AN: Hey guys, it's been awhile. Anyways, this is a story I've had planned since about halfway through Adopted Promise. I really hope you like it. It's nice to be back to writing and I have a lot planned, including rewrites of some of my unfinished works. Don't forget to leave a comment if you like this, it really helps keep me motivated to continue. Thanks so much!
Disclaimer: Toby Fox owns Undertale. I simply borrow the characters for awhile in order to make my stories :)
Papyrus floated in the air, looking down at the scene taking place in the Judgment Hall while his friends lingered nearby. His younger brother stood there, glaring at the human child who had, in another time, been their friend. When they'd died, the gathered monsters had discovered they were suddenly able to remember the previous timelines, meaning they knew everything that has happened since Frisk had first fallen into the Underground. They remembered seeing the surface for the first time, beginning their lives anew only for it all to reset. They remembered the first time she'd turned on them, the dust covering her small form sending chills through their souls. Back then, they'd never known that the poor girl had been possessed by the spirit of the fallen princess, Chara, but they do now. For whatever reason, this is the first time they've remembered. All other times they'd simply turned to dust, having no memory of what happened after they'd died. This time, though, they've remained as some kind of ghostly entities. Now, having followed the younger skelebro to the Judgment Hall, they stand witness to the many attempts the human child has made on his life. By this point, they can see that he is weakening, his magic ebbing even as his resolve remains steady and all they can do is watch helplessly as Sans faces off against the deranged human once more.
"I won't let you through." The skeleton growls out, voice firm, though his bones tremble with exhaustion. "I'll stall you long enough for Asgore to gather the souls."
"You're such a fool, comedian." Chara laughs at the slipper-clad monster, causing his friends to shout in rage even though the two couldn't hear.
"What do you mean?" Sans asked, trepidation in his voice and sweat beading on his skull.
"The king is already dead." The girl gloated, smiling gleefully at the choked 'No' that escaped Sans' mouth upon hearing the news.
"Sans, please forgive me for placing this burden on your shoulders." Said monster spoke up, knowing that his words would go unheard. He clung to his family, Toriel holding his hand, offering silent support with Asriel nestled in her arms. "If I'd known this would happen I would never have appointed you as Judge. I am so sorry."
"You're lying," Sans denied, unwilling to believe the girl's words without proof. How could the king be dead, he was supposed to be waiting in the throne room.
"It's true. I was lucky enough to come across him in Waterfall. You see, that old goat decided to visit the snail farm today. He didn't even see me coming. The same goes for the flower when I cut him down right outside these very doors." Chara taunted as the group looked on, incapable of aiding their living friend. "You're the only one left, Sansy. Tell me, how does it feel knowing you've once again failed to save everyone you love?"
Pap watched tearfully as Sans' shoulders slumped and he seemed to fold in on himself due to the pain. It only lasted mere moments, for before the child could even take a step towards him, the short monster had straightened up, his stance mirroring the resolve within his soul. Staring at the girl, brow bones furrowed as blue fire blazed in his left eye, Sans addressed the human.
"I don't know how but I will end this one way or another." He voiced, tone low and gravelly. "Our lives are not toys for you to play with and destroy whenever the mood suits you. We have feelings... hopes and dreams... we care about what happens to others! That's more than I can say for you. You're just an empty husk of a child who once knew love. You let your hatred for your own kind consume you, turning you into the demon I see before me. It didn't matter that you found a family who loved you, who would have given their lives to protect your own! All you cared about was revenge. So tell me, Chara, who's the real monster here? Is it me... or you?"
His brother never failed to surprise him. Neither the king nor queen had realized who the human was until they'd been killed... so how was it that Sans had figured it out? That was a question better left for another time, the elder skeleton decided, tuning back into the fight in time to hear the child's response.
"Shut up!" She screamed, shrill voice echoing around the corridor. "You know nothing of me!"
"Really? You think I don't know anything? Well, let me tell you what I do know... I know that I could have easily become like you after the first genocide loop!" Here, Papyrus and the others let out pained gasps, moving to float closer to the small skeleton as he turned his face to the floor in shame, wishing they could offer some sort of comfort. "There were times when I let my hatred rule my actions, times where I gave up altogether... but that's not who I am! That is why, no matter how many times you reset, I will be here waiting to stop you. I'll do my best every single time... even if it's not enough. I refuse to let my soul become shadowed by hate!"
A startling laugh echoed through the passageway, drawing attention back to the child. Her eyes were narrowed, mirth shining in their crimson depths as she smiled cruelly at her opponent.
"You bonehead! For being as smart as you are it's incredible how stupid you can be." She exclaimed after catching her breath, the knife she wielded still clutched securely in her hand. "It's true, your soul isn't shadowed by hate, it's shadowed by something much harder to get rid of... despair, the absence of HOPE. It's the reason you only have 1HP. It's the reason you couldn't bring yourself to lift a finger against me until I'd killed all your friends. Face the facts, bone boy, you'll never beat me."
The comedian's eyes went dark, fear gripping him as he took an involuntary step back. He didn't know it but Sans had backed up directly in front of his older brother and Papyrus wasted no time placing a transparent hand on the smaller skeleton's shoulder. Their other friends gathered 'round as well, offering silent support as they glared daggers at the fallen child. How dare she prey on his insecurities like that.
'Do not listen to her, Sans.' Papyrus urged, putting as much confidence into his voice as possible. Who knows, maybe if he simply tried hard enough he'd be able to reach the younger monster. 'You're far stronger than you think you are. I know you've been hurting, I should have done a better job of being there for you, but I know you can do this. When you set your mind to something then anything is possible, you just have to believe in yourself as I do!'
Suddenly, Sans gasped, shock filling him as he whipped around to look at them. For a moment, Pap was certain that his brother had somehow managed to see him but was disappointed when rather than meeting his eyes the other looked through him as if he weren't there at all. He let out a soft sigh knowing it wasn't the pun lover's fault, even so, that didn't make him feel any better.
Sans shook his head, he could have sworn he'd felt a hand on his shoulder just then. Huh, he must be imagining things. Still, for some odd reason, the thought helped him calm down enough to regain his composure. Launching a wave of bones at the approaching human, she dodged them easily, moving in to attack a moment later. Sans teleported away in the nick of time. Summoning an even more complex bone attack, he watched for an opening only to find there was none. They'd faced off so many times by now that she had memorized every possible combination of attacks he could arrange. As the knife swung towards him once more, the monster felt a strange surge of energy overtake him and the child paused in her advance, staring at him incredulously as he felt his right eye spark to life for the first time in years.
"What? What is this?" Chara cried, her voice dissipating as another took its place.
"Sans..." The new voice was unmistakably Frisk's and he smiled gently when his gaze met with chocolate brown rather than crimson red. "What's happening? How did I gain back contr... oh my gosh! Both your eyes are glowing!"
The ghostly group stared, awed expressions on their faces as Papyrus grinned unabashedly. Somehow his magic had been able to breach the gap between life and death in order to give his brother the boost he needed to keep going. He only hoped it was enough.
"It's okay, kiddo," Sans reassured, not fully understanding what had just occurred, only that his soul felt lighter than it had in ages. "I don't really know what's going on but something tells me that everything's gonna be alright. Bear with me on this, kay?"
"Okay." She said before wincing, one hand flying up to cradle her head. "Sans! She's taking control again... I can't fight her!"
"Gah! You little brat!" Chara's angry voice took over where Frisk's more gentle tone had been seconds before. "This body is mine. You don't have a say anymore!"
She charged at him and he knew there was no way he'd be able to dodge since she'd caught him off guard. The hoodie-clad skeleton braced himself, ready for the impact that would once again take his life.
"Fight, you punk!" Undyne shouted, fist raised to the sky as she sent a wave of her magic into the skeleton's soul. "Don't you dare give up!"
As soon he felt the unfamiliar magic coarse through him, his right eye flared once more, unbeknownst to him, this time glowing an incredible shade of green as a spear materialized in his hand, effectively blocking the oncoming assault. He stared at it, unable to comprehend what had just happened. In all the loops he'd experienced he'd never encountered anything like this. But now, as he stared at the weapon securely grasped in his hand, he suddenly realized what he'd been feeling this whole fight.
"We are here, Sans," Toriel spoke kindly, her warm, purple eyes locked on the smaller figure. "You no longer have to go through this alone."
"The fate of the Underground rests with you, stay determined," Asgore added, worried lines creasing his brow, only lessening when their son reached up to take his hand.
"I can feel them, my friends," Sans spoke softly. Closing his eyes for a moment, he pictured the others standing here with him before opening them once more and raising the spear towards Chara's enraged form. "They're here, helping me fight against you."
"YOU ARE RIGHT, BROTHER, WE ARE HERE WITH YOU!" Papyrus cried, wishing he could wrap his sibling in a bone-crushing embrace and shield him from the misery of the world. "WE'VE BEEN WATCHING AND ARE SO VERY PROUD! HANG IN THERE, YOU'VE GOT THIS! I BELIEVE IN YOU!"
"It's true, darling!" Mettaton declared, posing dramatically even though the younger monster couldn't see him. "We're all lending you our power so you'd better not lose."
"Your friends are dead!" Chara screamed as she raced forward once more, avoiding every single bone in her way. "They can't help you!"
The spear dissipated, replaced a moment later with a large staff-like femur... his eye now glowing with his brother's orange magic. This weapon was far easier to wield seeing as it was so similar to his own magic and, besides that, the warmth radiating from it immediately set him at ease.
'Thanks, Papyrus.' He thought to himself, hugging the bone staffclose to his sternum for a short moment and he could have sworn he felt the phantom touch of hands resting gently on his shoulders.
He blocked with a powerful swing, knocking the knife away and effectively giving him an opening to strike her down. Sans sank to the floor, knees giving out as exhaustion overtook him.
"It...it's not over." Alphys stuttered, watching as golden light flared in the hall. "Sans y...you've got to get up!"
"Come on, Sans!" Asriel cried, knowing it was only a matter of seconds before his sister would be back. "Please! You're the only one who can stop this."
As if hearing their words, Sans slowly climbed to his feet... breath coming in pained gasps as he readied himself once more. This was the fourteenth time Chara had loaded her save this run and his magic reserves were running dangerously low. He knew he wouldn't last much longer without rest. As Chara reappeared at the end of the Judgment Hall, Sans felt his soul clench in apprehension.
"So, comedian, how long are we going to play this little game, hmm?" The human child questioned, smirking when she noticed him sway unsteadily. "Wouldn't it be easier to give in to the despair? I could put you out of your misery."
"No, taking the easy way out never solves anything." The slipper-wearing monster argued, knowing there was no way he'd give up... not again... never again!
"So be it," Chara murmured, raising her knife until it glinted in the light before beginning her charge.
Sans dodged, albeit sloppily, and sent a weak blaster in retaliation. It missed, leaving him open for another attack.
"HE WON'T LAST MUCH LONGER!" Papyrus yelled, knowing his brother was completely exhausted by this point.
"Then we just need to lend him more of our magic," Toriel announced, meeting each of the gathered monster's eyes.
They nodded in turn before moving as one to place their hands upon their living comrade, imbuing him with all the magic that remained within their disembodied spirits.
Sans once again felt as if he were being touched by the spectral hands of his fallen friends and a moment later a rush of energy filled his soul, erasing his fatigue and refilling his magic reserves to a higher level than they've ever been. He wasn't fighting alone anymore, the ones who had given their lives in defense of the Underground were all fighting beside him and they would not lose!
Summoning his blue magic, Sans latched onto the child's soul and yanked it forward with all the might his body possessed, directly into a wall of sharpened bone. He watched as the red heart was ripped free of its host's body, fully engulfed in his magic, and he released his hold on the child, sending her crashing to the floor in a mangled heap of bloody flesh and bone. Even though it had to be done, he couldn't repress the wave of nausea that threatened to sweep over him. That body used to be Frisk's, the human he'd promised to protect and had come to see as a friend... and he'd torn her apart.
"It's okay, Sans... it had to be done... I didn't feel any pain." A voice spoke directly in his mind as the soul pulsed weakly in his magic's hold. "Now use my soul to break the barrier. Set the monsters free."
"But, without your power to reset..." The skeleton trailed off, unable to voice what that would mean for his friends... for Frisk... for his brother.
"It's the only way to stop the loops," Frisk said, glancing at the others who had formed a loose circle around their trembling friend.
They smiled at her, eyes sad but resolute and she could tell they understood what she was asking of them. Bringing her gaze back to Sans, she watched a tear trail down his face as he shook his head.
"No," He denied in a near whisper, not wanting to live in a world where everyone he loved was gone. "There has to be another way."
"I'm so sorry, Sans." The human replied, her own eyes growing misty as she kept a tight, mental hold on Chara so the other girl couldn't regain control. "You know that isn't true. We've tried for how many loops now, it's always the same. You need to accept that some things can't be changed. It's time we let our friends rest in peace. You have to understand, please, it's for the best. Secure the fate of the Underground and, when your time finally comes, we'll be there waiting for you on the other side."
"I don't want to be alone." The comedian choked out, an anguished sob escaping his throat as he clapped a hand over his mouth in an attempt to hold it in.
"You won't be. We'll always be watching over you." Frisk smiled as the others crowded closer to the distraught skeleton, though she knew he couldn't see it. "Live, Sans, for us as well as for yourself... live and be happy. You of all monsters deserve that after everything you've sacrificed to protect the Underground."
He thought on it for a moment, head bowed under the weight of what he had to do. Then, slowly, he raised his head... a lost look within the dark depths of his sockets.
"What if I can't?" He whispered, hoarse voice barely loud enough for them to hear.
The gathered monsters felt as if their souls would shatter for a second time upon seeing the pain their younger friend was experiencing. They would do anything in their power to ease his grief but that wasn't possible. They were dead and with their remaining magic expended they could no longer influence the living world.
"Try... please," Frisk answered, at last, a pleading ring to her voice. "None of us want you to be sad, you know. We miss seeing your smile. Not the fake ones you've been hiding behind lately, those don't even compare. When you are truly happy, Sans, you shine brighter than the sun."
Silence reigned for several minutes as the youngest skelebro took in what the young human had said before steeling his resolve. He then looked up directly into the faces of the gathered monsters, though they knew it was a fluke as he was still incapable of seeing them, and gave a firm nod.
"Alright, I'll try" He spoke, voice wobbling yet holding a resolved edge. "I swear to you... I'll break the barrier and see to it that monsterkind gets settled on the surface. After that... well... after that, I can't make any promises."
Knowing it was the best they were going to get, his friends nodded in agreement, prompting Frisk to speak for them once more.
"That's all we ask." She sighed in relief, feeling her soul shudder weakly as cracks began to form. "Now hurry! Take my soul along with the previous six, break the barrier, set all monsters free!"
"Not all of them." He couldn't help but think as he raced towards the barrier to gather the other souls, a few tears escaping his eye sockets as the canisters came into view.
Using his magic, Sans latched onto the floating hearts and pulled them free of their containers, bringing them close enough for him to absorb. As the seven human souls bonded with his monster one he felt immense power coarse through his body and had just enough time to send out a beam of pure energy towards the barrier before he collapsed to the ground. Moments before he faded into unconsciousness, Sans managed to catch a glimpse of his friends, their faces filled with love as they gazed down at him from above.
-XXX-XXX-XXX-
It was over. After Sans had awoken it didn't take long to realize that the barrier had been broken and the souls were nowhere in sight. He'd done it, Chara was gone, she'd never be able to hurt anyone ever again. But in sealing her fate he'd taken the life of his last remaining friend. Frisk's sacrifice had been a necessary evil but one he wished he could have avoided. Now here he sat, broken, desolate, wanting nothing more than to be with the ones he loved. But that would have to wait... he had a promise to keep.
Shuffling to his feet, Sans gathered the last dregs of his power to teleport. He made the jump, landing shakily just outside the lab in Hotland where the evacuees were hidden deep within the basement. He passed the pile of Alphys' dust, cringing as he did so. She had been caught unaware after leading the final group to safety, making her stand here rather than lead Chara to the defenseless monsters below in hopes of escaping her fate. She'd been brave, braver than Sans felt he had ever been, but she'd perished just like the others... not standing a chance against the human's violent might.
'No! Don't think about that.' He chided himself, knowing that if he let himself succumb to his despair then it would all be over.
Unbeknownst to him, his friends were upholding their promise as well. They remained by his side, following him on this journey as they watched over him. They realized the burden they had left on his shoulders but there was nothing they could do to change things. This was how it had to be if they wanted to see their people freed. So, ignoring the beckoning light, they stayed as ghosts among this plain. Sans brought their attention back to him as he shoved open the door to the hidden elevator and stepped inside, taking one more trembling breath before pushing the button that would let him descend.
"Hey, anyone here?" He called as he stepped out into the waiting darkness of the true lab.
There was no sound to be heard, no clue that anyone else was here at all, that is until a familiar monster rounded the corner... his light illuminating the darkened room enough for the skeleton to make out the shape of huddled figures hiding within the shadows.
"Sans! Thank Asgore you're alive." Grillby exclaimed, missing the skeleton's wince as he placed his hands on either of his friend's shoulders. "We thought you'd been killed when you didn't show up here. Do you know what happened?"
The shorter being nodded solemnly, taking a moment to bask in the knowledge that at least one of his closest friends had survived, while more monsters gathered round. The skeleton considered his words for several seconds before speaking, not bothering to raise his voice for he knew that the ones who heard him would pass on what was said to the others.
"The human was defeated, the barrier broken... we're free." He said, a weariness in his voice that the fire elemental instantly picked up on.
"What of the others?" He asked, dread filling his soul. "Papyrus, Undyne, Mettaton? Did any who fought the child survive?"
Sans felt the question like a blow to his sternum and it took several moments before he was able to speak once more.
"You're lookin' at him." The comedian said, voice apathetic as he shrugged... the events of the last few hours (along with the numerous other timelines he'd endured) had left him feeling numb to the world around him.
He didn't even respond as a series of loud gasps echoed throughout the chamber, soon to be replaced by the murmuring of frightened monsters.
"Did you hear that? Sans defeated the human!"
"We're safe, we don't have to hide anymore."
"True, but the king is dead!"
"What about the Royal Guard? Where are they?"
"All dead, there's no one left."
"Then who will lead us?"
"What are we going to do now?"
Sans had zoned out though he was brought back to himself as the gathered monsters crowded forward. Grillby tried to keep them at bay but Sans knew that it wouldn't last for long. Without a leader, they would soon fall into panic and disarray. There was only one solution he could see.
Stepping forward, Sans finally raised his voice to be heard above the crowd, carefully concealing the weariness he felt within his soul.
"We move on!" He called, doing his best to live up to the spirit of his fallen friends, any of whom would have made a better choice to lead monsterkind to salvation than him... but that wasn't an option now. "The barrier is broken! Tomorrow, I'll lead a small party to the surface to meet with the human leaders about settling above ground. With luck, they will have forgotten the prejudice they once felt and be open to the idea. If not I will do my best to smooth things over. We cannot afford a war, even more so now that the fallen human has decimated our government. So, once we make it topside, I want everyone to be on their best behavior, is that clear?"
A chorus of agreement rang out and Sans felt a sigh of relief slip past his mouth as he turned to meet the bartender's worried gaze.
"Sans... are you sure about this?" He asked, motioning to where the other survivors had now knelt and begun proclaiming the skeleton as their new leader.
"No, I'm not." He admitted in a voice only audible to himself and the fire monster. "But I made a promise and I intend to see it through. If that means leading monsterkind out of the darkness, then so be it."
The taller monster stood there for a short moment, silently analyzing the smaller male before a fond smile rose on his face. In a single fluid motion, the bartender sank to one knee, a fiery hand pressed to his chest as he gazed up into the sockets of his long time friend with firm resolve.
"Then I swear I will be by your side every step of the way, my king." Grillby declared, voice ringing with nothing but truth as he made his vow. "You have my trust, my loyalty, and my friendship. No matter what may come, whether you need advice or simply someone to listen, I will be there whenever you have need of me."
The newly crowned monarch nodded in acceptance, unable to speak around the lump in his throat. With tears gleaming in his sockets, he reached out and helped his companion back to his feet before turning to address his people once more. Papyrus and the others looked on with pride, their own faces growing wet as they watched the younger monster gracefully assume a role he was never meant to play. They knew it wouldn't be easy but they also knew that there was no way Sans would let them down, after all, he'd promised. Now, as they watched him stand tall amongst the gathered monsters, there was no doubt in their minds that they'd done the right thing by sacrificing the power to reset so that the rest of monsterkind could live, not in an infinite loop but in the freedom they so rightly deserved.
-XXX-XXX-XXX- Ten years later -XXX-XXX-XXX-
Sans stared out at the familiar forest, shuddering in the cold as he sat alone on the snowy hilltop near his former post on the outskirts of Snowdin Town. The Underground was deserted, after all, it had been years since he'd defeated Chara and broken the barrier. Now, his promise had finally been fulfilled. The monsters had settled into the human world with hardly any conflict. There had been slight prejudice at first but after proving themselves to be kind and just the humans had slowly come around, welcoming them amongst their kind as friends. Yes, ten years may not seem like a long time (especially to monsters), but to Sans, it had been an eternity.
He'd never fully recovered from the ordeal he'd gone through and, although he'd put on a brave front, those who knew him well could tell he was fading a little more with each passing day. It was only that morning that he'd pulled Grillby aside. The flame elemental had become his second in command and Sans knew it was only fair to prepare him for the inevitable. His friend had argued at first, only stopping when he recalled the way the skeleton's eye lights had dimmed within the last week, then hung his head in defeat. He knew there was nothing he could do for the smaller monster besides offer him support. He'd kept his king company on the journey back to Mt. Ebott, and for that, Sans was grateful. They'd said their goodbyes at the cave where the barrier once stood, the skeleton reaching up to remove the crown from around his head, carefully holding it out for his friend to take. Grillby did so, hands shaking badly as he placed the heavy burden on his own head before engulfing the shorter male in a desperate hug. They stayed like that for a moment, neither wanting to let go of the other, then they broke apart. The former king turned away from the life he'd known for the past few years, looking back only once as he sent a grateful nod to his final living friend.
Sans slowly made his way through the Underground (unable to summon the magic needed to teleport) until he arrived at the place he now sat. He'd only stopped once along the way, when he'd picked up his discarded hoodie from the house he'd once shared with his brother, before continuing on to the forest outside Snowdin. It was here he wished to take his final breath, here in the place he and Papyrus had played as children, where they'd later trained for the royal guard together. It was here that his long journey had begun on that fateful day when he'd first met the small human he'd come to see as a friend. Taking a final look around, the skeleton closed his eyes, peace filling his mind as he let his soul fade into the ether. So passes Sans, last king of New Home, his dust spreading silently across the snowy hilltop as the wind howled mournfully for the lost hero of the Underground.
AN: Thanks so much for reading! Let me know what you think :)