-Frisk-
Finally, the end had come. The kids walked towards the throne room, ready to meet the king... and slaughter him to save the world.
"Y'all ready?" Clover asked, eyeing the others.
"Yep!" Brayden grinned, flexing his arm. He was looking much better compared to the day before.
"No," Melody admitted. She sighed. "But we don't have a choice, do we?"
Cody smiled sadly. "No, I don't think we do..."
"But we're almost home..." Faye said quietly. She had a glint in her eyes. "That's good, if anything."
"YEAH!" Brayden grinned, lightly punching her shoulder. She blushed.
"We have to do what we have to do." Percy added.
Frisk nodded in agreement.
The kids finally walked through the door. They were greeted with a large garden full of golden flowers and a throne in the centre of the room. Asgore was standing in front of the kids, his back facing towards them, watering the flowers. He was humming a soft tune to himself.
"HEY YOU!" Brayden yelled at Asgore. "TURN AROUND AND FIGHT US!"
"Huh...?" Asgore asked, turning around. With horror, he realised who he was talking to. His hands trembled, and he almost dropped his watering can. He took a few steps back, a frown on his face. "Oh."
"That's right," Brayden flexed. "You're not ready for these guns!"
"Brayden, please..." Melody sighed.
Clover stepped forward, interrupting the both of them.
"You already know why we're here, Asgore," she said. Her tone darkened as she gripped her pistol. "Do ya really think Chara's gonna save you? Well, they ain't. And secondly..." She held up her pistol. "I don't have anythin' against you, pardner, but if you wanna save the world... you're gonna have to die."
Asgore frowned, his expression dark.
"Then I suppose we do not have a choice," he said. "This way."
He walked north. The kids followed him, grim expressions on their faces. They entered the room before the Barrier. It brought back nostalgia from the very first room they landed in.
The room from so long ago... Frisk almost felt themself choke up.
How long had it been...?
Their thoughts were interrupted when Clover brought them aside for a moment.
"Kid," her voice was serious and her grip was shaky. "I... I was gonna volunteer myself to be the one to take Asgore's soul and go to the surface, but... honestly, I think you'd do a better job. You are the group leader, after all, aren't ya? And besides... it just feels right seeing you go back up there."
Frisk shrugged, giving a brief nod. Clover grinned at them.
"So you'll do it?" she asked.
Frisk nodded, confirming their answer. Yet on the inside, they felt guilty again. They were straight up lying about all of this. No one was going to the surface ever again.
Clover patted their shoulder.
"Thanks, kiddo," she said. "You're the best." She put her arm around their shoulder. "Now we've got a world to save."
"I did not want it to come to this," Asgore sighed, standing before the entrance to the barrier. "... take as long as you need. If you all are not ready, I understand. I am not ready either." He walked through the entrance to the barrier.
"I don't think any of us were ready to fall Underground and go on a big adventure," Faye said. "But... we survived. If we survived all that, then... I think we can survive this too."
"Yeah!" Brayden agreed, giving his best friend a noogie. "THAT'S MORE LIKE IT!"
"It... just doesn't feel like the end already..." Cody sighed, tears in his eyes. "I... I don't want to have to say goodbye so soon..."
"It's just one more boss fight," Percy said. He faintly smiled. "Then we finally get to go home."
"And we're shatterin' the barrier, so we'll see all the monsters again. Heck, they'll probably be going home with us." Clover added.
"But... just in case, I'm gonna leave this behind so everyone remembers me." Faye said.
She removed her ribbon and put it on the ground, in the center of the room. The sun gave it a faint glimmer.
"That's a good idea," Cody smiled. He got out his apron, which was still mucky. "I'll leave this here too."
He placed it next to Faye's ribbon.
"I WANT IN!" Brayden declared.
He took off his bandanna and put it with the other objects. Clover joined in as well by placing her hat on the pile. Percy tore out a page of his notebook, which was full of notes about the Underground, and added it to the pile. Melody left a single ballet shoe behind, Frisk left their stick.
"Now we're ready." Clover said.
And so, the kids entered the room with the Barrier...
Everyone took a moment to observe the Barrier. It was white, and flashed grey every few seconds. It made a sound that echoed all around the kids.
"It's... so pretty..." Faye admired.
Asgore, once again with his back turned, was standing in front of the kids.
"This is the Barrier," he bowed his head. "This is what keeps us all trapped underground." He paused. "If by chance... any or all of you have any unfinished business... please do what you must️."
The kids glanced at each other. They knew it was time. No going back.
"We're ready." Clover confirmed.
"... I see." Asgore said grimly. "This is it, then." He turned around. "Ready?"
Seven empty jars appeared beside Asgore. Percy looked tense.
"They're for our souls..." he said.
A strange light filled the room. Twilight was shining through the Barrier.
"It seems the journey is finally over..." Faye said quietly.
The group was filled with...
Patience, Bravery, Integrity, Perseverance, Kindness, Justice...
DETERMINATION
"Humans..." Asgore said, smiling at the children. "It was nice to meet you." He raised his glowing, red trident and used it to destroy the MERCY option. "Goodbye."
The kids stared at each other. There really was no going back now. Frisk gazed at their hands, and their heart dropped. They knew their plan wouldn't work in this timeline. Their friends were standing in their way. Frisk couldn't bare to remove them, despite the fact that their friends were actually the reason their plan wouldn't work in the first place.
Frisk sighed. They'd been playing along for the whole journey, even agreeing to go up to the surface. But it wasn't going to happen.
This timeline had failed them.
... but somehow, Frisk couldn't force themself to reset...
Flames appeared all around the monster king. The kids stared at each other.
"Let's go." Clover declared.
She fired bullets at Asgore, decreasing his health. Flames, similar to Toriel's, waved around the kids. Cody batted some of them away with his pan.
"DIE MALE TORIEL!" Brayden yelled, running towards Asgore.
"T... Toriel..." Asgore stiffened up at that name. Brayden punched him over, knocking him out of his shock.
"You know Toriel?" Faye asked Asgore, with sympathy.
Asgore nodded slowly, rubbing his head.
"FAYE, FOCUS!" Brayden stepped in front of Faye.
Faye ignored him and continued gazing at Asgore. "Toriel was your wife... wasn't she?"
"Y... yes, she was..." Asgore looked down with a sad smile.
"She's distracting him," Percy realised.
Clover nodded. She fired at Asgore, while Frisk threw a few red spears. Melody kicked him in the side. Asgore then focused back on the fight. He raised his trident and brought it down, hitting all the children at once. They all fell over, aside from Frisk. They held up their shield, protecting themself.
Asgore was at three quarters of his original health.
"Toriel was very nice," Faye said, her voice full of sadness. She held out her piece of butterscotch pie. She ate it slowly, healing herself. "This... makes me think of her..."
Asgore's breathing grew shaky.
"Now!" Percy hissed.
Clover fired at Asgore again, her brother holding up his pan and protecting her from the flames.
"She was just like my mom..." Faye sighed. She wiped her eyes. With a quiet, croaky voice, she said, "But I'm never gonna get to see Mom again."
She held up her knife as Asgore summoned more flames. She dodged the flames, gazing at Asgore's hidden face.
"And you'll never get to see Toriel again," Faye said. "I know the feeling, Asgore." Her smile was sad. "But it's okay. It'll all be over soon."
She held up her knife. Asgore held up his trident.
"YOU GO FAYE!" Brayden yelled. "HIT HIM!"
"Sometimes the greatest weapon is the element of surprise," Faye said. She glanced at her knife. "Am... am I selfish for what's about to happen? I don't think so... it's the end for me. I... just wanna see my mom and dad again..." She wiped her eyes. "Even if that means I have to..." She trailed off, holding her head down.
"HIT HIM, FAYE!" Brayden yelled.
"My friends are the best friends in the world... and I love them," Faye sniffled. "But I can't be happy here. Not if I have to keep waiting forever..." She looked down. "Who knows... maybe Chara has the right idea." She threw her knife on the ground and held out her arms, a smile on her face. She stood before Asgore. "I give up."
"H... human..." Asgore said, looking down at her. His face softened. "Well, if this is what you want..." He raised his trident above the girl.
"NO DON'T YOU DARE," Brayden growled, trembling. "DON'T HURT HER!"
"Don't do it." Clover agreed, gun in hand.
"No no no no no no..." Percy began sweatbeading.
"Asgore, please don't!" Cody begged, tears streaming down his cheeks.
"Oh Faye..." Melody bowed her head.
Frisk stood there in silence, not saying anything. They clenched their fist.
Faye sighed as Asgore's eyes glowed. She looked... almost happy.
"FAYE!" Brayden bellowed, panting heavily. His eyes were watering. "DON'T DO THIS TO ME!"
Melody gently squeezed Brayden's shoulder. "It's too late, Br-"
"SHUT UP!" Brayden yelled, shoving Melody off. He raced towards Faye, who was waiting patiently.
"This is only my fault," Faye said, tears dripping down her cheeks. She closed her eyes. "I'm so sorry, Brayden... and thank you. Thank you for being the greatest friend I could've asked for." She mumbled, "I love you."
Asgore brought the trident down. And Faye was gone. The last thing Brayden saw was her smile... and her cyan soul, floating in the air.
Brayden stopped completely, his body tensing up. Tears came out of eyes, and he didn't bother to stop them. He breathed heavily, sobbing. Cody was crying into his sister's arms. Melody was wiping away her own tears, and Percy couldn't move. Clover was giving Asgore a harsh glare, still hugging her brother. Frisk hadn't changed. They stood adamant, their eyes hidden.
Yet deep down, they missed Faye too.
"Heh heh..." Brayden wiped his tears on the back of his hand. His expression was stoic and his voice was calm. "You know what? Real men can cry, just as long as they get back up." He clenched his fist and stared at Asgore. "You... You killed my best friend."
He trembled and broke his façade.
"YOU KILLED MY BEST FRIEND!" He screamed at the top of his lungs. "I WILL TEAR YOU APART AND I WILL EAT YOUR DUST!"
Flames appeared at the corners of his eyes as they glowed orange. His fists glowed orange as well as he approached Asgore.
"MY NAME IS BRAYDEN VALIANCE AND I AM BRAVERY!" he continued. "AND THIS IS A FIGHT I AM GOING TO WIN!"
He raced forward and punched Asgore in the chest. The monster was flung across the floor. He used his trident to help himself get back up. His HP had been knocked down to half.
"B-Brayden... what's happening to him?" Melody asked, pulling her hands through her hair.
Percy gulped. "W... well, it's either something... or someone gave him powers through his determination, or... he made them himself."
Frisk didn't say anything.
"Maybe ya should reset, pardner," Clover said, staring at them. "It'd bring Faye back."
Frisk didn't respond. They felt empty.
Asgore summoned flames and threw them at Brayden.
"HA!" Brayden grinned. "I CAN FIGHT FIRE WITH FIRE TOO!"
He grabbed a bit of the fire that was being thrown at him and placed it over his fist. He then raced forward and delivered another fiery punch. Asgore flinched, falling to his knees.
"THAT'S RIGHT!" Brayden yelled. "WHO'S THE BIGGER MAN NOW?!"
He grinned, staring down at Asgore.
"BRAYDEN, LOOK OUT!" Melody shrieked.
But it was too late. Asgore's trident went through Brayden's back. The child froze, falling over. The colour vanished from his eyes. He smiled. Tears slipped down his cheeks.
"Ha... ha... a t-true man d-dies with honour and g-glory..." he sighed. He laughed. "See you soon, Faye..."
"Brayden!" Melody screamed with horror.
Brayden collapsed, still smiling. His soul floated into the air, pulsing with orange. Asgore was twitching, concealing his own tears.
"Oh you've done it now." Clover growled.
"YOU SURE DARN HAVE!" Melody roared. "SURE BRAYDEN ANNOYED ME TO NO ENDS, BUT HE WAS MY FRIEND, DARNIT!" She clenched her fists. "FORGET MANNERS! YOU DESERVE TO DIE, YOU MONSTER!"
"Melody... no... please... don't..." Percy managed to stutter. "I don't want you to die too..."
Melody charged at the monster. She was much more agile at dodging his blows. Clover and Frisk assisted by offering attacks on the side. Cody held up his pan for defence. Percy fell to his knees and had a panic attack.
"Integrity is about doing the right thing..." Melody said. "And my family's all about that. But to be honest, I don't even care if what I'm doing is morally right. I just want to see you DEAD."
She kicked Asgore in the side, hard. He grabbed the side, which was cracking. Melody panted heavily.
"You know what? Killing you is the right thing to do," she spat. "It's the only way to save the world."
"Melody, p-please come back..." Percy begged. "I... I don't want to see this anymore..."
"No, no, I'm... getting carried away..." Melody grabbed her head, trembling. "I'm not a murderer. I shouldn't stoop to your level."
Asgore stood up. He was still living, though he was shaking.
"I just wish we never came to this stupid place," Melody growled. "I wish we hadn't followed that child." She glanced at Frisk. She glowered. "You know what? I wish we hadn't gone out at all."
Percy frowned, looking down. He was almost crying himself.
Melody glared at Frisk. "And I wish SOMEONE WOULD JUST RESET!"
Frisk didn't respond.
"MELODY!" Percy suddenly yelled.
A wave of fire from Asgore's paw fell upon Melody, burning her to a crisp. She joined the dead humans. Her blue soul floated into the air.
"No... NOT MELODY TOO!" Cody sobbed.
Percy trembled, his breathing heavy. He continued repeating a phrase like a broken record. "Don't get mad, Percy... you'll die too, Percy isn't mad, Percy isn't mad, Percy isn't mad, Percy isn't mad, Percy is okay, Percy isn't mad..."
"Well, Clover is very mad," Clover growled. "Step back, Cody. I don't want you getting hurt. And you."
She walked over to Frisk. She stared at them harshly, straight in the eye. "Reset. NOW. Don't make me force ya. You do not want that."
Frisk just stared back blankly.
"Don't reset, actually," Percy said, standing up. He was keeping his voice calm and collected. "I want to see if it is even possible to kill Asgore at all. No point in resetting to do something if it simply can't be done."
"... fair enough," Clover said. "But that doesn't mean we should let our friends stay dead. We'll have to reset at some point."
"Not yet." Percy responded. He stared at Asgore. "I can control my emotions, I won't let myself get angry so I become foolish enough to let myself get killed. It won't happen. It won't." His grip on his notebook was shaky. "Not to me."
His breathing was heavy. "I will control myself enough to slaughter the enemy, but not let the enemy slaughter me." He looked at Clover. "Finish him."
Clover pulled out her gun in response and began firing at Asgore, who was summoning large waves of fire. Percy held onto his arms. Cody and Frisk were by his sides, the former holding out his pan and the latter with their shield.
"I'm okay," Percy said, frowning. "You don't have to protect me in such a manner."
Frisk summoned a few spears and threw them at Asgore, assisting Clover. Cody glanced at Percy.
"Just go, Cody." Percy said, looking down. "I need to think."
Percy kept staring at his notebook, not focusing on anything else. Cody gave him a sad stare, before moving backwards, still eyeing him.
"What's he doin' now?" Clover asked. She and the others gazed at Percy, who was still focusing on his notebook.
"I think he's trying to stay calm..." Cody said. He sounded nervous.
A fireball exploded nearby Percy. The boy dropped his notebook and glanced at Asgore. He looked away again, taking a deep breath.
"Percy's fine, Percy's fine..." he repeated to himself. He stared at the fire and started panicking. He covered his face with his sleeve. Asgore approached him.
"Get away from him!" Clover yelled, holding out her gun. She realised there was no ammo left. She looked furious. "DAMMIT!"
Suddenly, Percy turned around and stared at Asgore. He had turned into his ban kai form, but he kept switching back and forth from it and his normal self.
"I just... I just want her back," he said. He raised his voice and yelled, "THIS IS YOUR FAULT!"
He was lost.
Asgore looked away as he stabbed the frantic Percy, killing him too. His purple soul floated upwards.
Clover stormed up to Frisk and grabbed the front of their shirt, bringing them close to her face.
"RESET ALREADY!" she yelled. "DON'T YOU CARE THAT PEOPLE ARE DYING? I'VE LOST FOUR OF MY FRIENDS!"
Frisk didn't respond. Cody started sobbing immensely. He straightened his back and held out his pan. He glared at Asgore.
"I... I'VE GIVEN YOU TOO MANY CHANCES!" Cody yelled. "BUT I CAN'T LET YOU KILL ANYMORE OF MY FRIENDS!"
He raised his pan and whammed it across Asgore's middle, knocking the monster down. His HP was now at a quarter.
"BRO, GET BACK HERE!" Clover yelled, briefly letting go of Frisk.
They leapt away using their sword. But Clover was more concerned about protecting her brother. She raced over to him, shoving him out of the way of some flames.
"You promised me you wouldn't die." she said seriously, holding onto his arm. Cody pushed her away.
"I don't keep my promises anyway," he replied drily, holding his head down.
Clover looked both heartbroken and enraged.
Cody raced back over to Asgore, once again whamming him across the chest. Asgore brought his trident towards Cody; he defended himself with his pan, which unfortunately got destroyed.
Cody gazed at the destroyed pan, sighing heavily. Tears were streaming down his cheeks.
"WHY DO YOU HAVE TO BE SO HORRIBLE?!" he yelled. "WHY DID YOU HAVE TO KILL THEM?!"
He sobbed into his arm again. Flames appeared all around him. He stepped back, staring at his clothes. They were a mess. Clover appeared and dragged him back, standing in front of him protectively. Frisk held up their red shield.
Cody looked at the two in front of him. He started laughing, but it was not a happy laugh.
"I... I can't live like this," he sighed. "Not with nearly all my friends dead. I've let them all down... I-I couldn't protect any of them."
He stood up and moved around his sister and the eighth human.
"Cody, get back behind me." Clover growled. Cody ignored her, heading towards Asgore. He held out his arms, smiling sadly.
"CODY!" Clover repeated.
She stood up, while Frisk stayed on the ground. She raced over to her brother, but it was too late. He was dead too. His green soul glowed.
Clover froze, falling to her knees. Her heart was racing. Asgore was holding up his trident, staring down at her. He looked very weak. Clover leaped out of the way, clenching her fists.
"Whatever weapon you can give me, kid," Clover stared at Frisk. "I'll have it."
Frisk handed her their sword. Clover glanced at it, before heading over to Asgore.
"Everyone's dead, aside from me and them," she said, glancing at the sword. Her expression darkened. "I promise you one thing, Asgore. I will bring JUSTICE to my friends."
She ran towards Asgore. She clashed the sword with his trident, glaring at him straight in the eyes.
"You can really call yourself a hero?" Clover spat. "When all ya commit is crimes?"
Asgore pushed her back. She raised the sword, cutting through all the flames. She sliced Asgore's cheek. He flinched, cupping it.
"Chara isn't a hero, either," Clover said. She lowered her head. "Now I see why I killed a lot of monsters in another timeline. They were all just as bad."
Clover was hit on the shoulder by some fire. She ignored the searing pain and continued slashing at the monster king.
"Everyone was determined to kill us," she growled, her voice full of emotion. "Because of you. What you told them. This is all YOUR fault. But it's all lies. All Chara's plans for good are lies."
Asgore narrowly missed hitting Clover's chest. She stepped back, the sword glowing in her grasp.
"So that's why we're here now," she said. "Why we're trying to kill you in the first place."
She raced forward with the sword again, but suddenly it shattered in her grasp. The eighth human frowned, looking at their soul. It was shivering.
"KID!" Clover yelled, staring back at them.
They hid their face. Suddenly, Clover was stabbed through the chest by Asgore's trident. She fell over, blood everywhere. Her yellow soul joined the others. Frisk stared at her. Their heart felt heavy.
The timeline where the human souls were alive, and they'd all died. How ironic.
Frisk glanced at their hands. It was time to end this.
They summoned their own weapons and ran towards Asgore. They barraged him with spears and Gaster Blasters from every side. Asgore barely had the strength to fight back. Soon, he couldn't even stand up. Frisk stood in front of him, holding out their sword. They barely made a sound as they glared at him with glowing, red eyes.
"Ah..." Asgore sighed, hand on his heart. "So that is how it is." He paused. "I remember the day after my son died. The entire Underground was devoid of hope. The future had once again been taken from us by the humans. Until... the Fallen Angel appeared. They promised us justice and freedom. So I agreed to help them. I declared that any human that fell down here must die. I would use their souls to raise the Fallen Angel, and they would destroy the Barrier... and humanity. The Underground was full of hope. My wife, however, couldn't bare to sacrifice a group of innocent humans to raise something that would destroy their entire race. She became disgusted with me for promoting such a thing. She left this place, never to be seen again. Truthfully...
"I do not want power. 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 son. I cannot stand to murder a... another child. Young one..." He stared at Frisk. "The last remaining human... please. This war has gone on too long. It is not worth raising the Angel anymore when it will only bring more death and destruction. You have the power... take my soul, and leave this cursed place. Bring peace and love instead of war. Do it for your friends."
Frisk stared at the two options. They sighed. They couldn't go to the surface. They looked around them, and gazed at the fallen humans. They looked at their own soul, which was cracking. Frisk, despite everything, still cared deeply about the other humans. They hated watching them die. They hated that feeling of emptiness that was surrounding them, and they felt so guilty for not resetting...
But they were better at caring about themself.
They pressed the cracked MERCY option.
"After everything I have done to hurt you and your friends..." Asgore sighed. "You would rather stay down here and suffer... than live happily on the surface?" He smiled sadly. "Human... I promise you... for as long as you remain here... my wife and I will take care of you as best we can. We can sit in the living room, telling stories... eating butterscotch pie... we could be like... like a family..."
Frisk didn't react as a circle of pellets surrounded Asgore. They closed in, destroying his body. Frisk didn't even watch his soul get abolished. They'd seen it so many times.
And Frisk didn't need a family anyway. They had lost track of the last time they'd had a 'family'. They worked better alone.
"You IDIOT," Flowey chuckled, appearing in front of Frisk. "You and all your pathetic friends haven't learned a thing." He reached out his vines, grabbing the six souls. Frisk's anger made them feel a rush of determination, but Flowey's vine tripped them over, stopping them from running. "You really thought this would work, eh, kid? Well, guess what. You FAILED. And all your friends are dead, and you didn't do a thing about it. Hee hee..." he smiled darkly, absorbing the souls. "After all, in this world...
"IT'S KILL OR BE KILLED!"