trespassers [IC] ALTEREDNU

[Hal Henderics]

Toriel frowns. 

 

"Surely it can not be so simple," she says,

 

"Let us move.  If he is having humans brought to him, I fear our time may be waning," she says, walking over to where the Dog Squadron is gathered at the exit to Snowdin.

 

As the group exits Snowdin, the snow and wind begin to pick up, tossing up an obscuring mist.

 

A familiar silhouette can be seen blocking the path.

 

 

...

 

 

The skeleton points towards Rachel.

 

 

Frisk gasps at this, and those who glance back at them would notice them pumping their fists while chanting the word "Flirt" under their breath.

 

 

Papyrus struggles to find the correct words.

 

 

While Toriel rolls her eyes with a sneer, the Dog Squadron seems mostly in agreement, nodding their heads at this.

 

 

The snowstorm clears, and Papyrus chortles as he runs towards the party and leaps completely over them several meters in the air on his way back to his house.

 

Asriel smiles at this, but it's an uncomfortable expression.  "Well, that was something.  He always was my favorite."

 

The dogs merely shrug at this, and offer to continue escorting the group to New Home.

[StormLord]

Ignia glances around a bit at the situation, a disgruntled look on her face.
"Well that was odd, but I think that just describes that uhh....skeleton?"
Ignia furrowed her brow trying to think if he was an actual skeleton or some other kind of monster that just looked like one.
"Whatever, we should keep going."

[kj1225]

Arminius waves goodbye to Papyrus before continuing. Good man, he is.

[Hal Henderics]

With impetus from Ignia given, the dog squadron escort the group through Waterfall.

 

Across rivers and lakes, over bridges made of lilypads and under a cavern of stars, the gang stops only long enough for Jun to retrieve his book from Gerson, entering a strange shop with the others, manned by an ancient looking turtle-man with an archeologist's outfit.  He has two books held under his arms.

 

"I see you brought some friends.  I went ahead and whipped up a handy little primer for you.  This should help you out." he says.

 

Jun receives the Tome of Necrodancy, as well as Gerson's Primer
 

Quote

Gerson's Primer:  Once studied, the user can learn a variety of random abilities, including Necrodancy and Monster Magic.

 

As he hands it over, he grabs Jun's hand with his own and gives them a look.

 

"I wasn't able to talk ASGORE out of doing this.  Maybe with what's in that little book, you might actually stand a chance at it.  I don't think this war needs to go on any longer, kid."

 

"Go lay down the law, alright?"

 

Quote

THE LAW:  Monsterkind's Ultimate Magic.
Level 1: Abort the current combat.  Units on both sides of the fight who wish to continue fighting must make a save against the user's Synergy to stop this spell from resolving.

 

Gerson looks at the others.  "Well, any of you want to buy some junk?!  Wah Ha Ha!"

 

Toriel looks at Gerson with recognition.

 

Quote

BUY

SELL

TALK

EXIT

 

[Chevaleresse]

Lucine wasn't entirely sure what to make of it. Maybe she could come back later (ideally with a fresh set of clothes) and try to resolve the conflicting stories. One detail didn't quite make sense, though. "Why did he have to get you those burgers?"

[Hal Henderics]

-Hotland

 

"I mean, he didn't HAVE to..."  "Catty's just hungry all the time."

 

"It isn't my fault that those burgers are so tasty!" "Yeah, they're so good!"

 

After a moment, the pair share a look and shrug.

 

"Better than eating out of the garbage." "Junk Food isn't exactly fine dining."

[StormLord]

Ignia scratches her head at Gerson's question.
"Well what have you got?"

[Hal Henderics]

"Well, What are you lookin for?"  Gerson says as he digs out the junk he's come across and whipped up.

 

Quote

Crab Apple - 25G
"Heals 18HP (Looks like a crab.)"

 

Sea Tea - 18G
"Heals 10 HP, +10 Initiative"

 

Cloudy Glasses - 30G
"Armor: +6 Resistance, Multihit attacks can only hit once."

 

Torn Notebook - 55G
"Weapon: +2 Int, Multihit attacks can only hit once."

[StormLord]

"Hmm.  The Tea doesn't look bad, but well I didn't pick up any money at the mini-golf game.  Would you happen to accept spooky magic crystals as trade?"

Ignia pulls out a handful of shards, dull, grim, and shimmering.

[Hal Henderics]

-Waterfall

 

"I'm trying to get rid of my old junk, not get more of it!"

 

He hums thoughtfully.

 

"That said, if you're looking to sell stuff, you should try the Temmie Village.  They'll buy anything."

 

"As for where it is... I've got no clue!  Wa Ha Ha!"  Gerson laughs.

 

Frisk raises a hand.

 

"I know where it is.  It's nearby."

 

After a moment, though, they shrug.

 

"I have plenty of Gold.  I'll trade you."  They say, holding out their hands for the spooky crystals.

 

[DragonRage]

"The Sea Tea could be useful," Rachel suggests.  As a jump trooper, she always appreciates getting the drop on one's enemies.

[kj1225]

Arminius idly watches the procedings, not really interested in what the turtle is selling at the moment. After a bit he decides to talk to the goat monster. "So... do you know this guy? You looked like you recognized him."

[Hal Henderics]

"He was once the captain of the Royal Guard.  He is older than when I met him last," Toriel points out, looking aloof.

 

She slaps a satchel of gold coins onto the table, purchasing everyone a can of Sea Tea.

 

Quote

Sea Tea: Made from glowing marshwater.
Consumable Level 1: Heals 10 HP, boosts Initiative by 10 for one combat.

 

Gerson laughs.  "Why thank you, Your Majesty," he says, placing the bottles of tea on the table.

 

Toriel frowns.

[kj1225]

Arminius raises his eyebrows at Gerson. Not out of surprise, just based on the strength of her soul he could have guessed that she was in the running for top dog... er, goat, in the underground; but rather it was more of silent request for elaboration, perhaps when Toriel wasn't in listening distance.

[DragonRage]

"Your majesty?"  Rachel raises an eyebrow, "Are you some sort of noble in this place, Toriel?"

[Chevaleresse]

Lucine frowned. It still didn't explain why they couldn't just go get the burgers themselves. . . though if they were eating junk, they probably didn't have the money to buy much food. She resolved to head back to the ships and bring them some actual food later. "That makes sense." She glanced back at Proditor. "I think we should probably get going. . ." A thought occurred to her just as she spoke. "Um, but before I go, I have a kinda-weird question. Does Asgore ever go hang out in places other than his house?"

[StormLord]

Ignia stopped dead in her tracks at Garson's comment.  A cold rush passing over her.
"Wait....Majesty?  One human child and...Astriel?"
Her head tilted towards Toriel as gears clicked and spun inside.
"You're the Queen of the Underground aren't you?  It feels like its been a year since we went through that...memorial?...whatever it was."

She shook her head before Toriel could respond.

"Did you know know there is a Graveyard full of Human bodies that the King stole the Hearts from?"

[Hal Henderics]

-Hotland

 

"Asgore?" they ask.

 

"He hangs out all over the underground!"  "Yeah, we see him all the time!"

"Oh my God."  He's a total goober."  "He's a big, fuzzy goofball!!"

"Like, I LOVE that guy."  "He's like, SO nice."

 

The pair look at each other for a moment, smiling.

 

"God, we're like..."  "God, we're like..."

"SO hyped for the destruction of humanity!"  "SO hyped for the destruction of humanity!" they shout in unison, laughing from accidentally saying it at the same time.

 

"Psyche!" "Aw man, come on Bratty!"

 

-Waterfall

 

Toriel looks down at Ignia with an aloof expression.  "Yes.  I am the former Queen of All Monsters."

 

At his comment about graves, she frowns, trying to appear apathetic.  "I would imagine so.  I tried to stop them, but they would not listen," she says.

 

"Six of them, yes?  I tried to stop them from leaving, but it was always the same.  They fall into The Ruins, they leave, and then they die."

 

"Pathetic, is it not?  I could not save a single one," she says with cold, watery eyes.

 

Asriel and Chara huddle around her while Frisk stands awkwardly by.

 

"And now we must put a stop to this pointless war, where I could not," Toriel says, kneeling down to make it easier for them to embrace her.

 

Gerson chuckles ruefully at this.

 

"I wouldn't say it was pointless.  Though, it does need to come to a stop now, before it's too late."

 

Toriel scowls at the old turtle.  "What could possibly justify all of this?  Why must humans die for our freedom, and if so, why would he wait instead of crossing through the barrier after he had a single SOUL?  Would he have monsterkind meekly wait in the darkness, hoping another human never falls?!"

 

Gerson holds up his hands wardingly.  "People were dying, your majesty."

 

"And they were doing it fast, to boot."

 

Gerson looks at the humans in the group.  "You all get old when you grow long enough, and then you get sick and kick the bucket, isn't that right?"

 

"Well, monsters don't get sick, but what do you suppose happens when a monster is done living?  I'll tell you what happens.  They QUIT." Gerson points out.

 

"I lived this long because I ain't done living yet, but right after the royal brats died?  Plenty of monsters were.  The first human to drop down here in a thousand years, and they were as friendly as all get out.  Then they died and the prince up and got killed by humans.  There went our hopes for peace."

 

He looks at Toriel, who is tearing up at this.

 

"Me and Asgore had already talked about this.  We used to think going to the surface would be pointless.  Even if we somehow escaped, the humans would just kill us all," Gerson points out.

 

"I felt a bit betrayed when Asgore changed his mind and started this mess... But now that I've gotten old and crusty, I'm starting to see why he did it."

 

"Monsters can't live without something to hope for." Gerson poses thoughtfully.

 

He shakes his head.  "Maybe you should have kicked his ass right then and there when he tried to declare war on the humans, Your Highness.  Maybe that's what he wanted." he laughs.  " I bet he never thought you'd up and run away though," Gerson continues.

 

"My point is, I don't think Asgore expected to get all seven." The old turtle says.

 

"I can't imagine how he made himself get this far, even.  That's why I think you stand a chance at stopping him," he explains.

 

Toriel tries her hardest to ignore most of what Gerson said, while her children seem content to squeeze the sad out of her as best they can with their little arms.

 

The pain is too raw, too fresh, even after decades.

[Chevaleresse]

"Uhh. . ." Once again, Lucine was left rather speechless. Quite a few humans had treated her coldly, if not poorly, but there were plenty that were nice, too. "I, uh, saw him earlier. He was in kind of a bad mood. I should, um, probably go find him, actually. . ." 

[GodofGamingRWBY]

Proditor

 

Although Proditor had remained utterly silent for most of the conversation, it was easy to tell how much the alien stiffened upon hearing the fact that they were 'hyped' for humanity's destruction. Although not his own world, Proditor instantly felt the urge to shatter both of the monster's minds with a wave of his hand, ensure that they would not be a threat to humanity any further. It should not have been a surprise that some monsters would feel eradicate humanity after being trapped in a prison for many years, along with the death of their Prince. But thus far, Proditor had seen the monsters as relatively harmless, in a way, for the most part. Asgore was an exception, the leader who simply wanted to free his people, forced to take an option of death and blood due to it being the only one available.

 

In hindsight, he was a fool to think that was the case of the Underground.

 

"Lucine, I believe it's time we get a move on" was all he said as spun around, barely giving Lucine a moment to response before he began floating away. There was only so much he could handle from the two's overlapping yammering, and there was still the unsolved matter of Asgore and Nader.

[StormLord]

Ignia's face turns sour as she listened to Toriel and Gerson.
"Well tonight I think he'll see reason one way or another."
She glances up to Arminius and Rachel.
"And the Barrier comes down."

[Yours Truly]

Gingerly taking the primer and very heavy book back from the turtle, Jun's short and heartfelt thanks is unfortunately interrupted by the very (former) queen of the monsters herself being in their presence apparently. The stealthily armored woman taking everything the two said all in before she finally, and hesitantly offered up a, "Well that matches up with what I've seen of him so far, he could have ordered Undyne to chase me and Lucille down to the ends of the underworld, but instead he just asked brought Lucille back to his castle to keep her safe or something. Of course, he could have just said that to bring her back to the lab, but he could have ordered Undyne to kill me right then and there instead of just asking her to bring any human she finds to the castle..."

[DragonRage]

"I see," Rachel nods, looking at Toriel with a strange emotion somewhere between disappointment and understanding, "Without hope, men cannot move forward.  And yet, hope borne of vile heresies is a cruel lie.  I... cannot bring myself to blame you for your weakness in failing to stop him sooner.  Men far more inclined to violence than you have failed when their loved ones turned to evil.  And... it is clear to me that to do what is necessary in this case... is antithetical to your nature.  Especially when the road to corruption is paved with good intentions.  I do not enjoy administering the Emperor's Mercy upon those who turn to chaos with the best of intentions.  It must be done, but...  It is easily the worst...  No, definitely the second worst part of being a battle-sister.  Fighting Tyranids is still worse.  The damn bugs are just wonderful like that."

[Hal Henderics]

-Waterfall

 

Toriel brings herself to her full intimidating height, wishing so dearly to refuse Gerson's words.

 

She opens her mouth, but cannot speak.

 

The dogs, who had been escorting the group so far, finally break out of their shock, kneeling before her, Chara, and Asriel.

 

While the children look uncomfortable at this, Toriel takes it in stride.

 

"Take us to New Home.  Take me to Asgore Dreemurr."

 

As the group continue to walk forwards, they encounter another station manned by none other than Sans.

 

 

Frisk walks forward, and interrupts him.

 

"It's time you learned the truth."

 

"Want to grab dinner at MTT Resort?  We'll catch up."

 

Sans looks surprised, but shrugs it off with a lazy grin.

 

 

Frisk turns to the rest of the party.

 

"We'll be waiting for you in Hotland," they explain, walking away with Sans behind a corner and disappearing before anyone can protest.  Asriel most of all squawking in alarm.

 

As the party continues down through Waterfall, Asriel looks more and more tense.

 

"I told that idiot-!" he starts nastily, before shaking his head, hard.

 

"I told Frisk to never tell him anything.  I don't like this."

 

The trip continues in silence until finally, Asriel decides to speak up again, just as the group begins passing into hotland, dripping stone walls transitioning into blistering red rock and oceans of magma.

 

"Before we reach Asgore, there's something you guys need to know," Asriel begins, tearing up uncontrollably, but wiping his face in spite of it.

 

"Absorbing a human SOUL... Isn't all it's hyped up to be.  Even if he absorbs them, you all still stand a chance."

 

Toriel freezes, while Chara simply sidles closer to the revived prince.

 

"When a monster absorbs a human SOUL, control is split between everyone involved.  Even if Asgore absorbed all six of them, all it would take is appealing to the human souls, waking them up enough to resist, and it would all fall apart."

 

"I know this because..." Asriel pauses, squeezing his eyes shut.

 

"Because I've got experience.  Plenty of it."

 

He lets the silence drag on.

 

"Remember how Frisk said they've been 'doing this for a while'? Well, before you came, they were dealing with me."

 

"I did bad things when I was a flower.  What do you think someone would do, if they had no SOUL of their own?"

 

"Well, I managed it before you guys fell down.  Three times even.  Once, I tricked Frisk into fighting ASGORE so they could escape.  While they were fighting, I stole the six SOULs Asgore had, and turned into..."

 

Asriel's chest heaves as he tries to relay the critical information to the party.

 

"Frisk kept calling for help, even while I killed them over and over, and they managed to wake up all six of the SOULs.  They rebelled against me, and stripped me of all my power."

 

Chara tries and fails to squeeze the sad out of him while Toriel's pupils shrink to pinpricks as she holds a hand over her mouth.

 

"When they refused to kill me after that, I tricked them again.  I told them that if they made friends with every single monster, and didn't kill anyone, It would give them their happy ending."

 

"That was a lie, of course.  Nearly every single monster came into Asgore's house to stop them from fighting, and..."

 

"I took all of their SOULs right then and there, and became godlike."

 

It takes him a long time to start talking again.

 

"Frisk made those SOULs wake up and remember who they were, and I couldn't handle all the emotional backlash.  I willingly gave up all that power, and broke The Barrier, now that I could feel my compassion and empathy again."

 

"...My point is, if any of you thought a monster with human SOULs is unbeatable... They aren't.  They can still be beaten." they finish, as the party reaches the MTT Resort.

 

For some odd reason, or perhaps it isn't odd at all, Rachel feels her hands drawn to her guns.

[DragonRage]

Rachel stares at Asriel with suspicion.  No one should be able to come back from what this being claims to have, and yet...  They clearly haven't kept any of the heretical power they once harvested.  To give up such power...  Even for the sake of a grand plot, even a minion of Tzeentch would be... reluctant to give up such power.  If not entirely incapable of bringing themselves to do so.  And if Asriel still had such power, 'Flowey' would have used it to escape Arminius well before any of this could have occurred.  "No one is invincible," Rachel allows, resolving to watch Asriel carefully, but take no overly... proactive action without further proof one way or the other.  Heretics must be purged for their own good...  But many great heroes of the Imperium have been lost to an overzealous Inquisitor's bolt pistol.  "As long as we fight on the side of humanity, the Emperor is with us.  And as He wills it, we shall not fail."