Chapter Text
Dark, Darker, Yet Darker
This world, if it ever was one was of darkness, there was no ground or sky. No sound or smell, no concept of time or space, just complete empty darkness. The darkness was consuming, heavy, almost suffocating if one was able to stand in it. No light ever broke through it, except….
A flash of blue light reaching towards the nonexistent horizon, the halo-like light spread out from its source illuminating the ghastly white faces that hid in the dark. All of them seem to be falling apart or melting, being torn apart and broken down by the darkness itself.
But as the blue light touched these beings' horribly destroyed bodies, it almost seemed to heal them. Pulling what was left or still hanging on back together setting them back to right, the beings cracked skeletal faces relaxing from their constant grimace.
But as the darkness reclaimed its hold over the void, it once again started the process of pulling these beings apart. They had long since stopped crying out, accepting their fate, but even they feared what was to come next.
As before another light flashed through the darkness this time red, cutting through it like a knife and in doing so destroying what had been healed by the previous light. Tearing the ghastly beings’ bodies apart, melting limbs and faces as it passed those it touched. The silence was cut with their hisses of pain and cries of anguish.
Before silence again filled the void and again a blue light flashed through the void healing what had been broken and mending what had been destroyed. As the cycle continued again, the darkness was broken only by these lights, creating and destroying as it passed by.
The creatures knew though that there was more to come, as with every pulse of light a rumble could be heard growing in volume from the source of the lights. Until what sounded like an earthquake rumbling passed them closely followed by the brightest purple light.
This was the light the beings had been waiting for, even as it crashed against their broken and melted bodies. It filled them with its energy, emotions that had been ripped from them just like their bodies were flooding through them again. The creatures felt alive as the light's magical energy breathed life back into their broken bodies, allowing them to think and feel as they once had.
But as with the lights before this too was consumed by the darkness of the void, once again it descended about the broken beings ripping what emotions they had gained away as they fell in silence. Waiting for the cycle to begin again, some hoping for just another touch of that most precious of lights while others cursed it. Damning the source of the lights in silence even as they secretly hungered for its touch again.
They waited in darkness praying to feel its touch again just for a little while, just once more….
The source of the lights came from a tiny ball of pure white, in the shape of a four-point star. It was the only true light in the darkness and drew the beings to it like moths to a fire. Though they knew better from experience to never touch the white star.
In truth, they would never even know it was there if it wasn’t for the lights the little star sent out, too lost within their own minds and worlds.
But the little white light wasn’t just a star it was something far more precious and one the creatures had never seen before. With every pulse of the lights, it sent out an inverted heart that began to grow within the star, slowly gaining its purple color. As soon as it reached a rich plum, the purple light would flash out of it as the heart cracked apart, leaving only the white star.
This star was a soul or a soul of a soul, even he didn’t know how to explain what he was. He did know that he had always been here floating in the void since his conscious mind woke. But as only a soul he had no eyes to see, no voice to speak, and no body to feel.
Though at times he could feel others around him, these beings were different from him, they were not born of this place. No, they were transported here unlike him, he couldn’t see them only able to tell they were there with each pulse of his magic hitting their breaking or melting souls.
It was hard for him to keep track of his thoughts, with every release of magical energy any thoughts that he had had were often scattered. Which made it hard to do anything besides float about in this darkness followed by these beings that fed off of the magic he expelled.
He wanted out, he wanted to experience something new. For what felt like forever he had been in this darkness, not that he knew of a different place. Even though time had no meaning in this void, it still ate at him just like this not world…
Suddenly stopping to float in one space he felt his frustration build at his predicament. He was sick of this, he was sick of this place, of not being able to see, not being able to smell, and not being able to touch…
He didn’t know what those things were but yet he did and it tortured him. As his anger grew, so too did the red light causing the other beings around him to flinch and others to silently growl readying themselves for the backlash of the destructive light.
His anger grew until he could no longer hold it in letting it expel from him and lash out at the beings around him. But as soon as the red light left him all thoughts of why he was angry were taken with it, only leaving feelings of regret as the other being's souls cried out in pain.
Regret, sorrow, remorse coursed through him. He didn't want to hurt those around him, wishing he could speak with them. To let them know that he was sorry, maybe then they wouldn’t resent him so much every time he lashed out. He didn’t know how to control it and in some way, he really couldn't. It was like another person took hold of his emotions and used his energy to lash out.
But again his thoughts fell away as the blue light left his soul healing the beings around him. Again frustration built up, why did this always happen to him, why was he stuck here, and why couldn’t he interact with those beings around him.
Was this all there was… was there nothing else but this, there had to be more…
No, he wouldn’t stop hoping that there was more he just had to focus on those thoughts of leaving this place. Maybe then…maybe then he would be able to finally touch another being...
Try as he might, his focus would slip every time his light left him, feeling the beings around him watch as the pulsing of the different colors came faster. They could see the tiny soul desperately fight with itself, he could feel their confusion and fascination watching him struggle.
He wanted to be released from this void, sure it was all he knew and he didn’t know if there was anything else besides. But where did all these other beings keep coming from? They must have come from somewhere and wherever that place is had to be better than here.
His thoughts thrashed about as his soul’s light lashed out at the darkness around him, the ghastly beings tried to flee from him as more and more of the light coming was red.
Just as his soul pulsed again the inverted purple heart stabilized enough for him to focus and strike out against the hungry void.
A crack of light appeared in front of his soul, stopping, he felt a change in the not air around him as if it were being sucked out through the crack. Excited and terrified he focused his magical energy towards the crack.
Maybe this was it? Maybe this was how he escaped from this darkness…
Either way, he kept pushing his soul’s magic against the crack as more of them started to appear creating a circle. Suddenly it gave way to an even darker void than the one surrounding him. White cracks of light spread out from the new hole in the darkness, if he had been able to see it he might have thought better about what he did next.
He could feel there was a difference to this part of the world, whatever it was, it was pulling him closer. He wondered if this new thing he had created would lead to a new place.
He did not know..
But he wanted to find out, following the pull he headed for the portal he had created hoping that wherever it took him that at least it had to be better than this void.
Just before he took the last glide into the unknown he felt the beings that had surrounded him for so long watching him curiously. Feeling their worry for the tiny soul that had given and taken so much from them. If he could cry he would, as they seemed to nudge him towards the cracked hole urging him to go forward even as they worried for him.
Sending them one last pulse of blue light healing them from all he had done to them, he felt their gratitude. With that, he took the last figurative step into the unknown, finally free from the darkness….
******
The first thing he noticed was he could feel or at least he believed this is what feeling felt like.
It was cold and wet, he felt as though something was pulling him down into the thick wet stuff that seemed to want to bury him. As he focused on what was around him, it was then he noticed that there were more of him then there had ever been.
A whistling noise cut through the air making him jolt at the new and unexpected sound, it sounded so loud to him not used to such noises. The whistling continued from above him, it was pleasant although sharp at some pitches.
Wanting to see what was making that sound, concentrating he opened his eyes for the first time. But it really wasn’t opening an eye, it was more like flicking on a light, and what he saw blinded him.
Wincing he ‘closed’ his eye, his body twitched from the shock of so much…white?
Slowly he reignited his eye, sadly this is when he found he could see out of only his right eye. But luckily it was the one facing the open sky? The white wet stuff was still as shocking but it didn’t hurt to look at it this time.
Staring at the white stuff surrounding him it was when he realized that he was laying in the snow. He had no idea what snow was but this wet white stuff must be snow, or was if foam? No, he didn’t think foam was as cold as this or as solid.
It felt weird pressed against him both solid but soft, looking away from the snow that was all around him and spotted trees. That’s what he thought it must be at least, it was too tall for a bush… he didn’t know how he knew the difference.
Hearing the whistling start up again he looked up at where the sound was coming from. Right above him was a tiny bluebird singing its song on a branch, he stared at it from the corner of his eye as his body refused to move.
Watching it flutter its little wings as it hopped about the thin branch, stopping to sing its sweet song. With one last twitter, it lifted its wings to fly away, amazed he kept his eye on it as it flew out of sight.
Letting out a sigh in longing to do the same, only to get sidetracked at the sigh he let out. Eye widening he drew air in again before letting it out in another sigh he could see a soft cloud leaving his mouth following it, his face twitched into a smile that pulled him away from his sighing.
Every move and sound was so amazing and shocking at the same time. Looking away from the world around him, he tried to see what he looked like. His vision blurred and he could only make out more white, except for two black stick things lying stretched out in front of him.
The sound of snow falling from a branch nearby caused him to flinch from the thumping noise it made. Watching surprised as the black sticks twitched and curled into themselves. That’s when it hit him the sticks were his hands…
Focusing on them he tried to move them again, only getting one of his fingers to uncurl. They felt so heavy, everything throughout his body felt like there was a weight pulling him down.
Frustrated that he couldn’t move anything else he closed his eyes, he wanted to move so that he could explore. He wanted to be able to see more, were there other beings besides himself out there? Were there other places without snow? Would he ever be dry?
He didn’t have a problem being wet, it’s just well, annoying when it’s seeping everywhere and not at all comfortable. Surprisingly, the cold of the snow didn’t really bother him, though he could tell it was very cold.
It made him feel tired as slowly the energy he had left was leaving his new body. Opening his eyes he tried to find something else new besides more snow and trees, sadly though not even the bird was near now.
Silence filled the air around him, more questions started popping into his mind as he laid there wondering about his fate. Only for the silence to be broken by the sound two pairs of footsteps shuffling through the snow.
“Come On Papyrus! We’re Going To Be Late In Our Report To Alphys.”
He flinched at the loud voice… voice, he heard an actual voice. Excitement filled him, voices meant other beings!
“Sorry, no can do bro see this snow is just freezing me down to the bone you might have to go on without me. I’ll meet you at Muffet’s..”
“Ugh! No Papyrus You Lazy Bone You Need To Report Into Alphys About Today's Patrol.”
The two voices were so different from each other but realized that these two beings were moving away from where he was lying. Thinking quickly he tried to call out for the two...
“Ah…” He was shocked at the soft tenor voice that slipped through his mouth so much so he almost didn’t try again but hearing the footsteps still getting further away, he called out again. “Ah!”
The footsteps stopped, relief filled him waiting to see what they would do next.
“Did You Hear That Brother?”
“Yeah…”
“I Think It Came From This Direction! Come On Brother Someone Might Be In Trouble And Need Our Help.”
“Wait, bro, hey I said wait!”
The footsteps were now running towards him, the crunching of the snow as their footfalls got louder. Even as they drew nearer he could feel his conscious mind start to slip, he struggled to stay awake wanting to see them. The rustling of the trees near his head he tries to look up but still, his head wouldn’t move. Hearing a gasp from one of the two as the footsteps stopped.
“Papyrus Look Someone’s Lying In The Snow Over There. Don’t Worry Friend The Magnificent Sans Will Save You!”
“Wait Sans don’t go near them you don’t, Hey!”
There was more crunching of snow before he finally saw who had come to his cry. It was a skeleton, a short skeleton with a round smooth head. The skeleton was wearing a beautiful blue scarf that was wrapped around his neck but what really struck him were his eyes. They were glowing blue that stood out in the darkness of his sockets, stars seemed to sparkle within their blue glow even as they looked down at him in worry.
The skeleton reached a blue gloved hand down to touch his shoulder gently grasping it as he knelt next to him, “Are You Ok Friend? Do Not Worry We Are Here To Help You.”
Even though his voice was loud he was trying to be quieter, gently rolling him onto his back he spotted the other being who was also a skeleton but taller. He hadn’t heard this one walk over to where he was laying, he looked different from his brother.
Tall and lanky he was slouched with his hands stuffed into his orange hoodie’s pockets. His thinner face was turned away from him looking down towards his legs. When the thinner skeleton turned to look down at him, he could see that his eye sockets were smaller with small white lights. He seemed to be frowning down at him, he watched curiously as the bone of his skull moved to pinch his brows into a frown.
Looking at the smaller skeleton again he caught something glitching at the corner of the skeletons right shoulder.
UnderSwap Sans
HP – 20
ATK – 20
DEF – 20
Is worried about you
Was that the short skeleton's name? What were those other things below it? Did they stand for something…
The brothers seemed to be arguing above him, trying to decide what to do. He turned his eye to look at the taller skeleton to see he too had the glitching text over his right shoulder.
UnderSwap Papyrus
HP – 1
ATK – 1
DEF – 1
Doesn’t know what to make of you
So their names must be Papyrus and Sans, he wondered if he too had something over his shoulder and what it said. He didn’t have a name and he didn’t know what those other things were but they had to mean something.
Realizing that the brothers were now looking at him, he turned his attention back to Sans wishing again that he could communicate with them somehow.
“It’s Ok, The Magnificent Sans Is Here And So Is His Lazy Brother Papyrus” Sans side-eyed his brother frowning up at him.
He really should have been paying more attention to what they had been arguing about as it seemed Sans was upset with Papyrus. Still, it was hard to focus as he took them in looking back and forth between the two. They were just so interesting to look at and so different from each other that he believed he could look at them forever and find new things.
“You ok there buddy?” Hearing Papyrus's voice talking he looked around from his limited view to see who he was talking to, only to realize the taller skeleton was talking to him.
He let out a noise again but it didn’t sound like what was coming from the brother’s mouths. Saddened at his lack of ability to communicate with the brothers he felt something wet gather at the corner of his right eye, it started to leak down his face. He felt tired again, there was just so much in such a short amount of time, but he didn't want to give in to the darkness that was slowly drawing him under.
Sans reached up and wiped the liquid off looking worriedly down at him, “I Do Not Think Our Friend Can Speak Brother, Don’t Worry Friend We Will Help You.”
“Yeah we’ll get you somewhere warm, must be cold without any clothes on.” Papyrus knelt next to his brother giving him a sad look.
Sans who had taken to stroking the top of his head made a squeaking noise as his brother pointed out that he in fact didn’t have clothes on. “Papy We Have To Cover Him We Can’t Take Him Back To Town Naked!”
Sans's loud voice made him flinch, which the smaller skeleton promptly apologized to him in a quieter voice. He felt his mouth twitch upwards, giving Sans a soft smile to let him know that he wasn't hurt. He noticed a soft blue glow to Sans cheeks as the skeleton tried to only look at his head and shoulders.
Looking to Papyrus he saw that his own cheekbones were glowing an orange color but his eyelights were looking towards his legs. He wondered what Papyrus was looking at because surely legs weren’t that interesting. Then again he hadn’t gotten to look at the brother’s legs before they had knelt next to him.
Hearing the sound of Sans moving around him, he turned his attention back to him to watch Sans remove his blue scarf. Sans then held it over his body moving it up and down before dropping the bundle up the scarf on his hips. Quickly cover his eyelights and look away from where he had dropped it.
It was really soft and warm but it didn’t do much to cover the rest of his body. Looking over at Papyrus when he snickered, the taller skeleton was covering his mouth trying to hide he was laughing at Sans.
Lowering his hand Papyrus smiled over at the pouting Sans, “Don’t think that’s going to do much bro…. How about we use my hoodie, he’s small enough, should be able to cover him pretty well.”
“Papyrus That’s A Great Idea, You Take Off Your Hoodie And I’ll Help You Get Him In It.” Sans moved around him until his legs were by his head.
Feeling Sans's hands under his arms he was lifted up and pulled against the smaller skeleton's chest. His head was resting against Sans's shoulder, which made it easier to look around but his eye was drawn to Papyrus who was standing in front of them.
The taller skeleton was stripping off his orange hoodie, leaving him standing in the snow with only his tan shorts and a black tank top that showed off his ribs. Papyrus knelt down in front of the two of them, removing his brother's scarf off out of the way he lifted up the hoodie to place it over his head.
His vision was blinded for a few minutes as the brothers helped pull the hoodie down over his head. They helped guide his unmoving head through the correct hole, which he was really grateful for seeing as he didn’t care much about being stuck in semi-darkness.
Next were his arms, Papyrus pulling them through easily enough gently laying them down again to continue pulling the large hoodie down his body. Finally done, the taller skeleton stood back up wiping the snow from his knees.
The warmth from the presence of Sans at his back and the hoodie now wrapped around him made his eyes flicker getting tired from so much in one day. Closing his eyes it surprised him when Sans moved from behind to next to him.
Cracking open his eyes to see what was happening to let out a squeak as Sans lifted him up from the snow. Fitting perfectly in the skeleton’s arms Sans turned to his brother holding him close.
“Now We Have To Get Our Friend Home, Mweheh!” Sans turned back in the direction they must have come from Papyrus following close behind.
“I’m sure the little buddy just needs food and sleep,” Papyrus said behind them shuffling along.
Sans's voice reverberated through his head as his head was moved to lay against his chest. The vibrations of Sans voice along with the warmth and comfort surrounding him had a warm feeling bloom inside his soul.
As they continued walking the gentle rocking of Sans carrying him, had him closing your eyes fully trusting the brothers to take care of him. The feeling of safety, warmth, and the gently rocking finally lulled him into the darkness of sleep.