My excuse for not updating in so long: College. It sucks ass. I can't promise you'll start seeing chapters any faster, but I'll try. Thanks to those you who have stuck around through this unannounced hiatus.
Review time!
Kerrowe: I started this story before that plot twist, but knowing about that makes me like my decision even more tbh.
suprembandet: Thanks for your enthusiasm!
Guest: Wish granted!
ThePaleDarkness: Glad you're liking it! I highly recommend playing pacifist, It's the best story by far. Of course, since you've already done genocide, the ending might be ruined. What about Mettaton do you hate so much? I find him to be quite likable, in addition to god damn hilarious.
"Wow..."
The group was staring across a lake of lava, a giant machine visible in the distance.
"So, uh, I'd wager that's the CORE?
"It sure looks like it."
Badd gave a whistle. "Damn. Looks like something Metal Knight would build. And it supplies the entire underground with power? Pretty impressive."
"We don't really have the time to be staring at it. We have a meeting to get to remember?"
"Yeah, I know, I'm just admiring the view."
Badd and Zenko followed after Seito, leaving the view of the hulking machine behind them.
"Yeah... I'm not buying one of these."
The spider monster running the bake sale puffed up her cheeks in annoyance.
"Whyever not deary? They're quite delectable, I'm sure you'd enjoy one."
Badd rolled his eyes. "Look lady, not only do I not have 9999 Gold, but even if I did, I wouldn't be willing to pay that much for a donut. No one would."
The spider girl waved one of her arms to the side. "Sure they would! That kind gentleman brought one!"
Badd glanced over to a hunched over monster that Zenko and Temmie were trying to console.
"Yeah, because you scared him into it. If you want to make more money, I'd try lowering your prices to be more...affordable."
The spider leaned her head on one of her arms. "Oh, but then it would take so much time to raise enough money!"
Seito leaned over to listen upon hearing that. "Raise money for what exactly?"
"For my dear spiders to exit the ruins of course! They've been trapped there for generations you see. It's impossible for them to make it back to Hotland with the frigid cold of Snowdin! the poor dears would freeze to death! That's why I'm trying to raise enough money for them to find a safe way out!"
Seito hummed. "A noble cause. I'll tell you what. I do not have the money to buy one of your pastries, but here, I will give you what I do have."
The idol promptly dropped a couple hundred gold onto the counter.
"Oh, you're simply giving this to me, no strings attached?"
"Yes. If you are trying to get your friends to safety, then I will help where I can. Besides, Badd is carrying enough money to get us by should we need it."
"Well, I don't really know what to say! It's not often that generosity like this is shown these days! Tell you what dearie, you and your friends take a pastry each, on the house! Pick any flavor you like!"
Badd smiled nervously. "Uhh, they don't have any spiders in them do they..?"
"Of course not! Why ever would you think that?"
"Well, back in the ruins those spiders were selling donuts and cider they claimed was made out of said spiders."
The spider lady huffed. "Those little troublemakers! I'm sure they were just trying to pull a little prank on customers. Not a good way to rake in profits, however. We're not cannibals, that's absolutely horrid!"
Badd sighed. "Oh, well that's a relief."
Badd picked out a cream filled donut and Seito got a scone. Zenko got a chocolate glazed for herself and a blueberry donut for Temmie.
"Wow, thanks miss spider lady! These look really good!"
"It was no trouble sweetie, I'm happy to return your friends generosity. Also, call me Muffet."
The group walked on, enjoying their snack. The monster that had been swindled by Muffet looked at them with more than a little resentment as they passed. Chara couldn't help but feel sorry for the poor sap.
After a couple more puzzles consisting of another steam labyrinth and another puzzle gate that Badd smashed open much to the dismay of Alphys, (those things were expensive to replace) they came upon a dark room filled with cobwebs.
"Jeez, someone really needs to tidy this place up!"
Seito looked around. "Perhaps it's been abandoned. It doesn't look very kept up."
Zenko shivered. "This place gives me the creeps! They're spiders scurrying everywhere!"
"Careful not to step on any of them, they might be some of Muffets."
As they continued on through the dank spider-infested area, a thick, clear liquid started dripping from the ceiling.
"Ew! What is THAT?"
Zenko stepped away from the small pool of unidentified liquid in disgust.
Badd stepped up to it to get a closer look. "Gross. It almost looks like... drool?"
Suddenly, an aggressive HISSSS was heard from above, and an absolutely giant monster dropped down from the ceiling and screeched at them.
"What the hell?! It looked like some kind of cupcake-spider hybrid! Chara, what the fuck is this thing?"
Chara rolled her eyes but did her analysis. "Spider-Cake. Threat level: Low Demon. These creatures are sometimes found deeper underground in the capital, given the storage of baking supplies. Territorial by nature and quite aggressive to intruders."
"Great, so we just entered this thing's den. Well, guess we gotta 'convince' it to let us pass."
Zenko sighed. "It's just a scared animal bro, don't hurt it too badly!"
"Don't worry Zenko, I'll just knock it, whoa!"
The feral monster pounced at Badd while he had his back turned and he wasn't able to dodge in time. It tried to bite his head off, but he used his bat as a shield and tried to wrench the creature off of him with it.
Seito walked over and sat down in an unoccupied chair.
"Uhh, aren't you gonna help him?"
"He can handle himself. Besides, I don't want that thing's slobber getting on what remains of my clothes."
Muffet whistled a merry tune as she headed back to her parlor. Today had been a very good day indeed. She had sold a pastry, and then those kind humans had helped her out as well! And to make things even better, that silly robot pop star had tried to hire her to kill the humans who helped her. Of course, she accepted the up-front payment, since it would be more the enough to fund her little spider's rescue, but she had no intention of actually assassinating her new friends. Humans or not, they had been kind, and Muffet wasn't one to turn her back on kindness.
However, as she walked into her parlor, she saw an odd and alarming sight. Her darling Tuffet was attacking one of the poor humans! What made it odd was that the girl and the hot one were sitting at a nearby table talking with a Temmie like their friend wasn't about to be mauled. The spider monster ignored that however and rushed over to clear up the conflict.
"Hey! No! Bad Tuffet! You don't attack our guests like that! Go sit in the corner and think about what you've done!"
To Badd's surprise, the creature actually flinched back looking ashamed, and then whimpered.
"I don't want to hear it mister! Time-out, now!"
The Spider-Cake retreated into the far corner, looking quite upset.
Badd looked over to Muffet in shock. "That thing is your pet?!"
"Yes, I'm quite sorry about that dearie. Tuffet is usually a darling, but I guess he saw you coming through before I got home and thought you were intruders. Are you hurt? I'm sure some of my spiders could weave you a couple bandages."
"Nah, I'm good. I've been through much worse."
"Well, if you're sure. Now then, since you're already here, why don't you stay and chat for a while?"
Seito spoke up. "We do have a meeting to get to at the nearby resort, but we're a bit ahead of schedule. I'm sure we can stay a couple of minutes."
"Oh how wonderful! I was hoping I'd get to ask how life on the surface is like!"
Muffet giggled upon seeing their surprised faces. "Don't act so shocked dearies! I'm more observant than I look, which is saying something, given I've got five eyes."
"Heh, well that's fair. Life on the surface can be pretty dangerous given all the disasters that happen. But that's why we have heroes to protect the citizens, which me and pretty boy there happen to be."
Muffet had her spiders weave he a hammock to sit down on. "Oh, how interesting! Do tell me more..."