#forever potion

She could, somewhat, hear things going on in the real world. Whether it be Aaron's voice or her own voice. Plus there were the occasional visions of what was going on.

And even when she didn't see it, she knew what was going on out there too. Which we see in the prison scene when Aphmau comes across Aaron locked away in the prison cell.

This would also explain why Aaron disappeared immediately after. Because Aaron is not in this little Limbo world. He can't do anything there because he is not there. That was simply an image conjured up by Aphmau's mind, or possibly the world itself as a form of playing tricks on her mind.

It also follows along with what was already confirmed back in Season 4 about those under the effects of a potion being aware of what was really happening.

My specific theory/headcanon is that this is a sort of limbo like world where anyone under the effects of the forever potion goes. Or at least the mindcontrol kind (aka not the type used on Tatiana). Which is also why we see Zane and a few other people there.

Zane was very clearly for a long time to the point where he was forgetting things and isn't quite sure how long he was there other than the fact that it had been a while. And Zane was the first person of the three that season to be put under the effects of the forever potion. He was under the effects for a couple days.

The whole wife and kids thing? Well the kid did say that she actually doesn't have a dad. Maybe it was just Zane's imagination trying for some last attempt, desperate grasp at something that could be considered normal before he lost his mind entirely?

(I'd also like to think that when he was knocked unconscious it helped break down some of those walls keeping him from reality which is where we get that scene of him and Garroth in the woods until he is cured and freed which is why we don't ever see him again after that in this video.)

Then there were also the other people who we could see wandering around the place. They are people also under the effects of a forever potion, just not the one's be Ein of course. Peebs/Ollie (the blonde guy) was acting deranged, the same way Zane was starting to, so he was likely there for a long time as well. Probably even longer. Even the kid was acting a bit crazed. And slowly as the video went on, Aphmau started to act a bit more crazy-like and forget things as well.

Then what is very clearly people all zipped up and crawling around like monsters?

People who have already been fully affected by the forever potion. Once the effect becomes permanent, this is what becomes of them. When they are free and moving around, they are still technically able to escape if they are able to figure it out. But like this they are confined. They slowly lose themselves until they break, leaving themselves permanently trapped.

It is made very clear throughout the video that Aphmau is under the effects of the forever potion as well since, not only is she hearing things from only when she was under during Emerald Secret, but also when she looked in the mirror her eyes were green for a moment. Another peek at reality.

We see multiple of these peaks at reality. The voices. The green eyes. The snow. The bandana. The jacket. Every single scene on the mountain where she sees Aaron for a moment but not herself.

This is also clearly happening to the other people. For example when we see the stabbed man hanging out of the fridge and Peebs/Ollie is acting a bit crazy again trying to claim his innocence. I honestly think that's someone he unwillingly killed due to the forever potion.

There is still of course the possibility that this is all centered around Aphmau's consciousness and not a joint limbo. For example the kid constantly accusing Aphmau of hurting someone, being a monster. Peebs/Ollie attempting to stab her using a knife eerily similar to the one she stabbed Aaron with.

I still like to think that it is a joint limbo. But it is a place meant to torture them, even if it means torturing each other. Which is why they seemed to act one way one moment and then act differently another.

Besides, doesn't the whole walking around an abandoned place, places involving/tied to Aaron, that feel strangely familiar, remind you of anything?

Once Aphmau reached the island that was laid out like the woods and cabin she traveled while under Ein's control, her outfit is changed to look like the one from Season 4 Emerald Secret. Another bit of reality bleeding through.

And as these blips of reality bleed through, they all pile on top of one another. She's in the clothes she changed into, her eyes are green, she's in the cabin and by the cliff side, she has the knife, she's hunting down looking for Aaron. The door even gets destroyed by the monster to the exact same way it was when Aphmau kicked Aaron through it back in season 4. Aaron backing up towards the edge as Aphmau gets closer.

And then she sees herself.

Everything has aligned perfectly and reality is clear again. No more blips, no more possibilities, just what was really happening this entire time.

We are confirmed that Aphmau is in some sort of mindscape when we see Forever Potion Aphmau point to her head and say "You've always been here. Right here."

Then of course we get the whole "In this world he never came back. Did he?"

So this version she sees. This is not technically her. This is a version of Aphmau where Irene never saved Aaron, where she was trapped with Ein forever. She became one of the monsters.

My theory that this what original Aphmau saw still stands despite this major lore drop at the very end. The version of Aphmau we've been watching is both of these women the difference comes at the end, when they are finally two separate people. The Aphmau we see through the eyes of continues on and is freed. The other Aphmau is trapped forever.

This version still exists even after Aphmau is freed. We see it in Season 6 When Angels Fall when Micheal reactivates that magic.

Because a forever potion isn't meant to be cured or broken out of. It is meant to last FOREVER. This version of Aphmau will always exist now. The two will forever share a mind. Only now they have traded places. One living her life freely in the outside world. The other trapped in her own mind.