Chapter 9: Dirty Mercy Giver
The twins approached the box slowly.
"What is it?" Akumu asked, inspecting it.
"It's an interdimensional box," Flowey informed them. "Anything you put in it will appear in a similar chest down the road. So, if you want to save anything that you don't want getting ruined, you can put it in here!"
"Oh! Okay." The twins then felt around the front of the chest for a few moments before opening it. Within the box was a pair of gloves. Akumu picked up the warm, thick things. Tough Glove- A worn leather glove for five-fingered folk. Chara narrated.
'Tough gloves, indeed.' Akumu thought, noticing how they could be useful keeping the cold out, even if it was a little worn down and she handed them to her brother. "Here, Ota. You need these more than I do."
"Are you sure?" Otaku asked, taking them.
"Yeah, I'm sure. And you can punch someone back with those. Rather than do anything with that pebble you've been carrying around as a 'weapon.' I got my sickles. I'm good." Aku told him, checking her pockets and depositing the note she collected from the Ruins infirmary into the box, before standing up. Otaku put the gloves on his hands.
"So...Hey Flowey, you remember anything what are these puzzles going to be like?"
"I don't know, last time was mostly spike traps, and stuff to do with electricity. We'll just have to find out. Come on. Let's keep moving," Flowey encouraged them both with a small smile.
The twins smiled at their flower friend. "Y-yes. I wonder what the first puzzle's going to be like."
The trio hadn't even taken a turn through the woods when a monster blocked their way.
*Snowdrake fluttered forth! Chara narrated again.
The twins's SOUL appeared before them as always. Their eyes grew wide in alarm. The creature before them was a bit larger than them both and much wider and looked like a giant living snowflake. Although it's head and body was shaped like an odd snowflake, their dark eyes and wicked beak were nothing like the playful crystals that fluttered in the wind.
*Snowdrake- ATK12-DEF 7.
*A self-proclaimed comedian. He's very self-conscious.
"Ice puns are 'snow' problem!" Snowdrake boasted, though his voice wavered. Otaku chuckled in a weak, if somewhat encouraging, manner. Snowdrake rolled his eyes and sighed. "Oh whatever. Pity laughs. God my father was right."
Snowdrake was just about to stalk off when Otaku called them back, "Hello? Snowdrake?"
Snowdrake turned toward them. "What?"
"Um… you're starting off well," Ota complimented. "But, uh… maybe try for more complex jokes rather than just about ice and snow. Um… like… questions! How do you get a one-armed guy out of a tree?"
Snowdrake hesitated. "…how?"
"You wave!" Ota chuckled whilst Akumu let out another groan facepalming a bit.
"Are we seriously, doing this right now?" Akumu asked, just under her breath, loud enough for only Flowey to hear.
"I think we're most definitely doing this right now, at least you're not getting attacked though?" Flowey offered, trying to look at the positives of this.
"Yeah I guess, but honestly I'd actually rather be attacked right now than have to sit here and watch these two morons pun each other to death." Aku furrowed, but figured she might as well get comfy and sat on the lid of the box, leaning forward slightly so her elbows sat on her knees as she watched her bro and Snowdrake have at it.
Snowdrake snorted and rolled his eyes, though a faint smile dressed his wicked beak. "Yeah, yeah. Cute joke. Not good, but alright. I have a much better one, though." Snowdrake snarled.
"Oh?" Otaku prompted, urging the monster on.
"How many monsters does it take to build a snowman?"
"Um… how many?"
"Three! One to freeze the guy and another to cover him with snow!" Snowdrake chuckled and sat down on a stray log.
Ota laughed, though the joke did not settle well with him even the slightest bit. "Nice one! Okay, then why didn't the gardener plant any flowers?" Frisk, too, sat down- though this time on a rock.
"Why?" the teen comedian prompted.
"Because he hadn't botany!" This caused them both to laugh.
Flowey and Aku rolled their eyes.
The two of them threw jokes at each other for a good hour. Each joke was worse than the last, as Flowey claimed. Frisk smiled, suggesting jokes of her own and signing, whenever Otaku ran out of his own. Chara facepalmed watching with Aku and looking just as bored as she was.
However, no game, no matter how fun, can last forever. Snowdrake sighed and got up. "Well, I better get back to father before he blows a gasket. I'll see you later…um?"
"Otaku." Ota got up holding a hand out in offering towards Snowdrake. "And I'd love to see you again, that was really fun!"
"Alright. I'll see you later then, and your wet blanket and sister again. See ya." Snowdrake waved his wing, shaking his hand awkwardly and fluttered back into the forest.
"See ya!" Otaku called before turning to his sister again. "Hehe, I made a friend! I think-"
"Congrats?" Aku said, slightly puzzled about that.
"Could that have taken any longer?" Flowey groaned in protest. "That LITERALLY took like, forever!"
Otaku shrugged, and shook his head before turning to continue walking further into the forest. Akumu in tow behind him "No! Snowdrake needed the laugh. He was feeling down and not good with himself."
Flowey looked at the boy with a huff, before turning ahead. "Whatever. Let's just keep going."
The twins nodded and continued to walk. They only stopped when a rough, growling voice piped up beside them as the twins passed another sentry post.
"Did something just move? Who goes there?!" A dog-human monster raised his head. His scrappy black and white fur was pressed tight to him in multiple places by ripped up black jeans and a red shirt. His eyes, half shut, glared at the twins and Flowey sniffing the air, his head kept twitching slightly as if searching.
"Ohh, a human huh? No, two of them? Ooh, and still fresh from the world Above, from the smell of you both. Hehehe….Come with me children, I promise I don't bite...much." The dog jumped from his sentry station and unsheathed his short swords. He wielded two of them, and they glowed scarlet. The dog monster continued sniffing the air more trying to find them.
"D-Don't move kids! He can't see anything if you're not moving!" Flowey warned, remembering the last run in with this dog monster and how Doggo had killed Frisk at least twice before she herself had figured out he was blind.
"Then, what do we do?" Akumu asked, being sure to stay absolutely still. Otaku also froze right beside her even though they were both at least a foot away from the dog monster.
"Hmph, I can still hear and smell you. And I'll find you little brats. Just you wait." The dog monster promised, walking around in circles as he continued searching. The group stayed silent watching the dog monster wander about endlessly, "Sooner or later, one of you is gonna slip up. And I will catch you. It's just a matter of time, pups. So, you know, might as well give up already and let me play with you. I like playing, you know? You pups can't stay hidden forever from me. I'll find you yet."
Otaku looked around, watching the dogs movements as an idea came to mind. "F-Flowey, do you know him?"
"Not really, he's one of Papyrus's lap dogs I think. A member of the Royal Guard, whom Papyrus is the Leader of now since Undyne left the charge and made her own group." Flowey explained nervously.
"That dorky, really edgy, tall Skeleton from earlier? Really?" Otaku asked.
The dog monster gave a growl interrupting their conversation. "Grrrrr. Quiet you!" He barked, still searching around aimlessly, "Don't disrespect my Master! If I'm a good boy, Papyrus might give me one of your bones to chew on! I have to do a good job!"
"Oh yeah, I'd like to see you try fucker!" Aku shouted. "You're not gonna get even a bite out of us! We'll beat you up before that even happens!" She taunted.
"Heh, whatever you say, Humans. You have no idea what you're up against." The dog monster growled again, his lips peeling back slightly revealing sharp yellowed teeth.
Otaku looked back nervously at his sister, giving her a look like she's crazy. "Maybe...when his back is turned, one of us can slowly move out of the way and get out of here. I don't want anyone to hurt him!"
"Tsk, always the pacifist, huh bro?" Aku uttered but nodded, moving into the forest, as soon as the dog monster had turned his back to them.
"H-Hey! Where'd you go?! Come back here!" The dog monster snarled again, now it was just Otaku alone in the pathway near where the dog's sentry post was.
"Bro what the hell are you doing?!" Aku shouted. "C'mon his back's turned again, come over here!"
"No, sis. I have a plan." Otaku said, standing absolutely still and he turned back to the dog monster again, giving him his full attention. "Can't we just talk about this?" He asked.
The dog monster laughed, "Hah, talk? Your 'talking' isn't going to fill my belly, kid. In fact, it'll just make me even MORE hungry."
"You don't have to kill, dog- er, Doggo? Doggy?" Otaku tried again. "You don't have to take us to Papyrus either, you can still choose to do the right thing!"
"Kid, what're you doing?" This time it was Flowey to speak up, peeking out more from the safety of Akumu's hood. "Come up here!"
Otaku ignored Flowey, keeping his attention on the dog monster in front of him who was still mostly wandering around in circles trying to find him. "You wanna be a good boy right, doggy?"
"I...I wanna be a good doggo. No- Stop it!" The dog monster argued, moving one paw up to his temple.
"You know, there's lots of good doggies back on the Surface! There's guard doggies, or some even kept as a close friend! If you don't kill us, maybe we can be your friends instead?" Otaku kept trying, slowly he reached a hand out. So slow in fact it took nearly 3 minutes for him to raise his arm so the dog monster wouldn't really see him. "Maybe I can help you make more friends! Would you like that?"
"NO! I-I… I don't need friends. What help could you possibly give me anyways? Huh?"
"Well, you said you were hungry right? I have some uh, candies I can give you? And maybe we can go hunting. I think I saw a river earlier, we can try fishing!" Otaku spoke up, trying to be helpful.
"What kind of a dog...eats...fish?!" The dog monster continued growling.
"A nice one? One that doesn't kill or hurt people? A friend." Otaku finished, slowly, he took a step towards the dog monster. So subtle so he couldn't see him.
"Yeah, well you see kid… in case you didn't hear me last time. I am NOT a nice dog. I am a proud member of the Royal Guard and I WILL. Kill you!" The dog barked as Otaku stayed absolutely still once again.
"Bro…. you're wasting your time. Come on." Aku replied, watching the events unfold, worriedly. Noticing how the dog monster was getting dangerously close to her brother and was getting ready to go back down there and FIGHT to defend him.
"NO! Stay there! I...I know I can reach him! I just have to keep trying, like I did with Toriel!" Otaku persisted, keeping his attention to the dog monster.
"Hehehe...after I finish brutalizing this boy and strip him of his SOUL, you're next child." The dog monster grinned, licking his snout.
"You-You stay away from my sister you!" Otaku retaliated. "I won't let you harm anyone today!"
"Grrrrrrrrrrrr!" The dog monster growled as Aku remained in hiding seeing him back off from her brother and continue wandering aimlessly and quite hopelessly.
"One way or another, you WILL be coming back to Snowdin with me. I guarantee it." The dog monster snarled again, still sniffing the air and doing all he can to find the prey he couldn't see. "I refuse to go back to my Master empty pawed."
Otaku returned his attention back to the dog monster, "Well... what if... What if you never went back to Papyrus at all, doggy? What if you stayed with us instead and became our friend?"
"Pfuh! Stay? With you? And your little 'pacifism' shtick? Yeah...right. And I'm a monkey's uncle. Listen, you're going to have to FIGHT me sooner or later, and I WILL have that human's soul!"
"No. No fighting. Things'll be different this time, I promise that! I'm never gonna stop trying to change the Underground! Just like Frisk would have wanted…" Otaku promised himself. "I'll never give up, even if this world tears me apart. I didn't fight Toriel and now she's not even in the Ruins anymore, so I know I did the right thing then, and I'm not going to fight you, doggy! Not even a GOOD doggy that has just gone astray sometime along the way."
"Feh, so kid, what are you gonna do then huh?" The dog monster asked, actually curious now. "You seem so convinced you can change me. Well, maybe a long time ago. But not anymore, not even when we believed in pacifism we STILL got left Underground! Nothing has changed!"
"Maybe not...but I'm not going to give up! I'm not going to fail like Frisk did, and I'm not going to fail and give up on you doggy!" Otaku called, "And I'm definitely not going to kill you, no matter what, and neither is my sister and friend!"
"Hahahaha! Oh, you're a riot has got to be the dumbest thing I've heard."
"Oh yeah? Well, I don't think so. Because, whether you're a dog or monster or whatever, you're still a dog, somewhere in there. And you wanna know what I know that dogs want the most?"
"What's that?"
"Well, you said it yourself, doggy. You just want to be a good boy, right? A good boy to your master?"
A playful YIP escapes the dog monster's throat. "GRRRR, stop it…!"
"Yeah, you just want Papyrus to admit you're a good doggy and pay attention to you. But he doesn't. I bet he just thinks you're a bad doggy instead." Otaku asked, drawing closer again slowly.
Another yip escapes, and the dog monster's tail begins to wag a little. "No! He's- he's just h-hard to please! That's all! I'm not a good boy! I'm a bad dog! And I always will be!"
"Oh really? Because I believe you have the potential to be a good doggo. And you are, if you choose to be, like I believe you can be."
Again, the dog monster yips and he cowers, sinking in on himself, "STOP IT! I'M NOT A GOOD BOY! I DON'T W-WANNA BE!"
"Otaku, what're you-?" Flowey asked, gasping and watching as Otaku continued to move closer to the dog monster.
"Who's a good boy? Huh? Who wants to be a good boy?" Otaku asked, in a playful manner.
"M-Me...NO! I must...resist! I'm a good dog!" The dog monster howled, fighting with himself. His tail wagging more and more. "GRRRR, YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU'RE T-"
"Oh, I think I know exactly what I'm talking about. You just forgot how to be a good boy again, that's all. But, I want to try and help you remember, doggy. I wanna be your new best friend. Just like Flowey!" Otaku said, walking right next to the dog monster and carefully, since he was crouching on the ground, Otaku raised his hand up, scratching the dog monster behind the ears. Otaku watched as his tail began to wag more and another playful yip escaped. "Awww~ who's a good doggo?"
"I-I'm a...g-good doggo…." The dog monster whispered, fighting the words to come out.
"What was that? I didn't quite hear you." Otaku teased, petting the monster more, and along the back. "Who's a good doggo, friend?"
"I'm. A. Good...NO…!"
More pets and the dog monster fell over, rolling onto his back and paws up in the air as he started to cry. "Alr-Alright already! I AM A GOOD DOGGO!" THe dog monster sobbed, as Otaku continued to pet him, even scratching at the monster's belly. "All I ever wanted was...was to be a good boy! And get the belly rubs and...and be told I'm a good boy!"
"Holy shit…" Aku cursed, her eyes widening as she watched. "He did it. He actually did it."
"Hahaha, yeah! Who's my favorite doggo in the whole world! Who likes getting their belly scratched?!" Otaku laughed, petting the monster more. Having no cares in the world right now.
"I-I like getting my belly scratched! I wanna be your bestest friend doggo in the whole world!" The dog monster continued to sob, holding his mouth open and even letting his tongue stick out, his tail wagging at least 50 MPH.
"And who doesn't wanna eat his friends again?" Otaku asked, stopping the pets after a while to let Doggo stand.
"I don't wanna! I don't wanna!" The dog monster sniffled, standing back up again. "Y..You really mean it when you said you'll allow me to be your friend? Even though I...I tried to- to-"
"That's right. I mean, my offer still stands, so long as you don't try and backstab us or anything." Otaku said, offering a handshake to the Doggo. "Name's Otaku. And I promise, so long as you don't try and hurt us again, you can even come with us! And hang out with us for as long as you want!"
The dog Monster started to cry again in happiness as he placed a paw into Otaku's hand. "I wanna be your friend! Oh, I'm so sorry for my actions! I don't deserve to have friends for what I almost did!" He bawled.
"Aww, don't say that. Everyone deserves a second chance. AND Friends. Including you!" Otaku said, petting his neck and trying to calm him down. "there, there, doggy. Everything's going to be okay now."
Aku hopped down from their hiding spot, seeing the change in the dog monster and realizing it was now safe to approach them. "Wow bro. You actually did it! I'm...kind of impressed. Sorry for doubting you dude. That was so cool!" Aku praised, also petting the dog monster gently.
"M-My name's D-Doggo...by the way." Doggo sniffled, starting to calm down finally. "I-I promise, I'll keep you humans safe! I'll be the safest, most protectivest, and goodliest doggo ever!"
"I know you will Doggo." Both the twins said, still scratching his head. "That's my sister, Akumu and that's Flowey." Otaku told the dog, as Aku and Flowey came to join them.
"Yeah, congrats Otaku. Sorry for doubting you." Flowey also admitted, shyly. "We should probably get a move on. In case anyone heard that racket earlier huh? We don't wanna stay just in case."
"Stay?! I'm good at staying! And fetch!" Doggo yipped.
"Haha, not that kind of stay silly." Otaku laughed. "But, I guess you can stay with us. Just stay between me and my sister okay? We'll help you see your way around and all."
"Oh, Taku, I swear I'll never eat you or your sister ever again! You won't regret this!" Doggo promised.
"Well, I guess now we're even more fucked with Papyrus and his brother now huh? Now that Doggo has gone missing from the Royal Guard and all. Papyrus is gonna be one pissed-off skeleton…." Aku said leading the way. The others following.
They heard a snicker behind them. "wow. haven't seen someone fall like that in a while! ya ever seen one'a those aspca commercials? reminded me of that. haha."
Flowey glared up at Sans, who stood nonchalantly a few feet away. "Oh, shut up smiley trashbag. He's on OUR side now!"
"heh, i guess." Sans prompted. "m' boss wouldn't be too happy 'bout losin' one o' his lackeys though. heh. he always seems t' know wha's happenin' around 'ere. funny wha' ya did with doggo. i do it all th' time." Sans snickered.
Doggo whimpered a little hiding behind the twins.
"Hey!" Otaku gasped. "That's mean! Doggo's blind, he can't help it. Don't make fun of him for it."
Flowey piped up, "Yeah, you big jerk. Now, are you gonna fight us too? Or do you want to move out of the way or what?"
"heh, or what? y' gonna pun me to death?" Sans gave them a lazy grin. "like y' did with that snowdrake? or, perhaps ye'd rather die, like frisk? since yer so adamant on playin' the 'good guys,' let me tell ya somethin' kids… since th' boss has banned me from jus' killin' ya both, cuz he's havin' so much fun messin' with ya both. let me jus' give ya a little warnin.'"
"And...what's that?" Otaku asked genuinely.
"Heroes don't exist down here in the Underground, brat. Many have tried. Many have failed. And if I can make it clear to you… this isn't a world you can just change and make friends with everyone so easily. And if I can make this clear to you, well, it'd make my job so much easier." Sans warned, his left eye socket flaring up again looking like it was on fire. The twins shivered at the sudden change in his tune. "You Dirty Mercy Giver."
"But, why? Why is it so wrong to believe in Mercy?" Otaku asked, the poor boy looking confused. Then he remembered what Flowey had told him, "Is-Is it because Frisk died? Is that it? She's dead so now you believe that there's no hope anymore. That no one can escape the Underground anymore. Because...because in the end she died. Well, I think- I think-...! You're just a coward Sans! You-"
Before Otaku could say anymore, Sans had turned his Soul blue slamming the boy hard into a tree behind him, then Sans swung his arm down, slamming the boy face first into the snow, then summoned several sharp bones in the air above them, before throwing them down onto the boy. Each one doing 1HP of damage, however due to Otaku's DILIGENCE SOUL trait, each one did a total of 2HP perhit.
Otaku screamed in pain as several bones went straight through each of his limbs, one piercing his arm through the bone and several more also pierce his back, one almost reaching his spine but not quite and many intentionally missing Otaku's SOUL so as not to kill the boy. His HP dropping down to 8.
"OTAKU!" Akumu screamed, pulling out her sickles, but Sans merely snapped his fingers, causing 3 massive Gaster Blasters to form facing her and Flowey who'd ducked further into her hood in fear.
"Master!" Doggo cried out as well, not sure what was happening only seeing shapes and slightly clearer visions when the bones were moving but now he had not a clue what was happening as he whined, his tail tucked between his legs, as Aku had stopped in place, unmoving and sweat dripping from her forehead, as Sans returned his attention to the boy, BOTH eyes now flaring and through Otaku's blurry vision, he swore he thought he could see what looked to be a white, upside down monster soul sitting inside a red rightside up humans soul floating just outside of Sans ribcage. Since he and Sans were technically in a battle right now.
"don' y' fuckin' dare ever utter my sweethearts name kid. y' want us t' all think yer all good huh brat? y' think i'm the coward? what about you, huh?" Sans uttered, his boney fists clenching at his sides. "did y' have a good laugh at us, huh? bringin' all our hopes up an' shit. jus' fer ya to up 'n die on us, right at the end… it hurts. it hurts so fuckin' much."
Otaku stared up at Sans, thoroughly pinned to the ground clearly confused, as it became clear Sans was no longer talking to him anymore.
"cuz, sweetheart, let me tell ya somethin' frisk." Sans said, slowly, looking directly down at the boy, he squatted down grabbing Otaku by the hair, his baseball hat being knocked off and falling on the snow, as Sans had forced the boy to look Sansy directly in the eye sockets. Otaku grimaced in pain, the movement causing the bones to dig in deeper into his body. "in this world…"
Sans snapped his fingers, jerking the boy up more and he cried the bones digging in again, as his HP dropped down to 2 and he was just barely hanging onto consciousness by this point. "It's kill or be killed. And for your sake, you better hope I never see your fucking face ever again. Or someone's going to have one hell of a time."
And with that Sans vanished. His attacks and all as well, when he teleported. Otaku fell back down into the blood-soaked snow completely unconscious as Sans last words began to sink in and his vision faded into the blackness….