Yellow Skies Underneath, an undertale fanfic

Title:

Yellow Skies Underneath

Fandom:

Undertale

Character Featured:

Asriel and Chara Dreemurr

Summary:

Yellow, it is indeed the colour of the sunny phosphorescence; the colour of the efflorescing flowers that linger between you; the colour of your inquisitiveness that manifest when you desire to know the life aloft the surface.

But... is it really the true colour that resembles justice?

【An Undertale short Fanfiction, featuring Chara and Asriel】

Yellow.

It is the colour of the radiant, sunny skies. When the birds chirp and flowers bloom, it is the colour of the emotion you encounter as transcendental rapture rise up your chest. It is the colour that you feel when you realise things are going to end just like how you hoped for, and that you can stay like this forever, far from pity and sorrow, and far away from the depths of despair.

When the yellow, sunny phosphorescence shone directly into the verges of the cliff you're buried under, it is the colour of your curiosity that emerges. It is the colour of the contents of your heart when you wish to know further.

Ah, yellow. It is the colour of the flowers that blossom besieging you; the colour of the wings of tiny butterflies around; like butter and lemons and all that are nice. The blue skies and the negligible yellow ball amongst the cloud - it is the colour of the sun. The sun, far, far away from your grasp, coruscating brightly into the walls of the escarpment and sparkle when the dew of the leaves reflect tiny rainbow lights. Whatever shall you do when beautiful things like this had to come into an end! If it were to end, oh, if it were to end...

When you know your fate is confined deep down inside the dark chambers, but you feel the glorious joy of glimpsing the perpetual magnificence of yellow around you, you feel like it's worth. Worth when being trapped inside for years; worth receiving thousands of humiliation when your kind had failed to conduct their best of effort to win the war, only causing pain and agony to his kind; and worth having to accommodate to the same lifestyle, over and over, when escaping onto the surface is only a dream. It is all worth.

Yellow.

It is indeed the colour of justice.

Asriel Dreemurr hummed a familiar tune as he happily tapped the brim of a bedrock with his fluffy, white fingers. He was lingering in the garden in the ruins, where he could loiter alone. He preferred to stay all by himself, letting the tranquillity fill in the air - it was his favourite whereabouts in the whole underground.

His thoughts drifted as he watched the flock of birds flew up to the surface with astonishment, secretly envying their freedom. He thought about the stories that his father had told him over and over - about the beauty of the surface; about how the humans had decided to commence a war against them; and about the acrimonious human kind. Asriel's mind would then drift into other things, like his mother's scrumptious apple pie she would always bake for her family of three. Oh, the delight she made when he took each bite - that was priceless. The edges of his mouth tugged into a small smile. Ah, the memories.

Sometimes, he would play in the garden and acted like it belonged all to himself. He would pick yellow flowers of the prettiest and craft them into flowerbeds. Then he would thrillingly jump around and gaze at the blue skies if he was exhausted. His exaggerated exuberance was more than enough. But at the moment, he did not feel like playing. He simply glanced at the magnificence he created a few days ago with 5 layers of yellow flowers stacked amongst each other to make it very flocculent. He did not spend his time trundling around. He thought it would be suitable to play later sometime.

During times like that, Asriel preferred to read. He had brought a book, all filled with subaqueous words of poetries and poems and quotes. He had discovered it by accident in the garden. A human must had dropped it down. He kept it as his own ever since, a priceless possession that held a little portion to what the human world might look like.

Inspirational quotes and beautiful adages, the humans sure live a happy life up there! Asriel thought as he traced the brim of the cover. Observe good faith and justice toward all kind. Cultivate peace and harmony with all. Then there was another that he liked. At the best, man is the noblest of all animals; separated from law and justice he is the worst. It was hard to comprehend the hidden significances behind these quotes. He did not mind. Injustice anywhere is a treat to justice everywhere.

He was too caught up reading that he did not notice the peculiar change in the weather. Surprised by the sudden downcast, he looked up, only to see the bleakly, grey sky dimming. It isn't yellow, he thought, slightly disappointed at the fact. The clouds were dull grey, more obscure than the skies that covered every inch of the sunlight that had failed to penetrate into the clouds. A gust of wind blew expatiated the intension. Asriel detested it - hated everything about the precipitation from the open sky. The humans have a term for this - rain.

He hated it when yellows become greys - where no birds sing; where no animals come out to dance; where his flowerbed has to come to destruction; and where everything just seems so dreary. Where no light races into the depths of abyss down below, only to darken his surroundings and add sorrow to his heart. He hated it with every inch of his body. He wanted to stay a little more.

Gritting his fangs, he took his books and walked inside. His fluffy ears flapped as he walked, his eyes glaring anger yet dull and hollow at the same time. His paws clenched, hardened, trying so hard not to moan in annoyance. He did not pay attention to where he was going. It didn't matter, anyway.

The sudden rustling of the leaves sent him into a halt. His shoulders stiffened and sent a cold shudder down his spine. That was weird. Monsters were capable of sensing better than the humans, and Asriel had just felt the presence of an intruder. He quickly shook the thought off and took off running.

His heart aching, his mind driving crazy. He was trembling. Trembling as his horrific thoughts went around his mind. There is only me and there isn't anyone else around! Who could that be? What will he do? Why would anyone else be in the garden he assigned others to stay away from? Why was he...

To his surprise, a loud clattering was heard. It had come from the garden. He was far away from it, but the source was loud enough to be heard across all ruins. The sound you hear when boulders were thrown from above; yes, that's exactly how it sounded like. Something must've fallen - something rigid and big to create a massive explosive resonance like that. These thoughts frightened him more. He did not stop.

"Mom! Mom!" he cried out as he sensed the dear figure close by. He knew this place very well, what each room function as and such. He also knew how her mother - the Queen - loved to stay at the boundary that separated the snowy village and the Ruins.

"Asriel! Whatever could have happened?" Toriel asked with a concerned voice. She outstretched her arms to let the smaller youth in.

But Asriel did not answer. He simply ran into his mother's warm hug and clutched her tightly. Fear, anxiety and anger - all perfectly blended up to describe the emotion Asriel was feeling. He felt his body still trembling as his mind went racing again. Toriel wisely did not push the matter, simply responding back the youth's warm cuddle.

"But Father does not allow me to play around his room, so I'm so not allowed to mingle into his secrets. I never even know what he keeps inside his basement! 'Says it is too dangerous and old for me to deal about. So no, I don't know much about the surface, though I really wanted to," Asriel bickered as the other monsters nodded, gobbling up their feast during the process.

"Ah, y 'sure do have a bunch 'a curiosity within you, my Prince," Grillby said with a chuckle as he polished the glasses and stacked them on a cupboard.

"Yes, I do! And Mr Grillby?" Asriel asked with a joking-annoyed voice. "Call me Asriel, please."

Grillby broke into a laugh. "Y'er just like y'er parents,"

"Ah, yes! That's what they taught me to be," Asriel responded with a delighted voice.

"So, how'r y'er readings?" Grillby thought he might ask another question.

"Well, I did read some modern quotes today! And learnt a few words, before the horrible rain intruded my learning," Asriel tapped on his chin as he continued. "Expedite." He said in English. "It's another word for accelerate. That's strangely a hard word, don't you agree, Grillby?"

He simply laughed. Such an easy word. He did not dare say that aloud.

"Why, Asriel, I'm amused at y'er immediacy of learning new vocabularies,"

"I am very fond of them, you see!" He broke off into another grin and laughter.

"You're pretty good, Azzy boy," a costumer with a weird hat asked. Might'd been a part of him, but who knows? Asriel froze. He never was used to Grillby's mid-aged costumers. He barely knew them at all. But he was a prince, alright, so he took the honour. "Though y'might wanna reconsider learnin' more lectures from that bunny lady with'a bunny pet. 'Spoke to'er once, she's got a hot list of new words for ya,"

Asriel was about to reply an answer of stammers before an octopus lady cut in took the moment to a horrified gasp loudly. "Mrs. Scrumpt? No bloody way you're bloody serious! That woman is an absolute wicked witch toward children! You won't like that git once you've been with her for at least 2 hours," Well, that saved Asriel's answer.

"Not until ya hear her very thick, sassy accent. Didn't know how well she behaves, but she's got some brains." He smoked in his pipe before whistling. "And quite the arse,"

Grillby snorted. "Seems like someone's catched the interest on'er, but will she be interested?"

The monster with the hat took quick quick, pissed glances into Grillby's eyes before he scoffed. "I assure ya, Grillbs, I can get m'hands on any girl in the underground less than'a sec. There's no need f'me to get'em, actually, they came runnin' fo' me."

"Oh, is that so, Mr. Wallbanger?" the octopus lady intruded in again. "Unless you include that poor bloke you met last August in waterfall who ended up screaming as she ran when she first laid an eye on you, then yes, I do believe your principle might somehow be accurate,"

Mr. Wallbanger yelled in frustration. "It was a blind date, and she clearly hasn't seen m'hidden, secret charms yet!"

"Hidden charms of y'ers, what? That secret bald spot ya've been coverin' with y'er'hat?" Grillby mocked in a way as if it was obvious to anyone that it was clearly a joke. "Or y'er very talent of y'er disgusting and immature seduces that have only ever worked on men?"

Mr. Wallbanger sighed with surpressed laughter and anger. "Oh, Grillby, remind me how we ever could be pals,"

Asriel was very confused. This wasn't his place, he knew that, he'd been here for so long yet he still couldn't understand what made it so utterly difficult to blend in with the locals. Maybe it was the accent. Or was it the way they shift into random topics at uncertain points? This was so complicated. He was just trying to be sociable, doing his job as a prince. "Um..."

"Mrs. Scrumpt would be the same," Ms. Octopus finally spoke, again breaking the chance for Asriel to start a speech. "She would run and scream like any others - maybe even worse, since she's got quite the temper. You won't stand a chance, Wallbanger."

"Why, ya insaned maniac, I'd like to properly explain that I have no particular interest in this woman so-called Mrs. Scrumpt who's already became a 'Mrs' before ya rudely interrupt m'explanation regarding th-"

"Well, Mrs. Scrumpt isn't all that bad. She only has a high temper. I think, 'cause that's what she looks like on the outside, I don't she's all mean 'cause I never really talk to her you know? Mother keeps saying she's rude since she's already got a husband but then got burnt alive and now she's salty about it and cut her social ties with the society, well, she does look like a pretty nice lady but I've heard her done some bad stuff, which, like, would totally ruin my dignity and reputation if I were her, but that doesn't really matter, does it?" Asriel stopped when he realised he was almost shouting them and said it all under the same breath. All eyes instantly shot him awkwardly. Oh god, how embarrassing. Asriel was just trying to join in! He did nothing wrong, then why was everyone whispering? Being sociable did took the effort. It was dreadfully silent until Asriel muttered. "I prefer Mr. Karols."

Everyone stopped and shot him another horrified look. Uh-oh.

"Hey, hey there, kid," Mr. Wallbanger said, instructing with fingers to have all Asriel's attention to him. "Y'even know who that man is?"

"Uh, yes," Asriel was rather confused at the sudden change. "He used to be my teacher,"

"He taught you?!"

"What do you bloody mean by that, Azzy dear?"

"Hey, kid, c'mon tell me, wh'did he taught ya?"

"Well, he taught me...whatever a teacher could teach,"

"And? Did you miss any part of your brain?"

"Why, no,"

"Four limbs?" a female costumer asked.

"All intact," Mr. Wallbanger inspected him thoroughly.

"Mentally stable?" a crowd shouted out.

"Calm down you gits, you're all being too dramatic!"

"Wait, wait, what is going on actually?" Asriel asked, managed to produce a little louder voice. "He's my teacher, so what?"

"Karols, old dear, old friend, Karols..." Grillby sighed as he leant back onto the cupboards. "A dumbass. fanatic. Stupid, immature beast."

"Are you sure he hasn't done anything horrible to you? Are you sure he hasn't mentally manipulated your soul with his stupid baloneys? Even Monster Kid could prove him wrong, and he doesn't even know the King's name!" Asriel flinched by the sudden approach of Ms. Octopus.

"Karols' slightly delusional," Grillby continued, serving a waiting couple for their hot sandwiched with melted cheese. "He claimed to have ever lived above the surface, which is an absurd lie, of course, considering no one in the battlefield has lived so long 'til now. Those are just one of his tales."

"Why, Grillby, you should've heard him talking like hell!" Ms. Octopus scoffed. Then she spoke in perfect, well-spoken English, "He seems to think we monsters do not speak English, which is a complete mockery, of course, since we understood every shitful insults he spat on us,"

Grillby laughed and replied in English, also. "Ms. Octopus, kindly refrain from using vulgar terms in the underground, for our learning little prince might understand what you were cussing. And yes, I do agree, that was twice the insult when spoken from the mouth of Karols himself, that is,"

Ms. Octopus grinned, ignoring the confused stares of other costumerd who did not comprehend what they had been talking. She switched back to their native tongues. "Ah, yes, forgive me, Grillby,"

And then it continued. Bickers and laughters and commotions that Asriel couldn't understand nor care if he did. He felt so lost and unbelonged, he couldn't accomodate to this, he felt do confused and so speechless yet clueless about everything and he felt so small when these thoughts stroke him. He felt unaccepted, felt like someone who didn't belong to the place. Then again, these monsters around him were complicated and unlogical. Asriel barely understood a thing they said. He thought he might want to try talking weird phrases and accents, but he brushed the thought off. I don't belong anywhere, anyway. He remained silent for the rest of the day.

"Well, Asriel, I suppose we'll meet again tomorrow!" Grillby said as he finished polishing the remaining glasses. The costumers had left while some others remained for a few more gulps before close.

"Yes, I will definitely return back!" Asriel said with exhaustion as he made his way to the exit, ready to shut it all in and prepare for another mental-strucking day and a busy day tomorrow.

The next day, Asriel arose from his bed earlier. He realised he was too early that Grillby's wasn't even open yet - the only place he found interesting - so he went back into the ruins to read some more poetries. The thought of the garden reminded him back to the horrific memories he remembered by sudden - the dreary skies and the ugly rain; the sound he had heard in the garden; and his instincts of the presence of another. This time, he was determined to see for himself - to see what lies in the garden or what caused it.

Little did he know, the more appropriate question would be who caused it?

There, on his very hand-created flowerbed lied a mysterious young figure. Her eyes were closed and her nose was perfectly defined, her cheeks red and rosy and her chest rose up and down in perfect synchronicity with her breathing nose. Her hair and clothes were messy and wet - might'd been the rain causing it.

Asriel had never seen anything like this. His first thought was that this being could actually be a human - a living human. He did not notice how the flowers around them blossomed even more than his normal days; the rainbows not only reflect from the dews of the leaves but stretched across the blue sky and fresh, white clouds lured in the skies and allowed the sun's phosphorescence through; how the pollen grains were yellow and fresh that butterflies and bees inundated around; how the birds were singing how the flowers were blooming.

He did not notice the drastic transformation the surroundings had made from dull to colourful in just a matter of hours. The place looked even more gorgeous with the girl around - as if celebrating the girl's presence was something so necessary to be done.

His heartbeat raced as his legs unconsciously moved on their own, approaching the body of the girl. Her life was spared thanks to the fluffy flowerbed were she had landed. Otherwise, she might've ended up like all other beings that fell. Asriel's soft paws slowly touched the edges of her clothes. It was soaked. His breathing almost stopped when the girl showed signs of waking. Her long eyelashes fluttered in signs of open.

Asriel gathered all his courage and nerves to finally make the word he did not expect to say in a soft, cheerful whisper,

"Howdy!"

"Howdy!" Asriel said with his usual, delighted grin. Well, this was different. Asriel was indeed trying to be friendly and outgoing. Asriel was so not used to starting a conversation because others would start them first. He was quite nervous that he didn't realise he was speaking in English. "I'm Asriel, Asriel Dreemurr. And you?"

The girl did not reply at first. Her body was too weak to even muster a smile; her limbs were paralysed from the fall. She was probably still half unconscious.

"Uh..." Asriel asked. He did not know how humans should be treated like. Alright, what kind of conversation would a human enjoy? Let's see...

"So, human... how's the surface like?" Alright, not a good option. The girl understood, but she did not reply. Still lying on the flower bed, she raised an arm to percuss Asriel's snout tip.

"Uh...?" Asriel asked, confused at the sudden movement. Her gentle touch gave Asriel a shock, startled response. It was soft, his heart still racing, but it was no longer fear. It was something else.

"I..." The girl started. Her voice was harsh and unsteady, so speaking wasn't the best solution for her. "I... I'm..." Then she coughed. A painful, striking cough that could segment anyone's heart who hears it. Asriel froze at the girl's abominable condition.

"Alright, stop talking now; we need to get you to my mother. She knows all about human children," Asriel said, trying to figure an easy way to lift her around. Her limbs were tired; anyway, she might need a hand to help her walk. "Put your arm around my shoulders, and I'll hold onto yours. Then walk, I'll support you." The girl did as she was told so, and even if she looked like she could perform a perpetual chain of murder, her soul and body was too exhausted to even think about anything. She hesitantly put an arm around Asriel. He knew she could be relied upon. He could sense it.

As a kind, loving mother Toriel was, she promptly took care for the girl. She laughed and derided during the healing procedure, simply not revealing the misery she had to go through. She did not moan or cry like any others would do. She said her name was Chara - and that was the most beautiful name Asriel had ever heard. Her voice was sweet and stunning and lovely that Asriel could spend all day listening to them. Sweet as the gentle breeze that blew when he first met her; stunning as the yellow flowers in the castle garden; and lovely as her eyes that was brilliant, vivid and lively red.

It did not took Asgore long to let Chara reside with them. After all, could she abscond? There was an entrance, and unless you go through the sealed barrier, there was no exit. Chara acquiesced.

It did not take Chara and Asriel to bond so well, either. After Chara had completely recovered, they went out to tour. Asriel exuberantly took Chara to the highlights of the underground. Show me the sights of the underground! She would say to Asriel each and every morning. Asriel's life could never be the same again.

"Then we have... the Ursa Major!" Chara cried out. Her arms stretched out indicating the gigantic constellation she had referred to. There was an abundance of silence around them as they were crossing the bridges in Waterfall.

"Ooh! I know that!" Asriel cried in response. "That's the small bear!"

Chara giggled. "Silly. That's the Ursa Minor you're thinking of. Ursa Major is the big bear!"

Chara and Asriel had always been together ever since. Should it be morning, night, evening or even midnight, there shall be no separation between them. They would saunter throughout the garden of yellow flowers; they would sing and dance around at Grillby's; they would tirelessly draw pictures off variant colours; and they would taste the succulent pie Toriel had baked for them. Then they would wander around Snowdin, and, amidst the snow, they would endlessly chatter about almost everything whilst creating a snowman.

"The stars are far, far away in the skies," Chara said, pointing the ceilings decorated with those perfect impersonations of stars - or, preferably called by the term sparkling stones. There weren't any real stars in the underground, anyway. "They're very far up high that not even the surface is tall enough to bring you up there!"

"And you've seen an existing one before?" Asriel asked, hopefully.

"Yes! Every night!" Chara cried in excitement. "Every night, after the sun sets down and the sky darkens, when the clouds are almost impossible to be seen, you'll see them! Glittering amongst the black skies as well as the moon. They shine ever so brightly, plotting in the darkness and if you trace them to another and so on, you'll make out some pictures, like the Ursa Major I told you about. They're called 'constellations'." she took a glance of Asriel behind her over her shoulders with a menacing grin. "Guess how many stars exist!"

Asriel ambiguously replied an uncertain response. "One hundred? Thousands?"

"More than one hundred billion!"

Asriel sighed as he remembered his pathetic fate he must endure. The monsters shall forever remain underground, yet so many wonders of the world to be seen. "I really hope we can break onto the surface to at least have a glimpse on what they look like," he muttered silently. It was still audible, though.

"Oh, yes you've seen one!" Chara smiled. "'The sun. It's a star, indeed!"

The two continued walking, bickering and bantering all the way. They wore matching sweaters Toriel had sewn for them previously - yellow and green stripes. The design was made up to their consent. Asriel gleefully jumped up and down along the way, his speed and alacrity as much as Chara's.

"A long time ago, monsters would whisper their wishes to the stars in the sky. If you hoped with all your heart, your wish would come true. Now, all we have are these sparkling stones on the ceiling..." Asriel said with a sigh.

"Thousands of people wishing together can't be wrong! The king will prove that,"

They both sauntered along the scenery when Asriel cried out. "C'mon, sis! Make a wish!" he ran into the nearest stone then cried out loud: "I wish my sister and I will see the real stars someday..."

"So? Don't you have other wishes to make?"

Asriel paused as he was being asked the question. "Hmm... there's one, but... it's kind of stupid,"

Chara pulled Asriel into a comforting squeeze. "Don't say that! Come on, I promise I won't laugh."

"You aren't going to tell my parents about this, are you?" Asriel asked with an uncertain look. Chara shook her head sympathetically. "You promise you won't laugh at me?"

"Of course I won't laugh!"

Asriel trusted her. He trusted the girl who brought jolly and laugh into his world. He trusted the girl who had brought colours into his dull, grey life. The girl who had extravagantly transformed his very own being into someone else, someone so different, someone who he could finally share his love and care to. The girl he would risk everything for - he, certainly, trusted her.

Asriel dramatically inhaled as he began. His eyes shone ever so brightly, just like the determination within his heart. "Well then, if you really want to know... I'll tell you,"

Chara stared into her brother blankly before bursting into giggles.

"... Hey, you said you wouldn't laugh at it!" Asriel wailed out. He huffed and attempted to chase her speedy sister who leaped away from him.

"Sorry, it's just funny...!" Chara laughed whilst still running, wiping the tears that come out of her eyelids. She paused and settled down on the verge of the bridge, letting her feet hovering down onto the waters below. Asriel did so, too.

He stared at her fluorescent eyes full of elation and bliss. A few months ago he was a pathetic, shy prince who did not enjoy interaction. A few months ago he was a weak, fragile monster who only loved to linger amongst the shadows. This girl was his reason to alter his life. She was the reason why Asriel had decided to revise his choices. The girl - she was there, sitting right next to him.

"Funny, isn't it? That's my wish too!"

"So, what did you say the city is called, Ms Dreemurr?" Grillby inquired with an altruistic tune.

Chara beamed riotously whilst still gazing at the intriguing looks of all other costumers. They all had eyes on her and Asriel, who was also desperate to be informed of which city could ever be so aesthetic and correlative to the underground, as described by Chara herself. Chara harshly coughed before whispering loudly in a zippy, excited voice: "Seville!"

The following months did not change much, all still the prevailing sunny days where yellow flowers of all kind would flourish and birds of variation would chirp a lovely song and the King still ruled the kingdom in perfect harmony and sympathy. A few monsters would aggregate at Grillby's at around noon to get quick brunch and linger until the evening.

Everyone knew Chara as much as they knew the Prince - Asriel's presence was never integral without the attendance of his companion, and vice versa. Since Chara had resided together with the royalties, no one hesitated to call her by the term 'Ms Dreemurr'. She contradicted, but Asriel did not mind having to share surnames with a new sister.

Chara had previously told the monsters about the life aloft the surface numerous times. She acquainted about the places she had dismounted before she fell - about the Great Wall in the history of China; about the majestic bay of Halong in Vietnam; about the magical island of Wakatobi in the Indonesian waters; and so on - she had winded up almost every part of the earth.

She also told them about hundreds of wars that the humans had inaugurated against one another and how greed and selfishness had espoused them to do anything such. The monsters were still unsure whether humans just really love to cause dispute - even with their own kind. Hearing this made Asriel a bit of uncertain about living up there.

"Seville?" Asriel asked, his brows peaked. Interesting. Humans were quite fond in naming. Monsters either create ludicrous names that were basically words combined, or use existing English nouns as a substitute - like Hotland or Waterfall.

"Yes, Seville!" Chara echoed. "The ancient cathedrals and architectures are splendid to admire. Especially at night, where the lights will twinkle and street lamps will emit yellow radiances along the road,"

"Ooh," the costumers of Grillby's said with astonishment as they visualise an interpretation of what Seville would be like. Chara chuckled when she perceived the discontentment in Asriel's eyes.

"Aaaaand, we have our crybaby, who whines about literally everything!" Chara cried as she leaned backwards and dangled her legs.

"I... I'm not crying!" Asriel quickly wiped the tears before it could cascade down over his cheeks. "I'm just... really gloomy I can't go see it myself,"

"Why would you?" Chara asked.

"Well, obviously, because Seville is such a spectacular city of wonders and you keep telling me how much I've not seen and-"

"Well then, Seville isn't the most spectacular place on earth,"

Asriel huffed and pouted. "And you're going to tell me where, making me all jealous and act oh so proud that you've been there yourself,"

Chara coughed whilst snorting. "Oh Asriel, my goodness, allow me to finish what I wanted to speak of! It's here, Asriel, you see, this whole Underground..." Chara said as she gazed into the snow outside of the window. Her eyes were fixed at the meandering enfant who endlessly bantered; the music that produced and echoed throughout Snowdin; and the exhilarating sensibility she could grapple in every corners. "This whole Underground... it is the most beautiful city I've seen on earth," She paused for a few seconds before resuming and winking: "Whoops, sorry, I meant 'the most beautiful place all earth',"

"You're lying," Asriel said while trying not to stifle a smile. "And mad." Chara broke off. She knew her brother very well. Oh, he was trying so hard to be furious, he had clearly failed.

Later on that evening, the two leisurely sauntered around Waterfall. They met Dr. W. D. Gaster and had a laconic conversation before heading back to the castle. Previously, Toriel had questioned Chara if she would like to return to the surface if possible, or would she stay. She had been evaluating about this circumstance for quite a while, then thought about why she would ever imagine about going back. Why would she?

To her, the Underground was her first, very home. To her, the underground was mad, crazy, naive and delusional, but fascinating, interesting, jolly and fun - in fact, it was pretty much like Asriel himself. To her, the underground was everything she could conceive of. What she didn't know was why she was made to perceive this way, or who had let Chara grew so attached to staying in the underground.

Perhaps the underground was just an ordinary place you'll most likely see on earth. Perhaps the underground wasn't all that fascinating and jolly, just like how she affirmatively expounded. Perhaps the underground was nothing more than a prison to the human ancestors' enemies. If so, why did Chara feel this way? Why did Chara desperately wanted to sojourn in the underground? "This whole Underground... it is the most beautiful city I've seen on earth," Chara repeated the words she had said earlier over and over in her thoughts. Why had she said things like that? Was there a presence of a particular who had transformed her perspective of the world around her? Was there someone who had made her so attached to staying?

Chara was buried in her thoughts for a laconic moment before a soft, melodic whisper came from the mouth of the monster she looked up the most. That monster, the same monster who had found her after her fall, who had saved her during her misery and who had inspired her to continue 'living' before she gave up. The same monster who she admired a lot. She knew she would risk everything to please her brother, to make him feel safe and comfortable as well. But what she didn't know was how she felt him different than others.

A few months ago she was a pathetic, shy girl who did not enjoy interaction. A few months ago she was a weak, fragile human who only loved to linger amongst the shadows. This monster was her reason to alter her life. He was the reason why Chara had decided to stay. The monster - he was there, walking right next to her.

"Chara! My goodness, are you sane?"

Chara nictitated then coughed before adjusting back to the reality. "Oh, um, nothing, nothing much of a problem. I believe you have a question to ask, brother?"

Asriel took a few moments to realise the nickname he was called. Chara, by any chance, had never labelled himself a 'brother' before. Usually, she would call her names like 'Silly', 'Crybaby', or 'Azzy'. "Oh, right, I was just asking which colour is your favourite,"

"My... favourite colour?"

"Yeah," Asriel mumbled. "Like, which colour looks the most special to you, which is important or which inspired you to be, uh," Asriel thought for a word as he briefly paused. "Yourself."

Chara took the significant silence to consider the question. Favourite colour? She had honestly never taken the time to think about them. "What's yours?"

Asriel laughed. "Yellow, of course!" Asriel gleefully upsurged while being extra cautious not to tumble into the waters. "You know, yellow resembles justice,"

"And how's that?"

"Well, there's nothing much that I can elaborate, but yellow is the only colour I could picture when good things happen right after bad ones ceased," Asriel said. "That sounds rather fair, doesn't it? I mean, the monsters were trapped for so long - for more than centuries, to be precise. And all we have ever been unburdening with is how eschewing to the surface is merely a delusional dream. Entrapped for ages, not being able to soar as free as the birds in the skies or the humans who live upon liberal up there, being prisoners underground, and we've been here too long that very little human believe on our existence, right? I mean, this feels entirely unfair...

But here, deep in the underground, we have all wonderful things that not all are granted with, don't you think? Like the Echo Flowers in Waterfall or the edible snowball you can get in the snowy area, and basically eveything you call 'fascinating' here is something that does not exist on the surface right?

The excitement and joy you can experience whilst daydreaming under the sun, there are many spectacles that you can touch, feel, see or hear - and they're yellow. At least, that's what I see. So think about it, when you're locked up for ages but you can always feel the wonders around you, don't you think its worth and fair to remain like this? To remain with your desired fate you do not want but is eventually paid-off by the 'yellow' that surrounds you? Don't you think...?"

"Don't you think yellow is a colour of fairness, equity and justice?"

Chara had no idea how to react. She felt the stab of guilt knowing the abominable fate he must endure, but she also contemplated him as a strong-hearted monster who had a different way of viewing the world. Indeed. Yellow is the colour of justice to her angle view.

"You know, Chara?"

"Hmm?"

"I like you."

Chara almost choked at the words. Asriel had said them too plainly.

"Wh, what?"

"Well, Mom and Dad like you, and Grillby like you too. Every monster in the underground seems to like you as much as I do," he replied in a way as if it was obvious.

Chara deliberated before laughing maniacally. Oh. That. Asriel thought she'd lost her sanity. "What makes you think of that?"

"Well, you're a chivalrous human, you're fun to chatter with, you're cool and strong, who wouldn't admire someone like you?" Chara laughed. She wasn't adjusted appreciations like these, and she had no better way to respond to them. "To be honest, Chara, sister - whatever I view you as - you are the reason I changed."

Chara prudently listened without insinuating. She permitted him to resume. "Before I meet you, I'm a messed up monster. I know nothing about the political issues or historical events; I'm weak and desperate for only others' protection; and I'm a living failure. I'm such a fool, a coward, a nuisance, an idiot, crybaby, a bloody shy git who despises everything, you know? There was no need for me to be alive,"

Chara shook her head with a painful stab from the words. No, she could not listen. The lies were too painful to hear. "No, Asriel, that's not-"

"I tend to fail in everything - people not really caring about me. I know they pestered and nudged me behind my back, calling me with vulgar terms that not even Mom would stand to hear - though they did not dare say that regarding my status. They say you have to be 'charming' to be prince. But am I really one? A monster who suffers anxiety and a socially-challenged monster - am I applicable to be a prince, only soon to be crowned King? No," Asriel did not stop rambling in monotone. His insufflation fastened as his eyes densified, previously staring blankly into the open air. He was trembling and intimidated of the reality; too frightened of how Chara would react if she knew the real him. But this was the truth, and she had to know it. She had the right to know his true self. Little did he know he was panting and cut short from oxygen.

Chara cupped her hands onto Asriel's cheeks. Her eyes, full of concern and poignancy. She respired in inmostly while her mind obfuscate. Why would Asriel say something like that? Why would he do such thing? Chara gritted her teeth and her eyes reddened as she tried to keep her teardrops away from cascading. How could Asriel say such baloneys? How could he say such bloody lies? "Asriel, breath, listen, you're not a coward. Please. Just listen to me."

"And whenever I do anything wrong, they'll forget about it - because 'the kind always did eveything wrong and never know how to manage things right'. You see, whenever I thought I actually achieve on doing something, I knew they weren't that satisfied. They simply glimpsed at me with perplexity. Mom and Dad secretly detest me, I know that, and so does Grillby, and Mrs. Bunny, and you, and-"

"STOP IT," the words were made soft and gentle, but it came out as if she was shouting them. Asriel's body went adamant and solid as he had to take some matter of seconds to comprehend the situation around him. Asriel froze as Chara's deadly glare soothed. Chara laconically filtered all of Asriel's rant into her apprehensions. Really? All that Asriel had rehearsed, that was impeccable enough to describe Chara, as well. A fool, a coward, a nuisance, an idiot, crybaby, a bloody shy git who despises everything. Chara was indeed a coward, a nuisance and a pathetic human which nobody would spend their time and effort on. She did not apprehend that the monster who had 'saved her from herself' had actually gone through exactly what she had experienced.

"And when you came..." Asriel continued malleably. This time, Chara did not intrude. Asriel's eyes were filled with something Chara had never seen before - determination.

"It's as if the heavens had brought the very best thing they have in the world to me," Chara did not understand. What is he talking about? About Her? Why did he consider this loser the 'very best thing'?

Chara coughed meekly. "No, Asriel, I don't believe I treated you right. Please, don't call me that,"

Asriel simply ignored her. "When you came, you brought delight and merriment and coloured my dull, ugly life. You invigorate me to be someone contrastive. And here I am," Asriel triumphantly vaulted and smirked as if nothing discontented had happened. "Being the new me that everyone loves! That's why I love yellow, Chara. Yellow - it is the colour I see when I first met you. When everything is awful and seems hopeless, the 'yellow' I see always gives me something to make it more sophisticating again. When I was lost and helpless, you came to reverse them,"

At first, Chara did not understand. She did not understand how Asriel acknowledged her an exaltation. She did not understand why Asriel admired and liked her that much. She was certain Asriel hadn't known her true self yet. If he did, will he still speculate Chara as his lovely, charming sister? Will they still be intact when he knew the real Chara?

But now, she understood. She realised that the love, encouragement and indulgence they allocated with each other were mutual. She realised that their presence was to complete them each other - and that they require one another. She did not expect her attendance had made someone live a better life - and Asriel must've not realised he made hers better, too.

So Chara re-conclude her decision once more. Would she stay in a place like this? Would she live the rest of her life locked underground with creatures not her kind? Would she risk the choice and never ever gaze real stars again? If her presence was something ever so paramount; if she could be more exultant down here, living amongst the monsters; if she could make someone - particularly him - have a better life...

Then yes, she'd like to stay.

Chara asperously stuttered something inaudible before severely coughing. She cupped her mouth with her irresolute hands as her face turned anemic. Her sheets and apparel were blemished with blood. 'Ah, drats, it's happening again,' she deemed.

Months had proceeded since the last occurrences. It had been more than a year since Chara relapsed from the surface, and it was more than a year until they pioneered the plague she had been languishing. Chara had been like this for so long. She looked like she had been suppressing it, though. She did not want to reveal her affliction - her malignant plague that roared her body like fire. She simply did not want others to discern her agony. No one had to apperceive this, had to know this.

But now, they can see it abaft her eyes - the desolation she only wished for herself and nobody else. This was too much for her - her throat burning whenever she speaks; her limbs quivering and felt like it could fall apart any moment; her breathing diminished down and expedited up without hesitant warning, but couldn't respire either way; her cough adulterated with water and red vital fluids; and her chest felt like it had been impaled straight through the heart. This was too much for her. She lied futily the on the bedstead where the castle's medics assembled.

In the past few months, the underground completely differed. The flowers succumbed and did not floret like usual; the birds and bees were nowhere to be seen and did not chirp and soar; the sky was always dreary and dark and not blue and sunny like it used to be. Asriel was used to the sudden evolution of the climate, but it was an obstacle for Chara. Surrounded by perpetual ambience and everlasting gloom, the silence pierced through their hearts and the emptiness sent shudders into their skins. The underground was a lot more silent, and no one had the time to spare to consider why.

Chara didn't know them well - the asperous, spiky grass whenever his foot descended upon them; the odd grey skies and the opaque clouds that were visible through his garden; and the browning leaves and trees that overlayed their delicate stem - he did not know them. Chara had lived in the underground for so long but she had never, even once, seen anything so anguished like this.

"Ms. Dreemurr, if you keep forcing yourself awake like this, you won't get any better," one of the nurses whispered while trembling with fear.

Chara did not respond. Her gaze anchored to the wilting yellow flowers on top of the cabinet next to her bed. It was after the nurses left her alone was when she heard a sob.

"Why did you keep it a secret all this time?"

Chara languidly turned, surprised at the sudden interrogation her brother had questioned. Asriel was lingering on the edge of the threshold with an emotion nothing more than anguish - his arm being the only support to prevent him from falling. Chara's face looked exhausted and her vocal cords were unable to muster any word. Her eyes were red and black, and barely showed any signs of living.

"Come with me," Asriel said, carrying Chara with his strong arms, gently yet carefully making sure he did not hurt the girl. They walked until Asriel paused in a place very familiar to Chara - Asriel's flower garden. The place where their story begins, and possibly the place where it ends too.

"Chara, I must truly apologise, I have failed," Asriel said, ashamed and saddened. "Not only have I failed to become a good brother, but I have failed to find fresh yellow flowers like you wanted to," his voice was concerned and heartbrokened. He was a strong monster, but this time, he couldn't resist the loop of tears that kept cascading.

Asriel despised this - of course. He abhorred these moments very much. It was doleful, depressing, frustrating. Asriel only wished for everything to be normal. He wanted the good old times to rewind again. He did not like this at all. He wanted the misery to end; wanted the pain in his chest go away and let the agreeable occurrence roll in. It seemed that his preferred ending had differed. But he knew the pathetic fate he must endure. Chara was lying on top of the wilted yellow flowers that did not blossom well - barely breathing. Asriel fell down on his knees next to Chara. She was half unconscious. He hung his head in agony as he silently moaned in dismay.

"Asriel,"

The soft, crippling voice sent a sudden gasp into Asriel's racing mind. His heart ached having to hear the hidden scream behind the one word that was spoken directly out of her cords. Her eyes were barely open and her pupils have gone black, h ier usual, brilliant red eyes now dimming and darkening, Asriel could see her pain behind those eyes. Her voice wasn't sunny and jolly like her usual cheer - this one was unpleasanting and suffering. Asriel felt another sudden seize in his aching heart. No, this was too painful to watch, too painful too listen, too painful to be absolute. No, this can't be real. Asriel was certain.

"Chara..." Asriel respired in, his voice raspy and torn apart. He inched himself closer toward the dying human, who wished for nothing more than a glimpse of living, yellow flowers. Her clothes were bloody and, amidst the acrid scent of blood that surrounded him, Asriel said: "Chara, you promised me, you'll stay with me until the end, right? You'll break onto the surface with me, watch the stars together with me...you promised them, right? So please, stay alive..." Asriel quivered as he grasped Chara's cold hands between his own firmly. Chara squinted a few more whimpering before slowly shaking her head. "Please..."

Chara laid motionless on the decaying flowers. The garden wasn't yellow but now red of blood. Her eyes were moist but she did not expose them. She took her other hand out to grab hold onto Asriel's hands that were holding hers. It was shivery, and fragile, and barely living. The touch gave Asriel another zap of startle as he panted and took more breathless gasps. This wasn't possible, no, this couldn't be happening...

"Chara, remember the stories you told me about the surface? Remember when I made a wish to the sparkling stones back at Waterfall?" Asriel whispered. "We're going to see the surface, Chara, I'm certain we will," Chara nodded, her pupils still darkening. Her breathing was almost impossible to be heard, her chest did not rose up and down in synchronicity like she used to.

They remain motionless. Chara tried to understand and Asriel tried to accept. Their hands were still clasped when Chara's lips shifted slightly.

"Hey, brother..." Chara murmured with a fading, inaudible voice she tried to muster, slowly losing existence in her voice that she could only mouth what she was going to say,

'See the surface for me,'

Asriel wasn't sure what he had heard, what he had say. All sudden, the skies weren't grey but now yellow and lively. Asriel felt the slightest joy rose up his chest as he stared up the yellow, evening skies. He could picture him and Chara playing amongst the yellow butterflies that flew around them; sauntering around the yellow roads and smelling the yellow butter-scented flowers. Just like the old times.

"The flowers are blooming, Chara" Asriel whispered, his voice full of hopes and dreams. "Those are the ones you want to see so much! We finally found them,"

But Chara did not react. Her gaze was now gone and her lips did not stifle. Her hands did not grip nor touch, simply sliding down onto her unmoving, breathless body. Her eyes weren't curious and red but dark and hollow; all that was left moving was the flow of her hair through the gust of the wind as it blows with her soul. Asriel felt his chest and soul break. His hopes, his dreams and his promises were gone. His wishes, his best friend, his sister and his future dreams - they were vanished and lost at once. His heart sank yet was filled with something other than anguish. Asriel was furious. How could everything become so magnificent and glorious when he had just lost a part of his life? Was yellow really the colour of justice, or was he just seeing the true meaning of the colour by now?

The sun set and the birds soared and flowers bloomed, all unfairly beginning to show after he had lost everything. The yellow that appeared right when the world had taken away everything that mattered to him. And there he remained, hopeless and unsounded, amidst the injustice, until there was nothing left but him, the birds and the yellow skies visible underneath the surface.

"So? Don't you have any other wishes to make?"

Asriel paused as he was being asked the question. "Hmm... there's one, but... it's kind of stupid,"

Chara pulled Asriel into a comforting squeeze. "Don't say that! Come on, I promise I won't laugh."

"You aren't going to tell my parents about this, are you?" Asriel asked with an uncertain look. Chara shook her head sympathetically. "You promise you won't laugh at me?"

"Of course I won't laugh!"

Asriel dramatically inhaled as he began. His eyes shone ever so brightly, just like the determination within his heart. "Well then, if you really want to know... I'll tell you...

Someday, I'd like to escape onto the surface and have a glimpse of what the nature looks like aloft the surface. I'd love to be surrounded by singing birds and fresh grass, and look at the sun even closer. I'd love to lay on the soft, green grass at night, simply gazing onto the dark blue skies and counting the stars that glittered the world.

And someday...I'd like to climb the mountain we're all buried under,

Standing under the sky, looking at the world all around...that's my wish."

Chara stared into her brother blankly before bursting into giggles.

"... Hey, you said you wouldn't laugh at it!" Asriel wailed out. He huffed and attempted to chase her speedy sister who leaped away from him.

"Really?" Asriel asked, this time, his hope shone brighter than the stars. "You want to see the surface again? Wonderful! We can go together, Chara!"

"Sure thing!" Chara grinned. "I'd love to see the world again, and you're coming with me. I promise!"

Asriel was beyond excitement he could handle. "Oh Chara, we can see the stars together! I can't believe we're going to see the stars together!" Asriel laughed, soon followed by Chara's joyful chuckle. "So, Chara..."

"Yes?"

"Will you promise me not to ever, ever leave me?"

Chara furrowed her eyebrows. "Asriel, I would never leave you alone!"

"Will you promise to that? That we could both rise up to to the surface to glance at stars?" Asriel asked once more, this time with a soft and emotional voice he could muster. "Do you promise me, that no matter how long it is, we shall always stay together forever?"

"Asriel…" Chara whimpered poignantly. She avoided the direct eye-contact Asriel had insisted to make. Chara gazed up, her eyes strong and stubborn; her eyes determined.

"I promise,"

FIN