Once school started, Frisk saw less of MK and Noelle. They also spent most of the day at home alone, as Toriel taught their class. They worked on the assignments she gave them hoping to bring them up to the appropriate grade level.

But some days they had nothing to do. They either didn't get anything from Toriel or they finished their work before she got home. When that happened, it left them alone and bored out of their mind.

Surely there must be something you can do, the voice suggested.

'Not really,' Frisk signed. 'I got all of mom's work done and my friends are busy.'

What about those skeletons? You like hanging out with them.

'Papyrus has training with Undyne and I'm still not comfortable hanging around her. As for Sans, he's on patrol right now so I don't think he has time for me.'

Patrol or sleeping?

'Doesn't matter.' Frisk let out a sigh. Surely there was something they could do until Toriel got back. They couldn't go to her school, as she was in Waterfall.

Just then they heard a knock on the door.

"Hello? Is anyone home?" a deep voice asked.

Isn't that the king? What's he doing here?

Frisk walked over to the door, opening it and letting the large Boss Monster in. "Howdy," he greeted Frisk, who waved in response.

'What are you doing here?' they asked.

"Well, I thought you might like some company," he answered. "Since your mother is busy and your friends are occupied I was wondering if I might stick around."

'I'm not sure,' Frisk nervously signed.

"I promise I won't bite," Asgore consoled. "If you wish to stay in the house, that is fine. I will be gone before Tori gets back. And if you have any questions, just let me know."

Frisk twiddled their fingers for a while before deciding to ask something. 'Well, I do have a few questions if you don't mind.'

"By all means, share them." Asgore walked over to the couch and sat down. Though he still had his big shoulder guards on, his cape parted to reveal he was wearing a pink floral shirt and jeans.

'Well, first question is about you and mom,' Frisk signed. 'You two were together before, weren't you?'

Asgore looked down sadly. "Yes. She was my wife."

'What's a "wife"?'

Asgore looked surprised when Frisk signed that. "A wife… geez, how do I explain this?" He held his head in his hand. "Well, when two people love each other enough and they want to be together, they… have a ceremony of sorts where they are joined together. The man in the pairing is called a husband and the woman is the wife. At least, that's the traditional way."

Frisk scratched their head. They thought they understood all that. It was still confusing, though.

Asgore sighed. "Were your parents… not together in that way? Was anyone you knew?"

Frisk thought on that for a while. 'I don't think so.'

Now Asgore looked astonished. "Well, back to your original question, yes, Toriel and I used to be together. For a long time."

'But you're not anymore. Why?' Asgore looked down sadly, so Frisk walked closer so he could still see them. 'Was it because of the war? It was because you said any humans that came here were to die, right?'

Asgore nodded. "Yes. She was disgusted with my actions. I have not seen her for years. Not until I first saw you."

Frisk wasn't sure what to say to that. 'Next question. I know some other humans came here before me. How many?'

Asgore sighed. "You're the eighth human to have fallen here."

Frisk was scared to ask this next question, but they knew they had to. 'And what happened to the other seven?'

"They're all dead," Asgore admitted sadly.

'Did… did you kill them?'

"No," Asgore said. "But I might as well have for six of them. They died because of my order."

'What about the seventh?'

"They died of an illness," he explained.

Frisk thought on that for a while. 'You need Souls to break the barrier, right? So where are the Souls of those others?"

Asgore hummed in thought. "I think I see why you are asking. It's for your own peace of mind. Assurance that I do not plan to harm you in any way."

Frisk nodded. The large Monster stood up. "Come with me then." He extended a hand and Frisk seemed nervous to take it. "I promise, I will not harm you."

'Can I trust that?'

"I am a king. To break that is to bring disgrace to myself."

Frisk considered that for a moment before taking Asgore's hand.


Asgore carried them through the entire Underground on their way to his castle. Everyone he passed waved at him and greeted him. Frisk was so small in comparison to him that they went unnoticed. He carried them all the way to New Home, which Frisk noticed was grey and bustling with activity and was very similar to the Ruins.

He brought them through his house, which was the same as Toriel's in the Ruins, except for the lack of color. He brought them through the basement and through a golden corridor to the Throne Room, then beyond it, through an empty room behind it. He brought them to an archway, which looked identical to the ones Frisk saw in the Ruins.

On the other side was a massive, nondescript wall that went from black to white.

"This is the Barrier," Asgore explained. "This is what keeps us all trapped underground."

It was somewhat mesmerizing to Frisk. But now they could see why it was called that. No other word fit it except 'barrier'.

Asgore walked to a certain part of the room, stepping on the floor. Seven jars rose from the floor, six containing a colored heart. The seventh was empty.

"And these… these are the Souls we have," he said sadly. He set Frisk down so they could examine them.

'So… these are what Souls look like?'

"Human Souls, yes," Asgore explained. "Alphys told me yours is red."

Frisk placed a hand on their chest. Right. When they met that flower, he had shown them their Soul.

'Wait. Do Monster Souls look different?'

"Yes," Asgore said. "Our Souls are white and would seem upside down to you."

Frisk looked at each of the human Souls in turn, eventually looking at the empty jar. They pointed to it, hoping that asked the question.

"Seven humans made the Barrier. The only way it can be unmade is if the equivalent struck it."

Frisk counted the jars and realized what that meant. 'You only need one more. Mine.'

"Yes," Asgore confirmed. "But as you have said, the surface is not safe at the time. Taking your Soul would ultimately accomplish nothing."

Frisk looked at the empty jar one more time. Seeing the effect it was having on them, Asgore returned the jars to the floor.

"It is alright, Frisk," he assured. "I will not have you executed for our freedom. As I have told you; you are safe here. As long as you live here, we will care for you as best we can."

Frisk looked at where the Souls disappeared. They were still nervous. But then again, no one knew they used to be human and Asgore seemed sincere in his promise. Perhaps they could trust him after all. 'Okay. I believe you.'

Asgore knelt down and hugged them. Frisk tensed for a moment, but ultimately relaxed and hugged him back. 'Thanks for everything you have done so far.'

Asgore pulled back from the hug. "You're welcome. I know Tori still doesn't trust me yet, but I will keep this promise. Anything you need, I will provide."

'Well, can you take me back home? Mom's going to wonder where I am if I'm not there when she gets back.'

Asgore lightly chuckled. "I will really be in trouble if that happens. Let's get you home."


A few days after Asgore's visit, Frisk got to spend time with their friends. It was the weekend and they had managed to finish their homework early. MK brought them out into the forest talking about school and how he and Noelle were doing.

"It's going great! Your mom is super nice and she's really happy with her job," MK said.

'I would think so,' Frisk signed.

"Me and Noelle have desks right next to each other," MK explained. "She also helps me out with various things and we've done a couple projects together. She's also talking more, though she's still kinda quiet."

"It's hard to speak with so many people," she defended.

"Well, you don't have to worry about that here with us," MK said. "It's just the three of us. She's also been helping me learn sign language so I can understand you."

'That's great!'

"Yeah, it's aweso-" MK tripped and fell on his face.

"You okay?" Noelle asked.

MK shot right back up. "I'm great! Might want to be careful, though. It's kinda icy here, it seems."

"Good idea," Noelle agreed.

"Alright, where was I?" MK mused. "Oh, right! Anyway, I'm learning more and more sign language. Noelle and I also have lunch in the cafeteria together."

"People keep teasing us about it," she said quietly.

"But it's cool. We just talk when we're not eating," MK said.

'I'm a little jealous,' Frisk admitted. 'I wish I could join you, but it might not be for another year.'

"Just keep studying and you'll get it," MK encouraged.

"Right," Noelle agreed.

'I'm doing my best,' Frisk signed. 'But there's so much I have to catch-" Frisk was cut off as they felt themself start to slip on a slide of ice. They tried to get traction, but they just slid faster. Noelle and MK weren't as affected. They tried to grab Frisk before they could slide too far, but they just missed them. Frisk tried to keep their feet under them, but they slipped and fell, sliding down a slope. They tried to get a grip with their claws, but they were too short and too dull to be useful.

Frisk got a look at where they were going and it ended in a steep cliff. They scrambled for purchase but the ice was too hard. MK tried to help, but he stopped before he would start sliding, Noelle right behind him.

Frisk tried one last time to get a handhold on the ice, but it didn't work and they flew right over the edge, screaming the whole way.


Flowey jerked as something happened. He looked around at the snow-covered forest he was in, disoriented.

"What just happened?" he wondered. He recalled looking for the kid in Waterfall, now he was suddenly back in Snowdin. But how did he get here? He had spent all day traveling…

Then it hit him. He had been sent back. Or rather, the whole world had been. Which meant only one thing: the human had loaded their Save. Which meant something had to have gone wrong. He smiled. He had been wondering if the kid had that power, as Flowey had never experienced the sensation before, despite no longer having it.

But why would the human have reloaded? And where to? Flowey was still looking for them and he had covered every part of the Underground several times looking for them. Where were they?

Well, he might as well start looking. Somewhere the kid was probably disoriented. He had to find them before they could get their bearings.


Frisk slowly woke up in their bed. What had just happened? That dream felt so real.

Frisk! The voice shouted, causing them to bolt up. What was… and you just… what happened?

'What do you mean?' they signed.

You… you were falling. You were falling off a cliff. And you… didn't you…

'Wait… did you see that dream?'

That wasn't a dream. That was real. You… you DIED. But… you're not dead. How are you not dead?

"Frisk!" Toriel shouted. "It is time to get up."

Frisk got up, going through their normal routine, the voice still confused and ranting about the dream. Was it a dream, though? Frisk had had realistic dreams before, but those were only memories. And the voice never mentioned it could see their dreams.

Frisk went to the kitchen, where Toriel was just finishing up breakfast, which was pie. Again.

Frisk sat down in the chair as Toriel served them a slice. The voice noted that it was the exact same size as last time. Frisk paid it no mind. After having it for breakfast so many times, they all just blended together.

As they ate, Toriel talked to them about what she had planned for school next week, which, Frisk noted, was exactly what she said in the dream. The rest of the day went as normal, though Frisk couldn't help but notice that it all went exactly like it did in the dream. Because of that, they had a slight feeling of dread when Toriel answered the phone and said that MK and Noelle had finished their homework early and were already on their way to spend the day with them.

They went to the forest and MK repeated the exact same lines as before about school.

"It's going great! Your mom is super nice and she's really happy with her job," MK said.

'I would think so,' Frisk signed.

"Me and Noelle have desks right next to each other," MK explained. "She also helps me out with various things and we've done a couple projects together. She's also talking more, though she's still kinda quiet."

'Well, I would think it would be hard with so many people,' Frisk signed, taking a stab at what Noelle would say, which surprised the girl, who had been about to speak.

"Yes, exactly," she agreed.

Interesting that it was the exact same thing in your dream, the voice said.

"Well, you don't have to worry about that here with us," MK said. "It's just the three of us. She's also been helping me learn sign language so I can understand you."

'That's great!'

MK trips here. Catch him.

"Yeah, it's aweso-" MK tripped, but Frisk managed to get him before he could fall on his face.

'Careful, it's icy,' Frisk warned.

"Yeah. Thanks for the save, dude," MK said.

"How did you react so fast?" Noelle asked.

'Just a hunch,' Frisk signed. 'Um, maybe I should hold on to one of you. You know, in case I start sliding.'

"Good idea," MK agreed. "Don't want you flying off a cliff."

Frisk held Noelle's hand as they kept walking and Frisk held fast when they felt the ground get slipperier. They held on to Noelle's hand as they walked and talked, until they were walking on snow again.

You managed to avoid falling to your death this time, the voice said. But… how did you come back?

Frisk would have talked to the voice but they were more interested in their friends' conversation than anything. But Frisk still had that feeling of dread until they got home. That dream wasn't a dream. Did that really happen? Frisk hoped not.


Sans had a weird feeling of déjà vu all day as Papyrus talked to him about how his training with Undyne was going and how he hoped to formally introduce Frisk to her. When Papyrus went off to train, Sans went to his workshop, deciding to check the timeline readings. It felt like he had done all that before.

He looked it over and what he found was interesting. According to the machine, time had stopped, then started again from an earlier point, specifically the morning, when everyone was getting up. But what happened? Did the kid do something? He was still certain that Frisk was the anomaly despite the lack of proof. But if they were, then what happened? Why go back only a few hours?

Well, it didn't feel like anything important had happened anyway, so no reason to mull over it. If the kid only traveled the one time and nothing huge happened, then whatever it was must have been small so he didn't have to worry about it. He would just continue to let things keep going the way they were.

Not like he could change it. If the kid really was in control, then nothing he did would matter in the end. It was all up to Frisk. Unless they did something that meant he had to intervene, then he would just let the kid do as they pleased.


Frisk got ready for bed, getting beneath the covers. They waited for Toriel to come in and read a story to them. As they waited, the voice spoke.

Don't tell me you didn't notice, he said. Almost everything that day happened exactly like your 'dream'.

'What are you saying?'

That it was no dream. That really happened. And the only reason it didn't all happen again was because of what you did. You changed it.

They were cut off as Toriel walked in. "Ready?" she asked.

"Sure," Frisk actually said, getting comfortable under the covers.

Toriel read a new story this time and Frisk was drowsy now. Once she finished, she closed the book, kissed them on the head, then closed the door to their room allowing them to sleep in the dark.

Anyway, the voice continued, don't tell me you found that the whole day repeated to be odd.

"Sleep," Frisk murmured, too tired to open their eyes and sign.

Come on! Time looped! Surely that warrants an extensive conversation, in addition to the fact you died.

"Didn't. Sleep."

Fine. Whatever. Get your winks in. I'll just be pondering on all of this myself.

"Whatever." Frisk relaxed and sleep took them away. But the voice remained up, thinking on all that.

What happened? Why did things repeat? They died and yet they woke up in the past. So, what is going on? It felt like we woke up from a bad dream. Did I have something to do with it? I know I died. But… no, that doesn't make sense. I don't know how I came back or how I died, but I doubt either has any role in what happened. But… time travel. How did they do that? What caused it?

Think. Think! What do you know about them? You know they used to be human. Humans… have very strong Souls. Would that do it? No. It just allows them to persist after death. Nothing else. Right?

Urgh. Why can't I remember my own past? What happened to me and why am I here? Why can't I remember anything about who I am? Did it have to do with the way I died or something? Or with the way I was brought back? I didn't even know I was dead at first. I can remember more and more of who I was and used to be, but only pieces and even then, those have gaps. Who am I?

End of Chapter 11