The Ao3 version with pictures will be uploaded later. Sorry if this feels like I rushed several important plot points, I need to get to the actual game part of the story.
Much like Sans had his own basement laboratory, Asgore had commissioned the royal builders to construct one for Zane so he could continue his research on souls.
He opened the data entries and scrolled through towards the beginning, finding number 17 again, he had decrypted it last time.
Dark
Darker
yet Darker
The Darkness keeps growing
The shadows cutting deeper
Photon readings negative
This next experiment
Seems
Very
Very
Interesting
What do you two think?
"I meant to talk to Sans about this, he's the only person other than Alphys and I with a lab," Zane said to himself.
He used his credentials to decrypt all files in relation to the labs and soul experiments as well as anything of relevance logged onto the undernet.
He found a strange series of files all written in Wingdings depicting a creation of some sort and some seriously dated and buggy voice entries.
Decoding the odd font led him to finding the previous royal scientist, W.D Gaster. The inventor of the DT extractor as well as the core and something else.
"W.D, and all his files are in wingdings? I know Sans writes everything in Comic Sans, I wonder if they're related," said Zane out loud.
Mettaton was in the process of writing a script for a sitcom the two would be creating so he was at the resort with the film crew leaving Zane home to work on "Whatever royalty does,"
Zane listened to some recordings by lab assistants, they were extremely bad quality and nearly impossible to hear through the static and the computer didn't like the files at all, it had seemed like something had attempted to erase them. Something was definitely off about all this.
Zane decided to call Asgore.
"Howdy, sorry I can't come to the phone right now, but if you leave a message I'll be sure to get back to you, thank you"
Zane waited for the beep.
"Hey Asgore it's Zane, I found some odd files and was wondering if there were any monsters associated with someone named Gaster, if you could have them meet me at some point that would be great,"
Zane sighed and got up, deciding to go down that rabbit hole later, he went back to his main experiment. He examined the test tubes he had put into stasis capsules and opened one filled with perseverance, he had extracted it before the kids had been given new bodies. Extracting several drops he ran a series of experiments to determine the chemical compounds in what he was calling PR. He knew out of all the traits of the humans, this was the closest to DT.
If he could just alter chemical perseverance enough to turn it into chemical DT he could add magic to make it safe for monster souls.
He had no idea how some of this equipment ended up in the trash dump, who throws out a perfectly working mass spectrometer? As far as he knew those things were ludicrously expensive and would need a special disposal anyway. Someone on the surface was probably fired and thrown in prison. But it benefited the monsters so Zane wasn't complaining.
There was a knock at the lab door.
"Who is it?" asked Zane
"Hey buddy, wanted to know if you'd like to go to Grillby's with me," came Sans's voice
"Yeah let me just stabilize this experiment, the door is open if you want to come in," said Zane
"Ya know I don't need doors," said Sans, Zane could hear the grin in his voice.
Sans shortcutted into the room.
"Grab a lab coat, you don't want to get this stuff on that sweatshirt of yours," said Zane
Sans took a lab coat and put it on, watching with his normal half interest as Zane handled the purple substance. He looked over at the computer where Zane still had entry 17 and it's related files open.
"Where did you find those?" asked Sans, an edge to his voice
"They were encrypted and I got curious, which reminds me, are you one of the people referred to in that data entry? You and Alphys are the only other people with a lab and this Gaster guy has a name like yours, you also both read and write in wingdings," said Zane
"I ain't gonna lie to you because I know you're one of the few who might be able to do something, yeah I was one of Gaster's lab assistant, and one of the only ones who exist still that remember him, most trace of his existence was wiped," said Sans
"How?" asked Zane
"He fell into this time machine he was trying to make, ended up scattered across time and space," said Sans
"From my knowledge, time is insanely difficult and dangerous to meddle with, you know from me being here that space can be altered significantly but only with the influence of a higher power, was he trying to play god?" asked Zane
"It was early in our banishment here, back before the king and queen ever had a child and just before the prophecy was made, we were desperate to get out of here and Gaster thought going back in time to stop the war from starting was the answer," said Sans
"In my homeworld, there are dragons that can travel across different realms and carry passengers on that ride, if I can tap into the magic that brought me here, I might be able to make a dragon and pull Gaster from the void, Time and Space are connected but only one can be manipulated, he has to be stuck between worlds outside time, and that's the void," said Zane
"Good luck bucko, if anyone can do it it's you," said Sans "Now how about getting some grub with me, that liquid seems stable to me,"
"Sure, I just need to put it in its own stasis tube," said Zane
"How close do you think you are to making determination?" asked Sans
"Not nearly as close as I'd like, these traits and emotions seem to be their own substance in this world instead of mere personality traits and electrical and chemical signals from the brain. If I can figure out the properties of Perseverance then I can modify them into the magical DT but I might have to make a soul entirely from scratch if I can't make DT," said Zane
"But I thought a soul can't be created, it needs life first," said Sans. The two had somehow ended up in Grillby's the moment the stasis jar was closed. Zane knew Sans had used a shortcut.
"From what I've been able to figure out that isn't entirely accurate, I can create a soul if I have the right conditions and methods. If I was without morals,ethics or any sense of decency there would be a very easy and simple solution but I know everyone would be very against it, sure they want to leave but the easy route is practically barbaric and Asgore would likely execute me for even approaching him with the possibility. I don't want to use that route even if it was the only way," said Zane with a shudder
"I won't ask what that option is then," said Sans
Zane took a swig of his drink, not wanting to think about the easy option.
"Does anyone else know of this option? Could be disaster in the hands of a desperate and morally unbalanced monster," said Sans
"No, you'd need to know a fair bit of human biology to realize it," said Zane
"Have you talked to Alphys about it?" asked Sans
"No, she'd probably kill me for even thinking it once I explained it to her," said Zane
"So, this dragon you were talking about making earlier, how would you do it?" asked Sans, trying to steer the conversation somewhere lighter,
"Well I'd make the construct out of ice and then infuse it with any remaining magic that I retained from coming here, the odds are slim to none for it working but the odds are zero if I don't try it," said Zane
"I know you've been told this before but you don't have to solve all our problems," said Sans, he kinda liked not having to hide his serious side around Zane, made these kind of discussions easier.
"I know but this is my home now, no one here had to be so kind to me the moment I arrived, I feel like helping is my way of repaying everyone for their kindness," said Zane
"So after you save Gaster, what are your plans?" asked Sans
"I need to continue to try to make a soul powerful enough to have the barrier broken. From what I gather about the properties of souls is that this one needs to be almost entirely made of determination, if it was an actual human they'd be so full of determination that they refuse to quit no matter what," said Zane
"What will you do with the soul when Asgore parts with the seven to let the six go?" asked Sans
"I'll give it to someone who needs it," said Zane
"And who would that be?" asked Sans
"Don't know yet," said Zane
"Zane, what if Gaster really is shattered across time and space? How would you get all the pieces, you don't even know what he looks like," said Sans
"From my research since the void is outside both time and space his pieces would have to gather there so he'd have a bit of control over both," said Zane
"And what if you get stuck there? The Underground could never survive losing you, Asgore would never survive losing you," said Sans
"There is some force that brought me here, I have to trust that it wants me here for a long while so will pull the strings to get me back," said Zane
"It'd better or I'll break it, heck Undyne would try to beat me to it," said Sans
Zane bit into his burger and Sans noticed something glittering on Zane's finger.
"So Papyrus wasn't exaggerating, glitter brains really did propose huh," said Sans, he couldn't believe he didn't see it earlier, it was massive.
"Wha- Oh yeah, last night on the live show, caught me totally off guard," said Zane looking at his hand.
The silver band encrusted with tiny blue heart shaped sapphires was hardly visible under the heart shaped blue diamond that was about the size of Zane's eye. His royal signet ring Asgore has given him was on his right hand; it was miniscule in comparison to the massive engagement ring. That in itself was a feat, as the signet ring was gold with giant amethysts making up the Detlarune symbol on a large plate of gold placed on the golden band with smaller amethyst gems going around accented by small yellow diamond and emerald flowers between each amethyst. Asgore hardly ever wore his own signet ring, worried it would get lost in the garden, it was in a drawer in his desk for signing royal decrees, right beside the wedding band that had accumulated dust over the decades.
"I'm surprised he didn't make a bigger spectacle out of it," chuckled Sans.
"Oh it was a spectacle all right, I think the fireworks blinded the audience for an hour," said Zane
"Yeah Pap mentioned something about a million fireworks," said Sans
"Wasn't nearly a million, more like 500 at once, I have no idea where he got his hands on that many," said Zane
"Has a date been set yet?" asked Sans
"Yeah, a month from today, which reminds me, would you be my best man? Metty's been on the phone making arrangements all morning, I want you as my best man, Napstablook, R01 and R02 as my groomsmen. Metty is asking Alphys to be the maid of honor, Undyne, Shyren, and Dogaressa will all be bridesmaids," said Zane
"Papyrus is already talking about how he wants to cater the whole reception," chuckled Sans
Zane sighed.
"Sans, you and I know your brother's culinary prowess more than anyone, well maybe Unydne too, but he isn't good enough yet to cater such a massive event, Metty is inviting several hundred monsters to attend, and Papyrus still refuses to learn anything not involving pasta, I've already asked Grillby to do the catering and Muffet to do the cake and desserts, I'll try to find something for Papyrus but he might have to settle for just being invited," sighed Zane
"What about ring bearer? Flower skeleton?" asked Sans
"Monster Kid has already agreed to be the ring bearer, and the human children will be the flower kids, both positions are traditionally held by children, and to be honest I can't trust Papyrus not to go overboard," said Zane
"So you're leaving him out entirely?" asked Sans
"Sans, you know how your brother is, his ego is larger than Metty's, I've spent a lot of time helping Mettaton learn to care about people other than himself, Papyrus doesn't see the need to think of anyone other than himself, I just can't trust him to not attempt to take things too far and make everything about him. I care about Papyrus as a good friend but your brother refuses to take criticism and critique, he also can't take no for an answer. Teaching him to cook has been stressful because I've had to phrase everything to work around his ego. And the wedding will be stressful enough without having Papyrus trying to dial everything up to eleven," sighed Zane
"So why not tell him the truth?" asked Sans
"Because he won't believe it, he'll think I'm criticising myself no matter how I phrase it, he takes everything as a compliment and just doesn't listen at all. He needs something to check his ego rather than bolster it," said Zane
"Alright, I get it, I'll try to work on that with him," sighed Sans
"Thanks Sans," said Zane
"No problem bucko," grinned Sans
"Well I've been out of my lab too long, I gotta get back to work," said Zane
"Yeah and I better get back to my post in snowdin, before Pap throws a fit," said Sans
"You know he's not your boss right," said Zane
"Yeah I know," said Sans
"If he's ever going to get his ego in check, you're going to have to lay down the law with him, before someone else does," said Zane, walking out of Grillby's and towards the Riverperson.
Sans sighed as his friend left. He knew Zane was right, getting Papyrus's ego in check was going to have to start with Sans.
…
Zane sat on the bed in the house, figuring it was time to do something he hadn't even thought about in over a year and a half, meditate.
The lights were turned off and a single candle was lit.
He found himself in a large black expanse. A glowing yellow star in front of him, four yellow buttons and a voice.
"Fight, Act, Item, Mercy, they are coming, he is preparing, be ready. The prophecy will be fulfilled,"
"Who is coming? What are these? They look like video game options," said Zane
The silhouette of a human was in front of the glowing star.
"The Seventh," said the voice
"I know I have no control over the fulfilment of the prophecy, can you tell me how I got to the underground? Can I use your power to save another monster?" asked Zane
"That power is within you, the seventh is coming, be ready,"
Zane opened his eyes.
His focus now had to shift to saving Gaster, then creating the artificial soul.
He closed his eyes again and went back to meditating.
A dragon in chains appeared before him. He reached out to the growling beast.
"Hush, I'm here to free you," said Zane as he undid the chains. The scene shifted before the last chain broke. He was on an island, he saw a figure in green falling then a dragon materialize.
"This is the past, their dragons were within them, now you must unlock yours," said the voice from earlier, before the scene was back in the cave.
Zane ripped the last chain off the dragon and a loud roar from outside brought him back to the physical world. He ran out of the house and saw the dragon from his visions.
"Can you carry me into the void and back?" Zane asked the dragon. It bowed its head for Zane to get on.
It seemed far more cororeal than the vision he had seen of Lloyd's dragon. Mounting it brought back memories of Shard.
Suddenly Mettaton came up the walkway with Asgore.
"Darling wonderful news Asgore here said we could use the-WHAT THE HECK IS THAT!?"
"It's a dragon. It will allow me to travel to the void so I can rescue ," said Zane
"Is that why you called me? I vaguely remember him but he seemed like just a dream, someone I only thought existed in those obscure data files," said Asgore
"If I can get him back then from my research any damage caused by his accident should be reversed," said Zane
"Are you sure about this darling? It sounds dangerous and I don't want to lose you or even worse, forget you," said a worried Mettaton
"A force beyond our control wants me here, I have to trust they will get me back here no matter what," said Zane
"Be safe," said Mettaton
"I'll try," said Zane
The dragon took off, Zane remembered the first time he traveled realms on dragon back. The long vortex in front of him, leading to who knows where was massive, he steered his dragon into the vortex wall. They passed through into a black expanse.
"The void," Zane whispered as his dragon hovered there, keeping the vortex behind him open.
"DR. GASTER!?" shouted Zane
A strange sound rang through the void, and pieces of a semi skeletal monster assembled themselves in front of Zane
"Who are you?" asked Gaster
"I'm am Zane, I'm here to bring you home,"
Gaster floated onto the back of the dragon and Zane steered his mount back through the slowly shrinking vortex, back in the direction they came.
The moment they were back in the underground the dragon dissipated, sending its passengers plummeting.
Thinking quickly Zane created an ice slide to bring both he and Gaster safely back to terra firma.
Gaster bowed to Asgore while Zane was almost completely crushed in a hug.
"Oh Darling I thought I wouldn't see you again you were gone for so long," exclaimed Mettaton
"What? I was only gone for about a minute," said Zane
"Time in the void works much differently than it does here, my son likes to dabble in quantum physics and relativity, I believe he may have an explanation if you know him, his name is Sans," said Gaster
"Oh I am very good friends with Sans, Papyrus could also be considered a friend," said Zane
"Zane I believe you and Mettaton here have some things to discuss, I will fill in Dr. Gaster on everything he has missed," said Asgore
Mettaton literally dragged Zane inside the house and flipped the switch.
"You really need to get Alphys to finish your body," said Zane
"I ask all the time but it doesn't matter too much, I like having a secret only you get to fully experience," said Mettaton, pulling his fiance close.
"Today has been exhausting and we didn't sleep last night, you want to call it an early night?" asked Zane
"Of course Darling," said Mettaton
…
"Hmm, from what you say, this Zane is more of a hero than that child Undyne I remember seeing could ever hope to be," said Gaster
"Undyne is grown now and captain of the Royal Guard, I trained her myself, and she's actually dating the current Royal scientist," said Asgore
"Young Alphys I presume, my son loves science but would refuse the position because his only interest in the bigger projects was helping me, as my Son and Alphys were my head assistants I assume you promoted Alphys," said Gaster
"Yes, there was quite a mishap involving the human souls and some fallen down monsters, but Zane managed to fix it. I also believe Zane and Mettaton engineered Undyne and Alphys to finally become a couple," said Asgore
"With the world changing so much, is there a place for me?" asked Gaster
"The Snowdin school needs a competent science teacher, the human children, particularly the one who loves books, points out the inaccuracies the current teacher teaches and has been begging for the school to get a proper teacher. It would also allow you to spend time with your sons," said Asgore
"Teaching science to young children does sound like a wonderful idea," said Gaster with a small smile.
….
Zane was frantically running around with a checklist trying to ensure everything was ready, he was in his royal attire since Mettaton was insistent on being the one to wear the dress. All the human children were in frilly outfits matching the colors of their souls, each had a flower crown on and a basket of glitter. Mettaton had wanted the flower kids to throw glitter instead of petals. All the bridesmaids wore long magenta dresses and no one had any idea who convinced Undyne to wear a pink eyepatch and makeup. Alphys's own new engagement ring sparkled on her finger, it was a simple diamond ring but that was to be expected from the practical Undyne. It made Alphys happy every time she looked at it. Sans was actually in a tux and Papyrus was sulking beside Gaster.
The ceremony was taking place in the judgment hall of the palace. All the groomsmen wore tuxedos with bright blue shirts covered in sequins. Monster Kid was trying not to bounce up and down with the pink pillow that held the wedding rings in his mouth. He wore a bright blue suit covered in sequins. The reception would take place on the top walls of the castle. Zane had told Muffet point blank not to put spiders in the cake or any of the desserts. There was a magenta carpet leading to the end of the hall with 200 chairs on either side, 400 in total.
"Zane you need to relax," said Undyne
"But I have to make sure everything is ready," said Zane
"Al and Sans have everything under control, Alphys has watched enough Animes with weddings in them to know what might go wrong and is prepared for anything, go relax and reassure Napstablook that you want him here," said Undyne shoving him into the room where all the groomsmen were getting ready.
Zane sat in a chair and sighed. Who would have thought he'd be getting married before Nya and Jay, well he assumed they weren't married yet. The human children were all very excited. Zane pitied Woshua who had volunteered to do all the clean up after the wedding, glitter was almost impossible to remove.
…
The ceremony went off without any problems. Mettaton walked, well rolled down the aisle to where Zane waited in front of Asgore, the children had a blast throwing glitter everywhere, it getting stuck to their icy bodies causing them to look like kid-shaped disco balls. The rings were beautiful, white gold and heart and star-shaped magenta spinels encrusted on them. The vows were, interesting.
Only at the reception did problems start.
Papyrus was still in a bad mood about not being allowed to help with the food. Zane had put his foot down and told the tall skeleton the truth, deflating the skeleton's ego for the day like a balloon.
He had snuck into the kitchen and attempted to make a massive batch of spaghetti for everyone, only to be chased out by Muffet's pet. Then Woshua showed up very late and was crying hysterically at not being able to get all the glitter out of the judgment hall, Aaron had to comfort the distraught little monster. Seeing Asgore dancing with a glitter-covered Lily brought a smile to Zane's face. Monster kid even asked Valarie to dance with him.
Zane sighed happily as he danced with Mettaton.
"That dress looks ridiculous on you in this form," chuckled Zane
"You wound me, darling, I think it looks fabulous no matter what form I'm in," said Mettaton dramatically.
"It will be on the floor later," grinned Zane
Mettaton gasped dramatically.
"How scandalous, no, I shall hang it in the closet, such a work of art shall not spend a moment on the floor," said Mettaton
"Work of art? You have so many gems and beading on that thing it looks like a child's play dress," laughed Zane
"I'll only admit to getting carried away on the beading," said Mettaton
"I wonder if Undyne and Alphys have set a date yet?" said Zane, watching the other couple on the dancefloor, Alphys being the only one brave enough to be near Undyne's erratic dancing.
"I'm glad we filmed several weeks worth of the show so we can just enjoy our little snowdin vacation," said Zane after a while
…
Two months later everyone was back in the judgment hall again, this time for Alphys and Undyne's wedding. Undyne had opted to get married in her royal guard dress uniform and Alphys was wearing a white wedding gown with pale green lace trim on the collar and the same color green ribbon around her waist. A crown of pink flowers held the veil and she wore a small amount of lipstick. Zane stood in the best man spot in a simple tux and Catty was in the Maid of honor spot in a soft sea-green dress.
This wedding was much smaller than Zane's and Mettaton's, which was fine because Alphys hated being the center of attention.
...
Two years after the return of Dr. Gaster, the Wedding of Zane, Mettaton, Alphys, and Undyne, Naptsablook was chilling in the ruins when someone told him they liked his hat.