Tackling Ain't for Everyone

The gym teacher had always been something of a joke at Mount Ebott K-12; until recently, the position had been held by a wheezing, doddering old gnome of a man whose entire teaching method was dumping a mesh bag of basketballs and jump-ropes into the middle of the floor and tottering back to his office as quickly as his scrawny chicken legs could take him. Rumor had it that his spirit was bound to the school; he seemed incapable of retiring despite being waist-deep in the grave.

Understandably, it was somewhat of a shock to the seventh period students when they shuffled and sauntered into the gym, doubtless ready for another easy day, only to be faced with a tall woman with aquamarine skin and a violently red ponytail, her powerful arms bare in a muscle shirt and her feet laced into steel-toed combat boots. Some of the brasher students had made the mistake of mouthing off, refusing to take instruction from a monster…until she had soundly kicked Joseph's ass in a push-up contest, switching to one arm and using her free hand to offer it and ask if he needed help.

Daniel Walker, the football coach, had taken a liking to her and often asked her to come to the practices; she hit harder than a linebacker and scorned the padding, flashing fanged smiles at whoever she stared down, her single eye glinting with more life than the seniors ever showed. Jasper, too, enjoyed her company. She understood the importance of speed and agility instead of the simple bash-'n-smash style favored by a previous coach, moving with the ease of a dancer amid bulls, untouchable and graceful even when tackling someone so hard they slid a full five yards while she bounded away unscathed.

But if she knew…

The final bell rang for the day and he trudged out the doors amid the tidal wave of other students, pressed shoulder-to-shoulder and chest-to-backpack, cutting away from the crowd and making his way toward his favorite tree at the edge of campus. It loomed like a benevolent sentinel over the fence and bicycle racks, spilling cool gray pools of shade over the patchy grass. He had talked his family into believing that it would be easier to stay at school between release and football practice, but today he knew the solitude would get to him. His thoughts would bounce off his mind like reverse echoes, starting as whispers and ending in the shrieks of his doubts as they rained down upon him like stones.

Jasper's steps were slow as he made his way to the tree and sat down, pressing his back against the bark so hard that he felt the crooked wooden plateaus gouging into his skin. The pain was sweet and grounding and he braced his feet against the dusty earth, shoving harder as though hoping he could simply be absorbed by the tree. The thought of football practice circled overhead like an overgrown bird of prey, waiting for his resolve and momentary defiance to crumble and leave behind a submissive husk.

It was no use—the future was a distant and fictional thing, like the sky viewed through prison bars. He was trapped here, trapped in his mind, and the only escape route that music provided left a bitter ache deep within his chest. The tension left his legs and he folded forward, resting his forehead against his knees and closing his eyes as tight as he could. He carried his desires like a shameful brand, covered by a football helmet and cleats, and while there were beautiful blissful moments with the team, the fierce joyful comradery that came after a victory, it just wasn't the same.

"Hey."

He jerked his head up to see the new coach standing above him, her hands tucked loosely into her pockets and her violently red hair tied back in its customary ponytail. "Hi, Miss Undyne."

"Just Undyne," Undyne said, leaning against the tree and looking down at him with her single eye. "What're you doing here?"

"…Waiting for practice."

Her single eye narrowed. "Just sitting here? You don't need a coach to train yourself!"

Jasper could see the manic light of battle beginning to light up her eye and held up his hands, trying to head her off before she got going. "I know, I just…I hate football!"

She blinked, temporarily derailed, but she recovered marvelously. "So? Then you don't play football! You do what's in your heart, punk! When you and your desires are united, there's nothing that can stand in your way!"

"You don't get it! I want…"

"What?" Undyne's fierce expression softened and she sat down next to him, looping her arm around her knees. "If it's something that makes you happy, it's something worth pursuing! It's worth that passion!"

"I want to do ballet," Jasper said in a rush, feeling his stomach clench into knots as the silence stretched, wire-tight and agonizing. He could feel Undyne's eye blazing into the side of his face and after a moment he couldn't take it. "I'm…uh…I'm kidding," he said lamely. "I should just stick to playing football, right? I mean, it's not like I'd be a good dancer…"

Undyne leapt to her feet. "You're right! You'll never be a good dancer!"

Jasper stared at her, horror chilling his blood and fear making his heart race.

She continued, stabbing a finger down at him. "You're going to be the BEST DAMN DANCER THIS SCHOOL HAS EVER SEEN! I'LL MAKE SURE OF IT!"

"Undyne, I—"

"If that's what matters to you, and that's what you want to do with your life, don't let ANYONE stand in your way!" She thrust her fist toward the sky. "What's important is that you don't compromise your dreams for anyone!"

"But my parents…" Jasper twisted his fingers into his hair. "My dad says it isn't 'masculine.'"

"Who cares?" Undyne asked, tossing her flaming hair impatiently. "They said that fighting wasn't ladylike, and I showed them! I became head of the Royal Guard because it was what I wanted to do! I had to work really hard, yeah, but I got there, and what's more important, I like who I am!" The passion faded from her voice and her face grew serious. "Don't you ever let them tell you what to do, or make you feel like there's a wrong way to exist. You hear me?"

Jasper nodded.

"Come on—I learned to dance as part of my training. It really helps with agility and speed. I'll teach you myself if that's what I have to do. Now follow me, I know somewhere we can practice."

Hello, one and all. This was an idea that I've been sitting on for a while, but had a lot of trouble writing. Undyne's mindset isn't really something that I can get into easily (as opposed to Sans, for example), so I apologize if this scene isn't up to scratch. No worries, though; I have some fun things planned for the next few chapters. All my love, Undiscovered