"human." Papyrus called. His voice was lower than usual, heavy, like a cloud of an approaching storm. Frisk swallowed hard and looked straight ahead.
"…"
"Allow me to describe some complex feelings… feelings like… the admiration for another's puzzle solving skills… loneliness in a cold world… the desire to have a cool, smart person think you're cool."
Frisk was taken aback. H-huh? Is he talking about… me?
"These feelings… they must be what you are feeling right now! I can hardly imagine what it's like to feel that way!"
Frisk blinked. Oh… maybe? Is he going… to not fight? Maybe I should play along…
"S-sure…" she squeaked, but Papyrus didn't seem to hear. Guess he lacked his brothers acute hearing.
"I don't ever wonder what having lots of friends is like. I pity you… lonely human…"
Frisk tilted her head slightly to the side, her eyes gleaming.
Pity? No… wait, are you projecting your issues on me? Hmmm… well, as long as you don't fight me…
"Worry not! You shall be lonely no longer! I, the Great Papyrus, will be your new…" Papyrus trailed off, his eye sockets narrowing slightly in thought. Frisk felt her heart skip a beat.
Uh oh…
Papyrus looked down, his expression sad.
"No, this is all wrong. I can't be your friend… when Undyne and I can fulfill the dreams we've held for so long. I must fight you… and capture you…"
"wait!" Frisk called as he took a step forward. She felt her tail lower between her legs, amd she grabbed the side of the bridge in fear.
"I am The Great Papyrus… the newest member… of the Royal Guard!"
Papyrus's gaze moved up to her, solemn. It took her a few moments to realize what was happening. Her stomach dropped.
Oh no… no…
Frisk took another faltering step back.
"Papyrus… Please… we don't need to fight! Can't you join the… royal guard… some other way?"
Papyrus looked at her with dead eyes.
"No. We are not canine. The only way we could have a chance is with a human."
Not… canine? We?
As Frisk opened her mouth, Papyrus raised his gloved hand.
There was a whizz, and a bone formed from thin air. It floated for a few moments before flying towards her.
Frisk yelped and ducked, hearing the bone whir past above her.
NO… He's… not… if I don't fight now I won't have a chance.
Frisk's hand moved to her dagger, pulling it out of her pocket and unsheathing it in a panic. The blade shined despite the dull light. Her grip on it was so tight her knuckles turned white.
Sans's voice echoed in her mind.
"I don't know what he'll do now. But he doesn't mean any harm."
Frisk's grip faltered, her hand shaking.
"hey, don't sweat it. Just do what you've been doing all this time. It's been working, right? You've got a knack for it, snap pea."
Do what I've been doing all this time… not killing things? I… no, I can't… he doesn't want to hurt me… it just seems that way… like with Asgore… I have to convince him somehow...
Frisk let her hand fall to her side. Papyrus was completely still. She hesitantly slid the the blade back into its sheath and put it back in her pocket. She still couldn't shake her fear and left the top poking put just in case.
"So, you won't fight me…" Papyrus said. Frisk nodded.
"In that case… I'll just have to use my SPECIAL ATTACK!"
Frisk's eyes widened. S-special attack?
Papyrus raised his hands, and there was a sudden burst of blue. It was like fog, bursting forth into the air before condensing to form glowing blue bones.
Frisk felt her legs get ready to move, but something told her to hold still… Sans had said…
Sans had told her to hold still.
But what good would that do?
As the bones came towards her, she had to make a decision fast.
Trust Sans?
She had to.
Frisk swallowed hard and steeled her nerves, squeezing her eyes shut and waiting for the pain to come.
The only thing she felt was a cold breeze.
When Frisk opened her eyes, the bones were still coming towards her. But they went through her… like a ghost.
Sans was right… I did have to hold still.
She felt a pang of relief as the final bone when the through her.
However, Papyrus was still staring in her direction expectantly.
What is he-
There was a sudden weight in her body, like gravity had grown ten times stronger. It caught her off guard and she tumbled to her knees, shaking as she stared down through the bridge and to the fall deep down.
Her head snapped up to Papyrus.
"You're blue now!"
Frisk's heart stuttered, and she felt sick.
What the hell?!
A slight blue glow from her chest made her look down.
Her soul was blue… a vibrant azure blue. It glowed faintly against her sweater.
Frisk glanced up again. Papyrus looked a little hesitant before he attacked.
The attack was another single bone, moving so slow and close to the bridge it was a most laughable… if she wasn't weighed down. Frisk struggled to her feet just in time to step over it.
The weight in her body made her lean over slightly. If her ears weren't flat against her head, they had to be now.
You could've mentioned this, Sans… She thought bitterly. I'm going to die now. Frisk realized with a rush of terror.
But wait… he said "capture me"… so… maybe this is how? And he's not going to kill me? But whoever he is handing me over to is... no… I can't… I have to try… to… her mind fogged again, her thoughts lost. Why?
She had no time to ponder as another bone was sent her way, a little taller than the last.
"If you jump for longer, you will go up longer! You just have to fight against gravity!" Papyrus explained, his voice lighter than before.
Frisk glanced at him angrily. Is this a game to you?
Frisk gulped and tried what he said, and realized he was right- she was floating.
All too soon she plummeted to the ground, seconds after the bone passed. The shock sent a slight jolt of pain through her ankles.
What did he do?
"Nyeh heh heh! Good job, human!"
"Pap-"
Frisk didn't get to speak as more bones came her way. She did as she did before, but she always landed dangerously close to the bones.
"Papyrus, stop! We don't have to fight…"
Papyrus looked hopeful.
"You'll let me capture you?"
"… where will I go once 'captured'?"
"…. To the king!"
"… sorry… no."
Papyrus sighed sadly and sent more bones towards her, these ones moving faster.
Frisk couldn't land in time to jump again between them, and she was hit by the last one. It slammed against her leg and faded, leaving her to hiss and grab her thigh.
Papyrus flinched, looking guilty.
Frisk noticed the pain felt detached… her leg was somewhat numb. Her whole body felt kind of numb, besides the faint pain and the pull of the blue soul.
Frisk returned her gaze to Papyrus, her knees shaking.
"Why do you even want to join the royal Guard?" She asked with a little more of a push. The pain had eaten away a slight bit of her fear.
"I… I want to be known! Great! I want to have admirers and… Friends… no one here has time for friends…"
Frisk remembered Gyftrot with a rush of pitty. How many other monsters were as prickly as him? How many monsters ignored the lonely Papyrus in favor of getting done what they had to so they could return to their warm homes?
He really was projecting onto me before…
He's lonely.
Frisk had to jump over a few more bones, these ones at the same pace. As she was going up her mind blanked again, making her fall mid-jump.
Luckily, she landed after the bone passed and jumped over the next.
She realized she could stop mid-jump, instead of going all the way up.
Dammit, I'm an idiot. No wonder I was having issues…
The weight wasn't as daunting, but her absent mindedness was. It was like her head was wrapped in fog and could disappear at any second. Combined with this was the stiffness and numbness of her limbs.
Somethings wrong… and I need to get him to stop before...
If it came down to him or her, what would she do then?
Frisk jumped a few more bones, focusing hard.
"I will no longer have to worry about friends! They will all look up to me! Sans would… well, be Sans, I guess." Papyrus said loudly.
Frisk shook herself. She just noticed her teeth were chattering.
"You… Sans is your friend, right? He's your friend as much as he's your brother… and the person you mentioned before… they're your friend too, right?" She tried her hardest to hide her growing urgency.
Papyrus looked at her curiously, scratching his arm. His cape billowed in the wind. The bridge tilted slightly.
"y-yes, human… they are…" He answered slowly.
"So you have friends. Isn't it better to have a few close, real friends that a bunch of acquaintances?" Frisk asked, somewhat out of experience. She herself would much rather have no friends as apposed to fake friends… as much as it hurt.
Papyrus was quiet for a few moments, a trait that didn't fit with the normally flamboyant skeleton.
"I… don't know…"
The bag on Frisk's shoulder dropped, but she didn't notice. She could only focus on Papyrus.
"And… we could be… friends?"
If you don't capture me, that is… Frisk added silently.
Papyrus looked torn now.
"I… you'd… you'd be my friend?" Papyrus's voice was small, almost unrecognizable.
The wind picked up, throwing Frisk's torn scarf into her face. She didn't really care.
"y-yeah… sure, bud." She gave him a small genuine smile. She felt a real warmth in her chest, a feeling that wasn't just a burning desire to live.
That would be nice.
Papyrus made no sound, no movement. The only sound was the wind howling.
Frisk thought the world had froze over for a few seconds.
Then, out of nowhere, Papyrus perked up.
"NYEH HEH HEH! I accept your offer, human! I see you are shaking in your shoes! Therefore, I will allow you to be the friend of the Great Papyrus!"
Frisk jumped slightly at the sudden shouting.
It was now, while not in the heat of everything, she noticed the sky was darker. The snow glittered and looked to be almost glowing in the dark.
Frisk took a deep breath of relief.
Oh thank the stars… that was about to go bad.
Her body was lighter now, like she was floating. The change was odd, and she almost lost balance. At the same time the muscles in her back were sore and strained from keeping her body up against the gravity, and it hurt to straighten out.
"thank..." She paused, forgetting what she was saying for a quick moment. "you."
Papyrus smiled. "You're welcome, human! Now-"
Papyrus was cut off by an extremely strong gust of wind. It made the bridge shake.
Frisk cried out as it caught her off guard and sent her slamming against the side, which consisted of only a rope. She grabbed onto it for dear life as her leg was thrown over the side.
Her heart was beating so hard it hurt.
Oh my god...
Frisk was trembling so hard she couldn't move even if she tried.
"Human! Are you okay?" Papyrus made his way towards her, seemingly unaffected by the wind or the shaking bridge.
Frisk looked up at him, unsure of what to do. What was she doing, again?
Papyrus looked down at her in mild confusion before reaching out and pulling her away from the edge of the bridge. His hands were burning hot against the cold, despite the gloves.
Frisk flinched, not liking the contact, but said nothing. Why didn't she move herself?
Papyrus looked down at her, blinking.
"You are very cold, human."
Ya think? Frisk muttered in her head.
Papyrus bent down in front of her.
"That's not healthy for humans, I don't think."
Duh.
"I wonder if humans can get Hypothermia too? Can they?"
Monsters get Hypothermia? Frisk thought as she nodded. Something clicked into place.
Papyrus looked slightly worried.
"That's not good, human! That means you are in danger!"
I am? Wasn't I just in danger because of you? Frisk looked at him silently.
Though… wait, maybe that's why I'm zoning out… uh oh.
"Brother says that monsters who get Hypothermia need to be warmed up! I know what to do!"
Huh?
"I can take you to the warmest place in Snowdin!"
She couldn't think of warmth right now. It was like she forgot what it felt like.
"MY HOUSE!"
Papyrus jumped up excitedly.
Frisk's eyes followed him.
House? Oh…
Frisk… didn't really what to go into the house of the person who was just attacking her… but she knew he wouldn't attack her anymore. And she did need to find warmth.
Soon.
Papyrus started skipping away, motioning her to follow.
"Come with me!"
He waited as Frisk struggled to her feet. He seemed to think she would be enthusiastic as well.
She followed the tall skeleton hesitantly.
The skeleton moved at a brisk pace, and she almost had to jog to keep up. Which was hard with frozen legs.
They passed a large, half snow engulfed sign with worn letters that read "welcome to snowdin!"
Past that was possibly the most comforting little town she ever laid eyes on.
There were multiple little houses made of light brown wood, their windows golden with light. A larger building was up ahead, casting smoke into the dark sky. In the middle of the town was a tall Christmas tree, covered in a rainbow of pretty lights.
The lights from the houses cast a golden hue onto the glittering snow, and it really was beautiful. Much better than all the smoggy cities back on the surface.
Frisk felt a tiny smile form on her cold lips.
So this is Snowdin…
Papyrus kept walking, and Frisk trailed behind. She emptily wondered how it could be night.
They arrived at a large house on the edge of the town. It was covered in Christmas lights, and little dog decorations attached around the windows. Two worn black mailboxes stood in front of the house ( one bulging with mail) and a tiny sat next to the house.
Papyrus dashed up to the porch and waited for her to follow.
Frisk walked up the steps, gazing up at the house.
It seemed so homely…
Maybe this was okay after all.