We let Semi led us on. He walked far ahead of us, and purposefully picked up speed if any one of us tried to walk closer to him. He was making it clear he did not want to talk. To any of us. I could relate to the feeling in a way.
"Do you think it's the whole time thing bothering him?" I asked while walking with everyone else.
"I know it is bothering me.." Calibri stated, holding back her concern.
"I'm surprised he didn't have anything to say about the two of you." Dad looked between me and Papyrus. "M-Maybe seeing you both grown up was, like, too much for him." he suggested.
Mom kept her eyes on him ahead of us, her expression determined. She probably wanted to talk to him as much as I did.
"Maybe the Star Blade will help!" Papyrus cheerfully suggested.
"We already used it on him." Calibri told him. "As it turned out, his soul was already pure." she explained.
"So.. what's his problem than?" Dad asked.
"The same problem he has always had." Mom sighed.
"Trust issues?" Calibri said with irritation.
I can relate to that too..
I glanced up at Papyrus walking beside me. I should have trusted him to help me..
"No." Mom replied. "He is afraid of making another mistake." her expression softened. "Of losing someone else.." she said somberly.
"You may be right my dear.." Calibri sighed as she looked ahead at Semi. "With all the time I have had to think about it, I have come to think his actions, his lies, even his anger, all stems from his losses over the course of his life." she explained.
Mom took an uneasy breath, trying to keep herself calm. I watched her for a moment as she struggled to keep a straight face.
"I wish he would talk about it. Calmly." Mom said with worried eyes his direction.
"Semi has always been that way Arial." Calibri said with a heavy breath. "Even before he lost his parents he hardly talked about anything.. emotional. He is just not the sort of person to open up about such things." she explained. "And the experience of losing his parents the way he did has.. left him scarred I am afraid." she shook her head.
The way he lost them? What happened I wonder. Is it the reason Mom never talked about her grandparents? Did she even know what happen? I glanced up at her and got the impression she didn't.
She never..
Whoa, hey, you know what happened?
N-No..! Please Sans! Do not force it to your mind..
I felt myself begin to shiver in fear due to Lillian's emotions. I fought off my curiosity, for now, and took a deep breath to calm us both. I heard Papyrus hum in surprise at me.
"Sans?" his concerned voice came next.
"Heh, I'm never been much for emotional talk either." I quickly said to Mom and Calibri. "Guess I got it from Gramps huh?" I laughed.
"Oh? Is that so?" Mom smiled at me. "I seem to recall having many conversations with you about how you were feeling." she stated, with a hint of pride in her tone.
The memories came to mind and I began to feel embarrassed. Mom was always the best at cheering me up after a terrible day of school, or from anything bad in general. Instead of using jokes to make me smile, she used kind words, sort of like Papyrus does. Heh, maybe that's where he gets it from. And thinking back on it, she was very patient, always willing to listen to anyone and their troubles. Heh, maybe that's where I get my patience from.
"That's because you forced me to." I told her.
Because I recall not being willing to talk to her, even as a little kid. It just wasn't my thing, heh. Ah, I gave her a lot a trouble didn't I?
"And did you not feel better afterwards each time?" she said with her pride now clear in her expression.
"Yeah, I guess.." I looked away from her embarrassed.
I'm not sure exactly why. Maybe it's just weird thinking I actually needed those talks. I mean, I don't need them now.
Oh really? Than what was all that with Papyrus you-
That was different!
"You should try that with Semi than!" Papyrus told her. "I bet if he just gets it all talked out, he will feel much better!" he smiled with hope. "Sans does!" he picked me up and showed me to her.
"Totally." I said lazily.
Mom tried not to laugh as we all stopped for a moment.
"I am afraid Semi is not as easy going concerning that as Sans is Papyrus." she told him. "If you try to get him to talk, you risk getting blasted to the surface world." she informed him. "Believe me.. I have tried.." she sighed.
"So have I. And you would think he would trust me enough to talk to me." Calibri huffed.
"Whadya mean I'm easy goin'?" I complained. "You callin' me soft?" I asked her insulted. Heh.
"Very." she pet my head.
"I must contend that statement!" Papyrus spoke up, holding me under his arm now. "Sans is as hard as rock! Immovable and stuck in his lazy ways!" he stated. Loudly.
"Ha, maybe when it comes to cleaning his room." Dad laughed.
"I keep it clean these days." I winked. "Mostly because me and Paps share a room and he forces me to, but still." I said in a low voice.
"Note the word force." Papyrus sighed.
"I'm just a rocky boulder of talc I suppose, heh." I shrugged.
"Talc's a mineral, not a rock." Semi shouted back at us.
I knew that would get his attention, heh. He stood some feet away from us waiting for us to keep following him, and the moment our eyes met, I made my reply.
"Makes no difference." I shouted back.
He turned around with an annoyed grunt, and though I couldn't see his face, I knew he was rolling his eyes at me, heh.
"Speaking of immovable objects.." Calibri sighed.
Wonder what it would take to get him to talk? The same it did me? Digging out old memories and admitting to my mistakes? I'd hate to do that to him, but is he keeps holding it in.. Well, we see how that worked out for me.
Papyrus put me down and we all continued following him in silence.
As a kid I always wanted to help him, but he never let me, and I was just a kid and didn't know exactly what to do. I just knew he was always upset, even on his best of days. Now at least, I got an idea of what he was, and still is, upset over. And seeing as I could somewhat relate to it.. I had a better chance than ever to help pull him out of it.
And I wasn't going to waste it.
If Papyrus can help me get everything out, and be forgiven.. I can do that for him.
I picked up my pace and got closer to Semi ahead of everyone else.
"Sans?" I heard Mom say in surprise behind me.
Semi heard me coming and began to walk faster, but quickly gave up and let me catch up to him. I walked beside him for a moment, waiting for the perfect timing, and for what to say to come to my mind. Our steps were nearly in sync as we walked side by side. Old memories of walking with him on his calmer patrols around New Home came to me and, for a moment, I felt like a little kid again, struggling to keep up with his more energetic steps. Heh, that was back when I was level with his wrists.
I kept expecting him to speak first, but he didn't. We just walked for some time without a word between us. I'm no Papyrus, and talking seriously on things is uh, not my strong point as one would expect.
Be forgiving..
I already told him I forgave him for what he did.
For what he might tell you Sans..
True.. Me and him are in the same shoes I guess. We've both made some stupid mistakes. Mistakes we.. that he can't forgive himself for..
We are almost to the Rift now Sans.
Well.. Here goes.. everything.
"So.. What have you been up to?" I decided to ask him to break the silence.
"Don't even try." he replied angry.
Oh I'm going to try old man.
"What, you're not even going to tell me what happened to'ya?" I shrugged my hands up.
"I'd have to tell you a bunch more if I did in order to explain it." he replied, not even glancing at me.
"About the Rift? The monster? The Goners?" I went through, catching his attention. "Not sure if you have noticed, but, I have a very knowledgeable friend with me." I bumped my chest with a fist. "Plus Mom kinda explained some things to me and Paps." I stated.
"Did she?" he looked back away from me.
Should I hit him where it hurts Lil'?
Be gentle..
"She also told us about W.D." I said.
He cringed and lost his breath.
"I understand why you never talked about him." I said looking around the path. "I wouldn't want to talk about it either if something happened to Papyrus.." I stated, fighting broken memories from the resets.
He took an uneasy breath and kept his pace forward. His expression was tense, telling me he was holding everything in.
"You.. want to talk about it? Get it off your chest?" I offered him.
"No." he said plainly.
"Want to just talk about him?" I tried.
"No." he repeated.
"Alright, than.. guess I'll just talk about myself." I shrugged.
Stubborn old fossil..
I smiled and nudged my elbow at him.
"Did I turn out as tall as you thought I would?" I asked him with a wink.
We looked about an inch apart in height now, him on the higher end. He glanced at me as I walked close to him to compare our height, and he finally smiled a bit.
"Ya'did." he answered.
"Papyrus too?" I asked.
He muffled a laugh.
"Nah. I dunno where he got that height from." he replied.
"Mom says it's from Dad's side of the family." I stated.
"Maybe part of it, but, there were some tall folks on my side." he said.
"Yet here we are, as short as foot stools." I replied.
He snickered.
"Come on. I know you got some jokes in that skull of yours." I nudged at him.
"I ain't got nothin' in my skull sonny." he replied, holding his hand up at me.
"Don't sell yourself short Gramps." I punned.
"Nah, heh, I ain't stooping to your level." he replied with a small smile.
"I'm only, what, half an inch shorter?" I glanced him over.
"You're more of a down to earth guy than I am." he said.
"I'm often overlooked." I shrugged.
"That's an understatement." he laughed and rolled his eyes.
"I keep positive, I'm always looking up." I held my head up.
"Nothing gets under your skin huh?"
"Or on my nerves."
"You got guts boy."
Now we're getting somewhere..!
"Tibia honest, I wouldn't if you hadn't taught me." I winked.
"Ah yes, your first words.." he said fondly.
"Dandy Daddy." I recalled.
"Arial threw a fit!" he laughed.
"Did she?" I asked laughing.
"Aw boy, you should have seen her. She KNEW I was the one behind it."
"Who else?"
"Than you finally said Mom for the first time.."
"Momster."
"She threw me in the basement for that one. Thing was, that time, it was all you."
"I grow up so fast."
"I considered that one your granduation."
"Oh that's pushing it Gramps."
"Not as hard as Arial pushed me down the stairs!"
We both laughed out loud.
It was good to hear him laughing. And more importantly, to be laughing with him. I had my proof he was still him, and that I come help him. That I could..
I glanced back at everyone, who smiled back at me. Papyrus winked and gave me a thumbs up, and Mom held her face trying not to laugh. My focus landed on Frisk though. They smiled at me with a tilt of their head. Their expression felt like an invitation to not give up.
I could save Semi.
Semi caught his breath and wiped a tear away as I turned my attention back to him. I didn't have much time left before we reached the Rift, so I went with the first thing that came to my mind.
"Was W.D into jokes?" I asked him.
"Ah.. well.. not really." he replied, losing his smile. "He told'em as well as the next guy, and sometimes he would pull out a real ringer. But he generally didn't tell them." he told me, looking at me with a saddened expression.
"Papyrus is kinda the same way." I shrugged my shoulders. "He cringes at them when I tell them, but, he tells them himself once in a blue moon." I told him.
"Glad to see Arial didn't discourage him." he chuckled.
"Speaking of.." I remembered. "Mom was pretty down earlier, so I pulled out some momtastic puns for her." I told him.
"Oh yeah? How did that go over?"
"It ended with her calling me her sonshine."
Semi struggled not to laugh.
"I'm not kidding that's what she said." I laughed.
"Oh Dot." he sighed, and began to walk backwards. "Real proud of'ya Dot!" he winked and gave her a thumbs up. "I knew you had a punny bone in'ya somewhere!" he laughed.
"Sans I warned you!" she shouted at me.
"You better clean your room to appease her boy." he nudged at me as he turned back around.
It is the next few corners Sans..
"I uh, hate to ruin the mood," I hesitated to begin. "but, I'd really like to know what happened to you, before we reach the Rift." I told him.
"Just gotta butter me up first huh?" he replied with disappointment at me.
"You got me." I held my hands up. "Guilty as charged." I chuckled.
I was starting to wonder if he had caught on to me yet..
"I'll let you off with a warning this time." he smiled at me. "Gist of my sorry tale is that I came here to shut the Rift down completely, but, and old frenemy of mine was just waitin' for me." he told me. "I ended up off in some Void dimension for days until I found a way out." he explained irritated.
"Same thing happen to Mom and Dad before they showed up here." I told him.
He stopped and looked at me in shock.
"It is true." Mom said as they all caught up with us. "We were trapped someplace else for.. almost a day maybe?" she added.
"Gray scenery? Gray trees?" Semi quickly asked her.
"Black sky?" she replied.
"Sliver ocean?" Dad added.
"So you both were in the Void? I never saw you." Semi told them.
"Neither did I." Calibri stated, looking at them with surprise.
"Well, we were.. at the edge of the world." Mom told them, looking unsure of herself.
"You never saw a small town, near a mountain?" Semi asked.
"No." Mom answered. "Most we saw was the ocean and a forest of trees, where we somehow were brought back here in some anomaly." she explained.
"Lucky you." Semi said in annoyance. "I ended up stuck there for days, and finished my visit fighting the human half of the Black Soul Monster's soul." he told her.
"You what?" she panicked.
Lillian's surprise nearly made me panic too.
"Your mother saved my hide." he winked.
"For a second time." Calibri looked at him with disappointed.
"You would not believe how much stuff I traded that story for Cally." he laughed. "Ah splints! That reminds me!" he winced, then turned to me. "You mentioned Chara earlier." he said.
"Yeah.." I replied confused.
How does he know that name? Chara came to the underground years after he disappeared.
"I met them, in the Void, and they told me to tell you that they were sorry, for, not listening, or something to that effect." he explained. "I'm guessing now that has something to do with.. what you said happened." he said, hesitating to continue.
The Void? How..?
"It.. might.." I tried to remember, focusing on what they meant and not on how they were alive.
Sorry for not listening..? Oh. Maybe for not listening to my pleas to stop killing everyone? That might be hard to forgive kid. I told you what you were doing wrong too many times to count. I had hoped you would listen. So I wouldn't have to.. do what I did to stop you..
Maybe.. they finally did listen..
"I have proof it was them, if you recognize this anyway." Semi reached up to a gold chain around his neck. He fidgeted with it for a moment to turn it around, revealing a gold heart shaped locket hanging from it. "This locket was theirs. Says uh.. best friends forever on it." he stated as he held it up for me to see.
I was paralyzed for a moment at the sight of the locket. Too many memories were trying to come up. Lillian helped me force them back.
"That's not me it's talking about if that's what your thinking." I told him.
"Who is it referring to than?" he asked with a glance at it.
"Asriel." Flowey answered, popping up by us. "Asriel and Chara were.. once the best of friends." he said in a saddened tone.
"Asriel? Asgore's kid?" Semi laughed.
Everyone became visibly upset. He had no idea about what had happened. And none of us looked ready to tell him. Calibri on the other hand looked confused, probably coming from before Asriel's time, so she never knew him.
"Did.. something happen to him..?" Semi noticed everyone's reaction.
"It's a long story." I told him. "But basically.. he and Chara died at the same time." I stated.
"Wha-!? What happened? WHEN did that happen? WHO did it?!" he flinched back in shock.
"Chara." I answered.
Semi looked at the locket he wore in disbelief.
"Technicality it was the humans in the village.." Frisk stated uneasily.
"No. It was Chara." Flowey corrected them.
How do either of them know anything about what happened? Not even Asgore knows exactly what happened once they left the underground that day.
"I've missed more than I thought." Semi said softly. "J-Just how long have I been gone?" he asked.
"About.. 20 years? Maybe more." I quickly figured in my head.
I'll have to check my watch-
"GOSH DARN IT!" he stomped his foot in a rage, making all of us flinch. "I can't believe-!" he growled. "That is the last straw than!" he stomped off past us. "I am dismantling every piece of the Rift and blowing this mountain if I have to!" he shouted out in anger.
"Whoa whoa cool it!" I quickly stopped him. "We don't have to blow anything up." I told him.
"Just try and stop me boy..!" he pointed his finger in my face.
"You got more than just me to stop you Gramps." I leaned towards him.
"There's beings with me too but I'm not letting them-"
The CORE suddenly shook as it made a horrible creaking noise.
I had only heard it make that kind of noise once before.
So have I.
"We don't have time to argue!" Semi shoved me aside.
"Gramps wait-!" I ran after him.
I stopped dead in my tracks.. I just sensed..
A reset?
Semi stopped and looked back with horror in his expression. I looked back as well, and all of us ended up looking at Frisk. They stepped forward with determination in their expression.
"Stay together." they told us.
"What happened?" I asked them.
"You don't wanna know." Flowey answered.
How come we don't remember what happened Lillian?
We died.
That explains my feelings of fear, dread, and hopelessness than.
"There's another party involved in all this." Semi glanced to the side. "I have no idea who though." he stated, trying his best to hide his concern.
"S-Seriously?" Dad said in fear.
"You remember what happened?" Papyrus asked Semi surprised.
"Enough to know we're in deep sonny." he told him. "Too deep." he looked back down the path. "All of you stay behind me this time. No charging ahead." he ordered with a stern point at Mom.
"I could tell you the same thing." Mom replied annoyed.
Frisk ran up to the front of the group and held the Star Blade at the ready.
"And keep your grip this time kid!" Semi shoved them with his hand. "If we lose that sword we're as good as dusted." he told them.
I felt Flowey get in my hood.
"No one's dying this time-!" I heard him hiss.
"Any hints?" I asked him.
He didn't reply right away.
"Don't give up." he said.
Just one more turn Sans.
We were nearly at the Rift now. All of us hurried together, keeping a look out for trouble, but instead of trouble, we got puzzles. Frisk and Semi quickly solved the puzzle locks, probably because they had solved them a timeline ago, and got the way forward open. Semi gestured for us to wait when the door opened, and he and Frisk cautiously walked through together. Less than a minute later of waiting, I couldn't anymore. For the first time in my life I felt impatient.
Sans wait..! Don't act on it!
I managed one step and Papyrus grabbed me to stop me. I didn't resist and stayed put.
I could sense something ahead.. It felt like.. the monster?
Impossible. The magnetic field it too strong here for it to hold its form.
What about that Mystrium guy?
He would be fine, but that monster is controlling him directly, so they both would be unable to enter.
What if, I dunno, the monster let him go and just, like, gave him some orders?
Mystrium would-.. Would probably obey.
Dread.
A reset.
Dread again.
A reset.
Fear.
Reset.
Anger-!
I rushed in and shoved Semi and Frisk forward with magic.
Mystrium landed in front of me and looked back with wide eyes covered in a dark haze, making his face near impossible to see. He stood tall over me, his body ever so slightly melting as he now held his original form. His "hair" was uneven and his cloths were tattered. In some places it looked like someone had slashed him with a sharp attack, leaving behind sparkling black dust. What little I could see of his expression was blank.
"Mystrium-!" me and Lillian both shouted out to him.
He grabbed me, cutting me off, and tossed me behind him at Semi and Frisk. Semi grabbed me with magic and sat me down feet first between them.
Mystrium faced us, summoning up his black magic to block off the door to keep everyone else away.
Frisk stepped in front of me with the Star Blade ready.
"Do not underestimate him Sans." Semi told me. "Don't get cocky either." he warned.
"And don't let Lillian take over." Frisk said.
What did you do girl?
We died every time Frisk reset Sans. My power isn't enough to help us retain memories over our deaths.
"I'll keep them in check, you just focus on that creep!" Flowey told them as I felt one of his vines on my shoulder.
Frisk nodded and held the sword out. Semi summoned a bone sword and readied his magic. Mystrium winced as he looked at Frisk.
I heard everyone one else trying to break through the black magic blocking the door behind him. Nothing they did was breaking through it. I doubt that wall will last as we tie up Mystrium's focus though.
"Forgive me.. Brainzar.." Mystrium said softly.
"If you are sorry, why fight?" Frisk asked him, unafraid.
Mystrium didn't reply. No reaction.
"Just focus on hitting him kid." Semi told them. "Save your words for later." he added.
"This cannot be stopped." Mystrium said. "Everything.. has already happened." he stated somberly with his head low. "Everything.. has been planned from the start." he glared at us.
He held hallowed out diamonds in his hands as weapons.
"There is no denying fate!" he yelled out, in a tone of voice much like the monster's, and made his first attack.
Frisk ducked and side stepped it by just a hair. Semi jumped aside the other direction. I took one step out of the way and summoned a wall of blue bones for Mystrium to go through as he charged forward past me.
He took no damage from it as expected.
Frisk quickly ran back in a counter, but Mystrium dodged their swing. Semi sent a pattern of attacks at him, forcing me to move to dodge it myself, and Mystrium cut a path through it with his diamond weapons. Flowey's bullets rushed past me at Mystrium, but again, no effect. I opted not to try attacking and just got some distance between us.
Mystrium's eyes flashed past the dark haze around his face and sharp diamonds appeared around him, shattering into smaller bits that came flying my way. I held my focus, ignoring my fear, and dodged them all out of instinct. Heh, we remembered that it seems. Mystrium paused for a moment, looking my way surprised, giving Frisk the chance to land a hit on him
Frisk swung the Star Blade through him and he hollered out. His demeanor didn't clear up, and he quickly countered at Frisk, who dodged him effortlessly. Semi pulled them out with magic and shot attacks to distract him.
"Add to it Sans!" Flowey urged me.
I summoned up a wall of attacks and fired them off at Mystrium. He weaved through them and countered as he cleared the wave, catching me off guard. He wasn't suppose to do that. I moved to dodge the shot, and Flowey suddenly pulled me through the floor underground.
I was dragged through rough volcanic rock until Flowey sat me up back above ground a good distance from where I had been. And where I had been was now covered in sharp diamonds, that must have been coming at me from behind judging by the angle they were stuck in the floor.
"Nice save." I commented, a bit stunned at Flowey's quick thinking to save me.
Mystrium was quick to notice Frisk coming at him and dodged their attack. He circled around Semi's attack and countered within the second, knocking Semi across the room.
"Distract him Sans. Use your blasters!" Flowey suggested to me.
"No way. What if he summons some highly reflective diamond and redirects at me?" I argued.
"He won't! Now shoot!" he shouted at me.
Mystrium looked my way, and out of fear I fired a single blaster at him, having it already on my mind it was summoned easily.
He summoned a sheet of magic and reflected the shot back at me. The magic tore through my blaster, and into me, slamming me to the wall. It felt like getting punched by the sun.
"What did I.. just say..?" I mumbled out in pain.
"Shut up..!" Flowey coughed from between my back and the wall.
I heard Mystrium shout again and also heard his magic fire back with intensity. I heard Frisk get hit, but no reset, so they were alright. I fell to the floor off the wall and staggered as I recovered from being blasted. Frisk was struggling to get up from the hit they just took, worse than me.
Maybe they're not okay.
"Go go!" Flowey shouted in a panic.
I quickly threw myself towards them and moved them out of the way of Mystrium's next attack. I had enough force behind me to get me past the attack too. I stood them up beside me and Semi instantly healed them as he ran up to us.
"How'd you survive that one?" Semi panted as he summoned a new bone sword.
"Determination." Frisk shook their head trying to smile.
Mystrium waited on us to make the next move.
"Let's try my plan again Sans." Flowey said. "But this time, MOVE out of the way of the rebound!" he shouted at me. "And Frisk! Be ready to strike!" he told them.
Frisk nodded with determination.
"Ey, whadda'bout me?" Semi asked.
"Just.. do whatever." Flowey waved a leaf at him.
"Follow my lead Gramps." I told him.
He kept his eyes on me with a doubtful expression.
I summoned multiple bone attacks and sent them towards Mystrium along the ground. I fired off blasters right after, and Semi added blue and orange bones right behind my other attacks.
Mystrium repeated his move and reflected the blasts, while dodging the bones with relative ease. I side stepped the reflection of my attacks and stopped some of the blasters from firing.
Somehow during all this, Semi had slid under one of my blasters to get to the other side and he began firing off attacks at Mystrium from every angle. Mystrium struggled to keep up with them, and when I saw Floweys' vines wrapping around his legs, I saw an opening. I recalled all my magic and fired it all at him with one blaster, which I moved towards him with Frisk right behind it.
Mystrium cut it down as soon as it was in range of his weapons, making me flinch from the feedback, but Frisk was right behind it ready to strike. With Flowey holding him in place, he couldn't escape the attack.
The Star Blade sliced right through him, leaving his physical body intact as it tore through only the corruption on his soul.
Flowey held onto him, wrapping his vines around his arms now, and Frisk stepped back from him.
Mystrium tried to escape the vines now covering him all over, but his physical strength wasn't enough. He shook his head and shouted in anger as he shot sharp diamonds down through the vines around him.
Frisk was quick to hit him again.
But the Star Blade didn't seem to be working. He still had that dark haze around him, and his.. Wait, no, his expression has changed. He was snarling in anger still, but his posture was different. It was less rigid and more.. unsure. He even staggered a bit, and it wasn't because of weakness. He was..
Confused.
Must take more than one whack of the blade to help him. Heh. Glad it only took me one.
"Snap out of this!" Frisk yelled as they charged at him with the blade.
Mystrium struggled to summon his magic at them, and nearly tripped as he stepped backwards. The Star Blade sliced through him and his corrupted soul for a third time, and he fell to the floor on his knees.
Behind me, I heard everyone enter the room. His magic on the doorway finally fell. They stopped not far behind me, expect for one. I glanced up at my brother who, to my surprise, didn't looked worried about what he saw. He had a serious look about him.
"Enough. Please." Frisk implored Mystrium.
Mystrium slammed his hands to the floor as he leaned over. His body was beginning to break down even worse suddenly.
"Nothing.. Nothing matters..!" Mystrium growled in anger. "Do you realize that?!" he shouted at Frisk. "Nothing any of us do is enough to make a difference! We fight until we turn to dust; and for what?! To cause more pain to those around us! To instill fear! To waste our pathetic lives fighting for what could very well be the most horrible purpose under the stars!" he yelled out with intense anger.
Frisk wasn't fazed by his words.
"Fighting for our friends is never wrong." Frisk replied calmly.
"I am far from a friend of yours.." Mystrium snarled at them.
"You can change that." Frisk stepped closer.
I feel like I've missed something. This seems a little sudden, even for Frisk.
Time did reset quite a lot before now.
Did Frisk get this far all those times before?
Mystrium looked up at Frisk. His expression was.. opposite of what it just was.
"You are not.. Brainzar.. are you..?" he asked them with fear.
"No, but, that doesn't mean we can't still be friends." Frisk told him with a smile.
This kid I swear.
"Brainzar.." he held his hand up to his chest. "Has been gone.." he quivered. "Who are you child?" he asked them.
"Frisk." they said happily.
He looked at them confused, then curiously.
"You are.. a very different kind of human. Just like him." he stated with interest in his eyes.
Frisk reached out and put their hand on his shoulder. He cried a single tear, then lowered his head as he began to laugh.
"How foolish of me to think you were him. He was not a child when we met.." he laughed at himself. "It must be the blade.. reminding me.." he stared at it.
"So is this guy okay now or what?" Flowey whispered to me.
I shrugged my shoulders in answer.
Has he.. fought past it..?
Seems like it.
I looked past them at the final door to the Rift. Just beyond the tall door on the opposite side of this room was, from what Lillian's memories told me, a corridor that led to the Rift. It was what we were all here for..
A reset.. tried to occur.
I focused back on Frisk and saw them fall to the floor. They were still alive, somehow, still breathing. Mystrium stood up over them with his diamond weapons he had attacked them with.
"Frisk!" Flowey was the first to shout out.
Semi rushed over to snatch up the Star blade and quickly used it against Mystrium. Mystrium grabbed it mid-swing, ignoring the damage it was doing to his hand as its white magic collided with his black magic.
"Why is it you fight Semi?" Mystrium asked him plainly, his tone turned more dark as he fell back under the corruption.
"For.. my family..!" Semi struggled to overpower him.
"I do the same." he replied. "So why are our choices so different in outcome." he said.
"Because you-!" Semi gasped as Mystrium pushed the sword down on him. "You're on the wrong side of things!" he panted. "And what do you mean family-? I thought you-"
"Were alone? In a way I was." he interjected. "But in reality, I never truly was." he tore the blade from Semi's hand and held it for himself. His hand seemed to be burning as he held the blade. "Lord Mastic Monster is a masterful tactician, and he has plotted events leading to his return to power for nearly 1,000 years." he threaten Semi with the blade, walking him back a few steps. "Nothing you do now matters. Your choices, do not matter." he stated. "Not even my own choices matter now. They never had." he said as his eyes focused in on Semi.
"Y-You sure about that Rimmy?" Semi replied nervous. "I-I can think of plenty of choices you made that mattered. One being.. you know.. the fact that you fought with this Mastic guy once before." he told him.
"And failed!" Mystrium yelled, slashing the blade through Semi.
Semi staggered from the hit, but he wasn't hurt. I fought against my fear to keep myself from running over there.
"I put all my hope into escaping, to finding the truth! And what happened?!" he attacked Semi again. "I LOST EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE!" he attacked again. "I STARTED A WAR THAT KILLED THOUSANDS!" he attacked again.
"That wasn't your fault!" Semi replied.
"I walked all the way back to Braiznar's home, carrying his soulless body, expecting morning and questions. I was ready to tell them all of his sacrifice to save them." Mystrium panted. "But instead I was attacked. Insulted. Feared. Hated." he snarled. "Within the span of a day, the war had begun, and I was labeled an enemy due to my relation to Mastic. The humans- Even monster kind! Did not want another corrupted soul filled monster- no, BEAST, destroying their world!" he shouted. "Before I knew it, war had come, and Asgore made the plan to retreat here, to Ebott Mountain. And he invited me to come." he stated more calmly. "He had forgiven me.. for far too much.." he said.
"And Asgore doesn't do that with just anybody. He knew you weren't-"
Mystrium attacked him again. This time, Semi lost his breath and nearly fell back.
I glanced over and saw Mom healing Frisk. Calibri was also with them. Papyrus stepped a bit to the side so he was between me and Mystrium, and I heard who I assumed was Dad behind me.
"You do know that doesn't hurt me right?!" Semi shouted at Mystrium.
"It will soon.." Mystrium growled, attacking Semi.
Semi winced a bit from the hit.
"I don't think that's how it works." Semi replied in a tense voice.
Mystrium roared and made one last attack. Semi gasped from it and fell backwards.
"Semi!" I shouted as I tried to get around Papyrus, but he held me back.
Semi! No! What happened..?
Mystrium turned to us, his corrupted soul still causing the white blade to damage him in his hand. His expression was blank again. Everything Frisk had done was undone, just like that. How?!
Mystrium fired off attacks too quick to dodge, and even if we had dodged them, we couldn't dodge the ones coming from other angles. Everyone expect Frisk was shot back by them.
Lillian's anger grew as we fell to the floor. My sadness grew as I felt myself floating on the verge of death. Our confusion grew as we questioned everything.
HATE. FEAR. SADNESS. VIOLENCE. CONFUSION. PRIDE-
No! Shake it off! Get out!
We can't let him get away with this! Stop him!
NO. Stop! You're making it worse! Don't you realize that?!
I.. I won't-!
STOP!
YOU STOP!
We fought for control, making me stumble around as I got on my feet. I kept my reasonable thoughts in the front of my mind, fending off her hate, and letting me keep control for the moment.
PERSEVERANCE..
I gazed out at Semi, still laying on the floor, and got ready to go help him, but I noticed Mystrium approaching Frisk. I knew who I needed to help right now.
JUSTICE..
I quickly shot blue bones into Mystrium and caught him off guard. He stepped out of them, and nearly fell over from the damage he took.
"What-?!" he exclaimed in shock at me.
I stood my ground as he faced me.
BRAVERY..
Something was stirring in me, making my magic stronger. I ignored it and waited to see what move he would make in response. I held my magic in at the ready for any possibility.
PATIENCE..
He charged forward in attack, and so did I. But when we met, I stepped around him, tripped him, and snatched the blade from his grasp as he fell. I probably could have finished him right then and there, but I had a promise to keep. Heh.
INTEGRITY..
He landed on his hands and pushed off the floor, spinning in mid-air to fire attacks at me. They hit me square on and knocked me back off my feet. Flowey caught me and shoved me back forward. I staggered around, my vision blurring.. my soul.. feeling like it was falling apart..
"Wake up Sans!" I felt Flowey slap me with a vine.
KINDNESS..
Thanks bud, heh.
Another attack hit me out of nowhere, and I fell sideways to the floor.
Everything.. went black..
No..
I'm not giving up.
Flowey said not to give up, and for once I'm going to trust him!
WE ARE NOT GIVING UP.
DETERMINATION.
All of reality flashed by me, and I stood standing against Mystrium. In the past.
I had reset back in time.
Not as exciting of an experience like I thought it would be.
Mystrium fired off attacks too quick to dodge, the first time. I dodged them and the rest of his attacks and made a charge at him. He flinched in shock and I took advantage of it, sliding under his feet to trip him up. I tossed myself back and snatched the blade from his hand as he fell. He got back up as I landed and turned to face him.
I stood with the long sword, the Star Blade, in hand, and felt it connect with our soul. It's glow brightened and I felt its power increase. A soft voice told me we were accepted to wield it, and I felt a purifying magic rush through me.
I trust you Sans.
You too kiddo.
Let's finish this for Frisk.
I saw Mystrium make a move and I quickly reacted. I ran past his attacks, throwing myself up and over a wave of them and crashing down on him. He side stepped me, but my counter swing hit, and he quickly countered that and I blocked his attack with the blade.
His magic clashed with the blade as I dodged and countered him. I kept up with him and his attacks, moving only when I had to, and waited for the right moment to make the final strike. What I hoped would be the final strike anyway.
He grew more frustrated and shoved me back with a sheet of magic. As I skid to a halt from the force, he summoned an array of diamonds that began building energy within the structure they created. I summoned a Gaster Blaster-
And got a.. dragon instead..?
The skeletal dragon stood over me as it built power within its mouth to fire. I had no time to consider it as Mystrium let his magic fire. I let mine fire at the same time, and the magic collided in a furry of magical energy. I fine tuned mine into a smaller beam to concentrate the energy, and pushed his back until his attack was destroyed. It burst into shards on impact, and I quickly recalled my magic.
In the few moments he was stunned, I teleported behind him using DT and magic.
That was so much easier to do now with DT, heh.
"Game over pal." I said, surprising him.
I took one last swing at him with the Star Blade from behind.
The dark magic that was on his soul stuck to the blade as I swung it through him. The dark mass of magic set burning on the blade, so I flung it off and stabbed the blade down into it to finish it off. Guy had so much it was actually solid..!?
Once it was gone, I slid down the blade to the floor panting. My soul might be at peak power, but my body sure isn't, heh.
"That was so cool!" Papyrus said with wide sparkling eyes I saw as I looked back at him.
I pulled myself up on the blade and found Semi. He was still laying there. So was Mystrium now.
"Is he.. alright..?" Frisk walked towards him.
"Stay back!" Mom grabbed them and pulled them back.
"We cannot be sure.." Calibri said.
"B-But the blade should have helped him. Right..?" Dad asked as he shivered behind Mom.
I ignored Mystrium and walked towards Semi.
Please be alive..
I got down and shook him a bit. No reaction. I snapped my fingers in his face. Nothing. I rolled him on his back and sensed his soul. It was alright. So why isn't he..?
"Is it over..?" he whispered.
"GOD DANG IT GRAMPS YOU'BOUT GAVE ME A HEART ATTACK!" I shouted angrily at him.
"What? Heheh, you thought I was actually dead?" he laughed.
"You will be if you keep pranks like this up." I stared him down.
"Don't give me the blank eyes boy." he stared me up with blank eyes.
I heard someone pull the Star Blade out of the floor. It was Frisk. Mystrium was getting up. Semi grabbed my jacket and pulled himself up on it, nearly pulling me down. He pat my back as we watched Mystrium get up on his knees.
"Real proud by the way." he told me.
I shivered. He.. He actually said that? To me? Heh. Wow. Did he get hit in the head or something?
Mystrium looked up and around, wincing in pain.
"Mystrium.." Calibri was the first to approach him.
He looked up at her curiously.
"Are you.. alright..?" she asked him.
He stared at her for a moment.
"I.. believe so..?" he replied confused.
Semi pat my shoulder and walked past me looking at Mystrium.
Mystrium winced in pain. He held his hand up and we all noticed it still melting.
"I cannot.. keep this up.." he gasped. "Please.." he whispered.
"Let us heal you Mystrium." Calibri offered.
"Yeah! With all of us we can help you!" Papyrus shouted.
"No-!" Mystrium gasped in terror at them. "That is.. not the problem.." he looked at the floor. "He just.. refuses to let go.." he panted.
"Brainzar?" Semi stood in front of him.
"Y-Yes.." Mystrium stuttered.
I walked up behind Semi.
"That's what I suspected." Semi said. "Your two souls aren't melding very well anymore are they?" he asked him.
Mystrium shook his head.
"All this time he has fought against Mastic's magic.." he replied. "But all it did.. was damage my soul and body.. His resoluteness kept me alive, in a condition I could be rescued from, but not without.. painful consequences.." he winced.
"This is not over yet either." Lillian forced her words out with my voice.
"No." Mystrium voice came out deeper. "But I cannot keep doing this to him." he told us.
"No. And I'm sure the same will happen to Sans." she replied. "W-Wait-! You mean your DT might overwhelm me? How does that work if monsters absorbing humans souls is.. well.. normal, I guess." I replied to her out loud.
"When the power of the human soul becomes too much for a monster form to bare, the magic begins to decay." Brainzar, I figured, explained. "I have been overpowering Mystrium for.. centuries. I am surprised this hast not happened to us sooner." he stated with a weak laugh.
"So I'm good for now?" I asked with worry.
"You're good for now." Semi told me with a side glance.
"But than.. what do we do..?" Mom asked.
Brainzar made Mystrium smile. Then Mystrium looked shocked. He cringed and fell on his hands. He sat there for a moment, clenching his fists, crying, and shaking his head. Then suddenly..
"Trust yourself. And trust your friends." Brainzar looked at us, forcing a smile on Mystrium's face.
Frisk walked up and offered their hand to him with a friendly smile.
Mystrium hesitated, losing the forced smile.
Papyrus offered his hand to him. So did me and Lillian. Semi joined in, and so did everyone else. Expect Flowey, he had no hands, heh. Mystrium looked between us all with an expression of disbelief.
Then he reached out, and took Frisk's hand. Then pulled them down with him as he winced in pain and fell to the floor. He lied still, like he was fallen, and Frisk rightly became worried.
From his soul came Brainzar's soul, cracked, dull in color, and hardly glowing. That soul was over 1,000 years old..
"Braiznar!" Lillian called out.
The soul glowed brighter for a moment in response.
"Thank you." she told him.
Thank you.. young one.. Never give up.. in your efforts.
A crack ran down his soul, and it instantly shattered, the pieces disappearing into the air. Every trance of it faded away.. into nothing..
It that what it looks like when a human soul.. dies..? I honesty didn't tihnk that was really possible.
"Frisk." Semi called softly.
Frisk looked up at him from Mystrium.
"He will be fine. For now." he told them. "Right now we.." he gestured his head towards the Rift. Frisk stood up and left Mystrium. "Look after him Cally, and keep a look out for us." he told her.
She nodded in reply.
"Probably best if you all stay here." he eyed everyone.
I handed the Star Blade back to Frisk.
"Nonsense!" Papyrus objected with a stomp of his foot
Semi groaned and rolled his eyes.
"Fine. But just you." he sternly told him.
Papyrus stood up straight and saluted to him. Semi looked at him confused for a moment. Then he led us on towards the door.
"Sans." Mom grabbed me by my head suddenly. I looked up at her. "Keep him safe." she told me with concern.
"Heh, you keep him safe." I gestured at Dad.
"HEY!" Dad heard me. "No respect, not even from, like, my own children!" he grumbled.
"Sans.." Mom pleaded.
I glanced over at Semi inputting a code to open the door.
That old bones.. I don't think he knows how much everyone else worries about him.
"I'll do my best Mom." I told her.
She looked like she wanted to say more, but, she held it in. I held back some things too.
I heard the door begin to open, so I caught up to Semi and Frisk. Flowey hopped into my hood again at the last second. I felt him wiggle his way deeper into it, probably to keep out of sight.
I stood with Semi and Frisk as the door finished opening.
This was it. This was the center of everything that was happening.
It's why we are all here..
