The Sol Cult: Chapter 1

Grillby stirred a vat of grease. His hand was submerged and he enjoyed how his flames quickly brought the contents to a boil.

The grease, of course, wouldn't be used for customers. It was time to clean the vat-perhaps for good.

Grillby's was closing.

Now that the barrier was down and customers were trickling up onto the surface, the restaurant had no purpose.

Grillby really didn't want to close. It was painful to admit.

He should've been happy to return to the surface, to bask in the sun's glorious rays on the daily like he had before; but he dreaded what he would find.

Rumors had it that the surface was ruined. Apparently humans had destroyed it fighting amongst themselves.

"Typical." Grillby thought.

Humans were an aggressive bunch. He would know, he used to be one.

*Knock knock*

Grillby paused in his stirring and wiped his hands on a towel.

It wasn't unusual to get visitors when the restaurant was closed, but it was odd to get them at the backdoor. Only shipments came that way and he stopped all orders weeks ago.

"Come in!"

The door opened and in walked Ice Wolf. Odd, that was very odd.

Ice Wolf loathed Grillby, and his restaurant more so. He was perhaps the only Snowdin resident who didn't visit the place regularly.

"Oh...Ice Wolf, to what I owe the pleasure?"

Grillby found himself cleaning a glass, the rag shinged at the edges.

"Cut the high-class crap Grillby. We've got things to sort out."

The wolf, a dirty grey, had puffed up his pelt in frustration. Normally Grillby kept away any furry monsters from the kitchen-it just wasn't sanitary. Of course, not like food was being served anytime soon.

"It's about time you showed up Ice. You never did like my burgers did you?"

Ice scoffed and wrinkled his snout.

"In your dreams Grillby! What you cooked up and called meat was damn insulting!" He snarled, "I'm happy this dump is closing!"

The glass was put aside and Grillby crossed his arms, his flames burning higher.

"Surely you don't mean that? After all we used to be such good friends."

"I do you smoldering prick." He leaned in close. "I do. All these Snowdin rats are flying to the surface. Finally this place will be quite."

Grillby had nothing to say to that; though Ice was fixing him with a look and they rarely did talk anyway.

"...you don't believe rats can fly, do you?"

Ice balked. Grillby wasn't the type to waste words, but he just had-a good portion.

Much had changed.

Ice went out the door, his tail tall with authority.

"Wait. Ice, so are you not going to settle on the surface then?"

"No I'm not." He shrugged. "My past is bound to come reeling back into me."

Grillby's flames stiffened. He could relate.

"I too hesitate to return. Time can only erode so much."

Ice nodded. "I can here to remind you that you don't have to. You don't have to close this rickety joint."

Oh, Ice was odd. Grillby wasn't sure if the wolf actually hated him or not.

"...I thought you came to sort things out?"

Ice frowned, "That's what I'm trying to do you pompous fool!"

Grillby nodded. He understood things a little better now. "Thank you Ice. Please don't be a stranger any longer. Things have been kept on the back-burner for too long."

"Was that a pun?" He scoffed. "You've been hanging around too much with that skeleton dope."

Grillby frowned. He wouldn't stand for his friend to be insulted.

"Now Sans has no matter in this. Don't go starting trouble...again."

"But he does! That sad pile of dust is a skeleton, right? A human one!"

*Shhhhhhh*

"Shhhhhhh!" Grillby's flames cracked.

One didn't just casually bring attention to the matter.

"Sans doesn't know."

"What!? That's stupid! How couldn't he?"

"Amnesia." Grillby tapped his head for emphasise. "I've tried to pick up on clues that he knew-dropping hints in conversation, but he never seemed to pick up on any of it."

Ice flicked his ears to and fro. "I envy that."

"Hrm?"

"Him being able to forget...these human memories are...sickening."

It was the first time that Ice Wolf looked remotely vulnerable.

"I understand Ice. I really do." Grillby was a bit overwhelmed. His flames sparked up as his own memories flared up.

"If you ever need to talk, please don't hesitate to come to me." He dared to pat Ice on the shoulder. "It seems we should have...sorted these things out earlier."

"Yeah. Centuries ago."

Grillby expected Ice to take his leave, but he didn't-just stood awkwardly near the doorway.

So Grillby figured he'd be a good host.

"Could I offer you a drink?"

Ice surely looked like he needed one.

"Sure." He licked his chops. "Love that actually."

"Excellent. I have some vintage mushroom wine, just for the occasion."

"Nah, water."

"Excuse me?"

"I'll have water, heavy on the rocks."

Grillby sighed. He should just be happy that things seemed normal again.