Neo sighed, pulling his hand back, watching his fingertip close back over the USB fully. "Well, that's all I can get here...hopefully someone can do something with that information…" He slowly rose, hissing as sparks came off some wires that were exposed on his upper arm.

While escorting and carrying injured to safety, the robot had taken more damage than he would like, thus forcing him to retreat from the fray. However, while he couldn't fight, he could aid in other ways and had decided to comb through the buildings for information, ripping everything from each machine he came upon.

As he turned to leave, he stiffened, his gaze going down the hall he was in. "Wait, is that…" It couldn't be...but no, he could sense it faintly. "Blooky?" The robot frowned, and hurried down. "What are they doing here?" he muttered harshly, eyes narrowing. He told them to stay at home!

His soul detection led him to a solid door. He tested the handle, frowning when he found it locked. The robot scowled as he revved his good arm back...and plowed it through the handle. He heard the metal creak as he smashed his hand through the door, causing splinters, but he had taken out the deadbolt in the process.

Instantly, he tore the door open, about ready to shout at his cousin-but halted when something else came into his vision instead.

The room was small, and the only thing within it seemed to be a bed just large enough for an adult to lie on. Other than that, it was completely unfurnished. In the corner, curled up and crying, was a girl with long blonde hair. She was hugging her legs and sobbing in fear, her forehead pressed against her knees.

Neo halted, analyzing the issue, before stepping forward. "Little darling?" he called gently, raising his hands slowly.

She flinched in fear, trying to make herself smaller in the corner.

"No! Please-" Her voice choked off and she wasn't able to continue.

"It's okay," Neo soothed. "I'm not here to hurt you." He took a few more steps, surveying the situation carefully. "Look at me, darling…"

Slowly, she lifted a tearstained, hazel-eyed face to look at him. She blinked in confusion, another choked sob dying on her lips.

"M… Mettaton?"

There was a soft smile. "More or less...and who might I be speaking to, hmm? It's been a long day."

The girl just stared at him disbelievingly, her shoulders still shaking, though no fresh tears were making their way down her face.

Neo eased down on his knees and offered out a hand. "Well, I suppose names aren't very important right now. How about we get you out of here and figure out how to get you home, hmm? This room is absolutely dreadful." He made a soft tsking noise. "No fashion to have sense with."

"H… home?" The Human teen was splitting her attention between looking warily at the proffered hand and the robot's face.

Neo nodded. "I don't think this is where you're supposed to be, little darling."

Slowly, she reached out her hand to take Neo's, revealing a small black strap tied around her upper arm just under where the sleeve of her black shirt had been torn off. All along her forearm, small needle marks could be seen covering her skin like freckles.

Neo's eyes widened in alarm as they began to faintly glow. "Oh, you poor darling," he murmured as he slowly helped her up. "I think I'm going to have a stern talking to your 'caretakers' when I find them."

If I find them.

"Here...let's get you out of this dreadful place to a friend of mine. He can look after you while things are being dealt with." And perhaps get her to a hospital.

The girl shakily stood, though her legs were visibly trembling under her weight. Her head was down, part of her face hidden behind her hair.

"Jennifer." She spoke softly, her voice trembling.

"What a lovely name, Darling," Neo said gently, bringing her to his uninjured side. "Now, I believe the exit is this way, but if you're getting tired, let me know."

"It burns…" she murmured softly, leaning against him and letting him lead.

"I'm sorry, Darling. We'll get you help as soon as we can," he assured. "We'll get you out, and I'll have someone look after you while we deal with the horrible people here." He raised his head, scanning the area, hoping to avoid trouble. He knew he'd have to fly with her eventually, but he had to moderate his power.

Fortunately, the complex itself seemed to be empty, he wasn't picking anything up, at least. The battle outside still raged however, though it had been a while since the last time he'd heard a gunshot.

As he neared the door however, he knew that whatever battle was going on was occupying the ground between them and where he wanted to go, so as he neared the door, he stopped, and then gently scooped up the girl as his wings unfurled, emitting a soft hum of energy. "Jennifer, I need you to hold on to me," Neo replied. "We're going to be leaving very swiftly."

"...I'm dreaming," she muttered halfheartedly, but wrapped her arms around his neck anyways, pressing her face against his cool metal body.

He gave a sad smile. "This is all so strange, I know, Darling. But you'll be okay," he promised. With a foot, he kicked the door open-darted out-and took to the air with a mighty jump, already soaring high above the battle below, heading for the exit.

Jennifer peeked down for a moment, only to press her face closer to Neo and squeeze her eyes shut.

"Do you know how many girls would kill for a dream like this?" she mumbled against his chest.

"Well, if storytelling is anything to go by," Neo replied. "Nearly every one-but you get to trump that," he assured as he swooped into the tunnel entrance, wings flapping to increase his speed as he headed toward the exit.

The girl was quiet for a moment, then raised her head and gently kissed the side of Neo's face before letting her head fall back down.

"There," she let out a strained giggle. "I'll have something to tell my friends about… if I get back." Her face twisted against Neo's chest and she started crying again.

His eyes sparked in surprise at her, before he finally got outside, where Jeremiah looked up, wearing what looked like night vision goggles. However, it was only for a brief moment, before he took his gaze back to the tunnel.

Neo swooped low, landing, but then continued along the ground as his wings tucked away. A minute later, he came upon others who had eventually retreated from the fight. He found both dog packs, a little battered and worse for wear, Michael, Gerson, and Asgore.

Resting in the weary turtle's lap was Frisk, while Dogamy held Rex as Lesser Dog inspected the reptile's injured foot, whining and licking at it, green magic seeping onto the injury.

"Everyone-I found another child in there," the robot announced as he came forth.

"Not a child…" Jennifer mumbled.

Asgore looked up from where he was watching over the children, and rose in concern.

The robot strode over to the former King. "I...was there a mentioned kidnapping at all aside from Frisk's?" he questioned quietly.

"Not that I was aware of," Asgore rumbled, gently taking the girl from Neo. "Let us have a look at you, little one."

Jennifer flinched, but allowed herself to be pulled from Neo, blinking her eyes open and curling in on herself.

"What is your name?" he asked quietly, raising a hand and letting a white light shine from his palm over her.

"J… Jennifer."

Michael perked. "Jennifer?" He rose from where he was. "She can't be…" He moved over, swiftly, his eyes widening. "That's...hey, we've seen her before."

"Oh?" Asgore sat down carefully, resting the girl in his lap as he sat cross-legged on the grass. "One of yours, I presume?"

Michael shook his head. "No-when we came the first time...the Human that came to your house...he brought his daughter-Jennifer along. What was she doing here…?"

"There's a story there," the blue eye replied while William had hesitated to say anything. He leaned against a tree, the shadows nearly hiding him-except for those blue eyes that seem to glow in the night.

Asgore frowned.

"But… she has a magical signature. Though it feels..." he fell silent for a moment, then placed his palm on Jennifer's head for a moment. A white glow emanated from his hand and she shuddered for a moment before going limp in his grasp.

"Sleep, little one," he murmured, before looking up to Neo. "It feels more like your magic…"

"It's not just that," Neo managed. "It feels like Blooky's…"

"A Human from my side… with magic from yours." Asgore fell silent, looking down at the sleeping girl, cradling her gently.

"...they used her as another test subject," the blue eye muttered. "She needs to get to a hospital…"

"She might need to go to our side," William replied. "We're equipped to deal with magic…"

"I feel we should get a doctor from Ebott, as well," Gerson muttered. "If that's what I think it is…"

"More than that. We must keep a careful eye on her." Asgore let out a shuddering breath, and seemed to grow smaller as he lowered his head.

"I believe she bears the risk of becoming… one of those creatures we faced under the mountain."

A strange silence fell over the group, before Neo took a shaky step back. "I'll head back-see if we can't end this quick so we can hurry her to a place that can help."

"Frisk…" Asgore whispered to himself, closing his eyes in an attempt to stem the tears. "Is this what happened to you? Have you already suffered the same fate as those we have fought underground?

"Were we too late?"

White flames sprung up on the ground, rushing forward like thundering waves, rising, and crashing down on abominations. At their source, as if the center of a fountain of flame, was the elemental fusion.

Red eyes were blazing embers, both lenses now shattered from battle. The forsaken creatures screamed and howled in pain and agony as the fusion tried to make their fiery death as quick and painless as possible.

His jack-o-lantern grin had been replaced with an angry scowl that was just as frightening. His looked around at the damage they left in their wake, and then Grillby started to move forward, leaving flaming footprints as the fires started to recede, the tails of the flame tail coat billowing behind him.

Charred bodies were everywhere, but with the Human's guidance, he calmly passed them by, his flames whipping about. He paused, hearing rapid footfalls...the fusion huffed in irritation, smoke emitting from his mouth as he turned.

An abomination plowed into him, shrieking as it took him down-blasting yellow magic at them. He cried out, but then the elemental's form completely vanished into pure fire and the creature hit the ground, as if nothing was there.

The broken glasses started to fall-only for a hand to grab them-the rest of the elemental forming moments later. The frown morphed back into a smile, before a chuckle emitted as he rose and turned as the abomination got up.

Grillby moved toward it, arms spread, the flames stronger on his forearms, as large fireballs hovered over his palms. "By all means, try again," Grillby replied. "We're fresh out of Mercy."

It sprung back up, and tore after him. The elemental tilted his head eerily, and then rushed forward. The next thing the Abomination knew, was that the flames were everywhere-and then-nothing.

The charred form collapsed, leaving the fusion standing in a desolated barren battlefield. He frowned, adjusting his glasses. This had not been what he was bargaining for...but...he heard more of them.

The elemental moved swiftly, the flames responding to his movements as he headed for another small cluster of them. At the last second, he sprung into the air above them. The creatures whirled in surprise, as the white being dropped down in the center of them-and let his flames run across the ground.

They turned to attack him-blasting varying magics at him...and he started to feel sluggish. Though he felt the Human soul countering it, and causing the creatures to slow instead. Blasts of orange and aqua came at him, though he ignored the orange. However, the aqua magic had his attention, as he couldn't obey the 'Don't Move' rule with his current form.

Thankfully, most fell to his flames before they would reach him. For as soon as one flame caught their form-it didn't take long for more to claim them, capturing them, ensnaring them-and bringing them down. In some ways, the fire was more like tar than an actual flame.

Grillby's smile vanished-turning into a slight frown as one of them collapsed at his feet. He knelt, a hand touching it briefly...the eyes narrowing into thin slits.

There was a whooshing noise from overhead and a few feet away, Vigil pile drove an abomination into the ground before jabbing it's chest wildly with his long, armored tail until the creature finally lay still.

The Shifter huffed in exertion, getting to his feet and stretching his shimmering, slightly translucent wings. He gave a disgusted grunt and wiped his tail off on the creature.

"I'm going to need a bath after this."

The elemental rose back up, turning to him. "Are you still faring well?"

The red light behind Vigil's visor intensified as he turned to Grillby.

"As well as I can be. It's a good thing these creatures appear to be mostly mindless, else this battle would be even more bloody. Fortunately, I think we're getting close to the source." He gestured forward.

"There's still a few creatures leaking out of the building Kid said the prince is being kept. Unfortunately, that does not bode well for him."

"Then we'll press forward," Grillby replied, clenching his fists in agitation, the orange scowl gaining tints of blue as he spoke.

Vigil nodded.

"Be ready though," he warned, extending his wings and crossing his arms in front of him. "Last I saw, another group of abominations was headed in this-"

The two whirled as they heard more screeching-before Grillby cried out in alarm as he felt his soul get tugged on, sending him slamming into a building wall as another abomination came at him.

As he tried to recover from getting flung, he heard something above its screeching. "Grillby!" Purple laced threads flew into the air-reminding one of a fisher's net as it came in front of the creature. Grillby pressed back against the wall, the webbing stopping the creature inches from his face, before it was yanked back.

It was sent skidding across the ground as someone dug in their heels to accommodate for its large size. In anger, it turned in its confinement-and lunged at Muffet. The spider jumped back, latching onto the side of a severely damaged wall-the rest of the building having given way in the attacks.

The creature plowed into it-causing it to shake and crumble down. The spider leapt off-only to cry out as she was forcefully yanked to the ground by an unseen force. Instantly, she rolled-narrowly avoiding getting pounced on. She managed to get on her hands and feet, and jumped again, this time, getting back up.

She summoned a thread, much like a lasso, the silk twirling as the creature came at her. She flung it, as she approached, and then jumped, vaulting over the creature as the lasso came around where its throat was-and it pulled tight. The creature hit the ground, desperately clawing at it as the magic closed tight.

Muffet kept her gaze elsewhere, her crimson eyes looking for other dangers, before her thread went slack...and she dropped it, knowing the thing had died. That allowed her to be on the move again-as Grillby was already back to fighting another one. Vigil fought not far away from her husband, keeping his arms crossed in front of him as he used his wings and tail to both deflect enemy attacks and strike back at the new wave of creatures.

She passed by several cocooned forms-all completely motionless. Back when she had fused the first time, both she and Grillby had been non-lethal as fusions. Sure, she ensnared humans in cocoons, but they had been unharmed when finally retrieved…

Today, the spider monster was tired of giving mercy if it simply allowed the same problem to come back like this. They had to take it out completely and utterly-so that Monsters could be safe...so that her daughter could grow up safe.

Upon thinking of her little one, she hissed softly, her fangs tinted purple at the tips. She heard another wailing screech and turned her focus to another one charging at her-seemingly springing out of nowhere...but Alma stirred. It slowed down...and Muffet sped up.

It went to leap-only to quickly meet the ground, it jerked, inspecting its feet that were suddenly stuck in sticky web. It tried to pull free, but the moment it lost its strength-the webbing stuck its feet back in place.

More webbing rose up, grabbing at its wrists, and yanking it down on all fours. The creature struggled-wailing as it spat out green energy, its magic unable to harm her. More threads sprung up, slowly cocooning it as Muffet quietly strode over to it, leaning in close.

The last thing it saw before the cocoon got over its eyes-were her fangs inching close to a soft spot on the side of its neck. The last thing it felt, was fiery venom racing through it...followed by an icy chill...and then nothing as death welcomed it.

As she rose, she jerked in alarm as the wall next to her shook for a brief moment before Kid came crashing through it, an abomination carried forward by his headlong charge and falling to the ground close to Muffet.

The brown-scaled reptile stepped on the writhing creature, pressing down with his foot and crushing the creature's ribs, stilling it. He turned, scanning the scene, his gaze locking upon a the group of creatures charging at Grillby and Vigil, their magic bursting out wildly.

There's a lot of them coming, Chara noted grimly. Shall we try the thing again?

Kid's crocodilian smile was terrifying, his red eyes lit up in excitement.

"Let's do this."

It was incredible, the power he felt pulsing within him. His soul and Chara's combined… it was like he could do anything. It was like-

Focus, Kid!

The fusion blinked and shook his head, then fired out a gout of flames at the grouping abominations to gain their attention. Most remained focused on their targets, but a few broke from the group to come towards Kid and Muffet. The reptile hunkered down, feeling the power swirling within him and focusing it into the ability he and Chara had discovered earlier.

His raw magic bled from his body, crackling and spitting around him until it seemed as though the very air around him had burst into flame. Then, in a sudden move, he transferred that energy a few feet away, where the fire magic reformed into an exact duplicate of himself made entirely of crackling yellow flames.

The boy could feel Chara's satisfaction within him as she puppeted the double to smash forth into the enemy, allowing Kid himself to provide supporting fire from a distance. They could hear the screams as the abominations fell under the assault, their numbers swiftly being whittled down between Vigil and the Fusions.

"I think we've got more than enough firepower to take these guys out, huh?" Kid joked aloud, hearing Chara's quiet groan within him.

The spider moved toward the reptile. "Are you alright?" she asked, with two of her crimson eyes shifting their gaze to where the others were fighting-though they were holding their own.

Kid shrugged, glancing briefly over to the spider Monster before returning his attention to his conjuration.

"Just a few scrapes and bruises… nothing I can't handle." He grinned. "Especially with Chara's help…"

She gave a hum, placing a hand on his shoulder. "You're doing well-Let's group up with the others-the last thing we need is to be separated further."

Kid nodded.

"Right… I can do that," his smile grew sheepish for a brief moment. "Besides… I kinda got turned around, I don't remember where we were going…"

Up ahead, his conjuration crumbled and dissipated and Vigil fired a series of magical bolts from his tail in quick succession, piercing through the last abomination's skull.

Muffet hurried over, adjusting her now tattered shawl. "Grillby!"

The elemental turned, rising from a smoldering corpse, and met her halfway, drawing his arms around her protectively, glancing about for danger, before looking her over for injuries. "Are you hurt?" he asked, a thumb gently rubbing a smudge of dirt off her face.

She shook her head. "I'm fine," she assured. "What about you?"

He gave a soft chuckle. "You needn't worry, I've been handling things."

She glanced over his shoulder. "I can see that…"

"Then why did you ask?"

"Because I worry regardless."

"These fusions bear substantial power," Vigil noted, folding his wings behind his back, the red glow behind his visor softening a little as he looked to the couple. "Would that my kind were able to achieve it."

"Uh, yo guys," Kid spoke up, prodded by Chara's mental reminders. "We should probably be going to get Frisk… You guys remember which way that is, right?"

Vigil pointed off to the right.

"I believe it is that way… if your defector is to be trusted."

There was a quiet whooshing sound, and Alphys swooped down, landing next to Kid, stumbling slightly in the landing. She caught herself quickly though, and looked to the others.

"Umm, you guys, Judgement is up ahead, she's taking on a whole group by herself! Though she seems to be handling them pretty well… and I think that's the last big group anyways… you know, unless there's more hiding somewhere…"

Grillby rose fully and then turned to her. "Lead the way, we'll aid her with the last of them so that we can find Frisk," he assured, the flames dancing erratically around his hands as Muffet stepped forth.

"A-alright! It's just past these buildings…" Alphys started moving forward, leading the others, though she didn't take to the air.

"I hope you guys still have magic left over… I'm pretty much out of all my energy…"

"Grillby will be the least of your worries in that regard," Muffet assured. "And I've still got a little fight left…"

They moved swiftly, the sounds of battle up ahead quickly becoming evident. As they passed through the ruined buildings, the sight of Judgement's battle met their eyes.

The fusion was surrounded by screeching creatures attempting to mob her as multicolored magics flew from the abominations to meet her. In the middle of it all, Judgement stood firm, letting out a mighty roar that shook the cavern around them.

Each of her four skeletal arms was moving on its own accord. With each motion, a different abomination's soul was exposed, turned blue, then flung violently through the air, the body forced to follow it. It was quickly whittling away at the abomination's numbers.

Judgement raised a hand, conjuring up a volley of spears that were hurled towards the nearest abominations, even as their magic left scorch marks on her armor. Several more creatures were felled by that volley with gurgling cries. Without giving them a chance to recover, she charged with surprising speed, both hands now resting on the hilt of the claymore.

The first swing released a wave of white-hot flames that swept across her foes. The next cleaved five of the creatures clean in half, sending them toppling to ground. Despite her attack, the remaining creatures were unfazed, and one leapt at her from the side, claws extended.

It froze in mid-air, however, as one of the skeletal hands made a fist, freezing it in time. Judgement ignored the now suspended creature, knocking away an abomination surrounded in a purple aura with the pommel of her weapon before kicking it away with enough force to send it plowing through two of of its brethren.

Claws raked at her armour, and magic shattered against it. None seemed to be able to do anything more than superficial damage against it, and Judgement was making quick work of the creatures.

Especially as her uppermost arms raised high, and six Gaster Blasters were summoned. Energy charged in their mouths, then beams of white light blasted forth, destroying the last remaining creatures that had still been putting up a fight.

The fusion turned towards the other Monsters, her three eyes blazing each with it's own color. Without even looking, she plunged her sword through the frozen abomination's chest, then let it fall lifelessly to the ground.