FicWad

Prologue



“A Meeting in the Throne Room”


“You shouldn’t be doing this.”

The soft sound of a sweet, familiar voice echoed through the open room.

Asgore clenched his teeth, turning to face his beautiful wife, Toriel. Her eyes were narrowed, and a fierce fire burned in their depths, shining in defiance.

She spoke again, voice quivering with impatience at his silence. “First, you order death to all humans unfortunate enough to fall into the Underground, and now you declare war on an innocent, peaceful Tribe that has left our kingdom undisturbed for centuries. Have you lost all sense?”

Asgore took a step forward, his large feet crunching against the golden flowers blooming across the marble floor of his throne room, and raising his head and glaring at Toriel from the opposite side of the room. “These actions have been necessary-”

Toriel cut him off. “How is killing our allies necessary?” She snarled, fire magic flickering momentarily over her white paw before disappearing. Asgore flinched before she continued. “When I stood next to you during the war declaration, I saw their faces. Young children trembling in fear, crying, as you slaughtered one of their kind in front of their eyes, your soldiers advancing upon them with weapons raised as they fled towards the lake. How can you do things like this?”

“They refused to join our forces against the humans.” Asgore shot back, rage beginning to boil inside his chest at her stubbornness.

“You disgust me,” Toriel growled. “Asriel is gone. Nothing you do can bring him back. Grief isn’t a reason to destroy anything that gets in your way. I don’t know what I saw in you, but it’s clearly not here anymore.”

“Toriel, please-” Asgore raised his hand towards her, but she sniffed, turning away and leaving the room. Asgore stared at where she had just been, doubt rising in his throat. Was he wrong after all? Should he have let go of Asriel?

A shadow in the doorway vanquished his thoughts. Had Toriel come back? Hope bloomed inside of him-

Doctor Gaster walked into the throne room, gliding easily over vines constricting over the flooring. He pulled a small yellow lizard dressed in a white coat, her eyes darting around nervously. Asgore stiffened, his face hardening to a neutral stare.

“A surprise to see you here, Dr. Gaster,” Asgore said evenly. He gazed at his accomplice. “I suppose this is your new apprentice? It’s about time you chose a successor. You’re getting quite old.”

Gaster glowered at him from where he stood. His voice crackled as he spoke, his words said in a forgotten tongue. Asgore tilted his head slightly, his gaze shifting to his shivering assistant, who was huddled against the floor.

“H-he says he doesn’t appreciate your insult, but that you’re correct.” She said, then quieted, blushing anxiously up at him, correcting her tone to a more appropriate level in the presence of the Monster King. “M-my name is A-alphys, by the way,” she added awkwardly, staring at the flowers below their feet.

Asgore smiled down at her. “It’s good to see Gaster starting to work with younger ones,” he said lightly. “It’s nice to meet you, Alphys.”

Gaster straightened, speaking again. Alphys quickly adjusted her posture, preparing to translate again.

“He says, ‘She seemed interested in my recent projects, so I’m training her. I’ve taught her my language and shown her my work so far,’” Alphys fumbled.

Asgore nodded at her silently, then turned to face Gaster again, his expression shifting to serious. “Anyway, Dr. Gaster, I think it’s time to prepare your secret weapons. Are they old enough yet for battle?”

Alphys began translating his response once more. “‘Not yet, but soon. The second creation was screwed up during the DNA transfer, rendering it powerless. I tried to dispose of it, but… The first stopped me before I could finish the job, and it was wounded in the process. Now it won’t let me anywhere near the second, attacking me with its poison even though it knows it’s pointless.’”

Gaster spoke again. “‘Alphys had a few… Interesting theories and tests she showed me, and one might be beneficial to you, Mr. Dreemurr.’”

“Really?” Asgore stared intently at Alphys, waiting for elaboration. Gaster nodded at her, allowing her to explain.

“W-well, I’ve been r-researching a unique ability from humans,” She started. “It’s called… D-determination. The power to p-persist after death…”

“Interesting,” Asgore replied. His thoughts traveled back to Asriel, then shook his head. He was already dead. There was no way to bring him back now.

“If we can get our hands on some determination, it could benefit us greatly in our wars.”

Asgore faced Gaster. “A far-fetched theory, but it’s possible we could use this.” He said. Gaster nodded briefly in agreement. Asgore turned to Alphys again. “When will you start these experiments?”

“‘She started them a few days ago. They seem to be working well so far.’”

“Excellent,” Asgore responded. “Let me know when you have more information.”

“We will,” Alphys nodded enthusiastically, brightening at the praise. Gaster grabbed her hand once more, leading the two out of the room, Asgore’s gaze trailing after them. He smiled. For once, things were looking up for the Underground.

But everything was soon going to change.