Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Undyne gasped and shot up, looking around for a threat that wasn't there. 

Her skin felt clammy with sweat and her fiery red hair was matted with what seemed to be a night of tossing and turning. 

After she seemed to realize she was in her room, she leaned forward to bury her face in her hands and let her hammering soul calm down. 

What a nightmare it had been, to be murdered by a snotty little human even after she threw everything she had at it! It was like the brat couldn't die and that form... that form had been so cool, the burning passion she'd felt to protect everyone, to stop the threat, not even for the soul anymore... 

It was familiar. She just couldn't quite pinpoint it. 

All Undyne really knew was this wasn't her first time, having that dream. 

She laid back to text her girlfriend- wait, no. They weren't dating yet, were they? Sometimes she had dreams where that very same human helped them get together. 

She wished it would come true already, but she didn't want to scare poor Alphys away if she didn't feel the same way.

"Hey, Alphys. You awake?"  -3:39am

It was a shot in the dark to get an answer. Some nights Alphys was up all night binge-watching her all time favorite Mew Mew Kissy Cutie. Others, she was passed out at her desk after a long day of-

Undyne's phone went off and she was instantly snatching it up to see. 

"Undyne? Yeah! I was, uh, being productive- What's up? You aren't usually up for another couple of hours?" -3:40am

"Some dumb nightmare that I punched in the face. I guess I was just looking for company. -3:40am

"Oh, I would love to!" -3:40am
"I-I mean, since your asking" -3:40am
"NOT THAT I DON'T WANT TO!!!" -3:40am

Undyne chuckled. Alphys was so cute. 

"I get it. Thanks, Alphy" -3:41am 

It took her longer to respond this time and Undyne could just imagine her all flustered and squealing at the nickname. Eventually a text popped up though.

"Sorry about that. Had to, um... yeah, I think I might have something for your nightmares if they are a problem? I give Sans the same prescription to help him sleep so..." -3:45am

Sans had nightmares? That was new to Undyne, then again, it wasn't like it was any of her business. 

"Yeah, I might take you up on that. You wanna call?" 3:45am

*Alphys is calling you

Sans was there the next day when Undyne stopped by for the perscription after train/cooking with Papyrus. 

She was too hot to properly greet him, but he still got a wave from her. 

Alphys handed her a cup of water while the skeleton regarded her with curiosity. 

"Thanks, Alphys..." She gulped the water in record in record time before splashing her head with a second one. 

Alphys shuffled around, seemingly getting her own medication. "O-of course, here Undyne..." 

She passed them over and the warrior smiled at the scientist. "Thanks, I owe you one..." 

Before Alphys could respond with that cute little blush, Sans cut in. "you're having nightmares?" 

Undnye gave the skeleton an annoyed look. "You don't see me asking, do you?" She gestured to his own bag. 

Sans backed off. "yeah, fair. alright. i'm off then, yeah? see you around." With that Sans did his weird round the corner and disappear thing. 

She rubbed the back of her neck as she looked at Alphys. They were alone. If she was gonna confess, now was the time... 

"Uh, thanks for these..." She tucked them into her inventory, willing herself to say it. 

"A-Anything to help, Undyne..." Alphys replied. 

"And if you need anything, don't hesitate to call, kay?" Undyne gave a toothy grin and Alphys nodded. 

"I will..." 

Then there was silence. A growing silence. Neither of them said a thing and Undyne realized she was losing her shot. 

Alphys shuffled and went to do something. "I-I should probably go..."

"Alphys wait-" She caught the lizard monster's arm, instinctively pulling her close. 

Alphys was so flushed and looking up at her with wide eyes. "U-Undyne..?"

"S-Sorry..." She let go and fixed her ponytail. "I, uh... do you... wanna go out with me? On a date?"

Alphys blinked at her before she squealed. "Yes! YES! YES, UNDYNE, YES!!!"

Undyne slept well with the new meds. 

Too bad that wasn't the issue. 

She held Alphys close as they looked out at their first sunset. It was all thanks to that human. 

The one with the purple and blue sweater. Frisk or whatever their name was. 

She loved this. She loved feeling the sun on her scaly skin and the breeze through her strawberry hair. 

It was nice.

It was familiar.

Undyne sighed and looked over to the human to thank them for this chance. 

Their attention wasn't on Undyne though. They were reaching out and before Undyne could ask why, she found herself gasping awake and shooting up, looking around the darkness of her room. 

What the fuck? 

What the fuck!

It was a dream?! What about the prescription though? Weren't they supposed to help?

Undyne got up from her bed and went to find them, find out if there was some sort of something she was missing. 

Only she couldn't find them. She decided to text Alphys and see if she knew if she took them on their last date for some science-y reason. 

"Hey, Alphys. You awake?"  -3:39am

Undyne waited impatiently for an answer... but then again, it was a shot in the dark to get an answer. Some nights Alphys was up all night binge-watching her all time favorite Mew Mew Kissy Cutie. Others, she was passed out at her desk after a long day of-

Undyne's phone went off and she instantly checked. 

"Undyne? Yeah! I was, uh, being productive- What's up? You aren't usually up for another couple of hours?" -3:40am

"Yeah, had another weird dream. My pills are gone though, did you have to take them or something?" -3:40am

"Pills? I didn't know you took pills... but no, I didn't take them, not unless you are going through some problem..." -3:40am
"Undyne... are you having problems? Do... you need help?" -3:40am

Undyne looked at the messages in confusion and slight offense. SHE NEVER TOOK DRUGS IN HER LIFE!!! None that hadn't been prescribed to her and certainly nothing addictive. 

"Babe, you gave them to me, remember?  To help with nightmares."  -3:41am

There was very, very, very long pause and Undyne was afraid she'd offended Alphys or something. But eventually, she got a message back. 

"B-Babe..? You act like we are dating or something... Unless that was for someone else..." -3:50am

What? What was that supposed to mean?

"I thought we were though? Alphy, I love you, did I do something wrong?" -3:50am

*Alphys is calling you

Chapter Text

Undyne didn't understand it. She couldn't. How could she? 

She and Alphys had been... they were... but they weren't. 

After a long conversation on the phone with Alphys she learned that apparently she never got together with Alphys and apparently there was no human. 

There was no seeing the sunset. 

There was no freedom. 

Undyne refused to accept that. 

She didn't know what happened, but she knew that it happened. 

They were together, they were free. 

If that was true though... if that dream, wasn't a dream... then what about the Nightmares? 

Did that punk really kill them? Was the fate of her life... of the lives of all monsters really in the hands of a snotty little brat?

Undyne groaned and went to get ready for training with Papyrus. 

Undyne couldn't afford to dwell on it now. She could ask Papyrus what he knew when they were cooking. 

Maybe he wouldn't make her feel so... insane. 

She jumped in the shower to cool off her racing mind.

At least Alphys was down for a "first date".

Even if it wasn't their real first date.

Undyne heard a knock at the door. 

That was odd, Papyrus knew better than to knock. She told him time and again he could come in if he was early. 

Undyne glanced at the clock, noting that he was about an hour early before going to answer the door. 

It wasn't Papyrus. 

"hey, 'dyne, sorry for dropping in like this, but al is worried about ya." Sans grinned up at her. 

He looked exhausted. Exhausted and curious. It was a strange, but she thought she saw something in the short skeleton's eyelights she'd never seen before. A sort of... no, that wasn't right.

"It's whatever." She opened the door up more to let Sans in. "I didn't think I'd ever see you up at this time of morning. Papyrus is probably proud." 

Sans shambled in and straight to her table to flop into a chair with a tired groan. A hand passed his face as he answered the fish monster. "he would be if he knew i was her, but as far as he's concerned, i'm fast asleep in my bed."

Undyne frowned and closed her door, crossing the room to finish the tea she'd been brewing. "Why didn't you tell him? I mean... he worries about you, you know." 

"i know." Sans stated as he laid his chin in his arms. "but this isn't something... i want him to know about. it's... a complicated subject, the resets." 

Undyne paused as she turned off the stove. Resets? What were resets? What was Sans talking about?" She turned to look at the skeleton. 

Sans seemed to the see the question in her eye and started to talk. "the name frisk familiar? how about the sunset? the feel of a knife? you've been having nightmares, haven't you? but you can't find your prescription?" 

Now Sans really had her attention. Undyne planted her hands on the table and leaned in to give Sans a critical look. "Alphys said she never gave me the prescription. That there was no human, we never made it to the surface. How come you know about that but she doesn't?" She demanded lowly.

San met her eye with that same look of determination that she'd seen earlier. 

"because you and i have more in common than you realize." 

Undyne didn't understand- not at first. 

"we share determination, natural occuring determination that very few monsters are born with that. that in turn negates the effects of frisk's 'resets'." Sans had started as he sat up slowly. 

"What the fuck are you talking about?" Undyne asked and Sans tsked. 

"have some PATIENCE, undyne, i'm getting there." He mused as he got comfortable leaning back in his chair. 

Undyne didn't want to, she wanted answers, but she wouldn't get anywhere with Sans making demands. She'd learned that time and time again. She sat in her own chair instead. 

"i started out in the same position as you, you know. nightmares about my death, dreams about going to the surface... eventually, once you remember it enough times, a 'death mark' forms. that's what convinced me it was all real... that and something else. something another aware person helped me through." Sans continued. 

"Are you trying to empathize with me?" Undyne really wished he'd just get on with it. "And what do you mean 'aware person'? There are others?"

Sans nodded. "of course there are. we will meet them later, when frisk falls again." 

"The human?" 

He nodded yet again. "yep. the human. frisk has an ability known as 'reset'. reset is the ability to save and load to a certain place in the underground. every time they die or give up, they can rewind time as far as their fall into the underground. all progress before that point is erased and those who are aware- have determination like you or me- forget. like alphys. she, papyrus, almost everyone you know doesn't remember a human, or the surface or even the genocides." 

Undyne felt horrified. The human had such a fearsome power? One that could, no has, made her lose all progress in... everything? Taking their soul? Living her life on the surface? Dating Alphys?

"you might be wondering if anyone with determination can reset." Sans cut her off from her thoughts and the idea made her curious. Unfortunately, Sans shot it down instantly. "only the one with the most determination can reset, though. the rest of us can only remember and hope for the best... if we are lucky, we can convince them to do a better ending. they are a kid though. we have to be careful not to make them throw a tantrum though. they will kill just to prove a point." 

The way Sans slumped down, his skull lowering... he was speaking from experience. 

Undyne started to say something, but the door slammed open and Sans was gone. 

"I, THE GREAT PAPYRUS, AM HERE TO LEARN!!!"

Damn, she would have to find Sans later.

Chapter Text

As she turned her kitchen into a tomato slaughter house, Undyne tried to file away information that she'd learned. 

Learned from Sans of all people. 

Fucking Sans the laziest, weakest, most depressed motherfucker in the Underground. 

...

And now she knew why.

She couldn't help but wonder how long he'd 'been aware'. 

How long had he suffered from this child's rules? 

Long enough to know what he was talking about. Long enough to guide her through this insanity. 

Long enough to not enjoy the sunlight, or be phased, talking about the murder of the entire Underground.

"Undyne?" 

She roused from her deep thoughts to look at Papyrus with her shark-like grin. 

She recognized the look he was giving her as the same suspicious and worried look he often gave Sans. It seemed he'd recognized her expression too.

As the one Sans often wore. 

She knew Papyrus wasn't stupid. It wouldn't be long before he recognized that she was involved with whatever was bothering Sans.

And Undyne couldn't say a damn thing about it. 

"What's that look for, punk? Keep stirring that sauce with more passion!" She ordered with as much spit and vinegar as she could muster. 

Papyrus's sockets lit up and he picked up the pace with an energetic, "YES CAPTAIN!!!" 

Undyne would try to keep Papyrus away from the truth, at least for now. 

"BUTTER THOSE NOODLES GOOD! THAT'S IT! BUTTER KEEPS YOUR NOODLES FROM STICKING TO EACH OTHER!" Undyne drilled like the captain that she was. 

Papyrus tried to stir up a little bit of melted butter into the cooked noodles, but Undyne wasn't having it. 

"MORE BUTTER! THE BUTTERY-ER THE CREAMY-ER! AND DON'T FORGET TO ADD THE ONION, GARLIC, PEPPER MIXTURE INTO THE SAUCE!!!" 

This was nice. Focusing on cooking was helping her to forget the worries of these 'resets' and Sans and all the bull in between. 

Papyrus poured in all the butter into the noodle pan, then added the sauteed mix of onions, garlic, and peppers into the heated up tomato paste and diced tomatoes. Like the champ that he was, he managed to get them both all mixed at the same time. 

"OK NOW LET THAT SIT AND SOAK, SOLDIER!" Undyne put a lid on the noodles to keep them warm. It wouldn't be long before the session was done, another perfect pot of pasta complete. Then Papyrus would go home and she could go find Sans and get more answers out of him. 

"Undyne... Are You... Alright?" Papyrus was giving her that look. 

"Yeah? Why wouldn't I be?" Undyne replied as they both went to wait at the table. 

Papyrus picked at his gloves, pulling at the ends to ensure they were securely on. "Well... That Look, Earlier... I Have Seen That Look... Did..." He looked up at her with such concern that it was honestly touching. "Did Something Happen With You And Sans? Can I Help?"

Undyne sucked in a breath. She honestly didn't know what to say. She didn't usually like to lie to her friends, but how could she explain to Papyrus what she barely knew about herself?

"I... have been having nightmares..." She started awkwardly. "So, things have been kinda funky, I guess? IT'S NOTHING I CAN'T KICK IN THE ASS THOUGH! NO NIGHTMARE IS GONNA PUT ME DOWN, NYAAAAGH!!!" 

"Nyeh Heh Heh! GOOD! But, You Know That If You Ever Need Anything, Undyne..." Papyrus trailed off. 

"It'll be fine, ya weenie! But I appreciate it. I know I can always count on you, Papyrus!"  

That seemed to lift Papyrus's spirits enough and he laughed out a true, full laugh.

"NOW GO SPICE THAT SAUCE!" Undyne barked suddenly.

The skeleton jumped up and and made a mad dash for the sauce pot while Undyne got out a tupperware. 

"Hey, how about I come over after training and make your brother and Grillby taste test? It'll be the ultimate challenge!!!"

"THAT SOUNDS LIKE AN A GREAT IDEA, UNDYNE!!!" 

Sans was at his station when he noticed a bit of yellow in the corner of his socket. 

"Hey, smiley trashbag!" 

Sans really didn't want to deal with Flowey right now, he wanted to sleep and forget the world for a bit. 

He looked down at the weed anyway. 

"what do you want now?"

The dumb flower bobbed in place, his smile speaking of all sorts of curiosities that Sans wasn't going to get into if he could help it. 

"Frisk noticed that your fish friend had acted a little out of the ordinary before they RESET. I figured if anyone would know anything, it would be you." Flowey's smile twisted into something darker. Like he knew something Sans didn't. 

Honestly, Sans would have thought he'd know better by now. 

He sighed and snuggled into his sleeves. "oh, is that all? yeah, undyne's DETERMINATION became active somewhere within the last RESET. i'll be taking her to meet chara with the kid when they get to HOTLAND. you can come if you want." 

Flowey's twisted smile quickly changed to an annoyed frown. "I hate when you do that. just because you were the second holder, doesn't mean you call the shots!" 

"i'm not calling anything." Sans replied before yawning. Sleep really sounded good about now. "'sides, i'm just helping a friend like chara helped me. this has nothing to do with who wielded the RESET button first." 

"Yeah, whatever, trashbag. I might come with to your stupid awareness convention." Flowey grumbled. 

Sans hummed tiredly. "ask them... to hold off... genocide..." 

That irked Flowey and he growled. "TELL THEM YOURSELF!!!" 

When Sans didn't respond, he knew he wasn't gonna get a say in the matter. 

"Seriously, you know we can't just do that... stupid skeleton..." He grumbled as he disappeared into the ground. 

Sans knew it all too well, but for Undyne's sake, he needed a pacifist route. 

Chapter Text

"Great, the one day I need him and he's actually doing his job..." Undyne grumbled as Grillby took the spaghetti container to the back. 

Papyrus had went to fetch Sans from his station. Undyne had let him know before he left that she would be at the restaurant/bar waiting for them with Grillby. 

Undyne glanced around the place. She certainly wasn't unfamiliar with the bar. The guard had many celebrations here for new recruits and birthdays and such. It had been a while, though. 

It didn't change much from last time. 

There were no new customers or entertainment or anything like that. 

It all felt... normal. It felt surreal. 

Her life was far from normal, knowing that there was a tiny child holding them all in a single point in time. 

Sans probably knew all the super smart science-y stuff about it, unlike her. Something she would have to ask about, sometime when they weren't surrounded by people who wouldn't understand. 

She didn't understand. 

"Captain, are you quite alright?" Grillby asked. 

Undyne sat up a little straighter and nodded. "Of course! Why wouldn't I be?" She replied, leaning forward. 

Grillby sighed softly, setting down a glass he was polishing. "I recognize that expression on Sans, is all. Especially on his... bad days."

Stars- Sans wasn't making this easy on her-

"What's that supposed to mean? Isn't every day a 'bad day'?" Undyne asked. 

"Not in the least. Everyone in Snowdin can distinguish what to look for when Sans is having a good day or a bad day. That look is usually the sign of a bad day." 

Well, Pap never told her about this. She knew Sans was in a constant depression that worried him, but she didn't know things could get worse. "So..?"

"So, are these 'resets' bothering you as well?" Grillby asked quietly. 

Undyne's jaw dropped, shocked by what she heard. "Y-you know about- you're aware too?!" She whisper shouted to the bartender and Grillby shook his head. 

He gestured for to follow him to the back and she jumped right on up to see what the hell was going on. 

As soon as she was sat down in at the break room's table, Grillby started to talk again. "No, I am not 'aware' as you say. However, Sans can be... talkative when drunk. He has... confided in me more than once. I only know what he tells me on those bad days." 

Undyne didn't really know how to respond. He could talk to a bartender, but not his brother? What the fuck- "Ah..." 

That was so lame. She knew it.

"I guess we are kinda in the same boat then... I just learned about this shit last night." Undyne muttered. "Why did he tell you and not Papyrus?" 

Grillby chuckled as he wiped down his table. "I suspect... he was too drunk to know he'd told me. I haven't told Papyrus myself because Sans should be the one to tell him. I will also admit to being... skeptical to the idea of humans playing with time as if it were a game." 

"What convinced you?" Undyne asked curiously. 

Grillby was about to respond, but Papyrus slammed the door open, making his grand entrance. "IT IS I, THE GREAT PAPYRUS! AND THE LESS GREAT, BUT STILL WONDERFUL, SANS!"

"hey grillbz." Sans waved lazily from his place hanging in Papyrus's arm. 

"Grillby gave them a small bow of greetings. "Good afternoon, boys. I assume it is time to taste your new culinary masterpiece?" He questioned to which Papyrus completely dropped his brother. 

"OH YES!!! I SHALL GO PREPARE IT!" Papyrus was gone in seconds. 

Undyne rolled her eye good-naturedly before Sans decided to give her a soul attack. 

"how ya doing?" 

Undyne jumped and turned around to face the skeleton. "What the hell, why-?" 

Sans chuckled tiredly and wiped away a fake tear. "because of reactions like that. but seriously, how you doing? uh... with everything?" He asked considerably more quiet so Grillby wouldn't hear. 

"He knows, punk. So why doesn't Papyrus?" Undyne crossed her arms while Sans sockets darkened in legitimate surprise and looked up at Grillby.

"Only what you have told me, Sans." Grillby responded smoothly and Sans groaned, hiding his head in his arms. 

"never drinking my sorrows away again... dammit." Sans grumbled angrily to himself. 

"That is very good to here." Grillby replied, earning himself a tired glare. 

"he doesn't know because he wouldn't understand. he would want to fix things- stop them. then they would kill him or me and- and i can't give him that position. not after last time..." Sans replied, rubbing his temples. 

"Last time?" Undyne asked in confusion. 

Sans shook his skull with a quiet groan. "i... look, i keep everything about the timelines with gerson. if you wanna know more about it, talk to him." 

That gave both Undyne and Grillby pause. 

"Gerson? Old man Gerson? The guy who trained me? That Gerson?" Undyne asked disbelievingly. 

Sans gave her a short nod. "he's aware. though he doesn't really do meet ups with the others. too old, he says." 

Undyne leaned back in shock while Papyrus came in with bowls of spaghetti for everyone. "ARE YOU READY TO TRY THE MOST WONDEROUS- Brother? Are You Alright?" 

Papyrus looked worriedly at Sans who shot him a chill smile. "'m fine. just a bit of a headache." He replied. 

Undyne felt a little bad, but Grillby carried on as if nothing happened and a bombshell hadn't been dropped into their laps. 

"It looks and smells delicious, Papyrus. I am excited to try it."

Sans shot the bartender a grateful look as Papyrus handed out bowls for tasting. 

"THANK YOU, GRILLBY! I AM QUITE PROUD OF THIS BATCH!" 

Things continued like normal...

Chapter Text

The Riverperson was always weird, but they seemed extra weird today. 

They seemed to being staring into Undyne's very soul, making her feel defensive and exposed. 

"Could you not stare?" She demanded as she tried to cover her soul further. 

The Riverperson finally turned away with only one thing to say that only confused Undyne more. "Tra la la. Humans, monsters... Flowers."

She was glad to get off the boat with that freak. She really should've run instead. 

Undyne shoved the Riverperson out of mind for now to focus on her objective. 

Gerson. 

Or more specifically what he knew about these resets. 

As much as she would rather be visiting to catch up on old times, Sans wasn't making things easy. Yeah, he told her the basics, but it was clear that was all he was really willing to get into. Specifics seemed... impossible to get out of him and she could only assume it had something to do with the 'bad days'. The genocides maybe. 

Probably. 

Most likely. 

Undyne got a call on the way.

Alphys was checking in, seeing if they were still on for a date tonight. 

"Of course we are! I'm gonna date you so good that your blush with have a blush!" Undyne reassured with confidence. 

It was one of the only things she had confidence in, at the moment. 

Other than cooking and piano, anyway. 

Alphys sputtered over the phone, no doubt already blushing.

"I'll see you tonight, Alphy~" Undyne teased before she hung up. 

She was coming up on Gerson's shop. 

Gerson was as much a hoarder as ever. 

Piles and piles of random shit stacked all the way up to the ceiling. Still though, for all the stuff he had, there was no denying that some of the knick knacks she found were pretty damn cool. 

Undyne couldn't help glancing around for anything new that was added to the collection. 

"Well, good mornin' cap'n!" Gerson greeted from his desk in the back. 

"Good morning, old man!" Undyne waved to the old tortoise as she gave him her full attention. 

Gerson's expression changed from curious to contemplative as Undyne propped herself against his desk. 

"I take it this ain't no social visit, hm?" Gerson cut to the chase as he stroked his little beard. 

Undyne shook her head as she looked her mentor over. She knew that Gerson was well known for his visions and prophecies. Was that why he was aware of the resets? Had he seen it before in his waking dreams?

"I learned about something recently. Sans said you could help me." Undyne finally replied. 

Gerson froze completely and sighed, before opening one of his drawers and pulling out a thick, leather bound journal. "Aye. So it has happened." 

Undyne blinked slowly. "You already knew. You... was it a vision?" 

"... aye." Gerson replied. "Yer here for answers, regarding what the lad knows, yes? It's all here. After every loop, he comes to detail everything in here. Helps him cope, me thinks." He pushed the journal over to Undyne. "Give it a read. It should tide ye over until the human comes." 

Undyne picked up the thick book, frowning. "Great, now I have homework..."

"Wah ha ha! Only if ye think of it as so! It helps me ta get into the lad's mind. Deep thoughts, that one, deep thoughts. An' lots a pain." Gerson became somber, and Undyne looked at the book again. 

"Yeah... alright, fine. I'll read through the thing. Not looking forward to it, though!" Undyne grumbled, making Gerson laugh again. 

"If there's anything ye need explained, I will be here, Cap'n." 

Undyne nodded as she left the shop. 

T1

original timeline?

chara said they died the a week ago. i ain't allowed to tell their parents or dad or asriel. apparently they fell into a trap and broke their neck. i'm gonna have nightmares for weeks. -comic sans gaster

T2

i guess i had been here before, if t1 is anything to go by. this is the second time chara had died. this time, by monster hands. a veteran made bitter by the war, or something. they made me promise not to tell anyone, just like before. i wish i could. timelines are a scientists most exciting discovery. -comic sans gaster

T3

this book must transcend through timelines. this is my third time finding it and finding i already wrote in it. chara died again. i don't know why they keep telling me. i guess i'm the only friend they can turn to. this time it was due to unstable grounds. the ground just swallowed them up from where they were standing. i'm gonna be really careful where i walk from now on. i can't do what they do and i would rather not die. the same promise of not telling was made. -comic sans gaster

T4

i guess i should get over the shock of how many times this has happened already. i wish i could remember these past timelines. maybe i could help chara feel better or something. then again, some of these seem pretty graphic, so maybe it's best i don't. chara was assassinated again, like in t2. chara seems fine, but i doubt it helps with their trust issues. asriel is worried because they won't leave the castle walls. it's not like they can arrest the guy for a crime he hadn't committed yet, so... no justice for chara. on another note, dad made a discovery on a powerful substance in human souls. he calls it determination. tests are going to be conducted soon. i made that promise again. -comic sans gaster

T5

determination hurts. the... the memories are fuzzy. dad thought he could safely extract the dt from chara. i remember screaming. the king and queen were distraught. dad was in handcuffs. i was attacked and then there was red. chara was dead. my soul doesn't feel the same. -csg

T6

i remember it clearly. chara was killed again. i am certain now, that dad had done something to my soul. something with chara's extracted determination. all i can do is try to stop it from happening again, but chara is starting to pull away from everyone. they trust nobody after t4. i can't blame them. i can't find it in myself to trust him either. he's not the hero i thought he was. -csg

T7

something is wrong with gaster. he has been locking himself up in the c.o.r.e. messing with the controls. i think he dosed himself with dt too. he might be trying to take over the timeline? i don't know. he seems to think that the c.o.r.e has something to do with their abilities. i don't know. but this makes me nervous. i need to be ready, just in case. -csg

T8

gaster killed chara. it wasn't an accident. he said something about a save file. i need to stop him. nobody else can. nobody else knows. but what can a kid like me do to protect chara from my own dad? what will he do if i try to interfere?  or if he finds out i'm aware? i should get paps far away before he gets involved. -csg

T9

T10

all throughout t9 he'd tortured me. tried to get into my 'save file'. i guess it was the key to chara's power. he almost got it, but i gave up before he could. i don't know what happened to chara in t9. they are sick though. i'm scared that it's gaster's doing, but he can't find me. if he does, i don't think i have the determination to keep my save file from him. my prayers are with you, chara -sans

T11

it's... been about a month, since the c.o.r.e accident. gaster is nowhere to be found. i can only hope he's gone for good. this is the first time i've been able to use my hands since the accident. the doctors say i can leave in another week. we can stay at snowed inn until i'm back on my feet. chara didn't come back from t10. after they died, asriel absorbed their soul and... died. i... think that the power is mine now. i don't wanna use it if i don't have to. -sans

T12

a human killed my brother. i killed them to see how they liked it. then i killed myself to get him back. -sans

T13

i'm the judge now. killing humans. this wasn't what i wanted, but if it keeps papyrus safe, i'll do what i have to. -sans

T14

i don't have reset anymore. i will find out who does. they need to know this ability isn't something to be fucked with. -sans

T15

a flower killed papyrus. twice. i'm off to kill him now. i tried to warn him. -sans

T37

flowey won't stop. he had possessed papyrus's body like a fucking puppet and made him kill me. i hate this little fucker. -sans

T108

it's never going to stop. flowey possessed me and murdered the entire underground. i'm finding it hard to keep going. there is no positives but my bro. -sanS

T146

for once... something good happened. a human fell down. flowey no longer has the power. i killed him, just to be sure and he hadn't come back. i hope to whatever deity is listening that this human is different. nice, like chara... speaking of. chara isn't gone. their determination... it's still here and not just in me. -sans

T147

i saw the sun for the first time. it was amazing... i thought my bro and i would finally get a happy ending. instead, we are back here. it's still not over yet. keep your hope low. -sans

T367

i died. i tried to save papyrus and i died. he had to play the role of judge for me. how could i be so stupid!?  i've learned my lesson. there is no saving anyone. -sans

T955

i can't i can't i can't i can't I cAn'T i CaN't I CaN't I cAn'T ICAN'TICAN'TICAN'TICAN'T *The rest is illegible*

T1467

undyne knows.

Chapter Text

Undyne decided that she was never gonna touch that book again. While Gerson was right about it helping with figuring out Sans thoughts, it was no wonder Sans stats were as low as they were. There was some gruesome details in there that would be giving her nightmares for days. 

Hopefully a date with Alphy would help improve her mood. 

Of course, Undyne still had her questions as she got dressed for dinner, but she tried not to focus too much on them. 

Who was Flowey? What did Sans mean about Chara not being gone? How did he survive determination? Wasn't that supposed to melt monsters? 

Undyne shook it off. Later, she could think about that later. It was time to focus on Alphy. 

She threw her hair into a ponytail, leaving out just enough hair to cover her eyepatch and not draw attention to her and Alphy, then slipped on her jacket from the last first date she went on. 

To think Sans had done this more than 1400 times. 

It felt weird enough realizing this was her second well, more than that actually, but she wasn't gonna count them seeing as she couldn't remember them first date. 

Yeah, she tried not to dwell on that either, instead heading out into Waterfall to take a run to MTT's where she would meet her beautiful, polka dotted girlfriend. 

No matter how many times Alphys wore that dress, she would always be beautiful. 

Alphys was still trying to adjust the dress when Undyne got there. Alphys was nervous, natually. She didn't do things like this. As far as she was concerned, this was their first date. 

Even though she was still suffering from running in the heat, she had to complement Alphys. She was just too beautiful. 

"Wow, Alphy... you look amazing!" Undyne took Alphys's hands with a huge grin on her face. 

Alphys was already blushing and stuttering as she tried to compliment Undyne back. It only made her giggle like an anime school girl and nuzzle her gently. 

"I mean every word of it, cutie... you look like a queen." And now that Alphys was thoroughly flustered, Undyne guided her through the doors of MTT's to get their reservation. 

Being the girlfriend to Mettaton's creator had it's perks. 

Sans took note of the kids LV. It seemed the route was a neutral run. 

Probably only killing the monsters who annoyed them. Their LV was too low for it to be a genocide. 

Plus they spared Papyrus. 

That was as good a sign as any. 

He watched Paps and the kid head into the house for their little date before he took a shortcut to Hotland to see his oldest friend. 

He knew the kid wouldn't break their own 'rules', especially since they knew Sans knew what was up with Undyne. 

It was probably the only thing keeping them from full on genocide. 

"heya, buddy. it's been a bit, yeah?" Sans waved as the Riverperson's cloak shifted to look at him. 

"Oh great, you're here. Can't mean anything good." They broke their more 'formal nonsense' to jab at Sans, who's grin only grew. 

"oof, that hurts, chara. you wound me." He lazily plopped himself into the boat, feeling it rock slightly under his weight. 

Chara scoffed lightheartedly as a red outline of their form became visible under the cloak. "You always use those stupid shortcuts! You never visit! Can you blame me for being skeptical?" 

Sans shook his head as he glanced away tiredly. "nah. not at all." 

Chara frowned softly, but knew better than to ask. Instead, they asked something else. "So, where are we meeting and when?" 

"the kid promised to stay in snowdin one more day. so tomorrow, in waterfall. undyne lives there anyway, so it works." Sans replied as he rubbed his sockets sleepily. 

"..." 

Chara nodded before holding out a translucent hand. "Phone." 

"mm..? no-" Sans shoved his hands into his pockets. 

"You haven't been getting enough sleep, let me call Papyrus or Grillby or Undyne-" 

"noooooo- 'm fine! can get home and-"

"And what? Stay up, worrying about Frisk's next moves? Wondering if they will go after Undyne now that she's aware? Fearing if the same will happen to Papyrus?" Chara snatched Sans by his hoodie before he even knew the determination ghost was reaching for him. 

His eyelights extinguished as Chara spoke in a serious tone. "I'm not gonna watch you slip into insanity again over your 'what if's' and 'what's next's'. Undyne is a big girl, just like the rest of us, Papyrus will have you if that ever happens, and you have been there since the beginning of all this bullshit. You know Frisk better than anyone, so stop overthinking and do what Comic Sans does best." 

Sans snorted humorlessly at that. "i ain't slipping yet, kid. but, sure, i'll humor you and take a nap." With that, he let himself fall back into the bow before curling up. 

Chara tutted, but didn't stop him as their form faded from sight again. 

Sans had only snapped twice in the thousands of resets. Chara remembered both timelines clearly. Hell, they had helped him, that first timeline, T146 should have never happened. They were just so angry with Frisk and so was Sans. 

At the end of it all, Everyone had been dead and Sans had become something he wasn't. 

Black sockets, liquid hate dripping down, target soul...

Chara had convinced him to totally erase T146 for his own sake, but it had taken a lot of time, transcending many timelines for him to really get back to himself again. 

Chara wondered sometimes if he'd really gone through erasing that timeline or if he'd True Reset so nobody would remember it. 

Or at least never talk about it. 

T955 was something Sans never fully got over. Frisk had broke him and it had taken 55 more resets to get him to stop killing other monsters. 

Sans was still recovering from his 'DUST' route and probably would need the rest of existence to recover from it. 

Chara couldn't blame him for losing it, though. Frisk had been purposely trying to push his buttons and make him snap again. 

The entire Club, including Gerson, worked hard to convince Frisk to stop so they could get Sans to calm down as well. 

The guilt was still there. Over Papyrus and the others in the Awareness Club. 

It wasn't something any of them would bring up to Undyne for a while. Not unless Sans or one of the others slipped. 

That was kinda the point of the club, in Chara's eyes. None of them were alone in this. 

If one of them slipped, the others could bring them back. 

Well, Frisk didn't count. There was no stopping that megalomaniac. 

But, at least they had each other. 

And now Undyne too. 

Chapter Text

Sans had text her early this morning, just before Papyrus came for his lessons. 

He wanted Undyne to meet him at the Waterfall ferry stop. 

Undyne wasn't sure why, and she really wasn't looking forward to it either, especially if it meant interacting with that crazy river monster again. 

Wait, but what if they were aware too? Maybe they were crazy because of the resets. It was pretty clear to Undyne that Sans was really messed up from them.

It scared her, knowing that she was going to be put in the same position. Would she freak out or get as... low as Sans had? Would she go so far as to end her life?

Not for the first time, she shoved those thoughts away as Papyrus knocked on her door, blissfully unaware of everything that was going on the inside. 

It was so unfair to Papyrus. 

But she could get it. Get why Sans refused to tell him. 

She didn't know how she would react, if Papyrus broke. She never realized how much everyone depended on his infectious positivity. It had to be so hard to be him.

"Hey, Paps! You ready to kick some butt today?!" Undyne threw open the door so hard, she was certain there was a dent in her siding. 

Oh well.

Papyrus saluted her immediately, unaffected by her rough behaviors.

Like teacher, like student, after all. 

"YES MA'AM! I AM READY TO KICK BUTT!" Papyrus drilled. 

Undyne gave him a manic grin. "Great, because the lesson starts right NOW!" She summoned her spear and Papyrus responded in kind, summoning a bone to deflect her weapon. 

The game was on, and she could continue her existence as normal for just a little bit longer. 

Because it wouldn't be long before the reality of that journal hit hard. 

Undyne immediately wanted to turn around and go home. 

She wasn't the first person to the meeting location, it was Riverperson. 

She didn't wanna be stuck with the creepy ass Riverperson. 

"Tra la la, don't just stand there, Captain. You're being creepy, looking at me like that." They looked at Undyne from under the endless void of their hood. 

Yeah, like they were one to talk. "Dude, you're creepy like every day with your crazy messages and stuff!" 

The Riverperson only proved Undyne's point as their red eyes and mouth appeared from freaking nowhere, making Undyne take a step back. "WHO ARE YOU CALLING CREEPY?! I'M TRYING TO BE CRIPTIC, YOU OVERGROWN GUPPY!!!" 

"Geez, Chara, you don't have to yell." Undyne looked down as something wrapped around her leg, a vine. 

"What the-" A Flower's face popped into hers from her right shoulder. 

"So you remember the resets too, huh? Too bad it didn't happen sooner, I would have loved to play with you." The flower cackled manically. 

"What the literal fuck-?" Undyne was getting seriously bad vibes and tried to brush him off, but the flower only caught her hand, tisking. 

"It won't be as easy as that to get rid of me-EEEEE-" The plant was tore off her shoulder and dropped as Sans sauntered over. 

Beside him was a human child. 

"i think this is everybody." Sans looked over the group while the weed grumbled. 

Undyne watched magic spark in Sans eye and the flower instantly shut up, ducking into the ground to reappear near the boat.

Frisk frowned softly at the plant... monster? "I hope you weren't causing Undyne any trouble, Flowey."

Flowey looked annoyed, but shook his head. "Just getting a closer look, is all."

"great, if that's it, let's get introductions out of the way." Sans clapped his hands together all business like as he plopped himself down in the dirt.

"so, you read it?" 

The question confused Undyne for a moment, but she knew what he was talking about. "Yeah, I have a lot of questions."

Sans nodded. "we can clear all that up. bet i can do that right now, actually." He jabbed a thumb at Frisk. "you remember the kid. current wielder of reset. pretty much can do what they want with our lives and it won't matter." 

Now Frisk had that frown turned to Sans. "Why do you have to say it like that?" They asked, but to Undyne, it didn't look like Sans cared. 

"just telling it how it is... then we got weed here, he's an experiment of alphys's made from determination and the prince's dust. make no mistake though, al didn't know any better." 

"It's Flowey." Flowey growled out at Sans, though he ducked away as soon as Sans shifted in place. 

Undyne could sense some major bad blood, and she could understand why. This was the guy who killed Papyrus and possessed both brothers in some timelines. Wait... had he tried to possess her, not to long ago?

"weed," Sans empathized, "had reset after me. he's soulless, so don't expect much from him unless it benefits him. then there is the riverperson, or as we know them, chara."

"Saaaaans, she called me creepy!" Chara complained/tattled on Undyne. 

"You called me creepy first!" Undyne shot back. 

Sans heaved out a sigh, looking like he was about to fall face first in the dirt with done-ness. "to be fair, you are just a literal ghost of human determination. that's not exactly normal, as far as i'm aware. plus your posing as a taxi..." 

Chara seemed to ponder this before shrugging. "Huh, I guess you have a point." 

Wait. 

Hold up. 

Undyne stared at Chara and Flowey. 

"YOU GUYS ARE THE ROYAL CHILDREN?!?!?!" 

Chapter Text

"yep, that they are. straight outta the book." Sans replied boredly. "an' if ya wanna be technical, so is frisk, as tori's unofficially adopted kid. it's really nothin' too special, once you're around 'em long enough." 

Chara gasped dramatically. "So hurtful! After all I've done for you!" 

"possess my body to get back at frisk and give my bro and i free boat rides on occasion? oh, yeah, thanks." Sans rolled his eyelights. 

Undyne was still trying to process the shock she was going through.

"I GAVE YOU GOOD ADVICE TOO! IF IT WEREN'T FOR ME, YOU'D STILL BE TEETERING ON THE EDGE THERE!" Chara all but shrieked, but Sans still didn't really budge. Living with Papyrus had so many perks. 

"ok, yeah, fair. i'll give ya that one." Sans yawned. "i think imma take a nap here. why doncha get to know each other or somethin' like that?" 

"I think Undyne is a little broken at the moment for that." Frisk pointed out, but if there was one thing Sans could get away with, it was falling asleep.

They were already alone with Undyne. 

"I have half a mind to kill that Smiley Trashbag right now..." Flowey raised his vines, but Frisk crossed their arms, pulling out a toy knife. "You can certainly do that, but that would only get you killed, and I don't want anyone dying unless I say so."

Flowey cowered away while Chara laughed. "Besides, you know Sans will get you back by next reset, ten fold. It's not worth it, bro." 

"DON'T CALL ME THAT!" Flowey barked angrily at Chara, reminiscent of an angry Chihuahua. 

"You're... they Royal Children..." Undyne finally repeated, as if trying to affirm it into her mind. It was so hard to believe...

"Uuuuugggghhhh, we've already been over this! Yeah! I was your stupid little crybaby prince, once upon a time ago!" Flowey hissed.

"You're still a crybaby, Flowey." Chara mocked. "It just comes out in baby tantrums instead~" They sing songed. 

Flowey immediately shot vines through their cloak, impaling them. 

"Wait- Chara-!" Undyne went to help, but they only cackled like a hyena. 

"You can't kill what's already deeeeaaad~" Chara continued to laugh. 

"I could prove you wrong." Frisk shrugged noncommittally. 

Undyne still couldn't believe it. 

She was meeting the son and adopted child... children? Of Asgore and Toriel's. 

And they were nothing like she was expecting. 

As the children argued, Undyne thought about the stories she'd heard from people who'd known them. 

The sweet and kind prince who was shy around others and sacrificed his life just to fulfill his siblings dying wish.

The boastful, but well meaning human who wanted to save monsterkind by enacting the ultimate sacrifice. 

Well, not much about Chara seemed to have changed. They still seemed boastful and well meaning... but Sans did say something about them possessing his body? She would have to ask about that. 

Flowey, was certainly not Asriel. He was mean and manipulative. Murder-y and itching to fight. 

Then there was Frisk. She had nothing on Frisk but what Sans had told her and the little bit she saw herself. 

It was obvious to Undyne that this was all just a game and they were expected to play by some unknown rules. They were being nice, but only because they were trying to figure out if Undyne would continue to fit their mold, or break it and get punished, as Sans had warned about. 

"You're staring again." Chara snapped Undyne out of her observations, the vines now removed from their cloak. "Come on over! You can sit in my boat!" 

Undyne hesitated and looked over at the fuming flower. 

"Him? Don't worry about that toddler, he's harmless! Besides, the best worst case is Flowey kills you and Frisk resets to bring you back! It's both a blessing and a curse." Chara reassured. 

Frisk gave Chara a flat look. "And if I don't?" 

"It would be going against your 'rules', wouldn't it~?" Chara all but purred. 

Frisk made a face, but grumbled in agreement. 

That was how they all ended up in the boat, Chara guiding them through the currents. 

"Where are we going?" Undyne asked. 

"To prank Sans." Chara replied with a mischievous smirk. "Duh." 

Undyne turned to Frisk to elaborate while they made sure Sans was still asleep. "A prank?" 

"There's this small outcropping Chara found exploring the different rivers and such. They want to strand him there and see if he wakes up first, or falls in." Frisk explained.

"He won't be in any actual danger. The water is deep and the current is weak, this time of day. Plus, he can teleport." Chara added in helpfully, as if Undyne were going to argue against them. 

"Fu huhuhuh! Count me in punks! It's about time the prankster gets pranked!" Sans had pranked Undyne so many times that she had to take the opportunity! It was still weird being with the royal children, but this? 

Well, she could definitely get behind this.

"Great, another one..." Flowey grumbled. "Can I leave, yet?" 

"Sure," Chara chirped, "if you can swim!"

Flowey peeked over the ledge and looked from where the were to the shore...

No way in hell he was making it. 

"Stars dammit..." 

"There it is!" Chara pointed out the outcropping they would be leaving Sans on. 

Undyne immediately crossed the boat to get the skeleton. "I've got the rest..." She smirked and jumped, easily clearing the gap between the boat and the outcropping. 

When Sans did wake up, he was in for a chilly surprise.  

Chapter Text

Sans never said whether he fell in or not. He was probably trying to save a little bit of dignity. 

Frisk moved on and Undyne was still expected to play her part, chasing the little human around and trying to keep MK from them. 

That was probably for the best, since Undyne didn't know Frisk's intentions for this run. 

... 

Or any run, for that matter. 

So, that's what Undyne did, or tried to do anyway.

It was all so weird, doing the same things again and being aware you'd said and done them before.

It was a surprise Sans could, after hundreds of these. 

Then again, maybe all those resets had trained him for this and sooner or later, Undyne would be a pro at it too. 

Though... she had to wonder, was there a way? 

A way to stop Frisk? Get their lives back? Everyone else had the power to reset but Undyne, so what was her role in this 'Awareness Club'? What could she do? How much determination did she possess to get to this point? 

Could she be the one to stop the resets once and for all?

All late night musings after an eventful day of chasing Frisk into Hotland and it couldn't be long now before the her date with Alphys again...

Her Alphy, who couldn't know anything about this, her Alphy, who probably knew more about these weird soul powers of Frisk's than anyone and everyone said that she couldn't know. 

That she would forget, by next reset. 

But...

Couldn't Undyne...

Just try?

Undyne wrote Alphys a letter. 

It was a love letter with a little more that she hoped Alphys could decode without Frisk realizing and taking it out on the Underground. 

Things about the resets and about Frisk's soul. Undyne wasn't good at the secretive stuff, but for this, she really tried. 

Hopefully the 12 year old wouldn't notice or try and figure it out themselves, if they found it. 

Undyne carried it over to the lab herself, before heading to MTT's to get herself a legendary hero. 

Undyne wasn't a fan of Mettaton's dramatics, but she could appreciate a good sandwich that would boost her attack. 

Undyne took a seat at the bench outside. Soon. Soon Frisk would finish this. 

Soon they would reset the world again, but if Undyne could get Alphys to remember, maybe next reset they could work together to stop Frisk and the resets and there wouldn't be any need for this stupid club. 

As fun as meeting the Royal Children was, they had to know that this wasn't right. 

They couldn't stay in this time loop forever. 

Frisk's actions had to have consequences. 

"Hey, Undyne. You're not normally here." Frisk stopped in front of her as she looked up. 

"Uh, yeah. Sorry. It's gonna take me a minute to get used to doing the same routine as last reset." Undyne only half lied, because that was true. It would take time to get used to repeating herself over and over. 

Frisk shrugged. "Yeah, I bet. It took Sans a couple resets too. Just be careful not to change the game, ok?" 

Undyne nodded. "Yeah, Frisk. I understand." 

Undyne was in the Dump during Asgore and Frisk's fight, looking for Alphys so they could talk. It was where Undyne had asked to meet her in the letter and she could only hope that Alphys had come. 

When she spotted her, Undyne nearly melted. Alphys was still beautiful in that dress, her scales shined beautifully in the dim Waterfall light, and her face was so kissable. 

Undyne adjusted her leather jacket before approaching her. "Hey, Alphy..."

The lizard was quick to blush as she turned to Undyne. "U-Undyne! H-hi..." 

"I'm glad you could come, babe... you look awesome in that dress!" She smiled a crooked smile at her girlfriend and Alphys turned ten shades redder. 

"Th-thank you... I-I wasn't s-sure you'd, um... a-anyway... about that... that letter..." 

Undyne took a deep breath and took Alphys's hand. "I know it's hard to believe, trust me, but you know I don't get all that science crap. I just- I don't know who else to turn to, but you..."

"I believe you, Undyne." Alphys looked up at Undyne, eyes wide. "Th-there is an anomaly within the t-timeline that nobody should know a-about but me... s-so I believe you... and I wanna help you..." 

Undyne released a breath she hadn't known she'd been holding. "Ok... so the human is gonna reset soon, Alphy, and you might forget, ok? I'll come back though, and tell you again, then we can stop Frisk. Together." 

Alphys squeezed Undyne's hand with a shy smile. "Together..." She agreed. "W-who else knows? K-Knows about the human's a-ability?" 

Undyne sighed deeply. "A few, not many, but enough. Sans is one of them, believe it or not." 

"Really?!" Alphys gasped. 

"Yeah," Undyne told her, "really. Walk with me, babe. I can tell you all about it" 

Undyne and Alphys started to walk, the lizard leaning into the fish as Undyne slipped her arm around Alphys and told her all about what had happened this reset.