Prologue: Within the Ruins
The wind breezed through his white fur once again. Not the stuffy, moldy wind the Underground offered, but the fresh air from the Overworld. The air he felt so long ago. He could feel it now. He breathed in the crisp air, maybe for the last time ever. With a weak smile on his face, Asriel Dreemurr felt his knees buckle and the soft petals of the golden flowers cushioning his fall. He lay there for what felt like an eternity, grasping at the stems of the flowers and crying his eyes out. He sobbed and cried and bawled, knowing that he would never be able to see his parents again. He would never see anyone ever again. He would live as Flowey again. He’d have to be stuck here all by himself. All alone as a flower with no soul. The reality of it fell upon him, a burden he had lived with all his life.
It’s great that everyone’s free but… I’ll be left alone again. I’ll never see the sun. I’ll never see Mom and Dad ever again. I’ll never get to do anything ever again. Asriel thought to himself, regretting the selfish desires he had. But I still made a choice. And that’s what I’m dealing with. This was the right choice, all along. It took a while, that’s right, but at least… It’s for the best. Right?
He held his breath for a moment, trying to stop the incessant crying and sniffling. His blue eyes sparkled with tears and something else. Determination. He knew his life as Flowey the Flower was coming back. That life he didn’t want. He placed a hand on his chest, feeling the heavy emptiness. His lack of a soul. He couldn’t do anything about that, could he? For now, he had a soul to retain his form. But that wouldn’t last forever, would it? Astriel wasn’t crying anymore. His bright blue eyes focusing on one of the golden flowers.
Maybe it won’t be that bad taking care of these flowers. Dad always loved them. Ch-Chara liked these flowers too, right? Asriel plucked one gently. He turned the flower in his hands, and it seemed to glow, almost, with its unnaturally golden shade. Asriel closed his eyes and breathed the fresh air once again. He missed its distinct freshness. He always remembered that moment—when he brought Chara and himself to the Overworld.
It was for our sake. I don’t regret that at all… Asriel told himself, At least Chara never got to do what he wanted to. But… Asriel lay upon the bed of flowers facing the ceiling of the Ruins, recounting all that had gone by in his short life. He closed his eyes silently and went through every single emotion within every moment of his life. He had forgotten them as Flowey. Now he remembered it all, especially the warm fuzzy feelings Toriel and Asgore gave and the heartbreaking sadness Chara’s death left. He felt the warm tears sliding down his cheeks again. He didn’t know what to do now.
I can’t help but think how unfair it is. On a day like this… kids like me should be playing with others. Asriel placed an arm over his eyes and felt the tears wetting his sweater. He sobbed silently, clenching his teeth and trying not to make any sounds. He didn’t hear the footsteps coming. He was still trying not to hiccup at this point. He couldn’t handle it anymore. It was truly unfair, for he was only a child. For a child to understand why he is so and has to live this way—it’s not always possible, even if it were a monster. But someone else did. Someone else understood him and wanted to change it. The footsteps got closer, reverberating in the Ruins.
Asriel lay there on the bed of flowers, trying his best to stop the tears. He couldn’t hear the footsteps over his sobs. He couldn't help it that he cried easily. He felt a small smile creeping over his face, thinking of those words.
