A/N: See if you can spot the easter egg in this chapter?
Chapter 59: Judgement Hall
Frisk continued to walk until she reached a vast hall with gold walls and stained glass window of the delta runes on both sides.
Large pillars stood on the sides.
A box much like the one she had seen in Waterfall was in the corner. She placed the knife and gun inside preferring to keep the weapon that Sam had on hand when he was underground.
She continued forward until she spotted Sans, who was in front of her.
"So you're finally here. Took you long enough."
He eye sockets were empty.
His smile forced.
"The end of your journey is at hand. In a few moments you'll meet the king. Together you'll determine the future of this world. That's then. This is now. You will be judged."
"What are you talking about? You're talking like we're in a court room?"
"That is because this is a courtroom. You will be judged for your every action. You will be judged for every EXP you've earned."
"What's with the game lingo?"
"It's an acronym. It stands for 'execution points."
Frisk paled.
"Execution points? Where I'm from EXP means experience points and people tend to grind those in video games to defeat the bad guys."
" EXP is the measurement of the way you quanitfy the pain you have inflictied on others. When you kill someone, your EXP increases. When you have enough EXP, your LOVE increases. "
"This is beginning to sound like I've been submerged into some video game. First EXP and then LV?"
"LOVE, too, is an acronym. It stands for "Level of Violence". A way of measuring someone's capacity to hurt. The more you kill, the easier it becomes to distance yourself. The more you distance yourself, the less you will hurt. The more easily you can bring yourself to hurt others."
'Wow, that's surprisingly deep.'
"I see."
"Now you understand. It's time to begin your judgement. Look inside yourself. Have you really done the right thing and considering what you've done...What will you do now? Take a moment to think about this."
Sans was silent.
Frisk turned pale.
"Look I can explain-"
He avoided her eyes.
"truthfully it doesn't really matter what you said. all that's important is that you were honest with yourself. what happens now...we leave up to you."
"That's fine but if that's true, then why won't you look at me."
"your actions speak for themselves.," Sans said glancing at her coolly.
Frisk glared at him.
"What's that supposed to mean?" she snapped.
"I understand self-defence but one thing has always struck me odd. I know this is an odd thing to ask but don't you think if someone has some kind of special power that it's their responsibility to do the right thing?"
"Depends. How did this person get this power?"
"huh?"
"You're talking as if you've witnessed someone who has this kind of power."
Sans looked surprised but he shrugged.
"don't know."
"So you don't know anything about the origin of this power, if it's good or bad? Can it really be the responsibility of that person to use it the right way if the power given to them was made for destruction? Don't you think it's the responsibility of the creator of that power to determine how it's used. It isn't determined by the person with that power at all," Frisk said.
"Well thats your viewpoint. I won't judge you for it."
The eyelights in his eyesockets vanished.
"You dirty brother killer."
His eyelights reappeared.
"huh, you look bored. guess you're getting tired of my shtick huh. i get the feeling you aren't gonna learn anything from this. well, guess I gotta judge you then. over lv 6. you killed some people on purpose didn't you? that's probably bad."
"Screw you too," she snapped. "You threaten my life and you think you can judge me. You're hardly a saint. Anyone would be justified if they killed you and your kind."
"perhaps maybe some of it was in self-defense...i don't know. help me out here. i wasn't watching."
"Self defense, don't make me laugh," Frisk said. "Don't mock me, when you don't know even know the meaning of the word."
"anyways don't do that."
"The h-ll I won't. Is it right for a species that prides themselves on peace to attack a human and not expect retaliation? You're a hypocrite."
Sans flinched.
"If you didn't want your precious species to die maybe you should have told them not to attack me."
Sans' eyelights vanished.
"After all we wouldn't want your species to be rendered extinct because you failed to tell them that. Of course doing any work would require effort and you don't have that. Let me enlighten you since you couldn't bother to scout out the details. Every monster I've encountered attacked me not because I threw the first punch but because I was human. and I attacked not out of self-defense but out of survival because your oh-so-innocent species would have killed me. Being kind certainly didn't make those other kids avoid their fate or is it different because they are human?"
Frisk lunged for him and grabbed him by the collar of his turtleneck.
"If it wasn't for that froggit in the ruins I wouldn't even be here and I would have left you all to live in this h-ll but he pleaded for me to save you and I complied even knowing your kind might try to kill me."
Sans looked furious but Frisk didn't care.
"I guess next time I needn't bother. You'd much rather look at a corpse then keep your promises anyway."
"Did you really have to p-ss him off?" Chara asked.
'Does it look like I give a sh-t? I don't care. As arrogant as he is, someone needed to put him in his place.'
With that she left.
She walked past the hall to some stairs that lead to the throne room.
Inside the throne room was golden walls covered with vines.
The floor was covered with golden flowers.
A large brutish goat monster wearing a purple cape and yellow crown was carefully watering them.
He was humming a merry tune.
"That's the king?"
'I suppose. You mean to tell me you don't even recognize him?'
"Oh, is someone there? Just a moment I have almost finished watering these flowers. Here we are."
He turned.
"Howdy, how can I..."
His eyes widened with surprise.
He backed away.
"Oh I so badly want to say would you like a cup of tea but you know how it is."
He glanced around.
"Nice day today, huh? Birds are singing, flowers are blooming. Perfect weather for a game of catch."
His smile immediately soured.
He glanced at Frisk with determination.
His face looked alot like Toriel's.
"You know what we must do. When you are ready, come into the next room."
The king shuffled into the back room.
"I don't like this," Chara said.
Frisk followed Asgore close behind.
"How tense. Just think of it like a visit to the dentist."
"That would be some f-cked up dentist," Chara said. "Are we really going to confront him after that? If he is my dad..."
'Who says I'm going to kill him?'
"Who says you'll even be able to spare him?"
Frisk was quiet.
He walked to a door that she assumed lead to the exit of the underground.
"Are you ready? If you are not, I understand. I'm not ready either."
He headed inside.
Frisk soon followed.
Inside was a large room.
The walls rippled strangely almost like it was made of water.
Frisk drawn to it attempted to step closer but the king stopped her.
"No one can pass the barrier. If you move forward the barrier will kill you. It was created for that purpose. If by chance you have any unfinished business please do what you must."
"No, I've done everything that I could," said Frisk sadly.
"I see. This is it then, ready?" The king asked with a somber smile.
Frisk nodded.
Seven glass vials were summoned from the ground. Six of them had hearts inside. The same colored hearts as the ones of the tombs. Were those the human souls?
Frisk was horrified.
"Human, it was nice to meet you," he said, somberly. "Goodbye."
His purple cape was brushed aside exposing the armor underneath revealing an experienced warrior.
He took out a red trident and he threw it in her direction. Frisk was going to evade it but the trident wasn't heading for her at all.
Much to her surprise, it hit the ground near the exit setting the flowers and vines on fire blocking her exit.
The trident swung back into his hand.
"Sh-t, I think he means business," Chara said.
"Look I don't want to fight you. Surely we could just talk about this. You seem like a nice guy. I'll just give you my soul."
"It wouldn't be right to take your soul without a fight. It's the way we do things down here."
The king fired a line of fireballs out of his hand.
Frisk tried to run but was hit with two of the incoming fireballs.
"Argh," she cried out.
Her clothes burned and her hair on fire, Frisk barely could muster the strength to walk but still managed to slash him with her knife.
He wasn't dodging at all.
None of the monsters did except the mad dummy.
Asgore swung his trident at her. It glowed blue.
Frisk attempted to move out of the way but it hit her causing three x-shaped slashes across her chest.
She screamed.
"Make it stop. Please make it stop."
Blackness filled the edge of her vision. She felt dizzy.
'I just need to rest.' She thought closing her eyes before she slumped to the ground.
When she awoke, it was to the sight of black.
A shadowed figure stood in the distance.
"What am I doing here?"
"Isn't it obvious. You died."
Frisk awoke in the judgement hall.
'Huh.'
"You look like you've seen a ghost and I'm not talking about me either," Chara said.
She look down.
'Was that a dream? It felt so real.'
"Dream? What are you talking about?"
"You were there don't you remember. We saw Asgore in the throne room and he lead us to the barrier and then he barred the exit. Then he attacked and then I-"
Frisk felt for the wounds across her chest but nothing was there.
"Are you sure you're alright? You sound like you have a screw loose."
Frisk sighed.
'I'm not crazy. I'll prove it to you. If anyone knows what's going on it'd have to be Sans.'
She walked ahead.
Sans was there.
Frisk was surprised.
"So you're finally here. Took you long enough."
"You already said that. What is going on?"
Sans looked surprised.
"what are you talking about, bud? this is the first time we've see each other since we met in hotland."
"Huh? Then why are you here? Are you going to judge me again?" Frisk asked.
"have we had this conversation before then?"
"Yeah, we did. Don't act dumb."
"i'm sorry, kiddo. i don't know what you're talking about."
"Wait, are you serious? I thought if anyone might know it'd be you especially after all that talk about special powers and everything."
"it was only a hypothetical scenario."
"So time travel wouldn't happen to be this special power you are referring to then?"
"Time travel!?" Chara asked. "What are you talking about?"
"Did the other humans who fell have that kind of power too?"
Sans shrugged.
"Before you asked me if someone has a special power if it's their responsibility to use it wisely."
"i've asked you that before?"
"I believe my answer was that it's up to the one who created that power. Back then though you weren't referring to just any old power you were referring to the power to time travel to undo any mistakes in the past."
"that's right."
"Then did you suspect that I might have this power too?"
"i have."
'Huh, looking back on it sheds a whole new light on the subject.'
The reason Sans had given her a strict judgement was not because he was being callous for her well-being but rather because she had the ability to time travel and overwrite her past mistakes.
'It also means that during his time here that he's witnessed someone using this power to toy with everyone. Still that person would have to be crazy to do it if the only way to use this power is if you've died. Maybe he doesn't know that.'
"How much do you know about it?"
"what do you mean?"
"Exactly what I said. Do you know what triggers it or why I have it in the first place?"
"beats me."
"Then my answer is the same. I think it's clear that without knowing the origins of this power or how it's used that I would have no responsibility of my actions. Now if this power was made for me to decide how to use it then I think it should be obvious about how it should be used."
"really?"
"Even the most dim-witted moron would pick the obviously moral choice unless they were f-cked up in the head, a psychopath or a sociopath."
Sans chuckled.
"Still if I had this power in my hands and I could control it then no one would die if I could help it.
"it would give me comfort if you weren't lying."
Frisk walked past Sans.
"What's this really about?"
"why did you kill my brother?" he inquired softly.
"I didn't," Frisk said. "Something else did but it doesn't matter if you believe me. It makes little difference to me."
Sans was quiet.
"i believe you though. i know it's probably a foolish thing to do. i never trust my instincts but i have a feeling you're telling the truth."
"That was weird," Chara said.
Sans disappeared.
Flowey emerged from behind her.
"Have you realised it yet? You have the ability to change the world, the ability to go back and make a better decision. The ability to influence the world as you see fit. I had that ability once until you fell down here."
"You? Are you the one who was toying with everyone?"
"So what if I did? I was bored. You can forgive your old pal, Flowey can't you?"
"Why would I do that?"
"It doesn't matter. The king's still in his throne room watering the flowers as we speak. It's only a matter of time before you face the inevitable."
Frisk walked outside the throne room and peered inside. She was horrified to discover that Flowey was right.
The second time hearing the conversation was more chilling once Frisk was in the barrier room once again.
"If by chance you have any unfinished business please do what you must."
Frisk left.
"I understand I'll be waiting for your return."
As Frisk headed out she nearly stepped on Flowey.
"Running away, huh? I know what you're thinking. If you're planning to ask smiley trashbag more about your powers, forget about it. That skeleton knows more than you think he does. If he discovers about you it won't end up good for you. He'll-Well let's just say he's caused me more than my fair share of resets."
"What could he possibly do?" Frisk asked.
"Does it matter?" Flowey asked. "You thought I was strong, let's just say he's stronger. He was trained by the king after all."
'Trained by the king huh? Was the king, the person responsible for teaching Sans about EXP and LV?'
"Well I guess I'll just have to risk it."
"Don't say I didn't warn you."
She took the elevator to the resort and headed out reaching the elevator that lead back to Hotland.
Frisk decided to pay a visit to the lab.
She knocked on her door.
"who is it?"
"It's me, the human."
Alphys opened the door.
"come in."
"what are you doing here?' she asked.
"I was about to confront the king."
"oh."
"I needed to talk to someone but I didn't have the courage."
"i'm not brave either. no one is really brave. not even the king. he only needs one human soul to cross the barrier but he never because he didn't have the courage to leave his people behind."
"Do you know?"
"know about what?" she asked.
"Sans told me that I have the ability to use time travel."
"oh, you mean the ability to reset. i-i don't know if all humans have this ability. though the ones that did fall could change the past on a whim."
"How? Did you ever find out how they get this ability?"
"want a cup of noodles? i have a feeling it's gonna be a while."
Frisk nodded.
Alphys put water in the cup and placed it in the microwave in her lad.
"yes, i did. i discovered the secret in blueprints from the former royal scientist, a substance known as determination. unfortunately the substance is highly unstable. Monsters' bodies aren't made for that stuff and the bodies just melt."
"So that's what she meant."
"Huh? Who?"
"Undyne, before when we were fighting."
Alphys looked horrified.
"Y'mean she's dead? She told me she was training."
"Look I'm sorry about what I did. I tried to spare her life. Truly I did."
"It isn't your fault. she's too stubborn for her own good," she said, tears coming from the corners of her eyes.
"After her body started to melt I was sure she was dead but she still kept fighting until the very end."
Alphys' eyes widened.
"You mean you couldn't run before?"
Frisk shook her head.
"i wonder."
"What is it?" Frisk asked curiously.
"I always assumed that determination affected all monsters the same way," Alphys said. "Why didn't I think of that. That's the very natural fabric of her being and it didn't effect her until she was dead. What happened after that?"
"Well she faded to dust."
Alphys sighed.
"Oh."
"You sound like you're disappointed."
"it's nothing," Alphys said. "i'm just thinking if only you had the ability to go back in time. If by chance you accidentally killed her again if you could extract her soul. That's probably a nasty thought to have though."
"Doesn't that kill a monster?"
Alphys laughed nervously.
"u-usually. i know it doesn't seem like it but she really is a nice person. i saw letters she wrote to the parents of the fallen souls. I know it isn't enough but she was trying. Sans told me what happened so I checked her house."
Ding.
"Is that the noodles?" Frisk asked.
"Yes, the microwave is upstairs."
"Then I'll get them."
As Frisk headed upstairs she caught sight of the letters next to her computer labelled with the names of Doggo, Froggit and Snowdrake.
"So why are the monsters writing you? Are you their penpal or something?" Frisk asked.
"something like that. they're asking about their relatives. a few years back i did an experiment and they all turned to dust. i haven't developed the courage to tell them."
"What would you do it I could extract her soul anyway? The entire underground would try to kill me and if I die won't it all just revert back to the way it was before." Frisk asked.
"that isn't quite true," Alphys said. "y'know the boxes scattered along the underground. the contents of them are always there no matter which time you put them there. how do you think we knew about the resets? the boxes are the only things that aren't affected by time. we keep all our journals in there from the previous timelines."
"Really?"
'That's why Tony's journal entries were out of order because he reset.'
"y-yeah."
"Y'know that's kind of useful. Still if the box can do this? How? Guess whoever created the boxes had to know how to manifest determination."
'Makes sense considering Sans' science background.'
"you still have your phone right?" Alphys asked.
Frisk nodded.
"Can I see it for a moment?"
"Sure."
She took it out and handed it to Alphys.
She took it and ran upstairs returning it to Frisk.
"your phone now should be able to access the boxes littered around the underground so you can access them at anytime."
"Thanks Alphys."
"want to play some video games before you leave?"
"Sure. What kind of console do you have?"
"a Sintenda."
"Really, that's like 70 years old."
"I got pony quest I and mew mew kissy cutie dating simulator."
"Pony Quest is my favorite game."
"yeah i got really far into it. i'm at the part where i have to save the princess to complete the next quest."
"Ooh, can I play?"
"s-sure."
She put Pony Quest in the Sintendo and turned it on.
Frisk saw the main character talk to the King reciting Alphys' lv and experience.
"Say Alphys why is your character at LV 1 in the first place. Doesn't that make the game harder?"
"well isn't it a goal to resolve things in the game as peacefully as possible. that's what a hero does doesn't he?"
"The monsters must have killed you alot."
She chuckled.
"i know that's why i rigged the sintendo so it could make save states."
"Still what if the final boss is unable to be defeated at that LV?"
"well if a game was made like that couldn't you just program a different outcome?"
"That would ruin the point of the game wouldn't it?"
"but the object of the game is to defeat the ponylord not the monsters that are blindly loyal to him. the ponylord was the one who brainwashed all the monsters. being a monster myself i could relate a little bit."
"So you couldn't beat the pony guarding the princess then?"
"well yeah."
"You wouldn't mind if I grind the LV off the metal jellies would you?"
Alphys chuckled nervously.
"it's fine as long as you don't make a hard save. i could save state whenever you need."
"Ok."
Hours later, Frisk got the hero to LV 10 and headed to the dungeon to rescue the princess.
After defeating the monster, the princess addressed the hero.
"Alphys, since you rescued me, would you please escort me back to my castle?" she asked.
Frisk selected 'no'.
"But thou must."
"Don't you hate that about video games?"
"huh?"
"When they give the player the option to make a decision but it doesn't really amount to much like it's some etched inevitability written in that reality."
"i don't know it seems more like it's stopping the player from making a decision that goes against the character's own virtues. a hero would never abandon a princess in a dungeon with an evil pony unless they were a scummy person to begin with. perhaps that was the purpose behind it."
"Oh."
She continued to play until they got to the inn.
"Looks like you had a nice night," the innkeeper in the game said.
Alphys chuckled.
"w-wow, that dialogue was just laced with innuendo."
"Well I guess that's where I'll stop. This was fun. Maybe we can do it again sometime."
"i-i'd like that. good luck with your quest alright," she said, before she embraced Frisk.
With that Frisk left and headed to Snowdin hoping Sans could provide her with advice.