From War to Science {UNDERTALE}

Broken

Just one year later, Asgore got his wish.

A human fell Underground.

But a lot can change in a year. This Underground was very different from the one wracked with grief. Now, hope sprang from every monster. Young monsters openly wondered what they would see on the surface; older monsters dreamed of feeling the sun again after so long away. And every conversation returned to the great excitement of when Asgore would absorb those human souls and free them all.

But the hope alone wasn't all that had come to the Underground; Asgore had declared war on the humans, and their civilization was preparing for battle. The Royal Guard—disbanded once they were forced underground—was reformed after Asgore's speech, and a year later it was full of eager, strong young monsters, all ready to lay their lives down for the freedom of their fellow monsters. Puzzles were recalibrated to be harder, deadlier; much of the Core had been renovated to work on weaponry and magic enhancements. And, of course, orders had been given to kill any human on sight.

The last one...was easier said than done.

After all, it had only been one year. The recruits for the Royal Guard hardly knew how to attack, the puzzles were only half-recalibrated, and many of the weapons and enhancements were still in development. So, while word of the human spread, monsters all over the Underground hid in their houses, waiting for something to be done. But even so, none of them were particularly worried. After all, this had been Asgore's plan. He would no doubt deal with the human swiftly and get them to the freedom they had been promised.

But a lot can change in a year. And, to those who knew Asgore best, it was clear that he was no longer in a state to fight.

Gaster hadn't even waited for orders from the king; the moment the Core workers began whispering about a human in the Ruins, he ordered all work to be stopped and all workers to go straight to their homes. Once the Core was cleared out, he wasted no time in heading straight for Home. Asgore wasn't a fighter; even if Gaster was significantly weaker than him and Toriel (which he knew he was), back-up may give him the extra push to defeat the human.

But, by the time he reached the end of the Ruins, it was abundantly clear that it wouldn't be needed. He found Asgore and Toriel whispering intensely at each other, with a crumpled, broken form between them.

The human was already dead.

Gaster hesitated for a moment, not wanting to interrupt the king and queen's discussion, but finally stepped forward. Both Dreemurrs looked up; Toriel's face was sharp and angry, but Asgore looked utterly relieved. Gaster's hands twitched.

"I, er, I came as soon as I heard. But...it would seem you have taken care of things."

Toriel shook her head. "They were already dead when we came. We think they might have died from the fall." Her face relaxed as she sighed, reaching down to touch the human's pale hair. "Though, as much as I hate to say it, I think this is the best possible option."

"Best possible...?"

"Tori, we..."

"Do not Tori me, Asgore Dreemurr." All at once, Toriel's face was tense again as she glared at Asgore. "You are practically handed the key to our escape—without any bloodshed—and you are going to just let it go?"

"It's not letting it go, Toriel, I just think..."

"There is no time to think! Freedom is right here." She gestured to the human. "All you must do is take their Soul and go through the barrier."