Undyne was true to her word, and was at her wife's side the moment she woke up. She was holding Alphys's hand between her own when it twitched and gripped tightly onto hers. She looked up and saw Alphys stirring; she was frowning, her free hand going to her chest, before her eyes slowly opened. They moved to Undyne, their colour glazed, and Undyne from that she knew that the doctor had been true to her word, too, and that Alphys wasn't in pain, thanks to the medicine.
"Hi," Undyne whispered to her. "Basket's here, sleeping." Alphys followed her hand, her eyes falling on the bassinet, before they closed for a moment, biting down on her lip and murmuring a small sound of relief.
"Alphy," Undyne murmured, leaning closer. Her eye filled, and she pressed her forehead to Alphys's. Alphys closed her eyes again, a small smile on her lips, now. "I'm so sorry, Alphy," Undyne blurted out, her voice choked.
"N-no," Alphys whispered, reaching up and placing a shaking hand on her cheek. "S-safe... both of y-you... s-safe... I'm h-happy..."
"Alphy..." Undyne pulled her close and sobbed, and Alphys held her close, careful of her injuries but still wanting to hold her wife as close as possible anyway. She couldn't help it, either: she cried, too, softly, relieved that Undyne and their daughter were safe.
When she could, Alphys said, "Th-they did it b-because they c-could."
Undyne pulled away slowly, holding Alphys by her shoulders. Alphys's eyes were a little dull, but her tone was serious. "What?" she asked her.
"That's what they told me, what they said. Th-they shot me to-to d-die. I asked w-why, and that's the reason th-they gave me."
"Because they could," Undyne echoed, her teeth clenched. "Because they could?!" she snarled. "They attacked you, left you to die, terrified our daughter, because they fucking could?!" she was sobbing by the end, from rage, now, and Alphys pulled her back, closing her eyes and stroking Undyne's hair gently.
"I-I think I've figured out why for r-real," Alphys said softly. Undyne nodded against her shoulder, struggling to stop her tears, so Alphys went on. "I-I got involved, Undyne. Wh-when I stopped th-those monsters at the school."
"Then they are working together," Undyne murmured, her voice thick. "Dammit! I really, really didn't want it to be that!"
"Frisk, Undyne. She-she needs to know..." Alphys winced, and Undyne pulled away and pulled her cellphone out, hurriedly texting her the news in case she was in a meeting.
Frisk was actually on a break at this point, ruminating over what had gone down in the meeting, when she got Undyne's text: "Alphys was shot because she stopped the monsters at the school and because she was an easy target. Human and monster lobbyists are working together. Tell them, Frisk! Tell them!"
She felt cold all over at this news. It was good to confirm why it happened - in Alphys's case, anyway - but it still didn't explain why they - the monsters at the school and the humans who shot Alphys - were working together at all. There had to be some way to find out how, or why, but-
Her hand slapped to her forehead and she forgot everything, all of her plans, all of her demands of the council, all of it, in favour of this one thought that she knew had to be the answer. Of course she knew, and the humans' reasoning should have made it obvious - especially for Frisk. She immediately sent a text message, but not to Undyne.
"We need to meet, and now. No more hiding. Your problem is with me, and always has been. Well, now's your chance to deal with that problem face-to-face." She sent a time and place, then got to her feet, not even bothering to look at the reply - because she knew it would be accepted.
"Papi!"
Asriel only had this warning before Nicky attacked his legs, holding on tight despite the mud caked on his pants. He stumbled, then grinned and dropped his shovel to scoop her up into his arms. "Howdy!" he said cheerfully, hugging her close.
"Papi, Papi, have you met my friends?" Nicky wondered, squirming out of his arms and standing next to Jilly - a small, dark-haired and dark-eyed human with an easy, kind smile - and Rayoss - a raccoon-type monster with a mischievous smile. Asriel grinned at both of them and waved, and they shyly waved back.
"Are-are you really Asriel... the scary plant-monster?" Jilly wondered, her eyes now wide on her small face.
Asriel side. "No, I'm just Asriel, my dad's helper. You know my dad, Asgore. I'm just a younger version."
"Papi, you are not!" Nicky laughed, just as Rayoss was about to relax. "You're much more scary when you get mad!"
Ah, Asriel thought, swallowing a chuckle. That was what this visit was about. He decided to play along. "Well, only when no one respects my rules," he said, lowering his voice. "Then, yeah, I get cranky... just a little."
Nicky giggled, but both Jilly and Rayoss exchanged a look, before Rayoss's nose twitched and he smiled. "Rules like what?" he asked.
"Staying off my grass," Asriel replied, before pausing, his eyes narrowing at them. "Wait a second..." He picked up his shovel and held it before him. "You're on my grass!"
"Uh-!" Jilly cried, but he was already starting towards them. In a flash, all three ran screaming away, Nicky the only one that sounded gleeful and not scared.
Asriel laughed, so hard he had to sit down. He'd forgotten how much fun it was to play the foil to Asgore's calm, blase self. He'd forgotten a great deal, really. And while he'd never trade his years at home with Nicky for anything, he was glad to be working again.
His phone buzzed, and he answered it right away, worried it was Undyne. Instead, it was Frisk, but no less worrying.
"Going to end this once and for all." She gave him an address and time. "In case I fail. Protect Nicky while I'm gone. I love you. See you soon."
He stared at the message, his eyes wide, before he took off running across the lawn, his eyes burning. He didn't trust this, and he wasn't going to let her do it alone.
But then, quite suddenly, Asriel stopped.
"Protect Nicky while I'm gone."
He bared his teeth and tugged at his hair in frustration, then clenched his fists at his sides, the shovel dropping from his hand. He couldn't leave his daughter, not when so many things could easily go wrong, still. But if he didn't follow Frisk, if he didn't give her the support and the cover she needed...
One name popped into his head. With it in mind, he turned back to the school and ran, hoping it - and that name - would be enough to protest Frisk, while he protected their daughter.
sans's left eye twitched, and he held his hand up to it, wincing. He looked away from the expectant students waiting for him to either tell a joke or embarrass their teacher, but instead, he looked up at Papyrus and said, "have to go, bro."
Papyrus unfortunately knew that look, knew that it meant, and hesitantly nodded. "BE CAREFUL," he said, placing a hand on his brother's shoulder. sans nodded, then turned and actually ran out of the back door of the gym. When it was swung closed, then open again from the momentum, he was already gone.
It was a beautiful lake during this time of year, a nice place to meet for a pleasant conversation. Frisk stood at the boardwalk over the water, watching the ducks bob up and down for food below the surface.
When she heard footsteps behind her, she didn't turn around. Instead, all she said was, "Hello, Carlson."
There was a snort. Then, "Hello, monster."