Hello~! I'm back!

I've fixed up some things in the previous chapters, just small mistakes I noticed after I posted it so there's no need for you to go back an read it. Although, I have added a small little thing on the first chapter which kind of summarizes what this whole story is about in a discreet way.

We're closing in on the end everybody! Although, there will be an Epilogue too, just to kind of 'blend in' this story with the AU universe Flametale. ... I still need to draw more Flametale designs...

Enjoy~.

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When Byakuran wakes up, he's lying face up on the couch with a blanket over him. A little disoriented, he looks around to see if there's anyone else around but he doesn't see or hear anyone. He slowly sits up, holding onto his pounding skull with a small grimace. He remember sitting up late, solving what was wrong on the blueprints, wrote a quick note on how it could be solved before he fell asleep. It's really annoying how weak he is… He's so used to constantly being strong and having a lot of flames that now when he can't let his flames recover, he constantly feels like a heavy sack of potatoes. Which is being repeatedly hit in the skull at a steady pace.

Byakuran closes his eyes, taking a deep breath to concentrate and start to use the little flames that he recovered during the night to mend together the crack slightly. If he had more flames, he would have been able to fix it by now. But since magic is always trying to get break through and his flames are recovering at a slow pace, the crack is still the same, if not a little bigger, as yesterday. Still a little dizzy, Byakuran slowly stands up, holding onto his head as he makes his way into the kitchen. He needs something to eat and drink, preferably something he makes himself so it won't have any magic in it. Magic makes him feel better but it doesn't help his core at all. He might gain more flames from eating magic food but he must use them all just as fast so the pressure won't crack his protection completely.

Opening the cabinet for the frying pans, he takes one out and place it on the stove so it can heat up while he fix himself something to drink. On his way to the fridge, Byakuran notices a piece of paper lying on the kitchen table. So he sits down to read it, his head is getting a little more dizzy even by walking. He doesn't know if it's out of consideration to him or simply because they felt like it, but the message is written in large letters so it will be easier for him to read. And the thought of them taking consideration to his constant headache makes him smile as Byakuran reads the message.

"Frisk made you some food, it's in the fridge. fixed up your notes from yesterday night so it should be an easy fix now. just a little longer, hang in there buddy. -Sans"

Byakuran chuckles once he has finished reading the note, standing up again to turn off the stove. If Frisk made the food, then it should be ok for him to eat it. He doesn't know where Papyrus and Sans are but he has his suspicions that both of them are helping Frisk because of their condition. 'Hang in there' is something no one has said to Byakuran before. He has always pulled through thanks to his power and knowledge. But now… Well, that phrase does fit with his current situation. And he absolutely hates it. At least he didn't collapse more than once yesterday.

After a quick meal and drink, Byakuran feels a little better but doesn't have the same energy rush as he gets when eating magic food. He briefly check on his core and is pleased to feel that his flames are slowly building up without the crack getting larger. So with that done, Byakuran moves over to the lab so he can fix that time machine. If it isn't long until the barrier is broken, then he shouldn't delay the reparation any further. With everything planned out and ready, it's just to fix it. It shouldn't take long. Then after that, he can go to the castle to see what's happening and maybe help this time. If he is strong enough to help with so little flames.

It's a long process fixing the machine, much longer than Byakuran thought. Being constantly dizzy doesn't help him either and he needs to check up different parts of the blueprints many times just to make sure he read it right. Somehow he manages to read the blueprints correctly and fix up the parts that needs to be fixed. Of course, he checked to see if he missed anything many times before he felt that he was done. The whole machine is driven by this magic in the air, absorbing it and converting it into time energy which should affect only the object inside. But somehow, that procedure must have been reversed because of an accident and the object inside was instead spread out into the magic. At least, that's what Byakuran think happened but he can't be certain. That would also explain why the magic feels so alive at times. And lucky for him, the magic doesn't bother him at all while he's working on the machine, almost like it's pulling back to give him more space to work with. It's strange, but not unwelcome in his current state. And sometimes he can hear whispers when he can't read one part of the blueprint clearly, as if it's trying to help him. But why living magic would do that is something he won't figure out on his own.

Finally, after hours of working, the machine is finished. It should be finished at least, because he has done everything in the blueprints that he and Sans took notes on that was important. And besides those parts, everything with the machine is as it should be. But he won't turn it on while he's alone, no one knows what might happen when it's turned on. So with a proud nod, Byakuran covers the machine again before walking out the door and towards where the river person should be. It's a fast way of traveling and he can't exactly use his wings at the moment. He might need his flames for protecting himself and fighting so he don't want to use them unnecessarily by flying.

But Byakuran doesn't get far before he freezes up, trembling as the pressure once again weight down on him. He stumbles slightly, gripping onto his shirt over his heart with a frown on his face. His body starts to grow warmer, just like it did yesterday, and he grunts softly when another stab of immense heat stabs his chest. This pressure is the magic that is alive, the magic that has a will. Byakuran really can't understand why the magic does this to him, and why it is attacking him specifically. Receiving another wave of pain, Byakuran stumbles again and falls down to his knees in the snow. But he refuses to give up so easily, he will use any flame he has to fight off this magic. He can't disappoint Sans, Frisk and Papyrus by just dropping dead because some pain made him lose his concentration.

Reality shifts around his, disorientating him even further. But something seems strange, because a figure is slowly forming in front of him.

While this happens, the scarfed mouse is just about to enter the Library when they spot Byakuran falling to his knees. They jump in surprise, since Byakuran doesn't seem like the kind of person who would fall down easily, and quickly run over to him.

"B-Byakuran! Are you ok?!" They scream out, skidding to a stop beside him and puts a small hand on his shoulder. They quickly pull their hand away though since they didn't expect Byakuran to be so warm. When it doesn't seem like Byakuran hears them at all, the mouse gets even more worried over him. Since he's trembling, they think that he might be freezing, but that can't be it since he's so warm. Mouse shakes him gently, and leans down to try and look him in the eyes and silently wonder if his face should be that red.

"Byakuran, you're all red. If you want to cool down, drink water instead. Not fall into the sno-." They cut themselves off when they see his eyes. Those purple eyes that are usually filled with a mischievous glint at all times are completely blank. As if there's no person in there. A small seed of fear grows within them, Byakuran is the Angel of the prophecy. If something happens to him, then… Then they'll be stuck in Underground forever. Mouse shakes him a little harsher this time, getting even more worried over him when he doesn't respond.

"If t-this is a joke, it isn't funny at all! Wake up!"

But not even their pleading can wake him up as his gaze stays completely blank. He's still alive, because he has a hard grip on his shirt and is trembling a lot, but his eyes are just so gone. Mouse isn't strong enough to carry Byakuran anywhere, they need to call on Brown bear for that. So they quickly stand up and look around to try and spot the bear, so they can get his help. But they don't have to, because when the Mouse stands up, Byakurans eyes come back to life and he starts coughing and breathing heavily as if he just got back to the surface after a swim under water. Mouse almost smiles when they see that Byakuran is back and crouch down next to him in case he needs any help.

"That was a really bad joke, Byakuran. Not funny at all."

The human chuckles when they say that, still clutching his chest as he looks at the mouse with a small smile. He needs to get to Frisk. He needs to get to them now.

"I need to get to the castle. This is really important." He says before he starts to stand up, wobbling slightly in unbalance before he rightness himself. Mouse hovers close to him, not really sure of what to do. "You can start to tell the others, the barrier is going to be broken today."

"W-What?" But that is the only thing Mouse manages to ask before Byakuran starts to take long, fast strides towards where the river person should be. The mouse stares after Byakuran, their mouth open in shock. They're… going to get free today? He's going to set them free?! Is that what that gaze was about?! A huge, rare smile spreads across Mouse's face and he quickly run towards the library to tell about the good news.

Meanwhile, Byakuran keeps a steady pace as he walks towards his goal, doing his best to not be affected by the waves of pain and heat washing over him. He stumbles and almost freezes up a few times, but now that he knows why he's reacting like this, it's a little easier to ignore. That man truly is a fool if he thinks some magic will be enough to bring down Byakuran. He has survived fatal wounds many times, hits to his soul won't bring him down either. He refuses to be taken down by ghost, he is stronger than that. Byakurans resolve is better than his. He needs to meet Yuni again, she would be brokenhearted if he never came back. If he only had his Mare ring, it would have been a lot easier.

W. D. Gaster will not take him down.

Another wave of extreme heat rolls over him and he has to stop for a few seconds to fight it off properly. His flames are trying to escape from his core through the crack. Some actually manage to escape, which is why his body heat is so high. He needs to think of something, anything that could help him with making his flames stay where they should. Focusing it in the centre lessens the pain, but his flames still escape through the crack, his power is just too large.

Byakuran grips onto his head, gritting his teeth as he does his best to take command of the flames that has spread into his body.

I'm sorry... I need to do this…

Byakuran narrows his eyes in anger when he hears that voice in his head. This being is messing with his brain, his body and his very core. They don't need to do anything, nothing about this is needed. They should just stay like they are and leave him alone. Or better yet, choose someone other than him. Byakuran won't die, he won't.

With more determination, he manages to start walking again, eyes narrowed and sights set on getting to the river man. While he walks, he focuses on his core to try and pull back the flames slipping through the crack and using those flames he pulls in to heal it. He only manages to pull some flames back, but not use them to heal. Doing both of those and walking is too hard of a task.

"Go… bother someone… else!" He says to the living magic, to Gaster. He never thought anyone would know his home language in Underground since everyone speaks in English. But he's not pleased to know Gaster, not at all in fact. Byakuran would have preferred it if he didn't hear Gaster speak at all.

… I can't. You're the only one that could hold me.

The pressure increase after Gaster tells him this just when he's about to step onto the river boat. So instead of stepping onto the boat like he planned, Byakuran instead almost falls over the boat when his body freezes again. If the River person weren't there, he would have fallen into the water. Quickly coming back to his senses, Byakuran sits down properly in the boat, holding his head in his hands and his eyes closed in concentration.

"Hotland… As close to the castle as possible…" He says stiffly, grunting as more of his flames escape and makes his body even warmer. Quietly, the River person starts to move them along the water towards their destination and Byakuran gives his whole attention to keeping his core stable and staying alive. But that Gaster makes it really hard for him…

Why can't you just accept me? Then you wouldn't be in pain!

"S-Shut up…" Byakuran says quietly, drawing in even more of his flames to its rightful place. "You… are killing me… Why… should I let you in…?"

The River person glances quietly over at Byakuran when they hear a different language come from his mouth. But seeing as the human isn't talking to them, the River person looks ahead again and pretend that they didn't hear anything.

Because I am the source of all this, please. I just want them to be happy.

Oh, and this Gaster doesn't believe that Byakuran wants this RESET thing to end? If Gaster is the source, then he should destroy himself as help, not try to destroy Byakuran. Byakuran still needs to stay alive. He actually wants to do something meaningful, he wants to help the monster race join the humans on the surface. He wants to help these creatures who are too kind for their own good and he has to see Yuni. He needs to show her that he is alive.

"Then pick… someone else...! Yuni… needs me…!"

It's quiet for a while as Byakuran continues to draw his flames back into his core, the temperature of his body dropping slightly. It's working. So he continues to draw back his flames, making them briefly convert into sunflames as they get past the crack. He slowly getting the higher end of this struggle.

… Then, I'm truly sorry…

Now Gaster too presses on him harder, making Byakuran flinch and struggling to simply keep his core intact. He needs to get away from Underground as soon as possible. But he'll need to make a quick stop at the lab before that...

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So it is Gaster who is slowly breaking his core. And what is Byakuran planning for him to visit the lab? Cookies and hugs for the one who can figure it out! :3

Next chapter is the last one of when they're in Underground.

See ya soon~.