Mistral looked up lovingly into the eyes of her husband, "Roman, come meet your son." She said happily looking from her husband to May, their daughter, "May sweetheart come meet your brother." Gaster stood back in the corner of the room watching as his parents and big sister gushed over baby Liam. 'Again I'm forgotten' Gaster thought turning his back to his family, of course being forgotten was something he was getting used to, especially since his parents found out that he was not only friends with the human wizards but was asked to be on the human wizards council. "Gaster aren't you going to come meet Liam?" Gaster's thoughts were interrupted by Mistral's gentle voice. 'As much as I'm disappointed in him, he's still my son and I love him dearly' she thought looking lovingly at her son as he approached her. 'I can't let Roman see though, he's so disappointed in him, he doesn't even really see him as a son anymore.' Mistral smiled at her eldest son through hidden tears as she sits up with a soft sigh. 'Like music' Gaster thought looking up lovingly at his beautiful mother. Roman groaned as Gaster stepped into the room, "come on May," Roman said looking at his daughter, "let's go outside, the smell is starting to get to me in here." May smiled and took her Dad's hand, "I think I can smell what you smell dad, let's go." She said with a quick glare at Gaster nearly tripping him into Mistral as they go outside. "They hate me mom" Gaster cried into his mother's shoulder. "Shhhh Gaster honey, we're all disappointed that you're so friendly with the humans, it can't end well and you know that." Mistral whispered gently wiping her son's tears. "I know mom," Gaster sniffed, "but maybe through my influence on the council I can change that, I won't fail mom." Gaster assured her. "Here Gaster, I think Liam wants his big brother." Mistral handed the little bundle to Gaster. "Here, cradle your arm like this son, support his head, good, I'm proud of you, you'll be a good dad one day." Gaster looked into the sweet cyan eyes of his baby brother and beamed in pride at his mother's words. 'I won't let you down mother, I won't let monster kind down, I promise, I won't fail.' Gaster thought as a chill went up his backbone, something was off, but what? "Mistral, I can't believe he is hanging around with humans, that can only be trouble. No child of mine should ever be so chummy with them." Roman grumbled to his wife as he playfully tickles little Liam scowling back at Gaster as he walked away with Mila Rutrow and Kody Fallenfire. "Come on Roman, yes it's disappointing but we do live among humans so we have to make the best of it." Mistral said gently to her husband looking after her eldest son with a mix of disappointment and pride. "He's no son of mine." Roman huffed angrily his eyes flashing a dangerous reddish brown, he turned and looked happily at his daughter May as she was next door talking to sweet miss Toriel. "Now there," he nodded over at May, "is my child, a monster who knows where she belongs." Suddenly Toriel let out a scream next door and within minutes Roman, Mistral and baby Liam were by her side hunched over the body of their daughter as blood began spreading over her chest. "Miss Toriel, what happened?" Asked Mistral desperately trying to heal her daughter. "I...I'm so sorry Mistral," sobbed a beautiful young goat monster, "I don't know.... some sort of blue purple sword thing flew from that direction, hit her and disappeared." Toriel pointed to Roman's horror, the direction the human Kody had gone off to. Mistral looked at her husband with a glare warning him not to act rashly as she turned kindly to Toriel, 'I can't let her see this' she thought knowing her daughter was moments from death. "Toriel dear, why don't you go tell the King and Queen?" She nodded and hurried off. "May my beautiful daughter," Roman said with tears in his eyes, May opened her eyes a little, "Hi mom, dad" she whispered faintly, seeing Mistral was about to speak through her tears streaming down her face she patted her mom's wet cheek, "I love you both so much" May glanced at month old baby Liam, "I love you too Liam" she gasped, her breath coming slowly now, labored, "tell Gaster.....look at what humans....are capable.....of....." May's dust spread in the wind leaving a broken family holding a dusty blue dress with a blood stain on the chest, all that remained of 30 year old May. "Gaster!" Mila cried as they were about to give up looking for the thieves, running to her friend. "Are you ok?" Gaster grabbed his chest and gasped, "it's my sister, she just died" Mila took a step back, "what, how?" She asked a shocked look on her face. "From what I can feel....it was... an integrity rapier." He said tears welling in his eyes. "Integrity is a really common soul trait," Mila said comforting her friend, "we can't know it was Kody, besides, he was with us and then he turned up the hill, it COULDN'T have been him, I won't believe it." Gaster nodded, "you're right" he said getting up just in time to see his best friend prince Asgore and the others. "Hey guys! He said getting up to hug his friends and tell them what happened." Roman snuck behind Gaster and his friends holding Liam, 'hopefully this will show Liam why humans shouldn't be friends with monsters.' Roman had left Mistral to talk with the King and Queen about what happened and discuss what to do. Suddenly Roman stepped on a branch making a loud crack and before he could react a red black blast he recognized immediately as Gaster's attack came hurtling at them and before he could block with their green shield, he and baby Liam were hit. "Father, Liam no!!!!!!!" Gaster screamed as he ran to the two but stopped short when Roman shot him a horrific glare as they watched Liam turn to dust. "Look what you've done boy! You're no son of mine." Roman spat as he ran back to his house. Mila ran to Gaster and held him tears streaming down their faces. "✋❄🕯💧 💣✡ ☞✌🕆☹❄📪 ✋ 😐✋☹☹☜👎 💣✡ ⚐🕈☠ 👌☼⚐❄☟☜☼." Gaster fumed through his sobs as he ran off to the Pheonix's house. "Hey monster!" Spat a young boy no more than 8 years old walking past the Pheonix's house, Gaster looked up still in tears, "I have a name" he said coolly, "Yeah well whatever, what are you doing among humans anyway and why are you crying? Is your daddy dead and your mommy such a deadbeat that you have to pretend to belong with humans?" Gaster fumed at this dark haired child, "my mom's NOT a deadbeat!" He screamed his eyes flashing purple, not even hearing the voice beside him "Gaster don't" Gaster struck out with all his might and next thing he knew he was standing there with a dead child at his feet blood on the chest and on Gaster's hands. 'No no no no no!' He thought frantically tears streaming down his face. "It's my fault, I killed my own brother and sealed our fate by killing this boy," Gaster sobbed in a whisper running off to Mt. Ebbott 'I have to get to the stream, I have to get these bloodstains off, it's all my fault' he thought sobbing as he ran, not hearing Roy, Shane or Ivy calling after him. 'Goodbye my friends,' Gaster thought sadly, 'I guess we'll be exiled after all, I've failed everyone.'Rin Winterway ran to the battle her grey and patience blue dress flowing behind her in her speed "For my sister Ellie!!" She screamed as she sent out her patience ropes trying to bind the fox monster in front of her who sidesteps them deftly and chuckled, "pretty good child, but not good enough." The monster strikes with his staff and Rin falls whispering "Kanashi won't be happy..." the fox laughs "die as you remember Ellie" "Rin come on! It's not fair, you're younger than me, how can you be stronger?" Ellie huffed breathlessly to her little sister as Rin's patience ropes pulled her sister from her feet again. "Hahahaha, sorry sis." Rin laughed musically, Ellie smiled at her beautiful little sister happily turning at a sound in the doorway. "Rin, Ellie, come inside, we have guests." Called their parents. "Yes mom." The girls called in unison running inside, their grey and patience blue trimmed dresses flowing behind them in the gentle breeze. "Good morning ladies." Said a cheerful voice. Rin and Ellie looked up and smiled at the young skeleton in front of them. "Gaster, it's good to see you." Ellie said hugging her friend. Gaster smiled, "it's good to see you too Ellie, Rin. Listen, I had a question for you." Ellie looked quizzically at Gaster, "what's that my friend?" Gaster took a deep breath, " Ellie, would you and Rin like to join the wizards?" The girls gasped in surprise, "Ellie should more than me, she's older and has a better chance." Rin said looking proudly at her big sister. "I recommended both of you because I believe we need you, regardless of age." Said a deep gentle voice behind them. Rin and Ellie turned to see young prince Asgore smiling behind them. The girls smiled "thank you for believing in us" they said. Asgore nodded happily and he sat down to talk details with the Winterway family. Hours later "Ellie, Rin," Gaster said walking with the sisters into a large room in the palace, " let me introduce you to the other Wizards, this is Roy Goldburn soul trait of Justice," Roy smiled at the sisters and bowed deeply. Ellie smiled at him warmly noticing the blond hair and yellow eyes of a strong justice wizard. "This is his younger brother Shane, soul of Perseverance." Rin curtsied at the handsome boy. "This is Kody Fallenfire, soul of Integrity" the sisters smiled at him and Kody smiled back. "This is Mila Rutrow, soul of Kindness" Gaster said "hi Mila" the sisters said and Mila smiled shyly. "Hello Ellie, Rin," said a beautiful woman with brown orange hair "my name is Agate Lightvale, soul of Bravery, this is my brother Copper, soul of Determination." Copper nodded smiling at the sisters. "Ellie, Rin! Come quick it's your parents." An out of breath soldier ran into the room and followed the sisters out quickly. Ellie ran to her mother's side, "mom...what happened?" She asked tearfully. Mrs. Winterway smiled weakly, "a monster I didn't recognize...." her hand fell touching her husband one final time. Ellie got up and spotted through her tears a fox monster through the trees. "Rin, go back to everyone, tell them everything, this is war." Rin nodded stumbling back out the door almost knocking into Ivy Phoenix, a girl about her age and, telling her what happened, they ran together back to the Palace. Roy felt the blast from some monsters' magic and he fell. With his last moments of conciousness he remembered that awful day everything fell apart. "Nice one Shane!" Roy laughed as he blocked his little brother's attack expertly. "But we better stop," he smiled at his friend Gaster, "Asgore promised he'd teach me how to fight like a monster, I'm so glad humans and monsters live in peace." Gaster turned to leave when a boy with dark eyes came running up to them, "Hey you monster!" The boy spat at Gaster, "What are you doing with humans? Is your daddy dead and your mommy such a deadbeat you have to pretend to belong with humans?" Without thinking Gaster's eyes flashed purple and quick as lightning he ran at the boy "my mom isn't a deadbeat" he screamed with tears in his eyes as he hit the boy. Tears blinding Gaster he got up and ran to the Royal house, blood on his hands. 'What have I done?' He thought in horror. "Gaster!" Roy tried to call after his friend, but it was no use, he couldn't hear him. Moments later Asgore ran up to see if the boy was living or dead. In horror Roy looked at Asgore's face as Agate and Shane tried to comfort him, he knew just by the look on his best friend's face, the boy was dead. Roy barely registered what happened over the next few hours, calling after Asgore, watching Agate walking home in fury, the death of Rin and Ellie's parents by an unknown monster, the monster massacre, Agate and Copper's idea to save the remaining monsters, Ivy's tears, Roy shook his head as he watched Asgore walking sadly into the underground and out of sight, 'this is a nightmare' he thought. Little did he know the nightmare was just beginning." Roy's eyes closed on the massacre of what were now his friends just as he saw Shane fall beside him, blood spreading across his chest. 'At least we die together brother.' Roy thought and knew no more. "Little did we know what would happen," thought Mila as she blocked blow after blow from a strong monster glaring at her angrily. An unexpected attack hit the wizardess and she fell. As her conciousness faded she remembered how it all began, 'Mila Rutrow ran after the thieves Gaster following close behind her when some rocks were thrown as if they weighed nothing. Quick as a flash Gaster and Mila put up kindness shields to protect the bakery down below. "It's to heavy" Mila groaned barely able to hold the shield together. Gaster ran to the bakery and pulled the man from inside just seconds before Mila lost control of her power and the rocks fell smashing the building. "Look what you two have done" the Baker fumed before either of them could continue. Gaster smiled and put a small floating hand on his shoulder "we could go and do all the paperwork for you to get compensation....but if they return while we're gone, there's nothing we can do." The Baker shrugged "well...just forget it then and get out of here."Mila and Gaster ran back to the Pheonix's house after hours of futily looking for the thieves. "Hey Agate!" Gaster said happily embracing his friend, "we're heading to see Ivy and the others, wanna come?" Agate nodded happily and the friends set off. "Hey guys! Prince Asgore is coming over." Gaster called. Roy laughed as he got caught by Shane's attack "nice one little bro, but we better stop, Asgore said he would teach me how to fight like a monster. I'm so glad humans and monsters live in peace." Ivy hugged Gaster and Agate just as a boy with black hair and dark eyes walked up and spitting on Gaster said "hey monster! You don't belong with humans, what, is your daddy dead and your mommy such a deadbeat you have to pretend to belong with humans?" Before Mila, Ivy or Roy could stop him Gasters' eyes flashed purple and there was a bleeding child laying dead in front of them and Gaster ran in tears towards Mt. Ebott. 'What nightmare is this going to start?' Mila thought unhappily. "Little did we know" Mila gasped sadly as her eyes closed for the last time. Kody blocked a blast from Gaster's father expertly but thinking about his sister caused him to falter, stepping in the way of a fellow fighter's attack, 'if we only knew' he remembered "You're such a weirdo" laughed Kody's older sister Kami. Kody pushed his sister playfully his eyes flashing a strong royal blue. "Am not Kami" he laughed! Suddenly a clap of thunder came from the distance and a flash of fear hit Kody's face. "Kody, you're 23, how are you still afraid of thunder?" Kami laughed tackling her brother. Kody shrugged it off and fell laughing in the dirt with his sister. "I dunno sis...." Kody's voice trailed off as he saw Gaster, Agate and Mila walking to the Pheonix's house and laughing, he ran to join his friends. "Hey guys!" Kody ran up to his friends. He was the only one of the wizards that wasn't noble in some way OR had any family with trait magic but he was the best swordsman around. "Hey Kody!" His thoughts were interrupted by Ivy Phoenix hugging him as Gaster smiled. "It's good to see you...." Kody began when a boy not more than 8 years old with dark eyes and hair ran up and spitting on Gaster said "hey monster! You don't belong here. Is your daddy dead and your mommy such a deadbeat you have to pretend to belong with humans?" Kody growled and summoned his rapier and was just about to tell the kid off when he saw Gaster's eyes flash purple. "Gaster don't" he whispered but his words were un heard as a tearful Gaster hit the boy who dropped, blood spreading on his chest. Kody could only watch in horror as Gaster, blood on his hands ran in tears towards the mountain. 'This is such a nightmare' Kody thought sadly. "Such a nightmare" Kody echoed his memory as his life faded away. Copper wiped a tear at the memory. Slamming his fist against the castle wall. "What's wrong big brother?" Amber asked walking towards him. He smiled at the happy child, " oh just remembering some old friends, someone made a mistake and they had to go away forever." Copper said sadly, "I didn't like them at first but after a while I liked them, then they had to go away." Amber hugged her big brother, things had been hard the last few days, ruling the kingdom alone and taking care of her. "Like how sissy went away after your fight?" Amber asked worried. Copper chuckled ruffling her pretty blue hair. "Agate isn't gone forever Amber, we just had a small fight." Amber looked confused "why?" Cooper chuckled at his sister, "well, I regretted something I'd done years ago, I wanted to fix it but Agate didn't want me to, so she asked me to fight. If I won I could fix it." Amber looked up happily, "but you DID win big brother, you can fix it now." Copper stood to his feet, "could you go grab my coat sis? We'll go fix it together ok?" "Hi brother, did you miss me?" Came a voice from the doorway. "Agate! You came home." Amber said, but Agate ignored her looking straight at Copper. "Fight me again Copper, one final time." Copper saw a weird glint in his sister's eyes, "no Agate, I won't fight you again." He said. "Run Amber!!" He yelled at his little sister in terror seeing Agate's eyes glint pink. "I don't THINK so" Agate hissed as she turned and fired a strangely dark brown blast at a support beam causing it to fall trapping a bit of debris on her dress. "Agate, please, why are you doing this? Amber and I are supposed to meet Ivy tonight." Agate let out a wicked giggle as she pulled out her spear. "Looks like neither you OR Amber will be meeting Ivy ever again." Amber let out a scream as Agate plunged the spear through her beautiful two traited soul, breaking it in half. "Amber NOOOO!!!" Copper screamed dropping to his knees sobbing. "Agate what have you done?" He asked tears running down his face. "The same thing I'm going to do to you" she said running her brother through with her spear still wet with Amber's blood. Agate looked into the eyes of her dying brother as her eyes and hair turned pink. "Humans and monsters will never live in peace if the barrier is ever broken, I'll see to that." Agate dropped the dead form of her brother and dragged her dead sister outside, 'just one final spell before I die.' Agate took her soul now completely pink and placed it on the body of Amber and watched, her vision slowly fading as Amber's body was sucked into the soul and a form of a girl appeared with dark brown and pink hair and eyes. With her dying breath Agate whispered, "promise me, humans and monsters will never live in peace, if they escape, turn all those monsters to dust Bête Noir." The creature smiled as Agate's eyes closed and the last thing she heard was "I promise" and a laugh. Watching all this horror unfold Ivy Phoenix stood shakily to her feet and said with tears streaming down her face staring at the lifeless body of her friend Copper Lightvale, "I have to warn the monsters, it's going to be very dangerous for them on the surface now." "C'mon sis" Roy called to his baby sister Ivy "we gotta practice our soul magic" Ivy laughed as she caught up to her brother tackling him just as he reached the others. "Hey!" Cried Emily jumping out of the way her kindness shield flashing for a second warding off the mud splashing up from the ground, still damp from last night's thunderstorm. Ivy shuddered, she HATED thunderstorms. She was glad her dad, Sean Phoenix, had been home to stay with her instead of needing to be out on patrol. Sometimes it sucked being the youngest daughter of one of the most powerful wizards of the day, next to the Lightvale's of course. Hugo laughed at his crazy sisters as he easily blocked Seth's 'sneak attack' "nice try little brother" he chuckled lowering his defense. "Hey guys!" Called two cheerful young voices behind them. Ivy whirled around at the familiar voices and ran to hug her two best friends, "Agate! Gaster!" She shrieked happily. Most people were starting to get nervous with the monsters being around, a lot of rumors were starting, but Ivy's family and Agate and her brother and their parents didn't care about those silly rumors. Ivy knew the monsters, she loved them. She...even had a crush on young prince Asgore, though she'd deny it if anyone ever asked her. She was a human after all, and he was not only a monster, but a royal, it could never happen. She sighed. "Hey Gaster, it's really good to see you again!" She hugged her friend. "How is everyone?" Gaster smiled at his young friend a little sadly, 'poor girl' he thought 'her mother's death really effected her' "We're all good thanks" he said hugging his friend back, " Prince Asgore is coming over to play with Roy actually." Roy looked up at that giving Seth the right moment to hit him, stumbling back Roy laughed, "nicely done Seth" he said proudly, but we better stop for now. I wanna wait for Asgore, he promised he would teach me how to fight like a monster, I can't wait! I'm so glad monsters and humans live in peace." "Mooom!" Prince Asgore whined as Queen Asimah fussed over her son making sure he was bundled enough to go out on this cold October day. "Hold still Asgore! You want to go play with Roy but I don't want you catching cold! I declare child, you're just like your father sometimes." Asimah heard a low chuckle behind her "come now my dear, it's not THAT cold out." King Trigore the third stood in the doorway trying not to laugh as his wife struggled to get a defiant Asgore to put on a coat. "Trigore, honestly! That's not helping" Asimah tried to look stern but just ended up laughing. "Hey son" Trigore looked at his son, "I saw young miss Toriel today, she asked how you were." Asgore blushed slightly, he'd never admit it but Toriel wasn't the only girl he liked, but he knew that being with Ivy Phoenix could never happen, so when he was matched with Toriel, he went to Ivy, she was happy for him, she loved Toriel like a sister. Asgore was glad, he'd never do something that his Ivy wasn't ok with. Kissing his parents on the cheek Asgore walked out the door into the crisp October morning. Asimah and Trigore watched their son from the doorway, involuntary Trigore shuddered, something felt very wrong. Slowly he turned back into the house and shut the door. 'Oh well' the old king thought, 'it's probably nothing' "Oof" Asgore stumbled backwards as a out of breath Gaster stumbled into him. "Prince Asgore....sorry...gotta. Get the Queen...now..trouble" Asgore glanced at his friend, saw the bloody hands and understood "Go" he hissed as he ran to the crowd now gathered outside the Pheonix's house. Breathless Asgore bent over the body of a young boy he'd never seen before, barely noticing Roy being comforted by Ivy, 'he must have known him' Asgore thought to himself "please please be alive" Asgore whispered as he touched the boy's chest. His heart sank as his own eyes began to well with tears. 'No, no no no' Asgore glanced around desperately searching for anyone who saw what happened, that's when he saw Agate running back up the hill to her house, hand clenched. 'No....no...please...no' Asgore thought desperately as tears began to fall down his soft white cheeks, he stood and ran, not even able to hear Roy calling after him amid his own sobs. Young prince Asgore found himself at the foot of Mt. Ebbott when he finally collapsed, sobbing himself to sleep with one final thought, 'everything is going to change isn't it? Why did Gaster hurt that boy? He would never....' his thoughts trailed off as an uneasy sleep took him. Asgore finally awoke to shouts and screams ringing out around him at the mountain, echoing in the still dark night. Asgore watched in horror as his mother and father, Gaster and his parents, thousands of monsters, his people, were being herded toward the mountain like cattle. "Mom, Dad what's going on?" "Asgore...son.." Asimah started "Son they're accusing Gaster of murdering a human boy...what happened? Asgore looked from Asimah to Trigore "I'm going to find out" he hissed and ran off to find Gaster. Asgore found Gaster at the river that flows into the mountain trying desperately to wash his hands over and over. "Gaster?" Asgore knelt down next to his friend, "Gaster, please, talk to me my friend. What happened?" "He...he..insulted mom..." Gaster said sobs wracking his body "th..the bloodstains....A..Asgore they won't come out....th..they don't dry...""Shhh Gaster, shhh" Asgore held his friend tight as he cried shielding his friends face from seeing a couple of police pushing a 3 year old Alphys in front of her parents toward the mountain. "Gaster, I promise you, I will protect you, I'll be there for our people, no matter how this turns out." Gaster looked into the kind face of his friend. "Thank you Asgore." Asgore smiled and got to his feet. "You're welcome my friend, come on, let's go face whatever happens, together." Gaster smiled through his tears taking Asgore's hand, "together" he whispered. Gaster and Asgore walked arm in arm back toward the mountain when they were met by 6 year old Undyne out of breath tears streaming down her face holding a sleeping Alphys "Prince Asgore, Gaster, come quick please.... its...." her voice trailed off at the look on Asgore's face as he looked behind Undyne. "NO!!!!!" He let out a heart wrenching scream, his face going even whiter than normal as he watched in horror as a sword plunged through his father's heart and his pitchfork fell onto a pile of dust and royal robes. Asgore stumbled backwards in horror at what he'd just seen barely registering it as he watched his mother turn to dust as she met his eyes one final time. Undyne summoned her spear in fury at watching the king and Queen dust! "Majesty take her" Undyne hands the sleeping Alphys to King Asgore and rushes off "Undyne be careful" Asgore yelled. 3 year old Alphys stirred in Asgore's arms and woke up starting to cry "shhhhh Alphys, it's going to be alright, I'll protect you." Asgore says rocking Alphys. Alphys turned her head to look around for her parents and, before he could shield her face Alphys lets out a wail "mama, dada" tears streaming down her small face as she saw her parents dust before her young eyes seconds before Asgore could turn her face away from the battle. Undyne, small and quick for the tender age of six materializes a large red spear almost to big to hold and, tears streaming down her face screams and charges at the large human wizard who struck down her King. A seasoned warrior the wizard chuckles at this monster child and strikes at her. Undyne dodges and sends a handful of blue spears at him, one catching him in the shoulder. Undyne smiles, "For my King, for my Kingdom" she yells as she strikes again, this time her spear striking its mark knocking the wizard down dead at her small feet but not before his blade struck her once, taking out her left eye briefly revealing a strong magic shining from her now empty eye socket. Asgore seeing Undyne fall in pain screams out, "UNDYNE!!!!" He screams carrying the still crying infant Alphys. Asgore grabs the hand of a shaking Toriel and with a quick look around sees what had once been thousands of his people mowed down to mere hundreds. 'This is no war' he thought with a sick lump in his throat. "My people! Come, we must retreat, these humans will kill us all." Asgore shouted just as he saw Ivy, Agate her brother Copper and Roy walking towards them. "Follow us" Copper whispered "we know how to keep you safe and still make it look like we stopped you" Ivy whispered, "I don't want any more monsters to get hurt" she said touching Alphys kindly on the head and putting salve on Undyne's eye. "Here Undyne" Agate handed her a black eye patch, "I know you've always liked how eye patches look so cool" Undyne smiled "Asgore, Gaster, no matter what, we believe in you and we will always be friends" Roy said. The friends hugged each other in tears as the monsters filed into an entrance into Mt. Ebbott leading underground. "Goodbye for now my friends" they called to each other as Agate and Copper created a barrier around the mountain and watched their friends disappear into the darkness. Never to meet their friends on the surface ever again. Ivy and the others collapsed on their respective beds that night, not caring that the night birds were singing, the stars were out or how beautiful the shimmering barrier looked in the distance surrounding the mountain. 'I'll never see him again' Ivy thought, a stab of pain hitting her soul, it was so painful, she didn't care if her soul had cracked or not, the monsters, her best friends, the family she truly felt like she belonged with, was gone forever. Exhausted in sorrow for the great loss of the day, the children drifted into an uneasy sleep, un aware of what the morning would bring. Morning dawned over the town cold and grey, just like the hearts and moods of those few who still loved the monsters. Agate and Copper decided to take their newborn baby sister, Amber, as well as Ivy and the others and visit the mountain. After a mile walk the group reached the mountain. "Asgore, Gaster, are you guys there?" Ivy and Agate called "Yes we are, we're so glad you were able to come say see ya" said a low deep comforting voice, the voice of Asgore, how Ivy would miss that voice, tears started in her eyes so Agate took over. "We're all here, just wanted to say how much we love you guys and are really going to miss you." Agate started to cry, " remember Asgore, you need 7 human souls to break the barrier" she told him sniffing. "Got it" Asgore said. "Gaster, here, please remember me" Agate said through tears, throwing down a bracelet with a single glass bead with the essence of Bravery inside. "We gotta go" said copper and Roy, "but we love you guys all, please take care of each other and break the barrier soon, we miss you." Copper and the others got up and returned to the town in silence, tears falling down everyone's cheeks. Days passed, then weeks. Agate and the others would visit the monsters every day, watching that they weren't followed. Checking on Undyne who was adjusting wonderfully to just one eye. Alphys was adjusting ok to living without her parents. Months passed by and the children continued to visit the monsters as often as they could. Asgore has become King and is trying to calm his people and keep their spirits up, he has started creating a Royal Guard and has gotten married. Ivy almost jumped for joy, she knew that Toriel would make a wonderful Queen. She just wished she could have been there. Ivy and Queen Toriel would talk a lot now, Ivy still would confide everything in her sister, even if Toriel wasn't able to hold her. Ivy would tell Toriel how Agate, Copper and Amber were doing since they didn't visit much anymore, no one else did much, except for Ivy. It had been 7 years to the day that the monsters were forced underground Ivy was again visiting Queen Toriel and King Asgore, who she had now taken to calling mom and dad. Since her own father died she and her brothers and sister had gone their separate ways, she only spoke to Roy anymore who had moved to the next town over and made a name for himself as the mayor. "Ivy sweetie" Toriel's voice came gentle and concerned. "What is it honey?" Ivy knew she couldn't hide it, and sniffed back tears. "Oh mom it's awful!" She sobbed, her voice breaking. "Copper wanted to destroy the barrier and let you all free, but Agate thought it would be good to keep it. She challenged him" Ivy heard Toriel gasp. " it's ok mom," Ivy said quickly, "copper remembered what you taught him. He won, but he showed Agate mercy and spared her." Toriel sighed relief "No mom, that wasn't good. She was humiliated. She lost her soul trait. She left to find a trait stronger than determination." Ivy paused. "Unfortunately mom, she found it. Fear. She didn't care that it was dangerous to forcefully change her soul trait. She changed her soul trait mom and.....she came back to challenge Copper again." "My, my daughter..." Toriel said quietly "what happened? Please tell me." Ivy took a deep breath "in order to shake copper's determination so that she could win....she...she speared Amber through the heart killing her right in front of him" Ivy could hear Queen Toriel cry out in horror before she gulped "continue please Ivy" Ivy took a deep breath "well, Agate won this time. She was able to cause Copper's determination to falter as they fought," "but, unlike Copper did, Agate didn't spare him" Toriel cried out before she composed herself again and waited for Ivy to continue. "Her soul couldn't handle being forcefully changed mom, so she did something even worse. She created an evil creature with a dark spell and put it inside Amber's body. It's called the Bête Noir, Black Beast. She created it to stop humans and monsters from ever living in peace. Please mom, whenever you do get out, be VERY careful." "Thank you for the warning Ivy" Toriel said warmly. On a lighter note I have something to tell you, then so does Gaster. " Ivy smiled in spite of herself, 'leave it to mom to find a way to encourage people' she thought happily. "What is it mom? "Asgore and I are expecting a baby" Toriel said. Ivy could barely contain her joy, she could just imagine what amazing parents they'll be. "Oh mom that's so exciting!!" Ivy gushed thrilled. "Thank you honey, now Gaster has some good news too. "What is it Gaster?" Ivy asked "Well Ivy," she heard a soft voice trying to hide tears at what he'd heard, "I found someone, you remember Garisha?" "Yes" Ivy answered, fondly remembering one of the kindest, sweetest, most loving skeleton monsters she had ever met. "I'm so happy for you Gaster, you deserve to be happy." Ivy said sincerely. She loved Gaster like a brother. "Well" said Gaster and Ivy could hear the smile in his voice. "We got married last week and decided to try to have kids" Ivy whooped in joy, she was so happy that the monsters she called family, were finding a way to be happy. "Gaster, mom, I love you guys so much, and I promise you, somehow, someway we will bring you back to the surface." "Goodnight my daughter" Toriel said. "Goodnight dear Ivy" Gaster whispered. "Goodnight" Ivy said as she got up to go, but, just as she turned to walk down the mountain, her foot caught on a hidden root and she tumbled backwards into the rift in the top of the mountain and down into the darkness. 'I'm dead' Ivy thought, 'this is over, I'll never get to see my friends aga... ' her thoughts were abruptly cut off by landing in a pair of big soft white arms "Careful Ivy" softly chuckled a low deep comforting voice, Asgore had caught her. Carefully Ivy stood to her feet smiling "thank you for catching me dad" Ivy said smiling as she was pulled into a hug by a very pregnant Toriel worriedly checking Ivy over. "I'm ok mom, really, dad saved me" Ivy said chuckling looking around, still barely able to believe that she was with her friends, her family, again. "Ivy dear" said Asgore and Toriel gently "what do you plan on doing now? I mean we could go to the back of the cave and you could go back home..." Asgore's voice trailed off as an 11 year old Alphys walked in to sight following behind a smiling Garisha. "I...Ivy!" Alphys squealed as she ran to her friend. Ivy smiled at Alphys and hugged her tightly looking around at her friends, at the only mom and dad she had left, and said with a sigh, " I don't belong there dad. Humans are cold and cruel, they hurt all of you, they made so many of you Orphans," she looked down at Alphys lovingly "I belong here dad, falling into the underground brought me home." Asgore, Toriel and the others smiled "well then, if that's what you desire" Asgore said hugging his human daughter "welcome home princess Ivy" Toriel said with a smile. Days turned into weeks and Ivy still hadn't returned to the surface, everyone was starting to ask questions so to stop people from digging any further the mayor of the town Mayor Blackthorn created a story and made sure it was spread. He insisted that after the loss of her entire family 24 year old Ivy had become depressed and decided to climb Mt. Ebbott with the intention of throwing herself to the monsters below. That is how the rumor began, "every human that falls into the underground at Mt. Ebbott never returns" Asgore paced back and forth, it was a week early and he was concerned 'my wife, my child, if anything happens to you....' Asgore's thoughts were interrupted by Ivy walking towards him from out of the ruins looking exhausted wiping sweat from her face " Dad," she said wearily and immediately put her hand on his arm seeing the concern on his face, "Don't worry dad, mom's doing fine." Asgore breathed a little easier "And the baby?" He asked, his voice betraying his worry. Ivy shook her head "my baby brother is a miracle dad" she said chuckling, "he was born dead dad" at that Asgore stumbled back a little and sank onto his knees "i...see" he muttered trying not to cry "I held his body" Ivy continued hugging her dad tightly letting him cry "then...mom started to deliver another...another son." Asgore looked up shocked "I was relieved, I wouldn't have to tell mom her baby was dead. Then, something happened dad..." Ivy's voice trailed off "what's that honey?" Asgore asked "the baby...gave his soul to his twin I was holding..I watched as the child dusted away, tears in my eyes when suddenly my dead brother in my arms started to breathe." Asgore looked at his daughter in shock as she walked back into the ruins, "come on dad, let's go home and see them" Asgore followed Ivy into the house and saw his wife laying there in bed holding a tiny bundle of white fur and smiled. Walking to her side he kissed her and then kissed his newborn son as he pulled his daughter close. "How are you feeling Tori?" He asked gently. Toriel smiled up at her husband and daughter, "I'm fine Gorey dear" she said happily, "we both are" she smiled down at the tiny bundle cooing happily on her lap. "What's my baby brothers name?" Ivy asked a little quietly. "Asriel" Toriel and Asgore said in unison. "Asriel" Ivy whispered touching her baby brother's face and kissing him lightly she whispered to her newborn baby brother, "Prince Asriel, I'm your big sister Ivy. I don't know if you can understand anything I'm saying but, I love you so much baby brother. Take care of mom and dad for me, and be nice if nice humans fall down. Don't kill baby brother, and don't be killed, that's the best you can hope for." The last thing Ivy heard was her mother cry out as she fell and felt her dad catch her before she slipped into unconsciousness. Ivy slowly stirred and opened her eyes "....dad" she whispered weakly. Immediately Asgore was by her side "my sweet daughter...what is it?" Ivy smiled slightly "when I'm dead..." "you're not going to die Ivy" Asgore said sternly. Ivy chuckled out a cough " dad.... please... I know I'm dying... listen to me...please..." Asgore nodded at his daughter tears starting to roll down his face. Ivy smiled towards the door "come on in guys" she whispered at Alphys, Gaster, Undyne and a pregnant Garisha. Garisha walked over and kissed her friend trying not to cry. Ivy smiled "how's little Sans?" She asked touching the bump. Garisha smiled "he's good thanks, any day now" Ivy smiled, "I wish I could be there" she whispered. "When I'm dead" she said to everyone gathered around her bed "dad, take my soul, use it as the first you need to leave here" suddenly at her brave words a small streak of her hair that was oddly grey turned a beautiful golden brown. "Mom....Asriel...everyone..." she whispered looking at everyone's faces once more. "I...love...you....family...." and with those final whispered words of love Princess Ivy's hand fell on Alphys's head lifeless. Asgore stood at the end of the cave tears falling down his face staring at the barrier as it hummed in front of him letting out a strange light. 'It must be twilight on the surface' he thought to himself sadly. Suddenly he felt that he wasn't alone. Asgore looked around and saw Garisha, Gaster, Toriel, Undyne and Alphys gathered around him tears falling from their eyes. "Gorey dear" whispered Toriel concerned for her husband " I...i know Tori" he said trying to wipe the tears that kept falling, blinding his vision. "I...I made this sire." Gaster said his voice shaking "to..hold her soul safe." "Thank you my royal Scientist" Asgore said absentmindedly, staring at the beauty that was his daughter's bravery soul in his hand. "U...Undyne and i..will b..b..bury h..her" Alphys stammered. "Asgore nodded silently and carefully placed Ivy's soul in the waiting container and walked in silence back to bed....he..needed to rest. 'Please don't let today be a glimpse of the future' he thought to himself drifting off to an uneasy sleep. The next day came bright and beautiful, Asgore woke with a groan. He'd had a horrible nightmare, then he got out of bed and heard baby Asriel start to cry. It hit him hard then as he picked up his son, it hadn't been a nightmare after all, his heart sank as he rocked Asriel back and forth until he fell asleep again. 'The future queen of the monsters was dead...but she was so much more than that, she was a friend and daughter to us all' Asgore thought glumly as he looked at his sleeping son who would never get to grow up knowing his sister. "I promise you Asriel my son, you will know all about your sweet older sister, Ivy" Asgore fell asleep in the chair in the living room holding his son on his chest. Asgore woke up to Toriel taking the sleeping prince and handing him to 14 year old Undyne. Turning to him Toriel said "it's Garisha, it's time" Asgore got to his feet quickly and thanking Undyne for coming so quickly put on his coat and hurried after his wife. Gaster was pacing back and forth outside the makeshift home that doubled as a lab that he, Garisha and Alphys shared looking frazzled. "Alphys is with her" he mumbled to Toriel. She nodded leaving Asgore to wait with Gaster."I..in h...h..here" Alphys called hearing the door and looked up to see her friend the Queen walk in. " Garisha how are you?" Toriel asked crossing the room to her friends. Garisha smiled a little " A little weak, but good" she muttered. "Would you like to see him?" Garisha handed Toriel a tiny bundle. Toriel smiled down at the tiny skeleton. "Hello there Sans, my name is Queen Toriel. Welcome to the world." Toriel kissed his forehead and Sans slowly opened his eyes revealing a slightly glowing beautiful blue. "He's beautiful Garisha" said Toriel, relived for a happy event after the sorrow of yesterday."C..can we t...talk?" Alphys looked up at Toriel and whispered quietly. "Of course Alphys! Garisha we will send in Gaster and Asgore, I know they've been wanting to see Sans very much." Garisha smiled and nodded sitting up and taking her son. "Asgore, Gaster, you two can go in now." Toriel said smiling. They nodded and walked into the house. "What is it Alphys?" Toriel asked turning to her young friend. She could see the concern on Alphys's face. She hugged her tightly, poor Alphys had been through so much in her young life, it wasn't fair. "T..Toriel.." Alphys began looking up at her friend and Queen trying not to cry. "This w..was almost t..to m..much on G.garisha's body. She is v..very w..weak, she c...can't handle g..giving b..b..birth again." Toriel looked at Alphys in horror trying to register what this sweet 11 year old girl was saying. "Alphys...what are you saying?" Alphys took a deep breath and looked toward the only house that she really remembered holding her adopted family and let out a sigh of sadness...she was dreading this. "I..if she h..has another baby... m..momma w...w..will d..die." Toriel collapsed at Alphys's words, 'no...' she thought in horror, 'this can't be happening, it just can't' Alphys put her small hand on her Queen's arm tears starting again in her young eyes. Wiping her tears and hugging Alphys she kissed her young friend and taking her by the hand they walked back into the house. They would worry about whatever sorrow might be in store later, for now, they had the life of a new baby to celebrate. Toriel smiled in spite of herself, celebrate, that sounds nice after all they've been through the last few days. Days turned into weeks then months, prince Asriel and young Sans grew quickly and, true to every monsters promise, the two were told every day about Ivy, whose name had been both Asriel and Sans first word. "Mama, mama, mama" year old Sans tottered toward Garisha and fell into her arms. "Oh Sans" laughed Garisha smiling at Gaster. She was so happy, she had her son and the man she loved. Gaster walked over to his wife and son, bent down and picked him up. "Hey there Sans, how's my big boy?" Sans let out a giggle and pat his dad's face "dada dada" Sans giggled "love you dada, love you mama" Sans cooed. Garisha and Gaster sat in the living room with Sans "hey son, would you like to hear a story?" Gaster asked his son. "Ya dada" Sans said happily, Sans loved it when mom and dad told him stories. "Ok son, this story is about Aunt Ivy" "yaaaay" Sans said clapping his hands happily, he loved hearing about aunt Ivy. Even though she died before he was born, he'd heard so much about her, he missed her so much. Asgore and Toriel were sitting in the living room, Asgore by the fire and Toriel holding year old Asriel in the big arm chair. "Asriel, do you remember anything about your big sister Ivy?" Asgore asked his son. Asriel smiled "be nice to nice humans that fall here, take care of mom and dad for me, don't kill and don't be killed." Asriel rattled off proudly, he could never forget what his sister had said, even though she died the day he was born, he remembered her, thank monster magic for that. Asgore stood up and walked to his wife and son and kissing them both lovingly said "I'm so glad you remember so well my son, never forget. It will serve you well through life, and when you rule one day." Toriel smiled at her husband, for the first time in a long time she was so happy, she had her son and the man she loved, though she missed her daughter every day, life was good with her small family. Asgore sighed, " Undyne tried to fight me yesterday" he chuckled "poor dear couldn't land a blow on me, she was so frustrated." Toriel chuckled "Gorey dear, please tell me you're going to train the dear child?" "Yes Tori" Asgore said kissing his wife again as he headed out the door "I'm actually going there right now. Mark my words my love, one day young Undyne will be the most powerful warrior we have and I'll make her Captain of the Royal Guard." Toriel smiled "I know you will my love, she'll love that." Asgore smiled again at his family as he walked out the door. Asgore walked out to a large flat space surrounded by water and underground grass there he saw Undyne looking nervous. "Hi there Undyne!" Asgore called jovially "Hello my King" Undyne said smiling. "Please Undyne, call me Asgore, we're going to be working together after all, no need for such formalities." Asgore chuckled looking at the dear 14 year old in front of him lovingly. "Working together?" Undyne asked. "Of course Undyne" said Asgore hugging her. "I'm going to train you to beat me my friend, and one day you will become captain of the royal guard." Undyne looked at her King shocked. "Ready to learn how to beat me Captain?" Asgore asked summoning his trident. "Ready" she said summoning her spear smiling at being called captain. 'Captain' Undyne thought, 'I like that.' Weeks passed with Asgore training Undyne faithfully every day. Sometimes he would bring Toriel and Asriel to watch him train with Undyne and sometimes he would ask Gaster, Garisha and Sans with him. On this particular day, Asgore had brought the skeleton family with him to watch him train, and Sans was unusually alert today, normally he was sleeping most of the time. Asgore and Undyne were sparing when they heard a shout from Garisha "Asgore Undyne, Gaster, LOOK!" Stopping in their tracks Asgore and Undyne ran to where Garisha, Sans and Gaster were gathered. Gaster was laughing and spinning his son in absolutely ecstatic fatherly pride and Garisha was beaming. "Ok Sans" said Gaster happily "can you show daddy that again?" Sans looked up at his dad and in an instant a small Gaster Blaster appeared over the tiny shoulder and with a small motion Sans controlled its blast perfectly into the water behind them. Asgore and Undyne beamed, this was a momentous day for sure. "I'm so proud of you son" said Gaster happily kissing his son. "We're all proud of you son." Said Garisha. Sans beamed as best as his tiny face could let him. After celebrating young Sans first big display of magic Asgore and Undyne returned to training. Asgore smiled 'Undyne is getting so much better' he thought proudly. 'She'll make a wonderful Captain sooner than she thinks.' Suddenly Asgore's attention was caught by a glimmer of golden brown hair just on the edge of his vision. He turned slightly just to see a human woman about 25 years old with familiar golden brown hair wave at him, sign 'I love you dad' and vanish from sight. Tears starting to gather in his eyes he turned back to Undyne, blocking her next attempt. "I love you too Ivy, I miss you my daughter." Asgore whispered. Undyne saw the tears her friend and King was trying to hide and quickly let her spears fade and ran to him, worry on her face. "Asgore my King, are you alright?" She asked as she reached him. Asgore smiled at his young friend. "I'm ok Undyne thank you. Look at you already taking on one role of a good captain, caring for your King and Kingdom." Undyne smiled at the compliment. "I saw Ivy's ghost." Asgore said. Undyne gasped, she'd heard of that happening. Asgore smiled, "she waved at me and said she loved me. I'm glad she's at peace and happy." Undyne wiped a tear from her eye, she was so happy for Asgore, he really needed this. "Let's keep training Undyne," Asgore said composing himself "you are so close to beating me my dear young Captain." Undyne smiled and summoned her spear again as Asgore summoned his trident. Undyne came at him fast a sudden glint of red touched her eyes and struck knocking him backwards onto the ground. "Oh my goodness! Asgore my King are you ok? I didn't mean to hit so hard, I feel so bad, I didn't hurt you did I?" Undyne gushed worried. Asgore laughed as Undyne looked at him confused, "well done Undyne well done!!" Gaster, Garisha and Sans sat watching their two friends train and were cheering when Undyne knocked Asgore down, until Garisha noticed Sans was reaching out to thin air with a big smile on his small face and tears streaming down his cheeks. "Aunt Ivy...pwease don't go...I miss you." Sans cried, Garisha was about to pick him up when she saw in shock her sons tears be wiped away by something that she couldn't see. "Ok Aunt Ivy...love you...it ok." Gaster heard Sans whisper and he had to gulp back his own tears, "you kept your promise after all Ivy, thank you for coming to see our son" Gaster whispered quietly. Six months had passed, Asgore and Undyne have continued to train together becoming closer and closer friends. Gaster and Garisha have been training Sans in his magic and despite his laziness he has proven to be quite powerful, almost as powerful as his father and he's only two years old. "Sans" Gaster laughed as he dodged a blast from his son's Gaster Blaster and sent a small bone attack at his son in return who dodged it perfectly. "Gaster, Sans come on you two" chuckled Garisha trying to sound stern. "We were invited to have Sans and Asriels birthday together, come on." Sans whooped in delight, he was really close friends with prince Asriel. "Mommy, Daddy let's go!" Sans said happily running out the door. "Gaster honey," said Garisha, "when we get back from the party I have something I want to talk to you both about." Gaster smiled kissing his wife lovingly. "Ok my angel" he said as he headed out the door. "Welcome!" Asgore said warmly opening the door as Sans came rushing into the house and hugged Asriel who squealed in delight. "Sansy! Did you hear? Mom and dad said you get to share my birthday with me." The boys ran off to play in the garden. Toriel chuckled, "oh to be young again eh dear?" "Hahaha right you are honey" Asgore laughed. Gaster put his arm around Garisha pulling her close and looked around, 'despite being exiled to the underground' Gaster thought to himself 'we have it pretty great down here, we have our families, our children, for what we have, what more could we want?' The party was wonderful, Asriel got his own princes crown and Sans was given some books that he enjoyed from Alphys, his favorite was a book called "peekaboo with fluffy bunny" after hours of laughter and play, it was time for the friends to separate and go home. As Gaster and Garisha were heading out the door Toriel stopped them, "Garisha dear, are you alright?" The kind Queen asked concern in her voice. Garisha smiled a little, "yes and no Toriel, I had planned to wait to tell you guys but," Garisha looked at Sans showing Asriel how he could use his magic and smiled. "I think it would be best to tell you all now, let's go sit down." Garisha followed Toriel and the others into the living room and sat down next to Gaster, taking his hand she sighed. "I wanted to ask you all a favor" Garisha said pulling Sans onto her lap. "Garisha my love, what is it? You're scaring me." Gaster said worriedly as Sans suddenly pipes up "Aunt Ivy told me mommy, it's ok" the little skeleton pat his mother's cheek tears in his eyes. "Aunt Ivy told you?" Garisha looked at her young son surprised. Sans nodded tears starting to fall off his bones onto her lap. "Do you want to be the one to tell everyone son?" She asked tears in her own eyes. Sans nodded quietly and turned to everyone his small hand gripping both his parents tightly. "Mommy will need someone to help daddy take care of me soon" Sans said quietly tears blinding his vision. "What do you mean son, why? Mommy's not going anywhere soon." Gaster asked his son desperately looking at his beloved wife, his angel, in fear. Sans nodded as tears started in Gaster's eyes, "yeah daddy" Sans said choking back a sob. "Aunt Ivy told me though that mommy wouldn't leave us alone," Sans smiled at his mom and put his tiny hand on her stomach and said "Hi Papyrus, I'm your big brother Sans. I promise I'll take care of you and protect you. Even though mommy will be gone before you can remember her, I will tell you all about our kind, loving wonderful mommy. I love you baby brother, see you soon." Everyone stared at Sans with tears streaming down their faces when finally Garisha spoke, "Papyrus, what a perfect name" she put her hand on her stomach "hi Papyrus, it's mommy, I love you baby boy." Gaster gathered Garisha in his arms as he sobbed, he was so happy that his beloved angel was giving him another child but, that didn't leave him much time left with her and the thought of that broke his heart. The following days and weeks went by in almost a blur for Gaster and young Sans spending every moment they could with Garisha. Sans was a big help for one so small. Gaster smiled at his son 'Sans you truly are incredible and so brave my son' he thought to himself sadly as he and Sans helped Garisha to bed. These last few weeks have been amazing, spending every moment together, making memories, sharing such love. Gaster looked lovingly at his son and his angel, sans would remember his mother now, he'll have good memories. "Gaster my love?" Garisha whispered breathlessly jarring him out of his thoughts. "Yes my love? What is it?" Sans looked at his mother with the concern no two year old should have to worry about. "It's....it's time," She said. "Mommy let me help you," Sans said hoarsely trying to choke back a sob. "Thank you Sans," Garisha looked at her son with pride. "You are such a good monster, teach your brother that, please promise me?" "I...I promise mom." Sans said tears starting to fall from his eye sockets as he helped his mother into bed. "Gaster, raise our boys well, they will be smart and wise like you." Gaster and Sans took Garisha's hands and held on tight as tears blurred their vision. Moments later a weak Garisha smiled at everyone gathered around her, her friends, her family. "Alphys my beautiful adopted daughter," Garisha said weakly, take good care of my boys, they'll look up to you now." 13 year old Alphys could only nod as she kissed her adopted mother's cheek, her own wet with tears. "King Asgore, Queen Toriel, Prince Asriel," Garisha looked at her royal friends, her smile getting fainter, "my boys, train them, teach them, they will help the Kingdom." They nodded and hugged Garisha gently in tears. "Captain Undyne," Garisha muttered barely able to keep her eyes open, her breathing slowing, "help my sons meet their full potential, they will need a sweet strong friend like you." Undyne smiled through her tears "I will" was all she could muster before she broke into sobs. "Gaster, my darling, love of my life," Garisha said between coughs, her breathing labored and heavy, "our sons need you to teach them wisdom and strength, kindness and compassion, promise me." "I promise my angel," Gaster could barely choke out among shoulder shaking sobs. "Sans....my...sweet...boy....take...care...of...Papyrus for...me..protect him....promise me." Garisha gasped out, her vision starting to fade. "I promise mommy, I won't let you down." Sans cried tears streaming down his small face. Garisha smiled weakly at the tiny bundle in Sans arms, "Papyrus....I....love...you...my....son.....stay....sweet...and...forgiving.........." Garisha's last sight was of Ivy, her dearest friend reaching out her hand. Garisha took the glowing hand and let out a final breath, felt her son kiss her fading forehead and knew no more. In the days following Garisha's death, everyone noticed the change in the skeleton family. Gaster was more sullen than usual and kept to himself, he became more involved in his work as the Royal Scientist. Though Gaster always had every moment available to his sons. Sans and newborn Papyrus never lacked anything and always had their father to love and dote on them as if they were the only children in the universe. Two year old Sans had changed too, he became more smiley than usual. Gaster sighed 'my poor Sans, you're so young and already you've had to grow up so much.' Gaster was so proud of his eldest son, he had really stepped up to help out with Papyrus and even started to show an interest in science. Gaster loved having his boys with him at work, showing Sans what buttons did what, what his inventions were meant to do, Sans was even there for his dad whenever an experiment failed. There was even a secret entry Gaster had made, he called it "entry number 17" talking to Sans and Papyrus during his work, asking them what they thought. Gaster smiled, 'if anything happens to me, at least this will help my boys remember me.' Gaster thought glumly. So much sadness had been happening, he really had no guarantee that something wouldn't happen to him, or someone else he loved. "Please just don't let anything happen to the children." Gaster muttered to himself as he walked back home from work with his boys. He glanced up at a noise to his left and chuckled. Undyne and the King were at practice again, he looked at them and smiled. He was so proud of Undyne, almost 15 years old and just became Captain of the Royal Guard. Gaster shook his head chuckling to himself, he'd never before seen a monster be so determined. He wondered what that would mean for Undyne's future, he thought smiling to himself. Suddenly his thoughts were interrupted by Sans "dad take Papyrus for a minute, please hurry." Before Gaster could register what was happening he was holding Papyrus and Sans was running as fast as his little legs could carry him over to the cliffs edge. Sans ran as fast as he could keeping the figure at the edge of the cliff in his sight 'please don't jump, please don't jump, let me get there in time.' Sans thought begging no one in particular. As he ran closer he saw tears streaming down from her beautiful green eyes and did his best to wrap his small arms around her 11 year old waist, not a second to soon. "I know...I know..." Sans said tears falling from his own eyes as he pulled his friend and adopted sister away from the edge. "Please Alphys, please," Sans said choking back his panic, "let me help you always, I won't let anything happen to you, I promise." Alphys looked down at Sans and smiled through her tears, 'how could someone this small be this brave' she thought to herself, 'why can't I be so brave' she sighed. "O....okay S...sans" Alphys stammered a slow smile on her pretty face. Moments later Gaster had gathered Alphys in his arms kissing his adopted daughter over and over again holding her close. "Oh Alphys!" Gaster said breathlessly, tears in his eyes, "I understand my sweet daughter, I know, I'm so sorry, I'm here." Alphys smiled hugging her adopted dad tight. 'I can't do this to them' she thought, 'not now, everyone's sad enough already, no I won't add to it' Alphys smiled at Gaster, Sans and Papyrus pushing her thoughts, her own darkness, out of her head yet again. Gaster took his daughter in his arms as he walked next to Sans holding Papyrus "let's go home kids" he said and turned to head home, breath catching in his throat for a second, he could have sworn he heard 'her' voice on the wind, "I love you too my angel" Gaster whispered quietly as he walked into the house. Gaster entered the dark house and set Alphys down so he could find the light switch, when suddenly "SURPRISE" Gaster jumped as he flicked the lights on and saw everyone standing there smiling at him. Undyne smiled and walked to Gaster with a card and kissed him on the cheek, he looked down at what the dear Captain had given him and tears started to well in his eyes 'thank you for being more than our Royal Scientist, thank you for being our friend, we love you Gaster.' One by one everyone walked up to Gaster and either hugged him or kissed his cheek, thanking him. Gaster beamed, he loved everyone so much, over the last few years they had become more than just friends to him, they had become, family. This was the most fun Gaster had had in a long time, he smiled at his children, this was exactly what they needed too, take their mind off the last few days for a while, give them happiness if even for just a few hours. "Gaster my friend" came a low deep voice, Gaster turned to see his dear friend and King standing there, Gaster smiled "was this your idea Majesty?" Gaster asked, Asgore chuckled jovially "I'm afraid I must plead guilty on that one my friend" Gaster laughed too hugging his friend. It felt good to laugh again. Hours passed and finally it was time for everyone to head home. Gaster said bye to everyone, giving each a hug again and turned back to his children with a smile. "Alright you three," he said with a chuckle, "who wants a bedtime story?" Sans let out a whoop and got Papyrus ready for bed as quickly and gently as he could, bringing his brother as close to him in bed as he could. Gaster smiled at the sight, Sans was always sleeping next to Papyrus, hand as close to him as possible just so that if he needed to, Sans could get to his brother quickly. "Ready dad" said Alphys sleepily "dad," Sans asked, "Can we read 'peekaboo with fluffy bunny', Papyrus loves that one." Gaster nodded sitting beside his kids and began to read. 'I want this moment to last forever' he thought happily, 'this is pretty much perfect.' It had been almost 8 months since Gaster's party, things had returned to relative normal, the population of monster kind had continued to slowly increase so people began spreading throughout the small area that was the underground of the mountain. There was the ruins area where the King, Queen and Prince lived, outside the ruins was a cold wintery place they called Snowdin town, many of the monsters chose to call this place home, further back in the cave system was the beautiful watery area where Asgore and Undyne had begun their training together. Undyne was most comfortable here so she along with a few others chose to call Waterfall, home. Besides it was close to the trash zone and sometimes the humans would throw away useful things. Beyond this beautiful area was a very hot part of the caves, closest to the barrier. Gaster, Sans, Papyrus and Alphys chose to call this place, named Hotland, home since it was closest to Gaster's work, the core. King Asgore and Queen Toriel had started to expand the Royal Guard a little bit, of course with Captain Undyne leading the way, the troops she wanted under her command would be her pick. Asgore was so proud of the choices his young Captain made, he would have chosen them himself. They were mostly dog monsters, very loyal and proud. Asgore knew they would make a wonderful addition to the guard. There was one thing that Asgore hadn't taught Undyne that she had started teaching her troops, and he couldn't be more proud of his young friend; to fight with honor, to never fear pain or death, to fight until their final breath to protect their King and Kingdom, to uphold the rules and laws. But Undyne also taught her soldiers that even though they fight, keep their own fragile hearts, to fight for the ones who are gone. She also understood that some days would come where the biggest fight would be inside, trying to convince themselves that one day the bloodstains would dry. Asgore smiled as he watched Undyne training her troops in the same spot in Waterfall that he had trained her what felt like forever ago. "Look at her Tori" Asgore said with pride "I know Gorey dear, she does us proud doesn't she?" Toriel smiled. Asgore nodded. 16 years old and already she has been through so much, 'we all have' Asgore thought with a sigh, hoping that one day, some how, someone would break the barrier and set them free. There still has to be some kind humans, aren't there? Humans who remember? 'I don't want to have to take human souls to break the barrier myself.' Asgore thought to himself. Gaster smiled at 3 year old Sans as he sits playing with Papyrus. He'd never seen siblings closer or more loving. He never once saw Sans ever get jealous of his brother or deny him anything. Sans had even taken it on himself to start teaching 8 month old Papyrus little bits of magic. Gaster smiled as Sans gushed in pride when Papyrus was able to summon a few small bones. 'Just like Garisha and I had gushed in pride over Sans first show of magic' Gaster thought wiping away a tear and walking towards his sons. "Good job Papyrus! Could you show daddy that again?" Gaster asked smiling at his youngest son. Papyrus giggled and again summoned a few small bones showing them proudly to Gaster. "Good job Paps! I'm so proud of you." Sans gushed happily at his baby brother as Gaster picked up his son and spun him around beaming in pride. "So proud of you Papyrus, well done!" Gaster exclaimed. Papyrus cooed at his dad and clapped his tiny hands. Gaster and Sans stopped suddenly and stared at Papyrus who was reaching behind Gaster's left shoulder tears in his tiny eyes, a look of desperation across his innocent little face "mama mama mama mama!" Papyrus almost wailed. Sans ran to his baby brother and held him close "shhhhh, shhhh Paps it's ok, it's ok baby bro, I miss her too." Sans calmed his brother as an unseen hand wiped tears from her son's eyes. "We love you too mom" Sans whispered "thanks for being here, watching us." It had been 3 wonderful peace filled years Undyne is now 20 years old and very busy with her duties as the wonderful Captain of the Royal Guard, sadly that means that she has almost completely forgotten about her friends, or to have much of a life at all outside the guard. One other thing has become clear about Undyne, she has grown into the most beautiful fish monster anyone had ever seen. Alphys too had changed and grown. Now 15 she had grown into a true beauty, Gaster could see that of his adopted daughter and he was so proud. He had even built a house in Hotland for her over top of the lab that would one day all be hers. Gaster was a bit worried though, it seemed her depression was worsening. She spent so much time down in the lab or walking around Waterfall. Gaster sighed as he sat down next to his sons, pulling 6 year old Sans onto his lap as they watched almost 4 year old Papyrus play with a bone he'd summoned. "How would you boys like to come to work with me again today?" Gaster asked. The boys nodded happily, they loved it when dad took them to work. Gaster smiled at Alphys, "and how about you my daughter, would you like to come to work with me today? I'd love to share some things with you, after all, one day it will be yours." Alphys smiled happily and hugged Gaster. "I'd really love that dad, thank you." She said with a grin. "Wonderful!" Gaster said clapping his hands, "we'll make it a family trip to the Core today. Let's go shall we?" "Gaster and the children left the lab and started walking the short journey to the Core, the thermal vents made the trip a lot shorter and much more fun for the kids. Gaster smiled as he watched Sans jumping from vent to vent Papyrus laughing in glee in his arms, Alphys following close behind making sure Sans didn't fall. 'She really loves her little brothers' Gaster thought happily, 'And Sans has really kept his word to do his best to be there for Alphys and help her through' Gaster let out a sigh of contentment. His family may be cracked a little, but he still has his boys and Alphys, so he's happy. Gaster and the kids reached the Core and walked in, everything whirred around them and the lights glowed a soft red and blue. "Follow me" Gaster called "the experiment I've been working on is this way. "Alphys follows close behind Gaster followed by Sans holding a wide eyed Papyrus. He was only 3 and a half so he may not be able to remember everything about this family trip but at least he would remember a few things even if it is hazy. Sans smiled at his precious baby brother, he didn't think he'd be able to love anyone as much as he loved his parents, but walking here holding his brother tightly in his arms, he realized that he loved him, so much. "I promise Paps, I'll do anything to protect you and take care of you, forever." Sans said kissing Papyrus on the head. "Here it is" Gaster said approaching a big device with a heart symbol on it. "There's one similar to it down in the lab." Alphys and the boys stood next to Gaster cautiously, "Alphys, go ahead and press that switch please?" "Sans, turn that dial at the same time please." "Yes dad" they both said in unison. "As for you my little Papyrus, you have the most important job of all, that only The Great Papyrus can do, are you ready?" Papyrus nodded beaming. "Ok Great Papyrus," Gaster said smiling, "I need you to summon a blue bone and throw it through that laser up there to start everything ok?" "K dada" Papyrus said. "Now Papyrus" Gaster said and quick as a flash a perfect blue bone flew through the laser. Gaster nodded to Sans and Alphys who did their part perfectly and the machine began to whir to life. Suddenly a siren began to blast from somewhere, Sans grabbed Papyrus quickly and ran over to Alphys and Gaster to see what was going on. "The Core is overheating" Gaster said in a panic "I have to stop it before it kills everyone in the underground." Sans looked around him in frustration and panic at everyone running away from the Core. "Dad come on, we have to get out of here." Sans called. "Dada pwease" begged a tearful Papyrus. Alphys stood wringing her hands, worry and fear on her face, 'was this her fault, was she to slow, did she somehow cause this?' "Not yet" Gaster said, "I can fix this, I won't fail." Gaster furiously pushed a series of buttons until the siren finally stopped. "There," Gaster breathed a sigh of relief. "The underground won't be in danger, but we have to get out of this room, NOW!" Everyone began to run just as Gaster noticed a pipe above the invention break and swing down towards Sans who was still holding Papyrus tightly. Quickly Gaster teleported, a power he hadn't used in a very long time because it made him bone tired, Gaster chuckled to himself at his little pun as he pushed his sons out of the way into Alphys's arms and the pipe struck him, knocking him into the blackness of the core, his last sight was of Papyrus, Sans and Alphys trying to reach out to him, tears in their eyes. Gaster closed his hand around the bracelet Agate had given him so many years ago, her bravery essence glowing gently in the bead as the darkness of the Void swallowed him. Alphys, Sans and Papyrus collapsed outside the Core in tears. "Sans, is daddy dead?" Asked a tearful Papyrus. "I don't know Paps," said Sans trying to wipe tears away but they keep falling. "Let's not think about that right now ok baby bro? Right now we need to figure out where to go." Papyrus nodded glumly and looked at Alphys who had collapsed onto the ground her 15 year old body wracked with sobs. "Sissy sissy" Papyrus patted Alphys's hand comfortingly. Alphys smiled at the young skeleton a little. "Thanks Papyrus" Alphys said hiding the hollowness of her voice from the innocent one. "Sans, why don't you and Papyrus head to the King and Queen? They'll know what to do. I'll be here keeping an eye on dad's work ok? You can let me know what they say." Sans nods silently, he knew that was best, he needed to take care of Papyrus now. "I love you sis, and we will see you again soon." Alphys nodded silently kissing Sans and Papyrus on the heads before they run off back to the ruins and Alphys turns to Hotland and returns to the lab, alone. "I'll get it mom!" Called 6 year old Asriel running down the hall to get the door. "Sans, Papyrus hi what's...." Asriel trailed off seeing the tears in his young friend's eyes. "Come in please, I'll get mom and dad." Asriel said showing the boys to the living room and running off. "Mom, Dad come quick hurry" Asriel ran to his parents bedroom in a panic. "Asriel honey what's wrong?" Toriel asked, "who was at the door?" Asgore chimed in. "Sans and Papyrus" he said quickly, "they were crying, please come quick. "Toriel and Asgore hurriedly followed Asriel into the living room just in time to see Sans and Papyrus, finally able to process everything that had just happened, collapse in front of the fireplace and let sobs completely overwhelm them, barely feeling three soft warm arms holding the young brothers tightly letting them sob for the loss of their father. "Sans," said Asgore gently, "what's wrong, what happened my child?" Asked Toriel quietly. "Daddy..." piped up 3 and a half year old Papyrus tearfully " he.....fell" Papyrus broke off into sobs unable to finish speaking. "Dad," continued Sans sniffing, " he was showing us and Alphys an experiment he was working on at the core." "He had us help, all three of us" interjected Papyrus wiping his face. "Something went wrong and the experiment was going to kill everyone in the underground," Sans said quietly. "Daddy fixed it though" piped up Papyrus proudly. Sans nodded glad that with dad's last action, he made such an impact of pride. "The room was to unstable and a pipe broke, it was gonna hit me and Paps....." Sans voice trailed off as his body was wracked with sobs again and Asgore pulled him close holding the six year old as he wept. " Daddy pushed us out of the way into sissy's arms and.....we watched him fall" Papyrus finished, crying on Asriel's shoulder. "What about Alphys?" Asked Asgore concerned. "Went back to the lab, might be downstairs, she looked bad." Sans and Papyrus said in unison. Asgore got up quickly, he knew that might mean trouble, especially with as much sorrow as that child has seen. "I'll check on her, Tori dear take the boys to one of the rooms, let them rest, they've been through to much today." Toriel nodded teary eyed as Asgore left and brought the boys to the middle bedroom. "Sans I'm scared and I miss daddy." Said Papyrus tears in his eyes. "I know Paps, I miss him too. Want me to tell you a bedtime story?" "Yes Sans, thank you." Papyrus said with a small smile, Sans let out a heartbroken laugh, "ok baby bro.""Alphys? Alphys where are you?" Called Asgore into the dark lab, every step making him more and more scared, that's when he saw the scrawled note laying on the floor. Asgore picked it up and hastily read, " gone to think in the trash zone." Panic and Terror flashed over the King's face, 'I have to get to Undyne IMMEDIATELY' Asgore thought rushing off to Waterfall silently praying he wasn't to late. Alphys stood at the edge of a large waterfall in the trash zone peering over into the darkness below, she loved it here. 'I remember bringing my old neighbors here to find stuff to sell' Alphys thought chuckling to herself. "I wonder what's down there" Alphys muttered out loud. 'Is it just a place where things that have no use, those broken and failing things go to be forgotten?' Alphys took an uneasy step closer to the edge, tears stinging her eyes. 'Was it my fault dad's dead now?' She wondered 'do my brothers hate me for it?' 'I wonder if anyone would remember me, miss me.'Just as Alphys was about to take one final step forward and fall into nothingness, she felt a strong gentle hand on her shoulder that made her stop and look up. 'Who else ever comes to the trash zone?' There beside Alphys with her hand on her shoulder staring down at her was Undyne, Captain of the Royal Guard. Alphys immediately turned red, what was such a beautiful fish doing in an ugly place like the trash zone? "Hey Alphys, what're you looking at?" Undyne asked curiously. 'How had she never noticed before how beautiful Alphys had become?' She thought to herself. Alphys stared up at Undyne shocked, she never thought she'd remember her. "Oh u..um I was just hypothesizing w...where the trash g..goes down t..there." she said quickly, she could NEVER let anyone know....especially not Undyne...never. Undyne looked very interested. "Look Alphys, I know the truth." Alphys gulped and hung her head, 'oh no' she thought, 'If Undyne knows, she'll never want to hang out with me.' Undyne saw Alphys hang her head and gently cupped her hand under Alphys's chin and lifted her head, wiping her tears with her thumb."Hey Alphys, please don't cry, please. Let's get away from the edge here and we can talk ok?" Alphys nodded and walked with Undyne to a bench underneath a softly flowing waterfall, the cave flowers casting a gentle glow around them. "There we go, isn't that better?" Undyne asked smiling. "Y..yeah thanks for f..finding me Captain." Alphys smiled a little. Undyne laughed, "Please Alphys, calling me Captain is just so formal, we've known each other forever. Call me Undyne." Alphys smiled again, a little wider. "Hey Alphys?" Undyne looked at her kindly, "none of this was your fault ok?" "W..what do you m..mean?" Alphys asked, "Asgore found your note in the lab, he was scared so he came to get me right away. He told me everything." "W..what made y..you come U..Undyne?" Alphys asked quizzically. Undyne smiled, "A couple of things Alphys. You're very important, you're special and kind, you don't need to feel guilty about something that isn't your fault. None of this was your fault, Ivy, Garisha, Gaster, none of it, ok? You're a big help to everyone Alphys and we would all feel the emptiness if anything ever happened to you." "th..that's so n..nice!" Alphys smiled up at Undyne. "Wh..what's t...the other r..reason U..Undyne?" Undyne looked away and Alphys saw her turn a little pink, "It's a selfish reason Alphys, I..." Undyne trailed off until Alphys squeezed her hand. Undyne took a deep breath, " I wanted to be the one to come find you and protect you today because I want to always protect you Alphys, I won't let anyone hurt you, and that includes you. I'll protect you forever and anyone who wants to hurt you will have to get through me first." "I wanted to be the one to come find you because..I wanted to tell you something." Alphys smiled "w..what is it U...Undyne?" Alphys smiled "U..Undyne I n..never realized....." Alphys's words were cut off when Undyne pulled her into her strong arms and kissed her turning both Alphys's yellow cheeks and Undyne's blue cheeks, red. "U..Undyne..I..." Alphys started, "I love you Alphys, I know a lot of other monsters are interested in me but, I don't WANT any other monster Alphys," Undyne pulled Alphys close protectively. "I want you." Undyne whispered "and no, the boys don't hate you, they're worried about you." Alphys smiled wider than she had in years, "I Lo...love you to U...Undyne, a..and I d..don't want any other monster e...either." "I..I'm ready to g..go now." Undyne smiled and picked Alphys up gently, "I've got you, let's get you back safe and sound. " With a swift run, they were off and Alphys was left to silently think of the happiness she felt right now. "Chara Alexander Blackthorn!" Yelled Mayor Blackthorn up the stairwell, 'where IS that ungrateful brat son of mine?' He wondered. "Chara you better not be planning on going to visit those criminals! Get down here, your friend is here to go camping." Chara walked down the stairs covering his ears, "Geez dad I'm here no need to yell." Chara mumbled putting on his coat. "You're lucky I like Adam or I'd forbid you going with that attitude." Said his dad in a huff. "Thank you for letting him come sir," said Adam in a smooth voice. Chara rolled his eyes, 'suck up' he thought. "Ready to go Adam?" He asked standing up. Adam nodded and the boys walked out the door. Queen Toriel hummed to herself as she walked into Hotland and smiled Undyne was here visiting Alphys again, she came to tell Alphys how 7 year old Sans and Asriel as well as almost 5 year old Papyrus was doing, and check up on her. She sighed 'it has been really hard on the boys the last year, poor Sans has had to grow up so fast. He smiles all the time now, I'm worried about him.' Toriel thought to herself. "C...come in" called Alphys brightly, turning to see her friend and Queen walk in. "Queen Toriel!" 16 year old Alphys exclaimed as she ran to hug her friend. "Hahahaha, hi Alphys dear, hi Undyne! It's really good to see you both, how are you?" Undyne stood and smiled at her Queen and saluting said, "I'm doing really great thank you my Queen, my day is always great when I'm with Alphys." Alphys blushed a little, "I...I'm great t..to thank y..you." she said. "Oh Undyne dear, please you don't need to be so formal all the time honey, please call me Toriel." She crossed the room hugging her friend close. I'm glad you both are doing good because, I really wanted to talk to you both, it's about the boys. "What's going on with the boys?" They asked in unison, a little worried. "Oh it's nothing to severe I believe, just, poor Papyrus has been having nightmares lately and Sans has begun to smile all the time and sleep all the time." Alphys stumbled back a little at that and Undyne ran to catch her. 'No not my brothers, please not them, they're so innocent.' Alphys fell into Undynes arms. "Let me make us all some tea and we can talk." Toriel said walking to the kitchen."Here we are" said Adam as he and Chara reached the campsite. "Wait," Chara said "why are we at the foot of the mountain?" Adam chuckled, 'this monster lover really IS an idiot.' He thought to himself, "well, it's a nice cool shady spot and I thought we could go hiking." Chara stammered "u... up there?" Adam chuckled, "Of course up there! Don't tell me you actually believe those stupid rumors?" Chara shook his head. "Good," Adam said "come on, let's go!""Dad wanna go out and play catch at the front of the Ruins?" Asked 7 year old Asriel. "Hahahaha, Of course son!" Laughed Asgore happily looking at a sleeping Sans and a finally sleeping Papyrus, covered them and walked away to play catch. 'I hope we always get to play catch together son,' Asgore thought to himself sadly as Asriel threw the first ball."Whew," gasped an out of breath Chara, Mt. Ebbott was a lot taller than it looked and Adam had climbed fast. "What's the matter Chara?" Adam laughed, "Don't have what it takes to climb the mountain that imprisons your murderous friends?" Chara's eyes flashed in anger, "WHAT did you just call them?" He almost yelled. "Well if it fits...I mean, Ivy Phoenix fell 7 years ago and she was never seen again." Chara's eyes flashed a dangerous red, "Ivy was their FRIEND, she even called King Asgore and Queen Toriel mom and dad!! They would NEVER hurt her!" Without thinking Chara lunged at his friend who fought him off expertly laughing. "So you really like these monsters do you Chara?" Chara huffed breathlessly, "Yes, I do and I'm not afraid to admit I wish they were my family too."Asgore and Asriel had stopped playing catch now and were listening to the voices above them. "Asriel, you stay here in case something happens, I'll run get your mom." Asriel nodded and began to gather some yellow flowers that were growing nearby and make a soft landing if one of the humans did fall."So," sneered Adam "you wish they were your family?" "Yes Adam, I do. Monsters are kind and sweet and loving, they care about each other. I want that." Adam chuckled "I can arrange that," he said, a dark sound to his voice and before Chara could react, had grabbed him, and tossed him into the waiting darkness below. 'Please let there be a soft landing' Chara thought as he continued to fall. "Howdy! You must have fallen down here. Are you alright?" Chara looks up dazed, he had fallen on a bed of golden flowers, the soft petals had broken his fall and covered him in the sweet smell of underground butter cups, he smiled a little bit as his eyes fell on the creature in front of him, a kind child, about his age, with kind green eyes. "Yeah, I think so, thanks." Asriel smiled gently at this human child, he didn't look much older than Asriel, he had sad red brown eyes and brown hair. "Here take my hand, I'll help you up." Asriel said cheerfully. Chara offers his hand gladly, this goat child was very kind. "What's your name?" Asriel asked him. Chara chuckled, "my name's Chara, what's yours?" Asriel smiled as he helped Chara to his feet. "Chara, that's a really nice name. My name's Asriel." Chara smiled as his new friend helped him through the ruins and they stopped to rest at a large black tree, fallen red leaves all around the base. Looking behind the tree Chara smiled at the cute comforting house standing there. Asriel saw where his friend was looking and smiled, "that's where I live with my mom and dad and a couple friends, mom and dad should actually be home now, come on Chara, mom should probably check on you and make sure you're not hurt." Chara nods leaning heavily on Asriel as the two walk into the house. Chara came in the house, the smell of a freshly baked butterscotch cinnamon pie filling his nostrils. Chara sighed happily as Asriel set him in the living room and went to get his parents, "Mom, Dad, are you here?" Asriel called. "In the kitchen my child." Toriel said walking out smiling, her rose colored apron coated in flour. "Mom, a child fell, I brought him. He's in the living room, please check him, I don't want him hurt.." Toriel laughed a bright musical laugh that made Asgore walk out of the kitchen, covered in flour and wrapped his arms around his wife. He loved her laugh so much. "Well then son, let's go check on this human child. "Asriel brought Asgore and Toriel into the living room, "Chara," he said, " these are my parents, Asgore and Toriel." Chara looked up and instantly knew the large monsters standing in front of him and dropped to his knees. "King Asgore, Queen Toriel, your Majesties, it's such a pleasure to meet you. Prince Asriel has been so kind to help me."Asgore laughed and walked to Chara bending next to him. "Howdy Chara, are you hurt child? That was a long fall." Chara shook his head as Asgore helped him to his feet. " I don't think so my King, thank you." Asgore chuckled, "such a polite child, please, let my wife check to make sure you're not hurt." Chara nodded as Toriel walked over to him, a soft green light emanating from her large white hands. "Thank you my Queen" Chara said as the light touched him, it was warm and comforting. Toriel chuckled, her laugh was like music, soft and beautiful, Chara smiled. "How did you fall my child?" She asked, Chara looked at these kind monsters, the King and Queen and sighed, "I was pushed. Me and someone I thought was a friend came here to camp, but no one likes that the mayor's son likes you guys, so he pushed me in." Toriel gasped, "I'm so sorry my child." Toriel finished checking Chara and stood to her feet, "you're fine my child, but you smell like butter cups." Chara chuckled in spite of himself. "Thanks to Asriel I had a soft landing." Chara looked at his new friend. "Well," said Asgore smiling putting a gentle hand on Chara's shoulder and looking kindly at the child. "What will you do now Chara? I could take you to the barrier and you could go home." Chara looked up into the gentle brown eyes of the monster king and smiled, " if it's all the same to you my King, I'd much rather make a life for myself down here, among you, under you and Queen Toriel's kind rule. I don't belong up there where humans think monsters are awful creatures. "Toriel and Asgore looked at each other and then at Asriel smiling, "my child," said Toriel gently, "would you like to stay with us?" Chara looked from Toriel to Asgore stunned, then the seven year old stood to his feet "I'd love to stay with you your Majesties, I'll do whatever I can to serve as a faithful part of the kingdom." Asgore laughed "Chara, Chara sweet child, what we mean is, would you like to stay with us, as our adopted son." Chara looked stunned from face to face, smiling "I....I'd love to. "Chara settled back onto the bed looking around the room he would share with his brother and sighed happily, 'Prince Asriel, my brother' he thought to himself. Chara couldn't remember the last time he'd been so happy, certainly not when he'd been on the surface. "Hey Chara, wanna come play catch with dad and me?" Asriel asked jarring Chara from his thoughts, "sure!" He said happily getting to his feet. "I'm glad you're my brother Asriel," Chara said smiling. "I'm glad you're my brother too Chara." Asriel said putting his arm around his brother. "Hey dad, we're ready to play catch." Asriel and Chara said in unison. Asgore smiled, "ok my sons, let's go have fun." Days turned into weeks and the Dreemurr family enjoyed life with their sons, walking the underground, playing catch, the underground was full of hope once again. Everyone loved young prince Chara, who was the kindest human many of them had ever met, and those few who remembered Princess Ivy were happy to again have a human to rule with them. "Tori, I have a surprise for you my love" Asgore said one day, gathering his wife lovingly in his arms kissing her cheek. "Oh, that's wonderful Gorey dear, because I have a surprise for you too." Toriel smiled at her husband and looked at her sons playing in the garden. "Boys, mom and I are going to the barrier, we'll be right back. Be good ok?" Chara and Asriel nodded at Asgore and waved as they left. "What do you have to show me Gorey?" Toriel asked breathlessly catching up to her husband. "This my love, what do you think?" Toriel gasped, there in front of her was a beautiful long hallway with stained glass windows etched with the delta rune symbol, as Asgore walked beside Toriel he smiled at the shock on his wife's face. "This way darling, there's more." Asgore said walking through the hall. Toriel followed her husband and stared in amazement as she stepped through the archway into a beautiful garden area, buttercups laying everywhere, two thrones sitting in the middle of the garden. "Oh Gorey it's beautiful!" Toriel exclaimed happily. Asgore chuckled, he loved seeing his beloved Tori happy. "I'm glad you like it my love, now, what did you want to tell me? "Well Gorey, it's still very early so, I don't want anyone but you to know, but, I'm pregnant again, just a few weeks." Asgore ran to Toriel and kissed her over and over again, tears of joy running down his soft white cheeks, he couldn't be happier, life was perfect. Asgore sighed happily as he and Toriel walked back home, completely unaware of what the next few days would bring. Over the next few days Asgore started working on the empty room that would become the new babies nursery, it was halfway through renovations one day when, 'it' happened. "Mom Dad come quick please it's Chara!" Screamed a terrified 8 year old Asriel. Asgore and Toriel ran to the garden and saw their sons, Asriel was bending over a still Chara. "Please my child....we want you to wake up." Toriel said tearfully bending over Chara, she couldn't bear to see this happen again. "Chara, you are the future of humans and monsters, please.....you have to stay determined." Asgore whispered to his son trying not to cry, 'no, this can't be happening again' he thought bitterly. "Chara, I...I don't like this plan, Chara I.... no, I said I'd never doubt you, six, we only have to get six, and we'll do it together right?" Asriel whispered. Chara opened his eyes a little and looked at his family, 'we'll free you all, I promise' Chara thought as he said hoarsely "please...I just want to see the flowers from my town, one more time. "Later that night Asriel sat beside Chara's bed, he knew mom and dad were in the living room trying not to cry but he could hear them. "Chara" he whispered but Chara stopped him. "I feel bad Asriel, I don't want to leave mom and dad, you, all my friends......." Chara's voice trailed off as he coughed and fell back against the pillow. "Then don't leave us bro! Just tell mom and dad what happened, let them help, we'll get the souls another way." Chara chuckled weakly and shook his head as Asriel cried, "you always were such a crybaby Asriel, would you mind getting mom and dad, please? "Asriel stood nodding and left. "Mom, Dad, Chara wants to see you." Asgore stood and lifted a crying Toriel and letting her lean on him, walked into the room. "Hi mom, dad," Chara whispers as his parents came close and knelt by his bed. "Howdy son," said Asgore trying to sound cheerful. "How are you feeling my child?" Asked Toriel wiping her eyes. Chara smiled weakly, "I wanted to see you both one last time," Chara coughed, " I love you so much mom, dad, you've treated me like a monster when I had no one, thank you." Toriel wept as Asgore held her "mom, dad, Asriel.....I love you all so much." "We love you too Chara" Asgore said choking back sobs as he, Toriel and Asriel kissed Chara on the forehead. "Asriel.....don't forget" said Chara grabbing his hand. "I promise Chara" Asriel said holding his precious brother's hand one final time as it went limp in his grasp. Completely consumed with grief Asriel absorbed Chara's soul, "I promise Chara you will not have died for nothing" Asriel whispered. As Chara's soul was absorbed Asriel felt a change go through his small body like a shockwave. Black marks appeared on his fur and his eyes flashed black. 'What's happening to me' Asriel thought, when he heard a familiar voice in his mind 'you are now god of Hyper Death Asriel, because you absorbed my soul you've changed into a being of incredible power. Come on, let's pick up my body and go through the barrier, we'll free everyone tonight.' Asriel nodded as he picked up Chara's empty body and quietly snuck out of the house and ran to the barrier. Asriel carried Chara's body into the blinding sun as it rose high in the sky, he'd never seen the surface before, it was beautiful. Asriel tearfully laid Chara's body on a bed of flowers, "here Chara, rest my sweet brother, you may not have gotten to see your town again in life, but you can rest here now." Asriel's tearful words were interrupted by a loud cry behind him "Look!! The monster killed that child!" Without warning Asriel felt the sting of hot lead ripping against his fur. 'Asriel come on, you have the power, wipe them out, take the souls. We'll set everyone free.' Chara's voice echoed in Asriel's mind. 'No Chara, they think I killed you, there's not enough of us, if we set them free now they'd all be killed. We'll go home and wait.' Asriel thought, and picking up Chara's body gently he limped back home. "Asriel!!!" Screamed Toriel running to her son. "Mom, help me take Chara to the garden." Asriel said wincing. "Ok son," "Asgore! Come quickly meet us in the garden." Toriel helped Asriel carry Chara onto a bed of butter cups. Asriel smiled "thanks mom" "howdy dad" Asriel looked at his dad who had walked up beside his mom. "Son...what happened?" Asgore asked. "Chara and I wanted to free everyone, but I failed, I'm so sorry mom, dad...." and with that Asriel's dust spread across the garden and Toriel fell onto the ground in tears, Asgore holding her crying. They had lost two children in one night. The next day came and went in a blur, the entire underground felt the sting of loosing Asriel and Chara. Hopelessness returned to monster kind. Asgore and Toriel tried to move on slowly, working on the nursery together, trying to hold on to hope of the new life coming into the world soon. "Gorey dear, something's wrong!" Gasped Toriel suddenly grabbing her stomach and sliding to the floor. "Tori!" Asgore ran to his wife in horror. "All this sudden sorrow, I think it affected the baby, please....get Alphys.....hurry." Asgore nodded and ran as fast as he could to Hotland where 19 year old Alphys was standing outside her lab."Alphys, please, come quickly! It's Toriel, I'll explain everything on the way." Alphys nodded and ran with Asgore back to the house. She could tell by the look on Asgore's face that something was very wrong. Asgore paced back and forth by the black tree 'these humans...first they took our freedom, then my sons, if they take this baby from us....I swear that I will take the soul of every man, woman or child who falls here, we WILL break the barrier and make them all pay for what they've done. "A....Asgore..." Alphys stammered touching her King's arm jarring him out of his thoughts. "How is she Alphys?" Asgore asked "she'll be o...okay....b...but..." Alphys trailed off, 'how could I tell my friend, I can't hurt him again' Alphys thought sadly. "Alphys," Asgore turned to his friend putting his hand gently on her shoulder, "please tell me my friend." Alphys nodded slowly, "come with me, I should tell you both together." "Tori" Asgore said taking his wife's hand and sitting close to her. "How are you feeling?" Toriel smiled slightly at her husband, "I'm ok Gorey dear, just hurting a little bit." Asgore smiled and kissed Toriel on the forehead and turned to Alphys, "What did you want to tell us." Alphys gulped and stammered out "A...Asgore.....T....Toriel.....the baby is...um....the baby.....I....I'm so sorry......t..the b..baby i..is....g....gone" Asgore saw red, he stopped being aware of what he was doing or exactly where he was going, all he knew was that he'd summoned his trident and walked out, blinded by tears he didn't hear if Alphys or Toriel were calling after him. 'The humans will regret the day they took my children from me.' Asgore paced the throne room over and over muttering to himself sadly periodically staring at the soul containers in the corner of the room, 'Bravery, Justice, Perseverance, Kindness, Patience. Only two left. I never thought I would have to do this.' Asgore sighed heavily. "The humans sealed their fate when they murdered my happiness," he muttered angrily stabbing the ground with his trident and walking over to the souls with tears in his eyes touched the container holding the soul of Bravery. "I'm so sorry Ivy, I never wanted to do this my beautiful daughter." Asgore fell to his knees in front of his daughter's soul tears streaming down his face, everything had fallen apart. 'Humans stole everything from me,' Asgore thought, sobs wracking his large frame. 'Ivy's dead, Chara's dead, Asriel was murdered by the humans and then the sorrow of everything killed my unborn child, and my wife.....my wife...' Asgore stabbed his trident into the ground again sending red sparks everywhere. "Tori my sweet Tori, I'm so sorry, I never wanted to do this....please forgive me.....don't hate me forever." Asgore whispered between sobs, it had been almost 1000 years since the barrier was created, 15 years since the last child came through. Asgore sighed, 20 more years and it would be 1000 years since the barrier imprisoned everyone. 'She promised she'd come' thought 8 year old Alina Grey sadly running off, tears blinding her vision, not caring where she was going. Eventually Alina found herself at the top of Mt. Ebbott and collapsed in tears, sobs shaking her body. 'Ever since daddy died mommy has been to busy for me, she tries but she never even makes it to my ballet.' Alina thought sadly, 'I don't think she would even notice if I disappeared.' Alina spotted a rift in the mountain and jumped in, 'this will teach mommy' She thought 'And maybe I can see daddy again. 'Alina woke up laying on a bunch of butter cups 'these must have broken my fall' she thought, 'well I'd better explore while I'm here' Alina got up and saw a goat looking creature looking at her, Alina didn't stop to give this creature a chance to speak, she took off running as fast as her legs could carry her, through the ruins, through a strange looking house and through a door in the basement, only when she was out with the door firmly shut behind her, did she stop and breathe a sigh of relief until she heard a voice that made her freeze, "Heya human, don't you know how to greet a new pal? Turn around and shake my hand." "What do you mean you don't know where she went??" Yelled an angry woman with a single streak of dark blue in her black hair. "You're her TEACHER!!!" The plump ballet teacher cowered in front of the angry towering figure that was the Anti Monster Department director. "I'm sorry Miss Grey, she was performing just an hour ago." Jessica Grey barely heard her as she took off running frantically searching for her daughter. "Alina! Alina!" She called, fearfully when her eyes fell on a couple of ballets shoe prints in the grass heading up the mountain. Terrified Jessica ran, "my sunshine, where are you?" She called trying to push down the tears in her voice. "My sunshine.....please....." Jessica collapsed at the foot of the mountain sobbing uncontrollably, her sunshine had run away. Alina turned around and half gasped half giggled at the sight of the monster standing in front of her, he was a skeleton so that freaked her out a little but he was short, had a thick blue coat on with fur around the hood and wearing pink slippers and she could just barely see a bottle of ketchup sticking out of the left pocket, the sight made her giggle, 'maybe this monster is ok' she thought taking his hand feeling a little shock jolt. "Hehehe, I know it's 'shocking' to meet me eh kid? Name's Sans, Sans the Skeleton. You're new here huh? Don't worry, my brother is off in Waterfall practicing right now so we can walk and talk, I'll help you out as far as there, then you're on your own." Alina nodded grateful for his help and the two set off. Sans glanced at the human, dark blue hair and eyes, 'oh boy, poor kid' Sans thought sadly as they walked off to what would be the child's death. Sans sat back down at his sentry station outside the end of the ruins with a sad sigh and shivered pulling his coat around him. 'What does this make now, 5, 6 maybe?' He'd lost count by now over the years that human children have fallen down to the underground. Some of them had taken an oddly long time in the ruins, while others had run out immediately as if they'd seen something terrifying. Sans shook his head, 'but that was impossible, no one had lived in the ruins for a very long time, not since the Royal Family.....' Sans thoughts trailed off as he opened another bottle of ketchup and took a drink. 'Ever since that day, the day King Asgore declared war on any human that falls underground and started taking their souls to break the barrier, giving us hope again, Queen Toriel disappeared.' Sans chuckled to himself sadly and walked over to the large purple door to the ruins and touched it. "I barely remember what it's like behind this door" he whispered quietly. "Welp, at least I can practice my knock knock jokes" Sans said happily looking to make sure Papyrus wasn't watching. Sans may be the older brother but Papyrus took this job much more seriously, watching for humans, fighting them, capturing them, Paps may be a very gentle monster but he was a hard worker and made Captain Undyne very proud every time he'd capture a human for her. Sans sighed as he walked to the door again and chuckled 'Undyne calls Paps, pretty freaking tough, if only she knew the half of it.' Sans knocked on the door "knock knock" he said "who's there?" Called a voice from behind the door, surprised to actually hear someone back there Sans continued, "dishes" "dishes who?" the voice asked, "dishes a very bad joke" Sans answered half expecting a groan like he got from Papyrus or a "stop it" or "Sans don't" like he'd get from some of the other residents of Snowdin, which is why he usually told his jokes here alone or in his room or lab out back of the house. Instead though Sans' thoughts were disrupted by genuine laughter. Sans smiled, that laugh was familiar somehow but he couldn't quite remember it. "Please tell me another" the voice asked, Sans smiled and agreed so he told another and another and another, hours had gone by when Sans heard a knock from within the ruins, "knock knock" called the voice, "who's there?" Asked Sans "Old Lady" Sans chuckled "old lady who?" He asked, "Oh I didn't know you could yodel" said the old lady. Sans let out a howl of laughter and stood to his feet, "welp, it was nice trading jokes with you, but I need to get home, it's getting late and my little brother Papyrus gets cranky without his favorite bedtime story." Just as Sans was about to go the voice said "please come again, I had fun today and this old lady can get lonely in here." Sans agreed to come again for more jokes and headed home. Toriel sank down to her knees on the other side of the ruins door as she heard soft feet walk away and let sobs overtake her again, the former Queen had been crying a lot lately there in the ruins, her exiled home, alone, well not QUITE alone, there were a FEW monsters still here, and every now and then Ivy's ghost comes to check on her and they talk. 'It's not that I HAVE to be exiled or anything,' Toriel thought to herself sadly, she chose to lock herself away here. 'Asgore chose his path separate from me when he chose to walk out that door the day we lost our unborn child and in anger and pain declared war on the humans who fell here, all have been children,' Toriel wiped her tears and stood up, she had to keep watch for more children. Alina walked through Waterfall exhausted and sore, 'this was such a bad decision' she thought to herself in a panic, 'I just have to do what Sans said, get to the barrier' Alina sighed and kept walking, the grass felt cool around her feet, and that's when she heard it. "WOOSH" a light blue spear whizzed by her ear followed by a loud aggressive "Ngah!!!!" Behind her, Alina whirled around to see a figure in full black armor with a large spear in hand, "Human, prepare to stand and fight! Enough running away." The figure threw a spear at Alina who caught it surprised. "You won't get past me unless you learn to block my spears." The figure jumps towards a scared 8 year old Alina Grey and attacked. Asgore sighed heavily and got up off his throne and glanced quickly at the corner of the courtyard and wiped a single tear quickly away as his eyes fell on a shape covered by a white sheet. 'That was Tori's throne,' Asgore thought sadly 'and still will be if she ever forgives me.' Asgore's sad thoughts were interrupted by a figure walking towards him. "My King," said the figure in a low voice kneeling before him holding out a dark blue soul. Asgore took the soul carefully and gently placed it with the others. "Please rise Undyne, stand with me." Asgore said kindly raising his Captain to her feet and laying the body of the dead child gently on the flowers, he could barely look at her, she couldn't have been more than 8 years old, a beautiful girl, but now her body was riddled with wounds though he could still see her beautiful hair and eyes, blue. Undyne saw her King, her friend staring at the child and looked at him with tears running down her face. "She wore pink ballet shoes and a pink tutu, I left them there, I thought another child could use them instead of burying her in them." She said, choking back tears. Asgore nodded sadly gathering his friend in his arms as they cried together, no longer King and Captain at the moment, but old friends mourning the deaths of 6 innocent children. Gaster moved swiftly back and forth through the void, watching, waiting, hoping. "How long has it been now?" He asked himself, his voice now ghostly and hollow. Gaster sighed, the effects of the void, slow loss of physicality and form until eventual disappearance. He rubbed his hand over the bracelet Agate had once given him and smiled, he was so happy she had, it had proven to be very important to remind him to stay brave. "Sans! Get UP you lazy bones, don't make me carry you to work AGAIN big brother." Papyrus whined stomping his foot outside his brother's door. "Hold on Paps," Sans called sleepily, "I'm coming." Sans walks out of the bedroom in his pink slippers and thick blue coat smiling sleepily at Papyrus. "How did you sleep bro?" Sans asked, knowing the answer all to well. Papyrus scowled and wiped a tear away, "the nightmares again Sans," he said quietly, completely unaware of a black figure watching the boys from somewhere outside of time and space. "Come on Sans, I'll carry you to your station big brother." Sans smiled sadly as they left. Gaster wiped tears from his eyes as he turned away from the window to the world, "my sons, my sweet precious boys" Gaster cried out in anguish slamming a frustrated hand against the ground tears now falling freely. "I wish things had gone differently Sans, you were made to grow up way to quickly and you my poor sweet Papyrus have had to grow up not even remembering your mother and only remembering my face but nothing about me." Gaster hit the darkness around him angrily. "I'm alone" he muttered summoning a bone and tossing it into nothingness, "abandoned" Gaster summoned magic bullets and tossed them aside watching them explode, "helpless" Gaster fell to the ground and took out the picture he had kept for however long it had been, a picture of his sons, "forgotten" Gaster whispered as sobs began spreading through his body and spilling on his hands and the picture he held. Sans sank to his knees with his back to the large purple door and sighed sadly. "Are you ok my friend?" Asked a voice behind him a little sad. "I'm ok my friend, it's just my brother." Sans sighed. "Talk to me my friend." She said. "Welp, Papyrus and I are two years apart, our dad was the old Royal Scientist Gaster." Toriel gasped a little, now she knew who she had been talking to over the years. "Our mother died when Paps was born so he doesn't remember her at all but, he was 4 when dad fell into the Core." Sans wiped a tear and sniffed. "We were there so he has nightmares sometimes." Toriel stopped him, "dear Sans, I'm so sorry, you and Papyrus have been through so much." Sans glanced up at the door, "Queen Toriel? Is that really you?" Toriel smiled, "hello Sans" he got to his feet in shock, "you've been the one all this time in the ruins, trying to save the humans that fall." "Yes" she said sadly. "Queen Toriel are you alright?" Sans asked kindly turning to face the door. "Yes Sans, please don't worry about this silly old woman. Just promise me something, please." He looked quizzically at the door separating him from his Queen, "I don't normally do promises but, for you, someone who genuinely likes bad jokes? I will. What is it?" Toriel laughed, a laugh she had thought she'd never use again, she hadn't laughed like that in many years. "Thank you Sans" Toriel said, "when the next human comes through here, please protect them, watch them, guide them. Asgore must not be allowed to get their soul, his plan can not succeed." Sans put his hand on the door tears running down his face. "I promise, I will guide them to the barrier safely, you have my word." Toriel smiled to herself, "Gaster and Garisha were right Sans, you are a good monster, and I know you've taught Papyrus the same." Sans stayed with Toriel for a while longer just talking before saying their goodbyes unaware of a dark figure watching from the shadows 'I'm glad you re met the Queen my son' Gaster whispered, a smile ever so slightly on his lips. "Heya Paps" Sans said teleporting behind his brother as he walked back home from his cooking lesson with Captain Undyne in Waterfall. "Nyeh!! Sans stop that!" Papyrus shrieked jumping as Sans startled him. "Heh, sorry bro." Papyrus scowled at his older brother trying to look stern. "WHAT are you doing anyway you lazy bones?" "Welp, I've gotten a skele-TON of work done so I figured I'd take a quick break at Grillby's, do you want anything?" Papyrus stuck his tongue out. "Sans, stop with the puns! And no I don't want anything at Gillbys thank you. I have standards." Sans laughed and waved at his little brother, "ok Paps, I'm gonna take the shortcut." Papyrus shook his head chuckling as Sans teleported away "Nyeh hehehe, I really love my lazy bones of a brother! He's raised me to be a kind monster and very responsible and strong, ever since dad....." Papyrus' words trailed off as he shrugged not feeling tears fall on his shoulder and unable to hear a quiet ghostly voice behind him "I love you too my son." "Frisk sweetheart time to get up! Dad and I need to go." Called a small thin frail looking woman. She shook her head chuckling as a tall dark haired man wrapped his arms around her and kissed his wife. "Frisk up yet honey?" He asked. "Not yet dear but he should be up soon," she said looking up at her husband kissing him. 'Where am I?' Frisk wondered, he knew he was dreaming but, WHAT was he dreaming of? Frisk looked around him at the dark frightening room that seemed to go on forever when he saw a dark figure materialize in front of him. "Hello little human, please don't be afraid, I called you here." Frisk slowly approached this creature, "where is...here?" He asked. Gaster smiled slightly, "This, dear child is called the Void. Many years ago I fell here and have been trapped ever since." Frisk walked closer bending near the creature, he could see even though he barely had a solid form anymore that the creature kneeling in front of him was a skeleton, Frisk saw tears in the hard eyes. "Are you alright sir?" Frisk asked kindly gently touching the boney hand of this sad skeleton. "My name is Gaster" he smiled up at the child's kind face, "I'm Frisk, I'm 10." Frisk answered smiling. "It's nice to meet you kind Frisk, as to your question, let me tell you our tale before you wake up." Frisk nodded sitting next to Gaster, 'this person is really nice, he could be a good friend,' Frisk thought happily as Gaster began his story. Frisk stood to his feet, he had no idea how long it had been but he didn't care, he'd loved spending time with his new friend. "Well I'd better wake up now Gaster, it's going to be a good day today. I'm really glad I met you my friend." Gaster gave a genuine smile like he hadn't in years, "it was good to meet you Frisk, thank you for being willing to help my people, goodbye for now my new friend." Frisk woke with a yawn and after putting on his sneakers, brown pants and a blue and red striped shirt, he combed his hair and went down stairs. "Frisk there you are! Your mother and I were just about to leave." Frisk nodded sleepily, " I know dad, you gotta get to work at the AMD and mom has to get to Chemo," he said kissing his parents as they headed out. "I know miss Grey wouldn't be happy if you were late." Frisk shook his head, 'poor woman' he thought, first her husband died in a car accident and then 20 years ago her daughter disappeared. "What do you plan on doing today honey?" Asked his parents, Frisk smiled, "I thought I'd hike the mountain again today." Frisk chuckled at his parents looks, "mom, dad, you know I don't believe those stories." They sighed, "very well son, just be careful." The three kissed each other and parted ways.*huff* *puff* Frisk, breathless reached the top of Mt. Ebbott. 'Gaster said that the monsters were down there' he thought shaking his head. "A thousand years, how horrible for an entire race to be forced underground for almost a thousand years." He said aloud to himself sadly as he began to climb into the hole, he had to see for himself. Frisk grabbed a root on his way down but it was weak and snapped under his weight and he fell into the darkness. 'Ooof' Frisk gasped out as he hit a soft patch of butter cups far below him. 'Glad these were here' he thought getting up and wiping himself off looking around. 'Time to look around' he thought. "Howdy!" Frisk jumped a little bit at the sound and looking around saw a butter cup staring up at him. "Golly I'm sorry," said the flower. "I didn't mean to scare you, I'm Flowey, Flowey the flower. You must be new here, don't worry, I'll teach you how things work here." Frisk cautiously approached. "Here, the underground works on LOVE, and that is given through friendliness pellets. I'll share some with you ok?" Frisk barely nodded when four pellets whizzed past him cutting his ear. "You're an IDIOT, here it's kill or be killed!" Flowey cried as a bunch of pellets appeared and started to rush towards the child. 'I just got here and I'm going to die.' Frisk thought sadly. "Ahhh" cried Flowey as a flame hit him stunning him and causing him to drop his pellets. "My child you're hurt!" Exclaimed a beautiful old goat monster rushing over to Frisk. "Such a wretched creature torturing such a poor innocent youth." She said cooley glaring at Flowey. "I am Toriel, the caretaker of the ruins. I come here every day to see if someone has fallen down." Toriel gently reached out to Frisk and he felt a gentle warmth as a soft green light glowed from her paws. "Can you stand my child?" Toriel asked as she finished healing. "Yes Toriel, thank you, you are very kind. My name is Frisk." Toriel smiled, "welcome to the underground Frisk. If you would like I'll show you around as far as the exist to the rest of the underground?" Frisk nodded smiling up at the kind woman, he reminded her of his mom before the cancer. Frisk took Toriel's hand tightly and walked with her to the ruins catching sight of a dummy in the corner. "That's no ordinary dummy" Toriel chuckled at Frisk. "A ghost lives inside there trying to fuse with the body, but, nothing has worked yet." Toriel said sadly. "Let me try" Frisk said walking over to the Dummy. "Hello Mr. ghost, I heard that you want to fuse with your body, maybe if you get really happy or really mad you can fuse because of the emotions?" The dummy/ghost blinked, "you think so?" He asked. Frisk nodded and hugged the dummy and kissed its cheek. Suddenly there was a 'pop' and the dummy beamed, "human thank you! You figured out what would help me fuse with my body. Thank you thank you!!" Frisk smiled and nodded, "you're very welcome." He said as he walked into the ruins after a smiling Toriel. "I'm very proud of you my child!" She said happily. Frisk followed Toriel into the dark ruins and looked around, it was peaceful here, he could think. Suddenly a frog creature jumped in Frisks path making him jump backwards "aah! Oh hello there." Frisk said gently "ribbit, human, are you here in peace or to fight? Ribbit" Frisk chuckles "in peace handsome, I don't want to hurt anyone." The frog hops in glee accidentally falling into a hole. "Here let me help you, jump and I'll catch you." Frog nods and jumps letting Frisk catch him. "Ribbit, thank you human, I'm Froggit. Nice to meet you, Ribbit." Frisk smiled at the large frog as she set him down. "Nice to meet you too Froggit, I'm Frisk." Froggit nods his head "be careful out there Frisk, bye!" Foggit hops away happily. Frisk continued to follow Toriel through the ruins, she left briefly to do something so she gave him a phone just so he could keep in touch if he got into any trouble. While Toriel was gone Frisk explored a little bit and met some more people, shy whimsum who he happily was able to encourage, a carrot creature who offered him a meal that actually healed his bruises and a very shy ghost who it seemed was a little depressed named Napstablook who Frisk was able to encourage and coax him into a smile and a laugh. "Please, call me Blooky, all my friends do." He said before he disappeared. Soon Frisk reached a large black tree with red leaves all around it and a cute house behind it. "Welcome my child! I have a surprise for you." Said Toriel taking his hand and walking inside with him. Stepping inside the cute house Frisk was met by the warmth of the fireplace 'Toriel probably lit it with her fire magic' Frisk thought with a smile. Walking further inside he was met by a smell he recognized. "Mmmmm is that Butterscotch Cinnamon Pie?" He asked, "yes it is my child." Toriel smiled as he wrapped his small arms around her. "Thank you so much!" Toriel chuckled, "you're welcome." Frisk looked up at Toriel and said, "I actually had a dream before I came here, so I know I'll need to keep going to get my mission done but, while I am here may I rest, and um....call you mom?" Toriel looked at Frisk lovingly and smiled, tears in her eyes. Of course my child! Come with me to your room. "Toriel sank into her chair as she grabbed a book to hide her tears, 'I saw his soul as I hugged him before bed, why can't I save even one child?' Toriel stuck her nose in her book as she cried barely paying attention to the snail facts. Toriel stood after a few minutes and, taking a piece of the now cooled pie and silently walked into Frisks room and quietly left the pie on the floor for him and returned to her book. Frisk stirred and woke up in the comfortable twin bed glancing around the room, a dusty empty picture frame, a drawing of a flower, some toys, shoes and shirts. Frisk's eyes fell on his pie on the floor and he smiled as he ate it, it was really good. Finishing the pie he took the plate and fork to the kitchen and dropped it off and went into the living room to chat with mom. Days passed and Frisk and Toriel grew closer and closer, more like mother and son than just monster and human. Toriel told Frisk all about the early years, what caused their exile from the surface and all the heartbreaking moments that happened since. Frisk was there to comfort Toriel through it all. "It's ok mom, I promise, I'll help free everyone." Toriel smiled, "you sound like my first human son, Chara." Frisk couldn't help but grin up at his beautiful mother, 'if only mom knew huh Frisk?' Frisk nodded silently at the voice in his head. "Hey mom?" Toriel looked at her son lovingly, "yes my child?" Frisk took a deep breath, he really didn't want to hurt mom, but he knew he had a mission. "It's time I got moving so I can break the barrier, ok mom? But once it's broken I'll come back to get you." Toriel smiled despite her tears running down her soft white fur, "I know my son, come on, I'll take you to the exit to the ruins. "Frisk hugged Toriel at the exit, both crying. "Goodbye for now mom." Toriel kissed her son lovingly, "goodbye for now my son." She said standing to her feet as Frisk walked out the door. Frisk heard the door shut behind him as he stepped out into the cold fresh air of the open cave. "Well, now our journey really begins." Frisk mumbled to himself as he walked toward a poorly constructed gate. Frisk looked around at the beautiful scenery around him, snow from the rift above had blanketed everything and because of the dark cold cave, the snow hadn't melted. Frisk smiled at the trees around him. "This is so beautiful!" He said to himself, his voice echoing off the snow covered trees, hitting the rocks around him and bouncing into the distance. Suddenly Frisk herd heard something walk up behind him and he froze just steps from the gate. "Heh, it really is beautiful eh kid? Hey, don't be afraid, don't you know how to greet a new pal, kid? Turn around and shake my hand. Frisk turned around and almost burst into laughter at who he saw, he recognized him immediately from what Gaster had told him. Here stood a short skeleton wearing pink slippers and a thick blue coat with a ketchup bottle sticking out of the left pocket. Frisk took the extended hand and let out a laugh at the noise, the skeleton laughed too, "hehehehe, the old whoopee cushion in the hand trick, it's always funny." Frisk smiled, "yeah it sure is! My name's Frisk, you're Sans right? "Sans looked at this human child in surprise, "Heh, yeah, how did ya know kid?" Frisk smiled, he could tell he was really going to like Sans. "Care to walk with me Sans? I'll tell you everything ok?" Sans glanced up ahead, "uh kid, my brother Papyrus is up there, he's a little....enthusiastic about capturing humans... he's not dangerous, even though he tries to be but.... it might be best for now if he doesn't see you." Frisk clapped his hands, "this is perfect Sans! I actually wanted to talk to Papyrus too. "Sans shrugged, his coat moving slightly. "Alright, if ya say so kid, let's go. My bro made the bars of this gate to wide to stop anybody, we can go right through." Frisk nodded and he and Sans walked through the gate. Moments later a tall skeleton came in to view, 'he and Sans look so much like Gaster, I wonder how they'll take my mission?' Frisk thought to himself. " 'sup bro?" Sans asked. "You know perfectly well what's up brother." Papyrus fumed. Sans chuckled, "you've been neglecting your puzzles, sleeping at your station, Sans you're such a lazy bones!" Sans put his hands up, "hey bro, I've gotten a ton of work done today, a skele-TON." Frisk let out a howl of laughter as Papyrus groaned. "Sans whose that?" Papyrus asked. Frisk smiled and walked forward. "Hello Great Papyrus! I'm Frisk, it's nice to meet you. "Sans and Papyrus looked at Frisk tears in their eyes, "where...." "....did you hear that name..." Sans and Papyrus asked together. Frisk smiled, tears in his eyes, "From your father." The skeleton brothers, broken boys once again fell to their knees as Frisk held them. "He's, ALIVE?" Sans asked choking back a sob, hardly daring to hope. "Yes....he asked me to come here....find his sons, work alongside you and the rest of monster kind, bring him back, and free you all." Frisk said quietly, holding a sobbing Papyrus, rocking him, this young strong powerful skeleton, now for a moment a mere child just crying, missing his daddy. After hours of just sitting there, talking through tears, Frisk told Sans and Papyrus all about his dream, their Father's wish, how he felt alone and forgotten. "Dad, I'm so sorry you ever felt like we forgot you were still out there." Sans whispered, tears dripping onto the ground around him. Suddenly Papyrus gasped and touched his left shoulder lightly and smiled getting to his feet. "I actually felt him! Dad touched my shoulder. Sans we have to do something!" Sans nodded, "we will bro. We need to talk about all this, let's all go to Grillby's, come on, I know a shortcut. "In a flash the three stood in the dark grease covered burger joint, a pleasant smell hit Frisk as he inhaled and turned to Sans and Papyrus in surprise. "How did you do that?" Papyrus shrugged, "he's always been able to. Something he got from dad, though we both got dad's Gaster Blasters," Papyrus smiled. "I'll tell you all about it sometime," Sans said "my powers, everything, Paps too. We'll have plenty of time if we all get to the surface. "Suddenly Frisk, Papyrus and Sans found themselves standing outside Undyne's house in Waterfall. "Huh? How did we get here?" Sans asked in confusion. "Ummmmm.....well...." Papyrus said quietly shuffling his red boots in the grass. Sans ran to his baby brother, a wide grin spread across his face as he hugged him "that's amazing Paps, your first teleport! I'm so proud of you." Frisk beamed proud of his new friend, he could feel Chara within him too, smiling widely. "And I know Gaster is watching us, and he's proud too Paps." Frisk said happily. Suddenly a quiet ghostly voice could be heard on the wind, coming from nowhere and surrounding them on every side, filling the trio with happiness and more determination than ever before, "I'm very proud of you Great Papyrus, always my son.""I want you to meet someone really special Frisk" Papyrus said walking to an unusual fish shaped home, 'captain Undyne' thought Frisk, he'd heard stories about her from mom. "Heya kid, while Paps is getting the door care to chat a bit?" Frisk nodded walking over to Sans and sitting next to him. "You know everything about us, the King's order." Frisk nodded. "Paps and I....." Sans hung his head and I tear fell from an eye socket that flashed blue for a second. Frisk touched his friends hand gently and wiped away his tear. "Sans, it's ok, you were following orders in a tough situation." Sans patted Frisks hand. "I don't normally like making promises,
YOU ARE READING
Story of Monsters
Fanfictionover the course of a thousand years friendships have been won and lost, families gathered and scattered, a new danger at every turn, will any survive?
