This one is a bit on the short side. Mainly because the beginning is setting up for some questions considering something very important, are beginning to be addressed, and will be answered further down the line. While the rest of it is simply the skelebros taking the lead for the time being. Not gonna lie, it might not be too good. But, I'm somewhat happy with it. Might come back and recheck it a few more times, though.

Chapter Start!

(?)

Sans was standing in what seemed like a neverending darkness. He didn't think it was anything new, he's had plenty of nightmares and daymares-both which relentlessly, unfairly, take away his greatest method of relief: sleep-regarding sitting in the dark all alone. Though it's been quite a long time since he's mentally checked into this darkness, and he's pretty sure that he didn't will his mind to end up with complete nothingness.

Which left him with a very thought-provoking question: What was he doing here? He didn't know, and that really places Sans on guard. Ever since he left the Underground, he had to accept that he wasn't going to be capable of predicting future events anymore, so he was always on his guard. Though he didn't allow this to sink into his daily life, he was quite adept at doing this. Though a select few-Chara, Toriel, and Papyrus-have become better at seeing through this mask. And as a result, he tried not to keep much secrets anymore. He had MANY secrets, so many that his habit ran the great risk of destroying all of his relationships beyond repair. It was pure luck that his friends were so forgiving.

Sans shook his head. He was getting off topic; he needed to figure out what was going on. That is...until he noticed a white flame. Curiously, he walked up the the open flame, his footsteps gently echoing throughout the space, until he stopped in front of it and found that passing images were in front of it. Images...involving himself and his friends.

They were doing various things...things he was quite sure they haven't done. Asriel, Chara, and Frisk finding his machine...notably finding other versions of themselves and their friends and family...other versions of said friends and family coming to them...and they were preparing to fight a certain intense enemy...though the images ended there. As each image passed by, Sans scratched his skull in confusion, trying to process it all.

what's goin' on with these images...?

"They're images from an alternate timeline..."

Sans froze up from the voice, the immensely familiar voice. His eye lights shifted slowly towards the origin, which isn't too far to the left. There he would see a tall figure mostly shrouded in darkness aside from his face, and was consistently glitching every ten seconds. His eye sockets darkened when he realized who it was.

Gaster.

"...g...?" Sans muttered.

"You're aware of this concept, aren't you Sans? These are the events that happened in a different timeline. A timeline much like your own, but drastically different in terms of what events transpire, as well as who's within them. With some increased effort on their part, even I was able to take part in the timeline...though it did not last long." Gaster informed him while looking solemn. "There was too much data gathering from different worlds into one timeline...the overflow of data without sufficient time to formulate the sufficient space to hold it all...it could not handle it...the timeline crashed. Everyone and everything within it has stopped functioning...they never stood a chance."

"too much...data...?" Sans said in quiet shock.

"Like a bridge that collapsed when too much weight is placed upon it while it's supports have already grown weary over time. It was bound to happen with the overflow of data in a timeline..." Gaster shook his head. "Everyone in that timeline is eternally stuck in suspended animation...while I have been forced back into the Void...but it is not all hopeless. They managed to restore my form within that timeline. So even though I'm back in the Void, it has a far less firm hold on me, so I can make contact with you and briefly materialize in the real world...not for long, however."

"oh...temporary visit...?"

"Indeed. It's currently taking all of my current power just to keep talking to you. Though it's nowhere near as bad as it used to be."

"...geez..." Sans sighed as he scratched his skull, taking all of this information in. In another timeline, it just...stopped. Though he was glad that it wasn't Chara or Frisk responsible for it-which briefly made him feel guilty; Chara has earned his trust by now, despite their shared cynicism-it was still just as tragic. A timeline has stopped completely because it couldn't handle the strain placed on it. Too much information, not enough space, no time given to create the space...so it simply stopped. Without warning.

and that timeline stopping allowed this one to start anew. better. stronger. more adequate.

Gaster could tell what he was thinking, and nodded. "Indeed. This is a timeline within the same universe, one that branched off from that one. Though I can already tell...you and your loved ones are significantly more powerful here, and much more determined. And as a response, the challenges you all will face will be much more difficult. There shall be heartache...scars...fury...but also love, compassion, and determination. Many intense emotion will flow through you, and everyone. Because you're that determined to maintain your peace."

Sans shrugged."yeah...let's say that i'm likin' the peace when it's here, so i just wanna keep it as intact as possible. but, uh...are we gonna run into that same overloading data problem here...?"

"Not at all. This timeline is much more stable than the last one. I believe the issue won't repeat itself, at least not to that extreme." As he explains this, Gaster begins to glitch more...his way of slowly fading away. "Oh dear. My time appears to be up. How unfortunate...I really missed you. I'm glad you're so much stronger now...I won't be worrying about you nearly as muh anymore..."

Sans's eye lights shrunk as he stepped forward with his hand out. "wait a moment, g! there's still so much we need to talk about! you can't go now!" Sans pleaded for a bit...though he calmed himself down and stepped back. "who am i kiddin'? there's nothin' i can do with the way things are now...there ain't no use for me to beg." He shook his head."but still...i...i can't help but hold onto the hope that eventually...we will be able to help you...without endangerin' everyone within the process..."

Gaster paused for a little bit. Then he smiled. "...You're much more hopeful than you used to be...I hope to see that more often when we meet again. Though I fear the circumstances of my return might not be the most pleasant...farewell, Sans." And with this, Gaster completely disappears.

And Sans wakes up.

Sans' eye lights stared up at the ceiling of his room. That was definitely not something he expected to happen in order to start his day. A mental visit from someone he wasn't expecting to see, as well as the information he provided during said visit. He sits up a bit and rubbed his skull. He didn't really know how to take it, honestly. This timeline was a branch from another one? A result from that timeline failing, to succeed where that timeline horribly failed. That was quite a depressing way to think, when it came down to it. Though no matter how bad it felt, there wasn't much he could do about it. That was another timeline. He had to focus on what's going on within this one.

He had to be the cautious one. Things could go wrong at any time, anywhere. The outside world was much more hostile than he thought, though not for the reasons he first thought of.

"SANS!"

But he'll focus on that later. Right now, he had his brother to attend to. With a somewhat tired yawn, he reluctantly climbs out of bed and gazed around his room for several moments...there was a sense of balance between cleanliness and messiness. Enough to be comfortable, enough to know where his things were, and it would satisfy his brother to an extent. He slipped into his jacket and slippers, and a brief cyan flash crossed his eye sockets before he vanished from his room. Soon enough, he reappeared in a flash right beside Papyrus, who jumped in response.

"GAH! SANS! I KEEP TELLING YOU NOT TO DO THAT SO SUDDENLY!"

"meh."

"AT LEAST GIVE ME SOME KIND OF WARNING TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT."

"meh."

"I MEAN SERIOUSLY, SOME HUMANS ARE STILL NOT USED TO THE IDEA OF TELEPORTING MONSTERS. YOU COULD HAVE SERIOUSLY SURPRISED THEM, AND NOT IN THE PLEASANT AND WELCOMING WAY, BUT IN THE SCARY AND NOT-SO-WELCOMING WAY!"

"meh."

"...YOU'RE NOT EVEN LISTENING TO ME, ARE YOU?"

"yup."

"IS THAT THE TRUTH?"

"...pass."

"BAH, WHATEVER." Papyrus waved off as he turned around and made his way towards the front door, and Sans again took the time to notice that he still wasn't wearing his battle body...he hasn't worn it in quite a while. It was strange, knowing that Papyrus has been wearing it for so long he even showered in them, constantly. Seeing Papyrus without it for such a consistent amount of time, it was another thing he found tough, but not impossible, to adjust to. "ANYWAY, WE HAVE TO GO, SANS. TO MTT RESORT. METTATON REQUIRES OUR ASSISTANCE!"

"mtt needs our helpin' hands? whatever for?"

"HE SAYS THAT A CERTAIN SOMEONE IS PLANNING A PARTY, AND THEY WOULD LIKE TO HOLD IT AT MTT RESORT. IT'S OUR MAIN HANGOUT ASIDE FROM GRILLBY'S...RELUCTANTLY, WHEN IT COMES TO THE LATTER." Papyrus grumbled, before focusing again. "I TOLD HIM THAT WE WOULD BE VOLUNTEERING TO LEND HIM OUR HANDS AND MAGIC TO SPEED UP THE PROCESS. WILL THIS BE A PROBLEM?"

"nah. i've got time to spend. let's go." He channeled his ma-

"OH NO YOU DON'T MISTER!" Papyrus hurriedly placed his hand over Sans' eyes."NO TELEPORTING TODAY. WE'RE GOING TO DRIVE IN OUR CAR LIKE DECENT CITIZENS."

"decent citizens, huh?"

"OF COURSE. WE ARE TOO AMAZING TO BE 'NORMAL' CITIZENS! NYEH!"

"...meh. i'll take it." Sans shrugged it off. Papyrus offered to drive them there, saving him the magic. He certainly wasn't going to complain.

"EXCELLENT! FRISK HAS ALSO VOLUNTEERED TO LEND HIS HELPING HANDS, SO I SHALL BE PICKING HIM UP FIRST."

"cool." Sans smiled a bit more at that. Asriel and Chara must have been busy with something else, then. That was fine. Been a while since they've hung with Frisk, anyway.

Frisk was sitting happily in the backseat of Papyrus' car, waddling his feet a bit as his Golden Locket jangled a bit around his neck, his hair flowing with the wind. He seemed so immensely happy with the chance to spend time with the skeleton brothers, and to help with something great in the process. It seemed to be a bit strange for Sans, but he didn't mind. Frisk was currently happy, and Papyrus was driving around like the cool guy that Sans knows he is. He was content with this.

Soon enough, they stopped in front of the MTT resort and Papyrus parked their car. In front of the complex, Mettaton, Shyren, and Napstablook were the once to greet them. Frisk, eager to meet and greet, opened his arms with a wide smile.

"Hewwo!~"

Sans didn't know why he envisioned Frisk looking like a cat while saying hello in that matter, but he didn't think hard on it. The image itself was hilarious.

"AHA! Frisky Bits! Blessed I am to have your assistance, my shining superstar!~" Mettaton exclaimed. His metallic arms stretched and caught Frisk, pulling him into a hug, kissing his cheeks and making him giggle while returning his hug. "So glad that you could make it, dear! Oh, and you even brought the skeleton brothers! Wonderful!"

"HI METTATON, GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN!"

"sup."

Mettaton soon turned towards the brothers with a gentle nod. "Right, good to see you. I'm actually here to plan a specific part this time, and I plan to make it GLORIOUS! You fine gentleman will be assisting me, my Mettabots, and loyal employees and friends, to set up this party to the best of your ability. Will I be able to count on you boys?~"

"I'm hear to help!" Frisk said while gleefully raising his hands.

"THE GREAT PAPYRUS SHALL LEND HIS GREATEST SERVICES! NYEH!~" Papyrus declared proudly.

"sure." Sans shrugged.

"Excellent, darlings! Napstablook and Shyren will assist you however they can regarding your assignments, so listen well!" Mettaton nodded as he sets Frisk down and clapped towards his Mettabots. I'll handle the overall production, so everyone simply did your best!"

"O-Kay!"

"NYEHHEH!"

"yeah."

"Wonderful, darlings, wonderful. Get to it! I'll check on your progress in two hours!" With that, Mettaon saunters off, leaving the others to their devices.

Sans gestured the others over as he looks around. "alrighty then. he's quite clear about his intentions. settin' up a party. and it might be a bit grand, which means he's gonna be usin' the ballroom. so here's how we're gonna do this. i'll take bratty, catty, and burgerpants to help with the concessions and such. food, drinks, small snacks, the good stuff. while paps, frisk, napstablook and shyren, you all take your time and set up all the need decorations. by geneal activity, he must mean the planning and such. we'll leave that to him, like he said. i ain't gonna complain about a lessened work load."

"SO LONG AS YOU ACTUALLY DO THE WORK, SANS."

"yeah yeah..."

And with this, along with a brief shared high five, they each split up and got to work. Sans nonchalantly stretched before he got a move on himself. He had quite the job ahead of him, so he wanted to be done with it as quickly as he possibly can. And quick he was. Many of the concessions have been placed within several boxes that were quite easy to take out and set around for a bit, especially when someone like him had handy telekinesis. And that's exactly what he used to spread things out a bit. Many tables gained a cyan outline and were set around neatly in the places that they would most likely be able to fit.

Of course, knowing Mettaton, he would most likely want things to be set a certain way. Sans wouldn't really have the time or patience or care to listen to any of that, so he'll just set them as best he can and let Mettaton sort them all out. Sure that would lightly annoy the robot, but not exactly enough to raise his voice over. And Sans did consider himself an expert at being rather cheeky. Though even if he was cheeky abiut it, he was definitely here to help.

Among doing his assigned job, he looked around to see Bratty and Catty chatting quite a bit as they were setting food across the tables Sans set. He then looks to the other side to see Burgerpants, sweeping along the floors. He looked...rather down. Wanting to bring the guy up, he walked over to him and laid an elbow on one of the tables. "heya. ya come here often?"

"Very original, Sans. Ya know just as well as I do that I work here." Burgerpants grumbled as he did away with a bit more trash. "What are you even doing here anyway?You're not exactly the working type."

"ya know me so well, burgs'." Sans snickered while lightly twirling a smaller box with telekinesis. "seriously, though. what's on your mind?"

"Why do you even care?"

"are ya gonna give me a reason why i shouldn't?"

Burgerpants didn't give a response to that one. Sans was serious about the question, yet didn't push it farther than he needed to. The question was there. Whether Burgerpants answered or not was on him, for the most part. And he was right to think Burgerpants would take the chance to talk, hearing him sigh. "'I'll admit that things have been looking up for me, at least a little bit. Though not nearly enough to really get me off the ground for good, you know?"

"kind of."

"All I'm saying, is that I really want a big change. It doesn't have to be anything super grand or anything. Just...a positive throw in my direction. I guess it's a way of saying that I'm on a roll, and I want that trend to continue a bit longer." he then chuckled. "Ha. That's probably a bit too hopeful for me, though."

"..nah. that's something i think about as well. can my life get any better? sure. is it actually gonna happen? probably not." Sans shrugged. "basically, I learned which issues are woth tackling the hardest. my life is going quite well right now, so no need for serious alarm."

"Gee, I'm so happy for you."

"but you've been workin' hard for a pretty long time, burgerpants. you've got a chance. sometimes ya just gotta wait for it to grasp you, and not the other way around. it grates the nerves, i know. but there's gonna be a time in which life completely disregards our comfort zone and forces us into somethin' hectic. sometimes for our own good, sometimes not."

Burgerpants narrowed his eyes a bit and lightly rubbed his chin, before gently nodding in agreement. "Yeah. Life sure likes to kick the crap outta you, but it ain't gonna stop soon. Complaining about it will eventually get as tiring as actually living through it."

"heh. see, that i have experience with." Sans laughed, half bitter, half genuine. One of the best kinds of laughs there is. Not everyone will be able to see right through it.

They would have continued the converse, but the younger patch eventually caught up with the. "SANS! WE WERE ABLE TO GET MOST OF THE DECORATIONS SET UP IN AN ORDERLY FASHION! WE HOPE THAT YOU MAY BE PROUD OF US FOR OUR JOBS WELL DONE, FOR THE MOST PART!" Papyrus declares quite loudly while puffing out his chest. While Frisk simply laughs with the likes of Shyren and Napstablook. Nevertheless, they really were quite proud of their progress. "SHYREN AND NAPSTABLOOK WERE ABLE TO SET UP THE STAGES, HANDLE A FEW RIBBONS, PLANT SOME QUALITY WALLPAPER...HOLD ON...CAN YOU GROW WALLPAPER?"

"Sort of." Frisk shrugged.

"well techincally paper comes form trees, so growing trees means ya get more paper, paper can be stylized into wallpaper, sooooo...can ya grow wallpaper? technically."

"...SANS. I UNFORTUNATELY DID NOT GET A SINGLE BIT OF THAT." Papyrus announced, though he soon smiled. "BUT REGARDLESS, E WERE ABLE TO HANDLE OUR TASK WITHOUT MUCH TROUBLE AT ALL."

"Setting the stage was quite easy...I really can't wait to see how they react to it...!" Shyren said somewhat excitedly; she still didn't sound really chill about it all. "And the best part is that many will be participating, just like many other mass celebrations...it'll be fun...really fun..."

"I agree! A bit of fun for everyone that comes! A party! And this time, Mettaotn is here to properly 'orchestrate' it to the best of his abilities. I think I can take a bit of resoect from that and apply it to my own determination! I'll be able to do my best at decorating everything that needs decorating."

"you'd probably cover anything and we'd have to cut ourselves out of it." Sans chuckled while shaking his head. "anyway, we're pretty much done here. but it can't hurt to add a few more touchups here and there, can it?"

"I...can help...too...give me...a shot..." Naptablook requested, lightly floating around, which did let Sans think about it. And it was a very reasonable request that simply needed a proper guide. And that definitely wasn't Sans, so he was going to have Mettaton assign his cousin a proper way to help out.

As they were making the finishing touches, Mettaton returned with a great swing and a brief pep in his step, eying the area with a satisfied nod. "Hmm...I will have to make a few finishing touches of my own, but other than that, everything is amazing here, boys and girls!"

"OOOOH! DOES THAT MEAN WE GET?"

"That's right, Pappy! Gold star for you!" Mettaton beamed while lightly placing a golden sticker on Papyrus' head. He became rather giddy with glee and hopped off after doing so. Mettaton happily passed a few more to his employees, as well as the remainder of his friends. "Alright, people! We've got a lot to prepare for, so we have to hustle. Our client wants this party to be something memorable, and I plan on following through with that wish!" Through the commotion, Sans noticed that Frisk wandered up to Bratty and Catty, and seemed to be saying quite a few things to them. At first their expressions were filed with surprise. Then it was a bit of guilt. And at last, acceotance, and a look that's made after an important-at least to them-decsion. Frisk nodded in satisfaction and went along with his own business. Sans wondered what that was about, but shrugged it off quite casually.

"speakin' of which, who is your client for this whole big shindig you're plannin', mettaton?"

The robot turned to him and lightly gave him a hushing motion, looking around a bit, before whispering to Sans. "Between you and me...the client is Muffet."

"muffet?"

"Yes. She assigned me a theme, the setups, lended some of her money, the works!"

"really...? what is that spider up to this time...?" Sans wondered, though he had a rather deep feeling he would not be finding out until much later on. But he could tell it was going to be big, to Muffet at least. She's not the kind of person who spends money in ways not involving getting more money. This must be really big and important to her, she doesn't o these things without motivation.

And with that, Sans was pretty curious to see what it what the surprise was.

There we go, readers. The one behind the construction that Mettaton is taking charge of, is none other than Muffet. She's helping fund the special project because she has the money to spend. And considering what it's ultimately for, it's going to be money well-spent. At least to her. It's worth it to her.

What shall it be? We'll find out next time!

Also...it's been exactly one year since I started this reboot story. It's been doing marginally better, I have better grasp of it, it's been flowing somewhat better, and...

Thanks for reading it. Ya really stuck out for this story through ups and downs, and there's likely to be more. But I'll be happy to entertain anyway. So sincerely, thanks. You readers are really amazing.