"Love. The reason I dislike they word is that it means too much for me, far more than you can understand."- Anna Kareninia
For the next week Frisk had to deal with a persistent headache. For an injury that supposedly "wasn't that bad", it certainly felt the contrary. Papyrus was considerate of this though, and Sans wasn't enough of a jerk to further irritate it. The only issue she encountered was Storm, who still meowed loudly when he wanted something. She wasn't mad at him though- she was more cross with Sans for suggesting he got thrown outside.
Frisk also wanted horribly to read. Of course, she had to have this urge during her concussion. Reading included scrolling through Undernet, so all she could really do was sit around on the couch with the same Sans-humored comedies playing ten million times in a row.
She and Alphys had a rushed conversation over the phone. She seemed relieved Sans had explained everything. Frisk didn't made her talk about a thing. She just told her what she had told to Sans and probably averted a sobbing lizard in the process.
The week dragged by, and she kind of wished for even Undyne to stop by. Sans had made a strict rule that Undyne was NOT to come near the house while ANYONE had a concussion.
That lead to Undyne trying to kidnap her through the window. And a very angry Sans chasing her across the lawn with a giant bone club.
Who knew she would ever see Undyne running from someone.
But she had a lurking suspicion that Undyne was just toying with him and seeing how far he'd go before breaking his knee again.
Whatever.
At least she got the thing off her hand. She still had to wear a thing over her middle and pointer fingers.
She was getting increasingly annoyed with Sans. Even best friends- or whatever the hell her subconscious mind saw him as- got a little too much to handle. He never left he E. Not only was he really fussy, he didn't get the cue that she wasn't up for his games. He didn't understand that she was human and therefore did not regularly eat twenty pounds of food. He didn't get that she did not want to be smothered under fifty blankets. He also didn't get that she did not want an adult toy on her cat. She had to pull it off the poor cat about four times and each time she beat him with it. Which got a few odd glances and questions from Papyrus, which she had the cruel satisfaction of watching Sans try to explain to his brother.
Eventually, Alphys gave her the clear. Frisk literally ran out of the house and straight to the library, probably giving Sans a panic attack because he didn't know. Papyrus followed her, stating that he would "protect her". She let him. Better than Sans, who seemed to get moody when he went to the library.
The librarian was happy to see her after such a long while. She was happy to finally smell the books again.
She decided to work out her nose by trying to identify books by their material smell. Papyrus re-read cook books, seemingly mesmerized and confused that they were very different from what Undyne taught him.
When they left, it was getting dark. Papyrus went on and on about how much he learned, and Frisk eventually tuned out. She still had trouble concentrating on sound for more than a couple minutes at a time.
While she was tuned out, she noticed the monsters around town seemed on edge. They gave her scared, nervous glances and then quickly averted their eyes. She felt a tense feeling in the air.
Frisk shifted a little closer to Papyrus, feeling slightly unsafe. They never had that look before. Snowdin was full of warm, welcoming monsters. Now they seemed almost...
"Hey, Frisk!"
Frisk jumped and spun in the snow. The voice came from behind.
She saw Rocky in the distance, with his spear and armor. He was running through the snow, trying to catch up. She marveled his ability to run through the snow in armor with such ease.
"Oh, Rocky! How are you!" Papyrus greeted happily.
Rocky slowed down, panting with his tongue lolling out of his mouth.
Frisk knew something was off immediately.
"F-Frisk…Pap…yrus… hi…" Rocky bend and rested his hands on his knees.
"Did you go on a jog? You should have told me! I would have joined you!" Papyrus said.
"N-no, that's not… Frisk, ya gotta get inside…"
"Why?" Frisk rubbed her wrist.
Rocky looked up, eyes wide. The snow was reflected in his blue eyes.
"They… they know. Someone alerted The king, and he's… issued an order for your a-arrest… The Royal guard will be coming through… Captain Dogamy told me to come warn you… you need to get somewhere they won't find you…"
Frisk felt her heart move up to her throat.
Uh oh.
She never thought about that.
Papyrus's brow furrowed.
"Why don't we just explain to them? I'm sure they would understand."
"I'm sure you don't understand, Papyrus. They… we have orders. That we need to follow. Our orders are to arrest… we must be loyal. Even this… Dogamy is taking a huge risk. The King is strict on his word, as you know. And with us… being so close… Frisk isn't safe. And you guys aren't either."
Frisk tugged Papyrus's arm, feeling sick with anxiety.
How many people would tell the royal guard they saw her here?
"We need to go home, Papy. Now."
"No, Frisk, you can't." Rocky whined. "We have special orders to check the skeleton household. Papyrus, you need to go back and take out as much of her smell as possible."
"What? Why would we need to do that?" Papyrus looked a little worried.
He was starting to understand the situation, just as she herself was coming to terms of how dire it was.
Frisk remembered Sans's words, telling her it wasn't safe for a human.
She realized with a pang that this was bound to happen. It would've happened, one way or another.
"Because, if they even so much as catch a whiff, you two are being hauled off to the king. And, most likely, prison."
"Wait, what?" Frisk jolted.
"It would be considered as treason. Plus, if these monsters find out you are surely a human…"
Rocky trailed off, looking thoughtful.
Frisk blinked.
"Rocky. Do you think that they would back me? Even being a human?"
"Of course they would! Right?" Papyrus chirped hopefully.
"I… I don't know… monsters don't want to hurt you, but… they want to be free. We aren't some magical fairytales. We feel greed and desire like you. We feel needs. Do you know what I'm putting aside for you? I… I never wanted to hurt anyone. Especially a friend. And I never would if I could do anything about it. But there is still a part of me that thinks, that thinks that this could all be over so quickly. Not everyone can resist those urges, Frisk."
Frisk took a deep breath and closed her eyes.
The image of Snow's wise green eyes was burned into the back of her eyelids.
...she knew what she had to do.
She listened quietly as Papyrus spoke with a tone of anguish.
"But Rocky, how could you feel like that about a friend!"
"I… I…" Rocky stammered nervously. "I can't help it… but the reason I'm resisting those urges is because you're you, Frisk. Because you are my friend. I… I have a duty to my kingdom, but… if I could, I would support you, all the way. You understand?" Rocky asked hopefully.
Frisk nodded slowly.
"Yes. I remember when I was honest about my feelings, and I would expect the same from you." She let her eyes flutter open. "But I know what I'm going to do."
"What? You have a plan?" Rocky leaned in closer.
"Yes. I'm going straight to the steps of that throne, that's what I'm going to do." Frisk found her voice was oddly even despite the storm in her heart.
"What!" Both Rocky and Papyrus said in unison
"You're just going to give in? The king will kill you!"
"Human, no! That won't help! I don't want you to go!" Papyrus wailed.
"I'm not giving in. If I stay here everyone will have to pick a side for me. I'm taking my own life into my own hands, and saving everyone the impossible choice. And who said I'm going to let him kill me? I've already talked past one king… I can talk past another."
There was stunned silence for a few moments.
Frisk felt an increasing power in the middle of her chest, a burning courage she didn't think she had.
"I'm tired of running away. I'm not a coward anymore. I'm not letting everyone else fight my battle for me. And if I don't make it at least I tried." Frisk knew her resets were largely unstable now. Chances were, this could very well be her last fight. "I've learned living isn't breathing and doing whatever necessary to survive each day. Living is making an impact. Living is feeling passion and love. Living is spirit. If I "die", but if I died for a good cause, even if it's just setting you free, I still live on, right? Because I made an impact. That's what living is." Frisk swallowed.
There was more silence.
Papyrus sniffed, and she looked to see him wiping his eyes.
"H-human… I don't want you to die… b-but if you think… if you b-believe that, I won't stop y-you."
Frisk turned and felt a huge smile form on her face
"Papyrus… you're the best friend a human can hope for, you know."
Papyrus perked up.
"Wow, really? You mean it?"
"Yes, of course." Frisk steeled her nerves and reached over, wrapping him in a hug. Well, as much of him she could get.
"AWWWW, HUGS!" Papyrus cheered and she was instantly crushed.
There goes a rib or two.
"Heh… I knew you were something. You've got something… I've got to look up to, Frisk."
She felt a warm, fluffy body join the hug. Rocky.
She felt a joyful laugh bubble up in her throat, as well as tears.
She was happy.
She found where she belonged. The people she belonged to.
Her "pack".
And now she'd do anything to keep it.
"…I'm sure you'll have snow problem!" A voice spoke up from behind them.
Frisk peaked over the group hug to see Snowdrake. His eyes were wide and sparkling.
Papyrus let her go, and she felt her feet touch the snow again. She smiled at him.
Maybe she wasn't so salty about having ice chucked at her after all.
"…hun, your fate is in your hands. As it is in ours. It don' matter if you a human, ya still feel like we do. Differences make no reason t'kill ya." Frisk whirled to see the Snowdin shopkeeper.
Gradually, other monsters started inching forward, some she barely knew.
"That was awesome! Go for it!"
"Ya never hurt nobody… why should we hurt you?"
"I heard you saved people!"
"We support you, even if you're … a human!"
"I knew you had a different air about you. You helped us out at the library, the least I could do is support you." The librarian was out too.
Frisk hardly knew some of these monsters. There were so many admiring eyes… on her?
She didn't feel like she deserved it…
She felt tears well up stronger in her eyes.
"Wowie… see, Frisk! I told you! We've got your back!" Papyrus said-waving his arms towards the small crowd- with a tinge of hope in his voice.
"Papyrus… I still have to go. It's even more reason not to give you guys such a hard choice…" Frisk sniffed.
Papyrus's arms dropped.
"Oh… but you just recovered! Not even fully! You can't go alone…"
"Paps… I n-"
"I know! Take Sans! I doubt my brother would let you go alone anyways!"
"S-Sans?" Frisk hadn't thought about that.
He was right. Sans would flip.
But…he said when it was time, it was time.
She had to trust her trust her with this.
"Fine. I'll let Sans come."
Only partway. Frisk added. Plus, he'd be able to teleport her there.
"Well… lets go!" Papyrus started running back towards the house, and the monsters moved to let him through.
"He's right. You don't have too much time. Frisk… if this is the last time I see you… thanks for being my friend." Rocky's voice had a pitiful sincereness that brought the tears back.
She turned, not wanting him to see.
"I should be thanking you. Thank you all…"
Frisk started running after Papyrus without another word.
It felt so… final.
This couldn't be it, right?
No.
She wasn't going to let it.
She let the tears dribble out of her eyes as she felt the Determination grow.
This wasn't the end of this book.
Not yet.
Sans was frantic.
He knew.
"Frisk, oh my god, thank god, I-"
Frisk stopped as he literally jumped out of the door, eye sockets wide and pupils large with fear. Even slightly purple. He was wearing his jacket, sneakers for once, and a lazily made necklace with a bone as a pendant. She had seen it in his room before- it let off a soft blue glow in the dark. He found it under his bed two days ago.
"Sans, we don't have time." Frisk panted.
"I know that! We need to get you somewhere! Grillby's has a cellar." She noticed he had Storm in his arms. The poor kitten looked confused and kept looking around between them.
"Sans… Frisk is going to the King." Papyrus said before she could speak. He had a matureness she never heard from the hyperactive skeleton before.
"The human wants to know if you will go with her." He added.
Frisk swallowed as Sans's lights went out.
He was still.
Stiff.
"… you're… w h a t?"
"You heard him loud and clear. And no, I'm not doing what you think. I'm not sacrificing myself." Frisk kept her eyes locked on his, even though it was hard.
"…no. I can't let you go. None of this nonsense, let's g-"
"Sans." Frisk extended her hand out to stop him, resting it on his arm.
"You promised when it was time you wouldn't stop me. I'm not asking you to judge me. I'm not asking you if you agree. I'm asking you to go with me. I have a feeling… that this is our chance. I told you we'd all be going out together… and if that time isn't now, it's never."
"But… what could… it's not going to magically happen, Snap pea. It's…"
"I know. But I'll never find a way if I'm hiding all the time, now will I? Sans…" Frisk tried making the saddest "puppy eyes" she could. "Please?"
Storm's head started darting back and forth between them, trying to figure out why Frisk looked so upset so suddenly.
Sans was quiet, and she could hear his heavy breaths. It was almost like Papyrus had disappeared, even though he was right beside her.
"…fine. If you don't feel like you're going to pass out because of a just recovered concussion, let's go. I hope you're not playing a stupid card…" Sans's eye lights returned, wide and worried. Nervous.
"The only cards I can play now are in the hands of fate." Frisk replied.
"Then let's hope you draw a good card."
…
( before continuing, look up Farewell Symphony on YouTube by BrunuhVille to listen to while reading the scene. It will really benefit the coming scene, trust me.)
Frisk remembered this path to the hall painfully.
Last time she walked it she was covered in dust…
It reminded her of a burden she'd never be able to release. Screams that would never fade and blood that would never dry.
Frisk squeezed her own arm to try to distract herself.
It was so dark…
The judgment hall was lit by blue torches, provided swaths of light that faded to black around the edges only to be lightly bumped by the next glowing circle.
Little specks of glowing blue danced around the air like fairies. It was ominous and dreadful, yet… mystical in a way. It took her breath.
Sans had been silent the entire way. He still had Storm in his arms. Why, she didn't know.
Maybe comfort?
Storm didn't have any opposition for this field trip and snuggled into the fur lining Sans's coat.
She noticed it was the one Toriel patched up for him. She was wearing her same sweater she had fallen down in, also patched by the kind woman.
In her pocket, her wolf dagger.
She didn't want to fight, but…
Sans stopped in the middle of the blue hall, halfway swallowed by shadow.
"…are you leaving?"
"…I told you. No."
"…Frisk. If you want to leave. Do it. Don't think about me. Think about you. Do it for you. If… if you truly… care about something… then… let it be happy. I want you to be happy."
"…I am happy. With you guys." Frisk took a step closer so she was right up by his back.
"I'm happy with you guys, you moron. That's why I'm fighting to stay here."
"The king is there for a reason. He's not going to back down easy. He's not a guy for words… I know. If he has a resolve…"
"I know. But I already talked one king outta killing me, right?" Frisk joked.
Sans snorted a little.
"Yeah, sure… Snap pea, this isn't like Asgore. This… I have a feeling you want me to stay here. I know you want to do this alone, but-"
"But it's my thing to do alone, Sans." Frisk let her hand touch his shoulder. "You have no place in it. I was asking for it the second I climbed this mountain."
There was a pause.
"…are you scared?"
Frisk blinked.
"… y-yeah. Sans, it's still me. The little old scaredy cat whelp. Nothing's really changed… you know that. So yes, I'm terrified."
Sans let out a few tried chuckles.
"Good, at least I'm not the only one."
There was more silence, this time longer.
"… you can't reset much more. Every time can be your last. There is a… a save, up ahead. I remember from the readings… use it… the King uses Moon magic. His throne is right in front of the moon crystal… the howling stone… at the top of the royal tower… dammit, Frisk."
"What?" Sans was shaking.
Storm meowed softly.
"I… I feel like this is goodbye… I don't want a goodbye… I don't want any goodbye. I… I have a feeling… even if you come back… something is ending. I don't want a goodbye!" She could hear the tears in his voice, she how hard he was shaking to hold back the tears.
If she thought she felt heartbreak before, she was wrong.
"Sans… I… It's not goodbye. And… even if it is… just… smile and be glad it happened. Better than moping around about what you lost."
"…goddamit Frisk, I can't. You taught me so damn much… you changed me more than anyone else ever will, I don't want anything to end. If it ends n-now, I'll never be able to make up for the shit I've done. I don't have enough time to tell you how much you mean to me and how much you've changed me, there's so many things I never got to say and I could sit here for moons upon moons and never be done. I don't want you to go…" the last sentence was cut off by a half compressed sob.
Frisk couldn't stop it now. The tears were burning hot on her cold cheeks.
"Sans… I… kind of feel the same way. But nothing's ending. I'm coming back… it's just a postponement. Nothing more."
"F-f-frisk…"
Sans didn't say anything else, probably because he couldn't.
Frisk felt like someone had thrown her heart against a wall and it shattered like the frailest glass into an uncountable amount of sharp, painful shards.
She realized how fond she became of him. How much she would miss him if this truly was goodbye.
But… she wasn't leaving.
And if she died for good… she wouldn't feel anything, right?
Well, who knew where she would go.
Either way… he got the short straw…
Frisk swallowed and opened her arms.
"Cm'ere you silly lump of calcium."
Sans didn't even hesitate.
She was nearly knocked over by how fast he moved into her hug.
She smiled and giggled a little through the tears at his reaction.
She thought she was a pup…
"Looks like I'm calling you Puppo from now on." Frisk teased as he pressed his skull into her shoulder, shaking violently.
"S-s-shadup…"
"Heh…" Poor Storm was sandwiched between them, and Sans seemed to want to eliminate any space left between them.
Frisk closed her eyes and took in the warmth.
She didn't know long they stood there, but her legs were beginning to get tired when Sans finally pulled away. He looked down.
"…"
Frisk hated herself now.
"…I'll be back…"
"…what about the cat?"
Frisk looked down at Storm, wanting to hold him, but…
She didn't want him to feel like something was awry.
"Babysit for a bit. Don't get the little baby upset, you hear?"
Sans exhaled air through his nose.
"…fine. You… know everything you need to know?"
"Yeah." Frisk took a step back.
"…I won't blame you if… whatever happens. I'll be here waiting, nontheless."
"Don't worry. That's my job." Frisk tried to joke.
Sans didn't respond.
"…oh, hey, wait." Sans pulled on the necklace around his neck and pulled it off.
"Here." He extended his hand out to her, the little bone resting in his palm.
"Huh? Why?" Frisk looked down at it.
"Because. It's got my magic in it. And… I just want you to have somethin… just in case."
Frisk frowned.
"Sans, I told you, I'm not leaving."
"Things can change fast, Snap pea." Sans deadpanned.
Frisk sighed and took the necklace, looking at the little bone pendant with a slight annoyance.
"You're still stubborn as hell, at least. But… thanks, anyways."
"…nothin'." Sans turned around.
Storm meowed.
"…see ya."
"Just go." Sans was shaking a little again.
Frisk stared at him for a few heavy moments.
"…bonehead."
Frisk turned around and started walking down the rest of the hall.
Her footsteps sounded ten times louder without Sans's.
As she left, she was sure he turned around to watch her exit the far door.
…
The pathway was so dark, only lit by the tiniest blue flames. And the Save Sans was talking about. She tapped it as she walked by.
This smaller hall lead to the entrance of the royal tower. The old structure was cloaked in shadow, and eagerly crack and indent had black covering. It loomed over her like an omen of disaster.
Frisk swallowed.
She was aware of how painfully alone she was now.
No. Frisk shook her head. I can't think like that. I'm determined. I'm determined
I'm determined.
Frisk repeated the phrase until she was as calm as she would get and went through the gaping mouth of the tower, feeling like it was swallowing her whole.
Inside was made of blue stones, with the mysterious blue torches lighting the way. The staircase was old and cracked, but sturdy enough. Glassless windows followed the twisting stairs. Frisk began her accent, resting against the wall farthest from the windows.
It got considerable colder as she climbed, so much so she was sure her spit would freeze to the ground.
The walls were covered in carvings of wolves and moons and mythical stories centuries old. Of wolves devouring the sun and moon, of ragnorok, of stories lost in stone.
Frisk ran her fingers around the carvings, feeling an ancient energy from them.
It filled her with more Determination.
She would set things right.
She wondered why she felt so compelled to do this. It was more than talking to the king. She knew there was a way- a way to set everyone free.
How, she did not know.
The accent filled her with apprehension as well. Every stair, every creak, meant she was closer to the end. As she got higher the windows went away and she felt the tower sway slightly.
Her gut felt so light it could have been non-existent.
Finally, she reached a final, short hall with a set of stairs leading to the roof.
There was yet another save nestled close to the stairs.
Frisk walked up to the yellow star and cupped its light in her hands, feeling her body go warm.
I… I hope I'm right. I hope this is right…
A white flash from the corner of her vision reassured her.
Frisk took a few deep breaths, wondering what the king looked like. She never learned his name. How oddly convenient.
Frisk took a final inhale and made her way up the stairs.
The sight she saw as she reached the top was breath taking.
Around the top of the tower was a dome. And this dome was alight with what looked like the northern lights, swirling mixes of blue and green and red and purple… in the middle of the huge clearing was a Crystal of huge size, its surface gleaming and glowing. Little ice blue specks of magic danced off it and into the air.
In front of it was a small, modest throne. In it, a cloaked figure.
At the end of the clearing, was what looked like a path through light.
She knew what that was.
The barrier.
Her heart sped up despite her urges to keep calm.
She felt the stirring again.
To breathe fresh air. To see the moon. The sky.
No. I promised. Frisk told herself.
The figure looked up slightly, and she recognized that icy blue eye and weird looking cigarette immediately.
It was the cloaked stranger who helped them at the train crash.
"Y-you? Why are you here?" Frisk was confused. This couldn't be the king. He wouldn't-
"Why do you think? Why would I be in a throne…"
"A-are you…"
"Yes. I am the king. When I leave with my cloak on I am no king. I am just a common stranger. Royal business is nothing to me then. But here."
He pulled back his hood.
Underneath was a grizzled dog, white and black. A big scar across his nose. In his mouth, an oddly shaped dog treat.
"Here I am King Doggo."
"There is no way to love without being hurt. True love is finding someone worth hurting for."
I AM FUCKING CRYING.
GOD DAMMIT.
THAT REVEAL WAS AWESOME BUT THE FEELS DOUGH
:0'
I hope this wasn't too soon for you guys. Also, now you know the king (most of you knew the king if you went on DA and kept up because I can't keep secrets of my own. I can keep other people's but not mine for some reason)
I sacrificed my drawing time for this crap. Just to cry.
I hate life. Reviews before I cry some more.
Jaydomination: thinking about how many ways he could punish her for being stupid. Or mad that she took his title of stupid. XD
Alia Sooan: good luck enforcing that one. Speaking of which where did they all go are they still in her bra? I forgot about them XD imagine she throws them at Doggo lol.
I'm not super fat but I'm not skinny either. I've just got a little bit of a gut cause it runs in the family, and I HATE IT WHY COULDN'T I GRT FAT ELSEWHERE.
Howlingtale cures and causes depression at the same time.
Iluvfanfic: this ain't Fox News, it's real folks (save for how many times I've retconned this fucking thing. I may rename it retcon tale lol)
Reiko X: Cool. I delve into darkfic a little bit (not with this fandom but with Kid Icarus hell yeah) because I'm edgy Xb and I feel ya. I would have so many ideas that I can't get down it SUCKS.
Nope. Trouble is her middle name.
Or maybe her last since I still don't have one lol.
Thedyingjokepastaway: K
I couldn't not talk about it. I feel so bad for the people involved and the fact we need to fight because our leaders won't. And we've got people saying stupid millennials, crap like that. Welp, they can go shove their walking cane up their old asses and suck Sans's big long blue-
Squeaky toy
Lauralie20: Taking breaks is the best way to get motivated. I've said this before, around the Snowdin arc I was plowing through this thing and I wasn't having fun, I was getting by on slow chapters filled with jokes. If my tablet didn't break I probably would have lost all interest in this story. I wonder how many stories I could have saved by just taking a break…
Guest: yay, someone noticed.
He doesn't actually know cannonly, it was just a joke.
Or is it?!
SyntheticDesire.21: nooooothing :3
Excuse me while I go get three hours of sleep and rush to finish homework in the morning
From the sleep deprived wolfie,
Comycat
All hail Satan.