He could still feel the knife slashing through him. Impressive, for a something that was supposed to be a toy. More impressive than his untimely end, in any case.

Well, that certainly could have gone better. But he supposed that it could have been worse, too. Maybe the human was just… confused. Maybe the human hadn't understood that he really wanted to help? Or maybe the human had thought it was some mean spirited trick?

Maybe... maybe they'd know better now, and try a little harder.

A little smile lit the skeleton's face. Maybe he, THE GREAT PAPYRUS, had managed to save everyone else… except… the smile vanished as he remembered that he hadn't been the only one looking to capture a human.

Undyne… her intentions before would have been, murdery, at best. But after she learned what the human had done…

He sighed. It wouldn't be easy, but he believed that the human could do it. If they talked things out, instead of fighting, then they'd both be safe, and he would have done some good.

He smiled at the thought of his friend, and the human who could have become his friend, ending up as friends. And with a friend like Undyne, the human wouldn't have to feel so alone or afraid.

He knew what it felt like, to have no friends. But he couldn't imagine what it would feel like to really be alone. Well… actually…

He looked sadly at the small, dark enclosure around him. Death wasn't what he'd expected it to be. How could he have ever imagined that it would end like this? All his hopes and dreams had been reduced to… whatever this was. He seemed to be suspended in some void, just… waiting. For what, he didn't know, but he was truly, and utterly alone for the first time, and he hated it.

No, wait… the Great Papyrus could not be defeated so easily, not even in this cold void of death! He… well, he still had his memories! He'd lived too short a life, for someone as great as himself, but, that was how it was, sometimes. And he'd amassed more than his fair share of wonderful memories, so he wasn't really alone, even now.

So what if no one had ever paid much attention to him while he was alive? His short life would surely be make it into the history books. The monster children for generations to come would want to dress like him. They'd be sung to sleep with songs of the brave skeleton that had taken his final stand against the human, and changed them for the better, saving the Underground at the cost of his own life.

They'd notice. Undyne would make sure of it. Perhaps she'd even make him an honorary member of the royal guards. The greatest ever! Yes… that wasn't such a bad way to die. It would have been nice to have seen it. To have been a part of it all... but in the end, people would see him for what he really was. Just like his brother had always insisted…

Sans.

His poor brother. What would he do without him? Who would wash his clothes, or tell him to clean up after himself, or even to get out of bed in the morning?

A tear slid down his face, and he wiped it away as he hugged his knees to his chest. "YOU CAN DO A LITTLE BETTER, TOO, BROTHER… I'VE ALWAYS KNOWN IT." But without his influence, would Sans be too lazy to try?

No! He smiled again, hoping that the MEMORY of THE GREAT PAPYRUS would inspire his brother to go on living. Maybe even less-lazily. He frowned. Or maybe, Sans would be fine, and not change. Yes, he liked that image a little better. Sans, still sleeping on the job, still slacking off, still making the terrible puns that always made him smile…

He missed him, so much.

But, on a brighter note, his brother would be far too lazy to get near the human, just… just in case the human took a little too long to try a little harder. At the very least, Sans would be safe, and that was all it took to make him smile even brighter.

The memories came, and they hurt a little, but they were so precious and vivid, they kept him smiling. Sans had been so lucky to have a brother as great as him! They'd had a good life together.

He thought back as far as he could remember, and sought out all of his very most favorite memories… it seemed like the right occasion for it.

He was trying not to fall asleep at the memory of Sans reading his favorite book to him, when there was a small noise, and he realized that he wasn't alone anymore.

A short figure stood in front of him, a little distorted in the void. He squinted, trying to make it out. Whoever it was, they were just about the same size as… no… his brother couldn't be here! Sans was alive and well! He had to be!

"Papyrus?" The human stumbled forward, eyes filled with tears. "You… you were wrong."

It wasn't Sans. Of course it wasn't. But… oh no! What had happened? Had Undyne and the human fought? That was probably it… talking would have probably been impossible… but if the human was here, then Undyne was probably fine, and maybe it was for the best.

"I… I didn't do even a little better… I could have… but I didn't. It's all my fault, and I ruined everything forever… all my actions… they corrupted this, creature, called Chara, and now… now it's too late. I… I can't reset anymore, because they won't let me. I can't save myself… but I can save someone else. I've thought about it a lot, and, I'm sorry… but it has to be you."

"WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT, HUMAN? I DON'T UNDERSTAND…"

The human's head hung in shame. "You will. I… I don't think you'd even want it to be you, but, you're their only chance, now."

"HUMAN? WHAT… WHAT ARE YOU DOING?"

"The only thing I can do." The human wiped tears away as an button appeared in front of them, glowing orange.

SAVE

"It has to be you, Papyrus. You're the only one who can save them all." The hand shot out, punching the button.

And in a flash, he was freed from the void; restored. The tingle of excitement couldn't last long. He walked back home, staring numbly at how empty his beloved little town was. "SANS?"

But his brother didn't respond as he stuck his head through the door. He sighed. Here he was, alive, and wanting to tell everyone the good news, and his brother wasn't even there? Sans had already been to his station, and the puzzles, so it was on to Waterfall, then.

He supposed he could just find Undyne, and tell her that he was alive, and there was a way to save everyone, too. And if he found her before Sans, it would serve his brother right for not paying attention.

He paused, feeling guilty for the thought. It wasn't as if Sans would be expecting him to come back. Why… his poor brother had just lost THE GREAT PAPYRUS! He'd be beside himself at that unimaginable loss! It was a wonder he was at any of his stations at all! Good for him, all inspired already! And the best part was, he'd actually be around to see it!