A/N: 100 follows! I didn't think I'd see a day where I broke triple figures for the junk that I write. 100 people chose to click a button to track this story. I wish I could thank you individually, but that would take quite a while to do. So, on behalf of my self esteem and emotional well-being, THANK YOU ALL! One last thing: I'd love some feedback on how you all think this story is going. PM me or leave a review detailing what you like, and what you don't like about this story. Chapter length? Typos, or grammatical errors? Any pointers you can give me would be appreciated immensely.
P.S. There will be no pairings in this story, either.
P.P.S. This isn't the penultimate chapter, don't worry.
First, the vegetables were diced. The noodles came next, placed gently in the pot of water. It was heated to the perfect temperature, and left to boil. Next, the non alcoholic wine was brandished. This was going to be the perfect dinner for three.
Only, it didn't exactly happen like that.
The vegetables had been smashed to juice, their liquified remains had been splattered on the wall and your clothes. It would take days to wash out. The water in the pot had evaporated, leaving a heavy cloud of steam to fill the room. The base of the metal pot had melted, sticking to the oven top. This was going about as well as you'd expect it to. Undyne's cooking abilities hadn't changed. If Chara had any more snide remarks to make, they weren't voicing them. You enjoyed the silence in your mind.
You thought about what Chara said. Surely Papyrus didn't share Sans' abilities; as the last time you battled him, he fell rather quickly. Unless, you just hadn't pushed him far enough.
"Alright, it's heated enough! Nap, turn the oven off!" Undyne shouted over the roaring flames that had manifested themselves.
"But I can't… I don't have arms…"
"Not with that attitude! Pull yourself together!" Undyne barked back.
Taking the initiative, you twisted the dial back to zero. Oddly enough, you could actually turn it off.
Undyne patted your back. "See, that's what we need! What we don't need are quitters!" She gestured for you to sit at the dining table. "Anyway, you two are obviously here for something. What is it?"
You took a seat as Napstablook spoke up quietly. "Um, Maddy said that you've been more frustrated than usual…"
"What's that supposed to mean!?" Undyne jumped up suddenly.
Napstablook recoiled, floating away from her. "Oh no… I didn't mean it like that…"
"Alright fine, I'll tell you. You'd better listen too, punk!" She pointed at you.
She looked down at her feet. "I can take on just about anything, so I went to Asgore's castle to show him my worth. Thing is, I can't beat him! He just takes my attacks and smiles! What kind of fighter does that?" She grabbed the molten pasta pot and hoisted it to the table. As she moved to grab a set of plates, the bottom of the pan burnt through the table, causing its contents to cover the floor beneath your feet. No article of your clothing was safe from this pasta extravaganza.
Noticing this, she swore under her breath. You couldn't make out what she said.
She turned back, a crazed glint in her eye. "Dinner. Is. Postponed."
"I don't think I could eat it…" Napstablook stared at the flood of tomato sauce, with tears in their eyes.
"How old are you anyway, dude?" Undyne's mad expression faded as quickly as it showed itself. You were curious about this as well.
"I don't remember… I stopped counting years ago…" Napstablook looked uncertain in their own answer.
"Well, were you always a ghost? Like, how are ghosts even born?" Undyne probed further.
"Well, when two ghosts love each other very much…" Napstablook started. They wore a condescending expression.
They were interrupted. "Ew, that's gross! Aren't you all cousins or something!?'
Napstablook suddenly looked uncomfortable. "It… It was only a joke Undyne… I've always been a ghost. I think Metty once told me that we're like empty vessels, ghost souls are slightly different to monster souls. Our sole purpose is to become corporeal by joining with an object. Metty wants become a robot, they have a friend that's designing them a body and everything… I don't want them to leave me…" Napstablook began crying, their tears mixed with the tomato sauce beneath them.
You stood up, and hugged Napstablook. Or you would have, if they were corporeal. Instead, you phased straight through them, and fell down.
"Oh… Thank you… You may not be able to hug me, but I think there's something I can do…" Napstablook floated to you, close enough to be touching your skin. Their presence felt cool, and soothing. Suddenly, they moved further, phasing inside you. You felt something coil around your soul. They made you feel safe, and comfortable.
"Humans look weird on the inside…" You heard a muffled voice inside you. They appeared next to you, as the presence disappeared. You gave them a sly wink. You'd definitely smooch a ghost.
"Not feeling up to it right now, sorry." Napstablook rejected your advances.
Undyne's eye twitched slightly. "Seeing as we can't have dinner… How. About. Dessert?"
Napstablook floated close to the front door. "I should really be going… I mean, if that's okay with you…"
You stood up hastily, and stepped over to Napstablook. If she was going to make dessert, then the house would probably burn down again.
"Ugh, fine!" Undyne snapped, as she strode past you to the front door. She opened it, and shouted to the outside. "Mad Dummy! You'd better be ready, 'cos we're about to have the session of a lifetime!" She brandished one of her spears, and dived towards the dummy.
Napstablook turned to you. "Thanks for coming today… It was nice seeing you and all…"
You gave them a gleeful smile.
"Do you… Want help getting back? To Snowdin, I mean…" Napstablook averted your gaze.
You positioned yourself to meet their eyes, and nodded.
"Okay… Well, get ready…" Get ready for what?
They floated back to your soul, and developed it once more. Everything went black for a moment, and you felt yourself fading out of existence.
All of a sudden, you were met with the sight of Sans' illegal hotdog stand. He was applying ketchup to one of his 'dogs for Asriel. "ya can have it for free, prince."
"Aw, thanks Sans! You're the best." Asriel gleefully replied.
"no problem, kid. i've got a skele-ton of 'em anyway." He winked at the goat.
"I've got one… Um, you're really working these puns… Down to the bone…" Napstablook didn't look confident.
Nevertheless, Sans gave them a clap. "nice one, nap."
You asked Sans how he knew Napstablook.
"didn't ya know? i know everyone in the underground, ya know. huh. that's a lotta 'knows'. anyways, you want another 'dog, frisk? he's still followin' me around." Sans once again pulled Toby from behind the counter. The dog's fur was covered in mustard.
Asriel had a look of shock on his face. "Sans… Where do you get the meat for these hot dogs…?" He looked scared to ask.
Sans raised an invisible eyebrow. "huh? oh, they're water sausages. i'd never hurt this little guy." He scratched behind the dog's ears. Toby leapt onto the stand's counter, and proceeded to steal Asriel's 'dog.
"Hey! That's mine!" Asriel shouted gently.
Toby refused to listen, and jumped into Sans' hood. He hid in there, eating the stolen 'dog.
Sans was quick with the pun. "you've goat to be kiddin' me." The dog whined in disapproval. The skeleton turned back to you, and watched your eyes carefully.
After several moments, he spoke up. "that expression… that's the expression of someone who wants to talk in private." He looked nervous.
You nodded in agreement. He nodded back, and snapped his fingers. Your mind went dark once again, reappearing in his lab.
Sans plucked the dog from his hoodie, and deployed him on the lab desk. "So, what's up?" He asked as he threw his lab coat on.
You asked him why he needed the coat.
He shrugged. "Makes me look science-y."
Reaching over to the desk's cabinet, you opened it and took the mysterious badge from it. He shoved his hands in his lab coat pockets, and nodded knowingly.
"Was only a matter a' time 'til you asked about this. I guess it's only fair that I answer, seeing as I know plenty about you. Enough with the space-time pranks."
As he blinked, his eyes disappeared.
"A long time ago, Gaster made me and Paps in his old lab. The reason why, is that we're supposed to be weapons. Now, seeing as a monster can't wield determination like a human can, Gaster found a way around it. He once told me that me and my brother were the remains of two humans. That's why we're skeletons, see? Humans have skeletons in 'em, if you didn't know. We aren't human enough to be humans, but that doesn't mean we're close enough to be monsters. The thing is, we're both DETERMINATION embodied. It's just that old Paps hasn't figured out how to use it yet."
He turned to stare straight at you.
"And I'd appreciate it if you didn't bring it out of him."
You shook your head, and told him that it may be the only way to beat what was coming.
He closed his eyes. "Look, I get what you're trying to do, alright? You wanna atone for those sins of yours. But if Papyrus unleashes that hidden power, he won't know how to control it. And that's just as dangerous as the other anomaly that's out to get us."
You shook your head again. He didn't know Chara like you did.
"You sure about that? Remember back to when we fought; I know, it's not a pleasant memory. What if I told you…"
He opened his eyes again, revealing the familiar hollowed darkness. "...That I was holding back on you?"
You stared at him, shocked.
He flashed you a grin. "Trust me, kid. Let me deal with it. It won't know what hit it."
Only a small part of you felt relieved. The rest of you however, felt devoid of hope. There were still questions that you needed answered.
"Toby? He was made by Gaster, too. He's unique, in that he has mastery over space and time. Even more so than you and the anomaly. I don't know what Gaster wanted him to do, but I like his style." He petted the dog once more.
One more question.
"That badge is supposed to represent a secret society, that Gaster was a part of. Since he disappeared, they've disbanded. Well, except me and Paps. Wanna join?" He offered.
You nodded, eager to become a part of them.
"Welp, you've gotta pass the initiation. When you see Papyrus, give him this password." He beckoned you closer.
He whispered a phrase in your ear.
"Tell him that, and all will be revealed." Sans spoke cryptically. "Anyways, we should probably get back to it. Where do you wanna go, Tobes?" Sans turned to the annoying dog.
The dog barked playfully, beginning to vibrate slightly. After a few moments, the dog defied gravity and physics, passing through the solid wall. Never to be seen again.
Sans blinked, even he seemed surprised. "Dog-gone it."
You let out a chuckle, and opened the door to the lab.
Funny… Everything had disappeared, leaving… Nothing? The world had faded, leaving nothing but darkness. Your stomach churned, you knew exactly what was happening.
Sans stepped out from behind you. He looked… Scared. "Oh, God…"
That's right. This time, it really IS me.