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Chapter 2

Reunion

The metal elevator doors closed in front of them and Frisk walked over to the side panel and pressed the highest floor. Asriel nearly lost his footing when the elevator sprang to life, and he was thankfully caught by Frisk. He mumbled a thank you.

"How did you even know where to find me?" he asked, looking at Frisk who rested his back on the elevator's wall.

"I had a feeling," Frisk replied. "I followed it and I found you. How are you feeling by the way?" Frisk had to admit, he was happy to see Asriel be alive and well—especially with how everything that happened—but he was still concerned for the monster's wellbeing. He wasn't sure if there would be any repercussions with his best friend's new found soul. He made a mental note to ask Alphys later for any possible insight into what exactly happened.

"Honestly? I feel…normal." Asriel clutched his chest, feeling his heart beating inside him, and the new monster soul pulsating vibrantly within. "I don't feel anything wrong…"

Frisk looked visibly relieved. "That's good. I'm glad to hear that."

"If anything, I feel scared."

"Of what?"

"What they would think."

Frisk sighed and walked over to Asriel's side of the elevator. He reached over and put his arm over Asriel's shoulder and pulled him close. "There's nothing to be scared off, Azzy," he said, using the nickname he had assigned to his best friend, "I'm sure they would be very happy to see you."

Asriel rested his head on the human's shoulder. He wasn't sure what it was about Frisk, but he always felt safe around him and he was grateful to have him around now. "I know…but…in the other timelines—"

"Those timelines never happened, Asriel." Frisk looked at him seriously. "They were what could have been. You should focus on living in the present." The human looked away. "I should know."

"It just feels…weird."

"It's the guilt isn't it?"

Asriel pulled away and bowed his head, looking at the floor. He silently nodded.

"It's not easy, Azzy. But you should slowly just try and forget about those things. Let them go. They will really eat you up inside and make you feel worse. No one is blaming you for what you did, not that they would remember anyways, but my point still stands. You weren't you. That wasn't Asriel Dreemurr."

The monster nodded again. "It's just…it feels wrong, you know? I've always seen the monsters be filled with nothing but despair because of the war with the humans but now…they're filled with hope. And I feel horrible knowing that I was part of the reason that was causing them even more despair."

"Don't forget, you were also part of the reason for giving them that hope. Don't punish yourself, Asriel. It's not your fault."

"What are you saying? You're the real hero here, Frisk, not me."

"Hero?" The human's brow rose and he chuckled lightly. "I wasn't trying to be anything. I was just trying to do the right thing." He pointed at Asriel. "You, on the other hand, broke the barrier. You freed these monsters."

Asriel sighed. "I guess you are right."

"You'd be a great king someday."

Asriel blinked, surprised at the statement. "Me? A king?" he shook his head. "I don't think I could ever do the whole ruler thing."

Frisk shrugged. "Well, you never know."

"I'd rather you take the position instead."

"I don't think that's how monarchy works, Azzy."

The conversation between the two was interrupted when the elevator sounded off and the doors began to open. The two of them stepped out and made their way down the path and into the final corridor before the throne room. Frisk could hear Asriel's nervous breaths as they made their way towards the end of the room. He reached over and held the monster's hand. "You're going to be okay, alright?"

Asriel nodded, thankful for the moral support. This room brought bad memories to him. Golden glass stained windows with the Delta Rune depicted on them lined the walls, right next to large pillars that reached up to the ceiling. The sound of their footsteps on the checkered floor echoed across the entire corridor. It was calm, royal and perfectly suited the regal motif. Quite the perfect juxtaposition for Asriel. In his fair share of manipulating the timeline, this was where he encountered, fought and lost to that one specific individual that was seemingly aware of his manipulations. And it was none other than…

"Sans!" Frisk called out, nearly making Asriel jump and hide behind the human almost comically.

"Oh, hey there, kid." The laidback skeleton let out a yawn. "Toriel sent me out to look for you. It was getting a bit late and she was getting worried. Is your cellphone out of batteries again? We've been trying to contact you for a while now."

"My cellphone?" Frisk reached into his pockets and pulled out the device. He tapped the screen and sure enough, it didn't respond. "I guess it is. Sorry for making you guys worry!"

The skeleton waved a hand at him dismissively. "It's okay, kid, you're fine. Tori's just a bit worried about you, is all." Sans then stopped and glanced at the person standing behind Frisk. "Frisk?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you know that there's a person standing behind you?"

Frisk glanced behind him and saw Asriel sheepishly smile back. "What are you doing?" He stepped to the side, revealing the scared monster.

Asriel felt the hair on his back stand on end when Sans saw him fully. The skeleton on the other hand cocked his head to the side, looking at him curiously. "Who's your friend?" he asked as he walked over towards the two kids.

"Howdy!" Asriel mustered the courage to find his voice. "I'm Asriel."

"Asriel Dreemurr," Sans said, looking at him. "I know exactly who you are."

In that brief moment, Asriel felt a shiver go down his spine as he and Sans made direct eye contact. He swore he saw the skeleton's left eye glow for just a split second, as if there to serve as a reminder of previous encounters. But just as quick as it settled, the momentary tense atmosphere disappeared as Sans then said, "Aren't you dead, your majesty?"

Frisk, unaware of the forming tension, answered, "It's complicated."

Sans chuckled. "Try me, kid. If it's as complicated as Papy's puzzle though, we may have a problem."

"We don't know ourselves," Frisk answered. "It just…happened. I'm glad that it did though."

"Dead kids don't just come back to life—not that I'm not happy or anything," Sans immediately added at the end of his sentence.

"It was something with the human souls. They did something. They…they gave me a soul," Asriel answered as best as he could.

"They gave you a soul?" Sans asked, clearly befuddled by what he had just been told. "Hmm…maybe they thought to give you a second chance…" he mumbled to himself.

"I don't understand how it worked either but Asriel has a soul now!" Frisk answered, smiling back at the skeleton.

"I suppose that's what matters in the end, right?"

Frisk and Asriel nodded. Sans stepped to the side and then said, "Well you two should run along now. I'm sure the others are waiting for you."

"Where are you going?" Frisk asked, looking at the skeleton who was walking away.

"Taking a shortcut. I'll see you guys there."

Frisk nodded and turned to face Asriel. "Come on, let's go." Asriel nodded and followed right after the human kid. That went a lot better than the previous encounters Asriel had with Sans. He felt bad. He wanted to apologize for everything he had done. He had a strong feeling that Sans wasn't keen on being friends with him yet, or even then, at all-not that he could blame him. In the other timelines, he wasn't exactly the best of persons to him. That said he wasn't sure if that was the right moment to say it. Or if there would ever be a right moment. Asriel felt a huge weight on his chest the more he thought about it.

"Hey, you okay?"

Frisk voice cut through his train of thought. "Huh?"

"You're thinking about it again, aren't you?"

Asriel looked away. Frisk was right on the dot as always. "Sorry…it just really weighs on my mind."

"I know. I know this is a lot for you to take in, but know that I'm always here by your side, alright? Everyone is."

Asriel smiled. Frisk never failed to help him stay positive. "Thank you."

The two kept on walking and eventually they ended up at the doors leading to the throne room. Asriel felt himself shake. Fear once again gripped him. Just like the corridor before, the next room they were about to enter was very significant to him. This was where he…where he…

Frisk opened the door and flower petals blew past them. It was a garden filled to the brim with healthy looking golden flowers. Vines traced the wall, giving the entire place a rustic feel to it that somehow meshed well with regal motif. A throne sat at the middle and at the far back was another one, just covered with a sack. A large figure had his back turned to them, wearing royal clothes and was humming a pleasant tune to himself. In his hand was a watering can which poured water onto the flowers.

He looked up as he heard the sound of the doors opening. "Is someone there?" He turned around and said, "Have you finally returned, Frisk…?"

Asriel felt his heart jump as the two made eye contact. The calm expression, the eyes, the face, the warm smile; it was everything he remembered. It was as if no time had passed between him and his father. He felt a lump form in his throat as he tried to find his voice. He wanted to say things. He wanted to tell him things.

"How is this…?" Asgore remarked dropping to his knees in front of Asriel.

"H-Howdy…Dad," he said, his voice nearly coming out as whisper. A smile formed across his face, just as his eyes started to water again.

Asgore remained quiet, his mouth wide open. He was trying to make sense of what he was seeing. Was this an illusion? Was he having a nightmare? He wasn't sure. He nervously raised his right hand and reached out towards Asriel. His heart beat frantically in his chest. He was scared.

He wanted this to be real.

He wanted this to be real more than anything in the world.

Asriel closed his eyes as his father's hand cupped his cheeks. It was warm, filled with nothing but love and care. It was just like he had remembered it to be. Tears began to stream from his face once again as he felt his heart flutter with love.

"Asriel," his father whispered, tears pouring from his face. "My sweet, sweet angel." Asgore then pulled his son close to him and gave him the best hug he could ever muster. He even gave Asriel tender kisses on the forehead.

Frisk watched as the father and son hugged it out in the middle of the room. The sight of it made his heart melt completely. He made sure to give the two the personal space they needed as he knew just how important this was to the both of them. A slight tear of joy escaped from his eyes as the tenderness of the moment was just too much for him. His attention was drawn however when he heard the door at the far end of the room open. A figure began walking towards them.

"Asgore, have you seen—Frisk?"

It was Toriel. Frisk waved at her.

Hearing his mother's voice, Asriel momentarily stopped hugging his dad to call out to her. "M-Mommy?"

Toriel stopped in her tracks and she looked utterly dumbfounded. Then, before she knew it, tears were already streaming from her face. "A-Asriel…?" she called out, unable to believe what she was seeing.

Asgore let go of his son and gently nuzzled him towards Toriel. Asriel walked forward before practically running towards his mother's open arms. The two hugged as tightly as they could, seemingly never wanting to let go. Asgore walked towards them and pulled the two into a hug as well.

Asriel was in the middle of it all, and one thing was clear to him.

He was with family. And after being soulless for so long, he could finally feel it in his heart.

He could finally feel their love.

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