Cracksby Detsella MorningdewChaptersChapter 1: The ChoiceChapter 2: DeterminationChapter 3: MagicChapter 4: PreludeChapter 1: The ChoiceAuthor's Note Update: Due to a well-constructed argument (eye strain) A Dark theme is no longer required. If you want the full Undertale "experience," I suggest High Contrast Dark, with some custom additions. For Chrome, here is a safe extension that lets you replace all the fonts on a certain page with a font of your choice: Font Changer And here is the extremely accurate Undertale font I found: DTM-Sans I also suggest making the font slightly bigger in the formatting options, perhaps size 1.3 or 1.4 Well, feel free to give me feedback on what you think of this chapter/story premise. I may just write for fun, but I am always looking to improve. Chapter 1: The Choice "Frisk, don't you have anything better to do?" Frisk sighed. It was the phrase he dreaded, the phrase he had heard time and time again. It was the reason he kept resetting; the reason that he started over after everyone was finally free. Perhaps Flowey had been right. He did want that "perfect ending". But it wasn't for himself. Frisk knew how to do it, and easily, too. He could live a perfect life with his new family on the surface in under three days' time. All his needs were taken care of. He should have been happy, but he wasn't. Nothing could shake from his head the image of Asriel, weeping in remorse over what he had done to his family, what he had done to them all. Asriel, telling him to forget. But he could not. He refused. He returned, again and again. Each time, he walked back to meet him. Each time, he hoped that this time, it might be different. That maybe, something he did differently might ripple, changing the timeline just enough to do it. Just enough that he might finally accept his offer. "Frisk, no! I don't deserve this! Look what I did to you! Look what I did to Mom and Dad! Just leave me be. All I can hope is that I can finally get some rest. At least I can be sure that I did no lasting damage. That I won’t hurt anyone again." Frisk looked at him with pleading eyes. “I forgave you. And so will Mom and Dad, if you let them.” "...I know that, Frisk. But what about you? You have friends now. You have… you have a new family. How can you give that up?" “I’m not giving it up. You know that. Just like you said. Split control. We’ll both be there. We’ll both have a family again. We’ll both have friends.” "I don't know, Frisk, it's just not the same. You should know that. Besides, why should I matter so much to you, anyway? We've only known each other for maybe thirty minutes. Well, when I wasn't… you know..." "More like thirty days." "What? That can't be right..." Frisk placed a hand on Asriel’s shoulder. He flinched slightly before relaxing slowly. "Asriel, I reset. I reset a lot. I went to the surface with the others, the first time. Actually, quite a few times. But every time I tried to settle down, I saw the same face. The face of someone I was told to forget." "Frisk, I-" "The one I couldn't save." Asriel turned away, not meeting his eyes. "Frisk, if I'm just the last piece of-" "No, Asriel, you're not. I saw someone who had lost everything. Someone who did the right thing, and died for it. Then, when they turned around and fixed their mistakes, they sacrificed their own happiness for the sake of another.” “But I-” "Asriel, it doesn’t matter to me what you did back then. It matters to me who you are right now, and right now, I see a good person. This is a way for both of us to be happy. For everyone to be happy. You can have peace again, Asriel." Frisk reached out with both of his hands, grasping his claw. "Asriel, you can finally be free." He paused, then looked uncertainly back at Frisk’s face. “Are… are you sure about this?” Frisk sighed. “More than anything.” He brought a hand to his chest, bringing something out, something that glowed with a soft light unmistakable in the dimly lit room. His soul. Asriel’s hands trembled as he looked up to Frisk’s determined face. He let out a breath slowly as he steadied himself, reaching out. There was a flash, and everything turned white. Asriel groaned, turning over. His face was assaulted by yellow flowers. He grumbled. Gorse... If I ever see these flowers again, it’ll be too soon. Asriel… are you okay? He shot up into a sitting position, then grabbed his head. “Ugh… Frisk? Is that you? Are you okay?” Yeah… of course. Don’t worry. He giggled. It’s kinda freaky. “You can say that again.” And don’t you dare feel guilty. It’s a good thing. Asriel looked down at himself, clad once more in a cloak with the Delta Rune. Frisk smiled, the emotion leaking onto Asriel’s face. Hey, at least you’re not the “Absolute God of Hyperdeath, right? “Hey! S-shut up!” All right, all right. I’ll keep quiet about it. “How did you even know about that? I never told you what… what it was called.” Frisk turned their head to look at the faint outline in the ground. A place where a body once laid. ”I just hope she found peace.” “...Is that what you meant when you said everyone would be happy?” ”. . .” “I don’t know, Frisk. She was in a really bad place when we died.” I don’t know either. But… she seemed… better. She saw everything. It’s all we can hope for. So… are you ready? Asriel chuckled. “No, of course not. But let’s go, anyway.” Frisk smiled. “All right. Just let me load the save. It’s so much better than walking all the way to the castle.” Asriel’s hand flicked open, and the black menu flickered to life in front of them. ...Wait a minute... His hand hit “Continue.” CRACK Asriel flinched away as the menu disintegrated. SNAP They looked down at their feet, jumping away from the crack at their feet. But the crack moved with them, spreading and branching around them like a spiderweb. “F-Frisk, what’s happening?” ”I… I don’t know. I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking, I was just thinking like I did before. I don’t think my save file reacted well to us being fused… I think we broke something.” The final corridor flickered through the cracks before fading out. The flower bed vanished, shattering into a million pieces. Asriel opened his eyes, but he questioned for a minute if that was indeed the case. He had seen plenty of darkness, and even been underground, but this was something else entirely. “Am I dead? I’ve been dead before, but I don’t remember anything… I still can feel my fur, and I even have my clothes still…” No, I’m still here, too. I have no idea where we are, either. And you’ve once created an entire world by yourself. If you don’t know, I certainly don’t. “Well, it wasn’t so much a new world as a… replacement of the old one.” He shuddered. Look, I told you, don’t worry about it. You weren’t… yourself then. “I just can’t help but think… We’re outside the timeline. I know that. That’s the only thing that makes sense. We became some sort of paradox. I just hope… I just hope we didn’t break everything. Everyone” I… I certainly hope not. Anyway… those cracks followed us when we moved, remember? Like it was only happening from our perspective. So, this is like a space between timelines, right? If we can find a way back in from here... Asriel nodded. “Yeah… I really hope so. But it’s dark as pitch here.” He relaxed his muscles, his arms moving out to the side. “And we’re spinning.” Frisk grinned. ”You still have your fire magic, don’t you?” “...How would that help?” Frisk put the image of a rocket into the forefront of his mind. Asriel’s eyes widened. “Oh. Oooohhhhhh….” He grinned, forming a small fire on each of his palms, angling them to cancel their momentum. That is so awesome…. “You are so lucky that this fire is magic, and doesn’t actually need air. Or that we really don’t need to breathe.” ”Then how are we talking?” Asriel cut off the fire, leaving them drifting slowly. “I… I don’t really know.” He laughed. “Magic?” Frisk rolled his eyes. “Yeah, right. Are you sure there isn’t some sort of atmos- Wait, what’s that? Asriel noticed it at the same time, whipping his head around as his body tried to turn itself the opposite direction. Mentally smacking himself in the forehead, he instead started the fire again, slowly turning himself before canceling the momentum. But that was far less important. Ahead of them was a small, faint light, unmistakable in the absolute nature of the darkness. Hope rose in Asriel’s chest. Is that where we came from? I… I think so. It’s the only one around. If it isn’t… well… who knows how long we were unconscious? We could have drifted too far… No. This has to be it. What else would it be? Asriel pushed himself towards the light carefully with his makeshift “thrusters,” watching it get closer and closer. “So… we just go into it?” he asked as it filled up almost half of their entire vision. ”I suppose so… I can’t think of anything else to do… we could end up at any point in the timeline. This… this really is a shot in the dark.” Asriel sighed. “There really isn’t anything else to do then.” His magic flared, shooting them both into the vast whiteness. This time, they managed to remain conscious as millions of images flashed around them in an instant. Finally the world faded in around them, immediately causing them to faceplant as gravity reasserted itself. Asriel sat up, spitting out a mouthful of pine needles. “Uh oh.” What is it? “The only forest this big in the Underground was near Snowdin, and it certainly doesn’t look very snowy right now.” They looked around at the forest around them. They were near the edge, but the forest was deep and thick, blocking out a large chunk of the light. The sun was clearly visible. Do you think we might be on the surface, then? Asriel suddenly silenced himself, covering his mouth. If we are, I really don’t know what to think. There’s a monster right over there. She certainly didn’t look like any monster he had seen in the Underground, though. She almost looked like a smaller version of the surface’s horses, but she was yellow and had two wings sprouting from her back. Is… is that a pegasus? You know what she is? Well, not really. Pegasi are just myths. But this doesn’t look like those. Asriel… I think we really are on a different world. Asriel slumped, resting on an old stump. I really didn’t want to believe that. Still, we’ll…. we’ll find a way back. Suddenly, a piece of bark broke with an audible snap, causing them to freeze. They both heard a soft gasp from beyond the trees. Uh oh. They leapt to their feet as one in panic. A soft voice called out to them, causing them to pause.”No! Wait!” Asriel turned to look, seeing the pleading face of the pegasus mare for a split second before disappearing into the trees. He breathed heavily, finally stopping at a small stream. That was a close one. I just hope she didn’t see us. Argh… Why did we run away? We could have at least gotten some information from her. We’ve been through much more than this. I know Frisk… it’s just… I know you like to push through things, but… I dunno. I just need a break from all this. We’re not even separate beings anymore, for crying out loud! I just want some time without some crisis being in the way. . . . Their head slumped. I know what you mean. I’ve been trying for so long to change things, to try all these tiny changes in the timeline. Trying to get you back. But now that everything is different, everything is new… I don’t even know what I’m supposed to do anymore. I’ve always been told to be determined, but… I’ve always had some sort of goal. Something to work towards. The freedom of monsters. The happiness of each person I meet. ...You… But now, the only thing that I want is out of my reach, and the only way I can think of getting it would risk this world’s entire existence. ...Frisk? Are we two people? Or one? What…. what do you mean? Asriel shifted uncomfortably. I mean... this feels a lot different than the time I... fused with Chara. We had split control, sure, but... we were both kind of part of the same mind. The two of us... I can feel your thoughts and feelings, and I feel closer to you than before, but... it's not the same, and I don't know why. Oh... Who are we, Frisk? Who am I, if I really have no soul? Your soul gives me life, but how am I still me then? Am I simply borrowing your emotion? Your compassion? Your love? I- Asriel, no. That's not true. But if I- Asriel, let me tell you something. After.... after every timeline, when everyone was safe, when everyone was free... I saw you as a flower again. Asriel gasped. No... I didn't..? You didn't do anything to me. No, you only approached me when I went to reset. And do you know what you said? ...What? You told me to let everyone go. To let them keep their happy ending. You didn't want me to keep "playing" anymore. You wanted me to let go. ...Really? Are you sure? He smiled hopefully. Positive. Asriel, you still have a soul. I'm sure of that. It was damaged so much, but... I care about you too much to not try and make it heal. Asriel's breath caught. "Thank... thank you..." "So.... where do we want to go? What do we want to do?" "Go home, of course. But what if that's impossible?" He smirked. "Impossible? What's that mean?" Asriel chuckled. "I don't know, Frisk, I don't know." "But of course, we should take time to relax, too. With time travel, you never really have to rush, do you?" "Of course. No matter what, though, I want my past... unpleasantness firmly in the past." He closed his eyes, listening to the soft trickle of the stream. "So Frisk... who are we?" "No, I think you have the question all wrong. It's not, 'Who are we?' Not at all. The real question is..." "Who am I?" Chapter 2: DeterminationSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.Chapter 3: MagicAsriel and Fluttershy finished their tea in relative silence, but not the awkward kind. It was a simple nonverbal agreement of silent contemplation. Asriel had fully relaxed, and was watching the various animals interact with each other, amused as he gathered their individual personalities. Fluttershy was just glad that he had finally settled down. It seemed like most of her worries were solved. Or at least, would be soon enough. She felt a bit guilty, expecting him to go into town, socializing with ponies when she often shied away from similar activities, but it was plain to see that he needed that kind of social interaction. For now, though, they could both rest. Maybe he could help her with the bird choir. The Summer Sun celebration was coming up rather soon, and they really needed all the practice they could get before the big event. You always sing better in practice than in performance, after all. She shuddered slightly. She was glad her little bird friends were so brave, confident enough to sing in front of so many ponies… Plus the fact that the Princess asked for her specifically to coordinate the music… she definitely had to make this as good as possible… Asriel sipped his tea, still smiling fondly at all the different animals that shared Fluttershy’s home. Hey, Asriel? His mind drifted a bit more close to home. Hm? It’s really tiring, trying to act like an adult all the time. Hey! I’m just trying to be polite… Yeah, that’s nice and all, but right now, it’s boring. Asriel tilted his teacup, draining it quickly. … yeah, I guess you’re right. ”I’m right,” you mean. Urghhh… Frisk… he groaned internally. But he was still smiling. He looked back at his companion. “Hey, Fluttershy? Can I go outside?” She started. “Uh… sure?” She continued to stare at him, confused. You really didn’t have to ask me that... He ran off, dodging a few animals with a little spin before leaping through the open door, completely forgetting just how short the doorframe was. Which clipped the top of his small horns, flipping him and throwing him soundly to the ground. What was that all about? he asked himself indignantly. Hey, I’m not used to having horns! Neither am I! Besides, it’s not like they’re more than just stubs. ...These doors are way too short. He pushed himself into a sitting position. … Okay, I’ll give you that one. Still, we’re barely taller than Fluttershy. What possessed you to jump like that? Pfft. You did. Asriel facepalmed. Frisk... He leaned forward, dusting himself off as he got to his feet. You’re just as bad as… Mom... Sighing, he closed the door of their kind host. Come on now, we’ll have plenty of time to think about that later. Besides, this is time travel. Once we figure this out, we can probably go back just after we left. They’ll hardly know we’re gone. He took a deep breath, tasting the clean, fresh air. Yeah, you’re right. No reason worrying about something we can’t fix. At least for now. His confidence restored, Asriel strode into the open air. Now where would he go first… there was certainly plenty to explore. He first looked towards the dirt road, presumably leading to Fluttershy’s town or village. She had to get supplies from somewhere, right? No… that might be a bit too far. And if what Fluttershy said was true, that she really hadn’t seen someone like me before, it might cause a bit too much trouble for me to just walk into a populated area like that. Especially if Fluttershy’s kindness is an exception to the rule. Asriel looked over to the grove of apple trees. Looks like some sort of farmers live there. Right near the edge of the dangerous forest, though. Should be used to unusual things, but would they only be used to those unusual things being bad? Still, if I don’t do anything, nothing will happen, either. And since when did I analyze everything before I did something? He turned left, ready to walk when his soul suddenly became visible. “Oh no you don’t!” Uh oh. He dove to the side, only for a light blue pegasus to slam him into the ground. “Ow.” The pegasus rolled off him, readying herself into some sort of fighting stance. “You aren’t going to hurt Fluttershy! Not on my watch!” Asriel got to his feet, blinking the dust out of his eyes. “Um… what? Why would I do that?” The blue mare froze in shock at the fact that he could speak, then grinned sheepishly as Asriel felt his combined soul return to its normal invisible state. “Uh, I’m sorry, mister… I just thought you were...” “You thought I was a monster that randomly came here from the forest to attack your friend.” She nodded awkwardly. He was unable to keep the smirk off his face. “Well, you’re half right.” The pegasus whipped her head back to him, tensing again. Asriel’s smirk reformed into a reassuring grin. “Relax, I’m just messing with you. I’m from a species that calls themselves ‘monsters.’ I’m definitely not here to hurt my friend.” She almost let out a sigh of relief, but then remembered that she was still supposed to be mad about his trick. “By the way, what’s your name? If you’re a friend of Fluttershy’s, I at least want to know who you are.” Her demeanor changed instantly. She posed for an invisible camera, grinning cockily. “Name’s Rainbow Dash, best flyer in Ponyville, and soon to be a household name in all of Equestria!” Asriel returned her smile, then nodded. “Nice to meet you, Dash.” She blinked. “What, no challenge to the whole ‘best flyer’ thing?” He ‘looked’ at his HP meter. It was over an eighth gone, just from one attack. Over a thousand damage. If he wasn’t currently fused, he probably would have been dead. “No… no I won’t. I witnessed that first-hand.” Rainbow rubbed the back of her neck. “Oh yeah… that. Sorry about that. My friends keep telling me I tend to… act before thinking things through.” She brightened. “You seem pretty tough, though. I mean, really, you just shook that off. If you really were here to hurt Fluttershy...” Asriel thought about it for a second. Rainbow Dash seemed to care about her friend a lot, perhaps even more than he did for Chara all those years ago… If she was really pushed like that, I have no doubt her determination would be even greater than my own. But her soul was orange in that “battle.” Interesting… He looked up seriously. “No. You would have been fine. If she was really in danger, I wouldn’t have a chance.” Rainbow completely ignored his tone, only hearing the content of the flattering words. She grinned. “Yeah, I’m awesome like that.” Asriel rolled his eyes in amusement. He glanced back over at the apple trees, reminding him of where he was trying to go in the first place. He pointed. “Hey, do you know who lives over there? I’m kinda new here, if you haven’t noticed-” Rainbow raised an eyebrow. “-and I’m trying to meet new people.” She smiled. “If you want to meet new ponies, all you have to do is meet Pinkie Pie. But I have a feeling you want to do things all slow and boring-like.” Asriel opened his mouth, but Rainbow cut him off. “But when I think of how I reacted to you, I think the slow and boring way might be smarter this time. Anyway, that’s where Applejack lives. And her family, I guess. She’s pretty cool. I should probably go with you, though. Living on the edge of the Everfree Forest makes you a bit… jumpy.” It was Asriel’s turn to raise an eyebrow. “You’re one to talk.” Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. “Yeah, yeah. Laugh it up. We should get going, if we want to get there in time.” He started to walk down the small path that led from Fluttershy's house. Dash took to the air, hovering slightly in front of him with an air of impatience. "In time for what?" Rainbow shifted guiltily. "Oh, nothing." Asriel examined her expression closely. She didn't seem like she was planning something specifically for him. After all, they had only met a few minutes ago. Was it really some sort of predetermined appointment? It didn't seem likely. And she wouldn't look guilty if that really were the case. He looked up absently, noting that the sun was quite close to the horizon. Huh. Almost dinnertime. Asriel almost slapped his forehead. They're farmers, Asriel. Anyone, or in this case, anypony, would want to be their guests around dinnertime. He chuckled softly, now noticing the hunger in Rainbow's expression as she looked forward to her friend's cooking. I suppose we could move a bit faster... Once the farmhouse came into view, Rainbow landed, walking closely next to Asriel and patting him on the back with a wing. "Don't worry, squirt. Once Applejack sees you with me, she won't even give you a second glance. You'll be fine. Just you wait." Asriel's eyes widened slightly. She knew I was nervous... I didn't even say anything... Do I really have another friend already in this strange world? He suddenly felt quite guilty about analyzing her intentions of accompanying him. She really does want to make sure I'm safe. Looking back ahead at the farmhouse, he noticed the front door open and an orange mare trot out, this one without wings. "Howdy Rainbow!" She smirked. "What a strange coincidence, meeting you so close to mealtime." Asriel smiled in amusement. So I was half right. The farm pony then seemed to notice her friend's new companion. She started slightly at his odd appearance, but quickly recovered, a genuine smile on her face. "And who's your new friend?" She held out a hoof, which he shook. "Asriel." She smiled wider. "Applejack. Nice to meet ya." "Thanks." Asriel relaxed almost unnoticeably, relieved at how well she seemed to take the admittedly strange situation. Rainbow nudged him, winking. "Told you so." Applejack smiled slightly, then waved them in with a hoof. "Come on in, supper's almost ready." Once she made sure everyone was inside, she pushed the door closed with a click. "Hey, Granny! We have a few visitors!" "Granny's" voice came back from the kitchen. "Well, they'd better wipe their hooves! I'm not cleaning the floor twice today!" Rainbow froze at the entrance to the dining room, quickly backtracking to the mat. Asriel stood awkwardly to the side. He had already wiped his feet, of course, but he wasn't willing to go ahead without any "support." And felt rude to go ahead without their host. But Applejack simply smiled at him, guiding him forward, and leaving Rainbow to follow behind indignantly. When Asriel entered the room, the ponies there all reacted in different ways. An elderly greenish-colored ponywho was working in the kitchen (likely the "Granny" Applejack referred to), simply looked at him over the half-wall that separated them, nodded, and turned back to her work. The large red stallion looked at him suspiciously, but a glare from Applejack seemed to make him relax slightly. The small yellow filly, on the other hand, just seemed to look at him with wide-eyed curiosity. Introductions were traded with the prompting of Applejack, and he learned that their names were Granny Smith, Big Mac, and Apple Bloom, respectively. Apple Bloom's interest never seemed to wane, though, so after a sort of nonverbal agreement from Big Mac, he pulled out a chair next to the filly and sat down. Now with both parties sitting down, Asriel found himself at a perfect eye level with Apple Bloom. She blinked a little, surprised, then smiled slightly. She then looked at him suspiciously. "Wait a minute, how old are you? Most adults don't really pay attention to me this much." Asriel paused, trying to remember his previous "calculation" for Fluttershy. "Uh, well, ignoring all the weird time travel stuff, I think I'm about nine? Maybe ten?" Apple Bloom gaped. "Wait, so I'm technically older than you? But you looked so tall." He grinned. "Yep. But that's probably because I only stand on two feet. I hope you're not too much older, though." She quickly held up a hoof, shaking her head rapidly. "No, no. I'm only, like, eleven. Not that different at all." Her face brightened slightly. "So... are you staying here in Ponyville for a while, or just visiting?" "Ponyville?" She must mean the town nearby. Strange name for a town named by ponies, though. "Well, I hope so, at least. Ponies seem to be reacting well to me being, well.... different." Apple Bloom nodded in understanding. "Yeah...." "A good kind of different, though," she quickly added. "So... since you're staying a bit longer.... will I see you in school, then?" Asriel paused for a moment. "Huh, I didn't really think of that. Well, I suppose it would be fine, if everypony else is fine with it." Also, it means we can learn a lot more about this world. We've already proven we can't assume anything here. I know.... at least we speak the same language. "When does school start?" Apple Bloom looked slightly worried. "Well, it started a few weeks ago, but... I'm sure you'll be fine. Mrs. Cheerilee is usually nice about letting ponies catch up." Asriel blinked. That would be a... really fast integration. Frisk already knew what it was like to start school late. And he didn't even know what the name of the country they were in right now. Or even if that was the correct classification. But after so long, it would just be nice to have a friend again. Someone who wouldn't question who he was or where he came from, only paying attention to what was inside. Like what you did for me, Frisk. But when he looked over at Applebloom, there was no calculation, no hesitation, no fear. To her, he was just another slightly more interesting-looking kid. He smiled. "I don't know what the rules are for joining class, but I'll definitely try." Apple Bloom grinned brightly. "It sure will be nice to have somepony... uh, I mean somebody at school that I know." Asriel looked at her in surprise. "You don't know anyone yet? Are you new as well?" She looked down slightly. "Well, I had a few friends last year, but there was that Timberwolf thing that scared a lot of ponies. They had to move away with their parents." He put an arm around her comfortingly, then smiled. "Well, I lived in the Everfree for the last couple days. I don't think I'm exactly going to be scared away." A sobering thought struck him, and he removed his arm, sighing. "I don't think I'm going to be moving home anytime soon, either." Apple Bloom suddenly paused, looking at him intently. "What's wrong? "I don't really want to burden you with it." She put a hoof on his arm. "No, really. This sounds kinda important. And if it's important to you, it's important to me, too." "All right." Asriel looked around at the rest of the Apple family. Big Mac and Applejack were helping Granny in the kitchen with dinner, but he noticed that Rainbow was leaning towards them, listening in while trying to be subtle about it. And Applejack's ear would occasionally flick in their direction. I guess mentioning "time travel" in a public place wasn't such a good idea. "Well, let's just say home is very far away. I'm not sure I'll be able to go back, and even if I figure out a way, it won't be for a long time." Apple Bloom seemed to struggle a bit accepting such a vague answer, but she eventually nodded her head. Asriel, however, leaned closer, whispering into her ear. "I'll tell you more when we can talk in private. It's supposed to be a secret." Her smile immediately returned, brighter than before, and she gave a silent "oh!" of understanding. "Well, I hope to see you in school." "Yeah, me too," he said, marvelling at just how sincerely he meant that. They both turned back to the Apples' family dining table, just as Applejack and Big Mac returned to bring out the dishes. The steaming bread with fresh jam, rich cobbler, and salad laden with fresh tomatoes and cheese certainly was enough to attract his attention, but his mind was on something entirely different as he began to eat. As Frisk, there was always someone in the Underground that he could call "friend," or even "mother." Someone to laugh with, tell jokes to, or just talk with. And he learned that every single one of them had immense value. But the only person he ever told the truth to... the full truth... had to ask him directly. Yet within minutes of meeting this young pony sitting next to him, he already felt like he could reveal all his deepest secrets, all without judgement. His left hand reached up and felt the golden chain around his neck. Best Friend Asriel knew what that was like. The old Asriel. The Asriel from before all this mess. How long had he forgotten? Would he forget again, once this was all over? Was it really worth it? His hand clasped aroung the chain. It didn't matter. He REFUSED to forget. Author's Note Sorry this took so long. I actually had this written for a while. I finally got another physical writing notebook, and I write faster than ever before. I have the start of chapter four, another story idea, and about two and a half chapters of an entirely original new story. (Not based off of anything else, and no crossovers or humans.) The problem is the painful process of transferring it here from the journal. Paper to digits is always painful. But it at least means more quality editing, as I have to go over literally everything. So that's a major plus. Anyway, hope you enjoy. (I'm waiting on that other story until I at least finish the third chapter. Then I know whether I'm really going through with all of it. It's when I usually get a feel for the entire plot of the book, anyway.) Chapter 4: PreludePrincess Celestia looked at the latest research report from her student. As she expected, it was a rather panicked one about the legends she had assigned her to read yesterday. Everything was going as planned. But she was no longer as confident that her plan would work. It all depended on Twilight making five friends, all in one day. Sure, she knew the ponies she tasked with the Celebration preparation would be perfect candidates, but who knows if they really were up for such an adventure? That they wouldn't just run away at the sight of real danger. Or even that they would like Twilight. Or that Twilight would even accept them as her friends. She no longer had the luxury of finding out. Everything was do or die. The first time. Even worse, her enemy might not have the same restriction. Celestia crumpled the letter she had prepared to send back. There was no longer room for secrecy. She could no longer be alone in this. She needed another brain on this to help out. Twilight needed to know the truth, from the beginning this time. Whether she could handle it or not... No, she had to. It was either that, or the world would freeze. Her pen met the parchment, as she began to compose a reply. Asriel burst through the door. "Fluttershy! I think I might have a digestive system! Do you have a bathroom?" The yellow pegasus opened her mouth, then closed it again. "Umm... just down the hall?" She pointed with a hoof. "Kaythanksmombye!" He ran off, leaving her bemused. She looked up at Harry the bear, who shrugged. He sure is strange. But he seemed... happier. She settled back down on her couch, smiling contentedly. "I'm sorry, I don't really know much about singing. You'd have to teach me, too. And if there's only one more day until this Summer Sun Celebration... I don't think I'd be much help." "No, no. That's fine. It was only if you wanted to. But if you can't help, it might be a bit boring for you. Maybe you could go into town? Only if you want to, of course. It would be more interesting than just watching me." Asriel looked down the road. "Don't worry. The ponies there are usually really nice." "All right... thanks." Don't worry, Asriel. Even Rainbow Dash stopped really quick once she realized we weren't trying to hurt Fluttershy. I know, but last time I went into a town... And I'll be right with you. These ponies are a lot more accepting than most humans. Besides, you aren't carrying my body. That does a lot for first impressions. Asriel sighed. All right... let's do this. "Ooh! I love meeting new people!" The violently pink pony in front of him seemed to just appear out of thin air. Suddenly reminded of the last person that did this, Asriel shuddered involuntarily. This pony shouldn't be underestimated. "So, what's your name? Mine's Pinkie Pie!" "Um... Asriel. Nice to meet you?" Pinkie leaned in closer. "Aaaand?" Asriel's eyes widened. "Uhhh... Frisk." Pinkie's smile widened to an almost impossible level. "Thanks! Expect a surprise party when you least expect it!" She put a hoof to her chin. "Wait a second..." Asriel chuckled. "Well, see you then, I guess." Pinkie Pie grinned again. "Sooner!" His smile grew. "All right then. See you Pinkie." "Bye!" She zipped off. Well, that was... interesting, I guess. Definitely. It's hard to imagine someone so... cheerful. You don't see that often in the Underground. You don't see that on the surface, either. But she seemed genuine enough. Still, we should be careful around her. Yeah... she knew I was here instantly. But she didn't attack us for it either. So either she doesn't know how it works... Either way... we should definitely be careful. Still, all her cheer seemed to be genuine. Let's just make sure to never get on her bad side. ...Agreed. ...Um... Frisk, there's a weird tan pony with a purple and blue mane who keeps following us. Yeah, I see her too. But she's just watching us, not attacking or anything. Let's just ignore her for now. SLAM Asriel rubbed his eyes as he got up from the dirt. "Oh, no, I'm so sorry!" Wait, that wasn't even an attack... He looked up at the pony responsible, a worried gray pegasus with a blonde mane. "Are you okay, mister? I swear, it was just an accident..." "It's... it's okay, miss..?" "Ditzy. Here, let me help you." She used her head to push him upright. "I'm so sorry, I didn't even see you there." "No, it's fine. No harm... done." And it was shockingly true. His health was barely down by one point. "If you're sure... Still, I kinda feel bad about it." She rustled in her bag. "Do you like muffins?" Asriel smiled as one was held out to him. He took it. "Thanks, Ditzy." "Well, uh... see you later!" She cringed. "Hopefully under better circumstances." Asriel watched her fly away. It was a bit erratic, but there was an odd sort of grace about it. He took a bite of the muffin. Asriel sat down on a nearby bench near the city center, just watching the ponies go by. Quite a few of them looked at him strangely, and some even shied back in fear, but those reactions quickly faded into vague acceptance. He was just another part of the town. That gave Frisk some pause. First it was monsters, but now ponies. New shapes did not seem to faze them whatsoever. Monsters he could understand. Every monster seemed to be unique, after all. But ponies all seemed to be like humans. All of them were pretty much the same general size. The same general shape. Yet they were perfectly okay with someone who walked on two legs, had horns, and... was basically a bipedal goat. Hey! I'm not saying that's a bad thing! Asriel was interested for a different reason. All these ponies, going about their day, seemed strange to him. There was nothing hovering over their heads. No fake smiles, no fake laughs. Just genuine happiness. Like that Pinkie Pie, but a bit less unsettling with its intensity. It wasn't like there was no conflict. They were sitting right near the market, so there was plenty of that. But it all seemed so... inconsequential. There was arguing, but no hate. Defeat, but no real sadness to come with it. Asriel, it all seems so... perfect here. Yeah, that's what worries me, Frisk. Nothing is. What do you mean? You think they're hiding some big secret or something? No... but there's always a balance somewhere. I'm just saying we need to be careful. Asriel walked down the road to Fluttershy's house, watching the sky change colors as the sun set. Beautiful, isn't it? Yeah. Is the surface like this on Earth? You never really do appreciate it until it's gone. ...Frisk, how long were you down there, really? You said it took three days to get back to the surface, but... how many times did you go back? Asriel... don't worry about it. It was worth it. Not being able to see the sun... that wasn't anything compared to what I had with you... with all of you. They yawned as he approached Fluttershy's door. Let's just get to sleep. Yeah. Tomorrow is a new day, and it isn't going anywhere. Author's Note Foreshadowing! A shorter chapter, to start this off again. Sorry for the long wait. Another chapter is going to come soon - this story is still going to be the next updated. But I felt the break should be here rather than somewhere else, story-wise. And for the Rarity fans out there, don't think I've forgotten about her. Just like the other characters, she gets a bit more characterization than the pilot episode, and that fits better in a different spot. Besides, I didn't want to just check off boxes of who he should meet. I hope I left a few things to look forward to as well. This isn't going to be just the pilot with a new character.
Chapter 1: The ChoiceAuthor's Note Update: Due to a well-constructed argument (eye strain) A Dark theme is no longer required. If you want the full Undertale "experience," I suggest High Contrast Dark, with some custom additions. For Chrome, here is a safe extension that lets you replace all the fonts on a certain page with a font of your choice: Font Changer And here is the extremely accurate Undertale font I found: DTM-Sans I also suggest making the font slightly bigger in the formatting options, perhaps size 1.3 or 1.4 Well, feel free to give me feedback on what you think of this chapter/story premise. I may just write for fun, but I am always looking to improve. Chapter 1: The Choice "Frisk, don't you have anything better to do?" Frisk sighed. It was the phrase he dreaded, the phrase he had heard time and time again. It was the reason he kept resetting; the reason that he started over after everyone was finally free. Perhaps Flowey had been right. He did want that "perfect ending". But it wasn't for himself. Frisk knew how to do it, and easily, too. He could live a perfect life with his new family on the surface in under three days' time. All his needs were taken care of. He should have been happy, but he wasn't. Nothing could shake from his head the image of Asriel, weeping in remorse over what he had done to his family, what he had done to them all. Asriel, telling him to forget. But he could not. He refused. He returned, again and again. Each time, he walked back to meet him. Each time, he hoped that this time, it might be different. That maybe, something he did differently might ripple, changing the timeline just enough to do it. Just enough that he might finally accept his offer. "Frisk, no! I don't deserve this! Look what I did to you! Look what I did to Mom and Dad! Just leave me be. All I can hope is that I can finally get some rest. At least I can be sure that I did no lasting damage. That I won’t hurt anyone again." Frisk looked at him with pleading eyes. “I forgave you. And so will Mom and Dad, if you let them.” "...I know that, Frisk. But what about you? You have friends now. You have… you have a new family. How can you give that up?" “I’m not giving it up. You know that. Just like you said. Split control. We’ll both be there. We’ll both have a family again. We’ll both have friends.” "I don't know, Frisk, it's just not the same. You should know that. Besides, why should I matter so much to you, anyway? We've only known each other for maybe thirty minutes. Well, when I wasn't… you know..." "More like thirty days." "What? That can't be right..." Frisk placed a hand on Asriel’s shoulder. He flinched slightly before relaxing slowly. "Asriel, I reset. I reset a lot. I went to the surface with the others, the first time. Actually, quite a few times. But every time I tried to settle down, I saw the same face. The face of someone I was told to forget." "Frisk, I-" "The one I couldn't save." Asriel turned away, not meeting his eyes. "Frisk, if I'm just the last piece of-" "No, Asriel, you're not. I saw someone who had lost everything. Someone who did the right thing, and died for it. Then, when they turned around and fixed their mistakes, they sacrificed their own happiness for the sake of another.” “But I-” "Asriel, it doesn’t matter to me what you did back then. It matters to me who you are right now, and right now, I see a good person. This is a way for both of us to be happy. For everyone to be happy. You can have peace again, Asriel." Frisk reached out with both of his hands, grasping his claw. "Asriel, you can finally be free." He paused, then looked uncertainly back at Frisk’s face. “Are… are you sure about this?” Frisk sighed. “More than anything.” He brought a hand to his chest, bringing something out, something that glowed with a soft light unmistakable in the dimly lit room. His soul. Asriel’s hands trembled as he looked up to Frisk’s determined face. He let out a breath slowly as he steadied himself, reaching out. There was a flash, and everything turned white. Asriel groaned, turning over. His face was assaulted by yellow flowers. He grumbled. Gorse... If I ever see these flowers again, it’ll be too soon. Asriel… are you okay? He shot up into a sitting position, then grabbed his head. “Ugh… Frisk? Is that you? Are you okay?” Yeah… of course. Don’t worry. He giggled. It’s kinda freaky. “You can say that again.” And don’t you dare feel guilty. It’s a good thing. Asriel looked down at himself, clad once more in a cloak with the Delta Rune. Frisk smiled, the emotion leaking onto Asriel’s face. Hey, at least you’re not the “Absolute God of Hyperdeath, right? “Hey! S-shut up!” All right, all right. I’ll keep quiet about it. “How did you even know about that? I never told you what… what it was called.” Frisk turned their head to look at the faint outline in the ground. A place where a body once laid. ”I just hope she found peace.” “...Is that what you meant when you said everyone would be happy?” ”. . .” “I don’t know, Frisk. She was in a really bad place when we died.” I don’t know either. But… she seemed… better. She saw everything. It’s all we can hope for. So… are you ready? Asriel chuckled. “No, of course not. But let’s go, anyway.” Frisk smiled. “All right. Just let me load the save. It’s so much better than walking all the way to the castle.” Asriel’s hand flicked open, and the black menu flickered to life in front of them. ...Wait a minute... His hand hit “Continue.” CRACK Asriel flinched away as the menu disintegrated. SNAP They looked down at their feet, jumping away from the crack at their feet. But the crack moved with them, spreading and branching around them like a spiderweb. “F-Frisk, what’s happening?” ”I… I don’t know. I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking, I was just thinking like I did before. I don’t think my save file reacted well to us being fused… I think we broke something.” The final corridor flickered through the cracks before fading out. The flower bed vanished, shattering into a million pieces. Asriel opened his eyes, but he questioned for a minute if that was indeed the case. He had seen plenty of darkness, and even been underground, but this was something else entirely. “Am I dead? I’ve been dead before, but I don’t remember anything… I still can feel my fur, and I even have my clothes still…” No, I’m still here, too. I have no idea where we are, either. And you’ve once created an entire world by yourself. If you don’t know, I certainly don’t. “Well, it wasn’t so much a new world as a… replacement of the old one.” He shuddered. Look, I told you, don’t worry about it. You weren’t… yourself then. “I just can’t help but think… We’re outside the timeline. I know that. That’s the only thing that makes sense. We became some sort of paradox. I just hope… I just hope we didn’t break everything. Everyone” I… I certainly hope not. Anyway… those cracks followed us when we moved, remember? Like it was only happening from our perspective. So, this is like a space between timelines, right? If we can find a way back in from here... Asriel nodded. “Yeah… I really hope so. But it’s dark as pitch here.” He relaxed his muscles, his arms moving out to the side. “And we’re spinning.” Frisk grinned. ”You still have your fire magic, don’t you?” “...How would that help?” Frisk put the image of a rocket into the forefront of his mind. Asriel’s eyes widened. “Oh. Oooohhhhhh….” He grinned, forming a small fire on each of his palms, angling them to cancel their momentum. That is so awesome…. “You are so lucky that this fire is magic, and doesn’t actually need air. Or that we really don’t need to breathe.” ”Then how are we talking?” Asriel cut off the fire, leaving them drifting slowly. “I… I don’t really know.” He laughed. “Magic?” Frisk rolled his eyes. “Yeah, right. Are you sure there isn’t some sort of atmos- Wait, what’s that? Asriel noticed it at the same time, whipping his head around as his body tried to turn itself the opposite direction. Mentally smacking himself in the forehead, he instead started the fire again, slowly turning himself before canceling the momentum. But that was far less important. Ahead of them was a small, faint light, unmistakable in the absolute nature of the darkness. Hope rose in Asriel’s chest. Is that where we came from? I… I think so. It’s the only one around. If it isn’t… well… who knows how long we were unconscious? We could have drifted too far… No. This has to be it. What else would it be? Asriel pushed himself towards the light carefully with his makeshift “thrusters,” watching it get closer and closer. “So… we just go into it?” he asked as it filled up almost half of their entire vision. ”I suppose so… I can’t think of anything else to do… we could end up at any point in the timeline. This… this really is a shot in the dark.” Asriel sighed. “There really isn’t anything else to do then.” His magic flared, shooting them both into the vast whiteness. This time, they managed to remain conscious as millions of images flashed around them in an instant. Finally the world faded in around them, immediately causing them to faceplant as gravity reasserted itself. Asriel sat up, spitting out a mouthful of pine needles. “Uh oh.” What is it? “The only forest this big in the Underground was near Snowdin, and it certainly doesn’t look very snowy right now.” They looked around at the forest around them. They were near the edge, but the forest was deep and thick, blocking out a large chunk of the light. The sun was clearly visible. Do you think we might be on the surface, then? Asriel suddenly silenced himself, covering his mouth. If we are, I really don’t know what to think. There’s a monster right over there. She certainly didn’t look like any monster he had seen in the Underground, though. She almost looked like a smaller version of the surface’s horses, but she was yellow and had two wings sprouting from her back. Is… is that a pegasus? You know what she is? Well, not really. Pegasi are just myths. But this doesn’t look like those. Asriel… I think we really are on a different world. Asriel slumped, resting on an old stump. I really didn’t want to believe that. Still, we’ll…. we’ll find a way back. Suddenly, a piece of bark broke with an audible snap, causing them to freeze. They both heard a soft gasp from beyond the trees. Uh oh. They leapt to their feet as one in panic. A soft voice called out to them, causing them to pause.”No! Wait!” Asriel turned to look, seeing the pleading face of the pegasus mare for a split second before disappearing into the trees. He breathed heavily, finally stopping at a small stream. That was a close one. I just hope she didn’t see us. Argh… Why did we run away? We could have at least gotten some information from her. We’ve been through much more than this. I know Frisk… it’s just… I know you like to push through things, but… I dunno. I just need a break from all this. We’re not even separate beings anymore, for crying out loud! I just want some time without some crisis being in the way. . . . Their head slumped. I know what you mean. I’ve been trying for so long to change things, to try all these tiny changes in the timeline. Trying to get you back. But now that everything is different, everything is new… I don’t even know what I’m supposed to do anymore. I’ve always been told to be determined, but… I’ve always had some sort of goal. Something to work towards. The freedom of monsters. The happiness of each person I meet. ...You… But now, the only thing that I want is out of my reach, and the only way I can think of getting it would risk this world’s entire existence. ...Frisk? Are we two people? Or one? What…. what do you mean? Asriel shifted uncomfortably. I mean... this feels a lot different than the time I... fused with Chara. We had split control, sure, but... we were both kind of part of the same mind. The two of us... I can feel your thoughts and feelings, and I feel closer to you than before, but... it's not the same, and I don't know why. Oh... Who are we, Frisk? Who am I, if I really have no soul? Your soul gives me life, but how am I still me then? Am I simply borrowing your emotion? Your compassion? Your love? I- Asriel, no. That's not true. But if I- Asriel, let me tell you something. After.... after every timeline, when everyone was safe, when everyone was free... I saw you as a flower again. Asriel gasped. No... I didn't..? You didn't do anything to me. No, you only approached me when I went to reset. And do you know what you said? ...What? You told me to let everyone go. To let them keep their happy ending. You didn't want me to keep "playing" anymore. You wanted me to let go. ...Really? Are you sure? He smiled hopefully. Positive. Asriel, you still have a soul. I'm sure of that. It was damaged so much, but... I care about you too much to not try and make it heal. Asriel's breath caught. "Thank... thank you..." "So.... where do we want to go? What do we want to do?" "Go home, of course. But what if that's impossible?" He smirked. "Impossible? What's that mean?" Asriel chuckled. "I don't know, Frisk, I don't know." "But of course, we should take time to relax, too. With time travel, you never really have to rush, do you?" "Of course. No matter what, though, I want my past... unpleasantness firmly in the past." He closed his eyes, listening to the soft trickle of the stream. "So Frisk... who are we?" "No, I think you have the question all wrong. It's not, 'Who are we?' Not at all. The real question is..." "Who am I?"
Chapter 2: DeterminationSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.
Chapter 3: MagicAsriel and Fluttershy finished their tea in relative silence, but not the awkward kind. It was a simple nonverbal agreement of silent contemplation. Asriel had fully relaxed, and was watching the various animals interact with each other, amused as he gathered their individual personalities. Fluttershy was just glad that he had finally settled down. It seemed like most of her worries were solved. Or at least, would be soon enough. She felt a bit guilty, expecting him to go into town, socializing with ponies when she often shied away from similar activities, but it was plain to see that he needed that kind of social interaction. For now, though, they could both rest. Maybe he could help her with the bird choir. The Summer Sun celebration was coming up rather soon, and they really needed all the practice they could get before the big event. You always sing better in practice than in performance, after all. She shuddered slightly. She was glad her little bird friends were so brave, confident enough to sing in front of so many ponies… Plus the fact that the Princess asked for her specifically to coordinate the music… she definitely had to make this as good as possible… Asriel sipped his tea, still smiling fondly at all the different animals that shared Fluttershy’s home. Hey, Asriel? His mind drifted a bit more close to home. Hm? It’s really tiring, trying to act like an adult all the time. Hey! I’m just trying to be polite… Yeah, that’s nice and all, but right now, it’s boring. Asriel tilted his teacup, draining it quickly. … yeah, I guess you’re right. ”I’m right,” you mean. Urghhh… Frisk… he groaned internally. But he was still smiling. He looked back at his companion. “Hey, Fluttershy? Can I go outside?” She started. “Uh… sure?” She continued to stare at him, confused. You really didn’t have to ask me that... He ran off, dodging a few animals with a little spin before leaping through the open door, completely forgetting just how short the doorframe was. Which clipped the top of his small horns, flipping him and throwing him soundly to the ground. What was that all about? he asked himself indignantly. Hey, I’m not used to having horns! Neither am I! Besides, it’s not like they’re more than just stubs. ...These doors are way too short. He pushed himself into a sitting position. … Okay, I’ll give you that one. Still, we’re barely taller than Fluttershy. What possessed you to jump like that? Pfft. You did. Asriel facepalmed. Frisk... He leaned forward, dusting himself off as he got to his feet. You’re just as bad as… Mom... Sighing, he closed the door of their kind host. Come on now, we’ll have plenty of time to think about that later. Besides, this is time travel. Once we figure this out, we can probably go back just after we left. They’ll hardly know we’re gone. He took a deep breath, tasting the clean, fresh air. Yeah, you’re right. No reason worrying about something we can’t fix. At least for now. His confidence restored, Asriel strode into the open air. Now where would he go first… there was certainly plenty to explore. He first looked towards the dirt road, presumably leading to Fluttershy’s town or village. She had to get supplies from somewhere, right? No… that might be a bit too far. And if what Fluttershy said was true, that she really hadn’t seen someone like me before, it might cause a bit too much trouble for me to just walk into a populated area like that. Especially if Fluttershy’s kindness is an exception to the rule. Asriel looked over to the grove of apple trees. Looks like some sort of farmers live there. Right near the edge of the dangerous forest, though. Should be used to unusual things, but would they only be used to those unusual things being bad? Still, if I don’t do anything, nothing will happen, either. And since when did I analyze everything before I did something? He turned left, ready to walk when his soul suddenly became visible. “Oh no you don’t!” Uh oh. He dove to the side, only for a light blue pegasus to slam him into the ground. “Ow.” The pegasus rolled off him, readying herself into some sort of fighting stance. “You aren’t going to hurt Fluttershy! Not on my watch!” Asriel got to his feet, blinking the dust out of his eyes. “Um… what? Why would I do that?” The blue mare froze in shock at the fact that he could speak, then grinned sheepishly as Asriel felt his combined soul return to its normal invisible state. “Uh, I’m sorry, mister… I just thought you were...” “You thought I was a monster that randomly came here from the forest to attack your friend.” She nodded awkwardly. He was unable to keep the smirk off his face. “Well, you’re half right.” The pegasus whipped her head back to him, tensing again. Asriel’s smirk reformed into a reassuring grin. “Relax, I’m just messing with you. I’m from a species that calls themselves ‘monsters.’ I’m definitely not here to hurt my friend.” She almost let out a sigh of relief, but then remembered that she was still supposed to be mad about his trick. “By the way, what’s your name? If you’re a friend of Fluttershy’s, I at least want to know who you are.” Her demeanor changed instantly. She posed for an invisible camera, grinning cockily. “Name’s Rainbow Dash, best flyer in Ponyville, and soon to be a household name in all of Equestria!” Asriel returned her smile, then nodded. “Nice to meet you, Dash.” She blinked. “What, no challenge to the whole ‘best flyer’ thing?” He ‘looked’ at his HP meter. It was over an eighth gone, just from one attack. Over a thousand damage. If he wasn’t currently fused, he probably would have been dead. “No… no I won’t. I witnessed that first-hand.” Rainbow rubbed the back of her neck. “Oh yeah… that. Sorry about that. My friends keep telling me I tend to… act before thinking things through.” She brightened. “You seem pretty tough, though. I mean, really, you just shook that off. If you really were here to hurt Fluttershy...” Asriel thought about it for a second. Rainbow Dash seemed to care about her friend a lot, perhaps even more than he did for Chara all those years ago… If she was really pushed like that, I have no doubt her determination would be even greater than my own. But her soul was orange in that “battle.” Interesting… He looked up seriously. “No. You would have been fine. If she was really in danger, I wouldn’t have a chance.” Rainbow completely ignored his tone, only hearing the content of the flattering words. She grinned. “Yeah, I’m awesome like that.” Asriel rolled his eyes in amusement. He glanced back over at the apple trees, reminding him of where he was trying to go in the first place. He pointed. “Hey, do you know who lives over there? I’m kinda new here, if you haven’t noticed-” Rainbow raised an eyebrow. “-and I’m trying to meet new people.” She smiled. “If you want to meet new ponies, all you have to do is meet Pinkie Pie. But I have a feeling you want to do things all slow and boring-like.” Asriel opened his mouth, but Rainbow cut him off. “But when I think of how I reacted to you, I think the slow and boring way might be smarter this time. Anyway, that’s where Applejack lives. And her family, I guess. She’s pretty cool. I should probably go with you, though. Living on the edge of the Everfree Forest makes you a bit… jumpy.” It was Asriel’s turn to raise an eyebrow. “You’re one to talk.” Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. “Yeah, yeah. Laugh it up. We should get going, if we want to get there in time.” He started to walk down the small path that led from Fluttershy's house. Dash took to the air, hovering slightly in front of him with an air of impatience. "In time for what?" Rainbow shifted guiltily. "Oh, nothing." Asriel examined her expression closely. She didn't seem like she was planning something specifically for him. After all, they had only met a few minutes ago. Was it really some sort of predetermined appointment? It didn't seem likely. And she wouldn't look guilty if that really were the case. He looked up absently, noting that the sun was quite close to the horizon. Huh. Almost dinnertime. Asriel almost slapped his forehead. They're farmers, Asriel. Anyone, or in this case, anypony, would want to be their guests around dinnertime. He chuckled softly, now noticing the hunger in Rainbow's expression as she looked forward to her friend's cooking. I suppose we could move a bit faster... Once the farmhouse came into view, Rainbow landed, walking closely next to Asriel and patting him on the back with a wing. "Don't worry, squirt. Once Applejack sees you with me, she won't even give you a second glance. You'll be fine. Just you wait." Asriel's eyes widened slightly. She knew I was nervous... I didn't even say anything... Do I really have another friend already in this strange world? He suddenly felt quite guilty about analyzing her intentions of accompanying him. She really does want to make sure I'm safe. Looking back ahead at the farmhouse, he noticed the front door open and an orange mare trot out, this one without wings. "Howdy Rainbow!" She smirked. "What a strange coincidence, meeting you so close to mealtime." Asriel smiled in amusement. So I was half right. The farm pony then seemed to notice her friend's new companion. She started slightly at his odd appearance, but quickly recovered, a genuine smile on her face. "And who's your new friend?" She held out a hoof, which he shook. "Asriel." She smiled wider. "Applejack. Nice to meet ya." "Thanks." Asriel relaxed almost unnoticeably, relieved at how well she seemed to take the admittedly strange situation. Rainbow nudged him, winking. "Told you so." Applejack smiled slightly, then waved them in with a hoof. "Come on in, supper's almost ready." Once she made sure everyone was inside, she pushed the door closed with a click. "Hey, Granny! We have a few visitors!" "Granny's" voice came back from the kitchen. "Well, they'd better wipe their hooves! I'm not cleaning the floor twice today!" Rainbow froze at the entrance to the dining room, quickly backtracking to the mat. Asriel stood awkwardly to the side. He had already wiped his feet, of course, but he wasn't willing to go ahead without any "support." And felt rude to go ahead without their host. But Applejack simply smiled at him, guiding him forward, and leaving Rainbow to follow behind indignantly. When Asriel entered the room, the ponies there all reacted in different ways. An elderly greenish-colored ponywho was working in the kitchen (likely the "Granny" Applejack referred to), simply looked at him over the half-wall that separated them, nodded, and turned back to her work. The large red stallion looked at him suspiciously, but a glare from Applejack seemed to make him relax slightly. The small yellow filly, on the other hand, just seemed to look at him with wide-eyed curiosity. Introductions were traded with the prompting of Applejack, and he learned that their names were Granny Smith, Big Mac, and Apple Bloom, respectively. Apple Bloom's interest never seemed to wane, though, so after a sort of nonverbal agreement from Big Mac, he pulled out a chair next to the filly and sat down. Now with both parties sitting down, Asriel found himself at a perfect eye level with Apple Bloom. She blinked a little, surprised, then smiled slightly. She then looked at him suspiciously. "Wait a minute, how old are you? Most adults don't really pay attention to me this much." Asriel paused, trying to remember his previous "calculation" for Fluttershy. "Uh, well, ignoring all the weird time travel stuff, I think I'm about nine? Maybe ten?" Apple Bloom gaped. "Wait, so I'm technically older than you? But you looked so tall." He grinned. "Yep. But that's probably because I only stand on two feet. I hope you're not too much older, though." She quickly held up a hoof, shaking her head rapidly. "No, no. I'm only, like, eleven. Not that different at all." Her face brightened slightly. "So... are you staying here in Ponyville for a while, or just visiting?" "Ponyville?" She must mean the town nearby. Strange name for a town named by ponies, though. "Well, I hope so, at least. Ponies seem to be reacting well to me being, well.... different." Apple Bloom nodded in understanding. "Yeah...." "A good kind of different, though," she quickly added. "So... since you're staying a bit longer.... will I see you in school, then?" Asriel paused for a moment. "Huh, I didn't really think of that. Well, I suppose it would be fine, if everypony else is fine with it." Also, it means we can learn a lot more about this world. We've already proven we can't assume anything here. I know.... at least we speak the same language. "When does school start?" Apple Bloom looked slightly worried. "Well, it started a few weeks ago, but... I'm sure you'll be fine. Mrs. Cheerilee is usually nice about letting ponies catch up." Asriel blinked. That would be a... really fast integration. Frisk already knew what it was like to start school late. And he didn't even know what the name of the country they were in right now. Or even if that was the correct classification. But after so long, it would just be nice to have a friend again. Someone who wouldn't question who he was or where he came from, only paying attention to what was inside. Like what you did for me, Frisk. But when he looked over at Applebloom, there was no calculation, no hesitation, no fear. To her, he was just another slightly more interesting-looking kid. He smiled. "I don't know what the rules are for joining class, but I'll definitely try." Apple Bloom grinned brightly. "It sure will be nice to have somepony... uh, I mean somebody at school that I know." Asriel looked at her in surprise. "You don't know anyone yet? Are you new as well?" She looked down slightly. "Well, I had a few friends last year, but there was that Timberwolf thing that scared a lot of ponies. They had to move away with their parents." He put an arm around her comfortingly, then smiled. "Well, I lived in the Everfree for the last couple days. I don't think I'm exactly going to be scared away." A sobering thought struck him, and he removed his arm, sighing. "I don't think I'm going to be moving home anytime soon, either." Apple Bloom suddenly paused, looking at him intently. "What's wrong? "I don't really want to burden you with it." She put a hoof on his arm. "No, really. This sounds kinda important. And if it's important to you, it's important to me, too." "All right." Asriel looked around at the rest of the Apple family. Big Mac and Applejack were helping Granny in the kitchen with dinner, but he noticed that Rainbow was leaning towards them, listening in while trying to be subtle about it. And Applejack's ear would occasionally flick in their direction. I guess mentioning "time travel" in a public place wasn't such a good idea. "Well, let's just say home is very far away. I'm not sure I'll be able to go back, and even if I figure out a way, it won't be for a long time." Apple Bloom seemed to struggle a bit accepting such a vague answer, but she eventually nodded her head. Asriel, however, leaned closer, whispering into her ear. "I'll tell you more when we can talk in private. It's supposed to be a secret." Her smile immediately returned, brighter than before, and she gave a silent "oh!" of understanding. "Well, I hope to see you in school." "Yeah, me too," he said, marvelling at just how sincerely he meant that. They both turned back to the Apples' family dining table, just as Applejack and Big Mac returned to bring out the dishes. The steaming bread with fresh jam, rich cobbler, and salad laden with fresh tomatoes and cheese certainly was enough to attract his attention, but his mind was on something entirely different as he began to eat. As Frisk, there was always someone in the Underground that he could call "friend," or even "mother." Someone to laugh with, tell jokes to, or just talk with. And he learned that every single one of them had immense value. But the only person he ever told the truth to... the full truth... had to ask him directly. Yet within minutes of meeting this young pony sitting next to him, he already felt like he could reveal all his deepest secrets, all without judgement. His left hand reached up and felt the golden chain around his neck. Best Friend Asriel knew what that was like. The old Asriel. The Asriel from before all this mess. How long had he forgotten? Would he forget again, once this was all over? Was it really worth it? His hand clasped aroung the chain. It didn't matter. He REFUSED to forget. Author's Note Sorry this took so long. I actually had this written for a while. I finally got another physical writing notebook, and I write faster than ever before. I have the start of chapter four, another story idea, and about two and a half chapters of an entirely original new story. (Not based off of anything else, and no crossovers or humans.) The problem is the painful process of transferring it here from the journal. Paper to digits is always painful. But it at least means more quality editing, as I have to go over literally everything. So that's a major plus. Anyway, hope you enjoy. (I'm waiting on that other story until I at least finish the third chapter. Then I know whether I'm really going through with all of it. It's when I usually get a feel for the entire plot of the book, anyway.)
Chapter 4: PreludePrincess Celestia looked at the latest research report from her student. As she expected, it was a rather panicked one about the legends she had assigned her to read yesterday. Everything was going as planned. But she was no longer as confident that her plan would work. It all depended on Twilight making five friends, all in one day. Sure, she knew the ponies she tasked with the Celebration preparation would be perfect candidates, but who knows if they really were up for such an adventure? That they wouldn't just run away at the sight of real danger. Or even that they would like Twilight. Or that Twilight would even accept them as her friends. She no longer had the luxury of finding out. Everything was do or die. The first time. Even worse, her enemy might not have the same restriction. Celestia crumpled the letter she had prepared to send back. There was no longer room for secrecy. She could no longer be alone in this. She needed another brain on this to help out. Twilight needed to know the truth, from the beginning this time. Whether she could handle it or not... No, she had to. It was either that, or the world would freeze. Her pen met the parchment, as she began to compose a reply. Asriel burst through the door. "Fluttershy! I think I might have a digestive system! Do you have a bathroom?" The yellow pegasus opened her mouth, then closed it again. "Umm... just down the hall?" She pointed with a hoof. "Kaythanksmombye!" He ran off, leaving her bemused. She looked up at Harry the bear, who shrugged. He sure is strange. But he seemed... happier. She settled back down on her couch, smiling contentedly. "I'm sorry, I don't really know much about singing. You'd have to teach me, too. And if there's only one more day until this Summer Sun Celebration... I don't think I'd be much help." "No, no. That's fine. It was only if you wanted to. But if you can't help, it might be a bit boring for you. Maybe you could go into town? Only if you want to, of course. It would be more interesting than just watching me." Asriel looked down the road. "Don't worry. The ponies there are usually really nice." "All right... thanks." Don't worry, Asriel. Even Rainbow Dash stopped really quick once she realized we weren't trying to hurt Fluttershy. I know, but last time I went into a town... And I'll be right with you. These ponies are a lot more accepting than most humans. Besides, you aren't carrying my body. That does a lot for first impressions. Asriel sighed. All right... let's do this. "Ooh! I love meeting new people!" The violently pink pony in front of him seemed to just appear out of thin air. Suddenly reminded of the last person that did this, Asriel shuddered involuntarily. This pony shouldn't be underestimated. "So, what's your name? Mine's Pinkie Pie!" "Um... Asriel. Nice to meet you?" Pinkie leaned in closer. "Aaaand?" Asriel's eyes widened. "Uhhh... Frisk." Pinkie's smile widened to an almost impossible level. "Thanks! Expect a surprise party when you least expect it!" She put a hoof to her chin. "Wait a second..." Asriel chuckled. "Well, see you then, I guess." Pinkie Pie grinned again. "Sooner!" His smile grew. "All right then. See you Pinkie." "Bye!" She zipped off. Well, that was... interesting, I guess. Definitely. It's hard to imagine someone so... cheerful. You don't see that often in the Underground. You don't see that on the surface, either. But she seemed genuine enough. Still, we should be careful around her. Yeah... she knew I was here instantly. But she didn't attack us for it either. So either she doesn't know how it works... Either way... we should definitely be careful. Still, all her cheer seemed to be genuine. Let's just make sure to never get on her bad side. ...Agreed. ...Um... Frisk, there's a weird tan pony with a purple and blue mane who keeps following us. Yeah, I see her too. But she's just watching us, not attacking or anything. Let's just ignore her for now. SLAM Asriel rubbed his eyes as he got up from the dirt. "Oh, no, I'm so sorry!" Wait, that wasn't even an attack... He looked up at the pony responsible, a worried gray pegasus with a blonde mane. "Are you okay, mister? I swear, it was just an accident..." "It's... it's okay, miss..?" "Ditzy. Here, let me help you." She used her head to push him upright. "I'm so sorry, I didn't even see you there." "No, it's fine. No harm... done." And it was shockingly true. His health was barely down by one point. "If you're sure... Still, I kinda feel bad about it." She rustled in her bag. "Do you like muffins?" Asriel smiled as one was held out to him. He took it. "Thanks, Ditzy." "Well, uh... see you later!" She cringed. "Hopefully under better circumstances." Asriel watched her fly away. It was a bit erratic, but there was an odd sort of grace about it. He took a bite of the muffin. Asriel sat down on a nearby bench near the city center, just watching the ponies go by. Quite a few of them looked at him strangely, and some even shied back in fear, but those reactions quickly faded into vague acceptance. He was just another part of the town. That gave Frisk some pause. First it was monsters, but now ponies. New shapes did not seem to faze them whatsoever. Monsters he could understand. Every monster seemed to be unique, after all. But ponies all seemed to be like humans. All of them were pretty much the same general size. The same general shape. Yet they were perfectly okay with someone who walked on two legs, had horns, and... was basically a bipedal goat. Hey! I'm not saying that's a bad thing! Asriel was interested for a different reason. All these ponies, going about their day, seemed strange to him. There was nothing hovering over their heads. No fake smiles, no fake laughs. Just genuine happiness. Like that Pinkie Pie, but a bit less unsettling with its intensity. It wasn't like there was no conflict. They were sitting right near the market, so there was plenty of that. But it all seemed so... inconsequential. There was arguing, but no hate. Defeat, but no real sadness to come with it. Asriel, it all seems so... perfect here. Yeah, that's what worries me, Frisk. Nothing is. What do you mean? You think they're hiding some big secret or something? No... but there's always a balance somewhere. I'm just saying we need to be careful. Asriel walked down the road to Fluttershy's house, watching the sky change colors as the sun set. Beautiful, isn't it? Yeah. Is the surface like this on Earth? You never really do appreciate it until it's gone. ...Frisk, how long were you down there, really? You said it took three days to get back to the surface, but... how many times did you go back? Asriel... don't worry about it. It was worth it. Not being able to see the sun... that wasn't anything compared to what I had with you... with all of you. They yawned as he approached Fluttershy's door. Let's just get to sleep. Yeah. Tomorrow is a new day, and it isn't going anywhere. Author's Note Foreshadowing! A shorter chapter, to start this off again. Sorry for the long wait. Another chapter is going to come soon - this story is still going to be the next updated. But I felt the break should be here rather than somewhere else, story-wise. And for the Rarity fans out there, don't think I've forgotten about her. Just like the other characters, she gets a bit more characterization than the pilot episode, and that fits better in a different spot. Besides, I didn't want to just check off boxes of who he should meet. I hope I left a few things to look forward to as well. This isn't going to be just the pilot with a new character.
