Chapter 20

“AAAAASSGGOOOOORE!!”

The king flinched at the shout, following the sound through the halls. If Piper’s plan worked, then they may all get out of this in one piece. The young human woman was very smart for her age. If she’d been a monster back when he was younger, he would’ve made her a general or something. She reminded him of Undyne, with her spunky attitude and natural leadership qualities.

The sight of the constantly yelling buttercup in his garden pushed those thoughts out of his mind. He had to talk to the floral demon.

“Ah, you’ve returned!” he said cheerfully. “What brings you here?”

“Asgore! There are humans in the Underground! They’re evil!”

He did his best to feign surprise. ‘What…?”

“Yes! They’ve both killed many monsters! And the big one, she even kills other humans! They’re coming here, and they’re going to kill you!”

He gasped and took a step back. “N-no…”

“Yes! The big one even killed Toriel! I tried to stop them, but I couldn’t!” Flowey’s face twisted in grief and fear. “You gotta fight them!”

“I… I see….” He ran a hand through his mane.

Th flower stared at him incredulously. “Did I stutter? The humans killed your wife! And you’re going to just stand their and not avenge her?!”

“N-No! I will! Who else is alive?”

This seemed to catch the flower of guard. Flowey hadn’t expected him to ask that. “Uh… S-Snowdin is e-empty…”

“Are they hiding, or dead?” Asgore inwardly smirked. This would stall him. He just hoped it was enough.

Piper, Grillby, and Frisk carried the SOULS towards the barrier. They only had a few minutes to get the barrier down. Flowey was crafty. He’d see through the ruse.

Grillby set KIndness, Justice, and Bravery down on the ground. “You two ready…?”

Frisk set Patience down and nodded. “Ready!”

“Piper?”

She gave him a thumbs up after putting Integrity and Perseverance down. “Ready. Frisk, stand at the center of the line.”

The child did as told. “What now?”

“Now, we open the containers. Grillby, try not to absorb any of them.”

“Got it…” He carefully started to open the container on Justice. “What will we do if Asgore can’t hold Flowey back long enough…?”

“We’ll fight him. No matter what, he can’t get these.”

“... And did the humans wipe out the whole of Hotland?” Asgore asked.

“YES!!!” the flower screeched. “They emptied Hotland, Waterfall, AND Snowdin!”

“What about the ruins?”

“GggggggrRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAUUUGH!!!” Flowey tore up the surrounding buttercups in his rage. “How can you be so stupid?! They’re coming here-!” He turned and stared at Asgore, fury and realization on his face. “Unless they’re already here…”

“W-What? Of course not-”

“THEY ARE!!” He sneered. “Of COURSE you’d be helping them! You’re such a sap!” His face twisted in his anger. “Stay out of my way, old man! I’ve got something to take care of!” The flower disappeared underground within the blink of an eye.

“Oh no…” He turned back towards the hall he came from and let loose a roar like the thunder above the mountain. That was his signal that he’d fail. He just hoped the trio heard before Flowey got there.

Grillby froze when he heard the echo of Asgore’s roar. “The king has failed…”

“We don’t have time to start the ritual!” Piper growled. She pushed the containers together. “Defend the SOULS!”

Frisk and Grillby nodded and stood around the containers defensively. The fire monster removed his gloves and flared up intimidatingly. Frisk pulled out a stick, holding it like a sword. Piper had pulled out her knife.

Flowey popped quickly, a menacing grin on his face. “Thought you could fool me, huh?”

“Hey, it worked for a bit.” Piper smirked. “Not our fault ya were stupid enough to fall for it.”

He snarled. The ground shuddered for a moment, and monstrous vines burst from the ground and grabbed the containers. “I’ll be taking those!”

“NO!!” Grillby jumped up grabbed three of the containers. With a strong yank, he pulled them free and tumbled to the floor with them. Justice, Bravery, and Integrity fell out of the containers and touched the fire monster’s chest, filling the room with a bright light.

“GRILLBY!!!” Piper and FRisk screamed, their eyes wide in shock.