Underground Spirits

Chapter 8: Desperate Commission

Angel's Point of View:

"Are we really heading out into Waterfall? I thought Sans said it was still too dangerous?"

My sister held my hand while we walked the path of Snowdin toward its border with the neighboring city. Sans and Papyrus had already gone off to work earlier in the day while we would head out on our very first delivery of all time of my paintings. They had gone so well during the time of the Winter Festival that I'd had help making a website and business cards so that I could talk with clients and make a business of this.

Ravie's Gallery was born from that, and my source of income hopefully to vastly be improved.

Granted, that wouldn't take much since I wasn't making much before besides the baked goods I'd offer to sell to Bernie and her family's inn.

"We'll be alright." I assured my sister with a tight grip on her hand and peeking out from my hood to show her a smile while I still had a chance to do so. Frisk I could feel beaming back at me with her own mood change through magic. "Besides, I have a secret weapon today."

"Secret weapon?"

I could only giggle at her confusion. I actually had been quite lucky with my first client. Who they were and a close friend that offered to go with me to their home.

"Over here girls!"

"F-Sitka! Here! Over here! Can you see me?"

Frisk and I both paused for a moment when we saw the two who would be traveling with us. I heard my sister let out an excited squeal when she saw the two bear people only a short distance away from us. Maria smiled brightly while Millie was jumping up and down, shouting so loudly to catch our attention.

"Millie!"

Frisk's squeal was evident as she darted from my side toward the two of them. The younger bear cub jumped to my sister, hugging her tightly. The little cub and my sister jumped as a pair in their excitement. I couldn't help but smile and stand by Maria's side.

"I'm sorry that MK couldn't join us as well, he sadly has a large project that he has to finish before the winter break is over and it's his favorite subject of science."

"We certainly understand." My gaze turned back to the two younger girls of twelve and nine who spoke a mile a minute with each other. It was rather... intense... "School comes first. If it wasn't for the fact that Frisk would have been home alone for more than a couple hours, I would have made her do a bit of the winter work I assigned her."

"Oh yes..." Maria giggled at that. "My Millie hasn't been assigned anything for the break, the young one has escaped it yet!"

"Of course, now shall we deliver this painting?"

"Oh Angel, could I take a peek at it?"

"Maria, that would ruin the surprise." I clicked my tongue at her while shaking my head. "The owner of this painting gets to see it first."

Maria sighed at that notion. "Oh, very well. You are the one who made it. Wouldn't want it ruined in these conditions anyway. And we should keep an eye out for someone to include in your business one day for enchanting it to keep it around longer."

That was a very strong possibility I would be looking into that when I got more settled with the business, but at the time, it was still too early. "Soon Maria, I will. Now, shall we?"

"Oh! Of course!" Maria turned to the little ones who still were giggling with each other. "Girls, let's go!"

"Yes Mom!"

"Coming Maria!"

With the girls happily chatting at our side, we began on our way. To Waterfall we went to handle the first order and delivery for my business on that quiet January morning. There were hardly any changes in the underground when it came to temperature. Being nearly entirely enclosed under the ground, there was very little wind unless you were on the ends of the chasm where the people below made their homes.

Snowdin got a decent amount of wind due to it being right by the mountain entrance. The other was the Capitol. It got wind by the easily accessible barrier edge that led to a path out of the mountain as the people believed. No one could prove it however, due to the fact that none of us could pass it.

The underground was always beautiful, regardless of what it was that we saw. Snowdin was the winter wonderland that never melted. Waterfall was like a rainforest. And we always saw a lot of interesting wildlife in the botanical gardens when Sans would take us. He offered that once things settled down from me meeting a lot more folks in Waterfall, he'd see about getting me a tour of their secret areas where new plants were grown.

I would be incredibly excited if he was able to do such a thing... so much new material to paint...

"Over here, Ravie."

Following Maria, I was led to a building that Sans hadn't really shown me off past some of the larger living districts when it came to the northern side of Waterfall. We entered a small neighborhood that appeared to be gated off entirely all around, but looked rather nice.

It was very apparent to see it was young nurses or medical care workers with older or sickly people in chairs or that struggled to walk. Looking at the devastation... It reminded me of the reason I was there.

My very first customer I actually got through Maria. It was her last remaining family from her side that lived there. Her sister, Belinda, had been in this community for years getting treatment after the toxic waste dump. Both her and her husband had been affected by the waste. Unfortunately, her husband didn't make it. She had been the only survivor of the two.

The king made that entire area for those who were very affected by that toxic waste. He paid for everything for them, taking care of the sickly and trying to make their days more comfortable. Some were able to get back out into society with enough rest and therapy, others... would spend their last days there...

Belinda would be one of the lucky ones with enough time and recuperation, but she would never get her husband back... it was heart wrenching.

Maria knocked softly on the door as she approached a tiny home. Single story, but enough space for one person so that she had her privacy but also somewhere nice to live. The house was white with grey trim, but a bright blue door sat in front that called everyone in. Lovely flower boxes were filled with pink and purple flowers stood out against the white coloring of the home.

The door opened and a large woman who looked like a tree with bark like skin and leaves for hair came out. She was dressed in scrubs that were a slate grey color.

"Maria! Oh, it's so good to see you!"

"Hello Beverly. How are you?"

"Oh, you know, this and that. Hanging in there. Your sister has been so excited for your visit. Oh! And that painter came with you!"

"Yes, Ravie and I came together. She's quite excited for Bee to see her work."

"Well then, let me get her."

We were brought into a living room area that was combined with a small kitchen. I could smell the remainders of breakfast that were still hovering in the room. Bacon, eggs, and… cinnamon bread that was baked fresh. It smelled lovely. Someone was quite a good baker in that home.

Beyond that was a patio that led to a small back yard where beautiful flowers and bushes were growing along with a little tree. I could see that was where Beverly went off to. I could see her outside that she was talking to someone out in a comfortable seat on patio.

Maria easily let the kids go watch TV while she and I sat at the small table. She directed me toward a particular seat at the table that was normal, while a special one that was with extra cushions and a brace was at the head of the table. I could only guess that it was difficult for her sister to get around.

I hoped Belinda would get better soon.

"Over here, Bee."

The woman who came in the door with Beverly actually looked an awful lot like Wilbur. It was clear that his rare genetic color came from Maria's side of the family. While looking frail, snow-white fur covered the body of Belinda. Her eyes matched his, looking icy blue. Granted, unlike the young physic of Wilbur, Belinda was almost elderly looking with how frail she was. Her fur almost seemed to be falling off her, patches were gone in some small spots.

Struggles most likely that she dealt with due to the chemical spill.

I watched her walk over ever so carefully. I could see the woman pushed herself as she made her way to the table. She could hardly focus on me or anyone else in the room. With Beverly on one arm and a cane in the other, I could see Belinda struggling to make it to her goal.

"This is very promising compared to what she used to be able to do." Maria quietly whispered to me. "She used to be wheelchair bound."

"Oh dear..."

Watching Belinda continue to struggle, eventually she managed to make it to the table and take a seat at the table. She took some careful deep breaths before she looked up and finally saw us sitting there. Beverly stood at her side, ready for if she needed anything.

"Welcome. Sorry you've had to see me in such a state."

"No, it's fine." I shook my head under the cloak I wore.

Belinda took notice of that and tilted her head. "Would you like to remove your hood here? It's safe in our home. Oh! Bev, could you close the curtains just in case?"

"Of course, Bee."
Beverly raced away from her, closing the few window curtains that were in the back. The few in the front were quickly closed behind us as well. The house became darker, but Maria was quick to light a lamp to the side. Once it was on, Beverly returned to Belinda's side. Maria, also, returned to mine.

"Could we try that again?"

"Thank you for understanding, Belinda." With the world darker and those from the outside unable to look in, I lowered my hood. Frisk was too engrossed with the television show she was watching with Millie to notice. With my face revealed, I removed my cloak and hung it on the back of a chair we sat in. "And it's lovely to meet you. How are you feeling?"

"Slowly getting stronger, but it's a long process." The woman sighed as she attempted to move her arms. They appeared a bit less shaky at that moment as she attempted to grab a glass of water that was set before her. One sip later, she slowly set down the cup. "I've lost a lot of my strength due to the chemical spill, but I was fortunate enough to live while my poor husband..."

Poor Belinda couldn't continue on with that thought. Her head lowered at the thought and she went quiet. I could understand the pain she was going through with seeing some of the people who suffered from that event. That hell they were put through. So many families were falling apart from all the deceased loved ones. Many people were lost, almost a third of the underground were lost due to the intensity of the waste dumped and how infected the water was. Those that survived it, like Belinda, were few and far in between. Those of the infected population were perhaps a hundred people.

Belinda's husband sadly was one of those lost to the contamination.

"Speaking of, shall I show you the commission I've done for you?"

Belinda raised her head to my voice. I pulled out the painting I'd carefully wrapped up and carried there. Pulling away the protective covering, the many layers, finally there was a painting at the bottom.

It was a wedding photo of Belinda and her husband.

It was a stunning day of them merging souls. Both dressed lovely with a serene background. Their souls were merging with lights glittering about between them. Her dress was cream colored so it would stand out against her snow colored fur. Her husband was a rich black colored bear who had a grey suit and some stunning green eyes.

Belinda had lost the photo long ago. Her home had been entirely overrun with the waste and everything had to be removed and purged to save others. Maria had to go through all sorts of pictures she had instead to show me what the two of them looked like before I ever met Belinda. With luck on my side, I painted that same moment that the two people had lost.

A special moment that could never be brought back.

"Y-you did it..."

Belinda nearly burst into tears the second she saw it. She cradled it in her arms as she looked into the face of her deceased husband.

"You actually did it... my Steven... I haven't seen a picture of him in five years..." Belinda was quick to jump from her seat. Beverly hardly had a second to catch up to her before she rushed to the counter where a bag of gold was.

Maria and Beverly I could see were stunned by how that woman pushed herself. She struggled and looked as if she would fall, she hurried to bring the money back and nearly slammed it on the table.

"You are amazing, Angel." Without even waiting on us, Belinda struggled to put the painting up on the wall. Beverly finally was able to unfreeze herself and hurried to help her put it up in the middle of the room. For everyone to see, the picture was out for everyone to see.

"Ease Bee. Don't push yourself."

"No! She's a saint!" Belinda turned back around, though she almost crumbled if not for her helper. "Angel... you are a saint... You have no idea what this means to me to see my beloved Steven again... You earned every bit of that money I saved up. And I will be positioning for work from you again. I want to have a few more of Steven, his family and mine... Won't you?"

I couldn't believe the chain of events I was seeing. Belinda wanted me to continue to do paintings for her? Multiple? Oh my goodness...

I would have more money for Frisk...

"Well..." I smiled at the woman, so grateful for what she was doing for me. "I'd be honored to continue business with you."

Witch's Note:

Ah… isn't this a nice setting compared to some of the other chapters I do? A sweet event of Angel's first art sold to a buyer outside of Snowdin, and idea given to us by Raspberies123! Another great addition to our mix! Oh, how far along we've come!

And something to tell you all! We have some new ideas that were added! I will say that those were the last we're going to take. We are now cut off when it comes to ideas, so this way we'll be able to actually get out our next story by March! We'll be posting the date we plant to do that soon! When this story will be over, when we take out break, and then the new date for story two! Since it got pushed back a bit.

But now, onto reviews!:

Shadow8Phantom: Oh Shadow! It makes me so excited to hear that from you! Oh I have lots planned for our lovely Papyrus! He'll be facing a hell of a lot of new problems that will turn him from our cinnamon roll, into a spicy cinnamon roll! Can't give out details, but you'll see soon enough. I'm hoping that you enjoy the spin that Mystic and I have put on it for him!

Thechoasmaster: My goodness! The biggest thing I noticed in all of this review is that you need more sleep! Sounds like someone I know…

(I look over in the corner of my room where a decent little table is where Mystic Girl and Mystic Man seem to be putting away a few of their favorite bottles. The woman appears to be quite tired and she sways on the wooden surface, only a few sips away from comatose.)

Me: Yeah… she had a rough week… she'll get back to you about your plans Chaos… but on the note of Papyrus, I also hope you like what I did with our beloved skeleton! Not giving out any secrets!

MysticBoywastaken: Gotta love the pasta! What kind of pasta would you prefer while throwing ashes into a machine that will burn those ashes?

Not A Shady Guy: Hey! Ya made it just in time before I posted the next one! Saturday! That's when I post! I promise I'm not fucking with you on that! SATURDAY!

But yeah, Papyrus is such a sweetheart and perhaps he may act a bit like a child, but that doesn't mean he is one. By the end of book one for me, he was nineteen, or gosh darn close to it! When the story started, he was seventeen.

But like I said to Shadow and Chaos, Papyrus is in for a lot of rude awakenings once he's in the upper world. His adult life is gonna face some serious issues! You ready to see those?

This is a bit of a short note at the end, but there's still more to come! I've got ideas to work on to play with your hearts, emotions, and everything else! Hope to see you all next week! Love you!

Halloween Witch and Mystic Girl

Angel during her very first art delivery outside of Snowdin.