Chapter 1: Brothers
[Two years later]
[Sans and Papyrus are planning a day of joyous merriment – one that would celebrate the monsters' liberation from the Underground, as well as the birthday of the human who led them to their collective freedom. Hilarity is about to ensue…]
Papyrus: SANS! WE NEED TO CAPTURE THE HUMAN!
Sans: and why's that, papy?
Papyrus: BECAUSE I, THE GREAT PAPYRUS, HAVE PREPARED SPAGHETTI FOR THE HUMAN!
Sans: how wonderful…so how's that gonna stop the human?
[Sans gives a mischievous smirk. Papyrus stops and stares for a second.]
Papyrus: I WAS JUST JOKING, SANS! WE ARE OUT OF THE UNDERGROUND, REMEMBER!
Sans: oh yeah, right
[Sans smirks again.]
Papyrus: ANYWAY, THE HUMAN IS HAVING THEIR BIRTHDAY AND ASGORE AND BEARDLESS ASGORE ARE PREPARING THE HUMAN A HUMAN-STYLE PARTY!
Sans: oh yeah? is everyone gonna be there?
Papyrus: YES, SANS! A FLOWER HELPED ME WITH THE INVITATIONS!
Sans: oh yeah...about that flower…
[A kid-sized flower saunters towards them.]
Sans: frisk and i turned him into a goat-flower hybrid!
[He winks.]
Sans: he lives with frisk now. one of those pranks gone wrong i guess.
[Sans begins to think to himself.]
Sans: [thinking] glad the kid is back. here's to him having a good life on the surface. may nothing tragic happen to him again…
[His thoughts are interrupted by a cheerful bleat.]
Asriel: Howdy!
Sans: hey so, what happened to your head?
[As Sans smirks, A goat head sticks out of the flower.]
Asriel: You know, it was hard to – PLANT – my face into this costume!
Papyrus: THE GREAT PAPYRUS IS ANNOYED BY THIS PUN!
Sans: oooo, good one. i bet frisk will laugh when he realizes you're – POLLEN – his leg with that costume!
Papyrus: THE GREAT PAPYRUS CONTINUES TO BE ANNOYED!
Asriel: Even in this costume, I was able to ride my bike and – PETAL – down here!
Papyrus: THE GREAT PAPYRUS IS FUMING! NYEHHHH! WHEN ARE THE PUNS GOING TO END?
Asriel: Oh, Papy, about the invitations...
Papyrus: YES, WHAT ABOUT THEM?
Asriel: …I delivered them all!
Papyrus: EXCELLENT! I, THE GREAT PAPYRUS, AM EXTREMELY PLEASED WITH YOUR COURIER SERVICE! EVERY MONSTER WILL BE ATTENDING THE HUMAN'S PARTY, WHEN THEY SEE IN THEIR MAIL, THIS PURPLE AND BLUE ENVELOPE!
[Papyrus is still holding one invitation in his hand, and he fails to recognize its existence. Sans starts sleeping]
Asriel: Whose invitation is that?
Papyrus: WHICH INVITATION?
Asriel: The one on your hand!
Papyrus: I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT I, THE GREAT PAPYRUS, HAVE NO MORE INVITATIONS IN HIS HANDS!
[Papyrus looks at his right hand and sees the unsent invite.]
Papyrus: NYEHHHHHHHH! I, THE GREAT PAPYRUS, HAVE FAILED!
[Sans awakens from the NYEHHHHHHHH scream.]
Sans: what is it, brother of mine? forget something?
[He flashes a sarcastic grin.]
Sans: you do realize that you gotta do better than that, especially since this is a themed-party we're planning…
[He winks.]
Papyrus: THIS INVITATION! I FORGOT TO GIVE ASGORE JR. THIS INVITATION TO GIVE TO JERRY!
Sans: an invite...for jerry? dude, nobody likes that guy!
Papyrus: BUT IT IS MY DUTY FOR EVERY MONSTER TO –
[Sans snatches the invite and obliterates it with the Gaster Blaster several times. What was once a blue and purple party invite has now been reduced to an insignificant pile of ash.]
Sans: done.
[Sans returns to sleep.]
Asriel: Well... I get that Jerry isn't the most popular monster around... but just think: what if he's lonely? Shouldn't we give him a chance? It feels wrong to leave out one monster when everyone else in town is coming for Frisk's big 1-3.
Papyrus: THEN I...
[He walks several steps away from a sleeping Sans.]
Papyrus: THEN I...
[He leans forward, as if to whisper into Asriel's ear tucked behind a petal…]
Papyrus: THEN I, THE GREAT PAPYRUS, SHALL MAKE ANOTHER INVITE IMMEDIATELY!
[… but he shouts it out instead. Asriel rubs his ear in response.]
Asriel: Then hop onto the GOATMOBILE!
[Papyrus looks perplexed.]
Asriel: …That's what I call my bike!
Papyrus: NYEHHHH! OFF I GO; TO COMPLETE MY MISSION!
[Papyrus runs through the door, breaking it open in action-filled enthusiasm.]
Sans: …hey asriel...i have a question for you.
Asriel: What is it?
[Meanwhile, Papyrus paddles off quickly on Asriel's bike.]
Sans: has frisk been ok? lately they've seemed...off. being an ambassador might be getting to them after these past few years, huh?
[Asriel thinks about Frisk's halved soul. Could that have something to do with it?]
Asriel: I think... I've noticed? He fell asleep... in front of the fireplace! He looks dead!
[Sans ponders.]
Sans: [thinking] i wonder… with the kid letting me know about him giving up some soul energy to bring asriel back…
[Sans' mind snaps back to the present.]
Sans: yeah...working is tough. that's why i never do it, too much of a hassle
[Sans gives a wink.]
Sans: …but really, asriel...take care of them, ok? i know you will...you're a good – KID – !
[Sans gives another wink.]
Asriel: My mama still loves your horrible puns, by the way
[Asriel smiles amusedly.]
Sans: yup, i know she does!
[He glances sideways.]
Sans: they tickle her FUNNYBONE every time.
[Asriel's eyes light up and then he facepalms himself. He just realized something!]
Asriel: …aw no, I'm stuck here. Just realized that. Somebody call my mama!
Sans: why's that?
Asriel: I wanna check on Frisk but I don't have my GOATMOBILE…and my house is on the other side of town! It will take at least 20 walk cycles and 10 random encounters if we walk! …Kidding, but you get the picture.
Sans: here azzy, lemme take you through a shortcut!
[Firmly grasping Asriel by the hand, Sans uses his abilities to teleport them to the Dreemurr home.]
Sans: alright azzy, here ya go. no encounters at all. that wasn't so bad huh?
[Toriel comes to the door.]
Toriel: My child!
[She envelops Asriel in a warm, motherly embrace.]
Toriel: Come, have a taste of this special pie I made for the party!
Asriel: Let me guess... butterscotch cinnamon pie...again!
[Asriel looks over to the fireplace, while Toriel prepares a slice of her pie. Frisk is sleeping in front of the fire, just as he was a few hours ago when he left.]
Toriel: Don't be silly, my child! It's a cinnamon butterscotch pie!
[Asriel digs in. He likes the taste of the pie at first... but soon comes to a rude awakening – the pie also has snails as an ingredient! Asriel spits out the morsel of pie in his mouth.]
Asriel: Ugh! C'mon mom, Frisk doesn't like snails! And neither do I. Please don't let your obsession with snails change the makeup of the pie, ok? Anyway, I'm gonna chat with Frisk now.
[Frisk wakes up from the commotion]
Frisk: Yeah, what is it Asriel?
Asriel: You seem... tired. Are you doing ok, bud?
[Frisk gives a big sigh]
Frisk: Eh… I've been better, Asriel. Being an ambassador HAS been helpful in rebuilding monster-kind society, and humans are more accepting now than 3 years ago, but... I'm only 13 and I feel old. Although if giving you part of my soul energy has anything to do with it, it makes sense. I'm still DETERMINED… as much as possible anyway. I'm glad things have changed for the better; I just hope they stay that way.
[Frisk gives a sad laugh]
Asriel: Are you still truly filled with determination? Hehe
[Asriel is smiling, in an attempt to cheer Frisk up]
Frisk: Maybe, I guess… but, it's harder to have a full control over you know? I feel more like Sans than myself half the time, feeling lazy and being tempted to give up and feel depressed and all… heck, despite you and Undyne being monsters, it wouldn't surprise me if you had more determination than me at the moment…
[Asriel begins to worry. Frisk continues.]
Frisk: There are a few that still look at me funny despite monster-human relations sky-rocketing in the past year. It took forever to get some respect as ambassador.
[Frisk bows his head pensively.]
Frisk: Am I actually determined? I think so… maybe…? …Yes… yes… of course I am determined.
[Asriel pats Frisk to comfort him. He then speaks in a hushed tone.]
Asriel: Perhaps... is there any way I could give my soul... or part of it... to you? So, you feel determined right? To keep up your spirits as ambassador?
[Frisk abruptly turns his head to Asriel. His eyes are emblazoned with a fiery resolve. Asriel is taken aback.]
Asriel: Let me explain, Frisk... you've done a lot for us MONSTERS. It's the least we could do…
[Frisk hugs Asriel suddenly.]
Frisk: No. Stop it, Asriel. You already got your real body back. If you were to do that, you could go back to your flower self...or worse. And we are NOT going to tear apart... not again.
[Frisk expresses a strong emotion – not one of anger, but one of determination. His determination is coming back full-force!]
Frisk: I appreciate it – the offer, Asriel. I really do. But you are keeping your true body... I'll be ok, ok? I'm not tired anymore… I will survive.
Asriel: Do you want mama's pie? I find that cheers me up.
Frisk: ...if it doesn't have snails!
[Frisk forces a chuckle.]
Asriel: Well don't look in the kitchen!
Frisk: I'll wait here until another pie is ready, I guess...oh, and Asriel...one more thing...
Asriel: Yes bud? …Oh and I should be the bud, since I'm wearing the flower costume, get it?
[Asriel begins to wear a glazed look.]
Asriel: [thinking] I really hope this party can cheer Frisk up…
[Frisk stares into Asriel's gaze. He notices his stare and turns to him.]
Frisk: Keep your soul. Seriously. If you lose your soul again, I'll never forgive you. Understood?
[Asriel smiles again.]
Asriel: I don't want to lose you either. When I was a flower, I was so empty and so angry and so bitter... I was soulless. Well now, I've changed and I'm now... a flower.
Frisk: Real funny, Azzy.
[Frisk manages to crack a genuine smile.]
Frisk: But for real... thank you for being so understanding.
Asriel: When you SAVED me and the world, you gave me back what I needed for so long, something that I have been yearning since I became that flower. I feel much happier and less prone to shoot bullets - I mean, friendliness pellets?
[Asriel's grin fades. He puts on a slightly gravely demeanor. Frisk's smile disappears.]
Asriel: …but that wasn't enough for you was it? You had to team up with Dr. Alphys... to get my original body back. And for that, Frisk, I am forever indebted to you.
[Frisk's smile returns.]
Frisk: I care about you Azzy. And when I learned that you had a special kind of soul that could withstand elements of the human soul... I had to do it. Makes sense, since you have escaped death through your Flowey form before the barrier broke. But either way… everyone deserves a second chance. And now you're reunited with your family... treasure it, ok?
Asriel: I care about you too, Frisk. You're my best bud…get it? 'cause I'm a flower!
[Asriel finally takes off the flower costume head. The puns have retired for now. Frisk shakes his head but still smiles anyway]
Frisk: Sans is rubbing off on you too. Now then…let's enjoy life on the surface together until the day we die, ok?
[Frisk hugs Asriel once more]
Frisk: You're the best brother I've always wanted.
Asriel: You're the best brother I've always wanted… and I love your hugs, Frisk. They fill me with determination!
Frisk: Love ya, bro.
Asriel: Same to you, Frisk. What would the monsters do if you were... no longer with us...?
[Asriel feels trepidation at such a grim prospect. Frisk begins to comfort Asriel, once again looks passionate; DETERMINED once more.]
Frisk: Well, I plan on being ambassador for a while. But...in the case that I do pass away and you're still alive...would you be my successor if that scenario happens? When it happens?
[Asriel blankly stares at Frisk. He still feels anxious, but deliberately bends down on one knee.]
Asriel: I promise to King Asgore, I will.
Frisk: Your dad isn't a "king" on the surface, but alright… thank you Azzy, I'm very thankful.
[Toriel, who had been listening in on her sons' conversation from the kitchen, sheds a happy tear. A beaming look of pride is on her face. She wipes away the tear as Asriel walks towards her.]
Asriel: So, Mom, does this mean you'll make another pie? One without snails this time?
[Asriel smiles at her mama cheekily.]
Toriel: Alright, let me fix that for you, my child.
[Toriel rushes to the counter. She frantically prepares a butterscotch cinnamon pie – one without snails this time.]
Asriel: Ah, mom...gotta love her.
Asriel: [thinking] Why does Asriel even have a flower costume? …Ah well, no biggee…
[A calm presence resides within the Dreemurr household. It fills the family with determination. As they rest, a shadowy figure peers over the hill across the road. They are wearing a familiar stripe-patterned shirt…]