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Aqua remembered how Seth said they couldn’t ever let the heroes reach the fountain or else their playtime would end.
Susie and Ralsei going towards it now though, with Flowery. Does that mean…is playtime over?
That’s really unfair. It’s unfair! There were still so many games they wanted to play. She wanted to try throwing knives at an apple on Seth’s head. She wanted to try to dance like Blue!
But...Flowery looks fine with it. She didn’t really know why that is, but if it’s okay with him, then it’s also okay with her! He had always told her they can’t play forever, so she knew that there was a time where they were going to have to stop playing. It’s a big shame, why can’t they just keep playing forever?
She never really found the time to play with Asgore sadly. He was always working to solve the word jumbles all over the castle. And then he kept saying “Later, my child” and “Not now.” She tried playing word jumble too, but looking at all the words was soooo boring! And she didn’t even understand what the words were talking about!
She still had a lot of fun when she was playing though, she supposed. Playing chase with Seth was always so much fun! They would run around in the castle hallways and in the wheat fields, and they were always right behind them. She would hop across the pool while they had to walk all the way around, and then she’ll make a funny face at them. They would yell at her to slow down, but she wasn’t going to do that. She didn’t want to let them win! In the end, she was the winner all the time. Yay! And Seth was the loser! Loser!
And it was so fun to use all the cool bullet patterns she thought up with them. Her favourite was definitely the knife arms attack she thought of one day, where she made two jump ropes and had people try to jump over them! It was funny watching Kris and the other two go up and down to dodge them like they were dancing, but Seth’s face when she surprised them by swinging her knife arms when they were between them was even funnier! Their eyes went so wide it was hilarious, and they kept nearly landing on her knife!
Oh, she nearly forgot. There was that time when Kris kept changing their shape! First, they became a nurse serving her some of Green’s soup. Then, they changed themselves to look like her. It was like watching a magic show just for her, she was so excited that she could barely keep herself still! But then Kris changed into some kind of boomerang thing, and that was kind of weird. It was funny, they looked so much like her, just taller and with a longer knife. She wants a longer knife too! Many, many long knives! Hopefully, she’ll get one and grow up to be big like them!
Aqua supposed that she couldn’t really be too upset about her playtime ending. After all, she became a human like Kris, and then she had the best playtime she could ever ask for! Plus, there’s always more time for playing in the future, right? She’ll just keep waiting until the next playtime is here, and she’ll know she will have even more fun than this one. Asgore will finally play with her then!
She opened her mouth wide and let out a yawn. She’s so tired after playing. Maybe she’ll take a nice little nap while she waits for the next playtime.
Oh! She still has to say goodbye. She should say something to tell them how much fun she had with them. Seth said that humans are supposed to be polite. She’ll just thank them! And then they’ll have to play with her again!
Seth watched the pillar of iridescent darkness gushing out in the distance. They opened their book and took the blue feather they had kept inside, holding it and feeling its silky softness for likely the last time. Pressing it against the book they held tightly to their chest. At the very least, they had come out the end of it all with a memento they had so desperately wanted.
Argh…It was all about to end…their dreams.
They were aware that it was coming one way or another, they’ve surmised as much. The prophecy extended far beyond their little fantasy world, so the Lightners were always to triumph over their dreams. It had lingered at the back of their mind from the moment they took the shape of a human in the dark world. It was just a matter of how it was going to end, so they set out to learn as much as they could in the time they did have.
It was both sad and funny. A part of them felt like it all amounted to nothing, no matter how much they tried to shut the voice down. They’ve read and studied all the literature they could find so they could craft the perfect story for Asgore, and read it to him just as he had done so for the seven of them. But when the time came, he was just nodding along as they told the tale. It was clear to see that his heart wasn’t there. It…kinda hurt honestly, but still they kept trying to come up with something he’ll like.
They’ve learned about all the tactics that the books had recorded and consulted other darkners on their techniques, just hoping one of them would stop the lightners’ advance for good. Yet, they were able to surpass every tactic they thought up. At best, it stalled them from reaching the top of the castle a bit. At worst, it was nothing more than a minor inconvenience. For all their efforts and aspirations, it felt like they were still just…not smart enough. If they were, they could probably have found some loophole in how the dark world works that could give everyone a happy ending.
Somehow, someway though, they felt at ease? It was illogical, but humans aren’t in the first place, and it wasn’t like they weren’t prepared for the possibility. If things ended as it did now, they would be fine with it.
Aqua…as annoying as it was to essentially babysit her wild and unpredictable self, she was always there to rescue them when they needed it the most. She was also the one who had sincerely served as the test audience for their stories. Whenever she wasn’t bouncing all around the castle, they read their stories to her just to get some feedback and make sure it would be good to read to Asgore. She would cheer and clap at the end of the story and ask questions about the plot and characters they hadn’t even thought of in the first place that genuinely helped them improve it. Their story made her happy, that’s got to make them count for something, right? And while she was utterly exhausting to take care of…it was also fun to be with her sometimes.
And they were able to pass on some of their notes to Ralsei and Susie at the last moment as well. On things like random battle observations, flowers and whatever else they could fit on the page. Whether they were useless in the end or not, they still gained a lot of new knowledge. If it couldn’t be useful to them, maybe it would be of some use to the lightners? They would be just a regular flower again a few moments from now, but they wanted to be more than that. They wanted to be remembered as “Seth”. If the three of them could tell someone, anyone, that Seth taught them that, then all the things they’ve learnt would be of some worth. They will have become something more than just a flower.
They held on to their thoughts as the others said their goodbyes. With it, they could face the end with a smile.
They were defeated. Even when they put all their hopes, dreams and powers into Flowery. Even with their heart linked as one, they still lost. Why?! Were they just all weak humans? Were they not strong enough? Was SHE not strong enough?
But it looked like Flowery and everyone else had made peace with it. And Asgore has already chosen to leave the world they made for him behind. No matter how much she wanted to continue struggling, guess she has no choice but to accept that…
Orange didn’t want to stop being human though. She was brave and strong as a human, able to punch through even solid wood as if it were nothing when she was full. She didn’t want to go back to being a weak little flower who couldn’t even do anything. Who couldn’t fight back if someone tried to hurt her. Who can only watch as everything crumbles around the ones she loved.
She rubbed her eyes with her big boxing gloves. Her eyes were getting watery. She…she can’t cry now! Her big brother said that tears were for weddings. She stifled them as best as she could, but she couldn’t stop her tears from flowing.
Orange never told anyone this, but she was really terrified when she couldn’t do any damage to the three of them. She thought she was strong, but then they stood there like she was just tickling them! And then even after she was full, they avoided her bullet pattern like it was nothing. They said it was badass, but what’s the point of that if she couldn’t hit anything with it? And then that weird hatless freakazoid kept making fun of her! That bully! But…then at the top of the castle, her family were all there to stop the lightners. Her fears were still there, but she couldn’t leave them alone. There were seven of them, and there can’t be one less! So she put on her toughest gloves, pretended that she wasn’t scared and went out there to fight alongside them, and then they still lost…
Even if she wasn’t really strong in the end, at…at least she found Pink, her new big sis! Who was nice to her! And helped her when the lightners kept bullying her. She wasn’t really a flower, but who cares about that! If there’s anyone who bullies her and she’s not strong enough for them, she knows she can always rely on her big sis! And…if anyone tries to beat her big sis, she’ll beat them up too. Because that’s what families do for each other! Also, big sis is a lightners too, isn’t she? She’ll still be there in the flower shop in the light world like Asgore and Kris and Susie. She’ll tell everyone in light world what a brave flower her little sis was, that’s for sure!
The fountain was going to be sealed any moment now. Her big brother had already told her that this might happen and that she had to be ready for their dream to end. Despite that, she was still scared. Scared that she won’t get to be human again. Scared that she and her will be just mindless flowers again.
Her tears still wouldn’t stop. But no matter what, she’ll face it head on.
Green wanted to cook one last feast for everyone before they all woke up. But unfortunately it seems that there is no time for it.
There were days where Asgore mused about what his family ate when he came by at night to make sure they were cared for. He talked about the pie that Toriel had made that day for dessert, how their children cheered and praised their mother with the brightest of smiles with just one bite. All they needed for sustenance was soil, light and water. As a flower, the joy of food was not something they could hope to understand. They dreamt of being a chef so they could cook for themselves. To eat so they can understand Kris’s and Asriel’s smiles.
Chocolate cookies. Crunchy and buttery. Omelette with mushrooms. Savoury and soft. Fruit punch. Refreshing, tart and sweet. Anything they could think of, they tried making just to know the flavour. The dishes were unreal, they were at least aware of that. But the flavour upon their tongue was real, and it was all scrumptious nonetheless. They finally knew what it was like to taste.
It was then that they began cooking for others. The joy of home cooked food was something that should be shared. And maybe they would even be able to cook for Asgore, to make his eyes shine like Toriel’s cooking had done before when the family was still all together.
At first, it was a café. A small but lovely one. Then, as a part of their plans to make Asgore stay. A diner was made in the right section of the castle and then a branch in the faraway garden. With their magical cooking, they had no problem making sure all the darkners that came in left satisfied. It was a dream come true for something they hadn’t even dreamed about.
But the ones who brought them the most happiness were their family. Whenever the other flowers asked them for a meal, they would always put in the extra care to make sure they ate a gratifying meal. That was not only their responsibility as a chef, but also to them. Aqua found the plainly-served food boring, so they cut her sandwiches into the shapes of hearts and knives. Blue enjoyed the finer things, so they carved carrots into roses as garnish. Orange, who enjoyed their food the most, was fond of cheesecake, and they always made it extra sweet just as she liked.
Watching them finish their plate until there were not even scraps left, it was at these times Green felt truly proud of themselves as a chef. Something that the food and flavour alone could not provide them. They had cared for them as fellow flowers, as family. When they heard them say their thanks as they served the meal, and then later return to find a clean white plate on the table, they were able to feel just how much their family had loved them back. Their satiated smile was something they would treasure even as a simple flower.
They do not know what will happen after their dream ends, but they were happy to have been able to dream. They only hope to have the chance to cook for their family again one day. All of them together at the table. And Kris, Susie and Ralsei could join for their grand feast as well. That would be wonderful.
Ah. It seems it was time for the curtains to fall.
If flowers are to bloom, so too are they to wither. Dreams are no different. If one is to dream, so too then, is one to eventually wake. That was something that he, as a flower, had understood well from the moment he had bloomed. For they were never meant to last more than the brief moment from sunrise to fall.
Yet, to be able to dream in the first place was a blessing most miraculous, and what a wonderful dream it was. Upon the awakening of his soul did he make his way onto the stage. He had wanted to know love. To feel it. He could not forget that day. Toriel moved to tears by the jubilation as she marched down the aisle. Droplets of pure joy staining her white dress and dyeing his petals a deeper blue as the seven of them bore witness to love at the front seat. A memory etched into the depths of his being that grew a desire.
So he danced to catch the gaze of others. Each fluttering step to the tune a call towards a lover he knew not the face of. Each wistful sway of his arm a prayer to know the other end of the scarlet strings tied to his blooming heart.
It was during a closing bow that their eyes met. His mouth opened yet not a word uttered, truly and completely entranced. A beam of moonlight struck his blue petals then, and as though the audience’s clap had been completely silenced, he had found himself lost in a deeper dream beyond the black spring.
It was one among seven of them. Yellow.
They had known each other as mutual flowers, yet it was only when he saw his unmoving, shining gaze that he saw him under a new spotlight. He had thought love distant, but perhaps unbeknownst to him it was by his side all along.
Blue gracefully descended the steps and greeted the cowboy. Tongue-tied, he only muttered a shaky “hi” and toyed with his hat in his hand. He listened as Yellow sweetly fumbled to sing his praises for his performance. He was mixing up his words and tripping over them, yet Blue had very much understood the intent behind them, however chaotic they ended up being. He took off to take a much needed break as he took to the café after the performance. And Yellow, nervous as he was, as he asked to join him in his brief respite.
They sat on the seats and face-to-face with each other, fragrant tea smoothing out their conversation. They chatted further and he asked with wonder for him to speak of his recent acts of justice as he would usually boast of.
Blue had heard many more tales from him in the time during their more brief chats, how he went around punishing any evil-doers in the dark world he could find, though mishaps found his way to him more often than not. Other darkners called him foolish and gullible for his behaviour, yet what he saw and heard was an endless devotion to justice. Misguided… admittedly as it was sometimes, was not his pursuit of his ideal also admirable? Was it not commendable for him to have such high moral standards?
It was then that his sight found clarity at last, and he saw the end of an invisible scarlet thread tied to his finger. If Yellow knows not the path of justice, then let his hand guide him, so that his aim may find the wicked that he so loaths.
His dream may end, but his love will not.
Farewell, dear Kris, Susie and Ralsei. Weep not for the flowers who had seen their dreams come true in the end. Celebrate instead. Sing your praise for the grace of heaven. For there can be no greater joy in the world than to love and to have been loved.
And dearest Yellow, if by the Angel’s divine benevolence we shall see each other in reverie once again. Allow me to take from you a kiss most pure and passionate, with love from the bottom of your heroic heart.
Yellow tipped his hat down as Asgore walked by them, everything had gone still like the nights of the dunes.
Well, looks like time’s up. The sun was gonna set on their little world sooner or later, he just thought he’d had more time to make the world better.
It’s kinda funny how this whole cowboy thing started from an old TV in the corner. He couldn’t explain it himself either but he just couldn’t help but turn his stem and keep watching it whenever Asgore put the show on for his nightly entertainment. Riding on a horse and racing the wind in the dusty wilds, free as a wild canary and cloak fluttering. Townsfolk cheering as he tied up the bad guy. Standing strong and shooting down those no-good outlaws wherever he sees one. He wanted to be that, to be a bringer of justice to the world just like Asgore.
But he’s just a flower. There was no way it was going to happen.
Then, a darkness flooded the flower shop. And they were allowed to dream. There was only one thing he wanted to be. He would be a cowboy that shot up any criminells that threatened Asgore’s dream world. That was his promise to him, and with a good old cowboy’s hat he’ll show it.
Was he a good cowboy though? Yellow didn’t know about that. He played one on a stage to make Asgore happy because Flowery told him it would, but that was just pretending. He needed to bring about justice to be an actual cowboy. He supposed he did solve a few cases here and there and threw some Kawkaw and Netski in jail for trying to steal food. But then he got played like a fiddle by those lightners, and ended up trying to punish himself. And that was a doozy that made him felt like a fool.
It’s a mystery itself. He didn’t know what made a good cowboy, but that was alright. If he could just hear it from Blue, he would be the darn happiest flower in the whole wide world.
Yellow had known him before, just not as a human. He went around the castle patrolling and found a theater they apparently built.
He saw Blue then, him glittering in the spotlight and just as bright as the starry background of the stage. Him elegantly twirling on the stage, his steps quick and masterful in how he balanced. And then the soft and soothing harp stopped. Blue turned to him in the audience and, with the sweetest smile on his face, bowed at him. He was drop dead gorgeous then, it was like he was dreaming, and he was already in one! He reckoned that there wasn't anything he saw that could be more beautiful than that moment.
He didn’t know what to say when Blue came down from the stage. All he could do was try to say whatever he thought was right at that moment. It didn’t come out right, but Blue was smiling wide nonetheless. He went towards the café and the next thing he knew he asked if he could join, he was just throwing it all to the wind. He just wanted to tell him more about how beautiful he and his dance were. But then Blue was the one doing the asking! That was a surprise, so he told him about him catching a no-good Floradinn that tried to skip out on paying Green and how they froze and coughed up the money the moment he ran at them.
His heart was going wild and doing a dance of its own when he was telling Blue the story. It was at that moment he knew that he had found someone who wanted to see justice in the world as much as he did, someone he loved in ways that were more like Toriel and Asgore back then.
His short cowboy dreams are coming to an end now, but what a nice time he had with Blue.
Small golden flowers spilled out from his torso, sticking together from the sap that had coursed through him. Flowery could no longer feel his legs, and he couldn’t even muster enough energy to move his arms one bit. He was only glad that the other six had reverted already and weren’t here to see him like this, and that they were safe. Better him than them, he would rather himself completely crumpled beneath the Knight’s sharp legs than to have a single petal plucked from them.
This was not the ending he wanted.
He was too weak to stop the Knight. And Asgore, who had cared for them unconditionally every day from the moment they sprouted as saplings, was kidnapped. Gone. Taken for whatever nefarious purposes the Knight had in mind for him.
And even before that, they were unable to unwrap the thorned vines that had so tightly entangled themselves in his heart. The deer girl’s disappearance had consumed and gnawed at him for the past long years. Even when he was in the world they designed for him, he still couldn’t take his mind off the dark fountain and the notes strewn about in the castle. None of their attempts to cheer him up broke him free from that. In the end, it was Kris who had finally made him see.
He really was a useless flower, wasn't he?
From the beginning, he had known. That their plans to create a paradise for Asgore where he could be happy and forget all his woes was never going to succeed. There were only two endings to it. Either the three heroes seal the dark fountain and ultimately destroy their dreamland, or they successfully keep their dark world alive and eventually waste away with no one there to give them light and water. They were always doomed to fail, and their dreams were always going to end.
He didn’t regret what he did one bit though. He wanted to do something to make Asgore happy. They all wanted him to be happy. A wish that bound the seven of them together. Even if it was set in stone, he wanted to defy it. And if not that, they wanted to make him at least smile brightly for once, to relieve him from the pain that had piled oh so high on him.
There was one chance to pay him back for the love he had shown them. The dark world that would be created in the vast garden.
A single day to come alive. To dream. To truly bloom. They would be able to be their real selves, who they wanted to be but couldn’t be as flowers. They would become human. And then, they would be able to make Asgore truly laugh for once after all the misery he had suffered drained his smile from his face.
Of course, that world was still nothing more than a fantasy, one no less longer than a butterfly dream. But it was enough to give their continuing existence a purpose and meaning beyond mere aesthetics. As long as they were given a single chance to repay Asgore and ease his pain, that was enough for him. No matter what happens in the end. Even if he would come to reject the world they wanted to create for him.
But, this…
He heard loud footsteps approaching just then, the grass beneath them crackling. They must be hurrying over right now.
He steeled himself to keep his eyes open, to not let himself wake. At the very least, he has to warn them of the deep darkness wriggling beneath the town. He must.
It will be the last thing he can do for them. For Kris. For Susie. For Raly.
For Asgore.
He can wither in peace with that at least.