Outertale

Chapter 1

The Beginning

Old. Frail. Breathing slow, laboured. Tired. So tired. Emperor Juhi lay in his bed, barely clung to life – what little he had left. Juhi knew his moment would come, as it comes to all eventually. This was his last stand. He had lived for so long, longer than what nature had intended, yet still he wished he could have had just a little more time.

The emperor wished that before he left his mortal coil, he could experience the sensation of real grass between his toes, or the soft, authentic sand under his feet. The scent of sea salt and warm grass. Roses and daisies. Only the Earth could create such bounties, Mother Nature as the humans called it.

Humans… Those violent, primitive beings that knew nothing but war and hate. It had been so long ago, back when Juhi was a young monster – with youthful vigour and the colour in his hair – when he stood on the Earth's plentiful surface. There was peace. Life was simple. It was the humans who had cast the first stone, destroying his life, along with those of millions more, and for no other reason than because they were different.

Juhi was among a group who evaded the humans. He watched from afar, behind mountains and trees, as among the hundreds massacred, unable to fight back, his mother, father, and wife were among them. Their pleas fell upon deaf ears as the dusty pitchforks came down. Juhi's loved ones crumpled to the ground, their bodies turning to dust, souls shattered. Juhi needed several pairs of hands to hold him back as the rage poured through him, which then manifested into grief.

The remainder of his brethren were rounded up and marched under Mt Ebbot, where they were sealed away. Juhi did not know whether to call them the lucky ones or the unlucky ones. Forced to live out their days buried under the ground, with no light, no moon, no stars, no fresh air, and no hope of escape. An elaborate tomb. A gilded coffin, the mountain its tombstone.

The concealed faction of monsters, along with the young Juhi and the child of six years who held his hand, fled far away. They had reached the shore, somewhere far, far away from the real monsters, but that was not enough. Eventually, the humans would discover them, and fell them like they did with so many others. Juhi stood on the sandy beach and looked out at the endless blue, and orange sky, and knew that that could have been the last time he would gaze upon it.

It had been so long since Juhi had felt the earth, and now he was leaving whilst surrounded by fake stone and pink sunlight. The slither of memories of what it felt like was more precious than all the gold in the world. He would love to feel it one last time. Just once more.

"Father, I'm here," a monster, his voice deep and fierce, said softly.

Juhi opened his eyes. There, at his bedside, stood the imposing figure of his only son, Maxus. It was like looking into a mirror. Giant in stature, Maxus had thick golden hair around his lion face. Two silver eyes watched emotionlessly as the final grains of sand dripped from his father's hourglass. Maxus: Prince of monsters – prince for not much longer.

Juhi smiled what would be his last. "So, you came to say goodbye, huh?" He chuckled, only for it to come out in a hacking fit. "I didn't know you still cared…"

Prince Maxus took his father's hand. It was cold. "You're my dad. I can't stop caring even if I wanted to…"

"Even though… you hated me for the choices I've made… and called me a coward for not acting, for choosing the safety of our people over vengeance?"

Maxus looked away. "I still stand by what I said, I don't regret saying any those things, but I'd never forgive myself if I let something like that stop me from seeing you again one last time."

Juhi laughed weakly. "Well… I guess there's no point in acting against you anymore. My position is about to become vacant, as it seems…" He looked back into his son's eyes. Maxus remained silent, allowing his father to speak his peace. "Our Royal Advisor has informed us… that the great barrier under Mount Ebbot… was destroyed not too long ago. Such power was thought impossible… apparently not…"

"I already know this," Maxus said.

The ailing emperor clasped his other hand around his son's protruding knuckles. "Yes, Maxus… but there's something I've been keeping from you for so many years… for far too long… A way to free our people."

The prince's expression remained as solid as stone. "That does not surprise me," he said with a monotone voice. "But why tell me this now, when you're facing the end?"

"Because I feared the worst that could come of it." Juhi's hands tightened. "You still have the heart of a young man, my son… You act out of emotion, anger. Your hatred of the humans is as strong as the day it was forged, but the revulsion that I feel for them… it is not the same as it was all those years ago."

Maxus growled, low, deep, quiet. "How can you view the humans differently after what they did…? To Mother? Grandma? Grandpa? To all of them? It's unforgivable, inexcusable. I could never forgive them – will never forgive them."

"Maxus, please." Emperor Juhi stared deep into Maxus's eyes. "I've spent most of my life hating the humans… and look where it has gotten me. The last thing I want… is for you to be lying in this exact same spot, regretting the same mistakes I've made. I can't change the past… but you have a chance to shape the future. I can impart… the information to you, but you must promise me… you'll not act out of aggression or vengeance… you'll only do what's best for the empire… what's best for our people."

Prince Maxus knelt down, bringing his silver eyes closer to Juhi's. "I give you my word," he whispered. "Tell me, please…"

With his last ounce of strength, Juhi leaned over. "The Obelisk… The power that holds this empire… contains power untapped… you can unlock it… wield it… change everything…"

"How, Father?" Maxus asked.

Juhi drew breath. "There is… a human. They possess… in their soul… a power… Deter… mination…"

Maxus clenched his eyes shut. "Which human…?"

Juhi rasped one final breath, then whispered one final word. A name. Maxus heard it, spelled it out, savoured the sound, imagined the face attached to it, then branded it into his memory. For as long as he lived, whether it be a hundred years or a thousand, that name shall never fade.

He held on to his father's hand. He held on for as long as he could, not wanting to let go. Emperor Juhi crumpled back onto his pillow, exhaling slowly. Juhi's cold fingers loosened around his son's hand, then crumbled. Maxus clenched his teeth tight as the dust seeped through his fingers. His grip so tight that the nails dug into his palms, drawing blood. He dared not open his eyes, not yet, knowing full well what awaited him.

No. No need to hide from the truth. The time was now. Maxus rose to his feet, then let his eyelids open. On the bed lay the dusty remains of what used to be Emperor Juhi. Just like that, his father was gone. The monster that had raised him from birth, taught him how to live, loved him through all of his faults, had returned to dust. Just like that, Maxus was alone.

Maxus looked at his open hand. The palm was grey with his father's remains and dotted red with traces of his own blood. "Ashes to ashes, dust to dust," he whispered. He wanted to cry, but no tears came. He had never cried a single time in his life, not even at the lowest moments. He looked back at the bed and felt his hand tighten back into a fist. This was a time for remorse, but all he felt was simmering rage. "Goodbye, Father."

From behind, he could hear the tapping soles and clanking plates of the two guards assigned over the master bedroom. Head to toe in shiny, silver armour, and sporting spears that rivalled their burly size, only the best of the best could be deemed worthy of being part of the Monster Military. The two guards witnessed their fearless leader leave this world, and now stood before his only son. They both dropped down on one knee and lowered their heads. "What is your bidding, Lord Maxus?" one of them spoke with utmost respect.

Former Prince Maxus – Emperor Maxus slowly turned around, his silver eyes drift over his father's armour, upright in a glass cabinet. A royal, decorative suit constructed from plates of thick metal, complete with a flowing red cape, attached to spike-adorned spaulders and connected with a gold chain. He saw his reflection in the glass, it was a perfect fit.

Maxus completed his turn until he faced his loyal sentinels. "As my first order of command as emperor, you are to bring me… a human, the one my father spoke of before he died."

The guards' heads jerked up in shock. "A… a human, my lord?" the other guard managed to choke out, staring at his rulers boots. "But… no human has ever set foot on… They can't know about… We could be powerless to—"

"Don't misunderstand me, I know the risks. Every precaution will be taken." Maxus sounded like the father he knew from countless generations ago. "But this human holds the key to our salvation, and it is imperative that it be brought before me, at once."

The same guard swallowed hard. His head lowered back down. "We… we shall do as you ask, my lord."

"Good. The human is called… Frisk." Already, the name brought disgust to his stomach. The young emperor pointed at them with his dusty hand. "Find this creature and bring it to me." With an affirmative nod, his units rose. They were about to leave, prepared to follow their orders when Emperor Maxus barged past them. "Inform command that I am not to be disturbed. I must speak with the Royal Advisor…"