It had been a while since I had experienced a loneliness like that. Nothing like the forlornness experienced hiding in one of the dens in utter silence. It felt completely oppressive, even the running water sounded muffled. The only audible sounds must have been miles away, the destruction the flower/goat was causing. I still felt slightly bitter that GLaDOS couldn't conjure up any weapons from Aperture that would help me in the fight. My chest seized up; I had to get him away from Wheatley. In my minds eye he was back as a core, his optic barely a pinprick, shaking.

I leapt, and began running. My heavy footsteps must have been the only noise, as the monster immediately zoomed in on me. Gliding with enormous multicolour wings only a few feet off the ground, so I stopped in my tracks. He too halted, an awesomely powerful being to behold; I was amazed, as it looked as though he held the universe and more. My surroundings darkened dramatically, and I realised we were about to enter battle. His black cloak rippled endlessly, he raised his hands and formed rainbow missiles.

I tried desperately to avoid them, but the artillery was far too effective for me to have much of a chance. But the missiles whistled through me, stinging through my body. I shuddered, but recovered quicker than I expected. The attack ended, and I centred myself. There wasn't much to do but hope and struggle, with my tiny soul and that, I was pretty helpless.

"Still you're hanging on? I'd have expected that from the child, but not you." He snarled callously, though with not much effect. GLaDOS could have been sassier than that in sleep mode.
It dawned on me that I was physically fine because the attacks we're mainly for breaking my soul. The next wave commenced.

I scampered and dodged, no hits that time thanks to being nimble. It was as though Aperture was just training for this moment. Within me, I felt as though I was frozen and couldn't move. I flexed my fingers. I'm fine, I can move, no problem.

"You're weak, beneath me. You shall be trapped here FOREVER!"

Doubt it, I have science on my side. Cut it out.

The monster claimed he was Asriel Dreemurr, and went on with another weak insult with a smirk. My action was to fold my arms; I was tired of him already, waiting for him to feel the same way and stop appeared to be my only option. I felt rage bubbling. What is HIS problem?!

I was subjected to more blasts and missiles. I didn't even bother moving that much, letting them whirl around with that whiny hissing noise. My foot began tapping, bored of 'struggling' and watching Asriel grow yet more smug. Standing in the line of fire was never my thing, so logically I had to do something. He was too far away to punch with much effect, there were no nearby objects to throw either. I stepped forward, and grabbed hold of his cloak, tugging with all my might. The material was like gossamer silk, and yet incredibly strong as my rough hands gripped tighter.

"What are you doing? Your soul is meant to be confined! Do you know who I am now? Let go of me!"

Asriel attempted to blast me, but was failing miserably. Fury spurred me, not mere determination. I'm more than a soul! I have a mind! I have intelligence! I have wits! I'm more than you think I am! I became caught up in whatever energy or magic that was making Asriel fly, soon floating up to where our faces were level. It was an odd sensation. I seized his elaborately decorated shoulders and shook him back and forth as if he was a misbehaving child.

"Hey! Stop!"

My legs were moving under their own volition, trying to stay upright. Letting go to thwack him was not an option. I looked into Asriel's eyes. I shook harder.

"Stop it! Why are you doing this to me?" He cried, voice cracking just a little at the end. Instinctively I paused, before shaking him around again. Leaning forwards so that my elbows were digging into him, so that we were nose to nose, so that he could see the fearlessness in my eyes. He whimpered, and then tried to turn it into a growl. I felt him try hopefully to blast my soul away. I felt the weight of it in my chest. So insignificant, but existent. Maybe, though it could have been a knot in my chest due to fear. I couldn't tell. At least, I think I have one. I can feel, love if I so choose. Probably. Well, soul or not I haven't been hindered so far. I have to save them... Stupid Asriel.

"I don't understand. You don't even know half of them." He wailed, pitiful. I was tempted to slap him, but I noticed I small glittering tear slide out one of his almond eyes. I'm not going to have to comfort him, am I?
I wanted to scoff at the thought, but the idea became rather compelling. He was a terrible fighter, and murdering him wouldn't really solve anything. Not that I knew where to start with that idea.

"The other human cares, but why do you? S-stop! You're different, it's s-scary. I can't control you, can't control myself and..."

Asriel attempted another weak attack, and I felt a strange compassion for the thing that was more for than I could deal with. Ignoring his sharp horns atop his head and spikes on his shoulders, I went for a hug, resting my head round his neck. His fur was surprisingly soft and warm, the flesh beneath vulnerable. I could murder the heartless, but not the hurt. I heard a pathetic snivel, feeling his small sobs reverberating through his body.

"I'm so alone..."

I closed my eyes, but blinding whiteness took over, curious ghostly visions. Sans, Papyrus, Undyne, Alphys, King Asgore, Toriel..I could feel all their energy going round like a carousel, but it was so little. It was strange, barely knowing them but understanding them so well. I felt as though I was standing before them, but they would pay me no attention. I thought of Frisk, trying to figure out what they would do in this situation. But simply thinking about them made all the monsters stronger, I could feel their hearts beating as one. It was beautiful. I stayed there, and in my mind I was reaching out to them all. Something resonated with Sans and...

"Haha, I don't want to let go."

The visions pulled away, I lifted my head. The angel of death had transformed into an adorable monster, pale fur and short snout, that I was holding with his tiny legs dangling above the ground. His paws were lost in the oversized sleeves of his jumper.

"Tell them I'm sorry." he said plaintively, the voice of a young child than a demonic flower. I looked around; nobody was there. Asriel looked around himself as well.

"I can return them all, if you want. But I'll become a flower again. Ignore Flowey, please; he's not really me. You're kind for a stranger. Thank you." He said, before wriggling out of my arms and rising upwards. Thousands of souls spiralled from and around him, and I covered my eyes to guard myself from them. He gracefully dropped down onto the ground, turning to me with eyes of optimism and yet sorrow. I wouldn't cry, I couldn't, I was stronger than this...

"...Take care of Mom and Dad for me won't you." Asriel begged, leaving me without a goodbye.
I fell to the floor, wrapping my arms round myself like I had done before. So many times before in periods of loneliness. I didn't care to follow Asriel in case he saw me like this. I was too miserable to, besides. I ignored the noises of monsters that must have been in another room ahead. I needed time.

...

"Hey! Is it over? Because, there is less death and destruction going on now, so if my calculations are correct then- Wait are you okay? You're not dead, are you? Tell me if you're dead, won't you, as a common courtesy? Please? Remember when I fell off my rail, and you weren't sure if I was dead, but I said I was fine! Can you do that? Don't worry about the catching-me incident. I can catch myself now anyway!"

Bumbling and chatting away as usual, Wheatley unfurled my tired limbs and held my head so it was facing him. I'd been through too much that day to be any less limp, and gazed at his concerned face through half-closed eyelids.

"...You can tell me anything, if you're upset. I had to use my Sherlock-esque skills to deduce that you were sad. The tears being the most noticeable. I didn't realise you were in the fight, I'd have helped, but I thought that it would just be the kid. Where are they? Doesn't matter. But are you okay? Please be okay..."

He began shaking my head and tapping me, as if I was fading away. In a sense, it was as if I was.

"I'm...fine..." I breathed, barely a whisper. I endeavoured to sit up, but was too exhausted to do so.

"Oh, okay, I just needed confirmation is all- did you just speak? I was fairly confident you couldn't. Mute. Couldn't even say the word apple but now you ca-"

Finger to my lips, I motioned him to be quiet. Wheatley made broad silent nods, pulling the top half of me unto his legs. I expected them to be solid and cold, uncomfortable, but they we're quite the opposite. His heating system warmed my back, causing me to feel yet more drowsy. As I expected, he began to ramble on again.

"Yep, rest, that's what humans need. Working with all of them test subjects in suspension has told me one thing at least. Hehehe, oh, um, I'll look after you better than I did them. So you can sleep, I'll be here. Still. On guard. Alphys fitted me with some pretty nifty stuff, so if danger comes, I'll take care of it. Blam! Won't even see it coming. The danger, I mean. I'll see it coming a mile away, obviously ..."