Getting a foothold, Izuku noticed a path back across the ice. Deciding to explore a little, he slid across on his hands and knees to the other path.
"Aww, a snowman!" Izuku exclaimed.
"Wow, I've never had someone this excited to see me before," the snowman said.
Surprised, Izuku said excitedly as he inspected the snowman. "Wow, were you made like this? Or are you another kind of monster?"
"I guess I'm both." It replied. "Still, I would never be able to move from this place. Would you grant a snowman's request?"
"What do you need?"
"Could you take a piece of me throughout your journey? I can use what magic I have to make it last. This way, I can see the world?"
"Ok, I'll make sure it'll be an experience."
Bundling a piece of itself, it gave it to Izuku. "It can experience the world from your bag, so don't worry too much, take care, little one!" The snowman waved its stick arm as Izuku continued
-
"Sans, you lazy bones. Why do you feel the need to sleep all the time?!"
Sans shugged. "Dunno, my eyesockets just get heavy when it's cold out."
"Ugh, we don't even need to sleep! The least you could do is stay aware of your surroundings. Must I implement Undyne's awareness training to sharpen your senses?" Papyrus suggested, a gleam in his eye.
"What are you talking about, Paps? I'm very aware. Right now, I'm even more aware of you."
"Oh, really? Then what's your awareness telling you about this place, huh?" he said skeptically.
"Well, I know that the humans been here for a while now." Sans grinned, pointing his thumb to the path.
Startled, Papyrus whipped around to see Izuku standing before a patch of ground, watching the conversation in curiosity.
With a slight coloring on his cheekbones, Papyrus cleared his throat. "I apologise that you had to witness that human. However, this is where your journey comes to an end. For you see, what lies ahead of you is one of my dastardly puzzles! This is the invisible maze, without the ability to see the walls, you'll be shocked with electricity with every failed attempt. Once you've been defeated, I'll take you to the king!"
Izuku looked at Sans incredulously as he mentally screamed. "Seriously, Sans?! I think this is plenty to be worried about!"
Sans, sensing the panic in Izuku's stare, shrugged and lazily gestured for him to go on.
Getting used to the sheer craziness of the underground, Izuku consciously took a step forward.
"YAAAAAAA!" Papyrus yelped as his body was slightly charred and smoked. "What the? SANS: WHAT DID YOU DO?!" Papyrus stomped.
"Uh, I think the kids are supposed to hold the orb."
Papyrus's face blanked for a second before pulling an orb from what looked like from knowhere. "Oops, silly me!" He scratched the back of his head. "Human! This orb is what gives you the shock. However, I have forgotten to give it to you. Please hold on a moment."
Treading to the human, Papyrus left what looked like obvious footprints in a fresh layer of snow, his trail marking the path through the maze. Setting the orb in Izuku's hands, he rushed back to the end and turned back to Izuku. "Ok, you can go now!"
Izuku took a moment to observe the trail in the snow. As easy as it was to follow the path, he still would like to avoid the potential of a shock if he slips. Izuku's eyes widened, and he grinned as a metaphorical lightbulb lit above his head. Tossing the orb aside and a sufficient distance away, he walked through the maze with a mischievous smile on his face.
Papyrus, mouth agape with the audacity of the human's smile as he walked up to him, had him frozen to his spot.
"Heh heh heh." Sans chuckled, nugging Papyrus's arm. "Pretty shocking how clever the kid is, huh?"
Papyrus's eyes narrowed at Izuku. Feeling the stare, Izuku began to get nervous, cold sweat running down his head.
Huffing, papyrus turned away. "Yes, brother, quite clever. HOWEVER. This is only your first obsical!" The next ones will not be so easy!"
Papyrus strutted away. "Come, Sans, I must make sure my next puzzle has no workarounds like that one."
Sans patted Izuku's shoulder. "See, kid, nothing to worry bout, you got a good noggin." He said before walking back where Izuku had come from.
Proud of his solution, Izuku couldn't help but feel a warmth in his chest as he continued on.
-
"EHGH!" Izuku exclaimed as he slipped on the ice again. "NOOOOO."
The snowball melted
Huffing, Izuku ran back the path and around again to get another snowball. After trying and failing the minigame over and over, he had become determined to get the high score.
Locking in, he skillfully kicked the snowball over to the hole. Managing to steer the ball away from the ice, he had finally completed the game.
Bravery. Justice. Integrity. Kindness. Perseverance. Patience. Using these, you were able to win at "Ball Game." Earned 50G
After reveling in the afterglow of his little accomplishment, he backtracked to the nicecream salesmanster as a reward before heading on his way. Seeing Papyrus and Sans around the corner, he popped the last bit of cone into his mouth and waved at the brothers.
"Neyh heh heh, Greetings, human! I hope you're ready for this next trap! I'd like to tell you about it, but Sans has finally decided to show some initiative and prepared his own puzzle for you!" Papyrus glowed as he gestured for Sans to do his thing.
...
After some silence. "Sans, where's the puzzle?"
"Oh, it's over there." Sans pointed between himself and Izuku."
"What?" Papyrus deadpanned
"Trust me, bro, there's no way he can solve it."
Izuku, walking to the paper, picked it up and read it.
Monster Kidz Word Search.
Izuku smiled at the absurd puzzle and pocketed it for later.
"Sans! That did nothing!"
"Whoops, my bad, I should've used today's crossword instead."
"What?! Crosswords are so easy, and even so, it still wouldn't do anything!"
Sans shrugged, "Welp, guess the kid won this round."
"HUGH, very well. At least I can test out my next puzzle on them! Nyeh heh heh heee!" he laughed, running to his puzzle.
---
Ok, I think I got a roll going with how I'll be doing chapters from now on. At the minimum, I'll have 1 chapter every 2-3 days. Please tell me how i did and if i need to correct or change something due to my imperfect writing.
P.S. whats a fic you've read that you would love to see in a better format or revived? I remember one Chinese Fic that had a guy with the infinity gauntlet and the "Stones" used in it being devil fruits. Awesome concept, but the fic was destroyed with the classic Chinese -Ist natures. (Meaning Racist, Sexist, Nationalist, etc.) Like I'm reading something about getting stronger and friends! I don't care how much you hate a race or want every woman alive. Just sucks to see poisoning the space and giving other Chinese fics a bad rep.