Dark Fountains

Dark Fountains
"The geyser that gives this land form"
Type	Plot Mechanic

The Dark Fountains are an important plot mechanic in Deltarune.

Overview

Dark Fountains are power sources that give a Dark World form. Ralsei has stated that only the main Fountain of Darkness in Castle Town is supposed to be standing. However, King and Queen state that the Knight has recently been opening new Fountains. If too many Fountains are open at once, an apocalyptic event called The Roaring takes place: Titans emerge from the Fountains to devastate both the Light and Dark Worlds. Darkners would be petrified from the overwhelming darkness, and Lightners would be forced to fend for themselves. The Light World would become a place of eternal night.

As such, it is stated by The Prophecy that three "HEROES" are destined to seal the Fountains to restore balance. Sealing a Dark Fountain results in reverting a Dark World to its Light World form alongside all its resident Darkners.

The Knight, Kris, and Susie are currently the only known entities known to have opened Dark Fountains. However, it is thought that potentially any Lightner can open their own Dark Fountain. This is done by projecting their determination into a sharp object and piercing the ground. Berdly comes close to doing so near the end of Chapter 2, but is swayed against it by Ralsei's warnings.

When a Dark Fountain is opened, a bright beam of light emerges from where it was formed, which quickly dissipates. Then, opaque black fog seems to fill the room the fountain was opened in. If it is directly adjacent to a small area in the Light World, it will spread to the area, and if a door leading to the Light World is opened, the fog can be seen bursting from the door, rising into the sky.

Fountains

Fountain of Darkness

The Fountain of Darkness, also referred to by Ralsei as the "Grand Fountain," towers above Castle Town. It is visible at or near Ralsei's Castle. In Ralsei's prophecy, he states that the Fountain of Darkness "gives this land form." It can also transform Castle Town if Kris recruits Darkners. With the exception of Ralsei, Darkners who leave the Dark World that they originate from quickly grow weak, before turning into stone statues. The only exception to this effect is the Dark World shaped by the Fountain of Darkness. As Ralsei puts it, the Fountain of Darkness is "made of pure darkness," allowing all Darkners to persist.

Eastern Fountain

The Eastern Fountain is the second Dark Fountain that Ralsei mentions in his prophecy, created by the Knight and threatening to upset the balance of Light and Dark. Reflecting the school's unused classroom, it stands at King's Card Castle, and is closed using the power of Kris's SOUL at the end of Chapter 1.

Library Fountain

The Library Fountain is the third Dark Fountain encountered in Deltarune, and the primary fountain of Chapter 2. The fountain is opened in the library's computer lab, and creates an electronic-themed Dark World known as the Cyber World. After travelling through the Cyber World, Kris uses their SOUL to seal the fountain.

The Library Fountain was opened by Roaring Knight sometime after Chapter 1.

Toriel's House

The Toriel's house Fountain is the fourth Dark Fountain encountered in Deltarune, and the primary fountain of Chapter 3. Being the first Dark Fountain to start off in the Dark World. The fountain is opened in Toriel's house during the climax of Cyber World, and creates a Gameshow-themed Dark World known as TV World.

The Toriel's House Fountain was opened by Kris when Susie and Toriel were asleep.

Old Church Lobby

The Old Church Fountain is the fifth Dark Fountain encountered in Deltarune, and one of the secondary fountains of Chapter 4. The fountain was opened in the Church's Lobby, and creates a holy and angelic-themed Dark World.

The Old Church Lobby fountain was opened by Roaring Knight sometime during Kris and Susie's visit to Castle Town. It is also notably smaller in physical size when compared to all other fountains.

Susie's Fountain

Susie's Foutain is the sixth Dark Fountain encountered in Deltarune, and one of the secondary fountains of Chapter 4. The fountain was opened in the Church's Lobby by Susie, in order to find the combination to open the lock leading to the Church Sermon Room, and creates a very altered and twisted version of the Old Church Lobby fountain down to the lighting, with Darkners previously petrified freed, and vice versa.

Old Church Sermon Room

The Old Church Fountain is the seventh Dark Fountain encountered in Deltarune, and one of the secondary fountains of Chapter 4. The fountain was opened in the Church's Sermon Room by The Knight, during Kris's and Susie's visit to Castle Town, and creates a holy and angelic themed Dark World, not unlike the Old Church Fountain. It also restores the Old Church Lobby's Fountain areas and Characters, exept for Gerson Boom.

Trivia

• Sealing the Chapter's primary Dark Fountain increases the party's LV.
• The texture of a Dark Fountain is derived from the background of the Introduction sequence at the start of Chapter 1.
• In Chapter 1, the Eastern Fountain cycles between transiting to red and grey colors after thirty seconds.
• In Chapter 2, during the GIGA Queen fight, Queen mentions the possibility of Noelle creating "Neo Dark Fountains" in the future. This is likely a play on the prefix "neo-" meaning new, i.e. Noelle would create "new dark fountains", but could also imply another type of Dark Fountain.
• It's unclear if the "determination" required to create a Dark Fountain is at all related to the concept of "determination" featured prominently in Undertale.