Chapter 6: Puzzled and Punned


While Frisk had followed after Papyrus and Sans to begin working her way through the skeletal trio's puzzles, Braedan sat slumped in the sentry station, just thinking about what to do.

"Toriel must've believed that the kid could get past the King. If she does, I guess I should too, but… I'm worried. I haven't even met the king yet…" He sighed, before leaning back. "Can't worry too much. Might as well just enjoy the ride." He stood, stretching and cracking his shoulders. "Guess I better get moving. I still haven't picked up on Sans' shortcuts." He started off, jogging along the woods, running to a cliff before leaping off it and landing ten feet below on another smaller ledge. He carefully jogged along the small shelf before reaching the end of it. He cracked his knuckles before forming bones and slamming them into the wall to form a staircase up. Carefully clambering up, he stepped off into the fresh snow, continuing at a quick pace to his little puzzle section. He reached what was literally just a giant wall, and climbed up a ladder to the top of it, sighing as he dropped into a folding chair sitting on top. He picked up a pair of binoculars, and looked out into the forest, seeing Sans and Papyrus walking towards him with Frisk in tow. Between them however, was Sans' puzzle. The trio walked forward to it, pausing as Frisk picked up a piece of paper, before standing there in silence as she attempted to solve the word search. Sans and Papyrus just stood waiting. Braedan vaguely heard Papyrus yell.

"HOW ARE YOU STRUGGLING SO MUCH HUMAN? THIS IS SUCH AN EASY PUZZLE!"

"Wait till she gets to mine." Braedan chuckled. He watched as she finished and handed the puzzle to Sans, who nodded, causing Papyrus to charge toward the wall, the other two following behind. Papyrus slid to a stop.

"NYEH HEH HEH! IT APPEARS THAT I, THE GREAT PAPYRUS, HAVE TAUGHT YOU WELL IN THE ART OF PUZZLES! NOW HUMAN, PROVE YOURSELF BY OVERCOMING BRAEDAN'S LEGENDARY PUZZLE!" He said excitedly as Frisk walked up to the wall. She looked up, obviously somewhat confused.

"Puzzle?"

"Here's the rules. There's a gate up here. Go through that. Yeah. You got it, kid." Braedan said casually. The wall indeed had a gate in it… about fifteen feet off the ground. Frisk attempted to jump, not even making it a quarter of the way before she dropped back down, frowning.

"Uh, a little help?" She pleaded, looking up at Braedan.

"Meh. Why not?" He grinned in return. "Sansy!"

"gotcha." Sans raised his hand and Frisk started to float, which caused Papyrus to start yelling.

"SANS! BRAEDAN! THAT'S CHEATING!"

"Not if I designed it that way!" Braedan shot back, as the laughing Frisk floated up to the gate, opening it and floating through.

"I… WELL… I SUPPOSE THAT MAKES IT OKAY." Papyrus said simply. "BUT NO MORE HELP AFTER THIS, ALRIGHT?"

"Gotcha. I'll make her pay me, so it's a job." Braedan said with a wink as he walked down to stand by Frisk. As he did, the entire wall fell over, ending mere inches from Papyrus. And falling onto Sans. All that was left was a small sentry tower that he'd climbed.

"BRAEDAN! YOU SAID YOU MADE THE WALL!"

"I did. It was mache harder than I thought, so I only did one side." Braedan laughed. Sans mumbled an unintelligible reply from under the paper mache wall as Frisk started laughing at how ridiculous the "puzzle" was.

"Hey Papyrus! I think Sans is asleep!"

"THAT GOOD FOR NOTHING LAZYBONES BROTHER OF MINE HAS FALLEN ASLEEP ON THE JOB AGAIN?! SAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNSSSSSSS!" Papyrus yelled as he pulled Sans out from under the wall, holding him up with one hand. "ARE YOU REALLY ASLEEP?!" Papyrus asked, being answered with snores.

"Calm down Pap. Just go drop him off at the house. I'll walk the kid into town." Braedan smiled.

"ARE YOU SURE? AND WHAT ABOUT YOU, HUMAN FRISK? DO YOU MIND?" Papyrus asked.

"Yeah, I don't mind. I'll see you later, right?" She said cheerfully.

"WELL, ALRIGHT THEN. BRAEDAN, REMEMBER NOT TO CAPTURE HER JUST YET, THAT IS THE JOB OF ME, THE GREAT PAPYRUS! NYEH HEH HEH!" Papyrus laughed his signature laugh before quickly striding off carrying Sans like he weighed nothing. Frisk's eyes widened as he walked off.

"Woah… he's pretty strong."

"He is very big on training. Almost as much as me."

"Oh? You train? I thought you said you were lazy." Frisk teased.

"Pssssh. I work out! Look at this!" He flexed, his jacket stretching as if there were muscles within.

"How? You're literally bones!" Frisk laughed.

"Come on sweetheart! It's magic!." He laughed as well, striking a ridiculous pose. "So Frisk, wanna start towards town? Or continue to laugh at my impossible physique, second only to that of the Great Papyrus himself?"

"I'll take the town, thank you very much!" She said back sassily. He grinned in return.

"Well then, let's get walking, kid. You got a long trip ahead of ya."

"What do you mean?" Frisk said, as the pair began the trek toward town.

"You're trying to leave the underground, right?" He asked.

"Yeah. Although, I need to find someone first." She nodded.

"Oh really?"

"Yeah. She's a few years older than me, and went missing a few years ago. I figured she might be here, so I could keep an eye out."

"I'm assuming she's a human?" He sighed.

"Yeah… do you think…" She fell silent.

"... Not everyone is as nice as we are. Monsters won't really pick fights when I'm around but…"

"I know. Some monsters have attacked me." She smiled. "But it's all worked out okay."

"... Listen Frisk, a close friend reminded me of something…"

"What is it?"'

"A promise. One I'd like you to make too."

"And it is…"

"Don't give up on anyone. Don't judge them before you give em a chance. Alright Frisk?"

"Sure thing! I promise!"

"Glad to hear it, kiddo." He grinned as they kept walking towards town.


And that's all for now! Chapter 7 is in the works and I'm hoping to have a few more before I leave. On the 26th, I'll be taking a two year hiatus for a mission trip, and will resume writing when I return, assuming anyone cares. So far, doesn't seem like it. :)