Heh...real life conficts are fun, huh? Updates are going to be on weekends for the next five weeks or so, but they'll become their usual, erratic, "post whenever finished" eventually.

Thanks to all the wonderful people who have reviewed!

Reviews!

Boots: I'm honored that you're even asking me to draw a character I've warped almost beyond recognition. As long as I get to see the finished product sometime, go ahead!

INQ8448: Maaaaaaybe...*looks around shiftily*

bLuewErewOlf25: He was refering to Underlust. Sans tries to keep his brothers innocent (with varying degrees of success), so I'd think that Underlust would be a bit of a slap in the face to him. And if an Underlust Mistral became a thing...well, someone would have a bad time.

WanderingWatermelon: Headcannon time! Skeletons are the only living creature that, if needed, can use magic to read what others are saying instead of hearing it. Because of this, skeletons are named after their fonts. The volume a skeleton speaks at also translates into what they're named. Lowercase-speaking skeletons are considered 'pianissimos' while caps-lock skeletons are 'fortissimos'. The rare skeletons that speak at a normal level (i.e. usually capitalization and stuff) are called 'mezzos'. Truth be told, Sans's full name is Comic Sans MS Serif Casual Script Pianissimo, meaning that he speaks in Comic Sans MS font, from the Sans Serif family, is a casual script typeface, and he speaks in lower-case. Papyrus is actually Papyrus Fantasy Handwriting Fortissimo, so he speaks in Papyrus font, which is a fantasy handwriting typeface, and his caps-lock is almost as permanent as Sans's grin. Mistral is Mistral Casual Script Pianissimo, so Mistral font, casual script typeface, all lower-case.

Also, thank you to Ender the multiverse Detective, Spyash2, crazy dragon ninja, Arashi - IV of VI, D14M0NDHUNT3R, MoonlitCresent, and Calintha for reviewing!

This story's tumblr is darkphoenix512. tumblr

Random fact: when I post this, this story will have 9,980 views. That means that sometime today, this story will break 10,000! Thank you to everyone that's favorited, followed, reviewed, or even just stumbled upon this story randomly this chapter!

"wait, so you're telling me that we're going to be flying on broomsticks?"

Everyone has to do it, whether we want to or not-

"we're going to be flying on broomsticks?"

Misty? Are you okay?

"by the barrier, do you think they'll let sans and papyrus try to? we're going to fly! we're gonna fly! woo!"

Madame Hooch, as it turned out, was one of the staff members at Hogwarts that could not, in fact, understand Mistral. Frisk, however, was able to translate the idea well enough that Hooch was happy to oblige. Since Friday's flying lesson was at the same time as the second year Slytherin Soul Magicks class, the skeletal professors agreed that Sans would participate in the Friday class while Papyrus would join in on the Hufflepuff/Ravenclaw flying lesson.

Mistral, as excited as he was, was nervous about having to be near the Slyterins more than usual. Sensing his brother's nervousness as the time of the class shrank to mere seconds, Sans decided to put the extra effort into projecting his soul's theme. The shorter skeleton immediately slouched, as though actually relaxing. He let the magic shrouding his face in darkness thin around his mouth, letting the grateful smile on his face being seen.

A whistle blew, gaining the attention of everyone. Madame Hooch looked intensely from person to person before her gaze landed on Sans. "Would you mind toning it down a bit, Pianissimo?"

"toning what down, madame hooch?"

Hooch gave both Mistral and Sans an unamused glare. "I may not be able to understand you, but I can understand sass just fine. You know which one of you I was speaking to."

Mistral flinched. "sorry, madame hooch," he muttered.

"misty says he's sorry."

Hooch sighed. "I don't have to let you do this, Pianissimo."

The theme quieted down, but didn't stop. "kinda have to keep it going, hooch."

"Just...just move to the right of your brooms."

Sans raised his hand.

The witch sighed. "Yes, Pianissimo?"

"i'm left handed."

"Then go to the left side of your broom."

Sans complied, quickly followed by Mistral. Frisk was confused. I thought you were right handed.

Mistral shrugged. "i'm ambidextrous. i figured that since i channel my gravity magic with my left hand, it would be easier."

Frisk shrugged back.

Madame Hooch blew her whistle. "Hold your dominant hand over your broom and say, 'Up!'"

A chorus of 'up's rang out through the courtyard, the Slytherin gathered away from the Gryffindors smirking as their brooms almost immediately flew into their hands. Sans's left pupil momentarily flickered blue before the broom began lazily levitating into his hand. "that...felt strange."

Mistral, who had hesitated, frowned before mumbling, "up!" What happened next made him cringe.

He felt a weak tendril of magic brush his soul. Unbeknownst to him, his pupils began glowing blue and green from the moment it touched. Mistral could feel the intent of the magical device, and that it was requesting a bit of his magic to work. In return, it would be able to fly. Hesitantly, he nodded.

The weight of his broom jolting into his hand brought Mistral back to reality. His pupils faded to white pinpricks. "...what just happened?"

The bone around Sans's eye sockets crinkled into his version of a huge grin. "guess me and paps mist telling you about magic-imbued items."

Mistral gave his brother a deadpan look. "that was not needed, numbskull."

"look, magic stuff needs magic from its holder to work. us skeletons are so in control of our magic at all times that we can deny stuff the magic it needs to work," Sans explained. "different things feel different, and nothing changes the first time."

Hooch blew her whistle again to regain the attention of the class from the skeletons. "On the count of three, I want you all to push a few feet off the ground, hover for a few seconds, then bring down the tip of your broom to lower yourselves to the ground. One...two..."

Before she hit three, a Gryffindor took off, flying twenty-five to thirty feet in the air, constantly ascending higher into the sky. Sans attempted to catch the Gryffindor and the broom with his magic only to miss the human. Mistral dropped his broom and attempted to use blue magic to slow the human's fall. Failure. Mistral seemed to teleport to where the human hit the ground, ignoring Hooch's calls for him to back away. The human's wrist was bent in a way Mistral knew wasn't natural.

It was his fault, just like Papyrus. He could have done something. The human had cried out in fear, begging for anyone to help...

But nobody came.

And it was all his fault!

His right eye socket began glowing green as he reached out to grasp the human's hand. "i...i can fix this. i can fix this!" As he chanted what had almost become a mantra, an opaque ball of neon green energy surrounded the two, keeping everyone out.

Neville was confused. He was surrounded by light so bright, it made him seem nothing more than a dark silhouette. The pain in his wrist made him look down and gasp. A shadow of a miniature sword was perpendicular to his wrist, appearing to disappear into it.

In the distance, Neville saw a figure forming. It seemed skeletal, and had a long sheet of darkness billowing behind it. The figure moved closer, cautiously reaching for Neville's impaled wrist. He blinked, then let the figure see it.

If the figure was surprised by the blatant display of trust, it didn't show it as it focused its efforts on fiddling with the sword. It suddenly fell to its knees as the sword disintegrated, leaving Neville's wrist feeling as good as new.

Everything faded to white...

For five minutes straight, the courtyard was in hysterics. Gryffindors were panicking about the orb of light their housemates were trapped in. Slytherin were laughing at the panicking Gryffindors. Madame Hooch was attempting to calm everyone down.

Sans was waiting patiently for Mistral's first go at healing magic to finish.

"SANS! WHAT IS GOING ON OUT HERE? SOME OF MY STUDENTS HEARD A COMMOTION OUT HERE AND ALL I SEE IS YOU BOONDOGGLING AS USUAL!"

Sans didn't even have to turn to know who was running up to him. "i'm waiting for misty to finish up."

Papyrus stopped in his tracks. "MISTRAL? THEN YOU MEAN MISTRAL IS..." The skeleton gazed at the light in awe. "WOWIE! HE TRULY WILL SOMEDAY BE CLOSE TO THE GREAT PAPYRUS!"

"Merlin's beard, what is going on here?" Professor McGonagall yelled, signalling her arrival on the scene.

"a kid fell off a broom," Sans said. "misty just figured out how to heal. he wasn't told to do it. just did it outta the kindness of his soul. he's pretty cool."

McGonagall's eyes widened. "Mistral is healing someone when he has no experience in healing? That child could die!"

Sans grinned at Papyrus, who had run up to the light and started trying to communicate with Mistral and the human. "nah, it's not in his soul to hurt. worst that'll happen in light of the situation is the kid coming out as injured as before."

The transfiguration professor nodded, then glared as she heard Papyrus scream in anger. "Did you just make a pun at the expense of those children?"

Before the comedic skeleton could reply, the light began dying down. It faded to reveal the human student sitting on the ground, staring at his wrist in awe while Mistral swayed. Suddenly, he fell to his knees, then onto his face.

Immediately, Sans and Papyrus were on him, Frisk hovering a short distance behind them. "MISTRAL! CAN YOU HEAR ME?" Papyrus asked as he flipped the younger skeleton onto his back.

Mistral weakly pressed his hands against the sides of his skull. He hummed a tune that Frisk didn't remember hearing before. What's he humming?

The humming grew faint as Mistral closed his eye sockets and fell asleep. Papyrus scooped him up in his arms. "I AM TAKING MISTRAL UP TO MY ROOM!" he announced before running off.

Sans grinned at the crowd that had slowly gathered. "misty'll be back before he can be mist. just give him a few hours to sleep on it."

No one laughed.

"jeez, my puns are puttin' you all ta sleep, huh? whatever. if you need me, i'll be with my bros." Sans walked off in the opposite direction Papyrus had gone off in.

Your brothers never told me what happened yesterday.

"magical exhaustion. i used too much magical energy at once."

What were you humming?

"...i was humming? i don't remember that, but i think i heard a bit of a song playing. it was pretty faint, though."

"y-you're teaching about soul colors on wednesday, right?"

"yeah. frisk's already agreed to wear their heart on their sleeve, so we have a human soul. i'm gonna have ta show my soul-"

"i can do it."

"...misty, you already know what i'm gonna say."

"but i can help! you're letting frisk help-"

"frisk isn't a dual-blood!"

"..."

"look, i've looked into how the sages treat anything that isn't the same as them. humans are lower than them, and any magical creature is worse off. you know what they think of half-humans?"

"..."

"half-humans have less rights than full magical creatures and humans. they're thought to be too smart to be treated like an animal, but too dumb to be human. if you're intelligent but don't look the same, you're gonna have a bad time if they know."

"but sans, they don't know what souls look like! besides, you'll be too busy to explained your soul properly!"

"my soul might be mostly integrity, but i've got more patience than you. i could keep this up all day."

"...you know, humans say that patience is a virtue."

"...and?"

"it's a virtue that i obviously don't have."

"heh...i think it's about time you went to bed."

"yeah, you're probably right. good night."

"...why don't you stay in your dorm tonight? i'm sure you made at least one friend today."

"but it's already after curfew. i can't be in the halls now."

"misty, you know how to take shortcuts. you'll be fine."

"..."

"...you wouldn't dare."

"papyr-omph!"

"OK, last week me and paps told you how monsters fight, right?"

Several students hesitantly nodded, surprised to see Sans, of all people, taking charge of a class.

"good." The skeleton rolled the muggle chair he had somehow acquired out from behind his desk, not moving to stand up. He swivelled the chair so that he was facing the board. Sans's left hand snaked out from his hoodie pocket and began to glow blue, his eye matching the hue. The chalk resting next to the board flew up in the air and began scribbling on it in comic sans font. "today we are going to be talking about soul colors: what they mean and how they can be changed in battle." As he spoke, the chalk wrote his exact words on the board.

Mistral glared daggers at Frisk as they walked up to the front of the classroom. Sans lazily grasped in Frisk's direction, pulling out a cherry red heart from Frisk's chest.

"that's frisk's soul, the culmination of their very being. later on this year, if you want, me, paps, and tori'll be willing to show you your soul. after that, it'll be your choices whether to keep or drop this class. now, can anyone guess why frisk's soul is red?"

Three hands shot up.

"wow, either the human that lives with monsters, the monster that's been raised knowing this stuff, or someone who'll actually learn from this. granger, you're up."

Hermione Granger, not even bothering to put her hand down, said, "Red stands for determination. It's the will to do things your way, and can sometimes be called stubbornness."

"thanks, kid, but i think you were persevering a bit too much to give me that answer," Sans said with a wink, earning a giggle from Frisk and Mistral pointedly looking in the other direction. Mistral could see the amethyst glow of the sage's soul easily. It was almost as bright as Frisk's, for crying out loud. "anyone know anything else about determination?"

Hermione raised her hand again, this time not waiting to speak. "Determination is a state of mind that, if strong enough, can push a mere human to new limits, such as in cases of muggle women lifting cars off their children."

"close, but you crashed. determination is a type of soul magic that both humans and monsters can use, but monsters are slowly poisoned by it."

Mistral flinched, remembering the last timeline. "they melt into a puddle of goo...unless they...yeah." Right. He had to remember the amalgamates, too. "either way, it's not a fun way to go...if you go."

"humans are different from monsters because they are made mostly outta physical stuff while monsters are mostly magic." The chalk drew a diagram of a boss monster standing next to a human. "each race has their strengths and weaknesses, but only humans can use determination without dying. lucky for us monsters, most of us can't produce the stuff, so most determination mishaps happen through artificial means."

"that's... 390 now, huh? you're a real sicko. look, what've monsters ever done to you?"

"s-sans?"

"heheheh...guess it was only a matter of time before this happened..."

"misty? mistral, can you hear me?"

"n-no, this c-can't be happening!"

"no...look, you dirty brother killer, you may have got me and paps, but there's one you're always going to have mist, no matter how many times you do that. he'll hide, and he'll live."

"c'mon, look at me, buddy. eye sockets up here. frisk, go get pa-!"

"no matter what, you're not gonna take my little bro!"

Oh, what makes you so sure of that? You're already melting, just like Undyne. What can a useless puddle do?

"mistral, run! go to the place, and don't let that brother killer catch you!"

"in, out. in, out. that's it, misty."

The relaxing sound of Sans's theme faded into hearing as Mistral ran from his brother and the murderer. But...Sans was dead. Mistral watched him die!

"nah, i'm not leaving that easy. i gotta say, though, you nearly made me jump outta my skin when your pupils started flickering in class. neville and hermione, you remember them? they got the others out, to keep anyone from getting hurt."

When Mistral blinked, he he thought he saw his brother in front of him, letting him squeeze his hand.

"there we go! c'mon, mistral, you can do this."

Mistral blinked again, reaffirming that the Sans in front of him wasn't an illusion. With a sob, the younger skeleton threw his arms around the elder.

"What do you mean he BROKE DOWN IN CLASS?!"

"I MEAN EXACTLY WHAT I SAID, UNDYNE. SANS MANAGED TO HELP HIM THROUGH IT, BUT...I WAS UNABLE TO GET THERE TO HELP BEFORE IT PASSED."

"ALPHYS, WE'RE TAKING HALLOWEEN OFF TO GO VISIT THEM!"

"UNDYNE, THAT MIGHT NOT-"

"See you on Halloween, punk!"

Healing, a.k.a.: Mistral is reminded of a timeline enough in the middle of class to accidentally half-way lean into a timeline where he's the last one alive again.

Oops. I said I'd try to stop any angst I was inadvertently writing, but...yeah. Mistral's a skele-kid with issues and Frisk...hasn't seen much stuff about just them. That'll be remedied soon enough, though, because...Frisk.

The healing idea is somewhat based off multiple comics by zarla: zarla. deviantart art/This-will-come-in-handy-later-583519971?q=gallery%3Azarla%2F57456341&qo=26 and zarla. deviantart art/A-for-effort-614820521