Chapter 6: The King's Decision

Frisk giggled as Fuku skated on the lava with the young girl on her back. Grillby had joined them as Undyne, Papyrus, and Sans watched with smiles. "Never thought I'd see this," the fish woman said, watching as Grillby playfully caught Fuku, who squealed in surprise before laughing and Frisk was laughing happily.

"Yeah, the kids really hit it off," Sans said.

"And it looks like Grillby has a big soft spot for Fuku," Papyrus said.

"Not surprising," Undyne said. "He's always had a soft spot for kids."

"True," Sans said before playfully catching Fuku, Frisk, and Grillby in his telekinesis. The human child laughed while Fuku giggled and Grillby looked at his old friend and chuckled.

Papyrus smiled. "Here we are," he said. "King Asgore's castle."

As he led the way in, Frisk hid behind Fuku, who hid behind Grillby. The orange fire elemental noticed this and smiled. "It's alright," he soothed them.

"But...this is King Asgore," the green fire elemental said. "I...I've never met him before, let alone been in his presence."

Sans smiled and gently poked Fuku's side to make her giggle. "Don't let it get your goat," the short skeleton said teasingly. "He's not baaaad."

Frisk giggled at her dunkle's silly puns while Undyne snorted in an effort to not laugh. Grillby just chuckled and shook his head while Papyrus gave his brother a dirty look. They soon reached the throne rooms doors and Undyne knocked politely. "Come in," called a deep voice.

Frisk clung to Fuku, who picked her up and stayed hidden behind Grillby, peeking out cautiously as they entered the throne room, which they could both see had once been very grand, but time had taken its toll and the Castle seemed to be crumbling in some areas like the Ruins where Toriel lived.

A grand throne was at the end, but no one was sitting in it. "King Asgore?" Undyne called out curiously, stepping forward a bit and just as she passed the throne, two large hands grabbed her. "AAAAHHH!"

Everyone jumped in surprise at her startled cry and watched as she was pulled behind the throne. Barely a second later, the fish woman began laughing. "AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! STOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOP!" She laughed out and they could see her legs kicking as she tried to get free.

"Hmm? What was that, little Undyne?" Came a deep voice that the other three adult monsters recognized. Frisk and Fuku still stayed behind Grillby, though were trying not to laugh, which was hard as Undyne's laughter was contagious.

"Well, well, looks like the King decided to pull a prank on Undyne," Sans said, chuckling.

Papyrus was smiling. "I had no idea Undyne was so ticklish!" He said with a giggle.

"Had we known, I think we could have used it sooner on her to convince her to stop chasing Frisk," Grillby said with a chuckle.

Frisk giggled. "And you guys are really good at tickling," she admitted.

"No argument here," Fuku said in agreement before feeling fingers poking her side again and she giggled, wriggling away from Sans, who smirked and Papyrus beamed, catching the green fire elemental in a hug before the brothers began tickling her, making her giggle and squirm to get free while Frisk, who was now in Grillby's arms, watched with a giggle.

"Monsters really aren't scary," she said.

"Of course we're not," Grillby said soothingly. "Just as you're not close-minded as the humans of the past were."

The young girl snuggled into his hug, giggling still while the orange fire elemental chuckled as both Fuku and Undyne were still being tickled to pieces, though the skeleton brothers let the green fire elemental up after a bit. Undyne suddenly let out a squeal.

"EEEEEEEE! NOHOHOHOHOHOT THEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHERE!" She laughed out. "AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

"Cootchie, cootchie, coo!" The deep voice of her captor cooed. "Had I known I had such a ticklish captain of my guard, I would have done this sooner."

The fish woman let out another squeal before she began coughing and her struggling died down, indicating her captor had stopped tickling her. She took some deep breaths before feeling really thirsty, to which Frisk looked up at Grillby and lightly squirmed to be put down. He smiled and gently set her down and the two skeletons and fire elementals watched as the girl bravely moved closer to the throne to where Undyne was, a water bottle in her hand. She came around the throne and paused at seeing a large male goat monster with a crown and royal robes holding the fish woman gently as she tried to catch her breath. The king looked up, his eyes widening at seeing the child before he smiled warmly at her, one paw gesturing her to come closer.

"Come, young one," he said, his voice soothing. "Don't be afraid."

Frisk approached and gave Undyne the water bottle, who took it gratefully and drank the water. "Thanks, kid," she said, having caught her breath before giving the king a playful glare. "Should have known you would pull a prank, Asgore," she said without heat.

"It seems that Sans has rubbed off on me," the king said, playfully poking Undyne's side and making her squeak as a result. Frisk clapped her hands to her mouth to keep from laughing, but the fish woman noticed and playfully poked the young girl's stomach, making her giggle.

"You laughing at me, punk?" She asked.

Frisk shook her head. "No," she denied.

Undyne chuckled. "Just don't go telling the others about this," she said. "I do have a reputation after all."

"Nothing wrong with others knowing you can have a little fun too, Undyne," Sans said.

Asgore chuckled as he, Undyne, and Frisk stepped out from behind the throne. Fuku gasped softly as she saw the king was indeed quite large, but his face was kind. She felt a little overwhelmed again and felt Grillby gently squeeze her shoulder in reassurance. The King stood before them with a smile. "Greetings, my friends," he said before noticing Fuku. "Ah, we have two young ones among us today."

"Yes, Asgore," Grillby said with a half bow.

The king held up a hand. "No need for such formalities," he said with a smile before hugging the orange fire elemental, Undyne, and the two skeletons, who returned the friendly hugs. "Now then, what brings you all to my castle?"

"A couple of things," Papyrus said seriously before turning to Fuku and Frisk. The green fire elemental swallowed nervously while the human child took a deep breath and stepped forward.

"Asgore," she said. "I think I know of a way to break the barrier."

His eyes widened before he looked saddened. "I will not fight you, young one," he said. "You're just a child. I will not have your blood on my hands."

She shook her head. "Not with fighting," she said. "There's another way."

He looked at her and she stood taller, to which he smiled. "You're very determined, aren't you, young one?" He asked. "What is your name?"

"Frisk," she said.

"Her main trait is determination," Sans said. "And she feels monsters and humans can live in peace."

"That would be refreshing," the king admitted.

Frisk took a deep breath. "But before the barrier is broken, there's a promise I have to keep," she said. "And I need your help to do so, Asgore."

"Oh?" He asked. "What promise was that, young one?"

The others were curious, especially Fuku. The human child looked up at the king. "I made a promise that I would help Fuku get adopted," she said.

Grillby smiled at that and Fuku was a bit stunned, but then smiled. "So that's why you wanted me to meet him," she said before looking a bit bashful. The orange fire elemental chuckled.

"I would like to adopt you, Fuku, if you are alright with that," he said.

She smiled and nodded. In the short time she had met him and gotten to know him, she had noticed how protective he was of her and Frisk. "I...I think I'd like that," she admitted. "Can...Can I call you 'Dad'?"

He smiled and nodded, to which she hugged him and Asgore smiled, nodding. "Then, you have my permission to adopt her, Grillby," the king said. "Fuku Fire is now your daughter."

Frisk grinned at that, happy that one of her best friends now had a father. She then looked at Sans. "Dunkle Sans, can you do me a favor?" She asked.

"Name it, kiddo," he said.

"Can you go get Mom?"

Seconds later, Toriel was standing there and she was surprised before seeing Asgore and he smiled at her. "Toriel," he said. "Your little one has an idea of how to break the barrier."

"Not by your hand, I hope," she said, her motherly instincts coming out.

"No, Mom," Frisk said reassuringly. "But I do need Asgore's help."

The goat woman nodded, but looked concerned. "Frisk...you could get hurt," she said. "Are you sure?"

"Yes," the child said with determination.

Fuku smiled. "Frisk, you really are awesome," she said.

"I agree," Papyrus said.

Asgore nodded. "What do you have in mind, young one?" He asked Frisk.

"Can you get me to the barrier?" She asked.

It wasn't long before they were standing in front of the barrier and the young girl took a deep breath, placing her hand on the barrier, which started to open when she did so. She closed her eyes, placing both hands on the sides of the opening that had formed for her. "For everyone," she said as she stood there, the barrier starting to vibrate.

"Frisk?" Sans asked, starting to worry.

Grillby placed a hand on his friend's shoulder. "Remember how Frisk said someone had told her about love conquering hate?" He asked.

Undyne gasped in realization. "She's hoping the love she has for you all can break the barrier," she said.

"For all of us," Fuku said before smiling. "She really is an awesome cousin."

"And a wonderful niece," Papyrus said with a smile.

"And a caring daughter," Toriel said.

Those words helped Frisk more and it wasn't long before Flowey showed up and he didn't look happy. "What's your deal, kid?" He asked with a sneer.

She looked right at him. "Love conquers hate," she said before smiling at him. "Flowey, please free Chara and Asriel."

He looked taken aback by that request before snarling at her, but before his vines could come out, he began glowing red and white and shaking. "WHAT'S HAPPENING?!" He shrieked out as children's laughter filled the air and he screamed before he vanished and in his place stood two figures who were transparent for the moment, but slowly becoming more tangible.

Frisk grinned and the two royal children grinned back. "Do you really mean it, Frisk?" Chara asked softly, her red eyes hopeful.

"I mean it," she said.

Asriel smiled. "Come on, Chara. Let's help our sister," he said.

Toriel and Asgore were both in shock at seeing their children again, as were Undyne, Grillby, Sans, and Papyrus. Fuku however was grinning. "Frisk really is an angel," she said before looking at her new father. "Dad, I'm going to help them."

He nodded and as Fuku stepped up to them, the barrier began to shake even more. Another opening appeared for Chara and she put her hands against it just as Frisk was doing while Asriel and Fuku placed their own hands on the barrier, which now started to shake with the force of an earthquake.

Undyne heard a cracking sound and looked to see the barrier was starting to crack. "Look!" She said, pointing upward.

The others all gasped in shock. "It's going to break!" Papyrus said before looking at the kids. "It'll hit the children!"

Sans quickly got an idea. "Toriel, Asgore, Grillby, create fire shields!" He said.

The three quickly did so, the shields forming around the children, who noticed before feeling the barrier start to crack more. Sans was ready with his telekinesis and Papyrus was ready with his healing magic. Undyne took one of her spears and looked at the now vibrating barrier. Grillby looked at her and realized what she was thinking. "If you can hit the cracked areas, it might help the kids," he said.

She nodded. "Brace yourselves!" She said, taking aim and firing several spears at the cracked areas. The sound of shattering glass filled the air as the spears hit true and more holes began appearing in the barrier, which seemed to be trying to hold up, despite becoming weakened.

Frisk looked at Chara and held out her hand, to which the red-eyed girl took her hand with a nod. Fuku and Asriel did the same and the barrier gave a very sharp shudder now. "Sans, push it outward!" Undyne suggested, hoping if he did so, it would shatter the barrier once and for all.

Seeing what she had in mind, the short skeleton did so and the sound of shattering glass pierced the air as the barrier finally fell. The four kids fell to their knees, feeling a bit tired, but Fuku caught Frisk up in a hug. "You did it, Frisk," she said with a smile.

Chara and Asriel joined the hug. "You freed us all," Chara said.

"How did you know Flowey was holding us captive?" Asriel asked.

"He let it slip that he had two souls and it took me a bit to realize what he meant," Frisk said. "And someone else told me that you two were trapped."

"Who?" Fuku asked.

A hand touched her shoulder and she turned to see it was a skeleton hand with a hole in its palm. She looked up to see a skeleton who had scars on his face and he was smiling gently. Frisk felt Fuku go stiff and she looked up and gasped in surprise. Chara and Asriel gasped too, as did the skeleton brothers and goat monsters.

"Uncle Gaster!" Chara said, running up to him and glomping him. He caught her and held her in a hug, feeling the other three children hug him and he hugged them in return.

Gaster smiled and looked at the others. "A child's love," he said. "It's the purest thing on Earth and one of the strongest."

Undyne blinked. "That's what made the barrier break?" She asked.

The tall skeleton nodded before smiling at his brothers. "Hello, Sans. Hello, Papyrus," he said and then looked at the king and queen. "Greetings, Your Majesties."

Moments later, the monsters were gathered around Gaster and hugging him, glad he was alive. "We feared the worst when you vanished," Asgore said.

"I'm afraid the explosion trapped me between dimensions," Gaster explained. "I was able to see everything, but could not interact with anyone until Frisk found me one day behind the Waterfall. I was astounded that she could see me."

"I thought he was a ghost at first, but when I saw he was trapped, I tried to free him, but I couldn't," the brown-eyed child said.

"Looks like the only way to free him was to break the barrier," Chara said thoughtfully. "Was it...blocking your return too, Uncle Gaster?"

"It seems that way," he replied. "Just as it was preventing you two from getting free of Flowey."

Just then, sunlight filled the tunnel where the barrier had once stood and Frisk blinked before realizing what it was. "The sunrise!" She exclaimed.

Sure enough, the sun was rising and it painted the clouds with colors of orange, pink, and blue as it rose. They all gathered outside in awe before Gaster smiled.

"We are truly free," he said.

They were, thanks to Frisk.

This chapter really took off on me. :)

Next up is the epilogue. :)

Please leave a review, but no flames!

GoldGuardian2418