Chapter Text
"No."
Asriel winced, surprised. "No ? What– what do you mean, Frisk ?"
The kid in front of him -who he'd finally accepted to see wasn't Chara– shook their head again, firmly repeating themself. "No."
Now Asriel was very confused. The situation already was bizarre, so that on top of him being still overwhelmed from everything that just happened... Plus, he'd always been very sentimental. Or susceptible. Whatever one wanted to call it. He felt emotions really strongly.
So safe to say he was absolutely flabbergasted right now. And he forgot how to process such feelings. As a flower, he always lashed out when he couldn't do so. But now– well, he was just overwhelmingly confused.
"Frisk, I... I will turn back into a flower. It... won't not happen just because you–"
"No." Frisk yet again repeated, this time shaking their finger right up Asriel's face for emphasis. "You don't want to."
Now that was true, Asriel really, really didn't want to go back to that existence. To that feeling of... well, to that absence of feeling empathy. Empathy was such a huge part of him as a person. But it didn't matter what he wanted. It was going to happen regardless, so all he could do now was enjoy the short amount of time he had as himself before the identity of Asriel itself blew away like dust in the wind.
"I don't. But... there's nothing I can do."
He really was trying to let them down slowly, but... golly, they really were stubborn. Really... determined. It hurt to try and make them understand, because emphasising it solidified it for him too.
"Then don't." Frisk looked at him straight in the eyes, their deadpan expression somehow feeling deader than deadpan. Ultradeadpan ? Ablotulelyhyperdeadest pan...este... expression ?
"Then don't what ?"
"If you don't want to turn back into a flower, just don't."
Asriel had a nervous laugh. "Frisk... it doesn't work like that." He wished it did, but..
"It does for me" Frisk shrugged. "I didn't wanna die to you, so I just didn't. Simple."
Asriel's brain bluescreened there, for a second. "Yes but– you're... I... it's not the same !"
Dead serious (or more accurately, living serious ? Frisk wasn't dead, as they'd vehemently just pointed out...), Frisk pointed at themself. "I don't wanna be a flower. So I'm not." They poked Asriel's head. "You don't want to be a flower. Then just don't be one."
Asriel laughed again. They sure were a weird kid. "Frisk... your determination's astounding. But it won't work on me. I... well, I don't have your determination, for starters. I don't have any soul anymore, and even if I did, monsters don't have that type of determination you have. So–"
"Then do." Frisk cut him off again. They stood their ground, unmoving, both physically and metaphorically speaking. Even after all the damage they took, the wounds they still had unhealed, they weren't wavering. Their determination neither. That would make sense, though.
Wait. What was that ?
Asriel tried to speak slowly. Maybe they weren't understanding his explanation ? "Frisk, I can't 'just be' determined like you. I don't have my own soul, and–" he was promptly cut off again.
"No, I meant, just have a soul. Just have one."
Asriel's smile vanished completely. "Frisk, I'm not– I'm not going to kill anyone just to–"
Frisk facepalmed. "No. That's not what I mean."
The little prince sighed in relief. He freaked out for a second here. Of course Frisk wouldn't suggest such a thing, especially not after be so adamant about not even dealing a single blow on him despite everything. "But– what do you mean, then ?"
"Have a soul. Don't turn into a flower. You don't want to be a flower, then don't. You want a soul, then have one."
Now Frisk was loosing Asriel.
"You're telling me... that I... uh. Just should... decide to not turn into a flower ?"
Frisk nodded eagerly. "Just don't." They once again told him.
If Frisk would leave him alone with that, then... "uh... I'll try ? To not... turn into a flower again ?"
Frisk shook their head. "No. To not turn into a flower, you have to be really, really determined not to. Just don't !" They said as if it wasn't the most nonsensical thing ever.
"Won't it be tricky without a soul...?" He asked. He felt roped into something, and even if Frisk meant well, he didn't have a very good experience with determined little humans who just didn't back down on stuff that included him. And his soul.
"Flowey was determined. He didn't have a soul. So you can be determined without a soul."
Shivers went down the prince's back. Flowey... he'd be that again soon. He didn't want to, he really did not. This whole discussion was weird, but mostly painful. "I don't think it's that easy..."
"To me it can be." Frisk shrugged. "I don't understand a lot about science. Monster biology... Okay. But– whatever. It's easy, no ? You don't want something. Then don't have it happen !"
If that kid had ever proven anything, it was that sense could not be talked or smacked into them. So...
Urgh... Asriel should at least give it a try, no ?
Wait. Give what exactly a try ?
"So... uh... what would be the plan here ?"
"You don't turn back into a flower and I bring you back to your parents." Frisk said matter of factly, grabbing Asriel's paw and starting to pull him away from the bed of flowers.
"Wait, wait–" Asriel begged. Frisk stopped.
"What, am I forgetting something ?"
"No, just–"
"Oh, I am !" Frisk cut him off, talking to themself and ruffling through their pocket. "Thanks for the reminder, Asriel ! Can't believe I almost forgot–"
"What are you doing ?" He blinked. That kid was an absolute insolvable puzzle. You never knew their next move. Or sentence. They could be about to pull out a literal soul from their pocket and as much as Asriel would be surprised, he was expecting to be caught of guard if by whatever Frisk was actually about to grab and show him.
What Frisk did pull out wasn't a soul though, but a... transparent chocolate bar ?
"What's that ?"
"Ghost chocolate" Frisk said. "Found it in Napstablook's fridge. It was hidden so I took it. Forgot I had it."
"What did you take it for ? You– can you even eat it ?"
"I tried" Frisk shrugged. "Didn't manage."
"Then why do you have it...?"
Frisk shrugged again. "I dunno. Felt like I couldn't toss it because they kept pointing out chocolate."
"Who kept pointing out chocolate ?" Poor Azzy just needed Frisk to make sense for one second.
"The one that keeps commenting every action I do."
"Someone's commenting everything you do ?"
Frisk nodded as if it wasn't abnormal. "Ye. I thought it was a concussion but then it didn't leave. So then I guessed it was a bored ghost ? But now I think I know who it is even if they're not visible."
Asriel blinked. "Shouldn't... that ghost be visible ?"
"I dunno."
Golly, what exactly was he spending his last moments as himself doing ? ...talking about an invisible chocolate loving ghost.
Uh, wait–
Frisk flayed the chocolate around. "Hey brain ghost ! You want this ? Reward for uh... guiding me ? Helping me save Asriel ?"
Helping them what now–
It was in utter flabbergastement that Asriel watched the chocolate fly out of Frisk's hand and keep levitating.
Frisk grinned. "Now you can eat it !"
They stopped for a moment, as if talked to.
"Yes, you !"
Small silence. All Asriel could do was watch, honestly.
"Well just decide to come back with it. You were like me, no ? It should work... Decide to have it heal you, I dunno ! I'm not the one who's a dead ghost !"
Frisk was staring at the flying chocolate bar. "Come on ! If you just come back because you want to, he'll see it's easy to just do things !"
Short silence. A devious expression made its way on Frisk's face. "Are you scared ? Of chocolate ?" They giggled a bit, trying to muffle it.
The chocolate ate itself so fast that Asriel wondered when he'd see something that would make sense and involve Frisk at the same time. He even swore some of the paper got eaten due to the precipitation the ghost was in to disprove the fear claim.
Frisk clapped. "Yay !" They genuinely looked proud. "Now heal your HP and tell him to just not turn back into a–"
Under Asriel's eyes, an all too familiar kid materialised and crashed down onto Frisk with a yelp.
Neither of them budged for a few seconds. The newly corporeal child was squashed onto the other, whose face was in the flowers. Then Frisk let out a flat "Ow.". Only then did Chara stop squishing them, getting to their feet hurriedly and stumbling away.
"Thanks." Frisk said, getting back up. They giggled, gesturing at Chara. "Determination !"
Asriel's mouth was just hanging. That was...
There wasn't a word to describe the situation. Even Chara, so eloquent, was speechless. They were visibly still processing randomly wiling themself back to life by sheer determination. Or... whatever had happened. They were so shocked they didn't even smack Frisk's hand away from pating their back, them who feld physical touch like the plague. They were just standing there with the most bewildered expression ever, so far from their constant carefully crafted composed one.
Asriel wasn't better off, if he was honest. His chest felt... very tight, seeing Chara there. He was very conflicted. Hours ago, he'd have destroyed the world to have them stand in front of him. And he did. But now– he didn't know what to do. What to do ? He'd admitted to himself Chara maybe wasn't the idealised version of the best friend he'd made himself believe they were. He didn't know how to adjust himself to them right now. He thought he'd have time to reflect on this, and that such time didn't include Chara ever coming back the second he accepted they were long gone and forever so.
Frisk snapped him out his thoughts.
"See, Asriel ? If they can just revive, you can just not turn into a flower ! Easy, no ?"
"Uh–" Asriel stopped staring at his previously dead sibling and gazed at a motivated look Frisk.
"C'mon Asriel, repeat after me : I won't turn into a flower !"
Too lost as to what to do, he did just that.
"I–... won't turn into a flower ?"
"Put more into it ! I won't turn into a flower !" Frisk hyped him up, bouncing on their feet, while Chara just stood there, looking at their hands and questionning life itself still.
"I-I won't turn into a– a flower !"
"Say it again ! I won't turn into a flower ! Louder !"
"I won't turn into a flower !"
What was Asriel doing exactly ?
"Believe it ! Scream it until you believe it !" Frisk urged, taking the persona of a motivational speaker.
"I won't turn into a flower !"
"More determined ! More determined !"
"I WON'T turn into a flower !"
"More determined ! Come on come on come on !" Frisk grabbed Asriel's paws and jumped up and down.
"I WON'T TURN INTO A FLOWER !"
He and Frisk repeated this... more times than Asriel could count. He didn't stop, because Frisk didn't. Until they did.
They got really close, comically close, and slowly, very slowly, said :
"D e t e r m i n a t i o o o o o n..."
That kid had issues, didn't they ?
Said kid then pat Asriel on the head. "Congrats. You won't turn into a flower."
"Wh– how do you know ?"
"I just do." Frisk stated. Now a last one before we get going. What ! Will ! You ! Not ! Do ?!"
"Uh‐ turn i-into a flower ?" Asriel stammered.
"YEEES !" Frisk pat him again. "Now that you can will things into life because you said so, just have a soul again !"
"Wh– can I do that ?"
"Just decide to be able to."
Man. Frisk was definitely weird. But– Asriel hadn't turned back yet. So he might as well give it a try ?
"Wait how do I know if I have a soul aga–"
Somehow Frisk initiated a battle by throwing a stick at Asriel's face. Not hard, it barely smacked his ear.
But hey. Here he was. In a battle. He could see his very present again soul.
...best not to question how this was possible. He spared Frisk, head spinning, and they reciprocated, smilling all ears.
Then they turned to Chara, who was still questioning life. "Chara do you have your soul too ?"
That snapped them out of their thoughts. They looked at Frisk as if they were alien, and stammered nonsensical words before forcing themself to regain composure. "I– I will check."
Nothing happened.
"How do you intend on doing that though ?" Frisk tilted their head. "It's not like you can just rip it out of you to check if it's there ? Wait a sec–"
Frisk went to pick the stick back up. Chara, sensing the incoming attack, became all red in the face. They raised their hands in anticipation. "Do not throw this on me–"
Too late.
Into a battle Chara was dragged.
Well they had their soul back again. Their soul, and a just as red face from either or both embarrassment and anger at having had a stick thrown at their face despite their protest.
Said stick was promptly thrust back onto Frisk's own face. Maybe with too much excess force. Didn't too much damage though, Frisk brushing it off with sticking their tongue out and sparing Chara. The other gritted their teeth and spared them back.
"To be clear. You are not to sneak attack me ever again. I tolerate you, however I won't be on board with betrayals of such kind." Chara ushered. They had their fists clenched. Seemed like they needed a moment. Crazy things were happening right now, after all, and Angel knew Chara had issues when it came to not feeling in control of their own life.
Frisk shrugged and nodded, thumbs up, seemingly unaware of the animosity coming from the other human. "Okay !"
Then they hurried to Asriel's ear and whispered "Ooh they're a bit excessive into retribution"
Chara winced and shouted, taken off guard. "I can still hear you !"
Frisk just stuck their tongue out again. "Whatev !"
Frisk made a run for the entrance of the ruins. "Now that both of you can be back, let's find everyone !"
Chara and Asriel both motionned to wait with grand gestures and stammers. What a disastrous sibling pair.
"Wait wait wait ! Please– we, uh... Frisk, leave us a moment, okay ? To... process being back ?"
"I am of Asriel's opinion here. Please refrain from dragging us into... your... antics just yet."
Frisk pouted. "Don't take too long, please."
Chara rolled their eyes. Asriel laughed a bit.
Well... now what ? He glanced at Chara, who looked about as lost as he was. They also looked awkward, fidgeting with their sleeves a bit. He knew better than to point it out, as they used to lash out and deny they were nervous everytime he did note it back when...
Well, back then.
"Golly... how long has it been ?" He mumbled to himself.
"I do not know," Chara responded, as low as he was speaking. They didn't seem to register it wasn't a question aimed for them, but they seemed to comprehend what he was referring to and thus, added an answer of theirs. "It doesn't feel like a long time to me."
"Us... dying ?" He felt uneasy saying it. Chara tried to hide the wince they had, then hummed. Well that would be a touchy subject. "It.. doesn't feel like it's been a long time to you ?" He asked. To himself, i had felt like several lifetimes. It probably actually had been that long, too.
They shook their head. "Not really. I mean, the human took their time checking every possible corner during their journey, but... it didn't feel like too long to me."
"What do you mean ? What about before they fell ?"
Chara blinked. "I... do not know. I just followed them. Before that... I only remember waking up and them being..." Chara pointed at the bed of yellow flowers them and Asriel were on. "...here."
"You don't remember anything before ?" Asriel enquired.
"Are you talking about us getting shot down ?" Chara gritted their teeth, getting on edge. And... they sounded defensive. Did they think he was incriminating them ?
He shook his head, nervous, and automatically went into damage control. Having Chara get upset right now wasn't something he'd be able to deal with, and usually, mom calmed them down. And that wasn't exactly an option if anything did happen, for at least a dozen reasons. "No, I mean... after that, don't you remember anything ?"
"I do remember them" Chara spoke more calmy, then gestured to Frisk, sitting in the flowers. The younger human waved at them when they noticed being pointed at.
"Nothing between... dying and them ?"
Chara shook their head no.
"Golly..." Asriel mumbled.
"Why ? Do you remember anything ?"
Uneasy, he nodded. "Yes." That was the least to say.
"Surprising. I do not. I wonder why that is..." they whispered.
They both stopped talking, looking at their own feet. It was... still awkward. Of course it would still be. A few minutes of discussion wouldn't heal getting each other brutally murdered. Or anything else that had happened before. Asriel felt like he should say something, but what, he didn't know. If he was honest, he kind of wanted space. But also not ? He didn't want to be alone. But he didn't want to be with Chara, right now. He didn't know why and didn't like that he felt like that at all. It didn't feel fair to Chara. But he was uncomfortable around them at this very moment.
Especially since they seemed to notice that from him. He knew they knew. They knew he knew they knew. And did that make it unbearably awkward.
The awkwardness was cut through by none other than Frisk, who appeared next to them. "I'm boooored... you both finished talking ?"
"Uh–" Asriel started. "I guess ?" They had been quiet for a bunch of seconds.
Frisk smiled. "Yay ! Off we go !"
And they ran off.
Chara and Asriel looked at each other, wondering if they should follow suit.
Frisk came back after a few seconds.
And dragged both newly resurrected Dreemurr kids away from there with an enthusiastic "Weeee !"
As he was running as well as he could, Asriel could only question just about all he knew. All he was certain of was that Frisk sure was a determined specimen. And honestly, he kind of feared their next move.
Tense as everything, Chara was safe to assume feeling the same as he did.
They ran and ran. All throughout the underground. That was a big distance. Asriel was too confused to question it, and Chara probably felt the same. He wouldn't be surprised. As weird as he felt towards them right now, what hadn't changed in his mind was that Chara was still the only one who could understand how he felt. Because they had to feel the same.
When they reached New Home, both of them had to stop moving to refrain Frisk from busting into the room where everyone was unprepared.
They just had to think of how in the world to break the news.
They tried explaining this to Frisk, but all they were met with was a "I'll leave you two to figure this out ! I'm just gonna swing by the basement real quick !"
And here they went, leaving Asriel and Chara in their old home's entrance.
Golly, that's going to be a mess.