#siralim

first is GOLDEN lizard and shes the most powerful member. she is so fucking strong its insane

next is diluted gold lizard. second newest member on the team

next is freaky bone creature who is also sparkly because i fused it with a unicorn

next is blood wolf

next is my starting creature for my specialization that i fused with a blue slime

last is the newest member on the team, fucking moth man whos fused with another creature that has an awesome synergy and that also made him blood colored

Nothing responded, and Papyrus wondered briefly if he’d been hearing things. But he narrowed his eye sockets, scouring the forest around him.

It was hard to concentrate over the pulsing of his soul, making him giddy with excitement, but he managed. Roughly a hundred feet away was a snow poff, with something long and shiny poking out from around it. It wasn’t a branch—it appeared to be made of metal, but otherwise he couldn’t place just what it was.

“Hello?” he called again. “I can see you out there! Or part of you, anyway. Show yours—”

BANG.

He fell backward from the shock of the impact. His skull was ringing—from the deafening sound or force he’d been hit with, he wasn’t sure—and he shakily brought his hand to his chest. The projectile had gone straight through his battle body, between the gaps in his ribs, and out the other side.

Frowning, he sat up. “Excuse me!” he cried. “That was very rude!” His legs shook as he got to his feet, and he rubbed his head. “If you wanted to spar, you only need to ask!”

The metal object was still poking out from behind the snow poff, but slowly it pulled back. At first Papyrus wondered if the thing was trying to sneak away, but then he saw it rise from behind its hiding place. He could see a dark gray hat, a shadowed face beneath, and then the rest of it as it stood—

Papyrus gave a start.

It was a skeleton!

Any indignance he held within him melted away as he took in the sight. Yes, it was absolutely another skeleton—but rather than bleached white, like every other skeleton he’d known, its bones were yellowed. It wore a wide-brimmed hat and a brown mantle, and its boots, shorts, tattered cape were all dark gray. Nothing covered its rib cage, though. In one arm it carried the large weapon it had attacked him with—Papyrus belatedly recognized it as a gun of some sort—and with its other hand, it tipped the brim of its hat up. It had a longer face, like Papyrus did, but wider sockets, like Sans’s. Unlike Sans, however, this skeleton had no eye lights.

It did, however, have an unmistakable look of confusion on its face.

“‘S this a joke?” Its—his—voice was low and gravelly, the hinge of his jaw creaking as he spoke.

Papyrus blinked. “...No? I mean, I am technically on-duty, but I would be perfectly fine with sparring once I am—”

“‘M not here to spar,” the skeleton said, hefting up his gun again.

That was even more confusing. “Then what are you doing with that gun?”

The skeleton shrugged. “Gon’ shoot ‘cha with it.”

“Yes, I gathered that.” Wincing, Papyrus brushed at the hole in his battle body. He hoped he could fix that. “Is there any particular reason why?”

“Need to. Gotta keep the queen safe.”

“...Oh.” Papyrus relaxed a little. The situation was still confusing, but at least that made slightly more sense as to why a random monster was shooting at him. “Well, rest assured, the Great Papyrus is not here to attack any royalty.” He brought a gloved hand to his chin, rubbing it in thought. “I wasn’t aware the king remarried.”

Before the other skeleton could respond, Papyrus clapped both of his hands to his face in shock, gasping. “Wait, when was the wedding?! Did I miss it? Undyne needs to tell me these things! She’ll be so mad at me when I—”

“What king?”

Papyrus looked back at the skeleton, who now had his gun pointed at him again, eyes narrowed. Was… was this skeleton mad at him for missing the wedding, too? “Um. King Asgore? Or King Fluffybuns, as some call him! Seems a strange name, though.”

The other skeleton relaxed, lowering his weapon. “No, my queen got nothin’ to do with him.” He paused, looking around the forest before turning his gaze back to Papyrus. “Could ya tell me where I am, kid?”

The word sent a bolt of anger down Papyrus’s spine. “The Great Papyrus is not a kid!” he cried, stomping his foot. “He is a very mature adult!”

The other skeleton’s jaw creaked as it went askew in an expression Papyrus didn’t recognize. “You sure about that? You don’t seem much out of the shell.”

“Out of what shell?”

“...Egg shell?”

“The Great Papyrus did not hatch from an egg.” He tossed his scarf back, eye sockets narrowing. “He sprouted from an echo flower, just like every other monster!”

At that, the other skeleton ducked down, making a choked noise. Papyrus wondered at first what the skeleton might be choking on (and how a skeleton would choke in the first place) before he realized that the other monster was laughing.

“Stop that!” he cried, stomping his foot again, face flushing red in indignance. “I sprouted from the most beautiful of echo flowers!”

“Sure ya did, kid, sure,” the other skeleton croaked, finally standing upright again. “And get used t’ that moniker. I call everyone kid.”

“Oh?” Papyrus quirked an eyebrow. “And what should I call you?”

“Old man.” The skeleton shrugged. “Everyone else does.”

Papyrus brought his hand to his chin again, rubbing his glove over his teeth in thought. “Very well, that seems fair enough a trade.”

Now the old man was walking closer, eye sockets narrow as he took in Papyrus’s appearance. He stopped a few feet away—he wasn’t small, but he stood a few inches shorter than Papyrus. “Gotta say, only creatures I’ve seen s’ tame as you r’ the ones we find beaten n’ cryin’ in a cage.”

Papyrus’s bones rattled in a shudder, and he took a step back. “P-pardon?”

The old man held up a hand. “Not in this realm, kid, don’t worry about it. Speakin’ of, though.” He shouldered his gun, straightening his back. “You still haven’t told me just where n’ the Great Pandemonium I am.”

“Right!” Papyrus relaxed, and threw his arm out in a grand gesture. “We are in the Snowdin Forest! The northwestern sector, to be exact.”

“Mmmm.” The old man surveyed the forest again, jaw set. “N’ what god rules here?”

Immediately Papyrus deflated. “Um… god?” He wasn’t aware of any deities anywhere in the Underground, let alone Snowdin. Not counting the angel, of course, but no-one was quite sure who that was anyway.

“...Well, that explains it.” With that, the old man turned around, trudged over to a tree, and collapsed into a seated position next to it.

Now growing concerned, Papyrus followed him, taking a seat next to him. “Explains what?” he asked. “What are you doing here, anyway?”

The old man tugged the brim of his hat down, shadowing his face. “Me n’ the rest of my team follow the queen out to different realms to protect her. Usually she follows the voice of a god, but…” He gestured helplessly. “I guess somethin’ went wrong when we teleported, sent us t’ the wrong place.”

“So…” Papyrus’s brow furrowed in confusion. “You teleported yourself into the Underground?”

“‘F that’s where we are, yeah.”

“Oh.” He looked down at his feet, shuffling his boots in the snow, before sitting upright. “Wait!”

The old man glanced at him. “Mm?”

“If you warped here, that means… you warped past the barrier?!”

“...Barrier?”

“The one sealing us here! Under Mount Ebott!” Papyrus cried. “The one that keeps us all trapped down here!”

“Oh.” He cocked his head. “I guess. So?”

“So you are from the surface?” He gazed at the other skeleton in awe. “You live on the surface?!”

“Uh. I guess?” The old man looked at him askance—or as far as Papyrus could judge to be askance, anyway. “Siralim ain’t underground, anyway.”

“You are from the surface!” Papyrus leaned toward the other skeleton, grabbing him by the shoulders. “What’s it like?! Are there many other monsters there? Have you made peace with the humans?! Is there no more war?! What’s it like?!”

It took a moment for him to realize that the other skeleton didn’t look entirely comfortable with this position, and Papyrus let go, slightly embarrassed but no less ecstatic.

“...A’ight, one thing at a time,” the old man said, scooting a bit farther away. “Yeah, there’s other creatures there. Got a few hundred livin’ in the castle, and more outside. Millions, I’d wager.”

“MILLIONS?!” Papyrus cried, eye sockets glimmering in excitement. “WOWWIE! That’s more than monsters in the Underground!”

“As for war, uh, no. There’s always a war goin’ on, kid.”

“...Oh.” All the joy he’d been feeling was quickly sapped—he should have known that was the case. “You’re still fighting the humans, then?”

The old man tipped his head to the side in thought. “Well, we raid other kingdoms sometimes, but even then we mostly just fight other creatures.”

Papyrus nodded solemnly, then started. “Creatures? Y-you mean… you fight other monsters?”

“Creatures, monsters, same diff. Yeah, we fight each other.”

The nonchalance with which he spoke made Papyrus’s bones rattle with unease. “B-but… why? We’re on the same side, aren’t we?”

“Pshaw.” The old man tipped his hat over his face again, leaning up against the tree. “I don’t know anythin’ ‘bout sides, kid. All I know is to protect the queen. Otherwise, you kill other creatures, or they kill you.”

That phrase—or one similar to it—was not one unknown to Papyrus. Unease was now eating at his very marrow, and he found himself wanting to put more distance between himself and this other skeleton. “Y-you mean… you’ve killed before?” he stammered, uncharacteristically quiet.

“Yeah? Some odd-thousand, I’d guess.” He shrugged. “Past level two hundred now, I think.”

The snow around them had nothing to do with the cold that was now gripping Papyrus’s bones. His voice was barely a squeak. “...L-level… two…?”

“Eh, maybe close t’ two fifty now?”

Papyrus retched, scrambling backward.

“Woah, woah, ‘ey, you okay, kid?” The old man lifted his hat again, face showing concern. “I ain’t gon’ kill you, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

Papyrus clapped his hand over the hole in his battle body as realization hit him.

Evidently the old man had come to the same realization. His eye sockets went wide, and he slumped back against the tree. “Vertraag and Vulcanar, I tried to kill you.”

For several moments, the only sounds around them were the quiet gusts of wind, and the rattling and creaking of two different sets of bones.

Papyrus considered himself to be a kind, forgiving monster. He had always thought that there was good in everyone—that even if they’d done something terrible, they could still become a good person. But faced with someone who had reached a higher LOVE than he had even known existed—who had shot at him with the intent to kill, without even a second thought—he felt conflicted.

Two hundred and fifty levels.

He drew in a breath, letting it out shakily. Slowly he brought himself back up into a sitting position, his soul pounding and magic frantic, ready to create a forcefield of bones around himself if need be.

But the skeleton that sat across from him didn’t look like he was about to fire another projectile at him. Instead, he had his head down, looking at the gun in his lap. He appeared… contemplative?

After staring for a few moments, Papyrus drew in another breath, and broke the silence. “Wh… why did you really shoot at me?”

The old man did not look up. “‘S what I do. Killin’ other creatures. Been doin’ it since I hatched.” He tapped a digit against the metal muzzle of the gun.

Papyrus shut his eye sockets. He couldn’t imagine a world where children were expected to kill as soon as they were born. But apparently that’s what the world outside had become.

He opened his eyes, gazing hard at the other skeleton, even though the old man didn’t meet his gaze. “You’ve always been this way.”

“Mmm.”

“Have you ever…” Papyrus tugged at his scarf. “Ever tried… talking to a monster instead?”

Finally the old man looked up, staring up at the cavern ceiling in thought. “...Sometimes th’ creatures in Siralim sneak out. We talk to ‘em, make ‘em come back, give ‘em a good beatin’ if they don’t.”

Okay, that was something he could work with. “So… haven’t you tried that with other monsters? The ones you normally…” He trailed off, feeling sick at the thought of finishing the sentence, and all it implied.

“...Not really, no? Not when they’re usually out t’ kill you.” The old man brought his gaze back down, staring at Papyrus. “You can’t tell me you’d do that, kid.”

Papyrus straightened his back, his gaze firm. “I would!”

The other skeleton’s jaw went askew. “Yer tellin’ me, faced with a creature who’s gonna try t’ put a gaping hole in your ribcage, you’d just try to talk with it?”

Papyrus nodded. “Absolutely!”

The old man stared at him for a few seconds. His shoulders shook, and he began to choke again—laughing.

“...After all,” he continued, gaze unwavering, “I’m doing that now, aren’t I?”

Immediately the other skeleton shut up, jaws snapping together with a click.

“And you’re not trying to kill me anymore… are you.”

The old man lifted his head just enough to stare at Papyrus from under the brim of his hat. “...You’re somethin’, kid.”

Hesitantly, Papyrus crawled back over to the tree, sitting next to the old man again. Part of him still itched to keep away—to run away, even—but he fought the urge. Another part of him wanted to place a hand on the skeleton’s shoulder, but he fought that urge, too. “You can still change,” he said. “It’s… it’s not too late.”

“Pshaw.” The old man looked away. “Yeah, go right up to th’ teammates and tell ‘em we’re all gon’ be softies from now on.”

“Being good is not the same as being soft.” Papyrus frowned at him, then looked down, drawing his knees up to his chest. “Being good is hard.”

“...Mmm.”

The old man made no further arguments, and Papyrus, not understanding the entire situation his fellow skeleton was in, didn’t know what more he could say, so the two sat in silence.

Eventually the silence was broken by a quiet sound that gradually grew louder. Both skeletons looked up, recognizing the sound of hoofbeats against snow.

Papyrus was the first to stand, looking around to determine what was making the noise. As he rounded the tree, he was greeted with the sight of a large, golden quadruped charging at him with a wild whinny.

“Woah! Woah!” The old man scrambled to his feet, holding out his arms. “Easy Holly, easy!”

The creature slowed to a stop, planting its four hooves into the snow, head lowered as it glared at Papyrus. It wasn’t anything Papyrus recognized—the only thing he could even remotely relate it to was a gyftrot, but this thing was significantly larger and had a much longer face, with a horizontal mouth instead of a vertical one. It also had one horn instead of two, and a long, thin tail that ended in a tuft. Its fur and scales were golden, while its mane and horn were a brilliant sapphire. Overall, it looked equal parts graceful and sturdy—and right now, equal parts threatening.

“It’s a’ight, Holly,” the old man said, stroking the creature’s—Holly’s—muzzle gently. “He’s not gon’ fight us. He’s a friend.”

Papyrus, who had been staring at the old man in consternation, realized he was addressing the other monster as something other than “kid,” and gave a jolt of surprise.

Holly gave the old man a confused look, then looked back at Papyrus, softening. Craning her head forward, she sniffed at him, then rumbled something low.

“H-hello, Holly?” he said, reaching out to pet her. Immediately she pressed her muzzle into the palm of Papyrus’s glove, seeming more relaxed, happy. “Are you the old man’s friend?”

She snorted, tossing her mane.

“Yeah, one of my teammates,” the old man said, stroking her mane. “Thought you were stayin’ with th’ queen?”

Holly rumbled something to him that Papyrus couldn’t make out, but the old man nodded in understanding.

“Did he? Good ol’ Vertraag. Figured he’d pull through. Well.” He turned back to Papyrus, nodding. “She says the queen got hold a’ one of the gods. He’ll pull us outta here.”

“Y-you’re leaving?” Papyrus’s bones suddenly felt heavier. “Already?”

“Yeah, gotta get back to Siralim. Our queen talks to the gods—no good in a godless realm, heh.”

Papyrus looked down at the ground, shuffling his feet, then back up at the old man. “Could you… maybe try to do something about the barrier? When the war’s over?”

“Dunno what we can do about it, but we’ll see, huh?” He looked back at Holly, who stared at him inquisitively. “Hey, so…” He leaned toward her, whispering something into her ear.

The quadruped snorted, then took a few steps toward Papyrus, who looked at her in confusion. She bent down until her horn was level with Papyrus’s chest, and tapped the tip of her horn against the hole in his battle body. Immediately it sealed, as did the hole on the other side.

Papyrus stepped back, examining his battle body—it looked like the hole hadn’t even been there in the first place. “Wowwie! Thank you!”

Holly stepped back as well, looking back to the old man and swinging her head, as though indicating something behind her.

The skeleton nodded. “Right. Well, we’re gon’ be off, then.” With that, both the skeleton and the quadruped turned around, walking deeper into the forest.

“Wait—!” Papyrus cried, darting forward, and they stopped. “Y-you won’t forget… what I told you, will you?”

Glancing over his shoulder, the old man’s jaw went askew in that odd expression—one Papyrus was starting to suspect was amusement. “Kid, I don’t think I could forget this if you paid me in two million lumps a’ brimstone.”

Papyrus wasn’t entirely sure what that meant, but he smiled anyway. “Thank you!”

“Mm.”

And the two resumed walking, soon disappearing in the trees, leaving Papyrus alone in the forest once more.

---~~~---

Papyrus had a lot to think about as he made his way back to the main paths. He was headed for Sans’s sentry station, hoping his brother would be there.

Of course, he was, and he was asleep, leaning against the counter of his station and drooling all over it. But hearing his brother’s approach, he blinked awake. “Oh? Heya, Papyrus,” Sans said, wiping his face on his sleeve.

Sans had always been better at reading facial expressions than his brother, and he seemed to catch onto Papyrus’s appearance quickly. Immediately he looked at his brother in concern. “What’s wrong? Sheesh, you look like you got a lot on your mind.” But he grinned, rapping his knuckles against his skull with a hollow clunk. “Which is funny, since, y’know, we shouldn’t have anything in our minds.”

Indeed, Papyrus’s mind was heavy with the thoughts of all the things he’d seen and heard today. But looking at his brother, and the circles under his eyes, Papyrus wasn’t sure he felt like talking about the condition of the surface, the strange relations between humans and monsters, and the ongoing war between monsters and more monsters. That could wait for another day.

Maybe he’d ask about something else that was nagging at him.

“...Sans?” he said, leaning his arm on the sentry station’s counter.

“Yeah?”