The town of Ebott was on the other side of the mountains: the trip to get to the embassy in town took about fifteen minutes The road followed a relatively flat path, which skirted the hills and crossed a wood. Frisk took advantage of the quietness of the road to grab a pink booklet from her bag. Inside, he kept a very detailed agenda on the program of the day: a meeting with the mayor of Ebott, discussions with certain senators and, finally, an important speech detailing the successful cohabitation between monsters and humans.

So much has happened that I barely had time to realize, thought Frisk in the back, who was checking his notes for the fifth time while listening to Papyrus rave behind the wheel.

Everyone had given so much to get this far. Both on the side of the monsters and the humans who supported them. The integration of the monsters had been a long calm river but, with patience and by showing this peaceful civilization, they had succeeded in making the inhabitants of the Surface accept a future together. Now it was a matter of making it official; on this day that would mark history for a long time, Frisk felt on his shoulders the weight of everyone's hopes and dreams.

Thinking about it, the child became nervous. Even after two years of acting as a monster ambassador, it was still… very intimidating.

What if he expresses the speech badly?

What if something terrible happens?

What if… I mess everything?

So, nothing you have accomplished will have been for anything.
By your OWN fault

Suddenly, he wanted to jump over the bridge that crossed the river, to reach the sea not far away and hide there among the fish. Although only Undyne would probably be capable of such a feat, while Frisk would certainly break his bones upon contact with the watery element, before drowning. Instead, the child preferred to address the person who only asked to be present for the others:

"Tell me, Papyrus. Do you think I can make it? I'm counted on to make humans trust monsters enough, and... now I wonder if that was such a good idea. Maybe someone else, like Alphys or Asgore, should have taken my place to speak during the speech ?"

"NYE EH EH! THE FRISK-HUMAN HAS STAGE FRIGHT! BUT DO NOT FEAR, MY FRIEND, Papyrus added before Frisk denied and gave him his pet rock (where did he get it from?), I, THE GREAT PAPYRUS, HAVE FORESEEN THIS CONDITION! HERE, TAKE IT! "

"Um… Thank you?"

"YOU ARE REALLY WELCOME! WITH HIM, ALL YOUR WORRIES WILL FLY AWAY!"

Not wanting to sadden him and knowing how much the skeleton loved his rock, Frisk put it in his pocket so as not to lose it. At least his worries had faded for the moment, like every time he spoke with Papyrus. The fact that the latter didn't doubt and was supportive of Frisk comforted him better than any words.

-oOo-

Back home, Asriel prepared to spend the rest of his day outside. Since there was no one left, not even Sans, he planned to take a short walk instead of sitting in his room doing nothing. Another reason was that Asriel also wanted to clear his head this morning: he couldn't forget Frisk's face, when he rejected her offer to accompany him. The young human had seemed hurt, and ever since he left with Papyrus, regret gnawed at Asriel. Soon after, more confused feeling had also begun to rise within him. The young monster didn't know exactly what it was or what caused it, but it had annoyed him so much that he preferred to calm down by taking a breath of fresh air.

Meanwhile, Toriel was planning her own departure, to go out of town to the near school. Its opening would be a major breakthrough for both monsters and humans, since it would be the first educational structure that would welcome students from every race. Recently, the teaching staff had been sent to support her, as well as all the manpower necessary to take care of the establishment. So that there would be no problems, she wanted to take this opportunity to check that the school would be ready today. Toriel and her adopted child, Frisk, were very much alike in their need for everything to be perfect.

Asriel chose this moment to join her at the entrance, as the former queen made a mental list of what she should watch, and asked:

"Mom, can I take a walk outside, please ?"

"Of course, darling. After, can I count on your help for the school ? I think I need more arms with the boxes of books."

"All right. See you later !"

The young monster bounded out of the house compound, eager to stretch its legs. He had finally decided to go near the entrance that led to the Underground. From the door, Toriel saw him quietly walking along the neighborhood, close to that of humans where many monsters had settled, including her and her children. Along the way, Asriel passed Snowdrake repeating to himself a series of lines to play on stage.

"Ice to meet you, Prince Asriel!"

"Howdy, Snowdrake. Have a nice day !" he told him before passing him.

Further on, Aaron gave a group of monsters (mostly laughing female), along with a few humans, a squat session and demonstrated how to do them - more than happy to reveal the muscles in his body he was proud of.

"Alright ! Excellent ! Stretch me more muscles, like this! Give me that bicep, like that! Do- Oh, hello, Prince Asriel! Nice morning to stretch, isn't it?

"Oh yes, of course. Good morning to all of you, guys."

The monster walked a little faster in order to reach the exit, but that didn't prevent it from meeting other people like Moidsmal, Dogamy and Dogaressa's patrol, Woshua... They all greeted it with joy and a lot of smiles, and Asriel answered them, trying to hide his growing unease behind polite thanks. Unable to take it any longer, the prince decided to leave the premises in a more… discreet way.

He went behind a building, making sure no one could guess what he was doing. His body was shaking uncontrollably: Asriel clutched his shirt with a sweaty palm. His Soul was very agitated; he could tell just by looking at his physical condition. When he was certain of the absence of witnesses - fortunately, it was only the beginning of the morning and few people had gone out - the child closed his eyes. He didn't like it, but to get out of here without being seen was the easiest way. Beneath his bare feet, the greenery started to shine and grow abnormally. His own fur took on the appearance of grass, while his entire body became covered in vegetation. On him appeared shoots, leaves and petals. Then the earth swallowed it, before returning to normal.

Unbeknownst to Asriel, the monster Jerry had seen him flee. The rude squid was lounging in a bush, which happened to be near the prince in too much of a hurry to notice him spying on him. However, that hardly mattered: Jerry had such a bad reputation, and everyone knew THAT guy to say anything and everything, that no one would believe him or really listen to him.

Far up the mountain, a mass erupted from the earth, and Asriel, who had been in town a moment ago, emerged from the cocoon, coughing before dismissing it with his fire.

"Ugh! I can breathe !"

He vigorously removed the earth and the roots scattered on him and spitting stones that had entered his mouth. The child grimaced, before sticking out his tongue to pull out a small twig. This power he possessed was a remnant of Flowey's magic. Asriel maintained a very powerful form of connection with the plant element, although it did not enchant him much. As in the days when he was a flower, the young monster could partly change his anatomy, to blend into the earth and thus move incognito from one place to another.

Until now, he hadn't told anyone close to him, even Frisk. He kept this secret, and only used his magic to isolate himself from the rest of the world when it became suffocating. Now that he was alone, in the shade of the forest, Asriel lay down on the ground for think about many things.

The monsters who had spoken to him, naturally, were delighted to see the sweet and gentle Prince Asriel Dreemurr. But what would they do if they met his olders faces: a murderous flower, as well as an ancient evil god who had stolen their Souls and would have destroyed the world, if he had not been brought to his senses by their ambassador.
They would certainly be horrified and disgusted.
And his parents...

Everyone had welcomed his return with joy; yet Asriel remembered what he had put them through. All the atrocities and infamy of his actions remained forever in his memory. Even those like Sans or Frisk didn't know every detail of what he had done, countless timelines before using the TRUE RESET.

Never mind that the consequences of his madness have been erased.

Never mind that fate gave him this new chance.

Asriel refused to forget, despite his desire to do so, as if absolutely nothing had happened. This truth made him laugh, but there was no joy in it.

"I'm really pathetic."

-oOo-

"KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK ! WE, THE GREAT PAPYRUS AND HIS HUMAN-FRIEND FRISK, ARE HERE! "

Papyrus cheerfully pushed open the huge door at the end of a hallway to let them in. Frisk followed him from behind, finishing nibbling on a snack he had brought to give himself courage. As he entered, blue arms appeared out of nowhere to chain him in a grip, then a fist rubbed hard – but affectionately – on the top of his head.

"Yo, punk! You finally show up, huh ! We were getting impatient!"

"H-hi Undyne," moaned Frisk who managed to pull himself away of her.

The flamboyant one-eyed ex-captain of the Royal Guard offered him a wide sincere smile, before attacking Papyrus who had discreetly walked away, under the amused gaze of Frisk. Then he saw a new figure approaching him, draped in a purple cape that wrapped around him. His size was so imposing that the child, not intimidated, had to raise his head to greet him.

"Hello, Asgore."

"Howdy, Frisk!" the big goat greeted him cheerfully, the hoarse voice, but friendly and cheerful. "I'm happy to see you again."

Their hands are clenched; that of the king, warm and light, but strong, engulfed his tiny and frail one. Frisk thought about how many times the two had hurt each other with them. In many alternate pasts, the King of the Underground had stood before him, clad in shining armor and holding a scarlet trident, to fight him. Frisk retaliated with the blade of his knife, in response to repeated attacks, to defend his life. But only the child remember that ; it was for the best. At this time, when monsters were still sealed away and at war with humanity, his soul was the last needed to destroy the Barrier. In reality, this gentle monarch meant no harm to anyone but, unable to betray the hope of the people, Asgore was forced to face him in a fight to the death, then to be finally stopped by Toriel and her fireball.

Subsequently, once the spell cast by the mages was broken, the king had asked him to be the ambassador of the monsters: Frisk had immediately accepted. Asgore helped him enormously in his duties; being himself a politician, the Monster Boss offered him useful advice and educated him in this world where dialogue was a delicate art. Frisk loved these moments they shared together, as much as those when they drank tea in his garden, or took care of the plants in the greenhouse. Their relationship was far better than when the child had fallen into the Underground.

In his heart, Frisk loved Asgore as a father as he loved Toriel as a mother, though he never dared to call him by anything other than his name. The king treated him with affection, but the human child was afraid of crossing a line that might undermine their friendship. Moreover, his most urgent priority was to help him reconcile with Toriel: Frisk knew better than anyone how much his absence had destroyed the monster. Being an ambassador had the advantage of training him in various situations.

Maybe it would help her with the royal couple's heart issues? But, for the moment, he had to attend to a very important speech!

With a big smile under his groomed beard, the king gently pushed Frisk to another room, leaving Undyne tormenting Papyrus who begged her.

"PLEASE, NOT NOOGIES THE SKELETON!"

"Oooh, come here !"

"NOOO !"