A/N: AAAAA, you're all so kind! Thank you all so much for putting up with this writer's block! I don't think it's up to the quality I WANTED, but I've been dying to get back to writing this story. And I'm determined to finish it, don't worry! This story isn't getting discontinued any time soon!
... You're all going to hate me for this chapter.
The Rude Girl: Actually, no one that reviewed told me "i want this chapter now" or "FINISH DIS STORY"! Everyone is so patient!
Youdontseethis: I'm pretty sure I see you~ And thank you so much, I figured the Neutral Runs needed a bit of love! And don't worry about writing formal reviews! If that's your review style, stick with it!
An odd, still calm had settled over the Underground. The sound of rushing water, and the gentle whispers of Echo Flowers promising a new life on the surface echoed through the air, the only sounds that could be heard. Even animals, trapped by the barrier, had settled down for rest. Most Monsters had retreated home hours before, the long 'day' having come to an end.
The only movement came from a figure coming to a standstill on a bridge, the slight movement causing his scarf to swish slightly. The skeleton stood still in the center of the bridge, closing his eyesockets and taking in a faint 'breath' of air to calm himself. Papyrus straightened his back, opening his eyesockets as his stance firmed... He would not be moved from this spot easily.
The skeleton didn't wait for too long before he had company. The armored figure stepped around a corner, pausing momentarily in surprise at the sight of him.
"HELLO UNDYNE." Papyrus said as she walked toward him, stopping several feet away.
"Papyrus..."
"I KNOW YOU DON'T LIKE HUMANS, UNDYNE, BUT THEY'RE NOT ALL OUT TO HURT ANYONE! AMIYA WON'T-" Papyrus exclaimed, trying to jump right into what he wanted to discuss.
"Papyrus!" Undyne interrupted. Papyrus went silent, startled at the firm tone in her voice. Undyne sighed, her hands curling into fists. "I'm sorry, Papyrus. I didn't mean to say it like that. I know you believe Amiya is your friend, but you can't... You shouldn't."
"BUT SHE WON'T HURT ANYONE! SHE HASN'T HURT ANYONE, SHE WON'T DO ANYTHING WRONG!" Papyrus stated.
"Yet. She hasn't hurt anyone YET. Human are bad, Papyrus, even if you don't believe it!" Undyne replied, trying to hold back a bit of anger. "They're willing to hurt Monsters for no reason!"
"I KNOW THE HUMAN IN THE BLUE AND PURPLE SHIRT DID BAD THINGS, THAT'S WHAT CAUSED THIS! BUT YOU CAN'T JUDGE ALL HUMANS BASED ON ONE HUMAN! THERE COULD BE PLENTY OF HUMANS THAT WOULDN'T HURT MONSTERS-!" Papyrus was cut off as Undyne formed a spear, tensing up when she raised it before gaining her senses and lowering it again.
Undyne took a breath, trying to calm herself before stepping closer to him. "Listen, Papyrus. I'm doing what needs to be done. The human HAS to die. It's the only way to make sure Monsters stay safe. And we could use the Souls to get to the surface. We just need three Souls, then we can head to the surface-"
"NO. THERE HAS TO BE ANOTHER WAY!" Papyrus stated firmly.
"Papyrus, I don't want to hurt you. Just step to the side and let me walk past. It'll be easier." Undyne said firmly, moving closer to him.
Papyrus straightened up further, a bone forming in his hand. "... I AM SORRY, UNDYNE. BUT I CAN'T ALLOW YOU TO CONTINUE WITH YOUR PLAN TO HURT AMIYA."
Undyne sighed, her grip tightening on her spear. "... Well, fine." She raised her spear, swiping it through the air. Papyrus hopped back, avoiding it and summoning several bones, all white. With a moment of hesitation, he sent them toward her. Because of his hesitation, Undyne was easily able to turn them to dust with hear spear, stepping toward Papyrus again.
Papyrus wasn't fast enough to bring up his bone as a spear came toward him, hitting his arm. 570/680 HP. "NYEH!" Papyrus raised the bone he held, warding off the remaining onslaught of spears with it. When it was his turn, he sent a barrage of blue and white bones at Undyne, the other Monster dodging almost all but one bone.
Undyne winced as the bone hit her chest. 1955/1957 HP.
The fight didn't last for long, both opponents easily evading the others' attacks. They had trained for so long, they knew each other's moves by heart and were able to deflect almost every hit.
220/680 HP. Papyrus straightened up, his arms trembling faintly. "UNDYNE... I DO NOT WISH TO FIGHT YOU ANYMORE. PLEASE, LET AMIYA BE! SHE WON'T DO ANYTHING!"
1937/1957 HP. Undyne curled her hand around her spear, struggling to hold back built-up anger. "Listen to me, Papyrus! The human can't be trusted! Humans will gladly hurt Monsters for no reason! That's why I'm trying to get to them before they hurt anyone!"
"BUT AMIYA IS DIFFERENT! SHE WON'T HURT ANY-!"
"ENOUGH!" Undyne's anger snapped, flinging her spear at Papyrus. The skeleton's eyesockets widened and he tried to move... But it was too late.
-300; 0/680 HP. Papyrus took a step back as Undyne's eyes widened in horror, running to him. "Papyrus, Papyrus I'm sorry!"
"N-NYEH... NYEH HEH..." Papyrus looked at Undyne as she knelt in front of him, placing a trembling hand on his shoulder. "IT'S... IT'S ALRIGHT... UNDYNE..." He gave her a weak smile, then closed his eyesockets. "I... I FORGIVE YOU..."
Undyne watched in silent horror as Papyrus began to crumble to dust... And soon, there was nothing left of her friend but a dust-covered scarf and a slightly dented 'battle body'.
*500 EXP GAINED; UNDYNE'S LV INCREASED!
Undyne's trembling stopped, and she shook her head as the guilt she felt lessened. "Sorry, Papyrus. But it... It had to be done. I need to protect the rest of the Underground." Undyne picked up the 'battle body' and scarf, crossing the bridge and walking deeper into Waterfall.
"LOVE stands for "Level of Violence." A way of measuring someone's capacity to hurt. The more you kill, the easier it becomes to distance yourself. The more you distance yourself, the less you will hurt. The more easily you can bring yourself to hurt others..."