-.-.-.-.-
8:
Far Away
Sans, Asriel, Frisk
Three days before
(Third POV)
-.-.-.-.-
The first months passed slowly for the flower, just he following Mama Toriel's orders to rest and heal. That was boring, but Frisk didn't mind. It was a nice change, one that she still wondered that she deserved. After all, the brunette was a freak. So why would she deserve anything more than abuse?
But Asriel and mama always tried to disabuse her of the hurtful thoughts with gentle words and tender touches whenever she had a breakdown. Then after she calmed, they would cuddle her, so she would smile. It was the first time in Frisk's life that she felt cared for, cherished as they would tell the teen, as they tenderly held her close and safe, that:
"You are you, sweet girl. Despite everything you went through, you're still you. And we adore you for it."
Upon hearing that, Frisk almost broke into cries. Never in her short life has someone told her she was adored by simply being herself.
She finally felt like she belonged—like she was meant to be here. Frisk felt like she was a part of a family. As that thought danced across her mind, she couldn't help but smile a genuine smile for the first time in her life. It was a wondrous feeling.
The only odd thing, however, was the dreams.
Once she jumped, they became more frequent, more detailed. Frisk could hear her beloved monster's low and loving voice so clearly now, whispering his cute puns to her, but she still couldn't see his face clearly yet. It was as if there were a filter over her mind, blocking all the monsters' faces. She felt as if she was as lost as she jumped.
Even with that, she loved the dreams so much.
But then, there were the others. Those were more like memories, flashes of an unknown past Frisk had forgotten.
At first, Frisk thought they were her dreams and hopes for the future, but then the feelings of remembrance and recognition began to grow more potent as the vision of a skeletal monster grinning wide at the beautiful flower while he held his hand out to her came to her one night:
She remembered that scene clearly, remembered feeling a mixture of fear and excitement as her hand met his, but she couldn't place it. Who was that monster? And why did Frisk feel this overwhelmingly pull to him?
These questions repeated in the walls of her mind when the morning light came. And when the light kissed Frisk's skin, the memories faded to the day.
Now, looking out of her window, Frisk wondered about the dreams. The brunette wanted to ask Assy or her mother about them, but she was a bit afraid to ask. Frisk didn't understand it, but she felt like her family knew more than they were letting on:
She had a feeling that they were hiding something from her. But as soon as that thought entered her mind, she began to worry that she was going crazy as she bit her lip. She wasn't sure why she started feeling like that, but whenever Frisk ventured out to the Ruins and met the monsters who lived there:
The teen both had a feeling that Frisk knew them, and she felt both their eyes on the tiny human—as if the goats were hoping and waiting for something to happen.
But, what?
"Oh, good morning, sweetie. Mom wanted me to wake you. She made your favorite. And I need to talk about something with you."
At her brother's tender voice, Frisk shook the thoughts away as she turned her blues on him.
Pushing those thoughts away, for now, she focused on the present. Frisk smiled as she nodded slowly, reaching out a hand for help.
Asriel smiled sweetly before he pulled her carefully onto her feet and guided Frisk to the dining room. Her leg thankfully healed quickly, but the flower still had a slight limp, so Toriel and Asriel didn't want her to walk on her own just yet. When she was settled at the table, Frisk was greeted by a plate of butterscotch pancakes as her mother's sweet smile beamed down on Frisk:
"Good morning, sweet girl. I hope you slept well. After breakfast, why don't we go on a walk?" The mother asked, and she kissed the top of her head, earning a sweet smile from her human daughter before she returned to the kitchen to clean as the two ate.
After a few moments of comfortable silence, Frisk shifted her bright eyes on her older brother with a curious tint behind them as she lifted her hands to ask what he needed to discuss with her. Her curiosity intensified when his furry cheeks tinted a warm red as he played with his fork:
"Well, Frisk…." Asriel's voice trailed off, seemingly unsure how to continue while she watched him think for a moment before he sighed and leaned forward:
"I need to ask something of you, sis, and it might be hard, but know I'll be right beside you. You'll be safe with me, okay?"
She bit her lip, nodding as uneasiness twisted her insides as she listened to her brother's request. Then, finally, the anxiety faded to shock, remembering the legend of the angel from the Monster history books.
He really thought she was the Angel? She looked down to the empty plate, pursing her lips at her running thoughts. Could she really be the savior?
Frisk suddenly felt a rush of determination run through her veins, wanting to free the beings who saved her life and loved her like their own. The brunette wished to return the favor. It was the least she could do to thank her newfound family.
And she missed the stars, shinning at night against the midnight blue.
Despite the horrible abuse Frisk faced while she lived there, she wanted to show her family the outer world and its many wondrous things. Frisk wanted to show the monsters the beauty mixed with the darkness that the human world holds.
Some things never change, even if it is a new life. Frisk was always a cheerful female, seeing the good more than the darkness. She knew about the beauty, no matter how much of the evil she had seen:
So, with her determination burning within her chest, she grabbed the closest paw. Frisk smiled a sweet smile, nodding eagerly as she used her free hand.
'Yes, I want to help you. When do you want to leave?'
The male gasped, not expecting a quick answer. But Asriel soon recovered with a grin placed across his face as he replied.
"I figure your leg needs some more time to heal, so maybe three days?" She smiled shyly, nodding before she moved to clean the table for mama; her heart beating with excitement and nerves:
She was going to see the Underground finally. That was both amazing and terrifying. She knew there would be more assertive and angrier monsters behind the Gate's doors, who would want her dead, so they could have her soul. But Frisk wouldn't give up on them. The flower would prove to them that a human could be soft and kind.
No matter what they would do to her, she would show them the mercy they were declined all those years back. She was going to be the one who would change their minds and the world.
Those thoughts stayed with her as the days faded into one another. Her mother knew what the siblings were planning, but Frisk felt that the female was holding back her thoughts from her newly adopted daughter. Despite knowing Frisk for only a few months, Toriel already knew there was no way Frisk would change her determined mind.
She probably shared them with her son, however, but he wouldn't change his mind either.
Then, the night before the siblings left their mother's safe embrace and would venture into the unknown arrived. As Frisk lay in her bed, struggling for sleep, she could feel the anxiety creep back into her stomach.
What if Frisk couldn't do this? What if Frisk fell back into the darkness? All those questions kept her tossing and turning until a dream claimed her, soothed her into peaceful acceptance.
Frisk was doing the right thing, even though it ripped her heart in two to leave her mother soon:
She had a promise to keep.
-.-.-.-.-.-
Frisk could feel a frigid wind dance against her skin as she opened her eyes slowly, waking into the snowy scenery. The darkness of the forest surrounded her for a couple of beats before she stumbled into a comforting, familiar scene.
When she finally was fully aware, she looked down to see she was wearing a striped sweater and her soft locks were loose as the short strands twirled with the wild wind.
She was ten again when she still clung to innocence like someone who clung to life. Desperately, childishly, refusing to see that Frisk had never honestly had innocence in the first place. On the contrary, her parents stole it from her since the moment she was born:
That thought sent Frisk into a slight panic attack, despite the peace surrounding her.
After a few moments of trying to calm herself, the brunette looked up to find she was standing in front of a town's entrance, the snow dusting the wood and the ground.
The sight sent her heart into a nervous fit, a feeling of nervousness but excitement crept through her veins. Frisk didn't know how, but she knew that in the nameless town, she would change. Her life would change.
In that town, she knew that she was loved for exactly who the teen was and not the mold she tried to fit into. She would be allowed to be the real Frisk, someone that no one ever really cared to get to know.
Until now.
Frisk sighed softly at the thought, slowly taking in the familiar surroundings as she waited. The beauty didn't know what she was waiting for, but the excitement grew as the minutes passed. The mystery too great for the beautiful flower to fear the unknown—but really—what was it fear in that town?
Nothing but what would Frisk find in the streets of the town.
What awaited her in the alleyways and the paths of the town with the sparkling lights? The teen didn't know, but she couldn't wait to find the answer, couldn't wait to see what the future would bring.
It was as if the gateway was the key to the mystery of the dreams—unlocking all the secrets she constantly searched for. And once she opened the door, Frisk would become the self she always knew she had been. But couldn't until she let go of the painful pain.
Frisk smiled at that thought as she stepped forward, her fingers dancing across the shelf of the empty station. Then, taking a calming breath, she faintly heard footsteps echoing to her. She turned her head to the sound but found nothing.
Her brows furrowed as she walked further down the snow-dusted path, her eyes bouncing over the scene for the culprit. Then the wind carried a statement to her as it played with her reddish strands:
"Hey, kiddo, don't you know how to greet a new pal? Turn around and take my hand…."
Holding back her hair, the beautiful flower turned her head quickly, finding a skeleton standing at her back. At first glance, the girl was afraid before realizing that she knew that voice, her eyes widening as she turned fully to the male monster.
That deep but soft, comforting voice, she awed with wonderment. That voice belonged to her unknown beloved. That voice always filled her with a sense of safety and happiness, even if it was only in dreams.
Moments later, something magical happened. Time came to a stop as a blue pupil, the other empty, met bluish violet ones.
The nameless monster smiled sweetly as the wind blew his blue hooded jacket, a loving expression laced to his sharp features as he gently urged her forward with his head:
"Go ahead, I won't bite. Shake an old monster's hand?"
She shyly reached her hand towards his, meeting it. And soon after, a fart-like sound rung out the air, making the girl jump in surprise before she dropped the hand.
The skeleton let a laugh out as she blinked at him, watching him lift the hand to show a whoopee cushion nested in his palm while a wider grin formed over his face.
"The old whoopee cushion in the hand trick, it never gets old."
At that statement, a smile found its way onto her face as Frisk tucked the loose strands behind her ear, shyly peeking at the nameless skeleton. Then, the pair grew silent, just staring at each other. Missing the longingly look in his sockets., the girl would never know that the male missed her so deeply.
Frisk was too busy taking the skeleton in to realize the truth, the haunting—beautiful—truth:
For a skeleton, he was handsome. Breathtaking handsome, uniquely beautiful. He looked as if he were the angel of Death from the books of ancient Monster mythology Frisk once escaped into. And his empty eye-sockets, they held such gentleness that she almost wondered if he was an angel sent to her every night.
She giggled at the childish thought before she saw him smile gentler at her as she kept looking him over. Besides the gentleness they held, his eyes also held wisdom that someone shouldn't have. But that wisdom made them look kind and warm. Despite being half empty, the sole blue pupil reminded the flower of a calm ocean. She felt at ease as she stared into his eyes.
Yes, the angel was deadly handsome. Frisk was sure that women would easily fall in love with him upon one look if he were genuine. And that thought broke her heart, even though the handsome skeleton was just a mere memory:
She sighed as she shook her head to free herself from those depressing thoughts before seeing his hand move to his neck, seemingly nervous as he laughed softly.
"Anyways, I'm Sans; Sans the Skeleton. I'm supposed to watch out for humans, but I don't want to capture you. But my brother, on the other hand, is a human-hunting fanatic. Don't worry, though; he is a giant cinnamon roll. So say, won't you help me? See, my bro has been down for a while but meeting a human will make his day. Will you meet him for me?"
She wanted to help him, but as she lifted her hand to agree, the memory slowly disappeared into the darkness of her mind while she faded back to the world, trying to stay in the memory for a bit longer; but her mind was ready to wake up.
And so, as she closed her eyes, Frisk vowed that she would find Sans and help his brother.
She didn't understand why, but she felt that she cared for him deeply. However, as she woke to reality, one question echoed through her mind's walls:
Was he her beloved?
-.-.-.-.-.-
With a gasp, the beautiful flower woke, her arms were clinging to her jacket, as the smell—faint as it is now—still lulled her to a calming peace before she entered the dreamland.
A promise lingered in her mind.
After a moment of her brain returning to the real world, she sighed before she pushed up, realizing the jacket caped over her lap now. Frisk looked out to the garden with a low sigh as the memoirish dream replayed in her head. The brunette recalled Sans' voice, remembering how familiar it was.
That voice belonged to the sweet monster she always danced with. The male who always loved to make her laugh with his puns. The one who loved her with everything he was.
But the flower wondered if the skeleton was indeed the face of the faceless/ monster or just her wish to find him, which formed the dream. The dream was all her hopes hiding under a beautiful mask.
But as she dressed into a dress, she couldn't help but think about the similarities between them. How it felt to hold the monster's hand, the undeniable feeling of warm love that rushed through her veins as soon as their palms touched. Frisk only knew that feeling from dancing with the faceless male.
So, who was Sans? Frisk questioned as she stared at her hand. Not sure what to think while after a few moments passed; she breathed a sigh, capping a brown cape over her shoulders and tied the hoodie at her hips as she shook her head to clear her mind:
She didn't have time for those thoughts; she scolded herself as she pulled the hood over her head. The teen pushed the ideas into the darkest corner of her mind for later. Then, squaring Frisk's shoulders, she walked out of the room, where Asriel was waiting with a smile.
"Ready to go?"
The teen turned to him, smiling a nervous smile and nodding before they moved to the Gate.
With every step, she felt the nervousness settle into her stomach, but the girl was ready to face anything on this path. Even when her mother's worried expression came into view with her paws blazing at her sides. Frisk met her with her determination burning behind her tear-filled blues:
"Are you sure you have to do this, my love? It is so dangerous out there."
Hearing her mother's voice break into tears almost faltered her determined mind and made her stay. But when she looked around the Ruins and at Asriel, the teen remembered why she was leaving.
The monsters needed her. Frisk wouldn't abandon them, not now. Not when she knew what her kind did to them:
The abuse the humans put them through. All because a mistake turned peace into chaos. All because a child couldn't save his human sister, no matter how hard he tried. The humans turned the child's innocent attempts into an unforgivable crime.
Frisk cringed at the thoughts but squared her shoulders. She knew what she needed to do—no matter how much it might break her mother's heart.
Someone had to amend humanity's sins, and as she removed her hood, she knew she was the only one that could. She was going to free them:
With a deep breath in, Frisk took a step forward as her hands slowly formed words as tears dripped from her eyes.
'Mama, I'm doing this for you and brother, for all the monsters. Please understand.' This earned her a choked cry, then the goat rose her hands, the fire burning brighter while she spoke:
"Very well, then, prove yourself. I need to know that you are strong enough."
And with that, the mother and daughter engaged in an unbalanced fight. One side had to fight, her worry and sadness mixing with a bright pride. But, on the other hand, the young opponent used her dancing skills to dodge her attacks and then punched the Mercy button as soon as it appeared.
Frisk saw too much in her life to know Toriel wasn't doing this to be evil like the humans who birthed her. No, this was different. This was a mother's misguided way to make sure her precious child was strong enough to defend herself. Yes, she had her brother, but that didn't mean she would always be protected.
Her mother wanted to soothe her own worries through this. This probably was the only way she knew how. But Frisk didn't mind. If it settled her mama, then so be it.
The fight continued as a dance before Toriel exhausted herself and fell to her knees, tears messing her snowy fur as she whispered to her two children—soft as the wind and loving as a mother's embrace:
"Be safe, my children, and be good."
After that simple statement fell from her lips, the two children rushed forward to embrace their mother, whispering in kind, knowing this was the last time they would see her for a while. The thought filled them with sadness, but the pair both knew it was for the best.
The monsters would be free to see the magical things the humans hid from them the next time they met. And the newfound princess will show them the stars and moon, never to be taken away again. Never will they be locked away again.
The clock restarted on their story, sending the determined soul on a familiar journey. What will she find on this path, I wonder?
After a few more moments of silence, Frisk went to the grand Gate, touching the smooth and cold wood, as her mother and brother whispered lowly between themselves.
"Promise me you will protect her, Asriel?" Her tear-filled plea caused him to grab her into another hug, whispering into her long ear.
"I promise you, mama, I won't let anything happen to her." After making that vow, he started to back away and to his waiting sister as he watched a smile dance across her face.
"I have no doubt, my son, I have faith in you and Sans. Goodbye, my son." The mother goat whispered softly before she left with her head low. With a breath, they stood in front of the Gate, mustering courage from their souls as the minutes grew.
A couple of minutes later, Asriel turned to Frisk with a playful grin sitting on his face as he dipped into a bow, his hand out for hers :
"Shall we go, sister dearest?"
She giggled, reaching up to sign her agreement in the same mock proper fashion before she gripped his hand while they both pushed the doors open, opening Fate's box once again.
Frisk's soul jumped excitedly at the familiar snow landscape, barely holding back a gasp.
The dream was real, she awed as she stepped forward.
And so, the mystery Frisk always longed to solve slowly fell at her feet as she walked through that first door. She wondered what clue this path would give her next, a smile placed on her pretty face. She couldn't wait to see; she couldn't wait to find her missing piece.
-.-.-.-.-.-
Present
As the young woman rushed through the trees, her cape fluttering behind her—Sans couldn't help but be struck by the beauty that she was. Yet, even after a thousand resets, he was still blinded by her.
She looked as she did the last timeline, with her beautiful hair held together by the yellow ribbon as the braid ran down her spine, but Frisk looked different somehow as well. There was no fear in her, no faltering confidence as her feet beat against the path with a grin placed across her face.
Yes, she wasn't the little girl he once knew but the young woman who won his heart. The brunette had a confident air to her—like she knew what she was rushing to. Like she knew he was waiting for her, impatiently losing faith, and Sans needed her. Like she remembered:
However, was that even possible?
No, it wasn't. Error wouldn't make this that easy, knowing the glitch liked challenging games—and Asriel would have told him. There was no way she remembered this quickly, no matter how much Sans wished for it. It'd be foolish to hope for it, knowing the facts.
But, looking at her now, with her determination shining brightly in those beautiful blues. The skeleton couldn't hold back the feeling of hope from gripping his soul as he slowly crept forward to greet his gorgeous sweetheart, only glimpsing a flash of Asriel's own shocked expression before the goat ducked behind a tree.
Looks like they shared the thought, the same hopes.
Sans scratched his cheek before sucking in a deep breath, mustering all his courage into one place, and he moved closer to where Frisk had skidded to a stop with a grin spread over his skull as every step brought them closer and closer:
"Hey, dove, don't you know how to greet a new pal? Turn around and take my hand…."
Watching as Frisk held back her hair, the beautiful flower turned her head quickly, meeting his eyes with her own eyes wide before they softened. Then, after a moment, she turned fully to him as a gentle smile came over her lips. That look almost turned the skeletal monster into mush like the snow under his feet, helpless to her. Like he always was:
That look was one only meant for him, he once decided when she first placed it on him. After so long without seeing it, the sight of it was a shock to the poor skeleton's soul. It almost crushed his control not to grip ahold of Frisk. But, Sans thought with a scowl, he had to play by the rules.
Which was not easy with her lovely eyes on him, that sweet expression on her face. It was like the Gods were taunting him with her—he hoped they were enjoying his torture. Sans growled before he met that beautiful expression in kind.
The nervous monster smiled sweetly as he gently urged her forward with his head, winking:
"Go ahead, I won't bite much, heh. Shake an old monster's hand, won't you, dollface?"
She shyly reached her hand towards his, meeting it. Soon after, a fart-like sound rung out the air, making the girl jump in surprise before dropping the hand. Although he had to admit she had matured, Sans could see Frisk still was adorable. He chuckled in his head before he laughed aloud.
The skeleton lifted his hand as he winked at her again, teasingly, loving the cute face she was making, showing her it was just a whoopee cushion nested in his palm while a wider grin formed over his face.
"The old whoopee cushion in the hand trick, it never gets old."
At that statement, his favorite smile found its way onto her face as Frisk tucked the loose strands behind her ear, shyly peeking at the skeleton. Sans chuckled nervously as they just stared at each other. At that moment, Sans realized how much he missed his sweetheart, really missed her.
He knew that he missed her so deeply—but Sans never really thought about how much before seeing her right in front of him:
From the small things to the big things, he missed about the young woman. Her eyes so blue and big, they were like windows to the beautiful soul, and they held such a sweetness. Something only a few of the monsters here was blessed with.
He couldn't believe she was still the sweetest creature through all the darkness she saw, but she didn't let it have her soul again. She didn't want to be like the abusers. She wanted to be something more—she was trying to be more than her past. It was easy to see how much fight Frisk had now.
Sans always was in awe of her determination, even after seeing it falter many times before thanks to the Demon's influence:
But from the looks of it, Chara was silent once more, letting Frisk run the show. Sans wondered if she finally gave up on twisting her soul again. Or maybe the Demon still had a heart and didn't want to cause her sister any further pain.
Those thoughts were cut off as his sockets caught the movements of her hands' dance. The words she formed slowly sent his eyes wide and his jaw to the ground in shock:
'You are Sans, right? I'm Frisk Dreemurr.' She finished with a smile, her hand stretching again to him, not noticing the shocked expression across his face.
Sans didn't know how to think about that statement, but he decided to worry about it later, figuring it was for the best now. So, the skeleton grinned as he met her hand with his own, a yellow blush blazed over his cheekbones.
She remembered his name, however. Sans couldn't help but feel the warmth of happiness rush through his veins as he nodded, nervously stroking the back of his neck. Don't think about it, Sans; Sans repeated this in his head as he tried to keep his cool.
"Yep, that's me, Sans; Sans the Skeleton. But you can call me G. I'm supposed to watch out for humans, but I'm too lazy to capture you. But my brother, on the other hand, is a human-hunting fanatic."
Sans chuckled, dropping her hand as he stuffed his hands into his pockets, throwing a grin over his shoulder for his bro:
"Don't worry, though. My bro is a giant cinnamon roll. So, say, won't you help me? See, my bro has been down for a while but meeting a human will make his day. So, will you meet him for me?"
She grinned before she bit her lip, seemingly thinking about something before something shocking happened—something Sans never could expect. Frisk suddenly threw her arms around Sans' neck, making the skeleton stumble back a bit. And at the same time, he wanted to just trap her in his arms.
As she nuzzled his neck, the poor male's cheeks burned brighter while he listened to the girl's lovely whisper at his side, his hands gripping the air at his sides. As much as he did want to hold this beautiful angel, but his fears held him back from his desires:
"Of course …I will, Sans. I hope he will feel better soon after meeting me."
"Thank you…." His whisper matched hers as she pulled back, a blush flaming against her cheeks.
Frisk smiled while he launched into explaining what she needed to do and how Pappy's puzzles work.
But as he explained everything, listening to her giggle at the fact of Papyrus's habits—all Sans could think about was her and her touch, which still tingled on the bones of his neck.
Of course, she made it harder to focus on the tasks now, but the male was a master of blocking unneeded thoughts from his mind by now. No matter how tempting she was.
For the thoughts of holding her and protecting his angel were very unimportant up against finding Gaster, making sure the crazy skeleton would stay away from Frisk, and then getting her to the King. Those were the important things now.
Then, after that, he vowed to himself, he would make the flower his again.
But until that time, he would be grateful for this. This odd but beautiful friendship they were forming. This strong bond was just getting stronger with each timeline.
Of course, either one of them noticed, but it was plain to see. And soon, the pair's souls will show them both why they can't ever stay away from one another.
And so, after Sans finished, Frisk smiled that beautiful smile as she backed away from him and to the town with a loving stare pointed towards him, her hands moving fast.
'Thank you for the information, Sans. I hope to see you soon?' She requested sweetly before she disappeared into the haze of twinkling lights and snow, leaving the skeleton there to look after the fading beauty with a mixture of shock and awe.
The skeleton was too lost in thought that he almost missed Asriel's footsteps crushing snow to his place. He looked over at the goat; his expression shared the shocking trait as his before his ambers met his sockets:
"Holy shit, is she remembering?"
Asriel's voice betrayed his hope as a paw ran through his blonde mane, his eyes moved back to the gate.
The skeletal monster sucked on the bottom row of his teeth as he tried to keep his own hope locked away in the furthest corner of his mind, but his soul was winning over the most logical part of him:
Logic was almost lost in the endless hopeful thoughts running through his mind, he knew this feeling was dangerous, but he couldn't fight it back anymore, not after that. It was hard to be cautious when Frisk was just there, giving him back his faith and hope as she merely uttered his name.
He chuckled slightly, pointing his skull skywards, imagining standing under a sky so blue with Frisk's hand in his, as he opened his mouth.
"Yep, rather quickly too. But that's typical Frisk."
That stuttered response cut Sans off before he even could say a word, sending fear to the pit of his stomach. The two males swirled around to see Error's grim expression as he walked forward to them.
The males growled deeply, both ready to fight if it was needed. They might have a little trust in the black skeleton, but when that look crossed his face, only bad things followed. Especially for his pawns, they weren't going to risk anything because they felt a bit for Error. Not when it was Frisk.
"Hello, Error. Nice to see you again."
The black skeleton huffed an annoyed breath at Sans' sarcastic tone as he came to a stop in front of the tense monsters, crossing his arms and rolling his eye, before speaking again; he clearly was pissed:
"You know, I might not have the best past record, but I am really here to help you. I want Frisk to win. If I wanted to, I could have just killed her, then she would be mine, but I didn't."
The two other males shared a look as the third paused to let the best friends think that statement over before he continued.
He had a point, as much as Sans hated to admit that, but he had to. He really could have killed her. Everyone couldn't get past the block Error created, so they could have watched him wrap his strings around her and crushed her life from her. But he didn't. Instead, he made a deal with her.
But why did he? Was it a part of his sick game—to give them false hope and then kill her? No, the skeleton thought, which wasn't Error's style. So, what? Is there some mystery behind his actions?
Sans moved his eyes back on the black skeleton, a non-existent eyebrow raised curiously before he vocalized a question:
"Why are you doing this, then?" He couldn't wait for him to continue. He wanted answers.
He wasn't the only one, as Asriel nodded at his side while he stole glances behind him, checking if Frisk strayed too far from the gate's view, but thankfully Papyrus found her and was distracting her until he was finished.
Sans saw a smile find its way across Asriel's face before a growl turned their attention back on the glitchy skeleton and got greeted by the most menacing glare behind his empty sockets. Error marched right to Sans' face, scowling deeply while speaking in a low, warning tone.
"Why? Why? 14, are you stupid enough to ask me why I'm doing this? I thought it was clear to see."
"What's that supposed to mean? Stop beating around the bush and just answer the damn question, Error." Asriel growled out as he took a step forward, tired of Error always avoiding their questions, but Sans grabbed his arm to halt him from attacking the trickster, shaking his head.
The goat huffed out a scowl before Error let a soft shout. Sans' anger slowly invaded his voice with every word.
"I'm still him! Despite being broken and twisted, I'm still Sans! I still love her! I'm not the bad guy here, so stop treating me like I am!" He stammered, his eye shining angrily as the other males were taken back by the sudden admission.
The other skeleton tsked, turning his head. He knew he was no longer the same after all that happened in the past, but Sans should have known Error still held a soft spot for Frisk. He always will, no matter how much hatred he had for the Angel, there will always be a part of him that wants to be in Sans' shoes:
He wants to give them what he will never experience with his dark angel, then maybe he will have hope again.
"I am not the bad guy, guys." The skeleton stated, his voice sounding raw, as he turned back to the males with a sad smile before he continued, "I'm here to warn you about the real villain."
The other skeleton released all the anger and fear as he stared at his broken reflection, realizing that he would have become him if his sweetheart had never come back to him or if he let his hatred overcome the last of his humanity.
Error was the victim of a crueler fate than all the other versions of himself. While some were like the glitch, filled with menace, Frisk had a version to erase anger. But he didn't have that—he was alone, doomed to be caught between hating and loving them. Doomed to hunt down glitches like himself.
He made that deal sixteen years ago to save them from the same fate. Always alone, wishing to be at each other's side, but always apart.
But now….
"How do we know you aren't?" Asriel challenged, clearly still cautious.
Sans sighed slowly, turning to his protective friend with a reassuring grin. He cocked his head to where his flower laughed as the younger skeleton dragged her to the first puzzle. He needed to be alone with the black skeletal male.
"Asriel, I got this. Make sure my bro doesn't get too excited. I'll catch up with you two tomorrow, okay?"
Asriel looked torn, hating the idea of leaving his friend alone with this guy, but decided Sans knew what to do. He nodded slowly, turning to run after his laughing sister. After they watched as he faded from their view, the white skeleton turned back to him, a gentle smile playing on his teeth:
"You're the Flowery of this world, aren't you?"
Error's eye-sockets widened at that question, never really thinking about it until now. But, in some strange way, it made sense. The past flower slowly turned out to be a kind soul behind all the brutal truths and past sins. Now, here he was, showing a side he almost had forgotten he held. Like Flowery had before turning back into Asriel. Was he?
"I honestly don't know, but I know I want to help you. I want at least one of us to be happy. And I won't let Gaster ruin this." He hissed the last part, the anger showing through every word.
Sans' eyes narrowed.
"Let me guess, he's still bitter we left?"
"And angry."
Sans growled as he tightened his fists. He was the one who brought that madman into their lives, wanting strength for a good reason, but his excellent sense birthed a new problem. However, his mind reassured him as he lit up to pacify his growing stress. It could be dealt with.
And he will learn not to mess with Sans' beautiful angel. With that thought in his skull, Sans snarled in his head as he watched the smoke escape his mouth. Just like the others who threaten her.
"Welp, we should go pay the old man a visit." He snarled deeply.
-.-.-.-.-
With the day being devoted to befriending the Great Papyrus, Frisk was exhausted from the running around, but Asriel hadn't seen the teenager so happy as she crawled to the Inn's bed. Asriel smiled at her sleeping form as he sat in the window.
The girl gave him so many things that day without knowing it. The way her eyes lit up every time something familiar came into sight rebirth the flames of hope. She was starting to remember this, slowly, but she indeed was.
He smiled wider at that thought, flicking his cigarette out of the window before closing out the cold air, before the goat quietly moved to her side, tucking the blankets tighter around her and pressing a small kiss on her cheek:
"Night, sweet girl. I love you."
After that last whisper, the male laid down on the other bed, his mind turning to the two skeletons.
As much as Asriel wanted to trust Error, both remembering his flowery self and knowing Sans wouldn't just trust anyone, he feared he was just playing them for fools. Just waiting for a weak spot.
but, as he stared at his out-stretched paw in the darkly lit room, the question Sans always asked Frisk played on replay in his mind as sleep claimed him in its dark hold:
Can anyone really change—the worst person could transform into a good person if they just tried?
His answer was sleeping soundly within Frisk, missing him but happy just to see him free.