-My child, it seems as if you must stay here for a while- Said the female voice in front of the little child, warm as it was since the beginning, kind and supportive. But…there was something that was not right. It felt different from the first time -But looking all the good friends you have made, I think…I think you will be happy here-
Sans listened carefully while smiled waiting for what was supposed to happen. Frisk have already made a pacifist route, Sans knew that completely; although it was reset, Sans' memory was clear about it, maybe not as clear as he would want to but still remembered the bests parts.
He was the only one after the kid, of course. He didn't know if the flower could remember that.
And even if they had to live unwanted timelines, the most important thing was the present. Frisk decided to start a new pacifist timeline, and decided it would stand like that forever; Sans wasn't too sure about it, because he, more than anyone else, didn't have enough willpower to keep that hope. However, there's always something to believe in, right?
-…How did you know how to call everybody?- The voice of Alphys was distant, the tension didn't let him concentrate properly.
-WELL, A TINY FLOWER HELPED ME- There it was. After Papyrus' voice, he just needed to wait a few seconds until feel the pain of being separated from his soul. Sans closed his eye sockets, waiting for the flower to appear and would leave the rest to the kid.
…
But nobody came.
-ANYWAY, THAT IS NOT IMPORTANT. THAT BEING SAID, DO NOT WORRY, HUMAN! WE WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU AND I, THE GREAT PAPYRUS, WILL MAKE SURE EVERYONE WILL BE AS NICE AS YOU WERE WITH US!- Exclaimed the tall skeleton, raising Frisk through the air, making him laugh happily.
But still, something was off. There was no way that Flowey didn't show up, after all, he was the true antagonist. They didn't do anything different so the timeline was not supposed to change so radically. Something was altered. An anomaly has occurred.
Pain. That's what she felt when hit the ground. Her clothes were full of holes; her skin, scratched. She was confused and asked herself where she was and if she was even alive, forcing herself to remember what happened before. Just in a few seconds she realized she was on a cavern, without possibilities of returning.
Without any complaint, stood up determined to find an exit.
Crossing the black tunnel and the large chiseled concrete arch, she could see a particular room with just a fraction of grass in the middle of the way, and a single flower…smiling at her. She kept looking at that smile and didn't felt any feeling onto that smile, just an empty fake smile with unknown intentions.
That smile looks so empty. She thought.
-Howdy…- The flower greeted, with a clearly cynical tone.
He feels so empty.
-I'm Flowey, Flowey the Flower. Looks like you're confused, Sweetheart. So let's show you how things work around here!- Suddenly, the features of the flower changed dramatically. His agreeable, apparent friendly face grew more mordant, and his smile just represented a true murderous intention, but still, empty. Flowey summoned his bullets, ready to attack.
She was disappointed, slightly sad and angry, anything but scared. Just to keep the guilt away for what she was going to do next, she put aside those feelings and looked emotionless at the flower in front of her. An eerie aura surrounded her as feline attributes rose in her body, a frightening violet glow raised on her eyes, making her vulnerable and weak look became imposing. Her posture indicated diligence, imperturbability and strength.
-Keep Going- She murmured darkly.
Moving slowly away from the first elevator in Hotland, everyone head up to Alphys laboratory to set free the amalgamates. Toriel and Asgore were still arguing, specially trying to discuss where the human will live. Frisk and Papyrus were walking and talking vividly, Undyne and Alphys were the same; Sans was the only one who were alone lost in thoughts, with conflicting emotions masked under the always smiling face, he hid his hands in his jacket's pockets, feeling them trembling for his internal nervousness.
That was supposed to be their happy ending, the end where the barrier should be broken, where everyone should go to the surface, and where finally everyone could enjoy a future without resets. Then ¿What happened?.
If this is a joke, this must be the worst joke made ever. Sans thought. ¿What is that weed planning now?. He transiently put his eyes at the ground, feeling his frustration growing slowly.
Frisk examined him, he looked over his shoulder and caught Sans visibly frustrated by something. With concern, he stopped walking waiting for the short skeleton, but immediately regretted when Papyrus looked worried for his brother.
–BROTHER ¿ARE YOU ALRIGHT?- Asked, with a supportive faint smile.
-Uh…Yeah- He rapidly realized his mistake, and show up his constant smiley face. He didn't want the others worry about him, he wouldn't know how to react if everyone would just run to him asking for his wellbeing -Just thinking. Everything that happened today left me boiling with excitement-
-¡SANS!- Papyrus complained, letting a whistle of frustration from the others be listen. And a few giggles from Toriel and Frisk. Then, the kid let go Papyrus' hand and began to approach to Sans, with a little smile placed on his features.
-Um, I want to talk with Sans a little. So, go ahead, we'll reach you all when we finish talking…- everyone nodded, walking through the lab's door –Sans… ¿Are you ok? You are not being…you-
-Heh, I won't deny it, kid. This new end left me with nerves on edge. Well, I, uh, I have being used to the previous endings; I'm not exactly pleased with this change. I can deal with familiar things but, this is simply…unpredictable. I don't really like unpredictable things, y'know?-
-I-I'm so sorry. I thought that I could bring you all a happy ending, but…- Frisk's face let see a guilty frown -I don't know what happened. But I…I can uh…to secure the true pacifist ending I can…- Sans did not took much time to realize what was Frisk implying, his grin faded a bit, and his eye sockets warned caution.
-No-
-B-But…-
-Just no. Don't get me wrong, this is not a bad end, we can solve this without use it. I'm just saying that it could have been better. But…Don't reset, kid. Just don't-
-Alright, but…I can't help but feel this has something to do with…her-
-No, buddy. I've already told you. Chara is gone. She can't get under our skin anymore. So, don't worry-
-Y-Yeah, is better if we forget about her- Frisk smiled with the promise in his mind to improve things from there. This could be a better ending, but at least everyone is alive.
-Welp, I gotta go-
-Huh? But we're should— Sans pushed him friendly to the laboratory, interrupting him -¿Where are you going?-
-To nowhere, bud. Just wanted to rest from all this tension, remember timelines can make anyone exhaust. But don't worry, if Pap ask you, you can tell him I'm just being lazy. We don't want to worry him, do we?-
Frisk nodded, then walked slowly into the lab. Sans let go a silent sigh, more like a soft puff and teleported to different places in the underground. New Home, the Core, all Metatton's puzzles areas, the river of Waterfall, the bridge of Snowdin, and the ruins' door.
-Where's that flower?- He asked walking in front to the ruins' door. He never met the ruins, not even when he was a young, little bag of bones, and he doubted that was open when he was born. Take a look was tempting, but his reserved personality didn't let him.
While his will hesitated, he sat on the snow, leaning his back against the wood of the door, looking at the non-existent sky. Suddenly, he raised his hand and knock the door, wanting to get rid of the accumulated stress.
-Knock, knock- He said at the same time -Who's there? Nice. Nice Who?. N-Ice to meet ya. Heh- Sans laughed lightly -Here we go again making knock knock jokes knowing that there will be no one to answer them. Heh, who knows? Maybe a spider will play along me…- He knocks again -Knock knock. Who's there? Nanna. Nanna who? Nanna of your business, that's who- He laughs again -Well, yeah…in moments like this Toriel's company was nice-
Step*
A familiar sound reached Sans' hearing, the sound of steps , the sound became clearer every second, which indicated that someone was approaching. Maybe another human. Suddenly he teleported a few meters away, looking carefully to the door. With precaution.
The sound stopped.
He didn't want to get closer, he didn't want to but…it took a few seconds to realize that nothing happened, no one appeared. And there he was, centimeters near to that door, trusting into his teleportation to save him from any trouble, he took the door's knobs and quickly opened, revealing the someone who was behind them. It was a girl, a girl with messed up clothes and clearly uncomfortable for the unexpected appearance.
The surprise of the sudden meet was too much for them to deal with. They couldn't move, like they were paralyzed. Just a limited seconds passed until the girl took the door and closed it fast, with a huge smash.
-Wait!- It was too late, he could feel she was behind the door, but knew she didn't want to talk to him. At least not directly.
Welp, this is awkward. He thought as a long silence drop between them.
That was so unexpected that her brain shut suddenly, if he was a potential aggressor, she would be already dead. She had to be more careful. Monsters there just kept attacking her, and even if she didn't want to fight back, they didn't listen to her. She was sure that out of that warm little house is going to be the same, so she really didn't want to leave, that was the most safely place she ever met. But she was determined to find the exit and leave that place, even if that person behind the door was planning to kill her too.
She didn't want to, but if she has to commit an act of violence, she will. But for the moment, she just stood there, maintaining the door closed, a bit surprised that he didn't try to come in by force.
On the other hand, Sans sighed concluding something essential. She was the anomaly. That flower tried to kill her, maybe, so he lost time and end up loosing his opportunity to steal the humans' souls. Or he just got killed.
She was the one who changed everything.
Now that the skeleton know what happened, he had to know what they were facing this time. A normal human, or a determined one like Frisk with possibilities of use the reset and save. A pacifist, or a genocidal one. A good or bad human.
But definitely is a timid one. He assumed.
The barrier wasn't broken and there was no way to use Frisk's soul, now that everyone loves him. So this new soul would be useful. But if he kill her right there, not just Toriel, but also Frisk would be mad at him. Because he was supposed to first learn about her and then judge. It was difficult to have two jobs, he was being sentry and judge at the same time. Also he can't say that his emotions wasn't playing an important role there, so he kept his chill and relaxed, waiting for the human to feel more confident and get out of there. He was going to do his two jobs instead of choosing one, if that girl shows an insidious intent with a high LV or even high EXP, he was not going to wait anymore. He was going to kill her where she stands.
-He…he left already?-
-Nope, I'm still here- He said, with his usual lazy voice. Then, silence again -Y'know? I'm not going to leave just because you're keeping quiet. I already know you're here- Again nobody responds, maybe she's waiting for him to get bored and leave. But he was a patient monster, and she didn't know that -Hey, calm down. You can trust me, ok? I'm a simple living skeleton that talks and eats bad kids-
-…-
-Just kid-ding. In fact, I'm just a bag of lazy bones who likes doing nothing, and y'know what? Attacking people and trying to capture them is something, so is out of schedule for me. But I'm certainly the most patient being, so when you're ready to talk bit, I'm gonna be still here-
She was alert, her experience in life told her to be careful as second nature. Even when he didn't show her murderous intent, she wasn't too sure if believe in him or not. It was true that monsters in those passageways back at the beginning didn't want exactly kill her, in fact, they were apprehensive to fight, but they still did it by unknow reasons. Perhaps she was being the one unfair there, judging arbitrarily. In first place, why were people locked underground? She has to know his true intent, their true intent, and try to find a way to leave with his help or without it. Or without anyone.
-U-Um…-
-I'm gonna guess that you're ready to talk. So…-
-I-I…- Sans payed attention -…just want to get out of here. I swear I don't want to hurt anyone, but as things are going, it's going to be inevitable. I just kept being attacked since I got here, and my only choices were run or attack them until they didn't want to keep fighting…-
Sans looked at the door's wood, as if he were looking at someone. With compassion. He didn't want to know how scary could be being attacked when you didn't even done anything wrong, just because you fell and nobody recognizes you. Might be confusing and frustrating too -A kid…fell just a few days ago. He made a lot of mistakes and ended up hurting us. But…I know he's someone kind, attentive and innocent, someone who grew up traveling trough this old place, being attacked and forced to do things he didn't want to do- But he needed to know what kind of person was her.
-…- She listened carefully.
-We learned a lot from him. And now we know that we can't judge someone without knowing them first, we have to understand and then act, and show mercy…I know you are getting the idea, as I could see you are older than him. I will understand if you killed a few of them…is a common mistake. Most of the humans that fell here got EXP just for the fear of getting killed, but as you could see we're not attached at the "kill or be killed" idea. So…If you killed someone, is better if you just tell me now. If they were just a few, I can understand, but y'know, if they were too much, we have a problem here-
-You are getting the wrong idea. I'm not here to kill anyone, if you are inferring so-
-Hey, chill pal. I'm not implying anything. I just want to clarify something. We had to handle killers in the past, I'm just making sure you aren't one of them, it's my job-
-…- understanding that he had finished speaking, she took a few seconds to sort out her ideas. She knew what he wanted, and didn't intend to hide anything either. It wasn't personal information at least -N-No. I didn't kill too much. Almost two of them and now that I think about it, the first one fled. So, I'm sure that it was just one. I didn't know what else to do- As she said earlier, she didn't plan to kill anyone, she didn't want to commit genocide.
-Really?- Sans smiled genuinely, even if he knew that she couldn't see him. He didn't feel any trace of insidiousness, he could feel even guilt and regret in her words, if what she was saying was truth, then her stats must be low. And that was supremely relieving.
-¿Huh? Wait…Aren't you mad at me?- She asked, sounding confused.
-Nope, donut worry- He winked towards the door and felt stupid -That kid was entirely pacifist because a friend of mine helped him. On the other hand, you were all alone, right? I can't blame you for not knowing how things work here. Let's just leave that topic aside, it's awfully awkward for the two of us. Anyway, why don't you leave that distrust for a moment? It's a little difficult to talk without knowing who I'm talking to, y'know?-
-…-
-Uh…there's nothing to be afraid of. You can trust me- He blinked a couple of times, noticing that in fact, she didn't trust him completely. He shrugged, getting close to the door again -Then let me try something to cheer you up-
She wasn't too sure what to expect.
Then, he just raised his arm and knock the door -Knock, Knock-
-¿Huh?- Did he just…?
-Com'on. Knock, knock-
-Uh… W-Who's…there?-
-Etch-
-Etch…who?
-Bless you- Suddenly, an abominable silence reigned between them. Sans began to sweat cold. He didn't know if she left or if she killed herself for that horrific joke, in any case, it wasn't a good sign. She had to be alive to build a decent relationship. However, without any warning, he heard soft but contagious and warm giggles. It really relaxed him a lot, and managed to make him forgot all the tension of when he was at the barrier. It was the best, to make people laugh. It was the only thing he was proud of himself.
-Heh, wow...-
-What's the matter? Heh…-
-Well, it worked. Just that. I'm actually happy that you liked it-
-It…It was just horrible. So horrible that I had to laugh because I was sorry for you…-
He rolls the lights of his eye sockets -Whatever you say, I have enough experience in comedy to recognize an honest laugh. So, knock, knock-
-You are just making me hate you…-
-knock, knock…-
-Who's there?-
-Lettuce-
-Lettuce who?-
-Lettuce in, it's cold here!-
She tried to stop her laugh, but she couldn't. The only funny thing here was the pathetic atmosphere, she decided.
-I know you liked it- He teased -In fact, I know you have frozen with my appearance-
-Stop- She grunted, covering her face with her hands.
-Can't blame ya. A lot of people don't like my jokes. They say my humor is ruined-
-You're so insufferable-
-Knock, knock-
-Ok, I'm leaving!-
-Candice-
-Candice who…-
-Candice door open, or what?-
-I hate you-
Autor's note:
You! The one who is reading this! Thank you for give me an opportunity :D
Right now may not be as impressive as other stories, but give it some consideration for the future ;D
Hope you enjoy this!