Sans' journey through the portal became more and moreintense. The vibration of the magical density enveloped him in a whirlwind oflight and shadow until, suddenly, the turbulence dissipated. He found himselfin a vast space suspended between dimensions, where time seemed to stop and thewhispers of ancient memories intertwined with echoes of budding realities.
Before him, emerging from blue and silver flashes,appeared an imposing figure: a long dragon with sparkling scales, whose lightsreflected the history of countless universes. His eyes, deep and full ofancient wisdom, conveyed the calm of millennia.
"I am Reifland," said the dragon in a boomingbut serene voice. "Since the beginning of memories, I have remained hereat the threshold, watching over the balance of realities.
Sans, with a raised eyebrow and a sarcastic smile,commented:
—So you are the one in charge of these "bubbles"? Boy,Reifland, you must have more patience than anyone else in this place!
Reifland responded with a soft roar, full of patience anda hint of ancient humor:
—Don't mock me, Sans. These bubbles are not simpleillusions. They are born when a creator embodies his story in the FourthDimension, but in order to take real form, they must be recognized and acceptedby those who contemplate the possibilities of existence. It is a delicatebalance between creation and validation.
With a majestic movement, the dragon spread its wingsand, with its magical breath, began to trace images in the air. In thosedancing lights, scenes could be glimpsed: universes being born, livesintertwining, destinies forged in moments of glory and tragedy.
—Each bubble is unique —Reifland continued—. I monitortheir development to ensure that each one's destiny is not distorted. If any ofthem deviates, if the natural course of a story is threatened, I must interveneto restore the balance.
Sans watched in wonder as these scenes came to life inthe space between. In a mocking tone, he added:
—Wow, Reifland, don't you get bored of always watchingthe same "movie"? Or do you enjoy the interdimensional soap operathat much?
The dragon smiled slightly and calmly replied:
—The diversity of creations is infinite, Sans. Eachbubble brings with it a universe of emotions and destinies. My job is to observe,learn and, when necessary, guide the flow of these realities without alteringtheir essence.
The atmosphere was filled with a thoughtful silence asSans processed the former guardian's words. Although his usual sarcasm stillloomed in his gaze, something inside him was beginning to change. Therevelation about how bubbles worked opened a window to a deeper understandingof the universe.
Reifland bowed his majestic head:
—Every being that inhabits this threshold has itspurpose, Sans. The balance of realities depends on the sum of all wills anddestinies. Even you, with your critical gaze and your acid humor, play anessential role in this vast framework.
Sans sighed, letting the dragon's words settle in hismind. At that crossroads of worlds and memories, he understood that, despitethe emptiness and routine that sometimes overwhelmed him, there were greaterforces at play. Forces that wove the destiny of countless universes with thedelicacy of a brush on an infinite canvas.
With a last look at Reifland, the dragon continued:
—The road is long, and there are still many stories tounderstand. My time here, on the threshold, goes back to the memory of allcreations. And at some point, the weight of destiny will fall on others,without them yet knowing the magnitude of their future role.
The barrier is broken, monsters and humans are living in peace, everyone is happy except for one person. Frisk has been getting waking nightmares about not saving Asriel...
Sans, still with his usual irreverent tone, let out asoft laugh:
—Well, Reifland, it seems that in this universe evendestiny has its script. I hope that that "role" comes with less paperwork thanI imagine.
The dragon laughed silently, letting the echo of hisvoice merge with the vibration of the threshold. As the immensity of that spaceunfolded before him, Sans felt a spark of renewed purpose. Although thecomplexities of the universe remained a mystery
The space of the threshold continued to vibrate with theenergy of countless realities in formation. Sans, with his mind still full ofdoubts and sarcasm, turned again to the imposing dragon. The light danced onits scales, and the atmosphere seemed charged with ancient secrets.
"Reifland, I need to know more," Sans said, with a mix ofimpatience and curiosity. "Who was the architect of all this? Who decided thatI should exist and that you should shape my bubble?"
The dragon slowly raised his head, letting hispenetrating gaze scan the infinity of the threshold. With an almost ritualmovement, he spread his powerful wings and concentrated his energy in thecenter of his own bubble. Little by little, a luminous vortex opened beforethem, revealing glimpses of a figure shrouded in a halo of mystery.
"Look," Reifland murmured in a deep voice. "That being isyour creator, the one who, since time immemorial, established the order andpossibility of creation in your bubble, your Destiny and of every living beingwithin your reality."
The image flickered briefly, showing a silhouette thatseemed to oscillate between the human and the ethereal, an entity thattranscended any conventional form.
Sans, his gaze fixed on the vision, gave an increduloussmile and said:
—That... that's the onewho created me, right? He looks so... peculiar. He's like a human, but with avibe from another dimension.
Reifland noddedgravely, letting the image melt back into the gloom of the threshold.
—Appearance is only apartial manifestation of what is —the dragon explained—. The essence of thecreator transcends any limited form. Now, listen carefully, Sans. Just likeyou, your world fulfilled its destiny. These were not mere strokes on a canvas;it was a plot already written, a predestined ending that allowed freedom toemerge from the rigidity of the script.
Sans arched aneyebrow, letting out a sarcastic laugh that contrasted with the solemnity ofthe moment:
—So now I have toaccept that I am the product of a script that has already been fulfilled? And,hey, don't tell me that in this dimension they also say that we are "2D" tojustify it... that already sounds like a cheap excuse to me!
The dragon let out arumble that echoed throughout the threshold, a sort of deep, ancient laugh:
—Don't be offended,Sans. This isn't about labeling anyone as 2D or pigeonholing existence in suchlimited terms. The truth is that perception is relative. While you see theworld in two dimensions, Fourth Dimensional beings experience reality in waysyou can't even imagine. But that doesn't mean your experience is any lessvalid. Every existence, every bubble, has a destiny mapped out bytranscendental forces.
The atmosphere wasfilled with an almost mystical calm, as Reifland continued:
—Fourth Dimensionalbeings delineate the destiny of each bubble from intention, memory, and theceaseless flow of the universe. They trace a linear path that, once completed,closes and frees its inhabitants from the shackles of that destiny. Thus, yourworld, like mine, reached its predetermined end. The breaking of the barrierwas the culminating act that allowed history to be rewritten in total freedom.
Sans took in everyword with his signature mix of wonder and mockery. Even as his jokes came out,there was a new understanding of the cosmic fabric in his gaze.
"So what does thatmean to me?" he asked quietly. "Does it mean that once destiny is fulfilled, weare no longer bound to a script? That we are free to write whatever we want?"
Reifland stood beforehim, his gaze becoming even more intense.
"Exactly, Sans. Oncelinear destiny is complete, the fabric of existence opens up to the possibilityof change. It's not about giving up what you were, but about embracing thefreedom of what you can become. Your world fulfilled its destiny; the breakingof the barrier was the turning point that released the essence of creation."And so, you have been entrusted with the chance to forge a new path, unfetteredby a destiny already accomplished.
Sans frowned for amoment, as if processing an inside joke:
—Wow, so in thisinterdimensional theater even destiny has its "season finale"? And here I am,in my humble 2D, thinking I was the exception. But hey, if destiny decided tobreak the barrier, I guess even the most predictable scripts have unexpectedtwists.
The dragon repliedwith a voice that seemed to whisper secrets from forgotten eras:
—It's not a matter ofbeing 2D or any other dimension, Sans. It's the essence of existence thatmatters. The limits of form do not define the magnitude of the soul. Andremember, you are not less because of your perspective; you are a witness andparticipant in the transformation of the universe.
The silence thatfollowed was full of meaning. Sans, with irony still in his tone, concluded:
—So, what's next? AmI supposed to laugh at the irony of being created by someone so... strange, whilemy world reinvents itself?
Reifland spread hiswings once more, as if to embrace infinity:
—What follows is thebeginning of a new stage, Sans. A stage in which the fulfillment of destiny isnot an end, but the door to unsuspected freedom. Your bubble, and that of allthose who have seen their destiny fulfilled, opens to infinite remember: it is not about being 2D, 3D or any other number. It is about thedepth of existence and the power to forge a new path.
The echo ofReifland's words remained resonating in the threshold, while Sans contemplatedthe magnitude of what had been revealed to him. At that crossroads of time andrealities, he understood that the end of a destiny was, in reality, the preludeto a new adventure, one in which he would have the opportunity to leave his ownmark on the fabric of the universe.
With one last glanceat the dragon, Sans let out a laugh that was a mix of disbelief anddetermination:
—Well, Reifland, Iguess it's time for me to stop complaining about my "2D-ness" and startenjoying this crazy show. Ready to see what fate has in store for me?
The dragon respondedwith a gleam in his eyes, a mix of wisdom and expectation:
—Fate always hassurprises in store, Sans.