CounterTale: Chapter 24!

CHAPTER 24: EVEN WHEN LIFE IMPROVES, THE SHIT JUST WON’T STOP HITTING THE FAN OF FATE!

Neither Asgore nor Toriel had awoken yet. Sans saw to them and the other monsters’ care immediately. Those who were better off were the last to be checked. It seemed like Asgore and Toriel were the worst off.

Sans spent each day working near the former royals, hoping to be in their presence when they finally woke up. His patient commitment was rewarded two weeks later when they finally stirred.

“tori? asgore?”

The two couldn’t speak initially, but with the help from numerous glasses of water, they began to recover.

“Sans?” Tori whispered tiredly. “Amazing…so it’s true that you were chosen to lead.”

“yeah…it sucks.”

“I’m sorry, dear. But keep it up and we can help you.”

“what?” There was silence. A heavy silence that had everyone staring at the skeleton. “but…you’ll be taking the throne back, right?”

“No, Sans.” Asgore replied gruffly. “Unfortunately, we cannot return to power. The status has left us and has gone to you. Only you have the power to rule over monsters now.”

With a loud crack, the portable desk splintered and went flying, papers scattering everywhere.

Everything was still as all eyes watched Sans’ every movement. Tears had begun pouring down his cheeks, rimming from empty sockets.

“n o.” He growled terrifyingly as he left the room. “f u c k  i t. i  a m  d o n e.”

He teleported out and a crash was heard somewhere outside the room signaling that he had started to unleash his bottled up fury.

No one moved, spoke…or anything. It felt like the whole room was still, everyone holding their breath as the crashes continued in the distance.

Dogaressa flinched, a sad whine escaping her, and it broke whatever spell was keeping the room still.

“What should we do?” She asked.

“I’m not sure.” Undyne replied.

I hummed sadly.

“What would you do, Rachel?” The fish asked.

I looked up at her and then at everyone else as their eyes found mine. I understood the reason, but still asked, “Why are you asking me?”

“You are why we have gotten this far.” The captain explained seriously. “I don’t doubt that you have the answer to how to help. I’m sorry we keep turning to you, but…what else can we do?”

To be needed, to be important, to have a role that only I could do was something I wanted my entire life. So, hearing one of the brashest individuals imply that I am the one making such a huge difference…it made me happy, despite the circumstances. But given the circumstances, I was determined.

I shook my head, coming back to the moment, and looked down thoughtfully. After another series of crashes, my future vision took over and the image of Sans being consumed by his magic filled my vision. Then he was looking up at me, crying out. With each image after, the answer became clearer and clearer until the power deactivated.

I chuckled shortly. “You’re right. I do have the answer. But it will take a while, and with his rage, I’m worried about my emotional stability if he uses it on me.”

“Don’t be afraid, pup. You have helped him so much since you came here. In a way, I think that is the only thing stopping him from hurting you. If any of us try to help him now, it will only get worse. But you’re different and that might be what he needs.”

I stepped up to her, smiling gratefully. “Thanks dog-mama, I needed that!” I hugged her, nuzzling into her fur appreciatively. She held me close until another crash echoed around the castle.

“Go!” I nodded in reply and raced towards the noise.

The door didn’t need to be forced open that much. It was crooked and, upon closer inspection, the hinges were broken. Peering into the room, I was greeted with disaster, and Sans standing in the center of it. The blue flames were intensely flaring up the side of his skull and his teeth were grinding together, one fanged canine visible from where I stood. His fists and shoulders shook, the latter angled up as he hunched over.

“Sans?” I called softly.

He whipped around, roaring loudly, the pressure he had created from his emotions alone hitting me hard and knocking me back.

“Shit! Sans, calm down! It’s me! Rachel! Can…can I come in?”

“N O!” He looked so uncertain.

“Please…I’m not going to do anything…except give you a hug. You don’t have to work, and you don’t have to say, or do anything…I just want to help you. I understand how absolutely pissed off and full of pain you are. Just please let me in…”

With much hesitation, I walked forward, judging his expression so that if I went to fast, I could stop. But with every word, the anger seemed to melt and was replaced by sorrow and desperation. When I was directly in front of him, he fell forward and I caught him.

The tears fell, and all I could do was hold him and whisper softly as he sobbed. He had been hoping that this job would end if the former royals returned. To have that hope destroyed, after everything else that had happened, it was a surprise he hadn’t broken down sooner. The only reason he wasn’t losing the last of his sanity was probably because he had someone to help him who had felt much like he did now more than once in the past.

“It’s gonna be okay.” I soothed him as the exhaustion took over. “We’ll work through this together.”

The others got the message to leave us be until I gave them the okay. I got him over to my room where everything was intact. He didn’t let go the entire time, but then…neither did I.