Two Options, Reset Or Continue…
Frisk Ex looked at the options carefully hovering in the void of time for awhile trying to understand a few things before he went back. He has started to remember his past, and why he ended up in this timeline. Because of what Gaster EX from the EX timeline did. The realities are all collapsing, each universe won't show signs of change for a while but inevitably it will all crumble. Gaster from this timeline is different and he has still got his sanity. He understands the danger of not allowing the multiverse to crumble.
'Sans, on the other hand, could, and with the royal scientist maybe we could think of something. It requires plenty of minds to think up a solution. Which is why we will need Gaster. Alright, then I guess the first thing to do is continue forward. And tell Sans about this'
"Continue"
"Sans.." Frisk ran up to him, Sans was busy speaking to his brother about the incident that occurred.
"kid, I was explaining the situation to my bro. you alright."
"Yeah, I'm fine, you said to Toriel that you needed me. I didn't know you knew her." Said Frisk he originally figured out that Toriel was a lonely person, so it was hard to believe.
"I'll explain that to you in detail later, we need to make a visit to the royal scientist. Also, just so you are aware. Gaster is there as well, he took the liberty of making an uninvited visit."
"That's actually a good thing. I think we may need him"
"HEY CAN YOU ALL STOP FOR A SECOND."
"Special emergency bro, I need to you get in contact with undyne and tell her to take you to asgore. There is something urgent they will have to hear for themselves. We will be at the lab."
"HOLD ON SANS YOU BOTH ARE GOING RIGHT NOW!"
"yep"
"OH, OKAY, BUT I WILL BE BACK" Papyrus disappeared in the distance running as fast as he could.
"you prepared to go kid"
"Yes, let's go"
Sans snapped his fingers disappearing with Frisk in hand.
They were immediately in the laboratory.
Alphys was working hard on something important, She had gotten the information ahead of time by Sans after the battle with Gaster.
"we're here" Sans dropped his hand from Frisk. He walked laid back as usual over to
"Oh, Sans, you have arrived. I was just inputting the information Gaster was telling me about." She had that smile.
"oh was he now" Sans glared at Gaster who had his arms in his black body. Almost like he had been wearing a sweater similar to Sans.
"No need to look at me like that Sans. you need me. This was my lab after all." Said Gaster
"Well, it used to be, I built this atop of yours." she quickly corrected
"Right, I'm glad we could all catch-up. But we need to find a way to prevent the collapse of the multiverse. So any bright ideas."
Sans shut his eyes and opened it to reveal he was a bit pissed off from earlier.
"You need to explain yourself first Frisk. Or was it Frisk 'EX' I got the info from Gaster. But I want to hear it from you. I want to know everything. And Alphys will record it so that we can tell the others once they arrive."
"You want to do this now of all times!?" Said Frisk "I mean…"
"just come clean, who are you. just what are you. Gaster went vaguely on me with the details, but he explained this much. you are from the another timeline, at least the soul part is. And merged with our Frisk. correct?"
"yes, that is true," Frisk answered
"My original name is Frisk Ex, but you may just call me Frisk. I don't possess any normal soul, it is called the Soul of Judgement."
"Can I ask, why is your name Frisk Ex. What's with the Ex at the end"
"Gaster from his timeline referred to it that way because of what he began in the experiment" Gaster answered him.
Sans placed his hands back in his pockets and returned to normal.
"I see that is why I felt that when I met you. You had a strange connection to me when I shook your hand that day."
"Actually the reason is not entirely true. I may possess this soul, but it wasn't my original soul. Like your Frisk, I possessed 'Determination' I fought against you all and spared you. In my Timeline, we are far in the future from the remaining Timelines. I have already been through this, unlike everyone else I never reset and continued my life. The only problem is that I suffered an injury that was going to kill me. So to save me, Sans. from my timeline offered up his own. And in returned I received the same power."
"The version of me in his Timeline did more than just that actually. He used the souls that held Justice, and Patience, combined with that power from Sans. He somehow had his own power of Determination fused with them, that created the Soul of Judgement" Gaster added
"This can't be true, the souls all together have been used before. And they didn't create something nearly as strong. So why is this soul any different. The combination of Justice and Patience? As well as my own power wouldn't have much difference against someone who controlled all 6 souls."
"That may be true, in his timeline the souls were heavily experimented on by his Gaster and Alphys. They were transformed in a way, because of what they found out through Gaster's constant space/time travel. He figured out something particularly interesting from a different Timeline. In that Timeline, he witnessed their Chara who was able to extract the extra 'Determination' from the past, that there were ways to extract the extra amounts of certain traits. Like Determination. After being able to expand the way to keep the 'SOULS' intact, they began ways of injecting the soul with more of their feature trait. This transformed them in different ways. When Justice and Patience were experimented on they managed to become True Souls a term used by Gaster in his timeline because of the amount of trait they possessed." Gaster quickly explained. Even Frisk Ex wasn't aware of that, and he has lived for so long that he wasn't aware of Gaster's true intentions. Just what was his goal of injecting that much of it into a single soul
"Excuse me for a minute. Gaster, how do you even know about this anyway?" Frisk asked. Gaster is capable of getting around, but what's the secret.
"I learnt it when the collapse started. The reality is messed up because of what you and Gaster, I suppose I should call him Gaster Ex now shouldn't I, Anyway, because of what he did in that timeline, I gained things I never had before. Knowledge, power, this is likely due to being where I was at the time of the collapse."
"Didn't you just say that Gaster EX was the one who caused the collapse. Why would he agree to help Frisk by giving him those souls? It doesn't make any sense."
"Quite the opposite actually, he saw Frisk as the perfect test subject for it. He acted as their ally until the day came. Once Frisk took part in the experiment was when he revealed what had been planning, But that is when the unusual event happened that created the Soul of Judgement." Said Gaster
"The Soul Of Judgement…" Said Sans in a soft tone.
"But with those three combining, it created another trait, the fourth trait within him," Gaster stated, he pulled up his own diagram on his theory of what happened with that incident.
"The fourth was 'Commitment' wasn't that right." Gaster turned to Frisk.
"That's right. I believe the fourth trait was what created that soul in the first place. I can't say for sure" He quickly replied
"That's exactly what happened, Gaster EX injecting you with the human soul's Justice, Patience was his original plan, he needed to see that his research was a success."
"excuse me G. the real question is how did the souls fuse together."
"I'm currently unsure of the cause, but my guess is that we're wrong in thinking that the fourth trait 'Commitment' wasn't created until after the fusion, but instead occurred before when all the souls touched, that reaction probably caused them to fuse. Which resulted in the Soul of Judgement."
"frisk Ex, what exactly happened with you and Gaster Ex," Sans asked
Frisk looked in the other direction. It was a very faint memory, but now that Sans brought it up it was actually a combined effort that caused the collapse. Retracing his steps he told Sans his story after before and after getting the trait of Judgement.
"Well. I can tell you how it played out if i remember correctly."
*Gaster! You betrayed Frisk of all people he was only here because he was hurt and you used him as a test subject. I did not bring him here for that! The human women shouted. Like Frisk Ex mentioned the timeline progressed far enough for the seal to be broken. As of right now humanity and monster kind were at peace. Except for a few major things that occurred over the course of that peace.
*Sorry, but your usefulness has come to a close.
Gaster looked at Sans, now drained his power, and no longer capable of doing anything.
*ah, gaster I should have known there was something up with you. that day, what you told me didn't add up.
*it's your fault Sans, if you didn't bother with the kid, this wouldn't have had to happen.
Gaster looked at the machine. Dubbed the EX Machine.
A burst of light came from the EX machine. All parties were lifted off their feet. The women flew against the wall as was Gaster, Frisk who had stepped down from the machine was struggling with something.
A dormant force pushed them with more force than before. With a sudden explosion. Frisk fell to his knees, holding the vessel of his new soul. He stared at Sans who sacrificed everything to keep him alive. He clenched his teeth.
*Gaster..you've caused enough pain to everyone, if this is what you had been planning for the last year...then I shall no longer see you as a friend. Only..an enemy! And for that, I am committed to taking. You. down!
The vessel filled up quickly, his appearance changed, his clothes took on a rapid change as well, his soul was shining between four colours.
Opening his eyes, Glowing both orange and Cyan. Exactly like Sans
*haha, J.P I like it
Sans smiled
*Patience Exceeded. Justice Exceeded. Determination Exceeded, Commitment Exceeded
Gaster. It's over.
The soul in front of him. He held it in his hand. It formed around him like a barrier and encased his being before disappearing as if merging with him.
*Trait Of Judgement Acquired. Soul Of Judgement active.
Gaster wanted to talk. But Frisk didn't listen. He rose his hand, several dozens, hundreds of Gaster Blasters opened. There was bright light as all of them fired at once
Gaster Ex was a terrified by the result of his creation, but he wasn't prepared to die just yet and managed to disappear before the blast connected. Unable to fully understand what happened the attack still hit, causing massive damage to the building, as well as destroying the EX Machine which caused a chain reaction. The explosion was immediate and caused Frisk Ex to turn around to stop it. He held the explosion in one hand and prevented it from killing any more of his friends.
*kiddo, you have done it. you can certainly continue on with me…
Frisk Ex stood there contemplating his existence, sans was dying, All of it was going to disappear, he felt the feelings but because of this newfound strength it sucked him dry of those emotions, he was almost void. Does judgement really take this much out of you? Such a waste.
*Sans, can you walk
*I can manage somehow, what you need pal
*You have to get out of here. Tell the others that I probably won't be seeing them again.
*whoa dude, chill out you aren't going-
*Sans...can't you tell…
Frisk Ex moved to hold the explosion with both hands instead of one, he couldn't hold the thing back, somehow this was different, the chain reaction was too strong for him to contain! He held it back at the point of origin. Even Gaster EX and all his strength would have perished, and right now he is currently at his limit, he won't be able to hold it back any longer
*listen, kid, don't make promises you can't keep if you are coming back. You are coming back no matter what
He slowly stood to his feet, walked off out the door of the lab, Frisk Ex smiled, he really liked Sans, didn't he. The man he met, the first person he ever to call a friend. It feels weird thinking that far back. But he couldn't any longer.
The space around the explosion was distorting out, and Frisk Ex knew he couldn't hold it back, this was a problem, because this thing is going to wipe out this Timeline. The EX Machine was more than it appeared to be. A voice of his own echoed through him 'Judgement' calls for you.
*I shall not allow it.
Frisk Ex activated his special move *First Judgement A field or bubble quickly expanded around the explosion, with a flash of white light, the bubble turned to stone. Frisk Ex exhausted from his struggle depowered from the soul-powered form.
*I managed to prevent it for a short time…
*Oh how desperate of you Frisk. Stopping the Ex Machine's self-destruction.
*You plan on wiping out this plane of existences. I will do nothing but try and stop you. No matter where you are.
*What are you talking about. I don't want to wipe just this one. I want to erase everything. All the Timelines. Starting with this one. Also thanks for providing the final pieces I can finally fuse with all 4 of the 'True Souls'
*What...when did you
Gaster Ex summoned a multi-coloured Gaster Blaster, it held the power of all four of those souls! If that hits, it will destroy First Judgement. Unable to prevent the attack, the stone cracked, allowing for the explosion to take place. Frisk Ex's soul was cracked, but before it could break to pieces. He was thrust into a rift that encased his entire body, disappearing along with the rift.
Frisk Ex finished explaining all that he remembers of his time in that Timeline, to them, Gaster only knew vague details of what happen. He scratched his head trying to remember any other details, but that was all there was.
"that's a lot of information to take in. you seem to have gone through a lot"
"thanks, I didn't think this would all happen at first. Guess it really just shows you that you don't know what the future holds"
"So you remembered all that. How did you regain those memories so quickly." Gaster asked
"When I fought with you and died it clicked in my head. Not just that, though, being in my soul-form gave me the awareness to remember the details. I don't remember everything, only the collapse"
"Just don't go judging me now. I'm usually the one doing that…"
"Just don't go around looking for a fight. I can't really fight normally because of my weakness." Frisk Ex said "It's stupid but I named my weakness Zero Judgement, prevents me from doing anything to others. Even using telekinesis, it's useless. It's like a curse." Said Frisk, he scratched his head. He really hated telling people that. It made him look really useless. It contradicts the name of having a Soul of Judgement.
"That certainly remains to be seen, such a weakness."
Gaster stopped Sans there.
"Against either of us maybe, but given it's an enemy that deserves to die. I regret to be in their shoes."
"I realise that much, but given it's an enemy that isn't capable of receiving Judgement he would be as effective as Flowey"
"But, you told me about that other function that it has right," Gaster said directed towards Frisk Ex
"That function is stressful to use. It's a bypass function. Think of it as a special attack. It makes me really tired."
"You didn't look tired when we fought. You used it to bring Sans into that dimension." Gaster said
"Commitment. It doesn't matter how much strength I lose, or how wounded I am. I will continue."
"Kiddo, that makes this whole thing make a lot more senses." Sans held his shoulder, it seems he agrees with it all.
"Gaster, could the Ex Machine be what I think it is" Alphys suddenly spoke up, he was listening to the conversation for awhile now. He had a theory on what the EX Machine could have been for its actual use.
"Sorry- Uh, yes Frisk Ex, I must ask. When you had entered the EX Machine as an experiment with Sans in that timeline, that was how you gained his power, but Gaster EX also added in the souls to the Machine right? Well, I've been wondering, we have a DT Machine that acts in a similar fashion. Could it be that the Ex Machine is the opposite of the DT Machine."
"Wait, you aren't assuming that are you!" Gaster quickly snapped
"Well yes, my conclusion is that the EX Machine, rather than extracting traits from souls, it fuses them together, by using the soul of the individual to extract it into themselves."
"That is certainly a possibly, I didn't notice the souls were with me. They were probably injected into the other compartment." Frisk Ex Is certainly surprised about the outcome. So it's not how Gaster mentioned it at all. It was, in fact, the machine. But there are plenty of other possibilities for the fusion to have occurred and he wasn't going to quickly write off any of them yet.
"That explains why the fusion happened. So Gaster EX wanted this to happen. But you proved too strong for him at the time, so he skipped ahead and tried to complete his plan faster than he wanted."
"Thanks, Alphys, you certainly have a great mind, and a great future ahead of you" Gaster seemed happy with his work, certainly someone was capable of taking on his role as royal scientist after all
"One more thing, Frisk Ex, tell me. What happened to the original Frisk, the personality of the boy you merged with."
He had a vague and familiar memory of the first time he met Flowey in the ruins.
"Frisk remained himself until after I fought Toriel, When I merged with him, he was undergoing a shift. That shift gave him headaches and constant body pains. His own soul needed to readjust. But instead, it just fused with the soul I had. I have no idea what impact that has had on the three souls I have. But I can assume it just enforced the soul I originally had. More likely connected to Determination."
"I see..so he is gone then." Said Sans glancing at the monitor.
"No, he is still around, if for any reason I leave this body he would more than likely return, but the only problem with that is that he wouldn't have a soul anymore."
"So he'd be soulless…" Gaster added, "We can assume that we won't be seeing that Frisk anymore then."
"Probably not, but I won't let him go in vain. We need to fix this multiverse problem we have." Frisk tried to change the subject. Which ended up working.
"Alphys, do you have anything yet." Said Gaster he floated towards him, looking at what he was typing done. The information was data on recent Timeline. Gaster upgraded the system to detect certain anomalies.
"Yes, we have finally located the first rift, this is where most of the interference is coming from. With what you gave me Gaster, this is certainly the entrance to Ex-Timeline. It's small, you sure you can do this?" She turned her chair around to see their faces. Didn't look too happy about the discovery.
"Gaster, could you get us to that rift by chance?" Frisk Ex asked
"Of course," Gaster stated
"We need to fast then don't we if we want to prevent the destruction of the whole multiverse," Gaster added afterwards.
Before leaving Gaster needed to take the time to give Alphys a few things before taking off, of course, once the others arrive to see that the three of them are gone. They'll want to know why, and they certainly don't want to be annoyed by the fact they were sent there for no reason. Given the situation was thrust upon them by Sans and a little bit from Gaster.
Sans and Frisk Ex who was fine just by being called Frisk. Went outside to chat for the moment.
"hey kid, it's weird getting to know you different from what I remember, but I hope you understand something. whatever happens, I'll protect you no matter what, i still got a promise to keep, and I don't plan on breaking it" Sans said
"Thanks, Sans, when I first realised what had happened to me, I wasn't quick to explain the situation as much as I should have. But I'm glad you accept me for who I am now."
"Hey kid, as long as you stay who you are right now, we got no problems, just do go resetting on me. If there is anything you could do to anger me now. That you couldn't in the future. Is resetting. You have a great power, as well as another, and those who have special power should take responsibility for it."
"Use it for good right. I understand."
Sans quickly stopped himself...did...he just doom everything.
"Alright, we are ready to take off." Gaster exited the lab to tell them.
"we're ready.." Sans answered back, hovering over to their position he gripped their shoulders and disappeared in a blink, following their disappearance. Footsteps slowly crept forth from the entrance of waterfall, this person. Holding a knife in hand, they smiled with a wicked expression.
Pop. the three of them having closed in on the rift, not reside right outside of it. But Gaster did not wish to enter
"Why aren't you going to come with us?" Frisk asked
"It's because of the nature of the travel if Gaster goes over to that Timeline. There is no way of knowing if we could get back if the rift closes." Sans quickly replied, he seemed aware.
"But the rifts will not close."
"I understand that child, but. You will need a quick escape if anything turns out badly, and I've made my decision. I shall not go with you. I will wait for your return." Gaster hovered back he is sound on the matter and didn't want a rejection to his answer.
"I guess it's just us kid"
Frisk nodded silently, he gripped his shoulder, and sans disappeared along with them. Quickly entering a rough space. Sans couldn't control the area on landing and instead crashed into a building. The impact was immediately saved by Frisk Ex using his powers for the first time in front of him.
"Thanks, kid, i see now what you look like. Make sure to keep your strength up, though. We don't know what we will face from here."
"Sans..were in the surface world. Just..so you know…"
He looked around to gather his head, it was so different from the underground.
"It clear now that Frisk from our time completed a pacifist run. Because I felt like I've been here before."
"How do you feel-"
"Not particularly happy Frisk...not at all, I'm lazy, not stupid. These sort of things, once I know it makes me furious, and now I'm thinking that it's because of this reality collapse that is imminent that made me forget that."
"K..I'm done"
"We do need to continue from here. I know the way" Frisk pointed towards the direction
They both teleported away.
Sans and Frisk appeared near a grassy field. On the outskirts, the breeze really kept Sans quiet for a second. He enjoyed the feeling of the air caressing against his bones.
"Get it, caressed bones."
"Seriously sans...is this really the time."
"I suppose not"
They turned, the house they were at was where Frisk wanted to go, the place was pretty well maintained. The surface world was fantastic as everyone said it was. Looking over the other directions Sans, knew that his brother would truly find this place spectacular.
"Haha"
"What is it?"
"I just realised that if my brother saw this, he would want to shake the hands of all the humans...though generally, it's not quite the same because we haven't really been following a narrow path as we always have. Have we.."
"Sans, I believe this is changing you. You seem so much different."
"It's not so bad to be straight for once. I don't mind changing, the only things I do are useless, because of the situation we have been for so long. I gave up Frisk, but I think I may try a little more."
"Before you say that, I think you will need to meet a few people. I'm not sure if they still live here. But hopefully, they haven't gone out." Frisk pointed towards the entrance. They stepped around the front and went to the door to open it.
With little surprise, the door opened itself. Now the real stuff begins.
"Frisk!" Undyne was standing at the door, surprised by the heavens! She quickly took him in her arms so relieved to see that he was safe this entire time. She didn't even care about the other Sans standing there. She has always missed the important stuff.
"Where have you been, it's been 3 months! I'm going to roast you for sure!"
"Whoa! Calm down, you greeted me kindly, now you want to roast me. Where's the sense in that!" Frisk shocked by her responses!
"Roasted down to the bone. Right?" Sans came to the door giggling not even at least bit surprised by his return. He stopped..looking at the other sans in the doorway.
"Now that spooked me to the bone!"
The other sans said, Sans counters.
"Now that sent chills down my spine"
They quickly got acquainted with each other, Frisk just rolled his eyes to their casual greeting, did they even care that they just met themselves. I suppose they will get around to it.
"Don't look like that, I've always wanted to do this with myself."
"Yep" the other sans answered as well
"Frisk, come come, there has been a lot going on. We need your help actually."
After a long and eventful chat with everyone, The two sans just kept together for awhile, Frisk explained the details of the situation with them. It would appear somethings have been occurring in this timeline as well. Which needed to be resolved as soon as possible. The explosion at Gaster's Lab has been widely known. Frisk was a wanted person himself along with Gaster Ex, and Alphys. Alphys has always surrendered to the police. And did not up much of a fight.
"Sans!"
Frisk hugged his Sans, the one he left behind, the one he thought that died. He was more than a friend to him, but the two kept close for the longest time. So it was an unfair separation when everything happened.
Leaning up against the fence, with his pockets full, Sans looked at their reunion carefully, he didn't get much out of him before. But this Sans seemed to take the full of it. He got slightly jealous.
"So what's your deal," Sans said
"I'm bone flat. No power, I'm just a spooky skeleton.." Sans answered
"I heard, how does it feel?"
"At first it did sit well, but hey, I feel more alive. Hahaha."
Frisk just glared in the other direction, are these two just going to joke around back and forth with their bad jokes all day, this isn't any normal conversation.
"I'm glad you feel that way"
"I can say that it feels nice not having to take responsibility for anything anymore. But I do miss getting around." Sans scratched his skull
"Nah, that is the worse."
"Guys, we have a problem!" Toriel said, she quickly came outside to get them.
"What is it.." Frisk turned
"Gaster…" She answered
