King Papyrus

Chapter 1: New Beginnings aren't Always a Good Thing

A few days had passed and when a guard hadn't walked through the door with the human, Papyrus began to get concerned. Finally, the same guard from a few days ago rushed in, panting. Papyrus asked angry, "Guard, where is the human?!" The guard fell to his knees as if he was going to beg and said, "Sire... The human is too strong... for our guards... but they aren't slaying us! They're simply weakening us and running away!" Papyrus groaned and said, "Useless! Do you not want our people to be free?!"

The guard said, "I do, sire!... We all do... But they are too strong for simple guards." Papyrus sighed with frustration and said, "Go. Go and keep track of the human's movement. I'll find someone stronger for the job." The guard stood and scurried out the door, seeming to be afraid of being in the room any longer. Papyrus sighed again and rubbed the bridge of his "nose" with his index finger and thumb. Papyrus mumbled to himself, "By heavens, where am I going to find someone stronger than my guards? Even Undyne couldn't beat the human? This is unbelievable."

Suddenly, Sans used a "shortcut" to teleport behind Papyrus' throne. Sans walked over to Papyrus and said, "'Sup, bro? What's this about finding someone strong enough? And for what exactly?" Papyrus took his hand away from his face and turned to Sans and said, "Oh, Sans. Hello, brother. I'm just trying to find someone strong enough to defeat the human." Sans asked, "Another human fell? Woah, it's been a while, huh?" Papyrus nodded. Sans said, "So... What exactly to you plan to do with this human?"

Papyrus said in a monotone voice, "I'm going to kill them and take their soul. That way, I can free the kingdom and our people." Sans flinched, never having gotten used to Papyrus' cruel personality even after all the years. Sans thought for a moment, "He may not know it, but I'm strong. I could get the human for him. Then, he'll satisfy his people. And maybe, he'll be happy again." Sans said, "Bro, I know a guy that could get this done before the end of the day." Papyrus perked up, to Sans' pleasure, and asked, "Really, brother?!"

Sans nodded, smile becoming more genuine. Papyrus said, "Please, do so! And, by any means, don't get hurt, brother." Sans nodded and said, "I won't, bro." "After all, I am a dodger." Sans thought the last part. Sans walked to the back of the throne, out of Papyrus' view, and teleported to a guard post. Sans walked up to the guard and asked, "Hey, you know where the last sighting of the human was?" The guard nodded and said, "They were last spotted in Waterfall, talking to echo flowers."

Sans nodded and said, "Thanks a skele-ton." The guard chuckled, but straightened himself out and saluted. Sans sighed, never liking the formality he got for being the king's brother. Sans teleported to Waterfall and looked around a field of echo flowers. Suddenly, one flower close to him repeated, "I like this place. Besides the dog bullies. Heheheh!" Sans sighed and looked around; they had to be close. Suddenly, a yellow and purple sweater caught Sans' eye sockets.

He walked behind the crouched over kid and said, "Hey, buddy. Wanna turn around and shake a guy's hand?" The child quickly jumped up to their feet and turned around. Their hair was jet black, cut short. Their skin was pale, their eyes were light brown, almost golden. They wore the sweater, black pants, and black shoes. The child was up to Sans' shoulder height. Sans said, "Easy, kid. I'm not like those-- er, what did you call 'em? 'Dog bullies'?" The child laughed and shook Sans' outstretched hand.

Suddenly, a fart sound emitted from Sans' hand and the child blinked at him in confusion. Then, very suddenly, the surrounding echo flowers repeated the sound, all farting. The child took their hand back and covered their mouth as they began to laugh. Sans' smile grew wider at them as he chuckled. The child asked as they wiped a tear from their eye, "What're you here for then?" Sans said, "Well..." He thought for a moment, "Papyrus said he wanted to kill the human but... If I just convince him otherwise, I'm sure he'll understand!"

Sans said, "I'd like to take you to meet my brother." The child chuckled and asked, "Is he as funny as you?" Sans looked down at the ground and said, "Well... No, but he's a real nice guy. Super cool." The human nodded and said, "Okay. Let's go-- uh, I never got your name." Sans chuckled and said, "Oh, where are my manners. I'm Sans." The child nodded and said, "Like the font?" Sans nodded and said, "Yeah. Like the font." Sans grabbed the child's hand and said, "I know a shortcut." He teleported to the throne room, child by his side.

The child looked around and said, "Woah, this place is spooky." Sans nodded and said, "Yeah, it gets like that, sometimes." Sans looked over at the throne to find Papyrus with a shocked expression. Papyrus stood, the human looked to his direction and asked Sans, "Sans, is that your brother?! The king?!" Sans nodded. The child whispered, "But doesn't he want me dead?" Sans shook his head and said, "I'm gonna make him understand." Sans stepped forward and said, "Hey, bro. I got the human."

Papyrus said with a smile growing on his face, "That's brilliant, Sans! Now we can--" but he was interrupted by Sans, "But I think we should reconsider killing them. They could just open the barrier for us with the souls! They don't have to die! If we just--!" Suddenly, a bone shot just passed Sans' head. Sans quickly turned around to watch the child be penetrated by the bone, blood dripping from their mouth and their wound. They dropped to their knees and Sans ran to their side. "Oh no, kid! Kid, stay with me!" Sans pleaded. The child's eyes slid closed and they whispered, "Your brother's a horrible person, Sans. I can feel it."

The human fell into Sans' arms and their soul floated out above their body, it being bright pink. Sans turned to Papyrus; Papyrus' face held its usual cold expression as he walked over to Sans. Papyrus said as he bottled the soul in a jar, "Brother, we cannot trust any humans. Look what they've put us through all these years. The one human that could've done what you had just said left through the barrier without a second thought about us." Sans whimpered, "But they could've been different..." Papyrus asked angry, "Are you questioning me, Sans?"

Sans laid the human's body down on the ground and stood; he said, "No, br-... No, sire." Sans stood still, looking down at the floor. Papyrus said, "Go tell the people that the barrier is to be broken soon. Tell them to begin to pack their things... And prepare for battle." Sans gulped and left the throne room. He walked to the nearest guard and relayed the message, not wanting to do it himself. The guard was off with a smile on his face. Sans teleported to his room in the castle and sat on his bed. "I guess I should start packing, too." He grabbed a duffle bag and began to stuff things he thought he'd need into it.