The dark was unnerving in its own way. However, it wasn't long before it was broken. In this case, by a collection of lights, similar to the ones humans kept up during the later holidays of the year. Chara contemplating Yule. Aliza considering Christmas.
The space they entered covered in them, hanging from the branches. Giving the place a magical sort of glow. With a notable sentry station up against several. With a similar speaker set up to the first one. And various cardboard cutouts placed around.
There was evidence that the entryway had been trapped. In particular, with something rather deadly, that Aliza didn't notice, but Chara did. There were slots across the ground that looked like there were designed to fire spikes up. Her eyes glancing at the log that was overtop the entrance. It had holes in parts of it. So...a wall of spikes.
"Hi." Aliza greeted.
Metta, as it turned out, was in the middle of adjusting setting up a camera. Actively putting his hair up in a ponytail, with a hairtie stretched in his hand. Smiling as he noticed them, having arrived.
"Hello again darlings." Metta greeted.
Chara found herself getting gradually lost in the lights. Something...there was something. A vague memory, and words. She began to recall Asgore dressing up as Santa Claus, after they'd talked about the idea. It was...obvious it was him. But she recalled it as having fooled Asriel, for a good two years. The warm memory making her smile, while feeling sad in tandem.
The voice of Papyrus spoke up. "They help to...light the way."
Chara broke from her thought, and noticed him sitting on a chair nearby, smoking. "Huh..what, lights the way?"
Papyrus motioned to the lights. "Noticed you looking up at em." He shrugged. "Figured I'd help...illuminate, the situation."
Chara chuckled some. "In the right lighting, it's very helpful."
Metta clapped his hands, grabbing their attention. "While you're bot quite humorous, dears, please save it for the broadcast." He then paused. "Assuming that's going to happen, that is."
Aliza asked. "Broadcast?"
"So, I figured I'd invite you both to be on my show." Metta explained.
"What...show kind...er, wait..." Aliza huffed. "Kind...of show." She laughed nervously. "I-I meant, that. Er...t-the uhm."
There was too much attention on her, and she was embarrassed greatly for her grammatical blunder. Growing gradually quieter, before remaining silent. As she hoped the staring, that was largely in her imagination, would stop.
Chara noticed her distress. "What uh, kind of show is it?"
Metta took a seat on the desk of the sentry station. "Well, a little bit of anything, honestly." He glanced to Aliza. "And you're fine, dear. We all make mistakes, it's alright."
Aliza didn't respond to that. She just looked a bit more flustered. Trying to hide herself some. Knowing that she wasn't meant to make mistakes. Knowing that she was supposed to be perfect. That she was supposed to be good. And that even a single slip up made people mad at her. Her thoughts began to spiral, as she wondered if they were all mad at her. A pat to the head breaking her thoughts from it, as Chara rolled her eyes some.
"C'mon, dork. No need to fret. Especially if we're gonna be on TV, right?" Chara suggested, adding. "I dunno what we'd be doing. But I'd definitely need your help."
Aliza felt confused. "B-but...I don't, really...watch shows?"
"Exactly. Means you don't have bias." Chara said. "Clear headed, untainted by the world of anime, baking shows, nightly news, and reality television."
"O-okay?" Aliza still felt confused, but she figured this was...good, somehow?
Papyrus gave a sage nod, and said. "It's the baking shows. So easily corrupt the minds of the people."
Metta responded. "Oh, naturally. First you watch just one episode, then you're two seasons down, wearing pajamas, trying to make a quiche " He sighed. "Of course, it never comes out just right."
The skeleton chuckled. "See, that may be true for me. But you're a great chef."
"Darling, I know I'm not." The robot laughed some, while playing with a strand of his hair. "But who knows...maybe I'll manage to make something edible in a year or so?"
"Eh?" Papyrus raised an eye-socket. "Nonsense, you're amazing at your meals."
"Love, I lit the eggs on fire." Metta noted.
"When you started." Papyrus considered, and glanced to the humans. "Okay, human, I bet you've done the same kind thing, right?"
The two were faced with a question. Had they both lit eggs on fire while learning to cook? Did it matter if the answer was honest? Had either of them actually tried to cook for themselves? Well, actually, yes for both of them. Not the fire specifically, but the cooking.
Aliza mostly 'cooked' things that came from cans. But she was familiar with the concept. A nice man taught her how to start a fire for cooking. Something she showed Frisk later on. Admittedly, they had burnt quite a number of things. Not eggs, specifically, but she imagined it was close enough.
Chara for her part, had cooked with her mother and father. Asgore was...not the best chef, but he had a passion for trying to do nice things for people. And paired with her natural talents, of having no cooking talents, they had burned...a lot of things. And at one point succeeded in setting malk on fire.
"Yeah." Chara nodded.
"Mhm." Aliza agreed.
"Like...a concerning number of times." Chara recalled the various incidents.
"At least...uhm...twice." Alize suggested.
Papyrus seemed to appreciate that. And Metta seemed a bit more assured. Managing a faint smile in response to it.
Metta cleared his throat. "Anywho...so, what do you both think?" He asked. "Interested in guest starring on todays episode?"
Chara contemplated being on a TV show. Admittedly, while it sounded neat, she wasn't entirely sold on the idea. At least, until she thought about something. Maybe her parents would see the episode? That would be good wouldn't it? Would they even recognize her though?
Whisper suggested. "If they do, they'd come find us, right?"
The idea had merit. And her own whisper had a bit of a point. If nothing else, at least there was the chance? Even if they didn't recognize her in her present outfit, it could be an attempt to get their attention. She briefly worried about what would happen if they saw, but didn't care. Had it been long enough to forget about her? Would they even care anymore?
Aliza responded to the question. "It...could be...nice?"
Chara snapped from her thoughts. "Er..yeah, heh. It could be, right?" She glanced over Metta. "Is it...gonna be dangerous?"
Metta replied with a shrug. "It's for the fun of it, darling. Don't worry."
"Okay. Well, yeah. Okay. Is it, are we doing more quizzes or...what?" Chara asked.
Metta cleared his throat, and motioned to Papyrus. The skeleton getting up, and wandering past the kids over to the camera. While Metta hopped up from his seat. Taking a second to move over to a spot behind one of the larger cardboard cutouts. Which seemed to be a big board painted green.
Papyrus began a countdown of sorts, before hitting the switch to turn on the camera. The brightness of the lights overhead growing all the more so. The place and its singular path out nice and illuminated. With Metta pressing a button on the sentry station, as cheery music began to fill the air.
He spoke. "Oh yes. Hello my wonderful viewing audience." He greeted with a showman's enthusiasm. "I can already tell it's gonna be a wonderful show today!"
Various cheering sound effects played from some of the cutouts.
Metta continued. "Everyone give a hand, for our wonderous contestants for today. Special guests, all the way from the surface-" He motioned, as the lights near the duo got brighter, the camera turning to them. "Chara, and Aliza!"
Alia blinked rapidly, finding the light a little too much. Chara for her part glanced at the camera, noticing Papyrus giving her a thumbs up. With this moment to her person, she responded with dignity, composing a thought as coherent and regal as she could.
"What's up nerds?" Chara greeted with a smile, making finger guns, to mimic the earlier actions of Papyrus.
Aliza, hearing this, stammered out a response. "H-h-hello, hi." She waved at nobody in-particular.
Audibly they could hear Metta clapping for them. As well as sound effects playing sounds similar, alongside cheering. It was a bit encouraging, in its own way.
Metta laughed earnestly. "Aren't they adorable. Well, the rules for todays episode are quite simple." He commented, the camera and lighting having gone back to him. "It's a contest of riddles. Made by yours truly, as well as our handsome cameraman for the evening, Papyrus." He blew a kiss to the cameraman, the skeleton smirking some. "Every correct riddle, will open a door, so our contestants can progress. There are five in total."
The path forward notably, shifted. And a series of five stone walls rose. Getting nearer, until they blocked the exit completely. The woods a bit too thick, to permit safe travel and access, without a lot of effort.
Aliza asked her counterpart. "Riddles?"
Chara blinked, and laughed nervously. "I...guess so?"
She wasn't the best at riddles. However, Aliza actually looked fairly confident. She, after all, was fairly fond of them.
Metta continued to stand beside the blocked way out. Motioning the two to come along. Which they did, standing on the opposite side of it.
He spoke. "First riddle. This one, from Papyrus." He said, while checking a card. "I have a head, and a tail, but no body." He blinked. "What am I?"
Papyrus snickered behind the camera. Chara, for her part, seemed utterly confused. Tilting her head, as she repeated the question. Meanwhile, Aliza held up her hand.
Metta hummed. "Yes, darling, what is your guess?"
"A coin?" Aliza asked.
"That is...completely correct~" Metta stated, while motioning, as the first of the barriers dropped. "Marvelously done. But, can you repeat it the second time?" He pushed the card into his right-hand pocket, before grabbing another from the one on the left.
In the little clearing made by the opened barrier, there was some decoration made from the cardboard, and colorful lights that shined in the aftermath. Namely, it appeared to be the forest itself. Only in cardboard form, like the background being projected, was of the forest. Which, in itself, already would have been the background, if the cardboard hadn't been present. Granted, it was brighter if nothing else.
Chara asked her counterpart. "How did...you know that?"
"Cuz...coins have uh...heads, and tails...right?" Aliza asked back.
It felt very obvious in hindsight. The purple eyed girl huffing some, as they continued into the next little area. Awaiting the second question.
Metta read over the card, briefly giving a little look to the skeleton. "Another of Papyrus's lovely riddles. How many dead people are in a cemetery?"
A compulsion gripped Chara, as she replied instinctively. "A skele-ton?"
The fanfare music began to play. Even as Metta let out a deep sigh. The second barrier moving down. Papyrus letting out a little 'Nyeh heh heh' from behind the camera. The robot-man rolling his eyes, as the next section was opened to them. Lights flickering on like the first part, with similar backgrounds set up.
Chara was merely impressed she got it right. Being largely confused at the same time. Even as the fanfare played, celebrating the correct answer. Aliza chuckling softly, as they proceeded to the next slot. Two down, three to go.
"Wonderfully pun, darling." Metta remarked, getting a snicker from the punny duo. "Right, next one is going to be one of mine, so." He put the card in his pocket, and took out another. "One of mine now. A woman shot her husband one night. Drowned him the next. Hung him the third. But he was alive the fourth. How?"
The two girls had blank expressions at the question. Chara for her part, wasn't going to even bother trying to answer it. Instead, directing her attention to Aliza. The orange-eyed girl working through the question in her head. Trying to deduce how the man would still be alive after all that.
"He's...uhm...immortal?" Aliza guessed hesitantly.
Metta shook his head, as an 'ooh' sound effect played. "Sorry darling. The answer, is that she is a photographer. She shot a picture of him." The next barrier didn't fall. "But that's fine, we have more questions. Such as-" He got a new card. "I run, but can't walk. I have a bed, but don't sleep. I have a mouth, but can't speak. What am I?"
Aliza answered quickly, and said. "A-a river. I've...heard it...before, so."
"That is absolutely correct dear." Metta clapped, as the next barrier fell. "Well done."
The pair moved forward, as Papyrus followed along some with the camera. Having briefly moved to catch the 'audiences' reaction. The cutouts in dim lighting, as the sound effects played from them. Before turning it back to the group.
Chara commented. "You're...pretty good at this."
Aliza laughed nervously. "No..I'm...just okay. I-I mean, I do try...uhm..to, yeah."
Metta snickered, and produced another card. "Three down, you two. Let's see if you can guess the next question from...Papyrus." He cleared his throat, and read. "What is so fragile that it breaks, when you say its name?" He smiled some. "Wonderful question, love."
Papyrus shrugged. "I try my best, when you're involved."
Metta blushed some. "Charmer."
Aliza held her hand again. Chara giving her a nudge, prompting her to let it fall. A little embarrassed at the impulse.
She spoke. "I-is it uhm...silence?"
The fanfare played once more. As the fourth barrier fell. More light pouring in, from the end of this path. This area holding a few cut-outs bearing motivational phrases. 'You can do it.' And 'You're doing great.' And 'Just one more!' On them.
Metta clapped. "Another correct answer. My, I think I may have to find harder questions next time." He placed the card in his right pocket, and took out another. "And, potentially our last question for the broadcast. Ahh, here we go. If you break me, I do not stop working. If you touch me, I may be snared. If you lose me nothing will matter. What am I?"
Chara briefly imagined the answer might be something like 'Heart'. However, she was hesitant to respond, at the prospect of being wrong. So, she didn't say anything.
Aliza however, felt all the attention on her. And began to grow more and more nervous. Sweating some, as the feeling of phantoms gripped her. Anxiety, as it were. She fumbled over the answer, over the question itself.
"Uhm..."Aliza muttered. "I-I don't...uh...screens?"
Metta shook his head. "I'm sorry darling, but the answer was your Heart." He commented, adding. "But fret not. One more answer, and you'll succeed. Just take a breath, and think positively. It'll be alright." He assured, before pulling out another card. "I cannot be seen, without me you'd die, I'm found on the land, and high in the sky. What am I?"
Faced with this question, an answer beckoned forth. "Air?" Aliza guessed. "L-like uhm...oxygen?"
The fanfare blared once more. "Correct~!" Metta cheered, clapping for them. "And that, was the final question for today."
The last barrier fell, shining light upon them. As it led out towards a space that was a lot more open. With a sort of walkway, along a cliffside. A city visible at the top. Something big, and shiny looking, with large buildings, and trees. Running waterfalls going over the sides of it.
Aliza asked. "We...won?"
Metta spoke. "Wasn't that a wonderful show, folks?" He took a step nearer to the camera. "A test of wits, and courage. So, let's all give a hand to our two beautiful guests." The clapping sound effect played, mostly from down the path they'd walked. "As always. Thank you for joining us on todays broadcast. I hope you have a wonderful day, and...we'll see you next time." He blew a kiss. "Farewell!"
Aliza had turned to see the camera pointed at them, nervously giving a little wave. Chara smiling some, while giving a thumbs up. Papyrus clicking the switch on the side, as the light of it faded. It seemed that was the end of the episode.
Papyrus commented. "I think that one went really well."
Metta asked. "You really think so?"
"Of course." He replied, asking the two kids. "Did ya both have a fun time?"
Chara responded. "It was fun."
Aliza added. "A-a little...nerve-wracking...b-but yeah."
Metta chuckled. "It's understandable to be a little nervous when you're on the big screen, darling. But I think you both performed very well."
Aliza smiled an honest smile. "Thank you."
Papyrus began to pack up the camera. "No worries, kid."
Chara meanwhile, was examining the city. "What's...that place?"
"Golden Grove City." Papyrus said, asking. "Guessin you'd never seen it before?"
She felt it was familiar, and unfamiliar in unison. Though she didn't know why. For some reason, however, she imagined they would be arriving at a snowy town. She wasn't sure why, though, and elected to push the thought from her mind.
"Sort of." Chara replied. "So..uhm...what do we do now?"
Metta contemplated something. "If you'd like, we could walk with you both into town." He suggested. "It's not too far, and we have to go that way anyways."
Aliza nudged. "Maybe...uhm...new things...er, clothes?"
Chara recalled that. "R-right...the outfit."
Metta added. "Then, a quick trip to Baylor, the Tailor, once we arrive." He glanced to the skeleton. "Sound fair, dear?"
Papyrus gave Chara a brief glance, before adding. "Definitely." He then added. "I'll drop stuff off at home. Meet up with you all later, if that's good?"
"Sounds fair, dearest." Metta gave a nod. "Don't be gone too long now, alright?"
"Like I could help myself." Papyrus snickered. "Alright, see you all in a bit."
He motioned with a wave, before turning back down the path they'd come. Leaving the girls feeling a bit confused, as he did so. They both came to the conclusion he must have left something he needed to grab. Otherwise, why would not be walking forward with them?
Metta motioned. "Alright. Then we're off on our own little adventure. Do please try and stay close though. Not everyone in the city is...the most polite."
Aliza hurriedly went to the mans side. She wasn't keen on wandering around with dangerous people, and monsters about. So sticking near Metta seemed a very simple solution.
Chara followed along, glancing back as they started their walk. Wondering what Papyrus had forgotten. Before turning, and catching up with the others. Wagering she'd just ask later.