Down the Rabbit Hole (Again)

Sans remembers what you did. Even on the surface, he watches you closer than a hawk watches her clutch. You know what you did, even though you couldn't help it. However, it was proof that you were their main protector now. You're stronger than anyone here, given the right determination, and it seemed that the only one who remembers in that timeline is Sans. You fought him over and over again until the inconceivable happens-he falls asleep. You're strong now. You know how strong you can be. Even without Chara domineering your body, it remembers Chara's movements just as well. Dodging, parrying, jumping...you know how every song and dance goes. Sans was the worst, and you fought him again and again just to get his moves down perfectly. He knows that. And even when you did? You loaded your save and kept going. It was practice. In a twisted sort of way, you were practicing to be better with every save; and there was nothing Sans could do to stop you but go along with it.

Your eyes flicker over to him and you can feel his rage almost seeping through his bones. You didn't kill Sans back in the Judgement Hall, and he seems almost bitter about it. You finally had him within your grasp. A few steps and a swing of your arm and he would have been yours. But you didn't finish the job. Instead you stopped, placed a hand on his sweaty head, closed your eyes, and reset. The hardest fight was over, finally. He resents you for that.

"You don't have to follow me," your voice is a level above a whisper. You still hated talking. "I'm not going to do anything."

Sans does the Sans thing and shrugs.

"i just happen to need to go the same direction you are."

You shrug it off. He's not going to leave you alone anytime soon. It doesn't matter. You didn't fight him all those times for your sake. Actually, the better reason why Sans is mad is because all the monsters used to be above ground. When Asriel broke the barrier, everyone spent six months above ground and then you were forced to reset. Sans doesn't remember that. Sans doesn't remember begging you through a mouthful of blood and Papyrus's dust covering his coat.

You won't remind him, though. Or try and convince him that it was actually his idea to have the hard reset done. He'd never believe you.

Sticking your hands in your pockets, in almost mock imitation of Sans, you continue your trek up the mountain. Sans had followed you on the bus the entire way to the remote stop on the outskirts of the last village. Then, for the past few hours, he was always no more than three paces behind you.

Clenching the straps on your backpack, you lean over and pick up a stick to help you keep your balance for the rest of the steep journey up the mountain. The clearing was somewhere, you knew, you just had to remember where.
Shuddering in the early winter breeze, you keep at least one hand stuck deeply into your pocket and bury your nose in your red scarf wrapped at least three times around your neck. With darkness falling so quickly, you're left with minutes of the sun's warmth left to keep away the cold. But you had something important to do. Your only chance at keeping everyone safe was to go back.

Looking back at Sans once again, you see him smiling as broadly as ever. It's almost unnerving but you say nothing. It's not worth getting riled up over. He's just trying to protect the people he cares about. Even if, in this timeline, that doesn't include you. It meant that you were just another thing that can be tossed aside. You were dispensable.

"so how 'bout the human winters, huh? cold?"

"Barely begun." You murmur quietly and look back ahead. You don't want to force any conversation with Sans. It's already awkward, no reason to force the issue.

Coming to a dead stop, you look down at the massive crater before you and set down your pack. Sans looks curious now, as you take out bundled up yards of rope that you had hauled all the way up the path. Eventually, you reach the end with five bundles of thirty five yards of rope and begin to unravel them. You send one end down the crater as you unroll the bundle and then, when you reach the end, you tie it off to another rope and begin the same process. You repeat it until you're finally out of rope and then you go to tie it around the nearest tree. Securing it with multiple knots, you give it hard tugs to reinforce it until you're satisfied with the result.

"what are you doing?"

Sans is worried. It's almost laughable, you think. This entire timeline, he had so bitterly hated you even when you got all the monsters out again that you thought your friendship was over. But with his reaction now...

"Asriel is still down there...he's not Flowey anymore." You say quietly, "and he hasn't turned into Flowey even after he returned all the souls. So..." You put on an old pair of leather gloves that you found in your old home and smile at Sans.

"I'm going to get him out of there."

And so you begin to slowly lower yourself into the giant hole that would lead you to the ruins. Your small arms are strong from so much battling and training. Even Undyne was impressed with you when you went to your last training session with her. "For a tiny human, that is." She smiles her large, goofy smile and you can't help but smile as well. Hers were always, always contagious.

"kid."

You look up at Sans and see him sweating. He's not looking at you, though. He's looking down at what used to be his home. He hates it down there.

"are you sure about this?"

You nod and continue. Yeah, he's worried.
What a goof. All this time, you were so worried that he so deeply hated you, and he must have just a little bit, but the situation was somehow proving that he still cared about you somewhere deep inside.

"does your family know where you are?"

Oh. That's right. You didn't go to live with Toriel in this timeline. You thought it better to live back at your home where you could prepare for what was to come. Where the family that once was no longer resided.

"Yes."

You lie quietly. Sans is almost straining himself to hear you now, leaning into the crater to look at you now. He can see the determination etched in your face and he knows that you're not going to stop no matter what.
Deeper and deeper you go until all you can see is your breath on residue light shining down from above. Shivering, you feel your muscles burning hot from strain and you hope that you're almost at the end. Were the golden flowers still blooming this time of year? Especially so vulnerable to the open...

The rope thrums dangerously. Your head snaps up to see a bright blue light and the next thing you know, the rope snaps and you're sent spiraling down towards the ground. You hear someone yelling your name but it's deafened by the white noise that fills your head when you hit the ground. The rope that was above you falls on top of your body and you can watch the blue magic for a while longer before you black out.

AN: More to come. It's already typed out, but unfortunately I started this as a huge block of writing and didn't separate anything cuz I didn't expect to go anywhere with this. So...sorry about the upcoming varying chapter lengths! Read and enjoy!