Secrets Are Ba(n)d

Chapter 14: Sing your Heart (or Soul) Out

Tension was high, just as the anxiety.

How could it not be, as Papyrus and Napstablook took their places beside the stage, underpaid stage crew giving them eager looks of anticipation. It was overwhelming, exciting, almost intoxicating watching the lights flicker in time with the introductory music.

"Wh-what if they don't like the new member.. or the costumes," Blooky spoke, mostly to themselves, but Papyrus answered with a forced confidence that could shake walls.

"Then they're not cool enough to listen to our music!" Though, even he hesitated, letting his own anxieties peak through in their last chance at being down-to-earth for the next few hours.

"We can do this Napstablook," he nodded behind his mask, shoving his gloves hands into his pockets as the intro faded.

"And without further delay... we have a previously unnamed fan favorite! Give a Hotland welcome to: the Cold Souls!" The speaker blasted Mettaton's voice, the crowd mumbling whispers as the two stepped, and floated, to centre stage.

'Who's that?'
'Is that the guy with the lights?'
'Who's the new one?' Echoed on stage, Napstablook taking one more shaky breath before the lights shut with a click, the room silent.

(Now you can start the music! End the Dance by Chonny Jash, one of my personal favorite artists.)

The soft guitar strings echoed in the silence, monsters unsure of how they felt about the new performance, though the confusion was interrupted by a weary yet proud voice.

"I.. don't really know what to say, to you today," Froid sang, his metaphorical stomach tied in knots.

"I can hardly find the words to convey my.." The room seemed to light up slightly, small stars shining from behind the small band

"..Dismay. You lied, and sacrificed your pride," he held his voice from shaking, the nervousness melting into his past frustrations.

"You tried, to rationalize your fragile disguise. Why?"

Soon the delicate stars burned brighter, The jelly-like ghost focused completely on the melody, and their closest friend.

As the song went on, the audience could hardly look away, and as the music picked up, more lights started shining from unknown sources. As it illuminated both monsters on stage in yellows and blues, swirling around in glowing clouds, they swayed in gentle motions that sent the magic splashing off stage and among the audience.

"...Is finally going to force your review
Of the shit that you do." Though the words felt heavy on Papyrus's lack of tongue, he pressed on with a heavy soul.

"One will turn to two, will turn to five, until your truths and your lies come undone," the stage flashed with electricity, bursting from the cords that wrapped around the Musicians and dancing between them and the crowd of excited monsters.

"You made a choice to resume,
And bid your sense adieu.."

The shocks dispersed into stars as the tone shifted lighter once more, leaving monsters on the edges of their seats.

"The importance of regret is how you deal with it.
The bruise you feel inside your chest won't let you forget,"

though they both couldn't see the reactions of those that have wronged them, the idea they could be listening fueled the burning determination to share their pain in their souls. One singer perhaps burned more than the other, with painful memories of past lives flashing in his skull.

"It's hard to bring about a change of heart
When you've tried so many times in the past," He sang lyrics that did initially confuse Blooky, until they accepted his cryptic message.

Don't play the part." He added bitterly, feelings he'd never shown nor told to another monster all bursting from his ribcage as he finally got his opportunity to.

"It stings, knowing they'll bear your selfish crime,
All of the things and the time that you've shared should disappear,
Yet still they're here.
You don't deserve to repair
All you're worth's despair."

With a last breath in, he spoke, though now this feeling was more than him, this was everything he'd always wished he could have said.

"I fell down a hole when I lost all control,
And the people I care for have suffered a toll, and the pain in my chest isn't half as intense as it should be, considering the lies that I told," His partner looked at him with a worried understanding, harmonizing with him with practiced perfection.

"What the fuck was the point in confiding in them, all the secrets I was hiding inside the contempt, if the ones I call 'friends' can't even depend on the thought that I'm not constantly lying to them?" Though the two teared up, they stood strong, the crowd reacting similarly with a sea of mixed emotions reflecting the blue lights back at them.

"I've done this before and I thought that I'd learned that the ones I adore are the ones that I hurt. But I keep coming back every time that I crack, to an endlessly repeating circular track," The speakers resonated as the ghostly half of the stage stopped playing, too emotional to keep multitasking instruments any longer. Still, they played the guitar, because no one could see them cry behind their masks.

"So stop, end the dance
Even though you know you really don't deserve a second chance, please, take a stand."

The room was silent, Papyrus could feel his soul pounding in his ribs, his ghostly counterpart shaking slightly as the adrenaline faded to anxiety.

And then the crowd erupted, some in tears, others with large smiles as they cheered, the mystical lights fading as quickly as they appeared.

"now that was a performance!" The speakers blared, only making the two jump slightly as a boxy Mettaton came from behind a curtain, posing in the middle of them.

"I've- well, I've never seen anything like it! But, of course, I'm not the only one who's amazed!" The attractive rectangle held the microphone to the crowd, the monsters once again cheering as loudly as they could for the two upcoming stars' performance.

Though still catching their breath, the monsters looked at each other in pride, smiles beaming with nervousness and pride at their hard work paying off so extremely.

"Folks, I think that settles it! You two are being awarded the honour of performing in the finals on my very own main stage!"

1104
(Another hit for the Cold Souls! I figured the name was a perfect mix of cheesy and something Papyrus would think of, but what do y'all think? I always love reading comments, so don't be shy! And, as always, happy reading folks)