(For the record yes I know it's been a year. I am currently attending college to obtain a Bachelor's in computer science. Believe me I've missed writing this story and I've thought about it all the time. The OG chapter 15 was actually written and completed like a year ago, but it was deleted with no backup and any determination I had left to write the story was gone. But, for the last couple of days I put a chapter together for you guys and rose this fanfic from the grave. I was getting praise for this story even a year after I had stopped writing it, so because you were all so determined to keep this story going, it's here. It's all for you. Thanks guys!)

Chapter 15

Fate Undetermined, Dinner with the Royal Guard.

"Hey..."

You stirred a bit, barely hearing the voice. Everything felt like you were floating in jelly.

"Hey! Get up!"

You felt a swift kick to your side! Yelping in pain, you sat up, holding where you were hit.

"Sorry, you needed to get up."

You looked up to see Chara. They were looking at you with an un-amused face. You looked around to see that you were completely surrounded by darkness. It felt like you were still asleep.

"Can you stand up?"

You looked at Chara, annoyed. You didn't want to get up.

"C'mon kid I'm gonna need you to stand."

They grabbed your arms and made you stand up. Your legs wobbled and you fell.

"Woah! Hang on there."

They helped you stand and held you up. You asked Chara where you are.

"Not important! What is important is you. Or rather, your soul."

Chara made your soul appear.

You gasped a bit, seeing it. It's cracked and broken, barely holding itself together, it's light fading.

"Yea, see the problem? It's not healing itself. Something after your last fight seems to have made you undetermined. You lack the will to heal yourself, and that's bad. I'm gonna need you to come back from this."

You remembered your fight with Toriel.

The light in your soul dimmed a little more.

"Hey! Cut that out!" Chara shakes you a bit. "Your lack of determination is going to get you killed. If your soul breaks and you lack the will to live, that's it! You're dead! No back!"

You shove Chara away.

You tell Chara there's no point in coming back, you just get attacked by another monster and die anyway.

"What do you mean the point? It's your life! Oh man you're selfish."

You shove Chara and call them selfish for dragging you away from the door in the first place.

"Geez I didn't drag you, it was your choice to follow me."

Chara shifts uncomfortably.

"What about the skeleton huh? What's he gonna say if you're dead?"

You feel a pang in your heart, wondering about Papyrus.

"He's looking for you yknow."

You look at Chara questioningly."

The skeleton. He's been looking for you."

You hear a voice from the darkness.

"Little human! Where are you?! Where could that little one be? All alone... Probably lost, or hurt.."

You jump up, hearing Papyrus's voice. You call to him in the darkness.

"He can't hear you, you have to wake up."

You ask Chara how to wake up.

"You have to have a will to live! You need to wake up!"

Chara grabs your shoulders and shakes you a bit.

"WAKE UP HUMAN!"

You stare at them in shock when a voice not their own escapes from their mouth. It sounds like... Happstablook?

"WAKE UP!"

You open your eyes and gasp as breath re-enters your lungs.

"Oh praise creator you're alive!"

You gasp for air, taking in gulps of breath greedily. Your eyes are blurred and your body feels like it's covered in burns.

"I- I thought they were done for, they had fallen down, they weren't breathing."

That sounds like Alphys. You rubbed your eyes and your eyes adjusted.

Happstablook, Alphys, and the Mad Ghost were all standing/floating over you.

"So Hapsty, run this by my again? You just sort of took in the tourist kid and started caring for it?"

"They are not an "it", how rude of you to say so, this poor child clearly has no parents looking after them and they needed help, look how horribly they've been hurt, fleshy children are too fragile to be left alone!"

You watched as Happstablook lectured his angry cousin. Alphys was applying medicine to your burns and a bandage, which made them feel instantly better.

"Y-you really gave us a scare."

You ask Alphys where you are.

"You're at the inn, in Snowdin.."

You ask her how you got here.

"The captain of the Royal Guard found you and brought you to me, seeking medicine. She said you were badly injured and needed medical attention. I did everything I could but you weren't getting any better. It was scary... So I brought you to my good friend, Happstablook. I didn't realize you two had already met..."

"Yes darling the little monster and I have known each-other for a while now. They arrived at my inn one day, no parents in sight, I couldn't turn them away."

You zoned out of the conversation, thinking about what Alphys told you. You can't believe Toriel brought you to her. Maybe there was mercy in this world after all.

You felt your soul beginning to heal.

"Hey, your burns are starting to heal. That's a relief."

You nod at Alphys and sit up in the bed.

"Here kid, eat this."

Mad Ghost gives you a cinnamon spirit.

You eat it, feeling your strength regain.

You get out of the bed and stand up.

"Now wait just a minute! You aren't going anywhere!"

Happstablook stops you and sets you back on the bed.

"Young monster, you have gotten yourself injured every time you leave this inn and I think we need to have a little talk about safety. Alphys told me you were exploring the dump, do you know how dangerous that is?!"

"A-actually I explore the dump all the time Hapsty-"

"Alphys, I love you, but hush, I'm trying to make a point to the child."

You giggle a bit at Hapstablook's concern.

"As cute as you are, this isn't funny. You can't run off and throw yourself into danger like that, you aren't a ghost or elemental you can get hurt! I want you to promise me you won't leave Snowdin again and if you do to please let one of us know."

You smile a small bit, Hapstablook's care reminding you of Papyrus.

"Oh my goodness you're so adorable, I don't even know what kind of monster you are but your cheeks are so cute and squishy!"

Hapstablook squishes your cheeks and squeals about them.

"You should really go thank the Royal Guard captain, after all it would be rude not to thank someone who saved your life."

Your heart sinks a little and a nervous feeling envelops you. Toriel may have SPARED you this time, but who knows what would happen if you were to just show up on her front door.

"H-hey, what's wrong?" Alphys noticed the sudden attitude shift within you. "A-are you nervous about seeing her? I-I can understand that, she's really cool and strong..."

"Oh! Well if that's the case I'll walk you there myself!"

You quickly shake your head but Hapstablook grabs your hand tight and begins walking you to the large, blue house in the center of Snowdin.

Your cries of protest and tugging were met with the determined tug of your ghostly guardian.

"Now now, no need for all that! I promise you she's a wonderful person!"

He drags you to the front of the door and knocks.

You wait with baited breath...

"MOM! SOMEONES AT THE DOOR! CAN I GET IT?!"

Asriel, excited as always, can be heard bounding toward the door.

"No, Asriel, I'll answer it."

"Aw... but I wanna answer it..."

Toriel opens the door with a bright, welcoming smile.

"Why hello Hapstablook, what brings you to my h- house?"

She stumbles on her words when she notices you, her smile faltering a small bit, but she seems to be maintaining her composiure.

"Hello Toriel! The little monster you brought to me has finally begun to heal! They wanted to come by and tell you thank you!"

Toriel looked at you, her eyes questioning.

"Is this true?"

You look up at her and nod nervously.

"I see... very well. Come in."

Hapstablook leads you inside, the smell of butterscotch an cinnamon hit's your nose, easing your anxiety only a small bit.

"OH HEY!"

Asriel skips up to you and hugs you.

"It's you! Mom can they stay for dinner?! Can they stay?! You'll let them?!"

"O-oh, well-"

Hapstablook smiles and heads toward the door. "I have to go manage the inn, send them back when you're ready."

"Hapstablook- wait!-"

Toriel called to Hapstablook but he had already disappeared through the wall.

Toriel turns to you and looks away, flustered and nervous.

"W-well! Since you're here, human, I suppose I could... offer you something to eat."

You nervously shifted as well, you weren't sure if you could trust her after everything she's tried to do.

Toriel goes into the kitchen and begins to prepare dinner.

Asriel tugs at your arm toward his room.

"Chara isn't here right now, but I'm sure they'd want to play with you too if they were here!"

"Asriel, go wash up for dinner, I want the human to help me cook."

"Oh- Ok mom!"

Asriel runs upstairs, leaving you alone with the captain of the royal guard.

"Come here human."

You slowly make your way into the kitchen.

Toriel is making a salad of some kind, she hums to herself while she stirs the dressing into the bowl.

"I wish to speak to you, if that's alright... could you sit here, on the stool?"

You sit on the kitchen stool and look up at the goat monster.

…...

…...

…...

She sighs and turns to you, kneeling to your level.

"I understand if you can not forgive me for what I have done. I allowed my fears to overwhelm my own heart. You did nothing wrong, you are but an innocent child and do not deserve to die." She looks down, tears falling from her face.

"I am so sorry human..."

[FORGIVE] [DO NOT FORGIVE]

…...

You chose to forgive her.

"You..." She looks up at you, tears welled in her eyes. "You are truly the kindest little human."

She hugs you, her embrace warm and comforting.

She goes back to cooking when Asriel runs in.

"How's dinner mom?"

"Almost done dear, could you and the human set the table?"

"YEA!"

Asriel grabs your hand and drags you to the table.

After it's set, you wash up and sit at the place set for you.

You also notice an extra place is set at the table, but then your attention is drawn to the food.

The food looks very fresh and healthy, definitely a meal a responsible mom would make for her kids.

"Mom, you didn't give Chara any food at their place of the table."

"Asriel..."

"I know they never eat with us, because they like Blooky's better, but what if today they want to eat here?"

Toriel sighs.

"I'll leave some leftovers in the fridge for them, alright?"

"Well... okay."

You eat the food, its deliciously fresh and healthy. Then you have a slice of pie for dessert! Feeling full and satisfied, you help the goat family pick up the dishes and bring them to the sink.

"I'm going outside to play with Chara."

Toriel smiles.

"Very well, just be careful."

"I will, human! You wanna play?"

You shake your head, deciding you would rather stay in the cozy blue house out of the snow.

"Oh, ok! See you later!"

Asriel runs out of the house.

You look around the house, the approach Toriel as she does the dishes.

"I am very glad you and Asriel are friends."

You nod in agreement.

"It's actually healthy for him, you see, he doesn't have any friends of his own. All the other children tend to pick on him, but he's such a sweet child if you get to know him."

You ask about Chara, since they seem to be Asriel's best friend, they're practically siblings.

"Oh... Chara... Asriel talks about them all the time, it's part of the reason why he's always picked on..."

You ask why people pick on Asriel for being around Chara.

"It's nothing too dangerous, but I just think a child his age should outgrow imaginary friends."

Imaginary friends? What is she on about? You've seen Chara yourself, and even talked with them.

"I'm afraid Chara doesn't exist, I'm scared his obsession over his imaginary friend has gone to unhealthy lengths. I worry about him, maybe it's because of his Father and I's divorce, or perhaps it was moving to Snowdin. Either way, I'm hoping his time with you will make him forget about his imaginary friend eventually."

You look at Toriel confused, shaking your head and walking off. You really aren't sure what to make of the whole thing.

"Human, are you planning on seeing the king? This seems to be your main mission."

You nod.

"I see... The king is a good soul, he is very joking and he always smiles. He's a wonderful monster really. I think he will understand how nice of a human you are, I'm sure of it."

You smile, hoping she's right.

"You may spend the night here until you're ready to go and visit the king. I will provide you with snacks for your journey."

You tell Toriel thank you and lay on the blue couch, thoughts swirling your mind. What does she mean by imaginary friend...