Akumu ran across the bridge quickly, desperate in saving her brother and getting Otaku's SOUL back from the skeletons, arms hanging on tight to her siblings lifeless body.
"A-Akumu, please! Slow down!" Doggo whined as he started chasing after Aku on all fours.
Akumu turned her body to face the dog monster panting, "Well run faster Doggo! They're going to get away! We-We can still catch up to them while the trail is still fresh!" Akumu gasped, breathing heavily in between gasps.
"Perhaps we should listen to Doggo, he knows this area more than we do. And following the trail isn't what I'm worried about too…" Flowey said, as the voice of reason. "I mean… kid, do you even know what you're trying to accomplish by being here?!"
"G-Getting my brother's SOUL back." Akumu declared, determination clear in her eyes. Her heart, soul and mind deadset on her goal to save her brother.
"Yeah.. if we're lucky." Flowey also exclaimed, sighing. "That;s the goal we want to happen, but right now...kid, with the way that you are, we're just rushing into this place without any idea what we're doing. Most likely headlong into a place positively FILLED to the brim with traps and probably spike falls like the one that caught your brother." Flowey then motioned to the limp, lifeless body of her brother in Akumu's arms.
"Well, what do you suggest then?" Akumu started, "Maybe...if we caught up to them both, before they reached Snowdin Village. We could- I don't know, jump them? It's 3 of us against 2 of them!"
"Oh sure, kid. Sounds easy...we're hardly an elite fighting force except for maybe Doggo. And he's blind as a bat without anything moving. I'm just a flower, and although you seem to have some better experience in fighting- you're just a kid. And we're up against, one, the Royal Guard's freaking Leader, and his own brother! Not to mention, the Royal Guards top dogs. AND, all of them have insane amounts of LV, kid. Especially Papyrus!" Flowey persisted, talking fast out of fear. "Papyrus didn't become the Leader by meandering around you know, that's why I told you to be careful around him."
"I get it, kid. You're scared for your brother. As me and Doggo are too, but you're rushing into this only half-ready. You're not even looking at the big picture!" Flowey continued to scold, watching as Akumu had seemed to deflate almost immediately, calming down.
"I-I'm sorry Flowey...it seems, that's all I've done ever since me and my bro woke up down here…" Akumu placated. Lamenting all her mistakes as she looked at the ground, and then her brother's body in her arms.
Flowey sighed, also relenting a bit. A vine gently patting Akumus shoulder. "I know kid, the Underground, as it is right now, is no easy place for children such as you and you're bro. It's just...when I say the world is "Kill or be Killed." Well… even if it isn't the approach your brother agrees with exactly. It IS the exact way every single monster down here has been living in. No exceptions."
"Except Undyne...kinda." Akumu exclaimed, an idea slowly forming.
"I'm just saying...Maybe...I don't know. We could go grab weapons or something inside the Town first, before going to Papyrus's castle. Or- or find some more allies, willing to help us out." Flowey suggested, and Doggo hastily agreed.
"I got my sickles." Aku said, brushing off the idea. "As for allies...hmmm…." Akumu thought for a moment, deep in thought.
"What is it?" Flowey asked, curious. Poking his head out further from her hood.
"I was just thinking...Undyne. Maybe..we could recruit her? Or, at least have a temporary alliance with?" Akumu offered, clutching her brother's body closer to hers. "I mean, Flowey. You told me she created the Freedom Fighters group to oppose the King right? Because of Frisk? So- maybe..."
"Hah. Yeah, but she and Papyrus get along though. Even if they have opposing opinions on things. Which is kind of a good thing." Flowey explained.
"Good thing?" Aku asked, tilting her head.
"Well… if they hated each other, the Underground would most likely catch fire, trying to kill each other."
"Wait, but Papyrus is all for King Asgore's laws?" Akumu asked, confused. "How-"
"They have differing opinions, sure. But it's just not enough of a spark to set their hate ablaze. After all, Undyne has been Papyrus' best friend even before the King took her eye. And Papyrus was the one who helped nurse her back to health, I'm sure it's that bond that is what keeps the two of them from hating each other entirely."
"But what if we...I don't know. Ignited it then? Told Undyne Papyrus has a human soul. And that her fight for freedom was in real danger, unless she helped us get it back?" Akumu offered, the wheels turning in her head. "We GET Undyne to hate Papyrus and make them fight each other. Have that be a distraction to get my brother's SOUL back? I am NOT. Leaving. The Underground without my brother."
"Head all the way to Waterfall? That might take too long too though... It is a start, but Undyne can be….kind of a handful. No it would take too long trying to convince her…." Flowey tried, thinking too.
"Wh-What about...sneakily?" Doggo suggested, stammering forth. "Try and-and sneak in instead? Do some recon. Maybe you guys can find an opening or something?"
"Maybe. I guess that's worth a shot." Akumu stated, affirming. "You two, need to watch my backs, in that case. Alert me if either of the brothers sees us. Or the other dogs."
"I can smell if anyone's coming, if nothing else?" Doggo suggested, he was shaking a little in fright but he was determined to save his new friends and be a good doggo.
"And I can use my vines I guess to open doors quietly." Flowey added, readying his vines from within her hood.
"So, we're agreed then? I guess sneaking it is." Akumu agreed. "Oh, what about my brother? He-" Akumu broke off, suddenly remembering the lifeless body in her arms.
"OH, oh! I have a sentry post nearby, we can put Ota's body in there. Before I became a Guard, I use to chase squirrels around there lots! The path there hasn't been used since too! He'll be totally safe until we get back!"
"If you say so, let's hurry then." Akumu insisted, growing antsy.
Elsewhere, at Snowdin Castle. The brothers had just returned as Sans got to work setting Otaku's SOUL in a glass cylinder container that was hooked up to a machine used to measure the DT levels of a SOUL and prevent it from shattering and keep it stable. As carefully as Sans could, he placed the slightly larger, purple-ish, blue heart-shaped SOUL into the cylinder, the cracks that were starting to form on the SOUL healed almost immediately upon making contact with the strange liquid which filled the container and Sans read off the screen once the computer had lit up, and a flood of information was read back to him in Wing Dings that both he and Papyrus could easily understand for an unknown reason.
OTAKU
*LV: 2
*HP: 2/24
*SOUL STABILIZING….
*SOUL trait: DILIGENCE
*DT: 30/100
"'hey boss! the soul's stopped breaking up! we did it!" Sans announced, turning his head over his skull to look at his brother behind him. "'m not sure how long it'll last, this tech not like the fancy schmancy shit back in the capital but, it should be a'righ' til ya make th' call with th' king, boss."
"EXCELLENT! NYAHAHAH! THE FINAL SOUL, WE'RE SO CLOSE SANS! JUST THINK, FINALLY MONSTERS WILL GET TO ROAM THE WORLD ABOVE GROUND ONCE MORE!" Papyrus thrilled, as he marched on over. Red booted heels click clacking against the wooden floors of the ground as he bent over slightly to look over the defenseless SOUL in their grasp.
Sans carefully kept his face neutral, his hands returning to his pockets as he took a glance at his brother right besides him, as if waiting for praise from Papyrus or even a thank you for helping capture the human with his pit trap, even though he already knew it would never come. A minute passed until Sans gave up and spoke, a slightly sad tone to his voice. "ye… congrats boss."
"YES SANS, 'CONGRATS' INDEED, FOR MY SPECTACULAR VICTORY. YET AGAIN, FOR THE GREAT AND TERRIBLE PAPYRUS!"
"ya…." Sans mumbled, his eye sockets going dark as his eye lights extinguished themselves for a moment. Then, he removed both his hands out of his pockets, shrugging with both hands up in the air and giving a playful wink. "welp, if ya need me boss, i'll be at grillbz celebratin' an' shit while ya talk to th' king, sound cool boss? 'm sure ya c'n handle it without me fuckin' things up as always. heh."
Sans began preparing his magic, getting ready for a teleport when Papyrus had suddenly reached over grabbing the shorter skeleton by the back of the throat, making Sans jump the slightest bit in alarm. Carefully, Sans glanced behind him. "b...boss?" Sans asked, sweating slightly from his skull as he felt his brother's grip tighten slightly.
"Not. Yet." Papyrus rumbled, his tone a warning. "I'D LIKE TO SPEAK TO YOU AFTER MY CALL WITH THE KING, SANS."
"y-ye..? 'b-bout wha' boss?" Sans winked again for effect. "'cuz if it's t' hear ya gloatin' 'bout how cool ya are, ya know ya c'n always go t' undyne ta listen boss an-"
"SINCE WHEN WERE YOU GOING TO TELL ME YOU HAD A GODSOUL SANS?" Papyrus cut him off, his voice suddenly sounding rigid, full of tension and a slight hint of betrayal in his voice as he spoke.
This caused Sans to jolt a bit, his mind going into overdrive as his SOUL began to race. Sans wondered when in the living hell did Papyrus notice it. Hadn't he been so careful for the past 7 years hiding this from everyone? "b-boss! i-i was gon' t-tell ya, honest! i-i jus'"
"...How Did It Feel, Sans?"
"wh-"
Papyrus's face showed anger, real anger for but a moment, before it hardened right back up again like concrete. Paps took a single step backward, wrenching his arm from Sans's neck bone in a strong, jerky movement, knocking the smaller to the side and forward slightly. Sans's sockets widened, but he was too slow to react as Paps then raised his arm back and drove it forward, cracking a solid blow right across Sans's face.
"SANS." Boss intoned icily as the smaller staggered back under the painful force, voice threateningly calm, but venom still thoroughly dripped from his mandible as Papyrus glared at the smaller skeleton.
Sans swore, tone high whining and muffled as he cradled his stinging face. He instinctively CHECKED himself, half fearing that his HP had suffered under such a vicious attack, fearing that the next instant he'd just dust, but it remained at 21. Papyrus had held no true intent; it had simply been a warning on his part. Paps only seemed to anger further, noticing the massive jump to the older's singular HP.
Sans took one step backward, breathing hard and pressing his trembling fingers into the throbbing bone, half certain that a bruise was already forming. Sans shakily locked eye sockets with his younger brother.
"HOW DID IT FEEL WATCHING ME SUFFERING FOR YOU, HUH? TO FORCE MYSELF TO KILL AND BE STRONG WHILE YOU PRETENDED TO BE WEAKER THAN ME?!" Papyrus demanded, tears forming in his eye sockets as he realized that he was feeling true betrayal settle in his SOUL as he continued to snap at Sans. "HOW LONG WERE YOU HIDING THIS FROM ME?! HOW LONG...WHY HAVEN'T YOU LEFT THE BARRIER AND TAKEN THE LAST SOUL YOURSELF?!"
"b-boss...l-like i s-said..i was gon' tell ya, i just- this di-didn' con-concern ya's all." Sans stammered, his sockets widened and eye lights shrinking to little pin pricks.
"'DIDN'T CONCERN M-'" Paps started but now, Sans was the one cutting Papyrus off as he then snatched his brother's wrist, the one that had punched his jaw earlier. The hold was tighter than it probably needed to be, at least by Sans's standards, but with his meager HP it was unlikely his grip was hurting Boss at all anyway, and there was a point he wanted to make. Both skeletons came to a frozen standstill, Boss's face filled with anger and suspicion, and Sans's own filled with grief and sadness. The smaller's chest heaved, a mix of fear and rage wrenching within his soul as sweat condensed on his skull.
"yeah, y' heard what i said, papyrus. it didn' concern ya! aren't ya th' one always tellin' me 'm pathetic and a wimp fer not acceptin' that frisk was gone?!" Sans snapped, letting his words pour out like venom as he gritted back, like each word pained himself just as deeply. Some small part of Sans still caring for his younger brother who would abused him and had pretty much abandoned Sans to his own grief and misery. "i recall ya tellin' me once or twice how i shouldn't even come home no mores, an' jus' stay e'ry day at 'er grave an' that i was jus' livin' an illusion!"
"ya i took 'er soul, i didn' tell ya b'cause yer always busy tellin' shit to th' king an' then tellin' me to stay out o' yer business, an' that ya didn' have ta report t' me, so i learned to keep my shit locked up since ya nev'r had time fer yer big bro!" Sans screamed, as he suddenly couldn't control himself anymore. He struggled to shove the anger into his expression rather than the hurt and betrayal that was brimming just beneath. One of his eyelids felt numb, like it was already trying to swell shut, and Sans imagined he made a pitiful sight. The rims of his sockets were wet from the sting of pain, but he wasn't crying. Sans glared up at his brother with what little courage and defiance he still had in that world, and stood as rigid and straight as he could, even as his face stung and his soul pounded in his chest. "So fuck you, Papyrus!"
"So...Is That What This Is About Then, Is It Sans...?" Papyrus spoke, slowly. He at least had the frame of mind to lower his voice unlike his older but angry, and hurt older brother in front of him. "I DID NOT WANT TO MAKE YOU..." Boss trailed off, before his voice steeled again in annoyance. "I THOUGHT I MADE IT QUITE CLEAR THAT I DO NOT REPORT TO YOU. I'M THE LEADER OF THE ROYAL GUARD AND YOUR SUPERIOR! WHAT I DO OR DO NOT KEEP TO MYSELF IS NONE OF YOUR CONCERN, NOR ANY OF YOUR BUSINESS."
"t' hell it ain't! i think yer forgettin' boss who's also th' older brother between th' two of us and secondly yeah! ya it is 'bout this! an' if y' wanna go 'n tell the king then do it! i don't fuckin' care anymore!" Sans snapped, as loud as the smaller skeleton could possibly get. Sans took in a shaky breath, realizing he'd been way out of line. That surely he'd be executed for this, for arguing with his superior and for the possibility of treason at the fact he's been holding a GODsoul this entire time and never told anyone the past 7 years but Sans genuinely just didn't care anymore.
The missing human would surely RESET soon anyways, so nothing else mattered, his brother would soon forget about all this anyways….right?
"let the fucker think im plannin' treason, or even kill me, if he so wishes! s'not like ya give a fuck! righ' boss? 'm jus' a fuckin' failure in yer eyes, i-i can't even r-reset… hahaha...ain't that th' best joke yet, eh bro?"
"SANS! WHAT ARE YOU SAYING? WH-" Papyrus started, confused as to what Sans was even talking about. Ignoring the 'brother' comment. What Resets?
Sans eye sockets had suddenly gone dark, annoyance slowly soaking into his voice as he spoke. His voice soft, as lower case as a skeleton monster could possibly get as he then tried for a different approach and tried for a much more simpler explanation. "how horrible would it be, do ya s'ppose, papyrus, t' remember the things that have been 100 times b'fore? to know, yer th' only one aware of timelines jumpin' left and right, up an' down, movin' forward and back… until suddenly, everythin' jus' ends? t' not be able to forget, boss?! hehehe...t' know that one day, without any warnin', that everythin' is all jus' goin' t' reset."
"i'll b' frank boss, but as fer why i'm such a lazybones sometimes? knowin' wha' i know, welp… it makes it hard to give anythin' my all, ya know? knowin' that 'th' last scene of all, that ends this strange, eventful history is second childishness and mere oblivion.' sans' teeth, sans' eye, sans' taste. sans' everything!" Sans snapped suddenly, his voice hitching as he recalled his many deaths by the other children Asgore had captured, being the Judge of the Underground, until they'd eventually given up and Sans was able to weaken then enough to remove their souls.
Papyrus immediately reached out and grabbed Sans's shoulders. Sans didn't seem to even realize what was happening around him, his eye sockets seeing, yet unseeing at the same time. Fully accepting whatever it was to come, and the fact that Boss was going to bring him into audience with the king, and when they got there everything would go wrong and there was going to be no escape and there would be pain and fear and agony so much agony and-
"STOP IT! SANS, STOP IT!" Sans heard Paps growl in a hushed tone, grabbing both of Sans's shoulders, wrestling him easily until he was pressed up and pinned to the cold metal wall at his back, Boss towering over him powerfully. "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU EVEN SAYING SANS?!"
"i used t' think all humans were the same as th' monsters down 'ere. willin' to do anything, an' gain some exp or love. killin' yer own friends or family, jus' t' survive. i used to think that that was th' only way. at least, knowin' havin' hope was meaningless if ya didn' exist. i used t' not care how many times i had t' kill since everythin' would jus' reset again. and then i just stopped carin' at all because of th' resets."
"but then, i met 'er. a beautiful human with a red determination soul, who showed me another way. she showed me t' be kind. an' she reminded me what it was like t' be happy again, and made me even want to fight for our happiness. but then she died. an' it's my fault. in a fit of rage and grief i accidentally absorbed 'er soul. heh. not even a foot away from th' barrier too."
Papyrus's eye sockets had widened at this newfound knowledge, sweat dripping now off his own skull, and gloved phalanges squeezing slightly into his brother's shoulders as his mind had blanched from shock. 'SO THAT'S WHAT HAD HAPPENED THAT DAY! I ALWAYS THOUGHT IT WAS ODD WHY THE HUMAN SANS HAD BEEN TRAVELLING WITH DIDN'T SEEM TO HAVE A SOUL TO USE TO BREAK THE BARRIER… SO, THAT MEANS MY PATHETIC FOOL OF A BROTHER HAS HAD A GODSOUL FOR SEVEN WHOLE YEARS?! HE COULD HAVE JUST LEFT THE BARRIER ANY TIME HE WANTED THEN- WHY?'
Sans winced slightly, when his clawed fingers had dug into his clothes and shoulder bones but he kept going, "i thought if y' combine a monsters an' a humans ya gain th' power of a god, then i'd be able to reset too and bring 'er back. welp, turns out i can't even reset like humans can all th' damn time whenever they died! hahaha….ha..ha… ain't that th' best bit?! i've t-tried so, so many times t' reset. t' fin' some way of gettin' 'er back an' nothin'! i can't even do that fuckin' shit righ' either!" Sans gave a toothy lopsided grin, red tinted tears beginning to poke their way out of Sans swollen eye socket, and the other. Sans reached to his brother, grasping onto Papyrus's arms and lightly squeezing as he searched for any sense of comfort from the younger brother.
Sweat was now soaking into Sans's shirt, drenching him as he started shivering, fully accepting if he was going to die anyways before either of the twins resetted, then he might as well go all out and spill the beans right? Not like this timeline mattered. Everyone would forget soon enough except for him. "welp, i s'ppose fer now, such sweet oblivion isn't meant to be anyways... fer the underground nor i can never forget…!"
"Sans, what are you doing?"
Sans could have sworn he heard a voice as he audibly gasped, but he couldn't quite tell who it was. Was someone watching him, trying to stop his confessions about the Resets?
'...frisk?' Sans thought, as he felt a strong hold on his hands. As if some ethereal angel was holding his hand, and he felt a cold shiver overcome him.
Frisk was floating right besides him, holding his hand and squeezing, realizing quickly what he was planning on doing and desperation had her ethereal body to put a stop to it. "Please, Sans! Don't do this…! Don't-" Frisk begged, tears falling from her flower covered face, and teeth gritting tightly closed.
"SANS, WHAT THE FUCKING HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?!" Papyrus hissed, voice higher and tenser than usual even as he kept it moderately quiet. The voice rang out, drowning out that of Frisks voice in Sans head as he heard his brother scream. "SNAP OUT OF IT, SANS, YOU IDIOT!"
But Sans wasn't listening.
It was too late.
"i-i jus' wanted 'er back boss. an' i guess ya were righ' all 'long 'bout me. i never asked t' be a failure. i've tried an' tried an' tried t' make ya proud of me, an' safe. an' now 'm jus' tired of tryin' anymore. everythin' i've don, i've done fer us, even keepin' my own secrets about th' resets and my godsoul. i did fer us."
"SO BASICALLY, IT'S BECAUSE OF THE INCOMPETENCE OF MY BROTHER, THAT WE HAVE BEEN DENIED GOING TO THE SURFACE FOR 7 LONG YEARS. IS THAT IT SANS?"
"b-boss…?" Sans teeth gritted tightly against his jaw, and his eyes went dark as he lowered his skull down. "tch, it's like talkin' to a brick wall with ya sometimes, boss. that's not wha-"
"PERHAPS I SHOULD GIVE A CALL TO KING ASGORE THEN... I'M SURE HE'D LOVE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THESE RESETS THAT YOU MENTIONED. AND FOR WHY YOU'VE NEVER DONE A SINGLE THING TO HELP FREE US FROM THIS MISERABLE PRISON. YOU KNOW THE PRICE FOR TREASON SANS." Papyrus glared, suddenly all authoritative as he slowly released Sans to think about what he'd just done.
"b-boss?" Sans gasped, as he searched his brother's eyes. 'wait, he surely can't be serious righ'? i know i told him i didn' care but...but he's my bro! h-he c-can't…?'
"DOGAMY AND DOGARESSA!" Papyrus howled, all traces of the concerned younger brother Sans had seen just a few seconds ago as he tried to make clearer sense of what Sans was saying was now seemingly completely gone and bled away. Instead, he was replaced by the authoritative, cruel, deadly and cold-hearted, proud Leader of the Royal Guard he had slowly become following the day after Papyrus had been forced to care for, and witness his best friend's eye gouged out and left to die.
Sans realized this was not his brother anymore, the minute he heard the names of the Boss's lackeys being called forth. Boss was a statue of solid intimidation and fearlessness, the very essence of a true monster. "TAKE THIS SNIVELLING HEAP AWAY FROM MY SIGHTS AND INTO MY DUNGEON NOW! I HAVE AN IMPORTANT CALL, AND MATTERS TO ATTEND TO!" Boss's voice boomed, His 14LV crackling just below the surface, a warning to any hidden foes and to Sans that he was dangerous and alert, and would not stand if his brother were to show cowardice. THIS version of Papyrus was deadly; a killer on two, rail-thin legs.
Sans both admired him, and feared him at the same time, and it showed when Sans had taken a shaky step backward, as the two Dog Monsters came in through the heavy front doors of Papyrus's castle. Axes in hands as they snarled, ready to do their Master's bidding.
Brothers though they were, the connection of family had long since severed, leaving their relationship strained and course. Sans couldn't even remember if it happened the day their father, the former Royal Scientist, W.D Gaster had gone missing or after. But there had been a time when Sans had been the one giving orders, deciding their lives' path day to day. That had come to an end the moment his brother had surpassed him in both height and strength. Sans hadn't been convinced in the beginning, foolishly putting up a fight to remain the dominant one in the family. He'd quickly realized what a stupid idea that had been, and he had the crack over his left eye and phantom pains every so often in his right arm every so often, to prove it.
Boss was relentless, regardless of the connection that they had once shared, and while, on occasion, Sans longed for the cheeky little brat that had looked up to him, he couldn't say he wasn't proud of what Boss had become however. The Great and Terrible Papyrus, Scourge of Snowdin, and now, official and proud Leader of the Royal Guard. That was quite a high title, one that Sans himself could never hope to obtain, nor did he ever wish to.
High titles came with many enemies, with greedy individuals who would do anything to take your place.
"boss, please! no!" Sans begged, reality slowly setting in. Even if things WOULD reset, the here and now would surely still be was welling up inside again as Sans prepped his magic, about to teleport and Papyrus, as though sensing this, had swung his arm once more, hitting Sans once more square in the face. Enough to distract as Sans's HP had ticked down by 1 down to 20 as Sans was knocked to the ground.
"BE CAREFUL, THIS ONE BREAKS EASILY!" Papyrus warned, as he turned his back to Sans. "NOW THEN, TAKE HIM AWAY SO I WON'T HAVE TO HEAR HIS PATHETIC WHINING!"
"Grrrr...sure thing, Boss." spoke Dogaressa as Dogamy saluted the captain as Papyrus marched off, taking out his Cell Phone to call the King.
Sans had just gotten back up to his knees, lifting a hand to his skull feeling a fracture forming where the Boss had punched him. "b-boss! no!" Was all that Papyrus could hear as the next instant, he could then hear the screams of his brother inside the room, along with snarling howls and barks from the two dog monsters as they got to work in subduing the older skeleton brother.
Papyrus felt a tinge of regret when the doors closed behind him, but he did not show it as he heard the phone ring. Duty to his town and his King momentarily overpowered that of any familial regrets he may have had as he allowed for the Dogs to brutalize his brother in the next room.
"HELLO, YOUR MAJESTY. THIS IS YOUR LIEUTENANT PAPYRUS OF SNOWDIN VILLAGE. I HAVE NEWS FOR YOU, MY LIEGE." Papyrus announced, as soon as he heard the phone being picked up on the other line.
"WE HAVE THE FINAL SOUL FOR YOU, MY LIEGE. IT'S IN MY CASTLE AT SNOWDIN, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, I DON'T THINK THERE IS A WAY TO PROPERLY CARRY THE SOUL OVER TO YOU WITHOUT THE CHANCE OF IT BREAKING UP."
"...Breaking up you say?" The King's voice spoke over the line, calm and collected as of note. But Papyrus knew, the King was a madman, and even the prospect of a friendly social call could end in spilled magic and dusty floors. Papyrus needed to be careful, as almost anything could set King Asgore off at any given moment.
"YES, YOUR MAJESTY. I'VE KEPT IT SAFE, IN ONE OF THE CONTAINERS DR. ALPHYS HAD GIVEN TO USE TO KEEP IT SUSTAINED, BUT WE DO NOT KNOW HOW LONG IT WILL STAY STABILIZED, SINCE OUR ER, TECHNOLOGY IS NOT AS GOOD AS THE ONES SUSTAINING THE 6 SOULS YOU ALREADY HAVE. I AM SORRY TO LET YOU KNOW THAT IT WILL BE ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE FOR US TO TAKE THE SOUL OUT AND BRING IT OVER TO-" Papyrus carefully explained, keeping his voice even.
"Very well then, I shall be arriving there shortly in order to retrieve it. Thank you Lieutenant." Asgore announced, his thumb hovering over the button to hang up.
"WAIT, MY LIEGE. THERE IS MORE…."
"...I'm listening…?"
"It's….My Brother…" Papyrus spoke, soft as Papyrus then started to walk to a much more secluded part of the castle where he would not be heard. "I Believe He May Have News You Would Like To Know That I Believe Would Prove Most Useful To You, Your Majesty."
And so Papyrus went on, once he had reached his bedroom, Papyrus reported everything, as was expected of the good little soldier, to do. Whether he believed Sans or not: he reported everything. From the fact Sans carried a GODsoul to the resets, he reported it all to His Majesty. Which in turn, lead to several questions and explanations Papyrus had given to the best of his ability, and of course how Papyrus had even found out about the GODsoul Sans had.
This then lead to Paps forcing to heal Sans, and then summoning the GODsoul out of his brother, with a simple CHECK and snapping a photo of it from his phone's camera and sending it to the King.
"...This is- Papyrus. I would like to request an audience with your brother as soon as I'm there. Got it? You are to be present as well and together we will get to the bottom of things."
"OF COURSE, YOUR MAJESTY. WE SHALL BE RIGHT HERE WAITING, MY LIEGE." Papyrus boasted and the two hung up.
"boss please! don't do this! i'm yer brother!" Sans begged, sweating buckets as panic set in more and Sans had started to hyperventilate a little. He was in a rocky cell, shackles were placed upon his ankles and wrists, specialized to prevent a monsters magic as he sat on his knees, chained to a corner of the room, with his SOUL out for all to see.
"SILENCE!" Papyrus shouted, glaring at his brother. "You Should Have Thought Of That, Before You Betrayed Your Own Kind." Papyrus spoke coldly, before leaving the room as Sans panic had only seem to escalate and he cried and begged for Papyrus to release him.
The barred door slammed shut behind Papyrus with a lound CLANG! As the powerful Leader walked right out of it, and he turned, facing Dogamy and Dogaressa who stood on either side of the door. "THIS IS IT MY WONDERFUL LACKEYS! FINALLY, WE WILL SOON HAVE OUR FREEDOM! NOW WE JUST NEED TO WAIT… MAKE SURE THIS ONE DOES NOT ESCAPE, AND YOU WILL HAVE YOUR REWARDS FOR A JOB WELL DONE!" Papyrus cheered in excitement.
In the floors up above, Frisk stayed, tethered to the blueish-purple DILIGENCE soul belonging to Otaku as she'd heard everything, able to somewhat phase through the floors to the one below where the dungeons were, yet unable, and helpless to do anything for the skeleton she'd grown to fall in love with, nor save the life of the new human who'd fallen down and to whos DT she was attached to.
Slowly, Frisk clasped her hands together, her eyes squeezing shut below the golden flowers that bloomed on her face as she prayed, for someone, anyone to help stop this madness.