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Why Children Climb Mountains

(until you realize you're needed)

The next day unfolded just like any other. Papyrus woke first and prepared a scrumptious spaghetti breakfast, then Frisk dragged themself into the kitchen, blearily rubbing their eyes. Sans was last, as usual, but he was always in a good mood when he came down and today was no exception. He'd even cooked up a few new spaghetti puns to harass Papyrus with. Neither brother made any mention of the monster removal act or what would happen when Asgore finally admitted what he had done. They carried on as if they hadn't a care in the world and Frisk didn't know if they felt comforted by that or if it was just adding to their anxiety.

The whole morning long, Frisk made a point to stay close to Sans. Without knowing what he was going to do or when he was going to do it, they decided to simply always keep him in their sight. They knew it wouldn't make much difference in the end since he had the power to escape anytime he wanted by teleporting, but Sans didn't seem to mind. He even humored them by grabbing their hand when they sat down to watch TV with him. When Frisk gave them a questioning look he lifted their hand and pretended to examine it. "just performing a regulation hand inspection," he joked. "yours is very hand-some."

Frisk cracked a smile. "That was weak, Sans."

Sans shrugged. "it was a hand-me-down."

They heard a groan from the kitchen and Frisk giggled. Not releasing his hand, they scooted closer so that they could snuggle up against Sans' side. Together, they vegged out and watched goofy, mindless cartoon shows. Sitting with him like this, Frisk could almost pretend that everything in the world was normal and as it should be. There were no missing children, Frisk was just happily visiting their friends, not hiding from the government; there was no Mayor Winterlance and no threat of monsters being chased out of the city. For a blissful half hour, Frisk cocooned themself in this fantasy. But reality couldn't be ignored for long, and Frisk's instincts were telling them they were out of time to play pretend. There was a question that needed to be asked and it wasn't going to go away just because they ignored it.

They got Sans' attention by squeezing his hand and he looked down at them inquisitively. "If monsters end up being hunted down, are you going to fight?" they asked dolefully, lifting their head to meet his eyes. "Undyne wants you to, right?"

Sans closed his eyes and exhaled in a resigned sort of fashion. He'd probably been waiting for them to ask. When he opened them again he looked weary. "there's no future for monsters and humans in battle, kid," he said gently. "it wouldn't matter which side won, there'd be no peace. if it comes to war, it's already over."

Frisk frowned and worried their lower lip as they considered Sans' words. "Then what are you going to do?" they queried, tightening their hold on his hand as if they expected him to disappear that very moment.

Sans' eye sockets narrowed to slits and he scratched his skull. "i guess it's time i took my own advice," he answered after a moment, opening one eye halfway to look back down at them.

"Your own advice?"

Sans hummed. "if you have some sort of special power…isn't it your responsibility to do the right thing?" he recited, nudging them gently.

It took Frisk a moment to remember when they'd heard him say that before. The moment was almost lost in the jumble of memories from their various trips through the underground courtesy of them, but they could distantly recall a timeline in which he'd said such a thing to them.

"it's my turn to follow that advice," he reiterated. "you helped me realize that there's still something I can do."

Frisk's frown deepened in confusion. "I did? What?"

Sans shifted so that he was facing them and brought their still connected hands up to press the back of theirs to his cheek. "end this peacefully," he said simply. He surprised Frisk then by leaning forward and touching his forehead to theirs. Frisk's heart gave a little flutter at his proximity. "hey. you remember our promise, right?"

Frisk stared unsurely into Sans' eye sockets. This close, they thought they could make out the barest hint of blue in the ghostly light of his pupils. "Yes," they answered, unable to tear their eyes away.

"you won't reset?" he pressed.

They swallowed. "I won't reset."

Sans made a noise of approval and pulled away. Frisk felt his hand slip out of theirs. "then i guess i'd better get going. still got a few things left to prepare before i swoop in and save the day." His eye sockets narrowed to slits again. "boy, all this talk of doing things is making me tired. might need a nice long nap after all this is over."

Frisk shook their head in fond exasperation and then leaned in and wrapped their arms around him. "I love you, Sans," they said into the collar of his jacket.

Sans started slightly at the unexpected show of affection but then he chuckled and pulled them tightly against him. "love you too, kid."

A moment later, he withdrew and ruffled their hair. "be good, frisk," he said easily, the way he would if he were dropping them off at school.

And then he was gone.

That afternoon, Alphys and Undyne joined them to watch the City Council announce the result of the vote on the monster removal act. The announcement would be aired live on every major news network and Frisk knew that every monster, both on the surface and still underground, would be watching. It would be the moment that decided the fate of all of monsterkind.

In just a few minutes, they could very well be at war.

The anchorman and woman tittered excitedly for a few minutes while they waited for word from their news camera in City Hall. Frisk wondered if they were in favor of the act or against it. Maybe they didn't care one way or the other. Maybe this was all just entertainment to them. Frisk imagined many humans saw the conflict between themselves and monster simply as a passing buzz. After all, what did they care if monsters were chased out of their cities. They'd lived without monsters happily for a millennium. They would probably be relieved to see them go.

Relieved. Just like they were when Frisk left. Just like when Oliver left.

Maybe that's what drew all those children to Mt. Ebott. It was where the rejected found sanctuary.

The picture on the TV changed to a shot of the inside of the council chamber in City Hall where rows and rows of elderly and middle-aged men and women sat in a semicircle around a podium. Next to the podium, Mayor Winterlance stood wearing an exceedingly smug expression. The look on his face told Frisk everything they needed to know about the decision the council had reached.

As Frisk, Papyrus, Undyne and Alphys looked on, Mayor Winterlance received an off-screen cue and moved to stand behind the podium. He made a show of looking briefly over a handful of papers and then leaned forward to speak into the microphone. It was time.

"As of 3 pm today," he started, "the governing council has come to a decision regarding the matter of monsters sharing living space with humans." His face was now carefully neutral, but Frisk could see the glee not quite contained in his eyes. He was inwardly gloating. "The council has voted seventeen to thirteen in favor of the act, determining monsterkind to be unfit to safely live alongside humans. As of 1700 today, Monsters residing in designated "human zones" will hereby be asked to remove themselves within the span of seventy-two hours or they will be removed by force. Failure to comply is henceforth punishable by swift and immediate effective retaliation at the discretion of operating authorities. Following this seventy-two-hour period, under no circumstances may any monster re-enter any designated human zone without express permission from the state.

"Furthermore, in light of recent discoveries made by the underground investigative team, Monster King Asgore and his estranged wife, Queen Toriel, will be held for questioning. If it is later determined that they had a hand in the deaths of the seven yet unaccounted for children, they will face capital punishment.

"Finally, regarding the ninth child, Frisk Dreemurr, the council has agreed that…" The mayor trailed off as his gaze focused on something outside the frame of the camera. His expression shifted to one of indignity. "Excuse me, but who are you?"

A murmur of surprise rose from the rest of the room and whoever was working the camera hurriedly turned the lens to get a shot of the mystery trespasser who was bold enough to interrupt the mayor's statement. Frisk felt the blood drain from their face. They didn't need to wait for the camera to refocus to know who it was.

"hey there, mr. mayor," Sans greeted. His hands were in his pockets and his stance was relaxed. He'd exchanged his winter jacket, pants, and boots for his old blue hoodie, basketball shorts, and slippers. He looked around the chamber and at the silenced councilmen lazily. "nice gig you've got here."

The mayor's face turned pink with anger. "Excuse me!" he called to the armed policemen guarding the exits. "Could you please take this…person away?"

The officers in question brandished their firearms authoritatively and moved to close in on Sans. Sans just sighed and raised an arm and bones shot from the floor, knocking the officers back. Startled shouts were heard as the men stumbled and looked at the bones in surprise. An order was barked and the officers raised raise their guns. Frisk almost cried out in fear for their friend but then Sans' left eye flashed blue and yellow and the guns were ripped from the officers' hands. They floated harmlessly over to Sans and dropped into a pile at his feet. Terrified and now weaponless, the men backed away from the grinning skeleton.

Sans ignored them, instead focusing on the outraged mayor. "in light of the unfortunate news coming out of this council today, i thought i'd come tell you story, mr. mayor," he said easily. The microphone had been rearranged and now picked up his voice clearly. "i think it's one our viewers at home should hear as well."

"Absolutely not!" the elderly man snarled. "You come uninvited into a human government council room and interrupt our proceedings and you expect anyone to listen to you?" He spun around to face the cameras. "Turn those bloody things off! This is a sham and I won't have this disrespectful monster's slander be aired on public television."

Sans sighed again and closed one eye. "you're awfully controlling, aren't you." He looked away from Mayor Winterlance and turned to face the camera instead. His eye flashed dangerously. "mind keeping those running? it would be a shame if our buddies watching from their couches missed the action."

His threat must've translated because the camera continued to record. Frisk watched Sans with their heart in their throat, waiting anxiously to see what he had planned. It didn't escape their notice when his hand came up to lightly clutch the front of his shirt just over where a human's heart would be.

Sans turned back to the mayor. "now then, about that story. it's a pretty good one. i think you'll find it very relatable." Mayor Winterlance looked like he wanted to interrupt again but then his right hand glowed blue and clamped over his own mouth, silencing him. Frisk could've sworn Sans' grin widened. "stop me if you've heard this one. once upon a time, humans and monsters shared the earth. both races lived together under the sun in peace and harmony." The mayor's eyes bulged with fury as he struggled against his own hand but Sans' magic held fast.

"but the humans were a very jealous race. they envied the monsters' strong magic. led by a family of powerful magicians, war broke out. the humans drove the monsters underground and sealed them behind a magical barrier.

"the underground was a hellish place to live in with extreme climates and few natural resources, but the monsters decided to make the best of their situation. hundreds of years passed and the monsters' magic, coupled with science, transformed the underground into a place rich in beauty and abundance. the monsters still missed the sun and fresh air, but they were content. at least in the underground they were free of human prejudice and violence.

"then, fifteen years ago, a human child fell into the monsters' realm. this child was filled with hatred and contempt for both monsters and humans, but the king and queen took pity on them and took them in, caring for them as if they were their own child. this child and the young son of the king and queen became fast friends and were inseparable for the duration of the child's stay.

"but one day, the child became very ill. knowing they wouldn't live much longer, they told their dear friend their greatest wish: to see the golden flowers that bloomed in the town where they were born." Sans tossed a pointed look at the mayor and the small section of the council seats filled by representatives from Balting. "the child passed away soon after, but the young prince wanted to fulfil their friend's wish, so he took their body through the barrier and carried them down the mountain to their village. however, the people of the town saw the prince carrying the child and misunderstood. thinking that the prince had killed the child, the people of the town lashed out. they struck the prince repeatedly and ran him off. the prince returned to the underground beaten and broken and died in his parents' arms that very same night."

Sans paused as uncomfortable murmuring broke out among the council. The mayor's face had turned purple with rage and he was trying desperately to speak but his hand stayed firmly clamped over his mouth. Frisk listened, captivated, as Sans continued to recount the same story they'd heard eleven months ago from the various monsters they'd met in the underground.

"the king and queen were distraught. they'd lost two children in one day; their own blood son murdered by the same tribe of humans who had locked them up underground. you would think they would be furious at the humans. they had every right to be, after everything they'd done. but they were just sad. they had no room in their hearts for anger or thoughts of revenge."

Frisk frowned. That wasn't right. Was Sans changing the story?"

Sans closed his eyes and returned his hands to his pockets. "me, though. i couldn't forgive so easily." When his eyes opened again his pupils were gone. "you see, i hate humans—loathe them, actually. i decided that if our king and queen weren't going to get revenge, i'd do it myself. all i needed were enough human souls to break the barrier and then i'd be free to hunt down humans as i pleased."

Frisk's jaw dropped and they stared at the screen in horror. What was Sans doing? Papyrus and Undyne also wore shocked expressions. They were clearly just as surprised as Frisk. Alphys was biting her nails nervously, her eyes fixed on the screen.

"SANS! IS THAT TRUE?" Papyrus cried out, gripping the sides of the TV as if Sans would be able to feel it through the screen.

"Of course not, you tadpole," Undyne admonished him, though she looked uncertain.

Unaware of his friends' distress, Sans continued. "all i had to do was wait for more children to fall. it took a while—much longer than i'd hoped—but one by one, i got the souls i needed." He paused again and his expression became even more sinister. "it was such a wonderful feeling; ending their lives. i wish i could've taped their deaths to enjoy over and over again. the mementos were a good consolation prize, though."

He lifted his left hand and several items popped into existence in the air above him. They hovered for a second before falling to the floor to join the gun pile. Included were four matched pairs that Frisk definitely recognized: an old tutu and a pair of pointe shoes, a cowboy hat and six-shooter, a torn notebook and glasses, and a stained apron and frying pan. All were items that had belonged to the lost children. Horrified gasps issued from the council.

Sans was sweating now. Frisk could see the sheen of moisture on his forehead. One of his hands had traveled from his hoodie pocket back up to his chest. It wasn't obvious to anyone else, but Frisk could tell he was exerting himself. "toriel tried to save those kids, you know?" he went on, still grinning maliciously. "she tried to get them to stay with her in the ruins where it was safe, but they just wouldn't listen. humans sure are dumb, huh? and now look at you all, once again trying to punish someone who did nothing wrong. watching you all point fingers like dumb monkeys disgusted me so much that i just couldn't stay quiet anymore."

He started to cackle gleefully and Frisk just wanted to scream at him to stop—stop lying and making himself out to be the bad guy. They wanted peace for monsters, but not like this. They didn't want Sans to martyr himself. There had to be another way. If they'd put their heads together like they'd originally planned, then it wouldn't have had to come to this.

Sans was still mid laugh when the doors to the council chamber burst open and soldiers dressed in full riot gear swarmed in, the noses of their guns all pointed right at the psychotic skeleton.

"Sans!" Frisk cried out in warning even though there was no way for him to hear them. All they could do was watch as the soldiers formed a circle around their friend. All around them, councilmen were now fleeing their seats, trying to get the hell out of dodge. Frisk stared at Sans, trapped in the middle of all those guns, and could only think that this was it. This would be the last time they ever saw their friend. This would be their final memory of him. It was then that Sans stopped laughing and turned to face the camera again. He almost seemed to be staring right at them. He winked.

Frisk wasn't sure who pulled the trigger first, but suddenly the screen was full of gunfire. Their friend was being gunned down on live television while his brother and all his friends watched. Frisk screamed and covered their eyes, not wanting to see Sans die again. Never, ever again.

Through their screaming they could hear Papyrus cry out and then Undyne was yelling and Alphys began to sob. And then, overtop all that, they heard a monstrous roar come from the TV. Frisk cracked their eyes open to see the ring of soldiers unbroken, but in the middle of them wasn't Sans. In their friend's place was a true monster. It was a towering, skeletal beast. Its eyes glowed with blue fire and its mouth was filled with terrible, dagger-like teeth. It roared again and swiped an enormous tail around the council chamber, toppling the soldiers like bowling pins, then it opened its mouth and a bright beam of blue light fired on the soldiers, its brightness obscuring the whole picture. Frisk heard screaming and more gunfire and then the picture went black as the camera cut out.

Frisk and their friends stared at the TV unblinking for nearly a minute, waiting for the picture to come back, but the screen stayed dark. Nobody spoke. They continued to wait for another few minutes but the feed never resumed. Finally, they gave up and turned the TV off, still silent.

Frisk continued to stare blankly at the powered off TV for a long time while their brain tried to understand what had just happened. Behind their eyes, the scene played over and over; a chaotic jumble of gunfire and screams and blinding light. When Papyrus laid a sorrowful hand on their shoulder, Frisk turned and wrapped their arms around him tightly.

Sans didn't come back that night.

oO0Oo

Special thanks to coincidencless, BadDRUMMERboy15, SneaselXRiolu, Mokki-chan, Extreme Light 9, Liliana Dragonshard, and MapleLionRawr for leaving comments on chapter five! You guys are awesome.