One World, Many Souls

by Halloween Witch

With a quick use of Sans' magic, we had returned to our home on the surface. The lovely three-story home sat quietly among the trees under the moonlight. Sans always loved to teleport just outside the door and glance at it before walking in. He was a little less lazy since coming to the surface. So much to learn. So much to do. So much to love. SEQUEL TO "TWO WORLDS, TWO SOULS"

4. Struggling

One World; Many Souls

Chapter 4: Struggling

Angel's Point of View:

"Hey Sis. I'm home. Brought Azzy with me."

"Wh-hey! Frisk!"

But my cries fell on deaf ears as my sister rushed upwards to her room without a care in the world to interact with me. I could only assume it was a teen phase where she hated the world. I knew I wasn't the best as a teen, though most of that temperament had to be put on hold while I raised my sister.

I sighed as she vanished from sight and secluded herself to the solitude of her room. Left to groan in irritation, I tried to calm myself before turning to my guest. Asriel stood there cautiously as it was the two of us. We had not had much for quality time together alone since the barrier broke and he went to live with his parents again.

"Good afternoon, Azzy." I showed him a smile. I didn't want him to know how awkward I felt. More so from my sister just dumping him on me than anything... "How are you today?"

"I'm fine." His voice was beginning to drop and his horns had grown out a bit more since the last time I'd seen him. He looked a lot more like his mother then he did his father. "And you?"

"As well as can be." I chuckled at him before rubbing my arm. "Frisk is being a rightful teen, a pain in my butt."

That earned a chuckle out of him, though it still sounded awkward. He shifted easily from one foot to the other. He didn't appear to know how to proceed. Then again, neither did I.

But that didn't stop me from trying to help the poor soul.

"How have things been at home? Have you been learning a lot?" Easily to keep myself moving and distracted from the awkward moment, I hurried to the kitchen where I was making a snack. "Would you like anything to eat?"

"Uh... you don't have to make anything for me..."

"Oh Azzy, don't worry about it. I have snacks galore around with two men around and a teen." I easily opened the crockpot I had to smell the barbeque meatballs I had made. I couldn't help but drool lightly at the smell. "I just made a large batch if you'd like some?"

"S-sure."

Quickly did I prepare a bowl for him of the delicacy. Easily did the goat male watch the item with wide eyes before taking a careful bite. Careful chewing, his eyes widened at the taste.

"I forgot how good your food was."

"Why thank you." I smiled at him while I ate a few bites myself, hungry at the moment and craving calories. "Now relax a bit, I promise I won't bite you head off, regardless of whatever Frisk will say."

"Yeah..."

Asriel seemed to settle at least a tad in those moments from my comment. He enjoyed his food while the two of us rested at the counter. I didn't feel like sitting in those moments.

Asriel's expression changed as he stood by me, drastically did it sour on his muzzle. I gave him a moment to collect his thoughts. There was no use of me demanding things from him, they would come naturally of their own accord.

"Angel?"

I lifted my head to look at the worried goat male.

"Yes?"

"Do you hate me?"

"Hate you?" I blinked at the male. Taking a quick bite to appease my stomach, I focused in on him. "Why would you say that?"

Asriel paused. He didn't say much as he sat there at the counter. Focusing on the food, I had to think instead and try to pry it out of him.

"I'm assuming your talking about when you were a flower and tried to kill Frisk and I?"

When he didn't respond and only lowered his head, I knew I hit the nail on the head.

I sighed. "Well... before everything ironed out, of course I was weary of you. You were a flower that tried to kill my sister and I. How could I not?"

"Yeah..." Asriel muttered. His gaze focused in on the bowl before him, though I knew the food was the last thing on his mind.

"But that changed the day that we broke free of the underground." Remembering back to that day was something that still held great memories for me, even with the fear and adrenaline coursing through me at the time. "When the battle was over and Frisk had saved the others from you in your demented state, I think you were turning more back into your own self as the souls left you. The magical science that kept you trapped in the body of a flower was receded enough at that point, but you also weren't overwhelmed by power. I think you reverted back to how you were and realized what you had done wrong. You begged for someone to save you. Frisk and I... we couldn't watch you suffer from such a fate."

The goat male cursed. "W-what if I was faking it?"

I raised an eye brow. "Were you?"

He didn't answer.

"Regardless if you were acting or not, I could hear the absolute fear in your voice. You were terrified of becoming a flower again. You begged for you parents, for anyone, to save you." I paused for a moment to allow the male to absorb that information. "Everyone deserves a second chance. You were killed far too young, living a life of isolation. That would mess with anyone's mental stability. I... like to believe that you weren't fully aware of your actions when you were a flower, but are more so now that you have a soul again."

The goat prince raised his head, eyes wide at my statement. He blinked wildly at me before I saw his lip wobble.

"H-how did you know?"

"Like I said, it was a guess." I sighed and took another bite of my food. After I ate, I let my fingers trail over the male's head. "It was just what I'd pieced together after all that time. I'm glad that things worked out and that you came back for your parents, even if I'm sure things are harder than they used to me."

"Mom and Dad... they separated... I watched them as a flower..." His head fell into his hands. "I approached my mother once. I... I couldn't say anything... I-I didn't know what to do..."

I nodded in understanding. "That would be hard on anyone."

"They... aren't even really together now... They talk... and live on either side of the castle... They try to hide it... but I'm so confused..."

"They're trying to do what they can for you..." I felt so much sorrow coming from the boy as all sorts of terrible situations passed through his head. "A lot of things happened when you and Chara died. They did bad things... And they're trying to work together to raise you, but also see about healing the rift between them."

His tear-filled eyes looked at me. "D-do you think they can do it?"

"It's hard to say..." Biting my lip, I trailed off. Worried if I should say much more.

"Wh-what did they do?"

"I don't know if I should be saying that..."

"Angel... please tell me..." I could see him struggle to hide a scowl. He jumped to his feet and I struggled to hold him from running off. "I'll ask Frisk! She'll tell me. I know she knows."

"Okay... fine... I'll tell you. Just... try to understand that they were both very confused and hurt when all the things they did happened." The male sat back down with a scowl on his face, but he listened and waited. "From what I'd heard... your father was furious that you were killed by humans. He raged and called upon war with the humans above if he ever escaped the underground. He was infuriated. He'd just lost both of his children, one of them even being human herself."

I paused for a moment to look at Asriel's face as he processed the information. His face had softened a bit, he sucked in a deep breath while listening into the information.

"After your father turned to rage, your mother was afraid of what her husband had turned into. She left both her place as his partner and the queen. She vanished, and hid in the ruins for years. She ran away from her responsibilities while Asgore had to shoulder them all as well as the pain on his own."

Tears began to fall while Asriel sat beside me. He tried to hide it, as most men did. They hated it when others saw them cry. Quickly did he attempt to wipe the tears away while looking anywhere but at me.

"Then your father asked Wingdings and Alphys to work on a project to use Chara's magic and your dust to try and bring even one of you back. Which as you know, turned you into that terrible flower-"

"But he didn't know that I would be like that!"

"No, but that didn't sit well with your mother knowing that their son's dead ashes and daughter's remaining magic were used to create a terrible creature that was attempting to kill everyone."

That made Asriel clamp his mouth shut. A heated breath left him while he clenched his fists. Quickly having a very vivid idea of what he was thinking of, I placed a hand on his knee.

"Your parents, they're wonderful people who made mistakes due to their own suffering. No way at all was it your fault. Please don't think that."

"But if I never died this wouldn't have happened!"

"Asriel..."

I sighed, feeling the same terrible knot welling up in my stomach when it made me think back to the dark times before I fell into the underground. Right after my uncle had lost his life when I defended myself. When I used to think so terribly, but had to think of Frisk and swallow down any terrible thoughts or desires.

"You're just going down a destructive path of self-hate."

"Shut it!"

"Asriel, it's not your fault."

He turned on me in a second. "How would you know?"

With a deep sigh, I tried to hold back my stronger emotions. I could feel the sting. I could feel Sans' soul a distance away trying to sooth whatever discomfort I was feeling.

"I always thought it was my fault my parents died."

The angry teen froze when he heard those words. Lifting my eyes just enough, I saw him stiffly standing beside me, shock and fear. His jaw actually dropped a bit as he stared at me.

"I always wondered if it was my fault that my uncle hit me? Was it my fault that my uncle hated both Frisk and I? Was I a bad person? And don't even get me started on when I made it to the underground. I can't tell you how many times I wondered if it was my fault for all the terrible things that happened to Sans and his people, or that people would hate me for being associated with the person who actually had done it. My great grandfather."

"B-but that's not your fault!"

"And?" I felt some of my hands shaking as I unintentionally let the fear get to me. The air that left me was unsteady. I hated how easily I still let that terrible man control me, or the fears that I'd dealt with years ago. "An endless path of self-hate. You know it's not your fault, but you let yourself believe that it is. Or worse, convince yourself that it is when you're just a child who got caught in the middle of some terrible mess."

Asriel watched me carefully in those moments. He stood there, not sure of what to say. Perhaps I knew even somewhat of what he was going through. It may have been different scenarios, but a similar patter or the same end result.

Asriel gasped in those same moments and backed away from me carefully. His eyes followed someone behind me, but I moved not a muscle. I already knew who had appeared in my home.

"I worried you, didn't I?"

With a deep groan, Sans plopped down behind me. Skilled hands pulled me toward him to lay against his form. His arms wrapped around my hips, pulling me back carefully to him.

"Thought I told ya it ain't yer fault?"

"Old habits die hard, Darling." I felt his fingers dance against my shoulders. He attempted to sooth me. Sans was the only one who truly knew almost all terrible things that had taken place in my younger life. He had a similar understanding of past demons. Our own beginning friendship had begun with our mutual protection of our younger siblings.

"I-I'm sorry Angel…"

Carefully looking away from my husband, Asriel stood there awkwardly with some shaking to his own fingers. He gripped at his clothing; eyes hidden behind tuffs of fur that acted like bangs on him. The poor male looked absolutely shattered as tears silently fell to the floor as he kept unconsciously digging himself in a deeper hole.

"Asriel, I want you to know that in no way shape or form do I hate or blame you for anything that's happened." I would have tried to get up to comfort the male, but Sans had me pinned to him. I doubt my husband would be letting me go in those moments, but I hated to let Asriel stand there and suffer. "Come here, won't you?"

The gentle soft words of mine seemed to resonate with the teen. Slowly, ever so slowly, he came and sat down beside us. I was afraid to push him, but the male looked so much like he needed a hug, some form of comfort. My fingers guiding him to rest his head against my shoulder, his body against mine while Sans continued to hold me from the opposite side.

"I told you those things because I want you to understand that there are others who know even part of what you're going through. Perhaps not everything, your case is unique, but many of us understand those feelings going through your heart. We understand the thoughts going through your head. Both Sans, myself, Papyrus and Frisk have all suffered in our own way. Though their terrible situations, we had to do everything we could to survive. And I don't want you to think that these words of mine are supposed to undermine yours. I just want you to understand that there are others here who you can confide in, and they may do the same."

Asriel didn't say anything, but silent sobbing did come about. His shoulders shook against my own. I carefully wrapped my arms around him. Sans even took one of his own hands to rub over the top of the boy's head. No audible sound came from the younger male other then his shaky breathing as he tried to keep quiet.

He wasn't ready to open up, and that was okay. I just wanted him to know that he was welcome and could talk to us if he wanted.

It felt like quite a long time before the teen was able to lift his head from myself. Blood shot eyes I could barely see peak out from under his fur. I used my fingers to brush it back just a bit out of the way.

But it was then that the silence was broken. Sans' phone went off and he quickly when to take care of it. I could see over my shoulder that it was Papyrus giving us a call, and Sans let out a chuckle.

"Heya Paps, what's up?"

"Sans! I am on my way home now, Brother!" The voice of Papyrus was always so loud that I could hear it even when the speaker function wasn't used. Sans pulled the phone away from the side of his skill, flinching at the loudness.

"Yer comin' home? Not that I ain't happy, Bro, but what's the occasion?"

"I have learned new dishes to try! I have also passed my latest of tests with flying colors! And! And Brother! There is no homework next week! The only assignment is for me to try and create a creative twist on a new food! And I had hoped that I could use you all as taste testers! Frisk always likes to eat and it seems that Azz is staying with us for the weekend! I will have four people to try my food!"

I had a sneaking suspicion that this "sudden unique assignment" was more along the lines of my sister's doing asking Papyrus for help. She was just beginning her teen phase and didn't seem comfortable asking me at all anymore like she used to. Or even Sans for that matter. Yet, it hardly mattered. Having Asriel over for a longer period of time perhaps would let him ease up a bit. Our family, while chaotic at times, could be very involved with helping friends and family when they were down.

"Well, it looks like you've been invited to join us this weekend." I turned my attention back to the stunned teen in my arms. He was still to overwhelmed I thought to respond immediately. "But it is your choice. Would you like to get a few of your things? I think Tori mentioned you having a long weekend. You're welcome to stay as long as you want. Perhaps you can help me nip that nasty attitude of my sister's in the butt."

The goat teen watched me carefully with wishful eyes that were slowly gaining back their paleness after calming down from crying. He couldn't keep his eyes off of me, and I had a sneaking suspicion that he was wondering if all the words I said to him were true.

But he was the one who had to take that leap of faith. I could only offer him the soft cushion to land on after he jumped.

"C-can I?"

"Of course, you can. We have an extra room all for you. But fair warning, Papyrus does get up early like I do and tends to make a lot of noise when making breakfast, don't stay up too late." With a giggle to my voice, I turned to my husband. "Sans? Help him get a few things for the weekend please."

"No problem, Precious. I'll let Tori know too that he's stayin' over." With a salute, Sans wiggled his phalange at the teen. "Come on, Kid. I'll get ya home ta let yer mom n' dad know. Then we'll back just in time for dinner. Sounds like Pap's gonna go nuts."

"I heard that, Brother!" The screech from the phone told me that Papyrus was not off the line yet. "I am picking up all I need now, Sister! I shall be home soon!"

"We'll see you soon Papy!"

With the line cut, it seemed all of us had finally found the energy to stand then. Asriel himself didn't stray far from me. I watched him let me stand before he near jumped at me for a much tighter hug that had been given before. He pulled back just to show me a wobbly smile. He was scared, he was frightful that he was making the largest mistake in his life, but he was trying. Taking those ever so gentle baby steps toward healing.

"Thanks Angel."

Witch's Note:

Damn... in its own way, this is wholesome, even during the sadder parts of it all when you realize just how hard it's been for Asriel. Unable to understand himself after all the years. And in the end, we don't truly know how he was feeling during that time. We can only guess as Angel has...

Mystic Girl: Still feels kinda weird, but whatever I guess.

Me: Some people may feel strange about this. But in the end, somehow Asriel came back instead of his sister. Chara isn't around and he has to deal with the wounds of what happened, whether he tells anyone or not. Or what he did as a flower. Since this is a world where there were no reset powers, at least as far as we're aware, we don't know exactly what he did as Flowey. We're not privy to that information unless he tells us.

Mystic Girl: So you know then!

Me: Maybe I do, maybe I don't.

Mystic Girl: (She pouted at me.) You're not planning on telling me or any of the others, are you?

Me: I don't know honestly. With writing certain characters, sometimes you don't get to learn everything. Look back to our last book we did for the readers where we took their ideas and showed them parts of the lives of others in the underground besides that of our main cast. That was an example of seeing what they were doing. From that alone we got one chapter where Asriel as Flowey we saw was trying his best to kill one of the girls, but the ghosts were preventing him. And he gave us his memories of the day he died. But none of the characters know his story. No one knows what he went through as of that moment except his sister who's passed. This is showing Asriel's struggle as he comes to look at these memories through a different mindset now that he has a soul and can think differently back on the matter now that he has emotions and can feel, whereas he couldn't before. The fight to live as his sister demanded is over. Now he has to live with what he's done and live now as a person.

Mystic Girl: I know, I know. Damn you went on a rant with that one.

Me: (I giggled lightly at her while I typed looking away from the screen.) Perhaps, but I find it's wonderful to see the different perspectives on the characters. Angel doesn't know what we know, so we get to see things from both sides. Angel is only guessing, and the only information she has is what she was told by Asriel's parents, what she read in history books, and what she saw on that day she gave him a fragment soul that clung to his body and grew.

Mystic Girl: (She sighed at me.) Okay, enough of you on the rant, can we move onto reviews please?

Me: Why I thought you'd never ask! Let's do that!

Thechaosmaster: I'm glad this helped in any way at all Chaos, we're really sorry for your loss. Losing someone close like that in any way is always a hard thing. Both Mystic Girl and I have lost a good number of people that were near and dear to us in our lives in recent years so we know what that's like.

Mystic Girl: (She quietly nods her head, but doesn't speak, thinking back to said people.)

Me: But never feel like you can't talk about things here if you want. But we're not pressuring you either. It's your choice to talk about personal things. We certainly talk about them enough here! Health issues, family issues, future plans, upcoming events, we talk about it all!

But I'm really stoked you liked the chapter. And we'll get to see him hopefully adapting to college life or see him on the weekends when he's free. Who knows!

Awe Chaos! What a lovely shade of red you are over there! It's cute! Kinda reminds me of when I first met my current boyfriend, let's call him... Jager (pronounced yay-ger). I was like that a lot when he complimented me all the time or said sweet things to me. It can be super embarrassing, but it's all meant well.

As for advice for dating? Or finding someone? Hm... Only thing I can tell you I learned from my relationships, know what you want, be upfront about it, be aware you may have to flex a bit on what you want, but don't let someone take it away from you entirely. Honesty is the best policy besides attraction, compatibility, and working together. Those things don't work together if you don't have those. Any thoughts to add Mystic Girl?

Mystic Girl: Oh yes! This is coming from your captain. My only advice is like Halloween said, know what you want, follow your heart, if you never ask any out before, and if your shy, grow a pair and ask them out. If that's the person you think you want to be with for a long period of time.

MysticBoywastaken: Well aren't you just turning on the charm! Wow, I feel like I'm looking in on a forbidden romance or something. I think I need to dip out of here and do something fun with my boyfriend now looking at this.

Oh! And your office? No problem at all! I'm glad you enjoyed it, we certainly had fun putting it together! Always happy to help!

Shadow8Phantom: No worries Shadow, part of the reason I post every Saturday and not more often is so I can 1) keep up, and 2) give you guys time to read and post if you choose.

But yes! Papyrus is going to college with a sweet red car! Nice! Wish I was that lucky...

As for Frisk...? You know, that's a good question. It's hard to tell with some teens, but I have seen some people in the past where something internal is going on as they get older and in their teen years they just turn angry. Kinda a look into my life, when I was a teen, I was teased by of kids before I switched schools and got away from the crowd of kids I went to middle school with. Now because I was teased all the time, I was just a really angry kid since people didn't leave me alone. They thought it was fun to pick on me. I got violent in some situations until they left me alone. Then I just kinda... stayed away from people and if they got too close in high school. Until I had to time to heal, I just didn't accept a lot of people. I cooled off when I got ready to graduate and move onto college, but that was a really hard time in my life. So if that helps relate to Frisk at all, I hope that helps.

But of course, who knows what the reason is for her being angry. So many things have happened in the couple of months alone that who knows?

Not A Shady Guy: I'm so glad you're enjoying this! Trust me, I love when I can provide the wholesomeness! Hoping everyone will see more of that as we go since lots of things are gonna happen soon!

And trust me, I'll need your help to keep those characters safe for the time being! They will be revealed shortly! You'll know!

Phew! I think we made it to the end! Love how we're starting to see how the lives of everyone is changing! Papyrus going off to school, Frisk being a moody teen, Angel taking over duties of the country with Sans, while he also has a part time job at the university as a professor. Damn... a lot has changed! Anyone got any guesses as to what's coming up next? Would love to hear them because something big is gonna happen in the next chapter!

Mystic Girl: Halloween! Don't tease them like that!

Me: Why not? It's fun! And you would totally do it if you could!

Mystic Girl: Shut up!

Me: Oh well, love you all and we're signing off until next week!

Halloween Witch and Mystic Girl