Welcome everyone to part three of my little trilogy. We've had the background story (plus Flowey's Genocide route), the Genocide route, and now...we're going to have the Neutral/Pacifist route with a good chunk of stuff on the surface! If you have not read the previous two stories, I suggest you do that before reading this as a lot is explained. Sans Joy is the first, then Sans Mercy. As a reminder, Frisk is in control of the timelines now, not Flowey (Frisk is a GIRL in this one, so is Chara). Anyway, here is the first chapter of Sans Fear.
*NOTE* CAPS does not mean that the character is shouting. Paps speaks in all caps, Gaster does too.
"Bold Italic" would be the wingding font that Gaster speaks in. All skeletons can speak it though Gaster is the only one who can't speak any other language, so he uses magically conjured hands to speak with other monsters.
I do not own Undertale, all I own are Kristen (the brothers' mother), Lucida and Boli (the brothers' aunt and uncle) Triton and Sedna (Undyne's parents), Drake and Serran (Alphys parents) and Betus and Gammet (Alphys' siblings).
Chapter 1
Chara grunted, getting up on a knee at 1HP. If they fought now…it was even, both at 1 before death.
"*huff*...*puff*...all right," Sans panted, "that's it. it's time for my special attack. are you ready?"
"If that…" Chara gasped, "Was normal…what in the world is your special attack?"
Sans gave a grin.
"here goes nothing," he told her.
Seconds passed and Chara still waited.
"Wha-," she started only to get cut off by Sans.
"yep. that's right. it's literally nothing. and it's not going to be anything, either," he grinned while Chara looked madder than a hornet as the implications got her, "heh heh heh... ya get it? i know i can't beat you. one of your turns...you're just gonna kill me. so, uh. i've decided... it's not gonna be your turn. ever. i'm just gonna keep having my turn until you give up. even if it means we have to stand here until the end of time. capiche?"
"YOU LITTLE…!" Chara shrieked only for Sans to cut her off again.
"you'll get bored here. if you haven't gotten bored already, i mean. and then, you'll finally quit. i know your type. you're, uh, very determined, aren't you? you'll never give up, even if there's, uh... absolutely NO benefit to persevering whatsoever. if i can make that clear. no matter what, you'll just keep going. not out of any desire for good or evil... but just because you think you can. and because you 'can'... you 'have to," he explained, "but now, you've reached the end. there is nothing left for you now,"
Chara gave this sound that reminded Sans of a furious cat, making him grin.
"so, uh, in my personal opinion... the most 'determined' thing you can do here? is to, uh, completely give up. and..." he yawned as his eyes fluttered shut, "do literally anything else,"
He heard the shuffling of feet and felt a wind coming at him. His eyes immediately flashed open and he dodged to the side.
"heh, didja really think you would be able…" he cut off as Chara shrieked in triumph and slashed again, cutting a deep scar into Sans' chest.
She gave a smirk.
"I told you I'd kill you this time," she purred before turning on her heel and walking towards the throne room.
"get back here…i ain't done with you yet!" Sans hissed, staggering forwards awkwardly as Chara dodged easily, "you dirty brother killer! i'm gonna…"
He gave a soft growl of pain, hunching over and falling to a knee as he trembled slightly.
"SANS…"
Sans looked up just to see Papyrus standing in front of him, smiling gently.
"THAT'S ENOUGH, YOU DID YOUR BEST,"
"p-pap…" he whispered, reaching out with a smile.
"y' did good, my lil' funny bone," came a familiar voice as a hand laid itself on his shoulder.
His head snapped up to see Kristen beside him.
"m-m-mama?" he stammered, tears streaming as Kristen helped him to his feet and hugged him.
"I'm so proud of you…" she whispered as Sans began to shake.
He looked up just to see Chara's smug grin and he frowned.
"…so…" Sans murmured, "guess that's it huh?...just…don't say i didn't warn you. welp…i'm going to grillby's,"
He started walking back, Kristen with her hand on his shoulder as Papyrus walked ahead. He stumbled and Papyrus caught him. Sans put his hand on his little brother's cheek, smiling.
"p-papyrus…do you…want anything?" he whispered, shaking as his fingers cracked and splintered and he felt like he was falling…
Right as he shot up with a scream, tangling himself in the sheets and falling…but off the bed.
Sans groaned, detangling himself from the sheets that had wrapped around his legs. He frowned, looking at the familiar contours of his room. Wasn't he in the Judgement Hall just a few seconds ago? He couldn't have teleported…not with…
His good eye flashed and he quickly lifted up his shirt…just to see a faint discoloration over his ribcage, a hairline crack that he never would have noticed if he hadn't looked for it.
"what the…" he whispered only to press his hand to his sternum, "you guys ok in there?"
Silence.
Everything felt…weird. He had felt so freaking strong just a few minutes ago…the human souls and their determination, Undyne's persistence, the old lady's patience, Alphys' surefire and pinpoint accuracy, Papyrus' bravery and cunning…
But…something wasn't right. He felt…empty. Like he was missing something, something…big…
"why won't you answer me?" he whispered…only for a stomping sound to catch his attention.
"SANS!" a familiar called, making Sans jolt upwards, his good eye flashing brightly , "WE'RE GOING TO BE LATE FOR SENTRY DUTY!"
Sans stared in shock at the door…right as Papyrus stuck his skull through it, he didn't look to happy with his big brother.
"GET UP LAZYBONES!" Papyrus called, coming fully into the room and revealing his tall, slender frame and his white, red and blue armor, "WE ARE SUPPOSED TO REPORT TO THE FOREST JUST IN CASE A HUMAN COMES BY! I NEED TO GET MY PUZZLES REA-OOF!"
Sans tackled his brother, sobbing heavily as he buried his skull into his brother's battle body.
"…SANS? ARE YOU OK?" Papyrus asked, stroking his brother's skull as Sans continued to sob, "THERE, THERE, THE GREAT PAPYRUS IS HERE! THERE IS NO NEED TO CRY…"
"you're alive…" Sans whispered, "thank god you're alive…"
"…YES? WHY WOULDN'T I BE?"
"that brat…she killed you…i saw your dust…i fought her…she killed me…i…i…i…" Sans stammered, "then it was bright…and it hurt…and it…it…"
"SHHHH," Papyrus soothed, "IT IS ALL RIGHT, BROTHER, IT WAS JUST A DREAM…A RATHER HORRIBLE ONE BUT A DREAM NONETHELESS,"
Sans gave a sigh of relief as he looked up. Never had he been so glad to have a nightmare like that. But his ribcage still ached across that scratch…it had felt so real…
Papyrus stood back from the snow sculpture, his eyes flashing a brilliant gold color before fading back to black, he gave a satisfied grin and turned around to face his brother, who was currently lumping snow together and writing his name in red marker on the snow.
"BROTHER! LOOK AT THIS!" Papyrus beamed, turning towards his snow creation, a nearly perfect version of himself.
"heh, ice bro," Sans smiled, getting an annoyed growl from his brother.
Despite his age, Papyrus still retained the innocence of a child. Something that Sans didn't regret one bit. Considering both their horrific trials, they needed a little bit of happiness in their lives.
"DO YOU THINK THAT A HUMAN WILL COME BY?" Papyrus asked, "AND THAT MAYBE UNDYNE WILL LET ME INTO THE ROYAL GUARD?"
"dunno bro, but i'm pretty sure undyne'll be pretty happy with ya,"
"AND THEY'LL LIKE MY PUZZLES?"
"who wouldn't?"
Papyrus seemed to enjoy this answer, turning back to his sculpture before gasping.
"BROTHER! I FORGOT! WE NEED TO GET TO OUR SENTRY STATIONS!"
"heh, really?" Sans asked as the two started speedily walking farther into the forest, "welp, guess i'll head towards mine,"
"SANS, I BETTER NOT CATCH YOU NAPPING AGAIN," Papyrus warned, "YOU ALWAYS SLACK OFF…"
"ah, don't worry bro, it'll be snow problem to stay awake,"
"SAAAAANNNNNNSSSSS!" Papyrus growled as Sans smirked and disappeared in a flash of teal light.
Sans reappeared in front of the Ruins, smiling to himself as he plopped down in the snow and knocked. He frowned as he got no 'who's there' like normal…but instead, he heard voices on the other side.
"No, I understand. You would just be unhappy trapped down there. The Ruins are very small once you get used to them,"
"old lady?" Sans asked, cocking his head as he stood up and put a hand to the door, pushing only for it to not give way.
"It would not be right for you to grow up in a place like this,"
"who's she talkin' to?"
"My expectations...My loneliness...My fear...For you, my child... I will put them aside,"
Sans backed away from the door right as it started to quiver and open. His good eye flashed and he teleported behind the nearest bush…only to watch a little human girl walk out of the Ruins, shivering from the cold.
He frowned as she cautiously started forwards, stopping before the stick and trying to lift it before finally giving up and continuing onwards.
"why is this so familiar?" he wondered as he began to follow her, hood up and the stick snapping under his weight as he walked over it.
The human girl gave a sharp 'eep!' of fear and whirled around, right as Sans teleported behind another tree, waiting until the poor child shakily turned around and kept going forwards. He followed her again, walking a bit faster to catch up…only for her to catch a glimpse of his shadowy form. She immediately gasped and bolted forwards, only to skid to a stop as she hit the bridge and Papyrus' way too wide gate.
Sans walked towards her, palming a whoopee cushion in his left hand before stopping right behind her. He could hear her heart pounding, her breathing getting funny…
He couldn't pass an opportunity like this up!
"Human," he told her, "Don't you know how to greet a new pal?"
She gave a soft whimper of fear at the sound of his 'dark' voice.
"Turn around. And shake my hand," Sans ordered, sticking out his hand as she trembled, turning to face him.
She took his hand and nearly jumped sky high as the whoopee cushion let out its signature sound. Sans threw back his hood and started laughing, while the human girl gave a soft giggle, holding her stick to her chest as the faded red ribbon in her hair fluttered in the Snowdin breeze.
"wait…wasn't that a toy knife before?" he wondered before shaking it off, "don't worry 'bout it sansy…you're just gettin' paranoid…"
"heheheheh," Sans chuckled, "the old whoopee cushion in the hand trick. it's always funny,"
The girl gave a shaky smile, her blue-green eyes sparkling gently as Sans stuck his hand back his pocket.
"anyways, you're a human, right?" he asked.
She nodded shyly, rocking on her heels.
"aw, god she's like paps when he was younger,"
He chuckled before continuing.
"that's hilarious. i'm sans. sans the skeleton," he introduced himself, "i'm actually supposed to be on watch for humans right now, but…y'know…i don't really care about capturing anybody,"
The girl gave a sigh of relief and Sans thought back to what the old lady had made him promise…welp, might as well tell her about his brother…
"now my brother, papyrus…" Sans warned, "he's a human hunting fanatic,"
The child's blue-green eyes widened slightly and Sans gave a soft chuckle…only to see a flicker of red, white, and blue not too far off.
"speak of the devil…" Sans thought before addressing the little girl, "hey, actually, i think that's him over there."
The girl whirled around, clutching her stick tightly as her eyes widened and she started to shake in fear. Sans put a gentle hand on her shoulder, making her jump.
"jeeze, jumpy thing, aren'tcha?" he wondered before speaking, "i have an idea. go through this gate,"
She blinked rapidly before shooting an uncertain look at the gate.
"yeah, go right through," he told her, "my bro made the bars to wide to stop anyone,"
She gave a shrug and started forwards, her tiny form slipping through the bars easily as Sans followed closely behind, getting to the clearing where his post was…right in front of that funny shaped lamp that Alphys had got him for his birthday, just for kicks and giggles.
"quick," Sans grinned, nodding at the lamp, "behind that conveniently shaped lamp!"
The girl gave him a funny look, but did as he asked, her tiny form fitting perfectly behind it…right as Papyrus' tall form walked into the clearing.
"sup, bro?" Sans called.
"YOU KNOW WHAT 'SUP' BROTHER!" Papyrus' yelled, "IT'S BEEN EIGHT DAYS AND YOU STILL HAVEN'T RECALIBRATED. YOUR. PUZZLES!"
Sans thought he heard a small laugh and he grinned up at his little brother as Papyrus continued his rant.
"YOU JUST HANG AROUND OUTSIDE YOUR STATION! WHAT ARE YOU EVEN DOING!?" Papyrus snapped.
"starin' at this lamp," Sans shrugged, "it's really cool. do you wanna look?"
"NO!" Papyrus yelled, stamping his foot angrily as Sans tried really hard not to laugh at his brother's antics, "I DON'T HAVE TIME FOR THAT! WHAT IF A HUMAN COMES THROUGH HERE!? I WANT TO BE READY! I WILL BE THE ONE! I MUST BE THE ONE! I WILL CAPTURE A HUMAN!"
He took a breath, finally, and put a hand to his chest, his eyes giving off a soft orange glow as he daydreamed, making Sans smirk.
"THEN, I, THE GREAT PAPYRUS, WILL GET ALL THE THINGS I UTTERLY DESERVE! RESPECT…RECOGNITION…"
"aw, pap, we do that anyway!" Sans thought as his brother continued on his monologue.
"I WILL FINALLY BE ABLE TO JOIN THE ROYAL GUARD!"
Sans looked uncomfortably down at the ground, but Papyrus didn't notice thankfully. Undyne was still keeping her promise on letting Papyrus join…Papyrus was 'technically' a cadet…but it wasn't a real position in the guard…he was like Boli, a citizen's guard.
"PEOPLE WILL ASK, TO, BE MY, FRIEND?" Papyrus continued, getting a look from his brother.
"paps, you've got me, undyne and alphys…"
"I WILL BATHE IN A SHOWER OF KISSES EVERY MORNING!" Papyrus beamed, getting a soft chuckle from Sans.
"hmm," Sans hummed, "maybe this lamp will help you?"
"SANS!" Papyrus yelled, stomping his foot in annoyance again, "YOU ARE NOT HELPING!"
"oh, i am…you just don't realize it, bro," Sans thought to himself with a smile.
"YOU LAZYBONES!" Papyrus finished, getting a closed eye from his brother.
"did you just call me the 'l' word?" he thought, "eh, can't really complain… 'cause it's true,"
"ALL YOU DO IS SIT AND BOONDOGGLE!" Papyrus growled, "YOU GET LAZIER AND LAZIER EVERY DAY!"
"hey," Sans protested, "take it easy. i've gotten a ton of work done today…"
He gave a wicked grin and Papyrus' eyes glowed a dark orange as he realized what he'd just done.
"a skele-ton…" Sans grinned as he winked at his brother.
He heard the human child give a sweet little giggle while Papyrus gave a groan.
"SANS!"
"come on," Sans pried, grinning, "you're smiling…"
"I AM AND I HATE IT!" Papyrus hissed before sighing, "WHY DOES SOMEONE AS GREAT AS ME HAVE TO DO SO MUCH JUST TO GET SOME RECOGNITION?"
"wow," Sans started, ignoring the death glare he was receiving, "sounds like you're really working yourself…"
"DON'T YOU DARE…"
"down to the bone!" Sans shrugged, getting a howl of laughter from the child and a shriek of outrage from his little brother.
"UGH!" Papyrus groaned, "I WILL ATTEND TO MY PUZZLES! AS FOR YOUR WORK…"
He pointed at his brother with a mischievious grin.
"PUT A LITTLE MORE…BACKBONE INTO IT!" Papyrus grinned before running off, "NYEHHEHHEHEHEHEH!"
"oh my god, he actually said a joke!" Sans thought joyfully as Papyrus froze, turned around on his heel…
"HEH!" he laughed before going around the bend.
Sans chuckled before turning to the lamp.
"ok, you can come out now," he told her…justsee the little girl peek her head out from behind the lamp.
She smiled, her shoulders still shaking from laughter as she got close.
"you oughta get going," he said, "he might come back. and if he does…you'll have to sit through more of my hilarious jokes,"
She giggled and took a step forwards…only to freeze and look back at him.
"what's the holdup?" he asked, "look, there's nothin' to be afraid of. it's just a dark cavern filled with skeletons and horrible monsters,"
He gave her a wink to let her know he was joking and she giggled again only to start off.
"actually, hey," he called, "hate to bother ya, but can you do me a favor?"
She turned around, her blue-green eyes bright as she nodded.
"i was thinking…" Sans admitted, "my brother's been kind of down lately…he's never seen a human before…"
It wasn't a lie…Papyrus was very young when Chara fell down. He barely remembered her at all.
"and seeing you might just make his day," Sans finished.
The girl gave him an unsure look and Sans put up his hands to reassure her.
"don't worry," he told her, "he's not dangerous…even if he tries to be. thanks a million. i'll be up ahead,"
He started walking back towards the Ruins so she couldn't see his face.
"but if you hurt papyrus, kid. it ain't gonna be him you need to worry about. oh no…"
His world shattered into shards of teal tinted glass as he teleported up behind his brother.
"that'd be me,"
Sans gets flashes of the previous route. He doesn't quite trust Frisk and she's kinda afraid of him...he killed her more than ten times, what do you think was gonna happen? They'll eventually get to the trust stage, but it's kinda iffy at the moment. Next is puzzles, japes and things of that sort! :) ALSO! A big thank you to those who looked at/commented on my lil' sis' story! You guys really made her day. Just to let you know, I'm going to be writing one of the next chapters in her story (we'll let you know which one it is!).
Anyway, hope you liked it. If you did, please let me know!
Qui vállë tóquetë, ván tecë (If no review comes from y'all; no story comes from me)
Máriessë ar mára tecië
Farewell and fair writing
Elhini Prime signing off.