On The Surface | An OCTale Sequel

28) Family Outing

9th February

"...Well? Should we... we should get going now. You ready, Flowey?" I smile awkwardly, not really knowing how to react to what just happened.

"Huh? Oh, yeah, I'm ready. Where are we going, anyway?" Flowey answers nonchalantly, as I pick him up again.

"I dunno. Mom says it's a surprise!" I grin, Flowey cracking a smile again.

"You know, Flowey? Every day, you remind me a little more of Asri- uh...Every day you seem a little happier! Maybe you'll get your soul back soon!" I chirp, as I smile in Guidea and Mom's direction, signifying we're ready.

"Yeah Tyler, maybe. I sure hope so." He grins.

"Well, is everyone ready?" Mom smiles, still looping her keys around her index finger.

"I think Tyler and Flowey are already ready," Guidea answers, winking at me, "And I'm ready, too! So lets' get going!'

"Alright then. You three can sit in the back, and-"

"Ah, wait Mom! Can we bring Asgore too? Please?" I plead, as she gives me a smirk back.

"Okay, Tyler. We'll pick him up on the way." She rolls her eyes, opening the door of her car to let us in. I buckle Flowey in the middle of me and Guid, and smile gleefully at my mom through the wing mirror.

****

"So, Helena. Where are we going, exactly?" Dad asks, Mom concentrating on the motorway.

"Well, I guess now is the time to tell you all. We're going....to Spade City!" She announces, as we all mumble.

"The capital - I've never been! This is going to be so cool!" I chirp to Guidea, as she nods in agreement. Flowey seems pretty intrigued too...

"Hey Dad, you alright?" I ask, seeing his horrified expression in the rearview mirror. He flinches, and looks back at me and Guid.

"Oh, Tyler, I'm fine. Just a bad memory." He says nonchalantly, before resting back in his seat. I sit in silence for a minute, then realise.

"Wait Mom....where exactly are we going?" I ask, covering my mouth in anxiety.

"Oh? We're off to the museum! Where else?" She says naively, as I calm down a little.

"A human museum? Mom, you know most of them portray monsters as evil back in the war. That sounds a little...controversial. Especially for Asgore, cause, y'know...he was, like, there." I explain, as she visibly becomes worried, too.

"Oh my, I never thought of it that way...perhaps we should go somewhere else?" She gasps reluctantly, glancing over at Asgore.

"Now, now. Do not worry about little old me. After all, that was all a long time ago. I can barely remember the war in my old age!" He laughs, putting me a bit on edge. His laugh sounded so...fake.

As I'm about to ask him another question, I spot the city on the horizon. It's a lot bigger than Ruzila, and some of the buidings are so high, I can't even see the top.

The thing that mainly unnerves me is that the surrounding forests along the road have suddenly disappeared, leaving nothing but a barren landscape. Several ruins of what seemed to be houses line the road, decaying with age. Patches of grass have started to grow again, but don't seem to be getting very far.

"Mom...what happened here?" I ask meekly, Asgore having the same reaction as me.

"Tyler...there's a side to humans that the history books will never tell you about. And that's why we're going. I need to finally show you the truth about them. The truth about us." She spits with disgust, a sense of determination filling her tone of voice.