Note: I changed up the previous chapters, so now each chapter = one full episode of the real anime.

The railroad station was dark, the only light being the lanterns covered by cicadas. The whole place had a meek outlook to it. Dark skies, dark columns, dark wires. Everything was closed down for the moment. It made me feel tired, seeing the night so gloomy and depressing.

I trudge down the railroad tracks, thoughts set on finding Papyrus, when I notice movements of a shadow ahead. I slowly raise my head, and am startled by the sight of moving feet. What were people doing out here so late? I snap my head up, and the sight is daunting. Sans stands not to far from behind, a dark look in his eye as Undyne trudges forward, a jar in her arms. Everyone looks bleak with shock and sadness.

"H-huh?" I'm momentarily confused. I dash forward, my feet crunching on the rocks underfoot. Undyne looks to the side, avoiding my gaze and gritting her teeth. "Guys?" Sans gives me a look, and I realize that something's wrong. "Where's Papyrus?" I ask worriedly. "What happened to him?!"

Sans doesn't dally, and just cuts straight to the explanation. "After his Soul Gem changed into a Grief Seed, it gave birth to a witch and was destroyed."

I stare at him, blinking. Not understanding. My legs suddenly feel weak, like all the energy was sucked right out of it. "What?" I fall to my knees, my stare empty. "That… that can't be true…"

Sans' expression is grave. "Well, it is. It's actually the final secret regarding the Soul Gems." He brings out his own, and it sits upon his his skeletal hand. It's a royal blue, dark and illuminating. "When these Soul Gems darken and cloud over, they turn to Grief Seeds and we're reborn. As witches." I stare at the Gem, slowly taking the information in "That is the inevitable fate of those who have become Magic Monsters."

Undyne flinches away at the message, but I refuse to believe it. "It's not true." I demand, getting back up. I stare at the jar in Undyne's arms, and the truth starts to sink in, but I don't want it to be true. "It's not! Right?"

A train rushes past us on a different railroad next to us, loud and blaring, but we all act oblivious to it. Papyrus is all that matters.

I want to deny it, but I know it won't be any good. I find myself kneeling back down again, weak from shock and disbelief. "But… why…?" I'm trembling, barely holding myself together. This wasn't a fate that Papyrus deserved. He was always trying to be good. He was always trying his best. "He just wanted to save people. He wanted to be a hero. He became a Magical Monster for that." My hands dig into the rocks, and I try to prop myself up, but I'm too scared. "So why?"

"Welp." Sans shrugs a little. "He just ended up bearing a curse as powerful as his wish. So… now he'll live cursing as many people as he's saved."

Undyne bends down to finally place Papyrus on the ground. Or at least, the remains of him. His dust sits still in the jar, unmoving and small. I reach forward, and hug it into my arms. Papyrus' dust. Without his soul to keep him together, he's turned into dust. Then suddenly, I'm crying. I clutch it as tightly as I can, but the tears keep spilling, and I feel horrible.

Papyrus is gone. He's dead.

Then suddenly, Undyne whips around and clutches Sans' collar before bringing him up to her face. He's hanging in the air, but he looks unbothered. However, Undyne's expression is angry. "Just who the heck do you think you are?!" She spits. "Are you trying to brag about how much you know?" Sans doesn't respond, and Undyne just clutches him harder. "How can you say all that like you're so proud of yourself, huh? That's Papyrus' best friend right there, you know that? You know that?"

But Sans just turns to me, a serious look in his eye. "You now understand what you aspired to be, dont'cha?" I don't reply, still crying over the jar's lid. Sans shakes himself free, and Undyne finally lets go, anger drained out from her. "Since you have his dust, you'll have to be careful about where you place it. Leaving it lying around carelessly might spark some trouble between the peace treaty of humans and monsters."

"And you call yourself human?" Undyne sneers at his casual tone.

"Of course not." He says steely, expression large and grim. "But neither are you." Undyne grits her teeth at him, but she doesn't stop him as he turns around and walks away. Because the truth is, he's right.

I sit on my bed, still in shock. Staring at the bedsheets, like it'll help me somehow. But it's not.

There's a light outside my window, but I don't bother to notice it until the shadow of Flowey appears. He sits on the windowsill, an eyebrow raised. "Mind if little ol' me comes in?" He asks. "There's some things we need to talk about."

"So you are alive…" I mumble. At this point, it honestly didn't surprise me all that much.

I don't open the window for him, but he invites himself in. In the next moment, he's sitting next to the stuffed animals on my bed. I figure that I might as well make the most of it while he's here, so I ask meekly, "Was Sans… right?"

"There's nothing wrong that needs me to correct." Flowey answers, raising a paw.

I raise my head, hope drained. Not like there was much in the first place. "So you turn everyone into Magical Monsters just to have them transform into witches later?" I accuse.

"Hey," Flowey prompts a little disapprovingly. "Don't misunderstand this; it's not like I have any malice to you guys or anything. I'm just doing this for the greater good. Like, you do know what 'entropy' is, right?" I mumble something undecipherable. "Well, an example would be the heat energy gained by burning wood in a campfire. It's unequal to the amount of energy it takes to grow the tree you're burning. When converting energy between forms, there's always a loss somewhere. And so, basically the energy in the world is diminishing."

He shrugs a little. "That's why I searched for a form of energy not bound by these laws, and we discovered the perfect solution." He smirks triumphantly. "It was the magical energy from Magic Monsters. Sounds great, right?"

I raise my head, narrowing my eyes. "What are you?"

"We developed the technology to convert emotions of lifeforms into energy." Flowey says instead. "But unfortunately, I don't have emotions, or a soul for that matter. We lack any sort of feeling. So we look for various types of species across the universe, and I found your earth." He wiggles his eyebrows. "See, the number of human and monster individuals and their constant reproduction rate indicates that the emotional energy produced way exceeds the energy expended in its growth. Basically, your souls are capable of generating enough energy to overcome entropy!

"We've also found that the most effective source of energy comes from the phase of change between hope and despair. When a Soul Gem burns away to turn into a Grief Seed, an enormous amount of energy is released. It's our job, my job, as Flowey the incubator, to collect that energy."

"So we're just disposable to you." I whisper. "We die for you."

"Don't you know how much energy is used up every second in the universe?" Flowey asks. "Someday, you'll all leave this planet to join us. You wouldn't want an empty, desolate universe then, would you? So looking in the long term, this is beneficial to you as well!"

"You can't be serious." I growl, facing Flowey. "You're saying that Alphys and Papyrus went through all that just for some crazy reason like that? That's so…" I look down, unable to find words horrific enough to describe the circumstances.

"Well." Flowey shrugs nonchalantly. "Our contracts are completely dependent upon your approval first. I think that's already rather kind of us, isn't it?"

"You're just tricking us!" I accuse.

"What does it mean to 'trick' someone?" Flowey asks amusedly. "For some reason, whenever people regret a choice due to a misunderstanding with someone else, they start to hate that person. Why even?"

"I don't even follow you anymore." I mumble, putting my head back into my lap. "It's unacceptable."

"Well, we have a pretty hard time understanding your value system too." Flowey huffs. "I mean, right now there are more than seven billion of you living on this planet, and every four seconds, you grow by ten. Why's there always such a fuss about one dying or living?"

"...you really are our enemies."

"Well ya know, I just came here to explain my actions to you." Flowey shrugs. "I was hoping to convince you of knowing how significant your sacrifices are, but it looks like that won't be happening anytime soon."

"Duh." I want to spit at him, but something tells me that won't do any good.

"Listen Frisk." Flowey says with awed inspiration. "Someday, you will become the greatest Magical Monster, and then the worst witch. And in that moment, we'll get huge amounts of energy. Amounts that no one has ever seen before. So, if you ever feel like dying to save the universe, just let me know!" I turn to him, and fangs suddenly appear on his mouth. "I'll be waiting." He grins.

And he hops away, and then the light's gone. Flowey's gone.

I walk to school the next morning, a little dazed. Napstablook seems worried for my well-being. "You don't… seem very well…" He notes. "You… okay…?"

"Um, yeah. I didn't sleep well last night." At least that much was true.

"And is Papyrus… absent again…?"

I look to my right, where Papyrus would normally walk with us, but of course he's not there. He's gone now, forever. He won't be coming back.

"Should we go… see him?" Napstablook suggests, then rethinks it before turning away. "Although… nevermind…"

"Napsta." I sigh. "I-"

"Why are ya still going to school, punk?!" I stop in my tracks as Undyne's voice rings through my mind. She was telepathically speaking to me! "You're acting like nothing's happened after all that?" I pause, and turn around. Napstablook notices my strange behavior.

"Frisk…?" He asks, unsure.

"I need to talk to ya." Undyne continues. "Maybe you could spare a moment or something?"

I suddenly set my mind. Quickly turning to Napstablook, I shake my head. "Sorry Napsta, but… I'm not gonna go to school today either!" Then I turn and sprint off before he can stop me.

"H-huh? Wait… did I do something…" His voice fades behind me as I run.

I meet Undyne in an alleyway sandwiched between a couple apartment buildings. She stands there waiting, eating a pocky stick in her mouth as usual. "Um." I start. "What was it you wanted to talk about?..."

Her expression is serious, and she steps towards me, her gaze fierce. "Do you want to save Papyrus?"

"Huh?" My eyes widen. "W-we can save him?"

"Even if we couldn't, would you just forget about him?" Undyne challenges. When she sees my expression, her gaze softens and she goes to reword her phrase. "Um, what I meant was… well, this sounds pretty stupid. But! I'm not giving up until we know for sure that that knuckle-head can't be saved." I blink at the confession, and Undyne sighs. "He might be a witch now, but he just might remember the voice of a friend. If you call to him, he might remember the old times. The only possibility for that is you."

Silence stands between us until I ask, "Do you think it'll work?" I don't want to get too worked up in case it doesn't, but I can't help being hopeful.

"...I have no idea!" She admits, cackling. "But! I'm proposing that we do it because we don't know! Ya know, like, maybe cutting the witch in half will just make Papyrus' soul gem fall out instead of a Grief Seed. Stories of courage and magical princesses always end up like that, right?!" She suddenly brings out her own gem. It's a vibrant green, glowing in her hands. "But now thinking on it…" She suddenly sounds wistful. "One reason I became a Magical Monster was because I always loved those stories. It didn't really cross my mind… until Papyrus. He made me remember." She notices my empty stare, and suddenly grows indignant. "Well, if you don't wanna do it, I ain't gonna force ya! Because… it will be dangerous! I can't promise to protect you all the time."

I quickly shake my head. "No! Of course I'll help. I want you to let me help." I step forward, and raise my hand for a handshake of agreement. "Frisk." I say my name.

Undyne stares at it for a moment before cackling. "Darn, you're really cramping my style!"

"Huh?"

"Undyne." She replies, grinning. She reaches her hand forward, a Cinnamon Bunny snack in her hand. "And let's do this."

I grab onto the other end of the package, feeling a little surprised. I smile sheepishly as I raise the snack to my height to examine it. "O-Okay…"

We scale the building, passing under the roof and the columns holding it up. As usual, there's food in Undyne's scaly hands. "I wonder if Sans can help us?" I ponder.

"He probably wouldn't do something like that, seeing that he's such a bone-head." Undyne grumbles, popping some shishkabob into her mouth.

"But… isn't he a friend?"

"No." She replies flatly, then pauses to reconsider. "Well, we could both be after the same thing… since we're both taking down something each of us can't do alone." She sighs. "In a few days, a Walpurgis Night will come to this city."

"Walpurgis?"

"A super-dreadnought-class witch." She replies. "The two of us aren't likely to beat it alone. That's why we're teaming up. It's just how it is between us."

We walk a little longer, passing by more abandoned halls before coming to a stop. Undyne's gem is out in front of her, pulsating brightly. "Looks like we've got the place!" She concludes loudly.

She breaks apart the fence in front of us, and we enter the abandoned factory. We climb some stairs, and past the construction floors and pipes of the area. It's a strange place to be; it feels dangerous. "I wonder if it's really Paps." I ponder. "What if it's another witch?"

"The magical energy pattern matches the one from yesterday." Undyne reassures me. "It's definitely him." The gem in her hand glows all the more brightly, and we stop before a white door. She raises her arm and transforms, her red uniform on and her spear weapon in hand. She turns to me. "Last warning." She says. "No turning back after this."

"I-I'm sure!" I reply, trying to sound as sure as I want to. "I mean, I'm already kinda used to this already. But I'd always followed from behind, not being useful. So this time… please take me with you."

"Huh! You're a really weird punk!" She grins. "But I can respect that." Then she turns back forward and slices her spear through something I can't see, and an opening is presented to us. Then it grows bigger until it envelops us.

We're in a brick hallway. There's a lot of posters on the walls, advertising popular shows. It's obviously not the real world. We're in the labyrinth now. "Undyne?" I whisper tensely.

"Yeah?"

"Am I a coward for letting someone else do all the fighting for me while I don't do anything myself?"

"Well, why would you become a Magical Monster?"

"Why? Because…"

I stop when Undyne turns to me. "Don't take this lightly." She demands harshly. "Not just everyone can do this job! See, you already have good food and family every day. If someone had no problems with their life and became a Magical Monster just because they felt like it, I would never forgive them. I'd kick their ass before anything else!" I hesitate at her words. "Putting your life in danger should only be done by those who have no other choice. Anyone else? They're just brats doing it for fun. Basically, messing around."

"Is that… true?"

"Well, someday you may have to fight to put your life on the line, whether you want to or not. But only think about it when the time comes, okay punk?" I nod to her statement.

We're finally approaching the door at the end of the hall. We pensively push it open, and it creaks quietly. On the other side is what looks like an aquarium, except where the tanks are, they're replaced with footages of Papyrus' memories. My heart clenches just looking at them. We quietly pad through the hall, our footsteps tapping on the red floor beneath us. There's some scenes where he's fighting witches, and there's others where he's speaking with Undyne. I feel even worse just looking at them.

"Undyne." I start. "Why do you-" I'm interrupted when the doors slam shut behind us, and I whirl around in surprise. The room is dark, the aquarium footages gone.

"We've been noticed." Undyne warns me. "He's coming!" Suddenly, the hall is speeding past us, like we're sitting on a train. Consecutive walls, columns, and doorways pass us until we reach the end, where a bright burst of light bathes onto us.

The whole roof is covered in red plates of deformed spaghetti. Movie and acting stars surround us as they dance and sing, but their forms are bent and their colors are raw. I gasp as the witch takes form before me, looming above us. He wears wicked armor, a blue cape billowing out behind him like a fan. There's a huge fancy crown-like thing sitting upon his head, and they reach outwards like ears. He roars and sways as he waves his white sword at us. That's not Papyrus, it can't be… but it is.

"Do it like we planned!" Undyne yells. "Okay?!"

"R-right!" My legs are wobbly at the sight of so much chaos around me, but I start to call out to him. "Papyrus! It's me." I gulp at the sight of him. He looks so scary, but I know I have to stay brave for him. "It's me, Frisk! Can you hear me? Do you recognize my voice?" But he only raises his sword, red fumes swirling from it as wheels made of bone speed into the air.

Undyne immediately steps in front of my protectively. "Don't falter." She commands. "Keep talking!"

"Papyrus! Stop it!" I plead. "Please remember! This isn't something you'd want to do!"

Undyne flips and readies her spear, scowling. She creates a red barrier, and it surrounds me. The wheels navigate around the walls of the dome, and the room feels like it's spinning. The stars are still dancing. Then the wheels pop off the walls, speeding towards us.

"You wanted to be a hero, right Paps?" It's like I'm choking on my words. Nothing's happening. He's not reacting. "P-please! Go back to yourself!

Undyne's spear collides with the wheels, her dress flying. They ricochet off of her, and bounce off like basketballs. She blocks more of them, and they grind on her spear leaving flying sparks. "You can only be so difficult, punk!" She yells to the witch. The wheel finally deflects off, and a cloud of dust billows around us.

But he only raises his sword again, and this time, bones appear in the air. There are so many of them, I don't even have the time to count them all before they're flying down on us. I gasp at the sight of it, and they barrage Undyne like bullets. More clouds are stirred, and I can barely see anything in the mess of it all. The barrier in front of me disappears, and I wonder if she's alright.

"U-Undyne!" I call out worriedly.

The dust clears, and I see Undyne surrounded by scattered bones. She pushes a large wheel off of her, bent over and huffing. But she's managing a grin all the same, and she gives me a thumbs up. "I'm fine!" She insists. "This ain't nothing! Just keep calling out to Papyrus!"

She remakes the barrier, putting her spear out in front of her. I resume to calling, but the wheels above us are so daunting. "Stop it! Stop it! Papyrus, recognize us!" I scream at Papyrus to listen, but nothing happens. The stars still dance, oblivious to us. Wheels and bones strike Undyne relentlessly, and she can barely move quickly enough to avoid them. She's hurt, she's weak, and she can't last much longer. She looks like she's losing hope. This is going terribly.

Huge wheels suddenly strike her right into her own barrier, and she falls as it shatters to pieces. She's struggling to pick herself up. There's scratches all over her, and a stream of red is flowing down her cheek. I rush over to help her, but the witch extends his arm and I'm suddenly in the grasp of a huge metallic hand. It clenches so hard, and the feeling is so tight. I struggle, but it just makes the hand crush me harder. It feels like he's squeezing the life out of me. There are black spots on the edges of my vision. "Paps," I plead. "Please…"

Then, Undyne leaps upward, cutting off the arm entirely. It rips to shreds, splurting out blue liquid. Undyne looks dark and furious. "You said you could make people happy with this power!" She screams furiously, and the hope is suddenly leaving her all at once.

But he doesn't listen. He strikes downwards, sword hitting the floor. Rocks and pebbles bounce from the impact, and the floor is suddenly collapsing. We're floating down into a blue world of aquarium windows. All of us are falling; even the witch. I can't control my fall. From far away, I can see Undyne barely holding back tears. She's lost hope for all of this. We're doomed. The world spins us, and I suddenly feel someone holding onto me. He drifts to the ground and turns around to say something to Undyne, but I can't hear them. They all seem so far away.

He picks me back up, and then we leap away.

And then behind us, the world suddenly explodes in a huge burst of green light.