Chapter 24- Playing with Fire

Homesickness was growing. Every day, it got harder and harder to stay present. Instead, my mind constantly wandered back to my little world.

Whenever I fell asleep, I walked the streets, beholding each neighbor and friend as I passed. I brushed the powdery snow off the tops of our mailbox out front and traced my hand up the weather-worn railing lining the porch. The old doorknob was icy cold in my grip as I twisted it open.

Then, that familiar warm scent would wash over me, the one that meant home. The comforting smell of popcorn, and old woolen blankets, and hot coco. I could see Papyrus. Waiting for my return. Racing to greet me, arms wide to embrace me—then I'd wake up in the Doodle Sphere. I couldn't help but ponder that one question over and over: when would I go home?

True, Ink and Dream were busy defending universes. And fighting Error and Nightmare. And trying to find Blueberry, and comforting his bereaved brother. And generally exhausting themselves doing it. Still, I wondered if they'd made any progress on figuring out how to return me to my world. I wanted to ask, but was too afraid of the answer to do so.

Deciding not to push it, choosing to be patient a little longer, I spent my days trekking through AUs. My list of acquaintances slowly grew, now including companions from worlds like RebornTale, ButtonTale, AfterTale, and DanceTale. Most trips, however, were to MelonTale and BirdTale, for I had good friends in both.

It never failed to amaze me how diverse and beautiful each world was, how every story eventually wove together for some grand purpose. I hoped my life would hold to the pattern, too. Maybe, someday, I'd get to see it all work out. Maybe I never would.

I flipped through one of Ink's notebooks, searching for a picture of my feathered friends. I wanted to go hang with Raven. I wanted to chase some clouds, or talk about the weather—anything to distract me from the incessant memories of home. Finding art from the AU, I tapped the page and leapt through the Window that formed above it.

The rainbow swirls swept past at breathtaking speeds, warping me across galaxies in a blink. But the light show didn't make me smile, today. My mind was elsewhere. I wasn't really paying attention. By the time I noticed the restless, colorful storm to my left, it was too late. With a shock of dry wind and a rushing undertow of magic, I was suddenly sucked off-course.

After tumbling wildly through the currants, I was flung from the portal into a thick tree trunk. I was too stunned to grab a branch, and thus hit almost every single one on the way down.

Finally, the last limb slapped past, and I was deposited into a deep snowdrift. Disoriented, I dizzily stared up at the overcast sky. what… just happened…? Sitting up, I shook my head to dispel the stars circling it. My jacket shed a layer of pine needles as I stood. Brushing the few remaining sappy ones away, I glanced around, observing my surroundings.

Assuming I was in the Underground, I decided I must be in an alternate version of Snowdin Forest. This one, however, was nothing like mine. This place was a lush paradise. Despite the ice, colorful flowers carpeted the meandering path. Spiraling vine tendrils wove between the trees, swaying lazily in the brisk wind. Suddenly, I was insatiably curious. What kind of winter wonderland had I stumbled upon? I simply had to investigate.

Wandering through the dense foliage, I chose my footing carefully, trying not to squash the saplings scattered about. back home, we could barely keep wild heather alive, I pondered, baffled. these flowers can't be natural. Ahead, tropical hibiscuses and lilies bordered the path; it seemed a safe guess to assume they were magical. The question was, how'd they end up here, in an uninhabited, snowy forest?

Rounding a thick cluster of trees, I got my answer. Startled, I dropped to the ground. Peeking from behind a bush, I gaped at the scene before me. A few yards away, in a lush, blossom-encrusted clearing, was a Papyrus. He sat on the edge of a mossy rock, gingerly stroking the crinkled leaves of a sapling and quietly chatting to it. He was mostly skeleton, partially… plant?

From his left eye socket bloomed an orange-centered, purple flower. It didn't seem to bother him. The petals perked and drooped as his expression did. It wasn't an awkward adornment; it was evidently part of him.

His scarf was a long weave of young vines, with tiny, tangerine buds emphasizing the bright lime. His grey armor was covered in a thin layer of moss, which muted its shine. Swirled, lavender badges were patched to the shoulder pieces. The leggings on his arms and legs were a deep, earthy brown, which blended him into his surroundings seamlessly.

His gloves appeared to be woven from leaves, clasped with a yam-orange clip. His holly-green boots were laced with orange cords, and filled with dirt. Seedlings sprouted thickly from the makeshift flowerbeds, and as I watched, the Papyrus leaned down to carefully untangle them. Returning his attention to the plant in front of him, he patted the leaves encouragingly, and it suddenly produced buds and bloomed.

Standing carefully, ensuring he didn't tip his flower-pot-boots, the Papyrus ambled to the other side of the grove. Approaching one of the greying trees, he ran his hand down the bark with a murmur and the dark wood turned a shade lighter.

he's a plant healer, I observed. Realizing this, I decided to nickname him "Planty." I frowned, wishing I could hear what he was saying. Typically, Papyruses were upbeat and confident. This quiet soul seemed timid. I silently edged closer, hoping to catch his whispered words.

"… i'm s-sure snowdrake must be alright. p-people go missing all the t-time. but, i'm worried," he confessed to a primrose, "what if someone t-turned him in? did he get taken to the alchemist?" Planty shivered. "no," he decided, "no, i bet he's f-fine."

Somewhere behind me, there was a soft snap. Glancing over my shoulder, I scanned the woods. Nothing. I returned my attention to Planty.

"maybe he j-just wanted to leave, like brother." The Papyrus's expression fell. "i hope b-brother's happy," he explained to a shrub, "wherever he is. he would like it out here, i think, even if he d-d-doesn't like m-me."

A pang of sadness hit my soul. I couldn't imagine being at estranged odds with my brother. Why so many alternations were separated, or even enemies, was baffling to me. I'd give my wings to be back with my Papyrus.

"actually, brother coming here might n-not be for the b-best," Planty murmured, fists resting on his hips disapprovingly as he glanced around. "everything's f-flammable."

Sighing, the curious alternation turned and wandered further into the forest. He complimented each weed and flower as he passed with statements like— "your p-petals look lovely," and, "your stem has grown an entire inch, how w-wonderful!" and even, "your c-chloroplasts are looking especially green, today." Smiling, I moved to follow—

Ping!

My soul was wrenched backwards. In a blink, I was whisked through the air and slammed into a tree. My HP went from 1.0 to 0.7. I crumpled. Gasping, on hands and knees, I struggled to stand, dazed. "Down," foresight whispered. I let myself drop as something shot over me. An orange, flaming, slippered foot cracked into the pine behind my head.

The figure kicked off the bark, keeping between me and the forest. I caught glimpse of white-striped, black shorts. The edges were aflame. And bone was beneath. A Sans, surely! Using his falling momentum, he brought a blazing, staff-like bone attack hissing through the snow as I leapt aside. Whirling, I summoned a shield. Before I could complete the bubble, my assailant pounced and clung to the edges of the partial sphere.

It was indeed a Sans. The hood of his tawny brown jacket was pulled low over his face, and rimmed with wisps of flame. But I could still see the searing, fierce eyes locked on me. A black scar marred across his left cheek bone, and for a moment, I distractedly wondered how a flaming skeleton could get burned.

Before the protection bubble could close, with a ferocious growl, he pulled back a blazing fist and pounded it into the barrier. It was so forceful that it sent a wave of heat shuddering through the thin shield. It wavered. I abandoned it, leapt backwards—and tripped on a log in the snow. The flame monster shot forward, hands outstretched to grab my neck. I rolled. The snow evaporated straight into steam as he touched it. He sprang after me, wildly ferocious, like a savage animal closing in for the kill.

I wasn't confident I could fly through the thick tangle of branches overhead. I couldn't fight back and risk hurting him. I tried to ping his soul. My magic didn't adhere. He was soulless. Dodging another attack, with no better options, I unfurled my wings and leapt for a narrow opening in the tree canopy—a hand grabbed my ankle, singeing my slipper, and yanked me earthwards. Crack!—my head smacked a branch on the way down.

When I awoke from my brief stupor, I found the flaming Sans standing right over me. I was sprawled out in the snow with his foot grinding my shoulder into the ground. A blazing inferno lit in his hateful gaze. A roiling sphere of fire formed in his hands. He grinned, aimed it at my chest—

A gale of cool, foggy air blasted through the trees. The flames snuffed out. A young, female voice cried out—

"Fira, wait!"

A stone's throw away, a human child jumped from a high branch. Her fall was unnaturally slowed by another surge of wind, and she quickly scrambled towards us. Disoriented as I was, a human sprinting my way suddenly seemed just as threatening as my attacker. I flinched, magic static flickering nervously around my clenched fists.

The Sans above me, whose name was evidently Fira, sensed my reaction and was suddenly viciously aflame. The fringes of the child's white-striped, blue shirt, and pure white hair thrashed as another powerful gust extinguished the flames.

"Stop it," she insisted gently.

"Breeze, let me dust him!" Fira exclaimed. "It's the perfected replacement. He'll betray us. He was even stalking Cuke!" Fira summoned more fire. It was extinguished for the third time. Long brown pants led down to white boots, which left swirly designs in the snow as the kid stepped closer.

"Even so, you promised no more killing," she said, frowning. "He's just doing what he's told, it's all he knows—you should remember what a lab-confined life can do to someone!" She paused, sizing me up. "What kind of element is he, anyway?" Fira scowled.

"I don't know. He's freakish."

"i'm right here, you know." I instantly regretted my attempt at humor; it almost got me incinerated. But Breeze persisted in her mission of mercy and kept me from getting roasted. "look," I reasoned cautiously, "i'm not dangerous. i was just passing through. i really didn't mean to intrude."

Breeze shot a pleading glance at Fira. After a wordless debate of frowns and nervous scowls between the two, Fira hesitantly stepped back, keeping between me and the human. He sent a flaming glare my way. His message was clear. If I tried escaping or fighting back, I was toast. just stay calm, I reminded myself. prove you're sincere. Slowly, I stood. Breeze tried an apologetic smile.

"Let's, uh, start again. I'm Breeze, and… you've met Fira." Both us Sanses tensed at this comment. "What's your name?"

"serif," I answered, rubbing a hand across the back of my sore, foggy head. "sorry. i didn't mean to trespass on your turf. it was an accident."

"You're an accident," Fira grumbled, earning a swift elbow in the side from Breeze. "Seriously, look at him!" he complained, then turned his glare on me. "What fancy type are you supposed to be, huh?"

"'fancy type'?" I asked, befuddled.

"Which kind of elemental are you?" Breeze clarified.

what're they talking about, "elemental"? I wondered, nervously brushing the slush from my jacket. Then, I noticed the fire symbol swinging from Fira's hoodie zipper, and the swirly wind designs in Breeze's footprints. It seemed this universe was one in which every monster represented a natural element. It would explain Planty Papyrus. Fira narrowed his eyes at me.

"What element?" he demanded tensely.

Suddenly, I felt frightened. If they hadn't recognized me as an alternate version, they evidently didn't know about the AUs. Universes that were unaware of the Multiverse weren't to be tampered with. My presence could disrupt the timeline. The impact could range from changing the path of a butterfly to setting in motion a character's death. If I told them the truth, the results could be catastrophic. But if they caught me lying, I'd end up promptly fried!

"hope," I suddenly blurted, inspired by foresight's soft whisper. "my soul quality is hope." Breeze appeared interested by this response, perhaps hopeful herself. Fira remained skeptical.

"Why were you watching Cuke?" he challenged. I chose my response carefully. Truth was the best answer, even when trying to hide a few facts.

"i stumbled upon him while wandering the forest," I confessed. "i miss my brother, and cuke reminded me of him. i was just curious."

"You lost your brother? And you're alone in the forest?" Breeze asked, concerned.

"yeah. i'm pretty far from home."

"How'd you get out here, huh?" Fira challenged. "We're miles out. 'Hope' isn't a natural element, and I'm starting to think you're too weird and flawed to be a perfected artificial one." He stared coldly at me. "You're not from here, are you?" There was a tense pause. But before I could invent a reply, Fira's expression twisted. "Oh. Are you… a traveler?"

It took me a moment, but I realized what he meant. Nearly every Sans had been introduced to the concept of multiple timelines. Granted, few of us could ever guess the Multiverse theory was indeed real, and even fewer could ever comprehend the vast variety it produced! But his simple misconception could save me. he thinks i'm a time traveler.

"sort of," I admitted. "more like… space and matter. a traverser of dimensions." Breeze was evidently confused by this reply; she glanced inquisitively between us two Sanses. My answer appeared to appease Fira, though.

"I think I believe you," Fira murmured hesitantly, eyes glimmering curiously. He held my gaze a moment longer, then nodded to himself. "He's not the perfected," Fira sighed in relief, speaking to Breeze. She smirked.

"So you'll listen next time I tell you not to incinerate someone, yeah?"

"Don't you start," he grumbled. "I don't wanna hear about it."

I shifted nervously. It would probably be best to bide my time instead of making a reckless break for safety. I had to keep them calm. Perhaps this was my chance to fish for some answers. At the very least, I could keep the attention on their lives and not mine.

"are you in some kind of danger?" I asked. "who is this 'perfected' you keep mentioning?"

"My replacement," Fira murmured, quieted. "One minute, I'm the miracle creation; next thing I know, I'm just an outdated prototype with a bounty on my head." I gaped, stunned. What kind of dystopian society did they live in?

"that's so messed up," I breathed. Fira shrugged.

"It's life."

"but, no one would really kill you, right?" I observed. "you've got breeze on your side. that's gotta count for something."

"How does that help?" she asked, confused.

"you're a human," I pointed out. "these hunters can't actually be stupid enough to risk angering you, and thus, the rest of the surface-dwellers." She shook her head.

"I'm not safe, either. I wasn't made in a lab like the rest of you," Breeze explained patiently. "The Alchemist has deemed me an 'unpredictable.' I am to be killed on sight, just like Fira. And, you must have lived in the labs for a long time. There aren't any other humans left," she whispered, a twinge of dread in her voice. Fira must have noticed, for his flames, which had slowly extinguished, blazed brightly.

"I won't let them get you, Breeze," he growled. "If they so much as lay a finger on you, I'll make sure they burn in—" The human brought his protective threats to a stop by slipping her hand into his.

"I know I'll be safe as long as I'm with you," she assured, smiling. With a smothered yelp and a furious frown, Fira yanked his hand away, literally steaming.

"Don't do that," he muttered, scowling and flicking his hand in disgust.

I couldn't help but chuckle. Before Fira could challenge my laughter, however, my pendant started pulsating. I shrieked, myself, startling the two onlookers. Puzzled, I pulled the cord from beneath my jacket and stared at it. The paint was moving. It threw itself against the glass walls, roiling agitatedly. It'd never done this before. My observers noticed it shuddering and flashing and nervously backed away.

"that's new," I murmured, my soul hitching. My hand went to my chest as I flinched. Then I realized my soul wasn't just fluttering. It was twinging. That was a pinch of foresight. "something's wrong…?"

At the words "something's wrong," there was a burst of dry heat. I snapped my attention up. I was alone. Fira had teleported Breeze away, evidently alarmed at my murmurings. A gentle wind passed through the trees, and I heard a whisper in the air—

"Should you ever return, you can find us in the northern quartz cliffs. Farewell, friend."

A smile tugged at my face. I formed a protection bubble and shattered the thrumming, flashing pendant, wondering nervously what this foreboding sign could mean.