"FREYA!" a faint shout was heard, echoing through the corridors of the Ruins' royal chambers.

"FREYA!" the voice repeated rather loudly. Footsteps were heard outside, followed by a gentle knock on one of the chambers' golden vine-engraved white doors.

"YOUR HIGHNESS, THE QUEEN IS EXPECTING YOU DOWNSTAIRS, AND IT WILL BE A GOOD IDEA IF YOU'D BE GOING THERE RIGHT AWAY." The voice, now near, bid as the owner of the said voice continued to knock.

"I'm coming!" answered a softer voice from inside the chamber.

"You better get going, Freya. You don't want Mother to come up here and scold you like last time. You know how she doesn't like you being late." She heard another voice warn inside her.

"I know that, Chara. Just let me finish this and I'll get going." She muttered, fiddling with her black ink-stained paintbrush, continuing to spread more black paint on the canvas in front of her.

"What's even the point of doing that... that thing?" sarcasm was heard in the voice of Chara, as she appeared in front of the girl, rolling her crimson red eyes with hands on her hips.

"It's called art, Chara." She giggled, rolling her own eyes, "And it's supposed to look like this."

"I don't care about how it'll look! I'd care if you'll just obey and head downstairs." Chara scolded, earning Freya a sigh of defeat, "Alright, if that'll make you happy."

Removing her black paint-blotted apron, she dashed outside her bedroom, her chocolate brown shoulder-length hair flowed in the air behind her. As she swiftly ran, she adjusted the lavender band of her powder blue tea gown, making sure to look tidy in front of the Queen. Arriving at the huge purple golden vine-engraved doors of the Ruins' throne room, she gave a little knock, alerting the herald inside.

"Your Majesty. May I announce the arrival of Her Highness, Princess Freya Licht Mercy Dreemurr!" the royal herald proclaimed, as trumpets blew, signaling the presence of their beloved princess.

As the doors slowly opened, she stepped inside the humungous throne room, its walls all painted a light shade of lavender, windows draped with cream-colored curtains, and a bright well-decorated golden chandelier that lit the whole room as it hung on the very center of the chamber's ceiling. Freya did a little curtsy to show respect, before greeting, "Good morning, Mother."

The Queen who sat on her shining golden throne located at the very end of the room, stood up, smiling at her daughter, "And to you too, my child."

Her mother, a goat monster, walked down to her daughter, her long flowing purple gown swayed, as her golden crown glistened through not just the chandelier above, but the glimmering sun too. Her oxblood eyes beamed at the princess, before giving her a warming embrace.

"I just don't understand what keeps you busy whenever you wake up. You always awake early, but arrive here late, how come?" the Queen asked, pulling away from the hug. "I'm sorry, Mother. Some hobby of mine that I wanted to keep up with---" Freya shrugged, but before she could mention that hobby, her mother beat her into it, "Painting? Why that's wonderful, my child! Make sure to show me any of your work, I'm sure it will be lovely." She smiled.

I doubt you'll be happy to see what I actually painted, thought the princess, crossing her fingers. Gazing lovingly at Freya, her smiling lips died down to a frown, her soft eyebrows furrowing slightly.

"Freya... I've already told you many times that you must not open your eyes!" a scold from her mother interrupted her thoughts. "Oh, sorry!" she quickly apologized, closing her orbs shut.

"Please heed my warnings, Freya. Remember, close them---" the queen started, "When there's sign of light, open when there is no sight, I know that, Mother. It just happened to be like this." The girl finished, shrugging.

Though sounded stupid, closing her eyes has a very peculiar special ability. The ability to sense the sight of light. Even when shut, she could still view everything in the outside world, as long as there's light. Her mother thought that closing them would be a safe idea, for by opening reveals all kinds of hidden dimness that may lure her away from the light that purified and coveted her.

"I'm glad you remembered, dear." Her mother smiled, "I'm only worried you'll stumble upon darkness. It is not safe if you bump into such obscurity! Recall what I taught you about them."

"They're selfish, greedy, ungrateful, and cruel monsters." Freya muttered, not even willing to admit they really are. She for once or twice, did not believe so, unless she of course, see for herself.

"You're getting bolder and bolder every year. Look at you, growing up so fast, and tomorrow will be your eighteenth birthday, which we'll be discussing later on." Said the Queen, then frowned, "I'm losing my little Lucy(light) day by day. One day, you'll have to rule the kingdom, taking responsibility."

Noticing her mother's saddened expression, she embraced her once more, giving her a reassuring smile, "Don't worry, Mother. Even if I grow old, hair turns white, I'll always be your little Lucy."

"I know that, child. And I love you so much."

"I love you too, Mother."

"Queen Toriel." The herald called out, breaking the moment, "I'm truly sorry to interrupt, but we have a situation?"

Toriel arched her furry eyebrow, before nodding. "I'm sorry, my child, but mum has to handle this first, ok? You go back upstairs, and continue whatever you were doing." She said, kissing her daughter's forehead.

"Yes, Mother."

She watched her mother disappear through the doors, leaving her alone. Not totally alone, however. She glanced at Chara's specter, keeping herself from dozing off. Clearly, she hated cheesy moments.

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"I JUST COULDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY YOU'D PAINT SOMETHING AS HIDEOUS AS THAT." Freya's personal royal guard who called her earlier said, his gloved hands holding his chin in confusion, as he stared blankly at her painting.

Her painting, which she knew could cause trouble if anyone finds out, consists of dark shades of paint, mostly gray and black. She painted silhouettes of trees, mountain, and clouds found at the other end of the kingdom; Stygia. Ever since her mother taught her of how awful this 'darkness' is, she became very curious. And its color's peculiarity only peaked her curiosity up to a dangerous level. A level where she'll be drawing this strange interest inside her, that may also be a huge risk if she'll ever be caught.

She never did understand the darkness. Maybe because of her kind nature, she believed everything has that special goodness, beauty hidden beneath them, even the darkness. Her mother taught her, reminded her every day the atrocity of this said obscurity. However, she did not believe in every single one of them.

"I MEAN, IT'S NOT HIDEOUS, I HAVE TO ADMIT, BUT THE DARKNESS IS NOT AN APPROPRIATE THING TO CREATE ART WITH."

"I just thought that it's an interesting subject to..."

"THE DARKNESS? INSTERESTING? CLEARLY, IF ONLY YOUR EYES ARE OPEN THEN YOU'LL SEE THE MONSTROSITY THAT ROAMS INSIDE ITS GLOOMY FORESTS." He shrugged, crossing his arms.

"Papyrus, don't talk like that. You didn't even go there, and it's true the darkness could be, well... Dim, but that doesn't mean it isn't beautiful." Said Freya, not halting from scribbling with paint.

"BEAUTIFUL? I APOLOGIZE, YOUR HIGHNESS, BUT THE OBSCURITY IS THE OPPOSITE OF BEAUTIFUL. IT'S DARK, IT'S MUCKY, IT'S FILTHY, IT'S HIDEOUS, IT'S... IT'S... YOU GET WHAT I SAY!" the tall skeleton exclaimed, flailing his arms about, "AND THE MONSTERS THERE? SAME WITH WHERE THEY LIVE RIGHT NOW. THEY'RE NOTHING BUT DIRTY, EVIL, UNGRATEFUL, AND GOOD FOR NOTHING PEOPLE!" he added, crossing his arms, as he turned to face the wall.

"And your brother?" Silence followed after this, as Papyrus laid down his arms, sighing, "MY BROTHER..."

"Oh, I'm very sorry, Papy. I didn't mean to mention him..."

"NO, IT'S FINE, YOUR HIGHNESS." He said, facing Freya with a reassuring smile, "IN FACT, I WAS ABOUT TO BRING HIM UP TO THIS TOPIC. I WONDER HOW HE'S DOING NOW?" he gazed at the open window to look at the darkness beyond.

She remembered how Papyrus told her stories about her great older brother. Though lazy, he has that kind and caring soul, that's what the royal guard told her. Every moment he shared with his brother was pure light, until the Great Underground War came along to extinguish that light. He mentioned how he was separated from him after the disaster, him in the light side, his brother to the latter.

"I'm sure he's doing fine, and I'm sure he must be looking for you. I mean that's what brothers are for, right? Caring for each other?" stated Freya, holding her guard friend's arm in comfort.

"I DON'T KNOW, HUMAN." He muttered, as Freya's eyes widened inside at the name. It has been very long since he called her that, back when she first fell. She remembered how bashful she was when she first met the monsters, and Papyrus was the one who made her feel welcomed, with the huge smile in his face as he greeted her, "GREETINGS, HUMAN! IT IS I, THE GREAT PAPYRUS! WELCOME TO THE UNDERGROUND, YOUNG HUMAN, FOR WE HAVE CAPTURED YOU!" Ok, so the last part was kinda weird, but at least the skeleton wasn't that bad.

"I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF HE HIMSELF IS CONSUMED BY THE OBSCURITY, LIKE THE REST OF THE OTHER MONSTERKIND." Added Papyrus, breaking the princess' thoughts.

"I believe not! He must be using the image of his brother to keep his sanity. His light. So don't lose hope, Papyrus." She exclaimed, standing up.

"THANK YOU, PRINCESS!" he said, beaming brightly, then glanced back at the painting, sighing, "SOMETIMES, I WORRY HER MAJESTY WOULD FIND OUT. AND IF SHE DID FIND OUT THAT YOU WERE PAINTING BLACK ALL ALONG, SHE WILL SURELY NOT JUST PUNISH YOU, BUT WOULD ALSO PROMPTLY CUT MY HEAD OFF IF SHE KNOWS THAT I WAS AWARE OF THIS!"

"Don't worry, she won't find out, and I won't tell her you were involved in this, I promise." She reassured, sticking her pinky out. She quickly thought of how funny it was to think that despite her intelligence, her mother never really knew she's painting since ten.

"YOU BETTER BE." He replied, "AND THE FACT THAT YOUR MOTHER DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THAT YOU HAVE BEEN RECENTLY TALKING TO THE GHOST OF HER PREVIOUS DAUGHTER, CHARA?" he added, stubbornly, "I'M GUESSING SHE'S THE ONE WHO THOUGHT YOU ABOUT THIS DARKNESS." He crossed his arms 'as-a-matter-of-factly'.

"Oh why that ungrateful buffoon! It wasn't my idea you're asking for a death wish!" Chara gritted her teeth in annoyance, "Maybe he's also asking for one!"

Chara has been following the girl ever since she moved in to the Ruins. Her 'soul' at least. You see, the real Chara is back there in the Kingdom of Stygia, ruling with her dad, as princess. The walking spirit that has been 'guiding' the princess for almost eight years is the only goodness left from the dusk-consumed human. Through all those years, the specter helped her, and kept her company whenever she's down, like a real sister.

"WELL, WE BETTER BE OFF." He said, changing the topic, unknowing that Chara was currently punching him straight in the chest plate, even though she'll only pass through, "I MUST NOW ESCORT YOU BACK DOWNSTAIRS TO HAVE BREAKFAST. QUEEN TORIEL MUST BE FINISHED WITH WHATEVER MATTER SHE'S HANDLING."

Freya gave a deep sigh. Another day, she thought. Glancing back at the window, she squinted hard to find a rather peculiar sighting amongst the darkness at the edge of their kingdom. Strange, she thought. Is that what she think it is?

"Blue." She muttered.

"Sorry, come again?" asked Chara, confused.

"I need blue paint." She mumbled, ignoring the spirit's question, "Gotta add some finishing touches."

"Now?" exclaimed Chara in disbelief.

Again, she ignored the girl, going back to work, lightly pressing her blue-stained paintbrush into her dark-themed painting to add a questionably small blue dot in the midst of the black silhouettes of pine trees.

"PARDON IF I ASK, BUT WHAT EXACTLY IS THAT?" the tall skeleton asked, gesturing near the painting.

"I don't think..." Freya breathed in suspense.

"There's no light in Stygia after all..."