Miraculously, you didn't get too sick from your freak out in Snowdin the day before. Or at least you didn't think so. It was just a cough and a runny nose: nothing too serious. You had gone through way worse without any sort of medicine beyond what you had managed to find in the cabinets. Despite that, Asgore and Toriel were all over you with care. You were never alone for long. To be honest, it was kind of annoying. Someone always being around was something you weren't too used to, especially when it was over something this trivial.

"It's really not that bad-" you sneezed, interrupting yourself. Okay, maybe your throat hurt a lot, and you felt pretty bad, but it wasn't like you were going to die.

Toriel didn't look convinced. She placed a large hand over your forehead, and regretted the extra heat just from that. It was bad enough in all of these blankets! "You still have a high fever, child. A few more days of rest and you'll be fine." As she said this, you noticed a slight frown. She was lying. She didn't know anything about human illnesses, which wasn't exactly her fault.

But to be honest, resting seemed like a good idea. You had been exhausted all day, and just staying up through pure will-power. And you had a feeling it was only noon. Maybe sleep would help make the time pass by. It wasn't like you had Asriel to talk to. He'd been moved to his parents' room just in case you were actually contagious to monsters. Being sick was so boring.

You lay back down and Toriel pat your head before pulling up your sheets again. You didn't try to push them back down this time. Toriel was just someone you didn't argue with. "Have a good rest, Chara." She smiled as she went and closed the door behind her. You faded into unconsciousness some time later.

The next few days were hard to place. Or, at least you assumed that they were days. It was impossible to tell. You drifted in and out of sleep for who knew how long. Usually, either Toriel or Asgore would be there with some food, but you soon found that you could barely stomach any of it. You had puked more times than you could count. Sometimes you even awoke to one of them cradling you in their arms. It was hard to think straight, but one thought was usually pretty clear: they care.

Once or twice, you woke up with Asriel by your bedside. You could have sworn he had one of those bad drawings of himself or characters he came up with, but you couldn't really tell. All you knew was that he was explaining something to you with utter joy. It made you feel the same way, even if you physically felt like crap. You didn't even know if he could tell you were awake, but he stuck around all of the time. Who knows, maybe all of that was a lucid dream. You couldn't tell the difference much anymore.

This cold had gotten worse than you expected.

For the first time in forever, you woke up with a clear head. It was pounding, and every part of your body felt like lead, but you could think to an extent. There was a weird taste in your mouth, but you figured that was normal. But this time, it wasn't Toriel, Asgore, or even Asriel by your bed. It was a skeleton. The monster was digging through a small bag at the side of your bed. They were tall, and wore what looked like a black lab-coat like the kind you'd seen in movies. Or maybe a doctor suit. It was really hard to tell. But the thing was, you didn't recognize this monster. At all.

You would have screamed in fear and surprise had you been able to. But you were barely able to move, much less speak. However, your shifting seemed to be enough to catch their attention. They looked up, and you cowered. They held up their hands as if to calm you down, and spoke some words in a language you just couldn't understand at all. It was like listening to a sentence shoved in a garbage disposal.

At that time, you heard the door to your room open. By the heavy footsteps, you could tell it was Asgore. You attempted to sit up, and by Asgore's expression, he was surprised to see that you were even awake. Or at least visibly more conscious than usual. "Chara! You're looking better already. Thank you, Dr. Gaster."

Gaster smiled and nodded at Asgore before speaking in that language again, making all sorts of motions with his hands to go along with it. You didn't understand it at all, but Asgore apparently understood it perfectly. "It seems the medicine did the trick then." Finally, he turned his attention back to you. You were already starting to feel tired again. "Chara, this is one of my closest friends, the Royal Scientist, W.D. Gaster." So he wasn't just some crazy guy in your room. Good to know.

"He was the only one we could think to call since you were so sick," he smiled, "but it looks like his brilliant mind came through again. Really, thank you." Once again, Dr. Gaster nodded and made his leave from the room. Your eyelids drooped. "How about you get some more rest, Chara. I'm sure you'll be good as new soon enough." You once again started to fall asleep.

You really wished you could take a bath. You felt gross.

Another two days passed before you were deemed well enough to leave bed. The medicine that royal scientist gave you really seemed to do the trick. You weren't even throwing up anymore! You were still sniffling and coughing, but you were back to normal cold stuff. Maybe you actually had the flu? Nevertheless, everyone was thrilled at your quicker recovery. But neither Asgore or Toriel could have reached Asriel's enthusiasm.

Almost as soon as you were out of your room, you were hit with an almost-tackle hug from your brother. You only barely managed to keep your feet on the ground. "Jeez, Azzy. Calm down…" Damn, your throat still hurt.

He smiled sheepishly after you managed to pry his arms off of you. "Sorry… It's just, you were sick for almost two weeks and it's just not as fun without you around. And I was really worried for you." Didn't he have any more friends than you? Actually, that was probably right. What kind of kid wanted to play with the prince? They were probably afraid of offending him or something. Please. Like Asriel would ever want to get revenge on someone for beating him at tag.

"Wow, you really do care," you said jokingly.

"Of course I do! Why wouldn't I?" Man, jokes were lost on this kid.

You shrugged it off. Forget it. "Let's head down to the garden. I haven't been down there in weeks!" Before he could respond, you made your way toward the stairs. You deserved to do what you wanted after being bedridden for two weeks. Probably two of the worst weeks in your life. Luckily, Asriel didn't protest.

If only he knew what you were planning to do down there.

When the two of you got to the garden, you got right to work, grabbing your own personal watering can from its place on the floor. It hadn't been moved at all, which you were glad about. Despite everything, you still hated people messing with your stuff. Just a weird quirk, you supposed. Asriel grabbed his own in joined you in making your rounds about the spots the two of you were responsible for.

As you went around, you deliberately avoided the buttercups, saving them for last. Whenever you looked at them, you were overcome with a severe sense of revulsion and panic. You had long since decided what you wanted to do, but thinking about it just made you sick. You didn't want to leave. But it was best for everyone. Everyone would forgive you, and even if they didn't, you'd still know you did the right thing. What's one kid VS an entire race.

"Hey, Chara?" You turned at Asriel's voice. "Do you know what today is?" You raised an eyebrow. What was he talking about? Despite your confusion, Asriel smiled. "It's the day we first met; when you fell down that hole in the mountain!" You froze. It had been a whole three years already? Asriel didn't seem to notice that. "Yeah, I know. Can you believe it? We've been best friends and siblings for a three years now."

You could feel your own guilt weighing you down now.

Asriel sat down in the grass, careful to avoid any flowers, and you joined him, mostly because you felt as if you'd fall over. He looked as if he was deep in thought, which was rare for him. "You know, before you, I didn't really have any friends. I was always the Prince, someone you weren't supposed to make angry. And so everyone avoided me when they could. When I did play with anyone, they always just let me win. It wasn't much fun having everyone be afraid of me."

Finally, he turned his head to look at you. You could feel the happiness coming off of him. It clashed with the negativity you could feel in your own soul. "So, when we went to the Ruins that day and found you, I was so happy, but really scared too. You could have been a new friend, or someone else who was afraid of me. But from the start, you never even saw me as the prince, or even a monster. Just… me. I couldn't have asked for a better friend."

He smiled broadly, and you could see the sparkle of tears welling up in his eyes. "So, Chara, thank you. These last three years have been the best I've ever had." Before you knew it, Asriel's arms were wrapped around you in the warmest and most special hug you'd ever felt. Toriel's were motherly, and Asgore's all-encompassing, but Asriel's were full of so much love, you couldn't help but love him back.

Is this really the best way to do it? I don't want to leave…. No, you had to. This was the way that was best for everyone. It wasn't like you even deserved to live with them. Yes, this was the best way for you to get everyone their happy ending. To atone for humanity's sins.

You had to die and become nothing more than a soul to break the barrier. It was the best way.

You pulled away from the hug unconsciously, but Asriel seemed to understand you were done. Hugs just got weird after too long. "I'm gonna go upstairs and help Mom make the surprise cake— I mean, dinner." He paused. "Ah, don't tell anyone I spoiled the surprise!" You nodded and forced out a smile.

"No problem. I didn't hear a thing." Your gaze was drawn to the buttercups again. "I'm going to be down here for a while."

Asriel smiled. "Well, see you in a little bit." With that, he left the room. Once again, you were alone in the garden. The only difference from last time was that you were too determined to not go through with your plan this time.

You stood and walked over to the buttercups. Your heart was beating at a mile a minute. Every step you took closer was another constriction in your chest. To think, you just got better and you were going to make yourself sick again. You chuckled to yourself from some sick sense of humor buried down inside yourself. How ironic.

Finally, you reached them. The yellow flowers reminded you of the golden flowers by your hometown. Despite everything, you really wanted to see them again. Who knows, maybe you would still be conscious after convincing Asriel to absorb your soul and head to the surface. Or not. But that was even if your old brother hadn't destroyed them all.

You grabbed a large handful of them. This would be enough. Just a few made Asgore sick after all. You shook with... some emotion. Sadness? Relief? Regret? Too many were swirling around in your SOUL. Maybe it wouldn't hurt so much.

You began to tear the tops of the flowers off and tossed the stems to the ground. Soon, you were left with an entire handful of buttercups. Just looking at them made you think of how sick you'd be in just a bit. Mom would probably cry. Dad would try to be strong. And Asriel would probably break down. But it was all for the greater good, you reminded yourself. Seeing the sun would make up for it.

"Mom, Dad, Asriel," you muttered. "I'm sorry."

You shoved the entire handful of flowers in your mouth.

As you chewed the intensely bitter plants, you realized something. You had called them as your parents. They were more like your mom and dad than your real ones. And Asriel was a much better brother. You would miss them.

You swallowed.