The Lingering Tragedy: Why Asriel Returned to Flowey
Asriel’s transformation back into Flowey after the True Pacifist ending of Undertale is a heartbreaking consequence of the game’s core themes of love, loss, and the nature of the soul. He reverts because his monster form, the Asriel Dreemurr we fight at the end, is entirely sustained by the power of the gathered human and monster souls. Once he releases these souls to free the Underground, the magic holding his resurrected form together dissipates, leaving only the soulless flower, Flowey, behind. Without a soul or the borrowed power of others, he simply cannot exist as Asriel.
The Science of Souls and Resurrection
Alphys’ Experiment and the Absence of a Soul
The story of Flowey begins with Alphys’ experiments with determination. After Asriel’s death, his ashes were scattered in the garden where golden flowers bloomed. One of these flowers was subsequently injected with determination, an extract from human souls, in an attempt to bring life back to the dead. However, the experiment produced something unexpected. This flower retained Asriel’s memories and personality, but it lacked a soul.
The Importance of Souls in Monster Existence
Souls are crucial for monsters in Undertale. They are not just vessels of life force; they are the source of their emotions, empathy, and the capacity to love. Without a soul, Flowey, despite possessing Asriel’s memories, was incapable of feeling. This absence of emotion is what ultimately leads to his cruel and nihilistic behavior.
The Borrowed Power of Asriel Dreemurr
During the final battle of the True Pacifist route, Flowey absorbs the souls of all the monsters in the Underground, along with the six human souls, to become Asriel Dreemurr, the “God of Hyperdeath”. This form is incredibly powerful, capable of manipulating time and reality. However, this power is not inherent. It is entirely dependent on the souls he has absorbed.
Releasing the Souls: The Catalyst for Transformation
The climax of the fight involves Frisk (the player character) reaching out to the lost souls within Asriel, reminding them of their relationships and their hopes. This act of empathy and compassion weakens Asriel’s hold on the souls. Driven by a desire to atone for his actions and give everyone the happy ending they deserve, Asriel releases all the souls he had absorbed. This noble act, however, comes at a great personal cost: it’s the very act that transforms him back into Flowey.
The Tragic Implications
The Inability to Feel
Flowey’s greatest tragedy is his inability to feel love or empathy. This is repeatedly emphasized throughout the game. He craves these emotions, recognizing their value and importance. In his Asriel form, albeit briefly, he experiences these feelings again, leading to genuine remorse and a desire for forgiveness. However, his reversion to Flowey robs him of that capacity once more.
A Cycle of Loneliness
The ending of the Pacifist Route leaves Flowey in a deeply melancholic state. He is aware of his limitations and his inability to connect with others in a meaningful way. While the other characters are able to move on and find happiness on the surface, Flowey remains trapped in the Underground, a constant reminder of what he once was and what he can never be again. Some theories and fan-made content suggest he might eventually find a path to redemption or connection, but that remains outside the scope of the game’s official narrative. To delve deeper into the educational aspects of gaming, consider exploring resources like the Games Learning Society at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/.
Hope and Interpretation
Despite the overall tragedy of Flowey’s continued existence, there are glimmers of hope. His final conversation with Frisk suggests a degree of self-awareness and a willingness to try to change, even within the confines of his soulless existence. The interpretation of Flowey’s future is left open, allowing players to contemplate the complex themes of redemption, forgiveness, and the enduring power of choice.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What happened to Asriel at the end of the Pacifist Route?
Asriel absorbs the souls of the monsters and the six human souls to transform into his powerful form. He then battles Frisk, but eventually releases all the souls, allowing him to move on and free the monsters. However, the release of these souls causes him to revert to his original form, Flowey, as he can no longer sustain his Asriel form without them.
2. Does Flowey leave the Underground with the others?
It’s ambiguous in the game. It is not explicitly stated whether Flowey leaves the Underground with the other monsters. The ending sequence focuses on the other characters as they begin their new lives on the surface. Fan speculation and some supplementary materials suggest he might follow them, but his ultimate fate is left largely to interpretation.
3. Does Chara know Asriel is Flowey?
Given Chara’s observant nature and their connection to Asriel, it’s highly likely they are aware that Flowey is Asriel. Chara is present during the True Pacifist ending when Flowey transforms into Asriel, making it virtually impossible for them to be unaware of the connection.
4. Why did Asriel become evil?
Asriel didn’t inherently become evil. Alphys brought him back to life as Flowey without a soul. Without a soul, Flowey lacks empathy and the ability to love, causing him to become twisted and resentful. He lacks the fundamental emotional building blocks for morality.
5. Is Omega Flowey more powerful than Asriel?
No, Asriel is significantly more powerful than Omega Flowey. Asriel possesses the equivalent of seven human souls, while Omega Flowey only has six. Asriel can also manipulate and even destroy timelines, a feat beyond Omega Flowey’s capabilities.
6. Can Asriel beat Gaster?
While it’s difficult to say definitively, the game’s files suggest that Gaster technically has higher attack and defense stats than Asriel. However, the context of these stats and the nature of Gaster’s existence are ambiguous. Therefore, a direct comparison is speculative.
7. Why is Flowey scared of Chara?
Flowey is scared of Chara because Chara embodies a genocidal tendency. Chara doesn’t care about any other being and would kill them with pleasure.
8. Why can’t you save Asriel permanently?
Asriel can’t be saved permanently because he requires a soul to maintain his form and capacity for empathy. After releasing the souls he absorbed, he lacks the necessary power to sustain his Asriel form, thus reverting back to Flowey. Saving Asriel is not possible without altering the core mechanics established in the game.
9. Who created Flowey?
Alphys created Flowey. She injected a golden flower with determination, giving it sentience and the memories of Asriel, but without a soul.
10. Why does Flowey warn you about Sans?
Flowey warns you about Sans because Sans possesses the ability to sense anomalies in the timeline, especially related to saving and resetting. Flowey understands that Sans is a threat when he discovers the player’s ability to manipulate the timeline.
11. Why doesn’t Flowey have a soul?
Flowey doesn’t have a soul because he was created through artificial means. Alphys’s experiment resurrected Asriel’s essence and memories within a flower, but it couldn’t replicate the creation of a true soul.
12. What is the saddest ending in Undertale?
The “Betrayed Undyne” ending is widely considered one of the saddest. In this ending, you befriend Undyne and Papyrus but kill other monsters, leading to Undyne’s disappointment and a tragic outcome.
13. Can you fight Asriel after killing Flowey initially?
Yes, killing Asgore and Flowey in a neutral run doesn’t prevent you from pursuing the True Pacifist route and ultimately fighting Asriel as the final boss. You need to backtrack and fulfill the requirements for the True Pacifist ending by befriending Undyne and Alphys.
14. How did Chara become evil?
Chara’s morality is complex. The Genocide Route corrupts the player’s character (Frisk), driving them to violence. This allows Chara, who is attached to Frisk, to become vengeful and psychopathic.
15. Can Flowey be beaten?
In the context of the game’s narrative, Flowey can be beaten both as Omega Flowey and Asriel. However, his defeat in these encounters is less about traditional combat and more about manipulating the game’s mechanics and appealing to the power of the souls he has absorbed. Flowey’s ultimate downfall comes from within.