Rain could be heard, pattering on the ceiling of the underground and the sounds of monsters, bustling around. Sans stood outside the MTT Resort, thinking...waiting. Flashes of the kid's smile past through his mind.

Kid, you're really something else aren't you?

His phone started to ring, waking him up from his daze. "sup, bro."

"SANS, WHERE ARE YOU?"

"I'm at the resort, why?"

"ONE OF YOUR MANY JOBS I PRESUME?"

"yup, it's a rib tickler of a gig."

"SANS!" He chuckled at his brother's raging through the phone.

"was there a reason you wanted to chat?"

"ACTUALLY YES! I JUST WANTED TO INFORM YOU THAT THE HUMAN IS HEADING TOWARDS THE RESORT." Sans was shocked to hear this. So many questions started running through his mind. Did the kid ever sleep? How did they get here so fast? Why are they so eager to leave? Aren't they enjoying their stay? From what he saw last time he checked, they seemed happy. "BROTHER? ARE YOU THERE?"

"w-what? Oh, uh sorry paps. kinda drifted off. how do you know that the kid was coming here?"

"BUT OF COURSE I KNOW WHERE THE HUMAN IS! FOR ONE, I AM THEIR BEST AND COOLEST OF FRIENDS, AND TWO, UNDYNE AND I HAVE BEEN HELPING THE HUMAN OUT-"

"Yeah! We've been BUSTING UP the punk's phone all DAY!"

"paps, is it me or did your voice get a little 'fishy'?"

"SHUT IT you dweeb! Alphys is helping the kid reach the core like a boss!"

"YOU ONLY KNOW THAT BEACUSE YOU KEEP LOOKING OVER MY SHOULDERS WHEN I'M ON MY PHONE!" Even when he's not the one holding the phone, Sans can still hear him loud and clear.

"Come on you goofball, come here!" He smiled at hearing his brother being suplexed over the phone by Undyne. Hanging up, he looked at the ceiling of the underground. He was glad, that something new was happening in his life, but hearing the rain from the outside world had always sadden him. It was a world he was never going to see. Prying his gaze away, he hung his head. He let out a sigh, he felt so conflicted. He still desired to leave, but more then anything, he wouldn't mind staying if that ment that the kid stayed as well. His brother became fond of them and if they were to leave... let's just say he wasn't looking forward in counseling him afterwards.

"heh, kid...what are you doing to everyone?" He whispered to no one. Undyne seemed more relax, Dr. Alphys isn't obsessing over those cartoons as much, and his brother...finally met someone who saw how great he really is. Just then, he heard sounds of footsteps. Looking up, he saw that it was the kid. His soul dropped at seeing their smile. Trying his best to keep his own smile from dropping, he watched as the kid ran towards him. "hey,"

'Hi'

"i heard you're going to the core." They nodded their head. He sighed. He kinda wished that they were just gonna check out the resort. "how about grabbing some dinner with me first?" The kid smiled softly at him, nodding their head yes. "great, thanks for treating me." They covered their mouth, hiding their smile. As Sans started to walk away from the resort, the kid became confused.

'Sans?'

"over here. i know a shortcut." The kid followed Sans as he walked towards the ally beside the resort. Grabbing the kid's hand at the last second, he used one of his 'shortcuts' to get into the restaurant of the resort. "well, here we are." Sans motioned to the chairs in front of them, signaling them to sit. As the kid sat down, he grabbed a chair as well. Sans gazed at the kid's face as they surveyed their new surroundings. Behind all their curiosity and wonder, he could see that the kid has been through a lot of hardship. Looking at the wears under their eyes, indicating their lack of sleep, maybe their worries... their pain.

The kid turned their head and looked at him, smiling softly at him under the glow of the candle."your journey's almost over, huh?" The kid nodded. "you must really wanna go home." The kid looked down at the table. They looked bothered by something, Sans thought. "hey." Sans voice grabbed the kid's attention once more. "i know the feeling, buddo." The feeling of being freed, the feeling of wanting to escape. He knows how it feels to be trapped. Heck, even now he still feels like that. Everyone does really, to dream how it must feel out there in the real world. "maybe sometimes it's better to take what's given to you."

Ever since the kid arrived, he's been thinking that. That he was taking things for granted, obsessing over that damn journal hidden inside his storeroom. Kinda hard to ignore, when your life has turned into one huge mess of deja vus. "down here you've already got food, drinks, friends...is what you have to do...really worth it?" The kid thought for a bit before nodding yes. Sans sighed and looked away. Why couldn't they have said no. Why couldn't they stay... hearing the creak of their chair, he looked back.

'Sans? Are...are you ok?' They looked so worried.

"..." He hated that, making anyone worry about him. Seeing that worry on their face. "ah, forget it." Putting on the best smile he can, "i'm rootin' for ya, kid."

'Thank you.' They smiled. He couldn't look at them, look at their determined face. Knowing that they had to fight against Asgore if they really wanted to go home. Regaining his smile, he pushed away all his worrying and looked at the kid once more. "hey, let me tell you a story." Anything to get his mind off.

The kid waited patiently as he got his thought together. Thinking off the bat came the warm voice of the woman behind that large door in Snowdin forest. So, he told them about how he meet this mysterious lady behind the door. Telling them how much she would laugh at his puns. Looking down to his intertwined phalanges that rested ontop of the table, he could almost hear her laugh. During his reminiscing, he looked up and saw the kid. Almost as if they knew something about what he was saying. Catching his eye lights, the kid wiggled their eyebrows.

Oh man, kid what's with the face!?

Feeling his skull warm up, he returned to his story. Of when the day the lady behind the door wasn't laughing very much. The day she told him to promise her that he would watch over the kid. The same day he first meet them. Looking away from the kid, he could feel that same feeling he felt at that moment. When he first saw them come through that door. How his dreams were being taken away by a promise. He turned back to the kid, "do you get what i'm saying? that promise i made to her...you know what would have happened if she hadn't said anything?" Closing his eyesockets, calming his voice, "...buddy." Turning away from them as his anger grew. The room went silent as the lights from his eye sockets started to disappear.

". . . Y o u ' d." He and his brother would have left the underground by now. He would have finally have been able to see the stars from his dreams! The desperation in his soul came to a halt, when he heard the kid gasp. Blinking rapidly, he manage snap out of it. Closing his eyesockets again, he turned around and faced the kid. He didn't want them to be afraid of him. He...didn't want them to think that he would hurt them. He cared too much for the kid to hurt them now. "..." opening his eye sockets, he saw the kid's face. They were confused, and he could sense the small fear that they were starting to have. "hey, lighten up, bucko!" He said, as he tried to smile at them. "i'm just joking with you." He winked.

The kid let out a breath and smiled at them. "...besides, haven't i done a great job protecting you? i mean, look at yourself. you haven't died a single time." He chuckled. The kids face scrunched up. "hey, what's that look supposed to mean?" Did, something happen to the kid, something he didn't notice? "...am i wrong?" They lowered their face, trying to hide their frown. He turned his face away, clenching his teeth. What happened to them? They looked fine on the outside. Did...did they really die? Then how are they...were they also apart of those blasted time-laps? "heh." He stood up from his chair. Guess his promise wasn't really all that necessary, seeing how the kid was also trapped in the same time loop as him.

Before he left , he turned around, "well, that's all. take care of yourself, kid." Taking one good look at the kid, he felt his soul clench," 'cause someone really cares about you."

We all do ...kid.

...

Scrambling and things being thrown around could be heard from inside the lab in Hotland.

"Oh- oh n-no...where is it? Wh-where is it!?" Scrambling around the floor, Alphys was desperately trying to search the blueprints she recently printed out of the core. "No...no..th-this isn't good. I have to hurry and find it!" But the only thing she found were the old blue prints of the core. "Maybe, the c-core didn't change too much?" Settling back down, she tracked were the human was. Searching through the cameras she saw mysterious figures disappearing in front of them. Noticing this, she called them.

"Huh? Who are they? N-nobody else is s-supposed to be here," which was true, she instructed all the workers of the core to leave for the day. "Oh well! We can't worry about that now!" Seeing how, she couldn't find that right blueprint, she instructed them to go straight ahead and go through the elevator. She reactivated them, so they should be fine. But when they tried to press the button to open it up, it wouldn't. That didn't make any sense. She was sure she reactivated them. Trying to salvage the little mishaps, she went over to the old layout of the core and instructed them to go right. When they did, she saw that there was a large pit! It wasn't on her map, but everything should be fine, they just have to go to the left side.

But everything was not fine! Through out the core, the human encountered multiple monsters. Alphys was so confused, why were there so many monsters!? This wasn't in her plans, the human was supposed to have a safe journey till they reached Mettaton. As the human reached the next room, she instructed them the order of the lazers. But they came in the wrong order and in high speed! The human got hurt! They weren't supposed to get hurt while she was guiding them! Not only are there alot of monsters roaming around the core, the puzzles reactivated in a diffrent format, the whole core was not laid out as her blueprint!

This isn't good, somone changed the whole core. Alphys felt helplessly lost. She, she couldn't help. There was nothing she could do. She just kept giving them the wrong directions and getting them hurt. Seeing the human reach a corridor split into threes, she called them, "ok! Y-you should..." Scrambling over the layout, she could find anything that matches with that hallway! "You should...I don't know? This doesn't look like my map at all...I'm sorry...I...I.." she...failed...she couldn't help..."I have to go." All her plans...ruined.

No! There is still the last part of the plan. Throwing the map away, she called for Mettaton. "M-mettaton?" He's not picking up! Alphys looked down to her phone and notice that there was a message sent by him. The message reading,

"Doc, my debut is going to be big. Thank you darling, for everything."

Alphys felt so confused, what did he mean by his debut? Shaking her head, she put her phone away. She doesn't have time to think about it, she had to get to the end of the core. Grabbing her hand-held, she rushed out of the lab. Making her way to the nearest elevator, she went all the way to the outside of the resort. Making her way inside, she saw that the elevator was crowded with monsters. Did she do that? There was no time to feel guilty, she had to hurry. Going into the core, she went straight to the elevator. Jamming her handheld into the elevator's key pad, she started restarting it manually. Checking back to her phone, she saw that the human was near to were Mettaton should be. Changing the signal, she was able to locate Mettaton. Seeing how his signal was indeed where she told him to wait, gave her great relief. The elevator let out a small ping sound and opened its doors. She rushed inside. As the elevator went up, she opened her phone, the human had just arrived outside the main door.

When the elevator door opened she rushed towards the main opening. But then it closed on her. She started banging the door, "H-hey! Wh'wh-what's going on!? Th-th-the door just locked itself!"

"Sorry, folks! The old program's been cancelled!" What did Mettaton just say?! Pressing her face against the door, she could hear the mechanical gears of the main room begin to turn. What is Mettaton doing!? This...this wasn't part of the her plan! Listening closely, she began hearing dramatic music and through the cracks of the door, she could see flashing lights. This wasn't good, she had to do something. Scrambling over her phone, she started dialing the human. There was only one way to get them out of this. But if she told them, it would put Mettaton's life in danger. But if she didn't, he would take their soul and leave. Shaking her head, she called them. She doesn't have time to rethink herself.

"U...uh... I can't see what's going on in there, but...D-d-dont give up, okay!? Th...there's o-one l-l-last way to beat Mettaton...its..uh..um" now that she thinks about it, this 'back up plan' actually makes him stronger. Not only that, but the design she put on it...blushing madly at the thought, she swallowed whatever pride she had left. "This is a work in progress, so don't judge it too hard. But, you know how Mettaton always faces f-f-forward? That's because there's a switch on his backside." So Alphys gave the human the idea, that they had to figure out a way to turn them around and switch his switch. It was the only way to make his body vulnerable to attacks. Hanging up on them, she slid down and sat on the floor. Covering her head with her hands as her guilt came crashing down...what has she done?

...

Mettaton waited as the human stucked out a finger at him, signaling him to give them a moment as they answered their phone. He could respect the fact that the young human regarded their phone calls more then their life, but still he had a show to run. After what seems like quit some time, the human put their phone away and started signing something to him.

'Mettaton, did you know that there's a mirror behind you?'

"Oh? A mirror?! Right I have to look perfect for our grand finale!" Turning around, he didn't see any mirror...but he did feel a small hand turn his switch.

Oh Alphys... you devilish little doc.

His body started shaking uncontrollably. His arms and legs shrunked back into his metal body. His metal casing started to shift around in high speed creating steam to be realised into the air. All in all, his body had transformed into the glamorous body of his dreams. Well, what it lack on power was made up by how perfectly handsome he has become.

"Oh yes~" this new body of his, is perfect for his big debut. Behind a large curtain of smoke, highlighted by stage lights, he looked upon the young human. Their face was the face he always wished to see on them. The face of wonder as they stared at his new body. But he did wish that they opened their eyes, to be able to see himself reflected on them. No matter, for they soon will be dead by his own glamour. Now that he thinks about it, that does sound ravishing. Death by Glamour.

"I'll make your last living moments..." Just as the smoke disappeared, his mini self drone chambered around to show all of the monsters his new body. "ABSOLUTELY beautiful!" Even his voice was beautiful, and apparently everyone in the Underground thought so too. His ratings were going crazy. Pointing towards the human, he challenged them and their beautiful red soul to try keeping up with him. "Lights! Camera! Action!" With that, he launched himself towards them, kicking away with newly beautified legs.

Except the human kept dodging his attacks as if it was nothing. No matter, his new body needed a warm up anyway. As his new song started playing loudly in the background, they continued this little dance. Only the young human's turn, they placed there hand on their hip and boasted that they wouldn't get hit.

Cheeky little human aren't you.

Taking their challenge, he sent out his mini self drones after them. They flipped and dodge them all and ended on a dramatic pose!

My my, the young human definitely has spirit don't they?

Amongst all the kicking, dodging, posing, flips and lights, Mettaton and the young human ended up dancing. And he must say, the human could dance! If he didn't have to kill them, he would say that they were a perfect match to his own soul. Eyeing his ratings, he watched as they were getting higher and higher. Taking this chance, he left kicked the human, catching them off guard. The young human skidded across his stage. Wobbly from the impact, the young human struggled to get up. Digging into their pocket, they took out a ...star parfait!?

An MTT brand name food product, not bad human...

They drank the whole drink in one go, boosting his rating even higher. Having regained their health, the human smiled as they began dancing again. Impressed by their dedication, he decided it was time to show them his own soul. For all to see, he shot out his arm forwards gathering his own magic, in one beautiful move he pointed high into the air, displaying his soul for all to see. "How about a heart to heart, darling." His soul in full display started shooting brilliant lights of magic towards the human. They dodge and flip through them all, all while dancing to the beat of his music.

With the excessive use of his magic, his body was starting to burn up. From the heat, his arms blasted out of his body. The human stopped with worry in their face. Which he did not approve of, they should always have that beautiful, confident, radiant face that they had before. Especially when they are in font of him. "A...arms? Wh...who needs arms with legs like these?" Picking up his pace, he launched another attack at the human. The human noticing his attempts regained their confident smile.

That's right darling, give me all you got and I'll do the same.

As the fight dragged on, his body soon heated up beyond it could stand. Soon his legs too had went out. As he started to fall to the ground, the young human dashed forward, catching him. Gazing towards his rating, he noticed that he had reached the calling mile stone. Receiving his first call of the show, he put them on speaker. "Hi, your on TV! What do you have to say on this. On our last show." There was a long pause before the caller spoke.

"Oh...hi...Mettaton. I really like watching your show...my life is pretty boring but...seeing you on the screen ...brought excitment to my life..." he knew this voice! It was Blooky's...he hasn't heard his dear cousin's voice for so long. Caught up in all the fame and glamour...he must have...forgotten. How could he have done such a thing. His cousin always rooted for him when he was but a mear ghost. He was so caught up on finally having a body of his own, he left him behind. Even after all that, Napsablook was still rooting for him. "...oh...I didn't mean to talk so long...oh..."

"No, wait! Wait, Bl...H...they already hung up." Shaking his guilt, he decided to recieved another call. Monsters after monsters called, poring out their soul, telling him how much they loved him, how much they'll miss him. He couldn't do it. He couldn't leave them. He was the only thing they had. Up in the surface they had thousands of stars. He was the only one they had. He was going to stay, staring up upon the young human's face. Gazing into their worry. He gave them a small smile.

Letting out a shaky sigh, he knew he was finished, he couldn't beat them...and he didn't want to. Their soul was to bright to snuff out. They were strong and he admired that. He wished them good luck, telling them that he believed in them and not to worry about him. As his battery flickered at its last energy, he could faintly hear the door open. Closing his eyes, he could hear the Doc's voice, calling for him.

...

"Mettaton! Mettaton are you!" It took her awhile to open the door but...but ...she'd had hoped that she would be able to make it in time before his battery died and started to break down his soul. Once again, she had failed. She had failed him! The only friend she had that believed in her! All because she wanted to impress the human. She couldn't believe it. Looking over his body, she saw that it was just his battery, his soul was still intact. She didn't know what she would do without him. She felt a warm hand on her shoulder, looking up she saw that it was the human.

'Alphys?'

"I... I just need a moment." The human gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze before leaving her. "I'm so s-sorry Mettaton, I should not have made you do this. You were...y-you were so opposed to hunting the human, especially after what you had felt after the first and only human you had ever killed. The guilt, how...how dirty you felt." She could almost here him say not to worry, that he did it all for his loving fans. Getting up, she gathered whatever courage she had left and went after the human. She was going to help them. Wait...reaching the human she remembered. The only way for the human to leave the underground was...was to kill the king. She...she couldn't help them with that! She also couldn't let them believe that they could just leave without acquiring his soul.

"W-wait!" The human turned around and looked at her. Alphys took this chance, and told them. Told them about how they had to ...they had to ...kill Asgore if they ever wanted to leave. But the human smiled, a small smile.

'Don't worry...it's going to be ok.' She couldn't take it, their compassionate gaze. Saying her farewells, she ran off. Leaving the human as she made her way back to Mettaton's body. Reaching into her phone, she called Knightley. Asking her if she could help her take Mettaton's body back to her lab.

Back in her lab, she hooked Mettaton up to a power supply. Alone in her lab, she felt her guilt crawl around her scales. Breaking down, she fell to the ground and started sobbing. Feeling pathetic and worthless, her tears dropping onto the ground echoed throughout the lab. Not knowing that the young human had followed her out of the core and was now waiting behind the front door of her lab. Unable to hear her grief.