"Frisk?"

It took a moment for Frisk to convince herself that she really was breathing. The meeting with the girl in the golden field had rattled her more than she cared to admit. Her parting words rang in Frisk's ears. Who was the brother she referred to? There was only one person who Frisk knew that didn't have a Soul. If what the girl said was true, Flowey would be stuck in that between place with her forever once he died. But that couldn't happen. Not when Flowey could Reset. Could it?

"Frisk, if you're alive I need you to talk to me."

Everything was hurting. What if this really was Frisk's final life? Was she about to die for good? How would that girl know?

"Sweetheart, please be ok . . ."

"I'm alive," Frisk mumbled. She heard a sigh.

"That's good," Sans said. "You had me worried."

"Where are you?" Frisk asked as she sat up. Lighting waves of pain raced up and down her body with the movement.

"I'm fine. Listen, I need you to find the barrier without me."

"Without you?"

"The shortcut took more out of me than I expected. I'm so tired that I can barely move, let alone stand up and fight my way through the castle. I misjudged where we would land. We're inside Asgore's Castle, but not at the barrier itself yet."

"I can't go by myself!"

"The guards will be here any minute. You need to leave. You'll be fine!"

"I'm not leaving without you."

"I appreciate the sentiment, but you don't have a choice, sweetheart. You can't drag me with you. I'd probably fall asleep on the way down the hall."

"We'll either go together or not at all. They'll kill you, Sans!"

"Don't throw away your one chance, get going!"

Sans's shout echoed around them as if they were in a towering room. Frisk folded her arms and stayed where she was as thoughts raced through her head. I wouldn't make it on my own anyway. I'm blind and have no idea where I'm going. This is it. Either the girl was lying and I'll Reset so we can try something more thought out than this, or I'll die for good. And if I'm going to die for good then I'm going to do it here, with Sans, not wandering the castle alone.

"Don't be so stubborn, Frisk," Sans growled. "You can do it! Just try!"

"I'm not budging an inch," Frisk responded. She heard rapidly approaching footsteps.

"If they catch you, they'll steal your Soul," Sans said. "There won't be anything left to Reset."

"Then you'll have to kill me, Sans, because I'm not leaving you."

"Sweetheart, don't do that to me . . ."

"I have no idea where I'm going and I'm blind. How far do you really think I'd make it on my own?"

The footsteps were getting closer. There wasn't much time left. Frisk took a deep breath.

"I'm going to have a bone to pick with you when we get back," Sans muttered. "I'm only doing this because you aren't leaving me any choice."

"Being stubborn is one of my good qualities," she responded, steeling herself for the inevitable pain. When it came, it didn't feel like any of the other times. It was duller, as if someone hit her in the chest with a pillow. The world melted into silence around her.

"You didn't need to call my bluff, you know," the girl's voice whispered out of the darkness. "You could have taken my word for it."

"I had to try," Frisk responded. "I just wish I could have said goodbye."

"Oh, you'll get your goodbye. It's going to tear them apart when you do. They'll never be themselves again." Her laugh faded away, only to be replaced by another voice. Frisk felt arms wrap around her.

"Sweetheart?"

"Hi, Sans," Frisk whispered.

"Her Soul is almost gone," Flowey said from somewhere nearby. "I don't think . . . I think she's gone."

"No, she's not gone. Not yet. Sweetheart, how could you do that to me?"

"We didn't stand a chance," she replied.

"But you didn't even try!"

"It didn't matter." Frisk felt a tugging in her chest. She may not have much Soul left, but she did have something. "Promise me . . ."

"Promise you what?"

"Promise me . . . you'll save them."

She heard a sharp intake of breath. She knew what they were seeing, the one thing she had always carried around but never seen for herself. Her Soul.

"Sweetheart, I . . ."

"Promise, Sans."

"I . . . promise."

The pain in her body started to fade. She couldn't feel Sans's arms around her anymore. "Flowey?"

"Yeah, Frisk?" He couldn't mask the tremble in his voice.

"You were the best friend . . . I ever had."

"You too. I don't want you to leave!"

"I had . . . enough chances . . . It was fun." She took a deep breath. "Sans?"

"Yes, sweetheart?"

"Will you . . . smile?"

"You want me to . . ? Frisk, I-"

"Smile . . . for me."

The silence stretched on. Frisk could feel herself dying. Her time was almost up.

"Sans?"

"I'm smiling, sweetheart."

She managed a weak smile of her own. If Sans would remember to smile, things wouldn't always be so bad. He could learn to be happier. He and Flowey could be the heroes the Underground needed.

"Sans, I need to . . . tell you something." Her voice was barely a whisper now.

"What was that, sweetheart? I can't hear you."

"I . . ."

The world melted into final, welcoming, darkness. But in this darkness, there was light. And warmth.

Living things don't have hearts. Especially skeletons like me. I checked once. My chest is as empty as can be.

I saw a heart once. It was the most beautiful thing in the world. My flower gave it to me. Sweetheart. She expects me to give it up so that everyone in this wretched place can escape, but they don't deserve it. For now, I'm keeping it safe with me. Maybe one day Flowey and I will use it to leave. Maybe not. I don't see him much anymore.

Looking down at the bed of golden flowers I can't help but remember her, how she died here in my arms. The flowers looked better on her than they ever did in this dusty cavern. She wanted me to smile, but I can't. She wanted me to be happy, but that's impossible. But maybe I can pretend, for her. But it's pointless. I know she can't answer back.

"Knock knock. Who's there? Flower. Flower you today, sweetheart . . ."

That's it. That's all I had in me. One pathetic knock knock joke. And I know what the problem is. I don't have a heart.

Maybe you can make a heart. Or grow one. Wouldn't growing a heart hurt? Maybe I already grew one, but it's hard to tell. It sure hurt plenty when she left me.

Oh well. Who needs a heart anyway . . .