Leaving the stage and a very annoyed robot, I kept going. Looking out into the distance, I see a large structure. As I stop to take in the sight, my phone rings again. Answering it, Alphys told me how we wouldn't have to worry about Mettaton and that she'd try and protect me from here on out. Honestly, I was more than a little suspicious of her and Mettaton. The way he was "attacking" me was more harmless than anything? But I continued to play along, figuring the truth would be shown soon enough. After getting a questionable hot dog from Sans, I solved some puzzles, helped a lovely couple express their feelings for each other, and was up in an elevator pretty swiftly. Walking along the paths, I soon came to another spider bakesale. I remembered the one in the ruins; Toriel and I stopped and I got myself a doughnut, figuring it didn't hurt to support the spiders. After all, spiders were considered good luck in many cultures, and they did get rid of more unpleasant bugs up on the surface! Looking at the wares, I felt myself cringe. Why were these goods so poorly made? And so expensive? With a smile and a shrug, I continued towards the core. Solving another puzzle, I soon found myself in a room filled with cobwebs. Carefully avoiding the first couple, I soon found myself sticking to a large web.
"I heard humans are very stingy with their money!" the large spider girl from before appeared, surrounded my many other spider.
"Hey! Your goods were poorly made and overpriced! Besides, I already helped the spiders in the ruins! So no calling me stingy!" I barked at her, annoyed that I was trapped.
"Oh, sure, they all say that," the spider, Muffet, giggled.
With a wave of one of her hands, I was glowing violet. Cursing under my breath, I dodged the attacks thrown at me with limited movement. Sure, I probably could've just hacked my way out with my machete, but I was trying to be kind here, to make friends and not enemies! Just as I felt like I was on my last leg of energy, a spider with a note scurried up to Muffet.
"Oh? What's this? Oh! So you were telling the truth about the ruins… My dearest apologies," she smiled, waving her hand again.
I was back to normal.
"Yeah, well…yeah!" I huffed.
"Do come again!" she waved after me as I left.
Looking at the poster on the wall of the next room I couldn't help but let out a loud groan. I continued on though. The lights dimmed and a spotlight shined down on me, a second spotlight shined on the balcony above as well. Mettaton, wearing a blue dress, began to sing as he descended the stairs. As he sang, I readied myself for anything and everything. The second he said dungeon, I jumped, avoiding the trap door. Grabbing Mettaton into my arms, I began to speak as dramatically as I could.
"Mettaton, my love! Yes, the king wants my human soul, but that cannot mean our love will not live on!" I spoke, unzipping my jacket and flinging it open.
My undershirt clung tightly to me, and especially to my 36HH's. Mettaton began stammering.
"Wh-what are you doing!?" he demanded.
"What? Mettaton, am…am I too much /woman/ for you?" I gasped, feigning a half swoon, "If you cannot love me, then I must submit to the dungeon."
And with that, I jumped into the trap door. Landing, I looked ahead and saw the colored tile trap. Before Mettaton could even do any shpeal, I started sprinting through the trap, but soon found myself cornered and unsure of which direction to go. A very angry Mettaton hovered in front of me, flames soon surrounding me. Before I knew it, though the flames were gone and Alphys was calling me.
"I-I broke into the firewall for you! You should be safe now!" she told me.
"Oh, thanks," I smiled, though something told me I wasn't in any danger to begin with.
"You may have ran ahead, and the amazing Dr. Alphys may have destroyed my firewall, but I'm assuming you remembered that green tiles are supposed to summon a monster, yes?" he asked.
"Yep. I was kinda curious about that," I nodded as calmly as I could, trying to keep an uncaring look about myself.
"Well /I/ am that monster," he said dramatically.
"Cool story bro," I shrugged.
"Lyla, use your phone! J-just press the new button, the yellow one!" Alphys told me.
"Uh, okay" I shrugged again, doing what she suggested.
Yellow magical bullets shot out of my phone when I pressed the yellow button, making me stop for a moment before continuing to press it repeatedly.
"Oh no! You have defeated me! All thanks, once again, to the fabulous Dr. Alphys! We will meet again, etc. etc.!" Mettaton spoke in a way that I was positive there was something going on.
Putting my phone back to my ear, I encouraged Alphys, though I really didn't much want to. To my surprise, she started telling me how she saw herself as a failure of sorts. It hit home pretty hard.
"Don't worry, Alphys. You're not a failure. No one is. Just…just keep trying your hardest, and you'll succeed," I told her.
"Th-thank you, Lyla," she said before hanging up.
Entering the next area, I saw Sans standing outside what must've been MTT Resort. He invited me to eat, which I obliged, zipping my jacket back up as we somehow ended up in the restaurant, at a table. Sans started talking, and I listened patiently, wondering if everything was okay. When he borderline threatened me, though, I knew there was something wrong. As he got up to leave, I stopped him.
"You know, they say that those that are the saddest try their hardest to make others laugh and smile. I think it's because they don't want anyone else ever feeling the way they do…" I told him, looking down briefly before looking up again, "I also heard that coral dies when it gets stressed."
"Wh-what does coral get stressed about?" Sans asked, surprised by the strange change of subject.
"Current events," I said with a light smile and a shrug.
We both shared a solemn laugh before Sans finally left. Getting up from the table, I found my way out and in the lobby of what could only be the MTT Resort, judging by the very impractical fountain of Mettaton.
As I left the resort, I finally got the idea to use my headphones, which had a built-in mic, to take the constant calls I got from Alphys without having to stop. After a few, well, more than a few miscalculations on Alphys' part, she hung up, leaving me in silence as I interacted with the monsters. Taking advantage of the silence, I turned on my music, dancing my way through the monsters until I finally made it to a switch. Flipping it, I danced back to the blockade and followed the paths. Finally I came to an elevator, though it still didn't go to the castle. My only option left was the rather interestingly decorated doorway. Entering, there was Mettaton, who began to tell me how everything Alphys told me was a lie. Lowering my headphones to around my neck, I swiftly interrupted his speech.
"I know," I said, crossing my arms.
"Wait, you knew?"
"I'm not stupid, Mettaton. I'm guessing these bullets don't exactly work on you either," I said, holding up my phone, "But I know what it's like to be a failure. It led to a lot of my life mistakes. From joining the Air Force instead of going to college to study theater to…well, I've made a lot of mistakes. I don't regret one of them though, since it helped me grow into the person I am today. Alphys just hasn't figured that out yet. I'll help her, though, until she does."
"Hey, who locked this door?" I overheard Alphys' voice.
"It's okay, Doll. We're in here. I'm safe," I called back.
Suddenly my phone rang. Answering, it was Alphys. She proceeded to tell me about Mettaton's secret switch. If this was part of another one of her tricks, I couldn't be sure, but I'd keep going no matter what. Convincing Mettaton there was a mirror behind him was suspiciously easy. Flipping the switch, there was a flair of smoke, obscuring my view.
"Oh, yes. If you wanted to see my new form, you just had to ask, Darling. I suppose as a reward, though, I will make your last moments absolutely fabulous," a voice said.
It sounded like Mettaton, but only in the way there was a computerized undertone? Otherwise it sounded more…deep and sultry. What did I just do…?
Once the smoke cleared, there stood what I could only presume was Mettaton, who…wow. Just wow. I could feel my face heat up as I blushed uncontrollably.
"What is it, Lyla? Am I too much /MAN/ for you?" he chuckled, "That okay, we'll make this my best show yet!"
Snapping out of it, I smirked, "So you want a show, huh? Fine! But what series finale will it be without a musical number?"
"I'm listening," Mettaton smirked back.
Unplugging my phone from the headphones, I flipped to the appropriate song and tossed it to him.
"That look good?" I asked as he caught it.
Glancing, I saw his smirk widen as he simply nodded, plugging my phone into an AUX jack on him. The music began playing through the speaker on his chest. I slipped off my boots, putting them to the side.
Centuries by Fall Out Boy began to play. It was the karaoke version, so the best singer would win.
Some legends are told
Some turn to dust or to gold
But you will remember me
Remember me for centuries
And just one mistake
Is all it will take
We'll go down in history
Remember me for centuries
I strutted towards Mettaton, hips swaying to the music. I discarded my jacket, throwing it safely to the side.
(Hey yeah, oh hey, hey yeah)
Remember me for centuries
Mettaton and I both struck a pose for a moment before I continued to sing alone.
Mummified my teenage dreams
No, it's nothing wrong with me
The kids are all wrong
The stories are off
Heavy metal broke my heart
Circling each other, we both sang, shooting glares at each other. We got closer and closer until we were right on top of each other. He grabbed my leg and brought it up to his hip. Damn he was tall. I was 6 feet tall, so he had to be at least 7.
Come on, come on and let me in
The bruises on your thighs like my fingerprints
And this is for tonight
I thought that you would feel
I never meant for you to fix yourself
I briefly caressed Mettaton's cheek before shoving him away.
Some legends are told
Some turn to dust or to gold
But you will remember me
Remember me for centuries
And just one mistake
Is all it will take
We'll go down in history
Remember me for centuries
(Hey yeah, oh hey, hey yeah)
Remember me for centuries
This time Mettaton sang alone, taking my hand and spinning me, catching me.
And I can't stop 'til the whole world knows my name
'Cause I was only born inside my dreams
Until you die for me, as long as there is a light
My shadow's over you 'cause I am the opposite of amnesia
And you're a cherry blossom
You're about to bloom
You look so pretty, but you're gone so soon
I left his hands and we began to circle each other again, singing in perfect unison.
Some legends are told
Some turn to dust or to gold
But you will remember me
Remember me for centuries
And just one mistake
Is all it will take
We'll go down in history
Remember me for centuries
(Hey yeah, oh hey, hey yeah)
Remember me for centuries
Singing like my life depended on it, which it did, I decided it was time to break out my best moves.
We've been here forever
And here's the frozen proof
I could scream forever
We are the poisoned youth
Going full footloose on him, I continued to sing as I used the entire area, running, dancing, everything I knew, including my gymnastics training from when I was as young as Frisk.
Some legends are told
Some turn to dust or to gold
But you will remember me
Remember me for centuries
And just one mistake
Is all it will take
We'll go down in history
Remember me for centuries
(Hey yeah, oh hey, hey yeah)
Mettaton grabbed me, taking me in his arms and dipping me.
We'll go down in history (hey yeah)
Remember me for centuries
With the last line, he leaned in, pressing his lips against mine. Pulling away, he smirked that stupid cocky smirk.
"Wh-what was that for?" I stammered, completely caught off guard for once.
"Every duet as good as that should end in a kiss, yes?" he chuckled.
"N-no! Well…no! Uh, j-just let me go," I failed to find my words.
Doing as I demanded, he let me go, bowing gracefully.
"I've never met a star that shined as brightly as me," he said, which I think was a compliment, even though he also complimented himself?
"Thanks?"
"And what's best, my ratings are better than ever! Let's take some callers before I leave for the surface," Mettaton grinned.
Rolling my eyes, I took my phone back from him as a phonecall was answered from the speaker on his chest.
"Oh….Um, you answered. Oh…"
"Hey! It's Napstablook!" I laughed, walking over to put my boots back on and grab my jacket, "How you doin' bro? Sorry I haven't been able to jam with you lately."
"Oh…hey Lyla…it's fine…Um, Mettaton…It's been great to watch you," Napstablook's shy voice came through the speakers.
"I'll miss watching you….since this is the last episode and all…" he continued.
"Bl-Blooky…" Mettaton said quietly, "…He hung up…"
More calls began answering. One after another, monsters called in to gush about how much they'd miss Mettaton. I could see the conflict in his eyes.
"Hey, Mettaton…despite what everyone thinks I'm trying to do, I'm actually not here to go home. Actually, when I first got here, my intention was to stop the breaking of the barrier. I thought this place would be good to raise my brother Frisk in, compared to the world above. But I've made friends and I've talked to many monsters. I changed my mind, Mettaton…I'm going to break the barrier."