The hero thought that he had won a tremendous victory. And yet, the next day he discovered that his good intentions had backfired. Threats of torches and pitchforks echoed across the kingdom.
If only life was as simple as a storybook fairytale: happily ever after.
Papyrus sat beside the Intensive Recovery Pod, watching over his ‘genuine brother’.
Sans certainly had seen much better days. Indeed, even the doldrums of the sunless Snowdin era looked peachy by comparison.
The machine kept the pintsized skeleton in a deep, dreamless sleep. It’s vital to preserve him in this stable state, or so the Fairy Godmother had told him. Should Sans wake up before his treatment, he might further lose himself in his delusion.
Besides, the ‘angel’ promised that ‘Papyrus’ would come back the next time he woke up. Better not complicate things with delayed promises.
Thinking back, Papyrus wondered if all his complaining about Sans’ sloven ways was petty.
On one hand, it’s never healthy to live in that filth.
On the other hand, his brother was alive.
His contemplation got interrupted by yells, screams, and intense hissing coming from the room just opposite his. That’s where the nameless girl rested. Papyrus jumped to his feet and rushed over to the other side.
Slamming the door open, he exclaimed: “WHAT’S GOING ON???”
He then needed a moment to comprehend what was happening before him.
The nameless girl lay down in her hospital bed.
Aiden rose his knife high above his head.
Gaelic shielded the girl with his own body.
Cenna readied her string magic, prepared to tie Aiden down.
Alphys just froze on the spot.
And Dayton tried to hold his father back by grabbing his waist. “Dad, are you nuts?!”
Aiden let out a tired sigh. He relaxed his stance and sheathed his knife. “That was just a test. Look, Dayton. She didn’t even move an inch. She’s become a ‘vegetable’.”
Dayton asked: “You mean ‘a person who’s not blind but does not see’?”
“Yes. Our forefathers spoke of Coloured Ones who push their magic too far. Their ‘Blessing’ becomes a ‘Curse’. In her current state, death itself is an act of mercy.”
Gaelic hugged the nameless girl closer. He knew that Aiden spoke the truth, and that hurt him even more.
Cenna grunted as she dispelled her magic. “Hot damn, really. Can y’all not give me a heart attack? Seriously man, why’d you think Lucy rigged her up on life support?”
The Magus gently poked the hanging bag of medical solutions. “And that’s not counting all the other complex monitoring equipment!”
Aiden explained: “I’m sorry, but I needed to confirm if she remained a threat.”
Excuses were not allowed in this room. Gaelic hissed and commanded: “Leave! All o’ ye! Me child dinnae need yer squabble!”
Cenna was reluctant at first, though she eventually conceded. “Yeah… You heard the guy. Everyone out, nothing to see here.”
And so, along with everyone else, Papyrus was ushered out of the makeshift ward. He didn’t get to see the girl’s face again. Gaelic had been insisting that he alone would care for her.
Maybe there was an ugly disfigurement? Or other details that screamed ‘top secret’? To find out, Papyrus had to be patient even when he didn’t want to.
Everyone awkwardly hung around outside, not wanting to be the first to leave. Alphys asked a question to break the uncomfortable silence. “Um…” The lizard fiddled with her claws. “Papyrus, I h-heard you and Sans are due for surgery today. D-do your parents know anything about this?”
“NO. UNCLE GASTER HASN’T SPOKEN TO ME SINCE HE LEFT TO REPAIR THE CORE. BUT THAT’S ALRIGHT. I’M LEGALLY AN ADULT! AND MY PARENTS AREN’T REGISTERED IN THE CENSUS YET. THEREFORE, THE FAIRY GODMOTHER ONLY NEEDED MY CONSENT.”
“I-I think they should at least know you’re getting treatment. I’m going down to The Core later today, so I’ll pass the message to them.”
“THANK YOU, ALPHYS.”
More awkward standing followed. Neither side felt like it was right to leave, yet it didn’t seem like she dared to start another conversation either.
Papyrus thought it was best to at least change subjects.
“BY THE WAY, WAS MY FOOD GOOD?” He asked.
Alphys gasped. “It was out of this world! You could bump shoulders with the pros! It’s crazy!”
“INDEED. IT PUZZLED ME TOO. IT MAKES ME WONDER IF I COULD BAKE A BUTTERSCOTCH CINNAMON PIE LIKE QUEEN ASGORE CLONE. WHEN I SHOWED IT TO THE PASTRY CHEF, HE WAS IMPRESSED BY HER SKILL. IT’S APPARENTLY REALLY HARD TO MAKE. IT INVOLVES CUSTARD AND CARAMEL. THOSE TWO SUBSTANCES HAD CAUSED MANY A DOWNFALL OF ASPIRING STUDENTS!”
“I… I see… I, um, don’t know anything about custard. Or caramel. Or baking science in general…”
And then the conversation ended again. It was just as awkward as it began.
Aiden crossed his arms. “Scientist, why are you still here? Didn’t you say you’ll inform Papyrus’ uncle? Quit your dallying.”
Intimidated by the Aratet’s gruffness, the poor lizard replied, “Y-you’re right. I-I-I-I’m gonna go now. Bye!” Then, she shuffled away as fast as she could.
Afterwards, Aiden turned to Papyrus and asked: “Is the Vampire still asleep?”
“I THINK SO. ACTUALLY, I’VE NOT SEEN HIM SINCE YESTERDAY.”
“If that’s the case, I’ll wait for him in the living room. You should join us.”
“OKAY!”
And so Papyrus, Aiden, and his son made their way to the living room along with Cenna. She followed them, keeping a hawk’s eye on Aiden’s actions.
On the way, Papyrus wondered what he should talk about with Aiden.
The weather?
His family?
The feast?
Maybe plans to build a school in his village?
Or how he’s going to transport live sheep back to his home? That’s quite a statistic.
But then, when they arrived there…
…They ran into the Grandmaster. He was inspecting Alphys’ collection of anime figurines, curious.
At the boy in black, beige, and green, he commented: “Hmm, the old classics have returned once more. Ah, this series. I still remember its debut in 1952. How animation has grown since then.”
He then moved on to the awesomely-complex white robot. “Well, well, of course there will be mecha. Their model kits are quite fun to build, I’d say. I should get one soon.”
Next, a blindfolded white-haired maiden with a sword. “Oh, what familiarity! Isn’t this the same model as the one my daughter owns? I didn’t think Doctor Alphys would like this series. It’s rife with existential angst: depressing enough for the younglings, let alone an ancient like me! The design philosophy does fit her tastes though. Androids, mecha, swords, and frilly clothes.”
Last but not least, Alphys’ most prized collection caught the man’s eye. “There we go, a full set of Mew Mew Kissy Cute Season One figurines. Personally, I preferred the recent manga remake. Much better integration of both seasons.”
Papyrus was stunned to hear his commentary. “THE… THE GRANDMASTER WATCHES ANIME? AND READS MANGA?! I THOUGHT THAT’S A NERDY NICHE HOBBY?!?!”
Cenna snickered. “Just because he’s old doesn’t mean he’s outdated. Let me tell ya, I get my recs from him. He keeps up to date with culture. Popular or otherwise.”
“WAIT A MINUTE! SHOULDN’T MISTER MAGUS ALREADY KNOW THE CONCEPT OF TSUNDERE?!?! I HAD TO DO THE EXPLAINING! AND I’M NEW TO ANIME!!!”
The exclamations had caught the ancient being’s attention. “Ah, hello there. Quite a tumultuous morning, is it not?”
“Uh, yeah,” Cenna sighed. “A real rough start.”
“Judge Caraway, this is rather abrupt, but time is not on our side. I would like to speak with Aiden and Papyrus in private. Could you escort Dayton to his brother? I believe young Niton is with Mister Mettaton at the moment.”
Gone was the nerd, replaced by the more familiar gentle authoritative figure. Cenna saluted and did as told. Together with the teenager, they left for the MTT studio van.
The Grandmaster beckoned them to the sofa. He sat on one side, while Aiden and Papyrus sat across him.
The ancient one said: “Aiden of Aratet, I thank you for agreeing to help my son-in-law.”
Aiden remained serious as he replied, “No thanks necessary. A deed is meant to be repaid.”
“I’M SURPRISED YOU’RE HERE, GRANDMASTER!” said Papyrus, “I THOUGHT YOU WENT BACK HOME LAST NIGHT WITH YOUR MERRY ENTOURAGE OF GUARDED CARS.”
“I would have done so, but my daughter alerted me of dire news. As a result I had to stay behind to protect her dear husband.”
“…EXCUSE ME? I THINK I’M OUT OF THE LOOP.”
The Grandmaster rubbed his chin. “Hmm, how unusual. Winston is not the kind to be lax on information. I suppose he didn’t want to burden you further. However, I believe you should be made aware. For you see, Persona is attempting to possess my son-in-law. I spent the night in vigilant prayer to prevent the malice from advancing.”
Hearing that confused Papyrus even more. “WHY? MISTER MAGUS PROMISED ME, RIGHT? HE WILL RETURN PERSONA TO HIS FAMILY.”
Aiden crossed his arms. “The Vampire intends to keep his promise. Unfortunately, my father won’t leave without a fight. He will enact vengeance for his imprisonment. Think of it as destroying the prison on the way out.”
“BUT MISTER MAGUS IS NOT A BUILDING! HE’S A PERSON WITH A WIFE AND A LIFE!”
Papyrus was so frustrated that he stomped his feet and let out a loud ‘NYEH!’
Tired, he walked over to the couch and sat down beside Aiden. He buried his face into his gloved hands, overwhelmed. Why did everything go so wrong after going so right?
“Oracle,” said Aiden, “There… is a reason why you were seen as hopelessly naive. Even children realise that humans and conflict cannot be separated. Gods. Demons. Humans. Monster. All have fought wars between each other. And between themselves.”
“IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE THAT WAY,” Papyrus replied, “I’M NOT AGAINST LITTLE ARGUMENTS. EVEN I ENGAGE IN THE OCCASIONAL DUEL OF SKILL OR A SQUABBLE OVER CHORES! BUT… I DON’T UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE CHOOSE TO KILL AND HATE EVEN WHEN THEY DON’T HAVE TO.”
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
“…My sons ask the same.”
Papyrus lifted his head and looked at Aiden, surprised. “REALLY?”
“Yes.” The warrior admitted. “It’s a question that every parent must prepare to answer. ‘Why do we fight?’. ‘Why can’t we be like the others?’.”
“I never asked these questions myself because I had witnessed cruelty first hand. War was a part of my childhood. All outsiders were potential enemies. My hatred had reasons to be. The same can’t be said for my children. By the time they were born, life had become somewhat peaceful. The old grudges must sound like dark fairytales to them.”
Aiden continued, “When Dayton snuck off to your side, I was furious. I thought he had been duped by sentimentality. We argued. Yelled at each other. Fought. ‘This stupid war is all your fault’, he said. I wanted to slap him for those words… but your celebrity stopped me.”
How awkward. Papyrus lowered his head and apologized: “I’M SORRY. CAUSING CONFLICT BETWEEN FAMILIES WAS NEVER MY INTENT.”
“Then again,” The Grandmaster chimed in. “Aiden’s worries were not unfounded. Young Dayton’s actions were extremely dangerous. Foolhardy, even. Many lives were lost to false calls for peace. Even though you showed genuine kindness, other monsters could have kidnapped him or worse. The boy is extremely fortunate that Mister Mettaton had no ill-will either.”
That was an unexpected twist. It appeared that Aiden had thought of the same, considering his disbelieving squint.
The Grandmaster chuckled at their responses. “As written in The Scriptures, ‘Be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves’. I have experienced both great good and terrible evil. It’s prudent to err on the side of caution, yet keep an open heart.”
“GRANDMASTER, ARE YOU WISE BECAUSE YOU’RE VERY OLD?” Papyrus asked.
“Age does play a role in gaining wisdom, yet it’s never a guarantee.”
“I SEE! YES, THAT DOES SEEM RIGHT. ASGORE AND TORIEL ARE ABOUT THE SAME AGE, YET THEY STILL MAKE SOME FRUSTRATING CHOICES… ESPECIALLY AS PARENTS.”
“Goodness, just thinking about my own attempts at parenting humbles me greatly. Will a thousand years of life experience prepare me to raise a daughter? Absolutely not! I have made decisions that seemed good at first, but in the end only caused Lucidia deep hurt.”
“SUCH AS?”
Shocked, Aiden exclaimed: “That’s rude! You should never ask so casually about a father’s mistakes!”
The Grandmaster lifted his hand. “It’s fine, Aiden of Aratet. Like it or not, I myself have opened the path of inquiry. Thank you for the thought nonetheless.”
“Now, how do I keep this succinct?” The elder pondered for a few seconds. “My daughter is one of those you call a ‘Golden Quiche’. I and many others had become so caught up in our expectations for the future, that we forgot what she truly needed as a person. Lucidia was not meant to be a genius or an heiress. Instead, she needed room to breathe, like everyone else.”
“With Winston’s help, I made some arrangements that set my daughter free from thereon. Starting with her marriage, of course. I gave their union my fullest blessing. And over time, through her husband’s love, she properly blossomed into her true self.”
“OOOOH!!” Papyrus exclaimed. “THAT EXPLAINS YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT FRISK. YOU DIDN’T WANT US TO FORGET THAT THEY’RE STILL A NORMAL HUMAN CHILD.”
“Ah, good. You have remembered that well.”
When Papyrus looked at Aiden, he found the human deep in serious contemplation. What was on his mind? The young skeleton did not know.
The warrior then stood up abruptly.
“Excuse me, I have somewhere to go.” Whatever it was, he left in a huge hurry.
How strange. Papyrus’ curiosity wanted to follow him to see the outcome…
…But he also had more questions for the Grandmaster. Even with his half-recovered memories, he still recalled the happenings in The Void. This would be the rare opportunity to ask, as his brother proposed when he started rebuilding the Seraph System.
“SIR, IS THERE A WAY FOR US TO REPLICATE THE GATE OF HEAVEN? I THOUGHT MAYBE… MAYBE… WE CAN HAVE THE ALMIGHTY BRING PEACE TO THE OCEAN AMALGAMATE?”
It seemed that the question carried more weight than he realised. At least, to the Grandmaster himself. He took off his mask and laid it down on his lap.
When Papyrus first saw his real face at the feast, he was thrown for a loop. He expected the man to look similar to himself. A little ‘comical’, as the humans commented.
Not the Grandmaster. His was made up of actual bone: a true human skull. Those eyelights glowed red in their sockets. They’re quite eerie even for monster standards. No wonder he preferred to keep his face hidden.
“Heaven is not a tool to be deployed at will.” Thus said the elder.
“SANS SAID THE SAME. BUT… WOULDN’T THE ALMIGHTY WANT TO SAVE EVERYONE? I MEAN, HE CAN DO ANYTHING, RIGHT?”
“The term ‘anything’ is not synonymous with ‘whatever goes’. The Almighty is ever-consistent, and will never lie. By his own Will, He has made it impossible to do so. Just as we cannot call a cube a sphere, The Almighty shall never call a cube a sphere either. He will uphold truth and abide by the Laws He himself had laid down. In that same vein, He decreed that our flawed existence cannot exist alongside Heaven's eternal perfection."
Still a ‘no’. Papyrus found it hard to accept. The Almighty’s power would make things a lot easier. Safer, even. There’s no need to risk precious lives.
“I DON’T UNDERSTAND…”
“Your disappointment is obvious, young man. But I won’t laugh or belittle you. Many saints, including myself, have suffered over the concept of suffering. ‘If only’, we lamented. Yet many wishes go unfulfilled. I dare not claim to have the wisdom to understand the reasons. Perhaps, in our limited scope and knowledge, any one personal miracle may be cause for other untold disasters to come. I certainly have lived through enough timelines to see good intentions ignite great hellfires on a regular basis.”
“MISS AUNT TOLD ME THAT HEAVEN USED TO EXIST ON EARTH. AND THEN, IT WENT INTO SOME HIGHER PLANE. WHY DID THAT HAPPEN?”
“How much had Judge Caraway told you of the story of Eden?”
Blink, blink. “WELL… IT’S WHATEVER I JUST ASKED.”
“Not very much then. You wish to understand how the world came to be. And why it is in this dark and violent state. Am I right?”
“YES.” Papyrus replied.
“Very well. I shall give you the knowledge you seek.”
The Grandmaster straightened his back and shoulders, putting himself in a more formal stance.
“In the beginning…” he said. “Monsters and humans were both sculpted by The Almighty. Upon completion, he breathed the breath of Life into His children.”
“Monsters, made from the dust of Heaven, reflect The Almighty’s creation: be it from the humblest pebble to the roaring lava. That is why monsters express themselves with magic, complete with the ability to command the elements and morph lands to their whims.”
“Humans, made from the dust of Earth, bear The Almighty’s image. With that also comes divine authority. It is what you call Determination. Willpower. The dominion over all others. That is why humans have a single set shape, yet hold great strength within them.”
“Humans and monsters were placed together, in Eden: the divine garden where Heaven and Earth intersect. There, both were tasked to care for all creation. To make Eden grow, along with all things good.”
“At the time, The Almighty told them that they were permitted to eat any fruit in the garden as a reward for their hard work. All except the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. For if they do, they will surely die.”
“The Deceiver -- a fallen angel-- then convinced the humans to eat of the forbidden fruit. He told them that if they did so, they would not surely die. Rather, their eyes would be opened, and they would become wise like The Almighty Himself.”
“And so, believing The Deceiver’s lies, the humans ate the fruit. They then merrily shared it with the monsters, so they too might learn what The Almighty had denied them. However, none of them were prepared for the burden of this knowledge.”
“When The Almighty appeared before them, they hid in shame. And when confronted, they blamed each other. Instead of gaining wisdom, they behaved like fools. And instead of ascending into godhood, they fell into a state of sin.”
“As punishment for their actions, both humans and monsters were cast out of Eden, denied from their divine immortality. Since then, peace was broken. Creation fell to ruin. Heaven separated from Earth. Humanity began imposing their wills upon each other, ever trying to become like gods, while Monsterkind retreated to seclusion.”
Hearing this story made Papyrus more distraught. He felt his spirit crushed. Despaired. “DOES THAT MEAN… EVERYTHING I DO IS MEANINGLESS? NOTHING WILL CHANGE? EVER?”
“A bit early for despair, isn’t it? That was only the beginning of the story. Not the end.”
“IT’S NOT?” the young skeleton asked.
“Indeed, it’s not. The Almighty loves us too much to abandon us. He intends to rescue His lost children. If you remember, little Frisk used a giant Bloodstone as a sacrifice before Heaven’s light. It’s a pure, sinless vessel to absorb their corruption.”
“Likewise, The Almighty left Heaven to be born on Earth as The Redeemer. Fully mortal, yet divine and devoid of sin. He made Himself become the ultimate sacrifice. Three days after succumbing to the mortals’ cruellest violence, He triumphed over death itself and redeemed what’s lost in Eden. This happened over two thousand years ago. It’s such a huge moment in history, our calendar began counting from the completion of His mission.”
“Since then, anyone who accepts The Redeemer’s name will receive his Mercy. His Peaceful Determination heals hearts, breaks chains, and steers mortals to do what’s right: to live free lives full of love, prayer, and wisdom, in absence of sin. This restores the relationship between The Almighty, humanity, and monsterkind.”
“THAT’S GREAT NEWS!!!” The young one exclaimed. A few seconds later he realised that this was the first time he had heard any of this. “WHY AREN’T MORE PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT IT?”
“Many do not like this tale,” said the elder, “The Supreme Judges and Crimson Keepers especially struggle against it. They’re Determinators: willful, independent, leaders instead of followers. Accepting The Redeemer’s gift also means conceding their own rule. Think of it as receiving the ‘Mark’ of the Redeemer. It’s a thought that many find insulting. I know I did when I was a young man.”
“HMMMMM…” Papyrus rubbed his chin. “WHAT MADE YOU CHANGE YOUR MIND?"
The Grandmaster gazed into the air, reminiscing of the days long gone.
“When I was still human, not yet a Lich, I believed that The Almighty had gifted me a deck of Aces: a strong body, an intellectual mind, and an emphatic soul… I too thought I could change the world by turning the cosmos to my Will.”
“Alas, Aces alone could not help me. Even with the Keys of Fate, there were people that I couldn’t save. I couldn’t even save my own life. My untimely demise at the hands of The Legendary Hero was a stark reminder of my fragile mortality. In the end, I had to acknowledge my own helplessness.”
“So I conceded to Heaven’s ways. Laid down my false crown and my mortal title. No longer relying solely on my own God-given talents, I began to cooperate with others to improve the world. So we may inch ever forward to restoring Eden, by expressing Heaven on Earth, together.”
“OH MY! THAT’S WHAT I PROMISED SANS!!! IT’S NOT A NEW CONCEPT? I’M… ACTUALLY HAPPY TO HEAR THAT. I DID WONDER WHY NOBODY EVER THOUGHT OF IT BEFORE. BUT, YOU DID! OTHERS DID! I’M NOT ALONE, AND THAT MAKES ME GLAD.”
“Young Papyrus,” the Grandmaster warned. “Just remember that the real evil is not humans or monsters, or even people in general. It’s the DEMON within oneself that drives the wisest to folly. Be wary never to get caught up in your own righteousness.”
“I… SEE…” said Papyrus. “I THINK I’M BEGINNING TO UNDERSTAND MY BROTHER MUCH BETTER NOW. AND MISTER MAGUS TOO.”
“Interesting that you should mention them. Did you know that my son-in-law’s Determination network was never meant for his sole benefit? It originally started as a partnership of Crimson Keepers with the Supreme Judge, unifying hearts to a single cause. For a time this solved the issue of conflicting ownership… but…”
“THERE’S ALWAYS A ‘BUT’ ISN’T IT?”
“Sadly so. After the death of Frisk’s parents, Winston fell into deep bitterness. He gathered every potential Red, with the intention of locking away The Keys of Fate forever. Called it a useless power. A sugar-coated lie.”
“THAT SOUNDS STRANGELY FAMILIAR. I… I THINK REMEMBER THAT MESS? LIKE I WAS THERE. BY HIS SIDE. FEELING HIS GRIEF.”
“Without a doubt, it was a Seer’s vision. You had burned your Eye to verify Winston’s words. Knowing your Aspects, you would have seen that Winston’s proposal was a dangerous, unattainable dream. I don’t know what consequences lie ahead, but I will not go against The Almighty’s ways. And so, I denied the plan to break the Keys of Fate.”
“BUT YOU DIDN’T STOP HIM EITHER. I… DON’T UNDERSTAND WHY. I THOUGHT YOU WOULD.”
“Winston was not completely wrong. Neither was your brother. They both observed that the worldwide expansion of mankind has led to an explosion in the number of Reds. Their individual strength had also reached critical mass. An invisible arms race for the Keys of Fate was fought in the shadows. The War of the Red Victory was but one of many.”
“No doubt, Winston believed his actions mirrored that of The Redeemer. I estimate that the corrupt Determination he absorbed has built up to historic levels by now. For these past ten years, Winston has managed to stay clear of the poison. But I fear that will end soon with Persona’s final stand. I can’t help but worry for the continued well-being of his immortal soul.”
“POOR MISTER MAGUS… I TOO SHALL PRAY FOR HIM!”
“I thank you kindly, Papyrus. As for the Keys of Fate itself, Little Frisk should automatically be the next in line. I have no doubts over the chain of succession. How it will influence them, though… that’s a different story. They’re still too young to bear such a burden. The worst of timelines may come to pass if my son-in-law does not survive this trial.”
Problems, problems, and more problems. There’s a sense of dejavu going about. In a way, it resembled a giant clockwork puzzle: stuck in a cycle of encountering the issue, brainstorming, testing a solution, and starting the process again.
“I should return to Winston's side,” said the elder, “‘Break time’ will be over for me as soon as he wakes up. Before that, I want to give you a blessing.”
He got up and approached the young skeleton. With two fingers together, he gestured a little plus sign above Papyrus’ forehead.
“In the name of The Almighty, The Redeemer, and the Holy Breath, may your surgery be successful. By His Will be done.”
It’s an odd custom for Papyrus, but he appreciated it greatly.
Not long after that, the youngster heard the grindings of wheels against the floor. It had to be Mettaton in his box-form.
Mettaton waved. “Good moooorning, Your Excellency! Am I interrupting? Could I borrow Papyrus-darling for a once-in-a-lifetime quicktime event cutscene?”
“Ah Mister Mettaton, we’ve actually just finished our conversation,” The Grandmaster replied with a merry tone. “You may take him to wherever you wish.”
“Excellent and thank you!” The robot immediately grabbed Papyrus by the shoulder. “Come with me, darling. You MUST see this!”
“EXCUSE ME?”
Without any extra explanation, Mettaton steered them towards the studio van at full nyoom.
Cenna and Napstablook huddled together at a window, peeking in from the outside. When they noticed their presence they quietly beckoned to come closer. The Magus was especially excited.
When Papyrus looked through the window, he realised why. A miracle had happened: Aiden, the strong, tough, closed-off man, had gotten on his knees to hug his two sons. The boys hugged their father back, sobbing.
“They’ve been like this for a while now." Mettaton said, “I think I need some explanation, Papyrus-darling. What did you two discuss? Was there a death of a family member?”
Putting one and one together, Papyrus understood why Aiden suddenly left after the parenting talk. It’s too easy to take family for granted. Realising that he was on the verge of losing his children’s hearts, the father had rushed to get them back.
“NO, METTATON. THEY’RE APOLOGIZING TO EACH OTHER.”
Seeing this heartwarming scene created a spark of hope in Papyrus’ heart. Even if the flow of problems never cease, the quiet miracles will keep him going.
They’re bringing Heaven to Earth… one step at a time.