AUTHOR'S NOTE:
I don't own UNDERTALE. Also, this story has a LOT of spoilers. You have been warned.
Also, I'm not good in story telling so please bear with me? For the failures in.. everything?
Oh, and I hope you enjoy this!
[SAVE 1 LOADED]
You blinked, awaiting the monsters as they all warily crossed the barrier that had been keeping them underground for so long. Some of them felt a strong sense of deja vu, while some were still afraid of you for an unknown reason. Your choices always had its set of consequences. You knew that from the start.
You looked at your friends. Toriel was ushering the other monsters to keep calm while heading outside; as not all of them were scarred by the war many years ago. Asgore was also helping out, although he was earning some rare rotten looks from Toriel for starting all of this in the first place. Alphys and Undyne, well, they were spreading the word, one way or another. Papyrus, you chuckled, he was always the first one to walk out of the barrier after you.
Sans...
The short skeleton was keeping his bony hands in his pockets, the hood up his skull, eyeing you with a friendly, yet tainted, smile. "Good job, kiddo." He says, patting you gently on the head. You flinch at his touch, making him pause, and smile again. You notice that his eye sockets are darkening. "Is there a problem? I'm not humerus enough?" He joked, noting the weak chuckle and then back to the hidden agenda in your eyes.
He hummed, giving you a simple thumbs up before also heading off to the surface. You felt your knees go weak for a moment as he leaned close to you before leaving, and whispered in a familiar dark tone.
"I hope you don't RESET this time."
You nearly stopped breathing for a second; he knew. You knew he would, but you hoped he'd forget all about it. But he didn't.
You recall the first time you fell into the ruins. You recall how you met Toriel and tried to help everyone. That was the first time you met Sans and company.
"Human." A new voice crept silently behind you, sending out an eerie aura as it spoke. "Don't you know how to greet a new pal?"
You smile and roll your eyes as you remember the whoopie cushion sound that happened after that. You were scared, and then you just can't help but laugh at his antics. You met Papyrus, who had manage to successfully put you in the friendzone even after liking his spaghetti. You didn't even like him that way, you retort in your mind. Ah.. memories.
You remember the first time that you saw Asriel. The first time you tried to save him. The first time that you failed him. You remember his hopelessness. You remember the breaking of the barrier, and the regret of not saving Asriel, as well as missed opportunities that you couldn't help it. You remember seeing Flowey one last time, giving you the chance to fully RESET. You remember seeing everyone so happy, except for him. You remember Sans looking at you with a sad smile.
You ignored it.
[TRUE RESET? YES]
It was your first true reset. The second time you ran through the world, nobody remembers you. Not even Flowey. And you know that Flowey remembers all. You were safe; you could explore and help everyone now. You knew what was going to happen, and you wanted to help them all.
You got to work, completing quests perfectly and even getting that Temmie armor you always wanted. It did warrant some newfound sass from said Temmie, but you were greatly rewarded anyway. You remembered that sass when you refused to sell your items for the second time after paying her college fees.
"Is this a joke? Are you having a chuckle? Haha. Very funny. I'm the one with a degree."
You remember seeing him at the sentry post in Waterfall, motioning for you to come with him to Grillby's. You remember him being so serious; he was so unlike the time you had first met him.
"I was supposed to say something but I... ah." He muttered, his eye sockets getting darker. You shivered, not used to the skeleton's intense glare. "There's this thing called deja vu. You know it, right?"
You nod, still munching on a piece of fry. You had been creeped out by the flower that he was talking about. It reminded you too much of... You shake it off; that's not going to happen if you have any say on the matter. You were determined to save him.
"I'm guessing that's a word used to play off kid's time shenanigans, huh?" He noted, eyeing your movements as he stood away from you, semi aware of what you do. You kept silent, asking yourself just how did he know when it's a complete reset? You looked around; Grillby's flames weren't moving. Nor were the other monsters in the bar. "You don't have to say anything." He remarked, now jumping out of his seat and walking towards the door. "Hey Grillby, put it on my tab!"
That was the last thing he said before going out.
You had always known that he was aware of what was going on. You weren't sure just how much he knows, but that conversation just left you with guilt all over. But you kept going. Sans would forgive you, you thought. He would... You kept chanting as you did all the right things, eventually reaching him again.
...
You couldn't save him.
What have you done wrong? You nearly cried; Asriel was left there. Just because of not having a soul. Just because he might turn into Flowey again. You felt hopeless. Like there really was no choice but to leave him there.
You were given the choice again.
You didn't see the skeleton that was already expecting this.
You took it.
[TRUE RESET? YES]
It took you many times, with every character not knowing that they had their freedom. You tried different things now, hoping that something will happen that would make you be able to save him.
Run 1: Didn't work.
[TRUE RESET? YES]
Run 2: Didn't work.
[TRUE RESET? YES]
Run 3: Still didn't work.
[TRUE RESET? YES]
But you were filled with DETERMINATION. You couldn't give up. Not now, not ever. A friend was waiting for you to save him, and you will not fail him.
[TRUE RESET? YES]
You didn't bother counting anymore. You kept resetting; You had to. You kept meeting the same set of characters over and over again. They all felt like they knew you; of course they would. You accepted this fate. As long as you couldn't save him... You shook your head; there must be something you haven't done yet.
...
Of course! If you couldn't save him...
[RESET? YES]
"Heya." He said, eyeing you cautiously. It was your first time trying this. It will work in saving him now. He was even happy when he saw you killing her in the ruins. You gripped your knife tightly. "You've been busy huh?"
You didn't respond.
He materialized two Gaster-blasters, making them aim directly at you, glowing cyan as a warning. "So I got a question for ya. Do you think even the worst person can change...? That everybody can be a good person, if they just try?"
Again, you didn't respond. You took a step forward, making the knife in your hand sparkle brightly, the tip of it having fresh blood from the last monster you faced. You saw his eyes go dark.
"Heheheh... all right. Well here's a better question: Do you wanna have a bad time? 'Cause if you take another step forward..." His eye glowed an eerie cyan; one that startled you, chilling you to the bone. you could feel a familiar blue magic enveloping you, as his arm slowly raised upward. You felt gravity being defied.
"You are REALLY not going to like what happens next."
You smiled, taking another step. This was going to be a great fight.
After this... you can finally save him.
"...You can't understand how this feels. Knowing that one day, without warning... It's all going to be reset." He said as you narrowly avoided another platformer-like bone attack. "Look. I gave up trying to go back a long time ago. And getting to the surface doesn't appeal anymore, either." You swung your knife at him expertly, but he dodged it with lightning fast reflexes. You clench your fist, immediately running towards the left to avoid the massive array of bones he was throwing at you. "'Cause even if we do... We'll just end up right back here, without any memory of it, right?"
He materializes more Gaster-blasters, all hovering above you in a circle as they all fired one by one in a consecutive form, with you running for your dear life still not giving up. Still filled with DETERMINATION. He chuckles darkly, again avoiding your single attack with ease. "To be blunt... It makes it kind of hard to give it my all. Or is that just an excuse for being lazy...?"
"Hell if I know." He comments, again making you defy gravity, smashing you endlessly against the walls, your soul getting battered slowly. "All I know is... Seeing what comes next..."
"I can't afford not to care anymore."
You huffed, aiming for another swing, nearly cursing as the skeleton dodged it once more. He sighed, making the Gaster-blasters disappear, and the bones appear just floating behind his back. "Listen. I know you didn't answer me before, but... Somewhere in there I can feel it. There'a glimmer of a good person inside of you. The memory of someone who once wanted to do the right thing."
He smiled, and you could tell the old memories are resurfacing. "Someone who, in another time, might have been a friend?" He looked at you. "C'mon buddy. Do you remember me? Please, if you're listening... Let's forget all this, OK? Just lay down your weapon, and... well, my job will be a lot easier."
You nearly dropped your weapon, feeling all the guilt that you have done. You felt yourself kneeling subconsciously, your eyes nearly brimming with tears. It was going to be over when...
His face appeared. He was waiting for you.
Closing the guilt in your mind, you headed towards the skeleton, knife in hand as the real battle finally begins.
You remembered killing Sans. You remembered killing Flowey. If he was dead... He wouldn't be alone in the underground. You remembered seeing Chara, congratulating you on your first ever "GENOCIDE RUN" and possessing you... You destroyed the entire world, and traded it back, selling your soul in the process. You remember making another RESET, and not seeing him until the end, where you couldn't turn back anymore- you tried everything. You apologized to him twice, but his words killed you.
"It's okay, Frisk. Someone needs to take care of these flowers." Asriel Dreemur sat down, awaiting the change to happen. "You didn't have to do it, you know. Now you're stuck with the consequences." You paused, feeling her take control of your body... but you fought back. He glanced at you with sad eyes, noticing the change. "Just keep them safe for me, okay?"
And now you're here, Sans still looking at you expecting an answer and the barrier broken. You sighed, hugging him before you headed off to help Toriel with the other monsters.
"Yeah, I won't. I promise."
Let's see if you can keep that promise, Frisk...
