A tall figure loomed over an echo flower, its bioluminescent light glowing up his front, though he was a mere shadow from behind. He wore a white t-shirt over his body of green-blue scales, with ripped jeans and leather boots to match. His head was shaved bald, but a thin line of violet hair could be made out.
He was stroking his chin as he stared at the echo flower, which was unusually silent. He nudged it with his boot to no effect.
Cautiously, he crouched down, leaning closer to the flower, curious now. It was as he'd expected. The last voice to speak to it had been whispering. Barely audible.
He made out two words.
"Behind you."
With a spin, a cyan katana emerged out of thin air, pulsing with energy as he knocked a similarly-colored arrow out of the air that had nearly collided with him.
The arrow was vaporized as a much smaller figure charged at him, holding the same weapon he had in her hands as she moved forward with intent. His blade met hers nearly effortlessly, but he was forced to block several more times for her rapid strikes, before performing a parry and striking back. He wasn't surprised when she matched his speed and tenacity perfectly, but surprise did rise in him when she angled her katana to the side, before knocking it out of his grip.
His katana vanished into nothing before it even hit the ground as he smiled down at the girl, who was now pointing her katana at his chest.
"Not bad, Undyne," he commented. "At this rate, you might even pass me."
Undyne's katana disappeared as she returned his smile, though hers was much wider, baring her fangs in full. "Think I got what it takes to be Captain?" she asked. At this, he chuckled.
"Not yet," he admitted, and her face fell, prompting him to continue. "Yet, Undyne. Keep training, and you just might."
The two began to walk away from the echo flower, deeper into the darker parts of the cave- though that was hardly an issue for them. Their golden eyes shone in the dark like small lamps, and from their perspective, they could see quite clearly even in the pitch black.
"I still don't like using the sword," Undyne stated.
"Katana," her father corrected.
"Whatever," the girl shrugged. "I'm good with it but I hate how it feels."
"We've been using katanas since before Flouis Dhelaron was Captain," her father stated. "It's tradition."
At this, Undyne fell silent. Her father was very serious about the tradition of the Dhelaron family, which dated back for as long as there was history. They were named after the first aquatic monster, who was revered as a God to monsterkind, alongside others like Arachne, Orion, and Guija, just to name a few.
The Dhelaron district came into view, a neighborhood of houses, some built on the stone of the caves, a few others integrated into the deep pools of water that dotted the Glowing Cavern, which this province was named due to the hue along the walls left by the echo flowers that stretched its length. The Snowy Forest was too cold for the flowers to thrive, and the Crimson Cavern was too hot. Then there were the cities at either end of the Underground where... well, one she'd never visited, and the other was too industrial for plantlife like that.
She preferred it out here. It was peaceful. Quiet.
They approached their home, a uniquely-designed abode in the shape of a monstrous fish face, and entered to find it empty save for the table, piano, the usual. Her father let out a sigh, before calling; "Ravin!"
No response. He shook his head. "He's probably out talking with the Puzzle Master again," he stated. "Sometimes I swear that boy has more interest in puzzles than battle."
