ShelterTale

ShelterTale Part 11

In this chapter, Asgore is translating what Gaster signs for Chara.

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"Toriel, Asgore," Gaster signed rapidly, "I've been hearing some concerning rumors lately, and I want to hear the truth from both of you. What do the people mean when they say you've adopted a human child?"

Sans and Papyrus peeked out from opposite sides of the king's robes, feeling like they should stay out of this conversation.

"We have adopted a child," Toriel stated firmly. "But she is no longer a human. She died and became a ghost." The goat woman glared with all of her might. "I hope you're not saying you would stop us if we wanted to take in a human child, Gaster."

"Toriel, please," Asgore urged her, holding his hands defensively.

The king tilted his head dismissively. "The chance should never arrive for you to take in a human. No matter the case, this child came from among humans. I want to meet her and judge her mental stability. I do not follow your blind belief that all children are innocent, Toriel."

Sans figured that he and Gaster were the only ones who understood his sentiment. The king had killed as a child, so naturally, his thoughts on the matter were unique. Toriel clearly didn't grasp his meaning, as her anger just flared up further. At the point where magical flames were appearing around her, Asgore forcefully canceled out her magic with his own.

"Toriel, please, he just wants to talk to the child. And if she isn't stable, she'll just receive proper treatment and counseling--right, your majesty?" the guard captain asked almost desperately. To his relief, the king nodded.

"What? Would you expect me to kill the child? Did you see me as such a savage, Toriel?"

The royal healer's temper quickly cooled off. "No, you're right. I got too defensive once children were involved. I'm sorry, your majesty."

"Good. If that's settled, bring her out."

For her own safety, Toriel had hidden Chara in their bedroom, but she lowered her head and went to retrieve her now. She returned with a cute and lively little ghost girl, wearing a green striped shirt and with blood red eyes.

"Oh hey, more dead people," she waved with a smile. "I'm Chara. Nice to meet you."

Asgore cleared his throat and spoke regally. "Chara, this is King W.D. Gaster, the ruler of the underground and all of monster kind. Behind him are his two sons. On the left is the crown prince, Sans, and on the right is the second prince, Papyrus. They aren't dead humans. They're skeletons who were monsters from the start."

"Oh, really?" The girl lowered her head a little awkwardly. "Uh, sorry, Mr. King Gaster."

"It's quite alright," Gaster raised his hand in a peaceful gesture. "If you don't mind, there are some things I'd like to ask you. You will be allowed to stay with Asgore and Toriel no matter how you answer, but I really do need you to answer honestly."

The child seemed more bashful than she had before. "Uh, okay. What do you want to ask me?"

"First, what do you think about monsters?"

Chara blinked. "Monsters, huh? I was called a monster a lot back on the surface. I like them better than humans, at least."

"Alright. Next, how do you feel about humans?"

"I HATE THEM!" The ghost's red eyes flashed brightly, and a chill filled the air. Gaster just nodded calmly and murmured an acknowledgement.

"How did you come to fall into the underground?"

"I ran away from home and tried to die where nobody could stop me. It worked, I guess. I didn't expect to still be... around after."

Gaster held his jaw in his bony fingers. "Hmm... She should be fine for the most part. I suspect she may need counseling from whatever traumas lay in her past, but she should settle in for a while first."

Toriel put her paw over her chest and let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you, your majesty." Asgore bowed his head and repeated her sentence, while Chara awkwardly bowed at the waist.

The king turned to leave. "Then I suppose I have what I came for. Don't let me ruin your day any further."

"W-wait!" Chara suddenly called out. "Um," she looked at Sans, "I'm new around here, so, I mean, if you want to play together sometime..." she trailed off, fidgeting. Sans pointed at himself with an amused smile. "you want to play with me, kid?"

"Y-yeah, if that's okay?"

The skeleton prince shrugged. "nah, that's fine. i'll pop in sometime."

"OH! CAN I COME PLAY AS WELL, LITTLE GHOST HUMAN?" Papyrus pointed at himself and asked.

"I mean, if you want to, sure!"

Gaster raised a nonexistent eyebrow and gave his older son an amused look. Sans caught his eye and just shrugged again.

"As long as they are willing, you may play with my children as much as you like, Chara." Gaster gave his blessing. "However, you've had a long day, so tonight you should rest."