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Backrooms: Multiverse of MadnessThe first thing Flowey saw was the yellow wallpaper. The worn down barriers stood tall in all directions as far as he could tell. For the first time in ages, he truly felt completely alone.The flower recounted how long had it been since Frisk had rescued monsterkind from their prison. How many years had it been to where he made the decision to not return with them?Long enough to start imagining yellow walls everywhere?He took to a deep breath. The smell of recently dried paint brushing up against him. The humming of the lights above interrupted any complete thought much to his annoyance.Was he actually dead for good?He knew he couldn’t save or load anymore so this had to be the afterlife of some sort? He poked his head towards the endless halls of yellow rooms.Was he in hell?He burrowed underground and felt the sharp pain of wood chips as he moved closer to the left most room. He could still pain, and it was unlikely he was dreaming.‘Hello? Is anyone here?’No response. He focused on hearing anything else but the droning lights. Wherever he was, it wasn’t like anything he had ever seen before. The intense feeling of isolation made his time in the underground more preferable by comparison. This isolation felt otherworldly, and it served as a cruel reminder of what he subjected the underground to all of those other resets.Part of him like this was the end. That this was his final place in the grand scheme of things. Amending his relationship with Frisk was not enough to excuse the countless resets. The pain and suffering he had subjected others too. It was a part of him just like the smelly labyrinth. Maybe he had to just accept that.But there was a stronger part to him screaming for him to not take this lying down. This was a change in environment, weird or not, from the ruins of an abandoned underground kingdom of monsters. That sense of childlike curiosity jumped at the chance to spring to the next room.Unsurprisingly, the room was an exact replica of the one he had left. The lights flicked at him, knocking him a bit off guard before burrowing into the floor.‘I can’t be the only one here, can I?’Just as the thought passed by his mind, he heard weeping coming from two rooms up ahead. The whimpering of a child felt like music after the suffocating silence was beginning to mess with him.With some hesitation, Flowey entered the room unknown how much everything was about to change knowingly or not.
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The boy holding his face with grief, wiped away tears before looking up at the peculiar moving flower. His sandy blonde hair and timid frown gave away vulnerability, not that he seemed to mind at the moment.Flowey’s eyes were drawn the boy’s choice of clothing: red and yellow solid stripes. So simple, yet so familiar. Almost like he had gone through these events hundreds of times already.‘Here goes nothing.’“Howdy, I’m-“The boy spring up like he had been poked with a sense of urgency as he yelled without a moment’s hesitation.“Don’t move when the lights go out!” The boy’s tone was less of anger or frustration, but more of fear. The tears on his eyes fell on the yellow carpet. Flowey moved slightly back at the reaction he had gotten. ‘Out of all the words to say hello to a stranger and he chooses those ones.’ For now, he burrowed those harrowing thoughts to the recesses of his mind, there were more important things to pay attention to.The boy grimaced in shame. “Sorry about that. You can’t ever be too careful here.” He looked and examined the strange flower in front of him. “I’m Lucas.”Flowey, weighing his options, nodded. “Well Lucas, it’s wonderful to meet you!” His smile was half sincere. “I’m Flowey the Flower. I take it you are also new here?”Lucas gave a timid nod. He sat down near the strange flower. “It means a lot to see someone else alive right now. I feel like I’m losing myself.”The flower could see that the boy looked a little worse for wear. Scratch marks were everywhere on his body. They looked like they weren’t too bad, but the boy’s heavy breathing indicated that he had been fighting off something. Flowey’s curiosity regarding what this place was left him with more questions than answers. He couldn’t be dead. Nor was this Frisk doing a true reset against his wishes. This was something otherworldly. Something neither he nor Lucas seemed to fully grasp at the moment.“Say, buddy. Why don’t we stick together? I mean, two heads are better than one.” His tone of voice felt more likely convincing himself that things would be okay. A boy who’s a bit of a crybaby was preferred over the suffocating silence of the fluorescent lights above them. Besides, the lad seemed to be friendly enough.Lucas nodded as he wiped away some of his remaining tears. He looked over to the flower curiously, “Do you know where we are?”“Beats me, I thought you knew considering…” Flowey glances at the boy’s injuries.“Considering?”“Nevermind.”Lucas stood up tall, trying his best to muster up courage. “We should get moving. Certain rooms are.. not as friendly as others. Staying in one for so long might give us away.”Flowey’s head twitched, “Monsters?”Lucas shook his head, “You’ve seen some before?”The flower grinned. That’s what was scaring this kid. Dealing with the monster kind would be a piece of cake. He should know. He was technically part monster. Although for know, it would be better to keep that card close to his chest (or his stem). The best way to gain the boy’s trust was to play along, even if it sound silly at first glance.“Oh yes, I’ve encountered many before.” That wasn’t technically a lie. “I’ll do my best to protect you.”Flowey knew that declaration was somewhat hollow. Even without the power of saving and loading, he still had some tricks off his sleeve. He looked back at the boy, a gaze of unexpected platonic instinct, and said, “We better get going then.” He burrowed under the floor into the next room. Lucas quickly followed after him.Unknownst to both of them, the fluorescent lights of the room they abandoned started to flicker more erratically, getting ever closer to the two lost souls.
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It was mid-day when the flicking of the fluorescent lights descended upon the two travels. Lucas’s warning echoed in the back of Flowey’s mind as he got his signature friendliness pellets ready. Or maybe he wouldn’t need them and this spooky monster was another lost soul.That hope was snuffed out along with the lights above.Lucas stood as a statue, his eyes darting to the far corner of the room. The monstrous entity had already taken shape. The metallic appendages on its body twisted and turned with predatory red eyes. The movements were so organic yet felt wrong.Flowey, not backing down from the challenge, fired a few friendliness pellets at the creature. The slight grimace faded when he got to look at the monster up front. It was nothing like any monster he had ever seen in the underground. It roared with fury of a beast and locking eyesight with Flowey sent a shiver down his metaphorical spine. That feeling of no longer being the apex predator in an environment, just like his first meeting with Frisk threw off his concentration. At least, Frisk used their powers to help the monsters.This was a different feeling of dread.The friendliness pellets bounced off its metallic body like a light wind. He tried his vines. No attacks were working.He froze with fear. Part of his mind remembering the warning Lucas shouted. If there was ever a time to be petrified, it was here.The creature lurched closer to them sensing movement across the room. The closer it approached, the more monstrous its form became. The rapid thud of movement was like a storm of thunder. Just as it was about to lunge, the lights flunked back on, their brightness being a welcome sight as the monster vanished into thin air. It had disappeared without a trace.The silence that followed was just as anxiety inducing. The two travelers look at each other, their gaze deep as they contemplate their next move. No matter their next decision, they hoped it wouldn’t be their last one.Lucas suggested finding another room for the night, his stomach grumbling as he clutched it. A few rooms down the endless labyrinth was enough for them. Flowey was alright with searching more before looking at his traveling companion.“Kid, when was the last time you ate?”The boy looked at him with a pale frown, “a few days.”“Geez, no food sources.” Flowey thought for a moment. “Here.”A green pellet the size of a golf ball in Lucas’s hands. It radiated with stamina and its soft glow was starkingly different than the white pellets Flowey attempted to subdue the creature with. The boy looked up at him.“What’s this?”“Healing Pellet. It’s not exactly food but for now it can treat some of your wounds.” Flowey’s words echoed off the yellow papered walls. This was the first time he had ever offered a Healing Pellet with intent. The story of Frisk and their actions that liberated monster kind echoed in his mind. He could never have that happy ending. Not after the painful resets he subjected the underground too. That numbness was relieved with Frisk, but he knew he couldn’t come with them. He didn’t want to hurt anyone like that again. Being numb to love and compassion takes a toss after countless timeline resets. If he was going to move away from that behavior, he had to protect Lucas. If he’s unable to form any connection, that’s fine.Doing the right thing was not his top priority, but it certainly was there nevertheless. Not to mention if he was going to survive this place, himself.The boy scarfed it down, his eyes sprung up, “Thank You Flowey. I needed that.”Flowey looked away from him, “We should probably rest for the night.” he was ready to begin burrowing in place.“Flowey?”He turned to the boy.“Where are you from?”The plant contemplated his words, “Why do you ask? This isn’t your home either.”The boy chuckled, “Fair enough. I’m from Tazmily Village from the Nowhere Islands. It was a cozy community where everyone knew everyone.”“I’m not used to many humans who value community above their own wishes. You guys definitely are fascinating creatures.” A bit of mock and disdain trailed in the flower’s tone.Lucas raised an eyebrow, “Don’t you have a family? Or someone you love?”For a second, Flowey’s face winced a bit, “Of course I do! They’re just…” he paused.“Dead?”“You could say that.” The flower stared back, “You seem like you’ve used that word a lot.”Lucas stared down at the carpet, “My mom and my brother are.”There was something about the way the boy had said those words that the flower clung onto. Familial loss was nothing to him. Even if he didn’t tell Frisk to keep his identity a secret from Toriel and Asgore, it didn’t feel right to go back to them in this form, not without reopening a lot of family wounds he wouldn’t wish on anyone. He didn’t deserve that ending, but this kid deserved better.
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After a night’s rest, the two travelers decided to branch off in a different direction in this labyrinth. It was worth a shot. Lucas looked over to his flower companion.“I feel like it I didn’t have you, this place would be a lot more scarier.”Flowey turned back to give a a slight grin. His eyes examining the boy fixated on his perseverance to get through this: His determination one could say.A yell brought out from a nearby room. It wasn’t a yell of the monster they had encountered, it sounded human. And the voices arguing with the yell sounded like real people. Without thinking too much, Lucas rushed over to see.A young girl with bright pink hair and a red backpack threw a strawberry pie straight at the face of a weird red horned trooper of some kind. The trooper had yellow eyes and was half the height of the girl.However, he was not alone. Two reinforcements similar shape to him were trying to corner the girl. One was bright white with a ninja boomerang of some kind. The other one was like green with hands that magically glowed. The green trooper’s cackle sent shivers down the spine of everyone in the room.“Don’t make thizz difficult for me. Not like your are really trying.”The white trooper noticed the two new faces and hurled the boomerang at Lucas.The psychic kid zipped out of the way as he threw a quick PK Fire at his attacker. The white trooper burning with anger, charged again. Flowey, taking advantage of the troops’ shock shot a few more damage pellets at the green trooper.The pink haired girl launched another pastry at the face at the red menace. The trooper wailed as he short curcited before crumpling to pieces.“That’s what you get for chasing me through here!”The white trooper got a hit on Lucas. The boy clinched his hand as the trooper gloated.“Childzzz play. Now Zzztay zztill.”The trooper’s attack was deflected by another strawberry pie. Lucas grinned, “thank you.”The green trooper roared, “No one leavezz this room alive. You three are done for!” He shot a ring beam closing in on Flowey. The mischievous flower humored him a bit.“Oh no, whatever will I do.”Flowey burrowed underground as the green trooper heard a whisper behind his back.“No one messes with them except me.”With a sharp vine poke, the green trooper flew against the wall with a slam. However, instead of falling to the floor, he phased through the wall like he had completely shifted between realities. Though For the time being, he wasn’t there anymore.“Here Flowey.” The blonde hair boy used PSI healing which helped rejuvenate energy Flowey had lost during the fight. With a thankful nod, they turned their attention towards their new traveling companion.“Thank you for saving me! I thought I would be buttered toast without a little bit of friendship on my side.”Lucas nervously chuckled, “it’s not problem, anyone would do the same.”Flowey narrowed his eyes at the girl, “What’s your name? And if you don’t mind me asking, is this not your home here either?”The girl’s eyes twinkled, “My name’s Strawberry Shortcake! Happy to meet you both!” Her excited faded, “I’ve never seen a place like this before. It’s completely out of this world. I was trying to find a way out when those three angry weirdos began chasing after me! I don’t think they’re from my home either.”The boy from nowhere chimed in, “Weird, none of us know what this place is. Or who sent us here?”Flowey burrowed and popped up in the next room, “We gotta find answers. I’ll have your guys’ back if you have mine.” The two children rushed toward him with an affirmative nod. Their next course of action was a decisive one. Two paths approached their feet. One was a path continuing the mundanity of the yellow moist carpets and the other was the path with less flickering lights and longer archways. Whichever they choose, they knew one thing, they were going to get out of here, one way or another. They were going to find the truth: together.
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The three travelers thought about their options. They could continue through the maze in search of more answers. Unknowns to them, answers were already searching them out.A figure emerged from the wall that the Trooper had phased into previously. His detective cap, a brownish grey color, stuck out to the three of them. His warm greeting a sharp contrast to what they had just experienced.“Salutations, young travelers. May I ask what brings you all the way out here?”“I’m sorry, who are you?” The flower answered with some attitude.“We’re lost. And this place isn’t we’re any of us are from.” Lucas answered bluntly.The pink haired girl looked over to the yellow wall. “How did you walk though that wall?”The British detective chuckled, “One question at a time, children.” He relaxed his shoulders a bit. The man pulled out a piece of paper.“I’m Sherlock Holmes. Private Investigator and Part Time Officiant of the Illuminati. Flowey the flower, the organization requests your presence immediately. The Illuminati will see you now.”Lucas grimaced, “The what? Flowey what’s going on?”Strawberry raised a skeptic eyebrow, “But… What did we do? Those troopers who were chasing us were threatening us here? Isn’t that more important than..”Sherlock interrupted all of them, “Elementary, my dear children. However, there seems to be a bit of a misunderstanding. It is not the Zok Troopers threatening the fabric of reality. It’s unfortunately the three of you.”Lucas and Strawberry think about bolting. Sherlock calmly states, “Don’t think about it.” With a snap of his fingers. The four of them were teleported out of there in an instant. They finally had left the cold familiar lands of the Back Rooms for something even more unknown.When the three travelers had woken up again. They found themselves in a marble palace of some sort. The torches on each of the marble columns provided a refreshing change of atmosphere from the constant barrage of yellow wallpaper.“I thought I was going to lose marbles if I saw more yellow wallpaper here.” Strawberry surveyed their surroundings. It was an inclosed space of some kind. Lucas chimed in.“So, Sherlock Holmes brought us here? Why?”Flowey was facing away from his teammates, deep in thought. Lucas tapped his stem, “Flowey, what was Sherlock Holmes talking about? Threatening realities? All three of us were cause? This doesn’t make any sense!”Flowey snapped back at the boy, “it’s because we don’t belong in these universes, okay?! Something took us from our homes and is framing us!”Lucas flinched a bit at his friend’s outburst. “Flowey, you need to calm down. We just gotta explain to whoever holding us here that we aren’t guilty or anything.”Strawberry nodded, “We’ll handle whatever they throw at us. We are a team like you said. Remember?”Flowey turned to them with guilty petals. He nodded to their sentiments. Half of him wanted to tell them why he was really worried. The timeline Shenanigans he played around with in his world would paint him as even more guilty of something sinister. Those sins were his burden to bear.“Alright, I think I have an idea how to navigate this.”Before he could explain anything, a red scarf wearing fairytale prince with spikey blonde hair approached them. His polite smile and nervously nod meant something big.“Asriel Dremmurr, the Illuminati will see you now. Please bring all your friends and their belongings this way.”
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The three allies guided by the little prince shuffled through the giant meeting hall, the weight of the situation on their hearts. The tall colosseum-like pillar surrounded them on all sides as they were led to the center. Seven crystal chairs peered down at them with anticipation. The young prince gave a bow.“They’re here.”His voice was more childish than before as he flew up above the stadium grounds to his chair surrounding the three dimensional travelers. Flowey looked up to the remaining six chairs, still a mystery to who they were and what they wanted him for. Finally, one of the chairs spoke up, his signature red cape and sorcerer abilities giving him an aura of experience.“Asriel Dreemurr, you are called before the Illuminati. How do you plead?”Flowey’s face shriveled with the knowledge they already knew about him. How could they know? He had never told his real name to anyone beside Frisk. He lashed out, letting his emotions get the better of him.“How do you know that? Who are you?!” Lucas and Strawberry jumped from the venom in his voice, clearly never seeing this side of him before.“Easy there, buddy.” The sorcerer’s tone grew softer, “We were alerted of an anomaly affecting the stability of multiple universes. Some have gone missing, and we’re just trying to get to the bottom of this.” He shook his name, “Sorry, I didn’t introduce myself. I’m Stephen Strange, but just call me Doctor Strange, so it sticks more in your head.”Lucas interjected, “Dr. Strange, I don’t think Flowey’s a threat at all, he rescued me and Strawberry from these monsters jumping between universes!”The third figure interjected from their crystal chair, her calm tone and healthy skepticism matching well with her regal appearance, “Children, this may be difficult to hear, but your friend might not have your best interest at heart.”Strawberry shook her head in defiance, “You don’t know what we’ve been through! He’s not a monster.”Dr. Strange sighed with sympathy, “Alright, we should introduce ourselves so we're all on the same page. Go ahead.” He looked toward the regal woman.She spoke more firmly, “Elsa, Protector of the Enchanted Forest, Former Queen of Arendelle.” Her blue eyes observed the trio carefully.The fifth figure stumbled out of his chair. His circle glasses and goofy smile contrasted with his business suit and occupation. “It’s a pleasure. Just call me Michael. If you need a last name just put down Realman. As for occupation, don’t worry about that.The familiar sixth figure waved hello. “Oh Hi guys! I’m up here now! Also, I’m the Little Prince. Or Lepetit is fine too.” He adjusted his seat.“Easy there boy,” Sherlock Holmes sat adjacent to him, “We have a case on our hands.”Dr. Strange turned to the three down below, “He’s a bit new to the job. Cut him some slack.”Flowey, still struck by the knowledge and accusations, sharpened his tone, “Alright! Could someone please tell us what’s going on? Whatever I did wrong, these two have nothing to do with it, they are not a part of that.”Michael adjusted his glasses while reviewing some papers, “Asriel Dreemurr,”The flower hissed, “That’s not my name! Don’t say that name.” His anger morphing into desperation rather than rage.The white haired man continued, “Flowey the Flower, it seems you are being accused of violating the rules of timeline manipulation and multiversal anomalies causing the current states of affairs.”Flowey grit his teeth, “What current state of affairs? Someone took us all from our worlds and plopped us in that yellow maze! What multiverse?”A voice interrupted the questioning, “We should tell him the truth.”A bald man with a yellow omni-mover wheelchair made his way to the final crystal chair, his stern but friendly aura drew everyone’s attention toward him. Dr. Strange cleared his throat.“Our final member, Professor Charles Xavier.”The professor spoke with more clarity than the rest, “It seems we are at an impasse my friends. Entire universes are at stake of being conquered and erased by an individual known as Zokkett. We had assumed you, Flowey, were working with them due to your .. past timeline affairs.” The flower lowered his head in shame.Strawberry cleared her throat. “Please Professor. Flowey is innocent and he did his best to protect us from this yellow maze Lucas and I were stuck in.”The wise man nodded, “Precisely, which is why I wish to ask something of your three talented travelers.”Flowey stared up at him. “Ask us what?”Charles Xaiver cleared his throat, “We need your help. The multiverse is in grave danger from Zokkett. Gather as many heroes and allies as you can and put a stop to his plans before it’s too late.”