As soon as he stepped in, the building smelled of hot metal and chemicals, making his face scrunch up in disgust. His ears were filled with a steady hum, accompanied by the occasional crackle of electricity. Link felt annoyance wash over him as his senses were overwhelmed. The bright lights and blinking monitors didn't help, this place felt too artificial, not like a natural occurrence you would see underground. It was as if he were walking into the belly of some strange, mechanical beast. His boots had stopped just past the doorway of the entrance.
He watched as Undyne and Sans walked through the building without any hesitation, that was until the skeleton paused in his steps to look back at the Hylian. His smile relaxed, but his eyes were confused at Link's hesitation.
"You okay, kid?" Sans said low, like it was meant to stay between them. He only looked back to the wildly flashing screens and monitors with a look of distaste in his eyes, the skeleton finally seeming to understand.
"She's weird, but safe. You'll be fine, farm boy." Link stared at the Monster for a moment before giving a sharp nod, eyes still scanning the walls. They ventured further in until they all stood in a bright room. The smell of chemicals was strong, but the Hylian could smell more natural food. Then a door to the side slid open. A small, yellow lizard Monster in a lab coat all but stumbled out, hugging a clipboard as if it held the secrets of the universe. She wasnt that tall, maybe reaching up to Link's chest. The Monster seemed busy in thought, nibbling on the end of her pen before her eyes landed on the Hylian in disbelief.
Her mouth dropped open.
"Ohmygosh." She breathed out, eyes wide behind her glasses.
"Y-You're really here!" She stammered out, taking a step closer to him. Link tensed automatically, but she didn't seem to notice.
"I've been watching you through your journey. I can't believe that last fight! It was like watching one of the elves from Blazing Sky Destiny! You even look like one of them!" There was a beat of silence. He could only stare at her in confusion. How had she been watching him? What even was Blazing Sky Destiny? What's an elf?
"You're like one of those sexy elves from my fantasy manga!" Link blinked owlishly as Undyne burst out laughing. The words seemed to register to him finally.
"THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN SAYING!" She crowed, elbowing Sans. Alphys seemed to realize what she had just blurted out, turning a color that could only be described as radioactive pink.
"NO—OH MY GOD—I MEANT COOL! C-COOL! LIKE, MYSTERIOUS AND POWERFUL, NOT—NOT—OH STARS—" He could only stand there, stunned, not sure what was happening at the moment. Only that it was loud, awkward, and weirdly flattering.
"HE'S JUST LIKE THOSE SEXY GUYS WE'VE BEEN WATCHING!" He glanced at Sans for aid, only to find the skeleton smirking like he was just given a chest full of ketchup.
"Wow. Usually, people gotta get to know you before they start objectifying you." Sans said, chuckling.
"Guess some folks skip the romance and go straight to the fanfiction." Link felt heat flood into his face, wishing he could just sink through the ground to avoid all of this. He crossed his arms tightly over his bruised ribs as if that might shield him from this very strange, very loud embarrassment.
Alphys was muttering apologies at a mile a minute, clearly wishing she could vanish into her clipboard.
"I-I'm sorry, I just—I wasn't—He looks exactly like one of them! Like, right out of chapter 42 where—actually never mind!" Link's eyebrows raised higher as she continued.
"Don't stop now." Sans said with a grin.
"This is the most fun I've had all week." He turned a gave him a look sharp enough to cut bone.
"I'm just sayin'." Sans went on, completely unbothered.
"If you ever decide to cosplay, Alphys'll probably have a heart attack. Try not to swing any swords around in here unless you're lookin' to be someone's wallpaper." The Hylian exhaled slowly and did his best to ignore the overwhelming noise of the machines, the babble of voices, and the laughter still echoing from Undyne. He was here to get checked out. Not… whatever this was.
"Hey, at least she didn't ask for an autograph. Yet."
Undyne's voice was already echoing from somewhere deeper in the lab as Alphys waved Link toward a side room for privacy. The door was made of clean metal and glass, and the bed inside was oddly shaped, surrounded by screens and cords. He didn't like any of this. Everything was too sterile, too foreign. Still, he moved slowly, not because the ache in his ribs flared every time he moved too fast, but out of caution.
"U-Undyne already called ahead." Alphys said, bustling around the room, turning more machines on her way to her chair, much to the Hylian's dismay.
"She said y-you've got some broken ribs and bruising, which—yeah, that tracks. I saw the footage. That fight w-was insane." He just gave a curt nod, arms still folded tightly across his chest. The lizard Monster pushed her glasses up her nose, flipping through a file that was more doodles than data.
"So! I-I can try some basic green healing magic, but... h-honestly? I'm not sure how it'll affect you." He blinked at her.
"I mean, Hylians and Humans look similar—but your anatomy might differ. Especially with how much you've fought." Link gave a small shrug. Fair.
"S-so I'll need to run some tests." She continued.
"Get a f-feel for your biology, resistance levels, metabolic rate, healing factors—b-basic stuff." That part sounded fine, though most of what she said confused him. He tilted his head.
"Alright, first let's get you c-changed." Alphys chirped, holding out a gown. Link's immediate response was a deadpan look. The idea of wearing one of those thin, overly revealing gowns? Absolutely not. The Hylian crossed his arms and stood firm. Sans couldn't help but snicker, noting how easily Link could communicate his displeasure through a mere gesture.
"Well, that's a no-go." Sans muttered, rubbing the back of his skull. The Hylian still looked unimpressed, his arms crossed tightly.
"Alright, alright." He sighed exaggeratedly.
"How about this, I'll let you off the hook. Give you some of my spare clothes, alright? You won't have to wear that weird gown. But in exchange, I getta pick the clothes. Deal?" Link gave him a wary glance, but the thought of wearing the gown was worse than the idea of wearing Sans' clothes again. After a long moment, he gave a subtle nod. The skeleton grinned wider.
"Sweet. Ya not much taller than me, they should fit fine." A few minutes later, Sans returned with a soft blue t-shirt with text that said 'Bone to be Wild', and dark gray pants. It was comfortable and surprisingly close to Link's size. The Hylian took them without comment and stepped behind a curtain to change. When he emerged, Sans glanced up and paused.
His sockets tracked the Hylian with a flicker of something unreadable.
"Well... guess you clean up nice." He said, smirking faintly.
"This is the second time I've seen ya in somethin normal, and I gotta admit— suits ya better than bloodstained armor." Link only tilted his head before looking down at the set of clothes he now wore.
"Startin to think ya might look better in my wardrobe than I do." Link glanced away, ears reddening just slightly. The shirt hugged his frame enough to show the lines of muscle and lean strength, and while the pants were a little loose, they weren't baggy. He looked... more Human like this, less like the haunted warrior who had come barreling through the Underground with a blade and a thousand-yard stare.
Sans stood in front of him, shifting his weight slightly. The skeleton picked up a stethoscope from the nearby tray and put it around his neck with the same casualness he always displayed.
'Wait... you're doing this?' Link asked, brows knitting. His tone wasn't doubtful, just... surprised. Sans raised an eye socket in response.
"Who else, princess? I am qualified, y'know." Link blinked at him, genuinely surprised. He hadn't expected Sans to have that kind of background.
'A scientist?' Sure, he was clever, always watching, but his lazy grin and hands-in-pockets attitude made it hard to imagine him running numbers and formulas in a lab coat.
"Yeah, yeah, laugh it up, farm boy. Used to be the real deal, y'know. Quantum theory, dimensional equations, all that sparkly jazz. Back when I gave a damn." His tone had been light, but there was a flicker of something else beneath it, heavier. Link didn't pry, but he didn't look away either.
"I've read more books on Human biology than Alph, sides thought you'd be more comfortable with a familiar face." Then, Sans clapped his phalanges together and grinned.
"Alright, pretty boy. Let's see what's goin on under the hood." Link shot him a sidelong look, but Sans just winked and gestured to the bed. He swallowed hard. Physical touch wasn't something he was comfortable with. Not since… well, never. The only time Link had ever been touched was when it was necessary—injuries, guidance, things like that. But this... this was different.
Link sat on the edge of the bed with stiff shoulders, arms resting in his lap. He didn't respond, but Sans could practically see the tension radiating off him.
"Relax, kid. I won't bite." Sans said, his voice having an odd humor, though something else was still there. His fingers were surprisingly gentle as they moved down Link's spine, checking for any signs of tension. Link forced himself to stay still, letting the skeleton do what he needed. He stared at the wall, focusing on a crack in the stone, his breath shallow.
Sans made a quiet clicking sound, and Link felt a slight weight press against his chest. The skeleton placed his hand over his heart, feeling for its rhythm. The skeletal fingers moved in circles, and Link's heart sped up, though he tried to keep his breathing steady.
"Your heart rate's a bit faster than I'd like. How're you feeling?" Sans asked, his voice still calm. Link hesitated for a moment before answering, his throat dry.
'Fine.' The situation was making him feel more than a little on edge. Sans hummed in acknowledgment, his hand moving from Link's chest to his wrist, where he checked his bruises. Again, something was weird about the touch, it wasn't cold but almost electric, where skeletal fingers brushed against his arm's warm skin. But Link stayed quiet, refusing to let any sign of discomfort show. He clenched his jaw and focused on the air that filled his lungs.
Sans lifted the edge of his shirt and pressed the cold stethoscope to Link's chest. He flinched, just a twitch, and Sans mumbled.
"Yeah, sorry. These things never warm up." He moved it with precision—upper chest, side, then low near the ribs.
"Breathe in." He instructed, and Link obeyed. Sans's skull tilted, and his eye focused somewhere beyond the surface.
"Lungs and heart strong. Steady. No irregular rhythms." The skeleton muttered, almost to himself.
"You alright, kid?" Sans asked, a faint concern creeping into his voice. Link managed a stiff nod, trying not to focus on the fact that Sans was still standing far too close.
When Sans reached toward his neck to check his lymph nodes, pressing on the large hand shaped bruise. Link's hand shot up on instinct and grabbed the skeleton's wrist. They locked eyes. The Hylian's grip was tight—reflexive, but he let go after a moment. His hand fell back to his lap in silent apology. Sans stared at him, then slowly reached forward again, this time slower.
"Thanks for not rippin my arm off." The Monster murmured before continuing.
"I've grown attached to it." Link didn't respond, but he didn't flinch either. His fingers now lightly pressing against the Hylian's throat to check for any irregularities. Link's muscles tensed again, his eyes squeezing shut in a mix of discomfort and frustration as the fingers continued to move against his skin. He was used to having the space he needed to move freely. This was different. It felt invasive, yet he knew he had no choice but to endure it.
Sans didn't seem to notice, or if he did, he didn't comment. Instead, he moved his hand, a finger gently prodding at the side of Link's throat, checking for lymph nodes.
"I'm gonna take a look at your ears next." He said casually, though the light in his eyes betrayed an unspoken urgency. Link shifted slightly, but didn't move his head as Sans took a small tool from the table, a delicate, metal instrument with a thin probe at the end. His heart skipped, body tensing instinctively as the cold metal touched the side of his ear. It wasn't painful, just uncomfortable, making Link want to flinch away.
"Hold still, kid." Sans said, his voice still soft, but the humor was gone now. He didn't sound like he was teasing this time. Link bit his lip, forcing himself to stay still. The sensation of the tool exploring his ear felt invasive, no matter how neutral or mindful Sans was trying to be. The small hum of the tool and the distant echoes of his heartbeat were the only things the Hylian could focus on. After a moment, Sans pulled back, giving him a moment to breathe.
"Not exactly human-shaped." He murmured.
"But clean. No signs of infection. Got that elf aesthetic goin' on." Link's ear twitched slightly at the words, but he didn't react otherwise. Sans chuckled at the response before moving to the other ear, and as he did, his breath ghosted over Link's skin. He flinched, his muscles locking in response, and Sans immediately took a small step back, noticing the reaction.
"Sorry. Didn't mean to crowd ya." Link gave him a small shake of his head, a silent message that it was fine. Sans didn't push it, though his curiosity was piqued.
"Throat time." The skeleton said, stepping back around to the front of Link. He leaned in slightly.
"Open up." The Hylian shot him a look of mild annoyance.
"Not for spaghetti." Sans added with a teasing grin.
"Just checking your tonsils." Link sighed but opened his mouth reluctantly. Sans leaned in, his penlight flicking on as he inspected the back of the Hylian's throat. His brow furrowed as he examined the way Link's tonsils looked.
Sans leaned forward a bit more, and then he stopped. Stared. He clicked the light off and took a step back, a surprised look crossing his face.
"Huh." Sans muttered, more to himself than anyone else. Link closed his mouth slowly, his eyes narrowing in confusion. The skeleton scratched the back of his skull, then looked at Link more curiously than he had a moment ago.
"Your canines." Sans said slowly, still surprised.
"They're sharp. Real sharp." He paused, blinking.
"You, uh, bite people often?" Link rolled his eyes, an exasperated sigh escaping him. Then the skeleton reached out without thinking, brushing his knuckles against Link's lip again, tilting his head.
"Hold still a sec…" Before the Hylian could react, Sans's hand was back—this time, his bony fingers gently prodding at his mouth. Link instinctively opened his jaw again. Then, Sans did something unexpected—he pressed a finger carefully against one of the sharp canines.
Link's breath caught. He didn't move or didn't blink. Every muscle tensed, locked in place as if afraid even a twitch would make things worse. The pressure wasn't painful, but it was intimate in a way he wasn't used to. There was no fear or hesitation in Sans's touch, just a quiet, interest. And yet, to Link, it was electric. His thoughts narrowed down to the point of contact—how strange it felt, how still Sans's hand was.
"Yeesh. Could crack a walnut with those."
"They're not just long, they're sharp. Enamel's denser than average. Definitely not standard Human morphology." Link wasn't listening to the skeleton ramble, only focusing on the finger that carefully moved against one of the pointed teeth. It was a light touch, experimental, like tapping glass to test for cracks.
His muscles tight, jaw locked, eyes flickering up to the Monster like he wasn't sure if this was going to end in a fight or a theory. The skeleton didn't notice, or maybe he did and didn't care. He was murmuring to himself again.
"Angle's about fifteen degrees sharper than the Human average… no wear damage either. Huh. Carnivorous traits, maybe partially ancestral? But oral structure's still humanoid. That's weird." His tone wasn't mocking. It was purely observational, almost clinical. Link wasn't even sure if Sans was still talking to him. The skeleton seemed too lost in his observations.
"Didn't see that in the medical books. Must've adapted over time, could be selective mutation? Could be magical. Or—" Link finally exhaled sharply, pressing his teeth lightly into a skeletal finger. Like a warning, causing the skeleton to blink back to the present. His bones didn't shift, his hand didn't retreat. But the Hylian could feel the subtle tension roll through him, the moment tightening like a wire.
Link held the stare for a beat longer before relaxing his jaw. Sans slowly withdrew his hand, fingers intact, but his brow raised high.
"…Right. Personal space." Sans cleared his throat awkwardly. He looked down at his finger, inspecting the undamaged surface, then glanced back up at the Hylian, corners of his mouth twitching, not into a grin, but something more contemplative.
Link only gave him a flat stare, but didn't say anything. His narrowed eyes said: 'What the hell was that?' Sans shrugged a little, still looking intrigued.
"Sorry, I just—didn't expect a bite radius like that. You got some serious hardware, farm boy." Link huffed softly, turning his head away, still feeling the ghost of Sans's touch like a lingering spark across his lip.
"Gotta admit." Sans muttered, almost to himself, again as he jotted something into a nearby notepad. Further annoying the Hylian.
"You're startin' to look less like a hero and more like a biological anomaly." He paused, glanced back at Link. The Hylian only raised a brow.
"…I mean that in a good way. Probably." The skeleton paused before continuing.
"Seriously though, those are some serious chompers. Must come in handy where you're from." Link didn't respond, his stare lingered a second longer than it should've until Alphys returned from her desk.
"W-we need to check your legs next." Alphys stuttered before Sans returned his attention back to him.
"Stand up, walk from that wall to the other. Lemme see how your balance is holdin' up." He obeyed, rising with a soft wince, but he kept his face still. Step by step, he crossed the room, his movements precise. He didn't limp or falter. He was used to fighting through pain. Moving while injured was second nature.
"Motor control's solid." Sans muttered while observing.
"That hip rotation though, probably compensating for the ribs." Link could hear the two Monsters mumbling to each other from across the room.
"Agreed." Alphys said, writing something down before hesitantly coming closer to him.
"O-okay, now for sensory. C-can you close your e-eyes for a second?" Link nodded, and there was a pause before he felt something soft brush against his arm. A feather? Maybe a thread? He didn't flinch. Another touch, this time against his neck, then his shoulder.
"W-Wow." Alphys said, blinking.
"His p-pain tolerance is… high. He d-didn't react at all to those spots with the Dolorimeter." They moved on to hearing tests and then eyesight tests. Alphys dimmed the lights and flashed a few illusions through a small screen: colored shapes and flickering movement. Link tracked them all without missing a beat.
"Reflexes are i-insane." Alphys whispered, almost to herself. She paused, seemingly in hesitation before speaking again.
"O-okay I'll, uh, need some blood." Link froze. The moment the words hit him, his brows furrowed and he straightened sharply, the tension back in his shoulders. He stared at her like she'd just asked for his sword.
'…What?' His thoughts carried sharply to Sans, who was lounging near the medical bed, watching his reactions. The skeleton cleared his throat, catching the sharp question directed only at him.
"She's not gonna drain you, relax. Just a lil' sample. Think of it like… donating a drop of soup so the chef can figure out how spicy it is." Link's confusion didn't fade.
Why did she need his blood to check his ribs?
"I-it's just protocol!" Alphys said quickly, noticing the unease from the Hylian, holding up her claws defensively.
"D-Different species react to magic differently. I d-don't wanna heal you wrong and make it worse! Like, what if I patch your ribs and accidentally speed up bone growth in the wrong direction? Or—or it reacts weird and fuses your ribs t-together?! I'd rather make sure first!" Link grimaced at that mental image. He really didn't want fused ribs. He turned to glance at Sans again, who just gave him a small shrug.
"She's weird." The skeleton muttered, scratching his cheek.
"Buuuut she knows what she's doin'. You can say no if ya want. But if you want to get out of here as fast then let her poke ya a bit." Link sighed through his nose, still glaring at the nearby tray of needles that he saw next to the bedside before. He wasn't scared of pain. He wasn't comfortable with unfamiliar things—and this lab was full of them.
Still… he did want to get out of here as fast as possible, Sans or Undyne wasnt about to just let him walk out, much to his dismay. Finally, he calmly walked over and sat down on the exam bed. Alphys blinked, then smiled in obvious relief.
"Oh! O-Okay—awesome! You won't regret it! I'll be super careful, promise!" Link looked away as she pulled on gloves and prepped the equipment, his jaw clenched tight. He stared over at the skeleton who lounged in a chair nearby.
He didn't like this.
The needle pierced his skin cleanly, without warning. Alphys had apologized three times after doing it, but he didn't flinch. Just sat there on the exam table, arms relaxed at his sides while his blood slowly filled the vial. Then a second. Then a third. She muttered something about needing "a larger sample for metabolic testing." He didn't question it.
Sans had wheeled his chair closer now. He was watching everything more seriously than usual, but not on the Hylian, on the screens flickering to life. The hum of machines filled the lab, occasional clicks and beeps interrupting the buzz of power. Link didn't like the sound.
Alphys eagerly turned to her console and slotted the vials into a strange machine that began to spin and blink. She pulled up windows and charts faster than he could follow. Numbers appeared on the screen, graphs and glowing lines that made his head spin. Then she stopped.
Her eyes went wide. She was practically vibrating with excitement as she stared at the screen.
"No way... T-This is insane. You—this blood is wild! Like—there's Human markers, sure, but there's m-magic in here." The yellow lizard didn't notice Link tense slightly, too busy reading over the results loading up on her screen.
"L-Look at this. There's a massive concentration of dormant energy maintained mostly in his b-bloodstream. It's like—it's like his whole body is wired to carry magic." Sans squinted, rolling his chair even closer now as his arms crossed over his chest.
"Huh. So it's only laced through the plasma and the red cells, too. Not just floating. That's unusual." Link shifted slightly, his eyes narrowing. He didn't like where this was going.
"You're not just H-Human." The short lizard Monster continued.
"There's markers here I-I've only seen in the oldest texts-like the ones tied to magic blood, its almost as if your p-people evolved to endure high levels of magic and power." He stared at her, unmoving, but inside, unease was slowly pooling in his chest.
She was getting too close.
Sans was reading the data alongside her now. His eye sockets narrowed as he leaned forward to study a line on the screen.
"...Yeah, I know this signature." Link's head turned slightly.
"Magic in the blood, I've seen it before." Sans muttered, tapping the screen.
"But his is different. Look see this—this stuff? This looks like something foreign." The words hit like a blade as his jaw tightened.
"No idea what it is." Sans added, eyeing the dark signature.
"It's not Monster magic, or this guy's normal magic, and it sure as hell isn't natural." He looked toward Alphys.
"Have you ever seen readings like this?" Alphys shook her head slowly.
"Here-see this curve in the sample? This energy frequency isn't consistent with his soul type…it doesn't belong there." That caught Sans' attention again.
"W-what is it?"
"Dunno. It's dark. Dense. Contained, but native to him."
"No. I-I mean, there's corruption markers here. Like it w-was grafted into him somehow." Alphys turned toward Link, curiosity lighting her eyes.
"D-Do you know about this? Has anyone tested your blood before?" He didn't respond, only silence stretched between them long. The skeleton looked back towards him.
"You okay, kid?" Link didn't move, knowing exactly what that dark trace was. The twilight shard, remnants of the curse. The thing that let him transform—when he had to. He didn't want them to know. Not about the crystal embedded deep inside of him.
"...Did someone do something t-to you? Were y-you exposed to dark magic?" He didn't answer. She tried again.
"T-This shouldn't be here. It's like—it's like it's dormant n-now, but it wants to activate. Like it's looking for something to trigger it." Sans swiveled his chair to give the still Hylian his full attention, hands stuffed into his hoodie pockets, usual lazy grin. This seemed to snap Link's attention off the screen and towards him, sharp sapphire eyes tracking him.
'It's contained.' He finally thought at Sans alone, deliberately.
'It's under control.' Sans blinked, his sockets narrowing slightly. He gave a slow nod.
"Alright. I believe you." Link could feel the tension in his shoulders loosen slightly, he knew Sans would ask him about it again. The Hylian just gave him a look that said 'Later.'
"D-Did he just—?" Alphys looked between them, confused.
"Yeah." Sans said casually, leaning back in his rolling chair lazily, crossing his arms behind his skull.
"He's got a weird connection to me. Thought-speak or somethin'. Don't worry about it." The royal scientist paused, as if slowly processing.
"But—why can't he d-do that with me?" She questioned, adjusting the frames on her snout.
"Maybe I'm just more charming." Sans deadpanned, giving a lazy wink. The yellow lizard still looked curious, but clearly wasn't done asking questions. Though she didn't push further on the topic, yet. Link shifted slightly on the padded medical table, the paper beneath him crinkling as he adjusted his weight.
"So." The skeleton started, voice light but smug. Link could already feel frustration at the oncoming teasing.
"Just me, huh? I'm the chosen one. The lucky guy who gets the psychic subscription service while everyone else gets radio silence?" Link gave him a deadpan stare.
"Man, feelin' pretty mind-blown over here." Sans continued, tapping his temple.
"You've got, like, the premium telepathy package... and I'm the only one on the call list." Link exhaled slowly. Not quite annoyed—but close. Sans leaned in, stage-whispering toward Alphys.
"Bet he's just shy. Or maybe my bones are tele-pathetic."
"Sans…" Alphys groaned, lowering her clipboard. He ignored her, smirking wider at the Hylian.
"Though honestly, bud, if this is your idea of a brain buddy system, I gotta ask—what are the perks? Do I get rewards points? Can I redeem 'em for snacks?" Link still didn't reply, though one brow quirked ever so slightly. Sans leaned forward, elbows on his knees as he continued.
"You better not be sendin' sweet nothings into my head at night. That's how ghost crushes start." The skeleton only got a dry look from the Hylian. Sans tilted his skull.
"I mean, I get it. I'm a skele-ton of charm." Alphys sighed in the background, rubbing her face.
"You're n-never gonna stop, are y-you?"
"Nope." Sans popped the "p."
"Not until this guy cracks a smile." He wagged a finger at Link. The Hylian could only give a look that said, Good luck with that.
"Face it, farm boy. You picked me. This is your life now. You're mind-linked to me, and I don't mean that in the creepy fanfiction way." Link rolled his eyes, finally looking away—but the flush rising to his cheeks was unmistakable.
"Aw, you blushed." Sans said, clearly delighted.
"What, was it the fanfiction joke?"
'Regret.' Link thought, dry and sharp in Sans' mind.
"Too late." Sans shot back out loud, smug.
"Heh. That's the look of someone regretting every decision that led them here." The skeleton responded to the dry look he received.
"You opened the mental chat box. You're stuck with me now. No minds back." Even Alphys groaned that time. But Link just sighed, shoulders relaxing slightly despite himself. There was something strangely comforting in the nonsense. Something familiar.
And deep down, though he'd never say it...
He didn't mind it.
"S-so…" Alphys finally said, dragging her eyes back to the screen.
"M-Magic blood, Dark magic contamination, a-and no medical history to speak of." She leaned back in her chair, utterly stunned.
"I-I don't know e-exactly where to start with treatment for someone like y-you." Link gave a faint shrug.
"Well." Sans said, his grin widening again.
"I guess the kid's just built different." Link rolled his eyes. But deep down, part of him was still on edge. He sat with one arm resting across his lap and the other supporting his weight, back slightly hunched as he tried not to look like he was in pain. The sensation was familiar, if unwelcome—healing bruises, broken ribs, fatigue pooling in his limbs.
'I'm fine.' Link said, mentally nudging the words toward Sans as Alphys tapped away at her equipment.
'My ribs will be better in a few days.'
"Oh, shut up." Sans groaned, loud enough for everyone to hear. He gave Link a sideways glance, brow bone raised.
"Let the doctor do her job." Link gave a faint huff of breath, but didn't argue. He knew Sans wouldn't let this go. Not after dragging him into a medical lab and staying glued to his side the entire time.
"You guys are way too synced up. It's kinda freaky." Undyne looked between them as she walked into the room, Alphys looked over from her monitor.
"There's s-still a lot I don't understand about your biology." She said before looking back at her monitor.
"I mean, you look h-human, but your blood suggests you're descended from people who were exposed to high levels of ambient magic. It's incredible. And… really confusing." Undyne leaned over her shoulder, arms crossed, one brow cocked as she peeked at the monitor.
"What about his soul?" Alphys blinked.
"H-Huh?"
"His soul color." Undyne said, pointing at Link.
"You never said what kind it is, and I never got a good look at it at Snowdin during his first fight. I thought I saw yellow." Link's head tilted slightly at the mention of those words, but he didn't say anything. Soul colors were a mystery to him, and he normally didn't see different colors whenever he saw them.
"Oh! R-Right." Alphys said, suddenly remembering.
"Let me j-just calibrate the scanner—" She pulled a small handheld device from her cluttered desk and turned it on, a narrow beam of light sweeping over Link's chest. The hum of it was unsettling, causing the Hylian to tense instinctively. His magic stirred faintly, like a breeze flicking embers in the dark.
The scanner pulsed once.
Then again.
"Oh...O-Oh my gosh!" Alphys said, leaning closer to her screen.
"Gold?"
"Gold?" Sans blinked. Alphys tapped the screen a few times.
"It's… I've never s-seen this before. His soul color is gold. Not yellow, like justice. I mean bright, radiant gold. That's not even listed in the typical s-spectrum. I've read of rumors in some ancient texts but I didn't think they were real."
"That... ain't normal." Sans tilted his skull slightly. His voice was low, unreadable.
"So what does that mean?" Undyne squinted.
"It's a-a pure soul." Alphys said, glasses glinting.
"Souls usually have a color because of their dominant trait, you know?! B-bravery! Kindness! Justice! But gold—!" She jabbed at the screen with both hands, practically vibrating.
"Gold is... it's the BALANCE of everything! I think. But—" She frowned deeper.
"I-I can't read any of his stats. They're scrambled. Either his s-soul has an internal defense, or something's interfering with the r-reading." The room went quiet. Sans was staring at Link now, no trace of his usual lazy grin. His sockets had narrowed, one of them faintly glowing with blue light. He looked like a scientist again, the kind who used to tear through timelines and theoreticals in a lab filled with echo flowers and regret.
Link met his gaze evenly. Didn't blink.
"So." Sans finally said,
"What are you not tellin' us, kid?" Link's chest tightened, but he didn't reply.
Before anything more could be said, Undyne's voice broke through the tension, casual at first, but there was a flicker of mischief in her tone.
"Wanna try taking his soul out?" The lab turned cold. Link flinched—not physically, but something in his magic rippled violently. His shoulders locked, breath caught in his chest. A deep tension filled his body, and for a split second, he wasn't in the lab anymore.
He was back in the Ruins.
Back in front of that flower.
Flowey's laughter echoed through his head.
The feeling of his soul being yanked from him. Cold. Exposed. Vulnerable.
"No." Sans said sharply, taking a step forward, but it was too late. Link's magic surged. Flame-like bursts erupted from his shoulders. The room lit up with golden embers that danced around him like furious sparks. The air crackled.
Undyne stepped back, hands up.
"Whoa, okay! Bad joke! My bad!" Alphys, frantically typing, looked up in wonder.
"I-I'm getting new readings—he's activating something. His internal magic systems are responding defensively. It's autonomous—it's not just his soul, it's his entire body. His blood, his aura, even h-his muscles—they're all reacting." Sans didn't move. Just stared, wide-eyed, as Link's shoulders rose and fell with slow, measured breaths.
"That's not Monster magic." He muttered. Link didn't respond, eyes lowered, staring at the glowing spot on the floor where his magic had flared. A part of him wanted to apologize. Another part didn't.
He hadn't lashed out.
He'd only warned them.
But the reminder of how easily his power could escape—it left him uneasy.
The lab was filled with a low hum. Machines blinking and whirring in sterile rhythm. The lighting overhead buzzed faintly as Link sat rigidly against the metal table, the chill biting into his skin. He didn't like sitting still this long. Not with eyes on him like he was a specimen on display.
