Sans nodded at everyone, and all were in unanimous agreement.
"okay, then. let's just be happy that things turned out this way. i think we all know what's next."
"Yes, we do."
A voice from behind. It was Toriel.
"oh, welcome back guys."
Sans said as Toriel emerged from the grove, walking hand in hand with Frisk. Asgore was close behind them, with a very happy Asriel riding piggyback, Frisk and Asriel smiling at one another.
There were still a few matters to address, and Toriel was the one to deliver this time.
"First thing's first. Alphys, you're FIRED!"
Everyone was expecting her to be completely heartbroken by this, but ironically...
"OH THANK YOU! I was about ready to resign!"
Nobody could believe how overjoyed she was at hear this news, and Undyne was surprisingly the only one who expressed any concern over this.
"But what are you gonna do now that you're unemployed, Alphys?"
"WHAT ELSE!? Stay home in my pajamas all day and watch anime like a complete and utter loser!"
Strangely, Undyne expressed enthusiasm for Alphys. She made it pretty clear why she liked Alphys so much though, way back when she asked Alphys on a date to the dump and Frisk had to play the matchmaker.
"Well, as long as you're passionate about it, that sounds cool! We can BOTH be total losers then!"
Papyrus was only concerned with his own agenda at this point.
"NYEH, WHAT ABOUT THE GREAT PAPYRUS!? ASGORE, CAN I JOIN THE ROYAL GUARD NOW!?"
Asgore thought about his answer for a moment, but what he said was a positive reflection of his character.
"Well, to be honest Papyrus, I don't think we need the Royal Guard anymore. I'm going to do everything in my power to strive for peaceful relationships with the humans now, and having an armed force like the Royal Guard may cause unneeded tension and hostility between the races. I think I'm going to officially disband the Royal Guards, as of now."
Toriel was very surprised to hear this, but pleased that her former spouse was at least trying to take a step in the right direction.
"Asgore..."
Papyrus was furious though.
"WHAT!? MY LIFELONG DREAM IS SHATTERED IN AN INSTANT AND YOU CALL THIS A HAPPY ENDING!? CLEARLY, THIS IS THE WORST ENDING EVER! FRISK, I'VE GOT A 'BONE' TO PICK WITH YOU!"
"heh, good one bro. finally starting to lighten up."
Undyne was there to save the moment with a new dream for Papyrus. Even though she had technically just been fired too, she didn't seem to mind either.
"What are you so worried about, Paps? Now that we're going to have so much free time, I'm going to double up on your cooking lessons. You'll be known as Master Chef Papyrus by the time I'm done with you! Your spaghetti masterpiece will be the greatest the world has ever tasted!"
Papyrus's attitude changed completely upon hearing that.
"I TAKE IT BACK! CLEARLY, THIS IS THE BEST ENDING EVER!"
Frisk and Asriel shivered at the thought of ever having to taste Papyrus cooking. Sans spoke up now to get a plan of action going. He was highly anxious to see the world above and it was easy to understand why.
"kay, so, are we all ready to go then?"
Toriel shook her head to his disappointment.
"It's the dead of night, it could be dangerous to venture to the surface now. I think we should wait until tomorrow before we depart."
"ah, okay. well, i guess i'll head home and meet you guys at the entrance tomorrow then. cya tomorrow."
He began to walk away...in the opposite direction, AWAY from the Ruins, and Frisk ran after him to stop him, grabbing his hand from behind.
"Wait!"
"hmm? what's up?"
"There was one other thing, if you wouldn't mind."
Frisk was whispering into Sans ear socket now, and clearly what she was telling, or rather, asking him made him a little uncomfortable, but he had already done it for her twice, so...
"hmm...well, why not?"
Sans beckoned everyone to follow him.
"come on, everyone. sleepover at the dreemurr residence. i know a 'shortcut.'"
Frisk took Toriels hand again, and everyone followed close behind him, the same direction he had been walking before.
Two minutes later
"welp, here we are."
They were in New Home now, standing in the living room of the old Dreemurr house. Undyne was beyond words at what she had just witnessed.
"How in the hell..."
Alphys was just as dumbfounded, and most curious, being a scientist.
"W-what just happened? This blatantly violates my understanding of science and the world around me."
Sans crossed his arms. That secret was staying with him.
"sorry, that's classified. sensitive, need to know information. don't ask, don't tell."
Papyrus shot this down immediately though.
"HE CHEATS! THAT'S ALL THERE IS TO IT!"
"gee, thanks for spoiling it bro. why not tell them ALL my secrets?"
"NYEHEHEHEHEHEH!"
Toriel didn't even care about what she had just witnessed. She was uneasy, and it was pretty clear why.
"I...haven't been in this house in so long."
There was a old clock on the wall above the staircase. Asgore took note of the time.
9:14 PM.
"We need to be up and out of here by 5:00 AM if we want to see the sunrise."
Sunrise...that thought excited Asriel, who was still on his fathers shoulders.
"It'll be my first sunrise. Wow, I can't wait to see it."
Sans nodded at Asriel.
"yeah, it'll be the first sunrise for all of us, actually."
It wasn't actually going to be the first time Asriel had seen the sun, since he had already been to the surface once before. But his situation at that time, carrying the corpse of his dear friend Chara, didn't allow him to appreciate simple things like the warmth of sunlight or the gentle kiss of the wind when he traversed the surface the first time. In truth, Asriel was terrified of returning to the surface a second time, the first trip having gone so bad, but this time he was going with his friends by his side, not alone, and not under such grim circumstances. And although he knew there were some bad people on the surface, a lot of "Floweys" as he once said, after having met Frisk, Asriel knew that there had to be some good, kind people on the surface too, and he was determined to give the humans a fair chance. This time he was going to do things the right way, for his sake and Charas as well.
Asgore spoke up for everyone now.
"Then it's settled. We will leave for the surface before first light. I have plenty of blankets and pillows in the bedroom, and you're all welcome to sleep in the living room."
He put his son down now.
"I'll start a fire to warm up the house."
He looked over at his former spouse.
"Toriel, you can take the main bedroom tonight. I...have things I need to do before the night is over. Why not let the kids sleep in Asriels old room?"
She nodded.
"Alright, I'll put them to bed."
Asriel was defiant about sleeping though.
"No way! We're not even tired, right Fr...?"
His voice fell flat as his eyes fell upon his new sibling. He giggled in response.
"D'aww, Frisk...look at her."
She was asleep on her feet. Her hand was still in Toriels gentle grasp, but it was all that kept her from falling to the floor.
"Oh, you poor child."
Toriel picked Frisk up now, gently cradling the sleeping child against her shoulder, careful not to wake her.
"can't blame her after what she's been through today."
Asriel tugged on his mothers arm.
"She can sleep in Charas old bed, Mom."
Papyrus didn't understand the concept of keeping his voice down.
"I'LL READ THEM A BEDTIME STORY IF YOU WANT, MISS TORIEL!"
Toriel put a finger to her lips directed at Papyrus.
"Shh. It's okay Papyrus, I'll just put her to bed. You too Asriel."
Asriel nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, I guess you're right."
He took his mothers hand and they walked off, down the hall, towards his old room. Asgore directed the rest of the guests to the living room.
"Well then, make yourselves at home, everyone."
...
The light still worked when flicked on.
The room had been untouched for many years. In fact, only once had this room been disturbed in so long, and recently, by Frisk herself. The unwrapped boxes that once contained Chara's heart locket and worn dagger still sat on the dresser, along with the dusty picture frame containing a bust photo of Chara. The picture caught Asriels attention immediately as he entered the room.
"Chara...Mom, can we take this with us? I wouldn't really miss much of my other stuff, but this is important to me."
Toriel nodded, a sleeping Frisk still cradled in her arms.
"Of course, Asriel. There's still time, take a look around and see if there's anything you'd like to take with you, but I want you to try and get some sleep too, okay?"
He nodded happily.
"Okay."
Toriel gently placed a sleeping Frisk in the closest bed, Chara's old bed, tucked her in and kissed her forehead.
"Sweet dreams, Frisk."
As she stood, Asriel divebombed into his mothers robe, wrapping his arms as far around her as he could.
"This...this is real. I'm really here, with you."
Toriel fell to her knees and hugged the young prince back, pulling him against the fabric of her robes.
"Asriel...to have you both...no, to have you all back, I couldn't be happier."
He started crying again, but Toriel wiped his tears away immediately.
"No more crying today, Asriel. Enough tears have been shed today. Only happy thoughts now."
"I am happy, though. More than you know."
Now she had to fight back a few tears. They pulled away from each other now, and she stood again.
"Try and get some sleep. We'll be leaving very early."
He nodded as she walked towards the door.
"Good night, children. If you need anything, I'll be just next door."
"Okay. Good night, Mom!"
She flicked the light off and quietly closed the door. There was still a little ambient light coming from underneath the door, allowing Asriel to see well enough. Boss Monsters had better eyesight than humans, and they were adjusted to the relatively weak lighting of the Underground anyway. It was a sense that developed and became stronger over years of isolation in the dark depths of the mountain.
He walked over to Charas bed and looked down at a sleeping Frisk, lost in a peaceful slumber. She hadn't experienced a good nights sleep since this whole undertaking had begun. The nights were always restless or plagued with bad dreams, weighed down at the time by the guilt of leaving her friend behind, of not being able to help him. No longer was that the case. Asriel was finally here with everyone. Frisk slept like a baby, smiling even as she slumbered, and Asriel couldn't help but smile as well, happy that he was here with her, to be able to share in the bright future that lie ahead with his new friend, his new sibling. Happy that his friend Chara had finally found peace after so long.
He leaned down and kissed her forehead, already embracing her as part of his family.
"Good night, Frisk."
Then he walked over to the other side of the room, to his own bed. He slid his legs underneath the covers and found a comfortable position, turning to the wall next to him, putting a hand to his heart as he closed his eyes.
"We're back, Chara. We're...we're home."
...
Asgore was waiting outside Asriels room as Toriel closed the door.
"How are they doing?"
"Frisk is sleeping peacefully, Asriel should be out any time as well. They've had a long day."
Asgore nodded, leaning against the wall.
"I...I still can't believe we have him back. We owe so much to Frisk."
Toriel nodded back, looking a little concerned.
"What is it, Toriel?"
Her head was hanging low now, twiddling her thumbs together.
"I just...I wonder what's gonna happen now. Now that we're all free from this place and ready to reunite with the world above, I'm afraid that Frisk might want to..."
Asgore tilted his head.
"She might want to what? What are you getting at?"
She held her hands up to her eyes now, trying to hold back the tears.
"Her real parents are out there somewhere, Asgore. She's probably going to want to go and find them, and that means she probably won't want to stay with us. She left me once already and I couldn't force her to stay, knowing that she would be unhappy. I...I love Frisk like my own daughter, and I want her to be happy, more than anything, but if that means letting her go again, I...I don't know if I can. I don't want to lose her again. Not again."
Asgore put a tender hand on his ex-wifes shoulder now.
"Toriel...I know I'm the last person you want any sort of reassurance from, but if she does leave, for whatever reason, I'm sure she won't forget about you, or any of us. I'm sure she'll come and visit. She cares about us, you especially, and she's proven it beyond all doubt today. She would never forget you."
She looked up at her former husband now, wiping away a few tears.
"I know, you're right. It's silly to worry about such a thing. Even if she does leave, I know I'll see her again. But...I'll still miss her if she does. And Asriel might have a harder time accepting it. I can see it in his eyes, the way those two have bonded. He really loves her. How is he going to take it if she does decide to leave tomorrow?"
Asgore looked away now. It was bothering him too.
"I don't know. But I don't think it's going to do us any good to worry about it now. They need us to be strong for them right now, so I think the best thing we can do is put it aside for tonight and worry about it tomorrow. We have them both back, Toriel. Alive, unharmed, and happy. That should be enough for us right now."
Toriel nodded, smiling at her old husband.
"Yeah, I guess you're right. Well, in that case, I think I'll bake them a pie for the morning. Do we have any..."
"Snails are in the fridge, butterscotch and cinnamon in the pantry. You know where everything else is."
She nodded.
"Thank you. I'll bake two then, a Snail Pie for him, and a butterscotch/cinnamon for her...you can have some too if you want. Hopefully she'll enjoy this one. She didn't like the Snail Pie I made for her when we first met, but she still ate it anyway, and even tried to lie about it just to please me...that girl is so sweet."
Asgore smiled.
"Yeah, she is. Well, I need to get some extra blankets and pillows from the bedroom for our guests. Excuse me."
He started walking past her, past the kids bedroom, towards the master bedroom at the end of the hall.
"Asgore?"
He turned around.
"Yes?"
"I know there has been a lot of friction between us after we lost him...them, the first time, and I can't condone what you've done, but I see now...you really did mean well, even if you did a poor job of trying to show it. And even though I couldn't stay with you after what you did...I never stopped loving you. And it's strange to say it, but, without your foolish actions or research and Alphys's experiments, we wouldn't have our son back right now. I...I have to be grateful for that. Thank you."
Asgore sighed heavily. His expression was laced with regret and shame.
"Please, don't thank me. What I did to those children and to everyone else was out of anger and despair. I've caused so much pain to so many people, all because I was too selfish to see beyond my own grief. I don't deserve any mercy or pity for my actions. That Frisk forgave me for my horrible crimes is already more than I deserve. All I know is that I've been given another chance, I've been given my son back and an opportunity to try and make things right, and I intend to make the most of it, starting with a peaceful truce with humanity."
She nodded at him.
"But, if you do feel that way...well, I have no right to ask it given our history, but, if some day you choose to forgive me, then maybe we could..."
Before he could finish that thought, Toriel walked up and kissed Asgore, right on the lips. Thankfully nobody was around to see it.
"If Frisk can forgive you, then so can I. But you have to find a way to forgive yourself. As for the other thing...we'll see. One day at a time. Whatever happens, I at least want you to be around to spend time with our son, even if you're going to be away a lot."
He nodded, visibly blushing. Toriel always gave the best hugs, but she also gave the best kisses as well, and Asgore knew it better than anybody. They were the reigning Nose Nuzzling champions, after all.
"I'll never be able to fully atone for what I've done, but I'll do everything in my power to at least try, for as long as I'm able to."
She reached a hand up to his face now, massaging it gently.
"And I'll visit as often as I can. I want to get to know Frisk better too...if she does decide to stay."
They smiled at each other for a brief moment.
"Well, I'd better start making those pies."
"Yes, I'll get those blankets now. After you, m'lady."
He gave a curt bow. She giggled before turning towards the living room and started walking towards the kitchen. He went the other way, to the master bedroom.
"Forgive myself...I'll try."