Hello again! As always, enjoy the chapter!
-Huntz

- -previously- -

Picking it up, he looked it over. It was a drawing of three figures. Whoever had drawn it wasn't very good at drawing in the first place, and on top of that it was hastily drawn with a shaky hand. It seemed to be a family of three skeletons. Two of them looked kind of like the two that had stood out to him in the photo. The other was smaller, seemingly a child.

He was probably just mistaken but... was that him?

- - -

He set the drawing down. He could look at it closer later. His attention was caught by a drawer next to him. He grabbed the handle and pulled it open. It held a mess of papers, all of which were covered in writing, presumably notes. Pictures of the shorter and taller skeleton from before lay mixed into the mess. The more pictures he saw of the two, the more he was convinced that he knew them from somewhere. He searched through the drawer, stacking notes in a neat pile and stacking any pictures he found in another.

He had reached the bottom of the drawer when he noticed a slip of paper wedged in the back of it, pressed against the side. He pulled it out of the drawer. It was covered in writing. He flipped it over to see another picture of the two skeletons, but this time there was a third. A smaller skeleton, probably a child, was sitting on the shoulders of the teenager. There was no doubt this time. That was definitely him.

He tried to think back into his childhood and remember the two for the umpteenth time, but still couldn't. He sighed. Flipping the picture back over, he read the writing on the back.

"Hey, g. i'm sorry about what happened. i didn't mean for any of this, didn't mean for you to fall. i don't know if you'll ever see this, or if you're even still alive. i just want to tell you what's happening. i'm forgetting. no reason to sugarcoat that. everything you taught me, all of my memories of you... i've already forgotten some. soon enough, i'll be just like everyone else, unaware that you ever existed. i've already forgotten how to read wingdings. by the time i realized it, it was too late. i translated all i could of your blueprints and documents, but i lost most of it. i shouldve made a chart. i'm trying to preserve what knowledge i can, but with how things are with my brother, i don't have much time to work on anything. im forgeting alot. even now i find that I cant remember much at all about you. papyrus already forgot. its hapened so fast. ive ben riting this leter over a few days and i alredy know that soon i will barley be able to reed or rite. even now i have troble tryng to rite. im so scared. im forgeting evrything. im sorry .

....dad

-sans"

He took in this new information. So the smaller skeleton's name was Sans? This 'G' person was his father... He could only guess that the smaller skeleton in the drawing was the brother he'd mentioned in the note.

Wait... does that mean he was my brother? I don't remember...

Papyrus shook his head. So the 'G' person is my father? What happened to him? What happened to Sans?

He regarded the picture for a moment more, before setting it down on the counter and picking up the stack of notes. He looked through them, trying to find more clues as to what had happened. One folder in particular caught his eye.

"We don't know much about alternate timelines. The theory is that every choice splits off the main timeline, and alters the course of our reality. Each is so important that going back to change even the smallest of details could severely alter our reality, and maybe even cause a tear in time space. Two timelines intersecting could be catastrophic, and changing that sort of thing could very well cause it.

According to our research, there is more than just our universe and group of timelines in existence. Other dimensions in the multiverse, as we call it, have their own laws, functions, and intents. If we could get into these universes and study them, we could make great advancements in studies."

Under it, a few stains dotted the paper, as if someone had cried on it. The text there was smudged, but he could make it out. It was the same rushed handwriting from before.

"the experiment failed. g's gone. i don't know what happened to him, if he's still alive or anything. he fell into the transporter in one of the secret rooms of the core. i don't know if he reached another timeline, universe, or even another multiverse if those exist, but he's no longer here. i was the only one who saw him fall. no one seems to remember him, not even papyrus."

So Gaster went missing and only Sans remembered him? That would explain why he couldn't recall him, but what about the other?

He kept looking through the notes until he found a sheet of paper completely covered in the messy writing.

"3-5-2057:"

That's funny... he thought. That date is today...

He shook his head and continued reading. I'll figure it out later.

"pap became the head of the royal guard last week. says i have to call him "boss". i don't have any time for research anymore. he makes me get up at 5:00, and by the time i get home, it's already 11:00. "boss" probably wouldn't let me leave the house anyways. i could try teleporting, but the fact that i'm an insomniac combined with how little time I get to sleep has really lowered my magic levels. i'd probably be fine if it weren't for my one hp. one mistake and poof, i'll be a pile of dust. can't have that happening."

Wait... if that's me... why would I make my own brother call me Boss? And how was this guy still alive if he only had one hp?

He continued reading.

"3-30-2057

boss made me put on a coller today. he says it shows that i belong to him. i dont. i tried to tell him that but he hit me.

i have to much truble riting these. i now im suposed to now more than this. i just cant remember why. i can barly reed my notes so i dont now what i forgot. i just hope it dosnt get worse..."

The entry ended there, but under it there was one more line of text. This one had no date.

"it got worse. im an idiot. i shood have seen this coming. boss keeps hurting me. he-"

It cut off as if the writer had been startled. No other writing was on the page. Papyrus sighed. He'd have to figure it out. Maybe Alphys can help.

(Hello hi yes this is just a note. I'm kinda basing what's happening to Sans on what happened to Charlie in the book "Flowers for Algernon". If you haven't read it, I would highly suggest doing so. It's a really really REALLY good book.)
- - -

Stretch's head shot off his pillow, and he gasped, soul still beating wildly from the nightmare. Slowly, he became aware that he was in his room. He turned his head, looking for something. What am I looking for? He asked himself. He found that he didn't really know. He should know.... He sighed, shaking his head. What was that dream, anyways?

He shrugged and climbed out of bed. Eh. Better get up. Bro's gonna want me up soon anyways.

He threw on his trademark orange hoodie and proceeded towards the door of his room. He was just reaching for the door knob when the door itself was flung open from the other side. He scarcely had time to dodge it, ending up staggering a few feet backwards, panting from the sudden start.

"yeesh, bro. almost killed me ther-" He was cut off as Blue pulled him into a tight hug. "uhh... sans?"

The smaller skeleton was trembling, crying into his brother's hoodie.

"P-pap! Y-you're okay!"

"...bro? why wouldn't i be okay?"

"H-he k-killed you... and then he turned on me and I knew he was gonna kill me too and I just couldn't- and Red! He was so- and I couldn't- I couldn't protect you!"

Stretch watched, confused, as Blue broke down in his arms. "sans, what are you talking about? who hurt you?"

"D-don't you remember?"

"no, i don't know what you're talking about..."

"Oh." Blue sighed, letting go of Stretch as his crying died down. Looking past him, he raised a nonexistent eyebrow. "Where's Red?"

"who?"

Blue stared at his brother, shocked and rather dumbfounded.

"He's me, but... I think you called him more edgy? I don't know."

"uhhhh i'm pretty sure i'd remember if i ever knew someone like that." Stretch frowned.

Blue was silent for a moment, thinking. "You said he was from a different universe? I don't understand that very well, but maybe it'll help? We were both Sans, so you called him Red and me Blue. He never wanted to call you Papyrus for some reason, though."

"well then what did he call me?" Stretch asked, becoming more confused by the second.

"He always called you Stretch..." He turned his head at the sharp intake of breath that came from beside him. "Paps?"

Stretch didn't respond. He stared ahead, as if stuck in a trance. "red," he breathed.

Suddenly, he seemed to snap out of it. He turned to Blue, a panicked expression on his face. "blue! what happened? i was- and you were- and red's brother...!" his eyes darkened. "if i ever find that bastard, he'll wish he'd never been born."

"Paps!" Blue yelled. "We can't exactly find him very easily. Neither of us even know what happened after... well..."

Stretch flinched, absentmindedly bringing his hand to cover his ribcage. Blue regarded him sadly.

"what happened after i..." He trailed off, but succeeded in getting his message across.

"The other you... s-stabbed my eye socket... I-it hurt.. so bad... R-red was begging for him to stop hurting me and he said he would but then-" He covered his face with his hands, dropping to the floor and curling into himself. "H-he dropped me and I thought he was actually going to leave.... b-but he summoned a bone and held it up... and Red yelled something but I just... It h-hurt so bad, papy..." He sobbed.

Stretch was quick to comfort him.

"brother, calm down... it's okay, now." he hesitated.

Blue nodded. "W-we need to find Red, though."

"yeah... i think i know how we can find him... it's going to take a long time, though. i can only hope that he can hang in there long enough."

- - -

Red shuddered, curling up in the snow as he had every night. His shorts and jacket were gone. It wasn't like they'd protected much, as torn and tattered as they were, but without them, he felt... bare. And that was exactly what he was, he supposed. Not a single scrap of clothing other than the restraining collar around his neck. He didn't really even know if that could be considered clothing.

He shivered violently, trying in vain to warm his freezing bones. He could only think about the fact that he'd forgotten. How could he have forgotten? He didn't even know what he forgot but he knew that it was something that he shouldn't have to struggle to remember. He hadn't wanted to forget, but his master had forced the memories away.

After doing this, his master had... used him... again. This time, instead of tossing him outside to a painful landing and then throwing his clothes at him, Sans had not bothered with anything past throwing him to the ground and leaving him there, feeling dirty, disgusting, and, soon after, freezing.

He fell into an exhausted unconsciousness, painfully slowly.

He woke up to the front door slamming open.

Instead of being kicked or hit, he felt the invasive magic in his mind again. What did master want? Red started when his life began slipping away. Not in the sense that he was dying, though. He felt his experiences, his past feelings, and his old thoughts and fears begin to escape from his grasp. soon there would be nothing left. He could see the pieces of his memories floating away. It was almost mesmerizing. He felt a tug at his hands. He looked down. What he was holding looked like a word. It wasn't in any language he had ever seen, but its meaning spoke to him without any reading.

"red," he breathed, almost silently. "my name is red."

The last of his memories flowed by. He felt so... empty. His name was all he had left. He held it closer to him, as if it were a precious treasure. Red.

It tried to pull away from him. No! My name is Red, he insisted to himself. In his desperation to remember this one small word, he lost concentration, loosened his grip. The name slipped through his phalanges, flowing away from him.

He was suddenly back in the snow.

"Are you ready to cooperate, now?" Master asked.

"yes, master." he answered flatly, devoid of any feeling.

He was still exhausted, but his mind screamed at him to please his master, to not miss a single order.

"Heel," Sans grinned evilly.

"yes," he said, again.

He stumbled behind his master. Why did he have to stumble? He was letting master down by doing it. He began to tremble. He did not want to see his owner angry. He picked up his pace and struggled not to trip, despite his utter exhaustion. Anything to please his master.

- - -

(Oh Ye S I DI d JuS T eND It Th 3rE)

- - -

"The pancakes are done!" Russel announced, serving the pancakes onto three different plates. "Could you go get Sans up, Jazz?"

Jazz stiffened, but nodded. He could do that.

He slowly walked to the stairs and began climbing them. He shook more and more as he neared the other skeleton's room.

He's not M'lord. I'm fine. He won't hurt me. He reminded himself with every step. He paused with his hand on the doorknob, then, bracing himself, he opened the door.

"s-sans?" he called into the room, the name still unfamiliar in his mouth.

"nnnghg... jus' gimme like two years, paps.... i'll be up... mmgh..." Sans groaned tiredly.

Jazz steadied his shaking hands as best as he could before moving into the room.

"r-russel says you need to g-get up..." The skeleton across the room made no move to do so. "...s-sans?"

"ughghghg fiiiine." Sans grumbled saltily.

He sat up in the bed and looked across the room at Jazz, who froze with a startled squeak. His half-awake eyelights realized that he was talking not to his brother, but to the taller skeleton's doppelgänger.

"oh... 'sup, other paps... tell my bro i'll be down in a minute. i'm just a bit bone tired right now."

Jazz's head snapped up upon hearing the pun. "y-y-you like puns?" He asked.

Sans nodded.

He still didn't know how he felt about talking to Sans, but he hadn't heard or made a joke in so long... he'd always loved them. Maybe... just maybe...

"o-o-oh, so you have a-a.... fu-funny bone?" He asked timidly.

Sans stared at him with an unreadable expression.

"s-sorry!" Jazz stuttered. "i-i won't make any more puns! p-p-please d-don't-!"

"woah, kiddo! calm down! i'm not mad! tibia honest, that was a great pun!" Sans smiled reassuringly.

He stood up from the bed, found his jacket on the floor, slipped it on, and walked towards the door.

Jazz immediately moved out of Sans's, not wanting to get in the way and make the other skeleton mad at him. Sans walked by him and towards the stairs. Jazz stood still, unsure of what to do.

Sans turned to look at him. "ya comin'?"

He nodded quickly and followed close behind Sans's heels, like he'd been taught to. The shorter skeleton noticed this, but said nothing, opting not to make the taller skeleton more uncomfortable than he already was.

They reached the living room and Sans flopped down on the couch. Jazz, not knowing any better, sat down next to his knees, on the floor.

Sans regarded him curiously. "why're you sitting on the floor again?"

Jazz flinched. "i-i'm sorry! i-i'm just a-always s-s-supposed to s-sit on the floor.... m-m-m'lord says that m-m-mutts a-aren't allowed on f-furniture..."

Sans felt a spike of anger. How could any version of him be so cruel to his own brother? Jazz must have sensed the other skeleton's mood somehow, because he flinched violently and curled up, shaking.

"i-i'm sorry i m-m-made you mad! ple-please d-don't p-punish me!" he sobbed out, curling up and hugging his knees.

Sans was off the couch and next to him in an instant. He wrapped his arms around the shuddering mess and rubbed comforting circles into his back, as he did whenever Russel had a nightmare.

"h-hey, kiddo, it's okay," he reassured. "i'm not mad at you. even if i was, i would never hurt you. you're safe here, okay?"

Jazz relaxed a minuscule amount. "...s...s-safe?" The word was still very unfamiliar to him.

Sans nodded, still rubbing the other's back. "yes."

Jazz smiled slightly, tears still threatening to spill down his cheeks. "th-thank you..."

He'd come to the conclusion that this skeleton was nothing like his lord. For one, he was shorter and somehow... chubbier. For another, his voice was quieter, and maybe a bit deeper. He didn't have a crack on his eye socket, and his teeth were smooth, unlike his counterpart's razor-sharp smile. The blue jacket he wore- blue, not purple like his lord's scarf - smelled like ketchup, not dust, fear, and despair.

The smaller skeleton pulled away from the hug and smiled at Jazz. "you okay now, buddy?

Jazz nodded. Sans stood up and stuck his hand out to the other. "here, i'll help you up."

Jazz hesitated a moment, before reaching up and grabbing the other's hand with his good arm. Sans, being surprisingly strong for his small-ish size, pulled him up to his feet easily. He then turned to walk to the kitchen.

Jazz stood still, unsure of what to do.

Russel, who was standing in the doorway to the kitchen, smiled at him. "You can wait on the couch if you want, Jazz. I'll bring the pancakes out there."

Jazz nodded and tentatively sat down on the couch. He pressed himself against the armrest, trying to take up as little space as possible.

Russel disappeared back into the kitchen, followed by his brother.

"why'd ya call him jazz?" Sans asked as he grabbed two of the plates of pancakes from the counter.

"Well we can't both be Papyrus, so he's Jazz and I'm Russel."

"that makes sense... why jazz though?"

"He likes jazz music."

"ah."

Russel grabbed the other plate an three forks and brought them into the living room, followed by Sans. He sat down on the couch next to Jazz, and Sans sat next to him after handing the extra plate he carried to the third skeleton.

Sans grabbed a remote from on the couch and switched the TV on.

Russel glanced over at Jazz to see him smiling, and to his complete delight, relaxed. Jazz himself felt the safest he had in years. He wanted to stay there forever.

WELL THIS IS LATE

SORRY

anyways

I'll just leave this here now bye