The group in front of them stopped cold. The lights in the extended hall seemed to darken, the air became stiff and toxic.
"Not your brother eh."
He wanted to talk back. To tell the Doctor that what he was saying was taken from his own words. To tell him that he had a sibling. That, even though they were suffering, there was hope. And HE killed it.
He killed them.
Instead, he could only sand there, soul pounding against his ribcage as he braced himself for the hit.
" I RAISED YOU! I TOOK CARE OF YOU AND MADE SURE YOU WERE ALIVE!"
His voice was so loud, so angry. The side of his face erupted in a stinging pain as the expected hit finally landed. His own anger started to bubble up, heating his core in a hot rage. He cant get angry. Please,not here. Not now.
His own magic thrashed in its restraints, desperately trying to lash back at the doctors magic that was suffocating him. Burying him in shouts of rage and accusations. Choking him in Misplaced. blame and it wasn't your fault.
Huh?
What he's doing isn't right. It wasn't your fault. You didn't kill them.
He's breaking you down again, he wants more control. Don't let him take it.
Poppy slowly calmed down, finally aware of the fluffy paws on his hands, trying to gently pry them from the sides of his skull.
His arms ache from the recent injuries, making them heavy and sluggish.
The tips of his hand are burrowing into his temples, his sockets flamed as his magic tried to escape.
His knees spazzed in pain from landing -When did he drop?- and he finally let the other peel his hands from the sides of his face.
The shouting had shifted focus from himself to the Doctor. He could hear Asgore's stern voice reprimand the Doctor before going quiet again, letting the other royal take care of it.
"I had feared your relationship was unstable, but this is..."
Bad, yes. He knows.
"I will be honest with you,
The king nudged him to the side, making him look towards the goat.
… I do not know how to… handle such a relationship like this. But I know that it is not ok."
He couldn't help but shrug at the taller monster.
"Nothin' could do about it."
His words were slurred and lifeless, and his new friend softened.
"But there is."
Poppy abruptly turned away, the last thing he needs now is a false hope. Words with no meaning,a promise that cannot be kept.
What little magic could be used decided it wanted to be wasted on tears. He did try though, not to let that overwhelming hopelessness take its physical form.
The royal turned him around again, holding him in place as he tried to hide the stubborn tears that just won't stop falling.
"...There is. And I will help you."
He held his breath, pushing down those dark feelings and darker thoughts.
"H- how could you even-"
Asgore lifted a hand from his arm, lightly placing it on his shoulder.
"As the king of this universes' monster kind, I will order that your previous doctor is exempt from all his duties, and will be restricted from seeing you unless you initiate contact."
He gave his shoulder one last pat as he stood to full height, turning back to the verbal fight between the Doctor and the other royal.
Poppy sat in shock, slowly coming to terms of the situation.
Did…was...he just-
He gave you freedom? Just like that?
His soul lifted, it felt as if a world of problems were falling away.
He didn't really stand up to his doctor, but he still had the support.
Of a Royal.
"ooh this is bad."
Poppy nearly flew as another voice suddenly spoke up.
He turned, habitually looking at the other monsters' shoes. This one was a skeleton like himself, he was short, but Poppy expected that. He did have an unnatural height for his… species. The guy was probably low effort, considering their shoes were Slippers.
Lucky. Those look comfy too.
Oh god.
What's wrong?
It's the doctors' alternate.
"Holy shi- you ok kid?"
Poppy avoided the other monster, swiftly hiding himself behind the nearest pillar. The fighting between the royals and his previous doctor had died down as their guards entered the room.
One guard in particular shoved themselves between the royals and the doctor, summoning a bad ass looking spear and making the doc back off.
The doc sputtered, his face headed in anger. Looks like the best time to get outta here.
Still cautious about the doc's alternate, he slided around the back of the pillar, silently making his escape.
God, this place could use some more color.
It has color.
Yeah, like all gold is appealing to look at.
Poppy was forced to stop at the elevator, inspecting the oddly shaped button.
I think we're already at the top floor.
So. we have to go back down.
Nah, we can just make a portal to the surface. Duh, we gotta go down. Where else you gonna go.
Shut up.
He dragged his hand across the buttons, not bothering to try and figure out which one worked. He could hear the machines hum as the elevator lifted to his floor.
...Any moment now.
The humming stopped, and the doors opened with a loud beep.
Poppy cringed, but it looked like no one noticed, his doc was Still yelling at everyone.
He felt bad, leaving the royals to deal with his psychopathic doctor, but hey, they'll take care of it while he makes his escape. He made his way into the elevator, once again dragging his hand across all the buttons before sitting on the floor. The doors closed slowly and he had just enough time to look back at the chaos the Doc had stared. But instead of finding the mass of yelling monsters, he stared into the eyes of the king.
The look of concern and disappointment only took effect when the doors fully closed, beginning the descent.
The king turned back with a heavy sigh.
"Keep him detained until further notice."
He pointed at the Alternate, ignoring the never ending shouts of rage. Toriel looked upset, she had wanted to at least try to talk this through. It obviously wasn't working, and all that time arguing had given a certain magic restricted doppelganger of Papyrus time to run off into the underground.
"Sans. I need to speak with you."
The monster instantly appeared at his side, carrying a hotdog and a bottle of ketchup in each hand.
"Figured you'd want some grub, lunch time."
Usually, Asgore would agree. Joyfully taking the offered food and tanking the other to spend the money or time to get such a thing, but now?
" I'm afraid i'll have to decline,stress does not mix with food very well."
Sans shrugged, tossing the extra meal behind him before it disappeared in a blue flash.
"Guess I'll have to ketchup over lunch another day huh?"
His expression was grim, laced with worry. When the judge noticed, he threw his own lunch back, taking on a more serious aura of his own.
"another edge brothers' incident?"
"No. no it's not that… The newest alternate of- well- You is a bit… how do i put this…"
"aww c'mon,if they're anything like red, he ant' so bad now. He's just a troubled guy."
"No. again. it's not that. I've seen how these new alternates interact with each other..."
"...aaaaaannnnnnddddd?"
"And I believe the newest version of you is best detained for the time being. However, the version of you brother is a bit ah- Interesting."
Sans grunted, leaning against a pillar.
"How so."