Aftermath
Hey guys! I hope you enjoy! And I'd like to give a special thanks to my good friend J-Farraday for all her help with this story. Thank you so much, July, I couldn't have done this without you! And if you love Papyrisk too, and Gaster getting a happy ending, be sure to check out her fics, you guys! She's an amazing writer!
I also am introducing another new OC, Dan Emerson, a police officer and Marianne's husband. I hope you like him and that I didn't butcher his job as an investigator too much. I couldn't find all the info I needed and being a police officer in a fictional world does make for a confusing situation. Two other OCs, Jessie Spring(fellow officer and friend of Dan's) and Adrian Cooper(police sergeant), also play a small role, though the story sticks to Dan's POV for now.
And now on with the next chapter, and the beginning of our happy ending. :) Two more chapters to go after this!
...
Ebott City, Earlier That Afternoon
Officer Dan Emerson, a tall muscular police officer with short black hair, a neatly trimmed goatee, and brown eyes, sighed with relief as he finished the last report on the drug bust, sent it, and closed his laptop. "Finally."
"Ready to go home, Dan?" his coworker Jessie Spring, a petite young woman with straight blonde hair down to her shoulders, hazel eyes, and freckles asked.
"Yeah, finally. Hopefully I'll make it in time to have dinner with Marianne and her dad. Marianne made cherry cobbler and if I get there soon enough, maybe I'll be able to actually get some." he joked.
Jessie laughed. "Knowing Professor Williams, probably not."
But before Dan could go, the police sergeant, Adrian Cooper, an older man with graying brown hair, entered the room. "Emerson, your wife and her father just called dispatch. I thought you might want to know."
Dan's heart sunk. He looked to Sergeant Cooper with worried eyes. "What?! What happened?! Are they okay?"
"They're not hurt, but they're saying something about two children potentially being missing. A little girl named Tina Adams came to the lab asking questions about her fifteen year old sister who did little odd jobs for the professor. He said he asked the older girl to get a flower specimen from Mt. Ebott a week ago and he realized he hadn't seen her since. He and Marianne were talking about it in the kitchen, and by the time they left the kitchen to ask the little girl more, she had completely vanished. They're both distraught. Have you heard anything about this?" the sergeant asked.
Dan shook his head, worried. "I haven't heard of any missing child cases. The name Frisk is familiar though. The prof's talked about her before. Said she's a pretty dependable kid, but I don't know anything el..." He froze in realization. "Wait. We arrested a couple in the drug bust, pretty strung out on Psylium and attempting to deal it too. I don't know if this means anything, but their last name was Adams as well." He looked to his fellow officer. "Does Andrew know who their parents are?" he asked, referring to Professor Williams.
"No. He said Frisk would always circumvent questions about anything personal and that little Tina never spoke of them." the sergeant explained.
Dan nodded. "I think we need to look into this further, Sergeant."
"I'm going to send someone to speak to your wife and father." Sergeant Cooper told him. "Emerson, Spring, check the case files. See if the couple you arrested has two daughters. If not, see if you can check the student directories for Ebott Elementary and Ebott High and see if you can find out anything about them."
Dan nodded, as did Jessie. "We're on it."
...
Dan's hunch was right.
A check revealed the Adams' definitely were the parents of the two missing girls, and after intense questioning by Jessie, the couple finally admitted that their oldest daughter had been gone for a week. They both insisted that it was not their fault and the "brat" had probably just run off with a friend or something. Only Jessie's level-headedness and obedience of police protocol had prevented her from punching them both in the face.
A group of officers were sent to Mount Ebott, following Professor Williams' lead, and Dan, along with a few other officers, got a warrant and began to search the Adams' rundown house. They found some badly hidden drugs, but with a sinking feeling, Dan realized the youngest was no longer around, possibly having gone to Mt. Ebott to search for her big sister, but he didn't know for sure.
His search took him to the bedroom that clearly belonged to the girls. The last person in there, probably Tina, had left the door unlocked.
There was only a single twin bed in the room, the mattress yellowed from age and the blankets moth-eaten. It looked like the headboard had fallen apart, but had been carefully glued back together. The little dresser in it looked old and like it had been put together by hand. Little flowers were painted on it, clearly by a child. There were some worn, well loved stuffed animals, some having been torn and repaired on one side of the room and some clothes that had clearly seen better days in the closet. The only things in truly good condition was some schoolbooks and library books sitting on a old card table that clearly served as a desk. The walls were covered with drawings and art projects, probably made by the youngest, and there was a little sign on the door that read Frisk And Tina's Room in a childish scrawl, surrounded by flowers and hearts. Dan's heart ached at the signs of the girls trying so hard to have a normal life in a place so unsuited for children.
He bent down, checking under the bed with a flashlight just in case Tina had hidden under there and either fallen asleep or had been too scared of him to make a sound. The little girl of course wasn't there, but hidden underneath were bags of food from the church food pantry his wife volunteered for, confirming her part of the story.
Something else caught his attention. Underneath a box under the bed, there was a loose floorboard, which was very slightly raised like someone had moved it to hide something underneath. Praying it wasn't a body or murder weapon, Dan carefully moved the box, checking inside it first. It contained some more drawings, a few old schoolbooks, some books on caring for an infant and preschooler, and a few budgeting pamphlets with notes written on them.
He then carefully lifted the floorboard. Thankfully there was no body or murder weapon, but what was underneath still did surprise him. There were carefully written notes on gaining custody of a child, which were clearly written by Frisk, who had put down every detail she could, including sources. She even had a list of ways to try to convince her parents to give up custody of Tina to her when she turned eighteen. Underneath the papers was a carefully hidden envelope with some money inside.
Dan's heart ached further. Circumstances had forced this poor fifteen year old girl to become a parent instead of a child. And it was clear that whatever happened to Frisk, she wouldn't have voluntarily left Tina of her own accord.
He prayed that after a week of being missing that they would find her alive.
He continued to search the room for clues of any other place Frisk might have gone or been taken from besides Mt. Ebott. Every little detail told him more about the girl whose parents had called her a brat. While some of the library books on the desk were storybooks or books the youngest daughter would enjoy reading, the ones that clearly belonged to Frisk were Caring For Your School Age Child, a book on household repair, one on healthy cooking on a budget, one on budgeting, and one on building furniture.
He spotted another clue that had ended up half hidden by the sheets; a worn notebook, also Frisk's. It was something of a planner where Frisk listed all the odd jobs and chores she needed to do as well as a few pages where she had been trying to figure out bills. His soul ached even further. Frisk was still so young. Her only worries should have been school, boys, and figuring out who Frisk Adams was. But that's not how things had turned out for her. It looked like she had barely had any time to sleep, let alone be a teenage girl. Instead, she had clearly been the only adult in her family, despite her tender age. It hurt to think of just how young she had been when she had been forced to become this way. Had she ever been able to be a child?
The last entry in the notebook further confirmed Professor Williams' statement, though it was simply his name and the time he had reported last seeing her. While it was possible she had gone missing along the way, Mt. Ebott was still the most likely lead.
His walkie-talkie crackled, and he picked it up. It was one of the officers that had gone to Mount Ebott. "10-33, we've got a situation at Mount Ebott. Possible earthquake and explosion. The whole mountain shook for a second and there was this bright beam of light. It doesn't appear to be an eruption, but we might need to order an evacuation. No one's hurt, but there's no sign of the girls. 10-19 to the station. Over."
"Damnmit." Dan swore. "We're on our way." It seemed even Mt. Ebott was standing in the way of finding those girls.
But he wasn't giving up.
...
Underground, the source of the explosion groaned as he blinked open his eyes. He found himself lying in a dog pile among his three sisters, who hadn't awoken yet. Sleeping monsters lay around them, but their stirring indicated they would wake up soon.
Asriel managed to untangle his limbs from the pile, careful not to wake the girls. He got to his knees and checked them over, very softly sighing in relief that they were okay. The place where his soul once was ached. He had hurt them so much, had hurt everyone, and even now he knew he was slowly losing what remaining soul he had from absorbing everyone's souls.
He knew that Chara, Frisk, and Tina were desperate to save him, but he still wasn't sure he could be saved. If he even deserved to be saved, after all the horrible things he had done as Flowey. And what if it failed, or couldn't be done in time before he became Flowey again?
What if he hurt them? He couldn't bear the idea.
Maybe he should just leave while he still had the chance, before everyone awoke, and hide where no one could find him. He wouldn't be able to hurt anyone that way. A tear falling from his eye, he headed for the door.
"...Azzy? Where are you going?"
Asriel froze as he saw Chara open her eyes and sit up, looking over at him in confusion and worry. Next to her, Tina was stirring, though Frisk remained asleep, still clutching Papyrus's scarf in her hands.
Asriel closed his eyes. "...I'm sorry." he said and started to run off.
But he didn't get very fair. Even though Chara was wobbly on the legs she hadn't used in so long, she still managed the energy to run up to him and grab hold of him. However, she lost her balance, falling to the ground and pulling him with her.
"Chara! Let me go!" Asriel protested, more loudly than he meant to. He struggled to get free, but she held onto him firmly.
"Asriel, stop trying to run off! We're going to save you!" Chara told him firmly.
"It's a pipe dream, Chara. Just let me go." Asriel ordered, but she shook her head. He renewed his struggling to get free but was careful not to hurt her.
Tina got up, tears in her eyes. "Don't go..."
"Tina..." Asriel started, but was interrupted by a very familiar voice.
"A-Asriel? Chara?" Asriel turned, pushing Chara off him to see his mother awake and sitting up, her hands covering her mouth in shock as happy tears filled her eyes. His father was waking up too, his eyes widening as he caught sight of his son. Asriel looked at the floor. There was no escape now.
"Are-Are you really here? Is this really real?" Toriel asked shakily. Asriel gave one tiny nod, not looking up.
The next thing he knew, he was caught up in his parents' arms along with Chara, held tightly in their embrace as they clung to them. He could hear them sobbing and he closed his eyes, tears falling from them too, relishing the embrace while he could still feel emotions.
"Where's that weed?!" Undyne's voice suddenly yelled as the fish monster jumped to her feet, summoning a spear and scanning the room for Flowey. Her eye widened as she saw Asriel. He couldn't meet her gaze.
"What happened?! Sans?! Frisk?!" Papyrus cried, jolting awake at Undyne's shout as Sans and Alphys opened their eyes as well. Now monsters were waking up around them, frantically trying to figure out what was going on and find their loved ones. Others discovered that the barrier was broken and were yelling about that. Asriel wanted to just duck into the ground and hide as chaos erupted around him. Chaos he had caused.
Only one person remained still in the chaos, and Asriel was quick to realize this as little Tina gasped and rushed over to her sister who was still unconscious, Papyrus right behind her. "Sis?" the little girl asked with tears in her eyes, placing her hand on her sister's shoulder, but Frisk didn't respond.
Papyrus poured healing magic into her. "Frisk? Frisk, please wake up!" Still Frisk didn't open her eyes.
Asriel and his family rushed over, all kneeling by Frisk's side as Toriel gently shook her. "Come on, sweetheart, open your eyes." the goat woman pleaded.
Frisk was clearly alive and breathing, but didn't seem to want to wake, even with all the commotion around her. Sans, Undyne, and several other monsters joined them, asking concerned questions and trying to wake Frisk.
"MOVE!" someone yelled and this cut through the commotion, everyone turning to Alphys, who seemed just as shocked by her outburst as everyone else. "I-I need to check her over. Give me room." Alphys grabbed her bag and hurried over, giving Frisk a soul check and checking her vitals. Everyone looked to her in worry. Undyne ushered most of the other monsters out to give the family some room, telling them she would keep them posted on the situation.
After a few minutes, Alphys sighed in relief. "It's just severe exhaustion. She's going to be okay. She needs plenty of rest and to get some food into her system when she wakes up." Everyone else sighed in relief as well.
Sans suddenly caught sight of Asriel and his sockets became as big as dinner plates. He rubbed his sockets and looked to Undyne to see if she was seeing what he was seeing. She nodded with happy tears in her eyes. Sans came up to Asriel. "Hey, Az. It's good to have you back." he told his friend, then looked to Chara. His eyes widened once again when he realized she was no longer a ghost. "I'm so glad you're alive again...But how did all this happen?"
"Sans, do-do you remember anything?" Asriel asked him.
Sans shook his head. "Not-Not really. I remember a bunch of monsters came rushing in...and then there was Flowey..." His sockets went wide. "Where'd Flowey go?!"
"Sans..." Chara started as Asriel tried to figure out what to say.
"We need to find him." Undyne said before Chara could finish her sentence. "I'll start a patrol. Papyrus, you stay with the Royal Family and make sure they're safe. Lesser Dog, Greater Dog, you stay with them too. RG01, RG02, you're with me."
"I'm coming too." Sans said.
Undyne shook her head. "No, Sans, you have one HP. Stay with Papyrus."
"Undyne, I'm not helpless. I know how to deal with the psychotic bastard." Sans told her firmly. Asriel winced at this, as did Chara and Sans noticed. "Sorry, bud, I know this is confusing, but while you were gone, this creepy flower monster came into the Underground, and trust me, you don't want to run into him. Don't worry though. We'll get this sorted out. We'll find him."
"Yes, you will, because you're looking at him right now!" Asriel yelled, gesturing to himself. "I'm that "psychotic bastard!"
Sans froze, as did the others, who all stared at Asriel in shock. Frisk, who was starting to come out of her deep sleep, mumbled something incomprehensible and blinked her eyes slightly at the loud sound. Papyrus heard her and stroked her hair soothingly, and she leaned into the touch, eyes closing again as she drifted back to sleep. Tina stayed by her sister's side as well, cuddling into her.
Asriel sighed. "I'm Flowey. Like Chara...I...I came back, but it was all wrong." He turned to Alphys. "Alphys, when you injected the test flower with DT, you didn't know it had some of my dust on it. I came back to life in the garden...but...but I didn't have my soul. I still don't have my soul." He looked at the ground. "If nothing's done, I'll become Flowey again. I'm sorry. I'm sorry for everything I did, for how much I hurt everyone." He quietly told everyone what he did as the God Of Hyperdeath, from stealing the souls to fighting Frisk, Tina and unknowingly Chara to the girls calming him down and him breaking the barrier.
Sans continued to stare in shock. Toriel's eyes filled with tears. Asgore looked both worried and confused, while Papyrus looked more sympathetic. Undyne looked like she didn't know what to do.
"Frisk thought of a way to bring Asriel's soul back." Chara said, putting her hand comfortingly on her brother's shoulder. "Remember when you were talking to Frisk about the soul personality traits, Sans?" Sans nodded, still looking shell-shocked. "Frisk thinks that that's what Asriel's missing and that if you extract the traits like you did the DT that it will help him to feel again and complete his soul. The other fallen humans promised to help us."
Undyne blinked in shock. "The human souls offered to help you?!" She looked around for them and the others did as well. It didn't take them long as they were all back in or near their now open containers, waiting patiently.
Chara nodded. "Frisk, Tina, and I saved them too." she said softly before quickly telling everyone what she knew, keeping the more violent deaths at a whisper to avoid scaring little Tina.
Asgore looked both relieved and regretful as he turned to the souls. "It was very kind of all of you to offer to help us and you have my gratitude." he told them. "And I promise I will do whatever is necessary to aid Alphys and Sans in saving all of you." He turned back to Sans and Alphys, and Toriel and Chara looked to them hopefully too. "Can you do it? Can you save our son and the others?"
Sans finally got his voice back. "I...Maybe? Frisk did have a good idea and it's definitely possible that that was what Asriel was missing considering he already had a magic system and was alive." he said. "We'd have to figure out how to contain the traits and keep them stable inside him though, and that's going to be the hard part. And as for the robot body thing, it's definitely feasible if we figure out how to adjust the power and sustain the souls. We could also contact the ghost monsters for advice."
"We...We can run some tests. W-We'll have to focus on Asriel first though." Alphys added. "Asriel, how-how long do you think you have before you, um, well..."
"Revert? Maybe a few hours." Asriel told her after a moment's thought.
"Then-Then we need to hurry." Alphys said.
Asgore and Toriel nodded, Asgore picking up Asriel, who protested about being picked up, but his father just held him closer. Chara attempted to walk with them, but wobbled again. Asgore gently wrapped his free arm around her, steadying her as they walked.
Undyne helped Alphys gather the human souls. "We're going to have to close the containers. We want to make sure you guys remain stable until we get your bodies in order." she explained. Benji, Felicity, and Violet let out affirmative squeaking sounds, while the other three were more quiet.
Toriel knelt down by Frisk, tenderly scooping her into her arms, kissing her forehead gently as she did. "Papyrus, Sans, can one of you get Tina?"
"Don't worry, Miss Toriel! I can walk!" Tina reassured her. Papyrus offered her a hand anyway, which Tina smiled and took.
As they started walking, Frisk began to stir in Toriel's arms, opening her eyes a little with a mumble and cuddling Papyrus's scarf like a teddy bear. She looked up at Toriel, staring at her for a few seconds, clearly trying to figure out where she was and what was going on. "...Mom?" she asked after a moment.
Toriel stroked her hair. "It is me, my child. Everything is all right."
"...You 'kay?"
"Yes, darling, I am all right. Everyone is fine." Toriel reassured her.
" 'Ina?"
"I'm here, sis." Tina told her, letting go of Papyrus's hand to walk at Toriel's side where Frisk could see her.
"Chara? 'riel?"
"We're here too." Asriel told her from his father's arms.
Papyrus came up to walk beside them, smiling happily at Frisk. "I'M SO GLAD YOU'RE AWAKE, HUMAN! WE WERE VERY WORRIED!"
"P'pyrus? You 'kay?"
"YES, HUMAN. I, THE GREAT PAPYRUS, AM VERY ALL RIGHT, ESPECIALLY NOW THAT YOU'RE OKAY! HOW ARE YOU FEELING?"
Frisk yawned a little. "...tired. Why 'm I?"
"Well, let's see, you went through all of Hotland, the CORE, the True Lab, and the Capitol all in one day, fought a robotic TV star, fought me when I was a god and acting like a total jerk, assisted in a resurrection..." Asriel told her, rolling his eyes slightly, though he was smiling.
Frisk blinked. "...Oh. P'pyrus? Sans?" she asked, struggling to keep her eyes open.
"YES, HUMAN?"
Sans came up to them when he heard his name. "Yes, kiddo?"
"...We broke it."
Papyrus and Sans exchanged worried looks while Toriel checked Frisk over, worried she was hurt.
"WHAT DID YOU BREAK, HUMAN?" Papyrus asked worriedly.
Frisk smiled sleepily. "...The Reset button...You can get your dad back now."
Papyrus and Sans looked at each other, shocked.
"Oookay, punk...I think you might have a concussion." Undyne said. She held up four fingers. 'How many fingers?"
"Unnndynee...I don't wanna do math. I'm tired..." Frisk whined as her eyes closed.
Undyne sighed. "She's incoherent...We might wanna get her checked while we're at the lab."
Papyrus was smiling. "Actually, Undyne, she's not. You see..."
He was cut off by a rush of magic and a figure popping into the room out of nowhere.
...
After managing to gather enough magic, Gaster finally made the teleport into the throne room. However, he had been stubborn yet again and overexerted himself, and as he hit the ground, stumbled forward and made a rather embarrassing faceplant right in front of his sons, Toriel, and Asgore.
But Papyrus and Sans didn't care about Gaster's ungraceful entrance. All they cared about was that their dad was back.
"DAD!" Papyrus cried in joy and rushed to his father's side with Sans right behind him, helping Gaster to his feet and hugging him tightly with tears in his eyes. Sans hugged Gaster just as tightly, a huge, genuine smile on his face. Gaster hugged his boys back happily, his own tears flowing down, so glad to be able to touch his boys for the first time in so long.
"WE MISSED YOU SO MUCH!" Papyrus told his father. Sans nodded, too choked up to speak.
"I missed you both too." Gaster whispered in Wingdings through his own tears. "I love you boys. I love you so much and I'm so glad I can finally hold you again...I'm so sorry...My foolishness cost me so much time with you. I promise I won't be so reckless from now on."
"I should have talked you out of it..." Sans whispered.
Gaster gently put his hand under his son's chin to make Sans look up at him. "Sans. You're my child. You're not supposed to have to be the one talking me out of foolish things, and you did try to make me see sense. None of this is your fault. Not at all. Okay?" Papyrus nodded too and wrapped an arm around his brother as well. Sans finally nodded.
Asgore, Toriel, Alphys, and Undyne had been staring at Gaster in utter confusion for a few seconds, but then their eyes lit up with recognition as their memories return.
"Gaster..." Asgore choked out. "How could I have forgotten you?"
Toriel's eyes filled with tears. "I'm so sorry...After all the time we spent together..."
"How the heck did I lose memories of an entire person?!" Undyne asked angrily, though the anger was directed at herself, not Gaster.
Alphys's voice shook. "We worked together...You were my mentor...We watched anime together on weekends...h-how could I not..."
Gaster looked down as he signed to the others. "Don't blame yourselves. It's all my fault. I attempted to build a time machine and everything went wrong. I literally erased myself and my assistants from space and time. That's why no one but my sons remembered me until Frisk and Asriel fixed my mistake. I'm the only one to blame here. But...I'll do everything in my power to make up for it." He looked to Asgore and Toriel. "I know how to save Asriel. I know exactly how to build him a soul."
"You do?" Chara asked in shock as her parents and Asriel voiced the same question.
Gaster nodded softly. "I've done it before. Twice."
"What? Dad, when did you..." Sans started before freezing. Papyrus's eyes went wide as well as he figured out what Gaster meant. "It was us." Sans realized softly.
Gaster nodded, placing his hands on his sons' shoulders, speaking to them in Wingdings while signing with his magical hands to the others. "This wasn't the way I wanted to tell you. But...Your mother and I wanted you both very, very much. But as you know, your mom was ill. She wouldn't have been able to handle a pregnancy. So I came up with another way. Your mother and I brought your souls to life by extracting drops of ours and bonding them together." He looked into their eyes. "You may have had to grow outside your mother's body, but you're no less my sons."
"We understand, Dad." Papyrus told him immediately, smiling softly. Sans nodded as well. 'You both loved us so much that you made us."
Gaster smiled. "Exactly."
"I hate to interrupt, but how will that save me?" Asriel asked. "I kind of don't have the time it would take for a soul embryo to grow, plus, I'm not a skeleton."
"I think I know how to accelerate the process." Gaster explained. "I can use soul samples from your parents to act as the container, and samples of the personality traits from Chara and the six souls, as well as some raw magic, will speed up the growth of your soul, which will be able to shape around you and grow to full maturity in your body. It will be no different than your old one." Everyone sighed in relief. "But we still need to do this quickly." he added. He let go of his sons and started to head for the lab, but his knees buckled underneath him. Papyrus caught him before he could hit the ground.
Sans frowned. "Dad, you're not in any condition to do this."
Gaster shook his head. "I'll be fine, Sans. I have to..." He tried to move ahead again but clutched his skull as a wave of dizziness hit.
"No, you're not. You need to lie down." Sans told him. "If you keep this up, you'll hurt yourself and hurt Asriel. Look, Alphys and I can handle this if you give us the instructions." Gaster finally nodded, realizing he was right.
"He can rest at the castle." Asgore suggested.
"Good idea. I'll give you my cell phone, Dad. You can give Alph and I instructions from there." Sans told him.
Alphys nodded. 'You can count on us."
...
They made a quick stop at the Dreemurr home, where Gaster was settled on the couch and a sleeping Frisk and drowsy Tina were tucked into Asgore's big bed to rest away from all the commotion. Asgore asked Undyne to stay with them and Gaster in case any of them needed anything and to keep the girls from having to wake up alone and afraid in a strange house. Toriel, Asgore, and Asriel tried to get Chara to rest as well, but she refused to leave her brother's side.
Everyone hurried to the lab and Asriel found himself sitting on a freshly sterilized exam table as Alphys extracted soul droplets from Asgore and Toriel and took the trait samples while Sans began powering up his father's machine at Gaster's instructions, and gathering raw magic to force the soul to grow. While Papyrus didn't know as much about science as the others, he helped by handing everyone things and doing whatever they asked.
Asriel looked to Sans, making sure Chara, Papyrus, and his parents couldn't hear him. "Sans, if anything goes wrong..."
"Nothing's going to go wrong, Az." Sans said firmly, his eyes focused on the machine.
Asriel let out a small laugh. "We both know there's no absolutes. If it goes wrong, and I become Flowey again, and...start to act the way I did before, I...I want you to do what's necessary to stop me. I don't want to hurt my family again, or Papyrus, or you or any of the others." He looked down. "I know you remember every horrible thing I did. I put you through hell. I put Papyrus through hell, and...while I still have enough feeling in me for it to be sincere...I want to tell you that I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I know an apology doesn't make up for what I did to everyone. I know you hated me as Flowey. I understand if you hate me now."
Sans sighed. "It's true that I won't be able to forget easily what Flowey did to me. What Flowey did to Papyrus, and all my friends. It's true that I hated the psychopathic flower you became. But..." He looked up at Asriel as he finished powering the machine. "I don't hate you, Asriel. I still don't know what to think yet, or where we go from here. It's a lot to take in that one of my best friends turned into an evil flower. But...you weren't exactly you as Flowey, not without your soul, and it's not your fault you lost that. Coupled with that damn Reset ability that's way too easy to abuse..."
"But Sans..."
"Look, let's discuss this later. We have to fix your soul first, and your parents and Chara are on their way back." Sans interrupted him. Asriel reluctantly nodded, quieting as Asgore, Toriel, and Chara hurried over, Alphys right behind them with the samples.
It was several tense minutes as Asgore and Toriel's soul droplets were combined and the main traits of each of the human soul samples extracted and implanted with extreme care under Gaster's instructions. Sans and Alphys took turns watching through the microscope as the fetal soul began the first stages of growth.
Getting the soul to the right stage to use the magic took an hour. Asriel fidgeted anxiously, practically able to feel more and more of himself slip away. Toriel, Asgore, and Chara never left his side and Papyrus did whatever he could, constantly reassuring Asriel and his family everything would be okay.
Asriel looked to his skeletal friend. The only one who had ever fully accepted him as Flowey. "Papyrus, can I talk to you alone for a second?"
Papyrus nodded immediately. Sans looked worried but Papyrus reassured him it would be okay, and the others moved away a bit, leaving them alone to talk.
"Yes, Asriel?" Papyrus asked in the soft tone he always used whenever anxious or worried.
Asriel looked down. "I'm sorry I was such a terrible friend as Flowey. I'm sorry for everything I did to hurt you."
"It...It's okay. You did do the wrong thing, but...I also remember how hard you tried to be good. How hard you also tried to be a good friend to me even as Flowey. I know you had trouble feeling, and I know you lost yourself. But the fact that you tried...it means something. You weren't all evil." Papyrus reassured him. "And...for what you did do wrong, I forgive you."
Asriel laughed sadly. "I still don't understand you, Papyrus. How can you just forgive me so easily?"
Papyrus smiled softly. "Because you're my friend. Because I care for you."
Asriel shook his head. "You're the weirdest monster I've ever met."
Papyrus just smiled more. "I'll take that as a compliment."
Asriel chuckled at this. "Oh, Papyrus, don't ever change." Papyrus chuckled too, and the two friends smiled to one another. The goat boy finally felt more like everything would be okay.
Papyrus had that effect on people after all.
...
"It's time." Sans finally said and powered up the machine to the exact levels that his father specified and putting the soul through it. With the aid of the magic, the fetal soul began to grow, slowly becoming the size it needed to be.
"T-This next part will be all up to y-you, Asriel." Alphys told him. "We're going to inject the soul into you. Y-You need to fight for it...to not reject it... I-I know it's going to be hard..."
"BUT YOU CAN DO IT! BELIEVE IN YOURSELF THE WAY THE GREAT PAPYRUS BELIEVES IN YOU!" Papyrus told him.
"I know you'll make it through this, Azzy. We love you so much." Chara told him.
His dad gave him a hug, tears in his eyes. "Everything's going to be all right, Asriel. Just hold on. We're here for you."
Toriel nodded with tears in her eyes. "We won't leave your side. You are going to be all right, my child."
His family hugged him and Asriel hugged them back tightly. "No matter what happens, don't forget I love you." Asriel whispered with tears in his eyes.
"We love you too." they all choked out, then reluctantly backed away.
Sans came up, ready to inject the soul. "Just stay determined, okay kid?"
Asriel nodded shakily. "I will."
Very carefully, Sans injected the soul into his chest. Asriel felt nothing for a moment, then a sudden sharp pain in his chest.
Asriel collapsed on the table, crying out. Through blurred vision, he saw his family rushing towards him and heard them cry out before everything went black.
...
Images flashed through his mind. He heard his own cruel laughter as Flowey in his ears as he dusted monsters for no reason other than boredom. As he set fires for fun. He saw every time he killed Papyrus, the first out of frustration when the tall skeleton tried to help him feel and failed the timeline Flowey told him about losing his soul. The second when Papyrus tried to talk him down from choosing genocide. The third when he tried to kill Sans and Papyrus jumped in between.
He remembered the look of anger and betrayal in Sans's eyes. How Undyne had become Undying to fight him but agonizingly melted.
How he had killed his own parents in an effort to feel something, anything again. How he felt nothing at seeing their dust.
How he had turned Mettaton into scrap and drove Alphys to suicide.
He remembered attacking Frisk, taunting her and nearly killing her in the Ruins. Then again at the castle, right in front of both their sisters. He remembered hurting Tina as the God of Hyperdeath.
He remembered every kill, every cruel word, and every evil thought. Guilt and pain overwhelmed him, threatening to drown him. In the darkness of his mindscape, he squeezed his eyes shut.
"I can help you escape the pain." a familiar, high pitched voice said.
Asriel opened his eyes to see Flowey grinning at him.
"Golly, you're in a predicament. I can't believe how weak I was as you." Flowey mocked. "But you know, I could help you. What's the point of having a soul if you have to feel like this? All that guilt, all that pain...I can take it all away and replace it with blissful nothingness if you just join me."
"You're the one who CAUSED this pain! I'm not letting you hurt them again!" Asriel yelled at Flowey before wincing again at another bolt of pain through his chest.
Flowey just smirked. "You hurt them just as much. You're me, idiot. I'm a part of you. And you're just the fluffy, useless crybaby part of me. You can't deal with all this. You know you can't. You'll give into me soon. Because you crave what I am. To be able to do whatever you want and feel nothing at all."
For a moment Asriel felt despair, then he remembered the words of his family and friends. His parents and Chara telling him he'd make it through and that they were there for him. Frisk telling him he deserved to be saved and that she wouldn't lose part of her family. How both she and Papyrus told him that even when he was Flowey, that when he tried to be good, that it still meant something. That there was still good in him. He remembered little Tina's dream showing him as part of her family, even if he was Flowey.
So even as Asriel felt another wave of pain and guilt, he smiled. "That's where you're wrong, Flowey. I don't want that. And neither did you. You were constantly trying to fill that emptiness inside you with anything you could. You tried so hard to become me again. That was all you ever wanted. So why are you fighting this? We can be whole again. We can feel. Don't you want life to be worth living again?"
"What life? Living in all that guilt and pain? Knowing they all hate you, or at least what you could become?!" Flowey hissed. But Asriel could see through him this time. He was scared.
Asriel stared at him. "Feeling the pain is worth it if it means feeling the joy, and I'm going to accept both. I'm going to use my second chance at life just like my sister did. I'm going to feel the love my family has for me and be able to love them in return. No matter what you say, we're not going back to how we were. Even if it hurts to feel, I'm not going to be empty again. We're not going to be empty again. Don't you want to be whole again? Don't you want to be happy?"
Flowey seemed to almost wilt. His face morphed into Asriel's, showing tiny little fangs. For the first time he looked vulnerable. Asriel reached out, gathering him into his arms. Showing him the compassion he as Flowey had always secretly craved to feel. Flowey looked at him, seeming for the first time at peace.
Then he faded away.
Asriel smiled as he touched his chest where his new soul glowed brightly.
And then the world became light again.
...
Asriel opened his eyes, seeing his family, Sans, Papyrus, and Alphys looking down with him with smiles. He smiled back up at them.
"How do you feel?" Chara asked, taking his hand as his parents hugged him.
He thought about that question. He no longer felt completely like his old self. He had gone through too much to be the innocent child he once was before his death. He had been Flowey so long, had made so many bad choices, had so much guilt. But looking into his parents' and sister's eyes, he felt the same rush of love he once had, felt his new soul swell with it. He had changed as a person, but he was no longer empty inside. He could feel, he could love, and he was back in his family's arms.
Asriel smiled softly, looking into his family's eyes. "Happy. I feel whole again."
...
Sans and Alphys wanted to keep Asriel under observation for eight hours, just as a precaution to make sure his newly resurrected body and soul would stay stable, though at this point they knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that it would. The good news was relayed to Gaster, who they could hear telling Undyne, evidenced by Undyne's slightly loud cheer, followed by Gaster shushing her so she wouldn't wake the girls.
With everything settled, Sans sent Papyrus home to get their dad's room ready for him, which Papyrus quickly agreed to upon making sure everyone would be okay without him.
Toriel couldn't stop smiling, staying close to her son and daughter. Chara was telling Asriel about things she and Frisk had done in the Underground, and Asriel was listening with a smile. Sans and Alphys checked Asriel's vitals regularly and also started discussing, running tests and beginning concept sketches for robot bodies for her other six children. As they ran the tests, Asgore carefully cradled Felicity, Benji, Violet, and David with the same tenderness he had used holding Asriel when he was a newborn as Alphys scanned their power levels. Justin and Andrea didn't want him to pick them up, and he respected that. While Toriel's soul ached at seeing her beloved children in such a state, the sight of Asgore being so gentle and kind with them made her smile.
He truly hadn't become the monster she feared he became.
Asgore returned to her side. "They want to see you."
Toriel nodded softly and got up, heading over to the human souls with tears in her eyes. The younger ones got excited, moving around in their containers happily at the sight of her, and even Justin and Andrea were responsive, though more reserved than the others.
"I am here, my children." she whispered. "I am so sorry for what all of you went through. I wish I had gone with you to protect you. I should have done better..."
Benji, David, and Violet began to bump the glass on their tanks, cutting her off. The others followed suit, though less loudly. Not wanting them to hurt themselves, Toriel let them out, and they flew into her arms, floating against her chest.
"It's not your fault, Miss Toriel!" Benji pleaded.
"Yeah, you took really good care of us!" Violet added.
"And I told you I'd be okay and that I would be brave and make it home, even though I know you were worried about me being out there. I was the one who chose to go even though you told me what could happen." David told her softly. "And you told us your home would always be open if we ever decided to come back. You did nothing wrong."
Toriel's eyes filled with tears once again, feeling like she had indeed done something wrong, but little Felicity, who had been shy before, snuggled up. "Please don't cry, Miss Toriel! I don't know you very well but you seem really nice! Don't be sad!"
Andrea added her part. "Don't worry. You did everything you could to help us, and I know we'll be back soon. I'm...still angry at Asgore for what he did to me...but I know he regrets it and does want to fix it. And soon we'll be back and we'll be able to be physically there with you and our families soon. I know it."
Justin was quiet for a few moments, then spoke. "I'm the one who should be sorry, Toriel. The things I did after I left you were inexcusable. I should have listened to you, but I was too angry. I died because of my own choices, not anything you said or did wrong. You did your best, okay?"
Toriel finally nodded softly and hugged the souls close, speaking to them softly and catching up for a little bit, though they soon had to go back to their containers again to stay stable. Toriel gently replaced them and told them she would be back soon, then headed to sit down, emotionally and physically exhausted.
Asriel looked at her in concern. "Mom, you should go home and rest." Toriel was about to protest, but he cut her off. "Don't worry, I'll be fine. Dad and the others are here."
Asgore nodded, placing a gentle hand on Toriel's shoulder. "Do not worry, Tori. I will stay with Asriel and Chara, and I will call you if anything happens, and in a few hours I will come switch places with you and watch over Frisk and Tina."
Toriel hesitated for a second but then nodded. While she didn't think she'd be resting tonight, she did want to check on Frisk and Tina and make sure they were all right. "All right." She hugged both Asriel and Chara. "I will be back soon. Be good for your father, all right?" The two nodded and Toriel kissed the top of their heads before leaving.
...
Toriel soon arrived at the castle, finding that the door was unlocked. As she stepped into the living room, Undyne got up from where she was sitting and started to turn towards her. "Oh, hey, Asg..." She paused as she came face to face with Toriel. "Oh, it's you." she said uncomfortably.
Toriel nodded. "It is me. How are the girls?"
"Still fast asleep. I've checked on them a few times." Undyne told her.
"And Gaster?"
"Conked out on the couch. Poor guy's exhausted. How's Asriel and Chara?"
"They're doing great." Toriel reassured her. "And how are you? Would you like a cup of tea?"
Undyne shook her head stiffly. "No thanks. I'm going to go see if they need my help at the lab and speak with the rest of the Royal Guard about what we need to do next now that the barrier's broken."
"Do not burn yourself out, Undyne..." Toriel started to say but Undyne was already gone.
Toriel sighed softly, looking down. She and Undyne had once been so close. She had seen Undyne as a second daughter and Undyne looked up to her like a mother figure. She had been one of the first people Undyne told when she passed the test to get into the Royal Guard, and the one she went to for all the girl things she didn't feel comfortable telling Gerson or Asgore. And now there was a chasm between them, and it was all Toriel's fault.
Her birth mother abandoned her. Toriel thought sadly to herself. And with me fleeing the kingdom and not keeping in touch with her or Gaster... She no doubt feels I abandoned her too. No wonder she is angry at me. What kind of mother am I?
Lost in her thoughts, she headed over to where Gaster was sleeping on the couch, snoring away peacefully in a rather uncomfortable position, Sans's phone by his head. Despite her sadness, Toriel chuckled very softly to herself at the sight. "Always the fidget." she whispered so she didn't wake him. She placed the phone on the coffee table so he wouldn't knock it on the ground, then pulled the afghan off the couch and draped it over him so that he would be nice and warm.
Gaster stirred a little. " 'M awake..." he mumbled.
Toriel smiled softly. "It is okay, Gaster. Go back to sleep. Asriel is fine and so are your sons. Please rest." She smoothed the blankets over him and Gaster settled back into sleep.
She headed through her old home, which looked achingly familiar, though more gray and gloomy then when she shared it with Asgore and their children, the only brightness being the freshly cut golden flowers Asgore placed around the house in vases.
She headed into their old room where Frisk and Tina slept in the big bed she and Asgore used to share, all cuddled together with Frisk's arms protectively wrapped around Tina and Tina's tiny fists clutching the fabric of her sister's shirt as she buried her little head against Frisk's chest. Toriel couldn't help but smile at the sweet sight.
She noticed a little white stuffed dog with black spots that had fallen onto the floor on Tina's side and picked it up carefully, placing it by Tina's side, and smoothed the blanket around her new daughters, kissing their heads softly.
Frisk tensed for just a second and opened her eyes, looking up at Toriel blearily, probably wondering who this early morning intruder was. "It is me, my child." the goat woman whispered, careful not to wake Tina. She stroked Frisk's messy hair. The teenager immediately settled down, smiling sleepily, and cuddled more into the blankets and her sister, leaning into the touch with a content sigh that warmed Toriel's heart, slowly drifting back into sleep.
Toriel stayed with the girls for a while longer, simply listening to their soft, even breathing as she watched her children sleep, before heading out, wanting to let them rest. However, sleep didn't want to come to her, so she decided to go to the kitchen. She would make something for the girls to eat when they woke up, and something to bring to the lab for Asriel and Chara. Her poor children were probably starving and she was not going to make them have popato chisps for breakfast. And Asgore too needed to eat something. He was looking far too thin and tired...
She pushed that last thought away. She still didn't know what to feel. Part of her, the part she had pushed away in the ruins, still loved him, though she was angry at him for killing Andrea. But he wasn't the cold blooded, brutal murderer she had thought he'd become, and he was still the same wonderful father she remembered...
She would think on this later and focus on making food for now. She looked through the refrigerator and cupboards, knowing Asgore wouldn't mind. To her pleasant surprise, it was very well stocked, with all the ingredients she needed to make her famous butterscotch cinnamon pie that Asriel loved so much, and even the chocolate cream pie Chara loved. She wished she knew what Frisk and Tina's favorite desserts and foods were, but looking at the poor girls, she could tell they had rarely had any such treats in their lives.
But she had all the time in the world to give them every treat and good experience that they never had before. She would make sure they had the happiness they deserved.
...
After a few hours, Toriel had baked both the butterscotch cinnamon and chocolate cream pies, along with a savory snail pie for lunch later, and a quiche for those who didn't like it. Leaving them all out to cool, she collapsed on Asgore's easy chair, intending to rest her eyes for a few seconds. Exhausted, she ended up dozing off.
The next thing she heard was soft footsteps padding around the living room and Asgore and Gaster talking very softly. She blinked open her eyes, seeing that outside the window, the early morning lights were beginning to turn on. Sitting up further, she turned to Asgore and Gaster.
"Oh! I am sorry we woke you, Tori." Asgore apologized. Gaster apologized as well.
"It is all right." Toriel told him as she got up. "How is Asriel?"
Asgore smiled. "He is doing just fine. Complaining about wanting to go home, which is a very good sign." Toriel couldn't help but chuckle at this, remembering how Asriel never liked being at the doctors.
"And Chara?"
"In perfect health." Asgore reassured her.
Toriel felt a lot better at this. "I am so glad to have them back. This almost feels like a dream." she admitted in a whisper.
"I know." Asgore told her softly, gently placing a hand on her shoulder. "I...I feel the same way. But it is real, Tori. It is real."
He smiled at her, tender and hopeful, and her heart ached. She wasn't sure what to say, so she was quiet for a moment. Gaster moved away politely and headed for the kitchen, saying something about getting a glass of water, his way of giving them a moment.
"I...should check on Chara and Asriel." she said finally before looking up at him. "You will watch over Frisk and Tina, will you not?"
"Of course." he reassured her.
She relaxed. "Good. There are pies in the kitchen for you and the girls. Please make sure they eat a good breakfast." she requested.
"I will." he promised, smiling, his eyes brightening at her mention of the pie he had loved so much.
"Are you sure you will be all right?"
"Of course. I will take good care of them and I also will get the spare room ready for them so they can have a room of their own." Asgore then looked worried, like he feared he had offended her. "I mean, I understand if you do not wish to stay after what I did, but I still wish to make sure they have a place of their own here regardless..." He fidgeted, stumbling over his own words. "I mean, do not think I don't want you to stay, because I very much do, but..."
"Asgore!" she interrupted before he could work himself into a huge panic. "It is fine. I very much appreciate that...and I would like to stay for the children." She looked down. "But...I still need time to figure out where we...you and I...go from here."
"I understand, Tori. I know I wronged you." he said gently and kindly, and she knew he was completely sincere.
She averted her gaze slightly. "And I wronged you too." she said very softly.
"It's okay..." he started to say.
"No. It isn't." she interrupted. "We both caused each other pain, and that's not okay. I am sorry for what happened that night, for not giving you the chance to explain."
"And I am sorry too for my words and my actions." he told her.
She smiled a little. "I know. But...I still do need time to figure this out, all right?" He nodded softly, giving her a caring look, and she knew he understood. "Thank you, Asgore." She then went to the kitchen, cutting generous slices of pie for Chara and Asriel, plating them, and wrapping them in a box before saying goodbye to Asgore and Gaster and heading out. For the first time in a long time, her heart felt light.
She still needed time to heal from the hurt, and she knew Asgore did too regardless of how quickly he had forgiven her. But in this moment, she knew they would be all right.
...
It was around eight in the morning when Frisk blinked open her eyes, feeling Tina stirring next to her. Careful not to disturb Tina, she sat up, looking around in slight confusion, trying to figure out where they were. Her head spun a little and she rested it in her hands until she got her bearings. Tina sat up too, rubbing her eyes tiredly.
As her eyes adjusted to the slight darkness, she found that they were in a cozy bedroom, perched atop the biggest, most comfy bed she had ever seen. Across the room was a desk with an Asgore sized chair, and there was a wardrobe and dresser nearby. "Are we in Asgore's room?" Frisk asked aloud.
Tina nodded. "Mr. Asgore and Miss Toriel brought us here last night to rest when they took Asriel to fix his soul."
"I hope he's doing well." Frisk said softly.
"I know he'll be okay! Sans and Miss Alphys will take good care of him!" Tina reassured her. Her stomach then grumbled and Frisk realized sadly that her little sister probably hadn't eaten well in a few days.
"I'll get you some food, sis. You must be starving." Frisk told her, giving her a hug. "I'm so sorry I was gone for so long..."
"It's not your fault, sis! The Barrier thing made you stuck." Tina told her, hugging her back tightly. "And don't be sad! We're back together now and we'll never get separated again!"
Frisk nodded with a smile and a slight sniffle, holding Tina close. "I know. I'm so happy to have you back, Tine."
"And I'm so happy to have you back too!" Tina said with a huge smile before her tummy grumbled again.
Frisk chuckled. "Let's get some food into you, Sis. I got doughnuts and pie and one of Papyrus's special cinnamon waffles and lots of other good things for you! I also bought you some nice new clothes. Just let me get my bag..."
But when she tried to stand up, she moved too quickly and her head spun. Her legs, feeling like noodles, crumpled from under her and she fell on her butt with a loud thump.
"Frisk!" Tina screamed and started to cry, and Frisk heard footsteps racing towards their room before the door flew open. The next thing she knew, she was cradled in warm, furry arms and placed gently back in bed. Looking up, she saw Asgore's worried face.
"Are you all right?" he asked in concern. Frisk nodded and hugged a crying Tina, who clung to her.
Asgore softly ruffled Tina's hair. "Do not worry, child. Your big sister is going to be all right." He turned to Frisk. "I'm going to get Doctor Gaster..."
Before he could, Gaster came into the room, hurrying to Frisk's side and signing something to Asgore as he did. He gave her a kind smile before pulling out his notebook.
Frisk smiled widely at the sight of him. "I'm so glad you're back and all right. It's good to see you, Dr. Gaster."
"It's good to see you too. It's thanks to you I'm back. You did a very good job, Frisk. You helped to break the barrier and save everyone. Thanks to you, Asriel has his soul back and is doing just fine, and Chara is in perfect health. I'm very proud of you." he wrote, smiling. Frisk beamed at this. "Now what happened? Did you fall?"
Frisk nodded. "Yeah, I think I just stood up too fast. Don't worry about it." she tried to reassure him.
"I'm a doctor, it's my job to worry about you." he told her. "I'm not going to take any chances with your health, so let me check you over to make sure you're okay."
Frisk consented and Gaster checked her vitals and ran a few tests on both her body and soul. After a through exam, he began writing again.
"It seems that you've overworked yourself. You pushed your body and soul to the limit yesterday in all those fights and used up a lot of DT. Not to mention that you're malnourished. But you'll be all right. You just need plenty of rest and nutritious meals to bring your energy levels back up. Try to eat small meals often, whenever you feel in the slightest bit hungry. Don't eat too much at once or you'll make yourself sick. And stay off your feet for the next few days, and make sure you get plenty of sleep. Alphys also has some supplements for you to take."
"I've got them." Asgore told them, pulling a plastic bag out of his inventory.
Frisk nodded and thanked them but looked worried. "But I can't just sit around. I have to take care of Tina. She needs her breakfast and I've gotta make sure everything's ready for when we go back to the surface, and..."
"Don't worry, Frisk! I can get my own breakfast!" Tina told her. "And I can take care of you like you always take care of me."
Asgore and Gaster exchanged concerned glances and Asgore knelt down and gently placed his hands on the girls' shoulders. "Children, that is what you have your mother and I for. It is our job to take care of you, not the other way around. We do not expect you to overwork yourselves. We want you to heal and be happy and be able to have fun like the kids you are, all right?"
Frisk could hardly believe this. She looked into Asgore's eyes, but saw nothing but sincerity. Relaxing a little, she smiled and thanked him gratefully, as did Tina.
"Now, Gaster, can you check Tina over? And then I will fix us all a nice breakfast. What would you like? I can make you some scrambled eggs and toast, and we also have cereal and oatmeal, and Tori baked some pies."
Frisk and Tina's eyes lit up when he mentioned the pies, as did Gaster's, and Asgore chuckled. "Pie for breakfast it is. Would you like the butterscotch cinnamon or the chocolate cream?"
"Um..." Tina said thoughtfully, trying to decide.
Asgore of course noticed her struggle to pick from two delicious pies. "Tell you what. I will give you both a little sliver of each. How does that sound? And I'll make a fruit salad too."
"That sounds so yummy! Thank you, Mr. Asgore!" Tina said happily, clapping her hands.
Frisk smiled too. "That sounds amazing. Thank you." Asgore nodded with a smile and went into the kitchen.
...
As Asgore fixed breakfast, Gaster gave Tina a check-up. Thankfully, Tina was in good health, though a little too thin and in need of the same supplements as Frisk.
Frisk looked down, feeling bad Tina was so thin. She wished she had done better.
Gaster noticed. "It isn't your fault, child. It's your parents that should have taken better care of you."
"But I still should have..."
"You did everything you could given the circumstances. You're an amazing big sister. And now you don't have to do it alone. You have all of us to help you." Gaster reassured her.
Frisk smiled a little. "That's what Papyrus said too."
"And he was right." Gaster wrote, smiling.
Frisk smiled too, looking at Papyrus's red scarf which was resting beside her on the bed. "He always is." she agreed. She looked up at Gaster. "How's he doing? Is he all right?"
"He's perfectly fine. He actually texted me a few minutes before you woke saying that he's on his way over, so you'll get to see him. He'll be very glad to see you awake."
Frisk smiled at this. "It will be great to see him too."
Tina nodded with a big smile. "I like Papyrus! He's nice, and he gives great hugs, even if I wasn't expecting the first one."
Gaster chuckled. "That he does, little one."
Asgore poked his head in. "Breakfast is ready. Children, would you like breakfast in bed, or would you like me to bring you to the living room?"
Tina looked to Frisk. "Living room would be fine. Thank you." Frisk told Asgore, wanting to be out with everyone else and also not get any food on Asgore's bed.
Asgore nodded with a smile and gently scooped her up, blanket and all, into his arms. Shifting her to one arm, he held out a hand for Tina, who happily took it as she got off the bed. He took both girls into the living room, placing them on the couch. He quickly set up a few trays and poured the girls and Gaster each a glass of milk before bringing out the plates of pie and fruit, with another set out for Papyrus when he got there.
And there was a knock on the door not a moment too soon and Asgore went to get it. Papyrus came in, smiling widely and wearing his Super Papyrus shirt and a pair of nice slacks instead of his battle body.
"Ah, Papyrus! You are just in time for breakfast." Asgore greeted him with a smile.
"THANK YOU, YOUR MAJESTY! AND ALPHYS TEXTED ME TO LET ME KNOW CHARA AND ASRIEL ARE DOING GREAT! I ALSO HAVE DAD'S ROOM ALL CLEAN AND READY FOR HIM." Papyrus said proudly as he came in the room. He smiled widely at seeing everyone. He hugged his dad and then hugged Tina happily when she reached out her arms for one. Frisk smiled up at him and made space for him on the couch, and he sat next to her and gave her a hug. "I'M SO GLAD YOU'RE AWAKE AND ALL RIGHT, FRISK! I WAS SO WORRIED ABOUT YOU!"
"I was worried about you too." Frisk said softly as she hugged him close, remembering how for a terrifying few minutes, she believed he and everyone she loved had been killed when Asriel regained his body.
He stroked her hair softly. "I'm all right. I'm here."
Frisk smiled softly and nodded, feeling better. After a few moments, they reluctantly pulled apart. Frisk remembered something and pulled out Papyrus's red scarf, which she had brought out with her to the living room. She wrapped it around his neck. "Here's your scarf back. Thank you so much for letting me borrow it."
He grinned. "YOU'RE WELCOME, HUMAN!"
She grinned back. He looked so great in that shirt with the scarf flowing behind him like a cape, making him look like the hero he was. She wanted to tell him this, but didn't want to risk embarrassing him in front of his dad, so held back for now.
She didn't see Gaster smile knowingly.
Breakfast was happy and Frisk savored every bite of the delicious pie and fruit salad, watching Tina eat happily and listening to Papyrus as he talked excitedly about how he had cleaned their house, including picking up Sans's rogue sock, which he laughingly admitted would probably make its way out again as soon as Sans got home, complete with sticky notes, like it had never been moved. He also talked about all the cool things he wanted to do with everyone on the surface, and Frisk was looking forward to them all.
All too soon though, breakfast was over, and Gaster and Papyrus got ready to go home, Gaster speaking to Papyrus in Wingdings and signing to Asgore. Frisk mentally vowed to learn sign so she'd be able to speak with him without him having to write down everything for her.
"Dad says we're going to stop at the lab to do one last check on Asriel and Chara, and then we're going to head home." Papyrus translated. "I'll come back and see you tomorrow if that's all right, and I'll visit or call every day! And when you feel better, I'll take you both to see all the best places in the Underground, and you can show me all the cool stuff on the surface."
Frisk grinned. "Can't wait!" She gave him a hug goodbye. "Have fun with your dad, Papyrus. I know you two have a lot of catching up to do."
Papyrus nodded happily. "I CAN'T WAIT TO SHOW HIM MY SENTRY STATION, AND OUR SNOW SKELETONS, WELL, MY SNOW SKELETON AND SANS'S SNOW PILE, AND ALL MY PUZZLES! AND SANS WILL WANT DAD TO SEE HIS LAB AS WELL!"
"And of course, we need to cook together like we used to." Gaster added, and Papyrus's sockets lit up. Frisk smiled even more at the sight. After this, the two said goodbye and left, talking happily in Wingdings all the way.
...
After Gaster and Papyrus left, Asgore had the next few hours to get to know his new daughters. After cleaning up(both girls tried to help, but he gently insisted they rest), he sat and talked with them. It turned out Tina loved the color pink, dogs, animals in general, art, and fairy tales, and wanted to be a veterinarian, a park ranger, an artist, or all of the above when she grew up. Frisk's favorite color was blue and when she did have spare time, she loved to read, write, dance, and make things. Like Gaster, she enjoyed repairing old or damaged things she found and making them look new, though her talents ran to fixing wooden furniture and fabric items or toys rather than electronics. It was clear she took pride in it and Asgore enjoyed listening to her talk about it as she began to open up to him more, though it was sad to hear the hints Frisk unintentionally left of how little the two girls truly had and how much work she had to do just to get by.
He vowed once again to make sure that the girls would have the best possible life here.
After a little while, both girls seemed to be getting a little tired, and Asgore had an idea, knowing they both enjoyed reading. "How about I read you both a story?" he asked. "I have so many wonderful books to share."
Frisk's eyes went wide, and Tina's lit up. "You'd really read to us?" Tina asked excitedly with a smile brighter than the sun like he had just suggested something extraordinary, not merely reading them a bedtime story like he had done so many times for Asriel and Chara.
"Of course." he told her with a soft smile, hiding the ache in his heart as he got up and went to the bookshelves, selecting several books for them to choose from. Tina went through them excitedly, talking a mile a minute as she tried to pick out which ones she wanted. Frisk looked too, but still seemed surprised by the offer.
Tina finally chose her first book, and Asgore sat between them, noting with a small smile that it was one of Asriel's favorites when he was younger. He started to read, doing all the voices like he had when he read to Asriel and Chara, causing both girls to listen with rapt attention and Tina to giggle at all the right places.
It was then that he noticed the tears in Frisk's eyes.
"Frisk?" he asked gently, pausing in his reading. "What is wrong, child?"
"Nothing." she quickly said, swiping away her tears. "Sorry."
"There is nothing to be sorry for." he reassured her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "It is okay. You can tell me anything."
Now Tina was looking to her too, just as worried. It took Frisk a moment to speak. "I...never had an adult read me a story before." she admitted very softly, looking at the ground. "And it's so nice that you're willing to, and..."
Asgore hugged her softly, his heart aching for her. She flinched for a second, then relaxed into the hug, clutching his robes. He rubbed her back softly. "I am sorry, child. And I promise that I will read you both stories every day, as long as you want me to."
"I don't want to be trouble." Frisk whispered.
"You aren't, young one. You aren't." he reassured her, hugging her closer. Tina tried to hug them both to comfort them too, and Asgore gently pulled her into the hug.
They stayed close like this for a few minutes, and once Frisk and Tina were feeling better, Asgore resumed the story, both girls cuddling close, though they both looked up to him as if making sure it was okay. He smiled and wrapped his arms gently around them, continuing to read.
Frisk drifted off halfway through the story, nestled comfortably against his side, and Tina was quick to follow. Asgore smiled and finished the story, and unable to move with the girls sleeping so peacefully cuddled against him, he smiled and held them close, happy they trusted him enough to fall asleep like this. Tired from the sleepless night as well, his own eyes began drifting shut and he fell asleep, his two new children cradled in his arms.
...
It was a few hours later that Frisk woke to Chara's voice whispering "So cute," very softly, a soft shushing sound, and a warm blanket gently being wrapped around her. She blinked open her eyes, finding herself leaning against something warm and furry, then her sleepy brain remembered that she had fallen asleep while Asgore was reading stories to her and Tina.
And by the way Asgore was starting to sit up with a yawn and Tina was rubbing her eyes, she guessed she wasn't the only one.
"Oh! I did not mean to wake you all." Toriel told them.
"It's all right mom." Frisk told her around a yawn. "How's Asriel?"
"Asriel's right here." an amused voice said and Frisk turned quickly to see Asriel standing beside the couch with Chara, grinning.
Frisk smiled in pure relief as Asgore and Tina smiled widely too. "It's so good to see you're okay." she said and tried to get up to hug him, but still tired and half tangled in the blanket, nearly fell on her butt.
Thankfully Asriel was quicker and caught her before she fell. "Now, now, let's not crack your skull open." he told her with a smile, just like he had told her once as Flowey, but in a much less sinister way. "Good to see you too, sis."
Frisk laughed and hugged him, then released him so Asgore could hug him too and hugged Chara. They both laughed as Asriel yelled "Dad, you're squishing me!" before turning back to each other.
"It's great to have you guys back. And great to actually be able to hug you, sis." she told Chara.
Chara smiled widely. "Great to be back, little sister."
Frisk mock pouted. "Hey! I'm only like a year younger than you!"
"Well, you're still my little sister." Chara teased happily.
"Now, now children." Toriel said with a smile. "Oh, and Frisk sweetheart? Alphys found your phone under the sink and charged it up for you." She handed Frisk back her smartphone.
"Thanks, mom." Frisk said sheepishly as she carefully took her phone back. "I can't believe I lost this. I feel like an idiot." She then felt even more guilty, remembering yet again that this wasn't the phone Toriel gave her. "Mom, about my other phone..."
"I know, do not worry." Toriel was quick to reassure her. "Alphys told me she decided to surprise you by upgrading it for you and that she did it without asking you first. And...she upgraded mine too." Toriel smiled and showed her a second shiny silver smartphone. Frisk smiled, feeling a lot better.
"And as for you losing it temporarily, after the scare you and your friends had in that lab, it was nowhere near your fault." Toriel continued, getting more serious. "Alphys told Asgore and I what happened, and while I am very disappointed she lied about it and kept those poor monsters down there for so long, she is doing her best to make up for it, and as she helped to save Asriel, and helped to keep you and Asgore from fighting, while I did reprimand her and she will be paying restitution to the families of the Amalgamates as well as working to help them, she will not lose her job."
"I'm glad." Frisk said in relief. "Alphys made some mistakes, but she's a good person." She smiled softly. "I'm so glad everything worked out. We're all together, the barrier is finally broken..." She looked at Asgore. "When should we, well, go to the surface and talk to the people there? Is there something I can do to help?" Tina looked up at Asgore too, clearly wanting to help as well.
"The most important thing for you both to do is rest and recover." Asgore told her gently. "Toriel, Undyne, the Royal Guard and I will work on making a plan to go out and make peace talks with the humans once you are fully recovered. It might take a few days, but we will all see the surface soon. Do not worry."
Toriel nodded. "For now, let us all focus on being together again."
Frisk nodded in agreement, as did Tina. They had a new, loving family now and a wonderful, brand new life ahead of them, and both knew things would work out.
But what none of them knew was that their first human contact was about to arrive much sooner than expected. In fact, they were headed to the mountain right now.
...
Dan sighed as he drove his police car to Mount Ebott, Jessie at his side. Some geologists had been called in last night to check to see if the strange rumble and beam of light had been an eruption or some form of explosive or seismic activity that could warrant an evacuation.
And they found absolutely nothing. No eruption, no toxic gases, no sign of a landslide or any seismic activity, though more exploration would be needed to find the cause.
Some people in town were already chalking it up to aliens.
The mountain was finally declared safe, or as safe as a "cursed" mountain could be.
And while it was cleared, Dan had spent the morning interviewing the girls' teachers, trying to figure out any clues to their disappearance.
"You okay, Dan?" Jessie asked him, turning to him.
"No, I've never wanted to punch a teacher so much in my life." Dan admitted.
"Don't let the higher ups hear you say that. But off the record, I agree with you." Jessie sighed.
Several of Frisk's teachers had been completely callous about the teenager's disappearance. They wrote her off as a very troubled young woman who always stole things, had very poor grades, got into fights, and was generally a "hooligan." She had been gone for two days before spring break, and only three teachers, one whose class she wasn't even in any more, had shown any sign of concern. The others simply reported that she often played hooky and they were used to it.
It was clear few of them had seen the girl he had read between the pages of an old notebook, the one desperate to take care of her sister, the distant but dependable and kind girl Professor Williams had seen. And while Dan couldn't condone her stealing or fighting, he could understand why Frisk had. And why she was afraid to show the diamond hidden under the rough.
Only four teachers had seen it, and one not completely. The latter was her English teacher.
"She's a bright girl, but she keeps wasting her potential." the teacher, a balding, gray haired man in his sixties had sighed. "When she does turn in her homework, it's well written and insightful. She has talent. But she squanders it on whatever she's wasting her life on. She doesn't do all her homework and I've caught her sleeping in class. She's never rude when I correct her, but she never says much either. And she sometimes completely skips class. I've talked to her about it but she never explains why." Dan had asked if there was a pattern to when Frisk skipped, and the teacher told him, "There is actually. It's always close to the end of the month."
The end of the month. When bills needed to be paid. It was another dark insight into Frisk and Tina's lives.
One of her old gym teachers had had a much different view of her, having walked up when Dan was talking to Frisk's math teacher, who had been complaining that Frisk had been a "troubled, lazy student with no motivation." and told them, "I wouldn't say Frisk is talentless. She showed a real skill for dance in my class and she did show she could have drive and determination. And she was very polite and even friendly once she got to trust me, though she was a bit distant. I feel her home environment played a part in it. She was far too thin when the students had to be weighed for the fitness test. I wrote a report but nothing ever happened."
Dan wrote this down, determined to find out what had happened and why this wasn't looked into. It seemed like few at this school cared about the students' problems, and it was clearly underfunded and badly staffed.
Like her gym teacher, her shop teacher had a more pleasant view of her, saying that Frisk worked very hard in her class, though again reported that she did miss some days near the end of the month, though said that Frisk would often come in early to work on her projects. "She put a lot of time and effort into those projects. I don't know why she cut classes, but she has real passion for woodwork. She was fairly quiet around me though. I never knew much about her, though I had a lot of students to focus on." the teacher explained.
Tina's teacher Miss Brown also had a very positive view on both girls, and was devastated when she found out they were missing to the point of tears. She too had written a report around Christmas, when Frisk was the only one to show up for Tina on Parents Day, looking incredibly thin and tired. Miss Brown had tried to get Frisk to talk about what was wrong in her home life, but Frisk, like many victims of neglect and abuse, had not spoken up, nor had Tina. Miss Brown reported that Tina, normally a very bright and happy little girl, had seemed upset and withdrawn for two days before break, but refused to speak about what was bothering her and would dart out of the classroom with the rest of the kids before she could be questioned.
"I should have tried harder to talk to her. Maybe then she wouldn't be..." Miss Brown had sobbed. She had looked up at Dan with pleading eyes he wouldn't forget any time soon. "Please find them."
"I'll do my best." was all he could tell her.
And he would. Now that the mountain was clear, he and some other officers would comb the mountain and look for any sign of them, along with some search and rescue workers and a K-9 unit that had arrived from a larger city. While the geologists hadn't seen them, it's possible they could have missed something along the way. The mountain was deep and full of caves and holes that hadn't had the chance to be explored yet. Maybe somehow they had gotten lost in one of those.
And if there was any chance that they were still alive, he wouldn't give up.
He would do whatever it took to bring them home safely.
...
And Officer Dan is on his way to Mount Ebott! Poor guy's probably going to think he lost his marbles when he sees the monsters for the first time!
I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter and I hoped you liked what I did with Asriel getting his soul back, and the way the skeleton brothers were created. I hope it's not too weird for anyone, and if you have any questions, let me know.
Also, the small scene with Miss Brown is a reference to a side shot I wrote for this series, Parents Day, which you can find on my account if you're interested in reading it(I don't know if stories allow links) Other side shots for this story are A Sister's Love, which is about Frisk holding little Tina for the first time and a look on their life when Tina was a baby, showing how they got so close, and Shyren's Song, a little backstory on Shyren and her sister Aria, as well as her friendship with Aaron.