A/N: Undertale and all related characters belong to Toby Fox.

Chapter 6: "At the End of Everything…"

I found myself in the black void again.

Long ago, two races ruled over Earth: Humans and Monsters. One day, THEY ALL DISAPPEARED WITHOUT A TRACE.

I found a screen after that weird proclamation.

(Flowey LV9999 9999:99 My World)

…This is going to suck.

The only options were "Continue" and "Restart," but the Restart option was broken. "Continue" was the only thing I could pick.

After that, I walked forward, reaching the panel with my name on it. It was smashed to pieces.

(File erased.)

I found myself standing in front of Flowey's ENOURMOUS face. It flickered.

"Flowey, what did you DO…?"

"Howdy! It's me, FLOWEY."

He stuck his tongue out.

"FLOWEY the FLOWER!"

The weed grinned.

"I owe you some HUGE thanks. You really did a number on that old fool. Without you, I NEVER could have gotten past him."

He mimicked Asgore's kind smile.

"But now, with YOUR help..."

The mockery's eyes vanished.

"He's DEAD."

Flowey shifted back to his default appearance (the one with the large grin).

"And I'VE got the human SOULS!"

More demonic laughter…

"Boy! I've been empty for so long... It feels great to have a SOUL inside me again."

More tongue sticking…

"Mmmm, I can feel them wriggling... Awww, you're feeling left out, aren't you?"

"NO!"

Flowey ignored me.

"Well, that's just perfect. After all, I only have six souls. I still need one more... Before I become GOD."

That's it. I am so screwed…

"And then, with my newfound powers..."

He shifted to Toriel's face.

"Monsters."

He shifted to my face.

"Humans."

He shifted to an alien face with three rotating eyes… wait, what?

"Everyone."

He shifted to a shadowy face.

"I'll show them all the REAL meaning of this world."

More screeching.

"Oh, and forget about escaping to your old SAVE FILE. It's gone FOREVER."

SAVE file? Is that what determination grants me? The ability to save video game files?

"But don't worry. Your old friend FLOWEY... Has worked out a replacement for you!"

Flowey bared a large row of jagged teeth.

"I'll SAVE over your own death. So, you can watch me tear you to bloody pieces... Over, and over, and over..."

That's it. He's going DOWN.

I stepped forward, with the heart locket around my neck, and the gardening knife in my right hand.

"...what? Do you really think you can stop ME?"

"You have to ask, weed?"

He shifted back to his smug grin.

"Hee hee hee...You really ARE an idiot."

Flowey's face faded away, and I saw the six souls. They were arranged in a hexagon. A huge, black silhouette floated into view. Flowey had turned himself into a giant, hideous plant abomination.

"What the…"

The abomination shrieked with the voice of a hundred demons.

Flowey flung waves of crossed bullets at me, and I was barely able to dodge them.

I swung at him, but my knife only inflicted ONE point of damage.

Crap… I can't beat him like this. He HAS to have some sort of weakness… I need to outlast him!

Flowey flung more bullets, injuring me.

Things weren't looking too good, but something happened.

Flowey faded away, leaving the light blue soul and a field of toy knives. After some more dodging, I was desperate.

"SOMEONE HELP ME!"

Suddenly, the knives turned into healing bandages, and I saw a pale, redheaded girl wearing a ribbon. She smiled.

"We're here to help. Wait for an opening!"

She faded away, and Flowey returned.

What was that about?

Flowey summoned some flamethrowers, forcing me to bob and weave through the flames. He also summoned a huge laser, causing me to dive for safety.

The next soul was the orange one. After avoiding the white gloves, I called out.

"Is anyone out there!?"

The white gloves turned into healing green gloves, and I locked eyes with short kid with an orange bandana. He slammed his fists together.

"Keep it up, dude! You've got this!"

The kid faded away.

Thanks, dude.

After that, Flowey summoned bullet circles and vine bursts. I weathered the onslaught, and prepared for the third soul (the dark blue one).

I weaved through a row of ballerina shoes, and I called out again.

"Little help, please?"

The shoes retracted, revealing healing musical notes and a dark-skinned girl with a stern expression. She crossed her arms, and nodded."

"Stay strong. Flowey's got nothing on you."

She faded way.

Thanks for the vote of confidence.

Flowey fired flies out of a Venus flytrap, along with huge bombs.

After dodging some negative words from some notebooks (courtesy of the purple soul), I was a little annoyed.

"I need some help!"

The words changed into healing positive words, and I saw a curly-haired bow with glasses and a cheeky expression. He grinned.

"We're all here with you! You're over halfway there!"

He faded away.

See you on the other side.

Flowey fired finger guns and giant, bouncing snakes.

Next up, I avoid flames coming from some frying pans (that belonged to the green soul).

"You're still here, right?"

The flames turned into healing eggs, and I met a blond girl with an apron and a sad expression. She frowned.

"Murder isn't the answer… he's gone too far this time…"

She faded away.

You sound… disappointed.

Desperate, Flowey tried to use save scumming to trap me in his vines, but he couldn't finish me off.

The last soul was the yellow one.

After ducking under bullets fired by the toy gun, I called out one more time.

"Please, help me!"

The toy gun started to fire healing clovers, and I came face to face with a boy my age. He tipped his cowboy hat.

"Time's up. Let's end this!"

He faded away.

All for one and one for all!

The six souls surrounded me, showering me in healing bullets that revitalized me, before departing. Flowey faded back into view, but something was different.

(Flowey's Defense dropped to 0!)

Now's my chance!

I repeatedly swung at the vile weed, whittling away his HP. He launched an unrelenting barrage of attacks, but the six souls gave me enough healing bullets to survive.

Blow after blow, the tables had turned, and the murderous weed couldn't keep up. With one large strike, I depleted all of his HP.

"No... NO! This CAN'T be happening! You... YOU..."

He loaded a save file, restoring his HP to full. He had an obnoxious grin on his face.

"You IDIOT."

Oh, come on…

Flowey repeatedly shattered my soul with his save files, ending with an inescapable ring of bullets.

"Hee hee hee. Did you REALLY think... You could defeat ME!? I am the GOD of this world. And YOU? You're HOPELESS. Hopeless and alone... Golly, that's right! Your WORTHLESS friends... can't save you now. Call for help. I dare you. Cry into the darkness! "Mommy! Daddy!" "Somebody help!" See what good it does you!"

Odd choice of words…

"A little help here…?"

"But nobody came. Boy! What a shame! Nobody else... Is gonna get to see you DIE!"

The bullets closed in, but they healed me. Flowey paused.

"What? How'd you...? Well, I'll just…"

(LOAD FAILED.)

"Wh... Where are my powers!?"

You tell me, genius.

The six human souls suddenly appeared.

"The souls...? What are they doing?"

The souls rapidly circled Flowey. He started to shudder violently.

"NO! NO! YOU CAN'T DO THAT! YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO OBEY ME! STOP! STOP IT! STOOOOPPPP!"

Everything faded to white…

When my vision cleared, I saw Flowey, who was back to his regular form. Once again, I had the option of FIGHT or MERCY.

Sighing, I sat down, and began.

"My dad was a soldier."

"... What are you doing? Do you really think I've learned anything from this? No."

"He fought in a war between humans."

"Sparing me won't change anything. Killing me is the only way to end this."

"He died in that war."

Flowey raised his head.

"If you let me live... I'll come back."

"I wasn't born yet."

"I'll kill you."

"I never got the chance to know him."

He opened his eyes.

"I'll kill everyone."

"My mom misses him, though."

"I'll kill everyone you love."

"She has depression."

Flowey paused for a moment.

"..."

"She takes medicine for it."

"...?"

"She has to force herself out of bed in the morning."

The flower glared.

"... why?"

"She cries whenever she thinks I'm not listening."

He raised his eyebrows, then frowned.

"... why are you being... so nice to me?"

"If I ever kill someone…"

"I can't understand."

"More people will end up like my mother."

"I can't understand!"

"So, I won't kill, but I won't be killed, either. That's a promise."

"I just can't understand..."

Flowey ran away, in tears.

So, he can feel something, after all…

I stood up, and walked through the last archway.

In that black void, I saw some weird words: "UNDERTALE," By Toby Fox.

Suddenly, my phone started ringing.

"… heya."

"… Sans? How did you get this number?"

"is anyone there…?"

"Yes!"

"well… just calling to say… you made a snowman really happy… guess i should say something else, too."

Fine, have it your way, dumbass.

"so… it's been a while. the queen returned, and is now ruling over the underground."

He's probably talking about Miss Toriel. Wait, do I have to call her Queen Toriel, now?

"she's enstated a new policy… all the humans who fall here will be treated not as enemies… but as friends."

That's good, right?

"it's probably for the best, anyway."

How so?

"the human souls the king gathered… seem to have disappeared. so, uh, that plan ain't happening any time soon."

Oh… yeah.

"but even though people are heartbroken over the king… and things are looking grim for our freedom… the queen's trying her best not to let us give up hope. so, uh, hey… if we're not giving up down here… don't give up wherever you are, ok?"

... Sans…

"who knows know long it will take… but we will get out of here."

Next, I heard a loud, male voice.

"SANS! WHO ARE YOU TALKING TO?"

"oh, nobody."

"WHAT!? NOBODY!? CAN I TALK TO THEM TOO?"

Despite my exhaustion, I could feel myself smiling, faintly.

"here, knock yourself out."

"WAIT A SECOND… I RECOGNIZE THIS NUMBER! ATTENTION, HUMAN! I, THE GREAT PAPYRUS… AM NOW CAPTAIN OF THE ROYAL GUARD!"

Congratulations. I'm happy for you… Wait, how did you manage that?

"IT'D EVERYTHING I'VE EVERY DREAMED OF… EXCEPT, INSTEAD OF FIGHTING, WE JUST WATER FLOWERS."

I chuckled.

Papyrus... never stop being you.

"SO THAT'S EVER-SO-SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT. AND WE'RE HELPING DR. ALPHYS WITH HER RESEARCH. SHE'S GONNA FIND A WAY TO GET US OUT OF HERE."

And she doesn't have to do it alone, now…

"UNDYNE IS HELPING HER TOO! THOUGH, TO BE HONEST, HER METHOD OF HELPING… SEEMS KIND OF… EXPLOSION-INDUCING."

That bad, huh?

"BUT I THINK ALPHYS LIKES HAVING HER AROUND. UH OH!"

I heard, a boisterous, feminine voice.

"Hey! What are you up to, punk!? Ngahhhh!"

"PLEASE DON'T NOOGIE THE PHONE."

Same old Undyne.

"Hey! Who's in charge here!?"

"ME."

"Oh… yeah, that's right! I quit my job as leader of the Royal Guard. Actually, since we won't be fighting anymore… The Royal Guard totally disbanded. There's uh, only one member now."

"BUT HE'S EXTREMELY GOOD."

"Yeah! He is! C'mere!"

"PLEASE DON'T NOOGIE THE SKELETON."

I burst into laughter.

"Anyways, now I'm working as Alphys's lab assistant… We're gonna find a way out of this dump once and for all! Oh, yeah, and I'm a gym teacher at the queen's new school. Did you know I can bench-press seven children!? Awesome, right?"

Undyne's tone faltered.

"… Hey. I'm sorry about what happened with Asgore."

I cringed, remembering what had happened in the throne room.

I couldn't even stop him from taking his own life…

"You were just doing what you had to. It's not your fault he… Ah, darn it. I miss the big guy."

… I think I miss him, too…

"… Come on, Undyne! Snap out of it! Uh, I guess I'll tell you how Alphys is doing. Well, she's the same as ever. Maybe a little more reclusive than normal."

…?

"Seems like something's really bothering her… But she can get through it! I'm there supporting her! That's what friends are for, right?... Hey, where-ever you are… I hope it's better than here."

I wish. I'm still no closer to home, Undyne.

"It took a lot of sacrifice for you to get there… So, where-ever you are… You have to try to be happy, okay!? For our sakes! We'll feel better knowing our trouble was worth it. We're all with you! Everyone is! Even the queen! …HEYYY! WAIT a second!"

Undyne shouted into the distance.

"Toriel! Toriel! Do you wanna…?... Heh, she says she's busy."

"BUT IF SHE KNEW WHO WE WERE TALKING TO…"

"we wouldn't get the phone back for a least a few hours."

Sounds about right…

"WE HAVE THE MERCY TO SPARE YOU FROM HER!"

"But call back any time, ok?! She'd love to talk!"

I'd like to, but I can't make any promises right now…

"oh, whoops. this thing's almost outta batteries. so, hate to cut this short, but… be seeing you, ok, buddy?"

"BYE BYE FOR NOW!"

"See ya, punk!"

The monsters hung up, leaving me to think.

"Now what?"

Flowey popped up next to me, fully healed from our battle.

Sigh…

"What is it now, Flowey?"

"Why…? Why did you let me go?"

"Weren't you listening, moron?"

"Don't you realize that being nice… just makes you get hurt?"

"And you speak from experience? Forgive me for being skeptical."

"Look at yourself. You made all these great friends… But now, you'll probably never see them again."

"If I can't get out of this void, I won't see ANYTHING again, weed!"

"Not to mention how much they've been set back by you. Hurts, doesn't it?"

"I'll give you the same answer I gave to Undyne. I did my best, and I don't regret a thing."

"If you had just gone through without caring about anyone… You wouldn't have to feel bad now."

"Keep dreaming, Flowey. I am NOTHING like you."

"So, I don't get it. If you really did everything the right way… Why did things still end up like this? Why…? Is life really that unfair?"

"Isn't that obvious?"

"… Say… What if I told you… I knew some way to get you a better ending?"

I glared at the devious flower.

"What's the catch?"

"You'll have to load you SAVE file, and... Well, in the meantime, why don't you go see Dr. Alphys? It seems like you could have been better friends. Who knows… maybe she's got the key your happiness…? See you soon."

Flowey burrowed underground, but not before giving me one last piece of advice.

"You know, Smiley Trashbag? Papyrus's brother? Say. If I have ONE piece of advice for you… DON'T. Let him. Find out ANYTHING about you. He'll… well… Let's just say… He's caused me more than my fair share of resets. Stay away from that guy."

After he left, I thought about my "determination."

So, everyone keeps telling me that I have this special power, and that this power will show me the way forward? How?

Suddenly, I had an idea.

I closed my eyes, and concentrated. I could feel something resonating within my crimson SOUL. As everything faded to white, I had one more thought:

I need to go back, to before I defeated King Asgore Dreemurr…