Drive faster, Papyrus!
“THIS IS THE FASTEST FRISK-SAFE SPEED I CAN MUSTER!!!”
Try the not-safe speeds!
“I CANNOT ALLOW THAT! FIRST, THE FASTER BIKE IS A ONE-SEATER. SECOND, YOU HAVE NO HELMET.”
Oh, c’mon, it’s not like we’d get into an accident with the Papyrus-brand super awesome driving skills!
“…WHAT IF I TOLD YOU THAT MY EYE WARNED ME AGAINST OVERENTHUSIASTIC SPEEDING?”
Seriously?!?!
Look over there, Papyrus!
See those lasers?
See those spears?
See those beams of fire?
We both know what that means. Sans is gonna escape to the sea and get himself killed!
Just when you said that, a golden streak of light whizzed over your head. It formed an arc.
That magic… it belongs to Cenna.
The arrow split apart into a spray of light, bombarding the crater’s inlet entry.
It all happened in a blink.
When your bike finally arrived at your destination, you found arrows stuck into almost every surface you can think of. Anywhere that was not water had become a field of gold, with arrows as the blades of grass.
Jaw, drop. Wow.
This is… Unlimited Arrow Works!
Your sister’s capable of such magic? Now that’s what you call ‘mad skillz’!
“SANS!”
You looked in Papyrus’ direction. It really is Sans. Five arrows pinned him against the slanted deck of a broken ship. It’s clear that ‘killing’ was not the objective.
Sans… It’s an understatement to say he had seen better days. The Seraph System healed most of his injuries. But his clothes? They’re ragged.
Undyne and Grillby locked him down with their respective weapons. It’s the classic crossed arrest.
Holy marshmallows on a campfire stick. That Grillby, he’s hotter than ever. And you don’t mean just his body temperature. Even without his armour, he had the posture of a true knight. Super cool.
Papyrus slowed down his bike and parked it on solid ground. “FRISK, PLEASE STAY HERE. THE WHIRLPOOL IS TOO DANGEROUS FOR YOU.”
The connecting point between the ocean and crater had become more treacherous than you imagined. Capsized ships, rushing currents, unknown debris…
Yup, you don’t want to get anywhere near THAT pit of death.
You hopped off the ride. Maybe Mister Garamond disembarked too. You couldn’t tell since he’s still invisible.
Papyrus made a big jump straight towards the ship, using his natural Blue to skip over the hazards.
Undyne was both surprised and relieved by her friend’s presence.
She asked: “Papyrus? Why are you here?”
“TO TALK WITH MY BROTHER.”
“…If we were still in the Underground, I would have yelled at you.”
“I KNOW. BUT, VIOLENCE WON’T HELP US NOW. COULD YOU PLEASE PROTECT FRISK?”
You know she’s sceptical. But, in the end, she resigned to his decision. “Fine. I don’t trust Sans enough to leave the squirt alone anyway.”
Ah yes, he could try to kidnap you again. Always better to have a bodyguard.
“Don’t come any closer, bro.” Sans warned. “I still have these in my possession.”
The capsules that contained the SOULS of your parents were clipped on his pants, within arm’s reach.
“You wouldn’t want anything to happen to them. So, why don’t we negotiate?”
“I’M NOT HERE FOR THAT SORT OF BUSINESS,” Papyrus answered. “I’M HERE TO TALK TO YOU. HEART-TO-HEART.”
“Do you think we can still do that? You and I? We… we never did discuss the important stuff. Not as much as we should.”
“IT HAS TO START SOMEWHERE.”
“Welp. As long as Tori and Asgore are with me, I’m not interested.”
Just when he said so, the capsules were swiped away from his very body.
Not long after, Mister Invisibone revealed himself by your side. He had both Mom and Dad safe in his possession.
Whoa! Does that mean anything he touches gets the same vanishing effect?
Sans sighed. Glaring at the thief, he grumbled: “Dude. I took you out for a reason…”
“So, you knew,” said Garamond.
“Had a hunch,” Sans replied. “Still on active duty at 238 years old? Welp, didn’t want to find out why.”
Papyrus being Papyrus interjected: “YOU KNOW BROTHER, I COULD JUST CAPTURE YOU RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW WITH MY SECRET WEAPON. BUT I CHOOSE NOT TO. I WANT US TO BE ON EQUAL TERMS.”
“If you really want that, you will have to tell Grillbz here to leave me alone. ‘Cause right now I’m beneath your level.”
“WRONG. WHEN IT COMES TO THE ART OF KILLING, YOU’VE ALWAYS BEEN ABOVE ME. GRILLBY IS AN ABSOLUTE NECESSITY TO EQUALIZE THE FIELD.”
Sans chuckled. No matter what, he always had an opportunity to laugh. You wonder if it was amusement, or it’s his learned response to specific situations…
“Touché. Fine. I’ll agree to your proposal. So, where do we start?”
“SANS, HAVE YOU FOUND ANYTHING YET?”
“Nope. I’ve hit a dead end. Just like I thought, really. Searching through the haystack brought into perspective how insignificant we really are. Just a blink and we’re gone, while the universe continues on as usual.”
At this point, you never thought you’d witness Papyrus’ screech mode again. Yet, it happened.
He spun around. Stomped his foot. Papyrus-level aggravation, off the roof.
“SAAAAAAAAAANS, YOU’VE BEEN LOOKING AT THE WRONG DIRECTION THIS WHOLE TIME! DID YOU REALLY EXPECT TO FIND CLOTHES IN THE SOUP STORE???”
“YOU ALWAYS THINK OF THE WORST AND ONLY THE WORST! HOW ARE YOU EVER GOING TO FIND THE BEST WITH THAT MENTALITY?!”
Papyrus tried to calm himself down after his outburst. It took a while.
“BROTHER. I SAW A PLACE WHERE DEATH DOES NOT EXIST.”
“ENTROPY. THE BROKENNESS. THE DOWNING DUMPS. GONE. NONE OF THE SAD AND THE BAD. THERE IS ONLY LIFE. THERE IS ONLY LOVE… FOR ALL ETERNITY.”
“IT’S WHAT HUMANS CALL ‘HEAVEN’.”
Sans was not impressed.
“I know what you’re talking about,” he said.
“YOU DO?!”
“Yup. I looked up on the source of my namesake, y’know. It’s not what you think it is, Paps.”
“WHY NOT?”
“Simple. You believe there’s good in everyone. You’re right. But, the reality is this: there’s also evil.”
“That expression on your face. Heh. Tells me you already knew the connection between Heaven and Hell. I’ll cut to the chase.”
“For Heaven to exist, anything and everyone that causes Hell must be purged. I mean ‘everyone’. Big bads. Small crooks. Masked fakes. The slightest stain, thrown out like trash.”
“INCLUDING ME, THE GREAT PAPYRUS?”
“Yup. That’s how it goes. I know lots of humans claim that you just need to be a good person. But… heh, they live in self-delusion.”
Discomfort crept around you. Papyrus, the purest cinnamon roll on Earth, would be disqualified?!
You refuse to believe that’s true! Okay, whatever legend Sans is speaking about SUCKS!
“FRISK, I’M NOT PERFECT.”
But…!
“I KNOW MY OWN FAULTS. AND, I KNOW WHAT I DID IN THE OTHER TIMELINES.”
That? Back then, he doesn’t know what he’s talking about. You don’t blame him for his zany logic!
“IT DOESN’T CHANGE THE FACT THAT MY OLD SELF WAS NOT AS GREAT AS I THOUGHT. WE AGREED ON THIS BEFORE, RIGHT?”
…You remember. It was before Doctor Gaster’s history lesson.
“WHEN I WAS IN THE UNDERGROUND, I WANTED FAME. I WANTED FANKISSES EVERY MORNING. I WANTED EVERYONE TO KNOW I EXIST. IT’S PUERILE IN HINDSIGHT.”
“MY INTENTIONS WERE WAY OFF THE MARK. I WAS IGNORANT ABOUT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF FAME. I HAD AN IDEA. BUT ONLY JUST AN IDEA.”
“I FAILED TO BE A POSITIVE INFLUENCE, UNABLE TO PROVE TO YOU THAT LIFE IS MEANINGFUL.”
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Papyrus…
You wanted to tell him that he had done more than he’s ever realised.
He changed your life. And you bet he changed Tsunderjudge’s life too. The Trial speaks for itself.
Turning back to Sans, Papyrus asked: “BROTHER, YOU WON’T BELIEVE UNLESS YOU SEE?”
“Yup,” Sans replied. “Empirical evidence is always preferred.”
“OKAY, I’LL SHOW YOU. IS YOUR AWESOME ARTIFICIALLY ENHANCED MAGIC EYE STILL FUNCTIONAL?”
“Not quite.” Sans glanced at the Seraph System. “Too hot to function. More so with Sir Fire there.”
“THAT’S FINE. THE GREAT PAPYRUS TRUSTS THAT YOU CAN DO IT WITH YOUR REGULAR COLOURS.”
He placed his gloves on Sans’ cheeks. Then, he leaned forward until his frontal cranium connected with his brother’s.
“BETWEEN US, WE HAVE ALL SIX SHADES OF OUR PEOPLE. I WILL HELP YOU.”
That’s true.
Sans is Cyan-Yellow-Purple.
Papyrus is Orange-Blue-Green.
Add some Red and it’s a full set.
“I HAD SEEN, YET I COULDN’T UNDERSTAND. YOU COULDN’T FIND, YET YOU WILL COMPREHEND.”
“PATIENT PERCEIVEMENT OF THE TRUTH… YOU HAVE WHAT I DON’T.”
Sans and Papyrus both ignited their Eyes in close proximity. They shared their power, uniting the ‘Fire of Humanity’ into a flame of pure white.
The feedback of magic intensified.
The whirlpool, stilled.
The fire, extinguished.
The air, silenced.
You’re not sure how much time had passed. You were too awed by the display to check. Monsters do express themselves with magic in more ways than one.
You secretly planted a rewind-teleport Mark underneath your shoe. If anything does go wrong, you’re prepared to initiate a rescue.
Sans asked. “Is this for real?”
“YES.”
“Everything checks out, Paps. Whole laws were rewritten. And, there’s pure love everywhere. Nothing twisted. Nothing broken.”
“It’s… it’s wonderful.”
“RIGHT?” said Papyrus, “SANS. YOU DIDN’T NEED TO TRANSFER TIMELINES. YOU DIDN’T NEED TO BECOME A DEMON. WE WILL BUILD HEAVEN THE SLOW, STEADY WAY.”
“PLEASE. JOIN US. YOU AND I. TOGETHER. I… I WANT TO WALK THIS JOURNEY AS BROTHERS. NO MORE OF THIS WEIRD CELESTIAL RELATIONSHIP.”
“I NOW UNDERSTAND THAT BEING YOUR ‘GOD’ DOESN’T DO YOU JUSTICE.”
Yes!
This is it!
This has gotta by THE moment of Sans’ redemption! Asriel too gave up his diabolical plans after he saw the light.
Aaah… you can’t wait to eat Mom’s pie and sleep in your own bed again.
Anything’s better than this chaos.
Cheers of a crowd resonated in the air. They echoed: ‘Heave! Ho! Heave! Ho!’
Wait. What’s going on?
Your attention snapped to the Spirit Gate. Multiple gigantic hands with holes tried to push the opening shut.
Lady Lucidia remarked with subdued astonishment: “Doctor Alphys and Doctor Gaster have united the whole of Ebott to close the door? It… it might be possible.”
You puffed your chest, proud. This Ebott level teamwork is how they broke the Barrier!
…You didn’t tell her that they were technically under Asriel’s control at the time. But, why fret the small details?
‘Heave!’
‘Ho!’
‘Heave!’
‘Ho!’
Since the closing efforts started, the brothers remained in a standstill…
Sans breathed out a long sigh. “…C’mon bro, let’s get you home.”
Wait. Is this for real? Seriously?!
Papyrus was so elated with joy, he didn’t think twice. He began unwinding the protective scarf around his skull.
“SPLENDID! THINGS WOULD HAVE BEEN A TON EASIER IF YOU SURRENDERED SOONER. WE SHALL GET YOU PROPERLY BUNDLED UP FOR CAPTURE.”
Sans declared:
“I impose my will…”
You realised there and then that you had celebrated your victory too soon.
“…to override at any cost!”
WHAT?!?!
Crimson light erupted from his body, stretching out into the shadow of his symbol.
You gasped. He used a Mark on himself?!
Sans rattled. Like mad. Oh my god, he’s shaking so hard, he ripped the arrows out of the deck!
You heard a loud snap. His ribs had split down from the middle, the shine radiating more and more.
His screams. They terrified you. It sounded like the voices of the whole world resonating as one.
Papyrus tried to get close with the scarf. Yes! Plug the hole!
“Stop! There’s too much Determination! You’ll die!”
Lady Lucidia’s warnings were enough to prompt Sir Grillby into action. He swiped Papyrus off the deck and hurried him towards you.
It’s a small relief compared to the unfolding nuclear meltdown. The sudden sprouting of The Seraphim’s six wings destroyed the deck, setting him free.
You watched him float upwards into the sky, declaring:
“O Almighty LORD of Lords, Alpha and Omega, hear my prayer!”
“I burn my wretched heart on your altar, ignited by the Fire of Humanity!”
“Open the Gates of Heaven: our One True Home!”
A wink capped off the moment.
“What? You thought we’re going back to that tiny house?”
“SANS!!!” Papyrus tried to reach out for his brother, pleading for his return. “SAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANS!!!”
Light flooded The Void, engulfing The Seraphim whole.
A strange, massive, and almost unbearable force pushed you down on your knees. You screamed from the sudden weight.
Undyne? Papyrus? Everyone? Are they alright?
No. No, they’re not. They’re on the ground in agony. To your horror, you noticed thin streams of dust seeping out from their beings.
Mister Garamond tried to shield your parent’s SOUL capsules with his dispersing body. Alas, the glass had already started to break.
This can’t be happening…! Isn’t there anything you can do???
“Crimson Keeper, offer your Blood Crystal.”
Grandmaster? Is he referring to The Legendary Artifact?
“Yes. Lift it up high. Sacrifice this symbol of life. Otherwise, you and your friends will pay the ultimate price.”
An object of ancient value, versus the life of the present…
You get it now. You’re holding something precious. But it’s nowhere near as valuable as your friends!
You raised the Legendary Artifact, offering a gift to the Heavens.
Please, accept this!
Upon that very instant, the force stopped pushing your body
The orb in your hand glowed bright red. It’s drawing Determination from your body, amplifying it into a massive bubble.
Anything outside of the protection of the Legendary Artifact fell apart. Bit by bit. The buildings, the ships, the blazing inferno, the ocean water itself… everything crumbled into nothingness.
All that’s left was your tiny piece of covered shore.
You stood up. Your friends got back on their feet too.
Grillby looked back into where the city once stood. “…It's gone…”
Undyne shook her head. “W-what the heck was that?”
Good question. Lady Lucidia? Grandmaster?
“I… I don’t understand…” the lady muttered. “It doesn’t match the scriptures. Heaven couldn’t arrive like this.”
The Grandmaster replied: “You’re indeed right, dear daughter. Have faith. The Almighty won’t sit idle.”
Uh. Can anyone explain why Heaven is fatal if it’s supposed to be, well, GOOD???
Lady Lucidia explained: “It is as Sans Serif had said. Nothing impure can withstand the divine light.”
“This truth may be harsh,” added The Grandmaster, “But please listen. Our known reality and all its residents are tainted by corruption of the Will. Those without the blessing of His Mercy are unable to withstand His holiness; death becomes their fate.”
“The ‘Legendary Artifact’ acts as your temporary substitute by absorbing all blemish. It renders you ‘pure’… but only for so long.”
Then, what about Sans?
The Grandmaster paused for a moment. “Dear child, he has gone beyond the point of no return. It’s safe to say that the friend you know will die. Whether it’s figurative or not, that depends on the Almighty.”
In the end, Sans chose to fight against the cosmos itself. Is this the inevitable end of every Living Victory?
Must it always be such a big controversy?
…………………………
You were lucky. Sans? Maybe not.
You told Papyrus that you’re sorry.
This mission is a failure.
“Who… who are you?”
Sans?
“What… do you mean… ‘not ready’?”
Lady Lucidia! Papyrus! Sans is alive!
“H-hey… I’m… I’m not bringing the place down… Just… handing you more residents…”
You heard Flowey in the background. He’s yelling something about ‘a fog’.
What is this fog about?
“Let them in.”
“Please.”
An intense struggle happened over the intercom. Lots of yelling. Glass crashing. Chairs flipping.
In the midst of confusion, you understood one sentence:
‘Don’t touch my husband!’
At the final moment, a crack of thunder cut off all communications.
The light of ‘Heaven’ vanished in an instant. Its absence revealed the harbinger of this next crisis.
Oh no.
Oh.
No.
It’s Persona.
Sans dangled from his arm. Limp and broken. His many Eyes, gone. His wings, plucked. Only bare skeletal branches were left behind.
Baleful dark-red thunderclouds had taken over the sky. Crimson streams of electricity wound around the Seraph System and connected it straight into Persona’s dark domain.
…It goes without saying that The Last Persona will hijack the sound system. From what little interaction you had, you realised that he’s not the quiet type.
“Heaven? Almighty?” Persona scoffed. “Hah!”
“Are you honestly willing to believe in that defeatist faith? Not even the Grandmaster’s own family adhere to his teachings!”
“They’re unrealistic. Useless. Pathetic!”
Hey! Hey! That’s not right!
Sans was totally absolutely obviously speaking to someone just now.
What gives?
“That is your proof? The mere mutters of a heretic? The manifestation of his desperate imagination?”
“Still, a fine weapon he had made. If only he was born of flesh, I might have considered him a possible candidate for my succession.”
“Such a pity.”
Persona began reeling Sans upwards into the clouds. He’s trying to STEAL the Seraph System.
“Listen here, feeble magicians! The puny Coloured One spoke a universal truth. Ascend to godhood, or wither and die!”
“Prove your strength to me!”
You sensed a spike of magical aura from Undyne. Oh man, that face. It has CHALLENGE written all over it. She is freaking pissed.
You understand, but you stopped her nevertheless; there’s a much better alternative.
After all, the Legendary Artifact remains intact.
“Sure you can do this, punk?” asked Undyne.
With brows furrowed in confidence, you’re DETERMINED to see this through!
* MARK
* Purple
The power of Perseverance enabled you to glue the crystal onto the top of your head. It looks silly, but who the hell cares at this point?!
“You want your ‘ascension’, Persona????”
Undyne picked you up without hesitation.
“THEN TAKE THIS!!!”
Backed by the loudest ‘NGAAAH’ of the day, Undyne tossed you at Sans with all her might.
* MARK
* Blue
For stability.
* MARK
* Orange
For that final boost.
Lightning attempted to strike you down. Your first reaction was to put up a green shield, but then you noticed the Legendary Artifact absorbing each of the attacks.
You grabbed onto Sans. His sockets were pitch black.
Sans!
Sans, is he awake??
No response.
You tried to unbuckle the Seraph System. It’s a no go. The bindings had turned into a half-melted mess. That won’t do!
* MARK
* Red
You’re determined to set Sans free!
Your Mark shone, ready to peel the bracer away from the bones.
Huh?! The Seraph System itself is resisting?!
Persona scoffed at your efforts. “Hah! How naive. Did you really think the collective Determination of The World will bow to you?”
B-but Sans and Tsunderjudge! They could use that power without problems!
“Your heart is too soft. The men you fought are much alike; merely different sides of the same coin.”
Frustration levels, rising. You grit your teeth and pumped more DT into your Mark.
C’mon, World! Don’t be a stupid doodoobutt! If they don’t let go of whatever stubborn grudges they have, they’re gonna get controlled by a worse idiot!
“Your pleas fall on deaf ears, little ex-Persona.”
“If you’re so noble, claim the Machine of the Gods under your own name! Only then can you guarantee your ‘righteousness’!”
“FIGHT!”
Your gut feeling tells you that Persona is not a good man. If he owns the Seraph System… that’s way too much power for any one person. Even for you.
You planted your forehead against Sans. Yelled right in his face.
Still no response.
Oh, come on! You KNOW he’s listening! Heck, even if he’s completely unconscious you’re gonna rant anyway.
Listen up, Sans! He hasn’t tasted your consequential boot yet!
You’re gonna drag him back in chains, throw him in prison, and write out a list of punishments with your friends to make sure everyone gets their fair share.
And after that, Sans will help take down the Ocean Abomination!
He will put his goddamn supercomputer brain to good use!
He will help you to become the best ambassador you can be!
He will protect the world for Mom and Papyrus to live in!
He will be a REAL guardian angel!
Hear that, Sans??? No easy way out ever!
Now, there’s a key component that has preserved Sans all the while. Ironically, it’s also what’s keeping him trapped. It’s a tool that doesn’t distinguish between good and evil. It exists to gather the efforts of a time-traveller and use it against them.
You yelled upward into the approaching clouds.
Persona! You’re not gonna play his game!
Therefore!
* MARK
* Charged Red
In your heart, you apologized to your biological parents for what you’re about to do.
You placed your hand on your family heirloom: The Trap Harvester.
You’re Determined to END this!
DESTROY!!!
This star was much more potent. Violent. So much so that you had trouble keeping it in check. You weren’t expecting this much power.
Your Mark snapped the Trap Harvester in half, releasing The World’s worth of Determination.
A huge explosion caught you at point blank. When you shielded your face with your arms, you spotted the Legendary Artifact floating in between the gaps.
It protected you… for a while. But the punishment was too much for it to take.
First, it cracked. Then, the fractures grew greater.
In the end, the Legendary Artifact shattered into fine, crystalline shards.
The remnants of the blast poured onto your being.
Disappointments;
Despair;
Curses and Nightmares.
They’re overpowering your will with theirs.
You felt the segments of your Magus SOUL split apart under the strain.
Emptiness remained. Void.
Are you still a human being?
Are you a DEMON now?
An amorphous fragment of sentience in a cloud of dreams?
No!
You refuse!
Despite everything, you are still you!
You’re a kid from Ebott!
You’re monsterkind’s ambassador: The Golden Quiche!
Living Victory Extraordinaire!
Your True Name is…
FRISK!!!