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Change

Things never stay the same. Everything always changes. That is the inevitability of the world.

Yet, Papyrus couldn't accept it. This was something that definitely shouldn't have happened. There was no reason for anything like this to have occurred. It just did.

He didn't have to like it. He didn't have to sit next to brother and feel like this. He did. Papyrus wasn't just angry. He was absolutely furious.

He was sitting in the only hospital that took monsters. The humans hadn't cared when Papyrus had brought his brother for treatment. They didn't even give him the decency of a hospital gown. He was solely covered with a thin sheet.

It wasn't like the humans were actually doing anything to help his brother. Sans was so very sick. His bones shook violently with every wheezing breath he took. Occasionally, he would cough up dust. Sans couldn't even stand anymore.

Papyrus hadn't known what to do. He had gone to the only place where his brother could have been helped but they laughed at him. The only doctor to even enter room had made a joke.

"Well, he is a skeleton, can't get much deader than that!"

The only reason Sans was even still here was Alphys. She had called the hospital and 'encouraged' them to treat Sans. Not because she cared, she had refused to even attempt to treat him. No, Papyrus could see the simplest of truths now. She didn't want to help. These humans didn't want to help. All they wanted was to look good, to be able to go to some group and brag about all the monsters they healed. It was only a matter of time before that doctor would tell about the skeletons who thought they could live. The only one who cared about his brother was him.

Papyrus had to do something. His brother was dying. The only one to ever actually support him, honestly and without ulterior motives, would die if he couldn't fix it. It all started when they reached the surface.

The sun shone so brightly. Everyone was so happy. It was perfect.

Then they met the humans. It had gone so well. Mutual peace was arranged after only a few meetings. There were some requirements, though.

1.Monsters must never be in the streets after 11pm.

2.Monsters must all live a minimum of 500ft from any school.

3.Magic cannot be used in public spaces or in the presence of children.

Although they were restrictive, King Asgore agreed to the terms. He was willing to agree to pretty much anything for a peaceful transition to the surface, not to mention the humans looking the other way about the other six human souls.

It seemed relatively harmless. The humans only wanted to protect their children from something new and scary. But they kept adding new requirements, each time with the approval of King Asgore. Monsters cannot drive vehicles, run for office, find employment in the government, etc…

Then there were the identification cards. Every monster was required to carry an ID with them wherever they went. Through some odd human logic, a combined value of HP, ATK, and DEF were plugged into some equation used to determine the 'age' of each monster. Monsters falling underneath the arbitrary 'age' of 18 were declared children. They were given the only exception for proximity to schools as they were require to attend a certain number of days each year. Any monster declared to be a child required another monster or human to act as guardian until they were decided to have entered adulthood.

Sans had been classified as a child. His brother wasn't the strongest or tallest monster around but he definitely wasn't a child. He was a full grown monster and should be treated like such.

He wasn't. By some ridiculous human policy, he was considered a mere child. He was to attend school with others his 'age' to learn with human children.

If that hadn't been humiliating enough, all 'child' monsters were required to wear special 'suppressant' bracelets. Alphys had designed them to prevent magical outbursts whenever a young monster experienced extreme mood swings.

She gave Sans two, due to 'magical potential'. The large metal rings looked more like handcuffs than anything else. Even in the hospital, he was required to wear them.

Papyrus had no doubts that the bracelets had something to do with how ill Sans was now. With the inclusion of the bracelets, nine monsters fell down to Surface Sickness. It was blamed on the different pollution levels on the surface versus the underground. It was blamed on having weakened immune systems.

But Papyrus knew better. Every single monster who fell down wore one of those bracelets. They were all children. All except Sans, who was uncomfortably close to falling down himself. It was a horrible and bitter truth. Monsters were sacrificing their loved ones, their children, just to live on the surface.

It wasn't worth it. Losing his brother, his only family, wasn't worth the surface. The stars weren't bright enough and the grass wasn't green enough for that. Sans shouldn't have to die like this.

Papyrus got up. He knew what was coming. There wasn't a chance for Sans, not if something didn't change.

"I'LL BE RIGHT BACK, BROTHER! DO NOT WORRY."

He left without getting a reply. He knew there wouldn't be one. Sans hadn't spoken in well over a month. Oh, what he would give to hear his brother say some silly pun again.

Briskly, Papyrus headed to their apartment. It was small and quite expensive, but it was the only property they could find located near both the hospital and Papyrus' job.

The television from their downstairs neighbor could be heard clearly as Papyrus packed things into a bag.

Channel Nine reporter, Angela Fran, on the scene. Today is a big day in monster and human relations. The very first humans have graduated training and are being inducted into the Royal Guard. It is the first time in history that humans will serve under a monster to protect the monster King.

Papyrus felt sick. At one point, he would've done anything to get into the Guard. The surface wasn't just stealing his brother, it had stolen that dream. There was no way to attend training when you have to work overtime just to survive. Sans was worth every hour.

Double checking what he'd packed, Papyrus added a few small packets of ketchup alongside his scarf and Sans' old jacket. If this didn't work, at least Sans would have one last comfort.

Reluctantly, Papyrus dialed his phone. There was only one part of the surface which wasn't too awful. His coworkers were nice men. They understood what he was going through. He'd miss them.

"HELLO. YES, THIS IS PAPYRUS!"

"Ehh! Papyrus, how's the little man doing?"

It had been easier to follow human customs to explain Sans. In this world, Sans was a child. In this world, Papyrus was his father. Genetics didn't matter.

"NOT WELL. THAT'S WHY I AM CALLING." Papyrus waited for the words to sink in.

"Oh, I'm so sorry. Man that really sucks. Any idea how long till?"

"MAYBE A WEEK. MAYBE LESS."

"Listen, take it off. Make it memorable."

"THANK YOU."

"No problem." There was a pregnant pause. "Hey, maybe you could bring him over for a few. You know we all love the little guy. Let us, you know, say good bye?"

"OF COURSE. I SHALL BRING HIM OVER LATER TODAY."

"It's that bad huh?"

"THEY DID NOT EXPECT HIM TO BE AWAKE THIS MORNING."

"Geeze, I am so sorry."

When Papyrus did bring Sans over, the small skeleton was passed around like a doll. Every mechanic was there, even if it was their day off. They all wanted to see him one last time. They all gave their condolences.

Papyrus couldn't help but smile. Not all humans were bad. People could do bad things but still be good people. At least half the humans currently handling his brother had been imprisoned for one thing or another. Yet, they were better to the skeletons than any other humans had been. Even Frisk had practically ignored them once they got to the surface.

These men had been ostracized. They had been beaten down. But they were all a family. They all cared about each other. For them, Papyrus was like a brother. Losing Sans was losing one of their own kids.

It hurt to leave. It hurt to stay. Papyrus slowly made his way back up the mountain.

Had he been asked if he'd ever willingly leave the surface before, he would have said no. Had he been told everything that was going to happen, he wouldn't have believed it. But now he knew the surface wasn't this wonderful dream. It was a hideous nightmare filled with deceptions and horror. The surface was not home.

They were going home. Carrying Sans had become a necessity. He was so weak and frail now. He hardly resembled the strong monster that had raised Papyrus. Looking at Sans made Papyrus angry. His brother shouldn't be so helpless.

All he had to do was get back. They needed to go home. Up the mountain Papyrus climbed. He clutched Sans to his front with their bag on his back. It was getting dark now. Soon, they would reach the top. They were going home.

The Underground was creepily empty. It seemed that every nook and cranny had been abandoned as soon as the barrier came down. What fools they were!

The only place which wasn't devoid of life was Snowdin. Of the few monsters who had decided to stay, Grillby was one of them. He'd even kept the bar open, somehow. It had been one of Sans' favorite places.

"HEY SANS, LET US GO TO GRILLBY'S." He smiled down at the sleeping skeleton in his arms. "IT IS NOT NEARLY AS GREASY AS SOME HUMAN ESTABLISHMENTS."

Only the fire elemental was there. As always, he was wiping down the counters. For once, Papyrus appreciated the flame's presence.

"HELLO GRILLBY! SANS AND I HAVE COME TO VISIT!"

"I can see that." Grillby crackled. "How have you been?"

"YOU HAVE NOT HEARD?" He was certain someone would have told the elemental about the surface.

"I've heard plenty but I'd rather get information from the source."

It was no wonder Sans had visited the bar often. That simple statement was all it took. Papyrus sat at a booth for hours telling the flame everything about the surface. Thankfully, Sans slept straight through the parts about how his sickness upset Papyrus. In fact, Sans only woke up near the end.

"So, you plan to risk both of your lives to finish what your father started."

"YES."

"Would you like any assistance?"

Papyrus' thoughts were stopped in their tracks. Grillby was going to help? Why?

"WHAT DO YOU GET OUT OF IT?"

"I'm an old monster. I lived through the war. I lived to see my family and friends die." The flame paused to reminiscence. "So, I suppose it might seem insignificant but I'd rather not be collecting more dust."

"I AM QUITE CAPABLE OF FIXING THE MACHINE."

"I have no doubts that you are but two monsters could fix it much faster."

"FINE."

"Then let us get to it." The flame stood. "We don't have time to waste."

They didn't. At any moment, Sans could fall. They had to finish quickly.

The basement was surprisingly organized and clean for it being a 'Sans only' room. Not that Papyrus was complaining. It made finding supplies so much easier.

Grillby and Papyrus silently set to work. It was like a giant jigsaw puzzle with pieces everywhere and no specific image to reference. Thankfully, Sans was awake now.

Although the small skeleton wasn't able to talk or actually help assemble the parts, he could still direct their actions. Carefully, he signed out instructions on what part went where. There was no joking around or random conversation. All three monsters were focused on their task.

Finally, it was completed. The machine whirred to life. For once, Papyrus felt uncertain. This could just as easily kill them both rather than help but it was too late now.

Stepping inside with Sans in his arms, Papyrus prayed for a miracle.

"Take care of each other, won't you?"

"OF COURSE!" Papyrus watched as the flame began to leave. "ARE YOU COMING?"

"No." He looked at them sadly. "I have no wish to see what could have been. Be safe."

A door upstairs could be heard closing as Papyrus fiddled with the controls. He wasn't exactly sure where they would end up. All he knew was that it had to be better than the surface. It had to be better than losing everything.

The machine shook violently as a flash of light engulfed them. Wherever they were going, there was no backing out now. The brothers held tightly onto each other.

The world was somehow darker when they arrived. Snowdin looked the same but also different. Their house was still there yet it wasn't their house. It wasn't until a bone wedged itself into the frame near his head that Papyrus even noticed the occupant.

"WHO DARES ENTER THE HOME OF THE GREAT AND TERRIBLE PAPYRUS, CAPTIAN OF THE ROYAL GUARD?" The tall skeleton snarled, wielding a bone club.

It should have startled Papyrus. He should have been confused or scared. Instead he was elated. His plan had worked!

"I AM THE GREAT PAPYRUS!" He approached the other skeleton with confidence. "THIS IS MY BROTHER SANS."

"LOOKS LIKE A WEAK LITTLE WELP TO ME!" There was something in the other Papyrus' voice that made him pause.

"HE IS WEAK." He mulled over the proper way to say this. The barrier was obviously still strong here. "HE CONTRACTED A VERY DEADLY ILLNESS FROM HUMANS. AT ANY POINT, HE COULD DIE."

The other Papyrus seemed to soften. "THIS PLACE ISN'T SAFE FOR WEAK MONSTERS."

"HOW GREAT OF A CAPTAIN YOU MUST BE." Papyrus returned the other's snarl. "PERHAPS YOUR SANS WILL BE OF BETTER ASSITANCE THAN YOU!"

"HE CANNOT HELP YOU."

"WELL, WE SHOULD LET HIM DECIDE."

The other Papyrus interrupted before he could call out for another Sans.

"HE DIED."

Both skeletons stood staring at each other for a moment.

"HOW?"

The other didn't respond.

"WERE YOU NOT CAPABLE OF PROTECTING HIM?" Papyrus wasn't mad, just curious.

"IT WAS A LONG TIME AGO." This other Papyrus had gotten uncomfortably close. His hands hovered over Sans, an uncertain look on his face. "I WAS MUCH WEAKER THEN."

"WHAT IF YOU HAD A SECOND CHANCE? WHAT IF YOU COULD PROTECT HIM?"

The other was intent on Sans.

"MY SANS IS VERY ILL." Papyrus' resolve was withering the longer he stayed. He had to finish his plan. "IF YOU CAN CURE HIM, I WILL ALLOW HIM TO BE YOUR BROTHER."

"YOU WILL JUST LET ME HAVE HIM?"

"YES."

"AND YOU WILL GO BACK TO WHEREVER YOU CAME FROM?"

"YES." Papyrus knew he wouldn't. He couldn't.

"LET ME SEE HIM."

Reluctanly, Papyrus handed Sans over to the other him. Sans looked even smaller in his arms. Still, Papyrus waited. He needed Sans to be healed. He needed someone capable of removing the bracelets.

"YOU FOOL." The words dripped from the other's mouth like venom. "YOU JUST GAVE ME THE ONLY THING YOU HAD TO OFFER."

Papyrus didn't blink when a barrage of bones pinned him against the wall. He didn't flinch as the blaster roared. He smiled, at peace, when his soul shattered into a million pieces.

He'd given up living a while back. Without Sans, it wasn't worth it. Sans deserved a brother who could take care of him. He deserved a brother that could protect him. This new Papyrus could do that. He was much stronger.

Sans was home.