The sound of two clashing swords echoed through the small room as Terrowin lifted his blade up, blocking Asriel's strike with ease. The young prince growled impatiently and tried to swing again. Terrowin sidestepped and took a swing at Asriel, going for his hand. At the last second, Asriel raised his own smaller blade up, parrying Terrowin away. Terrowin smiled approvingly.

"Good. You've been practicing I see." Asriel grunted as Terrowin went on the offensive, slowly trying to drive Asriel into a corner. Asriel grunted as he struggled against the flurry of precise swings.

"I've been wanting to beat you for a long time."

Terrowin chuckled. "Who knows? Maybe you'll get close this time." At the challenge, Asriel drove his blade down low, then up, catching Terrowin off guard. The sword flew from his hand and it clattered onto the ground. Asriel triumphantly pointed the tip of his blade at Terrowin's chest.

"Or, maybe I'll get the job done."

Terrowin smirked knowingly. "Just because your opponent has disarmed you…" He stopped short as he used his arm to brush the blunt side of the blade aside rapidly, jabbing his elbow against Asriel. Asriel lost his balance and stumbled backward. Terrowin lifted his sword up.

"...Doesn't mean you have won. I thought I taught you better than this." Asriel growled angrily.

"No fair! I thought this was sword-fighting practice!"

Terrowin arched an eyebrow. "This is where you are mistaken young prince. We agreed this was 'fighting' practice. One day, you may find yourself against an opponent who has more than a few tricks up their sleeve."

Asriel glared at Terrowin and charged him. Terrowin once again stepped to the side, though he didn't fight back. Asriel turned and swung, and Terrowin simply leaned back to avoid the blow hitting him.

"Why aren't you fighting back?!" He demanded to know as Terrowin looked at him knowingly with a fanged grin. Asriel charged again, but this time he didn't watch his footing. Terrowin swept one leg out from under him, and Asriel fell, using his hands to break the fall, his small sword skidding across the floor. Terrowin let the tip of his sword rest against Asriel's neck.

"Sometimes, patience is the key to winning a fight. No matter what, you must not let emotion control your actions. He who fights with emotion, is a dead man walking. Think of fighting like a fast-paced game of chess. You need to be able to think two moves ahead in order to truly win. You also need to learn how to adapt. The queen for instance is a formidable piece. However, even she can not win the game alone. With this, I believe, we have checkmate, prince Asriel." Terrowin flicked the sword away, sheathing it again. Asriel grunted as he stood up.

"I'll get you one of these days, Uncle Terrowin."

Terrowin smiled. "I have no doubts that one day you will. You've shown much improvement." Asriel grinned confidently at the praise. He stooped down to collect his own sword, tucking it away. Terrowin noticed Toriel standing in the door to the training room.

"I believe you have your academics with Doctor Gaster today. Perhaps you should run along to ensure you are not late, yes?"

Asriel sighed. "I guess. Same time in two days?"

Terrowin nodded. "I will be waiting." Asriel stood up and walked out of the room, waving goodbye as he went. "Thanks Uncle Terrowin! Oh, hi Mom." He added on as he passed by her. Toriel approached once Asriel had left.

"I caught the end of your little dual. He almost had you for a moment there." Terrowin smiled, feeling proud of Asriel.

"Indeed. He's turning into quite the formidable opponent." Toriel looked almost disappointed though as she stared at the door where Asriel had disappeared.

"I only wish he had as much enthusiasm for his studies as he does when it comes to training."

Terrowin shrugged. "Give him time. He'll get there eventually. Besides, he's at that more rambunctious age. From what I remember, King Asgore wasn't much different."

Toriel chuckled. "He does take after his father."

Asriel made his way outside, the slightest breeze lifting the cape ever slightly behind him. He had grown into it quite nicely. Nine long years had passed since the monsters had been trapped underground. The population had grown significantly over the years, and the city had grown greatly. Even the village of Snowdin had increased. As he walked through the capital, he received several small mentions of greeting to him. Asriel would usually wave back politely.

The sword in its sheath bumped against his though. The sword, had been a gift from Terrowin himself for Asriel's thirteenth birthday. A physical sword. Most monsters used magic weapons now, but Terrowin had gotten his paws on a real one before the war. He had tried to train Asriel in the ability of summoning magic weapons, though this ability, he was far from mastering. Training had begun shortly after Asriel had received the old gift. For two years Asriel had been trying to defeat Terrowin, though he never found success. He always liked the small Deltarune engraved on the handguard. It was a nice touch.

Life was slow, but good. By now most monsters had grown used to the Underground, but there was not one that didn't still long for the surface again. Toriel was often busy dealing with matters involving the kingdom, so during the days Asriel often found himself spending time with Terrowin, or even travelling to Snowdin. There had been a pair of skeleton brothers whom he had grown to be quite good friends with.

The cape he still adored since he had first laid eyes on it. He had a habit of not leaving anywhere without it. Soon he left the capital into the sweltering heat of Hotland, suitably named. A short ways within and he could see the white building marking the building that tripled as Gaster's home, lab, and study.

He didn't tend to see much of Gaster in the capital, the scientist was always wrapped up in one project or another. Still, he had said he was willing to educate Asriel when it came to his more rudimentary studies. Though, sometimes Asriel had a sneaky suspicion it was more because Toriel had ordered him to. He could already see Gaster waiting for him by the door, arms folded.

"Ah, there you are prince. I was beginning to think you weren't coming."

Asriel shrugged apologetically. "Sorry Doctor Gaster, fencing practice with Un-...Captain Terrowin went overtime."

Gaster nodded, his face ever expressionless. "I suspected as much. Well, come inside and we will begin." Asriel followed Gaster inside.

Gaster began the lesson immediately after Asriel had sat down in the study.

"Today's lesson we will begin to cover geothermal energy." There was the word again. All Asriel knew about it was that the Core used a good majority of both this, and magic to run. The Core had been Gaster's prized creation. He had overseen the construction himself, and it had worked without a hitch. It was nearly self-sustaining, only needing monthly maintenance here or there. Asriel struggled to pay attention to the lesson as Gaster seemed to drone on. He was more focusing on what tactics he could use to take down Terrowin next time they fought. After two hours that seemed nearly three times as long, he was finally finished. Asriel stood up, making his way quickly to the door, and waving goodbye.

"Thanks Doctor Gaster, see you later!" With that, he was gone. He pondered going back home, but then decided to visit the skele-bros. It wasn't hard to find the river person, they were only a short ways away from the lab. The river person looked up from the floating black cloak. It still gave Asriel shivers that he couldn't see a face, legs, nothing really.

"Ahh, Prince Asriel! What brings you down to the river's shore today?" Asriel grinned at the river person's formal speech. "Snowdin? If it's no trouble?"

The river person nodded. "But of course! It is always an honor my prince." Asriel climbed into the boat, sitting near the rear as the river person set off. He barely heard the river person's cryptic comment. He had grown used to them.

"Tra la la. The water is very wet today." He rested his chin in his hand, watching the water slip past the boat as it made its way gracefully over the surface of the water. Soon, he was there. As he climbed from the boat, he heard the river person speak again.

"Tra la la. Beware of those who are close. They could be the ones to hurt you most." This was new, and it grabbed Asriel's attention immediately.

"Sorry, what was that?" He turned around, but the river person was already on their way, and out of earshot.

"...Weird…" Was the only comment Asriel could make. Shrugging, he proceeded into the Snowdin village. He drew attention immediately, though as always it was usually glances, with the occasional how do you do. It wasn't hard to find the house he was looking for. He gave a knock on the door. He could hear an approaching trousle of bones as someone ran down the stairs inside and opened the door. Papyrus smiled as he saw who it was.

"Ahh, Prince Asriel Dreemurr! So good of you to come and visit us in our home, in which we live. Come into our home in which we live, and make yourself comfy!" Asriel grinned widely as he stepped inside.

"Hey Papyrus. You know you can just call me Asriel, right?" Papyrus nodded.

"Yepparoo Prince Asriel Dreemurr. And if you prefer to be called this, I will do so. SANS!" Papyrus called up the stairs.

"We have a visitor!" Sans yawned as he appeared from his room.

"oh, hey princey." Asriel waved up at Sans as he slowly made his way down the stairs. As Sans reached the bottom, he asked. "hey, look at the time. You want anything for second brunch?" Asriel looked up at the clock, seeing it was just 5 minutes before noon. Only then did he notice the slight rumble in his stomach.

"Yeah, I could go for something to eat. Sans You've got a hotdog stand, right?"

Sans nodded. "sure do, why, you want a dog?"

Asriel shrugged. "Why not?"

Sans cracked his back. "alright, whatever floats your goat."

Papyrus groaned. "Oh Sans, please not now...not in front of the prince…"

Asriel blinked once at Sans. "That...was a little bit of a stretch. But I respect that you still took a… 'crack' at it."

Sans chuckled. "glad you're in a good mood today princey. motivation is best wasted on a good meal." The three left the house, beginning the walk into the forest where Sans had his little hotdog stand. Sans walked behind the stand and quickly made them three hot-dogs, one for each. He leaned over the stand as he ate his, and then he spoke.

"i've always been meaning to ask az, what's it like growing up in a palace? You know, bein' royalty n' all."

Asriel shrugged. "It's alright, not much different from a lot of people's normal lives honestly. I get noticed a lot more, whether that's a good or a bad thing is up to you I suppose. Though, I feel like there's always high expectations. Gaster's always on my case about my education and everything, I feel like I'm supposed to act a certain way, you know, that stuff. That's kind of why I like hanging out with you guys. I can just, be me."

Papyrus had a more concerned look. "Oh, is now a time when you should not be studying then? You said you had needed to put more time into it last you saw us…"

Asriel shook his head, finishing up the hotdog. "Nah. I've got time yet. Besides, it's real boring work. Don't get me wrong, Gaster is a nice guy, he means well and everything, but...I don't know. It's just dull I guess. I have nothing against him."

Sans responded. "well, if you ever need help with that sort of thing, we can always help out however we can you know. What about fencing with Captain Terrowin? How's that comin' along?"

Asriel chuckled. "Chalk up another loss for me. I'll get him eventually, I nearly had him today. I just let my guard down."

Papyrus spoke up eagerly. "That reminds me, have you put forward my request to join the royal guard?"

Asriel nodded. "I mentioned it to Uncle Terrowin yesterday, he said he'd consider it. Might take a while though. Anyway, how are things going for you out here?"

Papyrus smiled broadly. "The things that are going are unequivocally swell for the Great Papyrus. I, The Great Papyrus, am happy to announce there are not usually any problems for us. I do wish Sans would stop practicing his knock-knock jokes so often though."

Asriel looked at Sans, surprised. "You? Practicing jokes? Here I thought you didn't need to practice at all. Who do you practice them on?"

Sans chuckled. "heh, practice makes perfect, even for jokes. And it's not a who, it's a what."

Asriel rephrased the question. "Alright, then WHAT do you practice the jokes on?" Sans pointed jerked his thumb further down the trail.

"There's this big door at the edge of the forest. It's always locked, and it doesn't seem to go anywhere. Perfect for practice though." Asriel looked down the trail curiously.

"Big locked door huh? Think I'm going to go check it out. Could use a bit of adventure now and again." Sans smiled, resting his head in his hand.

"Aight princey. I'll 'ketchup' with you later." He immediately put his head on the stand, snickering at his own pun as Papyrus threw his hands up in disbelief. Asriel chuckled himself before heading out down the trail. He spoke quietly to himself.

"Why would there just be a door in the middle of the forest? It might lead somewhere...might be a way out. Well, guess there's only one way to find out."