Bound Together Part 18

Eventually, Frisk woke up late in the day, and woke up Toriel as well.
"Oh my goodness! It's late!" She whispered, looking at a digital clock on the bedside table. The goat mom tip-toed over the carpet and quietly woke up Habriel and Marion, telling them the time.

"Oh..." Habriel said getting up. He felt his shirt slide a little and he immediately stopped stretching to make sure it wouldn't fall off. He turned around, just in case if anyone was watching. Luckily, Toriel was talking to Marion as she slowly got up and stretched her arms.

Once again, Habriel thought about why they had to go through all that stuff... 'Could it be spawned all by Chara? Could she have instigated Iredox to attack us?'

He thought about it for a second but deemed it unlikely. 'They could probably kill us all right now if they wanted...' he thought. On their way down to the MTT restaurant, everyone saw Sans and Papyrus getting seated.

Frisk ran over to their table as they took their seats to greet them, and Papyrus smiled brightly.
"I'M GLAD TO HEAR YOU'RE OKAY, FRISK!" He greeted them by hugging them. He was relieved to see them in one piece, as he heard what events transpired the day before. Sans agreed.
"Yeah, kiddo. That was pretty brave of ya."
Toriel called Frisk over to join her and the others for breakfast, and they complied, waving to the skeletons and returning to their original table.

Habriel and Marion saw a couple dogs yelling at their waiter for taking a long time to get their order. The waiter apologized and rushed back into the kitchen to get the food.

"Wow." Habriel said. "Looks like they're having a ruff time..."

"Of course." Marion said. "One might even call it wolven...."

"It's a dog's life..." Habriel said.

"Yeah and..." Marion paused. "Darn it, you win this time."

"Ha!" Habriel exclaimed.

Frisk laid their head on the table beside their silverware, too tired to listen to countless more puns by the dorky couple across from them. They just wanted food.
"Hello," The waiter arrived at their table, and Frisk lifted their head and straightened up, embarrassed.
"May I take your order?"

The waiter turned to Frisk. "Oh, ummm." Frisk looked at the menu for a second. "I'll take a short stack of pancakes with a cup of water." The waiter wrote it down and turned to Habriel.

"I'll take some scrambled eggs with a cofvefe." he said.

"How would you like it?" the waiter asked.

"Black, please." Habriel said. The waiter wrote it down and turned to Marion.

"I'll have the same thing." she said. "But I prefer my coffee to have cream and sugar, please." The waiter turned to Toriel.

"I'll have a small order of snails, if you don't mind." she said. "With a water." The waiter read everything to everyone to confirm that everything was correct and he disappeared to the kitchen.

Frisk glanced around the room and placed their head back on the tablecloth.
"My child, what is wrong?" Toriel turned to them, questioning the motives to act so odd in public. They knew better than this, but the combination of Habriel and Marion's jokes with their troubled sleeping made them want to close their eyes and drift.

"Sorry about that..." Frisk said, lifting their head up. "I'm just a little tired, still." Toriel stared at Frisk with a worried expression. Even with all that sleep, they're still tired.

"Maybe we should take you to see Dr. Alphys." Toriel suggested. "It might have to do with your head injury."

"I dunno..." They sat back in their chair, slumping. They closed their eyes. "Maybe..."

Habriel got up and rested a hand on Frisk's shoulder. "C'mon." he said. "I'll take you there."

"Wait, but we need to get breakfast-" They stammered, looking up at Habriel who had stood up and was standing beside their chair, ready to leave the restaurant with them.
"You're too tired, Frisk," Habriel told them. He wanted to get them help.

"How about this." Habriel said. "I take you there now, come back and bring your food to you. Will that make you feel better?"

Toriel watched, suppressing a laugh. She appreciated that her children took care of each other; if she was gone, she knew she could trust them to care and watch out for each other.
"But... you shouldn't have to do that," Frisk protested.

"I wouldn't have offered if I wasn't willing." Habriel said.

Frisk sighed deeply and turned their body, setting their feet on the floor next to their chair and finally standing up.
"Alright, fine," They complied, and Habriel took them outside and they began to walk to the lab.

Habriel and Frisk used the elevators to get the Dr/ Alphys' lab faster. Habriel knocked on the door and explained to Alphys about the situation. "I'll be back with your breakfast." he said to Frisk before thanking Alphys for her time and returning to the MTT Resort.

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Toriel and Marion had all the food put into boxes when he returned, including their own. "You wanna come with?" Habriel asked.

"Of course, child." Toriel said. "I'm not just gonna leave you and Frisk at the lab." On their way back to the elevator, a dog monster came out of the elevator and scoffed when he saw Habriel.

"Problem?" Habriel asked.

"The King might be so gullible as to let you humans roam free." the dog said. "But I'm not so foolish. Try anything, anything at all, and it's off with your head."

Habriel shot the dog a death stare. "Go ahead and take it." Habriel said. "Not look you're using yours." The dog growled and pulled out his knife.

"You're really making this easy!" the dog snapped as he clumsily swung the knife. Habriel grabbed the hand and squeezed the wrist so hard, the dog had to let go of the knife.

"Don't get cocky..." Habriel growled as he punched the dog in the solar plexus, knocking the wind out of him. Habriel caught the knife in his other hand and threw it. It landed right next to the dog's face, scaring it completely. The dog looked up to see a rather intimidating death stare by Habriel. The dog whimpered, grabbed the knife and ran off.

Toriel let out a long breath with her eyes closed. "Child, next time, perhaps just don't listen to what people may say about you. I understand that it's terrible to talk to people like that, but it's safer to just let it go," She warned him. It was lucky that the dog didn't pursue them any longer and continue the fight. If it escalated, Toriel would obviously have to get involved and protect them.

Alphys sat on the foot of her bed with Frisk laying behind her; she made them lay down since they seemed to need the rest. Habriel had told her that they'd bring back Frisk's breakfast, so she didn't interfere in that respect. The scientist sat quietly watching anime on her television, which was hooked up with headphones so the sound wouldn't disturb Frisk's slumber. Every now and then Alphys looked behind her to check on them, and they remained sleeping for a while.

Habriel sighed. "You're right." he said. "It's just that I know that one day humans and monsters will meet up. Just when I think that it might end up well. Humans and monsters like that fellow show up and remind me that there's been too much conflict and bitterness. I don't know if humans and monsters could ever co-exist again...."

"They may, my child, they may. You just have to stay hopeful." Toriel said. They entered the elevator and waited inside to reach the level with Dr. Alphys' lab.

Alphys continued to watch her show with Frisk behind her. 'I wonder when they'll wake up,' She thought, pausing her episode and turning to look at the child. 'I won't wake them until the others come. Then they can wake them up if they choose.'

"Hey, Marion." Habriel said in the middle of the elevator ride.

"Yes, dear?" she asked.

"When Frisk feels better, do you wanna go out on a date?" he asked.

Toriel gave them space, pretending to mind her own business, blushing and chuckling.
"Sure!" Marion smiled at him, nodding.
The elevator stopped, the doors slid open, and the three walked out.

"Great!' Habriel smiled. "Do you wanna go around the Underground or..."

"I was actually thinking...." Marion thought for a second. "The surface!"

They were almost at Dr. Alphys' lab.

"Just be careful when leaving and coming back," Toriel told them, and they agreed.
"Don't want to run into that dog again," Marion laughed and so did Habriel. "Yeah."
They were walking around and up to the front of the lab, now.

Habriel knocked and the door which instantly flew open with Alphys on the other side.

"H-hey guys..." Alphys said. "Frisk is waiting for you in the bed, right over there." Alphys pointed the room out to the group. They thanked her and slowly made their way into the room. Toriel placed the bag down and pulled out the box of food labeled 'Frisk.' there was already a tiny table with a plate and silverware prepared for Toriel. Toriel silently thanked Alphys again before putting Frisk's breakfast on the platter. She turned around and saw Habriel gently waking the little kid up.

"Wake up, sleepy head." Habriel said. "As fun as going out to eat is...breakfast in bed is just better. Don't you think?"

Frisk groaned and flipped over onto their back, barely opening their eyes. They sat up gradually, holding their head.
"Head hurts," They murmured, squinting as they finally sat up fully. "Had a nightmare about Iredox."

"I'm sorry." Habriel muttered. "Would you like some water?" he asked. "I'll be happy to get some for you."

"Okay," They said groggily. They needed to truly wake up, but their head just hurt. It was hard to remember what the nightmare with Iredox was about, but they knew this confirmed their fears of him. Habriel went and retrieved the glass of water and handed it to Frisk, who drank it eventually.

"Would you like to talk about your dream?" Habriel asked.

They made of face of contempt. "Sure, I guess..." Toriel listened in, sitting at her table eating breakfast near Marion.
Habriel sat down on the bed beside them to listen to the nightmare.

"Well, I can only remember some parts. I remember running- and when I looked to my right and left, I saw you guys. We were all running together from something. Then, I heard Iredox's voice. I could hear the metallic sounds his footsteps make from his armor. That's a major part that I remember. Then one of you guys were pulled backwards out of view..." Toriel set Frisk's breakfast on a folding table before them as they told Habriel the nightmare. They began to eat the food gratefully.

"That sounds scary." Habriel said. "Who was it?"

"Well Iredox was the one who pulled them back. Do you mean which one of us was taken? Because I think more than one person would have been taken, but I woke up too fast."

"Oh." Habriel said. "That sounds bad. Well, if he ever comes after us like that. I know we'll be more than ready. With all of us together, nothing can stand in our way." Habriel started giggling. "Who knows, maybe we can just get mom to give him one of her death glares."

Frisk laughed. "Yeah, and she packs a punch, too." Toriel stared at them from across the way, making them shrink back and chuckle.
"Sorry. It was just scary to me. My head pounded in the dream, too. It was really weird." They continued to eat the eggs on their plate energetically.

Alphys came into the room. "B...before you all came here..." Alphys said. "I uh, took the liberty to check what was going on with Frisk's head. I just got the results."

"Okay." Habriel said. "What's going on with them?"

Toriel looked away from her children and directed her attention to the lizard.
"Yes? What are the results? I hope they don't affect them too much."

"There's a bit of a fracture around the scalp area of Frisk's skull. A head injury." she said. "They may be a little more sleepy than usual, some swelling of some bruises, their nose may bleed and they could have a stiff neck. All side effects of this kind of injury." she said.

Frisk finished their breakfast. Toriel's face became less hopeful. "Well, at least it's not detrimental. You'll be alright, my child. Thank you for everything, Alphys." Alphys nodded solemnly in response.
"So how will they heal? Will they heal on their own, or will they need something like a catalyst to drive the healing process?" She asked the scientist.

"I think it's best if Frisk stays here for a few days." Alphys said. "It's probably a minor injury, but it's better to be safe than sorry." she chuckled to herself. "Have you had trouble breathing, Frisk?" she asked. "Have you felt nauseous?"

"I can breathe fine," They said, finishing their meal. "But I have felt sort of nauseous and dizzy lately. Like my brain moves a little bit after my actual head does." They tried to make sense of the sensation and explain it in an understandable manner, and Alphys understood. Toriel cleaned up all their plates and sat back down.

"Alright." Alphys said. "Well, since you're staying with me. I'll get you a can with a trash bag in it. Every so often, I'll check up on you. I already have a few exercises planned to help get you better. It'll be a few days, though."

"O-oh okay," Frisk stammered. Toriel motioned to Habriel and Marion to get ready to go.
"I trust Alphys; you'll be fine, my child," Toriel reassured them as she sat beside them for a bit. "It'll only be a few days. It won't be too long." She kissed and hugged them goodbye, and she and the other kids left the lab to return to the MTT Resort.
"What's the trash can for?" Frisk asked as Alphys came around and set the can down beside the bed.

"In case if you do get nauseous." Alphys said. "Trust me, if you do, you'll thank me for this."

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"Well..." Habriel sighed. "Darn.... I hope Frisk gets better soon."

"To tell you both the truth," Toriel said while they walked outside the lab, "I'm furious with Iredox and want to make sure that he cannot harm any of you again. There's simply no way for me to ensure that, though."

"Oh, believe me." Habriel said. "You aren't alone there." He looked down and clenched his fist. "A part of me wants to subject him to the horrendous pain he's dealt out to others, and send him howling down the abyss."

"If only I could have prevented what's happened to Frisk," Toriel said, almost stopping in her tracks. She continued forward, but her thoughts wouldn't leave her alone. Habriel, Marion, and Toriel reentered the hotel entrance.
"Wait, weren't you two going to go on a date? No one's stopping you," the mother recalled what they had said previously in the elevator on the way to the lab.

"I mean, it was supposed to be when Frisk felt better...." Habriel said. "But I guess this'll have to do, for now."

"I feel a little bad about them, though." Marion said. "But I guess it'll make the waiting easier..."

"So where on the surface did you wanna go?" Habriel asked.

"I was thinking the top of Mt. Ebott." she said. "It has a beautiful view that I wanna share with you."

"Just be careful," Toriel laughed nervously.

"We should probably get something more to wear than this." Habriel said. "It'll probably be a little cold up there."

"I think we can find something back at the resort." Marion said.

So they went to find something more to wear so that they were comfortable. Toriel wondered what it would be like to be at the top of Mt. Ebott, like the children were going to do, but she resigned herself to the idea of merely returning to the hotel room to relax for a while.

Habriel walked out of the store with a hooded black cloak to wear over everything in case if it gets windy. Marion walked out with a similar cloak but her's was red. They both presented themselves to Toriel.

"What do you think?" they both asked, smiling.

"They're nice, and what's best is that you'll stay warm," Toriel gave her approval of their new jackets, and her approval to go out. It wasn't just a big deal that they were going out on a date; it was a huge deal that it was going to be on the surface, nonetheless on the mountain summit.

"We should be back by Frisk's bedtime." Habriel said.

"Now, how'll we get out there?" Marion asked.

"I think you already know the answer to that, dear." Habriel said. "The same way you came in, Asgore's castle."

"Alright," Marion took Habriel's hand. "We're going now, Mom," Habriel said.
"Okay, be back tonight," Toriel waved to them and they began to leave for Asgore's castle.

After quickly explaining their plans to Asgore, the King led them over to the barrier and out to the surface. "Enjoy your night together!" the King waved as they made their way up the path.

"Thanks!" Habriel shouted back. "You have a good night, too!" Marion grabbed his hand and rushed further up the path with her. The cliff side was a little steep, but nothing that they couldn't handle. They climbed a cliff and started running through the woods, further up the mountain. Laughing and giggling the whole time they were making their way up the mountain. Habriel quickly climbed up a short ledge, turned around and offered a hand to help Marion up. She jumped up and grabbed onto his hand, he then pulled her up and they continued running. What seemed like a long hike was nothing, as these two lovers were enjoying every moment of it. For the first time, they both felt like they were free. It was as if they could do whatever they want in a long time. Marion ran ahead of Habriel over to a steep cliff and sat down. Habriel caught up to her and saw that the view she was talking about was absolutely breathtaking. Through the trees and over the cliff. The mountain was overlooking a small bay with seagulls flying towards the sunset. It had parts of land, seeming to surround the bay, as if preventing it from being with the ocean. There was a tiny opening all the way on the other side that met with it though. The water making a near perfect reflection of the sunset. The sunlight rays beamed onto Marion, making her gleam. Habriel sat down next to her and enjoyed the view with her. "What do you think?" she asked.

"It's beautiful." Habriel said. "But I think I know how to get a better view." he looked down at her with a piercing hypnotic gaze. It made her gasp and blush. They kissed for a brief moment.

"Better than this?" she asked. "How?"He stood up and motioned for her to do the same. He gently wrapped his arms around her waist and locked hands.

"You're gonna have to trust me on this one." he said. "And you're gonna have to hold on tight."

"What are you thinking?" Marion asked. His eyes started to glow and violet tentacles wrapped around both of them tightly.

"Do you trust me?" he asked. She nodded her head. "Then hold on tight, because here...we...go." Violet wings appeared on his back and he took off into the air, lifting her with him. She started screaming, but then it quickly turned into laughter as she realized that the magic had her perfectly secure. Habriel spun around in the air and flew over the bay, towards the sunset. "Better?" he whispered in her ear.

"Absolutely." she said. She looked up at him and they kissed as he continued to fly over the bay.

Toriel retired to the MTT resort and ate dinner alone in the first floor restaurant. Then she returned to the hotel room upstairs, deciding that she'd stay awake until she saw or heard from her children.

Alphys was getting ready to go to bed, moving Frisk and herself down to the true lab was not something she planned. But she figured that it was better for Frisk to be down there. Suddenly, shs heard loud banging from outside. She looked over to the moniters and saw Iredox with his gang.