#azurecanvas

Also a bit of frustration, but mostly DETERMINED.   Of course, their blank faces didn't show their mix of emotions it as they watched the sunset with their friends.

"Isn't it beautiful, everyone?" They heard Asgore say for the, what, 60th, 70th? They lost track after the 50th RESET.

"Frisk, you LIVE with this?" Undyne repeated what she had said oh so many times. "The sunlight is so nice...and the air is really fresh...I really feel alive!" Frisk managed a smile and nodded. They had to admit, they never grew tired of seeing their friends' bright smiles.

"HEY SANS," Papyrus spoke up, right on schedule. "WHAT'S THAT GIANT BALL?" Frisk had giggled the first few times they had heard Papyrus said that, but unfortunately, even if they enjoyed their friends' happiness, some jokes just grew too dull after a while.

"we call that the sun, my friend," Sans replied.

"THAT'S THE SUN!? WOWIE!!!" Papyrus' eyesockets glimmered. "I CAN'T BELIEVE I'M FINALLY MEETING THE SUN!" Frisk flinched. It definitely wasn't Papyrus' first time, but Frisk had no will to tell him otherwise.

"I could stand here and watch this for hours..." Asgore said, feeling the warm sunlight on his furry face. Frisk decided to stop listening to a conversation they had heard so many times. They looked down and twiddled their thumbs. Time after time again, they did multiple things in order to accomplish their goal. They had been content with how things were the first time around, but then they decided that they had to save everyone and went back. That was when they met the royal son, and made it their goal to somehow save him. After many RESETs, they finally found a way to save them...sort of. They begrudgingly had gotten him up to the surface, and they lived in a quite content life for a while, even if they were stuck in a flowerpot.

However, as time went on, there were times where Toriel would feel sad and silently break down when she thought no one was looking. That was how Frisk had first heard of the first fallen human, named Chara. Their goat mom had then told them stories about her first child; how he loved chocolate, had this heart locket, and how they were best friends with her son. They remembered this weird feeling at the back of their head as they listened, as if there was someone tearing up, but it wasn't them. Wanting to know more, Frisk had RESET their timeline and started to pick up on more things they hadn't noticed before.

A voice that gave them options. A voice that insisted they called Toriel Mom and then flirted with her. A voice that wasn't theirs. Memories that weren't theirs.  Soon, Frisk had found that the voice became louder as they did more...bad things.

It hurt them so much to do what they had done that one timeline. When they had to kill their friends, they felt so horrible, so terrible, that it took all their DETERMINATION not to RESET.  They sobbed hard when they had killed Papyrus, but they wailed like no tomorrow when they had to hurt Sans. They told themselves over and over that this was to accomplish what they had promised.

To save everyone.  Every single being.

And, when it was all done; after everyone had turned to dust, and there was nothing left but black nothingness, Frisk found him. They found the last person that they needed to SAVE.

And they were not going to leave him behind, whether the being wanted to be saved or not.

"Frisk.." Said human snapped back to reality and looked up to Toriel with a smile on their face. "You came from this world, right...?" Frisk nodded. It had not been a happy life, but yes, they had. "So you must have a place to return to, do you not?" Frisk inwardly winced. They did, but they had no intent to return.

However. This time, where they were going...

...they were not coming back.

Frisk made an apologetic face to their goat mom. Toriel frowned sadly, but then smiled.

"Ah....I see." Toriel paused, breaking her eye contact with the small child. What had she been thinking? Of course Frisk had somewhere to go, a family to go back to.

Well, she thought wrong. Frisk so dearly wanted to stay with her. Having cinnamon-butterscotch pie and being tucked in every night would be a dream. Even though they had experienced that dream so many times, it would never get old. Be that as it may, though, they had a plan. Another idea, and if it works, Frisk would finally have the happy ending they were looking for.  

The question is if they'd be able to enjoy it afterwards.

"Well I hope I am not keeping you," Toriel looked away.  She started to slowly walk away, but she stopped after a couple steps.  She turned around and faced the small human child.  Frisk looked at her back, using every bit of their DETERMINATION to hold back from running into their mom's mother figure's arms.  "Frisk..." Toriel smiled one last broken smile."'See you around.'"  With that, she turned around and quickly walked away before Frisk could see the tears running down her cheeks.

Frisk watched her leave until she was out of their view.  They silently looked back to the sunset and watched the sun paint different colors across the sky for a few minutes.  It was nice, they thought to themselves.  The quiet and peaceful atmosphere was certainly something they enjoyed when they stood at the top of the mountain.  What do you think of they sky?  Frisk's question echoed around their head.  

There was no answer.  

Frisk was not surprised.  Every time they had done a "true pacifist run," they found that he would disappear for quite some time when they visited a certain monster in the ruins.  That meant that he wouldn't be able to hear or see what Frisk was going to do next.

They took a shaky breath and stood tall.  Knowing that what they were doing was going to save a life that desperately needed SAVING filled them with DETERMINATION.  As the sun started to set, they closed their eyes and whispered a word; a word that could barely be heard; a word that no one knew but them and one other being.

*Gaster

As soon as the word left their mouth, they heard a "swish" and a "PING!"  Frisk let out a tiny squeal as they felt themselves being lifted into the warm air.  "guess you're having fun hanging around, huh?" A voice from behind Frisk made a bad pun.  Nevertheless, Frisk giggled and let their head hang down.  They smiled as they saw an upside-down version of Sans.  The comedic skeleton grinned at his audience and gently placed Frisk beside him.  "so how is the old man anyways?"  Sans asked, lazily plopping down on the edge of the mountain.  Frisk smiled and sat down besides their friend/dunkle.  They told Sans that he would see his "old man" here and there in the surface.  It had taken quite some time, but Frisk had managed to save the goopy man from behind the gray door as well, even though they had been quite jumpy at first.

"that's good to hear," Sans nodded and turned to face the human.  "so, uh, what's up kid?" Sans scratched the back of his skull. "got something to say?" Frisk turned their head to Sans, but then looked away as soon as they met with the white pinpricks that were the skeleton's pupils. After all this time, they still couldn't handle the guilt of what they had done. Sans let out a weak chuckle and ruffled the kid's hair. "it's fine, frisk," Sans comforted them. "it was what, 50, 60 resets..?" Frisk timidly shook their head, showing they did not know the number. "Well, anyways, you did what you had to do, and you don't feel like we're...just a game, so again, it's okay Frisk." Frisk squirmed. Every time they RESET, they always felt a pinprick of guilt as they knew that Sans had to live through it all. "and besides, you did kinda save my dad...many times."  A dash of melancholy was etched onto Sans' face, but it only lasted a second.  A warm smile replaced his despondency and he ruffled Frisk's brown hair once again and said, "so don't sweat it."

Frisk smiled weakly as a thanks.  They mentally checked that he wasn't there.  Once they were sure, they looked down and started to explain their idea.  At first, Sans' face twisted with confusion, but as they continued to explain, his white pinpricks of light grew wider and wider.  "...wow." That was all Sans could say.  "that's uh..that's very ambitious of you, kid."  Frisk nodded.  They asked the skeleton if it was possible.  "possible??" Sans blinked.  "well uh...I suppose it certainly plausible."  Sans' expression turned to one of concern.  "but, uh...the chances of both parties surviving? they're pretty slim..."  He placed a bony hand on Frisk's shoulder.  "you, uh, okay with these risks? if you go through this...it'll probably be, heh.." Sans weakly chuckled at the irony. "game over."  Frisk cracked a smile.  They replied that they were well aware of what was most likely going to happen to them.  "so then...can't you just be happy?" Frisk's face fell blank and they looked down. Seeing his poor choice of words, Sans panicked and said,  "i-i mean, i just don't want to lose you, frisk. that's all i'm trying to say." Frisk cracked a bitter smile and said that Sans didn't have to lie to them.

Sans frowned. "whadoya mean?"  Frisk looked right into the short skeleton's white pupils and said that he didn't have to be scared of more RESETs. There won't be anymore if their idea works. Sans' face immediately turned to one of regret. "no, what? god no frisk! i meant that.." Sans sighed, knowing that his words weren't helping. He never was good at expressing emotion.  He wrapped his arms around Frisk. "geez kid, that isn't what i meant at all," he let out a sigh.  "i just..." He looked away, a bit embarrassed.  He scratched the back of his skull as muttered, "i'd miss ya really bad you know? you're a good kid."  

Good kid. Those words replayed in Frisk's head.  That was the first time they heard anyone say such a thing.  They smiled and kissed Sans on the cheek.  Sans' face immediately glowed a cyan blue, and he sunk further and further into the furry lining of his blue jacket.  Frisk giggled and smiled sadly.  They responded with Sans' words that they were going to miss him too, but this was something they had to do.  They paused for a second, before asking if Sans could do something for them.  Sans came out of his jacket, still clearly flustered as the blue glow was still on his cheeks.  "uh, what is it?" he replied.  Frisk wavered, before asking if he would be able to take care of their friend afterwards.  The skeleton gazed at the human with surprise.  "take care of him? um.."  Frisk gave Sans a pleading look; the kind a beaten puppy would give its owner.  Sans heaved a sigh. "..ok, just for you kid.  Toriel won't be happy you know? i could lie, but she'd catch on pretty quick, and paps, well...i just gotta tell him that you're on vacation."  Frisk let out a tiny chuckle and said that technically, that was true.  Sans let out a short laugh.  "yeah, i suppose it is."  

Another wave of awkward silence befell them for a couple seconds, before Frisk realized that time was running short.  They went onto their knees and stood up, Sans soon doing the same.  "well, uh, i guess..this is...goodbye."  Frisk grinned and nodded.  The human tackled the skeleton with a huge hug and murmured that he didn't have to be so sad anymore.  He was free, they told him.  Free to live on with the rest of his life with no fear of any more RESETs. Sans teared up with the thought of truly being free.  "ha..haha...thanks, kid.."  Frisk nodded and slowly pulled away from the hug.  "welp. uh, guess..i gotta go break the news to, um, pap."  Frisk nodded again and waved goodbye one last final time.  Sans patted Frisk's head and whispered, "don't feel bonely, wherever you go, okay? 'cause me, and paps and toriel and everyone...we'll always be with you."  Before Frisk could respond, Sans disappeared as soon as they blinked.  They closed their open mouth and smiled weakly.  They mentally thanked Sans for his kind words and closed their eyes.  

When they opened them, they were in a black room of nothingness.  The void.  

"So, here we are, again," an annoyed voice spoke.  Frisk smiled.  Right on time.  They turned around to be met with another human.  He was about the same height as Frisk.  He could be perceived as Frisk at first glance, but he had a green striped shirt and brown pants, as well as lighter hair.  "This is getting incredibly boring, you know," the human crossed his arms.  "Honestly, had you not RESET that one time (by the way you totally cheated), we would have SAVED so many more people. Isn't that what you want?"  Frisk frowned and shook their head.  The kind of 'SAVING' he was talking about wasn't the one Frisk wanted.  The human sighed and walked up to Frisk.  "So then, now what?" he asked, looking Frisk right in the eye.  "Another boring pacifist route?" Frisk smiled knowingly and shook their head.  The human eyed them with raised eyebrows.  "No?" He gasped excitedly.  "ARE WE-??" Frisk cut him off and shook their head again.  "Oh," the human groaned.  "Then what Frisk?" Frisk smiled at him.  Without warning, they wrapped their arms around the human.  "F-Frisk?!" the human spoke with pure shock.  "W-what are you...oh."  The human looked down.  "That's what you've been trying to do, isn't it?  You still want to SAVE me." A bitter smile warped onto his face, "and you'll do whatever it takes to do so. Even if I am not worth SAVING.  even if it takes a lot of attempts.  Just so that I would get another chance at a happy life.  You're that kind of person." Frisk nodded, their tight grip around their friend not breaking.  The human gritted his teeth and pushed Frisk away from him.  "But why? How are you going to accomplish that, huh??"  Frisk's smile grew wider and they held out their hands.

You will be SAVED, Chara, I promise.

Chara's eyes widened as he heard Frisk talk.  A warm feeling gradually started to spread through his body.  "...What is this feeling?" he asked, looking down and gripping the left side of his chest.  "..!" He looked back up at Frisk in shock.  "...What are you doing?" Chara asked quietly as he saw the golden glow on Frisk's hand.  "You cannot.  You shouldn't.  Stop right now." Frisk closed their eyes and concentrated.  They had so many memories that were in this little golden sparkle.  They made great friends, had great food, and had such a great time.  But, they had abused its power for too long, and it was time for, well, time to continue on, and not with them.  

Frisk took a step forward.  Chara stepped back in reaction, feebly hoping that would stop what they were going to do.  The golden radiance from Frisk's hands grew larger and larger, making the black void they were standing in grow bright with a mixture of golden and white light.  Not caring if they would look like an idiot or not, Chara sprinted towards Frisk.  The SAVE POINT was mysterious as it was, and it had never been willfully given to someone, much less someone who was already DEAD.  "Frisk, do not lend me your SA--!!"

The entire world grew white, and his vision was blinded with light.  He screamed out Frisk's name and reached out his hand for them as he ran, but it was too late.  The "ground" below him gave way, and Chara closed his eyes as he felt the sensation of falling.

After a couple seconds, the feeling stopped.  He hesitantly opened his eyes and found himself looking up towards a small hole of light.  He stood up, and looked around his surroundings.  He soon realized that he was right under Mt. Ebott.  

Then, he saw a motionless body on a bed of flowers.  He froze for a couple seconds before slowly walking towards it.  His legs felt like they were going to give out any second at the sight of the body.  His feet gently crushed the golden flowers under them as he stood right in front of the body.  In front of Frisk.  He slowly crouched down and placed his ear on their chest.  He listened for a heartbeat.

He found none.

Chara repetitively pushed on Frisk's chest, trying to restart their heart.  Without thought, he pressed his lips onto Frisk's and blew as much air as he could into their mouth.  After a long breath was given, he gasped and waited for a breath.  Waited for Frisk to wake up.

But they didn't.

Chara stood back up, his body shaking.  There was a crooked smile on his face.  That's okay, that's okay! He can just--

Just--

The smile left Chara's face.  He tried reaching a SAVE POINT, a SAVE FILE, anything.

But nothing happened.

Shadows cast over his eyes.  The SAVE FILE...it had been corrupted and completely destroyed.  There was no way to reach it, and there was no way to ever SAVE or RESET again.  

Tears slowly started to roll down his rosy cheeks.  That wasn't what Chara cared about.  They were gone.  

Frisk was gone.

His tears fell and dispersed onto Frisk's motionless body with tiny "plips."  Chara went onto his knees and held their body close to his arms, his tears showing no sign of ending.