Alice in Undertale Chapter 28
By Lolitafreak88
Chapter 28 Underland's Wondertale
As the little girl weeped, she didn't hear the sound of the door behind her unlocking and opening afterward. What she did hear was Alphys, sounding much too excited at first,
"I… I managed to open the lock! Are you two… Oh my god."
For what it was worth Alphys didn't pry Alice away from Mettaton's torso as she ran over in alarm. The genuine worry in her voice was also meaningful for it meant the Royal Scientist did truly care about Mettaton. Still, hearing and being within proximity to this deceptive monster quickly started to stir some furious feelings in Alice. Alice coldly looked over to Alphys, tears streaming. Alphys seemed to understand that Alice was cross or upset with her and she winced. Fiddling her fingers before mustering up the bravery to speak to Alice, Alphys asked,
"C-can I see him... ? I-I need to examine-"
"Yes." Alice wanted to get to the point, not listen to anymore unneeded details.
Reluctantly handing Alphys the torso, Alice watched Alphys fiddle around with some of the bolts and functions that were on the cyborg.
"Mettaton! Mettaton are you…" Alphys spoke to the depowered robot in a frightened tone.
Alice got to her feet, dusting off her apron as she silently watched Alphys examine Mettaton. Wiping away the rest of her tears, she gazed at the monster with a cold look. None of this would've happened if she did what was best for the monsters and not for her own entertainment, she thought darkly. She did look surprised when Alphys turned away and smiled in relief.
"... thank GOD, it's just the batteries. Mettaton, if you were gone, I would have… I would have…"
"Done your duty?" Alice offered her suggestion of what Alphys would've done in a very brutal fashion.
"... A-Alice I understand how this all l-looks… b-but… why don't go on ahead?" Alphys seemed positively defeated as she weakly made her request.
Something about the tone in Alphys's voice triggered a rare fury into Alice. The inconsistency between the demand which at this point sounded like she was being sent off into some other unknown or orchestrated situation and the meek voice that had called her so many times was too prominent. She had tried to overlook this puppetry but right now, if Alice was to go on ahead it would be because of her curiousity and not manipulation. With this momentum, Alice approached Alphys with furious steps. Alphys was too busy looking down at Mettaton to notice when Alice's outstretched hand suddenly made contact with her right cheek.
"*SWAP!*"
Alphys's glasses were knocked to the ground as Alphys grasped her suddenly sore cheek. Alice was aware of how this single action would be grounds for her sister to scold her severely but what was the point of keeping in mind her sister's advice now when she had been wronged so deeply? Alphys's attention shifted between Mettaton, her glasses, and Alice, all of it very stunned and clearly hurt. The little girl was not finished with a mere slap though, speaking once more to Alphys,
"To give you enough time to deceive me again? I'm sorry but I believe I'm owed an explanation on behalf of the monsters who've been suffering on behalf of your ridiculous behavior. Explain to me why you orchestrated this nonsense."
"I… I do not possess m-much confidence in myself… a-and I'm a homebody… a-and there wasn't a human in s-so long… when I saw you a-and how you were THE Alice I… I got carried away. I tested y-you and w-wanted to include myself in your adventure… wanted to feel special. I-I let it get out of hand…." Alphys made a feeble confession as she picked up her glasses and examined for cracks.
"You were abusing your position and power! Instead of researching ways to break the barrier you had me go through traps and trickery and Mettaton. Even Mettaton was through with your manipulation! And for a self-confidence boost? At first I sympathized with that but when the stakes have become so high it's inexcusable!" Alice pointed at Alphys angrily, her tirade just beginning.
The Royal Scientist lowered her head in shame, looking over to Mettaton as a source of comfort. It felt good to Alice to finally call out on Alphys for her constant disturbances and obvious masterminding of everything that had transpired in Hotland. It wasn't just that though, it was the idea of this person in such an important role not fulfilling that role. It made it seem as though the dream she had made come true for Mettaton wasn't out of the goodness of her heart. It even got Mettaton to this unconscious state, someone who genuinely didn't want to end the lives of humanity like Asgore did. It seemed to say that her true loyalties lied with Asgore, someone who wanted the destruction of humanity.
"And how does any of this help free the monsters? Why were all those letters in your lab left unopened and unanswered? Beyond playing me for a fool, you are playing all those monsters for a fool. And I believe you'd prefer for me not to get onto the topic of your fabrication of human history." Alice folded her arms.
"... n-no…" Alphys sounded extremely meek and even depressed.
"I haven't the faintest idea why Asgore chose someone of such deceptiveness. Perhaps you've been deceiving him too." Alice finished with a scathing remark.
Alphys offered a rather dark glance towards the ground. In her heart, Alice felt a twinge of sympathy for bringing Alphys to this fragile state. Yet her fury being unleashed drowned that brief sympathy and instead seemed proud of finally having a say against the Scientist. Alphys muttered something inaudible to herself and ultimately she clasped her hands together and took a deep breath. It seemed she was ready to possibly defend herself.
"I-I'm not… I've just made m-m-mistakes… t-too many… a-and I'm sorry I did this to you…"
"I would honestly give the monsters an apology first. There's so much at stake between the barrier, freedom, my life, your honor and integrity, and everything else that has transpired here." Alice softened her expression as she spoke from her heart.
"... Alice… t-there is a way t-to find your freedom… but it i-isn't-"
"I know… I know. I can sacrifice my soul to break the barrier. It would ensure the most lives can go free. I haven't given up looking for another way though." Alice confessed.
"No… there is one way… but you won't like it…" Alphys said some choice words that made Alice nervous.
"Won't like it…?"
Something in her head already seemed to know the answer. It was what Chara wanted after all. Kill someone and use their soul. The question is how and why though. If it were a mere monster then would that really be strong enough to use? Alice's head was working quickly, almost too quickly for her preference. In fact she feared she had already came to a conclusion about the correct answer… To Alice's surprise though, Alphys walked over and entered through the stone door, the way to what was presumably Asgore's Castle. Alice stopped to give Mettaton's empty body a mournful glance, feeling that he didn't deserve this fate compared to some of the other characters she had met. I can only hope Napstablook doesn't find out about this, Alice thought. Feeling nervous and depressed, she chased Alphys. The doorway led to a familiar-looking CORE path with an elevator at the very end of the hall. Alphys was standing besides the elevator door, fidgeting.
"Alphys… you're saying I won't like this other way? Even then, telling me about it before would've saved much confusion…" Alice asked again as she approached the elevator.
"There's a r-reason f-for that… I-I can't hide it f-from you any longer… rather I can't take it anymore..." Alphys sighed sadly and looked away from Alice, humiliated.
"Please just tell me already! Deceit is deceit but I'm willing to listen to your honesty now!" Alice yelled with some desperation to hear what she had to say.
"I… I lied to you… A human SOUL isn't strong enough to cross the barrier alone. It takes at least a human soul… And a monster soul. …If you want to go home… You'll have to take his soul. You'll have to kill ASGORE."
Alice felt as though someone had grabbed at her neck and choked her. Her mind was paralyzed with shock and fear and her body felt stiff and much too heavy. It was firmly, finally confirmed. Flowey's 'Kill or be Killed' logic was justified. Either a monster died at Alice's hand or Alice died at the monster's hands. The barrier was tied to death, the question is whose and how? Something like that did seem to justify why Alphys had hid it, it was a mind-breaking conclusion. Yet Alice was at a mental state that wasn't really one-hundred percent. In fact she suddenly recalled something that was said long ago… Words that seemed cautionary for multiple reasons than the initial reason Alice suspected.
'You naive child… you are blinded by curiousity and are oblivious to many things… If you leave the ruins… they… ASGORE… will kill you…I am only protecting you, do you not understand?'
I wonder if Toriel knew all along, Alice thought, and was trying to point out how there will ultimately be a killing should I go on. Maybe the goat mother was trying to protect Asgore too from the children while simultaneously protecting the children from him. A sort of deadlock tie to prevent another heavy loss in the Underground. No… if Alice was lost, it wouldn't be heavy to anyone save a few monsters she befriended. Were Asgore to be lost, who could possibly imagine the tragic reactions on the monster's faces? And it'd probably seal humanity's reputation as negative for all eternity. Alice's head was wracked with a number of troubling thoughts but Alphys came to Alice's aid quickly.
"A-Alice…! I-I'm sorry… please… m-maybe w-w-we can hide you for a little while longer… a-and uh… try r-researching…?" Alphys suggested with a weak voice.
'But… just know that Sans… he doesn't trust you. No matter what's happened he's never trusted you… I don't know why but this is why… I just know he's been taking his time… waiting… waiting to strike you with some twisted revelation or cruel battle. Just like all the others.'
'DON'T LIE TO MY FACE AND ACT LIKE YOU CAN TALK ABOUT THINGS YOU SUPPOSEDLY DON'T KNOW ABOUT.'
"... Alphys, I… I believe that option is no longer available." Alice said frailey.
"H-how…?"
"The SOULS are tied to life, it seems to be an undeniable proof of this world… and if SOULS are what's powerful enough to even crack the barrier, then they are what is needed. But I'm needed to give my SOUL up to the monsters who've painstakingly collected six others. Otherwise I have to claim one of theirs and that's just unforgivable at this point. I'm going to speak with Asgore, see if we can find a compromise." She was fully aware that she was giving somewhat of a swan song.
"...! … I'm sorry." Alphys knew her words were far too little to console but what else could she do?
Alice's mind felt numb, exhausted, only able to process a few things. Based on the way things were going, Sans was likely to intervene in some way before she got to Asgore. If she even made it to Asgore, one of them would absolutely have to die if there was any chance of the Barrier breaking. She'd have to place all her hopes and dreams on the idea of a compromise if she wasn't a corpse by then. She could've antagonized Alphys for setting Asgore up like this, letting him be the final obstacle to Alice's own freedom. She could've wallowed in misery at the fact that no matter what, a life was the price to pay for freedom from the Underground. In truth, this feeling felt familiar to one of her daydreams. One where she had greatly desired to go home after having more than enough adventures in Wonderland. It resulted in a breakdown in the Tulgey Wood. Here she had no such opportunity. She was still running on a sort of DETERMINATION to at least try to prove Flowey and Chara wrong for as long as she could. Yet she could feel that DETERMINATION quickly dwindling. She stepped into the elevator as Alphys watched.
"... I'll… I'll t-try to be hopeful… l-like you are Alice… e-even if it's not easy for m-me…" Alphys said one last set of words before walking away, an attempt to give the little girl some comfort before they parted for good.
Although Alice didn't reply, the meaning behind the royal scientists words gave Alice slight comfort. As the doors slided, Alice decided she should've controlled her temper better. She had certainly not given Alphys any mercy moments before and something in her head was telling her she'd regret it. But there was so much more to regret at the moment… broken promises, Mettaton's temporary yet tragic fate, her deteriorating relationship with Sans, and her extremely sore feet. It seemed the fatigue of her journey had caught up with her, or perhaps she had lost all curiousity and it was making her aware of reality. After pushing the button that would hopefully take her to the final destination of the Underground, she flopped to the floor and sat down, taking a breath.
"I suppose this explains all the trouble that I'm always in… it was 'kill or be killed' from the start… that's the only solution." Alice said to herself.
As the elevator started to move, she contemplated what was the best thing to do. Sacrificial lamb or murdering liberator? Either way someone would be freed and so soon that whoever was freed would probably be crying tears of joy and celebrating. A human girl or an entire race of monsters? The girl in question suffered quite a bit, was under heavy suspicion of being involved in some plot, prone to being manipulated it seemed, and was the final piece of the puzzle. The monsters in question suffered intensely, seemed to be plotting vengeance against the humans, prone to hasty judgements, and had the puzzle placed upon them for far too long. And what if there was another way? Could the monsters wait that long to find it? Could Alice wait that long to find it? Was it even possible to be found now?
"I can't seem to find my way anymore... " Alice spoke hushed words.
The elevator doors opened, much as Alice almost wished she could stay in the elevator forever. The little girl forced herself to get up and found herself in a hallway set in grayscale colors. It was strangely soothing and relaxing and it actually made Alice surprised. It didn't seem like Asgore to have such a plain set of colors for his castle, she thought. It was also possible this wasn't the castle itself but rather the entryway, similar to how some castles had a drawbridge or a gate for travelers to enter in and out of. Normally such a thought gave Alice a sense of pride or familiarity but in her disoriented and tired state, it made her frown that she hadn't yet arrived to Asgore's throne room.
"It's almost as if he doesn't exist…" She said glumly.
The hallway went left and so Alice followed with tired eyes and footsteps. What it led to was something that Alice hadn't expected.
"*Gasp*! That's… is that a kingdom?" She put a hand to her mouth.
There was another elevator and a sight that, even in strange grayscale, looked quite astonishing and beautiful. It was a whole kingdom of buildings, that seemed to stretch out quite some ways away, with a variety of regal and elegant styles. Domes, cathedrals, towers… it reminded Alice of her old home in England and the famous architecture there. It appeared this was some sort of secret passage or perhaps a main bridge to the castle that settled above the kingdom and would've been used by the king himself. Something about the scale of this kingdom seemed so fascinating to Alice, considering the rest of the Underground. While it had been big it certainly had seemed divided into small patches of civilization. The Ruins, Snowdin, the area where Napstablook was settled in Waterfall, the Temmie's home, Muffet's domain, Alphys's lab, MTT Hotel, all individualized. Here it seemed like a place where all the monsters could live altogether in one environment. Yet it was deathly quiet and the colors suggested an aged or faded appearance to this kingdom.
'Trapped behind the barrier and fearful of further human attacks, we retreated. Far, far into the earth we walked, until we reached the cavern's end. This was our new home, which we named… "Home". As great as our king is, he is pretty lousy at names.'
"...! I see… could this have been the first home of the monsters?" Alice was struck with a sense of inspiration as she recalled the history book she had read at the Ruins.
It made sense, Asgore would no doubt want to be as close to the barrier as possible to monitor it and be there at all times for the day seven souls could be gathered. All the other monsters were residing farther away from it. Likely this grayscale kingdom was the first series of living quarters for the monsters when they arrived at the Underground before they sought more room or different areas to reside in. They abandoned this kingdom for the towns and establishments of the various parts of the Underground.
"There must not have been a lot of available comforts or amenities when these were made. Despite the beauty of these buildings they eventually moved..." Alice said out loud.
That was the practical reason for moving away but what if there was some other reason for all these buildings to be left unoccupied? After all, when she had talked to Muffet, she mentioned some spiders were trapped in the Ruins for generations. They wouldn't have moved there if they couldn't pass through Snowdin for instance. Perhaps some of the monsters were forced into the Underground through the Mt. Ebbot route, Alice concluded. Alice was beginning to feel slightly excited again. While she felt drained and was dealing with a great internal conflict of what was right, her curiousity had returned and it was enough for her to go on with more passion. She couldn't feel the pain in her feet anymore as she carried on her way. The bridge parted from the wall entirely and led upward to what was probably the ultimate castle. Sturdy towers with many windows were the only things peering above the darkness below, reminding her of the dangerous Undyne encounter prior to the garbage dump. What the bridge ultimately led up to was…
"... What sort of magic is this…?" Alice felt a shiver go up her spine and her excitement disappear.
There was no castle, or gate, or drawbridge. There wasn't anyone there greeting her. What was there was something else entirely. A house. A quaint-looking house made of stone. Leaves on the ground and on either side of a welcoming entranceway. Two windows. A stone tablet above the entrance she could not read. All in the same muted colors as the kingdom. But it was unmistakable. Save for a few things on the outside that weren't here now, this was an exact replica of Toriel's home in the Ruins. Alice could hardly breathe for a few moments. Why…? Why is this so similar…? Her thoughts felt heavy and rattled as she tried to make sense of it. Was this where Toriel had once lived? Was this merely a coincidence? Had Toriel been inspired and built her home in this same style? Why…?
"I have to go in there but…" Alice was torn in her tone.
It almost felt like she was about to do something forbidden, an ultimate secret was to be revealed or some twist of fate would happen as soon as she stepped inside. There was no Toriel here to welcome her and guide her along this time and no sense of relief of finding this to begin with. A vague melody seemed to be in the air as well yet Alice couldn't really be sure at this point if she was hallucinating it or if it was like the music box in Waterfall. Approaching this mysterious yet familiar home was giving a vague knowledge of what it was called… New Home.
"New…? How could it possibly be new…?" Alice asked herself in shock as she walked inside.
What she saw was actually very uncomfortable. There was a stairway just like in Toriel's home, leading downward, a lamp, a bookcase, a mirror, a cabinet with a vase of beautiful golden flowers, and two padlocks blocking the stairway. All of it mirrored Toriel's home, to the point Alice felt as though she stepped through the looking glass… The presence of the golden flower was also a bit unnerving as it reminded her of the patches of them she had fallen onto several times now in the Underground. It also reminded her of the knowledge Asgore's favorite tea involved the golden flowers and Monster Kid had recounted that he had grown grown a lot of them. While it did look like a very comfortable home it also seemed to have been vacant and quiet.
"Maybe this is Asgore's home then…" Alice thought with as much optimism as she could muster before examining the note.
'Howdy! I'm in the garden. If you have anything you need to get off your chest, please don't hesitate to come. The keys are in the kitchen and the hallway.'
"... Why did it have to be that greeting?" Alice complained, already getting startling flashbacks to Flowey's signature welcome.
At the same time though, she had a hunch it had nothing to do with Flowey. Flowey didn't seem like he even owned a home and was an outcast in the Underground. So if anything, it was probably someone who just happened to use that greeting in this message.
"It does make sense for the keys to be in the kitchen and hallway at least. Hopefully there'll be no more encounters…" Alice wearily stated.
She decided to go towards the kitchen first and found another traumatic sense of deja vu. There was a living room with a dining table for four, another golden flower within a vase, a cozy reading chair, a fireplace, a bookcase, and a rack of tools. There was no warmth or colors and there was no fire burning within the fireplace this time. It all seemed almost like she wasn't even in a house anymore but some exhibit in a museum displaying the interior of an old home. The interior of Toriel's home. Alice was starting to feel a sense of dread, not finding any comfort for either her inevitable destiny involving death or that she'd like exploring this New Home. As she approached the kitchen, half-heartedly imagining there'd be a butterscotch cinnamon pie waiting for her, she was startled when two Froggits appeared before her. The way they appeared was almost as though they teleported in front of her path but they didn't seem dangerous or hostile. In fact, they seemed to start telling her some sort of story,
"A long time ago, a human fell into the RUINS." The left one began.
"Injured by its fall, the human called out for help." The right one stated.
Alice raised an eyebrow slightly, frowning in reaction to hearing this. Were they recounting something that happened to one of the previous six, or seven according to Sans, children? A sad history lesson was the last thing she needed… or maybe it was just what she needed. It was hard to decide what she could get out of such a story, a motivation to keep going or a motivation to resign? To keep going would kill a monster or perhaps result in a futile proposition and to resign would perhaps consist of hiding or finally giving the monsters…
"No! I can't think like that… w-what would Papyrus say?" Alice stopped herself from that line of reasoning and shook her head albeit desperately.
While she had been thinking to herself, the Froggits had disappeared just as oddly as they appeared. It left the entranceway to the kitchen open and Alice practically ran into the room. Once again it mirrored Toriel's right down from the placement of the fridge to utensils on the wall. What differed this time was a gold key lying on the counter. Alice instinctively grabbed it and hooked it onto her phone's keychain but also noticed another note and some papers in the trash can. The note read 'Howdy! Help yourself to anything you want!' I should also check what's in the fridge, Alice thought gloomily. Opening it revealed unopened containers of snails. In the trash was crumbled up recipes for butterscotch cinnamon pie.
'Do you smell that? Surprise! It is a butterscotch-cinnamon pie. I thought we might celebrate your arrival. I want you to have a nice time living here. So I will hold off on snail pie for tonight.'
"..." Alice suddenly felt very sick.
This was Toriel's old home, she must've lived near Asgore's kingdom. But why were there four chairs? Why were these notes addressed to someone who was likely not Toriel? Why was this place even abandoned? Why was there still food in the fridge? Why would Toriel be permitted to live so close to the kingdom? Why had she mimicked her home into the Ruins so closely to this one?
"I-I should just stop asking questions." Alice put a hand to her head, trying to give herself advice that wouldn't drive her insane.
She thrived on discovering and reasoning, it's what let her survive the Underground. But now all her curiousity was just serving to risk opening up some dark secret that would probably make Alice feel absolutely miserable. She wasn't in the mood to calm herself down either so all she can do was attempted to play dumb and just go along with this scavenger hunt for the keys. Alice took a deep breath to try to regain some composure. It helped her slow her heartbeat but she still felt as though she was about to have a headache. She left the kitchen quietly and made her way back to the entrance hall. Unfortunately, two more monsters, Whimsuns, appeared before her.
"ASRIEL, the king's son, heard the human's call."
"He brought the human back to the castle." Two lines did more to turn this story that they were telling into what would no doubt be the tragedy that started it all.
'When she looked, she could indeed see the form of Chara cradled in the goat's arms. Though there was something more innocent about his appearance despite Alice being unable to see his face.'
'The castle looked very much like one you might find in England and even from afar was worthy of inspiring ballads and art with it's glory. Alice couldn't help but stop and stare at it wordlessly along with Monster Kid. She didn't even need to ask about what castle it was because there was no doubts in her mind that it was the King's Castle.'
"Oh my god… o-oh…" Alice couldn't hide her emotional state any longer, tears came to her eyes.
She stopped herself from thinking. She made her way into the hallway. A rug, even more golden flowers in different pots and cabinets, and even a long mirror could be seen. Alice opened entered the room closest to her. It was a very precious looking room, perhaps for two children or siblings. Two comfortable beds, a toy chest of dusty toys, two plush goats in different shades, a big closet, a drawing of a golden flower, a lamp in the corner of the room, a family picture… Chara and Asriel's room. The thought of that alone gave this place so much sentimentality that Alice felt unworthy of being in here. Regardless of how Chara turned out, it was perhaps one of the only places he had ever been happy. And even if maybe Chara had never appreciated being with Asriel, surely Asriel had experienced a blessed life here despite what his fate might've been. It was still alarming to find that Chara had been the first child to fall down here...
"Hmm? Are these presents?" Alice wiped her tears, trying to hold it together as she spotted two beautifully wrapped gifts on the floor.
She knew it was disrespectful to open presents that were not hers yet the sight of these gifts gave Alice vague memories of the Unbirthday Party in Wonderland. Anything that connected to Wonderland helped Alice feel a bit more comfortable and right now she wanted that feeling. One of the gifts contained a rather beautiful Heart-Shaped Locket. The message inside it said 'Best Friends Forever'. Alice decided it was probably Asriel's, seeing that Chara had become a person who no longer held great regards for anyone. She debated whether to leave it where it was or bring it with her. Ultimately she decided to bring it with her, placing it in her apron pocket as she had no intention of wearing something so valuable that didn't belong to her. The other box contained a Worn Dagger. It was perfect for cutting plants and vines. Alice stared at it with a blank look for a few seconds before placing it into her pocket as well. Inside the closet was a lot of striped shirts. Alice thought briefly of the idea of Toriel dressing Asriel up in one of those striped shirts… and Chara too. She briskly left the room.
"'Room under renovations.' I suppose if you left the home for good then that means this room will remain unfinished forever." Alice offered her opinion when she noticed the next room had such a sign on it.
Three more monsters stopped her again, Moldsmal this time.
"Over time, ASRIEL and the human became like siblings."
"The King and Queen treated the human child as their own."
"The underground was full of hope."
'Oh yeah… The prophecy. Legend has it, an 'angel' who has seen the surface will descend from above and bring us freedom.'
Alice thought briefly of the idea of the monsters feeling blissful and happy, with nothing crazy like disappearances, hunts, or Flowey around to cause despair. It made her tear up, as she knew what eventually came to be. A dresser stood beside what was the last room in the hallway with the second golden key lying on top of it. She picked it up and hooked it onto her phone's keychain as well. She entered the last room. A desk with a journal on it, a large bed, a trophy, a bureau, a dresser, a lamp, a macaroni art picture of a flower, a mat with pawprints on it, a mirror… She looked at the journal first, noting it was ASGORE's. All it said for today's entry was 'Nice day today!' in almost wet ink, suggesting it was written recently.
"If only it was…" Alice disagreed with what it said.
The trophy had the epitaph 'Number 1 Nose-Nuzzle Champs '98!'
'No. 2 Nuzzle Champs '98'!'
'(Of course we were second.)'
Alice stopped herself from thinking again. The clothes drawer contained robes, button-up shirts, and a pink hand-knit sweater that says "Mr. Dad Guy." The bureau contained a Santa Claus outfit inside.
'Alice nodded towards the bear, thanked him, and noticed how some of the other presents were addressed from 'Santa' to various locals. It's beginning to look even more and more like Christmas, Alice thought.
"So Asgore was Santa Claus… that's endearing." Alice smiled, perhaps the first sense of joy she had gotten from entering this place.
The macaroni art also seemed addressed 'For King Dad!' Alice's smile turned into a sad sigh. She left the room and felt a sense of relief that she could now unlock the padlocks and leave this depressing place. She noticed the long mirror and decided to give one last glance at herself before leaving. She had watery and slightly dulled eyes, a sad expression, and the pain was visible, but despite everything it was still Alice. Perhaps there was some pride to be found in that, she had lost everything from her old world yet hadn't lost her rationality or who she was when she first got to the Underground. But at this point in time there was nothing for her to be proud of. Right now she felt as though she was tied to a future fatality, her own death or the death of somebody else. Someone would have to go, the question is who and how? Right now, Alice was strongly considering herself. It would resolve everything and at least allow her to die with no dust on her hands.
"But Papyrus… and Napstablook… Monster Kid... Muffet… So Sorry… Toriel… Burgerpants… Mettaton… they want me to live..." Alice put her hands to her heart and gave herself a small mantra.
Saying the names of the monsters who had most wanted her to live and survive did give her DETERMINATION but it felt very little compared to the amount of despair she was feeling right now. Her human instinct wanted her to keep surviving but what was morally right was challenging that to extreme lengths. This story being told to her was stabbing her heart like a knife, twisting the blade as it reminded her of what transpired in the Underground and what was no doubt the start to the cycle of children's souls being collected. Everything was being placed into her hands, and even then Sans felt her hands were not even trustworthy. Alice felt a tear fall. She stopped herself from thinking. She walked back to the padlock and unlocked both of the locks with the keys she found. She passed by a calendar from the end of 201x, a reminder that she was not even part of this time, with a date circled on it. She climbed down the stairs, her head looking down. She found herself in a familiar looking passageway, a passageway that in the Ruins would end at a door that led to Snowdin. This time however, it presumably led somewhere else. Two Misgosp appeared before her, somehow bent on telling her this torturous tale.
"Then… One day…"
"The human became very ill."
Alice kept on going. Three Vegetoids offered their creepy smiles to her.
"The sick human had only one request."
"To see the flowers from their village."
"But there was nothing we could do."
'It's just… going home… being with those you knew and held in your heart… once you fall down here, that's sealed away.'
Alice kept on going, tears beginning to fall. Two Loox came up next, this time each of them speaking two lines from the story.
"The next day."
"The next day."
"..."
"The human died."
'Every human that falls down here meets the same fate Alice… I have seen it again and again. They come. They leave. They die.'
Alice sniffled and sobbed but kept on going. Surprisingly, considering she was sure only one existed, two Snowdrakes were the next storytellers.
"ASRIEL, wracked with grief, absorbed the human's SOUL."
"He transformed into a being with incredible power."
'... I thought so. 'If a monster defeats a human, they can take its SOUL. A monster with a human SOUL… A horrible beast with unfathomable power.'
The path turned to the left. The tears kept falling down. Three monsters Alice couldn't quite recall meeting before appeared before her. They were called Ice Caps.
"With the human SOUL, ASRIEL crossed through the barrier."
"He carried the human's body into the sunset."
"Back to the village of the humans."
'A human SOUL isn't strong enough to cross the barrier alone. It takes at least a human soul… And a monster soul. …If you want to go home…'
"I-I wonder… *sniff*... if that's how A-Alphys discovered it…" The little girl cried.
The path turned to the right. Alice kept going and the tears kept falling down. Three Woshuas greeted her.
"ASRIEL reached the center of the village."
"There, he found a bed of golden flowers."
"He carried the human onto it."
'Alice suddenly felt a small impact as she finally stopped descending and hit something that appeared to be a patch of golden flowers and grass.'
Every line tied pieces of the puzzle together. Alice's mind was numb to all this however. What she processed was merely the story and its message, she felt it wasn't important anymore to try to think about how it connected to things regarding her. She was merely the eighth child to fall into the Underground right? She could end this… Eventually she found another bridge with a view of the abandoned, greyscale kingdom. They'd probably walk through here once the Barrier was broken… Three Shyren seemed to sing their parts to her,
"Suddenly, screams rang out."
"The villagers saw ASRIEL holding the human's body."
"They thought he had killed the child."
"Ngh…" Alice clutched at her heart. She could predict exactly how and where things fell apart for the Underground.
Three Dummies appeared, fortunately and unfortunately they weren't mad.
"The humans attacked him with everything they had."
"He was struck with blow after blow."
"ASRIEL had the power to destroy them all."
Alice kept going, slower than before, and the tears kept falling down. Her apron by now was soaked with tears from having to wipe her eyes and from the tears landing on them like rain. Two different monsters were next, speaking two lines a piece, Knight Knight and Madjick.
"But…"
"ASRIEL did not fight back."
"Clutching the human…"
"ASRIEL smiled and walked away."
'Their SOULS, especially now, lack love, hope, and compassion. Not that those three things are anything to care about in the first place. Humanity's a much darker place now than it was in your time and that's why I cannot tolerate it. It needs to change.'
The river of tears kept falling down. Three Final Froggits told the most tragic part of the story.
"Wounded, ASRIEL stumbled home."
"He entered the castle and collapsed."
"His dust spread across the garden."
'She looked weakly at the figure realizing in horror why her clothes were so dusty… They are dusty with the dust left behind by slain monsters, Alice thought.'
"Ngggghhh… A-Asriel…." Alice lamented the loss of someone so noble and innocent.
Three Whimsalot's fluttered forth, though at this point Alice's was moving as slowly as though she were on her tiptoes.
"The kingdom fell into despair."
"The king and queen had lost two children in one night."
"The humans had once again taken everything from us."
'Humans like you trapped us down here. It's nice of us to stop ourselves from dancing on your graves! Not to mention you've taken away more than just our freedom from us… That is why this must be done!'
Alice… was hardly able to keep going, and the river of tears kept falling down. A trio of Astigmatism continued the story.
"The king decided it was time to end our suffering."
"Every human who falls down here must die."
"With enough souls, we can shatter the barrier forever."
'You know what would be more valuable to everyone than being interrogated by you? IF YOU WERE DEAD! That's right, human! Your continued existence is a crime! Your life is all that stands between us and our freedom!'
Alice stopped in place and stared at the sky. She didn't even see the three monsters who appeared before her this time, all she was capable of doing was listening and crying.
"It's not long now."
"""King ASGORE will let us go. King ASGORE will give us hope. King ASGORE will save us all."
'You felt your sins crawling on your back.'
The river of tears kept falling down. The story had not yet ended.
"You should be smiling, too."
"Aren't you excited?"
"Aren't you happy?"
"If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense, because nothing would be what it is and contrary-wise what it is, it wouldn't be, and what it wouldn't be, it would. You see?"
"Ahh… ahh…" Alice's DETERMINATION depleted.
"You're going to be free." The story's over now, the end.
"UWAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! Nnnngghh….! *Sob* *Sob*!" Alice shrieked in absolute despair, plummeting to her knees and clasping her face.
It was too hard to bear. To know that two children had died within one day. To know that the king's son was gone in such a cruel way. To know that Chara had been the first one to die. To know that Toriel was most likely this queen and had lost her son in such a sorrowful way. To know that six or seven children were lost to this tragedy. To know that humans had given no mercy or patience to ASRIEL. To know that her method of escaping the Underground was downright sinful. To know, to know, to know...
"Uaahhh… uahhhh…!" Alice continued to cry.
It was… hopeless. How could she keep going like this? Why hadn't she just let Mettaton achieve his dreams? Or let Sans kill her? Or let Undyne take her SOUL triumphantly? Or let Papyrus become a hero? Or stayed in the RUINS? All of it… was selfish of her to do. All of it tarnished Asriel's sacrifice. All she had been doing was ridiculing and struggling and objecting and playing detective to a species that had lost so much to people like her. She wasn't even from this time period! She was apparently the spitting image of a storybook character! She lied and mistreated! She, she, she…
"*Sob* ….." Alice's tears finally slowed a bit but she was still distraught and broken.
Even her goal of finding another way seemed like a fool's dream. How could she deny these monsters their freedom a day longer? How could she let people like Napstablook or Papyrus or Toriel who had lost so much linger here any longer? All they needed was for her to die. She was just a human girl, a member of a group who took so much from the monsters. Did humanity deserve to continue to be on the surface alone? Didn't these monsters deserve to rise above the Underground too? Did Chara have a point in the end? Perhaps he did. Perhaps this was the right choice. Could it be, it would be, it has to be…
"Ngh… i-it's better this way… uuuuuu..." Alice pulled out the Worn Dagger from her apron pocket.
Any fears of the taboo idea of killing herself were rendered null and void by despair. The solace in this was she could choose her final fate. She wouldn't need to be impaled by a spear or bashed by a bone, she could just finish it in one strike. Her Soul could be picked up by the King, who seemed to be just beyond a passageway up ahead near another elevator. That would be the Seventh SOUL. That would be enough to break the Barrier. The monsters would be free… Papyrus could finally learn how to drive, Napstablook could have a new start, Mettaton would find a new audience, Toriel could leave the Ruins, So Sorry could spread his art elsewhere, Burgerpants could get a new career, Muffet could probably find help freeing her spider friends, Monster Kid could explore alongside Undyne, Undyne would learn the truth about humanity for herself, Sans wouldn't have to deal with her anymore, monsters would have a whole new life ahead of them… The dagger's handle was clutched tightly with both hands.
"A-and maybe… j-just… *sob* maybe… I could return home… maybe this is all… *sniff* a-a dream…" Alice raised the dagger to her head, hoping that it'd provide the most painless death.
Somewhere in heart she knew there was likely no way of returning to Dinah or her sister. From what Sans had described with RESETS, maybe it'd just mean someone would eventually take her place and she'd disappear like the seventh child did. Or maybe she would just die and never wake up. Yet somehow this deluding herself was something Alice appreciated. It was to be her last selfish desire before her selfless sacrifice. It meant that this act, this freeing of the monsters, would also have something good for her too. Besides, she had gone on a wonderful journey. It wasn't Wonderland but it was still magical, interesting, and full of fantastical things and characters. Like that dream, she would hopefully wake up to see her Sister ready to call her for tea…
"... Thank you…" Her final words were spoken with no regrets.
She thrust the dagger forth.
Elsewhere, in Waterfall, there was another dramatic decision being made. Anyone who would've been wandering around the houses of Undyne and Napstablook would've noticed Napstablook leaving his house. He was not to make his ways to the RUINS to lounge… rather he felt he had business to attend to. After an intense phone call in which he struggled to share deep and long withheld emotions to Mettaton, he had felt a sense of relief and happiness at being able to help his new best friend. Alice. Yet he had taken some time to think and realized something. She was about to see King ASGORE, she was about to reach the end of her destination, and while it seemed she would be safe from Mettaton now, the King was a different monster altogether. Napstablook had never been a proactive ghost, after all he passively let everyone he knew leave without much objection. It wasn't exactly a regret, it was just his nature, and he knew that with Mettaton especially that he sought dreams so much that he leaped at the opportunity that made them come true. What had made it hurt was seeing that promise in the diary and realizing that Mettaton fully abandoned him. But he was no longer abandoned and Mettaton calling his name in those moments said so much that he had been wanting for so long.
"... it's time for me to be determined…" For the first time in a long time, Napstablook headed out to find someone on his own.
For Alice, nothing happened. When Alice, who had closed her eyes, reopened them, she saw her arms clutching the dagger had not moved despite giving the action to move. Her sacrifice hadn't even happened. In fact she suddenly realized her body had gone stiff and she could not move. This sensation had happened so long ago and seemed so temporary that Alice had never dreamed it would happen again. It was like when Chara took control of her to attempt to murder Papyrus. Unlike that previous time, she noticed she could move her head and her mouth when she gasped in shock. Then she wailed, shaking her head frantically,
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! WAHHHHHHHHH! S-stop! P-please let me gooooooo! I-I have to die! I have to give my SOUL! T-they need ittttttttttt….!"
You can't give up like this Alice, how would everyone whose lives you changed react? What Alice didn't expect in her wildest imaginings, was a voice she never heard before answering back. It was boyish, rather rough, someone around Alice's age but in an stern and tough-sounding tone she never heard before. It wasn't Chara's obviously but then who's was it? And why were they keeping her from doing the one thing that could free the monsters?
"I-I'm done with this…! I want to go home! P-please! Even if I go now I can at least go knowing I-I did the right thing…!" Alice started to sob again.
You've got more of a shot of doing the right thing than any child before you. Chara died, five others died, a seventh is missing, and you are the eighth. You can't lose that determination Alice. You have to succeed where others have tried and died for it. If you can't get that far who will?
"What's left for me then…? M-My only option is to K-KILL… uuuu… s-someone has to die…! Alphys told me everything… these monsters t-told me everything… I just want them to be free…" Alice pleaded.
In truth the voice she was speaking to sounded much more understanding than Chara did even when being hard on her, and clearly knew everything Alice did based on referring to things Sans talked about. Deep in her brain, starting to regain some clarity and calm down from the absolute trauma that the past hour had done to her, she appreciated finding someone to reason about things with. It made her feel like her old self.
I used to think I had to kill too. It was the biggest mistake of my life. I experimented long and hard… it wasn't right of me to play the decider. It also wasn't right to let the monsters say I had to make the decision. You created Wonderland Alice, you can't let these monsters take away your imagination! You can't let ASRIEL or Chara down by stopping yourself from thinking! If you can't find another way to break the barrier here, think of another way using ideas that no individual here has thought of but you. The voice spoke with DETERMINATION that almost seemed to soothe Alice's mind and heart.
"... W-who are you though…?" Alice asked as she suddenly felt her arms be freed and the dagger dropping from her fingers.
I am someone who needs to apologize deeply to you first of all. And… I was also someone who did a lot of bad here. You weren't the first to potentially save everyone. I was. I am the Seventh Child and the SOUL that's been at your side since the RUINS. FRISK.
To Be Continued...
