Horrified, Toriel looked to Sans.
*I...I don't understand-
But Sans took the humans entrance as his excuse to drop the conversation entirely. Walking over like nothing is wrong he greeted the human with a terrible ghost pun. It was clear that she was annoyed at how sans had dodged the question, but for the sake of the human, she let it slide and joined sans in welcoming the human.
*Halt! Who ghost there?
Frisk looks down at their hands and then back to sans suddenly becoming fearful that they had changed to a point that sans no longer recognized Frisk.
*Nah I'm kiddin' I can see you kid-well mostly. Looks like you got the last of the dreams we need, go ahead and put them in the box like you did the others.
Frisk let out a sigh of relief, understanding that sans was joking and did as they were told.
It was hard to describe holding onto and dropping [Dreams]. The whole inventory thing was still a mystery to Frisk but they knew they had a few pockets and two working hands so usually carrying things or wearing things usually worked. And it wasn't like Frisk ever pulled out a glamburger in the middle of a fight and ACTUALLY ate it. Eating food doesn't heal wounds, at least not for humans! Plus with Frisk's low HP there really was no point to stockpile and instead hold on to the things that really mattered. That was what inventory was all about. The memories of times when they ate good food, or understood the joke behind the potato chisps, those were the things that kept Frisk going when things got rough. So when Frisk accessed their inventory, it was more like recalling old memories and then to drop them was more like forgetting them or in this case storing them away for something important.
Frisk really hadn't asked too many questions to sans about this process but the storage box they were using was indeed a curious instrument. Unlike the normal dimensional cubes that were always emptied out after a true reset, this box held all the dreams that Frisk had done for the past ten pacifist playthroughs. How could anything defy a true reset?
Maybe I should get a power like that...Just in case...
The thought lingered in the back of Frisk's mind, but even that plagued the child with guilt. What if that was the old Frisk within them? The selfish and weak child that sought power through EXP?
*My child, are you...feeling well? I...I can barely see you!
Toriel was kneeling down next to Frisk, snapping them out of their trance. It was clear that it was disturbing her to see Frisk in this state and so, they offered their hand for the goat mother to hold. Smiling, she would take that hand and look to the human.
*I told myself I wouldn't cry...!
Quickly she turns away, doing a few breathing exercises to regain composure. Meanwhile, Sans seemed to be typing away on what looked to be a remote laptop computer. There seemed to be a picture of a white dog on the front of it.
*Besides, its not time to say goodbye just quite yet! I think I can hold out a little bit longer.
Both Frisk and Toriel smiled at this. It was the greatest feeling in the world to at least see Toriel happy after all this had happened. Even though they may not be related, their bond had become something not far off from what biological mothers and their children have. Plus, being together like this was very reminiscent of their time spent at Toriel's Home. It was at this point that Sans spoke up, his skeletal phalange slamming the enter key and then moving around from the laptop.
*She's right, looks like we gotta wait for these dreams to finish incubating, so, we got some time to kill.
*Wonderful! Then in that case...
The smell hits Frisk's nose before Toriel finishes her sentence. Butterscotch pie. The child's eyes widened in delight as they took in the splendor of the pie that Toriel had revealed. Back in the day Frisk would have been too intimidated by the size to even try to eat such a pie, but now after everything that had happened...Frisk felt they were up to the challenge.
*I thought we could share this together! ...Before...
Her words trailed off after that. Frisk knew what was going to happen and simply showed gratitude and excitement to getting another change to taste some of Toriel's home-cooking, quickly wrapping their arms around Toriel.
*Oh!
She set the pie down on the counter and gently placed her hand on top of Frisk's head.
*...You've come a long way haven't you? Back when I first found you, I thought for certain you would be doomed if you left Home to find Asgore, but now...You turned out to be the strongest of all of us. This conflict has gone on for far too long, and endless cycle of tragedy and death. Who would have guessed that a child would figure out what to do long before any of us adults! Only now as I hold your fading body, do I regret not being able to spend more time with you. To show you the wonder of the forest, the power of education...the feeling of freedom...Instead it seems you've only been given life's harsher lessons.
Frisk looks up to Toriel as she speaks, seeing that, again, she was losing composure and tearing up. Frisk told Toriel partly about how they even ended up here in the first place. How despair and self-destruction had brought them to the edge, and that, because of this, they asked for the harsher lessons in life. That in this way Frisk was able to grow now, more than they ever had on the surface. And finally they mention that while this is all great, Frisk really just wanted to have some pie. This made Toriel chuckle as she wiped away a few tears and began to plate some slices of pie.
*Of course my child. Here you are. Oh and sans here is a slice for you as well.
*Hey thanks, Don't mind if I do!
Hours pass as the three sit around and reminisce about their adventure while eating more and more of the pie. Each of them doing their best not to bring up anything that would spoil this perfect last moment. Which was unfortunate because right off the bat there was the issue with who could eat the pie. Sans, being a skeleton couldn't really eat anything without it going right through him, and Frisk, in their incorporal state, had a hard time grabbing at the slice. Regardless, sans and Frisk worked together to take turns distracting the humble goat mom and hiding the pie, so as to keep her from noticing it wasn't being eaten. Meanwhile, Toriel, still worried about what Sans said earlier didn't seem to strike up too much conversation with the skeleton, while sans played it off as though nothing was wrong, cracking jokes here and there and answering any of Frisk's questions about the other monsters here, or just life in the underground.
*No my child, I believe you meant to say "Library" there is no "Librarby" in snowdin.
*Actually...there is. Its kind of a funny story actually. You see, when the librarby was being built, we had no idea what to actually call the facility. Apparently there was some talk that back on the surface world there was a building that did the job of storing books and records but no one could remember the name. Then, I guess that kid, the striped shirt kid? Yeah, he was digging around the waterfall's trash and found some...well, trash...It was a fanfiction and lets just say...It wasn't one I'd let papyrus read. Anyway, in it there is a...particular library scene and it just so happened to have been misspelled as "Librarby" So naturally everyone freaked out and got the sign made up before doing any fact checking so...now its just kinda there.
*So why doesn't anyone redo the sign? Now that we know its spelled wrong?
Toriel asked.
*Well...After the monsters saw the *ahem* 'source material' for 'librarby' none of the monsters really took the idea too serious anymore. Instead, they went back to telling stories that mattered by word of mouth, like in the old days. Eventually it just became a place for people to solve the latest crossword or junior jumble.
*You mean to tell me that monsters as a civilization stepped back to the old days because they were grossed out by some piece of fiction?
*Guess it just shows how important it is to spell-check your work? Huh?
There was a slightly eerie way Sans said that last remark, almost as though he wasn't talking to Frisk...but someone else.
This method of sharing stories and debunking myths went on for hours, until eventually a noise emitted from the laptop. Patting his stomach like he had eaten a lot of pie, Sans rose to his feet and moved over to the computer.
*Looks like the dreams are ready.
Frisk looked down at their plate, a smile still on their face but the dread of knowing what was to happen next began to drain at the peaceful atmosphere. Shaking their head, Frisk rose to their feet. There was no time to be afraid. This was it.
The pod from before was back but this time it was opened and at the bottom was that same pile of bones.
*Are you ready...Frisk?
Toriel looked away from it all, her expression hardening as though it were too painful to watch. But Frisk simply nodded their head at Sans.
*Let me explain how this will work. When you go inside that pod, I'll flip the switch and the dreams you collected will start falling into your inventory. Its gonna look a little weird because your inventory isn't normally that big, if we're lucky the dreams will overlap into a glitched item. Then all you have to do is start using the dreams, over and over again think, dream, and pray that this monster you make will be what the underground needs to revert the damage. Meanwhile, the monster at your feet will begin to come to life from this and, by extension...
*It will take your soul.
*Then, with your soul and determination, the monster should have the ability to "spawn" at the point you fall into the underground, in every timeline. It will stand guard and strike you down before Toriel has a chance to find you. Which means...you as a human, will cease to exist. But hey who knows? Maybe the monster will inherit more of you than anything else, we may actually meet each other again soon.
Frisk smiles at the idea but finds it highly unlikely and again feels Toriel's arms around them.
*I've changed my mind, this plan is...just too horrible! Sans, there HAS to be another way! Isn't there something else we can do!?
*I wish there was Tori. But the kid loses his soul every time he makes it through the barrier. If Frisk leaves it up to that monster, none of us get a shot at life. We'll either be stuck here doing the same thing for the rest of eternity, or, Chara will ACTUALLY just kill us.
Frisk tightly grabbed at Toriel's arm and then gently, pulled away from her turning to face her they attempted to tell Toriel that it was going to be alright. That they would be seeing each other again very soon, and that this was for the best.
*You ceasing to exist is never the best option! You're just a child! You shouldn't have to make this kind of sacrifice for us!
Frisk reached for their neck and removed the [Heart-Shaped Locket] from their inventory and place it around Toriel's neck. All Frisk could say was that they would meet again and then went into the pod. This left Toriel stunned, looking back to the child and clutching at the locket they were torn between protecting their child and accepting the only course of destiny that saved the rest of her kingdom. In the end, she knew in her heart that she would have to oblige. Sans stood in front of the pod, blocking off any chance Frisk had to escape. In fact at this point all Frisk could really see was Sans's face.
*This is it kid. I would give you more time if I could to go say good bye, but time isn't something we really can afford with the rate the timelines are being devoured. The underground may forget you, but here? Right now? This is something I will always remember. If I were to judge you now I'd say, you're one of the greatest humans that ever lived. Even if you made mistakes, you did what was right to correct them and have made a choice that most people would never even consider. Frisk...I'd be lying if I said I wasn't going to miss you too. Even after all that's happened...Well we're still pals right?
Frisk shook their head, holding back their own tears.
*Then...put er there...pal.
Sans held his hand out for Frisk to shake. Frisk took it like it was the greatest honor, and it was because for once, there was no woopie cushion on it. Just a sincere handshake from two people who considered each other friends and equals. Sans seemed to be staring directly into Frisk's eyes, expecting to find something malicious but only finding Frisk's pure and noble intent. Closing his eyes he chuckles and presses a button on the laptop, shutting the pod. Toriel looked up at the sound and rushed over to the pod, playing her hand on the pod's glass. Frisk returned the gesture, placing their hand parallel to Toriel's own.
*Here we go.
Sans said as he pressed enter on the keyboard. When he did this a strange purple mist began to flood the chamber. The dreams were all around Frisk and in them Frisk could see all the dreams and wills of the underground moving and beating as one. Frisk prayed with all their might that they would create a monster to great and powerful that these monsters whom Frisk considered family would finally get the ending they deserve. As Frisk did this, the dreams pooled from Frisk and onto the bones of the monster forcing them to form a body that resembled Frisk's own. Standing next to Frisk was a skeleton, the skeleton that Frisk would become. The human turned to face the skeleton its eyes were black and lifeless and grabbed its hands with theirs. The connection was immediate, like staring into a mirror, Frisk could feel their sense of identity being pulled into that afterimage and a large, red heart floated out in front of Frisk connecting the two. Human and monster.
And then..almost like a flick of a switch, the soul shot back inside Frisk and someone different was standing in the pod with the monster.
Do you really believe that a plan, as foolish as this will work?
That green striped shirt, and that eerily cheery demeanor could only mean one thing. Sans and Toriel looked in horror at the beast staring back at them from the pod.
A.
Sans recognized instantly and turned the switch off to stop the fusion process, gasterblasters appeared from all around the room and pointed at the pod, but just before they fired, Chara spoke calmly.
There is no need to panic, I don't plan to do anything to either of you or this child's body.
There is no need to.
I simply wish to see the child off.
Ensure that they really are, erasing themselves from this world.
And remind you all that deep down, Frisk was destroyed long ago.
This human made their choice.
Their soul?
Its mine.
And your plan seems to be established on the fact that I do not touch the soul until the barrier is destroyed.
...
But what is to stop me from simply taking it now?
To become God and send this world back into the abyss?
Do you see how easily it is for me to take over?
*Chara...my child...is it, really you? If you can hear me...Please! Please let me know.
Toriel weakly uttered as she looked at the demon behind the glass. Chara's gaze seemed to look through Toriel as it spoke.
But nobody came.
The child you speak of, is also a part of me, just like Frisk.
ATK DEF LV EXP
Every time that number increased...that feeling?
That was me.
Chara.
...
And these humans have done a great deal of leveling.
Across all these timelines...
We have grown quite strong.
But I still need the barrier to be destroyed.
There is nothing left for us in this world.
In that moment Sans realized what Chara was saying, his hands trembling. Chara reads this in an instant and turns to look at the skeleton, his eyes darkening as all of reality seems to shift and warp. Chara was not just interested in having the human souls, like Flowey instead, Chara wanted to ensure that by the time they had all the souls, there would be nothing left to resist them. In other words, Chara appearing now wasn't some kind of sign that their plan was destined to fail, quite to the contrary, Chara was going to let it happen. Chara was taunting Sans. Goading him to make this choice so that when the monster failed either by Frisk giving in, or Chara defeating the monster...Chara would win.
So you finally understand.
Good.
Then do it.
Let's throw the switch on this miserable world and return it all to the void.
*You won't win against that child. Frisk...I know in my heart that Frisk is the savior of the underground and would never sell us out for power. Frisk knows the cost now, they are not the child you once fooled! Right Sans!?
Toriel spoke in Frisk's defense, not exactly sure what was going on but doing their best to keep up hope. Her expression was mortified however when she saw Sans's hand trembling over the button. As much as his heart wanted to believe Sans did not fully trust the human to succeed and was starting to believe that he was playing into Chara's hand.
*Sans! Throw the switch! Do it!
Is that your name? Sans?
Well then Sans...
You've been a great partner.
- Continue with the fusion.
- Abort the fusion.
(I leave the choice to the people still reading this.)