-.-.-.-.-
16:
Monsters in the Dark
Sans, Frisk, and Alphys
(Third POV)
-.-.-.-.-
The group followed as Alphys guided them through the Lab, pointing out things. Though, Frisk sensed that she was guarding something. Something the dinosaur wasn't proud of. Something which she was ashamed of.
And that feeling got gradually stronger when she noticed the others seemed to know what hid in the dark. Yet another secret, yet another thing they are hiding from Frisk. She knew they might have reasons they needed to, but there were too many secrets. There were too many unknowns about her life and the world she was trying to free.
How could she do that if her family continued to keep her in the dark? Did they trust her to handle the complete truth? Should Frisk know those things to be prepared?
Frisk scowled at those thoughts before she felt Sans' hand squeeze hers. She moved her eyes to his worried expression, realizing she had stopped moving for a moment. She shook her head and smiled reassuringly as her free hand danced in the air:
'Don't worry, I'm fine.' Her hand squeezed back, trying to soothe his worries. But it didn't seem to work. Thankfully, he didn't push it, but it was the first time that the flower realized something about her skeleton
He was pretty protective of her. She didn't know why she didn't notice it before since he was the type to hover. And hover over her he did, every step of the way.
Frisk wondered if she had been blind over the time she knew Sans. Since their hands touched, he treated her like a priceless treasure. It wasn't tough to see how much he needed to keep her safe, how much she meant to him. Frisk couldn't see it then, but the flower wouldn't be so ignorant about it now. After all, how could she, with all she now knew?
She smiled at that thought, turning her eyes back to him just when a flash of light in the corner of her eye:
She furrowed her brows in confusion, almost missing Sans' concerned-colored voice, waking the young woman yet again:
"Sweetheart, you okay? You've been spacing out a lot; you training to be an astronaut?" He joked lightly, bringing her hand to his teeth for a kiss.
Frisk chuckled shyly, trying to ignore the feeling of being watched before forming the 'okay' sign. He hummed bemused, clearly wanting to discuss it further, but he didn't. Instead, with a gentle nod, Sans dropped it thankfully as he went back to talking to Alphys about her work.
However, Frisk knew that they would talk about it later. He was too protective to let her thoughts be that—thoughts.
The skeleton sensed something, too, besides her absent-mindedness. She could see it in Sans' sockets. Frisk didn't know what, but the flower will find the answers. Though, she might not like them.
"It's a lot bigger than the last time we were here," Sans mentioned as he looked around the Lab, his bony hand still holding onto hers.
"How are they doing?"
The whispered question wasn't meant for her ears, but she heard it. Frisk's brows furrowed again. Her confusion grew when she saw Alphys' face go pale yellow and dropped her head as if ashamed.
Her fears were confirmed; something dark happened here. Her new friend had a hand in it, and her new family had knowledge about it. She knew this or anything else won't change how she felt about them. She just wished they would trust her more before Alphys' voice brought her eyes back to her:
"They're f-fine. I'm t-trying to fix it, though."
"Alphs, that's dangerous. You know that. All you can do for them is make them comfortable and take care of them." Sans scolded her, giving Frisk's hand one last kiss before he scooted closer to the female scientist, so the human wouldn't hear anything further.
Frisk stood alone, trying to school her expression as she tried to eavesdrop. She hated to spy on them, but no one would tell her a thing if she asked. Frisk learned that when the brunette tried to ask her mindmate about things as they went through the many rooms. Clearly, she was no help. Chara let nothing go, stating again she had to find the answers on her own.
Like the many failed attempts before, she was left with many questions and no answers. Just a big mystery she was no closer to solving.
She sighed as the rest whispered among themselves, but nothing reached her ears. Frisk growled lowly as the group talked, not noticing when the light flashed again. There was that mysterious light again, she thought, her head cocked.
Maybe the light could shed some clues. Perhaps the darkness would fade into the light. But, deep inside, Frisk knew if she went to explore it, if she got hurt, it would put all her hard work to an end. Sans wouldn't let her out of his sight again. She would be glued to him.
And if that happens, Frisk would be trapped in the darkness—stumbling for answers but always lost.
Frisk cringed at the thought, looking from the bright flash to the group as she fought the irresistible urge to investigate against the knowledge that her desire might land her in big trouble with her skeleton.
Soon, though, the urge won out as she walked carefully away from her friends' shushed conversation. Chara yelled at her through the walls of her mind, giving her a tension headache. But Frisk was too stubborn to listen:
Frisk, don't be stupid! This might be dangerous. You don't know what the light will do!
Closing her eyes, she sent an apology, but she inched closer—as
if possessed. Frisk needed to know anything, and she was willing to do anything to get the truth. She hated that she had to go this far, but they left her no other choice.
Little did Frisk know that this would change everything. The change was slight, but it would be imminent.
Because when the light shined again, it enclosed the curious princess in its light. Frisk felt her body fall to the ground; a strange wind danced around her as her mind blasted open, and the hurried footsteps echoed to her while her view faded to the familiar darkness of her mind.
She started to remember again. And she had a bad feeling this time wouldn't be so lovely…
-.-.-.-.-.-
Frisk felt it before she saw it. The snow's cold feel reminded Frisk of the first clear memory. Images of the horrible memory of Chara killing Pappy surrounded her like an annoying bug.
Was her mind going to make her relive that nightmare again?
And then the bitter wind carried a pained howl, giving her an unwanted answer. Frisk gritted her teeth, her feet moving on their own accord to the chilling scene. Papyrus talked to the mad child in his usual cheerful tone, but it sounded forced and pained. It broke her heart, even though she had heard it before:
"It's okay, human. I know you can do better; I just know it! I believe in you, human!"
Frisk pushed her feet faster, trying to change the outcome. But it was useless; she was too late. Then, just as she reached the clearing, a laugh escaped the other girl's mouth as the knife came across his chest.
A scream ripped from her lips, dusty snow splashed around her as her body faltered to the ground.
"Not again, not again!" She cried out, grabbing his skull and touching his cheek as tears rolled down the apples of her cheeks.
Frisk hated this memory—it dug up all her buried doubts. If she couldn't save them in a dream, how was she supposed to protect the monsters in reality? Maybe Frisk wasn't the Angel. She was way too weak. Her abusers were always saying that. Perhaps they were right.
She didn't want to be so pathetic, but the sight of her failure was too much to ignore.
Frisk desperately wanted to move on from this nightmare to at least a memory she knew she couldn't change the outcome of. But no matter how much she tried or closed her eyes to call the darkness, Pappy's skull stayed enclosed in her arms, reminding her that she couldn't save him.
The doubts grew as she cried, not caring that it was a nightmare. It reminded her she was still weak. Nothing changed from the surface. She couldn't escape them. It was torturing her to think she might just doom her people rather than save them. Frisk wondered if Asriel made a horrible mistake labeling her as the Angel.
Because, right now, she felt like a demon rather than the savior of the monsters:
Then, she suddenly felt the sharp edges of Papyrus's head disappear from her arms, crashing her onto the cold ground with a grunt. Then a deep growl escaped from her mouth, anger fuming within her.
They were wrong. Frisk's mind was false. Frisk needed to be strong, or the whispers would darken her soul again. They won't win.
Frisk's hands searched for her beloved friend with a firm nod, but they were only met with pure emptiness, nothing in reach. The brunette shouted angrily, only being surrounded by familiar cruel laughter and whispers mocking her as she spun around fast, screaming.
"I don't know who you are, but you aren't getting near my mind! I will not become your puppet! I will not be manipulated for your sick pleasure! Now, where is Papyrus?!" Her question was answered by another round of laughter, followed by loud whispers. One after one, they crushed the beauty under the mocking words.
But one voice, firm but caring, stuck out from the cruel echoes of malice, grounding Frisk to the only truth that mattered. She was strong, no matter what others said about her. She could do it.
Remember what I said, sis. Chara boomed, racing to her with a hand towards her. You are strong, don't let them in!
"Are you so sure about that, Frisk? After all, you were the one that murdered them to have the true happy conclusion. You feared them. Just admit it, and you'll feel better."
"Yes. And you could never love an ugly monster like Sans. Admit it!"
"Admit it! You were pretending the kindness you showed him, the monsters! Just stop lying to yourself!"
"NO! You don't know me at all!" The brunette growled deeply, running straight to Chara while the echoes followed close behind, but she just focused on her sister. She was done listening to the malicious lies.
She was tired of doubting herself. She was so tired of her mind conjuring old wounds, reminding her when no one cared to get to know her, just assumed to know her. She was tired of everyone considering her a monster because of her disability.
They didn't know her, nor did they know how she felt about Sans. She growled, letting her older sister pull her in, shouting back at the bodiless voices:
"He is everything to me! I did not pretend anything I felt towards him. Everything I did with him was me! How dare you say I won't love him! He is all I can think about. I love him!"
Her scream echoed off the dark walls, shattering the laughter into simple silence. The mocking laugh disappeared, slowly fading as the beauty continued to shake with anger. Finally, after a few moments of calming, Frisk fell into sobs. She clung to Chara as if she was her only lifeline.
Chara hummed to the shaking younger woman, trying to calm her heart's wild beating. The sisters' hold tightened in fear as their eyes beheld the darkness bled into a new dream or nightmare.
Frisk breathed a sigh, bracing herself for whatever was to come, her body feeling weightless while she fell into the new scene.
-.-.-.-.-.-
Familiar floral smells met her nose before anything else, making the girl smile softly. She opened her eyes, the grand hall of the Judgment Hall meeting her eyes. After a sigh fell from her lips, Chara kneeled down to her with a sweet smile.
"You did great, sweetheart. Sans would be so proud of you." Chara soothed softly, brushing the tears away from her cheeks. But all Chara wanted to do was make the doubts and fears disappear from those beautiful blue orbs.
She didn't want her to see all the painful memories; her eyes glossed over with betrayal. But Chara also knew Frisk needed to; it would give the new princess her real past, her real story. She couldn't deny Frisk that.
No matter how much she wanted to shield her sister from the pain the darkness would bring. She hid a worried sigh behind a smile while she moved to the empty spot next to Frisk, watching the darkness creep closer as she laced her hand with her younger sister's hand.
Frisk smiled a slight grin, trying to ignore the growing fear in her chest as she spotted the coming darkness that always carried her memories with it.
She shivered at the thought of what memories were coming for her, clinging to her sister's hand, trying to calm her vigorous shakes. The unknown was already scary, but this was worse. She knew the memories were coming, but she didn't know what kind of memories were coming for her. That was terrifying to know that it was coming. But not know what truths would be revealed about herself, to not know what horrible things she had done:
Frisk knew she had done some horrible things in her past lives, some that she had seen and some that the flower had yet to, and she had a feeling that this time would be mainly showing the girl her many mistakes.
And that might have Frisk running for the Ruins, her determination disappearing under the doubts. She was fearful that her doubtful mind would put her people at risk for yet another thousand years trapped Underground without starlight.
"It's okay, sis. I'm going to be there with you every step of the way. I know it's scary. You'll be alright, though." Chara's soothing voice came to her ear, waking her from thoughts before she nodded; the shaking grew as the darkness crawled closer to the females.
She closed her eyes, tightening her hold on Chara's hand, feeling the bitter wind of the blackness.
Frisk didn't know what would happen after this. She just hoped she stayed strong. The teen breathed deeply, falling into the first memory as her older sister's words still hung in the air. Giving the flower a small amount of strength she needed.
-.-.-.-.-.
The teen huffed, grinning at the growling skeleton, tightening her hold around the knife. Frisk yelled at Chara as she banged against her prison, pleading with the other girl to stop. But she just laughed before her voice rung to her:
Ah, but sweet Frisk. You wanted the proper happy conclusion, didn't you? This is the best way. She echoed through the walls of the shared mind, dodging a blue bone before lurching towards the angry monster.
Her voice, deep and demonic, sent shivers down Frisk's spine as she scowled and her fists shook at her sides.
The younger brunette wanted to give her friends the ending they deserved, but Chara twisted that desire into a killing spree. She tried to regain control and chained the mad child back where she belonged, but with each new murder, the girl's hold on her mind got more assertive, and she grew weaker.
But, now, as little Frisk watched Sans struggle to keep fighting, she had enough. Frisk wouldn't let her hurt her most trusted friend. She couldn't see that betrayed expression any longer. She needed to do something, and she knew what she needed to do:
She needed to block her attacks; she needed to sacrifice herself for him. Something she would gladly do—she would do anything for the punny skeletal male. She realized that a little too late, but she would fix that. No matter what it meant for her, she would save him.
Frisk smiled sadly before the beautiful flower started to crush her fists against the barrier as the battle raged on. But unfortunately, the warriors were unaware of the incoming surrender:
"I won't let you win, demon. You'll have to dust the floor with me if you want to pass me." Sans wheezed out, but he still was grinning. Like the day they first met. But, this was different, crueler as he called forth another wave of glowing bones. Ready to attack.
The demon doubled over with laughter, her weapon glistening in the bright light, sending the skeleton even deeper into anger. But Chara didn't care; she needed him to be angry. He wouldn't hold back when he was fuming; fighting was fun when he was angry.
Chara straightened, flipping the knife into a better position before slipping into a crouch with a loud, teasing question:
"So eager to kill Frisk, are we?"
Sans scowled, throwing down his bones towards the girl, but every bone missed its target before she made her own move.
That statement sent the skeleton deeper into anger, blinding him until all he could see were those fierce red eyes.
How dare she claim that he wanted to hurt her? Frisk was the only good thing in his life right now, but Chara just had to take that away from him too. It was time she paid.
And this time, he would make it painful, very painful:
Their dance began again; each injured the other in turns. But, sometimes, they didn't, just yelled nasty things to the others. There was no love between the human and the monster, just hatred. But, it was odd to Frisk. It seemed the enemies had the same motives:
They both weren't letting up. The two had something to fight for, something to not give up on. The pair couldn't. No matter how twisted Chara knew her wish was, how much the skeleton hated the idea of hurting the kid that he was fond of. Life left the pair with no other choice but to fight for what they loved.
And in Sans' eyes, Chara stripped him of the girl he adored, the family he lived for. Frisk's face disappeared. He could see the grinning demon who locked away his sweetheart in her own mind and cruelly took his brother's life. The sweet girl was no longer there, just the nightmare.
Even the loveliest souls could be twisted with the right thing, the only thing they'd do anything for:
On the one hand, there was Chara. The first fallen child lived a terrible life, filled with wars and abuse. That was before she became the princess of the Monsters. She tried to make her family happy, playing with her older brother one day and baking with her mother on other days. Her father was gentle but also stern when needed:
But in his garden, he was free to be just a loving father. Chara loved to help him tend to the beautiful creatures. For the first time in her short life, the beautiful reddish brunette was free to be innocent, to dream of a better future for both the humans and monsters.
Sadly, that innocence ended as soon as it started. On the anniversary of Chara's fall into the world below, the girl fell ill with a mysterious illness. The Royals couldn't find the name of the disease, but with each new test, there were no answers. Only more questions as Chara fell deeper into the illness, casting a dark cloud over the Dreemurr household and the whole kingdom.
Her parents and elder brother tried everything to heal her, but soon, her tiny body was too weak to manage anything the royal scientists suggested, and they stopped the medical orders, worried that it would only hurt her.
The nameless illness acted slow, but it weakened her to the point that she could barely speak. Finally, however, the brunette asked Asriel to get buttercups to brighten their mood one day. To see her parents smile once more because, when they were smiling, she always felt a bit better:
"Father and mother are terribly sad. I think fresh flowers will make them smile. Please bring some buttercups for me, brother?" Chara had requested, a weak smile forming over her lips.
At that smile, her brother was powerless to refuse, as always. Asriel always knew the human girl had some sort of reliable power over him. So, he found it easier not to try resisting her because he really didn't want to go deeper into that moment. With that thought in Asriel's mind, he planned to leave the next day to pick some from the Ruins, the only place buttercups grow in the Underground.
But she died before the young goat could get the flowers, sending the darkest cloud the kingdom ever experienced. And the death slowly affected the king and queen's marriage as they tried to figure out the burial plans. The pressure grew when the prince disappeared with the young princess's body.
He went to the Human World, where the yellow flowers grew free, with her soul. But, as he knelt to place her in the small patch, the humans viewed the male as the killer and sentenced poor little Asriel to death. This was the turning point for the Monster Kingdom, throwing it into chaos as its rulers fell into a fit of deep anger and depression.
And soon, the queen disappeared due to the stern king's decision to take the souls of any further fallen humans, his grief momentarily clouded by rage and sadness.
As for Chara, her soul was darkened to the point that it was unrecognizable from the sweet soul it once was. She hated humans for destroying her happiness and her family's world, and she desired nothing more than to destroy all the humans. But, all she needed was the right soul. And Frisk was the perfect soul, sweet but naïve; easy to manipulate into giving her control.
Sans, on the other hand, just wanted to protect his family. He had seen so many terrible things over his many years. His mother died, and his father fell into insanity—that only left Sans to raise his beloved baby brother, who was only three years old. He was still a kid himself, but Paps was a baby—someone had to step up and be him.
His job as a sentry paid well, but Sans started to loathe it as time went on. He saw it as a cruel end meet to escape their fate, but they needed the money.
However, the human children started to fall, causing his hatred for the job to grow. The kids were sweet, despite being somewhat naïve through the Underground. They just wanted to get home, but they only got killed just for their souls. It only got worse when some tried to help them. Their kindness was simply rewarded with their murder.
Sometimes, he killed them, as was his job. But other times, the guilt got to him, so he let them meet others that could. But, one day, he made a promise that would change everything:
Every day, to escape his duties, Sans would hang at the Ruins' gate. He loved the peaceful quiet, but there was another reason he always found his way to the gate—the voice. It was female, motherly, and it always brought Sans some calm to his stormy life, for which Sans was thankful. He needed an escape from his daily craziness.
But one day, the kind voice asked him something after their usual jesting that threw the skeleton through a loop.
"Sans, I know this might be too much for me to ask of you, especially when we haven't met personally yet, but I just cannot ask. Would you please watch over the children as they come?"
The question came so suddenly that he didn't know what to say. He wasn't the guy to make promises, not wanting to let anyone down, but this was something he couldn't refuse. Sans didn't know why, but his soul was screaming at him to vow to it—that the promise would change his life. So, with a slight hesitation, he agreed.
That was when Frisk came along and turned his world on its head. This petite girl made the male wonder what he really wanted.
Sans didn't know how to feel about the girl, but he had a feeling that she was the most innocent soul to fall here, despite her folding under the influence of this demon. She was the loveliest child as she moved through Snowdin before all hell broke loose:
She made a deal with a nightmare.
She wanted to do anything and everything to ensure the freedom of the Monsters, even if it meant giving control to Chara. She thought her friend was trustful, but she had her own plans—they weren't so innocent.
And here they were, fighting for many varied reasons, and they were at a steal mate. Either moved to stand down, but it was clear the fight was ending. The question was, who would be the first to fall?
They panted, sweat rolling down as they posed for another move. The girl was the first, the sharp weapon glimmering with every move as she rushed toward the scowling skeleton. But bones showered down fast as another growl filled the giant room as the red-cheeked demon dodged and ran through the shower of bones.
Another scowl came to his teeth when she tried to slash him again, but he was as skilled at dodging as she was:
"Nice try."
He called forth his blasters and powered them up with that simple phrase. Chara grinned before jumping out of the way of the powerful ray. Her breath halted when her back met the hardwood floor hard.
He came over slowly, his hands stuffed into the pockets of his hoodie and his blasters following him over his shoulders and bent over with a sadistic grin as he rose a bony hand.
"Get dunked on, kid." He growled out, his hand sending another round of bones raining down, but cursed when she crawled along the heavy fall, barely missing all the sharp weapons before snarling while she stumbled back on her feet:
"I won't go down that easy, comedian. You should know that." She rushed forward with her arm raised. However, one of Sans' bones pared her movement, his teeth gritting as she struggled to get closer to his chest.
"Either will I, demon."
After that fell from his teeth, he pushed her to the floor and moved a dragon above her, so she couldn't run away before the ray hit her, powering the dragon up. Then, just when Sans thought he would be victorious over the demon, her knife came across his stomach, ending his fleeting hope. He sighed, closing his sockets as he accepted his fate, but it never did while he waited for the cut to begin burning.
He slowly opened his eye sockets. They widened when a flash of light purple danced across them.
The other girl escaped Chara's hold, much to her anger, and rushed between the warring pair before the knife could slash his soul in two. Sans didn't want to think that she was willing to give her life for him, but as she fell back on him, the skeleton couldn't deny it.
She wanted him to be okay, even if it meant giving up her life.
"Kid! No, no, no!" Sans breathed loudly, wrapping his arms around her middle before she could hit the floor, Chara momentarily forgotten. Frisk smiled sadly and touched his cheekbone:
"It's okay, Sans. I wanted to make it up to you, but I know I can't…."
"Shh, kiddo. I'm not mad at you. I never was."
Her smile gradually faded while she nodded falteringly. Her body grew cold with every passing moment, filling the skeletal monster with raging fear.
He hadn't an idea why this mere girl affected him this much, but as she dwindled from the world, Sans felt a piece of his soul die.
She couldn't leave him, not now.
"I got you, kid. I will fix it. Just don't leave your duncle." He soothed her as his cool phalanges ran along the curve of her cheek as tears fell without him really knowing why, his anger mixing with the sadness while the handsome skeleton heard her breaths come out as whimpers.
She was going to pay, he roared within the walls of his skull, laying the bloody child gently on the floor. Sans' socket glowed with unchanneled wrath as he moved back onto his feet. The other petite brunette snorted, her grip tightened while she watched him stalk forward, his hands burning brightly with every step.
"What, you forgot that she was the one who wanted this too? Why are you so mad at me but not her?" Chara seethed, but Sans just chuckled in reply as his hand came up, calling forth his blasters:
"Because she wanted freedom for everyone but didn't know what to do, you knew what you were doing when you came to her."
Those words were the last words spoken between the two. Only their bodies did the talking as Frisk faded into darkness, losing her battle to keep the quick promise she made to Sans.
"I'm sorry…."
-.-.-.-.-.-
Frisk groaned, her head pounding with the fading memory, as she let her body slowly return to the real world.
The teen was thankful that was the only memory because she wasn't sure she could manage another after that horrible one, but the flower had to wonder why there was only one. Each time she would remember, there were at least two in a row. Was this one important?
She didn't have time to wonder about it for long, though, feeling the unfamiliar shock of cold against her fingertips, making her eyes snap open:
She was alone. Frisk could tell. If Sans had found her, Frisk knew she would be safely tucked in bed, and Sans would be next to her, worrying his heart out over her. But the only sounds that were heard bouncing off the walls were her rapid heartbeat, mixing with faint growls.
She steadily stood up, her side aching with each movement, but the young woman needed to move. Her eyes spotted moving shapes in the shadows, sending a fearful shiver down her spine as she gingerly held her side.
Frisk didn't know how she hurt it, but she knew that the boys wouldn't let her move for days, seeing how she could barely move without wincing. And the flower hated that.
She needed to move on, but this would set her behind for days. Frisk sucked in a deep breath, shaking those thoughts away.
Frisk shouldn't be worrying about her plans right now; she needed to find a way out of there before Sans blasted his way through this place to find her and without injuring herself any further, buying her another couple more days chained to a bed. That was the last thing she needed.
Plus, this room creeped her out.
She winced as she watched yet another figure darted through the shade as her voice, hoarse and quiet, filled the dark room:
"Hello? Is someone there? Sans, is that you? I'm sorry I ran off." Her voice echoed off the walls, but only growls answered her.
She whimpered, backing until her back was against a wall as a shape slid its way into the light. When it came into her sight, a gasp escaped her lips as she tried to figure out what this strange creature was, but no ideas came to her:
It was like someone mixed bits and pieces of multiple monsters, creating those poor creatures. Their movements looked painful, as if they weren't meant to move, but they had to survive. They had to move, or they would die from starvation.
But the flower had to wonder, why would they want to live this painful existence? She felt tears slowly leave their cold trails against her skin, reaching out a cautious hand to the slow creature, wanting to comfort it but didn't know how to.
"What happened to you?" She whispered to this poor creature, unsure if it could understand her, but she had to voice that question. She wasn't expecting an answer, but Frisk got one.
They are the result of experiments to save a lost soul, but Gaster went crazy in the middle of them, Alphys lost control over her project when he was assigned to it, and Asriel suffered for it. You know what happened to him when Gaster took over…
As Chara's voice played through her mind, she stared wide-eyed at the now stilled creature; another kind of fear gripped her heart as she traced the creature's odd body. Frisk knew what her sister meant. She knew what had happened to him….
Flowery….
He became Flowery, the one who helped her many a time. Her brother was always there, guiding her through the cruelest of the worlds. But he wasn't always Asriel behind those dark eyes; that Gaster monster twisted him into the cold and evil creature of the first worlds, gloating her younger self into the Genocide along with the former demon.
It seemed like Gaster wanted the monsters to hate her, humans, and they used her older siblings against her to get them to. Why would they want that? Her siblings suffered for some sick soul's views, but to what end?
What did Gaster want?
-.-.-.-.-.-
"Don't tell me to calm down, Alphys! The love of my life is down there with those…those…things.And Frisk doesn't know how to defend herself!" Sans screamed at his close friend, pacing angrily as he rubbed his skull.
Sans took his sockets off her for one fucking minute, and she ran off. That beautiful but damned curious girl was going to kill him one day. If that happened, he would haunt her ass until she learned to be safe. But, he wasn't about to let her adventurous nature cost him everything he worked for:
No matter how much he adored that about her, he needed to teach her that this world was more dangerous than it seemed. There were things out there that would steal her from them, truths he couldn't tell her about yet.
Sans bitterly laughed at that thought, knowing that was impossible.
Frisk was set in her ways—she would still try to find answers no matter what he would say, she still would seek answers. Sans could see it in her eyes when she thought no one was looking. Frisk wanted to discover who she was. She wouldn't stop until she had the truth. The flower was too stubborn and brave to stop. Even if Sans tried, he would fall to that cute little pout.
Frisk wanted answers, and she would do anything to find them, even if it meant putting herself in the line of danger. Sans knew that, and he knew he couldn't stop her. So all he could do was protect her to the best he could.
But, right now, his mind was blank with numbing fear. He couldn't think about anything but finding Frisk. The skeleton's fear drove him crazy as his glowing sockets bounced over the screens.
Sans' anxiety grew as he failed to find just a flash of purple before the yellow dinosaur's voice stuttered into the rushing thoughts. He closed his sockets, thankful that Alphys offered some calm to Sans' shivering soul:
"I k-k-know, Sans. But don't worry. W-w-we'll find her. And you know F-frisk can manage herself. She h-had been for years."
The male breathed a sigh before leaning on the control pad, feeling the truth in her words—he knew Frisk could stand up against anything. He saw it countless times, but the thought of her alone with Gaster on the warpath against her kind didn't boost his level of calmness. There was no way that her unique brand of fighting would win this time, not against the mad scientist.
And even though he didn't want to think this. There might be a crazed Error to worry about if his mind was manipulated. Sans knew Gaster prided himself on that skill. He used it on him many a time. So, the white skeleton had to keep his guard up. He needed to remember his role, her protector.
He couldn't afford to forget it and risk losing her; he vowed to them both that she would be safe. And Sans wouldn't break that.
He smiled slightly, closing his sockets to calm down a bit before he turned around to the small group with a frown across his teeth:
"I know she can, but you forgot about my dear old father. He is still looking for her, and he will never give up until he gets her. He hates her for 'tainting' us." He gestured lazily between himself and his brother. The scowl on his teeth told the others that his sour mood grew with every moment without the flower.
The lizard softly whimpered, hating that her friend was going through this because of her past mistakes. Frisk was somewhere with those poor creatures without any knowledge to help her. It was all her fault. But she wouldn't make any other mistakes; she would find the brunette. Alphys would make sure of it.
Alphys could always feel her sins crawling on her back. She always hated them for reminding her of the pain she caused, but now, they oddly encouraged her to do better. To heal the scars she caused. But, honestly, she wanted to show her friends that she wasn't just Gaster's assistant anymore. She was her own person who would become who she wanted to be all the long.
With those thoughts in her mind, she formed her thin lips into a firm line as she moved to the control pad, shooing Sans away so she could work before her soft voice filled the room, bringing all the guys' attention to her.
"O-o-kay, you're r-right. W-we must find her before he does. I can find her quickly if you g-guys help me as I move the cameras around, okay?" Alphys shifted her blues off the screens for a moment, a sweet and small smile dancing across her snout to soothe her friends' worries.
All the guys smiled small and moved closer to the screens, focusing solely on finding their lost flower, not their former raging worry and fear. At least two of the males were soothed.
Sans still fought against the gnawing worry sitting in his chest as he tried to hold his smile. But, of course, he shouldn't be worried. His diminutive friend had been doing this for years, searching the screens and watching over the people who needed it. But he couldn't help but fear the worse.
There was still a phantom lurking in the shadows, waiting for a moment of weakness with a malicious grin on his teeth. A phantom who wants a harsh new world would do anything to get it. Even if it means killing innocents to get there, even if it means killing his sons' hopes in the progress.
Gaster didn't care about anything but his goals.
Gaster was ruthless, vicious, and heartless in his search for the world he wanted, and he wanted his sons to share that want. However, when they rejected his vision, he rejected theirs. He fought tooth and nail against their dreams to encage his sons to him. Where no humans could 'taint' them further.
Sans glowered at that thought, his hatred for him growing in the cage of his chest. The silence was killing him, it gave his mind time to imagine all the worst outcomes that could fall upon her, but Sans couldn't bring himself to break it.
If he did, the skeleton feared his voice would give his fear away, how afraid the handsome skeletal monster really was at that moment:
Sans thought he knew how much he felt for Frisk, how much he gave to her. But the male just realized that he had no clue about his own heart or soul. He didn't know how much that beautiful tiny human really affected him.
Because, as their eyes plead for a small glimpse of her, he was falling apart behind his cracked mask. He hid it well, well enough to seem as worried as the others but nothing more. But her absence was more potent than he cared to admit, even to himself. As he was ripped into two, he felt like his being was barely surviving, and the flower had been gone for only an hour.
He never felt this alone, this afraid. He waited for Frisk for years, but this pain was a whole new breed for him. And it scared Sans, he thought he'd be okay knowing it would be just for a couple hours, but he was proven wrong.
Was Soul Bonding really that powerful? To take one of the most powerful monsters in the Underground and reduce him to just a shivering mess waiting for her to return?
Was this how Raven felt?
Then, like a miracle from the Gods above, Asriel's relief-filled yell echoed through his rushing thoughts, having him bolting to the screen he was pointing to:
"There she is! She's hurt, though. Her side….…"
That was all he heard before he transported to her, his soul trembling back whole.
-.-.-.-.-.-
Frisk winced, the pain coming back as she woke into awareness again, feeling a soft surface under her hands. The cold touch calmed her enough that she slowly could let her mind catch up to her body:
She didn't know when she passed out. All Frisk could remember was the poor creature licking her hand as if it was apologizing for scaring her. Frisk could feel the slight smile on her lips before fading back into the darkness from the pain with the feeling of the creature curling around her protectively.
It was like it knew there were more dangers in that big room—Frisk needed protecting until Sans found her, taking her to safety. It was comforting as she floated into dreamland, the pain fading while she slept.
After a few more moments of adjusting her mind, she slowly opened her eyes, so the lights wouldn't blind her and looked around to see she was in a hospital room and Sans sleeping with his skull by her hand on the bed.
She smiled weakly, gently stroking his cheek. Then, with a sigh, Frisk moved her eyes back up to the plain ceiling, her mind returning to that dark room—Chara's words echoed in her mind like a song on repeat:
…. Alphys lost control over her project when he was assigned, and Asriel suffered for it.
She frowned deeply as the words rocked off the walls of her mind; her hand absently started to stroke Sans' skull again while she tried to decode them.
Frisk knew this Gaster was still out there. He was extremely dangerous, maybe even still looking for a way to destroy her and the trust she earned from her friends; she just had a sinking feeling that they wouldn't stop until she was broken like a degraded toy.
But the question was, why? Why was this mysterious monster so hell-hell-bent on ruining her?
What had she done to the faceless monster to make them loathe the flower so much?
She scowled, hating she had yet another mystery with no answers, just memories she wanted to scream out about. Frisk wanted to tell someone but couldn't make the words fall from her mouth just yet. She just couldn't.
It seemed like her life had become one of those teen dramas she rarely got to watch, filled with mysteries and steamy romantic tension but rarely answers to the looming central mystery.
She had once imagined how frustrated the characters must have felt, not having the answers they needed, but she now knew exactly how frustrating it was. And she doubted that she would get any if she asked her partners, at least for now anyway.
I told you, Frisk. They can't tell you yet. They want to; believe me. But the boys cannot tell you. Neither can I.
She sighed deeply as she moved her other hand to soothe away the raging headache, which was creeping up on her, ready to reply to her sister's statement. Still, before she could, a familiar growl brought her back to reality:
"You are in trouble, dove."
The flower winced at Sans' low rumble, bringing her face to his direction, seeing him shift into a straightened sitting position. He pinned Frisk with a stern but sweet glint shining behind his dark sockets, sending a flush to her cheeks.
Frisk still couldn't understand the effect only he could have on her. One look could send her poor heart into a hammering mess. Frisk wasn't used to having that kind of attention pointed toward her still, after years of either being ignored or bullied by everyone she knew. But with Sans, she couldn't fade to the background. He always saw her; he only smiled because of her.
It was odd, but under his heated gaze, she couldn't help but swoon a bit before she breathed out a deep breath and carefully lifted her hands in the air, her hands forming apologetic words:
'I'm sorry, Sans, I just saw a light and was curious.'
"And you followed it without telling anyone, telling me?" She returned that question with a sheepish look and a nod.
The skeleton sighed, moving onto the bed as he pinched the bridge of his nasal cavity. His face held such fear that Frisk felt uncontrolled guilt, twisting her gut into an uncomfortable knot.
"I swear, you'll kill me someday, you beautiful, stubborn girl." That statement wasn't meant for her ears, but it made her feel worse. And Frisk had to wonder once more, why?
Why did this sweet, complex male care so much about her? She, deep down, knew the answer. The signs were there; all the memories told the truth. Especially the one when they first felt the bond truly. However, her heart froze at the thought of opening up to him about her feelings.
She was suddenly unsure, fearful about the future.
Earlier, Frisk was so sure about her feelings. But as she took in his frightened expression, she returned to that unsure little girl of the surface. This was so new to her—the flower wasn't sure how to tell him. She didn't know how to make her mouth form the words.
As much as she wanted to, and she knew she had to, Frisk was now uncomfortable with her lack of knowledge about Soul Bonding. All she knew was what her aunt told her, the bare minimum, and the thought made the words freeze in her throat as she stared at the handsome skeleton.
She really needed to read about Soul Bonds before she did anything. Maybe then, she could know how to move forward. Right now, though, the teen was just too frightened to admit that she knew that they were something far more potent than soulmates.
She gulped in a big breath, getting ready to end the silence just when Chara's deep voice vibrated through her mind, making the younger brunette want to thump her beside her head:
Or you could just ask him about Soul Bonding. Frisk bit her inner cheek to fight a scowl. She didn't want Sans to think she was scowling at him, but Chara's proud tone made her wish she was in that damned room.
But you just said—
You can ask him about this, sis. In fact, he would probably do cartwheels. The younger woman rolled her eyes at the smirk forming in her voice as she watched Sans try to form words to fill the deafening silence, hating that she knew more than her:
Trust me on this one. He will help you, just ask your comedian, will yah?
Frisk slightly bristled for a moment, but she then sighed. She pursed her lips, getting lost in her thoughts again. Maybe Frisk knew better. He wouldn't deny her this. Right?
With another sigh escaping her lips, indecision sat in her chest, unsure if he would after getting nothing from him before. Why was Chara so sure that Sans would answer this time?
Because it's about Soul Bonding. Chara cut through her questioning thoughts—her tone sounded so confident that her little sister had to believe her. That and this was the first time she might even get an answer; how could she pass that up?
But….
"Frisk, I know you remember things, but you can't just run off like that. It's dangerous, sweetheart." Sans whispered, a tone Frisk never heard from him.
That tone sent the guilt right back to her gut with a twist in her heart.
However, Frisk was on her own for answers. She knew that for sure now as he mentioned her remembering without bringing the topic up further. It was the only way Frisk could find her way back. She curled her hands to tell the skeleton that, not expecting the reaction she was given.
She laid there with wide eyes, mouth agape, as Sans growled lowly before yelling:
"I can't! We can't! Don't you think I am dying to tell you everything? But I can't!"
After that shout, a new kind of silence fell over the pair—the only sounds that met their ears were the heart monitor's beeping. It was as heavy as a border for distinct reasons. She was stunned at his outburst toward the human, but she was also slightly happy. But on the other hand, the skeleton was mortified by his actions.
Had he really blown up at her, his sweetheart?
He didn't really know where that came from. It just angered him so much that the teen assumed they didn't want to tell her stories about their missing past when they were trapped in a vow of silence.
That Sans himself had to act like he didn't have any feelings for her—that he wasn't wrestling with his soul every day, not just grab her and kiss her like he was a drowning male. He was angry that she couldn't see how obsessed he was with her, that Sans wanted to scream at the top of his lungs that he loved her to the moon and back, even further than that.
But the presence of Gaster still weighted oppressively on his mind, despite it not being a big issue now, and he just couldn't make the words fall from his mouth in fear of calling Gaster's cruelty—that if he put a name to his feelings, doom would be called upon their heads:
Sans was afraid that he might call the horrible fate Gaster had planned for not only him and her but everyone involved if he opened his big mouth. However, that didn't stop him from trying, no matter how he tried and failed.
Sans growled once more, rubbing his face in frustration at the situation. He repeated nothing could be easy for the skeleton male in his head. However, before Sans could sink deeper into the despair, the monster felt a gentle touch on his arm. His sockets rushed to see Frisk smiling so lovingly that the skeleton thought he had died and gone to the heavens above.
She hadn't smiled at him like that since the story began anew. It was a sweet shock to his system, one he much needed to form words.
"Frisk…" Sans whispered; his hand came to cup hers as he scooted closer, tickling her face with his following words; "I'm sorry, dove, I shouldn't have yelled like that. It's just, I want to tell you everything, trust me, I do badly. But it's impossible for me right now, sweetheart. So don't ask why. I just can't, okay?"
Frisk smiled once more, a small smile, but nevertheless, she smiled, shaking her head to reassure him. She thought she wanted answers. But, really, all she ever wanted was for them, him, to acknowledge that she was changing. It was true that Frisk still hated to be in the dark, but the fact that they finally talked about this gave her a wave of peace.
Frisk now knew they wanted to tell her; they just couldn't.
And that was all she wanted, their acknowledgment and their reasons, though still mysterious. Finally, after a moment of silence, Frisk pulled back and lifted her hands:
'You don't have to apologize, sweetie. I shouldn't have just assumed. I just was frustrated, Sans.' She bit her lip, ashamed, and lowered her head just to feel Sans' hard finger gently coax it back up, revealing a sweet grin dancing across his teeth.
"Don't be sorry, baby girl. I would be too if I were you." And with a kiss to her forehead, another silence fell upon the pair, either one able to break it because of nerves, but Frisk was the most nervous.
Because that statement and that smile gave the teen a slight sugar rush—so much that her heart felt it would fly right out of her chest that it was beating so much. Frisk couldn't think about it much before touching her cheek finally calmed her heart's wild beating.
But then, she remembered what she wanted to ask. This time, a gentle touch couldn't tame her heart, biting her lip.
'Sans?'
"Oh um, yeah, sweetheart?" Sans stammered; her nervous shakes brought the male out of his head, his sockets returning to her beautiful, timid smile.
The next question made his eager soul perk up, and he felt warmth race through his non-existent veins.
'Can I ask…can I ask you about Soul Bonding? Or can you not tell me?'
Sans' breath was trapped in his hyoid, tracing her movements for a pregnant moment. Of course, he wasn't expecting that, and as excited as he was that she found that fact, he was at a loss of words. When had she figured that out? Had she remembered it, or had someone told her?
He closed his sockets as he tried to calm himself before thinking of the right words. But nothing came:
Frisk laid there as the skeleton struggled with the words, fearing that she might've asked another impossible question, and again, the teen took her bottom lip between her teeth as her hands rose.
'I'm sorry, maybe I shouldn't have asked. I'll just read up on it. You don't have to answer—' Frisk couldn't finish when his hands gently pulled them to his strangely warm chest, calling her blues to meet his glowing sockets.
"No, sweetheart, I just needed a minute to think; that was a shock. Did you remember your bond?" Sans breathed softly, a hand coming up to caress her smooth cheek, their gazes melted into a heated glimmer.
That question brought another blush to her cheeks, and she was not sure how to respond to that. Her early doubts echoed throughout her mind, forbidding the words she really wanted to give Sans as she moved her hands to dance in the air again. Why was she so shy all of a sudden?
'I remembered Undyne talking about it, and I wanted to learn more about Soul Bonds. I felt a strong pang when I heard about it.'
Sans noticed the shaking in her hands as she formed those words, figuring she could not admit the real reason right now, but that was okay. Sans knew how she felt, searching for an answer, so the skeleton didn't push that subject for now. All that mattered now was that she wanted to know about Soul Bonds, opening the door more. And bringing them that bit closer.
With that thought within his mind and a smile placed on his teeth, he tucked a wild strand safely behind her ear, giving her blues one last heated glance before he sighed deeply and closed his eye sockets to collect the wild thoughts in his mind. But he found it difficult to form a complete and fitting sentence.
So, Sans just verbalized what came to his mind first, his smile slowly turning into a grin as the words fell from his mouth.
"You know about soulmates, I take it?" He peeked at her just as the teen nodded eagerly, her leaning forward to listen closely. The skeleton chuckled, placing his arms on his knees before continuing.
"Well, for monsters, we have a much stronger form of that. I guess Undyne told you that death means nothing—that is true. When a bond dies, and if they didn't have children, they would follow them. It's tough to live on without a bond."
"How sad…." Frisk whispered breathy, earning another smile and a shake of his head, grabbing her hand gently into his own:
"In a way, it is, but in some ways, it isn't. Us monsters couldn't understand how some humans could just find another soulmate when they were once everything they ever needed. Our bond is like a piece of our very soul, a person who knows us better than anyone—and I mean anyone. It's like they are the missing half of our very being. If we lose that, it's impossible to fill that hole. The only way we can is when our bond's reborn."
'Wait, you mean like reincarnation?' The teen's hand movements became jerky with excitement, climbing onto her knees like a child waiting to hear the rest of a story before their bedtime.
Sans grinned, turning fully to the girl as the skeleton took in her sparkling eyes. He had missed this, seeing her cute little expressions as he teased her or when he explained something new to her.
Now, he could feel the familiar warmth as his hand squeezed hers. Sans' voice grew increasingly excited as time went on:
"Yup, sweetheart, reincarnation. If a mate dies, they can be reincarnated. But, um, there are sad legends where that doesn't happen, or worse, happens. In fact, the very first recorded case of Soul Bond is the saddest ever known." The skeletal male admitted softly.
Sans' sockets moved to the sole window, the warmth fading a little as he remembered when he was told that that story was instead their own.
The skeleton wanted to go further into detail about that, but he knew he couldn't without risking their future in progress. But he recollected with widened sockets that there was another way. The book of information about the Dove and the Raven could tell her everything without consequences.
After all, even if Sans didn't see him as a threat anymore, Error did say that they could give hints. And she came to him; he should be able to get her the answers she needed without calling Error's wrath. He snickered at the thought, despite the harsh outcomes.
Sans jolted out of his thoughts from a slight tug at his sweater's sleeve. Then, startled, he returned his attention back to the small girl, whose hands were dancing in the air once again:
'What's the legend, Sansy?' She looked so eager. But, her eyes, despite still sparkling, dulled in fear. Frisk could feel the change in him, he thought sadly.
The monster brushed the loose curls from her eyes with a deep breath, caressing her cheek to soothe her before he began again, his growl soft as it replaced the room's sounds.
"I can't tell you, Frisk. But I can get you something that can if you want me to?" That earned him an eager nod while her hands grabbed his hands tightly. The skeletal male laughed before he spoke again.
"Okay, but no more running off. Promise?" A simple nod was her reply. "Good, stay here, and I'll go get it. I'll be—" The tall monster was about to stand when Frisk gripped his hand, bringing his sockets back down to the beautiful flower:
'Before you go, can I ask one more thing?' As she signed, the expression on her face almost melted his soul, causing a yellow flush to dance across his cheekbones.
Frisk was usually shy, but a determined flash shone behind her blues. She looked so damn adorable at that moment that the male had to fight the urge to capture her lips in a hungry kiss.
"Yes, sweetheart?"
'What happens when the bond is a human?'
He didn't respond for a few minutes because the male was too shocked at that moment. But the shock passed very quickly as a sweet smile found its way onto his face, bending down to meet her eyes. And while he curled a loose strand around his finger, his low growl echoed through the room.
"Then, when truly bonded, they will be frozen at that age. No worries about aging and dying from old age. The bonds are together forever, happily, and full. They are never alone again."
With that, Sans left Frisk alone, lost in all the wild thoughts within her mind. Of course, she found out a lot, but at the same time, she had a lot more questions.
Frisk smiled a bit at the feelings blooming in her chest, her hand moving over her beating heart as she relived the conversation for a moment. But then, she remembered the look on Sans' face when he told her about the legends.
He looked so sad, as if he had lived through one. Did he lose his mate once, lose her? That thought sent burning tears to her eyes, her soul lurching painfully as the thought repeatedly replayed in the walls of her mind:
But, although it saddened her, the look filled her with determination. First, they would talk in-depth about their feelings. Then, Frisk would give him her everything. Finally, Frisk would say the words he has waited so long for:
"I was always yours, Sans. I just didn't know it back then."