The ruins FINAL
Frisk carefully opened the door and peeked out to the hallway. The first thing she noticed was how eerily dark and quiet it was.
"How the hell has the old monster guy not come here yet?" she asked. "We must've made like a ton of noise yelling in there."
"Ah, he must be too busy sobbing in his room to hear," Flowey said. "He does that every time he has a breakdown."
"Hey speaking of breakdowns," Frisk began. "Can you tell me what the hell was up with that face shifting thing he did earlier?"
"I… really have no idea," Flowey said.
"Really?"
"Yeah, I'm about as surprised as you. I've been with him for like half a decade yet he has never done that before."
"Never you say?"
Frisk found that hard to believe. She could still see the utter regret the old monster seemed to express immediately afterwards like he accidentally revealed something he shouldn't have.
"Yeah, never," Flowey confirmed. "The only possible thing I can guess is that it has something to do with the whole resetting thing going on with you, which seems to be the answer for everything now. I don't see how it matters to us though since we most likely won't see him again."
"I was just curious," Frisk said.
"Of course you are," Flowey said. "Can we keep going now because we're wasting time?"
"Right, sorry."
Frisk crept through the door and carefully closed it behind her. She tried listening for any signs of the old hermit but heard nothing. Still, she thought it was best to go slowly and carefully.
As she was creeping closer to the entrance of this dwelling place, Frisk realized that she wasn't as scared or nervous as before. In fact, she was barely scared at all. The truth of her powers was finally getting to her. Still, she also felt a bit bad for leaving the monster alone without telling him. But she also suspected heavily that if she did, the creature then might try his hardest to stop her. It was not a risk she was in the mood to take.
Once Frisk exited the hallway, she turned to the entrance. She was barely a step through when Flowey interrupted her.
"No, no, no," he said, "Not that way."
"What do you mean?" Frisk asked, feeling confused now. "This is the only way out."
Flowey went quiet, and the air around them was filled with a scent of smug disappointment.
"Of course you thought it was the only way out," Flowey said. "Why did I assume anything else?"
"Alright jackass," Frisk said. "If that's not the way out then what is?"
"Well gee," the flower began. "If only there were some other door in this very room. Fine, since you seem to be so dimwitted, I'll tell you. I am in fact talking about the door down the stairs behind you."
Frisk felt her heart stop once she heard that. The fears she thought she had vanquished had suddenly returned in an instant.
"Ar-are you serious?" she asked nervously.
He can't be talking about THAT door, is he?
"What, you thought it leads down to an empty basement or something?" Flowey asked.
Frisk turned around and walked to the side of the stairs. She looked down at the boarded up door and her heart pounded. Just looking at it filled her with unease.
"Why, what's wrong with it?" Flowey asked.
"Th-the old man told me not to open it," Frisk said. "He said there was some evil shit behind that door. Demons or something."
Just after she said that the flower began to hold his breath, trying to keep himself from bursting into laughter. Frisk turned her head around to face Flowey, and she was starting to feel somewhat frustrated.
"What's so funny," she asked.
"You actually bought that?" Flowey asked, smiling a cocky smile. "Like for real? Gods, you really are an idiot."
"Let me guess," she began. "That door leads home right?"
"Of course it does!" Flowey said. "Why else would he make up that story?"
Frisk sighed. She couldn't help but feel used by the old hermit.
"Alright, let's get going," she said.
She walked down the steps, carefully so that the steps wouldn't creak. Not that it really mattered, as the old hermit wouldn't have heard it either way. It was more due to a force of habit at this point.
"Gods, can you move on already?" Flowey complained.
"Calm down," Frisk replied. "We're halfway there."
"And we would be there now if you actually walked properly."
"God, can you stop complaining? At this point, I am considering whether taking you was a bad idea."
"Alright then, take your time. Just don't be shocked if the monster takes you while you're still on the next step."
After an unnecessarily gruelling journey down the steps, filled with Flowey's occasional impatient groaning, they were now standing in front of the large, boarded-up wooden door.
"Finally," Flowey said. "Now the next thing you need to do is cut those tapes off."
"Wait, is this the door you mentioned?" Frisk asked. "The one that the knife is supposed to be used on?"
"Yeah, why?" Flowey confirmed.
"I dunno, it feels kind of a downer," Frisk said. "Judging by the design of the knife, I just expected the door to look more mythical and ancient. Like a large, house-sized, stone slab decorated in glowing runes or something"
"Well it was the only knife that's in this house," Flowey said. "Oh by the way, can you hurry up already? Or are you just gonna stand around and ponder every five seconds or so?"
"Ok then, geez."
She put her hand on the door and used the other to cut down the duct tape with the knife. The first plank loosened and dangled on the door. Frisk carefully took it off and put it on the bottom step, slowly as to not make a sound.
"I think I could have just ripped the tapes off with my hands, y' know?" Frisk realized.
"Ehh, it's too strong," Flowey said.
"C' mon, it's just duct tape," Frisk said. "How hard can it be?"
She put her knife in her pocket for the time being and attempted to pull off the tape of another plank. It proved to be extremely ineffective. The tape was unnaturally strong. She tried again and groaned a bit before giving up.
"Told you so," Flowey said condescendingly.
"God, what are these things made of?" Frisk said.
"Well the old guy used some magic on it," said the flower. "I saw it with my own eyes, or rather with whatever it was that made me able to see back when I was in that state. He didn't think to make it knife proof for some reason."
"Magically enhanced duct tape," Frisk said, realizing how weird it sounded out loud. "Got it."
Frisk then went back to the original plan and cut off the tapes of another plank. This one was diagonal, so it proved very awkward to cut, especially the top part where Frisk had to stand on her toes to reach. After that, there were only a few dozen more.
A few planks later, there came the sound of a door opening, somewhere in this house.
"You hear that?" whispered Flowey.
"Oh shit," whispered Frisk.
Frisk began to frantically cut out the last remaining planks, which thankfully proved to be much easier as most of them were hastily put and disorganized. After a while, the bottom steps were covered in a pile of loose planks.
Then, after she removed the last plank, which was very large and heavy and covered the entire door horizontally, she stopped. Standing in front of the large, wooden door, an uncomfortable sensation was starting to grow in her gut. She was suddenly reminded of one thing the old monster had told her.
Down there… Lay only the evilest things ever dreamt up from the dark deep imaginations of the most wicked monsters.
"What in the angel's name are you waiting for?" Flowey whispered, sounding somewhat agitated. "The old man can be here any second now. Open it."
"This… doesn't feel right," Frisk admitted.
What if the monster was telling the truth? she thought. What if this is a trick?
"I don't care how you feel right now," Flowey whispered, sounding irritated. "If you want to go home, then the only way to get there is through that door. You're not actually buying what he said right?"
This feels weird, Frisk thought. It feels like a trap
"You seem awfully keen on opening this door," she told the flower.
"Because it's the only way out of here," Flowey said, almost breaking his whispering in frustration. "I've told you like a gazillion times already. Now lay down your stupid suspicions and open that gods-dammed door."
Frisk stared at the door, feeling strong and conflicting emotions crawling and biting at her mind.
An amalgamation yours and anyone's worst possible fears and nightmares made manifest, the creature's voice said in her thoughts. Famine, war, death, chaos, disease. Countless things a wicked soul can possibly think of.
"Are you brain dead?" Flowey asked, no longer whispering. "Open. The. Door."
That last line was what made Frisk finally come to a decision, although hastily and unsure. But it was not the decisions Flowey was hoping for. Frisk walked a few steps backwards and felt the stirring of the confused flower on her back.
"No," Frisk said, filled with certainty and determination. "I refuse."
Flowey now looked absolutely befuddled. His mouth was wide open and his eyes spoke utter confusions. If he had eyebrows, they would surely speak frustration and anger.
"What?" he said, almost yelling it at this point. "Are you- ugh, for the angel's sake! Fine! Let me!"
"Hey what are you-"
In barely a moment, Flowey had extended one of his vines, making him wince in pain, and before Frisk could finish her sentence, he had wrapped the vine around the doorknob and gave out a painful groan as he swiftly yanked the door open.
"Oh fuck!"
Then, as if on instinct, Frisk closed her eyes and cowered on the ground, and she felt an immense gust of wind rushing over her body.
She laid still for only about half a minute, but it felt like an eternity. At every moment, Frisk expected to feel horrible things, like perhaps dozens of teeth biting her skin like countless man-eating insects, slimy tendrils grabbing her and attempting to pull her into an incomprehensible hellscape, or waves of horrible, loud screeching or laughter from countless, inhuman terrors.
However, she waited. And waited. And waited. And yet, after a few moments, she felt nothing. Nothing at all.
"It's ok Frisk," Flowey said and sighed. "There's nothing here you scared idiot."
Frisk frightfully opened her eyes. If there was any, she thought that perhaps she could glance at the eldritch monstrosities before being devoured or worse. Maybe the "evil" was waiting for her, waiting for her to look at it so it could savour her suffering. But, as she stood up and finally mustered the courage to glance through the door, Frisk was instead filled with shocking relief, and anger.
All there was through the door was a simple, empty corridor.
"See?" Flowey said. "No demons. No evil magic or whatever vague nonsense he was spouting. Nothing. Just a simple hallway that leads out of here."
"He lied to me," Frisk said, feeling betrayed. "The old bastard lied to me."
"Oh, you're surprised?" Flowey asked sarcastically. "Well, gee. It's not like that old man is crazy and suffers from incredible loneliness issues or any-"
There came the sound of loud steps and crashings from above. Frisk listened for a while. The steps were becoming louder and closer.
"FRISK! FLOWEY! WHERE ARE YOU!" yelled the old monster.
"I think he's coming this way," Frisk said in frightful realization.
"Well, then what the heck are you waiting for?!" Flowey asked anxiously. "Run. Run!"
And so she did. She ran, ran as fast as she could down the dark corridor.
"At the end of this hall, there is a left curve that leads to another door!" Flowey said. "It's much larger than the one back there and made of pure stone, so it will be extremely heavy and much harder to open!"
"How am I supposed to open it then?!" Frisk frantically asked, now seeing the curve ahead.
"Push it!" Flowey said. "Push it as hard as you can!"
Frisk quickly turned the corner without slowing down which caused her to crash on the walls a bit before getting back on her feet. At the end of this new path, a tall door made of pure stone indeed loomed closer. The door had a strange distinct rune marked on it, and it opened in the middle like an old castle gate. Behind her, Frisk heard the sounds of loud, running steps of a large figure.
"Hurry, up Frisk!" Flowey said anxiously. "I think he's down here!"
"I know, I know!" Frisk said and increased her speed.
She was now running just as fast, if not faster than she did in the old ruins. She didn't even have time to stop before she slammed headfirst into the stone door.
"Gah."
"Ok," Flowey began. "Now push!"
"Got it, got it!" Frisk said.
Frisk put her hands on either side of the opening and groaned as she put all her weight into opening the door.
"God, why is this so heavy?!" she complained. "Flowey, can you give me a hand?!"
"Sorry, I'm too small and weak!" Flowey said. "Keep it up though, you're doing great!"
Frisk wasn't sure whether he was sarcastic about that last sentence, but she didn't care. She felt the sweat run down her brow and cheek as she pushed. Still, she groaned and pushed as hard as her body could manage.
After a while, Frisk managed to get a small crack in the centre. It was big enough to peek through, and inside she saw another, long hallway that seemed to stretch further than any she had encountered so far. She pushed a bit more, and now the opening was big enough for her to squeeze through.
"Almost there!" Frisk said. "Just a little bit-"
"My child!" yelled the creature behind her on the other end of the hall. "You shouldn't be down here! It's dangerous for a child like you!"
Frisk stopped doing everything at that moment. She glanced at the half-open door and knew she could just squeeze through and then close the stone door behind her. But her anger, her feeling of disappointment at the old monster, overtook her, and she knew there was most likely not another chance to confront him.
She turned around and saw a frail, decrepit monster in tattered clothing standing at the edge of the hall with a maddening glare and frown of disappointment. With the immense bravery she felt due to the knowledge that death was not final for her, Frisk was filled with immense determination.
"You just had to peek inside didn't you?" he said. "Couldn't let your curiosity lie in wait, is that it? Well, now you know what's inside here. Now you know the real reason I had to board it up. Couldn't let you two get into danger, could I? Now, why don't you and your little brother come back upstairs-"
"You lied to me, asshole!" Frisk yelled, and the monster seemed incredibly thrown aback by it. "You told me there was nothing down here besides some vague bullshit about something evil in order to scare me from it! You didn't let me know this was the only way home!"
"Tha-that's not a nice way to speak to me like that," the creature said, sounding confused and worried.
Has he no guilt or shame even after being caught? Frisk thought.
"Are you daft?" Frisk asked.
"You-you're right," the creature admitted. "I did lie to you about the door, and I'm sorry. But, it was for the best I… I only did it to protect you!"
"Oh, that's bullshit!" Frisk said. "I thought you were nice! You were crazy, yeah, but I thought you were trying to help me! But it turns out you just wanted to keep me here, forever! So I could pretend to be your dead child in your little fantasy like I was some fucking toy to be dressed and played with!"
"That's not true," the monster said. "Not even close."
"Well, whatever the case!" Frisk said. "I'm leaving! And I'm taking the flower with me!"
She turned towards the half-open door.
"Stop!" the creature shouted after her. "Listen to me! If you go through that door, you are putting yourself in far more danger than you can imagine! You have no idea what's out there. If you leave the ruins then they… he… Mickey… will take you."
Frisk turned around to face him again.
"Really?" she asked him sarcastically. "Mickey? That's the best name you got? Yeah sorry, but I'm not buying it."
"He's telling the truth Frisk," Flowey told her. "This time that is."
She turned her head towards Flowey to see if he was joking or not. Once she saw no hint of irony on his face, Frisk felt a sudden discomfort.
"Flowey…" the creature said, seeming to have finally noticed him. "My son."
"I'm not your son," the flower said to him with disgust in his voice.
"I-I know you're angry at me," the creature said. "I shouldn't have lied to your friend like that. Or to you for that matter. But I'll make it up for you. I promise. I'll even bake you your favourite pie, just the way you like it. Just come upstairs, and we'll go through this issue peacefully."
He took one step towards them. That one step was just enough to put Frisk into panic and instinctively pull out the knife. The creature expression turned into shock at the girl now pointing the knife at him.
"Don't!" Frisk said. "Don't come any closer."
"My child, where did you get that?" the creature asked. "You shouldn't be playing with that thing. It's dangerous."
He took another step.
"DON'T!" Frisk yelled, and the tone in her voice became more worrying. "Please, I don't want to do this! Just let us go, that's all I'm asking you!"
The creature became silent for a few moments. Suddenly, his face took on a look of understanding as if the last remaining echoes of sanity within him came rushing forth.
"I understand," he said. "I understand that you want to go. These ruins are dark and lonely, and you might not like it here. But it's the best place for you. Here you are safe with warmth, food and companionship. Out there, it's cold and lots of untold dangers. You won't last very long. Please, Frisk, I am trying to protect you. Come back up here and- and I'll try to be better. I'll make this please as good and nice for you as I possibly can. We can even be... a family."
He reached towards her with an open palm.
"Please," he begged.
Frisk stared at the open hand, still holding the knife in her hand, and she felt a surge of guilt and sadness swell within her. The way the creature spoke with complete sincerity touched her like a gentle parent she never had. It made her realize just how awful she had acted. She slowly pointed the knife at the floor and looked at the begging monster. But she had made her choice, and she was gonna through with it, no matter how much she knew it would hurt the monster.
"Remember?" Frisk began "What you told me yesterday? You said I had the power and will to make my own choices in this world. That I could make my own paths. I understand what you are trying to do here, and I appreciate that. But I want to go home as well. I know of the dangers that are out there, but I don't want to spend the rest of my life in this place because of that. Sorry old man, but I've made my choice. We're going."
The creature looked at her and his face seemed to take in a hint of sadness. He put down his hands and closed his eyes as if to hold back tears. Then he opened them, and they had taken on a look of understanding.
"If you really want to go so bad," the creature began. "If leaving the safety of this place will make truly you happy, even while knowing of the dangers that are out there, then frankly… I won't stop you."
Frisk felt a slight rush of relief.
"Thank you," she said. "I'm sorry for-"
"But please…" the monster continued. "I beg of you with all my heart, just do one thing for me."
Oh boy, Frisk thought.
The creature put out his hand again.
"Give me back my son," he said. "Please."
Frisk felt the flower stir in her backpack.
"Don't do it, Frisk," he said. "Please don't leave me alone with this madman."
"I just want my son," the creature said. "That's all I'm asking for and then you can go and do whatever you want."
Frisk turned her head back to the flower who looked extremely afraid.
"Don't even think about it," he said. "You know I am the only one who can get you home."
"My son is very weak," the creature continued. "Very fragile in fact. He can't even walk. He will not last long out that grim world. So please, if you can find it in your heart, give me him back. Please. I am not able to live with myself after losing two children at once."
"Frisk!" Flowey said. "Please."
Frisk saw how it seemed powerless and begging. Then she turned to the monsters and saw the exact same glint of pleading in his blue and orange eyes. But it wasn't a hard choice for her to make though, even though it hurt a little.
"Sorry old man but no," she said confidently. "He's coming with me."
Frisk heard Flowey sigh in relief.
"Thank you, Frisk," he said.
"You…"
It was as if in that exact moment, everything surrounded them changed. Every element around them took on a drastic turn. The air became uncomfortably thick, and the warmth ever increased like a fire was burning the walls. The creature face turned dark and bleak, and his skinny hands shook like bare hands in the winter snow.
"You…" he repeated. "You dare… to take my son from me…"
"Oh shit," Frisk said.
The creature's hands began to glow orange, and his eyes seemed to light on fire.
"Oh that indeed," Flowey said. "Let's get the heck out of here!"
Without even thinking about it, Frisk turned around so quickly that it might as well have been in an instant and began to squeeze herself through the door as hard as she could.
"Come back here!" the creature yelled after her.
Fireballs appeared in his hand, and he launched them in Frisk's direction like missiles. Frisk felt the warmth of one that just passed above her head, and she saw it fly distantly into the long corridor.
The creature then gave out a loud roar which echoed loudly through the corridor, and suddenly, he began to run inhumanly fast towards.
"Frisk hurry the heck up!" Flowey yelled.
"I'm almost there!" she replied. "Almo-"
She felt something heavy grab her backpack and it was pulling her inward.
"FRISK!" yelled Flowey.
Before being completely pulled in, Frisk managed to grab at the edge of one of the doors. She groaned as she resisted the immense strength of the large monster, and Frisk felt as if she was in a hurricane. The blade of the knife in her hand was squeezing at her fingers, and she felt the blood leak down her hand and drip on the floor.
"I gave you a home!" the creature said furiously. "I gave you comfort and food, and I have gone so far as to allow you to go! And you repay me with this?! By stealing my only child?! You ungrateful brat!"
"LET ME GO YOU-"
There came a distinguished ripping sound from behind Frisk. She was pulled back as the backpack was torn from the sleeves. She quickly and loudly hurled on the floor as loads of torn pieces and contents of the backpack flew in the air. The creature also fell on his back, due to the unnecessary amount of strength in his pull.
Frisk felt like the world was spinning. The impact of her fall was incredibly sudden, and she landed with the back of her head. Still, she fought and tried with all her might to stand up. It was harder than it seemed, and it was like the world was going in slow-motion. She closed a fist around the red-hued knife still in her hand and rolled onto her stomach where she managed to pull herself up on all fours with her knees on the ground. She saw the monster laying in front of her, groaning and surrounded by torn backpack pieces, and in the middle of them both, there lay a single dazed flower.
Then without any consideration, Frisk sprung up and ran towards it.
"NO!" she heard the creature yell.
Just as Frisk managed to grab the flower, the creature launched at her like a hungry bear and the flower and knife flew from her hands. There came a loud thump as they crashed on the floor. It happened so fast it took Frisk a moment to absorb it. When she did, she was filled with fright as the large creature loomed over her and forced her down with his hands.
"Don't you dare take my son from me!" he growled.
Frisk looked around and saw the knife to her side, the red hue seeming to glow in the dimness. It was very close, yet just out of reach as if it was mocking her.
"Why?!" the creature said to her pitifully. "Why do you want to hurt me like this?!"
Frisk wasn't sure but for a moment, she thought she felt a tinge of sadness in his voice. But all that was immediately forgotten as she tried her hardest to grab the knife.
Almost there, she thought. Just need to reach further.
"You are nothing like the others," the creature said sadly. "That's what I liked about you at first."
"Let go of me!" Frisk yelled.
She felt herself touch the handle.
Yes!
"What are you-"
"LET GO!"
Frisk grabbed the knife, and in a rush of either adrenaline or instinct or both, she used all her strength and impaled the large monster under the armpits. The creature then stopped, and he stared at her in utter confusion and disbelief.
"What?" Frisk said.
She noticed her hand felt strange like it was elbow deep inside a wet and gooey cake. But she was more surprised by the monster's reaction, or lack thereof. Frisk expected him to maybe wince in pain or yell. Instead, he just stared at her like he had no idea what happened. Then the creature began to cough up a little blood.
"WHAT?" Frisk yelled.
I only stabbed him lightly, she thought. Is this a trick? How is this possible?
It was at that moment that Frisk realized the horrible mistake she had made. She looked at where she hit him and gasped in terror. She hadn't just stabbed him, but her hand had somehow pierced through him with the knife, and now she was as deep with her elbow inside his chest. To make things worse, the point of the knife was now coming out the other side.
"W… why?" the creature managed to ask feebly.
"I-I didn't mean to," Frisk said.
This can't be happening, she thought. This can't be happening.
"Ho-hold on," she said. "M-maybe I can fix this I.. just need... uhh..."
She began to pull out her hand with all her might. It proved slower and much more uncomfortable. She felt the sides of her arm touch dozens of slimy organs and hard bones, and she was sure she even felt a lung beating.
She groaned as she pulled out the last of her hand and knife, and the speed of her pull caused volumes of blood to spew on the walls and ceiling. It also caused the creature to let go of her, and he fell limp with his back on the floor beside her.
Frisk quickly stood up, breathing heavily and panicky, not even noticing her arm and hoodie sleeve was covered in wet blood.
The creature stared at the ceiling with wide open eyes. Frisk felt tears begin to form in her eyes.
"You-you can heal yourself right?" she asked in desperation. "Like you healed me. Back when you found me. You remember that right? Right?! You remember?!"
The creature looked up at her with eyes filled with sadness. Blood was spewing from his mouth and his side so a large red pool was forming slowly around the monster. Frisk felt herself growing sick.
"I-I'm so sorry m-my child," the creature said as blood spewed from his mouth. "I've… cough… I've been a… a terrible father. Please… cough... forgive me… for… everything…Cha-
He coughed up some more of the loose blood which now filled up his throat.
"Char-"
He coughed again, and he began to choke. But it was only for a short moment, since almost as quick as defusing a candle, the creature gave out one last gurgle before he seized all movements and his eyes became lifeless, dull and empty of life. The last thing they looked at, was at the frightened girl who had killed him.
Frisk let the knife fall from her hand, and it gave out a loud clang as it touched the floor. She didn't even notice or care that the blood on her was turning into dust particles which fell lightly on the floor like a slow waterfall of a thousand tiny feathers. Then the creature's yellow beard turned grey, and the horns became like sand. Afterwards, the fur and blood followed suid. In the end, all that lay on the floor was a dirty, ragged robe filled and surrounded by colourless dust.
Frisk fell down on her knees. She put her hands on her head and gave out a high pitch sounds similar to a person about to scream. Then she felt something crawl up her throat. She couldn't stop. She couldn't muster the strength to hold it in. It was coming up from her stomach like an avalanche of disgust. Frisk looked down on the ground and began to puke. She could identify her breakfast, her candy bar from yesterday and some brown mud amongst the foul pile. She felt another pull, and Frisk put her hands on her stomach and gave out another hurl.
It hurt, hurt plenty to empty her stomach like that, yet Frisk found herself unable to care for the pain. So many thoughts were in her mind, yet she somehow found herself also unable to think. It was like her mind was an empty train station surrounded by dozens of carriages, all heading its way but then taking a turn at the last moment.
She looked down at grey, dust-covered hands and it just dawned on Frisk these were hers, and thus her eyes began to water.
"Wow," said Flowey, breaking the immense silence of the room.
Frisk didn't bother to look at him. To her, it was like he wasn't even in the room.
"That was… something," Flowey continued.
He tried standing up before being reminded just how weak he was. The best he managed to do was crawl on the floor with his vine hands. it proved to be somewhat painful for him, yet he did it anyway.
"How is this possible?" Frisk asked no one in particular. "How did my hand manage to go through him like this? He was like 3 times my size and weight."
"Oh yeah I forgot about that," Flowey said. "Monster's are apparently super weak to humans. Generally, that is. Human bodies are mostly made of water and mass, while a monster body is magical in nature. It also strengthens or weakens depending on their mood and will to fight. Unfortunately, most monsters are kind-hearted."
He crawled in front of the pile and looked down at it analytically.
"Seems like deep down, he didn't want to fight you after all," he said. "If he did, he wouldn't have fallen so easily."
What Flowey said now just made Frisk feel infinitely worse. She began to sob and tears were falling faster down her face.
"Shame," Flowey said. "Eh, it happens. So anyways let's get going on."
He turned around and crawled a few steps while grunting in pain before noticing the bag was in utter tatters.
"Looks like the bags gone," he said. "Well, we're back to my idea then eh?"
"Is that all you're gonna say?" Frisk asked without looking up.
Flowey turned back around towards her.
"Excuse me?" he asked in confusion.
"I… said," Frisk repeated, and this time there was a hint of fury in her voice. "Is that all you're gonna say?"
She turned her head around and Flowey saw a young lady he barely recognized. Her eyes were red from tears, and her expression spoke grief and frustration. Flowey frowned condescendingly.
"Well what do you expect me to say?" he asked.
"I don't fucking know?!" Frisk said, almost shouting. "Maybe something like " it wasn't your fault Frisk" or… or… "I know this was bad, but it was either him or you" or… or just anything but-"
Frisk stopped mid-sentence and turned around to look down at the pile of dust on the floor. She put her hands on her head and began to shake lightly.
"I killed him," she said. "I just… killed someone. Someone I-I didn't mean to, and you're acting like I only spilt some fucking milk or something."
She turned around, and Flowey was shocked by the fury in her eyes.
"Have you got nothing for me?" she said to him.
Then Frisk went quiet, and the fury in her eyes faded like wind and returned to utter sorrow. She turned around back to the dust pile, and put her hands on her face and began to sob.
"I'm so sorry," the murmured amongst the tears. "I'm so sorry."
Flowey looked at her state and felt immense discomfort. He wasn't sure what it was or why, but looking at her like this was extremely uncomfortable for him.
He sighed and began to crawl towards her, barely paying attention to the pain it gave him.
"Look," he began as was beside her. "You're right ok? This wasn't your fault. You couldn't have had any idea that humans were immensely strong compared to monsters."
His voice became more stern.
"But accidents happen." continued said. "We learn from now. No matter how big it was, the best thing to do is move on. What happened, happened. If you want to stay here and skulk then, by all means, be my guest. But we need each other alright? And I'm not leaving until you're leaving."
Frisk didn't reply. She wasn't crying anymore. Just stared at the ground in thoughtful silence.
"Alright," Flowey said. "Ready when you are."
He turned around and crawled a few steps away, and he noticed that the pain wasn't as bad now.
"Hey my hands are getting stronger it seems," he said. "Or vines in my case."
There came a sound of something metallic being pulled up from the ground.
"Frisk?" Flowey asked curiously.
He turned around to her and saw an unusual sight. Frisk had picked up the red-hued knife and was now staring. It took a few moments for Flowey to realize what she was planning.
"No," he began. "No, no, no, no, don't you even dare thinking about doing it."
"You said that when you had my power," she began without looking up like she was speaking directly to the knife. "Resetting that is, you killed some people only to go back and befriend them afterwards."
"Yes!" Flowey confirmed. "But then I knew how to load without having to do… well, THAT."
"Well this is just the same, isn't it?" she asked. "Just more painful."
Flowey sighed.
"You have to move on sometimes y' know?" he said. "You can't just erase every single misstep you make."
Frisk chuckled a bit.
"Why not?" she said and finally looked at him. "If I had the ability to, why not? Didn't you do that often? Please don't tell me you did. When you had the ability to cheat life like this without consequence, don't tell me you didn't use it on every opportunity."
Flowey became quiet like a child caught in a lie.
"Yeah," he admitted. "But that was then, and-"
"Please," Frisk begged. "Just let me have this. Just this once, ok?"
Flowey looked at her in an almost loss of words. He was scared off this idea. Things were so much different now that he wasn't sure of the full consequences of resets. But it was clear that Frisk would do it with or without him. He sighed in defeat and shrugged.
"Don't have to get my permission," he said. "Just be quick about it alright?"
Frisk breathed a bit easier after hearing that.
"Thank you," she said.
She turned her head back around to face the knife. She felt a bit of relief of this choice, and dread at what she had to do to make it. She put both her hands on the handle and pulled the knife into the air, ready to strike.
"Frisk?" Flowey asked. "Frisk? FRISK?"
"What?!" Frisk said and turned around.
Flowey waited a short moment as if he was trying to find out what he was going to say. He looked extremely nervous about it.
"If I don't wake up again," he began. "If I go back to stasis after you reset."
Frisk was surprised when she noticed fear in his expression.
"Please don't leave me behind ok?" Flowey said. "Don't leave me alone with the old man. And even if I never wake up again while in your possession… still ok? I don't care about which places you go, just take me with you either way. Can you do that for me? Please?"
Frisk looked at him in silene. Even though he had been a bit of a pain, she couldn't find it in herself to refuse. Not one bit.
"Ok then," she said. "I promise."
Flowey looked immensely more relieved.
"Well I'll leave you to it then," he said.
Frisk turned around again to face the knife. She had had it floating in the air, ready to strike at any moment. Yet it felt hard. Hard, even though she knew she would be fine afterwards. She took a deep breath and prepared herself.
"Here goes nothing," Frisk said to herself.
She closed her eyes and pierced herself through the throat. The pain and sudden impact forced her eyes back open. She dropped the knife on the floor as she fell down on all fours. She had expected her death to be much faster.
Frisk choked and choked while volumes of blood began to leak out her open throat. She instinctively put her hand over the wound, but even if she wanted to stop it, it was no use. She tried to speak, tried to say something, but all she did was gag and gag. The world became blurry and unclear, and she saw her life flash before her.
Frisk fell down face first into the pool of her own blood and vomit, and she gagged a bit more before the last parts of her life faded from her. She lay down on the floor, with open and expressionless eyes like the old monster. After a painful while, she stopped, and she felt the world go dark and cold. And then, she was gone.
Flowey looked at the now dead girl lying down in front of him. He felt unnatural vibrations build up in the walls, ceiling and air like the world was collapsing on itself.
"Welp, here we go," he said to himself and closed his eyes.
...
Surprised to see you here Frisk. Didn't expect to see you show up.
Well, it's mandatory. Better this then having to go through detention again.
…
Is something the matter?
Nah. Haven't been much into parties. You know that.
Well, you aren't going to have much fun by just standing in a corner. Why don't you try joining a little? Dance or even socialize a bit. I always say you need more friends.
Thanks, but no thanks. I've got other things planned either way. I'm uh, waiting for someone.
A bit too young to start dating don't you think eh?
Come on, I'm *****. Besides, it's nothing like that ok?
I was just trying to be funny is all.
Well, that failed.
…
Who are you waiting for anyway?
…
You know who it is. Who else can it be?
...
"Stop! Listen to me! If you go through that door, you are putting yourself in far more danger than you can imagine!"
It took a while for Frisk to comprehend her new surroundings. She turned around and saw the old monster standing in the hallway. Frisk smiled as she felt immense relief.
It worked, she thought. It fucking worked.
The only bad thing, she didn't go as far as she had expected or hoped.
"You have no idea what's out there," the creature continued. "If you leave the ruins then they… he… Mickey… will take you."
Frisk felt a large amount of stirring in her backpack.
"I'm awake!" Flowey said in ecstasy and laughed. "I'm awake! Oh, thank the angel and the gods or whatever's actually up there! Finally, some mercy in this miserable life!"
"Flowey…" the creature said, seeming to have finally noticed him. "My son."
"Oh yeah," Flowey said. "We still have to deal with this guy again."
Frisk's mind raced around at this moment as she tried her hardest to find something in the room that could stop the monster. Something that didn't involve either the knife or killing him. That's when she looked down at her feet and thought hastily of a crazy idea. She knew there was most likely a better idea, but in her panic, it was the best she could think of.
"I-I know you're angry at me," the creature said. "I shouldn't have lied to your friend like that. Or to you for that matter. But I'll make it up for you. I promise. I'll even bake you your favourite pie, just the way you like it. Just come upstairs, and we'll… Frisk? What are you doing?"
Frisk had pulled her left foot up and removed her shoe from it. She lost a bit of balance ripping it off. Now she stood in front of the half-open door, with one bare foot and a shoe in her arm
"What are you doing?" the creature asked gently.
"I'm terribly sorry in advance," Frisk said.
Then she chucked her shoe at the monster's face. The impact was larger than she expected, but a bit more than she hoped for. The creature wailed and fell on the floor, and blood began to spew out his snout. It took Frisk a moment to realize what she had done. She had broken old the creature's snout.
"Great thinking Frisk!" Flowey exclaimed. "Now go!"
Frisk didn't bother stopping to bewail on what she had done, and turned around and attempted to squeeze herself through the crack. She did feel a bit sorry, but she knew there was a better time for it.
At least he's not dead, Frisk though.
The opening was tight, so much so that she couldn't even turn her head around.
"NO!" she heard the creature yell, followed by quick footsteps.
She was so close now, perhaps closer than last time.
"C' mon!" she grunted. "C' mon!"
But then she felt the large hand of the creature touch and pull her backpack again.
"No!" Frisk exclaimed. "Not again!"
But, as if God or the angels or whatever it was that was guiding her had decided to be merciful, the creature suddenly let go and fell backwards while an unnatural sound which sounded like dozens of voices screaming at once came from him.
"I knew it!" Flowey exclaimed.
"What's happening back there?!" Frisk asked fearfully.
"He's doing the face shifting thing again!" Flowey answered. "Now's your chance! Go! GO!"
Frisk groaned as the last part of her squeezed through the opening. She almost fell on the floor once she came through.
"Close the door!" Flowey yelled almost immediately after they were out.
"Got it!" Frisk replied.
She turned around, put her hands on either side of the door, and began to push. It was a bit easier than opening it, but not by much. Frisk could feel her back was starting to ache now.
"Oohhhh, hurry up Frisk!" Flowey said anxiously.
"I'm trying, I'm trying!" Frisk said.
As she continued to push, Frisk looked through the crack and saw the old monster stand up, with a bloodied snout and fury in his eyes. He was like a demon rising from its hot. The creature's hand began to glow and then they lit on fire.
"Oh god!" Frisk said instinctively.
She pushed much harder now. She was close now. The crack was so small, only a mouse could squeeze through. Frisk yelled and pushed harder, and the creature yelled back as he launched towards the door.
At precisely that moment, the large door closed on him, and he instead landed on a solid, stone wall. Once he got back on balance he began to pound the door with his fist, screaming like an angry ape with every punch.
Frisk stopped in her tracks and looked around frantically for something to keep the door shut. She noticed there were two handles on either side of the door. Then she saw a large, bronze crossbar, laying on the wall.
Frisk didn't stop to consider or care why the crossbar was on this side and not the other one and quickly put it down on the handles. The creature pounded on the door again. It shook the door, but the crossbar stayed still on its hinges, and that's when Frisk turned around and ran down the hallway.
"You want to leave!" the creature yelled. "Fine! Get out then! Get out! GET OUT!"
He gave out a loud scream and punched the door with all his might. The impact left a large crack on it.
The creature then fell down on his knees, tired. He breathed heavily and angrily, not seeming to notice the blood leaking down his snout. He noticed that the hallway was quiet, dark and indistinguishable from the rest of the ruins. His fury faded as he fell back into reality, and he could feel was shame.
"Fr-Frisk?" he feebly asked. "Flowey? Are you still there?
There came no answer.
"P-please don't leave me. Ple-please don't. I-I'm sorry I…I don't know what came over me. I didn't mean to be so angry. I uh… I-I don't want to be alone again I… Please don't let me be alone again. Not again. Not again!"
The creature began banging the door, to no avail. He then tried to push the door open, but it proved useless as well.
"Flowey! Frisk! Don't leave me alone down here! I'm sorry! For everything! I didn't mean to scare you or… or be so mad I…I… FLOWEY! SON! FRISK! ANYONE!
The fur on his cheek became wet with tears, he began to pound on the door so hard his knuckles began to bleed.
"COME BACK! IM SORRY, JUST PLEASE COME BACK! I DIDN'T MEAN TO! I DIDN'T MEAN TO! PLEASE DON'T LEAVE ME! PLEASE! Please! Please…"
He sank down on his knees in defeat, his face wet in tears.
"Oh gods," he wailed.
He put his bloodied palms to his face and began to bawl.
"Oh, gods… I'm… I'm so alone," he muttered. "Chara. Asriel. Don't leave me again. Please don't leave me again. Please, I-I can't do this again. Please don't leave me. Please don't. Please. Please…"
"Wow he's making a lot of noise back there," Flowey said, looking at the door growing ever more distant. "Man, I knew that creepy face thing had something to do with your resets. We got incredibly lucky back there, eh?"
Frisk didn't answer. She didn't chuckle or even sneer. Just walked forward emotionlessly like a soulless automaton. Flowey noticed it and couldn't understand why. He also realized that Frisk didn't seem frightened anymore. In fact, she seemed confident to walk now. Flowey couldn't ignore it. He felt he had to address her strange behaviour somehow.
"Frisk is there-"
"Let's just keep going," she quickly said, cutting him off.
Flowey frowned and looked back down the hall. The door was so far away now. You could barely see it.
"Is it because of what happened earlier-"
"Stop," Frisk said softly. "Just… stop. I just… it's just that…"
She sighed.
"Sorry," Frisk said. "I just don't wanna talk about it. Let's just keep going and… focus on what's ahead for now, ok?"
"Alright. If you say so."
Flowey looked at the distant door behind them, which was so far away now that it would have been nearly impossible to spot if you didn't know about its existence. But Flowey's thoughts were elsewhere now, on something that had been growing for the past few minutes that he now found impossible to ignore. It was an awful sensation he was feeling, not an exterior one like the discomfort of a bug crawling up his stem, or the sting of a leaf falling off him. The pain was inside of him, yet it was not of the physical sort. He felt it crawling in his soul like fear did before he knew his powers, but the strangest aspect of it was that it was also utterly familiar. Like he knew this sensation very much in a previous life. Could this awful sensation be… guilt?
No, it couldn't be. He couldn't feel any guilt. Not for another person that is. That would mean empathy and empathy was something he absolutely shouldn't be physically able to have, no wanted how much he wanted it. Yet, he felt different. Different ever since he fell into a coma, and much more after Frisk woke him from it. Could his missing emotions be growing again? Was the universe finally kind enough to give him back what he had been wishing for in over a decade? For the first time in a long while, Flowey felt incredibly hopeful. But he dismissed it almost immediately. Not much good came from hope he thought. Not in this world at least. But for the time being, Flowey felt in a strange sense, happy for feeling so bad.
Frisk emerged from the hallway, and entered a large open area, not unlike the one she was in when she fell. Only now, Frisk didn't have the energy to wonder about it. At the other end of this large opening, there was another large stone door. Frisk sighed once she saw it.
"Another door?" she said. "Alright. Let's get to pushing."
Thankfully though, this one was much lighter than the last one. After only pushing it a little bit, a heavy dose of cold, fresh air blew through, and both Frisk and Flowey realized just how heavy the air in the ruins had been.
On this other side of this door was snow. Snow, and dozens of trees reaching far, far away. For a moment, Frisk felt a bit overjoyed she thought she had finally made it out of the mountain. But then she looked up from out of the door and saw a distant cave ceiling. Not to mention, Frisk knew it was only September.
"Still underground are we?" Frisk asked.
"I'm afraid so," replied Flowey.
Frisk sighed.
"How far does it go?" she asked.
"As far as our eyes can see, if I recall," Flowey said. "These caverns are much wider than the mountain would suggest. That's because it reaches deeper, and farther, and if that's not enough, the air is made of magic and so some of the rules don't work the same here as on the surface. For example, east down here could mean west above, and going right could mean going up. and so on and so forth"
Frisk took a deep breath, taking all this information in.
"All right," she said. "So where are we headed."
"The exit we are looking for," Flowey continued. "Is near the end of the caverns, at the top of the king's castle in the capital. It will take a long time to get there. Days if not weeks. You might die. A lot. Be it by some monster that wants to stop you, or some deadly traps or hazards. My memory is unfortunately still not complete, so I don't know much of what we will encounter besides the general gist of things. Not to mention, lots must have changed for the past 5-6 years so even if my memory was perfect, it might have still not been enough. But I still remember the map of this place from top to bottom. Landscapes don't change in only half a decade. I can tell you, the king's castle will be one of the hardest points, but from what I recall, it will not be the hardest obstacle of this journey. That belongs to Mickey."
"Who is this Mickey anyway?" Frisk asked.
"Wish I could tell you," Flowey said. "I don't remember much about Mickey besides his name, unfortunately. All I know is that we have to stay clear of him, no matter what."
"Can't be that bad," Frisk said. "Not with my powers I mean."
"Well see about that," Flowey said. "Hope it won't be too much of a nuisance though."
Frisk smiled a little now. She looked down at the wide open and snowy area and felt a rush of determination.
"Alright," she said. "Let's go."
She took a deep breath and walked out the door. It was clear to her that their journey had just begun.
"Y'know?" Flowey began as she stepped on the snow "I got a feeling. A feeling that this is perhaps just the start of something wonderful."
Author's note:
So I finally discovered the real reason as to why I write so long.
I am just very lazy.
But anyways, after a long while, I am finally done with the ruins arc. This chapter here is the longest by far, spanning over 17 pages on my Drive. I was to be honest, I am not really sure about it. After I finish every chapter, I have a tendency to go over it from beginning to end to see if there is something I don't like and change it, or maybe see if there are some typos of sorts. It is perhaps the most boring part of this hobby, but since I don't have an editor, I basically do it all by myself.
Now since this chapter was like super long, I basically spent the last hour just going over it and, I kind of became tired and skimmed through a big part of it. So in short, there may be something I am not happy about later, and I'll probably go back to this story and edit it a bit. I'm also afraid that I made Frisk a bit too unlikable in this, but I just wanted to portray an emotional teenager discovering that someone she was beginning to like betrayed her, so I'm hoping I achieved that.
But anyway, we are finally done with the ruins arc after a few moments. The next chapter though, won't be for the Snowdin forest though. Not yet at least. You see, in between the end and beginning of every "arc" so to speak, there will be a short interlude chapter. These chapters will follow different characters, and they all relate to the main story somehow. Maybe they are foreshadowing future events, or they'll introduce characters that will appear much later or both. But they all relate to the story. You'll just have to figure out how by yourselves. At least until it's revealed of course.
I ain't telling what the first interlude is about, except that it will be a bit... well... magical.
But anyway, I hope you guys and gals stick around in the future and updates will come soon.