As soon as the duo were ready, so began the silent and almost tearful journey into the Underground.<br/><br/>True to his own kind nature, the ex-King had insisted that they take little backpacks with them (remains from things that others had forgotten), and had already packed the bottoms of said packs with changes of clothes, another pair of shoes, and a tub containing a couple of slices of butterscotch pie each. In the front pocket, there was a cellphone for each of them (<strong>"Not to call me</strong>," Asgore had explained, "<strong>But you may find that you want to call people above here. There's a good signal in the rest of the underground.</strong>")<br/><br/>Following this, Asgore had led the pair, the human and the skeleton, down the stairs that had been sectioned off with a lock and chain. Down down down. Into a long corridor that seemed to stretch on forever, lit only by the dull flickering flames of the lamps that shone with fire magic at their core. It was a path that Frisk had walked before, twice now, but this time it was without fuss, without complaint, without having to fight.<br/><br/>Silence hung heavily between them; the walk seemed to take forever.<br/><br/>It was different here now. This was not the same world that Frisk and Aster had seen. This was not the world, or timeline, or whatever, that was referred to as 'Fell'. There were obvious differences: no flower to greet Frisk at the start (instead something had fled out of sight the moment that the pair had fallen here), Asgore being the one to see them out of the ruins instead of Toriel as it had been in the previous world, and finally the calm. The peaceful nature of Asgore instead of the horrifically and mentally scarred psyche of Toriel.<br/><br/>Still so much to be nervous of, yet...there was something to be eager about also. Future differences hung in their destinies, the land about to reveal its secrets to them.<br/><br/>There was no mistaking the heavy stone doors at the end of the corridor. This was it. The Royal insignia loomed above as though a long century of grudges were upon them. Another symbol, one that had been on Toriel and Asgore's clothing, emblazoned on the doorway. A stone sentinel to guard the ruins, and those within, from what lay outside.<br/><br/><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>"This is where I leave you."</strong></span><br/><br/>Asgore's voice was not jarring, but when it had not been heard in such a long time it sounded almost unnatural. Sudden. Pain laced each syllable.<br/><br/>The goat monster motioned towards the door and stood up tall, seeming all the more authoritative and regal when drawn up to his full height instead of stooping low and apologetically. Compassion, although not entirely gone, was no longer evident from his face.<span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>"I will open these doors. Already I believe I have given you all you would need. I know in my heart that you will meet some nice people out there. Remember to show them mercy and kindness as I have done for you. Some monsters may seem irrational, and will fight you, but at the very center of their being, they are merely showing passion for their people. Do not judge them."</strong></span><br/><br/>Then, softness as Asgore bent down to Frisk's height and gently embraced the human,<strong><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 14pt;">"Always be you. Do not change for this world."</span></strong><br/><br/>After that, a soft hug for Aster,<span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong> "Do not bear the weight of the world on your shoulders. You have a loyal friend to look out for you."</strong></span><br/><br/>Finally, the doors were pushed open, stiff and crumbling from disuse. Light filtered in from somewhere up above, but it was clear from the air within the chamber beyond that they were still trapped in the Underground. Asgore allowed the pair to pass, saying nothing more, and then...<br/><br/>...silence as the final echo of that door closing dissipated. Not even the sound of Asgore's movements beyond the stone barrier.<br/><br/>Frisk and Aster were alone in a corridor of stairs that led in only one direction.<br/><br/>Up.