After freeing the monsters, life became simple again. You had fallen in love with the beauty of the Underground, and there was not really a way to get it back. Sure, people and monsters could now move freely between Surface and Underground, and you could visit whenever you wanted… but the story was completed… and it didn’t feel the same now.

You felt homesick for a place that was never your home.

Over the weeks, your friends have been thriving up on top. Undyne and Alphys moved in together, and Undyne is currently working on joining the police force. Asgore and Toriel have opened a school- or are in the process of doing so. Mettaton has truly become a star. Muffet has her bakery, Grillby has his bar.

Papyrus is going to human school- COLLEGE!- and is trying to figure out what he wants to do with his life. Sans has been… Sans. But definitely more happy.

You were a supportive friend, Sans knew. But he also knew you were sad and homesick. He wanted to cheer you up.

The monsters had brought a festival to the Surface- the Floating Lights festival. When it was dark enough, they all went out on boats and released floating lanterns into the air, lighting up the night sky like fire. It was a beautiful ritual that humans and monsters used to do when there was peace, and they were trying to bring it back.

“Sans, what are we doing out here?” You ask, Sans having taken you out on a boat in the middle of a lake, Mt. Ebbott in the distance, other boats on the water too.

“just you wait.” He winks, gesturing around to the night sky. “any minute now.”

…a light appears in the distance, coming off one of the boats. Followed by another, then another… and then ten… a dozen… maybe even more… floating lights.