Since the monsters had been freed from the Barrier, the Underground had become depopulated of most residents. Many had waited centuries hoping to leave this place. However, that did not mean that no one lived there anymore. Many people, especially the older ones, had come to terms with life here; their home was there, as well as their family. They could go outside as often as they wanted. Some still feared that humans might come after them, as in the past. They would need more time to consider going back to the Surface.

I haven't been back here in ages, Asriel mused at the entrance to Snowdin Town, where the colorful "Welcome to Snowdin" flag greeted them right next to the sole trader's shop.

His feet trod the cold, snowy ground of the wintry village, trailing right behind Sans, who had deposited them here with a snap of his fingers. Even dressed in light clothes - on the Surface it was currently summer and he had no plans to return to that region of the Underground - the cold didn't bother Asriel (the advantage of having a naturally insulating coat and warm on yourself).

For a long time, many monsters, including himself, had only known this winter landscape. Unlike above, the snow here did not wet. It was also less tenacious when walked on. Quite a few residents wandered here, under the decorative fir trees and stayed in their homes. Here and there, we called and greeted each other: everyone knew and liked each other, in this community where it was good to live - moreover, this place had been used by the embassy to present a part from the population of monsters to humans, precisely because of its charms.

"over here, kid!" Sans called at the young monster behind him who had slowed down to peer at the rocky ceiling above them.

It's true that you can't see the sky from here... "I'm coming!" Asriel caught up and walked back to the whistling skeleton – jazz? -, carefree as usual.

He who had just escaped the beheading, he did not seem more upset than that and not disturbed by his proximity to the kid. As they walked together without exchanging any other words than those from earlier, Asriel hesitated to break the ice while discreetly observing Sans. He and the latter had not communicated much in the past two years, it was even the first time that they were alone without anyone around, and the child wanted to seize the opportunity.

But, what could we talk about? Ask him what he was doing there, in the mountains? How is their work on Amalgamates progressing? Talk about the past? This point, the prince didn't know how to bring up properly with him, although it bothered him every time he saw the skeleton.

If he could have apologized to Frisk for all the wrongs he had caused him, this was not the case for Sans. And his faults towards him could reach up to the vault of the cave. Maybe he wouldn't have any other chances after that... I have to do it. Having decided to go for it, Asriel took a deep breath to get ready, when the monster in tracksuits stopped in front of a large establishment. The windows were lit from within, revealing the "GRILLBY'S" sign in large orange letters.

"here we are. follow me inside", then he entered without waiting for her, throwing a cheerful :"yo, everyone! your favorite skeleton is in the place!", greeted with warm cheers.

With less enthusiasm, the young boss monster stalked Sans so as not to lose sight of him. It was new, to walk into such a place – would his mother be mad if she found out? - and the friendly atmosphere was quite pleasant. There were a whole bunch of monsters here; the child recognized Greater Dog, Lesser Dog and Doggo all together playing cards, a red bird at the counter with a monster with a big mouth full of sharp fangs, a bunny who looked a little dazed joking with Sans, to which he answered with a big laugh, a fish at the bottom that seemed to want to approach with the rabbit and was glaring dirty at the skeleton, and a huge rebel-looking hamster that kept complaining about the Capital.

"sup, grill! how's business for ya at the moment?"

Sans sat at the counter where the bar owner, Grillby, was wiping a glass with a tea towel. Asriel, who joined the skeleton chatting with his old friend – How can he speak and make himself understood, without a mouth? -, was amazed that the fire elemental wasn't burning anything as he took command of the skeleton. Then, when he sat on the stool next to Sans...

Proooooout!

"he he he. some weirdos left a whoopee cushion lying around again," he joked as Asriel, mildly annoyed by the tasteless prank, pulled the object out from under his butt. "what will you take, az? fries or burger? i'll paid"

"uh... fries, please" he asked the manager who gave him the ok sign with one hand. "And don't worry, Sans. I have some change on me."

"cool. less on my slate."

The humanoid fire held out their order: a plate of fries and a bottle of ketchup. Sans offered him some of his sauce; however, Asriel grew suspicious and politely declined, to which his mate replied "heh, the old joke won't work with you." The child quietly nibbled on his morning brunch and he found it very good: crispy and salty as it should be. For his part, Sans drank bottoms up his bottle... seeming to appreciate it? In any case, never Asriel would have believed that he would share a cordial meal with one of the monsters which, in the past, had been the toughest opponent that stood before him. What a strange irony. He remembered how many times the skeleton had given him a bad time.

He didn't look like it, drinking and lounging like he did. But the monster hid within him a strength rivaling that of his parents, such millennial Monster Bosses, and that it was better to have on his side than against him. Flowey had learned the hard way not to crumple the Smiley Trashbag too much, starting with not touching his brother, Papyrus.

"sooo... how is it going for you at home? with all the tori teacher thing, your brother responsibilities, and you in the middle." Sans asked him tit for tat, as Asriel nibbled on what was left on his plate.

Why is he asking me that suddenly? he wondered, taken aback by her question although he answered:

"Um... oh, w-well, everything is going fine. Mom is getting ready for class. Originally it was his idea, to show that monsters could teach and be taught with humans. Dad talked about it with the mayor of Ebott, who helped us renovate an old school building. By the way, Frisk and I are already enrolled with about 30 other students, including a few other human children."

"i see."

Asriel thought he had more questions, but the skeleton was silent for a long time, saying nothing more. While he believed Sans was done, it seemed instead that the monster was just getting started:

"Tell me, what were you doing up there, all alone? it was pretty dangerous and risky, if you ask me. you could have accompanied frisk to the embassy this morning if you wanted to move that badly."

This question, the child had imagined that he would ask him.

"I... I know, but..."

Sans turned to him, intrigued and looking genuinely concerned – or so he looked despite his constant grin – as the young monster was slow to respond. He looked for the right words.

"Frisk had offered it to me, to come with him to Ebott City. I refused. We... We didn't really fight. But afterwards, I felt really bad. I felt like I let him down. When I left home, it was to clear my head..."

"... i can understand".

Asriel looked at him for a long time, with his own question in mind «And you, Sans? How did you know where I was?» but instead, while the latter was waiting for him to speak, the prince said to him:

"Sans... that's something I wanted to tell you a long time ago. I...I've been late, too long, but I gotta do it."

His throat suddenly tightened. Asriel was so nervous that the skeleton would respond, that he paid no attention to the claws digging into his palm.. He had been planning what he would say to her for months, imagining every possible scenario. Nothing would surprise him and he would accept any reaction from him. However, his tongue was dry and the next words came out in one go:

"I beg your pardon ! For-for everything I've done – no – what I've put you through. My actions towards everyone, my wickedness towards you, and... what I almost caused, because I was a despicable, terrible and diabolical being. I'm so, so, sorry, and I know it doesn't change anything, but you had to know how sorry I am! "

The prince had closed his eyes as he took it all out, unable to look at the skeleton who was certainly outraged that the creature in front of him dared to ask for forgiveness. Asriel didn't want that much. Sans could hate and despise him, the child would never blame him – he deserved it. Still, he had to hear that. It was the least Asriel could do for him; if more was needed, then even if he demanded to get down on his knees, the monster just had to say it and he wouldn't hesitate. Strangely, it was not Sans who broke the silence that settled in the bar, following his apologies, and the voices of the customers rose.

"Well, then, Sans, why are you picking on a poor kid?"

"Don't worry, kid. Whatever you did, he won't hold a grudge against you."

"Look, you made him cry!"

"Come on, accept his apologies, look at this poor pup!"

And so on. From their point of view, the little monster was so miserable, begging the skeleton in this way and, without really knowing the cause, they seemed unfair to them that he had to lower himself to such an extent. Asriel watched as everyone stood up for him, dumbfounded by their protests against the skeleton, which had yet to react and, contrary to his initial beliefs, hadn't got angry. This... he honestly hadn't expected that to happen. Then there was a "he he he" laugh, coming from Sans who was chuckling under his breath. Yet, there was nothing funny about that. On the contrary, it was more than serious. He didn't know what to make of this reaction.

"ok, i understand."

The bony monster rose from its place; Asriel saw him walk towards the door, then stop and say:

"we can discuss it on the way back; i have to take you home to tori. given the time, she must be wondering where you have been and worrying."

A little ashamed, Asriel remembered that his mother was waiting for him to help him with school: he hadn't even thought of his phone when he left the house. Sans was right; they had to go back. The prince slid out of the seat, remembering to drop Grillby a few Gs along with a little extra for the bottle of ketchup, before joining the skeleton outside. This one did not pronounce a word and guided him towards the exit of Snowdin. It was only after the town disappeared, as they both wandered off into the forest with no one likely to hear them, that Sans continued:

"you can speak honestly, kiddo. i know why you really want to apologize to me so badly. actually, you're worried that because of your previous excesses with the RESET, frisk will pay the price, right?"

He wasn't cold at all, but Asriel flinched under his fur at hearing him to reveal his true intentions. Sans had... understood so easily. With a lump in his throat, he faced the skeleton who hadn't changed his relaxed expression and continued to walk with him, his hands in his pockets. However, the young monster guessed that he was waiting for an explanation from him. Sans was not kind to people who abused the power to control the weather. As Flowey, Asriel knew that better than anyone. And now Frisk, too, bore this terrible burden. Since there was no point in denying it, the child sighed heavily and confessed:

"It's also true. Originally, I wanted to make amends with you, and in return, you promised not to do anything to Frisk."

"uh... do you know that of all of us, i left him alone during his crossing? and then, the promises and me-"

"I was there, you know," the prince explained, deciding not to hide anything anymore, and Sans fell silent at the admission. "At the MTT hotel, you were in the restaurant and I was spying on your conversation, since I followed Frisk in the shadows wherever he went. You told him that if my mother hadn't made you promise to protect the human who came out of the Ruins, he would be dead. Of course, then you added that it was a joke to reassure him and Frisk believed you..."

He paused, Asriel knowing full well he was walking a tightrope. As soon as he told her he had heard it, Sans had lost all his lighthearted attitude and seemed surprised – which was rare – to learn that he had been spying on them that day. Forcefully, the little monster boss continued:

"Actually, you were more than serious about it, weren't you? After all, you've told me yourself in the past: "He who wields that kind of power is not supposed to exist." So yes, Sans. I'm afraid that because of my mistakes, Frisk is in danger. Makes sense: now that the Barrier is down and the Loop out of the way, he's the only one capable of resetting our progress, and you might not want to take any chances if he decides to RESET. But he is my brother and my best friend. He has done so much, for all of us – you, Papyrus, me, everyone! Frisk deserves happiness; also, I will never let anything bad happen to him. Not necessarily only from you: anything that might seek to harm him."

This time, I will prevent Frisk from meeting the same fate as Chara, he swore to himself, and as Asriel swore, he gave Sans a look that challenged him to oppose him.

Until then, the skeleton had respectfully let him speak, keeping his insolent remarks or questionable jokes. Far from feeling offended by his very serious accusations, Sans was...sincerely impressed by his great courage. Unlike his plant alter ego, who threatened what he disliked or bothered him, Asriel only cared about the safety of someone close to his heart.

*See him like this reminded to Sans of the kind of person he used to be, before the nightmare started.

As the prince spoke, he saw him gradually lose his childlike features. His tone had grown harsh, his features became menacing, and gradually his DETERMINATION grew. It was far beyond what an ordinary monster could bear before his body melted away but, carried away by his emotions, the heir didn't even seem to notice that he was awakening the vestiges of his previous godlike powers.

one day no doubt this kid will make a great king, acknowledged Sans who, despite his mixed feelings for him, was almost eager to witness what the former fallen prince would be able to accomplish in the future.

Asriel's return to the surface had been peaceful. After this serious conversation, he and Sans didn't talk anymore. The skeleton didn't add anything to his words and simply walked him home. As for the young monster's apology, he didn't say he accepted or rejected it.

At least I tried, he consoled himself as he reached the porch. And then, I lost my temper earlier. Talking to him like I did must not have helped.

His mother was still there; the green family car was parked on the side.

He was about to announce himself before opening, when the skeleton's voice stopped him:

"listen, kid: honestly, i haven't completely forgiven you yet and i still have my doubts about you. this whole mess was... really ugly and twisted. i hope you understand."

"Don't worry, Sans. I don't blame you for that. I haven't forgiven myself," he smiled sadly as he accepted his decision.

Somehow it relieved him that the skeleton admitted how serious his faults were. Frisk was too kind to hold a grudge and immediately forgave him for his misdeeds, while Sans wanted him to earn his redemption. It suited him perfectly.

"as for your sibling, relax, your highness. he's one of my best buddies and pap's. and then, didn't i promise your mother to protect him? tori never specified a duration, after all," he made him remember, smiling wider as Asriel looked at him gratefully and relieved. "so, i have to go, now: al must be awake. see ya, pal!" and he disappeared.