A/N: Welcome to the first of three timelines. This is the Pure Timeline; the timeline untouched by Genocide.
ALSO! ANNOUNCEMENT! I have a co-writer! And before my PM box gets lit up, or not, with "u don no dis person. how can u trust dem?" I have an OBJECTION! I know this person outside of the interwebs. User Oni Mayame is my friend topside, so I know I can trust them. If I don't, then I really need to find a better place to search for friends besides school…
Purity Isn't Perfect
Chapter 0
Soul Exchange
?/?/2117 - Location Unknown - Felix's Diary
Purity… Something barely achieved normally. If something is "pure", it normally doesn't stay that way. But even with all the struggles we've all gone through, it's like nothing's changed. Asriel's still Asriel. Chara's still Chara. Frisk's still Frisk. I'm still me. This pure timeline that Sans keeps preaching about… it doesn't seem pure. Fights still happen. Crimes still occur. I'm in a daily battle for my sanity right now, just to try to keep myself on the side of what's considered "good". But… Even though I feel everything slipping out of my grasp… If what that person wants comes to be, what'll happen to my friends? What'll happen to my life? It all makes me think back to that day. That one day when I decided whether to bring it all back to zero, or to go one step back, two steps forwards.
6/12/2116 - Mount Ebott - Peak - Felix's POV
"We guess it's time to choose… We don't know how far back LOADing will take us…" I stood up.
"Now it's time to carve our fate. Let's just hope we don't fuck ourselves over…"
I slammed my hand (paw?) on the LOAD button, and everything went black as I felt myself falling backwards.
6/11/2116 - Underground - Outside the Throne Room
"So, are we gonna go in or not?" Frisk stood in front of me, her hands on her hips. Without me even knowing it, I leapt forwards, wrapping Frisk up in a giant hug.
"Frisk! You're okay! Oh my god, it worked!" I spun her around while in the hug, tears coming out of my eyes, sliding down my skin. I had gone back far enough so that we hadn't faced Asgore, and by result, I was human again. Frisk looked surprised once I set her down.
"U-Uh… Felix… why… why did you hug me?" Her face had a slight blush on it, but she was mainly nervous.
I tilted my head at her. "You don't remember…? I fought Asgore, and Flowey killed both Asgore and you, I absorbed your SOUL…? Ringing any bells yet?"
"...Not at all. You sure you don't have any more problems I should know about?" Frisk raised an eyebrow.
"But… Toriel, Sans, Alphys, Undyne, and Papyrus all talked to me on the phone…" I scratched the back of my neck. "...Does LOAD'ing really affect people that much?"
"W-whoa, wait, what?! You LOAD'ed?!" Frisk looked confused. "How in the world did you LOAD?! You know what, I don't even want to know…"
Chara looked at me, and I scratched the back of my neck. "*You sure you LOAD'ed?"
I nodded. "I swear on it…"
Chara shrugged. "*Can't prove that he's lying, so let's go with it for now. *You said Frisk died before your LOAD?" Chara's eyes flashed red.
"Flowey killed her…" I looked away.
The red glow in Chara's eyes died down. "*O-Oh… That changes things…"
I thought for a moment. "So… would anything change if we fought Asgore again…?"
Frisk shrugged. "Well, we've befriended everyone, so I've got no clue."
Chara turned towards Frisk, "*Normally Mom would come in and stop Dad, but she didn't this time."
Frisk tapped her finger on her mouth. "That's very true…"
I shook my head. "You know what? Fuck it. If the same thing happens, we can RESET instead of LOAD, and we'll try things again…" My voice had disappointment in it though. "Let's try one more time." I started walking to the Throne Room, the armored shoes clicking against the floor. Frisk quickly ran behind me as we entered the Throne Room again. Asgore wasn't there anymore. "He's probably already at the barrier…"
I kept going onwards, and Frisk was muttering something to Chara behind me. I didn't pay it much heed. Finally, we reached the barrier once more. Asgore stood there, trident in one hand. I stood behind him.
"Well, child…" Asgore turned around. "I think it's time Monsters went free…" His eyes shadowed his face for a moment.
I heard flames behind me, and I put myself in between the sound and Asgore, generating a shield around me. The flames spread across my shield, heating the area around me. I wiped sweat from my brow. "Who goes there?!" I proclaimed in a loud, confident voice.
"M-My child…?" Toriel stepped from the shadows. Frisk gasped and ran up to Toriel, giving her a large hug, which Toriel received and hugged back. "My children… I'm glad you're safe…"
"Toriel…" I lowered my sword and my shield. "Why would you attack Asgore?"
"M-My child… I-I did it s-so that he wouldn't kill you… No-one deserves death…" Toriel looked saddened.
"Asgore doesn't deserve death either! He's someone!" I gripped my sword. "You just said 'no-one deserves death', but you attack Asgore nonetheless?! You're a hypocrite, Toriel Dreemurr! Face the truth!" My words echoed across the room as my gaze nearly pierced Toriel's very SOUL.
"M-My child?!" Toriel looked near her breaking point.
"Don't call me that!" I spat the words out as if real venom ran in my very voice.
"F-Felix…" Toriel looked hurt, just like Frisk.
"HOLD IT!" A voice yelled out, and Undyne came charging onto the scene, brandishing her spear. "If anyone fights, I'll…! I'LL…! I'LL…! … Who's this…?" Undyne had seemingly calmed down as she stepped to my side. "Asgore, is this your ex…?" Asgore nodded.
"She's not as pleasant as she seems. She thinks Asgore started the war for selfish reasons, which I admit, but continued it for the same reasons." I crossed my arms, Asgore looking at me with a prideful look in his eye. "I know the truth. Hope. That's the main reason. Right, Asgore?" I smiled, looking to Asgore, who nodded. "She left because she was disgusted with the war. She was disgusted with the hope. I think I know her rebuttal too."
Toriel stepped forwards, looking slightly more composed. I stood opposite her, my sword at my side. "Felix, I have a reason for my leaving. If Asgore had crossed the barrier with just one SOUL, he could collect the other SOULs before coming back and breaking the barrier. He didn't need to wait this long to shatter the barrier and set everyone free."
I smirked. "Toriel, let me ask you this: who would be killed to consider a better cost? Six human children who were away from their families and jumped down a hole, presumably for suicide, or six innocent humans, who might've had families to go home to?"
Toriel looked flabbergasted, blinking from shock. She stepped back just as a familiar yellow dinosaur monster entered the room. "W-Wait! N-No-one fight…?" She looked around, eventually standing next to Undyne, scratching her head. "So… I-Is this the queen…?" Asgore and I nodded.
Papyrus rushed in. "NOBODY FIGHT! IF ANYONE FIGHTS, I'LL! BE FORCED TO! ASK UNDYNE FOR HELP!" I snorted with laughter. "OH! FANTASTIC FELIX! IF ANYONE FIGHTS, YOU CAN HELP ME!"
I held back laughing. "A-Alright, Papyrus. If anyone fights, I'll help."
"WAIT… ASGORE HAS A CLONE?" Papyrus looked confused at the sight of Toriel.
"who said anything about fighting?" Sans stepped in, his normal smile plastered on his face. "if anyone fights…. i'll probably just watch."
Toriel's eyes lit up with recognition. "That voice…!" She walked over to Sans. "I think we may have met somewhere…?" She said with a slight smile.
"yeah. i think we have." Sans smiled.
"So you…" Toriel turned to Papyrus. "You must be Papyrus, then, right?"
"WOWIE! ASGORE'S CLONE HAS HEARD OF ME, THE GREAT PAPYRUS! THIS IS THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE!" Papyrus looked elated.
"Well, Papyrus, do you know what skeletons cover their roof with?" Toriel had a grin on her muzzle.
"UH… SNOW-PROOF ROOF TILES?" Papyrus looked confused.
"No, Papyrus… Shin-gles!" Toriel chortled with laughter.
"NEVERMIND! THIS IS THE WORST DAY OF MY LIFE!" Papyrus was extremely annoyed at the fact that Toriel enjoyed bad jokes, just like his brother.
I smiled, sighing contently. I turned to Asgore, when suddenly, a fist collided with the back of my head and I fell to the ground.
?/?/2117 - Location Unknown - Felix's Diary
That moment, that blow to the back of my head, was Frisk's doing. I had apparently upset her so much by undermining all that Toriel thought she did, that Frisk actually hurt someone. That, or Chara decked me for being a douche to Tori. I still don't completely know. I woke a couple of hours later, and I didn't like the scene I saw.
6/11/2116 - Underground - Barrier
I stood up, blinking. Flowey stood tall over Frisk, everyone else in his grasp. "You idiot… Did you really think you'd be able to win just like that…? I haven't had my fun yet, idiot…"
I walked over holding my head while still keeping an eye on Flowey. "Oh look, sleeping doorknob woke up. Looks like I get my wish fulfilled. My revenge against you, trashbag."
"Hey, just put my friends down, alright? I don't want anyone getting hurt…" I put myself in between Frisk and Flowey. Frisk looked like she was about to break down from the sight in front of her.
"How're ya gonna do that, trashbag?" Flowey looked amused. "Slice at me? Because if you even try to attack me, your friends get crushed…"
"Just put my friends down…" My mind was reeling for an idea, until I suddenly grabbed a near impossible idea. But I had to go with it. There was no other way. "A-and I'll give you this…" My hand went forwards, revealing my human SOUL.
Flowey's expression changed. "Y-You'd give me your SOUL for your friends…?!"
Asgore grunted. "Y-You must not… the future all monsterkind depends on it, child…"
Toriel looked like she was going to burst into tears. "M-My child, no! Y-You'll die without your SOUL!"
Sans's left eye blazed blue for a moment. "kid, i'm tellin' you right now… you do not want to give the weed your SOUL… everyone will have a bad time if you do."
Papyrus was crying as his arm reached out to me. "N-NO! I-IF YOU DIE, TH-THEN I-I'LL MISS YOU! Y-YOU CAN'T GO, FELIX!"
Undyne looked pissed. "Punk, if you give your SOUL to this plant, I'll never forgive you! I'll find your body and beat it into little meaty shreds!"
Alphys looked completely shocked. "I-I-I don't know what to do! I-I don't know what's going to happen! I-I… I don't know anymore!" Alphys looked as if she was going into a mental breakdown.
Frisk's voice came from behind me. "I-If you give up your SOUL… Y-You'll be gone forever. I-I'd never live with myself. I'd have to go back."
I smiled at her, shaking my head slightly. "I'm not going anywhere." I grasped my SOUL in my hand, walking towards Flowey. My voice was firm, and had force behind it. "Put my friends now, and you'll get your SOUL!"
Flowey's grip slackened, my friends falling to the ground. I threw my SOUL forwards, a resounding snap echoing across the room.
?/?/2017 - Location Unknown - Felix's Diary
Blinding light probably crippled everyone for a few moments. I had just created a miracle, at the cost of my life. Or so I thought. What I truly am is a mystery to everyone, even today. I think I know, and I know why. I'm a [The rest of the entry is ripped out.]
6/11/2116 - Felix's Dreamscape
I rubbed my eyes, standing up again. The fur was back, like when I collected all those human SOULs. Instead, now there was fur because I had no human SOUL. "Guess Muffet was right. I was a monster all along."
The dust settled, revealing just me and one goat monster wearing a green and yellow striped shirt. He appeared to be my age. His tone was casual. "Howdy. You finally woke up." I brushed myself off. I was wearing my black and blue striped sweater again, the one that had burnt to a crisp in the ruins, along with black pants. "Guess I should explain a few things then, since you look confused as all hell…" I nodded slightly, scratching the back of my neck.
"Well, first of all, my name's Asriel. Asriel Dreemurr. The one that died a century ago. In a freak accident, a flower was injected with DETERMINATION. That flower had my dust on it, so when it turned sentient, the Flower was me. Long story short, I couldn't feel any emotion at all. I was the creature with the original power to RESET. After several thousand runs, Frisk falls for the first time. Flowey, with his kill or be killed attitude, tried to kill Frisk. Toriel intervened, sending Flowey flying.
"Frisk spared her way through the Underground, eventually making her way to Asgore. Asgore and Frisk fought, much in the same fashion you fought Asgore. At the end of the fight, Frisk spared Asgore, and Asgore smiled, standing up to take Frisk inside the castle. Suddenly, Flowey attacked and killed Asgore, facing off against Frisk with the power of the six human SOULS on his side. Frisk won, of course, and Flowey ran off into the Underground. Frisk crossed the Barrier, only to RESET when she realized that her friends had gotten nowhere except backwards in relation to being free from the underground.
"She did the same thing, ending up fighting me instead of Flowey this time. After the fight was over, I shattered the barrier for monsterkind, throwing away any chance for me coming back. I went back to my normal self, if only for a little bit… I explained to Frisk who I really was and that I wasn't myself when I was Flowey and that I was going to turn back into that Flower soon. I told Frisk how much everyone cared about them, even though they barely knew them. Even after everything I had done to them and their friends… Frisk still forgave me. After I had broken the barrier I told them 'I have to go', I guess Frisk knew how I was feeling… It was the first time in a long time that I actually felt something… I felt real 'love', she gave me a hug and made me feel better…
"After Frisk had let go, I left and went to the ruins. I sat there watching the flowers for a few minutes before I heard something behind me. Frisk was there, they wanted me to go with them. I didn't. 'Someone has to take care of these flowers' I said, but time after time… RESET after RESET… Frisk kept trying. Your friend, they're one of the most DETERMINED people I've ever seen… Guess it wasn't in vain after all then." Asriel smiled, and I felt my strength waiver for a moment. "Don't worry, Felix. You're just waking up. I'll see you topside." Asriel waved as I fell forwards onto my face, apparently waking up from Asriel's speech.
6/11/2116 - Underground - Barrier Hallway
"...disappeared. This monster here might know something though." Undyne's voice was serious. "The barrier's been broken, and Felix vanished… I just hope he's enjoying where he is at the moment."
I groaned slightly. "I'm not enjoying the headache much, Undyne, but thanks for the thought…" I sat up, shaking my fur out slightly. It was still a foreign feeling, the fur, like wearing a heavy coat all the time. "I'll get used to it in time…" I thought.
"F-F-Felix...? H-How'd that e-even work?! Science doesn't do that!" "Punk! Ya made it!" "FANTASTIC FELIX!" "knew that you'd do it, kiddo." "My child…" "Young one…" Everyone was chattering, laughing, and smiling now, except for Alphys, who was having a mini panic attack from the fact that I'd pretty much gone against every scientific law out there.
I stood up, stretching my arms. I didn't have large muscles, outstanding strength, unlimited magic, or anything like that. I was just… me. With some fur. "So where's Asriel?" My voice was curious as I looked around. Frisk was off to the side, watching me with a slight smile on her face. Everyone's expression faltered when Asriel was mentioned.
"M-My child… s-surely you Asriel d-died, right?" Toriel had a nervous look on her face.
"He was dead. I just talked with him a short while ago." I stretched my back. "He told me about the true nature of the yellow flower that everyone knows about."
"T-T-True n-nature? O-Oh n-no… y-y-you m-mean that I…" Alphys's voice trailed off as her eyes widened out of realization and shock.
"Unknowingly brought Asriel Dreemurr back to life in the form of a SOULless flower? Yeah, I figured that out a long time ago." Frisk chimed in, walking up to join with everyone.
I thought for a moment. "He knew I was waking up, and his tone was as if I'd see him soon.. Was his tone not founded?" I scratched my ears, slowly leaning into my hand before falling over. "...Note to self, don't scratch ears." I stood up, weird looks happening in my direction after my fall. "W-Well… Shall we finally let MonsterKind see the sun again?" I smiled slightly.
"This war is over. After a hundred long years… it's over." Asgore smiled widely. "Let us proclaim the Monster's freedom." Asgore stood tall and confidently, his armor gleaming.
I smiled widely, starting to dash off to the Barrier room. My tail, which my jeans had a hole for, wagged quickly. I turned the corner running into the barrier room.
6/11/2117 - Underground - Barrier(?)
I looked around. I could see the sun from where I stood. "Asriel! Where are you? I know you're in here!" I walked forwards, my tennis shoes tapping against the floor. I crossed my arms. "What the hell? Why isn't he here…?"
Everyone came to where the Barrier was, most people smiling at the sight of the sun. Frisk patted my back. "I believe you about you talking with Azzy, but I don't know if he's even able to show up."
"Did someone call for…" A voice echoed in the cavern before a giant puff of smoke clouded everyone's vision. "THE GOD OF HYPERDEATH?!" A giant goat monster with wings filled with letters, numbers, symbols, and images appeared in front of everyone, and I backed up a step.
"Nah, I'm not gonna go full Hyperdeath on everyone." The smoke cleared, revealing Asriel again, in his green and yellow sweater and a pair of jeans. His attention was turned mainly to Toriel and Asgore. He waited a moment before speaking.
"Hi, Mom. Hi, Dad." He said with a small wave. In under a second, Toriel and Asgore were at Asriel, holding him close, hugging him, smiling, and crying all at once. "M-Mom, Dad, calm down! ...Not in front of Frisk and Felix, alright?" He seemed majorly embarrassed by all this attention.
"Asriel, it's fine. The fact that this is the first they've seen you in over a century is reason enough for them to hug you and cry." I crossed my arms, a smirk on my face. "I'd be worried if they didn't want to smother you with affection at this point."
After what seemed like an eternity, especially for Asriel, Asgore and Toriel let Asriel go. Asriel, visibly embarrassed, trudged over to us. "Ugh… Can we just go outside now…?" Frisk took Asriel's hand as they started to walk outside. Everyone else did as well, but I closed my eyes, thinking to myself.
"So… what now? Everyone's free, Frisk seems happy, but… I can't feel as if this is only the beginning of a long, hellish road." My thoughts were circling when I suddenly felt a strong grip on my shoulder.
"Hey, punk. All the monsters are free now, including you, believe it or not. Why don't you just come out and help explain to Papyrus what the sun is?" I opened my eyes, seeing Undyne's hand on my shoulder with a large grin on her face.
"Alright." I smiled, following her out of the Underground. "...She's right. I'm not human anymore, so I'll have to take things one step at a time. And that first step is that I need to find out what I'm going to do."
6/12/2117 - Mt. Ebott - Barrier Overhang
I smiled when I saw the sun again. I stood next to Asgore. Toriel seemed happy at her position next to Sans. Undyne and Alphys had joined hands, just like Asriel and Frisk. I felt genuinely happy. Papyrus seemed like he got an idea. "I SHOULD GO TELL THE HUMANS THAT MONSTERKIND IS FREE! BOY, THEY'LL BE SO HAPPY!" Papyrus started to run off, and I swallowed, chasing after him.
"Papyrus, wait! Hold on, Pap!" For being just skin…. Er… for being a skeleton, he sure was fast. Soon enough, I had chased Papyrus into the nearest city. People gawked and stared at us as I chased Papyrus. He actually managed to get past several sets of guards and get into a large white building. The guards grabbed me as Papyrus disappeared from sight. "You have to let me go after Papyrus! Knowing him, he'll probably screw all monsterkind over somehow…"
The guards rolled their eyes as one of them started pulling on my ears, trying to unmask me or something. "OW! SHIT! STOP IT!" It felt like someone was trying to rip my head in half. Dust started falling as I gritted my teeth, and the guard released me.
"I-It r-really is a m-monster…!" The guard seemed flabbergasted. They shoved me forwards, and I landed on my hands and knees before I got up, walking further into the building.
I heard Papyrus's laughter emanate from behind a large set of dark oak doors. I pushed the doors open, looking into the largest room I'd ever seen in my life. Papyrus was standing triumphantly in the center of the room, rows upon rows of senators shocked at the skeleton standing before them. "Papyrus… welcome to the Senate of the United States of America…?" My voice was uncertain. I stepped up next to Papyrus, clearing my throat.
"Attention, Senate…" I saw a camera man in the corner, and I turned myself towards it. "...and all of the United States for that matter. My name…" I thought for a moment. "My name is Felix Dreemurr. I am the ambassador for the newly released Monsterkind." My voice started gaining in courage and intensity. "After being trapped underground for far, far too long, they've been freed. I can tell you that about… eh…. A thousand-ish peaceful monsters will be descending upon the District of Columbia mainly looking for guidance and direction. Please do not be alarmed. Unless you see Jerry. Then be alarmed. Be very alarmed." I shuddered, recalling the most grotesque monster in the Underground.
"Anyway, there will probably be political talks and news topics for the next… month or so." I scratched the back of my neck. Guards appeared behind me, and I broke out into a cold sweat. "G-Guess this is the end of the gambit, Papyrus…"
A woman dressed in an all white suit stepped out from behind the guards, and I saw the lights dictating that the cameras were on blink, then completely shut off. "So you're the one that's disrupted my government, eh?" The woman had a wry smile on her face, but her eyes lit up as if she were talking with an old friend.
"H-Hello…" I scratched the back of my neck, a nervous smile on my face.
Papyrus looked confused. "FANTASTIC FELIX, DO YOU KNOW THIS PERSON?"
"Yeah… She's…" I hesitated. She had thought she knew me, but I didn't know where she thought I was from.
"Come on then, Phoenix. Introduce me to your friend." She had smiled.
"You still haven't put that nickname to rest?" I sighed. "You know my symbol was the sly fox, not the righteous phoenix…"
"Hey, an aunt's gotta keep a hold on her nephew somehow, no?" She laughed.
"Papyrus, this is my aunt. Her name is Tsubasa Namine…" I scratched the back of my neck. The last part was always either embarrassing or awkward to tell people.
"She's also the current President of the United States…"
Ending A/N:
SSG's Notes: Well this chapter was very long… Probably gonna be the longest one we ever write… At least for this fic. Also… President for plot convenience. Also for plot points.
Oni's Notes: Well I guess I should write something here right..? Well I'm Oni Mayame and I'll be here for now. I would just like to say thanks to Split Soul Gaming for letting me work on this amazing project! I've had a lot of fun writing out a few things and tossing ideas. I'll see you in the next one!