First off, the festival was wonderful. The punch card had my jaw on the floor, and the Noelle and Susie dynamic had my ass looking like a proud parent. The open ended nature of Rudy's situation has me excited for Noelle's role in future chapters, especially with what Susie said in the ending. Susie’s comment about Kris looking like a pineapple was funny af, and is such a close-friend thing to give your pal shit for. The scene by the water personally hit harder for me. (Y’all can skip the rest of this paragraph if you don’t want to read irrelevant and sappy stuff) For a long time, like Susie, I didn’t have any close friends. Going out, and just doing something one day with some new friends stayed as one of my best memories. For everyone else, it was just Tuesday, but for us… for me… it was magical. Seeing myself in that scene made my heart heavy. When Susie said it was the best day ever, as I’ve said about that one day many times, it almost made me cry. The circumstance of Rudy’s illness cutting it short, with no notice to Susie really hurt, especially after she said she never wanted the day to end. Toby can certainly write a tragedy, so the Roaring is going to be a shitshow when it comes around.

Kris opening the fountain was shocking, yet somewhat routine at this point. Personally, I think Kris wants the Knight to seal her loved ones in the bunker in a twist-hero ending, where that's the only safe place from the roaring. It would fall into the theme of being forced into roles you hate, just as Ralsei hates his, and Susie wants to escape the bully’s role… but that theory is neither here nor there. When the detail of the fountain's origin is noticed by the three other main characters in the chapter (Flowery, Susie, and Ralsei), it makes what was usually just used as a shock factor feel like an important plot point. Kris opening fountains is now relevant, and questioned. It’s a fact which Ralsei, who has to keep a prophecy they hate moving, has to grapple with. The bath scene was masterfully written, and touched upon this in a way I didn’t expect. Ralsei knows of Kris’ intentions, yet, like the rest of his job, has to do things the hard way.

In the dark world, the callbacks to chapter one were welcomed, but not all were joyous. Seeing the music popup was so charming, but seeing Ralsei back in that damn hat made me want to rip Flowery's head from his shoulders. Ralsei losing that hat was meant to signify confidence. Being bossed around by some nobody after so much growth made me furious at the sight of Flowery for most of the chapter (especially before we learned of his anti-hero intentions). The gameplay in the Garden of Hopes and Dreams was similar to chapter one, but still felt fresh. As a sidebar, discovering that ‘hopes and dreams’ actually mean something adds new context to previous encounters, rendering them in a totally different light. The knight is adorned in failed hopes and dreams, and every freedom boss had one. This could mean so many things, but this article is an analysis, not a theory<img src="blob:chrome-untrusted://media-app/f44ed1cc-9afe-4362-bddf-d4711e896bd0" alt="Screenshot 2026-06-24 8.22.01 PM.png"/>.

The fun gang, now united, and fully honest with each other had some incredibly funny moments. Their dynamics were fresh, funny, coordinated, and stronger than ever before. It's great when a story knows its characters so well, that they're allowed to grow while still being recognisable as the same people. Ralsei lost his shit for a reason that only **he** would lose it for. Susie was so protective of Castle Town, not just because of the final prophecy, but also because of her **personal** connection to escapism (more on that later). Kris is still near unreadable though. We've never really known their deal…

Gaster had a front seat this chapter. Not directly of course, I don’t know if Toby is physically capable of that, but with lots of characters (namely Asgore and Seam) saying ‘very, very interesting’ multiple times, it wasn’t hard to figure out what Toby meant. As a sidebar, the FOX enemy was a great nod to TRICKY TOBY. What was he cooking with?

Asgore did a great job with playing along with Flowery’s plots. You could hardly tell he knew about dark worlds before. It really felt like a situation where the lightner believed they were in a dream. Kind of like the Noelle chapter two normal route situation. Personally, I think she told herself that to avoid the **Dessaprearence** trauma, and she knew of dark worlds too, but again, theories are nearly irrelevant in a nearly purely analytical text. The reveal in his palace hit like a (Bergen)truck. Toby probably really wanted to use the name 'Flowey', but didn't want confusion with the UT character, so he was forced to use a much less catchy name. That is DEFINITELY the case, and not a **soul** can convince me otherwise. The marsh section was a bit confusing, but I've always been a bit of a dumbass when navigating videogames. What can I say, I'm like the Cuphead game journalist.

After stumbling through the marsh, I met 2/7 of the best narrative devices Toby's ever created. The flowers all wanting to be human, but being a bit flawed shows how Asgore couldn't really care for a human, causing Kris to be a bit obscure, all things considered. Even then, his perspective warped their traits further. He knows how to care for flowers. He loved them like children, but couldn't love his own kid. Toby managing to display such detailed points with no dialogue (other than a half-mention from Susie) is so impressive, and highlights his skills as a writer. It's rare to see authors nowadays truly trust their audiences to pick up on the finer subtleties in their works. The best way I can describe the ‘soul bunch’ is if Kris is white light, it’s like if they were diffracted, but through a faulty piece of glass. It’s many pieces of the same whole. It was really unclear if Kris got along with the souls, and accepted their nature as true to their own (as Kris is a flawed human, as they are), or if Kris saw the flaws with how Asgore saw human nature. This uncertainty isn’t an issue for me, it just makes the scenes when they’re together all the more intriguing. The dynamics amongst the flowers were also really cool. The younger sister, older sister vibe with Seth and Cyan showed how Kris idolised Berdly and success, but also wanted to keep being an unruly, and fun kid despite all their responsibilities (Evil Ass Fountain Openers responsibilities included). Love and justice were interesting. My best guesses as to what their relationship meant are: 1. How Asgore had to enforce what’s right as a father, but also love his kids, OR 2. How Kris loves their friends, but has to do what's ‘right’ for the fountain openers. Also, I’m so glad that we can finally put the whole cowboy BS behind us. The community was SUFFERING because of that damn Woody image. ASGORE HAD JUSTICE IN HIM. WE HAVE A SOUL IN US. THAT’S THE ‘FRIEND INSIDE ME’. I also lowk thought Love was Rouxls Kaard in drag for a while. I was waiting for the reveal, and for his theme to start playing in some goofy ass minigame battle. Orange was really funny. Seeing Ralsei uncontrollably laugh, even while not **trying** to be mean, was hysterical. We’ve seen Kris try to act tough (aura farming, and working with the Knight), despite being a weak character (thrown around by Susie, dies often in battles, gets jumped by King, gets their shit rocked by Spamton G. Spamton, imprisoned a lot, etc.), and the mouse trying to intimidate is an awesome, and hilarious representation of that. The more kind side of Kris (Green) not particularly caring about strength, and taking after their mum, being PARTNERED with this unruly rat was a hilarious choice, and the battle dynamics were so unexpected and fun. Seeing Asgore reject all the different parts of Kris before the final fight really made me understand why Toriel left him. He wasn't a father anymore. He was a crazed lunatic, focused on the superficial… stuck in the past. It was heart wrenching to see him be **blinded by freedom** from his own self-hatred.

The feather. That damn feather. The look of shock on my face as the map went full Mario mode made me realise that Toby Fox is limitless in the best way possible. This is **HIS** deltarune. He’ll add whatever the fuck he wants to it. These sequences were some of the most fun parts of the chapter. He added a perfect amount of them, yet I feel as if they were underused. Why? BECAUSE I WANT MORE. They were so fun! The quick thinking needed was unlike anything else in deltarune. The feather combat pairing Kris’ role as a leader with real time battling was so unexpected, yet fit so well. One criticism, TP, and Ralsei felt like they could’ve fit it really well into battles. Maybe it could’ve cluttered the mode, making it less fun for battle scenes, but I would’ve liked to see at least a long-cooldown heal from Ralsei somehow. The movement was fun, and the flowers made me feel like I was playing the Hollow Knight/Silksong path of pain. The in-universe explanation being that the feather makes the heroes feel lighter was good enough for me.

Asgore’s reveal of obsessiveness must’ve added 40 pounds to my jaw, because it was on the floor. Dess was mentioned so often in this chapter, and it was shocking, yet somewhat expected. Deltarune is a story; Toby can’t sidestep details forever. She’s just one of them he had to address eventually, but I didn’t think it would be so directly, in so much detail so soon. It makes sense that Asgore blames HIMSELF, rather than receiving blame from others. His **psychosis** is what drove the family apart, not Dess vanishing. His hatred for dark worlds glimmering throughout the chapter adds to his character a lot. None of these scenes would’ve occurred if the Asgore the community predicted was present. Asgore had so much room to be expressive in this chapter. He didn’t need to be the stoic mountain king we all thought he’d be. He was a hateful sleuth, on two missions, and two missions only: Protect/love his family, and prove his innocence regarding the **Dessapearence**. Both were in the same vein, but as the chapter ended, he saw that he didn’t need the latter to have the former, and that was a wonderful closure for his arc. It’s not like he has much room, or time left to grow… his ass got kidnapped by Roary Nyte.

**FLOWE**(**R**)**Y… THE BEST VILLAIN WE COULD’VE GOTTEN.** Oh my God. Toby, whatever you were cooking on, I need a thousand of them. Ralsei has been established to struggle with his role. He needs to follow a prophecy he hates every step of to a tee, be led by those who know less than him, deal with Fun Gang shenanigans, push his desires for love down due to his nature as a darkner (he believes desiring is wrong), and constantly compose himself throughout all this. Now, if you’ve played the chapter, you’ll see that this mf Flowery did more mental damage to Ralsei than **FOUR ENTIRE FUCKING CHAPTERS**. This is because Flowery is the **PERFECT** foil. He cares about lightners like Ralsei, but is wholly honest to a fault, rather than lying for the greater good, like Ralsei did before his character growth. Take the reveal of the battle menu as an example. Flowery lied so the Fun Gang would be more willing to follow him. Flowery tries to win over the Fun Gang and Asgore with a promise of comfort, when all Ralsei has done is struggle with the truth that the prophecy’s reality is hard, and they must push through it. Flowery is also shown to be far more useful, in puzzles, and combat. This makes Ralsei jealous, and scared; two things which he doesn’t believe he should feel. Flowery uses this to show Ralsei how the flowers are finally feeling, trying to win Ralsei over to his side. He wants to keep the fountain **BADLY.** Flowery’s manipulative tactics make Ralsei finally confront the fact that he does have feelings, and like everything else, he should be honest about them. He gets pissed, he acts goofily, he swears, he interacts like a friend, rather than a servant… for once, Ralsei sees that it’s OK not to smile. Flowery is prideful, knows he is a darkner, and also has the power to manipulate the world he inhabits, as well as access its deeper details (like who opened the fountain). Flowery tempts Ralsei to break character to benefit his goal, but Ralsei breaking free for his own reasons instead (wanting to protect the prophecy, the truth, himself, and his friends) gave so much depth to a character who was greatly lacking it before. Ralsei hated that Flowery knew so much. He hated that he was a darkner who reminded Ralsei of his unwanted knowledge and purpose. He hated that Flowery was right about him. He hated that Flowery knew so much about the prophecy, yet denied their mission so adamantly. He hated that Flowery knew that Ralsei just wanted to be free. Flowery reminded Ralsei at every chance he could of his fate, and even when Ralsei defiantly fought against him, they both knew that this was only sealing their fate. 

Flowery’s fight was really hard. Shadow Mantle Knight is easier than fully geared Flowery, which I guess makes sense, as one is a chapter three enemy, and the other is the final boss of chapter five, but in universe… a bit odd. That’s not to say it was a bad fight. After a few tries, I got it. The background was beautiful, the soul mode was fun and versatile, Ralsei’s act of justice all on his own showed how he wanted to break free from his chains more than anything, and Susie’s idea was the most incredible finale in deltarune so far. Flowery acknowledging your failure only added to both his intimidation, and psychological fuckery to all the Fun gang members. Drudging up the ‘selfishness’ of Susie living in a dark world, Ralsei’s insecurities about the prophecy (“it’s like you want me to win, so you can defy fate”), and just blatantly insulting Kris’ life (he said their life was over, maybe referring not to the fight, but to their family life) was such a dick move… but also **so** in character. The music (kinda) having lyrics was cool, but I was really expecting turning voice lines back on to make the lyrics audible. I was expecting it to be like The Ancients from Blocktales if anyone’s played that. A random lyrical banger at a random midpoint final-boss. I can count on the hundreds of fan covers to add lyrics, I’m sure. Seeing the act of climbing the fountain return was awesome, and my favorite part of chapter four. I don’t want Toby to overuse it, but considering chapters 3-5 were initially supposed to release together, it makes sense why there are similarities. Nubert foreshadowing super-sayian Flowery (that felt surreal to type) was also quite funny. I'm glad the final segment of the fight wasn’t super hard, as restarting over, and over, and over, at what was a climactic moment would’ve ruined the buildup. Using the feather mode was a great choice, as a battle box wouldn’t have felt nearly as fast paced and awesome as what we got, no matter how much orange Toby added to the soul. Flowery was also kind of emotionally hard to fight. He was a great villain, as you were shitting your pants, not due to his attacks, but due to his dialogue. His speech about necessary fantasies for those who can’t feel showed that his motives were not rooted in malice, but in love. When he questioned our authority regarding judgment over which fountains are more important, it put the responsibility, and sacrifice of the heroes into perspective. It raised a great question amongst the protagonists, and honestly, kinda revealed the final tragedy. If they needed to seal **ALL** dark fountains, why didn’t they just seal Castle Town away in chapter one? Why do they wait, when it causes harm to others? Who are the **true** heroes of this story? The flowers' motivations being selfless rendered them not as villains, but as other heroes who wanted what was right, despite our mission. When talking to Flowery at the fountain, you see that he still hasn’t moved on from his fate. After his death, he still can’t get over how he’ll never be able to truly connect with Asgore, or return the favor.

The finale was quite unexpected. There was such a change of pace from the flowers. Their thanks for their dream shifted the atmosphere to one full of melancholy. We also got a huge lore dump from Asgore. Like stated previously, the true story makes far more sense than ‘Toriel blamed Asgore for it all’. The ending was a roller coaster, containing the fakeout sealing, followed by a fakeout knight fight, followed by a fakeout Knight defeat, followed by Flowery’s redemption arc, then death, then Asgore’s kidnapping, then reveal of there being multiple codes, then reveal of Susie living in the dark world (hence her foreshadowed connection with Castle Town), and lastly the hint of Noelle’s inclusion in future chapters. Honestly, no theories, no spoilers, and no foreshadowing could’ve prepared me for this ending. The Knight slashing the attacks from Flowery was cool as fuck, but his death was bittersweet. The Knight could’ve showed up sooner imo, but it was still a peak finale. It was heartwarming, but also unnerving to learn that Susie was the one renovating Castle Town this whole time. If the ending is to be the sealing of Castle Town, then I’m going to be in tears while watching it. Walking through the dilapidated festival was also quite sad. Susie and Noelle both missed out on their big moment on stage, no doubt, and seeing your favorite day end is a tragedy. Toby's writing is immaculate, and while traumatising the characters, filled me with hope for many incredible stories to come.

Toby fucking cooked. Every chapter had me saying: ‘He can’t top this’, and yet, he has again! 

Chapter 5 Is The Best So Far (Mucho Texto)