Sans, the defence, dished out his attack. Ironic but true.
“So,” he said, “You insist on having more repeated years than you can count. And for what? Justice? Revenge? To make enemies of the whole world?”
Mezil Thyme returned the sternest of glares. “It was for the greater good that I Claimed every Red.”
“Every Red? That so? ‘Cause the way I see it, there’s a contradiction sitting right on the judge’s seat. Sure, children below the age of accountability are exempted. But considering Their Honour is a Pure Red, I’d say that’s outright irresponsible.”
Prosecutor Grillby countered: “Judge Thyme completed Their Honour’s Trial. Long before adulthood, if I may add.”
“Too little too late. By then Your Honour already reached the peak of their power, massacred the underground in its entirety, and nearly ended existence itself.”
Turning to Mezil, Sans added: “If only you had Claimed them from the start then--”
You heard a loud thud over your head. What’s going on?
Looking up, all you could see was Papyrus’ cranium. Did he just fall forwards into the camera?
He pushed himself away from the screen. And, that’s when you held your breath; his Eye had lit up, shining bright in his trio of colours.
No! Why did he use it?!?!
“I… I DIDN’T…”
The Eye activated on its own?
Use the scarf! Extinguish the fire!
“I DON’T… WANT TO…”
Why not?!?
“DU… TY…”
He staggered backwards in pain. The weird red marks around his eyes came back. It’s overpowering the treatment meant to control his power!
Oh no. This is bad. Bad, bad, bad, bad!
You prepared to jump off your seat… then you heard someone screaming bloody murder on the kitchen side.
It’s Snakeface, pissed off, and tackling Papyrus in full force. You couldn’t see it on camera, but you were sure he’s smashing Papyrus against the floor.
This is utter mayhem! Court’s adjourned! This instant!
And Sans was gone. He’s well on his way to give someone an extra bad time.
Huh… Snakeface just left? Afterwards, Sans appeared on screen, ready to chase him down. But he’s late. Must have taken the long route somewhere.
Your big sister had to step in to stabilize the situation with the power of persuasion. Papyrus comes first, you heard.
Phew. At least they didn’t get into another fight.
Cenna hailed you from the camera. “Hey Frisky. I’m taking Papyrus to Lucy. Wait there, okay? Call ya later.”
You approve of her decision. The transmission then went offline.
With no other option but to wait, you all camped together in the courtroom. Everyone’s anxious for Papyrus.
Alphys muttered: “I-is he going to be okay?”
You hoped so.
Papyrus’ grey friends ebbed into existence before your very eyes. Other than Doctor Gaster and yourself, the rest of your team reacted with a slight nervousness.
You let everyone know that they’re also your friends.
Doctor Gaster added: “And they’re my assistants. Rest assured, they’re not dangerous.”
You beckoned them to come over. But, they didn’t want to. Reasons can wait. Instead you went and met up with them.
The group bowed their heads, with Goner Kid leading. “We’re sorry.” she said.
What was there to be sorry about? You asked.
The shortie ficus-guy replied: “We… we asked Papyrus to confirm a truth.”
Odd. You don’t remember that he used his Eye before this incident.
“I told him not to,” said Goner. “But, Papyrus is the kind of guy who won’t forget about a personal request. It’s in his subconscious. And, it might have reacted to Judge Thyme’s testimony…”
Hmm. You understand her point. What did they ask for anyway?
The talking head said: “We suspected Goner Kid was affected by Judge Thyme’s actions. If she was erased from time, when did it happen? Under what circumstances?”
That… stirred your curiosity as well.
Well, it seemed like they’ve found their answer. Unless Tsunderjudge committed perjury.
When the screen came back online, the Greys vanished posthaste. You noticed that they’re quite apprehensive around the Magi. Afraid, even.
Hmm… The background in the video was no longer that of the kitchen. It doesn't look familiar.
“Yo,” Cenna said, “You guys can go see Papyrus now. Lucy’s gonna spawn a door to the medical bay. Listen to her instructions, yeah?”
A direct connection? If she could do that, then what was with the long, roundabout tram ride? Safety reasons?
You didn’t get an answer. Instead, a simple frame spawned at a side wall.
You hurried on through the portal. In the need for speed, Undyne and Alphys bumped into you.
“Oof!”
“Watch it!”
Sorry!
* * *
A sterile hospital-like setting awaited you on the other side, designed with function over form. How strange. You had explored the whole of Mezil’s Hub and you had never encountered such a room. There’s also a ceiling above your head…? That's new.
“We’re at basement level, kid.” Sans said.
Sans? Yep. It's Sans alright, leaning back against the smooth white wall.
You asked him if he knew anything about his brother.
“Nope. I’ve just been waiting here. Didn’t want to disturb the lady while she worked.” Pointing towards the door, he said: “Go ahead. Give it a knock.”
You did just that.
Lady Lucidia greeted you. The skelelady seemed tense. “Request: should Papyrus ask you to leave, please do so.”
You’re not sure what to make of that. But, alright. You agreed.
Cenna stood at the corner. She’s giving the talking space to you and your monster friends, Sans included. You nodded at her in silent acknowledgement.
Meanwhile, Papyrus had seen better days. He seemed so exhausted. And also a little terrified. Anyone would feel that way after getting assaulted by Snakeface. His mannerisms add extra skelly scariness.
You asked Papyrus if he’s okay.
“OH HELLO, HUMAN…” he replied. “YOU BROUGHT A LOT OF FRIENDS.”
Huh? What is he talking about? Everyone who came here are also his friends.
“THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I’VE SEEN THEM. WELCOME, OTHER FRIENDS!”
You thought the world went silent for a moment. In movies, it’s always unnerving when all music and sound effects cut out. It meant something went super wrong. Or super intense. Or both.
You pointed at Undyne. He doesn’t remember her either?
“NO,” he replied. Straightforward and dry.
You grabbed Sans by the sleeve and dragged him to the bedside. Pointing at him, you asked Papyrus if he recognized this person.
“OH, HE’S THE SKELETON WHO HELPED THE NICE HAT LADY.” He brightened up for a moment. Then, it’s back to the usual. “I APPRECIATE IT, BUT… I DON’T KNOW HIM EITHER.”
Sans had the face of a man who just witnessed an apocalypse. You heard his breath tremble.
You told Papyrus that Sans is his brother. THE brother who raised him since a baby! He doesn’t recognize him?!
Papyrus just stared back with a blank, fatigued gaze.
He truly absolutely definitely totally didn’t remember Sans???
“…I… WOULD LIKE TO BEFRIEND ALL OF YOU. JUST. MAYBE. AFTER SOME REST? PLEASE… PLEASE LEAVE ME ALONE FOR A WHILE. IT’S. IT’S TOO OVERWHELMING.”
That’s the cue. As you promised Lady Lucidia, everyone ushered themselves out of the ward, pronto. Best to avoid skelelady’s wrath. Tsunderjudge taught you as much.
Huh. Where DID the Tsunderjudge go anyway? He left your group without saying a word. Knowing him, he probably felt responsible for the incident.
Alphys drew in a huge deep breath, held it for a few seconds and went: “What. In the world. Happened. To. Papyrus. Like. NANI?!?!?”
“…Papyrus burned his brains out,” Undyne remarked. “I’m sure of it. Remember what Mezil told us about Snakes?”
You nodded. Seers who go too far beyond their limit lose their ‘humanity’, he said. And in Papyrus’ case, that must have meant amnesia.
Sans paced back and forth. You have not seen him this stressed out for a long while. Your phone scanner showed his colours flipping around like crazy. Bet his mind raced a hundred miles per second trying to figure out a way to fix Papyrus.
Fix Papyrus…
That’s it! You’re sick of this injury drama trope. First it’s Grillby, now it’s Papyrus. AGAIN. He’d been hospitalized for serious injuries for like four times now???
It’s time for a RESET. To erase this day from ever happening.
But then, Alphys latched on your hands in an attempt to prevent you from using the Keys of Fate.
“Don’t do it, Frisk!” she exclaimed.
Why not?!
“I-if you do, everything will be in vain! Y-you would have wasted your latest chapters!”
You told Alphys that’s fine. Just write new events. Better ones. Less pain for everyone.
Sans spoke up, “Y’know. I’m agreeing with the kid. Told ya court was a waste of time without wasting Thyme.”
“No!!!” Alphys yelled back. “It may be easier for us, but not for Judge Thyme! And I-I-I’m not saying this because he’s a-a-a hot biseinen husbando at fifty years old!”
That was out of a left field. But okay. If not for his good looks, then why?
“I know what it’s like to keep HORRIBLE SECRETS for AGES and have NOBODY to talk to and even if I had someone I’d still feel guilty because it’s just so BIG and grimdark and THE SPIRE caught fire and OH EM GEE he had enemies all around him and that’s my situation times a MILLION!”
Wow. That was a lot to say in one breath. No wonder she panted and wheezed by the time she was done.
She lifted a shaky finger at Sans. “And you. YOU. You are the LAST person who should encourage secrets in this room. We’re here today in this freaking mess because YOU couldn’t be honest about ANYTHING!”
You privately wondered if Alphys grew a massive backbone or something. You understand that her personal experiences triggered an immense inner strength, but accusing Sans? Now that's bold as heck!
“Heh, touché. So, what’s your proposal, Alphys?”
“W-w-we should listen to Papyrus first. H-his Eye is special, right? He might discover more than what we heard in court.”
“You sayin’ that our witness ain’t completely honest? Shocking.”
Alphys’ scales turn red with anger. “Y-you think a biseinen tsundere would air his deepest regrets in front of a whole bunch of strangers like us?! I thought you’re the genre savvy one!”
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You tell the two to chill out.
How about this? You’ll take a vote. Listen to everyone’s opinions whether to rewind now, later, or not at all. Good?
At least for now, the two short scientists agreed with you.
It may be time to seek some advice. You clapped your hands together and breathed deep. Then, you started the survey with Dad. He’s the King. Therefore, he should have the first say.
He stroked his beard, pondering with great consideration.
“We shouldn’t be hasty.” said Dad. “I know it sounds more like your mother’s wisdom, but what if Papyrus wishes to share his knowledge first? You can’t make changes out of ignorance, my child. Educate yourself before all else.”
Great point. Does Mom have anything to add?
“Not at this moment,” Mom shook her head. “We shouldn’t alter time more than we need to. However, I worry about your future. What if you end up in the same trappings as Judge Thyme?”
You told Mom that you don’t have an answer yet. ‘Determination’ won’t always cut it. You had tasted that futility before. Despite everything, you couldn’t save Asriel and Chara from their flowery fate.
Next, Sans. Yes, he’s counted. Despite his criminal status.
“Sooner the better, kid. I know. I know. Hypocritical of me after making you do that no-RESET pinky swear. Still… if I gotta make a choice, who cares about the big reveals! Intel can always be repeated, and memories preserved. Papyrus? He won’t recover as easily.”
What about the Seraph System? Maybe it can help?
“No guarantees on that front, kid. It’s still experimental territory.”
Noted. Grillby?
He crossed his arms. “We won’t be able to connect with our potential allies if we ignore their side of the story. Yet, I do not want to see Papyrus live with a deliberating handicap either. Preservation is preferred, if possible.”
You were quite shocked of Grillby’s response. How does someone so hot stay so cool?
“No offense, ‘Your Honour’, but I’m being objective for everyone’s sake.”
You shivered a bit. Apologies. You’re still adjusting to his not-bartender side. His thoughts will be considered.
Next is… Mettaton. Well?
“Dearest darling. Even my tolerance for drama has its limits, and poor Papyrus flew far over that threshold. And jumped a few sharks. I agree with Sans, honey. We have bigger fish to fry. Like that feast.”
Curious, do we have a backup plan just in case Papyrus cannot cook?
“O-of course, darling!” He fanned himself, “I-I’m sure the skeleparents would be happy to fill in their son’s shoes. If that’s not enough, I’ll showcase some of my finest MTT-brand foods too. Our nation’s very best!”
You squint. Did you just see a hint of uncertainty on the glambot’s face?
Moving on. Undyne?
She shot a nervous glance to the side. “I’m good as long Papyrus comes out alright. I just don’t want him to lose any more pieces of himself.”
Agreed. You asked Alphys if she has any additional concerns to convey?
“Maybe we can preserve this timeline’s data… But…” Alphys gripped her claws together. “H-How can we be sure that the incident doesn’t happen again? W-what if Papyrus gets the same vision no matter what? Like a compulsory event flag in a visual novel?”
You didn’t think of that. Now when Alphys mentioned it, you gulped in the same fear.
Turning to the Goopdoc Extraordinaire, you asked him if what she said was true.
He’s rippling. Not a good sign.
“Frisk,” he said, “Do you remember that dreaded Chara exorcism loop?”
Not everything. Your recollection depended on how much DT you could muster at a given moment. Some parts were hazier than others.
“Well… Papyrus suffered much throughout his attempts to rescue you. Most attempts ended in failure. The same might apply here. Without a significant change in the proceedings, nothing would change. A temporary seal on his Eye may do the trick, but when are we certain that the window has passed? The danger remains.”
You see. Going back in time alone won’t necessarily keep Papyrus safe…
OK! Gerson had been waaaaay too quiet. You hadn’t heard a single peep from him since this whole debacle started. Almost forgot he’s there too.
“Wanna know what I think, huh?”
Yup.
“Suppose I could give ya some wise old turtle council and stuff but… right now I ain’t got any! When you’re as old as I am, you know when to kick back and listen. Everyone here already said what ya need to hear. Wahaha!”
That’s such a typical Gerson answer. You could tell that he’s trying to cheer you up in what little ways he can.
Hmmm… you pondered about it. Everyone had their own fair share of valid points. It’s tempting to undo everything outright, but a ton of unanswered questions still remain.
Alright, you’ve decided. You’ll need to hear Papyrus out first.
* * *
While Papyrus rested, you and the group returned to ground level and played Tsunderjudge’s grand collection of arcade games. It’s something to keep everyone occupied, Sans included: to pass time and to distract from anxieties.
Unable to control her strength, Undyne had broken the same pinball machine three times by now. Good thing the Hub is digital and self-repairing.
In the end, everyone decided to play the legendary table-flip game. It encapsulated the current mood. What a cool device to vent frustration.
Yeah! You managed to beat the high score!
Whoa, someone grabbed you by the waist and lifted you up high. That came out of nowhere. Was it Dad?
“Eeeey, Frisky, great job beating the old man’s record! Man, you guys are literally flipping up a storm here.”
It’s Cenna!
In one second, everyone flooded her with questions about Papyrus’ well being. She had to retreat with you still in her hands.
“Whoa whoa whoa fellas. Too many is tooooo many.” She said, putting you down. “Let the Crimson Keeper to their job, yeah? Go ahead, Frisky.”
Right. You asked Cenna if Papyrus got any better. Did he get his memory back? You hoped that the amnesia was short-term.
Shaking her head, she answered, “Nope. Sorry.”
Bummer. What now?
“Well. Speaking of games… what if we play cops? Folks like me are often the first to talk to witnesses whenever they’re hospitalized. They’re more willing to open up if we’re trusted authority figures.”
Looking at Undyne, she added, “You guys already got the monster version of Chief Police. If Papyrus is more comfortable around her, she can take the lead.”
Undyne was more than enthusiastic. “Of course! I wanna be there for Papyrus! I’ll pass the info to the rest too.”
You and Undyne thus joined Cenna and talked to Papyrus. Lo and behold, the plan worked a hundred percent. He’s the believing type after all.
Papyrus began telling you about his vision. He wandered through a bleak quagmire of mud filled with grief and anger. It sounded like a reflection of Tsunderjudge’s heart, confirmed by the presence of Persona constantly haunting him over his head.
He told you about Snakeface’s kid. You confirmed the story. The girl’s tragic father spoke about it before… including the part where the criminals got away scott free.
Then, Papyrus talked about the graves of your biological parents. Cenna tried her best not to cry, but a tear or two escaped.
She told you about how Tsunderjudge would visit the family home time to time. At first, she was scared of his eternal grouchiness. But he would never hurt her. As her heart and body healed, she began to see him as a curious old uncle. Sometimes, he brought gifts handcrafted by a wife that never appeared. Cenna admitted that sometimes she thought Mezil was lying about his marriage.
Tsunderjudge never talked about business in front of her. He wouldn’t even share much about himself. Cenna only ever heard his adventures from your biological parents.
Then, that terrible, terrible year happened. If you wanted to give it a name, it was ‘The Year of Judgement’. Maybe ‘The Void Year’? It’s a year that became ‘void’, over and over again.
The final vision was all about you. Your trademark symbol -- the star -- absorbed the aftermath of Tsunderjudge’s doomed plan. It turned you into a supercharged, superpowered baby: the strongest Living Victory of this age.
You stood there for a long while, pondering in silence.
“HUMAN? ARE YOU ALRIGHT?”
You said that you’re going to talk to ‘Mister Vampire’ in person.
Be right back!
Then, you bolted out of the room.
Onward to the mansion’s jasmine garden. If you remembered right, this flower had associations with love and purity. Though plain white, it had a fragrance many times stronger than roses. Super sweet.
The Vampire of Time sat there, alone on a metal leisure swing, facing the vast darkness of the Void.
Let’s see… how to start this conversation. Keep it natural, Frisk. Put that Charisma stat to good use. Remember Alphys’ advice and try to not pry too much. The biseinen is quite a private person after all.
Except, Tsunderjudge beat you to the punch. He noticed your presence and huffed. “Hmph. Come and sit beside me.”
That’s what you did. You plopped your butt on the curved seat. Resisted the urge to make it go faster.
You asked if the swing had any special meaning for him.
“My current home has one installed,” the Tsunderjudge replied. “It’s relaxing.”
Agreed.
He asked back: “How much have you heard from Papyrus?”
You relayed the information to Tsunderjudge. Told him that, unlike the professional cold-cut statements he testified in court, Papyrus revealed deep, personal wounds. They’re words that he would otherwise never proclaim…
You can see why Gaelic got upset. He expected a private talk between determinators. Instead, his master got embroiled in court shenanigans.
Afterwards, you focused on the Claimed Reds and the baby.
“So… that’s the power of a Pure Red. A living Trap Harvester.”
He knew about the makeup of your SOUL?
“Yes, of course. Your parents discovered it a few weeks after your birth. None of us knew how it would develop. Triple Aspects are the rarest of the rare. There’s not much documentation about such individuals. More so for a Red.”
“To think my actions caused such a drastic change in your latent potential. I had no idea. That is, until I saw you achieve Ascension overnight. A prepubescent child… challenging me at the peak of my power. Who could have guessed?”
You drew a long, tired sigh. Dammit, so Sans was right all along? You spent so much time and emotion trying to prove him wrong…
There’s something you don’t understand, though. What did Papyrus mean about ‘splitting the Keys of Fate’?
Mezil asked: “You know what happens when two Living Victories have conflicting levels of Determination?”
Yup. You nodded twice. Neither parties get to use their SAVES.
“Correct. And if this cancellation happens between two consenting parties, with both tied to the same massive supply, no schemer will ever gain the power to travel back in time.”
Yet the tsundere can still use the Keys of Fate. What happened?
“It takes two or more to split the Keys of Fate. The Grandmaster refused to become my partner in crime. I remember it as though it happened yesterday. Determined, he declared that he would hand me over to The Almighty. To let The Creator be the judge of my actions.”
You don’t quite understand. Did… he just ditch his responsibility?
Tsunderjudge narrowed his gaze. “Even fools appear wise when they keep their mouths shut. Except in your case, you exposed your folly outright. It’s indeed clear that you don’t understand.”
Well. You did say so.
“Then don’t accuse. Do you think that The Keys of Fate are humanity’s tool to tweak the world to its whim? No. The Grandmaster defines it as a divine duty to work for the best despite living in a broken world.”
“My suggestion was no different than abdication. In his eyes, I attempted to impose an illusion of security. Unacceptable. Even if no other Living Victory surpasses us, the Ocean Abomination continues to be a constant threat. One that requires the power to RESET.”
“I was ready to take the responsibility of whatever impending chaos would ensue. I thought that if the Abomination wins, so be it. A single pass for all eternity. That should have been the new natural order.”
“However, The Grandmaster in his wisdom refused to let my short-sighted nihilism gain any foothold. He insisted that I keep my duty, and therefore here we are.”
It’s not mere inaction after all, huh.
You noticed that his expression softened a tiny bit. “When I was young, I thought those who prayed were weaklings who don’t improve themselves. ‘Ditching’ their responsibility, as you said. What a wormy caterpillar I was. Blind to the truth.”
“To pray for hope. To pray for wisdom. To pray for good. All this takes courage, and courage is what I lack.”
Somehow, everything clicked into place. The Tsunderjudge acts the way he does because he’s not brave enough to connect his heart with others.
You got off the swing, walked before him, and reached your hand. You tell him that he doesn’t need to unpack everything right now. But, please allow you to help him speak to your friends and family. Papyrus would have wanted that.
“What do you ask of me?”
His trust.
…That intense tsundere glare. You must have presented the most difficult request. Still, you’re determined to persist. He’s hardboiled to the core, unlike the more fragile Lady Lucidia.
In the end, he accepted your hand, albeit in a rather heavy and semi-reluctant fashion.
With his classic tsundereness, he said: “Very well. I’m at your mercy.”
Success! With a spring in your step, you led the Tsunderjudge back inside.
* * *
While waiting for you in the living room, the crew savoured a spot of Dad’s freshly brewed tea. Except for the hydrophobic Grillby: he munched on tea leaves instead.
Cenna stormed right up to the Tsunderjudge. She lifted her leg and swung it towards his shin, stopping right before it made contact.
She yelled: “DODGE ALREADY, OLD MAN! I know you could have just teleported out of the way and whatnot, but you always surrender to the bloody hits like its penitence or something. You know how fucking painful it is to watch you take all this shit from me?! Just talk. I’m not that immature!”
Annoyed, he asked back. “Then talk.”
“Okay, you wanna talk? Why the fuck did you put a KNOWN SUPERPOWERED KID in fucking FOSTER CARE?!? It’s a place for shithead damaged kids! I was that shithead damaged kid!!!”
Uh oh. This smells of unresolved family conflict. You immediately interjected and suggested to Cenna to resolve the matter in a calm and collected manner.
“Calm?! Right now?! He didn’t go send the bloody cavalry when you went missing either! ‘I got caught up in work’, he says. ‘The news came late’, he says! All I ever hear are half-assed answers! He’s a time traveler for God’s sake!”
Cenna, calm. Collected. Patience. You get why she’s angry but Mezil should be allowed to start from the beginning: to tell the truth about your foster home placement and the unfortunate mountain accident, without anyone in this room judging him for anything.
Some of your friends resisted the urge to object. After much consideration, they thought of the greater good and agreed.
You patted Mezil on the arm, encouraging him to speak.
You sensed gratefulness. In a way, it’s a silent ‘thank you’.
Facing the rest of the crew, he explained:
“Frisk’s parents always thought that it’s best for their child to live a normal life for their first twelve years. No seals or training. It’s imperative to develop their character and mind before introducing magic. Many things could go wrong with a Pure Red otherwise.”
“After their deaths, I made a decision. Call it rash. Call it foolish. I was determined to give their youngest a normal life. However, living with me at House Berendin would’ve been anything but ‘normal’. After what I had done, I became a target for the world. That includes anyone close to me. It’s no condition to raise a child in. I had already lost one, and I won’t lose another.”
“For their protection, I thus had all traces of Frisk’s Magus heritage hidden. Even from themselves and the foster home. In exchange for funding for the child’s needs, I imposed only two conditions. They must never be adopted out, and they will receive education at The Spire after finishing their primary school.”
“That plan… backfired. Frisk’s mundane identity did not allow me to gather the resources needed for a swift rescue. Troubled by the recent RESETS, Lemuria worried more about the possibility of the Gungnir or the Abomination gaining access to the Keys of Fate. A seemingly ‘random’ child at the eleventh hour was not worth the sacrifice needed to cross Ebott’s Barrier. Or so they told me.”
“By the time they realised that it was a Red Major who fell, Frisk had already set the Dreemurr Nation free.”
Hang on a moment. What about that nasty family court timeline?
Mezil sighed. “You had exposed yourself to the public in the worst way. Complete with flauntings of solid gold. People kill for those. And so pressure mounted on me from all sides. I couldn’t let you fall into the hands of a Magus or a Gungnir family, lest they train you to become their puppet. The next best action would be to put you in a neutral party, chosen by me.”
Was he happy with the outcome?
“No,” he grumbled. “The couple I selected showed their true colours after they won the case. They were more interested in status and fame. Probably wanted to use you as a proof of pride for their ‘parenting techniques’. I was ready to whisk you out of there at a moment’s notice.”
…Too bad you weren’t the most patient. You chuckled uncomfortably.
The Tsunderjudge then did something that you never thought would happen. He bowed to you, English style, with a sincere apology.
He said, “I’m sorry for not being able to give you the life you needed.”
Aware of the full picture at long last, you tell him that you’re grateful that he put in his all to keep you safe. What happened on the mountain was either fate or an accident. Either way, it was out of his hands.
Mezil set his cane down before him and cleared his throat. “Well then,” he asked, “Do you wish to postpone court for the time being? I’ll remind you that we cannot continue without a neutral voice.”
Papyrus, right? Yep. You’ve thought of that. The Grandmaster would consider his absence grounds for immediate mistrial. And that is why you’re going to give a verdict right now.
Sans blurted, “Wait, what. Now? Aren’t ya being a bit hasty?!”
Nope. And your verdict was this:
You quit.
“Excuse me?!”
“What?!”
“Punk, you can’t do that!”
Hold on. You’ll explain.
The biggest reason being that you’re personally tangled up in this crazy web. No way in heck you could remain unbiased after hearing all of that!
Furthermore, this court drama had riled up emotions and dumped too much information for you to process. Not even your fancy phone scanner helped make the right decision.
All for what end? To call for capital punishment? Hearing testimonies and sorting between truth and lies? That ain’t YOUR style! You had much better progress with a heart to heart talk at the garden swing than the courtroom mess.
Besides, with the Abomination looming, you can’t afford to lose anyone! This is not the time to pin any blames. Nobody is going to die. Nobody will get demoted.
But, that doesn’t mean there will be no ‘judgement’. Sans did commit a crime, after all.
With your right palm facing up at shoulder level, you asked Undyne to give you ‘THE LIST’!
Undyne placed the list into your hands as though she’s giving an official decree. Well, it might as well be at this point.
You offered it to Tsunderjudge. Asked him to read it and let you know what he thinks.
With slight skepticism, Mezil unfolded the contents.
Cenna couldn’t resist peeking. Her face contorted. Soon enough, she walked off while trying to stifle her guffaw. You expected that reaction from her though. There’s a MUCH bigger prize awaiting your attempt.
First, it was a smirk.
Then a grin.
And at last, Mister Tsunderjudge broke through his usual range of emotions and 100% legit laughed out loud!
W-wha he hid his face behind your paper?! That’s not fair! Pouting, you thought of yanking it out of his hand. Then again… maybe just hearing his laughter is enough.
Once he’s done, he returned the list to you. At least his face still glowed with a smile. You gotta appreciate these rare moments.
“So that’s what you were working on. A fine ‘execution’, I’d say.”
Heh, heh. Great isn’t it? Fits Tsunderjudge’s morbid sense of humour too. You still remember about the whole janitor closet deal.
“As you requested, you have my trust. Do as you wish.”