Cenna laid down on her hospital bed. She hovered the phone over her face.
0740, the displayed clock read. In other words: it’s the start of a new morning.
Alas, by weight and gravity, the phone slipped out of her hand. It slapped her square on her nose before it rolled off the left side of her bed.
“Ow,” she said. “Dammit, I fell so far from grace.”
In an attempt to pick it up without getting up from bed, she rolled to the side. Which so happens to be the wounded part of her body.
“FFFFFF----”
Cenna aborted her attempt posthaste. Though stab wounds tend to seal themselves up to a certain degree, she didn’t want to open her stitches over something as silly as a phone drop.
So, she had to do it the normal way.
Sit up.
Groan.
Get off the bed.
And then pick up the fallen item, slowly. The wound hurt no matter how she moved.
“I’m so damn tired…”
She slipped back under the covers and tried to go back to sleep. That didn’t work. Despite her fatigue, her body thought that it had enough snooze.
Oh c’mon decide already! Are you tired or are you not tired? Jeez.
An odd sense of nostalgia for yesterday washed over her.
That Assassino incident was stressful, but mighty fun. I got to fly again and stuff.
…It’s been far too long.
It’s still a while before breakfast, so she decided to scroll through her messages.
First to be read: Mezil’s. Renamed ‘Grumpy Herb’, just because she can.
Grumpy Herb
Mister Mackenzie will meet you at 1000.
At the hospital cafeteria.
Blink blink. The message was sent only a few minutes ago. He’s online? At this hour?
Cenna typed back:
HotAndSpicy
OMG YOU HAVEN’T SLEPT YET OLD MAN????
Grumpy Herb
No. No time.
HotAndSpicy
WTF????
Uh… you mean Jonah? Right?
Grumpy Herb
Yes. You don’t remember?
He’s the lawyer for your case, for goodness sake.
HotAndSpicy
Of course I remember!
omg seriously you called someone over for legal shit and you didn’t have any sleep?!
How the fuck are you gonna handle that???
Grumpy Herb
You will do it in my stead.
I told him that I have given you full authority.
Your aunt story has long been dismantled. He has no reason to play along anymore.
HotAndSpicy
Oi oi oi oi don’t just dump everything on me because you’re a vampire!
Grumpy Herb
Tsk. Not by choice, mind you.
I’ve been handling this whole Sans Serif fiasco the whole night.
HotAndSpicy
Okay but have you considered this fact?
I NEARLY DIED!!!
}:(
Grumpy Herb
Hmph, this is nothing. As if you’re that fragile.
The Cenna I knew kicked me in the shins at the end of a successful mission.
HotAndSpicy
I kicked you because you place zero value on your own well being, nevermind mine.
Like what the fuck was that helicopter stunt even for?
That shit should stay in movies dammit
Grumpy Herb
What nonsense are you talking about?
I got you the best doctors and healers. How do I not care about your health?
As for myself: as long it’s not another Living Victory, death is only a nuisance.
HotAndSpicy
Whatever happened to the whole ‘single pass’ shit?
And what about Persona???
Grumpy Herb
Imprisoned and contained.
I have my powers back. He’s no longer a threat.
HotAndSpicy
You seriously want me to believe that?
Mark my words: he’s gonna talk shit the moment you get a tummy ache.
Grumpy Herb
Let him.
HotAndSpicy
Omg Mez you’re hopeless.
One day you’re gonna die of karoshi.
I swear.
Grumpy Herb
Watch your mouth, Judge Vanquisher.
You have ‘superb’ luck when it comes to random premonitions.
Work calls. Good day.
If she wasn’t in a quiet ward right now, Cenna would have screamed ‘Old Man!!!’ with maximum exasperation.
“I didn’t even get to ask anything about the others! Wait… I’m in the ‘Undertale’ group chat.”
Nothing beats a direct connection.
HotAndSpicy
Morning… guys?
FabulousMTT
Good mooooooooooooorning darlings~~~
HotAndSpicy
Whoah was not expecting a reply so soon.
Uh. Did you sleep?
Wait.
Do robot ghosts need sleep anyway?
FabulousMTT
Oh hot sauce, a high flying busy entertainer such as yours truly knows how to take a rest under any circumstance.
HotAndSpicy
Is everyone alright?
What about Frisky?
FabulousMTT
Frisk is doing fabulous, sugarbird.
Sleeping like a log too. Though, breakfast is soon.
HotAndSpicy
Can give me a lowdown on the others?
FabulousMTT
Good news: nobody died.
Bad news: my fabulous robot body suffered some electrical damages. I’m haunting the hospital until Alphys-darling fixes it!
The woes of not having a body! Tragic!
Only about himself? Then again, it’s Mettaton.
HotAndSpicy
Aww shucks. Hope you’ll get that sorted soon.
I gotta wait for the nurses to change my dressings first.
After that, I’ll let you know how it goes.
FabulousMTT
Alright, honeybaby. You take care.
HotAndSpicy
Oh, right. Please tell Frisk that Jonah Mackenzie a.k.a Lawyerman will visit us at 10AM.
Hospital cafeteria.
Sorry for the short notice.
FabulousMTT
Don’t worry about that~
With my fantabulous self around, I will make sure our dearest star is prepared for the meeting.
HotAndSpicy
Thanks!
I bet Lucy is helping Mez. She won’t have any time to reply.
What about Gael? The Grandmaster would have taken care of him by now.
Should I? Should I not? Nah. I’ll wait for Lucy. Gael needs his rest too.
So next is… Anise?
No new messages.
Guess she’s still sleeping.
The sound of rolling carts then alerted Cenna of breakfast time. Three senior nurses distributed the food to the patients. She recognized one of them.
“Good morning, Miss Caraway.”
“Morning, Loris,” Cenna greeted back. “What are the chances of meeting you on your shift?”
“Too high,” Loris replied back. “When we know each other by face and name, that’s a not a good sign for a young lady like yourself.”
Cue an awkward chuckle. Time to switch topics. “What’s on the menu today?”
“Chicken sandwiches, corn soup, an apple, and some supplements.”
Oh, the Vanquisher could almost hear the choir of angels singing in the back of her head. “I’ll take anything that’s not dinosaur oatmeal. Anything!”
“Lucky you,” said the nurse. “Alright, do take your time with your food. I think it’ll be around an hour before your examination. Maybe add another half.”
That jolted her wide awake.
“Haaarr!?!?” Cenna exclaimed. “That’s too long!”
“What’s the rush? It’s not like you’ve got anywhere else you need to be. …Do you?”
A curious glint of suspicion saw right through the Vanquisher.
“Nonono. It’s just… you know how Mez gets. Dumped a surprise business appointment on me this early on the morning.”
“Well, yesterday’s big terrorist attack caused a huge influx of patients. We’re swamped for time. Be glad Judge Thyme at least made sure you didn’t get the corridor beds.”
“He did?” Cenna scratched the back of her head.
She didn’t remember much from after she left The Crimson Hall. Her real body was on the brink of exsanguination, so she refused to cross over until the EMT arrived. Blood bags included.
After the exit, life was quite a haze. The last thing she remembered was the interior of an ambulance.
Then, it’s already morning. Lots of lost hours in between.
“Heh. I guess I owe him one.”
Loris chuckled. “Maybe you could stand to be nicer to your boss. The folks on the graveyard shift told me he jumped straight to work after only a brief examination.”
“Guess he expects the same of his staff. It may seem harsh considering the circumstances, but a bit of busywork won’t kill you as long as you stay tucked in.”
Unfortunately Loris, you don’t know Mez enough.
“I could rant ten thousand reasons why the old man drives me up the wall… but I don’t wanna hold ya up,” said Cenna.
“Alright, alright. You have a good breakfast.”
Once the nurses left, she started her meal.
Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.
I better eat first before the news makes me lose my appetite.
Her phone buzzed.
Again.
And again.
And again…
“Hm? Is it the grumpy herb?”
Nope. It was Anise.
Anise Anise
Judge Thyme ordered me to babysit the flower children
I don’t wanna babysit them
They’re cranky and mean and they make me question my life choices
He warned me that they had a friendship meltdown between the two
Which means things are already on the wrong foot
Cennaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
Save meeeeeeeeeee
What followed after was a spam of crying emotes.
HotAndSpicy
Sorry friend.
Welcome to Monday.
Anise Anise
I hate Mondays crai crai crai
HotAndSpicy
Good luck to you.
That’s all I can say.
Anise Anise
Noooooooooooooooooooooooo
I just want to do my science stuff in my lab
I haz maximum sads
Should i bring a football to keep them busy?
I don’t have a football
They’re flowers that need the sun but weatherman says it’s gonna be cloudy all day
If only I have a red giant. I need a red giant
Only a red giant is entertaining enough!
Oh no. It’s the ‘Anise Spaz’. I have no damn idea what she’s talking about. She snapped before the day even started.
Cenna thought it’s best to let her friend settle down on her own devices.
With her nice breakfast consumed, she checked the web to see if the world was on fire yet.
The first headline of the day: ‘Terrorists strike the heart of the Association. Gungnir claims responsibility. Hundreds injured, no fatalities. Many believe the involvement of Mount Ebott’s monsters helped save lives.’
Next: ‘Mayor questioned about the collapse of traffic infrastructure. Corruption involved?’
Cenna smirked. Neither the Magi nor the police liked that guy. After the quake incident, that opportunist jumped in with promises of safety. Standard politician stuff.
Then he had to frustrate Mezil to no end. If it weren’t for the good Commissioner, the Vanquishers might have lost their standing as genuine law enforcement.
‘‘Ambassador’ Frisk passes the Trial of the Crimson Hall. Initiated as the first new Crimson Keeper in over a decade.’
Oh hey, Mez made it official!
Phew! This means Frisky is now more than an icon of curiosity. They’ve attained some real influence.
‘Magus Trial surrounded by chaos: an ill-omen for the future? Supreme Judge Mezil Thyme unavailable for further commentary.’
Enough politics. She moved on to the more social side of the sphere.
‘Popularity of the Suplex Queen soars across the net, proving to the world that heroes are real.’
Included was a phone video of Undyne carrying out loads of unconscious people on her shoulders.
‘Enigmatic fiery comrade of the Suplex Queen rumoured to be Ebott’s local bartender. A secret master behind a stylish disguise?’
Cenna’s outburst of laughter caused a few turned heads in the ward, to her embarrassment. She apologized for the disturbance of peace and sunk back to the privacy of her phone.
‘Mettaton to the rescue! Mount Ebott’s superstar employed high-tech robotics to aid recovery efforts.’
‘In response to the violence, MTT aims to make his return concert a public peace declaration. Quote, “It’ll be bigger and better than ever, baby!”’
‘Amid fan approval, some question why a celebrity would be equipped with combat capabilities.’
They’re an internet sensation, huh?
That’s legit worrisome… Terrorists aside, there are a bunch of Magi out there who would do anything for a duel with the powerful.
Sigh. I had my fair share of challengers too. Makes me wonder what happened to some of them.
Those buggers better have quit trying to become master Vanquishers. Had the power, but not the heart.
The doctor and nurses arrived at last. More acquaintances thanks to her affiliation with Mezil. Being his go-to Vanquisher meant lots of adventures, and getting injured every now and then.
Not all results can be rewound.
Makes me wonder if Mez is gonna make a surprise appointment with the neurologist.
Yeah. Probably. Definitely. Sure as hell he’s gonna get involved for the Ocean Battle prep.
Medication, administered.
Dressings, changed.
Wounds, examined.
It’s almost 10 by the end of it. The verdict? Lots and lots of bedrest. Physical activity? Banned.
However, when the medical team left the ward, Cenna put on her trench coat over her hospital gown. Proper attire for official business.
HotAndSpicy
Ready now.
Yeah, sorry, I know it’s late.
Hospital overloaded.
FabulousMTT
Splendid! Now we have a total of four wonderful humans.
More the merrier, I say!
Four…?
Oh shit.
Cenna rushed out of bed. But the moment she tried to stand, her legs jerked.
Backwards on the mattress she fell. Fortunately, she hadn't crashed onto the floor. Or hit her head against the desk. That would have caused commotion from the fellow ward occupants.
A chorea? Now? At the most urgent moment? Seriously?
Her arms. Her face. The mocking dance of disease travelled all around.
What should I do?
Wait this out?
Gah if the nurses see me like this, I’m gonna get delayed!
Crap. I can’t be late for the meeting. Not with THAT fourth person.
…I still have twelve units of lifeforce. Ten is my minimum before I start turning into a puppet.
Should I?…
I must!
Cenna focused her magic toward an Arcanagram implanted onto her Psychia.
Vive Convert!
A twelfth of her Psychia broke off inside. It spread throughout the body.
There, the mixture of Justice, Perseverance, and Kindness formed new faux-nerves to replace those claimed by the disease.
With her signals fixed, the issues stopped.
Cenna ran out of the ward, dodging patients, tables, beds, and angry staff members. She then barged straight through the doors using her uninjured side.
She’s not stopping for anything.
Blah, I’m slow. I can feel it.
Her heart thumped harder than it should.
She’s well aware of the competition. Most of them had already withdrawn, but with the kid’s election as a Crimson Keeper, today could be that person’s final chance in securing any form of custody.
Please, please, please don’t let anything happen to Frisky please.
At last, she arrived at the cafeteria.
Frisk was there.
Jonah was there.
And…
Linda.
All three heads turned towards her presence.
Frisk in all their usual cheer waved hello.
“Hi sis!”
“‘Sis’?…” Linda crossed her arms.
“Oh I see. NOW you’ve finally acknowledged that! On the final day of appeal, right after the whole magical trial? How convenient.”
A dead tired Cenna pointed a finger at her old schoolmate. Between the pants, she said: “I… I ain’t got time to deal with your shit!”
“Well too bad, because I’m here for yours.”
“Ladies, ladies,” Jonah spoke up. “Please calm down. Frisk themselves wanted to discuss with Mrs. Buttons.”
“Frisky did?”
The kid nodded. “Yup.”
“See?” said Linda. “They’re already more mature than you.”
Frisk then addressed the other woman: “Please don’t aggravate my sister. We almost died yesterday. It’s normal to be more protective than usual.”
The embarrassment on Linda’s face was priceless.
After clearing her throat, she asked: “Are you alright?”
Frisk gave a thumbs up. “Tired. But otherwise fine. Doctors are putting me under observation for the time being.”
They did use a lot of magic.
No doubt, it’s Psychia exhaustion.
“Oh. I see,” said Linda. “Would you like some water? Maybe a snack?”
“Sure, thanks.”
Hey… did Linda get a dejavu?
Lucy told me she once ratted out the Gungnir because Frisky wasn’t getting fed. Her standards as a mom prevailed in the end.
Four cups of water for everyone.
One small basket of potato fries for Frisk.
Then it’s time for business.
Jonah placed the related documents on the table. He kept one paper for himself. Must be the notes. “Mrs. Buttons. Miss Wanderstar. Here’s a recap of our situation.”
“The Wanderstar’s last will states that in the event of their untimely death, all custody of their children would go to their superior and close friend, Mezil Winston. Otherwise known as Supreme Judge Mezil Thyme.”
“However, Sir Winston rescinded his custody of Frisk Wanderstar on the grounds that the nature of his job is detrimental to their safety.”
“Meanwhile, Cenna Wanderstar at age 15 was old enough to defend herself should the need arise, as proven by her enlistment into an intensive Vanquisher training course. Therefore Judge Thyme did not put her into the system.”
“He also decided at the time that she -- the closest next of kin -- would become Frisk’s legal guardian at the age of 21. That’s why Frisk was not open for adoption in their early years.”
Frisk asked, “I don’t have any other relatives? Grandparents? Uncles? Aunts? I mean, actual aunts.”
“Hmm, the Wanderstars follow a specific tradition. I’m not too sure on the details myself. Miss?”
Cenna rubbed the back of her neck. “Oh. That. Uh, how do I put this? It may sound weird or cruel, but only those who inherit the family magic may carry the name. Those who don’t gotta follow the other parent. Long story short, we lost contact with everyone else. I’m the last one standing.”
“Yes. That's right.” Jonah continued, “But at age 22, Miss Wanderstar was diagnosed with a terminal genetic neuromuscular disease. In combination with her high-risk Vanquisher duties, she agreed with the legal advisors that she’s not capable of fulfilling her role.”
“Hang on a moment!” Linda pointed out an oddity: “That’s a year past the minimum age. Why didn’t she take the kid sooner?”
“Super busy year, that one. I wasn’t even in the country half the time,” replied Cenna.
Jonah added: “The alternative was to invite Frisk Wanderstar into the Magus Association’s school at 13 years old, eventually leading to a direct mentorship under Judge Thyme.”
“That plan was uh, turned upside down due to young Frisk’s mountain misadventure. Toriel Dreemurr, The Queen of Monsters, ended up as their accidental primary caregiver.”
“I had inspected the Queen’s home myself and it fits all the necessary criteria. Neither I nor Miss Wanderstar have any objections to their long-term stay.”
“Either way, according to all known laws of custody… Cenna Wanderstar is to be considered Frisk’s legal guardian. She has the final say.”
Linda frowned. “And you’re all gonna let her hand the child over to a bunch of magical creatures? These so-called ‘Monsters’?”
Cenna raised a brow. “You got a problem with that?”
“Of course!” the other woman replied. “Do monsters even know how to raise human children? What about their community? Is Frisk going to grow up right if they don’t interact with their own kind at all?”
“Okay gal, what about your son?”
“Don’t bring my son into this!”
Cenna clenched her hand into a fist. “I will! ‘Cause he started throwing goddamn rocks, calling me a ‘witch’. Like hell I’ll let Frisky live under the same roof as that snot-nosed good for nothing punk reject!”
Linda gasped. “I-it was you?”
“Yeah, and a bunch of other non-Magi police officers. He’s not a teenager yet and he’s already picking a fight with the law? Like seriously? You think that it’s just a made up story? An accident? A prank? I wasn’t kidding when I said he’s gonna end up in prison if he doesn’t change.”
Linda’s face went white. “M-my husband didn’t tell me that. I knew he was being naughty. But…”
“Is your hubby Gungnir too?”
“No,” the other shook her head. “Not at all.”
“Okay, let’s talk Gungnir then. Are you even aware of what shit they’re teaching the next generation? Like, I KNOW the Magi ain’t perfect and we got problems up to our necks. But you really want a violent ideology to ruin your son’s future?”
Frisk interjected: “Rock-throwing is not justice.” They then munched on another piece of potato.
For a moment, Cenna could see Linda struggling, her ethics in conflict. But she was a strong woman in her own right.
Linda rebutted without further delay: “The police should have known better than to enlist the help of witchcraft. Remember that huge industrial fire ten years ago? Experiments gone wrong. Those were Magi facilities!”
“You think they blew up for no goddamn reason?! PERSONA was the one who ordered it!”
“What the hell is a ‘Persona’?”
“You joined his fucking cult without even knowing?!?”
Jonah had to step in to prevent the two hot-headed women from starting a catfight.
“Ladies, please!” he said, “This is not the place to hurl accusations at each other.”
Now Cenna felt bad about losing her temper. She could act cool with so many others. But, Linda? She had the unique ability to push all the wrong buttons.
The smallest Crimson Keeper raised their hand. “Mister Jonah, I’d like to ask Miss Linda some questions.”
“Oh? Sure. Go ahead.”
After everyone settled down proper, Frisk kept their focus square on Linda.
“Ma’am, are you worried that I’m too young to be an ambassador?”
“Of course,” the other replied. “Any adult would be concerned. If you’re not old enough to vote, you shouldn’t be meddling with politics.”
“I agree.”
The response caught Linda off-guard.
Cenna smirked; the kid had grown since they entered the Crimson Hall.
She then asked: “Then, why did you go through with this big Magus scheme?”
Frisk answered: “Passing the Trial opens many doors for negotiation. I’m not sure what else a Crimson Keeper can do, but at least it's a start.”
“Did they force you to their side?”
“Hmm… More like they’re making sure I’m taking my claims seriously. I did free the monsters. So, they’re my responsibility.”
Linda remained skeptical.
“Is that true? Your community didn’t even know you’re a boy or a girl!”
“Why is that a problem?” said Frisk.
“If you can’t even be honest about your own body, how can anyone trust you with the lives of others? Not just monsters mind you. We’re talking about humans too.”
The kid smiled. “Oh, that? Well. It’s a two-part reason. First, there are lots of scammers out there. Those who guess wrong would filter themselves out of the pool. Less paperwork is always good, right?”
“That…!” Linda paused for a moment. “That’s actually very smart. Did you come up with the idea by yourself?”
Frisk nodded twice. “As for the second reason, it’s for fun.”
“For… fun?”
“Yup. The Ebott Monsters love puzzles, jokes, and surprises. I’m keeping my real gender under wraps as a ‘once in a lifetime’ long-running gag. For their enjoyment, of course.”
“Once my body starts changing, I can’t hide it anymore. That’s when I’ll make the official reveal.”
“What if you remain as androgynous as you are now?” asked Linda.
Frisk replied, “That won’t change my decision. It’d be great for Halloween, though. Imagine all the costumes I could try.”
“So… it has nothing to do with inner uncertainty?”
“Nope.”
Cenna could see the sheer sense of contemplation on her brows. That woman thought long and hard.
Huh. So that’s her main concern?
I can’t say it was totally unreasonable either…
The human mother proceeded to ask a few more questions. Mostly mundane and down to earth.
“The monsters. They fed you well? Reminded you to drink plenty of water?”
Frisk nodded.
“Do you have friends?”
“Lots,” they smiled. “Both kids and adults.”
“What about exercise? Playtime? Did you finish your homework?”
“Um.” Frisk scratched their cheek. “I haven’t been able to think about school or anything else with all the back-to-back crises. But don’t worry, I’ll try to catch up.”
“Your new mother… does she love you?”
“Like her own child. Oh, and don’t forget about my new dad too. I admit the family situation is a bit complicated, but he will do whatever it takes to protect me.”
Linda struggled. Brows, furrowed. Muscles, tensed. Her lips moved a few times, but there were no words.
In the end she gave up. She pushed back the chair and stood up.
“I admit defeat. Frisk is in good hands. Better than most parents in the world, to be honest.”
Cenna pinched herself. “Wait. …Is this for real?”
“Yes. I’m surrendering custody to you. Case closed. Apologies for the inconvenience.”
The human mother left in a hurry. Left her cup of water untouched.
“H-hey! Hold up!” said Cenna.
Something’s going on. I gotta talk to her.
After taking a quick swig of own drink, she chased after the other woman.
Linda didn’t stop walking.
“That was abrupt as heck!” the Magus pointed out, yelling. “C’mon lady, I know there’s something else going behind the scenes.”
Still not slowing down. Cenna continued her pursuit.
“Is this Gungnir related? My intel ain’t complete, but I know about the worldwide factions.”
Linda remained quiet.
Cenna took a deep breath. “You gotta leave the group now, Linda! Whatever happened at the Magus HQ today is the work of organized militants. You can’t afford to get caught up in that. Not as a mom.”
‘Not as a mom’.
Linda stopped dead in her tracks.
“‘He’ told me to let Frisk go.”
“He?”
“…The new boss. A foreigner.”
Oh crap, don’t tell me it’s too late?
“Which branch?” Cenna asked.
“I… I’m too far down the ranks to know much.” Linda admitted. “But, he took over the network after the monsters emerged from the mountains. Or rather, he tried to. Not everyone wants him.”
“Ever seen his face? Even a photo is fine.”
She shook her head. “I have not. But, I received a voice clip. It… it didn’t feel right to delete it.”
Linda gave the Vanquisher her phone. “Don’t rat me out.”
“No probs.”
Cenna activated the recording and listened it for herself.
This accent…!
“That man is an Aratet, Linda.”
He’s a true Gungnir.
A direct descendant of the Legendary Hero!