under-fairy-tale

[guardimom]

[It's a beautiful day in the Kingdom of Under. The crystals shine in the sky, the weather is calm and still, and monsters bustle about in their everyday business.

But this seemingly happy land harbors a sinister curse: a single thorned flower. It lies in wait in a beautiful garden, hoping to prick an unsuspecting victim with essence of eternal sleep.

But for now we turn our attention to the castle, where a lone queen reigns. She's strolling around the outer castle grounds one night when she hears that telltale noise. A breaking of wind. Startled, she removes her foot and leans over to look at it.]

What an unusual device.

Comments

[guardimom]

I hope so---I do not wish for any trouble to befall us, the kingdom already has enough to worry about.

[She smiles.]

Thank you, Sans.

[trombones]

[He looks over his shoulder as he steps over the threshold. After a pause, he throws her a wink. It's an attempt to lighten the mood, despite everything.]

Don't worry about it. I gotta do my job sometime, right?

[guardimom]

Yes, but Sans...

[She catches his hand uncertainly, giving it a small squeeze..]

I cannot let you go without wishing you luck.

[trombones]

[Well. Out of anything that could have happened today, he didn't expect to hold the hand of the queen of all monsters. He freezes for a moment, staring down at her hand... then looks up at her as his grin widens a little more, albeit sheepishly.]

... thanks.

[Hesitantly, he squeezes it back before letting go and stepping into the garden. It was closed off and quiet, probably for the sake of privacy on the castle's enormous grounds, but it gave it an eerie feeling. Especially at night.

Sans moves ahead, quiet. Observant.]

No wonder this place gave you a bad feeling. [He calls out. To be fair, if it wasn't for the rumor, this place must have been fairly peaceful in the day.

He opens his mouth to say something else, but suddenly - a harsh whisper calls out back.

SANS.]

... your majesty?

[guardimom]

I am right here, Sans...Sans?

[Her voice calls out from behind him, soft, quiet. But suddenly it's difficult to hear him, and a strange darkness has seemed to fall.

And her voice is clearly not the whisperer.]

[trombones]

[Sans can hear her too in the quiet, but it's too soft and far away. Then, something rustles nearby. He freezes.

SANS... OVER HERE.]

... yeah, I'm pretty sure that's not you.

[guardimom]

What is not me?

[She lifts her skirts and starts in after him, heedless of any consequence. Alone is not good, not now.]

[trombones]

[More rustling. It covers up Toriel's voice just enough. Sans takes a couple steps forward. He knows better than to get any closer than that.]

Alright, come out already. I dunno what you're doing, but it's old--

[--news. Before he can finish, a thorny vine shoots out from the thick bramble nearby. Sans is quick enough to dodge, but it turns him around just enough that he sees Toriel coming.

Crap.]

Get out of here!

[Unfortunately, he's also turned around just enough that he doesn't see as three other vines dart out, all hovering around him.

I SAID OVER HERE... T R A S H B A G.

There's laughter.]

[guardimom]

Sans!

[Horrified, Toriel's paws erupt in flame. She can't do very much without risking harm coming to him, but perhaps if she steadily attacks the outside...

But that would just trap him. She focuses her energy on one, praying, hoping.]

[trombones]

[The one helps. The vine retracts - and more importantly, gets Sans attention. He dodges the other two, and in the blink of an eye he's right next to Toriel.]

Welp. Investigation's over. Come on. Let's get you out of...

[... here. He realizes then that a vine is wrapped around his ankle. Moreso when it throws him off his feet.

I HAVEN'T HAD SOMEONE TO PLAY WITH IN S O L O N G...]

[guardimom]

Release him immediately and without harm!

[Toriel will not stand down. She glowers, preparing an even stronger spell.]

[trombones]

[Sans world spins. Literally. He's hanging upside-down now. He can feel thorns dig into his ankle. Which, of course, is all bone, so it hurts more.]

Hh--

[Something feels weird. For the moment, he blames it on his 1 HP. He exhales harshly and spins to look at Toriel. He's be more impressed at how well the queen of all monsters can hold her own if he wasn't being shook like a ragdoll at the moment.

A pair of eyes peek out through thick bramble. There's laughter in their voice.

Y O U ' R E N O F U N.]

Hey.

[The shaking stops. The eyes glance at Sans.]

Figured I should let you know, I'm a licensed fire distinguisher. Lemme evaluate the situation for ya.

[Sans looks to Toriel's spell.]

Yep, that's fire.

[flower: distracted
dick: out]

[guardimom]

[Toriel would have to remember to laugh at that later. For now, there was saving to do. She charged in with all the grace her position commanded, easily unleashing a hellstorm of all storms.

And in the midst of it, she raced to grab Sans from that monster.]

Sans! Do not worry, help is here.

[trombones]

[Damn. That really is a hellstorm. Why the queen needed a royal guard was beyond him, because it was clear she could take care of business her damn self. The attacker shrieks and the vines start to retract, loosening their grip on Sans. Toriel can catch him easily.

He lets out another shaky breath.]

Thanks.

[Was that the edges of his vision getting hazy? What the hell. He hoped not. Maybe it was just her attack. Yeah. That's probably why he was sweating, to boot.]

[guardimom]

[Toriel holds him close, carefully wiping his face with her sleeve. She's got much bigger things to worry about, like him.]

He hurt you? You look unwell, here...

[She tries her best to pour her healing magic into him. It doesn't seem to be very effective.]

[trombones]

[The healing magic helps. But something weird was still happening to him. Now he just felt... tired? Strange. He breathes out.]

Heh... tell me, what do you need a Royal Guard for, again? 'Cause I'm pretty sure you can take care of business all on your own. Man.

[guardimom]

I try to, but...my eyes cannot be everywhere at once. I may not have noticed this until it was too late, but Sans...

[She pulls him closer, worried.]

Should I take you to your quarters? I must let the other guards know as soon as possible.

[trombones]

I live with my brother. [Sans sighed out.] It's... kind of a walk. You better tell 'em about this, though.

[Then - he yawns. Despite the sweat on his skull, the weight in his stomach, and the heaviness creeping into his body. Anyone else would probably ask themselves why they felt so tired.

At the same time, it's also not unusual for Sans.]

You, uh... don't mind if I take a nap, do ya...?

[guardimom]

[Toriel stands with him cradled against her. The walk is no issue.]

I will, but let us get you warm and comfortable. You deserve a short rest...

[She's trying not to show it, but she's worried. The timing of his nap sends off alarm bells in her head.]

idk how far into this you wanna continue but we could prob skip to another point soon if you do

[trombones]

[Timing is an understatement. By the time they get there, Sans was already asleep. Unfortunately, no amount of rousing seemed to wake him up. It wasn't normal no matter how lazy the monster was.

Talk about Sleeping Beauty.]

you got it!

[guardimom]

[Toriel fussed over him for the rest of that day, and for much of the next week. Royal duties were delegated, medics from all over the kingdom were brought in, every spell she knew was tried...to no effect. Another week passed. She and her knights scorched that patch of earth looking to kill the flower. No luck. Each day she lingered, though she couldn't really explain to herself why.

She held a bony hand between her paws one evening, sunset filtering through the window.]

Oh, Sir Sans. We have tried for so long to revive you...but nothing is wrong, except that you seem to have lost the ability to awaken. We will not stop searching for a cure to this curse. But for your bravery...we have dubbed you Sir Sans the Gallant, forever at the head of our royal guard. If not for your actions, we would have lost so much more...

...but we have lost you, and I will not accept that outcome. Please return to us someday, Sans...and thank you.

[Before she could really think that this was a bad idea, she leaned down and pressed a light kiss to those unmoving teeth.]

[trombones]

[Sir Sans the Gallant...

Heh.

He heard that one in one of his many vague dreams over the last few weeks. He heard voices sometimes. Papyrus. Toriel. Both tinged with worry. He wanted to reassure them, but he wasn't sure where the voices were coming from. In his sleeping, hazy mind, he tried to look for her again.

Then he felt something.

The haze suddenly lifted. He feels himself blink awake.]

Hh... huh...?

[guardimom]

[The voice startled her. She definitely wasn't expecting to hear something. She jolts in shock, looking all around her, then down at those eye sockets. They'd been closed before, hadn't they...?

Was he...?]

Sans?

[trombones]

Toriel...?

[One more blink and his eyes finally creak the whole way open, like someone's prying a crowbar to them. He shifts and tilts his head towards her with a yawn.]

Hey... what's up?

[guardimom]

You are.

[She laughs, wiping a stray tear from her eye.]

I feared you wouldn't be again.