1989..
I was sleeping pretty good until someone knocked at my door. It was a soft knock. Probably someone in the neighborhood come to annoy me with their small problem. Again. I snuggled myself into the couch where I lay and ignored them, but they began knocking harder. After a few moments.. silence..
Good. They left.
They beat on the door.
"Alright, I'm coming!" I shouted out.
I rolled off the couch and got my coat on, along with some tattered old slippers I had. I was a mess and so was this house, but they would just have to deal with it. I grudgingly marched towards the door, already regretting having said anything, if I hadn't, they probably would have gone away. Calm down Semi. If they do need your help don't scream at'em for coming to you. Like every single person in this town..
I reached to unlock the door, but stopped short when I heard whoever was outside begin talking. I leaned against the door to listen for a moment to try and figure out who it might be.
"Do you think he's even, like, home?" I faintly heard.
"He has to be. It is too early for work, and too late for him to be at the Rift." I heard Arial's voice.
I quickly moved away from the door and pressed myself against the wall.
Why is she here? I never thought she'd come back after she stormed out on me over a year ago! Was she coming to gloat? To tell me how well off she was with that loser Tahoma? Why was..?
I heard her sigh and knock against the door, with her head it sounded like.
"Maybe he knows.." she sighed.
"D-don't think that Arial! As stubborn and mean as your father is, he's nothing compared to mine!" Tahoma told her as I heard him come up the steps.
Then heard.. babbling..? It sounded like a kid. A baby..?
Oh stars. They have a kid now?! Are they dropping it off on me out of spite? Or are they going to wave it in my face and make me suffer?!
"I don't know.." Arial gasped for breath. "After everything I said to him.. I would not be surprised if he called the Guard on us.." she began to cry.
"Arial.." Tahoma said in a comforting tone.
I'd never do that to you Arial.. You were right in everything you said anyway.. I never should have yelled at you and.. said the things I said..
"What are we going to do..?" she gasped.
"Don't worry Arial! If we have to.. We'll just live in a cavern somewhere! Together!" Tahoma told her encouragingly.
"Tahoma.. We can't do that." she told him. "Sans deserves a better life than that." she said.
Sans..? Heh, a boy than?
"B-but-!" Tahoma stuttered.
"We can't even take care of ourselves.. Much less a child.." she sniffled as I walked back over to the door. "We need to find someone who can take care of him properly." she stated.
HOLY-! I quickly unlocked the door and swung it open, catching them both off guard.
"Whoa there! D-don't do that!" I quickly said in a panic.
"Dad!" Arial yelped in fear.
"He's YOUR kid Arial! You can't give him up like that!" I sternly told her. "That goes for you too boy!" I shouted at Tahoma.
"I wasn't planning too!" he flinched.
"Why the heck would you even consider that?! You're better than that Arial!" I told her in anger.
"It is a bit hard to raise a child when you have no income, and no home." she told me with tears still in her eye-sockets.
"No..? You lost the house?" I asked her.
The entire underground had been in a a bit of an economic depression the past few years, so I wouldn't be too surprised to hear that that had happened to them, like so many others. The whole situation was hitting everyone hard, and wasn't helping the crime rate any..
"Well, a small income, really." Tahoma said as he adjusted his grip on Sans. "Office work doesn't pay like it used to these days." he stated.
My focus got stuck on the baby bones in his arms. The little guy was smiling and babbling away happily. He was a stark contrast to his parent's mood right now.
"We did not lose very much.." Arial said, turning my attention back to her. "Of course, we, hah, did not have much to lose in the first place." she tried to laugh off.
"Well you got a lot to lose now." I told her.
"T-that's why we are here.. Dad.." she said as the faint smile she had disappeared.
"Arial. No. You are not dropping this kid on me. He's YOUR responsibility not mine." I crossed my arms.
She winced with anger, and held back from yelling at me.
"That's not it DAD." she strained to say calmly. "We came to ask you if.. if we.." she hesitated.
"If we could, like, move in for.. a few weeks? Months, possibly..?" Tahoma uneasily finished for her.
I looked between them both. They looked tired. Worn out. Even a bit beaten. They had one suitcase sitting behind them, the one Arial left with over a year ago, and that was it. All else they had was the clothes on their back, and a kid.
"In this economy, you could end up here for the rest of the year." I stated. "Not sure my own paycheck can handle that." I told them.
Everything but the taxes, literally thank Asgore, had risen in price over the pass year alone. I had to really stretch my gold even just for me alone, eating more leftovers, cutting coupons, so on and so on. I even disconnected a lot of electronics to keep the energy bill down.
You'd think I'd get a discount for that given all the work I did on the CORE..
"Tahoma still has his job, for what little it pays, a-and I plan to keep looking for one!" Arial was quick to tell me.
"It will all go to supporting Sans. We will keep up our own expenses, I promise!" Tahoma added.
"I dunno.." I leaned against the door frame. "That little baby bones is a growing bones, and he's only going to get more expensive as time goes on." I stated. "You really think you can keep up with him?" I asked.
"Dad.. please.." Arial said softly, holding back more tears. "We don't have anywhere else to turn.." she told me with wide teary eyes.
Splinters.. When Arial starts using contractions you know she's upset..
I looked back at Tahoma, who had a desperate expression, much like Arial. Sans noticed me and laughed with his hands flailing about towards me. They really didn't have anywhere else to go. And I didn't want Arial to have to give Sans up. I don't want him to grow up like she did. Alone.. He doesn't deserve that.
This is going to be a rough few years with all of them around..
"Alright.." I sighed as I stood up straight. "You keep up your expenses with the kid and yourselves, and I'll let you stay for free until you get some solid jobs." I told them. "I also expect you to keep up your part of the house, and not make a mess of any of it." I sternly stated.
"O-of course!" Tahoma replied nervously.
"Thank you.." Arial sighed with relief.
"Now.." I turned back to Sans. "Sans is it?" I asked.
Sans looked at me attentively.
"If you wake me up in the middle of the night, you're going to have a-"
"Dad." Arial stopped me.
"What? I was going to say a story time." I shrugged.
She groaned.
"Get your.. stuff, Arial." I told her, forgetting she only had the one suitcase. "We can discuss details later after you've, well, rested." I stated. "You both look like you haven't slept in days." I commented.
"We haven't." they both said.
"Now you understand the stress of parenthood, heh." I said. "Congratulations!" I winked.
"Thanks.. Dad.." Arial told me as her sleep deprivation really kicked in on her.
"No problem.. Arial." I replied.
We shared a quiet moment smiling at each other.. It was great to see her again after what had happened between us. I thought I had lost her trust completely.. But I guess she still trusts me somewhat to come to me for help. I was glad to have her back, regardless of the circumstances. Especially after losing Calibri over the same argument so long ago..
Stars. She looks so much like her now, heh.
Sans started kicking up a fuss, right on cue, and Tahoma seemed unsure how to handle it.
"Hand'em here. Let a pro handle it." I offered him.
He glanced at Arial, and she nodded to him. He handed the baby bones down to me and I cradled him in my arms. He was sniffling, all upset over nothing, like babies do. He was probably hungry or.. or..
Oh my stars..
"He's.. He's like a little mini me..!" I squealed from the cuteness, and his obvious resemblance of me. "I should rename you Semi Junior!" I held him out and said.
"No." Arial calmly objected.
"Who's a cute little baby bones?" I tickled him. Sans squealed and laughed. "Yes, make no bones about it, you are the CUTEST little guy in the underground!" I laughed.
"Oh my god.. He is already making puns.." Arial groaned.
"That's a good thing though, right?" Tahoma asked her.
"I guess so.." she sighed.
"Hey!" I shouted at them both. "What are you slackers still doing out here? Get your baggy faces into bed!" I told them. "You got to be a good example to your kid here." I winked.
Arial gave me tired smile. Tahoma sighed with relief.
"Me and you have to catch up!" I poked Sans' little face. "Name's Semi by the by." I let him grab my finger to shake. "I'm.." I paused as the reality set in. "I'm your grandpa.." I whimpered with joy.
"Oh Daddy.." Arial laughed.
Oh daddy indeed.. I'm such a sucker for cuteness..
1999..
"DAD!" Arial slammed my office door open.
I fell out of my seat at the desk and hit the floor like a rock. The papers I was working on flew off with me and floated down all around me in a shower of potential paper cuts. I shuffled past them around my desk and found Arial standing in a panic crying.
"W-what is it?" I asked her as I got up.
"It's Papyrus. I- we-" she gasped to say.
"Calm down girl. What about Papyrus?" I calmed her.
"He's lost in the old mine shaft on the east side of of the city!" she told me in a panic.
"Lost? What's he even doing in there?" I asked her, trying not to add to her panic.
"We took our eyes off the boys for just a few minutes, and next thing I knew, Sans was telling me Papyrus gotten trapped in the shaft!" she told me. "They apparently had wondered near it and.. Oh my god Dad you have to go find him!" she panicked.
"Calm down. I'll get a team together and we'll get in there right away." I gestured to calm her. "He's probably fine. Papyrus is a pretty hardy kid." I encouragingly told her.
"Probably?!" she kept panicking.
"CALM DOWN!" I shouted.
"There's just no safe way in Sir." one of the Guards told me after we had looked over the collapsed entrance into the mine.
It was a steep entrance leading downward, meaning the collapse probably fell deeper in on the other side. I hoped Papyrus was able to get out of the way as it came down. And the Guards were right, if we tried to clear this out with magic, it would only collapse more. The question on my mind right now though, is how did it collapse in the first place? This shaft was old and out of use, but the supports for it were steady last I had heard.
I walked back up the sloping path and found Sans to question him. He explained to me him and Papyrus had come just to look at the shaft, having heard the local myth going around about treasure being buried in there. Papyrus got a little eager mcbeaver over it and wanted to go in. That's when the collapse happened and they were separated.
"Don't worry boy. I'll find'em." I pat his head.
I went back down to the wall of rock, and all the Guards eyes were on me, waiting for my orders. I thought back to my mining days and remembered that most mine shafts had an alternate entrance, just for this kind of situation. This old shaft probably had another entrance nearby but I wasn't sure about where it would be.
"Split up and see if you can find another way in along the cavern wall here." I ordered the Guards.
"Yes Sir! "Captain!" they all responded, taking off right away in the search.
I looked back at the rocks before me, and tried to see if I could find a way in from here without making the situation worse. There was no gaps, no loose rocks, nothing for me to physically get through it without using magic. At least, not normal magic.
I glanced back up the path that led down here and saw the Guards I had stationed to keep people away. They had their backs to me..
I turned back to the rocks and summoned my magic in my hand, along with WP. I focused in on the open space behind the rocks, feeling it with my magic and mind. I slapped my gravity magic into the magic in my hand to tear open a small anomaly, and was instantly transported to the other side of the rocks. I fell out of the anomaly I created and hit the rocky ground gasping for breath. Even now, with all the experience I had, doing that was never easy. It was never easy on my soul either. But I was over here now, and that's all I cared about.
"Papyrus!? Where are'ya sonny?" I yelled out for him as I got up.
I looked back at the collapse and didn't see him among the rocks, so he must have escaped it. He's probably just ahead of me than, looking for a way out.
Or knowing him; looking for that mythical treasure..
I wondered down the dark narrow cavern, eventually finding and lighting a lantern to help light the way, and found no signs of the boy. I kept calling for him but got no answer. I kept checking the rock in the walls of the cavern, trying my best to judge how deep I was, and how close I was to Hotland. I had been going downhill for quite some time, so I wouldn't be surprised to see some harden lava rock in here eventually.
I heard what sounded like a bark suddenly echo from one of the paths before me. I held the lantern towards it and summoned a bone sword to defend myself with. Just in case..
Dark caverns were not exactly my favorite places to be alone.
"Papyrus?" I called out.
No answer.
I cautiously walked further down the path, holding the lantern out ahead of me. Some bits of rock suddenly crumbed from the wall, scaring me half to death. Then I heard what sounded like footsteps coming towards me.
Whatever it was began to growl at me.
I clipped the lantern to my belt and tried to see what it was I was facing as I held my sword at the ready and prepared for a fight.
A skeletal beast walked into the light from the lantern with its head low, ready to pounce me at a moment's notice. I flinched back in fear, but kept my magic in check. They barked at me and got ready to attack, digging their claws into the ground.
"No!" a little voice cried out. "Bad Noto!" Papyrus ran in from behind sternly scolding the beast. "That's my granpa! Don't attck em!" he told it.
"Papyrus?! Are you alright son?" I asked him.
"Wook granpa! I did a summuun!" he told me with wide eyes filled with pride.
"A summon..? YOU summoned this?" I asked him in surprise.
"Mm-hm! I named et too!" he smiled. "Its name's Noto!" he told me.
The small dragon like beast walked behind Papyrus, taking a defensive position to protect him as it looked at me with distrust. I could sense a soul in it, meaning this was NOT a summon, but it was a very weak soul, almost non-existent. It also felt.. familiar..? I wasn't going to tell Papyrus any of that though of course.
"Noto fond me and is elping me find a ways outaf here!" Papyrus told me. "And naw that you're loss too, we can works togather!" he said happily despite the scuffs and scrapes he had on his face.
I chuckled at the little guy. Lost and trapped in a dark cave all alone, yet, still so positive. Told'ya he was a hardy one Dot.
"You bet your boots we'll find a way out of here Papster." I told him as I slipped my summoned sword between my belt. "Come on. Let's solve this puzzle together." I offered my hand to him.
The beast quickly slipped its head under him, getting him onto its back. It barked and walked around me, leering my way with continued distrust. It was very protective of Papyrus for some reason.
"No Noto! Granpa goo guy!" Papyrus slapped its head.
The beast whimpered and its tail fell to the floor.
"Itso okay Noto." he rubbed its head. "We'ill get out soon." he comforted it.
"Stick close Noto." I reached out to pet it, but it growled at me so I quickly brought my hand back before I lost it.
"Es 'ungry." Papyrus informed me.
Yeah. Hungry for my juicy bones it looks like..
In time, I got us back to the way I came in. The debris was still blocking the way of course, and there was no way I could transport us all to the other side. I would have to clear the debris and rush us out.
Noto suddenly got Papyrus off of them, dumping him on the floor near me, and then run back down the path.
"Noto!" Papyrus called after them. Noto looked back. "Thank you!" he happily shouted with a wave at them.
Noto held its tail high with pride, barked, and ran off into the dark cavern. More proof that it was not a summon. I had no time to think about what it really was right now though, I had to decide how I was going to go about getting us past this.
"Whats you gonna do now Granpa Semi?" Papyrus asked me.
"I'm gonna blast this wall of debris out of the way." I told him.
"You're gonna use tha blasters?!" he exclaimed in excitement.
"Probably." I replied as I debated it for a moment. "Stand close to me." I pulled him over.
He grabbed hold of me and waited.
"Now here's what I'm going to do, just so you're aware." I told him as I decided. "I'm going to blast right through the center here, and we're going to rush through before the rest of the ceiling caves in on us. Got it?" I explained to him.
He held onto me tighter and grunted an answer.
"Alright. I'm going to use my gravity magic on both of us, so get ready to fly." I told him as I summoned a blaster. "Clear the way!" I yelled out, just in case someone was on the other side.
I fired the blaster in one quick burst and immediately tossed us both forward right behind the shot. I gave Papyrus a second toss ahead of me, and I landed just short of the cavern entrance while he flew ahead another 10 feet. The cavern came crumbling down on me and I instinctively summoned a blaster to hold it up above me. As soon as it hit, the blaster hit my head and I was now physically holding it up.
Something I can't exactly do..!
"Captain!" I heard one of the Guards exclaim.
I began edging my way from out under the blaster as the Guards hurried over to use their magic to hold the rocks up. I came out from under the collapsing rock and recalled my blaster. The rocks collapsed behind me and made me flinch as the thought of being crushed ran through my mind.
"Papyrus!" Arial can running up. She grabbed him and looked him over. "Are you alright?! Did you get hurt?" she asked him.
"Is he alright?" Tahoma asked as he joined her.
"Yeah don't worry about me over here nearly getting crushed.." I waved.
"It was so cool Mommy! I did a summuun!" Papyrus told her excitedly. "And ten granpa fond me, and I got to see his blaster attck!" he continued.
"I'd advise NOT poking around old mine shafts again." I walked up dusting my hands off. "That goes for both of you." I looked at Sans nearby.
He shrink back with a nervous smile.
"I'm just glad you are alright." Arial hugged Papyrus.
"D-don't EVER wonder off like that again!" Tahoma tried to say with fatherly authority.
He was more worried than angry at them, heh.
"Sir! Do you want us to close off the area?" one of the Guards suddenly asked me.
"It's a little late for that don't'cha think?" I asked him sarcastically.
They didn't reply.
"Yes! Close it off!" I shouted at them.
"Captain Semi!" another Guard shouted at me from a distance. "One of the teams found another entrance down this way!" they told me.
"Tell'em we got Papyrus out and they can close it off!" I ordered.
"Yes Sir!" they replied before running back.
Another Guard came frantically running towards me from the city.
It just never ends does it?
"Semi-!" they gasped.
"What is it?" I asked as they got to me and caught their breath.
"It's King Asgore Sir, he's on his way here after hearing about someone getting trapped in the shaft!" he told me.
"Of course he is." I face palmed. "I better go stop him and tell him it's all under control." I sighed. "He's going to want a full report anyway.." I groaned.
"Dad." Arial stopped me. "Thank you." she said with fear in her voice still.
I winked at her and continued on to meet Asgore.
200X..
"So far things have been quiet in the rest of the Underground. But New Home as of late has been.. a bit nasty." I reported to Asgore.
"Do you like flowers Asriel? Hm?" he cooed at his young son as he sat near some flowers growing on a vine around an old column. "One day you may have a garden of your own. Wouldn't that be nice?" he continued.
Completely, and rightfully, ignoring me.
Once again, his new family was distracting him from the rest of the underground. And from all the increased violence that was arising. Was I really the only one who cared about it around here? Even some of the Guard think I'm over thinking things lately.
They just think I'm too old for this, that's what it is.
"Alright you two, time to get washed up for dinner." Toriel announced as she entered the cavern behind me. "Oh, Semi, it is nice to see you." she greeted me.
"Queen Toriel." I bowed.
"Please, there is no need for that." she laughed in embarrassment.
"Hungry little one?" Asgore asked Asriel as he held him up in the sunlight coming in from above.
Asriel of course just babbled out noises and laughed, but for a dad, that's all you need; a happy little smile and a joyful giggle. Reminds me of my days handling Arial, heh.
"Here, let me take him so you can talk with Semi." Toriel offered.
Asgore gave him up to her and she took the little puffball with her as she left. Asgore sighed as he watched them leave, then looked up at the sunlight coming through the cracks above. He had a hopeful look about him as he let the light fill his eyes. He seemed content. Calm. At peace. It had been some time since I last saw him this happy. And all I had was bad news for him..
"Do forgive me Semi. My mind is quite divided these days." he apologized to me.
"It's no problem. I understand how much attention a family can take." I told him, feeling a bit like a hypocrite in saying that seeing as I actually spent little time with them on a personal level.
"Indeed. You have two grandsons taking all your attention these days, don't you?" Asgore smiled at me as he walked over.
"Well, they're both in school now so they don't take too much of my time." I said with a smile as I thought about the little baby bones.
"That is good to hear! That they are in school that is." Asgore laughed. "Now, back to your report. You said something about New home?" he then asked me.
He was still smiling. Still hopeful. I didn't want to ruin that. He had enough to worry about himself. A kingdom to rule, a son to raise.. I've handled things by myself pretty well so far. And that old monster hasn't shown its face in years now, neither has Mystrium. There's no need to get him involved and worried.
Right..?
"New Home's d-doing fine actually. We had a rough patch this last week, but, t-the Guard handled it well." I told him. Lied to him.
"Good to hear." he smiled. "Specking of, will you be heading back there now? Or can you possibly stay for dinner?" he then asked me.
"T-thank you Asgore, but, I really should be heading back. The Royal Guard routes need to be redone with the new recruits I just got." I told him. Lied to him.
"Are you sure? I feel you take very little time off these days Semi. You really must give yourself a break now and then. Especially on nice days such as these." he stated.
"Believe me I wish I could." I sighed.
"Do have a safe trip then. And say hello to your family for me." he told me.
"I will." I replied.
I left the cavern and began walking through what was left of Home. Very few monsters lived here now, even with Asgore and Toriel moving here to raise Asriel for a few years, away from the big city, and under the sunlight that peeked through the rock here. I pushed aside my childhood memories of the place and focused on getting back to New Home as quick as possible. I had this horrible feeling of dread telling me I needed to be there.
Please don't be another Goner. Let me have a normal work day for once.
I sat back in my chair in my office, counting the minutes away until the work day was done. I glanced at the paperwork on my desk, glad to see I had shrunk the stack a bit over the past hour. I wasn't going to do anymore though. It was starting to give me a headache..
Just a few more minutes Semi. Then you can go home. Eat. Maybe read those kids a bedtime story. Then go to bed yourself.
What am I saying? I'm just going straight to bed..
I leaned back and propped my feet up on the desk. I glanced around the room and reminisced about poor Mystrium. Where was he now I wondered? Was there any chance of seeing him again? For him to come take this job back? I pulled my feet down and spun around in my chair to try and distract my mind.
Mystrium, lost in his confusion. Moshi and Calibri, lost in anomalies. W.D.. lost..
So much for distraction.
You're stuck with this gig Semi'ol boy. No one's coming back. Not unless you finish the Rift, which, may never happen. Maybe it shouldn't happen..
I stopped spinning, and thought about it; the Rift. Arial's already talked me out of working on it for a time.. But I can't stop completely. I'm too close. Too close to changing time and saving everyone I lost, no matter the risk. I HAVE to do it.
But could it be.. that I'm wrong about that..?
"CAPTAIN!" one of the Guards burst in yelling.
I fell clean out of my chair from shock.
"I just received word of a fight in progress!" he quickly told me.
"A fight?! Where?" I got up rubbing my head.
"In the old downtown area! Witnesses say it's a gang fight Sir!"
"Well why haven't'ya sent a team in already? What are you waiting for?!"
"Sir." he said in a quieter tone. "There was also a report stating that a Gaster Blaster had been heard on the scene." he told me clearly.
My entire body grew tense.
Who the heck was in that fight..?
I got a team assembled, and the guard who had made the report led us to the part of town where he had been told the battle was going on. I asked him at one point if he was sure about the way, but I got my answer from another source.
The sound of magic firing and making contact echoing through the street.
"Splints splints splints-!" I spat as I ran ahead of everyone towards it.
I ran down the street faster than the rest of the Guards with me, trying to reach the fight before someone got seriously hurt. If Gaster Blasters are involved.. It couldn't be Arial. The fight would be over before it started against her. Papyrus and Tahoma can't summon those things. So the only suspect left..
I tracked the noise to an alleyway, where I found a group of teens laying defeated on the ground. They had been roughed up pretty good by the looks of'em. And I quickly found out by whom.
"Sans!" I shouted at him.
He stood before them holding out a Gaster Blaster, pointed right at the group of defeated, and defenseless, monsters. He didn't hear me, as he didn't react to my shouting, and just stood motionless with the blaster ready.
I sensed.. Dread.
Sans.. He planned to kill them!
Before I could move to stop him, Papyrus tumbled out from some nearby debris. He looked like he had been in the middle of all this. What in the name of Asgore was HE doing here?
"Sans stop!" Papyrus ran over to him shouting. "You already beat them let them go!" he pleaded.
"Get back Papyrus!" Sans shoved his little brother aside.
Papyrus got right back up and ran between the monsters and Sans, blocking his shot.
"Get out of the way Papyrus!" Sans yelled at him.
Sans soul.. I could sense it, and it was on the verge of becoming corrupt. Corrupt with.. Sadness..? How could it be sadness?
"NO! This is wrong! You can't-.. You can't do anymore!" Papyrus told him bravely. "Sans, you know this is wrong! You beat them! If you fire your magic on them now, you will be no better than them!" he told him. "But I know you! You're not bad! You're good! You just need someone to remind you!" he proclaimed with a smile.
Sans took a sharp breath and tried to ignore his brother, who was standing defenseless before him, right in the line of fire and mortal danger without so much as a wince of fear in his expression. When Sans didn't pull out of his attack, Papyrus ran up and tried to push his arm back from coming down and releasing the blaster.
"I know you can do the right thing brother!" he panted. "I believe in you! Anyone can be a good person if they try!" he added.
Sans stood silent and still. No change. No reaction. No expression. I stepped closer as I heard the other Guards catch up. I quickly gestured for them to stay put while I approached Sans. I sensed his soul again.. It.. was different, suddenly?
"Promise Sans?" Papyrus said softly as he leaned against Sans' arm. "Promise me you won't ever hurt anyone ever again!" he said to him with tears in his eyes.
No response.
"Promise?!" he yelled out.
Sans flinched in surprise, and lowered his arm holding the blaster. The whole scene began to relax, so I quickly signaled the Guards behind me to round up the other monsters before they could escape.
"Promise.." I heard Sans sigh.
He recalled the blaster and Papyrus hugged him.
"See? I knew you could do it! You don't have to hurt anyone!" Papyrus told him happily. "You can be the good guy!" he added with a laugh.
As they had their moment, I held my hand out for one of the Guards to hand me a pair of magic-negating handcuffs. With these on, magic can't be used. Period. I waited for them to finish, Papyrus hopping back and looking at his brother with pride, and starting walking up behind Sans before he snapped out of his thoughts and noticed the Guards were here.
I quickly slapped the cuffs on him and held him in place as he began to panic. Papyrus gasped in surprise of me. I snapped a finger and had a Guard come grab him before he became a problem.
"Wait! Grandpa!" he cried as he was pulled away.
"Take this one with the others. Lock him in the very back of the dungeon." I ordered one of the guards as I tossed Sans to them.
"Yes Sir!" they caught him.
"Gramps! Wait! I-"
"Give him to me." I called for, grabbing Papyrus and walking him out to the street. "Get everyone sorted out for me. I'll be back within the hour." I told my lieutenant as I passed them.
"Grandpa! Why did you-"
"You're mother would have your hide if you had any boy!" I shouted at him. "Can't wait to tell her this, she will probably blame me.." I growled.
"But Semi!" he complained.
"Start walkin' or I'll drag you home boy!" I told him angrily.
He shrink back in fear but quickly matched his pace to mine.
Stars.. What has just happened..?
"Papyrus! What happened?!" Arial shouted when she saw him.
"He got involved in a nasty fight that's what." I told her.
"Fight?" she shivered.
"Yeah!" Papyrus answered her. "Sans tracked down these bad guys, and he was going to fight them alone, but I decided to follow him! He was winning until they caught me, but Sans rescued me and then he-"
"Beat the living daylights out of them?" I finished.
"Well.. Yeah!" he smiled. "But he didn't kill them!" he still smiled.
"WHAT?!" Arial and Tahoma gasped.
"You know what he almost killed them with? Gaster Blasters." I informed them.
"You can't be serious!" Tahoma reacted.
"Oh I'm serious. I saw it with my own two eye sockets. He had them all knocked down and was about to dust all of them at once." I told them.
"Sans.. Where is he?!" Arial realized.
"Dungeon. And he's staying there until I say otherwise." I quickly told her.
"Dad he's a kid!"
"A kid that's willing to kill Arial! Do you know what that means?!"
She drew back.
"But he didn't! He called the attack back!" Papyrus argued.
"Only because you stopped him; thank the Stars." I replied. "I'm handling this so the both of you STAY HERE." I sternly warned them. "I'll sort the boy out, since you two can't seem to keep him on the straight and narrow yourselves!" I yelled at them.
I slammed the door on my way out and began the walk back to the Barracks and the dungeon. I swear, if Sans thinks he can just go around doing whatever he wants, using magic like that..! He may find himself spending more than a few weeks in that dungeon!
I had to stop.
Why did I say that to them..? God dang it Semi..!
I looked back down the road towards the house and thought about going back and apologizing. No. No time for that right now. I have to go face Sans and figure out what's..
I have to find out if.. if it's too late to save him from the monster's influence.
I made some tea, took it to my office, and got to work on the paper work side of everything. I wanted to get it finished before talking with Sans, or with any of those creeps..
As I picked up my tea cup, I saw just how nervous I still was. It felt like my entire body was shaking in fear. Everything I was experiencing began to feel all too familiar. The of losing.. of nearly.. I put the cup down and let it go before my reaction reminded me of my brother..
Was I about to lose everyone else..?
I heard the clock on the wall sound a loud click, signaling the passing of another hour. I glanced up at it and realized it was 5 in the morning now. I've been here all night..
Some time later, I had the paper filed and logged away for Asgore to look at later, not that i expected him too. I also had one of the Guards bring in a plate of cookies for Sans. A meager thing considering what has happened. I made another cup of tea, but again, it failed to calm me. Even after three more cups of the stuff I was still shaking like a leaf.
All I could think about was seeing Sans holding a blaster out, ready to fire..
Ready to kill..
"Captain Semi!" a Guard called for my attention. "The prisoner you asked for is here." they informed me.
"Sit'em down." I sighed.
Sans was brought in by the guards and he sat down across the desk from me. He didn't so much as glance at me the entire time. He was still scuffed up from the fight, and his clothes were torn in multiple places. The kid looked rough as he sat quietly, staring towards the floor.
I broke the silence with an offer of tea and cookies, but he refused both. He could probably use the energy. I knew I did, but, like him, I wasn't much for eating right now..
Wasn't much for talking either, but I needed some answers.
After a few more silent minutes, I finally decided to speak.
"Want to take it from the top for me?" I asked him as I leaned forward on the desk.
He didn't respond.
"Why were you fighting them?" I tried next.
He mumbled something and looked to the side. I ignored his slight attitude and tried another, more important, question. I recalled Papyrus had said he was tracking the monsters, so everything that had happened he knew about well in advance and planned for.
"How come you didn't come to me about what was going on with them?" I asked him.
That question stuck a nerve with him.
"I TOLD YOU OVER A WEEK AGO!" he shouted at me.
"Hey!" I shouted back and slammed the desk. "Watch your tone boy. I'm not giving you any slack over this just because you're my grandson." I told him.
"Neither am I with you!" he replied in a hateful tone. "You call yourself a Royal Guard, but all you do is sit around while criminals get away with everything, because you never listen to anyone!" he shouted angrily.
"I did not have you brought in here to talk about me Sans, this is about YOU!" I replied in equal anger.
"Oh, sure, NOW you start noticing me!" he shrugged his hands and rolled his eyes. "I finally do something good, something you WANTED me to do, and I get punished for it!" he said.
"It's not exactly WHAT you did Sans it's HOW you did it!" I growled. "You almost killed all those monsters!" I gestured my hand out forcefully. "And how the heck did you even summon a blaster? I never taught you that." I asked him with a firm point his direction.
"I figured it out." he looked away from me.
"How? You're too young to be wielding magic like that." I replied.
"I just did okay?!" he shouted.
"Fine! But I better not catch you using it ever again, you hear?" I told him. "I didn't teach you how to use your magic in a fight so you could hurt others with it." I stated angrily.
"I thought that was the point? So I could learn to fight and become a Royal Guard!" he replied.
"I taught you all that so you could defend yourself!"
"Then why bother teaching me to fight back?"
In case.. you ever have to face that.. monster..
But I couldn't tell him that. I couldn't tell anyone that.
"Let's get back to the issue here." I calmed myself. "What were you thinking taking on those delinquents? By yourself?" I asked him.
"I knew about their plan, and you weren't going to do anything about them, so I decided I would." he told me, looking at me with a hateful expression.
"You knew very well the trouble you were getting into boy.." I groaned. "Do you realize what might have happened? You could have been killed! Papyrus could have gotten killed!" I told him, fearing that possible outcome.
"I told him to stay home-!"
"But he didn't did he? You put your life, and his, in danger!"
"I had it under control!"
"You would have killed them all if I hadn't shown up!"
He began to cry.
"Papyrus stopped me.. not you.." he cried.
I tried to relax. Yelling wasn't going to help this situation.
He found out about those monsters, and went alone because he didn't trust me..
Stars I'm losing him.. I've been losing him.
"How come you never get in trouble?" he asked suddenly.
"For what?" I asked in an angry tone unintentionally.
"Killing." he answered.
I had a hard time catching my breath after a statement like that. He was right. I had killed so many monsters in my life, but not once did anyone call me out on it.
No one but him.
His little teary eyes locked onto me and I could feel the weight of his judgment, and my own sins, crushing in on me. The weight of all the lies I had told for years.. Years of nightmares. Years of regret. Years.. that I wasted for nothing! I couldn't even keep Sans clear of what that monster was doing! I couldn't save anyone. I couldn't even save myself..!
What was the point anymore..?
Why was I even trying?
It was over..
Everything was over..
I couldn't win..
I.. I failed..
I looked over at Sans and saw him waiting for me to say something. Tears were in his eyes still as he looked at me with disdain.
You lost him Semi.
You lost them all..
"Go home Sans." I managed to say calmly.
"I'm not-"
"NOW."
Sans shivered in fear.
"I'm sure your mother will have her own spill to give you once you're home." I told him.
Sans sat still for a moment, struck with fear of me no doubt. I stared into his face and saw.. pity..? He was still angry, but.. I got the sense of.. concern, from him.
Sans..
There's still hope for you..
"Actions have consequences." I said calmly. "Think before you act, and don't waste your life making the wrong choices like I did." I stated. "You know me pretty well so I ask one simple thing of you." I said as I poked my finger on the desk.
I had his attention.
"Don't be like me at all if you can help it." I told him.
He stared at me with wide eyes.
"Now get your hips out of here before I throw you back into the dungeon!" I then said in anger.
He flinched and quickly hopped out of the chair and raced out the door. Out of my office. Out of my life. I heard one of the guards catch him and they looked to me for orders. I gestured to let him go, and they left, closing the door behind them.
I clenched my fists on the desk and heard a loud crunch. I had put my hand on the plate of cookies and smashed one of them too bits in my anger. To dust..
"You have resorted to such violence? I never believed you would be capable of stooping so low brother!" I could hear W.D telling me.
I slapped the plate aside in anger and ignored the mess it made.
"I can't believe you would do something like that! You're horrible-!" Calibri's voice echoed in my head.
I struggled to ignore the building voices from my memories. I leaned on the desk and held my head, trying desperately to focus my mind on something else.
"You don't care about anyone but yourself! Everything you do is fueled by your stupid pride that you refuse to let go of!" Arial's voice rang out next.
My magic was building along with my emotions as I lost my grip on myself. I had to calm down! Just.. forget it..!
I thought about what Sans had said.. I.. I've killed monsters. But no one ever judges me for it. I had become my own judge somehow, above the law and everyone else. I was the only one who knew..
How much dust did I have on my hands?
I struggled to hold myself up as I realized..
I was wrong..
Had been wrong..
And there was no way to fix it.
My life was over at this age. There was no time; no way, to take it all back..!
I can't even go home now.. How could I after this..?
I can't face them..
I can't face anyone..
I..
I can't do this anymore..!
I-I..
I'm sorry..!