Chapter 17

A New Challenger Is Approaching

“Trixie is more annoyed than she ever has been in her entire life.” The mare said as she rubbed the side of her cheek. Veronica couldn’t help but laugh at seeing the mare try to eat the plate of frozen spaghetti that they walked by not too long ago. It pretty much didn’t help the fact that there was a microwave next to it..but no means of a power source to heat it up.

“I did warn you that it was frozen, didn't I?”

“Trixie didn’t think it would be that cold to not be able to eat!”

“We’re in the middle of a snowy area, what did you expect? At least she was happy that you left it behind for her to have.”

“Like Trixie had a choice in the matter. She can’t take it with her due to being stuck on the table thing.” Trixie said as they begin to make their way onto the bridge. As they walked a few steps forward, they heard a familiar laugh from a certain skeleton girl on the other side with her younger brother next to her smiling.

“Human! This is your final and most dangerous challenge!” Panini said as she pulled the lever that was next to her in triumphant fashion. “Behold! The Gauntlet of Deadly Terror!” She said as a spiked ball chain, a torch, two spears, a cannon, and a dog hanging from a rope descended towards them..

“...Should Trixie be worried about this?” The mare asked as she looked over at Veronica who shrugged.

“I’m more worried about how all this appeared out of nowhere, and the dog hanging from that rope.” She said, pointing at the dog who surprisingly looks happy and blissfully unaware as to what was going on. “So cute~”

“When I say the word. It will fully activate! Cannons will fire! Spikes will swing! Blades will slice! Each part will swing violently up and down! Only the tiniest chance of victory will remain! Are you ready!? Because! I! Am! About! To do it!” Panini said as there was a moment of silence in the air. The duo continued to look at her for a moment before hearing Sans voice breaking the silence.

“Well? What’s the holdup?”

“Holdup? What holdup? I’m...I’m about to activate it now!” She said as there was another awkward moment of silence in the air, only to break again from hearing Sans voice.

“That, uh, doesn’t look very activated.”

“Well! This Challenge! It seems...Maybe...too easy to defeat the human with. Yeah! We can’t use this one! I am a skeleton with standards! My puzzles are very fair and my traps are expertly cooked! But this method is too direct, no class at all! Away it goes!” She said before pulling the lever again as the trap disappeared. Panini noticed Trixie and Veronica staring at her as she flinched. “What are you looking at!? This was another decisive victory for Panini! NYEH! HEH!....HEH!” She said before running off. Trixie and Veronica made their way off the bridge as they walked over to Sans.

“I don’t know what my sister’s going to do now. If I were you, I would make sure I understand Blue Attacks.”

“Um….Okay? I’ll be sure to do that.” Veronica said as the two walked off into the direction of where Panini ran off too.”What does he mean by that?”

“I don’t know, I’m still wondering how skeletons are able to move and talk like this?” Trixie said as she razzled her mane up a bit. “Seriously, how did Trixie end up in this situation!?”

“I’m pretty sure it was due to that fox lady teleporting us when those bat pony creatures tried to attack us in the woods.”

“Oh….right...when Trixie finds that creature, She will give her a piece of her mind for doing this to us.” She said as they continued walking down the snow-covered path. As the duo made their way, their vision began to become obscured as a thick fog began to accumulate around them. “That’s odd. Since when can fog form in a snowy place like this?”

“Maybe it’s a snowstorm?” Veronica said as she squinted her eyes to try to see through the strange fog. Her eyes began to glow scarlet red as she saw something standing in the distance of them. “Hey, there’s someone off in the distance.” She said as Trixie looked forward as well seeing a familiar shadow figure heading towards them. “Is that Panini?”

“Human...Allow me to tell you about some complex feelings. Feelings like...The joy of finding another pasta lover. The admiration for another’s puzzle-solving skills. The desire to have a cool, smart person think you’re cool.”

“This fool is an idiot. Kill her before she says anything else.” Shalltear said as Veronica rolled her eyes and listened to the skeleton’s confession.

“These feelings...They must be what you’re feeling right now!” She said as both Trixie and Veronica deadpan. “I can hardly imagine what it must be like to feel that way. After all, I am very great.”

“She kinda reminds me of you, Trixie. Only without the third person to talk so much.” Veronica said jokingly which got her a smack upside her head from the blue unicorn.

“I don’t ever wonder what having lots of friends is like. I pity you...Lonely human…”

“Kill her now fool! She just insulted you on how lonely of a human you are! Are you going to take that insult lying down.”

“Will you keep your murder boner in check please?”

“You can’t tell my murder boner what to do human. It is erect with rage!” Shalltear said as she paused upon realizing what she just said. “Dear God, what am I saying!?”

“Seems like I’m rubbing off on you huh? At least I think I am.”

“....I hate you so much.”

“Worry not! You shall be lonely no longer! I, The Great Panini, will be your…” There was a pause in her sentence as she lowered her head in shame. “No...No, this is all wrong! I can’t be your friend! You are a human! And she is a pony being friends with a human! That’s even worse! I must capture you! Then, I can fulfill my lifelong dream! Powerful! Popular! Prestigious! That’s Panini.” She said before pointing a finger at Veronica. “The newest member.” The skeleton raised her hand into the air as magic began to form in the palm of her hand. Once it gathered, it soon formed into a bone-like lance as she quickly got into a fighting stance causing the fog around them to vanish. “Of the Royal Guard!”

“...Is she planning on fighting us?” Trixie asked, as Panini began to rush over to Veronica who quickly unsheathed her sword to block the oncoming bone staff attack. The force behind it caused Trixie to yelp and fall backwards onto the snow. “Guess that answers Trixie’s question!” She said before pulling herself up and preparing to fight.

“Not bad human, but you’ll need more than just quick reflexes if you want to defeat me!” Panini said as Veronica pushed her back with a kick to her stomach. Once she backed away from her, Veronica quickly fired off a ball of darkness at her, only for the skeleton to deflect it off to the side. “You can’t get me off guard that easily.” She said before launching herself at the vampire as she delivered a powerful jab to her chest, causing her to be sent flying backwards into a tree as a negative twenty-five number appeared above her head..

“Get up! She’s heading towards you!” Veronica looked up to see the skeleton knight heading towards her as she quickly rolled to the side and countered with a ball of darkness. Only for it to miss and almost hit Trixie in the face as a negative twenty-five sign appeared above the unicorn.

“Watch where you’re aiming! Trixie can not afford to have her face scratched up or worse!”

“Then help me if you don’t want to get hurt!” Veronica yelled as she fired another ball of darkness at Panini as the skeleton girl quickly jumped into the air and began to descend upon the vampire knight. Veronica quickly moved to the side as Panini implanted her bone staff into the ground and counters with a swing of her blade. Only for the skeleton girl to quickly duck as the sword hit her bone staff. Upon making contact with the weapon, she felt her attack phase through it as Panini delivered a punch to her stomach. Veronica lets out a gasp of air as she was sent flying backwards towards a tree standing behind her as a negative fifty number appeared above her.

“Idiot! How could you not see that happening?” Shalltear said before noticing that Veronica’s body was glowing red. “Crap, quick. You need to find a place to recover before she attacks again.”

“I’m working on it.” Veronica said as she pulled out a potion, only for it to slip out of her hand and fall to the ground shattering. “Whoops…”

“You idiot.” Shalltear said before seeing Panini charging headlong at Veronica. “Should I be writing your will and testament?”

“Um...Uh.” Veronica’s eyes widened upon seeing the skeleton knight charging at her as an idea appeared in her head. “Um….you look really cute in that outfit!” she yelled causing Panini to stop and tumble forwards onto the ground.

“What!? Fl-Flirting!? So you finally reveal your ultimate feelings! W-Well! I’m a skeleton girl with very high standards!”

“I can get Trixie to make spaghetti.” The human said before noticing a “what the hell” expression on her face. “Sorry, Trixie.”

“Oh no! You’re meeting all my standards!” Panini said as the human noticed her guard was down. “I guess this means I have to go on a date with you…? L-let’s do that after I capture you-” Before she could finish, she quickly ducked underneath an oncoming dark ball as it missed her.

“Crap didn’t think she was that quick to dodge.”

“Nice try, human! You may have been able to distract me with that flirt attempt, but my reflexes as a knight in training keeps me on my toes.” She said before bringing up her bone staff and charges at the human once again.

“Trixie! Help! I don’t want to get bonked by bones!” She yelled as Panini quickly pulled herself to the side to avoid an oncoming fireball from the unicorn.

“Trixie will not allow her friend to get hurt. Especially when she’s the current guardian of said friend!” She said before teleporting next to Veronica with her staff in hand.

“Two against one huh? Don’t think I’ll go easy on you just because you’re a child with a...parent?” Panini said before looking at Trixie, then at Veronica. “Weird how you don’t look like her.”

“We’re not mother and daughter!” Both Veronica and Trixie yelled before noticing Panini raising her hands towards the two as a blue aura developed around their bodies.

“There, you’re both blue now.”

“Seriously? What, are we supposed to be scared of something like this?” Trixie said before seeing Panini tossing a bone at the unicorn. “Oh please, Trixie can easily move out of the way of that attack.” She said before noticing that she was moving very slowly. “What the-” Before she could say anything else, she felt her body hit the ground as a negative fifty sign appeared above her head.

“As long as you’re blue, you’re speed and dodging ability are haltered.” Panini said before turning her attention at Veronica. “Surrender human, or else I’ll use my special attack on you two!”

“Let me take control, fool. You know you can’t beat her with the limited skills you have.” Shalltear said as Veronica shook her head.

“I don’t need your help. Especially if you’re planning on killing her.” She said before bringing her sword up to block Panini’s bone tossing attack. “If you want to be helpful, then why not do something about this aura?”

“Fine, I’ll see what I can do. But I won’t make any promises.” She said as Veronica blocked another bone attack from Panini with a dark ball.

“You’re good human, but not good enough!” She said before charging at Veronica as their weapons collided. “You better give up now, before I use my special attack~!”

“Not happening! I have a home to get to and people to see again. I prefer not to make them worry about me so much due to my sudden disappearance!” Veronica pushed the skeleton knight back as she fired off a ball of darkness at point-blank range. As it made contact with Panini, it caused an explosion to erupt between the two as Veronica tumbled backwards next to Trixie who was pulling herself up from the ground while rubbing her injured head. “A little help would be nice Trixie?”

“Working on it. Trixie just has a mild head concussion.” She said before cloaking her body for a moment before lifting it to fire off a barrage of fireworks that she had stored away in her cape. Panini’s eyes widen upon seeing the fireworks as she quickly spins her staff in front of her to block most of the fireworks heading towards her. “How do you like that!?” Trixie yelled in triumph, only for that confidence to shatter upon seeing the smoke clear up to see Panini still standing.

“Alright! You asked for it! It’s time for me to unleash my ULTIMATE ATTACK!!!” She yelled as the area they were in quickly turned dark. “Prepare for your defeat-” before she could finish, the sound of a dog barking broke her concentration as she along with the others looked off to the side of them to see a dog chewing on a bone. “Hey! Stupid dog! Stop eating that bone!” She yelled as the dog simply looked up at Panini for a moment before dragging the large bone off into the forest. “HEY! GET BACK HERE!”

“.....How are we losing to this girl?” Shalltear asked as Veronica noticed the blue aura around her body slowly vanish.

“Hey, I’m back to normal.”

“Took longer than I thought. Especially given your weakened state. You need to heal yourself right now and try not to be butterfingers.”

“Really wish you were nice.” Veronica said before noticing a defeated expression on Panini’s face. “Is something wrong?”

“That bone that the dog took was part of my ultimate attack.” Panini said before kneeling onto the ground. “Nyoo hoo hoo. I can’t even stop someone as weak as you. Undyne’s going to be very disappointed in me!” She said as tears began to run down her face. “I’ll never join the royal guard and my friend quantity will remain stagnant!”

“Trixie feels like she might be a problem if she were to be our enemy.” The unicorn said before looking over at Veronica with a worried expression on her face.

“We should be friends with her. Not because of how freaking strong she is, but she looks like she could use friends like us.” Veronica suggested as Trixie deadpans. “What? She’s not dangerous, plus she seems nice.”

“I don’t know…”

“Look at it this way. She might be able to help us get back home to Dokapon City.”

“...Alright, Trixie will be friends with Panini...so long as she doesn’t try and capture us...or throw bones at me.” She said as the human smiled in delight before walking over to Panini and tapped the skeleton girl on her shoulder. As she did that, Panini looked up at the human who was offering her a hand.

“What are you doing?”

“Offering you a hand in friendship?” Veronica answered as the skeleton girl blinked in surprise.

“R-Really!? You want to be friends with me? Even after I tried to capture you?” She asked as the human nodded with a smile on her face. “Well then...I guess...I guess I can make an allowance for you! Wowie! We haven’t even had our first date, and I’ve already managed to hit the friend zone! Who knew that all I needed to make pals was to give people puzzles and then fight them!”

“I don’t think that’s logical in most cases, but in this case, I guess it’ll do as a means to escape a one-sided fight.” Shalltear said as Veronica rolled her eyes to her statement.

“You taught me a lot, human.” She said before pulling herself up and making her staff bone disappear. “I hereby grant you and your pony friend permission to pass through! And I’ll give you both directions to the surface.”

“Wait, seriously?” Trixie asked as Panini nodded.

“Yep, continue forward until you reach the end of the cavern. Then when you reach the capital, cross the barrier. That’s the magical seal trapping us all underground. Anything can enter through it. But nothing can exit unless you’re part of another kingdom, or someone with a powerful soul. Like you.”

“Wait what do you mean by that?” Veronica asked.

“Well you have two souls within you from what I can see. One is a monster soul, while the other is a human soul. You must be really powerful if you can have two souls like that within you. That’s why the king wants to acquire a human. He wants to open the barrier with soul power. Then us monsters can return to the surface.”

“Not a bad idea for the most part. Though it depends on how many souls this king requires to break this seal that prevents the monsters from escaping.”

“Oh, I almost forgot to tell you. To reach the exit, you’ll have to pass through the King’s castle. The King of all monsters!” She said while trying to be scary and dramatic, but it only came off as goofy and cute. “He’s...well...he’s a big fuzzy pushover! Everybody loves that guy. I am certain if you just ask him nicely, he’ll guide you right to the barrier himself.”

“That’s it?” Trixie asked in disbelief. “That’s all we need to do to get out of here? You mean I suffered getting hit by balls of fire, bad puns, and bone attacks all for something that simple!?”

“On the bright side, We made a new friend~” Veronica said as Trixie deadpans at the human girl. “Well it could be worse. She could’ve captured us and sent us to jail or some kind of holding cell this place has.”

“You’re not making Trixie feel better about this, you know that right?”

“Anyway! That’s enough talking. As a sign for our newfound friendship, I’ll take you to Snowdin so you can get some rest after the fight we just had.” She said before walking past them and motions them to follow her. “Come new friends! I’ll treat you to my world-famous spaghetti!”

“....Trixie is having mixed feelings about how she’s feeling about this.”

“I think we should go. Mainly because I’m pretty sure I’m on the verge of passing out...and I’m a bit tired.” Veronica said as she let out a small yawn before collapsing to the ground. Trixie let out a sigh upon seeing the human fall to the ground as she levitated the young girl into the air before following Panini to Snowdin.

“Trixie is starting to regret leaving the ruins right now...mainly because she wished she could get that pie recipe from that goat lady.”

Author's Note

Level up:

Veronica:

Level: 5-6
Job Class: Freelancer [LV 5-6]

HP: 75/155 - 195
MP 135/155 - 200
Strength: 135 - 135
Magic: 105 - 106
Defense: 125 - 126
Speed: 82 - 83
Magic Attack: 80 - 81
Magic Defense: 110 - 111
Luck: 25 - 50

Trixie

Level: 25
Job Class: Performer Mage [LV 10]

HP: 1,950/2,000
MP: 4,995/5,000
Strength: 100
Magic: 200
Defense: 90
Speed: 95
Magic Attack: 200
Magic Defense: 300
Luck: 100