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"

33. Brave Like A Woman

One World: Many Souls

Chapter 33: Brave Like a Woman

Frisk's Point of View:

"I can't believe you never told me!"

"Ow! Sophie! Stop hitting me!"

"You absolute royal pain in my ass! How dare you not tell me you like someone!?"

"This is why I didn't want to tell you! Get off before I actually punch you!"

Sophia proceeded to pout, but she finally got off my body. I was irritated at her and the two of us honestly just kept glaring at one another. I was just minding my own business when that crazy bird brained girl flew into our room all in a tizzy and started wailing on me.

Apparently, she found out I had a crush on someone.

Which was true. I didn't tell many people. In all honestly, I think Angel was the only ever other one who knew. I had called her only a short while ago when I really finally settled in on my feelings and called her for advice. Sadly, my sister could only help so much.

She and Sans had known each other for almost two years before they began dating, and their affection for one another had always been on hold while taking care of myself or Papyrus. She never got to enjoy her relationship until many other things were sorted out… like Asgore not killing us to free the monster people?

Angel could only note to me to be brave when I was ready. I had to do what I thought was right. Did I really feel like the person I was crushing on was worth it? And if so, was I willing to openly admit my feelings for them, no matter what may happen?

At the time I first discovered my feelings, I honestly wasn't all that sure. I cared more that our friendship might have been lost if I said anything. He was a treasure. He'd saved me from so much. He was always by my side.

Asriel was my saving grace on my darkest of days.

He was a tough one though sometimes to get a good read on. Toriel often would tease and prod at her son about how he used to be as a little boy. He was emotional, wore every thought on his sleeve. When they adopted his sister Chara, she took to taking care of him and trying to get him to toughen up.

But things honestly changed too much when Chara died.

Asriel didn't like to go into detail much about it in all honesty. His sister was still a touchy subject even on a good day. But sometimes he was in a sharable mood where he'd recall some of the final memories he had before the time he died, and then became Flowey due to experiments done. He didn't like talking about those dark times, and I couldn't blame him.

Then he had his adjustment period where he tried to get back into normal life. For a while, I was helping him with that as much as I could, even when I was a sour ass to my family. That's when the tables turned and he was there for me, even if I pushed him away. Through my suffering, he always was near by keeping an eye on things. When Luke finally made his ultimate move against me, Asriel was there to save me.

And then, he stayed through all that recovery bullshit.

I was not a kind person when Luke had control. I was an absolute mess when I finally came to my senses and saw what I'd done to all those I loved. How could I have done that? I still battled those feelings so often. Memories of it haunted me for years.

Asriel was the only light in all that darkness.

Of course, my other friends were always there for me, but it seemed my princely goat friend was the only one who went above and beyond. He came over so often, he was my barrier if I needed to hide and collect myself. He still hovered so close, but I could see him struggling to give me space to try and be a normal person again in the last so many years.

Finally, I was at a point where I realized it sometime in the last few months. During the new year and Christmas, I couldn't help but think of stupidly romantic thoughts about the two of us. The fur on his body was so soft, I sometimes wanted nothing more than to sleep against him. And I can't lie, it had happened before…

But it went beyond just that. I felt that I owed it to him that I told him how I felt. I didn't want to keep that inside. Even if he didn't feel the same way, I wanted to be brave. Honest with how I felt…

Which was insanely hard after all that had happened by the way…

But… was it wrong that I wanted some advice for it again? Even if Angel had helped me out before… I wondered if there were any other words of wisdom she could gift me before I made the daring leap of faith?

"Look, get off my case!" I shot up from my bed while my best friend still stood there, soured by what had transpired. "Look, I'm going to call Angel. I'll talk to you later."

"Oh, come on Frisk! You can't leave me hanging like that!"

"Piss off!"

I took those precious moments to escape my best friend and find a suitable place away from her to call said sister. I could only hope she was free as I hurried down the hallway and out of the dorm building that I lived in.

Outside was a brisk day just after the new year. I'd somehow managed to swipe my jacket before that annoying feathered friend of mine could keep up or figure out where I was going. We were land locked where we were, but there was a small lake nearby where the water flowed back and forth with such a melody that would calm me. It reminded me honestly of Waterfall from the underground. It had been one of my favorite places to visit when I could.

The sound of waves sadly wasn't there that day. Sadly, with it being just after the new year, the lake was frozen. It had been for the last month. I could see a few adventurous people skating on it, some were ice fishing on the other side and each party doing different activities seemed to respectively stay away from one another.

A rare sight if ever noted.

While I didn't have my skates on me, I could still walk onto the ice. I carefully stepped onto it to feel if it would hold my weight or change in color. It didn't move, the ice was thick enough that I could safely walk out. With a smile at that, I stepped out onto the ice. Carefully keeping somewhat close to the edge and staying away from the skaters who were out in the middle, I decided that would be the perfect spot to see if Angel was available.

The phone rang a couple of times before I heard the click on the other end. "Frisk? Hello. How are you?"

A deep sigh escaped me. Just talking to my sister sometimes made everything just seem better. So much simpler and easier, even when the subject never changed. "Hey Sis. Sorry to bother you, just needed someone to talk to that wasn't screaming at me."

"Screaming?" I could already imagine the raised eye brow and the scoff she let out when she figured it out. "Sophie, I'm assuming?"

"Yeah… she found out about my crush."

"Does she know who?"

"No, just that I have a crush on someone."

"Then I imagine if you still need time to discover yourself and your feelings with said person, you have it. Sophie is a lovely girl, but sadly she's not the sharpest tool in the shed. If you know what I mean."

"That's… actually what I wanted to talk to you about."

"Oh?" Angel paused then, giving me a chance to get out my words. When a few moments passed and I felt tongue tied, she sighed. "Let me guess, you think you're ready?"

"I… think so." I groaned. I ran a hand of mine through the few locks of my bangs to get them out of my face. I supposed I would need a cut soon.

"Only you know if you are or not, Frisk. I can't tell you how you feel. I can only guess." My sister paused after she said those words, trying not sigh so often. "I sadly don't really have any more advice to give besides being honest. When Sans and I admitted that we liked each other… it was very messy. Neither of us believed that we loved the other, or that we could. So much political… B.S. that was in our way. How could a human love him? How could a monster love me? We were such good friends we were afraid of what would happen if we said anything to the other. But at some point, you just have to be brave and say what you want to say. I can't speak for Asriel, but maybe he's having a similar internal battle just like all of us have or had?"

I carefully nodded to her words; my sister would have a better idea then I would about that. She was married for almost five years already and had four kids with Sans. "Do… do you think…"

"Yes?"

"Do you think… he likes me?"

"I don't know… I know he cares about you. Being one of the few people that saved him from being a monstrous creature and helped him back into the world of the living again, he's always going to have some kind of attachment to you. But I can't say if it's developed into love. Tori often comments how different he is from when he was younger. Before his sister passed, he was expressive and emotional. But once he came back, I don't know if hardened is the right word… but perhaps… guarded? After what happened to his sister and himself, could you blame him for being a bit more… careful about what he says and does?"

Asriel had definitely been that way since we met him. Only in his first moments of life when Angel had given him a soul did he seem a bit more expressive, and then with time turned more into the man we knew then. He really had changed as he reflected on what had happened in the past, the guilt he probably carried.

"I see your point, Sis. And… thanks… I really do appreciate you taking the time to talk to me about these things."

"Of course, that's what I'm here for-"

"Mama!"

And that was when I heard a crash from the other side of the line. My sister cut herself off and I waited on baited breath to see what had happened.

"ARIAL!" My sister's bellowing cry rang through the phone while I heard her moving very quickly in the house. My niece I could hear laughing in the background uncontrollably even as her mother yelled at her. "YOU GET OFF THAT CHANDELIER THIS INSTANT! How did you even… oh… sh-"

My sister cut herself off from swearing in those moments. The kids were at the age where they repeated everything. My poor sister… I actually did feel really bad for her.

I can honestly say that I don't think I'll have as many kids as her…

"Frisk, I have to talk to you later! Arial has my magic passed on and she's using a few chains to swing around! Good luck! ARIAL! YOU STOP THAT THIS INSTNAT! ARIAL!"

And that was when the line cut. Beeping could be heard from the other side of the line. A few seconds of silence passed before I burst out laughing. I couldn't honestly help myself as I thought of my sister trying to tame her daughter who was just learning about her magic.

Arial was probably going to be as bad as me… yikes…

"Well, you seem to be in a better mood."

That voice wasn't Sophie's.

I turned around from where I was standing to see Asriel standing there. Decked out in some warmer clothes, though he didn't need as many as me with his thick fur on his body. He had a raised eye brow on him along with a smirk. Instantly both butterflies grew in my stomach and relief washed over me knowing it was him instead of Sophie.

"Hey Azz. Yeah, I suppose you can." I still struggled to hold back the giggles. "Arial is turning out to be a lot like me… she just discovered her magic and is currently swinging from my sister's ceiling."

A snort left his mouth. Then a chuckle before it became a laugh. He held himself while I joined in too. The image was just too rich in our heads of watching a near three-and-a-half-year-old toddler swinging on a glowing red magic chain from the chandelier in the dining room.

Couldn't deny that I'd done something similar in the past…

"Yeah, that sounds like something you'd do."

I couldn't resist pouting at the comment. "I don't do it anymore! Jeeze…"

"No, you're right." Asriel came up close to me to poke at my chest. "I think you've changed at least a little bit from that scrawny teen who jumped into my monstrous being to save her friends."

My face softened at that comment. Trying not to sigh, I gently grabbed his hand with my own fingers. "We've both changed since then Azz."

"I know."

But the acknowledgement didn't seem to reach his eyes. They cast to the ice at our feet we stood on, looking through a piece that somewhat showed the water below.

"Talk to me, Azz."

"…I wish she was here."

"Chara?"

"Yeah." He took a good look around at the world around us before I felt his thumb pass over the fingers of my that overlapped his hand. "I think… maybe she would have really liked this."

"I think she would have. But mostly? I think she would just want you happy."

Asriel didn't talk about his sister often. Again, a touchy subject of the male along with what he did when he was that terrible flower named Flowey. The few times that he did, it was remembering the shenanigans they got up to as kids. Chara was somewhat of a troubled child who got into a lot of trouble. Her hatred of the humans above ground was very noticeable, but she loved the monster people from below. They were kinder to her and Asriel, even as a child, could see how it changed her for the better.

But still, the entire reason as to why they died, how did they get outside the barrier, only Asriel knew that. For his own sanity, he couldn't utter a word of what happened. I couldn't honestly blame him. It had been years, but Angel and I really… never talked about what happened to our parents. How they died years ago which let to the horrible years of our life… and then… we ran and ended up in the underground.

Which led us to all of… where we currently were.

"She would want you to be happy. You were her brother. The few times you talked about her, it sounded like she wanted nothing but your happiness because of what you did for her." Asriel carefully looked at me while I commented. "Just like I know my parents would want the same for me."

That brought a little bit of life to his eyes. Asriel knew just how I didn't care to talk about my parents.

"Frisk-"

"Azz… I want to be brave…" He cut himself off at my words. "There's something I've been wanting to tell you for a long time… but… I've been scared to…"

"Scared?" His ruby eyes narrowed at me. "Is some shithead bothering you? I know some of those fuckers came here."

"No…" I quickly shook my head at him. "It… has to do… with you and me."

"Frisk?"

I couldn't look at him while I tried to work up the courage to say something. The breeze picked up then, cooking my overheating cheeks at the time. That blast of cold air gave me some encouragement for what I wanted to do.

"I'm assuming Sophie told you why she was flipping her shit at me earlier?"

"Uh…" Asriel didn't sound too confident when I said that. "Y-yeah…"

"Do… you know who?"

"She didn't say."

"I never told her, but she may have a guess." I struggled to lift my head, actually gripping his hand tighter in response. I sucked in a deep breath before a single word left me. "You."

"Wh-me?!" My friend instantly back peddled the second I said that. If it wasn't for my solid grip on his hand, he would have pulled himself easily from me.

"Asriel… I think I've had a crush on you for a long time… but I was always so afraid to say anything… I didn't want to lose our friendship. You've always meant so much to me, ever since we became friends after escaping the underground, growing up in high school and college together, and when you saved me from Luke…" I gripped his hand even more tightly in fear that he'd leave. "I just wanted to be brave and tell you… even if nothing comes of it…"

"Shit… Frisk…" Asriel paused before I felt a fluffy hand lifting my face to meet his. Tear-stained eyes of brown met his own ruby colored that were wide in astonishment, though that made the fear in my gut grow ever so much more. "You really mean that?"

"Y-yeah…" A broken voice followed by a desperation to turn away followed, but Asriel kept his grip on me sound, not letting me look away.

"Shit… I… I never dreamed…"

I squealed when I was pulled harshly into his chest. His arms wrapped nearly twice around me and I felt his own muscles shaking. He was just barely whispering to himself, I heard his sister's name… and… liking me back?

"Shit Frisk…" I felt tears on my neck where his face was hidden. "I never thought you'd care that much about… me… after all I've done…"

I latched onto him just as desperately. "And I… I never thought you'd care for me after all the stupid shit I pulled…"

"It never mattered to me." He yanked himself back, but his arms were still wrapped around me tightly. "I've… liked you ever since you saved me… but I never thought I deserved you."

"You've come so far… I didn't think I could measure up to what you've then become…"

"Damn…" Asriel couldn't help but laugh then. "We are so fucken stupid…"

"I'll say." Giggling through the just drying tears, I glanced up at him. "I-I don't know if you're ready to try a relationship… but… w-why don't we try a date?"

"A-a date?"

I nodded quickly, trying my best not to hide my face. "Y-yeah… nothing fancy… why don't we head over to the restaurant that Papy works at? We can get good food and just… feel this out… see really… how we feel."

And that brought a smile to his face. "Oh, thank the gods that you're not like the other girls who ask me out, Frisky. All of them want royal treatment…"

"Eww!" That sobered up my feelings quickly. My sobbing I was doing then was more from laughing as we joked like we normally did. "No way in hell. I get enough of that shit being Angel's sister and part of the family. Besides… we don't have to rush this… after all the bullshit we've been through… let's… take it slow, and enjoy it."

"I really like the sound of that, plus I'm craving one of Papyrus' mac and cheese stuffed burgers."

"Oh, hell yes!" I was still a foodie at heart, I needed my goodies. "Maybe we can request Papy to make us a lemon sponge pie? He knows the recipe."

"Well then, what are we waiting for?"

With wide grins on our faces and drying tears, we left the ice with shy hands in hands. I finally got to be brave and say what was on my mind, and Asriel felt similarly. We would find out just how much in time. There was no rush. After all that had happened with Luke… I refused to rush into things again.

And I really needed something special to thank Angel and Arial. They gave me the final push I needed for what I wanted…

Witch's Note:

Oh my, my, my! What a change in pace! Isn't this great? We have the beginning stages of Frisk trying her own hand at love! Makes me so happy to see it! And with Asriel of all people! Someone she's come to be close friends with after saving him before her trials all began, and him helping her with her own! Certainly makes me think, what goes around comes around... right?

I've also been very eager to show off this pairing for a long while. I've hinted at it incredibly lightly, but I didn't want to give too much away and let them grow naturally. Some people I'm sure were guessing it, and now it's here! I love it! And now we get to see it organically grow, we'll have to see because being the partner of Asriel requires you to be willing to become the queen one day...

We'll have to see what happens with that...

This is also the first chapter in a while we haven't seen anything bad happen for a bit... maybe we're gonna get a break? After all... Mystic and the others are super busy... plus Mystic is sick this week with a special cold where she can't talk... so... yikes...

Anyway, while I'm avoiding the thundering of the downstairs repairs and upgrades, let's hop over to some reviews!

Shadow8Phantom: I'm glad you enjoyed it, Shadow! And I can't lie, this chapter was certainly influenced by some of those posts for some growth in Papyrus. I watch a lot of a youtube channel called RSlash, where he reads reddit posts like this and I find it actually quite fun and helpful. I don't always have the time to be able to read. So, it's great to listen in. Do you have anything like that?

But look at the growth of our boy! Or should I say young man now? He's in his mid twenties by this point as Impact is a toddler and Frisk is in her late teens/early twenties as she enters college.

Thechaosmaster: Hey Chaos, I did send you a private message in response to your beginning half of the review you left me, so I wanted to let you know since I haven't seen a response to it. I have been struggling with the site as well with this issue and a few other things, so I have reached out to an admin who can hopefully help me. As soon as I get any notification of what's going on, I will try to let you know via private message or in the next review.

Onto other things though! Cecilia I don't believe is enough of a villain to hang around for long, at least, I don't have any plans for that. Do I need to sign her over? I don't mind... but I don't think you need any paperwork either... Hang on, let me check with her highness downstairs. She may say otherwise. Oh! And before I forget, there was never a Kris in our dungeon. Never had one captured or detained for any reason. Unless you know something I don't?

(I slip over to the secret passage way down into the dungeon where Mystic Girl is hard at work with her repairs along with ordering around at least ten other people to help her, even when she's doing most of the work herself to make sure it works this time. As I approach the fiery area where I can barely make out details while her fury worked itself to the death.)

Mystic! Hey! Need your attention for like, five seconds! You need me to sign over the bitch that Papy yelled at this last chapter? Seems Chaos wants to 'reform' her!"

(Mystic Girl pauses from her work to look up at me. I can barely see her face as the fire consumes her. Her shape is more or less all I can see.)

Mystic Girl: I've already sent my secret guards out for her. Chaos can have her when she is dropped off. Chaos is allowed full control over her. No signing of any papers. Just do whatever.

Me: Okie dokie! (I eagerly wave back to Choas) Looks like your good to go, just make sure your containment is gonna work this time.

MysticBoywastaken: (It seems that the review Mystic Boy had sent in this last time was intercepted by that of someone else. Never making it to the computer of Halloween. A hooded figure sat in a decorative room void of people, other than one person. A hooded figure typed away at this screen before a board of pictures, many of them appeared to be the current and deceased members of the Terians family. Markings were on them of attempts of assassination, if they succeeded or not, as well as who perhaps was that lucky person to take them out.)

(But the board expanded, as the Terians' family also did. Many people added as high end targets that needed to be taken out along with that of the blood descendants of the Terians household. Sans Gaster Terians was added, high urgency. His skills deemed too powerful should he be taken on by a lone attacker.)

(Another was added as well by that of Frisk's name. A question mark was by her along with a new picture of Asriel Dreemurr, current prince of the monster kingdom. There was a supposed note by his name that he could possibly become a true partner to one of the blood descendants of the Terians family, and should that happen, it would be very difficult to get to her.)

(Should that take place.)

(The person stopped typing a few moments later to grab a few papers and a camera. Once the device was turned on, only the glowing of red eyes could be seen in the veil of darkness.)

?: Welcome. I wish I could give you a bit of a warmer welcome, but time is not on our side... I have intercepted this message so that it will not appear to either Halloween nor your sister. Please be advised that I can only send you small messages here and there. We will truly communicate soon. I will send you an encoded message. We can not let anyone else see it. Burn it once you have it. Keep those women appeased for the time being. I will message you as soon as I am able.

(The camera shuts off, and before you is a letter that you didn't see before. Written in glowing red ink, you were shown one pattern of symbols. You see them as XLVI. After glancing at them for a few moments, they vanish, and all that's left is a blank paper in your hands. Your day then returns to normal. Nothing else happens.)

Not A Shady Guy: Oh Shady! Good to see you! No worries about the weeks you skip, we understand that you're a busy guy! But wasn't the last chapter fun? Seeing that girl get put in her place and some character growth for Papy? Hell yeah!

Yeah, both Mystic Girl and I are not too pleased about this other person who seems to be taking all our bad guys... this is not going to end well I bet... Uh oh...

unfortunatelyriverwastaken: River! Late to the party I see! But seeing you is great! You always review right before I post the next chapter. Literally in the same day! Hang around for a few hours or check back in and I bet you'll get two chapters in one!

But I'm glad you're working well with Chaos, lots of work to do and lots of hunting. So I won't hold you for long, you probably need to get orders from Mystic Girl. I would check in with Mystic Man, just simply because he can understand her gestures when she can't talk.

Okay then, welp! That's the end of this week! Another chapter done and we're getting closer and closer to the end! In fact... I think we're almost halfway through the story! Holy shit! One sec while I check! (I take a moment to look through the calendar that I have and my chapters posted vs. not posted yet. Seeing there is a total of seventy-one chapters, this one is thirty-three, there is only a couple left before we hit that marker.)

Damn! We are at the halfway point just about! Since we have an odd number of chapters this time around, we'll be hitting halfway around chapter thirty-five to thirty-six. That's only a couple chapters away! Damn!

Love you all and see you next week!

Halloween Witch and Mystic Girl