That night, Asriel laid in his bed, staring at the ceiling, unable to sleep, when he heard a tapping on his window. As he got up and opened the window, he found Karen down below, holding some pebbles.
"Karen? What are you doing here? It's nearly two in the morning." Asriel whispered.
"I had to check and see if you were okay. Can I come up?" She asked. Asriel chuckled and pulled the sheets off his bed, tied them tightly together and threw them down to Karen, who climbed up and got in through the window.
"Hey. I just wanted to see how you were doing. I heard from Frisk that you were even more upset at dinner." Karen said, as she and Asriel laid on the mattress.
"Yeah. It was just because of what happened this morning, and when dad brought up the fact that you were accepted into Yale, since you changed your college major from dance to politics. I mean, I'm happy for you for getting in, but-" started Asriel.
"I'm not going!" Karen said, which surprised Asriel.
"What?! Karen, you worked so hard to get into that school; all those study sessions to get all straight A's, the near-perfect score on the SAT? You even missed the Homecoming dance!"
"I was able to go to the prom, wasn't I? You were there, don't you remember?" Karen asked as Asriel smiled.
"How could I forget? We literally had to beg to get the school principle and my parents to let me attend, despite being homeschooled. That was one of the best nights of my life. You were so zonked out at the end, I had to call my dad to pick us both up. But that's beside the point! Why would you give up Yale?"
"The same reason I changed to Politics." Karen said, as she reached for Asriel hand. "I love you, Azzy, and if I went away to college we would rarely ever see each other. I'll take some classes at the community college, figure things out for there. My dad seemed to be understanding when I explained it to him. He really likes you, Asriel." Karen said. Asriel smiled, as the two of them leaned in for a kiss. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.
"Shit! Karen, hide in the closet." Asriel whispered, as Karen dove into the closet. "Umm, yeah? Who is it?" Asriel said, growling to make it sound like he had just woken up.
"Asriel, it's me. We need to talk." Asgore said on the other side of the door.
"Ugh… Dad, it's two thirty and I barely got any sleep last night. Can't this wait till morning?" Asriel said, as he quickly put the covers back on the bed.
"No. It can't. I haven't been able to sleep with this on my mind and I have a feeling you haven't either." Asgore said. Asriel groaned as he climbed back into bed and lifted the magic barrier on the door Asgore came in, and his eyes immediately flew to the window.
"Umm, why is the window open?" Asgore asked curiously.
"It's summer, dad, and my room gets stuffy! I couldn't sleep and I thought getting some fresh air would help." Asriel said, as Asgore sat on the bed.
"I… er… I overheard your talk with Sans and I know you were upset after what happened this morning."
"It wasn't just that, dad. I mean, when will it sink into your thick Boss Monster skulls that I'm not eight years old anymore? I know you guys love me and want me to be safe, but I just feel so trapped. Yes, I know this a big castle and there's a lot to do in it, but it's nothing compared to what's out there.
I hardly ever leave the house, and when I do, I'm with either you or mom. I feel like I haven't even left the Underground! All my life, I wanted to see the surface, yet I have been trapped here for five years. For once in my life, I want to go somewhere without the constant burden of you and mom on my back. I want you both to stop treating me like a child." Asriel said in frustration. Asgore was shocked.
"Asriel, I… I'm so sorry…I had no idea you felt that way. I was just so paralyzed with the fear of losing you again, that I didn't even think of what you thought. When you lose someone, then they come back and they're actually happy to see you again, it's just… I didn't…" Asgore started, but was stopped mid-sentence by Asriel taking his hand.
"It's not like I didn't want to come back after I became Flowey! I just couldn't. I didn't want to cause you any more pain than what you were already going through. And now I'm starting to understand how rough it was for you with Aberon." Asriel said.
"I looked up to him as a child; If he asked me to do something, I would do it. He was more than just a brother: he was my best friend. I wanted to reach out to him when he was down and he did the same for me. I trusted him, But he let his jealousy and desires get the better of him. For years, I questioned myself about what went wrong." Asgore said. Asriel chuckled.
"That's exactly how I felt with Chara, and like Aberon, she betrayed not just me, but everyone. I trusted her. I did so much for her. I stole money from Mom's purse to get the locket. I took the blame for the pie incident, she was the one reading off the ingredients, not me. I even feed her the buttercups that got her killed. I did all that stuff because I thought she was my friend… and look where it got me. Thirty years of my life… gone. Trapped as a flower, unable to love anyone. I can't believe I fell for her tricks again, I should have known that she was lying to me from the start about helping me get my body back. I..I..." Asriel said, before Asgore pulled him into a hug.
"Son, what happened between you and Chara is all in the past. It wasn't your fault. You did what was necessary. And if you hadn't listened to her, you would still be a flower." Asgore said as Asriel looked up at him and smiled.
"You're right, dad. I was acting stupid." Asriel said.
"No. If anyone was acting stupid and irrational, it was me. Besides, you gave me time to think about it, and I may have a solution." Asgore said, standing up. "Come. I want to show you something." Asriel followed Asgore out of the room, and in the closet, Karen let out a sigh of relief.
Asgore and Asriel entered what looked like an old storage room filled to the brim with tons of old furniture and dusty old boxes. Among these boxes was a small gold box. Asgore smiled.
"Ah, here it is!" Asgore said as he grabbed the box and blew off the dust. He coughed briefly, and then opened the box. Inside was an old scroll. He unrolled it.
"Whoa, what is that? It looks like an old treasure map." Asriel said, as he looked at the ancient writing on the scroll.
"Well, that's what it is; an old map that may lead to a hidden treasure. The writing on the scroll is very ancient, and very few people can read it, monsters included. But I can." said Asgore. "It reads, 'Many a wonder will await, insured for those who find the Paragon of Fate. Those who touch this treasure great and rich, is guaranteed a single wish; A word of caution to the finder, The Ancient Ones leave this grim reminder. If ye have soul, true and pure, then peace and prosperity the world endure. But should ye soul be filled with hate, a world of Chaos, thou shalt create.'"
"Dad where did you find this?" Asriel asked with curiosity.
"I found this when I was around your age. Like you, I had a craving from adventure. I would spend my free times reading adventure novels, filled with hidden treasure, fearless heroes, old temples… That was the stuff that I loved. I enjoyed reading them so much that I even tried writing my own. It was actually my love for adventure and storytelling that won your mother's heart. When I found this map, I planned to follow it and even enlisted Toriel as my companion. I was actually training my fighting ablities for the journey when the trident chose me. It was clear then that I needed to say and learn how to run the kingdom like my father." Asgore said as he handed the scroll to Asriel, whose eyes lit up with glee. He knew what this meant.
"Now, We still need talk this over with your mother. You'll have to plan and pack all the necessities you'll need, which includes a compass, food, shelter, etc. Also, you have to have someone go with you, but I will let you choose who that is and…" Asgore continued, but was cut off by Asriel hugging him around the windpipe.
"Thank you! Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Asriel squealed, as Asgore returned the hug.
"Just promise me one thing." Asgore said.
"Of course! Anything, dad. Just name it!" Asriel said. Asgore placed his hands firmly on Asriel's shoulders.
"Be safe and come home safely. I can't take losing you again." Asgore said solemnly. Asriel smiled.
"I will, dad! I promise!" Asriel said with a big yawn.
"Now… I think it's time for you to go to bed and because of what happened tonight…I'll make a one-time exception to my rule. Just keep it down, if you choose to do anything." Asgore said, which caught Asriel by surprise.
"Wait, what do you-" Asriel started.
"I know Karen was hiding in the closet. I heard her voice as I was approaching your room. Well, goodnight, my son." Asgore said, as he and Asriel left the room. Asriel ran back to his room and closed the door, his eyes wide.
"Karen, you still here?" He asked, as Karen stepped out of the closet. Asriel sighed and explain everything to her. By the time he was done, they were both exhausted and they soon fell asleep on the bed.