"No. Absolutely not," Wyatt stated firmly as he walked through the main encampment, the whole area bustling with excitement. With the continents of Croania and Eroth safe, the next step would be a massive offensive on Klazun, the Defenders' home country on the continent Ephin. Asgore had expressed to the general a desire to be a part of the main landing force. Obviously, Wyatt was less than pleased. The king followed after the general, arguing his case.

"General, I have been trained for combat since I was a child. I can handle this task."

Wyatt rounded on him. "With all due respect...your majesty...that was back in the days where swords were still commonplace. Times. Are. Different. You are too important to risk your life on the front lines!"

Asgore narrowed his eyes. "And with all due respect, General, this is not a choice that is yours to make! This is in my blood! My father gave his life protecting his people, and I'm sure my grandfather would have done the same! It is more than just another battle. This is a part of our heritage. Surely you would not deny me this honor!"

"It is hardly an honor, sire. I have seen how humans like to wage war today, and I can promise you, it is still very different from what you have seen. If they see you, recognize you, you will become their main target."

Asgore's determined glare was unwavering. "Then in that regard, little will have changed from the wars of old."

Seeing that this was a fight he would not win, the general closed his eyes. "If something goes wrong...if we are forced to retreat...I can not promise that you will return with the others."

"I understand. There are never any guarantees in wartime," he said without pause.

The general looked up at the king, and felt a sense of admiration for his dedication and loyalty towards his people. He wondered if he would have been able to force himself to do the same.

"I know that even if I say no, you will go anyway. So I may as well approve it. I will put you in command of the monster garrisons. You will coordinate with my sergeants on the battlefield to ensure that hopefully, this invasion goes off without a hitch."

Asgore let out a smug victory grin, turning around and starting to walk away.

"Hey," Wyatt called after him. "A lot of people are going to die in a couple days...make sure you aren't one of them for me."

Asgore looked back over his shoulder, but Wyatt had already preoccupied himself with other matters.

Soft snores echoed around the shed. The skeleton's body minutely shifted as he slumped against the table, having fallen asleep during his observations. Two more days had passed. Recently he'd observed new developments with the fragments, he just hoped it was what he'd been waiting for. He started when an eerily familiar voice suddenly spoke, breaking into his dream.

"Most impressive."

He sat up, blinking his eyes. With a yawn, he spun his chair around jumping out of it when he saw who stood in front of him. Gaster chuckled.

"Jumpy today, are we?"

Sans stared at his creator in shock, looking him up and down. "W….W-What? H-How?"

Gaster shook his head. "Another time, perhaps. To be frank, I am surprised that Frisk never told you before, considering the discussions we have had in the past."

He walked forward, past Sans to the workbench, and gazed at the containment pod, and at the soul which had almost completely taken its shape.

"As I said...most impressive. I see you managed to find the missing link from my work! I...never did figure that out myself."

Sans cautiously followed him back, also looking at the progress. Gaster then turned to him.

"So. You wish to make a soul for the human. Why?"

Sans played dumb. "What do you mean?"

Gaster scoffed. "Come on, Sans, you and I both know that you are smarter than that. I should know, I made you after all. Was the human's soul not sufficient enough? Why bother going to such lengths to make another?"

Sans shrugged. "I've been thinking. About the prophecy and all that. Y'know, i just kind of thought...what if it needed something to kickstart it? So i started working on this soul. I think frisk might be the angel we've been waiting for. Not yet, but with this...maybe."

Gaster almost looked disappointed. "I see. So you go through all this effort just so you can attempt to aid in fulfilling what some may interpret as a doomsday prophecy. Son...did you ever take the time to consider that, perhaps, this prophecy...was false?"

Sans furrowed his brow. "Whad'ya mean?"

Gaster kept his gaze transfixed on the pod. "I mean, this prophecy was first spoken of in the days of Ausgrid. People were different back then. Did you know that some thought this would come true when the king was assassinated? Hardly. Back then, people needed to believe in something for when times became hard, because they didn't know any better. It was rational for them. Yet somehow, it has endured in our culture even to this very day."

Weariness weighed at his bones. He slumped back down in his chair.

"So...yer tellin' me...that we've done all this work...for a prophecy that...was never real in the first place?"

"To put it politely...yes."

He tried to mask his anger. "Then what was the point?"

Gaster turned to him. "You tell me."

"I...I don't understand."

"Well, surely you did not begin this project solely for this...prophecy," Gaster chuckled. "Like me, you always have your own goals in mind. So, why did you do it?"

Sans was caught off-guard by the question. "Uh...well...we...as in me and alph, both know that the campaign on Ephin will be a flop with all the defenses stacked up there. A monster with a human soul may not look the best. So...maybe a human with a monster soul? It's just a theory, but one that might just work."

Gaster's grin faded. "So...you intend to use him as a weapon."

"What? Of course...not...he's...he's just...okay yeah he's a weapon, but he volunteered to do it!" Sans shot back.

Gaster almost seemed amused, a smirk crossing his features as Sans said Frisk volunteered. "Say your plan works. What happens after? To the soul and to Frisk."

Sans remained silent. Truth be told, he had never fully considered this. Gaster shook his head.

"You forgot one of the most fundamental rules. How will this impact things in the future? Surely Frisk could not keep the power. People would come for him to use it for their own needs, and before you know it, you would be fighting against your own creation. But just giving it away...well you and I both know this is easier said than done. Monsters could not absorb the soul, being that of a monster, and any human that takes it would face the same issues as Frisk."

Sans grunted, turning away back to the desk. "I'll cross that bridge when i get to it."

Gaster let out a heavy sigh. "You bear a heavy burden on your shoulders. Just...be cautious when moving forward. Remember what I told you. Do not make the mistakes that I made."

With another start, as Sans jerked awake, this time for real. A small beeping echoed from the containment pod. The clear contained cast a weak glow, drawing Sans's attention. He nearly fainted when he saw it. There it was. A monster soul, fully formed. The heart-shaped object floated upside-down in the pod. This was his first time truly seeing such a thing.

He let out a nervous chuckle. With this complete, he could enact the final step of his plan. He stood up, starting for the doors, then paused. The familiar words echoed back through his mind, crossing through it over and over again. Then he huffed. This was the only way. He opened the door to the shed, going to get his friend.