#7thhuman

Where only one animated shadow ever was, there were now two. Turning, the cloaked figure beheld someone he hadn’t truly seen in almost a hundred years, tension rising to his shoulders. It was a small child with brown hair and a yellow and green sweater. The one feature that would always stick out, however, were the red eyes so uncommon and unnatural for a human. It was the color of raw, true Determination.

The two stared at one another in silence. Gaster was stunned, trying to figure out what was going on. He had just witnessed Frisk and their friends being cornered by Flowey before his vision had been cut off. Searching for a way to restore it, there had been a noise much like that of his own teleportation. And now, after being in solitude for so long, there was someone else in the outskirts of reality with him. In the near two years he had been here, no one but Sans and Flowey had ever entered the Void. Flowey didn’t even see him, and it was by pure chance that Sans did. But the way this child looked at him, Gaster knew that he was seen. Someone saw him.

Finding his voice after a stretch of nothing, the once-skeleton said, “Hello, Chara. It’s been a long time.”

Smirking slightly, the child shook their head slightly. “Greetings, Dr. Gaster. It sure has been.”

Gaster didn’t know what to say. He had always felt unsure about the child ever since they had fallen into the underground. Something about them had been unsettling and he had never been able to place what. Perhaps it had been the way they carried themselves. It reminded him of the child from the war long, long ago. Coupled with that, there had been the many timelines he had witnessed Chara take possession of Frisk to do nothing but murder innocence. This timeline, his true timeline, however, produced no such results. Frisk had been an acolyte of peace, making friends with every monster they could. There had been no violence despite what other timelines revealed could happen. Even when those eyes had made themselves known, he saw no true threat. Despite the knowledge of the other timelines, the only vibe from this child he felt was a sense of awkwardness and exhaustion. A feeling the old scientist understood all too well.

“Not that I am… opposed to the company,” Gaster said hesitantly, turning fully to face the child, “but, if I may, what are you doing here?”

Chara’s smirk faltered for a second, and they sighed tiredly with a shrug. They looked back up into the monster's eyes and said, “same reason as you, I suppose. I don't actually exist anymore.”

Stiffening, Gaster let a moment of silence hang between them once again. He knew he didn't exist anymore, it was something that had been more than difficult to accept but he had -- or so he thought -- yet to hear it from anything but his own mind stung.

“I… see. Though, if that is the case, how is it that Sans and Flowey have been able to come here as well? I know for certain they exist.”

With a small shake of their head and another shrug, Chara took a few steps closer, watching the taller figure closely. “Maybe that's the reason, maybe not. Who knows, really. Reality is a confusing thing when you have magic and soul power involved.” Tilting their head, Chara raised a brow questioningly. “And yet, if we really don’t exist, why are we here and not actually just... dead. Gone. Instead here we are, still thinking and breathing. Still existing but not. Why do you think that is?”

Gaster frowned down at the child.

“Truly, I'm… not sure. In all the digging I've done through the timelines, I've only seen this as a pocket verse of nothing. Silent, endless nothing.” Then he furrowed his brows, raising his chin in slight weariness at their approach. Despite the fact that they no longer had a threatening aura, it was difficult to shake when he'd seen all the things Chara had done. “I get the feeling you know more than you're letting on. It's very hard to have more information than myself after all that I've seen here. So please, child, enlighten me.”

Smirking, Chara let out a soft, tired laugh. “Observant as always, Doctor. I'm here, we're here because we do actually exist. Magic and science, things you studied all your life, they did something, something I don't think even you will ever be able to explain or really understand. And here we are, discarded rejects of something gone wrong. In the place where nothing gathers and time is ignored. In a place that is rejected just like us.”

“Chara,” the skeleton said with a deeper frown, the ghost of his soul pounding in his chest.

“Hah, alright,” Chara giggled, grinning knowingly. “I chose to come here myself, actually. The reason is quite simple. You're wanted back.”

“Wanted… back?” Gaster said in confusion, brows raising. The distant echo of his soul pounded hard at the thought, his mind instantly going to his sons and the one he loved as a hand moved to his chest. There was a pang deep inside of him. “Chara, I'm... gone. From everything. I don't understand how I couldn't be. The only one who remembers me is Sans.” He let out a long, drawn out sigh and smiled sadly, hand sliding away from his chest. “I appreciate what you're trying to say, truly, but I've looked. I've searched and dug in every way I can. I've found no practical way of returning.”

Chara smirked, rolling their eyes. “You've always been so dramatic, Dr. Gaster.” Grinning, they waved a hand in front of their own chest and there appeared half of a red, dully glowing human soul. Gaster sucked in a breath, staring in shock. “I guess time didn't count on me throwing in the towel.” Their smile lessened, sighing. “Because after all, I'm just really. Really. Tired.”

“Chara! What, how-- how are you even still alive?” Blinking and furrowing his brows, the ex-royal scientist looked between the soul and the child quickly in disbelief.

“You like getting all the details, so I'll fill you in. I was half right when I said we existed,” Chara said, staring down tiredly at the half soul, “when I died, my soul was taken by Asriel and our souls merged. The plan was simple. Take six human souls and free all of the monsters.” Their expression fell. “But when he died, we both vanished, our souls cracking and splitting into just the essence of ourselves. His stayed in the Throne Room, and mine with my body that mom took to the ruins. Asriel slept in nothingness, here, until you and Alphys unwittingly tampered with him. And me? I'm human,” Chara made a face at the word, bitter and distasteful, “so my soul was stronger, more persistent. I slept here too but woke back up when Frisk fell. Their Determination,” the soul flared softly at the word, “drew me back to reality. They were injured badly from the fall, and the remaining essence of my soul took place in theirs to keep them alive.”

“That's… fascinating,” Gaster said, barely a whisper as he stared. He knew he hadn't been seeing things when those eyes had randomly appeared. Chara truly had been with the child's soul then. “I've never heard anything like that. The soul is such an amazing thing...”

Chara laughed softly. “Yeah, well… my essence, having someone else to latch on to, drew my consciousness back. But... I wasn't really myself.” Frowning, the child sighed, their posture dropping slightly. “I was only a ghost, a sliver of someone hiding within a real soul, an injured one at that. My last memories had been my anger, my... my hate for the humans that attacked Asriel and I. My hate for humanity. It was so strong that I took over Frisk and couldn't tell friend from foe. I… likely would have done terrible things if, if I hadn't seen mom right after I woke up.”

Frowning, Gaster folded his hands together and dropped to the child's eye level, looking them over in sympathy. Chara wouldn't meet his eye. Something about the way they spoke left Gaster with no thoughts of deception. They were speaking truthfully.

“You just wanted to free the ones you loved. You were just a lost child with incredible power.” Gaster sighed softly. “I understand. So it was Her Majesty that brought you to your sense?”

“Yes. Before I saw her, I had it in my mind that I... I… wanted to do terrible things,” Chara mumbled, shivering. “I wanted to kill everyone. That maybe doing that, I could avenge Asriel and I. I… I'm getting off track.” Huffing, the child managed to glance up into the older monster’s face. “But seeing mom, I was reminded of the kindness everyone showed me. The love. It made me falter, and Frisk woke back up. They took control and tried to help and befriend everyone, and I sat back and watched while helping keep them alive. The longer I stayed in Frisk’s soul, the stronger my essence grew before I finally had my own soul back. My body was long gone, so I had no choice but to remain as a shadow in Frisk’s. I wasn't in control, but… that was OK, because Frisk was doing exactly what I wanted to but couldn't. In a way, I was living how I’d wanted to through them. It was thanks to their actions, their resolve to save everyone that my soul was able to come back together and I was able to heal them. Just from the pure strength of their will and the love all their friends poured into them. It was incredible. And. It poured into me too.” Glancing down, Chara lifted their damaged soul slightly, a warm, fond smile on their face. “And because of that, I found myself again.”

“That truly is remarkable. You have your soul back,” Gaster mused, but then started to frown. “And yet it's fractured so badly. Did it not mend properly?”

“Oh, it did,” Chara said, starting to grin. “I just chose to use it for other purposes rather than returning myself.”

Gaster’s eyebrows rose. “But why? Don't you want to go back? You've been lost far longer than myself.”

“Well, I could have gone back,” Chara said with a shrug before meeting his eye, smiling softly. “Just... Like I said before, I'm really, really tired. My intent when falling down here long ago was…” They closed their eyes, voice softening. “...to rest. But then Asy found me, and I knew I could serve a purpose. That purpose was freeing the monsters. That's been done now, and I really just want to sleep. So, no, I don't want to go back. As much as I'll miss my family, I'm still just tired.”

“I understand, but… what happened to your soul, Chara? What did you do to it?” Gaster asked slowly, wearily. He’d never seen half of a soul keep someone alive before. By looking at them, however, he could see the slight transparency. They were nearly faded out just like he was. He wasn't truly sure just how alive Chara actually was.

“Oh, simple.” The child grinned. “I used the missing piece to bringing Asriel back.”

Freezing, Gaster stared in wide eyed shock. “You brought back someone who doesn't even have a soul?”

“Sure did,” Chara hummed, grin remaining. “And I plan to do it again one more time.”

“Me,” Gaster breathed questioningly, holding a hand to his chest as he stared. Chara nodded. “But, how? Why? Surely that can't be done, there must be something else you can…”

“Oh, please,” Chara sighed with a soft growl, glaring just as softly at him. “I brought back someone who lost their soul, skeleman.” Looking toward the side, the child nodded toward the black. “You want to know why you specifically? Open your portal.”

Gaster blinked, looking toward the area he often pulled up the timeline window to watch current events. No matter how hard he'd tried before, he hadn't been able to get it to reappear after it shrunk into itself. He'd thought his timeline may have been lost, desperately clinging to the hope he was wrong. However, if Asriel was no longer a threat…

“I… well, alright.” Frowning, the scientist raised a hand and waved it, watching in surprise as the light flared to life and grew, stretching, pulling the image of everyone gathering around Frisk by the newly destroyed barrier. He stared, swallowed by a wave of relief to have his vision back. He grinned tiredly, huffing as his sights landed specifically on his sons. “It's… back up now.”

“Mhmm,” Chara nodded. “Asriel isn't blocking the feed anymore, so you have your eyes in the skies again.”

“That's… great to know,” Gaster mused quietly. He watched in wonder as the newly brought back prince ran to embrace his parents close, the three of them crying tears of surprised disbelief and thankfulness. He watched the faces of all gathered there, the happiness and relief at seeing Frisk brought back safe, taking turns hugging them. Even his sons looked happy, and that itself brought a smile to his face.

“They all look pretty happy, don't they?”

Nodding, the scientist continued to watch, taking in everything he could. His people were free, were happy, and there was nothing else he could ask for. No more struggling to find a way to break the barrier, no more fake sunshine or fake stars. His people were free. His family was free.

“I think there's one thing that could make the picture happier though,” Chara hummed, their eyes on the people gathered.

“Chara, lest you forget,” Gaster murmured, “that Toriel and I aren't on pleasant terms. If I were there, she would be less than pleased about my presence.”

“Oh come off it,” the child said with a roll of their eyes, “mom isn't fond of being anywhere near dad but look, there she is hugging him and Asriel. If she can put aside that difference for at least a moment to hug her son, I think she can do that to see her friend reunited with his dad too. Now you're just making excuses.”

Flustering slightly at being called out, Gaster twisted his hands in front of him and sighed. Chara was watching him before their gaze turned back to the portal.

“Go somewhere else now, I'll give you more proof.” Blinking, the scientist paused then slowly nodded, willing the scene to change. And it did. The picture blurred and took on the look of swiftly moving before it regained focus and showed the interior of Grillby's diner in Snowdin. “Hah. Knew that'd be the next one.”

While the image settled on the bartender, the flame sighed. The establishment looked empty, everyone having likely filtered out at the news of the barrier breaking. Grillby paused in his work, looking over at the jukebox. With the glance, the scientist followed his gaze and frowned softly.

From the corner of their eye, Chara glanced over at the monster. “It's not broken, you know.”

“I know,” was Gaster quiet response, smiling sadly.

“I didn't mean the jukebox.”

Blinking, the scientist looked over at the child in confusion. “I'm sorry?”

Rocking on their heels once, Chara crossed their arms behind their back with a hum. They turned a pleased grin toward their company. “Don't worry, I can fix them both a little.”

With a pause, Gaster furrowed his brows toward the child in heightened confusion. What could they possibly… Movement caught his eye and the skeleton looked up in time to see Grillby lean against the back of the bar, slumping. His hand rest over his chest, and Gaster pressed closer to watch in concern. With a soft jolt of shock, he watched, brows raising as the fire monster pulled his soul forward carefully. The fire's eyes traveled over it, inspecting it, and it was then that Gaster’s gaze zeroed in on the crack. The crack that still made his own chest ache, that made him feel for his love who endured the pain. Sure his own soul had been cracked two hundred years ago, but he'd eventually dealt with the aches. It was always worse watching someone else go through it. Especially the one you loved.

“See, this is why I'm here,” Chara said, looking between the pair. Their arms uncrossed from behind them, moving to stand a little bit taller as one hand swept over their hair. Gaining a focused look, the child drew in a breath and held a hand out.

Raising their hand, the ex-royal scientist felt a pull in his chest as a cracked, glitched upside down gray heart appeared in Chara’s open palm, pulsing softly. Gaster yelped in surprise, his shape quivering and hands shooting to his chest, staring hard at the soul.

“You're both in pretty rough shape,” the child said casually, turning a smile to the monster, “but I did say I could fix them both.”

“How, how did you…” Gaster trailed off, seeing his soul for the first time in nearly two years. He had never gotten it to summon out of his body, and here it was in the hands of an enigma of a child. Oh, how terrible it looked. How fragile. It made his metaphorical stomach sick. The child simply laughed and shook their head, extending the soul out to the shadowy monster. Gaster gratefully, carefully took it and cupped it in his hands.

“Boy, Doc,” Chara snickered, “for someone with infinite knowledge, you seem to know so little about me and what I can do.”

Gaster managed a weak smile, bringing the soul close to his chest. “You have always been an anomaly to me, child, even here.”

Chara laughed and shrugged. “I’ve heard that a lot in my life, actually.” They grinned and Gaster managed to smile a little wider.

His smile faded slowly, however, eyes turning to the heavily cracked heart in his hands. “While I appreciate what you want to do, surely there is something else you could do with the last bit of yourself. I’ve lived a long time, and yes there are still things I’d like to see, to happen… but I’ve… I...” He frowned, unable to finish as he squeezed his eyes shut. A tremble rocked him as he pulled his soul closer, holding it tighter, breathing in slowly to fight any rising emotion. After a moment, he relaxed, sighed and leaned back as his eyes slowly drifted back open.

Huffing softly, Chara looked at him with a quirked brow and sympathy. “And that is why I want to bring you back. You have unfinished business back home. Besides, I owe them that much.”

Again it was movement that made the shadow look up. Tearing his gaze away from his soul, he looked toward the portal to see the bartender stumble. Grillby caught himself, sinking against the bar with a huff as his stare remained locked on his soul. His brows were furrowed, likely trying to figure out why his soul was aching so much. Eyes darting worriedly, Gaster watched him and clutched his own soul tighter. Grillby...

With his gaze turned away, beside him, Chara pressed their own half-soul to their chest. The child hummed quietly, using the same hand that had summoned Gaster’s soul to call forth a small ball of light. The light shifted, melded, turning into a very softly glowing outline of a monster heart. In the middle of that gentle outline rested a thin crack that stretched up the center.

“I'll help flames over there first,” Chara offered, tilting their head.

“Please do,” Gaster breathed, his face having fallen with sadness as he watched his love.

Smiling tiredly, the human’s red gaze turned to the outline. Their own soul lit up, a brilliant red as a white light circled the outline. On the other side of the portal, the bartender's soul lit up with the magic, causing Grillby to jolt his hands back in surprise, using them to support himself further against the bar in his shock. He and Gaster both stared wide eyed as the crack shortened, thinned, though not disappearing completely. Still, any reduced damage to the soul did wonders. The flame sunk slightly from the healing energy, sliding down the counter and sitting on the floor.

Chara glanced over to the portal with a small smirk, closing their hand. The outline vanished with a calming green spark while the real soul drifted back into Grillby’s open palms, the elemental frozen in wonder. With his eyes glued to the portal, Gaster continued to hold his own soul close, unable to look away. A huff of surprise broke his parted lips.

“It’s smaller, it’s actually…” His gaze tore away, landing on Chara in surprise, back to his flame, then back to the child again. “You really, that… was…”

The child simply smirked, the expression reaching their eyes as they tilted their head. “Yep. Told you.”

Another huff sounded, and after a seconds pause a grin spread over the skeletons face. Turning back to Grillby, he spoke softly, tone that of one mesmerized, “You healed him… you actually healed him.” Swallowing, Gaster shook his head softly with a gentle laugh. The amount of gratitude he felt was indescribable. His love would hurt that much less. “In, in all my studies of the soul, I've never seen humans able… to…”

“You've never seen a human like me before,” Chara snickered, “especially one with my kind of power.”

Glancing back at the child, Gaster looked at them for a moment before returning his attention to the portal. “And what kind of power is that, Chara?”

“The power to manipulate souls, differently than even your skeleton soul magic,” Chara said with a grin, shrugging. “You could called it the determination trait, but… guess that wouldn’t be completely right either.”

Looking back in surprise, Gaster beheld the child for a moment. The power to manipulate souls? Different than even his own ability? “As a human, that… shouldn’t be possible.”

Chara raised a brow. “Says the talking skeleton who's managed to stay alive in a pocket dimension for two years after being erased from almost everywhere unexplainably.” A flinch caught the monster off guard, looking back toward the portal with a soft frown. “Not to poke sore wounds, Doc, but you’ve also mostly only studied monster magic and inactive human souls. Humans… their magic is on a different playing field.”

“...Alright, you’ve. Proven your point.” Gaster sighed, his shape sinking a little. It was true that even with the souls of the children, it was more difficult to work with the soul alone when it didn’t have a host. Had the children been alive and willingly worked with him for study, he could have much more easily figured out the magic connected to humans and how it had evolved over the years of them being trapped. Monster’s magic was still stronger simply because it was linked directly to the soul and the core of their being, but... His mouth opened to speak but before he could, another shape entered the scene on the other side of the portal. His attention now rapt, the shadow watched silently as a red bird monster rounded around the bar to tend to the bartender.

“What’re you doing on the floor, Grillby?” They asked, kneeling beside their best friend of two hundred years with concern. Grillby looked up, extending his hands out toward the bird with parted lips and a look of confusion. Q’s own eyes widened and they paused, reaching out so very gently and tenderly to tap the top of the bartender’s soul with a feather. Being Q, they of course knew of the crack. The bird knew everything. And they certainly knew it hadn’t been that small before. “Oh…”

While the monster had been watching, Chara had joined the skeleton’s side with their eyes on the scene. They watched for a moment, studying the other two monsters before red eyes fell on the shadow at their side.

“I didn't heal him completely,” they said softly, “but it's enough that he won't be in so much pain anymore. I have enough magic and soul power to fix the rest of this too. To heal yours mostly.” A frown formed on Gaster’s face, his eyes turning down from the scene to stare at nothing. “Chara, I realize the human soul is so much stronger than ours but…” His eyes lifted, settling on the child, voice quiet, “you used half of it to bring Asriel back, and then healing Grillby... if you bring me back, you won't--”

“I know,” was all Chara said, giving him a simple, tired smile.

“We’ll figure it out in the morning,” a voice said from the portal, causing both figures to glance upward at the scene beyond. Q was tugging the flame gently to his feet, holding steady as he stumbled a little, still shaken. “It’s time to go home.”

With his eyes on his soul, Grillby managed to stand with the help and pressed it gently back into his chest. Nodding, the fire monster leaned gently against Q as a wing wrapped around his back, tugging him gently closer. Even as the bird once more said for them to go home and he nodded to agree again, Grillby’s gaze slid backwards. It settled on the jukebox, a hand moving to lay over his chest as he looked at it. The hand remained there even as the pair walked out and vanished from the diner, leaving the portal viewing an empty, quiet restaurant.

Sighing gently, Gaster moved a hand and waved, sending the portal back into blackness. He was quiet for a time, thinking over what he saw and what could possibly happen next. To gain the chance to possibly live again… but at what cost? If this was really, truly a possibility, he had to be absolutely sure this was what Chara wanted. He refused to take a life for his own, not in an instance like this.

“You’d… be willing to give the rest of your soul,” he said, voice still quiet and face marked with a soft frown once more, “the rest of who you are… just to bring me back? Why?”

“Yes.” The child tucked their hands in their pockets, eyes still turned to where the portal once was. They seemed thoughtful, but something about their face held a certainty. “My one wish when all of this started so long ago... was just to free the monsters. And now I've helped do that, but there's one missing piece to the puzzle. Not all of them are free.” Chara’s eyes turned up to look into the skeleton’s. “There's still one that's trapped, and my promise isn't complete if that stays.”

There truly seemed to be no way to talk the child down. Chara was so sure about what they wanted to do, and here the shadow of a scientist felt… unworthy. He had lived his life, he had done many great things where the child was still young. They could still live on and do so much more. Gaster’s eyes lowered to the half soul, his frown deepening. Yet… could they? With half of a soul, surely their life wouldn’t last nearly as long as it once could have. Chara had set their own path before even coming here. Now that their way was chosen and put into action, there was no going back. Not from that kind of soul damage.

Chara would eventually fade to nothing before even getting the chance at adulthood.

Perhaps… this was the best way to go about it. Gaster’s eyes fell closed with a heavy, long sigh. He held his soul closer, bowing his head with his voice barely now above a whisper.

“I so badly want to go back, but… Chara.” The scientist swallowed hard, nearly trembling. “If you do this…”

“I’m not dumb, Doctor. I know full well what will happen to me. And I’m pretty sure you’ve figured out what will happen to me too if I don’t do this.” The child gained a soft, knowing smile, quirking a brow. Sometimes he forgot how clever and perceptive they were. Their eyes shone with exhaustion and a hint of sadness as they looked at him, but Gaster could tell they were unwavering. He wouldn’t be convincing them otherwise. No matter how many ways he tried to go about it, Chara was entirely sure about their decision. As always, they were a child set in their ways. “I'll get to rest. That, right after freeing you all, is what I’ve wanted for a long, long time. Seeing all of you free I think is a pretty good thing to finally fall asleep to. Everyone's happy.” The child paused, grinning softly as they chuckled. “And who doesn't like happy endings?”

Laughing softly, Gaster shook his head with a small grin that managed to reach his eyes. Then his expression sobered slowly, turning his gaze back down to his soul and tracing every crack on the surface with his eyes. Then the shadow began to lose himself in thought as he stared, his expression slowly falling. He would never be able to convey how badly he wanted to go back, to retry everything he had let down. He sighed, pressing the soul to his chest and closing his eyes, slowly furrowing his brow and closing them tighter. Never had he dreamed that he would have this chance. He had hoped, oh how he had hoped… but to have it in front of him now? Out of nowhere? It seemed too good to be true. He was about to trust his entire existence to a child that had left him unsure in life and who knew so, so much in death. There was no true telling if bringing him back peacefully was Chara’s actual intent. They had easily summoned his soul when he himself had failed, and that was incredible power. But instead of taking it and crushing it, they had simply handed it back to him like it was nothing. If anything, their eyes and that action alone spoke volumes.

Chara was just an exhausted child wanting to rest.

And, truly, if Chara did want to kill him, perhaps that wouldn’t be terrible either, as morbid as it sounded. He didn’t want that, not at all, but what was there left here in the void? Was it really living to not exist, to not be seen, touched, heard, remembered? If he had found a way to break it, then whatever came of it was better than being able to do nothing at all and be immortal, living for eternity in crippling solitude. Unable to touch, to feel anything, to act. Either he would come back, or he would finally get the sleep that Chara desired. Either option was an out, despite one being unfavorable.

Taking in a slow breath, Gaster opened his eyes to see the child looking at him expectantly. Chara quirked a brow, smiling softly.

“So, what do you say, Doc?” They extended a hand, red eyes staring into purple. “You ready to go home?”

Gaster stared, a slow smile creeping up on his skull. Well, it was now or never. Your one and possibly only chance out of here, Wingding.

Holding the soul to his chest with one hand, he reached out the other hand and took Chara’s smaller one in his, giving a soft squeeze. “Yes. I… I’d. I’d like that… very, very much.”

Chara smiled brighter, nodding slowly, closing their eyes and tilting their head back slightly as the soul fragment began to glow in their other hand. Gaster’s own flared once in response, a tug gradually pulling at it akin to the feeling of when he first fell. This feeling, however... It was different. Unlike how it felt during his fall, being pulled apart and scattered, broken, cracked, this felt like he was being brought back together from a long existence of separation. Like a distant hand reaching for him, pulling him out of the depths of water slowly, the light of the surface above becoming ever clearer with each held breath. His soul pounded harder at the feeling, huffing with a grin. Maybe... Just maybe…

Their surroundings began to shift, the blackness fading out slowly to near blinding white. Chara blinked their eyes open quickly to look at him, smiling tiredly. In those eyes were gratitude, a deep caring nature that he had never seen before from the young prince. But most of all, there was peace.

“Thank you,” they whispered, voice beginning to echo and scatter, “for letting me finally rest.”

“Huh? What are you doing?”

“Wha… what did you do? What’s this feeling…? What’s happening to me?”

“No! NO! I don’t need ANYONE! STOP IT! Get away from me! Do you hear me? I’ll tear you apart!”

“...Chara… Do you know why I’m doing this…? Why I keep fighting to keep you around…? I’m doing this because you’re special, Chara. You’re the only one that understands me. You’re the only one who’s fun to play with anymore.”

“No… That’s not JUST it. I… I… I’m doing this because I care about you, Chara! I care about you more than anyone else!”

“I’m not ready for this to end. I’m not ready for you to leave. I’m not ready to say goodbye to someone like you again…”

“So please… STOP doing this… AND JUST LET ME WIN!” “STOP IT! STOP IT NOW!”

“...Chara…”

“I’m so alone, Chara… I’m so afraid, Chara…”

“Chara, I… I…”

“I’m so sorry.”

The End

Holding their side gently, Frisk let out a small, quiet huff of fatigue. They had been going strong for so long, and now… now they could rest. At least for just a moment. Regardless, they stood frowning sadly, looking at the shape before them. No longer was it the towering godlike creature that threatened to tear the timelines apart, but instead a small monster child barely any taller than themself. The child rubbed his sleeve over his face, sniffling and crying in despair and shame at what he’d done. Able to feel again, able to be himself. With a sniff, Asriel raised his head and smiled weakly up at the human, rubbing a palm over his eye.

“I always was a crybaby, wasn’t I, Chara?” There was a pause, before Asriel sighed and let his shoulders drop, eyes turning down. The child shook his head softly. “...I know. You’re not actually Chara, are you? Chara’s been gone for a long time.” Sniffing, Asriel pulled his hand down and looked up at the child curiously, voice turning meek for a moment. “Um… what… What is your name?”

Blinking, the human gave a small smile, saying very quietly, “Frisk.”

“Frisk?” Asriel paused, then gave another smile back. This one a little stronger. “That’s… a nice name.”

The two children laughed softly, quietly together for a moment. As the sound died down, Asriel breathed in deeply and glanced away. He looked uncertain for a moment, frowning, before his eyes flicked back up to the human again. There was a tiredness all his own, but in those eyes was also grief and guilt.

“Frisk… I haven’t felt like this for a long time. As a flower, I was soulless. I lacked the power to love other people,” the child admitted, rubbing his arm absently. With a huff, Asriel looked down for a moment, fighting before making himself look up again. “However, with everyone’s souls inside me… I not only have my own compassion back… But I can feel every other monsters’ as well. They all care about each other so much.”

Asriel slowly smiled widely, and for the first time, the human saw love in those eyes even as they glistened with tears. He let out a quiet huff of laughter, sniffling.

“And… they care about you too, Frisk. I wish I could tell you how everyone feels about you. Papyrus… Sans… Undyne… Alphys…” The monster child let out a small sigh, but his smile remained. There was sadness in his face now, but the compassion still reigned true. “...Toriel. Heh. Monsters are weird. Even though they barely know you… It feels like they all really love you.”

Letting out a small laugh, Asriel stood for a moment before his eyes slowly trailed downward. Frisk tilted their head a little, watching him closely. Though they had fought him extensively a few times before, still… it felt like right now they were seeing the real Asriel for the first time. The real lost prince of monsters. Before, when they fought, he had been Flowey.

But the boy who stood in front of them now, that was Asriel Dreemurr.

“Frisk… I,” Asriel started softly, voice wavering a touch, “I understand if you can’t forgive me. I understand if you hate me. I acted so strange and horrible. I hurt you. I hurt so many people. Friends, family, bystanders… There’s no excuse for what I’ve done.”

With a small shudder, the monster prince remained silent with his head bowed. He wouldn’t look at Frisk, and it was then that the child realized they had a choice. A choice perhaps Asriel was waiting on. To forgive, or to not. The human paused, furrowing their brow softly. While his head was down, Frisk raised a hand slowly to trace a finger over the locket, feeling the gentle warmth from the trinket. And then they smiled.

It wasn’t a choice at all.

“I forgive you.” Startling, Asriel blinked tears from his eyes and looked up, lips parted.

“Wh… what?”

“I said.” Frisk cleared their throat quietly, smiling. “I forgive you.”

Huffing in surprise, a grin began to twitch on Asriel’s face. His brows arched sadly, laughing again with a touch of sadness.

“...Frisk, come on. You’re…” A sniff and another laugh as he raised a sleeve to wipe an eye. Even so, he was still smiling. “You’re gonna make me cry again.” Sighing, Asriel lowered his hand and let it hover over his chest, that smile shrinking a little as he looked down at it. “Besides, even if you do forgive me… I can’t keep these souls inside of me. The least I can do is return them.”

Pausing, the child prince outstretched his other hand and stared at his palm.

“But first... “ His brows furrowed, looking up at Frisk with a small smirk. His face was that of determination. “There’s something I have to do. Right now, I can feel everyone’s hearts beating as one. They’re all burning with the same desire.” Huffing, Asriel flipped his outstretched hand around, turning his head to look over his shoulder at the barrier. “With everyone’s power… with everyone’s determination…”

Asriel turned back to grin at Frisk.

“It’s time for monsters… to finally go free.”

Taking a step back, the monster prince drew in a deep breath. Both hands went to his chest, concentrating, as a wind from nowhere picked up around the pair. He pulled his hands forward, magical energy sparking out of his palms as his arms raised to his sides. Asriel tilted his head back, the magic intensifying as the human souls spun around him, steadily getting faster. In their wake, the energy of every monster soul flared into life, spinning in a vortex of color around the prince as their magic was channeled.

Gasping softly as they watched, Frisk raised a hand to their own chest, their soul flashing to life beneath their hand as it’s power was called upon. It wasn’t painful, but it was a small pull, practically forgotten as the human took in the sight of the prince weaving his spellwork. It was truly a sight to behold.

There was a loud snap. Frisk looked up with wide eyes, mouth opening as large sparks of magic began to pop off the barrier. The sparks stretched, flaring like electrical currents zipping over the surface of the wall. Stepping back only once, Frisk watched as the magical energy wavered. Then there was another snap as a visible crack split the middle, the sound drumming and echoing through the cavern like an iceberg trembling. The crack deepened, cutting all the way down to the ground. Shuddering, the large magical wall began to tremble, the human souls glowing brightly. And then, with a final snap…

A blinding light struck the area like a lightning strike. Frisk raised their arms to cover their eyes, gritting their teeth softly as the deafening roar slowly quieted down. The child lowered their arms slowly after a moment, gasping silently as they gaped at the clear path ahead, twilight glistening clearly beyond the mouth of the cave deeper in.

The barrier was broken.

Frisk was left staring in wonder, holding their hands to their chest as the wind calmed and the monster prince lowered his arms. Huffing, Asriel glanced up with a smile and then over his shoulder at the surface beyond. His smile softened at the sunlight stretching into the cave, before Asriel turned the look to the human.

“Frisk… I have to go now,” he said quietly, sadness creeping up to touch his expression. Frisk paused, frowning and shaking their head in objection. They had saved everyone else, surely they could save Asriel too! The monster prince only smiled more sadly, a hand lifting to rub his chest and sighing as he looked down at his feet. “Without the power of everyone’s souls, I can’t keep maintaining this form. In a little while… I’ll turn back into a flower. I’ll stop being myself. I’ll stop being able to feel love again. So… Frisk.”

Frowning more, Frisk shook their head faster, taking a step toward the other child. They had done so much to help all the monsters, there had to be a way...

“It’s best if you just forget about me, ok? Just go be with the people who love you.”

A pang of grief struck the child, swallowing as their shoulders sunk with it. Was there really nothing they could do? Taking a breath, Frisk forced themself to straighten. They couldn't let go of the thought of helping this lost prince, trying to think of something, anything to help him. Their brows arched as they realized they had no idea how to even begin helping. Their hand unconsciously went to the locket, gripping it hard. Frisk could spare and have mercy all day long, but a soul… they didn't have the means to give one. The child wasn't even sure how to go about that route.

So instead, with a deep sigh, Frisk approached. Asriel looked up when they were a step away, confused, before the human wrapped their arms around him in a tight hug. The prince paused, taking the action in for a moment as it clicked. Then with a small shudder, Asriel bowed his head to the human's shoulder and clung to them, trembling in their arms as he fought against tears. Frisk leaned their head against the prince's, rubbing his back softly as he shook in their arms. They stood like that for a few minutes, just taking in the quiet. Hoping to give Asriel just one more moment of peace. “Ha… ha… I don’t want to let go..,” Asriel mumbled into their shoulder.

“You don’t have to, Asy.”

The children pulled their heads back, staring at one another in surprise.

“Frisk… that wasn't…”

Shaking their head, Frisk looked around to try and find the source of the voice. A small flash caught their attention, and the child turned their gaze down to their chest with parted lips of surprise. The locket was glowing bright red all on its own, and when Frisk made a move to touch it, the magical energy sparked and whisked away from it like a spilling fog. Both children gasped, watching the magic take shape beside them in the form of a shadowy figure.

Another human child.

Though not identical, they resembled Frisk closely in appearance. They wore the same thing Asriel did aside from their shirt bearing a single stripe instead of three, but their most striking feature were eyes of demanding red.

“Chara!” Asriel cried, a hand going to his mouth. He stared with wide, disbelieving eyes. “Chara, is it really you? How did… how are you…”

The child blinked, lifting their hands to flip them around a few times and stare at their palms and fingers. Brows raising, a slow grin made its way onto their face before they looked up, one hand going to touch their chest and hair.

“It sure is,” they chimed. Glancing over at Frisk, their expression changed to a small, grateful smirk. Despite their otherwise pleasant appearance, something about the child looked… tired. Weathered. “You can thank Frisk for that. Without them, this never would have been possible.”

Pausing, Frisk raised a hand to their chest and gave a meek, tired smile in return. Whether they had fully realized it or not at the time, Chara had been there from the beginning of their journey. A shadow in the back of their conscious, not necessarily a dark one, but something not originally of the child’s mind. And now the presense had a name.

Chara, the second lost prince.

Asriel simply looked between them both in surprise before he gained a shaky smile, eyes settling on his adopted sibling. “I thought you were gone, I thought you…”

Chara’s expression softened and they smiled, holding their arms out. “I’m right here.”

With a cried sound of relief, Asriel broke away from Frisk and wound their arms around the other child in a tight hug. Chara returned it in kind, their eyebrows arching as they closed their eyes and bowed their head to his shoulder. The reunited siblings clung to one another, having been apart for a hundred years in their own personal miseries. Just children wanting to go home for so long, just children wanting to help free their kind and make a difference.

“Now, n-now I really don’t want… to let go…” Asriel sputtered, pressing his muzzle into his sibling's hair. Frisk watched with a soft frown, winding their arm back around their side. The monster prince didn’t have much time left. The other souls had been released when Asriel broke the barrier, so he truly lived as himself only on borrowed time.

“I told you, fuzzbrain,” Chara mumbled into his shoulder, squeezing Asriel a little tighter, “you don't have to. Not ever again.”

Sniffing, Asriel lifted his head a little bit, looking toward his siblings with softly furrowed brows of confusion.

“Chara?” He asked almost nervously. “What do you mean?”

“Well, actually, maybe just one more time,” Chara chuckled softly. Moving their hand, the child brought Asriel’s head back to their shoulder. They looked up briefly, giving Frisk a thankful smile, before bowing their head again. Frisk blinked and tilted their head. What was…

A soft light began to settle around the hugging children. White glowed peacefully around Asriel, while around the human a red glow took place. Frisk’s brows rose as they watched, lips softly parting. That was magic.

“Chara? What's going on?” Asriel asked quickly, trying to pull away to look. The monster prince looked panicked for a second, unsure what was happening. But the child refused. Chara kept their grip firm, not allowing the monster out of their arms.

“Giving you the chance you never had,” the other prince told him, “but deserve more than anyone.”

The glow intensified, leaving Frisk staring in wonder. Was Chara… saving Asriel? They hadn't been able to themselves, but it looked like maybe, just maybe... Chara could. The thought brought another frown to Frisk’s face, eyes darting between them quickly. If Chara was saving their brother, what would happen to them?

“No, no, hey,” Asriel insisted, trying to break away. He was looking more worried by the second, frantic, tears returning to his eyes quickly. “Chara please, don't do this! You could live! Don't spend your soul on me, please! I don't, no, I don't deserve this! Please, Chara…”

Shaking their head, the glow simply intensified as Chara hugged them closer. Asriel was trying to get away, to insist he'd be fine, but the prince of determination wouldn't be swayed. Their decision was made, and they stood as sure as Mt. Ebott itself to see it through. Frisk swallowed hard, the struggle painful for them to watch.

“I knew you would not accept it willingly,” Chara mumbled into their shoulder with a soft tremble. They sighed, raising their head to frown shakily at their brother. Frisk paused at the amount of sheer fatigue on their face, and the child didn't think that was strictly from magic use. “So I had to make sure you would.”

“But your soul,” Asriel sobbed, “you can’t give up your soul for me… that's not fair to you!”

“Shhh,” they cooed, rubbing their brother's back. “I've done what I wanted to, Asy. I was the first human to fall, the first to give monsters hope. And now I've helped the last one free everyone. Just like we planned long ago.”

At those words, Chara looked up to connect their gaze with Frisk’s. The two humans stared at one another, Chara with a tired, knowing smile and the seventh human with sorrowful concern. They had saved everyone, including Asriel by the look of it. But the person they had unwittingly saved, it seemed they were slipping from Frisk’s grasp as well. And they had no idea how to stop it without ultimately losing one of them in the end.

“Don’t give me that look,” Chara chided, yet behind the words they were grinning. It was soft and worn out, but it was a grin. “You saved me too, Frisk. You saved me from an eternity of unrest. Of… heh. Well. I’ll never be able to thank you enough for what you've done. But… I figure for now, I’ll return the favor by saving someone you can’t.”

Swallowing hard again, Frisk gave a shaky smile. The expression dropped after a moment, however, and they shook their head. Taking a step forward and reaching out a hand, Frisk stared at them imploringly. Chara paused, furrowing their brow before softly laughing with a shake of their own head.

“No, Frisk. I already told you. You saved me. You’ve done enough.” A smile tugged at their tired face. “The only thing I ask of you now is to take care of them all. Take care of my family for me.”

Pressing their hand to their shirt harder, Frisk let out a shaky huff. Chara wasn't going to be swayed, and even if they tried anything, Frisk doubted they could stop this. By interrupting such delicate spell casting, they could hurt one of them, or worse. So instead, Frisk nodded. Take care of family. They would do that at least.

“Chara,” Asriel whimpered, clutching their shirt with trembling hands. He had stopped crying and struggling, having surrendered to a fate he couldn’t change. Aside from Frisk, Chara’s determination was unmatched. “Please… please let me go… You could live, please let me go.”

“No, Asy,” Chara whispered back, giving them a squeeze. The prince pressed their forehead to Asriel’s, moving their hands to cup his face. With a soft sigh from the human, the pairs gaze met. “Let me go.”

Between the siblings sparked a bright flash of light. Startled, Frisk raised their arms again to block the brightness, squinting between them to watch. Chara had let go of Asriel with one hand, and in that hand sat a red human soul much like Frisk’s. White sparks shot off of it, aiming for Asriel’s chest. With each spark that popped off and turned to magic, a little bit of the human’s soul chipped away. Frisk gasped as they watched, wanting to do anything to help. But in this situation, all they could do was simply behold the sight. The sparks flared and danced and after what felt like a lifetime of watching, the glow settled and revealed one half of a human soul. Frisk stared aghast at the half soul, slowly lowering their arms. A white light brightly glowed from Asriel’s chest, and with a shaky sniff, he lifted a hand to summon the light source forward.

In his hand rest an upside down white heart. A true, real monster soul.

“You get half of me, brother,” Chara said with a smile, eyes settling on the white soul. Huffing softly, those red eyes then turned upward to look into Asriel’s face. “With that half, you can live.”

Raising a hand, Asriel allowed himself to smile softly down at the soul as he wiped an eye with a sleeve. Despite the fight, despite not wanting to return if it meant hurting his sibling, he… existed. He was truly alive again. He could be Asriel Dreemurr again instead of Flowey. He had a soul again, he could feel love, joy, he could even appreciate the negative again.

Then he looked up.

“Not that I’m ungrateful, Chara, I'm really not. You've, you've given up so much for me, but…” Asriel lowered his hand from his face, hovering it over the partial red soul with a gentle frown. “What about you? Can you… live like that? What’s going to happen to you now?”

With a tired smile, the human pressed the soul close to their chest. Their eyes traveled over it for a moment, thoughtful. Smirking softly, Chara looked up with a chuckle.

“With half a soul? Who knows. I guess we’ll find out.” Then red eyes turned toward the group of monsters further away. The friends that Frisk has made along the way, the people that loved them, the people that had come to their aid. Ultimately, their family. Their... Chara blinked. Their brow rose, thoughts obviously spinning as something crossed their mind, before a slow grin tugged at their lips. Looking over at the two other children, the prince let their soul slip back into their chest as they took a step back. Something about them changed, their form taking on a transparency.

Furrowing his brows, Asriel stretched out a hand toward his sibling. “Chara?”

“Don't worry about me, Asriel, Frisk. Go take care of our family. I know what I want to do now.” Grinning, the prince met both of their eyes, reaching a hand up to hold the locket that had transferred to them after the prince took shape.

They stood tall. Determined.

“...dad... dad, wake up! can you hear me? are you alright?”

“FATHER PLEASE SAY SOMETHING, IT'S ALRIGHT! LET US KNOW YOU'RE OK!”

“heh, dad… come on… i know you're in there somewhere...”

...Boys…?

Groaning softly, the monster’s head rolled to the side, pressing his face into something soft. Something… He could… Gasping allowed, Gaster jerked and opened his eyes wide. Flinching, he was blinded by a light, raising an arm to try and block the brightness. Raising… an arm… The monster blinked. His eyes widened as he indeed stared at an arm, lips parting in shock while his eyes darted. There was no black mass, no disconnected hand trying to shield him. No, instead he stared blearily into the arm of a white lab coat.

And then it hit him.

He could feel. He felt the clothes against his bones, the different materials, how it stretched; the hard grating under his spine, how it ran in tiny diamond patterns that would eventually indent his coat with pressure and make his bones stiff; the material that supported his head, likely a pair of pants or shorts with the feeling of hard legs underneath. The rocketed pounding of his soul behind his ribs, a feeling he had only felt the ghost of for so long, to the point he was convinced that his soul had somehow been inevitably lost. He could… he could…

“woah, woah,” a voice said, “hey, dadster, easy. can you hear me?”

Gaster started slightly, knocking himself out of his focused stare. He squinted softly at the light still shining beyond his arm, lowering it slowly and following it with his eyes as if seeing it for the first time. He was about to look up when his brows furrowed softly, feeling something tangled between his fingers. What… Turning his hand and opening it, he found a heart locket and chain. It dangled off his hand, and the scientist stared in shock as he realized what it was, feeling a skip beneath his ribs. Chara… Swallowing hard, Gaster gained a small, shaky grin, moving to slip the necklace into his coat pocket. I’ll… give it to the children when I see them next. But for now… He finally looked up, and above him were two hovering skulls, both faces looking at him with opened mouths and wide eyes. Tears glistened in the corners of their sockets, the pair of brothers gasping softly when all three met eyes.

“SANS,” Papyrus exclaimed urgently, leaning closer, “SANS LOOK! HE’S AWAKE!”

“i… i-i see paps, heh,” his older brother stammered, his grin trembling a touch.

“Boys?” The elder skeleton croaked, coughing softly at the scratchy sound, raising a hand to his throat and grabbing it gently. His voice was absolutely raw and a dull pain had crept up after the cough. It felt like he hadn’t spoken in years. Perhaps that’s actually quite relevant...  “Sans? Papy…” Another cough, straining hard to speak, swallowing to try and quell the gravel. “P-papyrus…?”

Sans’ shoulders fell in relief, gaining a more tearful grin as he nodded. Crouched beside him, his younger brother raised his hands to his mouth as he gasped once more. For once, the talkative and long winded younger brother was left speechless.

“there you go, easy pops, we’ve got you,” Sans assured. “you sound bone tired, try not to talk.”

The elder skeleton barely registered where he lay or what was said, propped up in Sans’ lap for support. He didn’t dare look away from the sight of his boys, he couldn’t shake the thought that they were speaking to him, that they could see him. How he desperately hoped this wasn’t a dream, but then again… he never slept in the void. This couldn’t possibly be a dream. This was real. This had to be real.

“Boys, boys,” Gaster coughed, gaining his own shaky grin and completely ignoring his eldest sons’ advice. He reached up his hands, pressing one to each brother's cheek. As bone contacted bone, tears pressed at the back of his eyes and gathered forward fast. Each brother reached and put a hand over the one on their cheek, gaining a soft huff from the scientist. He could touch them. The shock set in, reality coming forward as all his senses sprung to life once more. He could feel, he could speak, he…

He existed.

Chara had pulled through after all.

“M-my boys!”

At his words, Papyrus and his brother brightened. The younger skeletons looked at each other quickly, something passing between them in that glance, before Papyrus moved into action. He went around to their father's other side and crouched, looping an arm around his shoulders.

“Do not worry, dad,” Papyrus assured, “Sans and I have you now and everything will be just perfect again!”

The brothers shifted Gaster up a little more, carefully until he was sitting more upright. Once he was stable and supported, both skeletons leaned forward and wrapped their arms around their father tightly to pull him into a shared embrace.

The elder scientist sat there for a moment, letting everything soak in. Everything just kept spinning in his mind, so unused to these sensations again, but truthfully… nothing really mattered. Not when his sons were here. Not when they were the first sight he saw out of a sea of blackness, out of what felt like a lifetime trapped in the dark realm of unfeeling.

None of that mattered when he had his little souls right there.

The tears in his eyes broke surface, his vision going watery as a wide, shaking smile pulled at his mouth. Sniffing, the scientist moved his arms and wound them around his sons just as tightly, tugging them both close with a choked sob. He clung to them as if they were his baby bones again, refusing to let them go. Lucky for him, they held on with just as much fervor, trembling softly in relief and happiness. All three of them were in tears, emotions running high with the shock and relief on all sides. Their skulls clicked and nuzzled against his own, and Gaster found himself breaking out into sobbing but joyful laughter, a warmth springing to life in his chest as his soul started to glow with love. He couldn't believe this was happening, absolutely overwhelmed but in the best possible way.

He had come home.

“How,” Gaster started, coughing, each word taking more and more effort speak. He honestly wasn't sure how long his voice would last, but again he didn't care at that specific moment. He would speak to his children. “How did. You find me?”

“I remembered you,” Papyrus said excitedly, but he could hear the soft emotion as he was given a gentle squeeze. “I remembered you and Sans brought us here!”

“i figured the last place i saw you would be a good place to start looking,” Sans added.

Pausing, the elder skeleton let their words soak in. So, he must have reappeared at the Core. That would explain the bright lights and the grating under his back, and a quick glance from his peripheral confirmed it. But most of all, he clung to his youngest son's words. Papyrus had suddenly remembered him. Did that mean that others would too? His pulse skipped. Did that mean Grillby remembered him? That time was truly fixed again? Chara, child, you are a wonder. I truly hope you get the peaceful rest you so longed for. Thank you. Thank you so much.

“Where did you go?” Papyrus asked, a slight shake to his usually strong voice. “Sans told me there was an accident, but… but you just disappeared!”

“aw paps…” Sans paused, giving his father a tighter squeeze, clinging to his lab coat a little harder. Of course Sans knew, but he wouldn't say. Not yet. “i know it's una-voidable, but we can get to the core of the problem later. we should let dad rest.”

“Rest, right, then first let us get out of here!” Pulling back a little, Papyrus moved to look his father in the face. “Are you ok to stand? Do you need help?”

Lowering his arms but still keeping them around his sons, Gaster glanced down at his legs. They had been something he didn't have in the void, and to be completely honest he wasn't sure if he had the strength. Leg strength or otherwise. I can't shake this weak spell in the back of my skull. It's almost making me dizzy. Huffing softly, the scientist looked back and gave a small smile.

“I do--” Once more he was interrupted by coughing, ducking his head as the feeling shook him harder this time. Hands pat his back before he calmed down, sighing deeply, roughly. Well, I guess my voice is officially gone for now… that's fine. We can figure it out. Voice isn't the only way I can speak. Sucking in a breath, Gaster softly cleared his throat and gave them a nod to show he was alright. His hands slid off their backs, moving in front of him to make hand motions and sign out, “I'm not sure. I could stand for a little help though and see from there.”

A spark of laughter lit in Sans’ eye while the quip went over his younger brother’s head in the moment. He let out a soft chuckle while Papyrus brightened a little and nodded, shifting how he held the older skeleton while Sans did the same.

“Worry you not, Father! The Great Papyrus can carry you if he needs to! I've gotten a lot stronger the past two years!”

Smiling gratefully, the scientist clicked his skull gently to his youngest son's and received a gentle laugh in return. With that, the brothers moved again, carefully and slowly rising up to bring the older skeleton to his feet. Gaster grit his teeth slowly as they went, feeling shakes start to creep up the higher they went before he was finally flat on his feet. Papyrus had slung the scientist's arm over his shoulder while his own was wrapped around Gaster. The boys watched him close as he stood, gently panting with that effort alone.

Ok… talking and walking. Out of the question for now. It's ok. Think of yourself as having just come out of a coma perhaps. There's going to be recovery time. It'll be alright. Get used to being back first.

His gaze flicked upward, causing the elder skeleton to pause and tense slightly. They were on the exact bridge he had fallen from two years again, he could see the welding where new grating had been attached close to their shoes. The bright magic churning below sent a nervous, near nauseating spike into his stomach, feeling the urge to draw back and get away as quick as possible. As he stared, he found he couldn't quite remember what the fall felt like, all he could gather was the edge of a headache and images too rough and scarred for him to pick up. That and a wave of such strong unease and dread that he dared not think about it much longer. The feeling sent a shiver up his spine.

Breathing in deep and sighing slowly, the scientist looked over to his youngest son, but he could tell by his face that he needn't say anything. There was no way either of them had missed his struggling, physical or mental. Papyrus had furrowed his brows softly in the gentlest worry. The expression smoothed out a second later with a kind, unwavering grin, letting no trace of possible negativity show.

“Alright, so we definitely aren't walking,” Papyrus decided, shifting a little as if he were going to move a different way. “I can carry--”

“hey paps, wait,” Sans interjected, giving his signature casual grin, this time with a softly raised brow thrown in. “no point in walking all the way back. i got shortcuts.”

“Right, of course, your weird space bending.” Turning to their father, Papyrus raised a brow at the older skeleton. “That would definitely get you home sooner. Shall we?”

Huffing softly in amusement, Gaster let a soft smirk rise as he nodded. It was nice to simply listen to his boys go back and forth again. While yes, he'd done so while in the void, now he was involved and that made it so much nicer. The young sentry grinned at his response then turned to regard his older brother.

“Okay brother, let's go!”

“heh, got it.”

A blue light collected around the smaller skeleton, stretching over the other two as he called upon his magic. Gaster watched quietly, still not used to seeing his son teleport even after two years of watching. For so long, he himself had been the sole bearer of that ability. Ever since the accident activated the DT in his eldest son, however, Sans had been able to use the ability as well.

There was a spark and the scientist closed his eyes, feeling himself shoved through reality for a split second until the magic faded once more. He wavered slightly, unused to the feeling on his physical body anymore and the fact he wasn't in control. That's… interesting. I wonder if that's what the others feel. Opening his eyes, Gaster beheld the dark house of the brothers’ back in Snowdin. The lights were off but white light filtered in through the snow flecked windows, casting a light on things closest to them. Sans had brought them to the living room, directly in front of the couch, very purposefully placing them there.

Underneath his arm, Gaster felt his son stumble. Turning his head quickly, the scientist raised his brows in alarm, looking at Sans quickly to make sure he was alright. He opened his mouth to ask but simply closed it a second later once he realize it was best not to actually speak, huffing softly. He tightened his arm around Sans instead, helping keep him steady.

Papyrus hadn't missed it either.

“Sans?” He asked. “Are you alright?”

“yeah,” Sans huffed with a nod, grinning tiredly up at them, “i think that fight and then wandering around for an hour drained me.” An hour? Is that how long it took me to come back? The smaller skeleton let out a chuckle, moving one hand to smooth over his skull. “that and i'm not used to a crowd in my shortcuts.”

“Well here, sit down then, both of you!”

The taller skeleton turned, easing his father off his shoulders and down onto the couch slowly. Meanwhile, Gaster hooked his arm tighter around his eldest son with a gentle furrow of his brow, saying with that look that he was to sit as well. You're exhausted, rest son. You've done so much. Both of you. Sans did follow his father after a second’s pause, sinking into the couch as both men sighed deeply in comfort at the feeling. Gaster leaned his head on the back of the couch, eyes falling closed. Ohhh I am… exhausted suddenly… years of no sleep is catching up with me and all I did was barely stand hah.

“heh, jeez bro, i’m wiped,” Sans mumbled beside him, gaining a quiet laugh from his father as he echoed his thoughts.

“Well, you two rest, I'll go grab a blanket,” Papyrus offered, leaving no room for argument as he turned and darted up the stairs.

Laughing gently, the elder scientist shook his head and relaxed deeper into the couch. A gentle and silent groan settled in his throat at the feeling, once more letting everything sink in. The fact he could feel again still caught Gaster off guard, his fingers gently gliding over the felt of the cushions as he let the sensation travel over his bones. A soft smile spread across his face. It felt worlds better than the bridge back at the Core. Just being away from the massive building felt better.

“so g,” Sans said quietly beside him, cracking an eye open. His father rolled his skull upward and looked down with tired curiosity. “what was that in your hand earlier? it was heart to tell, but it looked an awful lot like what the kid wore before stuff went down.”

Blinking, Gaster’s mind went back to the necklace in his pocket. Now that his son mentioned it, it had been the same one Frisk wore after going through New Home the first time. And he hadn't really realized until then, but the image of Chara had worn it too. Perhaps it became Chara’s body anchor when they were separated from Frisk… The more time that passed, the fuzzier the subject of his salvation got. He knew, however, that he'd been saved by the help of the lost prince.

“A memory I need to give to the children,” he ended up signing with a smile. “A token of what brought me back.”

A furrow of his brow told Gaster of his eldest son's confusion, the smaller skeleton tilting his head a little. His mind seemed to work for a moment before he ultimately shrugged and yawned deeply, shifting back to lean against his father's side.

“i’m not gonna be the one to question weirdness here,” Sans said with a quiet laugh. With as much as the younger scientist had seen and figured out, this was just one more oddity to the list to let slide as normality. After a moment, he sighed the rest of his laugh out, pausing as his eyes fell to the floor. His voice grew quieter as he whispered, “dad i'm… really uh. i’m really glad… that you're back.”

There was a moment of silence before a warm smile settled on Gaster’s face. Oh Sans. Raising a hand, he laid it atop his son's skull and rubbed it gently, tugging him just a little bit closer. Sans looked up at him, a small, shaky grin rising at the motion. A single note laugh escaped before he shifted and wrapped his arms tight around Gaster, squeezing him in his tired embrace and pressing his face into his shoulder. His father returned the motion, moving to hold him close and resting his head on top of Sans’.

One day I will make up for and apologize for what happened right before I fell, he mentally promised, giving Sans a briefly tighter squeeze. You boys deserve so much better than how you were treated. All of you boys. I love you so much.

Thumping down the stairs signaled Papyrus’ returned, the taller skeleton easily taking them by twos.

“Here we go,” the youngest sentry announced, a large blanket draped over his arms. “The perfect resting blanket. It'll cover everyone!” Then be paused, brows raising. “Oh, are we doing more group hugs?” When his father turned a grin toward him, Papyrus dumped the blanket on the arm of the couch and swept over, circling the two into a tight embrace to hold them close. Both of the other skeletons chuckled, the older scientist just sitting there and relishing the feeling of having his boys near.

I'm so… glad. I can feel this again. I'm so, so glad. I have my boys back, my sons, my family... Unwinding one arm, Gaster shifted to wrap it around his youngest and pulled him into his own embrace, sighing out shakily. I'll never abandon you two again. Ever. I swear on this second chance.

The hug ended after a moment longer, Papyrus stepping back to regather the blanket with a gentle grin. Sans looked a little less shaky but still exhausted, while the older skeleton just felt downright drained. Mm heavens I don't… want to just fall asleep. I still need to see Grillby but. The fatigue in his bones said otherwise. If he went to go find the bartender now, there was no telling if he'd even be coherent enough to hold a conversation after teleporting. Alright. A nap first, then I'll go. This'll give me a little more time with my sons.

“you gonna sit with us, bro?” Sans asked curiously, breaking him out of his current thoughts.

The younger skeletons gave a shrug, grin widening a touch. “Might as well, someone has to watch over you two! And no arguing, father, you are sleeping!” At the addition, Papyrus tossed part of the blanket over his shoulder and pointed at the skeleton in question. Gaster raised his brows a little, a gentle smirk rising and he nodded, feeling silent laughter in his chest. Yes yes, I'll rest, son. I'll rest. “Good. You two need sleep. And… to be quite honest, I'm a little tired from the fight too.”

With a soft chuckle, Gaster raised his hand and beckoned his youngest forward. Come on then, Papyrus. Come and sleep. You're allowed to rest too. Straightening up, Papyrus moved to drape the large blanket over the couch and his family. Only after that was done did he drop down on his father's other side, mimicking Sans and leaning against the scientist as he tugged the blanket over himself.

Closing his eyes, the scientist settled in between his boys, a gentle smile rising to his face. Never again had he thought he'd be able to do something like this, something as simple as resting between his children on a couch. But he was, he could feel them both leaned against him, the gentle shifting as they breathed, the feeling of Sans leaning more and more into his side as his eldest son fell into a quick, hard sleep, the soft touch of Papyrus doing the same as his skull leaned gently against his own.

I haven't… felt so at peace in so, so long. The thought brought gentle tears to his sockets again, emotion bubbling in his chest that he had to fight to contain. They were happy tears, but with a touch of grief for what may have never happened. He simply swallowed it back for now, raising his arm to wipe them away with a sleeve. Just sleep. You can worry about the deeper emotions later. Just rest with the boys, you so desperately need it.

Willing his mind to relax, Gaster found himself sinking more into the cushions, his head tilting slightly toward his eldest son's. The fatigued haze settled in quick, dragging him down as the gentle silence lulled him further. It was only interrupted by the sound of a muffled vibration and the feeling of Papyrus moving a moment later to likely look at his phone as he was roused from his own dozing. The scientist remained unconcerned, however, eyes staying closed as he sighed, the tendrils of consciousness slipping away.

This is… a much, much needed nap…

And with the thought, for the first time in two years, Gaster felt himself taken by exhaustion and was finally able to sleep in the comfort of his sons.

The only thing that stirred him was the sound of a chirping kettle in the other room and the feeling of something moving beside him.

Startling awake, Gaster sucked in a breath to look around, only to register where he was a moment later. He was tense for a minute, everything clicking in his mind, you're… back, this isn't the void, you're ok... He calmed with the realization, sinking with a sigh as he ran a groggy hand over his face, taking off his glasses gone crooked by sleep. Mmm wow… that felt like it lasted hardly any time at all… He drew in a deep breath, yawning it out and cracking an eye open after to see Sans stand up off the couch and wander toward the kitchen. With a glance, he confirmed Papyrus was already up and likely in charge of the noise in the kitchen. His youngest never slept for long the scientist mused as he fixed his glasses.

“Oh good, you're awake!” That was Papyrus himself, poking his head around the corner with a grin. “Is golden flower tea ok? Undyne gave me a box not too long ago and I figured you could use some!”

Smiling tiredly, Gaster nodded in confirmation Tea. That's right, I can eat and drink again too. The dryness of his throat was proof enough that he certainly needed to at least drink. He was likely still severely malnourished from his stent before the Core, but time would help fix that.

At the confirmation, Papyrus gave a one note laugh and darted back into the kitchen. Gaster let out a gentle snort, smirking and shaking his head. Everything's just. Settling back into place. With the thought, his eyes turned down to his legs, lowering a hand to move the blanket aside and look at them. I wonder... Bracing himself against the couch with his palms, the scientist bit his lip and tried to slowly ease himself into a stand. His legs shook, massively weakened, and after only achieving a few inches he groaned and gave up to drop back into the couch. Ohhh goodness. Alright then, that is definitely going to need to be worked on. I can't even stand without support…

With a frown, Gaster raised a hand to rub at his throat as he tried to think of how to overcome this. No mobility and no voice, he would be limited to needing assistance with almost everything. Hands would be useful so long as he was around people who understood or could translate, and he could easily grab things with blue magic if he were in the same room. This is still going to be tough… the magical deconstruction of my strength that the Core did is. Remarkable. I really hope with time I'll--

“hey g,” Sans piped up, causing his father to startle slightly and look up. His son had a cup of coffee and a tired grin, brow raised as he looked at the older skeleton. Gaster hadn't even heard him come back.

“you alright? not runnin’ a femur or anything are you?”

Snorting softly, Gaster shook and gave a small smile. He raised his hands, signing back, “Just getting used to things again is all.”

Sans nodded with a yawn, moving to settle back down beside him. He took a sip of his coffee, thoughtful, then turning a soft grin to his father. “let us know if you need anything, alright? we'll do all we can to lend you a hand.”

“Was that a pun? Is dad signing?” Papyrus rounded the corner with two cups, pausing in front of the pair with a gentle squint. His father silently laughed while Sans simply hid in his coffee mug. Making a face, Papyrus huffed and extended the tea out to the older scientist. “Your lack of answer is concerning. Considering the occasion, however, I suppose I'll allow puns. But only for now.”

“loud and clear, bro,” Sans snickered back.

Taking the cup in his hands, Gaster gazed down at the steaming liquid and brought it close to his skull, letting the warmth spill over his face. Smell… scent is a thing too. I've been doing it all along since I've been back but just… heh. Little things. And it's so warm too. Smiling gratefully, his eyes turned to Papyrus as he summoned magic hands, spelling out a quick “thank you, son.” His youngest grinned back and settled on his other side, drinking his own beverage, hot chocolate if Gaster didn't know any better.

“Oh! That reminds me!” Papyrus turned where he sat, looking at his father with an expression of urgent excitement. “Grillby messaged me earlier. You need to go see him when you finish!”

Gaster was mid-sip when there was a skip behind his ribs, forcing himself not to spit take his tea. He blinked in surprise, brows raising up and swallowing the contents hard. Grillby, oh god, yes I need to see him. I need to talk to him, to explain, I need… oh heavens I need to make sure he knows. His pulse picked up, thumping with nerves and excitement behind his ribs as he cradled his tea. His sons and his love had been the ones he'd been most desperate to see. Now that he'd established that he had returned to his boys, it was Grillby's turn to know he was back.

“He messaged about half an hour ago saying he was going to do inventory,” his son continued, “It's the perfect time to catch him! Right in the diner!”

“oh right,” Sans mumbled, setting his quickly emptied mug down and digging out his phone. “he called earlier but my phone was on silent. whoops.”

“Silent?” Papyrus gawked. “Since when do you silence that thing?”  

“it was right before we met up with frisk,” Sans answered with a meek shrug.

“Augh, doesn't matter. Finish your tea, father! Grillby is waiting for you!” The youngest skeleton marked his words with a pointing glove toward Gaster’s cup, and the older scientist huffed a small laugh. Nodding, he obeyed and took another long sip, enjoying the warmth as it combated the soreness and sudden nerves. Looking up at his son, he gently tapped a hand to Papyrus’ leg and summoned hands again.

“Did you tell him I was coming by?”

“No, I figured you going there yourself would be a much better surprise!” Papyrus grinned brightly at his plan, leaving his father to pause in thought. If Papyrus hasn't said anything, does Grillby even know I'm actually back? That I'm… alive?

“Did he ask for me?”

“Not specifically,” Papyrus shrugged, taking a long draw from his mug, “but I know him well enough to know he was asking about you just as much as he was about us!”

Gaster nodded slowly, his gaze slowly moving down to the floor as he took another sip. Everything in his bones called for him to go to Grillby, to reassure him he was ok and there and alive. His memories were fuzzy, but from what he could tell, time simply left a confusing gasp of disconnected information to excuse his absence. Now that memories were back, his love was surely thinking of him. He had to go make it right. Oh Grillby I miss you so much...

“gman’s been pretty bonely,” Sans said, leaning back into the couch, “i think it'd do you both some good to try and rekindle things, yeah?”

A groan sounded beside him, Papyrus standing up a second later to snatch his brother's empty cup and then turning to his father. “Sans is right, you should definitely go settle things with your person again. I know he'd be very happy to see you!”

Draining his own beverage after a moment, Gaster handed it over with a nod and a sigh. “Yes… I need to make things right again.”

Papyrus nodded in agreement, wandering off to the kitchen to discard the mugs. As he came back around, Sans looked thoughtful.

“knowing grillbz,” his eldest mused, “you don't even need to explain anything. he’ll just be happy you're back, y’know?”

“Yes, yes you're right…” Gaster gave a gentle, nervous sigh. A hand settled over his chest with a small frown. Be that as it may, he still felt responsible for explaining everything. He wanted Grillby to know that he hadn't meant to pull away from him the moment they became official, he hadn't tried to abandon him, he wasn't gone forever. But like Sans had said… Grillby wouldn't think that, not after our last visit. He knew. He saw me. He saw what an… absolute wreck I was. No, he knows. I just. Need to remind him how much I love him and how sorry I am.

“go on, dad,” Sans encouraged with a grin, nudging his father's arm. “we'll wait here for you.”

A warm smile crossed his face, eyes traveling upward to Papyrus.

“Yes yes, go! Don't keep uncle Grillby waiting all night!” Papyrus rest his hands on his hips and leaned toward the pair, but his scrutinizing squint turned quickly into excitement and his own encouraging light. Instead, he made quick shooing motions toward his father, obviously telling him in a nice way to scram.

Raising a hand, Gaster left out a scratchy laugh into it, nodding to both his children. He cleared his throat, absently taking the hand off his chest to rub his throat quickly. Not speaking would take some getting used to, he'd never had to deal with the problem before. Lowering his hands, he signed out, “alright, right, ok.”

There was a moment's pause when the scientist took a moment to breathe in deeply. It was a starting breath, trying to build up his courage to confront the bartender. No, not just the bartender. His bartender. Heavens, there's so much I need a explain. Oh Grillby… I finally get to see you. And now... you can see me. There was a skip, a flutter in his chest at the thought. Grillby would see him. Grillby would see him. The scientist sat up straighter, huffing to himself. I just. Need to go there. One step at a time, Wingding. Go to him. It'll be ok.

Beside him, Sans tilted his head where he lounged, watching his father psyche himself up. “if you're worried about it, i doubt anyone would be in your seat,” his eldest son offered. “i've never seen it occupied since, so it's likely safe.”

Nodding again, Gaster took another breath. He felt nervous, he felt oh so nervous. Not because of Grillby, no, his gentle flame wouldn't ever do anything to harm him. But the time apart, the break before his fall, the distance he unwittingly put between them. I owe him so many apologies, I've done us so wrong… my timing couldn't have been more terrible. The scientist huffed, swallowing back his fear. He wouldn't be able to do anything if he just sat here. He had to act. He had to see Grillby. Most of all, he had to make it right.

Right. Come on. Go to him

When he glanced over, both of his boys were looking at him with eyes of expectancy and encouragement. They had full faith in him. It was time he did too.

“Ok boys,” he signed, smiling. “I'll be back. I'm going to him.”

“Don't hurry back!” Papyrus urged, then paused. “I mean, only hurry back once you two have talked. Then that's ok! Hurriedly take your time, dad!”

Beside him, Sans gave a laugh. “don't worry, dadster. have as many tinder moments with uncle g as you need. we've got nothing but time.”

While his youngest son groaned, Gaster laughed again quietly as a gentle flush settled on his face. His grin widened, the pounding of his soul calming a touch with their words. His sons were the most wonderful things. The scientist didn't know what he'd do without them.

Now or never. Go to him.

A gentle sigh passed his lips as the skeleton reached up to press a hand over his chest. He felt the drumming of his soul underneath his fingertips, beneath his ribs, the strength of it he hadn't been able to feel for two years. The life uncloaked by shadow, still brimming with potential. Opportunities. Magic he once more fully possessed. Magic hands didn't take too much effort, they were one of his most natural magical abilities. They were his. But teleporting was manufactured, experimental, though mastered. It took leaps more energy than the hands did, and it was here Gaster wondered if he could execute it correctly. Despite the nap, he was still exhausted. Teleporting would only make it that much worse. As his eyes traced the hole in his other hand, his left, the scientist gently closed that fist.

It was worth it if it meant he could see his love and let him know he was ok.

Closing his eyes, Gaster breathed in slowly, deeply. His chin tilted up, calling on the magic that would whisk him away. He had teleported many, many times still while in the void but they had never taken a direct draw of his magic. Now it would, and that was alright. Gaster would just have to get used to it again. Add it to the list.

The nature of his teleporting changed. Where once a usual quick, light blue aura surrounded him, now it turned to dark gray. A glitchy crackle and pop sounded, before the shape of the scientist was gone. The pull of the teleport tugged him, scenery changing as the world soared by in a single second.

The next thing Gaster noticed was the dull lighting behind his eyelids, and suddenly being blasted by the comforting, homely feeling of warmth. The feeling jostled him in the most surprising yet happy way, but he couldn't quite focus on that for a moment. He felt disoriented, gasping softly at the shift and he squeezed his eyes closed tighter. Ohhh heavens…

Blinking them open after a moment, he raised a hand to rub the side of his skull to ease the small bout of dizziness. Giving it a gentle shake, his eyes slowly focused on the bar in front of him, getting his senses back. That feels almost like I’m relearning how… to…

There was a shatter.

Once they entered the elevator, Frisk looked up to watch the screen quietly. I stood beside them, watching the same screen with only a single glance at their face. This elevator was designed specifically to take the user from the Core to New Home, and vice versa. While some things in the underground seemed impossible, it was inventions like this and magic that proved anything could happen with a bit of bending the rules. Perhaps that statement stood for Frisk as well.

I'm not sure what you intend to do, child. But like everyone else, I wish you the greatest of luck.

When the elevator stopped, the human stepped out to be greeted by a massive stretch of gray. They paused, looking around to get their bearings with raised brows. New Home was a large area, the Capital of the monsters for a hundred years now. It wasn't as bright as the other regions of the underground, but everyone who lived there seemed to be ok with that. Ahead of Frisk stretched a long path, one that had been built for travelers who wanted a quicker route without having to wander through the city to the chapel. That, and ultimately the palace. Straying off the path led into the city, the likes of it viewable easily from their position.

Mustering their resolve, the child pressed onward. The child seemed a little surprised to find they weren’t confronted by anyone, occasionally glancing around as if waiting for it. The path led them to a rather quaint looking house, identical in practically every way but color to the one the child had stayed in while in the Ruins. It looked just like Toriel’s house.

Frisk looked at it in confusion, obviously thrown off by the building that was so familiar yet obviously not the same. Despite that, they moved onward curiously, carefully, not sure what to expect of the monster king awaiting them. Stepping inside was even worse deja vu than being outside. The layout was exactly the same, even to how it was decorated. The former queen had taken heavy inspiration from her old home, it seemed.

Frisk stared in wonder as they looked around, finding that the immediate way to the basement was blocked by locks and a friendly note that told of the homeowner being away in the garden. Still in a daze of confusion and awe, the child went to gather the aforementioned keys, their eyes constantly roaming around to take every little thing in.

As they went, a few monsters began to emerge from different places, only to disappear moments after they came. Instead of being aggressive like most had been before, however, they talked. Each of them shared a piece of our history, giving Frisk all the information they needed about our past, more detailed than that of the plaques they'd read in Waterfall. By now, every monster in the underground knew there was a human on their way to Asgore.

The seventh human.

The one they'd been waiting for since our king first promised us freedom.

Even then, something in the eyes of every monster told me they didn't quite see this child as just a human. They saw Frisk as their salvation, sure, but they didn't look at them as simply a ticket to their freedom. They saw another lost soul among them.

Waiting, longing to be free.

I found myself glancing at Frisk’s face from time to time to see if their eyes would change as the story continued, revealing things that were certainly sensitive to the prince. They did not. Even as the child entered the sibling’s old room, the adopted child of the royals made no reappearance. It seemed they would stay quiet for the tale.

Finding a locket, Frisk scooped the piece of jewelry up more delicately than they had any other piece of clothing they'd encountered along their way. They gazed at it thoughtfully, running a thumb over the old piece, something in their eyes searching.

That was yours, prince. Do you remember it?

As if somehow the child had heard me, Frisk gave a soft smile, gripped the locket close, then slipped the necklace on over their sweater. We both looked down at it for a moment, and in doing so I swear I saw a soft, red glow appear around the locket. It was almost like a spark, a blink and you miss, and then the most gentle, soft red pulse coming from the necklace. I stared with parted lips of surprise.

You do remember then.

As the child continued to explore the house, something about their expression seemed… unsettled. Sad. I wasn’t a mind reader, but when a person is alone they often let their thoughts portray more on their faces than they would with others around. Frisk did just that each time they came across something of Asgore’s. They’d gain a small, sad, uncertain frown, lingering for a moment before they went onward.

He doesn’t sound like the ruthless, scary king the humans and even some monsters would lead you to believe, does he little one?

With a soft sigh and having gathered both keys, the child went back to the locks and removed them. They paused at the top before even taking their first step, looking down with a reluctance that any soul would feel when they thought they were about to do something they truly, sorely didn’t want to. Their hand traced up to grip the locket, holding it tight to their chest. I moved behind them, laying an unfelt hand on their shoulder with my own soft frown.

You can do it, Frisk. Don’t fret. Then a soft, very soft smile. Stay determined.

What they planned to do, I was not sure. As many timelines as I’d seen with the scenarios of the final child, their fate could take them so many different ways. In my time with them, I had grown confident that Frisk would do anything and everything in their power to do what they felt was right. Their merciful determination had brought them further than any human had gotten before. And I was proud of them.

For the first time in a long time, I had faith. I believed in them.

Whatever got my sons and my love a better life, I was sure they'd find a way.

Nodding to themself with another sigh, Frisk straightened up and jogged down the stairs. As they went, the monsters kept appearing and the story kept unfolding. Their hand remained gripping the locket, keeping it close to their chest as they listened to the despairing story of how we lost our princes. Their face saddened with each line spoken, each step taken.

They were both just children trying to do what they thought was right for their people.

The story came to an end as they entered a courtyard, pausing to stare up at the looming chapel in front of them. A place that meetings were often called with as many citizens that could be gathered. The very same place Asgore had announced the previously mentioned prince's deaths.

Upon entering, Frisk paused at a long stretching hall painted with magical sunlight through stained glass windows. It wasn’t like most chapels, but instead more of a glorified hall for those to come and seek shelter and passage to the palace.

At the end of the hall stood a figure, bathed in shadow. The child hesitated for a moment, unsure, before walking forward and dropping their hand from the locket. As they got closer, their company stepped into the light with a soft, casual grin.

Sans was there to greet them.

My son stood there, speaking of judgement and trials. While I’m sure Sans would have acted had he been pushed to it, he did not. He had found no reason to judge the child for any wrong doing, for in their journey, there hadn’t been any. Frisk had done everything they could to spare and have mercy on every soul they met, great or small alike. A true soul of peace.

Satisfied and relieved with the fact he didn’t have to do anything to the human, Sans stood there for a moment. Like Alphys, I could tell that he felt conflicted about the child leaving. He’d grown attached, little by little, by watching their journey. Like father like son, one would say.

"you’re about the face the greatest trial of your entire journey,” he told them. “your actions here... will determine the fate of the entire world. if you refuse to fight, asgore will take your soul and destroy humanity. but if you kill asgore and go home... monsters will remain trapped underground. what will you do?"

The child blinked up at him, their hand raising and hovering over their chest. Simultaneously over their soul and the locket. After thinking about it, Frisk raised their hands to sign.

“Keep going.”

Sans grinned, chuckling softly with a nod and a lazy shrug.

"well, if i were you, i would have thrown in the towel by now. but you didn't get this far by giving up, did you? that's right. you have something called 'determination.'” Giving a small, knowing smirk, Sans shrugged again. “so as long as you hold on, so long as you do what's in your heart... i believe you can do the right thing."

In return, Frisk gave him a grateful smile. They stepped forward, pausing in front of him hesitantly, then rushed that last step to grip Sans tight in a hug. My son paused, taken aback, before grinning softly, slowly and returned the hug, patting their head with a chuckle.

“...alright. we’re all counting on you, kid.”

Giving them a quick squeeze, Sans let go and grinned encouragingly, holding them at arms length while giving them a wink.

“good luck.”

With one final pat, Sans stepped back and teleported away. The hall was left with only the soft echo of the magical sound and Frisk staring where he’d once been. Sucking in a breath to gather themself, Frisk reached up to grab the locket, gave it a soft squeeze, then dropped it back to their chest and continued down the end of the hall. Following them with a soft smile, I shook my head as we went.

Even someone who’s been gone for a hundred years… you intend to save them too somehow?

Well, at this rate, I wouldn’t put anything past Frisk. I’d see where this child would inevitably take us in the end.

Leaving the chapel, another passageway stretched before them. Frisk continued on until they met the end with a large archway, a plaque above their head reading “Throne Room.” The doors had been removed long ago, revealing beyond a sight much like what you would see on the surface. A sight of true wonder and beauty and time.

Scattered across the floor was a gathering of hundreds of golden flowers. The same magical sunlight as before speckled across the ground, filtered through the windows high above, convincing enough to anyone who didn't know better to be actual sunlight. The gentlest of breezes rustled the grass and other plants that had managed to grow, along with the soft sound of birdsong from different corners of the room. In the middle of the room sat the king's throne, settled on a patch of floor that didn't have any foliage immediately around it.

And not far from his seat, with his back turned and softly humming to himself, stood Asgore Dreemur.

The king of all monsters, my oldest friend, my brother.

I watched as he turned to greet the child happily like any other citizen, only to take a step back in shock and dismay when he saw who it was. Frisk paused. The two stared at one another a moment, unsure what do.

The final child stood before Asgore, and Frisk beheld the king they had been told would end their journey.

Finally Asgore broke the silence, pacing in front of his chair slowly. He looked quietly distraught, his friendliness only strained because he knew what he had to do. Every movement and tone showed that he wanted to do the exact opposite of the fate set before them. Asgore tried a touch of friendly conversation at first, before hesitantly telling them to meet him further up ahead whenever they were ready. The child lingered back for a moment as he vanished.

Their uncertainty was clear on their face, twisted much like Asgore’s had been. Frisk wandered toward where he disappeared, first looking at another throne hiding beneath a sheet and then back toward the archway with a frown.

You intend to change fate, don't you? How will you go about it then?

With a sigh, Frisk pushed themself onward slowly, meeting the king at the barrier’s edge with wide eyes. They approached slow and beheld the massive structure of magic, taking in the sight of what ultimately kept the monsters trapped. Even standing there with the child, Asgore barely looked at them, instead staring out the barrier sadly. Tiredly. I'm sorry, old friend. Whenever he did, he offered a small smile. He gave them several chances to turn back, to maybe go and enjoy the underground a little more.

Frisk softly shook their head in return.

With a deep sigh, Asgore nodded and composed himself, straightening. He turned his back to the barrier to face the child, towering over them easily. His smile was shaky, small, as seven soul canisters rose from the ground on either side of him. I stared at each one, remembering the months spent building each one.

One of them was empty.

The human looked at it for a moment before gathering themself as well, looking up then at Asgore with a frown and a shake of their head. They would not fight.

His face fell slightly, arching his brows sadly before shaking his head too with a regretful smile.

“Human. It was… nice to meet you.”

Twilight spilled through the barrier. Shifting his cloak, Asgore summoned his red trident into his hand, brandishing it defensively in front of him.

“I've heard the stories of your travels through the underground, child. While I'm forever grateful you spared and showed mercy to my people, I'm afraid… I can't let you show me the same kindness.”

His stance tightened, sucking in a breath and stared forward. Waiting for Frisk to make the first move.

Frisk stared in dismay, clenching their jaw and shaking their head. The child insisted to him that they didn't want to fight. Asgore sunk slightly, bowing his head. Even so, he summoned fire to attack. Frisk dodged, once again telling the king they didn't want to fight. And again Asgore stood his ground. The child's face fell, before a spark of that determination sprung back up and they straightened.

They firmly told Asgore they would not fight.

Swallowing hard, the king gave the smallest shake of his head, before once again attacking.

Looking crestfallen for a second, the human dodged. For a few more turns it was Frisk telling the monster king they wouldn't fight and Asgore retaliating with fire and swipes of his trident. Once they realized that he truly wasn't going to listen, Frisk gripped the locket hard and huffed shakily. Shaking their head, they gathered all the courage they could. Screw your courage to the sticking place, as my bartender would say.

Asgore would hear no mercy, and so for once, it wouldn't win this fight. If they kept it up, he would eventually catch them off guard and take their soul.

What will you do?

As an answer, Frisk took out a knife they had on their person for personal defense. They never used it, absolutely refusing to touch it on their trek. But here, now, they had no choice lest they wanted their soul to be taken. While Frisk indeed wanted to help free the monsters, they also wanted to live on. They gripped both the locket and the handle hard, tears brimming the corner of their eyes. Their hands shook, and their signed words rung in my head from earlier.

Keep going.

With a whispered, “I'm sorry,” the child darted forward. Asgore seemed surprised for a moment before holding the trident out in defense. The two forces clashed, human and monster against each other as it had been two hundred years ago. I frowned as I watched, knowing Asgore was majorly holding back. He could have taken the child out in one hit. While he forbade the child to show him mercy, he himself was using just that on them.

The two went back and forth, both of them on the edge of tears, both of them standing up for each other. As the battle waned, Asgore took more and more hits. Had Frisk truly wanted to kill him, they could have. But they did not.

With a huff, Asgore pressed a hand to his chest and collapsed onto one knee. Frisk immediately stopped what they were doing, stepping back to give him room and putting the knife away. They paused hesitantly, wanting to help but unsure what to do.

Asgore spoke of his fatigue, his desire for this to be over. All of it. The fighting between them now, the barrier, the burdens. How he just wanted to go back to a life he once had. A sad frown crossed my face as I listened, knowing all too well what he took on himself. What I myself had taken on as well to try and help relieve it.

The king wouldn't fight anymore, surrendering himself to Frisk. He told them they could take his soul to cross the barrier, to continue their life outside the underground. Asgore would not stop them.

But the child refused.

Looking up in surprise, the king beheld this child in front of him. The one he had heard used nothing but mercy. Despite him forbidding it, even in the end Frisk would not listen. They would show him mercy.

Asgore smiled shakily in disbelief, a soft laugh as he shook his head. He spoke of dreams and wants, of returning to a life like he had. A wife and children. But this time, it involved Frisk. He would take the child in, if that was what they wished. Frisk smiled softly in relief at his change of heart. For a moment, I let my guard down and smiled too. Even so, I knew it wasn't meant to be. I knew what was about to happen. And it was going to be another instance that was absolutely painful to watch with having no way to stop it.

Hold on you two… it's not over.

Out of nowhere, a ring of white pellets appeared and surrounded Asgore. I frowned heavily, having seen this fate before but still despising it, while Frisk gasped and tried to rush forward to stop them.

But it was too late.

The attacks hit. Already severely weakened, Asgore couldn't hold up. His body shuddered, head bowed as he faded into dust right before our eyes. His soul appeared, floating in the air as if it were still suspended in his chest, before it began to shudder like his body had. It cracked, splintered, before finally shattering into a wisp of dust like his body had before it. My friend, my king, my brother faded away right knee front of us. I swallowed hard, knowing there was nothing I could have done, gritting my teeth bitterly as Flowey popped up with an equally cheery as it was malicious grin.

The soul canisters cracked, shattering and releasing the captured child souls after the flower announced the loss to Frisk. Vines stretched out from the ground to seize them, roping them toward the laughing flower. As the souls merged with him, a bright flash erupted and I was sent back to my window, jostling as I did.

Blinking in surprise, I shook my head and pressed close to the portal to watch, eyes darting to find something, anything, and locate the child. My vision was blurred, static, the most unclear it had been since I was there.

I was practically blinded.

Frisk. Be strong. Be strong, you can do this, you can do this...

A little red heart made its way into my field of vision, and I sucked in a breath and willed all my faith forward. It was all I could do for the horrors the human was about to face.

All I could do for the potential savior or damner of our race. Of my family.

From this point on, I did not know what would happen.

I could only hope that Frisk would pull through. That the last human… would find a way. For everyone.

Through the tunnel they fled with Undyne swiftly on their heels. The royal guard caught up and trapped them to initiate the fight again, only for the child to once more swivel around her and make a run for it. In a comedic moment, their flight was interrupted by a phone call from Papyrus. Both paused awkwardly for it, staring at each other, before Frisk took off immediately after. The scenery changed and the cavern opened up to the emanating heat and light of Hotland. Being deeper into the underground and lower than the other locations, it was closer to the magma of the world and the intense magic that fueled it. Hence why the Core had been built there.

Across a bridge the human fled, only to have Undyne collapse in heat exhaustion at the very end of it. The human paused. They could have easily left her, have fled more, or even tried to harm her for pursuing them so rigorously.

Instead, however, that unfaltering mercy prevailed. In a childlike antic, they found a source of water and dumped a cup of it on Undyne to try and help her cool off, watching her with wary curiosity. Startled, the guard stood after a moment and stared the child down. After a tense moment of silence, Undyne backed off and quietly disappeared into the Waterfall cavern. I myself was also left staring in awe once again by what this child could influence.

Moving forward, they next beheld a large structure in their path. The Royal labs, my old workplace and home. Frisk’s path was blocked by guards in the other direction, so they had no choice but to move through the labs.

Inside the darkened building they were met by a surprised Alphys, who had been watching their progress through a series of security cameras we'd placed throughout the underground. They were intended to be used for this same thing. Watching out for humans. My successor nervously spoke with them, telling the child that while her intent before had been to capture them, now she wanted to help guide them on their quest to get back home. Something about her antics tipped me off on her unease, after having worked with her for half a decade, and I knew that her tale held lies. Especially when she brought up her robot Mettaton, who burst through the wall moments after being called a human killing machine.

In something fit for a television show, Mettaton struck up a “battle” with the child in the form of a quiz show right in the lab. It was humorous to watch, and I could tell that though Frisk was slightly intimidated, they were having fun. I managed a smirk, watching Alphys sneak in answers when she could to help. The robot left shortly after, and once they had a quick look around what part of the labs they could access, the child was on their way again. But only after Alphys had taken their phone and modified it, putting in her number and a few other nifty features to help them in their adventure.

I will be the first to say that while Hotland is confusing on it’s own, it was made worse by the fact that we had littered the place with puzzles galore. Typically they weren’t active unless a protocol was put in place, and here they had activated to stop the child. Frisk wasn't aware of that, however, and Alphys led them through how to beat the puzzles in order to gain their trust. Granted, having sharper wits than they let on, the human barely needed any of her advice.

Puzzles and locals didn’t phase them as Frisk kept pressing on, sparing anyone who approached or got in their path without a second thought. Battle wasn’t an option, and the pride I’d felt before for the child returned. At one point they passed my niece Fuku, and while it was a brief interaction, I grinned happily as I watched them until the human continued on their way.

After a string of puzzles, Frisk passed into an area obviously dressed for some sort of TV set. A cooking show, to be precise. Mettaton reappeared again, this time the “battle” taking place in said cooking show. Raising my brows, I watched the ridiculousness unfold until once again the robot fled at being “foiled.” Shaking my head, I let myself smirk at what was happening. At least the child was having fun, and that was all I could ask for.

Pressing onward, I found myself staring when they stopped to look out over the landscape toward the Core. Alphys explained it to them over the phone, but I was quietly frowning at the sight instead of really listening to what she had to say. I wasn’t looking forward to watching Frisk progress through my largest creation, but it was part of the journey they'd have to endure. And I wasn't going to stop paying attention due to discomfort, no matter how much the memories made me cringe.

On they went, and again the child ran into Sans who’d teleported his sentry station. I shook my head in amusement, watching as the both of them took part in a game of how high Sans could stack hot dogs on their head. Frisk could hardly contain their laughter as they stood still for the whole thing, eventually leaving my son and their game to keep going, taking a few hot dogs on the way for food. They were met with a slew of puzzles that steadily got tricker, but again this child continued to impress me as they navigated. For someone so young, Frisk was clever beyond belief at being able to map the terrain the way they did. I was reminded of my own sons when they had been growing up, so young but so smart, and I slowly, fondly started to smile.

At one point, Frisk was stopped by a pair of guards. The same duo that had been blocking their way near my lab, in fact. I watched wearily for a moment, as at first they seemed oblivious that the human they were looking for was indeed in front of them. Once they realized it, however, they inevitably engaged in a fight. I watched intently, leaning closer to my window to the world in anticipation. Frisk had been against many guards by now, and every time it made me worry for the fate of each participant.

In an odd twist, the human managed to distract the guards by making them focus on each other rather than capturing them. I raised my brow curiously while watching, struck by the way Frisk could turn events around as they did. They simultaneously avoided capture and set the guards up on a date, walking away with a grin as they did.

What a quick-witted like thing. I couldn’t help but break out into disbelieving, happy laughter as I watched their retreat. Real, true laughter. I hadn’t... done that since I’d been in the void. Hah.

The path only grew thicker with puzzles and enemies from there. For a third time they ran into Mettaton, this time running around to disengage bombs that would turn out to be fakes. With the dramatics of the entertainer he was, the robot played along with Alphys’ ploy further and was once more “defeated.” It was at this point, though Frisk were having fun, the child seemed to catch on that something a little odd was going on. They listened to Alphys regardless as she tried to solidify their teamwork in the matter, giving her the benefit of the doubt, only to go deeper into Hotland and run into yet another encounter.

Except this time, it wasn’t a guard or Mettaton.

Trapped by a sticky web, amber eyes looked up to see a giggling spider hanging from a lower cavern they’d wandered into. I could tell Frisk was getting tired, between exploring Hotland and then Waterfall all in one day, but when shown that they weren’t going to be able to walk away from this fight, they straightened up and prepared for yet another battle. Their determination shined, giving them a little extra boost to stand up against the spider monster. Come on, Frisk, I quietly encouraged, thoroughly enraptured by their plight. The child did what they could with limited movement, wearing down after a time as Muffet proved her ability to hold out for great lengths during the fight.

Even then, the child refused.

Just when I thought Frisk had had enough and was about to take serious damage, a small messenger spider interrupted the fight. I paused, watching as a good deed from all the way back in the ruins came to save the human. My shoulders sunk. Sighing in relief, I allowed myself a small smile as the child was freed from Muffet and allowed on their way with an invitation to return another time. The poor thing looked worn out, and quite honestly I wasn’t sure how much longer they’d last on the path. Just a little more, I pressed quietly from my window, there’s a place you can rest not too far from here.

Unfortunately, my silent promise hit a roadblock as once again they were stopped by Mettaton. The area Frisk stumbled across looked like an innocent scene for a play, only to have the facade broken as they were sent down a hidden pit. With a huff, the child stood and beheld a long path of mismatched colored tiles set as traps: a scene Papyrus had tried using on them back in Snowdin. Had I an actual seat, I would have been sitting on the edge as Frisk tackled the bridge, jumping and skipping to try and avoid the dangerous tiles and the fire Mettaton summoned to chase them down. It again reached the point where the child looked like they would stumble in their path when Alphys called to challenge her robot in dialogue much like that of a TV show.

Going toe to toe with him again, the human used the phone Alphys has given them to fire at the robot. Frisk was hesitant at first, and only when goaded heavily did they finally cave and use it. To their relief, their foe didn't seem to take any damage at all. In an unconvincing act of surrender, Mettaton vanished, leaving Alphys and the child to speak. I could tell the human definitely wasn’t buying the robots charade anymore despite how amused they were by it, or the fact that Alphys was being completely honest. Still, Frisk looked too tired to argue and I couldn’t blame them for that at all. I was just impressed by their will to keep moving forward as they did. Instead, they glanced upward along the nearby climbing path toward a looming resort and the stretch of land that led to the entrance of the Core.

Stealing the souls of the children gave Flowey incredible power, power not seen by the likes of any soul in the underground or surface world. Even then, the seventh human’s merciful determination shone through. They kept fighting back, kept calling for help from the stolen souls. Time and time again, all looked hopeless for the child. Flowey was a god compared to them, to anyone, using his powers to try and get the child to quit and give up.

But still, they refused.

That refusal and determination won them the approval and aid of the other children, and before long, Frisk was able to beat him back with their help. It took many tries and even Flowey constantly reloading the world before the child souls were able to trap him and beat him for good. After an agonizingly long dance of determination and resilience, the enormous monster that Flowey had become vanished, shrinking.

He was reduced to a tattered, worn flower once again.

And even after all that he had done to them, even as he goaded them still on his last leg, Frisk refused to kill him. They stayed their hand, shaking their hand and standing their ground.

They refused the notion of kill or be killed.

Unable to understand their nature even now, Flowey fled in an emotional panic.

With his departure, everything grew quiet. Unmoving. There was a moment when time stood still, and I stood with it. Staring and taking in all that had just happened.

Flowey was gone.

Asgore was gone.

The souls were gone.

The barrier was not.

I felt time pause, as if it were holding it's breath with me. Frisk looked around in the blackness of the void, frowning. Analyzing.

This was not what they wanted. Asgore was dead, the barrier still stood, and every soul that had been kept to break the barrier was nowhere to be seen. The only human soul to be found was Frisk’s as they stood in the blackness.

Where… will you go from here?

The child turned. Frisk looked over in my direction, eyes wandering, not able to see me. This is expected. What I didn’t expect was for their eyes to turn my way and to suddenly blink red. The eyes of the prince pinned me, staring for a moment. And then they mouthed a single word.

“Forward.”

I froze, gaping quietly. The prince had seen me again. How… do you see me? They didn’t answer this time, just smirked softly, shook their head quickly, and the eyes were gone.

Frisk was back in control within seconds, acting as if nothing happened. Taking a quiet breath, they laid their hand both over their soul and the locket. A ring of white and red magic appeared around the child's feet, and I stared with wide eyes when I realized what was happening.

While making their way to the resort, the human paused upon seeing the pair of guards from earlier by the pathway. The two of them looked happy, enjoying each other's company, and made no move whatsoever to continue pursuing the child. I chuckled softly at the sight while Frisk smiled, sparing them and the nice cream vendor a few words before climbing the rest of the way toward the resort.

When they reached the top of the pathway, Sans was by the entrance. My son gave one of his casual grins and beckoned them over, offering to take them to dinner inside. Gladly accepting, the pair teleported in and Sans secured them a table where they could eat and talk. He spoke a little about their journey so far, and I could tell that my son, even being so weary about his timeline, showed now that he too had grown fond of the child. He had turned into a quiet guardian, much like myself, and silently feared for their fate if they continued onward. He even seemed like he wanted to convince the child to stay instead of continue, but after a pause he brushed it off into support instead.

To my surprise, his subject change actually lead to the door of the Ruins. I stood by quietly with raised brows of surprise as he told Frisk about his and Toriel’s time at the door. And ultimately, told them about the promise he made to her. He made it perhaps a little too clear that had that promise not been made, Frisk might not be on the journey they were on now. He’d taken my warning about the prince to heart. Sans coated the near threat with more support, unsure really how to show he had developed a desire to protect them.

Instead, he stood, saying, “well, that’s all. take care of yourself, kid, ‘cause someone really cares about you.” And then he left.

The child watched him leave, a look of uncertainty on their face. They seemed conflicted about what had happened, and I couldn’t say with absolute certainty which part got to them most. Frisk was about to get up when they noticed a slip of paper beside their drink. They looked around before grabbing the paper and reading it over curiously, and I couldn't help but to glance over their shoulder.

“check in under sans with the code 16806.”

Startled, the human held onto the paper and went to the front desk immediately. Frisk did as the paper told them, and was surprised further to receive a free nights stay at the resort. Realizing what happened, I grinned softly as they wandered toward their designated room. Having a job at the resort as a comedian, Sans had a heavy discount for stays that he could use. He might not really know how to show it to Frisk, but he really was looking out for them.

Settling down for the night, I watched Frisk tuck themself in to sleep. I was about to leave when I noticed them nod off abnormally quick while sitting up. Blinking in confusion, I tilted my head, that was rather fast. Then I froze, sucking in a breath. The child looked up quickly, startling, but it wasn't Frisk who looked up. Instead, it was the prince. I stayed still, watching, until those red eyes turned toward me. I stared, brows raising slowly higher as I realized that they weren't just looking in my direction.

They were looking right at me.

We stayed there in silence, gazes locked, before the prince tilted their head and squinted. They hummed, a curious sound, before grabbing the cover and pulling it over themself, turning their back to me. I stood there for a moment longer, completely taken off guard. Had I actually been seen? Truly? There was no way. I opened my mouth to speak, but stopped myself before I could try. There was no point, surely, it was just coincidence.

I shook my head, retreating to Snowdin for the night after that. My mind wandered on the subject matter more throughout the night, but when morning came and my bartender left for work, I went back to the resort. When I returned, the child was still sleeping. I decided to give them more space, instead manifesting in the bar while keeping a mental link open with the portal. Roughly an hour passed when I was alerted they were awake, and it was then I returned to shadow their steps.

Looking in their face, I saw that it was indeed Frisk I saw now, the red eyes once more gone without a trace.

What is causing you to resurface? What is your game? And why do you appear to see me?

They were all questions that would remain unanswered for the time as the child went around and chatted with who they could. They talked to a pair of girls out in the back, listening to them talk and gossip vehemently before returning inside.

Once there, they met an old family friend’s son working inside the fast food part of the resort. Benson, or Burgerpants as he said everyone else called him, was there. He seemed hesitant and twitchy about talking to the child, but eventually caved and started chatting with them too. Frisk was always so curious about what everyone had to say. I couldn’t help but smirk as I watched the two of them, the son of my nurse feeling very much like family.

Eventually the child decided to continue on again. Refreshed, they pressed on with new energy and started toward the Core. I frowned as I watched, sighing quietly and following a little slower than I had been. The Core had been such… a massive project. I'd been planning it for so many years before it was ever built. While yes it was a good thing and helped give the monsters power, it was still the thing that ended up scattering my existence and claiming me. It's… not a pleasant memory.

I considered retreating to my portal for this one like I had for the end of Waterfall and Hotland, but wearily decided instead to keep going. It would be fine, nothing would harm me aside from my own memories.

When they entered, Frisk tried to navigate the terrain inside. Alphys attempted to lend some assistance again over the course of their travels, but unbeknownst to both of them, Mettaton had sabotaged her plans and routes. Alphys, embarrassed, eventually stopped trying to help and instead watched quietly in confusion from her lab.

I can say I was more than a little relieved to find that Frisk had been blocked off from crossing the main controls area in which the… accident had occurred. They were, however, approached by a few waves of monsters that made me squint in disapproval. Typically only scientists or authorized personnel were allowed in the Core, but Mettaton had hired them to appear and stand in the child's way. Between strangers, civilians who could be harmed in their lack of knowledge of the Core and the fact that they were sicced on Frisk, I was more than displeased as I followed them. Even with the more resilient enemies, the child managed to find ways to get around them without violence.

After a few confusing twists and turns in their path, they finally made it to a dark room. Inside, Mettaton awaited them, a looming obstacle in their path. I listened as the robot exposed to Frisk his creator's plan, that she had been the one to activate the Hotland protocols in order to stop them herself to get on the child’s good side. To become friends, to convince them to stay behind. Frisk didn’t seem like they were too sure about the information, but after a moment to think, their face was full of confliction. I didn’t blame them. They were hurt by the lies but also touched that others actually wanted them to stay.

The child didn’t have long to reflect before Mettaton initiated a fight. He spoke of stopping Frisk on his own, using their soul to cross the barrier and entertain the humans himself. An entirely selfish goal, one I'm not sure if he meant completely or was simply saying because they were being recorded. As predicted, Alphys ended up calling the human after a moment to offer advice on defeating the robot. With a literal flip of a switch, the battle changed.

Through a veil of fog from a machine that I'm still not sure how he managed to hide, Mettaton EX appeared, a body truly fit for the stage. I couldn't help but laugh softly in disbelief, watching the entire thing play out. He really was the face of a showman.

The two duked it out in a battle of dancing and avoiding each other, with Mettaton throwing several waves of attacks and the child doing their best to dodge. They scoffed and jeered at one another, weaving around to avoid and attack. Frisk ended up having to use the device on their phone again to shoot at the robot, disabling parts of him slowly in order to keep up. Confident they weren't actually hurting him, I think it was only with that knowledge that Frisk had even resorted to such methods.

On and on they went, Mettaton trying to goad the child and thwart them dramatically in front of the cameras. It was a tedious fight, but even then.

The child refused.

Eventually Mettaton lost functionality of his limbs, dropping to the floor in defeat. Despite the fact they had just been battling, Frisk darted over and sat by his side as he spoke. Touched by their kindness and the cheering and support of his fans, Mettaton finally wished the child good luck in their journey before blacking out from over usage of his barriers.

Alphys came in moments after, looking terrified upon seeing the shape her creation was in. Unbeknownst to Frisk, Mettaton wasn't simply a robot with a soul. I hadn't known until I was lost to the Core, but he was actually a ghost monster possessing the body specifically made for him. Alphys had every reason to be afraid for him. To her relief, however, she discovered his true condition and asked Frisk to continue on.

Moments later after regaining her composure, the scientist joined Frisk on their way through the final passage. With each step the pair took, Alphys got more and more nervous. She tried to strike up tiny bits of conversation, only to let them fade immediately after. Frisk seemed worried, but I could tell that what Mettaton said before still stuck with them. They weren't entirely sure what to think, and until that point I hadn't seen quite as distressed of a look on their face as I did then despite their efforts to hide it. Had I been able to detect it properly, I know the tension would have been through the roof.

The final elevator that lead to New Home loomed ahead, and just before the child could enter, Alphys stopped them. She fumbled for words for a moment, causing Frisk to frown slowly as they tried to listen. Finally, she spoke, and I saw the dread and dismay slowly take over the child's face.

“I can't take this anymore,” Alphys said shakily, defeatedly, unable to even look at the child. She saw her efforts to convince them to stay were futile, so she finally settled on the truth. “I… I lied to you. A human soul isn't strong enough to cross the barrier alone. It takes at least a human soul… and a monster soul.”

There was a pause, Frisk’s brows arched in distressed shock. The silence hung heavy even in just those few seconds.

“If you want to go home, you'll have to take his soul. You'll have to kill Asgore.”

Before Frisk could even properly react or digest the information, the yellow scientist fled down the hall and vanished.

The hard truth of the barrier had finally been revealed, and I could only watch as sorrow swept over Frisk’s face, broken by her confession. It was almost the same look on the little girl I'd stopped in Waterfall when I'd told her the same thing, and the memory alone made the ghost of my soul ache.

I'm sorry, Frisk. You're just as trapped as we are.

Even in their grief, I saw something else slowly make its way into the child's expression. Their face hardened, their fists clenched, and Frisk looked toward the elevator after taking a deep breath. I stood in awe as I watched. Even in the face of gruesome odds, still… that determined mercy prevailed.

They would find a way to change it.

There was a reset.

Not to when Frisk fell, no, but I felt the tug in my chest as always when they occurred with my birth timeline. The time window shifted, spinning, and revealed the child in that hall right before the cavern to the barrier. They looked confused, peering into the area where the barrier stood and the king with it, then turned and started to walk away. Their first destination was back at MTT resort to rest and recover. I couldn't blame them for that, it had been… quite eventful, even if no one else remembered it. Except for Frisk and myself. And Sans. My poor son would be so confused about there being a reset with Frisk.

Don't worry, Sans, their intent still seems to be peace. Keep your hope.

While I knew my words were unheard, it was all the comfort I could take in the situation. It was another night in Snowdin for me before morning came and I checked back on Frisk. The child had entered Hotland, backtracking now, moving quickly as they tried to remember their way. I simply watched in curiosity. They moved with purpose, but what their goal was, I couldn’t say.

Through Hotland they went until they were eventually in Waterfall, retracing their steps further.

What are you doing? Do you not intend to fight him?

Along their path they crossed Undyne’s house. They paused, considering, then approached. Papyrus was there as well, signaling for the human to join him by her front door. From there, my son set up a clever ploy to get the human and his boss to get along. While some may not think so, the way he set it up was quite well thought out. I smiled proudly as he watched outside the window, and there I decided to join him.

Is this your plan as well, Frisk? To get to know some of the others monsters more?

Not to be outdone and prove she could do anything, Undyne unwittingly went along with his game and -- albeit forcefully -- tried to make friends with the human. After he saw that the plan seemed to be working, Papyrus left to return to Snowdin. I remained behind, watching as Undyne started to settle down and even reveal a bit of her past to the child. She told of her training with Asgore and even her worries about my son being too kind to be part of the guard. A sentiment both her and Sans had a mutual agreement on. While it was a rocky progression, things appeared to go well for awhile. That is, until things went up in smoke. Ah, quite literally.

Undyne’s house was lost to a stove fire from her being too enthusiastic about cooking, and from there she challenged Frisk to a duel. It lasted not even a minute as Frisk refused to fight, as they always did, and the Head Royal Guard caved. Accepting her house was lost and that she just wasn’t truly going to beat Frisk, Undyne then went back to Snowdin to stay with my sons with the child in tow. The pair met my sons at their house, and it was there Undyne paused. She gave Frisk a letter to be given to Alphys, actually threatening the child about opening it. I snorted softly as I watched, smirking a little and watching the child assure her they wouldn’t touch it.

Before they set out, Frisk made a detour a little further back and to my fire’s diner. A third time they had visited, but for this I don’t think anyone would complain. I wasn’t. It meant I got to see my love again.

I took my place by the jukebox as per usual -- typically gravitating there instead of my stool as to not startle anyone, although it hadn’t happened in a long time -- and watched as the child was welcomed back in. Some of the monsters seemed a little confused about their return, as most of them expected the child to have been caught or arrive at New Home by now. Little did they know. Perhaps it was a good thing Sans wasn’t there when they went up to sit at the bar.

Frisk and Q chatted happily while they had dinner, Grillby watching with that soft smile of his. I couldn’t help but smile too as I watched, though ever curious where the human intended to go from here.

They’ve turned around to almost back to the beginning. Hm but what is your aim…

Though the lost prince had said “forward,” I’m not sure where they meant with that answer. So instead I would keep watching.

The child left after dinner, popping over to the brothers’ house to spend the night. Two days after they reset, Frisk continued on back to Hotland. This time, they took the ferry down the river to avoid all the travel. Once being dropped off, they made it to the lab to deliver the letter as promised. An amusing mix up occurred, however, as the letter was an unsigned request for a date. Being given to her by Frisk, my successor thought it was the child was asking her out. To humor her, the human decided to go along with it, even though it was clear while they were out that Alphys had feelings for the real writer of the note.

I watched with a smirk as Undyne and even Papyrus showed up not too far into the date. Alphys came clean to the guard that she bad been lying about a lot of things to seem cool in front of Undyne, to which the guard offered her help. And Papyrus offered to whip her into shape.

Frisk watched with a laugh as my son had the scientist do laps and I simply shook my head while chuckling. Oh Papyrus.

Having gone to Waterfall for the date, Frisk once again started heading back toward Hotland. They seemed to have gained almost everyone's favor in just those few days, and it was then I wondered if I'd been right. But you leave me so curious as to how this will help you. Heh. You really are going the most peaceful path you can, aren't you?

On their way back to Hotland, Papyrus gave them a call. The call was pretty much encouraging them to check on Alphys, who hadn’t stuck around for very long after the others had shown up and likely went back to her lab. Curious, Frisk decided to do just that. When we were back in my old lab, I started to look around with uncertainty. The elevator door was open, no longer disguised as the bathroom Alphys would like others to believe. A note on the ground went into little detail about her whereabouts, telling of the wrongs she had done and was trying to correct. I frowned as I read over their shoulder, glancing over at the elevator.

Oh, Alphys, this isn’t solely your fault… We both did this. I put this on you, and I’m so sorry you think you’re the only one who is responsible.

While I hadn’t been the one to do the experiments, I had… given them to her. I had passed off the DT project to Alphys in hopes that she would find a way to work with Determination through fresh eyes. In hopes of finding a successor so that I... could finally retire and spend time with my family. Closing my eyes, I sighed and slumped a little. She did inevitably become the Royal Scientist thanks to my absence and her intelligence, but the final tracks I’d left behind weighed heavily on her psyche. I’m so sorry.

Now uncertain, Frisk continued on into the elevator. In a stroke of bad luck, the elevator lost power and sent the child quickly going down. I panicked for only a moment before realizing that Frisk was alright once landing, if just a little shaken. With another sigh, I followed them down into my old lab. My real old lab.

The task then was to turn the power back on so that they could use the elevator. From there, they wandered cautiously and ran into the failed experiments Alphys had conducted. It took quite a bit of work, creativity, and admittedly bravery, but Frisk managed to calm each amalgamate down that they ran into. On they went through the dusty, unnaturally foggy area, finding keys to power up the generator. Pausing at one door, they ended up finding one of the old break rooms. There, tapes revealed a little more depth behind the prince’s plans to free monsterkind. Chara’s death had been purposeful.

A hand raised and clutched the locket to their chest as they listened to the tapes, looking surprised and sad. The child's gaze was thoughtful for a little while before they stood and left, venturing on. They were on a mission.

After gathering all the keys, they entered the generator room to turn the power on where they were trapped by the amalgamates. Alphys came in time to shoo them away and speak to Frisk about them and herself. About how she may have done something cowardly and now wished to make it right. The child quietly encouraged her with a smile, and the power was restored for them to return to the surface of the lab.

Honestly, good riddance. It doesn't feel how it used to anymore.

With the elevator up and running, and seemingly pleased with what they'd accomplished, Frisk took the ride back up. But instead of it going to the lab, however, the human was dropped off in New Home. Specifically, right in front of the path to Asgore’s home. Turning to look after they'd stepped out revealed the elevator door sealed shut, closed off by large, crossed vines.

Oh dear. Flowey’s still around then.

Their hand still gripping the locket, Frisk continued down the path once again. Like before, no monsters jumped into their way. Even as they passed through Asgore’s house again, the road remained silent. The chapel too was quiet, Sans not there to greet them. Instead, when they stopped, the only soul to meet them was the king himself still gazing out of the barrier into the twilight beyond.

Sighing, Frisk mustered their courage once again as they headed over to join Asgore by the large pulsing wall of magic. I settled nearby, watching to see if anything would be changed by their acts.

At first, it didn't seem like it. The king was getting ready to fight, back facing the barrier and head bowed like before. But then, out of nowhere, he was knocked to the side by a fireball. I sucked in a breath and tensed, shrinking down a little with a shudder from the sight, huffing quietly at the sensation I knew I'd be feeling on my face from the memory.

Wasn't expecting that…

Toriel entered the scene, saying she had followed the child and wished for this to be over peacefully. No one was to die today. As much as she didn't want to be near Asgore, she would risk that to stop potential violence. One by one, the other friends they met along the way showed up. Papyrus, Sans, Undyne, Alphys, Mettaton. I smiled as I watched, genuinely pleased to see them all together in support of Frisk.

Look at the peace you've brought everyone and the friends you've made. I don't know what your plan for the barrier is now, but perhaps…

Then Alphys asked what everyone was likely thinking, and my youngest revealed why they were all there. I paused, the starling silence quiet enough to hear a pin, before cringing back when vines stretched upward. They ensnared everyone there, rendering them unable to move or act.

No! My sons, Flowey stop… leave them be, leave them be.

Gritting my teeth, I watched uselessly, strained as the flower held them all captive. My hands to my chest as I willed them to fight back, wish there was something I could do for the umpteenth time. Anything, just don't let my children be hurt again. Don't hurt my friends, my family, don't hurt Frisk. 

Flowey admitted that he’d stolen the human souls and planned to do the same with those he had trapped. He would… achieve his true form, as he called it. Whether he meant the form of that grotesque monster again, or perhaps how he looked as Asriel, I wasn’t sure.

Then the trapped group acted. They did fight back. They couldn't break free, but they encouraged the child to keep on, defending them from attack by the flower. To my surprise, more monsters began to show up by the barrier to back them up, calling encouragement and showing their approval for the child. I simply stared in awe.

Look at… all of the union you can being. Frisk. You are truly a marvel among us.

Just when it looked like the monsters had the upper hand, Flowey bent the power he had around everyone. Made of raw Determination and having absorbed the human souls, he was still powerful beyond compare at this point besides the fact he looked like a flower. There was a tug in the very air and all monsters gasped as they felt it, myself feeling the echoes of it.

Flinching down, I pressed my hands harder to my chest, feeling as if he were trying to steal what was left of my soul too.

No, no, you won’t take everyone… stop it, Asriel, stop it!

Whether it was because I wasn’t truly whole anymore or not, I wasn’t sure. But before I knew it, I was blasted back again like when he’d transformed before, thrown back into the void with a yelp. Huffing, I tried to go to my window to watch, but again found the signal fuzzy. Only this time, the portal began to glitch. I drew back quickly, pulling my hands away from it and watched wide-eyed.

What’s happening, what are you doing…

The light faltered, shifted, sputtering as if trying to do something. With a near blinding flash of light, the portal sparked and vanished into itself.

I stood silent, mouth open in shock. My portal was gone. My… my timeline. Was gone.

No, no, no no no this can’t be, no that… that can’t… NO!

Shouting in panic, I used whatever magic I could to try and re-summon the portal. I could feel remnants of it, a shadow of it, but I couldn’t grasp it. It was like I was shackled, unable to reach what was once so easy to bring. I called out to it, begging it to show itself and come forward.

But it refused.

I pressed a hand over my mouth, staring shakily where the light had once been, trembling in dread and fear.

No, please, please… Please just let me be blocked, don’t let… d-don’t…

Sucking in a breath, I sunk down, keeping one hand over my chest and the other staying over my mouth. I had to keep it together, I had to stay calm. Flowey might’ve been more powerful than ever, but the child… they could help. They could save us. My family. I had to have faith in that, I had to. I had to keep holding on to that hope. It was all I had left.