Sometimes kindness is enough

Chapter 4 : Who said that outside was safer, again?

"....What?" Sans was at a loss. He couldn't speak, nor think, nor move. A flower. A.FLOWER. IN HIS EYESOCKET. Frowning, he grabbed it and try to rip it out. That was one of his worst idea. "AAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!" He screamed in agony and curled in himself, shaking from the pain. The intensity of it shook Flowey of his shoulder. "Whoa whoa!! What's wrong?!" Flowey got closer to the wimpering skeleton. tears were brimming at the corners of his eyesockets. Flowey look a moment at him, before gently patting his shoulder with his leaves. "Shh...It's alright... Everything's gonna be ok..." Eventually, the shaking died down and Sans tried to breathe normally.

"What in the world is happening? Why? And what is this flower doing here?" "I don't know, but we'll figure this out. For now, we need to get out of here. Toriel will come back soon." "B-but, what about Frisk ?" Flowey looked down sadly. "I've got the feeling that she won't comme back. Besides," Flowey looked at Sans smiling softly. "you're the first kind monster I met fom a long time. I am not about to let you alone in this world, you would die easily." Sans was about to stop him, but he didn't. Flowey was right: he was a 1hp monster, didn't have access to his magic and the monsters here seemed dangerous and different. "Okay then, lead the way." "Right away, free-exp-skeleton!" "...I've got a name, you know..." "I'm a talking flower, not a mind-reader, you kow?" Sans stood there a moment, before chuckling softly. "Heh, guess we can't have everything." He looked at Flowey, smiling genuinely for the first time in a long time. "The name's Sans. Sans the skeleton." "...Free-exp-skeleton sounded better." "Hey!" Flowey laughed freely, for the first time in a long time too. "Nice to meet you, Sans."

Sans was panting, supporting himself with the tree. Strangely enough, this tree was the only thing alive and beautiful there. "I....I need....to rest....a minute..." He said sliding to the floor. It's true that he wasn't a big fan of sportive activities, but here it was to another level. When they decided to leave the first room, Toriel was almost there. So Sans had to run until they ran into the rest of the ruins, and it's deadly traps and murderous monsters.The worst trap had been the first with the spikes, as there was no time-out. The only thing he could do was jump into the water and swim.It was also a good thing that Sans was a pro in dodging attacks, or else he would have die a lot. 'These are definitely not the Ruins I was told about.' "Sorry Sans, but we have to continue, or else Toriel will try to kill you." "I know..." Flowey looked curiously at Sans, but dropped it for the moment.

Sans stood up and began to walk towards thehouse, that did not look like someone lived here. As he approached the house, he noticed something peculiar that made him stop dead in his track. A yellow four-pointed star was glowing just in front of the small cottage. "What's wrong?" "I don't know yet." Sans get closer to it "...What?" Hesitantly, Sans reached out for it. As he did so, warm spreads through his body and a black screen appeared be fore him.

Sans LV1 30: 57

Ruins - Home

FILE SAVED

".....What was that? How di-" "You can see it?" Sans looked confused. "The save point. Can you see it?" "The star? Yes, why? I shouldn't? It's strange, that's the first time I see something like that in the Underground, though..." Flower looked lost in thoughts for a second, before looking up. "Nevermind, we'll think about it later, when we'll be safe. Come on!" "Okay..." As they entered into the house, a shiver ran through Sans body ans he looked around. Everythin was decaying, plants were withered, pieces of furniture ruined... He didn't like that? True, when they were Underground life hadn't been the best, but it was more than ok, it was comfortable, welcoming. Here, everything screamed hostility, danger and....Sadness? "This way." Flowey showed with one of his leaves the stairs going down. And down they went.

It was dark down there, and cold. 'Of course, we must be near Snowdin's forest... I think...' To be honnest, Sans wasn't sure of a lot of things lately. They kept going, until they reached a massive door. "Here it is! Just a little more and we're out!" "AND WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING?" A booming voice startled them. Sans slowly turned to the owner of that voice. "Toriel..." So you know me? Not that much, otherwise you would know that I HATE unexpected visitors!" "Please listen to me!" "Too late for that. » She said with a sick smile as she engaged a battle.

This was new for Sans, he never fought against Toriel, even for fun. But he knew one thing: she was damn strong. "We don't have any choice, we need to defeat her, once and for all ." "WHAT?" "You heard me, it's either her or us." "I can't do that! She's my friend!" Flowey looked sadly at Sans. "Not anymore it seems, I kow it's hard but-LOOK OUT!!." Thanks to Flowey, Sans was able to dodge a fireball. "STAY STILL, YOU INSIGNIFICANT WORM!" It was Sans' turn to ACT. Instead of attacking, he chose something else. -->ACT --> TALK "Come on Toriel, stop it so we can talk things out!" "You're trying to save time, aren't you?" She won't listen to you. 'What can I do? There mus-AAhh!!!!" He hadn't been careful enough, once again. "NO! WHY DIDN'T YOU FIGHT BACK, YOU IDIOT???!!!" Sound of a soul shattering.

GAME OVER.

LOADING...

He was in front of the house, just like before. "Do you understand now?" Flowey spoke softly to him. "There is no other choice. It's sad and horrible, but that's how our world function. Kill or be killed." "...No." "What? What do you mean, no?" "I won't kill her. I know she isn't the friend I knew anymore, I know she won't hesitate to kill me. But it won't change my mind. She might kill me again, but I'm patient. I know I will make her stop." Sans soul was pulsing quietly in his rib cage, giving a etheral blue glow to his body. As he left the house's entrance, Something could be heard in the wind. You are filled with Patience

So Sans tried again. And again. And again. Right now was his 7th attempt. Other flowers have joined the first one in his eyesocket, but he didn't mind it. "Your turn." Said Flowey, dejected. He thought that it would end up just like the other times, with Sans' death. -->MERCY -->SPARE. "What?" "WHAT!" Sans stood there, looking as harmless as possible. He decided he would not fight back. "YOU.... ARE YOU MOCKING ME?!" "Sans, what has gotten into you?!" "I will not harm anyone. I refuse to play by these rules of kill or be killed. Simple as that." Flowey panicked immediately as Toriel roared in rage. "I'll make you pay for your insolence!" And so Toriel attacked with all she got, yet Sans remained calm and kept dodging. -->MERCY --> SPARE . They went on a long time like this, until.. "Ugh, fine... I give up" Fireballs stopped suddenly and the atmosphere got just a little bit lighter.

Sans collapsed on his knees as soon as it was over. "Huff....Huff... Finally....Hah... One more turn and I would be dead..." "You...You did it? You did it! You actually did it!!" Flowey cheered from his post. Sans smiled weakly at them, before a sudden movement startled him: it was Toriel who just knelt in front of him. "I can't decide if you're brave, arrogant or completely devoid of an instinct..." "Heh, guess I put enough Backbone into it!" "Pffft... not a bad one." Toriel smiled a little. Flowey couldn't believe it. He never saw her smiling since he was Flowey. "But you need to hurry. Rumors go fast here, and you will have soon packs of monsters after you. They won't pass an opportunity like this." "Thank you Toriel." "Ugh, don't thank me! I just do that to annoy my ex husband and his lapdogs." "Of course." Sans smiled softly at that, then get up again, walking to the door and walk through it. "Toriel looked at him with soft eyes and with an emotion she hadn't felt in a long time. Compassion. "Good luck, little one. You'll need it."

As Sans set foot outside, he shook slightly as the new atmosphere engulfed him. Coldness, hostility, danger... It was like in the Ruins, but here, it was amplified. Was there eyes in the shadow? It was a lot different from his forest. "Who said it was safer here, again?" "It's...different. The atmosphere changed since the last time I came out." "Anyway, we need to continue, right?" "Yes, that's right. Let's go."

1487 words! That's the longest I have ever done! Tell me what you thought about it! Any comments are welcome, as usual! And if you have questions, don't hesitate to ask, I'll try to answer if I can! Next time, we'll finally see our 2nd main protagonist! Youhou! See you later!