Where I Belong ~Undertale Story~

Chapter 9

~My Trip To Waterfall~

You're probably wondering why Sans is layed out face first on the floor and I'm arched over the back of the couch. Well let's just say, never piss off Gaster or disobey something he's asked you to do. It will not end well

Anyway, we both sat up and laughed a little. We know the situation wasn't a laughing matter and Papyrus was probably very upset. We decided it would be a good idea to apologize to him and read him his story. We knocked on the door but there was no answer. We both shrugged and pushed the door open.

Papyrus was face down on his bed, his face in his pillow. Sans and I exchanged looks and stepped in. Sans sat on Pap's bed and I knelt on the ground next to his head. He didn't even twitch when we came in or when we sat down. We started to speak but he would hear none of it. We both sighed and thought of things that could get him to move or talk.

Then something popped into my head. I tapped Sans on the shoulder. I leaned in and whispered something to him. He nods and goes over to the bookshelf. I lean down to the side of Papyrus's head and spoke.

"Remember what I promised?"

Pap moved slightly. Sans came back with the book he reads Papyrus every night. I hold it and close my eyes. The lights turn off and a light appears and hums in the middle of the floor. Papyrus is now paying attention and he is in awe at the spectacle.

What I had done was made the characters in the book become real, sort of. They were just forms of light taking the shape of the necessary characters. Papyrus was smiling and so was Sans. You know, more than usual. Papyrus got comfortable and I read the story aloud, the characters acting appropriately in every scene.

Eventually, Papyrus fell asleep and I made the luminous characters disappear. I put the book back gently and Sans and I exited the room quietly, so as not to wake Pap. I close the door behind me and am suddenly enveloped in a hug. I look at Sans, whose bony arms are around me. I'm hesitant to return the action but do so anyway.

Sans: "thanks for doing that. to me, it's important that i try to keep my brother happy. and i know he would have been mad at us both for a short while if we hadn't done something to make up for it."
Me: "You don't really need to thank me. I'm just trying my best not to be a burden and help around the house and help you guys as best I can, as a thank you for letting me stay here. Even if I don't deserve such hospitality."
Sans: "what do you mean you don't deserve our hospitality? you're as deserving as any of us."

I let go of him and looked away. I didn't want to talk about it so I decided to walk away. I was at the bottom step when Sans called out to me. I turn to him with a neutral look. He appears beside me, slipping on his jacket. He took a hold of my hand with his own and led me out of the house. I asked him where we were going but he didn't answer. Just gave me a small smile and teleported somewhere.

His teleportation threw me off balance and I fell on the ground, dizzy. When my head and vision cleared I look around me. It would have been completely dark and quiet if it wasn't for the sound of rushing water and the glow of flowers blooming all over the marsh. I marveled at the beauty. It was almost impossible to take it all in.

Sans smiled and stood at the sidelines. I looked at him with my wonder-filled eyes.

Me: "What is this place? It's so beautiful!"
Sans: "i thought you'd like it. this place is called Waterfall. and those blue, fluorescent flowers are called Echo Flowers. the name is pretty self-explanatory."

I stepped close to one of them and spoke quietly. As expected, it repeated what I said. I laughed, clearly entertained by this. I could hear Sans' soft chuckling. I turned back to him, a light blush of embarrassment visible on my cheeks.

I walked over and sat down beside him. I sighed and flopped backwards, looking up at the sparkling ceiling of the mountain. He did the same so I didn't feel left out, I guess.

We sat quietly for a few minutes, us both staring up, when he spoke.

Sans: "you know, this is as close as i'll be to a starry night sky."
Me: "Why do you say that?"
Sans: "well none of us can leave. there's a barrier that's trapping us all underground. you can enter through it but you can't exit."

Huh. I didn't know that. If I had known that sooner, I would've started devising a plan to break this barrier. I was already thinking of ideas when he interrupted.

Sans: "is the surface that bad?"
Me: "Huh? What do you mean? I mean, it has it's ups and downs but it's not so bad."

He was silent for a moment but continued.

Sans: "not so bad huh?....then how come you're so damaged?"

That struck me right in the heart. That made my breath hitch in my throat.

Sans: "when we fought, you screamed out something that got my attention. 'stay away from me'. it wasn't the words themselves. it was how pained they sounded. you said i didn't know what it was like in your mind and that you weren't completely honest with your past. you see what i'm getting at?"

A dark feeling falls over me. I knew exactly what he was talking about. But did I want to talk about it? Was it worth reliving those painful memories again just so he could have some insight? I wasn't sure.

Then he said something that hit me hard in the chest.

Sans: "if you don't want to talk about it, that's fine. but i worry about ya, kid. so does everyone else. Papyrus and Gaster mostly but i think i'm the one that worries the most. i care about your well being. i hope you know that."

Another moment of silence. Not awkward or uncomfortable. Just silent and still. Then...

"Alright. I'll tell you. Get comfortable. This is going to be.....unsettling."