The laboratory door slammed shut behind Gaster as he exited. An ominous forest lay ahead of him. Glancing to the side, the young skeleton notices a bush. "?! hey, there's a camera in the bushes," Sans comments. A bit creeped out, Gaster walks away from the bush camera and down the forest path. "that's a tough looking branch, it's too heavy to pick up," Sans points out. Gaster continues forward a few steps before a loud snap is heard. "it's been smashed like it was nothing, what a sticky situation" the skeleghost puns. Gaster picks up the pace now, wanting out of this creepy forest. There's a shuffling sound behind them, as Gaster comes to a gated off bridge. The shuffling approaches closer and Gaster is slightly afraid of heights, and the bridge is across a huge gap. Soon the shuffling stops right behind him.
"Skeleton. Don't you know how to greet a new friend? Turn around and say hello…"
Gaster slowly turns to be met with a ghost with a top hat on. "Oh….hello. Sorry If I…uh…scared you or…anything…." The ghost tells Gaster. "I'm….Napstablook….I kinda…like float past here…..looking for skeletons…. But I could never….actually capture any…" Napstablook says, looking a little ashamed of himself. "Now…uh… my cousin…. Mettaton…. He would be able to…..uh….capture someone….. I have and idea….if you want to hear it…..just cross the bridge…..but you don't have to…." The ghost mumbles. Gaster wells up a bit more courage and walks across, with Napstablook close behind. "Hey….um…behind the….conveniently shaped stereo set….over there…." The ghost instructs, a little half-heartedly. Gaster obliges and hides behind the stereo.
"Oh….hey….Mettaton," Napstablook greets. "Hello Blooky! My, it's good to see you at your post for once! Don't worry, darling, I've already recalibrated all of our puzzles for when a skeleton comes by!" A tall robot with a pink scarf declares, making himself known. "Once I capture one, I'll get everything I've dreamed of, glitz, glamour, I'll be in the royal guard! People will ask for my autograph and I, the Fabulous Mettaton, will achieve the stardom I deserve!" Mettaton cheers. "Can't you see it, Blooky? I'll bathe in a shower of fan-mail every morning!" the robot is clearly enamored in what the future holds. "Oh… that's great… Mettaton…. Maybe the stereo set over here….could help you…." Napstablook points out. "Blooky, darling. I appreciate your attempt to help, but I don't see how a stereo could help me capture a skeleton," Mettaton replies. "well, i guess you could say he doesn't stand a ghost of a chance," Sans comments beside Gaster, who could practically hear the rimshot. "come on pal, i'm just trying to lift your spirits!" Sans puns again, and Gaster held back groaning. "Well, darling, I must return to my work. Stardom waits for no one!" Mettaton calls before making his exit.
"I guess…. You can come out…. If you want to… though he might…. come back…" Napstablook mumbles. "Though…. He's been… sad lately….can you…. Cheer him up?" the ghost asks. Gaster leaves his hiding spot and proceeds ahead. The trees surrounded the area as they progressed, and eventually came across the ghost cousins again. "Blooky, is that a skeleton?" Mettaton whispers. "Actually…. I think….. It's a frozen stick….." Napstablook points out, Gaster turns his head to see said stick behind him. Mettaton's expression drops a bit. "Hey Mettaton…. What's that…. In front of… the stick…?" Blooky asks. Mettaton lights up again. "Is that a skeleton?" he asks. "yes" Napstablook replies. "Oh my stars!" the robot exclaims suddenly. "Skeleton, you will not pass this area! I, the Fabulous Mettaton, will stop you! Then, I will capture you! You will be taken to the capital! And then…! Well, I'm not sure what happens after that….but still! Continue at your own risk!" Mettaton declares, laughing.
"Thanks….he looks happier….now…." Napstablook mutters, before proceeding ahead. "i think he looks a little better now, too," Sans points out, and Gaster can't help but smile. Eventually, they reach the first puzzle. "Ah hah! The skeleton arrives!" Mettaton calls. "In order to stop you, my cousin and I have created some puzzles! Your first puzzle lies ahead, the dreaded Electricity Maze!" the robot declares, pointing out the snow in front of them. "One wrong move and this orb will administer a hearty zap! Doesn't sound too fun, does it, darling?" Mettaton taunts. "Go ahead and proceed, if you can!" Gaster takes a step forward and there's a loud buzz. Mettaton's circuits look fried. "I think… the skeleton…. Has to um…. Hold that orb…." Napstablook points out. His robot cousin rolls his eyes and traverses the maze, leaving foot tracks in the snow on his way over. "Hold this, darling," Mettaton tells Gaster, putting the orb on his head and returning the way he came, making the foot tracks even deeper. Gaster follows them through. "Amazing, you smart owl you! But the next puzzle will not be as easy! It was created by my cousin Napstablook! It will definitely stump you!" Mettaton declared before exiting again. Turns out said puzzle was a mixtape CD.
"that's a snowpoff," Sans points out. Gaster was looking though all of them. "that's another snowpoff." "there's a third snow poff" "why are there so many snow poffs here anyway?" "snow poff. snow joke." "look at all of these snow poffs." "they're all snow poffs, okay? can we move on now?" Sans barks. Gaster pokes the last one on the path and some gold tumbles out. "well done, you found 30g in this… pile of snow," Sans comments. There was a cake frozen to the table somewhere along the way, and Mettaton told you he would bake another after he captured you. Gaster chuckles as the move on to a sliding ice puzzle, and Gaster fell off a couple times. There was a snow-Mettaton and a lump with the word Trash marked on it in the bottom of the pit. Eventually, the next puzzle was reached.
"You'll never pass this puzzle! It was designed by the brilliant Dr. Asriel!" Mettaton stated on the other side. "Now, there are some very important rules if you want to solve this puzzle. The red tiles are impassible and you cannot walk….." Mettaton goes on about the rules for a while, and Gaster's lazy companion has fallen asleep again, the snoring too loud to hear the explanation. Gaster swore the lazybones fell asleep to troll him. "Pink tiles don't do anything; walk on them all you want. And finally, the puzzle is randomly generated, so the solution is different every time! Are you ready? Because when I pull the switch, an entirely new puzzle never before seen will be generated!" Mettaton declares, pulling the switch. The tiles below flash random colors for a while before a row of pink lined by two red edges appear, making the easiest puzzle in the history of the realm of darkness. Mettaton gawks at it a moment before casually spinning out of the room. Napstablook gave a patient smile while Gaster exited.
Eventually, Gaster finally reached Moonlight Town, which had a huge welcoming sign at the entrance. The pleasant town filled Gaster with that burning feeling in his soul. The townsfolk greeted him happily. "If there's ever a problem around town, a robot will tell a human about it. Thaaat's politics!" someone pointed out. Gaster chuckled. "yeah, humans live in the realm of darkness, too. i heard there's a whole village of 'em somewhere in shadowfall," Sans explained. Gaster nodded along and followed through the town a while longer, until reaching the end, where a large snowstorm kicked up. Mettaton's silhouette appeared on the other end of the path.
"Darling….allow me to tell you of complex feelings. The feelings like, the joy of finding another who appreciates a good slice of cake, the admiration of another's puzzle solving skills, to have a star come to you and think of you as one as well. These feelings…. They must be what you are feeling right now. I pity you darling, to be so lonely like that, someone as fabulous as me wouldn't understand those feelings, because I truly have many friends. Though, you don't have any. Then, if that is the case, I, Mettaton will be your….no… no darling this is all wrong! You are a skeleton, and I am supposed to capture you! I must realize my dream! It's Showtime, darling, starring Mettaton! The newest member of the royal guard!" "mettaton blocks the way," Sans states. Gaster easily avoids the attacks and then flirts with Mettaton. "Wha, flirting? So, you finally show your ultimate feelings! So, I guess this means we have to go on a date…? We'll date later darling, after I capture you!" Mettaton declares. Gaster chooses to spare. "So you won't fight, darling? Alright then, prepare for my fabled yellow attack!" Mettaton declares, throwing an attack from above and turning Gaster's soul yellow. "You're yellow now, darling. That's my attack!"
And the rest of the fight continued. Mettaton is a bit flustered about the date but continues to fight with all he has, threatening to unleash his special attack. When the time comes, a Temmie is playing with a yellow gear. "Wh- you ignoramus cat-like thing! That is my fabulous special attack! Return it this instant!" Cries Mettaton. Temmie retreats with the gear. "Oh dear. Looks like I have to use a normal attack, then…" the robot groans, a little dejected. "Here's an absolutely mediocre attack," he huffs. The attacks fly across the screen, and even the words "Fabulous Legs" in gears. Soon, Mettaton's battery runs low, and both spare so the robot can recharge, and Gaster offers to be Mettaton's friend. "Alright then, darling. I'll see you later for that date," Mettaton exits with a wink. Gaster chuckles and follows after the robot.
"If we are going on a date, we'll have to do it somewhere I spend a lot of time…." Mettaton decides, leading Gaster across town and back. "My house! Come on in, darling!" Mettaton declares, walking inside. "Welcome, darling, to scenic my house! Enjoy your time here!" welcomes the robot. There's a photo of a Mettaton leg on the upper floor, which Mettaton calls a classic, a pet stick with edible sequins on its plate, because Blooky hasn't fed it in a while, a book on DJ's and Mixtapes, and an average kitchen with a Temmie that runs outside despite Mettaton's protests. "Oh…. Sorry I couldn't help…." Napstablook comments from his room. Gaster heads upstairs and Mettaton lets him into a vastly pink room with a bookshelf full of diaries, a box of gears, and a movie poster for a giant robot fight that Mettaton auditioned for but he got turned down for an actor who fit the role better. Metta watched the movie anyway and said it would have been better with him in it.
"So, let's start the date, darling!" Mettaton decided, pulling out a book. "Step one, ask them on a date!" He reads aloud, clearly new to the whole dating thing. "Darling, will you go on a date with me?" He asks, to which Gaster gladly accepts. "Step 2, activate the dating hub," Mettaton reads, and then it's activated. "My, my! I feel very informed! Now then, Step 3: Wear nice clothing to show you care!" He reads. "Wait a minute…. Wear clothing…? The black and white sweater you're wearing… you're wearing nice clothing right now! Is it that you have wanted to date me from the beginning?!" Gaster nods. "Oh my stars! You are so much better at dating than I am! Y-You're dating power!" Mettaton exclaims. "Well. Don't think you've won, yet! For I can wear nice clothes as well! In fact, I have the perfect outfit in my closet!" the robot declares
Mettaton retreats a moment and comes back looking completely different. "What do you think of my "NEO" style, darling?" taunts Mettaton. "It's great!" Gaster signs. "Oh my! A genuine compliment!" the shocked robot shouts. The dating power meter increases again. Mettaton pauses a moment before a smile crosses him. "Although it was nice, you're compliment is… invalid! For you see, there is a secret to this outfit. This won't progress any further unless you find it!" Mettaton barks confidently. Gaster points at Mettaton's new arm canon. "Oh, my canon…. Of course darling, gold star for you!" the robot holds his canon in the air and fires, dispensing a slice of cake from the inside, Mettaton balances it skillfully on his arm canon. "Now, this cake is special, darling. Only the finest ingredients mixed together by my, star baker Mettaton! This date will not escalate any further!" Gaster eats the cake. It's sour and salty all at the same time, causing his skull to produce screwed up expression. "My, such a look of passion! This must mean you like my baking, and, by extension… me!" realizes Mettaton. The dating meter ends up hitting him in the face with overpowering dating skill.
And then, Mettaton sighs and explains he doesn't feel the same way Gaster supposedly does. Gaster tells him it's okay and they remain friends, leaving Mettaton overjoyed. The two exchange phone numbers and Gaster waves goodbye. He leaves the ghost cousin's house and continues down the trail, since the snowstorm had let up. Less snow crunches under Gaster's feet as they approach the next area, the moon hanging overhead. Shadowfall lies ahead, and Gaster feels a burning in his soul.