Alphys' Labo (Surface) :
If she were to be completely honest, Dr. Alphys, former royal scientist of the Underground, now a scientist in her own profit - also a doctor, engineer and an anime geek, had imagined her evening differently. In her lost residence on Mount Ebott, down to the basement of her laboratory - much smaller than that of the Hotlands, but just as efficient - Alphys had remained with her nose sticked to the screen of her computer for hours, organizing interesting new data on Amalgamates.
Towards the evening, her portable radio bearing the image of Mettaton had broadcast Frisk's speech, making Alphys stop and momentarily put aside her research to listen to it. The yellow lizard was captivated by what he said, and amazed at the courage shown by her human friend who carried their future.
In his shoes, she would have been petrified.
If only I had this much confidence to express myself. Things would be simpler, Alphys envied, before returning to her own business once the speech was over.
The future of certain monsters depended on her next discoveries, and the constant work she provided was necessary to allow them to return to ordinary lives. Recently, she had had a major breakthrough in her research, and Alphys was more than motivated to put in the extra effort to be sure of her theory. Hence her recent work overload in recent days.
But this evening, she could exceptionally take a little break.
Dressed in her favorite black polka dot evening dress - the same one she had worn on her first date with Undyne - instead of her usual white blouse, Alphys waited for Sans to return from his evening walk so they could leave together to Toriel's house. . They had thrown a small party for Frisk and, important or not, her work could wait a while.
She wouldn't have missed this no matter what! But, in the meantime, the scientist moved forward as much as possible until it was time to leave.
I wonder what Undyne will think of it, Alphys hoped, imagining her beloved's reaction. Will she love it? Oh, I hope so. It's been so long since we've been able to have a real date since the one at the beach...
The scales on her face turned red at the memory, and she grabbed them with a very enthusiastic "Eeek". While she was playing on her console, sitting on the wall alongside the former captain of the Royal Guard, Undyne had approached furtively, taking advantage of her distraction, then she had kissed her... on the cheek. Of course, Alphys fainted from happiness, while Undyne laughed as she demolished part of the structure by banging her fist on it.
Or there was that one time at the cinema, watching with Undyne... this thrilling romantic film about this human woman working in a laboratory, who meets a mysterious aquatic creature and...
"It-It's really hot around here, all of a sudden! I could use a glass of water." Alphys decided as she went back upstairs, the inside of her body hotter than the lava of the CORE as the scientist fanned herself with a stubby paw.
Unable to shake the comically happy expression on her, Alphys went to the kitchen to get what she needed, when a knock on the door made her stop in the middle.
Huh ? Would Sans be back already? The scientist wondered before shhe reached the door. Strange that he knocks, I gave him a spare key... not that he really needs one, though.
"Gosh, Sans. I'm coming," Alphys warned as the drumming didn't stop, almost making her run to open the door. It wasn't the skeleton's style to try so hard. What was wrong with him all of a sudden?
But instead of Sans, as she unlocked the entrance, another voice answered: "Alphys, it's Undyne! Open quickly, the others are with me!"
"Hu-Huh?! Undyne?"
When the scientist opened it, it was indeed the blue mermaid with fiery hair who emerged, lit by the last rays of the sun. With her mouth wide open, Alphys wanted to say something at this unexpected arrival, when Udyne vigorously grabbed her shoulders and stared straight into her eyes, her gaze passionate and burning.
Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh! "U-Undyne? What is-"
"We were worried that you weren't answering the phone! It's good that you're still here: sorry to rush you, but you have to help Frisk!" chained her beloved, without giving to Alphys time to assimilate everything, the fish monster took her to the princess's port outside.
Alphys didn't understand everything, repeating a series of "What?" uninterrupted as Undyne jogged them towards Papyrus' car, parked in front of the building. She thought her nose was going to blooded at any moment, held tightly against Undyne's muscular body, and wondered if she was currently dreaming, until she saw Papyrus and Asgore waiting for them. The first, visibly very worried, turned towards the two of them, and the goat Boss Monster strangely bent stood up.
He was holding something in his arms, and Alphys wondered what it was.
"Alphys, I'm relieved to see you!" exclaimed her sovereign who came up to her, presenting what he was wearing, and the scientist gave a frightened exclamation when recognizing Frisk. "Should we go back so you can examine it? Frisk... He's been like this since we left the embassy."
Asgore seemed close to breaking down at any moment, Alphys noticed. She didn't understand everything, but the lizard didn't demand any explanation. The most important thing was what happened now, and what happened to Frisk.
Focusing on her young human friend, who remained unconscious, Alphys checked breathing, temperature, and felt the pulse on her palm for an initial check. She vaguely heard Papyrus from behind, wondering where his big brother had gone.
"Sans went for a walk in the mountains. He will be back soon, Papyrus" the scientist informed him, before ordering Asgore: "Let's all go inside. I'll take him to my lab to proceed. Please, help me to take Frisk there."
After the trio finally arrived safely, and Alphys had taken Frisk to her laboratory where she had the necessary equipment, everyone went to the living room.
Asgore had sat down on the sofa, putting aside his cape and golden shoulder pads to remain only in costume: he seemed drained of all energy, and his face was gloomy. Papyrus and Undyne were no better; the skeleton was annoyed that his brother had not yet reappeared and his refusal to pick up, while the soldier stared at the ground with a terrible look, and this expression had not left him since their departure from the human city. None of them could relax, despite Alphys telling them to rest after seeing their faces.
"By the Angel, what is happening to us and Frisk?" the King of the Underground lamented, unable to know what else he could do but stand there, waiting. He groaned, hiding his face in his hands: "If something happened to him... What should I do? I can't imagine how Tori will react when she arrives. And my poor Asriel..."
"It's not your fault, Asgore!" Undyne suddenly spat, unable to take it anymore as her sovereign collapsed. "It's that of that filthy senator, I'll bet my own hand!"
"UNDYNE! YOU CANNOT ACCUSE SOMEONE WITHOUT PROOF!" Papyrus intervened, daring to contradict her when he almost never did, but the skeleton found it necessary to calm her down.
In vain: his warning fell on deaf ears. When she was convinced of something, and no matter what her friends told her, it was difficult to change Undyne's mind.
"Bah! No need for evidence! There's no one more suspicious than him: he clearly has a grudge against the punk and us, and you saw too how he was looking at Frisk throughout the speech ! Then, he comes to talk to Asgore, and Frisk ends up in a sort of coma after being trapped in this room? Don't you think it's too big for just a coincidence ?"
"W-WELL, SURE IT'S WEIRD, BUT STILL..."
He could not argue further; the sound of a car was heard outside, then the squealing of tires on small stones, putting an end to their argument. When he heard the doors open and close, then the handle being turned, Asgore felt a shiver of apprehension that shook him.
A small paw appeared from the gap, and Asriel arrived in the entrance. He looked with concern at the adults who were present, looking for his brother. "Frisk?" he called, unable to see him, and the young monster entered the house.
Toriel arrived next, placing a hand on her child's shoulder and frantically looking for her other son. Her worried eyes observed each face in front of her, then her gaze landed on her ex-husband who had stood up and gave him a worried - and a little frightened - expression when she rushed furiously towards him.
"Asgore! Tell me what happened! Immediately!", she exploded, further frightening the goat king who backed away.
"T... Tori, please, calm down -"
The former queen was at her wits' end; all the way, with Asriel in the front and worried about Frisk, she had made sure to contain herself as best she could. Now that Toriel was here, there was nothing to stop her emotions from bursting out against her main target: Asgore.
"DON'T Tori with me, Dreemurr!" she snapped at him, pointing an accusing finger, making Asgore tremble. "You promised me that you would watch over Frisk, with your honor, and that you would make sure nothing happened to him. It was the only condition, the only thing, that I expected of you!"
"Toriel, listen-"
"And there you are calling me this evening, telling me that my child found himself locked away by some trick of magic..."
"Toriel, please…"
"You find him unconscious, Frisk doesn't wake up and you DARE tell me to calm down?! If we were alone, I would have..."
"TORIEL!" Asgore exclaimed, raising his voice for the first time, shutting up the raging mother.
Everyone who stood aside, Undyne, Papyrus, and Asriel, watched the two Boss Monsters face each other. Asriel in particular, comforted by the large skeleton who held him close, gazed sadly at his parents in the center of the room; his mother, whose furious expression did not hide the tears that were flowing freely, and his father, who was more withdrawn than ever and took a deep breath.
"Toriel," he repeated more softly, almost pleading. "You can be angry against me – I am too – but this is neither the place nor the time for us to argue. This won't help Frisk; He needs, more than anything, that we keep calm. I promise you that we can talk later... alone," he clarified, glancing at their son, before returning to Toriel who was beginning to compose herself. "There are other things I need to let you know. However, Frisk remains our priority."
"You... You're right. I lost my temper," she admitted reluctantly, feeling ashamed of having lost her temper, and tried to calm her anger and get back to what was more important. "I'm sorry. But...where is Frisk right now?"
"Alphys is taking care of him," Undyne informed him, stepping in cautiously as she felt the atmosphere heavy with tension. "Right now they are in the basement; she tries to understand why Frisk didn't wake up. We'll find out what's wrong with him in no time."
Toriel nodded slowly, suddenly exhausted after all that; seeing her weaken, Asgore timidly invited her to take a place on the sofa. He was happy that his ex-wife accepted the offer, and sat silently on the soft cushions.
A little hesitant, Asriel moved away from Papyrus and went to join her, taking a place right next to his mother and resting his head on her shoulder, wanting to comfort her and needing that too. He felt her move closer to him, and place a loving kiss on his forehead.
"Oh, my Asriel. I'm sorry for getting angry in front of you," she apologized, rubbing his back. "We'll wait until Alphys comes back to find out what's happening to Frisk, then we'll go check on him, okay? Everything will be alright."
"Hmhm..."
A heavy weight collapsed on the other side; Asgore had settled next to him, offering a slight smile to his son.
"Frisk is a determined child: your mother is right, Asriel. There is nothing to fear for him. I promise you."
Surrounded by his parents and soothed by their warmth, Asriel unfolded the drawing he had wanted to give to Frisk. He hoped that this last would wake up quickly to see him.
"Let's see... His vital signs are normal. The heartbeat is stable and the brain activity is normal... You would think he was just asleep." Alphys wondered, observing Frisk lying on a furnished bed, connected to various human hospital equipments that the scientist had obtained... more or less legally, and more others stuff.
On her tablet, she pushed up her glasses and rubbed her neck, checking the data on the screen. A human being's body, as well as its functioning, was fundamentally their own physical state. Logically, monsters were only beings composed of pure magic, and men of physical matter. This was why they were generally more powerful than their people, with the exception of Boss Monsters who barely surpassed their physical strength.
What made the difference, however... was the amount of DETERMINATION flowing through them. Using a high-efficiency sensor of her own making, Alphys was currently looking at the graph that quantified Frisk's.
It was out of the norm. Beyond what an ordinary human being could produce.
For a moment, the former royal scientist had observed that of the six human Souls. They possessed phenomenal levels, even after the death of their host.
But Frisk's goes far superior them all. Alphys swallowed at this frightening result, sweating profusely. A fraction of that would be enough to reduce the entire population of the Underground to shapeless Amalgamates.
If she didn't know Frisk, Alphys would be terrified. Instead, she was fascinated. Almost as much as examining the structure of young Prince Asriel, a few days after his resurrection to check the stability of his restored body.
Maybe after all that, she should talk to Asgore and Toriel about this specificity in their little protege.
"I don't know if Frisk's Soul has always been like this before, b-but imagining that the Barrier would still hold us captive, he would have no trouble crossing it," Alphys realized, before returning to her results. "Strange, though... his Soul seems to lose liveliness at times. W-With notably weaker energy waves."
She was referring to these curves which traced a sudden point of fall in places, before straightening out. From what Alphys knew about Souls, this was not normal. She sighed, wishing Sans were there so the skeleton could give his opinion. But since he obviously hadn't come home yet, she would have to deal with it.
Having no other choice, the scientist raised a clawed paw towards Frisk's chest, which rose and fell to the peaceful rhythm of his breathing. There was a slight thrill from the kid, like discomfort; then, slowly, Frisk's red Soul, as if attracted by its call, rose above the child's body. It floated, carried by an invisible force, before stopping a foot away from him and pulsing in the air.
Alphys approached and examined it carefully from all angles. It was exactly the same as she remembered and shiny... but suddenly, looking more carefully towards the edge, the geek lizard gasped when she saw a small crack stand out from the smooth surface. It was on the side, barely the size of his claw, but that crack was also visible. Alphys approached, pushing up her round glasses to better see the irregularity. It was definitely abnormal and concerning. Alphys knew that a Soul only had this kind of crack... only close to destruction. The dying monsters in his laboratory, lying on the beds, exhibited this symptom.
N... Not jump to hasty conclusions! Alphys corrected herself, avoiding going to a diagnosis that horrified her and continued investigations. Apart from that... disturbing thing, the light of the Frisk's Soul seemed weaker there, less vivid and darkened, like a infected wound.
Was it...hurt?
"C... Could this be what keeps Frisk asleep?" Alphys wondered, gently approaching a hand towards the damaged area, still without touching it, and feeling the tingle on her scales flooded by the DETERMINATION that emanated from it.
When she was near, something in the Soul changed. Its beats, originally tempered, became louder and erratic as it reacted to this proximity. Intrigued, Alphys pulled back, seeing its color becoming brighter as well. So strong that the scientist had to close her eyes, blinded.
"Wh-What's going on?"
She was unable to see what happened next: a flash of condensed energy escaped from the Soul, and the lightning struck Alphys head-on. The monster let out a terrified scream, her HP greatly reduced by the impact. Alphys staggered and collapsed to the ground, unable to move and helpless in the face of this completely out of control situation. Completely unaware of what was happening, Alphys heard a panicked moan come from Frisk; the child seemed to be suffering and feverish, still unconscious but holding his chest and fidgeting. All the machines around him were panicking, beeping loudly.
Worse: the more Frisk struggled, the more the Soul went crazy, and Alphys understood with horror that she had made the situation worse. They were both in terrible danger!
"Oh no, Frisk!" she became alarmed, trying and failing to recover and get out, she and Frisk together, out of this death trap. No, no, no, what did I do?!