Chapter Text
I woke up dying. I wasn't in pain or anything. I just knew I was dying. Also knew I wasn't human. I was way too small to be a human. I would like to say I feared death or something and that was how I survived by figuring out what was wrong and fixing it. In reality that didn't happen. I was picked up by someone. Someone I actually recognized. A Papyrus. I twisted around this Papyrus. I possessed him in a way. Became the ruling consciousness.
I didn't have access to my hosts memories, but I could feel the suffering my host had been through. After possessing the Papyrus I stayed in that alley for a long while until I finally reallized that my current actions were just... terrible. I had possessed someone without their permission and I could feel the Papyrus's rejection of me. I needed to be more... more colorful. I can't feel like myself, my emotions are dulled and I can't even feel annoyed by that.
So I grinned. Then I called onto my namesakes abilities. Twas time to show the universe it was in for a tots rad time. I started simple and parkoured my way up to the roof of the alley I was in. I was in a surface AU. World was dull... grey. I could fix that. I reached into my magic reserves and pull out a skateboard with the words cool dude on them. My outfit starts to alter itself from the battlebody into something more standard for a Fresh. Pockets for my hands to rest in and a colorful outlook on everything. I can't really feel enthusastic, or determined. But anything is better than nothing right?
"If I am going to do this I need to go over what I know about myself. I am a intelligent parasite that can latch onto anothers soul for a set amount of time. If I over extend that time limit I run the risk of my host not surviving the experience. Then I should monitor my host. If their soul starts to crack immediately switch to another host and relax your previous host and make sure they can recover. Keep note of the amount of time. Then subtract a day or so from that amount time and I should have a safe timeframe."
... Papyruses soul isn't fighting my control anymore oh. I think I was speaking outloud. Well thats awkward... well since they can hear when I speak. I might as well continue talking.
"Since I am the Freshest around I should be able to Freshen up this place... for now lets add a bit of color to this city."
I pull out some spray cans from what I will now dub the Fresh dimension and hop on my magical skateboard of radicalness. And I do a flip right off the side of the building spraying the side of it with neon paint. I watch as the paint magically arranges itself into colorful graffiti and I can't keep my smile from getting bigger. I start to ride around the city happily coloring it while doing tricks on my skateboard. I might not feel everything. But I can feel the noy my host is feeling. I figured out what this universe was.
It was a Monochrome universe, meaning no one could see color without seeing their soulmate... but my magic bypassed that restriction easily. I was forcefully bringing color to a world without it. If it made my host happy? I didn't mind. I could leach off their emotions and make them my own. Or atleast, try too.
---
It took three weeks before my hosts soul started to crack. I found a nearby human. A Frisk surprisingly enough, and possessed them. Then I borrowed said Frisks home and used my magic to bring color to place. My exploits had been passed around the entire city by this point and many have come to see the colors brought by the colorful skeleton. Papyrus was happy. Genuinely happy. And all I had been doing was color as much as possible. It was a satisfying three weeks. Many people have dubbed the city the city of Color. It became the hope of those who had yet to find their soulmate.
I looked into the Frisks diary. Rude thing I know. The fight from said Frisks soul was intense. But I found what they desired. Their Soulmate. Hmm. How can I do this.
"Finding your soulmate might be a bit difficult... but I can try. I will be relying on your reactions to find them though host."
I felt the resistance die down.
"However before we go on this wild hunt I need to make sure my previous host is alright. I spent to long possessing them and it hurt their soul a bit. Need to make sure they recover."
The fight completely disappears. I use what I dub Fresh vision to look after Papyrus's soul. It doesn't take long to patch up. Only a few hours. Their outfit already switched back to the battlebody. I smile. Little more than a gesture than an emotional response at this point... yes I have been practicing.
I left on my skateboard. I had a search to do. I rode through the city. Jumping cars and shortcutting through fresh space in random jumps. What was I doing? Well I had investigated the soulmates that had already found eachother and found that there was a radius effect if a soulmate was in range or not. I was examing my hosts soul checking if it would react or not. It took nearly fifteen hours of moving through different streets and occasionally racing from the cops before I found the soulmate. Adult Monster Kid huh. That is actually surprising as I was thinking that it would be this universes version of Asriel. Oh well, I guess it doesn't really matter.
"There they are. Excited?"
I could feel their soul jump. I wanted nothing more than to go interact the monster. But I know better than that. Interacting as me to a person soulmate would be... cruel.
"You will have to find them later host. Do you really want to interact with then as Freshness. Or do you want to interact as your radical self?"
I felt their soul calm down.
"You can wait right? You know who they are now. It won't take long for you to track them down and say hello. For now, let me enjoy myself before I have to go get another host will you?"
Begrudging acceptance... "Thank you."
I short cut back to the house. Surprisingly coming face to face with a skeleton.
"You haven't gone home yet Former Host?"
He looks visually uncomfortable at that. "My names Papyrus Fresh."
I grin. Its my favorite expression to use. "Noice to meetcha personally Papy."
He looks visably confused at the way I said that.
He shakes it off. "Its nice to meet you as well Fresh. You seem to be in a good mood." He kind of depressed by that, why?
"No need to feel sad broski, my host and I have come to an agreement."
"An agreement?"
"Tis a secret."
"I Papyrus am the best at keeping secrets."
"And?"
"That means you can tell me your secret I won't share with anyone else!"
I genuinely laugh. Borrowing some of the emotion from my current host. I cover my snickers with my hand. "Papyrus that doesn't mean I will tell you the secret. Come on, I will show you how to make some cookies. One of the freshest treats." I pull his hands to the kitchen.
I never noticed the hearts that had formed in the tall skeletons eyes from my interactions with them.
-
For 20 days I spent the time exploring the city with Papyrus at my side. I had to change my outfit slightly inorder to avoid getting arrested though. For some reason Papyrus insisted on following me around and sharing his opinions on everything. Honestly, It was relaxing. On the final day I decided I was done with this dimension. It was interesting and all, but I wanted to explore the wider multiverse, I knew there were more universes I had yet to visit. I was going to visit then even if there was no reason to do so.
So I jumped to the most familiar magical signature in the next universe, possessed them, and returned the Frisk back to their dimension in a few seconds. Left them passed out on their bed. Soul intact. Then I returned to the other universe in the exact same place I left with my new host. Then I examined the place. I was underground. How could I tell? The glowing crystals on the ceiling outside of the window. Heh. I can work with this. My host hasn't even fought me. I wish they would stop sending feelings of exhaustion though.
"Stop it. I can't sleep even if I want too!"
Sympathy echoes out from the soul. I examing the room. I am in a Stretch. Guessing that by the absurd number of orange colored clothing. Its a mess in here... I pull the smokes out of my pocket and toss them into the trash. Then I begin the long haul. I start to furiously clean this mess of a room. I think Paps cleanfreak tendencies rubbed off on me. As I sorted through the clothes organized what needed to be washed and pulled out some sugar sticks from my Fresh dimension and put it into my teeth like a cigarette. I carefully make the bed, and pick up the large amount of dirt and such with my magic and toss it into the small trashcan. Yes I ripped the trashtornado apart with pure magic.
"PAPSsssss."
I look at the small Sans that just opened the door... My smile back and somewhat genuine as my host was generally happy to see their brother.
Their eyes turned to stars. "Brother you finally cleaned your room! I am so proud of you Papy!"
Two things I just noticed. I haven't Freshified myself yet becauseI was distracted. And the immense happiness my host had at seeing his brother happy.
"You threw away the cigarettes too!"
"Well Brosk, this is awkward."
He freezes. "Brosk?"
"Well I could just use the term Broski, but I find that using variants of the term fits me better."
"You aren't my brother are you."
"Fresh is the name Broseph, your friendly traveling parasite!"
"Parasite? So you are controlling my brothers body?"
"Yep, for about 20 days till I need to find a new host."
"Why?" He sounds lost... and sad.
"Cause otherwise I would die broski, can't have that can I? And 20 days is the max safe time I have found for possessing a host."
His face softens up a bit, "So my brother will be ok?"
"Ofcourse you Bluey marshmellow! And hopefully my host learns how to take care of himself, this body has been needing a shower for atleast two months! Its annoyingly unradical."
"Hmm. I will let Alphys know whats going on. Maybe Undyne can help."
"Eh. Maybe. May a brother know where the bathroom is?"
"Its downstairs Fresh."
"Thanks brozzi!"
I proceed to shortcut to the bathroom. Pulling off all the clothes and hopping into the shower. I pull Fresh brand soap from my Fresh dimension. I have stopped questioning it by now. It could be I am still technically a Creator and my Creative abilities are manifested via this dimension. It is honestly hard to tell. I begin explaing to Stretch as I clean up how to properly clean his bones and remove stains. My host just played it off. While I appreciate the lack of a fight. This is just sad.
I also clean up the orange hoodie and black sweatpants. Yes sweatpants. I just shrugged and pulled out a rainbow hoodie and rainbow pants. Magical Dimension for the win. I needed to get rid of the nicotine addiction so I brought a bunch of sugar sticks out as well.
"Instead of smoking cigs and dissapointing your brosk Pap, you need to try some sugar sticks. Sweet and addicting. I will try and break you out of the cigarette habit quickly. It really isn't good for your health."
I nom on my sugar stick that I put inbetween my teeth. I stretch out. My bones don't pop, weirdly enough, but it does get rid of some hidden tension. I stand up at full height.
"Slouching is bad for your back Pap. Its completely unradical."
Then I smile. "Don't worry. I will show you how to be happy again."