( * )

"Those who attempt to conquer hatred by hatred are like warriors who take weapons to overcome others who bear arms. This does not end hatred, but gives it room to grow. But, ancient wisdom has advocated a different timeless strategy to overcome hatred. This eternal wisdom is to meet hatred with non-hatred. The method of trying to conquer hatred through hatred never succeeds in overcoming hatred. But, the method of overcoming hatred through non-hatred is eternally effective. That is why that method is described as eternal wisdom. "

― Gautama Buddha

( * )

I stared as the very creepy skeleton- Sans –chuckled at the pun I made. I thought back to the events that led to this awkward introduction.

For one brief moment, I felt myself die. Then, suddenly, I was standing right beside the SAVE STAR once more. It was . . . horrifying. To feel myself drown to death then come back to life a moment later. It finally solidified the fact that I was in a videogame. Not to mention all the other things I was able to confirm with the LOAD.

When Flowey didn't pop up for our schedule conversation, it gave evidence that he was, indeed, a Player. Probably even the first Player. Though whether he was a reincarnated person as I was has yet to be determined. But since he didn't say anything about Undertale, then maybe he wasn't one.

Another thing that surprised me was Sans. When I swung my stick around on reflex, I expected to hit him again. Only, this time, I wouldn't put enough power into the swing to kill him. But he did something that I didn't expect him to do, he dodged. It was my assumption that only Players would remember LOADs. The fact that Sans dodged, however, made me wonder if he was a Player as well.

But the fact that he stuck to the script till the last possible second crossed that theory out. In the end, it made me curious about the skeleton.

Did he remember? Would others remember? Or, maybe, was it a case of Déjà vu? If so, how does a LOAD work? Does it rewind time? Or, perhaps, it created a new timeline? Or could it alter reality to make me come back from the dead?

Not to mention, could I control this ability given enough practice? After all, I was able to use my inventory to my will so it could be possible for me to do the same to the LOAD ability.

Sans voice disturbed me from my thoughts. "Ya' know, I'm supposed to be on the lookout for humans right now . . ." Sans lazily eyed me.

I warily took a few steps away from Sans onto the bridge. The bridge squeaked under my weight which made me to freeze. I really didn't want to experience drowning again.

". . . but . . . I don't really wanna. Too much of a hassle. Now my bro, Papyrus, he's something else." Sans continued on, seemingly not noticing my tension.

I stared at him, silently waiting for the punch line. Just because he didn't want to catch me didn't mean I could trust him. The Narrator reaffirmed my thoughts.

There seems to be a hidden shadow in his wide smile. What is he hiding?

"Papyrus . . . now he's a human-hunting FANATIC. He'd probably be on you faster than a dog on a bone." Sans punned. I didn't laugh and, instead, stared at him sternly. What he said wasn't really funny considering that I might end up dead.

Sans sighed. "Look, kid. My bro's harmless. He might've seemed like the scariest thing down here below but he's just really a big ol' teddy bear. Just . . . here. Cross the bridge and hide. My bro's coming." Sans waved to the bridge.

Hearing that his brother was coming, I decided to follow his advice despite how sketchy he seemed.

I crossed the bridge quickly, trying to ignore the flash of fear that I felt over my death experience. Sans came right behind me and pointed to a lamp.

"Quick, hide behind this conveniently placed lamp." He leaned nonchalantly in front of a shed that read 'SENTRY'.

I quickly ducked behind the lamp that stood next to the shed and held my breath. Soon, I was able to make out the snow crunch of someone walking.

"SANS!" San's brother, Papyrus stalked into the clearing. His skeleton form towering over my own height. Despite what Sans said, Papyrus looked ready to rip out a person's heart.

"Yeah, bro?" Sans stuck a finger in the hole where a human ear would be located at.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE? YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO RECALIBRATE YOUR PUZZLES THIS MORNING!" Papyrus stomped at the ground. I clamped my hands over my ears to block out the sound. How a skeleton can yell so loud when they don't have lungs baffled me.

"Eh, I was just staring at this very human-shaped lamp right here." Sans pointed at the lamp. I froze up in shock. I shouldn't have trusted him. He was a monster, of course he was going to betray me. I shouldn't hav-

"BROTHER, I DO NOT APPERCIATE YOUR TEASING! I HAVE MORE IMPORTANT THINGS TO DO. WHAT IF A HUMAN CAME? I NEED TO BE READY! WHEN I CAPTURE THE HUMAN, I, THE GREAT PAPYRUS, WILL FINALLY JOIN THE ROYAL GUARD. I WOULD BE POPULER! I WOULD GET ALL THE FRIENDS I COULD EVER WANT, ALL THE RECOGNITION I DESERVE, AND I WOULD BE LEGENDARY!" Papyrus struck a pose.

What . . . What the hell? Sans was literally telling you that I was hiding behind the lamp and you didn't understand?! What the fuck! No, seriously, what the actual fuck?!

I kept listening as Sans dropped off many more hints of how I was hiding behind the lamp while Papyrus still did not fully comprehend them.

"Hey, bro. Maybe this eerily human-shaped lamp can help you." Sans smiled wider.

Papyrus groaned in annoyance. "SANS! YOU LAZYBONES! YOU'RE NOT HELPING! I BET YOU WERE SLEEPING ON YOUR POST AGAIN AND NOT EVEN WATCHING OUT FOR ANY HUMANS."

"Heh. Sorry, bro. I'm just worked down to the bone." Sans winked at me when he said that.

Papyrus screamed. "THAT'S IT! I'M LEAVING! I CAN'T HANDLE YOU OR YOUR PUNS TODAY. I HAVE A JOB TO DO! NYEHEHEHEH!" He quickly left the clearing, as if the puns Sans made were contagious.

Once he was out of sight, I climbed out from behind the lamp. "What . . . what in the world . . . ?"

Sans chuckled. "Heheh. My bro . . . he was smiling. Don't let his screams fool you. He loves puns." I stare at him blankly, still not understanding what happened.

"Hey, kid, can ya do me a favor?" Sans put his hands in his pockets. I slowly nodded my head. His smile grew even wider.

"My bro . . . he's never seen a human before. Seeing you might make his day. Can ya' do that for me?"

"Yeah . . . I do owe you for hiding me after all." After that confirmation, Sans disappeared.

I soon left the area, thinking about what happened so far.

First, I died. Then I met a really sketchy skeleton. Then I met his brother. I sighed. Everything was so bizarre.

And now, even more questions popped up in my mind. How did Asgore obtain six souls when Sans said that Papyrus never saw a human before? What was Sans hiding? Can I really trust him?

I shouldn't trust him. But he was helpful, so I'll follow his advice for now. I'll be cautious though. After all, he was the guy who tried to sell me out to his brother. Whether it was a joke or not, I can't put my full trust in him. I'll need to watch out for him.

Not to mention, I should be more aware of myself and my surroundings. I really don't want to die and end up back at the SAVE STAR. That would be troublesome. Especially since I have the feeling that the next SAVE STAR is very far away.

I was lucky enough that I was able to survive the Ruins without dying and restarting my progress all over again. And I don't really want to fight anyone. Or, even worse, kill them.

I sighed. I didn't want to deal with any of this, but I'm DETERMINED to make my way to the Surface, peacefully. Even if it kills me.

Sans watched as the kid walked off dazedly in the direction of Doggo. He probably should have warned them, but he wanted a chance to observe 'em and see how they would be in battle.

Most of the other children tended to [FIGHT] then [MERCY: SPARE] monsters. Others would just use [MERCY: FLEE]. Then there were the few who would [FIGHT] till the end. Those ones were the most dangerous.

There were only two children that, to his knowledge, actually fought to kill or at least survive the battle. The orange brat was one of them while he heard from Mettaton that the yellow brat was another.

This kid, though. Sans wondered if they were going to be different. They were already different from the beginning with what the lady from behind the door asked of him.

It was snowing.

Then again, it was always snowing.

Sans leaned on a large purple doorway. He knocked on the door waiting for the customary response. And there, right on schedule, a voice asked. "Who's there?"

Sans smiled. "Iva."

A moment of silence came from the other side of the door. "Iva who?"

Sans smile grew wider. "Iva a sore hand from knocking!" The voice giggled, enjoying the joke.

"Sans . . ."

Sans straighten up in surprise. The lady on the other side of the doorway never really used his name. This was the first time she actually said his name.

"Yeah?" Sans replied.

"Will you promise me something?" She asked.

Sans narrowed his eye lights in suspicion at the doorway. This was very unusual, something made his knock-knock buddy break her routine. Sans felt his curiosity stir.

"Sure thing."

"If a human ever comes through this doorway . . . will you protect them?" She asked hesitantly.

Sans felt his spine stiffen in shock. Out of all the things she could have asked him . . .

He was the Royal Judge. It was his duty to be the Judge, Jury, and Executioner for both monsters and the humans that fell down here.

For the past years, however, his job as the Royal Executioner was more prominent. Mostly because of the kill order on humans. Sans knew that the lady on the other side of the door didn't know that. Otherwise she wouldn't have asked but, still, it was surprising for her to ask that of him.

"That's . . . asking a lot. Don't ya' think?" Sans scratched his skull.

"I know but . . . this child . . . I don't think I could survive if this child ever died. Please, I'm asking you. As your friend . . . and as your Queen. Please, protect them."

Sans's eye sockets widen. The lady behind the door . . . his knock-knock buddy . . . was the Queen?! Shit! He knew that the Queen disappeared right after the death of her two children, but to find out that she was hiding in the Ruins the whole time. God, if the King ever found about this, he was dead.

"Sans?" The lady sounded worried.

Sans took a deep breath and decided to act as he normally did. No point in acting any differently. He already embarrassed himself in front of her due to his jokes. He was at the bottom of the food chain in her eyes now. But right now he had to focus on the present, the Queen just gave him an order. He should probably find a way to balance her order with the King's.

"I'm not real good at promises lady. But . . . I guess I'll give it a go." That was the most he can do anyways.

"Thank you!" There was a smile in her voice.

Huh, Sans just realized that if she was the Queen then maybe-

"So, does that mean you're the Tu-Toriel for the kid?" Sans joked. The lady giggled.

"That joke was Sans-ational." She replied. Sans chuckled.

This kid was lucky. To have the Queen of Monsters look after them. Queen Toriel was known for her fierce and protective nature, she would destroy cities if it meant that her loved ones were safe. The kid must be something real special, huh. They better be grateful 'cause there's someone out there who really cares for them.

Sans shook his head free of the memory. He should probably find the kid. After all, he did promise the lady that he would protect 'em. Sans teleported just in time to watch Frisk speak to Doggo.

"Aww! Who's a good dog? You're a good dog! Who wants to be pet, huh? You want to be pet, don't ya'?" Frisk then pressed [ACT: PET] on Doggo.

Doggo panted. "I'm a good dog! I want to be pet!"

Sans stared as Frisk continued to press [ACT: PET] on Doggo and speak to him like a mother to a baby. After a few more presses of [ACT: PET]s, Frisk pressed [MERCY: SPARE].

This caused Doggo to faint, "I've been pet! Rrrr."

This . . . was not what he expected to see. Sans thought that maybe he would see a serious fight between the two or even the kid running away with Doggo chasing them. But, instead, he saw Doggo acting like an oversized puppy and the kid cuddling him.

It was . . . weird.

Sans decided to pretend that he never seen that bizarre moment. He teleported to an area close by to his brother and walked towards him. Maybe bothering Papyrus with his puns might make him forget what he saw.

( * )

I cannot fight.

I cannot think.

But, with patience, I will make my way through.

— A sign in the CORE

( * )