"Ugh...What happened?" said Yakko.
The boundary box that trapped them disappeared.
"Finally," said a familiar young boy's voice. "I was so tired of being a flower."
…
"Is that...?" said Dot.
The Warners turned around and saw a small goat boy standing where Flowey should have been. He turned around to face them.
"Howdy!"
He looked around.
"Chara, are you there?"
…
"It's me, your best friend."
He transformed into an older version of himself, complete with Toriel's robe and long horns.
ASRIEL DREEMURR
"Whaaaaaaaaaat?!" the Warners exclaimed.
"It IS him!" said Dot.
Violin music played as he floated in the air, ready to fight them as the final boss. It was the end.
"He's got all our friends inside him," said Yakko. "We gotta get them out somehow…"
They held onto their hopes. It reduced how much DAMAGE they'd take during Asriel's first attack. He shot fireballs at them, like Toriel or Asgore would. They dodged, sliding from side to side four times. The Warners all thought about why they were there. They could feel the empty space in their new boundary box grow bigger and bigger. Suddenly, the darkness around them disappeared. A white light began to shine behind Asriel...the barrier was glowing with every color of the rainbow as an electric guitar joined the violins!
"Whooooooa!"
Yakko, Wakko, and Dot had big smiles on their faces, completely full of determination and joy! Asriel made giant shooting stars rain down into the box, calling this attack STAR BLAZING. The Warners laughed, hopping, skipping, and rolling around the stars. A giant star landed right in the middle, exploding into thousands of tiny stars. The true final battle was finally beginning, yet everything was overflowing with wonder!
"Woo!" Yakko cheered. "Keep it comin', Azzy!"
"You know…" he spoke in the same voice he used when he called them. "I don't care about destroying this world anymore."
Rainbow lightning bolts appeared in the box, also known as the SHOCKER BREAKER! The Warners, too gleeful to pay attention to Asriel's monologue, kept laughing as they dodged, jumping through the gaps! After five times, two larger bolts were aimed smack in the middle of the box! The Warners narrowly avoided getting hit, then cartwheeled to the side as three slightly smaller ones were fired, and the process repeated itself!
"After I defeat you and gain total control over the timeline...I just want to reset everything."
He summoned his swords, the CHAOS SABERS! He brought one down to the right of the box, then to the left! Left again! Three more rights! He crashed them together, forming seven small stars!
"I don't think I've felt this happy before!" said Wakko.
"All your progress...Everyone's memories. I'll bring them all back to zero! Then we can do everything ALL over again."
Another SHOCKER BREAKER attack!
"Ain't gonna happen!" said Dot, responding to Asriel.
Another STAR BLAZING!
"And you know what the best part of all this is? You'll DO it."
New attack, he pulled out a box bullet gun called the CHAOS BUSTER! He shot at all three of them, prompting them to roll away! He shot at them seven times before releasing a giant rainbow laser!
"Yahoo!" said Yakko. "This is fun!"
"And then you'll lose to me again. And again. And again!"
Here comes SHOCKER BREAKER II! WITH MORE RAINBOW LASERS! THEY ALL GO FASTER!
"Calm down, narrator!" Yakko chuckled.
But what's this? The end attack isn't the same! The rainbow lasers start covering the boundary box one by one! The Warners run to the other side and backflip off the wall to avoid the final blast!
"Because you want a 'happy ending'...because you 'love your friends.' Because you 'never give up'."
Even more stars, twice as many, rained down! This is called GALACTA BLAZING!
"Though determination alone," said Yakko, "we've made all our dreams come true!"
"Nothin' can stop us," said Dot, "not even you!"
"Isn't that delicious? Your 'determination.' The power that let you get this far...It's gonna be your downfall!"
Another CHAOS BLASTER! He shot twice as many times, missing on all of them as usual, but with the rainbow explosion came millions of shooting stars!
"Now, ENOUGH messing around! It's time to purge this timeline once and for all!"
It's HYPER GONER time! The boundary box expanded as a HUGE, white demonic goat face appeared and laughed at them! It started to suck everything in!
"Hold on, sibs!" said Yakko.
They all released their own unique battle cries as they jumped on the diamond-shaped projectiles heading towards them! They had to survive that attack, or else it would be all over!
"Almost there…!" said Wakko.
One more leap of faith, that was all it took! The attack finished, none of them harmed! They panted, nearly drenched with sweat, but still overflowing with joy! Asriel watched them, completely in shock!
"...even after that attack, you're still standing in my way…? Wow...You really ARE something special…"
"It's like we said!" said Yakko. "You can't take us down!"
"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 stretched wide, transforming into a new form! This form...was edgier...complete with rainbow wings...and devoid of any joy...he was the Hypergod of Death. Before the Warners could react, they were caught in his grasp. The cheerful music changed to dramatic drumming. The rainbow colors filling the space around them turned back into darkness. The toons struggled, but were unable to move their bodies whatsoever. Asriel was squeezing them too tight.
"Urah ha ha ha...Behold my TRUE power!"
They were pelted endlessly by glowing comets. They screamed in pain as Asriel mocked them with every hit.
"I can feel it...Every time you get hurt, your grip on this world slips away. Every time you're close to death, your friends forget you a little more. Your lives will end here, in a world where no one remembers you…"
The pain felt much worse than when he almost killed them as Flowey. It was unbearable, crippling, and slower, allowing the lingering pain to sting more. The more they were pelted by Asriel's attacks, the less they struggled and the quieter their screams became. Their bodies also became more and more mangled; the bruises turned to bleeding stab wounds rather quickly.
"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!"
The world was ending.
"Ura ha ha...Still? Come on...Show me what good your DETERMINATION is now!"
The final blows struck the Warners. Their bodies went limp. Their eyes closed. Finally, their souls broke, becoming hearts split in half…But they refused.
"No...!" They choked out.
Their souls trembled. And lo and behold, they healed themselves.
"We're NOT gonna die!" Yakko shouted.
"Face it," Asriel muttered. "We'll be here forever if you don't give up. Saving the game is impossible."
Then, an idea formed in the three kids' heads. Maybe, with what little power they had left...they could save something else. SOMEONE else. They reached out to Asriel's soul and called out to their friends. They were in there somewhere.
"PAPYRUS!" Dot screamed.
"TORIEL!" Wakko hollered.
"UNDYNE!" Yakko yelled.
"ASGORE!" Wakko's voice rang out again.
"ALPHYS!" Yakko called again.
"SANS!" Dot finished.
Within the depths of Asriel's soul, something resonated within him. Suddenly, with a flashing white light, their souls were transported away and out of their bodies as the cheerful music returned, more epic than ever.
"I'm coming, Papy!" Dot shouted as she disappeared.
Two Lost Souls appeared in front of the Warner sister, faces covered in pixels. The left she recognized as Papyrus, and the right as Sans. If she was going to save her love and his brother, she had to get their memories back. She started with Sans, saving the best for last.
"Hey! What's a skeleton's favorite instrument? A xylobone!"
Sans laughed, seeming to love her intentionally bad skeleton pun...but Papyrus seemed to hate it.
"I MUST CAPTURE A HUMAN!"
"just give up. i did."
Dot's soul turned blue, but her body stayed true to her original color scheme. Two pairs of bones approached her from both sides of the boundary box. She jumped between the gap, grunting.
"Ha!"
The same attack repeated, but with a higher gap.
"Ya!"
A large light blue bone was next, she froze as it passed by, then jumped right in time as a singular bone slid towards her.
"Hup!"
She jumped again as a row of bones from each side came at her. After the attack finished, she approached Papyrus and asked him a question in her sweetest voice.
"Hey big guy, can ya help me with a puzzle?"
He didn't know why, but he really wanted to help her.
"THEN EVERYONE WILL."
"why even try?"
Sans' voice shook, as if he was on the verge of tears. Dot wanted to comfort him, but couldn't because of another attack. Tall light blue bone, tiny regular bone. Repeat three times. Freeze, hop, freeze, hop, freeze, hop, freeze, hop. Repeat again, but faster! Freeze, hop! She looked at Sans.
"Ya look tired. Wanna take a break from fighting?"
Sans seemed like he wanted to. He spoke, but Papyrus remained silent.
"you'll never see 'em again."
Pairs of small bones cane at her from both sides. She hopped five times. Then, with her final attempt to get the skele-bros back, she expanded her options and leaped into Papyrus' arms, ready to flirt. Papyrus caught her, if only by instinct.
"Babe, I always had a weakness for big, strong men."
She showered his face with kisses. Their memories flooded back as Dot planted her last kiss on Papyrus' teeth. Their faces became visible, Papyrus' comedically covered in lipstick marks, and they smiled at her.
"NO, WAIT! YOU'RE MY FRIEND! I COULD NEVER CAPTURE YOU!"
"nah, i'm rootin' for ya, kid."
"Guys!"
She pulled them into a group hug, then looked them in the eyesocket, dead serious.
"Don't you dare scare me like that again!"
Sans chuckled.
"we won't. you did it, kiddo."
"WE KNEW YOU COULD!"
They wrapped their arms back around her, making her giggle.
"Goat Mom?" said Wakko. "Goat Dadoo?"
Two lost souls appeared, faces covered in pixels. He approached Asgore, on the right, first.
"Don't worry," he told him, "My siblings and I are going to save everyone."
Something stirred deep within him. Both of them spoke with regret.
"This is for your own good."
"Forgive me for this."
They sent fireballs coming Wakko's way. The first three waves came from the back of the box.
"Whoa!"
He tumbled to the far right corner, then to the left. For the next dodge, he walked right into a gap between the flames. The last two waves came from the right and the left.
"Uwah!"
He rolled away from Toriel and Asgore, then back towards them. He approached Toriel right afterward.
"But I have to go if I'm gonna break the barrier."
"No one will leave again."
"This is my duty."
Slightly open circles of fireballs closed in on Wakko. He barely skidded through the openings, slipping as he dodged the fifth one.
"Oof!"
He hugged Toriel.
"We'll see each other again. I promise."
Something about it was so familiar to her. Neither of them spoke. The same fireball attack was launched at him. Front, front, left, back, right. He jumped through all the gaps. Finally, he hugged Asgore. His aggression slowly melted away. Suddenly, their memories were flooding back! They smiled at him once their faces returned.
"Your fate is up to you now!"
"You are our future!"
"Yay, my Goat Parents are back!"
Wakko pulled Toriel into his and Asgore's hug. Although she was a little uncomfortable sharing it with Asgore, she obliged just for Wakko.
Unlike his siblings, Yakko found only one lost soul. Although her face was covered, he instantly recognized her slim, scaly figure.
"There you are! Been looking for ya!"
He gave Undyne a big smile, like he remembered she liked to do. For some reason, she wanted to smile back.
"All humans will die!"
Yakko's soul turned green.
"Here we go. Up, up, up! Right, right! Left, left, up!"
He swung his shield around, feeling very confident.
"Can ya show me how to cook spaghetti? Kinda rusty on that recipe."
She didn't know why, but she kind of wanted to teach him how.
"You're our real enemy."
"Right, up, right, right, down, up, left, left, up, left, left, up! My turn. Remember this?"
He lightly tapped her shoulder.
"Tag, you're it!"
Something about the way he fought was familiar to her. Suddenly, the memories flooded back!
"Well, some humanfolk are OK, I guess!"
"Good to have ya back."
"Thanks, Yakko."
"Anytime, Fish Stick! I'll be right back, gotta find Alphys."
"If you don't save her I'll destroy you."
She winked at him.
"Whatever ya say, Undyne."
He ran off, bumping into the lost soul once Undyne was out of sight. However, unlike earlier, Alphys was wearing the dress she wore on her date with Wakko.
"This is gonna sound weird, but can ya help me out with a quiz question?"
She could barely hold back from giving him an answer.
"You hate me, don't you…?"
His soul changed from green to yellow. A fleet of mini-Mettatons attacked; he shot through them with gun hands and danced around them.
"Pew pew! Bang bang! Anyway, I forgot to ask ya another thing: what's your favorite cartoon?"
She could barely hold back from giving Yakko an enormous answer.
"I've got to keep lying…"
The next attack was one where he could only shoot the bombs and not the white spaces next to them. He posed as he dodged the strange explosions, remembering Mettaton's finale.
"Ya! Ha! Humph! Hoohah! Hup! And done."
He blew out some smoke coming from his index finger, then softened his expression, showing a sympathetic look. He crouched down and put his hand on her shoulder reassuringly.
"Hey. I know ya had it rough, but I'm still here for ya. I'll support ya, I'll help ya get through it."
Something about the way he said that was familiar to her. Suddenly, the memories flooded back!
"No, that's not true! My friends like me! And I like you, too!"
"Atta girl, Al!"
The Warners were teleported back to where Asriel held them captive. They were still unable to move their bodies, but felt satisfied after saving their closest monster friends.
"Well," said Yakko, "that's all of 'em!"
Strangely, as their friends remembered them...Something else began resonating, stronger and stronger. There was still one last person that needed to be saved.
"What?" said Dot. "Who?"
Asriel!
"Huh?" he responded. "What are you doing…!?"
He remembered when he first found Chara...when he first found me.
"Narrator?" said Wakko.
I can feel them, resonating within you. You have to let them go!
"No...what did you do…? What's this feeling…? What's happening to me?"
You stopped pushing me away. You need me again, Asriel. I need you too...
"No! NO! I don't need ANYONE!"
"I think the narrator's taking over for us…" Dot whispered.
Sorry, but I have to do this.
"Take your time," said Yakko, "we're stuck here anyway."
I know they don't see me yet...but you can. You have to stop this.
"STOP IT! Get away from me! Do you hear me!? I'll tear them apart!"
NO! DON'T HURT THEM! They're all I have left!
"Chara...Do you know why I'm doing this…? Why I keep fighting to keep you around…? I'm doing this...Because you're special, Chara. You're the only one that understands me."
Oh, Asriel…
"You're the only one who's any fun to play with anymore."
Please don't cry...
"...No. That's not JUST it. I...I...I'm doing this because I care about you, Chara! I care about you more than anybody else! 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...So, please...STOP doing this...AND JUST LET ME WIN!"
He fired a powerful rainbow blast at the Warners. They screamed in agony as their HP was lowered to less than 1.
"STOP IT! STOP IT NOW!"
They had 00.0000000001 HP left, falling limp yet staying barely alive. They could still see what was going on, but were rendered unable to speak.
"Chara…"
Please...stop taking it out on them...they don't deserve it.
"I'm so alone, Chara. I'm so afraid, Chara…"
I know. Asriel...I'm sorry. I'm sorry for all the terrible things I have done. All I ever did was cause you pain. I caused THEM pain. I hope you'll forgive me...
"Chara, I…"
Toons...I'm finished. I won't let him hurt you anymore. I'll make your pain go away.
The Warners found themselves back in the barrier room, no longer being held captive by Asriel. They stood up, healed.
"Narrator," said Yakko, "I dunno what ya did, but I think it worked."
Asriel changed back into the little boy he once was. He wiped tears from his eyes.
"I'm so sorry. I always was a crybaby, wasn't I, Chara?"
"Chara's not here anymore," said Dot.
"...I know. Chara's been gone for a long time."
He looked away.
"Are you okay?" Wakko asked.
Asriel nodded.
"I haven't felt like this for a long time. As a flower, I was soulless. I lacked the power to love other people. However, with everyone's souls inside me...I not only have my own compassion back...But I can feel every other monster's as well. They all care about each other so much. And...they care about you too, Warner siblings. I wish I could tell you how everyone feels about you. Papyrus...Sans...Undyne...Alphys...Toriel. Monsters are weird. Even though they barely know you...It feels like they all really love you."
The Warners smiled at that.
"We love 'em too," said Yakko.
"Guys...I...I understand if you can't forgive me. I understand if you hate me. I acted so strange and horrible. I hurt you. I hurt so many people. Friends, family, bystanders...There's no excuse for what I've done."
"Well," said Yakko, "you're in luck 'cause we don't hold grudges that easily. Besides, we only hated Flowey. He's like a completely different person compared to you."
"Wh...what ? Yakko, come on! You're...You're gonna make me cry again...besides, even if you do forgive me…I can't keep these souls inside of me. The least I can do is return them. But first...There's something I have to do. You guys wanna break the barrier, right?"
"Yeah!" said Dot. "These guys suffered way worse than us. We can't just leave 'em behind."
"Well...what if I told you there's a way to break the barrier without killing anyone? Not even yourselves?"
This peaked their interests.
"Ya know a way?" Wakko asked.
Asriel nodded.
"Right now, I can feel everyone's hearts beating as one. They're all burning with the same desire. With everyone's power...With everyone's determination...We can finally make the monsters go free."
He held out his hands.
"Together."
Wakko and Dot took them. Yakko held his siblings' free hands, still standing in between them.
"Let's do it," the Warners said in unison.
Asriel summoned the powers of the souls. The Warners summoned all the strength they had, joining in. Soon, the four kids floated above the ground. The colored human souls, along with the many white monster souls, were released from Asriel's body. Each and every one of them, including the Warners' which glowed brighter and brighter by the second, were filled with determination. With the power of determination, the Warners' souls shapeshifted, combining to form a giant mallet, and slammed against the barrier...a loud crack was heard, then a shatter. The barrier was destroyed.
They floated back to the ground.
"We did it…" Yakko breathed. "We actually did it!"
The Warners cheered, giving each other high fives and celebratory back slaps. They soon noticed, however, that Asriel was looking rather gloomy.
"Yakko, Wakko, Dot…I have to go now. Without the power of everyone's souls...I can't keep maintaining this form. In a little while...I'll turn back into a flower. I'll stop being 'myself.' I'll stop being able to feel love again. So...Warners. It's best if you just forget about me, OK? Just go be with the people who love you."
The Warners exchanged equally gloomy glances, then looked back at Asriel.
"Azzy?" said Yakko.
Asriel looked at him.
"Thanks."
His big brother instincts kicked in as he got onto his knees and hugged him. As he comforted him, he could feel a few tears escape from his eyes. He held back the rest of them, feeling he needed to stay strong for Asriel.
"You're not a bad kid. Don't let Flowey forget that, okay?"
Wakko and Dot patted Asriel's back.
"Ha...ha…I don't want to let go…"
But he did.
"Guys...You're going to do a great job, OK? No matter what you do. Everyone will be there for you."
They nodded.
"We know," said Dot.
"Well...My time's running out. Take care of Mom and Dad for me, OK? They'll be happier now that they have two more princes and a princess to look after."
"Don't worry," said Wakko, "we will."
"Thanks. Goodbye, guys."
The Warners waved as he left. But that was not the only goodbye in store. Someone else who also watched through their journey wanted to tell them something. A small ghost human appeared in front of them. The same one from the tapes they saw in Alphys' lab. They finally had the chance to meet my physical self.
"Greetings."
"Chara…" said Yakko. "Had no clue you've been narrating the whole time!"
"Well, I have an explanation for that. When you first fell down here, you landed on my grave."
They shuddered.
"At first, I was so confused. Our plan had failed, hadn't it? Why was I brought back to life...? You three. Your determination...it was so powerful that it woke me up from death. Since then, I traveled with you all the way to this point. Giving you information to help you befriend all the monsters you encountered. Watching you work your special magic on them. And most importantly, with your guidance, I realized the purpose of my reincarnation: to fix the error of my ways. After spending all this time with you, I could finally see the good in humanity. Without them, you would not have been created. And without you, who knows what the theoretical last human or humanfolk to come down here would have done? Thank you for doing everything I never got the chance to do."
"You're welcome," said Wakko, smiling at me with his tongue sticking out.
"What are ya gonna do now?" Dot asked.
"Well, now that your journey is coming to an end, it's time for me to go. There's nothing left for me here. I will still narrate your story, but you won't be able to interact with me beyond the fourth wall anymore. If you ever need anything, you will know where to find me. Farewell, Warner brothers and sister!"
"Goodbyeeeeeeeee Chara!"
They waved as I walked away, following Asriel's footsteps. I didn't dare turn back, knowing I had my own place to go.
"Oof," Yakko muttered. "Is anybody else getting dizzy or is it just me?"
"I think I see spots," said Wakko.
They promptly fainted, exhausted from battle.