Chrysanthemum theory
There's a peculiar flower called Chrysanthemum, which translates from Greek as "golden flower", and is often depicted as Sun in Japan. It blooms in autumn and is native to East Asia.
In Japan, the chrysanthemum is a symbol of the Emperor and the Imperial family. In particular, a "chrysanthemum crest" (菊花紋章, kikukamonshō or kikkamonshō), i.e. a mon of chrysanthemum blossom design, indicates a link to the Emperor; there are more than 150 patterns of this design. Notable uses of and reference to the Imperial chrysanthemum include:
- The imperial crest of Japan is used by members of the Japanese imperial family. In 1869, a two-layered, 16-petal design was designated as the symbol of the emperor. Princes used a simpler, single-layer pattern.
- The Chrysanthemum Throne is the name given to the position of Japanese Emperor and the throne.
- The Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum is a Japanese honor awarded by the emperor on the advice of the Japanese government.
- In Imperial Japan, small arms were required to be stamped with the imperial chrysanthemum, as they were considered the personal property of the emperor.
Asgore was a royal figure in Undertale, so that status may be regained as an Emperor, using The Chrysanthemum Throne - the Sun. The sun shown in Ch5's trailer is the golden wedding flower, a chrysanthemum. Since current season in Hometown is autumn judging by yellow trees, it's a perfect opportunity for Asgore to grow other chrysanthemums.
Then, the Inferno of Jealousy will be caused by chrysanthemums. Either the "wedding" flower because Asgore cares more about the other of its kind (typical rich oligarch's kid trope), the new ones because there's someone higher than them that looks the same, or even all of them since Toby frequently puts the dramatic "two sides of the coin" in his games, letting you experience the hurdles of both sides.
Another thing (probably a coincidence tbh) to point out is the flower's scientific classification:
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Subfamily: Asteroideae
Tribe: Anthemideae
Genus: Chrysanthemum
Notice the prevalence of "Aster" (from Ancient Greek "star"). Unfortunately I couldn't find any realistic meaning behind it. I tried to tie it to Asgore being the "fallen star making rivers with its tears", but it led to nowhere. So let's assume it's yet another one of Gaster's shenanigans.
Toby hinted in the newsletter that in Chapter 5 we would smile for the last time. The music from The Depths plays in the lake near Hometown, and Onionsan never returns after mentioning it. Strange things are happening in the lake, and there is no explanation for them.
However, I have a separate post analyzing The Seven Suns in Asian culture, that tries to solve it. The TL;DR is they describe an end of the world similar to The Roaring, where every single droplet of water evaporates from Earth due to immense heat 7 suns produce, making all lakes, seas and oceans empty. Kind of what we can do on Board 1 of Ch3. I'd appreciate if you take a look at it!
What I think will happen is the flowers would suck all water from the ground using Roots and reveal the bottom of the lake. Flower King is the only place with a Dark World that'll have access to land (Kris's house, Librarby, School closet, unused classrom - all are isolated from the earth), perhaps from its basement, or whatever vines intertwine the building.
Thanks to AstraBiolog for starting this theory.
DELTARUNE TOMORROW