Hi!
New chapter! Yay?
(...)
*The sound of nothingness does not help your determination. You'll persevere, anyways.
19XX - Years Ago
Sans wasn't sure what he was doing in the palace of all places. Surely this had an explanation, but he found himself coming up blank. Disturbing. He shouldn't have come here, what was he thinking? Although, he really hadn't had a choice, it was still nice to think he did.
The thing is, the morning had been normal. As normal as it could be with his life nowadays, at least. He had gotten up, ate breakfast and had a heartfelt conversation with Grillbz without any actual words (funny how that works), dropped Papyrus at the Inn, messed around a bit with the dogs and got to Hotland in time thanks to the Riverperson. Such a splendid mourning routine. Just with that alone was enough to make him want to take a break and nap all day. For a guy that supposedly wasn't a ´morning´ monster, he sure did things just after waking up.
But overall, yes, completely normal. A week had passed already and the tension ran high. The following day was the King's visit to the Labs, too, such an inusual occasion and the room just next to his (though it was hardly that, without anything to signal someone using it apart from the mess of papers and a sock in the corner) had been cleared. The monsters doing it had been grumbling angrily, that being the only reason he heard them at all. Apparently, they had to get the room ready instead of having time to work in their work to show off to the King. Boohoo.
Sans wondered just what type of monster would be in that wing. Was the other going to help Gaster as well? That wing of the facilities usually was off limits to the majority of the staff, it made sense.
So, everyone was a bit jumpy, true. And then there had been that thing about having to get a report to the King the very same day. Couldn't they have given it to his Majesty himself the following day? But no, apparently it was about their research to help the King understand his visit. Asgore was not a scientist and the visit would be pointless if he didn't at least have a basic understanding of the topic they were going to discuss. All their fundings depended on the King, so there was that, too.
How thoughtful, such a good example. Cramming all the day before. Sans bows when presented with such a royal procrastination.
Well, they always had the Queen, right? She was believed to be the responsible one, the voice of reason in the kingdom. She named Snowdin, after all, and such a good pun placed her in his good side without question.
So, the scientists (especially Gaster, as he was the boss) needed to get that report to king Asgore. The King Asgore.
And he had been the odd little kid that ran the errands, that was also true, but why the heck did they think sending him to the Throne Room to meet with Asgore was a good idea?!
He was so screwed.
Sans was barely paying attention anymore, the Capital of New Home always busy and bustling. Such a contrast with Snowdin, but then again New Home had better weather and was nearer the Barrier. Some monsters liked to pretend that sometimes the wind from outside the barrier went into the Underground, felt better being so near the Surface. Such agony, being so close yet so far.
He could see where they were coming from, nonetheless.
So, focus. Elevator, Core, Elevator, Judgment Hall, the creepy corridor and the Throne room. Easy, he just needed to stay calm, don't freak out.
Easier said than done, he was trembling like a leaf and it was making all sorts of rattling noises that gave away his distress. He didn't want to go in there, he just didn't. Fuck his anxiety. Fuck royalty. Fuck this awful situation as a whole.
He was in Judgement Hall, finally. The thought of having to push himself further felt excruciating, he wanted a break so badly. Maybe if he slept a bit on the shadowy hallway there wouldn't be any problem? He just wanted a nap.
Just five minutes...
20XX - Now
It was damp and uncomfortable and hot all at once. She didn't like it.
After crushing all the trainees there was not all that much that she could do now. Sure, she could go to New Home and report but... Nah, she would do that later. Right now? Undyne felt riled up. She wanted to fight! To beat something until it couldn't take it anymore and flee! There was a moment in her ramblings when she almost felt dust thirsty, her LV talking instead of her, taking over her mind for a few terrifying minutes until she calmed down enough on her own.
Not that the tunnels of Waterfall would fall or anything, but the cave system could do without any more damage to its structure. There were signs of struggle, of battle and dust everywhere. It made her uncomfortable but that was probably because she was near the entrance to Hotland, surely! Not that thinking of death and freedom and humans didn't make her cold blood boil! Just let one more through, just enough to prove herself and she would end them. Spear through their stomachs, coughing up blood and screaming in a glorious battle of gore!
She passed the panels depicting Human and Monster history, their defeat, their hope, their dreams... Their imprisonment and how it came to be. Humans. It was all their fault. F*CKING HUMANS!
She would rip them apart! She wouldn't fail, not again, Undyne thought while touching her face where her eye was supposed to be, where a patch covered the churned skin in a futile try to stop the dusting in that particular area, to hide her failures.
She wouldn't fail again. Never again.
The next human would be killed and she would be the one to do it. Rip their eye out instead! They would be beheaded, their tiny and wimpy head in one of her spears to welcome their enemies into their territory just before annihilating them all. They needed their souls, because if they didn't she herself would rip it outside of their chest just to crush it inside of their faces!
Exhaling, Undyne tried hearing the soothing sound of flowing water all around here. It was one of those days when everything felt a bit too bright, a bit too loud and not enough at the same time. She longed to go to Alphys', lights off and just a comfy couch with noodles to eat while watching anime. Maybe... cuddling? She felt her face warm a bit.
But no! Undyne had a duty and herself be damned if she didn't give it her 100%! Everyone counted on her, she was the head of the Royal Guard! In a place like this where it was kill or be killed, there were still monsters that dreamed for a change, a chance to be good, the possibility of a future without looking over their shoulder wherever they went! Just another human soul and they would be free. Just one more and Asgore...
Just one more soul!
She followed the path downstairs, the one leading to the rest of the Underground. Toriel often thought about those big doors, all the monsters leaving with an air of defeat and hopelessness around them as they explored their new... home, for a lack of a better word. It had been centuries before any human fell down, when they didn't know what to do or what would become of them. Bit by bit, the monsters found solace in each other and the newer generations took all over the place.
The Underground no longer felt like a prison with them around.
Hurrying a bit her strides, she felt like crying. But she couldn't, at least not right now. She was a queen, she must stay strong. Even if there was no one around to see her decline, the sorrow in her big and expressive eyes, the heartbreak of everything that happened. It was the coward's way out, she knew, but just the thought of confronting what had become of the place she once dared to call home, all those bright and happy memories of her children tarnished in blood and dust... She wasn't ready for that just yet, maybe she never would be.
"knock knock" said her mysterious friend once again from the other side of those damned doors.
"Who's there?" her voice, a bit wobbly. Her friend didn't point that out, even if she was sure that he noticed. She was grateful for that.
"some"
"Some who?"
"some asshole talking to a knock knock joke" he said, snorting at his own joke.
Toriel shrieked with laughter. It were those small moments that let her feel like herself again, the strong monarch that she was supposed to be, to feel like she could take on any challenge coming her way. Just for a small, fleeting moment, when even she thought that maybe, one day, she could be okay. And that made all the difference for her.
"Now it's my turn. Hmm, let's see..." The anticipation, lots of different jokes half-forming in her head before she dismissed them, looking for the perfect punchline. Confidently, she started. "Knock knock."
"who's there?"
"Cook"
"cook who?" he was, for once, honestly puzzled.
"Yes you are!"
A moment of silence before that nice and rumbling like laughter resonated in the dark and lonely corridors of her home. Yes, she would be okay. And some day, she would go out and thank him for it.
19XX - Years Ago
The tiled floor always gave off warm vibes that warmed her to her very soul, a relaxing place that helped her relax. She thought about sitting down and resting for a moment, just letting the artificial light on her skin and pretend she was on the surface once more enjoying the sun. Birds where chirping, only adding more weight to her fantasy. Why, she thought she even heard a bit of... snoring?
Snapping out of her daydreaming, she found that yes, there was a monster resting in the Judgment Hall just behind one of the columns. Such a funny place to take a nap, they were lucky that they had no need of a Judge anymore or they would be offended just on principle. It's not that there wasn't one, it just wasn't... necessary.
Nearing the monster she noticed the lab coat first and the striped shirt second. A child working in the Labs? That didn't sit well with Toriel, she would have to discuss that with her husband soon or, better yet, with the Royal Scientist himself.
Reaching out with her paw, she tried to get the little monster's attention. "Hello, little one. Wake up, this is no place to take a nap, you will be hurting afterwards."
Blinking rapidly, the child in front of her appeared to come to himself, looking around. When he noticed her, however, he tried to get himself up in a hurry just managing to fall to his initial position again. She laughed softly, trying to hide her laughter behind her paw as to not let any unlady-like sounds.
"It's okay, little one" she cooed, offering her paw to help him stand. He took it warily and embarrassed, a bright blue hue on his cheekbones. Which seemed to be more accurate than any other word she could have used, seeing he was a skeleton kid. Cheekbones. Toriel couldn't hide her amusement. "Are you okay?"
The child nodded slightly, a bit dazed but much more alert than before.
"That's good. Now, little one, what were you doing here?"
"Oh, eh... I have to get a couple of papers to the King..."
Toriel smiled warmly, encouraging the other to relax, which he did much to her delight. Papers to Asgore? More likely paperwork, but still. She had not been keeping up with the Monster Kingdom at all since having taken a few years to dedicate all her time exclusively to Asriel. It was only natural for the newer generations to not know how her husband looked like, let alone her! It saddened her a bit. Maybe she could try to get in the roll of things once again?
"It's okay, I was just going to go see him. I could take those papers for you to him."
The skeleton eyed her warily, a bit distrustful, but upon seeing the deltarune in her clothes, he seemed to be relieved. He nodded, giving her the papers. She was glad to have chosen this dress for her walk now, declaring her part of the inner circle of the kingdom. Asgore had one too, obviously, but so did Gerson, Furray and Gaster because of their positions of power with the war, Royal Guard or Royal Scientist respectively.
"Thank you, lady." He said relieved.
"Don't worry, child." She said amicably. "I goat you."
Ops, she hadn't meant for that to slip.
Although the laugh that rewarded her for that was so worth it. Soft and soothing but still that light sound that only children seemed to achieve.
"I'm Toriel."
Trying to calm down of his laughing fit, the skeleton extended his hand for a hand-shake. "Sans."
"Nice to meet you, Sans."
I think I have a problem with going too slow with this XD. Anyway, happy Valentine's day :D
Reviews and constructive criticism are always welcome!
NellB out!