Chapter Text
The moon hung high in the night sky, casting a silvery glow over the deserted training grounds. The cool breeze softly rustled the leaves, the only sound accompanying her as she walked alone. Her foot nudged a small rock, and she lazily watched it skitter across the ground, stopping near a cluster of trees.
A deep sigh escaped her lips as she stood alone in the training sandpit, her thoughts drifting to her friend. The demands of his role, the chosen one, the hero, seemed to swallow him whole, leaving little room for anything else. She understood, or at least tried to. He was destined for great things, but that knowledge didn’t make her feel any better. She paused, staring at the rock she had kicked.
Why does it have to be like this? She folded her arms, feeling a sharp disappointment growing in her chest. She understood the importance of training, especially with the threats looming over them. But that understanding did little to ease the loneliness. The nights felt colder without Caz, and the days seemed to drag on endlessly.
What if he’s changed? The thought was like a splinter in her mind, sharp and unwelcome. She shook her head, trying to push it away. No, he’s still the same Caz. He has to be.
Suddenly, a faint crash broke the silence, and she froze. Her ears perked up, straining to catch the sound over the pounding of her heart. It was faint, almost indistinguishable from the natural sounds of the night, but it was there. A soft, rhythmic hum followed by sharp bursts of light cut through the darkness and she stiffened, the hairs on her arms rising as she cautiously approached the noise. Her footsteps were light, deliberate, as she moved closer, the sound growing clearer with each step.
Who would be up this late? As she neared the source, a distinct stench of magic filled the air, her hand twitching in response. She pushed past a bush, her eyes scanning the darkened training grounds for any sign of movement. Her body tensed, ready to defend herself if necessary.
She rounded the corner, and there he was, in the midst of an intense training session. His chest heaved, his skin glistening with sweat. His eyes glowed a brilliant white, making the dark circles beneath them seem even darker. She watched as he unleashed a beam of light, obliterating a tree into a shower of splinters, leaving only a smoking stump behind. His power was impressive, but what struck her most was how different he looked.
He was stronger, his muscles more defined. However, his hair was longer and unkempt, a clear sign he hadn’t taken time to care for himself. But his eyes had seemed to change the most... they were dull, clouded with exhaustion and a hint of despair. She could see it, even in the dim light. He was pushing himself too hard, teetering on the edge of exhaustion. Gathering her courage, she stepped forward, emerging from the underbrush.
“I didn't think I'd find you out here.” she called, her voice cutting through the night. Caz froze, the glow in his eyes dimming as he turned towards her. For a moment, irritation flashed across his face, his jaw clenched. But as recognition set in, his expression softened, though only slightly.
"What are you doing out so late?” he asked, tilting his head, the smile he offered was strained, not quite reaching his eyes.
She raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms as she approached. “I could ask you the same thing. What’s with the late-night training?” Her eyes flicked over him, noting the sweat-soaked clothes, and the slight tremor in his hands. Up close, he looked even worse, the pungent smell of dirt and sweat filling her nostrils.
He shrugged. “Just training,” he replied, though his voice lacked conviction as he looked away, avoiding her gaze, his shoulders tense.
Her brow furrowed with concern. “I’ve never seen you train this hard. What’s going on?” He shifted uncomfortably, a flicker of annoyance crossing his face. His arms dropped to his sides, fists clenching and unclenching as if struggling to find the right words. Finally, he exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair.
“Why else would I be training? It’s my ‘duty to get stronger,’” he said, a bitter edge to his voice. His foot kicked at a stray stick, sending it skidding across the ground.
She frowned, recognizing the phrase all too easily. “Blackthorn,” she said. She watched as he stiffened, his face hardening at the reminder of his father. He didn’t respond, the silence stretching between them. She shifted, trying to get closer to him as her arm raised, toward his shoulder. “You know, you don’t have to listen to him-”
He cut her off with a sharp look, his eyes flashing with a mix of frustration and something deeper. “You know better than anyone that I do,” he snapped, the words coming out more harshly than he intended. She flinched at the coldness in his tone, and stepped back, her arm lowering. His expression softened slightly, regret flickering in his eyes, but he quickly masked it, looking away again.
It was like a wall had slammed down between them, and she felt her heart sink. She wanted to reach out, to tell him he didn’t have to bear this burden alone. But she stayed silent as the darkness around them seemed to close in, the air between them thick and uncomfortable.
“Caz...” she began, but he shook his head, cutting her off.
“I’m fine,” he said curtly. His eyes briefly met hers, the hardness softening for a fleeting moment, as if he wanted to say more, to explain. But then the mask came down again, and he turned away. “Goodnight [Name].”
Without another word, he walked away, his footsteps fading into the shadows. She stood there, watching his retreating figure, a deep, aching sadness swirling in her chest. The realization that they had drifted so far apart hit her like a punch to the gut. This was Caz, her best friend, and yet it felt like she barely knew him anymore. He was caught in a storm of expectations and pressures, destroying himself in the process, and she felt powerless to help him.
As the night grew colder, she wrapped her arms around herself, the chill seeping into her bones. She wished she could reach him, break through the walls he had built around himself, but she was left standing alone in the moonlit training grounds, her thoughts heavy with worry for the friend who seemed to be slipping further and further away.
* * * * *
The water fell over your hands, cool and relentless as it washed away the stubborn traces of dust and blood clinging to your fingers. You watched the swirling red water as it went down the drain, but the sensation of the water against your skin felt distant, almost numb.
Papyrus had urged you to take a break, to rest and recover, but you couldn't. How could you possibly rest when every time you closed your eyes, Liz's weak smile flashed in your mind, so vivid and alive, only to be cruelly replaced by the cries of her brother?
With a reluctant twist of the faucet, you turned off the water, watching as the last remnants of the battle came together in a murky spiral before disappearing down the drain. You stood there for a moment, trying to convince yourself that there was nothing more you could've done.
You repeated the words in your mind, hoping they might offer some hint of comfort. But they rang hollow, echoing back at you with an emptiness that left you feeling more lost than before. Your jaw clenched involuntarily as the memory of the fight played over in your head like a broken record, each mistake gnawing at you.
If only I hadn't stumbled... The thought lingered, regret taking root in your chest that only seemed to grow bigger as the seconds went by. If only I hadn't forced Sans to teleport. The frustration bubbled up, threatening to overwhelm you. Maybe if you hadn't teleported Sans could've fought, maybe he even could've saved Liz when you couldn't.
You mindlessly reached for a towel, wiping your hands. I can fix this, you told yourself. We can defeat him. The voice was small, almost drowned out by the weight of everything else, but it was there, a flicker of hope, barely a spark yet persistent. It was the part of you that refused to give up, that clung to the belief that there was still a chance to make things right, to keep fighting, to persist.
But a darker voice, one that had lingered in the shadows of your mind for far too long, mocked your feeble attempt at optimism. You're weak. You're nothing. The words began as a harsh whisper, gradually growing louder, more insistent, until it felt like a relentless chant, pushing the faint glimmer of hope deeper into the recesses of your mind. You can't win. You couldn't even beat him with an army. What makes you think it would be different now?
You shook your head, desperately trying to rid yourself of the intrusive thoughts, but your mind only scoffed at the attempt. You should have done more. You could have done more. The accusations echoed inside you, growing louder with each passing second until they drowned out everything else.
You stood there, frozen in place, trapped in the suffocating grip of your own mind, oblivious to the world around you. The turmoil was all-consuming, making it impossible to notice the quiet footsteps that stopped behind you. It wasn't until a gentle, familiar voice rang out in your very soul, that you jolted back to reality, your heart skipping a beat.
*[Name]?
Frisk stood beside you, their expression unreadable as they gently tugged at the sleeve of your shirt. For a moment, you could only stare at Frisk, the whirlwind of emotions swirling inside you making it difficult to focus. You tried to shake off the cloud of despair that hung over you, forcing a smile to your lips that felt more like a grimace. It was a poor attempt, and you knew it, but it was all you could manage as you fought to keep the darkness at bay, if only for a little while longer.
"Do you need something, kid?" you asked softly, trying your best to keep your voice steady. Frisk's eyes bore into yours, so full of something you couldn't quite name, and for a brief moment, you thought they weren't going to respond at all. The silence stretched, heavy and expectant, until finally, their hands moved.
*It's not your fault.
The statement caught you off guard, leaving you blinking in surprise. You hadn't expected those words, hadn't prepared yourself for the way they would hit you.
"I know," you replied automatically, the words slipping out before you had time to really process them. But even as you spoke, you knew they felt empty, hollow. Frisk didn't look away, and it was clear from the expression on their face that they weren't convinced. They continued to stare at you with that familiar neutral look, the one that somehow conveyed so much without giving anything away.
*It's not your fault.
They repeated it, their voice just as steady and sure as before, but this time there was a weight to their words that made them impossible to ignore. It was as if they were determined to make you believe them, and for just a moment, you did.
However, the relief was short-lived, fading as quickly as it had come. The crushing weight of everything you had been through came crashing back down, heavy and suffocating, pressing down on your chest until it was hard to breathe. Your grip tightened on the edge of the sink, fingers digging into the cool metal until your knuckles turned white.
How could I possibly fix this? Then, as you stole another glance at Frisk, a sudden thought surfaced, a desperate idea that maybe, just maybe, there was a way out of this nightmare. Your eyes widened slightly, your breath catching in your throat as the realization hit you.
Before you could stop yourself, the words tumbled out. "Why haven’t you reset?" Frisk’s eyes, usually so composed and calm, widened in shock, the emotion rippling across their face in a way you hadn’t seen before. You turned to face them fully, your expression eerily blank.
"You can fix everything," you pressed on, trying to keep your voice from trembling. "You could go back, back to before the Shadowbringer attacked. Before Liz-" The name caught in your throat, choking off the words as a surge of grief welled up inside you. You shook your head, trying to push past it. "You could make it so none of this ever happened."
Frisk’s silence hung heavy in the air and every fiber of your being was desperately clinging to the hope that everything could be undone, that the mistakes, the losses, all the pain could somehow be erased as if it had never happened.
But as you watched, Frisk’s expression began to change. It was subtle but unmistakable, an emotion you recognized all too well: shame. They took a small step back, their shoulders slumping. Your brow furrowed in confusion and concern, Frisk’s silence gnawing at you, making the fragile hope in your chest start to waver. You opened your mouth to speak again, to push them for an answer, when a familiar voice interrupted stopping you in your tracks.
"they can’t." You abruptly turned to see Sans standing in the doorway, his expression somber. Confusion and disbelief washed over you as your eyes flicked back to Frisk.
"You can't reset?" you asked slowly. Frisk shook their head, their expression pained as they looked down, as if unable to look at you.
*I tried.
They finally admitted. You frowned, "What do you mean you tried?" Frisk took a deep breath, their hands fiddling nervously with the hem of their sweater.
*When I reset. They began. I usually see these... save points. It’s like checkpoints in a game. I can choose to go back to any of them. They paused, glancing at you briefly before looking away again. But after the battle, when I tried to reset back to my latest save point... something went wrong. When I tried to go back, it was like the save point glitched. Instead of returning to the past, I was pulled back to the present.
The hope that had briefly flared within you flickered out, leaving a cold emptiness in its wake. You had been holding onto that hope so tightly, and now it felt like it had slipped through your fingers, leaving you with nothing.
“Have you ever had problems resetting before?" you asked, clinging to the possibility that this was just a temporary setback, something that could be fixed. Frisk shook their head, frustration clear on their face as they avoided your stare.
*No, it’s always worked before.
They glanced down, biting their lip as if the admission hurt.
*This is the first time something like this has happened.
"How is that even possible?" you muttered, more to yourself than to anyone else. "Why now? Why this time?"
"i may have an idea," Sans spoke. You turned toward him, and he stiffened. He cleared his non-existent throat, his hands in his pockets. "do ya know about dimensional instability?"
"No... What is it?"
"it's a theory that when beings from another universe enter a different one, they bring along different physical laws, energies, and realities," Sans began, "these differences can cause disruptions or instabilities in the fabric of the local universe. think of it like trying to mix oil and water, they just don’t blend well. when those forces clash, it can result in all kinds of weird stuff happening, like reality getting glitchy, time acting funny, or even the universal laws themselves going haywire."
You frowned, starting to see where he was going with this. "So, you're saying that my presence, and the Shadowbringer's, could be causing these glitches?" you asked. The idea felt overwhelming, and a knot of guilt began to form in your stomach, twisting tighter with each passing second.
Sans nodded, his expression turning grim, confirming your fears. "exactly. you both come from a different universe with your own set of rules, and those rules don’t necessarily match up with the rules of this universe. that mismatch could be causing all sorts of problems, including messing with the kid’s ability to manipulate the timeline." Frisk’s eyes darted between you and Sans, a mixture of relief briefly flickering across their face before their mask slid back on.
*Does that mean there’s nothing wrong with me?
Sans nodded, a grin spreading across his skull as he looked at Frisk. "there’s nothing wrong with ya, kiddo," he reassured them, his tone lightening as he ruffled their hair with a playful chuckle. Your heart ached as you thought about how harsh you’d been, blaming them for things that were out of their control.
What is wrong with me? You reached out and gently placed your hand on Frisk’s shoulder, feeling their trembling form beneath your touch.
"It's not your fault. You tried," you murmured. They stiffened for a moment before slowly leaning into your touch, their shoulders untensing with a sigh.
Besides it’s my fault you can’t fix everything in the first place. The realization was sharp and you found yourself glancing away, trying to hide the lump forming in your throat. The weight of that guilt pressed down on you, making it hard to breathe, and for a moment, you felt like you were drowning in it. Sans, always observant, seemed to catch a flicker of something in your expression. His sockets narrowed slightly as if he was about to ask you what was wrong, But you quickly spoke, cutting him off before he could get the words out.
"Frisk’s abilities worked with Undyne when I was here," you said, your voice coming out a bit sharper than you intended. "So why did it work then and not now?" Sans shrugged, rubbing the back of his neck casually, but there was a thoughtful look in his sockets.
"it could be that your presence here isn’t as disruptive as the Shadowbringer’s appearance," he speculated, his tone uncertain. "Or maybe the instability gets worse with time, or with certain events. It’s hard to say for sure. this is all just a theory, after all. there’s no definitive science behind it." His voice trailed off, and you could see him getting lost in his thoughts, his eyelights dimming slightly as he brought a hand to his chin.
You inhaled deeply, trying to steady the storm of thoughts swirling in your mind. "Alright," you finally said, exhaling slowly as you forced yourself to focus on the present, on what needed to be done. "If we can’t go back, then we have no choice but to find a way to stop him before he attacks again."
Just as you finished speaking, a sharp knock echoed through the kitchen startling you. Quickly you left the kitchen, vaguely aware of Sans and Frisk following you. Papyrus was holding the door open, and there was Undyne. She looked a bit tired, her usual fire in her eye seemingly clouded.
Her gaze met yours, and for a moment, she paused in the doorway, her shoulders tensing slightly as if bracing for something. The sight of Undyne, especially after the chaos in Snowdin, sent a fresh wave of anxiety through your chest. You swallowed hard, feeling the knot of worry tightening in your stomach. You tried to shove the feeling aside, but it clung stubbornly, prickling at the edges of your mind. You hesitated, your eyes meeting with Undyne’s, and for a tense moment, neither of you moved.
"Are we going to go inside?" A soft voice asked. Your brow furrowed as you and Undyne snapped out of your staring contest. The fish monster's head turned behind her, her eye softening as she stepped aside, revealing the figure standing beside her. You hadn’t noticed her before, but now you saw the lizard-like monster nervously fiddling with her hands, glancing at you with a shy, uncertain smile. She was shorter than Undyne, her eyes filled with both intelligence and anxiety as she awkwardly adjusted the glasses on her snout.
"This is Alphys," Undyne introduced, "She’s the smartest person I know, if anyone can help us, she can." As Undyne spoke, you noticed she seemed to soften into something more tender and protective. Alphys’ cheeks flushed a deep shade of pink at the compliment. She adjusted her lab coat, her fingers trembling slightly as she fidgeted with it. Her eyes darted between you and the floor, struggling to maintain eye contact.
"I-I’ll do my best," she stammered.
You offered Alphys a tentative smile, "Nice to meet you, Alphys. I'm [Name]." you said softly. Alphys blinked rapidly, clearly taken aback by the attention. She raised a hand in a quick, awkward wave, her fingers curling into a nervous fist.
"Oh, um, h-hi!" she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper. "It’s, uh, nice to meet you too. I’ve… um, heard a lot about you." You nodded, not entirely sure how to respond, but you could see how nervous she was. It was oddly reassuring, her nervous energy felt like a strange mirror to your own.
Undyne glanced between the two of you, a small grin tugging at the corner of her mouth. "Don’t worry," she said, her voice taking on a certain warmth as she stared at the scientist. "Alphys is a little shy, but once you get to know her, she’s awesome."
Alphys blushed even further at Undyne’s praise, a wobbly smile on her face. "I-I’m just... t-trying to help however I can," she murmured, clearly embarrassed but pleased by Undyne’s words. The way she looked at Undyne was unmistakable, and you couldn’t help but feel a small sense of amusement at how obvious both of the monster's crushes were.
But the light moment didn't last long as Undyne’s gaze shifted to you, her expression cold once more. She took a step closer, her eye narrowing as she looked you over. "That thing... that human... after the attack, he said it was your fault he’s here. What the hell did he mean by that?"
You sighed, shifting uncomfortably on your feet. You had known this moment would come, but that didn’t make it any easier. Glancing between Undyne and Alphys, you took in a breath. "The person who attacked us… he’s called the Shadowbringer," you began. "And both he and I… we’re from a different universe."
Undyne's expression shifted, her brow furrowing as confusion flickered across her face. "A different universe?" she repeated as if trying to make sense of your words. Alphys, standing behind her, looked more intrigued than shocked, her eyes widening with curiosity as she leaned in slightly as if to catch every word.
You nodded, "Back in my universe, the Shadowbringer was a powerful threat, so powerful that he nearly destroyed everything. I had no choice but to stop him. I used the strongest magic I knew to banish him, to send him somewhere far away where he couldn’t hurt anyone anymore." You hesitated, the memory still painful. "When I banished him, I got caught in the spell too. And we both ended up… here."
Undyne’s face went blank as she tried to take in what you’d just said. Her brow furrowed in concentration, and you could almost see the wheels turning in her head. The silence stretched between you, and with each passing second, the guilt in your chest grew heavier, tightening its grip.
"I didn’t mean for this to happen," you whispered, your voice quieter than you wanted. The apology caught in your throat, barely escaping. "I had no idea it would affect this world. And I’m so sorry." The silence that followed felt thick, heavy, and stifling. You shifted uneasily, your fingers gripping each other so tightly that your knuckles turned white. The intensity in Undyne's eye wavered. replaced by something softer as she took a step closer to you.
"You did what you had to do to protect your people," she said, her voice firm. "I would've done the same thing. You can't blame yourself for that." Her words should have brought some relief, but instead, they only seemed to add to the weight on your shoulders. You nodded faintly, though the tightness in your chest refused to loosen. Intentionally or not, you had brought the Shadowbringer into their world. You were the reason they were in danger.
You swallowed hard, trying to shake off the overwhelming emotions. You needed to focus on something other than your own guilt. "How are the townspeople doing?" you asked quietly after a long beat. "After the attack... are they okay?"
Undyne’s jaw clenched, and you could practically see the anger and sadness simmering inside her. "A lot of them are grieving. Some are scared, hell, everyone’s scared. The creepy human's attack hit them hard. But the Royal Guard is doing everything we can to protect them." She paused, her gaze softening. "I've sent messengers to the rest of the Underground. We’re preparing for whatever comes next."
Alphys, who had been quiet, nodded. "Y-yeah," she stammered softly, nodding as she spoke. "We’ve been working on ways to reinforce defenses, and w-we’re trying to keep people informed without causing too much panic." Her voice trembled, and she glanced away quickly, clearly uncomfortable from the attention as we all turned to look at her.
The room grew heavier with each passing second, the air thick with sorrow and fear that seemed to seep into everyone’s skin. Suddenly, the silence was pierced by a voice that cut through like a dull blade. "you know," Sans said, his usual grin plastered on his face, though it seemed thinner than usual, "sounds like we're in grave danger. guess we’ll just have to dig ourselves out of this mess."
No one laughed.
Papyrus shot his brother a look, his bone knitting together. "BROTHER, NOW IS NOT THE TIME FOR YOUR PUNS! THIS IS SERIOUS."
Sans merely shrugged, his grin barely wavering. "just trying to lighten the mood, bro. Don’t want everyone to be too... scales-ed up." He cast a quick glance toward Alphys, the pun hanging awkwardly in the air.
Silence.
Despite the poorly timed attempt at humor, you couldn't help but feel a bit of relief at the pun. It was something familiar, a break from the gut-wrenching emotions. So your lips quirked up, and Sans's grin softened.
Undyne shook her head, letting out a small sigh as she rolled her eye. "Whatever happened in your universe," she said, turning her gaze back to you, her voice softer but no less intense, "it’s our problem now too... So you better tell me you have a plan to beat that human freak." A smirk tugged at the corner of her mouth, a hint of her old fire returning. "Because if you do, I’m ready to tear him apart."
Despite everything, you couldn’t help but smile back. Even with the fear, the guilt, and the uncertainty, there was something comforting about knowing that Undyne was in your corner, ready to fight with you until the very end. You hummed softly to yourself, your mind spinning with thoughts and possibilities. You tried to pull together some semblance of a plan, but the pieces just didn’t fit. You ran a hand through your hair, biting your lip in frustration.
"I don’t have a plan," you admitted. "But there is one thing that's been bothering me. The Shadowbringer said he's been trying to escape but I should've been able to sense him. His magic... it should’ve been like a stench in the air. He’s powerful enough that I should have at least gotten a hint of him. But... there was nothing."
"what do you mean, ‘nothing’?" San's asked, tilting his head slightly. "you’re sayin’ his magic should’ve been, like, all over the place?"
You nodded, frustrated. "Yes. His magic is... intense. It’s dark, consuming, and unmistakable. If he’d been using it, I would’ve known. It would’ve been impossible to miss. But I didn’t feel anything. There was no trace of him." You rubbed the back of your neck, your brow furrowing.
Papyrus suddenly perked up, his eyelights widening. "UNLESS HE WAS SOMEWHERE WITH SO MUCH MAGIC THAT IT MASKED HIS OWN."
Alphys’s brow furrowed in thought, her fingers tapping nervously against the edge of her lab coat. "There might be areas in the Underground that could do that... places with strong magical interference or natural barriers that could block magical detection."
Sans straightened slightly, "there’s a place like that, actually," he said, "the barrier. it’s not exactly a vacation spot, but it’s full of magic. enough magic to block out his. not to mention, he’s said he's been at the barrier tryin’ to break out of the underground, it would make sense if he camped out at the barrier this whole time."
Undyne’s expression darkened at the mention of the barrier, quickly turning to Alphys. "Have you heard from King Asgore recently?"
Alphys slowly shook her head, "No, now that I think of it he hasn't contacted me in a while."
Undyne clenched her fists, her body trembling with barely contained fury. "If that human freak laid a hand on Asgore," she growled through gritted teeth, her voice low and menacing, "I’ll rip him apart."
Alphys quickly placed a hand on Undyne’s arm, her touch gentle but firm. "Undyne, please," she said, her voice soft. "We can’t rush into this. He’s too powerful. If we go charging in without a plan, we could lose too many lives. It’s too dangerous."
Undyne’s jaw tightened, her muscles visibly rigid beneath her armor as her hands clenched into tight fists at her sides. Her eye blazed with fury, her breathing heavy, nostrils flaring as she fought the rising storm within her. Her entire body seemed to tremble with the effort to rein it in, her shoulders hunched forward as though ready to lunge at the nearest wall. Then, slowly, she drew in a long, deliberate breath, the air hissing between her teeth.
"You’re right," she muttered through gritted teeth. "We can’t afford to lose anyone else. But sitting here and doing nothing isn’t an option either," she added, her voice lowering to a growl, her eye darting back to meet yours. There was desperation buried beneath her anger, one that brought back memories from long ago.
"We can’t kill him," you began, though your words felt heavy as they left your lips. "At least, not without losing too many lives. He’s too powerful." You glanced at Undyne, "But," you added, "if we could permanently trap him..."
Sans’s eyelights flickered with realization. "trapping him, huh?" he mused aloud. "that’s not a bad idea. if we could find a way to contain him without resorting to a full-on fight, it might be our best shot."
Alphys’s brow furrowed deeply as she stared at the floor. Her clawed fingers twitched nervously against her lab coat, and her glasses slipped slightly down her nose as she tilted her head. "We could use the barrier’s magic to create some kind of containment field," she suggested."But I don’t know if the barrier alone would be strong enough... unless we amplify it."
Sans’s eyelights brightened in an instant, a new thought flashing across his mind. He snapped his fingers. "what about the CORE?"
Alphys blinked, caught off guard by the suggestion. Her mouth parted slightly as she stared at Sans, and then her expression shifted. Confusion gave way to a spark of excitement as the idea took hold in her mind. She leaned in, eyes wide with sudden realization. "The CORE..." Her voice trailed off as she began piecing together the plan, her hands coming together in front of her chest. "Of course! The CORE is a massive power source that converts geothermal energy into magical energy. If we could harness its power..."
Papyrus furrowed his brow, his skull tipping slightly in confusion. "WHAT THE CORE?"
Alphys glanced at Papyrus, her eyes softening, "The CORE was built by the old royal scientist, W.D. Gaster. He was a brilliant mind, but… one day, he disappeared." She paused, her fingers fiddling with the hem of her coat as she spoke. "It’s said that he fell into his own creation and was shattered across time and space." She gave a nervous chuckle, "But... that’s just a rumor, of course."
Sans, who had been watching her with an unreadable expression, shook his skull slowly. "it’s not just a rumor. gaster’s soul was scattered across the void." He paused, winking at Frisk. "you could say he fell too deep into his work." Frisk snorted slightly, tilting their head.
*So you want to recreate what happened to Gaster and make it happen to the Shadowbringer.
"exactly. if we can trap the shadowbringer in the CORE, we can tear his soul apart, scattering it across the void. he’ll be stuck, too weak to escape, even if he survives."
Papyrus’s concerned gaze flicked between his brother and Alphys. "BUT... IF WHAT HAPPENED TO GASTER WAS AN ACCIDENT," he began, his voice softer now, "HOW CAN WE SAFELY RECREATE IT?"
Sans rubbed the back of his neck, his skull clouded with thought. "it’s gonna be hard," he admitted. He looked at his brother, his sockets softening slightly. "no doubt about it, paps. but with alphys’s knowledge of the core and my… experience, we might just be able to pull it off. we have to make sure the timing is perfect, and that we have the right amount of magic. it’s risky, but it’s our best shot."
You turned to Sans, your gaze steady as you asked, "How much time do you need?"
He scratched the back of his neck, his skeletal face showing a rare moment of hesitation. "i don’t know," he admitted slowly, his eyelights flicking between both you and Alphys. "but we’ll need as much time as we can get." You nodded, a crease forming between your brows as your mind raced with possible strategies. The stakes were high, and you could feel the tension coiling in your chest like a taut wire.
"I can distract him long enough for you both to finish," you said, your voice firm despite the nerves fluttering in your stomach. You met Sans’s stare. "On your signal, I’ll lead him over to the CORE. Once he’s close enough, you guys can activate it."
Alphys nodded, "I-I think we can do it," She swallowed hard before continuing. "We’ll need to make adjustments to the CORE... to control the magical energy and stabilize the process. But if we work together... we can maybe make it work."
Undyne stepped forward, clapping her hand on Alphys’s shoulder. "We will make it work" she said firmly. "This is the only way to stop him without risking everyone’s lives." She turned to Sans, her gaze burning with determination. "Alphys, Sans, I’ll go with you. We’ll bring a couple of guards and make sure you’re protected while you work on the CORE."
Papyrus puffed out his chest, standing tall despite the tremor that flickered in his orange eyelights. "I'LL GO HELP THE TOWNSPEOPLE," he declared. You turned to him, your gaze softening as you watched the slight quiver in his gloved hands. They trembled ever so slightly, a small but telling sign of the anxiety he was trying to hide. Without a second thought, you reached out and took his hands in your own, your fingers closing gently around his. His gloves were cold, and you could feel the subtle shiver that ran up him from the warmth of your touch.
You mindlessly began to move your thumb in slow, soothing circles against his gloved fingers. Your gaze held his, and as you continued the gentle motion, you could see his expression gradually soften. The tight lines of worry that had etched themselves onto his face began to smooth out, and the anxious flicker in his glowing eyes started to fade.
"Frisk and I will go with you, Papyrus," you said, your voice steady now. Papyrus’s smile, once strained and hesitant, grew softer, more genuine. You couldn’t help but reciprocate, a smile tugging at your lips as your heart felt a sudden surge of warmth. The moment felt oddly intimate, and you could feel a flush rising to your cheeks "We’ll help however we can." Frisk nodded beside you, grabbing your hand.
As you stood there, you felt something shift within you. The crushing guilt that had been weighing you down began to lift, replaced by something else. Your soul seemed to thrum with renewed strength, urging you forward. You could feel it in your chest, a steady rhythm that whispered, persist, persist, persist. You wouldn’t give up. You couldn’t.
There was still fear, fear of failure, fear of what might happen if things went wrong, but you weren’t alone in this fight. You had Undyne, Alphys, Sans, Papyrus, and Frisk. You had people who believed in you, and who were willing to stand by your side no matter what.
The path ahead wasn’t easy. The plan was dangerous, and there were no guarantees. But you weren’t going to let that stop you. You had already come this far, and you weren’t about to back down now. You were ready to fight for this world, for these people who had become your friends, for everyone who needed you. You took a deep breath. The battle wasn’t over, not by a long shot, but you were ready for whatever came next. You wouldn’t give up. Not now. Not ever.