Everything seemed to be move in slow motion, and yet happen very quickly, after Frisk shot SOUL bullet at the bomb. One moment they were standing there, watching the yellow dart of light fly through the air, prepared to dodge as best as they can. However, they felt a hand a grasp their shoulder, and then the next, they were held in an embrace as Alicia shielded them from any shockwave and debris from the explosion. When the explosion seemed to have finish in that moment, and the area had silenced, they looked up to Alicia in a bit of surprise and awe, and they answered her as the ringing faded, "
Thank you, Alicia,"
Frisk saw movement in the corners of their eyes and they looked to see that it was the Poppy Bros. They listened as the second brother spoke about how they could have chosen to kill them when they weren't paying attention, but instead chose to save them. They looked to the first Poppy Bro when they heard sniffling, and they were surprised to see the Poppy Bro fall in front of their feet and apologize so fervently. Frisk tried to calm the brother, "
Hey, it's okay. It's alright,"
Frisk's attention soon diverted to the second brother who told the first to get up and then hopped to the center of the room saying that they were going to repay the favor by getting them through the fourth floor. Apparently a friend of theirs was there. They were silent as the brothers spoke to each other, the first questioning the second over the possibility that they were betraying Dedede. The fact that the King was acting strangely and hadn't treated the brothers well seemed to help convince them to help the party.
When the brothers told the group to follow them, and the door appeared, Frisk nodded with a smile and followed the brothers, knowing that Alicia, Cloud, Phoenix, and Banjo Kazooie would follow them.
As they made their way down the stairs, Frisk noticed the air became damp, just like it did when Frisk visited the Underground's Waterfall area. The only difference between here and there was that the air here was thick with the scent of salt. So...the water in this area is sea water? That had to be the reason why. It made Frisk curious as to who Fatty was.
Soon enough, the group and the Poppy Brothers reached the Fourth floor, which was nothing but a dock road over a black sea. Frisk looked to the brothers as the second started calling out for Fatty. Suddenly the surface was breached and Frisk watched in awe and amazement, their mouth now a wide open smile, as a giant blue whale leaped up into the air and soared above the eight of them before landing in the water again, and resurfacing to meet them.
After the Senior Brothers officially introduced Fatty, and while the whale waved a fin at them, Frisk waved back at Fatty in kind as though to say "
Nice to meet you!" to Fatty.
The child listened as the brothers spoke with Fatty and explained what happened and why they wanted to give the group a free pass. Thankfully, Fatty seemed okay with the idea after the First Poppy Brother backed the Second Poppy Brother's words. They listened as Fatty gave the warning that the other bosses coming up were not going to be as friendly as him and the Poppy Brothers.
Frisk looked to the Poppy Brothers when they said that it was time to part and said their well-wishes and good byes. Frisk nodded to them and answered "
Thank you for your help and the warning, you guys. We really appreciate it," When the first Poppy Brother thanked Frisk for saving him, they answered "
Don't worry about it! I'm glad you're not hurt," They then said to the brothers, showing a wide smile of genuine kindness and happiness, "
You guys take care! Have a fun vacation, alright?"
They then turned to the rest of the group, "
Let's get going everyone!"
The fact that they had managed to spare three lives filled Frisk with DETERMINATION!
Shantae immediately spotted the dragonfly out of all of the sleeping customers, and she let out a sigh of relief (that she didn't realize she had been holding). After Sparx asked if everything was okay and what had happened, Shantae nodded and started "
Yeah, everything's alright now. How about you?" Before she could continue and talk about what happened, a talking turtle in some kind of mechanical moving chair approached the both of them first, and introduced himself as Bentley. Huh...he reminded Shantae of Hypno Baron and Techno Baron combined. Maybe he was a distant cousin? So he was here to help with the Mugen Viruses. After he asked if she just came back from a mission herself, she started "
I...wouldn't call it a mission but yes, I did just come back from something important,"
Before she could even think of introducing herself, another person entered the room. Shantae turned to see...what the heck? The guy had a cup for a head...
...What?
Okay, she was sure that this guy would throw her zombie friend, Rottytops, for a loop. Did he even have a brain? Was the liquid inside the cuphead the brain?
She shook her head, getting rid of the morbidly curious thoughts, and listened as the guy introduced himself as...Cuphead. That was a fitting name...
After he asked if they were all here for the Mugen Virus, Shantae nodded to Cuphead and answered in a friendly manner, "
Yeah, so far, we're all here for the Mugen Virus,"
She then looked to see James enter and he started speaking with Sparx, she wanted to go up to him and thank him for his help earlier back in the Arena, but first, she needed to introduce herself to the two who initiated the conversation with her. She started "
It's nice to meet you, Bentley and Cuphead. My name is--"
Before she could finish, a familiar voice spoke up, calling her by name, and she looked to see that the source was none other than Taric. She greeted "
Oh! Hi Taric," She then asked "
I'm guessing you're here to help out as well? You've got really good timing!"
How did he know? Unless it was all coincidental?