Thank you guys for all the Kudos and comments! I know I'm slow at updating, so it means a lot that you guys are still supporting me!
I do have to say I think is being a bit buggy.
Like for some reason this story says there's 14 chapters even though this is the 13th. Idk. It's weird.
Apparently you were famous.
Being in a couple of Mettaton's recent shows really brought awareness to the fact two humans were in the Underground. If you had thought the rumors were quickly spread before, now it was like a wildfire. Monsters more than ever came up to you and Frisk, not even to fight, but just to say hi. A few had even asked for autographs.
Frisk seemed pretty used to the sweet attention of the nervous fans, but their excitement quickly ran out when some of them started focusing on you more. Or, rather, how they started treating you.
Apparently doing that awkward dance number with Mettaton was a big deal. Some monsters were very, very focused on that moment. It got you a hodgepodge of reactions, some of jealousy and some of… interest? Could you call it that? Either way you were stopped multiple times as monsters blushed and gave you flowers or chocolates and some very, very interesting attempts at flirting. It came to the point little Frisk decided that they needed to become your mini bodyguard.
It was so adorable and sweet you didn't have the heart to tell them that your glaring and beaten bat at your side was the thing that hurried the fans along.
When you stepped out of the restaurant a monster, that was perhaps a pointing hand on a body, immediately pulled you both aside. After fangirling, much to your confusion, she offered one of the hotel rooms to both you and Frisk for only fifty gold. You knew for a fact you'd heard monsters from earlier complaining about how the rooms were two-hundred gold.
You had never said 'Yes' so quickly or so loudly before in your life.
The room was grand. You ended up almost immediately throwing you things to the side and throwing yourself onto the bed. (Of course only after you checked to make sure the room locked properly.) As soon as you hit the giant bed's giant comforter, and after you felt Frisk curl up beside you, you fell asleep.
You're not sure how long you slept, but you felt extremely well rested. It was the same feeling you felt when you'd slept in the Ruins at Toriel's.
Did that make it, technically, day two of you two wandering around? You had no bearing of time and you would honestly believe anyone if they told you it'd been a week since you arrived.
Frisk woke up long before you did. You found that out by the depleted bag of money and of the newly restocked snack pile. They didn't even try to apologize as they packed your bag for you and presented your trusty bat.
At least the gold in the Underground wasn't the same kind of money that you had on the surface. If the snacks didn't have healing properties for Frisk, you would've been a bit more upset that they used all the money on junk food.
You two checked out or, really, just walked out and gave the front desk monster a thumbs up before skirting around the crowd of fans as quietly as possible. You couldn't tell if they were the same ones from before you fell asleep or a whole new group that'd heard that you were at the hotel. Either way, Frisk led the way to the back of the lobby, out of the line of sight of the groupies.
Though you knew Frisk had done multiple runs through the Underground throughout their history of resets, you wondered how on Earth they had gotten to the Core. The Core sounded like the heart of the Underground. A volatile area that would most likely be highly guarded to make sure no hooligans came in and accidentally broke something. How Frisk was able to get past the assumed security was beyond you.
They stopped in front of a set of double doors. You sucked in a breath, waiting for them to start explaining the plan.
They point up.
You look up and read the glowing sign.
Oh.
You push open the doors to the Core and frown at the easy access.
The hotel flooring turns into the wood of a stage, leading off into a pulsating blue barrage of hot metal pipes and gears. The whole mass in front of you seemed to pulsate with whatever was running through it. The white noise of quaint people behind you dies into the fuzz of steam, buzzing of electrical bits, and metal grinding. The stage wood falls away to flat pipes.
"Is… this the core? I thought it was more of a… solid object." You say slowly, slipping your bat from its place.
"It's more of a structure." Frisk signs, letting you take the lead. "It powers up the under ground."
Something moves in the corner of your eyes and you jerk your head forward to see figures in the middle of your path. They back further into the Core but you stop Frisk from following.
You flinch when your phone rings. You crouch down, eyes still forward, letting Frisk fish the phone out.
"Huh? Who are they?" Alphys's questioning voice does little to calm you. You side eye Frisk cradling the phone. "N-Nobody else is s-supposed to be here… Oh well! We can't worry about that now!" Frisk frowns as they lower the phone after the scientist hangs up.
They look at you but you avoid their eyes to instead head forward.
You… weren't sure how to feel about Alphys anymore. You had mixed feelings jumbled up, all fighting for your attention. You tried to ignore them to focus on the most important, protecting Frisk, but your mind kept wandering. It kept getting held up at the fact that Alphys was lying to you both.
Or, misleading you two, at the very least.
She had created Mettaton as a human-killing robot. She said that she didn't want to hurt you and Frisk anymore and had really helped getting away from Mettaton once he started hunting you both. Yet… She definitely was working with him. You don't think the entire time though. Things definitely changed when you were almost burned alive. Maybe Mettaton thought it'd bring more attention and action if you kept kicking. Either way, Alphys was using you two.
You felt like a pawn. It was one thing if Mettaton (your current enemy until Frisk found a way to befriend him) was using you for views on his TV show. Sure, whatever. It's a whole entire other thing for Alphys, someone you put your trust in, someone you let yourself partially rely on to protect Frisk during these puzzles, turn on you.
Her telling you that helping you and Frisk made her feel better was… Well it was information that catered to your kind side. You understood where she came from. You wanted to find a moment to talk to her. Yet, the older sister part of you felt betrayed and you had this anxious chill up your spine that Alphys's selfishness was going to put Frisk in danger.
You two stop at a fork in the metal road with an elevator splitting it. Alphys calls again and you make a face.
"Just stay on the phone," You say before she can start. "It'll be easier."
"O-oh! Um… alright…. A-Are you ready? This is it! Take the elevator up to the top of the Core!"
Frisk hops forward, reaching up high so they could press the buttons. However, the lights flicker and there's a clicking noise and then nothing. For a split second Frisk looks confused and then they notice you watching and they smile nervously. You raise a brow.
"Elevator's out." You announce.
"What? The elevator should be working… W-well then! Go to the right and keep heading up."
Walking around Frisk, you head over. You hold them back as you open the door, peeking inside to make sure the figures from earlier weren't waiting to jump you two. Once you're sure the coast is clear you usher Frisk inside.
The door snaps shut too quickly behind you and you notice immediately this isn't a normal corridor. In fact, it's not a hall at all, but a dead end.
"Alright! Now just keep heading forward!"
You hear fire roaring, rather than see it. You creep closer to see there's an immediate drop into a void-like pit. Exposed pipes spouted flames that looked more like blow torches.
"Only problem with that is there's no forward bit." If it wasn't fire down there lighting it up, no doubt anyone being careless could've dropped right in.
"What?" Alphys's voice came out weaker. You glance over your shoulder to Frisk, who was at the door. They opened it for you when you ventured back. "That pit isn't on my map."
"You'll have to lead us down the left side." Frisk nods along with your words.
"No big deal!"
A part of you thinks that she must've grabbed the wrong script from Mettaton.
Frisk skips past the elevator and waits by the next doors button until you're ready. With a nod you two move in sync. Checking to make sure that it's an actual hallway this time, you slip in and hold it open for Frisk. They seem to be having a little too much fun with your high alert mode and do a roll to get past the automatic door. When they pop up they look all ways and give you a serious nod. You snort and watch as they continue to act like an infiltrating secret spy.
"Okay!" Frisk jumps at Alphys's loud voice in the silent hallway and you smother another laugh. "You two should be able to get through here without any trouble."
"No guards?" You ask as Frisk rolls again into a kneeling position, putting their hand to their imaginary ear piece even though they held the phone.
"No, it's all clear until-Frisk!"
You'd seen the shadowy figure coming at the same time Alphys had on her camera. Your soul jumped out of your chest, lurching forward as if an extension of your outstretched hand towards Frisk.
The kid jumps back away from the flying monster, a glowing magic laced creature you had never seen before, just missing a flying cross aimed at them.
Frisk was always good at dodging.
You brandish your bat, hitting back any crosses that got too close to you or the kid, letting Frisk handle calming the monster down.
You're relieved when the monster, a Madjick Frisk spelled out for you, bid you two Farwell with a small apology.
It's only when Frisk and your hearts returned to your respective chests did Alphys speak again.
"Th-that was close…" She murmurs. Then, more to herself, "Why are there so many m-monsters here?" You pick up the discarded phone, which Frisk has dropped during the fight. "I mean… N-no worries! W-W-we've just got to keep heading forward…!"
She goes silent.
You share a look with Frisk. They hesitate to answer but end up shrugging and hurrying ahead.
"Stay close." You say, more so to make you feel better rather than to remind Frisk. They had already slowed down before you said it.
The next room had a glass laid bridge over another steep drop into the Core abyss, something that was becoming a pattern that you didn't like. It was being blocked off, however, by a single blue laser and your stomach rolls.
Throughout most of Mettaton's puzzles there had been the orange move-through lasers and the blue don't-even-think-about-it lasers. You despised them mostly because the blues never thought you were still enough and you were never fast enough for the oranges. You could already taste pennies in your mouth looking at it.
"Looks like you can't proceed until you hit that switch on the wall." You look over, having almost missed the red toggle. "But more lazers will activate when you do. Umm…" You hear the keys of a keyboard. "It looks like they'll come in this order. Orange, Orange, Blue. G-Got? Move until the last one."
"Alright." You steel yourself, knowing you're probably going to get shocked. "Ready Frisk?"
They shake their head.
"Don't move until the last one."
"What?" Frisk holds their hands up, cutting you off.
"Shhh. The pattern is the opposite. It's blue, blue, orange."
Instead of verbally answering you take to signing as well, your eyes narrowing onto the phone Frisk had balanced on their shoulder.
"Did she switch it on purpose?" You try to sign faster than usual, knowing she had cameras on you and Frisk. You were pretty sure Alphys couldn't sign, or she would've used it earlier during your first game with Mettaton. However, you'd seen literally every monster in the Underground talk to Frisk and respond to their signing so far, so you weren't risking it.
"No!" The kid gives you a hard look. You knew Alphys was one of their future friends and all, but that didn't mean she couldn't trick them and then be befriended. "Mettaton switched everything around on her."
Well, that confirmed your suspicion that they were working together. You sigh, deciding that you rather focus on getting through the Core than on the confusing game the scientist and her creation were playing with you two.
"Blue, blue, orange." You repeat back to Frisk. After they nod and get ready you hit the button and hold your breath.
Frisk was right.
There's a gasp on the phone.
"Oh my god. Are you guys okay? I… I'm sorry… I-I gave you the wrong order."
"The Core's rooms can be moved around." Frisk says as Alphys's shaky voice dies. You nod slowly, stopping at the next door.
"So Hogwarts moving stairs, but room version. Got it."
"Everything's going to be fine." Alphys continued. You could tell her earlier flame of confidence was quickly being put out. "L-Let's just keep heading to the right."
It's quiet in the next room. More so than the others. You still keep Frisk a step behind you as you cross. You halt at a fork in the path and glance back to Frisk and the phone.
"A crossroads…" Alphys mumbles. She must've stopped looking at the map she'd mentioned earlier because she uhms her way through a moment or two before ushering you both to the right.
You're tempted to head left but Frisk seemed determined to follow every one of Alphys's commands. Even if you assumed Frisk knew when she'd be wrong.
The right path had another bridge over a metal casum and even more lasers.
"M-more lasers… I-I won't mess around this time. I'll just deactivate them and let you two through." There's some mouse clicking and keyboard typing and then… a whimper? "Th-they're not… Turning off?" There's quicker typing in response. "I-I can't turn them off… "
You watch the lasers bounce back and forth in front of you, already trying to figure out how you were going to go about the puzzle.
"It's-It's okay! I-I-I-I have this under control!"
You have a feeling she doesn't.
"I'm going to turn off the power for that whole node! Then you can walk across."
Almost immediately the room loses light. Your bat flies to the ready just as you feel Frisk's hand curl in you clothes. You glance around, not liking how dark it was with a pit so close. The kid uses the phone screen to guide you both forward towards the bridge.
"I've decided the Core is my least favorite place." You say out loud. Your lips pinch when you hear the way your voice endlessly echos around.
"It's not the most fun."
"Really not-"
You pause, your head snapping down to Frisk at your side. They were only lit up by whatever the excess light from the phone ghosted on. You could only really make out some of their face. Definitely not their hands if they'd sign at you. Especially since their hands were full of the phone.
So how had you known what they'd just said?
Did you imagine it?
This had happened earlier… were they signing out of the corner of your eye and you were reading it without really noticing?
"Wait!"
Your shoes squeak when you stop, heart racing at Alphys's sudden yell.
"What-"
A blue laser pierces your chest.
The rooms light flicker back on after the lasers had reactivated.
Almost twenty blue lasers proceeded the one going through you, completely blocking off the bridge. You don't dare turn your head to see how many are behind you.
"Alphys." You hiss out, hoping she's already working to fix this.
"Th-the power… It turned itself back on!" Her teeth click. "D-Damn it… This isn't supposed to… I'm going to turn the power off again. When I do, move a little and then stop. Y-you won't get hurt that way."
"Got it."
When the power goes off you immediately scoop Frisk into your arms and haul ass. It only takes two other power shut offs to get across to the other side.
"See! I-I got everything under control. I've got everything… under control. We're fine."
You can tell she's turned that into a mantra and she was saying it more to herself than to you and Frisk.
"We're fine." It startles Alphys. "We didn't get hurt." Your reassurance only gets a small hum of understanding. Frisk pouts but waves for you to keep going.
There's a three way split next and you run a hand over your eyes.
"Alright! You two should-..." Alphys pauses and you glance to make sure she hadn't accidentally hung up. "You should… I don't know? This doesn't look like my map at all."
"No guesses?" You ask slowly.
"No I… I don't I… I'm sorry I-"
"Alphys?"
"I have to go."
"Hey, wait!" But the phone clicks off. You sigh, dragging a hand through your hair. As much as you were on the fence with your trust in Alphys, you couldn't deny that you two wouldn't have gotten this far without her. In fact, it would've been near impossible.
A small yellow star glows to life before you and Frisk happily sweeps their hands through it. They look more determined to pass through the Core. When they give you that look you take a deep breath.
"Is Alphys okay?" You ask gingerly. Frisk stares and then glances away. A sure sign Alphys was anything but okay. You glanced around the new area. It was a humid kind of hot that burned with the smell of ozone. "How much further until we get to the other side of here?"
"Just up this path is the final show… Then the king."
Their hands shook and they pulled their tiny fists to their chest so you wouldn't notice.
The final show… The last fight with Mettaton. So just a small walk and then you'd face the robot and then the King. Asgore. The supposed final fight. The one thing that Frisk never mentioned, but the battle all of monsterkind warned you about.
However, you find your eyes glancing behind you.
You wanted to go check on Alphys.
"Let's keep going." You say, powering forward. Frisk falls into step, eyes shining as you two move.
In the matter of minutes the two of you push your way through the maze of Core rooms. You realize this is the first time Frisk has ever let you take the lead when handling the Monsters. It wasn't that you were some barbarian swinging your bat around, at least not now, after being in the Underground for so long. Without really thinking about it you compliment, talk down, and encourage the monsters that get in your way until they're smiling messes behind you.
You see the light of another shining star. It glimmers at the end of your path, reflecting against the shiny elevator door. It's slightly different than the one you saw earlier. Fancier.
The door closer to you, that you had almost missed, was more of an arch draped with bright red theater curtains. There were gems and shiny cloth weighing it down. You knew that part would lead to Mettaton.
You brush your fingers through the dust of the star. Your eyes catch the elevator again. In it you see your ragged form, and behind you Frisk's small face.
The realization of how close to the end you were hits your heart hard.
You shakily breathe in.
The sight of your final destination scares you, but seeing your sibling reminds you to stay Kind.
"Frisk, I want you to stay out here for Mettaton's fight." You say, looking back at the star in front of you. You sigh. "Mettaton has been the only monster to relentlessly go after us. We've gotten hurt the most by him. Just stay here and…" You happened to glance at the elevator door again but freeze up when you don't see Frisk's reflection.
You snap around, their name on the tip of your tongue as you catch the back of their head darting into Mettaton's room.
"Frisk!"
A hidden door slams shut, the thud echoing through the Core.
"Frisk!" You call again, fists bruisingly smashing against the metal door. They don't answer, or if they did their unused voice wasn't loud enough for you to hear through the metal.
There's a pop from the other side and then a muffled tune of music you'd started to connect with the presence of Mettaton. You hit the door again but give that up, knowing you weren't strong enough to get through.
You had to get in there.
Sure, you let Frisk fight Papyrus by themselves in the very beginning. It was only because you had seen no threat in the coat-sharing skeleton. Frisk had returned unscathed but after dying to Undyne you refused to let them near another big fight by themselves. Not without you there to protect them.
Why had Frisk run off? Again?
Especially to a fight?
Were they upset you'd asked then to stay?
Instead of fuming you step back and glance around the sealed door.
Quickly you backtrack, keeping a hand on the wall that you could feel the music pounding on.
There had to be another way in.
You glance over your shoulder as you go, up and back like you'd be able to see the camera you knew Alphys had on you.
"Alphys!" You yell out, hoping that whatever she was doing she's hear you, or sees you, knowing you'd need help.
Helping you get to Frisk was probably the fastest way for her to redeem herself after her obvious betrayal.
But nothing.
The music dies and you blanche. You put both your hands to the wall, praying you'd feel or hear the thrum of the music. The music that meant Mettaton was fighting.
Frisk couldn't have possibly talked a robot into being their friend so quickly. As much as you believed in their determination to befriend everyone, it'd take more than a few words to get a popularity obsessed bot to take a bow.
If it had stopped within ten minutes then Frisk-
A low voice yells- moans- "Oh Yeah", before a new mix of music sings even louder than before.
You sigh in relief.
Clicking next to you makes you jump and you dart to the side to avoid whatever it is.
You watch a panel form in the wall by your head before popping open, the gate swinging and hitting the wall with a crack. You narrow your eyes but inspect it immediately.
It was a hole, or rather maybe a vent. It glowed an unnatural blue, like there was something swimming in the walls.
You hear another bout of music blare.
You pull yourself into the vent, squirming until you can get your legs up and under you. Without pause, hoping Alphys was the one who opened it up, you crawl.
For the most part you follow Mettaton's tune. It bounces around your head as you move, luckily not throwing you off enough that you get lost.
Or you're pretty sure you're not lost.
Just as worry starts gnawing in your gut you hear a voice.
"Darling is a model, now, hm?"
You crawl faster, seeing a vent ahead you strobing with pinks and oranges.
You press your face against the grate, peering into the room you'd found.
Everything's hard to make out amongst the artificial fog and the flashing lights that nearly blind you. It's much darker than the glowing vent you were in. It was also much louder than you thought it was going to be.
On top of the rave music playing there was a steady chiming that, once your eyes adjusted, you saw came from a screen that read "audience". Every time the screen's number went up, the chime chirped out.
Frisk spun into view suddenly, their yellowed soul firing off into the fog. Immediately you push at the grate, trying to pop it off the wall.
"A determined contestant!" Came the man's voice again.
A hot pink heeled boot suddenly cuts through the fog like a knife, almost taking Frisk's head with it. You shouted for them, but they couldn't hear you over the music. Instead they jumped-no, twirled-out of the way. The leg continued forward, bringing its partner, and then the rest of its body, through the dense fog and into view.
You...were not expecting what stood before your vent.
You had never seen this man before in your life. Why he was fighting Frisk now instead of Mettaton made no sense. He brushed his black hair behind his ear, his one visable eye shining as they darted back to Frisk's new spot.
The man jutted his hip out, pointed a healed toe, placed his pink gloves hand on his front hip bones and then licked his teeth as he smiled.
You felt your face grow warm.
The TV screen chimed viciously as the viewer count jumped.
Shots from Frisk's soul splatter against the wall next to you. The man grunts, being hit, and you watch in mild horror as his arms drop off his body.
One rolls over to you and you mumble a "thank God" under your breath to see wires and cords coming out rather than blood and bones.
However...if this was a robot arm…
"Mettaton?" You whisper, watching as the two dance around each other. Literally dance, as Mettaton struts his legs and Frisk spins and jumps to avoid incoming attacks. It's… Oddly beautiful.
It'd be more beautiful if Mettaton would stop firing at your kid.
You decide you need to stop gawking and start moving.
You scoot back in your limited space and take to slamming your shoulder into the grate. After a few hits it blows off and you go tumbling out after it. Your chin hits the ground and you almost bite your tongue clean off.
"Perfect timing!" You look up, finding the armless robot making his way towards you. Your soul lurches. You roll over, popping up onto your feet just as your green soul is pulled from your chest.
The new Mettaton towered over you. Easily six foot, maybe even seven. He smiled beautifully down at you.
"I was wondering where you went darling. I can't have a finale without both of the special guests present!"
Even his laughter was near perfect. You felt your face warm again. He pauses, seeming to notice the change in your face to your embarrassment, and looks ready to comment on it.
But Frisk leaps between you two, firing at Mettaton who blocked the shot, to grab your hand. They very quickly run you out of range.
"Frisk-"
They turn around and give you the meanest look you've ever seen them give. Your heart nearly concaves at the sight of it.
"You were supposed to stay away." They sign hurriedly. You're both aware of Mettaton's clicking of heels behind you, hidden by the lights and smoke.
"Not with you in here!" You retaliate. Their face goes soft, but falls further into a pout.
"I don't want you to get hurt again-" Their signing is interrupted by a leg that cuts the stifled air between you two. Mettaton falls into a graceful split before spinning around and up into a flip that aims for your jugular.
A yellow bullet hits Mettaton's leg, pushing it out of its course.
He moved to the beat of the pounding music in your ears, spinning and sliding around Frisk's shots and, once you stopped gawking, your bat swings.
You realized a little too late that Frisk and him were dancing around each other as they fought. Frisk would do a pose after a round of Mettaton's attacks and the audience would lose it.
You bounced to the beat, something you did without meaning to. You could feel the base reverberating in your ribcage, thrumming through every part of you- the bobbing was forced more so than chosen. Anytime Frisk slid to the side to allow you to block one of Mettaton's shots, you made a point to stick your tongue out or smirk, egging on the handsome bot. The monsters watching seemed to love it when you'd boast he couldn't hit you and you'd go unscathed.
You didn't always dodge his shots or legs in time, though. Your bruised ribs sang out to that. Frisk tried to put themselves between you and Mettaton more throughout the fight. You danced around each other, trying to put yourselves first. It turned more into an act in the audience's eyes than a struggle between the two of you. Mettaton didn't even seem to pick up on it, as he followed along as if it was a dance number.
It clicked all too late that Frisk really was your sibling-really had learned from you and copied you. To a T. To the point that the ugly habit of self sacrificing was rearing its head in them instead of just you.
Terrified at that prospect, you spin around Frisk and land a devastating blow to Mettaton's hip. Noting to apologize to him afterwards, you swing with your infamous strength from before you swore not to fight. You needed this fight over before Frisk started diving in front of you like the president's secret service.
Sparks fly and his legs pop off with the hissing of steam. You pause, waiting to see if Mettaton had anything else up his sleeve.
The man looks past you and Frisk though, his eyes sparkling somehow even more when he sees the viewer count.
"Oh! Look at these ratings!" The music you feel pulsing in your body dims. It shifts into a new tune, a softer sweeter song. It's still has the unnatural pulse inside of you, though. "This is the most viewers I've ever had!" Your soul nears your chest, like it's ready to end the fight, but doesn't fully disappear.
Mettaton shudders. Immediate worry fills you at the sight. You look to Frisk. They've already moved to help hold up Mettaton so his limbless body doesn't fall over as he talks.
"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." Though his voice purrs like it always did, you hear it shake and a soft noise of strain at the end of his words. Like a pipe just not connecting correctly and creating an air leak.
Mettaton's chest panel pops open, revealing a phone. Not a moment later does it ring. Mettaton looks to Frisk, but the kid's staring you down so you sheath your bat and weakly walk over. Crouching, and also gently wrapping an arm around Mettaton's heavy and cold back, you pick the phone up. You put it on speaker.
"Hi!" Mettaton calls, winking to a camera you still can't see. "You're on TV. What do you have to say on this… Our very last show?"
There's a near whimper and then a pause of silence.
"Oh…." It's soft and watery and almost immediately you recognize it. ".. Hi… Mettaton…" Almost immediately his plastered smile starts to crack. ".. I.. uh.. Really liked watching your show…. My life is pretty boring…. But….. Seeing you on the screen… brought excitement to my life…. Vicariously…"
Mettaton's smile had disappeared. In its place was a twisted grimace.
"I can't tell… but I guess this is the last episode…? … I'll miss you… Mettaton…."
There's a small gasp.
"Oh….. I didn't mean to talk for this long…. Oh…"
"No, wait! Wait Blo-"
The phone clicks and goes silent.
"He hung up." You mumble.
Mettaton looks like he's about to cry. He tries to smile through it.
"I'll take another caller!" He announces. You hang up the phone and immediately it rings.
"Mettaton! Your show made us so happy!"
And again.
"Mettaton I don't know what I'll watch without you."
And again.
"Mettaton, there's a Mettaton-shaped hole in my Mettaton-shaped heart."
You go again but the phone cuts off mid ring and you retract your hand just in time to avoid it being pinched by the panel shutting.
He opens his mouth but then shuts it. For a moment, the first moment you'd ever seen, he was lost for words.
"Ah… everyone…thank you so much." The pompous, announcer voice he boasted had dropped to a soft, quiet one. One that you hardly recognized.
His magenta eyes drift between you and Frisk.
"Darlings… Perhaps… It might be better if I stay here for a while." He smiles weakly. "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…." He takes a rattling breath that sounds like sparking electricity. "I think I'll have to delay my big debut. Besides. You've proven to be very strong... Perhaps… Even strong enough to get past Asgore." His eyes flicker over to you. He holds you gaze as he speaks. "I'm sure you'll be able to protect humanity." Gently, he gestures to Frisk. His thick eyelashed eyes flutter shut and he gives a deprecating smile. "It's all for the best, anyway. The truth is, this form's energy consumption is… Inefficient."
There's a noise of an old computer starting a shut down and you realize it's from Mettaton. His body gets heavier and you shift on your cramping legs to hold up more of his weight.
"In a few moments, I'll run out of battery power and, well…" Frisk makes a noise and Mettaton cracks his eyes open to give Frisk a kind look. "I'll be alright. Knock 'em dead, Darlings." He fixes that kind look, which took a determined warmth, on to the cameras. "And everyone… Thank you. You've been a great audience!"
Your soul gently sinks back into your chest, the music cutting off abruptly.
The eerie silence filling the room makes you shiver.
"Mettaton?" You ask gently. You move so you can see his face and swallow when you notice the way he's gone limp. "Mettaton?" You ask again, laying him on the ground. You hover over him, gently patting his cheek.
The door to the room activates with a ring before sliding open. Frisk stands up.
"I...I managed to open the lock! Are you two…" You glance over your shoulder to watch Alphys scurry in. She's focused on Frisk, who signs that everyone's fine. When she notices your hunched form over Mettaton she gasps.
"Alphys…" You mumble, voice breaking.
"Oh my god." She's kneeling across from you in seconds. "M-Mettaton! Mettaton are you…" Her fear melts into a tired sigh of relief. "Thank God, it's just the batteries."
You stare.
Batteries?
….
You'd forgotten Mettaton was a robot for a moment there.
His emotions were so real and his face-
Well, actually. It was real. Maybe before you thought this was all programmed but now… You knew that couldn't be right. Not after witnessing him nearly cry talking to Napstablook. Mettaton was just as real as you or Alphys or Frisk.
Alphys leans closer to Mettaton, her hands shaking and her breathing becoming chaotic.
"Mettaton, if you were gone, I would have… I would have…" She notices you watching her and she tries to hide the rising panic. "I m-mean, h-hey, it's n-no problem, you know?" She avoids your stare. "He's just a robot, if you messed it up, I c-could always… J-just build another…" She trails of, dryly swallowing. "Wh-Why don't you two go on ahead?"
As much as you wanted to stay and tell her that she didn't have to hide how much she cared for Mettaton, you notice Frisk out of the corner of your eye. They're waving for you to follow them, looking as determined as ever. You trusted them to know what's best.
"We'll be just up ahead." You say softly to Alphys, assuming she needed some space. She gives a weak smile as you get up.
A door had opened across the way, behind where Mettaton laid. Frisk bobbed on through. You would've assumed they were as carefree as always, but you noticed the way their hands fisted into the sides of their onesie.
In the new hallway you slow your pace almost to a halt, hoping Alphys would join like she said she would.
Sure enough not even a minute passed before you here the padding of her feet and the ruffling of her lab coat. You turn to face her, which surprises her as she back up further from you.
"S...Sorry about that! L-let's k-keep going!"
"You heard her." You call to Frisk, who was the same large distance in front of you as Alphys was behind.
You three walk in echoey quiet for a near ten seconds.
"S-So you're about to meet Asgore, h-huh?" You stop again at her words and she squeaks. You frown at the reaction.
"His place is the only place left after this, isn't it?" You ask, more to Frisk than to Alphys. The kid stops too, even further ahead and turns around briefly to give you a thumbs up. Alphys nods tentatively.
"You must be… Y-you two must be… Pr...Pretty excited about all that, huh?" You're picking up on the fear and hesitation in her soft voice. You once again turn fully around to face her.
"Alphys?
"You'll f-f-finally… You'll finally get to go home!"
"Hey, Alphys, are you okay?" You try. However, whatever funk she's gotten into hasn't been shaken off. Her eyes don't meet yours and you pick up on the same spiraling of thoughts you're all too used to.
A ding behind you makes both of you jump. Spinning around, you see Frisk has found the elevator at the end of the corridor. You make out their nervous look and assume they'd accidentally hit the button.
"W-wait!" Alphys shouts, making you turn again. "I mean, um...I-I was just going to… um… Say goodbye, and… … …" You raise a brow.
"And?" You pry gently. "You have something you need to tell us?"
She gasps and then her facade of a smile crumbles immediately. "I-I…. I can't take this anymore."
You hear Frisk slowly coming closer as Alphys curls in on herself.
"I lied to you." You nod slowly, assuming that she's going to explain she'd been in cahoots with Mettaton.
"About what?" You prod, keeping your voice soft.
"A…" She turns tear filled eyes to you. "A human soul isn't strong enough to cross the barrier alone."
Your heart stops.
"It takes at least a human soul… and a monster soul."
"...What?" You ask, breathless. You feel the pulse of your heart in your veins and the sound of it in your ears. That and your breathing takes over your hearing as you barely hear Alphys's next words.
"If you two want to go home… You'll have to take his soul. You'll have to kill Asgore… … I'm sorry."
She sprints off.
You stare after her, reeling in your thoughts.
A part of you. A small, small determined part of you hoped that when you found out about the need of seven souls… You hoped that maybe you could be the seventh that was needed that stayed alive. That you could break it but join Frisk and the others on the surface.
The larger part of you had accepted that you'd give it up if it meant Frisk could continue on.
However… A monster soul… Would Asgore have to die either way so his soul could be the other part of the key?
Having already known your soul alone wasn't going to be enough after your talk with Undyne, you didn't feel that Alphys had lied to you. At least, about this. However, she looked like she'd been tearing herself up over it.
"Frisk." You say, still staring down the hallway. "I want to check on Alphys before we go to Asgore." When you do look at them, they're practically beaming up at you.
"I'm glad you don't not like her." They sign and you snort. "You looked upset with her earlier."
"I was. Am?" You shift your backpack. "But I'm not as upset as I was and… I'm not upset about all… this." You physically gesture to the conversion you just had. "I'm upset about other stuff. But making sure she's okay comes first." Frisk nods excitedly and grabs your hand as they take the lead towards the way you two just came from.
Hopefully Asgore can wait just a little longer for the arrival of the two humans.