Judgment Hall was now just a mess of crumbled pillars, twisted vines, broken windows and chipping floor tiles.
Papyrus felt cornered. He’d taken a nasty hit from the child and his HP was below half at this point. He was starting to get a bit worried about his safety. This human seemed to get more and more frustrated every time they fought. Would he really be killed?
“SHOW ME YOUR SPECIAL ATTACK!” Asriel lost his patience. He wanted to know the secrets kept by the skeleton. Why would he still refuse to show him?!
“I-I shouldn’t- If I did... you would..” Papyrus slowed down as his thoughts processed.
“You wouldn’t be very... happy.”
“You scared of being disposed of when I have no use for you?” He cackles and straightens his posture knowingly.
“Do you care more about yourself or your friends? Because if you don’t give me what I want I will make sure to bring them to an end.”
“Wait-! I... I’ll do it. I’ll show you...” Planting his feet firmly, Papyrus tries his best to look a little more confident.
------
A pinging alarm was going off on Alphys’ computer as she typed furiously in an attempt to find the reason for it. Stress was starting to get a bit high within the group.
“I-I can’t find the source. This alarm must have been installed before I inherited the computer. Is there still no signal on that camera?”
Undyne nods keeping an eye on the screen showing only static.
“No, it’s still all fuzz. I can’t get any picture of Snowdin.” She flips through other cameras, halting at the view of the older village they had been reintroducing townsfolk to.
“Wait... No freakin’ way! The ruins are empty!”
Alphys immediately looks up from her software.
“Th-that’s impossible... have you tried other cameras in the area?”
“Yes, I have been trying them all! I don’t see a soul!” Gritting her teeth, Undyne steps away from the screen and retrieves her armor off the wall.
“I’m going!”
“NO!” Alphys couldn’t bare the thought of losing Undyne as well.
“Stay here! You could disappear too!”
“I have to go! If there’s anyone left it’s my duty to protect them!” She starts gearing up, growling in annoyance when a gloved hand grabs her shoulder lightly.
“Darling, we may have to try and see what we’re up against before you go and bash your head on a wall.” Mettaton was on Alphys’ side. Too many coincidences so suddenly. A lost camera. An alarm. Missing monsters.... this might be dangerous.
“Hands of freak! You can’t stop me!” Undyne shakes him off and pulls on her armor, picking up her helmet as she heads to the door.
“I’ll come back.”
Alphys nearly hopped over her chair in her rush to get to Undyne. This couldn’t happen! She couldn’t lose her too!!
The group of survivors stop in their tracks. There was a knock at the door.
------
“Are you ready for my Special Attack?”
Asriel grins wide and gets in a more defensive stance, prepared for something strong. “Don’t waste my time, bonehead.”
Papyrus uncomfortably shifts in place, releasing the summoned staff of bone and letting it dissipate. “Alright.... Here goes nothing.”
Asriel’s smile vanishes the instant he recognizes the words.
“That’s right... Nothing. That’s my attack.”
“No...”
“That way you cannot take your turn... to end my life... and I won’t hurt you....” Papyrus seemed regretful for things to have come to this, but perhaps it would work in his favor?
“IS THIS A JOKE?! YOU COPY SANS?! THATS IT?! Of all the stupid..”
Papyrus felt a little hurt by the accusation as well as confused.
“Copy? I assure you Sans could never pull this off... Not like I can. I invented this move.”
“Oh?! And why is that?! ENLIGHTEN ME, PAPYRUS!” Asriel takes a step forward only to feel that crushing blue energy pull him to the ground. He couldn’t move.
“Because.... Sans would eventually need rest. Perhaps, I should keep you here. Until you reset. I don’t mind how long it takes. I’m very patient. And I don’t sleep.” Papyrus felt a little more bold and even straightened himself up a bit to emphasize how serious he was.
The crowned child glares intensely at Papyrus. If he had used this any other time, the game would be over. But this was Asriel’s world now.
“If I reset... I’ll be sure to kill you first.” He grins again.
“But I don’t need to reset... CHARA!!!”
The vines decorating the walls twinge, seemingly coming to life.
Papyrus releases Asriel without question. He would need to beg to survive at this point.
The human grins wildly and gets to his feet.
“You’re so dead.” He was sure of his backup until every vine around them flashed white before dissolving into thin air. Asriel grew hesitant at the meaning behind this.
“Chara...?”
Papyrus had expected to be grabbed, but the absence of the plant brought him some relief. Though it did seem odd...
“CHARA!!” Furious, Asriel rushes past Papyrus, grabbing the front of his tabard to drag him along as he rushes in the direction of Snowdin full speed.
Papyrus struggled to keep up, as well as prevent himself from tripping. He nearly collapsed a few times on the way through Waterfall as he couldn’t see the path he was running along with the fabric of his uniform pulled tight.
“You better do as I tell you! If you so much as hesitate I swear I’ll- Oof!!” A twirling blue bone came out of nowhere, knocking the human off their feet before it dissipates. Asriel grits his teeth as he pushes himself up.
“You’ve made your last mistake!”
Papyrus was released from the humans hold, and nervously steps backward at the sound of the threat. “I-I didn’t-“
“H̵̅͒̾̚ą̿ͣ̀h̷ͫͩͥ̽ͮ̏͌aͭͦͩ̎҉͜h̴̍ͫ͛͗͝ả͒̓̈̔̒ͩ̓̚͏. S̡h̶̕o͘ul҉dn̕’̧̀t̸̛ ͞yoų ͢k̢n̷o̢͠w͠ ̵̧͠ b̵̧͘e̸̡͠͏҉t͏̷̴̨͡t̶̀͘͞è̸͡r̢͡ ̴̛͞b̡͢y͜͢ ̢̨ń̀͢o̸͟w̴͞͏,̢ h̭̣͔̫͍̖̦ù͏҉̠̟m͓͈͈͍͝a͔͕̫̪̰͖ͅn̷̛̳͖̲̺̮͇͉ ?̧ ̴́Blue ̷me̷͜an̷s҉́͘ S̴̵̵̸̢Ţ̛͜O̸͝͠P̧͞ ” The distorted voice echos from the shadows in front of them, making the pair tense and uncomfortable.
Asriel is quick to his feet, pulling a knife from behind and steadying themselves in preparation for a battle. “Who's over there?! Show your King some respect!”
“ W̭͖̰̙̮̯o͓̯̗̼͔ͅo͉͚͔̖͢o̶͚̩̠w͕̪̲̦̥̝̰͞ . D̨ó͜n’̕͟͠t̴ ý̡ou̶̢͠ ̸̡só̕͠u͞n̷̨͡d̴̸́ ͞a҉ll҉̴ h͑́̀iͯͦ̚͜g̛ͭ̍ͬ̍̉́h̢ͩ̈́̈́ͦ̉ ̨͊͛a̷ͮͫ̓ͨ̐ͨ̚n͒̈́ͯ̉̈́ͪ̈ď ́̋̉̚mͮ͑̾î̃̍̎͑̅̚gh̡ͭt̶̏ͭỹͣͧ̒̿̑͢. Y̕o̕ù’͢r͞e ńơ ̴k̡ing̷, l͏i̡tt͏l͘e͏ ̸Asri̡e̷l҉.́ ̕A̕nd ͝I’m ͡no̷t̛ h͞er̷e ̢t͜o̷ ̡mo͢c̕k y̨o̢u ...” A darkened skeleton emerges from the shadows, blue streaks running from his eye sockets. Bits of him scattered in the air around him like a corrupted image. “I’m here to kill you.”
Papyrus’ Head felt at war with his eyes. The resemblance this character had to his brother was uncanny, but he did not look right. He did not sound right....
“S-...Sans?”
He truly felt overwhelmed... but certainly not with joy.
