Welcome to the last major project of my Abovetale series! I say major, because I know I have many one-shots left, but for projects this long? Highly doubtful.

This story occurs a year after the events of "All This And Heaven Too", which is also a sequel to "Too Heavy a Burden", which is also a sequel to "Delilah". So don't read this thing unless you've read the others.

Some warnings:
-violence
-politics
-oc child character

And if there's more I will add.

Like the previous three, this one borrows its title and chapter names from a song, called "The Queen of Peace" by Florence + The Machine. It's a beautiful song, one I love to listen to over and over when writing Undertale fic, so I recommend it.

Prologue: Blood is Running Deep

Years into the future, when there was another anniversary to be celebrated, there was one person, standing on the border of both worlds, who asked hard questions. Her parents tried the best they could, but even they had trouble, sometimes, trying to figure out the right thing to say to one so young.

But then, Frisk had been almost as young when it all began, so perhaps naivete wasn't an issue.

"Mami," said this child now, holding her mother's hand tightly. Frisk smiled down at her, squeezing her hand tight. "Was there ever a time before this?" she wondered.

"Before what, dear Nicky?" Frisk asked, kneeling down before her daughter to hold both of her hands tight.

"Before this. Before we could all live so nicely." Nicky had her father's eyes, and it always warmed Frisk to see them so bright and curious.

"Of course," Frisk agreed. "There are always time of strife before joy, a storm before the flowers can bloom."

They were in the backyard of New New Home, standing now amidst a bed of golden flowers that Asgore had planted in one corner of the yard - and that had spread faster than dandelions. Nicky loved the flowers and did all she could to spend time there, her strong, always-bare feet coming home stained yellow on short white fur.

"What was it like?" Nicky wondered, now sitting down in a deep patch of flowers, her tail wagging a bit in anticipation. She loved stories, almost as much as her grandmother did.

Frisk sat down in front of her, hands still holding her daughter's, Nicky's long fingers ending in blunt claws. "Well," said Frisk, "It sucked."

Nicky giggled in delight, loving it when Frisk used that kind of language with her. Asriel was always far too cautious now with his words to even risk dropping a curse, putting Asgore almost to shame with how clean he could be, but Frisk remembered being a girl of that age, and knew better than to assume Nicky had "delicate" ears.

"Your Papi and I couldn't legally get married for a long, long time," Frisk continued, and Nicky scowled. "I know!" Frisk agreed, giving her daughter's light-brown bangs a gentle ruffle. "But that was how things were back then. It could have been worse, yes, but it wasn't much better - especially near the end."

Nicky tugged on one of her ears; hers were much like Frisk's in shape, but larger and floppier, and far more sensitive. She did this whenever she wanted to ask a tough question, and Frisk nodded to her. "Go ahead."

"Mami... can you tell me about it?" she asked shyly. "Before the... Meaty?"

"Treaty," corrected Frisk.

"Treaty. Can you tell me what it was like?"

Frisk shifted a bit, her own hand at her own ear, now. "Are you sure you want to hear that? It's not really a happy story, until the end, at least."

"I know," Nicky admitted. "But I want to know."

"It's also very long, Nicky."

"Ehmpa said dinner was gonna be a while..."

Frisk held up her hands in surrender, smiling. Nicky was always very, very, clever. "Okay, my dear," she agreed. "But remember: it's sad until the end, so be brave, got it?" And she gave Nicky a gentle touch to her downy cheek. When her daughter nodded, her face serious and set, Frisk began.