"Hey."
Frisk shook their head. They were back. Everyone was back. Frisk felt a weight on their heart; they had ruined their chance at a peaceful ending. But what they had planned was far more important.
Faye was staring at them with a small smirk. Frisk stared back at her, their face darkened. They didn't seem to care why she was smirking.
"BOO!" Brayden appeared behind Frisk, placing his hands on their shoulders.
They didn't react at all and instead stood up, a thousand-yard stare on their face.
Brayden frowned. "... gotcha?"
"... hey, do you know what just happened?" Melody asked Frisk. "I mean, we were heading off to fight Asgore, then... there was a big blur, a quick flash of red, something speedy, something like that... and... then suddenly, we're all back here."
Frisk didn't respond. They started walking in the other direction, away from the Barrier.
"Where are ya goin', kid?" Clover asked. "We're meant to be fighting Asgore."
Frisk didn't respond. They continued walking further and further away.
"... I guess we're following them..." Melody said, her brow raised.
Brayden groaned in disappointment. The kids followed Frisk as they walked into an elevator, which took them closer to the exit of New Home. Brayden ran ahead, soon overtaking Frisk. Percy was writing down extra notes while walking... somehow. Clover stayed nearby her brother as usual, though she kept giving Frisk odd glances. Melody, nearby the siblings, was eyeing Brayden, while Faye was somewhat behind.
"Where are we going?" Brayden asked, standing in front of Frisk.
Frisk ignored him and kept walking forward. Brayden gritted his teeth.
"Why are you ignoring us?!" he snapped.
"Maybe they're just focused on something, Brayden." Melody said, pulling Brayden back. "Though, they are acting a little weird..."
"I'm sure they're fine!" Cody said.
He waved at Frisk; they didn't even look up. Cody sweat-beaded.
The kids made it out of the CORE. They approached the MTT Resort, when suddenly, Frisk's phone rang. They finally stopped walking. They held out their phone, but didn't answer it.
Cody ran forward and grabbed the phone out of their hand, answering it for them.
"Hello?" he said.
"Hey, Cody...!" Undyne's voice rang out of the phone. "Uh, this is Undyne... (Shut up, Papyrus! This was your idea!)"
"What are you talking about, Undyne?" Melody asked, sounding intrigued.
"HUMANS!" Undyne yelled. "You have to deliver something for me!"
"Who said so?" Clover asked, folding her arms.
"I DID!" Undyne replied. She paused. "And, uh, Papyrus too I guess." There was a brief pause, as if Undyne was pondering her words. "... pretty please? I'm at Snowdin in front of Papyrus'. See ya, punks!" She hung up.
Melody sighed. "Let's just go."
The kids, after a short boat trip, arrived at Snowdin. They saw Undyne and Papyrus standing outside Papyrus' house, so they approached the two.
"Um, so, I have a favour to ask you kids," Undyne said. She sounded... embarrassed. "Uuuh, I... I need you to deliver this letter. To Dr. Alphys."
"You do realise you have legs," Melody said, making a face. "Which means you can walk over to her yourself."
"... um," Undyne was flushed. "W-well... I-it's kind of personal, but we're friends... so... I'll t-tell you kids..." She frowned. "Hotland SUUUUUCKS! I don't wanna have to go over there!"
"So, in other words, you're too lazy." Melody folded her arms.
"Here you go." Undyne ignored Melody's comment and handed her the letter. "Oh, and if any of you read it..." Her smile became dangerous. "I'll KILL you ALL. Thanks so much! You kids are the best!"
"It's sealed so tightly, even if we wanted to we wouldn't be able to open it." Percy said, examining the letter.
"And I'm not even surprised." Melody sighed.
The kids headed back to Hotland. They stood in front of the door to Alphys' lab.
"No mail slot," Clover frowned. "Welp, guess we'll slip this under."
She slipped the letter under the door, followed by knocking on said door.
"(O-oh n-no, is that another letter...?)" Alphys' voice asked on the other side. "(C-can't I just slide it back out...?)"
"WHAT?!" Brayden asked. "WHY?!"
"B... Brayden?" Alphys asked. "I-Is that you?"
"I'm afraid so, and the rest of us." Melody said.
"... then... this is a letter from you guys?" Alphys asked.
Clover said, "It's actually from-"
"I-I guess I gotta open it then!" Alphys said, slightly excited. She paused. "Oh... wow, it's... um, s-shut kind of strongly, i-isn't it? Wait a s-second..."
The kids heard the sound of a chainsaw. They gave each other glances.
"I WANNA SHUT LETTERS THAT TIGHTLY WHEN I GROW UP!" Brayden cheered.
Suddenly, the door opened, revealing a nervous Alphys.
"Oh... um... wow," she said awkwardly. "You... you guys... or one of you guys... sure do or does have an interesting... writing style!"
"Oh, that reminds me of Percy's handwriting," Melody said, sighing. "It's somehow worse than Brayden's."
"HEY, MY HANDWRITING IS GREAT!" Brayden grumbled.
"It's really not," Melody replied. "But it's better than Percy's. His is just chicken scratch."
Percy frowned. "It isn't like I want you to read what I write in my notebook."
"Well, um... anyway, it's surprising, too..." Alphys said. "After all the gross things I did... I don't really deserve to be forgiven. Much less, um... this? And so passionately, too." She smiled. "You know what, I'll do it! It's the least I can do to make it up to you all... or whichever one of you wrote this! Y-yeah! Let's GO ON A DATE."
("Wow, I didn't know Alphys could bold her dialogue..." Faye said in wonder.)
"Going on a date isn't really retribution in my books," Clover said. "And besides, none of us even wrote-"
DATING START
"God dammit, don't do that." Clover grumbled.
A black screen was in front of the kids, and Alphys had seemingly disappeared.
"Where'd she go...?" Cody asked, looking around.
"Uhh, sorry!" Alphys said. "I'm still getting dressed!"
"HURRY UP!" Brayden yelled.
Alphys came over, wearing a black dress with white spots. She was sweating. "H-how do I look?"
"You look great!" Cody said, grinning.
"Very cute, if I do say so myself." Melody grinned.
"Thanks," Alphys said. "My friend helped me pick out this dress. She's got a great sense of... um, anyway! Let's do this thing!"
DATING STA-
"H-h-hey, w-w-wait!" Alphys said. "Actually, we still can't start the date yet!"
GOD DAMMIT, DON'T DO THAT.
"That's my line." Clover grumbled.
"Um, I've gotta give you guys items to raise your affection statistic, first! That'll increase the chance of a successful outcome to the date! Right...?" Alphys sweat-beaded.
"In my peripheral, I'd say yes." Percy responded.
"Has anyone else realised Alphys is literally dating seven children?!" Melody exclaimed, waving her hands around.
"I-I've been stockpiling gifts in anticipation for a date like this!" Alphys exclaimed, yet still nervous. "First, I've got... some metal armour polish!"
The kids glanced at each other, crickets chirping in the background.
"... um, maybe you kids can't use that." Alphys said, putting the polish away. "But! I also brought some waterproof cream for your scales!"
"Oh my God, you don't bring waterproof scale cream to a date with SEVEN HUMAN CHILDREN!" Melody grumbled.
"... your... scales..." Alphys blushed, frantically putting the cream away. "Uh, well, how about... this magical spear repair kit, that I..." She made a face. "Hey, let's forget about the items! Let's just start the date!"
"FINALLY!" Brayden yelled triumphantly.
DATING! START!
"Yeah!" Alphys cheered. "Let's, uh, date!"
There was an awkward pause.
"I'm hungrrrryyyyyyyy." Brayden whined, pouting.
"Brayden shush," Melody snapped. "Alphys is about to say something."
"Do you... like... anime?" Alphys asked, with the most awkwardness you've ever seen in your whole life.
"I don't like anime," Percy answered. His eyes (which you can't even seen 95% of the time) were full of ironic fan tears. "I BREATHE anime."
"ME TOO!" Alphys squealed. They squealed together for nearly a minute.
"That was the most embarrassing thing I've ever seen." Melody face-palmed.
"I have a feeling this is just the beginnin'..." Clover said, biting her lip.
Suddenly the kids and Alphys were all teleported to the Garbage Dump, because this a fanfic and also because they go there in the game and it's cannon and all the rest.
"Here we are!" Alphys said, acting like they had just walked there rather than been magically teleported. "Undyne and I come here all the time..."
"Does anyone actually care that we were literally just teleported?" Melody asked, furrowing her brows.
"We find all sorts of great stuff here," Alphys continued, as if she didn't hear Melody. "Heh, she's really... uh..."
"... I think someone's got a cruuuush." Faye said, smirking at Alphys.
The monster blushed.
"OOOH!" Brayden said teasingly. He looked confused. "Wait, who's got a crush?!"
"You," Melody answered, looking at him. "Oh, and Alphys."
"OOOOOHH ALPHYS HAS GOT A CRUUUUUSH!" Brayden said teasingly. "AND SO DO- HEY, WAIT WHAT?!"
"ALPHYS HAS A CRUSH?!" Undyne yelled from another part of the dump.
"Oh no no no..." Alphys began sweatbeading. "I... I c-can't let her see me on a date with you guys!"
"There's a trash can right behind you." Faye said.
Alphys hid behind the cringey trash can. Undyne came over as soon as she did.
"Hey!" she said. She was wearing a black leather jacket over a plain t-shirt, black pants, and boots. "There you guys are! I, uh, realised, if you deliver that thing... it might be a bad idea. So I'm gonna do it! Give it to me!"
"We... uh..." Cody looked away awkwardly. "We... may've already given it to Alphys..."
Melody added, "And found out she has a crush on- OWIE!"
She was interrupted by Faye poking her side. Melody scowled at her. Faye shrugged, still smirking. Alphys was shaking. The trash can was dabbing.
"Who's 'Owie'?!" Undyne growled.
"Thomas the Tank Engine." Faye answered.
"What?!" Undyne spat.
"Alphys isn't here," Faye lied, with a small smirk. "You'll need to keep looking around... for a little longer."
"Alright, thanks." Undyne said. She walked off.
"I feel like you have something planned." Melody said, eyeing Faye.
"Maybe, maybe not." Faye replied, now the queen of smirking.
"I... I guess it's obvious..." Alphys sighed, re-emerging from behind the dabbing trash can. "I... uh... really like her. I mean, more than I like other people!"
"Because you have a crush on her," Percy said. He was breathing heavily. "This ship is already my new OTP. I... I have to resist the urge to write fanfiction..."
"If you like Undyne so much, why'd you go on a date with us?" Clover asked. "I mean, Undyne actually wrote-"
DATING. TROLL.
"I give up." Clover face-palmed.
"Undyne wrote the letter...?" Alphys asked. Her eyes widened. "Why didn't you guys say anything?"
"I was darn trying, I tell ya what." Clover ground through gritted teeth.
"W-well, I j-just figured, you know... it'd be f-fun to go on like, a cute, kind of... pretend date with you guys?" Alphys answered. "T-to make you feel better?" She paused. "It sounds even worse when I put it like that."
"N-not at all!" Cody retorted. "I think that was very nice of you." He smiled.
"She's lying to herself, so it's not really that nice." Melody pointed out.
"I... I'm sorry..." Alphys sighed. "I messed up again."
"Don't apologize," Melody sighed. "You can't date seven human kids at once anyway. It's... just so wrong. But don't worry. We'll help you get with the girl."
"R-really...?" Alphys asked.
"Sure." Melody replied. She made a face. "I mean, I'm no love expert or anything, but we can try. I think they know a bit about love." She turned around, looking for the eighth human. Frisk was hanging out in the shadows.
Melody gave them a look. "Don't you?"
Frisk didn't respond. Melody narrowed her eyes.
"Well..." she said. "We'll figure something out."
"Wow, t-thank you..." Alphys blushed. "You guys... you guys are the best. But... what if she doesn't... like me back? I... I've told her so many lies. She thinks I'm a lot cooler than I actually am. I'm the Royal Scientist, and yet... all I've done is hurt people. If she gets close to me, she'll... she'll find out the truth about me."
"Hey," Cody patted her shoulder. "You'll be okay. I think if she really cares about you, she'll forgive you. And I can tell... she cares about you a lot."
"... I... " Alphys sweat-beaded. "... I guess... I guess you're right. Hiding isn't going to help anyone. I'll never be happy with myself like this. Not if the people learn the truth by themselves..." She paused. "But... how can I tell UNDYNE the truth...? I d-don't have the confidence... I'm going to mess it up! How can I practice?"
"Obviously let's roleplay," Melody replied. Alphys gasped, but Melody held up a hand. "Not you, Alphys. You watch and learn."
She looked at her friends. "Okay, Faye, you're going to be Alphys, and Brayden, you can be Undyne. 'Alphys', you have to tell 'Undyne' you want to talk to 'her' about something. 'Undyne', you ask what 'Alphys' wants to talk about. 'Alphys', you say you haven't been truthful with 'Undyne', and you calmly tell 'her' how you feel. Okay?"
"Uh..." Faye blushed, biting her lip. "O-okay!"
"Wait, what am I doing again?!" Brayden asked.
Melody face-palmed.
"Um... hi, Undyne..." Faye said, looking at Brayden. "How are you?"
"I'M GOOD! NGAHHH!" Brayden yelled, punching the ground. "WHY DO YOU LOOK LIKE FAYE, ALPHYS?!"
"Brayden dammit," Melody face-palmed. "We're pretending Faye is Alphys, remember?"
"OH, RIGHT, FORGET I ASKED THAT." Brayden said, sweatbeading.
"Um..." Faye looked at her feet. "So... um... I have to talk to you about something..."
"What's up?" Brayden asked.
"The ceiling." Faye responded, smirking.
"Ugh!" Melody face-palmed. "You're both terrible!"
Clover snorted into her hand.
"CLOVER YOU'RE NOT MAKING THIS ANY EASIER!" Melody yelled. Clover rolled her eyes.
"Well..." Faye gulped. "I... I... um..." She paused, then suddenly gasped dramatically. "Oh, forget it! U-Undyne! You're so brave, and strong, and confident, and nice, a-and... and you always listen to me when I'm sad, and you make me feel better about everything... you're the reason I didn't climb up Mt. Ebott so long ago!" She breathed in. "U... UNDYNE! I knew you were at that new school for ages! B-but I was too scared to talk to you so I strayed away from you... but then... but then I missed you, so I wanted to be friends with you again... and you were so nice to me, and it made me happy, and I..." She fell to her knees, tears in her eyes. "You've always been so protective and caring towards me... I'm... I'm just some loser... some stupid girl. You deserve a way better best friend. I'm sorry. I'm sorry for lying to you. And I'm sorry for being such a loser."
"Whoa, I take back what I said about you being terrible," Melody said, raising her brow. "That was some of the best acting I've ever seen, Faye!"
She started clapping. Percy was fanboying. Clover and Cody started clapping as well. Even Alphys joined in.
"What if I wasn't acting...?" Faye mumbled quietly.
Brayden stared at Faye, a blank expression on his face. He held out his hand, helping her to her feet.
"Alphys," he said, sounding oddly calm. "You're not a loser."
"R... really?" Faye asked, looking into his eyes.
"YOU'RE JUST A CUTE PUNK!" Brayden responded, giving Faye a noogie.
"Oh come on," Percy groaned. "I thought they would kiss!"
"I don't approve of children kissing." Melody grunted.
"WHO'S A CUTE PUNK?!" Undyne asked, racing over. She looked at Alphys, who started blushing. "Hey, woah, wait a second! Your outfit's really cute!" She paused. "Wait a second... are you guys... on a date?"
"UHH, YES!" Alphys shrieked. "I mean, UHH NO! I mean we were, but- I mean Brayden and Faye were romantically roleplaying as you and I!"
"WHAT?!" Undyne asked.
"I MEAN!" Alphys squeaked. "I mean... Undyne... I... I've been lying to you!"
"WHAT?! ABOUT WHAT?!" Undyne asked.
Alphys sighed. "About... well... everything! I told you that seaweed was like... scientifically important... honestly, I just use it to make ice cream!"
"Eww." Melody cringed.
"And those human history books I keep reading..." Alphys continued. "Those are just dorky comic books! And the history movies... those... those are just anime! They aren't real! And that time I told you I was busy with work on the phone I... was just eating frozen yogurt in my pajamas! That time I..."
"Alphys..." Undyne said.
"I... I just wanted to impress you!" Alphys squeaked. "I just wanted you to think I was smart and cool. That I wasn't some... nerdy loser."
"Alphys." Undyne said again.
"Undyne, I really think you're neat, okay..." Alphys blushed.
Undyne kneeled down. She began patting Alphys comfortingly, her arms around Alphys' head.
"Alphys... shh..." she said calmly. "Shhh."
"It's happening Melody it's happening." Percy gasped, clinging onto Melody.
She sighed. Suddenly, Undyne picked up Alphys and dunked her into the dabbing trash can.
Alphys looked like she'd rather be anywhere else.
"Alphys!" Undyne yelled. "I... think you're neat, too, I guess. But, you've gotta realise... most of what you said doesn't matter to me. I don't care if you're watching kid cartoons or reading history books. To me, ALL of that stuff is just nerdy crap!"
"I SECOND THAT!" Brayden yelled.
"Brayden shush." Melody grumbled.
"What I like about you is that you're PASSIONATE!" Undyne continued. "You're ANALYTICAL! It doesn't matter what it is! YOU CARE ABOUT IT! 100-PERCENT! AT MAXIMUM POWER!" She paused. "... so, you don't have to lie to me. I don't want you to have to lie to anyone anymore. Alphys... I want to help you become happy with who you are! And I know just the training you need to do that!"
Alphys poked her head out of the trash can. "Undyne... you... y-you're gonna train me...?"
"Pfft, what?" Undyne asked. "ME?"
Suddenly Papyrus emerged, all decked out in active wear. It said 'Jogboy' on his chest.
"Nah, I'm gonna get Papyrus to do it." Undyne said.
Alphys went through a crisis.
"What. The. Hell." Melody face-palmed.
"Bro don't look," Clover covered Cody's eyes. "It's too Fayebulous for ya to handle."
Cody didn't protest.
"GET THOSE BONES SHAKIN'!" Papyrus yelled. "IT'S TIME TO JOG 100 LAPS, HOOTING ABOUT HOW GREAT WE ARE!"
"Ready?" Undyne asked. "I'm about to start the timer!"
"U... Undyne..." Alphys squeaked. She wore an expression similar to Frisk's. "I'll do my best!"
She and Papyrus left. There was a moment of silence between the kids and Undyne.
"OH MY GOD!" Undyne suddenly shouted. "She was kidding, right?! Those cartoons... those comics... those are still REAL, right?! ANIME'S REAL, RIGHT?!"
The kids looked at each other.
"I DON'T KNOW!" Brayden yelled. He looked at Faye. "FAYE, IS ANIME REAL?!"
"Um..." Faye looked away frantically. She stared at Percy. "Percy, is... anime real?"
"The question I have been waiting for 3 years and 126 days to answer has finally come," Percy declared, dramatic music randomly playing in the background. "And the answer is... it depends if you're a weeaboo or not. I am certainly a weeaboo, so it's real for me." His eyes sparkled. "And always will be."
"And if you're a sensible and realistic person, then you know anime is NOT real." Melody said, folding her arms. "It's just Japanese cartoons."
"MELODY!" Percy gasped, falling over. "HOW DARE YOU DISGRACE ME LIKE THIS!"
"WAIT, ANIME IS JUST JAPANESE CARTOONS?!" Undyne asked. "MY WHOLE LIFE HAS BEEN A LIE!" She paused. "But... hey, thanks for being honest with me. I'll learn to live with this revelation. SOMEHOW!"
"You're welcome." Melody replied. Percy was giving her the stink eye, even though you can't even freaking see his eyes.
"Uhh, thanks for taking care of Alphys." Undyne said. "I didn't get to say what I wanted to, but... things seem like they're gonna get better for her. Well, I gotta go catch up with them! Later!"
She walked off. The kids glanced at each other.
"... welp, that happened." Clover said.
"What now?" Cody asked. The kids looked at Frisk, who was walking away.
"Where are they off to now?" Melody asked.
The kids followed them. Brayden twitched, his teeth gritted.
"HEY!" he shouted. "WAIT!"
The kids stopped and stared at him.
"FAYE!" Brayden said, looking at Faye. "I... UM... I wanna talk to you...! Privately...!" He glared at the other kids. "SO CLEAR OFF EVERYONE WHO'S NOT FAYE!"
"No need to be so rude about it." Melody grumbled.
"Let's just let them be alone." Percy said. He seemed slightly excited about something. So everyone who wasn't Faye or Brayden left.
Brayden looked at Faye. He opened his mouth to say something.
"Wait," Faye said, holding up her hand. "The chapter's finished now."
"'Chapter'?" Brayden asked, tilting his head.
"THAT'S ALL FOLKS!" the trashcan bum suddenly said, flying in front of everyone. "SEE YOU NEXT CHAPTER!"