AUTHORS NOTE

I again have to apologize for my wonky upload schedule. I've been taking some time off just to deal with a couple personal things, as well as trying to figure out how I wanted to structure the latter portions of this story, as well as part two so it can be set up properly. I appreciate you guys for being so patient with me. I SWEAR ON THE BIBLE that I will try to keep a more constant upload pace!

The constant drone of rotor blades filled the air. Undyne straightened herself, watching as the two helicopters slowly lowered, throwing up stray dust around the landing pads. Beside her stood Reston's highest general, Wyatt Stone. A temporary military compound had been established ten miles west of the Gouven-Kralum border and the checkpoint that Undyne had taken just one week prior.

Since then, the combined forces of Kralum, Estines, and Reston had continued their firm push westbound. However, Gouven expressed that they had no more desire to continue fighting in the war. In the words of the Gouven president, "I honestly thought it was a bluff."

This had sparked peace talks, and now Matthias was on his way to oversee the signing of a treaty that would give them clearance to move through Gouven territory towards Daica.

Undyne clutched her helmet tight to her left hip as the helicopter slid open. She blinked in surprise when Matthias stepped out, followed close behind by Asgore himself. To the prime minister and king she gave a quick bow of respect, before speaking.

"Your highness! I was not aware you would be visiting. I thought you were going to be overseeing the war from home?"

Matthias gave an exasperated sigh. "That...was the initial plan."

She glanced curiously to Matthias, then back to Asgore.

"I have decided to oversee a vast portion of the war effort myself from the ground," the king announced.

Undyne's eyes widened. "But...with all due respect, your majesty, is that really wise? My primary job is to protect you. I do not know if I can do that when I am in combat on the front lines!"

"That is one purpose for my temporary stop here Corporal Vernilot," Matthias interjected. The doors of the second helicopter opened, and five human soldiers stepped down, filing up behind Matthias, who stepped aside. Their outfits were darker then the standard military uniform, and she took note of a patch on the right shoulder of each, a raven's skull embroidered on the patch.

"This is Raven Company. They are a group of highly trained operatives. They are cold, ruthless, lethal, however you want to describe them. Based on your...actions...during the taking of the checkpoint just over a week ago, I have made the decision to place you in command of them."

Undyne's jaw dropped open as she looked back to the prime minister, who grinned proudly, and gave her a salute.

"I hope you will take your appointment well, First Sergeant Vernilot." She returned the salute.

"Minister Hemmingway has informed that with your new position, you will no longer fight on the front lines," Asgore stated. "You will instead undergo covert operations deep within the territory of our enemy. I...trust you can handle this?" He let out an amused chuckle, seeing the excited gleam in the new sergeant's eyes. Matthias nodded to the general, before walking back to the helicopter. The rotors started up again as he called out, nearly drowning out his words.

"I look forward to seeing what the new leadership will bring us!"

Undyne and Asgore both watched as the two helicopters rose up into the sky, before arcing back to the west, flying away.

"So, what now?" she asked the king.

Asgore walked past her, towards General Stone. "Now, captain...we go to work."

The pages rustled as they turned. Frisk leaned back in the wheelchair, a book in his lap. It wasn't terribly big, only about the size of that of a diary, however the information he found within it proved to be quite...fascinating. Ever since Sans had told him of the ominous prophecy over a week prior, he had requested a history book from the monsters dealing with the subject. It was turning out to be one of the more interesting reads he had come across.

Movement flickered in the periphery of his vision as an invisible breeze seemed to blow the patient lounge's curtains. He took a deep breath, slowly closing the book, and rested it down on a coffee table, spinning his chair around to face the Riverperson.

"What are you doing here?" Frisk demanded. "I thought you said you couldn't interfere anymore."

"That was before-"

"Before what?" Frisk spat. "Before I discovered what else you had been keeping behind my back?"

Ausgrid huffed. "And here I thought I was beginning to make some progress with you…"

His tone grew louder. "You didn't think some ancient prophecy like that would be important for me to know about?!"

"Frisk, it is not important that you know everything-"

"That is where you are wrong. I think at this point, I not only need to know everything, I'm entitled to know everything. Last time I knew nothing, and look what ha-HUUURK!" A sharp grunt of pain cut off his words, his hands clutching the edges of the wheelchair. Ausgrid did and said nothing as Frisk leaned forward, wrapping his arms over his stomach. The phantom pains still plagued him, especially when he got riled up over something. He breathed deeply, regulating himself, and waiting until the pain shrank to a dull ache. His eyes looked defiantly toward the Riverperson.

"Who's the angel?"

The Riverperson was again quiet for several long seconds before replying. "I do not know."

Frisk chuckled. "Oh, see I think you do know. You know, I've been doing a lot of thinking about all of this...I think...the angel...is you. You're the one that holds enough power to bring the sky down on our heads, after all. I believe you're just waiting for things to hit rock bottom again, and then you'll swoop in, and save the day. You want to be the hero in your own story."

From the shadows of his hood, the Riverperson's tone grew irritated. "If that was truly my plan, Frisk, then why did I not do this the first time? You are emotionally distressed, and your logic is askew."

Frisk folded his arms. "Well, answer me this. Who am I fighting for? Am I really fighting for monsterkind?...Or am I fighting for you?"

The Riverperson's robes shifted, as he turned away slightly. "You are fighting for m-"

"No. You don't get to turn your back on me. You come over here, and you tell it to my face."

Ausgrid slowly faced the child again, and approached. He leaned over, and Frisk could feel the gaze beneath the hood staring into his soul. Then, as suddenly as he appeared, the Riverperson stood up.

"It is not so frequent that I am snuck up upon, Sans."

Frisk glanced behind the Riverperson, spying the skeleton standing in the doorway, a frown in his eyes.

"i'll take that as a compliment...what're you doing here?" Sans grunted.

The Riverperson chuckled. "Just visiting a little friend. However, I see that it is about time for me to make my leave. Frisk, I do love these...entertaining conversations of ours. Perhaps we shall have more of them once you are again willing to see reason."

He turned around, giving a curt nod to Sans as he brushed past him, exiting the room. Sans turned back to Frisk.

"why was he here?"

Frisk continued to glare at the doorway where the Riverperson disappeared. "He's...an acquaintance from my time."

Sans gave a slow nod. "uh huh…" Silence reigned in the room. Despite not looking at Sans, he could tell that the skeleton was staring straight at him.

"Yes?"

"you know who he is under that hood, don't you…"

Frisk didn't respond. Sans shook his head. "look, there's a lot going on here that i'm not sure i understand. or at least, not entirely. but if there's something important...i need to know."

Frisk slowly turned his face to gaze at his friend. "If there's something that you need to know...I'll tell you."

Sans slipped his hands from his pockets. He walked over, and tugged down the left of his hoodie, showing Frisk his collarbone. Etched into it, was two digits. "9A"

"you know…" Sans began, "i don't like talking about my past...my earlier life. we were kept in the dark about a lot of things. doctor gaster refused to tell us much about the outside world. we barely understood that the outside world existed. do you know why? he told us it was to…'protect' us. really though, it didn't. when he...it just made it harder for us to fend for ourselves. alphys helped us...start over. in snowdin. if he had just been more open...it could have made things a lot easier. so trust me when i say, if there's something i need to know...you better speak up, to help me, help you, fix things. are we clear?"

Frisk gave him a nod. "I understand...but I'm telling you, that isn't...something you need to know. You will find out soon enough. Just...not now."

Sans searched Frisk's gaze, trying to find any sort of hidden secret. Moments later, he yielded. He looked down to the book.

"how goes the reading?"