Chapter 12: Ultimatum
The Vault Dweller stepped into the elevator. He pushed the button on the panel that was labeled "Castle". The elevator ride lasted for a few moments and stopped at the Castle. The elevator door opens and the Vault Dweller steps out. He is greeted with a grey corridor lined with cement bricks. He walks down the corridor and finds a save-point where the room turns into another corridor.
Saved.
The Vault Dweller walks down the corridor and reaches… the Capital, New Home. The city is grey and the atmosphere is quiet, but the Vault Dweller does not feel lonely. He walks down a city street leading to the Castle. The city is quiet yet alive. Isn't that strange? The Vault Dweller reaches a place that looks all too familiar. There is a save point in front of it.
Saved.
The Vault Dweller walks in. He is greeted with a grey house that reminds him of somewhere. Somewhere that he left behind. Somewhere that he felt… happy. A tear is shed. The dull grey ambience is broken when the Vault Dweller lays eyes on something in the corner. It's a golden flower. The stairs going down are blocked with two padlocks. There's a note attached.
"Howdy! I'm in the garden. If you have anything you need to get off your chest, please don't hesitate to come. The keys are in the kitchen and hallway."
This note… The Vault Dweller walks into the hallway. He finds more pots with golden flowers in them. He enters the first room. There are two beds in the room, a drawing of a golden flower on the wall, a bureau, some dusty toys and a photo on top of a dresser. There are also two presents wrapped in red bows sitting on the floor. They seem out of place. The Vault Dweller opens one of the presents. There is a pair of military dog tags accompanied with a heart-shaped locket on a ball chain inside the box. Will you take it?
Vault Dweller: *takes it*
You got the Dog Tags. Upon closer inspection, one of the dog tags says "Hell Razor, Desert Rangers, Echo Squad, ID#1988, Rank: Supreme Jerk". It is written in proper military engraving. The second dog tag is written in hand made engravings from a knife. It says "Asriel Dreemurr, Kingdom of Monsters, Edward Squad, ID#2015, Rank: Crown Prince" The Vault Dweller inspects the locket. It says "Best Friends Forever" on the outside. On the inside, there are two pictures. One of a man dressed in unfamiliar military attire. The other is of a monster that bears a resemblance to someone we left a long time ago but never forgot. In fact, the picture on the dresser over there is a family photograph with the two present. Everyone is smiling. The Vault Dweller looks inside the second box. There's an unusual and very poorly kept gun inside the box. Will you take it?
Vault Dweller: *takes it*
You got the Worn M1989A1 Nato Assault Rifle. The Vault Dweller unequips the Minutemen General outfit (putting him in his Vault 13 Jumpsuit) and Laser Musket. He puts on the Dog Tags on and equips the Worn M1989A1 Nato Assault Rifle. The Vault Dweller exits the room. He walks down the hallway further and sees a door with a sign on it that say "Room under renovations." He spots a key on a table and attempts to pick it up but is suddenly stopped.
It is not a fight. Two Froggits appear.
Froggit 1: "A long time ago, a human fell into the RUINS."
Froggit 2: "Injured by its fall, the human called out for help."
The Froggits left.
The Vault Dweller takes the key and puts it on his phone's key-chain. There is a mirror on the wall. Despite everything, it's still you. The Vault Dweller enters the third room. It has a desk, a king-sized bed, a dressers, a bureau with golden flowers on top, and a trophy sitting on the ground. On the desk, the Vault Dweller finds ASGORE's journal. All the current page says is 'Nice day today!' The ink is still almost wet. The trophy on the ground reads "Number 1 Nose-Nuzzle Champs '98!" In the clothes drawer, there are robes, button-up shirts… and a pink, hand-knit sweater that says "Mr. Dad Guy." Inside the bureau is a Santa Claus outfit. There is also some macaroni art of a flower on the wall. 'For King Dad!' it says on the bottom. The Vault Dweller exits the room and walks back down the hall to the kitchen, but before he can leave the hall…
They come in peace. Two Whimsun float in the path.
Whimsun 1: "ASRIEL, the king's son, heard the human's call."
Whimsun 2: "He brought the human back to the castle."
The Whimsun leave.
The Vault Dweller walks into the living room. Warmth is here, but only in his heart. There are gardening tools next to a bookcase next to a fire place next to a chair. The Vault Dweller browses through the bookcase. There are photo albums… Scrapbooks… Books on how to make tea… The coals are still warm. The chair seems great for reading. But it doesn't seem like anyone uses it. The Vault Dweller tries to enter the kitchen but…
They block the path. Moldsmal is in the way.
Moldsmal 1: "Over time, ASRIEL and the human became like siblings."
Moldsmal 2: "The King and Queen treated the man as their own."
Moldsmal 3: "The underground was full of hope."
The Moldsmal move out of the way.
The Vault Dweller enters the kitchen. The fridge is full of unopened containers of snails. In the sink, some white fur is stuck in the drain. There is a note on the counter. "Howdy! Help yourself to anything you want!" The Vault Dweller looks in the trashcan. It's full of crumpled-up recipies for butterscotch pie… The stovetop is very clean. Someone must use fire magic instead. The Vault Dweller takes the key from the counter and puts it on his phone's key-chain. He returns to the foyer and unlocks the chain. Before the Vault Dweller goes downstairs, he sees an old calendar from the end of 2XXX. A date is circled on it. The Vault Dweller goes down the stairs. He is met with a familiar corridor and some monsters.
Migosp greet the Vault Dweller.
Migosp 1: "Then… One day…"
Migosp 2: "The human became very ill."
The Migosps excuse themselves.
A few steps ahead, you find three. Vegetoid emerge.
Vegetoid 1: "The sick human had only one request."
Vegetoid 2: "To see the lights of Vegas."
Vegatoid 3: "But there was nothing we could do."
They veg out (sorry).
A few more steps, and they Loox at you (I feel like I'm ruining the mood).
Loox 1: "The next day."
Loox 2: "The next day."
Loox 1: "…"
Loox 2: "The human died."
Loox away (…).
After a few more steps, the Vault Dweller freezes in place. Snowdrake blows in.
Snowdrake 1: "ASRIEL, wracked with grief, absorbed the human's SOUL."
Snowdrake 2: "He transformed into a being with incredible power."
Snowdrake blows away.
Few more…
Freeze. Ice Cap made his entrance.
Ice Cap 1: "With the human SOUL, ASRIEL crossed through the barrier."
Ice Cap 2: "He carried the human's body into the sunset."
Ice Cap 3: "Back to the city of humans."
The Ice Caps have left the building.
The Vault Dweller rounds two corners and…
Woshua spin cycles in.
Woshua 1: "ASRIEL reached the center of the city."
Woshua 2: "There, he found a bed of golden flowers surrounded by lights."
Woshua 3: "He carried the human onto it."
The Vault Dweller walks outside and finds himself on the Castle Walls. And someone meets him.
Shyren greets her former bandmate with a smile.
Shyren 1: "Suddenly, screams rang out."
Shyren 2: "The people saw ASRIEL holding the human's body."
Shyren 3: "They thought that he had killed the man."
With a sad smile, Shyren retreats.
A couple of steps forward…
The Dummies stand guard.
Dummy 1: "The humans attacked him with everything they had."
Dummy 2: "He was struck with shot after shot."
Dummy 3: "ASRIEL had the power to destroy them all."
The Dummies are off duty.
A little farther…
Two unfamiliar familiar faces show up.
Knight Knight: "But…"
Madjick: "Asriel did not fight back."
Knight Knight: "Clutching the human…"
Madjick: "ASRIEL smiled, and walked away."
Walking…
Final Froggit is here for the finale.
Final Froggit 1: "Wounded, ASRIEL stumbled home."
Final Froggit 2: "He entered the castle and collapsed."
Final Froggit 3: "His dust spread across the garden."
Final Froggit says his final goodbyes… to the Vault Dweller.
A few steps later…
Whimsalot flies by.
Whimsalot 1: "The kingdom fell into despair."
Whimsalot 2: "The king and queen had lost two children in one night."
Whimsalot 3: "The humans had once again taken everything from us."
Whimsalot fly off.
Three… Two… One…
Boom, Astigmatism.
Astigmatism 1: "The king decided it was time to end our suffering."
Astigmatism 2: "Every human who falls down here must die."
Astigmatism 3: "With enough souls, we can shatter the barrier forever."
Whoosh, Astigmatism.
Again…
Three monsters appear.
Loox: "It's not long now."
Moldsmal: "King ASGORE will let us go."
Loox: "King ASGORE will give us hope."
Migosp: "King ASGORE will save us all."
Three monsters leave.
Is it getting hot in here…?
Three sparks ignite three monsters.
Pyrope: "You should be smiling, too."
Vulkin 1: "Aren't you excited?"
Vulkin 2: "Aren't you happy?"
Smoke…
Almost there…
A familiar face is not here to fight.
Froggit: "You're going to be free."
You won…
The Vault Dweller reaches the end of the Castle wall. He finds an elevator and another path. He walks down the path. He enters a corridor lined with columns. This room shines with light from stained glass windows bearing the Delta Rune, casting shadows across the room, yet it is still so bright on one side. Save point.
Saved.
The Vault Dweller walks down the corridor. He stops suddenly. Someone is here to talk to him. Someone the Vault Dweller knows.
sans: "So you finally made it. The end of your journey is at hand. In a few moments, you will meet the king. Together… You will determine the future of this world. That's then. Now. You will be judged. You will be judged for your every action. You will be judged for every EXP you've earned."
Vault Dweller: "sans… please tell me. What is EXP?"
sans: "It's an acronym. It stands for 'execution points.' A way of quantifying the pain you have inflicted on others. When you kill someone, your EXP increases. When you have enough EXP, your LV/LOVE increases. LV/LOVE, too, is an acronym. It stands for 'level of violence.' A way of measuring someone's capacity to hurt. The more you kill, the easier it becomes to distance yourself. The more you distance yourself, the less you will hurt. The more easily you can bring yourself to hurt others."
The Vault Dweller falls to his knees. Tears begin to rain down from his face.
Vault Dweller: "It… It all makes sense now. All those people… good or bad… At first I thought I was just defending myself… but after a while I began to enjoy the fights… I craved for battle, for EXP… for slaughter. I felt unstoppable. I felt invincible… I felt nothing when I took their lives. I am the real monster. I understand now sans. Asgore must kill me. I must be punished. Humanity… must not continue to bring war to the world. War… war never changes."
sans: "… but you have changed."
Vault Dweller: "!"
sans: "you never gained any LOVE from the monsters you met here in the underground. 'corse, that doesn't mean you're completely innocent or naïve. after all, you came down here with a bunch of LOVE from the surface. but despite all you've been through, you managed to keep a certain tenderness in your heart. no matter the struggles or hardships you faced down here… you strived to do the right thing. you refused to hurt anyone. you even ran away because you were afraid that you would hurt someone. You say war never changes… and you're right. you mastered the art of war."
Vault Dweller: "It's true. I am nothing but an instrument of war."
sans: "heh heh heh, exactly. you subdued the enemy without fighting. you broke the enemies resistance, without fighting. to know your enemy, you became your enemy. scared, alone, isolated… yet surrounded by people who felt your pain. you kept your friends close… *wink* and your enemies closer. you achieved the five essentials for victory. you knew when to fight and when not to fight. you knew how to handle both superior and inferior forces. you made an army animated by the same spirit throughout all its ranks."
Vault Dweller: *remembers the monsters that talked to him on the way to this room*
sans: "you prepared yourself for an enemy unprepared for you. you had the capacity to slaughter us all… yet you did not let your sovereign roots interfere. you see, when you where strong, you avoided them. when high on morale, you depressed them. you where humble and made them conceit. at ease, you exhausted the need for bloodshed. united by a single goal… you separated the feeling of defeat. you attacked our true weakness and really surprised us. you gave us hope again. you treated everyone like they were your own beloved family, and now they fill follow you into the deepest valley. you never gained lv, but you gained love. does that make sense? maybe not. you achieved the greatest victory possible.
Vault Dweller: *stands up and wipes away the tears from his face* "I finally won without fighting."
sans: "you got it, buddy. but now. you're about to face the greatest challenge of your entire journey. your actions here... will determine the fate of the entire world. if you refuse to fight... asgore will take your soul and destroy humanity. but if you kill asgore and go home... monsters will remain trapped underground. what will you do?
Vault Dweller: "… I don't know, sans. I really don't know. Truthfully, I wish I could just through in the towel right now. But I didn't get this far by giving up, did I?
sans: "that's right. you have something called "determination." so long as you hold on... so long as you do what's in your heart... i believe you can do the right thing. alright. we're all counting on you, bud. good luck."
With that, sans disappears. The Vault Dweller proceeds forward to the throne room. He enters a corridor with a sign that says "Throne Room" on it. Save point.
Saved.
Before the Vault Dweller enters, he notices another corridor. He walks down the corridor, down some stairs, and enters a room. The room is filled with coffins. Each coffin has a heart on it with a number or symbol and name. The first coffin with the Red Heart is engraved… "Hell Razor". It's empty. The Vault Dweller pressed F to pay respects. He returns to the corridor leading to the throne room. At the entrance… he enters the throne room. The room is filled with grass and a circle of golden flowers with light shining in from the ceiling. The Vault Dweller has never seen grass before. It smells wonderful. He walks forward and sees, standing in the center of the circle of flowers… the king of all monsters. ASGORE.
Asgore: "Dum dee dum…"
Vault Dweller: *bracing* E…excuse me. King Asgore…?"
Asgore: "Oh? Is someone there? Just a moment! I have almost finished watering these flowers." *sprinkles some water on the flowers at his feet* "… Here we are!"
Asgore turns around and faces the Vault Dweller. He is more than twice the size of the Vault Dweller. He is wearing a purple cape held together with a Delta Rune emblem. On his head he has a crown and two large horns protruding from his head, much like a Deathclaws but white in color and much cleaner. From his features, he seems to be a goat monster much like Toriel…
Asgore: "Howdy! How can I…"
Asgore immediately stops talking. The gentle welcoming expression on his face turns to deep concern and he backs away from the Vault Dweller. The Vault Dweller stands firm, but inside he is trembling.
Vault Dweller: "I… I am a human who fell down here. I was told to come here to get to the exit."
Asgore: "Oh." *turns to his left and stares blankly at the wall for a moment then faces the Vault Dweller again* "… I so badly want to say, 'would you like a cup of tea?' But… You know how it is."
Vault Dweller: *gulps* "mhmm."
Asgore: *walks to his right and faces the Vault Dweller* "Nice day today, huh? Birds are singing, flowers are blooming… Perfect weather for a game of catch."
Vault Dweller: *nods head multiple times while the rest of his body shakes* "Y-yes."
Asgore: *looks out the window* *looks back at the Vault Dweller with a blank yet sad expression* "… You know what we must do."
Vault Dweller: *freezes*
Asgore: "When you are ready, come into the next room."
Asgore walks off into the next room. The Vault Dweller stays frozen in place for a few seconds. He takes a deep breath, and walks forward. He sees Asgore's throne as well as another throne covered by a white sheet. Save point.
Saved.
The Vault Dweller enters the next room and sees Asgore waiting for him in a room with a light shining in the center.
Asgore: "How tense…"
Vault Dweller: "Very…"
Asgore: "Just think of it like… A visit to the dentist." *walks off to the right*
Vault Dweller: "… That doesn't help very much."
The Vault Dweller follows Asgore to the right and finds him standing in front of a massive vault door with the Delta Rune emblem on it.
Asgore: "Are you ready?"
Vault Dweller: "… No."
Asgore: "I understand. I am not ready either."
Asgore takes out a wire from his coat and plugs it into the control panel located on the side of the Vault Door. He pulls out his left arm, revealing a Pip-Boy similar to the one that Alphys gave to the Vault Dweller, only Asgore's golden with diamonds surrounding the screen. Asgore enters a code into the Pip-Boy. Once he finished, slot opens up revealing a button. He unplugs the Pip-Boy and pushes the button. The Vault Door opens usual dramatic fashion. When it fully opens, Asgore walks through the vaultway. There is a save point next to the vault door.
Saved.
The Vault Dweller walks through the vaultway, entering the corridor leading to the surface. The corridor is lined with a strange grey light that constantly pulsates back and forth. It feels as though he stepped into another reality.
Asgore: "This is the barrier. This is what keeps us all trapped underground…. If… If by chance you have unfinished business… Please do what you must."
Vault Dweller: "No. I will continue."
Asgore: "… I see… This is it, then." *faces the Vault Dweller* "Ready?" Asgore pushes a button on his Pip-Boy. Seven tubes emerge from the ground. Six containing a souls, one empty.
A strange light fills the room. Twilight is shining though the barrier. It seems your journey is finally over. You're filled with DETERMINATION.
Asgore: "Human… It was nice to meet you. Goodbye."
Asgore's face darkens. He glides to the side and powerfully draws a red turbo plasma rifle, causing his cape to fly off. With the removal of his cape, Asgore is revealed to be outfitted with customized X-01 Advanced Power Armor Mk II. The crown morphs into the Power Armors helmet, protecting all of Asgore's head. Asgore aims the red turbo plasma rifle at the MERCY option and… wait. What are you doing!?
BOOM
Asgore just destroyed the MERCY button! ASGORE attacks!
The Vault Dweller trembles in fear. But he has gotten this far and he is not about to give up! He tries to talk to ASGORE.
Vault Dweller: *quietly* "Asgore… I don't want to fight you…"
Asgore's hands tremble for a moment. ASGORE unleashes a barrage of fireballs from two turret gauntlets on the Power Armor's wrists. The Vault Dweller dodges them.
The Vault Dweller tries to talk to ASGORE again.
Vault Dweller: "Asgore. It doesn't have to be this way."
Asgore's breathing gets funny for a moment.
Asgore unleashes a barrage of plasma shots from his turbo plasma rifle. The Vault Dweller dodges most of them but one shot manages to hit him. It knocks out half of his health!
Vault Dweller: (Damn! He's serious… He's going to kill me unless I fight back… I still have to try!)
The Vault Dweller tries one last time to talk to Asgore.
Vault Dweller: *firmly* "ASGORE! YOU DON'T KNOW THE TRUE HORRORS OF THE SURFACE! STOP THIS NOW BEFORE US BOTH END UP GETTING KILLED!"
Recollection flashes in Asgore's eyes… ASGORE's ATTACK dropped! ASGORE's DEFENSE dropped! Asgore unleashes another barrage of fireballs. A few hit the Vault Dweller but only drop his health down to a third.
Vault Dweller: (No… I can't die here… If he gets a hold of my SOUL…)
The Vault Dweller searches franticly through his inventory and finds something he has carried with him for a long time. The Vault Dweller eats a slice of Butterscotch Cinnamon. The smell reminds ASGORE of something… It also reminds the Vault Dweller why he is here. ASGORE's ATTACK down! VAULT DWELLER HEALTH OVERCHARGED! VAULT DWELLER ENDURANCE 20!
Asgore's face blackens, his eyes glow orange and blue and he swings his turbo plasma rifle at the Vault Dweller. The Vault Dweller is struck multiple times but his health is only taken down by a sliver. The Vault Dweller knows talking won't do him anymore good right now. With a heavy heart, the Vault Dweller readies his Assault Rifle and fires." Asgore is hit once in the chest and his health drops by a tenth.
Asgore: "!"
The Vault Dwellers face darkens as smoke escapes from the barrel of his gun. He draws back his weapon and prepares for the next time. Asgore charges at the Vault Dweller with his turbo plasma rifle at the ready and the Vault Dweller counter charges. The two fight back and forth for hours. The sounds of fireballs, plasmashots and gunshots accompanied by flurries of bullet and magic-plasma and flame shots fill the room. Both combatants suffer a heavy loss of health. The Vault Dweller has had enough. He activates V.A.T.S, takes aim at ASGORE's head and fires one last shot. The bullet hits the helmet and shatters it and falls to the ground. Asgore falls to a knee as the shock of the bullet drops his health to 1 percent.
Asgore: *somber expression* "I remember the day after my son died. The entire underground was devoid of hope. The future had once again been taken from us by the humans. In a fit of anger, I declared war. I said that I would destroy any human that came here. I would use their souls to become godlike...and free us from this terrible prison. Then, I would destroy humanity... And let monsters rule the surface, in peace. Soon, the people's hopes returned. My wife, however, became disgusted with my actions. She left this place, never to be seen again. Truthfully... I do not want power. I do not want to hurt anyone. I just wanted everyone to have hope... I cannot take this any longer." *tears begin falling* "I just want to see my wife. I just want to see my child. Please... Young one... This war has gone on long enough. You have the power... Take my soul, and leave this cursed place."
The Vault Dweller uses [Repair: 100] on the MERCY button. It's functional again. He selects MERCY.
Vault Dweller: "No."
Asgore: "… what? After everything I have done to hurt you... You would rather stay down here and suffer... Than live happily on the surface?"
Vault Dweller: "Asgore…. there is no happiness on the surface. Humanity has already been destroyed… by itself. Down here, however… I see a real future. You see, I was not born on the surface. I was born underground. However, my underground was nothing like this one. My underground was cold, metal, and surrounded by people who only accepted our hopeless situation and just survived. But here, in the Kingdom of Monsters, you have done more than just survive. You have an unlimited supply of fresh water. You harnessed the power of the Earth with your CORE, giving you unimaginable amounts of energy. You built a world of your own, filled with shops, restaurants, inns, hotels, resorts, you even made an entire castle! Hope was never up there… it was down here. Monsters are not like humans… and I don't want to be human anymore. Please Asgore, end this war, release the souls, and…" *extends an open hand* "… let's bring hope back to the underground."
Asgore: "…" *smiles* *looks up at the Vault Dweller* "Human... I promise you... For as long as you remain here... My wife and I will take care of you as best we can. We can sit in the living room, telling stories... Eating butterscotch pie... We could be like... Like a family..." *extends his hand to grab the Vault Dwellers hand*
A ring of petal bullets surround ASGORE's head and enclose on it. ASGORE's head explodes into dust. The power armor falls over and releases a cloud of dust. ASGORE's SOUL floats where his head once was and a single petal bullet shatters it.
Vault Dweller: "…No…"
