Asgore walked slowly to the first of two gates bordering the prison. There was a loud buzzer that echoed from one of the towers, and the first door slid open. Asgore walked through just as the second door slid open, revealing Toriel waiting for him on the other side. Taking a breath, he approached her, staring at her in the face. Fifteen long years since he had been outside the walls of the prison. He found himself being the first to speak.
"You never explained to me how you managed to do it…or why you did it in fact. You should know better than anyone that I don't deserve to be set free so soon…" Toriel shook her head, beginning to lead the way to her car parked in the lot.
"Let's just say we've got some higher friends…as for why? Well, as much as I despise the actions you used…I think there's been enough hurt. Speaking of which…you know what needs to be done next, remember?" Asgore nodded solemnly.
"Indeed. Shall we go?" Toriel unlocked the car, allowing Asgore into the passenger seat.
"Let's. The press should already be there by the time we arrive." For the first two minutes, the two drove in silence, then Asgore tried to strike up conversation.
"So? What have I missed the past fifteen years? I can imagine much has changed." Toriel smiled, grateful to Asgore for breaking the awkwardness.
"Well let's see…monsters were allowed into the cities only a month after the monsters tried to free you, I was surprised they were let in so soon, but Prime Minister Hemmingway expressed that those who acted against us would be dealt with accordingly. Frisk stayed with myself for several years, then they went to college. During this period they resigned as an ambassador, but have mentioned they would like to get a career as a special social worker for monster children. She's showing great promise!" Asgore smiled. The job would definitely suit Frisk.
"What of the others? Like the royal guard and so on?"
"Well, the Royal Guard was finally disbanded a year after your imprisonment. Undyne's been working ever since as a local police officer. Alphys is one of the heads of a joint human and monster science panel, and they've been working quite well together! The humans are quite fascinated with the Core, and I can assure you, Alphys is more than happy to explain it to them. As for Papyrus and Sans, they have actually gotten jobs as tour guides for the Underground for humans that want to explore. Oh! That reminds me, Prime Minister Hemmingway fulfilled his promise to grant us sovereign land as well! The land expands nearly fifty miles around the mountain in all directions." As she spoke, Asgore saw a sign announcing they were entering the new borders. Apparently his prison had been just outside. He sighed.
"Well, I'm happy to hear things are going well…but are you sure you want to make the same choice?" Toriel glanced over at him.
"I have wanted to found a school for both humans and monsters for some time…making this decision will allow me to do this more successfully." Asgore nodded as she pulled into the parking lot of the same hall where Asgore had first appeared to the press over a dozen years ago.
"As you wish…" Was his only response before the two climbed out of the car. Inside, Asgore straightened his robes one more time before walking through the doors and into the constant flash of cameras. Everybody was already silent. Asgore stepped up to the podium with Toriel standing just behind him before beginning to speak.
"Good afternoon. I think it's important for me to get straight to the point. By now I'm sure all of you are aware of my crimes, and why I committed them. I would be lying if I said I felt like I deserved to be standing in front of you here today. To tell you the truth, I feel like I should have gotten much worse even before my sentence was shortened. I feel like it is important to put the past behind us. The more we dwell on it, the more it affects us. Change is required to move forward. History has proven this time and time again. To allow the past to be pushed behind, to allow us all to look to the future…it is here, that I, King Asgore Dreemurr, and Lady Toriel, are both abdicating the throne." Questions exploded from the people gathered. Asgore raised one hand to silence their questions, though he had to wait some time.
"This was not a decision that I have made lightly. I have had fifteen long years to ponder over the answer, and I believe I have chosen the best one. I will still remain active in the political world of today as a representative for monsters, but not as a king. It is here that I would also like…that I would like to publicly say that…" Asgore paused, trying to formulate the words. "That I am deeply sorry for my actions that resulted in the deaths of those six children. I understand that apologies can not bring them back…but it is another step towards peace. I send my deepest consolations to the families…and friends, of these children. Should any of them ever want to speak with me…my door will always be open. This conference is over." Ignoring the questions that were thrown his way, Asgore left the podium, Toriel following him out into the hallway just outside. Asgore tried not to lean against the wall. Toriel put a hand on his shoulder.
"I have made arrangements to allow you to stay with myself until you have found a place to live." Asgore nodded and responded, his voice so low it was almost a croak.
"Thank you…" They were about to leave, when Asgore noticed an elderly man staring at them from the end of the hallway. Toriel followed his gaze, but Asgore reacted first.
"Can you give me a moment Toriel…I'll join you shortly." Toriel looked once more at the man before nodding.
"I will be waiting outside." As she left, the man came forward, leaning on a cane as he approached.
"That was quite the speech…" Asgore was braced for what he assumed would be an insult as the man began, but what followed caught him even more off guard.
"I have a question. About the children. When you faced them…did they suffer?" Asgore was far from prepared for the question, and he did his best to answer.
"I…I tried to make it as painless as I could…was one of them family?" The man shook his head.
"Not family…but a dear friend." He took out a picture from a small locket he kept beneath his shirt. Asgore nearly choked on the lump as he was shown the picture. In it was the old man as a young boy, and a beautiful girl beside him. They looked happy…and Asgore recognized the face instantly.
"Listen…I—" The man cut him off.
"Don't talk! Just…listen." Asgore managed to keep his mouth shut, waiting for the man to proceed.
"Firstly…that was a very brave thing to do. Admitting your faults…and facing them head on? Not an easy feat in today's world. Most politicians would simply cover up their mistakes. Pin it on others. I've seen it time, and time again. But you…you're different. You may be a murderer…but you are also very honest. With both yourself, and the rest of the world. That is someone that I can find some respect for." Asgore found himself curious to know where this was going.
"I had spent fifty two years wondering what had happened to her…I searched the mountain nearly every day at first, and slowly those searches stopped. But I never stopped thinking about her. She was the kindest soul you could ever meet. So, when I found out that you killed her that day…I swore to myself I could never, as long as I lived, forgive you." Asgore lowered his head shamefully. He knew what it was like to have a loved one killed…but to have them missing for decades before finding out about it? That was probably the only thing that could have been worse. Still, the man wasn't finished.
"But…it is as you said, we need to take steps to make peace. Apologies won't bring her back. You said so yourself. Nothing ever will. We can not undo what has been done. But…I know she would want me to forgive you. Something tells me she has forgiven you herself. So…for her sake…I forgive you, Asgore Dreemurr." Asgore looked up, shocked.
"I…I don't deserve your forgiveness." The man closed his eyes.
"I know you don't. But, we all need to start somewhere. I likely would have done the exact same thing if I was in your place, given all you went through. I'm sure that a good portion of today's leaders would agree with me on that. I know that if I committed crimes, I would want to be granted forgiveness as well." Asgore looked up from the floor to the man again.
"T-Thank you…" The man now cracked a small smile.
"I will be praying for your kind Asgore…" With this, the man began to walk away. Asgore turned to leave, but stopped when the man called back.
"Oh! One word of advice." Asgore turned around.
"Remember what you are fighting for…please…do not become like the corrupt, and violent leaders of today. There are very few humans that can compare to yourself Asgore. We must all try to ensure that peace and harmony prevail, yes?" With this question, the man turned the corner and left. Asgore looked to the door. He walked through the doors to Toriel. Once outside, he took the time to reflect on the scenery. It was a beautiful day. Birds were singing…flowers were blooming…it was on days like this that shadows could be swept away, allowing the light to reign the world in peace and harmony.
AUTHORS NOTE
And so concludes Shadows of the Past. The one review given to the story (at the time of this being written), honestly warmed me. Hearing that you guys enjoy the stuff I write up always brings joy to my heart, as it helps for me to be more inspired. In fact that same review honestly made me almost sad that this is indeed the final chapter. I was considering extending it, adding more in, but I feel like if I were to do that, I would have to take the story in a direction it was not intended to take.
So, this is it. I will hopefully be able to continue to fulfill your standards with the stories to come. Requests are always open (see the requests open page), and I am always open to criticism as well. So, if you find that it is not as good as it could have been, please! Tell me! It will allow me to take your thoughts into mind when I am writing in the future.
That's all from me, hope you've enjoyed reading this story! I know I've enjoyed writing it.