route_1065 | I came in like a Pokeball...

[It's overwhelming.

One moment, he was down in the ruins among the flowers, waiting for the others to break free to the surface while he remained Underground, biding the last of his time until he went back to the body he'd grown so sick and tired of. Being able to suddenly see sunlight- real light- is startling nearly to the point of being terrifying.

For a while, all Asriel can do is wander while helplessly carrying a little monster he found with him. A giant...seed of some kind that couldn't walk, and he didn't have the heart to leave it on the ground. (It's funny. Now he actually can feel real sympathy again...)

And then, of course, there are monsters everywhere. But also humans everywhere. Did something happen? Did the timeline get skewed and drop him on the surface, somehow...?

Asriel nearly bumps into Frisk before realizing who that is actually standing there, his ears drooping low while he continues to hold his Sunkern in his arms.]

Frisk...?

Asriel...?

[They blink several times in shock, not quite believing their eyes. Is it really him? But the last time Frisk had seen him like this was down in the Underground, before they'd all left...!]

[A wide, ecstatic smile spreads across their face, and Frisk throws their arms around Asriel in a tight hug.]

It's you! You're you again!

...!

[The sudden hug catches Asriel by surprise, a soft gasp escaping him when Frisk throws their arms around him. It's hard to tell whether or not he would have returned it, seeing how he's still clutching a Sunkern in his arms. But in spite of everything, a nervous little smile twitches onto his expression.]

Y-yeah...it doesn't really make sense, but I'm here.

[He pulls back just slightly so he can look at Frisk's face, concern and confusion etched into his features.]

This...this can't really be the surface, can it?

[It's realizing that poor Sunkern is there that keeps Frisk from squeezing the hug even tighter, and they pull back a little but keep their hands on Asriel's shoulders unless he shrugs them off.]

No, it's doesn't...but I'm so glad you're here!

[Frisk gives him that gentle, sleepy smile, then frowns as they look around.]

Well...it's not my surface, but it's a surface, I guess. I don't know where we are.

There...there aren't monsters on the surface, usually. And I don't recognize any of these...

["These" is emphasized when he glances down at his Sunkern, who seems to be staring up at Frisk curiously.

...and it's just about that time that Asriel notices that star...thing.]

A-and...what is that?

[Frisk smiles down at the Sunkern and pats it gently, then looks back up to Asriel.]

I don't know what these guys are, either. Maybe we're in Japan or something. [They had to get those anime ideas from somewhere.]

Huh? [Frisk blinks and looks behind them.] ...oh, that's a SAVE point. S' what I have to use.

[SAVE...now it's all coming back to him.]

I guess it would make sense that you could SAVE up here, too...

[Still, he's not so sure. It feels like something went wrong somewhere. And though he doesn't want to- not really- he...has to ask.]

Frisk, you...didn't RESET. ...did you?

[A shot of guilt hit them square in the chest, but their distress from the very idea of doing so on purpose well overshadows any hint of that in their expression.]

N-no, of course not! We're all--the with the barrier broken, there's no need to RESET anymore!

[That doesn't change the fact that it's still been happening, and Frisk can't figure out why. But...]

[Okay. Okay, that...it's still concerning, but knowing that Frisk didn't do anything that could have altered the timeline makes him feel a bit better. But that really just raises more questions than it answers.]

Good. ...we need to figure out what did happen, then...somehow. H-how long have you been up here?

[Frisk nods and frowns a bit before answering.]

Not very long...me and Mom were going to the city to find a place to stay, and I stopped for a second to look at a bug and then she was gone and I was here.

...and the bug was a lot bigger.

You haven't seen anyone else yet that you know? ...just me?

[That's...even stranger. Where could they all have gone?]

[Frisk shakes their head. Honestly, beneath their cheer they're getting pretty worried about that fact themselves.]

Nuh-uh. But I did find Sans' shortcuts! ...I think. They're a lot like them at least.

You did?

[Could Sans be here? It's possible, he supposes...that skeleton seemed to know more than he ought, beneath that veneer of laziness.]

Mm...maybe you'll find him. But...where are you going to go, now?

Yeah! I just kinda walked through one on accident and got from the middle of the woods to a city in a snap!

[Sans sure does have a lot of secrets, and even knowing that silly password of his hadn't gotten Frisk any more information than they'd had before.]

I dunno. I've just been looking around so far to see what there is. [Frisk pauses for a moment, then smiles.] You wanna look together?

[Asriel hesitates, but only for a moment. As strange as all of this is...he would much rather not be alone for it. And Frisk knows as much as he does about things, so...he nods, shifting his Sunkern in his arms.]

O-okay, yeah...that's probably a good idea.

[At least he's got real legs now, and not...you know. Roots. It's still clear in his expression that he's a bit unsure, but it would be worse to be in the midst of all of these humans by himself, especially with no real power anymore.]

[For a moment, Frisk is a little confused by Asriel's hesitance. Sure, he's been alone for so long, but wouldn't that mean he'd want to explore and enjoy his freedom that much more? But then they remember just when the last time he'd been around so many humans was.]

[Frisk puts their hands over Asriel's own, and offers a sympathetic smile.]

I won't let anyone hurt you. Promise.

[He glances down at his hands, shifting them just a little beneath Frisk's before looking back up with a small smile.]

Thanks, Frisk.

[He really does appreciate it. He doesn't feel quite so scared when he's with Frisk, either. They're tougher than they look; he knows that first hand. A lot of humans had been giving him strange looks...but he hasn't been attacked, at least not yet.]

So...where should we go?

Mm-hmm!

[They nod, and keep one hand over Asriel's while they think.]

Hmm...we could go back to the place I started? I think I remember the way back...

Okay. I'll follow you.

[He might be tempted to hold onto their hand so they couldn't get separated, but his arms are still full of Sunkern.

Speaking of...]

Um...did you see any little monsters around when you showed up? This guy was trying to follow me around...but all he says is "Sunkern". A-and he...can't really walk on his own.

[It is hard to hold hands and his little monster at the same time! So instead Frisk keeps pace at Asriel's side, heading back down the street looking for a particular alleyway.]

Nope...well, there was that bug, but it didn't seem to want to stick around. Soon as I showed up it ran away. You think 'Sunkern' is his name, then?

I think so. He must be pretty young.

[Maybe he just hasn't grown his legs yet? Or...something...

Asriel shrugs a little, hefting the seed a bit higher in his arms as he tilts his head back to avoid getting whapped in the face by the long sprout growing from the top of the Pokemon's head.]

...I hope I didn't take him...from somebody, though. I mean, he was just...on the ground...

[Frisk frowns a little with worry--that is a bit of a problem...]

Well, if he wants to be with you I think it's okay. But maybe we should ask if anyone lost him.

Yeah...that's probably a good idea.

[Asriel looks back down at the Sunkern again, who doesn't actually seem all that upset or worried. Actually, it seems pretty content with its life right about now.]

It's...weird how there's monsters everywhere, though. Monsters and humans...I d-don't think I've ever seen anything like it.

I came in like a Pokeball...

GIANT SPOILERS FOR TRUE PACIFIST END LIKE WOAH

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

tfw not enough icons

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject