Chapter 12: The Interrogation (Part 1)
Akumu, Doggo and Flowey had returned to Snowdin Forest, near one of the SAVE points hidden by the trees as they approached a snow covered wooden sentry station. Akumu looked around for any enemies as she held her brother's body tighter against her own in a defensive, protective manner. Doggo went up to the station once he knew the coast was clear, and cleared the snow with his paws, so he could open the door.
"And are you sure none of Papyrus's goons knows about this area?" Akumu asked, as she gently set Otaku down inside the sentry outpost. She'd torn off a sleeve of her jacket, tying it around his wound to his hip to prevent the blood from dripping, and then watched with a sad expression as his chest slowly rose up and down, his body alive, but only barely. Flowey had told her as humans didn't rely on their SOULs as heavily as Monsters did, he was still technically alive, but could still die if any other injury was done to his body, or if his SOUL was shattered and that he was in some sort of a coma.
And without his SOUL, he would never wake up unless they retrieved it and brought it back.
"Yes. I was stationed here before Papyrus. This area of Snowdin is pretty much abandoned now. Oh, how I miss this place.. I used to chase the squirrels and birds here when I was sad… " Doggo whined, as Akumu shivered, from her arm being completely exposed now to the sheering cold around him but she tried not to let it show how much it bothered her. She wrapped her arms around her body almost like she was giving herself a hug as she tried to rub warmth back into her exposed arm.
"I'm sure you do buddy, but hey, this is good…! We finally have at least a safe spot to camp in and come back to for some rest at least. I hope he'll be alright on his own without us." Flowey spoke up, though Akumu was still hesitant in leaving her brother's body behind so unattended. He would be oh so vulnerable...
Flowey thought for a moment before speaking again, "Maybe we can set up a few traps around this area, just to be sure? I know we're in a hurry, but it shouldn't take too long to set up?"
"Sure, I guess… we could do that." Akumu said, slightly shivering as she looked around the forest seeing some vines and broken twigs and got to work. Doggo followed her as Flowey slithered out of her hoodie to show Doggo where to help in digging some pitfalls by the path leading to the sentry station while Akumu got to setting up some traps by essentially placing a few lassoes on the ground that would hoist unwanted guests up in the air to dangle by some trees by their foot.
10 minutes went by fast as all their traps had been set and Akumu seemed to look less worried now that she was ensured there was no way for anyone to reach the sentry station without at least ONE of these traps going off. "Okay, are we done? Let's head to Papyrus Castle already!" Akumu demanded, sniffling as she rubbed her runny nose on her sleeve, grabbing her sickles from where they were, ready to FIGHT.
Flowey turned back towards her, as she guided Doggo around the traps and back over to Akumu, he used his vines to once again crawl up Akumu's body and back inside her hood as he nodded. "Are you going to be alright like that? You're freezing."
"I'll be fine. I don't wanna waste anymore time, not until I get my brother's SOUL back." Akumu said as she guided Doggo to follow her as she headed back to Snowdin.
Back in the dungeons Sans was struggling with the handcuffs that were keeping his arms tied above his head. Forcing magic through to try and teleport away or something, as he struggled with the cuffs. He felt a jolt of electricity go through him, forcing a yell out as he slumped again panting. Sans glanced down at the GODsoul floating just in front of his ribcage, gritting his teeth as he remained helpless to this new predicament he found himself in.
With the King on his way to Snowdin, there to acquire the final SOUL and possibly torture him for his insubordination. Possibly killed too… Sans let out a sigh as he couldn't think of anyone to blame but himself for slipping up, and for opening his fat mouth. And a part of him also blamed Frisk as well for dying and himself for even hoping she could change the entire Underground and allowing himself to be so taken by the human
As if anyone could change this shitty world he and his brother live in...
'maybe this world really is jus' kill 'r be killed…' Sans thought sadly to himself as he felt his GODsoul give a slight twinge in response to his emotions as he hung slack, his spine brushing against the cold stone wall behind him, his weight heavy on the cuffs around his wrists and toes of his red sneakers barely even touching the ground. Sans listened to the voices just outside his cell as Papyrus was barking orders to his various servants and lackeys to get the castle ready and Torture Chamber prepared for when the King arrived.
Sans couldn't bring it in him to keep trying to get out, even with the supposed power of a God he just couldn't bring any will into his body to keep trying. And could only hope the remaining human would RESET soon enough.
Elsewhere, as Akumu and the others were hurrying back to Snowdin Castle, they passed many snow poffs to which Akumu paid none of them any attention. Her mind focused on her goal to hurry to Papyrus' Castle and only that. Soon enough they could just see one of the towers of the Castle peeking through above the trees just a little ways away.
From what the trio could see it was a black castle with a red roof and gold accents around the windows. Eight slim, round towers were scattered in a seemingly random pattern, but have been built for an ideal defense and are connected by fortified, wide walls made of black stone. The castle walls are the strongest thing for miles around, it is built of stones of varying sizes and shapes, each one unique. From a distance it is uniform grey and black, from up close it is a mosaic of humble rocks, each of them nobody would think anything of were loose by the roadside. But together they are a castle, the crown of the landscape and protector of ancient peoples.
"There it is…" Doggo warned as the two crossed the long "Bridge" but was really a piece of the cave just painted to appear like a wooden bridge, with a landscape painted on the rocky walls so professionally done if one wasn't paying much attention, they'd think the Underground was far bigger than it was.
"That's Papyrus's castle?" Akumu asked, her eyes widening and for a single moment she was beginning to doubt that they would ever break inside without getting caught. Papyrus must have had the entirety of Snowdins town under his beck and call, and if not, probably imprisoned in his dungeon at best, from the sheer size of the castle and protective walls surrounding it. "You know, I was kinda hoping it was like- smaller and homier? Like how some people call their home their 'castle.' Not like- a LEGIT like, actual stone-walled built on blood and bone actual castle! Nevermind, this is like- a fucking mansion! How are we supposed to get through that?!"
"Well...If I remember right, this used to be just a regular 2 story house, but then, on top of all the expanding Papyrus has done the past 7 years above ground… er, so to speak. They got bigger over time, bigger than what you're even seeing right now actually. And, according to Sans when I used to come with him to see Frisks grave, he told me the dungeons are the biggest of them all. And that's of course, hidden even under the Underground. It might even be right under where we're standing right now." Flowey explained, looking quite thoughtful.
"Well, great… Watch it be just our luck too he's keeping it IN the dungeons. Ugh…" Aku complained looking over the gigantic castle in front of her, trying to come up with a plan. "Well...I suppose first, we should at least find a way to get in before anything else…." Akumu commanded, growing antsy again as she could see the banner leading to Snowdin.
*Un-Welcome to Snowdin!
*GO TO HELL! Chara narrated, reading off the banner to Akumu.
Akumu looked around and saw that the town looked abandoned, many of the houses were decrepit, boarded up and breaking down. Or some with the doors straight up broken down and windows shattered. Still she was careful to keep her guard up, pulling her hood up further over her head to cover herself and Flowey as she continued to shiver and fervently rub in warmth into her exposed arm.
"Oh, hey I was right in predicting if Papyrus had the entire town probably hired under him. H-Hey, Doggo.. does the castle have like, a backdoor or something we can sneak in through?" Akumu asked, as she found a shop and decided to check inside to also get out of the cold for a bit and look for supplies.
"No, and even if there was, Greater Dog usually guards the ramparts and is sure to be watching the back and the front of the castle." Doggo explained, standing guard near the entrance of the broken shop and sniffing the air for anyone coming. "And who knows where the other guards are…" He whined.
Akumu bit her bottom lip, continuing to rummage through the mess and ended up finding the same Tough Gloves she'd given to Otaku and sighed a bit, her breath coming out in a hazy breath that was visible. "Not much, but I suppose it's better than nothing." Akumu whispered, slipping them on her hands as they were starting to get numb from the cold. She began to look further in the dusty table also finding the Manly Bandanna.
*Manly Bandanna-Armor DF 7.
*It has seen some wear.
*It has abs drawn on it.
"Hah! That's so nerdy. But better than nothing." Akumu exclaimed happily, keeping her voice low she tied the bandanna around her arm, struggling with the knot. Flowey extended his vines from his hiding spot inside her hood to help tie it off, ensuring it wouldn't fly off. "Thanks Flowey." She said gratefully.
"Sure kid." Flowey said, sounding a little concerned as his mind momentarily began to drift to somewhere far to a distant bittersweet memory.
'Flowey shifts in his boot-pot and keeps on muttering something over to Frisk but Sans is unable to hear them in the middle of the unintelligible babble.
"Wait," Flowey says at one point. Sans stops and it's all Frisk besides him can do to not fall on her face. Sans catches her with his free hand as the other held on tighter to the hand she was gripping.
"You okay there, honey?" Sans asks, brushing the hair out of her remaining good eye that was almost being devoured by the golden flowers.
"They're heating up," Flowey explained at the exact same time that Frisk nods, and then she slowly sinks down to the ground to sit.'
At this moment in present time, Akumu also manages to find and pockets some Cinnabunnies she happens to find and then, try as she might to stay moving, also too, slowly starts to sink to the ground, breathing semi-heavily as she once more goes to hug herself. The Bandanna and Tough Gloves do not do much to keep her warm as she sniffles, and sneezes.
"What's wrong with her?" Doggo asks, turning around at the sudden sneeze and pads on over, and sits beside her as Akumu involuntarily presses the exposed skin of her arm against the warm fur. Being this close, the dog monster is able to feel how harshly she was shivering and how warm she was feeling.
'"They're heating up."' Flowey says, as he continues reminiscing about his time with Frisk and Akumu coughs into her sleeve at the same time as Flowey explains as if right on cue. "She's sick."
"I-I'm f-fine…" Akumu replied stubbornly, continuing to press her body against Doggo's fur and trying to warm up. "Just...need a moment. That's all."
Flowey's expression falls as he suddenly gets an idea and also starts to slowly wrap his vines around her arm, being careful of the various thorns on his vines from accidentally injuring his new companion. "No, you're not." Flowey told her sternly as soon he was pulled right out of Akumu's hood, now wrapping himself entirely around her body to keep the cold out and Akumu seemed to brighten up a little as some color started to slowly return to her skin and body.
Akumu gives him a look as if in surprise at what he did, although Flowey was mindful to still keep her hand and fingers open so she could still reach her sickles if need be and she was deeply grateful at her flower friends aid.
"I'm not gonna let you die…" Flowey said simply looking up at her, his head and petals resting by her shoulders once he was done. "Not this time… Not again."
Aku stares at her flower friend, confused before she realizes after a moment he must have been remembering Frisk and she asks, "Did...she die once from freezing to death?"
Flowey says nothing for nearly half a minute and then nods. "We were in Waterfall. We just barely survived a fight against Papyrus when luckily Sans had teleported us away after she'd somehow convinced him to befriend us. Anyways, she fell in some water right after escaping a snowy place and…."
"It's okay. I'm guessing she RESET right after though, right?" Aku asked, trying to change the subject and Flowey nodded.
"I see. Yeah...it sucks being human. Heh." Aku said as she stood back up, ready to head to the Castle. "Okay, so...no back door… Well, hopefully there might be a way in through the sides of the Castle? Like- an open window or something. There just has to."
She peeked her head out through the passageway, looking to both sides, ducking her head when she saw a few rabbit monsters pass by, guarding the outer walls of the castle and when she saw the coast was clear, she left through the entranceway of the shop, then carefully guided Doggo out too. "Come on boy." She said, waving her arm towards herself to guide Doggo forward as they continued on through the town.
Up ahead, the castle seemed to grow in height and length the closer they got towards it. The trio passed by an Inn, and then was a fork in the road. To the trio's left, three hooded figures had arrived downstream on a wooden boat with a cat's head. The taller, bulkier of the hooded figures stepped off the boat, once it arrived at its destination.
"Tralala. Come again!" Greeted the river person and the two hooded figures gave the boat driver a curt nod as they got off, stepping into the snowy ground below leading to Snowdin.
The trio stopped by some trees growing near the fork, and hid amongst the greenery, while also being sure to stay close to the Inn if needed. Aku quickly reached out, grabbing Doggo by the tail as she whispered to him to stay as quiet as possible before turning to see the mysterious figure.
The biggest of the two hooded figures shook off his hood, revealing white fur and pitch black hair and a beard, red eyes, and massive horns. He looked a lot like Toriel but far bulkier and bigger, and his fur was even more matted. On top of his head, he adorned a golden shining crown, beautifully adorned with various jewels and gems. Right beside him, another monster stepped off the boat who just barely reached the Kings knees.
Alphys pale yellow scales appearing almost sickly in the white glow of the snow around her. She was hunched over and wearing what appeared to be a white lab coat beneath the black of the cloak that was draped over the yellow lizard monster. She wore glasses with no frame to attach to her ears and just seemed to balance itself over her snout. How did it stay in place without falling off?
"Oh fuck!" Flowey hissed as he quickly motioned for Aku and Doggo to get into hiding, fast. Akumu quickly turned on her heel, practically pulling Doggo along and then diving into the entranceway of the Inn as King Asgore headed their way down the fork and then an immediate right, heading towards Papyrus's Castle entrance. When the two got close enough the doorway opened.
Aku stayed within the Inn, instead looking through the musty, dirty windows as she saw Papyrus and his lackeys greeting the King and inviting him in.
"HELLO, DR. ALPHYS AND YOUR MAJESTY," Boss dropped his arms from their crossed position over his chest, instead letting them hang loose but ready at his sides as he greeted the King with a stiff but regulation bow, all Guard and stoic when Asgore and Alphys approached.
"H-Hello, C-Commander." Alphys greeted.
Asgore came to a slow, lumbering halt, his harried gaze intensely sweeping over Boss, then on the Dog Monsters behind him, Dogamy and Doggaressa who also quickly got to his knees bowing to the massive King in respect and regulation that was required of all who had the pleasure to greet the mad King unless they wanted to be killed.
Alphys stayed a bit behind, fiddling with her fingers as she approached. The yellow-scaled scientist watched Boss with a set expression, body un-moving and blood-shot eyes following his every move. It was creepy, and disturbing on an emotional level as he moved to the side, giving the King room to enter his castle and escape the cold and Alphys.
The king was a terrifying sight, no matter how often one found themselves in his presence. His fur was matted and mangled, contrasting in an ugly way with the rich extravagance of his clothes and armor hidden beneath the navy blue, black caped hood he was wearing over his body as the King removed the cloth and handed it to Boss to hang by the entranceway. He towered above them all, even Papyrus who now stood at his side, the Kings broken, jagged horns still somehow managing to almost scrape along the Castle's ceiling. His eyes were a deep, deep red, a window into a soul so gorged and drenched with LV that there was room for very little else. The claws of his hands and feet were easily the length of Doggo's daggers he carried on his back, and Aku mentally winced at how easily she could imagine those terrible claws slicing into her body just from the sight of them.
The king was heavily and very well built, but also a bit overweight at the same time. His extra weight only served to accentuate his extreme strength and power. Magic hummed about him, suffocatingly violent and heavy, even for monsters accustomed to being around those with high LV. The king's might was inescapable, and his mere presence left the trio who watched even from 20 feet away, feeling ill and weak in comparison.
Alphys on the other hand… seemed to be just as dangerous but in the completely opposite way. Like, it was as if the yellow lizard could get into your mind, she was solidly built, but not in muscles and also looked to be overweight. And seemed to be the kind of person who took satisfaction in seeing how you ticked. Though at the same time, She could also most likely just as easily strangle the life out of herself or even Doggo and Flowey with her large, meaty hands and tear out his soul with those clawed tips if she so wanted.
Aku kept a mental note to not mess with either of them and that it would most likely be in her best interest to just not end up caught by either of the new guests if she could help it.
"Agh, of course the King and Al would be here!" Flowey seethed, his voice low enough for just Aku and Doggo to hear him. "Why wouldn't the King be here?! He's here to pick up your brother's SOUL! Ugh it's all over!"
"Um, who is Alphys?" Akumu asked and Flowey turned over his attention to her.
"She's the Royal Scientist serving under Papyrus. She's also Undyne's girlfriend, but she serves the King, and she is a whole different kind of dangerous compared to Asgore. And even MORE unpredictable. I suggest staying far away from her."
"Well, no duh! It's not like I'd be stupid enough to walk up to her and shake my hand!" Aku rolled her eyes. "But...okay. Good to know.."
Doggo seemed to be near paralyzed in fear and shaking like a leaf right beside Akumu when the King had walked by and he felt the tremendous amount of LV and EXP from the mad King. "Oh dear, this is bad. I've never even met the King or-or th-the scientist before and just from the feeling of his magic and LV… this has all gone from bad to worst!"
Akumu shivered, her brow drenching in sweat as she reconsidered her options as the door shut behind the King and the dogs and Boss followed him inside the Castle further. "Okay...Okay… So, maybe this has all just gotten a bit more dangerous, but the plan does NOT change. We're still using the stealth strategy." Aku proclaimed, trying to keep her ragtag team's morale up. "The plan does not change." Aku repeated.
"Let's...just try and be careful, first okay?" Flowey said, somehow sweating despite the fact he was a literal flower and couldn't actually sweat.
Aku nodded turning towards Doggo. "Stay close to me okay, and don't make a sound." She told him firmly as the dog monster nodded. As slowly as they could, the trio made their way further into the town. However, instead of simply going down the path like they had been, the three of them stuck close to the trees and buildings, and used the shadows to their advantage and heavy snowfall to conceal themselves while also hoping the snow would cover their tracks. Only stopping once they'd gotten within 2 feet from the castle.
Outside, they saw what looked like 2 mailboxes, one addressed for "Papyrus" which was empty of all mail, and the one besides it that read "Sans" and was completely filled to the brim with unopened letters. Some even lying on the ground and completely covered in snow.
Akumu hid behind a tree right near the mailboxes and looked around. Nearby they spotted an open window covered by wooden planks and some barrels full of water or food of some kind. "There. That window looks to be perfect to use to sneak in, it's already ajar!" Akumu announced, as she tiptoed closer to it.
"Yeah...but, that still makes me nothing but nervous…" Flowey whispered, inspecting the frosted, musty window and trying to peek inside but they couldn't see much from the cold and darkness inside the building.
"Hey…" Doggo spoke and Aku and Flowey both turned to face him, "What if Papyrus had left that open on purpose? I mean, he KNOWS that there's still one more human out there! What if he opened it, since no one's found you yet, so he could capture you directly in front of the King?"
"Don't care. It's a risk I'm willing to take. I am NOT abandoning my little brother down there!" Akumu insisted, turning back towards the window. She squared her feet and got into position and then, as quietly but as quickly as she could, she pried open the window further so she could slip inside. Peering in, she saw that the window was at least 5 feet off the ground and led straight into the dungeons. Aku sat on the snow, and slid her feet in through the window and then turned back to Doggo. "Come on, Doggo. Let's hurry in there okay?"
"Okay, but only for you and 'Taku." Doggo nodded, trembling in fear but he looked determined to help out his new friends. Slowly, Aku slipped herself in through the window, stopping only so Flowey could duck his head, once Aku felt her lower back was deep in the window she'd pushed herself in more, allowing herself to fall with a soft "thud" on the stone floor.
Further in the dungeons, Sans jolted from his thoughts as he heard footsteps approaching above ground where he'd heard Boss had disappeared nearly 20 minutes ago, and then the sound of something falling down the hall, followed by a second presence, and both his eye lights flared on, as Sans instinctively activated his magic, digging deep into his SOUL to defend himself, and dodge at the upcoming danger and once more he felt the cuffs shock him, forcing the skeleton to suppress his magic as he shouted out in pain. "aaaaugh!"
The trio jolted a bit at the scream.
"What. The hell. Was that?" Akumu asked, slowly.
"I don't know but I hear people approaching us. We need to hide. NOW." Flowey demanded, gently shoving Doggo towards an open, empty cell and Aku beelined right for it, as Dogamy and Dogaressa headed down into the dungeons and headed for Sans cell with the Boss, and King right behind them. Aku watched through the bars as the dogs opened the cell leading to Sans' cell.
Immediately Sans had frozen in fear, when the King and Alphys had approached. Boss's hand began to glow a shimmering red, as he did a CHECK on Sans, summoning his GODsoul out for all to see.
*SANS
*HP:21/21
*ATK:11
*DEF:11
*FEELS SCARED AND VERY VULNERABLE.
It was all Sans could do not to struggle in his binds when he saw the look Alphys had been giving him, feeling the scientist looking him over. Her smile shifted, instantly morphing into something resembling a predatory smirk when her blood-shot eyes caught sight of the red and white GODsoul floating just outside of Sans chest. She was giving him that look that said all that he needed to know. If he was to be tortured, she was gonna be the one with the full authorization to do so and it for sure, would not be pleasant…
"Hello toy." The scientist replied looking him over, and Sans tugged on his cuffs on instinct, wanting to hide himself from her gaze, feeling like she already couldn't wait to get her meaty hands into him. To rip his SOUL out of his chest and use her skill and scientific knowledge to chip decimals off of his HP, driving him to scream and beg for mercy, all without killing him and for hours on end.
Boss didn't miss a beat as he corrected her. "HE IS NOT A TOY; HE IS A TOOL." He would have thrown insults as well but with the King there he couldn't risk it.
Sans almost burst out into nervous laughter as some of the glee drained out of Alphys' face. And Asgore merely seemed to ignore Boss' remark, his gaze and attention fully on the GODsoul out in front of him. Almost hypnotized by it in fact.
"Commander Papyrus. It seems you really weren't lying to me after all. Truthfully, I had my doubts when you told me on the phone that My Little Judge indeed had a GODsoul yet, there it is." Aku thought she heard the King say.
If the Boss was insulted by that, it didn't show. He merely bowed again. "MY DUTY IS TO YOU, O'KING. THERE IS NOTHING ELSE TO WHICH I AM LOYAL."
"Mm. Indeed." Asgore didn't sound sure, and Sans thought he sensed a flicker of a glance thrown toward his position. "That is quite a pleasure to hear."
With no twinge of emotion, Boss responded, "YES, SIRE."
"Good. Very good." Asgore's fevered gaze once more shifted down to Sans and leered. With slow, deceptively smooth motions, the king raised a hand, just as the dogs had carefully unlatched the cuffs chain from the hook which kept Sans arms above his skull without removing the cuffs around his wrists. Asgore beckoned Sans forward with a finger. "Come, Sans," he practically purred. "Take your place and stand beside me. As is your duty and your right as my Judge."
Sans hesitated for only a moment, the lowering of the king's brow informing him that he had better comply or suffer the consequences. Not that either way he wouldn't come out of this unscathed anyways, and surely the King was bound to be angered at the fact he held a GODsoul for 7 years and did nothing to save the monsters from their imprisonment. If Sans was lucky, the King would just kill him and be done with it. If he wasn't- which Sans could only imagine he would surely suffer instead, at the hand of Alphys, plus the fact that after all no other monster has ever held a GODsoul before and lived as long as Sans had wielded it; the first was the King's own son when they absorbed their adopted siblings own human one in order to respect their final wish and brought their dead corpse to see the golden flowers in their home village.
At most, Asriel held that GODsoul a solid 10 minutes before he returned from the Surface world, and all the monsters learned he'd been wrongfully attacked by the humans and then died in the King and Queens arms, turning to dust before either of them could catch his falling body, which then resulted in the Underground ending up the way it did. And the motto "Kill or Be Killed" had been established.
Sans swallowed, sweat glistening on his skull, giving away his fear. Both eyes were flaring with red magic, his powers suppressed by the Magic Suppressing handcuffs that adorned both of his bony wrists in an attempt to protect himself.
He turned towards his brother who kept his gaze focused on the King, his body tense and rigid as barbed wire, and equally sharp. It seemed to Sans Boss was purposely not trying to look back towards Sans, although there was something else too there, as if Boss was watching for what Asgore was going to do next. It gave Sans some comfort, but not much, that in some subtle way Boss was still looking out for him, even if Boss did feel somewhat betrayed with the sudden news of what Sans had been hiding from everyone, and then some.
Lost in his thoughts, Sans felt a collar hooked around his neck bone followed by a gold chain as Dogamy shoved Sans forward rather roughly towards the King. "Move it!" The male dog monster growled in warning, both axes in the ready in the case Sans attempted to flee. Sans felt the other chain being pulled by Boss.
"Don't make this harder than it needs to be." Dogaressa followed after, keeping her voice firm.
At least, for what it was worth… Sans was still the king's Judge, and that had to also still mean something. Killing him would only turn Asgore's rage on her. And Boss was also a high ranking member of the Royal Guard charged with serving the King directly.
"GodSOUL… is that what Sans SOUL is called? That weird fusion of Frisks human SOUL and Sans's monster SOUL.. what, is having a GODsoul really make him that much more powerful?" Aku asked, her eyes widening in shock. Being mindful to keep her voice barely above a whisper, and only speaking when she could hear the others talking so they would not hear her.
"Yeah…" Flowey confirmed, "They say that those who have a mix of both will gain the powers that are almost godlike. They'll become a being with unfathomable power."
"Then...why the fuck doesn't Sans just break out of those cuffs or whatever and kick their asses?" Aku asked, "If he's so powerful I mean- I know that's the first thing I would have done anyways if I was in his position. Especially if I was about to be tortured and shit."
"My guess is, those cuffs might be some sort of...magical suppressors maybe. Probably extra strength as well if Sans hasn't gotten out of them so far. As the name suggests, once in place, the device will disable any magic completely, disrupting the general flow from the SOUL and leaving the victim with only enough energy to stay alive and remain marginally functional. Any magic that the victim tries to put out will probably be shocked as well for their trouble…" Flowey explained, pausing only when he noticed the look Akumu was giving him and the flower blushes.
"What? I...had a lot of RESETs to learn this sort of thing alright? I...spent a lot of my time in the labs and I probably saw the blueprints for that sort of thing in one of them."
Accepting his fate for what it was, and sensing the eyes of all those in the room trained on him, Sans sank willingly into apathy. Slowly, he took a single step forward, pushing himself forward, his eyes fixed firmly onto the floor for fear just looking at the king would somehow tip the scale out of his favor. A madman needed very little incentive to lose his cool after all, and Sans was certain he wouldn't be able to handle too much punishment today, not after when the dogs had already bit into him and had their way before throwing him to the dungeons.
He was exhausted, and sore from being so on edge for so long. Asgore would have been able to snap him like a twig if he so wished to, and that possibility was still very real, even IF he did have the supposed power of a God now. Asgore still had way more than just a measly 21HP and his LV was so high it was a wonder if it even had a stopping point. And that was also coupled with the added fact he was also a Boss Monster who were already naturally stronger than regular monsters.
Sans knew there was no way Asgore would kill him anyways. A GODsoul was far too valuable to simply allow for Sans to simply dust away. Traitor or no.
And for a moment Sans wondered if he'd be able to reload in case he did accidentally die, and would come back with flowers growing on his body just like his sweetheart once did. He at least knew over the years that a reload and a RESET were two completely different things, from the many humans that had fallen down here and the many handfuls he placed judgement on before his sweetheart fell down as well. They felt different from each other for him to know it could be possible he may at least be able to reload even if he couldn't RESET the timeline completely.
But most importantly, would Sans even want to come back if he did die? Sans knew he'd be lying if he didn't admit there used to be times he considered ending himself to follow his sweetheart, but then he would remember leaving Papyrus all alone in this world and knew it wouldn't be fair to him to do that… Paps was the reason Sans kept trying everyday, even when living hurt him so much, and knowing that Frisk had died for nothing.
Would it still be the same now?
Especially now, knowing Boss had willingly given Sans up to the King of the Underground, to be tortured for his transgressions?
Sans tried to obey without question, his mind heavy in his own thoughts towards the King.
To the surprise of all, Boss broke in with a firm voice just as Sans crossed the halfway point to the king's side. "YOUR MAJESTY?"
Asgore's gaze swung around, curious but also slightly impatient. "Yes, Commander?"
Boss seemed to be gathering himself. No one could read it but Sans, but Boss was wound tighter than a clock. Careful not to glance at Sans directly, Boss rumbled on. "IS HIS HIGHNESS PLANNING TO DO DAMAGE TO MY PROPERTY THIS DAY?"
Sans swallowed, freezing as his gaze snapped toward the king. Asgore himself stilled, looking thoughtful. Eventually his gaze returned to Sans, and their eyes met by accident. Sans felt his eye lights constrict as Asgore sent him a soft smile. "Yes. But I will not kill your brother, if that is what you were curious about. After all… it's not everyday I see a monster holding a GODsoul. I would like to see his capabilities and learn more about these…'resets' you mentioned Commander."
So there it was; the closest thing to a promise as a mad king could get.
Sans was most definitely on the entertainment list this evening and, although it helped ease the smaller skeleton's mind so he'd know what to expect, instead of simply leaving absolutely nothing to the imagination. Sans suddenly felt very small and surrounded as he felt himself become frozen in place. His fear skyrocketed to a pre-panic, his magic searing throughout his tiny form, and then stopping cold like his joints had just turned to ice.
"Whoa, whoa… is he seriously doing what I think he is doing!?" Akumu asked, her voice barely over a whisper. Keeping her head low and Doggos to avoid being spotted from the Cell doors windows. Their hiding place literally almost directly across from Sans.'
"If it involves torture and interrogation...then probably." Flowey responded, his face full of concern for his friend. The flower seemed to be torn, wanting to both help save Sans but also to help Akumu get back her brother's SOUL and the flower prayed the King or Papyrus wasn't just carrying it with them, or their mission would be even harder than it already was.
Sweat was now soaking into Sans's shirt, drenching him as he started shivering. Pseudo-pain trailed up the entirety of his right arm and left eye socket, a sudden reminder despite his efforts to forget the horrors he had endured years before of the fight against his brother over who would become the dominant in what was left of their family. When Paps had proven himself cruel beyond a doubt in front of the 30 or so citizens living in Snowdin.
"if yer lookin' fer m-more info on the k-kid, i've already told boss all i know!" he stuttered frantically. "i swear it! i-i didn't-"
Sans began to cower as he took a step backward into the dog marriage behind him. The taller skeleton huffed in surprise, yanking the chain connected to Sans collar in an attempt to call Sans attention. "BE QUIET!" he hissed, voice higher and tenser than usual in the eyes of their King. "SNAP OUT OF IT, SANS, YOU IDIOT!"
Alphys rolled her eyes but said nothing.
Swallowing his seething terror, Sans forced his numb and trembling legs to work and managed to walk quickly the remainder of the way to the royal's side, he kept his gaze fixed on the floor, trying to control his trembling, he stared down at his red shoes who's yellow laces had come undone sometime during their walk through the dungeons.
It was a meager but a welcome distraction. Asgore's eyes had followed him the whole way, as had Boss's, Alphys's, Dogaressa and Dogamy's, the king looking pleased and eerily calm. When Sans finally reached his destination and settled, Asgore gave a soft rumble of praise, his taloned hand snaking down to gently curl around the back of Sans's shoulders and skull, frighteningly gentle. Like a caress, only so much worse. It was all Sans could do not to show his fear, or flinch at the unwanted touch.
"Very good," Asgore hummed again, gently petting his furry hand over Sans skull as if in a feigned attempt to comfort the smaller from the cruel torture that was to come, to glean as much info as they possibly could from the skeleton as he felt himself being pushed forward, with Boss leading the charge, pulling on the gold chain that was attached to his collar like a leash, the King directly besides him, and hand squeezing slightly around the back of his neck and shoulders, clawed fingers tightening on the back of his neck, a warning not to step out of line and digging in slightly into the black and yellow leather of his jacket. Alphys was on his other side, probably there also to ensure that he would not escape or something like that. Behind them, the dog marriage group and Alphys followed close behind.
When the group had gone far enough away, Aku, Flowey and Doggo spotted the container for a brief moment inside a pack the King was carrying on his back. Aku could spot that pinkish, purple SOUL anywhere. "F-Flowey, Doggo! Look! My brother's SOUL!" She almost blurted pointing, keeping her voice low.
"Yeah I see it...And uuugh, this is just getting worse and worse isn't it?" Flowey frowned, hating this idea more and more. 'How the heck are we expected to get it now?!' Flowey thought desperately hoping for some sort of miracle to come bless them as the trio followed after the group, staying at LEAST 30 feet away or more, and practically crawling and staying closely to the walls and shadows.
Frisk followed closely behind Asgore and her chest pained for the skeleton who was walking right beside her and she wished deeply she could comfort him, or do simply anything to help him get out of this. Some part of her wished the King would put Otaku's SOUL somewhere so she wouldn't be forced to witness the torture of the skeleton she grew to love so much, but at the same time she also felt grateful to be there for him and she felt tears fall violently down her face as she hugged herself.
Chara, who was a little ways away and following Akumu could only imagine the pain Frisk was going through and felt nothing but pure and utter sympathy for her friend. Some of these feelings seemed to also transfer to Akumu, but was drowned out by her 4LV plus the fact Sans had injured her brother so deeply and she felt conflicted whether she wanted to help Sans or not.
The group then went along, as they continued along their way over to the Torture Chamber. Which was pretty much just a little wooden shack that was apparently once used for storage by the brothers and even still had the banner that read: STORAGE on it but was crossed out and now read: WELCOME TO THE TORTURE CHAMBER! in red sharpie marker and had alo now apparently become part of the massive Castle Papyrus had transformed his and Sans home into.
The trio gasped, stopping at a nearby cell and hiding inside it, once Aku and Flowey had noticed Asgore and the others stop in front of the Chamber and Paps had moved to unlock the barred wooden and spiked doors and shove Sans inside. The trio stayed in hiding, once more sticking to the shadows to avoid being seen as they watched the door close behind as just Boss, the King, Sans and Alphys had gone inside, leaving Dogamy and Dogarressa were left outside to stand guard.
Carefully, on Akumu's mark she led Doggo to a nearby room that was just far enough away so neither of the dogs would be able to see nor track them by their scent, but still somewhat to where the Torture Chamber was, as they tried to come up with a plan on what to do now.
It almost made Sans want to go into hysterics and laugh at the situation that he was in. It was almost ironic in a way, Asgore was cruel, but never needlessly. He was clever, and cunning, cautious from centuries of paranoia, and for good reason. There had been many attempts on the king's life, all of which had failed. Sans had been made to judge them himself; gave sentence and even execution whenever he was ordered to. Asgore had a sixth sense when it came to keeping others under his thumb.
Now, it was like the tables had turned. A cruel, harsh reminder that not even the Judge was above his own sins and once again, Sans was reminded that he had no one to blame except for himself for slipping up and letting Boss to see a hint of the true power he held within his SOUL that was now combined with his sweethearts. Boss had only done what any good little soldier of the king was supposed to do, whether he believed Sans or not. And Sans couldn't even find it in his SOUL to hate him for it, no matter how much a part of him wanted to.
But familial bonds held no meaning here.
Innocence meant nothing here. Only strength.
And Asgore was one of the very few who still managed to sense the weak connection between the brothers, no matter how hard they fought to hide it, and he wasn't afraid to take advantage of Boss's single weakness. And Sans knew better than to plead for forgiveness and mercy from the people who didn't believe in MERCY. After all, they had 7 years to consider it, but the monsters made their choices.
And now, Sans had his own choice to make too now.
And, no matter what Papyrus could ever do to Sans. He could give up Sans to the King of the Underground for hiding his GODsoul and the knowledge of the RESETS; he could abuse and call Sans as many names as he wanted or even force Sans to call him his Boss. But, if there was one thing Sans knew better than anyone, is that for all of Boss' faults and behind the facade and the mask Boss puts on, every single day he spent outside the doors of their home, but Boss would forever and always be Sans precious little brother. Sans knew because of his low stats, it made him nearly worthless in most monsters' eyes, but not to Boss.
Boss had scratched and clawed his way to the high position that he now filled; he had given his life to the bettering of himself and had dragged them both out of the gutters in the process. Boss had never left Sans behind, in anything, but...Sans couldn't help wondering if a day would ever come when his brother would have to choose between his only family and his glorious leader, and feared, uncertain, of who Boss would choose in the end.
It scared him, and yet if it was his life or Boss's on the line, he'd much rather it be him.
Sans had been so lost in his thoughts, he hadn't even noticed when the heck he'd been stripped of his clothes, as when the next thing that Sans knew, he had been strung up, his wrists once again pulled to over Sans skull, and his feet were barely touching the floor.
Both the King and Boss had moved to a far corner of the room, the chest of the Torture Devices had been set up next to the dogs, the chest open and set for easy access when the need came to change weapons.
Sans as he felt his body stiffening, even as he felt himself growing uncomfortable with each passing second now that he was completely bare chested, his GODsoul visible for all to see underneath his rib cage, pulsing with weak magic exposed and defenseless.
"Now then," The King began, his voice low and calm. "Sans, I heard from the Commander of the Royal Guard, that you've held that GODsoul since 7 years ago. Am I correct?"
Sans tried to keep his body from trembling, from showing his fear even as the sweat on his skull and the way his SOUL weakly pulsed gave hints to it, Sans quickly replied. "Y-Yes."
"And I also know this is already the second time you've been tried for treason against the Monsters underground. Seven years ago you had already disobeyed your superiors orders and gone to help that human to get to the barrier, you attacked my Second in Command at the time, Undyne, and had even attacked me in this vain and very silly attempt to get the human back to the Surface. Why? What did you have to gain by helping this human to escape the Underground?"
To this, Sans stayed noticeably silent. He didn't want to talk about Frisk with these monsters. Not since, not one of them ever respected her memory and actually listened to what she'd died trying to teach everyone. Frisk was his sweetheart, what would they even think if he'd admitted that he loved the human? They were so convinced after all, that all humans were bad because it was the humans fault that monsters were all trapped underground. But Sans knew better, after meeting Frisk that perhaps, not ALL of them were like that.
After all, all Frisk wanted was to teach monsters what Mercy was like. She was an Angel sent from above and it was Sans fault she was dead and gone now and for failing to protect her.
At Sans' lack of a response, Asgore had snapped his fingers giving Alphys the 'O.K.'
Frisk seemed to panic, screaming out a "NO!" Despite the fact no one could hear her as she was helpless to do nothing but watch.
Alphys then sauntered over to the Sans while the skeleton was deep in thought and then somewhere in the background, through the helplessness and fear, Sans was suddenly made aware of the feeling of something that felt oddly enough like a large, meaty, scaled hand plunge upward, digging deep inside of his ribcage. He felt clawed talons scrape along his SOUL and could immediately feel the violent intent permeating from Alphys. Sans' eye sockets widened, his eye lights shrinking to little pinpricks and his soul had nearly stopped when he suddenly felt a pressure building around his SOUL.
"w-wait!" Sans pleaded but it was too late, as suddenly the hand closed with agonizing strength around his GODsoul. The skeleton's head snapped backward, clunking loudly and painfully against the wooden and metal walls behind him, but he barely noticed that pain compared to the one encaging the very culmination of his whole being. A minor fracture in his skull felt like nothing compared to the rolling waves of violent intent as Sans suddenly screamed in pure agony when he felt the pressure increase. It choked off any cry or scream that he might have made, the pure and utter agony was all consuming as their fingers caged in the very essence of his being.
Sans only just barely caught the pure, unashamedly joyous expression on Alphys face as she then slowly began dragging her claws deep into the flesh or whatever his SOUL was made up an dragged them up and over his SOUL. Scarring the vulnerable thing as Sans writhed in her grip, gasping for breath and then all at once, his SOUL was released and Sans fell more heavily into his binds, as more sweat and a few tears began pooling around his eye sockets. Sans took in a shaky breath, fully knowing that this was only just the beginning.
"Stay focused!." The King snapped as Sans noticed his HP hadn't gone down at all from that.
'what? but it hurt so much…. how could i have not lost even a single hp from all that?!'Sans couldn't help but think, as the King spoke again.
"Why did you help out that human? Why did you not just steal her SOUL or better yet, after absorbing her SOUL, why not just go through the barrier and collect the last human SOUL yourself and break the barrier?"
For a single moment, Sans hesitated yet again and then slowly, this time he spoke up. His voice was barely over a whisper however and even quieter than normal. "i...l...d her."
"What?" The King snapped in a demanding tone. And once again Sans didn't say anything more. The King once again snapped his fingers.
This time, Alphys reached into the chest, grabbing a hammer, and that sends Sans into a panic as he suddenly screams out, "s-stop!"
"Why did you team up with the human?!" Asgore snapped out.
"i…" Sans hesitated again, and Alphys brought the hammer down, easily snapping off one of his rib cages and Sans screams in agony, his vision going white for an instant and he falters falling heavier into his binds. Once more Alphys raised the hammer and brought it down, breaking another piece of Sans ribcage.
"Why did you not kill the human and take her SOUL?! Why didn't you tell anyone you held a GODsoul!?"
"hngh! i-i...i…" Sans stuttered and then, when he saw Alphys about to raise the hammer a third time through half hazy vision. He suddenly screamed out when he was unable to take the pain anymore, just before she swung down. "i loved her! i-i loved her, okay!?"
Alphys immediately let go of the hammer. She made some sort of grunting noise like she was disappointed she didn't get to hurt Sans more. She watched as one of his ribs was now dangling pitifully connected only by a thin trail of magic. A second rib had severe deep fractures almost going straight through as Sans once again fell more heavily into his binds, his knees threatening to buckle as his body was twinging from the pain. Magic started seeping out through his body as his HP had dropped to 19.60/21HP.
By this point Frisk was crying, hard and letting out desperate pleas for everyone to just stop and leave Sans alone. To stop hurting him, but still no one could hear her. Frisks hands were over her ears as if attempting to block out the pained noises coming from the skeleton she loved and shut her eyes, the flowers on her face jostling from the movement.
Alphys moved a hand to just below Sans's chin, yanking Sans upward so that he was forced to look her directly in the eye. "Come on toy. Stay awake. We're not nearly done here just yet." She cooed.
Sans gritted his teeth as he struggled, his feet had even less purchase now that Alphys was pulling him forward and more of his weight settled on his shoulders as he was once again taken by surprise at the fact that he lost so little HP. 'how much longer was this going to go on for?!'
Boss remained stoic throughout all this, as Sans had turned towards him seeking help from his much taller, but younger sibling when Alphys released him. Boss's face remained unemotional, hidden by the iron mask that was to be expected of the Leader of the Royal Guard. However, for nothing but not even a fraction of a second, guilt and regret did flash onto Boss's face for a moment. As if he regretted ever having told Asgore anything, but he was helpless to do anything about it and help save Sans.
As doing so would mean BOTH their lives would be lost.
"So, that is why you didn't say a single thing and kept us locked down here for 7 more years, is that it?" Asgore growled in a deep voice, "you're teaming up with the humans now, the SAME species that nearly wiped our entire race out during the War. The exact same ones who trapped us all underground to nearly starve ourselves to death, behind this Barrier without any hope of escape... You're betraying your own race!"
"n-no…" Sans stuttered, painfully. His bones rattling from the pain. "she… w-wasn't like… th-the other humans. she only wanted to sh-show everyone what kindness was ag-gain…"
"Pfuh, 'kindness,' since when have humans ever shown us kindness?!" Asgore spat, his magic erupting around him dangerously and fire starting to form in his palms, but not completely. "Was it 'kindness' that they showed us when they brought us to near extinction?! Was it 'kindness' when they locked us all behind that godforsaken BARRIER?!"
"yer ...yer wrong… an' frisk wasn't just some human. it wasn't 'er fault we got trapped down here…!" Sans snapped back, for a moment gaining strength as he turned his pain and fear into rage and started to stand just a little straighter. "don' c-compare her to those other h-humans! you didn't even know her!"
"All humans are the exact same and are to blame." Asgore said simply. "They tore us apart like we were nothing! Women, Men, even their children tore through us all! You can say that because you weren't even alive during the War. That humans tainted you Judge! She's got you right under her thumb, you're being manipulated!"
"wh-" Sans was speechless at this accusation. 'frisk… manipulative? no, impossible!'
Sans eye sockets flared out a little and he felt the cuffs shock him as it continued to suppress his magic but Sans didn't care any longer. How dare this person disrespect his sweetheart?! King or no, he didn't even KNOW Frisk! Not like he got to know her. Not like HE got to spend time with her.
She was his sweetheart, the love of his life and his HOPE. She gave him reason to keep trying despite the Hell he was born into. She gave him a reason to keep smiling and reminded him what it felt like to be happy.
TRULY happy.
And NO ONE was going to disrespect her last memory if HE had anything to say about it…
Sans steadied his eyelights, fighting through the shocking electrocuting and sharp, steady pain as he tried his darndest not to look like the victim that he was. He wasn't going to kill the King, he didn't even think he could even with his GODsoul or no. He was a LV18 monster, Sans himself was only at LV9 and he's stayed at that LV the past 7 years since Frisk had died. No longer did he even want any EXP or anything. Or thought of weaker monsters as free EXP to be gained.
Frisk believed he could still choose to do the right thing after all.
That HE could still be good if he wanted to be.
She believed even someone like him could be redeemed, and he didn't want to sully her last memories by killing again when she'd fought so hard to STOP the violence. So instead, Sans chose Pacifism as much as he could when no one was watching, and in the most subtle of ways as he tried to honor Frisk's last wish before she died. Protecting the children and the weak even from bullies, sharing some of his rations or lasagna Boss cooked for him to the hungry. Small ways.
She was the reason why he'd decided on his path when she died and the monsters went right back to 'Kill or be Killed,' that no one deserved to be free. Even if a small resistance was building, a part of Sans knew it wasn't enough to change the Underground. He'd put all his hope onto Frisk and she failed him, and he failed her.
He knew the Monsters wouldn't win a second war if they ever got to the Surface. King Asgore was dead set on trying to fight the humans a second time and avenge the death of his son and adopted daughter and to Sans, simply keeping the Monsters trapped Underground was in a way, another form of MERCY too.
To save the rest of Monsterkind from going extinct completely. And to protect humans like Frisk above ground.
That was Sans's only goal.
Always be kind.
Sometimes, kindness is enough.
Sometimes kindness is all we can give.
Frisk made sure she hammered that home into the smaller skeleton's skull.
Which is why, despite the shocking pain he was in, or the fact that Asgore had given Alphys authorization to assist in Sans's torture and had broken one of his ribs completely off and the other fractured, Sans left hand glowed a powerful deep blue as he used his Blue Magic to manipulate a bone saw out of the chest of Torture Devices and threw it at the King but he purposely missed him.
"Don't ever speak about my sweetheart when you didn't even know her the way that I did…!" Sans hissed in a low threatening voice. Trying to sound as dangerous as he possibly could despite the fact he was literally defenseless, with his hands and wrists still held firmly above his skull.
Asgore had flinched and dodged instinctively, even as the bonesaw had gone a clear 10 inches away from his head. Boss had also reacted instinctively to block and protect, but even before the saw had been thrown, Boss already realized that his brother wasn't so crazy as to literally attempt murder on the King.
Still, Boss couldn't help but let out a groan in exasperation, knowing that Sans was going to end up paying dearly for this and Boss merely folded his arms over his chest just a little bit tighter, as he only watched from his position, calming his magic. And Boss expertly fortified his mask to be strictly neutral. Not risking wanting to show any sign that he deep down, desperately wanted to help Sans right at this moment.
He needed to remind himself that Sans had been the one to put himself in this position. He should have known the consequences for keeping such secrets to himself. He got himself into this mess and yet...
Alphys, who'd ducked out of the way in fright, even though she and Sans were both the same in height stared after Sans as if he'd gone crazy. And Sans himself even seemed to slowly realize what he'd done as his body trembled from the electrical shocks. Some of it even jolted his soul as he let his magic disperse and once again, Sans fell heavy into his cuffs panting a bit.
Asgore took a few seconds to breathe in, as he composed himself back to looking as regal as he could, given his current mental state anyways. Slowly, he picked the bonesaw out of the wall and with his bare hands he crushed the tool in his furry hands, bending the metal of the saw with a loud CRUNCH!
Sans flinched at this, squeezing his eye sockets shut in fear as he watched soot, and the crushed, balled up bone saw fall from his grasp. "ALPHYS!" He heard the mad king roar out.
"Y-yes, sir…?" Alphys stammered, immediately gathering her own composure as well in fear of being the next in line to earn the mad king's wrath.
"I think a lesson is in order...am I correct?" Asgore asked, struggling to keep his voice calm as he called for Alphys's attention
"Y-Yes your Majesty." Alphys confirmed.
Elsewhere, Akumu was having a hard time concentrating on a new plan for how to reclaim Otaku's SOUL due to the constant screaming coming from the end of the long hallway leading to the Torture Chamber. Not to mention every so often there would be a slight tug to her own SOUL as Chara was practically trying to grab Akumu's attention.
Some part of her desperately wanted to aid the small skeleton she'd accompanied along with Frisk and Flowey, back when Frisk had still been alive. After all, he'd been an important ally in getting Frisk over to the Capital, especially when her body had started to fail her due to the toxins in those golden flowers that were growing all over her body.
It didn't due to leave Sans to suffer, and Akumu was growing quite frustrated, since she couldn't really see or hear Chara and had thought these emotions were coming from her own SOUL and so, Akumu simply sat there, arguing with Flowey and herself, who ALSO was starting to get a little nervous, wondering what had become of his skeletal friend.
"I can go as a distraction for the Dog monsters! They know me well enough in these parts anyways!" Flowey insisted, "And...Papyrus likes me, but only because he almost broke my stalk once. Then, you and Doggo can go and-"
"And what? Get killed by the King and Papyrus?" Akumu snarled, as she tried to think too hard on what to do. Some part of her felt real sympathy for Sans and Flowey, knowing they had some sort of history together, and Aku knew, if it had been her brother being tortured in there, she'd also be just as desperate and panicked as he was.
But, at the same time, Sans DID have a part in why Otaku's SOUL was now in the hands of the King, and he'd nearly killed her brother at LEAST twice by this point and some part of her was also glad in a way the small skeleton monster was finally getting his comeuppance.
So much so, some part of her almost didn't want to rescue him. And another thought, his torture session might even be useful to them somehow as a distraction to get her brother's SOUL back somehow, if they could get past Dogamy and Dogaressa.
"Ugh, well do you have any better ideas?" Flowey snapped, growing more frustrated as well at Akumu's unhelpfulness. It was paining him, imagining how much Sans was going through. The poor skeleton had already been through so much, and, although he and Sans would often bicker quite a bit. He liked to think they'd gotten close even since Frisk had died.
Akumu and Flowey continued hashing and rehashing the plan arguing over who should be the bait that neither of them, nor Doggo had noticed as a certain bunny monster had been listening in and standing directly outside one of the Cell doors they were hiding in.
"Who goes there?"