Arrival in Snowdin Village
The snow-dusted trees gave way to the cozy charm of Snowdin Village. Wooden houses lined the path, their chimneys puffing small clouds of smoke into the cold air. The group could hear faint laughter and chatter from unseen monsters, the town's atmosphere surprisingly warm and inviting.
They stopped briefly in front of a small shop and an inn, both adorned with bright, festive decorations. A sign outside the shop read, "Snowdin's General Store: Warm Goods for Cold Monsters."
Elyssara glanced at the inn's sign, which advertised "Snowed-Inn: Stay the Night for Free, First Time Visitors." She turned to the others.
Elyssara: "Should we rest here for a while, or should we look for this Papyrus Sans mentioned? He's bound to show up eventually."
Before anyone could answer, a distant but familiar voice rang out.
Papyrus: "NYEH HEH HEH HEH! HUMAN—WAIT, NOT HUMAN. YOU TALL, STRANGE MONSTERS! I, THE GREAT PAPYRUS, HAVE FINALLY FOUND YOU!"
The group turned to see Papyrus standing proudly in the middle of the snowy path ahead, his cape billowing dramatically in the light breeze.
Papyrus: "WELCOME TO SNOWDIN! PREPARE YOURSELVES FOR THE FINAL, MOST DIFFICULT PUZZLE YOU'VE EVER ENCOUNTERED! I ASSURE YOU, THERE IS NO ESCAPE FROM MY GENIUS THIS TIME!"
Papyrus gestured to a giant, colorful word puzzle sprawled across the ground. The group exchanged skeptical glances, and Velthara sighed.
Velthara: "Great. More of this nonsense."
Papyrus stomped his foot indignantly.
Papyrus: "IT IS NOT NONSENSE! IT IS AN INTELLECTUAL MASTERPIECE! ONLY THE MOST BRILLIANT MINDS CAN DECIPHER IT!"
Kaeltherion, arms crossed, smirked faintly. "Bring it on, skeleton. Let's see what you've got."
Papyrus puffed out his chest, his bones clattering faintly with excitement.
Papyrus: "VERY WELL! LET US SEE IF YOU CAN OUTSMART THE GREAT PAPYRUS!"
The group stepped forward, ready to tackle the next of Papyrus's "genius" puzzles, all while the cozy charm of Snowdin Village loomed invitingly behind them.
The group pressed forward through Snowdin town, ignoring the warm glow of its cozy houses and shops. They had no interest in exploring the Underground or its culture—they were singularly focused on moving forward. The snowy path eventually led them out of town and into an open, desolate expanse of snow. The air grew colder, the quiet atmosphere broken only by the crunching of their boots against the frost-covered ground.
At the far end of the field, a lone figure stood waiting. Papyrus. His scarf billowed dramatically in the breeze, and his posture exuded a mix of excitement and determination.
Papyrus: "HALT, TRAVELERS! YOU HAVE MADE IT TO THE FINAL PUZZLE OF SNOWDIN! BUT THIS TIME, IT IS NOT JUST A PUZZLE... IT IS I, THE GREAT PAPYRUS, WHO SHALL TEST YOUR STRENGTH, YOUR WILL, AND YOUR WORTHINESS TO PROCEED!"
Velthara crossed her arms, unimpressed.
Velthara: "A fight, huh? You're going to test us by fighting? Is that all?"
Papyrus stomped his foot indignantly.
Papyrus: "DO NOT MOCK ME! THIS IS NO ORDINARY FIGHT! IT IS A TEST OF YOUR SOULS!"
He pointed dramatically at the group, and suddenly, a box of blue and white lines formed around them—the familiar setup of a battle in the Underground. The group tensed, their souls appearing in front of them once more.
Papyrus's Attack Begins
Papyrus: "BEHOLD MY SPECIAL ATTACKS! NYEH HEH HEH!"
Bones appeared on the ground and began to slide across the battlefield. The group easily dodged them, jumping or sidestepping with practiced grace.
Kaeltherion, leading the group, muttered under his breath.
Kaeltherion: "This is ridiculous. Is this supposed to be a challenge?"
Lymtherion, with his arms crossed, scoffed.
Lymtherion: "He's enthusiastic, I'll give him that."
Papyrus: "DON'T UNDERESTIMATE ME! I HAVE YET TO UNLEASH MY ULTIMATE TECHNIQUE!"
With a dramatic wave of his hand, Papyrus's blue magic activated. The group's souls turned from their unique colors to blue, and suddenly, the gravity around them shifted. The children felt their bodies grow heavier, their movements restricted.
Zalthirion's eyes widened for a moment.
Zalthirion: "Wait... this magic... it's like Father's!"
Velthara frowned, her movements slower under the increased gravity.
Velthara: "It's similar, but... weaker. He can only make us heavier. He can't manipulate gravity like Father can."
Papyrus, oblivious to their observations, laughed triumphantly.
Papyrus: "NOW YOU SEE THE TRUE POWER OF THE GREAT PAPYRUS! NO ONE CAN ESCAPE MY BLUE ATTACKS!"
More bones began to move across the battlefield, this time in patterns that required careful jumps and timing. The group adjusted quickly, their combat experience making Papyrus's attacks almost laughable despite the weight bearing down on them.
Sparing or Fighting?
As the battle continued, Elyssara raised her hands, trying to communicate with Papyrus.
Elyssara: "Papyrus, we don't want to fight you. We're just passing through. Let us go, and we won't hurt you."
Papyrus hesitated, his posture faltering slightly.
Papyrus: "YOU... YOU DON'T WANT TO FIGHT ME? BUT HOW WILL I PROVE THAT I AM STRONG AND CAPABLE?!"
Kaeltherion, growing impatient, stepped forward, his soul glowing faintly.
Kaeltherion: "We could end this right now if we wanted. You're no match for us. But we're giving you the chance to back down."
Papyrus froze, his sockets shifting between the group, clearly conflicted.
Papyrus: "I... BUT... I HAVE TO STOP YOU! IT'S MY DUTY AS A MEMBER OF THE ROYAL GUARD! I CAN'T JUST LET YOU GO!"
The group exchanged glances, debating silently whether to continue sparing him or to fight. Velthara's hands hovered near her weapon, but Elyssara shook her head slightly, urging restraint.
Papyrus: "VERY WELL! IF YOU WILL NOT FIGHT ME, THEN PROVE YOUR WORTH ANOTHER WAY! DODGE THIS!"
Papyrus unleashed a barrage of blue and white bones, his strongest attack yet. The group moved in sync, dodging and weaving through the chaos. When the attack ended, they stood unharmed, their expressions resolute.
Papyrus's Defeat
Papyrus lowered his hands, his energy spent. He looked at the group, clearly defeated but strangely proud.
Papyrus: "YOU... YOU HAVE BESTED ME. BUT YOU DID NOT HURT ME. YOU SPARED ME, EVEN WHEN YOU COULD HAVE WON WITH EASE. YOU HAVE SHOWN ME THAT YOU ARE STRONG, BUT ALSO KIND."
He stepped aside, gesturing toward the path ahead.
Papyrus: "GO FORTH, TRAVELERS. I, THE GREAT PAPYRUS, SHALL NOT STAND IN YOUR WAY. BUT REMEMBER THIS... I SHALL CHEER FOR YOU FROM AFAR! NYEH HEH HEH!"
The group continued on, leaving the excitable skeleton behind as the snowy path opened into a new region of the Underground.