Chapter 35- Freedom

I saw the young Asriel wipe his eyes with his paw.

"I'm so sorry," he sobbed. More wiping his eyes. "I always was a crybaby, wasn't I, Darcy?" He opened his eyes. "I know. You're not actually Darcy, are you? Darcy's been gone for a long time."

They told me that they've been gone for twenty years.

"Um... what... what is your name?"

"My name's Frisk," I told him.

"Frisk?" Asriel repeated. "That's... a nice name. Frisk... I haven't felt like this for a long time. As a flower I was soulless. I lacked the power to love other people. However, with everyone's souls inside me, I not only have my own compassion back, but I can feel every other monster's as well. They all care about each other so much."

Still can't believe this kid was the one telling me "It's kill or be killed". The same one who offed Asgore (his own father). The same one who wanted to turn me into his personal plaything for all eternity, until I weakened him.

"And... they care about you too, Frisk."

I thought back to my adventure. I've befriended tons of monsters by treating them with kindness.

"I wish I could tell you how everyone feels about you. Papyrus, Sans, Undyne, Alphys, Toriel. Monsters are weird. Even though they barely know you, it feels like they all really love you." He gave a slight laugh.

"Frisk, I... I understand if you can't forgive me. I understand if you hate me. I acted so strange and horrible. I hurt you. I hurt so many people. Friends, family, bystanders. There's no excuse for what I've done."

I don't hate you. Everyone deserves mercy, even if you spent most of my adventure trying to kill me or get me to do the killing.

"I forgive you," I said.

"Wh... What?" he replied. "Frisk, come on. You're... you're gonna make me cry again. Besides, even if you do forgive me, I can't keep these souls inside of me. The least I can do is return them. But first, there's something I have to do. Right now, I can feel everyone's hearts beating as one. They're all burning with the same desire. With everyone's power, with everyone's determination, it's time for monsters to finally go free."

He's going to break the barrier?

Asriel closed his eyes and focused. He slowly raised his arms and levitated a few feet above ground. The six human souls as well as a torrent of monster souls left his tiny form.

I heard the sound of a brick wall being bashed in with a wrecking ball. Was this the sound of the barrier breaking?

Asriel floated back down.

"Frisk," he said. "I have to go now. Without the power of everyone's souls, I can't keep maintaining this form. In a little while, I'll turn back into a flower. I'll stop being myself. I'll stop being able to feel love again. So, Frisk, it's best if you just forget about me. Just go be with the people who love you."

I made the decision to comfort him. I walked up to him and hugged him.

"There, there," I said.

"Ha... ha... I don't want to let go," he said. He let go after a few seconds. "Frisk, you're... you're going to do a great job, okay? No matter what you do. Everyone will be there for you, okay? Well, my time's running out. Goodbye." He walked away. "By the way, Frisk, take care of Mom and Dad for me, okay?"

"I will," I said. He faded out.

"Frisk," I heard Toriel say. Wait, how does everyone know my name? Did I mutter it in my sleep or something? "This is all just a bad dream. Please, wake up." I had decided to take a nap on stone. Very wise decision there. I got up and looked around. Sure enough, my six friends were surrounding me. "Oh, you are awake. Thank goodness."

It took me a couple minutes to get my bearings.

"W-we were so worried," Alphys said. "It felt like you were out forever."

If I tell you guys about my dream, I don't think you'd believe me.

"Yeah," Undyne added. "Any longer and I would have freaked out. Tell us next time you decide to take a nap, okay?"

"Yeah, you made Papyrus cry like a baby," Sans chuckled.

"What? I didn't cry! I don't cry! I just caught something in my eye."

I struggled to keep from laughing.

"What did you catch?" Sans asked.

"Tears!"

"Now, now," Asgore said. "The important part is that Frisk is all right."

A little shaken but okay.

"Here, Frisk, why not drink some tea? It'll make you feel better.

That sounds wonderful right about now.

"Err, how about we give them space, first? They must be very exhausted. Though, from what, I am not certain."

I don't have enough time right now to go over the whole adventure, but maybe when I get back to the surface, I'll write everything down.

"Frisk, we do not remember exactly what happened. There was a flower, and then everything went white. But now the barrier is gone. When you are ready, we will all return to the surface. It seems that the door to the east will lead us there now. But before then, perhaps you might want to take a walk? You can say goodbye to all your wonderful friends. Do as you wish. We will all wait for you here."

I walked up to Toriel.

"Hello, Frisk, Alphys updated my phone. I am having a lot of fun with the texting feature. Sans, check out this one."

Sans checked out his phone. "Oh man, Tori, that's brutal."

"I can't believe the queen has returned!" Papyrus shrieked. "And also that's she's a huge dork! You two are two feet away from each other. Why are you texting?"

"Worry not, Papyrus," Toriel chuckled. "We are texting for a good reason."

"Why is that?"

"Well, 'cause we're huge dorks!" Sans replied.

"Sans, please do not say that," Toriel said. "You are not a dork. You are more of a bonehead."

I'm standing here using all of my determination to not laugh.

"Hahahaha, wow! Those puns are even less funny coming from her."

"Then why are you smiling?"

"It's a pity smile!"

I walked up to Sans.

"Frisk, Tori was telling me how she made butterscotch pie for you."

"Oh, I should bake it for everyone some time."

I ate the slice she gave to me. It was delicious.

Asgore said nothing, but smiled. I learned that he desperately misses his wife's cooking.

"O-oh, that sounds really good," Alphys stammered out.

"Cooking? Can I help?" Papyrus asked.

"Wait a second!" Undyne shouted. "Can I help too?"

"Certainly! It would be fun to cook together."

Goat-Mom's an excellent cook. Papyrus and Undyne have a lot to learn about cooking.

"On second thought, maybe I'll o-order a pizza."

I walked up to Papyrus.

"So, Asgore, how about making me a member of the Royal Guard?"

After all this time? Papyrus is persistent. I'm sure he'll find another thing to do on the surface.

"Well, Papyrus, now that the war is over, we might not need the Royal Guard anymore."

"What? Then what was the point of the human's quest? They journeyed all that way and I'm still not a member of the Royal Guard? Truly, this is the worst possible ending."

He'll find something else to chase after.

I walked up to Undyne.

"So, Alphys, what do you want to do now that we're all free? We have the whole world to explore now."

"W-well, of course I'm going to go out and... um... no, I should be honest! I'm gonna stay inside and watch anime like a total loser."

I stifled a laugh. Typical Alphys.

"That's the spirit!" Papyrus chimed in. "Everyone! A celebration to being losers!"

"Heh," Undyne said. "Papyrus has the right idea. Losing to Frisk is the best thing to ever happen to me. So I'm glad that we... huh, what is it Asgore?"

"Um, what's an anime?"

"Oh my God!" Alphys squeaked out. "Frisk, please help me explain what anime is to Asgore?" She turned to her boss. "Y-you see, it's like a cartoon, but..."

"With swords!" I said.

"So it's like a cartoon but with swords?" Asgore said. "Golly! That sounds neato."

Asgore just proved that he is a massive dork.

"Where is this? Where can I see the anime?"

"H-hold on, uh, I think I have some on my phone." She shambled over to him and showed him an image on her phone. "Here, l-look at this." Her expression turned to embarrassment. "Oh, uh, um... that's the... that's the wrong... uh, nevermind."

What did you show him?

"Golly, were those two robots..."

"Kissing?" Undyne finished.

Alphs, you let your boss know that you have a robot fetish. That's just... odd.

"Boy, technology sure is something, isn't it?"

Alphys just laughed nervously. "Yeah, it sure is."

I walked over to Alphys.

"Psst, F-frisk, um, you've gotta tell me. D... do you think Asgore and Toriel are, uh, ever gonna get back together?"

What should I say?

"Yeah," I said. Well, I hope they will.

"Y-yeah! Yeah, that's what I hope too! Just think of how cute they must have been together. It's quickly becoming my number one ship of all time. Tori and Gorey... my... my old boss and his ex-wife. Uh, that sounds a lot less cool all of a sudden."

Finally, I walked up to Asgore.

"Howdy, Frisk. Sorry about almost trying to take your soul. I feel very bad about it. I hope we can still be pals.

You know, maybe I'll get to know this guy a lot better on the surface.

"Hey, don't worry about it, Asgore. I think everybody's tried to kill Frisk at least once."

I still remember I lost to Aaron because of something stuck in my teeth.

"Oh, I see," Asgore said. "In that case, I'm not sorry, Frisk!"

"Asgore!" Undyne shrieked. "That's not what I meant."

I have to forgive the big guy.

Now, I'm ready to go. I walked east and north. There was some kind of staircase leading upwards out of the underground. I walked up and felt the sun's rays on my skin. I stared at the setting sun, waiting for my friends to follow me.

"Oh my," Toriel said.

"Isn't it beautiful, everyone?" Asgore asked.

"Wow," Alphys gasped out. "It's e-even better than on TV. Way better! Better than I ever imagined!"

"Frisk, you live with this?" Undyne asked. I nodded. "The sunlight is so nice and the air is so fresh. I really feel alive."

"Hey, Sans, what's that giant ball?" Papyrus said.

"We call that the sun my friend," Sans replied.

"That's the sun? Wowie! I can't believe I'm finally meeting the sun!"

"I could stand here and watch this for hours," Asgore said.

"Yes, it is beautiful, is it not?" Toriel added. "But we should really think about what comes next."

"Oh, right," Asgore replied. "Everyone, this is the beginning of a bright new future. An era of peace between humans and monsters. Frisk, I have something to ask of you."

I'm listening.

"Will you act as our ambassador to the humans?"

What do I say?

"Yes," I said. "I will." Now imagine how good that'll look on a resume.

"Yeah, Frisk will be the best ambassador!" Papyrus cheered.

I like Papyrus. Every time I look at him, I get a mood boost.

"And I, the great Papyrus, will be the best mascot! I'll go make a good first impression." He ran off.

"Welp, someone's gotta keep him from getting into trouble," Sans said. "See you guys." He walked off.

"Man, do I have to everything?" Undyne asked. "Papyrus, wait!" She ran after Papyrus.

"Hey, Undyne. Wait up!" Alphys said right before running after her.

It was just Goat-Mom, Goat-Dad, and me on that ridge.

"Whoops," Asgore said. "Uh, should I do something?" Toriel just glared at him. "Well, gotta go." He walked to the right.

"It seems that everyone is quite eager to set off," Toriel said. She turned to me. "Frisk, you came from this world, right?"

"Yes," I replied.

"So you must have a place to return to, do you not?"

Should I tell Goat-Mom I ran away from the orphanage in order to find a home?

"What will you do now?"

This is going to be a tough decision. Do I return to the orphanage or stay with Toriel?

"I have nowhere else to go," I said. "I want to stay with you."

"What? Frisk, you really are a funny child. If you had said that earlier, none of this would have happened. It is a good thing you took so long to change your mind." She laughed. "Well, I suppose if you really do not have any other place to go. I will do my best to take care of you, for as long as you need. All right? Now, come along. Everyone is waiting for us." I took her hand and the two of us walked to the right.