THE LAST HOPE

Frisk and MK went down to the village first thing in the morning, getting breakfast from a vendor. They ate as they walked, looking around for the inn where the others were staying. They both had their cloaks on. Frisk's face was obscured by shadows and MK only took his arms out from underneath his cloak when taking a bite.

They found the inn and walked into the lobby to see it crowded with Monsters getting breakfast. They both noticed that Undyne and Alphys were not present. They walked up to the receptionist, who at first didn't notice them. MK cleared his throat to get her attention.

"Can I help you?" she asked.

"Yes, we need to speak to Undyne," MK said. "Might I ask what room she is in?"

The bunny looked through her log, eventually finding the room. "Room thirty-seven. She and Miss Alphys agreed to share it."

"Thanks," MK said. He started walking off but Frisk waited a moment before he came back. "Um, which way is it?" She pointed down the left hall. "Thanks. Let's go." Together they went to the designated room.

MK looked left and right to make sure nobody was looking before knocking on the door.

"Who is it?" Undyne's voice came from inside.

"It's us," MK said. "We're here with news."

"Come in."

MK turned the knob and shifted his cloak so it no longer hid his arms as he entered the room. Frisk pulled their hood back so they could see more freely. Inside the room, Alphys was checking a metal case with a cable hanging from the side. On the bed, Undyne was strapping on her armor.

"Something wrong?" MK asked, gesturing to the case.

"Nah, I'm all good," Undyne assured. "Alphys was just doing a diagnostic."

"Well, can she do the same for me?" MK asked. "My arms aren't rotating properly."

"I can give them a look," she agreed. She grabbed the cable with her gloved hand and plugged it into a port on MK's left arm. She ran a program which analyzed MK's arms.

"So what do you have to report?" Undyne asked as she fitted her gloves.

"Some of the Monsters have chosen to stay behind," Frisk reported. "They support us but they can't follow us any further."

Undyne sighed. "I get it. They finally have a moment of peace. They're not about to let it slip away."

"Especially since we still don't know what will happen to us if we succeed," MK added. "They want to enjoy their last few days while they can."

"Understandable," Alphys said. "The idea of settling down in this time doesn't sound too bad."

"We have to change things," Undyne said. "You still in?"

"All the way," Alphys confirmed. Her computer beeped to let her know the diagnostic was finished. "Okay, let's check the results." She tapped a button, and it showed everything that was wrong. "Hmm… seems you got some muck in a servo. Did you roll around in the mud while on your adventure?"

"Not willingly," MK said.

"Well, the good news is that seems to be it. I can clean it out though I will need about an hour to do so," Alphys said.

"Not right now," MK said. "The convoy is going to be here any minute."

"Well, assuming we go to the castle I could do it then," she suggested. "I'll have the free time and privacy to do maintenance on everyone."

"Good idea," Undyne said. "Though I'd check with everyone with a cybernetic who's not going and see if they're fine."

"I'll make the rounds before I leave," Alphys said, unplugging MK's arms. "We don't have too many people like that but I'll check everyone just to be sure." She looked up at Frisk. "Oh, before I put this away, do I need to check you?"

"I'm good," Frisk answered.

Just then a horn sounded. Alphys went over to the window and carefully pulled up the blinds to look out. People were running by shouting something. She managed to catch a glimpse of something in the distance and was able to guess what it was. "Looks like the king is here."

"Then we'd better get ready," Undyne said, finishing putting on her armor. "And you kids need to hide."

"Yes, Undyne," MK agreed, adjusting his cloak so it covered his arms again. Frisk pulled their hood up, reconcealing their face. They walked out, moving through the crowds as everyone gathered to greet the king.

As the convoy came to a halt within the village Undyne, Alphys, Sans, and Papyrus emerged from the inn, wading through the crowd. Frisk and MK were unable to see through the mass of Monsters.

"Hey, if we climb on top of one of the houses we might get a better view," MK suggested.

"We're supposed to hide," Frisk pointed out.

"As long as we stay below the peak of the house we should be fine. Come on." MK ran off and Frisk followed. He managed to find a house with a low enough awning that he could help Frisk reach. "Okay, I'll help you up then you help me." He cupped his hands together. Frisk placed one foot in MK's hands and was lifted up. They were able to reach the edge, but just barely. They hauled themself onto the roof. Then they got out their trident and extended it downward, allowing MK to grab it. Then they lifted MK onto the roof beside them returning their weapon to their belt.

"That worked great," MK said, to which Frisk agreed. They climbed up the roof until they were able to look over the peak which gave them a bird's eye view of the convoy. As they had climbed people began coming out of the various carriages. One in particular caught their eye. It was a turtle Monster, carrying a hammer on his back and dressed in armor adorned with the Delta Rune.

"Hey. Isn't that Gerson?" Frisk wondered.

"I think it is," MK agreed. "I didn't know he was around back then."

"I think he might have mentioned it to me," Frisk said. "Do you think he's the captain?"

"That wouldn't surprise me if he was," MK said. He then caught a glance of Undyne staring at Gerson and remembered that she used to idolize him. "Bet Undyne's really excited. She's gonna meet her hero in his prime."

Gerson stepped to one particular carriage. He opened the door and out stepped a Monster larger than him. He was adorned with a crown, a purple cape, and had white fur and a little gold stubble around his chin.

Frisk and MK straightened when they recognized him. He looked slightly younger but there was no doubt in their mind that it was Asgore.

"Well, that's one worry off our minds," MK said.

"At least it's Asgore who's the king," Frisk said, keeping an eye on him. As they watched they could see the smile on his face and the way he pleasantly greeted everyone who came up to him. "Heh. He's still a fuzzball, even now. I guess that never changed."

MK agreed. He looked over the rest of the convoy, observing everyone else who had come. There were a few more Monsters in armor, some in robes, and a few outfits that MK thought meant they were servants of some kind. But then his eyes landed on one in particular and his mind shut down for a moment as he tried to process who he saw.

Frisk didn't notice because they were still watching Asgore with a bit of nostalgia washing over them. They unconsciously touched the trident at their side, remembering how he was in their time. This Asgore looked a lot happier, though they could tell the effects of the war were still pressing on his mind. Out of the corner of one eye, they saw Undyne trying to make her way through the crowd to Asgore. "Since it's Asgore, should we go down and talk to him?" Frisk asked the Monster beside them but they got no answer. "MK, you still there?"

"Frisk, look," MK said, pointing to a robed figure from the entourage. Frisk followed MK's sight, and froze up when they saw it.

She was dressed in a brown robe with a hood but on her chest was the Delta Rune. Her clothing looked simple but the elegant way she walked gave away who she was before either kid saw her face. She looked younger, her horns slightly shorter, but there was no mistaking Toriel for anyone else.

"Mom?" Frisk muttered. "But… is that… it can't be…"

"Did we know she was alive during this time?" MK asked.

"No," Frisk answered. "Then again, she never talked about her past from before her exile to the Ruins."

MK looked at his friend and caught the flash of anger before it went away and was replaced with sadness and regret. He laid a metallic hand on theirs. "Maybe this is a good thing?" he suggested. "You could… talk to her."

"And say what?" Frisk asked rhetorically. "I can't just go up and tell her that I'm her adopted child from a thousand years into the future. Especially since we're planning to use that angle with Asgore already."

"But it could still work with her," MK said.

"MK, take a closer look at them. Both of them," Frisk implored. MK did and only now noticed that Toriel was a rather large distance away from Asgore and they hadn't come from the same carriage. "We might not know her past but I can guess they aren't married yet. By telling them that I'm their child, that implies they are married, or at least share custody of me. And from the way Toriel's dressed, she's neither the queen nor a princess. I wouldn't be surprised if she thought of marrying the king to be somewhat ludicrous at this point in time, especially since we don't know what their relationship is now."

MK conceded the point there. "Okay. But, you know, you can't keep that bit of knowledge a secret forever. Eventually, she might find out."

"Maybe, but that's not our mission," Frisk said. They then gestured to Undyne's group, who were just a few people away from the king at this point. "Asgore is the point of this. Toriel is not our objective, so we can worry about her later."

MK nodded. Though he felt that Frisk at the very least needed to talk to Toriel at some point, if for no other reason than to ensure that she didn't fall down the same path.

Meanwhile, in the crowd, Undyne finally managed to reach Asgore, who at the moment had his back to her, talking to a few people in the crowd.

"King Asgore?" she said, trying to get his attention, but he didn't seem to notice amidst the hubbub of the crowd. "King Asgore!"

Then Gerson stepped forward. "Whoa there, lass," he said, his voice a lot smoother than what Undyne remembered. "You can't just walk up to the king for no reason."

"I need to speak to him, it's important," she said, trying to keep her enthusiasm down in the face of her childhood hero being within ten feet of her.

Gerson eyed her, looking her over. "Interesting. You're wearing our colors but I don't recall asking for a lady to accompany us. What are you doing here?"

"I'll explain that all if I can talk to King Asgore," Undyne explained. "My companions and I need to speak with him urgently."

"Not sure I can allow that, lass," Gerson said. "King Asgore is very busy and doesn't have a lot of time to speak with suspicious guards."

A large furry hand landed on Gerson's shoulder. "Now, now, Gerson," Asgore said. "I'm sure I can find time to at least listen to whatever this woman has to say." He looked over Undyne. "You dress like a guardsman though I don't ever recall seeing you before. Are you a new hire?"

"You could say that," Undyne answered.

"How about this," Asgore suggested. "I can speak to you and your group during lunch at the tavern. Around noon work?"

"Noon works fine," Undyne agreed. "Though I should warn you, some in our group might be a little… alarming and we have news that isn't very good."

Asgore sighed heavily. "Most news these days isn't good. Regardless, I will listen. Now, I have a schedule to keep. Come, Gerson."

"Yes, my king," the turtle agreed, walking off with Asgore.

Undyne turned to her companions. "Well, that went well enough."

"At least he's willing to listen to us," Alphys said.

"BUT HOW ARE WE GOING TO MAKE HIM BELIEVE US?" Papyrus asked.

"frisk might be able to help with that," Sans suggested. "i know their feelings regarding the dreemurrs are… complicated, but i think seeing them as our ally might help."

"I'm not sure that's safe but it couldn't hurt to try," Undyne conceded.

At noon, Frisk and MK walked into the tavern where their friends were gathered. Both were concealed by their cloaks to avoid suspicion. They found their friends at a large table designed to seat ten. They sat down.

"So Asgore is coming here?" MK asked.

"That was the agreement," Alphys said. "Though convincing him might be hard."

"That's why we want you here, Frisk," Undyne said. "You'll be able to prove our claims."

"And if I'm not enough?" Frisk asked.

"I could show him my arms," MK suggested. "They're way too advanced to be made here."

"As a last resort," Undyne agreed.

Just then the door slammed open, Gerson stepping in ahead of Asgore. Both got stares from many of the patrons. Asgore looked around and spotted Undyne's group. He walked over and sat down at the table with Gerson next to him. Conveniently, he was sitting across from Frisk, blocking people's view of them.

"Nice to see you, again," Asgore said. Gerson laid his hammer next to the table, the handle sitting on the edge. "Now, you said you had news?"

"Yes. And please listen to it all," Undyne requested. "We know how crazy it sounds, but we do have proof. We need your help."

"I'll try and listen," Asgore agreed. "Though I'm not sure if I'll be able to provide help for whatever it is. The crown is pretty strained as it is."

"We're aware," Undyne said. "But, in truth, we can help you as well."

"Before we go any further, I'd like to know why you're a guard, lassie," Gerson demanded.

"It's complicated," Undyne said. "But that's actually part of everything else."

"Go on," Asgore requested.

"Okay, the short version is that all of us are from the future," she began. "Specifically, a thousand years in the future."

"Pardon?" Gerson interrupted. "I'm not sure I heard that right."

"We're from the future," Undyne repeated. "And we came back to this point in time because our people were nearly wiped out."

"Us and the humans," Alphys said. "In our time, a war broke out but not between humans and Monsters. A third party that appeared out of nowhere and went on a rampage across the whole world, wiping out all life. Our group are the only survivors."

"From the future? Do you know how crazy that sounds?" Gerson asked rhetorically.

"WE KNOW HOW UNBELIEVABLE IT IS BUT IT'S THE TRUTH," Papyrus said. "ALMOST ALL OF HUMANITY WAS KILLED, AND US MONSTERS ARE ALMOST GONE."

"we had to escape into the past, otherwise we would've been killed," Sans added.

"These things you mentioned, can they follow you here?" Asgore asked.

"According to my calculations, no," Alphys said. "The method by which we time traveled is impossible to replicate. Not to mention that the fuel I used for my device was extracted from human Souls and there aren't any left."

Gerson rubbed his eyes. "Eh, not sure I'm buying any of this. It's just too incredible."

"Where's this proof you mentioned?" Asgore asked.

Undyne turned to Frisk and nodded. With a gesture of their hand, they dispelled the shadows concealing their face. Then they lifted their hood back enough that Asgore and Gerson could see them. Their eyes bulged when they saw Frisk's face and it was clear they realized what they were.

"I'm the last human alive," Frisk said. "All the others in my time are gone." They pulled the hood back over their face and renewed the illusion.

"Frisk was our ambassador to the humans before the war broke out," Undyne said. "And they've been living with us for years."

"T-that doesn't prove you're from the future," Gerson stuttered.

"Then how about this?" MK shrugged the cloak off, exposing his arms. Both Monsters looked at the metallic limbs and could see the lack of sleeves, the servos and joints, as well as some exposed wiring. "You got anything like these now?" he asked rhetorically.

As MK reconcealed his arms Undyne spoke to the gob smacked Monsters. "We are from the future," she reiterated. "And we came here because we're out of options."

Asgore closed his jaw before speaking. "But why now?" Asgore asked. "If you could go to any point in time, why back this far?"

"WELL, FOR ONE, WE ONLY LIVED WITH THE HUMANS FOR A YEAR BEFORE IT ALL CAME CRASHING DOWN," Papyrus stated.

"But more than that, we came back to this point to change things," Undyne answered. "We're not just going to let what happened… happen. We traveled back in time to this point in history to change the outcome of this war. Because if we do that, we change that war, hopefully, preventing it from ever happening."

"And why do you think you need to change this war?" Gerson asked. "I imagine plenty happens within the thousand years to affect the war in your time, some probably more relevant."

"No, there wasn't," Frisk said. "Sure, things happened that were very important, but all of those were consequences of the outcome of this war. That's why we have to change it. This is the most pivotal war in all of history, for both humans and Monsters."

"Why?" Asgore asked. "What could have happened, or will happen, that would make a war a thousand years old to be so relevant to your war."

"Because at the end of this war, Monsters lose," Undyne explained. "In a few weeks time, Monsters will surrender to the humans and then they will be trapped underground by the humans with a powerful spell for a thousand years."

Asgore straightened in surprise. He remained silent for a long time. "You… you know that for a fact?"

"Every Monster knows the story," Alphys explained. "Every Monster here wasn't born on the surface, but in the world we called 'the Underground'. Entire generations were born, lived, and died beneath Mt. Ebott."

Asgore could see the sad expressions on all visible faces and knew that they were telling the truth.

"That's why we came here," Frisk said. "If we can change this war, maybe negotiate with the humans for a peace of some kind, we might be able to prevent their exile to beneath the mountain, and prevent the war that destroyed our world."

Asgore crossed his hands, thinking it over. He had to consider everything, including the ramifications of the choice he would make.

"Do you think you can convince the humans to allow for peace?" Asgore asked. "I have tried and failed."

"Like I said, Frisk is our ambassador to the humans in our time," Undyne answered. "They were successful once; I'm sure they can do it again."

Gerson fixed Frisk with his eyes. "You? Ambassador? You're just a child."

"I was appointed by the king himself," Frisk defended. "And I did a very good job, too."

"The king did? What idiot would appoint a child to be an ambassador, and a human no less?" Gerson asked rudely.

"that idiot," Sans said, pointing to Asgore.

Gerson went wide eyed when he heard that, his expression speaking volumes when he realized Sans was being honest. He went pale when it dawned on him what he had just said and nervously looked to Asgore, who's expression was a cross between bemused, insulted, and puzzled.

"Our goal is to sue for peace with the humans," Undyne said, cutting in. "I have every faith that Frisk can do it. If not… well, we have a few backups in mind just in case."

Asgore pondered on the information. He knew he had to be careful in regards to this. Should he place all his hopes of peace on this child, a human child no less? Well, they were being supported by fellow Monsters, so perhaps he could give the child a chance.

"Very well," he eventually said. "I will help you. You may come with me to the castle. I have a meeting with the human leaders in a few days. Perhaps we can try your plan then."

"M-my king, I urge caution," Gerson said. "Y-you're allowing a human to waltz right into your home if you d-do this. Perhaps we s-should think on this a little longer?"

"We have little choice, Gerson," Asgore rebutted. "We are already losing the war. If I can sue for peace, I have to take the chance no matter how dangerous it is."

"We have a few others who are willing to come," Undyne said.

"Are they also from your time?" Asgore asked.

"Yes, though a few are choosing to stay behind and carve out a life for themselves," she answered.

"Very well. My entourage leaves tomorrow morning," Asgore said as he stood up. "Bring all those willing to come, and we will try to find a way to fit them in." He began leaving, gesturing for Gerson to follow. "I will see you then."

As he left, attention was drawn away from Undyne's group. "That went well."

"BETTER THAN EXPECTED," Papyrus added.

"we'd better inform everyone what the plan is," Sans suggested.

"Do you think those we're leaving behind will be fine?" Alphys asked.

"I think they will," Undyne said. "They'll find a way to survive."

"Frisk and I will go inform everyone in the forest," MK said.

"Be sure to get what you need ready by tonight," Undyne suggested. "We're leaving with Asgore's group when they do, which could be early in the morning."

"We'll be ready by then," Frisk assured her.

"See you both then," Undyne said.

"Wait, there's one more thing we need to report," MK said before they left. "We saw Toriel come out one of the carriages."

The other Monsters present froze when they heard that. "Y-you sure it was the former queen?" Alphys asked.

"It was her," Frisk confirmed.

"Did we know she was around during this point in time?" Undyne asked Alphys.

"I don't think so," she answered.

"Well, we'll have to deal with that later," Undyne said. "For now, try not to say anything to her, especially what her relationship with Asgore will end up being."

"Yes, sir," MK agreed. Then he and Frisk ran out. "So, what should we do first?" he asked Frisk.

"We need to get a pot first," Frisk said. "Flowey is coming with us and I'd prefer to carry him rather than have him burrow through the ground."

"Alright. Think I saw a floral shop here. We'll try there, first," MK agreed.

They ran off, plans for the day forming in their heads, and hopes for the future looking brighter.

End of Chapter 2