The Reason I Run
Waterfall, as you'd heard them refer to it as, was bright and full of bright-eyed individuals. One of them explaining 'Echo flowers' and their properties, and the monster from earlier (whose bee comparison was becoming more and more accurate, earning him the nickname 'Honeystripes' in your mind) who seemed even more energetic than before. You took it as an encouragement and went on, feeling filled with determination. It didn't take long to reach an area of tall grass, the stiff muscles from the early morning left you tired and wanting to curl up in the inviting cover. You really did need to get some more proper rest and...traveling at night has always made for rather peaceful journeys...still, Honeystripes had gone in ahead, apparently without any warning to his parents. You were worried about the familiar friend-
"Hey, Gold!" His smile shined despite the metal lining his teeth, blocking out most of the white teeth, "It's good to see you're okay! Though I'm awful sorry you got caught…" You brain was still scrambled, reaching into the depths of memories to rescue a name from the crevice of forgetfulness, you couldn't help cocking your head in confusion. He didn't falter, seemingly expecting such a reaction.
"Silly, Gold, musta hit your head real bad, huh?" He winked as he took your hand- "Better get you to the infirmary. This wasn't the way, if you recalled correctly, yet you didn't comment on it; a part of your mind simply denying the action as he lead you like you were sporting an injury, holding tight to your shoulders as if he was afraid you would run.
When you reached the room, it was cold enough to see your breath. Darkness swirling around seemed to buzz like flies were present. Objects blurred and when you looked back at the small, mousy, brown-haired boy, he looked...different. Green eyes replaced orange and you fought the grasp as if he were burning you. A syringe appearing in his hand, several others reaching to hold you down-
"No! Stop! I don't want-!" Pressure covering your mouth as they rolled up your sleeve, legs flailing to kick your assailants. Water draining from your eyes like a faucet, fear making them burn as they inserted the needle. His voice rang in with comforting words, firm yet sweet.
"No, no, c'mon, Gold, don't move you'll break the needle-" The world seemed to freeze as the plunger was pushed, releasing honey-colored liquid into your arm- oh…
"Feel better now, Gold?"
"Yeah...I do, Markence- er, Mark."
"Anytime, friend."
Markence… Before the war started with the Facility he acted just like that...clueless and obsessed with comics and the outside world. When Arty 'died' something in him seemed to snap into place, he became a leader, a good one at that, kind and giving. He helped everyone keep their powers secret, alive, or both. His own powers were so well hidden they were almost nonexistent, the Facility planned to let him go at eighteen but he'd been determined to be put in for extra time for 'behavioral issues' a self-sacrifice for the people of your world… You hadn't seen him since-
"Gold! Gold! Don' worry! The Arts'll figure it out, we always think'a something!" The Arts were a nickname for the resistance, name coined from the man himself- "You're not alone, Gold! This don't change nothin'! We'll save you!"
They been pulling you down the hall, tears rampantly running down your cheeks as final goodbyes were swept aside, not that you'd have wanted them with how shameful your purple skin felt that day. You don't know what had happened to him during all those years, he was young and a somewhat slow aged himself due to his healing abilities. Perhaps he's still at the facility…? You hope not, Mark was a good leader and friend, a great person in general; he deserved better than a place like that… Just like, Chara, Gaster, and all the people down here. Humans...they deserve to die, to give back after doing nothing but what they always do, take; take and break. Creating ruins out of worlds and their own creations as they let loose fire that says them adamantly named, 'Shentiss.'
Your skin bubbled into spots of purple, existing freckles spreading a bit as anger flared. You slowed, rubbing at tired eyes once more and willing the spots to go away. They burned with a vengeance but, after a few extra seconds of concentration and power, quickly faded back into tan. The bushes were becoming more and more tempting, curled, brown hair already fading into the odd conglomeration of black, gray, and white it was originally. An ache in your head brews as you try and keep it the same color, failing after a while; simply resigning to the fact that maybe it's dark enough down here so nobody would see… Agh! You can't keep putting this off! You need to rest this form but...nowhere looked safe. Where could it possibly be safe for you in a world like this? Tired eyes wandered ever forward on the path, keeping the journey going as you stepped into the long grasses and saw...someone…
"Ah! Undyne!" Papyrus was here? "I'm here for my daily report, about the Human I told you of earlier…"
"Huh? Did I capture them?" You couldn't see through the tall grass but he was rubbing the back of his neck in an awkward manner, "Well, no, but-!"
"Oh...you're going to do it yourself? Ah...alright, I'll get going then…" He sped off and you held your breath. You could see the tall, intimidating figure through the long strands of greenery that were parted. Your hand moved to widen the gap to see better but the rustle turned out louder than expect. Eyes turned and seem to lock onto yours, then- in a burst of power and impulse- you instinctively froze; body blending into the background as you pushed yourself further. You could feel the sweat pouring down your neck as the figure raised a bright-blue weapon to match the glow of this area, only letting yourself breathe and let out a sigh of relief when they were gone.
"Oh man! Did you see her? Undyne is so cool!" It was Honeystripes, he smiled as he emerged from the grass. Wait...that was Undyne? The same Undyne he'd raved about since you first met? The Captain...of the Royal Guard, is hunting you. This doesn't sound good but you force a smile for Honey, he seemed even more energetic and it filled you with determination. He ran ahead as you calmly walk forward, hands already over with their trembles due to the determined feeling in your heart, she must be a good person if Honey likes her this much; after all-
"Oh! Hiya, the name's Markence, call me Mark!"
"We're friends now, right?"
He was so much like him.
Backtracking towards the waterfall near the beginning wasn't too far a walk and you'd realised that through your dazed walking you'd missed something. An echo flower at the very end that swears its seen something behind the rushing current. A camera peers through the water at you but that doesn't seem to be all, checking the top yields a secret little area. Lying on the floor is a pink garment with ruffles that looked like a leotard. Your bag is getting heavier but something about the clothing draws your eyes enough so that you slip it around your waist. You like the weight left on your hips that signaled its existence and decided to let it be, though you did take it off as you sat on the grassy ground in the secret room. A perfect place for a nap…
"Chara! Hey, sib, it's time to get up!"
"Chara...come on, please?"
"Chara! Wake up! You have to!"
"I...I don't want to lose you, sib…"
"Please...I...I don't want to be alone…"
You woke with a gasp, a name on your tongue. Asriel...who? What was that just now? Some sort of dream? You don't know that name and yet it lingers in your mind with an itch of remembrance that longed to surface. Bro-bro...No- wait… You'd never had a brother. Or maybe...in another life? One where these same eyes peered beyond your own head and were the chilling color of the tides. Where a boy held out his hand, a hand not made of human flesh but fur of a beautiful, pure white. Chara...is this who you wanted to protect? You can see it all now, sliding down like film as it replayed little moments in your head as your body acted of a different accord and a frightening message replayed itself to you, fusing with your own mind and wants.
"All humans deserve to die." It's the truth, even if you are- were- may look like one. They called you otherwise, anyway, you weren't human to them and you wouldn't want to be in any case. They called you a monster, a sin, everyone in the village hated you; the world considered you scum. Why? You don't know but the beldam seemed to constantly give excuses, countless reasons why you don't get this and that. The reasons they scratched and hit and pulled at you, the reason they struck and took and broke. The reason you ran. All the way to the mountaintop, all the way to your death, to those flowers, to that plan. You just wanted to be free...you...and your family; even it meant you had to die in the process and leave Asriel behind...
...and break your promise to him.
What- huh? Oh. A...dream? Those weren't your eyes though, the ones being used are the ones you'd grown used to; a lingering redness recognizable in the iris. The feeling was always different, a bit warmer than the normal feeling that accompanied said region of your face. You weren't sure exactly why but that was simply the difference felt. Speaking of Chara, you hadn't seen them since the incident, are they scared? Did you somehow prove yourself incapable of taking their eyes to the surface...did you lose them? You didn't want to think about something like that, Chara meant so much to you; you knew them almost like you knew yourself. How? You didn't know, you don't even remember when you met and yet...losing them would be...heartbreaking.
Chara-
It hurts.
Please-
What is this?
Don't go-
Why do I feel so…
I need you with me-
Empty?
Stay with me-
There's nothing left but dregs…
I want you here-
Where did it all go?
Please, hear me-
Where is my determination?
Come back-
The soul is pale.
#$%&
LV: 1
HP: 15/15
Your stats have dropped.
Current Inventory:
Weapon: Messenger Bag
Armor: Ruffled Leotard
+Faded Ribbon (The flower is still tied in the fabric)
+Chewed Toy
+Bunny-Cat
+Toriel's Phone
+Sign-Language Book (The translation guide and drawing is tucked into it)
+New Paintbrush
+Charred Scarf