The next couple days were fairly routine. Frisk would have breakfast with Asgore, then go out and have fun with their Monster friends, reply to Alphys about their condition, some training with Undyne, who taught them how to use their magic. After that, they had dinner with Asgore, and he would then read them a story before putting them in bed.
Frisk didn't know what the status of the Legendary Artifact was. As far as they knew, Sans was still analyzing it. They hoped the skeleton was taking it seriously and not falling asleep while doing some important test.
Frisk's existence was still only known to their friends, though Asgore assured them that he would make his announcement soon. He just had a few details to finalize before he could do it.
Four nights after they moved into the castle Asgore said that he had a surprise for them. They walked out into the living room where Asgore was waiting, dressed in his gold armor and purple cloak.
"What's the surprise?" they asked eagerly.
Asgore extended both arms from under his cloak. In his hands he was carrying three folded up bundles of cloth. "I've decided to make the announcement today, and I would like you to wear these."
Frisk took them from Asgore and analyzed them. They gasped when they realized what they were. New clothes. They were neat with still visible creases in them. Frisk brought the articles up to their nose to smell them. The cloth dye was still fresh. They unfolded them one by one to get a good look at each piece.
First were the pants which were tailor-made for them; bright blue with gold stitches and belt loops, along with a hole in the back for their tail which was a major upgrade from the cut-in slit that Toriel had done for them. There were pockets on the waist and the leg holes were made for their new feet going down to the ankles.
Next was the shirt which was the same bright blue as their pants and long sleeved. This shirt had two stripes on it, just like theirs, but rather than the bright purple these were a vibrant pink which even went over the sleeves. What Frisk really noticed though were the thin gold lines that separated the blue from the pink. There was even gold stitching in this as well along with a gold snap on the front and the back of the shirt close to the neck.
The last one was what caught Frisk off guard. It was a purple cape, the same shade as Asgore's cloak with the Delta Rune on the outside surrounded by a white heart. But this one wasn't designed for wearing over the back. It was made to be worn over either arm with gold snaps on the inside to connect it to the shirt and it was entirely up to the wearer whether they wanted it on the left or right sides.
Frisk held the articles in their hands. All three were brand new and made of the best fabrics and dyes the Underground had to offer. They were so different from the patched-up hand-me-downs Frisk was currently wearing.
"Do you… like them?" Asgore asked hesitantly.
"I love them," Frisk said in a whisper. "Thank you."
"I will be making the announcement this afternoon. I would appreciate it if you wore those to it."
"Why not do it earlier or right now?" Frisk asked.
"I'd prefer everyone to be fully awake for it," Asgore explained. "If I did it now some of them might fall asleep halfway through." Asgore turned to leave. "You have a few hours. You must be ready by then. You'll need to make a good first impression."
Asgore left Frisk to set up for the announcement. Now alone with their thoughts, Frisk thought it over. This was happening today. After today, everyone in the Underground will know them and what they were. They had been anticipating this for days, but now that it was here a part of them was scared. The idea had worked in theory, but would it hold up?
Well, in a few hours, it was happening. They were going to be revealed to all of monsterkind. They needed to make themself presentable.
Frisk went to the bathroom and took a bath. A jug of pet shampoo was sitting on the counter. This was actually the first time they were going to bathe in this new body and knew the fur would make it a bit harder. But they scrubbed themself as thoroughly as they could making sure to get as clean as they possibly could, reaching every part of themself. Once they were as clean as they could get, they stepped out, draining the tub as they did, some of their white fur getting caught in the drain. They grabbed an old-looking towel to dry off with, being careful not to dry off so fast that they'd go all poofy.
They walked over to their new clothes, briefly glancing at the old set. They had worn those things for over a year and it was the same set they traveled through the Underground with. They might keep them out of sentimentality, but they were starting to fray and Toriel's work at repairing them was already coming undone. They were never going to be worn again.
Frisk slipped on the pants and shirt, stretching to try and break them in a little. They decided to leave off the cape for now as it felt too formal for casual wear.
Frisk walked up to a mirror, looking over themself and their new appearance. They had never had such nice clothes before. It was almost surreal. They certainly looked like a prince of Monsters and not some beggar human.
"nice duds."
Frisk jumped at Sans' voice. "Sans! What are you doing in here?!"
"came to see ya," he replied.
"No, I mean here, in the bathroom!"
"it's where you're at," Sans answered lazily.
"Ever heard of privacy?" Frisk demanded.
"we're monsters, frisk. it's not that big a deal. plus, i'm a skeleton. not like i got anything to hide."
"Well, I'm – or used to be – human, so I value my privacy."
"alright, i'll get outta your fur." Sans vanished after he said that.
Frisk took a breath after the skeleton left. They weren't too happy with him. Perhaps they should get Toriel to lecture him about a human's need for privacy. After calming down, they exited the bathroom to find Sans leaning on the wall outside. "So is there a reason you came here?" they demanded. He'd better have a good reason for doing what he did.
"sure do." Sans pulled his hand out of his hoodie's pocket, revealing the Legendary Artifact. "finally finished figuring out what this does."
"And? Please tell me it's not some glorified dog toy," Frisk requested.
"well, it took me a while to find out as it seems like just a red ball," Sans answered. "in fact, right now, that's all it is."
"Right now? Does that mean it's not always like that?"
"it took me all this time to figure out what it does because of that. it wasn't until i looked at the glyphs you took a picture of that i figured out what happens."
"Well, tell me."
"get this, the reason it isn't used by us is because we monsters can't use it. can you guess why?"
"Not really. I mean, you guys have magic, you should be able to use it no problem."
"but that's the thing. it's not magic that activates it. it's something that only humans have that does it."
Frisk thought it over, trying to figure out what that could be as there were many differences. It had to be some specific power or magic that was exclusive to humans that Monsters couldn't ordinarily have. Frisk went through everything in their head, trying to figure out what that could be. In the end though, there was really only one option. "Determination?"
"exactly. this thingy only works if someone with determination holds it. which might explain why that dog kept taking it from you."
"So, what does it do? Determination is the fuel but what does it do?"
"something thought impossible but it is something only a human would be capable of. according to the glyphs, it is capable of repairing a damaged soul. even a monster soul."
"Damaged? Like… cracked?"
"yep. though how effective it is depends on the level of determination. and since you've got more than any other human… well, i think you're smart enough to figure that out."
Frisk took the orb from Sans. "I could bring back a dead Soul?" they questioned. "Like, a Soul that's been shattered?"
Sans shrugged. "no clue. but, hey, if you can come back, i don't see why you couldn't do the same for another. with this, you can do that."
Frisk stared at the orb, feeling the power coming off it. Could it be that simple? With this, they could fully repair Asriel's Soul. "So, how does it work?" they asked the skeleton.
"well, i'm not entirely sure, but for a dead monster, i think you want to go where they last were, then use your power on the orb and maybe let it do the rest?"
Frisk glared at Sans. "You don't have any better idea than that?"
"considering i've only had this thing for three days, i'd say that's pretty good. little warning though; it can only be used once. and if it does fully bring back a monster's soul, keep in mind, the soul will last only a second without a body to contain it."
Frisk thought it over, realizing that the brief life of said Soul would be a problem. They had no idea where Flowey was, and they didn't want to risk him already being there. So, they either had to wait, or contain the Soul until they found Flowey.
"Wait. Human Souls don't persist for very long after death, either," Frisk realized. "So how come Asgore was able to contain six for years?"
"well, didn't asgore keep them in specialized containers? those might be the reason they were able to stay for a long time."
"Could those same containers work for Monster Souls?"
"perhaps, yeah."
"Good." Frisk headed for the basement.
"where you going?"
"To the barrier. Odds are one of the containers are still intact."
Frisk ran straight to the barrier, Sans following by teleporting. They reached the room before the barrier and Frisk debated whether to Save now or not. They decided against it and passed through the arch. Frisk and Sans now stood before the barrier. Sunlight was just peeking through it. The massive magical wall was the only thing keeping Frisk and everyone down here from leaving. In order to break the barrier, one needed the power of seven human Souls, or the equivalent.
But this wasn't what Frisk was here for. This was the room they battled Asgore in, and after, Flowey managed to absorb the six human Souls. The containers were hidden in the floor. Asgore had revealed them just before their fight began in some effort to try and make Frisk more dead set on killing him as they understood it.
Frisk looked around, wondering how to bring the containers up. They stepped on a specific part of the floor and the seven glass containers rose up. Six had holes in them from when Flowey smashed them to absorb the Souls inside. One was still intact and was meant for the seventh Soul that Asgore dreaded but never came. Frisk knelt down next to the intact one. This was the one that, if things had gone differently their Soul would have wound up in. Good thing they were able to Save so that didn't happen. But a small part of them wondered, if they couldn't do that, would they have willingly given up their Soul for the Monsters?
Frisk shook their head to dispel those thoughts. Sans knelt down next to the container.
"Will this work?" they asked.
Sans looked it over, inspecting everything. He didn't look it, but Frisk knew he was very smart. In fact, Frisk was certain that, at one point in the past, he was a scientist, so this shouldn't be beyond him.
"despite being old, it still works. it's built for human souls, but it should be able to contain a monster soul, no problem," Sans answered. "so, yeah, you could use it."
"Then you carry it to the Royal Garden," Frisk said. "And don't drop it. It's the only one left."
"why the garden?" Sans asked, picking it up.
"That's where Asriel died," Frisk answered. "I'll use the artifact to restore his Soul, then we'll use this to contain it."
"you still sure you want to do this?" Sans asked. "is one little monster really worth all this?"
"I've come too far to turn back now."
The two of them entered the Royal Garden/Throne Room and Frisk quickly Saved as they passed the star. Frisk walked to the middle of the garden near the throne. They didn't know where Asriel had perished, but here was as good a guess as anywhere.
"Okay, now Boss Monster Souls persist for only a few moments after death," Frisk explained to Sans. "I'm not sure how long that is but I'm assuming long enough that we can get it."
"so, the moment it appears, i grab it and put it in the container," Sans added. "let's get to it."
As Frisk looked over the orb the skeleton noticed they were smiling. "what you smiling about?"
"You've never put this much effort into anything," Frisk answered. "And I'm so close to saving Asriel, I can feel it. Once we bring back his Soul, I'll go looking for him."
Frisk held the red orb in his hands, wondering how to activate it. There was one way they could think of that might make it respond. They tapped into their Determination, briefly accessing their Save. Not enough to turn back time but it did allow them to briefly glimpse the past, which was only a few moments before.
The orb reacted to the display, glowing a bright red. Frisk felt as if it was asking them what they wanted it to do. What they wanted, more than anything, was to bring Asriel back, and this ball could help.
The orb floated out of Frisk's hands and hovered in a specific part of the garden. Red tendrils of energy went out of it and into the ground around it. Each tendril seemed to seek out something specific. Then, when they started to pull back, little white bits were revealed, suspended by the red energy. They began swirling around each other at fast speeds, almost blurring into each other. Then, one by one, the bits started coming together. As more of the pieces came together they started to resemble a specific shape.
Frisk's eyes widened when they realized what those pieces were forming. They were coming together to make a white upside-down heart. The pieces of a Soul fit together like jigsaw pieces, slowly reassembling into a whole. Before long, a pieced together Monster Soul was there, red lines fitting the pieces together. Then, those red lines vanished, fusing the Soul back together but leaving an outline of red around it. Frisk could tell just by looking at it who it belonged to. It was Asriel's Soul, whole once more.
After the process was done, the orb stopped glowing and fell to the ground, going grey as it did. Asriel's Soul was still hovering in the air, level with Frisk's own chest, but vibrating as it hovered. Sans teleported next to it, grabbing it with his bony hand. Then he teleported right back to the container, placing the Soul inside it, quickly sealing it up as he did. Frisk ran over, looking at the Soul within which was now hovering inside the container.
Frisk had seen a Monster's Soul every time Asgore was killed, so they knew what one looked like. And while this was definitely a Monster's Soul, the red outline was odd. But Frisk could see it was Asriel's Soul, once more in one piece. This was only the first step, but now, Frisk could feel that they were at long last on the right path. Their heart was overjoyed, for at long last they could see the end of this journey.
"you okay, bud?" Sans asked. "you're crying."
Frisk wiped their cheeks, and sure enough, there were tears. "Because I'm happy. I'm finally on the right path to saving Asriel. And it's thanks to you." Frisk hugged Sans. "Thank you. At long last, I can begin this journey, and soon it will be over."
Sans hugged back. "i hope this is all worth it in the end, kid," he said. He pulled back from the hug. "welp, better get going. asgore's making his announcement soon, and i don't want to miss it." The skeleton vanished.
Frisk picked up the container that held Asriel's Soul. They could feel the life even through the glass. In fact, they could feel what they assumed were the last remnants of Asriel's consciousness from it. Holding it, knowing that they were so close, filled them with hope, something they had been lacking for a long time. They could save Asriel now, they were certain of it. Then, Sans' parting words registered. The announcement was soon and they need to be ready for it. They ran to their room, finding a place to hide the container. Best Asgore not find out about it for now.
Frisk remembered that Asgore wanted them to wear that cape he got them. They went back to the bathroom to grab it, deciding to wear it over their right arm. They snapped the cape on, letting it hang over their right. They inspected themself in the mirror. Now they really looked like royalty. They heard a door open and realized that Asgore was back. They walked out into the foyer to meet him.
"Howdy, Frisk! All ready?" he asked.
Frisk nodded. "Yep."
Asgore knelt down to straighten up Frisk's clothes. "Wow. You look amazing in those. Do they fit?"
"Like a glove," Frisk answered. Asgore appeared puzzled by that expression. "Yes, they fit perfectly," they amended.
"Good. Now, come. Time to introduce you to everyone." Asgore took Frisk by the hand, leading them through the castle to a specific balcony. "Also, after much effort I have decided on a name for you."
"Really? What is it?" Frisk asked.
Asgore chuckled. "You will hear it when everyone else does." They stopped just before the balcony, the drapes hiding them. "Alright, now wait here," Asgore requested. "I'll motion for you to come out."
"Sounds good," Frisk said, smiling. This was really happening. A part of them was scared but also overjoyed. Monsters weren't like humans; they'd fully accept them.
Asgore stood up and parted the curtains, standing before a microphone so his voice was heard by everyone in the courtyard. Frisk was also fairly certain that his speech was being broadcast to the entire Underground in case anyone wasn't able to come.
"Everyone, I have an announcement to make," Asgore said, his deep voice carrying far without the need for the mic. "For a long time, our kingdom has lived in despair, trapped underground by the humans. And for a long time as well, my throne has been without a clear heir. As many of you know, my son was killed by humans years ago and my wife has disappeared. That day, I declared war, thinking that revenge was necessary to end the suffering of my people. But now I see I was wrong.
"Humans may have been responsible for our predicament but not all of them deserve to be punished for the actions of a few. In fact, one child has shown us all the goodness within humanity." Asgore then gestured to the curtain and Frisk walked out. They stood in front of Asgore, visible before the entire crowd of Monsters and the cameras. Asgore laid his large hands on Frisk's shoulders, and they steeled themself so they didn't flinch at the contact. "Some of you may have already seen this child around. This child has not always looked like this, but they are, in fact, human. When I tried to kill this child to take their Soul, they chose to spare me, and when I would have been killed, they protected me.
"This former human has proved to me that there is good within humans and that it is possible for there to be peace between our two races. And that is not all. At long last, I have an heir and they will be that heir. They will become your prince. I have waited until today to say this, for just this morning I have adopted them as my child."
Frisk looked up in surprise. They were expecting to be made a ward of Asgore's. They didn't realize he would go all the way and adopt them.
"So, welcome your new prince and the future of peace between Monsters and Humans, Uriel Dreemurr!" Asgore shouted and the crowd erupted into cheers. The newly name Uriel looked out at all of them and they saw nothing but happy faces and could only hear words of praise. As the crowd cheered, Uriel's heart felt so full, like it would burst. They struggled not to cry before them all, letting the moment wash over them.
Uriel felt… funny. Not bad funny or laughing funny, but... odd. They weren't sure what it was, but it felt like something in them had changed. It was almost like… a part of them that they hadn't even been aware was missing had come back. When it did, Uriel felt like… they were whole again. Eventually, the cheers ended as the crowd dispersed and Asgore guided them back into the castle. As Asgore led them back to his home, Uriel tried to think about what had changed and why they felt so different. Asgore went off to go attend to his garden so Uriel went back to their room. They sat on their bed, trying to figure out what they were feeling.
Maybe something had happened to their Soul? They decided it couldn't hurt to see what it might be. They projected it outside their body to look at it. A soft glow radiated from their chest as their Soul showed itself. They tried to think what might be wrong. Maybe their body was starting to reject it like Alphys wondered? Or something else, like it might have cracked? Or it was drained?
Their Soul appeared, and their eyes went wide when they saw it. It had changed color. But not any of the colors a human Soul normally was. As far as they knew, there were only seven Soul colors; red, orange, yellow, green, blue, cyan and purple.
Theirs was pink.
End of Chapter 8