p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"a name="_Hlk100694364"/astrong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"uspan style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"Chapter 5- "The Magic Thing"/span/u/em/strong/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"a name="_Hlk93511002"/aspan style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"When I woke, before I even opened my eyes, I knew I was back at the lab. Again. After losing someone irreplaceably important to me. emAgain./em /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk93511002;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"I searched for some scrap of comfort in the familiar hum of the fluorescents, or in the cold, clean tiles beneath me. I'd already weathered two rounds of mourning within these walls, but now, the lab seemed more like a cruel reminder than a refuge. There was no comfort, here./span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk93511002;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"My frostbitten bones ached deeply. But my HP had been restored, and my slushy clothes were nearly dry. Reluctantly, I blinked away the sleepy haze. I was huddled warmly in a cobwebby corner, guarded by Grillby, whose shoulder I was slumped against. He must have carried me through half the Underground to get here, ridiculously dangerous as such a journey would be. I was both touched and disappointed he hadn't left me along the way./span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk93511002;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"Following his line of sight, I noted the huddles of monsters scattered around the room. Mettaton was among the familiar faces, busy performing skits and dares to distract the frightened youngsters. Alphys darted between groups of refugees to offer blankets and cups of microwaved ramen, or tissue boxes. It was evident my brother hadn't been the only life lost, today. emEveryone/em was grief-stricken./span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk93511002;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"I felt nothing. There was no sorrow left, no empathy. I felt nothing, nothing but a festering, dark loathing. The human had taken everything from us. Everything from emme./em I wanted to give that brat a taste of their own cruelty. I wanted to make them answer for every crime they'd committed, every victim they'd killed. I wanted emvengeance/em./span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk93511002;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"Yet, as a nightmare scene surfaced, my growing rage faltered. If everyone had fled to Hotlands, that meant Undyne was dead. The realization shook me. It couldn't be true. No, she couldn't be gone. emperhaps undyne escaped. maybe the human let her go, /emI thought hopefully, foolishly. emstupid, /emI then scolded myself, frowning. emyou're such an idiot. /emShoving the harsh thoughts and dreams away, I sighed and sat up, earning Grillby's attention./span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk93511002;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';""mornin', grillbz," I murmured. My voice sounded incredibly hollow, even to me. His flames flared, conveying a wordless, patient greeting. Past his wireframe glasses, I could read the concern etched across his face. "i'm alright," I declared, answering the question he obviously wanted to ask./span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk93511002;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';""Truly?" Grillby pressed, worried. A morose smile tugged at my face./span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk93511002;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';""no," I confessed. "but i'll keep the act up, regardless."/span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk93511002;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"At this bleak response, Grillby's flames cooled to a distressed purple. He didn't speak, though, agitated as he looked. Most likely, he didn't know emwhat /emto say. Glancing down, I observed Papyrus's scarf was still tightly clenched in my fist. Without taking my eyes off it, I asked—/span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk93511002;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';""where's the human, now?" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk93511002;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';""Heading our way," Grillby replied tensely. "Alphys estimates an hour before they make it to the lab."/span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk93511002;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';""brat got past waterfall, then." There was a heavy pause. "undyne's dead?" I whispered, though it was more like a blunt statement than a question. Grillby hesitated, then nodded./span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk93511002;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';""Early this morning."/span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk93511002;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"Under any other circumstance, I would have grieved Undyne's death fiercely. To me, she wasn't just the bravest warrior in the Underground, or the beloved captain of the guard. No, after everything she'd done for Papyrus and me, I'd grown to think of her as a family member rather than a mere friend. Her death was an enormous loss. And yet, I couldn't so much as call up a tear./span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk93511002;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"Instead, my limbs went cold as I realized my predicament. With Undyne gone, there was no one left to defend us. I was now faced with a dark, dangerous decision. I might get everything I'd wished for, but at what cost? In some sad, hollow way, it made the choice easier, knowing that only two people in the world cared if I lived or died./span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk93511002;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"I felt Grillby lay a hand on my shoulder. My attempt to force a smile produced a mere grimace. Sensing his flames flare, I glanced up. He held my gaze, intent./span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk93511002;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';""We're going to be alright," he insisted softly, an aching empathy in his voice. "There is still hope." I shook my head, at a loss./span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk93511002;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';""'hope'? we're all alone down here, grillbz, doomed to dust. what emhope?/em" He watched me for a moment, thinking./span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk93511002;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';""We're still alive," he pointed out. "And you're not alone, Sans. I won't leave you on your own." I gazed back, quieted. emyou might not have a choice, /emI wanted to say. But I kept it to myself./span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk93511002;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';""Dad!"/span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"Grillby whirled towards the call. Turning my attention to the voice, I found Fuku hurrying towards us. The green fire monster cradled a trembling bunny child in each arm. My soul sank as I recognized the twins as Holly and Heather. They lived with their mom, three doors down from Papyrus and me. Yet, here they were, in emFuku's/em arms./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"Heather's wide, glazed eyes indicated she was in shock. Holly clutched the ends of Fuku's untied uniform's bow and sobbed into her blouse. I was suddenly grateful for my pointless trip to the lab. Evidently, it had given Alph a chance to issue evacuation orders. If the human had reached the school unannounced, it would have been a slaughter. Forcing down the quavering anxiety in her voice, Fuku tipped her head back the way she came./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';""The last group is assembling. We have to get ready," she informed, then suggestively prompted— "We'll be safe soon, won't we?" Grillby nodded, offering a smile to the two youngsters she carried./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';""We certainly will," he soothed, then looked back to his daughter. "Go on ahead. We'll join you soon." Fuku nodded, threw me a quick, compassionate smile, and dashed off. Grillby stood and motioned for me to follow./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';""what's she talking about?" I asked, hurrying after my friend. "where are we going?" But before Grillby could respond, I heard rushing footfalls and felt a hand grab my jacket./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';""Wait!" Alphys exclaimed. We both turned. She blushed, embarrassed. "I was j-just… well—" She glanced at me. "Can I t-talk to you?" I shrugged, nervous myself./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';""uh, sure." Meeting Grillby's curious gaze, I waved my hand dismissively. "ah, go on. i'll em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"ketchup/em." I didn't get any laughs. I wasn't expecting any. But my lame pun had evidently eased Grillby's concern. Observing my unalarmed expression, he nodded, then hesitantly continued along his way./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"Alphys scurried through the crowd into a side room. I followed, still dragging Pap's scarf with me. My meaningless smile fell into neutrality. I could guess what was coming. Alphys knew something was wrong with me. She'd seen it herself. Surely, she wanted answers. Upon entering the room, my old friend gestured for me to sit and shut the door. I numbly complied. When she turned, I promptly hid behind my smile once more./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';""There's n-not much time, so I'll get right to the point. The headache—you had… that energy s-storm, too—Can you do the… t-the magic thing…"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';""you want me to spark my magic eye ring," I finished flatly, filling in the gaps for her. Alphys bobbed her head. I sighed, struggling to stay nonchalant. "i'm fine, no em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"bones/em about it. it was just a migraine. there's nothing—"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';""No!" Alphys appeared as surprised at the outburst as I was, but forged on anyway. "No, Sans. I'm r-really worried about you. If I'm right, that w-wasn't just some headache. You might be r-really sick. P-please, you gotta let me help."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanBefore I could fabricate another excuse, it occurred to me that nothing mattered. We'd all be dead, soon. Alphys might as well know I was destabilizing, and I might as well find out why. Letting my head droop, I sighed. With one last hesitation, I quenched my eyelights, sparked my magic, and met Alphys' gaze. She caught her breath, alarmed./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';""T-There's only emone? /emThat's… that's—!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';""not normal?" I answered. "yeah. i know." She took a tentative step closer./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';""And, it's breaking. Sans, what happened?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';""i don't know," I whispered, staring emotionlessly ahead. Another hesitant step./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';""M-may I take a closer look?" Alphys asked timidly. I stopped gazing at the wall to glance at her, wondering if I should explain that everything was absolutely pointless. I decided to keep my mouth shut./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';""knock yourself out," I murmured./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanRummaging through the deep pockets of her lab coat, Alphys dug out an overengineered magnifying glass of sorts, and soon, I was the object of unbearably close examination. It was so emawkward. /emIf my magic hiccupped, it'd melt her glasses. If I wasn't so numb inside, I might have found it funny. After what felt like forever, Alphys shuffled back./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';""I've n-never seen anything like this b-before," she admitted, stressed. "I don't know a lot about s-skeletons, given how few there are left. I know eye glowing reflects your f-feelings and health. But from what I've read, the ems-source/em of the photons is… the soul," she finished, fidgeting anxiously./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"I considered this report calmly. /spanem style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"so, my soul might be breaking? /span/emspan style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"I gave the tiniest, most unemotional frown imaginable. Oddly, the news didn't alarm me. I didn't really care./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;""I'd take you t-to the lower levels to run some tests, b-but there's no time. Sans, if we survive this, /spanem style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"p-please/span/emspan style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"—" I cringed./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;""alph," I sighed, "i'm such a numbskull." Apparently, there was some empathy left in my soul, after all. I met her gaze, my own twisting sympathetically. "i heard about undyne." Alphys's head dropped, her eyes brimming with tears. "i'm so sorry. i know you two were really close."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;""I can't believe she's actually gone," Alphys whispered. "She really made me feel like I /spanem style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"belonged/span/emspan style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;" somewhere, you know?" I knew how deeply Alph meant what she said. She didn't seem to notice, but she didn't stutter once. "I almost told her the other day, that she's been the family I've never had. And that I owe her my very life—but I was scared of sounding lame and needy. I worried I'd weird her out and push her away. So I stayed quiet. And now…" The tears slipped free. "I don't know how I'll go on." She caught her breath, expression deeply shaken. "/spanem style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"Alone/span/emspan style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;". I d-don't wanna t-th-think about… what I'd d-d-do with myself…!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;""i know," I admitted softly, hollowed, as she buried her face in her hands. "me too." It was a woefully insufficient comfort, but I didn't know what else to say. We were both stuck in a nightmare worse than death. Words couldn't fix anything./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"Rubbing the tears away, Alphys turned back to me. But before she could speak, a/spanspan style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';" loud, screeching alarm cut her off. Her face paled. An image flashed through my mind, and I started laughing. It wasn't remotely funny, but I couldn't help myself. A grim, cheerless smile covered my face./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';""the human's here," I stated miserably through chuckles, overwhelmed. "they're here in hotlands, already. it's all completely pointless." After one more hopeless breath of a laugh, I shoved off the chair and started for the door, hands shaking. "we should send the refugees ahead," I suggested. "maybe we can get a few of the kids to safety." Alphys hurried after me./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';""We h-have to stick together! It's too easy to get lost in the Core, and there are only a f-few safe corridors left—" I whirled and gaped at her in horror./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';""the emcore?/em the other groups were sent into the halls of the core?!" I exclaimed. Alphys nodded, then shook her head./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';""W-well, not everyone. Some are hidden under the lab. B-but it's full down there, so I locked it down. I had the royal guards h-hide everyone else throughout the infrastructure of the Core. If we're spread out, there's a g-greater chance of survival," she offered./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"Another dream flashed before my sight. em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;""DETERMINATION. 7 LEFT." /emThe human could sense how many monsters were hiding in any given location. Those scattered in the Core were goners. The human would find them all. Shaking my head, I pushed through the door and hurried on. There was nothing we could do for them now./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';""no, alphys. we need to hide the remaining monsters in the castle."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';""The castle!?" Alphys squeaked, grabbing her backpack from her desk and racing to catch up. "Sans, it's too f-far. If the h-human catches up to us, w-we'll all be k-killed! We need to f-find shelter, fast!" For a few precious seconds, I stopped. Turning to Alphys, I held her gaze pleadingly./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';""alph, please," I beseeched. "i know it seems like an unnecessary risk. but i'm confident it's our best shot. you've had faith in my intuition before. we worked together for years. you listened to me then; i really need you to trust me now. please." Alphys hesitated, tail swishing nervously./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';""You're s-sure about this?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';""yeah. i'm sure." Alphys held my gaze thoughtfully. Then, she slowly nodded./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';""Alright. We'll make f-for the castle."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"a name="_Hlk93511002"/aspan style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"When I woke, before I even opened my eyes, I knew I was back at the lab. Again. After losing someone irreplaceably important to me. emAgain./em /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk93511002;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"I searched for some scrap of comfort in the familiar hum of the fluorescents, or in the cold, clean tiles beneath me. I'd already weathered two rounds of mourning within these walls, but now, the lab seemed more like a cruel reminder than a refuge. There was no comfort, here./span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk93511002;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"My frostbitten bones ached deeply. But my HP had been restored, and my slushy clothes were nearly dry. Reluctantly, I blinked away the sleepy haze. I was huddled warmly in a cobwebby corner, guarded by Grillby, whose shoulder I was slumped against. He must have carried me through half the Underground to get here, ridiculously dangerous as such a journey would be. I was both touched and disappointed he hadn't left me along the way./span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk93511002;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"Following his line of sight, I noted the huddles of monsters scattered around the room. Mettaton was among the familiar faces, busy performing skits and dares to distract the frightened youngsters. Alphys darted between groups of refugees to offer blankets and cups of microwaved ramen, or tissue boxes. It was evident my brother hadn't been the only life lost, today. emEveryone/em was grief-stricken./span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk93511002;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"I felt nothing. There was no sorrow left, no empathy. I felt nothing, nothing but a festering, dark loathing. The human had taken everything from us. Everything from emme./em I wanted to give that brat a taste of their own cruelty. I wanted to make them answer for every crime they'd committed, every victim they'd killed. I wanted emvengeance/em./span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk93511002;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"Yet, as a nightmare scene surfaced, my growing rage faltered. If everyone had fled to Hotlands, that meant Undyne was dead. The realization shook me. It couldn't be true. No, she couldn't be gone. emperhaps undyne escaped. maybe the human let her go, /emI thought hopefully, foolishly. emstupid, /emI then scolded myself, frowning. emyou're such an idiot. /emShoving the harsh thoughts and dreams away, I sighed and sat up, earning Grillby's attention./span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk93511002;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';""mornin', grillbz," I murmured. My voice sounded incredibly hollow, even to me. His flames flared, conveying a wordless, patient greeting. Past his wireframe glasses, I could read the concern etched across his face. "i'm alright," I declared, answering the question he obviously wanted to ask./span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk93511002;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';""Truly?" Grillby pressed, worried. A morose smile tugged at my face./span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk93511002;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';""no," I confessed. "but i'll keep the act up, regardless."/span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk93511002;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"At this bleak response, Grillby's flames cooled to a distressed purple. He didn't speak, though, agitated as he looked. Most likely, he didn't know emwhat /emto say. Glancing down, I observed Papyrus's scarf was still tightly clenched in my fist. Without taking my eyes off it, I asked—/span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk93511002;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';""where's the human, now?" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk93511002;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';""Heading our way," Grillby replied tensely. "Alphys estimates an hour before they make it to the lab."/span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk93511002;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';""brat got past waterfall, then." There was a heavy pause. "undyne's dead?" I whispered, though it was more like a blunt statement than a question. Grillby hesitated, then nodded./span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk93511002;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';""Early this morning."/span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk93511002;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"Under any other circumstance, I would have grieved Undyne's death fiercely. To me, she wasn't just the bravest warrior in the Underground, or the beloved captain of the guard. No, after everything she'd done for Papyrus and me, I'd grown to think of her as a family member rather than a mere friend. Her death was an enormous loss. And yet, I couldn't so much as call up a tear./span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk93511002;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"Instead, my limbs went cold as I realized my predicament. With Undyne gone, there was no one left to defend us. I was now faced with a dark, dangerous decision. I might get everything I'd wished for, but at what cost? In some sad, hollow way, it made the choice easier, knowing that only two people in the world cared if I lived or died./span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk93511002;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"I felt Grillby lay a hand on my shoulder. My attempt to force a smile produced a mere grimace. Sensing his flames flare, I glanced up. He held my gaze, intent./span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk93511002;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';""We're going to be alright," he insisted softly, an aching empathy in his voice. "There is still hope." I shook my head, at a loss./span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk93511002;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';""'hope'? we're all alone down here, grillbz, doomed to dust. what emhope?/em" He watched me for a moment, thinking./span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk93511002;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';""We're still alive," he pointed out. "And you're not alone, Sans. I won't leave you on your own." I gazed back, quieted. emyou might not have a choice, /emI wanted to say. But I kept it to myself./span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk93511002;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';""Dad!"/span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"Grillby whirled towards the call. Turning my attention to the voice, I found Fuku hurrying towards us. The green fire monster cradled a trembling bunny child in each arm. My soul sank as I recognized the twins as Holly and Heather. They lived with their mom, three doors down from Papyrus and me. Yet, here they were, in emFuku's/em arms./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"Heather's wide, glazed eyes indicated she was in shock. Holly clutched the ends of Fuku's untied uniform's bow and sobbed into her blouse. I was suddenly grateful for my pointless trip to the lab. Evidently, it had given Alph a chance to issue evacuation orders. If the human had reached the school unannounced, it would have been a slaughter. Forcing down the quavering anxiety in her voice, Fuku tipped her head back the way she came./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';""The last group is assembling. We have to get ready," she informed, then suggestively prompted— "We'll be safe soon, won't we?" Grillby nodded, offering a smile to the two youngsters she carried./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';""We certainly will," he soothed, then looked back to his daughter. "Go on ahead. We'll join you soon." Fuku nodded, threw me a quick, compassionate smile, and dashed off. Grillby stood and motioned for me to follow./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';""what's she talking about?" I asked, hurrying after my friend. "where are we going?" But before Grillby could respond, I heard rushing footfalls and felt a hand grab my jacket./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';""Wait!" Alphys exclaimed. We both turned. She blushed, embarrassed. "I was j-just… well—" She glanced at me. "Can I t-talk to you?" I shrugged, nervous myself./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';""uh, sure." Meeting Grillby's curious gaze, I waved my hand dismissively. "ah, go on. i'll em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"ketchup/em." I didn't get any laughs. I wasn't expecting any. But my lame pun had evidently eased Grillby's concern. Observing my unalarmed expression, he nodded, then hesitantly continued along his way./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"Alphys scurried through the crowd into a side room. I followed, still dragging Pap's scarf with me. My meaningless smile fell into neutrality. I could guess what was coming. Alphys knew something was wrong with me. She'd seen it herself. Surely, she wanted answers. Upon entering the room, my old friend gestured for me to sit and shut the door. I numbly complied. When she turned, I promptly hid behind my smile once more./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';""There's n-not much time, so I'll get right to the point. The headache—you had… that energy s-storm, too—Can you do the… t-the magic thing…"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';""you want me to spark my magic eye ring," I finished flatly, filling in the gaps for her. Alphys bobbed her head. I sighed, struggling to stay nonchalant. "i'm fine, no em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"bones/em about it. it was just a migraine. there's nothing—"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';""No!" Alphys appeared as surprised at the outburst as I was, but forged on anyway. "No, Sans. I'm r-really worried about you. If I'm right, that w-wasn't just some headache. You might be r-really sick. P-please, you gotta let me help."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanBefore I could fabricate another excuse, it occurred to me that nothing mattered. We'd all be dead, soon. Alphys might as well know I was destabilizing, and I might as well find out why. Letting my head droop, I sighed. With one last hesitation, I quenched my eyelights, sparked my magic, and met Alphys' gaze. She caught her breath, alarmed./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';""T-There's only emone? /emThat's… that's—!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';""not normal?" I answered. "yeah. i know." She took a tentative step closer./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';""And, it's breaking. Sans, what happened?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';""i don't know," I whispered, staring emotionlessly ahead. Another hesitant step./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';""M-may I take a closer look?" Alphys asked timidly. I stopped gazing at the wall to glance at her, wondering if I should explain that everything was absolutely pointless. I decided to keep my mouth shut./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';""knock yourself out," I murmured./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanRummaging through the deep pockets of her lab coat, Alphys dug out an overengineered magnifying glass of sorts, and soon, I was the object of unbearably close examination. It was so emawkward. /emIf my magic hiccupped, it'd melt her glasses. If I wasn't so numb inside, I might have found it funny. After what felt like forever, Alphys shuffled back./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';""I've n-never seen anything like this b-before," she admitted, stressed. "I don't know a lot about s-skeletons, given how few there are left. I know eye glowing reflects your f-feelings and health. But from what I've read, the ems-source/em of the photons is… the soul," she finished, fidgeting anxiously./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"I considered this report calmly. /spanem style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"so, my soul might be breaking? /span/emspan style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"I gave the tiniest, most unemotional frown imaginable. Oddly, the news didn't alarm me. I didn't really care./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;""I'd take you t-to the lower levels to run some tests, b-but there's no time. Sans, if we survive this, /spanem style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"p-please/span/emspan style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"—" I cringed./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;""alph," I sighed, "i'm such a numbskull." Apparently, there was some empathy left in my soul, after all. I met her gaze, my own twisting sympathetically. "i heard about undyne." Alphys's head dropped, her eyes brimming with tears. "i'm so sorry. i know you two were really close."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;""I can't believe she's actually gone," Alphys whispered. "She really made me feel like I /spanem style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"belonged/span/emspan style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;" somewhere, you know?" I knew how deeply Alph meant what she said. She didn't seem to notice, but she didn't stutter once. "I almost told her the other day, that she's been the family I've never had. And that I owe her my very life—but I was scared of sounding lame and needy. I worried I'd weird her out and push her away. So I stayed quiet. And now…" The tears slipped free. "I don't know how I'll go on." She caught her breath, expression deeply shaken. "/spanem style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"Alone/span/emspan style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;". I d-don't wanna t-th-think about… what I'd d-d-do with myself…!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;""i know," I admitted softly, hollowed, as she buried her face in her hands. "me too." It was a woefully insufficient comfort, but I didn't know what else to say. We were both stuck in a nightmare worse than death. Words couldn't fix anything./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"Rubbing the tears away, Alphys turned back to me. But before she could speak, a/spanspan style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';" loud, screeching alarm cut her off. Her face paled. An image flashed through my mind, and I started laughing. It wasn't remotely funny, but I couldn't help myself. A grim, cheerless smile covered my face./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';""the human's here," I stated miserably through chuckles, overwhelmed. "they're here in hotlands, already. it's all completely pointless." After one more hopeless breath of a laugh, I shoved off the chair and started for the door, hands shaking. "we should send the refugees ahead," I suggested. "maybe we can get a few of the kids to safety." Alphys hurried after me./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';""We h-have to stick together! It's too easy to get lost in the Core, and there are only a f-few safe corridors left—" I whirled and gaped at her in horror./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';""the emcore?/em the other groups were sent into the halls of the core?!" I exclaimed. Alphys nodded, then shook her head./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';""W-well, not everyone. Some are hidden under the lab. B-but it's full down there, so I locked it down. I had the royal guards h-hide everyone else throughout the infrastructure of the Core. If we're spread out, there's a g-greater chance of survival," she offered./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"Another dream flashed before my sight. em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;""DETERMINATION. 7 LEFT." /emThe human could sense how many monsters were hiding in any given location. Those scattered in the Core were goners. The human would find them all. Shaking my head, I pushed through the door and hurried on. There was nothing we could do for them now./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';""no, alphys. we need to hide the remaining monsters in the castle."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';""The castle!?" Alphys squeaked, grabbing her backpack from her desk and racing to catch up. "Sans, it's too f-far. If the h-human catches up to us, w-we'll all be k-killed! We need to f-find shelter, fast!" For a few precious seconds, I stopped. Turning to Alphys, I held her gaze pleadingly./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';""alph, please," I beseeched. "i know it seems like an unnecessary risk. but i'm confident it's our best shot. you've had faith in my intuition before. we worked together for years. you listened to me then; i really need you to trust me now. please." Alphys hesitated, tail swishing nervously./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';""You're s-sure about this?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';""yeah. i'm sure." Alphys held my gaze thoughtfully. Then, she slowly nodded./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; line-height: 115%;"span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';""Alright. We'll make f-for the castle."/span/p