monster

It had been a week since Ashley had met Brooke. The two were getting along famously. The cabin in the snowy taiga of Snowdin was cozy and beginning to feel like home to Ashley. On top of that, she loved exploring Snowdin and the Ruins. Other than having to avoid certain humans, and that one time Brooke’s father had shown up and started yelling at her about a low grade she’d gotten on a paper (It was a B+???), life was really good here. The bad thing was… she missed her brothers. That was a problem she wouldn’t be able to fix anytime soon though- so she mainly just ignored any thoughts of them whenever she could. 

Ashley was sitting on Brooke’s couch, legs crossed and holding a mug of hot cocoa, when Brooke climbed down from her loft. She was wearing a long sleeved crop top with a cat on it over a black tank top and a pale-yellow skirt. Ashley smiled at her, raising her multi-colored paw in greeting. Brooke smiled back and flopped herself onto the couch beside her.

“Mornin’ Ash.” Brooke glanced at the mug. “Did you make me any?” 

“No- sorry. I can if you want?” Ashley offered, but Brooke shook her head.

“I’m joking- I don't expect you to make me stuff. We need to go to the Ruins, by the way. Kris says something important has come up. They won’t tell me what it is though.” Brooke rolled her eyes. “You don’t have to come if you don’t want to though.”

“Eh, I don’t mind. I like those three.” Ashley replied. She took a swig of cocoa and stood up, setting the now empty mug on a table 

“Coooool.” Brooke stood as well. “Ready to go?” Ashley nodded.

When they arrived at the building where Kris, Frisk, and Chara lived, Ashley began to feel anxiety. She had met the trio a couple times before, they were good friends with Brooke. There was no reason for her to feel weird, they’d been pretty fun to hang out with, but she still didn’t know them very well… Then again, she didn’t know Brooke too well either. At least with Brooke, though, she’d spent a whole week with her. 

Frisk opened the door, and smiled at them in greeting. Chara rushed over as well, and dragged the pair inside, slamming the door and beginning to explain what had happened. Though, now inside, Ashley and Brooke could see perfectly well the thing that had come up. Kris was sitting kris-cross-apple-sauce in the corner, beside a small skeleton monster that appeared to be unconcious. Ashley felt her stomache twist at the sight.

“We found him this morning,” Chara was saying, “and brought him here. He hasn’t woke up yet, but other than his head he doesn’t look like he’s hurt anywhere. But, that’s two monsters in one week, that’s never happened before…” They trailed off as Kris walked over to join the conversation. 

“He isn’t actively bleeding anymore.” They mumbled.

“Monsters can bleed?” Brooke asked, look first to the skeleton, who did have dried blood on his skull, then to Ashley. “I though you guys were made of magic?”

“We are. It’s not really blood, it just acts and looks like it.” Ashley explained.

“Why?” Chara asked.

“Uhm… I think it has to do with showing that you got hurt? Not every monster can feel pain, so, it’s useful to be able to see that. Either that or because way back when Monsters were formed, we were modeled after humans, and humans bleed.” 

“Monsters were modeled after humans?” Brooke asked, surprised. Ashley shrugged.

“Have you never heard the creation story? After Adam and Eve were made, monsters were created, modeled after the humans.”

“Oh.” Brooke said.

“Anyways, what are we going to do if another monster falls down here?” Chara demanded, setting them back on topic.

“Help them??” Brooke suggested. Kris shook their head and Chara sighed.

“We can’t. There’s barely room for us three in this stupid shed, adding the skeleton is already going to cause issues. And you can’t take in any more monsters or it’ll cause problems with your dad.” Chara grumbled.

“I doubt any more will fall.” Ashley stated. The humans looked at her curiously. “I mean, after two disappearances, nobody’s going to be allowed onto Mt Ebbot! After the last time, it took years for it to stop being a law that you can’t climb the mountain, and even then, only people with permission are allowed to. And after that, it took more years for people to stop being so cautious and start ignoring that law.”

“There’s a law against climbing the mountain?” Chara asked incredulously.

“Yeah. But everyone stopped caring about it. It’s become a bit of a thing to spend a night on Mt Ebbot if you’re a teen trying to be cool. People at school dare each other all the time.”

“Is that why you climbed the mountain? To look cool to your classmates?” Brooke asked.

“No! I climbed it with my brothers because I didn’t want to stay home alone! Besides, neither of them can use healing magic.” Ashley huffed. “They were the ones trying to be cool.”

There was a groaning sound from the corner, and the group turned to see that the skeleton monster was sitting up now, though his eyes were closed. He had his hands on his head, and Ashley grimaced as she remembered how hers had felt when she first awoke here. 

Ashley moved closer to him and crouched down in front of him, Brooke by their side and the other three forming a semicircle around the monster. When he opened his eyes, Ashley noted that was was surprised to be staring into the eyes of another monster. He glanced around, taking in his surroundings and worrying about the fact he was surrounded by humans. Ashley hoped that the presence of another monster would be enough to keep him from being too frightened.

“Hey, how are you feeling?” Brooke asked. The skeleton made eye contact and sighed.

“Like shit.” He grumbled. “Who are you?”

“I’m Brooke, this is Kris, Chara, Frisk, and Ashley. What’s your name?”

“I am the Great Papyrus.” The skeleton declared, standing and putting one hand on his chest in a dramatic pose. Somehow, the orange scarf he was wearing waved in non-existent wind.