You wonder if it really is wise to bring the snails inside, the smell might stick around and you shudder at the thought. You see Undyne following the kids inside and ask her to hold the door.
She motions for you to run, "Five seconds, whelp."
"Then you can close it, not gonna risk dropping my lunch."
"Lunch? You didn't invite me?"
"You were working."
"And I still am," she says before releasing the door, "Kids! Twenty push ups before the magic lesson."
A symphony of moans and groans escape the building.
"So what about the lunch?" you yell through a window.
"Relax, whelp, I'll eat with Alphys," she shouts out another.
"Oh, good."
As you enter the door the complaining has been muffled and moved inside the classroom. You can hear Alphys awkwardly ask Undyne to stop so they can start the lesson. She gets a sarcastic laugh in return. You shake your head and set course for the lunch room a couple of doors down the lobby.
You knock on the door frame.
"Toriel, you here?" you ask the empty room. The silence answers in her place. No biggie, you prepare the table while you wait. She enters after a couple of minutes.
"There you are, human," she says with a big smile.
"Was about to say the same," you reply as you hold out a chair for her.
She nods and walks towards you, "What did you bring to the table?"
You both smirk.
"We'll I brought what was ordered, snails, steamed to perfection, I hope," you answer.
She stops and lights up as the midday sun. She puts both of her hands on her mouth but they can't hide her smile, "You bought me human made snails?"
"Sure, did but why are you still standing? Get over here!" you order her.
She moves hastily but still manages to keep her composure. Like a jet powered butler she makes her way over the kitchen floor, eyes fastened, hands rubbing and drool forming. She apologizes for the last one. You feel the table shake a bit as she sits down. No creek from the chair though, good quality.
A greedy but well mannered hand lifts the fork and with the precision and grace of a seasoned seamstress she sticks it in her meal. A face of pure bliss awaits the incoming food and just as one would tuck in a baby she respectfully puts the snail on her tongue and close her mouth. You damn your luck for having a broken phone. You've just discovered something more pure than pure bliss.
She savors the taste for what feels like minutes before finally sighing in complete satisfaction. You feel pride swell up inside you but you can tell that you're light years away from her happiness. You still do a victory dance in your head though.
"Taste good?" you ask her.
She can hardly contain her excitement, "Human, this, this is, I never thought you could eat snail with this flavor."
"What flavor is it?" you pry.
She puts another snail in her mouth, "You don't know?"
"Yes, I do, just thought it would taste different for monsters," you try to save.
"Haven't we gone over this before? We've lived together more than we've been separated," she reminds you.
"Oh, yes we have, I just remembered, but if you could just indulge me."
"Well, I would guess a mix between, I don't know, please human, just tell me."
You feel a corner behind you but you can't seem to stop backing into it.
"The no secrets part was for you, not for me and you know what, I think I just stumbled upon something useful."
You're brushing up against the corner now.
"Human, I'm serious," Toriel says with a firm voice.
"You make a good point, but still no."
And there we have it, a nice corner for you to think about what you've done. Was it really that big of a deal to say that you didn't know the flavor? You don't know, maybe she would pry for more information and you don't trust your tongue to not slip about Sans' magic, no, this is the less worse option.
She shakes her head, "Surely, you can't be."
You answer with a single eyebrow and start with your own food. She puffs with a strong tone of annoyance and continues with her eating, you've probably soured the taste a bit but you can see that she is till enjoying it. Now, about this corner you've backed yourself into. You need to get hold of Sans somehow. Where can he be? Literally anywhere is an educated guess. Maybe he has a phone. No, wouldn't work with yours even if it was in pristine condition. Toriel's you can forget about. Asgore's maybe? Or Papyrus?
"Toriel?"
"Yes, human?"
Her voice chills you to the bone.
"I, I was just wondering if you knew where Papyrus or Asgore could be?"
You feel her gaze go right through you, she is looking at you but you can feel that she'd rather not.
"I don't know."
"Ah, I see."
Did you really expect her to answer you? Naive. That leaves Alphys and Undyne. You finish your food and leave as quickly as you can. You feel something tingling on your back, she is staring at you as you leave.
You knock on the silent classroom door, they are probably meditating, but this is important, you knock again. Still silent. You put some weight on the handle, it moves and you open the door. Empty. Not a monster in sight. You feel your heart race in quiet panic. Where are they? You were just gone for like ten minutes or so.
"They are hosting their class in the Underground," Toriel tells you from across the lobby before entering her office. You don't have time to answer her. So, no to Undyne and Alphys as well. Who else? Frisk? Nah, too young to own one. The next best thing would be to wait at Sans' house, assuming it's still standing. You hear some angry huffing as you pass Toriel's door, you decide it would be a good idea to hurry it up.
You arrive out of breath at their neighborhood and take a few seconds to calm yourself down. You survey the modern, fresh area. Rows of identical houses with a generous amount of both front and backyard stand before you.
One house sticks out though. It stands in a blackened lawn. Stands might be a slightly generous term, the only thing that is standing is the chimney, the rest of the house lays in a broken but orderly pile, like a dark sunspot in an otherwise pristine star. It must be Undyne's house. Her previous house to be exact. No nameplates on the other houses, figures.
You knock on the house to the right. No answer. You move to the next. Nothing. As you move to the third one you hear faint singing coming from the backyard. You don't recognize the song but you're familiar with the voice. Asgore. At least you have someone to fall back to if no one else is home, next house. Empty as well. Asgore raises his voice for a couple of seconds.
"With your soul I will take back control," he sings.
You try not to make any judgment of the lyrics. Instead you make yourself over to last house. Also empty. Two houses left on the other side of Undyne's. Asgore's voice grows stronger the closer you get to him.
"How many times do I have to say, I will not be the one who falls today. Only one of us will leave this room, only one of us will keep our soul," he continues
He is not making it easy for you to keep an open mind but you're trying. You quickly pass his house and his voice becomes weaker. With a pleading please you try the second to last door. No answer. You knock harder, some desperation is settling in.
"Everything I've done, I did it as a king. My subjects wanted hope, I needed to kill, to break free."
You knock harder and faster on the last door. Despite your effort, nothing. You sigh and weigh your options. Risking talking to Asgore again or never talking to Toriel again. Pain first, enjoyment later. Asgore it is then.
"So please human take my soul, in this world it's kill or be killed," he stops.
Your hand stops just before it hits the door. You let it hang for a bit before knocking.
"Howdy, you can come around. I'm in the garden," he informs you.
You take his advice and make your way around.
"Oh, human, a pleasure seeing you here. Why don't you have a seat while I make us some tea?"
"Sure, I can go for some tea," you manage to answer as you pick up your jaw from the ground.
Around you is the most beautiful garden you've ever seen. Trees stand like green statues with cuts and curves you only thought could be made on stone. Heads of different monsters, symbols that you don't recognize and hedges in perfect shape. A patch of flowers lays like a rainbow carpet, their pollen spreading in the wind. It looks like it's sparkling in the sun. You're shocked and stunned by the beauty of it all.
Did Asgore make this? Asgore? The monster that poked a hole in your phone have enough dexterity in his hands to make this museum of leaves. The sound of a kettle whistling interrupts your thoughts.
"Tea is done," he comes back with the tea and some biscuits on a tray and motions for the groove. Groove? He made a groove? How? A table surrounded by a bench is located inside it and shadows from the leaves around it dance on it as the wind picks up. You seat yourself on the white bench and help Asgore ease the tray onto the table. He pours you a cup and then one for himself. You drink some and feel the dance of the taste buds envelop your mouth yet again. It feels good to taste it again. You reach for a biscuit but stop halfway.
"Are these snail free?"
You're met with a hearty and contagious laugh, "No snails. I promise."
Trust, but verify, you take a small nibble but you can't detect anything that seems off. You should still proceed with caution.
"Better weather today," Asgore says after helping himself to some quiet time.
"Much better yes. It really brings your garden to life."
"This? It's just a hobby I've recently taken up again. It feels good to clear your head with some landscaping. I also enjoy wearing more relaxed clothing from time to time."
You didn't really notice before. How could you not notice? A brightly colored Hawaiian shirt with purple pants. Not really subtle. The crown is still on his head though, guess you can't relax completely if you're the king.
"I can see that, but this is more than a hobby Asgore, this is art. I mean look at that, those symbols, what do they mean?"
"It is the Dreemurr crest, a family tradition. It also goes by the name 'The Delta Rune'," he explains.
"How did you manage to shape the branches into a pair of wings? Magic I presume."
"Not really, you see human, you bend the branch when it is very young and as it grows you mold it until you get the desired shape."
You're blown away by what he said, "It grew that big in a week?"
"That was magic I'm afraid," he admits with a tone of embarrassment.
"Old habits die hard I guess."
He looks at the insignia, "Yeah, they do."
"Did you use a spell or something else? I might need to revive my apple tree."
He shakes his head, "Spell, unfortunately."
"Is it a one time cast spell, use it once and you're done?"
"Only works on trees that feed on magic."
"That explains why I don't recognize the leaves. They don't replicate do they?"
"What do you mean?"
You remove the cup from your mouth, "It can't reproduce?"
"No, not this one. I'm careful, you have my word."
The wind picks up and you let it wash your face. Asgore does to, his beard waves like the trees in the breeze. You both enjoy the sun for some time.
"Human, about yesterday and your phone. I'm deeply sorry for both."
You sigh through your lips at the memory, "We were both at fault."
"I shouldn't had, this is all so exciting to me. We've been missing the sun and the stars. I never thought I could bring my people this happy ending," he takes a deep breath, "And now I'm enjoying tea outside, the sun is in my face and at night I sit outside and count the stars, found a book about constellations too. Can't wait to show Asr," he stops as he goes for another sip, hot tea lands on his lap but he doesn't react. He scans the horizon with vacant eyes and his body freezes. He is still like his leafy statues.
"Asgore?"
Your snapping manages to wake him up.
"Golly, sorry, human."
You set down your biscuit, "You've done this twice today, it's scaring me. Who was it?"
"Who was it who?"
"That you almost mentioned, but stopped. A, s, r, and then something else I guess."
"No one, leave it."
You can taste his words, they are sour, and sad.
"You sure?"
He lifts his head and you cower under his commanding gaze.
"Leave it."
"Yes Asgore, sorry."
"Now, why did you come here?" he says as his voice gradually returns to normal.
You pause to remember, "I want to borrow your monster phone, I need to call Sans."
"I don't have his number unfortunately," he sadly informs you, "I do have Papyrus' though, let me get it."
The bench sinks a bit into the ground as he stands up and he leaves you under the leaves as he walks inside. You can hear him muttering through the window as he searches. You turn your head back towards the sun and bask in it. A warm wind passes you, "Oh, Sans, you can't believe how happy I am to see you!" you say towards the wind, "What flavor did you pick? Toriel will have my skin if I don't tell her. Not that looking like a skeleton is wrong or anything. I just enjoy having it that's all."
"Is Sans here, human?"
You open your eyes and look around.
"He should be, I felt him brush by."
Asgore looks around as well, "I can't see him."
You can't either.
"I thought, the wind," you say, confused.
Asgore takes a knee, "Are you feeling well human? Drink some more tea."
You nod your head, "No, I'm fine. I mean, yes, I will have some more tea, and yes, I am fine."
"Good. My phone, here," he hands you his purple phone, it has his crest on its cover. You open it up.
"Magic identification required," it says.
"Um, Asgore, can you unlock it?" you ask, interrupting his sip.
"Oh golly, sorry."
You hand it back and he envelops it, his hand glows and the cell phone beeps, "Here you go, human, Papyrus' number should be in the contacts."
You thank him and navigate to the contact section. You scroll the long list before finding Papyrus. You dial him up, "Does it have coverage here?" you ask as the phone does its thing.
"I'm sorry?"
A tone passes.
"The signal, it still works above ground?"
"We use magic remember? The phones connect directly to our souls."
Another tone passes.
"How?"
"Magic."
A third tone passes.
"Oh, right."
Your eardrum almost explodes as Papyrus answers.
"HELLO ASGORE, PERFECT TIMING! I'M OUT OF FUEL AND THE CAR IS STUCK! CAN YOU PLEASE CALL UNDYNE AND ASK HER TO COME LIFT IT AND ME OUT OF HOTLAND?"
You move the phone a bit from your ear, "You can't call her yourself?"
"I WOULD IF I COULD ASGORE BUT RIGHT NOW I'M HANGING BY MY SEAT BELT AND I CAN'T REACH MY PHONE!"
You move it a bit further away.
"I'll make sure to inform her. You don't happen to have Sans number in your head?"
"YOUR VOICE SOUNDS STRANGE ASGORE! HAVE YOU SLAMMED YOUR BEARD IN THE CUPBOARD AGAIN?"
You look over to see Asgore's head in his hands, he is failing to hide his blushing face.
"Sans number, Papyrus, please, it is important."
"YES, MY KING IT IS NYEEEH!"
His voice disappears and is replaced by the sound of harsh winds. The speaker sparks after a while and then disconnects, "Maybe you should call Undyne, Asgore. It sounds like Papyrus is in trouble."
He nods and takes back the phone. He pushes some buttons and puts it under his ear, like a baby kangaroo fitting into its mother's pouch, "Hello, Undyne it is, oh, howdy Mettaton. No, I'm fine thanks for asking. Listen, I need to talk to Undyne. I know that she is working but it is important. Yes, I know that I ordered you to keep her there at all cost, but Papyrus is in trouble. No, real trouble."
He puts a hand over the phone and removes it from his ear, it flops back down on his cheek, "How much trouble was he in?"
"You heard, he was hanging by his seat belt at a place called Hotland," you answer.
He nestles the phone back under his ear, "A lot of trouble. More than normally, yes. Who to cover for her? Isn't Burgerpants? I see. Um," He looks over to you. You make it very clear that you don't want not part in whatever they're scheming, "Yes? Yes that was the human. No, the other one, not Frisk. Yes,. they are of age. No, they don't want to. Yes, I am sure. No, I don't see how that would be relevant. Yes, they are wearing pants. No, pants. Yes, I would object to that. No, your view count is not that important. Mettaton, send Undyne to rescue Papyrus. Yes, I will appear. Not today, I have to plan it in. Is she on her way? Why is she swearing? Yes, OK, thank you."
He hangs up and lets out a deep sigh, it competes with the wind.
"More tea?" you suggest.
"Please and thank you," he answers while rubbing his forehead.
You fill his cup and then move on to yours, "Undyne on her way?"
"Yes."
You offer him a biscuit, "You don't sound happy about it."
"Mettaton said that she could leave her work if I came on to his show," Asgore explains before taking a bite.
"Is that bad?"
"Mettaton is very obsessed with his show and I can't imagine what he has in store for me."
"But Papyrus will be saved right?"
"Yes, I trust Undyne," he picks up his cup and leans back, staring out at the plains behind his backyard. You follow his example.
"Who else could have Sans' number?" you think out loud.
"Frisk and Toriel."
"Mind if I call them?"
He re unlocks his phone and hand it to you again, "You can try but I don't think they will answer."
You dial Toriel, it goes to voice mail, "My child, you've reached Toriel, please leave a message after the tone. If this is you, Asgore, don't," you hear Toriel inform the caller.
You end the call, "Does she always say that?"
"Say what?"
"My child."
You navigate the contacts to Frisk's number.
"Toriel does that, true. Not my place to explain why though."
"Then I won't pry."
"I appreciate it."
You dial Frisk, old enough it seems.
The call goes directly to a robotic voice, "The number you have dialed is busy at the moment, would you like to put your soul on hold?"
You end it quickly. Better not risk it.
"No luck?" Asgore asks as you hand the phone back to him.
"No luck," you answer while massaging your forehead.
He swings his enormous arm in front of him. You're slightly startled.
"My clock says that they should be home in an hour or so, you can stay out here and wait if you want."
"I thought maybe I should take another round with the doors," you explain while gesturing with your hand towards the other houses.
"Toriel lives with Frisk on the house to the right, Papyrus and Sans on the house to the left," Asgore helps you.
You nod and stand up, "Thank you for the tea, and for borrowing your phone."
Asgore nods back and smiles, "Anytime human, thank you for the company. I got the dishes, don't worry."
You hear footsteps as you knock on Sans' door, finally. It opens and Sans rubs his eyes as the sun hits him in the face.
"Sans, please, what flavor did you pick?"
"for the snails?" he yawns.
"Yes."
"garlic, it said so on the container so that is what i picked."
You blink in realization, "The flavor was on the container?"
"yes, why do you ask?"
"I didn't know," you say into the empty air.
Sans narrows his eye, "you don't know why you asked?"
"No, I told Toriel I didn't know. I said that I planned to use the information against her."
He wrinkles his skull, "why did you do that?"
"I couldn't say that I didn't know, that would've been worse. Now she is angry with me."
"sounds like she has a bone to pick with you, or a shell in this case."
"Sans," you plead.
"anything else you wanted?"
"Um, I called Papyrus and he said that he was stuck in Hotland. Don't worry though, Undyne is on her way."
"good," he nods. An awkward silence hangs over you two for a couple of seconds, "i'm heading back to my nap. good talk."
"Yeah, good talk."
He closes the door and you can hear his footsteps getting fainter and fainter. You rush to Toriel's house and knock in excitement. Nothing. Ah, Asgore said in an hour or so, that's right. But if that's so then why are the windows lit? As you move for a closer look Toriel slams the door in your face. She drops the trash that she was holding, "Oh, human."
"Toriel, I'm so sorry I," you stop as you find something wonderful on the ground, "I just wanted to show you something," you continue as you reach down and pick up the container. You laugh as you see the garlic symbol and text. You turn it towards Toriel. Her face goes red as Asgore's roses, "Thought you would've seen it. I didn't mean to make you upset."
She covers her face with her hands, "Human, I, I'm so sorry."
"Don't sweat it, really, it was stupid of me to tease you."
"Can I make it up to you? Tea perhaps?"
"Really, Toriel, it is water under the bridge."
"But you were probably devastated that I was mad at you, please human, for me and you."
She waves you in and like a black hole made of kindness you can't resist its pull. The door shuts behind you.