"((The Monster With No Name))"

Before the Anger side story:

"((The Monster with No Name))"

I recently finished the first side story, which was just a test and hardly contributed to the episodes themselves. Now that it's done, I'm making a post where you can read it all in one spot instead of having to flick through all of the links.

Click "keep reading" to read the story! ;)

(1) Elaine was nothing but a small, barely-teenage girl when she stormed to Undyne's doorstep in search of refuge. She knocked at the door with the tips of her feet and waited for a response. She waited all night.

(2) Elaine heard footsteps behind her and quickly shot up off the doorstep. An unsuspecting Undyne stepped into her yard to see the young girl standing defiantly.

(3) Undyne noticed Elaine's eyebags and, being well acquainted with young, aspiring royal guards begging to be taught, smiled and said, "Have you been here all night?" Elaine stared, stone-faced. "Yes. I need to talk to you."

(4) Undyne titled her head and spoke humorously, "You're not trying to challenge me, are you?" she was referring to Elaine's poor condition; exhausted, dirty, and somewhat wounded. Elaine shook her head. Amused and mildly concerned, Undyne invited the strange girl into her home to chat.

(5) Undyne gestured for Elaine to sit and she awkwardly obliged. "So, a random armless kid I've never met wants to talk. I have to say, I'm intrigued" Undyne said between a laugh, setting her coat and bags on the ground.

(6) "My sister stole my arm prosthetics... and she died with them." Elaine explained. Undyne's tone immediately shifted from lighthearted to serious. She sat across from Elaine and cleared her throat, "Well, I'm sorry for your loss."

(7) “Actually, that's kind of what I wanted to talk about. I ain't got any more family left… You're kind of my last option.” Elaine bounced her leg nervously, intimidated by Undyne's stature. Undyne scoffed and raised her eyebrows, “Well, you must be pretty desperate considering we are strangers.”

(8) Elaine temporarily lost her determined posture and mumbled, “Yeah…” There was silence as they both recollected themselves. Undyne broke the quiet, “I was… in a similar position when I was a kid, about ten. I know you don't want to hear this- I know I didn't- but… you gotta get a caretaker.”

(9) Elaine recoiled subtly. She was dreading those words. Leaning back in her chair, Elaine said, “I don't want some royal stranger taking care of me.” Undyne shook her head, “Nobody does, but-” Undyne paused and quickly raised her hand to her mouth like she thought of something.

(10) “I do know somebody who recently became a caretaker.” Undyne continued, “He's one of the sweetest, most understanding people I've ever met. He's been having trouble even finding somebody to take care of since most children, y’know, run. Kinda like what you're doing.” Elaine sighed, “Okay… and who's this ‘wonderful person’?”

(11) Elaine jumped out of her chair and exclaimed, “PAPYRUS!? He's a caretaker?? When did that- how did that-” Undyne stood up to calm Elaine down. “It was very recently. I can pull some strings with the royal caretakers, easy. But do me a favor and don't mention me to Papyrus when you meet him, okay?”

(12) Seeing as the conversion was finished, Elaine started to leave, but was stopped by Undyne. “Wait,” she said, “I need a name to refer to you as.” Elaine made a dreadful sigh, knowing this question would come up. “Legally? ‘Elaine’. But nobody has ever called me that before.”

(13) “So what do they call you?” Undyne asked. Elaine shook her head and started a list, “Kid, Armless, Trippy, little Jailbird… really anything you can think of. It was the same with my mom and sister. I never even learned what their real names were.” Undyne tilted her head, shocked, “What a strange tradition. What about you? What do you WANT to be called?”

(14) Elaine had a stupid look on her face; brow furrowed, eyes wide. She had never been asked that before. Elaine inhaled, fixed her face, and looked Undyne right in the eye, “Elaine. I want to be called Elaine.”

(15) So she was. All through the process of being assigned the caretaker, people looked right at her and called her “Elaine.” She’d never felt such a feeling before. All the way to Papyrus’s house, hearing the door open, seeing his face. He smiled and said, “Elaine, it’s nice to meet you!”

(16) Elaine and Papyrus had gotten to know each other. Months had passed. They were close, like an older, responsible brother and a found sister. Papyrus wasn’t what Elaine had expected. He didn’t try to be a “father figure”, but his presence brought the same comforting energy anyway. But there was one question Elaine had: why would Papyrus quit being a royal guard?

(17) One day, Elaine had come back from royal guard training with the question burning in her mind. She mustered her courage and asked, “Papyrus, why did you… quit?” He was sitting on the couch and slowly turned to face her, like he had expected it. He sighed, “I assume they’ve taught you all about the Goddess?” Elaine raised her eyebrows. This was not the answer she’d expected.

Episodes with this ((side story)): 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39!

(18) “Of course I know about her. She’s the basis of the entire royal guard!” Although it wasn’t relevant, Elaine felt compelled to say, out of pride, that, “When I was 10, I met her! Well, I think. I’m not sure, but she looked pretty human-like.” Papyrus stood from the couch and smoothed his jacket, “I met her too. Before everyone knew she was the… fallen one. I didn’t have the knowledge I do now and…” Papyrus looked uncomfortable, “Well, let’s just say, if she ever comes back, she’s not gonna be very happy with me. So I left the royal guard. I don’t deserve to protect her.”