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nsschaintale · 3 years

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LINE 9: FLORAL APOTHEOSIS

UNDERTALE

LINEAR TEMPORAL

LINE 9: FLORAL APOTHEOSIS

Everyone knows the old legend. The Legend of the War Between Monsters and Humans. Or, The Monster-Human War, as it was easier to call. To think humans and monsters used to live in harmony, only to end up

DISAPPEARING WITHOUT A TRACE.

Hiro (jolts awake, screaming and in tears): …...Asgore....... (gets angry) Flowey...he killed Asgore! (looks around; becomes confused) Uuuh, where am I..? Wait, what's that? (sees a black screen with the following display)

Flowey LV9999 9999:99

My World

Continue Restart

Hiro (walks up to it): “My World”? Flowey? I'm in Flowey's world...? (presses continue; is in complete darkness and gets a strange chill running down his spine) I'm cold...? Ah, a light? (walks to it and finds the Save Star, a panel pops up, showing his save file info) My save file! Yes! (about to touch it) Now I can- (sees it crack 3 times; the second time displayed “File erased” before shattering on the third crack) AAAAH!! No, what!?

Hiro was horrified as he watched his SAVE file crack into pieces. His terror soon escalated when he sees Flowey appearing above him, looking larger and flickering with static.

Flowey: Howdy! It's me, FLOWEY. (blep winks) Flowey the Flower! I owe you a HUGE thanks. You really did a number on that old fool. Without you, I NEVER could have gotten past him. (has Asgore's face) But now, with YOUR help... (eyes black out, face melted) He's DEAD... (grins) and I've got the human souls.

Hiro (terrified): Ah...

Flowey (laughs): Boy! I've been empty for so long... It feels great to have a soul inside me again. (blep winks) Mmmm, I can feel them wriggling.... (pity look) Aww, you're feeling left out, aren't you? (blep winks) Well, that's just perfect. After all, I only have six souls. (blep winks) I still need one more... (creepy smirk) Before I become GOD. (grins) And then, with my newfound powers.... (Toriel face) Monsters. (Hiro's face) Humans. (rotating blinking circle face) Everyone. (black face with white eyes and mouth) I'll show them all the REAL meaning of this world. (vanishes while laughing)

Hiro: You.... If I only had my save file, I can-

Flowey (reappears): Oh, and forget about escaping to your old save file. (creepy smirk) It's gone forever.

Hiro: N-No....

Flowey (adverts eyes): But don't worry. Your old friend Flowey... (blep winks) ...has worked out a replacement for you! (demonic face) I'll SAVE over your own death. So you can watch me tear you to bloody pieces... Over, and over, and over...

Hiro (steps forward): Th-That won't happen! I-I gonna stop you!

Flowey: ….What? Do you really think you can stop ME? (smirks) Hee hee hee.... You really are an idiot.

Flowey disappeared into the darkness as Hiro's soul was displayed before him. What's strange is that the area remained dark instead of turning gray like normal. The 6 souls that were inside Asgore's containers appeared in a circle, spreading out before vanishing. Suddenly, the area started flashing red as a strange large shadow descended from above. Hiro was uncertain of what was coming, but at least he still had his determination!

Or...he did.

A square light soon shined from the shadow, a smiling face that grinned, eyes that split open to gaze with red sclera and green irises, the red flashing faded, revealing a monstrous creature. The creature is made out of vines, cactus-like arms, thick plant stalks with red thorns, 6 main metal pipes shaped like a flower with 2 “petals” flanking the CRT TV head, 2 around a pair of human eyes, and 2 connected to the mouth of the lower flesh-colored head that has another set of eyes and its nostrils under the TV. This monster looked like it was suspended from the ceiling with the multitude of pipes behind it. It laughed a shrill demonic laugh as its eyes on the TV face flickered between red and green. It was hard to tell if the laugh came from the TV or the normal head. Either way, it terrified Hiro. But that wasn't the only thing he has to worry about. The battle itself-

It's pure chaos!!! Hiro had to dodge the + bullets shot out from the middle now-reddened flickering black eyes as the TV had a white glitchy face looking like it was screaming, mocking, and trying to escape its prison. Hiro was unable to access his menu to see what the creature is called as he dodged the vines, so he figured that he had met Flowey before this, he called this form “Omega Flowey”. He had to avoid flamethrowers blasting at him from both sides before the Fight button appeared on the field. He managed to hit it, launching his knife at Omega Flowey and landing a weak strike on him. Unfortunately, it didn't look like his attack did anything. Omega Flowey sent out double waves of + bullets from his lower eyes before jutting out vines again. Hiro had to speed away from several rings of his so-called “friendly” pellets, but he knows they're not so friendly anymore. He weaved his way through more + bullets again before seeing the lower left metal petal flashing light blue and the TV displaying the light blue soul with the red light and yellow WARNING flashing behind it. Hiro had managed to survive the first onslaught but not without sustaining injuries as Omega Flowey disappeared except for the TV and the soul in it. Soon, the area was filled with enormous white knives, save for the space he was in. He was hit a few times while dodging the blades until he saw the Act button. He made a beeline for the button and slammed his hand on it.

Hiro: Some...Someone HELP ME!!

As soon as he called out, the knives transformed into green bandages, healing most of his wounds. He noticed that the soul is now orange before Omega Flowey resurfaced, bringing his chaos in for a second round. All of a sudden, giant atomic bombs with Flowey's winking face on them drops towards Hiro. He desperately dodges the explosions as several spiky cactus ball worms with human teeth bounced all over the area. Hiro had to dodge the vines again, but before he managed to get to the Fight button again, the vines stuck him and he perished. As he was floating in the darkness, he was expecting the same voice to tell him not to give up, but this time, a different one came along.

???: It's all just a dream, and you're never waking up!

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

(laugh is interrupted by a glitchy sound as if a program has glitched before falling into silence)

???: Hee hee hee. Did you really think I was gonna be satisfied.... killing you only one time?

Hiro (jolts awake): Wh-What was... (finds himself before Omega Flowey as he laughs) Uh oh...

The battle resumed with the atomic bombs as Hiro frantically tried to dodge them and the vines. In Omega Flowey's left hand, he held a Venus Fly Trap that drew in a swarm of massive flies while Hiro tried to swat them away and dodge. The same happened as the flower monster pulled another fly trap plant in his right hand, causing the boy to nearly get swamped by flies. As Omega Flowey put the plants away, more atomic bombs dropped. Hiro tried to hide under Omega Flowey's body but to no avail, getting killed in the process and falling into the darkness. That high-pitched shrill laughter rang out around Hiro as he tried to block it by covering his ears.

???: Pathetic... Now you're really gonna die!

Again, Hiro had to return to the battlefield. This time, though, he was able to survive the stages, despite sustaining injuries. He encountered the orange soul with its rings of white gloves that has a black circle with a pair of interlocked rings on them. He had to weave his way between them before touching the Act button. Once he called out for help, he was greeted with the gloves that turned green and has a heart in the circle, giving a thumb's up as he healed himself and spotted the blue soul. Hiro entered the third stage where his sense of the world felt out of control. He constantly felt himself teleporting in random places as he tried to dodge the vines. That was when he noticed the words “FILE 2 SAVED” and “FILE 2 LOADED” pop up several times.

Hiro: File 2 saved...? (dodges + bullets; sees the blue soul appear)

Hiro found himself trapped under a river of stars as a line of ballet shoes tiptoed towards him. He had to avoid and slip past the shoes until the Act button arrived, causing the shoes to lift up and the stars became green music notes, allowing Hiro to heal himself with them before facing Omega Flowey again as he saw the purple soul appear on the screen. Omega Flowey used a fly trap plant again before sending out wave blasts of + bullets and dropping atomic bombs at Hiro. He sent out more blasts of + bullets as Hiro managed to hit the Fight button and sending a knife at the beast. The spiky worms ricocheted all over the area as the ring of pellets followed Hiro while he flew around. Suddenly, red lines aimed at Hiro as several plant stalks with human hands pop up and shoot the index and middle fingers as daisy-tipped bullets while Hiro hit the Fight button again. He had to avoid the flamethrowers, the + bullet waves, and the vines. Soon, the TV screen showed the purple soul, but Hiro didn't notice it as the mouth had light glowing in it. Hiro managed to save himself from being blasted by Omega Flowey's beam. Hiro was taken to a new area where columns of white notebooks scrolled up and down on the sides, trapping the boy between them. Multitudes of words flew out of the pages, many of them being negative ones like “Cruelty”, “Sadness”, “Hatred”, and the like, and Hiro had to dodge them. Eventually, the Act button showed up and he made a beeline for it, dodging “Trapped” as he did. Soon, positive words such as “Hope”, “Happiness”, “Success”, and others like them healed Hiro. As Hiro watched the green soul vanish in the TV screen, Omega Flowey went on the assault again. He sent out more vines and + bullets and disorienting the boy with his constant reloads. After a while, Hiro saw the green soul appear on the screen as the left pipe by the TV glowed with it. Hiro soon found himself before three large flying pans that has flames leaping out of them. Hiro has dealt with fire before and was able to get by them, despite a few burns here and there. He was able to catch up the Act button that got flipped out of one of the pans, and was greeted by what looked like green eggs, healing up the wounds he got before seeing the yellow soul and tossed back into the fray with the flower beast. More + bullets flew at him while he dodged the flies being drawn to the fly trap plant, flying around to avoid the bullet rings and hitting the Fight button before the spiny worms ricocheted around the area again. Hiro felt he was getting exhausted, but managed to dodge the finger guns shooting at him before seeing the yellow soul. Speaking of shooting, Hiro was soon facing a giant revolver.

Hiro: Aaah!

He had to dodge the cross-hairs to avoid the bullets being shot at him. He was hit a few times, but he got through it after hitting the Act button, albeit still weary from fighting. He did get hit again, but by four-leafed clovers being shot out from the revolver. Hiro feared for what may come next, but was surprised that the six souls surrounded him.

Hiro: Huh? What's going on? (watches the souls send their healing items to him, healing the wounds) They're...helping me? Cool! (fully healed; watches the souls float away) Thanks!

Once he returned before Omega Flowey, Hiro saw an indicator by him showing “Flowey's DEFENSE dropped to 0!” That gave him all the confidence he needed to lash out at Flowey. Maybe a little too much confidence. He struggled through bullets, bombs, flames, and everything Flowey threw at him, but with the help of the hidden souls sending him their healing items, Hiro was able to keep slashing at him. This time, he can see a health bar appearing before Omega Flowey. Hiro felt he can finally defeat the giant beast! At least until he misses a bandage while his health was low and dies to a flamethrower.

???: Hee hee hee. Do you even realize what will happen if you defeat me...?

Hiro: Um....

Hiro hadn't actually thought about what would happen if he beat Flowey. All he cared about right now was getting away from the battle. Before he could think more on it, he came face to face with Omega Flowey again. Again, Hiro flew around, dodging Flowey's chaotic onslaught of various attacks as he continuously slashed and slung his dagger, getting the flower's health down. It felt like there was no end in sight, but Hiro kept going, he kept fighting. He kept slashing as much as his little body could handle until the last hit, managing to land a killing slash to Omega Flowey at last.

OFlowey: No...NO!! This CAN'T be happening!!!

Hiro: Yes! I did it!

OFlowey: You...You.... (green bar appears, completely healed; teasing grin) You IDIOT.

Hiro: Eh?

Before Hiro could even register the “FILE 3 LOADED” notification appearing, he suddenly gets blasted by the powerful beam he dodged earlier before getting impaled by vines.

Hiro: Aaaagh...?!

Hiro had to go through this several times, bleeding and healing only to get blasted and stabbed. Out of everything he went through, this was the most painful. He barely had time to scream at the actions as it's cut off by Omega Flowey's repeat loading of his own file. As quickly as it started, the torment ended with Hiro on the ground, low on health and surrounded with the flower's bullets.

OFlowey: Hee heee hee. Did you REALLY think...you could defeat ME!? (TV had Flowey's real face shown) I am the god of this world. And YOU? (white face with hollow eyes fading) You're HOPELESS. Hopeless and alone. (real face) Golly, that's right. (Toriel face) Your worthless friends...(creepy Toriel face)...can't save you now. (smirk) Call for help. I dare you. (creepy grin) Cry into the darkness. (creepy Toriel face)“Mommy! Daddy!” “Somebody help!” (creepy grin) See what good it does you!

Hiro (inwardly panicking as he bumps into the Act button, startling him): AH! H-Help....Help! Please help! Aaaah... HELP!!

(silence except for the sounds of vines and metal)

OFlowey (smiles): But nobody came. (blep winks) Boy! What a shame! (Toriel face) Nobody else.... (Omega face) ...is gonna get to see you DIE!!!

Hiro watched as the bullets drew closer to him. He was so close to leaving...So close... When the bullets hit him, he had expected to die there. Instead, he was healed. This action confused the two greatly.

OFlowey: …..What? How'd you...?

Hiro (looking at himself confused): I dunno!

OFlowey: Well, I'll just-

Hiro (flinches back when seeing the LOAD FAILED pop up; realizes nothing happened): ….Uh..?

OFlowey (sweats): Wh...Where are my powers!?

(the six souls appear around Omega Flowey)

Hiro: Ah!

OFlowey (shaking): The souls....? What are they doing? (gets attacked) NO!! NO!!!

Hiro (covers his face with his arms as the area and Flowey are getting blasted by the souls; peeks between them a few times): Yikes!

OFlowey: YOU CAN'T DO THAT!!! YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO OBEY ME!! STOP! STOP IT!! STOOOOOP!!!

The amount of power used by the souls was so immense that the area became flooded with light until it went dark.

Silence.

Just silence coupled by the wind within the darkness. Hiro lowered his arms, finding himself sitting before Flowey. Flowey is back in his normal flower form, but he doesn't look at the boy, his petals blocking his face from him. Again, Hiro finds himself between his Fight and Mercy buttons, and again, he chose one option.

Hiro (chooses Mercy): …...

Flowey (barely looks at Hiro): … What are you doing? Do you really think I've learn from this? No. (looks away)

Hiro (Mercy): You can try...

Flowey (barely stares at Hiro): ….Sparing me won't change anything. Killing me is the way to end this.

Hiro (Mercy): I won't do it.

Flowey (face has scratches): If you let me live... (straightens up) I'll come back.

Hiro (furrows his brows while pressing Mercy): …..

Flowey: I'll kill you.

Hiro (Mercy): …...

Flowey (crazed smile): I'll kill everyone.

Hiro (hesitates, then presses Mercy): ….

Flowey (crazed look worsens): I'll kill everyone you love.

Hiro (hesitates again, then presses Mercy): ….

Flowey: …

Hiro (keeps pressing Mercy, confusing Flowey): ….

Flowey (glares): ….Why?

Hiro (Mercy): ….

Flowey: Why are you being.. (concerned)..so nice to me?

Hiro (Mercy): Because... I want to....

Flowey: I can't understand.

Hiro (Mercy): …..

Flowey: I can't understand!

Hiro (Mercy): ….

Flowey (teary-eyed): I just can't understand. (runs away)

Hiro finds himself before a sunlit grass patch where Flowey was. Hiro sat on his spot for a while since the battle wore him out, glancing around until he saw a path up ahead. He pushed himself to his feet and ambled his way up the path. This was the exit, he finally managed to reach the way out of the underground. Despite this though, he felt bad for leaving his monster friends behind. As much as he wanted to stay, he had to leave. After taking one last look, Hiro departed past the door, watching it close forever.

It had been a few days since Hiro left the underground. The sense of time was lost on him when he was found emerging from the forest by some hikers. He was missing for two weeks and he remembered why he fell into the underground in the first place. Hiro lost his parents to a drunk driver and ended up in foster care. He didn't really like the place he stayed at and decided to “explore” the area near the orphanage. He didn't intend to get too far until he heard voices beckoning him towards the foot of Mt. Ebott. That was how he ended up in the underground. He still wondered about that voice and those visions he had during his travels underground, but most of all, he wondered how his new friends were. Undyne, Papyrus, Sans, Toriel, everyone. He felt guilty for having to fight Asgore. He did like Asgore's proposal of staying with him and his wife, but that was impossible now. That night while he was sleeping, Hiro gets a phone call. He didn't set up a voicemail with his info, but the person on the other end left a message anyway. Hiro did notice the single message on his phone, so once he finished everything he was supposed to do that day, he managed to find time to listen to the voicemail.

Hiro: Whoa, this voicemail's that long? Who...? (plays it; recognizes Sans's voice)

Sans: Heya. Is anyone there?

Hiro: Ah, it's Sans!

Sans: Hmm, guess not. Well, I'll just leave a message. (sighs) So... It's been a while. The queen returned, and is now ruling over the underground.

Hiro: She did?

Sans: She's instated a new policy. All humans who fall here will be treated not as enemies...but as friends. It's probably for the best, anyway.

Hiro: Oh, that's good.

Sans: The human souls the king gathered seem to have disappeared. So, uh, that plan ain't happening anytime soon.

Hiro: Oh...They musta left after they helped me...

Sans: But even though people are heartbroken over the king... (strained voice) ...and...things are looking grim for our freedom....

Hiro: ? His voice...?

Sans (voice is normal): The queen's trying her best not to let us give up hope. So, uh, hey, if we're not giving up down here... (silent) ...Don't give up wherever you are, okay? Who knows how long it will take, but we will get out of here. Sooner or later...

Hiro: …..I wanna-

Papyrus: SANS!!!

Hiro (jolts): Ah!

Papyrus: WHO ARE YOU TALKING TO??

Sans: Oh, nobody.

Papyrus: WHAT?! NOBODY!? CAN I TALK TO THEM, TOO?

Sans: Here, knock yourself out.

Papyrus: WAIT A SECOND...I RECOGNIZE THIS NUMBER!!! ATTENTION, HUMAN! I, THE GREAT PAPYRUS, AM NOW CAPTAIN OF THE ROYAL GUARD! IT'S EVERYTHING I EVER DREAMED OF... EXCEPT INSTEAD OF FIGHTING, WE JUST WATER FLOWERS. SO THAT'S EVER-SO-SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT.

Hiro: Oh, cool!

Papyrus: AND, WE'RE HELPING DR. ALPHYS WITH HER RESEARCH! SHE'S GONNA FIND A WAY TO GET US OUT OF HERE. UNDYNE IS HELPING HER TOO! THOUGH, HER METHOD OF HELPING SEEMS KIND OF EXPLOSION-INCLUDING. BUT I THINK ALPHYS LIKES HAVING HER AROUND. UH OH!!! ( gets the phone taken from him)

Hiro (holds the phone from his ear): Uh oh.

Undyne: Hey! What are you up to, punk!? (sounds of something grinding on the speaker) Ngahhhhh!

Papyrus: PLEASE DON'T NOOGIE THE PHONE.

Undyne: Hey! Who's in charge here!?

Papyrus: ME.

Undyne: Oh... Yeah, that's right! I quit my job as leader of the Royal Guard. Actually, since we won't be fighting anyone... The Royal Guard totally disbanded. There's, uh, only one member now.

Papyrus: BUT HE'S EXTREMELY GOOD.

Undyne: Yeah!! He is! C'mere!!! (sounds of a scuffle and a slight chuckle is heard)

Papyrus: PLEASE DON'T NOOGIE THE SKELETON.

Undyne: Anyway, now I'm working as Alphys's lab assistant. We're gonna find a way out of this dump once and for all! Oh, yeah, and I'm a gym teacher at the queen's new school. Did you know I can bench-press seven children!? Awesome, right?

Hiro: I wanna see that...

Undyne: …. Hey. I'm sorry about what happened with Asgore. You were just doing what you had to. It's not your fault he....

Hiro (sad): Hmn...

Undyne: ..Ah, darn it. I miss the big guy. (loud smacks) ..Come on, Undyne! Snap out of it! Uh, I guess I'll tell you how Alphys is doing. Well, she's the same as ever. Maybe a little more reclusive than ever. Seems like something's really bothering her. But she can get through it! I'm there supporting her!! That's what friends are for, right?

Hiro: Something's up with Alphys?

Undyne: … Hey, wherever you are, I hope it's better than here.

Hiro: Sort of...

Undyne: It took a lot of sacrifice to for you to get there. So wherever you are, you have to try to be happy, okay!? For our sakes! We'll feel better knowing our trouble was worth it. We're all with you! Everyone is! Even the queen! … Hey! Wait a second! Toriel! Toriel! Do you wanna....? (Toriel's voice is faintly heard) ….Heh, she says she's busy.

Hiro: Eh? Toriel? Is Toriel-

Papyrus: BUT IF SHE KNEW WHO WE WERE TALKING TO...

Sans: We wouldn't get the phone back for at least a few hours.

Hiro: Ah, but I wanna-

Papyrus: WE HAVE THE MERCY TO SPARE YOU FROM HER!!

Undyne: But call back any time, okay! She'd love to talk!

Sans: Oh, whoops. This thing's almost outta batteries. So, hate to cut this short, but....be seeing you, okay, buddy?

Papyrus: BYE BYE FOR NOW!

Undyne: See ya, punk! (hangs up)

Hiro sat on his bed, staring at his phone with tears nearly pouring out of his eyes. Hearing their voices made him miss them so much. He wished that there was a way for him to return to the mountain and see them again. Like Sans said, there's no way of knowing how long it will take them to find a way out. He decided to take a short idle walk in the orphanage's garden while following his assigned caretaker and some of the other kids. It's sunset by the time everyone was about to get ready to turn in for the night, yet Hiro was lagging behind, thinking about the voicemail. He was about to enter the house when he sees Flowey again, hiding among the yellow flowers under the window.

Hiro: Flowey? How did you-

Flowey (concerned): Why...? Why did you let me go?

Hiro: Um...I just didn't wanna hurt you.

Flowey: You're just too nice... Don't you realize that being nice...just makes you get hurt?

Hiro: Really...?

Flowey (doubtful):Yes. Just look at yourself. You made all these great friends... But now, you'll probably never seen them again. Not to mention how much they've been set back by you.

Hiro: Ah... (worried) I...held them back....? (realizes) The souls...

Flowey: Hurts, doesn't it? All that progress... If you had just gone through without caring about anyone, you wouldn't have to feel bad now. So, I don't get it.

Hiro: …..

Flowey: If you really did everything the right way... Why did things end up like this?

Hiro (lowers his head): I...I dunno....why....

Flowey: Why...? (looks away) Is life really that unfair?

Hiro: Hmn....

Flowey: … Say. (glances at Hiro) What if I told you...I knew a way to get you a better ending?

Hiro (looks at Flowey curiously): A...better ending?

Flowey (nods): You'll have to load your SAVE file, and...

Hiro: And?

Flowey: Well, in the meantime, why don't you go see Dr. Alphys? It seems like you could have been better friends.

Hiro: Really?

Flowey: Who knows... Maybe she's got the key to your happiness...? (hears the door open; smiles) See you soon. (goes into the ground)

Female Caretaker (spots Hiro): There you are! Hurry and come inside. It'll get late soon.

Hiro: O-Okay... (follows the woman inside)

Hiro mulled over his conversation with Flowey as he went inside the foster home. That night, he couldn't sleep with the message and Flowey's words hanging in his head. Hiro wanted to help the monsters out of the underground, but is Flowey's suggestion the right one? What if something happens? Undyne did mention that Alphys was bothered by something, maybe he can see if he could help her? Is it even possible to go back there? Can he even access his SAVE file without being in the underground? So many questions ran through his head, but he ultimately decided to try it out. It took him the whole night, but he somehow managed to conjure up a save star.

Hiro (shocked): It.....It worked..? (touches it; brings up the SAVE file; sees the last place saved was The End) The End.... This is before my fight with Asgore...

Could he turn back time...? He saw that he was able to redo things down there whenever he “died”, but what about on the surface? He was unsure of what would happen, but once Hiro pressed Continue, the star's light engulfed him. Time seemed to have begun to reverse. While the action seems to have gone unnoticed by many, only one person had definitely caught on to the reversal of time.

Tether (jolts; scratches the page he's writing on): This reverse feeling.... No.... (watches everything going backwards) Hiro... (glares) What are you thinkin', kid...?

TO BE CONTINUED

#linetempostory

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nsschaintale · 3 years

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LINE 8: SINS OF THE KING

After hearing Alphys explaining the need for a monster soul and a human soul to pass through the barrier, Hiro entered the elevator and waited in its ascent. He started to think about his journey, not realizing he was lost in his thoughts when the doors reopened.

Hiro: Welp, here I go...

He stepped out of the elevator to find himself in a gray corridor and spotting a Save Star ahead. Once he saved, he realized he needed more items, as he used up all he had in his fight against Mettaton. If he was to face off against Asgore, he'll need some. Hiro soon rides on Riverperson's boat towards Waterfall. It was a quiet ride until Riverperson spoke up.

Riverperson: Tra la la. Did you ever hear of the old song coming from the sea? Tra la la.

Hiro didn't know what the person was talking about, as usual, but it was interesting to think about. Once he gathered as many items as he could from as many places as he had money for, he returned back to the castle elevator. Hiro walked north and found himself at another elevator and a bridge overlooking an expansive city. He couldn't believe that there was such a large place underground. Then again, with how long the monsters had lived here, it's no surprise that the place was built over time. He soon found himself wandering up a path between a row of tall buildings and arrived at a familiar place. Except for the lack of a black barren tree and everything being grey, it looks the same as Toriel's home in the Ruins. Hiro saved at the save star and saw that the area is called New Home. He entered and was shocked to see that the layout of the entry room is the same as Toriel's house. The flower pot have gold flowers in it, and the stairway is chained off with two padlocks. The chains looked strange as they were glowing an odd indigo color, and there is a note attached to the chain link.

Hiro (reading the note): "Howdy! I'm in the garden. If there's anything you need to get off your chest, don't hesitate to come! The keys are in the kitchen and the hallway". Weird.

Hiro decided to go to the kitchen first. He entered the living room area and again, it looks the same as Toriel's, except the chair is much larger and looked unused, and there's four chairs and a vase with a large golden flower at the table. Hiro took a look at the bookcase and saw photo albums, scrapbooks, and books on making tea, different from what Toriel has, just like the fireplace tools are now gardening tools here. Speaking of the fireplace, the coals are still warm, as if the fire had recently been put out. He made his way to the kitchen when two Froggits hopped out from nowhere in the way. By instinct, he was ready to fight, but there were no attacks coming. Instead, the frogs began to speak.

Frog1: A long time ago, a human fell into the ruins.

Frog2: Injured by its fall, the human called out for help.

Hiro (watches them hop away): Huh? A story? Was that what happened to me? Hmm.. (moves to the kitchen; gets a vision of Flowey speaking) Ngh.... Why did Flowey pop up...?

Again, it was similar to Toriel's besides the unopened containers of snails in the fridge and a note on the counter that says “Howdy! Help yourself to anything you want!”. Hiro took the key and hooked it to his phone, seeing that the stove is clean due to fire magic, white fur in the sink, and the trash can has crumpled recipes for butterscotch pie.

Hiro: Butterscotch cinnamon pie... I want some now...

He left the kitchen to go to the hallway when he met a pair of Whimsuns.

Whim1: Asriel, the king's son, heard the human's call.

Whim2: He brought the human back to the castle.

Hiro (watches them fly off): The king had a son? (has a vision of the human child and a monster child together) What was... (silent; moves to the hallway)

He went into the first room and finds two presents, two beds on opposite sides, a drawing of a golden flower, a photo of a smiling family, a lot of stripe shirts in the wardrobe, and dusty toys. There was something about the left bed made Hiro feel like if he laid in it, he'll never get up from it again. In the presents, he finds a golden heart-shaped locket and a worn knife which upon viewing them, Hiro has a few bad visions. One prominent vision is of himself switching with the kid in his visions. Disturbed by it, Hiro equips the locket but not the knife. He leaves the room and goes to the second door. It's under renovations, like the one at Toriel's. He sees the key on the hallway shelf but is met with 3 Moldsmals.

Mold1: Over time, Asriel and the human became like siblings.

Mold2: The king and queen treated the human child as their own.

Mold3: The underground was full of hope.

Hiro (watches the Moldsmals slithered away; gets a vision): These things.... “The king and queen treated the human child as their own.” Toriel wanted to do something like that..with me.. (grab the key)

He spotted the mirror ahead of him and looks at it. Hiro sees a shadow crawling on him but he shakes it away. He wasn't afraid of that shadow anymore. He knew that despite everything he went through in the underground, it's still him.

He's still Hiro.

Hiro entered the room by the mirror and found it larger that Toriel's. A journal is open on the large desk and the name written in it is Asgore's.

Hiro: Asgore's journal! Maybe he's got some really scary stuff in here! (looks at the current page) “Nice day today!” ….Huh? (touches the word “Nice”; the ink is nearly dry) Still wet? Hmm... (spots a trophy nearby and reads the label) “Number 1 Nose-Nuzzle Champs '98!” This is...getting weird... (goes over to the large drawer; sees robes, button-up shirts and a pink hand-knit sweater with “Mr. Dad Guy” embroidered on it) “Mr. Dad Guy”? Not “Mr. Bad Guy”? Dad... He's a dad? Ah, the Whimsun said Asriel was his son. I wonder if I'll meet Asriel, too. (walks up to the bureau and finds a Santa Claus outfit in it) Ah, so... (is suddenly confused) The king dressed up as Santa Claus? I'm confused... (notices a macaroni art of a flower with the words “For King Dad!” on it) …..Is...Asgore really a bad guy...?

Conflicted, Hiro returned the chained off stairs and unlocked the padlocks. He finds an old calendar from the end of 201x with a date circled on it.

???: The date I came here....

Hiro (yelps, dropping the calendar): …. I should keep going...

Hiro descended downstairs and faced a long corridor. It reminded him of when he followed Toriel to the Ruins exit and faced her. He moved a few steps before meeting two Migosps.

Migosp 1: Then... one day...

Migosp 2: The human became very ill.

Hiro (watches them skitter away): They became sick...? (moves forward and meets 3 Vegetoids that pop up from the ground)

Veg 1: The sick human had only one request...

Veg 2: ...to see the flowers from the village...

Veg 3: ….but there was nothing we could do.

Hiro (sees them sink back in the ground): Oh yeah... The barrier. (continues down the corridor and meets 2 Loox)

Loox 1: The next day.

Loox 2: The next day. Loox 1: ….

Loox 2: The human died.

Hiro (sees them leave): Oh... Maybe that's why Toriel didn't want me to leave...? (continues and meets 2 Snowdrakes)

Snowdrake 1: Asriel, wracked with grief, absorbed the human's soul.

Snowdrake 2: He transformed into a being with incredible power.

Hiro (watches them waddle away): That picture in Waterfall.... Was that Asriel? (continues and heads up, coming across 3 Ice Caps)

Ice Cap 1: With the human's soul, Asriel crossed through the barrier.

Ice Cap 2: He carried the human's body into the sunset.

Ice Cap 3: Back to the village of the humans.

Hiro (watches them walk away): So there was a way out... Alphys was right...? (enters a corner spot going right, meeting 3 Woshuas)

Woshua 1: Asriel reached the center of the village.

Woshua 2: There, he found a bed of golden flowers.

Woshua 3: He carried the human onto it.

Hiro (watches them waddle away): Like the ones I fell on... (continues on and arrives on another long bridge within the city, meeting 3 Shyrens)

Shyren 1: Suddenly, screams rang out.

Shyren 2: The villagers saw Asriel holding the human's body.

Shyren 3: They thought that he had killed the child.

Hiro (watches them “swim” away; becomes worried): The people thought he killed the child? But he only wanted to help them... (continues on and approaches 3 dummies lined on the left side)

Dummy 1: The humans attacked him with everything they had.

Dummy 2: He was struck blow after blow.

Dummy 3: Asriel had the power to destroy them all.

Hiro (walks by them, disturbed): Did...Did he...? (meets a Knight Knight and a Madjick)

Knight: But...

Madjick: Asriel did not fight back.

Knight: Clutching the human...

Madjick: Asriel smiled, and walked away.

Hiro (watches them go their separate ways): Oh, that's good...? (keeps walking and 3 Final Froggits hopped out in front of him)

FF 1: Wounded, Asriel stumbled home.

FF 2: He entered the castle and collapsed.

FF 3: His dust spread across the garden.

Hiro (doesn't see them hop away): …... (moves on and stops when 3 Whimsalots fluttered before him)

Whimsalot 1: The kingdom fell into despair.

Whimsalot 2: The king and queen had lost two children in one night.

Whimsalot 3: The humans had once again taken everything from us.

Hiro (doesn't see them flutter away): That's... (feels a light sensation of sadness; keeps going until he meets 3 Astigmatisms)

Astigmatism 1: The king decided it was time to end our suffering.

Astigmatism 2: Every human that falls down here must die.

Astigmatism 3: With enough souls, we can shatter the barrier forever.

Hiro (doesn't watch them leave): That's why Toriel said I'll die if I meet Asgore. Maybe.... (slowly moves on until he meets a Moldsmal, a Loox, and a Migosp)

Loox: It's not long now...

Moldsmal: King Asgore will let us go.

Loox: King Asgore will give us hope.

Migosp: King Asgore will save us all.

Hiro (moves by the group solemnly until he meets Pyrope and 2 Vulkins): ….

Pyrope: You should be smiling, too.

Vulkin 1: Aren't you excited?

Vulkin 2: Aren't you happy?

Hiro (walks past the group and stops before a Froggit): …...

Froggit: You're going to be free.

Hiro stood at his place for a while, the Froggit long hopped away. He should be happy that he's close to leaving, but he also didn't want to kill a monster, not after befriending a lot of them. Hiro reaches the elevator at a path to the south. He didn't see a need to use it, so he moved down and freezes before entering the path. An overwhelming sensation of fear washed over him, feeling that something terrible would happen. His fear has him planted in his spot like once he enters, he'll have a bad time. After what felt like hours, Hiro finally gathered his courage and determination. He didn't make this far to give up now, despite his chance to do so located to the right of him. He nervously swallowed his fear and moved forward. He entered through the entryway and found himself in a golden sunlit corridor, with its gold and orange checkered tiles, tall marble pillars, and large stained glass windows that have the Delta Rune he saw in Gerson's shop. All that time he tried to gather himself seem wasted as he immediately felt like he shouldn't move forward. He cautiously moved over to the save star and saw the location name: Last Corridor. Once he saved, Hiro faced the corridor and moved. Each step he took, he felt like he was going to be in danger. He couldn't explain why, but he can feel his chest tightening while his heart pounded hard in his chest. His gut twisting as if to trick him into vomiting as a way to escape the corridor. The feeling of the sunlight felt heavy every time he passed by the stained glass windows, the sound of birds made him flinch as the faint scent of flowers failed to calm him. Once he got further into the corridor, his body froze as he tried to block the sun from his eyes. When he lowered his arm, he couldn't tell who was in front of him because of the sunlight. He assumed it was a guard, but the voice sounded familiar.

Guard: So you finally made it. The end of your journey is at hand. In a few moments, you will meet the king. Together... You will determine the future of this world. That's then. Now. You will be judged. You will be judged for your every action. You will be judged for every EXP you've earned.

Hiro (nervous): E-EXP? W-What's that?

Guard: What's EXP? It's an acronym. It stands for “execution points”.

Hiro (has a flicker of a vision with numbers ticking up): Exe...execution..points..?

Guard: Yes. It's a way of quantifying the pain you have inflicted on others. When you kill someone, your EXP increases. When you have enough exp, your LOVE increases. LOVE, too, is an acronym.

Hiro: It is...?

Guard: Yes. It stands for “Level of Violence”, a way of measuring someone's capacity to hurt. The more you kill, the easier it is to distance yourself. The more you distance yourself, the less you will hurt. The more easily you can bring yourself to hurt others.

After Hiro heard those words, he had a series of violent visions that brought him to his knees and grabbed his head as they rapidly flashed in his mind.

A vision of himself wielding a knife.

Sans, wearing clothes different than the ones he wears now.

The feeling of sin crawling on his back in the form of a massive blob of dusted and broken monsters.

The throbbing pain of being thrown around.

Bones rushing at him.

Large skulls shooting lasers at him.

The many attempts at landing a strike.

A sudden sharp twitch in his left leg.

A twin scream.

Desperation.

The feeling of bones stabbing him.

Jackets... Blue jackets....

So many jackets...

Trapped...

Darkness...

Void....

A human and a goat mon-

Guard: HEY!!

Hiro (in stunned silence): ….Huh? (notices skeletal hands on his shoulders and follows them up to sees a familiar face; sees it's Sans kneeling in front of him) ….Sans...?

Sans (worried): Are you all right?! You just starting screaming and crying...

Hiro: …. (bursts into tears) I had those scary thoughts again! And I was...I was fighting you, and I hurt you and you hurt me and I tried to fight 'nd run 'nd bones...a-and jackets and- (becomes belligerent)

Sans: Hey, hey, Hiro, look at me, look at me, buddy.

Hiro (stares at Sans, still wailing): Waaaah!

Sans: Watch me, okay? (chest glows indigo, pulsing slowly) Breathe with it...

(Hiro struggles at first, but manages to breathe with the slow pulse of Sans's Soul light until he calmed down)

Sans: ….You okay..?

Hiro (shivering): ...Yeah....

Sans: You sure?

Hiro: Yeah....

Sans: …........

Hiro: I.... (putting on a brave face as he stood up) I-I'm okay now! (legs shaking and tears slowing)

Sans: Poor kid.... (stands up) All right. I'm about to go ahead with the judgment. (holds his hand out)

Hiro: Ah, so you're a guard?

Sans: In a way, sort of. Here we go. (hands glows indigo; sees a chain ring form over Hiro's head)

Hiro (watches a chain ring starts from above him, going down around him, then spread out when it hits the ground): Wow...

Sans (lowers his hand then smiles): Congrats. You never gained any LOVE.

Hiro: Yes!

Sans: Hang on there, that doesn't mean you're completely innocent or naive.

Hiro: Eh, really?

Sans: Yep, it's just that you kept a certain tenderness in your heart. No matter the struggles or hardships you faced, you strived to do the right thing. You refused to hurt anyone. Even when you ran away, you did it with a smile. You never gained LOVE, but you gained love. Does that make sense?

Hiro: Hmm, maybe?

Sans: Eh, that's good enough. Now. You're about to face the greatest challenge of your entire journey. Your actions here...will determine the fate of the entire world.

Hiro: …

Sans: If you refuse to fight... Asgore will take your soul and destroy humanity. But if you kill Asgore and go home.... (averts his eyes, a hint of sadness flickered for a moment) ….monsters will remain trapped underground. (looks at Hiro) What will you do?

Hiro (shrugs): I'm…not sure.

Sans: Well, if I were you, I would have thrown in the towel by now. But you didn't get this far by giving up, did you?

Hiro (shakes his head): Nope!

Sans (smiles): That's right. You have something called “determination”. (glances at the floor at his feet) So as long as you hold on... (returns his gaze at Hiro) ...so as long as you do what's in your heart... I believe you can do the right thing. Okay?

Hiro: Yeah!

Sans: Alright. We're all counting on you, kid. Good luck.

Sans walked towards the nearest pillar and disappeared behind it. Hiro had noticed a look of relief on Sans's face and followed him to ask him something. He soon felt a gentle breeze from behind the pillar after hearing the sound of wind, seeing Sans had vanished. He continued on to the exit before stopping and taking a few breaths.

Hiro: Okay... Here I go.

He found himself in a long hallway and arrived at the entrance to the throne room. He saved his progress and noticed the hallway branching south. He found himself before a set of stairs and descended downstairs, entering a room lined with 7 coffins. He was unable to check the others, but when he looked at the first one with the red heart, Hiro was terrified. His name was on the lid, and it was empty. Hiro ran away and entered into the throne room.

Hiro: Was...Was that coffin for me...?! Am I gonna die for real?

Hiro knew that coffins meant death. He remembered going to an open casket funeral for one of his older relatives a few years prior to falling into the underground. Come to think of it, Hiro didn't even remember why he came to the underground. Gathering himself, Hiro realized he was in a large room with the sunlight beaming down on a large swath of grass and golden flowers in different areas. He walked further in, seeing a giant purple and yellow object ahead. He drew closer to see it was a giant horned monster with shoulder-length blond fur(?), a gold crown, and a long flowing purple cape that's attached to his gold shoulderguards.

Monster (deep male voice): Dum dee dum... Oh? Is someone there? Just a moment! I have almost finished watering these flowers.

Hiro: Watering flowers?

Monster: … Here we are! (faces Hiro) Howdy! How can I...

Hiro and the monster finally faced each other. Shockingly, this monster is a goat monster much like Toriel, but with the blonde hair and beard. His shoulderguards are connected by a winged circle and his cape covered most of his upper torso, his black armored legs and white feet being the only things visible. His brown eyes widened in surprise as he jolted back before quickly regaining his composure.

Monster: Oh. (looks away nervously before looking at Hiro again) … I so badly want to say, “Would you like a cup of tea?” but...you know how it is. (walks to the left) Nice day today, huh? Birds are singing, flowers are blooming... (smiles) Perfect weather for a game of catch. (looks away then looks at Hiro, worried) … You know what we must do. When you are ready, come into the next room. (walks away)

Hiro (dumbfounded): I....was that Asgore...? He had a crown and stuff....

Hiro looked at the large throne and noticed another throne covered in a white sheet. Hiro saved his progress and followed Asgore into an area with the sun beaming down.

Asgore: How tense... Just think of it like...a visit to the dentist. (walks off)

Hiro never really did like the dentist. But more than that, if this was indeed Asgore, Hiro was increasingly confused. By what Toriel had told him, Asgore was some terrible monster so he was expecting something much scarier than what he met earlier. This monster was more in line with what everyone else said about Asgore; a big nice fluffy guy who apparently likes to garden.

Asgore (doesn't face Hiro): Are you ready? If you are not, I understand. I am not ready either. (walks through the entrance)

Hiro (confused): He's not ready? Why? (touches the save star, sees the words The End) …. (follows Asgore and sees a large pulsating light blocking the exit) What WHOA! What's this!?

Asgore: This is the barrier. This is what keeps us all trapped underground.

Hiro: Oh...

Asgore: …If.... If by chance you have any unfinished business... Please do what you must.

Hiro didn't think there was anything he needed to do. Nothing else but to continue.

Hiro: I don't think I have anything. I'm gonna stay.

Asgore: ….I see.... This is it, then. (faces Hiro, a worried smile on his face) Ready?

Seven holes open in the ground, seven glass containers rise up. Six heart-shaped souls are floating inside; a green one, a yellow one, an orange one, a purple one, a dark blue one, and a cyan one are present in each of the containers. An empty container between the orange and purple ones seems to be reserved for Hiro's soul. Soon enough, the area becomes gray. A strange light filled the room as twilight is shining through the barrier. Hiro felt that his journey is finally over. With this thought in mind...

Hiro is filled with DETERMINATION.

Asgore (smiles solemnly): Human... It was nice to meet you. Goodbye.

Hiro watched as Asgore shifted to the left, brandishing his red trident and revealing the rest of his armor. Hiro had planned on sparing Asgore to help things faster, but for some reason, Asgore moved before his Mercy button, aiming his Trident at it. To his horror, Hiro watched helplessly as the king throws it at the button, shattering it to pieces.

Hiro: M-My MERCY BUTTON!!

The area pulsed with purple light and sparkling orange mist as Asgore stood across from Hiro, his head hanging low as if he wanted to turn his gaze away from the fight. Hiro now has only Act, Items, and Fight. He was conflicted with this, so he tried Act. He only has Talk, and since his Mercy button is gone, he only had that choice.

Hiro (quietly): Mr. Asgore, I don't wanna fight you.....

Asgore's hands trembled for a moment before he used them to sweep the area with fire.

Hiro (gets hit once): Mr. Asgore, I don't wanna fight you.

Asgore's breathing got funny for a moment before he sent a wave stream of flames at Hiro. He gets hit twice before eating a crabapple. He tried to dodge small waves of flames before a large wave comes through on the right, the left, then the right sides of his field again, getting hit twice. He eats half a bisicle before noticing Asgore's eyes flicker orange. Asgore's trident glow orange and swings it twice, causing him to fly frantically around the area.

Hiro (firmly): Mr. Asgore, STOP FIGHTING ME! I don't wanna fight you!

Asgore had a look on his face like a recollection flashed in his eyes as his Attack and Defense stats dropped. Asgore waved his hands and sent more flames out. Hiro gets hit twice before trying to talk the King out of fighting again. Only this time, Asgore wouldn't react anymore. Dismayed, Hiro found that his only option is to fight. Broken rings of fire approach Hiro, and he manages to escape through the openings. Hiro moved his hand towards the Fight button, and hesitated. The same display he saw in his vision back in the Ruins popped up. Something about it frightened him. He winds up his attack and strikes Asgore with his frying pan, seeing the red numbers pop up. He panicked as a fast wave of flames rush him, getting hit once.

Hiro (looks in his items; sees Popsicle): I thought it was called Unicicle...? (drinks a sea tea and feels like he can move faster)

Asgore's eyes flicker orange 3 times before swinging his trident. Hiro managed to move around, but then gets hit once somehow before taking a swing at the king. More flame waves burned through the field. Hiro was still confused from the trident attack that gets him hit three times before he hit Asgore. Asgore waved his hands again, sending out the wave flames. Hiro was caught off guard once before he dodged the rest and attacked Asgore. Broken waves rush in, hitting Hiro three times and forcing him to eat a crab apple. Asgore's eyes flicker orange then blue twice. Hiro makes it past orange, but suddenly loses control of himself during blue, getting hit.

Hiro (confused): Huh..? That was weird.

Hiro felt heat approaching him rapidly as the large flame waves rushed at him, getting hit once while trying to dodge them and hitting Asgore. He tried to dodge the small waves of flames before a large wave comes through on the right, the left, and the right, but he gets hit thrice, ending up on 1 hp and healing himself with a Cinnamon Bunny. Broken rings encircled him again, but he makes it through before landing a strike on Asgore. Hiro sees Asgore's eyes flicker blue, then orange twice, getting hit on blue and makes it with orange. After hitting the king, he makes it through the waves of flames thrown by Asgore. Soon, several broken rings rushed at Hiro where he was hit on one ring, and dodges the others. Another large flame wave rushes through the area, hitting Hiro once. Asgore's eyes flashed orange and 3 blues. Hiro gets hit on orange and goes through the blues before striking Asgore. He gets hit on more waves once before the large wave came and hit him at the end, making him drink a Sea Tea to heal. He managed to survive Asgore's triple blue and single orange trident attack, returning with an attack of his own. Hiro started to feel exhausted and gets hit on flame waves once. He tried to dodge small waves of flames before a large wave comes through on the right, left, right, getting hit twice. Seeing his HP running low, he ate a Starfait and realized he ran out of items. 3 blue and 1 orange trident phases appear, and Hiro was hit on first blue, yet makes it on others before landing another hit on Asgore. Exhaustion took over as Hiro tries to dodge the small waves of flames before a large wave comes through on the right, the left, and the right sides, getting hit twice before returning his own attack. He grew so tired, he didn't notice the pattern had fired off again, causing him to panic and perish.

???: It cannot end here now! Hiro! Stay determined!

Hiro: That voice again... Where...did I..... (wakes up by the Save Star) ….... (sits by the star for a while and checks his phone, rearranging his items; sees the worn dagger) …..Maybe...this will work..? (equips it; gets a queasy feeling in his stomach) Ugh... (has a vision of slashing Asgore in one hit and shattering his soul in an instant) I don't feel so good...

Hiro sat in his place until the uneasiness subsided, returning through the entrance to face Asgore again. Once again, the path to freedom is blocked by the King of Monsters. Oddly, Hiro felt the need to remind Asgore of something.

Hiro: Mr. Asgore... I died to you once...

Asgore (nods sadly): …...

Hiro: He knows...? I wonder....

The two of them engaged in battle once again. Hiro swings the dagger and sees a red streak after the bar comes in from the left in his Fight phase. A flicker of a vision almost caused him to panic, but he keeps fighting. Using the knife made him uncomfortable during the battle, and he dies again. He tries again and tells Asgore he died twice. Again, Asgore nodded at this before continuing the fight to the point where Hiro dies again. Hiro tries again, tells the king he died 3 times, continues fighting until death. He tries again, mentions his fourth death and continues fighting. On his fifth attempt and last point of health, Hiro managed to injure Asgore enough to bring him to his knee, ending the fight. Both were exhausted and quiet after having such a grueling battle until Asgore finally spoke up, as if he was expecting Hiro to finish him off.

Asgore: Ah... ….So that's how it is. …

Hiro: …..

Asgore: ….I remember the day after my son died. The entire underground was devoid of hope. The future had once again been taken from us by the humans. In a fit of anger, I declared war. I said that I would destroy any human that came here. I would use their souls to become godlike...and free us from this terrible prison. Then, I would destroy humanity, and let monsters rule the surface, in peace. Soon, the people's hopes returned. My wife, however, became disgusted with my actions. She left this place, never to be seen again. Truthfully... I do not want power. I do not want to hurt anyone. I just wanted everyone to have hope.

Hiro: Ah...

Asgore: I cannot take this any longer. I just want to see my wife. I just want to see my child. Please....young one.... This war has gone on long enough. You have the power... (looks at Hiro weary) Take my soul, and leave the cursed place.

Hiro: I don't wanna take his soul. I wanna- (spots his Mercy button reformed) My Mercy button... It's back..? (crawls to it and presses it)

Asgore (confused): …..After everything I have done to hurt you.... (smiles) You would rather stay down here and suffer...than live happily on the surface?

Hiro (nods): I think so... I think I wasn't happy up there...

Asgore: … Human... (smiles) I promise you. For as long as you remain here... My wife and I will take good care of you as best we can. We can sit in the living room, telling stories...eating butterscotch pie... We could be like...like a family.

Hiro: Yeah... I'd like that.

There was a slight feeling of joy welling up inside Hiro, like he had found something that was lost to him. Something he forgot when he fell into the underground. Something like a....family. It was such an uplifting feeling that they didn't realize that a circle of white bullets surround Asgore, striking him.

Hiro (tries to crawl to Asgore): ASGORE!!

Hiro watched helplessly as Asgore crumbled to the ground into dust, his soul quivering as if it feared the last bullet before it struck. As the king's soul shattered, Flowey popped up from the ground before a tearful Hiro.

Flowey: You IDIOT. You haven't learned a thing. In this world... (6 souls circling, face melts) ...it's KILL or BE killed.

As the souls become drawn into Flowey, a white light flooded the area, causing Hiro to cry out before fainting.

TO BE CONTINUED

#linetempostory

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nsschaintale · 3 years

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Kusari Ref Sheet

Oh boy, I've been working on these very slowly... I still have some chapters left on my Undertale arc, so I plan on getting back to that. Until then, here's Kusari! Kusari is "chain" in Japanese. Name: Kusari Allori Age: Unspecified (probably in late 200s; could be considered as mid-late 20s) Soul Color: White w/ yellow hue Has Chain Arts?: Yes (Unawakened/Unknown to her) DOB: Unknown (does not remember) (Is actually April 16) POB: Underground Gender: Female Race: Monster (reptilian) Weapon(s): None (Unmanifested) Power(s):None (Unmanifested) Stuff I haven't added on here: Favorite Anime: Neko Knights, an anime about a group of cat girls who are thrown into a world of magic and fight to protect a fairy kingdom from destruction by an encroaching human kingdom. Has a figurine of the spear heroine Armillia. Row 1: Life Chain Location: Located on her back. Chaîne's Visit: Kusari performs a monthly check-up on Chaîne's overall condition and Life Chain Maintenance. Even if he tends to dramatically lay on her table and fool around with her stuff. Wanting to be of use: Kusari's not all that confident in her abilities since becoming the Royal Scientist, but she does try. Old Kusari Picture: My old picture of Kusari and the Chaintale Amalgamations that I wanted to included here. Row 2: Intern ID: All interns receive an ID card with the photo and name of the Intern. They are assigned Level 0 and only have access to menial tasks like delivering documents and Level 0 information. The light blue border also indicates the level, as the darker the blue line, the higher the access level. Kusari became a Level 3 scientist before being promoted to Royal Scientist. Errand Runner: Kusari carrying a binder of documents to a scientist who requested them. Bioralic sketches: Something random I included. The Amalgamations didn't show up until Kusari took over. Row 3: Date Outfit: What she wore for her date. It's the only clean item she has so far. She does try to wash her other clothes, but never really has time. Dating Start! ...?: She almost ran late for her date, but she still looks pretty cute. Running late: When you're so busy with stuff, you lose track of time. If Kusari had her Chain Arts awakened, she would have something like some sort of blasting weapons and/or spells. Not the Gadwyns' skull blasters, but more like gun blasts.

#chaintaleau

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nsschaintale · 3 years

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LINE 7: GLAMOROUS TO THE CORE

UNDERTALE

LINEAR TEMPORAL

LINE 7: GLAMOROUS TO THE CORE

Hiro had started to explore the lobby of the hotel. Other than the bright floor and the statue, Hiro met a small pink and blue origami monster who says that MTT Resort is Hotland's biggest apartment building-turned-hotel. It prides itself in providing a good stay, whether someone stays there for a night or already lived there, even when it's passed through. The front desk is manned by a blue monster with a hand for a head, and he spotted three monsters loitering before an elevator. One is a worried green dragon on the phone telling someone that he might not get home, a white feline monster wearing red shoes on her front paws, glasses, black hair, and has a black briefcase by her, and a black one-eyed slime monster who's outraged at the situation. The elevator before them was apparently in use, but from the sound of the complaints from them, it was like this for a good while. Down the right hall are a set of four doors. One asked for Sea Tea, one asked for a Cinnamon Bun, one didn't specify anything, and one was locked from the inside. Hiro wasn't able to provide the items as he used most of them previously, so he moved on as a green janitor monster was mopping up his own dripping slime in vain. As he was about to head out the doors with the CORE sign above them, he heard a cough ring out from the shop on the right of the Core entrance. There's a sign that showed a burger next to the letters MTT above the double doors. He walked inside to see a standard burger shop with the only employee smoking behind the counter. The employee was an orange cat person wearing a red and yellow uniform with a paper hat of the same colors, and the name tag showing “Burgerpants” on it. He was leaning on the counter, smoking his cigarette and looking bored as usual. On the menu, there was a Starfait, a Glamburger, a Legendary Hero, and a Steak Shaped Like Mettaton's Face (yes, that's what it's called). Hiro only had enough for 3 Starfaits, so he bought those, getting inwardly startled by Burgerpants's “joyful” reaction.

Burgerpants (has a pained smile): Thanksy! Have a FABU-FUL day!!!

Hiro decided to try and ask about the hotel, but ended up getting various pieces of advice, from not ending up like him to never interacting with attractive people. Case in point: the two girls who asked him to sneak some Glamburgers for them. He was caught by his boss on his way to meet them, leading him to drop the burgers and his pants, earning him the nickname. Burgerpants dreamed of working with Mettaton, but not in this manner. He wanted to be an actor, but ended up working at the restaurant. Even though he had some troubles with the robot, Hiro asked why Mettaton was bad, and Burgerpants called this place a labyrinth of bad choices. Even when the staff tries to change something to work better, Mettaton rejects the idea, citing that it's not how it worked on the surface. This confused Hiro as he knows the monsters hadn't been on the surface, so how would Mettaton know? Hiro certainly didn't know. He's just a kid. When the cat mentioned how humans were always eating hamburgers made of sequins and glue, Hiro felt disgusted at the thought. Burgerpants questioned how people find the robot attractive, when he's literally a rectangle. He did at one point buy a kit online that makes people more rectangular, but it didn't work. Hiro was curious about what Burgerpants would do if he was freed. The cat told him he was probably going to be stuck at this job forever, but the one thing that keeps him going is that if Asgore gets one more Soul, everyone can leave for the surface and he'll find a second chance for himself.

That worried Hiro.

He's still not sure of what to think of Asgore. After that enlightening conversation, Hiro was curious about the two chicks Burgerpants mentioned. He didn't go down the alley before when he met Sans, so he headed back out. There, he met two monsters; an alligator with blonde hair, pink eyes, and wearing a pink longsleeved top with blue and yellow stripes, and a purple cat with black hair that has blue tips, a gold earring on her left ear, and wearing blue overalls that have yellow fur lined on the straps. Their wares were interesting. Junk food, a gun, a cowboy hat, and a key. Again, Hiro only had enough for some stuff, so he only bought the junk food. When asked about Burgerpants, the girls called him a creep, even though Catty thought he was kind of cute. She didn't have any real standards. They thought he'd be okay if he treated them with respect. He seemed to blame them for the way he acts, especially when they asked him for the Glamburgers. Bratty was going to share them, but Catty wasn't planning to. Bratty and Catty were their names, and they're best friends for-EVER! Looking over the items, Hiro had asked where they got their stuff.

Catty: We got them from the garbage!

(awkward pause)

Bratty: It's GOOD garbage.

Catty: It's like, really good garbage.

Hiro was not so sure about the junk food now. They apparently got their garbage from the garbage store, but mostly from Waterfall. Catty exclaimed that she found a gun in a dumpster. Hiro wondered if it belonged to anyone who came before him, which is possible since he did see some trash fall into the area. When he asked about Mettaton, the girls were crazy about him. They both claim that he's their robot husband, either being already married to him or planning to do so. He just doesn't know yet. Hiro wasn't sure if Mettaton is husband material considering the few run-ins he had with the robot, but the girls mentioned that they heard rumors about him being made by Dr. Alphys was his idea. Afterwards, he acted like she was an old friend. They weren't friends anymore, unlike these two. About Alphys, she used to live on their street and was like a big sister to them, if she takes you on trips to the dump. She showed them the coolest places and always collecting some weird cartoons. Then she became the Royal Scientist and they haven't seen her in forever. They mentioned Alphys had always thought Asgore was a super cutie, so they thought she made Mettaton to impress him. A robot with a Soul was something that was possibly relevant to his hobbies. Soon after, Asgore made her do the science stuff, but apart from Hiro, nobody's seen anything from her. She likely just stays in her lab all day. When asked about Asgore, Bratty called him a total goober and Catty says he's a big, fuzzy, goofball.

More descriptions of Asgore that confused Hiro.

They mentioned how he was nice and they love him. So much so, they're both hyped for the destruction of humanity. Disturbed, Hiro left them with that thought and mulled over what happened. The more Hiro hears about Asgore, the more he wonders why Toriel made him out to be so bad. It's clear that everyone but her loves him. Did the king do something to draw Toriel's hatred to him? He'll find out soon, he feels. For now, Hiro decided to talk to Burgerpants about Bratty and Catty. Hiro told him the girls talked about him and that he should stop acting like they owed him, and if he wanted to be friends with them, he should see through their perspective. Burgerpants felt pity for Hiro, thinking he got brainwashed. Friendship was a hot person's way of making someone their slave, according to him. He then wanted to know what time they wanted to hang out. Hiro went back to ask them and Catty said he should go look for junk with them. Bratty was worried, but Catty thinks it'll be fun. She felt that that kind of person would want to hang out all the time once they join up. Catty wondered if she felt bad for him, and thought about how cool they are compared to him. They'd be saving his life with their friendship. Bratty was still unsure, but once Catty mentioned Glamburgers, Bratty asked if he was free after work. Hiro soon realized he's being a messenger between Burgerpants, Bratty, and Catty. He told Burgerpants that they want to hang out after work, and the cat got excited, thanking him and asking Hiro where they wanted to go.

Hiro: To the garbage dump.

Burgerpants eventually accepted it. After playing messenger for the trio, Hiro found that the relaxing atmosphere of the hotel filled him with determination. He looked past the front desk towards the doors with a flashing sign saying “CORE” above. With some resolve, Hiro pushed forward. Once he stepped out, he spotted two shadow figures heading into an opening ahead on the opposite end of the bridge. Before moving past the flanking bushes, his phone rings.

Hiro: Hello? I just saw two shadows ahead of me.

Alphys: Huh? Who are they? N-Nobody else is s-supposed to be here. Oh well! We can't worry about that now! (hangs up)

Hiro entered the area and it looked far more advanced than any other area he went through. The floor is mainly blue with some glowing circuitry lines in intricate designs in different areas. Two paths flanking the elevators led to a different exit, and before he picked one, his phone soon rang again.

Hiro: Alphys, I'm here.

Alphys: I see you! Ready? This is it! Take the elevator up to the top of the CORE!

Hiro (goes up to the elevator, but finds it's not working; answers his ringing phone): Ah, the elevator's not working.

Alphys: What?

Hiro: I'm pressing the buttons, but it's not opening.

Alphys: ….The elevator should be working... W-Well then! Go to the right and keep heading up!

Hiro: Okay! (follows her instructions, but ends up in a dark room with blazing fire below) Uhhh....

Alphys: Now just keep heading up!

Hiro: I can't! There's fire here!

Alphys: ... That pit...isn't on my map. Forget it! Let's try the left side!

Hiro left the room and went up the left path. He saw three red-tipped blue columns flanking the path.

Alphys: Okay, you should be able to make it through here!

Hiro: All right.

As he headed up, the two shadow figures he saw before quickly approached him.

Hiro: Ah!

Alphys: W-Watch out!

The area went grayscale and a battle ensued. Hiro soon faced against a magician type monster that popped out of its hat along with two floating spheres. Its hat covered its eyes, didn't look like it had arms as its coat bellowed and its boots floated underneath it. His options were Talk, Stare, and Clear Mind. Hiro decided to clear his mind and thought of pollen and sunshine. Hiro soon had to dodge flying crosses, but got hit once. The Madjick, as it was called, flaunted its orbs menacingly. Hiro then tried talking to it, but was interrupted as it chattered to itself. Hiro managed to dodge the orbs, then Madjick whispered arcane swear words at the boy. Hiro soon spared it, clearing the room of gray and answering his phone.

Alphys: Th-That was close... Wh...Why are there so many monsters here?

Hiro: Maybe they work here?

Alphys: Ah... I mean... It's no problem, r-r-right? W-w-we've just got to keep moving forward! (becomes silent then hangs up)

Hiro: …?

Hiro soon enter the next area and ahead of him is a barrier and a long glass-floored bridge lined with the laser nodes. Three sets of three light bulbs with three different colors are seen on the light-stripped wall before the switch. He noticed that he could see the various inner parts of the bridge as the lights flickered in various patterns and some spots have a sort of wear with some gray panels and purple insulation worn or broken off, exposing the wires underneath.

Hiro: It's that barrier... (answers his phone)

Alphys: Looks like you can't proceed until you hit the switch. B-But, those lasers will activate when you do. Um, looks like they'll come in this order. Orange, orange, blue. Got it, move until the third one!

Hiro: Okay. (hits the switch, then moves forward) Oran- (sees the colors being blue, blue, then orange) BLUE?! (gets hit by the blue laser, dodges the lasers that followed, stopped on the second blue one and dashing through the orange one) I.. (picks up the call) Alphys!?

Alphys: Oh my god... Are you hurt? I...I'm sorry, I.... I gave you the wrong order. (slight panic) E-Everything's fine, okay? Just keep going to the right.

Hiro: Okay... Is she all right...?

Hiro made his way through the corridor, spotting even more panels broken off and the triple set light bulbs on the wall, passing them by before he arrives at a T road with the bottom pointing north. Seeing the state of the area made Hiro think that the Core hasn't been fixed up for some time.

Alphys: A crossroads... (clicking and papers shifting are heard) Uuuh....uhhh.... Tr...Try heading to the right!

Hiro: Okay. (moves ahead; his phone rings) Hello?

Alphys: W-Wait! No, I think you should h-head up!

Hiro: Ah, I guess?

Hiro moves up into another area. He soon runs into a shadow figure again, and meets a monster called Knight Knight as the area went gray. She was a giant kneeling monster with a face that occupies most of its torso and is occasionally tapping her large mace on the ground. Checking his options, all Hiro could do is Talk and Sing to her. He remembered singing with Shyren, so he tried that, noticing the monster getting sleepy. The monster looked drowsy, but she managed to rain meteors and Hiro got hit by one. Hiro dodges them this time after singing again, lulling the monster into a deep sleep. Once she did, he took the chance to spare her.

Hiro (answers the call): I ran into more monsters...

Alphys: Sorry, I...I...I thought that... Let's try the right.

Hiro: Okay... (returns to the crossroad and heads to the right; sees a long corridor with the laser nodes moving their blue and orange lasers across the way) Ack, it's lasers again.

Alphys: M... More lasers... Okay, I...I won't mess around this time. I'll just deactivate the lasers and let you through. (clicking and tapping is heard, then stops)

Hiro: …..? Alphys?

Alphys: They're... They're not turning off... I can't turn them off, I....

Hiro (worried): What are we gonna do?

Alphys: I-I-It's okay! I have this under control! I'm going to turn off the p-power for that whole node. Then you can walk across. (turns power off in node) Okay, go!

Hiro: I'm moving now! (moves across)

Alphys: W-WAIT! STOP!

Hiro (sees the lights flickering and stops as the corridor gets filled with blue lasers; a blue laser appears and points at his side): Aaaah....Alphys...

Alphys: Th-The power... (heavy tapping is heard) It's turning itself back on. D-Damn it... Th-This isn't supposed to...

Hiro: I can't move...

Alphys: I...I'm gonna turn it off again. When it turns off, move a little then STOP. Okay? Y-You won't get h-h-hurt.

Hiro: All right.

It was an excruciating trek across the bridge as Hiro was guided by the lights to stop and move. He did take a chance to hang up as he needed to focus on the path ahead. Once he made it, he let out a breath he didn't know he was holding and answered Alphys's call.

Hiro: I made it!

Alphys (slightly more panicked): Yes! S-See? I've got everything under control. Everything's under control! (hangs up)

Hiro (stares at his phone before hanging up): Uh….? Hm. (leaves the area)

He makes it to a crossroads where a Save Star is waiting. The area was more lit up from the light below. Hiro look down to see flowing glowing liquid that he was unsure of what it was made of, so he moved on to the star, answering his phone as he approached it.

Hiro: Ah, I'm at another place with more roads. Where should I go next?

Alphys: Okay! Y-You should... (rustling sounds) You should.... I don't know? (rustling stops) This doesn't look like my map at all..

Hiro: Ah, uh... (looks around) Um, there's a star and four paths and-

Alphys: I'm sorry... I...I...I have to go.

Hiro: Alph- (gets hung up on; stares at his phone) …..I hope she's okay....

After pocketing his phone, he touched the star. He could smell something in the air. He's heard of the ozone layer in one of his classes, and this scent made him think of it for some reason. Either way, it filled him with determination. Two signs with green light lettering are seen on the wall flanking the northern path. The left sign shows “North, the warrior's path. West, the sage's path. Any path leads to The End.” The right one shows “East... The End.”

Hiro: Wow, that's easy! I'm gonna go this way!

Hiro departed down the eastern path. The path led through a large area of liquid and past several mechanical chrome pillars that have several red lights flashing on them. He soon came to another crossroads with two signs and an electrical barrier. These signs show “To the East! This is The End.” and “ I cannot fight. I cannot think. But, with patience, I will make my way through.”

Hiro: Hmn, I don't think I can wait. I'll go up more. (leaves, doesn't notice the barrier vanishing)

He kept going north to find a T-road, so he kept going to see what's up there. He found himself in a room with just a trash can inside. He decided to look inside and found 100G in it, digging it out and leaving. He went to the left this time, coming across a sign showing “Traverse the northern room, and The End will open.” Hiro was curious about the other end, so he went left to find another T-road and went north. Another room with a trash can present had a Glamburger in it. Hiro was unsure of it, but it's wrapped up, so he felt that it should be okay. Hiro went back to where he was and made his way on the long bridge, only to be ambushed by what looks like an armored Whimsun called a Whimsalot and a spikier Froggit with a small crown called a Final Froggit. The options for Whimsalot were Terrorize, Console, and Pray, and the ones for Final Froggit were Threaten, Compliment, and Mystify. Hiro decided to compliment the Froggit.

Hiro: I like your crown!

The Froggit understood him perfectly and lowered its ATTACK. Despite that, Hiro didn't do well in the fight, flailing around and getting hit by flies and butterflies. There was a strange smell lingering around that was like nightshade and bleach. Hiro turned to Whimsalot and used Console.

Hiro: Um....I think what you're doing is all right?

Whimsalot: Ah...I've made my peace.

Hiro got surrounded by butterflies and couldn't really dodge the flies, leaving his health at 1. He quickly ate a Starfait, healing himself back to 19. Against, he got surrounded and took hits. Afterwards, he noticed the Whimsalot locking eyes with his, so he prayed. This caused the monster to remember its conscience, leading it to not want to fight any longer. Hiro spared the monster and focused his attention to the frog. With only Final Froggit left, Hiro was able to dodge the flies easily. He saw a look on the monster's face like it knew why it's here. Hiro decided to try mystifying it and did something mysterious. Upon seeing this, Final Froggit recognized that it had more to learn from this world. Suddenly, a small white frog appeared, hitting Hiro at first, but he was able to avoid it. Hiro soon spared it and the battle ended. He noticed he was running out of items to use, so he went back to the hotel and Snowdin to buy more, dropping by Sans and Papyrus's place and seeing Undyne and the tall skeleton hanging out by the mailboxes. Hiro waved at them as he went back to return to the Core to continue onward. Again, he was ambushed by a Madjick, but also a Knight Knight. He knew what to do with them. Shocking to Hiro, he managed to dodge the spheres and crosses that appeared. He sung Shyren's song again until the knight fell asleep. While she slept, Hiro dodged Madjick's sphere, sparing Knight Knight in the process. This time, Hiro messed up and ran into the crosses. Hiro glared at both orbs, causing them to freeze, and thus giving him an opportunity to spare Madjick and leave the battle. Not a few more steps ahead, and he ran into Final Froggit, Whimsalot, and a new monster that similar to Loox called Astigmatism. Astigmatism's options were Don't Pick On, Pick On, and Challenge. Hiro didn't want to challenge nor pick on it. Hiro realized too late that he forgot to heal and died in the battle, surrounded by butterflies and running into a bubble stream. Hiro woke up at the Save Star and realized he had to fight Knight Knight and Madjick again.

Hiro: Agh....

This time, he was bombarded by meteors which threw him off from his last attempt. After sparing them, he went back and saved before facing the three monsters that he lost to. Hiro remembered Astigmatism saying to pick on it, so he did, sparing it afterwards. He did the same methods on the frog and bug monsters, but did horribly worse, dying again. It really was a nightmare. He even noticed the eye monster saying not too pick on it, and died again.

And again.

Until finally, Hiro managed to beat them. Ahead of him was a switch on the wall. He figured it was for the exit and clicked it. After that, he went back to the star, saved, and moved on. He went down the path that mentioned the east being the end and followed it, leading to a bridge where he ran into an Astigmatism. He picked on and spared it with ease. Hiro reached an area where the elevator and an entrance similar to the one he went through before the first set of lasers is seen.

Hiro (saves then stands before the winged entrance): This gotta be the way to get to the castle. (nods) Right, I'm getting determined!

Once he went through, he was confronted by none other than Mettaton.

Hiro: Not you again...

Mettaton: OH YES. THERE YOU ARE, DARLING.

Hiro: What's it this time?

Mettaton: IT'S TIME TO HAVE OUR LITTLE SHOWDOWN. IT'S TIME TO FINALLY STOP THE “MALFUNCTIONING” ROBOT. …..NOT!!! MALFUNCTION? REPROGRAMMING? GET REAL. THIS WAS ALL JUST A BIG SHOW. AN ACT. ALPHYS HAS BEEN PLAYING YOU FOR A FOOL THE WHOLE TIME.

Hiro: Eh? Really...?

Mettaton: YES. AS SHE WATCHED YOU ON THE SCREEN, SHE GREW ATTACHED TO YOUR ADVENTURE. SHE DESPERATELY WANTED TO BE A PART OF IT. SO SHE DECIDED TO INSERT HERSELF INTO YOUR STORY. SHE REACTIVATED PUZZLES. SHE DISABLED ELEVATORS. SHE ENLISTED ME TO TORMENT YOU. ALL SO SHE COULD SAVE YOU FROM DANGERS THAT DIDN'T EXIST. ALL SO YOU WOULD THINK SHE'S THE GREAT PERSON...THAT SHE'S NOT. AND NOW, IT'S TIME FOR HER FINEST HOUR. AT THIS VERY MOMENT, ALPHYS IS WAITING OUTSIDE THE ROOM. DURING OUR “BATTLE,” SHE WILL INTERRUPT. SHE WILL PRETEND TO DEACTIVATE ME, “SAVING” YOU ONE FINAL TIME. FINALLY, SHE'LL BE THE HEROINE OF YOUR ADVENTURE. YOU'LL REGARD HER SO HIGHLY, SHE'LL EVEN BE ABLE TO CONVINCE YOU NOT TO LEAVE....OR NOT. YOU SEE, I'VE HAD ENOUGH OF THIS PREDICTABLE CHARADE. I HAVE NO DESIRE TO HARM HUMANS. FAR FROM IT, ACTUALLY. MY ONLY DESIRE IS TO ENTERTAIN. AFTER ALL, THE AUDIENCE DESERVES A GOOD SHOW, DON'T THEY? AND WHAT'S A GOOD SHOW...WITHOUT A PLOT TWIST?

(door shuts behind Hiro; knocking is heard)

Alphys: H-Hey!!! Wh-Wh-What's going on!? Th-Th-The door just locked itself!

Hiro (looks back): Alphys!?

(the area lights up in red with five red spotlights surrounding Mettaton with one white spotlight focused on him)

Mettaton (holding a microphone): SORRY, FOLKS! THE PROGRAM'S BEEN CANCELLED!!! BUT WE'VE GOT A FINALE THAT WILL DRIVE YOU WILD!!

(the floor raises up, then rises higher as Hiro falls to his knees)

Mettaton: REAL DRAMA!! REAL ACTION!! REAL BLOODSHED!! ON OUR NEW SHOW...”ATTACK OF THE KILLER ROBOT!”

Hiro was thrown into a battle with Mettaton, his soul becoming yellow again. His only option was Burn, so he tried that. Considering how he often runs into fire recently, he felt that it was what he'll do if it continues in this manner.

Mettaton: YES, I WAS THE ONE THAT REARRANGED THE CORE! I WAS THE ONE THAT HIRED EVERYONE TO KILL YOU! THAT, HOWEVER, WAS A SHORT-SIGHTED PLAN. YOU KNOW WHAT WOULD BE A HUNDRED TIMES BETTER? KILLING YOU MYSELF!!

Hiro: Then that person Muffet mentioned was him... (waits for the attacks to come, but nothing happened)

Mettaton: LISTEN, DARLING. I'VE SEEN YOU FIGHT. YOU'RE WEAK. IF YOU CONTINUE FORWARD, ASGORE WILL TAKE YOUR SOUL, AND WITH YOUR SOUL, ASGORE WILL DESTROY HUMANITY.

Hiro was caught off guard with some falling blocks, which he started blasting away. Hiro decided to try and spare the robot, but Mettaton ignored his attempt.

Mettaton: BUT IF I GET YOUR SOUL, I CAN STOP ASGORE'S PLAN! I CAN SAVE HUMANITY FROM DESTRUCTION!

Hiro spotted some robotic arms descending and shot at them, forcing them to pull back from him.

Mettaton: THEN, USING YOUR SOUL, I'LL CROSS THROUGH THE BARRIER...AND BECOME THE STAR I'VE ALWAYS DREAMED OF BEING! HUNDREDS, THOUSANDS...NO! MILLIONS OF HUMANS WILL WATCH ME!

Two arms and a line of blocks with a bomb in the middle fell. Hiro shot the arms and a block, but he runs into one by accident.

Hiro: Ah!

Mettaton: GLITZ! GLAMOUR! I'LL FINALLY HAVE IT ALL! SO WHAT IF A FEW PEOPLE HAVE TO DIE? THAT'S SHOW BUSINESS, BABY!

Hiro (gets a call from Alphys): Alphys, help!

Alphys: U...Uh.... I can't see what's going on in there, but.... D-D-Don't give up, okay!? Th...There's o-one l-l-last way to beat Mettaton...It's...um...it's... This is a work-in-progress, so don't judge it too hard...But you know Mettaton always faces f-f-forward?

Hiro: Yeah!

Alphys: That's because there's a switch on his backside. S-S-So if y-y-you c-c-can turn him around... um... And, umm... press th-th-th-the switch... He'll be... um.... He'll be... Vulnerable. Well, g-g-gotta go!

Hiro: Ah. I guess it's my chance to make him move. But how? (notices the Burn option changed to Turn in yellow; selects it) Uuh, hey, there's a mirror behind you!

Mettaton: OH??? A MIRROR??? RIGHT, I HAVE TO LOOK PERFECT FOR OUR GRAND FINALE! (turns around and exposes his switch) HMMM... I DON'T SEE IT... WHERE IS IT....?

Hiro (flips the switch): Got ya!

Mettaton: DID YOU. JUST FLIP. MY SWITCH?

Suddenly, Mettaton was shaking violently as Hiro backed far away, worrying the robot would soon explode. Light bursts from the metal body until the whole area was engulfed in it, yet the only sound that was heard was....

OH~ YES~

Hiro: Oh...whoa...?

A pair of spotlights descended and focused their light within a cloud of smoke, a humanoid figure stood among it. Its voice had a familiar robotic tone in it, but it seemed more...human..?

???: Ohhh my. If you flipped my switch, that can only mean one thing. You're desperate for the premiere of my new body. How rude... Lucky for you, I've been aching to show this off for a long time. So... as thanks, I'll give you a handsome reward. I'll make your last living moments.... (a flash of light reveals a male android) ABSOLUTELY beautiful!

Hiro was stunned in seeing this android, even more so when he finds out it's Mettaton, but with an EX on the end of his name. Mettaton had taken the shape of a man with short black hair, most of it covering his right eye, a metallic section on his left cheek, large shoulder guards, arms similar to the ones he had as a robot, holes on the right side of his chest that may be the speaker, a dial on the left side, a chassis containing a white soul, black skintight pants, and high-heeled boots. The boy watched as the android made various poses in place and noticed a line graph on the upper left corner that shows a yellow line, a cyan line, and fluctuating purple line, and the words “Ratings 3001”. His options are Pose, Boast, and Heel Turn. Hiro had watched the android doing many poses, so he tried one out dramatically, raising the ratings to 3101.

Mettaton EX: Lights! Camera! Action!

Hiro saw six legs appear, descending towards him. Hiro shot two grey ones to move them and went between moving ones, hitting on the right. He saw green words pop up and the ratings had 50 more points. Hiro posed again, raising the score 3311.

Me. EX: Drama! Romance! Bloodshed!

Bombs appearing between little umbrella-carrying Mettatons threw Hiro off as he shot the ones on the right side. A bomb explodes, catching him off guard. Hiro ate a Starfait, which the audience loves and received 300 points, the score being at 3756 now.

Me. EX: I'm the idol everyone craves!

Six legs and some boxes appeared, drawing Hiro's attention as he shoots the legs and boxes. Hiro didn't notice a leg and it hits him, making the score bump up to 3826. Hiro decided to do a boast.

Hiro: Your attacks won't get me! I won't get hit at all!

Me. EX: Well then! Smile for the camera!

Hiro saw the ratings gradually rise as two arms and four Minitons (as Hiro decided to call them) descend. He managed to survive, and the ratings hit 4151. Hiro dramatically poses again, bringing the score to 4251.

Me. EX: Oooh, it's time for a pop quiz! Have fun with that on-screen keyboard... This one's an essay question!

To Hiro's surprise, a blank screen and grey keyboard popped up in front of him with the Essay Prompt: What do you love most about Mettaton? Hiro was unsure before putting his answer: His style and legs. Hiro threw in the legs part because he's been seeing them a lot in this battle, not because he liked them. Apparently, the mention of legs raised the number to 4601.

Me. EX: That's right. Legs was the correct answer! (saves the answer for future use)

Hiro (confused): Oh...I guess?? That was right?? (strikes a pose again, seeing the number bump to 4701)

Me. EX: Your essay really showed everyone your heart. Why don't I show you mine?

The door of the chassis opens and Mettaton's soul came out. Several pulses of electricity sparked out along with some Minitons blowing heart kisses at Hiro. Hiro tries his best to dodge the onslaught, but still gets hit by them. Even the violence contributed to the score as it rises to 4856. Seeing his health running low, Hiro eats a Glamburger. Because it was on brand, it jumped the score to 5356.

Me. EX: Ooooh, I'm just warming up!

Hiro manages to dodge all of the Minitons and their hearts. The score rose to 5416 now. Hiro hadn't noticed before, but the area had a peculiar smell wafting in the air. He soon realized it was coming from Mettaton. Hiro made another dramatic pose, making the score hit 5516.

Me. EX: You got some pretty lovely poses! But how are you on the dance floor!?

Hiro: Not that great...

A spotlight focused on Hiro as a disco ball hangs above him. Hiro shoots at it, noticing it changing the lights from white to blue. He keeps going as he noticed Mettaton's poses seem to be a little faster than before. The impromptu dance-off brought the score to 5526, with Hiro ending it in a pose, raising the score again to 5626.

Me. EX: Fabulous! Can you keep up the pace?

Hiro: Yeah!

The disco ball descends again, but the lights move faster. Hiro messes up his shot once, but he quickly regains control, ending the dance with 5666 points while posing again.

Me. EX: Lights! Camera! Bombs!

Hiro: Not again!

Hiro sees his battle field become thinner and four bombs and blocks appear. In his attempt to shoot them, one set hits Hiro while he was caught in the explosion. The violence bumped the ratings to 5856 before Hiro's pose made it 6006.

Me. EX: Things are blowing up!

To Hiro's dismay, more bomb blocks fall. He somehow only got hit once, bringing the score to 6136. He eats a part of a Bisicle, which he noticed it didn't bring the descending score up.

Me. EX: Time for our union-regulated break!

The words “Happy Break Time” flashes on Hiro's field.

Hiro: Just like Napstablook... (notices Mettaton posing at a rapid rate) I'm gonna pose, too! (poses with style)

Me. EX: We've grown so distant, darling... How about another heart-to-heart?

Hiro sees the soul coming out again and shoots at it. 4 waves of boxes pulsing in and out from the android's soul along with sparks, and Hiro manages to dodge everything surprisingly well while shoot the dancing bot's soul, raising the score to 6496. This caused Mettaton's arms to fall off, startling Hiro as he poses to bring the score to 6596.

Hiro (panicking): M-Mettaton, your arms fell off!!

Me. EX: A..Arms? Wh...Who needs arms with legs like these? I'm still going to win!

Hiro didn't do well this round. He was hit by several blocks and bombs, and just when he thought it was over, there was a strange feeling in the air. Like time was being rewound. Suddenly, the blocks and bombs that went by him came back up, causing him to jump between the spaces he shot out. The ratings sat at 6816 because of this.

Hiro: That was close! What was that feeling..? It feels...

Me. EX: Come on...!

Again, the record/rewind stage appeared before Hiro. He did a little better this time, now that he got the gist of this stage. His score rose to 6996, but this is where things took a heel turn for the worse. He's run out of items.

Me.EX: The show...must go on!

Many blocks and bombs fall, causing Hiro to try and shoot at them. Hiro was hit a few times blasting the bombs away, his score hitting 7136 and jumping to 7286 after he poses.

Me.EX: Dr...Drama! A...Action!

The blocks and bombs fall again faster, and Hiro was hit a few times again. The ratings were at 7446 when he poses again.

Me. EX: L...Lights... C..Camera... Enough of this! Do you really want humanity to perish!? ….Or do you just believe in yourself that much?

Hiro: I don't want that, but I do believe in myself!

Hiro was becoming weary, which caused him to mess up the bomb block section. The score rises to 7576.

Me. EX: Haha, how inspiring! Well. Darling! It's either me or you! But I think we both already know who's going to win. Witness the true power of humanity's star!

Mettaton's soul comes out again. Hiro had to dodge more sparks as he shot away at the soul and the two bombs that revolved around it. Once done, Hiro saw half of his field flashing with a warning.

Hiro: What's that- (sees a row of legs jutt out at him; dodges away) AH! (hears the warning behind him and moves away as more legs appear) Gah! This is crazy!

Hiro had to deal with the soul sparks and kicking legs twice more before he saw Mettaton's legs fall off and the ratings hitting 7696. He poses in front of the limbless android, adding 100 more points and making it 7796.

Me. EX: ….then.... Are YOU the star? Can you really protect humanity!?

Hiro: I don't know. Maybe if I tried hard enough?

In his thoughts, Hiro is caught off guard with the soul shooting sparks at him while he shoots at it. Mettaton remained silent during the exchange. Hiro was so worn out from the battle that he didn't realize the disco ball came out and he panics. Some sparks and Minitons came out and hit Hiro as he desperately tries to shoot and dodge them. With no more items left to use, he was left at 2 Hp. With the last of his power, Hiro poses with all his might. The audience screams in adoration, but it wasn't enough. He was completely worn out to the point where he couldn't see the bombs nor recognize that it was the rewind stage. He shot at one, causing it to explode on him and making him literally go out with a bang. He soon wakes back up at the save star outside of the elevator. Even though he usually gets healed and refreshed at these points, Hiro still felt the remnants of exhaustion from that battle and lays in his spot for a while. It was during that rest when he remembers that feeling from being rewound in the fight.

Hiro: That was weird. It was like.....a tape rewinding? Oh... Is that what happens when I die? I redo stuff? ….. (puts his hands on his head) My head hurts....

Deciding to not think more on it, Hiro rested a little while longer before getting up and reentering the room where Mettaton is waiting. Hiro was not much in the mood to hear Mettaton's monologue and tells him about the mirror again.

Me. EX: CLEVER. VERY CLEVER.

The battle ensues again. Poses, bombs, and bolts fly as Hiro danced and fought his way against Mettaton. He stopped caring about the ratings as he needed to concentrate. Despite doing much better this time around, he ran out of items and was back on his last two HP again. And once again, with feeling this time, Hiro poses with his might. The battle was soon cut off as Mettaton sees the ratings skyrocket past 10000.

Mettaton (excitedly): OOH, LOOK AT THESE RATINGS!!! THIS IS THE MOST VIEWERS I'VE HAD!!! WE'VE REACHED THE VIEWER CALL-IN MILESTONE! ONE LUCKY VIEWER WILL HAVE THE CHANCE TO TALK TO ME...BEFORE I LEAVE THE UNDERGROUND FOREVER!! LET'S SEE WHO WHO CALLS IN FIRST! (phone rings) HI, YOU'RE ON TV! WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY ON THIS, OUR LAST SHOW???

???: …..oh.......hi....mettaton....

Hiro: Huh? This voice...

???: ….i really liked watching your show...my life is really boring....but...seeing you on the screen...brought excitement to my life...vicariously. i can't tell, but...i guess this is the last episode...? i'll miss you...mettaton......oh.....i didn't mean to talk so long....oh......

Mettaton: NO, WAIT! (tries calling back) WAIT, BL.. (hears a click) ..H....THEY ALREADY HUNG UP. …. I'LL TAKE ANOTHER CALLER!!!

As soon as he opened the phone lines, calls started pouring in as the viewers voiced their joy in watching Mettaton on TV and the sorrow they felt at the thought of losing him.

“Mettaton, your show made us so happy!”

“Mettaton, I don't know what I'll watch without you.”

“Mettaton, there's a Mettaton-shaped hole in my Mettaton-shaped heart....”

Mettaton (saddened): AH... I...I SEE...(grins solemnly)...EVERYONE... THANK YOU SO MUCH. … DARLING.

Hiro: Yes?

Mettaton: PERHAPS.... IT MIGHT BE BETTER IF I STAY HERE FOR A WHILE. HUMANS ALREADY HAVE STARS AND IDOLS, BUT MONSTERS...THEY ONLY HAVE ME. IF I LEFT....THE UNDERGROUND WOULD LOSE ITS SPARK. I'D LEAVE AN ACHING VOID THAT CAN NEVER BE FILLED. SO... I THINK I'LL HAVE TO DELAY MY DEBUT. BESIDES. YOU'VE PROVEN TO BE VERY STRONG. PERHAPS...EVEN STRONG ENOUGH TO GET PAST ASGORE.

Hiro: …

Mettaton: I'M SURE YOU'LL BE ABLE TO PROTECT HUMANITY. HA, HA... IT'S ALL FOR THE BEST, ANYWAY. THE TRUTH IS, THIS FORM'S ENERGY CONSUMPTION IS....INEFFICIENT. IN A FEW MOMENTS, I'LL RUN OUT OF BATTERY POWER, AND...WELL.

Hiro: Oh no! Will you be okay?

Mettaton: I'LL BE ALRIGHT. KNOCK 'EM DEAD, DARLING. AND EVERYONE.... THANK YOU. YOU'VE BEEN A GREAT AUDIENCE!

With Mettaton's parting smile, a bright light flashes in the area then fades. Once Hiro lowered his arms to look around, he saw the stage had return to normal and Mettaton's resting form on the ground before him. Before he could make a move, he hears the door opening behind him.

Alphys: I...I managed to open the lock! Are you two... (runs in; stops in shock) Oh my god. (rushes over to Mettaton) Mettaton! Mettaton, are you.... (checks him over, sighs in relief) Thank GOD, it's just the batteries. Mettaton, if you were gone, I would have.... (trembling) I would have.... (silent, then shakes her head) I m-mean, h-hey, it's n-no problem, you know? He's just a robot, if you messed it up, I could always...j-just build another. (becomes silent again)

Hiro: Alphys?

Alphys: Ah....I'm...fine. Why don't you go on ahead? I....I just need a moment.

Hiro: Okay....

Hiro took a look at Mettaton's broken body, and got a quick vision of a more deadly version of him. Strangely, despite this towering version with its flowing cape, laser eye, and deadly gun arm, that Mettaton was shot down in one hit. Hiro shook that vision away, and departed the room exhaustively. As Hiro made his way down the corridor, he was caught up by Alphys as she apologized for before.

Alphys: L-Let's k-keep going!

(silence)

Alphys: S-So you're about to meet Asgore, h-huh? You must be...Y-You must be... Pr... pretty excited about all that, huh?

Hiro (frowns): Not really.

Alphys: Oh.. (twiddles her thumbs) A-At least you'll f-f-finally... You'll finally get to go home!

Hiro (smiles): I'm more excited about that! (arrives at the elevator; pushes the button and is about to enter) Here I go.

Alphys: W... Wait!

Hiro (notices Alphys standing some distance from him): Yeah?

Alphys (smiles nervously): I mean, um... I... I was just going to..….um...say goodbye, and.. (her smile slowly drops; faces away from him)

Hiro: Alphys?

Alphys: ...I can't take this anymore. (turns away) I...I lied to you.

Hiro: About what?

Alphys: About....A-About how to l-leave here. R-Remember wh-when I said that with y-your human soul, you c-can pass through the b-barrier...?

Hiro: Yep.

Alphys: A....A human soul isn't strong enough to cross the barrier alone.

Hiro: It isn't?

Alphys: N-No.... (looks down at her feet) It takes at least a human soul...and a monster soul. (silent; turns to him) If you want to go home.... You'll have to take his soul. You'll have to kill Asgore. (walks away then stops) I'm sorry.

As Alphys ran off, Hiro stood before the open elevator in shock. He has to...kill Asgore? He had no intention of killing anyone in the Underground, nor anyone ever anywhere. Besides, Hiro's never killed anyone before in his life.

…...

Right...?

TO BE CONTINUED

#linetempostory

0 notes

nsschaintale · 3 years

Text

Link 7: Corrupt Determination

UNDERTALE

CHAINTALE

Chain Link: The Fallen Royal Scientist

Link 7: Corrupt Determination

It had been years since Judy, the gun-slinging girl who demanded the release of the fallen humans, fell victim to Dr. Gadwyn. Since then, no new humans had fallen into the Underground. Gadwyn was getting frustrated at the thought that the humans could have wizened up and stopped allowing others to come down to the Underground. Over time, not much has happened. For most monsters, most days were spent just living out their lives as best they can. For the scientists, most of the days were spent dealing with the Core. Other times were spent stabilizing the project. Even Kusari, who was an intern for a time, became an official scientist, even though she still has a lot to learn. Meanwhile, Gadwyn was mostly bothered by the lack of a final human Soul to use to complete the project. Eventually, the project was being put on hold as the days went on.

(Gadwyn is seen walking towards his house at night, weary but aggravated)

Gadwyn: We're getting too relaxed... We just need one more Soul to complete the project. Damned humans must've gotten too smart to allow themselves to come here. (stops then looks up) ...If I could see the real stars like I did centuries ago, I'd wish for a new Soul to show up. (looks down and rubs his chin in thought) I could go to Waterfall and make a wish there... (hears crunching snow) Hmm?

The sound of snow being stepped on drew Gadwyn's attention ahead of him. What he saw was a figure cloaked in black, its face obscured by the shadow of the hood. Something about this figure worried him, but he was too tired to really care.

Gadwyn: I don't believe I've seen you before. Are you from around here?

Figure: …...

Gadwyn: ….Are you related to Riverperson?

Figure: …....

Gadwyn (frowns): Are you.....human?

Figure (walks up to Gadwyn): …....

Gadwyn (steps back a bit): What are you-

Figure (extends a black arm out from under its cloak, holding a glowing red heart): …..

Gadwyn (shocked): Is...I-Is that a human Soul..?

(the figure nods slowly)

Gadwyn (reaches his hands to it but noticed the holes; retracts them and detaches the Soul container, opening it): Ahem, sorry about that. Place the Soul into this, please.

Figure (follows Gadwyn's instructions): ….

Gadwyn (closes it, grinning): Thank you so much. You've done a great service for monsterkind. I should tell King Kette about- (sees the figure up close; he can't make out the face, as if there's nothing under the hood)

Figure (deep cracked voice): Do not TELL anyone where you...got that-

(Gadwyn wakes up with a jolt in his bed)

Gadwyn: What the?! Where? (notices he's in his room)

Gadwyn's room was not as flashy as Catena's, or as simple as Tether's. It's a mostly black and white minimalist kind of bedroom. White walls and doors, black carpet, a black six-drawer dresser next to the closet door, a small white nightstand next to his bed with a small black lamp and a black photo frame next to it. White bed, black sheets and comforter, black curtains over a large window, the only colorful thing is his room is the family photo of him, Alysída, Tether, and Catena back on the surface.

Gadwyn: How did I...get here, and what of- (sees the container with the red Soul in it on his nightstand) Ah, so it wasn't a dream...? Who was that...? (shakes his head) Nevermind that. This is a momentous step in the project's completion. (lays back down) Finally, we're getting closer to freedom.... (falls asleep)

As Gadwyn drifted off to sleep, the Soul calmly floated in the container as small droplets of black ooze dripped off of it. As the next day began, Gadwyn immediately teleported to the lab after getting ready. He was too excited to even greet his sons as they were getting ready to depart. Once everyone arrived at the laboratory, he gathered everyone in the main laboratory area to make his announcement.

Gadwyn: Everyone, we will be resuming Project Barrier Break straight away, as we have finally procured our final human Soul! (hears the scientists chatter among themselves in surprise)

Kalina: This is great news, Dr. Gadwyn! But did the alarms sound off yesterday? We didn't hear anything about a human arriving here.

Gadwyn: Well– (remembers what the figure said; looks nervous for a split second before calming down) ..I happened to find it floating around. It was like how PA02's Soul was found some distance away from his body, so I assumed it was the same for this one. I tried to find the body, but I fear it may be in an unreachable place.

Kalina: Ah, that's a shame. Would've been nice to study what kind of human it was from.

Tether: ….

Gadwyn: In that case, we should begin immediately. We don't want to waste this chance. (studies the Soul) Since it seems like it lasted the longest outside of its body and managed to make its way around without being caught, hmm... I'm...not entirely sure of what to designate it as. Nonetheless, we have the final piece. All right, everyone, let's get to work.

For the first few hours, it was spent by observing and drawing out essences from the red Soul. Every so often, the black ooze would drip off of it, causing curiosity in most and concern in a few others, including Tether.

Tether (studying the black ooze through a microscope): Hey, Dr. Gadwyn.

Gadwyn (adding a few red drops to a filled vial): Yes?

Tether: You seemed nervous when you announced the red Soul. Why is that?

Gadwyn: ….... Nervous? Heh, I was just nervous at the thought that the project would never be completed. (stirs the mixture) Now that we have this Soul, there's nothing to be worried about.

Tether: Right. I'm concerned about this black liquid stuff, though. Normally, the Souls would leak essences that match their colors.

Gadwyn: And it does.

Tether: But it also leaks out this black stuff. I'm not entirely sure if this is a good Soul to use...

Gadwyn: I understand your concern, but this is the one chance we got to do this project right. (looks at the holes in his hands and closes them into a fist; glances at the vial as it becomes a muddy color; sighs with frustration) Any sort of failure will not be tolerated.

Tether: …. All right...

The next several days were spent testing the combination of all seven essences. There were a few mishaps (one exploded and shattered five other empty vials), but everyone kept going until they managed to get the right one. Confirming it stable, he injected the concoction into the boy's new Soul.

Gadwyn: There. This should work. And now we wait and observe.

Over the course of the night, the scientists kept watch over PA02. There were a few times where the Soul looked like it was becoming unstable, but it finally fully stabilized at the end.

Gadwyn (writing in his notebook): There were a lot of close calls, but I'll have to call it a successful transfer. All that's left is to begin the reanimation process.

Toroast: So we're finally done?

Gadwyn: As far as Soul gathering, yes. Now we need to make sure the experiment can move around on its own so we can lead it to the barrier.

Minki: All right! This is awesome!

Valin: Whoo hoo!

Kalina: We can all finally leave...

The next morning finds Gadwyn visiting King Kette in his castle. He had meant to contact the king about the results, but it slipped his mind. He soon found the king watering the flowers in his garden.

Gadwyn (kneels): Your Majesty.

Kette (stops then turns to Gadwyn): Ah, Gadwyn, it's been a while. How is everything going?

Gadwyn: Excellently. We managed to get the final Soul, collect its essence, and transferred it into the experiment. We'll be starting the final steps of observing it before bringing it to the barrier.

Kette: How long will that take?

Gadwyn: It depends on how well it moves around, but the Soul is at least stable.

Kette: I see. ….Did the human suffer? The one you retrieved the final Soul from.

Gadwyn: Ah, the red Soul wasn't near its body, so I was unable to locate it. I only found the Soul wandering around.

Kette: Ah... (sighs) That's a relief.

Gadwyn (surprised): I...beg your pardon?

Kette (sets his watering can down on the table): I've been thinking as of late and been asking myself... 'Did I make the right decision in declaring that every human that falls down here dies?' At first, I thought it was. But I came to realize that it was done out of anger.

Gadwyn (stands up): I don't think it was a bad decision, Your Majesty. The humans took so much from us. It's only appropriate that they know what it's like to lose someone they care about, just like we have.

Kette: ...So that's how you feel. (looks out the windows) I thought the same as you, when we lost Chara and Torkette. I wanted the humans to pay for what they did to them. But upon seeing how young the humans that came down here over the years were, I began to wonder that maybe...maybe we're taking away these children from the parents who could be looking for them. Perhaps....I've become like the humans who had harmed us. (lifts a part of his cape slightly to show the red chain links that line the bottom) Sometimes, the chains on my cape feel heavier than usual. But even without it, the feeling remains. It seems it was more of the sins that I have committed that felt heavier than the chains.

Gadwyn: But they attacked us first! We did nothing wrong to them, yet they turned against us and made us out to be terrible creatures that needed to be slain! What reason could they have had to do that?

Kette: Fear.

Gadwyn: Fear?

Kette: ….Before Torkette fell and became dust, Torquem and I heard him murmur something like... “Why were the humans afraid of me? I only wanted to give your body back to them...” The humans likely misunderstood his intentions, thought he killed Chara, and attacked him as a result. Because we had powers that most humans didn't have, they feared we could use them for nefarious deeds. And it's probably what occurred. And because of this, we too feared the humans and believed the ones who came down here would harm us.

Gadwyn: Which they did. A few monsters died, some were injured. One even manipulated Tether into believing he was his friend when he was younger. I already...lost my wife years ago. I refuse to let anything harm my sons.

Kette (smiles): You're a strong father, Gadwyn.

Gadwyn: ..Am I? Sometimes I wonder. I've gotten so deep into the experiment that I feel like I'm drifting away from them. ...Hopefully, when we leave the underground, things can go back to the way it was.

Kette: I hope so, too. I do have to commend the humans that did come down here. If I had a chance to meet at least one of them, I would've helped them understand our story and perhaps help them leave this place.

Gadwyn: Just like...

(flashback to Gadwyn choking Percy as he's struggling to escape)

Percy: Please!! I can't die yet! I promised I would leave to get the truth to the surface!

(flashback end)

Gadwyn: ….

Kette: Hearing how far they came in order to survive their travels here, I feel a sense of determination through them. It's pretty astonishing.

Gadwyn: Determination.... That's it.

Kette: Hm?

Gadwyn: What I should designate the Soul. Determination #08, DE08.

Kette: Ah, so the labels you were calling the humans were based on their traits?

Gadwyn: Yes. Like how PE05 is Perseverance #05.

Kette: Hmm... How are your sons, by the way?

Gadwyn: They're doing okay. Catena's doing well in his training for the Royal Guard, and Tether's help with the experiment has been quite valuable. Although, he was very persistent in his inquiries about his mother, he's shifted to concentrating on the project since we're almost done. But I'm sure once this experiment is fully completed.... (grins) ….he won't have to worry about it any longer.

(Kette feels a slight chill run up his spine for a moment)

Gadwyn: Well, I must return to the lab to continue on the observations. We will bring the remaining Soul and the experiment with us when it's fully prepared.

Kette: I look forward to it.

Gadwyn (bows): Until then. (teleports out)

Kette: ….. (looks at the flowers for a while) Strange. The chill I felt before... Was there even a way for the wind to enter...?

The day continued on as usual with the scientists conducting some observatory tests on PA02. At the beginning, it was mostly seeing how well attuned the new Soul got used to the body. They would tap on the limbs and give encouraging shocks to the heart to get its blood pumping through the body. They also had to try to get oxygen into his lungs to get him to breathe. It was a long process that took them the whole day into night, but it started to look like it would take longer than they originally thought. The next several days were spent trying to revive and stabilize the body, and they finally managed to do so.

Valin: Man, reviving a dead body is hard! I didn't think it would be like this!

Minki: Yeah, just trying to get air into the lungs was a chore in itself... Humans are built so weirdly.

Toroast: I know, right! And keeping the heart beat at the same time WHILE checking the brain is crazy. This would've been easier if humans were made of magic. All we could do for the kid is mend the cuts, not fully revive him!

Kalina (writing on her chart): Regardless, we managed to get the revival part down. Now we just have to wait for him to awaken.

But he didn't awaken. After all the attempts in trying to revive the boy, his heart stopped again. This concerned everyone as they needed the boy to be alive in order to break the barrier and allow him to move around. If he doesn't move on his own, the humans will assume they killed him and attack them. Despite many more attempts, even while managing to get his heart beating again, PA02 wouldn't wake.

Kalina: Did we mess up somewhere? (reading through her notes) We used defibrillators to start up his heart, an oxygen tank to push air into his lungs, made sure his brain is functioning, I even casted some healing spells on him.

Minki: Poking his limbs didn't work either!

Valin: The Soul is stable at least. The essences are flowing in him well. What's stopping him from waking up?

Gadwyn (staring at the chart sheet; his face is showing slight panic as he mumbles under his breath): This can't be happening. Why isn't he waking up? Don't humans need their hearts to beat to live? Their brains to function? Their lungs to breathe? Is it the Soul...is it....not really compatible with the body? What is going on- (jolts when he feels a hand touch his shoulder; turns to see Tether by him)

Tether: Let's..just go home. We can figure out what's going on tomorrow. We're clearly getting exhausted from the thought of something going wrong. All right?

Gadwyn: ….........Fine. Let's lock everything down and head home for the night...

After cleaning up and locking up everything, everyone either left for home or stayed in the lab beds to rest until morning. Once morning came around, everyone returned to the laboratory to resume where they left off. As they prepared to continue the experiment, one of the scientists let out a scream, causing the others to follow it and see what happened.

Gadwyn: What's going on here?

Female Bat Scientist: I-I was passing by the beds and noticed something gray on this one. I was going to brush it away...b-but it had a little bit of magic remaining and the clothes are still here. It's monster dust!

Valin: Looks like she's right. (picks up an ID tag showing the bust shot of a cow monster; the name “Holland Fair” is shown) These clothes and tag belong to Holland!

Male Slime Scientist: I do remember that Holland said he was staying here because he was too tired to go home... You think he may have...?

Male Dog Scientist (bloodhound): No way, he was still a young monster. No way could it have been his time to pass away.

Minki: That's weird, there's a few holes in the chest area.

Gadwyn: Gather up the dust and send it to his next of kin. Hold on to the clothes. We'll need to examine them.

Tether: I'll ask the guards and see if anything came up on camera.

Kusari: I-I'll go, too!

Kalina: We'll check on PA02 and see if he was tampered with.

Gadwyn: Go ahead.

If it was possible for a skeleton monster to be paler than their own bones, Tether had caught that with his own father. Gadwyn had a slight feeling in his nonexistent stomach that something was going to go wrong, but he forced it down. He didn't want to show fear. He had a team to lead and needed to show that something like this won't shake him up. Meanwhile, Tether and Kusari had gone to the surveillance room to review the footage from when Holland was last alive.

Tether (watching the video, sees Holland dropping onto the bed exhausted): …...There's Holland. Let it run for a while.

Multi-eyed Monster: Right.

Kusari: ….

(they sit for a while; Tether and Kusari notices the observatory doors opening, but the video becomes fuzzy)

Tether: Ah, stop the footage. Rewind it back a little... (sees it rewind) Stop. (sees the footage stop; sees something black slithering on the ground) What is that....

Kusari: Black snakes?

Tether: I don't know. I don't think we have a snake monster working here?

M-eM: Tentacles, then?

Tether: Could be. Resume the footage.

M-eM: Right.

(the footage continues but the feed is covered in static)

Tether: Why is it doing that?

M-eM: Dunno. It was time for a maintenance check this week, so we checked the cameras the day before. It shouldn't be faulty like this.

Tether: Strange...maybe-

Clink...clik....

Kusari: Hmm? What was that? Listen..

(sounds of metal and feet echo in the footage)

M-eM: Sounds like metal....

Tether: ...Chains..? (hears Holland's weary low voice)

(sounds of movement on the bed)

Holland: Huh? Is someone there? Agh, what time is it....? Must be late.... AH!!…..Oh, geez, you scared me!! What are you..doing..up? ….Hey, are you-

(sound of something piercing flesh and bed creaking)

Holland: AGH!! Wh-What?! Let me...go! What are you do- (another stabbing sound, bed shaken violently) AAAAAGH!! N-no... (another stabbing sound) Urrrgh.... H-help.... (sounds of chains rubbing on metal) No...don't.. Don't break my Life Chain... (sounds of gagging) Agh... (sound of a chain link snapping and a crackling whoosh)

(silence for five minutes; the chain and feet sound resumes; the footage clears up as it shows the slithering shadow disappears and the observatory doors close while the lingering plume of monster dust settled on the bed where Holland once slept on; Tether, Kusari, and the surveillance guard are stunned in silence)

M-eM: ….........Did.....Did we just..... (hears something clicking near him; looks to see Kusari has her hands over where her ears would be and Tether's jaw twitching as he stares at the screen)

After regaining his composure, Tether brought Gadwyn to review the footage after he took care of things on his end (Kusari didn't come with them since she didn't want to listen to it again). He too was disturbed by the footage and sounds and decided to step up security by enlisting the help of some Royal Guards from Ketju. Other than investigating Holland's death, Gadwyn and his scientists continued to monitor PA02 over the next several days with no new incidents occurring.

At least, not until eight days later.

Again, in the morning of the next day, three piles of monster dust was found. Yardin the tentacle monster, Joanna the mouse monster, and Cole the demon monster, all three were identified by their dust. Two ID tags showing Yardin and Joanna and the broken chest piece from Cole's armor were found. Tether and Gadwyn reviewed the footage and again, only the sounds were heard. It sounded like a fight broke out, but what Joanna said before she and Yardin got killed concerned the two men.

Joanna: How is this possible...? He can use chains...?

The other scientists were growing terrified to the point where most of them refused to come in to work. Only a handful of scientists, including Tether, Kusari, Gadwyn, Kalina, Toroast, Valin, and Minki, were left. Gadwyn was more frustrated than afraid that some unknown entity was causing this much trouble, but the fear was steadily growing, despite Gadwyn putting on airs of keeping calm. The few days after this recent attack were spent checking on PA02 and keeping track of his health. Not much else went on besides the usual tasks around the area. It became a quiet month.

Too quiet.

It was a normal examination routine involving PA02 and a few scientists were keeping tabs on his Soul's stability. Tether and Kusari had taken the day off because they weren't exactly too keen on joining in the examination routine. Kusari wanted to stay with her family for a while, and Tether suddenly decided to visit Catena at the Royal Guard camp, especially after they heard of Cole's death. Cole was one of the stronger guards and was good friends with Catena. Ketju was concerned about what was going on at the lab, besides the project. There had been no new humans that fell into the Underground and eight(?) are dead, so there couldn't have been a ninth one anywhere. Could there? During today's examination, Gadwyn and his colleagues noticed something odd with the boy's LOVE. For some reason, it was a level higher than what it was initially. It was at 2 when he was in the Ruins, but now it's at 8, it didn't make sense. Where did he get the extra EXP...?

Gadwyn: It must be from before he died. I can only guess since he was found within the Ruins, he may have killed some monsters there. (turns to the female bat, seeing her raising her hand nervously) Olga?

Olga: Y-You don't think.... (glances at PA02) ….Um....with the incidents from before...

Gadwyn (follows her gaze, then scoffs): You're not suggesting that PA02 had anything to do with them, are you?

Olga (panics): I-I'm sorry! I should've said something sooner!! But I was.....

Gadwyn: What are you talking about?

Olga: I-I......saw what happened to Joanna and the others...

Gadwyn: What?

MDS: You did?!

Toroast: Why didn't you say anything to us?

Olga: I was scared! (creeps away from PA02) That night....

-Flashback: Olga Sees Something Wrong-

Olga had just finished trying to scrub away a coffee spill that landed on front of her lab coat in the communal shower room. She had passed by Joanna and Yardin who were discussing Core-related topics and Cole who was standing guard by them.

Olga: I must've zoned out so bad while writing that report. (sighs heavily) I'll have to- (hears a commotion outside the door) Hmm? (approaches the door before a loud boom shook the door and shouting was heard) What the?! What was that?! (slightly opens the door to see Cole on the floor, turning into dust) Wh-Wha.... (hears the soft clinking of metal and bare feet walking; sees a small boy walking past) Wait...is that...PA02? But- (sees him stop before her door; hears Yardin panicking)

Joanna: How is this possible...? He can use chains...?

Olga: This is... Humans can't use cha- (jolts when she hears Joanna and Yardin get killed and slams the door shut) Oh gods, oh gods oh gods oh gods oh gods, oh gods oh- (sees a black chain slithering under the door like a snake seeking out a prey; falls back to her butt and scoots herself back against one of the shower doors) Eeee...

For a short while, the slithering chain hung around, trying to touch whatever was near the door before retreating to wherever it came from. It wasn't until the next day that Olga was found in the shower, huddled in a trembling tight ball with her wings covering her head.

-Flashback End-

The only thing was heard was the beeping and whirring of the machinery around the group. No one knew what to think of this information. Gadwyn ran the thought through his mind before clearing his throat.

Gadwyn: Olga, I'm afraid that is not possible. We made it so that he won't move unless I command him to. Which, annoyingly, hasn't been quite successful, but regardless, the thought of PA02 moving by himself is preposterous.

Olga: I...figured as much. That's why I didn't want to say anything.... (feels his hand rest on her left shoulder)

Gadwyn: Then again, it does explain what happened in the surveillance footage that night, so thank you for clearing that up.

Olga: O-Oh, you're welcome, Dr. Gadwyn..

Gadwyn: That said, the possibility of PA02 using chains is worrisome in and of itself.... Now then, let's- (hears fast beeping)

Toroast (looking at the heart monitor; seeing the heart rate rising rapidly): Uh, Dr. Gadwyn...? Something's happening...

Gadwyn (walks up to the body): Why is it beeping so fast? (is given a stethoscope, hears the heart beating normally) What is this? (glances at the monitor) Is the machine broken? His heart is beating-

Olga (shivering): D....Dr. Gadwyn....His eyes...

Gadwyn: His eyes? What could be- (sees the boy's eyes are open, staring at him)

PA02 is awake.

Everyone but Gadwyn backed away in fear. Gadwyn was a little ecstatic at this before feeling a sudden dread dropping on him like he swallowed a boulder. Gadwyn never activated the awakening command on the device he set up to control the boy. Only he knew the code for it. He didn't get to say anything as the child tilted his head a little to show a smile.

That was when all hell broke loose.

An explosion of black chains jutted out at anything and everything that moved. The bad part was that some of the remaining scientists and guards were present in the area. Gadwyn and Olga managed to escape the observatory room, Toroast and the dog scientist, not so much. Gadwyn pulled Olga along with him as they ran from the observatory area. He saw some monsters getting escorted out by a few monsters who could teleport which the last one left in a hurry. The ones who did escape locked the area down as the evacuation alarm started to blare. A magical shockwave exploded from the inside of the locked underground laboratory, spreading outward to the surface and blowing out the lobby windows and doors, scaring away the monsters who came to visit the remaining scientists. The shock wave was so strong, its pulses were felt all over the Underground. Everyone felt that something was very wrong. After thirty minutes, things had quieted down since the initial attack. Most of the scientists had escaped, but those who were trapped were sought out and killed. Gadwyn was hiding in the room near the elevator with the door slightly cracked open. He was not one to allow fear to run through him, but this was the second time in centuries that such a feeling came across him. Losing his wife was the first, yet somehow, this was worse than that. That fear of death creeping up at any moment. He could feel and hear his teeth softly clicking as his body was trembling. He tried to calm himself, but rather than feeling relieved through calm, he froze. He could hear something.

Pit....

Pat....

Pit..

Pat...

Clik...clink...Clik...clink...

The slow soft pattering of bare feet and the gentle clinking of metal echoed in the resting area. Gadwyn managed to force himself to move to the open door and peeked outside. PA02 was standing by one of the beds like a statue, except for the four black chains slithering around him like snakes. It was like they were searching for something. This went on for a few moments before Gadwyn heard whimpering. There was still a monster around there. He prayed in his mind that the monster would just...stay still. She didn't. He recognized her voice.

It was Olga.

Olga: No, please, I'm sorry! Was it something I said?! Did you hear me tell Dr. Gadwyn what you did? I'm sorry!!

Gadwyn (whispering harshly): Olga, you foolish girl...run....

As if she heard him, she tried to run but was captured by the black chains. Her screams rang out in the area as PA02 stood in his spot like a statue and the chains threw her down in Gadwyn's line of sight. He turned only his head to watch the bat monster try to crawl away; Olga was heading towards Gadwyn's hiding spot.

Olga: I...I don't wanna die...Dr...Gadwyn..someone....help.... (sees something near the door)

She locked eyes with Gadwyn's. Olga started to move more towards him when she got stabbed with all four of PA02's chains. Her shrieks and cries rang out as she was dismembered before her Life Chain was severed and she turned to dust. Gadwyn had turned away when she was getting ripped apart and had to hold his jaw still so it wouldn't start clacking and draw the boy's attention to him. He had no choice but to hear his fellow colleague's dying screams. When he looked again, he felt his body and Soul freeze.

PA02 was fully facing his direction.

Gadwyn didn't realize he had turned away, both hands on his mouth and feeling like he was paralyzed. So much so, he hadn't thought of teleporting out.

Gadwyn: D...Does he know I'm here? Is he going to come over?

Pit....

Pat...

Pit.....

Pat....

Gadwyn couldn't tell if he was getting closer, but he could see the shadow growing longer. He wished he hadn't asked if he was coming over.

Pit...

Pat.....

Clink...

Gadwyn: Is this was what it's like to hold one's breath? If I let it go, it could be the last one I'll ever have....

He held onto it like it was his last lifeline.

Clink....clik....clink......

Skiiiiiiiitch.....

Gadwyn could feel something scratching at the wall behind him. Even though it was light and the wall is thick, it felt like it was vibrating. He refused to look back as he firmly pressed himself against said wall.

….........

Pit...

Pat...

Pit...

Pat...

Clink....clik...

The footsteps were fading away..? Gadwyn did not want to chance it. He sat in his hiding spot for thirty minutes before checking if it was clear. When it was safe to do so, Gadwyn looked around to see the pile of dust of Olga who tried to run. He knelt down and touched the dust in sorrow, knowing that once again, he watched one of his own perish at the hands of a human. He looked around some more before spotting what looks like an 8 on the wall he was leaning on.

Gadwyn: 8? Why did he draw this? No time, I need to find him.

He soon got to the elevator and pressed the Up button, seeing the numbers counting down to the basement level. Down? When was the elevator-

PA02 used the elevator.

Gadwyn pushed his way into the elevator as soon as the doors opened. Once they closed, he teleported outside of the Lab building in order to avoid blowing the dust with the wind of the teleportation spell. Once outside, he spotted some more dust spots and knew they were from some monsters that may not have ran out in time. He followed the trail further into Hotland, dust lingering in the air in some areas where unfortunate victims perished. Even a few of the Royal Guards stationed in those places didn't survive. And....he had spotted the name tags of Kalina, Valin, and Minki along the way.

Gadwyn: Kalina.....Minki.....Valin.... (adds them to his pocket with Toroast's tag) My friends …..Hmm... This is going further into Hotland. Why in the world would he- (realized something) ...Gods above...

The trail led him to the residential apartment area that led to the Core. Inside, dust piles of monsters caught unawares were scattered. He noticed one of the doors down the hall was ripped off its hinges. He didn't have to check and see to know that whoever lived there wasn't alive anymore. He went through the exit to see some monsters running in a panic.

Gadwyn (grabs a tall mouse monster): What's going here!?

Mouse Monster (trembling): H...Human...with chains....killing....most of us managed to escape through the other paths, but...they're...

Gadwyn: Tch. Get to safety, now, hurry! (watches the monster run off) Damn it all! (runs further in)

Gadwyn ran up the Warrior's Path corridor when he heard a shout ahead. He soon spotted PA02 preparing to attack a bug monster near the concrete barrier high above the geothermic liquid below.

Bug Monster (tries to back away): Ah...ah...don't hurt me...

PA02: ….... (sees a wall of chains appear in front of the monster)

Gadwyn: You! Run away now!

BM (runs away): Ah!

Gadwyn (turns to PA02): Now...

PA02 (smiles): ...Hi, Daddy.

-Thirty minutes after Gadwyn and PA02 left the building-

Catena and Tether are seen with Ketju entering Hotland. Catena had wanted to go visit his father and see if everything was okay after the shockwave hit the Underground two hours prior. They hear sirens blaring loudly and spot monsters running away from the lab to their direction.

Catena: EH? WHY IS EVERYONE RUNNING?

Tether (stops a brown rabbit monster): Hey, you know what's-

Rabbit Monster (yanks her arm away in panic): I can't stay here! We're all gonna die!! (runs away)

Tether: What?

Ketju (kneeling on the ground): Guys...

Catena: YEAH?

Ketju: You two need to go home, now.

Tether: Why?

Ketju: I think we're in danger. This is monster dust...

Tether: What?!

Catena: WH-WHAT DO YOU MEAN M-”MONSTER DUST”?!

Tether: What happened here....guh, the shockwave!

Catena: DAD... WE NEED TO FIND DAD!!

Tether: Right!

Ketju: Wait-

Kusari (running up to Ketju from the direction of the river port): Ketju!!

Ketju: Ah, Kusari!?

Kusari: Ah, Tether, Catena! Did you guys hear!? Something happened at the lab!

Tether: We know of the shockwave.

Kusari: Yeah, that, but I overheard some of the scientists that came to Snowdin say that an explosion happened!

Tether: Are you serious!? Explosion... Was it big enough to- Percy....!

Catena: N-NO... ARE WE GONNA LOSE HIM LIKE-

Tether: No, we're not! I'm gonna go in the lab! Stay with- (prepares to teleport, get grabbed by Catena)

Catena: NO, I'M GOING, TOO!!

Tether: Wha- Caten- (teleports with Catena)

Kusari: Ah...

The brothers soon landed inside the lab in the resting area. The wind from Tether's teleportation spell kicked up some of the monster dust, causing them to get ruined.

Tether: More monster dust....

Catena: WHAT HAPPENED HERE?

Tether: Dunno. (frowns)

Catena: TETHER?

Tether: Huh? Oh, right. Let's go to the observatory area. We need to see if he's there.

The brothers navigated their way to the observatory area where most of the damage took place. The path leading up to the room have gashes which increased the further in they went. The room was completely torn asunder to where the space below and behind were seen. Sparks were popping every once in a while and a few screens were flickering. One suddenly shut off as Tether went to call out to Gadwyn.

Tether: Papa! Papa, are you here? Answer me!

Catena: DAD, YOU'RE NOT HURT, ARE YOU!?

Tether: …....No answer...

Catena: YOU DON'T THINK-

Tether: No, that's not possible. He's alive! I'm sure he is...

Catena: Y..YOU'RE RIGHT! THERE'S NO WAY SOMETHING LIKE THIS CAN GET HIM! HE COULD BE HELPING THE MONSTERS RUN AWAY!

Tether: Yeah. Hmn...We can't really go in here without running into anything electrical, so we better head back out.

Catena: RIGHT, AND TELL KETJU WHAT WE SAW!

(they reach the elevator)

Tether: Oh, hang on, I need to check something right quick. I'll be right back!

Catena: OKAY. (watches him rush off; wanders around and notices the 8 on the wall) WHAT'S THAT?

Tether ran towards the direction of the morgue. He spotted some piles of monster dust and gashes on the walls.

Tether: What in the hell happened here? What caused this? (stops by the surveillance room; sees the screens are broken and a pile of monster dust close to the door) No way...him, too? (walks up to the recording station, but it's completely destroyed) Damn...Can't get any info from this.... (carefully steps over the dust and leaves; makes his way to the morgue and enters; the drawers are untouched, but there are still gashes and holes in the far corner of the room, walks over to Percy's drawer and opens it; it's empty) Percy...? (checks the others and sees they're empty) Wha...? Where- Oh...Haa, I'm a dumbass. I forgot we gave them to King Kette months ago for him to watch over. ...As long as he's safe... (peeks in his jacket, a purple notebook with its covers tied to new packs of paper with a white ribbon is tucked inside; hugs himself to hug the notebook) Percy....

Tether made his way back to where he left Catena when he spotted him looking at the 8 mark on the wall.

Tether: What's that?

Catena: NOT SURE. HAVE YOU SEEN THIS BEFORE?

Tether: Nuh-uh. (touches it) This is new to me. An 8, huh? Well, I'm done with my task. Let's head back to Kusari and Ketju.

The brothers teleported out of the lab and landed across from Ketju, who was seen talking to a hysterical bug monster.

Kusari: Tether! C-Catena! B-Bad news!!

Tether:What happened?

Kusari: D-D-Dr. Gadwyn's a-at the Core! That PA02 k-kid's with him!!

Tether: What? Is he trying to open the barrier now?

Bug Monster: N-NO! The kid, he tried to kill me! Killed some of the monsters in the Core. Whatever you guys created is gonna kill us all!!

Tether: No way.... Only Papa knows how to control PA02.... It can't be...

Catena: TETHER! WE NEED TO FIND HIM NOW!!

Tether: R-Right. Where did you last see them?

BM: The Warrior's Path, I think?

Tether: I think I set up a short cut there... Ah, got it! Catena, let's go!

Catena: RIGHT!

Kusari (sees the brothers vanish; starts crying): This is....

Ketju: Kusari, what's wrong?

Kusari: W-We were so close.... That child was s-supposed to help open the barrier and f-free us. Dr. Gadwyn was so happy wh-when he got the final Soul... (covers her face) H-How did it come to this...?

Ketju: …. (drapes her right arm on Kusari's shoulders and pulls her close) …....

-Side End-

During the thirty minutes that transpired with Tether and the group, Gadwyn was facing off against PA02. Gadwyn had three floating hands punching at PA02, a pair of long bones for bludgeoning, a Celtic cross staff to blast back the boy's chain, and a set of energy chains shaped like a six-pointed he used as a shield. It's not every day that Gadwyn was forced to use these weapons, but today was the day. Earlier, he noticed strange changes in the boy. PA02 had a dark appearance to him and parts of his body were melting and reforming as he moved. The body was becoming unstable, yet somehow still manipulated in a way that didn't seem to bother him. What's more disturbing was that he could control the chains like monsters do. And his Soul....

PA02 (stands as the black chains stab at Gadwyn's 6 Point Shield): What's wrong, daddy? Are you mad at me?

Gadwyn: Do not refer to me as such. I only have two sons and neither of them are you.

PA02: But you made me. That makes you my daddy!

Gadwyn (sends two of his floating hands that have the bones to attack the boy): Silence! I only revived you, that is all!

PA02 (sidesteps the attacking hands): And I'm born again! Thanks for bringing me into this world, daddy!

Gadwyn (growling): Cease this incessant calling. (blocks the chains) You were only born for one purpose: to free monsterkind from this prison of a mountain and return to the surface.

PA02: But I am freeing you from a prison! It's called Life!

Gadwyn (backs off): What sort of nonsense are you speaking of? Don't act like you know anything. I'll shut you down right now!

PA02: Oh?

Gadwyn (holding the Cross Staff): One life, two roads, which leads to disapproval? Bear the cross that leads to the star, the sign of your removal! (points the staff at the boy's forehead; nothing happens) Hmm?

PA02: What's wrong, da-

Gadwyn: How is this? There's supposed to be a ring around your head that reattaches and make you lose consciousness...

PA02: Oh, that? I got rid of it.

Gadwyn: You what..?

PA02: It was annoying so I broke it. (giggles) You got a funny look on your face!

Gadwyn: That's impossible... Only I can control that spell...

PA02: Well, it sucked, so I snapped it like a twig! I was wondering when you were gonna notice, so I pretended to be in a coma. Didn't move at all! I was very patient in seeing what happens. Then I got bored of waiting more, so I went to play with the monsters! That bat one was fun!

Gadwyn: You...A coma.... Damn it, his Soul has seven essences from the human ones. Could that have...

PA02: I'm bored again now. I'm gonna go find more monsters to play with. (turns away) Ah, I heard there's a big fluffy goat somewhere here. I wonder- (blocks Gadwyn's incoming staff attack)

Gadwyn (furious): I will not allow you to harm my Majesty!!

PA02: Majesty? Ah, a king! Sounds neat! I wanna meet him!

Gadwyn (presses down on the staff against the chains): I won't let you!

PA02 (looks past Gadwyn's waist): Oh, is it windy or is it just me?

Gadwyn: What are you- (hears a pulsing wind dissipate behind him; glances back to see Tether and Catena appearing) No...

Tether: Papa!

Catena: DAD!

Gadwyn: What are you- GET OUT OF HERE!

Tether: Look out!

Gadwyn (gets struck in his left shoulder and right leg with PA02's manifested chain daggers): Ngh! S-So you can do this much... (gets lifted and tossed behind PA02) Agh!!

Catena: DAD, NO!

PA02: Ah, the brothers are here. Daddy says I'm not his son.

Tether: Daddy?

Catena: HE MUST MEAN DAD! I CALLED THAT WHEN I WAS LITTLE!

Tether: Yeah, that's right. But why are you calling him that?

PA02: Because he made me and gave me life. Can I be your little brother?

Tether: ….Sorry, kid, but I heard you did some really bad things.

PA02: Hmph! Well, if I can't be your little brother, I'll make one of you disappear!

Tether: What?

Gadwyn (stands up with the chains still attached): Boys, get out of here!

PA02: I don't like the tall one. (draws his remaining chains back) He needs to go.

Catena: WAAH, ME!?

Gadwyn (sees the chains fly at his sons): DON'T YOU DARE-

CLUNK!

A wall of blue bones and a giant skull appeared, blocking the chains' attack. Catena was the one with the bones and Tether summoned the skull.

Catena: DON'T KNOW WHY YOU WANNA REPLACE ME, BUT I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT THERE CAN BE OTHER WAYS OF GOING ABOUT THIS!

Tether (pets the skull by him): I don't know. The kid's sure lookin' kinda miffed right now.

PA02: Grrr, I just wanna- (get rammed to the ground by a larger skull) Aaaaah?!

Gadwyn (yanks the chains off himself and meets up with Tether and Catena): You two! I told you to leave!

Catena: BUT WE CAME TO SEE IF YOU'RE OKAY!

Tether: We were worried when we heard about what happened at the lab!

Gadwyn (Vester stops by his side): Don't worry about that. You need to get to safety.

Catena: NOT WITHOUT YOU, DAD!

PA02 (stands up as chains slither around him): Yeah, not without you, daddy.

Tether: Aye, will ya piss off already!?

Gadwyn (faces PA02): I've had enough of this. I can't let anything happen to them. Time to end this experiment right now. I have a promise to keep. I've no choice but to....eliminate him.. And I intend to keep it.

Tether: But Papa, if we destroy him, won't you lose years of progress?! We came so far! We're almost close to the surface!

Catena: YEAH, YOU CAN SHOW US WHERE WE LIVED THERE!

Gadwyn: ….Ah...yes….. (glances at his right wrist like he's checking a watch before returning his gaze to PA02) It's time for you two to go.

Tether: No way! (reaches his hand out to Gadwyn) You're coming with us!

Gadwyn: …..Vester.

Tether (feels a shadow wash over him): What are you-

Gadwyn: ….Escort them home.

(Tether and Catena look back to see Vester's mouth widen; they get snatched up into its mouth, and struggle to escape)

Catena: NYAH!

Tether: Guh, Vester, let us out! (pushes his right arm out through Vester's teeth) Papa!

Tether and Catena froze. They spotted something they haven't seen in years: Gadwyn's real smile. It was a smile they hadn't seen since the early days of the project, back when they were children. That feeling was interrupted by the sound of blade and metal hitting bone. Gadwyn was stabbed in the chest where his Soul is.

Tether: PAPAAA!!

(Vester teleports out with Tether and Catena)

PA02: Grr, you let them get away!

Gadwyn (holds on to the blades so they don't sever his Life Chain): Haa...Better than letting you kill them. Because of you....I was unable to spend more time with them as a family.

PA02: But you wanted vengeance against the humans, right?

Gadwyn: So you heard that much? (pulls the chains a little) Yeah, I do. (wraps the four chains around his arm) But first... I must destroy you!

PA02: Ah, what!? Hey...you wouldn't ruin years of work, would you?

Gadwyn: It was already ruined. That red Soul I received.... Looking at your Soul, it's too corrupted now. That black tar-like essence... If only I had listened to Tether...

PA02: ….. (giggles; voice becomes deeper) Yes. You should have.

Gadwyn: What in the world- (get lifted and held over the geothermic liquid) Ack! Who are you?!

PA02 (child voice): Just a little boy who's been waiting for a new family! Now... (deep voice) ….die.

PA02 loosened the chains to drop Gadwyn into the liquid below, but hadn't counted on his height making it easy to get yanked over the ledge with the skeleton. He didn't realize that just because a skeleton monster is just bones, the magic that comes from their bones makes them look like they have actual bodies when clothed, thus have actual weight. PA02 learned this the hard way when he saw Gadwyn holding onto the chains and the sudden weight pulled his tiny body over. As the “little boy” shouted a slew of curses at the royal scientist, Gadwyn almost drifted off, until he felt something pierce his chest through his Soul and Life Chain. There was a fifth black chain and it took the shape of a giant nail. Both of them landed in the liquid below. One would think that should have melted them on contact. In a way, PA02's body was already unstable due to his original body being in the process of decomposing, but because of the checkups and essences of his Soul, he was able to keep himself together. Now he has no way of keeping a tangible form by the time he escaped Gadwyn's hold. Gadwyn, on the other hand, was slowly dissolving, but managed to keep himself together with the last of his strength. Again, his mind drifted. He closed his eyes for a moment then reopened them, finding himself laying in the meadow that he once sat with Alysída at, resting next to her as she was sitting by him. He saw Tether and Catena as children running around and playing nearby. Soon, the sun started to set, giving way to the night.

Alysída: It'll be dark soon. It'll be time ta put de lil' ones ta sleep. (looks at Gadwyn) You too, it seems. You've been workin' fer so long.

Gadwyn: Yeah, I do feel tired. Heh, too tired to move, really. (raises his right hand to the sky) Feels like-

Tether: Papa, les go play!

Catena: Pway!

Gadwyn: Ah, sorry, boys. Papa's feeling tired right now. I'll play with you two tomorrow, okay?

Tether: Kay!

Catena: Ay!

Gadwyn (watches them run some more before feeling a sense of weightlessness): Hmm, I'm....drifting...

Alysída (her smile widens, clasps her hand with Gadwyn's): Den I'll drift 'ere with ya, too.. Rest well.. Mo anamchara Aden....

Gadwyn: Thank you, mo anamchara....Alysída....

Gadwyn finally closed his eyes as darkness rose from below him. Once he was fully submerged in it, a subtle pulse spread forth. This was an unwanted side effect, as the monsters connected to him began to forget about him. Kette was preparing to sit at his garden table with two cups of tea when he felt a slight breeze. He found this to be strange because there’s really no way for wind to come through.

Kette: That was an odd breeze. (looks at the tea cups in his hands) Oh dear, did I make an extra one by accident....?

Even Kusari and Ketju felt the effect while they were taking a break from helping in the laboratory clean up.

Kusari: I hope they're all right.

Ketju: Who?

Kusari: Tether, Catena, and.....um...I could have sworn there was another person.

Ketju: Hmm, maybe you thought wrong?

Kusari: M-Maybe...

But no monster felt it worse than Tether and Catena. Sometime after Gadwyn had sent Vester to deliver them back to Snowdin, Tether had begged the skull beast to take them to Gadwyn.

Tether: Damn it, Vester! Take us back ta Papa, now!

Catena (grabs Tether's arms): TETHER, CALM DOWN!

Tether (snatches his arms away): I can't calm down! He should'da came wit' us! Or at leas' let us fight dat kid!

Catena: I'M SURE HE WANTED TO PROTECT US, BROTHER!

Tether: Vester, please, just take us back! Or at leas' bring 'im to us! I'm beggin' ya!

Vester (looks down then is startled by something): Rrrrrr..... (whimpers)

Tether: Ah, what's wrong..?

Catena: HE LOOKS SAD ABOUT SOMETHING.

Vester (lowers his head as a tear rolls out of his eyesocket): Rrrraaarrr.... (becomes covered in black)

Tether (watches the skull let out a sorrowful howl before vanishing): What...Why was Vester..? (sighs heavily) Well, let's go and get Papa back, all right, Catena?

Catena: ...WHO?

Tether: Huh? What do you mean “who?” Our dad!

Catena: DAD...? WE HAVE A DAD...?

Tether: Wha-What are you saying... Yeah, we have a dad, his name is...! Is....

Catena (stares at Tether expectantly): IS...?

Tether: I.....I don't....know...? Huh...? Why can't I think of...?

Catena: STRANGE....EVERYTHING'S ALL WATERY AND STUFF. AH, YOU'RE CRYING, TETHER, ARE YOU OKAY?

Tether: What? Y-You're the one who's crying....

Catena: EH?! (rubs his eyes) WHY....AM I CRYING...? WHY ARE YOU CRYING?

Tether: I-I don't know! (stares at his tear-blotted sleeve) What's happening to us?

???: Huh? Hey, are you boys okay?

Catena (sees a rabbit woman approaching): OH, UH, I GUESS WE'RE CRYING ABOUT SOMETHING...? MY CHEST HURTS....

Tether: Mine, too....

Rabbit Woman: You poor things. I was heading to my sister's inn to do something. You wanna come along? It's right here actually.

Tether: Oh....thank you...

Catena: THANK YOU!

Catena and Tether started to follow the rabbit woman to the inn where her sister greeted them. Tether suddenly stopped short of entering the inn, feeling the sensation of a piece of something broke from him.

Tether: Why.....does it feel like I just lost someone again.... (tugs at his jacket over his Soul). My...Soul hurts..? Hmm.... Whoever it was... I hope they're happy wherever they are...

TO BE CONTINUED

#ABGadwyn

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nsschaintale · 4 years

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AO3 Upload in Progress...

So I bit the bullet and started uploading the Undertale fics I have so far. It’ll take some time, maybe over the course of this week due to work, but I’m steadily easing into it. At least there, I can have a proper order set for easy reading.

I hope.

AO3 Username- GateRealmKeeper_Allora

Yeah.

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nsschaintale · 4 years

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Ketju Ref Sheet

OOOOH my god, at long last, I FINALLY got her ref sheet done. Not as perfect, but hopefully has enough info. Ketju is "chain" in Finnish. Name: Ketju Acheris Age: Unspecified (probably in early 300s; could be considered as early 30s) Soul Color: White w/ Green hue Has Chain Arts?: Yes DOB: Unknown (does not remember) (Is actually July 28) POB: Underground Gender: Female Race: Monster (aquatic) Weapon(s): Energy Spear Power(s): Create Spearheads, Energy Spear x5, Soul Lock, Defense Rotation Stuff I haven't added on here: -Display of height, multiple Spears, Soul Lock, Defense Rotation, and Spearhead Rain ----She is 5'8. ----Energy Spear x5: Create 4 addition Spears to fight with. ----Spearhead Rain: Energy spearheads rain down. Displayed here-> Ketju the Unbound ----Soul Lock: The Soul becomes "locked" in place through magic. Displayed in story. ----Defense Rotation: Creates an energy shield that moves around the defender. Row 1: Energy Spear: Ketju's weapon. She can create up to 5 of these, and they come with chains wrapped around them. Standard Armor: Ketju's normal armor. Without her helmet. Life Chain Location is displayed here. Helmet: What her helmet looks like. Eyepatch: The colors of her eyepatch is shown on the main pic. It's her favorite one. Battle Display: What she's like in battle. The chains on her spear form a circle around the base of the spearhead when used. Armorless: Ketju without her armor. The chains on her arms appears with she uses Chain Arts. They're covered under her armor. Row 2 (Genocide): Energy Spear without the chains. Unbound Armor: Torso area lights up in green due to overwhelming energy from exerting her DETERMINATION. Chains become spiked. Missing Eye: Light sparks from her eye socket. Battle Display: What she's like in battle. The chains on her spear disappear and spearheads rain down occasionally (not shown but does happen). Killing Blow: Even when she becomes Unbound, she's defeated. Melting to Ash: She tries to stay together, but it's too much. Row 3: Date Wear: What Ketju wore on her date with Kusari. Sagittarius Charm: Not her sign, but likes it because it looks like a spear. Ketju and Kusari on a date. Sorry this came so late. I did try to work on it with the Pokemon gijinkas at one point, but yeah. That's it for Ketju.

#littlenssthings

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nsschaintale · 4 years

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Link 6: Justice For Some

Chaintale Extra

Chain Link: The Fallen Royal Scientist

Link 6: Justice For Some

It had been several years since the last human had fallen and things seemed to be calm. The Underground has seen some changes over the years including the induction of a new leader of the Royal Guard. A competition has taken place as the previous leader Keldin was retiring due to family and looking for a replacement. The one who came out on top was Ketju Acheris. With her strength and determination, she managed to outlast the other monsters and become the new Head of the Royal Guard. This had also inspired the younger monsters to join up and train hard so they might one day take over, should she do the same thing. This includes Catena himself, who enthusiastically trains at every waking hour in hopes of taking that position. Tether is happy that his younger brother got something to look forward to, even if it has him on wit's end with worry at the thought of a human who might come down and do harm to everyone. At least with the Royal Guard around, he shouldn't have much to worry about. Now about Gadwyn, Tether was noticing something off about him. Knowing that the Project Barrier Break is two humans away from completion, he had always wondered why he had come home late nearly every night or early morning. He always chalked it up to work holding the scientist at the laboratory, but even he would at least try to come home to rest. Perhaps he's using the lab beds? That's what he figured, but there was this nagging feeling that there was something else. Especially when he caught a strange look on his father's face a few times while coming across him. Remembering what Gadwyn told him and Catena years prior, Tether started to think that his father has a plan outside of the project and it may have to do with his hatred towards humans as evidenced by Percy's cruel death. Feeling like he's overthinking things, Tether got ready to meet his father at the lab for work. Apparently, there's news of a new intern joining up and he had to go meet them with the others. Tether spotted Gadwyn and the group near the elevator, standing by a chubby yellow lizard girl with her two front teeth poking out from her snout, and wearing black half-framed glasses, a white blouse with pink ruffles on the seams of the collar, sleeves, and bottom, a yellow line on the sleeves, a gold bracelet, and khaki cuffed capris. She had on a chain lanyard that has her photo ID that has “INTERN” on it.

Gadwyn: Everyone, I'd like you to meet Kusari Allori. She will be interning here for the time being.

Kusari (adjusts her glasses): H-Hi, it's nice to m-meet you all. (gives a little bow)

Gadwyn: You can do introductions on your own time, but for now, we need to begin our tasks for today. Tether!

Tether (jolts): Guh, yeah?!

Gadwyn: You will be helping Miss Kusari out by giving her a tour of the facility. Once done, bring her to us so we can teach her about the project.

Tether: Yes sir...

Once everyone dispersed to their places, Tether and Kusari began the tour by heading north of the elevator.

(Tether and Kusari walked down the hall past a few blank screen panels and entered the resting area where three rows of three beds are present; a pair of ficus plants are seen in the far bottom left corner, a small clock is hung on the right side of the doorway, and a panel with green lit letters are seen)

Tether: This is pretty self-explanatory, this room is where we sleep at if we're too tired to go home after working. It happens a lot.

Kusari: Won't they get disturbed while sleeping?

Tether: It depends if you're a heavy sleeper.

(Tether and Kusari exits the resting area and makes their way further past it, arriving at the mirror room; three full-body mirrors have two blank panels between them and five more mirrors are at the opposite end; across the first three mirror is a long empty table)

Tether: This is the mirror room. ...I actually have no idea what they do in here.

Kusari: Um, maybe it's for checking to see if your clothes are all right?

Tether (shrugs): I dunno. Maybe.

(Tether and Kusari exits the mirror room and heads up into the hall leading to the central laboratory; they arrive at the observatory of the central lab room where it has a large balcony area walled off by safety windows and double doors leading into the laboratory)

Tether: That's the central laboratory. It's where all of our experiments take place. Those of us not involved in the project can observe from the outside. Looks like they're about to start another experiment. You'll get to see it closer if you join us after your internship.

Kusari: Okay.

(Tether and Kusari exits the observatory and goes right, entering the fan room; past the blank panel is three rows of 8 giant fans and a control switch)

Tether: This is the fan room. It basically keeps the lab cool through the ventilation, since it's in a hot place.

Kusari: O-Of course!

(Tether and Kusari leave the fan room and walk past the lab; they arrive at the shower area, three separate doors has a male symbol on the first door, a question mark on the second door, and a female symbol on the third door)

Tether: This is the shower area. Men on the left, women on the right, unknown in the center. Plenty of showers inside. They're rarely used but again, they're here in case someone gets stuck here.

(Tether and Kusari leave the shower area and they arrive at the extraction machine; it's a large steel machine that looks like an ant's head in design, four pipes rise into the ceiling and two additional ones connect from the sides of the eyesockets to the mandibles; a large section of the floor is missing and they can see the rest of the lab on the lower level; a blank panel and a door is seen on the left side)

Tether: This is the extraction machine. We've caught some humans over the years, so we used this to extract essences from their Souls.

Kusari: Sounds dangerous...

Tether: To the humans, yeah. To us, I don't know. I've never messed with it myself.

Kusari: Why is part of the floor missing?

Tether: The machine lowers into the lab below when in use.

Kusari: Oh. (walks over to the edge and spots two monsters working on the machinery below before joining Tether again)

(Tether and Kusari entered the room by the machine and on the opposite wall of the room, they see a TV stand with a CRT TV on top, a shelf underneath with a VCR machine, and flanking the setup are two bookshelves, filled with books and VHS tapes)

Tether: This is the TV room. Nothing too interesting about it.

Kusari (walks up to the bookshelves): Hmm... What are these?

Tether (follows): Those video tapes? I'm not sure. I've never watched them, but Dr. Gadwyn said one of them inspired part of the Project.

Kusari: Oh! I-It must've been something amazing to do something like that.

Tether: Must be.

(Tether and Kusari exits the TV room and walks past the machine, arriving at the break room; the floor is blue tiled, 6 square tables are arranged with two pairs lined up to make two parallel rectangles and the other two are in opposite corners; five grey refrigerators line the back wall, the center one flanked by two blank panels and the fridge closest to them has a microwave in the wall by it)

Tether: This is where we take breaks. Plenty of fridges to put stuff in. Just.. (sighs in disgust) ..make sure you don't accidentally leave any food and side experiments in them.

Kusari: ...I...take it you know from experience...?

Tether (squints): Yeeaaah.... I may not have a nose, but the sensation of being near it was just.... (shivers in disgust)

Kusari: How b-bad was it....?

Tether: The entire facility was shut down for a week just to remove the fridge and clean the very spot it was on, then a month just make sure nothing was contaminated. Pa- uh, Dr. Gadwyn was absolutely livid during that time. I couldn't get the sensation out of my mind for a week, it was gods-awful.

Kusari: Th-That does sound awful!

Tether: Ugh, it was. We were all busy at the time for the project, so I figure someone left something in there and forgot it. Although....forgetting something for a year isn't exac-

Kusari: A YEAR?! How has no one noticed that?! Did no one check any of the fridges during that time?

Teher: I'm still wondering that myself... Come on, we better get moving.

Kusari: Urgh...

(Tether and Kusari backtracked to the elevator and went left; they arrive at the door to the power room and entered; it's a wide area where at the opposite end, a tall machine is hooked up to 9 pipes and the lights on the two headlights, the container, and the panel are glowing a soft red)

Tether: This is the power room. It may not look like much, but it's what keeps the place running using the energy gathered at the Core.

Kusari: Oooh... (walks up to the machine) Is there something in there?

Tether: I don't know. I never really go near it.

Kusari (backs away): Ah! M-Maybe I shouldn't go near it th-then..

(Tether and Kusari leave the power room and arrive at the infirmary area; to the left side of the five doors present are three sinks and the right side of the fifth door is a blank panel; the doors lead into rooms with medical beds and equipment)

Tether: This is the infirmary area where we take Fallen monsters into individual rooms and try to revive them.. Luckily, we don't use this place as much, but it's here just in case.

(Tether and Kusari went back to the elevator and went south; they arrive at what looks like a makeshift morgue, the right wall has several metal drawers with different labels on the front; the labels have the ID code for the humans marked; they stopped in front of the drawers)

Tether: This is... I guess this is where we've been keeping the human bodies...

Kusari: L-Like...actual human bodies, or...

Tether: Yep...

Kusari: ..They're actually in there...?

Tether (pulls open the drawer labeled “KI06”; the body of Kindel lay on the platform): This one's the last one captured.

Kusari: Whoa... (adjusts her glasses) This is what a human looks like?

Tether: There's different ones. (opens the drawers one by one, hesitating on PE05; pulls open the drawer)

Kusari: Oh, whoa! You're right! Th-There are different ones. Although... They look smaller than I imagined...

Tether: We suspect that they're younger versions of humans, kids maybe, but they did show powers stronger than our own.

Kusari: Ah, I heard! I remember hearing rumors of a monster helping a human years ago. Pretty silly, right?

Tether: Yeah, it is... (stares at Percy's body for a moment before closing the drawers)

(Tether and Kusari returned to the elevator and went up to the lobby)

Tether: Of course, you've seen the lobby. It's where the families and visitors of the scientists come to. There's a little play area for the kids to stay if their parents don't have babysitters.

Kusari: Oh, that's cute. (sees a multiple-eyed monster approach her and Tether)

Multi-eyed Monster: Ah, young Tether, it has been a long while. You've grown up handsomely.

Tether: Ah, Ms. Bakersol, it really has been a while. Kusari, this is Ms. Bakersol.

Kusari: Hello.

Ms. Bakersol: Ah, you're a new face, hello! Are you here for a tour?

Kusari: Oh, y-yes, I'll be interning in the lab soon.

Ms. Bakersol: How lovely! I hope Tether isn't causing too much trouble.

Kusari: Eh?

Ms. Bakersol: He used to be a little troublemaker, but I'm glad he's found something to focus on.

Tether: M-Ms. Bakersol...!

Ms. Bakersol: Ahohoho! Ah, how is your brother? Is he doing well?

Tether: Yep. Still doing basic training and errand work, but he's getting up there.

Kusari: Brother?

Tether: Yeah, younger. His name's Catena. He's a trainee in the Royal Guard.

Kusari: Oh wow! Wait, the Royal Guard, the one Ketju leads now?

Tether: The one and only. Why?

Kusari (blushing): O-Oh, nothing! Just wondering!

Tether: …?

Ms. Bakersol: Well, I won't keep you two long. I got some little ones to watch over. (a few eyes turn to look behind her at a little Loox Eyewalker monster) Ethan, what did I say about not sharing?

Ethan (startled then glances around sheepishly): To not do it again.

Ms. Bakersol: Yes, now play nice. (turns eyes back to Tether and Kusari except one) Ah, anyway, I'll let you return to your tour. Have fun and a pleasure meeting you, Ms. Kusari. Have a good time, Tether. (returns to the play area)

Kusari: Th-Thank you. ...You were a troublemaker?

Tether (flustered): W-We should go to the Core, yea?

Kusari: … (giggles)

(Tether and Kusari left the building towards a tall elevator north of the crossroad, going to Level R3; they were greeted by a few monsters who were leaving the Core as they crossed the bridge and reached the lit entrance; once through and after taking the elevator, they went left and arrive at the Core)

Tether: Welcome to the Core.

He had heard that the Core had sections that are interchangeable in order to confuse humans, and the duo got a demonstration of such a thing. Kusari was worried about the liquid running below the area, but Tether explained that it's a form of geothermal energy that is converted into electrical energy that powers the entire Underground. The safety railings along the paths are there to keep everyone from accidentally falling into the liquid. They noticed huge blocks of ice falling into it and Tether mentioned how the ice keeps the liquid cool. Kusari asked where the ice came from, and Tether had notice someone in Snowdin throwing ice into the river, so he assumed that was where the ice came from.

Tether: Now that that's done, let's head back so you can start your interning.

Kusari: Okay. Th-Thank you for the tour.

Tether: No problem.

(Tether and Kusari return to the lab; sees Gadwyn)

Gadwyn: Ah, there you are. I take it the tour went well?

Kusari: Yes sir! This place is really interesting!

Gadwyn: I appreciate your enthusiasm, Miss Kusari. For the time being, you'll be running errands for us, so there are some areas that are off-limits.

Kusari: Ah, I-I was wondering why there were places Tether didn't take me.

Tether: Yeah, can't take the new ones to them. Safety reasons.

Kusari: Oh, that makes sense.

Gadwyn: Right, well, let's get you set up for your first set of tasks for today.

Kusari: Yes sir!

Gadwyn: Tether, we've prepared for our next round of experiments to begin. (turns away) I expect you to be there.

Tether: Yes, sir...

Kusari: ….?

The next few weeks were spent by the scientists in conducting experiments and Kusari running errands. As Kusari was on her way to deliver some documents to Gadwyn, an alarm sounded.

Kusari (almost drops the folder): Wh-What is that?!

Scientist1: It's the alarm!

Scientist2: A human has come!

Kusari: A human? Ah, that must mean it'll end up like the others Tether showed me... (sees Gadwyn walking by) Oh, it's Dr. Gad- (sees a strange look on his face, like a twisted grin) That....was strange.

This human in particular is a dangerous one. Her green eyes were flaring in ferocity as she raced throughout the underground. She spouted demands as she faced the monsters. When she was chased by Darius, she managed to shoot him in the leg, taking him down. She was able to get through Snowdin into Waterfall, running into Ketju. Ketju faced the girl and told her that she must give her Soul up so the monsters can go free. The girl, Judy as she gave her name, answered Ketju with a shot, taking her left eye out. While Ketju writhed on the ground in pain, Judy made her escape to Hotland. This put the monsters in the lobby into a panic and they all went into the main lab area to hide until she passed through. Judy looked around to find the monsters, but found nothing and moved on. She continued on and ran into two Royal Guard soldiers. She faced off against them, firing a shot at one of them and escaping deeper into Hotland. She met Kæde and fired a warning shot, hitting a spider in the process. She managed to get far enough to enter the Core and felt like she was getting close until she heard the sound of wind pulsating. A large magic circle appeared before her and rings of chains pulsed around it a few times before Gadwyn appeared within, a Soul container tied to his hip.

Gadwyn (steps away from the circle as it vanishes): A pleasure to meet you, human, but I'm afraid your journey ends here. If you would be so kind as to give up your Soul-

Judy: Never! Now tell me where the missing children are!

Gadwyn: Oh? And why do you care?

Judy: Because their families need them back, and justice will be served to you monsters!

Gadwyn stared at Judy for a while before he scoffed at the answer.

Gadwyn: Justice, you say? (chuckles darkly) Funny you should say that. You say that justice will be served for the humans, but what about our justice?

Judy: Your justice? The monsters' justice?

Gadwyn: Yes. The humans attacked us first and took so much from us. Took many of our friends and loved ones. Took the life of a monster prince who only wanted to return the body of a human to the surface. Took away our hopes and dreams. Betrayed us all...

Judy: Well, what about the missing children? They did nothing wrong! I'm sure they only want to see what's down here!

Gadwyn: Really? I've no idea of what became of the monsters in the Ruins when the little boy arrived, but explain to me why a young girl punched her way through the snow fields, taking out any monster who faced her?

Judy: Because the monsters attacked her!

Gadwyn: The girl in the tutu who tried to buy her freedom with the truth of harming a monster?

Judy: I...well-

Gadwyn: The bespectacled boy who used his words to trick monsters to his side?

Judy: That's just-

Gadwyn: Or the boy whom I've heard ate a monster?

Judy: Guh, but that could be a rumor!

Gadwyn: A rumor? Oh, I'm afraid you're wrong. It may not look like it, but there are many eyes in the Ruins and one certain spider queen who has connections...

Judy: But-

Gadwyn: In addition! There are also the humans from centuries prior that were once our friends, but turned against us. Therefore, humans like you are not to be trusted. I almost lost one of my sons to one. I lost my beloved wife to the Seven Magicians from years ago. (muttering under his breath) Mu anamchara Alysída... (glares at Judy) Tell me, after hearing what I've said.. How does it feel to be an enemy of ours?

Judy: I... How am I an enemy to them? They're the ones who are our enemy! They know where the kids are, keeping them trapped for so long. Yet he says the humans harmed them first. That's not right, the monsters are the bad guys and bad guys need to be punished with swift justice! …..But if the humans really did do those things... (stares at Gadwyn) ...Is he like a hero to the monsters and am I...the bad guy...? (shakes her head) No, that's not righ-

Gadwyn: It appears that you are lost in thought. Allow me to give you a choice. Surrender your Soul and I'll help return your body to the surface. Refuse, and I'll have it removed by force. What say you?

Judy (aims her gun at him): I chose neither. (shoots at him)

Gadwyn (sidesteps, dodging the bullet): I'll ask again. What say you to my options? (approaches her calmly)

Judy (checks her gun, seeing no bullets in the chamber): Darn it, I'm out!

Gadwyn: You're out of bullets, it seems.

Judy (aims her gun): I gotta try...

Gadwyn (stops a few feet away): Human, don't make this hard for yourself. You do realize- (senses something) This feeling.... Magic? (notices something glowing inside the barrel) What is that?

Judy: Take this! (pulls the trigger)

To the duo's surprise, a bullet of yellow light shot at Gadwyn, grazing his right arm and startling him.

Gadwyn (grabs his arm): AAAGH!

Judy: Oh... OH! I did that? (gasp) Let me try it again!

Gadwyn (enraged; a pair of dark blue chain decals appear on his face, one running up the right side of his skull from his eye and one down on the left side from his eye to his mouth): You damned hell spawn, you've made your choice. (lifts his hand above his head) Vester!!

(a large lupine skull with a pair of wavy horns and chains attached to them appeared beside Gadwyn)

Judy (aims her gun at the skull): What-

Gadwyn (levels his hand with his glasses; closes his hand into a fist): Fire.

The pain Judy felt as the blast let loose by the skull hit her was immeasurable. Her screams were drowned out by the roar of the blast. Once it was over, Judy was on the ground, burned and bleeding. She didn't want to join the five children who fell before her. She was determined to live. Even through her pain, Judy aimed her gun. Even through her agony, she pulled the trigger.

Nothing happened.

She was really out of bullets.

And out of life.

Gadwyn (shivering): …...... (gasps sharply) I... (clears his throat and straightens himself up) That was...Well. I hope I didn't go too overboard. (looks at his grazed arm) That magic bullet she shot.... Could it be that-

CoreRoyalGuard1: Dr. Gadwyn!

CRG2: Are you all right!?

Gadwyn: Yes, I'm fine. It's just a scratch.

CRG2 (grimaces at Gadwyn's wound): Are you sure?

Gadwyn: Yes. (looks at Judy's body) Hmm, hopefully, we can get something from this one. (sees the yellow Soul rise from the body as he detaches the container from the chain; captures the Soul in it and stares at it, a crooked smile gracing his face) Just one more and-

CRG1: Sir?

Gadwyn (jolts): …..Right. One of you help carry the body to the laboratory, please. Carefully.

CRG1 (looks at the body then at his partner): You wanna do it?

CRG2: I'm not touching it.

CRG1: Well, I don't wanna either-

Gadwyn (glaring): Gentlemen.

CRG2: R-Right! (hurriedly picks up Judy's body with caution)

The trio made their way back to the lab through Gadwyn's teleportation circle. During this, the monsters in the lab had calmed down from nearly encountering Judy. As the monsters talked among themselves and leaving the main lab, the scientists were preparing for the arrival of Gadwyn and the body.

Kusari: Th-That was so close! We almost got attacked by that human! I hope D-Dr. Gadwyn is okay, right, Tether? ….. (looks around not seeing him) Tether? (walks off to find him, meeting another scientist)

Scientist: Oh! Kusari, Dr. Gadwyn just arrived and wants everyone to meet him in the lab.

Kusari: Okay! I'm g-gonna find Tether and tell him! (rushes off to find Tether; finds him in the morgue looking at a body) Eh? (watches him from outside of the door) What's he doing?

Tether (looking at Percy's body): Another human got caught just now... Just one more and we monsters will be free.... That would've been nice...if there was another way for us to go back to the surface without killin' anyone.. (looks away for a moment before looking at Percy's face again) If only Papa didn't kill you, you could've helped us tell our story like you wanted, the truth of the war... You could've...We could've returned home...to the surface... (sighs) When we get out of here, I hope King Kette will allow me to bury you somewhere, rather than have you locked up in this place. (moves a few loose strands of hair from Percy's face) I think it's time for me to go. I really don't want to leave, but I'll have to let you back in now. (moves to push Percy's drawer back in the locker; gets startled by Kusari's presence and the sounds of monsters moving around somewhere in the lab) Aah! H-How long were you there!?

Kusari: Eep!! S-S-Sorry! I was coming t-to get you because Dr. Gadwyn w-wanted everyone to meet up with him!

Tether: Ooh... I'll, um, be there...

Kusari: Eh?

Tether: What?

Kusari: Y-You have tears... You're crying for the human?

Tether: Huh? (rubs his sleeve over his eyes and looks at it, seeing blotches and smudges of wet spots on it) Ah... (roughly rubs his eyes and holds his arm behind his back) That's, uh, I had something in my eyesockets..

Kusari: Are you sure? You were talking to that human- (covers her mouth)

Tether: …...You heard that much...huh..?

Kusari: …. (nods) Yes, s-sorry...

Tether: ...It's fine. (looks back at Percy) His name's Percival.

Kusari: Oh? Did you name...him?

Tether: No, he already had that name. I don't know the others' true names since they were only labeled by their Soul Trait, like Percy's is PE05 for Perseverance.

Kusari (approaches the body, stopping by Tether): So, the humans have names?

Tether: Pretty much.

Kusari: What's special about this one?

Tether: He.......was the first human friend I had, as far as I remember...

Kusari (surprised): R-Really?

Tether: Yeah. Met him in the snow fields. I couldn't really place it, but I felt compelled to help him. Dr. Gadwyn told me that he could've had the ability to brainwash others, but I didn't feel any sort of magic being used on me that would cause that.

Kusari: Then...t-the rumors about the monster helping the human was...

Tether: Yeah, it was me...

Kusari: Oh.... Do you know why he came down here?

Tether: To learn about our history. He also found out that it was the humans that started the war years ago, not us. He was going to return to the surface and show others his findings. Even made a promise to do so. But....

Kusari: He got killed...

Tether: Choked to death. Saw it happen on the monitor.

Kusari: ….He sounds like a nice human.

Tether: ..He was. His words felt genuine. I felt like I could trust him. And it seemed like the humans only know one side of the story. If Percy was alive, he would be trying to convince people that we're not as bad as they thought. But at this rate.... (pushes the drawer close) ...they're likely to be closed-minded...

Kusari: Oh...

Scientist: Oh, there you two are! Dr. Gadwyn's looking for you two!

Kusari: Oh, were we gone that long?! W-We're coming! (rushes out with the scientist)

Tether (follows Kusari before stopping by the door; looks back at the locker): ….Sleep well... (leaves)

Once the duo managed to meet up with Gadwyn and the other scientists, they were promptly reprimanded for being late. Afterwards, Kusari was sent off to do errands and Tether stayed to help with the experiments. Judy's body was covered in burns and open wounds from Vester's shrapnel-laced blast. The group had to salvage as much of her as possible, but they did learn how injuries like what she has could be made. As they studied her body, there was a commotion in the main lobby.

Gadwyn: What in the Underground is going on?

When he and the group arrived in the lobby, they saw Ketju and Darius being wheeled into the ER area.

Tether: What the hell?

Kusari: Ketju!

Gadwyn: …..Right. Any healers that are present, please go tend to Lady Ketju and Darius immediately.

Kalina: Right away! (rushes off after the monsters taking Ketju and Darius)

Tether: I hope they'll be all right. Looks pretty serious. (glances at Kusari; notices her shivering) Kusari?

Kusari: …..

Tether (looks at Kusari): ...Kusari?

Kusari (has a worried, panicked look on her face): ….

Tether (touches her shoulder): Kusari-

Kusari (jolts): AAAAAH!! …..Uh...I-I'm gonna w-wait by the d-door.... (rushes off to wait by Ketju's room)

Tether: ….That was odd.

With Kalina and the other healing monsters' power, they were able to heal the wounds on Darius and Ketju. While Darius's leg wound has healed all the way, Ketju ended up having surgery. A few hours later, it was done. Even with healing magic, Ketju's left eye was gone, so there was no choice but to cover her injury up until it healed enough for her to wear an eye patch. Once done, Kusari was let in to see Ketju.

Kusari: Your eye....

Ketju (hesitantly touches her bandage): Yeah...I didn't think that human was that tough.... Judy, was it? It got a good shot at me... What happened to it?

Tether: She's being used in our experiments.. Well, her Soul, mainly.

Ketju: She, huh? So they got her? I'll have to be more vigilant and teach the others to be more careful...

Kusari: Y-You should rest, though!

Ketju: Yeah, I know. The others will be worried. Can you let them know I'm okay?

Kusari: S-Sure!

Ketju: Oh, I thought I saw Darius when I-

Darius (runs in): Lady Ketju!?

Ketju: There he is.

Darius (ears drooping as he approaches Ketju's bed): Are you all right? Ah! Your eye!

Ketju: Yeah, it sucks, but I'll live. Are you all right?

Darius: Yes, ma'am! Thanks to the healers here, my leg's feeling better!

Ketju: That's great!

Darius: I'm gonna tell the others you're okay! (rushes out)

Ketju: Darius and the sisters are a nice bunch. They really warmed up to me when I took over for Mr. Keldin. But man, if I ever see that human again, I'll ki-

Gadwyn (walks in): That won't be necessary, Lady Ketju.

Ketju: Dr. Gadwyn? Nice seeing you here. You said “That won't be necessary”. What, going after the human?

Gadwyn: Yes, as she had been dealt with.

Ketju: So you captured her. That's good. I'll need to take her to-

Gadwyn: That won't be necessary either.

Ketju: Buh, what does that mean?! What, did you kill her or something?

Gadwyn: Yes.

(silence)

Ketju: Ah...how?

Gadwyn (adjusts his glasses): With my weapon, of course. She shot at me, so I blasted her away. Very effective, but not one I'd use on a whim.

Ketju: That's some weapon you must have. Looking at you, I wouldn't have guessed you could fight.

Gadwyn: Looks can be deceiving, Lady Ketju. (heads to the door and stops by Tether) You'll never know what kind of person you'll meet until you get to know them. (side-glances at Tether) For better or worse.

Tether (slightly glares at Gadwyn before looking away): …..

Gadwyn (turns to Ketju): I must return to the experiment room to resume the tests. Good day and rest well. Tether, Kusari, come along once you're done. (leaves)

Tether: ….

Ketju: Yikes, was he always like that?

Tether: No. Not at the beginning, but....things in our past happened and...I don't think he's gotten over them. He throws himself into his work, more now than before. I've wondered what changed... Oh, I was wondering-

Catena (runs in): LADY KETJU, ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?!

Tether: And there he is.

Ketju: Y-Yeah, I am. Just lost an eye, but still alive.

Catena: THANK GOODNESS! EVERYONE WAS WONDERING WHERE YOU WERE AND GOT WORRIED! I'LL GO TELL THE OTHERS THAT YOU'RE OKAY! (sees Tether and Kusari) HI TETHER, HI NEW PERSON!

Kusari: I, uh, hi? I-I'm Kusari Allori.

Catena: NICE TO MEET YOU, KUSARI! I SEE YOU'VE MET MY BROTHER!

Kusari: Y-Yes, he's given me a tour of the area! Wait... Brother... Oh! So you're the brother Tether told me about!

Catena: SO HE DID!

Ketju: Huh, so you're Catena's brother. He always talked about you. Like, a lot.

Tether: Really? And I thought I was the one who always doted on him.

Catena: WELL, OF COURSE I GOTTA TALK ABOUT MY BEST BIG BROTHER IN THE UNDERGROUND!

Tether: Nah, the best big little brother has gotta be you, Cats.

Catena: Nyeh heh heh.

Kusari: Wait, Catena's the younger brother? I thought he was the older one. Y-You know...because of how tall he is..?

Catena: WE GET THAT A LOT, BUT NOPE! I'M A FEW HUNDRED YEARS YOUNGER THAN HIM!

Kusari: Whoa..

Ketju: Heh, that's pretty cool. If you two are brothers, then who are-

(door opens; Gadwyn and Kalina enters)

Gadwyn (looks around): ….I see you're still becoming acquainted with each other.

Ketju: Oh, back again, Dr. Gadwyn?

Gadwyn: Yes, just passing by with Kalina and letting her know you're up and chatting.

Ketju: Ah. Yeah, I got to meet Catena's brother for the first time.

Gadwyn: Well, I hope my sons aren't causing too much trouble as you're needing to rest?

Ketju: Nah, it's all- wait, sons?

Tether: You didn't notice?

Ketju: I mean... Catena looks a little more like him. You look like a different skeleton.

Tether: Trust us, we're all part of the same family, even if it seems... (glares at Gadwyn a little) ..different.

Gadwyn: …..Right. Well... (turns to Tether and Kusari) As I stated before, after you two are done, Tether, I want you to report to the central laboratory immediately. We will be resuming the experiments on JU07 and the Justice Soul. (heads to the door and stops; glancing back) And please refrain from making any side trips. (leaves)

Tether: …..

Catena: W-WELL, I'M GONNA GO LET THE OTHERS KNOW YOU'RE OKAY, LADY KETJU! GET WELL SOON! (dashes out the door)

Ketju (shivers): That was strange. Did it get tense all of a sudden?

Tether: Anyway, I guess visiting time is over?

Kalina: Yes, I'll be tending to Ketju's wound for a while, so I won't be joining up for the rest of the experiment for now.

Kusari (sighs in relief): Thank you.

Ketju: Yeah, thanks.

Kalina: No problem. You and Tether should hurry along before Dr. Gadwyn gets angry.

Kusari: Ah, y-yes! (hurries out the door)

Tether: …..Ketju.

Ketju: Yeah?

Tether: You were wondering how I look different from...Papa and Catena, yeah?

Ketju: Oh, uh, yeah, but-

Tether: I would guess it's from my mother. Papa told us about her. How she lived, how she loved....and how she died. (scratches the back of his skull) Sorry about that. It's been some time since I thought about it. (shrugs) I better move on then. Don't wanna deal with his crap the rest of the day. Nice meeting you, though, and thanks for taking care of Catena.

Ketju: Welcome..? (watches Tether leave) Huh, his mom must've had a really nice smile if he looked like her, right? (looks at Kalina; notices a confused look on her face) Dr. Kalina?

Kalina (flinches): Uh huh?

Ketju: ...You all right?

Kalina: Oh, uh, yes, of course, I'm fine! Let me...change the bandages out. (unwraps the bandages)

Ketju: …....So...how many more left?

Kalina: Huh?

Ketju: Of the human Souls, how many do we need?

Kalina: ….One more. (removes the pad and examines the wound)

Ketju: I see. We're getting close to freedom, huh. You guys are doing great.

Kalina: Thanks. Hmm.. Your wound's healing well, but it looks like you'll be left without a left eye. You'll have to wear an eye patch to protect it.

Ketju: Huh, all right. Hope it's a cool one!

For the rest of the day, Ketju rested while her injury healed. Meanwhile, more experiments were being conducted by Dr. Gadwyn and his team and Kusari continued her errands. They had a few failures, but they managed to come up with a combination to test out. This took them most of the day, so they decided to take a break before resuming.

Tether (reading over his notes while heading towards the break room): ...Seems to require a little of everything, but until we get the last Soul-

Valin: I just don't get what Gadwyn is up to. He's been acting strange lately.

Tether (stops outside the entrance; see Valin standing by the coffee machine and Minki moving to the fridge): ?

Minki (taking out his lunch from the fridge): Right? It's like he's become obsessed with how the experiments turn out. (closes the door) I know we're getting close to completing the project, but he makes it look like it's a life-or-death thing. (sits down at a table)

Valin: I mean, a lot of us did die down here, but not in the way he makes it feel like. (sips his coffee) It must be something to do with his wife.

Minki: His wife?

Valin: Yeah. That's right, you weren't with us when it happened. It was centuries ago, but Gadwyn developed a hatred for humans since she almost turned to dust. He pretty much snapped the neck of one a long time ago.

Minki: Yikes, really?

Valin: Yeah. PE05, I believe. Guess it tried to brainwash one of his sons, the eldest one, I think.

Minki: Tether?

Valin: Yeah! I'm curious as to how that human did it.

Minki: Wish we could've seen what the humans could do before taking their Souls.

Valin: Yeah. But hopefully the one we chose won't have an adverse reaction to the concoction. It'll be devastating if it didn't work.

Tether: ….. (steps in and goes to the fridge to get his lunch) Hey, guys.

Valin (flinches): !

Minki: Oh, hey, Tether! Joining us for break?

Tether: Nah, I'm gonna be meeting up with Dr. Gadwyn to discuss something. Maybe next time. (leaves)

Minki: All right. (turns to Valin) Valin?

Valin: Uh, yeah?

Minki: You looked scared, what's up?

Valin: Ah, n-nothing. I better go...do some tests.

Minki: But it's not time to go back yet.

Valin: Yeah, but I wasn't...uh..feeling hungry much. See you later, Minki. (dumps his coffee in the sink and rushes out)

Minki: …. (eats their sandwich) That was weird.

Tether (standing outside the opposite end of the break room; a written sentence showing “Almost turned to dust. Mom?” is seen): …..What did he mean by that...?

Once the break was over, everyone returned to their duties. They were able to gather enough Justice essence for testing before deciding to transfer it to King Kette. But when they were about to put the Soul back into the portable container, it managed to make its escape.

Valin: Ah!

Minki: Whoa!

Gadwyn: Don't let it escape!!

The group were making grabs at the Soul, but it kept shooting yellow bullets at everyone. Distracted, it was caught by Gadwyn's gloved hands.

Gadwyn: Got you, you little pest! (sees a glowing light peeking through his hands) What is-

Without warning, an explosion shot out from the backs of Gadwyn's hands. The Justice Soul blasted a hole in them to escape, and as it did, Gadwyn crumbled to the ground, screaming and writhing in pain.

Toroast: Dr. Gadwyn!!

Tether: PAPA!! (crouches by Gadwyn) Are you all right!?

Gadwyn (holding his hands under his arms): Forget about me! Catch the Soul!!

Minki: We're trying! (dodging the bullets) Ah!

Kalina (walks in and sees the commotion): What on earth!?

Valin: Close the door, you're gonna let it out!!

Kalina (sees the Soul flying towards her): Aaah! (shuts the door quickly as she ducks from the flying Soul; rushes over to Gadwyn) What happened!?

Toroast: I can't reach it!

Tether: Tch. (watches the Soul flying around as Minki, Valin, and Toroast try to catch it without getting hit by the bullets; looks back at Gadwyn getting treated by Kalina; has a thought) Maybe...I gotta try it! (holds his right hand out)

Kalina: Tether?

Gadwyn: What is he doing? Don't just sit there, help them!

Tether: I hope this works... Focus on the target.. (watches the Soul)...and... (his right eye glows an indigo purple and an indigo chain decal runs to his mouth and to the back of his skull; his hand glows and a loud PING sound rings out; the Soul is caught in a chain ring, glowing indigo) Ngh...got it!

Everyone was stunned at the sight. So much so, they almost forgot to contain the elusive violent Soul.

Tether: Gh..guys, get the thing.... (holds his wrist and he struggles to keep his hold on it) I don't know how long I can...

Minki: Ah! (grabs the portable containment device and rushes up to the Soul, catching and locking it inside)

Tether (deactivates his power, sighing heavily): Glad that's over.... Ah. Papa! (scoots over to Gadwyn) Are you all right?!

Gadwyn: I'm fine. But my hands....

Kalina (helps Tether get Gadwyn up to his feet): We're going to have to fix your hands up quickly. Come on!

Gadwyn: Damn it all!

(Kusari gets close to the door but jumps back when it swings open; sees Kalina and Tether helping Gadwyn to the ER area)

Kusari: Wh-What happened!?

Tether: There was an accident. The others'll fill you in.

Kusari: Wha?? (enters the laboratory; sees various bullet holes and smoking bullet marks on the walls, monitor, and floor; a few items were knocked over or broken; Valin and Toroast were sitting on the floor and Minki was sitting on a chair)

Minki: Kusari.

Kusari: I just saw Miss Kalina and Tether with Dr. Gadwyn!

Minki: Yeah, the Justice Soul tried to escape while we were preparing to send it off to King Kette. It was a disaster... Blasted holes into Gadwyn's hands when he caught it.

Kusari: Oh no! Will he be all right?

Toroast: We hope so. But Tether, he was amazing! He manage to catch it with his magic!

Kusari: He did?

Valin: Yeah, I wonder where he learned how to do that?

Kusari: Maybe he learned it from someone?

Valin: Maybe! If it wasn't for him, things would've gotten worse!

Minki: Ah, we better get to fixing this while Dr. Gadwyn gets healed.

Kusari: Oh, l-let me help!

As Kusari, Valin, Minki, and Toroast fixed up the lab, Tether sat outside the ER, hands clasped and left knee bouncing while waiting for the news. He had noticed his father's arm wound before, and now this injury with the hands. The longer he doesn't hear anything about Gadwyn, the more worried he got. This went on for a few hours as the skeleton went from just sitting to pacing back and forth. A few times, he saw the healers run by him from the ER to elsewhere, but with no news of the scientist's condition. By the time Kusari joined up with him with the other scientists, Kalina stepped out of the room.

Tether (stands up quickly): So?! Is he all right!?

Kalina: He is, thankfully. But...

Tether: But?

Kalina: ...It'll be some time before he can use his hands again. The blast from the Soul was so severe that we had to cauterize the holes-

Tether: Holes?

Kalina: Yes, he has holes in his hands now, and it's likely that they'll remain that way. We tried to find what's left of his hand bones, but with no luck.

Kusari: Ah, that's why you came back into the lab.

Kalina: Yes.

Tether: Can we see him?

Kalina: Not right now. When we told him what happened to his hands, he nearly flew into a rage, so we had to sedate him. I'll keep an eye on him and let you know when he awakens.

Tether: Okay...

Kalina: Of course, he did say for you guys to continue the experiments even if he's out of commission, so...

Tether (scoffs): Of course he did.. Thanks, Kalina.

Kalina: No problem. (walks back into the room)

Kusari: At least we know he's all right, but poor Dr. Gadwyn.

Tether: Eh, he may not look it, but he's tough.

Kusari: That's right, he took on a human, right?

Tether: Yeah. (sighs) I guess we gotta get moving. Don't wanna look like we're slacking off.

The rest of the night sees the scientists continuing the experiments until it was time to go home. Tether had stayed at the lab until Catena came by to check on Ketju when he heard about what happened to Gadwyn. This put the tall skeleton into a panic until Tether fully explained the situation.

Catena: THANK GOODNESS FOR THAT, BUT IT'S STILL WORRYING! WILL HE EVER USE HIS HANDS AGAIN?

Tether: I'm not really sure, to be honest. I know he won't be too happy about being away from his work.

Catena: WELL, I THINK HE NEEDS THE REST, WHAT WITH ALL OF THIS SCIENCE-Y STUFF YOU'RE DOING! EVEN THOUGH, THIS ISN'T REALLY THE WAY TO GO ABOUT IT.

Tether: Yeah. Oh, and uh, thanks for teaching me that Soul-catching skill. It really came in handy.

Catena: AH, SO YOU GOT TO USE IT! YOU'RE WELCOME! IT WAS SOMETHING WE LEARNED IN OUR TRAINING, SO I'M GLAD TO HEAR IT WORKED! I GOTTA TELL KETJU THE GREAT NEWS!

Kalina (walks out of the room): Hmm, oh? Ah, you're both here. I was going to contact you.

Tether: How is he?

Kalina: He just woke up. He'll be groggy, but still capable of speaking. (steps aside) Go ahead.

The brothers thanked her and entered the room, seeing Gadwyn lying in bed with a slight scowl on his face. To say that he looked unhappy about his predicament was an understatement.

Catena (rushes to Gadwyn's side): DAD! ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?

Gadwyn: Yes, yes, of course. At least... (moves his bandaged hands a little) ...most of me is okay. (glares) That damned Soul....thinks it got the last laugh. HA! I'm alive and the human's not.

Tether: Well, seeing as you're okay, we'll leave-

Gadwyn: You're all continuing the experiments, correct?

Tether: I- Yeah?

Gadwyn: Good. (sits himself up) I'll come and check on the progress.

Catena (pushes Gadwyn back to the bed): NO, YOU SHOULDN'T! YOU SHOULD LEAVE THAT TO TETHER AND THE SCIENTISTS! THEY CAN DO THOSE THINGS WHILE YOU REST!

Gadwyn: Nonsense. (tries to force himself against Catena's hand) I'm not going to let this keep me down.

Catena (uses the Soul Catch ability on Gadwyn and pushes him back down): NO, YOU MUST REST!

Gadwyn (struggling): I- What?! (stops) Ah, so this is what Tether used to stop that Soul.

Catena: OH, YES! WE WERE TAUGHT THIS IN THE ROYAL GUARD TRAINING!

Gadwyn: Well then. ...All right, you've convinced me. But do teach me that when I get released. It looks to prove quite useful.

Catena: OF COURSE! UNTIL THEN, GET YOUR REST AND GET BETTER!

Gadwyn: I will.

Tether: ...

Gadwyn promised that much, but his mind was still on his work. When Kalina went to check on him later that night, he was already awake.

Kalina: Oh, you're awake! I'm just about to-

Gadwyn: Kalina.

Kalina: Yes, Doctor?

Gadwyn: I want you to do a favor for me.

Kalina: Oh, yes. What would you like me to do?

Gadwyn: Follow my instructions precisely. I want you to get three vials of the Justice essence and take them to my house.

Kalina: What-

Gadwyn: Behind my house, there's a small building. I'll give you the key to it. (carefully digs in his top and pulls out a silver key connected to a silver chain necklace; takes it off and hands it to her) Don't lose it.

Kalina: But-

Gadwyn: Put them in the second drawer in the table on the left side of the room.

Kalina: Why do you need those?

Gadwyn: Don't..question it. Just follow those instructions. And whatever you do, don't let your curiosity get the better of you. And DO NOT LET MY SONS SEE YOU. They should be asleep or getting ready to sleep by now.

Kalina: I...Is this why you've been-

Gadwyn: Kalina, I can only trust you with this. Please do this for me.

Kalina: …..Yes, Doctor. Let me at least check your hands.

Gadwyn: Thank you...

After Kalina gave Gadwyn his checkup, she began to do Gadwyn's favor. She kept wondering why he would ask such a thing of her, but she had figured it had something to do with the scientist's behavior over the years. That twisted glee in the project being so close to being finished. Once she entered the lab, she went straight to drawing out the essences. Three vials she took and carefully placed in her bag. Kalina soon made her way out of the lab and to the River Person's location.

Kalina (climbs onto the boat and sits down): To Snowdin, please.

River Person: Tra la la. And we're off.

(the boat drifts from Hotland through Waterfall)

River Person: Tra la la. How would spiders wear pants with so many legs? Tra la la.

Kalina: Uh...

Kalina, and maybe many other monsters, could never understand the River Person's random musings. Before she could answer, they arrived at Snowdin. She made her way towards the house and looked for the building.

Kalina: Around the back... (sees a small building when going to the back; approaches the door) Ah! There it is. ….What could he be hiding in here? (enters the building) Huh, I thought this would be for his house.

She opened her way in, entering what looks like a small laboratory. To the left, there is a long white table attached to the wall, where it was covered with cork boards, whiteboards, a large flat screen computer monitor with a white keyboard, and papers neatly stacked on the right corner area of the table and pinned all over the boards. Next to the table was a tall, four drawer filing cabinet, across from it was a tall covered item that had a dim pulsating light, like something was on standby, and the opposite wall had a more cleaner table. She noticed various diagrams and charts that she didn't recognize from the experiments. Kalina wanted to look at them further, but she promised to not be too curious and went on with her task.

Kalina: Second drawer... Ah! (opens it; sees various empty vials that have traces of Soul essences and a red notebook) What? These are...Soul essences? (lays the full vials in the drawer and picks up a vial that has purple liquid in it) He's been taking extra ones? Is he testing something-

(a cracked groan is heard)

Kalina (drops the vial back in the drawer and slams it shut): Oh geez... What was that...?

(the groan is heard again)

Kalina (ears flatten in fear): H...Hello...?

???: Uuuh...aahahah.....

Kalina: It's....coming from...that covered thing...?

???: G.....G...uuh....G..uuh....

Kalina (shivering; slowly approaches the covered item): He..llo...?

???: …..

Kalina: Is..someone-

???: GuuuAAAAAAAAAAA!!!

Kalina: AAAAH!!! (trips over the rolling chair and falls while moving backward) Aaah! (scrambles to her feet and runs out of the building)

The fear that went through Kalina drove her to run, but not before remembering to lock the place down. She struggled with the key even if it was the only one she had. She can slightly hear the cracked groaning from behind the door, which sent her running again. Tether was jolted awake by this, which prompted him to look out his window.

Tether: What was that..? (looks around, sees nothing out of the ordinary) Hmm... Must be the neighborhood kids again. (gets back under the covers and goes to sleep)

As Tether went back to sleep and Kalina was speeding her way back to Hotland, neither of them heard the guttural sounds of the thing behind the veiled object in the back of the mini laboratory. Even the one word it managed to say...

???: G...aaa..d...y....

TO BE CONTINUED

#ABGadwyn

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nsschaintale · 4 years

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And I’m good again.

And I can finally update this blog since I haven’t touched it in forever.

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nsschaintale · 4 years

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....sorry I haven’t been on here in however long. January sideswiped me with work and it disrupted my creative mood horribly. Don’t worry! I’m in the process of working on the latest chapters and finally getting back to doing the next ref sheet. I’m just figuring out how to work that around another project well. Especially with this coronavirus going around and being stuck at home.

I do feel kinda antsy, though...

But anyway, I hope to at least get the sixth chapter of The Fallen Royal Scientist done. Still need to catch up with Linear Temporal, too.

But then, a lot of my old projects are resurfacing...

Uh oh... o_o;;

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nsschaintale · 4 years

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I do feel kinda antsy, though...

But anyway, I hope to at least get the sixth chapter of The Fallen Royal Scientist done. Still need to catch up with Linear Temporal, too.

But then, a lot of my old projects are resurfacing...

Uh oh... o_o;;

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nsschaintale · 4 years

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I think this is the first time....

.....I’m having doubts about continuing a project. No, it’s not related to Undertale, I’ve recently returned to working on a chapter of a side story. It’s more....

Kingdom Hearts.

Back when I was younger, I was in that KH phase where I played a lot of it, watched people play it, and did RPs and art for it. I eventually started a fan project where the event took place during and after KH2, with new keyblader characters, successors to Organization XIII, things like that.

But as the years on, I was seeing more KH stuff coming out, especially 3. I don’t have a PS4, so I couldn’t play it, and I don’t mind spoilers since I’ll forget them anyway (too much stuff in mind, not enough room to remember), so I followed some KH stuff that appeared on my dash (mainly for Saïx, because he was favorite XIII member).

Not sure if it was a great idea or not.

I’m seeing this stuff and I kept thinking back on that old project. The keyblader siblings, the one who once travelled with Sora and his friends, the new Organization XIII members who were going to take over their predecessors’ mission to get the hearts, I thought about returning to the project one day (as well as 90+ other ones I started).

I was often confused and stubborn when I see someone abandon a project they put time in. I think ‘Well, I don’t want to do that with my stuff , I want to fully complete them!’, but...

I’m not so sure about it this time.

I want to at least finish the pictures I set up to put on DA, but after that... I’ll have to see if I still have the heart for it...

Sorry about the rant, it’s something that was bothering me since KH3 came out. It was something I didn’t expect to happen.

#rant #more like having doubts on a project #crying on the inside and outside #should i even go back to it...?#i want to but it doesn’t feel right now

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nsschaintale · 4 years

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And Hiatus Over!

...Sort of. Work has finally calmed down a bit enough for me to get back to working on this project. I got a lot to catch up on, so hopefully I’ll be able to return to where I stopped at.

To reiterate, I also have most of these items on Deviantart, in case something goes wrong on this site. They are pretty much the same. I may have to start searching for another site to put these on, but that’s a whole other project.

Of course, while that’s going on, I also have other non-Undertale things on DA if you wish to view them to tie you over until the next updates. I’m also currently working on some Pokémon stuff, so if that interests you, check out my Pokémon Gijinka gallery as well as some old stuff I have made before I started focusing on that and Undertale.

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nsschaintale · 4 years

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Been meaning to do this, but....

....this is a reminder that I’m on a creative hiatus due to work until next year. Around this time of year (usually around September to after December), my creative mood declines because of the holiday season at work and I would be too drained or lacking the urge to work on anything properly. Granted, I’m more active on Deviantart, so this is more evident. I do have everything prepared for when I return, it’ll just be some time before my mood gets better. So no, I haven’t abandoned anything here.

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nsschaintale · 5 years

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LINE 6: SPIDERS IN THE BELFRY

UNDERTALE

LINEAR TEMPORAL

LINE 6: SPIDERS IN THE BELFRY

Hiro stepped out of the elevator, finding himself on a long pathway. Up ahead, he spotted two monsters, a six-armed lavender one with short black hair and two short ponytails, five dark purple eyes, and wearing a shortsleeved jumper with a maroon top and a dark pink bottom and black boots behind a long table covered with a pink-and-white checker tablecloth and the green cat monster wearing a longsleeved top, blue shorts, and kneehigh yellow boots reclining on the floor. On the table is a croissant and a purple glazed donut. By the voice of the lavender monster, Hiro figured this was a girl. He also noticed spider webs everywhere and the girl's physique is reminding him of a spider as well...

Spider Girl: Welcome to our parlor, dearie~. Interested in some spider pastries? All proceeds go to real spiders~.

Hiro: Spider pastries. Oh, so she had the ones in the Ruins, too? (checks out the spider donut; notices it looks more rubbery than usual) Huh, it's not real? (looks at the croissant; it reminds him of a power bracelet from a game he saw someone play before) I want one... (walks up to the cat monster)

Cat Monster (hesitant): I...I...I ended up buying donut...

Hiro: You did?

CM: Yeah.. I...I...I didn't want to, but that girl... even though I told her no, she...kept staring at me in this creepy way and licking her lips. N....Now I'm outta cash...

Hiro (glances back at the girl and catches her staring at them): Eeep..

Hiro continued past the area and found himself in a room with more of the steam arrow platforms.

Hiro: Not this again... (hears his phone ring and answers it) Hello?

Alphys: Hi, Alphys here!

Hiro: Hi. It's that dumb arrow room again...

Alphys: Yeah, this room's like the room we saw before. There are two puzzles to the north and the south. You'll have to solve them both to proceed!

Hiro: Okay.

Alphys: ...A-Also... I'd like to say! I don't really...like giving away puzzle solutions.

Hiro: Aww, not even a little one?

Alphys: Nope! But if you need help, just call me, ok? Actually, wait, I have an idea!

Hiro: What?

Alphys: Let's be friends on UnderNet! Then you can ping me when you need help!

Hiro: Okay, but I thought we're already friends on there.

Alphys: ...Huh? …..Wait, we're friends already? ...I signed you up, didn't I?

Hiro: Yeah, you signed me up when you fixed my phone.

Alphys: Ah... (nervous) You've been reading my posts the whole time...

Hiro: Oh, the things popping up when you said something? Yeah, I saw them.

Alphys: …..Well! I hope! You agree with me! About Mew Mew 2!

Hiro: I've never- (gets hung up on) -seen it... Ack.

Hiro pocketed his phone and proceeded to solve the puzzle ahead. He found this arrow area to be a lot easier than the one before and he headed south first. The laser-conveyor belt area was not so fun, though. Moving through three blue lasers on the belt and thrown into three soul-rending quick laser actions left him at 5 hp as he tried to stop and move when needed. Once he made it, he heard his phone ring and answered it angrily.

Hiro: AAAALLPHYSS.

Alphys: Hey! Ah, s-something up?

Hiro: I hate lasers.

Alphys: O-Oh... This, um, doesn't have anything to do with guiding you...but...... (silent) ...would you like to watch a human TV show together??? Sometime??

Hiro: Huh? Yeah? What's it called?

Alphys: It's called, um, M...Mew Mew Kissy Cutie...

Hiro: That show she likes.... Sure!

Alphys: R-Really!? It's so good! It's um, my favorite show! It's about- (goes on a tangent about the show and almost spoils stuff) Uhh, I think you'd really like it!!! We should watch it! After you get through all this!

Hiro: Um...Okay. (hangs up) I don't think I caught that. But it sounds neat. (heads inside the room; sees it's the block shot room) Oh, it's that room that you gotta move the blocks and stuff. (reads the note) …..Just one shot..? Hmm..

It took him a short while, but he figured it out and took the shot.

Hiro: Yes! (leaves the room) Now for the other room. (goes on the conveyor belt and notices a cactus; manages to stop and smell a flower on it being moved away) Nice.

Hiro returned to steam-hopping in the area and headed north. He arrived in a plus-shaped area where nothing seemed strange and entered the room, seeing the block shot puzzle again.

Hiro: Here we go! (shifts the boxes and clears the area on the first try; shoots the ship) I'm getting good at this! (leaves the room and sees a pair of diamond-head monsters, one pink with a red backward cap, sleeveless striped shirt, blue jeans and black shoes, and one yellow wearing a V-neck longsleeved shirt, blue shorts and black boots; overhears them discussing Mettaton)

Pink Diamond-head: My fave Mettaton Moment(TM)? Right when everything looks the baddest, he poses dramatically. Like when he's on a cooking show and the eggs don't turn out right. But then he says! Even if you suck at cooking, you can always buy an MTT-brand Glamburger! Then he eats one! Everyone loves it!

Hiro: How? He doesn't have a mouth.

PD: ….How does he eat it without a mouth? Uhh, well... Watch the show!

Hiro: Ah. (walks over to the other monster)

Yellow Diamond-head: My fave Mettaton Moment(TM) is when he beats up the heel-turning villains! Even when it's during what's supposed to be a quiz show. Oh! And I like when he tries all kinds of different fashionable outfits! Even if it's during what's supposed to be a newscast.

After listening to the two monsters, he continued onward. He messed up the direction at first, but he managed to make to the eastern part of the area and walked up the long path. He faced a large pair of glowing double-doors with green lights flashing. They slowly opened to allow him passage and he moved on. Once through, he caught the scent of old cobwebs, which then brought his attention to the threads of spider webs that decorate the area as he saved his progress.

Hiro: Uh oh... (reads the location name on the screen) “Spider Entrance”? That's not good...

The area soon turned purple as he continued on towards the archway ahead. Once through, he was greeted with a dark area covered in cobwebs and spider threads. He could hear the skittering and faint twang of thread being stepped on and the titter and chatter of the resident beings nearby as he maneuvers past the webs on the ground.

???: Ahuhuhuhuhu.... Did you hear what they just said? They said a human wearing a striped shirt will come through.

Hiro: …..

???: I heard they hate spiders...

Hiro: Not...really...

???: I heard they love to stomp on them.

Hiro: I don't get close to- (feels his movement slow down) Eh?

???: I heard that they like to tear their legs off.

Hiro: Gah, why am I slow..? (looks down at himself)

???: I heard...

Hiro (sees himself waist deep in spider silk): Ah? What is this!? (struggles to pull himself out while getting his arms stuck) Geh, can't...pull it off! (faces forward; sees the girl from the parlor standing on a large spiderweb with a few purple spiders hanging around her; spots some spiders blocking his way out) Uuh...

Girl: ...That they're awfully stingy with their money.

Hiro: Eeh!? You!?

Girl: Ahuhuhuhuhu.... You think your taste is too refined for my pastries, don't you, deary? Ahuhuhu... I disagree to that notion. I think your taste..is exactly what this next batch needs!

Hiro: I don't think I taste that good!

With a giggle, the area fell into grayscale as Muffet, Hiro finds out, faces him. With a pair of teacups in her top two hands and a pair of teapots in her middle hands, she managed to trap Hiro. His options were to pay her 10g or Struggle, so he struggled to break free. Muffet giggled at his futile effort to escape.

Hiro: Ngh, gotta....

Muffet: Don't look so blue, my deary~ (pours purple liquid into the area) ...I think purple is a better look for you! Ahuhuhu~

Hiro: Agh! (covers his mouth as the liquid filled the box and dissolve most of the webs on him besides the ones tied to his soul, hands, and feet; reemerges with his soul being purple and attached to string as the liquid evaporated) Agh, wait... (notices a spider holding a sign showing “Up next” and a spider on it) What...is that?

Muffet: Why so pale? You should be proud~.

As Hiro asked about what he should be proud of, he climbed the web up and down to avoid the spiders. He then sees the sign again as Muffet tidies the web around him. When the option to pay 40g showed up, he chooses it, watching the coins land on the web.

Muffet: Proud that you're going to make a delicious cake~. Ahuhuhuhuhu~

Hiro: I think I'd make a bad cake...

Hiro dodged more spiders, but gets hit once. The little spider shows a sign with double spiders as Muffet does a synchronized dance with the other spiders. Hiro noticed the pay option was at 80g, and then struggles. Muffet saw this then laughs and claps her hands.

Hiro: Let me....go!

Muffet (giggles): Let you go? Don't be silly~

Hiro saw the incoming spiders and dodges them. He saw some that are on two lines and gets hit by one of them, seeing a sign with a spider and a circle that could be a donut as the spiders dance and clap to the cheerful music playing. He saw that his health was getting low, so he went to his Item menu for something to eat. To his surprise, Hiro soon realized he forgot to get more out of his dimensional boxes. He only has a pack of Astronaut Food and a can of Sea Tea. Thinking it would help him move faster, he drinks the Sea Tea to heal. He hoped his SPEED would increase, but realized he was restricted by web.

Muffet: Your SOUL is going to make every spider very happy~~~

Hiro: …. (dodges the spiders; gets hit but manages to dodge three donuts that bounced at him; sees a sign with a muffin and pays 80g) Is she gonna throw muffins at me?

Muffet: Oh, how rude of me! I forgot to introduce you to my pet~ It's breakfast time isn't it? Have fun you two~

Hiro tries to dodge the spiders as they rushed by. He expected muffins to be flying at him. What he didn't expect was a giant spider-legged muffin monster.

Hiro: AAAH!! (frantically climbs the web while trying to dodge spiders) That was close... (sees the spider donut sign) Gaah. (catches the scent of freshly baked cobwebs) That smells.... (eats the astrofood to heal) Nothing left...

Muffet: The person who warned us about you...

Hiro: About me? (dodges the spiders and donuts, gets hit; checks the Pay option and sees it at 150g; currently has 156g) I only have that much left.. (struggles) I don't wanna!!

Muffet (is amused by Hiro's antics, she gave him a discount): …..Offered us a lot of money for your SOUL.

Hiro: Someone wanted to buy my SOUL? (dodges spiders, but gets hit; sees the Pay option is at 75g, pays it) I still got enough...

Muffet: They had such a sweet smile~ And.... ahuhu~

Hiro tried to dodge the spiders and donuts coming at, but he dies in the process when a spider hit his soul. He returned to the save star and decided to be more prepared with more items from his phone, including the items he ate. When he checked his phone, he noticed his 268g was back to normal.

Hiro: Huh? My money's back. (goes back into the area) I wonder who the person who told Muffet about me is. Who wants to get my soul? ….It couldn't be- (gets stuck in the web again) Aww, no...

Muffet: I heard...a certain stingy human hates spiders.

Hiro had a tough time going through the battle against Muffet and her spiders friends. Dodging spiders and donuts, climbing in a panic from Muffet's pet. He had some hits dealt to him, but he managed to get through to where Muffet mentioned about the person who offered her money for his soul. The only person he knew who would have wanted to get his soul for a reason was Asgore. At one point, Muffet pours Hiro a cup of spiders. He kindly refuses and continues dodging until he dies again.

Hiro (grabbing his head): Ack, why did I run into that spider!?

Hiro returned to the spider webbed area and tries again. He sees the spider donut sign again, dodges the spiders while getting a hit on him and sees something flying at him. He managed to dodge it, but sees it coming back and dodges it again, noticing it was a random croissant that flew and out like a boomerang.

Hiro: Was that a croissant thing? (sees the spider's sign showing the croissant) There's more...?

Muffet: It's strange, but I swore I saw them in the shadows... Changing shape..?

Hiro: Changing shape? Does Asgore do that? (dodges the croissants and gets hit by one; sees the muffin monster on the sign) Oh no, not that muffin thing...

Muffet: Oh, it's lunch time, isn't it? And I forgot to feed my pet~

Hiro: You forgot?!

Again, Hiro tries to dodge spiders and donuts and struggles to climb the web to escape the muffin monster, and again, he dies. He soon began to feel tired and that familiar voice crept into his mind in the darkness.

???: Come on...just kill her already. You're only wasting your time. It'll be easier to take that pan and-

Hiro (shakes his head): NO! (finds himself before the star; stares at it for a while) …..

Hiro pushed himself through the battle again. He had to prove that he can get through it without resorting to violence. As Hiro tried to figure out why the spider girl would want to get the money for his soul, it was made apparent when Muffet mentioned the reason for her acceptance of the exchange.

Muffet: With that money, the spider clans can finally be reunited~

Hiro: Reunited? (dodges spiders and gets hit)

Muffet: You haven't heard? Spiders have been trapped in the Ruins for generations!

Hiro (tries to dodge donuts): Oh, those spiders! Hey, can't they just go under the door?

Muffet (shakes her head): Even if they go under the door, Snowdin's fatal cold is impassable alone.

Hiro (dodges the croissants, but gets hit): Ouch! Oh yeah, it was really cold there...

Muffet: But with the money from your SOUL, we'll be able to rent them a heated limo~

Hiro: I want a heated limo... Whatever a limo is.

Hiro was struggling with this battle as he used up his items and got his soul shattered. He didn't have much of a way to make it end quicker, but he was determined to get past the spider girl. He decided to switch up his armor from glasses to apron and try again. He finally managed to reach the point where all three symbols (spider, donut, croissant) were on the sign the little spider was holding.

Hiro: Yes, I gotta be close!!

Muffet: And with all of the leftovers...? We could have a nice vacation~ Or even build a spider baseball field~

Hiro: That sounds fun! (dodges the spiders, donuts, and croissants; gets hit by a spider) Ack!

Muffet: But enough of that... It's time for dinner, isn't it? Ahuhuhu~

Hiro: Not again!

More spiders rushed out across the web, overwhelming him as he tries to climb faster from the muffin monster but dies in the progress again.

Hiro: So cloooose!!

He felt like getting close to the end and pushed himself through the battle as he tries again. He soon faced off against the spider and muffin monster onslaught and manages to survive it.

Hiro: Gaaah!! Finally!!

Muffet (amused): You're still alive? Ahuhuhu~ Oh my pet, it's time for dessert~

Hiro: N-No... (notices a little spider crawl up to Muffet with a paper) No sign..?

Muffet: Huh? A telegram from the spiders in the ruins? (takes and reads it) What? They're saying that they saw you and...you helped donated to their cause!

Hiro: Yeah! I bought a donut from them!

Muffet: Oh my, this has all been a big misunderstanding~ I thought you were someone who hated spiders.

Hiro: I mean, not really.

Muffet: The person who asked for that soul... They must have meant a DIFFERENT human in a striped shirt~

Hiro: There's another person here? (sees a flicker of the other kid)

Muffet: Sorry for all the trouble. Ahuhuhu~ I'll make it up to you~ You can come back here any time... And, for no charge at all...

Hiro: Thanks!

Muffet: I'll wrap you up and let you play with my pet again!

Hiro: Uh, t-thanks... NO THANK YOU!!

Muffet: Ahuhuhuhuhuhu~ Just kidding~ I'll spare you now~

After what felt like hours of a grueling dodge fest and a flickering scene of her getting killed, Hiro and Muffet finally spared each other. All but one spider left the area as Muffet spoke to Hiro while removing the webs off of him with ease.

Muffet: Ahuhuhuhu.... That was fun! See you again, dearie!

With a giggle and ascension of the last spider, Muffet retreated back into the darkness. Hiro made a mad dash back to the save star and saved his progress.

Hiro: Never...never again....

Once done, Hiro dashed his way out of the cobwebbed area, but not without Muffet being present in the room and him being told to be on his best behavior when visiting her parlor. When he exited the area, he found himself in another purple area where the wall is made of brick and he found a poster that looked like the one in Alphys's lab. It was a new stage play by Mettaton about a tragic tale of two star-crossed lovers, kept apart by the tides of fate.

Hiro: I remember doing something like that at school. I was a mouse in the Nutcracker play before Christmas. Oh, it's almost time for the performance! I think? I should find a seat! (walks out onto the stage)

The background has silhouettes of lit houses and the stage building was a castle with stairs and vines. A full moon and three stars are hanging by more silhouetted houses. As Hiro spotted the seats below him and made his way to find the stairs to them, a familiar robotic voice is heard above him.

???: OH? THAT HUMAN...

Hiro (looks up to see Mettaton peeking out the square window by the balcony area): Oh no...

Mettaton: COULD IT BE? (comes out in a blue dress, dressed somewhat like Cinderella) MY ONE TRUE LOVE?

Hiro: I...what- (hears music playing starting with a harp) Uh....

Mettaton descended down the stairs while holding his dress to avoid tripping. He soon began to sing once his screen turned red.

Mettaton (sings off cue):

Oh my love~

Please run away~

Monster King~

Forbids your stay~

Humans must~

Live far apart~

Even if~

It breaks my heart~

They'll put you~

Hiro (sees rose petals falling around them): Eh?

Mettaton:

In the dungeon~

It'll suck~

And then you'll die a lot~

Hiro: I-

Mettaton:

Really sad~

You're gonna die~

Cry cry cry~

(puts his hand on Hiro's head) So sad it's happening~.

(shooting star falls in the background)

Hiro (claps nervously): Errm, that was...nice?

Mettaton: THANK YOU, BUT IT'S SO SAD. SO SAD THAT YOU ARE GOING TO THE DUNGEON.

Hiro: Wait, me!?

Mettaton (has a control button): WELL, TOODLES! (presses it)

Hiro (drops when a trap door opens under him): AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaagh!!! (lands in a room; sees Mettaton hovering nearby) Ooww...

Mettaton: OH NO, WHATEVER SHALL I DO? MY LOVE HAS BEEN CAST AWAY INTO THE DUNGEON. A DUNGEON WITH A PUZZLE SO DASTARDLY, MY PARAMOUR WILL SURELY PERISH!

Hiro: What's a paramo-uhhhh.... That's...

Mettaton: O, HEAVENS HAVE MERCY! THE HORRIBLE COLORED TILE MAZE!

Hiro: That's that maze Papyrus had....

Mettaton: EACH COLORED TILE HAS IT OWN SADISTIC FUNCTION. FOR EXAMPLE, A GREEN TILE SOUNDS A NOISE, AND THEN YOU MUST FIGHT A MONSTER. RED TILES WILL... ACTUALLY WAIT A SECOND. DIDN'T WE SEE THIS PUZZLE ABOUT A HUNDRED ROOMS AGO?

Hiro (nervous): Um........no..?

Mettaton: THAT'S RIGHT. YOU REMEMBER ALL THE RULES, DON'T YOU?

Hiro: Uh-

Mettaton: GREAT. THEN I WON'T WASTE YOUR TIME REPEATING THEM!

Hiro: Ah...

Mettaton: OH, AND YOU BETTER HURRY. BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T GET THROUGH IN 30 SECONDS...

Hiro (feels something warm behind him getting hotter): Why does it feel hot- (sees a wall of fire behind him)

Mettaton: YOU'LL BE INCINERATED BY THESE JETS OF FIRE!

Hiro: Aaah!!

Mettaton: AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! AHAHA... HA..HA! MY POOR LOVE! I'M SO FILLED WITH GRIEF, I CAN'T STOP LAUGHING! GOOD LUCK, DARLING!

Hiro had sort of remembered the rules, but that didn't keep him from running into electric tiles, red tiles, and piranha tiles in a panic, and in doing so, he didn't make it in time.

Mettaton: OOOOH, I'M SO SORRY! LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE OUT OF TIME! HERE COMES THE FLAMES, DARLING!

Hiro: Oh no...

Mettaton: THEY'RE CLOSING IN!

Hiro (panicking): What do I do!?

Mettaton: GETTING! CLOSER! OH MY!

Hiro: Ngh...Alphys, help!

Mettaton: ANY MINUTE NOW!!

(silence)

Mettaton: …... (robotic cough)

Hiro: Too hot.... (hears his phone ring and answers) Alphys, help! Mettaton got me trapped in fire!

Alphys: Watch out! I'll save you! I'm hacking into the firewall right now!

Hiro: Hurry! (sees the fire extinguished quickly) Phew...

Mettaton: OH NO! HOW COULD THIS HAPPEN??? FOILED AGAIN BY THE BRILLIANT DR. ALPHYS!

(awkward pause)

Hiro: Uh...

Mettaton: THAT-

Alphys: That's right! Come on, Mettaton! Give up already! You'll never be able to defeat us...not as long as we work together!

Hiro: Y-Yah! What she said!

Alphys: Your puzzle's over... now go home and leave us alone!

Hiro: Yeah!

Mettaton: PUZZLE? OVER? ALPHYS, DARLING, WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? DID YOU FORGET WHAT THE GREEN TILES DO? THEY MAKE A SOUND, THEN YOU HAVE TO FIGHT A MONSTER.

Hiro: Wait, isn't that new-

Mettaton: WELL, DARLING, THAT MONSTER....IS ME!

(greyscale battlefield)

Mettaton: THIS IS IT, DARLING, SAY GOODBYE! (hears Hiro's phone) IS THAT YOUR PHONE? YOU'D BETTER ANSWER IT.

Hiro: H-Hello?! Alphys!

Alphys: H-Hey!! Th-This seems bad, but don't worry!! There's one last thing I installed on your phone..! You see that yellow button...?

Hiro (looks on his phone and sees a yellow button above JETPACK): Yeah?

Alphys: Go to the phone's [[ACT]] menu and press it!

Hiro: Okay! (sees the [[ACT]] panel glowing, sees the option Yellow in yellow color) Here! (sees his phone resonating with Mettaton's presence) Huh?

Mettaton: OH!!! THAT YELLOW GLOW....!

Hiro (soul turns the pointed end to the robot and flashed yellow): Whoa!

Alphys: Now press it!

Aiming his soul like a gun, Hiro shot energy bullets at Mettaton.

Mettaton: OOOH! OOOOOOOH! YOU'VE DEFEATED ME! HOW CAN THIS BE, YOU WERE STRONGER THAN I THOUGHT, ETC. WHATEVER. (leaves the field and color returns)

Hiro (soul returned to normal and he answered his phone): Alphys, he left!

Alphys: L-Looks like you beat him!

Hiro: Yeah, and that was so cool! I didn't my soul could do that!

Alphys: You did a really great job out there!

Hiro: All thanks to you, Alphys!

Alphys: What? Oh no, I mean... You were the one doing everything cool! I just wrote some silly programs for your phone.

Hiro: you still helped me out with them, so you're cool, too!

Alphys: ….umm, h-hey, this might sound strange, but...c-can I tell you something?

Hiro: Yeah?

Alphys: …..

Hiro: ?

Alphys: B-before I met you, I d-didn't really... I didn't like myself very much.

Hiro: Why not?

Alphys: For a long time, I felt like a total screw-up. L-Like I couldn't do a-anything w-without...without ending up letting everyone down. B-But...! Guiding you has made me feel... a lot better about myself. So... thanks for letting me help you.

Hiro: Welcome!

Alphys: ….Uhhh, anyway, we're almost to the CORE. It's just past MTT Resort. Come on! Let's finish this!

Hiro: Yeah! (hangs up) All right.

Hiro moved on and realized how far he was from the end (nowhere near) and headed up. He arrived at an area where he saw the nice cream guy and the guards flanking the stairs ahead with paths to the left and right.

Hiro: Ah! I can get more ice cream!

Nice Cream Guy: Hey! It's you again! Business is excellent here! These two fellas bought all my ice cream! I've actually sold out of everything!!

Hiro: Oh what...

NCG: ...Sorry... Wait! I've still got something for you!

Hiro: Really?! What is it?

NCG: A big smile! How about that!

Hiro: Aaaw...

NCG: I'm so happy! Nice cream is really changing the world!

Disappointed at not getting more Nice Cream, Hiro went over to the guards, noticing that RG02 seems happy.

RG01: Oh hey, we're, like, taking a rain check on that killing-you thing. Like, don't tell Undyne about this, ok?

Hiro: Um, okay...

He checked the right path and saw the R3 elevator and Heats Flamesman. Which Hiro got right according to the monster's reaction of being easily defeated. He'll always remember that Hiro remembered. He checked the left path and found the stage he fell from with Mettaton, so the only way is up. Hiro found himself between a pair of red rope barriers before the building at the area Alphys mentioned: MMT Resort. A large building with the windows and double glass doors having light shining through, the windows having a burgundy plant ledge under them, a red carpet rolled out in front of the doors that has T's on the sides and M's on the end, and a gold sign showing MTT and a pair of rectangular robots with wings on the ends hanging above a white and yellow checkered awning. The right side of the building has red spray paint graffiti and an arrow on the ground pointing into the alleyway. In awe of the building before, he soon noticed Sans leaning against the plant ledge. He had a really worried look on his face as he stared at the double glass doors, not noticing Hiro approaching him.

Hiro: Sans?

Sans: ….

Hiro (taps his arm): Sans!

Sans (jolts): Huh?! (sees Hiro) Oh, were you calling, uh, me?

Hiro: Yeah. Something wrong?

Sans (shakes his head then smiles): Nah, I'm all right. (looks at the door) It looks like you're going to the Core.

Hiro: How'd you know?

Sans: I...heard about it. How about grabbing some dinner with me first?

Hiro: Yeah, I am hungry.

Sans: Great, thanks for treating me.

Hiro: Wait, what?

Sans: Hahaha, just kidding. (walks toward the left alleyway) Follow me. I know a shortcut. (leads Hiro to a wall; he touched it and several purple rings pulsed from his palm, creating a chain ring on the wall)

Hiro: Whoa! That's so cool!

Sans: Cool, huh? Let's go. (leads Hiro through it and they both end up appearing on the opposite sides of a dining table)

Hiro looked around in surprise and noticed he and Sans were in a fancy restaurant. Candle lit tables shaped like Mettaton, a platoon of ficus plants lining the walls, a few TVs showing Mettaton's shows, and two celebrity bulletin boards showing the latest reviews- courtesy of Mettaton. There's a small stage near the lobby entrance and reservation counter where a few monsters are at.

Sans: Well, here we are. (sits down in the chair)

Hiro: Eh? How did we...? (sits in his chair with his feet dangling off the floor a little)

Sans: So, your journey's almost over, huh?

Hiro: Looks like it. I have to go to the Core next.

Sans: ...The Core, huh...? You really must want to go home.

Hiro: Yeah...

Sans (shifts his eyes away while lightly squeezing the chain decal on his sleeve): Yeah... I know the feeling, kiddo.

Hiro: You do? Is that why you look sad sometimes?

Sans (looks at Hiro in surprise): Eh? (shakes hi head) Not really. Though...I guess it's better to take what you're given, y'know? You got everything down here; food, drink, friends... Is what you have to do really worth it?

Hiro: Hmmm, I don't know. Is it?

Sans (leans back in his chair as he looks away): …. (looks at Hiro as he waves the thought away) Eh, forget it. I feel like I should be rooting for you. You're....different..somehow.

Hiro: Eh? Different? (sees Sans look away before looking back at him)

Sans: Hey. You wanna hear a story?

Hiro: Yeah!

Sans: Right. This is something that I once told somebody I knew. So you know I'm a sentry in Snowdin Forest, right?

Hiro: Yeah? With Papyrus.

Sans (the corner of his mouth twitched): Yeah. I sit out there, watching out for humans. Pretty boring, if you ask me. So one day, I was walking into the forest and found a huge door, and I thought it'd be great for trying out knock-knock jokes.

Hiro: Huge door in the forest, that's to the Ruins...

Sans: I'm knocking them out like usual, and I knocked on the door saying, “Knock knock!”. I then heard a woman's voice from the other side replying “Who is there?”

Hiro: A woman? Ah, Toriel!

Sans: Yeah. I was surprised at first, then decided to say, hmm, “Dishes”. “Dishes who?” “Dishes a very bad joke!”

Hiro (laughs): That's a good one!

Sans: Hahahaha! Yeah, just like that! She just laughed like it was the best thing she heard in a hundred years. So I kept going and she kept laughing. It was great.

Hiro: It was a funny joke!

Sans: Yeah and you know what? After a while, she knocks and says (imitates Toriel's voice, but slightly higher) “Knock knock!”. I go “Who's there?” “Old lady.” “Old lady who?” “Oh, I did not know you could yodel!”

Hiro (laughs): That was funny!

Sans: Heh, sure was. What a classic. She was really good. We kept going at it for hours. Things weren't looking so boring after all when I kept coming back to joke with her everyday. It's really fun. Of course, I had to leave because Ca-uh, Papyrus gets cranky without his bedtime story.

Hiro: You read bedtime stories to him? Ca...?

Sans: Pretty much. Done so for a long time. (looks away for a moment before looking at Hiro) …. One day, though, she wasn't laughing as much as she used to.

Hiro: Really? What was wrong?

Sans: I asked her the same thing, and you know what she asked of me?

Hiro: What?

Sans: She asked me, “If a human ever comes through this door, could you please....please promise me something? Watch over them, and protect them, will you not...?”

Hiro: Oh. Wait, so you were watching over me all those times?

Sans: Pretty much.

Hiro: Oh. Thanks for that!

Sans: No problem. ...Well, maybe one problem...

Hiro: Huh?

Sans: You see, the thing about promises is that I'm not good with them, and I don't even know this woman's name. But for someone who genuinely likes bad jokes, she has an integrity that you couldn't say no to. (turns his head away sighing)

Hiro: Huh, I thought she told you her name.

Sans: I never really asked her. But you know what...

Hiro: What? (feels a slight eerie feeling growing)

Sans: That promise I made to her... (looks at Hiro) It's been a lot easier to maintain with ya than it was with the person I told the story to. But you understand, right...?

Hiro (feels a growing chill crawling down his spine): I...N-No..?

Sans: Really..? Well, be glad dat ye're not like de person from 'efore... Bucko....

Hiro (becoming filled with terror): Wh....Why...?

Sans: Why..? Why ask? (blinks and his eye sockets are completely black; slightly growling) You're not dead...are you?

Hiro had a horrible vision of his other self holding a knife, being controlled by some strange entity and facing a different Sans. Bones were flying everywhere and skulls were blasting lasers at him. There was a strange twinge of pain in his left thigh like something sharp stabbed it and he saw a red slash on Sans's chest.

Do skeletons even bleed...?

Hiro (tries to keep his screams inside and shakes his head): Agggh, no...

Sans: H-Hey, you all right there?

Hiro: I....No...I've been...having these really scary things come up in my head. And I hate them.

Sans: Like what?

Hiro: Like...monsters getting hurt and... someone who looks like me hurting them...and someone who doesn't look like me hurting them..and voices telling me to do bad things..and you look different, too.

Sans: …...Different how?

Hiro: You're not wearing the outfit you have on. You got a blue jacket on, and none of that stuff on your clothes.

Sans (looks at himself then points at his chains): ….Huh..the chains? Really?

Hiro: Yeah. But! I didn't listen to the bad stuff and did good! I didn't want to hurt anyone like the voice wanted me to!! Because I'm determined!

Sans: … (grin widens) That's good, buddy. You must've done such a great job with that determination, you probably haven't died once, huh?

Hiro: …..Uh....

Sans: ..Am I wrong?

Hiro: Ah... I lost count at Muffet...

Sans: Muffet?

Hiro: Yeah, the spider girl who has a bakery parlor.

Sans (has a flicker of a flashback where a bespectacled human child was wrapped in spider silk as a spider girl watched and the sound of something snapping makes him flinch): Oh...her. ….heh. (stands up with Hiro doing the same) Well, that's all I wanted to discuss. Take care of yourself, and keep on staying determined.

Hiro: Okay. (watches Sans leave the way they came in through the wall) Hmn....Wait, we didn't get to eat yet!

With that realization, Hiro explored the area in search of food. He was going to try and go through the portal Sans made, but instead saw an orange humanoid monster by the plant. The monster forgot to make a reservation before entering the dining area, so he kept on to not look like he screwed up and ended up licking dew off a ficus plant. He met a hulking red demon who said to the puzzles were originally made to stop human attacks, but they soon became a tradition that you couldn't go (ugh) two feet without being up to the armpits in puzzles. He also met a small mole monster wearing a hard hardhat and turned out to be an employee of the core. The interior is a maze made of swappable parts that can be shuffled at will. He seemed to enjoy it as he loves puzzle. Hiro moved on to see a giant fish manning the reservation service counter, saying that one must reserve a table to eat, as well as other things like chairs, silverware, food, etc. Hiro went to the next area and was greeted by a blinding yellow floor, and a Mettaton statue fountain with water being sprayed out from the mouth to the floor and carpet. As strange as it was, it was a relaxing atmosphere in the hotel, giving Hiro plenty of determination as he saved his progress. As he does this, Tether had just calmed his nerves from wanting to throw a bone at Hiro. He's beginning to realize that the child may not be like the Frisk from his world. He was cautious about it since the last time something like this happened, it went downhill after a time. But he felt like it was definitely different, but he'll have to wait and see once he meets up with Hiro again.

Tether (pulls out his pen and purple notebook from his jacket; starts to write): Bad visions....strange voices...someone who looks like me....someone who looks like him.... (taps his pen against his chin) This is getting really strange. I may need to get more info from him about those visions and voices. (stops in front of the hotel doors) He's going to the Core... It might not be the one from my world....but it feels just as uncomfortable.... No choice, huh.... (shakes his head) Come on, Tether. Just like you said. Keep on staying determined.

TO BE CONTINUED

#linetempostory

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