Chapter 7: The Mettaton Show
"Azzy." Said Chara weakly as she laid on her bed, slowly being killed by the poisonous flowers she had eaten.
"Chara, I don't like this plan anymore." Said Asriel as he held Chara's hand tightly. "I think we should stop. If we tell mom and dad now, they might be able to help."
"Azzy, it's too late for that." Replied Chara. "We have to do this. It's the only chance we have to free the monsters."
"It's not worth it! Chara, you mean so much to me… I don't want to live in a world without you in it, Chara." Cried Asriel, making Chara begin to comfortingly stroke his paw, but the gesture only made him feel worse.
"…I want to be your heart Azzy." Said Chara, earning a confused look from Asriel. "Monsters are always so full of the love and compassion that humans lack, but you… you're the kindest person I have ever met. I want to be able to feel all the love you hold in your heart, but as long as I'm alive I'll never be able to feel that. However, when you take my soul Azzy, I will be a part of you, and maybe I'll be able to feel that love for as long as you live."
"But, Chara, if you die, even if you become a part of me, it won't be the same." Said Asriel as he began to cry harder. "We won't be able to play together, or to hug each other, and I won't be able to see you anymore and… well, I think you're really beautiful Chara."
"Hehehe… hahaha… You think this is beautiful?" Asked Chara as she began to make what Asriel called her 'creepy face'. Both of Chara's eyes turned completely black, except for her red irises, and her mouth opened unnaturally wide.
"Of course I do Chara." Said Asriel, surprising Chara. "Because no matter what face you make, I know it's you Chara, and you will always be beautiful to me."
"…Wow, that was really cliché." Said Chara as her face returned to normal.
"It's how I really feel Chara." Declared Asriel.
"I know… that was definitely something you would say." Responded Chara as her breathing began to slow. "You know… I always liked your fur. I think It's the perfect shade of white."
"Do you really think so?" Asked Asriel, but he didn't get a response. "Chara?" Called Asriel. But nobody came.
Frisk woke up in her bed, trying in vain to recall the details of the dream that she had just had. Until she noticed an odd sensation in her forehead, as though it had just been kissed. Maybe it was Toriel. Thought Frisk as she got up and dressed in her usual clothes.
"Frisk my child!" Called Toriel from downstairs. "Papyrus is here to take you to Mettaton's show!"
Wow! I can't believe I forgot about that! Thought Frisk as she rushed downstairs.
Sans, Papyrus, Alphys, and Frisk entered a large room in Hotland with a multi-colored tile floor in the middle and several cameras pointed at it. "Don't tell me Mettaton is going to have us run across one of those puzzle floors again." Complained Sans.
"Don't be ridiculous." Said Mettaton as he approached the group. "I have a much better plan for tonight's show."
"WOWIE, CAN WE KNOW WHAT IT IS!?" Asked Papyrus excitedly.
"Of course not!" Cheered Mettaton. "You four are going to be contestants in tonight's show, and I want the audience to see your reactions when you learn what you'll be doing!"
"Well, when does it start?" Asked Frisk.
"Very soon darling! You four should go divide yourselves between those four chairs at the stages four corners." Replied Mettaton.
"Wait, four? Mettaton, I didn't agree to be on your show." Said Alphys.
"It's too late for you to back out now doctor." Said Mettaton.
The four contestants then divided themselves between the stage's corners, with Frisk in the back right, Alphys in the back left, Papyrus in the front right, and Sans in the front left. "Alright, we're going live to the whole world in 3… 2… 1! Hello Beauties and Gentle-beauties! Welcome to the first ever world broadcast of the Mettaton show! I'm your host, Mettaton!" Cheered Mettaton. "As I'm sure you all know, this broadcast is being launched to help lower tensions between monsters and humans, but I realized something. Despite my magnetic personality, I, Mettaton, am a monster, and there are better candidates to help appeal to humans than me." Everyone was shocked that Mettaton would admit to something like that, normally he was all about getting attention. "Then I had an idea, something that went against everything I believed in… sharing the spotlight with someone else." Everyone gasped when they heard that. "And what better person for the job, then the human who learned to love monsters before anyone else. Without further a due, I introduce you to Frisk Dreemurr!" Prerecorded applause played as the cameras zoomed in on Frisk while she waved.
"Now the reason I have Frisk, as well as all the others you see before you, gathered here today is very simple. You see all the people here, except one, have dated Frisk at one point or another. So, the winner of today's contest will be given another chance to date Frisk, or a first chance in the case of a certain someone." Explained Mettaton.
Sans felt a chill down his spine, despite the fact he was visibly sweating. Papyrus and Alphys have both dated Frisk, that only leaves me! I never dated the kid because, well, she's a kid! Thought Sans in a panic.
"Of course, the person who I've been speaking of who hasn't dated Frisk, is me!" Called Mettaton.
Sans felt an enormous blow to his ego after that. I'm not sure if I should laugh or cry now. Of course Mettaton was talking about himself, he always is! Thought Sans.
"Now before we start the game, let's introduce our contestants shall we!" Cheered Mettaton "The brilliant Dr. Alphys, royal scientist of the monsters. Please tell our audience about your date with Frisk!"
"Uh… w-well it was kind of a communication mix up… I got a letter t-that didn't have a name… and since Frisk was the one who handed me the letter, I thought it was from her." Explained Alphys. "So, I took her on a tour of the junkyard where I get parts for some of my inventions."
"Well, that didn't sound like a great date… Moving on! The great Papyrus! Former member of the royal guard! Please tell the audience about your date with Frisk!" Cheered Mettaton.
"OH, I'M STILL PRETENDING THAT NEVER HAPPENED." Said Papyrus.
"Then why did you email me all the details of it?" Asked Mettaton.
"FAIR POINT, WHILE I WAS IN TRAINING TO BECOME A MEMBER OF THE ROYAL GUARD, I WAS GIVEN THE ASSIGNMENT TO CATCH ANY HUMAN WHO ENTERED SNOWDIN TOWN AND SEND THEM TO THE CAPITAL. BUT WHEN I MET FRISK, SHE FLIRTED WITH ME UNTIL I COULDN'T RESISIT ASKING HER ON A DATE!" Explained Papyrus. "SO, I TOOK HER TO MY FAVORITE PLACE, MY HOUSE, AND I MADE HER SPAGHETTI, HOWEVER SHE JUST SEEMED TO BE TOO IN LOVE WITH ME! SINCE I COULDN'T MATCH HER FEELINGS, I DECIDED TO LET HER DOWN EASY."
"Wonderful, and that brings us to Papyrus's brother, Sans Skeleton, best known for being able to watch multiple sentry stations at the same time." Said Mettaton. "Now Sans, I've heard from Frisk and Papyrus that you actually took Frisk on two dates! Not just one! Can you tell us about those!?" Asked Mettaton.
Two dates… Wait, is he talking about when I took Frisk to Grillby's and MTT Resorts? Wondered Sans. "Well, I wouldn't call them dates, I just took her to a couple of restaurants and tricked her into paying." Said Sans.
"Well, that's still better then what Alphys did. So, now let me explain the rules of this competition!" Cheered Mettaton. "This contest will be one game between all of Frisk's ex's and me with a tie breaker second round if need be. However, as much as I would like to compete and let Fisk sit back and enjoy the spotlight for a while, I am needed as a part of the competition, so I will have Frisk herself competing in my place. Now I will be performing a song and every line will be a clue as to which type of colored tile you contestants will need to stand on. For you viewers who don't know the properties of each type of tile, they are being displayed on your screens at home, and since the contestants already know the properties there's no point restating them. Now, you contestants are not allowed to simply walk or jump to the colored tile you want, you will have to dance from tile to tile, but if you don't make it to the correct color tile in time, you will have to face whatever penalty comes from the tile you're standing on. The game ends when the song is over or when there is only one contestant left. All clear? GOOD! Each of you go stand in the corners you're closest to!" Cheered Mettaton. "Now please enjoy the following messages while our contestants warm up." Said Mettaton as he pitched too commercial.
Frisk faced against Alphys, and Papyrus faced against Sans. Frisk and Papyrus were doing warm up stretches, Alphys was shaking nervously, and Sans was trying to remember why he agreed to be on Mettaton's show. Well, since I'm here I might as well play to win. Thought Sans. "Hey Papyrus, do you mind explaining what these tiles do again?" Asked Sans.
"REALLY SANS, YOU DIDN'T EVEN BOTHER TO REMEMBER THE TILE FUNCTIONS? WE USED THIS TRAP ON FRISK ONCE! BUT SINCE YOU ASKED, ORANGE TILES ARE ORANGE SENTED, RED TILES ARE IMPASSIBLE, YELLOW TILES ARE ELECTRIC-" Papyrus was cut off when Sans began speaking again.
"Huh? Oh, sorry bro, I wasn't listening, can you say that again?"
"SERIOUSLY SANS! YOU ASK ME A QUESTION AND DIDN'T EVEN LISTEN FOR THE ANSWER!? ALRIGHT I'LL SAY IT AGAIN! YELLOW TILES ARE ORANGE SENTED, ORANGE TILES ARE IMPASSIBLE, RED TILES… WAIT A SECOND I GOT MIXED UP!" Yelled Papyrus as he tried to remember which tiles were which.
Frisk giggled at Sans and Papyrus's antics, then thought, Well, I've put this off long enough. "Hey Chara, are you there?" Whispered Frisk.
"What?" Asked Chara.
"Chara, I've been meaning to ask you… Why are you so mean to my friends?" Asked Frisk.
"Ha! Does it matter!?" Laughed Chara.
"Chara… you know we don't have to be enemies, right? We could be friends if you would let me." Replied Frisk.
"…What?" Asked Chara, genuinely confused.
"Chara, you've done some bad things, but even if you don't admit it, you've done some good things to. I would rather be your friend than your enemy." Explained Frisk.
"…I'll think about it, but first, I don't want to lose to that skeleton again, you'd better win this contest. Even if it means resetting a few times." Said Chara.
"But Sans will know if I reset." Whispered Frisk.
"Don't worry, I know a way to reset without Sans ever knowing about it, but it takes a lot of energy so try not to make me use it too many times." Said Chara.
Frisk agreed but couldn't shake the feeling that Chara had something else planned.
"Welcome back Beauties and Gentle-beauties. Without further a due, let the contest begin! Hit it Napstablook!" Called Mettaton, then his ghost D.J. started playing some instrumental music.
"Here we go." Thought Frisk, Chara, and Sans in unison.
Water splashed against the sides of the River-person's boat as he guided it down a long, foggy river. Asriel sat in the back of the boat, looking at his reflection in the water. Chara always said she liked my white fur. I wonder what she would think of it now. Wondered Asriel as he traced the black streaks of fur on his face with his paw.
"Tra la la. The waters are wild today. That's bad luck…" Said the River-person as a small wave splashed over the side of the boat. However, Asriel was too focused on his own thoughts to listen.
Flowey is out their trying to bring Chara back, and I'm just sitting here doing nothing… Ugh, it feels like that sociopathic flower cares about her more than I do! Thought Asriel angrily as he clenched his fist and stood up. "Can I bring back the dead?" Asked Asriel to the River-person.
"Hmm, what do you mean?" Asked the River-person.
"I'm the angel of Hyper-death! If I have the power to take life, shouldn't I have the power to return it?" Asked Asriel as he turned to face the River-person.
"…Well of course you have that power." Said the River-person. "But the way you are now, you'd never be able to use it."
"Why not?" Asked Asriel.
"Well, there are rules to how your power can and cannot be used. The way you are now, you would miss use the power to restore life." Explained the River-person.
"No, I wouldn't-" Asriel was cut off when the River-person began speaking again.
"Don't lie to me, I know you intend to bring your friend back to life, but that is not what the power is meant for. It is only meant to restore those who weren't meant to die but did as the result of an accident. To use the power any other way would violate the rules." Explained the River-person.
"Shut up! Why do you keep blabbering about rules if you won't tell me why we have them! Chara didn't deserve to die, and she is more than worth breaking a couple rules fo-" Asriel was cut off when he felt a horrible, paralyzing pain throughout his entire body. While Asriel had been talking, the River-person had placed two fingers against his locket; the locket his soul was now being housed in.
"You're letting your feelings cloud your judgment Asriel." Said the River-person. "I know you want to help your friend, but the rules of the spirit world are there for a reason, if you were able to bring back anyone you chose, there would be no death in the world. Though that might sound good, it isn't, doctors would lose their purpose, overpopulation would cause famine, the world would be in complete chaos. I truly am sorry for your loss, but that is the natural order of things." Explained the River-person as he released Asriel's locket.
When the River-person released his locket, the pain and paralysis that had been affecting Asriel quickly wore off, and he fell back into his seat. "…I-I understand." Was all Asriel could say as he looked down at his paws, defeated.
"Alright then." Replied the River-person. "Now, let's get back to the spirit world before the man who speaks in hands sees us." With that, the River-person's ferry began to move even faster through the water.
Asriel sat and looked down at his locket. I know what she would think of my fur now. Thought Asriel. She would hate it.