Sorry for the long wait, guys. School is kicking my butt, and this chapter was one of those that I changed considerably. I hope you like it. Please do let me know. As I always say, this series is my baby. I want it to become something remarkable.

Remember that all lives matter, guys. Be kind, and be safe.

-Willa

-.-.-.-

4:

Unfortunate Souls

(Third POV)

-.-.-.-.

"A deal? We're not making any deals with you, Error." The words echoed off the walls as Papyrus stepped forward to stand by his brother, growling while he crossed his arms.

"Boss, Paps?"

The taller skeleton looked down at Sans and Frisk, who were sharing looks of a mixture between shock and admiration. He sighed, looking away from them with a slight blush playing on his cheeks:

"We might often disagree, brother, but I do love you and her. Don't act so surprised that I'm standing by you." Papyrus muttered under his breath, but before Sans could express his thankful words, the villain cut the rare moment short. Which earned him a growl from each.

"Oh, that is rich coming from you! Weren't you the one who continually told him he was an embarrassment? A screw-up?"

The statement hung in the air like a heavyweight, both brothers remembering the hurtful words they once had said before Frisk calmed their sibling rivalry. They both were in the wrong, but Papyrus knew he was always the worse of the two. Before the others could make him a target, he became enemies with the only real family he had left. Hell, Sans was the only one who truly cared about him. But it didn't matter to him; he only wanted power.

After all, in this world, if you didn't have a high amount of power, you might die. It was be killed or kill in the Underground, and Papyrus wasn't about to die because the other monsters thought he was a weakling. No matter how much he loved his brother, Papyrus knew love was considered a weakness. And he didn't want to die:

So, he let the cruel world change him. Papyrus gave in to the power, and good feeling of being the better one went to his big head, and he turned his back on Sans. The younger skeleton broke him.

He scowled deeply, locked in guilt until he felt a comforting hand land on his arm. The youngest Skeletal brother shifted his gaze down to see Frisk's sweet smile pointed up at him, telling him that it was alright. That he was making amends for the past.

He snorted, smirking as Papyrus patted her head to show his thanks before he moved a sharp glare back on the black skeleton as he pushed Frisk back behind him and Sans:

"I was, I was horrible to not only him, but everyone. And I regret that, but I will change that today, I will become the brother he needs. I will protect his happiness. I won't let you ruin it for them." Papyrus growled out, lifting a hand, letting a red-orange bone flow in the air as the others followed suit with fierce glares place into their eyes.

Error chuckled softly, letting a sigh escape while he stuffed his phalanges into his hoodie. For a few moments, the glitchy skeleton just stood there with a cocky grin, before moving onto his toes, peering at the shaking girl in the middle of the protective circle.

"As much as I want to play, I'm just here to talk to you, princess. Sorry about this." He flicked his wrist forward, calling her soul to him.

And soon, Frisk was in the air; a gasp squeaked out through her lips as she tried to grab whatever hand she could, but the pull was too strong. Frisk was close to the black skeleton within seconds, filling her with fear and something the girl couldn't fathom.

But, it wasn't the time to ponder her feelings. Not when Frisk was facing a hungry wolf with its mouth prepared to devour her:

"Sans! Mama papa!"

A growl rung out through the room, another pull started to tug on her soul as Sans stepped toward the other skeleton with his own hand placed in front of him, his pupil sent ablaze against the black.

"Let. Her. Go. Now." The skeleton slowly stated through his clenched teeth, but Error just shrugged with his grin turning more animalistic as the minutes passed.

"If you two behave and listen, I will."

The beautiful young woman gritted her teeth, both in frustration and from the slight discomfort, not wanting to give this male the pleasure of seeing her weak. But, she knew they couldn't continue the standoff for long. And if they did, Sans would be too weak to help anyone with keeping her out of Error's strings.

So, with a heavy breath, she looked down at the broken skeleton and nodded silently. She couldn't be the reason Sans got hurt again, she couldn't be the reason he felt guilt still. She just couldn't, but she needed to do something.

"Good girl, Frisk." He grinned widely, slowly lowering his hand towards the floor with Sans following suit, an unreadable expression was playing across his face as she moved cautiously toward the black glitch; his hand enclosed in hers.

"Okay, Error, you want to talk deals? Fine." Sans' voice sounded tight, dripping with tears.

He knew she would accept anything to save him any pain. But, what she didn't understand was that Error didn't play fair, he was probably just coaxing her close enough to strike, taking the only thing that matters to him. However, he also knew that he needed to trust her, so he kept his mouth shut and stay close, prepared to protect her to the end.

Maybe this would finally end, he hoped as he closed his eyes, squeezing her hand for comfort before he heard Error snicker, opening his eye sockets to see him leaning against a polar lazily.

"Straight to the point, 14? I like that about you."

Sans scowled deeply, moving his eyes down, not wanting to show him any more emotion he already had. He tried to save the feelings for the people that really matter. Sans only looked up when Frisk carefully stepped forward as she lifted her hands in the air.

The pain probably was back, he mused, his eyes watching the movements as he crossed his arms across his chest, staying only a few feet away from her, ready to become as strong as Titanium…

For his sweet princess, he would become more durable than anything...

'What is your deal, Error?'

The chuckle that followed her question woke the skeleton from the thoughts and looked up to see the other skeletal monster walking to the window. Sans could see that Error was enjoying this as his fingers curled into fists hidden under his folded arms.

He looked like a growling cat stalking his prey, feeling giddy as he watched them wiggle and squirm under the pressure of the waiting. He wanted to torture them like he was:

A few moments later, Papyrus roared out and rushed toward Error, only to be held back by his brother. He was tired of waiting, he wanted to rip that smug expression off the skeleton's face. The black skeletal monster shared looks with his kind brother, but he didn't care about what happens to this family. Papyrus was so freaking tired of this. Of this cocky, little ass's attitude about ruining lives.

As much as he wanted to copy his brother's actions, Sans figured that Frisk would want to hear the bastard out before she let them have their fun. She was the one who always played fair, knowing how the others felt when she didn't. She didn't want to be unfair ever again. So, Sans held his angry brother to him and growled out angrily:

"If you want to live, you might want to tell us what the hell you want right now!"

Error laughed loudly, turning to the group with his usual smug grin dancing across his blue tear-streaked face, his hands folded behind his back as he rocked on the balls of his feet, giving the scene in front of him before another snarl sounded in the room.

"Error!"

"Okay, okay, geez. Keep your pants on. And Pappy, if you try to kill me, I will kill her, you follow?" Error stuttered out as he moved to Frisk, his smile growing strangely soft with every step, making the flower squirm under that look.

Sans growled again, struggling to not only with his brother's fury but his own; he wanted to kill that bastard, to not see the creep's smile towards his human. But when he tried to move to approach him, he was pinned with a haunting glare by the black skeleton; his palm turned up at her.

"That means you too, 14. You know I will, back off, and let us talk."

He snarled deeply, freezing in place, flexing his fingers as he obeyed. The black skeleton smiled one more time at the two angry males before he turned back to the girl, that creepy smile was back on her. This made the girl shiver as he opened his teeth to speak:

"My deal is this, dear Frisk; you let me reset you and everyone, and if you can save them in two years, you can live free without worry. However, there's one catch, you will not remember any of them," Error paused to nod towards her family, "And if you don't not only save them but remember them; you will become my puppet. You will be dead to them, only I would remember you."

Silence followed the terms, some were too shocked to speak, and some were fuming too much to speak. The speech lingered in the air, substantial like a rain cloud before Sans roared painfully. His hands were itching from the power building in his body. Was he insane?

"Are you fucking insane? That's your deal? There's no way she's gonna agree to that! You should have known that before you came here!" Sans gnarled, his red energy started to show as his anger grew and grew, thinking about his strings enclosing around her. The thought made him sick

Despite that shout, Error just stood in front of a frozen Frisk with a soft smile on his face. That smile was like a dark, twisted version of Sans' smile, and that smile sent a deep shiver up her spine. Frisk wondered if this was how real prey felt, how it felt to be hunted.

Frisk couldn't think of a reasonable answer, but the human knew she needed to before her personal predator decided to pounce. But all she could do was shake madly as the thoughts raced through the walls of her mind, trying to think of a reply.

Soon, Error heaved a heavy sigh, impatient to hear her response, and leaned forward to meet her blues. The sweet smile slowly turned mercilessly as she backed away from the insane skeleton a bit.

"I'm waiting, my dear. The clock is ticking."

Frisk gulped, the fear of Error slowly reaching a peak as she looked to the angry skeletons on each side of her for strength before she placed a firm expression onto her facial features, her fingers dancing into speech.

'And if I refuse?'

"Welp, then I'd just have to kill you. And it's a shame, really, you are so pretty, and you have a long life ahead of you. But if you want to die, then I'll happily reward you that."

With that, Error raised his hand toward the beautiful flower, but not to hurt her, just to prove his point and formed a bubble around them. The group wasn't too happy about this, roaring demands and insults at the black skeleton. He didn't care though, he just grinned smugly before he turned back to the scowling girl and spoke again:

"It's your choice, baby doll. It is a fair deal, I'd say. Yes, you won't remember, but they," Error waved a hand towards the angry group, the sight sent tears to her beautiful eyes as she listened to his next words: "will. They will be able to make you remember. Like I said, it's a fair deal. But if I kill you right here, they won't have a chance to save you. You will be dead, no resetting, no starting over. Nothing."

Frisk gasped, the icy hand of fear grasped her heart, knowing what that would do to them. To watch her die and to know they couldn't save her, she knew they would be destroyed.

But, if she agreed to this, they would have two years to save her—a chance of a final happy ending. No more fighting and no more having to reset, they would be free from the fear. She had to leave, she had to make this deal with the black devil to save her loved ones from any more pain.

Error knew Frisk couldn't refuse his deal, not when they were watching, and they would see every gory detail of the murder. He knew, and he used that against her, knowing he would win what he wanted.

She cupped a hand over her mouth to hide a cry as she looked over to her family for one more loving look, meeting their wide tear-filled eyes. They knew, she thought terrified, they heard, and they knew what she was going to do. She was going to save them from that haunting memory.

So, with her mind made up, she breathed a sigh, and she smiled watery as her hands formed words of love before she turned to the glitch, meeting his hand. As they shook hands, a warm sensation spread over her body, and the voices faded while the blackness slowly surrounded her. The last thing she heard from her family was Sans' pained shout:

"I will find you, Frisk! I will find you, sweetheart, I promise!"

The promise was slowly swallowed by the darkness, but it filled the flower with determination. Frisk would find a way back to them, she demanded in her mind, as Error snickered giddily behind her, making her sick at the sound. He was insane, Frisk screamed inside of the walls of her mind.

"Good choice, Frisk. I knew you would make the right decision."

He praised Frisk. But, to her. It sounded like the skeleton was mocking her as he moved to the girl before Error waved his bony hand to call the reset button. Then moved it to in front of her.

"Okay, my dear, just push the button, and our deal will start. Don't worry, the time limit won't start until you fall down and meet your mother again."

Frisk stared at the reset button, wondering why he was so fair and what would happen after she pushed it. She breathed a weary sigh, her hand hovering over the button before she looked over to the skeleton and used her other hand to ask him those questions.

He sighed deeply, looking away with a scowl placed onto his face. The teen really didn't see why he was doing this? Was she really that blind?

"Frisk, I'm still a version of Sans. As much as I want to hate you and make you pay for all you have done, I can't ignore that you are a sweet girl. You reminded me of my Frisk. I wanted to give you two a chance we never got."

After hearing that, the young woman bit her lip, looking to the button as she thought about the words. She was right about him, she hid a soft smile as she waited for him to continue the explanation. There was some Sans in him, even if it was a tiny piece, it was still there.

"And for your second question, it is a simple reset. But in this new world, your family would be able to remember every memory you made. They just would be a bit different." He stated, stretching his arms over his head as if they were just talking, not about to give birth to a new time.

That was so Sans, she mused, her smile was slowly showing. She smiled at him for a heartbeat before she signed about the difference, asking.

Error chuckled, startling the girl a bit, as he leaned forward and winked playfully before he touched her hovering hand to softly guide it down:

"You'll see sweetcheeks." And with that, the world was reborn…

-.-.-.-.-.-.-

After the world was recreated, Error watched as baby Frisk was reborn, wincing at the sight of her new mother screamed at the nurses to keep the 'freak' away from her and her father scowling in the corner.

What was he doing? His mind screamed at him a growl escaped his hyoid, his fist smashing an adjacent wall in frustration. He didn't want to admit it to himself, but Error didn't want to kill Frisk. Even if he held a deep hatred for her, there was an odd feeling towards the girl:

At first, this was just a game, something to kill the boredom, but soon the black skeleton had a change of heart. Error couldn't tell anyone why. Error feared what people would think of him after learning the truth. But, the idea of killing the girl sent his twisted soul into a painful mess, the mere thought made Error sick. So, he gave birth to a plan.

He would give them a chance to save her, a solid prospect, but if they couldn't, Frisk will be his to do with as he pleased.

A couple days after that idea came to him, the skeleton was calm and pleased with himself. However, that peace formed into an uneasy feeling of questioning. What was he doing, and why was he doing it for? The answers to those questions were too frightening to think about:

Because, deep down, Error knew why. He knew why he had to help them ensure their victory, help them ensure her safety. As much as he wanted to loathe her for her past crimes, he couldn't bring himself to want to hurt and kill her. He just couldn't….

And the reason was his own Frisk, the dark angel who begun the story well-known to both races once they remembered. She was the reason, as much as he hated that fact, he knew it was the truth. He wanted to see at least one of the Sanes get a happy ending that sticks, even though the world would reset once they died. He just wanted some sense of hope that, someday, he would have his own.

He looked down at his hand, remembering as her hand fell to the ground while she faded from the world. A growl fell from his teeth as he made a tight fist before the skeleton turned his back on the scene, trying to forget this uneasy feeling boiling in his chest.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-

It was four years after Frisk accepted Error's terms of their ridiculous game, the monsters were trapped in a different kind of darkness beside the darkness of the Underground. However, most didn't understand what the different dark cloud was, they just felt a dark cloud over the kingdom. Something was missing.

Only a handful truly knew the bitter truth behind that dark cloud. The family felt the pain of knowing that truth, felt it clawing at their insides. But Asriel knew his, and the others' pain was pale against Sans'. His pain ran so deep, it changed him:

He didn't even look the same, his face a blank mask, not showing any emotion. He just went to Grillsby's or out searching for his fallen flower since he made a deal of his own. One that drove a wedge between him and the others, no matter how much they might agree with the decision behind it.

It was a dangerous decision.

-.-.-.-.-

Three years after Frisk's decision, everyone tried to move the best they could.

Everyone but Asriel changed back to their usual selves when the world began again. Asriel was saved by his necklace, thankfully, but the memories still stung. He could deal with the sting though, he was used to it by now, but the young goat monster was worried about the others. They weren't used to the painful pain of the choices they had made.

Unlike him, who had a chance to atone his poor choices, this was the first time they remembered. They were horrified at their Underfell actions the moment they woke up, and the monster tried to heal the damage they have done, namely Papyrus, towards his older brother even if Sans pushed him away with every attempt he tried.

For example, Sans often disappeared for days on end, causing his brother to panic. Poor Papyrus would work himself up into a frantic fit until Asriel or Undyne calm him down, but the calmness frizzled out when the older skeleton stumbled into the throne room drunk on mustard and faded memories.

To relieve the stress on his parents and distant himself from everything, Asriel took over the throne with Papyrus and Alphys at his side.

And for the most part, everyone was at peace or as peaceful as the small circle could be after losing the group's heart.

Everyone but Sans, of course. And Papyrus wasn't very pleased when he saw his older brother falling to the wounds. And Pappy being Papyrus, Papyrus couldn't keep his worries silent, but it only angered Sans even more.

As Sans' anger grew, sadly, the brothers then would go at it like their Underfell counterparts. It got so bad that Asriel had to pull a screaming Sans away from his brother and Undyne comforting a crying Papyrus as Sans' anger echoed through the hall:

"You don't understand what I'm going through! You have no idea! Imagine if it was Mettaton, Pappy, how would you feel?"

Asriel couldn't blame the male, honestly. He might've lost a sister and friend, but Sans had lost a soul bond. The highest relationship a monster could have, and he lost the deepest one that ever existed. Who could blame him for acting extra bone-headed? Sans was just trying to distance himself from the fiery pain Frisk's absence brought on.

Asriel did some stupid things in his past to save himself from pain, to bring her back. The goat monster couldn't place blame onto Sans for that when he acted the same exact way. Lost like a child in the darkest woods without a way out:

He just needed an outlet, and his best friend didn't have the heart to scold him. That was until Sans decided to make the most dangerous, the dumbest decision ever, however.

Asriel was in the study, working on some paperwork for the kingdom when Sans silently entered. For the first time in years, Sans was stone-cold sober; he could tell in how the skeleton carried himself. Sans looked like he was cooking up an idea, his eyes held the same determination Frisk had.

The other male should've been curious about the look, should've asked before Sans made the final decision. But, Asriel was just thankful to see the old Sans. Or at least him clear-minded for once.

But Asriel didn't know the reason behind that clearness, and the goat wasn't prepared for the fiery confront coming for the two males:

"I'm going to see Gaster."

At first, he didn't hear him, too focused on his work to progress Sans' sentence. But then, his head snapped toward the skeleton as Sans pinned a cutting glare onto the goat monster. Asriel nearly knocked his chair over when he stood with wide eyes.

"What did you just say?"

"You heard me, As."

Asriel rushed toward him, grabbing Sans' sweater and pulling his frame to his own with a sneer turning his lips up:

"Are you fucking insane? Sans, you're playing with fire! Your father will use this against you, you have to know that." The young goat growled, but all Sans did in return was to snarl as he pushed Asriel away.

"I have no choice, Asriel. I must become stronger."

"You can, you idiot. But to do this? This is the dumbest idea you ever thought up! You are selling your soul to the devil himself!"

"And was your sister stupid?" Asriel let out a low growl.

"Of course, she wasn't. She was just doing what she needed to—"

"So am I. When Frisk comes, I will be stronger, no matter how much I hate Gaster. I'm going to do what I have to, for her."

"But Sans—"

"You're not going to change my mind, and you can't stop me. Stay out of this, As, I'm warning you." The look in Sans' sockets almost killed him on the spot.

Asriel was not backing down just because of a look, but it silenced Asriel enough for the skeleton stomped towards him with an eye-socket blazing red. Asriel narrowed his eyes, his paw closed into a fist. He wanted to scream at him, shake some sense into him. However, the other male knew it would be useless.

Once Sans thought something would help him, there was no way to change his mind. And especially if it involved Frisk, he didn't stand a chance to. But, Asriel needed to try. The skeletal monster might hate him for a long while, but Asriel would be damned if Frisk's sacrifice went to waste.

Because even if the goat hated the male with a burning passion, Error was willing to be fair. Gaster, on the other hand? He would use this weak moment to his own advantage. The older skeleton was known for that.

"You are going to regret this, bonehead."

Sans gave Asriel a sad smirk before he turned to the door, stuffing his phalanges in his pockets.

Asriel made a tsk sound, wanting to say something, but knew he didn't have anything that will change Sans' mind. No matter how much Asriel wanted to. After all, once he made up his mind, it was next to impossible to change it. Asriel should know, he had tried many a time. And failed every single time.

Sans paused in the doorway, tipping his skull back with a sad expression:

'

"I'm already regretting it, Asriel, I already am. But I have to do this."

And with that, the skeleton was gone.

Asriel stared at the door as he wrapped his arms around himself, fear surging through his veins.

Sans had ordered him to stay out of it. But how could he when his family was falling apart? He couldn't and would keep trying to reach out to his best friend, to wake him from this insanity.

But all the prince could do was wait for his soul brother to come to him.

-.-.-.-

And since that argument, everyone stayed away from the now-taller skeleton, just watching him. They had to make sure he wasn't going too insane.

That was what Asriel's doing. He was leaning against a tree, his golden eyes following each of Sans' movements as he crashed through the Snowdin Forest, his head moving side to side as he looked over the trees for a lost Frisk encaged in them.

The lost look placed onto his face made Asriel's guts twist painfully. The goat monster hated to see his best friend in so much pain, he wanted to take it away. But he knew that he couldn't do anything for his soul brother, only one person could heal that pain, and she wasn't there to hold him through this:

"How is my brother doing, Prince Asriel?" Papyrus asked sweetly, coming to stand by the goat as he followed the movements as well, his happy expression slowly turned sad with every move.

"What do you think, Paps?" He pinched his long nose to fight a headache, a sigh came whistling out from his lips. He was tired of this, he just wanted to free Sans from all the painful feelings, but he wasn't the one that could.

Everyone knew Sans couldn't be helped by any of them, he would return to the rational joyful Sans only when his sweetheart would return to the Underground. He would be a shell of what he once was until he could land his sockets on her, hold her in his arms.

"Poor Sans, he is so lost without Frisk. Why would she make that deal with Error? She knew how he felt about her, why would she leave us, him?"

The question echoed through the walls of Asriel's mind, trying to find the easy answer, but he didn't want to think about the answer; it was too terrifying to think about:

Asriel knew why that was Frisk's only choice. She couldn't leave them with that memory. Now, at least, they had a chance to save her. However, that didn't pacify the pain of her choice.

"You know why she had to do it, Papyrus. Frisk didn't want us to suffer from that horrible memory. Especially him, you know how much he would be changed forever if he saw that."

Papyrus breathed a sigh as his sockets move back to his brother, knowing Asriel was right. Sans would be destroyed even more than they would. He would be a completely different monster if she was taken forever, and then he would be lost to them completely:

There wouldn't be any way to back from that, so really, it was the only choice. She saved not only her monster family but Sans from that memory, no matter how much the younger skeleton hated that decision. He knew why she needed to agree to that horrible deal.

"I just hope that she will fall soon, he needs her."

Assy sighed sadly, hugging his friend close as fresh tears wetted his facial fur.

That same hope sat in his chest, squeezing his heart painfully. He wanted to see Frisk's smile again. But, he knew that it would be too long before he would get to.

They just needed to be patient, and someday. Someday, hopefully, Frisk Dreemurr would return to the world of Monsters and would save them once more.