Chapter twelve:

Alphys looks over Sans while a nervous Papyrus and Undyne watch on from behind. She takes a step back after a moment. "W-Well. He seems t-to be o-okay. Just i-in a r-rather deep s-slumber." She turns to Papyrus. "H-However I can't b-be one h-hundred percent sure a-about what this is a-and how long it w-will last without k-knowing what machine h-he was working o-on and what it d-does."

"I'll show you. Maybe you'll know better than me about it. Cause I have no clue." Papyrus leads the two girls to Sans's lab and shows them the machine. "It's this one. Sans had it covered for a long time but now it's not."

Alphys begins to inspect the machine trying to get an idea of what it is or might do. She clearly seems impressed by its construction, not that it's surprising as her and Sans used to work together on scientific projects. "U-Um." She turns to the two who are waiting. "I-Is there a-any sign of a-a blueprint? Sans u-usually has it close b-by when working on s-something."

Undyne and Papyrus glance around for it to try to help identify what this machine is.

Papyrus slows to a stop spotting a note which he can't help looking over. He lightly gasps as soon as he reads the note. "Guys!"

The other two come over and inspect the note that Papyrus has found.

Alphys swallows a little harshly. "one of his p-personas knew?!" She had no idea. She glances to the machine. "T-Then that must m-mean..." Her trailing off gets Papyrus worried.

"What? Mean what?" Papyrus presses managing to not be harsh yet still a little pushy.

"I-It seems this m-machine was made b-by another persona. L-Likely to deal w-with his disorder. H-However not knowing w-which persona makes it r-rather hard to know t-the true intentions."

"But surely it can't be any persona that we know of." Undyne protests a little. "So could it be a new one that developed for some reason?"

"I-If it was a-a recently n-new one they w-would have been h-here for a l-long time. Some o-of the machines c-construction shows t-that it was l-left for lengths o-of time. So it could b-be more l-likely that it is one t-that he has had f-for awhile but is m-more of a rare persona." Alphys informs Undyne who hums softly as she tries to think of any that might fit this bill.

The two girls then notice Papyrus seems to be rather quiet and turn to him.

Papyrus looks to be in thought about something.

"Papyrus?" Undyne speaks getting Papyrus to snap out of his thoughts. "What's on your mind?"

Papyrus lets out a breath. "There is only one persona that I knew who was aware enough to be a possibility. It is a persona that dates back to when Sans was young. I don't know how far back since he's older than me. Plus he had other personas by the time I was around. However when I was little this persona told me something I have never forgotten. That Sans is my brother, and though he might be a little different, he'll need my support and care. That he would likely need me to be there for him more than normal siblings. Since then I promised myself that I would keep a close bond with Sans. Doing my best to help Sans out no matter what. I saw less of this persona as Sans got older. However maybe he still comes out. I thought he was lost to time and to the other personas."

"What persona is this?" Undyne presses and meets Papyrus's eyes when he turns to her.

"He said to call him Dream." Papyrus admits and the other two aren't sure they've heard of this persona. "He was one of the ones that preferred to stay away from others. Kind of like his Ink persona. Yet he always seemed different than the others. He treated me as if he was really seeing me and not through his own view of things."

"Hm. W-Well from w-what you describe it a-sounds like it c-could be this p-persona." Alphys nods softly. "W-What was he l-like? Could he h-have had any ulterior m-motives?"

Papyrus shakes his head. "He was one of my favourite personas when I was little. He cared for me deeply and loved to make others days. He tried to do so unseen though he seemed to like giving others a smile. Even if it was for a little bit. Like he helped get an item one dropped, placing it where it can be easily seen, and from a distance watched for the smile. He also took really good care of me when he was in charge. Sans overall did take wonderful care of me. However Dream would go out of his way to make my day better."

"W-Well then. H-He must be t-truly wanting to h-help Sans." Alphys seems satisfied with this answer. "T-Though we will h-have to wait and see w-what will happen. I-I cannot truly predict h-how this will end up g-going."

Papyrus looks down hoping that his brother is going to be okay.

Meanwhile...

Sans thinks he has made his choice. "How do I do this?" He questions Dream who does look glad that he agreed to this.

Dream takes his hands into his own. "To break your connection with us you will need to look at your soul. Focus and will your connections to personas to be shown as strings. You'll then have to cut those strings. If this works correctly then you should be free. Just know that not everyone will give up without a fight. Since cutting that string means whoever's string is cut disappears forever."

Sans does feel a bit bad about having to make his personas vanish forever. He just also feels like he can't back down with his innocently hopeful Dream is looking at him. He looks to one of his palms willing his soul to appear which it obediently does so. He takes a moment to stare at his soul which has some blue coloring mixed with the white. He takes a breath to try to calm his nerves before closing his eyes. He focuses wanting his persona connections to be shown by red strings. His soul feels tight so he opens his eyes. He sees so many strings that he can't see his soul. He also sees one that goes to Dreams chest. He summons a bone with one end that has a point. He glances to Dream for a brief second.

Dream gives an encouraging nod for him to go ahead.

Sans focuses on the strings again. He takes a breath silently deciding to cut Dreams thread last. He wants someone just in case things start to go wrong. He places the sharp end of the bone to the first string. He hears a voice in his head.

"You don't know what you're doing. You can still stop. If you cut my string don't whine that I didn't warn you."

Sans only hesitates for a brief moment before he presses downwards.

The string cuts causing said string to disappear.

Sans gasps a little as his mind feels a little lighter for a moment. He lets it settle down before he goes for the next string. He tries to cut it though finds resistance. He presses harder determined to break through. He shivers feeling something try to surround him. He almost swears that it's trying to pull him away. He shuts his eyes tightly for a moment only to open them when a hand touches his. He looks to Dream and sees support there. He takes a breath and presses as hard as he can breaking the string. He is free from whoever was trying to stop him and his mind feels lighter once more.

Dream waits for Sans's light headed feeling to settle down. "I can do it with you. Give you strength through support." He offers to which Sans nods his head.

Together the two continue cutting strings managing to push through any who try to resist.

Sans feels his soul get less and less tight the more strings they clear away. He can also really start to see his soul.

After a bit there is only Dream's string left.

Sans hesitates not even bringing the bone to that string. He stares at it and even glances to Dream. He isn't sure that he has it in him to cut this string.

Dream has been so helpful and willing to do what is needed to help him. He must have noticed Sans's thoughts as he speaks up with a soothing tone. "You don't need to worry about me." He smiles with warmth and comfort. "If I remain there's a chance for your condition to grow more personas. It is for the best. It is for your own good. To finally let you be free." He gently tugs to encourage Sans to get ready to cut his string.

"What if I end up in a coma?" Sans sees Dream blink sadly.

"You knew the risk. Besides. Will a coma be better than possibly developing darker personas that kill those you love?"

Sans supposes that Dream has a point. He lets the other guide him to the string. "Goodbye." His tone sad as if saying goodbye to a lifelong friend. He cuts it and everything goes black. He can no longer feel Dream or even his own soul. He just hopes that he didn't fall into a coma.

Meanwhile...

Frisk pauses as she reaches the entrance to the castle. She takes a breath knowing that she will need to face the king. She heads inside trying to be as mentally prepared as she can. As she walks the castle halls she can't help noticing how eerily quiet it is. She doesn't see anyone or even hear anyone for that matter. She can feel the hairs on the back of her neck standing on end. She just gets this bad feeling about this place. She doesn't dare to call hello and instead just continues through. Surely she'll find someone soon. She walks for a bit all alone before stopping as she hears some soft humming up ahead. She isn't sure if the quiet or the random humming creeps her out more. She stays back a few moments trying to decide for sure what she wants to do.