Dusttale Sans x Reader

Chapter 14: Echoes

Y/N's pov

Walking through Snowdin was definitely a lot easier thanks to the jacket and scarf. The jacket was comfy.

The scarf somehow waved in the wind, like a flag. There wasn't even a breeze in Snowdin and yet, it moved so gracefully as if there was a wind directing it so.

Despite its length, and despite how often I readjusted it and changed the number of times I wrapped it around my neck, it seemed like there was always fabric behind me relatively down to my waist if it were to go down.

"It's magical isn't it?"

"It belonged to someone very special."

"I meant this moment."

"Oh. Yeah. I like this."

Gotcha. Such slip ups only help me from understanding the truth, though using this method to much and Sans will catch on.

A misty fog blocks our path.

"Onward is Waterfall."

"..."

"Let's go."

~time skip~

"Ah. One of my posts. I was a sentry back in these parts."

"What is that over there?"

"A telescope. There's a fee for using it, but I'll let you use it for free."

"What would you even look for?"

"Why don't you go find out?"

I walk up to the telescope. It had a red layer over the optics.

I looked back at Sans.
"Really Sans?"

"Worth a shot."

We went walking far. Path upon path. It went dark, but Sans's eyes glowed its purple whenever I couldn't see around us. It felt nice and a sense of pride washed over me.

We saw what appeared to be technical displays on the wall. They were all destroyed.

~later~

"Before we go any further,"

"Yes?"

"Have you ever heard of a talking flower?"

"No?"

"Echo flowers. They repeat anything you tell them. Best we don't bother them, less we risk the last thing they heard. I don't want you near one. They're very fragile."

"Yeah. Sure."

"You'll know when you see one."

We walked onward.

We took a turn around the walls of the underground into a large field.
The ground was no different than the entire path we ventured, but there were flowers nearly as tall as I was.
Something felt off about them.

Gray and lumped, the flowers showed no signs of life. The petals looked as if held on by the last dead strains only a breeze away from turning into...

Dust

"So these are the flowers?"

"Yes"

"They don't look so...alive."

"..."

"I didn't mean like you Sans. Yes, you are very much alive, I get it."

"Any chance of humor is a chance I will take."

I walked up to one dead flower. They were all dead looking. The ground still felt rich in material. Even the dust could be used as fertilizer.

"Echo flower."

The flower yield no response.

"I thought they're supposed to repeat anything they're told."

"Doesn't really work on a dead flower does it?"

"There's plenty of water in...'waterfall,' and the ground feels rich. What happened to it?"

"Hell if I know. Just a sentry. Lazy. I just sit around and drink ketchup all day. I'm no plant lover. Just look at my thumb."

"..."

The scarf died down.

"Can we take a break, Sans?"

"Sure."

Sans stands behind me as I was looking at a grayed-out flower.

The scarf ruffled. I pretended not to notice. It felt like it wanted to go somewhere but refused to let go of me. It stopped moving every time Sans looked at it.

"I need some alone time."

"Do you not feel well?"

"Seeing the waters, seeing the plants, and now the flowers. It reminds me of home too much. It reminds me of the surface too much. I just....I just...need some time."

"Sure. I mean we can alw-"

"Alone."

"..."

"Please," I didn't fake the tear. I did miss home. But that's something Sans made pretty clear. It was the scarf."

"Alright..."

Sans went off.

"I'll be at Grillby's"

"Grillby's?"

"Oh yeah...we walked by it."

Sans was now gone.

I don't recall a building with such a name.

The scarf became a magnet.

I followed it.

I made sure I wasn't watched.

At the end of the path, it was...

An abandoned quiche

And a live echo flower.