"Golly! Would you look at the time! I have to go now. But with how amazingly strong and incredible you are, I'm sure you'll be able to handle everything no problem."
"You really think so?" I asked as I looked down at myself. Ragged T-shirt and jeans... Whatever he saw, I most assuredly did not.
"Yes, yes, of course! Do you think that I would ever lie to you? Do you have so little faith in me? Your best friend?" He exclaimed with a perceptible tilt of his head.
"No, no, of course not! But what if— *Pop*
Flowey had already left, the ground was as slick and smooth as it was before. No trace of my six-petaled companion in sight.
Flowey said I could handle everything ahead… and he hadn't led me astray so far. If he said I was prepared… who was I to doubt him.
I couldn't help but think about Toriel though. If she hated humans… I would understand. To have lived through a war that resulted in the death of her loved ones and left to rot within the bowels of the earth. Even when monsters weren't part of the equation, humans still decided to be unnecessarily cruel. To their own kind no less. Maybe the monsters were safer down here?
I continued along the dark corridor, familiar pinkish walls accompanied me. Although strange, I had grown to tolerate it over the last… two days? How was it even possible for so much to happen in two days?
Who else could say that they went from some booky high-schooler from an orphanage to an explorer… wait, that didn't sound cool enough… Delver of the Below, hmm, I liked how that rolled off my tongue. Uncovering relics and species forgotten to the sands of time. Befriending beasts and the spirits of the dead. Proving the existence of souls and rediscovering the long-lost art of magic. Who else could claim to be so talented other than Caretaker of Umbrellas, Friend of Foe, Delver of the Below, the Amazing… Beaming Bea!
With bravery second to none, I was ready for whatever loomed ahead… which was a door, like the ones I had first come across in the Underground, purple pillars that one would find in the Pantheon. Holding up an arch that depicted a winged circle with three triangular legs. A fancy door, but a door nonetheless... I could handle doors! With a single shove, the door op— cold
It was cold, that was the first thing I noticed... then the snow… snow for god's sake. We were underground, I had yet to see a single cloud in my time in the Underground. But I knew enough to know that no clouds, no snow. Yet, here I was. Looking at what was in every perceivable aspect, snow.
How? I knew the weather on the surface like the back of my hand, which is to say not very well, but well enough to know that our little remote town couldn't possibly be where the live-action remake of 'Frosty the Snowman' was filmed.
The closest I had ever gotten was that one time, on the Winter Solstice. I decided to not go to sleep and read a book under the covers with an uncooperative flashlight. Eyes drooping and ready to throw in the towel. But I persevered and went outside at the crack of dawn. I had hoped that the only reason I never saw snow was because I had always bundled myself in a mountain of blankets instead of going outside to greet the sun. But when I went outside, on that day, all I was greeted with was a field of frost-speckled grass, disappointing and a tease.
But here, there was actual snow. Not lame icy grass. Snowball snow. Snow angel snow. Snowman snow.
Exciting… but I was wearing a T-shirt and jeans. Which was already most certainly not suited for prancing through a winter wonderland. I could already feel the chill seeping into my bones.
The atmosphere did not add to my already diminishing confidence. Spindly trees clustered around a single path forwards. Stripped of all leaves leaving branching wooden skewers clustered so tightly together even I wouldn't be able to squeeze through. Just snow, trees, and an ominous path forwards.
I had no choice, but to continue forward. Flowey must've thought that I had a fireplace hidden somewhere in my pockets. Because I was not having fun. I just knew that my nose was soon to be rosy and my ability to wiggle my fingers would weaken the longer I stayed out here. No matter how inviting the snow looked and how much the snow looked like a nice cozy and fluffy wool blanket, I was not going to jump in to find out.
I kept walking on… and on… feet sinking into the ground a centimeter or two each time, leaving a trail of footsteps behind me. What was with the Underground and pointlessly long paths?
Cupping my hands around my mouth, I continued. Sure, I could sprint forwards in an attempt to find shelter as fast as possible. But that sounded tiring. I've always liked to distract myself whenever I felt uncomfortable, but what could I even distract myself with?
Tree over there, tree over here. Nothing but trees as far as the eye could see, but wait... what could that be over there? Another tree? It couldn't possibly be! Such a rare specimen unseen for centuries, could I have done it?… I, Delver of the Below, Bea, discovered the legendary grove of trees? Has my journey finally come to an end? I could already see all those naysayers who doubted me gape in awe at my achievement. I would be crowned 'Explorer of the Month' by the Explorer's Guild and credited with the discovery of the legendary grove of trees. Both human and monster children alike would read stories about the Amazing Bea and—
"WHO GOES THERE! DECLARE THY INTENT!" A loud voice cut through my internal monologue. Ok, Bea, respond to the commanding voice— think of something convincing...
"THE AMAZING BEA, EXPLORER OF THE MONTH" I proclaimed, nailed it!
"AH! WELL, IT IS I THE GREAT PAPYRUS" The voice responded… oh there they were! Right in front of me, just a little distance away. The person with the red scarf!
Were they human? As he walked closer… he seemed to get taller and taller and I started to notice that the man was a bit… odd. His face looked bony, angular, and a complexion a shade too pale to be healthy. His arms and legs were also quite slim. Looking at his stomach, I was shocked, they were so skinny I could almost see their spine! Oh... that was their spine. The mystery man was a skeleton… bizarre, but with everything I had seen so far, it wasn't too out of the ordinary. He was tall enough to be a professional basketball player. Wearing a white chest plate with golden trim. Poppy red gloves and boots and blue briefs held up with a gold belt that I swore I could see my reflection in. And to add on to all that, his red scarf billowed in the wind, despite the lack of wind.
"ARE YOU A HUMAN?" He asked with an excited tone, eyeing me up and down.
"Uh, why?" I replied, already prepared for an answer I was sure I wouldn't like.
"AS A SENTRY IN TRAINING. I MUST CATCH ALL DASTARDLY HUMANS!" Well, it seemed like I was right, darn. Being a human really got in the way of making friends down here. But that was a hurdle I would be able to overcome! For no one was capable of not falling for the charm of Beaming Bea!
"Uhh… no dastardly humans here!" I said with a very confident nod. "I'll be sure to tell you if I see any!" I assured him with a thumbs up.
The skeleton looked very puzzled at my answer. "WHAT AN UPSTANDING CITIZEN YOU ARE! THOUGH I MUST ASK, WHAT KIND OF MONSTER ARE YOU?
'Think, brain think. This was the moment my brain cells had been waiting for all their lives, the moment to prove their worth!'
"I'm a zombie." ...Oh god. My flawless cover was in tatters.
"WOW! REALLY?!" He exclaimed as he… picked me up by the waist to examine me in closer detail.
'Ok, brain cell 08, head of the nonsense department. I'm counting on you. You've gotten me out of sticky situations before. All your dedication and training to perfect the art of pure unadulterated confidence comes to this very moment; everything depends on you now. I am being held by the living embodiment of death. You are the only one who can save me now, remember your training!'
"Yes! I'm quite similar to a skeleton, like you! I have a skeleton just like yours inside my body!" Yes! Exemplary work B08 You are hereby promoted to head brain cell, BOB!
"A SKELETON?! INSIDE OF YOUR BODY!" His eyes widened into saucers
"Yes! Although my bones are more fragile than yours, which is why I have a protective layer around my bones, If you look at the back of my hand, you can see the bones under my skin!" I answered as I showed him… his sockets zeroed in on my hands, gaping at what he saw! He saw the truth in what I was saying!
'Ingenious answer BOB, I knew I could count on you! I'll take it from here.'
"INCREDIBLE!" He declared as he carefully placed me back on the ground, wary of damaging my fragile bones. Then he looked at me funny as if he had forgotten something….
"I FORGOT TO INTRODUCE MYSELF… I AM THE GREAT PAPYRUS, SENTRY OF THE ROYAL GUARD, BROTHER OF SANS, AND MAKER OF SPAGHETTI! NYEH HEH HEH!"
—
Study of the Barrier by ███
Barrier Edges ll:
Further expeditions were sent. Tunnels have been constructed in search of a weak point. Further living areas to alleviate crowded conditions were found, but no weak points have been discovered.
No new data. Look into other methods
Barrier Entrance I:
Rumors that light rays originating from high in the ceiling have been reported at the former entrance to the Underground from the Surface. Personnel has confirmed the light to be sunlight. Grass appears to have started growing at the location. If sunlight can pass through the barrier, who is to say other things can't? 7 Human Souls may now be a possible solution to the Barrier.
—
Author here again
Wow, a review! Oh god! I am panicking, you just can't tell! Very nice review too! Didn't actually expect a nice review, I expected someone named something like NoobSlayer42069 to comment "cringe :)" or something along those lines.
Would you guys prefer if I toned down all caps for papyrus and only use caps lock when he is yelling or do you guys prefer it as it is?
I do wonder if you guys have laughed while reading my story, or am I less funny than I think I am? Or have you thought 'Flowey you little **** leave Bea alone!' at some point.
Ok! Bye! Tata! Adieu!