A/N: And I'm back!
~Chapter Four~
Flowey wondered if he could die. He had no SOUL afterall.
And he had a feeling that he would find out very soon. Above, the sun is shining mercilessly upon Flowey. The air is suffocated with a great amount of heat, as if someone shoved Flowey into a microwave and left him there for five minutes. (In fact, this happened once in one of the timelines. He doesn't like to speak of it.) Judging from the nights have passed, it's been nearly six days since Frisk hasn't visited him. Not that he cared - but with summer weather hanging in the air, he needed someone to water him.
Patches of golden flowers surrounding Flowey remind him of his eventual fate. Some are withered, browning and drying up at their once healthy and green parts.
Gingerly, Flowey blocks his face from the sun. He did his best not to move around alot, for any sudden movements would result his leaves or petals falling off. His right leaf is already dried up, hanging limply. From the very bottom of his roots, Flowey can no longer feel any signs of dampness. Is this really the end?
His body quivers.
A primal, familiar fear seizes him. The fear wired into every living thing: death. "I d-d-don't want…" His voice is cracked, barely audible. His mother - no, Asriel's mother told him legends and stories of SOULs. Closing his eyes, he can almost see the crackling fireplace, imagine sitting on Toriel's lap, and Asgore snoring off softly on his velvet armchair.
"Where do SOULs so after death?"
"It is not certain." Toriel smiles softly, stroking Asriel's head. "But do not think of death as the end, my son. Even though monster SOULs are weaker than Human SOULs, there must be a place where all kinds can rest."
"What's this place?"
"Oh, the humans theorize a plethora of possibilities. There's reincarnation, where a SOUL is recycled through new lives. Then there's the afterlife, where SOULs can spend the rest of eternity in."
"I don't want to die. And I don't want you and Daddy to ever die either."
Toriel laughs. "I cannot make any promises my child. All things must come to an end."
"Then what's the point?
"I think that's a question that both Monsters and Humans must figure out. Think of it this way, Asriel. Do you think love, compassion, and mercy are worthless?"
"No!"
"Well then. A life empty of love, compassion, or mercy, is a life not fulfilled."
"Mooom, you know how I feel about your weird sayings!"
"I know my child. I know. But I think you'll find the answer, someday, I promise."
Flowey heaves, his eyes flying open. A mirage. An illusion. Just a memory. But for a moment in time, the memory was so tangible, so real, it almost made him...whole? Why didn't I - Asriel ask what happens if a being with no SOUL dies? He watches his right leaf flutter to the ground, useless and dead. Soon, it'll be the rest of him. "I'm going to die." This statement hangs in the air, unanswered.
No DETERMINATION to save him now.
Drooping with each passing minute, Flowey's mind wanders to other subjects.
"Crap. Crap." He rasps.
"A life empty of love, compassion, or mercy, is a life not fulfilled."
"Oh god. I wasted -" Flowey took a moment to regain his composure, his head in vertigo. The lack of water and the overbearing sunlight was getting to him. " - I wasted my life, haven't I?" Regret pools within him. He's drowning in it. But there weren't even any tears left within him to shed. Pitiful. The image of his past life floats farther from his mind. "I'll never be with them, will I? This is my punishment, right?"
A petal falls from his head.
This goes unnoticed, however, by Flowey. At this point, he is only waiting for the end.
It was a miracle. A miracle that he didn't deserve.
Flowey was close. So close to death. It was practically breathing on his face. But someone finally came, after all this time.
Her.
She hums a familiar lullaby. And Flowey had to shut his mouth from singing along with her, a habitual urge. The lyrics were all too nostalgic, the same as ever. They were imprinted into his memory, even after all of this time. "Let's go to the garden…" Water drizzles over him. Gratefully and greedily, he can feel his roots seeping up any drop of the life saving liquid. A silent sigh of relief rolls over him, when he sees a healthy shade of green returning to his stem. "You'll find something waiting, Right where you left it, Lying upside down," Toriel circles the path of golden flowers, watering all of them. Of all people, why did she have to come back? However, Flowey stays as still as possible, quietly listening to the old lullaby.
Once she finished watering, Toriel softly sings the last of the lyrics. "Ever so slightly/Daily and nightly/In little ways/When everything stays." Flowey resisted from letting out a bitter sigh. The lullaby that Asriel loved so long ago was nothing but lies. Nothing ever, ever stays. People change, and they're never the same. Or, in the end, maybe it's you who really changes. In this world, people stop for no one. Setting the watering can down, Toriel gracefully lowers herself in front of the flower patch.
"Hello, Chara."
Flowey squeezes his eyes shut.
"I'm sorry I haven't visited in such a long time, my child. Do you remember what today is?"
Immediately, Flowey can see the fateful date flash before his eyes. Toriel didn't even need to say it out loud to remind him. June 21st.
He can practically hear her tender smile, her voice, a mother's voice, full of caring. "It's your birthday, Chara. Or, at least, that is what we assumed. This is day the very day you fell into the Underground." Peeking through his petals, Flowey can see Toriel rummaging around in a sack. "I brought you gifts, my child. Some chocolate. Dark chocolate with almond, correct? You always liked that type." Flowey couldn't help but give a small nod. And they liked cinnamon-butterscotch pie and they never liked their food touching each other on the same plate and they never eat after dark.
"Here's also a crochet frog I made. I remember when you spent days working on some handmade project. You were always so determined to finish it! And in the end, your works always looked so beautiful and well made. You put alot of work into the things you love, didn't you, my child? When you put your mind to it...you can do great things." Flowey agrees vigorously. "In honor of your hobby, I taught myself crochet! It took quite awhile, but it was worth it." She gently places a crocheted froggit besides the bar of chocolate. "And finally," Toriel takes out her last gift.
The last gift is something like a snowglobe - only the inside is swirling with a bunch of twinkling lights, a beautiful background of dark indigo blue. There is even a tiny moon within the starglobe, full and glowing and merry.
Flowey bristles his petals. Curiosity swells within him.
"I gift you with the stars. At least, an imitation of it," The sadness in her laughter is undeniable. "I remember when you told Asriel about the stars. You would spend hours trying to imitate their beauty. Afterall, Asriel never had the luxury of -" Toriel's voice cracks. "Ahem. Excuse me, my child." Her fur is dripping with drops of tears. Taking a deep, shaky breath, she wipes her face. "Ah, this never gets any easier. The night sky was just as beautiful as you described it. It...oh, how I wish I can described it like you did. The night sky on the Surface is a sea of eternity."
Flowey couldn't help but wish to see the actual stars as well. Don't be stupid. You'll never get to the Surface. You don't belong to anyone. You have no one.
Finally, his mouth got the better of him. "You always knew what was best, mom." Realizing his impulsive mistake, Flowey clamps his mouth. Stupid! That was stupid! Toriel clearly hears him, jumping. Her eyes are wide, as she scans the area. Relief sinks in, when she laughs this off.
"I'm really getting old, aren't I? Hearing things...I thought I heard…" She shakes her head. "I wish I could talk to you again. Maybe...maybe if I could talk with you, Chara, you would be able to tell me why Frisk…" Toriel trails off, looking unsure. Flowey had to resist from actually asking how Frisk was. You don't care, right? She heaves out a tired sigh, rubbing her head. "Was...am I a bad mother, Chara?"
No. No, you're not.
"Because...for the first time, in a long time, the whole world was going right. My people are freed from our two thousand year imprisonment, I have a chance to raise a child, and I am living with friends I never imagined getting so close to. Even Asgore, counts. But...there are some things that are off. Some things I feel like I, as a mother, cannot resolve. Things beyond my understanding." Toriel laughs lightly, though a few tears follow. "It's funny how everything changes so slightly. Do I even know what I'm doing?"
Please. Please tell me, mom.
"They got hurt. They got hurt by the very friend I thought I could trust. A-and he couldn't even explain to me why, own up to it!" Toriel's cheeks flush into a light red. Her eyebrows are deeply furrowed, her lips curled back displaying her canines. "I have a right to get angry, don't I, Chara? Friend or foe, I would never ever allow someone who put their hands on one of my children, to live under the same roof! But," Her anger unravels in a spout of doubt.
"Everything feels so...wrong. Not whole. So empty. Should I have told Sans to leave? Should I...should I just trust in his actions? Should I forgive him?"
…
"Look at me, look at me." Toriel is covering her face. "I am a mess. Someone who believes in mercy, compassion, love...and yet I feel like i am denying myself of this. That I am not taking this opportunity to teach Frisk. Maybe...maybe I am denying Sans of his forgiveness."
There is a contemplative moment of silence.
"I am a mother. So...so...Shouldn't I suppose to know what I'm doing…?"
"Not always."
Toriel jumps. Flowey still hides. There is a moment of silence. "'Not always', hm?" She wipes her tears. "I know, for a fact, who ever I am hearing may not be Chara. But, whoever you are...Thank you so much for listening."
He really wanted to whisper 'You're welcome.'
Summer night time finally came. But still no Frisk. After Toriel payed her respects to Chara's grave, she eventually went away. She tried making Flowey speak more, however did not discover him. He only stayed silent. Out of shame, guilt, or coldness? How knows? Not even Flowey could tell himself. Now, he wished, just a little maybe he should've talked to Mo - Toriel more. It's too late for that anyway. Maybe she'll…? He gazes into the starglobe. The tiny stars floating around inside the glass twinkle merrily. The stars are etheral, wispy, other worldly. It was unlike anything he've seen before.
He wonders what the real stars are like.
"Psst. Hey. Flowey?"
He jerks out of his thoughts. An oh-so familiar striped sweater and small smile registers into his mind. "What?" Is all he was smart enough to muster.
Frisk nods happily, walking towards Flowey. A flashlight in hand, Flowey is glad to have a definite source of light. Thankfully some of the bruises have faded from Frisk's face. Their sleeves are rolled up, most of the cuts and bruises healed. The only real damage is their right arm slung into a cast. A bunch of scribbles reading a few familiar names are scrawled all over cast. Flowey can instantly differentiate the personality of each handwriting.
The swoopy, wide, and loopy writing belongs to Asgore's, the papyrus font (how can someone possibly write in a font? Flowey decided not to trouble himself thinking about this) written in capital letters obviously belongs to Papyrus, the pen with a hot pink coloring and an obnoxious hearts over the letter i's belongs to Mettaton, the small and neat handwriting belongs to Alphys, the one with cursive handwriting taking up just the right amount of space and signed with 'xoxo' belongs to Toriel, and the one written in big bold letters taking up half of the cast most definitely belongs to Undyne's.
Then there are a bunch of other names composed of a Jaime Blue, a Maria, a Gable and Able, and so on.
The amount of care and time so many people put into signing Frisk's cast was...sickening, baffling, and just a sminge of admiring to Flowey. Maybe he should've been, what, 'happy' to see Frisk. He was anything but that though. He also feels the poisoned feelings of jealousy travelling up and down his stem.
"Where have you been?"
"Heh. Sorry. I had to rest up and Mom wouldn't let me out of her sight. Everyone really cares, you know?"
Rolling his eyes Flowey mockingly repeats Frisk in a poor imitation of their voice. "'Everything really cares, you know?'" Flowey parrots back in a nasally voice, his face transforming into Frisk's neutral expression for a moment. "Bah! And I was finally regaining a sense of peace too! Then you have to just come crawling back!" Frisk sits down in front of him, making themselves at home. He gives a melodramatic huff, flipping his petals. "Are you even supposed to be here?"
Bringing this up, Frisk's face sort of grimaces into one of guilt. As if they have been caught in the act of stealing a cookie from the cookie jar. "Uhm, well. Coming here around nighttime is as good as any, right?"
Vroooom!
Shivers rush past Flowey. He sucks in a breath. Magic? The air is pleasantly tingling with it. Crackling, warm waves of energy are travelling in the atmosphere. Flowey can almost reach it, possess it. But, regrettably, it was not his. Wait, why would magic be - Senses alert, Flowey snaps to the direction to where he thinks the magic is located.
If he had a heart it would stop the moment he saw him.
"Sans?"
"Smiley Trashbag?"
The stout skeleton says nothing. So much for conversation. He doesn't step into the moonlight shining dimly into the empty Underground. All that illuminated his face his the electric neon blue of his glowing left socket. His right socket is completely dark. His hoodie covers his skull, hands shoved deep into his pockets. However, his permanent smile is still stuck on his face, despite everything.
That smile held anything but joy, though. And it was directed at him. His petals quiver along with his body. Why is shaking so much? Frisk is quick to act, however. They step protectively in front of Flowey. "...Sans? What are you doing here?" The flower dared to peek around Frisk. Seeing the human, for a moment, Sans's blue glare dims for a bit. His smile even lessened a bit, almost matching something of remorse.
The fire in his eye socket flares up again.
"go home, frisk."
"Did you follow me here?" They wouldn't budge. Why? Why were they actually bothering to protect him? Flowey's mind couldn't wrap around their completely stupid and impulsive actions.
"you shouldn't be out here in this time of night." Sans doesn't answer their question.
"Sans!" Frisk raises their voice for the first time, ever. "Please. Talk to me. I - we, Undyne, Papyrus, Asgore, Alphys - Mom! We're all so worried about you! We haven't seen you in forever!" Their voice is pleading, reaching out to Sans. Flowey hoped to Above that the skeleton would had the humanity to give in. Because if anything, he knew that if Smiley Trashbag knew what was up, he is most definitely going to have a bad time.
Sans heaves his chest. His eyes close, the intense blue glow flicking off like a light switch. Flowey is still holding his breath, in anticipation. Terrible, terrible anticipation. Running a hand over his face, his eyes open. The pinpricks of blue have reappeared, only somehow looking to be deeper inside his eye sockets. "i dont want to talk. just go home."
Frisk puffs up their chest. "No. Give me one good reason!"
"because you need to stay away from him!" A blue fire crackles wildly in his right eye. Flowey gulps loudly.
They are silent for a moment. "C'mon. You disappear for one week and then you show up just because you think I can't handle myself? Sans." Frisk takes a step forward towards him. His shoulders noticeably tenses, hunched like an animal being threatened. "Can we...please just talk? I know you must feel really bad about yourself but…" Frisk is walking closer and closer to Sans. Each with each step they look, Flowey along with Sans get more tense.
They're crazy. Just crazy.
Now, they were so close to Sans. Slowly reaching for his hand, they say, "I just want to talk!"
Vroooom!
Just as quickly as he appeared, with a gust and a dizzying moment of magic, the skeleton was gone. Even Flowey had to blink rapidly a few times to get over himself. Frisk stands there, a bit stunned for a moment. Finally, they turn back to Flowey, shoulders low. "I really miss him. No lie."
"Even...even after everything he's done to you? He did hurt you!" Flowey points out, jerking his head toward their arm cast.
They smile, genuine. "Sometime's, you're gonna have to try to understand a person, before you really jump to anything."
"Maybe that's why you're like a doormat. You're being...walked all over."
"No." Frisk interrupts, voice not angry, but firm enough for Flowey to shut his mouth. "No. Forgiving people...that's not a sign of weakness, Flowey."
"You know that being nice to people doesn't always resolve everything, right? There's a bunch of people like me out in that world. It's kill or be killed. Survival of the fittest."
They shrug.
"The world is a cruel place."
"Then why do I have to give up and become of those cruel people? That'll only add more meanness to the world!"
Flowey stutters over their words. "U-uhm." He shifts in his roots, a bit dumbfounded for words. "W-w-well…"
They smile a quiet smile. He would never admit it out loud, but -
Point proven idiot. Point proven.
"Just hope that this won't get you killed someday. And if that ever happens, no RESETS can save you."
Flowey turns his back to them, sticking his nose high up. His arrogant posture falters, however, when they whisper a simple statement.
"I know."
A/N: Hmmmm...Flowey's getting more visitors, ain't he? Oh yeah, Pun of the Chapter! Here it goes! With your reviews, try to guess the meaning behind the pun!
"If you're ever cold, go to the corner to warm up."
Thanks for reading, and be prepared for the next chapter!