Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Frisk sat next to Asriel in front of the flower patch that had once saved their life.

They knew what was going to happen next.

Asriel looked down at the flowers. "Don't you-"

"Have anything better to do?" Frisk interrupts. "No. There would be no point. Not after what I did."

Asriel looks at them, surprised. "We've been here a dozen times. It's always the same. I got so mad..." Frisk hugs their legs. "I killed everyone else. I would have killed you too. You remember, don't you?"

Asriel slowly looks away, nodding his head. Frisk sighs. "Neither of us deserve to live on the surface." Frisk chuckles. "I don't think either of us want to either."

Asriel looked at them, confused. Frisk raised her head and looked at him. "I have a favor to ask."

He looked surprised. "Anything. I owe you that much."

Frisk looks sad. "You promise?"

Asriel looks into their eyes and nods. "I promise."

Frisk looks down at the flower patch. "After all the monsters have left, seal the entrances to the surface. Lock us both in here."

Asriel reels in surprise. "Frisk-"

Frisk cuts him off with a stern look. "You promised, didn't you? I don't care if Asriel does it or if Flowey does it. Just lock us in here."

Asriel is at a loss for words. He tries to say something but nothing comes out. He sighs and gives up. "Okay."

Frisk smiled at him. "Thank you."

Frisk met up with all their former friends and stood on the cliff. They declined being the ambassador and told Toriel they had places to be.

Frisk sat down on the cliff, legs hanging over the edge. They watched the sun slowly move through the sky as monsters kept leaving the Underground behind them.

MK came out at one point and asked if they could hang out. Frisk didn't have the heart to tell him no so they said they would the next time they see each other. MK was happy with that answer. Frisk knew there wouldn't be a next time.

Finally the last monsters left just as the sun had set and the moon was rising. Frisk waited an hour before standing and walking back into the cave.

"Asriel? Flowey? You there?"

Flowey popped up in front of them. "Over here... and it's Flowey now." Frisk nods and notices him look out into the night.

"It's pretty, isn't it?" Frisk asks, not turning around. "You didn't get the chance to enjoy it last time." After a pause Frisk begins to walk deeper into the cave. "Just close the cave when you're done. I've slept under the stars enough for one life. I'll be at the Ruins when you're ready."

Flowey silently nods, watching the moon. Frisk's footsteps fade and he knows he's alone.

After a few minutes, Flowey sighs. He summons up giant vines to grip the cave entrance. He begins to pull. The cave rumbles, rocks falling. He attacks the walls and they begin to crumble. Flowey dives under the surface as the entrance caves in.

No one would be coming back to the Underground.

The place that once was a prison for the monsters would now be the prison for their wardens.

Chapter Text

Frisk sits on the porch of Toriel's old house in the Ruins, looking at the old tree.

They absentmindedly eat the leftover pie they found in the kitchen, an extra plate next to them.

Flowey pops up next to them, looking depressed. Frisk wordlessly offers him the extra pie.

They both spend the next few minutes slowly eating in silence.

The pie was cold but still edible.

It reminded Frisk of home.

If only they knew what that was like.

The pie tasted like dust.

Frisk finished their pie and put the plate down next to them. They stand and walk out of the room. They turn a few corners and end up sitting next to where the toy knife used to rest. They look out over what once was Old Home. The air is still and silent.

Frisk is there for a few minutes all alone. Flowey eventually wordlessly pops up next to them, looking out over the cliff with them.

Frisk isn't sure how long they both sat their in silence. Finally Frisk broke the silence with a sigh. "How did it come to this? Why do we both have to have this cursed immortality? Why can't we just die and stay dead?"

Flowey was silent for a moment. "Dunno." He hesitates before quietly asking "Frisk, why did you come to the mountain?"

Frisk shrugs. "To be forgotten. To find peace." Frisk chuckles. "How naive I was."

Frisk looks at Flowey. "We are just two people who found a cursed immortality. We are the only ones who understand the other."

Flowey hesitates. "Frisk... can I be honest with you?"

Frisk looks at him. "Don't suppose it will hurt. Go ahead."

Flowey looks slightly embarrassed. "I... I'm glad you're here. I'm glad you can understand me. I'm... I'm happy I'm not alone."

Frisk looks at him with a soft smile. "Want to hear something funny?" They lean in and whisper, "I'm happy I'm not alone either."

Flowey looks at them then lets out a remorseful chuckle. "Guess that makes us friends."

Frisk nods, looking back at the abandoned city. "Best friends."

Chapter Text

Frisk walks through the silent town of Snowdin. Everything is closed.

They walk past Grillby's and remember that first time with Sans. They remember the fun they had with him.

They remember his face as he called them a dirty brother killer.

They walked past Sans and Papyrus' house. They remember the date that turned platonic. A small smile begins to creep up their face.

They remember his decapitated head telling them he believes in them as he turned to dust.

The smile falls. They keep walking.

Frisk walks through Waterfall, hearing the echo flowers repeating the excited chatter of the monsters as they headed towards the surface.

They hear the cries of pain and fear echoing, filling the cavern.

Frisk covers their ears and keeps walking.

They wade through the water of the disproportionately small gap, the small yellow bird having already left.

Frisk passes Undyne's burned house, remembering cooking with her.

They remember her shouts as she ran them through with dozens of spears.

They see Napstablook's now abandoned farm. They remember the snail races.

They remember killing their cousins without mercy. They weren't Napstablook's friend.

Frisk keeps moving.

They hear the howling winds.

Frisk enters the dark lab. They walk over to the computer and boot it up. Frisk disables all cameras and decreases the power the Core would send out to the Underground. Not like it would be needed. It was just them and Flowey now.

Frisk walks through Hotland, eyes burning from the heat.

The dust that surrounds them fills their eyes.

Frisk walks through the old show sets. They remember their fear from the first time.

But it was all an act. It was all just for show. None of it was real.

Frisk walks in to the abandoned MTT Resort. The water flow to the statue had stopped.

Frisk walked over to the elevator. It was operational now. They pressed the down button and headed into New Home.

They had never been there before. The streets were empty.

Frisk wandered the empty city. They passed shops, cafes, apartment complexes.

All empty. All gone. None left.

Frisk decided to take a break. They leaned against a wall in a dark alley and fell to the floor.

Frisk was all alone.

Just like before. Always alone. Never home.

Frisk looked up towards the ceiling far above them.

They hoped the monsters would enjoy their freedom.

After all...

Frisk isn't in the picture anymore.

Chapter Text

Frisk wakes up in an alley way. For a moment they wonder which town they are in, stretching to stand.

Frisk looks up and sees the cave ceiling. They feel a wave of panic.

It wasn't a dream. It all happened. How could Frisk almost forget.

Forgetting was bad. Frisk wasn't allowed to forget.

Frisk's breathing was fast. They were beginning to hyperventilate.

Frisk looks around the alley for something, anything, that could help them focus. Their eyes fall to the knife at their side.

Dust. Dust. Dust. Dust. Dust.

Frisk rolls up one of their sleaves and plunges the knife into their skin, cutting a large gash on their arm.

The pain barely lasted a second before relief flooded their brain. It was real. They were here.

Their breathing slows, their bloody arm dropping to their side. The slow dripping of blood accompanies the sound of them breathing, bringing them a sense of calm.

Frisk checks their inventory and pulls out instant noodles. They begin to eat it, watching as their cut began to close. Soon, all that was left was a small scar. Frisk was relieved. At least they could do something with permanence.

Frisk put away the food and rolled down their sleave.

They took a shaky breath and stood up, a dull pain in their arm reminding them this was real.

Frisk spent the first few months simply exploring the Underground. They'd talk to Flowey every now and then but they mostly just kept looking for something to distract them.

Frisk wakes up most nights screaming. They cut themselves to remind them they are real. They count the marks to remind them time is passing. They bleed to remember they deserve all their suffering.

Frisk sits in the marsh of echo flowers. They listen to all the happy conversations.

Their stomach twists.

The voices begin to echo louder and louder.

Frisk covers their ears. It doesn't help.

They hear the thanks from monsters who don't remember their own dust covering them.

Dust. All dust. All that EXP. All that LOVE. Just a little more!

"SHUT UP!" Frisk's scream echoes through the cavern. All the flowers fall silent for a moment.

They start repeating "Shut up!" Frisk can hear their own voice back. Except it's not just theirs. Frisk begins to hear the voices of all those they killed, each yelling at them. They beg for mercy, they cry out in pain.

Frisk curls themselves into a ball, covering their ears. Their eyes are shut tightly, but that doesn't stop the tears streaming down their face.

Only two people remember what Frisk did. This is what they deserve.

Chapter Text

Dust.

Screams.

Tears.

Your fault.

Your fault.

Your fault.

YOUR FAULT!

Frisk shoots awake in a cold sweat. They look around and look at their arm. Taking out a knife, they add another scar to the countless others on their arm. Another day, another nightmare.

Frisk lays on the wooden floor, still panting. They catch their breath and stand walking into the living room. "Morning Toriel," they call out.

The echo flower on the chair begins speaking. "Did you know snails make terrible shoe laces?" Frisk laughs like it's the funniest joke they've ever heard.

Frisk walks towards the stairs. "I'm going to head out now. See you later."

"Did you know snails make terrible shoe laces?"

"Love you too. I'll be back around dinner."

Frisk heads towards the exit of the Ruins.

Flowey silently watches Frisk as they explore the Underground... again. They've been planting echo flowers everywhere and making them repeat old phrases.

Flowey was getting worried about Frisk.

Frisk walks through Snowdin, talking to the flowers as they repeat the same tired lines. Frisk always acts like they are having a conversation with them. It was creeping Flowey out.

Flowey had talked to Frisk but never brought up the flowers. He knew better. Just like he knew not to ask about the bags under their eyes.

Frisk didn't like being questioned. They hated pity more than he did.

So Flowey didn't question them. He just took care of the flowers.

He didn't ask them anything when they started to get thin. He didn't ask when he heard their screams echo through the Underground. He didn't ask why they didn't eat some days. There were a lot of things he didn't ask.

After all, why ask if you already know the answer?