"AND THREE! DON'T SHIRK WORK!"
After the show at Magma Lake, Alphys made them all promise that they wouldn't tell a single soul about the Time Gear hidden there. She made the decision to allow them to keep their memories only if they kept it a secret. As a result, it looked as if they had simply returned completely empty-handed. Most Monsters in New Home were disappointed, but still tried to be encouraging.
The very next day, just after the guild returned home, business resumed once more.
"ALRIGHT EVERYONE! HERE'S TO ANOTHER GREAT DAY OF WORK!" Papyrus called, earning a "HOORAY" from the apprentices as they all dispersed. Monster Kid instantly turned to Frisk, looking extremely energetic, more so than usual.
"Alright Frisk, we're gonna do great today!" He said, grinning widely. "We've gotta work extra hard now, especially after the expedition too!" Frisk nodded, smiling as well. His cheer was incredibly infectious.
"nice enthusiasm today, kid." Sans praised, leisurely walking over with his normal grin in place. "that's what i like to see. so let's go put that energy to good use today, eh?" Frisk asked if it was just taking jobs from the notice boards today. Sans almost answered it, before there was a yell from Madjick over by the sentry hole.
"You mean you can't identify the footprint?!" He yelled, nodding to one of his orbs to go down there itself. "That's never happened before! Abracadabra, you must be joking with me!"
"I'm telling you, I'm not!" Vegetoid shouted back. "I'm not some green newbie, I've been doing this for years! And I'm telling you I literally cannot identify the footprint! And stop sending your chaser orbs down here!" Sans rushed over, and the other two couldn't help but follow.
"hey, hey, ladies let's not fight. what's going on here?" He said, holding two hands out. "is there any problem or…?" Madjick huffed as his Chaser Orb flew back out of the hole.
"Alakazam, we've got a visitor up top but Vegetoid can't identify their footprint." He explained. "This has never happened before, I'm frankly stumped, tinkle tinkle hoy."
"Hey, you weren't able to identify Frisk's footprint when we first came in!" Monster Kid pointed out. "Why should this time be any different?" Madjick looked as if he was about to start explaining why, when Vegetoid began shouting once more.
"Oh, you want to talk with the Guildmaster and his brother? Well, can I get your name then?" He yelled, obviously speaking to whoever was on top of the grate. "Your name is…..M-Mettaton?!"
"Mettaton?!" Both Sans and Madjick said, both equally as surprised.
Moments later, a strange new monster had climbed down the ladder and was speaking with Papyrus and Sans. This monster was just barely taller than Sans, reaching somewhere underneath Papyrus' chestplate. He looked more like a metallic box or two rectangles sitting on top of each other, with a screen flashing various colors as he spoke. There were various dials underneath the screen, a few of them even turning by themselves. Finally, two cartoonishly big hands were at his sides, while the entire thing balanced on a single wheel.
"I CAN'T BELIEVE IT! THE FAMOUS METTATON, VISITING OUR LITTLE GUILD HERE!" Papyrus said, grinning widely. "IT IS AN ABSOLUTE PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU HERE, I AM A VERY BIG FAN!"
"Well, there's something I hadn't been expecting to hear!" Mettaton replied. "You see, I've heard all about you and your brother, darling, and I couldn't help but become a fan myself! I came out all this way because I had heard you and your guild went on an expedition. Did you find anything of interest?"
"SORRY, BUT OUR EXPEDITION ENDED IN COMPLETE FAILURE." Papyrus said, without the slightest trace of disappointment at all. "WE FOUND ABSOLUTELY NOTHING, DEFINITELY NOT ANY SECRET LAKES AND PRETTY VIEWS!"
"point is, the whole thing was a bust." Sans stepped in before his brother could accidentally reveal anything else. "so, sorry you came all the way out here just to hear that."
"Yo...Madjick?" Monster Kid asked, as Mettaton seemed to laugh it aside before he changed the subject. Madjick only gave a small grunt to show he was listening. "Um…..Who is that guy? You sounded like you knew him."
"Wait, you don't know who Mettaton is?!" Madjick whisper-yelled, spinning around. "Oh dear, it seems you're more behind than I would've thought!"
"Dude, chill! I don't blame them!" Snowdrake piped up, fluttering a bit closer. "Mettaton's supposed to be this up and coming explorer. He suddenly appeared and became famous overnight! It's been said he's one of the best explorers since even Papyrus and Sans!"
"Yo, so this guy's really all that?" Monster Kid said, eyes instantly lighting up. "That sounds awesome! He sounds like a real hero too!"
"But that isn't all, hocus pocus, there's more!" Madjick continued, using an orb to point to him. "It's been said that he does everything completely unlike everyone else. He even explores completely alone, abracadabra!"
"Seriously, all alone?!" Monster Kid nearly exclaimed, trying his hardest just to keep his voice down. "I can barely even imagine going in alone, he must be super strong then!"
"People also talk about how smart this guy is too." Snowdrake added as well. "I mean, he is technically a sentient machine, so I would guess that he knows a lot of stuff too!" Frisk asked if Mettaton had been here before, given how Papyrus had been so friendly.
"The guildmaster is just naturally that approachable, I think." Madjick replied, concealing a small snicker. "This is Mettaton's first time here, which was why Vegetoid had such a hard time figuring out his footprint." Frisk couldn't help but laugh slightly. They, however, soon lost interest in the other apprentice's conversation. So they decided to start listening in on the conversation.
"...hoping you had more information. But I plan on staying in New Home for a while anyways!" Mettaton was saying brightly. "Your guild always receives some of the best news, so I might as well take the chance to add more information to my databanks! Well, that is if it's okay with you, darling?"
"THAT WOULD HARDLY BE A PROBLEM! MANY OTHER EXPLORATION TEAMS VISIT ANYWAYS!" Papyrus announced, before he turned to the apprentices. "EVERYONE! THIS IS METTATON, AS I'M SURE YOU ALL KNOW. HE'LL BE STAYING IN NEW HOME FOR A WHILE, SO PLEASE MAKE SURE TO TREAT HIM WITH TONS OF RESPECT!"
"just try not to overdo it or anything." Sans added. "try not to embarrass us either by asking for autographs or asking for too much advice. something stupid like that." Mettaton gave a laugh, his screen flashing various bright colors as if to symbolize a smile.
"No, no! I'm perfectly fine with signing autographs for fans!" He said. "But I'm afraid you flatter me too much, sweetie. I'm rather lacking in the information and advice department. However! I will always be happy to offer my help in any way, shape, or form!" He gave a small bow, only to have the apprentices all erupt into cheers and happy cries. "Well, I must be off. I'll be off in New Home is anyone has need of me! Ta-ta darlings!" The rest of the apprentices all slowly began to go back to their duties as the robot left, climbing back up the ladder once more.
Sans gave them their assignment for the day, which was just to take jobs from the bulletin board. While Mettaton's sudden arrival was certainly interesting, the rest of the day seemed otherwise normal and the two just ended up doing the usual types of jobs before heading back to the guild for the night.
However, that night three certain monsters climbed up the hill to look up at the tent. And none of them were happy at all.
"So….er….boss, what are we gonna do now?" Loox asked, glancing over to Glyde, who just growled slightly, glaring at the tent. "Don't tell me we're gonna try attacking any of them again!"
"Boss, we got our butts handed to us the last time we even tried attacking Papyrus!" Migosp huffed. "It really hurt last time, one of my legs nearly broke off!" Loox gave the roach monster a questioning look, he even held up one of his legs, showing a scar still left on it. "DID YOU REALLY THINK I WAS KIDDING?! I STILL HAVE THE SCARS! BE LUCKY YOU CAN'T LOSE ANY LIMBS!"
"Both of you, shut it!" Glyde snapped, stopping a potential fight from breaking out between the two. "'Sides, listening to you two gave me an idea. Why pick a fight with the big man himself when you could settle for the small fries?" He turned to the other two, a malicious grin plastered all over his face.
"C'mon boys, we've got a scheme to plan!"
"hey, can you two run an errand for me before your day of work?" Sans asked the two after a day or two of normal work. "i need you two to go to dogamy and dogaressa's shop. just ask if they plan on stocking perfect tomatoes anytime soon."
"Stock Perfect Tomatoes?" Monster Kid repeated, tilting his head. "Why? Did we run out of them again?" Sans just kind of shrugged, giving a kind of gesture.
"y'see, ever since we got back from the expedition, pap's been sneaking off and stealing a bunch of our perfect tomatoes." He explained. "thing is, it's been draining us a lot quicker than we expected and….well, you know exactly what happens when papyrus doesn't get his perfect tomatoes."
"But if Dogamy and Dogaressa start selling Perfect Tomatoes, then we won't need to travel all the way into the forest!" Monster Kid said, figuring it out quickly. "We'll be happy to go to New Home, right Frisk?" Frisk simply nodded, hoping the look on their face would reassure Sans. The skeleton looked a bit more relieved, but still slightly worried.
Nonetheless, the two friends began heading to the store, taking a bit of money out of the bank on the off chance the store actually had it. When they finally made it over, the two shopkeepers were already speaking to someone.
Mettaton.
"Oh! Monster Kid, Frisk, it's wonderful to see you two again!" Dogaressa said happily as the two approached. "Did you two need anything today? Anything we can help with?"
"We just wanted to ask something, that's it!" Monster Kid said. "Are you guys planning on stocking Perfect Tomatoes anytime soon?" The two dogs exchanged a glance, before both shook their heads. "Aw man, bummer. Sans is gonna be super upset about hearing this…"
"Pardon me for asking this, but you two little beauties are from the guild, right?" Mettaton asked, looking between the two. "I've been talking with many other apprentices for the past few days, and I must say you all are just far too kind! I don't think I've ever met fans as enthusiastic as you all!"
"I-It's a pleasure, honestly!" Monster Kid said, a bit surprised and taken back. "What are you doing, just a bit of shopping?" Mettaton gave a small laugh, shaking his head (Which looked rather strange considering he was just a rectangle on a wheel).
"No, no, no! I was simply enjoying a wonderful chat with this charming gentleman!" He explained.
"Well, I just had to hail him down." Dogamy confessed, rubbing a paw behind his head in embarrassment. "And I must say, he wasn't at all what I was expecting! All the stories they say about you are certainly true, Mettaton, sir. You truly are rather worldly and wise!"
"It comes with experience, that's all. I'm sure anyone else who's explored as long as I have would be just as knowledgeable!" Mettaton said, trying to wave it aside. Dogamy looked as if he was about to disagree when they all heard a sudden yell from down the path.
"Vulkin, c'mon! Move it, we gotta go!"
Mettaton backed up, just a few moments before Pyrope and Vulkin both ran through, barely missing him.
"Vulkin, Pyrope! Aren't you two just little bundles of energy today?" Dogamy exclaimed, "Is there something going on today? What's the rush?"
"You won't believe it! We've been looking for it all over too!" Pyrope said, talking at a barely understandable speed. "And then suddenly someone said they saw it on the beach and AAAAAH! We just need to go right now!"
"Wait, slow down! What's going on?" Monster Kid said, just before Pyrope could bound off again (although Frisk figured that he could've just jumped over Monster Kid).
"Well, a long time ago Vulkin lost a super important item to them. I've been trying to help 'em find it again!" Pyrope explained. "Uh….have you seen it anywhere around here? It's like….what exactly is it, Vulkin?"
"Burnt Pan! Burnt Pan!" Vulkin chirped. "Lost Burnt Pan a long time ago, but going to find it now!"
"A Burnt Frying Pan? I don't blame you two for looking so hard." Mettaton said, sounding rather impressed. "After all, an item like that is actually rather rare, despite the fact it sounds so strange." Each monster gave him a confused look, to which he added on; "Well, not only does it increase the effect most healing items or moves have, but for volcanic-like monsters like little Vulkin here, it actually increases their fire-type moves!"
"Yo, that sounds cool! I'm glad you guys found it then!" Monster Kid said, causing Vulkin to at least beam.
"I don't think we could even dream of selling such a rare item." Dogaressa said, glancing to her husband. "But when that day comes, it'll be a special one, that's for sure!"
"Yeah! But we gotta get going!" Pyrope nearly yelled, clearly getting a bit antsy. "Otherwise the pan's gonna be gone!"
"Of course, of course." Dogamy said kindly. "Good luck, and stay out of trouble you two!" The two children began running off once more, just as Dogamy turned back to Frisk and Monster Kid. "Do you need anything else?"
"Oh shoot! Yo, that's right, we gotta get back!" Monster Kid gasped, looking back to Frisk. "Sans is gonna be super upset about this, but we'll definitely see you guys later!" The duo began running back towards the guild, with Frisk waving goodbye to Mettaton and the shopkeepers.
However, out of the corner of their eye, they noticed two very familiar looking monsters, although they were hidden in the shadows.