Fallen Kingdom (Underkeep One-Shot

Fallen Kingdom

Once a long time ago, there used to be a kingdom underground.

A kingdom of monsters, ruled by a family that would soon be so quickly broken apart.

When the king stepped down, it left a void the scientist wanted to fill.

So instead of chosing a new king, she created one. She created him.

He did everything he could to protect his people, give them hope, and save those he cared for. He had the support of the monsters behind him. He couldn't afford to stop now.

And yet, when the first true threat to everything he cared about arose, the king crumbled before it. Too blinded by his pride and confidence to save what had mattered most.

~~~~~
I used to rule the world
Chunks would load when I gave the word
Now every night I go stow away
Hide from the mobs I used to slay
~~~~~

The former king gave a start, systems powering on with a silent click. He had powered down for the night next to the old door to the Ruins. He couldn't remember if he had tried the knobs. Didn't hurt to try. Cold had seeped deeply into his joints, causing him to move at odd, stilted angles just to stand straight.

A purple wall loomed above him, the snow still stained a dull, gruesome red right around the bottom of the door. He ignored that the best he could, instead placing a hand against the stone and pushing. The door was locked tight. He tried knocking lightly, feeling his breath hitch up slightly in his chest. Well, not like he really needed to breathe. It was more out of habit at this point.

"....Toriel, darling? I understand we aren't exactly on good terms...." Static edged his words, his voice just barely crackling out from his throat. He looked to the ground, toying with his hands. "But....I just wanted to.....see if you were okay....?"

No response.

His worst fear was realized.

With a heavy heart, he turned and began crunching through the snow. It had piled up on the former well-travelled paths, now left to ruin with no one to perform upkeep on them. The former king could do it himself, but it'd be a heavy task. One he wasn't sure his body would be able to handle. Besides, he wasn't even sure if he'd ever be back here. 

Old abandoned puzzles passed by quickly, followed by empty sentry checkpoints. Piles of dust littered the forest and clearings, frozen to the snow long ago. The town that was once so lively under the lazy but light-hearted jester's rule was nothing but empty and dark.

"papyrus is gone.....the human....."

"A human? In the Underground?"

".....the ruins are silent....they came from there, and now....snowfell is empty...."

"They....killed them all....?"

". . . . ."

".....Sire, shall I begin evacuations to the castle?"

"Get as many monsters out of the marsh as you can....My faith lies in Undyne. She'll be able to stop them, surely."

"Understood...."

He passed the former battleground. Or could it have even been called a fight? An old sword stood upright in the snow, still clean and pristine after all this time. He stopped in front of it, hands clasped together in front of his chest as if murmuring a silent prayer. But before long, the former king began to walk once more, his tattered cloak billowing behind him.

The marsh ahead beckoned.

~~~~~
They once were terrified
Every time I looked into their eyes
Villagers would cheer my way
For a hero I was, that's what they'd say
~~~~~