"Sans! Have you seen the chili sauce?!"

"Chili sauce?! You don't use chili sauce in spaghetti! Usually...," Sans said in response to Papyrus' request as he used magic to hand it to him.

Papyrus shook his head at Sans. "I'm not making spaghetti. I'm making chili. Haven't you ever heard of it?!" Papyrus demanded back. He felted a little pleased when he saw Sans' look of amazement.

"You've never made chili before..."

"Of course not! I've decided to do something new! I figured that I could learn to cook faster on my own by taking my own cooking courses that I found online rather than going to Undyne's spaghetti cooking class twice every week... Not that I have anything against Undyne!" Papyrus lied. However, he made it pretty obvious that he was lying. Thankfully, Sans was too busy being amazed by Papyrus' actions to notice.

"W-Wow! I can't believe that you came up with that plan because it sounds great! Might even inspire me to start cooking!" Sans said proudly.

As Papyrus cooked his chili, Sans thought to himself. Papyrus loved making spaghetti. "Uh..., what brought on the change? Why are you making chili rather than what you usually make? I don't think the reason is what you say it is..."

Papyrus looked over at his brother slightly surprised. Papyrus knew he couldn't lie about why. He shrugged. "A friend recommended it." He went back to cooking.

"A friend? Which friend? Do I know this person?" he asked remembering hearing someone tell him a while ago about how he'd talk to a yellow flower in Waterfall.

Papyrus seemed to pick up the mistrust in Sans' voice. "Don't worry. I assure you that my friend isn't bad. She's just a person I talk to every now and then."

Sans knew that it wasn't Flowey and he got a smug look. "Sheeeeeee?? I had never thought that my younger brother would get a girlfriend before me!"

Before Sans could say another word, Papyrus pointed a spatula at him and looked serious. "It isn't like that. I haven't even met this person. I'm not dumb! I know that there are some people who aren't the greatest! However, if we didn't give anyone the benefit of the doubt, nobody would have any friends. You know, like you and your knock-knock joke companion in Snowdin Forest."

"H-How do you know about her...?" Sans asked awkwardly.

Papyrus waved his finger at Sans. "You should never underestimate the Great Papyrus! He knows more than you're giving him credit for! You're not the only one who pays close attention to things. I figured it out when I came to get you from your post in Snowdin Forest, but I found you mysteriously knocking on the door telling knock-knock jokes like there was someone there. I assumed it was nothing until I saw you constantly writing down knock-knock jokes and telling them at the door. Also, when you left, you always had this dumb, dreamy look on your face! Yes, I take close note in your facial expressions as well! I concluded by all of my facts that there was someone there, a woman, and that you'd tell each other jokes through the door every day. That's how I found out."

Sans nodded to himself and looked impressed. "Yeah, well, what else do you expect a sentry to do while he waits for humans? Sit on his behind, twiddling his thumbs all day? Nah. Hardly sounds nearly as interesting as pleasing a lonely friend with jokes," he replied. He sighed as he remembered his promise to her. If a human fell down... Another human wouldn't fall down. It's been centuries. He made the promise because she was such a great audience and friend even though they had never met face to face and he knew that for her to enjoy such terrible jokes would mean that she had to be lonely. The fact she had nothing better to do than listen to him was proof enough. He snapped out of it and went back to Papyrus' special friend. "Well, do you know her name?"

With a shrug, Papyrus answered, "She never told me her name. I haven't told her mine. We've only just "met" each other a couple of nights ago. Since then, she has inspired so many things! I have even decided on a new possible career in book writing!"

"Book writing? Why that?" Sans questioned curiously.

"Honestly, I think we both know the results of Undyne's Royal Guard training... We both know my spaghetti is terrible... We both know that I don't have very many friends... So, I've decided that I should take a different path to a bright future! I shall paint pictures with words of imagery into the minds of my readers! I've already started practicing writing a few stories with the help of my friend! She's great with coming up with original ideas!" Papyrus answered excitedly.

Sans didn't look convinced with what Papyrus was saying. He still felt confused. "Are you saying that you've given up absolutely everything just because you didn't think you were going to get anywhere? That's crazy, Pap! I thought that you told me that you were going to pursue your dreams to the bitter end! I thought that you weren't going to give up so easily! What happened to the Papyrus who'd drag me to Snowdin Forest every single day at six in the morning for sentry duty? What happened to the Papyrus who'd never stop to take a rest because there was too much spaghetti to be made? What happened to the Papyrus who wanted to watch Mettaton's show forever on the couch...? The one who gets cranky without a bedtime story...," Sans said getting a little sentimental about it.

Papyrus sighed as he remembered the past. It seemed like it was so far away now. "Sans, I'm sure that you must find my sudden changes a shock, but there's not a single person who can remain in the past forever. I've decided to move on. To keep moving forward. I know that I'm too amazing to join the Royal Guard. I know it'll take a while to adjust to this new change I'm adding to my life, but there's a bright place far down the road. A place where I'll be respected, famous, and rich even from this new career I'm giving myself! But most importantly, it's a place where I won't be as alone. I'll have my real friends like her and you. That's why," Papyrus explained. He thought he made his finishing speech clear. He cleared his throat and turned back to the stove. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have chili to make!"

"Yeah..., sure..."

After a moment of wondering, Sans decided he'd pay a visit to Undyne. Maybe she knew something about all of this. He didn't know anybody else who would. As soon as he had left out the door, he warped himself over to Waterfall just outside of Undyne's house. He knocked on the door. Almost with no time in between, Undyne flung open the door.

"Papyrus! I'm sorry I- Oh. It's only you...," Undyne stated.

"Yeah. This 'You' person is here to ask you about something. However, your jumpiness about Papyrus knocking on the door sure does seem curious. Mind telling me why...?" Sans asked as he crossed his arms at Undyne.

Fear was written on Undyne's face. She'd been nearly pummeled by Sans once. It was a long time ago, but it was still fresh in her mind. Undyne stuttered out the first part of her sentence and she knew she was giving herself away. "O-Oh! N-Nothing at all! N-Nothing!"

Sans slyly looked at her nervous expression and shook his head. "Pap has been acting different lately... He has completely given up on being in the Royal Guard. He hasn't made a single batch of spaghetti in two days. You wouldn't know anything about this, would you?"

Undyne looked around for an excuse, but found nothing. She finally heaved a sigh knowing she couldn't escape her fate. It was by careless words she had gotten into this mess, and it would be only by honest words would she get herself out. "I-I... I think I know why Papyrus has been acting different..."

Sans hardly looked surprised. "Go on."

"About four nights ago, he came to my house. Well, actually it was three in the morning so I wasn't thinking very clearly then. I asked him why he was knocking on my door so early in the morning. He said he wanted me to train him some more. I said no. He asked me why? He asked me why he wouldn't just let me into the Guard. He told me it had been two years since he first started training... That was when I told him the truth... That he wouldn't ever be in the Royal Guard and... I slammed the door in his face...," Undyne admitted.

Sans wasn't at all pleased. He would have attacked her, but he knew that it was the truth. It also did explain why everything was happening. He took a deep breath. "Okay, while I'll admit that was a very unwise decision..., I suppose I can let you off the hook for telling the truth. However, I think that you need to make it up to Papyrus. He's taken up writing of all things. I looked in his room and I was greeted by mountains of notebooks! This isn't like him at all."

Undyne was actually surprised. "Writing?! Really?! Why?"

"He says he has this friend...," Sans stated.

Undyne shook her head. "Well, they're not me. I'd never inspire anything like THAT! You know, unless if he's planning on writing out this new awesome anime or something."

"He says that they've never met face-to-face. I'm pretty sure that they discovered each other here in Waterfall. However, I don't have any idea how they could have discovered each other if they didn't meet directly."

Undyne tapped her foot and thought to herself. She snapped her fingers with an idea. "The echo flowers! They could have left messages to each other through them! Unless, if this person doesn't actually exist and was just created by his imagination. I just don't think that he'd put himself through such change. No... Not without help he wouldn't...," Undyne explained.

Sans nodded suddenly glad for her help. Echo flowers. "Well, have you heard anything weird from the echo flowers lately?"

"No! I've been locked up in my house writing and rewriting an apology note to Papyrus! One note was never good enough! I was too busy with that to go outside and mail it!" Undyne replied.

"Well, I think that you should stake-out the Waterfall Area tonight. Of course, if anything happens, I'm sure your MUSSELS can take care of the problem!" Sans said with a smirk. Undyne groaned.

"I'm starting to see why Papyrus hates puns so much!!" Undyne wailed.

"Sheesh! CLAM down! You don't have to WHALE it at me! You have COD to be kidding me! You don't like puns?!" Sans demanded.

"SHUT UP!!!"

"Aw... Don't be so CRABBY!" Sans replied.

"You'd better stop it now, or else-"

"What?! I can't KELP it!"

"NGAHHHHH!!! I told you to shut up! I FISH you would SHRIMPLY lay off of the puns! I'm SHORE you can change one day, and when that day comes, let MINNOW!" Undyne screamed as she stormed off towards the Waterfall.

Sans looked after her with an expression of pure joy. He called after her. "Quit being so SHELLFISH! Don't be KOI with me! I have to get some of the credit for puns around here!"

"I DON'T EVEN THINK YOU KNOW WHAT COY MEANS, BONEHEAD!!"

"I probably don't!" Sans shouted back just before she left ear-shot. He laughed to himself and teleported back to his house. He'd come back to see Undyne tomorrow. He looked towards Papyrus who had finished his chili. "I'll find out what you're hiding from me, Pap. You can't hide anything from your older brother for long..."

"Nyeh? Oh! Sans! You're back! Did you say something?" asked Papyrus.

"Nothing, bro. I was just commenting on how amazing this lamp is," Sans replied pointing to the human-shaped lamp. Papyrus sighed.

"Really, Sans? You're still stuck on that lamp? All that I think it is, is weird! Well, I finished the chili! What do you think?" Papyrus asked hopefully.

"Well, it smells amazing! I'll give you that," Sans said just before he tasted it.

The taste is indescribable!

"Whoa... I've never tasted something like this... It was... It was incredible! How'd you do it?!" Sans demanded.

Papyrus looked surprised. "Wow! You like it that much? Your reaction is nothing like when I'd make spaghetti... The spaghetti must've been really bad... Well, worry not! I, The Great Papyrus, have finally succeeded in making something amazing to taste!"

"I never said that your spaghetti was bad."

"Well, your reaction just now was proof enough. Also, I wanted to ask if I could go on another walk tonight. I just thought that maybe I could head over to Waterfall to get some fresh air...," Papyrus said.

Sans quickly nodded. "Of course, bro! I'd never stand in the way of you getting some cardiovascular exercise around Waterfall! You can go whenever you want!"

"Thank you, Sans! Also, feel free to have as much of my chili as you want! Tomorrow, I'll be making cinnamon rolls for breakfast! What do you think?" asked Papyrus.

Sans snickered at the coincidence. However, he didn't mention that everyone on the Internet called him their precious little cinnamon roll... "That's totally fine by me!"

Papyrus looked curious. "Sans, why are you giggling at me? Was there something funny about my choice of breakfast foods?"

"No. It was just really ironic."