Chapter 28: Christmas?

Whilst Mettablook was on the surface, Napstablook dropped by to visit Shyren and her sister on the other side of the cave.

"Hey Napstablook," Shyren's sister spoke.

"hey."

"You're looking a little depressed, are you alright?"

"it does get a little lonely staying home by yourself. toughblook left yesterday and he said he wasn't coming back."

Shyren whispered something in her sister's ear.

"Oh, Shyren told me she's sorry to hear that."

"how's the piano lessons going?"

"She's improving."

"that's good. maybe once you completely master the piano we could have a concert with shyren, me and mettablook."

Shyren's sister smiled.

"Shyren said she'd like that."

Early the next day, Mettablook returned.

"hey mettablook, there you are. i haven't seen you all day," Napstablook said.

"Just looking around on the surface I mean. There was this cool band. Long story short the leader of the band gave me all the encouragement I could ever need."

"that's cool."

"I really think I could become big."

"you'll come visit every now and then won't you?"

"Of course, Blooky. I'd never forget you. When I become famous I'll think of you."

"maybe we might even be able to start a band together. i was talking with shyren the other day."

"You talked to her? I heard she doesn't talk with anyone."

"no, her sister interpreted to me everything she said. i think with time she'll finally come out of her shell."

Around winter, Papyrus had finished making dinner with Arial. After they finished, Sans headed to his room to do some light reading.

"SUZY, WHAT DO YOU USUALLY DO THIS TIME OF THE YEAR?"

"You mean for Christmas? My parents usually set up a tree and decorate it. We put presents underneath it and hand them to each other. My mother doesn't cook very well so usually someone else bakes the cookies. Then she sets it on a plate for Santa."

"I'M THINKING OF GETTING SOMETHING FOR SANS BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO GET HIM. I THOUGHT YOU MIGHT HAVE SOME IDEAS."

"I don't know. What does he like besides the obvious?" Suzy asked.

"WELL I ALWAYS SEE HIM WITH A BOOK BUT I GOT HIM A BOOK LAST YEAR."

"Maybe a book of puns. He tends to throw them out alot."

"NO I WAS THINKING OF SOMETHING MORE SENTIMENTAL."

"Then what about a picture? You can draw a picture for him."

"YES AND YOU CAN HELP ME."

Suzy nodded.

"Sure, we got to keep it a secret though."

The next afternoon, Sans took Skelesus over to Clam's house and knocked. Clam came to the door.

"Oh Sans it's you. Come in."

Sans followed him inside. He saw they already had a tree set up in the middle of the room.

"Fancy seeing you here. Did you need something?"

"I want a picture of us together for sentimental value."

"We did have some fun memories together."

"With many more to come."

"Haha, yeah."

The week before Christmas, Arial had a show at the theatre in Hotland and nearly left all babysitting responsibility to Aster.

Fortunately Aster had other plans and while it wasn't an intentional excuse like it usually was, it was still relieving all the same.

Sans had something to surprise Papyrus with and had took him to Grillbys. Unfortunately that left Suzy with Clam, Gabby, Stanley and Tommy.

"So Suzy how are you?" Clam asked.

"I'm fine."

"Suzy huh?"

"I used to have a neighbor named Suzy. She was a silly old hag. Always scolded us when we played tag near her house," Stanley said.

Suzy glared at him but was silent. Everyone must have been looking at him oddly because then he spoke.

"What? I thought it was funny."

"I don't think that was very funny," Tommy said.

Stanley rolled his eyes and snapped.

"No one asked you, Tommy."

"I'm bored. Why don't we play a game," Gabby supplied.

"I know. We could play with my dolls," Suzy said.

Tommy and Stanley stared at each other horrified.

"No I don't think that's necessary. Why don't we play Property Pillage or Battle Tanks?"

"Ah what's wrong with dolls?" Gabby asked.

"Look you two there's no reason to be scared of dolls," Clam said.

Suzy smiled.

"Then I'll go get them. I'll be right back."

She ran upstairs and returned with a small bin. She set it on the floor and opened it.

Suzy handed Gabby, Edge and handed Clam, Splinter.

Clam yelped horrified. The doll she had handed him had a sown head in it's hand.

"Oops, wrong one," she said swiping it away. "It's a bit yandere you see."

"You know this doll kinda looks like Sans," Gabby said. "Except he has a coat and had red eyes."

"Sans? I can see that," Stanley said.

Suzy handed Clam, Stretch instead. Suzy handed Stanley another toy.

"This is Blueberry," she said.

Finally she gave Tommy, Error.

"Ok so last time I played, Error kidnapped Blueberry and Stretch tried to hire Edge to rescue him."

"Tried?" Stanley asked.

"He isn't exactly a smooth operator."

"Good to know," Gabby said.

Stretch was brought to Edge.

"Edge, I won't accept no for an answer. I'm beggin' you please help me I'll do anything."

Gabby grinned.

"Anything?"

"Don't make a face like that. It's creepy," Clam said.

"You said it not me. Edge doesn't seem to be the type to waste an opportunity," Gabby said. "I think Stretch is gonna be Edge's little bitch."

"Now that just sounds weird," Stanley said. "At this rate this is going to turn into a 'slash' fest."

About an hour into it, Clam had managed to get Stretch to intiate a kiss on Edge much to Stanley's ire.

Sans had snuck in with his brother stumbling across them when they were playing.

"So what are you five doing?"

Sans saw the doll in Clam's hand.

"Is that supposed to be Papyrus?" He asked. "You got the clothes wrong. I don't think he had an orange jacket."

"Oh it's not supposed to be Papyrus," Clam said. "Suzy said his name is Stretch."

Stanley's eyes widened at this information before glancing at Papyrus.

"He sure does have similarities to your brother though."

"Those dolls, didn't you say they were based off people from alternate universes," Stanley said.

Suzy nodded.

"So your father had to know that they existed and what they looked like."

Suzy shrugged.

"He always says things like that though. I think he likes teasing me."

Gabby chuckled, ruffling Suzy's hair.

After work, Alphys heard music echoing through the walls of Aster's lab. It was coming from the living room. Alphys peered in and saw Arial playing a piano made of walnut wood. The melody she was playing was beautiful but at the same time melancholy almost like a forgotten promise.

"Oh my that sound beautiful," Alphys spoke before she could stop herself. Arial stopped playing and turned around her face flush and with a frown on her face.

"Oops, sorry it's just the music was so beautiful and..."

"It's alright, Alphys," Arial said. "I was just thinking about the first time I met Wing Ding. You know he was a good piano player. That's how we met. He would have been a brilliant musician but he preferred science.I was never good at it. Sans always talks about how I don't listen very good.I guess I'm stubborn."

"Well I wouldn't call it a bad thing. Sometimes monsters talk just to hear themselves speak. Ocassionally it might be good to have someone so outspoken to get them to listen."

"That's not a bad outlook on the world. It's rather smart."

"No you're much cooler. I mean you're not even afraid to speak your mind. You're so daring too. Not every monster would kiss another female monster on stage in male drag. Most monsters I know don't even have the courage to become an actor or an actress. Dressing up as a male monster takes alot of courage and confidence to really pull it off like you do and not everyone is comfortable with it."

In Waterfall, others had also been preparing for the upcoming holiday.

Napstablook had dropped by Shyren's house to invite her to have Christmas with him and his cousin.

"Oh Napstablook, good to see you. What are you doing here?" Shyren's sister asked.

She coughed.

"me and mettablook wanted to invite you two over for christmas."

"Really that's so sweet of you."

She coughed again.

"are you alright?"

"I'm so sorry. It's usually not this bad."

She swayed.

"Sis!"

Shyren's sister collapsed to the ground.

The next morning on Christmas, Suzy and the two skeletal brothers sat by the tree set up in the living room. Aster started handing out gifts from under the tree. Papyrus opened his present first. It was from Arial. It was a book called, 'Puzzle Solving."

"Suzy told me you loved to play with some puzzles so I got you this."

"THANK YOU, MOM."

Sans opened his present from Aster.

He was surprised at the shiny badge expecting another chemist set from his father.

"What's this?"

"I was saving it until Christmas. I received it when I was trying to repair the time machine. Someone told me to give it to you. They said it came from another world. I asked what it was called. Apparently it's the Franklin Badge. It's used to block lightning based attacks."

"Thanks dad."

Aster was next to open his gift from Sans. It was a picture of Sans with the other monsters working for him.

Just then there was a knock on the door.

"Who could that be?" Arial asked.

"I'll get it," Aster said.

Much to his surprise, Asgore was on the other side looking disheartened.

"Your majesty?"

"Wing Ding, can I speak with you privately?"

"Certainly."

He stepped outside shutting the door behind him.

"What is it, Asgore?"

"There's been a situation. More monsters have fallen down."

"What? I thought Sans used an antidote to stop the spread of that disease."

"Some monsters must have been infected and only started beginning to show signs of it."

"I see."

"Usually I'd leave the bodies with their families so that they could bury their dead but you always wanted to experiment on monster souls. If monsters could harness that determination we'll finally be able to be free. The royal guard will stop by with the bodies tomorrow."

"Wow, that's good news. Thank you, Asgore."

As Aster had been talking with Asgore, Arial opened her gift. Then it finally was back to Papyrus.

He had recieved a present from Sans addressed to him and Suzy.

Inside there were two photographs. Both were pictures of Sans with everyone who worked with them in the lab. After everyone else had finished opening their presents, Sans had opened a gift from Papyrus.

Inside was a drawing of two figures with a tall one in the background. The tallest one had a creepy face. It was obvious that Papyrus had drawn them with Aster.

"Where's mom?" Sans asked.

"OOPS, I FORGOT."

Arial laughed.

"Don't worry, Papyrus. It happens."