Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

There’s an old saying of history repeating itself. Sometimes in seemingly the most innocuous of ways.

And well this was something that He knew all too well.

Even now as he sat in his pot on a metal desk, overlooking a mechanical bed at the center of the where currently a single occupant lay unmoving save for the soft groan or twitch of a hand here and there.

A far cry from the loud-mouthed brat later turned savior of monsterkind who had nearly blasted him after that little “stunt” with the friendliness pellets some years ago now.

Several faces had come and gone in these past few days from this very room. Fins, bones, and tails. One day it would be that fox woman and her melting daughter telling him to wake up. Next it would be the skeleton bros, puns and all. Then the lizard scientist and her guardsman girlfriend sharing some details on some anime she was watching.

Still it wasn’t as crazy as that day when that cranky old medic eventually had to kick out what seemed like half of the Underground before they transferred him to this place some days later for more long term observation. Though one of his many bodies would make frequent visits.

On the bright side of things, he no longer had to put up with all the grunts and groans that made sleeping almost impossible at times. Even if this place was no better when he used to stay here because four-eyes wanted to prod at his petals with those tools of hers. Some of which she’d come back to find to be no longer functional the following day after one of those tests.

Aside from himself and that whiny navigator, the only other person to spend a considerable amount of time in here was Her.

Whenever she was off-duty or had nothing better to do, she would spend it by His side. Day or night. 

A few times she had been absent and on some occasions something would be different. Baggy eyes. A slight stumble in her steps. And one time she had come in with a flushed face the day after he’d heard in passing that the Commander had brought somebody into his private quarters to rest that night after they had found them barely managing to stand up in the hall outside after a night out.

She would even fall asleep here. In that very chair, sometimes with a book in hand or with one in his.

She never really had changed from her time in the Ruins. 

Just like that one time he had found her lying there.

It was pathetic. 

Yet as much as he could have just left her there that day to suffer. Something had compelled him to help her even though he felt nothing.

Even now as he did his usual sitting and staring, pretending to be some sort of houseplant all because that idiot with the broken crystal decided to ignore his warnings and take him with him to this place, that urge to do something was bugging him again just as it had however long ago it had been since that Ruins incident.

”Don’t you realize what I could do to you and the others.”

”I know. But I can’t leave you here like this, to suffer here all alone now that everyone else is gone. It’s just not fair! Friends don’t leave other friends behind.”

…

…

…

‘Friends.’

He really was an idiot for trying to consider him a “Friend”.

That night when the blonde had finally left, he got to work. Even being stuck in a pot, he could still manage with his vines.

With the object firmly in place, he was preparing to retract the thorny appendage but pauses when he felt something lightly grip it.

As much as he wanted to rip it away, once more he found himself spurred on by a similar feeling once he saw whom it was. Seeing his posture relax from the contorted expression it had been wearing.

A genuine smile crossed his face for what must have been the first in a long time before he finally gave into sleep like the woman in the chair was doing, her hand grasping the other while on the side table next to the bed sat a full glass of water.

Chapter Text

She had been away when HQ had finally regained a connection to the three. When they had received news on what had happened.

What was supposed to be a simple welcome back treat for a job well done had quickly fallen onto the floor as she saw a familiar shade of red and blue step into the foray and what they were holding. She had been well aware of the risks that this line of work posed, espically for those fighting on the front lines when she had taken this position. But even the deaths of some of those whom had put their lives down to protect Humans, Monsters, and Reploids from the threat that was Mavericks could prepare her for something that just hit way too close to home.

Those first few days in the med bay were hard. Even after they had gotten him stabilized, repairs and all, he showed no signs of improving. Something was interfering with his systems is what she had learned from the Hunter’s chief medic who had been pretty thorough about sharing any info he could with her. He knew all too well how worried that his newest superior could get about the kid.

A very stubborn something that had evaded just every attempt he had made to analyze it. 

All they could do was wait for his New Generation systems to fight off whatever this bug was. Not like it was any help for her.

News would break quickly on what had happened to the rest of the former Underground inhabitants, namely after Kanako had come for a visit. Seeing the little girl go unstable at the sight of the one friend from the surface who has helped her to escape from that scary lab and the not so concealed look of murder in her mother’s eyes directed towards whomever had done this, ready to take their head through a trial by fury.

That would possibly extend to any New Generation reploids that dared to cross her path any time soon. She never trusted them with that stupid moon project from the start to begin with.

Her glare would pass over a tiny purple spect that seemed to sparkle but briefly in respond as the two left.

Several more would come and go in the following days:

“So how’s our honorary 6th member doin?”

”Hey kiddo, how ya holdin’ in there? Hope ya not SPACING out too bad after taking down that LUNAtic.”

”Sans. Now’s not the time for puns. We’re in a hospital.”

”Come on Paps, no need to be all down. It’s just a few puns to help LIGHTEN the mood of this place.”

”SAAAAANNNSSSS!”

”Um… this is the right place? Oh good… Hey Axl. Eagle and I brought a friend of yours with us.”

”A fight to the death. I knew that Hunter had it in him! Ha ha ha ha! Just my legendary duel with…”

”Dragoon… Don’t finish that sentence. We’re all still on still on rough terms here with the Hunters.”

“Like omg… You and the others were like… so amazing for saving the world from that Sigma dude.”

”Yeah! We, totally, saw the whole thing at the Moon Party Grilby’s hosted.”

”Like the light show was totally bonkers!”

”HELLO DARLINGS! I HAVE ARRIVED TO VISIT OUR FALLEN SAVIOR!”

Eventually the head medic would be forced to kick most of the guests out and redo visiting hours after the commotion it all caused, and also for some of his other patients and staff getting distracted by the surprise celebrity visit that had stirred up a ruckus all over HQ.

She would be the exception, staying by his side whenever she could as a good mother to her child.

Even though she had been told that he might not be able to hear her in this state, she would talk to him about whatever came to mind. How her day went, happenings around HQ, etc. Or she’d read him a book, rather it be a story or her good old one on snail facts.

Her room saw little use during this time as she would spend them in the med bay, and later the R&D Lab once the decision was made to move him to someplace else for further monitoring.

”Good morning Commander Toriel. I wasn’t expecting you to still be here. Hope you slept well.”

”Hmmmm…? Oh… Greetings Pallette. My apologizes but I suppose I must have fallen asleep again while reading. ”

The newbie Navigator and lab director had been a lot more vocal compared to the muted “Good Morning Commander…” she’d get from the head medic on these occasions. She’d also often wake up to the presence of a pillow and blanket that hadn’t been there the night prior, along with her reading glasses being neatly placed on a nearby table next to that flower if she’d been wearing them.

She had done all she could to try and appear strong, but it wasn’t fooling her coworkers. And well it turns out that most reploids here were pretty good at spotting the little details from her lack of sleep to the few times she’d been seen around the mess hall.

And well that would all come to a head one faithful day. From what innocently started as a suggestion from a certain short skeleton to take the day off and hang out in Ebott City.

”Ya know what Tori. I think what you need is a break. You’ve been working yourself to the BONE this past week. Tomorrow night when Grilby usually has his special.”

That did not sound like a bad idea as she’d been working a lot and even her boss had suggested that she take some time for herself after everything. And so she took Sans’ advice and took that day off to explore the once abandoned city now turned new Monster Capital. 

Once night had fallen, she made her rendezvous with said skeleton in the crowded bar and grill. Various monsters, humans, and reploids sat around, all lost in their own conversation as the former queen ordered two shots for the both of them.

The rest of the outing had been a blur. Only a few bits and pieces she could recall from that night before she woke up in a rather large room on the smooth surface of bed next to the Commander on his own. A watery glance at the moon. A few concerned voices. The cold metal of the floor. Another worried voice and the feeling of being lifted up. The rest of that day Signas refused to look at her in the eyes without having to look away to hide an awkward blush.

“Did ya’ll see what happened last night?”

“Yeah man. It was like… the Christmas Party all over again. But with like… None of the fun that was her karaoke singing. Never thought I’d hear a rendition of Jingle Bells beat out the previous eggnog-fueled cover of Oh Holy Night before it after Axl gave him the nudge to stop sitting in the corner.”

“Oh come on you two! It wasn’t anything like that Christmas party. All she was doing was crying on the floor in the hallway before the Commander found her. Then she smooched him on the cheek and called him “Gorey” as he was taking her back to his quarters.”

At least she had been wise enough to take responsibility for everything. The Commander hadn’t been too upset, more understanding as she saw this as a wake up call to take better care of herself. A few days off here and there as Maverick activity had decreased significantly and any future outings she would be accompanied by an escort (or two).

“I know what’s like to lose somebody that you love. What makes things even harder is when you have no other choice but to…”

The shorter crimson figure began to spew his romantic woes under an inebriated stupor. He’d had quite a few more than her as his kind could tolerate a lot more before the effects start getting to his systems all while she listened on.

”… Recently, I’ve been feeling conflicted about something. There’s this… girl… who’s been on my mind a lot…”

The Hunter would go on about an all too familiar somebody and that one specific comment he had made about him wanting her to be his navigator when the trio was set to depart for the Gateway.

”The thing is… I’m not sure if I’m ready to let somebody else into my heart again after what happened with Iris.”

”I know how you feel. After those six children went to their deaths, I made up my mind that I would keep any human who fell down after that locked up in the ruins. That was until Axl convinced me otherwise. Plus I do not believe that Iris would want you to be like this. She would want you to be happy. Perhaps all you need is some encouragement. As some of the other Hunters have said… “Just do it! Don’t let your dreams be dreams.”

A chuckle escaped his mouth before turning into a cacophony of full blown laughter between the two. Across the bar sat the other Hunter whom had come along, a smile plastered on his face as he shook his head at their intoxicated laughter. At least she and his best friend were having a good time.

Eventually the time would come for them to get back to HQ. The escort back wasn’t much of an issue compared to how it had been knowingly to her when she’d gone out with Sans (She had insisted that she could get back there herself using the airbus) before promptly crashing back in her own quarters once they had returned.

That following day she would also take off, using it as an excuse to spend time with the still comatose Hunter she now called Son.

As usual she took her seat which the Lab Director now simply left behind, popped open a book and began to read. Though she’d get so caught up in the story that she would only stop when she began to hear him groan, not having noticed the twitching from before.

”Ugh…. Ah…”

“Let… me… go…”

“It… hurts…”

She was quick to rush to his side, gripping his hand to let him know she was there.

”Shh… shh… It’s ok. It’s just me, Toriel. Your mother and caretaker. And well I suppose superior officer now. Although I’ve been in this position for several years now. I still find it quite strange being addressed as such sometimes.”

”…”

”Uh…”

”M…Mom?”

”Are… you…”

She smiled.

”Yes, my child. I’m here. There’s no need to be afraid. You are in the R&D Lab. Safe right here at home. Everyone’s been worried about you. I know someday you will awaken and until then, I shall keep watching over you. Please, stay determined.”

Carefully she bent down to place a kiss on his helmet, careful not to brush against the crystal before returning to her seat. She would stay there for the rest of the day as usual as another hand would curl into hers.

That night, both monster and reploid barely made a sound as the old lady got what was probably her best night of sleep from these past two weeks now.

“Oh, thank you for the water last night. I appreciate your kind gesture, Pallette.”

”I’m sorry Commander, but I didn’t put that there. The lab was empty last night save for well… you and Axl.”

”…”

”…”

“Strangely enough… I do recall something like this happening twice before. Once when we were still all trapped Underground. The other time a few years ago during an HQ wide Christmas celebration. I always assumed the second one to be Signas’ doing. But looking back now, I do recall the glass also being full like that time in the Ruins and well… Recently when I woke up here…”

”Well it could have been one of the other Hunters. I did leave the lab unlocked to the higher ranks and the janitorial staff before I went to sleep last night.”

”It may just be this old lady’s mind getting to her, but a long time ago I used to know someone that always filled up their glass so the liquid was always peaking over the brim. Just like this one is now. It was the most efficient way to fill it, they said. Regardless of how thirsty they were. My son started to copy them and… There were a lot of spills in the house.”

”Strangely enough, I found a puddle right outside the laboratory's door just before I came in here. And Alia mentioned something about Layer slipping early this morning and crashing into Zero…”

”…”

”…”

”Maybe I’m just overthinking things again. It must have been one of the others. Concerned for this silly old lady who’s been worrying too much. I should be off. Somebody needs to help manage things around here.”

”See you in the Command Center in a bit, Commander Toriel. Oh! Be sure to watch your step as you’re leaving. That plant had an expected growth spurt last night and I nearly tripped over it coming in.”

Chapter Text

Signas’s POV

The aftermath of the whole moon incident had been a massive relief on the side of the side of the Hunters, it had been utter hell on Hunter Base’s administrative staff that don’t work in the field.

Reports, emails, and a few in person comments were enough to get to even his high powered CPU with just the volume of it all. There had been times in these following days where he would say that he felt overwhelmed, but as the diligent commander that he was, he managed to get through it without breaking a sweat.

The same could not be said for his assistant second in command.

Usually she was quite a diligent monster, acting as a second pair of hands and eyes to make sure that things ran smoothly and in turn lightening his work-load a bit. She also made dealing with inter-species relations a lot more easier as their human advisors weren’t always the most willing to listen.

After all, was a former Queen. And a mother to boot.

Her usually more positive demeanor was gone and in its place had been a thinly veiled facade designed to trick everyone that she was doing ok. Not too dissimilar to the one of feigned politeness she had put up days prior when the King had come to visit them on some business.

He had seen right through it rather quickly, as had many of the other Hunters. From the very much visible bags under her eyes and her insistence that she wasn’t hungry

People were getting worried, and rightfully so when Lifesaver came into his office one day with a serious look on his face

”Commander. You really need to do something about Commander Toriel. Alia brought her in after she almost passed out in the Commander Center… Again. It’s only a matter of time before she ends up in the medbay long term, or worse.”

A sigh escaped his lips at the medics words. Even though he himself hadn’t shown it, the Commander himself had been growing increasingly worried. He had his reasons for not taking action up until now, and that had mostly been due to the workload he’d been dealing with.

”I’ll speak with her later about this.” He said as he dismissed the medic. Now alone in his office, he could finally collect his thoughts.

And well, most of them had been about her. Some which he admitted had been a bit less than professional of his co-worker.

After all, she was kind but also knew when to put her foot down when needed. She had that infectious smile. That silly laugh. And she could make one hell of a pie. Though she could sometimes get a bit wild as he recalled from the whole “jitterbug” dance that he’d been forcefully dragged into last December.

But most of all, despite the fact she had Axl, Monsterkind, and pretty much the rest of HQ around her at all times. She always seemed so… lonely…

Perhaps…

He would shake those thoughts away as an email message flashed up on-screen. Looks like he had more work to do.

That chance to speak with her about her problems would not come as he’d soon learn that a friend of hers had convinced her the next to take some time off. While relieved at first that she had finally gotten the memo, that feeling would soon turn into one of worry.

Not that he didn’t trust the skeleton to bring her home in one piece. But for some other reasons.

And well his fears would be confirmed later that night when he found her on the hallway floor in a sobbing mess.

The smell on her breath was strong as he lifted her to her feet, a sign what she had been doing just hours before and something that he greatly disapproved of. In this case, he understood. He would still have a talk with her about this once she sobered up about it all but he didn’t have plans for punishing her.

He hadn’t seen her like this since the Christmas party, during which she had dragged him into doing the, literal, jitterbug with her. That was understandable and he, too, had been a bit on the inebriated side as it was as a holiday party where he had authorized its consumption. While this, clearly had not been the case.

Perhaps he should bring her to the medbay. But then again, Lifesaver would have a fit about this.

If anything, all she really needed was to sleep it off.

His quarters were thankfully not too far away as both Commanders stumbled their way through the hallways. There were a few Hunters hanging around as he turned the corner, a bit too many for his liking at the moment. Mainly a Rookie he’d assigned to cleaning duty that just hopefully he could sneak by unnoticed.

Except his companion wasn’t helping much.

In the midst of her stupor, she’d suddenly become clingy as she mumbled something under her breath while he tried desperately to keep her quiet.

That was until she perked up, red faced and all, as she blurted out possibly the clearest thing she’d said all night.

”Oh how sweet of you. I could just eat you up like a nicely baked slice of Snail Pie, Gorey dearest~”

What happened next was probably the fastest he’d ever unlocked and locked his quarters as the Rookie saw it all. From the attempt at flirting to the sloppy kiss she’d plant on his cheek. Something that was bound to make its rounds around HQ for some time before he shut it down.

His quarter’s charging bed would be too small for the both of them, a downside of being a rather large reploid with a colleague whom was just about as tall as you. Plus even with the cushioning, it wasn’t exactly built for monsters to be comfortable in.

Thank goodness for that extra cot he had on hand that he quickly sat up and made sure she was comfortable on as he got ready to rest for the night.

Yet he couldn’t help but to throw an arm over her form and pull her in close as he could once he got onto his bed. Feeling as she relaxed in his embrace was enough to calm his nerves as both slept in each other’s embrace.

Ceroba’s POV

It all began with an innocent comment from her daughter whilst she had been in the middle of watching a news broadcast regarding some recent events regarding the Jakob Project.

”Wasn’t Axl supposed to come visit today?” The little fox said as she destabilized a bit but due to her nature as a Boss Monster, she luckily hadn’t been fused with any of the others and had remained relatively stable. Eventually she had learned to control it somewhat and could remain relatively normal looking unless she experienced any form of strong emotions.

At least there was some good news in the future as Alphys said she had been working on possibly a way to possibly un-amalgamate and stabilize the others in the near future after having come across a contact on the surface whom had quite a bit of knowledge on this type of subject. Though there had been some issues that the contact in question was dealing with, cases of some illness listed only as the “Purple Flu” and some upcoming coronation ceremony in a couple of weeks before he could be able to see Kanako.

Her child had been excited for the playdate that the Hunter had agreed to take some time off to spend with his friends once this mission was over. Things had been rather tense as of recently amongst Monsterkind and those Reploids whom dwelled in the Dreemurr Kingdom about the whole Jakob Project rebellions and well this would have been a nice change of pace now that the situation had been “resolved”.

Starlo and her had gone to that so-called “Moon Party” that a bunch of Monsters in the city had gotten together to throw at Grilby’s after news leaked that the issue was coming from the moon. It had mostly consisted of a bunch of intoxicated monsters and a few Reploids being huddled around a telescope hoping to get a glance of the action while others sat and talked about their lives in a bar and grill plastered with various moon themed decor obtained form who knows where.

She hadn’t been too impressed, wishing to merely go home to see Kanako.

That had been but three days ago now, and all had been but radio silent.

That was, until knock rang at her door. Pausing the human reporter whom had been droning on, she went to the door where the familar cowboy wearing friend stood waiting alongside a Reploid. The look in their eyes was enough to tell her what was going on and just whom it was in relation too.

The trip to HQ was a silent one. It had been an official escort but she still felt uneasy about taking a flying vehicle, that included stuff like airbuses. Kanako didn’t mind, finding the view rather enjoyable.

”W-Where is he?!”

The air was tense as the poor automatic door to the medbay was nearly busted down as she felt her self control crack for just one moment. All eyes were on her now, including the irritated glare of one the head medic’s three bodies over the noise.

”Axl!” Kanako would follow up as she ran to his bedside. Her complexion started to pale as her body began to morph into an oblong shape as she reached out to touch the comatose reploid. This startled a few of the medical Reploids but was quickly defused by the goat monster whom explained her child’s condition.

The sight before her was already bringing back bad memories. Seeing her daughter like this and a close friend who was now in a state just like she’d been proved to be a bit too much as he eyelid twitched.

She wanted to know who had done this and have a few… “Words” with them. That involved her staff and her own Red Attacks. 

And if the news had been correct, she had a feeling exactly who might have done this. Or two

In a way, there were times that her husband’s warnings had been right. Maybe not completely with humans, but definitely indeed with New Generation Reploids. She had a feeling from the very beginning since they started showing up that they were up to no good. 

She’d made it a promise that should any of those… Things… lay a finger on Kanako, she wouldn’t hesitate to tear their head off. Even if it was the last thing she did. That would even extended to now should that bastard who did this dared to show their face again, she'd give them a trial by fury.

During her moment of contemplation, she hadn’t noticed that Kanako had finally calmed down and was now conversing with the sleeping form on the bed.

It had been about the mask her child had made all those years ago before she had fell down, the same one that she had sworn had been destroyed during her showdown with Clover. An object which, since the barrier had fallen, had become quite an oddity around the Ketsukane household. Aside from its unexplained repairs, there was several instances of the thing seemingly vanishing out of nowhere before reappearing back on its holder. And on another occasion, she had even swore that she had seen Kanako talking to it.

Perhaps she was imagining things and it was simply Kanako wishing that her father could be here with them as well.

Eventually the time would come for them to leave. Her daughter bid him farewell as she took her hand, making a promise to come visit him again and wishing that he would get better soon.

Before they left, she couldn’t help but to look back over her shoulder as a somber smile spread across her face.

Sure the kid was a Reploid with the same abilities as those New Gen scum she despised. But something about him was different.

Unlike them, he had a heart. A heart to tell right from wrong and a drive to help those in need.

After all, he had done something for her that she would never forget. The very reason she considered him a good friend…

…and that would be for reuniting her with her little Kanako.

Asgore’s POV

Today was such a beautiful day.

The birds were singing. His flowers were blooming. And no important meetings on the docket.

The perfect day to kick back and tend to his garden.

After all, he was expecting guests later that day. One being an old friend whom had been a bit preoccupied due to some tests that the former Royal Scientist had been running on him and the others regarding an upcoming research project. He, too, had received a letter from a rather unexpected source baring the two seals of two Kingdoms that he would have never assumed that he would have ever heard the names of again.

To think so many Monsters got away from the War and had been thriving on the Surface was both a relief and also a bit terrifying of what they had to deal with.

That was, until midway through their little garden party when he felt the hand of his bivalvian bodyguard nudge his should.

”Your highness, you have company.”

“GOSHDARN REPLIFORCE BUREAUCRATS!! *cough cough* ALWAYS RUINING A GOOD TIME!!

Eh, don’t worry about *cough* him, Owl. He’s just a bit cold about having to share a body *cough*.

“That’s a lot coming from a lowly failed test subject like yourself.”

“What did you just call me you little brat!? Well your armor looks somebody tried to construct a tree topper out of foil wrapping paper and then gave up halfway through!! *cough cough*

Can’t we all just be civil here? *cough* Asgore’s got some business he needs to attend to *cough*.”

The letter had been a summon’s request sent by the Maverick Hunters. An urgent matter too that he didn’t have time to fully change into his typical regal regalia as he simply threw on his cape in hopes to hide his pink Hawaiian shirt and purple pants.

Sheldon would accompany him to HQ as both a bodyguard and escort, sticking close to his side and doing his best to remain calm despite his nerves. The king would simply smile at him, telling him that everything was going to be alright.

”No need to worry. They have already pardoned you for their mistake.” Fortunately the Clam reploid was one of the 48 whom happened to have a bit of a better reputation amongst the Hunters once news had gotten out about what had happened that faithful day.

Several low ranking members bowed as he and his escort entered the Command Center. On high sat the Commander along with the familiar face and floppy white ears.

Ever since the barrier had fallen, their relationship to put it likely, had been strained. He’d made some attempts to try and reconnect with her but most of those had ended in failure.

Perhaps listening to his Bodyguard’s creator whom now also happened to be living at your place on the couch with dating advice wasn’t the best course of action.

He and the Commander talked for some time, mostly on matters regarding the whole incident regarding the New Generation Reploids as the King himself had been a big advocate for the Jakob Project. How this fallout would be handled and any possible protective measures that might need to be taken to protect Monsters from Maverick attacks. Eventually the topic on Axl came up and he felt his heart sink.

It felt as if he had lost another child.

“I understand it’s a lot to take in, your highness. But we are doing everything we can to make sure that Axl makes a full recovery.”

He trusted the Hunters even if a part of his mind was skeptical. Though from the sounds of things, it might be a while before he would come to visit the young Hunter whom had brought them freedom. Mostly because of Tori until she forgave him for his last attempt to say that he was sorry with a bouquet of golden flowers in a rather “unique” looking vase that a certain somebody had modeled for him using some “reused designs of an old project”.

Not that he knew this, but the HQ’s garbage incinerator smelt rather nice that day while some Rookies got a special “Target Practice” Lesson with a replica of the Nightmare Virus.

Though that wouldn’t stop news from spreading to the rest of his kingdom.

Chapter Text

The assimilation process had been rather slow for his liking. All thanks to that Prototype’s resistance to his takeover which had given him some time to poke around in his memories.

He had seen just about everything at this point.

Axl’s time with Red Alert…

His time as a Maverick Hunter…

And even a few other memories that he didn’t recall.

But out of all of the memories that He had observed, none of them would pique his interest more than that of the Prototype’s memories of his journey through the cave beneath Mt. Ebott. A place where an entire kingdom of Monsters had been trapped, forgotten for centuries, until the destruction of the barrier but only a few years ago.

From the time he first fell down. His journey through the Ruins with the help of Toriel. The times he hung out with Sans and Papyrus. His escape from Undyne. His duel with Dragoon. His encounter with Asgore. Him helping Alphys overcome her fears. His promise to Kanako. That final showdown against Asriel Dreemurr.

Every denizen he spoke with.

Every undeserving stranger he helped out.

Every SAVE.

Everything that didn’t happen.

Everything that did.

Everything…

He watched every second of it. And frankly, he was disgusted by it all.

He cares so much for these… lower lifeforms…

Literal dust and scrap from the Old World, buried and left to die as it should have.

All until that good for nothing Prototype showed up.

And they hailed him as their savior.

All because he prevented their slow deaths that humanity had condemned them to because their kind were no longer needed in the World.

Yet, one thing amongst that journey stood out to him. A recurring motif he had seen just about everywhere throughout the Hunter’s memories of his time Underground.

“However... There is a prophecy.

The Angel... The One Who Has Seen The Surface...

They will return. And the underground will go empty.”

The Deltarune.

“Oh yeah... The prophecy. Legend has it, an 'angel' who has seen the surface will descend from above and bring us freedom. Lately, the people have been taking a bleaker outlook... Callin' that winged circle the 'Angel of Death.' A harbinger of destruction, waitin' to 'free' us from this mortal realm... In my opinion, when I see that little circle... I jus' think it looks neat! Wahaha!”

That old Cooter’s words had him thinking.

”So these creatures believed that an Angel would descend from the Surface in order to bring them freedom. If only they knew how blind they were.”

If he had been in the prototype’s place, he would have done something different.

Sure they were weak, but they could have been useful tools. Tools to ignite another Monster Human War and use the chaos that insured to further Their plans even sooner than with the moon.

Play the role of a benevolent Angel, gourd them into dropping their guard. Then when the moment is right when the barrier falls, drop the bombshell. 

Their king was an absolute buffoon. All it would take would be the right words and he’d be right back to hating humans. Even more-so if he’d decided to twist the knife even further by dropping the truth about the fate of his son.

All it would take would be a few words to start another War. A war that he could use to rid both them and Humanity from the Earth for good.

Just as his “Father” would have wanted.

Though there would be a few obstacles. Those old world models and some more cautious monsters like that fox lady could pose a problem. Possibly even that flower if he left things go unchecked.

But perhaps, it still wasn’t too late to put that plan into motion.

No matter how long he would have to wait. He was willing…

To use Monsterkind’s own Savior against them…

That silly legend wouldn’t be about that Prototype or some bratty goat kid who called himself the “God of Hyperdeath” or whatever ridiculous name he had made up.

No!

That legend would be about Him.

The One Who Has Seen The Surface…

Fallen from the Heavens above…

Wearing a mask that hid the serpent beneath…

He would be the Angel to crush those Hopes and Dreams with his Light.

The Angel that would “free” Monsterkind for good. As humanity had failed to do years ago.