Storm before the Calm
Frisk’s soul knew this dance like the back of their hand, and it was a dance in some ways. I mean who would forget the steps when it took about 80 times to get it right. Determination and then just plain spite was a terrific motivator. The thing was that Chara knew this routine too, they both performed it at the same time, but there was one thing that Sans knew that Chara wouldn’t do – mostly because they both absolutely hated each other.
They could feel the eyes of the humans and monsters watching as Frisk stood in Sans’ battlefield and performed flawlessly. Jumping bones and ducking Gaster Blasters. It was almost funny how quickly the instinct of just fighting Sans came to them. They allowed Chara to swipe at Sans in punishment for not believing them, and also because they knew that he would dodge. He’s the only one that every dodges and wasn’t that just stupid.
At some point they had even begun to sing to the song, although it was still up in the air that anyone could hear the words when it’s a soul singing. They knew that it must look weird watching from the outside as Frisk fought for their life while also jamming out to one of the better fight songs that the monsters had. Honestly, they weren’t sure if what was more surprising for the monsters, the fact that Sans can actually fight? Or the fact that their sweet innocent Frisk knew the entire fight routine like the back of their hand and was having fun.
Because they were having fun, even if they were currently fighting for their lives, it was nice to be doing something familiar, something that while it was a messed-up timeline was inherently Frisk and not Draco Malfoy. Then came the time that they were waiting for. The final chance.
Frisk could not save from inside the battlefield, the star wouldn’t generate. They didn’t need that though, they knew that they had to do in order for Sans to believe that they meant no harm, that it was Frisk and not just Chara possessing another poor souls. The song faded into a hum and Sans started speaking.
“I know you didn't answer me before, but...somewhere in there. I can feel it. There's a glimmer of a good person inside of you. the memory of someone who once wanted to do the right thing. someone who, in another time, might have even been...a friend?” Frisk remained silent; this has to play through completely. “C’mon, buddy. do you remember me? please, if you're listening... let's forget all this, ok? Just lay down your weapon, and... well, my job will be a lot easier. friendship...” It must be weird for the monsters to hear Sans beg. That’s’ what he’s doing right now, but he didn’t mean it originally. Or maybe he did, somewhat. Not enough to spare Frisk’s life. But still…
The screen came up in front of them once more, and it was only as Frisk was pressing the Mercy button that they realized that Sans normally had a lot more dialogue during the fight. This time he was offlay quiet. Yet, he recited this scene like it was nothing. Strange.
“... you're sparing me?” Frisk nodded. The monsters behind them seemed to breath a sigh of relief. Thinking that it was over. Although they might also be sighing because Frisk had been pressing the fight button an offal lot in that fight, not every time, just enough that Chara would feel better.
It’s cute though, they thought it was over and Sans believed them. Yeah, Sans wasn’t really that nice. Its sweet that you guys have that opinion of him though.
“Finally. buddy. pal. I know how hard it must be... to make that choice. to go back on everything, you've worked up to. I want you to know... i won't let it go to waste... c'mere, pal.” Frisk took a step forward, but only one step. They knew what would happen next and they allowed it. They still flinched when the ground beneath them started shaking as the bones few up out of the ground. “Get dunked on.”
There was a sharp intake of breath, and Frisk heard Sirius yelling out in the background as they waited for the pain to come. They couldn’t exactly remember when the last save was, and if it happened right before the fight with Sans but it would be unfortunate to do another fight.
“Look everyone, I caught a Frisk in a cage…” Sans called out and it was then that Frisk opened their eyes and realized that they were not impaled, no instead Sans had rediverted the bones around them to form a cage. It was the blue bones as well. They were well and truly stuck. Fuck Sans and his ideas of a prank.
“So, you believe me now?” Frisk risked. They didn’t know if talking would spur his ire again, but you can’t spell Frisk without risk. It is quite literally in their name.
Sans turned back to them and looked them dead in the eyes. He wasn’t projecting pupils; it was the soulless black eyes that showed when he was angry or trying to act scary.
“Not completely, but only Frisk would do something this stupid in order to gain someone’s trust. So you’re not off the hook, but if you are Frisk it’s good to have you back buddy.” The bones dropped and Frisk collapsed to their knees with a sigh of relief. They could work with this, this could work. Sans moved to help them up. When they had been pulled mostly to their feet Sans yanked harder and suddenly, they were staring into a glowing blue and yellow eye. “If not then I’ll turn you into ashes for ever thinking you could pretend to be them… okay?” Frisk hurried to nod, and Sans released them.
Okay, so he still thought they were Chara. That they could also work with. Somewhere in their shared headspace Chara was laughing. It was annoying.
“THE THOUGHT OF PROVING THE TRASH SKELETON WRONG FILLS YOU WITH DETERMINATION”
Yeah, Chara was having too much fun with this. Frisk still took the save though when it came up.
Then “IT IS I, THE GREAT PAPYRUS! I AM HERE TO SAVE THE DAY!” Papyrus burst out of the forest in all of his glory and struck a pose.
And Frisk just burst out laughing. His timing was flawless. Papyrus always seemed to know when he was needed for some light heartedness.
“Hey, Paps. Good to see you again.” Papyrus stared at Frisk for a moment, and then leaned down to Sans and whispered in his way that wasn’t really a whisper.
“SANS, WHO IS THIS HUMAN?” Frisk had to stop themselves from laughing again.
“That’s Frisk, although the verdict is still out on whether its really them, but for now that’s Frisk.” Sans answered.
Papyrus paused before he shrieked in joy and picked Frisk up and started throwing them in the air.
“MY BEST FRIEND HAS RETURNED. THIS IS A MIRACLE. YES WE SHALL CELEBRATE!” He turned to the king and queen, asking permission to celebrate the return of Frisk.
“Yes, we shall celebrate the return of the hero Frisk.” Asgore answered and everyone who was monster cheered. Then the Great Albus Dumbledore just had to go and open his mouth.
“Would it be possible to hold your celebration until we have an explanation. Or maybe you can hold it within Hogwarts so that we can go both at the same time.” Did this man ever stop trying to gain advantages in was? Is that all he did? Was that all he thought about? Seriously what was wrong with that man? These thoughts were blasting through Frisk’s mind and echoed by Chara.
“Nah.” Frisk waved him off and turned to go into the forest. The monsters seeing the dismissal all turned to join them.
“I must insist Mr. Malfoy. As you seem to have the answers to the sudden conflict. I believe everyone will feel safer with a proper explanations. You owe us an explanation, if only to make everyone feel safe again after all.”
“I really don’t.”
“Now, now Frisk. I’m sure it will not be too much of a hassle, to at least talk.” Argore tried to play mediator, but honestly Frisk wasn’t having it. They wanted them to be around humans for longer than necessary, when those humans had been firing spells at them. Nope, nice try. See you in therapy, but not because they wouldn’t show up and if they did Chara would make the therapist quit, out of fear of their own safety, or sanity.
“Asgore, you really want to subject your people to more humans?” Frisk watched as Asgore flinched at that. He hesitated for a moment, before he sighed in defeat. Frisk smiled, they figured that Asgore wasn’t going to make it harder on his people by having them around the same people who threw them into a hole in the earth to die, and then when they had clawed their way out of said hole, decided to steal their souls and force them to become statues.
“Nah, we should go inside. Besides there are somethings I would like to hear from the humans.” Sans suddenly cut in. Frisk threw him a hesitant look and found the skeleton to be staring straight at them. “Especially what they are doing calling you ‘Mr. Malfoy.” Sans finished. He seemed angry, Frisk didn’t want him angry. Angry San’s meant pain, and suffering, and endless trips into a blackhole.
“They are calling me ‘Mr. Malfoy’ because that’s the surname of the body that I was reincarnated in. I didn’t get my soul or my memories back until I was thirteen and heard a certain voice calling for me. There! mystery solved.” Frisk hissed, they really didn’t want to be around the humans right now. They were tired, they wanted to go home, they had just had to fight two separate armies to get their family back and they were going to rest without having to be interrogated by a paranoid skeleton with a brother complex, dammit!
Someone laid their hand on Frisk’s head and they spun around to hiss at them only to find Sirius, Remus standing a bit behind him, seeming hesitant to get closer.
“Come on kid, you’re hurt, you’re tired, and that skeleton that you were crying over literally just almost killed you, I don’t think you have enough fight left to fight them on this.” Sirius calmly started to pet Frisk and Frisk sighed, leaning into the touch. It was nice, and he was right. Sans was stubborn, and sometimes a dick, he was also petty, but he was their best friend, so why couldn’t he make this easier for them?
“We can probably still take them.” Chara added in their mind, but they were always looking for a fight to be honest. “Although, if it makes it better, I think the reason he won’t let this go is because he’s your best friend.” and Frisk had to agree hesitantly, Sans was nothing if not loyal to the ones who had his loyalty, that was mostly Papyrus and in some cases the King and Toriel, but apparently Frisk had wormed their way onto that list.
“Fine.” Frisk grunted before making their way to the castle, ignoring everyone and anyone who tried to talk to them before they made it inside. This was going to be a long night.
THE THOUGHT OF GETTING THIS OVER WITH FILLS YOU WITH DETERMINATION!
“Not now, Chara!” Frisk screamed.