(You're sure?) Frisk asked, their breath catching in their throat.
Gaster turned and gave them an unimpressed stare. [Since when have I ever made a joke or said information that was not proven? Yes. I am sure.]
(How long would it take?) Frisk signed, their SOUL pulsing slightly as it hovered right above their chest, called forth by their emotions. (Do we need to build a machine again?)
[No. Frisk, have you heard of the term a 'TRUE RESET?']
(…no. Is that different from a normal RESET?)
Gaster nodded, taking a sip of the coffee he often carried around with him. [Indeed. A regular RESET is a simple 'second chance,' so to speak. To put it simply, if RESETS were equated to a board game, it would RESET the pieces of a board game back to the start, but that doesn't mean the players have forgotten the last game's results. So if you, say, misplace a piece, then even if you start a new game, that game's set is already permanently changed.]
Frisk blinked, and nodded, relieved Gaster was sparing them from the more complicated educational side of this. (And? A TRUE RESET changes this?)
[Correct. A TRUE RESET would be going out and buying an entirely new game set. No one but you would remember this, Frisk. You would wake up and it would truly be the same as the first time you arrived to the Underground.]
Frisk blinked, surprised. (Is it really that simple?) They studied Gaster, and then realization sunk in. (Wait. If that's true, then you'd still be…)
[Exactly. I wouldn't remember this entire experiment anymore than Sans would. So this brings me to part two of my studies,] Gaster said, picking up a clipboard and flipping through the pieces of paper. [DATA FILES. A set of congruous numbers and letters that are found in the fabric of the void. Somehow, they control every single movement and choice in the Underground. All of the monsters and the world around you have numbers which correlate to them. Do you understand, Frisk? With these numbers, anyone who accesses them can become a God of sorts. It would take years to figure out even the simplest of numbers, but I'd imagine that my alternate self had more than a suitable amount of time to himself there to slip in and change the controls to RESETS.]
Frisk swallowed, their throat dry. The quickly signed back at Gaster, hope shining in their eyes. (And have you figured out how to bring Sans back alone?)
[…No.] Gaster pushed his glasses up and sat down, studying his notes for a long moment. [But I have figured out how to change the TRUE RESET to RESET all the pieces… and leave the memories as they were for those of us who can remember RESETS. I would remember all of this, of course, so I wouldn't try and stop you anymore. But…] Gaster sighed, and raised his head, staring at Frisk with a steely gaze. [Frisk, all of my research. All of this you see, everything I've worked on all of this time. It would be gone. From what you've said, I would be an insubstantial being that exists outside of time and space itself, both here and not here because my particles are so far scattered across the realms that I nearly cease to exist.]
Frisk froze, eyes widening. (What? There's no other way?)
[I've calculated this dozens of times, Frisk. I am positive.]
(Oh.) The two lapsed into silence again, and Frisk tapped their foot nervously. (…I-I can't ask that of you.)
Gaster didn't reply, turning back to his notes to keep writing. [I will keep looking for a solution that doesn't require this,] he said shortly.
Frisk nodded, lost in thought, and got up, wandering over to the elevator and absently getting in and riding up to the first floor.
Alphys was watching anime on the large TV with Papyrus and Undyne, three beanbags dragged out to sit in front of the screen so they all had places to sit. Undyne was aggressively munching on a bowl of popcorn, intensely watching the heroine of the show fend off a robot with a spear.
Papyrus was also watching, but he looked distracted, shifting every so often and sighing. His head turned as the elevator doors slid open, and his expression brightened somewhat. "FRISK!" He pushed himself up, striding over to greet the human. "HOW ARE YOU? IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE I'VE SEEN YOU OUT OF THE LABS," he added awkwardly.
(I'm good,) Frisk signed back, smiling gently up at him. (Just a bit tired.)
"D-didn't Dr. Gaster say he was close to a breakthrough two days ago?" Alphys asked curiously, pausing the show and also coming around to look. "I m-mean, I don't know what you guys were working on, b-but… Dr. Gaster only s-says something like that when he knows he's close."
Papyrus, the only other inhabitant that was aware of Frisk's request to Gaster, stiffened, eyes widening. He grabbed Frisk by the shoulders, his body tensing. "IS THAT TRUE? CAN YOU- I MEAN, WELL- HAVE YOU FIGURED OUT HOW TO BRING SANS BACK?"
Frisk drew back a little, hesitating. Was it really fair to tell Papyrus that they had figured out a way to save Sans but might not do it anyways? But looking into Papyrus's hopeful, desperate gaze, they just couldn't bring themself to lie. (Yes, but… we're working on a better plan.)
"What do you mean 'bring Sans back?'" Undyne asked, frowning. Her eye narrowed, and she studied Papyrus. "Paps… where did Sans go?"
Papyrus shook his head, the red scarf still loyally draped around his neck fluttering side to side. "WE DON'T NEED A BETTER PLAN. IF YOU HAVE ANY CHANCE OF IT WORKING, THEN PLEASE, FRISK. I WANT MY BROTHER BACK."
(I-) Frisk sighed. (That's not my call, Papyrus. It- this plan would sacrifice Gaster. I can't ask that of him. It wouldn't be fair,) they signed. (Look, we're going to bring him back, okay? Just wait a little longer.)
Papyrus stared at Frisk, his eyes searching theirs. "…YOU MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO ASK GASTER," he said quietly, eyes sharpening. "BUT I CAN."
(What? Papyrus, wait!) Frisk tried to grab his arm as he brushed by them, but he gently caught their hand and shook his head with a small sad smile.
"I'VE BEEN WITH MY BROTHER FOR THIS LONG," Papyrus said. "I'M NOT LEAVING HIM FOR DEAD NOW."
"Dead? Papyrus, what the hell…?" Undyne whispered, hands covering her mouth.
"Oh my god, Papyrus, Sans is…? A-Are you okay?!" Alphys squeaked, eyes widening in horror.
Papyrus shook his head, and quickly pushed the button to the elevator.
(Wait! I want to come, at least,) Frisk signed quickly, jumping into the elevator just as the doors started to close.
Undyne and Alphys both were whisked out of view, and Papyrus crossed his arms, looking down sheepishly. "YOU CAN'T CONVINCE ME NOT TO ASK," he said quietly.
(I'm not going to,) Frisk signed back. (I want him back just as much as you do, Papyrus, okay? We're in this together.)
"HEH. THANKS, FRISK." Papyrus rubbed their head once, effectively messing up their hair, and stepped out of the elevator.
Gaster was still working, and he looked up as the two entered. [Yes?] He asked curiously.
Papyrus's eyes darted back to Frisk once more, and then he took a deep breath, straightening his spine so he towered over the sitting Gaster. "FRISK TOLD ME ABOUT THE RESULTS OF YOUR RESEARCH."
[I see,] Gaster said, taking his glasses off and setting them on the table. He arched an eyebrow at Frisk, annoyed and unimpressed. [Did I not tell you I prefer not shouting the results of my work to everyone in the vicinity?]
(Yes. But Papyrus isn't everyone.)
Gaster turned his gaze back to Papyrus, and he sighed. [That is true. So, go on. What did you need to know so urgently?]
Papyrus hesitated, and then plowed ahead. "I… I WANT TO ASK YOU TO BRING SANS BACK WITH THE METHOD YOU FOUND. PLEASE," he asked, his voice cracking a little.
[Did Frisk tell you the effects that this would have? Everything?]
"YES."
Gaster's eyes narrowed, and he stood. [Come now, Papyrus, do not act like a child. This isn't just about what you want.]
Papyrus swallowed, and shook his head. "I- I'M NOT ACTING LIKE A CHILD, GASTER. I'VE NEVER HAD TIME TO ACT LIKE A CHILD, AFTER EVERYTHING THAT YOU… I MEAN…" Papyrus stumbled over his words, and Frisk gently reached out and took one of his hands, a quiet reassurance. Papyrus glanced down and Frisk could've sworn his smile returned for a moment at them. "SANS GAVE HIS LIFE UP FOR YOU, GASTER. FOR ONCE, PLEASE, DO SOMETHING FOR HIM IN RETURN."
Gaster stiffened. [Out,] he ordered tersely. [I don't appreciate someone with a lower status ordering me around, Sentry Papyrus. Leave my sight.]
Papyrus glared back for a moment before his shoulders drooped. Frisk tried to sign a few reassurances, but Papyrus shook his head and brushed by them. Frisk was left watching his back as he stepped back into the elevator, and they wondered what Alphys and Undyne were going to say.
(Was that necessary?) Frisk demanded, but Gaster just waved them off.
[You too,] Gaster said flatly. [Out, Frisk.]
Frisk cast a dark frown over their shoulder as they left, finding one of the spare beds and climbing into it. The Endogeny was lying at the foot of the bed, and it hopefully nosed at Frisk's hand as they sat down.
Frisk at first didn't respond, but as the white dog amalgamate whined hopefully they gave in, scratching its ears as they gazed off in the direction of Gaster.
.
[Frisk.] A hand shook Frisk's shoulder and they rolled over, pulling the covers up to their deck and squeezing their eyes shut. [Frisk. Get up.]
Frisk blinked, sitting up and rubbing their eyes. Gaster was standing beside their bed, foot tapping and looking impatient.
(What time is it?) Frisk asked, suppressing a yawn.
[No idea. That's not important, though, I need you to access the RESET screen and take me to it.]
Frisk squinted at Gaster, confused, and pulled out their phone. The glow hurt their eyes, and the clock on it read 3:13 am in bright green accusatory digits. Well, it wasn't the weirdest time Gaster had worked in the past few weeks.
(All right,) Frisk signed back, clicking the phone shut. They raised their hand, and the bright yellow SAVE option flared to life beneath their fingers.
[No, not that screen. The RESET one,] Gaster stressed. Frisk blinked, confused, and then understanding hit them.
(…What are you planning, Gaster?) They asked.
[Just do it. I'll explain it there.]
Frisk hesitantly reached over and grabbed ahold of Gaster's jacket and took a deep breath before activating it. The feeling of falling enveloped them again, and Gaster and Frisk fell back into the void.
This time, the darkness wasn't tugging at Frisk, though. They were now in control, and they had a right to be here. Frisk easily traversed the darkness they had previously struggled through, and Gaster followed.
They stopped in front of the two glowing options of RESET and QUIT, and Frisk turned expectantly to look at Gaster. (Well?)
Gaster, already preoccupied, had wandered over and raised his hand. White lines of numbers and letters appeared in front of them, glowing softly. Gaster moved his hand higher, eyes flicking side to side. [Here we are,] he said, touching some of the numbers. With a few flicks of his fingers, the order of two lines was changed, and Gaster let the white numbers fade away.
He turned, glancing at the RESET option, and the words changed in front of Frisk's eyes. TRUE RESET appeared in blazing white light, and Frisk backed up, suddenly apprehensive. (…Gaster?) They asked, (What are you…?)
Gaster turned to face them, and Frisk saw his white pupils flickering softly in his eye sockets. [I suppose I was meant to become part of the Void. I am unaware of the consequences of changing the past, Frisk, but if there is something… well. That would be most unpleasant.]
(So you're… you're going to do as Papyrus asked?) For the second time, the skeleton astonished Frisk, and they gazed at him in shocked awe. (But you… you're okay with that?!)
[I do not use such ideas of sentimentality,] Gaster replied softly. [But the Void presents an interesting place of study. It wouldn't be that bad. Besides, someone does have to look over the Underground after the powerful monsters leave. The RESETS pose an important question and threat to the fate of monster kind, and I am curious to explore what created them and why it only affects those who have been in the Underground recently.]
Frisk tilted their head. Gaster didn't want to show his feelings, they surmised, but still. They hesitantly approached the scientist, and hugged him, their head only reaching his waist.
(Thank you.)
Gaster gazed down at them, his eyes flickering. [You have nothing to thank me for.]
And the world went through a TRUE RESET.
.
Chara stared down at the sleeping child's form and sighed. They ran a hand through their hair, a shade lighter than Frisk's own, and started to pace as they thought.
This was probably going to be the last RESET, after all.
On one hand, Chara could quietly latch back onto Frisk's SOUL, a free ride to the surface. They could slowly eat away at Frisk's control and take the body by force.
It would be easy.
And yet they were hesitating. Hesitating because somewhere, somehow, Chara had come to- to what? Care for this human? Maybe. Maybe not. It was more of an understanding, Chara supposed. They just didn't think they had it in them to do anything else to Frisk after everything they'd been through together.
In the end, Frisk and Chara were very similar… except Frisk that had what Chara did not. Kindness. Compassion. A will to never give up and take the easy way out.
Chara laughed, shaking their head. Honestly, they were a little bit envious of Frisk. If they had met when Chara first fell down to the Underground, they might've been amazing best friends.
But these were a bunch of should've-would've-could've been questions, and right now Chara had a choice to make.
Glowing red eyes turned back to the question at hand, and Chara waited in the darkness, weighing their options.
.
Frisk woke up among the golden flowers, sitting up and staring up at the hole in the ceiling.
It was the last time they would probably ever have this view, and the thought made their heart pound frantically in their chest, excitement and nervousness shooting through their system at once.
Quickly confirming the presence of the SAVE screen, Frisk sighed in relief. Everything so far looked like it was going well, for once in Frisk's life.
It was unfortunate that DATA FILES didn't have information for humans in them, for some reason, so Frisk's throat still wasn't healed. It never would be. But if that was the only lasting mark of this entire disaster, Frisk was all right with that. At least most monsters could communicate with them.
Now all they had to do was see if Sans was back, save the Underground, and help get monsterkind back up to the surface.
No biggie. Frisk had already faced much harder trials, after all.
They smiled and stepped into the next room to meet Flowey.
.
Flowey sat in the darkness, pondering the information that had just been given to him.
He smiled in the darkness, laughter bubbling from his lips. Chara was going to be with him again.
Finally, Chara was going to be with him again!
Flowey had never fully understood Chara's actions, and they still managed to surprise him to this day.
Well, fine. If Chara wanted Flowey to go through this RESET like the first time Frisk had come to the Underground, then he would.
His best friend had given him this small request, after all. And who was Flowey to refuse?
.
Frisk glanced back behind them, wondering why Flowey was acting like he had forgotten everything. The thought bothered them.
They were being careful to go through the paces, taking genuine interest in interacting and making friends with all of the monsters again. They complimented Toriel's pie, nodded seriously as they listened to the Froggits, and were determined not to hurt anyone this run. They were DETERMINED to make this run the one that was permanent.
Nevertheless, all of that effort would be for nothing if Flowey somehow didn't remember anything. Because behind this door would hopefully be Sans, and if somehow Gaster's plan hadn't worked and no one remembered Frisk, they would have to go through everything all over again and Frisk really, really didn't want to do that.
Come on, Frisk, they told themself sternly. You'll never know if you don't open the door. So open the door.
Frisk took a deep breath, heart hammering in their chest. Their fingers reached out, brushing against the cold surface of the Ruins' doors, and with a soft push, the doors swung open.
Frisk blinked as the bright snow temporarily blinded them, then squinted and looked through the trees.
They heard him before they saw him, footsteps crunching into the snow, and their breath stopped in their throat as a familiar shape stepped out from behind a tree and onto the path ahead of them.
Before Frisk knew it, they were racing towards Sans, leaping into his arms to hug him tightly as the pressed their face into his jacket and started crying out of happiness, tears making their eyes swim as they grinned up at the skeleton.
Sans's eyes softened, and he grinned back. "heya kiddo. you must've been really bonely without me around, huh?"
Frisk hugged him tighter, burying their face back into his hoodie as they started to sob with relief.
Sans awkwardly patted their back, and the two set off, walking back down the path and finally walking forwards to greet the future.
Chara, watching from the distance with a flower at their side, turned their face away just as the skeleton placed his jacket around Frisk's shoulders. They had already made their choice, after all. They slid down the trunk of the tree to sit on the ground, unable to feel the chill from the snow underfoot.
The flower turned to face them, adoration and joy on his face, and Chara exhaled. They tilted their head and tiredly smiled back.
Even if Chara was fated to stay in the Underground forever, it wouldn't be so bad. At least they had someone to keep them company.
.
.
.
DETERMINATION.
((One chapter left. I have a lot to say about this, but I'm just going to leave it for next time. Although it seems kind of irrelevant now, I feel like talking about my idea for Mettaton in Gaster's timeline, since some of you asked. There, he isn't actually a popular star because Gaster is very controlling, and although it was Alphys who asked to create a body for Hapstablook, Gaster was the one who could okay the project. And Gaster wouldn't just make something for fun- it had to have a largely useful reason for him to do it! So Mettaton is basically always Mettaton NEO, although he does perform for the Guards for fun once and a while and is just as assured at his popularity as the Guard's mascot in that timeline. Thank you for all the support- I would honestly love to continue this story forever, but alas, this is where I feel like the story wants to finish. And if I'm going to write a story, might as well end it just as strongly as it started right? Although, if you are interested in more skeleton angst then keep an eye out after this story ends, maybe? You might see something new pop up a few days after Over and Over finishes… Heh.))