Chapter 3
Probability Value
The frigid wind never bothered Walter like some monsters. Snowdin was the coldest place in all of the underground, yet many monsters chose to live there. The icy breeze made his bones rattle, but while trudging through the snow- approaching those distant lights, Walter was consumed by an ocean of thought. Those tumultuous waves made him bend over and slouch, eyes seemingly glued to the snow he walked on. One could easily mistake him for one of the towering, deadened trees he passed by.
The slender monster shook his head in a pattern, dismissing himself over and over again. He would mutter, "No. That's no good. Unreliable… no practical use… Nothing!" Walter stopped when his path became unclear. He narrowly missed a winding tree in front of him. He admired the timber. It was somehow growing in a twisted fashion, a few of its branches were gnarled, as if some monster kid had had a snack.
Walter outstretched his long arms and stroked the tree. His bony fingers prodded the wood, they followed the tree until they reached one branch. "Hmm." This branch snapped easily with some force. Walter pulled it closer to him. A few, smaller branches within were brittle and crunched away onto his hand, the longer piece twirled upwards slightly. Satisfied, he finished his work and crunched the rest of the branch in his fist, wiping away the residue from himself.
When at last he pondered his surroundings, he looked around, he felt detached. He was in the freezing forest, he was certain of this much. However, he could have sworn Snowdin was much closer a moment ago. The wind around him howled faster, the trees beside him shook and rattled- as was he. He turned but could not find those familiar lights.
"How queer." The skeleton convulsed, his rickety limbs expanded outwards. "What is the meaning-?!" He struggled to find the cause of his discomfort, only finding his encircling to increase in tumult. The weather was less inclement but moments before. He felt a strange surge of pain emanating from below his posterior, it climbed up his spine like a chilly icicle.
"Doctor?" A voice came nearby, and as quickly- all was well in the world. Walter turned, and kept turning, trying to make sense of his strange fit. "What is the matter with you?" Walter directed to the voice, once recognized, he inadvertently scoffed. "Ah, you still have those, don't you?"
"What a chance encounter, Gerson." Walter attempted to ignore the old monster by taking out a small notebook from an unknown pocket in his coat. Hastily he wrote unending ideas.
"I figure you still have not taken my advice from… how long has it been?" Gerson pondered by stroking his white beard. He had been carrying what appeared to be sealed boxes, which he dropped on the snow. Catching his breath he started again, "You really should have that taken-"
"You know not what you speak of old man. It's none of your concern." Walter snapped but still scrawled on his notebook until he finished. One long claw of a finger tapped his skull near where lips weren't. "Chance encounter indeed…" The next words he wrote he said aloud, adding emphasis to each word. "Probability… outcome over space plus… hmm… time."
At this Gerson chuckled, "Same ol' Gaster. Head stuck in the clouds. Come, let me show you something." The old monster prodded one of his boxes on the ground with his wooden cane. He grabbed one, expectantly yet confidently trudging back the way Walter had come from.
Vexed, Walter made a face, disappearing his notebook in his coat once more. "Have you left me no choice?" Reluctant to help he sighed and grunted when he picked up the remaining box. The skeleton followed the otherwise slow and wizened monster. This was unequivocally not the inspiring trip Walter had envisioned when he left his lab. And to add to his misfortune it was Gerson who he stumbled upon, of all people!
"You know, I've met a lot of monsters in my day. A lot of them spend their lives doing one thing and one thing only. Why do you think that is?" Gerson asked, true on his path and awaiting a response from behind.
Walter knew this talk by heart and recited it by mouthing some of the words. Without proper time to react he stopped, Gerson's cane aimed at his throat like some threatening dagger.
Gerson tried again, "Because it makes them happy. Folks don't need another war, we few that know- remember the dust." Walter would gulp about now if he had a neck. "Just what is it you two are planning?"
"You're paranoid Gerson. Nothing is the matter, there is no reason for you to be this alarmed." Walter hoped to dissuade the old one but it seemed to no avail. Gerson swung his cane down and pressed on. Walter rolled an eye socket and followed suit. "He took it upon himself to appoint me as the royal scientist. I am deeply humbled."
When the trees lessened in quantity-as did the snow- Gerson responded, "That's not the point, old friend." This made Walter grin suspiciously, it had been some time since the two of them had spoken, and after a heated discussion he surely doubted the two remained friends. The continuous burble of Waterfall could be heard ultimately. "I'm no stranger to change, monsters do this alongside time. But not with force!" Walter impatiently cut in front of the old monster and even clawed at his box with impressive ease, placing it atop the one he had been carrying.
Gerson grimaced, now he pursued at the rear, "Restraint, Doctor. A lesson few in our world will ever come across."
"Ah, now this is truly like old times. Are you willing to spar with me again? Shall I fetch your hammer for you?" As soon as Walter said it, he wondered if he should or should not regret those words. They seemed a little cold without much thought. However, it irritated Walter to be lectured by Gerson, it was after all the same lecture a thousand times on repeat. "Asgore has an iron will and judgement. He'll temper me just the way you would." The two at last concluded their trek at a crossroads, where Gerson led was a cave a ways away.
"I pray you are correct." The two disappeared inside.