Chapter 27: The Big Day
Installed at the back of the royal carriage, his little brother sleeping against him, Sans was watching the landscape as it went by the window. He shut down completely the second Gaster decided to sit next to them, as cold as usual. Their father didn't talk to them those three last days. It seemed no one cared anymore they were going to sacrifice themselves for a stupid war they didn't even want to be a part of.
Only Toriel had the authorization to stay with them. She tried her best to prepare the skeletons for what could happen. She taught him some defense mechanisms and simple attacks the skeleton had to integrate as fast as he could. But they didn't have enough time, Sans didn't feel ready at all.
Unfortunately, they had to depart for an unknown future.
Way before dawn, Gaster came to fetch them. Sans had to drag a still sleepy Papyrus under the shower. The water was terribly cold, and they had to rub themselves until the guards considered they were clean enough. They took the most rich and garnished breakfast they had ever seen, even though it tasted like the last meal before they got executed. The guards then dragged them to the lab, where Gaster checked them one last time, before asking them to wear white thin lab dresses. Finally, the brothers got cooped into the carriage and chained, as if they could try anything to escape now. Gaster, Asgore and Toriel soon joined them, and just like that, they left the camp.
Exhausted by the early start of the day and how stressed he was, Papyrus fell back asleep quickly. It was better that way. At least he didn't have to bear his father's dark stare not leaving them or Toriel's eyes, full of remorse and sadness. The Queen desperately tried to keep a neutral expression, but Sans saw her twice push her husband's hand away twice, coldly. The skeleton wanted to say he wasn't mad at her, that she did all she could to protect them, but the magic inhibitors in his chains were sucking so much of his energy he could barely stay awake. He was sure she knew it anyway. Saying nothing would make things easier for her. She attached to them too much already, he didn't want to be her burden if things turned for the worse and his brother or him died.
As dawn finally rose, Papyrus stretched and slowly emerged from his sleep. Sans smiled to comfort him, and gently pet his head to keep him calm. The small skeleton looked shyly at their dad before his expression darkened and he clung a little more to his brother, trying to put as much space he could between them despite how small the carriage was. Sans couldn't help it. He smiled victoriously at his father. Despite all he did to separate them, Gaster failed. Whatever the future held for them, the brothers would stick together until the end.
"Where is the meeting point?" Gaster asked to break the heavy silence.
"In the forest at the edge of Mount Ebott." Asgore answered, avoiding Sans' eyes.
The older brother noticed how uncomfortable the King had been around them since the beginning of their journey. Maybe he felt guilty? Who cared, he was still the one sending them to the front line.
"They are going to try and convince us again to go to die in that stupid mountain." Gaster sighed. "We need to be firmer with them. They got what they asked, now this is our turn to get what we want."
"Maybe we should take their offer." Toriel resigned. "I prefer to live underground than to sacrifice children who can barely understand the objectives of this war."
"We already discuss this, your Majesty." The Royal Scientist answered, tensed. "Sans is not a child, it's a war weapon like any other. Stop looking at him this way, you're hurting yourself more."
Toriel straightened, visibly getting angry. "Sans is a wonderful eight-year-old boy who had the misfortune to lose his mother and had to trust a psychopath he doesn't even consider anymore like his father because that mad scientist had too much authority given by the King. If Arial was still here, she would have torn off your soul from your chest rather than letting you use her boys like this."
"Don't you dare speak of her like…"
"This is the problem with you, Gaster!" She snapped. "You should be ashamed, sad, devastated by this decision. But you're not! You're bragging like this decision is a success. This is not a success. This is not something we should be proud of, even though it ends the war. This a failure. We're giving them our own children, how is it something good? What if they ask for more? Are we going to give up on all our children just for some more months of freedom? It's time you open your eyes. You are not a savior, and you're not a hero either. Believing you are won't make it more real."
Gaster held her stare, glacial. Even after this, he was defying her authority. Papyrus hugged Sans a little closer, uneasy. The skeleton tightened his grip on him, thanking Toriel silently. But the Queen wasn't done just yet.
"If they're coming back from this, and they will come back from it, I will personally assure you can never reach them again, one way or another. This is not how a father treats his children, and we closed our eyes for too long. This is abuse. You're an abusive father. I saw how those children act, and to act that way, you did this to them for a very long time. Papyrus has barely any social skills, Undyne was one of the first monsters he ever met for the first time outside of his brother. Do you think I didn't notice how Sans jolts at any sudden movement? Or how he's acting like an adult because he believes with all he has that protecting his brother from everything is the best course of action? If they are so fusional, despite your pathetic attempts to turn them against each other, it's because they are scared of you. Not just since the beginning of that ordeal, but from the very moment they ended up under your care. You are a terrible father, and you will never see them again. Anyway, after all the horrors they witnessed and are about to live again, I highly doubt any of them wants anything with you again. This is my duty as a Queen. These children are abused, I'm taking them away from you to protect them."
Sans stayed speechless. He looked at his father, and finally, Gaster looked down. Papyrus didn't understand everything that was happening, but firmly nodded towards Toriel, taking her side. Sans knew it was for the best. Papyrus seemed fine, but Sans noticed how his father's speech about how their mother died because of his little brother impacted him. The little skeleton had horrible nightmares for two days after that, and only Toriel managed to appease him. He should have never heard that. Sans could never forgive Gaster for hurting him like that.
"Don't waste your time with him." Sans hisses, talking to Toriel. "He doesn't feel any emotions, he thinks he's unbeatable."
"You don't know what you're talking about, Sans." Gaster sighed. "Let the adults talk, you're only a ch…"
He didn't end his sentence and quickly looked away, annoyed. Toriel took the brother's hands and smiled gently, supportive.
The rest of the travel had been calmer. Occasionally, a royal guard passed in front of the window to make sure everything was fine. Soon, the landscape became more wooded and the carriage more agitated due to the road being less and less visible. It didn't stop them from getting stuck into the mud, to the point that Asgore decided eventually they would walk to the meeting point as it was only half an hour from there.
Sans had to recognize the size of the mountain in front of them was impressive. Legends said those who climbed Mount Ebott never came back, devoured by the gods sleeping inside the rocks. The young skeleton would have given anything to run away and test if it was true. Anything to escape the fate awaiting him and his brother.
The royal guards untied them for a short moment, before chaining them again with lighter equipment. They tied the new chains to that dog Royal Guard, the one who arrested them after they escaped Toriel's manor. Sans hated her. He soon discovered the feeling was mutual.
She pulled the chains aggressively to force them to walk as everyone was leaving. At first, the children held on despite how fast she made them walk, but soon, Papyrus couldn't follow anymore. Sans tried to slow down to make her understand, but the dog lady kept pulling them like stubborn donkeys. At least, until Papyrus's legs abandoned him. He slipped on the ice and collapsed in the snow. Sans ran to him.
"You're hurt?" He asked, helping him to sit up.
"No… No, I'm fine." He whispered, rubbing the snow off his too-thin lab dress.
The guard sighed loudly and grabbed violently Papyrus by the arm, taking him off the ground to put him back on his legs. Surprised, the small skeleton screamed, distressed, and bit her hand. She turned around and slapped him hard. Papyrus fell back in the snow, holding his cheek, eyes misty with tears.
She was about to grab him again when Sans blocked the way. His eyes shined blue, angry.
"Hit him again just to see what happens!" He threatened.
"You're not scaring me, little child."
"You're not scaring me either, old crow."
She lifted her hand to correct him, but Sans shot first. A thirty-centimeter-long bone pierced her shoulder. The dog woman screamed in pain and stepped back as the rest of the group got closer. Sans stood his ground, having no remorse.
Toriel looked at Papyrus, still on his knees in the snow, then to Sans, defensive. Her face closed.
"Untie them this instant." She ordered.
"It's out of the question." Gaster opposed. "We need to keep them under control!"
"And I am still the Queen of the Underground, whether you like it or not, Gaster. I order you to untie the children. They are not animals and if it's their last moments with their people, show them some kindness for once. You are only a subordinate, stay at your place, doctor."
Offended, the scientist turned to Asgore for support, but the King approved her wife's decision with a nod. Gaster raised his eyes to the sky, then resumed walking, clearly mad. A royal guard shyly approached Sans and Papyrus and took off the chains.
Toriel kneeled next to Papyrus and picked him up in her arms.
"My poor child, you will catch a cold in this outfit. I'm so sorry, they are brutes." She growled at the attention of the royal guard's captain, getting healed by her soldiers. "Come Sans."
She hid Papyrus under her coat, letting only his head out, then leaned a hand that Sans happily took, now soothed.
They spend the last minutes on the road talking and even laughing with their protector. Unfortunately, it didn't last long. Everyone became serious when human silhouettes appeared on the horizon. The monsters stopped at a good distance. Only Gaster and Asgore walked towards them.
In Toriel's arms, Sans noticed Papyrus started shaking. Maybe he realized it was happening for real, or maybe he was just cold. His big brother couldn't help this time. He was frozen with fear as well, as the two groups discussed their fate, out of hearing. There was no coming back from this situation, but he didn't want to go anymore.
Slowly, the Queen put Papyrus on the ground again. She kneeled in front of the two skeletons.
"I won't be able to go with you, but my heart and thoughts are with the both of you. I know that you will survive this. I just know it. Together. Papyrus dear, stay brave and listen to your brother. He'll be there for you. And Sans… Oh, my poor little one…" She stopped a second, wiping the tears away. "You are a wonderful child. Stay true to who you are and don't give up, alright? Whatever happens, hold your ground and fight them. For me. For your little brother."
"I don't know if I can make it…"
"You can. You can, Sans, I promise. If you ever manage to escape, run to the Mountain. I will be there. I will come to see every day if you are there. I refuse to lose hope. And of course, if I can find a way to help you, I will with no hesitation. You deserve someone to fight for you, Sans. You will save your brother."
Sans tried desperately to hold back his tears. He threw himself in Toriel's arms, who hugged him with all she had. Papyrus sneaked between them to have some comfort too.
A hand touched Sans' shoulder. He looked up. Gaster. That coward didn't even look him in the eyes.
"It's time." He whispered. "Let's go."
Sans took a deep breath, then took Papyrus' hand. They turned towards Toriel, who couldn't hold her tears anymore.
"Goodbye, my children. I'll see you soon."
Sans nodded, and then the brother followed the scientist toward the humans. Papyrus's hands were shaking in his. His brother hid all his feelings behind a mask and squeezed his hand tighter. It was time.
"Well, hello." The human they met in Gaster's lab said, kneeling in front of them. "We were waiting for you two for a very long time."
The man poked Papyrus' cheek with his finger. The small skeleton shivered and hid behind his brother. Sans stayed neutral, eyes in eyes with the snake. Toriel was right. He would not make things easy for them. If his journey taught him something, it was that he tended to be incredible at disappointing people. Now was the time to show his skills.
"We filled our part of the contract." Asgore claimed calmly. 'We are now waiting for results from your side."
"With more than six months of delay." The human dryly answered. "My superior is not satisfied. We renew our wish to see your people locked down under the Mountain. Since you obeyed anyway, we will make you a gift. We let two months for your people to move in before we seal the entrance with seven of our most powerful mages. Any monster still outside after that delay will be executed on sight, no exception for women or children."
"We won't go." Gaster hissed. "You have no right to ask us this."
"Then you will all die." He shrugged. "Take it or leave it. There is not enough of your army to stop us anymore. Be wise, Asgore. We're trusting you to make the right choice."
The King didn't answer and looked down. The man smiled, then turned towards his guards, waiting a few feet away.
"Load the subject in the cell. And don't hurt them!" He warned. "I want them in excellent condition to present them to the Emperor."
To change, the guard chained them again. Gaster put a hand on Sans' shoulder, but the child pulled himself out of his reach.
"Go burn in hell, Gaster." He snapped. "Consider you're dead to Papyrus and me."
Gaster stayed silent, as an orphan tear leaked from one of his eye socket.
The guard pushed the children and they soon disappeared into the horizon, circled by a regiment of human soldiers in armor.