Handplates: Soul of Endurance

Chapter Two: Meeting King Asgore

*Ting*

As the elevator door opened, Averie followed Gaster out of the elevator to continue their journey. As they passed through the capital called New Home, she couldn't help but notice that the citizens were looking at her, and some began to whisper to one another.

"Hey, isn't that the same human child that the royal guard captured when they caught them eating through some garbage at the waterfall?" One monster asked in a whisper to one of their friends. "Yeah! The royal guards took the child and sent her to King Asgore, but I heard that when the king saw the child's poor condition, he decided to spare their life and had Dr. Gaster do a daily check-up." Their friend whispered back.

Averie felt a bit guilty knowing she had ruined the monster's hope for the chance of freedom to see the surface. Still, she did her best to ignore their constant staring and continued with Dr. Gaster. They were getting close to yet another elevator that led them to the Castle where King Asgore lives.

As Averie and Gaster were about to step closer to the elevator, someone from a random crowd began to yell. "YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO LIVE HUMAN!!" They shouted through the public. "YOU ARE DESTROYING OUR HOPES AND DREAMS, AND KINDS LIKE YOU SHOULD DIE ALREADY, BUT NO KING ASGORE SPARED YOUR STUPID LIFE, YOU DISGUSTING HUMAN BRAT!!"

The little girl didn't know what to say, so she kept her head down and just let them scream in anger, knowing full well that they were right about one thing she didn't deserve to live. After all, King Asgore needed seven human souls to become a powerful being to break the barrier and free his people.

Dr. Gaster noticed the young girl's emotion, put his hands on Averie's shoulder, and tried his best to reassure her. "Don't listen to them, human." He expressed in a comforting tone without looking at her, "Just ignore them and continue on our way to the castle." She nodded and went inside the elevator, with Gaster following behind. Soon Dr. Gaster pressed the button to the final top floor, then the door closed and began to take them to the top while waiting. Averie couldn't help but feel a bit nervous about meeting King Asgore again.

As the elevator stops, the door opens, and the young child follows Gaster out of the elevator. Averie looked at the golden hallway, and to her surprise, she had been here before but never got a chance to take a look around because the royal guards dragged her to the throne room where King Asgore was.

When they walked through the golden hallways, the young child gazed around at how beautiful the pillars and glass windows' structure was. The sun-like rays peered through it, making shadows of the symbol of the Deltarune. Averie follows Gaster as he stops at the big door leading to King Asgore's throne room; he turns his head and looks down at her. "When we go in, I want you to be on your best behavior, understand?" He instructed, "that means no snooping around, no funny business, and especially under no circumstances no sleeping or even sitting on King Asgore's royal chair. Do I make myself clear?"

She nodded her head. "Loud and clear, Dr. Gaster."

"Good, now then let's go in. King Asgore is waiting for us." He said as Gaster pushed the big door letting the young child go in first, and he followed right behind her. As they came into the throne room, Gaster and Averie saw Asgore standing alone in his garden, tending his flowers while humming a simple tune. "Dum De Dum," Asgore hummed as he watered the patches of golden flowers. "Ah yes, soon, my whole throne room floor will be nothing but healthy golden flowers." As he was about to finish watering his garden, Asgore turned his head and saw Gaster and the young child standing there waiting for him to finish. "Ah, Hello Dr. Gaster and hello, little one," Asgore greeted with a smile, "I didn't hear both come in, and I didn't expect you both to be here so early.

"Yes, Hello, your majesty," Gaster greeted back. "I see you have been keeping up with your gardens again." Averie noticed that Dr. Gaster was using sign language to communicate with Asgore, and seeing him summoning hands to talk was terrific. 'Wow, Dr. Gaster does sign language too?!' she pondered to herself. 'He reminds me of my dad's older brother; he too does sign language.' The King of monsters smiled. "Oh, yes, I have been taking care of these golden flowers for over centuries now." As King Asgore put the watering can down beside his royal chair, he turned to the royal scientist and the young human child. "Now then, I believe you came here for the meeting, yes?" Asgore spoke as he regained his posture, "and I see the little one who seems to be in good health as well."

"Of course, your majesty, and yes, I did what you asked of me. The human is in perfect condition, with just a few scrapes and bruises and a bit of hunger, but other than that, she's healthy." Gaster replied. The monster king looks down at the human and smiles at her. "I hope you didn't cause him any trouble did you?" he asked politely to the human child. The little girl shook her head. "N-no, sir I-I mean I sort of touch his stuff without his permission, but I was on my very best behavior, honest." Averie nervously answered; the poor child was a little nervous to see how tall King Asgore is compared to her for being a tiny human.

"Well, as long as you didn't cause any trouble around him, I believe you." He said in a calming manner as he placed his substantial paw-like hands on the young child's shoulders. Then the vast door opened again, and this time a nervous yellow dinosaur came in holding her book and paperwork. "U-um, am I l-late?" The yellow dinosaur asked as she walked towards them. The tiny human quickly hides behind Asgore because she has never seen this type of monster before and is a little afraid to find out. "Ah, Dr. Alphys, I'm glad you're here, and no, your arrival is perfect timing." Asgore proclaimed, "In fact, Dr. Gaster and I, including the tiny human, were waiting for you." Averie didn't want to come out of hiding, but she knew it was rude of her not to get to know the strange monster, so she came out from behind and shyly waved at Alphys.

Alphys eyes sparkled as she saw the human child and squeals in delight while holding her belongings. "Eeeeeeeeeee!" She squealed with excitement, " O-oh my gosh, are my eyes d-deceiving me?! A-a human? H-here with you two?! Oh my g-gosh, this little one is precious!" Dr. Gaster sighs while looking at his watch and looks back, clearing his non-existent throat. "Ahem, I hate to end your reaction to this child but don't we have a crucial meeting to attend?" He asked, "Besides, I have a very tight schedule, and I would like to have a word with King Asgore after this meeting is over." The yellow dinosaur flustered with embarrassment. "O-oh, r-right u-um...s-sorry D-Dr. Gaster," Alphys said with a nervous tone due to having anxiety. " I-I got...got carried a-away...i-it's just...just that this is my first t-time seeing a-a human u-up...up close b-before."

"I understand...that, Alphys, but we really need to get this meeting over with," Gaster mumbled, averting his gaze. "So, can we please go to the meeting?" Both Asgore and Alphys look at each other with a concerned expression, knowing Gaster was right; the meeting is essential, and having a human child around the throne room unattended is also a problem. "Alright, my old friend, you are right that we need to get started with our meeting, but" Asgore paused for a moment, then spoke again, "What about the human child? Where is she going to stay?" Gaster looks at the child, then back at Asgore. "The human can stay here in the throne room for all I care." Gaster answered, "Besides, the meeting is for staff members like us only, and it is no place for a child to snoop into our business." As cruel as it sounds, the Royal Scientist was right about one thing the meeting is no place for a young child to go into an adults meeting even if it's vital, so Asgore called for a maid to help watch over the young child. "You called your majesty?" the deer monster asked as she bowed to him to show her respect. "Ah, yes, Poinsettia, Can you watch over the human child when the meetings with my scientist are over?" The king of monsters requested. "I don't want the child to be left unattended around this room." Poinsettia nodded her head. "Of course, your highness, I will fulfill your request and watch over the child." She said with a smile on her face.

The deer maidan walks towards Averie and holds her hand, hoping the child will be okay around her. Averie looks at Asgore one last time before she leaves with Poinsettia to the hallway not far from his throne room that leads to his house, which is odd for a castle to have a built-in home. Soon Agore and his scientist were left alone to begin their meeting while Averie and Poinsettia made it to Asgore's house. As they went inside, the human child noticed a SAVE point appeared right beside the bookshelves, which is kind of strange because this is the second time that the star-shaped SAVE point appeared out of nowhere, and the last time Averie saw one was in the Ruins. So Averie went up to it as any curious child would do and touched the SAVE point:

*You feel comfortable around monsters that you've met in your journey...

It fills you with Endurance

FILE SAVED

The human child was confused about where she had heard that voice before, and the voice seemed oddly familiar. Still, Averie paid no mind to it; for now, her journey was getting started, and soon she'd discover something that she wished she hadn't found in the basement; only time will tell.