What Does Red Mean? #MyUndertaleJournal

Word Count: 3045 words.

tw: suicide and slight mention of blood.

Not sticked to canon.

Constructive criticism is the best thing ever.

I really hope this is feature worthy because if it gets featured I will die of happiness.

edit: I waKE UP AND THIS IS FEATURED AND LIKED BY AURORA IM DEAD AAAAA

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POV: ASRIEL DREEMURR

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MONDAY:

What does red mean?

A lot of questions have formed in my head ever since Chara fell. Way too many questions that I normally wouldn't have cared much about. This question though, it's a bit too different, isn't it? A bit too big to think of at the moment. Being at the Core, there's no certain way to know whether it's night or day, actually. But Chara is asleep, and I feel I should be, too.

I reading one of mom's ridiculously ancient books. It had said that red is the color of prosperity, luck, happiness and love. A true fact, the book had stated. And I believe it. Mom's eyes are crimson red, and all that she'd ever given us was love and happiness all year round. I may never know the origins of that book, but golly, it speaks the truth. I guess. I personally have grown to love red.

Chara has red eyes, too. Not too similar to mom's, but they still shine a bright shade of red. It's not really seen due to the hair on their eyes, but when it's visible, it's beautiful. Beautiful as in shiny and mostly full of hope, as dad would often describe them during a few times of the day. And once again I had believed what I read. Chara brought hope to the whole underground when they fell. But that's not what's worrying me.

It's them.

They don't seem too. . .happy, or loved. Does red only work on everyone around its owner? Why doesn't Chara really show happiness? Why do they often look empty? Why do they seem to work hard to make us happy, but not themselves?

What am I doing wrong as a brother? Am I not trying my best to keep them happy?

How does one be a brother?

I'm asking myself too many rhetorical questions, aren't I?

Not too proud now, mom. Are you?

They are sometimes happy, though. A few days ago, mom had brought some chocolate with her from the market. She usually gets an amount to last longer. Only difference? Chara started to munch on these like crazy, as if it was what they lived on. Fortunately they had shared some with us, and today, they asked mom where had she brought that brand of chocolate. And I have a feeling our fridge would be filled with chocolate in no time. Ha!

Guess what I'm trying to say is. . .they looked actually content for a while. Although not often smiling and usually hideous, I believe they are full of heart. I've known them for a mere week, it feels we've been close siblings for years.

Chara's just sneezed. Are they really asleep?

I see a chocolate bar beside them. Bright red wrapper, glistening in the light of my lamp.

Red again.

Maybe I should sleep. Maybe my mind isn't too fit right now to think of stuff like this, let alone write in a notebook under faint light. But I'll try simplifying the original question a little bit, maybe I'll get to think more clearly after waking up.

What does red mean in eyes?

:sparkle: :sparkle: :sparkle: :sparkle: :sparkle: :sparkle: :sparkle: :sparkle: :sparkle:

TUESDAY:

Howdy. Guess I should call that a failure.

I haven't been able to think clearly about what red means. But now as I think of that question, it's a bit stupid, considering an answer is already there in books. Guess I just would like to interpret it my way, perhaps.

Currently writing this at Hotland. Which is, mind you, seriously hot. Having fur isn't helping either. It's a bliss to have a small hotel here, which even has a restaurant. Best escape from the flaming temperature out there. Lava is mostly likely still boiling underneath the muddy land where we were standing, and my legs were heavily disapproving. Contrary to where we just were, this place isn't too hot or unbearable. It's got some breeze flowing through the air around us, at least.

I should probably also say that it's Chara's first day in Hotland. They may not seem too affected by the heat, but I've seen them occasionally lift their hair above the back of their neck. Nevertheless, they looked pretty amused by the atmosphere, the kinds of monsters and rarity of plants there, since back at our home, dad's pretty much filled the whole throne room with golden flowers.

We've also reached the huge lab where Dr. Gaster resides. A creepy aura surrounded it for some reason and I'm sure Chara had seen how scared I was at that time. They've commented about how Gaster may just be a regular mad scientist, and I put that into consideration.

I mean, it may be true. . .right?

During our walk through Hotland, though, I've taken a look at how the place had too many orange, yellow and red splashes in various spots. Needless to say, I thought of how much red there was in the region, and how hot it is. Red is one of the colors of fire, isn't it? And fire is hot.

The colors were beautiful, though. So were the many shades of red. I guess I just really love red. Heh.

But what could it be meaning here?

Chara wants to return home. Guess I should go, too.

Before going, though, I think I'd better write that question down.

What does red mean in fire? In nature?

:sparkle: :sparkle: :sparkle: :sparkle: :sparkle: :sparkle: :sparkle: :sparkle: :sparkle:

WEDNESDAY:

For some reason, Mom and Dad decided to visit Dr. Gaster very late today. I doubt they enjoy visiting Hotland, I sure don't after yesterday's trip to there. I don't think Chara does either. The monsters there aren't really the worst, but they can be annoying, along with the heat. Perfect annoyance combo.

We had to go with our parents to the creepy mad scientist lab. We shouldn't stay home alone, apparently. I was, uh, a bit scared, to say the truth. Ha ha. But hey, how much can a large lab be scary? It can't be that bad. A little exploring doesn't usually hurt anybody,

. . .right?

It's alright, Azzy. When you wake up, go through the door to the toilet. And get some Chisps. Sorry for writing here.

I take back what I said I take back what I said I take said back-

I'm shivering for some reason, and it isn't even that cold here? No idea where Chara is and I don't think they're carrying their phone with them. This place is huge and. . .disturbing. I don't wanna stay here. I'm hearing noises coming from almost everywhere, and some metal sounds? It's so faint.

The fans I'm sitting opposite to aren't moving and there's quite the fog here. I don't even know if it's fog. I wouldn't like to investigate. I don't know if I'll stay here forever. I have little to no intention of getting up. I'm probably too much of a coward for that. I'm. . .tempted to bleat.

It's been a while since I've written that last thing. The fans are violently moving. . .for some reason. But having sat down here for some time made me feel a bit better. Maybe I don't feel too much of a coward now. I think I'll go look around for Chara.

We're finally home and I've never been so relieved. We've gotten a bit of scolding from Mom. I, uh, may have tesrre up a little, I guess. Just a little! But she wasn't as angry as Dr. Gaster, whom Chara said was really good at hiding his displease. I'd say that too. Perhaps entering that door to the toilet wasn't the best idea.

However, I think I found something interesting there. Something that took a few jumpscares to reach, but I guess that's fine! Going to write it down here in case I get to understand it later. There was a huge screen in one of the rooms. It took nearly the whole northern wall of the room, and it glowed a faint blue. The metal was cold. And it was so big and shiny, I think my eyes almost burned as I tried to read what was on it. Which didn't really come with a result.

Everything was written in this strange language that was just a large set of symbols that I had no idea what they mean. I looked around for clues, but there was nothing I could understand. Besides, I was sort of creeped out still, so my brain wasn't in the mood to work on a puzzle. This puzzle was even worse than Mom's puzzles!

There was a keyboard in front of the screen. A great number of keys and buttons were in front of me, all of symbols similar to the ones on the glowing board. I. . .I didn't dare press any. At least, uh, not without a translator? There was something else on the screen that didn't seem like the other symbols.

Two hearts -- one of them upside down -- were floating between the huge paragraphs of text (which were significantly longer than this poor excuse for a journal). One heart was completely white. A pure, snow-like color filled the inside of the shape. The other heart, however. . .

It glowed a charming red.

Although it wasn't, it almost appeared to be slowly beating.

I'm going to assume this is related to. . .uh. . .some sort of science? Or do the hearts symbolize something? I guess it's safe to ask, then. . .

What does red mean in science?

. . .

These were souls, Asriel.

:sparkle: :sparkle: :sparkle: :sparkle: :sparkle: :sparkle: :sparkle: :sparkle: :sparkle:

THURSDAY:

Waterfall looks as magical as always. The stars are shining down on the area, reflecting the cyan water under black platforms with the fabled blue Echo flowers all around. I've always loved this place. The crystals hidden in almost every wall and corner added more to the overall mysteriousness of it, and it's sometimes fun to try and spot as many as we can.

We come here too often, I bet we now know almost every secret in this place. Especially. . .that obnoxious village under the glowing mushrooms. Also, turns out Chara might be allergic to, uh, Temmies? So we kinda decided not to stay for longer.

This 'short' rest has been going for too long now. We can't leave the place just yet! Well, at least I can't. Chara on the other hand doesn't seem too fond of staying put, so they went for a walk around the bridges and Echo flowers. I saw them poking multiple flowers of 'em and hearing what conversations might've been held next to them. I couldn't hear much, but a certain flower turned Chara's face a bit grim. I have no idea what it said, and I might have to ask them later.

I think I should go now, though. I wouldn't like to be left alone.

My legs hurt.

Chara isn't a fan of rests, unfortunately. I'm lucky I got to sit for a while next to Gerson's. While Chara talks with him, I think I can grant my poor feet some time to refresh. We'd found something new on the way, though. It didn't look like it had much value, but it looked kinda pretty and maybe plain. Normally, it wouldn't have interested me. . .I guess.

Somewhere after the glowing crystals, at a corner, there was a ball. A round, circular ball. Oh, was it round!

And it was red, too.

A shiny layer of bright red that reflected our faces on the ball. It actually looked pretty, and I had no idea what it was doing at a corner like this. Did it belong to someone? Did it fall from the dump? Either way, it may have been precious. I don't know. It just had this feeling of being of sentimental value. . .or just material value. I wouldn't know, unfortunately.

I wanted to bring it home, but then I thought it'd probably be best to leave it where it was. Perhaps. . .somebody else would find it and give it what it deserves.

Although. . .

It was red, which immediately had triggered the same question I'd been asking for a while now. I'm beginning to think it was silly to ask such a thing, but my mind refuses to brush it away. Help.

That ball keeps connecting to value with me, and since it does, I think I'll have to try and ask. . .

What does red mean in worth?

:sparkle: :sparkle: :sparkle: :sparkle: :sparkle: :sparkle: :sparkle: :sparkle: :sparkle:

FRIDAY:

Chara has a plan.

I'm supposed to keep this a secret. Away from anybody, even Mom and Dad. But at the same time, it feels like too much weight on me. . .or just a big responsibility. I'm afraid keeping my mouth shut would be difficult, so at the moment, I only have this notebook to say how I feel about all this.

I don't think I need to recite what the plan was. I'm sure I wouldn't forget it soon or ever. If it does go as planned, I think I'd be more saddened than relieved. I think the same for our parents, too. It would be too much grief for me, at least. Actually, I don't think any of us knows how souls work yet. I don't know what this fusion would come up with. It's been so long since a monster had absorbed a human soul. And to think I'd have to do that to my own sibling. . .it terrifies me. I don't think I'm exaggerating. Am I?

I don't think I can do this I don't think I-

I said I'd never doubt them.

But I am in a really, really big state of doubt right now. I'm lost and I don't know what I'm supposed to do. I don't want to disappoint them, though. I don't want to dissapoint anybody. But I don't want to lose those who I love either. And if absorbing their soul means Chara has die somehow, I don't know if I can do it.

I don't feel like writing much in here today. I hope Dad and Mom don't see anything off with both of us.

And. . .Chara?

I hope you're not reading this.

:sparkle: :sparkle: :sparkle: :sparkle: :sparkle: :sparkle: :sparkle: :sparkle: :sparkle:

SATURDAY:

They're not replying to any of us. Chara's eyes are closed for most of the time, and their breathing is irregular and sometimes becomes too slow, so slow we think they're already dead. Their temperature isn't doing well, either. And they probably can't move.

I don't know what they've gotten themselves into. Why they're enduring all of this for a plan that isn't even certain to go well.

But in the meantime, life's suddenly different without Chara being with me. I'm often not allowed to go into the room while Dr. Gaster is here, so I try to take a walk around the underground. Although Chara had stayed with us for a short while, it felt like we'd been siblings for so long. It feels weird not having them along. Although this had been the life I've been living before they fell, I don't seem to be able to get used to it again.

And currently, I don't know what to do.

I don't want this plan to move forward. I don't want all of this to end. But Dr. Gaster isn't too reassuring. He came back and started talking to Dad quietly and seriously, and I couldn't see or hear anything. I think I should go and see how Chara's doing.

It's not well. At all.

They sometimes bleed. I see a trickle of red blood every once in a while from their mouth. I'm scared, even though I know what they want the outcome to be.

They've opened their eyes once, though. They opened them for enough time to see me tearing up and they came to realization, managed to hold my hand and assured me it was going to fine. Everybody's going to be free and happy.

I cried even more.

I suddenly felt utterly weak. And I felt almost empty, if that makes sense.

. . .what if, one day, I literally can't feel?

:sparkle: :sparkle: :sparkle: :sparkle: :sparkle: :sparkle: :sparkle: :sparkle: :sparkle:

SUNDAY:

I reckon it's time. I don't know. I hope not. I don't think there's even any hope left.

Chara's health hasn't improved since yesterday, but instead, transitioning into a much worse phase than before. It wasn't that bad with Dad. But even then, I guess it differs due to Dad being a strong guy.

The last three days have been going very slowly, and it was ultimately agonizing and painful to see them like this. But if Chara's not giving up after all this, I'm not either. I don't want their suffering to go to waste. But it's for me to do it. I don't know.

Mom often checks on me and tries her best to lie. She tries to tell me that they're alright and will be fine. That if Dad survived this then there's a chance they will, too. But I know better. Chara wants to die. They won't allow themselves to be healed. Mom's tried. She's tried healing them with magic, but it did no good. I'm almost sure it was intentional on Chara's part.

Mom also questions too much of why they had eaten the buttercups -- why had even touched them -- if they saw what happened to Dad. And how much we've been warned about these flowers afterwards. She couldn't understand why would they ignore a warning like that and decide to risk it anyway. She tried to convince herself it was due to Chara still being a kid and often forgetting or ignoring warnings, but she knew Chara wasn't of that kind. At least, they didn't look like it.

I hate how I can't tell her why they're so ill and why she's in so much pain that may be almost reaching Chara's.

I don't think it's that far yet. As much as I hate this feeling, it'll probably be over tonight. I haven't been able to know what red means, though. And I don't think it matters much now, as I can currently only see it in blood. No chocolate bars, Chara's eyes won't open, and Mom is in tears most of the time.

I don't know what'll happen. I don't want to know what'll happen. I can't guarantee I'll even be here.

If somebody reads this, can you at least answer my questions?

Goodnight.

. . .

I miss you, Asriel.

:sparkle: :sparkle: :sparkle: :sparkle: :sparkle: :sparkle: :sparkle: :sparkle: :sparkle:

Author's Note:

Whew. Did I really do this.

So! Guess I never really showed my "writer" side on here. This challenge was a way to get it on! I've been writing for a long while now aaa. If you'd like, check out my Wattpad (same name lmao). No Undertale fics there, tho. But a few original oneshots and a discontinued sci fi novel.

Unnecessary self-promotion aside, hope this was good enough. This was literally done on the last week of the challenge because I've been an ultimate procrastinator. I've put off doing this for a looong while. Oh man.

So basically, that was seriously rushed and mostly written between 1 ~ 4 am each night. Sorry if if Asriel's a bit ooc tho. But I'm really happy I got to finish this at least and participated in the challenge. Hope this was worthy of your time!

wow ok lmao enough with the good grammar and punctuation and sentence structure here i am again as the swine i am.

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