Papyrus was falling, deeper and deeper in a white void. Lost among voices and memories. As he fell further and further into the bright, emptiness. He watched timelines fly by, now knowing, there was nothing more he could do but fall. Truly alone, truly helpless, endless falling. The oppressive silences threatening to break him, bury him. Papyrus didn't know what to do as he was overwhelmed with each timeline. Falling in and out of one, showing him every single possibility of every single event from every single time line.
[Reset]
He walked in Snowdin, everyone gone, evacuated, to be saved from the murder spree of the humans. Papyrus walked through the silent town. He got shivers as he walked past Muffets café, normally packed with the regulars, now empty. The whole town was silent without the residential life, making it more or less a ghost town. 'Minus the ghosts...' Thought Papyrus humorlessly.
He walked down the main path through the city until he hit the Glen where his brother was, just in time to see the stout big bone skeleton cleaved in his chest. The human looked down at their dusty weapon as they looked at Sans. He held his caved in chest, falling to his knees and then looked up, with a weak smile. Even to the end, his brother still had faith in them to do the right thing. How many times did it make it now that they were presented with the right thing, Papyrus didn't know, but at this point, watching it over and over, he had grown numb to the scene before him. His brother dying and the human.
The human passed him without a second glance. Leaving only dust and a blue bandana in the snow.
[Reset]
The human was on their knees. They looked hurt, scared and heartbroken. They sobbed openly, every so often attacking. This wasn't what they wanted, anyone really watching the fight could understand that, but no one would know. No one would understand.
Before them the captain of the guards was trying their best to hold their form together, nothing short of pure will power, keeping her from dissolving. She readied another energy attack, ever the loyal soldier, knowing she was dying but still fighting as if she was fine. The human trying desperately to defend themselves unsure what to do next.
Soon the real toll of their battle showed on their body as it started to waver and fade. The human looking on in horror as the the proud captain dissolved more and more with every turn they had. Finally their body could take no more and became completely disable. Even then Alphys, ever the proud captain, wouldn't give up.
With the last of her strength, the last of her determination, she tried to keep her form together but in by doing so, her body did the only left for it to do and started to melt. Becoming nothing more than an amalgamation of determination, dust, and will power.
She melted proclaiming she would not die.
But she did...
The human gained eight levels of LOVE.
[Reset]
Papyrus took a long drag of his cigarette making a phone call, on the other line, it sent him straight to voicemail. He wasn't surprised. Taking another puff, he looked over his shoulder lest his new roommate see him. He knew he'd have the privacy he needed out there in the ruins but still, with Asgore, one could never be too sure what might happen. He sighed, anyway better get this over with. He'd sleep better. He was going to do right by his friend and not make the same mistakes he had with his brother. Once the recording started he kept it short.
He spoke about what happened after they left, how that his friend had came back as king only to be overthrown by a rebellion. How that it was his policy on the treatment of humans that enticed their new empress of the underground, Alphys, to come to power. That he'd gone back with his friend to the ruins and now they lived together.
He spoke about how it was actually pretty nice living with Asgore, but then there was the awkward moments. When Asgore talked about them, how he, Agore missed them, and how Papyrus couldn't say much to him about the human and always changed the conversation.
Then a pause telling the human to go to hell and never come back. Hanging up, he sighed, he'd never tell Asgore about what the human did. How that their promise lead to the protection that went on to kill his brother and queen stories killer as well as most of the underground.
He turned his head hearing Asgore calling him.
[Reset]
Final corridor Papyrus waited for them to show up, again and again, he had to admit this human was really determined to kill him. He sighed as he saw them marching through the door like normal. The child walked in grinning as if they knew this time victory was there. He shut his eyes, "Let's just get to the point." Right as the human charged.
Once again he charged into the battle with a barrage of blasts, telekinetic attacks and standard skeleton attacks. Once again this human dodged every attack. One after another as if it was a well choreographed fight. Papyrus narrowed his eyes. They had memorized his attacks. In a twisted way, he'd been impressed, they were using their reset, load and saving abilities to their advantage. Whether it was because they could or for some greater purpose, Papyrus could never tell anyone but all he knew was that was an outcome he didn't want to find out.
[Reset]
Toriel was dead, Alphys was elected as empress of the underworld. Any human who fell down below was to be executed. To be honest that all didn't really matter, at least he still had his brother, albeit he had to lie to him like some child and tell him the Queen was on vacation. Still it was enough for Papyrus. Everyone was losing hope. The souls were gone, now they'd have to start all over.
Still Alphys tried her best to stay positive and bring up everyone's moral. Though it was hard for her when Undyne went missing. It's been months now and no one knows where the royal scientist went to.
Papyrus walked through the snow, heading towards the ruin door. Picking up his head when he got to the massive door. He walking up, he smiled weakly. Leaning against it, he closed his eyes, "Knock knock.."
*Nobody came...
He sighed, same as yesterday and the day before that and the day before that. Guess his friend finally got tired of him. He tried again, he looked down, he didn't know why but he spoke aloud.
"Okay...I get it...I won't bother you anymore...but I want you to know I...Kept your promise...The human made it back..." He sighed as he pushed off the door and knocked again.
*But nobody came.
[Reset]
[Reset]
[Reset]
As infinite timelines played before him, he felt himself slip further and further from his own grounded timeline. He was falling, and now it was getting darker, yet darker still. He saw someone else falling now, Sans? Had he been able too, he'd been crying right now. He failed, not only his friends, but his brother as well. What was the point anyways, nothing mattered it stopped mattering a long, long time ago.
Why not give up, he closed his eyes. He was so tired of trying, so tired of going on. He sighed and let the darkness envelope him, become lost. A lost soul in the void. At least his brother was beside them. If they were going to be lost they'd do it the way they went through life, alone together.
A voice calls out in the darkness, something about it resonated with him, he noticed that it resonated with his brother as well. He saw an unfamiliar person appear before him. Had they called him? Regardless they looked determined to save them. He was confused, who were they why even bother trying. What was this small human trying to accomplish.
Their soul manifested in front of them as they were given their options, without even hesitating they picked the Act button.
[Act] *Joke *Riddle *Recipe *Insult
It was trying to get through to his brother. He looked over at Sans out of the corner of his eye as he looked down at the human, no...this was going to end somehow some way. This human should have left them alone. This was done with, after this battle they weren't going to fight anymore.
[Joke]
*You tell a bad pun about skeletons.
He had to grimace, it wasn't funny anymore it was never funny to begin with, but strangely he felt appreciative that they were trying to get his brother to laugh. He could hear the confused laugh of his brother, unsure why but he loved it.
Their turn, this human should have left, both in union summoned their magic to attack, for his brother certainly but for him, nothing but grief consumed Papyrus.
"I must capture a human!"
His voice betrayed his emotion. "Just give up, I did..."
Whoever this human was, they weren't giving up that easily, dodging their attacks as they focused on the skeleton pair. They pressed their act button again but this time they were directed towards Papyrus himself.
[Act] *Take a break *Joke *Gentlemen jumble * Judgment
The human narrowed their eyes, they were going to save their friends.
[ judgment]
*You told the lost soul you'd think about what you've done.
Papyrus couldn't help but nod solemnly to this, it was like a fog was slowly parting from them but they still didn't know where they were. Grief and turmoils still had it's hold on him, maybe they could get the human to leave them alone, so another attack. Yet for some reason it felt kinda wrong to them.
His brothers voice sounded unsure, even pained, "Then everyone will..."
Papyrus for once let his true feelings speak for him, "Why even try...?"
The child seemed not to be fazed by this, they even seemed to notice they were getting through to them, maybe once more. The human looked so sure, that all they needed to get through to them was one more try. They tried again with Sans.
[Act]
[ Riddle]
*You ask the lost soul to help you with a riddle, he doesn't know why but he really wants to help you.
It was like the spell finally being broken freed from the chains of whatever had them, like waking up from their nightmare. The human was beaten and bruised but knew they had their other friends to save. They looked at them as if to ask if they were okay. Sans and Papyrus smiled.
Sans had to tell them he knew who they were, "No! Wait! You're my friend! I could never capture you!"
Papyrus took a puff of his cigarette and winked lazily at them, "Naw I'm rootin' for ya kid!"
They nodded and looked back unsure if they should leave, but both skeletons nodded them on. Once they were sure it was okay to try the lost soul. Everything seemed to go white, the darkness filling was a pure white light, different from the endless void he'd fallen in. He was once again lost, but at the same time saved and now no longer alone.
He hadn't felt like that for the first time in a long time. Like everyone was there. His brothers, his friends, in fact it seemed like the whole underground was there, and others too. It was a pleasant feeling. Warm and comforting, like a blanket. Everyone's love blending together. Memories filled him. Not just his but others he didn't recognize.
Watching bad anime with friends. The smell of fresh flowers. Teaching children under the clear blue sky. Hearing his brother laugh, a real honest laugh. Seeing his brother excited when making a new friend. The feel of a real battle won. Music loved by all. On stage busting out the jams.
It was like it was him, but others. People enjoying food and talking around her. The look on a child's face when they first rode his river boat. Slowly melding together to the point that it was almost as if these memories were his own. Knowing my bestie will be beside me. The way we sync our attacks, it's like the best. Knowing a piece of me will see all the world as if I had been there. Someone laughing at my jokes. Talking to my friends before they moved to the capital and the waterfall not being that lonely. Children buying warm cinnamon rolls. Playing in the wishing room. Memories of my dad... I can't forget.
Papyrus wondered if it went the same for everyone else, if they felt what he did. His breathing, his soul, his heart now in sync with everyone's. Drawing power in one another and being summoned. Buying our food to help a cause. The look on someone's face buying my glamburgers. Well I suppose when I first started to work it wasn't so bad, selling nice cream wasn't that bad a deal. People listening to me sing, on my own, . Flexing, washing, dancing, doing a good job, heat, drawing, everything. All of it rising up like a wave and slowly parting to revealing ancient memories.
The smell of grass... The fear of seeing something first time, I saw a human, the first time...I met a human...A human named...Named...
Frisk...Meeting frisk for the first time, helping them to my parents. My father reading stories to us, my mother baking for us. Playing in our kingdom. The dream we shared, the hope we made. The fun we had. The laughter we shared, the tears we shed, the things we learned. The quiet times, the loud times. The happy times and the sad times. Everything single thing we did, we did it together. Maybe that's why I've done all this. No it IS why I did all this. I did this for you Frisk! I did all of this for you!
I don't want it to end.
I don't want to be alone again!
I don't want to say goodbye again!
I don't want to say goodbye to a friend like you again!
I'm so alone Frisk.
It hurts, Frisk.
I'm so scared Frisk.
I'm lonely frisk!
Can't you see I'm doing everything for you. I want YOU back, I want us in front of the fireplace as dad teaches us about the flowers, or mom tucking us in at night. I want our Christmases back and us playing together, I want to see you smile and make fun of me again. I want so many things, so that's why...THAT'S WHY YOU CAN'T WIN! I don't want you to go away! SO I can't understand WHY YOU WON'T LET ME WIN! Why we can't play together again, why your fighting so hard. None of them matter- not like you...You only matter, you're the only one I have fun with, you're the only one who still loves me.
The feeling of love for another filled him so much he was drowning in it. That's why...I have to do this. That's why...Why...I...Why... It shifted, Papyrus was sure of it a new feeling, remorse? Why...am...I...hurting you... It had taken their love, making it their own and expanding it. Everyone's hopes, to help the cause,everyone's dream, To see real stars. Everything building and coming together in a power that no one could ever imagine.
He was falling, but he wasn't alone, everyone was falling with him, coming together and collectively giving one last dream, for that barrier to be gone.
Something shattered.
