Sans felt his tail curl around his pelvis nervously, watching everyone else get hauled down into further cells. If they hadn't been associated with him, they wouldn't be in this mess. Sometimes Sans wanted to curl into a ball and scream.

This wasn't fair! Why did everyone always assume he was lying? Sans wasn't! He wasn't even sure how they got in Wonderland in the first place, how some well could lead into the depths of Wonderland.

"At least she didn't threaten to execute you guys," Sans told Alphys, running a hand over his skull.

Alphys nodded in agreement. "I thought the Queen of Hearts was a terrible person, how come she isn't executing us?"

Their cell was cold and damp, as one expected. Moss clung to a corner, the smell lingering in the air. Not the best place to be, especially since their friends were separated.

"She seems that way to other people to ensure Wonderland isn't invaded. Since Wonderland has a lot of valuable things that could be used for evil. If anyone got ahold on our mushrooms and drugged a mass food provider in any other world, that can't detect Wonderland drugs, it'd be chaos. Not to mention how many resources we have here. Queen Toriel only really goes out of her way to make sure her people are safe, so I can't even blame her for any of this. She doesn't kill innocent people, so she won't be killing you guys. She only hates me because, ya know... my face."

That was one thing, no matter where Sans went, would never fully change. The problem with skeletons. And honestly, he couldn't blame anyone, either. As easy as it would be to hate everyone who thought he was evil, he couldn't bring himself to do it. They were taught that destinies were everything, and this was the first time someone from Sans' family would break through the cycle. Not to mention, he hated his Dad as well. The enemy of his enemy was a friend.

"Queen Toriel has a Wonderland style of ruling, so it probably won't make sense to some people, but you need a certain type of ruler for Wonderland. Your Mom is a great Queen on earth, Alph, but she wouldn't work in Wonderland."

Sans wasn't exactly sure how he felt about Queen Toriel. If he wasn't a skeleton, he would have probably liked her. She was a decent ruler. But their history didn't let Sans just overlook what had happened, and he certainly wouldn't be all dandy with her if she threatened his friends.

If it wasn't for destinies, things would be so much easier. Yet, destinies remained, so he'd have to adapt.

Alphys moved to sit down, ignoring the way a puddle of water soaked her expensive gown. After moving her hand against the floor, she suddenly winced, prying it away.

"You okay?" Sans asked.

The small lizard brought up her hands, marked with the burn of a rope. "They tied me up too much, it left some marks... ow..."

The skin didn't look good. It looked red, likely going to leave it stinging for at least a day. Seeing the injury, Sans scooted forward on the floor, positing himself right in front of Alphys.

"What are you -"

Alphys was cut off when he softly cupped her hands, letting some of his blue magic flow out of his finger tips. "Healing ya."

Her eyes went wide, staring at the small cloud of blue. It wasn't at all like the violent magic cloud outside, the one his Father put there. Alphys could still remember it vividly, even from the depths of a castle. The way the storm brewed, lingering in the air with a dark purple hue, ready to crash down onto Wonderland at any given point. Separating it from any other world.

The magic creeping along her skin was different. It was soft, almost like silk, gently wrapping around her like a comforting blanket. She could almost sense the care, the friendship, the love for his friends that Sans held.

"Is this how you healed Grillby?" Alphys asked, quiet.

"Yeah, kinda," Sans said.

A second passed before he drew his hands away, giving Alphys some space to realize what he had done. The marks were completely gone, and they didn't sting anymore.

"When I was younger, I was terrified of my magic. I thought if I used it, I'd be like my Dad. I never really grew out of that, but it was way worse back then." Sans wrapped his hands around his knees. "My Mom was really helpful about it. I like being able to use magic, because it means I can save the people I care about."

Alphys stared at her hands. He didn't have to heal her. It wasn't a big injury. But he did, because he cared about her.

"Excuse me."

Alphys stood up, walking to the bars of their cell. A set look was twisted onto her face as she pounded at the bars, demanding for a guard.

"Stop that," A guard said, walking up to their cell.

"Take me to the Queen." Alphys crossed her arms to hid her trembling hands, sucking in a breath.

"On whose authority?" He asked.

"On the authority of Alphys White, daughter of Snow White, I demand to be taken to the Queen of Hearts!" Alphys jabbed a finger towards the card from between the bars. "And if I'm not brought before it at this very instant, I will guarantee that my Mother will bring an army to Wonderland as a response for holding me captive!"

The card stared at her for a moment before nodding, pulling out a pair of keys and opening the bar doors for Alphys to leave through. "R-Right this way, Princess Alphys."

~~~~~~

"Sans?"

Sans curled underneath the table, tears threatening to fall from his eye sockets. He blinked a few times, glancing upwards at his Mother. She was crouched next to the table, head tilted to the side as she watched him.

"What are you doing down there?" She asked.

"I don't want to use my magic anymore." Sans curled against his body, shaking his head.

"Why not?"

He shrugged. "It's scary. I don't want to become evil."

After a moment, the Cheshire cat sat down under the table next to him. She tapped her hand to gain his attention, letting him watch as it shimmered away into sparkles.

"Magic may not be very common, but Cheshire's have it as well as skeletons," She said, "Am I evil?"

"No."

"Is Kitty evil?"

Sans rubbed his arms lightly. "... No."

"Let's say Snow White grabbed a gun and shot your Father. Would you say she's Evil for defending her people?"

"No."

"Sans, just because you have magic, that doesn't mean you're evil. It doesn't guarantee anyone to do any evil, or good. It's what you choose to use your magic for that says who you are. And you're a little prankster, just like your Mommy and older sister. C'mon kid, let's go watch a movie."

Sans turned towards her, before gently smiling. "Okay Mommy."

~~~~~~

Holy crap, that actually worked?

Alphys pushed her arms together, following the two guards that led her to the throne room. She didn't think she'd have much authority here, and that was something she actually had been hoping for. To be normal. To walk down a hallway, and have people not turn their heads towards you.

And now, she wanted to retain her power. Because she could use it to save the people she cared about.

Seeing Sans' magic compared to his Father's finally broke down the last doubt she held about magic. Magic and White's never did mix well, since the use of magic only brought about misfortune in their destinies. She knew Sans wouldn't use his magic on her, but still, seeing him use his skeletal magic always brought a twinge of fear she'd feel guilt over. And he used it to heal her.

Her arms tingled with anxiety, but she swallowed that away, forcing herself into a straightened posture. She had to do this, for all of them. For Undyne, Papyrus, Grillby, Kitty, and Sans.

To think, before school started, she hated her name. She hated her face, she hated everything about her. And instead of turning her away, using her with fake smiles like everyone else, her friends didn't do that. They all cared about her, and her them, so she was going to use what power she felt horrified at before to protect them.

Don't get her wrong, she still had no plans of taking over the throne. Once she and Undyne graduated, she wanted to move into a nice little home with her, near all of her friends, and live the simple life for herself she's always wanted.

To think she was ever scared of magic. What she should be scared of was who held that magic. The Evil King.

She felt horrible about ever assuming Sans' magic might hurt her. In the end, they shared quite a lot of problems, despite being from such different sides of their destinies. They both were misjudged, thrown into situations by their heritage neither wanted. Sans didn't want to poison her, Alphys didn't want to be poisoned.

Her body felt tense, but she carried on throughout the hallway. Her battle with anxiety has always been a factor in her life, she couldn't remember a time before it. It was something, in the end, she'd always have to live with. But she wanted to work towards a world where both her and Sans could walk into a room, without anyone batting an eye.

When they arrived back into the throne room, Alphys stiffened in shock from the sight before her. Queen Toriel and King Asgore, the rulers of Wonderland, lacked any presence within the throne room. Instead, sitting in the large throne, was a person. Their brown hair was swept to the side, revealing two large pink circles on each cheek, red eyes narrowing at Alphys.

"The Queen of Hearts and her husband had business to take care of right after you left for the dungeon," The frog from earlier explained, bowing just like before towards the eldest child of the goat monsters. "Behold, the next Ruler of Wonderland, Chara Heart."