"hi. i'm sans. sans the skeleton."
He was an actual short skeleton with a smile that 'flesh' Sans—no—Akiyoshi Mizuki knew all too well. The unzipped blue hoodie, the white t-shirt, the black shorts with white stripes and the pair of slippers… There was no mistaking it.
He was the Sentry of the Underground, the Mysterious Ex-Scientist of the CORE, the Easiest Enemy who can only deal '1 damage' and a Master of the Forbidden Arcanery plucked from the Ancient Punny Grimoire of Endless Puntastiliciousaucy Puns and Jokes.
…Yeah, THAT Sans.
[You're… sans?]
"in the flesh. no, wait, that'd be you. heh, i should've said in the bone."
[But… but HOW?!]
Sans chuckled at the shocked 'Sans'.
"confused says, 'what'?"
[What?]
"heh, nothing…"
And awkward silence filled the air, but then the skeleton Sans decided to break the silence.
"so… it's been a while."
[…It seems so.]
"heh, this is awkward, isn't it?"
[Heh, you tell me.]
"then i guess a change in scenery might help."
With a snap of his finger, the darkness around him began to dissipate and take form into a familiar snowy forest.
[Snowdin? Really? Talk about a way to break the ice.]
"well, dew you have any better idea?"
[Hmm… nah, not really. Icy your point now.]
"heh. i thought snow."
For a moment, the merely stared at each other, but then they burst into a fit of laughter at their own bad jokes.
"pfft. y'aren't half bad, kid. keep it up and ya might be my new favorite pal."
[Haha, thanks.]
The two of them then sat on the cold snowy floor. Surprisingly, Mizuki found that the snow were he sat wasn't cold at all. In fact, it was rather warm and comfortable.
Sans began again.
"so… you've been through quite a lot since the past few months, huh?"
[Heh, 'a lot' might be an understatement.]
"yeah, i can only imagine being trapped in a game where you are cursed with both this power and weakness without your consent… oh, wait. that WAS my life too. silly me."
[Pfft, I guess we both have something that we can share together, huh?]
"heh, i guess so."
Sans paused and then took a deep breath.
"…You know what? Let's just get to the point."
[…I don't understa—]
"You are dying."
Sans pupils disappearing as he said so. Mizuki was left speechless, but then he merely gave a slow reply.
[I… see...]
"…you're taking this information rather well."
[Can't say I didn't expect it. I mean, it felt like my brain was melting before I passed out.]
"well, newsflash it kind of did."
[So… what then? Am I dead?]
"no, no, worse than that. you're still alive."
[Hah, very funny.] Mizuki sarcastically replied as Sans chuckled, but then he sighed and asked again in a serious voice, [Who are you, really?]
Sans smiled and closed his eyes.
"i'm an artificial intelligence. created by the cardinal system at the same time you were given my powers… Mizuki."
[How did you—?]
"tell me, what do you know of the nerve gear?"
[…Well, I know that the Nerve Gear's high-density microwave transceivers are capable of accessing the user's brain, allowing it to send fake signals to the five senses of the user, manipulating them.] He paused then quickly added, [Oh, and I also know that it could fry your brain.]
"heh, yea, i guess that part is pretty hard to forget."
Sans then pulled out something from his pocket; it was a bottle of ketchup.
"ketchup?"
[No, thanks. I prefer mayo.]
"meh, more for me then."
He began to take a gulp or two from the bottle and let out a satisfied 'ah.'
"anyway, you are right about those, but it does more than that."
[More?]
"that's right. it doesn't simply send fake signals. before it does so, it must SCAN through the user's brain first to locate which exact parts of the brain were supposed to be manipulated. this is because every individuals have different brain sizes and shapes."
[Wait… are you telling me that…]
"that the process also unintentionally scanned through the user's memories and personalities? yes. yes, it does."
[But what does that got to do with anything?]
"simple. your nerve gear malfunctioned."
[Malfunctioned?]
"yea, you know, like, bugs, glitches, errors, and stuffs. that happened."
[I still don't understand what you're talking about.]
"look, your nerve gear malfunctioned and it started doing things that it wasn't supposed to do. few of them are: one, your enhanced senses. two, the pain that only you can feel. and third is of course, your power—MY power.
"the cardinal system… is technically an artificial intelligence. it is a self-programming software that maintains this very world. one of the tasks that the cardinal system was given was the automatic generation of quests and items to fit into the game based on myths, legends, and folklore in the internet to keep the game… 'interesting'.
"and guess where did it get its references and keywords from for looking for said myths and legends?"
[The… scanned memories of the players?]
"bingo. here's some snowflake cookies."
[…It's just snow.]
"pfft. i snow."
Sans tried to make a pun, but Mizuki ignored it.
[What, so are you telling me that I became 'Sans' because of my… 'memories'?]
"honestly, i don't know. i was only created to meet you and give you some heads up, so i don't really know about why the cardinal system gave it to you.
"hell, for all i know, the cardinal might even thought that it would be 'interesting' if they turn the malfunctions in your nerve gear as a power. who knows, maybe there're also things like, hidden magical skills or a laser sword or perhaps a bow hidden somewhere within this world.
"the system is just as random as that."
[Heh, so, basically, I'm either lucky or unlucky to get this power, huh…]
"in my opinion, you are indeed lucky. think about it. you are using a malfunctioning brain-manipulating device. it's a wonder that you're still ALIVE.
"tho, i wonder if your consciousness would still be intact if you 'return' to your body… if it could return anyway."
[…]
A soft winter breeze blew as a moment of silence fell between them. Sans then took the initiative and spoke again.
"i know, i've said this before, but you're taking this information rather well."
[I'm not stupid, you know. All power comes at a cost. I've had my own suspicions and theories of why and how this power works.
[Besides, I've also had my fair share of paranoia and despair knowing that I might die any day, anytime, and anywhere being stuck with only 1 HP and all those stuffs.
[Why else would I give up if not for the fact that my own chances of survival are so damn small…?]
Mizuki looked up toward the snowy sky above, [Still, I want to live. That's why even though it's small, I still have some hopes but…]
"but?"
[…Truthfully, I don't even care anymore whether I live through this game or not. Even if I do live through it, I still might not even be able to go back to the real world. And even if I could go back to the real world…]
A flashback of how his mother hated him and telling him to kill himself or go away despite the efforts he did to try and make his mother happy and proud began to play in his mind. A tear fell from the corner of his eye as he smiled in sadness.
[What's left for me there, anyway?]
A pregnant silence filled the atmosphere, but then out of nowhere, Mizuki heard a snicker from Sans. Then the snicker turned louder and it became a chuckle. Before he knew it the chuckled had become a full blown laughter.
[…What's so funny?]
"hehe, you almost sounded like me."
[Oh, I sounded like a deadly anti-nihilistic comedian? Heh, touche]
"don't be so pessimistic, kid. that's what happens when you try to roleplay MY character for too long. it's bad for your health kid."
[Well isn't that rich coming from you of all people.]
They both shared a laugh and Sans took another drink of his ketchup.
"you know, i still haven't told you why you're dying."
[Huh. That slips my mind too.]
"i'll spare you the detail, but here's what basically happened. your nerve gear's malfunctions are both the source of your power and weakness.
"the cardinal system somehow developed an advanced algorithm for you to control your telekinesis powers and to summon bones and gaster blasters and since you are a normal human that aren't supposed to be able to do such a feat, your brain is being given fake signals a few times more than how much it was supposed to be.
"this is why you get headaches the longer or harder you use my power because your brain kept getting these 'more than it should be' signals.
"however, if you keep forcing yourself then… you'd unlock my empowered state."
[Empowered state?]
"it's just fancy words for my 'flashy eye' moments where my powers get doubled or tripled by a few folds.
"when in this state, all feelings of mental strains that the signals sent to your brain would be temporarily blocked so you would be able to fight harder and faster without having to be distracted by the mental strains; it's like an adrenaline…"
[…I'm sensing a 'but' somewhere.]
"the more you push yourself, the more signals are being sent into your brain. and the more signals are being sent into your brain? well… just imagine your brain heating up until it melts like butter in a microwave."
[Are you telling me that using this power it basically like slowly heating up an oven? That over exerting this power could eventually kill me?]
yup. sad isn't it?
[No wonder I felt my brain WAS melting… then what about the blood I coughed?]
"since you almost got your brain melted, your real body is suffering the effects. if your body is in a hospital, i can imagine the doctors and nurses are frantically taking extra care of your body since blood suddenly burst out of your eyes, ears, nose, and mouth by now.
"also, this brain damage is permanent. even i'm not sure of what would it do to your body."
Mizuki processed the information in silence, but then he groaned in frustration.
[Ugh, this talk about my death and pessimistic point of views is starting to give me a headache… If that's what really happening with my body, then I guess I'll die.]
Mizuki shrugged nonchalantly; by now he's used to fact of being in a situation between life and death; too used to it that he didn't even care anymore.
"heh, too bad, kid, cuz', like i've said before, you're going to live."
[Huh? How can you tell?]
"you are still talking with me."
[What do you mean?]
"if you were really going to die, then you'd slowly lose consciousness and we wouldn't be talking for as long as we did."
[But you said I was—]
"i said you were dying, not that you were actually going to die."
[…I don't get it.]
"pfft, then i guess you still have a lot to learn."
Sans took one last gulp of his ketchup and put the empty bottle back into his jacket's pocket. Then he stood up and stretched for a bit.
"Mizuki, just remember that you are not me. Remember that you have more freedom than I ever had when I was stuck in the underground. You can save and protect more people than I ever could.
"Unlike me, you are you. Your possibilities are limitless as long as you are determined. You—"
[Pfft! Hahahahahaha!]
"…Is there anything funny?"
[No, it's just… the 'Sans' is giving me a speech about determination? That is so unlike you, haha!
[Besides, I kind of figured that one out a long time ago. I mean, why else did I risk my life to save Lily and Milly? Not to be rude, but you didn't do anything when Chara killed Papyrus.]
"hey, you can't blame me. i was programmed to do so."
[I know.]
The two of them smiled sadly, but then the sadness disappears as Sans grinned.
"welp. my time's up. and you're waking up."
[Is that so… well, you may not be the real Sans that I was expecting, but I guess you're close enough.]
"huh? what kind of sans were you expecting?"
[The kind that would waste my time by talking with double meanings and jokes without any specific information. It's kind of weird to see 'Sans' actually explain something. Heck, even your Genocide route counterpart still used some cryptic double meanings.]
"pfft, well it's not my fault. blame this AU's author."
[What?]
"nothing. welp, it was nice meeting you."
Sans smiled wider and extended a hand which Mizuki shook.
[The feelings mutual—]
*a loud farting noises echoed*
Silence fell between the two of them for a few seconds until Sans doubled over laughing out loud.
"pfft! the old whoopee-cushion on the hand trick! it's ALWAYS funny!"
[Did you… did you just—?!]
"i sure did, boi! geeettttttt dunked on!"
[Ohoho, you're gonna pay for that one day, you sneaky bones of pranks!]
"hey, it takes one to snow one."
[How Rudolf you to say that!]
"come on now, don't give me the cold shoulders."
[What can ice say? You casted the frost stone!]
"seems like the thin ice we were walking on has sled us to this punny war."
[White you do that, though?]
"cuz' i came, i thaw, i conquered."
[Well, now I'm piste…]
The two stared intensely at each other for a full minute, before bursting into a fit of laughter so loud it echoed throughout the Snowdin Woods.
As the laughter died down, Sans turned around and started walking away. The further he went down the snowy path, the more blurry his surroundings became.
Suddenly, Mizuki called out to Sans which made him stop.
[Will I ever see you again, Sans?]
Sans smiled warmly and gave him one last wave without turning his back.
"one day, kid… one day."
And with that the world fade back into the pitch black void it once was and Mizuki awoke from his dream.
A wall of bricks, that's what it felt like when he was opening his eyes. His body felt heavy and his throat was dry, but still he forced himself into a sitting position.
A sudden jolt of pain caused him to clutch his head in pain. It felt like he was having a terrible hangover. He scanned through his surroundings and noticed that he was in a room.
[i'm in… the twins' room?]
He looked outside and saw the moon shining brightly through the glass of the window beside him.
[i'm still alive, huh... how long have i been out?]
Just as he finished his thoughts, he heard a click and the door opened.
"S… Sa…Sans?"
Sans knew that voice. Putting on his trademark smile, he turned to look at who entered.
"hi, milly. did'cha miss—Oof!"
Before he could even finish, Milly ran toward Sans with a crushing hug.
Sans was about to ask what was wrong, but he was silenced when Milly began to breakdown in tears chanting an endless stream of apologies.
The sound of her crying alerted the whole house and Lily came to check on what was going on. Seeing that Sans was finally awake, she too went to hug him in tears, glad that he was alive, as the rest of the Final Seekers entered the room.
"y-yo. what did i miss—?"
"SANS!"
"whoa, whoa, no, don't—!"
And just like that, Sans was wrapped in a group hug.
"…ow."
…Or more like he was buried under them.
Later That Night…
Peace. The moon shone above him and the cold night air rustled through the leaves. Droning of cicadas echoed from the forest and Sans was sitting on the porch as everyone else have fallen asleep after expressing how worried they were for him.
"S-Sans?"
Well… maybe not everyone.
"hm? oh, it's you, lily."
"What are you doing out here this late? You should be going back to sleep."
"heh, it's fine. i can't sleep anyway."
"I see…"
"what about you? shouldn't you be sleeping?"
"Sleep? Ugh, how could anyone sleep with both PoH's and Raul's snoring in the same room?"
Sans chuckled at her frustration as she went to sit right next to him. She then turned to look at what Sans' was staring at and saw the stars that decorated the beautiful night sky.
"Wow." she breathed out.
"beautiful, isn't it?"
"Yes… Yes, it is."
She lived here long before Sans even came, yet she had never seen such a beautiful night sky that was always right above her all along.
"how long was i out?" Sans broke the silence.
"Five." She replied, "You've been out for five days."
"five days, huh… i guess, i should get a vacation for staying in bed unconscious for five whole days, hehe."
She giggled at his joke which slightly surprised him; it was the first time he had ever heard Lily truly laugh at his joke.
However, as soon as her laughter died down, Sans could tell from her face that she was sad.
"You know… it's been hard for us since you were out, especially Milly. She believed that things wouldn't happen the way it did if only she had controlled herself better. If only she had listen." She began slowly, "When you coughed blood, we felt hopeless and didn't know what to do. Your body began to crack and glitch as if you were going to explode into pixels after that. We thought that you were going to die, Sans."
She paused to take a moment to breath, calming herself. "But then, through sheer luck, PoH and the others came. They found a way toward where we were trapped and so we brought you back then… and then…"
She felt her sins crawling up her spine, "Then PoH told us all about you."
"…what? about my stash of whoopee cushions? my puntastic knock-knock jokes? or my—?" Sans tried to lighten up the mood by changing the subject, but she ignored his jokes and continued on.
"No, Sans. He told us about your… conditions."
"…oh …that one... heh, should've guessed…" Sans smiled weakly.
"You were already suffering enough, yet we… yet we made you… forced you to..." She struggled to find the right words, but gave up and continued, "If only… If only we trusted you more… if only we believed in you…" She looked down and began to shake, "Then—!"
"Then WHAT?" Sans cut her off; his voice was cold. "WHAT would happen if you trusted me? WHAT difference would it make if you two had only believed in me?"
She was stunned silent in both guilt and shame.
She was right. He should blame them for this. If only they trusted him, then he wouldn't have to 'prove his loyalty' by risking his life going into the dungeon. If only they believed in him, then he wouldn't have to suffer through the pain of saving the two people that seemed to hate him so much since day-fucking-one.
Sans took a deep breath to lash at her and she prepared for the worst.
Then he spoke,
"I forgive you."
She widened her eyes in shock; she couldn't believe what Sans had just said. Guilt… It struck her harder than being slammed into a wall of bricks.
But then the words pierced through her already guilt-ridden heart and her tears began to fall. They began to fall harder and thus the tears began to pour.
Feeling sorry, Sans hugged her.
"H-How could you…? After all we did to you… how could you f-forgive me just like that…?!" She whimpered. "It's not f-fair… It's just… not… fair!"
And so she wept under the starry sky, safe within the warm embrace of the chubby self-proclaimed skeleton as time began to fly.
The sun began to shine over the horizon, making way for a whole new day.
Lily rolled around in her sleep and woke up from her slumber with a grunt. She yawned softly, thinking that it was the first time she had ever slept through such a peaceful sleep. However, she felt warm for some reasons, so she opened her eyes and remembered what happened.
She had cried herself to sleep in Sans embrace and now she woke up to see Sans giving her a lap-pillow and his jacket as a blanket.
The realization dawned upon her and she blushed in shock.
Sans was woken up by her movements and began slowly, "morning. did'ja sleep well?" winking at her with a smug look etched on his face.
She couldn't say anything, her face was as red as tomatoes and she was so embarrassed that she froze, then—
"*yawn* …Sans? Is that you…? What are you do… ing…?"
It was Tanya.
At first Tanya stared at Sans, then at Lily, then as Sans again. A moment of silence later, Tanya went back inside and as she slowly closed the door behind her, she threw them a sly smirk.
"Good luck!" She thumbed-up at Lily.
Shaking with a steaming red face, she shyly murmured, "I… t's…"
"Eh—?!"
But then her soft murmur suddenly turned into a shout, "IT'S NOT WHAT YOU THIIIIIIINK!"
And so she ran inside, leaving Sans lying on the floor of the porch after slapping him so hard that it left a mark.
Instead of feeling pissed, however, he lifted himself up and saw the sun had already risen. He laughed at what just happened with a peaceful happy thought.
[i'm home.]
Author's Note:
Surprise, surprise! It's a double chapter!
Hope it wasn't too cringy… I don't like cringe, I love cheese. Mmm, yaaasss, them lovely clichéd cheesy cheese momentz iz deli~iciouz!
Haha, well, I guess that's it for this chapter and—Oh, for those that haven't noticed so far, Sans met the Final Seekers quite long before Kirito met his first guild; I bet you think those dates I wrote meant nothing to you, huh?
But for those that realized it, congrats! Have some internet cookies!
Pointless Trivia aside, I hope you liked this one and please tell me what you think of this chapter in the review, cuz your likes and comments motivate my lazy-ass to actually write something instead of staring at my work-in-progress chapter 10 like a mindless idiot. XD
Welp, without further ado,
See ya next chapt, Capt!
:v /