Chapter 34- Saving Asriel
Okay, so there's this giant spectral goat head thing. Try not to get sucked in.
Is he absorbing the souls of everybody in the Underground? I assume that's what he's doing.
"Even after that attack, you're still standing in my way?" Asriel sneered. "Wow, you really are something special. But don't get cocky. Up until now, I've only been using a fraction of my real power. Let's see what good your determination is against this!"
He morphed into some kind of fallen angel creature.
I struggled.
His laughter was low and menacing. "Behold my true power!" He fired some energy attacks at me.
I passed out. Then got back up.
"I can feel it! Every time you die, your grip on this world slips away. Every time you die, your friends forget you a little more. Your life will end here, in a world where no one remembers you."
Can't let him win. Can't let him win.
"Still you're hanging on? That's fine. In a few moments, you'll forget everything too. That attitude will serve you well in your next life."
I don't know what's going on but I feel the urge to carry on. I must save them. I must save everyone. From those two valley girl junk dealers to the Royal Guard Dogs. Everyone needs me to stay determined.
I passed out. And was instantly revived.
"Ura ha ha, still? Come on, show me what good your determination is now!"
More dodging.
Darcy's voice echoed in my head.
"I can teach you how to take him down."
"How?" I asked.
"Remember how I told you to call out the names of the six souls?"
"Yes?"
"Well, call out the names of your six friends. Help them remember you and you'll weaken him."
I just stared upwards at Asriel. But who to call on first?
"Sans! Papyrus!" I shrieked out.
Two figures that vaguely resembled the Skele-bros appeared.
"Why are skeletons terrible liars?" I asked. "Because everyone can see right through them." I cringed, but bad jokes are a way to get Sans to remember me.
"I must capture a human!"
"Just give up, I did!"
Now, I'm dodging bone attacks from the two of them.
"Hey, Sans, isn't it time for a break?" I asked.
"Then everyone will!"
"Why even try?"
Jump! Jump! Like hurdles in gym class.
"Why are skeletons so calm?" I asked. "Because nothing gets under their skin!" Okay, so that's probably enough skeleton jokes for one fight.
The two slowly regained their appearance. I had freed them both.
"No, wait! You're my friend. I could never capture you!"
"Nah, I'm rooting for ya, kid."
Two souls down, four more to go. I feel more determined than ever before.
"Toriel! Asgore!" I called out.
Two figures that resembled the rulers of the Underground appeared.
"I don't want to fight you, Toriel," I said.
"This is for your own good."
"Forgive me for this."
I had to jump through rings of fire.
I walked up to Toriel and hugged her. "Don't worry, I'll see you again."
"No one will leave again."
"This is my duty."
Keep on avoiding the flames.
"I have to go, Toriel. I need to free everyone!"
The two were silent. But more fire to avoid.
I hugged Toriel again.
Their forms suddenly grew clear again.
"Your fate is up to you now!"
"You are our future."
The more that get freed, the more determined I became.
Well, I still have two more souls to free.
"Alphys!" I shouted.
A figure that looked like Alphys in that adorable polka-dot dress appeared.
"Don't worry, Alphys," I said. "I'll support you."
"You hate me, don't you?"
She's using Mettaton's attacks. I know how to avoid them. Just fire at them.
"What's your favorite cartoon?" I asked. I could see her struggle to keep from giving me too much information about it.
"I've got to keep lying."
I pulled out my cell phone and called her.
Her form grew clear now.
"No, that's not true! My friends like me! And I like you too."
One more to go.
"Undyne!"
Something that vaguely resembled Undyne stood in front of me.
I tapped Undyne lightly.
"All humans will die!"
I just remembered I need to block her attacks.
"Hey, could you teach me how to cook?" I asked.
"You're our real enemy!"
More blocking.
I smiled at her, like she used to.
Her form grew clear.
"Well, some humans are okay, I guess!"
Darcy's voice spoke again.
"Someone else needs to be saved."
"Who?"
I spoke the name "Asriel!"
"Huh? What are you doing?"
I saw images of a little redhead kid lying face down on a flower bed. This was Darcy in their short life.
Asriel walked up to Darcy and carried them back to his house.
The two kids stood happily with flowers in their hands.
I held out my hand to Asriel.
"Wh... what did you do? What's this feeling? What's happening to me? No! No! I don't need anyone!"
I freed my friends, now I'll set you free as well.
Now to avoid his attacks.
I reached out again.
"Stop it! Get away from me! Do you hear me? I'll tear you apart!" More attacks.
"Darcy, do you know why I'm doing this? Why I keep fighting to keep you around?"
Fire cascaded around me. Was Asriel crying?
"I'm doing this because you're special, Darcy. You're the only one who understands me. You're the only one who's any fun to play with anymore."
More fire.
"No, that's not just it. I... I... I'm doing this because I care about you, Darcy. I care about you more than anybody else!"
Should I tell him that I'm not Darcy? No. More fire drifted downwards.
"I'm not ready for this to end. I'm not ready for you to leave. I'm not ready to say goodbye to someone like you again."
I'm getting through to him, slowly but surely.
"So please," Asriel cried out. "Stop doing this! And just let me win!"
I got a face full of energy blast. I felt nothing except a warm breeze.
"Stop it! Stop it now!"
Stop what? Stop resisting? Nope.
I reached out to Asriel.
"Darcy...
More reaching out.
"I'm so alone, Darcy."
I kept sparing him.
"I'm so afraid, Darcy."
Still reaching out.
"Darcy, I...
I held out my hand.
"I..."
The image of the fallen angel faded. Asriel was back to his child form.