Challenge #01037-B305: Slow Acceptance

Monsters making their first steps (and missteps) on the surface -- Gallifreya

[AN: Potential spoilers for the True Ending of the game ahoy.]

The Great Papyrus strode masterfully towards the humans. Just down the path, he could see an absolute host of humans having picnics in a park.

The perfect venue for a Welcome Out party! They must have known!

He burst from relative concealment and threw his hands up high. "Good news, Humans! The Underground is now able to come and join you in your party!"

He didn't get much further than that, because the assembled humans started screaming and carrying on. Children ran for their parents. Parents ran for their children. Some cowered where they were and cried for safety. Some ran. Some began picking up objects they could throw.

Papyrus began to suspect that many of these humans were not like Frisk at all. He instinctively reached for Sans' hand, and found it reaching for his.

"You and me against the world, bro," said Sans. His magic eye was glowing.

Her Majesty Queen Toriel screamed Frisk's name. And suddenly the child was between him and the other humans. Arms and legs akimbo. Stubbornly guarding them all.

"Step away from the monsters, kid," one of the humans demanded. "Come on over to me. You're not in trouble."

Frisk shook their head. They were determined to stand their ground.

"My child," cooed Toriel. She was trying to wheedle. "Come back behind me, if you please. You will be safer behind me."

"Get away from the monsters before they hurt you," said the human. They had a large rock. And seemed ready to throw it. "You're going to be okay. Come on."

Frisk took a deep breath. "Don't. Hurt. My. Friends!"

It was the most words Frisk had ever spoken in a row. And definitely the most they had spoken at any volume above a mumble. The effort showed, since they were trembling and out of breath.

Toriel gasped. Sans was so shocked that his eye went out.

"Human," soothed Papyrus, kneeling so he was on Frisk's eye level. "Frisk... Maybe you should go with Toriel. I, the Great Papyrus, will protect you."

"Maybe it was a mistake to come out at all," hedged Toriel. "We can go back, can we not? We can dig more caverns..."

Frisk turned their head enough to meet her eyes. "No, mom."

Of course the authorities turned up. Tensions were high. Actual guns came out, though briefly. Frisk and the little dinosaur kid explained. The kid did more talking than Frisk. There was no need to fight. There was no need for fear.

Child Protection Services came with something much scarier. Paperwork. Frisk, stony silent in their interview chambers, was revealed as an orphan on a permanent rotation of foster houses. The humans didn't like that Frisk was largely silent. They didn't like that Frisk was strange. They didn't like that Frisk filled their backpack with food at every possible opportunity. They didn't like that Frisk was so huggy.

The monsters liked Frisk just fine, that way.

"We can understand them perfectly," said Toriel. She held Frisk gently in her lap as the silent child absently stroked her fur. "I do not understand why you have a problem. Frisk will have a loving home. They have made many friends. We can see to their education and welfare just as much as you can. Possibly better. Is that not so?"

"Well, yes... but..." hedged the CPS representative. "You're monsters."

Sans had the golden words, at last. "We may be monsters, but we ain't monstrous. You understand?"

CPS monitored Frisk and their new monster friends on a daily basis for the first month. When it became clear that they were better parents than most humans, they dropped the monitoring to a weekly visit. Then to once a month.

There were some minor problems with other foster kids running off to live with monsters, but the monsters were so genial and welcoming to the newcomers that it ceased to become a problem. It became just another avenue for kids with nowhere else to go.

Most of the monsters stayed by Mount Ebott. They were happy, just to be able to see real stars at night. Some wanted to see the world, but did so with extreme caution.

Humans were still afraid. But they were getting better.

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