Chapter Text
It was another beautiful day in the Underground. Bright light from the crystals in the ceiling was streaming in through the windows, illuminating the golden flowers blooming in the Throne Room. Asgore, king of the monsters, was cheerfully humming to himself as he watered the flowers, listening to the birds singing and the distant voices of his beloved people, as they went about their day in the Capital.
Suddenly, a piercing scream rent the peaceful atmosphere, startling Asgore so badly that he dropped his watering can. Another high-pitched cry soon followed the first one, coming from the direction of the Barrier. Whoever was making that noise sounded like they were in a great deal of pain. Alarmed, Asgore dashed off towards the cries, too concerned about what could be hurting one of his subjects, to wonder how they could possibly have snuck by him while he was in his Throne Room.
When he reached the Barrier, he was astounded to find, not a monster, but a human woman, who was clearly very heavily pregnant and sporting numerous scrapes and scratches across her body, most notably a large gash on her upper arm, still slowly oozing blood. The human was leaning her full weight against the wall, barely managing to remain standing, as she clutched her protruding abdomen, sweating and panting, and moaning in pain. Asgore was momentarily struck speechless, as he stood, rooted to the spot, gaping at this most unexpected of sights.
This had never happened before. In all the years monsters had been trapped Underground, no human had ever crossed the Barrier from this side. He assumed that this entrance was either too difficult to reach, or was so obviously not something any person should go through, for none had ever tried to. Whenever a human fell, it had always been through the large, gaping hole in the ceiling of the old Home, where it was easier for someone to accidentally fall through, or where the presence of a magical forcefield was far less noticeable. And yet, here was this human, who had gone through the Barrier, despite being alone, injured, and with child.
As Asgore stared in muted shock at the intruder, the woman cowered before his towering height and monstrous appearance. Backing away from the large goat monster, the human’s legs finally gave out beneath her, and she slid to the floor. A tremor suddenly wracked her body, and she let out an agonised wail. With sweat dripping from her brow, the human turned her head towards Asgore and gazed at him consideringly, eyeing his stunned expression and regal clothing. After a few tense seconds, she seemed to push past her fear and her pain, to give him a pleading look.
“Please...! My-... my baby!... Ahh...! My baby’s coming!... Please, help us... please ,” she forced out through gritted teeth, her voice tight with pain, desperation shining in her watery eyes.
It took a couple of seconds for the human’s words to truly sink in, but when the gravity of the situation finally hit him, with all the force of a punch to the gut, Asgore gave a jolt, letting out a panicked bleat, before hurrying to the human. Bending down, he mumbled kind reassurances to her, while gathering her trembling form into his arms with a gentleness belying his massive size. He then rushed out the door, making his way swiftly, yet carefully through his castle, all while trying to avoid jostling his delicate cargo as he ran.
In the back of his mind, he knew that he should kill this human and take her Soul, for the good of his people. It was his solemn duty as king to do whatever was necessary to free his people from their imprisonment Underground, even if it meant forever staining his Soul by taking the lives of any poor human unfortunate enough to have entered his domain. And yet, he simply could not bring himself to ignore this woman’s cry for help. As tainted by LV as his Soul was, it still refused to let him ignore a person in need, no matter who they were. He could no more turn away from this human and her unborn baby, than he could shatter the Barrier with his bare hands. Despite all that he’d done, he was still a kind and compassionate person at heart.
Upon reaching his bedroom, Asgore laid the human on his bed, helping her to sit up and propping up his pillows behind her back. Once he’d made sure that she was stable and as comfortable as she was likely to get in her state, he dug his paw into his pocket and retrieved his phone. With shaking hands, he struggled briefly to punch in a number, before succeeding, and held the phone up to his ear.
The seconds ticking past felt like hours to Asgore, as he listened to the dialling tone with bated breath, keenly aware of the human in his bed, groaning and panting as her body went through the long and arduous task of giving birth to her baby. After what felt like an eternity, his call was finally answered and he heard the voice he’d been so desperate to reach.
“HELLO?”
“WingDings!” Asgore felt like crying, so overwhelming was his relief. He unconsciously gripped his phone tighter in his hands, as he all but shouted into it. “I need your help! The human- the baby- my room-! I don’t know what to do, please come here right now , the baby could be here any moment -!”
“ASGORE, PLEASE CALM YOURSELF,” Doctor W.D. Gaster’s strong and steady voice cut through Asgore’s panicked rambling. “TAKE A DEEP BREATH AND EXPLAIN TO ME CLEARLY: WHAT EXACTLY IS GOING ON? YOU MENTIONED A HUMAN? AND A BABY?”
Asgore did as instructed, inhaling and exhaling as he tried to calm his agitated Soul, and felt his nerves settle just enough for him to resume his explanation.
“A pregnant human has just passed through the Barrier in my castle, and she is currently in labour. Please come to my room as soon as possible, WingDings. You’re the only one knowledgeable enough on humans to be able to assist us in safely delivering the child. Please, I need your help, old friend.”
His speech was a little more rushed than usual, especially towards the end of his plea, but his voice didn’t shake. His eyes flicked to the human, still visibly (and very audibly) in pain, as he anxiously awaited the Royal Scientist’s response. Thankfully, Gaster’s reply came swiftly.
“UNDERSTOOD. I SHALL GATHER ALL THE INSTRUMENTS AND MATERIALS I REQUIRE AND BE WITH YOU IN BUT A MOMENT.”
He then promptly hung up, leaving Asgore to stare blankly at his phone for a few seconds, before a sharp cry brought him back to the matter at hand. Schooling his face into what he hoped was a reassuring look, the King under the mountain went to the human’s side, leaning over her and hesitantly placing a large, fluffy paw on her shoulder. He gave her a soft smile, as she gazed up at him, still obviously wary of him, but no longer afraid of him, given his willingness to help her in her time of need.
“Howdy. I am Asgore Dreemurr, the Monster King,” he introduced himself, making sure to keep his voice calm and gentle. The human’s eyes widened, but she didn’t pull away from him, which Asgore considered a good sign. “My Royal Scientist will be arriving shortly to lend us his aid. He is a very capable and intelligent man, who has done extensive research on humans. Besides myself, he knows the most about your kind, and I trust him implicitly to do his very best to help you and your child.”
The human nodded her head jerkily, and gave him a strained smile, the pain and exertion of childbirth painted clearly across her features. “Thank you... Your... Majesty...” she breathed shakily, each word seeming to take a tremendous amount of effort to get out. “Thank you... so much...”
Inwardly, Asgore was impressed by her ability to look him in the eyes, and speak to him so fearlessly, knowing only too well how intimidating his physical appearance was to humans. She seemed to have taken her situation in stride, despite how strange and scary it all must have been for her. Asgore couldn’t help but marvel at this small, defenceless human’s ability to trust him, a large boss monster, in spite of her vulnerable condition. He hoped that that courage would stay with her throughout her labour. She’d definitely need it.
A loud knock jolted him to attention, and he all but flew to the door. He swung it open, revealing his Royal Scientist and long-time friend, who wasted no time in pushing past the king with a brisk greeting, and moving to place his large carry bag on Asgore’s desk. The large goat monster hovered anxiously behind Gaster, unsure what to do with himself.
“Thank you for coming so quickly, and on such short notice, WingDings. I really appreciate it,” he wrung his hands, eyeing each item the tall skeleton monster took out of his dimensional bag.
Dr. Gaster didn’t look up from his task, as he tilted his head to his king. “NO NEED FOR THANKS. IT IS MY DUTY AS YOUR SCIENTIST, AND MY DESIRE AS YOUR FRIEND.”
Asgore smiled at his back, and went over to the human’s side once again. With much more confidence than before, he patted her hand comfortingly.
“This is Doctor WingDings Gaster. He’s not only a brilliant scientist, but has powerful healing magic at his disposal. You’re in safe hands, I can assure you, human. The both of us will do everything in our power to help you deliver your baby safely.”
The human gave him a grateful smile, her eyes flickering to Dr. Gaster for a moment, before returning to Asgore. She turned her hand over to grasp his, squeezing it tightly as she bit out a sincere “thank you, Your Majesty”. Asgore squeezed her hand in return, before releasing it to go over to Gaster, to ask him how he could be of assistance.
The next several hours passed by in a blur, as the human woman laboured to bring her child into the world, while the two monsters worked diligently to help her. Gaster’s hands were aglow with green healing magic, hovering over the human’s abdomen, as he barked out orders at his king, and mumbled observations to himself, a look of intense focus fixed on his cracked skull. Asgore was almost constantly moving, as he rushed to hand over whatever item his scientist required, or to fetch him fresh water and clean towels, and the occasional cup of golden flower tea to replenish his energy whenever he started to wane.
The human was losing a worrying amount of blood, and despite Gaster’s best efforts, her HP continued to decline. The tall skeleton speculated that whatever she had been through before entering the Underground, it must’ve affected her so negatively that her Soul had been damaged too badly for him to heal. Perhaps if her body were not under the stress of childbirth, her Soul might eventually have recovered on its own, but as things stood, Gaster did not expect the human to survive her ordeal.
He kept that realisation to himself, however, not wishing to upset his friend and king. Instead, he resolved to at least make sure that the baby survived. He didn’t think Asgore’s soft heart could take two deaths in one day, least of all that of a baby. What would happen to that baby after it was born, though, Gaster couldn’t say. They still needed two more human Souls to break the Barrier, after all...
After what felt like an eternity to everyone in the bedroom, a baby’s wail cut through the air, momentarily halting all other noise. The two monsters both held their breath as the wailing continued, and with one final, pained cry from the human woman, a tiny, blood-coated baby was pushed all the way out of her mother’s womb and into Gaster’s waiting hands.
The doctor went to clean up the squalling newborn, and Checked them over thoroughly. With a note of relief in his voice, he announced that the child, a female, seemed to be in stable condition and showed no signs of ill health. Her Soul was also surprisingly strong for one so young. With deft hands, in spite of the large holes in their centre, he then wrapped the infant up in a soft, clean towel, and handed her to his king.
Asgore gazed down at the baby, mesmerised by how tiny she was, fitting snuggly in the palm of his large hand, all soft, wrinkly skin, warm and alive and, according to his trusted friend, blessedly healthy. A smile spread across his face. She was so beautiful... His Soul thrummed and pulsed, glowing with emotions he had not felt in so, so long. Not since the birth of his son...
A small noise from his bed drew his attention to the human, her breathing harsh, haggard, and looking utterly exhausted. Asgore quickly went to present to her, her new daughter.
“Congratulations, human. You have a healthy baby girl.” He lowered his hand towards the woman, holding the squirming newborn close to her mother’s head.
The woman turned her face towards her baby, love and relief and wonder brimming in her eyes. It seemed to take every ounce of her remaining strength, to lift her hand and place it on her daughter’s downy head. In a voice barely above a whisper, she greeted her child for the first time.
“Hello... Frisk... my baby... I’m... I’m so happy... to meet you... at last...” Her hand moved to caress her daughter’s head, the corners of her lips lifting upwards in a smile of pure adoration for the tiny life she’d created.
Asgore smiled down at the two of them, his Soul warming at the tender sight. He stilled when the mother’s eyes caught his, her gaze firm, yet pleading.
“Please, King Asgore... look after her... for me... take care of... of Frisk... please ... promise me... that you’ll take... good care... of Frisk... and love her... for me... I... beg you...” Her voice wavered, small and weak, but her tone was strong and insistent. Asgore couldn’t look away from her eyes, determination shining within them, despite everything, and the monster king found himself unable to do anything but nod to her request.
“I will. I promise. I’ll care for her and love her like my own child. You have my word, as a king, and as a father,” he vowed to her, with unwavering resolve, no hint of hesitation in his voice. It was an easy promise to make, really; his Soul was already so full of love for this precious life he had helped bring into the world. Behind him, Gaster made a noise of protest, but Asgore ignored him, his gaze fixed unblinkingly on the woman’s, trying to convey to her his earnestness.
The human smiled at him, her face softening with relief, as she sagged against the pillows. “Thank... you...” were her final words, before she closed her eyes. Her hand fell to the bed, landing on the covers with a quiet thump, and her breathing slowed to a stop, her body going completely, deathly still. She still had a smile on her face.
Asgore bowed his head to her, closing his eyes. He remained in respectful silence, while in his paw, his new daughter wailed loudly and pitifully, as if able to sense the loss of her mother. Their solemn moment was cut short when a green Soul floated out of the woman’s chest. It slowly drifted closer and closer to Asgore, before coming to stop right beside the sobbing infant.
Before Asgore could react, Gaster stepped forward, producing a specialised Soul container from his dimensional bag and using it to scoop up the human Soul, taking care not to let it touch him nor his friend. The goat monster wanted to protest, but knew the necessity of the scientist’s actions, and so merely bit his lip. He instinctively drew his newborn daughter closer to his chest, his free hand coming up to hover protectively over her.
Once the human Soul had been safely contained, and Gaster had sealed the lid shut on top of the large glass cylinder, the Royal Scientist held it up for both himself and his boss to observe. Thin, spiderweb-like cracks ran all across the heart-shaped Soul, but despite that, it still glowed a vibrant, verdant green, a testament to the strength of will of its owner. It reminded Asgore of a previous human who had fallen into his kingdom, many years ago, one whose Soul was tinted the same shade of green.
That particular person had been unusually kind and compassionate for a human, and had avoided harming even a single monster, choosing instead to flee from any encounters they were forced into. Unfortunately for them, it was in their haste to run away from the denizens of Hotland, that the human had tripped on the uneven, rocky floor and fallen into the bubbling lava below. By the time anyone was able to retrieve the Soul, it had already shattered and was lost to them forever. Asgore had grieved both the tragic loss of an innocent life, and the waste of a precious Soul, for a long time.
And now, here was another green Soul, almost as if to make up for the loss of the previous one. That meant that they now had...
“SIX HUMAN SOULS,” Gaster gazed at their latest acquisition with a carefully blank face, the long cracks on his skull seeming more pronounced. His voice was cold, clinical, his entire countenance totally emotionless. “ALL WE NEED IS ONE MORE AND THE BARRIER CAN BE BROKEN. ONE MORE HUMAN SOUL AND WE CAN ALL BE FREE.”
He glanced pointedly at the baby, sniffling softly in Asgore’s hand. With a growl, the boss monster hid his child from the other’s gaze with a large, fluffy paw, shifting his body to shield her from any possible attacks. Not that the doctor would’ve stooped to such lengths, he knew, but Asgore was taking no chances. He had already lost two children. He refused to lose another.
“You will NOT get that Soul from MY child,” he practically snarled, his magic gathering around his free hand, ready to form into his trident at a moment’s notice. The air around him started to heat up, until a whine from the baby caused Asgore to quell the fire magic threatening to burst out from his angry Soul. Gaster bowed his head low.
“MY APOLOGIES, MY KING. I MEANT NO HARM TO THE CHILD.” He sighed slightly, his impassive front melting away into a worried frown. “OTHERS, HOWEVER, MIGHT NOT BE SO AMENABLE TO YOUR WISHES. WE HAVE BEEN TRAPPED DOWN HERE FOR SO LONG, AND THE HOPE FOR FREEDOM IS ALL THAT KEEPS MANY OF YOUR SUBJECTS GOING. SHOULD THEY LEARN THAT THERE IS ANOTHER HUMAN SOUL IN THE UNDERGROUND, ONE THAT YOU REFUSE TO TAKE... I FEAR THAT THE CHILD’S FUTURE MAY BE... DARK. AND GROW YET DARKER THE LONGER SHE REMAINS ALIVE.”
Asgore let out a frustrated huff, dropping his protective stance. He understood, on a rational level, that Gaster’s words were true, and yet...
He glanced down at his newborn baby. Little Frisk had tired herself out from all of her crying, and was dozing off within her new father’s gentle hold. Asgore felt his Soul overflow with love, almost alight with the depth of his newfound devotion for this tiny creature, and pulsing in time with the rise and fall of Frisk’s chest. She had only just been born, and yet she already meant the world to him.
“Regardless of what my people demand of me, I will not yield to them my child,” his low, rumbling voice proclaimed, an oath both to Gaster and to Frisk. “That is one sacrifice I will never make. Not for anyone or anything.” He looked up at the other monster, his expression almost desperate. “You understand my feelings, do you not old friend? You would defend your children above all else, wouldn’t you? Isn’t your youngest just a baby as well?”
Gaster looked uncomfortable, his skeletal hands clenching around the Soul container he still held. He cast his gaze to his friend’s imploring face, then to the baby, a difficult expression on his damaged skull, before he sighed, a heavy, helpless sound.
“PAPYRUS WILL BE TWO YEARS OLD IN A FEW MONTHS,” Gaster’s voice was unusually quiet, a distant, yet soft look on his bony face. “HE’S SO YOUNG AND ALREADY SO LOUD. AND SO FULL OF VIGOUR. SANS, BY CONTRAST, IS MUCH CALMER. HE’S BARELY FIVE AND YET HE DISPLAYS A MATURITY WELL BEYOND HIS YEARS. ESPECIALLY SINCE... SINCE HIS MOTHER PASSED AWAY...” The doctor’s gaze focused on the sleeping baby Asgore cradled so delicately in his hand. His eye sockets narrowed slightly, his tone becoming thoughtful. “SANS WAS ACTUALLY THE SAME SIZE AS THE- AS FRISK IS, WHEN HE WAS BORN. SUCH A SMALL BABY...”
Asgore hummed in agreement, his eyes tracing every single one of his daughter’s features, committing every detail to memory, to cherish forever. “Indeed. So small. Asriel was much bigger when he was born. Chara must have been just as little, though. Golly, humans sure are tiny and soft and vulnerable.”
Gaster gave a start at the mention of the deceased royal children, his scarred eye sockets widening. Asgore had refused to speak of either of his lost children for as long as the scientist had known him, the wounds on his Soul still too fresh, even after so many years. To hear him mention them now, so casually... Gaster could feel hope rising, unbidden, in his Soul. Maybe, just maybe, Frisk might be exactly what his friend needed to finally move on from his painful past.
Asgore raised a finger to very, very gently stroke his daughter’s chubby cheek. But even that featherlight touch was enough to rouse the newborn from her nap. With little fussing noises, Frisk blinked her eyes, swivelling her head around, her gaze unfocused. For a brief second, Frisk’s eyes met Asgore’s and he sucked in a breath. She had her mother’s eyes... Asgore hoped with all his Soul that she had also inherited her mother’s strong will. His daughter would need to be brave and determined to overcome the challenges the future would bring.
“No matter what, I will protect you, my child,” he murmured softly. Frisk’s head turned towards the sound of her father’s voice, tiny fists flailing in the air, and Asgore smiled down at her. “Not just because I love you with all my Soul, but also because I feel certain that you are the future of humans and monsters. I’d once thought the same of Chara, but... I was wrong... Now, though, I’m positive. You, Frisk, will one day bring about the future I’d always hoped for.”
Gaster gave the two of them a sceptical look. “YOU TRULY BELIEVE THAT THIS ONE, TINY HUMAN CAN CHANGE THE WORLD, WHEN YOU YOURSELF COULD NOT, WITH ALL OF YOUR POWER?”
Asgore looked straight at Gaster, staring directly into those dark eye sockets, as he replied, “I do. I genuinely believe that Frisk can someday bridge the vast chasm between our two races, showing humans that our kind can be trusted, and showing monsters that not all humans are bad.”
Gaster still appeared unconvinced. He gave Frisk a dubious look, trying to see in her what his king did. “A VERY, VERY DIFFICULT TASK, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING WHAT HAPPENED WHEN THE LAST HUMAN FELL INTO THE UNDERGROUND.”
Asgore’s face turned sombre, as he remembered the previous fallen human’s murderous rampage across much of the Underground. Unlike the human with the green Soul, this blue Souled human had refused to run away, and had stood her ground in the face of the monsters’ hostility, returning their attacks with her own deadly, yet graceful kicks. The violence had only been brought to an end when she had been slain by his previous Head of the Royal Guard. The fierce fish monster had fought valiantly to avenge her fallen comrades, including her husband, and had triumphed in the end, but at the cost of her own life, leaving her infant daughter orphaned.
It had only been a few years since that dreadful time, and the scars on his people’s Souls were still very fresh. Their hurt and their hatred would not easily be assuaged. But Asgore refused to give up hope.
“All the more reason why Frisk must live and grow alongside monsters. My people need to see that our two species are not so different, and that we can coexist in harmony. For the good of everyone.” Asgore fixed Gaster with an uncommonly serious look, causing the other monster to stand to attention out of pure reflex. “This is about more than just freedom.
I know that at any time, I could’ve simply absorbed one or more of the human Souls in my possession, crossed the Barrier, and gathered the final Souls needed to free us all. But doing so would only incite the fury of the humans Aboveground. Merely suspecting that Asriel had killed a human had provoked them into attacking him; if they actually saw me murdering one of their own, and stealing their Soul, the humans’ wrath, and their fear, would know no bounds. They would never accept us amongst them.”
Asgore’s brow furrowed deeply, a dark look in his eyes. It was as if a shadow had passed over his face, as he spoke ominously of the perilous future he sought to avoid.
“Their ire, coupled with my people’s thirst for vengeance, will only lead to another war. One which I fear we cannot win, even with the power of seven human Souls, and which will only lead to innumerable casualties on both sides,” Asgore sighed, long and full of sorrow at the thought of such a devastating outcome. “If monsters are to have any hope of living peacefully on the Surface, then we must first shed our hatred of humanity.” He then glanced down at his baby, his expression softening into a loving smile. “And I believe that Frisk will help us to do so.”
Gaster stood silently for a while, mulling over what he’d been told. He couldn’t deny the truth of his king’s words, and he very much shared Asgore’s dream of peace. But still...
“THAT IS A HUGE RESPONSIBILITY TO PLACE ON SUCH SMALL SHOULDERS,” he remarked evenly, the barest hint of reproach in his voice.
Asgore, dipped his head in acknowledgment. “I know. And I feel terrible for doing so.” He truly sounded it, shame colouring his voice and dragging his shoulders down, as if it were a physical weight on his neck. He looked once more to his young daughter, his expression firming up. “But something in me believes that Frisk can accomplish it. When I look at her, I feel a certainty rise up within me, telling me that she is the one who will bring my people together in a shared desire for friendship and peace. She is the answer to all of our hopes and dreams.”
Gaster privately thought that that’s what every parent believed of their child, but kept that thought to himself, unwilling to dampen his friend’s enthusiasm. It was admirable really. He couldn’t help but be captivated by the strength of Asgore’s conviction, irrational as it was.
Then the king looked towards him, a bright smile lighting up his furry face. “Besides, she won’t be alone! I’ll be with her every step of the way, and I’ll do everything in my power to keep her safe and happy. I will raise her with love and compassion, and trust her to show us all the same as well. That is both my promise, and my wish, as her father.”
Against his will, Gaster could feel his own answering smile tug at the corners of his lips, his Soul radiating a pleasant warmth into his bones. And so, when Asgore asked him for his help in looking out for the child and safeguarding her wellbeing, his voice hesitant and meek, Gaster could only scoff.
“AS IF YOU EVEN NEED TO ASK, ASGORE,” he drew himself up to his full, rather considerable height, crossing his arms behind his back. “NATURALLY, I WILL DO ALL I CAN FOR BOTH YOU AND THE LITTLE PRINCESS. AS SOON AS I RETURN TO MY LABORATORY, I SHALL LOOK INTO THE PROPER CARE OF NEWBORN HUMANS. I’LL ALSO SEE ABOUT PREPARING FOOD SUITABLE FOR HER TINY HIGHNESS. BUT IN THE MEANTIME, BABY MONSTER FOOD SHOULD SUFFICE.”
Asgore beamed at him and Gaster puffed out his chest slightly, looking undeniably proud.
“Thanks WingDings! Golly, you’re a true friend. I’m so lucky I have you to count on,” Asgore’s eyes glistened with unshed tears, his voice becoming thick with gratitude. Gaster’s cheekbones tinted a light pink, the colour, faint as it was, standing out starkly against his white bones and the black cracks along his skull. He averted his gaze, coughing lightly into his fist.
His boss was never shy with his praise, but this time felt a little more personal. While Gaster was well used to people complimenting his work, personal compliments were a rarity, and always left him feeling embarrassed. His wife had often teased him about it. To his surprise, that thought was not accompanied by the familiar ache in his Soul. Instead, all he felt was fondness and nostalgia. How very interesting. Perhaps... perhaps Asgore wasn’t the only one whose past wounds were finally starting to heal...
“A-ANYWAY, THERE IS MUCH TO BE DONE! LOTS OF RESEARCH THAT NEEDS... RESEARCHING! I SHALL BE OFF NOW!” he announced, his normally loud voice an octave higher than usual. Asgore nodded his head, opening his mouth to bid his friend farewell, only to snap it closed when Gaster suddenly pointed a long, skeletal finger right at his snout. “AS FOR YOU, ASGORE! YOU SHOULD INFORM THE ROYAL GUARD IMMEDIATELY OF WHAT HAS TRANSPIRED. IT WILL BE THEIR DUTY TO ENSURE THAT OUR NEW PRINCESS IS PROTECTED AT ALL TIMES. MAKE SURE THEIR LEADER IS AWARE THAT FRISK’S SAFETY IS HIS TOP PRIORITY!”
Asgore could only nod obediently at Gaster’s strict orders, his eyes wide. “R-Right! I’ll go have a word with Muttler and his pack at once!”
Gaster drew his hand back, appeased with his boss’s easy compliance. “EXCELLENT. WELL THEN... GOODBYE, MY KING.”
And without waiting for a response, Gaster seemingly blipped out of existence. Asgore blinked at the abrupt departure. “Goodbye, WingDings,” he whispered into the air. His Royal Scientist was such an odd fellow.
Suddenly, Gaster reappeared, looking very flustered. With hasty movements, he grabbed his dimensional carry bag from where it rested on Asgore’s desk, and shoved his items back inside it without care. Then, without looking at Asgore, he shouted “GOODBYE FOR REAL THIS TIME!!”, before promptly vanishing once more.
Asgore shook his head, chuckling under his breath. An odd fellow indeed.
With the Royal Scientist gone, the room was once again still and quiet. The monster king knew that the coming days would be hectic, with a newborn baby to care for, and with all that he would need to see to. He would need to have a very important discussion with his Royal Guard about their additional duties, he would need to prepare a private funeral for Frisk’s mother, and he would need to address his people, informing them of his acquisition of a sixth human Soul. He would also have to formally present to them his new child.
That last task filled him with dread. He didn’t know how the other monsters would react to his daughter. He dearly hoped that they would accept her, as he had, and that they would come to love her, as he did, but even so... he would have to prepare for the worst. Precautions would have to be taken, as WingDings would put it. He couldn’t take any chances, not when it concerned the safety and well-being of his precious child.
But just for now, Asgore allowed himself to savour this peaceful moment, and bask in the joy of fatherhood, a blessing he’d believed, deep down, that he’d never get to experience again. Temporarily banishing his worries from his mind, the goat monster looked down at his newborn daughter, feeling a smile automatically blooming across his face. Frisk yawned sleepily at him.
“Howdy, Frisk,” he told her softly, his voice as gentle as his heart and just as full of paternal love. “Welcome to your new home. It may not seem like much, but it’s full of good people. I hope you’ll come to like it here! And I pray you’ll make many good friends.” He very carefully stroked a finger along the top of her head, and felt his Soul squeeze almost painfully with adoration as the baby let out another wide yawn, her little, pink tongue sticking out at him. “I swear to you, on my very Soul, that I’ll do my absolute best to be a good father to you. I may not have been expecting you, and you may have only just been born, but I already love you above all else in this world, and will continue to love you with all my Soul, for the rest of my life, my dear child.”