by GR Griffin
The echo of footsteps had halted, there was one person capable of making audible steps and it wasn’t him. Vail broke from their heartfelt reminiscence, finding the human child stood in place, clear disgust smeared across their pudgy face. One eyebrow was twitching.
“What? It was just a dream. Not like it happened for real.” He picked at another piece of popped corn. “After a quick nap, she was as good as new, back to kicking tail like you and her just now.”
Onwards. Around the next few twists, Vail did not show up. All the better for them. They wanted only to escape this place so they could not be subjected to that smug smile.
All of a sudden, Vail’s voice was heard. “And now, Fleck,” Vail whispered like a thought in the back of Fleck’s skull. “I think the time has come to take the next big step in your journey of eternal happiness. In order to conquer the past, we have to face it head on.”
The walls grew bitter and cold, ice creeping from the ceiling, adding layers upon layers.
“Tell me… What is your biggest regret? What is the deepest, darkest moment of your life?”
With every breath, the air coming out of their lungs got more and more dense. The temperature plummeted, the human’s little body began to shiver.
“What keeps you up at night? What is the one thing you just want to forget the most?”
Fleck hugged their body tighter and tighter as the freezing cold grew more intense. They could feel the cells in their blood beginning to freeze. Each step felt like an entire marathon.
“Because we’re about to experience it together… in 3D!” Then came the familiar sound of ruffling popcorn followed by crunching. “I reckon we’re in for a good show. Hope you got your snacks from the lobby, folks, because our feature presentation is about to begin!”
Fleck forced their frozen eyelids to blink.
And then…
They had done it, the barrier had been destroyed, and their journey was at an end. Their friends were waiting by the entrance, giving them all the time in the world to bid farewell the all the monsters of the Underground. They checked their phone, finding another text by Toriel, who had just discovered this ground-breaking form of communication.
They retraced their steps back through the flat and grey walls of New Home. Looking out, the buildings stretched far, with windows teaming with light. So many monsters free. So much life. Crammed into one place.
However, out of all the monsters… they needed to see one, and it made their heart quiver.
Blink.
Hot. So hot. The lavas of Hotland poured all around, boiling the very air crimson. They stepped from the ashy path onto a conveyor belt and took a moment to gain their breath back, complementing the disabled laser traps. They still had time, but with each passing second, they were getting closer.
Blink.
Closer still. The sweet, wet smells of Waterfall graced their nose. The walls and ground so dark that they appeared blue and black, contrasting against waters glowing pure white with magic. Gentle sparks ebbed upwards like bubbles rising to the surface. Twinkling jewels overhead simulated the starry skies of the surface, a sight that every monster will soon enjoy for real. The monsters at the MTT Resort were happy. The monsters in Hotland were glad. The population were finally free.
They were finally free.
Blink.
Despite Snowdin being draped in snow, the temperature was not as cold as it appeared, being quite bearable for someone without fur and only a sweater for warmth. The population of the cosy town had gotten news that the barrier was gone. Already, some of the ecstatic monsters were already packing their bags, eager to move to the surface.
Everyone was ready to travel one way, and there was Fleck, going the other way.
Back to the start.
Blink.
The ruins lived up to their name; broken pillars and overgrown weeds everywhere. Fleck carefully walked down the steps, under the ruins that loomed above them in their first minutes of falling into the Underground.
As Fleck saw a dark corner before an arch, their heart sank. They took a deep breath. This was it.
They approached cautiously, dreading what lay beyond yet knowing what to expect, waiting for the inevitable.
On the other side lay the bed of golden flowers where their adventure began. It was no more than a couple of days ago, but it felt like a year. Fleck slowly gripped the corner and peeked around. Down the pitch black passageway, bathed in a pool of light, lay a white figure hunched before the flowers. That was when Fleck heard the short, sharp sound of a sniff.
The figure quivered, his back turned and shoulders rounded. He breathed out through a sore throat, aching from all the crying, before snuffling. A fuzzy hand rose to his face and wiped away the tears.
Before they even knew it, Fleck was there, directly behind him. They never felt themself move, or felt their legs carry them over. They were just there. They could see his tuff of youthful hair, his drooping ears and the back of his yellow and green shirt. Fleck reached out with an open palm, bringing it closer and closer to the shoulder, being as gentle as possible. They were an inch away when, all of a sudden, he turned his head, gazing upon the human with his goat eyes that glistened like crystals.
Asriel Dreemurr’s mouth hung open with surprise. After a few moments, that surprise manifested itself into relief. “Oh, Fleck…” he whispered. He stopped to wipe his eyes again, they were slightly red. “Come to… pay your respects?”
Fleck just stood there, mouth agape, hand hovering, heart slamming against ribcage.
Asriel patted the space beside himself. “Why don’t you sit down for a bit… and watch the flowers with me?”
As if entranced, Fleck felt their body go into autopilot, parking themself down beside the reformed God of Hyperdeath himself. The same monster who, as both a flower and a god, tried to destroy them – not by simply killing them, but by placing them through a never-ending nightmare of death and resurrection. Yet, despite all this undeserved hatred aimed toward them, Fleck could not find it in their heart to return the favour to this poor, misunderstood creature known as Asriel Dreemurr.
“These flowers…” Asriel said. His voice reached far upwards to the ceiling, a small voice made bigger. He stroked the flower nearest him, delicately rubbing his thumb against a large, golden petal. “They’re beautiful, aren’t they?”
Unable to speak, Fleck could only respond with a nod. They were beautiful. In fact, more so than ever. The petals glowed like the sun’s natural rays. They had no idea why they never noticed it before.
After the tears settled, Asriel cracked a minute giggle. “Sorry. I just remembered a joke Chara once told me. How many lips does a flower have?” Fleck answered with a shrug. “Tulips.” Asriel went to laugh some more, but he could not get it out. All the laughter had left him. “Why did you come back?”
Fleck sat there. Why did they come back? The human child, for the life of them, could not remember. Fleck tried really hard to recollect their memories, but it was like something was blocking them. Something – what it was, they did not know – told them that they should not be here, that they should be someplace else.
“Are you still trying to forget me?” Asriel asked. Fleck responded with a slow nod, followed by an even slower shake. “Fleck… you know why I can’t come to the surface, don’t you? In Mom and Dad’s eyes… In everyone’s eyes… I’m gone. I’m dead. I’m dust. They remember a child who loved playing in the garden, who played pretend king with his dad, and baked mud pies with his mom, and… and cried like a baby whenever he heard a happy ending…”
He quivered as more tears stung his eyes. “That’s the Asriel they remember. The one they deserve to remember their son by…” He gripped the petals of the flower in front with shaking paws, almost threatening to tear them off. “And not this one…” More tears poured as he gazed down at it, his breath short and rapid. “Not the one who… tore them to pieces… again and again… who made them suffer… who did the most
terrible things to them… and laughed every time…”
Fleck could not stand seeing him in pain anymore. They wrapping their arms around him, pulling him into a hug. Asriel went still, then found it in himself to return it. The tears fell onto Fleck’s shoulder. His throat burned. Fleck shushed him gently, cooing into his ear. His fur was so soft and warm, like cuddling a giant teddy bear.
“You don’t even know me…” Asriel slowly pulled away. His cheeks shimmered with waterfalls. “Why do you still care?”
Fleck found themself gazing into Asriel’s watery eyes as they said their next words.
It was because Asriel was the one who deserved to be saved the most.
Asriel did not know what to say. He was not able to look the human in the eyes. “Do you really think I can be forgiven? Do you honestly think that I can come back from this? After everything I’ve done?”
There was no hesitation in Fleck’s response. Yes. They were absolutely certain, without a doubt, that he could put his past behind him and move on with his life.
Asriel pondered. “You know, after I took Chara across the barrier, I saw the world. I had never seen the surface before. Chara told me all about it, but their words didn’t come close to how beautiful it all was.” He closed his eyes. “The sun. The grass. The flowers. The clean air.” He sighed. “I’d love to see it again… I’d love to see my parents again… but…”
Fleck watched the lost son to Asgore and Toriel. Unsure of what he was going to do next.
“I… I… You know what?” Asriel shot to his feet and surprised Fleck with the words he shouted. “I’ve changed my mind. I… don’t wanna stay down here, alone forever. I wanna go to the surface. I wanna see Mom and Dad again. I want us to be a family once more.”
It started as a low rumble, pebbles of dirt fell from the ceiling. It increased in strength, raising the nib in an unseen Geiger counter. Fleck shot to their feet as a crack formed at the foot of the front wall of rock. Asriel remained rigid, unfazed by the earthquake. The divide split upwards until it reached the hole above, whereupon both sides began to part. The entire face of Mount Ebott broke away in an ear shattering display of breaking rock and earth. Fleck lost their balance and tumbled into the bed of flowers, back to where it all started. Asriel firmly stuck to the ground, watching the phenomenon without a trace of fear.
Light poured through the massive, newly formed crevice. The surface awaited the kids in a sea of gold light, sapphire skies and emerald lands. There, just beyond, stood six monsters: Toriel and Asgore, Sans and Papyrus, Undyne and Alphys; all of them standing there in the fresh air beyond the Underground, where the birds flew free and the flowers bloomed and where dreams come true. They were all smiling, waving, calling out for the two children to join them.
This time, it was Asriel’s turn to reach out. “Come on, Fleck, let’s go.” He smiled. “Everyone’s waiting!”
Fleck did not know why, but they wanted this, more than anything. They wanted this so badly that they could not wait. The human child took the monster child by the hand, skin against fur, and led him toward the light.
As Fleck guided Asriel to the surface, to family and friends, it had become clear that they had finally found their happy ending.
That was until Asriel tugged Fleck to a halt. “Oh no…” he whispered.
Fleck pulled, but Asriel refused to budge. What was the holdup? Freedom was steps away, as well as his reunion with his parents. Fleck turned around and wished that they had not. Asriel was locked in place, looking at his feet. They glanced down, and saw that he was sinking into the bed of flowers.
“It’s… it’s happening…” Asriel whispered. Their eyes met, his pupils narrow with terror. “I’m out of time…”
Several vines shot from under the golden petals, coiling themselves around Asriel’s legs and body. They began to drag him down, consuming his legs. “Fleck, help me! Please!” he screamed. “I don’t want to go back! I don’t want to be a flower!”
The fingers in Fleck’s hands tightened so much around his, pulling with everything they had. Asriel continued to sink, his body now under the surface. It was no use, they were not strong enough.
Desperately, Fleck span around to the exit, to where their friends were standing. They screamed for help, waving and shouting to get their attention. However, the others did nothing. They remained in place, merely watching in silence. Fleck cried, harder than they had ever cried before, begging for help, for anything.
But nobody came.
Fleck saw it now. Their friends were no longer smiling, no longer waving, no longer calling out. They just stood there, their faces expressionless without emotion.
Toriel turned and walked away, followed by Asgore, then Undyne, then Alphys, then Papyrus. One by one, they left until only Sans lingered. He was smiling, but there was nothing behind it. No heart. No soul. No emotion. No anything.
The crevice, separating the inside from the out, rumbled to life once more. It began to close, returning the darkness to the cavern. Fleck screamed so hard for Sans’s help. The cave faces drew closer, yet Sans cared not.
Just before it closed, Sans turned and walked away.
Asriel’s head was barely above the flowers. His eyes were full and streaming rivers. “Save me, Fleck!” Fleck could hold on no more. Their hold slipped, and Asriel disappeared beneath the golden petals. His final plea for help pierced their ears. “SAVE ME!”
The human child collapsed onto their knees, parted the flowers and frantically clawed away at the ground where he last was, packing soil under their fingernails. But it was pointless. Asriel was gone.
Fleck was alone. Fleck was back at the start. The surface was gone. Their friends were gone. The world around them darkened as the light grew smaller, focusing on them and shrouding their surroundings in darkness. Nothing in this world existed except for the child, on their hands and knees. A failure. Fleck could not will their spirit to stand.
A drop of water landed on a flower, running down the petal and into the soil. A second droplet made another flower rattle on its stem.
I wasn’t rain. It was tears. Their tears.
Between the stems, a new flower began to rise. Fleck watched with a dying heart as the flower grew taller. Leaves formed. A bud grew. The golden petals opened, and two eyes and a frown gazed at them.
“You left me…” whispered Flowey. “You couldn’t save me…”
Flowey, the soulless flower who hurt so many, had the same level of pain he had inflicted to others in his face. Fleck could not bear to see him like that, in such a miserable state, destined to be forgotten forever. They reached out and gently wrapped their arms around him. Flowey did not fight, or argue, or respond with a snide comment, he just accepted their gentle embrace.
Now Fleck did not want to let go.
A bucket of popcorn hit the ground beside their head, jolting them alert. It toppled and spilled its contents out.
Looking up, there was a familiar komodo dragon monster in fancy clothes. His expression was bleak, his signature grin gone, replaced with a sombre frown. “Dang…” was all Vail could get out. “That was…. I’m sorry, I… just wasn’t expecting that…”
Fleck glanced down. Their arms were empty, Flowey gone, as were the flowers all around. They remembered finally, their adventure through the Underground was weeks ago. Memories returned of the events leading here; the picnic back on Earth. The abduction. The Plain-plain. The Shattered Zone. Ice Island. Here.
Fleck spitefully asked what exactly he expected.
Vail winced, clearly at a loss for words. “I don’t know… that maybe you singed your pinkie with a match? Or didn’t give that cute kid you liked your last chocolate button? Told a little white lie that got the ugly kid with the nerdy glasses put in the corner for ten minutes? Or… whatever falls under the kid category.” For the first time since they met, his speech developed a serious quality to it. “Seriously, how old are you? Eight? Nine? Freeing an entire kingdom of monsters and reg
ret leaving one doesn’t fall under the kid category.”
His sullen demeanour lifted with a sigh after Fleck lowered their forehead to the ground. “Look, I’m sorry, kid. I know that must be rough… You saved all those monsters, and none of them ever knew about…” His words trailed off as another thought running through his mind fought for priority. “I’m confused. Why couldn’t you bring him to the surface, back to his parents? Flower or no, he was still the same person. So why leave him in the Underground?”
Fleck swallowed a mouthful of bile, and said that it was because he wanted to be forgotten. He was afraid that he would hurt others after turning back into a flower.
“He was afraid of hurting others… or were you afraid of hurting others?” Vail’s question was met with silence. Fleck’s forehead went numb against the cool stone. “So you placed the needs of the many before the needs of one.” He knelt down and softly patted the child on the back. His touch made their tears stop; it was so gentle and soothing to their soul. “I can understand that. Before starting my new life here, I had to leave a few from my old life behind. If I were in your shoes, I’d make the same decision too, as would anyone else in your position.”
Fleck stared at the ground, where Flowey once stood in their mind. Vail’s words fell on deaf ears; all Fleck could think about was Asriel and how wracked with despair he must be feeling as an unfeeling flower once more. Forced to live out the rest of his existence alone and forgotten in the darkest depths of the Underground. His sacrifice a tale doomed to be lost for all eternity.
“But,” said Vail, “there’s not a problem too big that I can’t fix.” With a start, Fleck jerked their head up to meet Vail’s eyes.
