???

The guards I'd sent out the day before had quickly returned, bowing their heads as they entered my chamber. I gazed over my shoulder as I ran my hand down the spotless stained glass window revealing the beautiful view of the modern capital.

"Sir!"

I grin warmly, turning around halfway to see the guardsmen fully, hand still pressed against the glass. I felt my soul race anxiously, awaiting the morning report as to how well things went.

"Tell me, my dear friend. Has she been captured?"

They hesitated, my smile faltering and blue eyes narrowing to thin, dark slits as I peered down upon them. Something about their demeanor seemed very... Weary. Afraid. I raise a brow to their incoherent chatter. "What was that, general?" I spat, watching them flinch in fear as aggravation began seeping into my words.

"Th-they...The human...." A reluctant guard started, his tall ears beginning to twitch and droop.

"They escaped, Sire," the head guard profusely announced, walking in with little to no caution. Her heavy armored boots clanked against the marble floor, her purple and orange cape gliding across the tiles. I face her, my eyes growing furious as the feeling of rage drowns out anything I'd previously experienced before her entry.

"Could. You... Repeat that...?"

"Forgive me, sir. It seems as if my men are nothing more than lowly, pathetic welts!" She snaps, baring her sharp teeth in anger whilst using the end of her spear and ramming it into the side of one monster's armored head. I hold back a smirk as she continues.

"Sir, Papyrus' guards are far more efficient and strategized! I don't see how he keeps getting the well trained working hands, but I do know that we could've had that stupid human if those were my men!"

I threw my triton across the room, it lunged itself into in the no longer spotless floor, creating a large crater of debris. "THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE CONCERNED ABOUT?!"

She jumped, turning away, ashamed of her words. "Of course not!... S-sorry sir...."

I groaned inelegantly, rubbing my thumb and index fingers into my temples. Turning abruptly on my heel, I pace over to my weapon and pry it from the ground, listening to the crumble of the once beautifully polished marble as it detaches from the triton's pegs. I demand an explanation furiously.

"Tell me, Undyne. How the hell... Did she escape...?"

G

She coughed vigorously. Then she coughed some more, and coughed, and coughed some more. I almost felt... bad? Nah, I didn't feel anything for this brat. Sure, I could consider her a 'friend' but truly, she didn't instill anything in me. She was just a human. A disgusting, selfish human, that I'm officially stuck with forever. Damn my luck.

I found a boulder in the Glowing Cavern, deciding a rest wouldn't hurt since we were pretty safe here. No monster lived in this area because it freaked them out, so we should've been completely in the clear until we made it to Waterfall. I sat her down on the rock, gently squeezing her shoulders and looking into her ruby eyes. "You okay?"

She nodded as she sniffed, tears welling in her eyes as she frowns deeply. "Yeah..." She coughs once again. "J-just suffocating on t-the smoke in m-my lungs and t-trying to ignore the fact that my arm wants to fall off from bleeding so m-much! Other th-than that I'm fine!..."

I snort. "Wow. Such enthusiasm." She rolled her eyes, sighing. I look down at her swollen arm which was, as she already said, bleeding and looking pale. "We should get that cleaned up."

She nods. "Y-yes please..."

I look around, scanning the area for a possible building that could contain some medical supplies. I turn back to her to see her ruby eyes staring into me pleadingly. Why did I feel...Bad?

I mentally shook off the feeling and continued about the task at hand.

"Think you can walk with me while I search for something to wrap it with?"

She nods, and I help her stand, noticing bruises and scratches along her pale legs. Here comes the pity again...

She whimpered as we went, my movements slow and steady so she wouldn't be in too much pain. She clung to my arm for dear life, afraid she'd fall. I just needed to heal her and get her to Waterfall and everything should be okay.

We walked along the path, the only light we had was the luminosity of my gold iris and the turquoise glowing stones in the ceiling that sent bue hues onto the cavetops. It's no wonder why this is known to everyone as Glowing Cavern... It sure does live up to its name, i'll give it that.

I sighed, looking around for any building or items that could help. There really was nothing in sight, at least, I couldn't see it through the thick black of darkness. In three words; This really sucked. I was the only one able to take care of myself which

wasn't good since most call me unstable.

I pulled Frisk closer and sped off toward the exit. I doubted anything would be around since it was abandoned and monsters were smart enough to take their items with them, but regardless I don't feel like taking any chances. The slower we go the more vulnerable I felt, what with being practically handicapped thanks to this human being stuck to me.

Not a second went by when she wasn't near the brink of crying or whining on the way. I wanted to be angry and blame her, but I couldn't. And I don't know why. She just had that effect. You would have pity, not get angry at her. It was weird by far, but just happened to be so. Though I didn't understand it, I brushed it off and continued on my way.

Breaking the silence of the cavern drafts was Frisk's voice, weaving through the air in fine threads of silk and making its way to gain my full attention. "Can we stop...?" I turned to her, brow bones furrowing as I noticed her exhausted expression. Was I going to fast or something?

"Uh...Yeah...Sure."

I scout the area for a good spot to rest, looking to a decent sized crevasse in the stone of the rocky walls. I turn to her again, gesturing to it. "Here. Rest for a bit."

She nods, slowly sitting on the ground while pressing her knees to her chest. I sigh, pulling down my hood and glancing around again to insure we were alone and safely hidden from sight. She gazed up in my direction, I notice out the corner of my socket, and lifts her hand. What's she doing..? She hesitates, trying to touch my hand. Just as I prepare for it, she instead pulls her hand back, cupping it along with the other to her knees. Through a few seconds of slow interpretation and puzzle solving, I put together the notion that she wanted to hold my hand. I let out a heavy breath again. She wanted me next to her for some dumb reason. And for a reason just as dumb, I squat down right next to her.

"Who was that...?" She asks, not bothering to meet my suspicious iris.

I shrug nonchalantly, thinking I'd avoid the topic. "I don't know...Someone." That's a lie.

"I don't believe you." she spat out, little to no venom in her tone but rather reluctance. Reluctance towards me all of a sudden.

Wow. She's not as stupid as I thought. "Ya' don't, Huh?"

"No."

I smirk, chuckling with the lack of clear responses I'd been giving her. "Well maybe it's not something you should worry ya' pretty little head about."

"So you do know!"

"What's with these questions?"

She just sighs, resting her chin on her knees. "I just wanna know, is all...." Yeah. Just wanting to know is an excuse for, 'I wanna know so I can do something about it.'

I nod, humming. After all this, I think I just want to figure it out on my own. "Ya' should go bathe. There's a river aroun' the corner. It's safe and clean."

"But how will we drink from it if I get it dirty?" she asked, questioning yet again like the curious little girl she was. Curious or annoying, I can't decide.

"We're not far from a town, dollface. We'll get stuff there."

She opened her mouth to say something, but soon closed it, going against her thoughts and holding her tongue this time. She looked back down, hugging her knees with one arm and twirling a blade of grass between her fingers.

"Are ya' not gonna bathe then?"

The human shook her head, her face hidden by her brown locks of bangs.

I scoff some, looking her over thoroughly and speaking my mind. "Ya' look like ya' rolled out of a bed made of year old trash and then took a tumble down a set of stairs."

"Didn't ask for an opinion, Bonehead."

I howl with laughter, shaking my skull. "Too bad. Already have it."

"You know what? You look ten times worse, you pile of dusty old bones. So maybe you need a bath, and should stop being so hypocritical in telling me so."

I huff, clenching my fist. "Well, maybe you should act ya' age. Ya' ain't 10, right?"

"I don't know, G. Are you a three year old?"

"At least I don't have to worry about my appearance since... I don't have one."

"Yeah, well at least I have something for people to look at, unlike you and your twig-built, stick figure body."

I hold out my arm to her. "Huh. That's funny. Last I checked I was pretty built." I squeeze my large bicep. "Magic muscles n all."

She pointed at me, jabbing at my chest with her pointer finger. "HA!! Magic! Well at least I don't need magic to have that! I'm already built with moving limbs, muscles and all! No magic and I'd have to lug YOU around!"

I poke her side. "Yeah...I can tell that's all food and no magic."

"At least I can actually eat food, you toothpick!"

"Who says I can't eat food, Dolly...?"

"Me! I do! Because I have the joys of enjoying it and what-not while your food just goes right through you!! How would you even chew without everyone seeing it?!"

I chuckle, shaking my head. "I can enjoy food and magic, that's how."

"Yeah well I don't see how that's true. You don't have the organs to even do any of that." She stood with a huff, limping off. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going as far away from you as possible."

"Ya' won't go far, but while your gone try takin' a dang bath, ya stink!" I hollar. 

"Not as bad as you!!"

"What? Do I now have the organs for it?"

She groans, making me laugh and lean back against the wall as her figure gets further and further away. I watch her until I can only feel her.

It didn't matter how far she went.

My soul wouldn't let her get far from me.