Grillby had arrived just in time to watch Sans relax in his brother's arms, a monster pinned against the wall falling to the floor, bumping into several blue bones on the way down. Grillby felt his mind grind to a halt, caught halfway to becoming corporeal as he watched the scene continue to unfold before him from the Eternal Flame. Papyrus had sprouted an extra set of arms at some point, though only one of them had sleeves. An odd thing to notice, Grillby thought distantly. In Papyrus's multi-limbed grip was Sans's own wrists, all three of them. He seemed to have a second left forearm sprouting from his elbow.

Then Papyrus twisted around to face the fallen monster and point at them, causing them to slide out of the room without being touched. That was… how had… mortals couldn't… what?

What?

Sans falling limply forward into Papyrus's embrace finally snapped Grillby into action. He rushed to become corporeal right next to the altar, where Papyrus was awkwardly holding Sans upright so he didn't tumble off. He noted distantly that they both had the normal amount of arms again. He thinks he feels relief.

"… What happened? Is Sans alright? Was anyone hurt? Was it a human?" He put an arm around Sans, trying to help keep him steady. Firestorm and Brimstone whined from where they circled the altar, still agitated and confused.

"SANS IS ALRIGHT, HE JUST TIRED HIMSELF OUT. THOUGH PERHAPS WE SHOULD SEND FOR SPOOKINS JUST TO BE SAFE."

"Papyrus wh-what was… did you just… and Sans…" Fieri stumbled up to them, trailing off in confusion as he glanced back at the room's entrance.

Grillby looked over as well, finding the Dogi hovering in the entryway with axes held defensively in tight grips. He didn't have time for this! He gathered the magic needed to make himself appear before mortal eyes, adding in a bright flash right at the end to get everyone's attention. "… Char Fieri, head priest of this temple, tell me what happened."

"Your lordship!" Fieri rushed to bow, stumbling to his knees in the process. He seemed to decide that was a better position and firmly planted his hands on the ground.

Grillby turned to Papyrus, "… Move him to the flame, please." He motioned to the urn before turning his attention back to Fieri, who was peeking up at him. On a silent command, the two war hounds moved to sit primly on either side of him, now also visible to mortal eyes. "… I gave you an order, priest."

"There was a traveler from Auldshoppe," Fieri said quickly, looking back down at the ground.

"… Oh get up, I can't hear you with your nose in the dirt."

"There isn't any dirt," Fieri grumbled before awkwardly climbing to his feet. He quickly brushed down his robes, then bowed his head to Grillby again. "There was a traveler from Auldshoppe, he claimed to be a wealthy merchant with gifts for the temple and for… S-Sans." Fieri took a moment to take a deep breath. "He accused Sans of being a liar and a scam artist, then threatened him with bullets. I'm not entirely sure what happened next, but I'm fairly certain Sans defended himself." Fieri glanced at the room behind them, Grillby followed his gaze to see scorch marks in several places on the floor. "Then Papyrus came in to calm him down."

Grillby nodded, that's about where he came in. "… You didn't actually see Sans defend himself?"

"He… it was hard to look right at him, like looking through a mist at a bright light. But I did see his bullets." Fieri looked away, behind Grillby, then back at the god. "They were blue."

Grillby nodded. "… I saw."

"But that isn't possible, is it?"

It shouldn't be. Nor should any of the other things he'd just watched Papyrus do. Neither should a lot of other, smaller things he'd watch both the brothers do since he'd brought Sans into his home. There was something strange about the Skeleton brothers, something he'd seen hints of for quite a long time and had simply ignored because they'd seemed so insignificant back then. Musings for a later time, right now he had a job to do.

"… Have the city guard been sent for?"

"Oh, I don't know, that's a good question."

"… Send someone to bring the guard here and take the attackers into custody, then clear out the temple, send everyone home. Have the guard close the gates. My other cities as well."

"Your lordship?"

"… I cannot afford to have my attention scattered at the moment. Now do as I bid."

"Yes, your lordship." Fieri bowed again, then grabbed Papyrus by the arm. "Come along, Papyrus, we need to clear out the temple."

Papyrus did not so much as budge when Fieri began trying to drag him out. "BUT… SANS…"

"Is in good hands, come along."

Grillby relaxed his aura as Papyrus allowed himself to be pulled from the room. He would need to talk with Papyrus himself later. The girls were sent to guard Sans's rest, contritely laying themselves out by the base of the Eternal Flame. They weren't in trouble, nothing that had happened was their fault. He would make sure to tell them that first chance he got.

"We heard the story," Dogamy said.

"(Are Sans and the puppies going to be okay?)"

Grillby glanced back at the urn Sans was currently resting in, nestled in his own flames, surrounded by them. Grillby used them to briefly check over Sans, then nodded in satisfaction before turning back to the Dogi. "… He tired himself out and is resting now, they're fine."

A distant, "I THINK I WOULD NOTICE SUDDENLY SPROUTING AN EXTRA SET OF ARMS!" floated in from the hallway outside.

"There's more to the story than Fieri told, isn't there?"

"(We felt the magic being used, that was too powerful to be from a mortal.)"

"… I felt it too, but I'm not sure we'll get any answers until Sans wakes." Though that wouldn't stop him from talking to Papyrus the first chance he had.

"Go keep watch over him."

"(We'll keep watch just outside.)"

"… Don't you have to get back to your household? What about the family you protect?"

"They'll be fine, they aren't going anywhere right now."

"(And neither are we.)"

"… Thank you, friends."

The Dogi nodded, then went to go stand guard over the entrance. He watched for a moment as they situated themselves on either side, talking with the other local lesser gods that had gathered in the hallway. Then he turned and went over to the bonfire, crouching down before the girls.

"… What happened isn't your fault, I don't blame either of you at all. You were always meant to protect monsters from humans, not other monsters."

They both whimpered and licked his outstretched hands.

"… You called me, you did good. You're both good girls."

Brimstone's tail started wagging cautiously at the praise, Firestorm just looked all the guiltier.

"… I mean it, you're both such good girls."

Firestorm's tail gave a slow, shallow wag. It was a start, he'd have to remind them they did well once things settled again, hopefully seeing Sans awake will help them get over this.

Grillby settled on the edge of the urn, gently petting Sans's skull as he rested. There he waited.

The afternoon eventually passed, tense as it was. Grillby was grateful for the Dogi standing guard, he could feel the masses of lesser gods milling about in the hallway outside, hurrying in and out of the temple as they frantically asked questions no one had the answers to. The Dogi kept them out, explaining the situation the best they could in his stead. They also didn't attempt to keep Papyrus out, he would come into the inner court from time to time to fuss over the still sleeping Sans. The first time Grillby had grabbed onto his robes before he could flit away again.

"… Has something like this ever happened before?"

"YES, UNFORTUNATELY IT'S NOT THE FIRST TIME SOMEONE HAS BEEN IRATE WITH SANS FOR… VARIOUS REASONS. OR DID YOU MEAN HIS CURRENT STATE? ALSO YES, HE'S UNFORTUNATELY TIRED HIMSELF OUT LIKE THIS BEFORE. USUALLY BECAUSE OF AFORE SAID IRATE PEOPLE. THOUGH HE'S NEVER BEEN PREGNANT BEFORE. ARE YOU SURE WE SHOULDN'T SEND FOR SPOOKINS?"

Grillby wasn't so sure Spookins would be of much help, he shook his head. "… I checked on the children already, they're fine. And you think Sans is fine?"

"OH YES, HE JUST TIRED HIMSELF OUT. LET HIM REST AND HE'LL BE BACK TO SPOUTING TERRIBLE PUNS IN NO TIME."

"… That's good." Grillby slumped a little. "… But about the things your brother and you did, you can both do all that?"

"OF COURSE! WE ARE BROTHERS, AFTER ALL. MOST OF IT WE FIGURED OUT BY PRACTICING TOGETHER."

He was about to ask about the arms, then remembered what Papyrus had said to the others earlier. He hadn't even seemed to notice them, he didn't seem to think any of what he'd done was strange. To him it probably wasn't. Grillby let him go then, turning his attention back to his sleeping husband.

Now the sun had set and a hush had fallen over the temple. Sans still had yet to wake and the other gods had all returned to their homes when nothing else changed. Grillby wasn't soothed by the quiet, there was a tenseness in the air as he waited for Sans to stir. The Dogi felt it too, refusing to leave their self appointed post. Even Papyrus seemed to feel it, still flitting to and fro despite having nothing to actually do.

Then Grillby felt it. The watch fire over one of the gates flickered, then died down to nearly embers as something passed over it. Grillby tensed, he felt no ill intent and there was no alarm raised, but it still unnerved him. He felt other flames of his, smaller ones posing as fire sprites in his favorite restaurants and a few in small shrines kept in some homes, dimmed as whoever this was passed, then sprang back to life as if nothing had happened.

A lesser god ran up to the Dogi, a water elemental who guarded a spring on the outskirts of the city. She gasped, then called over their crossed axes, "Lord Gaster approaches."

Grillby felt his own flames flicker and die down until he looked more like Fieri than even his own mortal guise. "… W. D. Gaster, he who walks the void between stars, high god of magic and divination, adviser to and friend of King Asgore himself… that Lord Gaster?"

The water elemental nodded.

Grillby looked down at Sans with a mix of awe and horror, then back up to the water elemental and the other gods gathering behind her. "… We must prepare to receive him." He got up and walked toward the others, herding them out into the hall.

"Lord Gaster himself?" Dogamy whispered in awe.

"(What could bring one of the most powerful high gods here?)"

"… Hopefully he will tell us himself."

Grillby tried to compose himself, stoking his flames and smoothing down his robes. The Dogi moved to one side of the hall, standing before the pillars, and stood at attention. Grillby motioned for the other gods present to do the same, they quickly lined up on either side. More gods came stumbling in, all babbling about the approaching high god before quickly joining the others. Grillby nodded, satisfied with their imposing figures nearly blotting out the columns they stood in front of.

They were nothing on the high god himself.

Lord Gaster stepped into the temple, taller than the highest building and an aura wider than any river. Grillby knew that gods could bend space to suit their needs, it was how he managed to fit inside his own temples after all, and yet he still couldn't fathom how a god with such an imposing presence could possibly fit into his small, humble temple. Lord Gaster looked around himself, nodded in what Grillby hoped was approval, then approached. Grillby felt his knees tremble.

Lord Gaster had a face that appeared to be carved from a pale wood, Grillby could just make out the grain of it as he drew near. There was a crack in the wood that led from a drooping eye up to disappear over the curve of his bald head. The other eye was leaking a dark, glittering liquid. Both eyes were hollow voids lit up from within by a pair of bright lights like stars. Or Sans's eyes. From robes that were dark as midnight (though the longer he stared at them the more he thought he saw winking lights and swirling, colorful clouds) came a set of hands clasped casually in front of him. Those weren't the hands he held towards Grillby in greeting. Neither were the set resting causally at his side.

"HELLO-"

Grillby dropped to his knees and bent forward in a deep bow, much like Fieri had earlier that very day. The rustle of robes and thunk of knees hitting stone told Grillby the other local gods had followed his lead.

"AH YES, THE FORMALITIES. AHEM. GREETINGS, LORD FIERSOME."

"… Greetings, Lord Gaster. Welcome to my humble temple."

"AND A LOVELY TEMPLE IT IS, VERY HOMEY. I QUITE LIKE IT."

"… Thank you." Grillby stayed bent over, unsure what to do next. He'd only ever caught glimpses of the high gods during the war, he had no idea what to do here and now.

There was a swish of fabric and the clearing of a throat, Grillby chanced a glance up. Lord Gaster had leaned forward and offered a hand to Grillby, he looked up at the offered hand, just barely holding himself back from touching it. The fingers were thicker, ball jointed, and clearly carved from wood to mimic a more fleshy looking creature, but the palm was all too familiar. Four pieces held together solely by magic, a four pointed star shaped hole in the center where the pieces didn't quite touch. Grillby gulped.

"I THINK WE'VE HAD ENOUGH FORMALITIES FOR NOW, DON'T YOU AGREE?"

Grillby nodded and accepted the help getting up. "… What uh… why… that is… how can I help? You?"

Lord Gaster smiled and stood straight, his arms shuffling as pairs moved to take up various positions, one disappeared altogether behind his back. "EARLIER TODAY I SENSED SOMEONE USING SOME VERY POWERFUL MAGIC, I WOULD HAVE BEEN HERE SOONER BUT IT WAS A BRIEF DISPLAY AND TOOK SOME TIME AND DIVINATION TO TRACK DOWN."

Grillby nodded.

"I WAS QUITE SURPRISED TO RECOGNIZE THE MAGIC TOO, I THOUGHT MY CHILDREN HAD BOTH BEEN KILLED IN THE WAR."

Grillby's knees trembled and threatened to give out on him again.

"PLEASE, WILL YOU SHOW ME TO THEM?" One pair of hands clasped together in front of Lord Gaster, as if Grillby could possibly refuse.

"… He's this way." On shaking legs, Grillby turned and led Lord Gaster into the inner court. Firestorm and Brimstone perked up at his entrance, then shot out of the room, claws scrabbling for traction as they rounded to race into the living quarters behind the temple.

"OH MY, WAR HOUNDS?"

"… Sent to fetch someone I think you should meet."

Lord Gaster looked him up and down skeptically, then bent down to get through the entryway. Grillby watched as Lord Gaster looked around curiously before wandering over to the Eternal Flame. He gasped and knelt down to over over it. "SANS! OH MY SWEET LITTLE CHILD, LOOK HOW YOU'VE GROWN." A few hands reached into the bonfire, Grillby could feel the other push his flames aside to gently caress his sleeping husband. Lord Gaster paused briefly, then sent an inquisitive pulse of magic through Sans Grillby only felt because of his flames. Gaster looked over his shoulder at Grillby, his good eye half lidded. "I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION YOU HAD RECENTLY MARRIED A MORTAL."

"… So was I." Grillby clasped his hands behind his back to hide their trembling.

A hand came up to cover Lord Gaster's mouth, his eyes open wide in shock. "WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO HIM?"

Grillby shook his head, "… I don't know."

Papyrus barged into the room, followed quickly by Firestorm and Brimstone. Grillby quickly thanked the girls and dismissed them.

Lord Gaster gasped, a hand reaching towards Papyrus. "PAPYRUS?"

"YES, THAT'S ME. HELLO. IT'S NICE TO MEET YOU…?" He looked nervously between Lord Gaster and the urn he knew Sans was still sleeping in.

Lord Gaster's arm drooped, "DON'T YOU RECOGNIZE ME?"

"NO? SHOULD I?"

"… Papyrus, this is Lord Gaster, high god of magic."

"OH! I'VE SEEN SO FEW DEPICTIONS OF YOU! BUT THAT'S NO EXCUSE, OF COURSE I SHOULD RECOGNIZE ONE OF THE HIGH GODS. IT'S VERY NICE TO MEET YOU, LORD GASTER." Papyrus gave a quick, little bow. "BUT WHY ARE YOU HERE? OH! ARE YOU GOING TO HELP SANS RECOVER FASTER?"

"I HOPE TO DO THAT AS WELL, YES. I FELT HIM USING POWERFUL MAGIC AND CAME TO FIND HIM, I DIDN'T DARE HOPE YOU BOTH LIVED." Tears welled up in Lord Gaster's eyes. "MY LITTLE BABY, ALL GROWN UP. BUT WHY ARE YOU WEARING THAT MORTAL GUISE?"

"I AM MORTAL?" Papyrus said in confusion, stepping away from Lord Gaster's reaching hand.

"NO, YOU'VE NEVER BEEN MORTAL. HAVE YOU BOTH BEEN LIVING LIKE ONES THIS WHOLE TIME? WHERE'S TERRA? WHERE'S YOUR MOTHER?"

"OUR PARENTS WERE KILLED WHEN WE WERE CHILDREN, DURING THE WAR. WE DON'T… WE NEVER… IT'S ONLY EVER BEEN JUST US." Papyrus shook his head in confusion.

A few of the tears slipped free and slid down Lord Gaster's face, one hand came up to hide his eyes. "I THOUGHT AS MUCH, MY DEAR TERRA." The hand left Lord Gaster's face, joining it's pair to be held out to Papyrus. "BUT I'M STILL HERE, YOUR FATHER'S STILL HERE, PAPYRUS. PLEASE."

Papyrus looked hard at the approaching hands, though Lord Gaster didn't try to touch him. Papyrus walked a little closer, looking the hand nearest hand up and down. He pulled off one of his gloves and held his own hand up in comparison. Papyrus started trembling, tears gathered in the corners of his eyes before streaming down his face. He rushed into Lord Gaster's embrace.

AN: So many hints laid down. So many more I wanted to lay down (like mortal monsters can only do white bullets and only really powerful gods can do soul magic or the fact Grillby never actually made it so either brother could see gods) that I couldn't find a way to fit in without dragging the story off in really weird directions. Funny coincidence: all the monsters with weird typing quirks ended up gods. I'm not counting Catty and Bratty, that's just being valley girls. I talk like that, it's not a typing quirk.

Next chapter is also going to be really long. Really, really long! Sans gets to wake up to a very interesting situation.