Chapter four: Doing some research

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Asgore: Tori.

Toriel: What is it, Asgore?

Asgore: It is Frisk.

Asgore: She has suffered a major breakdown.

Asgore: Disturbing memories have surfaced.

Toriel: Is she all right?

Asgore: Not likely.

Asgore: She will need some recuperation.

Toriel: I will be there as soon as possible.

Asgore: Thank you, Toriel.

Snowdin

Asriel looked up when he heard a familiar voice call his name, and saw Sans lazily walk towards him. His ever present grin made him look like his usual self at first glance, but when he came closer, the prince sensed a disturbed expression hiding behind the empty joy that masked his eyes. The laziness that was visible in Sans' way of moving himself forward was also definitely forced (if that's even possible) – something that wasn't usually the case. It was masterfully hidden, but Asriel could see through the lie.

"hey, az," greeted Sans. "how're ya doin' today? whaddaya say to some greasy food from grillby's? it just happens to be time for my lunch break."

"Uh, yeah, okay," Asriel said. "Grillby's sounds good."

"you said it, kid. c'mon, let's go."

Asriel followed Sans to the restaurant, where they were immediately met with warm air and jovial voices, the latter of which originated from the nearby customers. The two gave nods and greetings as they walked over to the bar, sitting down when they reached it. Grillby gave them both a nod before they ordered.

"A hamburger, please," Asriel politely requested.

"i'll take the same," Sans said. "with ketchup, of course."

The fiery Monster gave another nod before leaving to get their orders, giving the young goat man the opportunity to let out a sigh and close his eyes. He let his head hang. The skeleton next to him looked over with a questioning look.

"are you okay?" he asked.

Asriel reopened his eyes, avoiding Sans' gaze. "They're still looking at me like that."

"who? like what?"

"The other customers."

Sans blinked. He then took a discreet look over his shoulder, and saw that the majority of Monsters was busy whispering among themselves and stealing glances from the prince who was sitting next to him. What stood out was that their expressions didn't look like they were looking at a royal or a Boss Monster, but at something even more…miraculous.

"Nine years, and they're still not over the fact that I'm back," sighed Asriel. "I just want to be left alone." Frustration began to rise in his voice, but he made sure to keep quiet. "It wasn't me who brought me back, and I don't need to be reminded of what happened before that. Being called a 'miracle' definitely doesn't help."

The skeleton didn't know what to say to that. He himself didn't have experience with coming back from the dead – or the Soulless, rather – like Asriel did. He knew that the kid had gone through an unimaginable period of suffering, getting nightmares and breakdowns that were connected to his memories of being a flower. He was a victim of unthinkable pain when he returned, trapped in the body of a child. The memories about Flowey and his dead sibling had been a burden ever since. And yet, Asriel was still able to smile.

The pain was still there, however, and these other people talking about him like he was a miracle only brought it back up. Sans could understand why the prince was so angry about that.

Just after Asriel's return, the skeleton himself had an attitude similar to what the customers had now… But with less astonishment and more suspicion. This attitude eventually changed into a close friendship with the young Boss Monster, which Sans was thankful for.

Asriel sighed again before glancing over to his friend. "Sorry," he said, having calmed down. "I shouldn't be complaining."

"it's alright," the skeleton reassured. "if you ask me, i'd say you'd have every right to complain. enjoy your burger, by the way."

"Huh? Oh," muttered Asriel when he saw the burger in front of him. He looked up at Grillby. "That was fast."

Grillby gave a nod, which, despite the fiery Monster's stoic demeanor, seemed to display a hint of pride. He then went to take the orders from other customers, leaving Sans and Asriel to their respective meals. The former had also been given a bottle of ketchup.

"whaddaya expect, kid?" grinned Sans. "it's fast food."

The prince chuckled and took a bite. "Been a while since I visited this place. I keep forgetting how good Grillby's burgers and fries are."

"tori doesn't like you going to this place, does she?"

"Well… She doesn't hate it when I do, she just keeps telling me about how unhealthy it can be."

"right." Being reminded of what he was about to ask, Sans' pupils briefly flickered, not unlike a broken lamp. Asriel didn't see it. "anyway, i got a few questions for ya."

"Ask away," the prince said before taking another bite.

"alright…" The skeleton paused. "how've you been doing?"

"Uh, me? Good. You?"

"no offense az, but have you taken a look in the mirror recently?"

Asriel looked at him. He put his burger down before fully turning to his friend. "What do you mean?"

Sans' pupils flickered again. "look at you, kid. there's a bunch of bags under your eyes. you're paler than a polar bear. ever since frisk's return, something's been bothering you, we all see it. and speaking of frisk, we haven't heard much from her in a while now too."

"You know," Asriel said, "I thought this was going to be a hangout, not an interrogation."

Sans blinked before looking down at the bar. "sorry kid, it's just…" He sighed. "me, paps, undyne, Alphys – even mettaton… we've been worried about you two. there's somethin' goin' on with frisk, isn't there?"

The prince hesitated. He then let both his shoulders and his head hang, sighing. "Look, just…don't…" He paused, looking at his burger. "Don't ask. She's got a lot on her mind with her amnesia and all, you know… And I'm trying my best to help her with it, and so are Mom and Dad, and… Well…" He trailed off.

"right," the skeleton softly said. "sorry for askin'."

"It's fine."

Silence.

Come to me.

Sans flinched and looked up. "did you say something?"

Asriel blinked. "What? No."

I need you.

Sans flinched again and looked over his shoulder, finding nothing out of the ordinary.

Please trust me.

He felt sweat appear on his head, and quickly got off the bar chair. He stumbled backwards.

Asriel gave him a confused look. "Sans? What…"

He fell silent when he saw the terrified look on the skeleton's face.

"Whoa there, man. Are you okay?"

Sans hesitated. "uh…i, ah, i g-gotta go," he nervously stuttered before turning around and heading for the door. "c-catch ya later."

The prince frowned when Sans went through the doorway. He looked at Grillby, who silently shrugged.

Unbeknownst to both of them, Sans had gone to his sentry station, where he informed Papyrus of the reappearance of the voice – the same voice he had heard in Waterfall.

When Asriel entered the dining room, he was surprised to see both his parents sitting there with Frisk. None of the three looked very happy: Asgore and Toriel clearly felt pity for someone, and Frisk's expression revealed who that someone was.

Asriel almost flinched when he saw the Human's face. Frisk, who usually looked so strong and determined, sat there with reddened, teary eyes, looking down at the table. She looked like she had cried, or could start crying at any moment. Whenever she said something to the two Boss Monsters, her voice trembled and choked.

"Frisk?" he worriedly brought out as he carefully took a step into the room.

The Human glanced at him before regretfully averting her gaze, closing her eyes as she did. Asgore and Toriel looked over to their son, silently gesturing to him to take a seat. He obeyed and sat on the chair across from Frisk, whose reopened eyes were looking down at the table again.

"Are you alright? What happened?" Asriel asked, not comfortable.

"Asriel…" Asgore spoke. "Frisk has suffered another memory spark."

The prince's breath froze in his throat.

"These memories were…well…" The king scratched his head, not knowing how to continue.

"They were very unpleasant," Toriel softly finished.

Asriel looked at the Human. His expression turned ashamed. "Frisk… I'm so sorry, I…"

"No," Frisk softly said. She briefly looked up at him before averting her gaze again. "N-none of this is your fault, Asriel…"

"But I should've been here for you. I should've been here for you like a good friend would. Instead, what am I doing? Eating hamburgers at a fast food restaurant in Snowdin."

That allowed Frisk to generate a chuckle. "Heh…Grillby's, huh?" She gave him another glance and a small smile. "That's a good place. You've earned it. For being a good friend."

Asriel felt his face get warm. The compliment made him feel a bit better, but uneasy at the same time. He never knew what to say in response in situations like that.

Fortunately for him, the others were aware of this, and it didn't take long for the king to change the subject. "In any case, these memories…well…" He fully turned to Asriel. "You see, Asriel…the memories…well…they, uh…"

"I died," Frisk interrupted.

All eyes were at her now. Toriel and Asgore again looked pained and pitying, Asriel looked shocked. The Human looked up a bit, focusing her gaze at no one in particular.

"I died," she repeated. "I died several times during my first time in the Underground. I was killed by…other Monsters. I'm not going to say any names, and I'm not sure if I remember each and every death, but…

"Well, needless to say, it doesn't make much sense. I remember dying, but almost immediately after each death…something happened that brought me back to life. A-and this is going to sound stupid, but…I think that something was some kind of…time travel. I remember meeting people again a-after dying, things happening in the exact same way. And…I was the only one who knew it had already happened."

As can be expected, Asriel immediately knew what she was talking about. She wasn't the only one who knew about this time travelling stuff. He used to 'know' someone who had the same ability. Someone who, like Humans, possessed the power to turn back the clock and change fate.

He looked at Frisk. "Determination."

The Human blinked and looked back. "What?"

"Determination," Asgore spoke, "is a power that is mainly generated by Human Souls. It allows the user to persist after death…or cheat it. It is what makes Humans so powerful compared to Monsters."

"But…" Toriel spoke. "The only other being who was known to possess determination is…"

"F-Flowey," Asriel blurted out, mentally flinching when he said the infamous name. "He remembered it. When you travelled through time, he remembered it. His determination let him do that."

"Flowey?" asked Frisk. "Who was that again?"

Upon hearing that question, Asgore decided to interfere. "Flowey is…well…it is not something we talk about easily." He glanced at his son, who looked back with gratitude. While no one known liked to talk about Flowey, Asriel was the one who hated it the most. This is why the subject was rarely brought up by the Dreemurrs, or anyone at all, really. It bore too much pain.

"R-right," the Human uneasily said. "Sorry. Forget I asked."

"Don't worry about it," reassured Asriel. "Anyway, Alphys knows more about determination than anyone as far as we know. Maybe we should pay her a visit sometime to ask her about it."

"Perhaps we should," said Toriel. "But not now."