Chapter Text

Crossing the portal to the void was something Asriel had never thought he’d ever do again, partly because the thought of repeating the experience made him a bit sick. While what he remembered happening five days before – from his time – had been confusing and to this point he wasn’t sure what exactly happened, it didn’t change the fact he had been very scared. Thankfully his memories of that were muddled, the fear tempered, but he still felt ready for something horrible to happen as soon as he entered the void.

Just after Asriel entered the void, the portal closed behind him. He didn’t notice, though, there was something that immediately caught his attention: a gray, winding part that seemed to be about to crumble down at any moment. It started right in front of Asriel, and went into the dark distance. Far, far away, Asriel could see the endless golden thread that was the timeline. “What is this…?”

“Was this always here?”

“No, it was all empty. This didn’t exist” Asriel looked around as if he expected Patta or Gaster to be standing nearby “Frisk, what do we do?”

“Let’s follow the road. This is in like that old story! At the end there’ll be a wizard, and—“ Frisk started a long diatribe about an old story they had listened once, while Asriel stepped forward and hesitantly laid one foot on the start of the road. He wasn’t sure what the path was made of, it seemed like millions of tiny particles barely sticking together. He could swear some of those showed images of places and people that seemed vaguely familiar.

The sensation of the path against his foot was almost surreal. It felt like a constant electrical current was coursing the pads of his foot, not strong enough to bother but it was noticeable and felt slightly unpleasant, and walking on the road felt like stepping on thousands of tiny sharp pebbles. It was a completely new experience, but it wasn’t like there was turning back now. “Here we go…”

“I’ll be with you all the way” Frisk reassured. Feeling a strange warmness in his chest, Asriel started walking on the road. He soon got used to the weird sensation underneath his feet, so instead he focused on what was in front of him. The path ascended in a wide spiral, there was a gigantic plateau fully composed of that grain and the only way to get on it was to follow the path. Getting to the top of the spiral was easy, and once he got there Asriel could see the extension of what was on the plateau.

“…what is this place…?” he murmured, astonished by what he was seeing.

“Is that Mt. Ebott?”

The plateau was the base of a recreation of Mt. Ebott, fully formed by the strange gray shards, and just on top of it, the golden timeline was glowing. Technically, it was possible for Asriel to simply try to levitate all the way to the top of the false mountain, taking advantage of the strange properties of the void, but Asriel felt there was a reason why it all existed. It felt like there was meaning about the unexpected apparition, his curiosity beckoned him to follow the road up the mountain instead of taking the easy way. After allowing himself a moment to be impressed by the size of the false Mt. Ebott, Asriel continued the trek, arriving to the base of the false mountain after a few minutes. Waiting there, right where the road started ascending on the mountain, was Ananas.

“Annie?!” Frisk exclaimed, momentarily taking control of Asriel’s body and making him run towards the figure. It was indeed a recreation of Ananas, just like Asriel remembered her, although it was gray and looked like it was going fall apart in a second. The false Ananas smiled warmly and started talking.

“A long time ago, monsters and humans fought a war and monsters lost. They were confined underneath Mt. Ebott, and for centuries it seemed there was no way out”

“…what?” That definitely wasn’t what Asriel expected to hear, and the calm and nonchalant tone she spoke with wasn’t one he had ever heard her using before. The fact the voice wasn’t hers, but a male voice Asriel felt he had heard before didn’t help make the situation any less odd. It sounded like Gaster’s voice, distorted to make it sound different than it usually did.

Ananas continued as if Asriel hadn’t said anything. “So how did Asriel escape the mountain? For the moment that didn’t matter. It was more important to get back to the Underground. He couldn’t do it alone. Two humans decided to help him, providing Asriel of the company and friendship he’d need to endure the journey”

“Do you understand what she’s saying?”

“I think she’s telling a story about me, but why?” Asriel waited for Ananas to continue. Instead, she nodded as if she had completed a meaningful mission and faded away. Frisk gave Asriel a few words of encouragement before Asriel started climbing the false Mt. Ebott, following the path. When he encountered a gray Celia, similar to how Ananas looked, Asriel correctly supposed the story would continue.

Celia stood straight as if she was going to recite in front of a large crowd, and intoned: “It wasn’t an easy task, but they were willing to do it. Slowly, Asriel discovered humanity first-hand, and the humans accompanying him started to become better people. It was a journey meant to be optimistic and light-hearted.

Asriel and the humans met different people, helped them overcome their personal problems, and gave hope to them. Slowly, humanity also discovered the existence of monsters, the base of a bright future was set”

She vanished too. Frisk had been silent while Celia spoke, discomfort emanating from their SOUL. “Are you okay?” the prince asked them. It took Frisk a moment to say they were okay, just a bit melancholic about seeing Celia again.

By now it was pretty much confirmed the story the false humans in the void was Asriel’s story. It was a bit odd how it kept referring to Patta and Frisk as ‘humans’ instead of using their names, but there was nothing to be done about that. When Asriel reached a replica of the plateau near where the Hermit’s caves were located at, he stopped. “Is Patta trying to make me remember everything that happened?”

“If he made this mountain trail then yes…he’s reminding you of our journey” Frisk agreed, pensive “I don’t know why he would do that”

A false Graham was waiting for Asriel in front of the caves. “But something went wrong. The human child lost hope, and didn’t let Asriel nor the human adult help them. The journey continued, and bit by bit, the child continued losing hope, until they thought there was only one thing left for them: their friendship with Asriel”

Pangs of regret coursed through Asriel’s heart. He did know Frisk had practically thrown away their life over the surface to try to come to the Underground, but he hadn’t thought it was because Frisk was despairing. Frisk went silent again, and this time nothing Asriel said got them to say anything. Starting to feel like he had a large weight in the pit of his stomach, Asriel continued trudging up, finding Byssa.

“Unfortunately, the journey that once seemed nice and full of hope went wrong. The child died, and the adult was forced into the same fate monsters had suffered centuries before. Unknown to them, the disappearance of Asriel’s companions planted the seeds of doubt in the people who had believed in monsterkind’s good will, and distrust started to grow again.

Everything positive that had been achieved…was for naught”

For naught? Was that serious! But it had seemed humans were going to accept monsters! Asriel hadn’t really considered how people would react when neither Patta nor Frisk returned from Mt. Ebott. He had also forgotten there had been people waiting for them, the word about their disappearance would spread. “…did I ruin everything?” Asriel sought reassurance from Frisk.

“It wasn’t your fault, Azzy”

Asriel nodded at that, not fully convinced. Now that things were not as much about his journey over the surface, he was paying more attention now. What did that voice know about what happened? Asriel wouldn’t have been so worried if Patta were nearby, there was still no sign from his friend.

When the monster noticed he had now walked into the main road on the false Mt. Ebott, the one that had been near where Frisk had died. It felt like he was reliving those moments, the same tension was in the air. There was no other noise other than a faint background sound of static, and Asriel was sure he could hear that because of his affinity to hear low-volume sounds. It felt like a constant presence, and the only relief was that it didn’t feel menacing like the Hermit’s had been, but despite that it was still pretty uncomforting.

Ciruel was at the bifurcation where Frisk, Patta and Asriel had been separated back in the real mountain. “The adult managed to stop himself from despairing, and not too long after that, he found out he’d be the one who would cause Asriel to be over the surface. Achieving it came at a great cost, the adult was banished from reality. Some would think it was worse than being dead; he was doomed to be erased from the timeline, and to do that first there would be a great upheaval in the fabric of time and space:

The creation of alternate timelines”

Ciruel vanished, leaving Asriel immersed in his confusion. In less than a minute he had received confusing pieces of information, and he had no idea where to start with them. “He got banished from reality…so that’s what happened to Patta!”

“You knew it’d happen?”

“I felt something would happen, but I didn’t think it’d be something like that…” The last set of memories that had been inserted in his mind did show Patta would endure something, and that it’d be likely it’d be irreversible, but he had let himself hope it wouldn’t be as bad as this. What was the suitcase full of stuff for, then? Nothing in there would fix Patta or help him return to reality!

“We’ll see him again. Let’s keep going, Azzy”

“…right” A bit dispirited, Asriel continued the trek. Where was Patta? Was he okay? The closer Asriel got to the summit of the false Mt. Ebott the more nervous he felt, as if he expected something horrible to be at the top. When he got to the point where the path bifurcated towards the Barrier, he started to hear something else: a heavily distorted voice that sounded like two people were trying to talk at the same time. On the path, Cohen was standing, blocking the way upwards. The gray teenager pointed at the golden thread that could be clearly seen from where Asriel was standing.

“A new timeline would spawn from the remains of the first one. The new timeline would be one where the adult never existed. And what would happen to the old timeline? It’s unclear. The only thing confirmed is that no one would remember the adult’s existence. There could be worse effects.

If you had the power to change the past, would you do it? Even if it meant making everything null? Even if it meant condemning yourself to an unhappy existence? Even if there’s no guarantee it’d work?” he recited before vanishing. Asriel had no idea what to say. The false Cohen had asked that for a reason, that much was obvious. Was that what Patta wanted to do, and therefore what he and Frisk needed to stop? Without bothering to reply to Frisk’s concern, Asriel continued on.

Just before the summit was on sight, the last person to see was blocking the way. Asriel unconsciously prepared his magic to defend himself if necessary, it was a false version of the Hermit. They didn’t even look at Asriel while saying just a few words before fading away, those words were all that was needed to confirm Asriel’s recent fears:

“We would.

What will you do now?”

Asriel stopped. That was the big question, what was he going to do now? He did know he was here to stop Patta, that was why he had the suitcase and all, but he didn’t really understand the significance of that action. What was he supposed to say? Would he need to restrain Patta or something? Despite the summit being just a few feet away, Asriel didn’t continue. Going back wasn’t an option, and going forward scared him. Biting his lip, the monster stepped back and sat down.

“Frisk, we…we’re going to have to fight Patta, won’t we?”

Frisk didn’t reply to that at first. Encouraging Asriel seemed like the priority. “Why do you think that?”

“You heard what they said! Patta wants to change the past…should we let him do it?”

“Do you want him to do that?”

“I don’t want that! But I don’t want to fight Patta, he’s my friend…what should I do?” Asriel slouched and held his head, closing his eyes “What would you do?”

“Don’t ask me that! Azzy, if you don’t want him to change the past then don’t let him” Frisk said, and before Asriel could say anything they continued “You shouldn’t let your friends do whatever they want”

“…what? What do you mean?”

“I should have listened to you when you tried to convince me not to go to the Underground. If you had fought a bit harder maybe I’d have stayed in the city…but instead I died”

Asriel opened his eyes. “I really could have stopped you?!” Frisk must have felt the guilt that had started to build up, because they immediately backpedaled a bit.

“Tha-That’s not what I meant! What I mean is that you shouldn’t let him do that if you don’t agree…I…I think I ruined what I was trying to say” Frisk was just a child, trying to explain themselves and encourage Asriel. How were they supposed to word it? They didn’t really fully understand what they were saying! At least it seemed Asriel more or less understood the point.

“That isn’t the same thing”

“I don’t know what else to say. A lot has happened and I don’t know how to deal with it. I’m sorry…”

Asriel nodded. “Golly, Frisk, I think I get it. I’ll try my best…I just hope I won’t have to fight”

“What’ll you do if we have to?”

“…then I’ll do it, I guess. I won’t like it, but I will do it” For the wellbeing of everyone in the timeline. The monster stood up. It was time to get done with it once and for all.

“Azzy, you’re my best friend. I’ll be with you until the end” Frisk added. Asriel grinned, his eyes watering up. He hurried to dry the tears, grinning. Despite the circumstances and the perspective of having to confront a friend, he felt deeply grateful for Frisk’s support.

“Thanks…you’re my best friend too”

-ooooo-

Creating the false Mt. Ebott had been a lot more hassle than it should have been.

Why did the Entity do that? He supposed it was because he wanted to delay Asriel’s arrival, have more time to think, inform Asriel of what was going on – even though he had been forced to borrow Gaster’s voice for the false copies, managing to remove the distortion just enough to for him to talk clearly enough - and despite having achieved all that, he didn’t feel any less nervous. He fully expected Asriel to oppose his decision. The part of him that was Gaster didn’t understand why he wanted to wait for Asriel to show up, though. They had been arguing for a while already, refusing to move towards the golden timeline while Asriel arrived.

“BY NOW YOU COULD HAVE DONE A LOT OF PROGRESS. DO IT ALREADY!”

“I said I won’t”

“ARE YOU DAFT? THE PRINCE WON’T ACCEPT IT. HE’LL STOP YOU, AND YOU’LL LOSE YOUR CHANCE”

“I know!” to be completely honest, the Entity was hoping Asriel would be able to convince him not to go ahead. It was true Gaster had suggested the correct procedure to modify the timeline well enough to turn it into a timeline where the loop didn’t ever happen – therefore Frisk and Gaster would live and Patta would be alive over the surface…miserable, but alive, while everyone else they met would be as if they never met Patta nor Asriel – but the Entity didn’t feel confident about it all working very well. After all, Gaster had admitted he wasn’t sure about it, and that there was a risk the consequences could be quite dangerous for reality itself.

Besides there was something else, too. “…I also want to see Asriel and Frisk again. They’re going to be pretty much my last contact with the timeline, if this doesn’t work. I want to at least say goodbye”

“ARE YOU SERIOUS?”

“It’s bad enough already that I couldn’t even talk to my parents one last time! My family…for them it’ll be like I never existed…”

“I CONCEDE MAYBE YOU HAVE REASONS TO BE DISPIRITED BUT—“

“And since Asriel and Frisk are here then may as well talk to them just one last time! We know they’ll forget me once they return into the timeline no matter what. This is the last time we’ll remember each other” the Entity pretended to sigh. It was impossible, not having any breath at all “I just…I just want to talk to them, to both of them”

“I DON’T UNDERSTAND IT, BUT I CAN’T CHANGE YOUR MIND EITHER. DO WHATEVER YOU WANT”

After that, even though the Entity tried to talk, nothing came out of his mouth. It seemed that the strange quality his voice had made it impossible for him to talk unless Gaster was willing to say anything. Not having anything else to do other than waiting, the Entity steeled his determination and tried to organize his thoughts, what he’d say to Asriel and how this all could end.

Asriel arrived just a few minutes later. The Entity stared at the misshapen form of the monster in front of him. Asriel’s body still was strange and frankly unsettling to look at, but the Entity knew that it still was the monster child he had escorted through half a world, the kid he considered to be the one to have kickstarted his mindset change and who he had grown to think of as a dear friend, despite only knowing him for five days. Of course, the Entity hadn’t forgotten the other child that was in front of him: Frisk, whom had been a valuable support, whom the Entity couldn’t imagine not meeting, and whose death he still felt responsible for.

It was extremely difficult for the Entity to accept the last time he’d see Asriel or Frisk would be there.

“…HELTHELORE, ASRIHEEISL “ the Entity said. Asriel winced, the static in the voice hurting his ears. The Entity thought fast, moving his arm. Part of the mountain disintegrated, the shards that had been forming it whirling behind him. Methodically and trying his best to stay calm and not show signs of panic, the Entity moved part of the shards to form words in front of Asriel:

Is this better?

Asriel read the words and hesitantly nodded. Satisfied, the Entity dispelled the words. It was going to be uncomfortable to not to be able to speak, but at least he’d be able to communicate. “Patta? Is that…is that you?”

Yeah, it’s me.

I’m happy to see you again!

Although the Entity’s face didn’t change expressions, Asriel could see the being’s face twitching, as if he was repressing a big smile. “…Patta, what happened to you? You’re…”

I’m not dead. It’s a long story.

“What about everything those copies of our friends said? What was all that about?”

The Entity didn’t reply immediately. He fidgeted, looking around as if he expected help to come from somewhere, but it was useless. He had to answer.

I thought you’d like to know what I intend to do.

That was what Asriel had feared. It was one thing to hear it from false copies of all the humans he had met, and it was something entirely different to hear it from Patta himself. Asriel shook his head, raising his voice. “Why would you do something like that? I thought you said you wouldn’t run away from anything ever again!”

The Entity’s expression soured. It was difficult to see, due to the way his features blurred and almost melded with his face, but the shards forming words started moving abruptly and dangerously fast.

I’m not running away from anything! This is the opposite.

I’m going to take action!

Can’t you understand that?!

“I kinda do, but…” Asriel waved his hands, unsure of what words to use “This doesn’t seem right to me! Frisk doesn’t like it either. There must be some other way…”

Do you even know why I’ll do this?

It could fix everything.

Everyone will survive in the modified timeline. That should show you how important it is.

“Everyone? What do you mean?” ‘Everyone’ seemed like a kind of excessive word to define three people. The Entity’s shoulders slumped. He didn’t like the perspective of lying through omission, but it was going to be necessary.

…Ananas is bringing our friends to Mt. Ebott.

Asriel opened his mouth to shout, but he was too stunned to say anything, and Frisk was still leaving the control of the body up to the monster, but their opinion was resonating in their SOUL. That was practically a death sentence! What was she thinking?!

They’re going to look for Frisk and me.

Remember the legend: the travelers who climb Mt. Ebott never return.

“…so you…you’re going to try to fix that?”

Yes! They’ll live, Frisk will live, Gaster will live and I will live.

It’ll be better than trying to continue living in this timeline.

Minutes passed. Asriel was staring at his feet, trying to understand the grim news he had just received. The thought of the six people he knew being killed by the Hermit was terrifying, and a large part of him wanted to let Patta change the timeline. ‘I’m not sure that’s the solution, Azzy’

“What else can we do?” Asriel inquired. The Entity, thinking he was asking him, gave his answer too.

Trust me said the letters in the void.

‘Stay determined’ said Frisk.

That settled it. Asriel raised his head, defiant. This was no time to doubt himself, or doubt what he wanted. It was true he wasn’t sure if it was even the right thing to do, but it’s what he felt was the right decision. It was what his heart was guiding him at. “…you can’t…”

What? I didn’t hear you.

“You can’t do that! I know this isn’t how it should have gone, but there must be some other way other than changing the timeline! Patta, this can’t be the only way!”

The Entity scowled. While he had expected Asriel to be against it – and welcomed it – it didn’t stop him from getting annoyed.

If I tell you it’s the only way, then it is the only way.

I know what I’m doing.

“Maybe you do, but I’m sure it’s not the only option we have. You’re ignoring other possibilities!”

Such as what?

Tell me a single one, then!

“Let the timeline continue as it is” Asriel demanded, staring straight at the Entity’s blurry eyes “I can save them! I have Frisk’s SOUL, I can cross the barrier and keep them safe. They’ll be okay!” Hearing that stirred different emotions in the Entity’s SOUL. At first there was relief, because that was something that made some sense. If there was someone who could save their friends it’d be Asriel, after all, hadn’t he saved him from the Hermit before? But other emotions started to overshadow that relief.

First it was fear and worry: Asriel, leaving the Underground to put himself at risk? What if something went wrong? What if the Hermit got the better of him, somehow? After everything that had happened during these five days it’d be stupid and useless if it all ended because Asriel made a mistake and got killed by the Hermit! That’d definitely be the worst possible event he could think right now.

And then there was the deep wrath. It was most likely a combination of both Gaster’s lingering will and Patta’s own wishes things hadn’t gone this way, but a part of him wanted to take Asriel and shout directly to his face that this was a betrayal. How could he leave two of his friends dead when it could be solved?! What about Gaster?! The worst part was that he knew this was likely to be a very selfish feeling. He knew Asriel was right in a way, that there were other options, but those rational thoughts got shushed by his rage and feelings of impotence. The Entity’s hands twitched, the shards that had been lazily drifting behind him starting to swirl in a vortex.

Are you insane?! You’ll die if you return out there!

How can that be any better?!

“I won’t die! I-I won’t let it happen. I can save them, Patta!”

You can’t guarantee you can!

It’s too risky!

“It’s better than having to change everything that has happened so far!” Asriel shouted back “We can make something good happen!”

No one will trust you out there.

“They are our friends!”

How will you excuse Frisk’s death? My death?

“I…”

How will you explain you have Frisk’s SOUL?

“I don’t—“

See?! You have no plan! This won’t end well!

“But I don’t want our future to be out of our control like that! Let me help them!”

Future?!

“We can continue despite everything! I know Frisk and I can! Everyone can have a good future!”

“THTHERE’DERE’D BE NBEO FUNO FTUREUTU!RE!”

The Entity hadn’t realized they had gotten progressively angrier until he shouted that. Asriel was taken aback by the sudden outburst, his mood subsiding. It was clear this wouldn’t get anywhere if they continued shouting at each other like that. The Entity would have sighed if he could. He seemed to be feeling guilty for everything he was saying, but Asriel wasn’t sure. It was difficult to read the Entity’s expression.

After a moment the Entity raised his arm, letters forming in the void again.

…there’d be no future. If anything happens to you…it’d all have been for nothing.

I don’t want that to happen, Asriel…

While it was true part of the Entity’s reason to try to modify the timeline was the wish to change his fate, he did want Asriel to not to put himself in danger. Martyrdom wasn’t a smart idea and the Entity knew it now, although martyrdom hadn’t been his intention when entering the void. Still, if there was anything to be done that could avoid Asriel sacrificing himself when there were other options, he’d try.

“What do you wanted to do, Patta? I don’t get it very well yet…” Asriel asked mutedly.

I was going to make it so you never appeared at my house.

The Entity didn’t have to say anything else, Asriel understood the implications. Those five days wouldn’t have existed at all. Patta, Frisk and Gaster would live, but at what cost? It’d mean everyone would remain unchanged.

Patta would continue living a miserable existence. Ananas would continue treating life as a game of favors, uncaring unless it directly affected her. Frisk would continue living with Celia, having to depend of his own wits and other people’s charity to survive. Celia would continue alone, without a family to depend on and waiting for a miracle that may never come. Graham would continue hating humanity, yet smiling and pretending he hadn’t lost all faith on everyone. Byssa would continue blaming herself and Mt. Ebott for a couple dozen people’s deaths, letting those feelings eat her up from inside. Ciruel would continue at the mercy of his SOUL, forcing himself to trudge through life. Cohen would continue being in the Youth Troop, being with friends that he may or may not be better without.

…and Asriel…he would continue living in the Underground, unaware of the world above the surface. Compared to what everyone else would go through it wasn’t like he’d be unhappy or sad, but Asriel knew something for sure:

Those few days over the surface had, at the very least, set the bases for him to grow differently than he would have otherwise. In just five days he had seen the many problems people have, how humans would react to monsters, he had accepted the need to defend himself, he had sympathized with people, he had been mistreated by other people…all that was important. It had all been for the better.

Asriel felt he was a better person because of all that.

“I knew stopping you was the right thing to do” Asriel smiled wryly. The Entity nodded.

Asriel, if you’re going to save our friends then you must prove it to me.

“What?”

Prove to me you’ll be able to survive, that you won’t let yourself get killed. That’s all I ask for.

“We’re going to have to fight?” For a moment Asriel had thought it wouldn’t be necessary, but it seemed those hopes had just been trashed, but he wasn’t able to guess what exactly was the Entity’s intention:

It was his last attempt to get away with his plan. Defeating Asriel would give the Entity enough of an excuse to get away with modifying the timeline, arguing Asriel wouldn’t be able to survive, and if he lost the fight then…well he’d have to accept it. Even though the part of him that was Gaster was trying to influence him to backstab Asriel if the Entity lost and modify the timeline anyways, the majority that was Patta didn’t want to. He owed the kid that much respect, at the very least.

We do. I won’t…I won’t hold back.

I’m sorry, Asriel, it’s just that… the words faded away, being replaced after a moment of ‘silence’:

…I don’t know. Sorry. Whenever you’re ready.

Asriel nodded sadly. So that was how it was going to be. ‘What’s the plan, Azzy?’

The monster murmured low enough for the Entity to not to hear him. “We’ll fight, but there’s no way I’ll attack him. I just need to show him I can survive. That shouldn’t be too hard…right?”

‘I know you can do it’

“Thanks, Frisk…” Asriel looked at the Entity, talking with a tone that showed he had intention of backing off. “I’m ready. Let’s do it!”

The Entity didn’t respond. Instead, the ground started to shake. Asriel had forgotten the whole false mountain was formed by the same strange shards the Entity’s body was made of, and since the Entity had full control of it all…Asriel tried to get away, take advantage of the void’s strange properties and will himself to float away, but he couldn’t move fast enough. A large part of the summit of the false Mt. Ebott formed a large wall in front of him, which then moved towards Asriel, pushing the monster far away. Although it was done forcefully, Asriel could sense the Entity was taking great care in not hurting him at all despite the constant static-like current the shards were directing into Asriel’s fur.

“P-Patta, wait!” Asriel tried to push against the wall but he couldn’t stop it from getting him as far as possible from where the Entity had been. Once the Entity judged he had been far enough, the wall dissolved, all the shards returning to where the Entity was. Asriel was left there, floating. In the distance the golden thread of the timeline glowed, and in front of it, a whirlwind of those strange shards moved in spirals.

It was the end. Neither Asriel nor the Entity had any ill intentions towards each other, but the both of them were determined to win. Reality itself was at stake, as well as the lives of countless people, although both of them only knew how it’d affect just a few. Asriel fully believed not changing the timeline was the right decision, and although he didn’t like it, he was going to protect the timeline even if fighting against his friend and temporal caretaker was what he needed to do.

Once the Entity got Asriel far away from the timeline – he didn’t want to risk it getting damaged – he started to gather every single piece of shard that was in the void. The body he had created to face Asriel crumbled away, the red SOUL being the only thing left. He knew Asriel wouldn’t give up easily, but that didn’t mean he intended to make it easier for the monster. First things first: intimidation. If the Entity could manage to make the task of defeating him much more overbearing than how it actually was, he hoped he’d have the advantage over Asriel. For that purpose, he gathered the shards and connected everything in that way that formed what he envisioned now: something intricate. Something impossibly large. Something endless. Something he thought Asriel wouldn’t get pass through no matter what:

An endless cycle.

The shards formed paths and streams, curving and converging into one same central mass. Curiously enough, the Entity’s form started to resemble a tree. Branches connected to the roots, roots connected to the trunk, and the trunk divided into countless branches, and in the center of it all, one single red SOUL trapped in his own creation’s eternal nature.