Finn squints at the dark entrance to the cave. There's a glowing plaque over the doorway that reads simply, "SHOP". It looks pretty dim inside, the only light coming from sparkling gemstones set in the walls like those in the ceiling back in the WISHING ROOM. A couple of black shapes lurk inside, most likely the shop's counters and wares.
"...You okay?" the dummy asks, floating beside them.
Finn shakes themself. "Yeah. Let's go in."
They move quietly into the cave, trying not to trip over their own feet or the tiny stalagmites jerking up from the ground. They soon reach what is evidently the shop's main counter, hewn out of rough stone from the feel of it, and wait there, staring anxiously into the dark.
A lantern lights in the far corner of the cave, and Finn jumps, startled. Its light reveals the figure of a large humanoid tortoise, wearing an outfit like the ones that Finn associates with cartoon archaeologists and holding the lamp close to his bearded face. His right eye appears to be sealed shut, and he's missing a lot of teeth.
"Well, well, well," he says slowly, squinting at the newcomers with his one good eye. "What have we got here."
"Hello, Gerson," the dummy says importantly.
The tortoise stares at him. "Who are you?"
The dummy looks crestfallen.
"Hi! I'm Finn," Finn offers brightly, somewhat relieved that the shopkeeper doesn't remember their friend. No more dark reveals. "Nice to meet you!"
Gerson's eye gets even narrower, studying them. Then, slowly, he creaks his way over and sets the lantern down on the counter. He's about a foot and a half taller than Finn is, but the counter is so wide and they're so far apart that they barely have to look up to see him.
"Where'd you come from, kiddo? And what's that in your hand, there?"
Finn looks down at their hand, which is still clenched around the mask. "Oh! That's, uh..."
"It's part of their disguise," the dummy inserts.
"Looks awful familiar," the tortoise mutters, scrutinizing them. "Hmmm...." He leans back, and Finn feels a bit less conspicuous. "Whatcha up to, kid? Fixin' to buy something?"
Finn shakes their head sadly. "I don't have any monster money. We just came here to make sure you're safe."
"Safe, eh?"
"From the other human," Finn explains.
"The one that's killing everybody," the dummy adds dryly, just to clarify.
Gerson stares.
"We'll be going now," Finn says hastily. "Don't mean to take up so much of your time."
"Hold your horses, young whippersnapper," the tortoise interjects, stopping Finn in the act of pulling away from the counter. They look at him curiously; they've never been called a young whippersnapper before.
"Do you know what that symbol is?" Gerson asks, jerking a thumb back at a dark silhouette on the cavern wall.
Finn looks at it, trying to make out the details. A winged circle, rising over three triangles. An emblem. It's strangely familiar to them, somehow. Where had they seen it before?
Ah, right. Toriel. It was embroidered on her dress.
They shift their gaze back to the tortoise, now incredibly curious. "What is it?"
"Hmmmm," Gerson says, then laughs, breaking into a large, gapped smile. "Wah ha ha! Well, I suppose you don't. Them things the schools are teaching nowadays, all complete and utter nonsense, I tell ya. That's the Delta Rune, kiddo. Symbol of the Dreemurr family. Y'know, the big guys. The head honchos. You heard of the Dreemurr family?"
YOU ARE READING
UnderHappened
FanfictionThe Undertale Genocide Route is happening, but a new card has joined the deck: Finn, a quiet kid with a love for stuffed animals who falls into the Underground soon after Frisk. At first, it doesn't seem like there's much Finn can do, until they dis...
