The events of the future depended on the actions of the present. Everyone influences each other. For better or for worse.
As the cloud of lightning raged before Papyrus, the young Seer wondered if he had made the right decision. His Eye showed the golden path, yet he can’t help but wonder…
…Was it worth fighting through the darkest darkness?
This conflict will test his mettle, both of heart and mind.
When Frisk successfully escaped, Persona had been separated from the network and expelled from their body. Aiden and Grillby rushed to Papyrus’ side when the tide of battle turned for the worse.
His very presence made Papyrus’ non-existent hairs stand on their ends, be it from fear or from the electrical currents.
Wasn’t that how it all started for this young Seer? His naive, narrow life all ended in a burst of high voltage.
Squint hard enough, and one could see the vague shadow of a man within the roiling mass of Determination. The figure pointed towards the heavens and pronounced:
“You lowly worms!”
“PERISH!!!”
Papyrus had foreseen the worst outcome: everyone -- vulnerable to the extreme elements -- getting zapped into charred pieces of their former selves.
He had also foreseen the best outcome where he blocks the currents. Blink and the opportunity would have been missed forever.
In that split-second window, Papyrus built a huge cage of bones that covered his half of the arena. He reinforced it with the fortifying integrity of Blue and the defensiveness of Green. Yet, his best efforts still cracked under the thunderous force.
But that’s fine. For now everyone was saved from that dead end. Frisk congratulated him with a big thumbs up.
They said: “Awesome job, Papyrus.”
Papyrus grabbed the brief moment of glory, hogging it for all its worth. “WHY THANK YOU, FRISK.”
One moment was enough, though. He can’t get distracted now. The battle demanded his full attention.
A plan. They needed a plan. His Eye warned him that his defenses would shatter in the next turn. Anything beyond that was a maze of possibilities.
Alas, it was too late. Before he could formulate anything, the second storm shattered every bone he had conjured. Splinters crumbled into dust, and dust dissolved into magic.
Frisk propped him up with their child-sized arms. “Papyrus!”
“I-I’M FINE.” He said, though his stagger proved otherwise. Even indirectly, he felt the force of Persona’s might seep into his bones.
When he breathed, a sickening foulness grazed his throat and ribs. Painful coughing and hacking followed after. Persona’s electrified Corrupt Determination lingered in the air as a thin scarlet mist.
The cloud broke out into an arrogant laughter.
“Is that the extent of your ability, Oracle? You’ve left yourself wide open.”
“Begone, pest!”
In a flash, a red bolt of lightning struck The Seraph System on Lady Lucidia. She yelped from the surprise recoil. Sans’ hard work was turned into a burnt refuse, discarded in haste.
“What?! No! Not again!” Frisk exclaimed. “That will get fixed when we step out of The Void. Right? I think?”
Lucidia shook her head. “Negative, it won’t. Damages sustained from high levels of Determination will always remain.”
“We’re talking about permadeath here?”
“Affirmative. That is the threat Persona represents.”
“Oh my god. Papyrus, what’s happening? Why didn’t you see that coming??? Lady Lucy could have died!”
Persona laughed at the child’s panic. “No matter how powerful, an oracle is beneath a god. He’s but a simple observer, while I shape the future!”
Angered, they pointed their finger at him and accused: “Shut up, god of doodoobutts!”
“FRISK,” Papyrus placed his hand on the child’s shoulder. “THAT’S WHY YOU MUST GO AND PROTECT THE HUMANS. THEY’LL BE SAFE IN THE HANDS OF A GOD, AM I RIGHT?”
Frisk’s expression changed from anger to protective determination. “Yeah, you got a point.”
So the child took Lady Lucidia by her good arm and went towards the innocent bystanders. Both of them cooperated to summon a shield that’s leagues better than what Papyrus could ever hope to conjure.
“Hah! Did you think those petty parlor tricks can protect your dear friend?”
‘Friend’. Singular, not plural. Papyrus had a hunch who he’s referring to: a logical guess, one could call it.
HOW STRANGE. WHY AM I THINKING LIKE SANS?
IS IT... BECAUSE I HAVE A PIECE OF HIM WITHIN ME?
In the midst of his contemplation, Papyrus heard a scream behind Frisk’s magical shield. The friends and family of Judge Mezil Thyme panicked around his limp body, trying to shake him awake. Commissioner Roger resorted to delivering controlled tight slaps across the sleeper’s face, but that had failed too.
A streak of Mister Magus’ jet-black hair had turned silvery white. More strands started to grey at a rapid pace.
The worst expectation had come true.
NO WONDER HE SAID ‘FRIEND’... I ALREADY HAD A FEELING. DIDN’T NEED THE EYE’S POWER TO NOTICE THAT.
Lady Lucidia hurried to her husband’s side to expose his belly. Persona’s special curse, The Hex, shone bright on its victim’s skin.
“Papyrus!” Frisk yelled: “Tsunderjudge is getting drained!!!”
Grillby clenched his hand into a quivering fist. “…Persona is exploiting Judge Thyme’s magic… The Philosopher’s Stone…”
The child raised their hands to conjure a red star, openly showing their intent to slam it down like a basketball. “I’m determined to--”
But Lady Lucidia stopped them. Her voice was filled with desperation, a huge contrast to her usual form. “No, please! Breaking The Hex now could kill him! We’ve tried for ten years with no avail. Whenever we came close to succeeding, my husband would feel death’s very scythe at his neck.”
“Seriously?! What if I put a stopgap on the stone’s magic itself?”
Persona burst out into a laugh, gloating: “Too late, child! I’ve already claimed all of Winston’s power for myself!”
“Ngaaaaaaaahhhh!” A frustrated Frisk stomped their foot on the floor. “What the hell, Persona?! We’re trying to get you back to your family, dammit!”
They pointed their hand towards Aiden. “That man is your son.” Then they shifted to the Aratet boys, “These kids are your grandsons. Right here! Right now! You get to spend the rest of your un-life in Aratet lands! Why do you keep trying to go back to 25 years ago?!?!”
“Ha… Hahaha! Family? I’ve already lost my family! Do my other wives not matter? Do my other children not matter? My clutch of thirty had become next to nothing!”
“I will FIGHT to start over! Everything reduced to zero!”
Multiple clusters of storm clouds broke off from the source and spread across the arena. Lightning danced on the stage, beating its drums with deafening noise and striking wherever it will.
Frisk had no choice but to double their efforts to maintain their shield. The constant pressure prevented them from being able to help in more flexible ways.
Papyrus dodged, blocked, and parried the bolts that landed within his vicinity. The other fighters kept on their toes in a similar manner, always narrowly avoiding a hit.
In between his swift maneuvering, The Seer attempted to perceive the golden path. However, unstable visions ebbed against the darkness of The Void.
Victories.
Defeat.
Life.
Death.
The future was in flux, just like the Keys of Fate.
His bones started to rattle. Papyrus grabbed his arm to stop himself from shaking further.
STAY CALM. DON’T PANIC.
WHAT SHOULD I DO TO SECURE THE BEST OUTCOME?
Inspiration dawned. If he can’t tackle the future, then he must focus on the continuous present. That’s what Sans would do.
“GRILLBY, IT’S UP TO YOU TO WEAKEN PERSONA. FEEL FREE TO BURN AND ABSORB!”
“…Any side effects?…” the fire elemental asked back.
“MAYBE. BUT I’M UNABLE TO FORESEE THEM.”
“…Then, I shall take the risk…”
Turning to the human warrior, he yelled: “AIDEN, PROTECT US AS OUR LIGHTNING ROD!”
Persona scoffed in bitter amusement. “Pitting a son against his own father? Looks like you’re not as innocent as you seem.”
Mustering a rueful smirk, Papyrus replied: “I HAVE YOU TO THANK FOR THAT.”
“Then let us celebrate my contribution! Behold: The authority of The Chosen!”
Upon his declaration, the clouds expanded and hastened. The bolts struck ever quicker as they moved across the arena.
Aiden raised his dagger and mustered the power of his SOUL. Every volt and bolt within his range of influence concentrated upon the metal blade.
But staying on the defensive alone was a losing battle. The corrupt mists of Determination thickened over time. That’s where Grillby played his role; a successive series of casts of his Champion’s magic ignited the encroaching corruption.
“Do you intend to chip me down bit by bit? What a joke!”
In response, Persona intensified his efforts. Stray bolts of lightning had started to slip from Aiden of Aratet’s influence, striking out into The Void itself. The safe zones shrunk, forcing both Grillby and Papyrus into a tight spot.
Gone was Papyrus’ initial confident optimism.
The unpredictable consequences, the weight of orders, the responsibility of decisions… It was all so terrifying. So utterly terrifying. And yet, both Sans and Mezil made it look easy. Their steely hearts kept their heads straight.
DID I CHOOSE THE WRONG STRATEGY?
NO. IT’S JUST INCOMPLETE!
EVEN IF I CAN’T SEE THE FUTURE, I CAN DRAW FROM THE IMMUTABLE PAST TO THINK AHEAD!
And so, Papyrus used his Eye to search the past. A vision flashed by.
It’s a dark memory, but… it’s also their clue to victory.
Once upon a time, a child of Justice was burnt to death. It came from a twisted scheme set up by The Great Doctor Gaster.
Today, that same fire would attempt to incinerate a long-dead spirit.
So he said: “GRILLBY, IGNORE THE MISTS. INSTEAD…TREAT PERSONA LIKE A HUMAN, NOT A GOD. NO MATTER WHAT HE CLAIMS, REMEMBER THAT HE’S STILL A HUMAN. HUMANS HAVE THEIR OWN WEAKNESSES.”
A frustrated Aiden snapped back: “Make clearer orders!”
That’s alright. The real recipient for the advice was someone who grew up with puzzles and riddles, just like every other monster in Ebottian society.
Grillby readied his stance and charged his magic. “…Understood… Aiden, shield your eyes…”
Fuelled with the fractions of power he had absorbed, the knight of fire unleashed a great spinning pillar of flame where the DEMON himself floated. The edge of the flames trailed all the way upwards into the heavens.
So hot. So bright. So loud. And yet the pillar’s scorching rumble didn’t drown the twisted screams of a tortured ghost. Hearing that always made Papyrus cringe inside, no matter if they’re friends, strangers, or foes.
Grillby withdrew the fires by absorbing the flames back to his body, growing fiercer than ever before.
Persona seethed. “…Your immolation of authority… Your robbery of lifeforce… It’s the Vampire and The Witch combined! How DARE?! You would burn me like my ancestors burned? Me, who was banished from his own homeland in a blazing inferno???”
The elemental scoffed in return. “…Poetic, isn’t it… You reap what you sow…”
He repeated the same punishing pillar of flames multiple times. Each succession burned stronger. Hotter. Brighter.
Aiden backed off, unable to tolerate the heat. “What the hell are you doing?! You’re not supposed to kill my father!”
“…This… won’t be enough… He’ll survive…”
And thus, the battle of the elements continued to escalate. The inferno grew along with the storm, as if they’re both racing to see who reigns victorious first.
Aiden struggled against the blazing heat to keep his blade above his head. His will to protect exceeded any concerns for his own wellbeing. He would rather have his skin char and blister than to risk the lives of his sons.
Papyrus mustered a bone wall in front of the human warrior to serve as an emergency heat shield. Yet, if the temperature rose even further, everyone would be roasted alive.
His visions soon started to wander. It showed him glimpses from the physical world. There he saw Gaster and Gerson having dinner with Sea Tea and sandwiches in the room where the Magi kept The Six. Since the ancient turtle cannot leave the confines of The Law, his sustenance must be brought to him.
Annoyed, Papyrus said, “NOT NOW, LITTLE EYE! CAN’T YOU SEE I’M CONCENTRATING?”
But it continued to tug at his heart, as though his Eye was trying to deliver a final, vital warning.
“FINE, FINE! I’LL TAKE A PEEK!”
“Bigots!” The scientist complained. “Bigots everywhere! Ugh, just when I had a smidgen of hope for humankind.”
The old turtle chuckled. “Pot callin’ the kettle black, much? Yer the whippersnapper who’s most hyped for their destruction.”
“Still, that’s no excuse to prove me right!”
“Wahaha! Look, doc. Our job now is to wait. Ya better not go whack beehives until then.”
“You’re telling me that I should literally sit on my behind and twiddle my thumbs?”
“Yup! Why not? It’ll do ya good.”
“With due respect Hammer of Justice, that would just agitate me even more. I’m going out to get some fresh air on the roof.”
“Okay, you do you. Wa ha!”
Uncle Gaster didn’t lie. He did go to the roof to get some fresh air, but he ‘conveniently’ left out his ulterior motive. Once there, he went straight for the central air humidifier that Alphys had fixed onto their home. The winter months could get too dry for Undyne.
Gaster then proceeded to open the lid to the water reservoir. He took out a potion bottle and poured the entirety of its contents into the reservoir, before closing it back up.
Papyrus’ visions were quick to reveal details of how Gaster obtained this mysterious liquid. In the past, the goopy scientist discreetly snipped off pieces of Asgore’s adopted Silvermane. A leaf here, a couple of flowers there, and the plant looked like nothing had changed.
Gaster passed the raw ingredients to Anise the Alchemist. He claimed that it was to keep the Kaiju girl calm. And so the merry Magus cooked up a batch of her best sleeping potion. It was the exact same recipe that Cenna had used on Frisk to transport them for Chara’s exorcism.
One by one, the residents of Alphys’ Lab fell into a deep sleep.
The Kaiju girl.
The flower children.
Anise Anise.
Alphys.
Cenna Caraway.
Sans.
Queen Toriel
King Asgore.
And Gerson -- The Hammer of Justice -- who maintained The Law until that moment.
The final defense line had been completely knocked out cold. Except for a lone musician. Even so, defending that many sleepers was a tall order.
Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.
Where was Gaelic? Papyrus wondered. Wouldn’t he notice the smell of sleeping potion in the air? He had immunity and affinity to all sorts of chemicals, so shouldn’t he save the day?
Alas, Gaelic wasn’t anywhere nearby. Captain Undyne required his assistance. A phone call from The Grandmaster sent him out towards the town’s borders.
When the deed was done, the Great Doctor Gaster went back downstairs. He clapped his hands three times to summon his loyal assistants.
They… walked through the front door, casting shadows like any other solid object. Plus, they had colour on their bodies.
What happened? When? How? Papyrus did not know.
While the assistants bottled up The Six, Gaster faced the sleeping Gerson. “I humbly apologize, old friend. Now that the future is not set in stone, this is my one chance to right my wrongs.”
And so, the goopy scientist began his trek up to Mount Ebott. The visions ended at The Core, where the images were too glitched out to comprehend.
Again with the schemes.
Again with the plotting.
Again with the terrible ideas of mixed results.
Papyrus wished that he could fully trust his dear Uncle Gaster. But, the piece of Sans in his SOUL rattled in dread. In the past, much of his goodwill caused an even bigger disaster.
Should Papyrus cancel the battle so that he could stop Gaster from executing yet another grand idiocy?
No. He couldn’t. Papyrus must leave his Uncle Gaster to his own devices, no matter the future implications. Should the DEMON succeed, the current world will be doomed.
Grillby’s knees started to buck, but he forced himself to stand again. A sharp ripple pulsed through his body.
ISN’T THAT A SYMPTOM OF AMALGAMATION? HE’S TAKING IN TOO MUCH DETERMINATION AND TURNING LIQUIDY!
While the Seer’s mind scrambled for a solution, the fire elemental touched the back of his neck. There he activated a small Arcanagram that collected the excess Determination. It formed a tiny bolt of lightning.
OOOOH! THAT’S THE FAIRY GODMOTHER’S ANTI-DEMON SEAL! I’M GLAD TO SEE AN OLD TOOL COMING BACK LIKE A BOOMERANG.
…IT’S A RELIEF TO SEE THAT PEOPLE ARE RESOURCEFUL ENOUGH TO MAKE DECISIONS BY THEMSELVES. BEING THE CHESSMAN HERE IS QUITE DAUNTING AND EXHAUSTING.
The action caught Aiden’s attention. Hurrying to his side, he said: “That’s just like our fight at the Magus Spire.”
“…I’m afraid so… Persona’s Determination… is interfering with my limit…”
“Swap with me. I still have words for my father.”
“…Very well…”
The inferno retreated with its wielder, letting The Son of Persona confront his father alone. He maintained his poise against the rampaging currents.
“Father!” Aiden cried out, “The child speaks the truth: I’m here to bring you home! Home to my mother, who’s waited for you all these years!”
Persona thundered: “To a land already ravaged? With threats of another war over the horizon? Such audacity! I know what’s going on in Aratet lands!”
“Then help us! Open the Vault, train new soldiers, anything!”
“Futile. With your numbers, you’ll be overrun in no time. There’s no future for you in this timeline.”
‘No future’? Papyrus had never tried to peer into the future of Aiden’s people. All the while, he concentrated on the Ebottians.
What if that community, in that far flung land, was heading for a dead end?
Aiden grew more and more distraught. “Who am I to you? Who?”
“What riddles are you babbling now?”
“Have you ever loved Mother? Why did you leave her in a warzone? Is it because of me?? Is it because I’m not a Chosen One???”
“Wrong! Your mother chose to stay behind. She did it to protect you.”
“Protect? So it is true. She’s protecting me from you.”
“…Where did you get that nonsensical idea?”
“Verachi. You might have heard the name.”
“Ah, your mother’s sour-faced brother of the same master. Utterly unsociable.”
“And yet he’s the closest I've had to a real father in my life! He said that Mother lied to me so I would feel loved. I’ve spent years wondering who’s speaking the truth, and I’m no closer to it. Only you can prove to me that your love for us is real!”
That one statement was all it took to halt the storm. The silence of The Void brought unexpected tranquility to the conflict.
Persona’s voice softened: a miniscule, yet noticeable change as he addressed Aiden as a son. “I won’t punish you for your lack of faith. On the contrary, I commend you for resisting that man’s poison. If evidence is what you seek… then I shall grant it in all my graciousness: a preview of Paradise.”
Reality started tearing at its seams from the release of Determination. Squares of white glitches crept from the edges. Then, the whole Hub changed upon a thunderclap.
A bright blue sky blocked out the darkness of The Void. Green healthy grass, as tall as one’s waist, stretched as far as the eyes could see. Clusters of fruit groves dotted the landscape. Clear streams of rivers flowed through the land, nourishing everything in its wake. Herds of livestock grazed peacefully across the fields, basking under a sun that neither oppressed nor burned.
A great estate emerged amidst this vast nature. In the nearby courtyard of their home, life-like marble statues of women and children were frozen in time. They laughed and played in ways that they enjoyed the most.
“Hey,” said Frisk, “It’s… It’s Persona’s Hub.”
Curiosity overshadowed any form of fear. To leave the shield, Frisk Marked their phone, connecting the device to the caster’s power source. They then passed it to Lady Lucy to hold them.
After that’s settled, they walked out of their shield to inspect the statues up close.
Their expression turned morose. “…Are these your family?”
“Yes.” Persona floated over to a mother and child who dressed differently from the rest, working at an outdoor kitchen to prepare the family meal. “Look here, my son. Do you recognize this? This is the proof that I loved the both of you.”
With quivering hands, Aiden reached out for the marble statue. He fell short of touching the surface. “That… that was me when I was a child. And this is Mother when she was young. Cooking was her favourite pastime.”
“That’s correct. Your grandfather had many disciples and orphans to feed. Because of that, your mother considered cooking to be her divine calling. She dedicated herself into filling bellies with more than bland gruel. Always a welcomed gesture after a long hard day’s training.”
“But… What about my own children? I don’t see them here.”
“When my mortal body was broken, they were just toddlers. I’ve never gotten the opportunity to know them better.”
Aiden turned to his father’s cloud and kneeled on both knees. Clasping his hands together like a prayer, he pleaded. “I believe you. Please, come home with me. Come home to Mother. She’ll remarry you without a second thought. Then we can open the Vault and retrieve the ancestral weapons. We’ve already lost too much precious time.”
“No. It’s already too late. I refuse to be kept in a glorified urn only to see her land burn like Ebott did! You and your people have no future.”
“Therefore… I shall turn back the clock no matter the cost. I will force the powers that be. Failure is not an option!”
The demonic cloud started to float upwards. The sky blackened and a baneful chill crawled across Papyrus’ bones.
Aiden screamed towards the heavens, begging and pleading. “Father! No, please! Don’t do it! Anything but that! FATHER!!!!””
Alas…
…It all fell on deaf ears.
“We, The Fallen, curse our very existence!”
“We curse, we condemn, we spite!”
“And therefore, we dare to dream!”
“Devour, Crimson Sun! Shine, Bloodstained Moon! Become as one! Sever the cord of death to grant perpetual life!”
“The Celestial Calamity shall deliver salvation denied!”
And so, two demonic bodies appeared against the bleakness.
High on the East rose the Crimson Sun, a shining twisted vortex.
High on the West rose the Bloodstained Moon, always in its fullest phase.
They rapidly moved across the sky to unite into a doomsday’s eclipse.
The once green grass wilted rotten brown. The rivers glowed blood red like the celestial bodies themselves. The livestock turned into ash, and the marble sculptures of his family crumbled.
Paradise was destroyed for the one final chance to redo the past.
Was it truly worth it?
The World’s DEMONs rose from the corrupted land. Mud dolls trudged and shambled towards the site of The Crimson Hall.
Lady Lucidia switched on her long-range communications. “Alert: this is an emergency. I repeat, this is an emergency. Please listen to my briefing before proceeding.”
“Persona has combined The Philosopher’s Stone with his own Determination, triggering The Celestial Calamity. It’s the greatest dark art of the ancient necromancers. It requires the following three components: a Red Psychia, a corrupted heart, and great magic power.”
“The result is a boundary plane that bends to the caster’s will. The dead will be revived, the Fallen will be granted immortal bodies, and nightmares will become reality.”
“Necromancers existed?” blurted Frisk. But they shook their head and patted their cheeks, trying to regain focus. “Nevermind. What do we need to do? Should we go ahead with the transfer? Or will Persona take over Aiden?”
Aiden then announced a twist: “I won’t become his Persona anymore. I shall instead be his living urn for the rest of my life. Strip him of his divine authority and bring him down to earth. That way, he shall never ascend again.”
“I recommend taking Aiden’s suggestion. The position of the celestial bodies indicate your time limit. Once the Crimson Sun and Bloodstained Moon unite, they will form an eclipse that completes the ritual.”
“Warning: even if Persona loses some Determination in the process, The Celestial Calamity actively prevents all access to The Keys of Fate. Furthermore, upon completion, he shall regain his greatest asset: his physical form. He would become an unstoppable killing machine that you cannot hope to compare against.”
Papyrus shuddered at the implications. He remembered Mezil’s final battle with his nemesis, and what it cost him to trap that DEMON in the WESS.
“I UNDERSTAND.” The Seer conjured his steed: the cheetah-themed bone bike.
“Wait!” Lady Lucidia exclaimed “Crimson Keeper Frisk is most vulnerable to Persona's bioelectricity manipulation. He can kill them without using any HVM.”
“BUT… THEY HAVE THE BIGGEST ADVANTAGE TOO. DON’T WORRY, FOR I AM THE GREAT PAPYRUS!”
Beckoning to the pint-sized Crimson Keeper, he urged them to participate in a tag-team effort.
Frisk hopped onto the front of the seat without a single hesitation. Together, they jetted off into the sky, flying high above the DEMON army.
It seemed that while they planned their next move, The Crimson Sun and The Bloodstained Moon had already begun their ascent across the sky. They were moving way faster than Papyrus would have liked.
Lightning flashed across the heavens as Persona scoffed, “Oh? You’re approaching me? Instead of running away, you’re coming right to me?”
The child yelled back, “Heck yeah! You can’t hurt me, Persona! You NEED my Keys of Fate for your stupid villainous plan, don’t you?!”
“Hahahahahaha! Such innocent youth. I never needed your body intact… I only need the divinity within your soul! Can you truly resign to a limbless existence?”
“Do your worst! I’ll stop anything you throw at me!”
“How cute. I don’t need to invoke that level of authority here.”
Right after that, a sphere of electricity burst from Persona. It radiated too quickly for the bike to change directions.
The sphere passed through Papyrus’ body. He anticipated all sorts of things to go wrong. Maybe he’d pass out. Maybe his bike would malfunction. Maybe he might start disintegrating.
Yet, none of that happened.
“WHAT WAS THAT FOR?” he asked out loud. “FRISK? ARE YOU OKAY?”
No answer.
“FRISK?”
Still no answer.
“FRISK?????”
The child started to tilt sideways, threatening to fall. The skeleton caught them with one hand before they completely slipped off their seat.
Their eyes were wide open and glazed over.
Their mouth was slightly agape with drool trickling down the side.
Their skin had turned blue and their heart weakened upon every beat.
They were dying. Similar but different to the time when they had stabbed their SOUL to stop Chara’s rampage…
He stopped his bike to focus on the human. “FRISK!!! OH MY GOD, WHAT’S HAPPENING?!?!”
“Didn’t The Witch already warn you, Oracle? Humans run on bioelectricity. The child knew that, yet they still foolishly charged towards me with a body made of flesh and blood.”
The child’s chest began to glow red. Their SOUL floated out, finalizing their death. Desperately, Papyrus tried to push it back in. “FRISK!!! NO!!!! DON’T DIE!!!! HOW DO I DO CPR WITH ONE HAND???”
“Forget it. I’ve destroyed their ability to receive signals. They’re blind, deaf, mute, and suffocating, all at once, while fully conscious. Performing CPR will only add to their pain by crushing their ribs. If I were you, I would end their suffering sooner rather than later.”
“Once I get my physical body back, I’ll take my sweet time executing my vengeance. Beginning with The Witch and The Vampire, of course. I’ll torture them until the little child breaks and undoes everything with their Keys of Fate.”
“Aaah… it’s so refreshing to fight against a group of lesser intellect. Constantly staying ahead of that woman was tiring.”
What should he do?
What can he do?
Panic had completely taken over Papyrus' senses. It’s so horrible. So overwhelming.
IF ONLY SANS WAS HERE TO HELP ME.
IF ONLY FLOWEY WAS HERE TO HELP ME TOO.
…WAIT, A MINUTE!
A thought crossed his mind. That action was long considered taboo for a reason, so much so that Sans refused to take the path that Flowey took. And yet, it alone was the way forward.
“YOU’RE RIGHT, PERSONA,” said Papyrus. “I SHOULD END THEIR SUFFERING SOONER. THANK YOU FOR THE ADVICE.”
Thus, Papyrus -- a monster of Ebott -- plucked Frisk’s SOUL out of their corpse and slammed it into his chest for a true Merger.
The heat of a human life flowed through his bones, warming him up from the inside. His Fire of Humanity burned brighter and stronger, giving him clairvoyance beyond his old limits. It’s as if a lighthouse had lit up, piercing through a thick fog.
He heard Frisk’s voice echo within his skull. It didn’t have the feel of listening to an external sound device like a comm transmission. Papyrus and Frisk shared the same body: the same space.
Thanks for saving me, Papyrus. I can’t believe I fell for his bait. I had put all my DT into deflecting another HVM…
YOU’RE WELCOME, MY DEAR FRIEND! ALTHOUGH, I THINK WE SHOULD RE-FOCUS OUR EFFORTS ON THE BAD GUY. TAKE CHARGE IF YOU WISH! NYEH HEH HEH!
Nah. That’s just repeating Chara’s mistake. You know your own abilities best. I’ll let my powers protect you in the meantime.
Ride to the skies! Go, go, Papyrus!
United as one, the two resumed their climb.
The DEMON’s meddling had cost them. By now, the two celestial bodies were moments away from completing the ritual.
Persona sighed out loud. “Oracle. In the end, you succumbed to the greatest heresy of monsters. So much for choosing the path of peace.”
“I STILL AM!” exclaimed Papyrus. “MERGING DOESN’T EQUATE TO VIOLENCE. I SHALL TAKE YOU DOWN WITHOUT EVEN LAYING A HAND ON YOU!”
His human friend started to whisper their choice words. They wanted him to deliver it with full force.
“FRISK WANTS ME TO TELL YOU THIS, PERSONA: YOU’RE WEAK! YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN WEAK! YOU’RE NOTHING LIKE THE TSUNDERJUDGE, WHOM YOU’VE NEVER DEFEATED!!!”
“Again with your puerile insults?! A Merger still has the weaknesses of the living host! Therefore, even the most basic authority is enough to cripple your monster body!”
“Your god commands you to die!”
At first, Papyrus felt an immense pressure on his body, threatening to crush him whole. The DEMON’s authority demanded he turn into dust.
But Frisk refused. Their SOUL shone just bright enough to break the command. Such was the power of their wishing star.
“THANKS FOR THE DEMONSTRATION. THEY NOW UNDERSTAND THAT THEY DON’T NEED TO USE CRAZY AMOUNTS OF POWER ALL THE TIME! THEY JUST NEED TO USE ENOUGH TO BEAT YOU, NO MATTER HOW SMALL IT IS!”
“You brats---!!”
At long last, they’ve reached Persona’s altitude, meeting him face to face.
Two individuals reached their hands out at the same time.
Two individuals commanded at the same time.
And so, they both pronounced:
“YOUR GOD COMMANDS YOU: BE STRIPPED OF ALL AUTHORITY AND FALL FROM GRACE!!!”
A shining star of pure white appeared on the human-shaped cloud. The man resisted. Protested. But in the end, the greater ‘Willpower’ emerged triumphant.
Persona fell down from his lofty place like a comet. It reminded Papyrus of a human legend, although he couldn’t recall the details at the moment.
Meanwhile, the Crimson Sun and the Bloodstained Moon stopped just before their completion. Bereft of their caster’s power, they crumbled into stardust, swept away by The Void’s black winds.
Papyrus let his bike descend at a steady pace. Meanwhile, he closed Frisk’s eyelids, and cleaned up their face. The child didn’t need to see themselves in such a horrific state.
They landed safely on the ground. There they found the once high and mighty DEMON lying flat, pinned down by the might of their star.
Papyrus cradled Frisk’s body in his arms. Knowing what happened, Lady Lucidia approached with a blanket to wrap them up.
When all that was settled, they focused on the DEMON. Finally, it was time to complete the mission.
“No…” Persona muttered, “I’m… beaten by a kid… and their funny Lichborn friend…?! Impossible!” The usual ethereal authority in his voice had completely vanished. At this moment, he was no different from a normal human.
Lady Lucidia explained: “You may initiate the transfer. Though Crimson Keeper Frisk already knows the proceedings from their briefing, I will recite them for your convenience. First create a tether between Persona and Aiden. Then, invoke Persona’s True Name and command him to enter his new vessel.”
“If you’re unsure about the exact command, use the following template: True Name, Title, ‘I command this vessel as thy body. Cease your wanderings and bind your spirit, now and forevermore’. You don’t need to exert any extra Determination.”
“OKAY. I GET IT. BUT, WHAT’S PERSONA’S TRUE NAME?”
She furrowed her brows. “Unfortunately, we’ve never discovered it. The closest approximate we have is his registered name ‘Kenneth Odin’.
“WE DON’T KNOW UNTIL WE TRY, I SUPPOSE.”
And so the united entity of Frisk and Papyrus began the sealing ritual. The star that pinned down Persona glowed ever brighter.
Reaching out their arms, they chanted: “KENNETH ODIN, GOD OF GUNGNIR, I COMMAND THIS VESSEL AS THY BODY! CEASE YOUR WANDERINGS AND BIND YOUR SPIRIT, NOW AND FOREVERMORE!”
It’s another one of those things that Mezil made look easy. Trying to force a stubborn, willful entity into submission was as difficult as it sounds. The demonic cloud continued to spark and pop to defy their efforts.
C’mon stupid doodoobutt, just quit it already! I wanna go home, eat Mom’s pie, and sleep in my own bed!
AND I WANT TO SEE SANS AGAIN!
Their magic fizzled out midway through the process. Not even becoming a fused deity was enough to brute force it.
“WHAAAAAAAAAT?!” The Merged Seer hunched over. “THE SPELL FAILED!”
Persona scoffed, “Do you think I’m stupid? Anyone in the world can access my mandatory identification. Of course I’ll use an alias.”
“DAMMIT! WHAT SHOULD WE DO NOW??? WE’RE SO CLOSE…”
So, so very close indeed. Unless they could finish the final step, Mezil will continue to be chained to his pesky nemesis. Nothing would be resolved.
Just when all hope seemed lost, Aiden stepped forward. “Don’t panic, Oracle. Mother made sure I memorized it. The name you seek is ‘Kenneth Asaravati Te Odin’, Born of Fire, The Reincarnation of Origin. Both titles must be included.”
“You…!” said Persona, “I thought you would at least respect me! That’s like transferring me from one prison to another!”
The son tried his best to ignore his father’s protest. Papyrus started to notice a host of small details on Aiden. The quickened breath, for example. Or the slight dilation of his pupils. Or the increased amount of sweat on his face. They spoke of fear and inner conflict.
He thought that he should give some encouragement. “I’M GOING TO TRY AGAIN. BE BRAVE. THE GREAT PAPYRUS BELIEVES IN YOU. ”
The sealing spell activated once more. “KENNETH ASARAVATI TE ODIN, BORN OF FIRE, THE REINCARNATION OF ORIGIN, I COMMAND THIS VESSEL AS THY BODY! CEASE YOUR WANDERINGS AND BIND YOUR SPIRIT, NOW AND FOREVERMORE!”
This time, it was a success. Aiden’s body started to draw Persona’s being into his. Until the very end, the DEMON tried to fight with all kinds of zapping. Every pulse inflicted pain upon the son.
“ARE YOU OKAY?” The Seer had to ask. He knew this pain first-hand.
“I’m fine.” Though the grunts indicated otherwise. “Oracle… Can you peer into the future on my behalf? Will my family be happy with my father returned to them?”
“A VERY GOOD QUESTION, MY FRIEND! ALLOW ME TO SHARE WHAT I’M SEEING.”
The visions of Aiden’s request came to life. Only Papyrus and his human friend Frisk could see it play like a movie. He’d have to transcribe what he saw to Aiden.
“FIRST AND FOREMOST, YOUR PEOPLE WILL BE OVERJOYED. ESPECIALLY YOUR MOTHER! THE HOMECOMING CEREMONY DOUBLED AS HER REMARRIAGE. NO LONGER WILL SHE BE CALLED A WIDOW. THE WHOLE VILLAGE DANCED AND SANG ALL DAY, ALL NIGHT. OF COURSE, THERE’S PLENTY OF FEASTING TOO!”
“WITH YOUR BRAND NEW RED MARK, YOU MANAGED TO OPEN YOUR PEOPLE’S SACRED VAULT. DEEP IN THE CAVE, GREAT RICHES AWAIT! WHILE THE OTHERS SWOON OVER THE GOLD AND SILVER, YOU SET YOUR SIGHTS ON THE MOST VALUABLE ARTIFACTS.”
“I SEE… A SPEAR OF LIGHTNING, A SHIELD OF WIND, AN AMULET OF ICE, AND A MIRROR OF TWILIGHT. WITH YOUR NEW TOOLS AT YOUR DISPOSAL, YOU IMMEDIATELY SET OUT TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF MANY. FOR EXAMPLE, YOU HAD CREATIVELY USED THE SPEAR TO PIERCE THROUGH ROCK AND EARTH, CREATING MULTIPLE NEW SOURCES OF CLEAN WATER!”
Despite the good news, Aiden’s demeanour remained unchanged. Instead, he asked: “Do you see any signs of conflict?”
The question made Frisk hesitant. They’re afraid to see the worst outcome, which was war and all the horrors that came with it. Dying themselves was not the same as witnessing the suffering of others.
FRISK, I’LL… TRY TO MAKE IT AS SAFE FOR YOU AS POSSIBLE. ALRIGHT?
Don’t lie to Aiden.
EXCUSE ME?
Frisk repeated themselves: Don’t lie to Aiden. Down in The Underground, I know you’d sometimes lie to protect my feelings. But you won’t be able to fool him.
How embarrassing it was to have his lack of honesty called out at this very moment. A friend now held him accountable for his past deeds.
So, Papyrus peered beyond the celebrations, when daily life resumed.
It didn’t take long for him to find boxes of ammunition and guns spread throughout the village. Every young child, boy or girl, was trained to shoot as soon as they learned to walk. The herdsmen and shepherds would never leave town without being armed, while patrols maintained a vigilant lookout for invaders.
“TROUBLES MAY RISE, BUT YOU AND YOUR PEOPLE WILL BAND TOGETHER TO FACE THEM.”
“In other words,” said Aiden. “Nothing changed. The children learn to fight before they learn to farm, and our livestock is under constant threat of pillagers. It’s been that way since the time of Asas Asal Ara…”
Papyrus stood there in silent reluctance, unable to say anything.
“Oracle. You said you believe in me. Right?”
“YES, I DO.”
“Then… I… I will take this leap of faith.”
Aiden raised his arms high above his head. With a voice as loud as thunder, the warrior pronounced:
“Gods and ancestors. I call upon your divinity with my True Name: Aiden Asachulra Te Odin, Little Flame, Origin’s Revenge! Grant me the blade of my soul, my name given form!”
A golden bolt of lightning plunged from the far ranges of The Void, striking his hands. The power coalesced into a jagged dagger of magical electricity.
Before anyone could react…
Before any Seer’s Eye could see…
…Aiden Asachulra Te Odin plunged his blade straight into his father’s ghost, executing a fatal blow.
The action shocked everyone, from strangers to family, from the eldest to the youngest, from the most experienced to the least wise. Above all, it shocked Papyrus.
Dust flaked off the DEMON’s body. “Son…?” his voice croaked.
“Father.” Aiden kept his head low. “You’re right. The Aratet don’t have a future. That’s because we’re stuck in the past. You and I… we’re nothing more than pawns to revive Asas Asal Ara, a long dead person in history. Yet, isn’t that heresy in itself?”
“Didn’t you motivate countless souls with the promise of ascension? To break the yoke of our decaying ancestors? To be free from false dogma? To rise from the ashes? To pave a new road? Am I not practicing your teachings at this very moment?”
The dying cloud began to laugh. Sorrowful, yet overjoyed. “Ha… ha ha ha… my son, my son… Here I thought… you’ll repeat the sins of the Ebott Gungnir… Surrendering all sense of reason… to their pitiful gods…”
Persona reached his immaterial hand up towards Aiden, desiring to touch his son’s cheek one last time. “…You’ve grown so much… My pride glows… Go… Your father blesses you… to forge a new future…”
“Farewell, father. Rest in peace. And… thank you for your blessing.”
With that, the man known as Kenneth Asaravati Te Odin breathed his last.
The once wide grassland reverted back into Mezil’s sterile hall. When the tension receded at last, Papyrus got on his knees to weep and wail. Frisk hugged him at the soul level to try and comfort their friend.
All their efforts, all their dreams of a peaceful, bloodless, deathless resolution… had ended in complete failure.
Papyrus and Frisk learned two bitter lessons that day.
The first: not everyone will choose good even if they’re given all the chances in the world.
And the second: choosing good does not always guarantee the life of those who insist on taking the path of evil.
The Oracle grieved for a life lost to consequences. “Persona… If only you had chosen to be good from the very beginning…”
The events of the present depended on the past. Everyone influences each other. For better or for worse.