CounterTale: Chapter 35!

CHAPTER 35: FIND THE ANSWER BEFORE TIME RUNS OUT...OR AS I CALL IT, ‘FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK’!

I was woken up by a familiar poking sensation. Shifting around, I concluded two things: I was still in the hot springs and I was still in Sans’ embrace.

“soul sensed someone coming our way. we gotta find the towels and make ourselves decent.”

“Shit.”

“I got them. I’ve been holding onto them the whole time. You two were so into it, you didn’t notice a lot of things.” He snorted.

“Like what?” I yawned, pulling the towel around me as Sans did the same.

“Oh, they’ll no doubt tell you.”

“Shit, what?” I gasped. Soul snickered.

“Are you two fully refreshed?” Taya’s voice called from the entrance, her tone almost sickly sweet.

“Uh, yes!” I answered hastily. “Yes, we are! Or I am, at least!” I amended.

“me too.” The blue blush returns.

We stepped out of the water and walked back in.

“Hope you two had fun.” Taya whispered cheekily, a knowing smirk on her maw. “We hope you visit again.”

“Oh geez!” I groaned.

“Don’t worry, dear.” Taya cooed. “We know about the whole arranged marriage and suitors thing. However, after all you’ve done to help, we like you more than any of the monster nobles around the world. They have done nothing in comparison to you.”

“Thanks. I guess…” I didn’t know what else to say.

She placed one of her tentacles to her lips and winked. “Your secret is safe with us.”

“Us?”

“Yes, us!” Bree giggled. “Even if humans aren’t as aware, monsters can sense when others are going at it. And it’s not the first time it’s happened here, according to Taya.”

The monster snickered playfully. “Oh yes, and we’ve enhanced the water with a bit of magic so anything extra with dissolve on contact, leaving no trace of any extra activities, intercourse or otherwise.”

“Well, that’s great! But we have to go!” We were both blushing messes as we went into our separate locker areas and got dressed.

Upon exiting the spa, we were approached by a familiar human whom, unlike before, was now dressed more casually in a blue shirt with pink trim over navy blue trousers and black boots.

“Frisk!” I cheered and threw myself into a hug. “You made it!”

“Of course! And I’m happy to inform you that I took care of business, and the men whom have lost the ability to bear children are to be judged by the rest of my people. They deserve to judge those who have treated them poorly, and so whatever punishment they choose will happen. I have no intention of interfering. What say you?”

“I think that makes sense. Sans?”

“yeah, these people may have captured monsters, but as my second, rachel already passed her judgement onto them. and with that, i have no further punishment for them. this falls to you and whatever you decide works for me.”

“I’m glad we are finally agreeing. I’m just sorry it took so long.”

“yeah, me too. i guess i really am a numbskull.” They shook hands, mimicking my vision exactly, as they shared a laugh.

“Well, I’m happy to see monsters and humans working together.” I said. “I guess one of my visions has happened.” I smiled knowingly as Sans gasped in understanding, looking at his and Frisk’s joined hands.

“yeah, and after seeing this, i have no reason not to believe you.” Sans concluded, releasing Frisk’s hand. “just make sure to keep it that way. i don’t want any monsters to be hurt. same for humans – the good ones, obviously.”

“You have my word I will stand by you should a human try harm. But I will work so that that doesn’t happen again. And if you are ever in need of help, please don’t hesitate to call for me.”

“Do you have a way to contact?”

We ended up exchanging numbers, and both Frisk and Sans proved to have better tech than me, of course.

“i’ll have alphys update it.”

“Sure! I–” My vision was triggered and one of the first visions I saw replayed…

The monsters I had grown to love, diseased, with the same sickness enveloping a terrified Sans…

But now, there was more. So much more…

An image of Mettaton. Alphys screaming as something spills out from the robot and hits her, infecting her immediately. The sickness traveling, consuming the monsters we rescued. Infecting everyone else in turn.

Half the monsters, unconscious, while the others looked possessed. Sans was to my side and was trying to fend them off. However, it was no use, and he started to succumb after being infected. He shouted something that looked like ‘run’, but I pulled him to me instead. I couldn’t be infected because I wasn’t a monster.

I held Sans as he turned, as he fought a losing battle, giving me time to find a solution before it was too late. Why was it too late? Intense pain and a flurry of emotions. Anger, fear, frustration…but then realization. I needed determination, bravery, justice, kindness, patience, integrity, perseverance…and my love, my will. The answer – to help them – to save them – the answer was–

There was a glitch in the vision–

A flash, and then I was looking down at Sans as he began to recover. He smiled, relieved, touching my cheek.

More glitches, like static, and it cut out.

I bolted upright. “Soul, when does that vision take place?” No reply. “Don’t you know when?” Nothing.

“Soul!”

“what happened? what did you see?”

“The others looked like they had the same disease as the monster in that picture. It came from Mettaton. What could have– SHIT! The chairman! Mettaton! That’s what it was…Metts had whatever it was! His notes! He found the answer, and willingly gave us Metts so he could trigger whatever it was! They…”

“we need to get back!”

“No, not you! You…they got you, too! And I don’t know why, but if it gets you, it’s over. I’ll go alone! It didn’t affect me! Please!”

“no, i’m going back. if you want to stay here, fine. i’d rather you did if something is happening.”

“No, if you’re going…then you’re gonna need me. I don’t know how, but something to do with the seven Soul Traits. And love, not LV. Actual love. And my will, whatever that means. I’m not sure yet. But you need me.”

He nodded, bringing me close.

“tell your people to hurt that asshole as much as possible without killing him. killing him is the same as letting him go, and i won’t be happy if he doesn’t suffer for this.”

Frisk had only begun to nod as Sans teleported us away.

“The car…”

“i’ll get it later. i can’t worry about that right now.”

We made it back, the throne room appearing before us, and sure enough, everyone was grounded. There was something in the air, and I immediately thrust Sans into my chest.

“Do you need to breathe?” He shook his head. “Good, there’s a weird smell. We need to get out of here. Do you have enough to teleport outside?” He nodded and the next moment, we were outside.

I released him. “Sorry, I just want to keep you safe. And the vision took place outside. But it ended okay.”

“what happened? how do you figure it out?”

“I don’t know. My vision glitched, and fast forwarded. Like a part of it was purposefully left out. I don’t know why, but Mother is making me figure it out without using my future vision ability fully. And Soul is unresponsive, so clearly he’s not allowed to interfere.”

“damnit! remind me to have a talk with your mother later.”

“You and me both!”

There was a familiar groan and we turned to find the monsters who had been inside before coming towards us, approaching just like a zombie would, but with a speed that was faster.

“Shit!” I whipped the air towards them, but with strangely practiced movement, they phased around it. “They dodged it? What the fuck?”

“hang on.” He conjured a bone cage. But they were broken with a mere touch. “shit. what is this?”

“I don’t know!” I cried.

“Shit!” I gasped, kicking the possessed Undyne away from him. “We should really be running away! Not standing her trying to defend ourselves.” Unfortunately, running wasn’t an option as her teeth had already sunk into his shoulder.

“shit, i can feel it.” He looked up at me pitifully as he collapsed into my ready embrace. “sorry, i guess it’s up to you. figure it out and save us, and i’ll grant whatever request you want. doesn’t matter what. just don’t give up.”

“Fight back! Just fight back so I have enough time!” I screamed.

“i…m…try…ing.” He forced out. Unlike the visions, his discoloration was slower, so he was fighting. But it was still too fast. I was sputtering nonsense, tears leaking down my face, shaking my head and muttering ‘no’ over and over and as I watched whatever this disease was take complete control of him.

“Soul, please! I don’t know what to do!”

The grayed tones had yet to fully consume him, but he was barely fighting and leaned all his weight against me. My only thought was don’t let him fully turn or it’s over.

I gasped. He’s the king of monsters. If he turns, they all turn. And then it’s over. There might not be a way to undo it.

“What’s powerful enough? What do I do? How do you fight a disease, or whatever is polluting their system?”

Wait! Pollution? The opposite of pollution is clean, or purity. Angel light is pure, and it’s white. How do you make white? White is the combination of all colors together. If I could activate all seven Soul Traits within myself, I could save him. That was why…

I held Sans close, trying to summon the feelings that went with the individual Soul Traits, starting with the most powerful trait, as well as the start of the rainbow.

I am Determined to make a difference and see to it that the world becomes a better place for people who are different, like me...
 
I am Brave because I don’t back down against those who have hurt me, or others…
 
I am a symbol of Justice because I don’t let others get away with hurting others or being unethical towards their own kind in any way…
 
I show Kindness to those who have earned it, or need it, because they have been hurt as well and deserve better…
 
I have been Patient in hopes that life will get better and my hopes and dreams will come true…
 
I have Integrity because I live by my morals to treat everyone as they treat me and others…
 
I have Persevered even after all the terrible and painful garbage I have endured throughout my life, even after everything that people have done to push me back or keep me down…

My Soul Symbol ignited, the white light from my vision completing what I had not seen: twin wisps of pure light emanating from my back, like tendrils, or even wings of light, that were pure and filled with love.

Wrapping them around Sans, I hoped with everything I had that I was not too late. Just to make sure, I pressed my lips to his in hopes that it would be enough to save him and everyone else.

Around me, the world was aglow with a purity the likes of which the natives had never seen before. In a small corner, a peaceful town with springs and beautiful greenery like nothing anywhere else, a human prayed for the survival of the monsters and smiled gratefully at the pure light in the distance.

“She is exactly what this world needed.” Frisk smiled. “I told you, didn’t I, my friend.”

Petals sighed gently, a smile adorning his face. “I never doubted you. She had to find the answer within herself. She has all the tools, Lady Ochena informed me of such. She just needs to find the self-confidence within her. Thankfully, she’s in the right place to get help with that.”

“Indeed. I wonder what else is in store for us.”

“Oh plenty, I assure you.” Blinking briefly, Petals eyes turned purple. “She doesn’t yet know there are two guardians in this world.”

“She will figure it out eventually.”

“Oh yes, I assure you she will.” He winked.