I was feeling contemplative, so I wrote a short contemplative piece from the perspective of a character I've grown rather fond of.

.:Rated general:.


Undertale and all related materials are © Toby Fox.


Word Count: 1353

(NOTE: This is my own canon for the character, and may not necessarily match up with your own. For best viewing of this story, read the .pdf, as the effect desired can only be obtained from it. Otherwise, the <> used below means it's being translated from Wing Dings.)

If you enjoyed the story, feel free to comment and fave, I'd really appreciate it.

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A World Without You

Have you, when doing something, ever stopped to consider some unusual implications? It’s always rather remarkable when you are doing something mundane, that your mind should wander upon the light fantastic. You come to such unusual and fascinating ideas and conclusions when your mind is free to expand beyond its borders….

<“I only wish I had come to one particular conclusion before it had been too late.”>

My role in life had been fairly simple, if I am to be rather modest about it. I was a man of my people, and I strove day and night to improve the quality of life for the Underground. The Core, I will humbly proclaim, is my greatest achievement in that regard. I would explain the process of converting geothermal energy to magic, but I wouldn’t want to take up all of your time. Ha ha, oh yes. A remarkable machine, and it brought such wonderful prosperity.

You could not even begin to imagine how my heart swelled within my chest when King Fluffybuns… ahem, King Asgore Dreemurr gave me a firm pat on my shoulder, and thanked me on behalf of all monsterkind. It brought a grin to my old skull that you simply could not wipe away. While I am not a self-indulgent person, I won’t lie when I say that I deeply enjoyed the praise and adulation all of monsterkind gave me. I truly felt as if I had earned it, for my great achievement.

<“I am glad that I at least had that memory to keep me warm at night.”>

With the Core active, we never had to worry much about power. We monsters could finally enjoy ourselves at last while trapped in our prison. And with such an important duty attended to, I too could enjoy myself. I finally got to spent time with my old acquaintances again, as well as indulging in a few pet projects as well. Time was always a curious concept to me, and, I will admit, that I have many a time entertained the notion of time travel. An utterly ridiculous concept to be sure, but, well… you can allow an old fool their pleasures, can’t you?

<“Maybe fool would be the best word the describe me.”>

I’m sure you’re wondering what all of this has to do with what I said earlier. I’m getting to that; so please, do be patient with me. I haven’t spoken in a while, and am trying to make the absolute most of it.

Despite my brilliance, I would be the first to admit that I am not perfect. Work was always so important to me, I never did get to spend time with my most treasured friends, and the family I left at home. I barely even got to see them, as I more or less lived in my laboratory. Even altruism can have selfish connotations, and I won’t deny that there is selfishness in ignoring friends and family in the pursuit of helping others.

<“My treasured sons, how I wish I had been there to see you grow up. How I wish I could see you now.”>

Maybe… maybe that’s why I was granted this punishment, this penance. I did everything in the name of bettering people, and, in return… I was to be forgotten for it. Rather a drastic jump I know, but please bear with me, would you? This goes back to where I started in this little monologue. While I would sometimes entertain the funny little thoughts that appeared in my head, I didn’t always give them much regard. And never once did I ever consider something like “what if you no longer existed, but the world was perfectly fine without you?”

Maybe if I had, this would seem something more bearable. It was difficult, really. You see, I don’t actually exist. Not in the sense of being dead, but rather, more like being completely written out of a story. Hmm… how to explain it? Imagine if life in the Underground were a video game. Locations, Characters, Game Mechanics, they were all being written in and given purpose in this video game. But what of those whose purposes were no longer necessary? A character that might have been needed in planning, but their role was assigned to someone else later in development? Why, they wouldn’t be used anymore, and thus would be removed from the story.

<“But then, of course, life IS just a game to you, isn’t it?”>

Written out would be the best way to describe me. I am a character that was removed due to no longer being useful, and my disappearance made no impact on the game whatsoever. And why don’t I exist? Because I am a fool, of course. I’m sure, under normal circumstances, people would have been quite moved by my death. Of course, I simply couldn’t have a normal death and turn to dust. No, instead I fell into my own invention; into the Core.

I was performing maintenance on my invention, when I was distracted by an Annoying Dog. I tried to shoo him away, but, by doing so I lost my balance and plummeted into the Core. The force of my invention didn’t kill me; no, it preserved me. My soul and my body were scattered across time itself, rather than just fading away. I exist everywhere and anywhere, but normally I am incapable of interacting with the physical world in ANY of those instances. But, you found me. It was as if you looked into the code of the game, to find the secrets trapped within the code. You looked beyond the veil, and found me.

<“Here and there, I am everywhere and nowhere. Life goes on, with or without me.”>

And here I am. A forgotten spectre in a world that doesn’t even remember its own. If anything my fragmentation was more inconvenience than anything else. No, my real regret lies in the fact that I never got to say goodbye to those I cared about. My treasured friends, and my wonderful family. My heart aches with regret over never being able to see their smiling faces again. But, at the very least, at least their hearts do not ache as mine does. At least I’m the only one who has to suffer for my folly. Truth be told, I can at least be glad that Alphys took over my role. She was always such a nervous girl, but she could be frightfully brilliant at times. I’m just sorry that with my all achievement, she was forced into living up to the man who invented the Core. I just hope the pressure doesn’t impact on her crippling social anxieties.

To be honest, I would rather like you to pass on a message for me, but I’m afraid it won’t matter. Everyone has forgotten me, and, I doubt they would remember even if you mention me. So, instead, I want you to do one thing child: Remember me. Remember the stupid old fool who didn’t know when to quit. That’s all I ask, though I have nothing to give you in return. It’s a selfishness, but I’m afraid there’s not much I can do about it. It’s a funny little conundrum, how people can be selfish and generous simultaneously.

Ah, I feel myself fading, I can linger no more. Goodbye child, I wish you luck on your journey. Be sure to find your happy ending, and remember that power and influence aren’t always as important as love and friendship. Take it from someone who’s been there.

<“And to Sans and Papyrus? I’m sorry I couldn’t see you become men. And I’m also sorry to you, my dear Arial. It can’t have been easy raising the two on your own. But, I can at least hope that they turned out fine. And that the boys are doing fine on their own. I can at least hope for that.”>

I just wish I could reload a save file, and do my life over again. But, sadly… life just isn’t a video game.