Disclaimer: Neither Undertale or Earthbound belong to me. They belong to Toby Fox and Shigesato Itoi respectively.
Flowey: Get on with it. Some of us have work to do.
Work?
Flowey: Y'know, things to do, plans to scheme. People to kill.
filisapin: Thank you for the review! You flatter me too much. I've still gotta lot of room to improve. Which is what I strive to do. And yes, out of all the Mother Brothers Ninten is perhaps one of the least violent, though mostly because he can only hit things with his hand, unlike Lucas, who has immense power, but is just a bit too nice. And I strive to keep the characters in, well, character! So it's nice to hear that I'm doing well so far. And for Giygas?
...
Hope you enjoy the next chapter!
Chapter 7: Super Skeleton Bros
Toriel was right. When she opened the massive, ancient doors to the Ruins, they were greeted by a flurry of snowflakes and biting cold wind. I immediately remembered how much I hated the cold and wrapped the jacket around me. I shivered violently and for a moment I contemplated using my shiny new PK Fire skills to warm myself up. I decided not to.
I was reminded of Snowman as I stepped outside- er, well, outside inside the cave but…
The soft, cold, pure white snow blanketing the ground was pretty. As were the large powdery flakes that fell gently to the ground. And the snow shined with a strange allure in the gloom of the Underground. Scraggly trees reached towards the ceiling with bare branches clawing the air, the snow bending the branches. It was very all pretty.
It also sucked. As soon as I stepped into the snow my shoes were soaked and I clumsily took muffled footsteps. The air nipped at my nose and face and biting cold wind bit at me. We were underground! How the heck was there wind?! I was about as prepared for this as I was with Snowman...
I turned around. Frisk was admiring the snow with a great big grin. And Toriel had paused at the edge of the RUINS and was looking into them.
"Hey! C'mon!" I shouted, beckoning towards the path. We couldn't stay here forever.
Toriel snapped out of her reverie and shook her head.
"Yes. Of course."
"Man, this is colder than f-frozen peas…" I muttered. Frisk looked at me strangely.
"Aren't you cold?" I asked.
Frisk shook their head and smiled, throwing their hands out. Looks like someone loved the snow…
"I could do without the snow," I whispered under my breath.
"I think it looks rather lovely," Toriel said pleasantly.
Easy for her to say. She pretty much had a built in coat. Snow seeped into my shoes and I shuddered. Note to self, grab some boots next time.
They walked carefully on the path away from the Ruins, Toriel taking easy steps and Frisk following by trying to match her stride. It required some hopping but they seemed to be managing. Of course, I was in the front so with each footstep I sank back into a couple of inches of snow.
Why was I wearing shorts again?!
Because they were comfortable and easy to wear, said a small voice in my head. This voice had obviously never heard of winter.
I stopped and furrowed a brow.
"Ninten?" Toriel stopped and Frisk walked up to me.
"Is there something wrong?" Toriel asked, concerned.
I turned my head to look at the woods on either side of the path. The trees were thin and bony but grew together so dense that you'd be hard pressed to squeeze past them.
I'd been in forests before, and none of them bothered me like this one.
"Something's strange…" I said, looking around.
"Strange?" Frisk asked.
I nodded and Toriel placed a hand on her cheek.
"Ninten, these woods are never frequented. This part of Snowdin Forest is too dense. It is peaceful."
Nothing stirred in the forest. I started to doubt myself. It was an underground forest after all. Maybe...Maybe it was just the lack of noise. Yeah. Birds and stuff.
"...We need to get out of this cold first," I said with a shudder. I could feel my feet numbing!
Toriel nodded.
"Snowdin Town is not too far ahead. There's an Inn there we can rest at."
I nodded, yearning for the warmth of a hotel.
"That's sounds delightful. Let's go."
Toriel started to lead the way and I followed.
"Ninten…?"
I turned my head to see Frisk staring at the woods.
"Something wrong?"
"No...But…"
I followed their gaze and sighed.
"Yeah-"
"-There's just something about these woods I don't like."
That made two of us, really. I leaned against the tree, silent. The two human children stood there for a moment until the old lady called them over. I remained silent until they were far enough away that they couldn't hear me. And then I sighed.
"welp. this isn't good."
An understatement. This wasn't supposed to happen. The only thing that was supposed to happen was the kid to walk out of the RUINS. Alone. They'd walk around a bit and then he'd show up and play a joke.
That's the way that it'd gone countless times before. But now...He zeroed in on the boy with the cap.
The difference.
I'd waken up a couple days before with a strange feeling. I attributed it to Pap's homecooked dinner and forgot about it. Now I had a sinking feeling that I knew what it exactly was.
The difference said something to the kid and they laughed. The old lady smiled.
Things were already careening wildly away from what they were supposed to be. And the difference hadn't even gotten into Snowdin Town yet. This wasn't good. If he was allowed to walk around, there's no telling what would happen. But-
-What would I do?
I stood there for a moment, silent. Then I took out what was in my pocket.
I grinned.
"I'm telling you, there were at least five wolves!"
"Oh my! And you fought them all off?"
"Uh, well...not quiiitteee...I kinda got beaten. Llyod had to run all the way to Snowman dragging me behind him. With Silver Wolves on his tail, mind you!"
"Oh dear."
"How…?"
"Did he get away? A well placed Bottle Rocket. Llyod's a smart guy. And he can run really fast."
"So you managed to get to safety?"
"Yeah. Lloyd ran into Snowman and the wolves stopped chasing us. He also ran straight into the Pastor. He was kindly enough to take us to his church and heal me up, but…"
"What…?"
"Well, Anna was his daughter you see? So the first time she met me I was, kinda, er...Geez, it was embarrassing…"
Toriel and I laughed. Ninten scowled.
"It's not that funny, alright?"
I hopped over a thick tree branch and tried to match Ninten's and Mom's gait. The powdery snow made it difficult though. But still, snow! I was very tempted to just flop onto the ground and make snow angels. Of course, they were on a mission, and they had to get to Snowdin Town. Then they could make snow angels! It would be-
*CRACK*
I whirled around as the sound echoed across the forest. At first, I didn't see anything. Then I saw the shattered tree branch strewn across the snow. I gulped and Toriel's paw held my shoulder. In her other hand danced flames. Toriel's eyes shone red and Ninten's eyes glowed as they looked around.
"There's something out there. I felt a mind," Ninten said carefully.
Toriel took a deep breath and the flames rose.
"Show yourself, whoever you are!" she commanded. Her voice held so much force that you couldn't help but obey.
The woods remained silent.
"...We should go. Quickly," Ninten said. Toriel nodded.
"Let us hurry then."
Ninten and Toriel quickly hurried and I struggled to follow them. In the distance, I could see a bridge. There were bars over it, but it looked like the gaps between them were too big to hold anything-
I stumbled and slipped on something, and the world became weightless for a moment as I fell back. I saw the gloom of the ceiling and nothing else for a brief moment. And then I fell onto my behind and-
*Plbthththt!*
The sound echoed and I felt my face heat up and flush. Toriel and Ninten looked at me strangely and I ducked my head. A moment later you felt something shift under you, and something rose from the snow and into the air.
"...A whoopie cushion?" Ninten asked incredulously, staring at the offending object.
"yup. it's always funny."
Toriel blinked in surprise.
"That voice…!"
"Alright, where the heck are you!?" Ninten yelled.
"no need to yell. i'm right next to ya, kid."
Ninten yelped and turned around. The skeleton grinned- well, grinned wider.
"sup?"
His voice was deep and slow and smooth too. He seemed laid back, his hands in the pockets of his blue hoodie and the way he held himself. He wore black shorts with a white stripe running down each leg, and his hoodie was open to reveal a white undershirt, but the cold didn't seem to bother him. He had an easy going smile and in the darkness of his eye-sockets two points of light twinkled cheerfully.
"What do you want," Ninten growled, light forming in his hands. I immediately stood up and grabbed his arm. Ninten glanced at me in surprise. I didn't let go. After a moment the light faded and Ninten sighed. The skeleton stared at Ninten's hands for a moment before looking at them. He was still smiling.
"neat trick. might wanna be careful with it though. wouldn't want to hurt anyone with it, would we?"
"I wouldn't do that," Ninten said.
"really? huh. guess I must have been wrong then."
Ninten's eyes narrowed. The skeleton still smiled. I look between them nervously.
"Excuse me."
They all turned to see Toriel. She stared at the skeleton hesitantly.
"I'm sorry, but…" Toriel smiled, "Perhaps we may...know each other?"
The skeleton was silent.
"knock knock."
Toriel clapped her hands happily.
"Who's there?"
"snow."
"Snow who?"
"snow use. forgot my name again," the skeleton said with a wink.
Toriel started to laugh. Like, full body laugh. The skeleton's deep chuckles quickly joined her.
"...Is this some sort of greeting in the Underground I wasn't aware of?" Ninten asked carefully, his face scrunched up in confusion.
I shrugged.
Toriel wiped a tear away. She looked happier than I'd ever seen her. I felt another twinge and shook my head.
"It...It is so nice to finally meet you," Toriel said earnestly.
"likewise," the skeleton said.
"I'm sorry, but what's going on right now?" Ninten asked.
Toriel and the skeleton turned towards them.
"Oh! I apologize. This is my friend…" Toriel trailed off awkwardly, glancing at the skeleton.
"sans. sans the skeleton. it's nice to meet ya," the skeleton, sans, said. Toriel smiled.
"It's nice to meet you, sans. This is Frisk," I waved, "and Ninten," Ninten just stared.
"And my name is Toriel. Hello!"
"I thought you said you never left the Ruins?" Ninten asked suspiciously.
"I didn't"
"Then how-?"
"knock knock jokes."
Ninten and I stared at sans. sans waved a bony hand.
"we became friends while i practiced knock knock jokes in the big door in the ruins. this is the first time we've met."
"I see."
"sooo...you two are humans, right?"
I froze and I could feel Ninten tense up. Toriel frowned.
"sans…"
sans waved a hand.
"relax. i think it's pretty hilarious. i'm not going to do anything."
"Really…?" I asked carefully.
sans shrugged.
"i'm supposed to be on the lookout for humans. but honestly…? i really don't care about that sort of stuff."
"sans…" Toriel began.
"now my brother, on the other hand, is a human hunting FANATIC. in fact, he should be showing up any moment now."
"So you're just going to let your brother catch us instead?" Ninten asked.
sans shrugged.
"if you could. it'd make him real happy."
"Like heck we will!"
"Ninten!"
Ninten blinked and Toriel sighed.
"I'm sure sans has a reason." Toreil looked at sans sternley. "Right?"
You're pretty sure sans didn't have a throat, but you could see him gulp slightly.
"yeah...you see, my brother really wants to catch a human. says it'll make him more popular and stuff. he'd never hurt a fly. heck, he's never hurt a fly. so if you would just let him be caught by him…"
Toriel smiled.
"Well, that doesn't seem too bad. Right?"
I thought for a moment, before nodding. I trusted Toriel. And sans seemed like a nice guy.
Ninten was silent.
"i promise nothing will happen to you," sans said, putting a bony hand over his chest.
I nodded and turned imploringly towards Ninten.
"...Fine," Ninten said at last.
"great. okay, so here's the plan…"
"SANS!"
"sup bro?"
I scowled at my lazy brother.
"YOU KNOW WHAT'S UP, BROTHER!"
"do i?"
sans smiled at me lazily. I clenched my fists in frustration.
"YOU! HAVEN'T! RECALIBRATED! YOUR! PUZZLES!"
Honestly, his brother wouldn't even do such a simple thing as that!? What if a human were to suddenly walk by? Without the puzzles, they'd never catch them! And the human wouldn't know how great he was! They were really clever puzzles!
"sorry bout that bro. i was just busy."
My eye-socket twitched.
"BUSY? BUSY WITH WHAT!? ALL YOU ARE DOING IS STANDING HERE AND BOONDOG-"
I paused. Something wasn't quite right. I carefully looked around. There was sans, his hands in his pockets and grinning. There was a lamp, nothing strange about that. And there was the monster next to sans, like alwa-
"WAIT."
I stared at the monster carefully. They appeared to be a large grey coat. And from their face spewed forth a long multicolored...scarf? They had a really nice hat.
I stared at the monster some more. They waved. I waved back. Wow, this monster was really friend-Wait!
I stealthily slid up to my brother and leaned towards him, whispering.
"SANS! WHO IS THAT!?"
My brother chuckled.
"well, y'know that friend i was talking about?"
"YOU MEAN THAT FRIEND YOU TELL THOSE ACCURSED JOKES TO?"
"that's the one."
I blink and turn towards the monster. They hold their green hands together and clear their throat.
"Hello! You're PAPYRUS, right? Your brother has told me so much about you."
I feel my cheek-bones heat up.
"R-REALLY?"
The monster chuckles. She has a really nice chuckle.
"Of course. He always goes on and on about how great you are."
"er…"
I turned towards sans. He rubbed the back of his head and glanced away.
"REALLY…?"
sans sighed and looked at me.
"...just tell it like it is bro," he said with a wink.
…
"bro?"
…
"OH, SANS!"
"wait, not the hug-!"
I pick up my brother and hug him tight. I had the best brother in the world!
"pap, oxygen-!"
"OOPS, RIGHT."
I drop sans and he falls onto his feet. I check to make sure he's unharm-
"WAIT...WE DON'T NEED TO BREATHE!"
"heh, fell for it."
"DARN YOU SANS!"
I stomped the ground. Really, to pull such a trick like that!
"Snrk!"
I stopped. What was that sound…? Of course!
I turned towards sans' friend.
"I MUST SAY, IT'S NICE TO MEET YOU, SANS' FRIEND! I HOPE THAT MY LAZY BONES BROTHER HASN'T BOTHERED YOU TOO MUCH."
The monster laughed again and waved a hand.
"It's nice to meet you too, Papyrus. And your brother is nothing but wonderful."
"BUT OF COURSE! HE'S MY BROTHER AFTER ALL! RIGHT, SANS?...SANS?"
"hmm? uh, yeah."
"SANS, YOU ARE LOOKING AWAY. AND YOUR FACE IS BLUE."
I gasp.
"DO YOU HAVE A FEVER?!"
"what? no, i'm fine pap."
"ARE YOU SURE?"
"look at me. i'm the pinnacle of health. look at how healthy i am"
sans outstretched his arms. I stared at him in concern.
"SANS, YOU'RE ALL BONE…"
sans grinned.
"DARN IT SANS!"
I started to stomp the ground again. Really? He had pulled that same joke two days ago! Even in jokes sans was a lazybones!
"Snrk!"
"THERE'S THAT SOUND AGAIN," I said, looking around carefully. Undyne said to always be vigilant.
I turned towards sans's friend.
"DID YOU SEE ANYTHING-"
I pause. The monster stops shaking and removed her hand from her face.
"Papyrus?"
"I'M SO SORRY!"
"Eh?"
I bow profusely. I was surprised that she hadn't turned her scarf at me right at the beginning!
"Papyrus, what's the matter?"
I looked up.
"I HAVE FORGOTTEN TO ASK YOUR NAME! I AM A HORRIBLE SKELETON!"
The monster starts to wave her hands.
"W-What? No, I assure you Papyrus. It's fine."
I sniff.
"REALLY?"
"Yes."
"WOWIE! YOU'RE SO UNDERSTANDING. BUT STILL, I HAVE COMMITTED A GRAVE ERROR! ALLOW ME, THE GREAT PAPYRUS, TO RECTIFY THIS!"
I cleared my throat and waited for a moment.
"...I, THE GREAT PAPYRUS, ASK FOR YOUR NAME, FRIEND!" I exclaim with a pose. The wind blows and my cape flutters. Perfect! Now-
The monster was shaking, both hands covering her mouth.
"ARE YOU OKAY?" I ask, dropping the pose.
"H-Hmm? Y-Yes, I'm just fine!"
"REALLY?"
The monster stands up straight.
"Yes. Now then, my name is…"
The monster hesitates. I wait patiently. The monster doesn't say anything and fidgets.
What was wrong?
I gasp.
"OH NO! AMNESIA!"
"Wh-What?"
"YOU HAVE OBVIOUSLY EXPERIENCED SPONTANEOUS AMNESIA! HOW HORRIBLE! WORRY NOT THOUGH! I, THE GREAT PAPYRUS, ALSO OCCASIONALLY EXPERIENCE IT! IT WILL BE OKAY!"
I walk up to the monster and put a hand on their shoulder.
"I, THE GREAT PAPYRUS, GUARANTEE IT!"
I give a thumbs up. The monster is silent.
"paps, you might wanna give tori some space."
"HMM? OH, BUT OF COURSE!"
I step back and smile at Tori-
"WAIT. YOUR NAME. IS IT TORI?"
"...Yes! That's my name. How could I forget?"
"next thing you know, you'll be forgetting your own head, tori," sans says lightly.
"SANS!"
"yeah, bro?"
"WE HAVE FOUND HER NAME! THIS IS WONDERFUL! NYHEHEHEHE!"
sans chuckles too.
"sure is, bro...say, weren't you here for something?"
I pause. Yes, of course! In the excitement I forgot!"
"I CAME HERE TO CHECK THE GATE!"
"any reason?"
I gape at my brother.
"ANY REASON? ANY REASON! SANS, WHAT IF A HUMAN COMES THROUGH HERE?! I MUST CAPTURE THEM!"
"Capture them?" Tori asks.
"YES!" I beam.
"I WILL BE THE ONE! I WILL CAPTURE A HUMAN! THEN I, THE GREAT PAYPRUS, WILL GET ALL THE THINGS I UTTERLY DESERVE! RESPECT! RECOGNITION! I WILL FINALLY BE ABLE TO JOIN THE ROYAL GUARD!"
I hesitate.
"PEOPLE WILL ASK TO, BE, MY, 'FRIEND'?"
Yes, of course they would! Why would they not! I posed and reached out to the ceiling.
"I WILL BATHE IN A SHOWER OF KISSES EVERY MORNING."
"hmm...hey, have you seen this lamp?"
I glance at the lamp, before glaring at sans.
"SANS! HOW CAN YOU THINK ABOUT A LAMP AT A TIME LIKE THIS!? YOU LAZY BONES!"
I turned towards Tori apologetically.
"MY BROTHER MUST BE THE LAZIEST SKELETON IN THE WORLD! HE GETS LAZIER AND LAZIER EVERY DAY!"
"hey, take it easy. i've gotten a ton of work done today."
sans winked at everyone.
"a skele-ton."
"SANS!"
"c'mon, bro. Tori seems to like my jokes."
I glanced at Tori. She was shaking again, and I realized that she was in fact, laughing!
"IT IS PROBABLY JUST A PITY LAUGH!"
"you're smiling."
"IT'S A PITY SMILE!"
I sighed.
"WHY DOES SOMEONE AS GREAT AS ME HAVE TO DO SO MUCH JUST GET SOME RECOGNITION…"
"sounds like you're working yourself-"
"SANS!"
"Papyrus, do you really want to catch a Human just for recognition?" Tori asked.
"OF COURSE!"
Tori was silent for a moment.
"well, if you want to catch a human, you better get to work."
"OF COURSE! AND SANS…?"
"yeah?"
"PUT A LITTLE MORE BACKBONE INTO YOUR WORK! NYEHEHEHEHEHE!"
I turned around, ready to run off to my puzzles, when-
"God, the puns…"
I paused and turned around. My brother and Tori were standing there. There was a hushed shush sound.
"SANS?" I asked carefully.
"yeah?"
"DO YOU KNOW VENTRILOQUISM?"
"nope."
"TORI?"
Tori shook her head. I scratched my skull. If they didn't make those sounds, then…?
I glanced at the vase. Then I glanced again. It was awfully human shaped…
"SANS! WHY IS THERE A VASE?"
"what vase?"
"THAT VASE RIGHT NEXT TO YOU!"
"oh, this one? it's neat, isn't it."
"IT IS VERY UNIQUE. WHY DO YOU HAVE IT?"
sans looked away, grinning.
"no reason."
"HMM…"
I glanced at the vase. It was very pretty.
"I THINK I SHALL EXAMINE IT!" I said happily, walking towards it.
"W-Wait, don't!"
I stopped midstride and turned towards Tori. She shook her hands quickly.
"Please, don't look at that vase!"
I stared at her. That was odd. Why not?
I remembered Undyne's lessons and narrowed my eye sockets. This was suspicious! I marched towards the vase. It was very large and very human shaped.
"Don't!"
I grabbed the vase firmly.
"no, don't."
I ignored my brother's bored pleas and with a flourish lifted the vase over my head.
The two humans huddled behind it blinked. I blinked back.
"...Greetings," the one with the cap said. The other human waved tentatively, smiling.
I smiled back and waved. And the vase fell and shattered.
"SANS!"
Flowey: Smiley-Trashbag...!
Someone seems mad. Oh well. Today's chapter was slightly short, but that's okay, cause the GREAT PAPYRUS is now here to save the day! Hooray!
Oh, also sans.
Who wears shorts and sneakers in winter? (Aside from me of course).
Also, something that PAPYRUS didn't notice, but the vase is only convenient enough to hide a human. Not two. Thus, you are free to have a mental picture of how Ninten and Frisk hid behind a rather inconvenient vase.
Ninten and Frisk have been discovered! What shall happen next? Tune in next time to find out! Remember to review!
