Underearth/Book 3/Chapter 10

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Elysium was as it has always been; white, and quite bleak. All the dust caked onto Frisk's clothes and extremities didn't help improve the place, not that he cared. As Frisk walked further into Elysium, he could feel eight SOULs within. Six Humans, Asgore, and... who?

As Frisk thought on these questions, he entered the vacant home of Asgore.

"He leaves them in the kitchen and the hallway." Frisk heard an ethereal voice say.

Frisk rerouted to the hallway off to the right. As he walked, a flower erupted from the floorboards.

"Howdy, Chara!" it said. It was Flowey. "You finally made it home. It didn’t used to float like this, but do you remember when we used to play here?" Flowey then laughed a bit, not even waiting for an answer. "Boy! Today's gonna be just as fun."

Frisk continued to walk. At the end of the hall, he grabbed the key, then flipped back. As he was passing the last door, though, something within him seemed to draw him in once again. Entering, the entire room was exactly the same as it had been before. Walking over to the nightstand on the left side of the room, Frisk noticed that even the dagger was sitting there, untouched for countless years. This time, however, it wasn't the dagger or locket that drew Frisk's attention, but instead it was the picture behind them both.

Picking up the framed photograph, Frisk took the cloth of his shirt and whipped the dust from it. The photograph was of four people. Three of which Frisk recognized to be Asgore, Toriel, and Asriel. The fourth individual in the photograph, unlike the other three, was a Human. Very fair in skin-tone. They wore a green shirt with a yellow stripe across its torso. Their hair was shoulder-length, brown, and obscured most of their face.

Frisk put the photograph back where it was and left the room. Whatever drew him there was gone, and so there was no point sticking around.

Soon after returning on course, Frisk ran into Flowey again, who began telling him his own story.

"I remember when I first woke up here, in the garden." Flowey started. "I was so scared. I couldn't feel my arms or my legs... My entire body had turned into a flower! 'Mom! Dad! Somebody help me!' I called out. But nobody came. Eventually, the king found me, crying in the garden. I explained what had happened to him. Then he held me, Chara. He held me with tears in his eyes, saying... 'There, there. Everything is going to be alright.' He was so... Emotional. But... For some reason... I didn't feel anything at all. I soon realized I didn't feel *anything* about *anyone*. My compassion had disappeared! And believe me, it's not like I wasn't trying. I wasted so much time with that stupid king, vainly hoping I would feel something. But it became too much for me. I ran away from home. Eventually, I reached the Citadel. Inside I found *her*, Chara. I thought of all people, *she* could make me feel whole again... She failed. I realized those two were useless. I became despondent. I just wanted to love someone. I just wanted to care about someone. Chara, you might not believe this... But I decided... it wasn't worth living anymore. Not in a world without love. Not in a world without you. So... I decided to follow in your footsteps. I would erase myself from existence. And you know what? I succeeded. But as I left this mortal coil... I started to feel apprehensive. If you don't have a SOUL, what happens when you...? Something primal started to burn inside me. 'No,' I thought. 'I don't want to die!' ... Then I woke up. Like it was all just a bad dream. I was back at the garden. Back at the garden with a pocketwatch. Interested, I decided to experiment. Again and again, I brought myself to the edge of death. No matter what, I could go back. Amazing, isn't it, Chara? I was amazed, too. At first, I used my powers for good. I became 'friends' with everyone. I solved all their problems flawlessly. Their companionship was amusing... For a while. As time repeated, people proved themselves predictable. What would this person say if I gave them this? What would they do if I said this to them? Once you know the answer, that's it. That's all they are. It all started because I was curious. Curious what would happen if I killed them. 'I don't like this,' I told myself. 'I'm just doing this because I have to know what happens. Ha ha ha... What an excuse! You of all people must know how liberating it is to act this way. Nowadays, even that's grown tiring. You understand, Chara. I've done everything this world has to offer. Everyone has become infinitely predictable. Except you, Chara. I never could predict *you*. When I saw you in the Citadel, I didn't recognize you. I thought I could frighten you, then steal your SOUL. I failed. And when I tried to go back, I found the pocketwatch was gone. Chara... you are now chosen! I just have one question for you, Chara. How did you get back to the Citadel from here...?"

Frisk remained silent as he continued to walk.

"Wait, I know. She must have taken you when she left. And decided to give you a proper burial, rather than... Hanging out in that basement forever. But, why then...? What made you wake up? Did you hear me calling you...?"

Frisk continued to remain silent.

"It doesn't matter now." Flowey eventually said. "I'm so tired of this, Chara. I'm tired of all these people. I'm tired of all these places. I'm tired of being a flower. Chara. There's just one thing left I want to do. Let's finish what we started. Let's free everyone. Then... let's let them see what Humanity is *really* like! That despite it all... This world is still 'Kill or be Killed!!' Then...? Well. I had... Been entertaining a few ways to use that power. Hee hee hee...... But seeing you here changed my mind. Chara... I think if you're around... Just living in the surface world doesn't seem so bad. We don't even need to leave to get them this time. The king has six of them locked away. I've tried hundreds of ways to get him to show me them... But he just won't. Chara... I know he'll do it for *you*."

Frisk had finally reached the end of his patience with Flowey confusing him for some long-dead sibling.

"Why are you telling me all this, Flowey?" Frisk asked.

Flowey looked up at Frisk with a confused look. "Chara, I said it before. Even after all this time... You're still the only one that understands me. You won't give me any worthless pity! Creatures like us wouldn't hesitate to *kill* each other if we got in the other's way. So that's... So... that's... why..."

Frisk looked straight through Flowey. He could feel LOV's warmth within him. Flowey was right. He didn't need any worthless pity. By the look Flowey was now wearing, he could feel that something was deeply wrong.

"... what's this... feeling?" Flowey said. "Why am I... shaking?" Flowey then looked up at Frisk. "Hey... Chara... No hard feeling about back then, right?"

Frisk drew the dagger.

"H-Hey, what are you doing!?" Flowey panicked. "B... back off!! I... I've changed my mind about all this. This isn't a good idea anymore. Y-you should go back, Chara. This place is fine the way it is!"

Frisk started walking closer to Flowey, the knife glittering with Monster dust. A demented smile formed across his face.

"S-s-stop making that creepy face!" Flowey shouted. "This isn't funny! You've got a *sick* sense of humor!"

Frisk then took a swing at Flowey, who retreated into the earth.

*Damn coward.* Frisk thought.

After sheathing the knife, Frisk realized that he'd not been really paying attention to where he'd been walking. Looking around, he found that he was right outside the Judgement Hall, where Sans would judge him in past Worlds.

*Oh good, I'm near Asgore now.* he thought. *It's time to finish this.*

With that, Frisk walked into the Judgement Hall.