Amane POV

The flowers were in full bloom, dancing as a breeze ruffled their petals. The sensations of spring tickled my senses: the warmth of the sun after the long winter, the cool wind after a week of rain, the lush green leaves mixing with the remaining gold and red, and simply the aroma of the flowers as I stood in the garden. This was the favorite spot of my mom and me. When we had time to spare, the two of us would just watch the sunset reflect of the myriad of flowers.

There were hundreds of them: petunias, orchids, roses, tulips, and so many more that I could never name them all. But the ones that always caught my eye were the marigolds. The yellow petals tinged with orange and red were stunning. And when the sun would set… The colors blended so beautifully, so perfectly, that it was nothing short of astonishing. I could watch them for hours, letting the world slip by without a care.

As I strolled under an archway covered with ivy, I spotted a plot that had never been there before. It was a small patch of dirt, barely a foot in diameter, surrounded by a little black fence. I wouldn't have given it a second glance, but it was right in my way to the marigolds. The sun was about to set. I couldn't be late.

As I made to step around it, a small, black sprout pushed through the soil. It looked like a thorn with little spikes around the base. I was curious, so I crouched to better see the mysterious plant's rapid growth. It was now about six inches tall. The spout diverged to form two more thorn-like stems. It was growing faster, reaching the height of my knees as gray fruit began to dangle from the tips of the stems. Something about it made me sick. I stood up, walking backwards as the plant reached four feet. The stems continued to divide until it looked like a twisted succulent.

I continued to back away as the plant spread outwards. The fruit swayed menacingly as they became the size of peaches. A rumbling came from its roots. I looked, my eyes disbelieving as the grass around the plant became gray and shriveled! It spread, killing the grass below my feet as it passed six feet. I watched, my brain not processing what was happening, as the wave of dying grass rippled over a bed tulips.

A mind breaking shriek rang through the spring air! The tulips wilted, the color draining from their petals! Within seconds, the flowerbed had been reduced to dead stems crumpling to dust!

The plant towered over my, the fruit ripening and falling to the ground. When they reached the dirt, they exploded into plumes of noxious, yellow gas. The gas seeped into the ground, branching out like roots! They zipped ahead of the decay to the archway covered with ivy.

"No… this can't… this can't be happening…" I couldn't register what I saw. It wasn't until the gaseous roots crawled through the vines, another shriek adding to the first, and fall apart in blackened clumps that I started running!

Twenty feet! Its shadow eclipsed the setting sun, abandoning the garden in darkness. Smoke spilled from the plant, rising to the clouds and turning them a disgusting purple. The hues of the evening were corrupted like a bruise as the polluting substance plagued the sky!

I couldn't look up anymore! I kept running to the next patch of flowers, only to have those roots pass me. Vibrant pink orchids recoiled as the gas overtook them! The shrieks became three as my heart broke at the sight! I kept running as the the decay passed me as well.

Why is this happening? This isn't supposed to happen! Everything here is so beautiful! Why is it destroying the garden!? This time, it was my scream that joined the chorus. "Please! I'm begging you! Please stop this!" My prayer received an answer as the terrible plant rocketed to fifty feet in the blink of an eye! Sick fruit fell in abundance as they joined the gas already tearing up the soil!

Bright lilies, multi colored hydrangeas, endless lilacs, delicate pansies, lovely buttercups, innocent violets, dancing daisies. All of them wilted as the disease swept through the once luscious garden. The shrieks were numerous and indistinguishable, my own lost in the madness! Tears rolled off my cheeks and hissed as they touched the shriveled remains!

The malicious succulent was taller than any skyscraper, its tip slicing the sickened clouds! As each flower died, something inside me started to break. It was shattered as I ran pointlessly through my precious haven! Then, it jumped a little when I saw them. Marigolds, lively and gorgeous, still swaying in the hazy breeze. The gas circled them, fighting to wipe the last of the flowers out of existence! I threw myself in them, arms spread, and faced the monstrous disaster causing this!

I screamed! I cried! I rambled maddeningly! I let out everything that boiled in my heart! "I won't let you take them!" I yelled at the terror! "These are my flowers! You will not kill them, too!"

It was angry. More fruit rained down! Smoke billowed from its leaves! The decay shifted anxiously! To my horror, the marigolds along the edges turned black, falling to ashes!

"NO! NO! STOP THIS! PLEASE! DON'T KILL THEM!" I was powerless. The disease seeped in, poisoning my precios marigolds. The bed was dying, barely a circle ten feet wide remained of the boundless blossoms. It shrank, almost to five feet.

NO! They won't go out like this! I won't allow it! I reached into myself, forcing every bit of power I had to burst from its container. A gale surged around me, pushing against the disease. One after another, petals zipped up in the wind. Tones of gold, yellow, red, and orange danced happily around me before soaring into the sky, far into the horizon.

I smiled, tears chilling my lips, as the stems disintegrated. The gas and smoke engulfed me! The smell burned my eyes and nose, making me gag! My body went numb. I fell onto the desolated soil as the cloud of disease overpowered me.

"So this flower can repeat whatever it hears?" I looked at the glowing blue flower skeptically. How could a flower hear something, much less speak?

"Yeah! They totally can!" The hyper monster child couldn't stand still, skipping around the Echo Flower excitedly. "Just watch!" Undyne leaned into the petals and said, "Skunk butt."

~Skunk butt… skunk butt… skunk butt…~ The flower whispered ominously.

Undyne and I shook with laughter as the Echo Flower persistently repeated 'skunk butt.' "Okay, I concede!" I gasped between breaths. "These flowers are incredible!"

"I know!" Undyne declared with pride. "Some people will find one and make a promise to it! That way, they never forget it!"

"Really?"

"Yes!" Undyne confirmed. "Do you have one to make?"

I thought for moment, if only to test her patience. I actually had a promise in mind. "I do."

"Then say it!" Undyne stamped her foot as I remained still. "What are you waiting for?"

"Well, this is between me and the flower, so it would be rude if you overheard," I teased.

"Wh-what!? B-but that doesn't-" Undyne stumbled. I let her mutter until, "Fine! I'll wait over there!" She walked off sulking as I smiled at her back.

I leaned over the flower, cupping the petals gently, and said, "I promise to be strong and always make sure that Undyne is happy."

~I promise to be str-~

"Skunk butt," I whispered as Undyne walked back over to me.

"So what did you say?" Undyne asked excitedly.

"Listen," I replied.

~Skunk butt~ The flower repeatedly dutifully.

"What!?" Undyne exclaimed. "That's not a promise! What did you really say?"

I wiggled my finger in front of her nose. "That's between me and the flower." As Undyne started pouting, I stroked the petals as the flower continued to repeat ~skunk butt~ over and over.

The memory played in my mind feebly as the cloud around me faded into darkness. I welcomed the abyss as it washed away the sight of the ravaged garden. I had no strength left, or maybe I couldn't stand to fight anymore. I didn't resist as tendrils wrapped around my wrist, hoisting me into the air. My feet dangled freely, until more chains ensnared them, too. They pulled tight, stretching my limbs without mercy. My arms were raised directly overhead, my legs were pulled straight down.

From deep in the abyss, a growl shook the shadows. I felt the demon circled me, watching with its shifting eyes. Its claws scraped as it guarded its master's prized vessels.

I was finally broken. I couldn't do anything, couldn't muster the will to try. It was hopeless. I can't be saved. I can't escape. I was their prisoner; they were my puppeteer.

I… I'm sorry… Undyne…

I can't stick by… my own advice. I can't… be strong… anymore…

So… please… forgive me…

Undyne POV

DAMN ALL OF THIS! Damn the stupid Surface! Damn all of these years! Damn that bastard capturing them! Damn myself! Damn everything!

I threw my spear into a boulder, the stone blown to pieces from the power. This was the only way I could handle it! I was in my training ground on a remote spot below Mount Ebott. It was crowded with boulders, many of which had been reduced to rubble. This was the safest place to just let everything out!

I sliced another boulder in half with a slash of my spear. Sweat soaked my shirt. My muscle screamed in protest. I don't care! I threw the spear in my fury, blasting a crater into the ground.

"It's my fault, alright!" I shouted at the sky. "I couldn't catch them! I let them get away! I let Amane get away! We could have saved her if I had been fast enough!"

I let a volley of spears erupt from the ground, destroying everything around me. "If I had been by her side when I was a kid, then none of this would be happening! If I was there, then I could have talked Asgore out of it! I should have been there!"

I lashed my hand through the air, spears raining from the sky to skewer invisible enemies. I let every once of my magic run rampant with my anger! "She didn't deserve this! Amane was always so friendly, so strong! She never turned anyone away! She saw the best in everyone, even monsters!"

I summoned a spear into my hands, stabbing any tree and rock I could see. "If I could, I would take her place! I would take all the pain she's feeling onto myself! This is my fault! All of this is MY FAULT!" I raised my spear overhead, channeling all of my magic I had left.

"I FAILED HER!"

I plunged it into the ground at my feet. The stone shattered, spewing clouds of dirt and showers of pebbles. When I could see again, the training round was in ruins. It didn't matter… none of this mattered…

I held onto the spear sticking out from the ground, sliding to my knees, and rested my forehead against it. Tears poured onto my tattered pants as my anger simmered with so many other emotions.

"I failed her… I failed her…"

She's such a great person, she helped me so much. I remembered those days after she was gone, and after I joined the Royal Guard. The Underground wasn't as peaceful and happy as it seemed. At times, it was pure chaos. Under the stress of confinement and hanging onto to hopeless dreams, monsters would snap. It was never just one. It was always hordes of them. They turned their fear, their anger, their insanity, towards everyone else. It was my job to protect the innocent in those times.

I have dust on my hands. I still see their faces: monsters who threw everything away, just to avoid facing the life we had to live. They weren't evil, no, just defeated. When that happened, I held onto the fact that I was doing what was right. I was protecting everyone from the broken monsters. It had to be done. I had to do it… I had no choice…

"If you can stand by what you believe in, you're strong. If you can keep your ethical code from being shaken, you're incredible. If you can do the right thing and stand by others when everyone else is against you, you're invincible. That's where real strength comes from: your integrity."

That was from when I last saw Amane, before she died. I held onto those word everyday. Especially during the chaotic times. I stood by what I knew was right. I stayed strong. No matter how much it hurt, I was strong. I was able to keep standing because Amane gave my the power to do so.

I shakily got to my feet, relying on the spear to keep myself from falling. I looked at the sky again as the sunset turned the sky orange and red. I took a shuddering breath and wiped my face on my sleeve. I have to stay strong! For her! For Amane!

"I'm sorry, but you're going to have to wait a little longer," I said to the disappearing sun. "But I will find you! I will save you! I swear my life on it! I will get you back!"

I looked towards the moon starting to peer down through the evening sky. "And to that son of a bitch that's got you trapped: I will tear you apart!"

I turned back towards the sun as the last of its rays dipped below out of sight. "Just wait a little while, and we'll see those marigolds you always talked about! I promise!"