook his head with shame.  "Shortly after that horrible day, I declared war in a fit of rage.  I said that I would destroy any human that came here.  I would use their souls to become more powerful . . . and free us from this terrible prison.  Then . . . I would destroy humanity . . . and . . . let monsters rule the surface in peace."  Frisk stepped closer.  "Soon . . . the people's hopes returned," said Asgore.

            "I . . . I can understand why you did that," said Frisk.

            The king glanced at him again.  "Perhaps but . . . my wife became disgusted with my actions.  She left this place, never to be seen again."

            Frisk frowned and stumbled over his next couple words.  "I-I . . . I know . . ."

            Asgore peered into the human's young eyes.  "Truthfully . . . I do not want power.  I do not want to hurt anyone.  I just wanted everyone to have hope . . . but . . ."  The king lowered his head and closed his eyes.  "I cannot take this any longer.  I just want to see my wife.  I just want to see my child."  He clutched the wound across his chest.  "Please, young one . . . this war has gone on long enough."  Asgore looked at Frisk again.  "You have the power . . . take my soul . . . and leave this awful place."

            Frisk frowned and shook his head.  He was only a little kid and he had brought the king of monsters to his knees.  Frisk knew that if he spared Asgore, he wouldn't be able to leave and return to his home.  But . . . maybe Sans was right.  Was getting back home really worth the continued suffering of an entire species trapped underground?  Asgore was offering Frisk his soul but the child couldn't make himself take it.  "No . . . I can't kill you."  Frisk put away the dagger and stepped toward Asgore.  "I . . . won't do it."

            Asgore seemed genuinely confused with Frisk’s refusal.  "After everything I have done to hurt you . . . you would rather stay down here and suffer . . . than live happily on the surface?"  Frisk approached the king and nodded, tears in his eyes.  Asgore’s softie heart caused a smile to come to his face.  "Human . . . I promise you . . . for as long as you remain here . . . my wife and I will take care of you as best we can."  Frisk glanced away.  He didn't have the heart to tell him she was gone.  Asgore continued.  "We can sit in the living room, telling stories . . . eating butterscotch pie . . ."  The king reached out to the young human, offering him a hand.  "We could be like . . . like a family."

           Frisk was about to reach out and take Asgore’s hand when magic suddenly flashed between them.  The human jumped back as spinning pellets completely surrounded Asgore.  The pellets flung at once, immediately striking him down.  Asgore fell limp to the ground.  "No!" Frisk shouted.  Asgore's body scattered to a soft spread of dust at the child’s feet.  Frisk stared as the king's weakened soul rose from the dust.  He reached out to it just as another pellet struck it.  The soul shattered with a bright flash, scattering bits of magic in all directions.  Frisk clenched his hands into a fists.  Those pellets . . . he knew exactly who had thrown them . . . and that someone was going to pay.

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[for-a-flower]

Grillby’s

           As Frisk entered a dark cave system, his pace slowed as he observed the area.  Walls were moist and stalactites hung from the ceiling.  He spotted that scaled, yellow monster kid again.  He was standing by a waterfall that flowed into a dark abyss to the right of the path.  The young monster noticed Frisk enter the cave and rushed toward him with a big smile.  "Yo!  Are you sneaking out to see her too?" he asked Frisk.

           "Uh . . ."  Frisk glanced to the left.  There was another wooden station here and it was currently occupied by Sans.  Frisk wasn’t sure who the monster kid was talking about but decided to agree anyway.  "Yeah," he said.

           The creature smiled.  "Awesome!  She's the coolest, right?!"

           "Wait . . . are you talking about Undyne?"

           He nodded.  "Yeah!  I wanna be just like her when I grow up!"  The dinosaur creature inched closer to Frisk and whispered something with a nervous look on his face.  "Hey, don't tell my parents I'm here, haha.”

           “I won’t,” said Frisk.

           The monster’s face lit up with a smile again.  “Cool!  Thanks!”  He returned to the ledge along the right of the path and continued to stare into darkness below.  Frisk stepped closer to get a look as well.  It was unclear how far down this drop was.

           As Frisk stood there looking over the shoulder of the young monster, a soft voice whispered in his ear from behind.  “Push him.”  Frisk stepped away from the edge, spinning around to look behind him.  No one was there.  He was sure that wasn’t his imagination.  For a second he had felt a presence, however briefly . . . but a presence nonetheless.  Fear and confusion was setting in again.  Even though he was sure this hadn’t been a reflection of his own thoughts, he had killed Toriel and he hadn’t thought he was capable of that either.  The child backed away from the young monster, trembling.  He backed into the rock wall behind him, nearly bumping a tall blue flower that had grown here.  Heart racing, he lowered his head and covered his face.

           "Hey kid," said a calm voice to the right.  Frisk jumped, lifting his head suddenly.  Sans stood behind his station, smiling back as usual.  Still recovering from the fright of the whisper, Frisk stared at the short skeleton.  "You okay?" said Sans.  Frisk continued to stare.  Sans eyed him carefully then shrugged.  "What?  Haven't you seen a guy with two jobs before?"

           "Uh, no . . . not really," Frisk said.  His voice had escaped shaky and weak.

           Sans glanced away.  "Fortunately, two jobs means twice as many legally-required breaks."  He laughed a little, directing his attention back to Frisk.  "I'm going to Grillby's.  Wanna come?"

           Frisk smirked and nodded.  "Sure.  I'm pretty hungry," he said.

           "Well, if you insist . . . I'll pry myself away from my work."  Sans stood then stepped from behind the stand.

           "But . . . this was your idea,” said Frisk

           Sans shrugged.  "Yeah?"  He motioned Frisk to follow him deeper into the tunnel ahead.  "Over here.  I know a shortcut."  Frisk followed him into the shadows.  It was pitch black but he continued by following the sound of Sans' footsteps.  He heard the sound of a door opening which suddenly revealed the warm light of Grillby's restaurant.  Frisk looked down.  He and Sans were standing only a couple steps inside the front door.  Frisk spun around to look behind them.  The door was closed.  Outside snow fluttered silently by the window.  The human's mouth dropped open.  He glanced back at Sans.  "Fast shortcut, huh?" Sans said.

           "How did you . . ."

           Sans turned around without answering the question.  He walked passed tables as he led Frisk toward a counter at the back.  "Hey, everyone," he said.  The monsters inside looked up from their plates of food.  There were several dogs, a rabbit creature, and something else with a lot of teeth.

           "Hey, Sans!" barked one of the dogs.

           "Hi, Sans," said another.

           "Hiya, Sansy!" the rabbit said.  Sans reached the back shortly before Frisk.  The skeleton glanced at a strange fish creature, who leaned on the left side of the counter.

           The old fish monster greeted him.  "Hey Sans, weren't you just here for breakfast a few minutes ago?"  Frisk kept his distance from this other monster.  There was an odd, fishy smell emanating from his location.

           Sans shook his head.  "Nah, I haven't had breakfast in at least half an hour.  You must be thinking of brunch," he said.  Following this comment, nearly everyone present laughed or chuckled.  Frisk smirked.  Sans glanced at the child, directing his attention toward two empty stools at the counter.  "Here, get comfy."  Frisk and Sans approached the chairs to take a seat.  Frisk’s posture stiffened when the sound of a whoopee cushion was heard beneath him.  He glanced to the right at Sans, eyes narrowed.  The skeleton chuckled.  "Whoops.  Watch where you sit," he said.  "Sometimes weirdos put whoopee cushions on the seats."

           Frisk slipped off the stool and picked up the whoopee cushion.  He tossed it to Sans, who caught it in his left hand.  "Did you just call yourself a weirdo?" Frisk asked as he took a seat again.

           Sans held up a hand.  “Whoa, now.  Who said I put that there?”

           “You’re the only one close enough and it wasn’t there two seconds ago,” Frisk said.  “Also, that’s the same one you shook my hand with earlier.”

           Sans laughed as he slipped the object into a pocket of his coat.  "In that case . . . I guess I did just call myself a weirdo."  Frisk smiled and shook his head.  "Anyway, let's order," said Sans.  He waved at a fire monster in a suit, who stood behind the counter.  "Whaddya want, kid?  Fries or a burger?"

           "A burger sounds good," said Frisk.

           "Hm . . . it does."  Sans glanced at the fire monster.  "Grillby, we'll take a double order of burgers."  Grillby nodded then promptly disappeared through a door at the back to prepare the food.  An awkward silence followed as Sans scratched his head.  Several seconds passed before he said anything more.  "So, uh . . . what do you think of my brother?" said Sans.

           "He's cool.  A very . . . interesting person," said Frisk.

           Sans nodded.  "Glad ya think so.  You'd be cool too if you wore that outfit every day.  He'd only take that thing off if he absolutely had to."  The skeleton shrugged.  "Oh well.  At least he washes it."  He snickered.  "And by that I mean, he wears it in the shower."  Frisk smirked at the thought.  Grillby entered and approached the counter with two plates of food.  "Here comes the grub," said Sans.  Grillby set the burgers in front of them.  Frisk took a moment to observe the food, lifting the top bun of the burger.  It was literally just a bun and meat, no lettuce or cheese, or sauce.  Sans lifted a bottle of ketchup and offered it to the child.  "Want some ketchup?" he asked.

           "Sure."  Frisk took the bottle.

           Sans winked.  "Bone-appetit."

           Frisk tipped the bottle upside down and squeezed.  To his dismay, the cap popped off and ketchup poured uncontrollably onto his food.  Frisk stared as the entire content of the bottle was emptied onto his burger.  He sighed then dropped the empty bottle on the counter.  "That went well," he said.

           "Whoops," said Sans.

           Frisk glanced over.  The skeleton had a nervous sort of look on his face.  Frisk gave an annoyed glare.  "This doesn't have anything to do with you, does it?"

           Sans shrugged.  "Eh, forget about it.  You can have mine."  He scooted his plate closer to Frisk.  "I'm not hungry anyway," he said.

           Frisk accepted the burger.  "Thanks."  He picked it up and took a bite.  It was surprisingly good even without toppings.

           Sans was silent for several seconds more.  Frisk could tell something was bothering him and he wasn’t looking forward to finding out what.  "Anyway," Sans said.  "Cool or not, you have to agree Papyrus tries really hard."

           Frisk nodded and responded with his mouth full.  "He does."

           "Like how he keeps trying to be part of the Royal Guard.  One day, he went to the house of the head of the Royal Guard and begged her to let him be in it."

           Frisk swallowed.  "What happened?"  He took another bite of the burger as he listened to Sans' reply.

           "Of course, she shut the door on him because it was midnight.  But the next day, she woke up and saw him still waiting there.  Seeing his dedication, she decided to give him warrior training.  It's, uh, still a work in progress," said Sans.  He looked away again.  Another awkward pause accompanied the next few minutes while Frisk ate.

           While peering straight ahead, Sans finally broke the silence with a more serious tone of voice.  "Oh yeah.  I wanted to ask you something," he said.  Frisk froze, burger still in his hand.  He felt panic slowly creeping in.  He dreaded to hear what Sans was going to say.  Had he found out about Toriel somehow?  Sans leaned closer to Frisk.  "Have you ever heard of a talking flower?" he asked.

           Frisk was somewhat relieved to hear this question.  He set down the burger and nodded.  "Yes," he said.  "One tried to kill me when I woke up in the underground."

           Sans narrowed his eyes in suspicion.  " . . . yeah.  Anyway . . . I'm talking about the Echo Flower.  They're all over the marsh.  Say something to them, and they'll repeat it over and over."

           "Uh . . . why are you telling me this?"

           "Well, Papyrus told me something interesting the other day.  Sometimes . . . when no one else is around . . . a flower appears and whispers things to him.  Flattery . . . advice . . . encouragement . . . predictions.  Weird, huh?" asked Sans.  Frisk nodded slowly.  "Someone must be using an Echo Flower to play a trick on him.  Keep an eye out, okay?"

           "I will," said Frisk.

           "Thanks."  Frisk reached for his burger again when Sans added something in a much lower and darker tone of voice.  "The little yellow one . . . he can't be trusted."

           Frisk paused to glance at Sans.  "I know."

           "Okay, kid.  Just warning ya," said Sans.  He stood from the chair and stepped back.  "Welp.  That was a long break.  I can't believe I let ya pull me away from work for that long."

           Frisk turned around to face him.  "What?  You wanted to."

           "Oh, by the way.  I'm flat broke.  Can you foot the bill?  It's just ten thousand gold," said Sans.

           Frisk stared.  "No?"

           Sans laughed.  "Just kidding."  He glanced passed Frisk.  "Put it on my tab, Grillby."  Grillby nodded.  Sans started toward the door but paused to look back at Frisk.  "By the way . . . I was going to say something, but I forgot."  Sans winked then stepped out into the snow, shutting the door behind him.  Frisk sighed and continued eating his burger.  He really wanted to know what else Sans had meant to tell him now.  If Sans knew Flowey couldn’t be trusted, maybe he knew more about him than he let on.  It was odd though.  Both Sans and Flowey had said the other couldn’t be trusted.  Surely only one of them was telling the truth . . . right?

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[for-a-flower]

The Town

(Image to be added in the future.)

           Upon reaching a large sign trimmed with snow, Frisk slowed and read it.  "Welcome to Snowdin Town!" it said.  The child glanced down the path ahead.  There was a shop, a restaurant, a library, and a few wooden houses built among the trees.  In the center of the town stood a Christmas tree with various wrapped presents beneath it.  Frisk smiled.  Several of the buildings were decorated with Christmas lights.  Some furry monsters walked casually down the path, talking to each other.  Two little slime creatures bounced passed Frisk.

           "Let's play monsters and humans!" said the little green one.

           "Uh . . . you're not gonna make me be the human again, are you?" asked the other.

           Frisk didn't think much of their comments as they passed.  This was a lively town full of life and creatures.  There were some rabbits, bears, mouse like creatures, and a wolf.  Frisk directed his gaze toward the nearest building.  It looked like a shop.  Curious and worn out from walking, Frisk entered to see what was inside.  It was warm and cozy in the store.  Frisk closed the door behind him then approached the front counter.

           A grey rabbit monster smiled kindly and welcomed him.  "Hello traveler," she said.

           Frisk smiled back.  "Hi."

           "Welcome to Snowdin!  I can't remember the last time I saw a fresh face around here.  Where did you come from?  The capital?"

           Frisk was a little confused.  "Um . . . no."

           The rabbit smiled.  "Well, you don't look like a tourist," she said.  "Are you here by yourself?"

           He nodded.  "Yeah."  He paused to glance over the counter, catching sight of a scroll mounted on the wall behind her.  The symbol on it grabbed his attention.  It took him a moment to realize that he had seen this symbol twice already.  Once on Toriel's robe and again on the exit door of the Ruins.  Frisk leaned on the counter, resting his arms on it.  "I'm kind of curious.  What's there to do around here?"

           "Oh, Grillby's has food and the library has information.  If you're tired . . . you can take a nap at the inn.  It's right next door.  My sister runs it," she said.

           "Okay, thanks."

           The rabbit-like creature nodded.  "And if you're bored, you can sit outside and watch those wacky skeletons do their thing.  There's two of 'em . . . brothers I think."

           “I met them on the way here, but I didn’t get to talk to them much.  Do you know anything about them?” asked Frisk.

           The shopkeeper sighed and glanced away thoughtfully.  "Hm . . . not much.  They just showed up one day and . . . asserted themselves."  She giggled.  "This little town has gotten a lot more interesting since then."

           "How did this town get here?  When was it built?" said Frisk.

           "Think back to your history class," the rabbit replied.

           Frisk paused, suddenly realizing that she didn't know he was human.  He didn’t really want to tell her either.  "I . . . haven't had history yet," he said.

           "Hm . . . really?  Well . . . a long time ago, monsters lived in the Ruins back there in the forest," she said.  "Long story short . . . we all decided to leave the Ruins and head for the end of the caverns.  Along the way, some fuzzy folk decided they liked the cold and set up camp in Snowdin."  She paused to lean forward a bit.  "Oh, and don't think about trying to explore the Ruins.  The door's been locked for ages.  So unless you're a ghost or can borrow under the door, forget about it."

           Frisk stepped away from the counter.  "That's okay.  I don't need to," he said.  "So how about you?  How's life here?"

           The rabbit smiled and crossed her arms.  "Life is the same as usual," she said then scowled.  "A little claustrophobic . . . but . . ."  She smirked.  "We all know deep down that freedom is coming, don't we?"  Frisk nodded in agreement.  "As long as we got that hope, we can grit our teeth and face the same struggles day after day."  She sighed.  "That's life, ain't it?"

           Frisk sighed, glancing at a shelf of goods behind her.  "I think I'll get something now," he said.

           "Alright, what would you like to buy?"

           "Can I have a cinnamon bun?"

           The rabbit reached to grab one and set it on the counter in front of her.  "It's twenty five gold," she said.  Frisk felt his pockets.  He had managed to find some gold on the way.  Not much but just enough.  He took out twenty-five pieces and handed them to her.  She smiled.  "Thanks for your purchase."  She handed the cinnamon bun to him.

           Frisk took it.  "Thanks for talking to me.  I need to go now."

           "It was nice to chat," she said.  "Bye now.  Come again sometime."

           Frisk nodded then turned to head back out.  He was glad for a chance to get some warmth.  The human closed the door behind him.  Standing on the doorstep, he directed his attention toward the library farther ahead.  The rabbit had said it had information.  That was definitely something he was looking for.  Maybe there he’d learn more about monsters and their magic.  Frisk took a bite from the cinnamon bun as he walked down the path.  He neared the Christmas tree and slowed to stare at colored lights as he passed.  On the surface, it was nearing summer.  Seeing Christmas decorations this time of year was strange but oddly refreshing as well.

           "Yo!" called a young voice.  Frisk stopped.  A monster with yellow scales rushed toward him from behind the Christmas tree.  He wore a yellow and brown striped shirt and had a row of spines on his head.  He had two feet resembling a dinosaur and a short tail but no arms.  "You're a kid too, right?" he said.

           Frisk nodded.  "Yeah."

           The monster kid smiled excitedly.  "I can tell, cause you're wearing a striped shirt."  Frisk paused, still chewing on his last bite of the cinnamon pastry.  He glanced down at his blue and purple striped shirt.  The monster laughed a little.  "I wonder . . . is that funny skeleton a kid or an adult?" he asked.

           Frisk replied with his mouth full.  "I . . . I'm not sure actually.”

           "Whatcha doin' here?"

           Frisk swallowed and pointed to the building he was heading to.  "Going to the library."

           "Really?  That place?  It's boring.  See ya, dude."  The little monster turned and ran further down the path.  Frisk continued toward the library, stopping to read the sign.  There was an extra b added between the r and y.  Frisk stepped inside to look around.  The building was twice as large as the shop but small in comparison to the library of his town.  Frisk had hardly visited it or any other places of his own town, but now he was curious to learn about monster history and their magic abilities.  The child stepped up to the front counter where a greenish lizard-like creature stood.

           "Welcome to the library," he said.  “My name is Shane.”

           "Uh . . .”  Frisk pointed toward the door.   “Your sign . . ."

           The monster smirked.  "Yes, we know the sign is misspelled.  Go ahead and take a look around," he said.  “Feel free to ask if you need help finding something.”

           Frisk nodded and continued inside.  He approached the only row of bookshelves they had which stood against the back wall.  He started at one end, glancing over the labels.  He found one about monsters and their powers.  Frisk pulled it off the shelf, opened it, and flipped through the pages.  He stopped when he found a chapter title labeled, A Monster's Soul.  Frisk glanced down to read some of it quietly.  "Love, hope, compassion . . . This is what people say monster souls are made of.  But the absolute nature of 'soul' is unknown.  After all, humans have proven their souls don't need these things to exist."  Frisk paused and put the book back on the shelf.  He kept looking.

           Next, he found a book labeled, Monster History Part 4.  He took it out, opened to the first page, and leaned his back against the shelf behind him.  "Fearing the humans no longer, we moved out of our old city, Home.  We braved harsh cold, damp swampland, and searing heat, until we reached what we now call our capital, New Home.  Again . . . our king is really bad at names."  Frisk smirked, setting the book back on the shelf.  "The capital . . . that's where Papyrus mentioned I'd be sent after he captured me.  Hm . . ." he thought.  Frisk continued his search through the books.

           He found another useful piece of information among them and read it softly.  "Because they are made of magic, monster's bodies are attuned to their soul.  If a monster doesn't want to fight, their defenses will weaken.  And the crueler the intentions of our enemies, the more their attacks will hurt us.  Therefore . . . if a being with a powerful soul struck with the desire to kill . . . um . . . let's end the chapter here."  Frisk paused, his small hands slowly closing the book in front of him.  He had just realized something.  "Toriel . . ." he whispered.  That was why his last strike killed her.  He had hurt her because she hadn’t wanted to fight him anymore.  Her defense was low.  It wouldn’t have mattered whether he used a toy knife or not.  He could have killed her with his bare hands in that state.  Tears came to his eyes as regret flooded over him again.  He had only wanted to prove himself at first.  But that last strike . . . he had been frustrated and desperate to continue on.  It was hostile intent . . . and that intent was what allowed the toy knife to cause such severe damage.  “So . . . it was my fault.  I can't blame anything else,” Frisk thought.  “I wish . . . I wish I had known sooner."

           "Are you okay?" said a voice.

           Frisk turned around suddenly, glancing up at Shane.  The child sniffled, quickly drying his face and nodding.  "Yeah.  I was just . . . trying to find some information about monsters.  It’s a sad story . . . being trapped down here for so long," said Frisk.

           The librarian nodded.  "But don't be so down.  We'll get out.  We're getting closer every day."  Frisk sighed, his gaze drifting down to the floor.  "Try another section,” Shane suggested.  “There's some cheerful books in here too.”

           Frisk nodded slowly.  Shane smirked then returned to the front counter.  Frisk returned the book to the shelf and continued to look.  Eventually he came across something else interesting.  "While monsters are mostly made of magic, human beings are mostly made of water.  Humans, with their physical forms, are far stronger than us.  But they will never know the joy of expressing themselves through magic.  They'll never get a bullet-pattern birthday card."  Frisk was about to put the book back when a paper fell out from between the pages.  He picked it up and curiously began reading it.

           It looked like a school report.  "Monster funerals, technically speaking, are super cool!  When monsters get old and kick the bucket, they turn into dust.  At funerals, we take that dust and spread it on that person's favorite thing.  Then their essence will live on in that thing.  Uh . . . am I at the page minimum yet?  I'm kinda sick of writing this."  Frisk smirked and set the paper down on the shelf near the book.  He understood how the little guy must have felt about writing it.  No one likes school reports . . . usually.

           Frisk exited the library and started down the path out of the town.  He knew he had a long journey still, but how long was uncertain.  The human saw a cold, thick fog hiding the path ahead.  Water flowed by on one side of the path, while a line of trees grew along the other.  There was only one way to go . . . forward.  A new determination rising in him, Frisk’s pace increased as he entered the fog.  He fearlessly trudged down the snow-covered path and a glint of yellow light sparked before him.

           Frisk slowed when he saw it.  He glanced ahead again, brown eyes catching sight of the tall, unmistakable silhouette of Papyrus standing several yards away.  Frisk stared, waiting for him to speak.  In a way, he was relieved that yellow light had just marked the timeline.  But in a different way, it was frightening.  He didn't know what to expect.  All he knew was that Sans had said Papyrus wouldn't kill him.  Frisk had been sure of the same.  But now . . . something deep within him seemed to tell him told him not to trust Papyrus either.

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[for-a-flower]

Fatality

(Just in case the title doesn’t make it obvious, there’s death in this one so beware.)

           While continuing through trees on either side of the path, Frisk was attacked by a Snowdrake and Icecap monster.  He managed to escape both with only a few bruises.  Frisk reached a large cardboard box standing in the snow and stopped for a breather.  He noticed a note taped to this sloppily assembled structure.  The child read it to himself in a whisper.  "You observe the well-crafted sentry station.  Who could have built this, you ponder?  I bet it was that very famous royal guardsman.  Note: Not yet a very famous guardsman."  Frisk giggled.  This was clearly written by Papyrus.

           The human shivered then moved on.  He limped due to a sore ankle which had been injured while running from another fight.  As Frisk walked, he thought about Sans and Papyrus.  He wanted to know more about them.  He wanted a chance to talk to Sans more . . . which was something he had neglected with Toriel.  Frisk worried what might happen if any monsters found out he killed her.  Would they believe him if he said he hadn't meant to?  Or would they try to kill him too?  Frisk sighed.  Killing him wouldn't be difficult.  He was already slower, cold, and injured.  The human stopped in the snow as pain shot through his leg.  He cringed but he had to keep going.  He knew his ankle wasn’t broken, just strained.  He could deal with it.  He was going to make it out of the underground and he'd make sure of that.

           A yellow spark flashed in front of Frisk.  He stopped, eyes wide.  He glanced around, focusing his attention toward various trees around him.  No one else was there.  The glint of yellow had long gone already.  Frisk was sure this time that he had done something to trigger that.  But what?  Did he have a magic ability that he never knew about?  What did the spark mean?  Why did it only last for a moment?  Something so brief seemed it would have no use at all.  Frisk reluctantly kept walking.  He didn’t want to stand in the cold to figure this out.  It was unlikely he’d make sense of it right now.  Frisk was getting quite hungry.  He had to find Sans.  Maybe he had some food or something.

           The child approached a sign and paused to read it.  "Absolutely no moving!" it said.  Frisk glanced ahead but couldn’t make out anything odd from here.  He shrugged and kept walking.

           He stepped in front of a wooden sentry station just as a black and white dog lifted its head to bark loudly at him.  Frisk stopped suddenly in alarm.  "Did something move?!" the dog barked.  He leaped through the opening of the sentry station, landing softly in the snow.  His brown eyes glanced around suspiciously as if he couldn’t see the human who stood a few yards in front of him.  The dog growled, a scowl across his snout.  "Because if something did . . . like a human . . . I'll make sure it never moves again!"  The dog monster summoned two cyan magic swords, one in each hand, then charged toward the human.  Frisk screamed, ducked quickly, and rolled out of the way.  The dog swung both swords at the ground, striking the snow near Frisk.  He paused and spun around to scan the area with narrow eyes.  "Where'd you go?"

           Frisk lay on the cold snow several feet away, but he shivered from fear more than chill.  "Hello?" he called softly.  Maybe greeting the dog nicely was a good idea.

           The dog jumped, glancing left and right.  "What was that?  Who are you?  Don't you dare move an inch!"  He lifted the swords and proceeded to swing them a couple times in Frisk's general direction as if he couldn’t see the human clearly.  Light blue energy flung from the blades as a sweeping magic attack.

           Frisk's eyes grew wider.  “Yikes!”  He scrambled to his feet and turned to run away.  The young human managed a few running strides before three streaks of energy hit him across the back.  Frisk yelled and collapsed in the snow, gasping in pain as he rolled over onto his back.  He opened his eyes slowly as the dog approached.

           This time the black and white dog stopped beside the human, his eyes fixed directly on Frisk.  "I spotted a human!"  He raised both magic blades.

           Frisk frowned, trembling weakly.  Unable to get to his feet, he lifted a small hand.  "Wait . . . I just . . ."  Without further hesitation, the dog executed a direct attack.  Both blades stabbed Frisk through the stomach.  The child flinched when an overwhelming pain rushed through him followed by thick darkness.  Panic overcame him as his life slipped into endless shadows.  As he fell through the dark, the pain gave way to numbness.  Yet somehow a low voice spoke out to him from the Void.

           "Chara," it said.  "Wake up.  You are the future of humans and monsters.  Don't give up."

           Frisk didn’t know this voice.  Nor did he know who Chara was.  He didn’t know why he was hearing this, but he knew he didn't want to give up.  "No," Frisk thought.  "I'm scared.  I . . . don't want to die."  In the middle of his thought . . . something began to change.  The numbness of death gave way to a strong pulse of life.  Frisk's strength flooded back.  The dark world around him shifted as sound and light suddenly returned.

           Frisk gasped and opened his eyes.  He paused to squint in the bright light, then looked around quickly.  He stood in the snowy forest near the dog's sentry station.  Still in a panic, Frisk put a hand to his stomach.  There was no injury, no blood or pain.  He lifted his shaking hands as he tried to calm himself.  “I’m not dead?  What . . . happened?” he whispered.  After taking a few deep breaths, he rubbed his stomach where he had suffered a fatal blow only seconds earlier.  He still felt completely fine.  "How . . . ” he whispered.  Frisk glanced over a shoulder to make sure no one had come down the path behind him.  "How?  How am I alive?"

           Strangely enough, he wasn't hungry anymore.  His sore ankle and burns had been healed too.  Confused, his gaze drifted down to the snow as he shifted to deep thought.  "When I was here last time . . . I saw a yellow spark . . . like magic or something.  I came back here after I died.  I must have . . . gone back in time?  Whoa!"  Frisk lifted his head.  "That's not possible. . . . Is it?  But maybe here it is.  I didn't want to die and now I’m back here.  So . . . somehow I made that yellow spark and marked a time.  Maybe it’s kinda like . . . a save point in case something happens to me.  But how did I do that?"

           Frisk glanced down the snowy path ahead.  He knew he wasn't going to figure it all out right now.  He needed to keep going.  Maybe he’d discover more on the way.  Right now he had to figure out how to get passed that dog ahead.  Frisk took a deep breath then started toward the sentry station again.  He got an urge to take out the toy knife but ignored the feeling.  Besides, the dog had warned him not to move and what had he done?  Ran all over the place.  This time he had a different plan of action . . . or more like a plan of inaction.

           The child hesitated before crossing the path in front of the station.  He couldn’t think of a way to cross without moving, but maybe he could convince the dog to leave him alone anyway.  Reluctantly, Frisk stepped into the dog’s line of sight, who stiffened up in surprise.  "Did something move?!"  Frisk stopped.  The dog jumped out with two magic swords like before.  "Because if something did . . . I'll make sure it never moves again!"  The dog dashed toward the child, swords raised.  Frisk ducked to the side, rolling in the snow.  He stood up behind the dog, freezing in place before he was seen.  The dog looked around, his eyes darting from left to right.  "Where'd you go?!"  Each time the dog glanced away, Frisk snuck a few steps down the path. 

           The dog began swinging both swords in front of him in a nervous sort of way.  "Come out!  Come out!" he said.  Once Frisk had made it several yards down the path, he took off through the snow.  The dog spun around and caught sight of him.  "Human!" he barked.  Frisk glanced over his shoulder as he ran.  The dog charged after him.  "Don't move an inch further," he growled.  Frisk skidded to a stop, as his little heart raced.  The dog stopped a few feet away, losing track of the child.  He swung both swords, flinging blue streaks of energy toward Frisk.

           In fear, the child closed his eyes yet remained completely still.  He had no idea this would work.  He heard the swish of magic energy and felt a tingling as the stuff passed through his body harmlessly.  Frisk opened an eye.  The dog stared.  "What?"  He whined pitifully.  "Is anyone there?"  Frisk heaved a sigh of relief.  The dog's ears drooped.  He lowered his swords.  "I thought I saw someone."  Reluctantly, the monster turned and moved away, shuffling back to his watch-post in defeat.

           Frisk remained completely still until the dog had climbed back inside the sentry station.  The human child then continued down the path.  "That was terrifying," he whispered.  As flakes of snow floated down around him, Frisk’s pounding heart slowed to a normal pace.  He shivered again.  Even though he was quite cold . . . in a way it was refreshing and calming.  The snow was pretty . . . the area quiet.  He took it in as he went.  Just one step at a time.  He'd make it to the exit eventually . . . wherever it was.  Perhaps Sans would help him find it or tell him what it looked like.

           Only minutes later, Frisk stopped when he saw Sans up ahead.  What a coincidence.  The short skeleton stood alone near a patch.  Frisk bolted toward him.  "Sans!" he called.

           The skeleton greeted him with a usual smile.  "Hey, kiddo.  What's up?"

           Frisk glanced back toward the dog's sentry station he had just escaped from.  "That dog . . . he had some kind of blue energy swords.  What was that?"

           "Oh, I should’ve mentioned that earlier," said Sans.  "Some of the monsters in the underground have special magic that significantly damages anything moving.  It’s always cyan.  So, if you see that kind of attack later on, you can avoid it by simply standing your ground."  He chuckled a little before continuing.  “Think of it this way.  When you see a stop sign, what do you do?”

           “Stop,” said Frisk.

           Sans nodded.  “Stop signs are red.  So, when you see a blue attack . . . just think of a blue stop sign instead.”

           Frisk stared.  “Uh . . . Okay?”

           Sans chuckled.  “Good luck, kid.”

           The child paused, his expression of confusion switching to one of concern.  "Wait . . . did . . . you see that whole thing?"

           Sans didn’t seem to understand why Frisk asked this question.  "Hu?  You avoiding those attacks like a pro?  Yeah . . . I saw it all," he said.  Frisk sighed.  Sans must not have seen him die.  "Anything else?" said Sans.

           "Well . . .”  The child glanced down, shivering a bit.  “I'd like to get back home if I can.”

           Sans nodded.  "Don't we all."

           "Monsters . . . you've all been trapped down here for a really long time . . . right?"

           "Yep.  Most of us don't even think we'll get out."

           "How long has it been?"

           Sans shrugged.  "Hey, I'm not sure, kid.  I wasn't here the whole time.  Kinda hard to know if I wasn't around.”

           Frisk sighed.  “My village on the surface has legends about it but . . . they’re so old now, no one seems to know how long ago it really was.”

           “Well, don’t know what I can tell ya,” said Sans.

           "Anyway, do you know where the underground’s exit is?"

           Sans put his hands back in his pockets.  "No need to be worried about it.  You'll get there.  Just gotta keep going a bit at a time," he said.

           "Trying to keep me hoping?" asked Frisk.  Sans nodded.  Frisk smiled.  "Thanks.  But I don't know what the exit looks like.  I don’t want to miss it."

           "Don't worry, kid.  You'll know when you see it.  Papyrus is waiting for you ahead with a puzzle.  You should check it out."

           "Alright."  Frisk stepped around Sans, took a few steps, then stopped to look back.  "Wait, Sans?"  The skeleton was already gone.  Frisk stared a second.  "How does he keep doing that?" he thought.  He shrugged and continued onward.

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