Hey, guys! hope you all had a great new year! I'm in the process of building my own gaming PC, so everything is alright :) enjoy!
In the morning, Sans lay in the same spot his brother left him, his eyes closed peacefully, and his chest rising and falling. Sleep was just what he needed, as the feelings from the previous night had faded away, and for the first time in a long time, he felt alright. He rolled over, and heard Papyrus making a mess downstairs.
"SANS! BREAKFAST! YOU'RE GOING TO BE LATE TO WORK!" Sans groaned to himself, feeling totally lazy today. Hadn't fighting the human for almost six hours qualified him for a day off? However, knowing he really didn't do much at his station besides nap anyway, he figured he ought to get out of the house, show Papyrus, and his friends that he was himself again. Save them from the worry that the final battle between him and the human had changed him. He slipped on his hoodie, choked down his brother's cooking, and walked out into the snow.
Snowdin seemed awfully quiet today. He raised an eyebrow as he hadn't seen that many monsters out and about. Usually, the streets were packed, full of laughter, banter, arguments, or what have you. He brushed it off, putting his hands into his pockets, and shrugging deeper into his jacket, trying to stay warm. He waved to the monster kid as he scouted around, looking for Undyne. Sans promised to send her his way, as he happened to be looking for Undyne himself. He wanted to be sure the re-settlements had turned out alright, and that everyone had what they needed.
The few monsters that were on the street waved happily to him, and he grinned in response, continuing his journey. If he had been loved before, it was nothing compared to now. He felt happy in this new role, confident that he could protect his home, and everyone in it. He knew they felt safe among his presence, and that was a title he was more than willing to accept. He kept walking until he was almost to the end of the village, when a sudden shouting caused his attention to be caught.
"Can anyone help me? Please!?" a young voice shouted, and Sans turned around just as a small bunny looking monster hopped his way.
"Daisy? What's got your tail?" he joked, but the look on the young girl's face told him this was no laughing matter.
"M-my mom! And my brother… I c-can't find them anywhere! They've gone missing… you're the only person I could find… I haven't seen Undyne all day!"
"It's alright kiddo… I'm headed for Undyne anyway. Give me the last place ya saw em, and I'll keep an eye socket out. Once I get to her, we'll do everything we can for ya." He reassured, and daisy sighed with relief.
"Oh, thank you… you have no idea how worried I am… please keep me updated…" she hopped away to inform the other monsters, and Sans seemed to get that familiar feeling which had caused him to break down the other night. He stood still, hoping to pinpoint it.
It traveled from his right shoulder, then to his left. Up his spine, and right back down. His eye began to blaze, and his fists clenched as he expected to be attacked… but it never came. As soon as the feeling started, it passed, and watching the poor little rabbit frantically searching for her family did nothing to calm his nerves. There never seemed to be a dull moment in this world, and he sighed heavily, his chest feeling tight with worry. He had to find Undyne, and fast.
He began to run through the streets of Snowdin, too afraid to teleport, in case he missed her by mistake. Asking around, no one he seemed to see the royal guard herself either, and he began to feel worse. Something wasn't right here. After searching his hometown up and down, he quickly teleported to her house. He knocked on the door, expecting it to be thrown open any minute, but no dice. His eye sockets furrowed in confusion, but he still had one or two more places he could try.
He checked a few sentry posts in town, and as he was sticking his head into one to call her name, He was scooped up into the air by a familiar set of arms. Papyrus held him out at arms length, a disappointed scowl on his face.
"Oh, man… Pap… I'm so glad to see ya." Sans murmured, and he wasn't lying, If anyone could help in Undyne's discovery, it was her star student. Papyrus tilted his head.
"I WONDER WHY… CONSIDERING YOU'VE BEEN AVOIDING WORK ALL DAY! I SHOULD BE THE LAST PERSON YOU WANT TO SEE, LAZY BONES!" Sans groaned, and shook his head.
"No bro, listen… this is for good reason. We got two monsters missing, and Undyne is nowhere to be found. We need her… now."
The taller skeleton's face suddenly dropped, and he gasped in realization.
"THIS REALLY IS A SERIOUS MATTER… I HAVENT SEEN UNDYNE EITHER. SHE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE AT HER POST HOURS AGO, BUT… I FIGURED SHE WAS OFF DOING SOMETHING REALLY COOL AND IMPORTANT!"
Now this caused his heart to beat faster. Slacking? Not being at your station on time? These were characteristics for someone like him… certainly not the captain of the royal guard, and one of the underground's most trusted guardians. He gazed at Papyrus with worry.
"Listen, bro… Search everywhere you can until you find her, or Daisy's family. We have to get this stuff taken care of, and Undyne will help… a lot." Pap nodded at once, and gently let him down before jogging off, and calling out for his mentor. Sans watched him go, panic in his eyes, and with a zap he was gone, deciding to check Hotland next.
"Alphys!" he yelled once he got there, standing outside the doors of the lab. "Hey, open up!"
A voice came from the speaker above the lab door, and a camera watched his every move.
"S-Sans? H-hang on…." Soon, the doors of the lab opened, and Sans stepped inside. They shut behind him, and a familiar yellow dinosaur scurried out to meet him.
"W-what's the p-problem? You s-seemed upset…" Sans sighed, rubbing the back of his skull awkwardly with his hand. This was gonna freak her out, but maybe she knew more than he did, and could help.
"Uh… long story short, we can't find Undyne anywhere… figuring you two are so close… have you seen her around at all?" Alphys made a noise of concern, and shook her head.
"Sh-she was here l-last night… r-reading up on human history…" She looked down shamefully at that part, her shelf full of anime seeming to glare her way. "B-but then she h-had to leave… g-get some work done, o-or train… I h-haven't seen her since…"
Sans's stomach sank, and he nodded.
"D-do you th-think something c-could be wrong?" she pressed, her eyes filling up with worry. Fuck. He couldn't do this right now. He cast his eyes to the floor, and shrugged.
"Honestly… I don't know… I'm gonna find out, and you'll be the first person I call… keep an eye on those cameras for me, alright?" Alphys agreed, and then proceeded to run over to her system, getting all of the channels online. He disappeared from the lab, and found himself on the same bridge that Papyrus had tried to stop the human on so many timelines ago, before relenting completely, and letting them pass in the spirit of fairness.
He laughed bitterly. Nothing about that thing was fair, now… especially not in the end. They had tried to kill him with every swipe they made, and he was sure that if he hadn't ended the fight when he did, they would have gotten past him, and took their revenge on the rest of the underground. He at least had some confidence that if he was ever cut down, Undyne would be able to slow them down long enough for some monsters to escape to safety… he hoped.
Then it hit him. He wouldn't have to worry about that, anymore. The human was dead and gone, and even if fifteen more fell in right after them, nothing could have been harder than the battle he had faced. He could take on anything.
Right now? He had to find Undyne, who was probably just really busy with something for Asgore. Yeah. Asgore needed stuff all the time, right? He was a powerful guy. Stuff had to be taken care of sometimes. Daisy's mom and brother could have just gotten lost, and once Undyne was around to help, he'd have them back before supper. He began to rationalize everything in his head, and by the time he got past the bridge, and a few yards away, he started to feel better. All was well, and his concerns would soon be sent away.
That fact was suddenly confirmed as he saw the girl in question, clad in her armor, marching forward meticulously with her back to him. He heaved a sigh of relief, and all of his pervious feelings of doubt fell away. He broke into a run, and caught up with her in seconds.
"Undyne! Geez, you got everyone scared stiff…." He paused to catch his breath, and she did the same, though she didn't turn around yet. "Next time, tell your girlfriend, and someone in town that you're gonna be out? We got two monsters missing, and Papyrus climbing the walls…" he laughed a little, and she still kept her back to him, as if she hadn't heard him at all.
"Uh… Undyne? You in there? Knock knock..." He joked and winked, and her head began to turn.
That small feeling of uneasiness began to climb up his back once more, and he took a few steps away.
"Come on, dude… say something, here… you're really rattling my bones…" he cracked one of his puns, even though his hands were shaking.
The royal guard spun around, and tilted her head, as if she was examining him. Her hand materialized one of her spears, and Sans stumbled back, before his arms flailed out at his sides. He tripped over a rock, and fell into the snow on his tailbone with a thump. Her other vacant hand reached up, removing her helmet before letting it fall to the ground beside her.
He felt sick. Those eyes… they weren't Undyne's. They belonged to someone familiar, too familiar. He'd seen them before. Oh, had he seen them… every time they tried in vain to cut him to pieces.
"Wh-what the fuck!?" he exclaimed, scrambling back, trying to get up. His legs were frozen with shock, and fear.
"Oh, Sansy… it's been way too long…" Undyne's voice snarled at him, but he knew it wasn't her speaking this way. Upon closer inspection, he noticed a few green vines poking out from under her chest plate.
Oh no…
It couldn't be…
It was…
"Let's play again, okay? This time, with your good friends!" Undyne suddenly sent a spear straight for his skull, and he dodged in the knick of time, sending a bone right back. It hit her, and she cried out in pain, her HP dropping. He jumped, and shook his head. Shit! He didn't mean to…
"Careful, buddy…" the voice mocked, and Sans watched in horror as the child, and the golden flower crested the hilltop above, watching with amusement. "We don't take the hits anymore… She does…"
He felt his whole world begin to spin. If with every hit, Undyne suffered, how was he supposed to set her free? More importantly, how had the kid managed to come back? How was any of this even possible? He was jolted from his thoughts as another spear hit the ground inches to his left, and his eye began to glow as he sent blasters toward the child.
Undyne stopped each one, and he wanted to scream in frustration. Undyne was a threat alright, one of the most powerful monsters in the entirety of the underground. He couldn't do this, and fight the kid again… he'd die for sure. Seeing no other options, he went running, his feet pounding on the snow as he expected to be cut down from behind. However, as he threw a look over his shoulder, he was surprised to see the child, and its new puppet staying put. He didn't give them a chance to change their mind, and kept running.
"Run, run as fast as you can, Sansy… you won't be safe for long!" the voice screamed after him, and he felt his chest get tight. "Why don't you go and tell the underground, that their REAL savior has arrived!?"
Tears streamed down his face as he stumbled and fell through the snow in a frantic retreat, the echo of the child's laughter following him, and haunting every hill and field it fell across.
They got Undyne... if there are any questions regarding anything in this chapter, hang on... they will be answered soon. Thanks for all the reviews! you guys rock!