Disclaimer: I own absolutely nothing to do with Undertale or anything of the sort outside of this fan work. That's all Toby.
"A scattered dream that's like a far-off memory... a far-off memory that's like a scattered dream... I want to line the pieces up... yours and mine."
- Shiro Amano
-Chapter 1: Echoes of the past-
Tearing myself from my slumber, soaked in sweat, I pulled the tattered jacket I wore closer to myself. It'd be dawn soon, but the moon still hung out for the moment. A fat pale gibbous thing.
Getting up from the dusty wooden floor of the abandoned house I was making use of, moonlight pouring in through the window and the smell of mildew hung in the air. It wouldn't be much further before I reached my destination.
I was a person who had run from home... If you could call it home. Not much older than 14 by now, I remembered overhearing tales of that mountain which now loomed out the cracked window like an eternal sentinel. Mt. Ebott. No one went there for a happy reason... and no one came back. As if I cared. I was determined to disappear from the world as well. Not like anyone would miss me.
Taking a moment to check my beat up tote bag and take stock of my supplies, I counted everything out. About a day's worth more of food and a half-dozen bottles of water, some of it stolen. Three big fat chocolate bars as well, a personal weakness of mine. I tore into one of them. Small comforts. You learned to cling to those.
I didn't know my birth parents really. I didn't care to, given what little I'd pieced together. Not that the orphanage was much better. If it had been I wouldn't have been making this trek obviously. They could all rot, for all I cared.
The small but steady spread of warmth from the chocolate set my frayed nerves at ease as I took a moment to stare at an age worn wall and reflect upon my nightmare. Unconsciously I played with the utility knife I'd stolen. Some cheap KA-BAR knockoff that one of the orphanage staff was particularly proud of and would show off despite it clearly being something which should have gotten them fired. Lord knows why they had it, but it was mine now, and it's weight gave me strange comfort.
While I was eating, my thoughts wandered to a nighmare I had been having for some time now. A terrible burning pain filled my throat, like I'd swallowed pure acid. Not far off voices begged and pleaded to me, voices with an uncomfortable familiarity. They filled me with crushing guilt... But there was no turning back now... right?
Crack. Unthinkingly I'd snapped the chocolate bar in my hand in half. In my thinking state I had tightened my grip far too much and now crumbled fragments and melted chocolate stained my hand. It was enough to give me pause, as if my mind was trying to discern some deeper meaning from the mess of chocolate and caramel which clung to my fingers.
Pushing the thought aside I licked the mess off and set off into the world once more from the abandoned shack that served as shelter for a time. Gradually the mountain grew in size as I approached, sticking to back roads and dirt paths which eventually gave way to innumerable trees.
By this time my lungs had started to become raw and a stitch at developed in my side. I only took a moment to rest before pressing on in spite of this. By now I was certain something awaited me at the mountain. Something drew me here now. Some strange feeling that it was meant to be I come here.
The dirt path stopped at an old gate with a weathered no trespassing sign plastered across it. Something to do with the supposed disappearances no doubt. I was fairly sure whatever awaited me was better than back 'there' however. And besides, it seemed that some idiot forgot to put a lock on the gate so there was no excuse to turn back.
A chill breeze rustled through the ancient trees as I touched a hand against the old gate to open it. An even icier chill ran down my spine at that moment though. It felt, at least for a brief instance, as if someone was watching me. Shrugging the feeling off I pressed onward, giving the gate a push which caused it to creak loudly.
From that point there was virtually no path to follow anymore, so I set forth with only my instincts to guide me. Twice the feeling of being watched returned, so I clutched the knife in one hand close to me. It filled me with determination to finish what I set out to do. After that the feelings stopped.
The ancient woods groaned softly around me as who knows how much time passed. Smelled like old sod and worms. As I climbed higher, the trees thinned. Eventually I reached an outcropping above the forest. Looking out over it I could see it was almost night again and the sunset shown over the vast forest around the mountain and the town beyond that. It would have been a beautiful sight if I was in a better mood.
I turned to resume climbing, only to pause. A cave mouth loomed ahead of me. Had it been there before and I just hadn't noticed it in my haste? It would server as a good shelter before I continued tomorrow at least. Proceeding inwards, my skin prickled slightly like my clothes had suddenly become statically charged. Strange, but easily ignored.
Vines seemed to have made the interior of the cave a very comfortable home strangely. Like thick green serpents they wound through it, emerging from walls and floor and twisting in strange ways. How did they survive with little sunlight?
I didn't have much time to think about it as my foot caught on a particularly thick one, and I stumbled, throwing my hands out to catch myself. It was a rough fall and my hands stung painfully. I swore viciously under my breath as I pushed myself sitting and checked my hands.
They where definitely scraped up and bits of rubble stuck in them which I took a moment to pick off before resuming my investigation. If there'd been a drop there it could have ended badly. Not that I was of the mind to care too much either way truth told. I came here to escape. I didn't come here to survive.
I wasn't going to be the coward that offed themselves. Whatever happened happened. My thoughts where derailed by the scent of flowers from deeper in. I allowed my curiosity to guide me once more. By now my eyes where more adjusted to the dim cave. To my surprise there was a sizable hole in the middle of the cave chamber. It didn't seem natural... and it was the source of the smell.
Against my better judgement I moved to the edge of the pit to try and see what was inside. At that moment a terrible sense of deja vu (and perhaps just a bit of pain as well) lanced through my skull. Had I been here before? Had this all happened before? My head hurt and the world spun. Dizzy and confused, I lost my balance.
I was falling now. Right into the pit. Yep, this was definitely happening now. And honestly? I couldn't muster up the energy to care. I was pretty much fucked. Blame the Orphanage owners to teaching me that lovely word. I at least had the good sense to reserve it for when it really should be used.
Now the question was how painful the landing would be? I'd heard it was both extremely painful, if quick or completely painless. I kinda hoped it didn't hurt. Well at least I'd get to know for sure which was true now. Wow, that ground sure was approaching awfully fa-
MsYakumo: Oh? You're still reading this? Hi! I'm afraid this is my first attempt at a fan fiction so hopefully it's enjoyable so far! Feel free to leave feedback or ask questions! I'll answer them as best I can without hopefully giving too much away.