Disclaimer: Do people even still read these? In any case, Undertale and all it's characters and such belong to Toby Fox. I lay no claim to them.
-Interlude 4: Promises made under crystal stars-
It wasn't very often we got to leave New Home. Not without an attendant or mom or dad at least. That didn't stop me and Az from sneaking out though. Today was one of those days, and I had gotten really good at it.
Waterfall... It was probably one of my favorite areas in the underground. Hotland was of course too hot, and while Snowdin was nice it also was pretty cold, we weren't allowed to go to the old capital anymore, and the capital just got old after a while with it's monochrome color. Waterfall was simply cool, refreshing, and... just gorgeous.
"Chara. Are you really sure it's ok to come here without mom or dad? I mean... I trust you and everything... but they said it wouldn't be safe." A sad laugh and shake of my head. "Come on. Have a bit of faith in me, Az. Only the really deep out of the way areas are dangerous, besides. It's not much further. There's something I want to show you."
Eventually we came to a field of echo flowers, their soft pale blue glow at all sides. And at the edge of the field, a clearing with a cliff... and a breathtaking view of the entirety of New Home... the capital. It didn't look so grey and dreary from here for some reason.
Crystal stars sparkled high above, simulating a night sky. It wasn't... perfect... but it was good enough. I still remembered the times I would sneak out of my old home to star gaze. Make wishes about leaving that life behind. "See Az? Look at that." I invited him to sit next to where I had plopped myself down.
"Chara... How did you find this place?" He stared in awe. I shifted a little uncomfortably. "It... I ran across it when I wasn't having a very good day... It kinda became my special hideaway place after that." I pointed out toward the castle, lit by the lights of the capital. "And I'm never really far from home, y'know?"
I laid back, staring up at the glinting crystals above. "I kinda started coming here after, to think about the really big stuff." Asriel laid down next to me after a little while. "I've been thinking Az... someday you're gonna be king, right?"
He hummed softly to himself before answering. "Yeah. I guess so. I never really thought about it that much actually... Do you think I'd make a good king?" A fond smile touched my lips. "I think you'd make a great king. You're such a dweeb that everyone'd love you without question I'm sure."
He looked over to me in surprise. "You really think so?" I gave him a thumbs up. "Of course. I mean, we're best friends right? And when everyone actually gets to know you, it'll be great... but..." After a bit I heaved a heavy sigh. "I don't know what I'm going to do then. You'll probably be really busy and..."
"Chara..." He gave me a worried look. Always worrying about others, Az... you should worry more about yourself sometimes. "Umm... maybe... you could be my queen?" A hot flush ran through my face. Queen? Me? Did he know what that all entailed? Mind you I couldn't be more flattered, but my word. "Az... " He smiled brightly.
Asriel's smile... it was the brightest and most beautiful light in my life. My subterranean sunshine. "You'd make a great queen I think. I mean, you're like... strong and brave and smart... and I trust you." I wasn't sure I was ready to manage the lives of other people. I had enough trouble just managing my own.
"I... I don't know... A queen? Me?" I thumbed my hair quietly. "I'm not sure if I'd be ready for that responsibility." Asriel pondered thoughtfully a moment. "Well.. maybe you could be like... my personal guardian knight! Yeah! That way we can always be together!" ...I could get behind that.
"Huh... a knight, huh? Just like in our games? Hahaha... whatever you say 'hyper death'." I gave him a playful jab to the shoulder. Asriel winced slightly at it before puffing his chest proudly. "You dare mock the great deity?!" Oh Christ, Asriel. I couldn't help laughing a bit. "It is not my place to mock you, my beloved rival." A hush fell over the field again as both of us took in the scenery around us.
After a bit I pointed up to the false stars above. "They're real pretty, you know. It's almost like we're actually under a clear night sky on the surface... I kinda miss that." There was a bit of a pause, before Asriel broke the silence again. "A long time ago, monsters would whisper their wishes to the stars in the sky..."
He stared up at the crystalline starscape pensively. "If you hoped with all your heart, your wish would come true. Now, all we have are these sparkling stones on the ceiling..." I let a small smile touch my face, as I thought of something.
"Hey Az... What if we still could make a wish? Who knows, maybe those crystals are magic and will hear our wish?" Asriel smiled a bit as well. A little embarrassed. "That's... silly Chara." I laughed a bit to myself. "So? Don't you have any wishes you'd want to make?"
Asriel stared thoughtfully at me for a moment before looking back up. "... hmmm, just one, but... It's kind of stupid." I playfully thumped him on the shoulder. "Don't say that! No wish is stupid if it really means that much to you. Come on, I promise I won't laugh."
Asriel shifted a bit uncomfortably, rubbing where I thumped his arm. "... hmmm... if I say my wish... You promise you won't laugh at me?" I looked to him with a warm smile. "Of course I won't laugh."
He pointed up to the crystal stars above. "Someday, I'd like to climb this mountain we're all buried under. Standing under the real stars, looking at the world all around... That's my wish." A soft laugh... of course he'd wish something like that, the dweeb...
He stared at me with a look of betrayal. "Hey, you said you wouldn't laugh at it!" I shook my head softly. " Sorry, it's just funny... That's my wish, too." The bittersweet scent of the echo flowers drifted through the air.
Absentmindedly I held onto the locket around my neck. Best friends forever, huh? Soft furry arms pulled me into a warm hug. "Chara... I... I couldn't ask for a better friend." A sad smile crossed my face as I hugged him back. "Az... I'm your only friend you dweeb and besides... I'm not the greatest person... You could do better than me."
"Chara that's... that's not true. You're a great person..." I hugged him tighter, as if he would suddenly vanish into thin air. I didn't deserve someone like him. "Hey... can you promise me something?" He shifted slightly, probably to get more comfortable. "What is it, Chara?"
"...If we ever get separated.. and we're scared lost and alone... that somehow, some way, we'll always be there for each other." Asriel didn't even hesitate. "Of course. I promise. No matter what, we'll always be together."
He started to sniffle a bit... the crybaby... "Chara... you're special to me. You know that, right? You're the only one that understands me. Everyone else... they only ever just see 'the prince'. They don't see the real me... I... I don't think I want to let go, Chara..."
I spoke softly and reassuringly. "You don't have to Az. Not right now." I really didn't want to let go either, truth told... "But... we do have to go back eventually. Mom and dad might get worried." Asriel looked to me with damp, pleading eyes. "Just a few more minute at least?"
I felt a bittersweet pang in my heart. How could I say no to him when he was like this? "Heh... Sure, Az. We can stay here a bit longer... I don't really want to let go either." How could I possibly have been blessed with someone like this?
Unbidden, I thought back to some of the glowing engravings further into Waterfall. The ones that spoke of the war... and a prophecy. A way to break the barrier. Dad always said I was 'the future of humans and monsters'. I didn't quite buy it at the time.
It was at that moment I decided, I would move heaven and earth to show him the real stars. I was determined to do what it took to give that to him, even if I had to tear them from the sky. I would become the future of humans and monsters, I could become the angel which makes the underground go empty, and I would do it for him.
MsYakumo: And here's the next chapter, as promised. A bit of a treat for you folks. This was perhaps my favorite chapter to write so far by far. It just... felt really good to write.