Anomalies

A Night at the Skelebros

Sans looked tiredly at Frisk. He couldn't say how late it'd gotten, certainly late enough for Papyrus to be asleep in his bed, snoring loudly. There was a small tremble in their hands as they processed everything Sans told them about Gaster's story and the timelines, and the determination and C.O.R.E element in his soul. That was why...? Was that why during THAT route Sans tried so freaking hard to make them reset? So they didn't end up like... "What about the man behind the grey door? And the grey people...?" Frisk asked softly. "the ghosts of the last timeline... dr. felida, dr. vexta, dr. muzc, and dr. tika. they call themselves the goners. they are the 'pieces' i mentioned... as for that grey door... well, that's the goner realm... a... glimpse into what was, if you will." Sans shrugged. "i've only seen it once, checked it out... heh, that's a story for another time. you look bone tired, buddy." He knew for sure that he was. It had been a very long day. "I saw someone behind the door and the grey room..." Frisk mumbled. "yeah? makes sense, you have no memories of the timeline before... just do me a favor and don't do it again. nobody wants to see you hurt."

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Frisk let Sans guide them downstairs and to the couch for sleep. "well, kid, here's the deal. have any more nightmares, ya can bed with me or paps. fair warning, though. i'm not a very good sleeping buddy." Frisk nodded in understanding. "Thank you, Sans... for... for everything." For telling me your story. For trusting me. For stopping me. Sans could only smile tiredly. "yer welcome, kid. keep up the good work..." He teleported up to his room, leaving Frisk to their own thoughts. Tomorrow they had to continue their journey to Waterfall where Undyne would be. And maybe, the Goner Realm, if they were lucky, but just like Sans, they'd seen it once. It was a very rare phenomenon. Frisk closed their eyes. Sans helped with the C.O.R.E, huh? Had some of it in his soul. And determination too. "He lived through more than anyone in the Underground..." They mumbled to themselves as they turned to sleep. It would be a long night ahead, they already knew that, but it seemed... Sans forgave them so that helped, just a little bit.

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They could feel the life draining from their body, the bone peirce deep inside their soft flesh. Sans voice quiet and desperate. "if we were ever friends... you won't come back." Frisk shot up, covering their mouth to muffle their oncoming scream. They felt sick and their tummy ached with Phantom pain of that reset. The day they decided to take the path of no return. That was until they got to Sans. He'd put a stop to them, he'd tried to reason, tried to... yeah. They knew they got what was coming to them but it didn't make it any easier. Frisk staggered off the couch and to the bathroom to throw up. They felt clammy and miserable and they knew they almost succeeded in what Dr. Gaster couldn't. "Human?" Frisk wanted to cry as they looked up miserably at Papyrus in his race car jammies. "Are You Not Feeling Well?" Frisk shook their head and they could feel the fine dust on their fingers. They could see Papyrus head on the ground, dusting. Papyrus sighed softly. "You Know, Sans Has Nightmares Too... Come! The Great Papyrus Will Protect You from Bad Dreams!" Papyrus promised.

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And that was where they ended up, tucked into Papyrus race car bed. Papyrus climbed in with them. Frisk thought, not for the first time, to tell him what they did. That they were a bad person and didn't deserve his kindness,  but as they got the courage to speak their mind... "You Don't Have To Tell Me, Human. I Know That... It Is Hard..." Papyrus hesitated and Frisk knew he was thinking about Sans who said he also had troubles with nightmares. "But You Are Very Safe Now, In The Great Papyrus Bed! No Nightmare Will Touch You Here!" Papyrus stated matter-of-factly. Frisk couldn't help the small giggle that escaped them. They knew better than to believe the statement, but Papyrus was trying really hard so they nodded in agreement. Papyrus shot them one of his bright smiles before he stretched out and got comfortable. "Goodnight, Human! Get Some Rest! It Will Be An Early Day Tomorrow!" He yawned and Frisk felt their own yawn coming on. They didn't know how early Papyrus meant, but they did have a journey to continue tomorrow, and they were exhausted. They still had a long way to go before they freed the monster race.

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The next time they woke up was nowhere near as violent as the first. It was early, yet Papyrus was gone. It nearly sent Frisk in a panic, but as they sat up, a sticky note fluttered onto the bed. 'HUMAN! IT IS I, THE GREAT PAPYRUS, WHO WROTE YOU THIS CONVENIENT NOTE! I HAVE GONE AHEAD TO DISTRACT UNDYNE SO YOU CAN SNEAK PAST HER! I WILL TELL HER YOU ARE NOT WEARING A MANLY BANDANA, OK? NYEH HEH HEH! -The Great Papyrus.' Frisk nearly cracked up at that. Papyrus really had a way of getting things done, didn't he? They stretched before crawling out of bed and heading downstairs for the day. When they passed the couch, nobody was on it yet as they opened the door... "hey kid, brought ya breakfast to go." Frisk jumped and turned to see and amused Sans on the couch. He held up a small brown baggy and Frisk could smell the cinnamon in the air as they went to take it. "cinnabuns... for undyne's fight." Frisk clutched it close to their chest. "Thank you, Sans..." Sans patted their head. "course. i'm rootin for ya, kid."

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