Chapter 8: Signs of an Interloper

AN: So, after a longer break than I anticipated, I'm back! I've mostly sorted out some things in my life and I'm forcing myself to continue this. After a few tries and idea changes on where this story is going, I've come up with this! I hope you all still want to read this fic and find out what happens.

When you opened your eyes, you were once more seated in Sans' lap, the scene before you about to play out once more. With a quick backwards glance at Sans, who seemed just as determined as you, you nodded, preparing to finally make a difference and change the course of history. Just as you were about to spring into action, Papyrus pulled the car over to the side of the road. You were overcome with confusion.

"Papyrus! What are you doing?" Sans squealed, holding you in a vice-like grip.

When no response came, you grew worried. "Papyrus?" you called. No response.

Before you had a chance to start creating scenarios in your head and panic, the young skeleton behind the wheel drew an arm across you and pointed to the side of the road he had jutted the car up against. "Look," he whispered, face serene, voice filled to the brim with awe.

Both you and Sans quickly turned to where he was pointing, expecting the worse. Instead, to your surprise, there was a beautiful patch of golden yellow flowers, blooming brightly in a patch of unusually green grass alongside the pale, faded grass. Somehow they remained healthy, unpolluted by the road they so closely accompanied, a small glint of beauty in the forgotten, neglected roadside.

Of course Papyrus would be able to find the good in even the most mundane of places. "Wowie," Papyrus breathed as the three of you stared, unable to do much more than gawk. "They're beautiful!" he shrieked, childlike tone bringing laugh lines to all your faces.

"They are," Sans muttered. You looked back at him. He was staring at Papyrus, eyes brighter than you had seen them in a long time.

"They remind me of the flower that used to talk to me back in the underground." Papyrus said. Startled, you turned to look at him. His expression looked wise beyond his years, and for the first time you realized that his eyes too held secrets. Looking away, you stare again at the flowers, seeing the resemblance now. You wondered if they were as soft as the once that you had once landed upon after you fell.

"You mean the echo flower?" Sans replied, now totally focused on his brother.

"No," Papyrus sighed, clearly remembering. "I've told you, it wasn't an echo flower. I'm not as gullible as you think, brother." He paused to laugh heartily. "Well, maybe a little. But no, it was Flowey." He repositioned his hands on the wheel, gripping it a bit tighter than necessary. "I tried to warn you, but you wouldn't listen. So, I played along. Isn't that what you did, Sans? Played along with all my puzzles? Pretended not to know what was going on to protect me?"

You turned to Sans. His head was down and his breath hitched. You extended an arm to his shoulder. "I-" he stuttered, "I just wanted you to be happy."

"I know," Papyrus' sympathy flowed in waves from his heart. "Isn't that what you two are doing now? Keeping secrets, trying to protect me? Doing all this for my good?"

You gasped. Papyrus' gaze fell upon you and you couldn't meet his stare. Suddenly you felt guiltier than ever, but for completely different reasons. "We didn't think you remembered any of it."

He chuckled darkly. It unnerved both you and Sans. Your grip on the elder skeleton tightened. "You never asked. Did you, Sans?" He stared at his brother for a moment, eyes uncharacteristically serious. As if it had never happened, his innocent glow suddenly reappeared. "It's okay though! I know you just wanted the best for me!" Papyrus grinned, rubbing his brother's shoulder. Sans looked up at him, smiling sadly, but also relieved that his brother wasn't mad. "I just wish I could've been more help to you."

Sans made a pained noise. You could practically feel his heart break. "I-I'm so sorry."

"Don't be!" Papyrus smiled. "It'll all be okay now, you"ll see!"

You glance nervously at Sans. "Yeah, of course it will!" You try to make your voice sound convincing.

"Don't be so doubtful!" Papyrus cheered. He faced forward once more, hands dropping from the steering wheel. "I've been meaning to tell you, Frisk." When you looked back at Papyrus, he was already staring you down, eyes not leaving yours for a second. "I know you didn't think you could tell me. But you should've. It would have saved you a lot of trouble." He sees your confusion and continues. "I've finally figured out a piece of the puzzle. That's what I've always been good at, right?" He looks to the flowers for a moment before turning back to you. His gaze is so intense you shudder. Papyrus doesn't seem to notice. " When Flowey first came to me, he threatened me. 'I'll kill everyone you love!'" Papyrus mocked Flowey's piercing tone. "But when I was kind to him in return, he cracked. He put aside his facade and told me how he really felt. Alone, guilty, angry, and conflicted. He didn't know what to do. Then when you came along and he lost his ability to save, he grew even more afraid and it overcame him. Once everyone had left for the surface, he came to me once last time. He apologized for everything. He told me all he ever wanted was to have a family again and to see them happy together, on the surface. No matter how much grief she had caused him, he still missed Chara and wanted her back. I told him not to give up hope and to try and find happiness however he could. He thanked me and vanished. That was the last I ever saw of him." Papyrus turned to stare at the road ahead of him. "Until now."

"Are the flowers a sign?" You asked after a moment of contemplating.

Papyrus nodded. "One of many. This is the final piece of evidence I need to confirm my theory." Papyrus turned to you and smirked, puffing out his chest almost comically. "I, The Great Papyrus, have concluded that Flowey has regained his ability to manipulate time once again!"

Sans' head pops up. "That's impossible! Frisk can still save and load! Doesn't that overpower any abilities he has?"

"That's the problem here," Papyrus declared proudly. "Since the both of them can change the course of events, there are some… side effects." He gestures to himself.

Sans nodded grimly. "When a timeline has been altered too many times, inexplicable anomalies occur."

Papyrus smiled and clapped his brother on the back. "Excellent! We have found out what is causing this. Now we must dig deeper. We will discover what is wrong in the underground." Papyrus clenched his fists in front of him before setting them down in his lap. His expression turned to a discouraged one alarmingly fast. "Actually, it must be you, Frisk, who will go and see what is wrong. Unfortunately, I cannot come with you. I won't be alive for much longer."

"No!" Sans shouts. "I won't lose you again! You can come with us!"

Papyrus sighs, looking sadly at his brother. "We both know I cannot. You are strong, Sans. You have gotten through much worse, and with Frisk by your side to keep you going, I believe that nothing will be able to stop you two!" He smiled at the two of you.

Sans began to cry, eliciting harsh sobs as he flung himself into his brothers waiting arms. "It's not fair!" he sobbed, clenching his teeth and pulling his brother close.

Papyrus buried his face into his brother and pulled him close. It is the saddest thing you have ever seen. You never imagine Papyrus could be so burdened.

"I never wanted you to have to live through something like this. You deserve so much better." Sans pulled away and stared at his brother, tear streaks running down his cheeks.

"Oh, Sans," Papyrus simpers, wiping tears from the small skeleton's face with his gloved hands. "I never wanted this for you either. You deserve so much more than you give yourself credit for. You are a wonderful brother, the best I could ever ask for. I believe in you. You will succeed and then we can all live together happily."

"You really think so?" Sans sniffled.

"I know so." Papyrus chuckled back. He reached up to his scarf, gently unwrapping it from around his neck and placing it around Sans' neck so that it covered part of his face as well. "For good luck," Papyrus whispered, blinking back tears. "And… to remember me. Everywhere you go, I'll be with you now." Unable to hold back any longer, a single tear ran down Papyrus' cheek. "I love you, Sans."

"I love you too, Papyrus." Sans choked, once more finding himself in Papyrus' arms. With one arm around his brother, Papyrus sighed, eyes closing momentarily before looking to you. He extended his other arm out to you, which you gladly accepted and threw yourself at the two skeleton brothers.

"We're all a family now," Papyrus comforted you. "The best family there ever was. And we'll be together soon, I promise."

You breathed in the two monster's scents, treasuring the moment, trying not to think about how this could be the last time you all would see each other. It'll be okay, you told yourself.

Papyrus released the two of you. "It's time for you to go," he said, nudging you towards the passenger door.

You nod and reach for the handle, but Sans shakes his head vehemently. "I don't want to leave you."

Papyrus sighed. "I don't want to die." He looks away from his older brother. "Go." he ordered. You can hear him start to cry.

"C'mon, Sans." You prod gently, taking his bony hand and leading him onto the grass, careful not to step on the omen flowers.

Not a moment after Sans steps out of the car and closes the door, a second car pulls up to Papyrus' side. Quicker than either of you can process, a monster steps out of the passenger side, face concealed by a black ski mask. He pulls out a gun, summons Papyrus' soul and shoots without hesitation. Sans lets out a bloodcurdling scream and Papyrus turns to dust. You grab Sans around the waist and pull him back as his arms dart out, clawing at where Papyrus once sat, feet scraping the dead grass beneath him aimlessly, profanity spewing frantically out of his snarling scowl. You turn away, crying as the man then drives the red automobile away, engine revving loudly as he shouts gloriously, the man driving the other can pulling away whilst laughing maniacally. You release Sans and he falls to his knees, sniveling into Papyrus' scarf and muttering "no" repeatedly. Giving in, you collapse next to him and wrap an arm around his shoulders. You both cry against each other; you don't know how long for.

"Did you see him? He was so broken." Sans spoke, staring at you, still weeping.

"I know," you sigh. You hug him tighter before standing up with him still in your arms. "Let's go." You feel him nod into your chest. Looking down, he untangles himself from you and grabs your hand. You squeeze it, bones melding with your fingers. "It'll be okay," you say.

Finally meeting your eyes, he smiles sadly, wiping his face with the sleeve of his other arm. "I know." He says and sniffs one last time. "I'm ready. Let's go find this flower."