Asriel… Can you hear me?

Asriel?

Chara?

Asriel, I felt something big… What happened? What's going on?

I broke down the barrier. It's time to set the monsters free.

To the surface? You can't do that!

Why not?

Don't you remember? The humans tried to kill you, Asriel. They attacked us without warning. I just wanted to see the flowers of my village again… They didn't care. All that mattered to them was that you were a monster. You can't let the monsters out onto the surface. The humans will slaughter them.

They only attacked because they thought I had killed you.

That's not how this works. Why do you think the humans started the war in the first place? Why do you think they sealed the monsters away? They hate monsters. They'll do anything they can to hurt you.

This time will be different. I'm stronger. I can make things work.

Asriel, please, please listen to me. I care about you too much to let you do this. They're going to try to kill you. You have to fight back.

No, I don't. We can live in peace with them, Chara. We just need to try.

I can't let you do this. I won't let you throw your life away.

I'm sorry, Chara. But I made my decision.

It's not just yours to make.

I'm in a vast meadow. Stretching on forever into the distance. The sky is dark with clouds.

Chara is here.

"I'm not going to let you do this." They say. "I'll stop you."

"I have to do this." I say. "I can't keep the monsters trapped forever."

"That barrier didn't just keep monsters from getting out." They say. "It kept humans from coming in. The barrier kept us safe… The surface is a violent place."

"Then we will bring it peace." I say.

"Asriel…"

They come up and hug me.

"I'm not just worried about them." They say. "I'm worried about you."

"This has to be done." I say. "Even if it's dangerous."

"What about me?" They ask. "I don't want you to get hurt."

I break away from them.

"How are you even talking to me?" I ask. "You're dead."

"I had to come back." They say. "I felt something was wrong… I had to wake up."

This shouldn't be possible. I erased their memory. I took away their determination. They should be totally gone.

Something isn't right.

"I love you too much to let you die." Says Chara.

I feel a strange force pressing on me.

Their soul is holding onto mine.

"I won't let go." They say.

They shouldn't have a soul left. They lost it long ago.

"This isn't possible." I say. "You're dead. You're really dead. You shouldn't be here."

"I never go away." They say. "I refuse."

Something is wrong.

We're in Waterfall. In the darkness.

Chara is holding my hands.

"Don't worry." They say. "I'll guide you."

They try to pull me forward.

"I'll show you the way." Says Chara.

"I can find my own way."

I try to let go… but my fingers won't open. My hands are stuck to Chara's.

"I can't let you." They say. "You'd just get lost."

They pull me forward. I follow them into the darkness.

Lying on the grass. Chara is next to me, playing with my ears. I smile.

I missed this.

"I'll always be glad you were my friend, Asriel." They say.

I glance at them. Their face is gray.

Chara lies dead on the ground.

"Chara?"

I just wish you let me stay.

You know I can't let you stay. You know it's not safe. You would hurt people.

I'll be good. I promise. I'd do anything to stay with you.

I can't trust you anymore. Too much has happened.

I only fought with Flowey. I never fought with you.

We're the same person. It's all me.

No, it's not. Flowey didn't have a soul. Flowey was cruel to me… You were always kind. We never stopped being friends.

I have seen the darkness in you. I know what lies inside of you.

Then reach inside me and take it out.

Take it out?

I'll open myself up to you. You could take away the darkness. You could fix it.

I don't know if I can.

You can always try.

On the flowers where I first found them. We sit together, holding each other's hands.

"You saved me before." Says Chara. "You can save me again."

I don't meet their gaze.

"You know there's good inside me." They say. "Get rid of the darkness, and set me free."

They hug me. We fall to the ground. Their long hair blocks out the light, but I can see them looking into my eyes.

"Find it." They say. "Find the darkness inside me and take it away. Let me stay with you… I want to be your friend."

They kiss me on the forehead. Their soft hands run over my ears.

"Okay."

I dive deep inside a black pond and search through the waters, blind. If I take away the darkness in Chara, I could fix them. I could make them okay. I could save them.

As I sink deep into Chara, Chara sinks deep into me. I see them for a moment, diving into a gleaming pond. Diving into me.

Asriel… You are such a good friend.

This was a risky gamble, but I think I can make it work.

Asriel is still inside me, grasping at my helpless heart. If he finds the "darkness" and takes it away, then I will cease to exist. It's only a matter of time before he reaches it.

I can't push him out. We opened ourselves and exposed everything inside us. You can't take back that decision. Until he decides to come out on his own, I'm powerless to stop him.

But he opened himself, too. He's just as helpless as I am. I control his body now. He can't push me out. And if I fill his body with LOVE, it won't matter what Asriel does to me.

Because by then, I will be him.

I awaken his body from its slumber. I gather all of the souls and determination he has. All of his power, I take for myself. I'll need it.

I have to hurry. If I don't succeed before Asriel finds what he's looking for, then Asriel will take over instead. Asriel will win. And I will be gone.

I need to fill this body with LOVE if I want to survive this, and I have to do it quickly, before Asriel wins. Now the barrier is open, and the surface is mine to ravage.

I have to kill as many people as I possibly can.