Ugh. It's one bad surprise after another.
Like. What the heck? First time travel. Now this???
The sheer crazy is making your head spin.
Sans Serif --the Seraph incarnate -- floats before you and your friends, cocky as ever.
Undyne’s singular remaining eye glared. She grinded her teeth and pointed the tip of her spear at Sans.
“Did you hear your own shit?” she said. “There’s a limit to realistic anime.”
“I did. Heard it loud and clear.”
“Then realize that you NEVER actually told us HOW or WHY we’re heading for this unavoidable dead end! It has something to do with the pipsqueak, no? But you’re suggesting to keep them around? EXPLAIN!!!”
“Geez,” he rolled his eyes. “Look. I know the kiddo isn’t all bad. By themselves they're not a threat; The Abomination is the real problem here.”
Sans placed a large monitor before you, playing out a visual aid for his tale.
“You see, it's an amalgamate driven purely by instinct, incapable of anything resembling cohesive thought. The collective hungers, therefore they eat. But the more they eat, the worse the hunger becomes: a never-ending cycle.”
“As is, millions of lives have already been devoured. The amount of energy in there… heh, it’s one big piñata. ‘Take a stick and knock it off. Pop goes the weasel’.”
“It’s the feedback, y’know. If a mere two Seers going neck-to-neck is enough to glitch the immediate surroundings, imagine the clash between two nuclear reactors. They’ll rip the cosmos apart.”
“That includes The Living Victory -- anyone with the Seraph System -- and you, Undyne the Undying.”
The fish fins drooped. “You… you can’t just erase it? With whatever godlike crap you got?”
Sans shrugged.
“Nope. Not without the rest of the world tumbling down together in mutual destruction. Double K.O.”
“I’ll be honest, I wouldn’t be dabbling in alternate realities if it’s not my last of last resorts. There’s no guarantee that I’ll remember anything. Or exist as the same person.”
“It’s all about constants and variables. Sans X might one day wake up as Sans Y. Keep the same name and wear the same clothes. But… nothing else.”
“Heh. Maybe it’s for the better. Transforming back into that lazy ol’ skelly who falls asleep anywhere. Easier to manage, no?”
Alphys screamed a massive ‘NANI?!’ over the line. Dang. She can get loud when she’s on fire.
“SANS! Are you serious?! You want to REPLACE living breathing people?! WITH US?!?!?!?”
“Depends,” he replied. “Replace or recreate, whichever is more feasible.”
“W-what do you mean by ‘depends’???”
That’s not the answer you want to hear!
Mom spoke up. “Sans, please stop! I’m done with losses. A whole new life… it’s too much--”
He cut her words short; “Sorry Tori. When push comes to shove, one’s gotta have to take risks.”
“………”
C’mon, there has to be someone else who can talk some sense into him!
Undyne? No, she just gave her best shot.
Cenna? Uh… not close enough.
Dad? Grillby?
Papyrus? What about Papyrus? You shook his arm, pleading for him to say the magic word to end all this.
He frowned back.
Why?
“FRISK,” he said, “WHEN YOU KEPT REWINDING TIME… WHAT WERE YOU LOOKING FOR?”
Uh…
A new outcome. You suppose.
“ISN’T THAT THE SAME AS REWRITING REALITY?”
It is. Sort of.
“HAVE YOU EVER WISHED FOR A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT WORLD?”
…You wanted to lie, but you can’t. Not to that face.
‘Yes’. You nodded.
In other words, you were as guilty as Sans. The main difference is efficiency.
“THEN WE CAN’T CONVINCE HIM WITH PURE WORDS. NOT EVEN THE GREAT PAPYRUS CAN.”
…This scenario is going to be extra difficult. Worse than dealing with the God of Hyperdeath.
Your Determination levels plummeted to a negative.
What should we do?
“LET HIM TRY.”
Is he serious? That might undo everything!
His cool powers!
His superb wisdom!
His awesome hero development!
…Back to the naive cinnamon roll!
“I KNOW MY BROTHER,” he replied. “THE PERSONA TIMELINE BURNED HIM. HE’S MORE CAUTIOUS NOW. THAT MEANS SANS WON’T COMMIT TO A REALITY UNTIL HE’S ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN.”
But…!
Dad patted you on the shoulder.
“Papyrus is right.” he said, “I don’t know what will happen. But, I do know we can’t stop him. Not yet at least.”
Sans seemed relieved. The expression on his face lightened.
“Nice to have things easy for once. Maybe you guys can suggest a few scenarios? After all, you’re gonna move house too. Along with the rest of Ebott Town, of course.”
You watch him fiddle with the Seraph System. “First thing’s first…”
Magical math codes installed into his being.
“Welp. Try to catch me.”
Sans then flew off into The Void. He left behind a trail of light, stretching across the blank space like a road.
Oh no.
Oh. No.
We gotta chase after him!
…Hang on a moment. Is it you, or is the back seat a little bit TOO tight?
You sat on Dad’s lap. Next to you is Cenna, then Mom. Grillby got crammed at the door’s side with the Annoying Dog.
For some reason, Cenna is sitting on the same lap-raised level as you. Weird, shouldn’t she squeezing on the seat itself?
You heard a half-muffled moan of contentment from the gaps between your parents.
“Aah… that warm, soft fur. On all sides. Sinkin’ into me bones…”
Juror Number 2?!?! He’s that scary looking guy! What’s his name again?
Cenna scrunched her brows. “Doooon’t get too comfy in there, Gael.”
“Ah can also smell the sweet fragrance of M’lord’s clothes from here. The fire brings them out, aye.”
Grillby shuffled further to the side, discomforted by the… ‘implications’. You wondered if you should make a mature pun. To your better judgement, you resisted.
“Oy Cenna, yer got a real nice bum. Ya sure you wanna die a virgin? Yer chances o’ getting a partner be nil by now. ‘Tis been a while since ah put me skills to use, but ah sure I’ll manage.”
Both Mom and Cenna went full on Papyrus-scream mode. Dad covered your ears with his huge hands.
Mom exclaimed: “There are CHILDREN here!”
“Okay, Gaelic Blanc.” Cenna squinted. “First. Yes, I really DO want to die a virgin. Second, you’re on abstinence. And third, FRISKY IS HERE!!! What in the flying fish made you think this conversation was a good idea???”
…You wanted to say that you’re not that ignorant. But then, you thought it’s best to keep silent. Don’t wanna cause more misunderstandings.
“My apologies for the oversight.” said Lady Lucidia. “Please stay still as I rectify the problem.”
The ultra-packed back end of the car split apart into separate squares. Dad held you tight as the cool mecha-rearranging sequence happened.
Papyrus’ car extended in length, now equipped with three rows of seats instead of two. Small wings were added to the back. Must be for stabilization.
The current seating arrangement was as follows:
Front, Undyne and Papyrus.
Second row, Cenna and ‘Gael’.
Third row, Mom and Dad.
Grillby had his own compartment at the far back, complete with control panel.
There’s an empty space between your goatparents. Odd. Where should you sit, then?
“That is for you, Crimson Keeper Frisk.”
A unique seat spawned at that very spot. The armrest had three buttons on it, labelled ‘1’, 2’, ‘3’ for ‘Front’, ‘Middle’ and ‘Back’.
Metal grooves ran across the centre of the car, stretching all the way from engine to taillights.
Ooooooooh! You get it now!
Excited, you hopped off Dad’s lap. Plunked yourself on the seat and buckled up.
Pressing the first button!
The mechanisms kicked into gear. Your seat rolled all the way to Papyrus and Undyne, surprising everyone with the cool.
“Ohmygod this is brilliant!” Of course Alphys will nerd out.
Why this setup though?
The skelly lady explained, “Analysis: your Mark has the potential to synergize well with anyone. This shifting seat will enable you to relay support however you see fit.”
Got it. Thanks for all the help.
“You’re welcome. I’ve also linked all local communication to a single channel. That way the increased distance shouldn’t be an issue.”
“That’s the last of our setup phase. Please make haste!”
Right. There’s that guy. You returned to your parents’ row. If there are any traps ahead, it will most likely collide with the front first.
As a Crimson Keeper, you’re in a leadership position. You must keep yourself safe at all cost, lest things fall apart because you’re out of commission.
…Sans told you that a long time ago. To think you’d use that same wisdom against him.
The dog decided to snuggle up with you. That’s fine. Strange it may seem, its presence had a soothing effect.
Papyrus wasted no time. He pushed his foot down the pedal and drove over the lit path.
“What is this… light?” asked Mom. “It’s making my fur stand.”
You told Mom that it’s the same type of magic as the one that filled the Core. Sans mentioned that they’re the base material for ‘Spirit Gates’.
Dad blinked. “You mean the entrance of The Crimson Hall?”
The suspicions were confirmed by Lady Lucidia: “By composition, yes.”
“Spirit Gates are connections between reality and ‘The Void’, a metaspace beyond the laws of standard Thermodynamics. In The Void, each path of possibility is identified by a unique identification.”
“The Functional Universe Number. Fascinating!” chimed Doctor Gaster. “Despite being apart for aeons, Surface and Underground arrive at the same conclusion. Such is the ubiquitous nature of science!”
“So…” said Undyne. “You’re saying alternate universes are real?!”
“Uncertain. Some would insist such. Others hypothesize that they’re merely simulations based on predefined clauses. We lack empirical data to determine either scenario.”
“In the best case scenario -- when Sans Serif grafts your data onto counterparts from his preferred world -- life will resume unaffected.”
You heard a huge slam on the table over the intercom.
Doctor Gaster yelled: “I object! Life will NOT resume unaffected!”
He’s right! You had met them all: Goner Kid. Rhymer. Mudhead. Shortie. All the grey monsters were people permanently removed from reality.
If Sans succeeds…
Your ‘other selves’… they’ll become Greys.
Goners.
That’s the worst case scenario, right? Right?
“Affirmative, Crimson Keeper Frisk.”
No damn way!
You can’t let any of that happen!
You are once again filled with DETERMINATION!
Papyrus shook his head at you. “I KNOW YOU’RE IMPATIENT, BUT YOU CAN’T SOLVE A PUZZLE WITHOUT THINKING THINGS THROUGH FIRST.”
He’s right. How about… being ‘determined’ to solve the riddle? Yeah. That’s better.
Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.
Grillby’s rippling flames then caught your attention. You noticed that the monster folk’s expression changed. They’re more sensitive to magic after all.
The road of white led you to a massive mockup of a mountainside tunnel.
Really Sans, being cheeky at this critical point?!
“I KNOW, RIGHT?!” Papyrus replied. “THAT’S WHY HE ANNOYS ME SO MUCH! SOMETIMES.”
Past the tunnel, the car drove out into a thick, dense fog of white. It reminded you of Mu’s memory reconstruction.
Papyrus? Why is he slowing down?
“I CAN’T SEE WHERE I’M GOING. AND I’M FORBIDDEN FROM USING MY AWESOME EYE. SAFETY FIRST!”
Before long, you find yourself on a highway.
You heard Alphys muttering about something. You asked what’s wrong.
She exclaimed: “Why is Mettaton white and blue? And wearing a cap backwards? He’d NEVER do that!”
Where?
“Look to your left, Frisk. There’s a huge billboard!”
Hang on a moment… the name reads ‘Napstaton’.
Napsta… Ton?
That’s Blooky?!?!
“Oh my god. Now that you mention it, you’re right! He’s mixing music at a DJ stand!”
That’s totally a Blooky thing!
The scenery changed. You saw your monster friends hanging out at the park… except everyone had switched personalities.
Mom became Dad.
Dad became Mom.
A lazy Papyrus, a hyper Sans.
It feels WEIRD to see a timid Undyne and a ferocious Alphys!
There’s Mettaton too! He’s a shy pink ghost!
And the kid that hung out with all of them was none other than the rosy-cheeked Chara.
…Does that mean you were the one who died first?
You heard the six-winged angel speak. There’s no source to his voice, so you can’t pinpoint his position with your ears. Rats!
“Don’t think too much,” he said. “This is a simple test run. Not the most refined stuff.”
What in the world is he doing??
“Presenting my findings. Now for a new scenario: what if monsters lived up to their name? Creatures feared for legit reasons: like a tendency for violence.”
The scenery switched to a different kind of Ebott. It’s darker. Grimmer. And--
Cenna blurted out: “Why hell is everyone so goddamn edgy? Like, Mezil colours! Without the class!”
“…Except for the other me, it seems…” The fiery bartender shook his head. “…Too gaudy for my taste…”
Now that’s an extravagant fur coat. How’s it not catching fire? That’s a question best left for another day.
Despite the tensions from human society, you still don’t see any Magi: only regular police.
Mister reptilian beast hissed at the sight. “Gangs. Crime. Nothin’ but trouble fer M’lord. Those scoundrels better not cross me line.”
“I wonder…” pondered Cenna. “You think you’d survive in that kinda society? Might makes right kinda deal?”
“Pah, ne’er in a million years! Those be the worst o’ the lot. The moment they decide to hunt me down.” He drew a line across his throat. “Ah be dust.”
…You noticed a deep bitterness in his answer.
Sans hummed to himself. “Yup. Curiosity satisfied. Don’t fancy it either. But, it proves the point. Wanna see what else I've found?”
Next world. It’s Mount Ebott in all its glory.
Further down, you noticed a dust cloud. Is that Papyrus and Undyne competing for who can jog the fastest?
No. It sounds too… metallic.
A wheelbarrow with Mettaton legs jumped right out of the cloud. It posed in the air. Mount Ebott’s mineral-rich rocks glittered against the light of the setting sun, providing the most sparkling backdrop for the glammest of glams.
And even then, the sheer fabulousness of Mettaton’s legs overpowered the majesty of nature. You were not prepared to witness this show.
Cenna pointed back and asked: “No comment about the rider?”
Rider? What rider?
“Yeah. There’s someone in there. Short brown hair, rosy cheeks, pale skin…”
Chara?!?
“That human does look similar…” said Dad.
Mom shook her head. “But they’re not the same person.”
Whoa, Mom could tell the difference at this speed!?
“Of course, dear.” She winked. “I’m a mother, after all.”
Gaelic looked back, his right Eye burning. “Hope that chap has brakes, ‘cause that way be the cliffs.”
“…I don’t know which is worse,” said Undyne. “That wheelbarrow having pink heels, or it ‘roadrunning’ straight into danger.”
Papyrus rubbed his chin. “HMMM, I FAIL TO SEE THE PROBLEM. THEY BOTH DO A TREMENDOUS JOB IN COMBINING THE FACTORS OF ‘SPECTACULAR’ AND ‘FUN’!”
“Erm. Whatever you say, Paps.”
A series of panicked screams followed shortly after. Sound can travel surprisingly far.
“Aaaand off they go.”
Despite everything, the Papyrus Logic is still intact. Thinking about it brought you some slight comfort. Not so much for the unfortunate rider, though.
The fog was now thicker than ever.
Papyrus looked around, leery about the unknown. “I CAN’T HELP BUT TO EXPECT A JAPE.”
How soon?
“SOON!”
Maybe he should slow down? NEVERMIND, INCOMING INCONVENIENT SHOPFRONT!!!
He slammed on the brakes. At that moment, a shield enveloped the car.
What followed after were the sounds of broken glass and falling knick-knacks. Thank goodness you had your seatbelt on.
The impact was… much softer than expected. Like a bumper car. Did the shield absorb most of the shock?
When you looked upwards, you noticed bits of broken concrete rolling off to the side.
Undyne read the dashboard. “Shields 85%? Wow. This is spaceship-level tech. Why hasn’t the Surface colonized the moon yet?”
Poor Papyrus. He sounds embarrassed. “OH MY GOD, I’M TERRIBLY SORRY EVERYONE! IT APPEARS THAT MY FOG DRIVING SKILLS STILL HAVE A LONG WAYS TO GO.”
Where did you end up anyway?
You’re inside a shop filled with peculiar magic trinkets. …Glowing medallions, plates with moving ornaments, colorful balls that jump around on their own…
A Sans in a red jacket walked onto the scene, enchanted by the wares. The residents of that world did not notice that you had destroyed a large section of the establishment. For them, your little accident didn’t happen at all.
He bumped into a huge hen monster, wearing a bright and colourful dress contrasting her white, speckled feathers.
They exchanged courtesies. Then… the chicken lady recognized him. Called out his name and gave the petite skelly a huge hug.
Sans? Care to explain what's going on? Who even is this person?
“Dunno,” he commented. “Never seen her before. I think she’s supposed to be our nanny? Interesting how social connections vary tremendously between worlds.”
Papyrus yelled at the top of his ribs. “A NORMAL LOOKING SANS IN RED?!?!?! IMPOSSIBLE!!!!”
Whoa. We just saw a glambarrow doing a slapstick cartoon routine, and Sans being hugged by a giant hen. Yet THAT is what Papyrus consider the weirdest of the weird?
“YES!” Papyrus answered without a single drop of irony. “THE BROTHER I KNOW WILL NEVER WEAR RED!"
But you clearly heard his name…
Lady Lucidia then said: “Detecting anomaly in subject Sans, Red Jacket.”
Huh? She’s noticed something? What is it?
“I’m sorry, Crimson Keeper Frisk. Since that timeline is not our own, I can’t create any Links to provide a comprehensive analysis. However his aura differs from a normal monster. He's not a Seer either.”
A world where Sans is the anomaly… you can only ponder what it means.
Papyrus reversed the car out of the crash zone with some careful maneuvering. Then, it’s off into the reality reel again.
Yet another fresh new world. For once it’s a normal slice of life scenario. You hung out with the gang at a fast-food joint.
Hey, it’s one of those Far West franchises. Cowboy style fried chicken. In addition to fries, they also serve ‘biscuits’. They’re actually savoury scones. Super delicious.
After that, you excused yourself to go to the toilet. Entered the girl’s room.
The scene repeated. This time you went to the boy’s room!
‘Master Troll Frisk in their natural habitat’. You nodded to that thought.
The scene skipped to the grown-up versions of those two worlds. It’s the exact same scenario in both: a celebration for completing your studies. One version of you wore a formal evening dress, while the other wore a man’s three piece suit.
Papyrus started gushing over your good taste in style. “SUCH ELEGANCE! SUCH DASHINGNESS! LIKE THE FAIRY GODMOTHER AND MISTER MAGUS COMBINED!”
And you’re not just cross-dressing either; you really were a girl in one world, and a boy in another…
How does that even work????
The whole deal confused Undyne enough to pop the question: “Punk, really. Are you a gal or a dude?”
It’s a secret.
“Okay. I’ll ask your sister then… Which is it???”
Cenna chortled. “No spoilers! It'll ruin the surprise. Also don’t bother asking Mez, Gael, or Lucy either. It’s a pact.”
The strongfish grumbled.
“…Easy for you to say. I got chewed out by that pro-Gungnir mom for not knowing.”
“Ugh, Linda right? She’s super stressful.”
Next, you drove into a world chock full of weird buildings. Judging from the clouds of the sky, it’s the Surface. But the architecture is miles different compared to Ebott Town. The houses looked like plant bulbs.
You managed to catch a glimpse of the town’s name: ‘Greenlake’.
Cenna pointed at a direction. “Hey Frisky, isn’t that your shirt?”
The colour checks out, but it’s on a chocolate-fur goat monster. They were at the receiving end of a good ol’ Papyrus hug.
Maybe the fashion caught on? Regular Sans was there. Alphys and Undyne too. Alongside… Asriel?
Despite their Papyrus’ jovial cheer, everyone else seemed quite unhappy. There’s something off about the whole scenario.
“Rightfully so,” Sans explained. “Monsters in that world managed to find a way to turn humans into their own.”
“Wait, so THAT brown goat is their Frisky?!?” Cenna exclaimed.
“Ayup.”
How? Explain??!?
“Crazy magic science shenanigans, really. By draining their SOUL’s Determination until it reaches a white-state, the body changes in accordance. Too bad the laws of our universe are too different to allow for such an outcome. The closest thing we had were Lich Conversion spells. But, considering the requirements, I’m not sure if that’s half or double the controversy.”
“Sure, you don’t need a dead human. But do you think prisoners of war would be happy with being violated at the molecular level? Difficult subject.”
Your team drove through a brand new tunnel, not knowing what’s beyond the horizon.
It’s uneasy.
For the next ten minutes, you traversed nothing but the thickest fog. It’s now fully white as far as the eye can see.
…You expected a smartypants comment from Sans by now. But he remained… silent?
“SANS?” Papyrus asked, genuinely worried. “SANS, ARE YOU ALIVE?”
He responded. “Ah. Uh. Yeah, I’m fine. Just busy. Gathering data.”
You tell Sans that you’re not convinced. He sounds tired. Bone tired.
“Welp, what do ya expect? I’m running on fumes. Anyways… I think this might interest you. Remember your first wish? Y’know… the one that started this mad time travelling adventure to begin with?”
No Sans, you’re not falling for his temptations.
“Heh kid. Don’t count your ‘goats’ yet.”
The jetcar drove into a new scenery. It’s the surface in all its sunny glory.
There, you saw Asriel having a picnic with the rest of the Ebott Gang.
Mom and Dad already started tearing up at the idyllic scene. You couldn’t help it too.
Everyone was so happy.
Lady Lucidia snapped you out of the daze. “Stop. You do not know the cost.”
Calm down. Think.
She’s right. What IS the cost?
You don’t want to know…
You thought back to Sans’ time travel proposal. Your parents survived the ‘incident’, but The Magus Association fell.
‘No’, ‘Nope’, and ‘Denied’. Crossed your arms together into an ‘X’!
“Frisk, don’t be so rude!” Mom scolded, “You should let him finish.”
Mom? Mom, no! Don’t give in!
Listening to this con-job salesman is the worst thing anyone can do!
“I will have to side with Toriel here,” said Dad. He had his disappointed face. “I too want to know.”
Dad!
You explained to your parents that Sans had pulled the exact same crap on you. Tried to paint a happy world where you lived together with your biological parents.
Except in that timeline, Cenna was gone. The world fell under Gungnir control. And…
The End was nigh.
Your goat parents struggled to accept your testimony.
Deep down, they had a wish.
A dream.
A hope.
That there’s something out there that could undo the worst moment in their lives.
Sans decided their silence was a sign of approval.
“Lucky us, there are several different methods to choose from. Why not take a gander?”
The first method shown to you… was giving up your SOUL to Flowey. He accepted and returned to his true self.
“That’s option number one. Frisk will die, of course. But, they get to live on within Prince Asriel. Two kids in one.”
Whoa. Cenna shook her fist. Her rage was comparable to Undyne’s. “Like hell I’ll let you do that!”
“Oh, so your sibling is more precious? Try telling that to ‘Azzy’s’ parents.”
It’s a trap. An obvious but inescapable one. Cenna can’t disagree without making her stance sound worse than it is.
Doctor Gaster asked: “Why didn’t you do so, Child of Mercy? When you had the chance?”
You sensed melancholy in his voice.
You told the doc that you’ve considered it before. Except… you were too afraid to give up your time-travelling powers. If things didn't work out, there’s no going back.
“It pains me to say this, but you made a wise choice.”
Huh? He… is not angry at you?
“We don’t know the effects of a long-term merger. And without an existing monster SOUL, our dear prince might end up with… human inclinations. Apologies for my prejudice.”
I-it’s alright. Humans have an unpleasant history. You understand his reservations.
“Guess that’s a bust,” said Sans. “If a full SOUL is too extreme, maybe go with half?”
The scene changed again. You saw yourself alongside Asriel: each sharing your human SOUL.
This version of ‘you’ wore a blue jacket and a red scarf. It seems you adopted the skelebros’ fashion sense.
“See? Both kids alive and well. You know what? This could work. Look at Doctor Gaster---”
Lucidia interjected: Such a procedure will only weaken one’s resistance against DEMONS. Your proposal is no different from death.”
“E-excuse me…” said Alphys. “If that’s the case… wouldn’t that Frisk suffer a major Chara possession problem? The very same one we solved after so many, many, many attempts?”
“Indeed.”
Baffled lizard mode, on. “Sans are you out of your mind?!? We’re not putting Frisk through that trouble again! Papyrus too!”
Sans being Sans, replied in a most nonchalant manner: “Welp. Knew you’re gonna notice that. Want something less invasive? Stop by the next place. Don’t crash, ok?”
You spotted a half-formed room in the distance. It’s an alternate version of Alphys’ Surface lab, sporting the retro aesthetic of a past-century Sci-fi set: a complete contrast with the more anime-based and clinical decor you’re familiar with.
Flowey was in his pot. Doctor Alphys explained that even though he had lost his past, he could still have a future.
She suggested a medication plan to gradually restore his SOUL over time.
It… it reminds you of modern psychiatry.
Why didn’t you think of this sooner? This is genius!
Nonononono. That’s no excuse to switch worlds!
Cenna agreed. “C’mon Frisky! You got more than Alphys in this world. Remember Anise? The Vanquisher who preps my tools? And Lucy? Lucy’s awesome! Nevermind that creepy goop doc.”
“Oi! I heard that!”
“Point being. With these brilliant minds combined, you’re gonna get way faster AND better results.”
That is so true! Too bad, Sans. This attempt is a complete bust!
“Expected,” he said. “It’s about time I show you the jackpot anyway. Stayed out of trouble for good reason, y’know.”
“Keep moving forward.”
Silence.
Unlike the initial rush of urgency, this last part of the journey held a sombre tone above your heads.
You wondered…
What’s this special final offer?
Questions, questions and more questions.
At the end of the road… the angel waits in person. Behind him stood a child sized object draped in tablecloth.
You pressed ‘1’ and rolled your seat to the front. From there, you had an up-close point of view.
“Welcome! Welcome!” said Sans. “I have one premium item on sale. Cost is negligible.” Wink.
Undyne growled. “Get on with it.”
“Confident, huh? Well, you asked for it.” With a single touch, Karma consumed the fabric.
Everyone in the car gasped. You’re looking at a sleeping Asriel Dreemurr. Realistic. True to life. Not a single strand of fur out of place.
His best offer is… a faux body?
“Faux?” He shook his head. “That won’t do. You got a living analyzer on your side. Why not ask her to examine? I’ll wait.”
It’s a challenge that Lady Lucidia can’t turn down.
“Beginning analysis.”
You waited in great anxiety. It’s too quiet for your taste. Lucidia strikes you as a woman who dislikes low-effort humour.
“Analysis complete.”
And then she fell silent still.
Alphys poked. “Uh. L-Lady Lucidia?”
“…Is there a flaw in my processing? How could it be? I know this is a false construct, yet… Conclusion: genuine.”
Sans chuckled at her lost reaction. “I’m sure you’re familiar with this concept. A fake that matches the original might as well be the real thing.”
Doctor Gaster questioned: “If you could conjure a perfect clone… What’s preventing you from making us a safe haven inside The Void itself? Why must you ruin innocent lives that have nothing to do with our plight?”
“Simple,” answered Sans. “Unlike you, our real bodies remain tethered to the physical world. Should anyone take aggressive action, our blissful snowglobe will end in a blink.”
“WAIT A MOMENT! I DIDN’T HAVE A BODY WHEN I HAD TO DISCIPLINE CHARA.”
“Oh that? Judge Thyme served as your anchor. You were ‘alive’ only because you had become his Proxy. The Void just isn’t that stable an existence. Hence, the migration plan.”
“Somewhere out there, there’s a world where everything is right: loved ones resurrected, children growing up together, no politics hanging above our heads, no cataclysmic time bomb… you get the drift.”
You wanted to argue against him… But how? You don’t have an alternative to anything. Plea on ethics and morality? He doesn’t care about them!
“Sir Serif, can you truly bring back my son?”
All attention locked on Dad, King Asgore Dreemurr. His voice, shaky. His eyes, watery. “All those years… I kept thinking, that I’d give everything to see my loved ones again.”
“Might there be a way for our Magi friends to continue to exist? Separate from us?”
“What’s your idea, Your Majesty?” asked Sans.
“There’s no need to leave anyone behind. We just need to… split up. I’m sure there’s at least one world with the closest match. Could you send them there instead?”
“Not so keen on the extra workload. But, you’ll all leave me alone if I do that? By royal decree?”
“Yes,” he said. “A peaceful resolution, is it not?”
“Deal.”
The car soon erupted into a mess of protests.
“King Asgore, that’s MURDER! INJUSTICE!”
“…Without our memories, we won’t be the same…”
“I'd rather die as myself than to live on as, I dunno, Jane Doe??”
“Understandable. However, Vanquisher, becoming an unconscious parasite may yet be preferred over absolute erasure.
“Wendell Dominic Gaster, listen to yourself! Are you going to push my husband into making yet another terrible decision?!”
“Apologies, My Queen. But his Majesty’s wishes…”
“Reminder: there’s no guarantee that the Seraphim will even keep his promise.”
“Cor Blimey, I REFUSE! Life hath no meaning without me masters!”
“I-I’m so not okay with this, but if I don’t remember at all how am I going to complain???”
“EVERYONE, PLEASE STAY CALM. ARGUING WILL NOT HELP!”
Nobody listened to you or Papyrus. Emotions continued to escalate like a summer wildfire.
Then, the mayhem got interrupted by a long, frustrated screech over the mic. It spouted a string of incomprehensible kid-level insults. ‘Nincompoop’. ‘Moron’. ‘Dumbbells’.
That high-pitched temper tantrum…!
It’s… It's… Flowey!
“Was wondering when you’d show up, ‘Prince Asriel’.” Sans smirked. “Here I thought you’d continue to cower and weep like a crybaby.”
Time for an earful. “YOU don’t deserve to call me that, you stupid Smiley Trashbag! Or I should say Smiley EDGEBAG? You’re a bag full of razors!”
Next was the king’s turn. “Dad! You big massive DOOFUS! What sort of a King would give up everything to reunite with his family? EVER HEARD OF RESPONSIBILITIES?! You almost let this two-bit comedian sell you the most obvious con!”
Oh boy, his rant is so intense that the mighty King of Monsters reeled back. “S-son. I was just…”
“Trying to save me? Is your name Frisk now??? You heard ‘The Snas’! This whole drama started because THAT BLOCKHEAD refused to give up!”
As expected. The heat landed square upon you. His condescending voice rung between your ears.
“Yes, I’m talking about YOU. Those alternate worlds just make me so MAD! Why can’t any of you just let me be a goshdarn flower???”
You told Asriel that his story broke your heart. The thought of leaving him alone and forgotten was too much to bear.
“And your answer is to hurt everyone else for my sake? Without my permission??? Hmph. No wonder Chara hates humanity.”
Your throat tensed.
“Okay, fine. I’ll make this clear for EVERYONE to hear. If saving me requires some stupid deal with the devil, STOP! I don’t care if it’s a sketchy trade, weird occult magic, spacetime editing nonsense, or whatever! Just DON’T!”
Even if… someone hands the opportunity on a silver platter?
“…You really are an idiot.”
The truth can bite you, hard.
“Welp,” Sans shrugged. “It’s a breakdown in negotiations. Back to square one. Looks like our little prince is determined to rest in peace.”
You watched him send the cloned body back into the fog.
You can't help but feel like you’ve wasted a golden opportunity. Judging from your parents’ expression, they must have thought the same.
To think that you’d never see Asriel’s kind-hearted, fuzzy self again.
It hurts.
But, you must move on.