"Hey, Frisk, wait up!"
Asriel shouted as he was trying to catch up with Frisk and M.K (Monster Kids new name). Both Asriel and Frisk were in sports uniform, jerseys and matching shorts, having just gotten out of Dodgeball and Soccer practice. They were heading to their usual spot in the school playground.
"There you are, Azzy! We were looking for you. Cmon."
It had been 15 months to the day since the Underground had gone free and Frisk had officially become a member of the Dreemurr family. True to her word, she never took off the heart locket that Asriel gave her, solidifying the loving bond that they shared as best friends and siblings, and the only detail of the past that Asriel held on to was that of his late sister, Chara, whom he always kept in his thoughts. Their previous hardships and sins were merely a distant memory now. You know how it is, lifes new challenges tend to push out the old.
Frisk still largely had amnesia from her fall in the Underground, and at this point she was resigned to the fact that she would probably never regain her memory. But she was okay with that now because she had a new life, one that she cherished dearly, and she shared a lot of new, happy memories with her adoptive family and especially her brother, each one bringing tears to her eyes. Since she could not even remember her date of birth, it was decided that her new birthday would be the day that she became a member of the family, the same day that Asriel was reborn and reunited with his loved ones. She was 9 years old now, while Asriel was closer to 11.
It was late September now and Asriel had shed quite a bit because of the sweltering heat. His fur was much finer and thinner now to combat the really hot days, his horns were becoming more developed, and he was still growing at an alarming rate. Toriel said that this was not unusual for Boss Monsters so they weren't worried, but by this point he towered over Frisk by at least 9 or 10 inches. Maybe Frisk was just short by nature.
It was their second year of school together, only a few weeks into the semester. Toriels school had become prestigeous to monsters all around the region, seeing it as both a safe haven from human bigotry and as a place for monsters to learn and grow with their peers. Although the school was open to both humans and monsters alike, the school was still attended almost exclusively by monsters because most humans simply didn't want their children mingling with kids from the other race. Of the several hundred students in the school, there were maybe eight humans, Frisk included, and they all attended by choice. Humans, monsters, it made no difference to them. People were people to them. It was only skin, fur, scale and bone deep.
Asriel and Frisk still shared almost the exact same classes (Asriel had to play a bit of catch-up because of the time he had missed out on during...well, you know), but their different extracurricular activities took place at the same time, which meant that they had to meet up afterwords if they wanted to have lunch together. M.K hung out with them all the time now, carrying his lunchbox on his tail. Having no arms, he had to be creative to do the things others could do with ease, and his tail allowed him to adapt and function in just that manner.
They were heading to their usual spot, a small table bench just past the sandbox, one which had the welcoming shade of an Oak looming over it. Still afraid of Papyrus's cooking, they generally packed their own lunch for school, an assortment of fruits, veggies, crackers, cheese, iced tea (Asgores recipe was a household favorite), and a slice of pie, Snail for Asriel and Butterscotch/Cinnamon for Frisk. Frisk tried to give Snail Pie another chance to grow on her but it never did, so Toriel made two separate pies every couple of days for both of them, but she made sure they had a well balanced diet to go along with it. Can't expect to survive on nothing but pie, after all. Asriel still teased her about her distaste for snails to this day, among other things. He was still as big of a dork as he ever was, but Frisk wouldn't have him any other way.
"It's honestly amazing how little you've grown after all this time, Frisk."
Asriel inquired as they sat at their bench, Frisk and Asriel staring across from each other, M.K sitting next to Frisk. These kinds of statements might annoy Frisk if they came from anybody else, but she was perfectly fine hearing them from Asriel. The two were completely open with each other.
"Hey, it gives me an advantage in Dodgeball at least. I'm harder to hit than most of the other kids. Besides, I can always use you for a boost if I really need it."
Asriel giggled. That was certainly true. Frisk was light enough that Asriel could pick her up and carry her anywhere with ease, even let her ride piggyback if she wanted. Asriel was exceptionally strong, even for a Boss Monster, and part of that was because of Chara's SOUL that still resided within Asriel, helping him to maintain his form and live out a normal life (although there was a fair possibility that he didn't even need a human SOUL to maintain his form now, it's what Chara wanted, to be forever united with her dear brother).
The reverse held true as well, given that monsters were so light to begin with, a side effect from being comprised almost entirely of magic. Frisk could just as easily carry Asriel, and even Toriel and Asgore, anywhere they wanted, although it would look a bit silly given their difference in size.
"Speaking of which, you've gotten really good at Dodgeball, Frisk. I wish I could play some kind of sport, but not having arms makes that tough."
Frisk smiled at M.K for his compliment, and Asriel responded with an idea of his own.
"Why not play Soccer with me? Unless you're a goalie, you don't need arms to play Soccer. You're really good with your legs, I think you'd do really well."
M.K was visibly excited by Asriels suggestion.
"Dude, I might just do that! Sounds like fun!"
The trio giggled as they dug into their lunch. It was hard for any of them to recall a more perfect day. Not a cloud in the sky, warm but not boiling hot, there was a soft breeze in the air, the school grounds looked absolutely gorgeous because of Asgores recent gardening, and best of all, it was a Friday, which meant the weekend was on the horizon and there was no homework to worry about. They loved school, but they also looked forward to the end of each day and to getting home, especially when a weekend of freedom was staring them in the face.
Asgore was home a lot more often now as well. He had finally settled down from all the traveling and did most of his diplomatic work at home, giving him the opportunity to spend a lot more time with the kids. Unfortunately, the past still haunted him, and similar to what was once the case with Asriel, there were a lot of sleepless nights for Asgore. Some nights he would just lie awake in bed and stare out the window until the sun crested the horizon, and other nights he would sit alone in the living room, crying, wishing he could take back every horrible thing he ever did. Although the damage he had caused had been somewhat undone thanks to his childrens efforts, it wasn't easy to put behind him, even after all this time. Each day was a bitter struggle with his inner demons, and even with the support of his former wife and his children, it took its toll on him.
But Asgore had now found a way to make peace with himself and his sins, by pouring his every effort to achieving a peaceful coexistence with the humans, and while it was long and difficult journey, slowly but surely the relationship between humans and monsters was improving because of his hard work. He had a reason to move forward now, he had his family back and something to devote himself to, knowing that he was doing right by everyone now, and for the right reasons.
And even though he had once tried to kill Frisk, the one person who had shown him mercy, forgave him, helped to set his people free and reunited him with his beloved son Asriel, she was his daughter now, and they grew much closer since they left the Underground. Asgore embraced her as one of his own now, and he loved her just as much as he loved Asriel and the late Chara. He would lay down his life for her in a second, for ANY of his children if it ever came to that, and he cherished every moment that he got to spend with them, never for a second taking it for granted.
As for Toriel, she never forgot what he did, but she knew that she had to share in that burden as well, walking out on him at a critical moment, when he needed her more than ever. For that reason, and because Frisk had found it within her heart to forgive Asgore, Toriel was able to do so as well. Though things were still touch and go between Asgore and Toriel, their relationship was improving. They had finally reconciled after so long, and they were even dating again, having begun to rekindle the romance that the two once had (something that Asriel was completely ecstatic about), so Asgore was FINALLY beginning to heal from the scars of his sins and the damage his grief had left him with. He could not escape from his past, but he was a better person for it now, and seeing him was just one more thing for Asriel and Frisk to look forward to at the end of the day.
"I wonder what's going on with Alphys and Undyne these days. We haven't heard from them since Dad came home."
Asriel inquired as he chewed his food, not much for manners. Alphys and Undyne had finally settled down as well, now that Asgore did most of his peace-promoting duties from home. They bought a piece of beachfront property about 60 miles from Ebott Village. Undyne wanted to be close to the water, for biologically obvious reasons, and she was giving swimming lessons to Alphys as part of her confidence-boosting regimen, something that the pudgy dinosaur could have used anyway. Her borderline obesity was a big concern of Undynes, and so was Sans, even though Sans himself couldn't give two bones about it.
"They called recently, now that you mention it. Mom said they want us to come down soon for a day on the beach. That's actually something we haven't done yet, Azzy. I think you'd really like it."
He nodded, trying to chew his food quickly so he could respond.
"Yeah, that'd be awesome! I'd need a pair of sandals, though."
Frisk cocked her head in confusion.
"Sandals? What for? Didn't you say a while back that Boss Monsters have really tough feet and have no need for shoes?"
In response to that, Asriel set one of his furry paws on the bench next to Frisk, wiggling the three clawed toes attached to it.
"They're tough on hard terrain, sure, but we're still sensitive to temperature, heat especially. That's why we shed in the summer, so we can stay cooler during the hot days, and then our fur grows thick again during the colder seasons to help stay warm. I would never try to walk through Hotland like this, and I'd never survive a day walking on the scorching sand either."
Frisk giggled to herself. That must have been part of the reason for the elevators.
"Haha, me either. At least you don't have to worry about getting sunburned though. We should ask Mom and Dad about this, it sounds like it'd be really fun! You too M.K!"
He looked a little hesitant to say yes, but...
"Well, I can't swim, but I guess as long as I don't go into the water, sure! SAND CASTLES DUDE!"
Asriel immediately remembered another detail Toriel shared with him earlier.
"Oh, by the way! We're going to the New Grillby's tonight. It's their grand opening and they're having a Nose Nuzzling contest to celebrate the occasion. Mom and Dad haven't been to one of those in over 30 years, and they've been rehearsing for the occasion."
Frisk pumped her arms in excitement.
"That sounds like fun! We should enter the contest too, Azzy! I'll bet we could take 2nd place, maybe even 1st!"
Asriel was skeptical of Frisks confidence.
"You know Mom and Dad are the reigning champions from 98, right? What makes you think we can beat them?"
Frisk reassured him with his own words.
"We learned from the best. And if we lose, so what? It'll still be lots of fun!"
Though still a little skeptical, he nodded excitedly, grabbing Frisks hand and leaning forward to nuzzle her nose.
"Okay! Let's do it, Frisk!"
Frisk leaned forward in response to return the nuzzle. They were certainly not out of practice, nose nuzzling being one of the ways that the Dreemurr family shared affection with one another. M.K cheered them on in advance.
"You two are gonna wipe the floor with everyone there, I just know it!"
M.K was in awe at the love that Asriel and Frisk shared with one another. It was amazing to him, and almost everyone else, that there existed no romantic feelings between them. Their connection with one another was, in reality, much deeper than that, identical to the one shared between Asriel and Chara. They were like two halves of a whole, incomplete without one another. They annoyed each other at times, they fought occasionally as brothers and sisters do, but it was never enough to push them apart. They knew each other inside and out, their drives, their desires, almost every personal detail there was to know between them. They drew on each others strengths, compensated for each others weaknesses, and they helped each other to survive the worst of nightmares together and came out that much stronger for it in the end. Their bond was unbreakable, a love that was stronger than death itself.
"Would you two losers just kiss already?"
A voice from behind. M.K already knew who it was and groaned in disgust.
"Yo, here comes trouble."
Enter Brick, the resident school terror. Every school had a bully or two and Toriels school was no exception. His nickname came from the fact that his head was strangely rectangular and wide, like a brick, and because of his rust-colored skin to match. Not the strangest monster that Frisk had seen, the MTT receptionist with the hand for a head coming to mind, but to be fair nothing really surprised Frisk anymore. Other than that, he was roughly Asriels height and quite overweight. He was wearing a black t-shirt, dark blue jeans and faded white sneakers, covered in scuff marks.
M.K was the first one to respond, turning to face him. Asriel and Frisk paid him no mind, which only irked him further. These two have had run-ins in the past, with Brick having a particular animosity towards Asriel for being the supposed Prince of monsterkind, even though the Dreemurrs we're no longer considered a "Royal" family. There was no need for a monster monarchy anymore, and the only one who still had any political duties to this day was Asgore, being an ambassador for his people. Despite Bricks inferrences, Asriel was NOT a Prince anymore, and never saw himself as one in the first place.
Bricks grudge against Asriel also led to outright jealous against Frisk, being that she was a friend to almost everybody in the school, adored by her brother Asriel and so many others. He had a strong hatred for humans in general, but Frisk really ticked him off in particular. Frisk still tried to befriend him on occasion, despite Asriel and M.K's insistance that he wasn't worth it. That's just the kind of person she was. She thought better of it this time though and just kept her head down.
"Hey, I'm talking to you chumps!"
With a long drawn-out sigh, Asriel finally passed a glance at Brick, standing right over Frisk and M.K now. This wasn't going to end well.
"What do you want, Brick?"
He responded with genuine glee, as if he really did enjoy doing what he did.
"I saw three scrubs having a nice day, so I felt like coming over to ruin it."
Surprisingly, it was M.K who took a stand, of all people.
"We're not in the mood, Brick. Buzz off."
Asriel and Frisk shot him a mixed reaction. Part of their expressions were saying "Are you NUTS!?", and part of it was "Wow, way to go, M.K!". M.K felt proud of himself, if only for a moment, taking a stand for his friends, but at the same time he could feel his scaly cheeks burning, knowing that he had just made a terminal mistake.
And they knew it too.
"Ohohoho, the armless twerp thinks he's a tough guy now. Okay chump, let's see how tough you really are."
Suddenly M.K wasn't feeling so courageous, almost wishing he could take back what he said. But there was no backing out of it now. He stood and turned to face the oncoming bruising he was to receive...
...only Frisk put a hand on his shoulder, invoking a look of surprise from M.K, and set him down again. Again, that's just the kind of person Frisk was, always taking the rap for everybody else. Sacrifice was not a word that Frisk took lightly, having done so much for monsterkind in the past (and having died on more than one occasion to SAVE someone she cared about), and she didn't want anyone else to have to put themselves in that position, even for something as simple as taking a punch for their friends.
"Frisk...don't."
Asriel protested, knowing what was immediately to follow, but she stood anyway, turning to face their tormenter. And as he suspected...
"Brick, there's no need for this. There's no reason why we can't be friends..."
M.K and Asriel sighed to one another, not necessarily angry or upset at Frisk for trying, but simply because they knew it was in vain. They admired her spirit, though.
But Brick gave a loud, sinister laugh in response, and with lightning speed, grabbed Frisk by the collar of her shirt and threw her into the ground, face first.
HP reduced to 18/20
Ouch...
"FRISK!"
Asriel leapt off the bench and scrabbled to Frisks side, grabbing hold of her arms.
"I'm...I'm okay."
She said weakly as she clumsily pushed herself off the ground, back to her feet. Asriel helped to pull her up and keep balance.
"I'LL GO GET HELP!"
M.K shouted as he ran off, with Brick laughing in response.
"Hahaha, run little coward, run!"
Finally Frisk was back on her feet, still a little wobbly. Her face and her clothes were covered in dirt now, and there was a small scratch on her forehead, but otherwise she seemed unharmed.
"Thanks, Azzy. I'm alright."
But Asriel wasn't so quick to let it go. He turned towards Brick now, furious that this punk had dared to attack one of his friends.
"What's your problem, Brick!? What did Frisk do to you!? Apologize, now!"
That only infuriated him further.
"And what are you gonna do if I don't?"
Asriel said nothing. They stared at each other for one long, tense moment, like some cheesy high-noon showdown in a spaghetti western. And then...
"Just looking at you pisses me off, Dreemurr. The supposed prince of monsters, destined to lead us in the future, yet he spends all his time with a human. It's pathetic."
Now Frisk was the one getting worked up. Insulting her was one thing and she could deal with it, but this guy was picking a fight with her brother for absolutely no reason. Nevertheless, she knew better and kept her emotions in check, her passive nature still dominant.
"Cmon, there's no reason for this. Azzy didn't do anything to you."
Brick suddenly looked over at Frisk and pointed, perhaps even more furious that his little tirade wasn't getting a rise out of her.
"You shut up! It's pathetic, spending all his time with you when you're not even really his sister. You're ADOPTED. His parents only took you in because they felt sorry for you. Nobody gives a damn about you!"
That wasn't even remotely close to accurate, or fair, but his words still stung hard, and Frisk suddenly looked away, brow-beaten, not sure how to respond to a statement like that.
But she didn't have to. Someone else did it for her.
"HEY! That's my sister you're talking about! How DARE you say something like that to her! I spend all my time with her because she's my best friend! It's none of your damn business who I spend my time with anyway!"
Azzy...
"And she has done more for our people then you'll ever achieve in your life, Brick. All you do is go around picking on people, brandishing your hatred of humans, and for what? Your behavior is the reason humans once hated us to begin with, the reason some of them STILL hate us. You've learned nothing, and it's pathetic. YOU'RE pathetic."
Brick just stood there, his face contorting as his rage grew. His hands were clutched tightly into meaty fists again, and he was staring down at the ground beneath him. Asriel and Frisk could both feel the anger and hatred radiating off of him like an oppressive aura, violating everything around him. It was as if gravity itself felt heavier in his presence. It had already spoiled enough of their day, and they weren't going to indulge him one more second of their time.
"Frisk, forget this loser. Don't listen to anything he says. Let's go."
She nodded hesitantly, feeling better about herself. They grabbed their lunchboxes off the bench and began walking away, back to class.
However...
"DON'T YOU TURN YOUR BACK ON ME, DREEMURR!"
More of an involuntary response than anything, Frisk turned her head as she heard heavy footsteps fast approaching from behind.
Oh no!
"AZZY, LOOK OUT!"
He turned too late to see Brick sprinting at him, his shoulder lowered as if he was going to bust down a door. In desperation, Frisk shoved Asriel out of the way just as Brick charged into her with ramming speed, sending her sprawling fifteen feet through the air. She landed on the hard dirt path connected to the school entrance, on the same shoulder that Brick had slammed into. Her lunchbox landed further away, the hard impact cracking it and forcing it open, throwing its contents in all directions.
HP reduced to 08/20
"FRISKKKKK!"
Immediately Asriel sprinted over to Frisk and knelt down, putting one hand behind her head for support, the other around her waist as he tried to help her up. A couple other students saw what was happening and ran to Frisks side as well.
"Hey, are you alright!?"
"Somebody get the nurse!"
Asriel pulled her head up onto his lap for support.
"A...zzy, I..."
She was knocked senseless and almost completely unable to move. The pain was soundless but so loud, even though Frisk couldn't say much to make it known. It was a miracle she was even still conscious. Asriel just stared down at the barely lucid Frisk wrapped in his arms, not sure what to do.
"This is my fault, Frisk! I'm so sorry!"
He blamed himself, being the one who antagonized Brick and provoked him to attack. But Frisk was having none of it, even now.
"N...no, it's n...not..."
Brick was still standing behind him, dumbfounded, only now realizing what he had just done.
"H-hey, I didn't mean to..."
But it was too late, and Asriel had had enough at this point. Gently letting Frisk down to lay against the dirt again, his furry hands were clutched tight as he rose to his feet.
He turned to face his..their tormenter. His eyes, his shining green pupils...they changed. In an instant, they clouded over until they were nothing but black. Empty voids of scorn and hatred, just like...
Oh no...
Frisk knew what was about to happen and struggled to get herself back up, but her body wasn't cooperating with her at this moment. She couldn't even gather enough strength to push herself up into a sitting position.
Asriel took a step forward now. Towards Brick.
"I've had enough of you, Brick."
Brick took a step back in panic, a new look taking form on his face. A look of fear.
"Hey, let's talk this out. W-We can come to an..."
"SHUT UP!"
He scowled in his rage.
"Do you realize what you've DONE!? Frisk never did anything to you, and now you've gone and hurt her. You've hurt someone very, very dear to me...and now I'm gonna hurt YOU!"
Asriels posture changed, his arms raised, digging his toes into the dirt for traction. His nostrils flared and his muzzle was scrunched and wrinkled in anger and rage. He held his hands out in front of him, palms facing upward, and a second later a pair of prismatic stars manifested in each one.
"I-I'm sorry, Asriel! I didn't mean to..."
"I SAID SHUT UP!"
Cmon, Frisk...get UP!
It took everything she had in her, the pain flaring anew as she forced herself into motion, but Frisk finally pushed herself up into a sitting position and began crawling towards Asriel, the rocky dirt scraping the sensitive flesh of her palms and her knees. Only a few feet away, but in her condition it felt like an endless stretch.
Inch by inch.
"P-Please, Asriel! I'm sorry! I won't do it again!"
But Bricks pleas for MERCY fell on deaf ears.
"You're damn right you won't do it again, not after I'm done with you! I hope you like pain, because I've got an entire SPECTRUM worth of it, right here!"
The spectral energy in his hands intensified, and Asriel raised his arms, ready to attack.
"STAR BLA-"
"STOP!"
He froze in stance, breaking eye contact with Brick. He was staring forward, at nothing.
"WHA-?"
A voice called out to him, distant and yet so close.
"Please, Azzy!"
And then a few seconds later...
"STOP!"
Asriel suddenly looked down as he felt a human hand grab his ankle.
It was Frisk.
"Please, Azzy! Don't do this! Don't hurt him! Please...I know you're better than this!"
He looked down at her with surprise. After everything Brick had done to her, she STILL felt this way?
"Frisk!?"
And she did. There had been enough violence already, and Frisks pacifist nature shined bright in this moment.
"Please..."
Asriel looked down at the starry comets in his hand, aware of what he was about to do, and suddenly started shaking, horrified. Terrified of what he had almost done in his anger.
"W-w...what am I doing!?"
With a deep breath, Asriel calmed himself and came back to his senses, the shimmering stars in his hands dissipating. The black voids in his eyes vanished and were once again replaced with the shining green pupils that he inherited from his father. And not even a second later he was on his knees, holding Frisks hands in his own.
"I'm...I'm so sorry Frisk!"
And Frisk instantly cupped one hand over his, giving it a gentle pat in response.
"Oh, Azzy..."
And flashed a smile at him, one of genuine warmth and kindness, completely undaunted by her pain. Brick, being the opportunistic coward that he was, saw his chance and took it, running off.
"I'm outta here!"
But he didn't get far, only a few feet, before he was forcibly levitated off the ground, surrounded by a bright blue aura.
"going somewhere, pal?"
Asriel turned his head and, sure enough, there was Professor Sans, standing right behind him.
How does he do that?
"Sans! Frisk is..."
"i know, monster kid told me. i came as soon as i heard. you okay, kiddo?"
Frisk nodded in response, not at all sure that she really was okay, but not wanting to cause anyone else more worry. And a few seconds later, Monster Kid emerged from the nearby classroom, kneeling over Frisk.
"Frisk, you're hurt!"
She looked over at Brick, still being held off the ground by magic.
"asriel, can you help frisk to the infirmary?"
Without hesitation, Asriel put his arms around Frisk, one underneath her legs, the other behind her back, and a second later she was lifted off the ground. She giggled in surprise.
"Heh, I feel like I just got married."
Both Asriel and Sans laughed in response.
"Hah! You wish!"
"he's gotta give you a ring first."
With Frisk in his arms, Asriel started walking towards the nurses station.
"Cmon, sis. Let's get you some help."
Sans stood watching until they disappeared from sight, then turned his attention to a still immobilized Brick.
"as for you, pal...i hope you're ready to have a 'bad time.' i think this calls for a good old parent-teacher conference. let's go."
Sans and M.K began walking back towards the classroom, with Brick magically in tow.
"Ow, OW! PLEASE, NOT THE EARS!"
...
"Ouch, he nailed you all right. Hold on..."
With a bright flash of cooling blue light, the pink rabbit-like nurse gently put her furry hands on Frisks sore shoulder, and a few seconds later the pain and the cuts and bruising had mostly subsided. Asriel was sitting next to her on the nearby chair, holding her hand for support.
HP restored to 15/20
"There. Feeling better, honey?"
Moving her shoulder around in a circular motion, she nodded in reply. It still hurt, but she could move at least.
"A little bit. Thank you."
The door suddenly flung open and a hysterical Toriel charged into the room.
"FRISK! ASRIEL!"
She ran over and embraced her kids as tight as she could, forgetting Frisks injury in her panic.
Ouch...
"Careful Mom, her shoulder..."
Instantly she relaxed her grip a bit, kissing them both on the forehead.
"I'm sorry! I'm SO sorry this happened! Are you okay, Frisk!?"
The nurse interjected on their behalf.
"It's a pretty nasty bruise, but I think she'll be alright."
Truthfully, it could have been a lot worse, but the nurse didn't want to go that far. Toriel looked around at everybody now, desperate for some sort of answer.
"Why, though? What happened?"
Before anybody could respond, another voice made itself known.
"i got all the details from m.k and the others."
Frisk shouted excitedly as she noticed the pudgy skeleton now standing in the doorway.
"Sans!"
He winked at her in response.
"hey kiddo, feeling any better?"
She nodded, doing her best to ignore the pain. It wasn't as bad as it was before, but it was still there.
"well, apparently brick was aiming for asriel, and frisk shoved him out of the way, taking the hit for him."
Asriel nodded, feeling a bit disappointed in himself.
"It should be me getting treated for an injury right now. I'm sorry Frisk, I let you down again..."
But she shook her head in detestment.
"That's not true, Azzy! You brought me here and got me help. I wouldn't have made it to the infirmary on my own..."
Sans added to that sentiment.
"it shouldn't have happened to begin with. i'm sorry i didn't get there sooner, kiddo. it's really my fault."
Toriel interrupted them all at that moment to clear the air.
"It's nobodies fault. Exactly as you said, it should have never happened to begin with. But what about Brick?"
Sans grinned in genuine amusement.
"oh, don't worry toriel. i gave that kid enough detention to round out the entire school year. he'll be writing on the chalkboard for hours after class every day, 'i'll never hurt another student again.' i called his parents too, they're completely on board for it. apparently he has disciplinary problems at home too."
He looked over at Frisk now with a follow-up to his previous statement.
"they also said they are very sorry for what happened to both of you, frisk, asriel. they said they'll buy you new a lunchbox to replace the one he broke."
Frisk nodded at everyone in response and stood up now, still a little wobbly from the ordeal, but Asriel was still holding her hand for support.
"Thank you, everyone. I think I'm okay now."
The nurse was overly cautious though.
"I think you should take the rest of the day off. You're in no condition to be walking around right now. Toriel, you should take her home."
Toriel was in complete agreement, much to Frisks dismay.
"Yes, I agree. I'm sorry Frisk, I know you don't like being pulled out early, but I think it would be for the best."
Frisk sighed in disappointment. She loved school and didn't like missing out, even when it was beyond her control. But they were right. She could barely even stand, let alone walk around.
"...well, if you say so."
"it's okay, kiddo. i'll make sure asriel brings you all the homework due this monday."
Asriel suddenly looked at Sans with surprise.
"WHAT!?"
Homework on a weekend. Disgusting.
"hahahaha, just kidding. there's no homework today."
He relaxed a bit. Sans certainly knew how to pull a timely prank.
"PHEW."
The nurse spoke up now with instructions for Frisk.
"It'll take at least a few hours for the spell to fully mend your injury. Try not to move around too much for the remainder of the day. When you get home, put some ice on that shoulder and get some rest. Doctors orders, okay?"
"Okay..."
"Toriel, please stay for a few moments while I write up some instructions for the rest of the day."
"Alright, thank you."
The recess bell rang, and Sans held the door open for Asriel now.
"cmon, sport. walk with me to class."
He stood now and started walking, stopping halfway through the door, and turn backed to Frisk to wave goodbye.
"I'll see you at home, sis. Hope you feel better soon!"
Frisk giggled and waved back.
"Thanks, bro, I'll cya later."
A few seconds later Asriel was out the door, and Sans was following close behind until they were outside again, walking side by side on the way back to class.
"by the way, asriel..."
Asriel glanced a look over at Sans mid-stride.
"Yeah?"
"the other kids...they told me everything. what you were about to do."
He suddenly froze where he stood, shivering, staring down at his paws.
"you were gonna beat the hell out of him, weren't you?"
He said nothing and made no move.
"i'm not upset, asriel. i just want to know the truth."
He sighed with heavy regret and answered, bluntly, but honestly.
"I'm sorry, Sans. Brick...he hurt Frisk, and not just physically. He said things, horrible things, and I could tell it was really bothering her. I just..."
"i know. like i said, i'm not upset, don't worry about it."
He flashed a look of surprise at Sans now. Even if Sans wasn't upset at him, he was upset with himself, nearly letting his anger get the better of him. Shades of Flowey were still there, even if they were buried deep down, and it worried Asriel immensely.
"But I almost really hurt him. I was 'this' close to attacking him, Sans. That scares me..."
Sans reassured him though.
"but you didn't hurt him. you stopped yourself, you walked away, because you knew what you were doing was wrong. you chose to help frisk instead. that takes courage kid, to walk away from something like that. i'm proud of ya."
"Sans..."
After a moment of reflection they started walking again, Asriel with his hands in his pockets like Sans, feeling better about himself.
"I just hope she's okay. I really let her down today."
Again, Sans reassured him.
"she's a tough one, that kid. trust me, i'm sure she's fine. and you didn't let her down, asriel. you stood up for her and helped her when she needed you. don't kick yourself so much, sport. you did really good today, and knowing her, i'm sure she's proud of you too."
Asriel felt better at that, hearing praise coming from someone like Sans. And immediately Asriel was struck with inspiration.
"Hey! Do you think maybe we can get the rest of the class to write her some 'get well soon' cards or something? That might make her feel better."
Sans was completely on board for that idea.
"that sounds really cool. i could probably even get papyrus to sign it. i'll suggest it when we get back. don't expect one from brick though, he'll be writing on the chalkboard in detention until his arms fall off."
They were both laughing at that thought as they walked into class to finish out the day.
...
Three hours later
...
"Mom, Dad, I'm home!"
Asriel walked through the front door, closing it behind him.
"Welcome home, son!"
Asgore announced from the den, sitting in the recliner with a book. Toriel was on the couch further away, hard at work with her knitting. They both had a look of concern on their face.
"Where's Frisk? Is she alright?"
Toriel gently put a finger to her lips.
"She's up in her room, asleep. She didn't say much when I brought her home, but I can tell something is really bothering her. Do you know anything about it?"
He nodded, knowing exactly what the problem was.
"Yeah...Brick said some really nasty things to her before he attacked us, about her being adopted."
Toriel put her hands over her snout in disgust.
"WHAT!? Oh, dear..."
Asgore gently set his book and his glasses on the coffee table and looked over at Toriel.
"Golly, I can't believe this happened. I've got a mind to go to that kids house and..."
Not that anybody could blame him for feeling that way, that "kid" having physically and verbally assaulted one of his children, but Toriel put her hands on her hips, chiding him before he could finish that thought.
"Asgore!"
He visibly flinched when he heard his name, sighing to himself. Asriel didn't say a word.
"I know, I know. I just...poor Frisk. Maybe we should go up and talk to her, Tori?"
Asriel shook his head in response to that.
"Wait, let me talk to her first. Please."
Asgore and Toriel looked at each other for a moment, and then nodded at Asriel in silent agreement.
"Alright, son. Don't wake her if she's sleeping though."
With a quick turn, Asriel made his way up the stairs, carefully taking them step by step so as not to make too much noise. The door to their room was already open a crack, and Asriel could hear the soft ambient volume of the television and Mettaton's show through the open space. He gently pushed the door open enough to fit his head through and peeked inside.
Frisk was awake, laying on her right shoulder, the one that wasn't injured.
"Howdy, Frisk...how are you doing?"
She quietly sat up from her bed and, remote in hand, muted the volume on the TV. She was in a clean change of clothes, her usual blue long-sleeve, matching shorts and white socks, and her bobbed auburn hair was still damp from an earlier bath. Physically she looked better than before, the nurses magic having mended most of her injury now, and there was an ice pack on the nightstand, the condensation collecting into a small pool atop the plate it was set on.
She gave Asriel a warm smile, happy to see him home.
"Hey, Azzy! I'm better now. It doesn't hurt anymore, just a little stiff."
He walked in and closed the door behind him, setting his backpack next to Frisks bedside.
"That's good to hear! I got something for ya!"
He sat on the edge of her bed and quietly went into his backpack. A few seconds later he came out with a thick sheet of poster paper, rolled up into a tube.
"Here, open it up."
With careful hands, Frisk unrolled the delicate parchment, revealing it's contents,. It contained a carefully drawn picture of Frisk holding a pair of beakers, with goggles on her head.
Get Well Soon, Frisk!
Sansational Science!
It was signed by Sans and every single student in class, Asriel included. Even Papyrus took time out of his day to sign it, having heard about the whole ordeal from Sans. Master Chef Papyrus, rather.
"I drew that, and I got everybody in class to sign it. Brick isn't on the list, but I didn't even ask him. I didn't want him anywhere near this thing, and he was stuck in Detention anyway."
With tears in her eyes, Frisk gently hugged the card to her chest, then gave her brother a gentle kiss on his cheek, a bit of her flirty side showing. He was blushing immediately.
"Thanks, Azzy! This was really sweet of you."
He smiled in turn, but looked away just as fast, remembering how and why things ended up like this in the first place.
"I...I'm sorry, Frisk. What happened to you...it's all my fault. Because I opened my big mouth and said what I said, he..."
But she shook her head in response. This was one of Asriels more annoying habits, tending to blame himself when things go wrong around him, even when it's never really his fault, or at least beyond his control. It bothered Frisk that he punished himself so hard sometimes when he didn't need to, but given everything that he had been through in the past, it wasn't hard to understand why he treated himself this way. Some habits are very hard to unlearn.
"Stop kicking yourself so much Azzy! It's not your fault at all! Brick was going to attack us no matter what you said, I felt it. It was turning our backs on him that set him off. There's no reasoning with someone like him, and I was a fool to try..."
He wasn't letting himself off so easily.
"I almost really hurt him though..."
She sympathized with him in this moment.
"If I were in your position I honestly might have done the same thing. I was so angry when he started picking a fight with you, and even I wanted to hurt him..."
He looked at her again, curious about something else.
"But you stopped me anyway...you STOPPED me from hurting him."
That statement was much easier for Frisk to answer.
"I didn't want you to do something you would regret, Azzy..."
He still couldn't shake his fears.
"It scares me, Frisk. What if I really end up doing that to someone else?"
She reassured him.
"You won't."
He still wasn't so sure.
"B-but it almost happened today..."
And she reaffirmed him with the truth.
"I saw you, Azzy. You hesitated. You could have unleashed that attack at any second and I would have been powerless to stop you. But you didn't. You stopped YOURSELF, because you knew what you were doing was wrong, and it's not easy to walk away from something like that. Trust me, I know, I've felt that way once before, as much as I hate admitting that. I'm not upset at you, Azzy, I'm...I'm proud of you."
He smiled upon hearing that. It was awfully similar to something Sans had said earlier, but hearing Frisk say something like that, after everything that had happened, he took it as a positive reflection of his character. Sans was right. He was always right, something that annoyed both of them usually. Not this time though.
"And if it does ever happen again, I'll be there to SAVE you, so relax."
He couldn't help but laugh at that statement. Saving people DID seem to be a special talent of Frisks, alongside flirting and her insatiable craving for Dreemurr hugs. But his concern for her rose in this moment.
"Are you really okay, Frisk?"
She nodded, not at all sure that she really was.
"Yeah, I'm okay Azzy, really. I...well, I WAS kind of upset earlier. It's just...some of the things Brick said really got to me."
Asriel cocked his head in response.
"You mean about you being adopted?"
Frisk sighed, staring down at her lap, her hands cupped together.
"Yeah, it really hurt, and I've been dwelling on it since I came home. I didn't really know what to say to Mom or Dad, so I just kept it to myself, and it's been nagging at me since. And I know you once said it didn't make any difference whether I was adopted or not, but..."
He smiled again upon hearing that.
"I meant it, Frisk."
Now Asriel looked up towards the ceiling, deep in thought as he drifted through his memories.
"But, you know, you're not the only one. Chara felt that way too, when we first took her in all those years ago. It was awkward for her those first few months. She felt like she was a stranger around us."
Frisk flashed a look of surprise now.
"She did?"
He nodded.
"Yeah, and it took a while for her to open up to us, to get to the point where she truly felt like she was a part of the family."
And Frisk felt the need to satisfy her curiosity.
"What changed? When did she finally feel that way?"
A smile appeared on Asriels face as he reflected on a very dear memory.
"When I gave her the locket. It was...the happiest I had ever seen her."
Frisk clutched at her own locket now, popping it open to gaze at the photo and the engraving within.
Best Friends Forever: A + C + F
Asriel had given it to her 15 months ago, officially christening her as both his best friend and his sibling, like he did with Chara all those years ago, and it was very precious to her.
"R-really?"
He nodded again.
"Yeah, and I'm going to tell you exactly what I told her at the time."
He suddenly grabbed her hands, pulling them towards him.
"It doesn't matter whether you're human or monster, adopted or not. That doesn't make any difference whatsoever. What matters is the time we've spent together. What we've shared together."
Frisk started blushing and her eyes began to water.
"So don't let that jerk, or anybody else, try to convince you otherwise Frisk. You ARE a part of this family, and that will never change, no matter what."
"Azzy..."
Now Frisk was crying, not out of sadness or pain, but out of joy. Asriel certainly knew how to cheer someone up, and suddenly Frisk wondered why she was ever upset to begin with. She had to knob her eyes to wipe away the cascade of oncoming tears, but Asriel could tell he had just made her day a little brighter.
"T-thanks, Azzy. I'm...I'm really lucky. I have the best brother in the world."
Immediately Asriel stood up and pulled Frisk off the bed into an enormous hug, careful not to agitate the sensitive region of her injury. She found her arms pinned to her sides as her feet left the ground, her legs dangling as he gently swung her back and forth. Asriel was well aware of his own strength and was very careful not to hurt her, but his claws still resulted in some collateral damage in the form of torn clothing and even scratched wooden floors. In retrospect, carpet would have been a smarter choice for the house, and even Toriel and Asgore were guilty of this to some degree. Their claws were tiny and mostly harmless to skin and flesh, but a large portion of Frisks wardrobe would beg to differ, especially her trademark long-sleeve.
Frisk herself didn't care one bit though.
"Oh no! The Legendary Hugmaster has caught Frisk in the grip of his bone-crushing embrace! There's no escape once he gets you! Looks like it's CURTAINS for our heroine!"
Asriel was ridiculously affectionate with his family, just like his parents. He loved nose nuzzling, he loved holding hands, and he loved hugs, and he really had no equal in any department, having learned from the best. Honestly this wasn't unusual for Monsters, given that love was a necessary component for a Monster to even exist, but the Dreemurrs took physical affection to a whole new level. Asriel was an absolute sweetheart, and so were Toriel and Asgore. It was one of the things Chara loved about Asriel so much, how affectionate and kind he was, even if she couldn't understand it at the time, and Frisk was no different. She was just giggling away as he swung her around and around, no longer a care in the world.
"Dork alert! Dork alert! All hands, go to DorkCon 1!"
A knock on the door. Asriel finally set Frisk down, smiling at one another, and they both called out to whoever was on the other side.
"Come in!"
The door gently swung open. Toriel and Asgore were standing in the hallway, clearly worried about Frisk over what transpired earlier.
"Is everything okay, children?"
Frisk responded happily.
"Yeah, feeling much better Mom, thanks to Sir Dorkus here."
Asriel giggled and both Toriel and Asgore smiled, feeling very relieved at Frisks sudden increase in spirits.
"Wonderful, Frisk. Are you both still up for going to Grillby's tonight?"
They nodded at each other excitedly.
"Of course! We're gonna win tonights Nose Nuzzling competition, after all!"
Toriel flashed a look of surprise. Asgore was amused by his sons statement and threw down the gauntlet in response.
"You think so, Asriel? You think you can beat your old Mom and Dad?"
He suddenly grabbed Frisks hand and nuzzled her cheek in response.
"With Frisk as my partner, we can't lose!"
She giggled in reply, his wet nose and the fur on his long snout gently tickling her cheek. Toriel was still a little concerned though.
"Are you sure you're up for it, Frisk? We don't want you to push yourself if you're still hurting from earlier."
She shook her head, the pain having subsided completely at this point.
"I'm fine now, Mom! Feel like a million gold! Doesn't even hurt anymore."
Toriel and Asgore nodded at one another, then smiled back at their children.
"Oh, I'm so relieved! Okay then, we're leaving in ten minutes. Get ready to go, children."
They nodded in response. Toriel reached for the doorknob and had nearly shut the door completely, when...
"Wait!"
The door swung open again, Toriels hand still on the knob.
"What is it, Frisk?"
Frisk stood there for a few seconds, her eyes beginning to well up with tears again, causing everyone to worry.
"Frisk, are you alright?"
She hesitated for a second, before nodding excitedly.
"I'm fine, really. I just..."
Without warning, she darted forward towards Toriel, colliding with her hard enough to knock her back a full step. Toriel just stood there, unsure of what to do, hesitantly putting a hand on the back of Frisks head to console her until she finally spoke up again.
"T-THANK YOU FOR BEING MY MOM AND DAD!"
Immediately everyone was in tears.
"Oh, Frisk..."
In all of three seconds, Toriel dropped to her knees and hugged Frisk with enough force to squeeze the stuffing out of a teddy bear, her thick robes nearly swallowing the young child whole. She assaulted Frisk with an endless barrage of nuzzles, invoking a combination of giggles and sobs in response. They stayed like this for a minute or two before Toriel spoke up again, comforting Frisk with a wonderful truth.
"We know Brick said some terrible things to you, Frisk, but none of them are true, and don't you ever let someone like him convince you otherwise. You're our daughter, and we love you very much."
Even more sobs and giggles. Asgore was on his knees now as well, one arm around Toriel, the other around Frisk, resting his head on Frisks other shoulder. Frisk turned her gaze towards Asriel now, who was still standing in the middle of their room, his arms crossed, smiling as the whole scene played out. She motioned for him to join in the happy moment.
"Get over here you big dork!"
Without any hesitation he ran forward as well. Toriel had just enough time to open up an arm to make room for him. He threw one arm around his mother, the other around Frisk, and Toriel pulled them close enough to nuzzle both of them simultaneously. The whole family stayed huddled like this for at least five minutes, not a care in the world. Nothing else mattered.
They finally pulled away from each other after several minutes, Toriel looking back and forth between Asriel and Frisk with a hand on each of their cheeks, giving them both a loving kiss on their foreheads.
"Let's do something fun this weekend. Whatever the two of you want. Just name it."
Frisk and Asriel nodded at each other, knowing exactly what they wanted to do. They had talked about it earlier in the day, before the incident with Brick, and they spoke in unison.
"BEACH!"
Toriel and Asgore looked at each other briefly in surprise. It was 60 miles away to the beach where Alphys and Undyne lived and they didn't have a car, so making the journey on foot wouldn't work, but Toriel had already been planning a surprise trip with Sans and Papyrus to visit Alphys and Undyne. Papyrus was going to be the designated driver, seeing as he was the only one among them who owned a car (and a nice one at that, a red convertible) and actually had a Driver's License, much to Sans chagrin, believing his brother to be incapable of passing the exam.
They turned back to their children in agreement.
"Done! I'll call Sans and Papyrus and set it up first thing in the morning."
Asriel and Frisk high-fived each other in their joy (high-four in Asriels case).
"Oh, could we invite M.K to the beach too?"
"Of course! He's always welcome to join us! We can stop by his house on the way to Grillby's and invite him to dinner too!"
Asriel and Frisk were visibly excited from hearing that. Toriel and Asgore stood now, not wanting to waste any more time.
"Alright, get ready to go, children. We're leaving in five minutes."
They both nodded with glee as Toriel closed their door. A few seconds later they were scrambling in front of the dresser for a change of clothes, and then Asriel was behind the dorm divider as he quickly got out of Soccer uniform and threw on his chosen outfit, while Frisk turned away, throwing on her shoes in the process.
A minute later he emerged from behind the divider. They looked at each other for a second before bursting out with laughter. Asriel was going in his original outfit as well, his yellow striped long-sleeve and black pants.
"Haha, great minds think alike, Azzy."
They shared a few laughs together before Frisk made for the door. But before she could get her hand on the knob...
"Hey, Frisk..."
Asriel called out as she turned to face him. There was a tone of discomfort in his voice, if his shy posture didn't give it away, and she picked up on it immediately.
"What is it, Azzy? You okay?"
She walked over to him to see what was up.
"Yeah, it's just...earlier today, when I hesitated...it wasn't your voice that I heard. At least, not at first."
"What?"
He looked away, as if he was ashamed for keeping it a secret for so long.
"It...it was Chara. I heard her voice, Frisk."
She flashed a look of curiosity.
"Is it the first time you've heard her voice since...?"
He shook his head.
"...no, I talk to her occasionally, maybe once a month. I didn't even know that we could talk to each other until almost six months after we left the Underground. But when I do talk to her, it's because I reached out consciously to make a connection with her. It's something I can only do every now and then, and only for a few minutes each time. This time though, she was the one who called out to ME."
After a few seconds, Frisk asked the pertinent question.
"And what did she say?"
He closed his eyes as he recalled his earlier experience.
"Well..."
"STOP! Please, Azzy! Don't do this! You're not like this! Don't give in to your anger! Don't make the same mistake I did! Please..."
He was staring deep into Frisks squinted eyes now, a look of confusion taking form on his face.
"I've been thinking about what she said all day, and I...'don't make the same mistake I did.' What does it mean, Frisk?"
She smiled at him, taking his hands into her own, raising them up to his heart.
"It means...it means she loves you, Azzy. And so do I."
She touched a hand to her own heart in response.
"And if one day, for whatever reason, I'm not there to SAVE you...she WILL be. You can count on that."
He gave a shy smile in response, and his eyes were beginning to water again.
"Frisk..."
She squeezed his hands as the first tear rolled down his cheek. Asriel fell to his knees and, in the blink of an eye, Frisk found her arms pinned to her sides again as Asriel pulled her into another spine-crushing hug, squeezing her so tightly that it almost interfered with her breathing. His tears ran down HER face now as they nuzzled cheek to cheek, and soon her tears rolled forth and mixed with his, creating a cascade of neverending waterworks that began to pool into the floorboards beneath them.
"I love you too, Frisk. Both of you. So much."
They both stayed like this for a while, wishing it could go on forever, until their mothers call snapped them out of their tearful moment.
"TIME TO GO, CHILDREN!"
Grabbing Asriels hand again, Frisk pulled him towards the door.
"Cmon, bro! Let's go have some fun."
And as they made their way downstairs to answer their mothers call, Asriel spoke to himself in silence, making a vow that he would always uphold from that day onward.
I'll never let anyone hurt you again, Frisk. I'll always be there for you. I'll always be there to protect you, no matter what.
"Right behind you, sis!"
...
Four hours later
...
The sound of jingling keys filled the air as the front door swung open.
"Home sweet home."
Asgore held the door open as Toriel and the kids walked inside. Toriel was holding a trophy from the Nose Nuzzling competition, silver in color, with 2nd Place and the names Toriel and Asgore on its placard. Asriel and Frisk were holding a trophy as well, one made of gold and much bigger in size. They gave each other a huge dopey smile as they read its placard aloud.
2029 Nose Nuzzling Contest
1st Place
Asriel Dreemurr - Frisk Dreemurr
"Told you we were gonna win, Azzy! You were great!"
He jumped up and down in sheer joy.
"Yeah, you were great too, Frisk! That was so much fun!"
Toriel smiled at both of them. She wasn't bitter at all about losing, and shared in their joy.
"You were both wonderful! But now it's time for bed. You'll need plenty of rest for tomorrows trip to the beach. Upstairs, children, and be sure to brush your teeth! I'll be along to tuck you in shortly."
"Okay Mom!"
They shouted excitedly as they took the stairs two by two, holding their trophy in one hand each. Toriel giggled as she watched them ascend the stairs with their shiny trophy in tow, but Asgore had a look of defeat on his face. He slumped down in his recliner, in complete denial of what had happened.
"They...they actually beat us. I can't believe it. They even got a perfect score from the judges! We've lost our touch, Tori."
She wrapped her arms around him from behind and kissed his cheek.
"No we haven't, honey. We just taught our kids well."
He gave a sheepish chuckle, reflecting on the aftermath of the competition. Dogamy and Dogaressa were there as well, well-rehearsed and ready to finally take 1st Place, but it simply wasn't meant to be. They came in 3rd, much to Dogamys infuriation.
"Did you see the look on Dogamys scruffy face after Burgerpants announced the winner? I've never seen him that upset before. His expression said it all. 'How!? How did we lose to a couple of...KIDS!?'"
Toriel laughed as she found a place to put their trophy, on the mantle above the fireplace. There was a spot right in the middle for it, alongside various family photos.
"They'll get over it eventually. It's supposed to be in good fun, right? I think they take it too seriously."
He nodded in agreement.
"Yes. There's always next time. I still had a lot of fun, and so did Frisk and Asriel. That's what matters."
He stood now, resolved to be happy for his children. She was right, it meant they had taught them well. Besides, they still beat Dogamy and Dogaressa, who had only ever competed for the glory and fame. Toriel and Asgore competed because it was fun and because they genuinely loved each other. That's not to say that Dogamy and Dogaressa didn't genuinely love each other too, but for Toriel and Asgore, it was proof that the romance was still there, like a rose in winter hibernation.
She took his hand and pulled him towards the stairs.
"Let's go put them to bed, honey."
...
Frisk pushed the divider aside as she had just changed into her pajamas, a matching blue t-shirt and long pants, with a Delta Rune etched on the front. A lot of their clothing was hand-sewn by Toriel, who was quite the skilled seamstress, especially when it came to knitting. Asriels pajamas were basically a simplified version of his trademark outfit, a yellow striped t-shirt and black shorts, exposing more of the fine icy fur on his arms and legs. His bed also had fewer sheets and blankets, which actually helped him to sleep through the warmer nights.
The house was constantly set at a chilly 58 degrees during the summer. Boss Monsters needed the lower temperature to survive the warmer days because their fur made them more prone to perspiration and overheating. Frisk had to compensate by wearing warmer clothing indoors and bundling up at night especially, but she didn't mind this whatsoever. She loved cold weather, and it was much better than having to sweat out a hot day without air conditioning.
"I'm so excited for tomorrow!"
Frisk exclaimed as she sat on her bed, bouncing up and down. Asriel was in front of the wardrobe, standing on his tippy-toes, trying to reach high enough to put the trophy on top of the wardrobe where they could both see it. The claws on his toes were scratching the wooden floorboards beneath him, and he was completely unaware of the damage he was causing in his excitement. Carpet was in the immediate future at this rate.
Why didn't he just ask me for a boost, or ask Mom to do it for him?
Finally he got the trophy over the edge and set it on top of their wardrobe, the placard facing outward, visible from both beds. He stood back and marveled in awe at their accomplishment, finally answering Frisk with an excited response of his own.
"Yeah, me too!"
He turned to face Frisk now, who was standing on top of her bed, pinning the 'get well' card Asriel had made for her onto the wall above her night stand. He conjured a pair of spectral comets in his hands.
"Now, how about a light show, sis?"
She looked at those colorful stars for a few seconds before answering his question with one of her own.
"Actually...I was wondering if we could give the whole magic thing another shot one of these days. After seeing what the nurse could do with her magic, healing people...I'd like to be able to do that one day."
He looked at her with surprise.
"Mom would be a better teacher, you know? I honestly have a lot to learn about magic too."
She looked a little shy now.
"I...don't want her to know. Not yet. She might get upset at me for trying to learn something so dangerous. I'd like it to be a surprise if I can actually manage it at some point."
The stars dissipated, and a second later a warm smile took form on his face.
"Alright, Frisk. I'd be happy to give you another lesson."
She smiled back in excitement.
"Hehe, thanks Azzy! I'm gonna try really hard this time!"
There was a knock on the door, and then a second later it swung open. Toriel walked into the room, her arms hung low and her hands cupped together, and Asgore peeked his head in behind her, giving off dopey smiles to both of his kids.
"Bedtime, children. Let's go, you know the routine."
Immediately they scrambled into bed, pulling their blankets over them and laying back against their pillows. They were well rehearsed at this, being that it was a nightly ritual for them.
Frisk was always first in line, being that she was closer to the door. Toriel sat on the edge of her bed and leaned in close.
"Teeth?"
Frisk flashed her pearly whites for Toriel to see. They were so clean and well cared for that they sparkled underneath the ceiling lights.
"Very good."
A perfect mother in so many ways. Toriel grabbed the pillow behind Frisks head and fluffed it out, setting it back behind her. Frisk laid back in response as Toriel tucked the covers in around her, gently brushed the hair on her forehead aside and nuzzled her nose before giving her a long, motherly kiss on her cheek.
"Sweet dreams, Frisk."
She stood and walked over to Asriels bed, repeating the process. When he was tucked in, she gently kissed his cheek as well.
And then kissed it again, and again and again, invoking a torrent of giggles from Asriel as he struggled to escape from his mothers relentless smooching.
"Mwah! Mwah! Mwah! Mwah!"
"Hahaha, okay okay, I get the picture!"
Toriel giggled in response and ended it with one long, gentle peck on his forehead. She stood now and walked back towards the door, out into the hallway, and turned, reaching into the room to grab the doorknob.
"Good night children. We love you."
They responded in unison.
"Good night, Mom. Good night, Dad. We love you too."
She flicked the light off and gently closed the door. Asgore was stunned by how well she handled the children. He was a good father, but he didn't have the same kind of talent Toriel did. It was a mothers touch, and he was envious of it.
"You're amazing, Tori."
Asgore interpolated as he watched the whole thing unfold, his voice a little louder than he intended. Toriel looked at him and gently put a clawed finger to her lips.
"Shhhh, come with me, honey."
She took his hand and slowly crept to the master bedroom, her bedroom.
"W-where are we going?"
She stopped and turned to face him, swerving her body in a very smooth and subtle way, undoubtedly intended to look sexy, even in those thick robes. The look on her face said it all.
"I want to show you my...Scandalous Sock Collection."
It was an invitation. She wanted him to take her to the moon and back. He was mystified by her behavior, wanting to do this here and now, but he was never one to pass up such an opportunity. They were ridiculously affectionate, but they were also very romantic back in their day, even in the erotic sense, and it was starting to show again.
"Ooh, mi'lady."
His hand still in hers, they slowly crept towards the master bedroom and gently shut the door behind them.
...
Asriel heard everything from their room. Boss Monsters had heightened senses compared to humans and other monsters, and hearing was one of them. He was smiling on the inside and turned to face Frisk on the other side of the room, keeping his voice low.
"Do you...think they'll ever get back together again? I mean really get back together?"
That was a difficult question to answer, and one that Frisk was certainly ill-equipped to address, but she tried anyway.
"I don't know, Azzy. I can't imagine what Dad must be feeling after all this time, but he seems to be getting better, so...I really hope so."
"Yeah, me too."
She paused for a second, suddenly remembering what she wanted to ask Asriel earlier.
"Hey, Azzy?"
He had both of his hands folded underneath his head now.
"Yeah?"
"You said you still talk to Chara occasionally?"
"Yeah, but not often, maybe once a month, and only for a few moments each time. It's taxing on her...our SOUL, for us to make contact with each other, for us to consciously reach out to one another, and we have to wait a while before we can do it again. But...it's wonderful to hear her voice, even now."
The next question was unexpected.
"Do Mom and Dad know? Have you told them?"
He was hesitant to answer because he felt somewhat bad about it, but he trusted Frisk completely, and so did Chara.
"...no, I haven't. I had thought about it, but Chara didn't want me to, not wanting to put them through any more pain. To be honest, she's still ashamed of what she did, and she thinks they'd still be upset with her if they had the chance to talk to her. I know that's silly, and THEY know she's still with us in spirit, but Chara is afraid that it might hurt them if she were to resurface now. Maybe in the future, when she's ready, but...not yet."
Frisk understood that feeling all too well, so she knew where they both were coming from on the matter.
"I see. Well...I doubt she wants to talk to me either, but next time you hear from her, if she wants to..."
Asriel smiled in response.
"She'd really like that, Frisk."
Frisk returned the smile with interest.
"Yeah, me too."
She reached down underneath the covers and pulled out the locket around her neck, holding it close.
"Good night, Azzy!"
Asriel grabbed his own locket in response.
"Good night, Frisk!"
And as his conscious thoughts drifted into darkness, he reached for Chara's locket on the night stand as well, gently closing his hand around it as he called out to her one last time.
Good night, Chara!