Long, long ago, darkness covered the world.

Enraged by the darkness, HUMANS and MONSTERS went to war.

After a long battle, HUMANS sealed both the darkness and Monsterkind UNDERGROUND with the last of their power.

It was an age of the unknown. It was an age of peace. It was an age of chaos.

But, one day, a champion braved the depths of the UNDERGROUND and reunited HUMANS and MONSTERS once more, allowing both to flourish on the SURFACE.

Abandoned, the UNDERGROUND went empty.

Until…

Both light and darkness danced across the room, and your eyesight was still hazy. Collapsing in a place like this was not your intention. Not when there were still so many things swimming through your mind. You couldn't be bogged down, not like this, even if the feeling of grass, moss, and earth was so familiar, so pleasant. Your body felt heavy amidst your lapse in consciousness, and even moreso by the weight you were carrying. The power inside you pulsed.

It took substantial effort to even begin moving your limbs. First was your arm, which rolled around in circles, your efforts to get any sort of feeling back into it only partially successful. Jerking it upwards, you pressed onto the grass beneath you, pushing yourself up onto your rear, eyes squinting and readjusting.

Moonlight was at your back, your cloak catching its rays before they could seep into your skin. You let out a sigh. You must have been out for a while. This cavern was so nondescript...but you knew what awaited inside. The archway with the symbol of Monsterkind loomed over.

And, now, more than ever, you understood just how long it had been. The Underground. Home never felt closer, and never felt farther away, either.

You lifted yourself onto your feet, and began walking.

And then, you saw a small light, flickering at the entrance, bathed in a golden glow. It was always an alien sensation seeing a spot like this, and yet, so natural, as well. You reached out your arms as you walked.

Delving back into the Underground, knowing who waited outside for you… It filled you with determination.

…

The throne room made your eyes fall to the floor. No one ever came back for these plush, gold-lined chairs, after all. They were rather cumbersome to carry, for starters, not that it would be a problem with a little perseverance and patience, but a resolve to a new life carried all Monsters forward, out of the underground. You empathized.

You were glad the golden flowers looked just as you remembered them. This part of the Underground was...quiet, and reflective. Realizing it would be like this throughout your journey, with no monsters or humans to support you...it made you feel alone. Tiptoeing through the garden of the room, you proceeded downstairs, where color had faded over time into a bleak stone grey.

This could have been painted...Had it been painted? There were certainly colorful areas within this miniature world...and yet, for one reason or another, that person never decided to decorate. You winced.

Turning, you decided to lighten the mood for yourself, exaggerating each step, as if you were in space, bouncing on the moon! It was one step for human, and monsterkind! Hahaha! ...

...Hmm, maybe a journal or some other activity would have been nice to bring. You very much disliked dark thoughts, after all. You had purposely left the most used cell phone in your household right where it was, and...brought an alternative in case of an emergency. Your items, your saved numbers… None were with you anymore. (And, with someone particular in mind, you joked about not having access to the internet!)

...Oh. You hadn't been keeping track of your own movements. You took a wrong turn, and…

In front of you loomed the musty coffins of ages past. Your inner voice driving you forward, you kneeled in front of the closest one, adorned with a red heart, and stared at it for a long time, whispering a silent prayer, not just for them, but for yourself, and those who had fallen long ago.

You turned back. You know the room that awaited next.

The Last Corridor. The hall of judgement. Despite knowing what it *had* been used for in the last few years the Underground was filled… The average Monster hadn't needed its punishment for decades, right?

Your thoughts trailed off as gold shimmered throughout the room, pure and sparkling. Magical lights still shined true, causing your shadow to envelop you, as formless silhouettes danced across the stained glass windows. You took a step forward, and it echoed. Your SOUL swelled.

You took another step forward, and another. Your fingers traced a column as you passed it, eyes closed. Another passed, and another. Their shadows loomed before you.

"hey."

Your back arched flat, and your eyes opened. Your focus was now square upon a short skeleton, his features curved and undefined. White pupils stared into you. He wore nothing but black shorts, with a white stripe going down each leg, snow-colored slippers, and a blue hoodie, which his hands rested in.

"didn't think I'd see someone down in the underground. not exactly the best vacation spot."

Somehow, he winked, his empty sockets being covered by a bony lid.

His tone was casual, but deliberate. You recognize this skeleton, but…

"none of my business, really...but mind telling me why you're here?"

-I was looking

for you

-It's a

secret

-Going to

Hotland

-Lots of

reasons

You ponder your answer, looking at the skeleton all the meanwhile. He wasn't acting as if you were someone he knew… And yet, he hadn't been acting as if you were someone he *didn't* know, either.

"huh. can't say?" He interrupted, gesturing with one mitten-covered hand, but now unable to meet your gaze, his facial expressions still stone cold as ever.

"s'ok." The skeleton shrugged. "hardly a wordsmith myself. more of a weightlifter, can't ya tell? just a real bonehead."

You barely managed to resist the urge to snort. That was awful! This man was extremely off his joke game, or exactly where he wanted to be. Not to mention he looked the same as ever, no muscles in sight.

He seemed to catch on to you, and his ever-persistent grin raised a bit, before lowering into a more neutral expression...well, with how 'neutral' a smile could be.

"alright, alright. it's always a good time for jokes, but I need to ask you something important. what's your name?"

It was an innocuous question, and one that was easy to answer. You expected him to make a pun based on it. Without thinking, you reply.

He chuckled, and sighed. "its funny. didn't expect to see you here."

You agreed, and then asked how they have been.

That made the pupils in their eye sockets flicker, two black voids meeting your vision instead for just the briefest of moments before they reappeared.

"bout as well as you, I think.

so…

can I ask why you lied to me?"

Your magic runs cold. You do not feel in danger, but you realize you've made a grave error.

"doesn't exactly tickle my funny bone when you tell me that name, specially when you're clearly not a monster.

RIGHT, 'ASGORE'? "

...You blink, and in that brief moment, "sans the skeleton" disappears, leaving you alone again.

Your SOUL beats in a rhythm, and you grip at your shirt, shivering. Did your determination push you too far…?

Your SAVE file can't save you from this. Not anymore. The rest of your 'True Home' awaited.