Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Frisk

Like hitting the ground after a long fall, Frisk's arrival to the Underground had been swift and sudden.

One moment they were exploring the Mountain and the next they were falling down a hole. The change from the summer's hot sticky air, to this cool dark place, was a bit of a shock. Frisk could see their sweater high above, snagged on some high tree root. This left them feeling a little exposed in just a plain white under-tank.

For sure seeing a flower talk and a goat wearing a dress was strange but, what surprised Frisk was the Voice. It gently and matter-of-factly explained everything to them. From the moment Frisk opened their eyes to see the hole they'd fallen through, the voice sounded bored, maybe a little tired but not mean.

‘That's a Frogitt, they said hi.'

‘Heals 10 HoPe, tastes like- not licorice.'

The tips and tricks were not only helpful, but comforting. The Voice's attitude helped Frisk feel safe, nothing seemed alarming or scary with the dry blasé voice chiming in, providing details about everything, not giving Frisk a chance to get scared.

There were new stats Frisk hadn't heard of before. Sure, they knew SP-SleeP and HG- HunGer but what did ATK and DEF mean?

Toriel, the large kindly Goat, led Frisk through ‘the Ruins' quite some ways, but she Friskin a hurry to do something. They had fun with the puzzles on their own a bit, but soon Frisk was stuck. After falling through the floor a few times, they landed in front of a sign, Frisk was about to ignore it like the others and try again, when the Voice spoke up.

‘The sign reads- Please don't step on the leaves.'

There was more emotion this time, Frisk was sure the Voice's …..um… voice sounded patient with a hint of pity, possibly surprise? Did the voice only now realize Frisk couldn't read? The idea that the Voice didn't know everything struck Frisk suddenly. Whoever they were, the Voice only knew stuff about this place, they didn't know everything! That made the voice more human and relatable to Frisk. They immediately wanted to be friends with whatever the Voice was. They did sound kinda down? Could they be lonely, only being a Voice?

The still unidentified Voice helped Frisk find their way around. Getting puzzle clues, and helping them through the strange encounters Frisk kept having with ‘monsters'. Also reading anything Frisk approached. It wasn't until Frisk was carefully ensconced in a bed at Toriel's house, full of pie and contentment, that the Voice addressed Frisk directly.

‘Your parents don't care enough to buy you Seals to cover your SCREENS? Or did they come off before you fell down?'

Frisk startled, not knowing the Voice could do that. But they tried to reply, they just weren't sure how. The Voice must know they couldn't speak by now. Frisk assumed that would have been obvious when they called Toriel but didn't say anything. Toriel still responded she seemed to know what Frisk wanted to express. Frisk was unsure how to answer their new friend. They didn't want to not reply and offend the Voice so-

‘It's fine, you can think in your head. They still call them that right? Status of the Current Range of Entities Evaluated Numerical Stats?'

Frisk tried to think of an affirmative answer, about their parents, how for the most part they were on their own. Holding out both wrists briefly, one Stat read out on each, although having their SCREENS on display drew eyes, Frisk didn't mind. They couldn't read it, and that was fine for now, they didn't care much for soulmate stuff.

‘No school for you either huh? Your parents can't be religious if they let you run around with no Seals to cover your SCREENS, so what- they poor? Or just neglectful?'

There was no good response to that. Frisk knew they should be going to school but Ebott was a Big kind of small town, and plenty of things more important than Frisk went unnoticed. Frisk had learned most everything on their own. They had no idea if their family was poor or not, just that they were one their own now. Frisk did know they had more freedom than other kids, but that didn't mean a lot to Frisk. As long as Frisk dressed ok, and looked like they belonged somewhere no one really bothered them.

‘From Ebott? Me too. Don't worry monsters aren't so prude, SoulMates work different for them.'

With that revelation, Frisk really wanted to ask more, but sleep overrode those thoughts. The dark crept in at the edges, and their eyelids could not stay open anymore.

--

Toriel woke Frisk, with a voice as soft as her smile.

“I hope you slept well, child. I have some questions if you don't mind before we eat. When we are done we can go collect snails. How's that sound?” A lovelier day had never been proposed, and Frisk nodded quickly, a smile splitting their face. Spending time with an adult that would play with them and could understand them was something new to Frisk. Having the large goat ‘monster’ direct so much care and time towards them was almost overwhelming.

“Now child, I know you don't speak out loud, but I'm sure you've noticed I can guess what you mean to say.” Toriel was keeping her tone soft and even, not uncaring, but persistent. Frisk knew from experience that adults talked like that sometimes.

When they said things they thought kids didn't want to hear.

“Monsters are much more connected to souls, and intentions. Child, your soul is very loud.” She said with a chuckle, placing a huge furry paw on top of Frisk's head with a heavy but warm pat.

“I mostly wanted to ease any fears you had about not being understood down here, but also I would like to see your name.” She gestured to Frisk's SCREEN.

At first, Frisk placed their left hand over their right wrist, a protective and practiced movement. But after flicking their eyes up to Toriel's and seeing only understanding, they relented.

NAME: Frisk

ACT: Anxious

EXP: 0

HP: 10/10

SP: 10/10

HG: 2/10

“Frisk is a lovely name,” Toriel said with a smile that showed her fangs a bit. “There is nothing to be worried about, many other human children have fallen down here. I'm familiar with how humans find SoulMates. If having your SCREENS exposed is distressing, I know I have a long sleeve shirt in here somewhere-” She got up, feeling Frisk's affirmative answer without needing to see their head nodding.

She pulled a light long sleeve shirt out of the free-standing closet. It was almost the same color, maybe a bit lighter than Frisk's sweater had been. It had wear and tear from someone using it, it only had one big stripe in the middle, but Frisk was no stranger to hand me downs much worse than this. “It might be a bit big, but I'm sure it will fit.” She motioned for Frisk to raise their arms.

Wearing it felt like a hug. Frisk couldn't be happier and gave Toriel a big grin as thanks. “I'm glad you like it, child. I saw how hungry you were, let's go eat first then catch those snails!”

--

Frisk returned to the house in high spirits, dirty with a bucket full of snails in one hand, and Toriel's warm paw in the other. Once in the door, Toriel turned to Frisk, “Come and wash up Child, and I'll take care of these.” She said as she took the bucket from Frisk and led the way to the kitchen sink.

Frisk didn't hesitate to push up their sleeves and turn the faucet until Toriel hummed contemplatively. Turning to look at Toriel, Frisk saw her eyes rested on their left wrist- “Child, may I-?” Frisk didn't even notice how panicked they were until Toriel placed one arm on their shoulders, and the other cupped the wrist with the SCREEN for their soulmate gently. “I think the name is in a monster language, may I take a look?”

Frisk perked up fast, and Toriel gave them an understanding smile. So far Frisk had not met a single monster they didn't like. Their soulmate being a monster would explain a lot of things for Frisk. Turning to face Toriel fully they held their left wrist out for her to get a proper look.

NAME: 🏱✌🏱✡☼🕆💧

ACT: Patrolling

EXP: 0

HP: 680/680

SP: 70/70

HG: 45/50

“Ah, I'm sorry child. While the letters look familiar, I can't read them. They are definitely some kind of Monster language, though. We do have quite a lot.” She laughed to herself “I once taught myself snail.” She pushed Frisk hand back down. “It does say Patrolling for current action-“ Her face was upset for just a moment before brightening.

“I've got to check on something for a moment my child, while I'm gone think of what you want to do with these snails.” She gracefully left in the room and left Frisk to their thoughts.

--

In the quiet of the small bedroom again, Frisk snuggled deeper into the blankets carefully tucked around them. They tried to think at the Voice, who had been much quieter today.

‘Still here. Did you need something?'

Frisk tried to think of one question but they all got jumbled together. Why was Toriel sad when they said Patrolling? Could they really have a monster soulmate? Could the Voice read the name? What language was it? Had any of the kids that fell down here had a monster soulmate?

‘Hold on. Geeze, no I can't read it, don't know what language it is. Yes, Humans can be SoulMates with monsters- and she is probably worried, there is a lot you don't know about the Underground. It used to be different, but it’s changed. She isn’t wrong to be worried for you.' The Voice sounded almost angry and Frisk tried to communicate an apology for bringing up the topic.

‘No, you really should know. The kids that fell before you- Look, you are a tough kid, the reality is monsters are trapped down here. The only way out is human souls, that thing you fight with? It wasn't always this way like I said. It was happy, hopeful? I can tell you two things. One, monsters really want to get out of here, they are always on the lookout for the next human. Two, monsters take SoulMates very seriously. Monsters live a long time- and with them being stuck down here, at this point they have to either wait for a new monster to be born to find their SoulMate- or I guess wait for a human to fall.' The voice was suddenly sad, ‘but that has only happened once before.'

Frisk did their best to comfort the Voice, but after a moment they came back stronger, sounding sure and determined. ‘You have to find them. You need to leave the ruins- it's the only way. M-She won't like you leaving. It is dangerous out there so you need a plan.'

So, the two plotted in the dim light of the bedroom. About how to find Frisk’s soulmate.

--

Once again Toriel woke Frisk, but as soon as Frisk saw her face they thought about leaving as hard as they could. Toriel jumped up “My child, you have no reason to leave! We can stay here together, and who knows maybe another human will fall and you can play and grow up together-“. Frisk swung their legs out of bed and gestured to their wrist. “No, my child, I know humans do not usually try to meet their SoulMates until they are older, you can wait- stay here, you'll be safe. Maybe I'll help you find them once you grow up.”

Frisk stood up and tried to get across their hopes that finding their monster SoulMate could somehow help free monsters. That they wanted to try, that no matter what they had to meet whoever they were. It looked like Toriel was considering Frisk's concerns.

Then Toriel fled the room, and the Voice prompted Frisk to follow, all the way to the basement.

“You'll get hurt!” Toriel turned wildly around at the sound of Frisk's feet fast approaching the huge stone door she stood in front of. Frisk skidded to a stop, hands clenching the front of the borrowed shirt. Eyes squinted shut with effort. Practically shouting in their head how even though they loved Toriel, they wanted to meet their soulmate.

Toriel paused for a moment, composed face now with empty eyes, as fire manifested in orbs all around, “Prove to me you are strong enough to survive.” The battle had started.

--

Frisk burst from the door leading out of the Ruins, panting and emotionally exhausted. Toriel's goodbye and Flowey's parting words still roll around in their head like a physical thing. Banging into Frisk's resolve and beating it down.

As the doors closed, Frisk took a moment to center themselves, to soak the quiet around them in. This new place felt silent and too big, like a church empty of people. They wished for their old sweater as they made their way through a suddenly snowing world. The trees, while peaceful, were also big and kind of ominous. Frisk wasn't sure how to feel, but at that moment a twig behind them snapped making the decision for them- fear was how they felt.

They ran until they saw a bridge, and a creeping dread told them to stop.

“h u m a n, is that a new shirt?” This new voice sounded sinister in its quiet barely audible tones. The Voice in Frisk's head urged them to turn around.

Chapter Text

Sans

The world was silent, still, and tense as Sans waited for Frisk to turn and face him. Some part of them remembering what came next.

He stuck his left hand out for their customary handshake, eager to get back on script after the sudden change of clothes. He was almost sure Frisk hadn't dusted anyone, but maybe the new outfit was to hide the dust?

A quick CHECK showed that no, Frisk had no EXP or LV. Sans let himself sigh silently in relief. Things could still go wrong, but not as wrong as they went when the kid emerged from the Ruins hopped up on LV and looking for a fight.

Sans had been on edge, his Knock-Knock buddy had sounded so worried and desperate this time. It took his usual promise and a handful of his best material to calm her down.

But looking at the kid now- they looked ok, maybe a bit scared? The whoopee cushion seemed to soothe some of their nerves, but it wasn't until he introduced himself that they relaxed the rest of the way.

He directed Frisk through the usual song and dance, more and more sure his brother was safe. As usual Frisk was breezing right through the puzzles, Sans watched on as his bro had the time of his life.

Frisk kept up their dustless Encounters and seemed to be having a good time as well. Of course, Sans was waiting for the other shoe to drop- They either die or make it out and reset, then he'd have the ‘fun' of doing this again.

It wasn't until the ‘random' tiles puzzle that another change happened. His bro spun off as usual, dramatic and cool as hell.

But as Sans talks about his bro's spaghetti, Frisk uses some hand gestures to try and ask if Sans has tried the spaghetti himself, small changes like this were nothing to worry about, as long as the script at large stayed the same. Guess the kid didn’t know their soul practically screams all their intentions and feelings- that no hints are needed.

Small changes, make big changes, and the more that is different the less Sans knew what to expect. The big loose sleeves of the light shirt do something the tighter fitting sweater never did.

Sans saw a flash of Frisk's wrist.

His eye lights disappeared, he knew WingDings on sight but seeing them was still such a shock to his system. He hadn't even registered what they said, but when he came back to himself he saw Frisk slouched in a pose he was familiar with from moments of self-doubt in previous runs.

One hand holding their opposite wrist tightly, eyes downcast, and very tense. He had only seen them do this a handful of times, but it didn't make this time any less pitiful looking. On the usually very determined kid, it really stuck out.

“kid, what's that on your wrist.” He gestured gently and kept his voice calm and reassuring. Sans wanted to see it again, to read it. He needed to know what the hell WingDings was doing on their skin, but something told him that Frisk wouldn't really want to, they might have been hiding it purposefully before. He tried a joke to lighten the mood.

“hey, hey, it is no body’s business, just looks familiar-“ With that Frisk face snapped up, and with growing hope pushed the sleeve up and practically shoved it at Sans.

There, in what looks like black ink, was Pap's name, in WingDings- with other stats.

NAME: 🏱✌🏱✡☼🕆💧

ACT: Adjusting the Gauntlet of Deadly Terror

EXP: 0

HP: 680/680

SP: 70/70

HG: 30/50

Sans was familiar enough with his bro's HP to know this was a match. Sans wasn't sure what SP or HG was, but he was gonna' find out!

“hey kid, ah, whys my bros name here?” he asked, still holding the wrist and turning it this way and that- examining it closely.

He was immersed in studying the mark until he felt the absolute wall of joy hit him. Frisk's face had the biggest smile he'd ever seen, and a light line of tears streaked one cheek while the other eye was threatening to spill over.

They seemed to be too overcome to explain, so Sans walked with them a bit while they calmed themselves. He let them do the last ice puzzle and walked with them watching on as they Encountered Gyftrot and Greater Dog. Their thoughts seemed a bit muddled but definitely happy, and the kid really puts an extra pep in their step as they skipped along.

Sans got a few flashes of things, all positive, but there was no direction, no message behind them.

Sans stopped them before they moved on to the last bridge to Snowdin, “now kid, i get that whatever is going on is hard for you to talk about, but that's my bro's name on you. i gotta know, you understand.”

His voice was hard, leaving no room for arguing. Frisk seemed to ponder for a moment and tried to gesture and explain, but whatever this was- it was too complex to communicate their normal way.

Getting frustrated, Frisk took their stick and drew a soul in the snow. Sans caught on, “okay. soul. what about a soul? your soul or my bro's soul kiddo?” He did his best to keep the building worry out of his voice, he really didn't want Paps involved with soul stuff, especially in connection to the kid.

Frisk drew a crude picture of themselves. Then drew another soul, a monster soul and a picture of Papyrus near it. “keep going kid, it’ll drawn on me.”

Sans continued to ‘draw’ a blank- until Frisk put a little plus sign between the two…. And then a bigger human soul around both of them, frustrated with his lack of understanding.

“is this a human thing? cause-“ and then he got it “kid, can humans have SoulMates?” Frisk finally gave a happy affirmative, then pointed to the image of Papyrus with their left hand, while gesturing to their face with the right.

This wasn't possible, right? Sans knew that a large portion of the monster population that was in the Underground hadn't found their SoulMate yet. But he assumed low birthrates, and long lives were the cause. That and all the Monster who lost their Bonded in the war with the humans, and were sealed down here to grieve, they really didn’t stand a chance. Those were still probably a big part of the issue, but he had never considered that the huge human population on the Surface that was also an untapped source of potential matches.

Kids were rare, no one really had the HP to spare. Sans shuttered to think about what he would do- half of each parent’s HP? He could never see himself doing that on purpose, although accidents for monsters weren’t a thing, or at least they were always happy ones. He was basically banking on his bro to make him an Uncle, or just never deal with kids again. But all the celebration that came with a kid was something most monsters wanted. Needed?

Heck, when Monster Kid was born- within the year almost all the underground had made the trek to visit him. So far no one had come back, feeling that inexplicable pull of a SoulMate found. But there were some monsters who were too close to losing HoPe on that front, so they just didn't bother. Sans now knew it was 100% possible Monster Kid's SoulMate was human, and he and many others might never meet their human mates, all thanks to that barrier.

With a growing horror Sans got to the real problem this presented. Monsters only needed one more soul to break the barrier, and the kid should be the last. What stood between himself and the rest of the underground having a chance at finding their SoulMates… was his own brother's SoulMate.

How could he make that choice? Was that why Frisk was different? Why they came back after dying?

Then a thought hit Sans like a bolt of lightning.

Whenever Frisk went on a rampage, dusting everything in the Ruins on sight- OR when they ‘accidentally’ killed Papyrus, there was a reset. Was this why? Sans had always assumed Frisk went psycho and reset there, that seeing HIS reaction to Pap's death was the goal. But maybe Frisk's soul couldn't handle their SoulMate's death, even so soon after meeting?

He knew what that did to monsters. Grillby had been hanging on since the beginning, when monsters were sealed. Fire Elementals were known to have exceptionally long lives, at least according to Grillby. Many monster's original cultures were lost, new things were made up all the time to fill the gaps. Grillby however still had a first hand account of what it was like before the war.

Grillby worked every day to pass the time until his SoulMate could be reborn. He almost never spoke, Sans now knew he just didn’t have the will. That RedBird was very close to Grillby and could feel better than most what he wanted to say, his soul spoke so quietly sometimes even RedBird couldn’t help. When Sans first started going to the bar, he joked about not knowing why Grillby seemed more depressed then he was sometimes, in response he was told the basics.

Sans could see that look in Grillby's eyes, the one that said an infinite number of days the same as this one lay ahead, and the chances of them being happy days were zero.

That didn't help Sans here and now. Never had he been privy to this knowledge before, at least that he could remember. This set of circumstances happened, and now he knew this huge revelation. He wasn't sure if he could handle remembering this next time when the kid killed his bro again.

So many little things fell into place though, their clear affection for each other, the little date they go on. Papyrus calling them all the time, and the kid calling back. His bro wanted to go weird places sometimes- Undyne's house, the dump, Hotlands, asking Sans if they should visit the Capital again soon- when the kid got close to the ‘end'. It had to be the pull that Pap was feeling.

He was never around Paps when Frisk died, sure if his bro went first and Frisk reset. He had never seen how Paps might react to the kid’s death in the moments before they reset.

Was his bro in pain? Could he feel the kid die? Everytime? Sans had to remind himself to calm down, this was all theory. It may all fit, but that didn’t make it true.

As Sans recovered from his inner mental freak out. He saw that Frisk had gone ahead without him. Little footprints in the snow told him they skipped off.

He jumped ahead to his usual spot for the kid and his bro's last puzzle, armed with a new perspective and, maybe, just a little more hope.

Chapter Text

Papyrus

The tiny human stood resolute, grinning at him on the bridge. Papyrus had been setting up this puzzle for a while, it was the latest addition and his new favorite. He excitedly explained the trap, but as he saw the tiny human through all his great obstacles, a seed of apprehension grew.

What if the human was burned, or sliced, or annoyed? He knew the point was to catch them, but surely someone as great as himself could do so with no injuries. The human vibrated in excitement, clearly beside themselves about trying his last puzzle.

Normally Papyrus was all for traps and spikes and the cool part of puzzles but-

Looking at their tiny visage, Papyrus couldn't bare the thought of not doing more puzzles with them in the future. What if he messed up? And they were hurt too badly to fix? Humans seemed so soft and vulnerable, not at all like he imagined.

No, he declared the Puzzle to be Unfair, and so as not to seem anything less than Great in front of the tiny human he quickly left for a spot he knew they'd have to go past. He glanced over his shoulder just once as he left. The tiny human was still standing there, waiting patiently for his grand exit to be over. Such a considerate human.

Were all humans this great? Almost as Great as him? Not for the first time he wondered why humans had to be captured. Was it because they were so good at puzzles? Was the barrier a puzzle? He should ask Undyne.

He could do this, capture them without injury and tell Undyne so he could join the Royal Guard. Papyrus knew that Sans wouldn’t mind him taking the credit, he did do most of the work.

They would need to go through town, past his house, to get to Waterfall. He could just wait there, it was misty, it would be dramatic! Just the thing an Encounter needed. He had to think a bit, come up with some good lines- maybe a jape?

Papyrus briefly entertained the idea of making spaghetti, the human did seem to like it. But they might be full from the last plate he left for them. He could finally try it for himself, he was a bit peckish. Spaghetti before a battle sounded like a wonderful tradition to start right now. Skeletons did need more of those.

Sans told him that skeleton monsters had many traditions. Font names, titles, sharing bedtime stories. Sans insisted other monsters picked that up from skeletons. Some of these ‘traditions’ Papyrus knew were Sans trying to get him to do things, pranking him. Like that older brothers never do laundry. He was sure that one Sans made up. Maybe.

Trying to find a place to stand in the mist was hard, he wanted to be well in the mist and also in the middle of the road, but that was hard to do when he could see almost nothing around him. He hoped the tiny human would appreciate his efforts.

Standing there in the quiet was unnerving. A sense of dread that Papyrus could find no cause for seemed to linger. Was he worried, or anxious? He was very excited to see the tiny human again, but surely that didn’t warrant this kind of feeling.

Papyrus thought up some cool bone formations for the tiny human. Impressive, yet fair ones. And he was confident that should things prove too hard he could help them out a bit, maybe give them a second chance at their Encounter if they don’t make it to his special attack? He should come up with some contingency plans though, a good future Royal Guard member was never caught unprepared!

Papyrus turned around- and coming out of the mist was the tiny human.

Seeing them again gave Papyrus a kind of euphoria. Where moments ago there was uncertainty and nerves, now he just felt calm, right. Nothing bad could happen, his soul was at ease. Was this normal?

These complicated emotions gave Papyrus pause, and he threw his previously planned speech out the window.

“ALLOW ME TO TELL YOU ABOUT SOME COMPLEX FEELINGS.” the human stood respectfully as he spoke and mulled over his thoughts.

“SOMEHOW, I FEEL LIKE YOU’RE AN OLD FRIEND…” Papyrus could feel the human respond. They felt the same way.

“I CAN’T EXPLAIN WHY I FEEL THIS WAY...” if he concentrated really hard he could feel more than the tiny human’s messages. More than what was pushed his way. There was a well of excitement in them, and trepidation, mostly joy though. Like their feelings were about to overflow.

Papyrus paused, didn’t he want to be in the royal guard? Just because his feelings were all fuzzy didn’t mean he wanted that any less! This ball of happiness bouncing in front of him was a human. All he had to do was capture them, surely they could be friends after that?

He just had to fight them first- like a fun group activity. Papyrus would get a chance to show off a bit, and then- “WOOPSIE DOOPSIE!”

Papyrus’ intent to have a great time fighting the human drew them both into an Encounter.

Frisk gave a wink from their side of the battlefield and Papyrus, normally so cool and collected in Encounters, got very flustered. His very soul did a little flip.

He sent the first few attacks right past them missing by a mile. Papyrus wanted to get them used to bone attacks, they can be very intimidating the first time around. Then he sent light blue bones- their encounter with the Dogo should make this something familiar.

Frisk moved a little after every bone passed to strike a new pose. Some cute, some mimicking Papyrus’ own heroic poses. He could tell this was too easy for the tiny human.

“YOU’RE BLUE NOW!” And Frisk’s soul dropped to the ‘ground’.

He gave them a few moments to adjust and sent a small attack forth, it was dodged deftly with a small jump and a wink.

He could feel a warm emotion from them. They were trying to tell him something…..

“ARE YOU FLIRTING WITH ME?”

As the fight dragged on, Papyrus used some of his best attack patterns and some he came up with on the fly. He loved seeing the human puzzle out how best to get over each new variation. They got hit a few times, but Papyrus made sure it didn’t hurt too much, just enough to let them know dodging that way wouldn’t work. They would jump physically every once and a while trying to get their soul to jump a little higher- it was cute?

The whole time Frisk kept throwing love and happiness his way. Waves of it washed over him. They must really like him! And of course the next logical thing to do when someone likes you is to date! He saw a book in the library about it- as soon as this Encounter is over and the human was captured he would check it out.

After his special attack was stolen, he used the replacement special attack he had thought up, glad he had thought to be so prepared. He realized a little late that the huge field of bones that looked so cool when he thought it up, might just be a bit too long for the tiny human. He adjusted the gravity from heavy to zero, and watched Frisk giggle as they floated up, up, up and over the final bone attack. Their hair and clothes floated lightly on their body, some effects of the change he made to their soul affecting their body.

Now what? They seemed to be ok, just having fun. They looked at him expectantly, and he knew that was it. He didn’t want to use anymore force- that last attack could have really hurt them had he not reacted. They needed to be in top shape to date the Great Papyrus after all.

So he spared them, and trotted off to get ready for their date!

--

This was it, they were in his room. They were going to start the date! He had started preparing the moment he left the battlefield. He could do this! Why did he feel so bubbly?

They stood in front of him and gave a serene smile that quickly turned into a serious face. Papyrus was taken aback. Dating was serious business, but this tiny human already loved him, there was no pressure for them! He was the one who had to figure things out.

While Papyrus did feel very warmly towards them, he didn’t know if he wanted to date. He pulled out all his best moves. Enjoying the reactions given at every turn. The walls of joy that had hit him previously came back two fold.

The more time they spent together the more Papyrus wanted them to stay, he couldn’t stand the thought of them leaving. He could feel more and more from the human, little nuanced feelings. He could feel not just how happy they were, but also that what was making them happy- it was spending time with him.

Every silly face from him brought a wave of safety and adoration echoing back. Papyrus didn’t know what to do. He didn’t feel romantic- that was what dates were for, being romantic. Right?!

He followed all the steps in the book, and was disappointed to find that by the end of the date he didn’t feel romantic- but he did love them?

“HUMAN. I WANT YOU TO BE HAPPY, IT’S TIME FOR ME TO EXPRESS MY FEELINGS IT’S TIME THAT I TOLD YOU, I PAPYRUS….”

DATING STOP

They had ended the encounter, they hadn't been fighting in the first place, so it wasn’t hard. But Papyrus was at a loss, he was going to tell the tiny human that maybe he didn’t love them that way, but they did feel very special to him.

As color came back to the world and the human's soul went back in their body, they locked eyes with Papyrus. He flushed as the tiny human approached him. Swiftly, confidently, they pushed up their sleeves, and took his gloved hands.

There on their upturned wrists was writing. Dark against their skin, what looked like stats. And there was his name!

As he looked at them with a question, he stopped. He could feel apprehension and worry coming from them, but looking at them you would never know. They stared unwaveringly at their wrists.

Papyrus studied them a moment longer, his name, and the name Frisk.

“HUMAN IS YOUR NAME FRISK?” the tiny human nodded.

Papyrus was not stupid, he could put the pieces together. These marks, and the way he had been feeling. It added up. What monster didn’t hear stories of finding their SoulMate, what it felt like, how great it was.

Papyrus was worried, he knew that SoulMates were very close, the deepest relationship any monster would have, and that they could be anything, a parent, a teacher, a lover. It was meant to be, however the two monsters worked best together- however they felt about each other was what mattered.

What were they to each other?

“FRISK? I-” he wanted to tell them he did love them, in that moment he realized just how much they already meant to him. He wanted to say ‘I love you’ but it wasn’t like that, he didn’t want to hurt their feelings. Frisk must have felt his unease.

Frisk pulled on his hands bringing him down on his knees, he crouched and came eye level with them.

They put a hand on his zygomatic arch and smiled. He felt…. his feelings! Coming from them! Frisk felt the same way he did!

“FRISK DOES THIS MEAN WE ARE FRIENDS!!?” Papyrus flung his arms around Frisk and spun them round and round. Until Frisk tapped lightly on his battle body when he squeezed a little too hard.

When he released Frisk their grin lit up the room, Papyrus knew he had the Greatest and the Coolest SoulMate a monster could ask for.

“I KNOW YOU WANT TO KEEP TRAVELING THE UNDERGROUND, THAT YOU WANT TO MEET THE KING. BUT IF YOU MISS ME, OR NEED TO REACH ME ANYTIME, HERE IS MY PHONE NUMBER.”

Chapter Text

Sans

As Sans waited for Frisk to go by his second patrol station he thought over what he needed to do.

He needed to ask the kid if they wanted to take a ‘break’ with him, and if they did- take them to Grillby’s and try to stay on script.

After that, he needed to go to Gerson’s shop and ask him some serious questions.

Sans knew what the pull of a SoulMate looked like. Alphys and Undyne had been circling each other for ages. Undyne ended up seeing her in Waterfall almost every time Alphys ventured out of her lab. He wasn’t sure what was stopping them, but he had heard Alphys talking about Undyne on more than one occasion, and it seemed obvious to him.

He closed his eyes and waited for the kid, and they didn’t disappoint. They came right up to him after chatting with Monster Kid and poked him.

He went about their usual dialogue, he didn’t mention Frisk’s encounter with Paps, or their date. He did slip in one thing he thought the kid should know.

“kid, for monsters,” He said over Frisk’s laughing. (That ketchup gag always did the trick.) “soulmates mean a lot. there isn’t a monster alive with or without one that doesn’t know how it goes. i don’t know how it is for humans, but monsters have a customary way we go about it.”

Frisk continued to eat their fries, but Sans knew they were listening.

“ya gotta spend time together to realize what ya are. then... err…. bond. it can be a big thing or a small thing, but um….”

Frisk turned to look at him, puzzled. Sans never thought he’d be giving a version of the monster birds and bees to the kid, but they needed to know. He just hoped he never had to do it again. Well, he always hoped that, but this was awkward, especially not worth repeating.

If they did reset, would the kid remember Pap was their soulmate next run? If they didn’t- should he tell them? He tried to keep that small bit of hope alive that this would be the last time he does this. He had to put some effort in, just for a few minutes, and hope for the best.

“so… once ya bond, you give each other something- something with a little you in it? cause after ya bond you’re really gonna want to be around each other for a bit. it’s so you’re always close? ‘s hard to explain. there’s usually a party at some point after….it’s bond to be a good time… with family and friends.” Sans was uncomfortable, he didn’t even know if this was how it worked for humans. He knew he should have snuck off to Gerson’s first. “but that's all second-hand info for me.”

He had to wrap this up and get some facts straight. So he stopped time to give Frisk the new version of his warning.

The room went dark, time frozen, his eye sockets empty, the mood was set, “and if you ever hurt my brother, you’re gonna have the worst time.” He used his best scary voice, as deep and low as possible.

He knew there was a very slim chance this run of Frisk hurting his bro, but now that he knew hurting the kid affected his brother… he wanted threats to be enough.

By the feelings Frisk sent his way, he’d had his desired effect.

With that, he started time back up- and popped off to Gerson’s shop.

--

Sans walked into Gerson’s shop after a quick shortcut. The place hasn't changed one bit.

“Sans! How’ve you been? How’s your brother?” Gerson greeted Sans jovially, and Sans almost felt bad for his next line of questioning.

“hey gerson, i’m actually here about paps. see, you’re the only one i know of with a more or less unbiased account of …. some stuff i need to know.”

“Well? Fire away.”

“see there is a human, a kid, in the underground again.” He pauses but Gerson doesn’t react. “and they are most likely my bro’s soulmate?”

Gerson’s eyes went wide, then dulled before he replied “His name on ‘em?”

“yep, on their wrist? i need to know some things-” Gerson cut him off.

“Mmm, what do you know about how humans find soulmates?”

“nothing. i also need a crash course on bonding- if it is any different for them? Those two are real close already, and the kid doesn’t seem one to beat around the bush.”

“So, yes humans have names on them, SCREENS for themselves and their SoulMate. They can’t ‘feel’ their soulmates as we can. So they rely almost entirely on those names to match them up and to find each other. They don’t have a bond per say, and can’t feel each other. For humans that means they can’t tell what kind of bond they have.” he stopped for a moment. “I know what you really want to ask is if the child dies how it will affect your brother?”

Sans had a small moment to feel sorry for humans, to not be able to sense each other, they must be lonely. Then he had to steel himself for whatever news came next.

“Funny enough, monsters can survive human soulmates dying even after bonding, same as monsters and monsters. But once they’ve met, if the monster goes, so does the human. Even if they haven't bonded. Still hurts like the dickens,” Gerson turned away from Sans to ruffle around in his shop for something. Sans noticed, for the first time, the handprint barely visible in the middle of Gerson’s shell.

“is- was that your bond mark?”

Gerson turned around with something in his hands “Yes, just like with Monsters, when a soulmate dies the bond mark loses their magic.” He put the object in Sans’ hands.

“That was my boy.” Sans looked into the old picture, tiny like it had gone in a locket at some point. It was yellowing, rough around the edges. A human child. “He was 14 when we met, in a field somewhere. I trained him, taught him- he was so bright picking everything up like lightning. But I trained him too well, he was one of the first humans to die on our side of the war. To say I lost myself after-”

Sans understood without Gerson finishing his sentence. The stories of the ‘Hammer of Justice’ in the war all seemed exaggerated, but they were mostly true. He was glad his brother wouldn’t die, and he had confirmed the reason the kids stopped their murderous rampages. He still felt bad for bringing up painful memories for the shopkeep.

Gerson looked solemn but hopeful “Well, maybe all this means the prophecy is coming true? Maybe we will finally be freed by Papyrus’ little angel.”

“ya think we should do anything?”

The look in his eye reminded Sans of determination, “I plan to make sure that Child makes it through Waterfall safely.”

+-+-+-+-+-+

Chara

Frisk was making good headway through Waterfall, partly thanks to the badass armor and the basically free healing food Gerson had sold them. Chara almost couldn’t believe it when they read the prices for them.

The armor fit Frisk perfectly, and they look like a little soldier clad in leathers. Chara certainly wasn’t worried for their health anymore. They would have to try pretty hard to die. Even then the amount of healing food they were toting around could feed a family.

Chara tried to enjoy the encounters, a little more relaxed now. She described things in humorous ways for Frisk. Even adding some flat out jokes here and there.

The long stretches in between things meant Chara had too much time to think, and that was not a good thing.

SoulMates? With a monster? What are the chances of another human falling down like her?

Chara remembered her own time in the underground with fondness for the most part.

Amid many questions from her new caretakers, she learned monsters, too, had soulmates, called SoulMates here. And that there had been human/monster pairs in the past. She’d had to carefully explain how things were for humans on more than one occasion, both to her ‘family’ and to curious monsters.

After being sudo adopted by the Dreemurr family, they held an introduction ceremony for her. This was the tradition for every new child ‘born’ in the underground. A chance to be shown to the whole underground at once, guaranteeing if their soulmate was currently alive, they would find each other.

She knew it was largely her fault they didn’t do that anymore. It was her fault they all lost hope. It was her fault-

When Chara fell, her heavy metal Seals stayed in place. A gift from her father, to be unlocked when she turned 16, ‘a good marrying age’ according to him.

She had no way of confirming it, but Asriel said they were soulmates. They try quite a few things to free her from those Seals, and confirm with her SCREENS what they already knew.

They could each feel what the other was feeling, and they wanted to be around each other all the time. If Chara was being too bold while playing and did something risky Asriel would panic fearing for her safety. They had to be attached at the hip at all times. Honestly, Chara never felt better than the nights she snuck into Asriel’s bed and they cuddled together. They’d get close as they could, almost breathing the same air, and just sleep. It. Was. So. Nice.

He had wanted to tell their mom and dad. But Chara had other plans.

Stupid stupid plans.

They didn’t bond, it would have been too noticeable. Monsters didn’t die if their bonded did- it just hurt, but humans shared the death of their soulmate without any ‘bonding’. Asriel, thought being Bonded SoulMates would help them when Asriel absorbed Chara’s soul when they tried to break the barrier together, Chara didn’t want to risk Az dieing, either wayChara knew better now.

She couldn’t feel Asriel anymore, and the locket he intended to make her bond mark when they freed all monsters and lives happily together with their parents, was lost. Along with Chara’s hope.

Chara just assumed he was dead. She had killed him.

Sure, her intentions were good, but when did that ever matter. She couldn’t blame him, he was hurting- in pain because of her, with her. She just wanted- but that didn’t matter anymore.

Instead, now she watched on. A passive player at the end of her own story. She had guided many children around the underground, most couldn’t hear her, but some could feel a suggestion if she tried really hard.

Frisk was different. Their soul was almost as strong as hers, and already so in tune with the world. Maybe monster SoulMates just were that way?

Chara really hoped they succeeded, made it to the end and let everyone out. Someone had to overwrite her failure. With the SoulMate bond Frisk had themselves, it would either help them-

Or make it that much more tragic when they kept failing.

As Chara came back to the present, she panicked.

Frisk had been running mostly blind for a while without her guidance while she wallowed in her self-pity.

As Chara took stock of the situation, the last thing she wanted to do now was talk and distract Frisk as they ran from the Captain of the Guard.

Chapter Text

Papyrus

Papyrus had been in the middle of resetting some puzzles when a bolt of fear struck him.

He had talked to Undyne about the human, and learned that Undyne and the King needed his human’s soul, that souls were what they needed to break the barrier. Human ones. His tiny human was the last one they needed, they already had 6.

He had been upset to say the least, he was bursting to tell Undyne about his soulmate, but her murderous intentions made him second guess himself. He had to think hard about what would keep Frisk safest.

A feeling of urgency grew inside him, and in that moment Papyrus really just needed to know if Frisk was ok, almost an itch that needs scratching.

They could be watching a scary movie- or maybe they were dealing with lasers and converbelts? The worst kinds of puzzles.

They just felt so scared. He picked up his phone and dialed Frisk’s number.

Papyrus could feel their fear, their panic as he spoke. He told them that maybe they should become friends with Undyne, trying to sound soothing and optimistic. If he could just get them together he knew Undyne would like them!

He liked them, so Undyne would too. Right?

--

As the feelings coming from Frisk leveled out, he had the urge to visit Undyne’s house.

Today was not a training day, Undyne had canceled on him. But that didn’t mean they couldn’t hang out. Who knows! Maybe he will see his human along the way and they can go together!! Papyrus had a good feeling about this.

As he fiddled with his scarf, he hoped that his human would like it.

When he had decided to use his scarf as a bond mark, he had been so happy. It was a great idea, Frisk would have a bit of him with them and they would look almost as cool as him! He would settle for equally cool though.

Bonding was a big step, Papyrus knew that he was ready. Some monsters took forever, but loving Frisk was easy. It was mostly just an exchange of magic as far as he understood it, and he was ok if Frisk couldn’t give him one as well humans didn’t have magic- so. He would miss them though, even now he could feel their absence like a physical thing pressing on him.

Books said the period after Bonding could be intense. SoulMates would need to be around each other constantly as they leveled out their newly combined magic together. He hoped that their adjustment period would be a mild one. Many monsters were said to disappear for months together until they were finally ready to show their bond off to friends and family.

The walk through Waterfall was a long one. He was starting to worry, he hadn't seen his human in what felt like forever. Anything could have happened to them.

Papyrus wasn’t waiting long outside Undyne’s, contemplating how to get her to be friends with Frisk, when his human just showed up!

Frisk looked like they were expecting him. As they smiled up at Papyrus he felt all his worries drain away.

He hadn't noticed how tense and worked up he was until he just wasn't anymore. He fiddled with the scarf again. Maybe they didn’t like red?

Frisk reached up to put a hand over his covered ones, where they were wringing his scarf. He looked at them and felt their love and understanding. He knew he had made the right decision.

“FRISK I KNOW IT HASN’T BEEN THAT LONG SINCE WE MET. BUT BEING AWAY FROM YOU IS... DIFFICULT. AND I WORRY. I DON’T KNOW HOW IT IS WITH HUMANS, BUT IF YOU CAN…. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE YOUR BOND MARK TO KEEP ME COMPANY WHILE YOU TO JOURNEY TO SEE ASGORE. ANDFORYOUTOTAKETHISWITHYOU.” The last part came out in a rush, and louder than Papyrus would have wanted. At least now it was out in the open.

He extended the scarf towards Frisk, who looked shocked then elated. They ducked their head for him to tie it on.

He could feel his magic responding to his intentions. As he tied the knot securely, his magic glowed briefly and he felt a rush. He knew a small part of him was now in his- Frisk’s scarf, letting him know how they were, and keeping his magic close to them. He couldn’t wait to see how it looked on them. He didn’t know it was this easy! He heard sometimes making a bond mark could be tiring, but he felt he could do 100 jumping jacks.

As Frisk stepped back to pose for him, he noticed their leather garb for the first time. They looked like a little adventurer. His cool human hero, out to save the Underground.

As for Frisk, Papyrus could tell they felt his magic. They twirled once and posed for him, but a look came across their face and they grabbed the scarf (more like a cape on them) to pull it securely around them, hugging themselves with it.

As their blinding joy faded, Papyrus could feel a question.

“HUMAN I DO NOT KNOW IF YOU CAN DO THE SAME FOR ME.”

Another question.

“IT CAN BE ANYTHING, EVEN A MARK MADE WITH HANDS. AS FOR HOW- I’M NOT SURE MYSELF,” he paused to think “I JUST WANTED VERY BADLY TO BE WITH YOU ALWAYS, AND PROTECT YOU, AND FOR US TO BE VERY GREAT FRIENDS FOREVER.”

Frisk stared for a moment. They seemed to blank out, and stood motionless. As light came back to their eyes, and with a sly smile they motioned for him to kneel down for them.

They mimicked closing their eyes, motioning for him to follow. So he did.

Papyrus was surprised to feel a soft and light touch on his bone, close to his eye socket, above his zygomatic arch.

Then he felt a rush. It was definitely magic, but it swept through him and settled on him like a blanket. Was this what it was supposed to feel like? Did bonded monsters feel like this all the time?

He could sense Frisk now. It was like going from looking through a keyhole, to opening the door wide, there was no barrier between them anymore.

Papyrus touched his glove to his facial bone, and he could feel the two small lines of magic just there at the bottom corner of his socket. He opened his eyes to see Frisk crying.

“OH NO FRISK, DO NOT CRY.” he could feel the next moment they were happy tears before he heard a small voice in his head- almost a whisper.

‘I’m so happy.’

Looking up, Frisk had not opened their mouth.

‘I am very glad’ Papyrus tried to send back.

They looked at him surprised, then flung their arms around him and cried big silent tears.

Papyrus could definitely feel it, their bond was solid. It made him so so happy, and gave him a feeling of bigness? He felt he could take on the world, that nothing would stop them. He knew he would protect them, and love them, and….

They needed to meet Undyne. Together. His friend could never hate someone who made him feel this way.

The bond must have settled quickly, he had read that monsters tend to hide away for a bit when freshly bonded. Mostly to adjust. Maybe Frisk being human made it easier?

Papyrus wanted to crow out their combined Greatness to the whole underground, not hide away at all.

He stood tall and held a hand out for Frisk to take, before knocking.

--

Of course being Captain of the Royal Guard, Undyne noticed right away.

She looked so conflicted, before inviting them both in for tea.

After making herself a cup, she joined them at her table. Eyeing Papyrus’ bond mark, slightly glowing still it was hard for her to miss.

He really couldn’t take the silence, the sooner they all talked, the sooner they could all be friends.

“THIS IS FRISK.” his grin couldn’t have been prouder.

Undyne was silent for a beat before she started speaking, “They’re your- When you talked to me, you knew I was gonna- I could have- But they are your- We need their-” Undyne seemed to be connecting all the dots fairly quickly. He was worried he’d have to explain more, puzzles were not her strong suit.

Her eyes stayed on the table now flicking back and forth as if reading as she sorted her thoughts.

Frisk gave Papyrus’ hand a reassuring squeeze, before his worry could escalate, and took a sip of the tea from their teacup calm and overly poised.

When Undyne finally looked up she was very serious.

“Papyrus, if it was anyone but you-” She gritted her teeth before putting on a forced and manic smile. “What did your brother say when he found out?”

“YOU ARE THE FIRST PERSON WE’VE SEEN SENSE BONDING, BUT I’M SURE MY BROTHER IS TOO LAZY TO BE ANYTHING BUT APPROVING.” He was sure Sans would accept the tiny human, they didn’t fight when they met at least.

“You came to see me first?” She looked shocked, but recovered quickly. “Well I guess there is nothing to say but-”

She quickly and aggressively moved around the table and had Frisk in a bear hug before Papyrus knew what was happening. “WELCOME TO THE FAMILY PUNK!!”

Papyrus didn’t have time to be happy about his friend’s swift acceptance of his SoulMate. As Undyne chose that moment to use her special friendship move SUPLEX.

--

Papyrus was beside himself.

After friendship cooking lessons and burning down Undyne’s house he hadn't seen his human in ages.

His new Bond mark was helping, it was almost like Frisk was right there, sitting on his shoulder. That sounded like a great idea actually.

They couldn’t talk with each other this far away, but with practice they might be able to! Soon as all this business was over they could hang out more and work on it, and see if there was anything else they could do.

Right now, Frisk was helping Undyne and Alphys finally talk about their relationship. Papyrus liked to think it was seeing him and Frisk together that finally gave Undyne the courage, but no matter where it came from it was happening and he was excited for his friend.

Undyne had suddenly run off in a panic though, and told him to meet her at the dump.

Oh! This was a double date! He still wasn’t sure what kind of bond Undyne would have- but monsters go on playdates with friends right?

--

As he made his dramatic entrance out of the garbage, wearing his other set of date clothes, he locked eyes with Frisk first.

Undyne wanted him to train Alphys, and while she really did need it, he knew she just wanted them to get to know each other, the way he did with Undyne and Frisk.

As they jogged off yelling anything positive that came to mind Papyrus was happy, so many great things happened today!

“Pa-pa-pa-Papyrus.” Alphys stopped, out of breath.

“WE STILL HAVE 99 LAPS TO GO-”

“I know, but I thi-thi-think this one la-la-lap has me im-im-im- improved already.” He stopped to look at her.

Alphys’ face was earnest, not at all like the face his brother gave him when he was just making excuses for being lazy.

“I finally have the cou-cou-courage to do something I’ve been putting off. Something I have to do before I can even thi-thi-thi-think about Bonding with Undyne.”

“OK IF YOU ARE SURE, YOU SEEM GREAT, AND SMART. WE SHOULD DO COOKING LESSONS TOGETHER SOMETIME!!”

She waved him a goodbye as she went back toward Hotlands, leaving him alone.

“Howdy Friend.” Papyrus startled.

He looked at the ground, and there was his flower friend, who he hadn't seen in a long while.

“HELLO!”

Chapter Text

Frisk

It seemed like a beautiful day outside, the sun was shining, their bond mark was secure around their neck, on days like these kids like Frisk got determined to save the day.

Frisk trotted forward, glad to be in the sunlit hall after the dark of Alphys’ lab. It was the kind of change in atmosphere that they needed.

Looking back, Papyrus calling and telling them to check in on Alphys was strange- he had sounded off, but he felt ok though the bond. Maybe a little unsure? And checking up on Alphys wouldn’t hurt, the Voice said making friends would help.

It didn’t hurt, but it was scary and a bit nightmare inducing. They never wanted to go back down there.

Frisk took stock of the room they were in now. Big, bright, and echoey. Something like sunlight filtered through huge panes of stained glass casting warm colors on the tiled floor. It was like a church, it shared the same ominous feeling as those first steps through the woods in Snowdin.

And there was Sans.

He seemed to have appeared out of nowhere. He was hunched a bit, wearing his jacket like a suit of armor, eye sockets empty of their usual lights.

Frisk felt scared. The threatening feeling of the room and the trip through the labs left them a bit frayed. Their momentary good mood, gone in the face of this very serious Sans.

“nice outfit kid,” the light in his eyes came back. “i’m happy for you two.” his grin turned genuine and the atmosphere evaporated.

He explained what all those stats meant, the ones Frisk didn’t know. DEF DEFusion, the skill to minimize hurtful actions. ATK ATacK, the ability to hurt with negative intention. LOVE Level of ViolencE, or how much hurting others affects you. And EXP EXecution Points how much pain you’ve inflicted on others.

Sans said they were judged to be pretty ok based on their stats. Something no one has ever told Frisk.

“you did good kid.”

And with that he disappeared, leaving Frisk confused. The Voice urged them on, so they followed the path to another sunny room, filled with flowers.

Waiting and watering flowers was the King, Asgore. Frisk waited for him to turn around, whatever he was saying stopped mid-sentence.

“Child, is that a bond mark?” His voice was soft, even and hesitant. “Child you know what I must do. Humans do not share our traditions, I can not make an exception for you.”

He paced back and forth for a moment, and Frisk tried to communicate their unwillingness to fight, that they didn’t just want to go home, that they wanted to help break the barrier and free monsters. But Asgore couldn’t feel their pleas, too wrapped up in his thoughts.

“When you are ready, come to the next room.” His voice was resigned, almost regretful.

Frisk tried not to take it to heart, being a leader was hard, Asgore may not believe they could help. So they just had to prove it.

They strode to the room, where Asgore waited. He didn’t speak but his eyes lingered on their cape. He turned and left again, Frisk had no choice but to follow once more. He continued down a short hall into a doorway.

Through the door was just noise, and Asgore stood there in front of the strange light behind him. Tense.

“This is the barrier. This is what keeps us all trapped underground.” He turned to face Frisk.

Containers appeared from somewhere in the floor, each with a bright glowing heart, just like Frisk’s but a rainbow of colors. One was empty. Frisk knew they needed to somehow use all the souls, and their own to break the barrier. They asked Asgore to let them try, just once.

The Encounter started. Asgore looked solemn and seemed more like a huge inert wall than a monster. Steady, and unflinching.

“Goodbye.” His voice was almost lost in the noise of the barrier.

In the next moment Frisk’s red soul was out and pinned, poised above it was Asgore’s bright red Trident. They couldn’t see his eyes, as they were cast in shadow, but Frisk couldn’t give up.

They reached for Papyrus and yelled a goodbye, and pushed as much love and understanding to him as they could. They knew he would be hurt, but now he could live on the surface even if Frisk failed.

This final moment was lasting a long time. When Frisk checked Asgore’s face again, his eyes were big and watery.

“Human, Child, I can not. If I kill you it will hurt your SoulMate deeply. I can’t inflict that pain on another.” As he opens his mouth to say more a ball of fire comes from the right, knocking him over.

“What a miserable creature, how could he even think of hurting you!” Toriel knelt and hugged Frisk in the middle of the still active Encounter. “Do not be afraid, I’m so happy for you. I can not wait to meet your Bonded.”
She answered Frisk’s silent question, more relaxed the longer she held them. “I could not stop worrying about you, I hoped to help you find your soulmate, and to keep you from this very battle. But I see you did just fine on your own.” Frisk felt warm, Toriel sounded proud.

“Tori?” Asgore, from his crumpled place on the floor, spoke up. Toriel stood to tower over him as she responded.

“Do not ‘Tori’ me. That you even considered using this child to break the barrier, knowing they were someone’s Bonded. I thought you could stoop no lower.”

She was cross, Frisk tried to tell Toriel that he had changed his mind, even before she threw the fireball, but Toriel cut them off.

“He could have freed us a long time ago. But he chooses not to, chose to hide from humans.”

“Tori, you are right. Do you think we could ever be friends again?”

Before she could reply another voice roared out.

“ASGORE!!! HUMAN!!” Undyne came barreling in, “Nobody Fight Each Other!” her eyes were wild until they landed on Frisk, “We’re all gonna make friends.” Undyne wrapped an arm around Frisk and grinned one of her big manic grins that Frisk was growing to love.

Toriel took on an authoritative but friendly tone “Are you Frisk’s Friend?”

“No bo-bo-bo-body hurt anyone!!” Alphys stumbled in, out of breath and sweating. Undyne walked to her and took her hand as she calmed down.

“Are you Frisk’s Friend?” Toriel inquired again.

“NO THAT WOULD BE ME! FRISK’S NUMBER ONE GREATEST FRIEND!!” Papyrus charged in and swung Frisk up on his shoulder. Frisk gave his whole skull a hug and beamed at Toriel.

Asgore now looked very guilty indeed.

“HELLO YOUR MAJESTY! AND UM,” he turned his head toward Frisk and whisper-yelled “Who Is That?”
‘That’s Toriel, she is nice,helped me through the ruins. She’s kinda like a mom, in all the best ways.’

“HELLO MOM TORIEL, THANK YOU FOR HELPING THE HUMAN GET TO SNOWDIN SAFELY.” It was Toriel’s turn to look guilty, clearly remembering her Encounter with Frisk in front of the door to Snowdin. But in the face of Papyrus’ overflowing enthusiasm there was no room for such negativity to last long.

“hey guys-” Sans voice was cut off with a whoosh as he too was hoisted up on Papyrus’ shoulder from his sudden appearance at his side.

“That voice!” Toriel exclaimed.

“oh hey, knock knock buddy.”

“Then this must be your brother.”

“small world am i right?”

“Papyrus it is nice to finally meet you. After hearing so much about you I couldn’t be more happy for Frisk, knowing you are their SoulMate puts me at ease.”

“WOWIE MOM TORIEL KNOWS ME ALREADY! THIS IS ALMOST LIKE A REAL BONDING PARTY!” He set Frisk down, and Sans chose to teleport over to Toriel.

Mettaton made an appearance, “It wouldn’t be a party without ME!”

With the Encounter still going everyone was crowded around close, they talked a bit laughing, and glad to be in each other's company, friends and family brought together by Frisk and Papyrus.

“Papyrus-” Alphys started, whipping a tear from her eye from laughing too hard. “YOU called everyone he-he-he-here, were you planning a party, or-”

“ACTUALLY A TINY FLOWER TOLD ME IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA TO GATHER OUR FRIENDS TOGETHER TO HELP FRISK!”

Several intakes of breath could be heard around Frisk, “a tiny… Fl-Fl-Flower?”

A new presence took over the Encounter. Flowey.
Watching Papyrus and their other friends get tangled up in vines horrified Frisk, who moments ago had been so content and happy.

Helpless they watched on as Flowey had made his intentions clear.

But seeing their friends fend off vine attacks from their lonely position on the other side of the encounter gave Frisk the push they needed. The whole underground was pitching in and they couldn’t let all those monsters down.

Then Flowey turned into something else-

‘A S R I E L D R E E M U R’ The Voice screamed their pseudo narration.

Rough with anger or wet with grief the Voice kept up a steady stream of information, punctuated by Asriel's' own commentary. Asriel called for his friend Chara, and the Voice wavered. Frisk could tell how important this monster was to the Voice, this was the most emotion the Voice had shown so far.

So Frisk did what they had been doing since falling down. They didn’t give up.

Asriel didn’t seem to hear Frisk, too wrapped up in his monologue to hear them, so they looked for a way to spare Asriel.

Every hit Frisk took wracked their small body with pain. Sadness came from the Voice and Asriel in waves. As the encounter reached a fevered pitch, Frisk could sense Papyrus somewhere in the cacophony of feeling- his emotions standing out like a lone star in an empty sky.

In trying to find him, Frisk felt all their other friends.

Frisk knew what to do.

Reaching for Papyrus was easy as breathing, and he dragged Sans with him to the forefront. Frisk just touched their scarf and Papyrus snapped out of whatever state he had been in. He touched the mark on his cheek and smiled as their love echoed to each other.

They turned together on Sans, who was murmuring apathetic statements, and he seemed to recover. Sans and Papyrus helped Frisk pull Undyne and Alphys forward, and got them to come back to themselves.

Frisk turned their attention to Toriel, and with her was Asgore. Once again dodging and flinging thoughts at them brought them around in time.

Frisk was tired but could feel Papyrus and everyone strong and ok, as they faced Asriel again.

With Papyrus’ love coursing through them, Frisk reached again, but this time something else reached out with them.

“Asriel Please!” the plea sounded from Frisk’s own mouth, but it was not their voice.

“It’s Chara! Az!!” the Voice, Chara sounded distant and muffled as the Encounter faded.

Memories played in Frisk eyes, of another child falling. Another child meeting monsters, Toriel, Asgore, and a young Asriel. Frisk felt that child's feelings, the joy of finding their soulmate here in the underground and finding family.

And the other child, Chara, dying and regretting. Waiting.

“Chara.” As Frisk opens their eyes, the tiny Asriel from those memories was there. They felt their own arms wrap around him.

“It’s ok Az, I think Frisk can do it- Do what we couldn’t do. We need to let go Az. How am I supposed to find you again if you stay a soulless flower?” A wet laugh came from Frisk’s mouth.

“Ok Chara, it’ll work this time, I can feel it. With everyone’s help, with their souls combined, I think we can do this without Frisk’s soul. I think we have enough power that we don’t need their soul at all. They can have our happy ending.” Asriel was still clinging to Frisk’s body.

“Then let's do it Asriel.”

White lights, the sound of breaking, and a whispered ‘thank you’ was all Frisk would remember.

--

Looking at the sunset with all their friends, Frisk soaked in the moment.

There would be a lot of things that were going to change, and very quickly. Looking up at Papyrus and squeezing his gloved hand, Frisk could only feel excited and Determined to get started.

THE END

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for now