This… Isn't Alphys's lab.
You're not sure where you are, actually. Other than… it kind of looks like the ruins? If the ruins were painted white and gray and had no color or life.
You turn around after checking that, yes, the elevator you had stepped out of was indeed still blocked off. As soon as your body was out of it, thick, massive vines had burst from the ground and wrapped over the doors. You had tried to pull the thorny vegetation off, but they were as sturdy as tree trunks.
There's only one way to go, so you slowly follow the path. You find yourself holding your breath in anticipation, beyond a little confused as to why an elevator going up brought you to the color-drained ruins.
At the end of the hall you come across an open wall. Fierce wind blows past you as you stare into a distance you didn't know existed.
Before you is the city skyline. You never really thought about how big the monster race was. Never was faced with it while going around the back roads to get to Asgore and the barrier faster. But now, standing at the ledge, listening to the murmur of hundreds, thousands, of lives below you… it tugs at your soul. So many trapped. So many wanting to go to the surface. So many just wanting to see a blue sky, or the stars, or a sunrise, or the green of the grass, or fresh air, all the things you take for granted.
There's banging. It's soft and it takes a while for the noise to draw yours eyes from the glowing sight. When you do look, you find another elevator with more vines clogging it.
You hear your name being shouted through the door. It's not a voice though--it's a soul calling you.
Its Frisk.
"Frisk, bud…" They stop hitting the door.
"Let me in! I-I can't get through." You press your hands to the cold metal.
"I can't. There's these vines blocking it all off."
"That's not supposed to happen… stay there, I'm going to get someone-"
"It's okay Frisk." You chew at your lip. You would've liked to do this while you could've looked them in the eyes, but it's now or never you guess… "This is for the best."
"What…? I don't… You're not going to fight Asgore alone!" You can feel their rising panic. It's like their inside voice. Now that you're semi used to it you realize you're not really… hearing anything, but it's more where you feel Frisk's soul and you just… know what they're saying.
"You're right. I'm not going to fight Asgore."
There's a pregnant pause.
You hear a sob.
"No…" It's soft, broken.
"Everything's going to be okay Frisk. Shhh, sh sh, don't cry…" You try to keep your voice clear but your eyes burn and there's a ball in your throat. "This is for the best, right? Think about how amazing it'll be living with all the monsters on the surface-"
Frisk sobs your name and your tears drip to your chin.
"Once the barriers broken, Toriel will come find you. She'll take care of you."
"Please, don't, please…"
"You'll have a mom who cares and loves you like you deserve and friends who'll take care of you and-"
"I want you!" It's a watery yell that reverberates through your soul. You slide down to your knees.
"Frisk, I… I love you so, so, so much." You breathe shakily, pressing your forehead into the cool metal. "I love you more than anything. I always have. You mean… so much to me. I want you to be happy, and loved and…" You trail off, not trusting your voice. You were trying to stay strong. To hold it together. Now that it was actually happening, now that you were leaving Frisk…
You couldn't even hug or see them one last time.
Frisk says your name.
Speaks it.
Out loud.
Their voice is wrecked. Beyond how it's raspy self usually is. It sounds… Broken, despondent. They shake through another sob and sniffle loudly.
"Don't go." They continue. They struggle forming the words. "I love you. Your… all I need."
A choked sob escapes you and you slap a hand over your mouth. You squeeze your eyes shut, trying to stop crying.
You can't.
"Please."
You stand up.
You knew, deep down, you weren't enough for Frisk. Hell, not even deep down, you thought about this everyday. You gave your all for Frisk but…. It wasn't really enough. You knew it wasn't because all of your strength and courage, all of it was a bravado you held up for the kid. You found strength in Frisk.
The kid didn't need you, you needed them.
They need a parent. They need someone they could rely on and learn from. You tripped through every day of your life, being far from a role model. Since it was only ever you and the kid, you forced yourself to be enough.
But now there was Toriel.
Toriel, who loved Frisk more in a couple hours than your drunk mother ever did throughout Frisk's nine years.
There was a better option. There was a parent. There was someone who could do more and be more for Frisk.
They might not realize it now but… They'll see.
This is… it's for the best.
For you or for them… at this point it seems best for both of you.
"Frisk." They don't stop pleading for you to stay put. "The happiest day of my life… Was when you were born." With that you suck in a breath and take off.
You ignore the sound of their crying.
Even as you run, trying to outrun the guilt, it follows you.
You can hear their crying soul as clearly as if you were standing next to them turning a blind eye.
When color explodes in your vision, you stop. You sniffle loudly, scrubbing at your eyes and trying to calm yourself down. You were about to meet a King after all and offer your soul to him. You didn't want him to think you regretted your decision or you were being put up to it.
The color that made you slow from a sprint to a halt is yellow. Well, more like gold.
It's a golden hall, much different than the bleak area you were just in. There are floor to ceiling pillars of solid gold lining the walls, glistening in the light streaming in through the large stained glass windows. The light was… Well, it looked like sunlight. Were you close enough to the barrier that you were actually getting some sun? It was actually immensely beautiful. The place shined and glowed so much that you almost walked right past the save star.
Almost.
When you wave your hands through it's intangible body, a warmth floods your chest and you're reminded of a small memory.
Standing in front of Frisk's crib. Mom and dad are fighting in another room. If they weren't you wouldn't have been allowed so close to the baby alone. But you were there, peaking over the side, staring at the small little baby. It was then that it seemed everything else disappeared. It was then that you promised yourself you'd take care of this tiny child as long as you were alive.
The memory reminds you of why you always strive to show Kindness.
You sniffle obscenely loud.
Your boots tap on the marble orange and yellow checked floor. It reminds you of medieval movies of the long halls with a throne at the end of them. You assume past the next archway will be the throne room.
You wonder if these random thoughts will be good enough to distract yourself while you watch your soul be ripped from your chest.
You can still hear Frisk's crying.
There's a bell. It rings. And rings. And rings. Was it counting out the hours? You look up and around, like it was going to reveal itself. You don't remember hearing a bell throughout the Underground… Maybe it was only for the castle?
"So you finally made it." You flinch, shoes squeaking as you stop. You look around but you don't see anyone in front or behind you.
But you know this voice.
"The end of your journey is at hand. In a few moments, you will meet the king. Together…" You hear ruffling in front of you. Out from one of the golden pillars slinks out Sans, still in his blue hoodie and house slippers. "You will determine the future of this world." He isn't looking at you as he slowly walks forward. He's staring out the large blinding windows. "That's then. Now, you will be judged."
He looks near holy bathed in the white light, his bones glowing like he's surrounded by a halo. His white pin pricks lazily roll over to you. His smile is, like always, embedded in his face, but it's not… it's not really smiling. There's something about it that seems lifeless. It doesn't reach his sockets.
"You will be judged for your every action. You will be judged for every EXP you've earned."
You weakly clear your throat.
"Uh… EXP? Isn't that… from video games?" Sans stares at you. You wonder if you killed the mood.
"It's an acronym." He says. "It stands for "execution points"." Oh wow okay that… sounds a lot more serious than "experience points" like you usually heard it explained as. "A way of quantifyin' the pain you have inflicted on others. When you kill someone, your EXP increases. When you have enough EXP, your LOVE increases."
You open your mouth.
He cuts you off.
"LOVE, too, is an acronym. It stands for "Level of Violence". A way of measurin' someone's capacity to hurt. The more you kill, the easier it becomes to distance yourself. The more you distance yourself, the less you will hurt. The more easily you bring yourself to hurt others." He closes his eyes and breathes through his nose. You can hear it from where you stand.
When he opens them, his smiles rises too and becomes a real one.
"... But you. You never gained any LOVE." He shrugs. "'Course that doesn't mean you're completely innocent or naive. Just that you kept a certain tenderness in your heart. No matter the struggles of hardship you faced… You strived to do the right thing. You refused to hurt anyone. Even when you ran away, you did it with a smile. You never gained LOVE, but you gained love. Does that make sense? Ha. Maybe not."
You take a deep breath. You're pretty sure that if this is Sans's real job, being the judge of Judgement Hall or whatever, that he probably says something like this to all the kids that walked through. It makes you wonder how many times Frisk has been through here.
How many times Sans didn't let them pass.
However…
It also makes you really think of the hardships you faced. Of the fights you had. Of the monsters you met and spared. It makes you think of the wounds you received but also of the people who healed you and took care of you.
Your journey through the Underground, through Home, flashes before your eyes like a movie being projected.
"Now… You're about to face the greatest challenge of your entire journey. Your actions here… Will determine the fate of the entire world. If your refuse to fight… Asgore will take your soul and breach the surface. But if you kill Asgore and go home… monsters will remain trapped underground. What will you do?"
"Sans." You say, hands curling into your dress. "What would you do?" He stares for a moment and then looks back out the window.
"Well, if I were you, I would have thrown in the towel by now. But you didn't get this far by givin' up on the people you care about. You went through all of that just for that little kid of yours, right? You… have somethin' called "Kindness". So as long as you hold on… so as long as you do what's in your heart… I believe you can do the right thing."
"Thank you, Sans…" He looks you over. You know he can see the redness around your eyes and the shake to your hunched shoulders.
He steps aside.
"Alright. We're all countin' on you, kid. Good luck."
You take a deep breath.
You only get a few steps past Sans before you have to stop again. You don't know why but… You can tell Sans has something else to say.
For a moment there's just the sounds of birds outside.
"Where is Frisk?" He asks finally.
"...Anywhere but here." You whisper.
You look up to the looming archway in front of you. It's like a beacon signifying your death; like walking into the white light oh-so willingly. Through there, that was it. But… As you were resigned to your eventual fate, there was still something bothering you. Something stopping you from "passing on" through the archway. You don't know if you want answers, but you do know you need to get them off your chest.
"I know." You say instead, louder. You turn around, finding Sans was already facing you. "I know about Frisk."
"What about the kid?" He asks, trying to play it off. You shake your head.
"I know about their ability to restart." The white dots leave San's eyes. "About them being able to come back alive in a past point in time if they die. I've known from the very beginning."
"...Can you restart?" You blink.
You'd never really thought about that.
"I… Don't know." You answer truthfully. "I've only come back to life after Undyne killed me that one time." Swallowing, you change direction. "There's a lot of things I want to ask. Why you're the only one besides me and Frisk that remember reloads or restarts. Why you antagonized Frisk. Why Frisk seemed so guilty all the time …. But I feel like if you answer me… Truthfully, I feel like something'll change. I don't want that to change the last image I have of Frisk; of the underground."
Whatever reply Sans seemed to be getting ready to say very noticeably dies on his teeth. His sockets grow a bit wide and then they narrow.
" "Last image"? … What're you plannin'?" You don't immediately answer. Which, like for Undyne, seems to be an even better explanation. You hear his breath hiss on exhale. "What about the kid?"
Wow that question physically hurt you.
Like a knife to your soul.
Straight to the point. You didn't expect anything less from someone who also had a younger sibling that meant the world to them, though.
"I-I… There's a monster that I trust who said she'd take care of Frisk as if they were her own. Plus I… This way Asgore can get the last soul he needs, no one has to get hurt, and all of you can get to the surface and Frisk can go home."
"You…" He stops, closing his eyes, running a hand over his skull. It makes a pleasant clicking noise. "I'm assumin' you haven't told anyone else."
"Nope." You pop the p. "I just said goodbye to Frisk… They haven't stopped crying." You whisper the end of that sentence.
"Papyrus won't be too happy either." Sans mumbles. He then looks at you a little harder. "Why are you tellin' me? I could try and stop you." That gets a small laugh from you.
"Try to stop me from freeing the monsters? Well, you can try, but it'll definitely be a workout for you." You give him a knowing smile. "Definitely a lot of moving and running. Very strenuous."
"Sounds… Like a lot of work." He mockingly sighs and you grin. "But at least tell me… Why're you just givin' it to him. Every kid that walked through here, even Frisk, fought for their souls. The monsters are just a bunch of strangers to you. You didn't know about us till you were dragged here by Frisk. Why lay down and die for us? Don't you have any 'determination' to live?"
At that, you go silent. Not because you don't have an answer, but because the answer was very… personal. It was a vulnerable topic for you. It was probably the biggest but more guarded part of your life.
But you were about to end your life so why did it matter?
Sans didn't seem- no, he definitely wasn't the type of monster to go around running his mouth. Either you trusted him a lot, or you were so ready to talk to someone other than yourself about this that you were fooling yourself into trusting him.
Either worked for you.
"I have never been more loved, in my entire life, than these couple of days in the Underground." You haven't even really started and you already felt your throat start to burn. "My family, my parents, on the surface… They're not nice. They're not good people." It's a truth that your kind soul has never allowed you to say before. "I spent most of my life protecting Frisk from them. In the first few hours down here I met a monster who was more than a mother mine ever was or wanted to be. She took care of me and the kid and… and loved us. The monsters down here are kinder and more loving than any human I've ever met. Frisk has never… They've never known what a real family is supposed to be like. They've only had me and I'm far from a role model. They need someone better than me. They need a real family. If… If dying and freeing the monsters means giving Frisk the family they deserve, then I'll die a million times."
As valiant as that sounded, the idea of it makes your knees a little weak.
It was one thing declaring this in front of Frisk, who you were used to showing a confident facade, and another declaring it in front of Sans, who you didn't need to prove anything to. Your well hidden fear was slipping through the cracks.
You avoid looking at Sans, feeling embarrassment paint your cheeks. You turn back around.
"Promise me something?"
"I'm bad at keepin' promises, kid."
"I know. Then, instead of a promise, can you do me a favor?"
It takes him a while to say "... Sure."
"Will you keep a socket out for Frisk? They get bonely on their own." You cast a giant smile and a wave over your shoulder as you start hurrying out. "Bye Sans! I'm really happy I got to call you a friend. Tell Paps bye for me too. I'm a little upsetti I never did get to taste his spaghetti!"
You exit the judgment hall.
You stubbornly ignore the overwhelming sadness you feel.
There's another long grey corridor. This time it's extremely obvious it's a near copy of what the ruins look like.
You guess the ruins were what the monsters built first when they first got here. Then, the further in they ventured, the better they got at building.
You have a vague feeling Toriel taught you this at some point.
You see sunlight shining in through the next door, the smell of something sweet wafting out and meeting you halfway.
It's the smell of buttercups, you think.
It is buttercups. Hundreds of them growing like a wonderlandish carpet across the floor of a massive room. The room is just as beautiful and yellow as the judgment hall. Bathed in warm natural light, the large beautifully made stained glass windows loom yards over your head.
There's a giant throne with a purple velvet cushioning just ahead, nestled in the flowers like it was made to be presented with them growing up its legs and over its arms. You wonder what kind of beast could fit in such a seat.
It was all breathtaking. You had never seen such a beautiful place before in your life.
After your eyes and nose have calmed down from being bombarded with something so amazing, your ears pick up a gutterly low humming. You had thought Sans's and Grillby's voices were low, but they had nothing on this voice.
You step further in, slowly. You try to avoid stepping on the flowers even with how near impossible it is with how closely knit together they are. As you go, part of the room you couldn't see from the entry way is revealed and you stop dead in your tracks.
The King was taller than Toriel.
His horned form seems to blot out an entire stained window from your perspective.
You had thought Toriel was the tallest monster in the Underground. After all, the woman had easily been eight feet tall. Even Papyrus was a good foot shorter than that.
But the king… he was slightly hunched over but he was easily taller than Toriel. Nine feet? Ten? It got to the point that he was so tall you couldn't create an accurate guesstimate in your head. He was just… very tall. On top of that he was also very wide. Just a solid mass that was every way shape and form larger than you. It didn't help that his back was facing you and he wore a violet satin cape, blocking him all out as just one solid object.
His humming cuts off and you flinch violently at that. He slowly straightens up, somehow getting even taller.
"Oh…" He rumbles. You feel it in your very soul. "Is someone there?"
No.
No one's here.
You shrink in on yourself.
It was only now that you remembered how fearful Toriel was of you meeting the King. Begged you not to go face him. He had killed all of her other children. She described him as merciless and bloodthirsty. He had killed kids, after all. But hearing Undyne talk about him had quelled your fears almost immediately. Even Mettaton had referred to him as "fluffybuns". But, now standing in front of his hulking form, hearing his voice, you remind yourself that you're the enemy. The last soul, the last thing stopping him from freeing his people. You're not a resident, or his royal guard captain he took care of, he had no reason to be kind to you.
You were resigned to dying, but you kind of hoped it wasn't going to be painful.
"Just a moment Sans, I have almost finished watering these flowers."
You watch his back as you hear water being poured. You should probably say something. Like, how you're not Sans but a human, the human, but you can't find your voice.
"...There we go." He sets down a watering can to the side of him and then turns around. "Howdy Sans, how can I--" The warm smile on his face falls immediately as soon as his red eyes fall onto you.
They're not ones of anger, or disgust, or ones that make you feel like you're about to be attacked. They're ones that make your soul wilt.
He looks absolutely terrified of you.
"Oh." He says, as if his good day had just been utterly crushed. He swallows nervously and looks away, unable to meet you eyes. Wringing his giant paws together, he struggles to find his words.
"Howdy." You say, quietly. He smiles, but it's a woeful one.
"...I so badly want to say, "would you like a cup of tea?" but... you know how it is." He heaves a sigh and then slowly starts walking to one of the large windows. His cape gently drags across the flowers, creating a small wake behind him. He looks out the window, taking a hand up to his golden beard.
"Nice day today, huh?" He's trying really hard… to be nice? No. He's trying hard to avoid the inevitable… But why? "Birds are singing, flowers are blooming… Perfect weather for a game of catch."
"Never played catch." You say before you think better of yourself. The King looks at you as his shock is taken over by a heavy frown.
Growing up, that was an honorary tradition for a dad to do with his kids. Before Frisk was born, your dad was busy with pretending everything was perfect. After Frisk was born, you were busy avoiding anything he threw at you. And now you didn't have a dad, as far as either of you were concerned.
"That is… Is that not something played on the surface?" He asks and you give a sloppy shrug.
"It is, just… uhm… Never had anyone to play with." You shake your head, throwing off your anxiety. "I! Actually would like… A cup of tea."
Asgore stares.
"Oh! P-please, your Majesty?"
You feel like you choking as he continues to stare at you in silence.
"Really?" He finally mutters. You nod vigorously.
"I… want to talk."
He looks extremely happy all of a sudden.
"Of course!" He's much faster to move, now. He goes to behind the throne and picks up a small tea table, which already had a teapot, sugar bowl, and two cups and saucers on it. He'd… already set it up and everything. Why did he hide it…?
Did none of the kids before ever sit down with him?
He smiles warmly at you, clapping his hands together and ushering you closer. He looks so relieved.
"Sit child, have as much tea as you wish." He takes the tiny tea pot into his oversized paws and pours you both a cup. "Oh!" He reaches around the throne again and pulls out a chair for a child. It could fit in his palm. He chuckled heartily as he set it down and waves for you to sit. He takes his throne.
Neither of you have the heart to mention the chairs smallness. You squat down into it and take your cup. Before tasting it you add a couple sugar cubes .
"What kind of tea is this?" You ask as you blow and take a sip. It's sweet, thanks to the sugar, but there's a natural sweetness too that reminds you of home baked goods.
"Buttercup tea! Would you be surprised I make it all myself?" He laughs, downing his small teacup in one gulp.
"It's very good. It's been a while since I've had tea."
When Asgore sets it down he folds his hands in his lap.
"I must ask." You lower your cup. "It was reported that there were two humans, who had fallen. The other… Where are they now?"
Everyone was asking, huh?
"You only need one more soul." You set your own cup down, finding yourself fiddling with the saucer edge. "The other human is my sibling. I don't want them to get hurt. They're just a kid."
Asgore glances away. There's the same somber feeling to him like when you first stepped into the room.
"You say that as if…" He trails off.
"Asgore, I'm giving you my soul." His crown near falls off with how quickly he looks at you. "No fighting. I just… I want the barrier to be broken." You try your best to smile. You don't think it looks all that convincing.
"But… I do not understand…"
You feel your soul flutter. It beats against something. Not your ribs, or your skin, it's not that physical of a feeling. But it pushes at a thin layer of something that feels like a second skin. You knew it wanted out. It, just like you, wanted to show your kindness to the king.
You've never done this before, at least outside of battle, but you don't think it can be that hard. Maybe.
You will your soul to come forward, to appear. It takes a quiet moment, a moment where your thoughts are definitely too loud, but eventually your small heart slowly floats out.
Your soul bobs gently in front of you. Asgore stares at it in obvious shock.
"I met another with a soul like this." He says quietly. "They were the only other one to have tea with me…May I?" You flinch as he gestures to your heart. You can't take your eyes off of it. You manage to nod.
With a gentleness you weren't expecting, he cups your soul in his hands and slowly pulls it further from you. Your breathing quickens.
"While walking through New Home, did any of the monsters… talk to you?"
"I, um, I was kinda brought here through a shortcut, of sorts. Why?"
His eyes reflect the green glow of your soul.
"I believe you deserve an explanation before you do this." He lets go and your heart floats back to you. You suck in a shaky breath. He clears his throat, threading his fingers together and leaning on the arm of his throne.
You almost say out loud a joke about "story time".
You hold it back.
"A… Very long time ago, a human fell into the Ruins. The first human. They were injured, and my-... My son was the one to find them." His eyes pinch and you can practically feel the pain he's in. "He brought them to our house and over time, me and… the Queen took the human in as our own. It seemed the entire Underground was rithe with hope." He breathes, his voice shaking. "And then one day… The child became very ill…And they passed away."
Sorrow. Immense sorrow. It was so thick, so powerful, hot tears immediately sprung to your eyes.
With your soul out… You really are feeling his emotions.
"My son, Asriel, beyond himself with the loss of his sibling… absorbed the child's soul. He transformed into a being with incredible power. With the child's soul, Asriel crossed through the barrier with their body in his arms, and traveled to the child's old village. However… Either because they thought Asriel had killed the child, or they were just afraid, they attacked. Though he had the power to fight back, to protect himself, he did not…. When he came back, he collapsed… … His dust coated my garden. The kingdom fell into despair. The humans had, again, taken everything from the monsters."
He stares at your soul. He reaches out for it again, taking it into his paws. The green glistens in his wet eyes. You hadn't noticed he'd been crying, as his fur had soaked it up.
Then again, you were near sobbing and you had barely noticed.
"I made a new law, after that." He doesn't physically touch your soul. He cups the air round it. "Every human who falls down here must be killed. With enough souls, I could shatter the barrier forever… Wage war on humanity and exact revenge for the monsters imprisonment and the murder of my children.."
...What?
"War?" You whisper. The sadness washing through you suddenly changes. The overflowing feeling is tainted suddenly by anger. An anger fueled by grief and regret. Anger that is just as soaked in misery as every other feeling that comes to you from Asgore.
"It is the only way to make sure that monsters are never harmed and pursuited by humans again."
His look has gone cold, far different from the warm, dare you say, fatherly smiling he'd been giving you earlier. Instead he slowly heaves himself up to his feet, soul still being whisked away with his hands.
Giving him your soul… meant war? Giving him your soul meant the monsters, the kind monsters in the underground that didn't want to fight you after you simply complimented them, were going to kill off humans?
Why has no one mentioned this to you?
Did they just assume you knew?
But… you didn't- you couldn't-... You can't wrap your mind around this. Frisk pleaded for you to free everyone. To save their friends. You were under the impression that it was just that. But now you were trapped between saving the people who you've come to deeply care about, and billions of humans.
Would the monsters stand a chance?
Did you want them to?
Was this a matter of humans versus monsters or a matter of stopping Asgore?
Was the only way to win this, to free them like Frisk was so determined to do, to kill the king?
You slowly look over to Asgore.
He stands in the middle of the yellow flowers, bathed in light, his eyes still casting green from staring at your pulsing soul.
He smiles.
You close your eyes and focus on the emotional tether you have to him, pushing your rising panic to the back of your throat.
Misery and loneliness.
Happiness that it is all going to end soon.
...Hesitation.
"With this, I will finally be able to up hold my promise to my people." Asgore murmurs, letting out a small sigh.
You can't kill him. You couldn't kill anyone. Killing was never a part of this journey, or any journey involving you. You weren't a killer, couldn't be, wouldn't be. The monsters seemed used to it, expected it. It was brought up over and over but that was unimaginable to you. Sure you had the ability to hit someone a bit, but you never aimed to maim or break anything. Mostly just to scare off. That was before the Underground, too. That was back when you were solely protecting Frisk.
Killing someone…
It made you feel sick. It made your soul hurt.
Even without it inside of you, even as you could feel it- a part of you in Asgore's hands- the thought of killing made it physically hurt you. You felt it in your soul and in your actual being.
How were you supposed to move forward?
Your soul was in Asgore's hands.
Your soul hurts.
You didn't want to fight him.
You didn't want a war.
You didn't want to be the cause of death by not killing Asgore.
"Child?"
But what could you do? What were you supposed to do?
All your options led to death.
You were going to kill someone.
No this- this couldn't- you wouldn't- how can it end like this?
It feels like your soul is breaking.
After sparing everyone, saving everyone, loving everyone, how was this how it ended?
"Child, your soul! It is… What is happening to it?"
You couldn't.
"Child!"
Your soul ripped itself apart.
You're alive.
Your hand is in the save star and you're staring at a golden pillar.
You reloaded.
… You died. Again.
But this time… It wasn't from an attack. Your soul had…
You turn and start making your way back down the hall. Sans, like last time, starts speaking before he reveals himself.
"So, you finally made it. The end of your journey is at hand. In a few moments, you will meet the king. Together…" He steps out. "You will determine the future of this world. That's then. Now… You will be judged."
"Sans." Your voice is barely above a whisper. You can't bring yourself to say it louder. He continues, though, completely ignoring you.
"You will be judged for your every action. You will be judged for every EXP you've earned." He pauses, then. Eye lights flickering over you. You hold yourself and bow your head. "...It's an acronym. It stands for "execution points". A way of quantifying the pain you have inflicted on others." He stops again. "Kid, are you doin' alright?"
"You're not going to finish your speech?" He shrugs stuffing his hands into his pockets.
"Didn't say I wasn't. You just look like you're gonna hurl."
You do feel sick. Your stomach rolls back and forth. It can't be a side effect from reloading, so it must be from how you died.
"Don't puke your guts up, I don't have the stomach for it." He chuckles weakly at his joke. Your own sudden puff of laughter makes your nausea worse.
"Sans, do you remember past resets, or do you only get a feeling that they've happened?"
"Now that's a question." He avoids your eyes. When he scratches his skull, you make note of the pleasant sound it makes. Again. For a moment you think he's going to ignore you. He looks pretty intent on avoiding the question. However, he suddenly sighs and steps to the side.
"I remember, for the most part. Wasn't always like that." He shrugs. He finally meets your wild eyes. His smile is dead.
"...I saw Asgore." You grip your arms tighter. "Why didn't anyone tell me he planned to start a war?"
"Oh… that."
"Yeah, "oh that"." You bite back. "By the time I realized that, he already had my soul and I-" You shiver. "I think I-... I think I killed myself."
"Woah, wait, what? Kid, what're you talkin' about?" You step towards him, a coldness swallows you as he raises his hands up in defense. You can see yourself walking towards the skeleton, like you're not in your own body.
"Sans my soul imploded! It just- it just turned inside out! My soul killed itself and-!"
Bony hands hit your shoulders and you are immediately grounded. You breathe and you're back in your body, staring into Sans sockets, watching blue sweat beading down his forehead.
"Slow down kid, you're not even breathin' anymore." That reminds you to take another breath. You steady yourself, trying to ignore your own cold sweat enveloping you and the discomfort of having died a second time. "Try that again, but slower."
Your mouth feels dry. "I had tea with Asgore. While we were sitting I took out my soul to offer it to him. He started talking about the first human that fell and why he was collecting souls, and then talked about eradicating all humans. I panicked. Or, my soul panicked? It started hurting and then I… died."
Sans sweats more. You watch it and it suddenly hits you that Sans is literally sweating. Not only is that physically impossible, but it's also blue.
"That doesn't really…" He trails off, his eyes lowering to your chest, as if he can see through you to your soul. He clicks his teeth then, coming to an understanding that he doesn't share with you.
"Sans, I don't understand what I'm supposed to do. I can't kill Asgore, but I can't let him onto the surface if he's going to wage war. That'd be the death of an egregious amount of humans and monsters alike." Sans looks unsettled by your confession. To the point that his smile… actually disappears.
Not just the feeling of it not being a smile anymore, but his teeth are covered up as his face bone, that you thought was solid, stretches down as if it was malleable like skin. He closes his mouth and you openly gawk. He doesn't seem to notice though.
"Well, if I were you, I would have thrown in the towel by now…" His hands come off your shoulders. You'd nearly forgotten they were still there. "But you didn't get this far by giving up on the people you care about."
"Sans, you've already-" He puts his hands up in another surrendering motion, sending a half hearted, lopsided grin at you.
"Like I said before, you have somethin' called "Kindness". So as long as you hold on… so as long as you do what's in your heart, I believe you can do the right thing."
"But what I want is no one dying because of me." You feel like you sound like a petulant kid at this point, repeating yourself. At the same time, as soon as you start feeling agitated, Sans's calming presence cools you back down. Even if he was talking in circles.
"That's what I'm sayin'." Sans seems happy with your repeated confession and upset with the idea of killing. "Think about your options like you've thought through everythin' else. Think of it with the goal of "kindness" in mind."
Think of it with the goal of Kindness in mind? Think of it like your other decisions… How had you handled every other monster? Well… You talked to them. You talked to Asgore though, even forgoing the fight, but that led to the revelation of the two options that ended your soul. Pushing that out of your mind before the anxiety of it could reach you again, you step further back to the first monster you met.
When you fought Toriel, you weren't able to talk her out of her decision. She had seen too many kids leave and never return. There was no way you could shake her iron will with just a couple words. The only way you got through to her was…
"Oh." You say, feeling a rush of confidence. "I… totally forgot about those! Thanks, Sans!" He laughs as you walk past him.
"No problem kid. Can't wait to see you on the surface." You pause in your walk and turn back around to give him an odd look.
"I… What?"
There's an awkward silence.
"There's no way that I'm getting out of this alive, Sans." His smile slowly disappears again. It still unnerves you. "But… I think I know a way to convince him to not start a war and to just peacefully take my soul." You go to turn but stop again. "The favor still stands, by the way!" And then you're off.
You don't stop running until you hit the room of buttercups. Asgore stands to the side, just like before, watering. Seeing him a second time, the intimidation has lessened considerably.
"Oh…" He rumbles. You feel it in your very soul. "Is someone there? Just a moment Sans, I have almost finished watering these flowers." You pationalty wait for him. You don't want to rush anything. "...There we go." He sets down a watering can to the side of him and then turns around. "Howdy Sans, how can I--" He freezes up, just like before, his fatherly smile wilting into something painful. "Already?" He asks quietly. "...I so badly want to say, "would you like a cup of tea?", but... you know how it is." He heaves a sigh and then slowly starts walking to one of the large windows. His cape gently drags across the flowers, creating a small wake behind him. He looks out the window, taking a hand up to his golden beard. "Nice day today, huh?" He's trying really hard to avoid the inevitable. You take it as more proof of his hesitation to go rampaging on the surface. If anything, the only thing holding up his revenge are the souls he's already taken that haunt him. "Birds are singing, flowers are blooming… Perfect weather for a game of catch."
"Never played catch." You say, again. "Never had a dad to play with." Asgore stares at you for a long time and a smiled sweetened with sadness appears.
"If this was another life and if we did not have our current aspirations, I would have loved to teach you."
The new words strike a chord with you.
"Are you ready?" He asks and you nod. He holds out a large paw of his, beckoning for you to take it. Gingerly you cross the room and place yours in his. You immediately think of Toriel.
As he leads you to a back doorway, you glance over your shoulder and spot the forgotten table of tea. You're now also one of the kids who never sat down to talk with him.
There's a large spotlight of sunlight coming through a hole in the ground above your head. You know the barrier is there, somewhere in the distance. You wonder if any of the kids were unlucky enough to fall from there, right into the paws of the king.
"How tense." Asgore smiles over his shoulder. "Just think of it like… a visit to the dentist." He squeezes your hand to comfort you.
You wonder, when the fight begins, if he'll tell you to say the alphabet backwards to distract yourself from the pain.
A little further and he again looks back at you. "Are you ready? If you are not, I understand." He glances away. "I am not ready either."
"It'll be okay." You find yourself saying. You squeeze his hand this time, to reassure him.
The room is… nothing. It's a pulsing magical dark blankness that surrounds you. Behind Asgore is a far off exit, a cave entrance maybe. He steps to the side to block it from view. His hand finally slips from yours and you feel the safety you had momentarily disappear with it.
"This is the barrier. This is what keeps us all trapped underground." He won't face you. "If… If by chance you have any unfinished business… Please do what you must."
You glance over your shoulder.
You can still hear Frisk crying in the back of your mind.
"I'm ready." You say, taking your bat out.
"... … I see… This is it, then." He turns around and smiles so softly down at you. You hear an electrical buzzing noise and then, from the ground before you, seven glass encased cylinders arise. In six of them you see floating heart shaped souls. One of them is a green color just a bit darker than your own. The world fades around you and your soul tumbles out to face the King.
The orchestral crash of power-hungry instruments beats through your ears, revving your heart.
A strange light fills the pulsing room.
Twilight is shining through the barrier.
It seems your journey is finally over.
You imagine your hands covered in dust and an impending war tearing across the surface…
You're filled with the need to show Kindness.
"Human…" A strange breeze floats in and dramatically blows at his cape.
Asgore with a speed that was terrifying, darts to the side and, from hidden beneath his cape, swings out a massive trident. It was somehow even taller than him and the razor sharp edges shine.
You take a deep breath.
You remind yourself you have a plan. That it'll be okay.
Like in Toriel's fight, you cast your hands out in front of you and, like you had hoped, two floating… buttons(?) appear before you. You had nearly forgotten about the odd phenomenon, as you had never had a use for them other than your battle with Toriel. Frisk had explained it as them and you had talked to the monsters and solved everything that way, so you had no use for the two options.
"Kill" and "Mercy" float in front of you.
If Asgore's years of resentment couldn't be talked through, then you could just use the "Mercy" button to show him how much you, as a human, didn't want bloodshed… or dust-shed.
"It was nice to meet you…" His eyes glimmer under his golden head of head. You notice them… Looking at the buttons on either side of you. "Goodbye."
He swings his trident out. You yelp, diving to the side to just miss an edge of it.
You hear something shatter.
Asgore stands back in front of you, seeming to wait for you to get to your feet. Ever so slowly, you turn to where you just were.
Fragments of the "Mercy" button lay on the ground. You nearly stop breathing at the sight. They, and the "Kill" button left, flicker before completely disappearing.
Fire lights up around the room, surrounding you. They burn fiercely, casting unnerving shadows on the ground and across the King's face.
This…
Well shit.
Your whole plan to fight Asgore revolved around the "Mercy" you remembered.
You had walked into this room with a death wish, but yet if you messed up your soul would self destruct, or worse, Asgore's mind wouldn't be changed. You couldn't give him your soul and break the barrier until you were positive he wouldn't hurt anyone.
You can't talk to him.
You can't show him your intent of "Mercy".
You can't just hand him over your soul, like you planned.
And you couldn't run, because then nothing would happen.
But if you fought him… To the point he had no fight left… Would the Mercy button return? Would he listen to you then or…?
You look at the king again. You feel your emotions bubbling up as you stare at his face. He's trying to block it all out.
"I'm sorry." He says.
The first fireballs that appear and launch at you are easily dodged. The hail storms of fire almost catch you.
When he combines the two you find yourself out of breath and scorched.
"Asgore!" You try, already knowing he won't listen or respond. He answers by swinging his trident at you. You throw your bat up and they bounce violently against each other. You hear the wooden crack and you recoil.
You couldn't block a full on hit like that again.
It seems your bat is nearly useless in this fight. It was already beaten up from all your fights throughout the Underground.
As you souls pulses to the song blaring in your ears, you start to feel Asgore's emotions bleed into your own.
Finality.
You dive under a wave of fire, bouncing back to your feet only to get the butt of the trident into your gut, knocking you back down.
Sorrow.
You roll out of the way of the prongs. You crawl from a spout of fire. When you stand you're running from a tunnel of heat. He won't let up.
Grief.
He swings again and you're just too slow getting out of its path. You hiss as it goes through your arm and right back out. You don't have time to inspect the wound, if you stop for a second, you'll be lit up.
Remorse.
Your bat, though it can't stand up to any of Asgore's trident attacks, or any of the larger flames, does manage to bounce the smaller ones back. Asgore only grunts when he's hit. Every time you hear it, your soul beats faster.
"I do not want to fight any more."
You nearly trip over your own feet.
"I want my family back."
You turn, volleying a shower of fireballs back towards the king. You keep the momentum by spinning through it. You, will all your strength, send your bat hurtling towards Asgore, straight into his soul.
There's a flash of light. You throw your arms up, expecting fire, but when it dies you don't feel any heat. Peeking over, you see Asgore down on one knee. The blaring music dims until it's just a background hum.
"You are strong." He says. "Nearly half of my health…" He trails off, eyes on the ground. His trident lays next to him, his open hand pressed against it. He doesn't look like he wants to pick it up.
You pant, out of breath. You're tired, already. He ran you around like a cat chasing a laser pointer. He could easily finish this fight but…
"When will this end…?"
"Asgore…"
You should tell him now. Tell him that you want to give him your soul. That he doesn't have to fight anymore. That he never has to fight. You should be telling him that you'll die for the monsters to live out on the surface peacefully.
You should be talking, but nothing comes out.
As you stare at the flames surrounding you and see the grieving face of the king, as you thought about Frisk and their crying echoing in your head, you think about what you're doing.
What you're really doing.
You're here… to show the King kindness by… By what? Finding a way to die? Finding a way to just give everything up? Rushing as quickly as possible to lob Frisk back up home without you?
Fight him until he has no will to fight anymore humans…
Death of the King, death of you, and the death of humanity. Your thoughts kept cycling over and over until your soul had literally torn itself up because of it.
What if you stopped thinking about everything in terms of finale?
What if you didn't have to die?
"I want my family back."
You did too.
You thought of the promise you gave Toriel, who lived alone in the Ruins, only thinking about the children she's let leave to their inevitable deaths. You thought of Undyne, who was waiting for a rematch. Of Papyrus who was adamant about cooking spaghetti for you and Frisk. You thought of what you told Sans, in the Judgement hall, about feeling loved for the first time in so many years.
You think about how fatherly Asgore was to you, not wanting you to get scared, mere seconds before you faced him.
No… In reality, you wanted to be selfish. Especially now after you've met the monsters.
If all the possibilities you could think of that ended with you dying were hitting dead ends, what if you thought about it from… a "Kinder" point of view?
You remembered your talk with Sans. You remembered the fall of his face when he realized you still planned to give everything up for the kid. You remembered how Undyne had looked just as afflicted when she found it out while befriending you.
And here Asgore was, looking down at you with a face that made your heart break. Pinched with tears in his eyes.
He hated this.
He was a father, after all.
A father who had loved his children and had lost everything. A father who had cared for not only his family but for his people and wanted the best for them.
You had never felt that from your own father.
When you had first decided to give up your life for Frisk to be with this conglomeration of a monster family, you didn't have anything to live for but Frisk. And Frisk, you had decided, needed the monsters more than you.
You didn't have a life. Your life was lead by giving all of your love and strength to your sibling, using yourself as a meat shield to block your mother, and trying to ignore how much happier your dad was without you. Your life was working yourself sick to make ends meet for a house too big for three people and a woman who'd drink it all away. It was you desperately giving any ounce left to drag yourself to school in hopes of making a better life for you and Frisk somewhere down the road. Your town was small, bleak, and closed minded and it reminded you every day of why you weren't good enough.
But the Underground was different. The people were different. It was a whole other world that cared and loved with their entire souls. Though you had tried so hard to avoid getting close the amount of friendly battles you had with random passerby and the amount of monsters you had accidentally befriended because of it, the people who knew your name and for some reason cared, astounded you.
The fact that someone was sitting in their armchair, thinking of you and praying you were alive.
The fact that someone was training and getting themselves excited about seeing and fighting you again.
The fact that someone was humming in the kitchen, making you spaghetti and waiting for you to come visit.
The fact that someone was waiting for you in a hall, thinking up puns and waiting for you to return for the kid, because they believed in you
The fact that someone was gushing and talking a mile a minute about how you understood and accepted them and were proud to be called a friend of yours.
If you died now… They would be sad, right? It was hard for you to wrap your mind entirely around that. If it was anyone else you would doubt that they cared, but a big part of you really believed that if you died now, it wouldn't be just Frisk crying.
That alone brought tears to your eyes.
You had to think "Kinder".
If you let Asgore kill you, it'd be another number to his list. It'd be another child for him to mourn. Another set of eyes that would haunt him.
You slowly pick up your beaten bat, which had rolled away from Asgore and back to you. It used to be just covered in marks from protecting Frisk. Then, marks from fighting for their friends. Now, it had splotches of memories from fighting for your friends. Fighting for the idea of everything eventually being okay. Fighting for the hope of a new chapter.
"I'm sorry." You say, bouncing his earlier apology back to him. He flinches slightly at that. He knows you're not going to back down.
"I can't let you beat me." He says slowly, tensing. You nod, your soul quivering before you.
"I can't die here." You say. You voice breaks. "But I can't kill you either."
The king opens his mouth, but the words die on his tongue as the green light from your soul burns brighter.
It grows brighter, and brighter, and yet brighter, until he's shielding his eyes and squinting against it.
"I won't lose here. I-I can't kill you, but I can't give up." You look into Asgore's eyes. "I won't give this up."
The shards of the "Mercy" button flicker back into reality. They slowly rise from the floor in front of you. The green light envelopes them and they paste themselves back together.
The "Mercy" button is shown "Kindness".
"I understand." The green light coats the whole room like a warm blanket. A feeling of comfort and safety wraps around you and, by Asgore's face, you know he can feel it too. "I know how you feel Asgore. Like you have to fight, to protect the ones you care about, because you made a promise a long, long time ago. You feel like you have to uphold that promise even, if in the end, it means you're hurt or… or worse. It doesn't have to be like that… You don't have to break your promise, but you don't have to be hurt by it." You wave your bat through the Mercy button.
"They'll understand."
"You can free the monsters, but you don't have to carry the burden of your pain alone!"
"You don't have to hurt anyone."
"If we work together, I'm sure we can break the barrier!"
"You can have your family back."
"Me and Frisk… We'll stay as long as it takes!"
"Child…." Asgore bows his head low, his hair nearly touching the ground. He's shaking. Slowly, ever so slowly, he pulls his body up until he regains his footing. You notice he's left his trident on the ground. When his eyes meet yours, they glisten with rivers of tears.
"I do not want to hurt anyone. I just wanted everyone to have hope...But… I cannot take this any longer. I just want to see my wife. I just want to see my child. Please… Little one… This war has gone on long enough. You have the power… Take my soul, and-"
You wave your bat through "Mercy".
"I won't leave without Frisk." You say. "Like I said, we'll find a way to break the barrier without hurting anyone. … Let us stay here until then."
"After everything I have done to hurt you…" He smiles in wonder. "You would rather stay down here and suffer… Than live happily on the surface?"
You shrug, blushing. "It's not "suffering". I'm with Frisk and all of you guys. We'd be happier down here, together."
You swallow the small piece of guilt you feel for not giving up your life for the monsters. You promise you'll think about it later. You think it'd be best to regroup with the kid before you go off throwing your soul into Asgore's hands. Specially after your.. revelations.
"Human…" Asgore's smile picks up further until it's bright enough to almost cut through the light of your soul. "I promise you… For as long as you and your sibling remain here… My wife and I will take care of you two as best we can." Your mouth goes dry and your heart starts to ache. "We can sit in the living room, telling stories...Eating butterscotch pie…" Butterscotch pie? Didn't Toriel make something like that for you? "We could be like… Like a family…"
"I-" You begin, your voice choked, but a flicker of light stops you and draws both of your attentions.
To the side of Asgore a fire ball has appeared. Asgore's fire had long since been put out because of your "kindness". You also knew it wasn't his, because not only did he look just as confused by it, it also burned a deep red unlike his daffodil yellow flames.
It suddenly shoots at him, you yell his name as it nears.
It… slaps him across the face?
"What a miserable creature, torturing such a poor, innocent, youth… Do not be afraid, my child."
You whip around so fast your soul lags behind.
In the archway of where you had entered the barrier room stood… Stood someone you were beginning to think you wouldn't see for a very long time.
"It is I, Toriel, your friend and guardian."
A fresh wave of hot tears burn your eyes as you stare at a kindly smiling Toriel. Nestled at her side is a small Frisk who, once they see you standing, rips themselves off of the woman and sprint to you. They jump into your arms and you catch them. You hold them tightly as if they're holding you together. Toriel seems to be trying to remain civilized but when you meet her eyes a second time she runs over to you. She wraps both you and Frisk in a tight, warm hug.
"At first, I thought I would let you make your journey alone… But I could not stop worrying about you both. Your adventure must have been so treacherous… and ultimately, it would burden you with a horrible choice." She pulls away. You pull Frisk closer until you have a good hold on them. Toriel runs her paws over your face, wiping away your tears. "To leave this place, you would have to take the life of another person. You would have to defeat Asgore. However… I realized… I cannot allow that. It is not right to sacrifice someone simply to let someone leave. Is that not what I have been trying to prevent this whole time?" She holds your face. "So, for now, let us suspend this battle. As terrible as Asgore is… He deserves mercy, too."
Toriel sniffles quietly, smiling as she wipes some more tears from your flushed cheeks. She then steps back again, which leads to Frisk slipping from your hold and stubbornly holding your hand and Toriel's. You ruffle their head of hair and then pull them into another side hug.
With your soul still out, you project to Frisk, "I love you".
Their soul responds, "I love you too".
Asgore cautiously steps towards the three of you. He looks hesitant, but you smile reassuringly at him. He gives a small smile to you but his eyes refocus onto Toriel
"Tori… You came back…!" His smile dies as Toriel stiffens behind you.
"Do not "Tori" me, Dreemurr!" Oh. "You pathetic whelp." Oh shit. She places a hand on your shoulder. You guess she's still in "protect" mode. "If you really wanted to free our kind, you could have gone through the barrier after you got one soul… take six souls from the humans, then come back and freed everyone peacefully. But instead, you made everyone live in despair, because you would rather wait here, meekly hoping another human never comes."
You glance between Toriel and Asgore. It's obvious that they know each other more than just passing gossip. Like a lot more. Asgore, the king, practically shrinks in on himself.
"Toriel... You are right… I am a miserable creature…" His saddened look lights up the tiniest bit, though. "But, do you think we can at least be friends again?" Toriel sighs and crosses her arms.
"No, Asgore." You think Asgore's crying again, but you can't tell.
There's a belligerent scream behind you. You would recognize it anywhere.
"Asgore! Human! Nobody fight each other! Everyone's gonna make friends, or else I'll…!" Undyne runs into the barrier room, fists up and magic crackling along her arms. She stumbles to a halt though, eyes darting between a sulking Asgore and a Toriel standing protectively in front of you and Frisk. "Uh…."
"Hello! I am Toriel." Toriel's back into mom mode as she approaches Undyne. "Are you one of the human's friends?" Undyne looks intimidated.
"Uh, yeah...? Nice to meet you!" She side steps quickly until she's at Asgore's side. Then, sounding like stage whisper, she asks, "Hey Asgore, is that your ex?" Asgore solemnly nods. "Jeez. That's rough, buddy." She pats his back and-
Wait… ex!? Toriel… and Asgore... Oh my god they were married? Toriel's the queen!? The one that left him? ...Holy shit.
You… you're not sure how you feel about that. You did feel a lot of similarities between them when they handled you. Even their magic was similar. You didn't want to assume they were connected in anyway just because they were both large goats, because you felt that was specie-ist. But, well, here you are, with two goat parents.
"H-hey! Nobody hurt each other!" There's pattering on the ground and you look back to see Alphys determinedly making her way over to you all. She takes a breather and when she finally really looks, she purses her lips and starts to sweat.
"Hello! I am Toriel." You bite the inside of your cheek, trying not to laugh.
"U-u-u-uh hi!" She looks directly at you and mouths, "There's two of them?". You glance from her to Toriel and Asgore. You give Alphys a funny look but she's already distracted by Undyne.
If Toriel left Asgore when the first fallen human died, but Alphys, the royal scientist, didn't recognize her…?
The rattling of bones stops your confused thoughts.
Papyrus comes power walking into the room. You can't help but laugh when you notice he has a bundle of Sans under his arm like a sack of potatoes.
"HEY! NOBODY FIGHT ANYONE! IF ANYONE FIGHTS ANYONE…! THEN I'LL BE FORCED! TO ASK UNDYNE FOR HELP!" Sans slides out of his brothers hold and just sinks to the floor. You try so very hard to smother your laughing.
"Hello!" Toriel greets. You think she's having a grand ol' time finally meeting the other monsters.
"OH! HELLO, YOUR MAJESTY!" Oh! So wait, Papyrus recognizes Toriel, but Alphys doesn't? Papyrus puts a mit up to his face and does a very loud stage whisper towards you and Frisk. "PSST! HEY, HUMAN… DID ASGORE SHAVE…?" He glances to Asgore. "AND… CLONE HIMSELF?" Okay nevermind.
Sans finally stands up. He makes a show of dusting off literally nothing from his blue jacket.
"Hey guys… What's up?" You give him a look, but can't hide your grin when he winks at you.
"That voice…!" You look over just in time to catch Toriel move around Papyrus and face Sans. "I think we may… Know each other?" You look back and forth between them.
"Oh hey… I recognize your voice, too."
"So nice to finally meet you."
"The name's Sans." He winks up at Toriel. The height difference was astounding. "And, uh, same."
"Oh! Wait, then…!" Toriel turns around, smiling brightly at Papyrus. "This must be your brother, Papyrus! Greetings, Papyrus! It is so nice to finally meet you! Your brother has told me so much about you."
"WOWIE! I CAN'T BELIEVE ASGORE'S CLONE KNOWS WHO I AM! THIS IS THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE!" You snort.
"Hey, Papyrus…" Toriel begins. "What does a skeleton tile his roof with?"
"HMM? SNOW-PROOF ROOF TILES?"
"No, silly! A skeleton tiles his roof with shin-gles!" Papyrus looks like he's about to keel over as Sans and Toriel start losing it.
"I CHANGED MY MIND! THIS IS THE WORST DAY OF MY LIFE!"
"Come on Papyrus," You nudge his arm bone. "Don't let them get under your skin."
"YOU'RE RIGHT! THANK YOU HU-" His sentence chokes off as Sans and Toriel crumble in laughter. Papyrus looks at you in mild horror as you wink and send him finger guns. He screams.
"Come on, Asgore! It's gonna be ok! There are plenty of fish in the sea " Undyne's hush pep talk isn't as quiet as you think she thinks it is. You look over only to find Undyne and Alphys holding hands, puckering their lips at each other. Toriel gently pulls Frisk to her and covers their eyes before you can get the chance.
A hand ghosts around your shoulders and you look up to see a smug looking Mettaton. You don't know how he'd managed to be so quiet entering the room. He pulls you to his chest, just muffling his chuckling.
"Y-yeah, Asgore! Undyne's totally right about that fish thing! S-Sometimes you've just got to, uh… S-stop going after furry boss monsters and, uh...J-Just get to know a really cute fish…?... It's a metaphor." Undyne laughs, pulling the scientist a little closer.
"Well… I think it's a good analogy."
"Oh my god!" Mettaton couldn't keep quiet, squeezing you as he wiggles his free arm out towards the two women. "Will you two just smooch already!? The audience is dying for some romance action!"
"Hey, shut up!" Undyne shouts back, shooting a glare over Alphys's head. "Man, the nerve of that guy!" She says, as if she hadn't kept the same volume and Mettaton wasn't still standing next to you.
"She doesn't understand the emotions of a crowd." Mettaton snaps, sighing dramatically.
"Like a fish out of water." You say at the same time Toriel physically puts herself between Alphys and Undyne so they won't kiss.
"Oh," Mettaton practically purrs. "So you're funny." You blink up at him, stunned. You're not sure how to answer him and instead nod and shrug at the same time in confusion.
"Uhh, right! S-sorry, I got a little carried away there." Alphys mumbles. Toriel giggles and gently pats Alphys's head.
"That is quite alright." She turns to you, then. Mettaton struts over to aisle up next to Alphys and Papyrus.
It seems they all turn to you and Frisk.
"My children, it seems as if you must stay here for a while." Frisk takes your hand. Toriel's smile grows larger and she looks around the room at the group of monsters that have gathered. "But looking at all the great friends you have made… I think you both will be happy here."
You look down to Frisk and they look up at you. The heart that has weighed so heavy in your chest begins to lighten as they smile at you. You kneel down in front of them, taking both of their hands.
"Frisk, all I want is for you to be happy." You say quietly. You're sure some of the monsters, if not all of them, can hear you. However, you talk directly to your kid. "I promised I'd get you home and I'd save your friends and… I'm not breaking that. But… it may be a bit until that happens. Are you okay with-" They wiggle their hands out of your loose hold.
"I want to be with you!" They sign instantly and you heart squeezes. "No matter where. As long as we're together." You breath in, ignoring the tug of happy tears, and pull the child into your arms.
"Always, Frisk." You say. "Sorry." You say even quieter. They shake their head against your shoulder and kiss your forehead when they pull back.
You look back to the monsters, to your friends… To your family. They smile back at you.
There are a lot of loose ends left untied on the surface. There's a crumbling life that still waits for you there and it still haunts the backburner of your mind. However at the moment, in the present, you can't bring yourself to think about it. In fact… You won't. Not now. Not when you're so happy, surrounded by people that you love and love you.
Another time you'll focus on the past.
For right now, you stand and face your new future.
Your new life. A happy family. You don't think you've been so excited to see what your future has in store for you. You've never been so happy to go home, to bed, and wake up the next day.
"H-hey, uh, that reminds me." Alphys turns to Papyrus, wringing her hands together. As she does, Toriel opens her arms up to you and Frisk and the child runs to hug her. "Papyrus… You called everyone, e-except her, here, right?" She gestures to Toriel.
"You did, Papyrus?" You ask, wide eyed. You'd assumed it'd been Frisk. That, or everyone had appeared with their own agenda.
"H-How did you know how to call everybody?" Papyrus scratches his jawbone with a red mit. You can tell he's putting up a comedic air of mystery for effect as he hums.
"LET'S JUST SAY…" He "nyeh heh"s … smugly? You think? "A TINY FLOWER HELPED ME."
"A tiny…flower…?" Alphys's voice warbles, shaking as she starts to sweat profusely. You also see Frisk stiffen, eyes going wide. Even the lights in Sans's skull go out.
Something clicks for you.
"A yellow flower." You mumble. "Alphys, wait, a flower-"
The ground rumbles.
A vine - you notice it too late- bursts from the ground, whipping out and towards the people around you.
You hear multiples yells as the vine's multiply. They whip wildly around, as if alive, weaving around everyone.
Undyne screams, spears flickering to life, but they're put out like a flame as a vine ties her arms and lifts her.
In a blink of an eye everyone's off the ground, knotted by vines.
You're the only one standing untouched.
Words don't come to your mind as you stare at your friends. They look in pain, their souls emerging and flickering in and out.
The ground in front of you gives way. You expect another vine, but instead a small buttercup pulls itself up.
...It has a face.
"You idiots." It says, voice high pitched and scratchy. It turns it's petaled head around to view your mass of friends. It's eyes lingering on Frisk's shivering form. "While you guys were having your little pow-wow…" It's face morphs, mouth stretching unnaturally and growing larger, uncannily human teeth filling it and eyes going dead. "I took the humans souls!" It turns a sharp smile to you. "And now, not only are those under my power… But all of your friends' souls are gonna be mine, too!"
"Who are you!?" You shout, pulling your bat up. The flower frowns, red eyes narrowing into slits.
"Did Frisk not…" It trails off and then shoots a glare at Frisk before smiling all too sweetly at you. "I'm Flowey, Flowey the flower!" It's giggling echoes and makes you involuntarily shiver. "I helped the kid." It announces. You look to Frisk for confirmation but they don't seem to be following. You don't blame them as the magic around the vines spasms again. "I helped them when they weren't the kid, too. I was supposed to meet him here, but, he'll come out to me eventually. Since you came here, I haven't seen him once." Flowey's smile twists.
"I don't know what you're talking about." You say, pushing your soul forward to goad out the flowers, hoping to start a conversation.
Flowey's soul doesn't show.
"You know what the best part is?" Flowey coos. You shake your head. "This is all your fault."
"I-What? No!" Flowey laughs at your panic.
"It's all because you made them love you." You grip your beaten bat in two hands. "All the time you spent listening to them… Encouraging them… Caring about them… Without that, they wouldn't have come here."
If you had given up your soul, they wouldn't be strangled by vines right now.
"And now, with their souls and the humans' together… I will achieve my real form!"
"Why're you doing this?" You ask, the light of your green soul dying. The green is being overpowered by the darkness of the room. The shadows creep in, as if all coming from and through Flowey. The flower sneers at you.
"Why? Don't you get it? This is all just a game." For some reason that wording makes the image of a bright computer screen in the dark of a room flash behind your eyelids. It's gone before you can really absorb it. "If you two leave the underground satisfied, you'll "win" the game. If you "win", you two won't want to "play" with me anymore. And what would I do then? But this game between us - between me, Frisk, and him, will never end. I'll hold victory in front of you, just within you reach… And then tear it away just before you grasp it."
Flowey's face starts to break apart.
"Over, and over, and over…"
It's maniacal laughter echoes in your ears.
"Listen, if you do defeat me, I'll give you your "happy ending". I'll bring your friends back. I'll destroy the barrier. Everyone will finally be satisfied." It laughs louder. "But that'll never happen!"
It's a flower.
You should swing your bat.
It's hurting your friends, killing them…
But you can't move as the flower's hollow eyes bare through you.
"But you… Frisk, no, He brought you from the surface to "play" with me. I'll keep you here no matter what!"
Vines burst from the ground, they wrap around your arms before you can react.
You yell, the thorns digging in your skin and tugging at your limbs. They squeeze and your bat falls from your hand.
You stumble as it forcefully wraps around your calves, keeping you in place even as you viciously struggle against them. The thickest one wraps around your throat and you gasp. The magic Flowey uses to keep your friends strung up and in pain shoots dimly through the vines around you, but not as strongly. Your breathing quickens and your heart hammers against your rib cage.
A circle of seeds appear around your unmovable soul.
Flowey grows taller, like a weeping sunflower, and looms over you. It whispers in your ear, mouth sharp and eyes full of twisted mirth.
"Even if it means killing you one million times."
The seeds fly into your soul and you bite the inside of your cheek, refusing to yell at the pain. The green heart bruises. Crumbles when it's hit over and over again.
As the seeds come for a third time, you know your soul won't hold up to the attack.
You look to Frisk.
… ...But the seeds don't hit.
"What?" Flowey snaps. You hear a broken, soft laugh and your eyes are drawn to Toriel. She smiles through the pain she's in and looks up at you
"Do not be afraid my child...No matter what happens, we'll always be there to protect you." Her weakened flames flicker to life, not only burning at the vines around your ankle, but also to help bounce the seeds away from you.
Flowey barks a laugh, turning around his limp form to sneer at your friends.
More seeds are summoned, but this time a small spear and a bone appear to deflect them.
"THAT'S RIGHT, HUMAN! YOU CAN WIN!" You pull at the vines, ignoring the feel of them cutting into your flesh. "JUST DO WHAT I WOULD DO...BELIEVE IN YOU!"
You soul starts to glow again.
"Hey! Human! If you got past me, you can do anything! So don't worry! We're with you all the way!" Undyne manages a giant grin.
"Shut up!" Flowey hisses. Another waves of magic shoots through your friends.
You pull and your leg snaps free. You try to dig your heel into the vine on your other leg, to kick it free. Flowey notices, but seems to ignore you for the most part as he focuses on sending seeds at your soul. You turn a blind eye to it, trusting your friends to guard you.
"Huh?" You hear Sans chuckle weakly over your head. You kick the vine again and it splinters and falls off. "You haven't beaten this guy yet? Come on, this weirdo's got nothin' on you."
Your soul burns brighter. You throw your weight forward, trying to wrench your way free.
Rows of lightning bolts and fire burst out, dusting the seeds away.
"Technically, it's impossible for you to beat him…" You send a quick look to Alphys. "B-but… somehow, I know you can do it!"
"Come on darling!" Mettaton calls, grunting. "You're a star now after being on my show, no time to dawdle around, your fans are waiting!"
"Human," Asgore begins as you rip one of your arms free, yelling at the pain of the thrown tearing through your skin. "For the future of humans and monsters…! You have to stay determined…!"
You hear pounding footsteps behind you.
You hear the murmur of voices that you had thought was white noise suddenly get louder.
Voices, that are calling for the human to be spared.
Voices, that yell for you to be strong.
You dig your fingers into the vine around your neck, loosening it just a bit to be able to look over your shoulder.
Hundreds of monsters have gathered. They can't get close, not enough to step into the battle as Flowey had used it's vines to barricade you all inside. However, you can hear their shouting. You can see them over the top as they boost each other higher to wave at you.
You don't get why they're here. You don't understand why so many are here cheering for you.
Their kind words, their reassurance, their love for you, make your soul burn brighter. It's fallen pieces slowly paste themselves back together.
Your soul is filled with Kindness.
"No!" Flowey barks again. You look back to see the flower has shrunken in on itself. It looks around at the people and frowns. "Unbelievable! This can't be happening…! You… you…!"
His upset suddenly takes a one-eighty. His demonic smile returns as he darts close to you again, petals brushing against your cheeks.
"I can't believe you're all so stupid." The rooms suddenly burns with a bright white light, drowning your vision.
You hear monsters behind you start to scream.
"All of your souls are mine!"
There's a feeling of suction against your soul. A wind whips up, blowing around and pulling everything in towards the laughing flower. The screaming becomes louder and your vision blurs as the white light smolders throughout the room--
Then there's nothing.
No wind.
No light.
No room.
No monsters.
Just you, standing free of vines.
And in front of you a small, white-furred child with their back to you.