Howdy ! It's been a while since last time, with my note. By the way, Happy New Year ! Let's enjoy our happiness as much as we could, and I wish you all the best. This chapter is my late Christmas present, as I promised I changed my writing style. Enjoy !

Chapter Thirteen: Resentment And Forgiveness

BGM : watch?v=i9ScFBO5NAc

"Such a nice day outside… Birds are singing, flowers are blooming… Perfect weather for a game of catch… "

Even though it has been centuries, Toriel was still able to recognize Asgore's voice when she met him for the first time :
it was more acute than before, but deeper than Asriel's voice. When Asgore turned around, Toriel guessed he really gained consciousness,
his sapphire eyes found their light once again… but his frown remained, last time Asgore showed a slight smile was the time of his last breath…
when he confessed his love to her at the very end…

Asriel noticed something curious : strange magic runes are going from the trident to Asgore's chest
disappearing when they reach the spot. This scene was really confusing, those runes are supposed to be safe ? Or are they dangerous ?

Asgore remained silent for a few minutes, but then he took a look at his hand, noticing how little were his fingers.
After, he touched his face, what happened to his beard ? Did he shave it off ? Little by little, he was getting scared…
Slowly, he patted his head, and he realized his horns weren't so long as they supposed to be before, they were so tiny they were almost covered by his blond hair.

Asgore got shocked by a confusing reality, his body… has changed, he became… a child… How did it happen ?!

"… Asgore…?" The latter jumped when he heard a voice, a very familiar voice calling him.

This voice, he knows this voice, it's her voice… Asgore looked up to see crimson eyes.

Hesitating a little bit, he spoke slowly. "Ho…Howdy… Tori…? Is that you ?"

Toriel felt a warmth in her hearth she missed a long time ago. She began to walk very slowly, her arms shaking
like a leaf and then suddenly, she ran faster and faster and spread her arms. In a blink, Asgore got lifted off the ground and
was embraced very tightly but he still felt comfortable as well.

Toriel called his name, cried his name countless times, she was afraid Asgore would vanish and realize that
everything was unreal. But it is not a dream, Asgore is really alive, he remembers her face and is returning her embrace.

Toriel was so happy and relieved she couldn't prevent her tears to roll "Oh thank goodness Asgore you're safe !"
She cried. Her emotions crossed the limit as she tightened her arms around the young boss-monster, resting her head above Asgore's.

"I… I was so… so…" She wanted to continue, but the words didn't came out. Toriel's mind was a mess, she has so much things to talk with Asgore…
But she didn't know where to begin.

"Tori… What's happening…? Why are you crying…?" When Asgore felt Toriel's tears dropping on his head,
he was afraid something happened, and he couldn't remember it.

When he looked up, he froze at the sight he was seeing:

Toriel's eyes were red, puffy from all the crying but also, her pupils were red, red like blood, red like his trident.
Last time he recalled, Toriel's eyes were green. What happened to her…?

I have a lot of question, but like always I don't have any answer ! he thought angrily.

Putting his anger aside, Asgore pushed himself of Toriel very gently and took her hands, asking her without a word to kneel down so he can reach her head.

Still crying, Toriel managed to speak a little "Asgore… I'm so so-"

"No, don't say anything…" Asgore interrupted her as he dried Toriel's tears with his fingers.
"You cannot speak your mind if you're crying like that… And to be honest, I wouldn't understand a single word either…"
Feeling shameful, the former king looked down, avoiding eye contact.

Toriel's confusion only grew bigger after hearing those words. At least, thanks to him, she calmed down a little.
"What are you trying to say Gorey ?" Asgore's silence confirmed her fears as she widened her eyes.

"You… you don't remember everything yet…? You still don't know what happened earlier ?" She muttered. The amnesic boy just nodded, slowly but sightly.

Desperate to know more, Toriel continued as she put her hands on his shoulders, comforting him. "Tell me, what is the last thing you remember ? I need to know…"

Asgore shuddered a little, he stayed quiet. Toriel made him relax a little by giving him a massage on his back.
"Don't be afraid… You can tell me Asgore… I cannot help you if you don't tell me anything… Trust me…"

Finally, Asgore stared at Toriel right in the eyes, showing her his pure blue eyes, very similar to sapphires. Those eyes Toriel missed so much.

Opening his mouth, he forced himself to talk. "I… I remember how we met each other…"
Toriel nodded, urging him to continue. "The day I introduced you to Gaster… Gerson… and… Tibault… The day we… we confess our feelings to each other…"

At that moment, Toriel couldn't help blushing like crazy. That night under the auroras was so wonderful.
She forgot the spot where their relationship started, it has been… so long. Asgore, oblivious of her blushing, continued.
"The day all the monsters got sealed in the Underground, and to finish… The day you used your camera while your pregnancy with our son Asriel…"

BGM : Fallen Down

Judging by Asgore's silence, Toriel concluded he couldn't remember anything after her pregnancy, he doesn't know about Chara,
about Asriel's death, about everything between her and him. Looking behind her, Asriel was
willingly distancing himself from them, wanting to let them have their moment.

Toriel found it pretty funny because Asriel was usually embarrassed by her lovey-dovey moments with Asgore.
Giving him a smile, she beckoned him to approach, to show his presence to his father.

Lifting gently Asgore's head by his chin, Toriel got his attention once more and turned her head, looking at Asriel "About our child Asgore, I think it's time for you to see him."

Asgore's brow furrowed, showing his curiosity and looking at the same direction as Toriel. Feeling his father's eyes on him,
Asriel jumped and straightened himself, his shyness nature getting the better on him. When he looked at his father,
he saw a wide smile, a smile he hadn't seen a very long time.

When Asgore opened his arms, Asriel understood. He ran towards his parents and threw himself in his father's arms,
making the latter letting an "Oof !" escape. Since he wasn't strong as he used to be, Asgore nearly fell on the ground, taken aback by Asriel's strength.

The sight of a child reuniting with his father who nearly died months ago, even if the father in question became a child,
gave Toriel a relieving warmth in her heart. She felt she was gonna cry again, but not from sadness, or from grief like she used to when Asgore fell in a coma.
This time, her eyes were filled of tears of joy.

Recovering her senses, Toriel shook her head preventing the tears from escaping from her eyes. As time passed,
she felt a presence behind her but she wasn't worried. She knew who it was. The person spoke. "Greetings my friends."
Hearing this familiar voice, Asgore looked up and noticed one of his friends he have seen in his memories. Smiling, he greeted back. "Gaster…"

BGM : watch?v=qC9Ri2hZsos

"Asgore, my old friend… It's been so long since last time we saw each other, even if you don't remember…" Gaster materialized just beside Toriel and gave a slow wave.

Asriel turned around and looked in the same direction as his father and recognized the skeleton who appeared besides his mother. W.D Gaster…
That was surprising, also confusing for the young prince that his dad's former scientist was still… "alive", after his fall in the COVE…

Toriel stared at Gaster, a brow furrowed. Before she could talk, Gaster bested her. "I know what you're going to say Toriel.
You have nothing to worry about, just let time act on him."

Asgore walked to Gaster, looking up at him. He would be lying if he said he didn't found it weird to be short once again.
"Gaster, how did I manage to recover my memories ? And more important, why can't I remember everything ?
Right now, I feel like there is a sort of hole in my head…"

"This feeling is very normal Asgore. Every person who are suffering from amnesia are facing a feeling of emptiness…
The answer to your first question, is in your hand." Asgore looked down as Gaster pointed his weapon.

"My…trident…?" Gaster nodded, growing confusion in his old friend's mind. How could his weapon help him to recover his memories ?

Asriel watched and noticed the red runes are still there, but this time they were only seen on his neck.
He guessed there were other runes on some parts of his body, hidden beneath his clothes.

For a moment, Asgore thought Gaster was making a fool of him. "Uhh Gaster… It's just a weapon, if it can recover memories
I would know that long ago…" That remark made the skeleton frown, feeling insulted.

"You think I'm joking, right ? Of all people you should know that I'm never wasting my time for jokes." Gaster scoffed,
before Asgore gave him a unimpressed look, almost saying "I'm not playing your games…".

"Alright alright, I'm not joking right now, I'm serious. Your trident really helped you. It's a bit complicated to explain,
even impossible… As long you remain amnesiac, you would not be able to understand a single word."

Toriel draw Gaster's attention as she walked to Asgore, setting her hands on his shoulders.
"Then what should we do to help him gain all of his memories ?" She asked.

"Let time pass, every night, every time Asgore falls asleep, he would see some flashbacks. Little by little, his amnesia will heal, but…"
Gaster stopped for a moment, frowning as he stared at Asgore "It would be a real challenge for you Asgore…"

Asgore wanted to ask him why but Gaster silenced him by raising his hand. "No, don't ask anything Asgore… I won't answer
anymore to your questions… and I suggest Toriel and your son to do the same… They must not reveal anything you have forgotten…"

Asriel looked down, knowing what Gaster was referring to. Toriel wanted to protest, in her point of view there
was no reason to hide anything to Asgore, he deserved to know "Patience Toriel, he would see it for himself.
You won't make it more easier if you go to him and reveal everything in one shot…"

Toriel's eyes widened, she didn't say anything ! How did he guessed what she was thinking in her mind ?

Without a word, Gaster turned around and vanished in the shadows. Five seconds later, his voice echoed.

"Remember Asgore, stay strong and patient… For the first night, you'll be asleep until the second morning…
You have to endure… Don't forget your family is with you, as long as your friends…"

Asriel flinched a little by the tone of Gaster's voice. Rubbing his left arm, he turned to his parents
"Uhh… Is he always like that ?" Asgore just rolled his eyes and shrugged "As I recall, he wasn't that… gloomy, but I guess he changed…"

Toriel whispered so anyone could hear her "Sometimes I wonder…" She frowned for a moment, avoiding Asgore and Asriel's stares.
After, she shook her head and gave a warm smile, making Asgore's heart melting.

"Never mind… I think we should go home, we had a very long day and we're all tired." she proposed, earning Asgore's nod
"You're right, a little rest couldn't be so bad I guess."

Suddenly Asriel gasped and without a word, ran like crazy towards New Home, earning his parents' attention.
They wondered why has he began to panic all of the sudden, then Toriel realized.

That's right, he got Frisk upset with him. Seeing Asgore again made me forget about what happened between them earlier…
I wonder how Asriel is gonna apologize to Frisk…

"What's going on Tori ? Why is Asriel running like that ?" Asgore asked staring at Asriel's shape disappearing. Toriel shook her head as she answered.
"Some events happened during your… trance, because of your amnesia you wouldn't understand. Asriel just went to our house, fixing things…
Don't worry, I know you're very confused but once you get healed, you won't need me to explain."

Asgore remained quiet, he had nothing to add. He just followed Toriel as she took his hand, walking towards Asriel's destination.

Back in New Home

Since she got back in New Home, Frisk got herself isolated in the room she was sharing with Asriel after she locked the door.
For ten long minutes, she laid on her bed and burrowed her head on the pillow, muffling her sobs.

(WHAT COULD YOU UNDERSTAND ? YOU DIDN'T HAVE A FAMILY BEFORE YOU FELL IN THE UNDERGROUND !)

Frisk couldn't believe Asriel dared to say such words. It was so painful for the human girl she clutched her pillow, making her fingers go all white.
The darkness in the room was quiet, too much quiet for Frisk, her doubts were confirmed when she realized that someone was watching her quietly,
avoiding to draw any attention on him.

Frisk sighed as she sat upon the bed against the wall, looking away, staring at the drawing of a flower, a drawing of Asriel.
"Leave me alone, I'm not in the mood for your advices…" She muttered, still upset.

Even though the human hid her face by looking at the drawing, Sans could see by the corner of the room, the dried tears on all over Frisk's cheeks.

Trying to lighten up the mood, the skeleton chuckled. "no thanks kiddo, i'm good where i am." This time, Frisk turned around, showing her face to Sans :
her hair was a bit messed up, a slight frown was drawn, and… her eyes were opened, red eyes. This was the first time
Sans could see Frisk's eyes watching him… in this timeline. Her eyes were very similar to Chara's, almost identical…

Trying to avoid some scary memories, the skeleton shook his head, aware of the human's watch on him, confused.

BGM : It's Raining Somewhere Else

"Please Sans, I really don't wanna talk right now… If not, why do you think I locked the door ?"
She muttered even though her voice was a bit cracked because of her crying session.

Still trying to make her smile even for a second, Sans continued. "i don't know, maybe because you adoor us ?"

But that didn't work, that pun made Frisk shoot a glare at Sans, showing his defeat. "Sans, I already said I'm not in the mood, and your puns are not helping…
Do you want me to give you the same treatment I gave to the other jerk ?"

"alright alright kid, sorry !" he answered lifting his hands in surrender. "i know, making jokes isn't always the only way to comfort people, not in that kind of situation."

The apology seemed to work since the glare on the human's eyes vanished, but the frown was still there.
Sighing, Sans asked her if he could sat beside her, which she agreed with a nod. After he made himself comfortable, Sans has began his new attempt to comfort his friend.

"frisk, i know i'm not really good at that sort of things, but i want you to listen to me without interrupting me. is that okay with you ?"
Once again, Frisk nodded, urging Sans to continue.

"very good… what happened earlier was unexpected, we couldn't predict any of that : chara's return, asriel's loss of self-control…
and even you with slapping his face. don't get the wrong idea, i'm not saying you weren't supposed to react like that, it's understandable.
what he said was really harsh, i'm sure anyone else would have done the same thing to him as you did… but before, you never behaved like that,
you…always kept your feelings hidden by the neutral face make everyday. to be honest, we should have asked you about your life before the beginning,
even if you would deny it. but i'm not gonna pressure you about this right now, this is not the perfect time and.… kiddo, did you hear what i said ?
i dropped the subject so stop glaring daggers at me please… going back to the main topic, you know asriel didn't mean what he said.
he may be kind-hearted but sometimes he's a… uhhh…" Sans was out of words to describe Asriel until Frisk helped him.

"He's an idiot…" she scoffed, earning Sans' chuckle. Kids are so difficult he thought, as he scratched his bony-cheek. But he felt Frisk was warming up slowly.

"heh, yeah i guess he is, thanks for the help. but you mean a lot for him. that's not a secret, everyone knows that, asriel is really obvious, just like his father.
right know while we're talkin' he sure is on his way running like crazy for you can forgive him."

Frisk was impressed by Sans' choice of words for his monologue, normally he would just shrug and leave her alone after trying a few attempts to cheer her up…
Since when is the lazy skeleton so good with words ? Since Asgore nearly died, he has changed for an unknown reason. He is still making some horrible puns,
but his laziness vanished, replaced by hours of research on Asgore's DNA. That was impressive but…unusual and awkward. Deep inside, she hoped he would
get back to the lazy friend she met in Snowdin forest.

Being aware of Sans who was waiting for her to say something, Frisk responded "I… Asriel mean a lot for me, I care about him more than anyone else… but…
After what happened in the Judgment Hall, he can't expect me to forgive him so easily I mean… he really hurt me when he said that…"

Sans remained quiet for a while, making Frisk look away so she could avoid his stare, afraid he would disapprove her stubbornness.
But to her surprise, the skeleton just shrugged slowly. "i knew you were going to say that kid, but i'm not tellin' you to forgive him.
i want you to listen to what asriel has to say when he gets here and after that, wether you forgive him or not is up to you."

Frisk was relieved she wasn't forced to forgive Asriel, she wants to, but she just can't… she lived herself some traumatic memories
she was desperate to forget, and the others doesn't need to know about that… Her thought were interrupted when Sans added something more.

"but please, don't hold the grudge against him too long. otherwise, i would consider this act as childish of you." Frisk stopped breathing, then suddenly she snapped.

"Asriel acted like he knew about my previous life before I met you all, he dared to say I didn't have a family, and I'm being childish ?!
Are you sure Chara didn't hit your freaking head Sans ? Because right now, you are speaking nonsense ! Asriel is the childish one, not me !"
When she finished, Sans curled his hand at the back of her neck, careful to not hurt her but was struggling to keep his calm.

"you're both being childish, both of you. your point about asriel is correct but you're not out of the question as well. i'm gonna repeat myself :
you aren't childish right now, but you're gettin' childish, see the difference ? take a look at asgore and toriel. she refused to forgive him even though
he did his best to repent and what happened ? asgore lost hope and used the same medicine at toriel, and all this resulted to a fight which nearly killed him !
yet before, they were a husband and wife, since middle age, they even got a family for god's sake ! if you don't want to repeat the same mistakes as those
immature idiots, then don't hold your resentment for too long ! unless you want asriel to become who he was when he was a flower and come for your soul !"

Shock and fear… That was what Frisk was feeling at this moment. She looked at Sans' empty eye sockets realizing he turned really serious, and angry…?
As he finished his last sentence, she brutally stand up, got out of the bed and stepped back until she was back to the wall.

Frisk was shaking as ever, why, she didn't know… Because of being yelled at by one of her best friends, or because she recalled
the numerous times Asriel tried to kill her sadistically as Flowey, or as the God of Hyperdeath… Inside the room, the only noises were Frisk's breathing,
she was hyperventilating. She was so desperate to calm down when she put her hands on her chest where she could hear her heartbeats. And Sans didn't miss that…

The skeleton's white pupils went back in his eye sockets when he realized he had Frisk terrified because of what he just said. This time,
the human's stare was blank, she wasn't looking at anything, stuck in sort of trance. Sans slapped his face with both
of his hands in guilt, and very slowly, he went towards Frisk.

When he reached her, Sans put her in a gentle embrace while his left hand patted her head. For a short while, he waited for Frisk to react
and his wish was granted when she returned the hug. At least she wasn't crying, which was surprising. Asriel's words made her cry but Sans' own didn't…
This human is really mysterious he thought…

"i'm sorry frisk…" Sans apologized. "i shouldn't yell at you after what you've been through… i promise i would never do that again…"

He lowered his eyes in guilt and remained quiet, but then he heard Frisk talking in a sad tone. "No, you're right… You're absolutely right… I…"
She wanted to continue but Sans shushed her.

"don't say anything kid… i'm not the one who should hear what you have to say right now… and i think you need some time alone so you can rest a little bit."
After his muttering voice, Sans let go of Frisk and lead her to her bed. After he laid her down, he put the blankets all over her and went the door. Then…

"Sans…" Frisk muttered, her eyes closed from tiredness. "Thank you for being here… Thank you for everything…"

The skeleton didn't make a single move, he was still staring at the door, his back facing Frisk. "You're really like a big brother to me…" The human muttered.
Before she goes to sleep, she heard "anything for my little sister…"

And then Sans got out…after he unlocked the door with the key he snatched to Frisk. After he closed the door, Sans stayed silent and then
let out a small laugh as he headed to the living room so he could sit.

"a big brother eh ? that was sansational." he muttered, deeply amused.

In a blink, Sans fell asleep on the armchair just before a certain someone came inside New Home. When he noticed the sleeping skeleton, he made sure to avoid one single noise as he walked toward Frisk's room. When he opened the door, Asriel noticed Frisk's sleeping form in her bed.

BGM : Memory (Slowed Flashback)

He slowly walked toward her and reached for the top of her head, but when his head was about to touch her hair, he pulled back, not wanting to wake her up.
Then, Asriel went to his bed and laid down as well.

Asriel was really tired… but he didn't feel like his eyelids were heavy. He couldn't stop staring at Frisk, who turned around in her sleep, her
back facing him. Even though he couldn't see her face, he could hear the human's breathing with his hearing very sharp.
Frisk's breathing as she slept was so peaceful, so…alluring….

Thump Thump… Thump Thump… Thump Thump…

Asriel let out an uncontrolled moan as he clutched his chest. What was happening to him ? Was it Frisk who made him like this ?
That feeling in his chest was so weird, yet addictive. Asriel blushed madly and little by little, he fell asleep, still with this feeling he craved…

Meanwhile, Asgore and Toriel came in turn, the latter giving Asgore a piggyback. When they nearly got out of Judgment Hall,
Asgore suddenly felt a strong tiredness before he began to fall, until he got caught by Toriel's arms. This was the very first time Toriel
was carrying Asgore, before it was always the opposite. She was sure she won't be able to carry him when he grows back to normal, that's for sure.

When she came inside Asgore's room, Toriel put the latter on his bed as gentle as she could, and let him sleep peacefully. Before she got out of the room, something on the desk caught her eye. When she took a look she eyes widened : it was Asgore's diary, the same diary he kept over the years just after Asriel's birth.

BGM : watch?v=57YPXXZPSbo

Toriel gulped and stared at the diary. This may be the only way to know the truth, about how Asgore lived without her, about the Underground after her flee,
about the humans she tried to protect. But she was also afraid, she thought if she read the diary, she would come to hate Asgore once again like before.
Deep inside her SOUL, she doesn't want to hate him anymore, she want to make peace with him, and… the follow-up doesn't come out of her head.
Hoping Asgore would understand her act, she took his diary with her and went inside her room, following everyone's example and went to sleep in last.

But she wasn't able to, Toriel couldn't ignore the whimpers Asgore was making : he is starting to remember, but this time, it was the beginning
of the tragedies he was seeing in his sleep. Knowing she couldn't do much, Toriel closed her eyes, frowning, hands together, praying for Asgore.

Gorey, stay strong… Soon it would be nothing but bad memories… And after that, I promise you will be free of this pain which tormented you for years…

That's it for now, I'm already working for a the next one but... this year, I'm really full of exams so the updating could be more slower than before I'm afraid...

I noticed I have more than 6,000 views ! To be honest I didn't expect my story to have such success, congratulations Asgore !

Don't forget to write a review if you have something to say on this chapter, or about the story in general. If you have advices to give, I would be honored to listen. So don't be afraid, I don't bite !

In this story, Asgore is suffering too much, I'm a horrible person... But the drama would cease one day or another, I hope...

Well it was a pleasure to post this, see you for the next time !

Starting the next chapter, this is the moment when my spin-off "story" should be seen : it is called "Asgore's Diary".

s/12727178/1/Asgore-s-Diary