nsschaintale

[nsschaintale]

LINE 10: TRUE COLORS

UNDERTALE

LINEAR TEMPORAL

LINE 10: TRUE COLORS

Hiro made his way back through the path, the throne room, and the corridors to the elevators which took him back to the Core. The whole time, he was getting strange feelings that he was being followed, but he put them in the back of his mind as he walked on. He made it to the room where he fought Mettaton, and wondered if he was okay. He should be, since Alphys said she'd fix him up. Hiro stepped out and took the elevator back to the entrance and departed the Core back on the bridge between there and the hotel. Suddenly, he jumped as his phone rang. He managed to answer it and heard a familiar voice on the other end.

Hiro: Hello?

Undyne: Hey! Uh, this is Undyne...

Hiro: Hi, Undyne! (hears her harshly whisper at Papyrus about some idea) Huh?

Undyne: HUMAN! You have to deliver something for me! Uh, please?

Hiro: Okay! Where are you?

Undyne: I'm at Snowdin in front of Papyrus's. See ya, punk! (hangs up)

Hiro: An errand! Neat!

Hiro excitedly rushed his way towards Snowdin to meet up with Undyne. When his parents were alive, he always loved going with them whenever they ran errands. Mainly just the ones he's allowed to go on like grocery shopping and such, but he loved helping them out whenever he could. He missed doing that, so hearing Undyne needing his help in delivering something got him excited. After he inwardly questioned why Riverperson thought the calm water was wild and why they considered it good luck, Hiro arrived at Snowdin. He soon made his way to Sans and Papyrus's house and found Undyne chatting with Papyrus next to the mailboxes.

Hiro: Hi, Undyne! Hi, Papyrus!

Undyne: Hey.

Papyrus: HELLO, HUMAN! GLAD TO SEE YOU DOING WELL!

Hiro: Me too! (turns to Undyne, looking at her excitedly) So, what's the errand?

Undyne: I have something to give you.. (notices Hiro's pockets are full of items) ..but you're carrying too much!

Hiro: Ah? (looks at his pockets) Oh. (takes his phone out and stores a few items in the dimensional boxes; puts it away) Okay!

Undyne: All right, um, so I have a favor to ask you.

Hiro: Yeah?

Undyne (looking a little nervous while showing him an envelope): Uuuuh, I need you to deliver this letter. (averts her eyes) To Dr. Alphys.

Hiro: Eeh? Why don't you go over and give it to her?

Undyne (shocked): Huh?! Why don't I do it myself....? (has a nervous smile, blushing a little) um.... W-Well....I-It's kind of personal, but we're friends.... so.... I'll t-tell you...

Hiro: …..

Undyne: Hotland SUUUUCKS!! I don't wanna have to go over there!! (hands Hiro the letter) So here you go.

Hiro (gets Undyne's letter): Ah?! Why- Oh yeah, she's a fish lady... She needs water. Okay, I'll deliver the letter!

Undyne: Oh, and if you read it... (glares while smiling) I'll KILL you.

Hiro: Aaah....

Undyne (grins): Thanks so much! You're the best!!!

Hiro (cracks a nervous smile): W-Welcome.... I'm off!

Papyrus: HAVE FUN, HUMAN!

Hiro (waves goodbye to Papyrus; feels a sudden chill run through his body; notices something in the window, but the curtains closed before he could take a closer look): Ah, Papyrus, is Sans around?

Papyrus: I TOLD HIM THAT YOU WERE COMING OVER TO MEET US, BUT HE SAID HE HAD SOME THINGS TO DO.

Hiro: Oh...

Papyrus: I'LL LET HIM KNOW YOU STOPPED BY AND TELL HIM YOU SAID HI!

Hiro: Thanks, Papyrus!

Papyrus: WELCOME!

Hiro (heads to the spot where Riverperson is waiting): Gah, that wind was really cold....

Hiro was promptly delivered to Hotland after being delighted by the boat having its bow like a cat's head and running on water with actual legs. Once he arrived at the laboratory doors, he looked around to see if there was a mail slot but notices there’s none.

Hiro: No mail slot.... (looks around) Not even a mailbox. I'll just slide it under the doors. (does so then knocks) Alphys! You got a letter! (hears shuffling behind the doors, then Alphys's uneasy voice)

Alphys: O-Oh n-no, is that another letter...? I don’t want to open it... C-Can’t I just slide it back out...?

Hiro: She won't read it..?

Alphys: ... N...no... I can’t keep doing this. I’ll read this one. (silence) Um... I-it’s shut kind of strongly, isn’t it? Wait a second. Hiro (hears sounds of something like a fire torch): What kind of glue did Undyne use!? (sees the doors open, revealing a sad Alphys) Hi, Al-

Alphys: Hey, if this is a joke, it’s.... (sees it’s Hiro) .... Oh my god? (nervous) Did YOU write this letter?

Hiro: I-

Alphys (checks over the letter): It wasn’t signed, so I had no idea who could have...

Hiro: Huh? Wait, Undyne didn't sign it?

Alphys: Oh my god. Oh no. (blushes) That’s adorable....and I h-had no idea you, um, wrote that way!

Hiro: What.

Alpyhs (sulks): It’s surprising, too.... After all the gross stuff I did... I don’t really deserve to be forgiven. (smiles nervously) Much less, um....this? And so passionately, too. (nods) You know what, okay! I’ll do it! It’s the least I can do to make it up to you! (pumped up) Y-Yeah! Let’s go on a date!

Hiro (dumbfounded): I...What just happened..?

Once again, Hiro ended up in a dating situation. He was only 9, he doesn't know a thing about dating! Then again, he figured it would be like Papyrus's “date”, and decided to just play along. With his Soul displayed, it's time for...

DATING START

....?

Hiro: Eh? Where's Alphys?

Alphys (from behind the doors): Uhhhh, sorry! I’m still getting dressed! (comes out wearing a black dress with white dots) H-How do I look?

Hiro: You look nice!

Alphys: Thanks! My friend helped me pick out this dress. She’s got a great sense of.... Um, anyway! Let’s do this this thing!

DATING START.

Alphys (waves her arms frantically): H-H-Hey, w-w-wait! Actually, we can’t start the date yet!!! Hiro: Huh?

DATING.... STOP?

Hiro: Why are we stopping?

Alphys: Umm, I've gotta give you items to raise your affection statistic, first! That'll increase the chance of a successful outcome to the date! Right...?

Hiro: Affection...static...wha? I have that? Um, I guess so?

Alphys: Anyway, d-don't worry! I'm prepared! (digs in her pocket) I-I've been stockpiling gifts in anticipation for a date like this!

Hiro (eager): Can't wait!

Alphys: F-First, I've got... (pulls out a jar of black liquid) ...some metal armor polish!

Hiro: Armor polish...?

Alphys (shoves it back in her pocket): ...Um, maybe you can't use that. But!!! (digs in her pocket again and pulls out a small silver tin) I also brought some waterproof cream for your scales! (looks at Hiro) Your, uh... (doesn't see scales on him) Scales...

Hiro: I don't have scales... Wait.

Alphys (puts the tin back and digs in her pocket): Uh, well, how about... (pulls out a small box that has a spear labeled on it) ...this magical spear repair kit, that I...um... (hastily shoves the box back in her pocket) Hey, let's forget about the items! Let's just start the date!

Hiro: O-Okay!!

DATING!! START!!

Alphys: Yeah!!! Let's, uh, date!

Hiro and Alphys stood in their spots, as if they were expecting something to happen. It was getting a little too much before Alphys broke the silence.

Alphys: ...uh.... Do you...like...Anime...?

Hiro: There was one I ended up liking, so... Yep!

Alphys: H-Hey! Me too!!

(awkward silence)

Alphys: Hey! Let's!!! Go somewhere!!! But where's a good place to go on a date... (gets an idea) I got it!!!

Hiro: Ah, where?

Alphys: Let's go to the garbage dump!!!

Hiro's heard of different places his parents used to go to on dates. Restaurants, parks, the local cinema, but the last place he'd expect to go on his first date with Alphys was at the garbage dump. Once they arrived, Hiro realized it was the same dump that he landed in when he was chased by Undyne.

Alphys: Here we are!

Hiro: Why the garbage dump?

Alphys: This is where Undyne and I come all the time... We find all sorts of great stuff here.

Hiro: So that's how the monsters get their stuff. Musta been really fun here with Undyne.

Alphys: Heh, yeah, she's really...Uh... (notices something out of the corner of her eye) Oh no.

Hiro What? (looks at what Alphys is looking at) Is that-

Alphys (almost panicking): That's her over there. I c-can't let her see me on a date with you!

Hiro: Why not?

Alphys: Why...? Because, uh... Well... (panics) Oh no, here she comes! (hides behind a trash can)

Hiro watched as Undyne approached in a hurry. He was more surprised by the way she was dressed. Her hair was done up neatly in a high ponytail with some of her bangs draping near her eyepatch, her white turtleneck top is covered by her short black leather jacket, and she wore her normal black jeans with white boots. Hiro didn't think she was capable of something like this, but he had been plenty surprised by a lot of things in the Underground.

Undyne: Hey!! There you are!!

Hiro: Hi, Undyne! What's up?

Undyne: I, uh, realized, if you deliver that thing, it might be a bad idea. So I'm gonna do it!!! Give it to me!!!

Hiro: Ah...um...I don't have it...

Undyne: Huh!? You don't have it!? Ngaaaaaaaah!! Have you at least seen her!?

Hiro (shifts his eyes to Alphys who is shivering then back to Undyne): N..No?

Undyne: No? But she wasn't at home....

Hiro: Maybe she-

Undyne: Where the heck could she be!? (runs off)

Hiro: …....She's gone, Alphys.

Alphys: Oh my god... W.... Well, I guess it's obvious, huh?

Hiro: You like Undyne, huh?

Alphys (nods): Yeah, I... uh.... I really like her. I mean, more than I like other people! I'm sorry.

Hiro: For what?

Alphys: I j-just figured, y-you know... It'd be f-fun to go on like, a cute, kind of...pretend date with you? T-To make you feel better?

Hiro: Hmm..

Alphys: Well, it sounds even worse when I put it like that. (becomes saddened) I'm sorry. I messed up again. Undyne's the person I, um....really want to go on a date with. But, I mean.... She's way out of my league. (jolts) N-Not that you aren't cool! B-But.... Undyne.... She's so confident...and strong...and funny... And I'm just a nobody...a fraud...

Hiro: Huh, why?

Alphys: I'm the royal scientist, but...all I ever did was hurt people.... I've told her so many lies, she thinks I'm.... (worried smile) She thinks I'm a lot cooler than I actually am. If she gets close to me, she'll... (smile fails) She'll find out the truth about me...

Hiro: Undyne did say Alphys was more...what did she say..? Recusive...?

Alphys: …...What should I do?

Hiro: Um...tell her the truth.

Alphys: The truth...? But if I tell her that, she'll hate me. Isn't it better this way? To live a lie where both people are happy...or a truth where neither of us are?

Hiro: I don't think so.

Alphys: Heh.. They say “be yourself”, but I don't really like who “myself” is. I'd rather just be whatever makes people like me. (laughs bitterly)

Hiro: But won't that make you not happy? To do that? Everyone else will be happy, but what about you?

Alphys: ….No, you're right. Every day, I'm scared. Scared of what will happen if people learn the truth on their own. They'll all get hurt because of me... But how can I tell UNDYNE the tr..truth? I d-don't have the confidence... I'm going to mess it up! How can I practice!?

Hiro: Um, we're pretending to date, so let's roleplay it!

Alphys: R...Roleplay?

Hiro: Yeah! I heard some kids mention it and it's like pretending to do stuff, so let's try it!

Alphys: …..That's actually sounds kind of fun! OK, which one of us will be Undyne?

Hiro: I'll be Undyne!

Alphys: Oh. Right. Obviously. Ehehe... Ahem... H-Hi, Undyne... H-How are you doing today?

Hiro (does his best Undyne impression): I'm fine.

Alphys: Ha! Ha! Glad to hear it!! …..Uhhh, so I'd like to, um, talk to you about something.

Hiro: What is it, Alphys?

Alphys: Umm, you see... I.... I.... I.... I h-haven't been exactly truthful w-w-with you... (gets nervous) Y...You see, I... I... (falls silent, then clasps her cheeks in her hands) Oh, forget it! Undyne!!!

Hiro (startled): Y-Yeah?!

Alphys: I...I want to tell you how I feel! Y-You're so brave, a-and s-strong...a-and nice... Y-You always listen t-to me I talk about n-n-nerdy stuff... (smiles) Y-You always d-d-do your best to m-make me f-f-feel special... L-Like t-telling that y-you'll b-beat up anyone that g-gets my way.... (starts shrieking and loses composure) UNDYNE!!!

Hiro: Ah!?

Alphys: I CAN'T TAKE THIS ANY LONGER!!! I'M MADLY IN LOVE WITH YOU!!! HOLD ME, UNDYNE!! HOLD ME!!!

Hiro: Al-

As if on cue, Undyne showed up. The sudden air of intense embarrassment and awkward silence dropped onto the trio as Hiro and Alphys stared at Undyne and she at them. Hiro was uncertain if he should say something while Alphys felt like she wanted to jump off a cliff. This feeling became apparent when Undyne started speaking, her voice coming out with stunned confusion.

Undyne: WHAT did you just say?

Alphys (jolts back away from Hiro): U...Undyne! I...was..just...

Undyne: Hey, woah, wait a second! Your outfit's really cute! What's the occasion?

(all three exchange looks with each other; Hiro and Alphys looked more nervous)

Undyne: Wait a second. Are you two.... (eyes widen) ...On a date?

Alphys: UHHH, YES!

Hiro (shoots Alphys a panicked look as Undyne shoots a glaring smile at him): ALPHYS!!

Alphys (sweating): I mean, UHH, NO! I mean, we were, but I mean, actually we were only romantically roleplaying as you!

Undyne (smiles more crookedly while glaring at Hiro): WHAT???

Hiro (has a look on his face like he was resigned to his ill fate as he sees Undyne glaring at him again): Did I save? I saved, right? I think I saved...

Alphys: I MEAN!!! (glances down) I mean... Undyne... I... (looks at Undyne) I've been lying to you!

Undyne: WHAT??? ABOUT WHAT???

Alphys (looks ashamed): About...well...everything! (approaches Undyne) I told you that seaweed was scientifically important. Really, I..I just use it to make ice cream!

Hiro: That was what that stuff was..?

Alphys: And those human history books I keep reading.. Those are just dorky comic books! And the history movies..those...those are just, uh, anime! They aren't real! (gets close to Undyne) And that time I told you I was busy with work on the phone... Was just eating frozen yogurt in my pajamas! That time I-

Undyne: Alphys.

Alphys (saddened): I..I just wanted to impress you! I just wanted you to think I was smart and cool. (on the verge of tears) That I wasn't some...nerdy loser.

Undyne (strokes Alphys's quills calmly): Alphys.

Alphys: Undyne, I...I really think you're neat, okay...

Undyne (kneels down and wraps her arms around Alphys, rubbing her back): Alphys. (makes calming shushing noises)

Hiro: I guess it wor-

Undyne stands up with Alphys in her arms and tossed her into the air. Hiro was so stunned, he could have sworn he saw a basketball hoop appear over the now-open trash can as Alphys fell through the net into it, disappearing as the lid closed.

Hiro: A-ALPHYS!?

Undyne: Alphys! I...think you're neat, too, I guess. But, you've gotta realize... Most of what you said really doesn't matter to me. I don't care if you're watching kid cartoons or reading history books. To me, ALL of that stuff is just NERDY CRAP! What I like about you is that you're PASSIONATE! You're ANALYTICAL! It doesn't matter what it is! YOU CARE ABOUT IT! 100-PERCENT!! AT MAXIMUM POWER!!

Hiro: Undyne..

Undyne: So you don't have to lie to me. I don't want you to have to lie to anyone, anymore. (smiles) Alphys... I want to help you become happy with who you are! And I know just the training you need to do that!

Alphys (peeks out of the trashcan; her tail and feet breaking through the bottom and back): Undyne...you... (heart eyes) Y-You're gonna train me...?

Undyne: Pffft, what? ME?

Rising out of the trash heap in a flamboyant pose came Papyrus. He was mostly dressed in what looks like gym clothes consisting of a black headband, a crop top shirt with the words “JOG BOY” on the front, a heart on the sleeves, and white gym shorts. He still has his scarf, gloves, and boots on.

Hiro: Uh.. How long was he here!?

Undyne: Nah, I'm gonna get Papyrus to do it.

Papyrus (leaps out and lands between the group by Alphys): GET THOSE BONES SHAKIN'!!! IT'S TIME TO JOG 100 LAPS, HOOTING ABOUT HOW GREAT WE ARE!!!

Undyne: Ready? I'm about to start the timer!

Alphys: U-Undyne... I'll do my best....!

As Papyrus and Alphys take off to do their training, Hiro and Undyne watched them for a whi-

Undyne: OH MY GOD!!! (rushed up to Hiro) She was kidding, right!?

Hiro (startled): W-WHAT!?

Undyne: Those cartoons...those comics... THOSE are still REAL, right!? (grinning in a panic) ANIME'S REAL, RIGHT?!

Hiro: Y-YEAH?! Anime's real, I've seen a few...

Undyne: HA HA HA!!! I KNEW IT!! GIGANTIC SWORDS!!! MAGICAL PRINCESSES!! HERE I COME!! (calms down, clearing her throat) ...Uhh, thanks for taking care of Alphys. I didn't get to say what I wanted to, but...things seem like they're going to get better for her.

Hiro: Welcome.

Undyne: Well, I gotta go catch up with them! Later!

Hiro: Bye, Undyne! (watches her run off) ….. (crouches in the bed of yellow flowers, letting out a long loud sigh) That was scary! (pokes at one of the closest flower's petals) But it worked, I guess. (looks around) Now what?

Hiro stood up from his spot and headed off to the east. He soon arrived at the Save Star and entered his save data. Looking at it, he begin to ponder.

Hiro: I wonder how Asgore's doing... But I... (remembers the save file showing “The End”) That was before I beat him, right? (surprised) He's still alive! I don't have to hurt him again!

With this new thought in mind, Hiro made his way through the water, past the various trash piles and items he passed by earlier in his journey. When he arrived in the area where he remembered fighting the Mad Dummy, he gets a phone call.

Hiro (looks at the phone and sees Papyrus's number): He's calling me? (answers) Hello?

Papyrus: HOWDY! IF IT ISN'T MY GOOD FRIEND, WHO TRUSTS ME. THIS IS PAPYRUS, YOUR ALSO MUTUAL FRIEND. ALPHYS AND I FINSHED OUR TRAINING EARLY. (nervous) VERY EARLY. SO I SENT HER HOME. (nervous again) VERY HOME. UH...NOW, I FEEL STRONGLY AND FOR NO APPARENT REASON, YOU SHOULD ALSO GO....THERE. TO HER LAB...HOUSE. I HAVE ONLY GOOD FEELINGS ABOUT THIS. (nervous) GOODBYE. (hangs up)

Hiro (stares at his phone): …..Huh? Why did he... Okay...

And with that strange phone call, Hiro decided to put his plan in seeing Asgore on hold and make his way to Alphys's place. He took a ride on Riverperson's boat to Hotland, stating how the water was very wet today. Hiro wanted to say something, but learned it's best not to question the random ramblings of the being. Once they reached Hotland's shore, Hiro thanked them and made his way to the lab. Hiro made another save before the entrance and approached the doors, surprised by them opening. He soon went inside and made his way past the escalator, the TV, Alphys's still messy desk, and the hole Mettaton made in the wall. Just as he was wondering about Mettaton, he then spotted a piece of paper on the floor across from the bathroom. When he got near it, the door slid open.

Hiro: Aaah! It..opened..? (picks up the paper and reads it) It's from Alphys? Hmn...she writes weird.. Um... “Hey. Thanks for your help” (squints) “back there. You guys... Your support really means a lot to me. But... As difficult as it is to say this... You guys alone can't “ (traces a finger on the paper) Ma..gi...cal..ly.. “magically make my own problems go away. I want to be a better person. I don't want to be afraid anymore. And for “ (furrows his brows) “that to happen, I have to be able to face my own mistakes. I'm going to start doing that now. I want to be clear. This isn't anyone else's problem but mine.” Else's? “But if you don't ever hear from me again...if you want to know “the truth”, enter the door west to the note. You all deserve to know what I did.” (silently looks at the open door) The truth? What did she do?

Hiro was curious about the door, but he wanted to look upstairs to see if he could find Alphys. He didn't see her, but he did see Mettaton on the table. He was surrounded by various tools, parts, and wires, as if Alphys was in the middle of repairing him.

Hiro: Mettaton! (runs up to the table) She must've been fixing him up before the date. He was scary, but..I hope he gets better..

Afterwards, Hiro made his way back down and approached the sliding door.

Hiro (curiously walks inside; sees it's an elevator): Wha..? This isn't a bathroom? Can monsters even do that? (walks up to the panel and presses a button, watching the door close behind him) Wonder where it goes...

As Hiro felt the elevator descend, the elevator slowed to a stop.

Hiro: Huh, that was quick-

Suddenly, the elevator dropped at an alarming speed, the emergency system blaring, the lights flashing red, and the intercom letting out a warning.

Hiro (grabs onto the bar on the wall of the elevator): AAAH!!?

Intercom: WARNING! WARNING! ELEVATOR LOSING POWER! EM TETHER STABILITY LOST!

Hiro: EM WHA-

Intercom: ALTITUDE DROPPING!

Hiro: Gah! EYAAAAAAAAaaah!!!

CRA-BOOOM!!

…..

…........

The elevator doors opened, flooding the space with what little light that was able to get inside. Hiro had long fell to the ground, but was stunned once the boxcar hit the ground. Miraculously, the elevator was undamaged, save for the power outage and a few loose ceiling pieces that expose the top. Shivering, Hiro came to and found himself on the ground, trying to cover his face from the light. He carefully stood up, still terribly shaken and in tears from the shock of surviving the dropped elevator, and made his way out of it. He soon found his way into a slightly lit area and only saw one way out, following the tiled floor. He jolted at the sound of the elevator doors shutting behind him. It doesn't look like he'll be wanting to ride any elevators for a time. Making his way in the corridor, he noticed the walls had a few cracks here and there and lined with a few strange black panels. As he passed, the panels lit up, slightly lighting his path in green as green words flickered.

Hiro: What is that?

Panel: “Entry Number 1. This is it.. Time to do what the King has asked me to do. I will create the power to free us all. I will unleash the power of the SOUL.”

Hiro: The “SOUL” Like my Soul? (pats his chest, feeling his heart still beating fast from his scare, but calming down) Hmm... (sees the next panel)

Panel: “Entry Number 2. The barrier is locked by SOUL power.. Unfortunately, this power cannot be recreated artificially. SOUL power can only be derived from what was once living. So, to create more, we will have to use what we have now... The SOULs of monsters.”

Hiro (feels his heart beating faster again): Wh....Wha...? The monsters'...souls..? (slowly moves away from the panel to the next one)

Panel: “Entry Number 3. But extracting a SOUL from a living monster would require incredible power... Besides being impractical, doing so would instantly destroy the SOUL's host. And unlike the persistent SOULs of humans, The SOULs of most monsters disappear immediately upon death. If only I could make a monster's SOUL last...”

Hiro: Who.... (goes to the next one) 5? Where's number 4?

Panel: “Entry Number 5. I've done it. Using the blueprints, I've extracted it from the human SOULs. I believe this is what give their SOULs the strength to persist after death. The will to keep living...the resolve to change fate. Let's call this power... (in yellow) 'Determination'.”

Hiro couldn't believe what he had read. What was Alphys planning on doing with this determination? It then dawned on Hiro that every time he saves at a Save Star, he felt a wave of determination enter him. This may have been what the panel spoke of. And it being drawn out of the human souls, perhaps that's why his soul was needed? With the amount of determination he had accumulated over his trek, it may well blast open the barrier and then some. He needed to know more since there was an entry skipped. But the more he looked at the entry, he can't help but feel this isn't Alphys talking. Or it was, and he's still frazzled by the elevator episode. He soon moved from the panel into the next hall where he found himself across from a pair of doors that have four circles, a pair of a single door, arranged in a square. They were flanked by a vending machine to the left and a large panel on the right. To the left of him was a Save Star near the entrance and a ficus plant in the corner, and a piece of paper on the floor to the right. Hiro hurriedly reached the star and saved his progress, reading the words that appeared.

Hiro: “True Laboratory”... This is where she actually works at? It's really creepy here... I wonder if there's other monsters working here.

Hiro decided to explore this strange area and see if he could find Alphys, if she's down here. He noticed the vending machine and wanted to get a snack from it, but found that he didn't have enough gold. He then looked at the doors that have the colored circles on them, wondering what they were for. He made an attempt to try and open the doors himself, but he couldn't fit his fingers between the crack. As he passed a panel, it lit up to show “POWER ROOM” before he noticed a piece of paper on the floor. Hiro knew how to read, but the writing on it was barely legible.

Hiro: “elevator.......lost power..” “enter the....” (squints) “...center door...” (tries to read more but can't) That's it? I can't go through there...

Hiro put the letter back on the ground and went up the path past the panel to another set of doors that has a pair of half-circles on them. These, too, are sealed shut, so Hiro had to move on elsewhere. He moved on through the hallway and came across another panel.

Panel: “ENTRY NUMBER 6. ASGORE asked everyone outside the city for monsters that had “fallen down.”

Hiro: “Fallen down”?

Panel: “Their bodies came in today. They're still....”

Hiro: ...Co..ma..to..se..? Eh?

Panel: “And soon, they'll all turn into dust.”

(Hiro gets a vision of darkness with clouds of dust blowing by; shakes his head)

Panel: “But what happens if I inject “determination” into them? If their SOULs persist after they perish, then freedom might be closer than we all thought.”

Hiro: Hmn....

Something about the panel's words bothered Hiro as he pressed on further. Soon, he found himself in an area where there are what looked to be old operating tables. A panel near the entrance lit up as he entered the area and he went to go read it.

Panel: “ENTRY NUMBER 9-”

Hiro: Where's 7 and 8?!

Panel: “things aren't going well. None of the bodies have turned into dust, so I can't get the SOULs. I told the families I would give them the dust back for the funerals.”

Hiro: I read about that. They put the monster dust on their stuff, right?

Panel: “People are already asking me what's happening. What do I do?”

Hiro: So....did Alphys do this...? (examines a hospital bed; it felt sticky) Ew. (notices the same with the other two tables)

Hiro kept going and spotted an open door and a set of three sinks. After looking at the sinks and counters, he entered the room and saw a gray wall panel and a note. Again, Hiro struggled to read the writing.

Hiro: “drain..... dropped it....” Hmm... Drain..? (realizes) Ah! Maybe it's the sink! (checks the panel, sees a red-colored slot in the center of the panel) It's red.... Hmm.

He left the room and started to check the sinks as best he could and turned the water on to hear whatever he's searching for respond. The first one ran normally but didn't hear anything. The second one seemed to have something, but it probably got washed away. The third one had white ooze pouring from the faucet-

Hiro (backs away in disgust): Ew, what is that!?

He watched as the ooze filled the sink to the brim, but instead of spilling over, it grew until it reached the ceiling and a few bulbous growths had faces on them. Hiro felt the familiar feeling of getting into a battle as the area went gray, but there was also a green grid pattern that appeared in the field. That wasn't what Hiro was focused on while his Soul was pulled from his chest as he was surrounded by three strange growths that looked like moldy skulls with their bottom jaws (or is it some sort of tail...?) detached from them. He didn't know what they are and is too afraid to ask. The monsters occasionally seemed to fade in and out in a wavy, glitchy matter as they drew near him. Hiro used the ACT option, but besides the letters, the names were blank. Did he need to figure out what they're called? Called.... That's it!

Hiro: Ah! (sees the CELL option and uses it, his phone dialing out) Will this wor- (flinches upon hearing static voices through the receiver)

All Three Monsters: Come join the fun.

Once the monsters vanished, a series of wobbly spheres appeared, which grew into wobbly smiling faces as Hiro cautiously stuck to the bottom of the battlefield, avoiding them. Once they vanished, the three monsters reappeared, seeing that nobody came to join their “fun”. When he checked his phone again, the blanks now have the name “Memoryhead” listed.

Hiro: “Memoryhead”? Is that what they're called? They wanted me to join their fun, but... Okay, I'll join...?

Memoryhead A: You'll be with us shortly.

Memoryhead B: It's a real get together.

Hiro: What did the third one say- Ah! (dodges the faces but gets hit once before seeing the monsters again) Ah, sorry, I refuse!

Memoryhead A: Be seeing you.

Memoryhead B: Come join the fun.

Memoryhead C: Lorum ipsen docet.

(Hiro dodges the faces again, noticing the monsters didn't seem to care anymore; spares them)

Hiro: That was close....and really scary!! (noticed something in the sink) Huh? (picks up what looks like a red key) Huh, a key. (puts it on his keychain) Got it! Hmm, where does it go? (thinks then looks at the entrance by the sinks; goes inside and studies the switch) I think... (tries the key; hears a click) Oh! …..Now what?

Hiro decided to backtrack to the broken elevator. He then noticed something faintly red on the ground, looking up to see one of the circles lit up in red.

Hiro: Ah! I need keys! Then I can get out! Uh.. (moves past the lit door) ….those doors- (sees the doors up ahead having the semicircles lit red) Cool! (heads towards the doors and enters the next area)

With a new sense of accomplishment, Hiro continued his exploration. He figured out that if he could get more keys like the red one, he can get through more areas and open the main one. His confidence dropped a little as he spotted another panel as he turned the corner.

Hiro: What's this one say...?

Panel: ENTRY NUMBER 12: nothing is happening. I don't know what to do. I'll just keep injecting everything with “determination”. I want this to work.

Hiro: Is that what Alphys did...? (goes to the next one)

Panel: ENTRY NUMBER 13: one of the bodies opened its eyes.

Hiro felt a gross chill run up his spine. He quickly retreated to the next area where he spotted several beds with pink covers, an empty dog food bowl, two ficus plants in the left corner near a clock, two entrances to different areas, and a save star. Hiro examined the beds when he noticed one of them looked odd. He approached it, patted it, and felt something under the covers. He dug around a bit and felt a key brush his fingers.

Hiro (pulls the covers and picks up a yellow key): Yes! (puts it on his key ring; rubs his eyes and yawns) These beds are making me sleepy....

Except for the one time he nearly dozed off at Napstablook's place while dreaming of space and when he was back on the surface, Hiro realized that he hadn't slept much. Mainly because he didn't want to get caught off guard by the monsters wanting to take his soul. He wanted to move on, but the drowsiness and feeling the soft bed made him want to climb in and sleep.

And he did just that.

Hiro plopped onto the bed and laid there, waiting for sleep to take over. For a slight moment, he closed his eyes, then he opened them up to see a skinny shadow over him like something was looming near the bed. He wanted to see what it was, but he was too paralyzed by fear to turn himself as he could see another shadow slowly extending from the main one. He was only able to look at his feet where the covers are and spotted what looked like a white appendage reaching over him. He quickly looked away, trying to keep his body from shivering. When the appendage almost reached him, Hiro heard something moved and placed on him; the bed covers. Right after that, he felt an oddly gentle patting on his head, as if a mother had just tucked her child to bed. Hiro spent a minute mulling over what to do after that before leaving the bed. As nice as the bed had felt and how kind of the....thing...to tuck him in, Hiro didn't feel like going to sleep in this laboratory. He felt he had enough of this area and went to save his progress.

Hiro: I don't wanna sleep here....

Once that was done, Hiro entered the path past the star to the right and found himself in a long hallway. To the left of him are mirrors and to the right is a long counter with many potted yellow flowers. The flowers made him think of Flowey as he approached the first panel of the hallway.

Panel: ENTRY NUMBER 7. We'll need a vessel to wield the monster SOULs when the time comes. After all, a monster cannot absorb the SOULs of other monsters.

Hiro: Really?

Panel: Just as a human cannot absorb a human SOUL...

Hiro: Huh.

Panel: So then...what about something that's neither human nor monster?

Hiro: Something that's not human or monster? (moves past the mirror to the next panel)

Panel: ENTRY NUMBER 10. experiments on the vessel are a failure. It doesn't seem to be any different from the control cases. Whatever. They're a hassle to work with anyway. The seeds just stick to you, and won't let go...

Hiro: This is getting weird.

Hiro decided to go further into the hallway, watching his reflection following him along the way in the wall of mirrors. He noticed an entrance ahead of him, but something caught his attention in one of the mirrors. Something surprised him enough to cause what looked like a speech bubble with an ! mark in it. The bubble then had a smiley face in it, which gave Hiro the creeps as a flicker of a red version of the smile flashed in his mind. That thought soon went out the window as the bubble grew and turned into something demonic, a white ghostlike creature that possibly has horns on the sides of its hollow torn vertical mouth, just under its empty round eyes.

Hiro (stumbles back into the gray battlefield as his soul leaps out of his chest): AAAAAAH!!!

Strangely, the monster he ran into wasn't the demonic ghost but a tall birdlike monster whose beak seems to split itself in order for it to look at a different direction, making its horns move to the opposite side. Its eye is hollow with three thin triangles on the right (then left) side. Its neck is thin and long and he couldn't tell what its body looked like, besides the pair of distorted wings and thin legs. Again, the name of the monster is unknown, so Hiro had to go through the options to figure it out. Those options were Pick On, Mystify, Clean, Hum, and Pray. Hiro decided to do something mysterious. The monster recognized that it had more to learn from this world. Its response sounded like several people trying to talk over each other. Suddenly on the right side of the battlefield, a white humanoid figure appeared as the monster squashed its body above the area.

Hiro (jumps away to the opposite side of the field): Gah! Who is that...? Uh...Hello?

The figure didn't respond as a swarm of butterflies descended towards it. The butterflies soon covered the figure's entire head as it starts to panic, dropping to its knees and grabbing at its head without a sound of screaming, possibly to prevent the butterflies from entering its mouth. Hiro was left shaken at the sight as the figure vanished and the monster stretched its body to its normal size.

Hiro: Wh-Wh-What was that..... (drops to his knees and starts praying for his safety)

Seeing this, the monster remembered its conscience, but again, the response is jumbled up with many voices. Soon, the butterfly-faced figure returned, trudging its way towards Hiro as the butterflies flew at him. In his panic, Hiro was hit three times by the butterflies, nearly dying in the process.

Hiro: Aaah! (digs in his Items and eats half of a Bisicle, restoring all but one HP) Hope this is enough. (hears more multi-voiced speech) I don't know what it's saying.... (sees the figure returning to the field without the butterflies) Huh, the butterflies are gone? (watches it shake as it produced floating multitudes of its cloned head) WAAAH!!! (gets hit once but manages to survive) Agh, quit scaring me, you...you giant bird thing! Y-You and your...weird eye thing and-

Bird Monster: Someone finally gets it. Ribbit ribbit. Courage....

Hiro: Huh? (gets distracted by the figure who is now covered in butterflies again) Not again!!

Three times, Hiro's HP went down, nearly dying in the process as he zoomed by the figure, colliding with it as he passed in the end. Shaky, he noticed the bird monster looking placated. He checked his phone to spare it, seeing the name “Reaper Bird” was registered.

Hiro: So that's what it's called. (clicks Spare; watches the monster ascend and vanish as the battlefield fades away; sees himself in the mirror and drops to his hands and knees) Gaaaaaaah! What is this place?! (digs in his Items again and yanks out a crabapple, furiously munching on it until his health was maxed out) I hope nothing else is like that. Way too scary!! (gets up and wearily heads to the entrance ahead)

Hiro entered the room and saw that it was the same as the one he had to put the red key. Like before, there's a note with unintelligible writing on it.

Hiro: ...”cold”... Cold? (looks at the switch which is blue-colored) I need a blue key? Okay.

Hiro left the room and back past the mirrors, watching his reflection nervously as he did. He took a few peeks at the flowers on the counter before departing the hallway, and once he returned to the bed area, he quickly saved his progress.

Hiro: Never again....

After dealing with the Save Star, Hiro continued on and entered the hallway past the star. He first went to the right and found himself in what looks like a long room. It was pretty dusty and misty in the room, but he could see the wall to his left has three long rows of fans built in. Before he went further, a green light glowed through the hazy cloud, indicating a panel for him to read.

Panel: ENTRY NUMBER 11. now that mettaton's made it big, he never talks to me anymore. ...except to ask when I'm going to finish his body. But I'm afraid if I finish his body, he won't need me anymore...then we'll never be friends ever again. ….not to mention, every time I try to work on it, I just get really sweaty....

Hiro: …..Did Alphys write these? This one mentioned Mettaton, so maybe..? (starts coughing) Ugh, it's so dusty here.... (goes further into the room, finds a switch at the end of the room on the wall and presses it; hears the fans turn on and watches the dust disappear) Much better! (notices large flecks of white dust still floating in the air) Huh?

As Hiro watched the last of the dust vanishing, the white flecks began to merge together, growing into a smiling white ball almost as big as one of the fans.

Hiro (watches it land a short distance from him): Oh, it's cute. (sees the ball suddenly morph into a giant 5-legged creature with a gaping hole in its face) NOT CUTE!! NOT A CUTE!!

Hiro was inwardly and outwardly panicking as the creature crept towards him, its hollow round maw letting out a howl that was like a multitude of dogs howling all at once in a distorted way. He desperately tried to find a way past it, but sees no opportunity for one, so Hiro decided to charge at it, his soul leaping out of him while the area changed into the battlefield. Upon closer inspection, the way that the Amalgamate's (the name Hiro found out on his phone) six legs look makes it look like there are five animal-like shadows hiding underneath. In his ACT option, he sees Beckon, Ignore, Pet, and Play.

Hiro: Huh? I think I know this...? (beckons the creature) Um, c-come here! Giant...thing..?

(it bounds towards him, flecking a strange liquid from its orifice; tries not to show disgust)

Hiro: G..Good... Ah!! (sees the liquid become backward white arrows gets by one) Ow! (sees it hovering close to him, moving in a way that it may be wanting affection) Ah.. (cautiously pets the creature; finds it pretty soft, if not a bit slimy)

(it rapidly convulses before calming down, resting quietly on Hiro's lap for a moment, possibly snoring gently)

Hiro (wipes his hand on his shorts): I guess it- (sees it shoot away and crawling on the walls wildly before aiming at him) AAH!!

Hiro frantically flew around the field as the Amalgamate chased him. After a while, the creature stopped and started striking the walls with its claws.

Hiro: Why's it doing that? (thinks; looks at his worn dagger) Maybe.... (throws the weapon into the corner of the room)

(the Amalgamate catches and brings it back...proudly..?)

Hiro kept doing this a few times, then he noticed the creature was vibrating strangely once it became tired. It became evident as it leaned its dripping amorphous body on him.

Hiro: It's....shaking? (gets caught off by the arrows fired by the creature and gets hit by one) Ahh! (pets the Amalgamate as it twitches affectionately) Ha..haha...

The creature started frothing at the mouth and convulsing intensely as it chased Hiro around the field. Once done, he petted it decisively. Suddenly, within the spaces of its legs, the Amalgamate's shadows formed what looked like smiling animal faces as it seems to be satisfied at what had transpired, its ghostly howling turning into a chorus of happy barking that sounded like a song. Hiro checked his phone to spare it and saw the name “Endogeny” displayed as the creature's tail-like appendage wags with contentment. Once he spared it, the Endogeny and its song faded away to parts unknown.

Hiro: …..It was just a giant dog! A giant....shaking..(rubs his fingers, frowning)..slime dog...? Huh.

Distracted, Hiro moved on until he heard a blip, noticing another panel past the exit.

Panel: ENTRY NUMBER 15. Seems like this research is a dead end... But at least we got a happy ending out of it....? I sent the SOULS back to Asgore, returned the vessel to his garden, and I called all of the families and told them everyone's alive. I'll send everyone back tomorrow. :)

Hiro: Ah, that's great! I guess it worked? (spots another panel ahead, labeled “Entry Number 16” and reads it, but all it says is “no”, some capitalized, some not, or both) Eh?

The way the entry was written sent a strange chill up Hiro's spine. Not in the same way he felt when he met Sans in the corridor, but like something was very wrong with this place and he stumbled onto some secret he shouldn't have known. He cautiously moved on towards another entryway and went inside, hoping to find another path. Instead, he entered what looks like a shower room and someone(?) was inside.

Hiro: Ahh!

For some unknown reason, he felt himself being pulled towards whoever was in the shower. Was he being controlled by whatever or whoever was in his visions? He did have a few dreams where that happened. As he approached, the figure in the shower was moving faster with his every step. He tried not to pull back the curtains, but the urge was there. Once he did, all that was left was a green key in the bathtub. He soon felt the pull break and he dashed his way out of the shower room.

Hiro: That was...really creepy!

Hiro continued on his way further until he spotted something that startled him all the way back to the bedroom area. He didn't know what it was, but he felt it was better to save before he faced whatever he saw.

Hiro: Everything in this place is creepy!!

Hiro didn't want to continue in this strange area, but if he was to leave the place, he'll have to keep going. He reluctantly returned to where the giant red thing was, and saw that it looked like a machine. Hiro was relieved for the moment. He got pretty curious about the machine, but he also noticed an entrance by the machine.

Hiro entered the room to the right of the machine and saw that the only things here were two tall bookcases with many VHS tapes set in them, both flanking a CRT TV on either side of the TV stand that had a VHS player underneath, a panel to the left of the left bookcase, another switch to the right of the right bookcase, and a note on the floor. Hiro went over to the note, but again, he could only make out the words “under...sheets”.

Hiro: Under...sheets.... Ah! I found the yellow key there! (turns to the switch, seeing it glow yellow; walks over and inserts the key, hearing it click) Yay! (looks at the bookcases)

Hiro skimmed over the VHSes stored in the bookcases, some looked like cartoons of some sort and are mostly alphabetized, besides a few strangely sticky ones that are out of order. Hiro decided to move on to the panel as it clicked on.

Panel: “ENTRY NUMBER 4.”

Hiro: Oh, 4 was here.

Panel: “I've been researching humans to see if I can find any info about the SOULS. I ended up snooping around the castle...and found these weird tapes. I don't feel like Asgore's watched them...I don't think he should.”

Hiro: Huh? Why not? Is something bad gonna happen? I wanna see. (approaches the VHS player and spots a few tapes set out by it in numeral order; inserts Tape 1, presses Play on the remote and sits down a safe distance away; sees the screen is black, but can hear the voices) Eh? Those voices...Are they...

-Tape 1-

Toriel's Voice: Psssst. Gorey, wake up.

Asgore's Voice: Mmm? What is it, dear? …. Err, and why do you have that video camera?

Toriel: Shush! I want to get your reaction. Gorey, dearest, what is my favorite vegetable?

Asgore: Hmmm... Carrots, right?

Toriel: No no no! My FAVORITE vegetable is...eda-MOM-e. ...get it???

Asgore: ….Go back to bed, dear.

Toriel: No no! Not yet! Hee hee! Now, if I were a dog, what breed would I be?

Asgore: Hmmm... I don't know, honey. What kind of dog would you be?

Toriel: I would be... a MOMERANIAN.

Asgore: Hohoho! You sure are excited to have this child. You know, if you keep making jokes like this... One day, you could become....a famous MOMedian.

(sound of bed covers shifting)

Toriel : ….Well, I am going to bed.

Asgore: Hey! Come on, Tori! That one was funny!

Toriel: Hahaha, I know. I am just teasing you. Goodnight, dear.

Asgore: Goodnight, honey.

Toriel: ….Oh dear, perhaps it is too dark in here for the video to come out...

-Tape 1 end-

Hiro: Toriel and Asgore had a kid? I didn't know that! I wonder if I can meet them- (remembers the story the monsters told him) Oh....yeah... Err, next tape! (takes out Tape 1 then inserts Tape 2)

-Tape 2-

Child Voice: Okay, Hiro, are you ready?

-Tape 2 paused-

Hiro (confused): What? (looks around) Who's there? ….. (shrugs then resumes the tape)

-Tape 2 resumed-

CV: Do your creepy face! AHHHHH! Hee hee hee! Oh wait, I had the lens cap on. (indistinguishable voice is heard) What?! You're not gonna do it again? Come on, quit tricking me! Haha!

-Tape 2 end-

Hiro: That was weird. I heard my name. Hmm... (switches to Tape 3)

-Tape 3-

CV: Howdy, Hiro! Smile for the camera! Ha, this time I got YOU! I left the cap on... ON PURPOSE! Now you're smiling for noooo reason! Hee hee hee! What? Oh yeah, I remember. When we tried to make butterscotch pie for Dad, right? The recipe asked for cups of butter, but we accidentally put in buttercups instead. Yeah! Those flowers got him really sick. I felt so bad. We made Mom really upset. I should have laughed it off, like you did. Um, anyway, where are you going with this? Huh? Turn of the camera..? Ok.

-Tape 3 end-

Hiro: Again...my name...Do I...know this person...? Um...maybe it's not me and they have my name..? ….. (switches to Tape 4)

-Tape 4-

CV: I....I don't like this idea, Hiro. Wh..What? N-No, I'm not... ….big kids don't cry. Yeah, you're right. No! I'd never doubt you, Hiro. Never! Y...Yeah! We'll be strong! We'll free everyone. I'll go get the flowers.

-Tape 4 end-

Hiro: ….Who...Who is this Hiro...? And why...? (nervously switches to the last tape)

-Tape 5-

Toriel: Hiro.... Can you hear me? We want you to wake up...

Asgore: Hiro! You have to stay determined! You can't give up... You are the future of humans and monsters...

CV: ….Psst... Hiro... Please...wake up... I don't like this plan anymore...I...I......no, I said... I said I'd doubt you. Six, right? We just have to get six...and we'll do it together, right?

-Tape 5 end-

Hiro was left staring at the static snow present on the screen. He couldn't believe what he had just heard. The voice he heard whenever he “died”, the fact that this kid and the other Hiro were planning to get six....six souls? Did the other Hiro...die? He finally stood up and staggered his way on the room, his mind riddled with questions and confusion. Hiro shook his head to shake the thoughts away and proceeded to save his progress. Strangely, the save star was blocking his path, not off the side like the others. Hiro didn't mind since he needed to save, but when he touched it, a smiling face appeared before the star grew into a tall white humanoid shape. That shape soon transformed into something that looked similar to Shyren and the thing she was hovering over, but not exactly. The head is actually attached to the body and the face is mostly sharp teeth with the eyes appearing occasionally under a pair of tiny horns. The back of the body has some bulbous protrusions and the lower half looked like it was melting.

Hiro (sees his Soul pop out as the area changes): Wh-Why did that happen?! (frantically checks his phone; sees the name “Lemon Bread” appear; the options are CALL, SCREAM, UNHUG, HUM, FLEX, and CRY; starts humming as he catches a scent of sweet lemons) It smells like....sweet lemons? (sees Lemon's body shaking)

Lemon Bread (multiple voices): Welcome to my special hell. (sinks into the ground)

Hiro: Where did it go? (sees the floor change into a face; panics as the mouth opens and closes in a chomping manner, showing its rows of teeth and a spot that strangely becomes toothless)

Hiro didn't know what to do in this situation except fly around in a panic. In his frantic state, he was losing HP rapidly and finally succumbed to being eaten alive.

Hiro (floating; hears the voice): Ah...so Asgore was talking to me....He's right. I gotta go back! (revives; finds himself in the bed area) Eh? I'm back here?! Awww! (runs back to the fake Save Star)

Hiro didn't want to fight the amalgamate, but he knew he had to if he was to leave this area. He tapped the star and went into battle again. This time, he managed to survive the chomping mouth with 4 HP, which he immediately healed from eating a Cinnabun. He was kinda hungry.

Lemon Bread: That's what they all say.

Hiro: Who?

Not receiving a response, Hiro found himself in the jaws of the floor monster and and managed to survive with 8 HP as the lemon scent still waft in the air. Hiro thought about his next move before eating the Unicicle he had leftover, only being 1 point shy of being full.

Lemon Bread: But nobody came.

For some reason, those words made Hiro get a flashback of an empty field of white dust. The vision's view was moving in various directions, as if trying to catch a glimpse of something, but there was not a living soul in sight. Suddenly, a new face appeared as a pair of eyes hovered above the field, its floating pointed teeth surrounded him and started shooting out blue and orange rings. Hiro was hit once and moves to the right in an attempt to take cover. He managed to survive, and was greeted with a melodic sound of pulsating flesh. Although disgusted, he doesn't get too close and just let Lemon Bread be as its teeth shook.

LB: Do you think I'm pretty?

Hiro: I....I uh...think..so? (sees the floating eyes and teeth again; get hurt while escaping and dodges some of the rings) Gah.... The lemon smell again... (drink the Sea Tea) Guess it helped. (hears Lemon Bread muttering again)

The field turned into the mouth again, but in his panic, he took too much damage and he died again. Upon hearing Asgore's voice tell him to not lose hope, Hiro woke up by the Save Star again.

Hiro: Ugh.... Gotta...go back.

Hiro made his way back to Lemon Bread's location and challenge her again.

Lemon Bread: Welcome to my special hell.

Hiro hated seeing the mouth and just wanted to cry. Despite that, Lemon Bread didn't seem to have any sympathy at the moment as she brought the face back. He was becoming frustrated with the battle against Lemon Bread to the point of screaming which fell on deaf ears. He lost track of time as he attempted to defeat the monster seven times before he eventually reached a certain point.

LB: Stay here with me...

Hiro was unsure of what to think. He flexed his arms before flapping them to get the feeling back in them, and this brought on a reaction from Lemon Bread.

LB: I've felt this before....

Hiro: Huh?

He soon faced the floating teeth and managed to dodge the rings well enough. He checked to see if he could spare the monster and found he could. He spared her then watch her slither away as color returned to the area. He took some time to rest as he was mentally exhausted from fighting Lemon Bread many times. He then rushed back to the actual save star and saved his progress.

Hiro: Never...

Once he fully rested up, Hiro continued the trek through the lab. He went past the DT Machine into the next room where several refrigerators are seen. The first one he approached was empty. The next one has some samples of some kind. He figured that they were for whatever Alphys was working on. When he saw a few more fridges, he decided to go back and check on the wall panels.

Panel: “ENTRY NUMBER 19. the families keep calling me to ask when everyone is coming home. What am I supposed to say? I don't even answer the phone anymore.”

Hiro: Hmm... (goes to the next one) Number 20..

Panel: “Asgore left me five messages today. Four about everyone being angry, one about this cute teacup he found that look like me. Thanks, Asgore.”

Hiro: Huh. (goes to the next one) 21.

Panel: “I spend all my time at the garbage dump now. It's my element.”

Hiro: That's why she brought me there. (approaches the last fridge and sees its empty) Nothing there. (walks towards the entrance and hears laughter behind him) Eh? (turns to see the whole fridge turn white) Ah! (hears a lower laugh as the shape morphs into another humanoid shape)

When the area changed to a battlefield, Hiro was faced with what looked like a melting Snowdrake. It looked like it was struggling to keep itself together as Hiro checked his options, which is Heckle, Laugh, and Joke.

Hiro: Um... (feels the air getting colder and starts rubbing his legs): It's so cold! (feels a chill go up his spine)

Strangely, he had an urge to laugh. He laughed so much that he couldn't stop. But when the tears started running down his face, he snapped out of it and was left with confusion.

Hiro: Why did I...? That...wasn't me... (looks at his phone, the thumb near Check instead of Laugh) I don't remember picking Laugh....

Snowdrake (female straining voice): sn...o..wy....

Hiro was ready for whatever attack the monster would send his way....but....the crescent moon attack barely moved from its spot, spinning in place.

Hiro: Huh? Um... (lands near the Snowdrake and thinks, looks at the option of Joke and picks it) Um... (tries to think of a joke) It's....snow good to see you? Err...wait... Um... Let's...snow with the flow! (sees her expression start to shift) Oh! Was that a smile?

Snowdrake: Haha....I...remem..ber....

Hiro (sees three crescents move towards him, but they miss): They're not.... (tries to laugh, but it wasn't like before) Hmm...

Snowdrake: sn..o...wy...

Hiro: Why does that sound familiar...? (sees another crescent attack, but it doesn't even come up to the field) She.... (looks down at the monster and sighs) You look horrible. Why are you even alive? (covers his mouth in shock) What?! That wasn't what I said! (stares at his hands) What's going on...?

Snowdrake: sn..o..wy....

Hiro: Err, uh. It's snow cold in here! I..uh..hope it snows down! (covers his face from his awful attempt at a snow pun) I should get Sans to help me with this....

Snowdrake: haha....thank... (drops more crescent attacks around Hiro)

Hiro: Um...It's time for me to....snow home. Icy you later...?

Snowdrake made a weak but calm smile before vanishing, leaving Hiro to his thoughts. For some reason, he couldn't figure out why he did and said the things he did. Did it have something to do with the visions? He often felt there was something in his place that caused him to act strangely during that....well, could he even call what had happened a “battle”? He felt pretty bad about it and after picking up the blue key, he entered the room which he found the green switch and activated it. He made his way back to the bed area and saved, still thinking about what occurred. He was so frazzled by the battle that he got lost. Once he cleared his head, he returned to the main door, but sees that only one light is out. He remember the door on the side and goes to the room he saw in the mirror hall at the beginning and puts in the blue key. While returning to the door., he could have sworn he saw the bed sheets move on one of the beds. When he arrived at the main door, all of the lights are on and it opens. It was an elevator, but it had lost its power.

Hiro: Another elevator...? Aww... (sees 2 panels are off; sees an opening to the right) Huh? Where's this go?

Curious, Hiro went in and enters a long hallway. He went up to look at the panel, but it didn't turn on, so did the other one.

Hiro: Weird.

He then entered a large room with a machine wired to the wall. Its lights are glowing red and upon peeking inside, he could have sworn he sees something heart-shaped inside it. He thinks it might be the thing controlling the elevator's power and turns it on. Suddenly, four Amalgamates approach.

Hiro: Ah! Um....hi... (watches the Amalgamates shamble towards him) W-Wait!

???: Hey! Stop!

Hiro: Huh? (sees Alphys) Alphys?!

Alphys: I got you guys some food, okay!? (watches the creature back away and go past her; looks at Hiro) Sorry about that... They get kind of sassy when they don't get fed on time.

Hiro: Ah..

Alphys: I think they smelled the potato chips you were carrying...

Hiro: Eh?!

Alphys: Um, anyway!? The power went out, and I've been trying to turn it back on! But it seems like you were one step ahead of me. This was probably a big inconvenience for you... B-But I appreciate that you came here to back me up!

Hiro: Welcome!

Alphys (looks away sadly): As I said, I was afraid I might...not come back... But that's not because of these guys or anything! I was just worried I would be too afraid...to tell the truth...that I might run away, or do something...cowardly. (stares at the floor)

Hiro: Alphys...?

Alphys: Uh...I..I suppose I owe you an explanation. As you probably know, Asgore asked me to study the nature of SOULs. During my research, I isolated a power called “determination”.

Hiro: Determination...

Alphys: Yeah, I injected it into dying monsters so their SOULs would last after death. But the experiment failed...

Hiro: Was it too strong?

Alphys: Perhaps. You see, unlike humans', monsters' bodies don't have enough physical matter to take those concentrations of “determination”.

Hiro: Physical matter?

Alphys: Yes. (walks up to Hiro and pokes his cheek) Your body is solid enough to have it course through it, no problem. But us? It's not enough. Soon enough, their bodies started to melt, and lost what physicality they had. All of the test subjects had melted together into...those.

Hiro: That's why they looked like that...

Alphys (nods): Uh huh. Seeing them like this, I knew I couldn't tell their families about it. I couldn't tell anyone about it, no matter how much everyone was asking me... And I was too afraid to do any more work, knowing...everything I'd done so far had such a horrific failure.

Hiro: Oh..

Alphys: ...but now... Now I've changed my mind about all this. I'm going to tell everyone what I've done. ….It's going to be hard. Being honest...believing in myself.... (lowers her head) I'm sure there will be times where I'll struggle. I'm sure there will be times where I screw up again. (looks at Hiro) But knowing, deep down, that I have friends to fall back on...I know it'll be a lot easier to stand on my own.

Hiro: Yeah, you can do it, Alphys!

Alphys: Thank you. (turns to the amalgamates as they show up) Come on, guys. It's time for everyone to go home. (leaves with the group)

Hiro: I hope she'll be okay. But I think she will be! (glances back at the machine) ….Hmm...(leaves the room, hears the panel turn on; pales upon seeing a red smiley face) I..It...

Panel: “ENTRY NUMBER 8. I've chosen a candidate. I haven't told Asgore yet, because I want to surprise him with it. In the center of his garden, there's something special. The first golden flower, that grew before all the others. The flower from the outside world. It appeared just before the queen left. I wonder....What happens when something without a SOUL gains the will to live?”

Hiro: Wh...What happens...? (walks on before freezing in his spot upon seeing the red light) E-Entry...en...

Panel: “ENTRY NUMBER 18: the flower's gone.”

Hiro had another horrific vision of this smiley face. He was facing a mirror version of himself where his face is shadowed, but the soft glow of the same face is seen. The doppleganger smiled as if it found its next prey, approaching as plumes of dust puffed from its body. Before it could make Hiro its new victim, he managed to snap out of the vision, causing him to nearly collapse, but he crouched instead, holding his head in his hands.

Hiro: Why is this happening... Who is that..? Who am I...? Did I....?

Hiro stayed like this for a while. It felt like his sense of self was slipping and whoever was in his visions were attempting to take him over now. But he had to press on. Press on and try to escape again. Now that he knows the truth, he can see if his decision changed the ending. He got back up, wiped his eyes and went back to the elevator. Once he set foot inside, his phone rang oddly. Upon answering, he heard an unfamiliar voice on the other end.

Hiro: H...Hello..?

???: Hiro? Are you there? It's been a long time, hasn't it...? But you've done well.

Hiro: I-I have?

???: Yes. Thanks to you, everything has fallen into place.

Hiro: What do you-

???: Hiro....see you soon. (hangs up)

Hiro: Wait! (sees the doors shut) Ah! (feels the elevator drop) NOT AGAAAAAIIIN!!!

Hiro held on and closed his eyes as the elevator drop again. Soon, he felt himself get thrown out of the elevator and when he opened his eyes, he found himself outside of the elevator into some sort of hall.

Hiro (stands up quivering): I...I'm alive? (turns to the elevator; sees vines covering the door) Vines? (grabs one, but feels it tightening, pulls his hand back) Ack. Guess I can't go back. (looks around) Where am I?

Hiro proceeded to walk through the hallway, and once he made it, he found himself facing the city again.

Hiro: Ah! So that took me here? But this leads to....that fight with Asgore....

He was nervous about facing the king again, but with the knowledge he gained from visiting Alphys's lab, Hiro now understands why the monsters were so desperate in getting the human SOULs. As he retraced his steps, he began to feel that there was more to the story than he currently knows, but for now, this is the best he can deal with. He can feel his heart starting to pound a little faster as he turned the corner towards his destination. He finally arrived at Asgore's house and began to think about Toriel as he prepared his items and made his way through. What would she think about this whole thing? She did try to stop him from leaving the Ruins because of Asgore, but when he fought him, the monster was totally different than what she portrayed him as. Even the monsters he met along the way saw him as a great guy. Maybe they didn't realize what happened between them, besides separating? Who knows now? All he knew as he has reached the corridor is that he'll have to face the judgment again. When he made his way through the hall, he went past the spot where Sans had stopped him before.

Hiro: Huh? Where is he? I thought he'd come to judge me? Did I mess something up when I used the Save File? I hope not....

As he moved on towards the throne room, Hiro was unaware that he was being watched. Hiro entered the throne room, but was feeling anxious. He wanted to lay down amid the flowers, but was worried he might crush them and upset Asgore so once he calmed himself, he kept going. That calm he managed to get was soon replaced by anxiousness again as he reached the Save Star, seeing the words “The End” in yellow again upon his saving.

Hiro: Welp. I'm back...in this place. (takes a few deep breathes, then coughs as he nearly chokes on air) Aaaggggh.... Um, okay. Here I go.

Hiro walked inside to find Asgore facing the barrier again. Like before, he was nervous about fighting the goat king. As Asgore spoke about the barrier, Hiro hoped that his jump back in time may have done something, but he knows he has no choice but to fight him. Asgore offered him a chance to deal with any unfinished business he had, but Hiro had nothing.

Once again, this is it.

Once again, a strange light fell upon them both as they stood on opposite sides, the twilight gleaming through the barrier. Hiro had hoped that with the random change in time, things would be different, but it didn't look like it. When Asgore solemnly lowered his head and Hiro nervously gripped his worn dagger, a floating spark bloomed into a fireball by Asgore. As quickly as it appeared, the fireball struck him, blasting him off the battlefield.

Hiro: A-Asgore?! Where did that- (hears familiar footsteps approaching) Is that..?

???: What a miserable creature, torturing such a poor, innocent, youth... Do not be afraid, my child. (emerging from the darkness onto the battlefield) It is I, Toriel, your friend and guardian.

Hiro: Toriel! You got out of the Ruins?

Toriel: Yes. At first, I thought I would let you make your journey alone, but I could not stop worrying you. Your adventure must have been so treacherous.. (solemnly adverts her eyes) ….and ultimately, it would burden you with a horrible choice. To leave this place, you would have to take the life of another person. You would have to defeat Asgore...

Hiro (glances at his dagger): ….. I did....once...

Toriel (looks at Hiro): However....I realized...I cannot allow that.

Hiro: ?

Toriel: It is not right to sacrifice someone simply to let someone leave here. Is that not what I have been trying to prevent this whole time?

Hiro: Really? Then the other humans....

Toriel: Yes. So, for now, let us suspend this battle. As terrible as Asgore is...he deserves mercy, too. (about to wave her hand)

Asgore (stops by her as if he was running): Tori... You came back!

Tori (glares at Asgore): Do not “Tori” me, Dreemurr! (glances away) You pathetic whelp. If you really wanted to free our kind, you could have gone through the barrier after you got ONE SOUL, taken six SOULS from the humans, then came back and freed everyone peacefully.

Hiro: !! That was... (remembers the video where the voice and the other Hiro were making the same plan) …..

Toriel (glaring at Asgore): Because you would rather wait here, meekly hoping another human never comes.

Asgore (looks away ashamed): …. Tori... You're right... I am a miserable creature... (looks at Toriel hopeful) ...But, do you think we can at least be friends again?

Toriel (frustrated sigh): NO, Asgore.

Hiro (scratches his cheeks nervously as he sees Asgore looking at Toriel teary-eyed): Ehehe. (hears a familiar stomping) Is that-

Undyne: Ngahhhhh!!! ASGORE! HUMAN!! Nobody fight each other!! Everyone's gonna make friends..or else, I'll- (notices Toriel) I'll...

Hiro: Hi, Undyne!

Toriel: Hello, I am Toriel. Are you the human's friend? It is nice to meet you.

Undyne: Uh, yeah...? (grins) Nice to meet you! (walks over to Asgore, whispering) Hey, Asgore, is that your ex? (sees him nod) Jeez, that's rough, buddy.

Hiro (sees Alphys running in): Oh, she's here, too!

Alphys: H-Hey! Nobody hurt each other! (notices Toriel and Asgore)

Hiro: Hey, Alphys!

Toril: Oh! Are you another friend? I am Toriel. Hello!

Alphys: Uh, h-h-hi! (stares at Hiro in shock and whispering at him) THERE'S TWO OF THEM??

Hiro (nods at her as if he heard her then watches Alphys move over to Undyne; hears clattering of bones) Ah, there he is!

Papyrus: HEY! NOBODY FIGHT ANYONE! IF ANYONE FIGHTS ANYONE...! THEN I'LL..! BE FORCED!!! TO ASK UNDYNE FOR HELP!!!

Hiro: Well, she is here!

Toriel (waves at Papyrus): Hello!

Papyrus: OH! HELLO, YOUR MAJESTY! (whispering to Hiro) PSST! HEY, HUMAN...DID ASGORE SHAVE..? AND CLONE HIMSELF???

Hiro (shakes his head): Eheh, no...(notices Sans appearing on his left) Sans!

Sans (waves nonchalantly): Hey, guys... What's up?

Toriel: That voice...!! (rushes over and stops by Papyrus) Hello, I think we may... know each other?

Sans: Oh, hey...I recognize your voice, too.

Toriel: I am Toriel. So nice to meet you.

Sans: The name's...Sans. (winks) And uh, same.

Hiro: Huh, so the woman Sans was talking about was Toriel! But...why did he sound odd when he said his name? (sees Papyrus blushing at Toriel's compliments) Ah, I wonder if he-

Papyrus: THIS IS THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE!

Toriel: Hey, Papyrus... What does a skeleton tile his roof with?

Papyrus: HMMM... SNOW-PROOF ROOF TILES??

Toriel: No, silly! A skeleton tiles his roof with...SHIN-gles!

Papyrus (frustrated): I CHANGED MY MIND!! THIS IS THE WORST DAY OF MY LIFE!!

Undyne (pats Asgore's shoulder): Come on, Asgore! It's gonna be OK! There are plenty of fish in the sea...

Alphys: Y-Yeah, Asgore! Undyne's totally right about that fish thing! Sometimes, you just got to, uh...stop going after furry boss monsters and, uh.. j-just get to know a really cute fish...? (realizes what she said) It's a metaphor.

Undyne: Well, I think it's a good analogy.

Hiro: Alphys... (sees Mettaton's leg waving at them) Ack, Mettaton!?

Mettaton: OH MY GOD! WILL YOU TWO JUST SMOOCH ALREADY!? THE AUDIENCE IS DYING FOR SOME ROMANTIC ACTION!!! (slips back into the dark dramatically)

Undyne: HEY, SHUT UP!! Man, the nerve of that guy! Right, Alphys!?? (sees her sweating nervously) Uh, Alphys?

Alphys: No...He's right. LET'S DO IT!

Hiro (sees Undyne staring at Alphys in confusion; cheers Alphys on): Go for it, Alphys!

Undyne (glances at Hiro in confusion): Well??? Uh..?? I guess?? If you want to?? Then??? (grin) Don't hold anything back!!

(Undyne leans in towards Alphys for a kiss, but Toriel jumps in between them)

Toriel: W-Wait! Not in front of the human!

Hiro: Aww...

Alphys: Uuh, right! S-Sorry, I got a little carried away there.

Toriel (giggles as Sans and Payrus joins the group): My child, it seems as if you must stay here for a while. But looking at all the great friends you have made, I think... (nods) I think you will be happy here.

Hiro: I...think so, too.

Alphys: H-Hey, that reminds me. (looks at Papyrus) YOU called everyone here, right? Well, besides, uh, her. Uh, anyway... If I got here before you, how did you know to call everybody?

Papyrus: LET'S JUST SAY...A TINY FLOWER HELPED ME.

It wasn't clear if anyone else noticed, including Alphys since she felt the same, but the sudden sense of dread that washed over Hiro almost froze him to his core. Even stranger, Sans had a look on his face that betrayed his usual laid-back demeanor. He was still smiling, albeit a strained one, but his light in his eye sockets seemed to have shrunk, as if he too had Snowdin's ice attached to his spine. Before anyone had a chance to move, a familiar thorny vine swept across the group and held them hostage as many smaller vines wrapped themselves tightly in several individual loops around them. Then out from the ground before Hiro came Flowey himself.

Hiro: Flowey!?

Flowey (blep winks): You IDIOTS. While you were having your little pow-wow.. (evil grin) I took the human SOULS! And now, not only are THOSE under my power...but all of your FRIENDS' SOULS will be mine, too! (smiles, giggling then makes a smug face) And you know what the best part is?

Hiro: W-What..?

Flowey: It's all your fault! It's all because you MADE THEM love you. (smirks) All the time you spent listening to them, encouraging them, caring about them. Without that, they wouldn't have come here. And now, with their souls and the humans' together, I will achieve my REAL FORM. (chuckles)

Hiro: His real form? (shakes his head, then stomp his foot) Let them go right now!! Why are you still trying this!?

Flowey: Huh? (smug face) Why am I still doing this? Don't you get it? This is all just a GAME.

Hiro: A..game?

Flowey: If you leave the underground satisfied, you'll “win” the game. (glares) If you “win”, you won't “play” with me anymore. (smiles) And what would I do then? (evil grin) But this game between us will NEVER end. I'll hold victory in front of you, just within your reach...and then tear it away just before you grasp it.. (crooked smile) ...over, and over, and over... (chuckles, then smiles smugly) Listen. If you DO defeat me, I'll give you your “happy ending”. I'll bring your friends back, I'll destroy the barrier, everyone will finally be satisfied. (evil grin) But that WON'T happen. (crooked smile) You...! (normal smile) I'll keep you here no matter what! (sinks into the ground then reappears next to Hiro)

Hiro (finds himself in a tiny box): Huh?! (sees a ring of pellets surround him) Oh no!

Flowey: Even if it means killing you 1000000 times!!

As Flowey gleefully bludgeoned Hiro with several rings of pellets, Hiro couldn't even move to avoid the attacks, reliving the searing pain he felt during his fight against the flower's Omega version. He could feel his HP bar get chipped away with each hit as his soul flickered violently. What felt like several minutes of torture, Flowey stopped with a final ring slowly closing in to Hiro's soul as it rests on 1 HP. He was hoping to savor the last hit as Hiro silently pleaded for someone to help him. Just as the ring got closer, a ring of fire surrounded Hiro, deflecting the pellets.

Flowey: What?

Hiro: Fire...

Toriel (struggling against the vines): Do not be afraid, my child... (smiles) No matter what happens, we will always be there to protect you!

Hiro (sees a point of HP go up): Oh!

(Flowey throws a line of pellets on opposite sides, sees them get blocked by a bone and a spear)

Papyrus (smiles while pushing against the vines): THAT'S RIGHT, HUMAN! YOU CAN WIN! JUST DO WHAT I WOULD DO, BELIEVE IN YOU!!!

Undyne (grins while trying to rip the vines): Hey! Human! If you got past ME, you can do ANYTHING! So don't worry! We're with you all the way!

Sans (smiles): Huh? You haven't beaten this guy yet? Come on, this weirdo got nothing on you.

Hiro (sees his HP raise more): My health's coming back...

(Flowey attempts to attack again, but the pellets are blocked by flames and lightning, stares in frustration)

Alphys (picks at the vines): Technically, it's impossible for you to beat him, b-but somehow, I know you can do it!!

Asgore: Human, for the future of humans and monsters...! You have to stay determined...

Hiro: I will!

Soon, monsters from nearly all cross the underground came to encourage and cheer Hiro on. He could feel his strength returning, his soul glowing, and he was becoming filled with determination. Seeing this made Flowey wither into himself.

Flowey (growls in frustration): NO! Unbelievable!! This can't be happening...!

Hiro (tries to push against the box): Let me out!

Flowey: You....YOU....!

(everything freezes)

Hiro: Eh?

Flowey (evil smile): I can't believe you're all so STUPID. (glowing) ALL OF YOUR SOULS ARE MINE!!!

Hiro (covering his eyes): Aaah!! Stop!!!

The area lit up in a blinding white light as Flowey vanished within, his maniacal laughter echoing. As quickly as the light shone powerfully, darkness soon took over in a snap. Hiro was able to see again and found himself outside of his tiny box. Ahead of him stood a figure in a striped shirt who has their back turned to him. It was looking around for a moment before the shoulders started quivering. It was hard to tell what emotion it is feeling as it flexed its hands and spoke with a voice that was familiar to Hiro, but once the figure turned to Hiro, he was shocked. The figure before him looked like a much younger version of Asgore and Toriel, which he assume this was the child who lost his life from what the stories he heard had mentioned.

???: Howdy! Hiro, are you there?

Hiro: Err...

???: It's me, your best friend.

Hiro: Best- (flinches away from the flash of light) Ah!

-+ASRIEL DREEMURR+-

Asriel had suddenly went from a small goat boy to a young adult version of himself. His outfit was similar to Toriel's but with straps draping on his shoulders and a popped-up collar. His eyes are black with white irises, and a mark is present on his cheeks. Hiro can feel it, it's the end as the area became a battlefield. Hiro checked his options and only saw CHECK, HOPE, and DREAM. He wasn't sure what he could do with them, but he felt like he needed them. He tried HOPE out and held onto them, hoping that he won't get hurt as much during this fight. He floated around a little, managing to get hit twice, but realizing it didn't hurt as much. As he floated in the air, Hiro noticed the area was glowing brighter.

Hiro: Huh? (covering his eyes)

When Hiro lowered his arms and opens his eyes, he was stunned by the sight. The battlefield was gone and he and Asriel were flying through a corridor of colors. Streams of colors rushed by as Asriel swayed side to side, leaving a rainbow afterimage trail behind him. Hiro began to think about why he's here now as he felt his inventory space grow smaller.

Hiro: Eh? (sees Asriel raise his arms, stars sparkling in his hands as he vanishes) What's he- (sees giant rainbow stars dropping onto the field that came up under him, tries to dodge the smaller stars that exploded out) Wah!! (ends up with half his HP gone) Guh, that was crazy!! (sees a notification that Asriel is charging up “SHOCKER BREAKER”) Wh-What's that?! (takes out a Sea Tea he saved and drinks it, feels his speed rising and his health back to full)

Asriel (medium voice): You know... (shrugs, shaking his head) I don't care about destroying this world anymore. (raises his arms, lightning bolts sparking in his hands as he vanished again)

Hiro (sees a line of red boxes appear): Uh oh!! (tries to dodge the lightning bolts but was still struck by them, halving his HP again) Ack... (hears Asriel calling on “CHAOS SABER”) Chaos...? (decided his next move and eats a crab apple to heal himself to full)

Asriel: After I defeat you and gain total control over the timeline...I just want to reset everything.

Hiro: Timeline...? Was that why... (finds himself in a shrunken box, seeing Asriel wield two swords) Gah! (manages to dodge the sword, but not one of the stars and his HP dropped to 15) Ack! (raises his hope while holding onto it, reducing the incoming damage)

Asriel: All your progress.... Everyone's memories... I'll bring them all back to zero! (creates lightning in his hands again)

Hiro: I won't- (tries to dodge the lightning bolts again poorly, his HP at 7) Gaaah!! (sees Asriel preparing something called “STAR BLAZING”) Gotta heal! (drinks a Sea Tea, but it only heals him up to 17) I hope this is okay...

Asriel: Then we can do everything ALL over again. (disappears)

Hiro (desperately tries to dodge all of the stars dropping on his field, manages to survive with 7 HP): So many stars...! (sees a notification of Asriel preparing “CHAOS BUSTER”) Chaos buster?! (digs in his inventory again and quickly eats another crab apple)

Asriel: And you know what the best part of all this is? You'll DO it.

Hiro (finishing the apple): W-What? Me?! (sees a giant weapon that's pointing three laser lights at him) Aah!!

Asriel guided his laser cannon at Hiro as he took a few shots at the boy. The square-shaped bullets sometimes came out in bursts of three or four lines as Hiro frantically dodged them. It was so infrequent that Hiro couldn't keep dodging them, thus his soul split.

Hiro: Too...much.... I can't... (thinks about his friends) No.... I still got...things I want...to do.... I... (sees his soul pieces get closer) I..! (soul glowing) I REFUSE!!

Hiro felt his soul fuse back together as one, a sudden burst of resolve shot through his body as the light dimmed and the colors rushed by him again from the darkness he nearly fell into. There, he faced Asriel again, realizing why he is here now. He has to save his friends from the fate that Asriel wishes to accomplish. He draws upon his determination once again to try to get through the older goat boy's attacks. Even when he was hit to the point of surviving with 2 HP, Hiro dodged the final rainbow cannon blast that shot between his ACT and ITEM buttons. Hiro didn't even pay attention to what was coming up as he spotted an item called Last Dream in his inventory. That was what was causing his storage spots to fill up when he used his Dream option. Using the item, he can feel his dream come true as his HP shot back up to full along with his determination. Asriel had mentioned how he would use Hiro to reset the timeline.

Asriel: And you'll lose to me again. (brings out his swords)

Hiro (readies himself): Tch. (tries to dodge the sword, but felt like he lost control of himself for a moment; loses) Not like this!! (soul refuses) I won't lose!!

Once again, his will to fight would not let him perish as he went through Asriel's attacks again, his determination growing even more. Yet, he fell again, but that didn't bother him anymore. He was determined to get past Asriel, just like he was with the others through the underground. He can't stop here. Not now, not ever. Using his hopes and dreams, Hiro managed to get back to where he was as Asriel pulled out his Chaos Buster, blasting at Hiro as he tries to dodge the shots. He survived with 10 HP and used a Last dream, healing himself. Asriel soon let out a barrage of lightning bolts as Hiro was getting struck by them, living with 5 HP left. Again, Hiro didn't notice what was coming up next as he used another Last Dream.

Asriel: Because you want a “happy ending”. (creates stars in his hands again)

Hiro: Again... (dodges most of the stars except one, but lives with 15 HP) I almost got it... (hears Asriel call on “CHAOS SLICER”) Chaos Slicer... His swords? (looks at his options) Hmm... (decides to dream a Last Dream as his HP raises to 19) Hmm...

Asriel: Because you “love your friends”.

Hiro: I do love my friends! (dodges the swords and stars just enough to live on 9 HP; uses a Last Dream) Chaos Blaster... I'm ready!

Asriel: Because you “never give up”.

Hiro: And I won't! (manages to dodge the shots and the laser, but gets caught off guard by the spray of stars) AAAH?! He added those?! (uses a Last Dream)

Asriel: Isn't that delicious? Your “determination”. The power that let you get this far... It's gonna be your downfall!

Hiro: I thought he meant the dreams... Ehe.. (dodges more lightning bolts and healing some of his lost HP back; sees a warning of Asriel preparing “HYPER GONER”) H-Hyper Goner? What is that...?

Asriel: Now, ENOUGH messing around! It's time to purge this timeline once and for all!

As Asriel gave a shrug, Hiro's field grew to the point of breaking. Ahead of him, a giant goat skull with four horns (he thinks?) appeared. It let out deep guttural laugh before opening it mouth, sucking everything around it in an attempt to pull Hiro in. Hiro frantically tried to dodge everything that was draw while keeping his distance from the giant maw until a giant ball of light caused it to collapse. He soon found himself before Asriel again with 1 HP left.

Asriel (impressed): Even after that attack, you're still standing in my way...?

Hiro (breathing heavily): ….

Asriel: Wow... You really ARE something special. But don't get cocky. Up until now, I've only been using a fraction of my REAL power. Let's see what good your DETERMINATION is against THIS!!

Hiro: O..Only...? How much..?

Hiro watched on as Asriel's body grew larger while glowing brightly. When the light dimmed, Hiro saw a grotesque version of Asriel blocking his way. He was enormous, the horns on his head grew longer, his ears drooped longer, curling under his floating head. His eyes are the same, but his teeth were black, shown clearly by the white of his mouth. Torn pieces of black cloth bellowed from his shoulders along with his colorful demonic wings that shifted colors quickly like someone was turning a kaleidoscope at a furious pace. His arms were skeletal in nature besides the fur that reach his elbows from his hands and the bit on his shoulders. His forearms has a hollow heart on them with a glowing orb in them and the skeletal arms weren't fully visible as light crawled up them. His body consists only a pulsing, glowing orb with a black heart inside, and a misshapen heart on the bottom that possibly serves as his legs with a wavelength pulsating in the center. It was something Hiro tried to comprehend, but barely could, and that wasn't the only thing he couldn't do. All he could do was struggle as he found his body being unable to move.

Hiro: Wh-What's...happening...?!

Asriel (gloating, deep voice): Behold my TRUE power! (raises his arms, setting loose a barrage of rainbow flames)

Hiro (feels himself move): Ah, I gotta- (gets hit by a fireball) Ah. (feels his soul refuse) Grrr (sees his health return to full) Oh, I healed! (tries to move, but can't) Ah. I can't move again...

Asriel: I can feel it.... Every time you die, your grip on this world slips away. Every time you die, you friends forget you a little more. Your life will end here, in a world where no one remembers you...

Hiro: No way...I-I don't want that...! (dodges more fireballs; gets hit several times with 5 HP left) Errgh... I need to... (tries to reach the ITEM button, but can't) N-No..!

Asriel: Still, you're hanging on...? That's fine. In a few moments, you'll forget everything, too. That attitude will serve you well in your next life!

Hiro (gets hit and dies to a fireball): I... I-I don't wanna forget everything... I don't wanna be forgotten... (sees his soul refuse slower) Aagh... (tries to struggles again)

Asriel: Still? Come on... Show me what good your DETERMINATION is now!

Hiro (dodges the fireballs, gets hit once; glances around as he could see the whole world is ending): I...can't....

Hiro drifted in darkness as he tried to move his body in weak desperation. He kept struggling, but nothing happened. He even tried to reach his SAVE file, but nothing happened. He kept trying to reach his SAVE, still nothing happened.

His SAVE file... He won't be able to reach those gleaming Save Stars he often came across to save his progress.

Save...

Save?

Maybe, with what little power he had...

That's it!

Hiro: I can SAVE something else!!

A light flashed from within Hiro as his ACT button transformed in a rainbow SAVE button. When he selected it, a list of his friends appeared. He chose Undyne first, reached out to Asriel's SOUL and called out to her. He felt that she and the others are in him somewhere! Soon, he could tell from the depths of Asriel's SOUL, something was coming through. Undyne appeared before Hiro, her face obscured by glitchy white smoke. In his first ACT with her, he had the options Fake Hit, Recipe, Smile, and Clash.

Hiro (chooses Recipe): Hey, Undyne! I got a recipe I need help with! Can you help me?

Undyne: I-I...want to...teach... (suddenly moves) All humans will die!!

Hiro (blocks Undyne's spears): I almost forgot about this!! (manages to block them all) Phew... Let's see... Ah! (picks Clash) Here I come, Undyne! (clashes against Undyne)

Undyne (fights back): This...fighting spirit... It feels... (draws up her attacks again) You're our real enemy...

Hiro (tries to block the spears, but misses two): Ack. Umm... Heh... (smile widely) I made it!

Undyne: That smile....!! (feels the memories flooding back as the smokes dissipates from her face) Oh! Well, some humans are OK, I guess.

Hiro: Hehe! (feels something resonating inside Asriel) Next... Alphys! Let me help you! (sees Alphys with white smoke on her face, but also wearing the black polka dot dress from the fake date) That dress... (sees options are Encourage, Call, Nerd Out, and Quiz; chooses Nerd Out) Alphys, what's your favorite cartoon?

Alphys: M-My favorite...My f-favorite anime i-is- (sighs) You hate me, don't you...?

Hiro: No, I don't! (notices his soul is yellow) This is...! (shoots at the Mini-Mettatons floating down, but still gets hit) This is Mettaton's stuff! Umm, Alphys! No matter what, I'll keep supporting you!

Alphys: S-Support me..? Y-You...believe... (shakes her head) I've got to keep lying..

Hiro (blasts the bombs dropping down towards him): Don't like those. (takes out his phone and calls her number) Alphys, can you hear me through that?

Alphys (starts to sweat): W-Why is he... This is..!! (feels the memories flooding back as the smokes dissipates from her face) No, that's not true! My friends like me! And I like you, too!

Hiro: Thanks, Alphys. (feels something resonating inside Asriel) Now... Toriel! Can you hear me?! (sees both Toriel and Asgore appear) Both!? He must've wanted to follow her... (nods) Okay! (sees the options Talk, Hug, Mercy, and Preference) Um, who am I talking to? (tries Preference) Um, hey, I think I prefer cinnamon to butterscotch, sorry. (sees Toriel reacting) Oh, it was Toriel!

Toriel: Cinnamon...? He... Where have I heard this...? (raises her hand along with Asgore's) This is for your own good.

Asgore: Forgive me for this.

Hiro (dodges the flames as they sweep across the battlefield): That was close! (looks at Asgore) What about Asgore? (sees Talk, Stare, Mercy, Hug; chooses Mercy) Asgore, I'm sorry I hurt you before, but I won't do it again, no matter what!

Asgore: ...He won't...hurt me again...? Why does this... (shakes his head) This is my duty.

Toriel: No one will leave again. (sends out more flames with Asgore again)

Hiro (dodges the flames but gets hit once): Ack! (runs up to Asgore and hugs him) It'll be okay!

Asgore (wants to hug Hiro back): This...is calming my spirit...

(Toriel and Asgore stares at Hiro before unleashing more flames)

Hiro: Wah, not again! (gets hits) Ouch! (flies at Toriel and hugs her) Toriel, I'll see you again, so don't worry!

Toriel (wants to hug Hiro back): This feeling... He's...!

(Toriel and Asgore feels the memories flooding back as the smoke dissipates from their faces)

Toriel: Your fate is up to you now!

Asgore: You are our future!

Hiro: Right! (feels something resonating inside Asriel) If this is how it goes... Sans! Papyrus! Can you hear me! (sees both Sans and Papyrus appear before him) I knew it! (sees the options Joke, Puzzle, Recipe, and Insult) This must be Papyrus... (choose Puzzle) Papyrus, there's a puzzle I don't understand. Can you help me?

Papyrus: A...A PUZZLE THE HUMAN DOESN'T UNDERSTAND!? I-I...I MUST... (stomps his foot) I MUST CAPTURE A HUMAN!

Sans: this will never end....

Hiro (notices Sans's voice is different): Huh? (doesn't realize bones were hitting him) Agh! I need to jump! (jumps over the bones) Ergh, I almost messed up! (sees Sans's options as Take Break, Joke, Judgment, and Crossword; chooses Joke) Hey, Sans! Umm... How does it go... How can you tell when a skeleton is excited?

Sans: ….

Hiro: When he reaches a...”femur pitch”! I think that's how it went? I heard someone say that... (feels Papyrus's agitation over the joke) Ehehe...

Sans: heh...that was a good one...still... what's the point in even trying...?

Papyrus: THEN EVERYONE WILL...

Hiro (hops over the bones): Is it just me, or did Sans's voice change...? (trips on one) Wah! (steadies himself) Um, I'm getting hungry... Papyrus, I want to, um, try your spaghetti again. (tries to keep the memory of that one bite away)

Papyrus (struggled to hide his joy): HE...HE WANTS ME TO MAKE SOMETHING FOR HIM!? M-MAYBE! BUT.….

Sans: they'll never return... no matter how long....i...

Hiro: Sans... You sound tired. Let's take a break from fighting, okay?

Sans: a break...from fighting... (nods his head solemnly) ...that sounds...nice... That's why...!!

(Sans and Papyrus feels the memories flooding back as the smoke dissipates from their faces)

Papyrus: NO, WAIT! YOU'RE MY FRIEND! I COULD NEVER CAPTURE YOU!

Sans: I'm rooting for you, kid!

Hiro: Thanks! I can feel them all reaching out from inside Asriel! But...why do I feel like there's someone else.... Everyone else remembered me again... But who... (feels something resonating strongly inside Asriel) There's someone else...? (realizes) It's... (a voice calls out with his) ASRIEL!

Asriel: Huh? What are you doing...?!

Hiro: Asriel! Can you hear me!!?

Throughout his travels, Hiro often had terrifying visions of a version of himself harming the monsters of the underground, and a few that showed an older version of himself with someone that looked like Asriel. But this set of visions was different. He saw a child on the ground, wearing clothes similar to his. The child stood up to find the younger Asriel wanting to help them. Asriel escorted the child further into the underground where his parents were, and it seems like...the child was adopted into the family. It was hard to tell what the child's face looked like with the flowers covering their face, but Hiro... Hiro could feel the warmth coming from these visions, these memories within Asriel.

Asriel: Wh..What did you do...? What's this feeling...? What's happening to me?

Hiro: Can you feel it, too?

Asriel: No! NO! I don't need ANYONE! (blasts a barrage of flames at Hiro)

Hiro: AAH!! (frantically tries to dodge the flames; hits the ITEM button) Oh, I can use my stuff again! (uses a Last Dream) Asriel-

Asriel: STOP IT! Get away from me! Do you hear me!? I'll tear you apart!! (raises his arms to send a barrage of flames, but not much came out)

Hiro: Huh? Not a lot came- (gets hit) Ow... (shakes his head and approaches Asriel) Asriel...

Asriel: …...Hiro.... Do you know why I'm doing this...? Why I keep fighting to keep you around...?

Hiro: Um, no...? (sees fireballs dropping towards him) Ah! (sees them float past him) Ah? The flames aren't hitting me?

Asriel: I'm doing this...because you're special, Hiro. You're the only one who understands me. You're the only one who's any fun to play with anymore.

Hiro (watches the small fireballs fall like rain around him): Was I...?

Asriel: ….No... That's just not it. I... I... I'm doing this because I care about you, Hiro! I care about you more than anybody else!

Hiro (tries to get closer to Asriel as the flame drift past him): Does he mean me....or...

Asriel: I'm not ready for this to end. I'm not ready for you to leave. I'm not ready to say goodbye to someone like you again...

Hiro (stops before Asriel, but he seems to keep being pushed back as the flames fall): Again... It's not me he's talking to...

Asriel: So, please... STOP doing this...AND JUST LET ME WIN!! (creates an orb of light in his hands and sends a powerful blast at Hiro)

Hiro: Aaah!! (struggles to reach Asriel, not noticing his health is dropping) ASRIEL!!

Asriel: STOP IT!!

Hiro (pushes against the blast): I won't!!

Asriel: STOP IT NOW!!

Hiro (voice overlaps with another's voice): I WON'T!! (sees his HP number show 00.0000000001/20 and only the SAVE button remaining) …..

(both Hiro and Asriel are floating before each other, exhausted)

Asriel: …..Hiro...

Hiro (presses the Save button): …..

Asriel: I'm so alone, Hiro....

Hiro (keeps pressing the SAVE button): ….

Asriel: I'm so afraid, Hiro....

Hiro (notices Asriel's body fading): His body...

Asriel (only his head remains): I...

As Hiro tried to reach to Asriel, the area began to glow. After a while, the light faded and revealed Asriel being back into his child form, crying.

Hiro: Asriel?

Asriel: I'm so sorry... (wipes his eyes with his sleeve before looking at Hiro) I always was a crybaby, wasn't I, Hiro?

Hiro: Um? I..don't know?

Asriel: …. I know. You're not actually Hiro, are you?

Hiro?: Eh? I am! I....think...? That's my name...right..? Why?

Asriel (another name is heard under the name “Hiro” as he mentioned it): Hiro's been gone for a long time. ...Um...What IS your name?

Hiro?: My name... My name is.... (sees a vision of a child in a green shirt with a yellow stripe on it) Ah...maybe that's who Hiro is..but why doesn't that feel right..? Ah... A name is... My name is....Frisk.

SNAP

Frisk? (jolts): Huh?! Did something break..? I feel like...

Asriel: Frisk? That's...a nice name. ...Frisk...

Frisk: Y-Yeah?

Asriel: I haven't felt like this for a long time. As a flower, I was soulless. I lacked the power to love other people. However, with everyone's souls inside me, I not only have my compassion back...but I can feel every other monster's as well. They all care about each other so much, and....they care about you too, Frisk.

Frisk: Oh.

Asriel: I wish I could tell you how everyone feels about you. Papyrus...Sans...Undyne...Alphys...Toriel. Monsters are weird. Even though they barely know you, it feels like they all really love you. (chuckles)

Frisk: Everyone...

Asriel: Frisk...I...I understand if you can't forgive me. I understand if you hate you. I acted so strange and horrible. I hurt you. I hurt so many people. Friends, family, bystanders, there's no excuse for what I've done.

Frisk (sees a box showing “Forgive” and “Do Not”): Um......That's weird... I don't feel that weird feeling anymore. It knew what to say, but now... Asriel's sorry for what he did, so... (presses Forgive)

Asriel: Wh..what?

Frisk: You're sorry for what you did, right?

Asriel: ….Frisk..come on...You're gonna make me cry again... Besides, even if you do forgive me...I can't keep these souls inside of me. The least I can do is return them. But first... There's something I have to do.

Frisk: Really?

Asriel: Yep! Right now, I can feel everyone's hearts beating as one. They're all burning with the same desire. With everyone's power... With everyone's determination.... It's time for monsters...to finally go free.

Frisk watched as Asriel lifted his arms and rose into the air, floating. With some silent chanting, a spark flashed from Asriel's body as he glowed, growing ever brighter. Suddenly, the human souls spin around Asriel and hundreds of monster souls spiraled out of the goat boy like a windstorm. With so many souls around, the barrier couldn't handle the pressure and shattered, opening the way to freedom. As the souls returned to their owners, Asriel returned to the ground, his body looked like it was fading.

Frisk: Asriel! Are you okay?

Asriel (exhausted): Yes.... Frisk... I have to go now. Without the power of everyone's souls...I can't keep maintaining this form. In a little while, I'll turn back into a flower. I'll stop being “myself”. I'll stop being able to feel love again.

Frisk: Oh...

Asriel: So...Frisk. It's best if you just forget about me, ok? Just go be with the people who love you.

Frisk didn't even bother looking at the pop-up screen to decide to comfort Asriel with a hug. He knew he had to let Asriel go, but he wanted to leave him with a good memory, even if it's eventually forgotten.

Asriel (laughs solemnly): I don't want to let go...

Frisk: It's okay... (lets Asriel go and steps back)

Asriel: Frisk... You're... You're going to do a great job, okay? No matter what you do. Everyone will be there for you, okay?

Frisk: Okay.

Asriel (turns away): Well... My time's running out. Goodbye.

Frisk: ...Goodbye.

Asriel (starts to walk away, but stops then faces Frisk): By the way...

Frisk: Yeah?

Asriel: Frisk. ...take care of Mom and Dad for me, okay?

Frisk (nods): I will!

With a thankful smile, Asriel walked away as the area began to light up as if the feeling of sunlight had managed to pierce through the veil of his dream. Frisk could hear familiar voices calling out his name through the darkness and after a while, he woke up to find himself on the ground, surrounded by his friends.

Frisk: Huh..? (sits up and glances around confused) What happened...?

Toriel: Oh! You are awake! Thank goodness!

Alphys: W-We were so worried...! It felt like you were out forever!

Frisk: Really?

Undyne: Yeah! Any longer and I would have freaked out! Tell us next time you decide to take a nap, okay!?

Sans: Yeah. You made Papyrus cry like a baby.

Papyrus: WHAT!! I DIDN'T CRY!!! I DON'T CRY!! I JUST...CAUGHT SOMETHING IN MY EYE.

Sans: What did you catch?

Papyrus (tears rolling down his cheekbones): TEARS!!!

Asgore: Now, now. The important part is that Frisk is all right. Here, Frisk. (holds out a cup of tea) Why not drink some tea? It'll make you feel better.

Toriel (glares at Asgore): Errr.... How about we give him space first? He must be very exhausted. (looks confused) Though, from what, I am not certain. Frisk, we do not remember exactly what happened. There was a flower...and then, everything went white. But now the barrier is gone. (smiles) When you are ready, we will all return to the surface. It seems the door to the east will us there now. But before then, you might want to take a walk? You can say goodbye to all of your wonderful friends. Do as you wish. We will all wait for you here.

Frisk decided to do just that. He first spoke to Asgore who apologized for trying to take his SOUL, hoping to still be pals with him. Undyne commented about how everyone tried to kill the boy at least once and Asgore took back his apology, prompting a retort from her. Alphys asked Frisk if Asgore and Toriel will ever get back together but from what Frisk saw between them, he shook his head with a resounding nope; she figured as much, but a woman can dream, right? Along with writing A LOT of fanfiction. Just not of real people, since she thinks that real life is the greatest fanfiction of all. Frisk wasn't too sure what that's about, but shrugged just to agree, not realizing she plans on posting it online. Asgore had soon realized that since they stopped fighting, he had the opportunity to ask him if he would like some tea. Frisk accepted, but the one Asgore offered before had gone cold by now. Asgore didn't want to give it to Frisk, but was happy that the boy accepted it regardless and will make another one at some point. Undyne asked Alphys what she planned to do with her freedom with the whole world to explore, and Alphys thought about going out somewhere, but she honestly wanted to stay inside and watch anime like a total loser. Papyrus interjected with a call for a celebration of being losers and Undyne felt he had the right idea, seeing as she felt that losing to Frisk was the best thing to happen to her. She then noticed Asgore looking at them, asking what an anime is. Alphys had a look on her face like she wanted to give a full-length explanation and whispered to Frisk, asking him to help her tell him what it is. They explained that it's a cartoon with swords. Asgore was amused by this and wanted to see one, so Alphys pulled one up on her phone, realizing too late that she showed one where two robots were kissing, surprising Asgore and also Undyne.

Asgore: Golly! Technology sure is something, is it?

Alphys (laughing nervous): Y-Yeah.

Following that, Undyne asked Alphys if she had anything with fighting and princesses, mainly both in one. Alphys agreed to help look for some which excited the fish woman. While the two women did so, Papyrus asked Asgore about making him a member of the Royal Guard. Asgore mentioned that since the war is over, there might not be a need for them anymore. Shocked by this, Papyrus questioned the point of Frisk's journey and the fact he's still not in the Royal Guard, considering this situation to be the worst ending, telling the boy that while he might have botched his quest, he, the great Papyrus, will always be his friend, no matter how hard one tries to get rid of him as Sans commented. Papyrus retorted in agreement. Sans asked Frisk about the weird expression on his face as he got near where Toriel was standing and before the boy could answer, Toriel mentioned the time Frisk had flirted with her and asked to call her “mother”. The brothers reacted to this and Frisk couldn't hear them over the overwhelming embarrassment he felt at the moment, catching Sans asking for more embarrassing stories from her, which she certainly has but felt that one was the best one. She didn't think anyone would flirt with her, prompting a laugh out of Alphys.

Frisk wished he was still out cold so he wouldn't be so embarrassed.

Frisk wanted to speak to Sans, but he stated that he's supposed to be working, with Papyrus reacting to him about not doing so. Sans knew since it was taking all of his concentration. Frisk thought he caught something strange about that how he said that, but shook it off. Toriel told Frisk that Alphys upgraded her phone, enjoying the texting feature. She had already sent a few to Sans while Papyrus looked on, remarking on how the Queen has returned only to turn out to be a huge dork. He fussed at them for texting each other so closely, but Toriel says they had a good reason for it. Papyrus questioned it and Sans replied that they're huge dorks, which Toriel figured he was more of a bonehead. Papyrus thought the puns were less funny coming from her, the smile on his face getting caught by Sans.

Papyrus: IT'S A PITY SMILE!!!

After the conversations, Frisk told the others he'll be back and went to visit the other monsters. Along the way, Toriel and Frisk texted each other after she was taught how to do so by Sans and Alphys. She sent one that has a smiley face with horns ( ]: ) ), it's supposed to be her smiling at him. At one point, Toriel had Sans take over the texting, and he proceeded to do some prank texting, pretending he was Toriel baking 10 thousand pies and asking Frisk if he wanted some. Toriel denied ever typing the previous text. The next few texts seemed to be Toriel and Sans getting back at each other before Toriel possibly regained control of her phone. The next text has Toriel mentioning a video of a small, white animal, but had forgotten to add a video of what it actually looked like. He got an ASCII picture of a snail, courtesy of Toriel, and she mentioned that Undyne and Papyrus wanted to cook something with her. Frisk was a bit worried, but with Toriel there, he figured everything will be okay. Frisk spotted the hand monster and spoke with her. She told him that the hotel won't be receiving any more guests anymore, or ever again for that matter. Frisk went around the area, chatting with the monsters on their thoughts of leaving the Underground. One was happy to be without reservations, one just got raise, and one would be glad to not run into puzzles so much.

Frisk: Hmm, there might still be a lot of puzzles around....

Frisk continued back to the lobby where he spotted the monsters near the elevator. They were pretty happy that it was working again, but they now have to wait because the other monsters are using it. He then went to visit Burgerpants and was told that despite being free, he wasn't going to clock out early. Still, he's also convinced that he had a hand in the monsters' freedom, whatever it may have been. Once he's out on the surface, he believes that with his qualifications, he'll become a famous movie star, if he doesn't end up back to flipping burgers again. But on the positive side, one can only go up (literally!). Though, he felt that since Underground opened up, his chances of having the double date with Bratty and Catty possibly dropped to zero.

Burgerpants: Here's a trick, little buddy: Lie to yourself all the time. It makes you feel better.

After Frisk spoke with him and the origami host who understands that despite the hotel shutting down is still proud of it being passed through, he exited the hotel, receiving a text from Toriel. She said that if she and Sans started a band, it would be called “Dreemurr and Femur”. It did get a chuckle out of Frisk, but it was cut short when Toriel said not to call her “Dreemurr”.

She's definitely not getting back with Asgore.

Frisk made his way up the alley where Bratty and Catty stayed and chatted with them. They heard the news of being free, and were pretty chill about it. Frisk then remembered what the duo said before and told them that he was human. Bratty was taken aback by this and backtracked the desire as a joke, although Catty was unsure if they said it. Bratty claimed it was their catchphrase, but Catty was also unsure of that.

Catty: I thought our catchphrase was “B-B-Bratty's the best, C-C-Catty's the coolest!”

Bratty has never heard of that phrase, but Catty would love for it to be one. Catty wants to fulfill a dream of them getting a pet cat, which Bratty thought it was only Catty's dream. She didn't want to have the dream without her and it was a touching moment until she said Bratty was going to be one to clean after it. Frisk asked them if they love cats and they both responded that they did. Frisk heard Catty saying they were cute, but swore he misheard Bratty saying they're tasty. An awkward silence later was broken by Catty's shout as Bratty teased that she was (half) joking. When asked if she even saw a cat, Catty mentioned she met a white one recently and was petting it for a hour, but Bratty thinks it was actually a dog. Dogs are just firm cats according to Catty. Once they said their goodbyes, Frisk continued onward. He visited the Nice Cream guy and the Royal Guard pair. The Nice Cream guy is happy that he'll be able to sell his treats to the humans on the surface, and the rabbit-eared Royal Guard was bummed out that Undyne had decided to disband the Guard. At least his partner seems happy just being with him. Speaking of Undyne, Toriel had texted him that Papyrus made a bet with her to lift everyone present with her, and she did, but now Undyne can't seem to figure out how to put them down.

Frisk: Aww, wish I could see that...

Frisk continued his trek, getting a text from Toriel mentioning how Alphys told her about the human world, despite some things being wrong. She suspected him saying strange things to her, but Frisk doesn't remember doing something like that. He went into the next area and recognized the lion man next to the promotional poster. It turns out he was the one of the callers from Mettaton's show and was even given his dress from one of the segments. Toriel texted him about how playing video games too long is unhealthy, but she hadn't seen him do so, so she figured he was pretty healthy. Frisk would've played some if he wasn't too busy getting chased down by some of the monsters and trying to leave the Underground. He moved on to the next area and ran into Muffet who had just finished up tallying the donations she received.

It was enough to rescue all of the Ruins spiders plus a spider baseball field!

Muffet already prepared some baseball donuts and Frisk would love to try them, even if they're made of spiders. The scent of cobwebs still hangs in the air as he continued on, passing through the vent puzzle area and meeting the guy who bought the expensive donut. He promised himself that he won't buy any donuts from spiders and made it his resolution. As Frisk moved further, he got a text from Toriel saying that she may have to turn her phone off soon but found his friends to be quite lovely and wanted to spend time getting to know them.

Frisk: I think she'll like them!

The trek throughout Hotland was an interesting one. Pyrope is hoping for human friends (or not), the mouse broke into the safe and got the cheese, the airplane confessed that, after careful consideration, she did not love him. She was only interested in the concept of love, and through those desires, she built a false version of Frisk. She figured it was best to say nothing at all.

Airplane: Y... Y-You i-idiot...

Love. This must be the regular kind, not the one that Sans has mentioned. Frisk only knew of the kind he got from his parents before he was left orphaned. He also knew of the love from his friends that he made along the way, on the surface and in the Underground. Even the acronym which was the destructive Level Of ViolencE that he never gained. But the love that shared between one and another, like his parents? Will he get to have something like that? He's unsure, but he's happy with what he has right now. He kept going until he reached the bridge and met the clam man again who's looking forward to drinking more water on the surface. Frisk headed across the bridge and looked back, noticing the puddle of water he left from emptying the cooler has a tree sapling growing from it. He went back to it to observe it for a while.

Frisk: Hope it doesn't burn up here.

Frisk moved on further past the entrance of Hotland, he reentered Waterfall and met the monsters there as well. He met the old monster who didn't believe that everyone was freed, The most of the temmies are happy about the news, although some are staying (one is still stuck in the wall and another one wants to stay with its (hard-boiled) egg). Even the dancing mushroom is filled with unbridled joy at the fact that he'll be relocated to the surface. He visited Gerson and finally got told why Asgore was called Flufflybuns. The King and Queen were having a public meeting and after the Queen finished, she didn't realize the mic was still on and caught the word as she passed it to him. The crowd broke into laughter then stopped once it was the King's turn, then he accidentally called himself King Fluffybuns. That had Frisk laughing as well. Once he finished, he had a thought about it, and asked if Asgore was a goat. That reminded Gerson of the time Toriel wore a muu-muu dress and people were complimenting it, but she mistook it as them calling her a cow and never wore again after that. He then proceeded to talk about how Asgore was the strongest of the Boss Monsters and when they have offspring, the SOUL power flows from the parent to the child, causing the child to grow as the parents age. But when he mentioned that Asgore didn't have a child, Frisk felt it was wrong, but didn't mention it. He did remember hearing the story of the monster and human children of Toriel and Asgore, so he had to ask Gerson.

Frisk: What if the child....was a human?

Gerson: Nah. That wouldn't work. If Asgore's your father, he'd definitely outlive you.

Gerson soon stated that Asgore is the king and Toriel is the queen. Something clicked in Frisk's mind because he could've sworn she had taken over as queen. Did he imagine that..? He didn't catch some of what Gerson said, only about how insufferable the couple were in public, being all cutesy and lovey-dovey and embarrassing their children. Frisk remembered his parents were like that, too, although he didn't seem to feel embarrassed by them. When he mentioned Undyne, he was surprised to hear that Gerson was once a hero called the “Hammer of Justice”, and Undyne would follow him around as he defeated the bad guys. She'd help as well, but it would usually be against those aren't really bad guys. He did appreciate the help. After that enlightening visit, Frisk made his way further into Waterfall where he met the snails again (one of them even bought a hat) and went to the next area where he ran into Napstablook and Mettaton outside their homes. Alphys had given him a new body after the previous one was nearly destroyed, so that's one worry lifted off Frisk's mind. He's heard about the barrier being broken and is excited to see the sun, one he considers the greatest spotlight of all. He also thanked Frisk for reminding him of how fun it was to perform with others, so he decided to search for some members to add to his new troupe. Shyren's joining as his back-up singer and Napstablook will be his sound mixer, with the three of them performing together, he felt it was something that was overdue to happen. Speaking of Napstablook, they're a huge fan of Mettaton, and were happy that Frisk cheered them on. When they fake slept, they didn't think anyone would have faith in something like that. Napstablook then ask what Frisk's name is, and it occurred to him that he never did introduced himself properly.

Nor did he remember being called Frisk. Or wasn't it Hiro..?

Frisk: My name is Frisk!

Napstablook: frisk... ok, I wont forget it..

Napstablook mentioned how everyone knew of it now except for them. It was due to a light that engulfed the Underground and they just simple closed their window blinds when it attempted to get inside, so they were unable to know who Frisk is. So that was why Toriel and the others called him Frisk when he woke up. Frisk went next door and Undyne's house is still on fire, and the dummy apologized for, well, being a dummy to him. Frisk went on to meet the bird again and allowed it to carry him across the gap again. He meets the onion person who's looking forward the seeing real stars, the telescope when Sans pranked him is still in its place, then he stopped for a moment. He remembered the strange white room he found with the black and white monsters and wonder if it returned. He stepped into the next area...and didn't see the area, just the mouse hole, flower, Save Star, and a hole in the crystal with some of the cheese missing.

Frisk: Was that real...?

He pondered this as he met up with the pink creature who carried him across the way, came to the flower bridge area and past through the waterfall with the falling rocks. He soon arrived in Snowdin and visited the monsters there. He made his way through the snowstorm and arrived, spotting a large group of what he realized are the dog monsters he met along the way as well as Edogeny. Doggo is happy to have a constantly-moving family member so he can see them all the time, while Dogaressa mentioned how all of their parents are mixed together, so it technically “brought their families together”. Dogamy realized that since their parents are merged into one, he wonders if he's now married to his sister, but also that it's normal since they're dogs.

Frisk: Huh....

Frisk entered the library and was told that today was the last day it would be open, the Loox monster finally solved the puzzle he was working on, the reporter has a lot to report on and is trying to come up with a good headline, and the puzzle maker mentioned that it's going to be the last newspaper for the Underground. Frisk left the library and stopped by a few places, including Ice Wolf who can finally take a break and get some pants, one of the slime children is looking forward to playing Monsters and Humans with real humans, the smiling demon guy can stop smiling, and the scarf mouse can stop cracking jokes. He went inside Grillby's restaurant and spoke with the drunk rabbit who wondered if the overworld has hot guys and neat drinks, the teeth monster wants to try human food and use a human bathroom, the punk horse guy is glad that the local culture won't get overrun by the city folk, but also realized that everyone's leaving so it's not peach and cream, even if they're punk style. After the fish man spoke about not catching girls on his fishing rod and advising Frisk to not catch hot people with it (Frisk could've sworn he heard a whinny of dismay), he saw the little dog guard had won a game of poker against itself somehow. He met up with Grillby himself and was expecting the bird lady to translate for him.

Frisk: Huh?

Grillby: …................................Good job.

Frisk was pleasantly surprised by this. He stepped out of the restaurant and met with the bear and found out that Alphys told the king and queen about the experiments. The king felt bad for her, but the queen fired her, so there's no Royal Scientist anymore. The monster kid decided to change his role model from Undyne to Papyrus, the polar bear by the tree wants to show the humans the present-under-the-tree tradition and think they'd be weirded out by it (Frisk didn't want to say that it's already a thing on the surface), the bunny girl was told that walking a pet bunny on a leash was strange, but she thought it would be cute and thought that it's normal to walk her little brother on a leash. When talking to the rabbit guy, he's now concerned about the amalgamates roaming about. He visited the inn where he found out from the innkeeper that she is shutting down the place and she and her son are moving up to the surface, although her son didn't really see the point of it all and wants to stay. He went next door and met with the shopkeeper who is also moving out with her family and the store to the surface. She asked if the same thing happened to him, the white light that swallowed everyone up. She felt she was pulled into something, then next thing she knew, everything was normal again. She heard it was because a human came through the Underground. She could hardly believe it, and if they stopped by, she'd give them a hero's welcome. She also heard that the Ruins have been opened from the inside. The Queen had been staying in there for an untold length of time, and Frisk realized he never knew Toriel was the queen the whole time he was there. Before Frisk left Snowdin, he almost forgot to stop the skeleton brothers' home to take a final look around. He used the igloo tunnel to go the house and dropped by. He roamed around for a final look and notice the cupboard under the sink was still open.

Frisk: Ah, that was when Papyrus tried to show the bones, but the dog took them. Wonder if there's more of them.

Frisk step inside the cupboard and got the fright of his life. There's a whole room underneath the sink somehow and it had some strange stuff in it. It looked like some years had gone by with how everything looks old. He found a picture of Papyrus with a plate of spaghetti and he couldn't tell if it was taken while the food looked rancid or not, a single coin was found in the long wooden box, he found a strange food item on a thin stick that's hardening, a tap that looks like a dog food dispenser that poured dog sand when he pressed it, a broken game CD where he can see his reflection in the pieces, and a fossilized boombox that can only play “rock” music. He saw a repeatedly rejected certificate leaning against the broken pillars of what looks like a rundown shrine, a blow-up dancing character that seemed to have lost the will to fight, a blueprint with red X's that could either mean rejection or treasure, and a set of strings that looked to have become more frayed in someone's attempt to tie them together. He soon approached the shrine and came across a pair of doors, a left blue one and a right red one. He tried to open them, but they seemed to be sealed tight until he noticed what looked like some sort of broken lock.

Frisk (looks around for a clue): How to open...? (spots an image of two analog stick being pushed apart on the ceiling above the door) What's that? Two...analog sticks...? They're away from each other... (sees two arrows pointing at opposite directions) Do I need those two thingies to open it? (looks around some more; sees a smaller sign with a note saying “The motion controls were too difficult to implement.”) …..Eh? What does that mean??

Frisk was unsure how to go about it and looked around some more. He did eventually give up because he was getting a disturbing sense that something bad was behind those doors. After he left Snowdin, he trekked through the snowfields and met the monsters there. Icecap is expecting people to notice him since there's a lot of them, Gyftrot is glad everyone's leaving so he can get some peace and quiet, the cowgirl decided to stop lounging around and wonders if the dog knew, a snowdrake wonders if there are woods for them to live in, and the one Icecap Frisk has acknowledged the hat was present, too. He went into the next area and discovered that the spaghetti Papayrus made was lukewarm. Whoever or whatever tried to eat it gave up on it and Frisk was reminded of the time he tried the taller skeleton's spaghetti and he couldn't tell him how bad it was. He continued on and met another snowdrake who was worried about getting older, so he decided to invent new numbers like twenty-teen, and decided the kick the snow ball around again. He messed up a few times, but moved on before meeting up with the snowman. The snowman saw that his piece was taken cared of, then asked Frisk to take it to the surface for him. Frisk crossed a couple of areas until he spotted the snowdrake family and noticed an amalgamate among them. It turns out to be the older snowdrake's wife, the one Frisk saw in the lab. Snowy seems happy about it and the family is back and bigger than ever, considering how the older snowdrake's wife is combined with 16 other people, so he's not wrong about it. Snowy knew that even if she has to share her mind with the others, she's still his mom. Frisk continued his revisitation trek and made it to the Ruins. He told the frog that barrier is open when it said the Ruins have opened. He moved on and met three (4?) frogs and one of them was happy Frisk had matured. Frisk checked the area for a fourth frog and came across a crack in the wall and spotted not one but TWO tiny frogs!

Frisk: How lucky!

Frisk went to the next few areas and spotted the cheese on the table and notices a nibble taken out of it, most likely from the mouse. Frisk continued on and accidentally fell into the bottom of the red leaves floor, and continued on until he reached another frog, who was proud that Frisk became a thoughtful and conscientious person. He continued onward until he reached where he first fell into Mt. Ebott and found someone he didn't think would be here.

Frisk: Asriel?!

Asriel (notices Frisk): Oh, Frisk. Don't worry about me. Someone has to take care of these flowers.

Frisk: Oh... (thinks for a bit) Asriel... Maybe....Maybe you can-

Asriel (shakes his head): Frisk, please leave me alone. I can't come back. I just can't.

Frisk: Why not?

Asriel: I don't want to break their hearts all over again. It's better if they never see me. (stares at Frisk) ….Why are you still here? Are you trying to keep me company?

Frisk: Yeah? Won't you be lonely here?

Asriel: Frisk... Hey. Let me ask a question.

Frisk: Yeah?

Asriel: Why did you come here? Everyone knows the legend, right...? “Travellers who climb Mt. Ebott are said to disappear. ...Frisk. Why would ever climb a mountain like that? Was it foolishness? Was it fate? Or was it..because you...?

Frisk: Um.... Wait, why did I come down here...?

Asriel: Well. Only you know the answer, don't you...? I know why Hiro (static corruption overlayed with the name “Chara”) climbed the mountain. It wasn't for a happy reason.

Frisk (confused): Huh? What was that...?

Asriel: Frisk, I'll be honest with you. Hiro (Chara) hated humanity. Why they did, they never talked about it. But they felt really strongly about it. Frisk, you really ARE different from Hiro (Chara). In fact, though you have similar, uh, fashion choices, I don't know why I ever acted like you were the same person.

Frisk: Oh, uh, why?

Asriel: Maybe the truth is... Hiro (Chara) wasn't really the greatest person. While, Frisk... You're the type of friend I wish I always had. So maybe I was kind of projecting a little bit. Let's be honest. I did some really weird stuff as a flower.

Frisk (sweats nervously): Eh heh.. Yeah, really weird...and scary...stuff...

Asriel: There's one last thing I feel like I should tell you. When Hiro (Chara) and I combined our SOULs together, the control over our body was actually split between us.

Frisk: Eeh?! Really? But what about...

Asriel: The other body? They were the one that picked it up when it was empty. And then, when we got to the village, they were the one that wanted to.... (averts his eyes) ….to use our full power. (looks at Frisk) I was the one that resisted. And then, because of me, we...

Frisk: So that's what happened...

Asriel: Well, that's why I ended up a flower. Frisk, this whole time, I've blamed myself for that decision. That's why I adopted that horrible view of the world. “Kill or be killed.” But now, after meeting you... I don't regret that decision anymore. I did the right thing. If I killed those humans, we would have had to wage war against all of humanity. And in the end, everyone went free, right? I still feel kind of sad knowing how long it took, so maybe it wasn't a perfect decision. But you can't regret hard choices your whole life, right? (smiles exasperatedly) Well, not that I have that much of a life left. But that's besides the point.

Frisk (stares at Asriel worriedly): …..

Asriel: Frisk, thank you for listening to me. You should really go be with your friends now, okay? Oh, and please... In the future, if you, uh, see me... Don't think of it as me, okay? I just want you to remember me like this. Someone that was your friend for a little while.

Frisk: Okay.

Asriel: Oh, and Frisk, be careful in the outside world, okay? Despite what everyone thinks, it's not as nice as it is here. There are a lot of Floweys out there. And not everything can be solved by just being nice.

Frisk: ....

Asriel: Frisk... Don't kill and don't be killed, alright? That's the best you can strive for. Well, see you.

Frisk: Hmn... (hugs Asriel)

Asriel (surprised): Ah, Frisk?! Hmm..don't you have anything better to do?

Frisk: Yeah, but I just wanted to do this anyway.

Asriel: Heh. (hugs Frisk back) You really are an interesting human.

After Frisk gave Asriel one last hug again, he made his return back through the Ruins (while falling through a hole in the red leaves puzzle at one point, then proceeded to makes it through). Back through the snowfields (he got the purple flag again from the snowball game) through Snowdin, rode Riverperson's boat through Waterfall to Hotland, stopped in Asgore's home and remembered a mirror. Despite everything he had gone through, even with the doubts of his own name, it's still him. Along the way, he also remembered the coffins and went to see them again. He soon saw that all of them are open, yet the red one was empty. Frisk didn't notice before, but there were mummy wrappings inside the coffin. Whether those belonged to the previous Hiro (Chara) is something he's unsure of. Thinking about it now, Frisk realized that perhaps the previous humans' bodies and/or their SOULs were here the whole time.

Frisk eventually reunited with his friends and entered through the eastern door with the others following behind him. He realized that once he steps through these doors, his adventure will really end. As he glanced back and noticed the monsters filing in, he took a deep breath, touched the doors and spoke.

Frisk: I'm ready.

The light poured in through the widening opening of the doors as Frisk opened the way for the monsters. Once the blinding light settled, everyone was greeted by a distant mountain, a sea of green forests, and a distant ancient castle. But what stunned everyone the most was the rising sun bathing everything with its light. As the monsters made their way out of the mountain, Frisk, Toriel, Sans, Papyrus, Undyne, Alphys, and Asgore stood in awe of the scenery before them.

Toriel: Oh my...

Asgore: Isn't it beautiful, everyone?

Alphys: Wow... it's e-even better than on TV. (smiles wider) WAY better! Better than I ever imagined!

Undyne (shocked awe): Frisk, you LIVE with this!?

Frisk: Yep!

Undyne: The sunlight is so nice...and the air is so fresh! I really feel alive!

Papyrus: HEY, SANS.... WHAT'S THAT GIANT BALL?

Sans: We call that “the sun”, my friend.

Papyrus (excited): THAT'S THE SUN!? WOWIE!!! I CAN'T BELIEVE I'M FINALLY MEETING THE SUN!!!

Asgore: I could stand here and watch this for hours....

Toriel: Yes, it is beautiful, is it not? But we should really think about what comes next.

Asgore: Everyone, this is the beginning of a bright new future. An era of peace between humans and monsters. (looks at Frisk) Frisk...

Frisk: Yes?

Asgore: I have something to ask of you. Will you act as our ambassador to the humans?

Frisk: Am...bassador?

Asgore: Like...someone who can speak on our behalf.

Frisk: Oooh. Yeah, I wanna try it out!

Papyrus: YEAH! FRISK WILL BE THE BEST AMBASSADOR! AND I, THE GREAT PAPYRUS, WILL BE THE BEST MASCOT! I'LL GO AND MAKE THE FIRST IMPRESSION! (takes off running past Asgore)

Sans: Welp. Someone's gotta keep him from getting into trouble. See you guys. (walks the opposite way)

Undyne: Man, do I have to do EVERYTHING? Papyrus, wait!!! (chases after Papyrus)

Alphys: Hey, Undyne!! Wait up!! (runs after Undyne)

(silence)

Asgore: Whoops.

(awkward silence)

Asgore (twiddles his thumbs): Uh, should I do something?

Toriel (glares at Asgore): ….

Asgore (jolts back): Well, gotta go! (rushes off)

(silence)

Toriel: It seems like everyone is quite eager to set off. (turns to Frisk) ….Frisk...

Frisk (faces Toriel): Yes?

Toriel: You came from this world, right...?

Frisk: Yeah.

Toriel: So you must have a place to return to, do you not? What will you do now?

Frisk had always lived in the orphanage and been waiting for a chance to find new home. With everything he had gone through and everyone he had met, he decided to take the chance and give his answer.

Frisk: I want to stay with you.

Toriel (surprised): What? Frisk... (smiles) You really are a funny child. If you had said that earlier, none of this would have happened. It is a good thing you took so long to change your mind. (chuckles) Well... I suppose. If you really do not have any other place to go, I will do my best to take care of you, for as long as you need. All right?

Frisk: Thanks!

Toriel: Now, come along. (holds hands with Frisk) Everyone is waiting for us!

As Toriel and Frisk made their way to meet the others, Tether returned to the cliffside and watched the sun rising, letting out a pensive sigh that felt like he held onto for hours. He's long lost the sense of wonder he felt for the freedom, the sunrise didn't impress him as much as it did the first time he saw it, and he's trying to push back a growing feeling that what happened to him before could happen again. He had his notebook out and was already jotting down his notes of the latest occurrence, comparing the events that happened near the end.

Tether: …..It ended without any incident, but I'm still doubtful. That last time jump.... What did Frisk.... (confused) Frisk? Was that his name..? He said it was Hiro... (shakes his head) Must be a nickname. What did Frisk do to cause it? Did something happen? I'll have to ask him later, but for now... (closes his book sharply then gazes out at the landscape) I guess I'll just enjoy this while it lasts. (closes his eyes) Even though I don't have any faith in this, I hope this timeline will continue on. (opens his eyes) ….. (scratches the back of his skull in irritation) Who am I kidding? I'll have to keep an eye on this one and see how it turns out. But....at least everyone here is alive and happy. That's all I can really ask for.

Tether stayed for a little while longer before rejoining the others and over time, the monsters had settled into their new lives. Froggit, the one who first attempted the fight Frisk became a Professional Frog as Whimsun is getting braver everyday. Moldsmal became a Backup Dancer, possibly for Mettaton, and Loox matured into a reformed bully. Vegetoid got their fame as a popular nutritionist while Migosp casually enjoys life to the fullest.

Napstablook had expanded their horizon to become a Spooky DJ and been touring with Mettaton's troupe since then. Meanwhile after some time, Papyrus gets an actual red car, achieving his dream of owning one and driving it on the highway, while Tether got himself a black motor bike. It's no motorcycle like the one he had in his earlier timelines, but it gives the similar feeling. He decided to race away with his brother chasing after him, his thoughts blown away by the wind and silenced by the bike.

Snowdrake followed his father's footsteps and became a (semi) successful comedian while Icecap found its footing in becoming a fashion designer. Gyftrot became a Christmas display (much to its dismay), Doggo has his own seeing eye dog, and Dogamy and Dogaressa are finally No. 1 Nose Nuzzling Champions, considering how Toriel and Asgore are no longer together to even participate in such an event. Lesser Dog had found a loving owner and Greater Dog is excited by life's changes.

On a sunny day, Alphys and Undyne are at the beach as Nice Cream is selling his ice cream, Lesser Dog is making a sand dog, Greater Dog is buried under a sand poff, and Onionsan is happily swimming in the ocean. While Alphys was distracted with her phone, Undyne scooted over to her side and gave her a smooch. An instant knock-out! Alphys's body had turned red and was blushing so hard that one could see a one-shot hit knocking all of her imaginary HP away. This caused Undyne to laugh so hard, she made dents in the spot by her from slamming her fist on it.

After his exposure to Napstablook's “Spooky Wave” song back in the Underground, Aaron became a Paranormal Investigator. Moldbygg is enjoying an idyllic life on the beach, and Woshua was so good at cleaning, he was granted the title of “Legendary Janitor”. Temmie is simply Temmie, Mad Dummy managed to calm down...just a bit, and Shyren released her first hit single “When You Say Goodbye, It's Like Magical Bullets Are Slowly Flying Out Of Your Mouth And Hitting Me”. Speaking of Shyren, Mettaton is having a performance with his crew. Shyren is providing her singing, Napstablook is playing the turntables, and Mettaton is dancing in his box form, changing his lower half from the wheel to his legs. Plus, Burgerpants is stuck in a bush off to the side of the stage, so he didn't really exactly become the star that he wanted.

Vulkin became an encouraging space heater and helped out in various shelters, Tsunderplane finally confesses her love-

Tsunderplane: (What!? I don't!!)

-and Pyrope became a candle in the world's largest birthday cake while Muffet and the spiders has a successful run with a new bakery. The two Royal Guards....well, you can use your imagination with those two, Final Froggit is giving life its own meaning, and for Whimsalot, the long battle is finally ending... Astigmatism became a domineering glasses seller, Madjick became a Street magician, Knight Knight's finally taking a well-deserved nap, and the Amalgamates, after being released from Alphys's lab, began living with their families.

As this happened, a new school year has started. Asgore, dressed in more casual clothes, is seen trimming a hedge in the shape of a familiar skeleton's skull. He had decided to take care of the landscaping for a school that had recently opened that integrated humans and monsters as a way to help them coexist. Monster Kid is one of many students attending as he headed (after tripping over himself) towards the school doors. Greeting him by the entrance is Toriel, who is enacting on her dream of becoming a teacher that she finally accomplished.

One night, Frisk was sleeping in a room of his own when Toriel entered and set a plate of cinnamon pie for him. She silently says good night to him and turns out the lights.

Three years later....

In an undisclosed mansion on the hillside, a young boy is watching the latest news involving Frisk and the monsters. Frisk was pretty happy with his ambassador work and was meeting with the governor of Ebott City. The little boy sighed wistfully, hugging his winged dinosaur plushie as he stared at the screen.

Boy: He looks happy.... I want to be like him...

TO BE CONTINUED

[nsschaintale]

SCREECHING

I-

I finally finished the last chapter, I'm so sorry to everyone who had been waiting, my god. I've been jumping into other fandoms and kept trying to remind myself to work on the damn chapter!!

But here it is finally. After this, I may need to figure out how to proceed with the OC chapters, so that's gonna be another long task. But I'm just happy I finally did this.

[nsschaintale]

*EXTERNAL EXCITED SCREECHING*

I saw the latest episode of Jakei’s “Underverse” animation! 

AND! 

Tether was there!

Man, I wanna get back to working on the Necro Shift project, but I’m on my tri-month hiatus because of work...!

[nsschaintale]

I’m still here!

It’s just things have been pretty sluggish. My creative flow is in a bit of shambles right now, so I haven’t been able to really get back to working on this.  Don’t think that I abandoned this, because I haven’t. I still got the 2 OC arcs left and a lot of ref sheets that need to be drawn up. Because it’s close to my usual hiatus period, it’s a bit off and on.

[nsschaintale]

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

[nsschaintale]

LINE 8: SINS OF THE KING

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

[nsschaintale]

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.

[nsschaintale]

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.

And 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

[nsschaintale]

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

[nsschaintale]

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.

[nsschaintale]

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.

[nsschaintale]

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

[nsschaintale]

And I’m good again.

And I can finally update this blog since I haven’t touched it in forever.

[nsschaintale]

....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;;

[nsschaintale]

....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;;

[nsschaintale]

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.

[nsschaintale]

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.