Chapter Text
You can feel Dess’ irritation run through the bat she just rammed against your arm. “You AGAIN!?” Well, it’s not like you were just gonna stand by and let her hit poor Orange.
After you returned from your little expedition to the Garden, it was already plenty clear that the Band of Heroes wasn’t going to stop on their bloody rampage through the Flower World anytime soon. So, push came to shove by the time they reached the entrance to the Cliffs. Staring into Kris’ beady little red eyes as you asked them how their fun had been with Seth so far, you asked for…help. From the others. You called two of the flowers to come with you, and while you watched the Band and tried to lighten things up with your shenanigans, they were to set up a plan to take them down and drag them off to the slammer below Flower Castle, where they’d have to stay for their violent actions until Asgore came.
Your first pick was obvious. Yellow is just perfect for capturing opponents. Anyone condemned in one of his Trials can be immediately carried off to jail in the same turn. In a battle, Yellow is the absolute perfect choice to bring justice. And with Orange’s explosive punching power, you were sure he’d be able to pressure them into slipping up in one of those Trials. But Yellow and Orange…aren’t coordinated at all. Maybe it was just stubborn not to pick Blue as Yellow’s designated partner, with how long they’ve fought at the other’s side. But you don’t think you could have been convinced, anyway.
The key to their defeat was King. Once Asriel explained how the Trials worked right after seeing one for the first time, they all gathered TP so that King’s Chained Cage could keep skipping the cowboy’s turns. And to them, Orange was no problem, as long as she couldn’t attack along with Yellow, so after dealing enough damage to him, she was up next on the chopping block.
Subdued by violence, your two friends lay on the ground behind you, as you step in before Dess can do any unnecessary damage to poor Orange, who’s already out of HP anyway. Thank goodness you were watching. That could’ve been ugly. The now setting sun shines down on you as you swipe Dess’ bat away, blowing a Honey Kiss with enough wind behind it to fling the tired barbarian into King. “WOMAN! Are you fit to continue in battle!?”, he questions, dropping the whole responsible adult act, before looking up at you with a scowl.
Looking out at the sun, you gesture with your head to the side, and Yellow’s heli-flower appears. He needs no further instructions, grabbing Orange in his blistered hands and hopping on. “You’s got it from here, partner!”, he says, before flying off towards Flower Castle. At least they bought some time. It was a good effort. But now, you’re left to deal with this…should you just run away again, go check on Kris, delay the inevitable that they end up reaching Flower Castle no matter who you send? Or should you talk? Try to make some kind of change? No matter what their end goal is…their journey here hasn’t been without its casualties. People in your homeworld are getting beaten senseless just for being aligned with you, or even just standing in the way as “enemies”. Maybe there’s something you can say.
“Azzy…I remember, y’know. The days you’d spend playing on your handheld games…while your dad tended to the flowers at the front of the shop. I get that our goals make us enemies for today, Azzy…but even so…why do you have to go around DOWNing everything you see?” You fully turn around now. “Why don’t you try SPAREing for once?
“...what ACT is that?”
Holy Angel, WHY!? What is WRONG with King!? The heroes of the Prophecy, and he can’t teach them one of the most vital aspects of fighting!? Does he just want them to beat everyone up or something!? You fiddle with the edges of your coat and continue putting on the same constipated-looking smiley face you’ve been holding up all day, as if you’re not about to blow a gasket or ten. “SPAREing…isn’t an ACT, actually. Once your enemy’s MERCY meter is full, you can SPARE them! What, you didn’t think the MERCY meter was there for nothing, did y-” Dess objects. “Yeah, it’s there for betrayal kills.”
You don’t react. You absolutely don’t react. Just…keep playing it cool. “No, no, no! What, it’s not like you LIKE beating people up, do you? Whomping them over the head with a baseball bat? Would you want that done to you, Dessy?” “YOU can call me December,” she says, “and it’s not like they’re not attacking us first! If somebody runs up and starts a battle, we totally have the right to leave them seeing stars! It’s not like we’re gonna run away!”
“Oh, Dessy…” “DECEMBER!” “...I should have known you guys weren’t to blame. In the end, it’s all because of your friend, isn’t it? I love King too, but the big guy’s just…so violent with his tactics!” Immediately, they all look offended. Asriel steps forward. “Hey. Get my friend’s name out of your mouth.” Of course. From what you’ve seen, the Band of Heroes are so loyal to cover each other they can’t admit when one of them makes a mistake. It was that way with Kris, and it’ll seemingly be that way with the others. They’re like a pack of wolves. But Asriel speaks again. “It wasn’t…it wasn’t King who taught us how to fight. He taught Kris, but…that was it! You know, I really hate when people act stuck up like you…if you have some miraculous, pacifistic battle-ender, then why don’t you go ahead and show us!?”
“Oh, sure!” The battle begins.
“Wait, wha-!?” Locking them into an encounter, you watch them all draw their weapons. “Alright, all my flowerrific friends! How about I teach you how to SPARE? You should be able to make a few new friends and resolve things peacefully after this is done! For some reason, it seems like you can all ACT and use MAGIC, but not use your MERCY…so, why don’t I give you a gift, since you’re all such awesome little guys?” Here’s hoping this works. You throw some dust with sparkles in it. It rains down over the Band of Heroes, causing King in particular to give the loudest, most eardrum-blasting sneeze you’ve ever heard in your entire life. That was weird. Anyway, they look down at themselves, Asriel in particular with wide eyes.
“W-what is this!? I feel…different! What did he do!?”, he says. So distrusting of you. In any case, it seems like your ‘random BS go’ powers worked once again. Dess, Asriel and King can now use MERCY. You proudly flip your hair. “Heh, how’d you like my Jarona?”, you say, having decided that name now applies to just…whatever random powers you manage to pull out of your ass. It’s catchy, isn’t it? So you’ll be keeping it. “Let me give you a tutoria-” You stop yourself before you end up saying that name. “Let me give you a how-to on sparing!”
“So, when you MERCY your enemies, they can start to subconsciously understand your point of view! They’ll lose their will to fight little by little, logically, emotionally, spiritually, all the -allys. And if you use those -allys, you can make some allys! Some RECRUITs, that’ll come through for you when you most need it. This is basically fighting 101, so you should probably give the person who taught you how to fight a talking-to.” “Oh, we beat the crap out of them and threw them in a dungeon.” “That’s great!”
“Now, lemme show you some real ACTing, courtesy of Blue!” “Who the hell is-”, Asriel says. Or tries to say. You simply move too quickly. In just a moment, you’re already right in front of them. Now, Flowery, you’re not an outwardly malicious person. You never have been. But honestly, these kids have been stressing you out the whole day. It’s only fair you get a laugh out of it back, right? Picking up Dess and Asriel by the legs, you hoist them up. In confusion, they recoil from each other, but again, random BS powers, so you’re completely able to press them against each other, making them kiss, then put them down and slide back into position. They’d probably try to disintegrate you now, which they may very well be able to, but they’re too busy doing cartoon swirly eyes and blushing hard enough to steam. Kind of like that Floradinn. MERCY is at 100%. King is still standing there unamused.
“And now that my enemies’ mercy meter is full, I can just get you guys to stop fighting me!” Pointing forward, you SPARE Dess and Asriel out of the battle. King proceeds to put down his tongue-blade-thing as well, ending the fight. They both get up off the floor and shake it off, then look at you FUMING with rage. Can’t say it isn’t funny by now. “YOU!”, they say in unison. “Hey, guys, it was just a silly joke! Besides, why would we argue with each other…” the RECRUITED graphic appears above their heads. “...when we’re all friends now? After all, now that I SPAREd you at the end of that battle, you’re my newest RECRUITs!” Dess sighs, leaning on her bat against the ground.
“...we have to do what you say?”
“Yes!”
“And something happens to us if we don’t, I’m guessing?”
“No, no, no.”
“Wha-then why WOULD we!?”
“Glue!”
“...Azzy, we need to kill this guy.”
“Well, I hope you’ll use the gift I gave you, everyone! It’s sure better than if you use your weapons. Now you can really set a great example for little Kris!” Suddenly, Dess slams her bat against the ground. She’s always been the angrier one of the three, but…that was out of character even for her, with the force she just put behind it. What’s with her…? Your smile drops for a moment. Asriel seems to grow more serious too. King is still just as disapproving-looking as always.
“Hey…what the HELL do you know about us and Kris, huh!? I’ve been thinking about it long and hard ever since you stepped up to play knight in shining armor…and the more I think about it, the less any of what you say and do makes sense! What’s your goal here!? Let me guess…you wanna turn our friend against us, don’t you!? Actually, let me go a step further with that! You’re a selfish bastard who wants to keep this Dark Fountain and threaten EVERYONE, so you’re playing with the emotions of a KID, the only person who can actually stop you from doing that! And you’re SUCH a selfish bastard, that it’s A-OK by you to just-just SHUT OUT everybody else! Everybody they actually love, instead of these fake-ass flowers! You expect Kris to choose a bunch of flowers they've known for a day over the people who've been there their whole life!? Th-they’d never do that! Never, if it wasn’t for YOU coercing them! They’re JUST! A! KID! And they’re MY kid! So I swear, on EVERYTHING, if you don’t give them back, this entire world is going up in flames, ONE WAY OR THE OTHER!”
Silence. Occasionally interrupted by the sound of Dess’ heavy breaths, but silence nonetheless. With her bat in the ground, still in the spot where it cracked the stone floor beneath it, she looks at you with rage you didn’t even think a prey animal could have. Then again…the rage boiling in your gut after that…is not something befitting of a flower. Coercing them? COERCING THEM!? FAKE FLOWERS!? Kris is your FRIEND, Kris is EVERYONE’S friend here, and if this girl wants to den-
“Woman.”, King grumbles out. “Save your breath. One way or the other, the human will return to us soon. This flower man…he will not understand our cause. Not if he cannot understand his own. He is fragile. Immature.”
…
“...hey, guys. I know we all love Kris here, but…they made their choice today, so why don’t we stop arguing about it? It’s bad for your health.” Smiling, you make a gesture with your fingers to your head in goodbye. “I’ll be going now. I’ve got lots of fun planned with Kris and the other flowers, and I wouldn’t wanna miss that for the world! I hope you remember to SPARE the enemies you can. “Ciao!”, you say, putting your feet to the edge of the cliff. “Jarona!”, you say, flying off with Flower Castle in the distance.
Seemingly.
Having spaced out, you don't even bother correcting your course. Your mantle, heavier than you are, and its weight against the wind, carry you straight into a ravine between two of the Cliffs’ peaks, made from jagged stone and thorny vine. Stone explodes around you as you punch through boulders headfirst, your body tumbling and clothes darkening with stains of rock and sand until the wall finally catches you in the back. You slide down it gracelessly, and slump against the floor, with the sound of falling stalagmites ringing out the destruction in your wake. After a few moments, silence deafens you. You seem to be truly alone now. Good. You rise and turn around to look at the stone wall behind you. You don't think about Blue. You don't think. Your hand slowly and gently closes into a fist. It hangs there for a while. And then you punch. There isn't even a yell behind it. The mountain answers for you.
Stone folds inward around your fist and the energy sucked into and repelled from it, before exploding outward in every direction. A deafening crack tears through the ravine as the cliff face caves in on itself, countless tons of rock peeling away as though the entire peak had been struck by lightning. Dust races through the air in a choking wave of your rage. Your rage, that greets the world with a smile on its face. Like you do. You don’t have to force anything this time. It seems like you couldn’t stop if you tried. Walking away as boulders collapse around you, you dust your vest…
“...hahahahahaha! Immature.”
You should probably go home now.
The Flower Castle is a large, large place. Put a hyperactive kid like Kris in there and they’ll sure be doing more than just reading stories with old Seth. Give it a couple of hours and they’ll only have managed to burn half of it to the ground. It’s a good thing you have calm, responsible people like Seth, Blue and anyone but Aqua(even if she’s also there) to be in charge of them. Arriving at the Foyer once more after quite the rocky landing, which, for the record, was absolutely caused by a bird of some kind distracting you as you flew home, you walk in and begin your search for Kris. Though it’s not a long one. Quickly, you hear Seth’s yelping and Kris’ laughter both ringing out from the Green & Orange district of the Castle.
Fantastic. Sure, maybe Seth isn’t having the best time right now, but you’re sure you made the right choice by assigning them to take care of Kris. They’re reliable, intelligent, and even if they can be a little stuck-up, you know they have a good, loyal heart that’d never give out on you. Unless they were offered…rare bird feathers or something. But you’re pretty sure they’ve already got every type of those already. But…there’s just one thing that bothers you about Seth.
Their latent power. Of course, it couldn’t match yours, but, say, a skilled Lightner would definitely have trouble with them…if only they’d let loose. Seth is capable of so much more than they think, but they always end up…falling back on the others. There’s something that separates them from the others, and something that separates you from the others and them. Maybe it’s the “responsibility” you two have over the others and their wellbeing…you’re not quite sure yourself.
Walking into a large room that extends upwards with a huge set of platforms and with paper walls for shadow puppets, you see Orange’s boxing gloves flying around everywhere. Seth is hanging onto one desperately. They look dizzy from spinning around so much. And uncomfortable. With one quick movement, you dash upwards and grab them under your arm like baggage. They whimper for a moment before being set down and sitting on the floor. “...the world’s…revolving…” At least they’re safe now.
Once they’ve shaken it off, they look up at you, who gives them a thumbs-up back. “Hey, Seth! I’m back from hanging out with the Lightners. How’s the little guy?” “...the…little guy…?”, the purple flower moans, before their eyes widen behind their cloudy glasses. Shooting up, they look around desperately. That’s when you hear the clashing of two knives behind you. Of course. You leave for ONE SECOND, and when you turn around, you see Kris and Aqua with tattered, cut clothes on, fighting in midair.
You move to stop them, but before you lift a finger, you see Blue and Yellow appear, the former of which with Orange on his head, and grab the two out of the air by the arms, jumping onto the platform at your side. They both brighten up when they look to the side. “Flowery!”, they say in tandem, as the knives dissipate from their hands. Aqua must have summoned them a “toy”, since you confiscated Kris’ earlier…you considered she might try to use those knives on them, not FOR them. Slowly, you walk up to Aqua and flick her on the forehead as she’s held by Yellow. She seems more offended than hurt. “But I went easy on them…!”
“You know everybody likes playing with you, Aqua…but you can’t cut up the princess’ clothes like that, now can you?” She puckers out her lips and gasps a little in realization, before hopping out of Yellow’s grasp like a cat and pulling on Kris’ legs. Intrigued, Blue lets go of the human child as well. The little cyan flower grabs their hands and kisses them, before tucking a leg behind the other and bowing. “Mwah, mwah. Princess, princess…sorry for stabby-stabbing you, princess…” Kris shakes their head before taking Aqua’s hands, pulling her tucked arm out from behind her back, and kisses her hands back like a mirror, then bows similarly. “‘S okay. We were just playing, so it’s cool.”
Kris quickly turns and runs up to you, but only once Aqua’s smiling indicates she’s content with their response. They hug your legs, looking up at you with one red eye showing through their bangs. The bright red shade seems a lot paler in this light. When you first saw them in the cave, their eyes seemed just as chillingly red as their horns. Here, they’re a cooler red, and so seems their faded headband. Notably, there’s a band-aid on their knee. “Flowery! You’re gonna stay and play with us now, right? Orange showed me her boxing glove attacks, and me and Aqua were bouncing on them, and Aqua made it more fun with her knife attacks! But then Orange ran away and hid behind the paper walls.”
Orange seems offended at having been outed like that to you, squeaking incomprehensible angry rat sounds from the comfort of Blue’s head. Kris continues. “But then they did something suuuper cool! They made this shadow hand puppet that looked really awesome and it was really badass!” Orange’s rant squeaks to a halt as she breaks out into a blushing mess and crawls into Blue’s shirt to hide. “You should’ve seen it! You’re not gonna leave again, are you? Stay a little, Blue told me I could go play piano with him next!”
Your answer is almost instantaneous. “Of course, little buddy! I’d love to stay with you. Is it really true, Blue? Are you rescheduling to let them play with you at your recital?”, you ask, turning to him. “Of course. It will be my honor to collaborate with Kris.” Spreading his wings, he stretches out his arms to Kris, who hops on after letting go of you. They seem quite physically comfortable with the other flowers, not just you. Kissing Aqua, letting Blue carry them, holding Orange…they seem happy. “Come, now. Let us soar to greater heights together, my friend! And I will introduce you to my friend, Mr. Butterfly.” Kris whoops excitedly as Blue flutters off gracefully with them in hand.
You turn once more to Seth, and gesture with your head to Aqua. Already understanding the assignment, they sigh and nod, picking up the dirty girl. “Come on. It’s disadvantageous to walk around in stained rags like these. Did you two really have to cut that many holes in each others’ clothes…?”, Seth inquires exhaustedly. The only response they get is Aqua sticking her tongue out at them, then immediately falling asleep. They summon a large book at their side with their magic and place Aqua inside gently as she shifts around. “She’s such a handful…”
“Seth,” you call out before they fully walk away. Pushing up their glasses with large threads of their long purple hair sticking up, they look back at you to listen. “What do you think of Kris?” They probably didn’t expect that question. Tilting the book a little so Aqua won’t fall, they lean on it like a wall. “They’re a great kid. Not the best listener, even for stories they’re invested in…but it doesn’t seem like that’s their fault. On average, the attention span of a nine-year old human is 20-30 minutes, so I don’t bla-”
“You don’t think the Lightners can force Kris to come back, do you?” Suddenly, they look a lot more understanding. You really, really hate to see that look. You just want an answer. They look down at their feet. “Flowery, I don’t really understand what you’re doing. Everyone knows now that the Lightners are here…but none of us get just why you want to keep the Dark Fountain open. Well…none of us but me, I think.” They take off their glasses for just a moment. “You’re waiting for Asgore to come.”
Both of you face each other in silence. Rather, Seth seems to look past your face. It feels like a burning ray of light comes from either eye to stare into you. “...it’s very clear, actually.” The silence hangs in the air. Say something, Flowery. He’s going to start doing that again. He’s going to get worried about you and tell you EVERYTHING you don’t want to hear if you don’t speak. He’s stepping forward towards you. Flowery, say anyth- “You’re my best friend.”
… “...uh, maybe you didn’t know that, but you are. You’re…the only one I can really level with here. Aqua is wonderful, but she’s…so illogical, so unreal. Blue and Green are the most normal, and calling them normal is a HUGE stretch. But even if you act weird as…heck, Flowery…you’re the most human one of us. I don’t know why. Maybe it’s because you’re the leader. Or maybe that’s why you’re the leader. Cause and effect is a fascinating concept. But I, uh, digress. I feel like…the way you think nobody can unpeel you and see how you are…who you are…it’s stupid. Really, really, really stupid…and really human.”
Wind whips you in the face as Seth turns, their robe spinning along with a short delay. “...we’ve known you forever. Kris is the only one who’s not worried about you, and that’s only because they don’t know you like we do. I’m not sure why you don’t want us to know why you’re so anxious…after all, who’s a flower gonna tell? But, uh…yeah. Don’t be stupid, Flowery.” He begins to walk away, but goes back on it, turning his head to you as he pushes his glasses back on. “Earlier today…you asked me to trust you. I don’t care how strong you are…data clearly shows you can still be stronger if you rely on others. Especially people who are dying to help you. Trust us this time.”
Seth walks away.
You watch Aqua, nestled in the book’s paper, fly out of the room fast asleep. And you stand there, in silence and surrounded by paper walls. And for once…it’s not a bad silence. Slowly, you make your way to the edge of the platform and look forward. There is no horizon, only wood and stylized paper closer than any sky could be. You stand there for a moment. Your mind feels at ease. And though it’s possible it’s simply trying to avoid what Seth said, it doesn’t feel that way. You didn’t think about it at all, but it feels like there was some kind of ripple in you. Like some part of you absorbed it. You hope not. Yet…that same hope, for some reason, pumps through you. As if you hope so. There’s no time for that right now, though. The princess is going to play piano for you. You wouldn’t want to miss that. Today’s the first day of forevermore with them, after all.
Ahh. The gentle music of Blue’s theater poisons your ears ever-so-sweetly. Sat at a glass table with Yellow at the second seat, all of you watch the cool blue spotlights spin around. It looks like their performance is running a little late, but you’re completely willing to wait. This is going to be a show for the ages. Looking around, you see the entire eight-seat theater is packed, mostly by you, your friends and a couple of your RECRUITs. There’s even a Floradinn around the corner of the entrance holding out a camera like nobody can tell it’s there. Your ear twitches once as you turn back to look in front of yourself. It seems like Yellow was talking.
“Sorry, what was that, pal?”, you say, taking your coat off your shoulder(that thing was getting tiring to carry) and putting it on the back of your chair. Yellow doesn’t seem to mind repeating himself. “Oh, I was just talkin’ ‘bout them Lightners! They was mighty strong, wasn’t they? They beat me and Orange all easy-style, too…what’s the plan when they get to Flower Castle, Flowery?” Right. You…don’t really have one except: “Just gotta keep Kris safe, and they won’t be a problem. They can’t seal the Fountain without them.”
The cowboy politely kicks both his boots up on the table, leaning back with pristine balance on his chair. “Y’know…they wasn’t bad folk. ‘Least not when I fought ‘em. That big Lightner-” He must mean King. Yellow was never really any good with faces, or any of his motor functions for that matter. “-stuck up for the two lil’ guys when they was ‘bouta get sent to their JUSTICE. Also, they was innocent! It was actually three flowers that looked just like ‘em that did all the people thrashin’ stuff! Can ya believe that!?” Looks like someone got that trick off on Yellow again.
Maybe it’s better to just let him live with it for now. After all, he’ll get all angry and storm off with no aim but to catch Dess, Asriel and King no matter what. Plus, it’ll be good if, during a later confrontation, Yellow has a good reason to fight them. At least, a good reason in his book. Which is empty. Yellow doesn’t know how to read. “Wow! That must’ve been awkward.” And almost on cue with your ‘awkward’, though you don’t really know where the correlation would be with that, the curtains open.
There they are. In all their glory…wearing a blue tutu. Sure, whatever floats Blue’s boat. The entire stage is obscured, but Kris is at the center, with an ornate piano in front of them. Their smile reaches their ears, though it shows no teeth. Their small chest rises, then falls. And reaching forward to the well-polished keys, they press the first few notes. Sure enough, there it is. The sound of Kris’ playing. One Asgore’s spoken so much of. Now here for you. Your legs uncross on the seat. Yellow fully turns as well.
In exact harmony with the beginning of the music, Blue and his backup dancers both appear, dressed in silvery costumes as it rises epically into the main melody. You recognize it, though only barely. That game Asriel would play, Dragon Blazers. This is the music that would play from it so often, near-constantly. So much so it began to become annoying. And when the sound hits your ears, as the dancers pirouette around Kris…it feels nothing short of angelic. Kris…can play this? Something this beautiful? It isn’t even about the music or its composition itself…you can feel the energy. The intent behind Kris’ playing, Kris’ soul…it’s glowing.
So this is Kris. More specifically, this is the Kris that Kris has been under the Kris you believed they were. Unpeeled. It’s…such a beautiful soul. Somebody that yearns, somebody that wants. Somebody with ambitions, connections, a full life they wouldn’t trade for anything. By virtue of being a child? No, it can’t just be that. By virtue of being Asgore’s child, perhaps? Or…by virtue of being…Kris Dreemurr themselves? Can that really be a separate element? The lights, a cool deep blue all around the stage, suddenly become two beams of cyan and red, shooting over the child. And when the light meets…it becomes white. Shining white light around them. But the light…isn’t still. Smoke rises through it from machines behind them. And yet, you can’t see it as anything but a figment of your imagination, telling you…a person like them will never be quiet.
As soon as you’re able to snap out of it, you begin to clap. Faster than anyone else in the room, though they may try to catch up. And as Blue takes Kris by their little hand, you see them both bow at the edge of the stage. At least, for as long as they stick around. After Kris hugs Blue’s legs, they run offstage, turn around, throw peace signs to the dancers, then turn back and run towards your table. Understanding the assignment, you get up and pick them up in their princess carry. They spin around with you, laughing, before they speak. “Flowery! Flowery! Did you like it? I-it’s my favorite song I can play on piano, my dad helped me learn!”
“It was GREAT! Just amazing, Kris! Flowerrific! I knew we had a star on our hands, but I didn’t know you were THAT good, little guy! I was just about ready to scream for an enc-” …odd. You remember Asgore saying Kris doesn’t like hugs. And yet…they latch their arms around over your shoulders and neck, hanging onto you like an infant. What a…weird sensation. It’s amazing…you rub Kris’ back as the other flowers walk up to them from behind you, as they speak in your embrace. Kris is so…real. More human than anyone else. They…they wouldn’t lie. That, you’re really sure about. And yet…they’re here. With all of you.
You pull Kris back while they were talking. Just to look at them for a moment. They’re confused, and tilt their head. But their red eyes are still shimmering. It looks like, right now, their bangs are fully off their face. You can see all of them. You smile. And you fully open your golden eyes to them. They’re glowing.
That seems to shake them.
“Kris…”, you say, turning around with them in your hold, so they can see the other flowers, and hold them up in the air with both your arms. “We’re all so proud of you today. You worked really hard, and because of it, you’ve got a lot of talent, Kris…you’re a good kid. You’re a really, really good kid.” Your smile widens. The smile of someone who just can’t stop winning. “So tell me, what do you wanna do now? Cowboy show? Afternoon snack break? Fly around a little?”
That’s…odd. They’re quiet now.
“Um…can I choose after I get this tutu off?” You put them down gently and nod, closing your eyes back up. “Of course, little guy! Why don’t you go with Blue to get a change of clothes? Maybe something more comfortable than that latex suit you wear, hahahahahaha!” You get up, shooting them a happy look. “Uuu…Seth, I wanna go to my room.”, Aqua says. Seth sighs, picking her up, and smiles at Kris. “You did a good job, kid.” Aqua and Seth leave. Orange and Green follow. Yellow follows. And you’re left in the audience, waiting as Blue and Kris go backstage.
You wait. That’s something you’ve gotten very good at. Waiting for flowers planted before you to catch up and bloom. Waiting for customers to enter the shop. Waiting for Asgore to finish whatever ridiculous amount of paperwork he always seemed to have piled up on his desk. Waiting for Blue to finish his performances, for Yellow to stop talking, for Aqua to finally fall asleep somewhere that wasn't dangerous. Waiting for everyone else. The theater is empty now.
"Even after all these years, Kris isn't very affectionate." Asgore once said it. He explained the mess that five-year-old Kris made after he bear-hugged them once. Kicking and screaming, looking scared to all hell. Maybe they’ve changed, sure. But that kind of aversion doesn’t fade away that quickly, does it…? It doesn’t matter, anyway. None of these thoughts you’ve been having matter. Because this is proof. That Kris isn't trapped here, or scared, or being coerced. That Dess was wrong.
…but then you hear the sound of held-back sobbing.
You freeze. For a moment, you wonder if you imagined it. There is no reason anyone should be here after they’ve all left. Getting up, you feel it coming from the backstage. You weightlessly step over the stage’s floorboards…and put your ears to the wall…and listen to two voices. One, calm, collected, comforting, slightly panicked Blue. The other…Kris.
“Calm yourself…all will be well…”
“I-I’m sorry…I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry about…th-the pipes…they…they had to-hic!-they HAD to…go SOMEWHERE…! Every pipe goes…I…every pipe goes SOMEWHERE! No…n-no, no no no…the…th-the…the family’s fighting again…”
“Kris? Kris, what pipes? Your family is safe at home, Kris! Please, pay attention and ground yourself. You are here in the Flower World. W-with Blue, and Mr. Butterfly. All your best friends are waiting for you outside. Nobody is fighting, all are at peace. H-here, take a tissue, my love…”
“Y-you don’t get it…I…I-I made a terrible mistake…this is all my fault again…!”
“What mistake, Kris…?”
“...I-I miss Dess…and Azzy…”
“...is that so?”
“...I-I wanna go home.”
Every morning, before beginning his usually very light shifts, Asgore goes to the back of the shop and reaches behind the fridge. It’s where he’s chosen to keep someone he doesn’t tell anyone about. With his frequent headaches, he tends to need painkillers. So when they got the worst in the morning, he’d pour a little bit of this ground white medicine into a glass of water, giving it an opaque look. Its density was the worst part, because it would drag out the effect of swallowing down the horrible taste. You remember very well that on the first day he tried drinking it with a variety of things. A juicebox didn’t pair well with it, and neither did any kind of beer. In the end, he ended up drinking it by force with a bottle of lager and gagging it all back up. It was a sorry sight to see. His struggling as dense, slightly white translucid water shot out of his throat. Uncomfortable. Disgusting, even. Over the days, though…he got better at swallowing it down. Nowadays, he starts his day by filling a glass with water from the sink and just throwing the medicine in. The water is minimal, and the medicine is plenty. But like it or not, he swallows it down, because he knows it’ll be better for himself.
Sacrifices have to be made.
You’re not sure why your mind wandered to that now, when you’re at the top of the Castle, staring down the rest of the Flower World…but your guess is that it’s something deep inside of you giving you a warning. The sun will set soon. Your day will end. And so tiny below you, you see them…the Band of Heroes at the Foyer. They’ve come. They’ve come for Kris. They’ve come to rob you for all you have. You don’t have much time until they manage to find a way up the climbing vine you destroyed at the entrance. Maybe an hour. Steadying your breathing, you smile. This time, you intend to stay smiling.
You’re going to have to fight them, aren’t you? Well…you say, “bring it”.
Nobody is taking them away from you.
Not even them.