Three hours of nothing. Absolutely nothing. I was starting to feel like an idiot.

I had heard rumors of a room in Hotland that had rare cacti. I had wondered whether I could sell the juice or make the flowers into a tea. You see, I love to cook. Pastries, sweets, drinks, pasta, barbeque, seafood; you name it, I'll make it. I'm always trying to think of new recipes and how varying ingredients could affect the taste. However, I tend to go to extreme lengths to find the ingredients I want.

Actually, that's how I ended up in the Underground. I wanted to see the food Monsters ate and if I could find anything new. Long story short, I jumped down a hole and here I am.

I had a lot of fun baking pies with Miss Toriel, but I wanted to explore and find out more about the food down here. She was sad, but said she understood. After awhile, I went back with a snail pie I had made for her. I waited for a long time, but she never opened the door.

After that, I stuck around Snowdin for a few weeks cooking at Grillby's. It was a blast, especially when this skeleton would come with these hilarious food puns. However, everyone else nearby was not so amused.

After Snowdin, it was briefly Waterfall, and finally Hotland. This is where I met Muffet. She offered me a free sample when I stopped at her sale. I was skeptical about a spider being an ingredient, but I was hooked after the first taste. What can I say? I'm not very picky.

Muffet and I started exchanging ideas and worked together to make the spider croissant. Then, when we were talking one day, she joked about me starting my own restaurant.

I was going to do just that right here in Hotland. Muffet agreed to sell some of my products at her stand while I set up shop. The last thing I wanted to do before opening was figure out if I could add this cactus to the menu.

Now, I was never great at directions and observation, so I got pretty turned around. I had even dropped my trusty frying pan a ways back! I had decided that it was best to pick it up on the way back.

I wiped my hands on my apron. I was staring at a newly installed conveyor belt system and three columns. The Royal Scientist was adding new puzzles and security measures in case of an emergency. Technically, I'm not suppose to be here since the area was closed off for safety precautions. I decided to ignore the warning and continue my search.

The puzzle seemed easy enough. The conveyor belt was off, so I just had to hit three buttons to disable the barrier blocking off the next room. What could happen?

I pressed the first button. The column sparked, then exploded.

The world was swallowed by a bright flash of light and an ear-splitting blast. My ears rung and my body was numb. Slowly, my eyes readjusted. The first column was completely destroyed, as well as part of the conveyor belt. The rest of the puzzle was sparking and chunks of the other two columns and belt were missing.

The blast had thrown me all the way back to the crossroads I had just past. I was surprised that I wasn't hurt, then I felt the burning.

My hand felt worse than after any accident I had in the kitchen, like it had been overcooked in the oven. My throat was burnt dry, my eyes and face felt like they had been doused with acid, and a spread of gashes littered my body from where shrapnel had imbedded itself.

Trembling with effort and pain, I began to crawl. The pain numbed my senses. Had a minute passed? A second? A hour? Every move and pull seemed to last an eternity. I made it to a square cliff side when my body finally gave out. I laid on the ground withering in agony, calling for help. Finally, someone showed up. Or, more accurately, sprang up.

"Howdy! You look just plain awful!"

It was the talking flower who had shown up when I was in the Ruins. I was eye level with him, his face a mask of fake concern.

"Flowey," I croaked.

"Yep, That's my name!" He said in a chipper voice. "I don't believe I ever caught yours. Oh well! No need to learn the name of a dead man."

"I'm not dead yet."

"Yet is the keyword," He pointed out. "I mean, do you honestly expect to survive after that?"

I didn't.

He continued. "It was a miracle that you survived for this long. You're quiet persistent. What does it feel like? Is it like when you stick your hand in a fire and can't pull away? Or, does it feel like thousands of bees are branding you with white hot stingers? Maybe it feels like you got punched so hard that your insides shook like a maraca"

Check, check, and check.

I touched the side of my face. My hand came away slick with blood.

"You're probably feeling a little cold by now. You know, with all the internal and external bleeding."

It felt like my cooked limps were replaced by ice cubes.

He laughed maniacally. "Golly! You sure are more fun than the humans before you. They died quickly and had Asgore around. But you? I get to hear you scream as the metal tears through your flesh and chops you up like a salad!" He made a face with wide eyes and razor sharp teeth. "Now I can enjoy the show!"

I ground my teeth together and forced out a question, "Why are you so mean and terrible?"

He looked amused. "Why? What a great question! You get a gold star! Well, if you want to know, I have no SOUL."

"No SOUL?"

"I lost it years ago. Now, I can't feel a darn thing. I care about no one, and I threw away my empathy. Now I get to watch your agony without a shred of remorse! Lucky you!"

"So you feel nothing?"

"Nada."

I managed to crack a smile and chuckled.

Flowey seemed taken back. "Your smiling? Your laughing? What kind of sicko are you to laugh at a time like this?" He looked himself over. "Oh right! Never mind."

"Your such an idiot," I said.

He became angry. "I'm the idiot? That's coming from the guy who got himself blown up!"

"You proved my point."

"W-what?"

"You're angry. You're laughing. No matter the reason, someone who can be angry and laugh feels something, Flowey."

He seemed like he was going to burst out laughing. "What an idiotic idea! So I laugh and shout. Trust me, any past self of mine would never be like this. Plus, there is not a single person in this world I care about! Give me the chance and I would throw anyone off this cliff just for fun!"

"What about Chara?"

He flinched. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

"You care about whoever they are, don't you? They are someone you would never give up."

"What gave you that stupid id-"

"You called me that name when I fell into the Underground." He froze. "You looked so happy when you said that name. It was easy to tell you care about Chara a lot."

"Shut up!"

"Give it a chance, Flowey! Just try to feel happiness and compassion again."

He was shouting hysterically. "Shut up! Shut up!"

I reached out my hand. " Do it for them. Do it for Chara."

"Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!"

He bit my hand. I didn't pull away. I couldn't feel it.

"I hope things turn out better for you, Flowey. Someone is going to come and help you feel again. I know it. I know it will happen, Flowey. I promise."

He released my hand which flopped uselessly on the ground. A flicker of pain crossed his face before he shook it away. "You really are an idiot."

Everything was hazy. A green heart replaced Flowey in a field of mist. I cupped it in my hand, all pain forgotten. It was warm and I relaxed.

Someone will help him. I just wish I could have done it. My eyelids drooped and I simply drifted away peacefully.

Flowey stared at the still boy with the SOUL in his hand.

If I take it, then maybe I can be stronger. I could finally get the other SOULs from that stupid King.

A memory flashed by his eyes. A child was laying under the covers of a bed, face pale and covered in cold sweat. They were limp and their breathing was ragged.

Flowey meet the boy's blank gaze. "Stupid boy." He retreated into the soil and disappeared.

I was drifting weightlessly through complete darkness. Everything was so peaceful. How long have I been here? A hour? A week? A year? I didn't care. I could have stayed here forever without a care in the world. That is, until a vine wrapped around me.

It tightened, driving the air from my lungs. I couldn't move, I couldn't breathe. Was is this? Then an agonizing pain tore through my body. It felt like everything inside me was trying to tear it's way out. I wanted it to stop. I tried to scream, but I couldn't make a sound. I didn't understand what was happening. I thought I was dead, so what is this?

Then I heard it. A madman's laugh filled the darkness. I could place it anywhere. It was Flowey, but that didn't make sense. Why was I hearing Flowey's laugh? The darkness burst into painfully bright, shifting colors. Straining to see through the searing colors, a shape appeared. It was a girl with a ribbon in her hair and wrapped by a vine like me. I saw the rest of them, four more kids all stuck like me. What was going on here?

The colors flickered. I could see glimpses of another child. This one wearing a striped shirt and had a red heart floating in front of them. Before my eyes, I saw that child get skewered on a long, red spear. I wanted to throw up. The heart shattered. A bright, golden light briefly filled my vision. The child was standing again, alive, and dodged the spear. This is madness.

Suddenly, the ribbon girl screamed. A heart appeared in front of her, cutting through the colors with a bright blue glare. Knives began to rain from the sky onto the striped-shirted child. The child couldn't dodge. They were run through by dozens of the blades.

Flash

The child was standing again. The girl's heart was still. Then, she started to scream again, heart blaring. Knives fell onto the child again. They were trying their best, but cuts still started to cover their body.

The girl continued to scream. The heart began to shake rapidly. Faster and faster it moved, the louder she screamed until it was barely human.

The laughter and scream mixed in a melody of madness. I wanted to cover my ears. It hurt to hear, I wanted it to stop. Then, a weak voice broke through the chaos.

"Help."

It was fragile, barely audible, but it sounded like a roar against the laughter. The child, still standing amongst the falling knives, called again. "Please, help me."

I couldn't stand it. I struggled against the vine until I tore my arm free. I stretched out as far as I could, but it was pointless. I couldn't reach anyone. I was stranded, left to watch them die. A shape flickered above my wrist. It took me a moment to recognize the green heart that appeared. Its glow seemed to keep the chaos at bay. The girl screamed again. I reached towards her, wishing that I could help her. The light from my heart stretched through the shifting colors and coiled around her's. The blue heart slowed then became still. She stopped screaming. The knives stopped in midair, transforming into green bandages. The child ran around scooping them out of the air, scratches fading back into solid skin. The girl slumped, exhausted.

The child evaded bizarre obstacles: flies, bombs, claws, lasers, vine and petals. Every time they died they were standing again after a golden flash. Then, a different scream tore through the colors. This time it was a boy with an orange heart wearing gloves and a bandanna. I reached out to them, but the light wouldn't stretch. The fighting child hurriedly dove between giant gloves with an eye design. When they got hit, they were slapped and knocked to the ground. Once again, they called "Help me!"

The light stretched towards the boy. It wrapped around his heart and he relaxed. The gloves turned green and each made a thumbs up sign. Once again, the child touched each one they could before the bizarre attacks began again.

I think I'm starting to get this. When these guys start to scream, a new attacks is thrown at the child. When that child calls for help, I can calm their hearts and make the attack heal the child. Soon enough, a girl with a dark blue heart and a tutu shrieked. The striped-shirted child was trapped by a line of stars as giant ballet shoes tried to crush them. Why aren't they calling for help? Do they have to wait a while before they can? I watched as the child got stomped on by one of giant shoes.

Flash

The tutu girl fell silent. The striped-shirted child was up again, dodging vines and a giant pair of jaws. Soon enough, the girl screamed again and the shoes appeared again. The striped-shirted child was able to avoid being crushed this time. After agonizing minutes, the child called for help. The light soothed the tutu girl and the stars became green music notes as the shoes disappeared.

The child died two more times, far fewer than they were when this started. Is Flowey getting weaker? The realization struck me. He's using us to make himself more powerful! So if I can help them, I can stop Flowey.

A boy wearing glasses screamed, purple heart shaking rapidly. Books surrounded the striped-shirted child as words flew out of them. All of the words had negative meanings, which made me shiver.

"Help, please!"

I stretched the light. It had nearly surrounded the boy's heart when it was pushed back by the purple light. I stretched harder, but the purple heart refused. What is this?

"Please, help me!"

I pushed back harder and harder. Eventually, the green light broke through and surrounded the purple heart. The words turned green and now had positive meanings. I sighed, but caught my breath when I saw the glasses boy crying. Everyone else was in pain, but no one was crying. And these tears didn't seem like they were caused by pain. What's wrong with this boy?

The child made it through another round only dying once. I was preparing to help the last victim when my heart began to shake. It was as if everything inside me was by shaken, crushed and ripped apart all at once. Although, that was hardly a fitting description. I would be more specific, but it was indescribable. All I can say is that it felt like something inside me was being tossed around, but I don't know how to describe the pain. Screaming, I tried to get my heart to stop, but my body wouldn't respond.

The child called for help, but I couldn't do anything. I wanted it to stop. I don't care how. I don't care if it means dying again. Just make it stop! Please!

Then, out of nowhere, it did. Breathing raggedly, vision blurred, I made out my heart. It was surrounded by a multitude of lights. I looked at the others. All of the others I had helped were reaching towards me. The light from their hearts wrapped around mine. I collapsed, or I would have if not for the vine.

I steeled myself to help the last captive when the time came. They were wearing a cowboy hat and had a yellow heart. The child got through another barrage of attacks, but they didn't die this time. I was starting to smile when the screaming started. The cowboy hat wearer screamed like they were trying to throw up their lungs. The child dodged a round of bullets fired from a giant revolver. However, they weren't calling for help. They got hit by a bullet, then another when they tried to get up.

I bit my lip, hoping for them to call for help. Finally…

"I need your help!"

I reached towards the final heart, as did the other four I had helped. The lights surrounded the heart in a glorious mix as it settled to a halt. The final captive leaned over the vine, coughing, but safe. I sighed deeply as I watched the child. They died a few times, I still felt like I was going to throw up, but they persisted. They lashed out at Flowey with an old dagger again and again. The painful colors dimmed and his laughter began to die. With one final scream, the colors began to return to darkness.

Flash

The colors returned with a vengeance, along with the mad laughter. The child was skewered by vines.

Flash

The child was swallowed by a bright laser.

Flash

Again and again, the child died. The flashes and gruesome scenes merging into one continuous blur. It came to screeching halt when petals surrounded the child, closing in on them slowly. I reached towards them. I looked around me to see the others doing it as well. Our hearts began to stir. The petals bounced off the child harmlessly. The hearts zipped through the madness, driving it away with their light. Flowey's laughter turned to shrieks as his power diminished. With one final move, out hearts collided in the space between us captives. They gave off a light so bright it destroyed the maddening colors of the chaos.

In that light, I saw something. A goat monster giving a child a locket. The child smiled and tackled the Monster with a hug. My heart returned to me. I smiled.

So he really wasn't always bad. Maybe he does have a chance. Who knows? Maybe the child in the striped shirt will be the ones to save him.