A/N Everything Undertale belongs to Toby Fox; Ginny, as well as anything unfamiliar, is of my creation.
Ginny soon found herself in a warm bath, surrounded by thick bubbles smelling of flowers. Though she could wash herself, it felt good to be scrubbed and rinsed off by someone else. It made her feel pampered, something she hadn't felt in such a long time.
Toriel was presently scrubbing her shoulders, a washcloth in each paw. "Do you want to save any of your old clothes?" she asked. She had already told Ginny about buying her clothes while she was unconscious.
"Hmm... my boots," she answered, looking down at her hands and forearms. She had been dirty for so long, she forgot what color her skin was naturally. Her olive skin tone surprised her, but made her feel nostalgic. Like she finally had a home to sit, clean, eat, and sleep in. "And my coat! I like my coat."
"Boots and coat, it is," Toriel nodded, dunking a large cup in the water and pouring it over Ginny's shoulders.
"Will your friend really be able to save my hair? I don't want it cut, if it can be helped," she said, holding one of the thick tangles.
Outside the bathroom, and probably back at the living room, there was a loud scream; it was followed by Papyrus screaming in delight, "OH MY GOD!" And after a few seconds, there was a knock at the bathroom door.
"Sounds like he's here," Toriel chuckled. "And just in time. Is it all right if he comes in, Ginny? He's here about your hair."
"... I suppose," she shrugged, herding the bubbles closer to her body.
"Come in!"
The door was quickly opened and then closed, as if the visitor was making an attempt at getting in as fast as possible. Ginny's eyes widened. The first things she saw were hot pink boots, white gloves, and sparkles everywhere.
"Toriel, darling," he greeted eloquently, combing his black hair over his eye with a smile. "How nice it is to see you. Ah!" he gasped. "And is this the lovely Ginny I've been hearing so much about?"
"Mettaton?" Ginny exclaimed.
"The one and only, darling," he winked.
"I-I've seen your performances on the TV at my old job! Or in televisions in stores! Y-your movies and singing and all!"
"Well, I'm absolutely delighted that you're a fan!" he smiled, clapping his hands. "But we'll have to hold off on the autographs for the time being. I'm here to see about saving your hair! But first, do you mind if I examine it? I just need to get a feel for it."
"S-sure," she nodded, scooting closer to the edge of the bathtub. Toriel handed her a large, wet washcloth to cover her chest with.
Mettaton sauntered to the tub and took a thick chunk of her hair in one hand. He looked it over closely, poking at it, and attempting to separate it; all the while, humming thoughtfully. "In spite of the tangles, you have beautiful hair! Such a shame it's in such a sorry state." He clicked his tongue several times, lightly shaking his head.
When Toriel explained she would be calling over a friend to help with her hair, she asked if she could explain Ginny's previous living conditions. "I'll tell him not to pry, and I'll be with you the whole time," she promised.
Ginny gave her permission. Her story was already out to the monsters presently in the house. Even if they wouldn't mean it, gossip would spread regardless. So, she figured she might as well not get upset about telling other monsters about it. At the very least, the ones present assured her they wouldn't judgmental about it, like humans would be. They would either sympathize, or not say anything at all; all the while, not asking personal or prodding questions.
"Can it be saved?"
"Why, it'll be a piece of cake!" he bragged, standing tall and proud with his chest puffed out. Where his torso just below his chest was, he instead had what looked like a tank with a pink heart floating inside. "I've dealt with horrifically tangled hair before! It will take some time, though. So, why don't you finish your bath, get in a robe, and we'll see about your hair?"
Ginny nodded. Both Toriel and Mettaton stepped out into the hallway, closing the door behind them. "Thank you for coming on such short notice," shesaid.
"Please, it's not a bother at all." He waved it off with a smile.
"If you insist. By the way, how are you feeling? Alphys said you had an accident onset a few days ago?"
"Yes, it was a travesty," he sighed dramatically. "We asked everyone, and reviewed all of the security tapes, but we still cannot figure out how the prop gun was switched with a regular one! In any case, I ordered that security would be increased, and that every prop, regardless of what kind they are, be double-checked, if not triple, before filming. What if it was someone else that got shot? I can't imagine having that on my conscience! It truly was only thanks to my amazing body that I wasn't more seriously injured."
Toriel rolled her eyes and chuckled as Mettaton posed, stretching one foot back, throwing his head back, and spreading his arms out. "But, in the end, no one else was injured, and Alphy was able to get me back in tip-top shape. She can be a worrywart, but she is still such a good person. It makes my soul ache that I was so rude to her before," he sniffed.
There was a knock on the bathroom door. "I'm finished," Ginny called out.
"Dried and dressed, I presume?" Mettaton purred.
"In a robe, yes."
"Very good, darling. This will be one of my greatest challenges yet! But I shall meet it with determination and gusto!" he declared, cracking his knuckles in preparation.
Back in the living room, the other monsters, as well as Frisk, talked among themselves. Papyrus was still jittering in his seat with excitement. "I CAN'T BELIEVE METTATON IS ACTUALLY HERE!" he exclaimed again, having said that several times by now. "HE ACTUALLY SAID 'HELLO' TO ME! I WONDER IF I'D BE ABLE TO ASK HIM TO SIGN MY BRACE!"
"Chill out, Paps," Undyne chuckled, friendlily punching him in the shoulder. "Mettaton's here on a job."
"Y-yes," Alphys nodded. "He was called here to f-fix Ginny's hair. But I-I'm sure if you asked him b-before he left, he'd gladly sign your brace."
"Speaking of Ginny," Undyne spoke up before Papyrus could squeal again, "let's talk about her, shall we? What do we all think of her? I'll start; I think she's a bit whimpy, and I still don't like how she lied so much. But... I guess I could understand why she did it. Still don't know why humans are so nasty to people down on their luck," she grumbled, crossing her arms.
"I DO NOT HOLD ANYTHING AGAINST HER"! Papyrus declared. "I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND BEING SCARED TO LOSE A SIBLING. WHY, I DON'T KNOW HOW I WOULD COPE IF I FACED THE POSSIBILITY OF LOSING SANS! AND ESPECIALLY AFTER WORKING SO HARD TO TRY AND KEEP THE TWO OF THEM TOGETHER. SHE EXPLAINED HERSELF, AND APOLOGIZED, SO SHE DESERVES A SECOND CHANCE!"
Alphys nodded in agreement. "I can understand k-keeping secrets that you're a-ashamed of. And h-how hard it is telling someone. I w-was given a second chance, even when I th-thought I didn't deserve it. S-so, Ginny deserves one j-just as much."
"I wholeheartedly agree," Asgore nodded, recalling when he was in a similar situation. He turned to Sans. "What do you think, Sans? Of all of us, you're the best judge of character."
Sans shuffled back into his seat, his hands deep in his pockets, and his eyes shut. But he wasn't asleep; he was thinking. Finally, after several minutes of thinking—and sensing that Papyrus was itching to yell out for him to stop sleeping and answer the question—he lazily opened his eyes and said, "i always knew she was hiding things, ever since we first met her. when she lets herself, she wears her soul on her sleeve, for better or for worse. and my opinion of her definitely soured when she blew up at toriel... but like paps, i too can understand what she was going through. and that she didn't want to seem unfit to take in frisk. so... i guess she's not all that bad," he shrugged. "doesn't mean i'll be best friends with her, but she's not an enemy either."
Out in the hall, the bathroom door was opened, and then shut. Then, Toriel padded into the living room, followed by sauntering Mettaton. Papyrus nearly shouted out something, probably wanting his favorite celebrity to sign his brace, but Toriel held a finger to her lips with a wink. He puffed out his cheeks with frustration, but sat down regardless. "H-how did it go?" Alphys asked as she patted Papyrus's shoulder with amused sympathy.
"It was a challenge, indeed. But I managed to not only save her hair, but make it absolutely beautiful!" Mettaton bragged, his eye sparkling with delight.
"When we last left her, she was changing into her new clothes," Toriel added. "I told her she could come out when she's ready."
As if on cue, the bathroom door opened again. "Ah, she has the timing of a star!" Mettaton exclaimed. "Darling, do come out and show off your new fabulous look! No need to be shy!"
"Mettaton, there's no ne-need for the over th-the top theatrics," Alphys gently scolded.
"But why not?" he gasped. "This is a brand new debut for Ginny! She deserves to feel like the beautiful lady she is!"
"Oh, brother," Undyne rolled her eye, though she let out a soft chuckle.
Ginny slowly walked into the living room, looking incredibly shy. But upon everyone's gasps and awes, she smiled.
Her hair, previously tangled in thick chunks and barely reaching past her shoulders, was now straight and sleek, reaching down to her waist. It was now a clean auburn color, and shined in the light. Her skin had been scrubbed clean and moisturized, and was a similar olive color to Frisk, though more tanned. She was now wearing an orange shirt, with a slightly turtlenecked collar, and the sleeves reaching her elbows. Over the shirt were short denim overalls with golden buttons and buckles. On her feet were her combat boots, which now had new blue and light-blue laces, crisscrossed and tied. Around her neck was a necklace made of rope, and with a test tube hanging just above where her soul was; inside the tube was a viscous fluid, and something small and black floating in said fluid.
"YOU LOOK AMAZING!" Papyrus exclaimed, briefly forgetting about Mettaton.
"Ya really clean up nicely!" Undyne grinned.
"I really l-like the overalls," Alphys complimented.
"You look awesome!" Frisk clapped their hands with delight.
"You look beautiful," Asgore smiled.
"overall, you got nice digs," Sans winked.
Everyone laughed as Papyrus shouted at his brother for 'ruining the moment'. "Isn't she just fabulous?" Mettaton grinned, clapping his hands on her shoulders. "My finest work yet!"
"Thank you, Mettaton," she smiled. "Without you, I'd have probably had to cut my hair."
"Oh, perish the thought, darling! I couldn't bare to think of chopping away that beautiful hair!"
"How do you feel?" Toriel asked.
Ginny had already seen herself in the mirror before stepping out, and barely recognized herself. And she realized that her life was now drastically different. No more sleeping beneath the bridge. No more rooting for half-eaten burgers or nearly-finished drinks when her stomach was still painfully growling. No more dirty clothes or tangled hair.
She had clean skin, brushed hair, and new clothes; a warm house, hot food, and a family. Things she never thought she would ever have again.
"I... I feel like a new woman," she said. "Thank you all, for the compliments, and for taking me into the family. I couldn't have ever imagined having that again."
"You won't have to imagine it anymore," Toriel replied as Ginny picked Frisk up in a hug. "Now it's a reality."
A/N And that's a wrap! I was admittedly a little nervous going into this, since the characters all have such rich personalities, but I think I did a pretty good job. There are at least a couple of sequel ideas, but I'll probably take a short break before posting the next one. I can't say if the next story I even post will be Undertale for sure, but I WILL get to it someday. Thanks for reading :)