Pre-Chapter Notes: At long last, it's time to begin the Waterfall arc! We hope everyone's ready because we have a lot to cover in this place. Hope you look forward to what we have in store.
Edit: So us being the weird people we are just realized that two weeks ago was this story's first birthday O_O. It honestly doesn't feel like it's been that long so... an extra special thanks to everyone, both those who have been here from the start and those who are a little newer. And if you've only just found this story? Welcome! Have some cake.
Chapter 15: The Flight to the Falls
Some time earlier…
Papyrus had been feeling far more upbeat the past couple of weeks than he had in years. Of course, no one would ever realize this by simply looking at him. Indeed, the tall skeleton had always been the picture of confidence bordering on narcissism, but this was different. This wasn't merely a display of his own undeniable greatness, but rather, a true feeling of pride in oneself for goodness rendered.
He had a new friend! Two in fact. One of whom shared the body of the first whenever she wished to speak to him, which was quite often. Two friends in one. That had to count as…
He stopped at the treeline leading toward Doggo's station and frowned. He wasn't quite sure how many friends that counted as but he was fairly certain it was more than two. Shrugging, he picked up his pace and moved on, eager to continue his patrol.
It was at that moment his phone began to ring, playing the catchy theme tune he'd created for himself some months ago. Humming along, Papyrus fished out the device, and his grin widened when he saw the name displayed on the MED screen. He answered.
"HELLO UNDYNE!" He greeted. "HOW NICE TO HEAR FROM YOU, BUT MIGHT I ASK WHY YOU'RE CALLING? IT IS NOT OFTEN YOU CALL DURING PATROL HOURS."
"Hey Papyrus." Came the voice from the other end. "I know, but it's important. Are you free to meet?"
"BUT OF COURSE! THE GREAT PAPYRUS CAN ALWAYS MAKE TIME TO MEET WITH FRIENDS." Papyrus declared. "OR RATHER, I WOULD… BUT I'VE NOT QUITE FINISHED MY PATROL-"
"Don't worry about the patrol. Like I said, it's important." Undyne insisted. "Meet me outside Blook Acres, near the pond. We'll talk then."
"WELL, OKIE DOKIE THEN! I WILL BE THERE IN A JIFFY." Papyrus agreed, before a click on the other end informed him that Undyne had hung up.
Sticking his phone back into the compartment in his armor, the orange skeleton turned at once in the direction of Snowdin and Waterfall beyond. It seemed his fortune was growing by the moment. First he'd made new friends, and now his old friend and superior was calling on him for something important. He wondered what it could possibly be that she would call him at this time, but reasoned it must be pretty serious for her to seek his presence immediately.
"MAYBE SHE HAS FINALLY DECIDED TO MAKE ME AN OFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE ROYAL GUARD! IN THAT CASE I'D BETTER HURRY."
Driven by that possibility, Papyrus quickened his pace and made his way to where his friend and captain had instructed. It wouldn't do to let her wait long… a member of the Royal Guard must always be the definition of punctuality.
Papyrus dashed through the snow, using his magic to give himself a little extra boost. He passed quickly though the town, slowing only enough to avoid any of the other residents before speeding his way into Waterfall. The change of moisture was somewhat jarring even to Papyrus' skeletal form and he had to be careful not to stumble from the slick stone under his boots.
Undyne always chose to conduct all but the most pressing of Royal Guard business here, rather than the Capital. To hear her tell it, it was because of the centralized location, equally between the Snowdin and Hotland regions which made it convenient. Papyrus had heard some of the guard suggest that the real reason was because of her hatred of the heat - that it makes her dry up like a raisin - but he didn't believe them. Undyne was his cool and strong captain, there was no way she'd let a little warm weather beat her.
So it was that he eventually found his way beyond the garbage dump to Blook Acres. Supposedly the place was founded by Ghost monsters ages ago, but there weren't many left there now. It was mostly inhabited by aquatic types these days.
Papyrus made his way quickly to the pond on the outskirts of the village. Sure enough, Undyne was waiting for him, her armored form leaned against the rock-face, arms crossed before her. A faint glint shone from inside the visor of her helm; a stray shaft of light reflecting from a single, hidden eye. Most of her was hidden in shadow. Only a vague silhouette of her spiked, heavy plate was visible in the near darkness that surrounded her, offering no hint of the type of monster that lay beneath.
"CAPTAIN UNDYNE!" Papyrus greeted with an exaggerated (and lopsided) salute. "FUTURE ROYAL GUARD PAPYRUS IS HERE, AS YOU ASKED."
"I am glad you were able to get here so quickly, Papyrus." Undyne spoke. Her voice presented a slight echo beneath the helm.
"HMM… YOU SOUND A LITTLE… DIFFERENT THAN NORMAL." The Skeleton said thoughtfully before his eye-sockets lit up. "OH! I GET IT! YOU'RE PRACTICING YOUR DARK ACTION HERO PERSONA AGAIN AREN'T YOU?"
"W-What?!" Undyne stammered.
"NYEH HEH HEH! YOU'VE IMPROVED IT QUITE A BIT." The skeleton complimented. "THOUGH, I HAVE TO SAY I PREFER YOUR REAL PERSONALITY OVER THIS ONE."
"I'm not 'practicing' anything, Papyrus." Undyne refuted, before her voice darkened again. "This is how I'm supposed to sound…"
"OH, RIGHT. YOU DON'T WANT TO BREAK CHARACTER. I UNDERSTAND!" Papyrus inferred. "VERY WELL, I SHALL ACT AS IF YOU ARE NOT ACTING!"
Undyne sighed, but decided not to continue this line of conversation. There were more important matters to discuss.
"More to the point… rumors have been circling the Underground lately." She began. "They say a Human has fallen from the Surface."
Papyrus' expression faltered slightly. "A HUMAN? Y-YOU DON'T SAY…"
"Yes. I've looked into them, and it sounds like the rumors originated around the Snowdin area." The armored figure continued. "I've spoken to almost everyone stationed around that area except for you and your brother. The Dog Clan doesn't seem to know anything, but I was wondering if you might have had better luck."
"UM…" Papyrus began, unsure of whether or not it was a good idea to mention that the Humans in question were now his friends.
"It's alright if you haven't." Undyne said after a while. "As I said, all we have are rumors. I can't say whether they're true or not but it is my duty to follow up on every lead. Though, I do hope it is real and not just some sick prank. Something like this would go a long way in restoring the people's hopes."
Papyrus lowered his head thoughtfully. That's right… he'd been so caught up on the idea of having made some new friends that he hadn't considered just what their presence meant for the rest of the Underground. His new friends were Human and Undyne had tasked him to be on the lookout for any and all Humans that he could find. Supposedly it was an order from the King, though Papyrus wasn't quite sure why he wanted them. Still, duty or no, it seemed rude to capture them and take them there without their permission. Especially ones as nice as Frisk and Lily.
And yet, he couldn't bring himself to lie to Undyne. After all, she was his friend too.
"A-ACTUALLY, UNDYNE…" Papyrus began. "I DO KNOW SOMETHING… ABOUT THE HUMANS. YOU SEE, THEY-"
"Wait, Humans?" Undyne repeated before her mind clicked. The armored figure lunged forward and seized Papyrus' scarf. "You mean there's more than one?!"
"WELL YES, ERR NO… KIND OF?" Papyrus stumbled as Undyne's armored fist held him in its iron grip.
"Papyrus! Start making sense!"
"T-THEIR NAMES ARE FRISK AND LILY!" Papyrus explained quickly. "THE LILY HUMAN SPEAKS THROUGH THE FRISK HUMAN AND-"
"You talked to them?!" Undyne released Papyrus, causing the young boneman to stumble back a few steps.
"YES BUT… THEY'RE BOTH ACTUALLY VERY NICE!" Papyrus tried, vainly hoping to douse the captain's fire. "I'M SURE IF YOU SPOKE TO THEM YOU'D BE FAST FRIENDS-"
"Friends?!" Undyne shouted incredulously. "Have you forgotten everything we've learned about them? They… they didn't use mind control on you did they?!"
"UNDYNE, I AM SURE MY MIND IS UNDER MY OWN CONTROL. PLEASE, JUST LISTEN-" Papyrus began but was quickly cut off.
"Where are they, Papyrus?" Undyne said darkly. Papyrus did not answer immediately so she continued. "This is an order from your Captain. Tell me!"
"IN... IN SNOWDIN." Papyrus finally answered. "BUT IT'S PERFECTLY FINE! EVERYONE IN TOWN-"
"The town!" Undyne shouted, the slightest hint of fear spilling from her cold facade. "Then that's where I'll go. I should have known it was a bad idea to put you in such danger Papyrus, but I'll make it right. I'll kill them, and deliver the SOUL to Asgore personally… then you'll be fine."
K-KILL?!" Papyrus looked horrified. "UNDYNE THERE'S NO NEED FOR THAT! IF YOU JUST TALK TO THEM-"
But it was too late. The armored figure was already on the move, storming away from Blook Acres as fast as the metal joints could carry her. Papyrus called after her but his voluminous words fell on deaf ears. Undyne was not one to change her mind once it was made up, and this time would prove no different. Papyrus was at a loss… the day had gone from great to terrible in the span of minutes.
He knew he had to do something and fast. Lives and friendships alike were depending on him. He didn't want to see his friends fight… and even less for one to… kill the others. Frisk and Lily needed to be warned, but how could get there in time when Undyne already had a head start on him, and with the roads to Snowdin from Waterfall so limited…
"OH NO, OH NO, OH NO… WHAT DO I DO?" Papyrus lamented. "IF ONLY I HAD A SHORTCUT!"
He stopped. A shortcut… that's it! If he could use a shortcut, he could easily reach Snowdin before Undyne. Then he could warn Frisk and Lily… that would give him time to convince Undyne that she didn't need to do a violence! Then he could introduce the three of them properly and they could all be friends!
But could he do it? Papyrus had not used many Shortcuts in the past, and those he had had always been under his brother's supervision. Sans was far better at creating and using them than he was… anything to make his lazy lifestyle easier. Still he had to try though… surely a trick like this require little more than a baby bones' level of effort for someone of his greatness. It had to...
He called on his magic, letting it flow through him willing it to take shape.
He concentrated…
And concentrated…
He took a step.
Space shifted and colors blurred before the skeleton was struck with a wave of familiar cold. Where before all he could see was the glistening stone walls and fake stars of Waterfall, he now stared at the colorful wreath decorating the door of his own home. He shook his skull, fighting against a wave of nausea that totally wasn't the result of overexerting his magic and blinked away a couple of snowflakes from the larger of his eye-sockets.
With shallow breath, he made quickly for the door, hoping to find his friends before it was too late…
Papyrus had begun rambling from the moment he set foot inside the house he shared with his brother. This may not have been different from any other day, but for the worry in his voice. Breathlessness rendered his words nearly incomprehensible beyond that, so Sans, Frisk, and Lily guided him to the couch to rest, hoping to calm the raving Guardsman hopeful.
Their efforts eventually proved somewhat successful as they managed to coax Papyrus into some form of coherence. His words, mainly "Captain of the Guard" and "Kill the humans" had Frisk and Lily worried. They'd heard bits and pieces about the captain of the Royal Guard but they were mainly adulations of her strength and skill. They knew little about the individual herself
Lily's thoughts turned inward as she listened to Papyrus. This was what Toriel had warned them about. She told them that some monsters would be after Frisk's SOUL. It seemed that Undyne was one of them.
'I won't let anyone hurt Frisk… I don't care who she is. If this 'Captain' even tries to touch him, I will put her in her place.' The spectral girl seethed quietly from within Frisk, hoping her friend would not notice.
She couldn't help feeling protective of the boy. After all, Frisk was the first person she'd met when she awoke in that flower garden. He was her best friend, and he'd been there for her from the beginning. And with him being younger than her (at least, she thought he was) it was her responsibility to protect him. That's what she wanted to think anyway, though she wasn't entirely sure what she would do when the time came. Memories of the encounter with Sans a couple of weeks back left a sour taste in her metaphorical mouth. She forced them aside.
Sans leaned back against the couch. "well… shit."
"Sans!" Lily snapped and her glowing eye darkened when the stocky skeleton answered with a nonchalant shrug.
"So… what should we do? Should we run? Or… maybe it would be better to wait for her and try to explain?" Frisk broached the question, bringing everyone's attention back to the matter at hand. "What do you think Papyrus?"
Papyrus thought for a moment, taping his foot against the floor. "I THINK… IT MIGHT BE BETTER TO LAY LOW. HER OPINION OF YOU RIGHT NOW IS VERY… MURDERY…" He reasoned.. "SHE WILL TAKE SOME TIME TO GET HERE THOUGH. YOU MIGHT WANT TO TAKE SOME THINGS IN CASE YOU CAN'T RETURN HOME RIGHT AWAY…"
"That's a great idea Papyrus. Some food and water would be good to take with us." Lily suggested, and Frisk's lips shifted with the girl's grin as the two made to stand. "A blanket or something might be good to have too if we get stuck somewhere."
"think i might have an old sleeping bag somewhere."
"BRILLIANT, SANS! YOU GO FIND THAT WHILE WE GO AND GATHER SOME FOOD. I THINK THERE MAY STILL BE SOME LEFTOVERS!" Papyrus jumped to his feet, making his way to the kitchen with Frisk and Lily on his orange-clad heels.
The three of them rummaged through the culinary creations inhabiting the refrigerator. The two children made sure to choose the ones that Frisk had instructed and avoid anything subject to Papyrus' unsupervised experimentation. Sealing them within containers, the children filed them away inside the magical pack.
Frisk sighed softly, once again grateful for its usefulness, before giving a surprised yip when Lily took control of his arm and used it to snag the bars of chocolate deeper inside. Papyrus had bought them a few days ago when he found out how much the girl loved the sugary treat. She'd have eaten them all on the spot if Frisk hadn't stopped her. Now, in hindsight, she was sort of glad he had. Traveling through Waterfall's unknowns, on the run from a dogged Royal Captain and with no chocolate was the worst scenario imaginable for her.
Frisk, for his own part couldn't help but chuckle despite the situation. He took that as a good sign: even with Undyne's looming threat, he could still appreciate humor when he saw it. It was scary thinking about all the things on their plate but at least he knew he wouldn't have to face them alone. After grabbing a fork and knife to take with the trio made their way back to the living room just as Sans rejoined them from the stairs
"here ya go kiddos. one sleeping bag, hold the bones." Sans chuckled.
Lily groaned. "That was terrible and you know it…"
"aw come on. throw me a bone here." He retorted with a wink. That one drew out a small giggle, causing Sans' grin to widen.
"also this thing is pretty neat. folds up nice and small when not in use. when you're ready to use it, just press this button and it will spring out into the bag 'kay?"
"DR. ALPHYS MAKES SO MANY NEAT THINGS THAT MAKE TRANSPORTATION AND STORAGE MUCH EASIER."
"That's really cool actually. And it fits right into our bag!" Frisk took the small, cloth-like box from Sans, sliding it into the pouch. He wondered for a moment if Alphys had a hand in designing the latter as well, but decided now wasn't the time to ask.
"ALRIGHT. IF I KNOW UNDYNE. AND I DO," Papyrus explained. "SHE WILL MAKE A STRAIGHT SHOT FROM WATERFALL TO HERE. THERE IS A LOWER PATH YOU CAN TAKE AT THE EDGE OF SNOWDEN, WHERE THE SNOW IS THICKEST. SHE WILL NOT SEE YOU AS LONG AS YOU STAY LOW. WHICH SHOULDN'T BE HARD. YOU ARE MUCH SHORTER THAN HER OR I."
Lily gave a small huff while mumbling. "I'm taller than Frisk at least…And Sans… I think…?" Her voice trailed off in uncertainty.
"We should leave soon just in case. More time to hide if we need too." Frisk said, affixing the satchel at his waist while making sure everything is secure. "Oh! Papyrus do you have a phone?"
"THAT I DO HUMAN-FRISK." The taller skeleton replied.
Frisk drew out the phone that Toriel had given them and handed it over. "Would you put your number in there?"
Papyrus' grin practically sparkled at the prospect of another facet of friendship: the exchanging of phone numbers. He quickly added his to the humans' phone before giving himself a quick call in order to register theirs. "AND… THERE WE GO. NOW WE CAN SPEAK TO EACH OTHER WHENEVER WE WISH, NO MATTER HOW FAR! NYEH!"
"Thanks Pap." Lily said, taking the phone back and returning it to Frisk's pocket.
"better head out. ain't much that can stop undyne when she's focused on something." Sans said.
"What are you going to do, Sans?" Frisk asked.
"paps here can handle undyne. i got some stuff to look into." the hoodied skeleton said cryptically. "don't worry though. i'll keep an eye-socket on ya as much i can."
Frisk nodded, but did not move to the door immediately. He knew time was of the essence. They had to leave before Undyne arrived, and yet reluctance glued his feet to the floor. He didn't know what was waiting for them, or how long it would be before he could see the brothers again. So the red child showed his appreciation for all they'd done the only way he knew how: he approached both in turn, first Papyrus and then Sans, and gave each a hug. They both responded, the former eagerly, the latter a bit more awkward.
"Thanks, you guys… I mean it." He said softly. Papyrus beamed, and even Sans looked a little brighter. It was enough to bolster the boy's courage, and at last he turned for the door. Inside, Lily's aura gave off an aroma of baked apples.
The two stepped out into the frigid air of Snowdin and Frisk stopped to touch the star in front of the house. He wasn't sure when he would see this again either; better to make a record so as not to lose this moment.
With everything set, the children made their way toward the fog-shrouded path where they'd become friends with Papyrus. Frisk was no more impaired here than anywhere else, but Lily found herself struggling to see anything through the milky curtain.
"How are we supposed to find that lower path in this?" She complained. Frisk couldn't provide an answer to that.
Ultimately she decided to detach herself from Frisk's SOUL, using the added mobility of her spectral form to aid her investigation. Frisk, for his own part, used his stick to guide him, keeping his working senses attentive for any sign that sight might miss.
"I think I found it!" Lily called after a few moments.
Frisk made his way cautiously toward where she waited, her form clear to him, despite the fog. The girl sat at the summit of a small slope, leading downward and away from the main path which curved slightly into the treeline beyond. As small as it was, and obscured by the fog, the only way they could have possibly found it was to know of its existence beforehand.
And not a moment too soon either, as a sound in the distance caught their attention mere moments after. It was the unnerving sound of metal on stone, drawing closer.
"Hurry up, we need to get down there." Lily hissed, taking Frisk's hand and leading him as quietly as possible down the slope.
With every step of its creator, the klunk of metal grew louder. Heavy footfalls, rapid in pace. They were running. It wouldn't take long for them to reach the children at the pace they traveled, and neither Frisk nor Lily knew if the fog would be enough to shroud them. The slope leveled about ten feet down, expelling them into the packed snow beneath. Frisk had to slow his pace to that of an awkward shuffle to avoid having his boots crunch noisily through the packed ice and snow.
Lily led him toward the treeline as best as she was able, but the thick haze made it difficult to see any further than an arms-length ahead. So it was that she did not have time to steer the blind boy away from a young evergreen at their head. Frisk's shoulder collided with the trunk, rattling the branches and causing a patch of snow to fall to the ground. It landed with a soft puff against the ground.
The footsteps halted immediately and both the boy and his guide paled. Thinking fast, Lily drew him behind the tree's bole to hide. His back pressed against the rough wood, daring not even to breathe lest the slightest twitch would give away their presence.
They waited.
Eventually, the footfalls began their rhythmic beat once more, albeit at a slower pace. Frisk held his breath, expecting to hear them descending the hidden path they'd taken, but his fears were soon put to rest as they began to fade into the direction of the town.
"That… was too close." Lily said quietly, forgetting for a moment that no sound she made would even reach the metal reaper.
"Yeah…" Frisk replied. "Sorry… I didn't know it was there."
"No, it's my fault. I didn't notice it quick enough." Lily said, then without giving the boy time to refute her, added; "Let's hurry before she realizes we aren't in town and heads back this way."
With that the spectral girl continued to guide Frisk through the dense fog and snow-caked trees. Steadily, the milky pall began to lighten, as they moved further along the unused path. Eventually, it began to crest upward, leading them into a tangle of shrubs and bushes that slowed their progress. Still, they pressed onward and eventually emerged once more onto the main road.
The snow was thinner here, and continued to fade even as the air around them warmed and grew moist. It still felt rather chilly, but it was a far cry from the freezing temperatures of Snowdin. Lingering ice crystals mingled with strange, sparkling stones that protruded from the grey-blue rock-faces. Alongside them, the river burbled a quiet song as large chunks of ice drifted aimlessly down its flow.
In time, the pathway opened into a small chamber. The flow of the river behind them was added to by the trickle of a small waterfall cresting under the stones and down into the darkness below. A strange, fishlike monster gave a friendly wave as they entered, uncaring of the large flower growing nearby. The pale blue glow that it emitted was somehow both eerie and comforting.
"Yo!" called a voice from nearby.
The children turned as one toward its source as Kidd scampered excitedly over to them. Frisk couldn't help but give a relieved sigh at the thought of some familiarity in this strange place. The armless yellow monster somehow managed to close the distance between them without falling on his face and spoke.
"Dude! You just missed it!" He exclaimed, tail wagging excitedly behind him.
"Missed what?" Frisk asked.
"Undyne, duh!" he answered. "She just came barreling through here In all that armor like it weighed nothing! She looked like she was really focused on something… at least, I think so. I… couldn't really see her face, y'know?"
"Really? That's… cool." Frisk said awkwardly. They'd come that close to being discovered by her.
"Wait a minute…" Kidd sobered a little, looking thoughtful. "Yo, isn't Lily with you? You guys didn't get in a fight or anything, did you?"
Oh, right. Lily'd gotten so used to being able to talk to people that it completely slipped her mind. Before she could ask, Frisk had already drawn out his SOUL, allowing her to re-merge with it.
"Greetings, Kidd. Sorry, I sort of forgot." Lily said, as the boy's right eye gave off its telltale crimson glow.
"Hey no problem, as long as everything's good!" Kidd grinned, bouncing up and down on his heels.
Both Frisk and Lily gave a smile at the energetic monster, a dash of familiarity in this otherwise unknown stretch of the Underground. Frisk felt around a little, eventually finding a good-sized rock to sit down and catch his breath while the two took in their surroundings. The combination of the undulating water and the crystals refracting the faint light like a kaleidoscope against the stone was breathtaking to behold. Lily's attention however was drawn to the strange blue flower from before. Her inner botanist piqued, she spoke.
"Hey Kidd. What's that flower?" She motioned towards the object in question.
"Huh?" The reptilian monster turned to see what she was referring too. "Oh, those are like super cool and stuff. They're called Echo Flowers. You say something to 'em and they repeat what you say! They're all over the place here in Waterfall. Lots of monsters tell them their wishes and secrets. There's even a place called the "Wishing Room" around here that's full of 'em. It's a really quiet and pretty place. " He nodded to himself as he explained, tail swishing back and forth.
Lily, her interest bolstered by Kidd's explanation moved to the flower and touched its petals. Sure enough it spoke, the voice it carried sounding vaguely of Kidd.
"...It's a really quiet and pretty place."
"That sounds really cool, Kidd. Maybe me and Lily can see it sometime." Frisk replied happily to the excited child.
Her curiosity for the flower sated, Lily's gaze drifted again to the simple sentry station nestled in the corner of the room. She immediately did a double take when she noticed the snow on the roof… in a place with no snowfall whatsoever.
"How in the world is there-" She shook her head and moved their shared body over to the station to look it over. "What's with this stand? How is there even snow on there?"
"Oh, you know Sans. That's his. Man, he never cleans that off." Kidd explained. "That's his station for when he looks for humans. He's kinda cool I guess, even though all he does his sleep. But at least he gets to report to Undyne! And she's super cool!"
At the mention of Undyne, Frisk's head jolted upright, and promptly smacked against the edge of the sentry station.
"Ow…" The boy groaned, rubbing the top of his head and shaking the feeling away.
"Sorry Frisk. But there was some weird stuff there." Lily apologized."A bunch of empty and full ketchup bottles and some kind of worn, thin books. They had pictures of these strange big metal things with four wheels."
"Sounds like a car magazine." Frisk considered, as they returned to Kidd. "Wonder what he needs those for…"
"...What's a car?"
The boy chuckled. "I'll explain later. Let's get out of here and away from Undynes' stomping grounds…" To Kidd, he said. "Hey, Kidd. Which way was that wishing room? I actually think we want to see it now…"
"Hey no problem dude! Just head down this path and you'll find it eventually. It takes a bit of walking because it's pretty deep in, but you'll know it when you get there. I'd show you the way but my parents want me home to check in once in awhile. I'll catch ya later, kay?" Kidd laughed before taking off, tripping down the path before jumping right back to his feet. "I'm okay!" Then he was off again, making his way back to Snowdin.
"Bye Kidd!" Frisk and Lily called, grinning at Kidd's enthusiasm. "Okay. So which way do we go, Lily?"
"Hm. Kidd mentioned following the path. I believe he meant this large one here, so let's start that way."
With that she emerged from Frisk's SOUL once more, appearing before her friend. Frisk took her offered hand and followed her down the moist dirt path. The sound of water rumbled louder in their ears as they traveled, and eventually they found themselves standing before a large waterfall. A sturdy looking bridge split away from the nearby cliff arcing down and around the waterfall at a lower point. No such bridge spanned the flow itself, but the water at least seemed shallow enough to wade through.
"Alright Frisk. Looks like we're going to get a little wet. Be careful okay?"
Frisk gave an affirming nod, moving closer to his spectral friend as she led him along. Their progress was slow. The water, while not deep was surprisingly swift and the debris it carried would make for a difficult slog even if Frisk's senses weren't muddied by the sound of rushing water. A wayward piece of garbage tumbling through the current caught Lily's attention, and she quickly retreated to let it by. Her sigh of relief was cut short however, as she noticed too late that the danger had not yet passed. A large stone had managed to creep up behind the children whilst the spectral girl was distracted. She realized, to her horror, that it was heading straight for the boy.
"Frisk! Watch out!" she cried, pulling him roughly toward her.
…A little too hard.
The boy's foot caught upon the edge of slippery stone beneath the water causing him to fall forward. A loud gasp escaped his lips and his hand slipped from Lily's a split second before he splashed down into the water.
"L-Lily!" He called out, grasping vainly for purchase as the rapids sent him tumbling toward the edge of the chasm.
"Frisk!" Lily called, darting after him as quickly as her weightless form would allow.
Her hand reached for his, coming up short by mere inches, fingers touching nothing but the air between them. Lily's pale face turned whiter than a Snowdin rooftop as Frisk disappeared over the precipice but a second later.
She pressed forward toward the edge of the fall, expecting to see nothing but the inky abyss of the chasm spreading forever down, her friend lost to its depths.
…Instead her eyes were met with the dark brown hair and bewildered expression of the boy himself, his descent thwarted by wooden beam and guardrail.
"I… I'm okay?" Frisk said confusedly, staring up at the terrified face of Lily hovering only a few feet above. By some stroke of luck, the small bridge had broken his fall.
Lily quickly shook away her shock and was off like a shot.
"Okay!? A few more inches and you would have kept going!" She practically screamed, her voice a mixture of fear, concern, and relief all in one as she circled around him, checking frantically for any injuries. Finding none she continued, albeit quieter now. "Are..are you sure you're alright?" She questioned, slowing to a stop in front of him. "I'm so sorry about that Frisk. I should have kept a better eye out."
"Y-yeah. I'll be okay." Frisk mumbled, wiping his hands on his pants, which were now damp along with the rest of him. "I'm sorry for worrying you."
Lily gave a gentle sigh, trying to calm her racing, non-existent heart. "Alright… But I promise it won't happen again." She took Frisk's hand in hers, and they started off again carefully navigating their way back to the stream. A few echo flowers bloomed upon the small pillars that connected the bridge. As Frisk's hand brushed against one of their petals, it spoke.
"I swore I saw something… Behind that rushing water…." A nervous voice whispered from the flower.
"Huh?" Frisk's brow raised.
Lily heard it too. "Behind the water? Frisk… stay here. Let me check it out. I just want to make sure it's not dangerous." she chewed her lip, reluctantly leaving Frisk behind to check the waterfall. The water splashed and burbled all around her as she stuck her head beneath the torrent, though not a single droplet touched her incorporeal form. Emerging from the other side, she glanced about, immediately noticing a glass lens embedded in the rock a few inches away from her face, staring like an eye in the direction of the bridge. "O…kay?"
"What? What is it?" Frisk called from his spot, resisting the urge to get closer with the water rushing in his ears.
Lily's head popped out from the flow and she quickly returned to him, confusion plain upon her face. "There's something back there. I think it might be a camera? It's lodged into the stone and facing outwards. I don't know what it can see behind the water like that."
"Uh oh… I really hope it didn't see me when I fell." Frisk worried.
"Why? What's wrong?" Lily asked.
"Just a thought. A lot of monsters are looking for humans, right? What if… what if they've set up surveillance around here?"
Lily's expression darkened as she linked hands with the blind boy once more and began leading them back up the path. "It'll be okay. Even if you're right, I won't let anything hurt you."
"Okay but… let's keep watch for any others. It will probably be safer to stay away from them." Frisk reasoned.
They stepped back on solid ground and took a moment to catch their breath. Sure, they had to hurry while Undyne was busy in Snowdin, but if Frisk fell again they'd have a whole new problem to deal with. After a few moments, they finally felt comfortable trying to move on. At Lily's suggestion, the two made their way toward the source of the swift current; another set of falls to their left. Frisk kept his ears perked for the sound of anymore unpleasant surprises while Lily set about checking behind the flow. She had to blink as her eyes fell upon what was on the other side.
"Well it's… not a camera." She began. "Frisk, come here. There's some kind of room back here."
"A room?" The red child repeated as he made his way over to her.
"Let's check it out."
Frisk instinctively lowered his head, shielding his unseeing eyes from the gallons of water that splashed relentlessly against him. It might have bothered him if he wasn't already drenched through to begin with. Nevertheless, the deluge soon subsided, and they came to a stop within the hidden chamber. Even blind, Frisk could tell it was a rather spacious area. The air didn't feel stuffy and smelled surprisingly clean if a bit briny. The boy wondered idly whether it was naturally formed or carved by hand.
"Oh, what's that?" Lily's voice drew him from his thoughts. Frisk followed her beacon as she moved to the center of the room to examine whatever it was that caught her eye. A hand pressed against her mouth a moment later as she stifled a giggle.
"What's so funny?" Frisk questioned.
Lily didn't answer directly. "Guess."
She took his hands and guided him to the item in question. The distinct touch of some kind of fabric met his fingertips. He looked at the rose-cheeked girl questioningly who was trying and failing to hide her mirth.
"What is it?" He asked. "Some kind of clothing?"
"You're on the right track. Keep going." She said through a wide grin.
Frisk sighed but continued investigating with his hands. It seemed a bit like a shirt, but something about it seemed off. The fabric was a little thinner than his, and it seemed to flair out in places in a way that gave him pause. He picked it up and turned it over until he was fairly certain he was holding it right and continued. Eventually, his hands found the bottom, and he noted the ruffled edges that seemed to protrude out from the rest. He turned to Lily and raised a questioning brow.
"Is this a… dress?" He asked.
"Close enough, it's a tutu!" Lily declared. Frisk didn't like the look she was giving him.
"What's a tutu doing here of all places?" He asked.
"You should wear it, Frisk!" Lily laughed.
"I should- what?!" Frisk exclaimed, baffled by the suggestion.
"Come on, think about it. Finally, a protective piece of armor!" She crowed, fighting to remain coherent amidst her laughter.
"That doesn't even make any sense!" Frisk protested.
"Well fine, but I still think it would look cute." She cajoled.
"You're cute. You wear it!"
"I can't, remember? You have to."
"No!"
"Please?"
"No! Besides, you already got me to wear this…" He pointed out, indicating the faded ribbon still tied to his sleeve.
"Oh fine…" Lily pouted, relenting at last.
Frisk sighed. "Look, if it makes you feel better we can take it with us. There might be something we can do with it. Is that better?"
Lily perked back up. "Okay, fair enough. I guess it would just get wet around here wouldn't it?"
"That doesn't mean I'm going to wear it when we get somewhere dry, either."
"Yeah, yeah I know." She grinned. "Let's go, Frisky Bits."
Frisk cocked his head at the sudden nickname but decided not to question her about it. At least she'd given him a break about the tutu. Filing it away in the satchel, the two children made their way back through the waterfall and continued on their way.
Reasonably certain there were no more cameras hiding in their immediate vicinity, the children slowly made their way across the shallow river and to the opposite bank. Thankfully, both of them were more attentive this time around and there were no further close calls. Finally back on dry land for the time being, the two looked out into the path ahead of them. It stretched onward into an unsettling gloom where few of the light-emitting crystals resided.
Tentatively, they walked on, braving the darkness even as glimmers of light from elsewhere played at the shadows, stretching and contorting them into vague phantasms. A wall of tall bluish grass barred them some ways in, obscuring sight of anything that might lie beyond it. The lighthearted mood from before almost seemed to evaporate in the wake of uncertainty. Lily gave Frisk's hand a reassuring squeeze before drifting upward to get a better view of their surroundings. There were no other paths or offshoots that she could see, but the way seemed to continue beyond the thick plant life.
"We have to go through it." She said quietly.
Frisk nodded. He wasn't looking forward to it. He already felt tired. After their flight from Snowdin, along with the spill he'd just taken, fatigue laid as heavy on his shoulders as his drenched clothes did. Still, he couldn't afford to turn back now… not when Undyne could very well be heading back in their direction. He wasn't sure how long Papyrus would be able to keep the Captain occupied.
With Lily guiding him by the hand, Frisk used his stick to clear away the grass as best as he was able. A few blades tickled his face, causing it to itch but he ignored it as they moved deeper into the thicket. An odd sense of dread hung over the boy, but in time they found the grasses thinning, and eventually emerged from the other side without incident. Light steadily returned as they made their way toward another chamber, and the ominous feeling faded like a distant memory.
The familiar echo of flowing water reached their ears once more from yet another large waterfall a few feet in. Unlike the last, this one flowed from a small crevice beneath the rock.
"It looks deeper than the last one. I don't think we can just walk acro-" Lily stopped. "Hold on, what are those?"
Her eyes fell upon a number of strange objects lining the river's edge. Thin green leaves sticking out from a light pink seed-like object. The leaves seemed to bend and stretch toward each other, like hands lying just out of reach of the warmth of another. To the left, a plaque carved from the stone itself glowed with words fashioned from the same luminescent crystal that lined the cavern.
"When four bridge seeds align in the water, they will sprout." Lily read.
"I guess it's worth a try?" Frisk offered. "Help me out."
Lily did so, carefully guiding the boy to the seeds. Frisk picked one up carefully, the leaves of another bending to follow it as if begging it not to go. The spectral girl lead him to the water's edge and he set the seed adrift like a paper sailboat. Gathering three more, he set them along the same path. Lily watched in fascination as, sure enough, their leaves wrapped about one another, and the seeds bloomed as one. Beautiful pink petals spread from baby blue ovaries and white stamens. The thin leaves fanned out, covering a large portion of the water's surface alongside the petals.
A sweet fragrance filled the air.
"Wow…" Lily said in awe. "They all sprouted at once."
"Interesting. How do you think they work? " Frisk questioned, placing a hand against one of the petals which was surprisingly firm to the touch. "I wonder if it's some sort of swarm behavior… or maybe a kind of symbiosis with something in the water?"
Lily blinked at him. "Symbi- what now?"
"You know, symbiosis." Frisk explained. "When different organisms interact with each other in a way that helps one or both of them."
"...Right." Lily said, understanding but still surprised at all the big words Frisk just strung together. "Has anyone ever told you you're really smart?"
Frisk blushed a little from the compliment. "Actually… you're the first one."
"Wait, seriously?" The girl was unconvinced. "Even with you saying stuff like that?"
"Yeah, but it's okay." The boy said solemnly. "I didn't really talk much before I met you and everyone else down here."
Lily wanted to ask him why but decided against it for the time being. It probably wasn't the best place to delve into that kind of personal conversation. Instead, she took his hand again, leading him gingerly onto the path created by the sprouted Bridge Seeds. Their composition seemed very similar to the golden flowers that had broken his fall, and they held fast against his weight. Perhaps flowers in the Underground were simply more hearty than those on the surface. In any case, it wasn't long before they reached the opposite bank. With feet once more on solid ground, they moved forward, delving deeper into the glittering cavern.
The deeper they traveled, the more the final vestiges of the Snowdin region faded away and were replaced by the melancholic beauty of Waterfall. Rivulets of clear water trickled down the walls, and the ground was ever damp underfoot. Only a few small walkways afforded relatively dry transit over the many streams and rivers. In time, the path they walked opened into a large, lit chamber. A pale blue luminescence shimmered from a few glowing mushrooms growing near the water's edge. As Frisk's boot touched down near one of them, its light quickly darkened, like a small animal hiding away from something unknown.
Here, there were still more bridge seeds, their undulating leaves reaching out for one another from where they rested. Small rivers ran in all directions, some leading to tiny islets peaking above the surrounding pools, others toward caverns dark enough to conceal any detail beyond their entrances.
"Where to now?" Frisk asked as Lily described the surrounding area to him.
"It looks like we'll need to use the seeds again." She said. "But… I don't know. I'm not sure way to take. I guess all we can do is pick a path and follow it." She looked at Frisk, who really seemed exhausted by this point. His wet clothes probably weren't helping. "We really should find somewhere safe for you to rest though."
"Sorry…" The boy muttered.
"Don't. It's okay. Let me have a look around." She said.
"Okay. I'll get some of the seeds." Frisk offered.
Lily nodded and drifted away to search the area once again. Frisk's stick probed at his surroundings and lead him eventually to one cluster of bridge seeds a few feet away. Carefully, he gathered them in his arms, giggling a little as their reaching leaves tickled his cheek.
"I think I see something over there." Lily pointed toward somewhere east of them. "Not sure what, but it looks hidden enough that we can take a bit of a break."
Frisk followed her to the water's edge and set the seeds on their way. Once again their blossoms formed a path toward a small cove pressing into the otherwise solid rock-face. The children made their way carefully over, a number of glowing insects scattering in their wake. Frisk wondered if they might have been another kind of monster or simply some indigenous wildlife. Reaching the edge of land once more, they found that the cove was largely nondescript. A few of the glowing mushrooms and a single Echoflower were the only natural things about it besides the ever-presence of water and glittering crystal. And yet, something about it seemed peculiar nonetheless: a single object that didn't seem to belong.
"A bench?" Lily questioned, raising a brow. "How'd that get here?"
Frisk gave a shrug, unable to come up with an explanation of his own. The bench was solid, but looked old, like it was placed there quite some time ago and forgotten about. Its wood was faded and damp, but it looked sturdy enough to provide a place to rest.
"Can we sit for a while?" Frisk asked. "I just need to catch my breath."
Lily nodded. "Sure. This looks like a good place."
The ghostly girl lead him to the bench and waited patiently for him to climb up before settling down next to him. The trickle of water was calming, and the gentle blue glow of the fungi made everything look quite beautiful. The seagrass rustled softly in the gentle, subterranean breeze as Frisk leaned his head back against the bench's wooden frame and heaved a long sigh.
"Do you… think we'll be alright?" He asked after a few moments of silence. "With Undyne hunting us, and the cameras… I'm just not sure."
"I don't know." Lily replied thoughtfully. "Mom told us it was dangerous, but I know we couldn't stay in the Ruins with her… not with everything that happened there."
"Mom… we haven't talked to her since then, have we?" Frisk pointed out. They'd tried calling her a number of times since settling in with Sans and Papyrus, but every attempt yielded no response.
"Maybe try again?" Lily suggested. "I don't think we should tell her what's going on, but it would be nice to hear her voice."
Frisk agreed, reaching into his pocket for the old phone Toriel had given him not long after he'd first fallen. He scrolled through his contacts until Lily stopped him at her number, and hit the call button. It rang once, twice, thrice… eventually the only response from the other end came in the form of a click as the line disconnected. He lowered the phone to his lap.
"Nothing…" He sighed.
"I'm sure she's okay. We know she can take care of herself." Lily tried to sound encouraging but the scent she was giving off told Frisk she was anything but certain.
They fell silent, each one with their own thoughts for a good while. The hum of magic and the trickle of water were the only soundtrack to their contemplation. They wondered what Sans and Papyrus, and the rest of Snowdin were doing right now. Would they be in trouble for protecting them? Or… would someone cave in and give them up? It was enough to make both of them feel rather small.
"Hey… Frisk?" Lily spoke up.
"Huh?"
"Have you thought about it?" She asked. "You said in the Ruins that you felt like something was guiding you… something other than Flowey's threat. After everything we've done… do you know what it is?"
Frisk thought for a moment but eventually shook his head. "I don't. I still feel it sometimes… I know its important, I just don't know why. After what Sans told us… about how this isn't the first time I've done this, I'm starting to wonder if its related to that. I know I've forgotten a lot of things, and I wonder if the answer might be in there somewhere. But then…" He paused for a moment and seemed hesitant. "Then I think about what I saw when were playing with Kidd, and all the other scary dreams and visions. I don't know if I want to remember."
"It is a bit unnerving isn't it?" Lily replied. "Sometimes I feel that way about my memories too. I mean, I want to know who I am, and who my family was but… sometimes I worry that there might be something there that should stay buried."
"I just don't want to let everyone down." Frisk said. "I know I have before, and I can't imagine why I would have. Everyone's been so good to me. You and mom, Sans and Papyrus, Kidd and Miss Lapin and the rest of Snowdin. I'm happy I met all of you and it's been great… but I'm scared, and I don't know why."
Lily wrapped her arms around Frisk's slim frame. She could tell from the slight trembling that he was doing his best to hold back his tears. This was difficult on him. It was difficult on them both but Frisk seemed to be grappling with it a bit more than she was. His hand touched her arm, and for a moment she was surprised by how small it was. He might have been the most determined person she'd met, but he was still a child just like her.
"You know I'm here for you." She said gently. "I didn't understand anything when we first met each other, but you decided to be my friend anyway. You even gave me a name when I lost my own. So, whatever I can do to help you or protect you… I owe you that."
"Yeah… I feel the same way." The boy said.
Lily continued to hold the red child in her arms for several minutes as his trembling began to subside. Once she was sure he was feeling a little better she guided him back a little until he was at arm's length to get a better look at him. Cheeks slightly red and eyes puffy, she concluded that leaving now would probably not be for the best.
"Maybe we should rest here for now. It's been a long day and I don't even know how long we were in Sans' workshop. Plus with everything else that happened…" She rambled, gently rubbing a thumb against the boy's cheek in a manner that seemed as much about calming herself as him. "Maybe start with a bite to eat and then at least a small nap. Sans gave us the sleeping bag so at least it will be comfortable…."
Frisk couldn't help but give a slight chuckle at his friend's rambling. Feeling a bit better, he rubbed his eyes free of their burden before a small yawn escaped his lips. "That might be a good idea. I am getting a little tired." He gave Lily a small smile which she returned before rummaging through their items to find something small to munch on. Drawing a sandwich from the pouch, Frisk hesitated for a moment before reaching in and taking another container from its confines.
Pulling out a fork, the boy waited for Lily to re-merge with his SOUL before opening the container in his lap. The smell of butterscotch and cinnamon wafted through the air, making their shared mouth water. Frisk bit his lip guiltily, noting its oblong shape borne of the several bites already taken.
"Don't worry Frisk. One bite or two will still leave more for later. It is a large piece." Lily consoled, trying hard to not take several big bites herself of the reminder of home.
"I know… Just one for now." The boy reasoned, taking the fork to carefully cut off a section before popping it right into his waiting mouth. The combined hum from the two of them echoed slightly as he slowly chewed, savoring the sweet morsel. It was gone too soon, however, dissolving into magic the moment he swallowed. With a sigh, Frisk replaced the lid on the container and put it away before grabbing the sandwich, and quickly wolfing it down. Lily, in his mind grinned humorously at the boy's rather neanderthal table manners.
Satisfied that her friend had eaten, the child specter quickly left the comforting warmth of his SOUL to re-appear at his side. Frisk went about digging into the pouch once again for the sleeping bag that the shorter skeleton had given them. He turned it about in his hands, fumbling with the small cube before finally locating the button on one side.
"Hold on Frisk. Don't press it yet. Get up." Lily spoke, waiting for him to do so. "Let's set it up on the bench. That way you're off the ground and it won't be as damp. Don't want to catch a cold right?" She smiled.
"Good idea. It'll probably be more comfortable too." Giving a large grin Frisk set the small box on the bench before activating it. The two of them watched in fascination as the once small cube unfolded from itself several times before stilling into a large sleeping bag on the bench.
"There we go. Come on Frisk." The spectral girl directed the boy to the opening and waited for him to doff his boots and crawl into the bag. Settling herself next to him she positioned her legs so as to support his head.
Not bothering to zip the bag all the way, Frisk repositioned himself until he was reasonably comfortable before laying his head on Lily's lap. "Promise to wake me if you see or hear anything okay?" He asked, the thought of Undyne catching them in the small room weighing on his mind slightly.
"Of course Frisk. No need to worry. You just focus on getting some rest, alright?" She gave him a reassuring smile, running her hand along his shoulder to help calm his nerves. "When we wake we can call Papyrus and let him know we're okay. He's probably still keeping Undyne distracted so we have time…"
"'kay.. goodnight Lily…"
"Sleep well Frisk."
"AUGH! Where are they!" Howled a feminine voice that echoed hauntingly beneath the large metal suit. The iron-clad knight hurled the boulder she was looking behind aside in contempt. "Papyrus! You saw them! You TALKED to them! How could you let them get away!?"
"BUT… UNDYNE… THEY'RE NICE. WHY CAN'T YOU JUST BE FRIENDS?" The taller skeleton wondered aloud as he followed the suit of armor. The same armor that was trying to look into every window on her path to the public areas with the single eye glinting beneath her helm.
"Are you still on that?! You honestly want me to befriend the ENEMY?! These humans are our key to freedom, Papyrus! Everyone has been waiting for the day we can leave this mountain!"
She continued to rant as she walked up to Grillby's and threw open the door before stomping inside. What she saw made her blood boil. Five dog monsters bearing the crest of the Royal Guard were sat about the table, engrossed in a game of cards and chatting animatedly. They seemed completely oblivious to the situation at hand.
"Guards! Front and center! NOW!" Undyne cried.
The entire tavern fell silent. Even Grillby, ever calm looked up silently from behind the bar. The dogs jolted from the sound, their card game all but forgotten in their shock before quickly scrambling to do as ordered. After a moment they all stood at attention in front of Undyne. Papyrus' bony hand shot to his teeth, his expression morphing to one of anxiety. This was going downhill fast.
"Why aren't you looking for the humans! I KNOW they've been in Snowdin!"
Doggo was the first to speak up. "Boss. I haven't seen anything weird lately." Greater and Lesser quickly began nodding in agreement, tails wagging happily.
Undyne sighed before turning to Dogamy and Dogaressa. "And what about you two? You've been around a long time. You've surely seen humans before. Please tell me you know something about these human sightings?"
The two older dogs took a quick glance at each other, speaking with their eyes almost before turning their attention back to Undyne.
"Actually we haven't seen anything of the sort in a while." Dogamy shrugged.
"(The only thing we really see on our patrols is Papyrus, Sans, and some rambunctious teenagers.)" Dogaressa continued, finishing the thought for them both.
Papyrus gave a quiet sigh in relief. It seemed the dog clan liked Frisk and Lily enough not to give them away. Providing a wide grin, Papyrus gave the five of them a thumbs up, only to hide the gesture behind his back the moment Undyne turned around.
"UGH ENOUGH! I will turn Snowdin UPSIDE DOWN to find them! I want you all to go on patrol NOW! Report to me immediately if you find anything!" Undyne shouted as she ran out the door.
Deciding it would not be wise to anger their captain more than she already was, the canine warriors complied. Filing out of Grillby's bar, the five of them fanned out into the town, 'searching' for any sign of the elusive human children. Papyrus ran after Undyne, hoping to try and distract her a little bit longer.
"MAYBE WE SHOULD TRY THE…PLAYGROUND? THEY ARE CHILDREN…?" Papyrus tried to suggest.
"I already checked that on my way here. I've checked the Library, the shop, and the INN." Undyne listed, combing the branches of an apparently suspicious-looking tree. Eventually she stopped, thoughtful. "Maybe… maybe they slipped by towards Waterfall! Keep checking around here! I'm heading back!"
Before Papyrus could say anything in response, Undyne was already off, leaving the young skeleton standing ankle-deep in the snow. He watched her go, completely at a loss as her armored form shrank in the distance. Watching the armored form fade into the fog beyond the town, the bescarved boneman knew that he'd bought Frisk and Lily all the time he could.
He hoped it would be enough… for all their sakes.
Authors' Notes: Waterfall is the point where the Undertale story gets quite a bit deeper, after the lighthearted fun of Snowdin. This is a place of revelations, where one finally discovers the real, desperate truth of this strange underground kingdom and those that live there. We hope to capture the essence of this in the coming chapters as Frisk and Lily try to stay one step ahead of Undyne.
Speaking of her. Anyone else notice how utterly terrifying Undyne is up until the end of Waterfall only to make a complete 180 just before the fight? Well now we have an explanation for it: She's role-playing.
Of course, just because Waterfall is a more, shall we say, "reflective" place doesn't mean we don't have a little room for humor here and there. Lily really likes to embarrass her friend, doesn't she? :)
Oh, and for those wondering about a certain psychologically damaged spinach egg pie? We didn't forget, don't worry.
All in all, it feels really good to have gotten this far. Thanks to everyone for all your amazing support up to this point. Please, keep sharing your thoughts with us. It's been amazing seeing all the interesting comments, critiques, and theories you guys come up with. We love each and every one of you.