Undertale: Long Road

By: Nathan Weaver

Chapter: 28


"Wait-wait-wait." Shaking his head, Monster Kid pressed his lips together and desperately tried to suppress the grin growing on his face. And to his credit, he was trying. He was trying so hard in fact, that Frisk could practically see the laughter bubbling up within him. But, try as he might, he couldn't hold it back forever.

"You sank a boat!?" MK asked with a snort, his voice rising several degrees. "A whole boat?"

Giggling madly, the child doubled over and began stomping his feet, turning heads the entire camp over. "How in the world do you sink an entire boat!?"

"I didn't sink it!" Frisk protested as she buried her face in her palms. "I only tipped it a little. It isn't my fault it kept on going. And keep it down a little, not everybody has to know about this!"

"Sorry," inhaling deeply, MK let out a breath and slowly got his laughter under control, even if there was still a big old grin on his face. "So, is that why you and Asgore came back all wet?"

"Yeah," sighing, Frisk glanced across the camp at the old king, who was busy starting a fire as he sat there air drying. He wasn't too bad right at the moment, but she still couldn't look at him without remembering how cold and damp he looked until recently and that made her feel more than a little guilty. "I kinda screwed things up this time, didn't I?"

"Oh, oh jeez." Chewing on his lower lip, MK drooped and looked over at Frisk with a look of regret. "Hey, I'm sorry about that dude. I wouldn't have laughed if I'd known you felt so bad!"

"It's fine!" Smiling, Frisk laughed and pulled her towel a bit tighter around her as a gust of wind picked up again and sent a shiver down her spine. "I mean we're friends, we should be able to poke fun at each other, at least a little!"

"Well, still," shrugging his head, the little monster looked up into the sky and trailed off before picking up again a few moments later. "So where's the flower anyway? I haven't seen him for awhile?"

"Still in the car actually," Frisk sighed and shook her head. "He wanted time alone to think."

"About what?"

"You know, things." Shrugging, Frisk thought back to the time she spent with Flowey in the car and felt herself starting to worry again. After getting back to the shore Asgore set them up with the heater in the car and went back out with another fisherman to get the boat. It was then, as they sat there waiting, that she noticed just how quiet he was being.

At first, Frisk didn't think too much of it. They were cold, tired, and it made sense that neither of them would be all that talkative for awhile. But when the silence began stretching on even after they started warming up, that was when she began to worry and asked if there was something bothering him.

"I'm just trying to make my mind up about something," Flowey said a moment later after Frisk finally managed to get him to pay attention. "Could you just give me a little time to think?" As it turned out a 'little time' was actually quite a while because even after getting back to camp he still didn't want to leave the car.

"You know, I should go check on him," Frisk said as she stood from her spot. "The fire should be ready soon, he won't want to miss that."

"Want me to come with?"

"Thanks, but that's probably not a good idea." Frisk shook her head before forcing a smile for her friend. "I might want to talk, and he's been kinda quiet around other people lately."

"I see." MK's eyes sank to the ground and stayed there for a moment, before looking back up to Frisk almost reluctantly. "Yo, I know I shouldn't be asking, but what's wrong with him anyway?"

*Wow. You are just the King of tact.

"You know, it's kind of hard to explain," Letting out a breath, Frisk shifted her weight from foot to foot uncomfortably before finally deciding what to say next. "Why do you want to know anyway?"

"Well, because it's weird!" Shaking his head, the young boy grunted and kicked at the dirt before looking back to Frisk shame-faced. "I'm sorry, it's just before I thought he was just an evil jerk or something. I couldn't understand why you were always trying to help him!"

"And now?"

"Oh, he's still a jerk!" MK said matter of factly. "But, even more then that, he seems really sad to me now. I dunno, it's almost like he's lost or something!"

"You know, that's actually a pretty good way of putting it!" This time when Frisk smiled, it actually seemed genuine. Even so, that didn't keep her from looking away before continuing. "I'm afraid I can't tell you all that much though, it's kinda private."

"I guess I get that," MK said with a shrug. "What can you tell me?"

"Something happened to him," she began slowly. "Something really bad." Not sure what else to say, Frisk, stood leaning from foot to foot and looked about uncertainly before taking a breath to continue. "He lost something then, lost everything really. Then he woke up, and everything was different. Even he was different. I think for the longest time he was just lost after that."

"And, you think he's finding his way home now?"

"Something like that." Smiling, Frisk nodded and slowly looked up at her friend. "He's made a lot of progress lately. So I think he's getting pretty close."

"That's good," MK said, nodding in return without being able to meet her eyes.

"Yeah, it is." Still smiling, Frisk looked her friend up and down and slowly took in his behavior. It seemed to her like MK was not sure how to feel about Flowey or the news that he was getting better. So after thinking about it for a few more seconds, she made up her mind and asked him about it. "Are you still mad at him about your birthday?"

"Yeah, I guess I am," MK sighed at the admission. "Look, I know he said sorry but he still said some pretty mean things to me. It might take me awhile before I'm over it. I'm trying though!"

"Oh, well that's fine!" Letting out a breath, Frisk straightened and felt the tension drain from her shoulders. "I mean, I want you two be friends and all but he did some pretty bad stuff. I get why it might take you awhile to forgive him for that."

"And, you're not upset about it?"

"Of course not!" Frisk said brightly. "You're trying, a lot of people wouldn't."

"Hey, that's right!" Smiling at that, the boy held his chin high in the air and flashed his teeth, almost as if there was a camera on him. "I keep forgetting, but I am pretty great aren't I!"

*Oh god.

"Oh jeez," Frisk said as she began to giggle. "You've been hanging out with Papyrus too much!"

"Nyeh-haha, more like not enough!"

"You know, you might be right about that!" Smiling broadly Frisk went back to giggling, even as several people throughout the camp stopped to stare.

*No seriously. What does everybody see in that cake destroying weirdo!?


"Knock-knock!" Announcing herself cheerfully, Frisk knocked twice on the car door, pausing only briefly before opening it. "Hey Flowey," she said with a smile. "The fire should be going soon. Do you want to come out and enjoy it?"

"Oh gee, I don't know!" Flowey began sarcastically. "I'm not sure I can handle that. Maybe, you should hold on tight and shelter me even more!"

"Hey, you're the one that wanted alone time!" Raising her eyebrows Frisk grinned and hopped into the car, taking the seat next to her friend. "C'mon, what's going on with you? It worries me when you want to be by yourself like this."

"Yeah I know," Flowey said as he let out a breath and looked downward. "I'm sorry about that. I'm not trying to make you worry or anything. I just, well, I really needed some time to think."

"Oh, I see." Following a hunch, Frisk reached out and closed the door, giving them both a bit of privacy. "Alright," she said as she turned back to him. "Nobody is going to hear us now. So why don't you tell me what's bugging you?"

"Nothings bugging me!" Flowey said with a grumble. "I just, I'm trying to make a decision is all."

"Alright," Frisk said slowly. "Well, is it anything I can help with then?"

"I don't know," Flowey said uneasily. "Do you think maybe, I could ask you for a favor?"

"Uh, sure thing," she said as she furrowed her brow in confusion. "Whatever it is you can count on me." In truth, Frisk was a little uneasy making an open-ended promise like this. But, she was sorta curious what kind of favor could make Flowey act like this. Besides that, it wasn't like she didn't want to help or anything.

"Alright," Letting out a breath, Flowey sat looking around for a moment before setting his jaw and sitting up straight. "You know what, I might as well say it. I'm going to tell Asgore!"

"Wait, what!?" Frisk said as she went bolt upright. "Really!? You're really going to tell him!?"

"Yes, really!" Flowey said as he backed up as far as he could. "Sheesh, is it that shocking?"

"It kinda is!" Frisk said with a slow shake of her head. "I thought you were too scared to tell him."

"Yeah, well so did I." Speaking softly, Flowey cast his eyes downward and let out a long breath. "To tell you the truth I really am scared, terrified even." Lifting his head, the flower looked at the sunlight through the window opposite where Frisk sat. "No matter what he says, he might hate me after learning what I did. I mean, he used to think so much of me. I'd hate to disappoint him."

"I see," Frisk said, as the excitement fled from her. "So, why have you decided to tell him then?"

"Well, because," Flowey said with a little side tilt of his head. "I can't keep hiding forever."

"I guess that's true."

"Yeah and besides," taking a slow deliberate breath, Flowey turned to Frisk and gave her an uncertain little smile. "I don't think he was lying before. I think Asgore might actually get it."

"Why's that?"

"Well, it's not like he's perfect or anything," Flowey began a bit uncomfortably. "He's made his own share of mistakes. So if anyone's going to be understanding about this, I think it's him."

"Yeah, that's true," Frisk said, holding up a finger to acknowledge the point. "So, do you want me to go set this up for you, or something?"

"Oh heck no!" Flowey shook his head as his eyes went big. "No way am I telling him right now!"

"Huh," Frisk said with a blink. "Why not!?"

"Well because." Flowey shifted about and briefly trailed off. "If I tell dad, I've gotta tell mom too."

"Oh!" Raising her eyebrows, Frisk brought up a hand to hide the ever growing smile forming on her face. It really did make her feel good to see Flowey being all considerate like this. "So," she began a moment later, "You're going to tell them at once then?"

"Yeah," Flowey nodded. "I'll do it when we get home. It'll be easier that way."

"You're probably right," Frisk said as she nodded back. He really was too. This way he wouldn't give the impression that he favored one parent over the other. Granted, Toriel probably wouldn't take it personally or anything. But, why risk it when the situation could be avoided entirely?

"Well, I'm impressed," Frisk began with a slap of the car seat. "You've really thought of everything. I don't think I could've planned this better myself."

"Thanks."

"I'm, kinda wondering though. What's the favor you were talking about?"

"Oh, that." Looking away, the small plant began fidgeting as he pressed his lips together. "Well," I know it's a lot to ask. But, would you mind being up there with me, when I tell mom and dad?"

"I see," letting out a breath, Frisk leaned back and pondered the request. It wasn't surprising really. Even she was a bit nervous about this so it was only natural that it'd be worse for him. With that in mind though, her answer really was obvious.

"Yeah, of course I will," Smiling, Frisk picked her friend up by his pot and sat him in her lap. "We're in this together. I am not letting my baby brother down when he needs me the most!"

"Baby!?" Narrowing his eyes, Flowey looked up at her and folded his little leaf arms as he sat there, scandalized. "C'mon Frisk, we're practically the same age!"

"Yeah, I know," she said with a little grin. "But I'm still older than you. You said so on the boat."

"Well, I didn't think you'd lord it over me!" Scrunching up his face, Flowey stuck his tongue out at her and made a show of looking away. "Some sister you are!"

"You know I'm kidding, right?" Leaning over, Frisk pulled him a bit closer and held the flower tight in her arms. "Okay, I won't make fun of you over this anymore. Does that sound good?"

"Yeah." Nodding slowly, Flowey leaned into one of Frisk's arms and firmly held onto it as he rested his weight against her. "And, thank you again for all of this. I really don't deserve it."

"Sure you do," Speaking softly, Frisk pulled her friend even closer. "Flowey, even if nobody else knows it yet, we're family now. We are supposed to be there for each other, no matter what."

"Thanks Frisk," Flowey said as his voice caught. "You really are the best friend I could ask for."

*...

*You know what. I am not going to let that bother me. Nope. Not at all. I can be a big person too.

*...

*See.

*...

*GRAAAAH!


"Whew, well I'm glad that's done!" Standing up, the old king stretched out the stiffness from his limbs and smiled as he watched the crackling flames igniting the kindling. It had certainly taken a lot longer to build the campfire than he'd expected, what with the strong winds and everything. But, now that it was burning well, he was pretty sure it'd stay that way.

It was a good thing too. Because just as Asgore finished stretching out, Frisk came rounding the corner and walked back into camp with her little flower friend in tow.

"Hey, good timing," still smiling, the old king held out his hands over the growing flame, enjoying the warmth as it heated his still slightly damp fur. "We just got it going actually."

"Just now?" Flowey asked, furrowing his brows as he looked back and forth between Asgore and the campfire. "What took so long? Couldn't you just magic one up?"

"Oh, I did," the old king let out an amused little snort and held out his hands in an open-palmed show of surrender. "But real fires can be pretty serious business. So I only used a small flame to get things going. I didn't want to accidentally set anything else on fire after all."

"Why not?" Flowey pressed, seeming genuinely curious. "I mean, I know it's bad, but if something else caught fire, couldn't you just put it out with magic too?"

"Huh, you know you're right actually," Asgore answered slowly, surprised that somebody here actually knew that. Most Monsters knew about fire magic, but there were not many that could use it. So the fact that it could be used to put out fire, wasn't really common knowledge.

"Still," Asgore said as he shook the thought from his head a moment later. "It's better to be safe than sorry. Fire is an extremely dangerous tool. If you aren't careful with it, people can get hurt."

"Yeah, I guess that's true," Flowey said with a slow thoughtful nod, almost as if he was taking the old monsters words to heart. "Do you think you could show me how to do it sometime?"

"Golly!" he said as his grin spread from ear to ear. "I'd love to!" Try as he might, the old king couldn't wipe the smile off his face at that moment. True, he wasn't a teacher and chances were this child wouldn't be able to use fire magic anyway. But, it still felt good to see the little guy opening up to him, even if he didn't know why he was doing it all of a sudden.

"Well look at you!" Frisk said as she smiled down at the flower in her arms.

"Don't start!" Flowey said with a huff. "He's going to know soon anyway, so I might as well!"

"Know what?"

"N-nothing!" Both kids went stiff as a board as they spoke up in unison.

"Uh, I see," Asgore chuckled as he held out his hands. "So this is top secret then?"

"Kinda," Frisk began a bit hesitantly. "I think you'll hear about it pretty soon though."

"Alright, that's fair," the old king shrugged at that and decided then and there to let the odd little slip-up go. After all, he had a few secrets of his own when he was their age. It wasn't like there was any harm in it. So the best thing he could do was to change the subject and put the entire thing to rest. With that in mind, Asgore scratched his beard for a few seconds and bent to grab an unlit stick from the fire.

"So." Clearing his throat, Asgore took a few steps and held out the stick where Flowey could easily take it. "What do you say? Wanna get started on that magic lesson while we're here?"

"What, right now!?"

"Why not now?" Shrugging, Asgore looked down at the little wide-eyed plant and found himself chuckling under his breath. "It's a nice day for it, and it's not like we have anything better to do."

"Okay," Flowey said a bit uneasily as he took the stick. "What do you want me to do?"

"First, look at the stick." The old king nodded as he watched the flower follow his instructions. "Then, try to picture a shape in your head."

"Can it be any shape?" Frisk asked curiously.

"Well, sure," Asgore said with a smile. "With Monsters, the first shape that pops into their head is usually the symbol of their innate magic. I don't know if it's the same way for humans though."

"Oh wow!" Frisk said as her eyes began glimmering. "This really is natural for you guys, huh."

"Yeah, I guess it is," Despite himself, the old king couldn't help chuckling as he reached back to scratch at his neck. This wasn't the time for this of course, but Frisk was just such an energetic and curious child, it was hard not to get caught up in her enthusiasm.

Flowey must not have appreciated it though. Because just as it looked like she was about to ask another question the small plant turned to her and cleared his throat.

"Uh, Frisk," Flowey said, as he glared at her in a perfectly deadpan expression. "Do you think you could maybe let me have this?"

"Oh sorry!" Frisk said with a blush. "I got carried away again, didn't I?"

"It's fine." Letting out a breath, Flowey closed his eyes for a second then looked back to Asgore. "So what's next anyway?"

"Wait already?" Asgore blinked as he looked at the plant in surprise. "Wow, you know it usually takes a lot longer for people to memorize their first shape. You must have a real knack for this!"

"Right," Flowey said uncomfortably as he turned to look away from the old kings gaze. "Actually, I already have a little experience. I just never got to the really complicated stuff."

"Oh, so that's it!" Smiling, the king let out a breath and slowly shook his head. "Well, that certainly explains it then. But don't worry, we'll get you all caught up in no time!"

"Thanks!"

"Don't mention it!" Still smiling, the king bent to poke the end of the stick. "Now, do you think you can focus on the end, without losing track of that image in your head?"

"Sure I can," Flowey said confidently. "That's easy!"

"Well okay!" Asgore chuckled and backed up a step to make room. "Now, slowly begin pouring magic into the symbol while focusing on the stick. We should see something happen if it works."

"Alright." Taking one last deep breath, Flowey turned and stared nervously at the branch, before straightening his back as if making up his mind. "Well, here goes nothing!"

When asked it later, Asgore would tell people that he had no idea about what was coming next. Sure, he expected there to be some magic at play, it seemed like Flowey had some sort of experience after all. But despite what he said earlier, he didn't really expect him to be able to use fire magic. It was just such a rare type that it didn't seem all that likely.

Despite his teacher's doubts, Flowey went ahead and started calling upon the power of his soul, pouring it into the branch as he furrowed his brows in intense concentration.

For the kids watching as they sat littered around the camp, the big surprise was that anything happened at all. They all knew Flowey wasn't a real Monster, it was no big secret or anything. And, while they didn't hold that against him, most of them took that information and concluded that the little guy probably couldn't use magic. After all, magic was a Monster thing, wasn't it?

That was probably why the kids started to murmur as the branch began smoldering. Granted it didn't look like much, just a thin trail of smoke. But then it was followed by a loud crackling hiss as it burst into light, flaming like an oversized matchstick.

"Whoa!" Frisk began, her rising voice matching the excitement of the gawking crowd. "That's way bigger than the fire you made at the birthday party!"

Still murmuring, the kids scattered around the camp scooted a bit closer and craned their necks to get a better look at the flame. In fact, out of everyone there, not a soul was looking at anything else, except for Asgore. The old king instead stood staring at Flowey with his mouth half agape. But it wasn't because he was impressed. No, it was because that in that brief moment the child used his magic, Asgore sensed something. Something that shouldn't be possible.

Standing there, Asgore slowly became aware of his trembling hands and balled them into fists in order to stop them. It was then that he began to breathe again and felt the cool mountain air filling his lungs. The sensation calmed him a little, but only enough for his brain to start working again.

This couldn't be what it looked like, could it? The thought went through the king's mind almost in a loop, before he remembered what Toriel had asked him to do before he left.

"I need you to watch him," Toriel's memory whispered, almost as if she was there next to him. "What I see!? What I see is impossible!"

Was this what she meant? Slowly, Asgore's eyes went even wider as the pieces of the puzzle began falling into place. There was that phone call where Toriel asked about aura, that strange conversation in the boat with Flowey. Even Frisk's comment about a huge secret just a minute ago seemed to point to one thing. But, even knowing all that, something like this couldn't happen!

Flowey's aura felt just like Asriel's. Not just similar, identical in every way. For an instant, it was almost like his son was there beside him again, channeling the warmth of his soul in the same way he'd taught him oh so long ago. But as beautiful as that thought was, there was one fact that kept him from accepting it.

The dead, don't come back. He was an old fool for even considering it.

What was this then? Why did Flowey's aura feel like Asriel's? Who was he? The moment he thought it, the question was already on the tip of his tongue and making its way past his lips. However, before he could even get more than the first few syllables out, Flowey gasped and jerked violently, doubling over in his pot as he let out a high echoing wail.

"Flowey!?" Panicked, Frisk stumbled back as the branch fell to the ground in a tumble of sparks.

Acting on instinct, Asgore threw out his hand along with his magic, smothering the branch and extinguishing its flames in an instant. It was only then that he rushed to Flowey and knelt next to him, his fingers tracing his stem as he searched for burns.

"Hold on, talk to me for a bit!" Asgore ordered firmly. "I need you to tell me where it hurts!"

"Everywhere!" Flowey gasped between clenched teeth, "It's, like I'm, being torn apart!"

It was only as he said that and started looking up at him, that Asgore noticed a sharp electric sound, like faint television static. But, before he had time to ask about it, Flowey jerked to the side and began wailing again. That was when the old king saw the lights.

At first, it was hardly noticeable, just a few glowing squares popping in and out of existence like Christmas lights. Most weren't even touching Flowey. But, as Asgore watched, more and more of them showed up until the child was all but blanketed in a chaotic quilt of pulsing, pixelated lights. And all the while, as the distortions spread and the plant convulsed, that staticky sound just kept getting louder and more violent.

"What is this!?" Asgore asked wide-eyed, unable to keep the panic from his voice.

"I-I don't know!" Frisk answered. "I've never seen this before, it's…" But before she could finish, the static reached its zenith and what looked like an electric discharge shot from the flower and arced into her shoulder, causing her to shriek as she dropped the pot to the earth with a crack.

Asgore's wide eyes narrowed into a focused beam. His entire world shrunk onto the two children. Looking between them for but half a second, Asgore half hopped half leaped forward and grabbed Frisk by her unhurt shoulder. "Talk to me, please tell me you're alright!?"

"I'm fine!" Frisk said with a wince as her eyes came back into focus. "What about him?"

"I don't know," even as he spoke, Asgore reached down and carefully picked Flowey up from the shattered remains of his pot. For but a moment, the old king worried that maybe he was too late. Maybe whatever this was had finished the child, and all that was left for him was to bury another body. And, maybe that was why he felt so much relief when he heard him start breathing again.

"He isn't dead," Asgore said as he finally took a breath of his own. "But I don't think he's out of the woods" As he watched the old man took note of the child's pale petals, closed eyes, and uneven shallow breaths. Whatever happened, it had hurt Flowey horribly, and it wasn't over.

Those small pixelated lights weren't gone. They were difficult to notice at first, but the more he stared down at the tiny child pressed against his chest, the more he noticed those strange lights shimmering in and out of existence.

"Yo, what!?"

Looking up, Asgore finally noticed the crowd building around them. It seemed like practically every kid, and even some of the counselors, had come to see what was going on, and nearly every one of them looked terrified.

"Hey uh, King Asgore sir?" MK asked, a bit more reluctantly than usual as he stepped away from the crowd and looked down at the flower. "Um, is he going to be okay?"

"I'm not sure," Asgore said, sounding far weaker than he would've liked. "I don't think it was the fall that hurt him. But, until I know what's going on, I'm not sure there's any way I can help him."

"I'm sorry, but I don't think you can!" With a shake of her head, Frisk slowly stood up and looked at Asgore with steely determination. "I think, there's only one person that can help Flowey now. No matter what we need to get him back to Alphys, right this instant!"

*You better hurry then. The good doctor has her own problems right now.